First Amendment to Credit Agreement, dated as of December 1, 2021 by and among Premier Healthcare Alliance, L.P., Premier Supply Chain Improvement, Inc. and Premier Healthcare Solutions, Inc., as Co-Borrowers, Premier Services, LLC and certain domestic subsidiaries of the Co-Borrowers, as Guarantors, Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Administrative Agent, Swing Line Lender and L/C Issuer, other lenders from time to time party thereto, and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC and Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated as Joint Lead Arrangers and Joint Book Managers

Contract Categories: Business Finance - Credit Agreements
EX-10.1 2 d222989dex101.htm EX-10.1 EX-10.1

Exhibit 10.1

FIRST AMENDMENT TO CREDIT AGREEMENT

THIS FIRST AMENDMENT TO CREDIT AGREEMENT (this “Amendment”), dated as of December 1, 2021, is by and among PREMIER HEALTHCARE ALLIANCE, L.P., a California limited partnership, PREMIER SUPPLY CHAIN IMPROVEMENT, INC., a Delaware corporation and PREMIER HEALTHCARE SOLUTIONS, INC., a Delaware corporation (each individually, a “Borrower” and collectively, the “Co-Borrowers”), PREMIER SERVICES, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Holdings”), the other Guarantors (as hereinafter defined) party hereto, the Lenders (as defined below) party hereto and WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as administrative agent (the “Administrative Agent”). Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed thereto in the Credit Agreement (as defined below).

W I T N E S S E T H

WHEREAS, the Co-Borrowers, Holdings, certain Subsidiaries of Holdings party thereto (together with Holdings, the “Guarantors”), certain banks and financial institutions (the “Lenders”) and the Administrative Agent are parties to that certain Credit Agreement dated as of November 9, 2018 (as amended, modified, extended, restated, replaced, or supplemented from time to time prior to the date hereof, the “Credit Agreement”);

WHEREAS, the Loan Parties intend to consummate certain reorganization transactions among the Subsidiaries of Premier, Inc. (such transactions, collectively, the “Subsidiary Reorganization”), and in connection therewith, the Co-Borrowers have requested that the Required Lenders amend certain provisions of the Credit Agreement; and

WHEREAS, the Required Lenders are willing to make such amendments to the Credit Agreement, in accordance with and subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the agreements hereinafter set forth, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and adequacy of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as follows:

ARTICLE I

AMENDMENTS TO CREDIT AGREEMENT

1.1 Amendment to Credit Agreement. Effective upon the Amendment Effective Date (as hereinafter defined), the Credit Agreement is hereby amended to reflect the conformed copy of the Credit Agreement attached hereto as Exhibit A.

ARTICLE II

RELEASE

2.1 Release of Holdings as Guarantor. In reliance on the representations and warranties of the Loan Parties set forth herein, as of the Amendment Effective Date, Holdings is hereby released and discharged from its obligations under the Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents and shall no longer be a Guarantor or a Loan Party under the Loan Documents.


ARTICLE III

CONDITIONS TO EFFECTIVENESS

3.1 Conditions to Effectiveness. This Amendment shall become effective as of the day and year set forth above (the “Amendment Effective Date”) upon the satisfaction of the following conditions precedent:

(a) The Administrative Agent shall have received a copy of this Amendment duly executed by the Co-Borrowers, the Guarantors, the Required Lenders and the Administrative Agent.

(b) The Administrative Agent shall have received final, executed copies of the agreements, documents and instruments entered into in connection with the Subsidiary Reorganization as in effect on the Amendment Effective Date, all of which shall be in form reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, and the Subsidiary Reorganization shall be consummated on the Amendment Effective Date substantially concurrently with the effectiveness of this Amendment.

(c) Both immediately before and after giving effect to this Amendment, (i) the representations and warranties set forth in Section 4.2 hereof are (x) with respect to representations and warranties that contain a materiality qualification, true and correct and (y) with respect to representations and warranties that do not contain a materiality qualification, true and correct in all material respects and (ii) no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing.

(d) The Administrative Agent shall have received a certificate signed by a Responsible Officer of the Co-Borrowers certifying as to the matters set forth in this Article III.

ARTICLE IV

MISCELLANEOUS

4.1 Amended Terms. On and after the Amendment Effective Date, all references to the Credit Agreement in each of the Loan Documents shall hereafter mean the Credit Agreement as amended by this Amendment. Except as specifically amended hereby or otherwise agreed, the Credit Agreement is hereby ratified and confirmed and shall remain in full force and effect according to its terms.

4.2 Representations and Warranties of Loan Parties. Each Loan Party represents and warrants as follows:

(a) It has taken all necessary action to authorize the execution, delivery and performance of this Amendment.

(b) This Amendment has been duly executed and delivered by such person and constitutes such person’s legal, valid and binding obligation, enforceable in accordance with its terms, except as such enforceability may be subject to (i) bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, fraudulent conveyance or transfer, moratorium or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and (ii) general principles of equity (regardless of whether such enforceability is considered in a proceeding at law or in equity).

(c) No consent, approval, authorization or order of, or filing, registration or qualification with, any court or governmental authority or third party is required in connection with the execution, delivery or performance by such person of this Amendment, except any such consent, approval, authorization, order, filing, registration or qualification that has been obtained or the failure of which to obtain could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.


(d) The representations and warranties set forth in Article V of the Credit Agreement and in any other Loan Document are (i) with respect to representations and warranties that contain a materiality qualification, true and correct and (ii) with respect to representations and warranties that do not contain a materiality qualification, true and correct in all material respects, in each case as of the date hereof (except for those which expressly relate to an earlier date).

(e) After giving effect to this Amendment, no event has occurred and is continuing which constitutes a Default or Event of Default.

(f) The Obligations are not reduced or modified by this Amendment and are not subject to any offsets, defenses or counterclaims.

(g) The financial statements of Premier, Inc. most recently delivered pursuant to Section 6.01 of the Credit Agreement fairly present in all material respects the financial condition of the Co-Borrowers and their Subsidiaries as of the date thereof and their results of operations for the period covered thereby in accordance with GAAP consistently applied throughout the period covered thereby, except as otherwise expressly noted therein.

4.3 Reaffirmation of Obligations; No Waiver. Each Loan Party as of the Amendment Effective Date hereby ratifies the Loan Documents to which it is a party and acknowledges and reaffirms (a) that it is bound by all terms of the Loan Documents applicable to it and (b) that it is responsible for the observance and full performance of its Obligations. Except as specifically amended by this Amendment, the Credit Agreement and all other documents, instruments and agreements executed and/or delivered in connection therewith shall remain in full force and effect and are hereby ratified and confirmed. The execution, delivery and effectiveness of this Amendment shall not, except as expressly provided herein, operate as a waiver of any right, power or remedy of any Lender or the Administrative Agent under any of the Loan Documents, nor constitute a waiver of any provision of any of the Loan Documents.

4.4 Loan Document. This Amendment shall constitute a Loan Document under the terms of the Credit Agreement.

4.5 Expenses. The Loan Parties agree to pay all reasonable and properly-documented actual out-of-pocket costs and expenses of the Administrative Agent in connection with the preparation, execution and delivery of this Amendment, including the reasonable and properly-documented actual fees and expenses of legal counsel for the Administrative Agent, in each case as set forth in Section 10.04 of the Credit Agreement.

4.6 Further Assurances. Each Loan Party agrees to promptly take such action, upon the request of the Administrative Agent, as is reasonably necessary to carry out the intent of this Amendment. The Administrative Agent agrees to promptly take such action, upon the request of (and at the sole cost and expense of) the Co-Borrowers, as is reasonably necessary to carry out the intent of this Amendment.

4.7 Entirety. This Amendment and the other Loan Documents embody the entire agreement among the parties hereto and supersede all prior agreements and understandings, oral or written, if any, relating to the subject matter hereof.


4.8 Counterparts; Telecopy. This Amendment may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which when so executed and delivered shall be an original, but all of which shall constitute one and the same instrument. Delivery of an executed counterpart to this Amendment by telecopy or other electronic means shall be effective as an original and shall constitute a representation that an original will be delivered. The words “execution,” “signed,” “signature,” and words of like import in this Amendment shall be deemed to include electronic signatures or the keeping of records in electronic form, each of which shall be of the same legal effect, validity or enforceability as a manually executed signature or the use of a paper-based recordkeeping system, as the case may be, to the extent and as provided for in any applicable law, including the Federal Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act, the New York State Electronic Signatures and Records Act, or any other similar state laws based on the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act. For the avoidance of doubt, the authorization under this paragraph may include, without limitation, use or acceptance by the Administrative Agent of a manually signed letter which has been converted into electronic form (such as scanned into “.pdf” format), or an electronically signed letter converted into another format, for transmission, delivery and/or retention.

4.9 No Actions, Claims, Etc. As of the date hereof, each Loan Party hereby acknowledges and confirms that it has no knowledge of any actions, causes of action, claims, demands, damages and liabilities of whatever kind or nature, in law or in equity, against the Administrative Agent or the Administrative Agent’s officers, employees, representatives, agents, counsel or directors arising from any action by such persons, or failure of such persons to act under the Credit Agreement on or prior to the date hereof.

4.10 GOVERNING LAW. THIS AMENDMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND SHALL BE CONSTRUED AND ENFORCED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK (INCLUDING SECTIONS 5-1401 AND 5-1402 OF THE NEW YORK GENERAL OBLIGATIONS LAW).

4.11 Successors and Assigns. This Amendment shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns.

4.12 Consent to Jurisdiction; Service of Process; Waiver of Jury Trial. The jurisdiction, service of process and waiver of jury trial provisions set forth in Sections 10.14 and 10.15 of the Credit Agreement are hereby incorporated by reference, mutatis mutandis.

[REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]


IN WITNESS WHEREOF the parties hereto have caused this Amendment to be duly executed on the date first above written.

 

CO-BORROWERS:
PREMIER HEALTHCARE ALLIANCE, L.P.
By:   PREMIER SERVICES, LLC, its general partner
By:   /s/ Craig McKasson
Name:   Craig McKasson
Title:   Chief Financial Officer

 

PREMIER SUPPLY CHAIN IMPROVEMENT, INC.
By:   /s/ Craig McKasson
Name:   Craig McKasson
Title:   Chief Financial Officer

 

PREMIER HEALTHCARE SOLUTIONS, INC.
By:   /s/ Craig McKasson
Name:   Craig McKasson
Title:   Chief Financial Officer

 

HOLDINGS:
PREMIER SERVICES, LLC
By:   /s/ Craig McKasson
Name:   Craig McKasson
Title:   Chief Financial Officer

 

Signature Page to First Amendment to Credit Agreement


GUARANTORS:
ACRO PHARMACEUTICAL SERVICES LLC
By:   /s/ Craig McKasson
Name:   Craig McKasson
Title:   Chief Financial Officer

 

CECITY.COM, INC.
By:   /s/ Craig McKasson
Name:   Craig McKasson
Title:   Chief Financial Officer

 

COMMCARE PHARMACY-FTL, LLC
By:   /s/ Craig McKasson
Name:   Craig McKasson
Title:   Chief Financial Officer

 

ESSENSA VENTURES, LLC
By:   /s/ Craig McKasson
Name:   Craig McKasson
Title:   Chief Financial Officer

 

Signature Page to First Amendment to Credit Agreement


HEALTHCARE INSIGHTS, LLC
By:   /s/ Craig McKasson
Name:   Craig McKasson
Title:   Chief Financial Officer

 

INNOVATIX, LLC
By:   /s/ Craig McKasson
Name:   Craig McKasson
Title:   Chief Financial Officer

 

INNOVATIX NETWORK, LLC
By:   /s/ Craig McKasson
Name:   Craig McKasson
Title:   Chief Financial Officer

 

INNOVATIXCARES, LLC
By:   /s/ Craig McKasson
Name:   Craig McKasson
Title:   Chief Financial Officer

 

NS3 HEALTH, LLC
By:   /s/ Craig McKasson
Name:   Craig McKasson
Title:   Chief Financial Officer

 

Signature Page to First Amendment to Credit Agreement


PREMIER MARKETPLACE, LLC
By:   /s/ Craig McKasson
Name:   Craig McKasson
Title:   Chief Financial Officer

 

PREMIER PHARMACY BENEFIT MANAGEMENT, LLC
By:   /s/ Craig McKasson
Name:   Craig McKasson
Title:   Chief Financial Officer

 

SVS LLC
By:   /s/ Craig McKasson
Name:   Craig McKasson
Title:   Chief Financial Officer

 

THERADOC, INC.
By:   /s/ Craig McKasson
Name:   Craig McKasson
Title:   Chief Financial Officer

 

PROVIDEGX, LLC
By:   /s/ Craig McKasson
Name:   Craig McKasson
Title:   Chief Financial Officer

 

Signature Page to First Amendment to Credit Agreement


PREMIER SPECIALTY PHARMACY SOLUTIONS, LLC
By:   /s/ Craig McKasson
Name:   Craig McKasson
Title:   Chief Financial Officer

 

STANSON HEALTH, INC.
By:   /s/ Craig McKasson
Name:   Craig McKasson
Title:   Chief Financial Officer

 

CONTIGO HEALTH, LLC
By:   /s/ Craig McKasson
Name:   Craig McKasson
Title:   Chief Financial Officer

 

CONDUCTIV, INC.
By:   /s/ Craig McKasson
Name:   Craig McKasson
Title:   Chief Financial Officer

 

ACURITY, LLC
By:   /s/ Craig McKasson
Name:   Craig McKasson
Title:   Chief Financial Officer

 

Signature Page to First Amendment to Credit Agreement


NEXERA, LLC
By:   /s/ Craig McKasson
Name:   Craig McKasson
Title:   Chief Financial Officer

 

CONDUCTIV CONTRACTS, LLC
By:   /s/ Craig McKasson
Name:   Craig McKasson
Title:   Chief Financial Officer

 

INTERSECTTA, LLC
By:   /s/ Craig McKasson
Name:   Craig McKasson
Title:   Chief Financial Officer

 

PREMIER SUPPLY CHAIN HOLDINGS, LLC
By:   /s/ Craig McKasson
Name:   Craig McKasson
Title:   Chief Financial Officer

 

ELEMENTS CANADA, LLC
By:   /s/ Craig McKasson
Name:   Craig McKasson
Title:   Chief Financial Officer

 

Signature Page to First Amendment to Credit Agreement


PREMIER IDS, LLC
By:   /s/ Craig McKasson
Name: Craig McKasson
Title: Chief Financial Officer

Signature Page to First Amendment to Credit Agreement


ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT AND LENDERS:
WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Administrative Agent, as Swing Line Lender, as a L/C Issuer and as a Lender
By:   /s/ Lindsey Stuckey
Name: Lindsey Stuckey
Title: Director

Signature Page to First Amendment to Credit Agreement


BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., as a Lender and as a L/C Issuer
By:   /s/ H. Hope Walker
Name: H. Hope Walker
Title: Senior Vice President

Signature Page to First Amendment to Credit Agreement


CITIBANK, N.A., as a Lender

By:

 

/s/ Stanislav Andreev

Name: Stanislav Andreev

Title: Vice President

Signature Page to First Amendment to Credit Agreement


JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., as a Lender
By:   /s/ Gregory T. Martin
Name: Gregory T. Martin
Title: Executive Director

Signature Page to First Amendment to Credit Agreement


KEYBANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as a
Lender
By:   /s/ Tanille Ingle
Name: Tanille Ingle
Title: Vice President

Signature Page to First Amendment to Credit Agreement


TRUIST BANK, as a Lender
By:   /s/ Katie Lundin
Name: Katie Lundin
Title: Director

Signature Page to First Amendment to Credit Agreement


U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as a Lender
By:   /s/ Tom Priedeman
Name: Tom Priedeman
Title: Senior Vice President

Signature Page to First Amendment to Credit Agreement


DNB CAPITAL LLC, as a Lender
By:   /s/ Devan Patel
Name: Devan Patel
Title: First Vice President

 

DNB CAPITAL LLC, as a Lender
By:   /s/ Dania Hinedi
Name: Dania Hinedi
Title: Senior Vice President

Signature Page to First Amendment to Credit Agreement


PNC BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as a Lender
By:   /s/ Alan J. Alexander
Name: Alan J. Alexander
Title: Senior Vice President

Signature Page to First Amendment to Credit Agreement


REGIONS BANK, as a Lender

By:

 

/s/ Sujay Maiya

Name: Sujay Maiya

Title: Director

Signature Page to First Amendment to Credit Agreement


Exhibit A

Conformed Copy through First Amendment to Credit Agreement, dated December 1, 2021

Deal CUSIP Number: 74050YAC3

Revolving Credit CUSIP Number: 74050YAD1

 

 

 

CREDIT AGREEMENT

Dated as of November 9, 2018

among

PREMIER HEALTHCARE ALLIANCE, L.P.,

PREMIER SUPPLY CHAIN IMPROVEMENT, INC.

and

PREMIER HEALTHCARE SOLUTIONS, INC.,

as the Co-Borrowers,

CERTAIN DOMESTIC SUBSIDIARIES OF THE CO-BORROWERS

FROM TIME TO TIME PARTY HERETO,

as Guarantors,

WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,

as Administrative Agent, Swing Line Lender

and an L/C Issuer,

and

The Other Lenders Party Hereto

WELLS FARGO SECURITIES, LLC and MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE,

FENNER & SMITH INCORPORATED,

as Joint Lead Arrangers and Joint Book Managers

BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.,

as Syndication Agent and an L/C Issuer

and

CITIBANK, N.A.,

JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.,

KEYBANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,

TRUIST BANK

and

U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,

as Co-Documentation Agents

 

 

 

 

1


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

          Page  

ARTICLE I.

   DEFINITIONS AND ACCOUNTING TERMS      1  

1.01

   Defined Terms      1  

1.02

   Other Interpretive Provisions      32  

1.03

   Accounting Terms      32  

1.04

   Rounding      33  

1.05

   Times of Day      33  

1.06

   Letter of Credit Amounts      33  

1.07

   Interpretation and Construction of Exceptions/Carveouts to Article VII Negative Covenants      34  

1.08

   Divisions      34  

ARTICLE II.

   THE COMMITMENTS AND CREDIT EXTENSIONS      34  

2.01

   Committed Loans      34  

2.02

   Borrowings, Conversions and Continuations of Committed Loans      35  

2.03

   Letters of Credit      36  

2.04

   Swing Line Loans      45  

2.05

   Prepayments      47  

2.06

   Termination or Reduction of Commitments      48  

2.07

   Repayment of Loans      49  

2.08

   Interest      49  

2.09

   Fees      50  

2.10

   Computation of Interest and Fees; Retroactive Adjustments of Applicable Rate      50  

2.11

   Evidence of Debt      51  

2.12

   Payments Generally; Administrative Agent’s Clawback      51  

2.13

   Sharing of Payments by Lenders      53  

2.14

   Increase in Commitments      54  

2.15

   Joint and Several Liability      56  

2.16

   Cash Collateral      56  

2.17

   Defaulting Lenders      57  

2.18

   Extension of Maturity Date      60  

ARTICLE III.

   TAXES, YIELD PROTECTION AND ILLEGALITY      62  

3.01

   Taxes      62  

3.02

   Illegality      66  

3.03

   Inability to Determine Rates      66  

3.04

   Increased Costs      68  

3.05

   Compensation for Losses      70  

3.06

   Mitigation Obligations; Replacement of Lenders      70  

3.07

   Survival      71  

 

-i-


TABLE OF CONTENTS

(continued)

 

          Page  

ARTICLE IV.

   CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO CREDIT EXTENSIONS      71  

4.01

   Conditions of Initial Credit Extension      71  

4.02

   Conditions to all Credit Extensions      73  

ARTICLE V.

   REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES      74  

5.01

   Existence, Qualification and Power      74  

5.02

   Authorization; No Contravention      74  

5.03

   Governmental Authorization; Other Consents      74  

5.04

   Binding Effect      75  

5.05

   Financial Statements; No Material Adverse Effect      75  

5.06

   Litigation      76  

5.07

   No Default      76  

5.08

   Ownership of Property; Liens      76  

5.09

   Environmental Compliance      76  

5.10

   Insurance      76  

5.11

   Taxes      76  

5.12

   ERISA Compliance      77  

5.13

   Subsidiaries; Capital Stock      78  

5.14

   Margin Regulations; Investment Company Act      78  

5.15

   Disclosure      78  

5.16

   Compliance with Laws      78  

5.17

   Taxpayer Identification Number      79  

5.18

   Intellectual Property; Licenses, Etc.      80  

5.19

   Solvency      80  

5.20

   Labor Matters      80  

5.21

   Financial Statements      80  

ARTICLE VI.

   AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS      81  

6.01

   Financial Statements      81  

6.02

   Certificates; Other Information      82  

6.03

   Notices      84  

6.04

   Payment of Obligations      85  

6.05

   Preservation of Existence, Etc.      85  

6.06

   Maintenance of Properties      85  

6.07

   Maintenance of Insurance      85  

6.08

   Compliance with Laws      86  

6.09

   Books and Records      86  

6.10

   Inspection Rights      86  

6.11

   Use of Proceeds      86  

6.12

   Additional Guarantors      87  

6.13

   Pari Passu Status      87  

6.14

   Further Assurances      87  

 

-ii-


TABLE OF CONTENTS

(continued)

 

          Page  

ARTICLE VII.

   NEGATIVE COVENANTS   

 

87

 

7.01

   Liens      87  

7.02

   Indebtedness      90  

7.03

   Fundamental Changes      91  

7.04

   Dispositions      92  

7.05

   Change in Nature of Business      93  

7.06

   Transactions with Affiliates      93  

7.07

   Use of Proceeds      94  

7.08

   Financial Covenants      94  

7.09

   Restricted Payments      94  

7.10

   Sales and Leasebacks      94  

7.11

   Reserved      95  

7.12

   Accounting Changes      95  

7.13

   Investments      95  

7.14

   Limitation on Restricted Actions      96  

7.15

   [Reserved]      96  

ARTICLE VIII.

   EVENTS OF DEFAULT AND REMEDIES      96  

8.01

   Events of Default      96  

8.02

   Remedies Upon Event of Default      98  

8.03

   Application of Funds      99  

ARTICLE IX.

   ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT      100  

9.01

   Appointment and Authority      100  

9.02

   Rights as a Lender      100  

9.03

   Exculpatory Provisions      100  

9.04

   Reliance by Administrative Agent      101  

9.05

   Delegation of Duties      101  

9.06

   Resignation of Administrative Agent      102  

9.07

   Non-Reliance on Administrative Agent and Other Lenders      103  

9.08

   No Other Duties, Etc.      103  

9.09

   Administrative Agent May File Proofs of Claim      103  

9.10

   Collateral and Loan Party Guaranty Matters      104  

9.11

   Certain ERISA Matters      105  

9.12

   Erroneous Payments      106  

ARTICLE X.

   MISCELLANEOUS      108  

10.01

   Amendments, Etc.      108  

10.02

   Notices; Effectiveness; Electronic Communication      110  

10.03

   No Waiver; Cumulative Remedies; Enforcement      112  

10.04

   Expenses; Indemnity; Damage Waiver      113  

10.05

   Payments Set Aside      115  

10.06

   Successors and Assigns      115  

10.07

   Treatment of Certain Information; Confidentiality      120  

 

-iii-


TABLE OF CONTENTS

(continued)

 

          Page  

10.08

   Right of Setoff      121  

10.09

   Interest Rate Limitation      122  

10.10

   Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness      122  

10.11

   Survival of Representations and Warranties      122  

10.12

   Severability      123  

10.13

   Replacement of Lenders      123  

10.14

   Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Etc.      124  

10.15

   Waiver of Jury Trial      125  

10.16

   No Advisory or Fiduciary Responsibility      125  

10.17

   Electronic Execution of Assignments and Certain Other Documents      126  

10.18

   USA PATRIOT Act      126  

10.19

   Time of the Essence      126  

10.20

   Acknowledgement and Consent to Bail-In of EEA Financial Institutions      126  

10.21

   Acknowledgement Regarding Any Supported QFCs      127  

ARTICLE XI.

   LOAN PARTY GUARANTY      128  

11.01

   The Guaranty      128  

11.02

   Bankruptcy      128  

11.03

   Nature of Liability      129  

11.04

   Independent Obligation      129  

11.05

   Authorization      129  

11.06

   Reliance      130  

11.07

   Waiver      130  

11.08

   Limitation on Enforcement      131  

11.09

   Confirmation of Payment      131  

11.10

   Eligible Contract Participant      131  

11.11

   Keepwell      131  

 

-iv-


SCHEDULES

 

1.01(a)

   Non-Wholly Owned Subsidiaries

2.01

   Commitments and Applicable Percentages

5.03

   Other Consents

5.05

   Supplement to Interim Financial Statements

5.12

   ERISA Compliance

5.13

   Subsidiaries; Capital Stock

5.18

   Intellectual Property Matters

7.01

   Existing Liens

7.02

   Existing Indebtedness

7.13

   Existing Investments

10.02

   Administrative Agent’s Office; Certain Addresses for Notices

EXHIBITS

 

   Form of

A

   Committed Loan Notice

B

   Swing Line Loan Notice

C

   Note

D

   Compliance Certificate

E-1

   Assignment and Assumption

E-2

   Administrative Questionnaire

E-3

   Joinder

F

   Guarantor Joinder Agreement

G

   Bank Product Provider Notice

H-1

   Form of U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate – Foreign Lenders (Not Partnerships)

H-2

   Form of U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate – Non-U.S. Participants (Not Partnerships)

H-3

   Form of U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate – Non-U.S. Participants (Partnerships)

H-4

   Form of U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate – Foreign Lenders (Partnerships)


CREDIT AGREEMENT

This CREDIT AGREEMENT (hereinafter, as it may be from time to time amended, modified, extended, renewed, substituted, and/or supplemented, referred to as this “Agreement”) is entered into as of November 9, 2018, by and among PREMIER HEALTHCARE ALLIANCE, L.P., a California limited partnership, PREMIER SUPPLY CHAIN IMPROVEMENT, INC., a Delaware corporation and PREMIER HEALTHCARE SOLUTIONS, INC., a Delaware corporation (collectively, the “Co-Borrowers”), the Guarantors (as defined herein), each lender from time to time party hereto (collectively, the “Lenders” and individually, a “Lender”), and WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Administrative Agent, Swing Line Lender and an L/C Issuer.

WHEREAS, the Loan Parties (as hereinafter defined) have requested that the Lenders make loans and other financial accommodations to the Loan Parties in an aggregate amount of up to $1,000,000,000, as more particularly described herein; and

WHEREAS, the Lenders have agreed to make such loans and other financial accommodations to the Loan Parties on the terms and conditions contained herein.

NOW, THEREFORE, for good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged by the parties hereto, such parties hereby agree as follows:

ARTICLE I.

DEFINITIONS AND ACCOUNTING TERMS

1.01 Defined Terms.

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

Accepting Lenders” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.01.

Act” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.18.

Additional Commitment Lender” has the meaning specified in Section 2.18(d).

Administrative Agent” means Wells Fargo Bank in its capacity as administrative agent under any of the Loan Documents, or any successor administrative agent.

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

Administrative Questionnaire” means an Administrative Questionnaire in substantially the form of Exhibit “E-2” attached hereto and made a part hereof or any other form approved by the Administrative Agent.

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

 

S - 1


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

Aggregate Commitments” means the Commitments of all the Lenders.

Agreement” or “Credit Agreement” means this Credit Agreement, as it may be from time to time amended, modified, extended, renewed, substituted, and/or supplemented.

Anti-Corruption Laws” means the United States Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977 and all other laws, rules, and regulations of any jurisdiction applicable to any Co-Borrower or its Subsidiaries from time to time, the primary purpose of which is to prohibit bribery or corruption.

Anniversary Date” has the meaning specified in Section 2.18(a).

Applicable Percentage” means with respect to any Lender at any time, the percentage (carried out to the ninth decimal place) of the Aggregate Commitments represented by such Lender’s Commitment at such time, subject to adjustment as provided in Section 2.17. If the commitment of each Lender to make Loans and the obligation of each L/C Issuer to make L/C Credit Extensions have been terminated pursuant to Section 8.02 or if the Aggregate Commitments have expired, then the Applicable Percentage of each Lender shall be determined based on the Applicable Percentage of such Lender most recently in effect, giving effect to any subsequent assignments. The initial Applicable Percentage of each Lender is set forth opposite the name of such Lender on Schedule 2.01 or in the Assignment and Assumption pursuant to which such Lender becomes a party hereto, as applicable.

Applicable Rate” means, from time to time, the following percentages per annum, based upon the Consolidated Total Net Leverage Ratio as set forth in the most recent Compliance Certificate received by the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 6.02(b):

Applicable Rate

 

Level

  

Consolidated Total Net Leverage Ratio

   Eurodollar
Rate
Margin
   Base
Rate
Margin
   Commitment
Fee
   Letter of
Credit Fee

I

   Less than or equal to 1.00 to 1.00    1.000%    0.000%    0.100%    1.000%

II

   Greater than 1.00 to 1.00 but less than or equal to 1.50 to 1.00    1.125%    0.125%    0.125%    1.125%

III

   Greater than 1.50 to 1.00 but less than or equal to 2.00 to 1.00    1.250%    0.250%    0.150%    1.250%

IV

   Greater than 2.00 to 1.00 but less than or equal to 3.00 to 1.00    1.375%    0.375%    0.175%    1.375%

V

   Greater than 3.00 to 1.00    1.500%    0.500%    0.200%    1.500%

 

2


Any increase or decrease in the Applicable Rate resulting from a change in the Consolidated Total Net Leverage Ratio shall become effective as of the first Business Day immediately following the date a Compliance Certificate is delivered pursuant to Section 6.02(b); provided, however, that if a Compliance Certificate is not delivered when due in accordance with such Section, then, upon the request of the Required Lenders, Pricing Level V shall apply as of the first Business Day after the date on which such Compliance Certificate was required to have been delivered and shall remain in effect until the date on which such Compliance Certificate is delivered. The Applicable Rate in effect from the Closing Date through the date on which the Administrative Agent receives the Co-Borrower’s Compliance Certificate and related financial statements for its fiscal quarter ended September 30, 2018 shall be determined based upon Pricing Level I.

For the purposes of calculating the Consolidated Total Net Leverage Ratio in connection with this definition only, and for no other purpose, to the extent that any Co-Borrower or any direct or indirect Subsidiary thereof acquires a Person, the Administrative Agent shall include in its calculation of Consolidated EBITDA the pro forma effect of such acquisition as if such acquisition shall have occurred on the first date of the applicable test period.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this definition, the determination of the Applicable Rate for any period shall be subject to the provisions of Section 2.10(b).

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

Arrangers” means Wells Fargo Securities, LLC and Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, in their capacities as joint lead arrangers and joint book managers.

Assets” means, at any time, the total assets of the Co-Borrowers and their direct and indirect Subsidiaries on a Consolidated basis which would be shown as assets on a Consolidated balance sheet of PHSI and its Consolidated Subsidiaries as of such time prepared in accordance with GAAP, after eliminating all amounts properly attributable to minority interests, if any, in the stock and surplus of Subsidiaries.

Assignee Group” means two or more Eligible Assignees that are Affiliates of one another or two or more Approved Funds managed by the same investment advisor.

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 10.06(b)), and accepted by the Administrative Agent, in substantially the form of Exhibit “E-1” attached hereto and made a part hereof or any other form approved by the Administrative Agent.

 

3


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

Audited Financial Statements” means the audited consolidated balance sheet of Premier, Inc. and its direct and indirect Subsidiaries for the fiscal years ended June 30, 2018, June 30, 2017 and June 30, 2016 and the related consolidated statements of income or operations, shareholders’ equity and cash flows for such fiscal year of Premier, Inc. and its direct and indirect Subsidiaries, including the notes thereto.

Auto-Extension Letter of Credit” has the meaning specified in Section 2.03(b).

Availability Period” means the period from and including the Closing Date to the earliest of (a) the Maturity Date, (b) the date of termination of the Aggregate Commitments pursuant to Section 2.06, and (c) the date of termination of the commitment of each Lender to make Loans and of the obligation of each L/C Issuer to make L/C Credit Extensions pursuant to Section 8.02.

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

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

Bank of America Fee Letter” means the letter agreement, dated October 15, 2018, among the Co-Borrowers, Bank of America, N.A. and Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated.

Bank Product” shall mean any of the following products, services or facilities extended to any Loan Party or any Subsidiary by any Bank Product Provider: (a) Cash Management Services; (b) products under any Hedging Agreement; and (c) commercial credit card, purchase card and merchant card services; provided, however, that for any of the foregoing to be included as “Obligations” for purposes of a distribution under Section 8.03, the applicable Bank Product Provider must have previously provided a Bank Product Provider Notice to the Administrative Agent which shall provide the following information: (i) the existence of such Bank Product, (ii) the maximum dollar amount (if reasonably capable of being determined) of obligations arising thereunder (the “Bank Product Amount”), and (iii) the methodology to be used by the Loan Parties and the Administrative Agent in determining the obligations under such Bank Product from time to time. The Bank Product Amount may be changed from time to time upon

 

4


prior written notice to the Administrative Agent and Borrowers by the Bank Product Provider. Any Bank Product established from and after the time that the Lenders have received written notice from the Co-Borrowers or the Administrative Agent that an Event of Default exists, until such Event of Default has been waived in accordance with Section 10.01, shall not be included as “Obligations” for purposes of a distribution under Section 8.03.

Bank Product Amount” shall have the meaning set forth in the definition of Bank Product.

Bank Product Debt” shall mean the Indebtedness and other obligations of any Loan Party or Subsidiary relating to Bank Products.

Bank Product Provider” shall mean any Person that provides Bank Products to a Loan Party or any Subsidiary to the extent that (a) such Person is a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender or any other Person that was a Lender (or an Affiliate of a Lender) at the time it entered into the Bank Product but has ceased to be a Lender (or whose Affiliate has ceased to be a Lender) under the Credit Agreement or (b) such Person is a Lender or an Affiliate of a Lender on the Closing Date and the Bank Product was entered into on or prior to the Closing Date (even if such Person ceases to be a Lender or such Person’s Affiliate ceased to be a Lender).

Bank Product Provider Notice” shall mean a notice substantially in the form of Exhibit G.

Base Rate means for any day a fluctuating rate per annum equal to the highest of (a) the Prime Rate for such day, (b) the sum of the Federal Funds Rate for such day plus fifty basis points (0.50%), (c) except during any Eurodollar Unavailability Period, the Eurodollar Rate for a one month Interest Period beginning on such day (or if such day is not a Business Day, the immediately preceding Business Day) plus one percent (1.0%) and (d) 0%.

Base Rate Committed Loan” means a Committed Loan that is a Base Rate Loan.

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

Beneficial Ownership Certification” means a certification regarding beneficial ownership as required by the Beneficial Ownership Regulation.

Beneficial Ownership Regulation” means 31 CFR § 1010.230.

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

Borrower Materials” has the meaning specified in Section 6.02.

Borrowing” means a Committed Borrowing or a Swing Line Borrowing, as the context may require.

 

5


Business Day” means any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks are authorized to close under the Laws of, or are in fact closed in, the state where the Administrative Agent’s Office is located and, if such day relates to any Eurodollar Rate Loan, means any such day on which dealings in Dollar deposits are conducted by and between banks in the London interbank eurodollar market.

Capital Expenditures” means, with respect to any Person for any period, any expenditure in respect of the purchase or other acquisition of any fixed or capital asset (excluding normal replacements and maintenance which are properly charged to current operations). For purposes of this definition, the purchase price of equipment that is purchased simultaneously with the trade-in of existing equipment or with insurance or condemnation proceeds shall be included in Capital Expenditures only to the extent of the gross amount by which such purchase price exceeds the credit granted by the seller of such equipment for the equipment being traded in at such time or the amount of such insurance or condemnation proceeds, as the case may be.

Capital Lease” means, as applied to any Person, any lease of any Property (whether real, personal or mixed) by that Person as lessee which, in accordance with GAAP, is required to be accounted for as a capital lease or a finance lease on the balance sheet of that Person.

Capital Lease Obligations” shall mean the capitalized lease obligations relating to a Capital Lease determined in accordance with GAAP.

Capital Stock” means (a) in the case of a corporation, capital stock, (b) in the case of an association or business entity, any and all shares, interests, participations, rights or other equivalents (however designated) of capital stock, (c) in the case of a partnership, partnership interests (whether general or limited), (d) in the case of a limited liability company, membership interests (regardless of class), and (e) any other interest or participation that confers on a Person the right to receive a share of the profits and losses of, or distributions of assets of, the issuing Person.

Cash Collateralize” means to pledge and deposit with or deliver to the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Administrative Agent, the applicable L/C Issuer or Swing Line Lender (as applicable) and the Lenders, as collateral for L/C Obligations, Obligations in respect of Swing Line Loans, or obligations of Lenders to fund participations in respect of either thereof (as the context may require), cash or deposit account balances or, if the applicable L/C Issuer or Swing Line Lender benefitting from such collateral shall agree in its reasonable discretion, other credit support, in each case pursuant to documentation in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to (a) the Administrative Agent and (b) the applicable L/C Issuer or the Swing Line Lender (as applicable).

Cash Collateral” shall have a meaning correlative to the foregoing and shall include the proceeds of such cash collateral and other credit support.

Cash Equivalents” means, as at any date, (a) securities issued or directly and fully guaranteed or insured by the United States or any agency or instrumentality thereof (provided that the full faith and credit of the United States is pledged in support thereof) having maturities of not more than twelve months from the date of acquisition, (b) Dollar denominated time

 

6


deposits and certificates of deposit of (i) the Lender, (ii) any domestic commercial bank of recognized standing or any U.S. branch of a foreign bank having capital and surplus in excess of $250,000,000 or (iii) any bank whose short-term commercial paper rating from S&P is at least A-1 or the equivalent thereof or from Moody’s is at least P-1 or the equivalent thereof (any such bank being an “Approved Bank”), in each case with maturities of not more than 360 days from the date of acquisition, (c) commercial paper and variable or fixed rate notes issued by any Approved Bank (or by the parent company thereof) or any variable rate notes issued by, or guaranteed by, any domestic corporation rated A-1 (or the equivalent thereof) or better by S&P or P-1 (or the equivalent thereof) or better by Moody’s and maturing within 12 months of the date of acquisition, (d) repurchase agreements with a term of not more than thirty (30) days entered into by any Person with a bank or trust company (including the Lender) or recognized securities dealer having capital and surplus in excess of $250,000,000 for direct obligations issued by or fully guaranteed by the United States in which such Person shall have a perfected first priority security interest (subject to no other Liens) and having, on the date of purchase thereof, a fair market value of at least 100% of the amount of the repurchase obligations, (e) securities that have stated maturities beyond three months but are priced and traded as short-term investments due to the liquidity provided through the interest rate reset mechanism of seven (7) to thirty-five (35) days, (f) Investments, classified in accordance with GAAP as current assets, in money market investment programs registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, which are administered by one or more reputable financial institutions having capital of at least $250,000,000 and the portfolios of which are limited to Investments of the character described in the foregoing subdivisions (a) through (f), and (g) in the case of any Foreign Subsidiary, high quality, short term, liquid investments made by such Foreign Subsidiary in the ordinary course of managing its surplus cash positions in investments of at least comparable quality as those described in clauses (a) through (f) above.

Cash Management Services” shall mean any services provided from time to time to any Loan Party or Subsidiary in connection with operating, collections, payroll, trust, or other depository or disbursement accounts, including automatic clearinghouse, controlled disbursement, depository, electronic funds transfer, information reporting, lockbox, stop payment, overdraft and/or wire transfer services and all other treasury and cash management services.

Change in Law” means the occurrence, after the date of this Agreement, of any of the following: (a) the adoption or taking effect of any law, rule, regulation or treaty, (b) any change in any law, rule, regulation or treaty or in the administration, interpretation, implementation or application thereof by any Governmental Authority or (c) the making or issuance of any request, rule, guideline or directive (whether or not having the force of law) by any Governmental Authority; provided that notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, (i) the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and all requests, rules, guidelines or directives thereunder or issued in connection therewith and (ii) all requests, rules, guidelines or directives promulgated by the Bank for International settlements, the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (or any successor or similar authority) or the United States regulatory authorities, in each case pursuant to Basel III, shall in each case be deemed to be a “Change in Law”, regardless of the date enacted, adopted or issued.

 

7


Change of Control” means at any time the occurrence of any of the following events: (a) the acquisition of ownership, directly or indirectly, beneficially or of record, by any “person” or “group” (as such terms are used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act, but excluding any employee benefit plan of such person or its subsidiaries, and any person or entity acting in its capacity as trustee, agent or other fiduciary or administrator of any such plan, of more than 35% of the aggregate issued and outstanding Voting Stock of Premier, Inc.; (b) Premier, Inc. shall fail to own, directly or indirectly, beneficially or of record, 75% of the aggregate issued and outstanding Capital Stock of PHSI; (c) PHSI shall (i) cease to be a general partner of PHA or (ii) fail to own, directly or indirectly, beneficially or of record, 75% of the aggregate general partner voting interests of PHA; (d) PHA shall fail to own, directly or indirectly, beneficially or of record, more than 50% of the aggregate issued and outstanding Voting Stock of PSCI; and (e) during any period of 12 consecutive months, a majority of the members of the board of directors or other equivalent governing body of Premier, Inc. cease to be composed of individuals (i) who were members of that board or equivalent governing body on the first day of such period, (ii) whose election or nomination to that board or equivalent governing body was approved by individuals referred to in clause (i) above constituting at the time of such election or nomination at least a majority of that board or equivalent governing body or (iii) whose election or nomination to that board or other equivalent governing body was approved by individuals referred to in clauses (i) and (ii) above constituting at the time of such election or nomination at least a majority of that board or equivalent governing body.

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

Closing Date Transactions” means collectively, the Refinancing and the initial borrowings and other extensions of credit under this Agreement and the payment of fees, commissions and expenses in connection with each of the foregoing.

Co-Borrower” and “Co-Borrowers” have the meanings specified in the introductory paragraph hereto.

Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.

Commitment” means, as to each Lender, its obligation to (a) make Committed Loans to the Co-Borrowers pursuant to Section 2.01, (b) purchase participations in L/C Obligations, and (c) purchase participations in Swing Line Loans, in an aggregate principal amount at any one time outstanding not to exceed the amount set forth opposite such Lender’s name on Schedule 2.01 or in the Assignment and Assumption pursuant to which such Lender becomes a party hereto, as applicable, as such amount may be adjusted from time to time in accordance with this Agreement.

Commitment Letter” means the commitment letter with respect to the Facility, dated October 15, 2018, among the Co-Borrowers, Wells Fargo Bank, Bank of America, N.A. and the Arrangers.

 

8


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

Committed Loan” has the meaning specified in Section 2.01.

Committed Loan Notice” means a notice of (a) a Committed Borrowing, (b) a conversion of Committed Loans from one Type to the other, or (c) a continuation of Eurodollar Rate Loans, pursuant to Section 2.02(a), which, if in writing, shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit A attached hereto and made a part hereof.

Commodity Exchange Act” means the Commodity Exchange Act (7 U.S.C. § 1 et seq.).

Compliance Certificate” means a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit “D”.

Consolidated” shall mean, when used with reference to financial statements or financial statement items of the Co-Borrowers and their Subsidiaries, PHSI and its Subsidiaries or any other Person, such statements or items on a consolidated basis in accordance with the consolidation principles of GAAP.

Consolidated EBITDA” means, as of any date of determination for the Four-Quarter Period ending on such date, without duplication, (a) Consolidated Net Income of the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries for such period plus (b) the sum of the following to the extent deducted in calculating Consolidated Net Income for such period: (i) Consolidated Interest Expense of the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries for such period; (ii) the provision for Federal, state, local and foreign income taxes payable by the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries for such period on a Consolidated basis; (iii) depreciation and amortization expense of the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries for such period on a Consolidated basis (including amortization of intangibles (including, but not limited to, goodwill) and organization costs); (iv) other non-cash charges, non-cash expenses and non-cash items reducing Consolidated Net Income for such period, including (A) charges against goodwill, (B) the amount of any non-cash loss that is recognized pursuant to SFAS 141(R) in connection with the recognition or re-measurement of any earnout payment liability, (C) the amount of any non-cash loss associated with foreign exchange contracts, (D) the amount of any amortization of customer contracts, non-compete agreements or other intangible assets, and (E) the impact of acquisition accounting or similar adjustments required or permitted by GAAP in connection with any Permitted Acquisition; provided, that cash payments made in such period or in any future period in respect of such non-cash charges, expenses or losses (excluding any such charge, expense or loss incurred in the ordinary course of business that constitutes an accrual of or a reserve for cash charges for any future period) shall be subtracted from Consolidated Net Income in calculating Consolidated EBITDA in the period when such payments are made; (v) following any Permitted Acquisition, for each quarter during the four consecutive fiscal quarter period preceding the date of any such Permitted Acquisition, such amounts of trailing twelve month EBITDA for the target business acquired by any Loan Party in such Permitted Acquisition as the Loan Parties and the Agent shall agree to in writing; (vi) non-cash stock option and other equity-based compensation; and (vii) non-recurring cash charges of up to $15,000,000 for any 12-month period, minus (c) non-cash charges previously added back to Consolidated Net Income in determining Consolidated EBITDA to the extent such non-cash charges have become cash charges during such period minus (d) any other non-recurring cash or non-cash gains during such period.

 

9


Consolidated Interest Expense” means, as of any date of determination for the Four-Quarter Period ending on such date, all interest expense (excluding amortization of debt discount and premium, but including the interest component under Capital Leases and synthetic leases, tax retention operating leases, off-balance sheet loans and similar off-balance sheet financing products) for such period of the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries on a Consolidated basis.

Consolidated Interest Coverage Ratio” means as of any date of determination for the Four-Quarter Period ending on such date with respect to the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries on a Consolidated basis, the ratio of (a) Consolidated EBITDA to (b) Consolidated Interest Expense paid or payable in cash.

Consolidated Net Income” means for any period, on a Consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP with respect to the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries, the income of such Person for such period, after deducting therefrom all operating expenses, provisions for all taxes and reserves and all other proper deductions, all determined in accordance with GAAP; provided, that in calculating Consolidated Net Income of the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries for any period, the net income (or loss) of any Person in which any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries has a joint interest with a third party shall be excluded, except to the extent such net income is actually paid in cash to any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries by dividend or other distribution during such period.

Consolidated Total Net Leverage Ratio” means as of any date of determination for the Four-Quarter Period ending on such date, the ratio of (a) Funded Debt of the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries on the last day of such period on a Consolidated basis minus unrestricted cash and Cash Equivalents of the Loans Parties and their Subsidiaries in an amount not to exceed $300,000,000 to (b) Consolidated EBITDA of the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries for such period. For the purposes of calculating the Consolidated Total Net Leverage Ratio in connection with determining compliance with the financial covenant set forth and contained in Section 7.08(b) of this Agreement only, and for no other purpose, to the extent that any Co-Borrower or any direct or indirect Subsidiary thereof acquires a Person, the Administrative Agent shall include in its calculation of Consolidated EBITDA the pro forma effect of such acquisition as if such acquisition shall have occurred on the first date of the applicable test period.

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

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

Covered Party” has the meaning specified in Section 10.21.

 

10


Credit Extension” means each of the following: (a) a Borrowing and (b) an L/C Credit Extension.

Customary Permitted Liens” means the following:

(a) Liens (other than Environmental Liens and any Lien imposed under ERISA) for taxes, assessments or charges of any Governmental Authority or claims not yet due or which are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and with respect to which adequate reserves or other appropriate provisions are being maintained to the extent required by GAAP;

(b) statutory Liens of landlords and Liens of carriers, warehousemen, mechanics, materialmen and other like Liens (other than any Lien imposed under ERISA) imposed by Laws, including, Liens in favor of any Governmental Authority securing progress payments made under government contracts created in the ordinary course of business and for amounts not yet due or which are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings which are sufficient to prevent imminent foreclosure of such Liens, are promptly instituted and diligently conducted and with respect to which adequate reserves or other appropriate provision are being maintained to the extent required by GAAP;

(c) Liens (other than any Lien imposed under ERISA) incurred or deposits made in the ordinary course of business (including surety bonds and appeal bonds) in connection with workers’ compensation, unemployment insurance and other types of social security benefits or to secure the performance of tenders, bids, leases, contracts, statutory obligations and other similar obligations or arising as a result of progress payments or deposits under government contracts (including foreign government contracts); provided that in each such case such Liens (i) were not incurred or made in connection with the incurrence or maintenance of Indebtedness, the borrowing of money, the obtaining of advances or credit and (ii) do not in the aggregate materially detract from the value of the Property so encumbered or materially impair the use thereof in the operation of any Co-Borrower or its direct and indirect Consolidated Subsidiaries’ respective businesses;

(d) easements (including reciprocal easement agreements and utility agreements), rights-of-way, covenants, consents, reservations, encroachments, variations and other restrictions, charges or encumbrances (whether or not recorded) affecting the use of real property or impairing the use thereof which are imposed by law or arise in the ordinary course of business that do not secure any monetary obligations and do not materially detract from the value of the affected property or interfere with the ordinary conduct of business of the Person owning such Property;

(e) Liens arising out of and with respect to customer deposits made in the ordinary course of the Co-Borrowers’ respective businesses;

(f) Liens arising as a result of the filing of any financing statement under any applicable state uniform commercial code or comparable Laws of any jurisdiction covering consigned or leased goods which do not constitute assets of the Co-Borrowers and which is not intended as security; and

 

11


(g) extensions, renewals or replacements of any Lien referred to in clauses (a) through (f) above; provided that (i) in the case of clauses (a) through (f) above, the principal amount of the obligation secured thereby is not increased and (ii) any such extension, renewal or replacement is limited to the Property originally encumbered thereby.

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

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

Default Rate” means (a) when used with respect to Obligations other than Letter of Credit Fees, an interest rate equal to (i) the Base Rate plus (ii) the Applicable Rate applicable to Base Rate Loans plus (iii) 2% per annum; provided, however, that with respect to a Eurodollar Rate Loan, the Default Rate shall be an interest rate equal to the interest rate (including any Applicable Rate) otherwise applicable to such Loan plus 2% per annum, and (b) when used with respect to Letter of Credit Fees, a rate equal to the Applicable Rate plus 2% per annum.

Defaulting Lender” means, subject to Section 2.17, any Lender that (a) has failed to (i) fund all or any portion of its Loans within two Business Days of the date such Loans were required to be funded hereunder unless such Lender notifies the Administrative Agent and the Co-Borrowers in writing that such failure is the result of such Lender’s reasonable determination that one or more conditions precedent to funding (each of which conditions precedent, together with any applicable default, shall be specifically identified in such writing) has not been satisfied, or (ii) pay to the Administrative Agent, any L/C Issuer, the Swing Line Lender or any other Lender any other amount required to be paid by it hereunder (including in respect of its participation in Letters of Credit or Swing Line Loans) within two Business Days of the date when due, (b) has notified the Co-Borrowers, the Administrative Agent, any L/C Issuer or any Swing Line Lender in writing that it does not intend to comply with its funding obligations hereunder, or has made a public statement to that effect (unless such writing or public statement relates to such Lender’s obligation to fund a Loan hereunder and states that such position is based on such Lender’s reasonable determination that a condition precedent to funding (which condition precedent, together with any applicable default, shall be specifically identified in such writing or public statement) cannot be satisfied), (c) has failed, within three Business Days after written request by the Administrative Agent or the Co-Borrowers, to confirm in writing to the Administrative Agent and the Co-Borrowers that it will comply with its prospective funding obligations hereunder (provided that such Lender shall cease to be a Defaulting Lender pursuant to this clause (c) upon receipt of such written confirmation by the Administrative Agent and the Co-Borrowers), or (d) has, or has a direct or indirect parent company that has, (i) become the subject of a proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law, (ii) had appointed for it a receiver, custodian, conservator, trustee, administrator, assignee for the benefit of creditors or similar Person charged with reorganization or liquidation of its business or assets, including the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other state or federal regulatory authority acting in such a capacity, or (iii) become the subject of a Bail-In Action; provided that a Lender shall not be a Defaulting Lender solely by virtue of the ownership or acquisition of any Capital Stock in that

 

12


Lender or any direct or indirect parent company thereof by a Governmental Authority so long as such ownership interest does not result in or provide such Lender with immunity from the jurisdiction of courts within the United States or from the enforcement of judgments or writs of attachment on its assets or permit such Lender (or such Governmental Authority) to reject, repudiate, disavow or disaffirm any contracts or agreements made with such Lender. Any determination by the Administrative Agent that a Lender is a Defaulting Lender under any one or more of clauses (a) through (d) above, and of the effective date of such status, shall be conclusive and binding absent manifest error, and such Lender shall be deemed to be a Defaulting Lender (subject to Section 2.17(b)) as of the date established therefor by the Administrative Agent in a written notice of such determination, which shall be delivered by the Administrative Agent to the Co-Borrowers, each L/C Issuer, the Swing Line Lender and each other Lender promptly following such determination.

Disposition” or “Dispose” means the sale, transfer, license, lease or other disposition (including any sale and leaseback transaction) of any Property by any Person, including any sale, assignment, transfer or other disposal, with or without recourse, of any notes or accounts receivable or any rights and claims associated therewith; provided, that the term “Disposition” shall exclude any issuance of Capital Stock by any Loan Party to any Person.

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

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

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

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

EEA Resolution Authority” means any public administrative authority or any Person entrusted with public administrative authority of any EEA Member Country (including any delegee) having responsibility for the resolution of any credit institution or investment firm established in any EEA Member Country.

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

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

 

13


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

Environmental Lien” means a Lien in favor of any Governmental Authority for (a) any liability under any Environmental Laws or (b) damages arising from, or costs incurred by such Governmental Authority in response to a Release or threatened Release of any Hazardous Materials into the environment.

ERISA” means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974.

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

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

Erroneous Payment” has the meaning specified in Section 9.12.

Erroneous Payment Deficiency Assignment” has the meaning specified in Section 9.12.

Erroneous Payment Return Deficiency” has the meaning specified in Section 9.12.

 

14


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

Eurodollar Rate” means for any Eurodollar Rate Loan for any Interest Period therefor, the rate per annum (rounded upwards, if necessary, to the nearest 1/100 of 1%) equal to the London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”) for the corresponding deposits of Dollars at approximately 11:00 A.M. (London time) two (2) Business Days prior to the first day of such Interest Period for a term comparable to such Interest Period. If for any reason such rate is not available, then “LIBOR” shall mean the rate per annum at which, as determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with its customary practices, Dollars in an amount comparable to the Loans then requested are being offered to leading banks at approximately 11:00 A.M. London time, two (2) Business Days prior to the commencement of the applicable Interest Period for settlement in immediately available funds by leading banks in the London interbank market for a period equal to the Interest Period selected. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Eurodollar Rate shall be less than zero, such rate shall be deemed zero for purposes of this Agreement.

Eurodollar Rate Loan” means a Committed Loan that bears interest at a rate based on the Eurodollar Rate.

Eurodollar Unavailability Period” means any period of time during which a notice delivered to the Co-Borrowers in accordance with Section 3.03(a) remains in full force and effect.

Event of Default” has the meaning specified in Section 8.01.

Excluded Subsidiaries” means (a) Premier Insurance Management Services, Inc., (b) any Immaterial Domestic Subsidiary, and (c) Non-Wholly Owned Subsidiary.

Excluded Swap Obligation” means, with respect to any Guarantor, any Swap Obligation if, and to the extent that, all or a portion of the Loan Party Guaranty of such Guarantor of, or the grant by such Guarantor of a security interest to secure, such Swap Obligation (or any Loan Party Guaranty thereof) is or becomes illegal under the Commodity Exchange Act or any rule, regulation or order of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (or the application or official interpretation of any thereof) by virtue of such Guarantor’s failure for any reason to constitute an “eligible contract participant” as defined in the Commodity Exchange Act and the regulations thereunder at the time the Loan Party Guaranty of such Guarantor or the grant of such security interest becomes effective with respect to such Swap Obligation. If a Swap Obligation arises under a master agreement governing more than one swap, such exclusion shall apply only to the portion of such Swap Obligation that is attributable to swaps for which such Loan Party Guaranty or security interest is or becomes illegal.

Excluded Taxes” means any of the following Taxes imposed on or with respect to any Recipient or required to be withheld or deducted from a payment to a Recipient, (a) Taxes imposed on or measured by net income (however denominated), franchise Taxes, and branch profits Taxes, in each case, (i) imposed as a result of such Recipient being organized under the laws of, or having its principal office or, in the case of any Lender, its Lending Office located in,

 

15


the jurisdiction imposing such Tax (or any political subdivision thereof) or (ii) that are Other Connection Taxes, (b) in the case of a Lender, U.S. federal withholding Taxes imposed on amounts payable to or for the account of such Lender with respect to an applicable interest in a Loan or Commitment pursuant to a law in effect on the date on which (i) such Lender acquires such interest in the Loan or Commitment (other than pursuant to an assignment request by the Co-Borrowers under Section 3.06(b)) or (ii) such Lender changes its Lending Office, except in each case to the extent that, pursuant to Section 3.01, amounts with respect to such Taxes were payable either to such Lender’s assignor immediately before such Lender became a party hereto or to such Lender immediately before it changed its Lending Office, (c) Taxes attributable to such Recipient’s failure to comply with Section 3.01(g) and (d) any U.S. federal withholding Taxes imposed pursuant to FATCA.

Existing Credit Agreement” means that certain Credit Agreement dated as of June 24, 2014, by and among the Co-Borrowers, the lenders party thereto and Wells Fargo Bank, as administrative agent.

Existing Maturity Date” means the Maturity Date in effect immediately after the receipt by the Administrative Agent of an Extension Letter but prior to the Extension so requested in such Extension Letter taking effect.

Extending Lender” has the meaning specified in Section 2.18(e).

Extension” has the meaning specified in Section 2.18(a).

Extension Effective Date” has the meaning specified in Section 2.18(e).

Extension Letter” has the meaning specified in Section 2.18(a).

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

FASB ASC” means the Accounting Standards Codification of the Financial Accounting Standards Board.

FATCA” means Sections 1471 through 1474 of the Code, as of the date of this Agreement (or any amended or successor version that is substantively comparable and not materially more onerous to comply with), any current or future regulations or official interpretations thereof and any agreements entered into pursuant to Section 1471(b)(1) of the Code and any fiscal or regulatory legislation, rules or practices adopted pursuant to any intergovernmental agreement, treaty or convention among Governmental Authorities entered into in connection with the implementation of the foregoing.

FDIC” means the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation.

Federal Funds Rate means, for any day, the rate per annum equal to the weighted average of the rates on overnight Federal funds transactions with members of the Federal Reserve System on such day, as published by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York on the Business Day next succeeding such day; provided that (a) if such day is not a Business Day, the Federal Funds Rate for such day shall be such rate on such transactions on the preceding

 

16


Business Day as so published on the next succeeding Business Day, and (b) if no such rate is so published on such next succeeding Business Day, the Federal Funds Rate for such day shall be the average rate (rounded upward, if necessary, to a whole multiple of 1/100 of 1%) charged to Wells Fargo Bank on such day on such transactions as determined by the Administrative Agent. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Federal Funds Rate shall be less than zero, such rate shall be deemed to be zero for purposes of this Agreement.

Fee Letters” shall mean a collective reference to the Bank of America Fee Letter and the Wells Fargo Fee Letter.

fiscal quarter” means, unless otherwise specified, the fiscal quarter of each Co-Borrower.

fiscal year” means, unless otherwise specified, the fiscal year of each Co-Borrower.

Foreign Lender” means any Lender that is organized under the Laws of a jurisdiction other than that in which the Co-Borrowers are resident for tax purposes (including such a Lender when acting in the capacity of an L/C Issuer). For purposes of this definition, the United States, each State thereof and the District of Columbia shall be deemed to constitute a single jurisdiction.

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

Four-Quarter Period” means the rolling, prior four consecutive fiscal quarters ending on the date of any computation of any ratio or other provision contained herein (including the quarter ending on the date as of which such computation is made).

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

Fronting Exposure” means, at any time there is a Defaulting Lender, (a) with respect to any L/C Issuer, such Defaulting Lender’s Applicable Percentage of the outstanding L/C Obligations with respect to Letters of Credit issued by such L/C Issuer other than L/C Obligations as to which such Defaulting Lender’s participation obligation has been reallocated to other Lenders or Cash Collateralized in accordance with the terms hereof, and (b) with respect to the Swing Line Lender, such Defaulting Lender’s Applicable Percentage of Swing Line Loans other than Swing Line Loans as to which such Defaulting Lender’s participation obligation has been reallocated to other Lenders or Cash Collateralized in accordance with the terms hereof.

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

Funded Debt” means, with respect to any Person, without duplication, all Indebtedness of such Person (other than Indebtedness set forth in clauses (d), (e) and (i) of such definition.

 

17


GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States applied on a consistent basis and subject to the terms of the Loan Documents. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, any obligations of a Person under a lease (whether now existing or entered into in the future) that is not (or would not be) a Capital Lease Obligation under GAAP as in effect on the Closing Date, shall not be treated as a Capital Lease Obligation solely as a result of the adoption of changes in GAAP.

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

GPO Participation Agreements” means the GPO Participation Agreements entered into between PHA and customers of the group purchasing programs conducted by PHA and its Affiliates, pursuant to which the limited partners are entitled to purchase products and services under the terms of program contracts negotiated with certain vendors.

Guarantee” means, with respect to any Person, without duplication, any obligations of such Person (other than endorsements in the ordinary course of business of negotiable instruments for deposit or collection) guaranteeing or intended to guarantee any Indebtedness of any other Person in any manner, whether direct or indirect, and including any obligation, whether or not contingent, (a) to purchase any such Indebtedness or any Property constituting security therefor, (b) to advance or provide funds or other support for the payment or purchase of any such Indebtedness or to maintain working capital, solvency or other balance sheet condition of such other Person (including keep well agreements, maintenance agreements, comfort letters or similar agreements or arrangements) for the benefit of any holder of Indebtedness of such other Person, (c) to lease or purchase Property, securities or services primarily for the purpose of assuring the holder of such Indebtedness, or (d) to otherwise assure or hold harmless the holder of such Indebtedness against loss in respect thereof. The amount of any Guarantee hereunder shall (subject to any limitations set forth therein) be deemed to be an amount equal to the outstanding principal amount (or maximum principal amount available to be advanced, if larger) of the Indebtedness in respect of which such Guarantee is made or, if not stated or determinable, the maximum reasonably anticipated liability in respect thereof as determined by the guaranteeing Person in good faith.

Guarantors” means, collectively, the Domestic Subsidiaries of the Co-Borrowers (other than any other Co-Borrower) as are, or may from time to time become parties to this Agreement.

Guarantor Joinder Agreement” shall mean a Guarantor Joinder Agreement in substantially the form of Exhibit F, executed and delivered by a Person in accordance with the provisions of Section 6.12.

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

 

18


Hedging Agreement” means, with respect to any Person, any agreement entered into to protect such Person against fluctuations in interest rates, or currency or raw materials values, including any interest rate swap, cap or collar agreement or similar arrangement between such Person and one or more counterparties, any foreign currency exchange agreement, currency protection agreements, commodity purchase or option agreements or other interest or exchange rate hedging agreements.

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

HIPAA” means the (a) Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996; (b) the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act (Title XIII of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009); and (c) any state and local laws applicable to the Loan Parties regulating the privacy and/or security of individually identifiable health information, including state laws providing for notification of breach of privacy or security of individually identifiable health information, in each case with respect to the laws described in clauses (a), (b) and (c) of this definition, as the same may be amended, modified or supplemented from time to time, any successor statutes thereto, any and all rules or regulations promulgated from time to time thereunder.

Holdings” means Premier Services, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company.

Immaterial Domestic Subsidiary” means any Domestic Subsidiary of a Co-Borrower who (a) generates less than 5% of Consolidated EBITDA on a pro forma basis for the four (4) fiscal quarter period most recently ended or (b) owns less than 5% of the Assets as of the last day of the most recently ended fiscal quarter.

Incremental Loan Commitments” has the meaning assigned thereto in Section 2.14(a).

Incremental Loans” has the meaning assigned thereto in Section 2.14(a).

Incremental Revolving Credit Commitment” has the meaning assigned thereto in Section 2.14(a).

Incremental Revolving Credit Increase” has the meaning assigned thereto in Section 2.14(a).

Incremental Term Loan” has the meaning assigned thereto in Section 2.14(a).

Incremental Term Loan Commitment” has the meaning assigned thereto in Section 2.14(a).

 

19


Indebtedness” means, with respect to any Person, without duplication, (a) all obligations of such Person for borrowed money, (b) all obligations of such Person evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or similar instruments, or upon which interest payments are customarily made, (c) all obligations of such Person under conditional sale or other title retention agreements relating to property purchased by such Person (other than customary reservations or retentions of title under agreements with suppliers entered into in the ordinary course of business), (d) all obligations (including earnout obligations) of such Person incurred, issued or assumed as the deferred purchase price of property or services purchased by such Person (other than (i) trade debt incurred in the ordinary course of business and due within six months of the incurrence thereof and (ii) accounts payable incurred in the ordinary course of business) which would appear as liabilities on a balance sheet of such Person, (e) all obligations of such Person under take-or-pay or similar arrangements or under commodities agreements, (f) all Indebtedness of others secured by (or for which the holder of such Indebtedness has an existing right, contingent or otherwise, to be secured by) any Lien on property owned or acquired by such Person, whether or not the obligations secured thereby have been assumed, (g) all Guarantees of such Person with respect to Indebtedness of another Person, (h) the principal portion of all Capital Lease Obligations plus any accrued interest thereon, (i) all net obligations of such Person under Hedging Agreements, (j) the maximum amount of all letters of credit issued or bankers’ acceptances facilities created for the account of such Person and, without duplication, all drafts drawn thereunder (to the extent unreimbursed), (k) all preferred Capital Stock issued by such Person and which by the terms thereof could be (at the request of the holders thereof or otherwise) subject to mandatory sinking fund payments, redemption or other acceleration, (l) the principal balance outstanding under any synthetic lease, tax retention operating lease, off-balance sheet loan or similar off-balance sheet financing product plus any accrued interest thereon and (m) all obligations of the foregoing types of any partnership in which such Person is a general partner; provided, that the following shall not constitute “Indebtedness”: (A) obligations to any former owners of Capital Stock of any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries relating to the redemption of such Person’s equity in such Loan Party or Subsidiary and in accordance with past practice; (B) amounts due under the terms of the GPO Participation Agreements in effect from time to time among PHA and its customers; and (C) amounts owed with respect to Tax Distributions.

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

Indemnitees” has the meaning specified in Section 10.04(b).

Information” has the meaning specified in Section 10.07.

Initial L/C Issuer” means each of Wells Fargo Bank and Bank of America, N.A.

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

 

20


Interest Period” means, as to each Eurodollar Rate Loan, the period commencing on the date such Eurodollar Rate Loan is disbursed or converted to or continued as a Eurodollar Rate Loan and ending on the date one, two, three or six months thereafter (in each case, subject to availability), as selected by the Co-Borrowers in a Committed Loan Notice (or twelve months if requested by the Co-Borrowers and consented to by all the Lenders); provided that:

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

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

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

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

Investment Guidelines” means the “Investment Policies and Guidelines of Premier, Inc. and Related Companies” provided to the Administrative Agent prior to the Closing Date, and any material amendments, supplements and modifications thereto after the Closing Date to the extent consented to by the Administrative Agent in its reasonable discretion.

IP Rights” has the meaning specified in Section 5.18.

IRS” means the United States Internal Revenue Service.

ISP” means, with respect to any Letter of Credit, the “International Standby Practices 1998” published by the Institute of International Banking Law & Practice, Inc. (or such later version thereof as may be in effect at the time of issuance).

Issuer Documents” means with respect to any Letter of Credit, the Letter of Credit Application, and any other document, agreement and instrument entered into by the applicable L/C Issuer and the Co-Borrowers (or any Subsidiaries thereof) or in favor of the applicable L/C Issuer and relating to such Letter of Credit.

 

21


Joinder” means a joinder entered into by an Eligible Assignee (with the consent of any party whose consent is required by Section 10.06(b)), and accepted by the Administrative Agent, in substantially the form of Exhibit “E-3” attached hereto and made a part hereof or any other form approved by the Administrative Agent.

Laws” means, collectively, all international, foreign, Federal, state and local statutes, treaties, rules, guidelines, regulations, ordinances, codes and administrative or judicial precedents or authorities, including the interpretation or administration thereof by any Governmental Authority charged with the enforcement, interpretation or administration thereof, and all applicable administrative orders, directed duties, requests, licenses, authorizations and permits of, and agreements with, any Governmental Authority, in each case whether or not having the force of law.

L/C Advance” means, with respect to each Lender, such Lender’s funding of its participation in any L/C Borrowing in accordance with its Applicable Percentage.

L/C Borrowing” means an extension of credit resulting from a drawing under any Letter of Credit which has not been reimbursed on the date when made or refinanced as a Committed Borrowing.

L/C Commitment” means, as to any L/C Issuer, the obligation of such L/C Issuer to issue Letters of Credit for the account of any Co-Borrower or one or more of its Subsidiaries from time to time in an aggregate amount equal to (a) for each of the Initial L/C Issuers, the amount set forth opposite the name of each such Initial L/C Issuer on Schedule 2.01, and (b) for any other L/C Issuer becoming an L/C Issuer after the Closing Date, such amount as separately agreed to in a written agreement between the Co-Borrowers and such L/C Issuer (which such agreement shall be promptly delivered to the Administrative Agent upon execution). In each case of clauses (a) and (b) above, any such amount may be changed after the Closing Date in a written agreement between the Co-Borrowers and such L/C Issuer (which such agreement shall be promptly delivered to the Administrative Agent upon execution); provided that the L/C Commitment with respect to any Person that ceases to be an L/C Issuer for any reason pursuant to the terms hereof shall be $0 (subject to the Letters of Credit of such Person remaining outstanding in accordance with the provisions hereof).

L/C Credit Extension” means, with respect to any Letter of Credit, the issuance thereof or extension of the expiry date thereof, or the increase of the amount thereof.

L/C Issuer” means (a) the Initial L/C Issuers and (b) any other Lender to the extent it has agreed in its sole discretion to act as an “L/C Issuer” hereunder and that has been approved in writing by the Co-Borrowers and the Administrative Agent (such approval by the Administrative Agent not to be unreasonably delayed, conditioned or withheld).

L/C Obligations” means, as at any date of determination, the aggregate amount available to be drawn under all outstanding Letters of Credit plus the aggregate of all Unreimbursed Amounts, including all L/C Borrowings. For purposes of computing the amount available to be drawn under any Letter of Credit, the amount of such Letter of Credit shall be determined in accordance with Section 1.06. For all purposes of this Agreement, if on any date of determination a Letter of Credit has expired by its terms but any amount may still be drawn thereunder by reason of the operation of Rule 3.14 of the ISP, such Letter of Credit shall be deemed to be “outstanding” in the amount so remaining available to be drawn.

 

22


Lender” has the meaning specified in the introductory paragraph hereto and, as the context requires, includes the Swing Line Lender.

Lending Office” means, as to any Lender, the office or offices of such Lender described as such in such Lender’s Administrative Questionnaire, or such other office or offices as a Lender may from time to time notify the Co-Borrowers and the Administrative Agent.

Letter of Credit” means any standby letter of credit issued hereunder. A Letter of Credit may not be a commercial letter of credit.

Letter of Credit Application” means an application and agreement for the issuance or amendment of a Letter of Credit in the form from time to time in use by the L/C Issuer.

Letter of Credit Expiration Date” means the day that is seven days prior to the Maturity Date then in effect (or, if such day is not a Business Day, the preceding Business Day).

Letter of Credit Fee” has the meaning specified in Section 2.03(h).

Letter of Credit Sublimit” means an amount equal to $50,000,000.00. The Letter of Credit Sublimit is part of, and not in addition to, the Aggregate Commitments.

Lien” means any mortgage, pledge, hypothecation, assignment, deposit arrangement, security interest, encumbrance, lien (statutory or otherwise), preference, priority or charge of any kind (including any agreement to give any of the foregoing, any conditional sale or other title retention agreement, and any lease in the nature thereof).

Loan” means an extension of credit by a Lender to the Co-Borrowers under Article II in the form of a Committed Loan or a Swing Line Loan.

Loan Documents” means this Agreement, each Note, each Issuer Document, any Guarantor Joinder Agreement, any agreement creating or perfecting rights in Cash Collateral pursuant to the provisions of Section 2.16, and the Fee Letters.

Loan Modification Agreement” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.01.

Loan Modification Offer” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.01.

Loan Parties” means, collectively, the Co-Borrowers and each Guarantor.

Loan Party Guaranty” means the guaranty of the Guarantors set forth in Article XI.

London Banking Day” means any day on which dealings in Dollar deposits are conducted by and between banks in the London interbank eurodollar market.

 

23


Material Adverse Effect” means a material adverse effect upon (a) the operations, business, assets, liabilities (actual or contingent) or financial condition of the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, (b) the ability of the Loan Parties, taken as a whole, to perform their obligations under the Loan Documents, or (c) the rights and remedies of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders under this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents.

Maturity Date” means the later of November 9, 2023 and (b) if maturity is extended pursuant to Section 2.18, such extended maturity date as determined pursuant to such Section; provided, however, that, in each case, if such date is not a Business Day, the Maturity Date shall be the preceding Business Day.

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

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

Non-Extending Lender” has the meaning specified in Section 2.18(b).

Non-Extension Notice Date” has the meaning specified in Section 2.03(b).

Non-Wholly Owned Subsidiary” means, to the extent listed on Schedule 1.01(a) as of the Closing Date or hereafter designated as a Non-Wholly Owned Subsidiary in writing by the Co-Borrowers to the Administrative Agent, any Subsidiary that is not, directly or indirectly, a Wholly Owned Subsidiary of PHA.

Note” means a promissory note made by the Co-Borrowers, on a joint and several basis, in favor of a Lender evidencing Loans made by such Lender, substantially in the form of Exhibit “C” attached hereto and made a part hereof.

Notice Date” has the meaning specified in Section 2.18(b).

Obligations” means (a) all advances to, and debts, liabilities, obligations, covenants and duties of, any Loan Party arising under any Loan Document or otherwise with respect to any Loan or Letter of Credit, whether direct or indirect (including those acquired by assumption), absolute or contingent, due or to become due, now existing or hereafter arising and including interest and fees that accrue after the commencement by or against any Loan Party or any Affiliate thereof of any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Laws naming such Person as the debtor in such proceeding, regardless of whether such interest and fees are allowed claims in such proceeding and (b) for purposes of the Loan Party Guaranty, all Bank Product Debt, but excluding all Excluded Swap Obligations. Without limiting the foregoing, the Obligations include the obligation of the Loan Parties to reimburse any amount in respect of any of the foregoing that the Administrative Agent or any Lender, in each case in its sole discretion, may elect to pay or advance on behalf of the Loan Parties.

 

24


OFAC” has the meaning specified in Section 5.16.

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

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

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

Outstanding Amount” means (a) with respect to Committed Loans and Swing Line Loans on any date, the aggregate outstanding principal amount thereof after giving effect to any borrowings and prepayments or repayments of Committed Loans and Swing Line Loans, as the case may be, occurring on such date; and (b) with respect to any L/C Obligations on any date, the amount of the aggregate outstanding amount of such L/C Obligations on such date after giving effect to any L/C Credit Extension occurring on such date and any other changes in the aggregate amount of the L/C Obligations as of such date, including as a result of any reimbursements by the Co-Borrowers of Unreimbursed Amounts.

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

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

Payment Recipient” has the meaning specified in Section 9.12.

PBGC” means the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation.

Pension Act” means the Pension Protection Act of 2006.

Pension Funding Rules” means the rules of the Code and ERISA regarding minimum required contributions (including any installment payment thereof) to Pension Plans and set forth in, with respect to plan years ending prior to the effective date of the Pension Act, Section 412 of the Code and Section 302 of ERISA, each as in effect prior to the Pension Act and, thereafter, Section 412, 430, 431, 432 and 436 of the Code and Sections 302, 303, 304 and 305 of ERISA.

 

25


Pension Plan” means any employee pension benefit plan (including a Multiple Employer Plan or a Multiemployer Plan) that is maintained or is contributed to by any Co-Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate or with respect to which any Co-Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate has any liability and is either covered by Title IV of ERISA or is subject to the minimum funding standards under Section 412 of the Code.

Permitted Acquisition” means any merger, consolidation, or acquisition with or of any Person which complies with each of the following terms and conditions:

(a) said Person must be (i) in the healthcare line of business, or (ii) in any related line of business, or a line of business that is reasonably complimentary, ancillary or incidental to those engaged in by the Co-Borrowers or any of their respective Subsidiaries, which determination shall be made, at Administrative Agent’s request, by any Responsible Officer of the Loan Party that is acquiring such Person; and

(b) no Default or Event of Default shall exist at the time of, or shall result or be caused by, such merger, consolidation, or acquisition;

(c) (i) all of the financial covenants set forth in Section 7.08 of this Agreement must be complied with on a pro forma combined basis for the then current period and (ii) if the aggregate consideration with respect to any such acquisition is equal to or greater than $150,000,000, then as evidence of such compliance, the Co-Borrowers shall have first delivered to the Administrative Agent a written certificate signed by a Responsible Officer showing, in reasonable detail, the calculation of the pro-forma Consolidated Total Net Leverage Ratio, after giving effect to such merger, consolidation, or acquisition; and

(d) in the event a Co-Borrower (other than PHA, which shall be the surviving Person in any Permitted Acquisition it is a party to) is not the surviving Person, the surviving Person (the “Successor Borrower”) shall be a domestic Person that expressly assumes, by a written agreement reasonably satisfactory in form and substance to the Administrative Agent (which agreement may require, in connection with such assumption, the delivery of such opinions of counsel (who may be in-house counsel) as the Administrative Agent may reasonably require (it being understood that Administrative Agent shall not require that such opinions of counsel be delivered by outside counsel)), the obligations of the acquired Co-Borrower(s) under the Loan Documents, including all covenants contained therein, and such Successor Borrower shall succeed to and be substituted for said Co-Borrower(s) with the same effect as if it had been named herein as a party hereto, provided, however, that PHA shall provide not less than five Business Days’ notice of any merger, consolidation or acquisition of a Co-Borrower, and PHA shall, promptly upon the request of the Administrative Agent or any Lender, supply any documentation and other evidence as is reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent or any Lender in order for the Administrative Agent or such Lender to carry out and be satisfied it has complied with the results of all necessary “know your customer” or other similar checks under all applicable laws and regulations.

 

26


Permitted Amendment” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 10.01.

Permitted Refinancing” means, with respect to any Person, any modification, refinancing, refunding, renewal or extension of any Indebtedness of such Person; provided, that (a) the principal amount (or accreted value, if applicable) thereof does not exceed the principal amount (or accreted value, if applicable) of the Indebtedness so modified, refinanced, refunded, renewed or extended except by an amount equal to (i) unpaid accrued interest and premiums thereon (including tender premiums) plus fees and expenses (including upfront fees and original issue discount) reasonably incurred, in connection with such modification, refinancing, refunding, renewal or extension, plus (ii) any existing commitments unutilized thereunder, (b) such modification, refinancing, refunding, renewal or extension has a final maturity date equal to or later than the final maturity date of the Indebtedness being modified, refinanced, refunded, renewed or extended, (c) immediately before and after giving effect thereto, no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, and (d) the direct and contingent obligors with respect to such Indebtedness are not changed unless any such change is consented to by Administrative Agent in its reasonable discretion.

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

PHA” means Premier Healthcare Alliance, L.P., a California limited partnership.

PHSI” means Premier Healthcare Solutions, Inc., a Delaware corporation.

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

Platform” has the meaning specified in Section 6.02.

Prime Rate” means the rate of interest in effect for such day as publicly announced from time to time by Wells Fargo Bank as its “prime rate.” The “prime rate” is a rate set by Wells Fargo Bank based upon various factors including Wells Fargo Bank’s costs and desired return, general economic conditions and other factors, and is used as a reference point for pricing some loans, which may be priced at, above, or below such announced rate. Any change in such rate announced by Wells Fargo Bank shall take effect at the opening of business on the day specified in the public announcement of such change.

Priority Indebtedness” means any Indebtedness of the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries that has a maturity date (or is subject to amortization or prepayment) prior to the Maturity Date.

Property” means any interest in any kind of property or asset, whether real, personal or mixed, or tangible or intangible.

PSCI” means Premier Supply Chain Improvement, Inc., a Delaware corporation.

 

27


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

Public Lender” has the meaning specified in Section 6.02.

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

Recipient” means the Administrative Agent, any Lender, any L/C Issuer or any other recipient of any payment to be made by or on account of any obligation of any Loan Party hereunder.

Refinancing” has the meaning specified in Section 6.11.

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

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

Release” shall mean release, spill, emission, leaking, pumping, injection, deposit, disposal, discharge, dispersal, leaching or migration into the indoor or outdoor environment or into or out of any Property, including the movement of Hazardous Materials through or in the air, soil, surface water, groundwater or real property.

Replacement Rate” has the meaning specified in Section 3.03(c).

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

Request for Credit Extension” means (a) with respect to a Borrowing, conversion or continuation of Committed Loans, a Committed Loan Notice, (b) with respect to an L/C Credit Extension, a Letter of Credit Application, and (c) with respect to a Swing Line Loan, a Swing Line Loan Notice.

Required Lenders” means, as of any date of determination, Lenders having more than 50% of the Aggregate Commitments or, if the commitment of each Lender to make Loans and the obligation of each L/C Issuer to make L/C Credit Extensions have been terminated pursuant to Section 8.02, Lenders holding in the aggregate more than 50% of the Total Outstandings (with the aggregate amount of each Lender’s risk participation and funded participation in L/C Obligations and Swing Line Loans being deemed “held” by such Lender for purposes of this definition); provided that the Commitment of, and the portion of the Total Outstandings held or deemed held by, any Defaulting Lender shall be excluded for purposes of making a determination of Required Lenders.

 

28


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

Responsible Officer” means the chief executive officer, president, chief financial officer, treasurer, assistant treasurer or controller of a Loan Party and, solely for purposes of notices given pursuant to Article II, any other officer or employee of the applicable Loan Party so designated by any of the foregoing officers in a notice to the Administrative Agent. Any document delivered hereunder that is signed by a Responsible Officer of a Loan Party shall be conclusively presumed to have been authorized by all necessary corporate, partnership and/or other action on the part of such Loan Party and such Responsible Officer shall be conclusively presumed to have acted on behalf of such Loan Party.

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

Sanctions” means economic or financial sanctions or trade embargoes imposed, administered or enforced from time to time by the U.S. government, including those administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Department of the Treasury or the U.S. Department of State.

Sanctioned Country” means, at any time, a country or territory which is the subject or target of any Sanctions.

Sanctioned Person” means, at any time, (a) any Person listed in any Sanctions-related list of designated Persons maintained by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Department of the Treasury or the U.S. Department of State, (b) any Person operating, organized or resident in a Sanctioned Country or (c) any Person controlled by any such Person.

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

Subsidiary” of a Person means a corporation, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company or other business entity of which a majority of the shares of securities or other interests having ordinary voting power for the election of directors or other governing body (other than securities or interests having such power only by reason of the happening of a contingency) are at the time beneficially owned, or the management of which is otherwise controlled, directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, or both, by such Person; provided, however, Excluded Subsidiaries shall not be considered Subsidiaries hereunder. Unless otherwise specified, all references herein to a “Subsidiary” or to “Subsidiaries” shall refer to a Subsidiary or Subsidiaries of any Co-Borrower.

 

29


Swap Obligations” means, with respect to any Guarantor, an obligation to pay or perform under any agreement, contract or transaction that constitutes a “swap” within the meaning of § 1a(47) of the Commodity Exchange Act.

Swing Line Borrowing” means a borrowing of a Swing Line Loan pursuant to Section 2.04.

Swing Line Lender” means Wells Fargo Bank in its capacity as provider of Swing Line Loans, or any successor swing line lender hereunder.

Swing Line Loan” has the meaning specified in Section 2.04(a).

Swing Line Loan Notice” means a notice of a Swing Line Borrowing pursuant to Section 2.04(b), which, if in writing, shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit “B”.

Swing Line Sublimit” means an amount equal to the lesser of (a) $100,000,000.00 and (b) the Aggregate Commitments. The Swing Line Sublimit is part of, and not in addition to, the Aggregate Commitments.

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

Tax Distributions” means an aggregate amount of cash that PHA shall distribute to all partners of PHA prior to the 60th day after the end of each calendar quarter equal to a percentage of the allocations of taxable income made or expected to be made each quarter equal to the effective combined federal, state and local income tax rate then payable by Premier, Inc. taking into account the benefit of deducting state and local income taxes for federal income tax purposes and any benefit of the dividends received deduction but not taking into account the effect of any increase in basis under Sections 743 or 734 of the Code, with such changes that do not adversely affect the Co-Borrowers or the Lenders in any material respect.

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

Total Outstandings” means the aggregate Outstanding Amount of all Loans and all L/C Obligations.

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

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

 

30


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

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

Unreimbursed Amount” has the meaning specified in Section 2.03(c)(i).

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

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

Voting Stock” means, with respect to any Person, Capital Stock issued by such Person the holders of which are ordinarily, in the absence of contingencies, entitled to vote for the election of directors, managers or persons performing similar governance functions of such Person, even though the right so to vote may be or have been suspended by the happening of such a contingency.

Wells Fargo Bank” means Wells Fargo Bank, National Association and its successors.

Wells Fargo Fee Letter” means the letter agreement, dated October 15, 2018, among the Co-Borrowers, the Administrative Agent and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC.

Wholly Owned Subsidiary” and “Wholly Owned Subsidiaries” shall mean any Subsidiary or Subsidiaries of any Co-Borrower all of the Capital Stock (other than directors’ qualifying shares but not in excess of the minimum number of shares necessary to satisfy local ownership legal requirements) of which is/are, at the time as of which any such determination is being made, owned by any Co-Borrower, either directly or through any other Wholly Owned Subsidiary or Wholly Owned Subsidiaries.

Withholding Agent” means the Co-Borrowers and the Administrative Agent.

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

 

31


1.02 Other Interpretive Provisions.

With reference to this Agreement and each other Loan Document, unless otherwise specified herein or in such other Loan Document:

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

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

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

1.03 Accounting Terms.

(a) Generally. All accounting terms not specifically or completely defined herein shall be construed in conformity with, and all financial data (including financial ratios and other financial calculations) required to be submitted pursuant to this Agreement shall be prepared in conformity with, GAAP applied on a consistent basis, as in effect from time to time, except as otherwise specifically prescribed herein. Notwithstanding the foregoing, for purposes of determining compliance with any covenant (including the computation of any financial covenant) contained herein, Indebtedness of the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries shall be deemed to be carried at 100% of the outstanding principal amount thereof, and the effects of FASB ASC 825 on financial liabilities shall be disregarded.

 

32


(b) Whenever the phrase “to Co-Borrowers or any Loan Party’s knowledge” or words of similar import relating to the knowledge or the awareness of Co-Borrowers or Loan Parties are used in this Agreement or other Loan Documents, such phrase shall mean and refer to (i) the actual knowledge of a Responsible Officer of Co-Borrowers or such Loan Party or (ii) the knowledge that a Responsible Officer of Co-Borrowers or such Loan Party would reasonably be expected to have obtained during the normal course performance of his or her duties.

(c) Changes in GAAP. If at any time any change in GAAP would affect the computation of any financial ratio or requirement set forth in any Loan Document, and either the Co-Borrowers or the Required Lenders shall so request, the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the Co-Borrowers shall negotiate in good faith to amend such ratio or requirement to preserve the original intent thereof in light of such change in GAAP (subject to the approval of the Required Lenders); provided that, until so amended, (i) such ratio or requirement shall continue to be computed in accordance with GAAP prior to such change therein and (ii) the Co-Borrowers shall provide to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders financial statements and other documents required under this Agreement or as reasonably requested hereunder setting forth a reconciliation between calculations of such ratio or requirement made before and after giving effect to such change in GAAP. Notwithstanding any other provision contained herein, any lease that is treated as an operating lease for purposes of GAAP as of the Closing Date shall continue to be treated as an operating lease (and any future lease, if it were in effect on the Closing Date, that would have been treated as an operating lease for purposes of GAAP as of the Closing Date shall be treated as an operating lease), in each case for purposes of this Agreement, notwithstanding any change in GAAP after the Closing Date.

(d) Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities. All references herein to Consolidated financial statements of PHSI and its direct and indirect Subsidiaries or to the determination of any amount for PHSI and its direct and indirect Subsidiaries, or the Co-Borrowers and their direct or indirect Subsidiaries, on a Consolidated basis or any similar reference shall, in each case, be deemed to include each variable interest entity that PHSI is required to consolidate pursuant to FASB Interpretation No. 46 – Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities: an interpretation of ARB No. 51 (January 2003) as if such variable interest entity were a Subsidiary as defined herein.

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

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

1.06 Letter of Credit Amounts. Unless otherwise specified herein, the amount of a Letter of Credit at any time shall be deemed to be the stated amount of such Letter of Credit in effect at such time; provided, however, that with respect to any Letter of Credit that, by its terms or the terms of any Issuer Document related thereto, provides for one or more automatic increases in the stated amount thereof, the amount of such Letter of Credit shall be deemed to be the maximum stated amount of such Letter of Credit after giving effect to all such increases, whether or not such maximum stated amount is in effect at such time.

 

33


1.07 Interpretation and Construction of Exceptions/Carveouts to Article VII Negative Covenants.

In connection with the exceptions/carveouts to the negative covenants set forth and described in Article VII of this Agreement, each such exception/carveout shall be available as described therein independent of, and separate, distinct, and apart from, any other such exceptions/carveouts, including any other exceptions/carveouts expressly set forth and described within the same section of said Article VII. Any and all such exceptions/carveouts which make reference to an aggregate dollar amount (i.e., a “basket”) shall be deemed to refer to the aggregate dollar amount which the Lenders will permit the Co-Borrowers and their Subsidiaries to incur or to have incurred and to permit to remain outstanding subsequent to the Closing Date, however, such aggregate dollar amount (i.e., a “basket”) shall be deemed to be inclusive of, and not in addition to, the aggregate dollar amount of each such exception/carve out which may have been previously incurred and which is currently outstanding as of the Closing Date.

1.08 Divisions. For all purposes under the Loan Documents, in connection with any division or plan of division under Delaware law (or any comparable event under a different jurisdiction’s laws): (a) if any asset, right, obligation or liability of any Person becomes the asset, right, obligation or liability of a different Person, then it shall be deemed to have been transferred from the original Person to the subsequent Person, and (b) if any new Person comes into existence, such new Person shall be deemed to have been organized on the first date of its existence by the holders of its Capital Stock at such time.

ARTICLE II.

THE COMMITMENTS AND CREDIT EXTENSIONS

2.01 Committed Loans. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, each Lender severally agrees to make loans in Dollars (hereinafter each such loan shall be referred to as a “Committed Loan”) to the Co-Borrowers from time to time, on any Business Day during the Availability Period, in an aggregate amount not to exceed at any time outstanding the amount of such Lender’s Commitment; provided, however, that after giving effect to any Committed Borrowing, (i) the Total Outstandings shall not exceed the Aggregate Commitments, and (ii) the aggregate Outstanding Amount of the Committed Loans of any Lender, plus such Lender’s Applicable Percentage of the Outstanding Amount of all L/C Obligations, plus such Lender’s Applicable Percentage of the Outstanding Amount of all Swing Line Loans shall not exceed such Lender’s Commitment. Within the limits of each Lender’s Commitment, and subject to the other terms and conditions hereof, the Co-Borrowers may borrow under this Section 2.01, prepay under Section 2.05, and reborrow under this Section 2.01. Committed Loans may be Base Rate Loans or Eurodollar Rate Loans, as further provided herein.

 

34


2.02 Borrowings, Conversions and Continuations of Committed Loans.

(a) Each Committed Borrowing, each conversion of Committed Loans from one Type to the other, and each continuation of Eurodollar Rate Loans shall be made upon the Co- Borrowers’ irrevocable notice to the Administrative Agent, which may be given by telephone. Each such notice must be received by the Administrative Agent not later than 11:00 a.m. (i) three Business Days prior to the requested date of any Borrowing of, conversion to or continuation of Eurodollar Rate Loans or of any conversion of Eurodollar Rate Loans to Base Rate Committed Loans, and (ii) on the requested date of any Borrowing of Base Rate Committed Loans. Not later than 11:00 a.m., three Business Days before the requested date of such Borrowing, conversion or continuation, the Administrative Agent shall notify the Co-Borrowers (which notice may be by telephone) whether or not the requested Interest Period has been consented to by all the Lenders. Each telephonic notice by the Co-Borrowers pursuant to this Section 2.02(a) must be confirmed promptly by delivery to the Administrative Agent of a written Committed Loan Notice, appropriately completed and signed by a Responsible Officer of the Co-Borrowers. Each Borrowing of, conversion to or continuation of Eurodollar Rate Loans shall be in a principal amount of $2,500,000.00 or a whole multiple of $500,000.00 in excess thereof. Except as provided in Sections 2.03(c) and 2.04(c), each Borrowing of or conversion to Base Rate Committed Loans shall be in a principal amount of $500,000.00 or a whole multiple of $100,000.00 in excess thereof. Each Committed Loan Notice (whether telephonic or written) shall specify (i) whether the Co-Borrowers are requesting a Committed Borrowing, a conversion of Committed Loans from one Type to the other, or a continuation of Eurodollar Rate Loans, (ii) the requested date of the Borrowing, conversion or continuation, as the case may be (which shall be a Business Day), (iii) the principal amount of Committed Loans to be borrowed, converted or continued, (iv) the Type of Committed Loans to be borrowed or to which existing Committed Loans are to be converted, and (v) if applicable, the duration of the Interest Period with respect thereto. If the Co-Borrowers fail to specify a Type of Committed Loan in a Committed Loan Notice or if the Co-Borrowers fail to give a timely notice requesting a conversion or continuation, then the applicable Committed Loans shall be made as, or converted to, Eurodollar Rate Loans with an Interest Period of one month. Any such automatic conversion shall be effective as of the last day of the Interest Period then in effect with respect to the applicable Eurodollar Rate Loans. If the Co-Borrowers request a Borrowing of, conversion to, or continuation of Eurodollar Rate Loans in any such Committed Loan Notice, but fails to specify an Interest Period, it will be deemed to have specified an Interest Period of one month. The Committed Loans made on the Closing Date or any of the three (3) Business Days following the Closing Date may only consist of Base Rate Loans unless the Co-Borrowers deliver a funding indemnity letter in form and substance reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent not less than three (3) Business Days prior to the Closing Date.

(b) Following receipt of a Committed Loan Notice, the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify (but in any event on the same Business Day the Administrative Agent receives such Committed Loan Notice) each Lender of the amount of its Applicable Percentage of the applicable Committed Loans, and if no timely notice of a conversion or continuation is provided by the Co-Borrowers, the Administrative Agent shall notify each Lender of the details of any automatic conversion to Eurodollar Rate Loans with an Interest Period of one month described in Section 2.02(a). In the case of a Committed Borrowing, each Lender shall make the amount of its Committed Loan available to the Administrative Agent in immediately available funds at the Administrative Agent’s Office not later than 1:00 p.m. on the Business Day specified in the applicable Committed Loan Notice. Upon satisfaction of the applicable conditions set forth in Section 4.02 (and, if such Borrowing is the initial Credit Extension, Section 4.01), the Administrative Agent shall make all funds so received available to the Co-Borrowers in like

 

35


funds as received by the Administrative Agent either by (i) crediting the account of the Co-Borrowers on the books of Wells Fargo Bank with the amount of such funds or (ii) wire transfer of such funds, in each case in accordance with instructions provided to (and reasonably acceptable to) the Administrative Agent by the Co-Borrowers; provided, however, that if, on the date the Committed Loan Notice with respect to such Borrowing is given by the Co-Borrowers, there are L/C Borrowings outstanding, then the proceeds of such Borrowing, first, shall be applied to the payment in full of any such L/C Borrowings, and second, shall be made available to the Co-Borrowers as provided above.

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

(d) The Administrative Agent shall promptly notify the Co-Borrowers and the Lenders of the interest rate applicable to any Interest Period for Eurodollar Rate Loans upon determination of such interest rate. At any time that Base Rate Loans are outstanding, the Administrative Agent shall notify the Co-Borrowers and the Lenders of any change in the Prime Rate promptly following the public announcement of such change.

(e) After giving effect to all Committed Borrowings, all conversions of Committed Loans from one Type to the other, and all continuations of Committed Loans as the same Type, there shall not be more than 15 Interest Periods in effect with respect to Committed Loans.

2.03 Letters of Credit.

(a) The Letter of Credit Commitment.

(i) Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, (A) each L/C Issuer agrees, in reliance upon the agreements of the Lenders set forth in this Section 2.03, (1) from time to time on any Business Day during the period from the Closing Date until the Letter of Credit Expiration Date, to issue Letters of Credit, denominated in Dollars, in an aggregate amount not to exceed its L/C Commitment for the account of the Co-Borrowers or their Subsidiaries, and to amend or extend Letters of Credit previously issued by it, in accordance with Section 2.03(b), and (2) to honor drawings under the Letters of Credit issued by it hereunder; and (B) the Lenders severally agree to participate in Letters of Credit issued for the account of the Co-Borrowers or their Subsidiaries and any drawings thereunder; provided that after giving effect to any L/C Credit Extension with respect to any Letter of Credit, (x) the Total Outstandings shall not exceed the Aggregate Commitments, (y) the aggregate Outstanding Amount of the Committed Loans of any Lender, plus such Lender’s Applicable Percentage of the Outstanding Amount of all L/C Obligations, plus such Lender’s Applicable Percentage of the Outstanding Amount of all Swing Line Loans shall not exceed such Lender’s Commitment, and (z) the Outstanding Amount of the L/C Obligations shall not exceed the Letter of Credit Sublimit. Each request by the Co-Borrowers for the issuance or amendment of a Letter of Credit shall be deemed to be a representation by the Co-Borrowers that the L/C Credit Extension so requested complies with the conditions set

 

36


forth in the proviso to the preceding sentence. Within the foregoing limits, and subject to the terms and conditions hereof, the Co-Borrowers’ ability to obtain Letters of Credit shall be fully revolving, and accordingly the Co-Borrowers may, during the foregoing period, obtain Letters of Credit to replace Letters of Credit that have expired or that have been drawn upon and reimbursed.

(ii) No L/C Issuer shall issue any Letter of Credit, if:

(A) subject to Section 2.03(b)(iii), the expiry date of such requested Letter of Credit would occur more than twelve months after the date of issuance or last extension, unless the Required Lenders have approved such expiry date; or

(B) the expiry date of such requested Letter of Credit would occur after the Letter of Credit Expiration Date, unless all the Lenders have approved such expiry date.

(iii) No L/C Issuer shall be under any obligation to issue any Letter of Credit if:

(A) any order, judgment or decree of any Governmental Authority or arbitrator shall by its terms purport to enjoin or restrain such L/C Issuer from issuing such Letter of Credit, or any Law applicable to such L/C Issuer or any request or directive (whether or not having the force of law) from any Governmental Authority with jurisdiction over such L/C Issuer shall prohibit, or request that such L/C Issuer refrain from, the issuance of letters of credit generally or such Letter of Credit in particular or shall impose upon such L/C Issuer with respect to such Letter of Credit any restriction, reserve or capital requirement (for which such L/C Issuer is not otherwise compensated hereunder) not in effect on the Closing Date, or shall impose upon such L/C Issuer any unreimbursed loss, cost or expense which was not applicable on the Closing Date and which such L/C Issuer in good faith deems material to it;

(B) the issuance of such Letter of Credit would violate one or more policies of such L/C Issuer applicable to letters of credit generally;

(C) except as otherwise agreed by the Administrative Agent and such L/C Issuer, such Letter of Credit is in an initial stated amount less than $10,000.00;

(D) such Letter of Credit is to be denominated in a currency other than Dollars;

(E) such Letter of Credit contains any provisions for automatic reinstatement of the stated amount after any drawing thereunder; or

 

37


(F) any Lender is at that time a Defaulting Lender, unless such L/C Issuer has entered into arrangements, including the delivery of Cash Collateral, reasonably satisfactory to such L/C Issuer (in its reasonable discretion) with the Co-Borrowers or such Lender to eliminate such L/C Issuer’s actual or potential Fronting Exposure (after giving effect to Section 2.17(a)(iv)) with respect to the Defaulting Lender arising from either the Letter of Credit then proposed to be issued or that Letter of Credit and all other L/C Obligations as to which such L/C Issuer has actual or potential Fronting Exposure, as it may elect in its reasonable discretion.

(iv) No L/C Issuer shall amend any Letter of Credit issued by it if such L/C Issuer would not be permitted at such time to issue such Letter of Credit in its amended form under the terms hereof.

(v) No L/C Issuer shall be under any obligation to amend any Letter of Credit if (A) such L/C Issuer would have no obligation at such time to issue such Letter of Credit in its amended form under the terms hereof, or (B) the beneficiary of such Letter of Credit does not accept the proposed amendment to such Letter of Credit.

(vi) Each L/C Issuer shall act on behalf of the Lenders with respect to any Letters of Credit issued by it and the documents associated therewith, and each L/C Issuer shall have all of the benefits and immunities (A) provided to the Administrative Agent in Article IX with respect to any acts taken or omissions suffered by such L/C Issuer in connection with Letters of Credit issued by it or proposed to be issued by it and Issuer Documents pertaining to such Letters of Credit as fully as if the term “Administrative Agent” as used in Article IX included such L/C Issuer with respect to such acts or omissions, and (B) as additionally provided herein with respect to any L/C Issuer.

(b) Procedures for Issuance and Amendment of Letters of Credit; Auto-Extension Letters of Credit.

(i) Each Letter of Credit shall be issued or amended, as the case may be, upon the request of the Co-Borrowers delivered to applicable L/C Issuer (with a copy to the Administrative Agent) in the form of a Letter of Credit Application, appropriately completed and signed by a Responsible Officer of the Co-Borrowers. Such Letter of Credit Application must be received by the applicable L/C Issuer and the Administrative Agent not later than 11:00 a.m. at least two Business Days (or such later date and time as the Administrative Agent and such L/C Issuer may agree in a particular instance in their sole discretion) prior to the proposed issuance date or date of amendment, as the case may be. In the case of a request for an initial issuance of a Letter of Credit, such Letter of Credit Application shall specify in form and detail reasonably satisfactory to the applicable L/C Issuer: (A) the proposed issuance date of the requested Letter of Credit (which shall be a Business Day); (B) the amount thereof; (C) the expiry date thereof; (D) the name and address of the beneficiary thereof; (E) the documents to be presented by such beneficiary in case of any drawing thereunder; (F) the full text of any certificate to be presented by such beneficiary in case of any drawing thereunder; (G) the purpose and nature of the requested Letter of Credit; and (H) such other matters as such L/C Issuer may require. In the case of a request for an amendment of any outstanding Letter of Credit, such Letter of Credit Application shall specify in form and detail reasonably

 

38


satisfactory to the applicable L/C Issuer (A) the Letter of Credit to be amended; (B) the proposed date of amendment thereof (which shall be a Business Day); (C) the nature of the proposed amendment; and (D) such other matters as such L/C Issuer may require. Additionally, the Co-Borrowers shall furnish to the applicable L/C Issuer and the Administrative Agent such other documents and information pertaining to such requested Letter of Credit issuance or amendment, including any Issuer Documents, as the applicable L/C Issuer or the Administrative Agent may reasonably require.

(ii) Promptly after receipt of any Letter of Credit Application, the applicable L/C Issuer will confirm with the Administrative Agent (by telephone or in writing) that the Administrative Agent has received a copy of such Letter of Credit Application from the Co-Borrowers and, if not, such L/C Issuer will provide the Administrative Agent with a copy thereof. Unless the applicable L/C Issuer has received written notice from any Lender, the Administrative Agent or any Loan Party, at least one Business Day prior to the requested date of issuance or amendment of the applicable Letter of Credit, that one or more applicable conditions contained in Article IV shall not then be satisfied, then, subject to the terms and conditions hereof, such L/C Issuer shall, on the requested date, issue a Letter of Credit for the account of a Co-Borrower (or the applicable Subsidiary) or enter into the applicable amendment, as the case may be, in each case in accordance with such L/C Issuer’s usual and customary business practices. Immediately upon the issuance of each Letter of Credit, each Lender shall be deemed to, and hereby irrevocably and unconditionally agrees to, purchase from the applicable L/C Issuer a risk participation in such Letter of Credit in an amount equal to the product of such Lender’s Applicable Percentage times the amount of such Letter of Credit.

(iii) If the Co-Borrowers so request in any applicable Letter of Credit Application, the applicable L/C Issuer may, in its sole and absolute discretion, agree to issue a Letter of Credit that has automatic extension provisions (hereinafter each referred to as an “Auto-Extension Letter of Credit”); provided that any such Auto-Extension Letter of Credit must permit the applicable L/C Issuer to prevent any such extension at least once in each twelve-month period (commencing with the date of issuance of such Letter of Credit) by giving prior notice to the beneficiary thereof not later than a day (hereinafter referred to as the “Non-Extension Notice Date”) in each such twelve-month period to be agreed upon at the time such Letter of Credit is issued. Unless otherwise directed by the applicable L/C Issuer, the Co-Borrowers shall not be required to make a specific request to such L/C Issuer for any such extension. Once an Auto-Extension Letter of Credit has been issued, the Lenders shall be deemed to have authorized (but may not require) the applicable L/C Issuer to permit the extension of such Letter of Credit at any time to an expiry date not later than the Letter of Credit Expiration Date; provided, however, that the applicable L/C Issuer shall not permit any such extension if (A) the L/C Issuer has determined that it would not be permitted, or would have no obligation, at such time to issue such Letter of Credit in its revised form (as extended) under the terms hereof (by reason of the provisions of clause (ii) or (iii) of Section 2.03(a) or otherwise), or (B) it has received notice (which may be by telephone or in writing) on or before the day that is seven Business Days before the Non-Extension Notice Date (1) from the Administrative Agent that the Required Lenders have elected not to permit such extension or (2) from the Administrative Agent, any Lender or the Co- Borrowers that one or more of the applicable conditions specified in Section 4.02 is not then satisfied, and in each such case directing such L/C Issuer not to permit such extension.

 

39


(iv) Promptly after its delivery of any Letter of Credit or any amendment to a Letter of Credit to an advising bank with respect thereto or to the beneficiary thereof, the applicable L/C Issuer will also deliver to the Co-Borrowers and the Administrative Agent a true and complete copy of such Letter of Credit or amendment.

(c) Drawings and Reimbursements; Funding of Participations.

(i) Upon receipt from the beneficiary of any Letter of Credit of any notice of a drawing under such Letter of Credit, the applicable L/C Issuer shall notify the Co-Borrowers and the Administrative Agent thereof. Not later than 11:00 a.m. on the first Business Day after any payment by the applicable L/C Issuer under a Letter of (each such date, an “Honor Date”), the Co-Borrowers shall reimburse such L/C Issuer through the Administrative Agent in an amount equal to the amount of such drawing. If the Co-Borrowers fail to so reimburse the applicable L/C Issuer by such time, the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each Lender of the Honor Date, the amount of the unreimbursed drawing (hereinafter referred to as the “Unreimbursed Amount”), and the amount of such Lender’s Applicable Percentage thereof. In such event, the Co-Borrowers shall be deemed to have requested a Committed Borrowing of Base Rate Loans to be disbursed on the Honor Date in an amount equal to the Unreimbursed Amount, without regard to the minimum and multiples specified in Section 2.02 for the principal amount of Base Rate Loans, but subject to the amount of the unutilized portion of the Aggregate Commitments and the conditions set forth in Section 4.02 (other than the delivery of a Committed Loan Notice). Any notice given by any L/C Issuer or the Administrative Agent pursuant to this Section 2.03(c)(i) may be given by telephone if immediately confirmed in writing; provided that the lack of such an immediate confirmation shall not affect the conclusiveness or binding effect of such notice.

(ii) Each Lender shall upon any notice pursuant to Section 2.03(c)(i) make funds available (and the Administrative Agent may apply Cash Collateral provided for this purpose) for the account of the applicable L/C Issuer, in Dollars, at the Administrative Agent’s Office for Dollar-denominated payments in an amount equal to its Applicable Percentage of the Unreimbursed Amount not later than 1:00 p.m. on the Business Day specified in such notice by the Administrative Agent, whereupon, subject to the provisions of Section 2.03(c)(iii), each Lender that so makes funds available shall be deemed to have made a Base Rate Committed Loan to the Co-Borrowers in such amount. The Administrative Agent shall remit the funds so received to the applicable L/C Issuer in Dollars.

(iii) With respect to any Unreimbursed Amount that is not fully refinanced by a Committed Borrowing of Base Rate Loans because the conditions set forth in Section 4.02 cannot be satisfied or for any other reason, the Co-Borrowers shall be deemed to have incurred from the applicable L/C Issuer an L/C Borrowing in the amount of the Unreimbursed Amount that is not so refinanced, which L/C Borrowing shall be due and

 

40


payable on demand (together with interest) and shall bear interest at the Default Rate. In such event, each Lender’s payment to the Administrative Agent for the account of such L/C Issuer pursuant to Section 2.03(c)(ii) shall be deemed payment in respect of its participation in such L/C Borrowing and shall constitute an L/C Advance from such Lender in satisfaction of its participation obligation under this Section 2.03.

(iv) Until each Lender funds its Committed Loan or L/C Advance pursuant to this Section 2.03(c) to reimburse the applicable L/C Issuer for any amount drawn under any Letter of Credit, interest in respect of such Lender’s Applicable Percentage of such amount shall be solely for the account of such L/C Issuer.

(v) Each Lender’s obligation to make Committed Loans or L/C Advances to reimburse the respective L/C Issuers for amounts drawn under Letters of Credit issued by such L/C Issuer, as contemplated by this Section 2.03(c), shall be absolute and unconditional and shall not be affected by any circumstance, including (A) any setoff, counterclaim, recoupment, defense or other right which such Lender may have against such L/C Issuer, the Co-Borrowers or any other Person for any reason whatsoever; (B) the occurrence or continuance of a Default or Event of Default, or (C) any other occurrence, event or condition, whether or not similar to any of the foregoing; provided, however, that each Lender’s obligation to make Committed Loans (but, for avoidance of doubt, not its obligation to make L/C Advances) pursuant to this Section 2.03(c) is subject to the conditions set forth in Section 4.02 (other than delivery by the Co-Borrowers of a Committed Loan Notice). No such making of an L/C Advance shall relieve or otherwise impair the obligation of the Co-Borrowers to reimburse an L/C Issuer for the amount of any payment made by such L/C Issuer under any Letter of Credit issued by it, together with interest as provided herein.

(vi) If any Lender fails to make available to the Administrative Agent for the account of the applicable L/C Issuer any amount required to be paid by such Lender pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this Section 2.03(c) by the time specified in Section 2.03(c)(ii), such L/C Issuer shall be entitled to recover from such Lender (acting through the Administrative Agent), on demand, such amount with interest thereon for the period from the date such payment is required to the date on which such payment is immediately available to such L/C Issuer at a rate per annum equal to the Federal Funds Rate from time to time in effect, plus any administrative, processing or similar fees customarily charged by such L/C Issuer in connection with the foregoing. If such Lender pays such amount (with interest and fees as aforesaid), the amount so paid shall constitute such Lender’s Committed Loan included in the relevant Committed Borrowing or L/C Advance in respect of the relevant L/C Borrowing, as the case may be. A certificate of an L/C Issuer submitted to any Lender (through the Administrative Agent) with respect to any amounts owing under this Section 2.03(c)(vi) shall be conclusive absent manifest error.

 

41


(d) Repayment of Participations.

(i) At any time after an L/C Issuer has made a payment under any Letter of Credit issued by it and has received from any Lender such Lender’s L/C Advance in respect of such payment in accordance with Section 2.03(c), if the Administrative Agent receives for the account of such L/C Issuer any payment in respect of the related Unreimbursed Amount or interest thereon (whether directly from the Co-Borrowers or otherwise, including proceeds of Cash Collateral applied thereto by the Administrative Agent), the Administrative Agent will distribute to such Lender its Applicable Percentage thereof in Dollars and in the same funds as those received by the Administrative Agent.

(ii) If any payment received by the Administrative Agent for the account of an L/C Issuer pursuant to Section 2.03(c)(i) is required to be returned under any of the circumstances described in Section 10.05 (including pursuant to any settlement entered into by such L/C Issuer in its discretion), each Lender shall pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of such L/C Issuer its Applicable Percentage thereof on demand of the Administrative Agent, plus interest thereon from the date of such demand to the date such amount is returned by such Lender, at a rate per annum equal to the Federal Funds Rate from time to time in effect. The obligations of the Lenders under this Section 2.03(d)(ii) shall survive the payment in full of the Obligations and the termination of this Agreement.

(e) Obligations Absolute. The obligation of the Co-Borrowers to reimburse the respective L/C Issuers for each drawing under each Letter of Credit issued by such L/C Issuer and to repay each L/C Borrowing shall be absolute, unconditional and irrevocable, and shall be performed strictly in accordance with the terms of this Agreement under all circumstances, including the following:

(i) any lack of validity or enforceability of such Letter of Credit, this Agreement, or any other Loan Document;

(ii) the existence of any claim, counterclaim, setoff, defense or other right that any Co-Borrower or any Subsidiary may have at any time against any beneficiary or any transferee of such Letter of Credit (or any Person for whom any such beneficiary or any such transferee may be acting), such L/C Issuer or any other Person, whether in connection with this Agreement, the transactions contemplated hereby or by such Letter of Credit or any agreement or instrument relating thereto, or any unrelated transaction;

(iii) any draft, demand, certificate or other document presented under such Letter of Credit proving to be forged, fraudulent, invalid or insufficient in any respect or any statement therein being untrue or inaccurate in any respect; or any loss or delay in the transmission or otherwise of any document required in order to make a drawing under such Letter of Credit;

(iv) any payment by such L/C Issuer under such Letter of Credit against presentation of a draft or certificate that does not strictly comply with the terms of such Letter of Credit; or any payment made by such L/C Issuer under such Letter of Credit to any Person purporting to be a trustee in bankruptcy, debtor-in-possession, assignee for the benefit of creditors, liquidator, receiver or other representative of or successor to any beneficiary or any transferee of such Letter of Credit, including any arising in connection with any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law; or

 

42


(v) any other circumstance or happening whatsoever, whether or not similar to any of the foregoing, including any other circumstance that might otherwise constitute a defense available to, or a discharge of, any Co-Borrower or any Subsidiary;

The Co-Borrowers shall promptly examine a copy of each Letter of Credit and each amendment thereto that is delivered to it and, in the event of any claim of noncompliance with the Co-Borrowers’ instructions or other irregularity, the Co-Borrowers will immediately notify the applicable L/C Issuer. The Co-Borrowers shall be conclusively deemed to have waived any such claim against such L/C Issuer and its correspondents unless such notice is given as aforesaid.

(f) Role of L/C Issuer. Each Lender and the Co-Borrowers agree that, in paying any drawing under a Letter of Credit, the applicable L/C Issuer shall not have any responsibility to obtain any document (other than any sight draft, certificates and documents expressly required by the Letter of Credit) or to ascertain or inquire as to the validity or accuracy of any such document or the authority of the Person executing or delivering any such document. None of the L/C Issuers, the Administrative Agent, any of their respective Related Parties nor any correspondent, participant or assignee of any L/C Issuer shall be liable to any Lender for (i) any action taken or omitted in connection herewith at the request or with the approval of the Lenders or the Required Lenders, as applicable; (ii) any action taken or omitted in the absence of gross negligence or willful misconduct; or (iii) the due execution, effectiveness, validity or enforceability of any document or instrument related to any Letter of Credit or Issuer Document. The Co-Borrowers hereby assume all risks of the acts or omissions of any beneficiary or transferee with respect to their use of any Letter of Credit; provided, however, that this assumption is not intended to, and shall not, preclude the Co-Borrowers’ pursuing such rights and remedies as they may have against the beneficiary or transferee at law or under any other agreement. None of the L/C Issuers, the Administrative Agent, any of their respective Related Parties nor any correspondent, participant or assignee of any L/C Issuer shall be liable or responsible for any of the matters described in Section 2.03(e); provided, however, that anything in such clauses to the contrary notwithstanding, the Co-Borrowers may have a claim against an L/C Issuer, and an L/C Issuer may be liable to the Co-Borrowers, to the extent, but only to the extent, of any direct, as opposed to consequential or exemplary, damages suffered by the Co-Borrowers which the Co-Borrowers prove were caused by such L/C Issuer’s willful misconduct, bad faith or gross negligence or such L/C Issuer’s willful failure to pay under any Letter of Credit issued by it after the presentation to it by the beneficiary of a sight draft and certificate(s) strictly complying with the terms and conditions of such Letter of Credit. In furtherance and not in limitation of the foregoing, the L/C Issuers may accept documents that appear on their face to be in order, without responsibility for further investigation, regardless of any notice or information to the contrary, and the L/C Issuers shall not be responsible for the validity or sufficiency of any instrument transferring or assigning or purporting to transfer or assign a Letter of Credit or the rights or benefits thereunder or proceeds thereof, in whole or in part, which may prove to be invalid or ineffective for any reason.

(g) Applicability of ISP. Unless otherwise expressly agreed by the applicable L/C Issuer and the Co-Borrowers when a Letter of Credit is issued the rules of the ISP shall apply to each standby Letter of Credit.

 

43


(h) Letter of Credit Fees. The Co-Borrowers shall pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of each Lender in accordance with its Applicable Percentage a Letter of Credit fee (hereinafter referred to as the “Letter of Credit Fee”) for each Letter of Credit equal to the Applicable Rate for Letter of Credit Fee times the daily amount available to be drawn under such Letter of Credit. For purposes of computing the daily amount available to be drawn under any Letter of Credit, the amount of such Letter of Credit shall be determined in accordance with Section 1.06. Letter of Credit Fees shall be (i) due and payable on the first Business Day after the end of each March, June, September and December, commencing with the first such date to occur after the issuance of such Letter of Credit, on the Letter of Credit Expiration Date and thereafter on demand and (ii) computed on a quarterly basis in arrears. If there is any change in the Applicable Rate during any quarter, the daily amount available to be drawn under each Letter of Credit shall be computed and multiplied by the Applicable Rate separately for each period during such quarter that such Applicable Rate was in effect. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, upon the request of the Required Lenders, while any Event of Default exists, all Letter of Credit Fees shall accrue at the Default Rate.

(i) Issuance Fee and Documentary and Processing Charges Payable to L/C Issuer. The Co-Borrowers shall pay directly to each L/C Issuer for its own account an issuance fee with respect to each Letter of Credit issued by such L/C Issuer, at the rate per annum specified in the Fee Letter executed by such L/C Issuer, computed on the daily amount available to be drawn under such Letter of Credit on a quarterly basis in arrears. Such issuance fee shall be due and payable on the first Business Day after the end of each March, June, September and December in respect of the most recently-ended quarterly period (or portion thereof, in the case of the first payment), commencing with the first such date to occur after the issuance of such Letter of Credit, on the Letter of Credit Expiration Date and thereafter on demand. For purposes of computing the daily amount available to be drawn under any Letter of Credit, the amount of such Letter of Credit shall be determined in accordance with Section 1.06. In addition, the Co-Borrowers shall pay directly to the each L/C Issuer for its own account, in Dollars, the customary issuance, presentation, amendment and other processing fees, and other standard costs and charges, of such L/C Issuer relating to letters of credit as from time to time in effect. Such customary fees and standard costs and charges are due and payable on demand and are nonrefundable.

(j) Conflict with Issuer Documents. In the event of any conflict between the terms hereof and the terms of any Issuer Document, the terms hereof shall control.

(k) Letters of Credit Issued for Subsidiaries. Notwithstanding that a Letter of Credit issued or outstanding hereunder is in support of any obligations of, or is for the account of, a Subsidiary, the Co-Borrowers shall be obligated to reimburse the applicable L/C Issuer hereunder for any and all drawings under such Letter of Credit. The Co-Borrowers hereby acknowledge that the issuance of Letters of Credit for the account of Subsidiaries inures to the benefit of the Co-Borrowers, and that the Co-Borrowers’ business derives substantial benefits from the businesses of such Subsidiaries.

 

44


2.04 Swing Line Loans.

(a) The Swing Line. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, the Swing Line Lender agrees, such agreement being made in reliance upon the agreements of the other Lenders set forth in this Section 2.04, in its sole discretion, to make loans (hereinafter each such loan shall be referred to as a “Swing Line Loan”) to the Co-Borrowers (in Dollars only) from time to time on any Business Day during the Availability Period in an aggregate amount not to exceed at any time outstanding the amount of the Swing Line Sublimit, notwithstanding the fact that such Swing Line Loans, when aggregated with the Applicable Percentage of the Outstanding Amount of Committed Loans and L/C Obligations of the Lender acting as Swing Line Lender, may exceed the amount of such Lender’s Commitment; provided, however, that after giving effect to any Swing Line Loan, (i) the Total Outstandings shall not exceed the Aggregate Commitments, and (ii) the aggregate Outstanding Amount of the Committed Loans of any Lender, plus such Lender’s Applicable Percentage of the Outstanding Amount of all L/C Obligations, plus such Lender’s Applicable Percentage of the Outstanding Amount of all Swing Line Loans shall not exceed such Lender’s Commitment, and provided, further, that the Co-Borrowers shall not use the proceeds of any Swing Line Loan to refinance any outstanding Swing Line Loan. Within the foregoing limits, and subject to the other terms and conditions hereof, the Co-Borrowers may borrow under this Section 2.04, prepay under Section 2.05, and reborrow under this Section 2.04. Each Swing Line Loan shall be a Base Rate Loan. Immediately upon the making of a Swing Line Loan, each Lender shall be deemed to, and hereby irrevocably and unconditionally agrees to, purchase from the Swing Line Lender a risk participation in such Swing Line Loan in an amount equal to the product of such Lender’s Applicable Percentage times the amount of such Swing Line Loan.

(b) Borrowing Procedures. Each Swing Line Borrowing shall be made upon the Co-Borrowers’ irrevocable notice to the Swing Line Lender and the Administrative Agent, which notice may be given by telephone. Each such notice must be received by the Swing Line Lender and the Administrative Agent not later than 3:00 p.m. on the requested borrowing date, and shall specify (i) the amount to be borrowed, which shall be a minimum of $1,000,000.00, and (ii) the requested borrowing date, which shall be a Business Day. Each such telephonic notice must be confirmed promptly by delivery to the Swing Line Lender and the Administrative Agent of a written Swing Line Loan Notice, appropriately completed and signed by a Responsible Officer of the Co-Borrowers. Promptly after receipt by the Swing Line Lender of any telephonic Swing Line Loan Notice, the Swing Line Lender will confirm with the Administrative Agent (by telephone or in writing) that the Administrative Agent has also received such Swing Line Loan Notice and, if not, the Swing Line Lender will notify the Administrative Agent (by telephone or in writing) of the contents thereof. Unless the Swing Line Lender has received notice (by telephone or in writing) from the Administrative Agent (including at the request of any Lender) prior to 3:30 p.m. on the date of the proposed Swing Line Borrowing (A) directing the Swing Line Lender not to make such Swing Line Loan as a result of the limitations set forth in the first proviso to the first sentence of Section 2.04(a), or (B) that one or more of the applicable conditions specified in Article IV is not then satisfied, then, subject to the terms and conditions hereof, the Swing Line Lender will, not later than 4:00 p.m. on the borrowing date specified in such Swing Line Loan Notice, make the amount of its Swing Line Loan available to the Co-Borrowers.

 

45


(c) Refinancing of Swing Line Loans.

(i) The Swing Line Lender at any time in its sole and absolute discretion may request, on behalf of the Co-Borrowers (which hereby irrevocably authorize the Swing Line Lender to so request on their behalf), that each Lender make a Base Rate Committed Loan in an amount equal to such Lender’s Applicable Percentage of the amount of Swing Line Loans then outstanding. Such request shall be made in writing (which written request shall be deemed to be a Committed Loan Notice for purposes hereof) and in accordance with the requirements of Section 2.02, without regard to the minimum and multiples specified therein for the principal amount of Base Rate Loans, but subject to the unutilized portion of the Aggregate Commitments and the conditions set forth in Section 4.02. The Swing Line Lender shall furnish the Co-Borrowers with a copy of the applicable Committed Loan Notice promptly after delivering such notice to the Administrative Agent. Each Lender shall make an amount equal to its Applicable Percentage of the amount specified in such Committed Loan Notice available to the Administrative Agent in immediately available funds (and the Administrative Agent may apply Cash Collateral available with respect to the applicable Swing Line Loan) for the account of the Swing Line Lender at the Administrative Agent’s Office not later than 1:00 p.m. on the day specified in such Committed Loan Notice, whereupon, subject to Section 2.04(c)(ii), each Lender that so makes funds available shall be deemed to have made a Base Rate Committed Loan to the Co-Borrowers in such amount. The Administrative Agent shall remit the funds so received to the Swing Line Lender.

(ii) If for any reason any Swing Line Loan cannot be refinanced by such a Committed Borrowing in accordance with Section 2.04(c)(i), the request for Base Rate Committed Loans submitted by the Swing Line Lender as set forth herein shall be deemed to be a request by the Swing Line Lender that each of the Lenders fund its risk participation in the relevant Swing Line Loan and each Lender’s payment to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Swing Line Lender pursuant to Section 2.04(c)(i) shall be deemed payment in respect of such participation.

(iii) If any Lender fails to make available to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Swing Line Lender any amount required to be paid by such Lender pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this Section 2.04(c) by the time specified in Section 2.04(c)(i), the Swing Line Lender shall be entitled to recover from such Lender (acting through the Administrative Agent), on demand, such amount with interest thereon for the period from the date such payment is required to the date on which such payment is immediately available to the Swing Line Lender at a rate per annum equal to the greater of the Federal Funds Rate and a rate determined by the Swing Line Lender in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation, plus any administrative, processing or similar fees customarily charged by the Swing Line Lender in connection with the foregoing. If such Lender pays such amount (with interest and fees as aforesaid), the amount so paid shall constitute such Lender’s Committed Loan included in the relevant Committed Borrowing or funded participation in the relevant Swing Line Loan, as the case may be. A certificate of the Swing Line Lender submitted to any Lender (through the Administrative Agent) with respect to any amounts owing under this Section 2.04(c)(iii) shall be conclusive absent manifest error.

 

46


(iv) Each Lender’s obligation to make Committed Loans or to purchase and fund risk participations in Swing Line Loans pursuant to this Section 2.04(c) shall be absolute and unconditional and shall not be affected by any circumstance, including (A) any setoff, counterclaim, recoupment, defense or other right which such Lender may have against the Swing Line Lender, the Co-Borrowers or any other Person for any reason whatsoever, (B) the occurrence or continuance of a Default or Event of Default, or (C) any other occurrence, event or condition, whether or not similar to any of the foregoing; provided, however, that each Lender’s obligation to make Committed Loans pursuant to this Section 2.04(c) is subject to the conditions set forth in Section 4.02. No such funding of risk participations shall relieve or otherwise impair the obligation of the Co-Borrowers to repay Swing Line Loans, together with interest as provided herein.

(d) Repayment of Participations.

(i) At any time after any Lender has purchased and funded a risk participation in a Swing Line Loan, if the Swing Line Lender receives any payment on account of such Swing Line Loan, the Swing Line Lender will distribute to such Lender its Applicable Percentage thereof in the same funds as those received by the Swing Line Lender.

(ii) If any payment received by the Swing Line Lender in respect of principal or interest on any Swing Line Loan is required to be returned by the Swing Line Lender under any of the circumstances described in Section 10.05 (including pursuant to any settlement entered into by the Swing Line Lender in its discretion), each Lender shall pay to the Swing Line Lender its Applicable Percentage thereof on demand of the Administrative Agent, plus interest thereon from the date of such demand to the date such amount is returned, at a rate per annum equal to the Federal Funds Rate. The Administrative Agent will make such demand upon the request of the Swing Line Lender. The obligations of the Lenders under this Section 2.04(d)(ii) shall survive the payment in full of the Obligations and the termination of this Agreement.

(e) Interest for Account of Swing Line Lender. The Swing Line Lender shall be responsible for invoicing the Co-Borrowers for interest on the Swing Line Loans. Until each Lender funds its Base Rate Committed Loan or risk participation pursuant to this Section 2.04 to refinance such Lender’s Applicable Percentage of any Swing Line Loan, interest in respect of such Applicable Percentage shall be solely for the account of the Swing Line Lender.

(f) Payments Directly to Swing Line Lender. The Co-Borrowers shall make all payments of principal and interest in respect of the Swing Line Loans directly to the Swing Line Lender.

2.05 Prepayments.

(a) Optional.

(i) The Co-Borrowers may, upon notice to the Administrative Agent, at any time or from time to time voluntarily prepay Committed Loans in whole or in part without premium or penalty; provided that (A) such notice must be received by the Administrative Agent not later than 11:00 a.m. (1) three Business Days prior to any date

 

47


of prepayment of Eurodollar Rate Loans and (2) on the date of prepayment of Base Rate Committed Loans; (B) any prepayment of Eurodollar Rate Loans shall be in a principal amount of $2,500,000.00 or a whole multiple of $500,000.00 in excess thereof or, in each case, if less, the entire principal amount thereof then outstanding; and (C) any prepayment of Base Rate Committed Loans shall be in a principal amount of $500,000.00 or a whole multiple of $100,000.00 in excess thereof or, in each case, if less, the entire principal amount thereof then outstanding. Each such notice shall specify the date and amount of such prepayment and the Type(s) of Committed Loans to be prepaid and, if Eurodollar Rate Loans are to be prepaid, the Interest Period(s) of such Loans. The Administrative Agent will promptly notify each Lender of its receipt of each such notice, and of the amount of such Lender’s Applicable Percentage of such prepayment. If such notice is given by the Co-Borrowers, the Co-Borrowers shall make such prepayment and the payment amount specified in such notice shall be due and payable on the date specified therein. Any prepayment of a Eurodollar Rate Loan shall be accompanied by all accrued interest on the amount prepaid, together with any additional amounts required pursuant to Section 3.05. Subject to Section 2.17, each such prepayment shall be applied to the Committed Loans of the Lenders in accordance with their respective Applicable Percentages.

(ii) The Co-Borrowers may, upon notice to the Swing Line Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), at any time or from time to time, voluntarily prepay Swing Line Loans in whole or in part without premium or penalty; provided that (A) such notice must be received by the Swing Line Lender and the Administrative Agent not later than 1:00 p.m. on the date of the prepayment, and (B) any such prepayment shall be in a minimum principal amount of $100,000.00. Each such notice shall specify the date and amount of such prepayment. If such notice is given by the Co-Borrowers, the Co-Borrowers shall make such prepayment and the payment amount specified in such notice shall be due and payable on the date specified therein.

(b) Mandatory. If for any reason the Total Outstandings at any time exceed the Aggregate Commitments then in effect, the Co-Borrowers shall immediately prepay Loans and/or Cash Collateralize the L/C Obligations in an aggregate amount equal to such excess; provided, however, that the Co-Borrowers shall not be required to Cash Collateralize the L/C Obligations pursuant to this Section 2.05(b) unless after the prepayment in full of the Loans the Total Outstandings exceed the Aggregate Commitments then in effect.

2.06 Termination or Reduction of Commitments. The Co-Borrowers may, upon notice to the Administrative Agent, terminate the Aggregate Commitments, or from time to time permanently reduce the Aggregate Commitments; provided that (i) any such notice shall be received by the Administrative Agent not later than 11:00 a.m. three Business Days prior to the date of termination or reduction, (ii) any such partial reduction shall be in an aggregate amount of $10,000,000.00 or any whole multiple of $1,000,000.00 in excess thereof, (iii) the Co-Borrowers shall not terminate or reduce the Aggregate Commitments if, after giving effect thereto and to any concurrent prepayments hereunder, the Total Outstandings would exceed the Aggregate Commitments, and (iv) if, after giving effect to any reduction of the Aggregate Commitments, the Letter of Credit Sublimit or the Swing Line Sublimit exceeds the amount of the Aggregate Commitments, such Sublimit shall be automatically reduced by the amount of

 

48


such excess. The Administrative Agent will promptly notify the Lenders of any such notice of termination or reduction of the Aggregate Commitments. Any reduction of the Aggregate Commitments shall be applied to the Commitment of each Lender according to its Applicable Percentage. All fees accrued until the effective date of any termination of the Aggregate Commitments shall be paid on the effective date of such termination. A notice of termination delivered by Co-Borrowers may state that such notice is conditioned upon the effectiveness of other credit facilities in which case such notice may be revoked by Co-Borrowers (by notice to Administrative Agent on or prior to the specified effective date) if such condition is not satisfied and so long as Co-Borrowers shall have paid any amounts required to be paid to Administrative Agent, any L/C Issuer or any Lender pursuant to this Agreement in connection with such notice of prepayment.

2.07 Repayment of Loans.

(a) The Co-Borrowers shall repay to the Lenders on the Maturity Date the aggregate principal amount of Committed Loans outstanding on such date.

(b) The Co-Borrowers shall repay each Swing Line Loan on the earlier to occur of (i) the date which is ten (10) Business Days after such Loan is made and (ii) the Maturity Date.

2.08 Interest.

(a) Subject to the provisions of Section 2.08(b), (i) each Eurodollar Rate Loan shall bear interest on the outstanding principal amount thereof for each Interest Period at a rate per annum equal to the Eurodollar Rate for such Interest Period plus the Applicable Rate; (ii) each Base Rate Committed Loan shall bear interest on the outstanding principal amount thereof from the applicable borrowing date at a rate per annum equal to the Base Rate plus the Applicable Rate; and (iii) each Swing Line Loan shall bear interest on the outstanding principal amount thereof from the applicable borrowing date at a rate per annum equal to the Base Rate plus the Applicable Rate.

(b) Default Rate.

(i) Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default specified in Section 8.01(a) or 8.01(f), the principal of and interest on the Loans and other amounts owing hereunder shall automatically thereafter bear interest at a fluctuating interest rate per annum at all times equal to the Default Rate to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Laws.

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

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

 

49


2.09 Fees. In addition to certain fees described in Section 2.03(i) and (j):

(a) Commitment Fee. The Co-Borrowers shall pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of each Lender in accordance with its Applicable Percentage, a commitment fee equal to the Applicable Rate for Commitment Fee times the actual daily amount by which the Aggregate Commitments exceed the sum of (i) the Outstanding Amount of Committed Loans and (ii) the Outstanding Amount of L/C Obligations, subject to adjustment as provided in Section 2.16. The commitment fee shall accrue at all times during the Availability Period, including at any time during which one or more of the conditions in Article IV is not met, and shall be due and payable quarterly in arrears on the last Business Day of each March, June, September and December, commencing with the first such date to occur after the Closing Date, and on the last day of the Availability Period. The commitment fee shall be calculated quarterly in arrears, and if there is any change in the Applicable Rate during any quarter, the actual daily amount shall be computed and multiplied by the Applicable Rate separately for each period during such quarter that such Applicable Rate was in effect. For purposes of computing the commitment fee, Swing Line Loans shall not be counted towards or considered to be usage of the Aggregate Commitments.

(b) Other Fees. The Co-Borrowers shall pay to the Arrangers and the Administrative Agent for their own respective accounts fees in the amounts and at the times specified in the Fee Letters. Such fees shall be fully earned when paid and shall not be refundable for any reason whatsoever.

2.10 Computation of Interest and Fees; Retroactive Adjustments of Applicable Rate.

(a) All computations of interest for Base Rate Loans (including Base Rate Loans determined by reference to the Eurodollar Rate) shall be made on the basis of a year of 365 or 366 days, as the case may be, and actual days elapsed. All other computations of fees and interest shall be made on the basis of a 360-day year and actual days elapsed (which results in more fees or interest, as applicable, being paid than if computed on the basis of a 365-day year). Interest shall accrue on each Loan for the day on which the Loan is made, and shall not accrue on a Loan, or any portion thereof, for the day on which the Loan or such portion is paid, provided that any Loan that is repaid on the same day on which it is made shall, subject to Section 2.12(a), bear interest for one day. Each determination by the Administrative Agent of an interest rate or fee hereunder shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes, absent manifest error.

(b) If, as a result of any restatement of or other adjustment to the financial statements of the Co-Borrowers or for any other reason, the Co-Borrowers or the Lenders determine that (i) the Consolidated Total Net Leverage Ratio as calculated by the Co-Borrowers as of any applicable date was inaccurate and (ii) a proper calculation of the Consolidated Total Net Leverage Ratio would have resulted in higher pricing for such period, the Co-Borrowers shall immediately and retroactively be obligated to pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of the applicable Lenders or the applicable L/C Issuer, as the case may be, promptly on demand by the Administrative Agent (or, after the occurrence of an actual or deemed entry of an order for relief with respect to the Co-Borrowers under the Bankruptcy Code of the United States, automatically and without further action by the Administrative Agent, any Lender or any L/C

 

50


Issuer), an amount equal to the excess of the amount of interest and fees that should have been paid for such period over the amount of interest and fees actually paid for such period. Conversely, if, as a result of any such restatement or other adjustment which is made and delivered to the Agent within sixty (60) days of the date said financial statements were originally delivered to the Agent, a proper calculation of Consolidated Total Net Leverage Ratio would have resulted in lower pricing for such period, the Co-Borrowers shall be entitled to a prompt refund of the amount of the overpayment of interest and fees for such period. This paragraph shall not limit the rights of the Administrative Agent, any Lender or any L/C Issuer, as the case may be, under Section 2.03(c)(iii), 2.03(h) or 2.08(b) or under Article VIII or elsewhere under this Agreement. The Co-Borrowers’ obligations under this paragraph shall survive the termination of the Aggregate Commitments and the repayment of all other Obligations hereunder.

2.11 Evidence of Debt.

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

(b) In addition to the accounts and records referred to in Section 2.11(a), each Lender and the Administrative Agent shall maintain in accordance with its usual practice accounts or records evidencing the purchases and sales by such Lender of participations in Letters of Credit and Swing Line Loans. In the event of any conflict between the accounts and records maintained by the Administrative Agent and the accounts and records of any Lender in respect of such matters, the accounts and records of the Administrative Agent shall control in the absence of manifest error.

2.12 Payments Generally; Administrative Agents Clawback.

(a) General. All payments to be made by the Co-Borrowers shall be made without condition or deduction for any counterclaim, defense, recoupment or setoff. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, all payments by the Co-Borrowers hereunder shall be made to the Administrative Agent, for the account of the respective Lenders to which such payment is owed, at the Administrative Agent’s Office in Dollars and in immediately available funds not later than 2:00 p.m. on the date specified herein. The Administrative Agent will promptly distribute to

 

51


each Lender its Applicable Percentage (or other applicable share as provided herein) of such payment in like funds as received by wire transfer to such Lender’s Lending Office. All payments received by the Administrative Agent after 2:00 p.m. on any Business Day shall be deemed to have been received on the next succeeding Business Day. If any payment to be made by the Co-Borrowers shall come due on a day other than a Business Day, payment shall be made on the next following Business Day, and such extension of time shall be reflected in computing interest or fees, as the case may be.

(b) (i) Funding by Lenders; Presumption by Administrative Agent. Unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from a Lender prior to the proposed date of any Committed Borrowing of Eurodollar Rate Loans (or, in the case of any Committed Borrowing of Base Rate Loans, prior to 12:00 noon on the date of such Committed Borrowing) that such Lender will not make available to the Administrative Agent such Lender’s share of such Committed Borrowing, the Administrative Agent may assume that such Lender has made such share available on such date in accordance with Section 2.02 (or, in the case of a Committed Borrowing of Base Rate Loans, that such Lender has made such share available in accordance with and at the time required by Section 2.02) and may, in reliance upon such assumption, make available to the Co-Borrowers a corresponding amount. In such event, if a Lender has not in fact made its share of the applicable Committed Borrowing available to the Administrative Agent, then the applicable Lender and the Co-Borrowers severally agree to pay to the Administrative Agent forthwith on demand such corresponding amount in immediately available funds with interest thereon, for each day from and including the date such amount is made available to the Co-Borrowers to but excluding the date of payment to the Administrative Agent, at (A) in the case of a payment to be made by such Lender, the greater of Federal Funds Rate and a rate determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation, and (B) in the case of a payment to be made by the Co-Borrowers, the interest rate applicable to Base Rate Loans. If the Co-Borrowers and such Lender shall pay such interest to the Administrative Agent for the same or an overlapping period, the Administrative Agent shall promptly remit to the Co-Borrowers the amount of such interest paid by the Co-Borrowers for such period. If such Lender pays its share of the applicable Committed Borrowing to the Administrative Agent, then the amount so paid shall constitute such Lender’s Committed Loan included in such Committed Borrowing. Any payment by the Co-Borrowers shall be without prejudice to any claim the Co-Borrowers may have against a Lender that shall have failed to make such payment to the Administrative Agent.

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

 

52


A notice of the Administrative Agent to any Lender or the Co-Borrowers with respect to any amount owing under this Section 2.12(b) shall be conclusive, absent manifest error.

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

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

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

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

(i) if any such participations or subparticipations are purchased and all or any portion of the payment giving rise thereto is recovered, such participations or subparticipations shall be rescinded and the purchase price restored to the extent of such recovery, without interest; and

 

53


(ii) the provisions of this Section 2.13 shall not be construed to apply to (x) any payment made by or on behalf of the Co-Borrowers pursuant to and in accordance with the express terms of this Agreement (including the application of funds arising from the existence of a Defaulting Lender), (y) the application of Cash Collateral provided for in Section 2.16, or (z) any payment obtained by a Lender as consideration for the assignment of or sale of a participation in any of its Committed Loans or subparticipations in L/C Obligations or Swing Line Loans to any assignee or participant, other than to any Co-Borrower or any Subsidiary thereof (as to which the provisions of this Section 2.13 shall apply).

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

Notwithstanding any term, condition or provision of this Section 2.13 or any other provision of this Agreement to the contrary, any payment or other amount received by any L/C Issuer or the Swing Line Lender, respectively, from cash or deposit account balances used to Cash Collateralize obligations of a Lender to (A) such L/C Issuer, in accordance with the terms, conditions, and provisions of Section 2.03(a)(iii)(F), or (B) the Swing Line Lender, in accordance with the terms, conditions, and provisions of Section 2.04(c)(i), shall be for the sole benefit of such L/C Issuer and the Swing Line Lender, respectively, and shall not be subject to the sharing provisions of this Section 2.13.

2.14 Increase in Commitments.

(a) Request for Increase. Provided there exists no Default or Event of Default, upon prior express written notice to the Administrative Agent (which shall promptly notify the Lenders), the Co-Borrowers may, from time to time, request (i) one or more incremental term loan commitments (any such incremental term loan commitment, an “Incremental Term Loan Commitment”) to make one or more additional term loans (any such additional term loan, an “Incremental Term Loan”) or (ii) one or more increases in the revolving Commitments (any such increase, an “Incremental Revolving Credit Commitment” and, together with the Incremental Term Loan Commitments, the “Incremental Loan Commitments”) to make revolving credit loans under the Facility (any such increase, an “Incremental Revolving Credit Increase” and, together with the Incremental Term Loans, the “Incremental Loans”), in an aggregate amount (for all such requests) not exceeding $350,000,000.00 (i.e., the amount which would increase the principal amount of the Aggregate Commitments to $1,350,000,000.00 in the aggregate); provided that (x) any such request for an increase shall be in a minimum amount of $10,000,000.00, and (y) the Co-Borrowers may make a maximum of eight (8) such requests. At the time of sending such notice, the Co-Borrowers (in consultation with the Administrative Agent) shall specify the time period within which each Lender is requested to respond (which shall in no event be less than ten (10) Business Days from the date of delivery of such notice to the Lenders).

 

54


(b) Lender Elections to Increase. Each Lender shall notify the Administrative Agent within such 10 Business Day time period whether or not it agrees to provide such Incremental Loan Commitment, and, if so, whether by an amount equal to, greater than, or less than its Applicable Percentage of such requested Incremental Loan Commitment. Any Lender not responding within such time period shall be deemed to have declined to provide an Incremental Loan Commitment. No Lender shall be obligated to provide an Incremental Loan Commitment in connection with any request by the Co-Borrowers pursuant to this Section 2.14.

(c) Notification by Administrative Agent; Additional Lenders. The Administrative Agent shall notify the Co-Borrowers and each Lender of the Lenders’ responses to each request made hereunder. To achieve the full amount of a requested Incremental Loan Commitment, and subject to the approval of the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuers and the Swing Line Lender (which approvals shall not be unreasonably withheld), the Co-Borrowers may also invite additional Eligible Assignees to become Lenders pursuant to a Joinder in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and its counsel.

(d) Effective Date and Allocations. If the Facility is increased in accordance with this Section 2.14, the Administrative Agent and the Co-Borrowers shall determine the effective date (hereinafter referred to as the “Increase Effective Date”) and the final allocation of such Incremental Loan Commitment. The Administrative Agent shall promptly notify the Co-Borrowers and the Lenders of the final allocation of such Incremental Loan Commitment and the Increase Effective Date.

(e) Conditions to Effectiveness of Increase. Any Incremental Loan Commitment shall become effective as of such Increase Effective Date; provided that each of the following conditions has been satisfied or waived as of such Increase Effective Date: (i) the Co-Borrowers shall deliver to the Administrative Agent a certificate of each Loan Party dated as of the Increase Effective Date (in sufficient copies for each Lender) signed by a Responsible Officer of such Loan Party (A) certifying and attaching the resolutions adopted by such Loan Party approving or consenting to such increase, (B) certifying that, before and after giving effect to such increase, (1) the representations and warranties contained in Article V and the other Loan Documents are (x) with respect to representations and warranties that contain a materiality qualification, true and correct on and as of the Increase Effective Date, except to the extent that such representations and warranties specifically refer to an earlier date, in which case they are true and correct as of such earlier date, and (y) with respect to representations and warranties that do not contain a materiality qualification, true and correct in all material respects on and as of the Increase Effective Date, except to the extent that such representations and warranties specifically refer to an earlier date, in which case they are true and correct in all material respects as of such earlier date, and in each case except that for purposes of this Section 2.14, the representations and warranties contained in Sections 5.05(a) and (b) shall be deemed to refer to the most recent statements furnished pursuant to Sections 6.01(a) and (b), respectively, (2) no Default or Event of Default exists and (3) the Co-Borrowers are in compliance, after giving effect to the incurrence or issuance of such increase on a pro forma basis, with the financial covenants set forth in Section 7.08, (ii) each Incremental Revolving Credit Increase or Incremental Term Loan Commitment (and the Incremental Loans made thereunder) shall constitute Obligations of the Co-Borrowers and shall be guaranteed with the other Credit Extensions on a pari passu basis, (iii) in the case of each Incremental Term Loan, such Incremental Term Loan shall be subject to such terms as shall be determined by the Co-Borrowers and the applicable Lenders, provided that (A) such Incremental Term Loan will not mature prior to the Maturity Date (but may have

 

55


straight-line amortization prior to such date) and (B) the terms applicable to such Incremental Term Loan shall be substantially the same as (and in any event, no more favorable than) those applicable to the Committed Loans; provided further, that the terms and conditions applicable to any Incremental Term Loan maturing after the Maturity Date may provide for material additional or different financial or other covenants or prepayment requirements applicable only during periods after the Maturity Date, and (v) in the case of each Incremental Revolving Credit Increase, the terms and conditions applicable to such Incremental Revolving Credit Increase shall be identical to the terms and conditions applicable to the Committed Loans. The Co-Borrowers shall prepay any Loans outstanding on the Increase Effective Date (and pay any additional amounts required pursuant to Section 3.05) to the extent necessary to keep the outstanding Loans ratable with any revised Applicable Percentages arising from any nonratable increase in the Commitments under this Section 2.14. The proceeds of any such increase shall be used for the purposes set forth in Section 6.11.

(f) Conflicting Provisions. This Section 2.14 shall supersede any provisions in Sections 2.13 or 10.01 to the contrary.

2.15 Joint and Several Liability. The Co-Borrowers hereby acknowledge, covenant and agree that all Obligations, liabilities and covenants made, incurred and undertaken by them under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents are on a joint and several basis, including all obligations to pay principal, interest, fees, costs, and expenses. Each of the Co-Borrowers hereby agrees it will not exercise any rights of subrogation which it may at any time otherwise have as a result of this Agreement (whether contractual, under Section 509 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code, or otherwise) to the claims of the Lenders or any Bank Product Provider against the Co-Borrowers, any Guarantor or any other guarantor of the Obligations of the Co-Borrowers owing to the Lenders or such Bank Product Provider (collectively, the “Other Parties”) and all contractual, statutory or common law rights of reimbursement, contribution or indemnity from any Other Party which it may at any time otherwise have as a result of this Agreement until such time as the Obligations (other than contingent indemnification obligations) shall have been paid in full and the Commitments have been terminated. Each of the Co-Borrowers hereby further agrees not to exercise any right to enforce any other remedy which the Administrative Agent, the Lenders or any Bank Product Provider now have or may hereafter have against any Other Party, any endorser or any other guarantor of all or any part of the Obligations of the Co-Borrowers or the Guarantors and any benefit of, and any right to participate in, any security or collateral given to or for the benefit of the Lenders and/or the Bank Product Providers to secure payment of the Obligations of the Co-Borrowers and the Guarantors until such time as the Obligations (other than contingent indemnification obligations) shall have been paid in full and the Commitments have been terminated.

2.16 Cash Collateral.

(a) Certain Credit Support Events. Upon the request of the Administrative Agent or any L/C Issuer (i) if such L/C Issuer has honored any full or partial drawing request under any Letter of Credit and such drawing has resulted in an L/C Borrowing, or (ii) if, as of the Letter of Credit Expiration Date, any L/C Obligation owing to such L/C Issuer for any reason remains outstanding, the Co-Borrowers shall, in each case, immediately Cash Collateralize the then Outstanding Amount of all L/C Obligations owing to such L/C Issuer. At any time that there

 

56


shall exist a Defaulting Lender, promptly upon the request of the Administrative Agent, any L/C Issuer or the Swing Line Lender, the Co-Borrowers shall deliver to the Administrative Agent Cash Collateral in an amount sufficient to cover all Fronting Exposure (after giving effect to Section 2.17(a)(iv) and any Cash Collateral provided by the Defaulting Lender).

(b) Grant of Security Interest. All Cash Collateral (other than credit support not constituting funds subject to deposit) shall be maintained in blocked, non-interest bearing deposit accounts at Wells Fargo Bank. The Co-Borrowers, and to the extent provided by any Lender, such Lender, hereby grant to (and subject to the control of) the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuers and the Lenders (including the Swing Line Lender), and agrees to maintain, a first priority security interest in all such Cash Collateral, and in all proceeds thereof, all as security for the obligations to which such Cash Collateral may be applied pursuant to Section 2.16(c). If at any time the Administrative Agent determines that Cash Collateral is subject to any right or claim of any Person other than the Administrative Agent as herein provided, or that the total amount of such Cash Collateral is less than the applicable Fronting Exposure and other obligations secured thereby, the Co-Borrowers or the relevant Defaulting Lender will, promptly upon demand by the Administrative Agent, pay or provide to the Administrative Agent additional Cash Collateral in an amount sufficient to eliminate such deficiency.

(c) Application. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, Cash Collateral provided under any of this Section 2.16 or Sections 2.03, 2.04, 2.05, 2.17 or 8.02 in respect of Letters of Credit or Swing Line Loans shall be held and applied to the satisfaction of the specific L/C Obligations, Swing Line Loans, obligations to fund participations therein (including, as to Cash Collateral provided by a Defaulting Lender, any interest accrued on such obligation) and other obligations for which the Cash Collateral was so provided, prior to any other application of such property as may be provided for herein.

(d) Release. Cash Collateral (or the appropriate portion thereof) provided to reduce Fronting Exposure or other obligations shall be released promptly following (i) the elimination of the applicable Fronting Exposure or other obligations giving rise thereto (including by the termination of Defaulting Lender status of the applicable Lender (or, as appropriate, its assignee following compliance with Section 10.06(b)(vii)) or (ii) the Administrative Agent’s good faith determination that there exists excess Cash Collateral; provided, however, (x) that Cash Collateral furnished by or on behalf of a Loan Party shall not be released during the continuance of a Default or Event of Default (and following application as provided in this Section 2.16 may be otherwise applied in accordance with Section 8.03), and (y) the Person providing Cash Collateral and the applicable L/C Issuer or Swing Line Lender, as applicable, may agree that Cash Collateral shall not be released but instead held to support future anticipated Fronting Exposure or other obligations.

2.17 Defaulting Lenders.

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

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

 

57


(ii) Defaulting Lender Waterfall. Any payment of principal, interest, fees or other amounts received by the Administrative Agent for the account of such Defaulting Lender (whether voluntary or mandatory, at maturity, pursuant to Article VIII or otherwise) or received by the Administrative Agent by such Defaulting Lender pursuant to Section 10.08, shall be applied at such time or times as may be determined by the Administrative Agent as follows: first, to the payment of any amounts owing by such Defaulting Lender to the Administrative Agent hereunder; second, to the payment on a pro rata basis of any amounts owing by such Defaulting Lender to any L/C Issuer or Swing Line Lender hereunder; third, to Cash Collateralize the LC Issuers’ Fronting Exposure with respect to such Defaulting Lender in accordance with Section 2.16; fourth, as the Co-Borrowers may request (so long as no Default or Event of Default exists), to the funding of any Loan in respect of which such Defaulting Lender has failed to fund its portion thereof as required by this Agreement, as determined by the Administrative Agent; fifth, if so determined by the Administrative Agent and the Co-Borrowers, to be held in a non-interest bearing deposit account and released pro rata in order to (x) satisfy potential future funding obligations of such Defaulting Lender to fund Loans under this Agreement and (y) Cash Collateralize the L/C Issuers’ future Fronting Exposure with respect to such Defaulting Lender with respect to future Letters of Credit issued under this Agreement in accordance with Section 2.16; sixth, to the payment of any amounts owing to the Lenders, the L/C Issuers or Swing Line Lender as a result of any judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction obtained by any Lender, any L/C Issuer or Swing Line Lender against that Defaulting Lender as a result of that Defaulting Lender’s breach of its obligations under this Agreement; seventh, so long as no Default or Event of Default exists, to the payment of any amounts owing to the Co-Borrowers as a result of any judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction obtained by the Co-Borrowers against such Defaulting Lender as a result of such Defaulting Lender’s breach of its obligations under this Agreement; and eighth, to that Defaulting Lender or as otherwise directed by a court of competent jurisdiction; provided that if (x) such payment is a payment of the principal amount of any Loans or L/C Borrowings in respect of which such Defaulting Lender has not fully funded its appropriate share and (y) such Loans or L/C Borrowings were made at a time when the conditions set forth in Section 4.02 were satisfied or waived, such payment shall be applied solely to pay the Loans of, and L/C Borrowings owed to, all non-Defaulting Lenders on a pro rata basis prior to being applied to the payment of any Loans of, or L/C Borrowings owed to, such Defaulting Lender until such time as all Loans and funded and unfunded participations in L/C Obligations and Swing Line Loans are held by the Lenders pro rata in accordance with the Commitments hereunder without giving effect to Section 2.17(a)(iv). Any payments, prepayments or other amounts paid or payable to a Defaulting Lender that are applied (or held) to pay amounts owed by a Defaulting Lender or to post Cash Collateral pursuant to this Section 2.17(a)(ii) shall be deemed paid to and redirected by that Defaulting Lender, and each Lender irrevocably consents hereto.

(iii) Certain Fees.

 

58


(A) No Defaulting Lender shall be entitled to receive any commitment fee pursuant to Section 2.09(a) for any period during which that Lender is a Defaulting Lender (and the Co-Borrowers shall not be required to pay any such fee that otherwise would have been required to have been paid to that Defaulting Lender).

(B) Each Defaulting Lender shall be entitled to receive Letter of Credit fees for any period during which that Lender is a Defaulting Lender only to the extent allocable to its Applicable Percentage of the stated amount of Letters of Credit for which it has provided Cash Collateral pursuant to Section 2.16.

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

(iv) Reallocation of Applicable Percentages to Reduce Fronting Exposure. During any period in which there is a Defaulting Lender, for purposes of computing the amount of the obligation of each non-Defaulting Lender to acquire, refinance or fund participations in Letters of Credit or Swing Line Loans pursuant to Sections 2.03 and 2.04, the “Applicable Percentage” of each non-Defaulting Lender shall be computed without giving effect to the Commitment of that Defaulting Lender; provided, that, each such reallocation shall be given effect only to the extent that, at the date the applicable Lender becomes a Defaulting Lender, the aggregate obligation of each non-Defaulting Lender to acquire, refinance or fund participations in Letters of Credit and Swing Line Loans shall not exceed the positive difference, if any, of (1) the Commitment of that non-Defaulting Lender minus (2) the aggregate Outstanding Amount of the Committed Loans of that Lender.

(v) Cash Collateral, Repayment of Swing Line Loans. If the reallocation described in Section 2.17(a)(iv) above cannot, or can only partially, be effected, the Co-Borrowers shall, without prejudice to any right or remedy available to it hereunder or under applicable Law, (x) first, prepay Swing Line Loans in an amount equal to the Swing Line Lender’s Fronting Exposure and (y) second, Cash Collateralize the L/C Issuers’ Fronting Exposure in accordance with the procedures set forth in Section 2.16.

(b) Defaulting Lender Cure. If the Co-Borrowers, the Administrative Agent, Swing Line Lender and the L/C Issuers agree in writing in their sole discretion that a Defaulting Lender should no longer be deemed to be a Defaulting Lender, the Administrative Agent will so notify the parties hereto, whereupon as of the effective date specified in such notice and subject to any conditions set forth therein (which may include arrangements with respect to any Cash

 

59


Collateral), that Lender will, to the extent applicable, purchase that portion of outstanding Loans of the other Lenders or take such other actions as the Administrative Agent may determine to be necessary to cause the Committed Loans and funded and unfunded participations in Letters of Credit and Swing Line Loans to be held on a pro rata basis by the Lenders in accordance with their Applicable Percentages (without giving effect to Section 2.17(a)(iv)), whereupon that Lender will cease to be a Defaulting Lender; provided that no adjustments will be made retroactively with respect to fees accrued or payments made by or on behalf of the Co-Borrowers while that Lender was a Defaulting Lender; and provided, further, that except to the extent otherwise expressly agreed by the affected parties, no change hereunder from Defaulting Lender to Lender will constitute a waiver or release of any claim of any party hereunder arising from that Lender’s having been a Defaulting Lender.

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

2.18 Extension of Maturity Date.

(a) Requests for Extension. The Co-Borrowers may, by written notice (an “Extension Letter”) to the Administrative Agent (who shall promptly notify the Lenders) not earlier than 60 days and not later than 30 days prior to the first and/or the second anniversary of the Closing Date (each an “Anniversary Date”) and thereafter, at any time, request that each Lender extend such Lender’s Maturity Date for a period of one (1) year from the Existing Maturity Date (each such request being referred to herein as an “Extension”). The Maturity Date may be extended pursuant to this Section 2.18 on up to two occasions; provided that, in no event shall the Maturity Date extend beyond the five-year anniversary of any Extension Effective Date.

(b) Lender Elections to Extend. Each Lender, acting in its sole and individual discretion, shall, by notice to the Administrative Agent given not later than the date (the “Notice Date”) that is 10 Business Days after the receipt of any applicable Extension Letter by the Administrative Agent, advise the Administrative Agent whether or not such Lender agrees to such Extension (and each Lender that determines not to so extend its Maturity Date (a “Non-Extending Lender”) shall notify the Administrative Agent of such fact promptly after such determination (but in any event no later than the Notice Date)) and any Lender that does not so advise the Administrative Agent on or before the Notice Date shall be deemed to be a Non-Extending Lender. The election of any Lender to agree to such Extension shall not obligate any other Lender to so agree.

(c) Notification by Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent shall notify the Co-Borrowers of each Lender’s determination under this Section 2.18 no later than the date that is 2 Business Days after the applicable Notice Date.

 

60


(d) Additional Commitment Lenders. The Co-Borrowers shall have the right to replace each Non-Extending Lender with, and add as “Lenders” under this Agreement in place thereof, one or more Eligible Assignees (each, an “Additional Commitment Lender”) as provided in Section 10.13; provided that each of such Additional Commitment Lenders shall enter into an Assignment and Assumption pursuant to which such Additional Commitment Lender shall, effective as of the Extension Effective Date, undertake a Commitment (and, if any such Additional Commitment Lender is already a Lender, its Commitment shall be in addition to such Lender’s Commitment hereunder on such date).

(e) Minimum Extension Requirement. If (and only if) the total of the Commitments of the Lenders that have agreed to extend their Maturity Date (each, an “Extending Lender”) and the additional Commitments of the Additional Commitment Lenders shall be more than 50% of the aggregate amount of the Commitments in effect as of the applicable Notice Date, then, effective as of the next Anniversary Date succeeding the date of the applicable Extension Letter, or if the Extension Letter is delivered to the Administrative Agent after the second anniversary of the Closing Date, the effective date agreed to by the Co-Borrowers and the Administrative Agent (in each case, the “Extension Effective Date”), the Maturity Date of each Extending Lender and of each Additional Commitment Lender shall be extended to the date falling one (1) year after the Existing Maturity Date (except that, if such date is not a Business Day, such Maturity Date as so extended shall be the next preceding Business Day) and each Additional Commitment Lender shall thereupon become a “Lender” for all purposes of this Agreement.

(f) Conditions to Effectiveness of Extensions. As a condition precedent to such Extension, the Co-Borrowers shall deliver to the Administrative Agent a certificate of each Loan Party dated as of the Extension Effective Date (in sufficient copies for each Extending Lender and each Additional Commitment Lender) signed by a Responsible Officer of such Loan Party (i) certifying and attaching the resolutions adopted by such Loan Party approving or consenting to such Extension and (ii) in the case of the Co-Borrowers, certifying that, before and after giving effect to such Extension, (A) the representations and warranties contained in Article V and the other Loan Documents (x) with respect to representations and warranties that contain a materiality qualification, are true and correct on and as of the Extension Effective Date, except to the extent that such representations and warranties specifically refer to an earlier date, in which case they are true and correct as of such earlier date, and (y) with respect to representations and warranties that do not contain a materiality qualification, are true and correct in all material respects on and as of the Extension Effective Date, except to the extent that such representations and warranties specifically refer to an earlier date, in which case they are true and correct in all material respects as of such earlier date, and in each case except that for purposes of this Section 2.18, the representations and warranties contained in Sections 5.05(a) and (b) shall be deemed to refer to the most recent statements furnished pursuant to Sections 6.01(a) and (b), respectively, and (B) no Default exists or would result therefrom. In addition, on the Maturity Date of each Non-Extending Lender, the Co-Borrowers shall prepay any Committed Loans outstanding on such date (and pay any additional amounts required pursuant to Section 3.05) to the extent necessary to keep outstanding Committed Loans ratable with any revised Applicable Percentages of the respective Lenders effective as of such date.

(g) Amendment; Sharing of Payments. In connection with any Extension, the Co-Borrowers, the Administrative Agent and each extending Lender may make such amendments to this Agreement as the Administrative Agent determines to be reasonably necessary to evidence the Extension. This Section 2.14 shall supersede any provisions in Section 2.13 or 10.01 to the contrary.

 

61


ARTICLE III.

TAXES, YIELD PROTECTION AND ILLEGALITY

3.01 Taxes.

(a) Defined Terms. For purposes of this Section, the term “Lender” includes any L/C Issuer and the term “Applicable Law” includes FATCA.

(b) Payments Free of Taxes. Any and all payments by or on account of any obligation of the Co-Borrowers under any Loan Document shall be made without deduction or withholding for any Taxes, except as required by Applicable Law. If any Applicable Law (as determined in the good faith discretion of an applicable Withholding Agent) requires the deduction or withholding of any Tax from any such payment by a Withholding Agent, then the applicable Withholding Agent shall be entitled to make such deduction or withholding and shall timely pay the full amount deducted or withheld to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with Applicable Law and, if such Tax is an Indemnified Tax, then the sum payable by the Co-Borrowers shall be increased as necessary so that after such deduction or withholding has been made (including such deductions and withholdings applicable to additional sums payable under this Section 3.01) the applicable Recipient receives an amount equal to the sum it would have received had no such deduction or withholding been made.

(c) Payment of Other Taxes by the Co-Borrowers. The Co-Borrowers shall timely pay to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with Applicable Law, or at the option of the Administrative Agent timely reimburse it for the payment of, any Other Taxes.

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

(e) Indemnification by the Lenders. Each Lender shall severally indemnify the Administrative Agent, within 10 days after demand therefor, for (i) any Indemnified Taxes attributable to such Lender (but only to the extent that the Co-Borrowers have not already indemnified the Administrative Agent for such Indemnified Taxes and without limiting the obligation of the Co-Borrowers to do so), (ii) any Taxes attributable to such Lender’s failure to comply with the provisions of Section 10.06(d) relating to the maintenance of a Participant Register and (iii) any Excluded Taxes attributable to such Lender, in each case, that are payable or paid by the Administrative Agent in connection with any Loan Document, and any reasonable expenses arising therefrom or with respect thereto, whether or not such Taxes were correctly or legally imposed or asserted by the relevant Governmental Authority. A certificate as to the amount of such payment or liability delivered to any Lender by the Administrative Agent shall

 

62


be conclusive absent manifest error. Each Lender hereby authorizes the Administrative Agent to set off and apply any and all amounts at any time owing to such Lender under any Loan Document or otherwise payable by the Administrative Agent to the Lender from any other source against any amount due to the Administrative Agent under this Section 3.01(e).

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

(g) Status of Lenders.

(i) Any Lender that is entitled to an exemption from or reduction of withholding Tax with respect to payments made under any Loan Document shall deliver to the Co-Borrowers and the Administrative Agent, at the time or times reasonably requested by the Co-Borrowers or the Administrative Agent, such properly completed and executed documentation reasonably requested by the Co-Borrowers or the Administrative Agent as will permit such payments to be made without withholding or at a reduced rate of withholding. In addition, any Lender, if reasonably requested by the Co-Borrowers or the Administrative Agent, shall deliver such other documentation prescribed by Applicable Law or reasonably requested by the Co-Borrowers or the Administrative Agent as will enable the Co-Borrowers or the Administrative Agent to determine whether or not such Lender is subject to backup withholding or information reporting requirements. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the preceding two sentences, the completion, execution and submission of such documentation (other than such documentation set forth in Sections 3.01(g)(ii)(A), (ii)(B) and (ii)(D)) shall not be required if in the Lender’s reasonable judgment such completion, execution or submission would subject such Lender to any material unreimbursed cost or expense or would materially prejudice the legal or commercial position of such Lender.

(ii) Without limiting the generality of the foregoing,

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

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

 

63


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

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

(3) in the case of a Foreign Lender claiming the benefits of the exemption for portfolio interest under Section 881(c) of the Code, (x) a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit H-1 to the effect that such Foreign Lender is not a “bank” within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Code, a “10 percent shareholder” of any Co-Borrower within the meaning of Section 871(h)(3)(B) of the Code, or a “controlled foreign corporation” related to any Co-Borrower as described in Section 881(c)(3)(C) of the Code (a “U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate”) and (y) executed copies of IRS Form W-8BEN or IRS Form W-8BEN-E; or

(4) to the extent a Foreign Lender is not the beneficial owner, executed copies of IRS Form W-8IMY, accompanied by IRS Form W-8ECI, IRS Form W-8BEN, IRS Form W-8BEN-E, a U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit H-2 or Exhibit H-3, IRS Form W-9, and/or other certification documents from each beneficial owner, as applicable; provided that if the Foreign Lender is a partnership and one or more direct or indirect partners of such Foreign Lender are claiming the portfolio interest exemption, such Foreign Lender may provide a U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit H-4 on behalf of each such direct and indirect partner;

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

 

64


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

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

(h) Treatment of Certain Refunds. If any party determines, in its sole discretion exercised in good faith, that it has received a refund of any Taxes as to which it has been indemnified pursuant to this Section (including by the payment of additional amounts pursuant to this Section), it shall pay to the indemnifying party an amount equal to such refund (but only to the extent of indemnity payments made under this Section with respect to the Taxes giving rise to such refund), net of all out-of-pocket expenses (including Taxes) of such indemnified party and without interest (other than any interest paid by the relevant Governmental Authority with respect to such refund). Such indemnifying party, upon the request of such indemnified party, shall repay to such indemnified party the amount paid over pursuant to this Section 3.01(h) (plus any penalties, interest or other charges imposed by the relevant Governmental Authority) in the event that such indemnified party is required to repay such refund to such Governmental Authority. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 3.01(h), in no event will the indemnified party be required to pay any amount to an indemnifying party pursuant to this Section 3.01(h) the payment of which would place the indemnified party in a less favorable net after-Tax position than the indemnified party would have been in if the Tax subject to indemnification and giving rise to such refund had not been deducted, withheld or otherwise imposed and the indemnification payments or additional amounts with respect to such Tax had never been paid. This paragraph shall not be construed to require any indemnified party to make available its Tax returns (or any other information relating to its Taxes that it deems confidential) to the indemnifying party or any other Person.

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

 

65


3.02 Illegality. If any Lender determines that any Law has made it unlawful, or that any Governmental Authority has asserted that it is unlawful, for any Lender or its applicable Lending Office to make, maintain or fund Loans whose interest is determined by reference to the Eurodollar Rate, or to determine or charge interest rates based upon the Eurodollar Rate, or any Governmental Authority has imposed material restrictions on the authority of such Lender to purchase or sell, or to take deposits of, Dollars in the London interbank market, then, on notice thereof by such Lender to the Co-Borrowers through the Administrative Agent, (a) any obligation of such Lender to make or continue Eurodollar Rate Loans or to convert Base Rate Committed Loans to Eurodollar Rate Loans shall be suspended and (b) if such notice asserts the illegality of such Lender making or maintaining Base Rate Loans the interest rate on which is determined by reference to the Eurodollar Rate component of the Base Rate, the interest rate on which Base Rate Loans of such Lender shall, if necessary to avoid such illegality, be determined by the Administrative Agent without reference to the Eurodollar Rate component of the Base Rate, in each case until such Lender notifies the Administrative Agent and the Co-Borrowers that the circumstances giving rise to such determination no longer exist. Upon receipt of such notice, (i) the Co-Borrowers shall, upon demand from such Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), prepay or, if applicable, convert all Eurodollar Rate Loans of such Lender to Base Rate Loans (the interest rate on which Base Rate Loans of such Lender shall, if necessary to avoid such illegality, be determined by the Administrative Agent without reference to the Eurodollar Rate component of the Base Rate), either on the last day of the Interest Period therefor, if such Lender may lawfully continue to maintain such Eurodollar Rate Loans to such day, or immediately, if such Lender may not lawfully continue to maintain such Eurodollar Rate Loans and (ii) if such notice asserts the illegality of such Lender determining or charging interest rates based upon the Eurodollar Rate, the Administrative Agent shall during the period of such suspension compute the Base Rate applicable to such Lender without reference to the Eurodollar Rate component thereof until the Administrative Agent is advised in writing by such Lender that it is no longer illegal for such Lender to determine or charge interest rates based upon the Eurodollar Rate. Upon any such prepayment or conversion, the Co-Borrowers shall also pay accrued interest on the amount so prepaid or converted, together with any additional amounts required pursuant to Section 3.05.

3.03 Inability to Determine Rates.

(a) Circumstances Affecting Eurodollar Availability. Unless and until a Replacement Rate is implemented in accordance with Section 3.03(c) below, in connection with any request for a Eurodollar Loan or a conversion to or continuation thereof or otherwise, if for any reason (i) the Administrative Agent shall determine (which determination shall be conclusive and binding absent manifest error) that Dollar deposits are not being offered to banks in the London interbank Eurodollar market for the applicable amount and Interest Period of such Loan, (ii) the Administrative Agent shall determine (which determination shall be conclusive and binding absent manifest error) that reasonable and adequate means do not exist for the ascertaining the Eurodollar Rate for such Interest Period with respect to a proposed Eurodollar Loan or (iii) the Required Lenders shall determine (which determination shall be conclusive and binding absent manifest error) that the Eurodollar Rate does not adequately and fairly reflect the cost to such Lenders of making or maintaining such Loans during such Interest Period, then the Administrative Agent shall promptly give notice thereof to the Co-Borrowers. Thereafter, until the Administrative Agent notifies the Co-Borrowers that such circumstances no longer exist, the

 

66


obligation of the Lenders to make Eurodollar Loans and the right of the Co-Borrowers to convert any Loan to or continue any Loan as a Eurodollar Loan shall be suspended, and the Co-Borrowers shall either (A) repay in full (or cause to be repaid in full) the then outstanding principal amount of each such Eurodollar Loan together with accrued interest thereon (subject to Section 10.09), on the last day of the then current Interest Period applicable to such Eurodollar Loan; or (B) convert the then outstanding principal amount of each such Eurodollar Loan to a Base Rate Loan as of the last day of such Interest Period.

(b) Laws Affecting Eurodollar Availability. If, after the date hereof, the introduction of, or any change in, any Applicable Law or any change in the interpretation or administration thereof by any Governmental Authority, central bank or comparable agency charged with the interpretation or administration thereof, or compliance by any of the Lenders (or any of their respective Lending Offices) with any request or directive (whether or not having the force of law) of any such Governmental Authority, central bank or comparable agency, shall make it unlawful or impossible for any of the Lenders (or any of their respective Lending Offices) to honor its obligations hereunder to make or maintain any Eurodollar Loan, such Lender shall promptly give notice thereof to the Administrative Agent and the Administrative Agent shall promptly give notice to the Co-Borrowers and the other Lenders. Thereafter, until the Administrative Agent notifies the Co-Borrowers that such circumstances no longer exist, (i) the obligations of the Lenders to make Eurodollar Loans, and the right of the Co-Borrowers to convert any Loan to a Eurodollar Loan or continue any Loan as a Eurodollar Loan shall be suspended and thereafter the Co-Borrowers may select only Base Rate Loans and (ii) if any of the Lenders may not lawfully continue to maintain a Eurodollar Loan to the end of the then current Interest Period applicable thereto, the applicable Loan shall immediately be converted to a Base Rate Loan for the remainder of such Interest Period.

(c) Alternative Rate of Interest. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Section 3.03(a) above, if the Administrative Agent has made the reasonable determination (such determination to be conclusive absent manifest error) that (i) the circumstances described in Section 3.03(a)(i) or (a)(ii) have arisen and that such circumstances are unlikely to be temporary, (ii) any applicable interest rate specified herein is no longer a widely recognized benchmark rate for newly originated loans in the U.S. syndicated loan market in the applicable currency or (iii) the applicable supervisor or administrator (if any) of any applicable interest rate specified herein or any Governmental Authority having, or purporting to have, jurisdiction over the Administrative Agent has made a public statement identifying a specific date after which any applicable interest rate specified herein shall no longer be used for determining interest rates for loans in the U.S. syndicated loan market in the applicable currency, then the Administrative Agent and the Co-Borrowers may, to the extent practicable, establish a replacement interest rate (the “Replacement Rate”) giving due consideration to any evolving or then existing convention for similar Dollar denominated syndicated credit facilities for such alternative benchmark interest rates, in which case, the Replacement Rate shall, subject to the next two sentences, replace such applicable interest rate for all purposes under the Loan Documents unless and until (A) an event described in Section 3.03(a)(i), (a)(ii), (c)(i), (c)(ii) or (c)(iii) occurs with respect to the Replacement Rate or (B) the Required Lenders (directly, or through the Administrative Agent) notify the Co-Borrowers that the Replacement Rate does not adequately and fairly reflect the cost to the Lenders of funding the Loans bearing interest at the Replacement Rate. In connection with the establishment and application of the Replacement Rate, this Agreement and

 

67


the other Loan Documents shall be amended solely with the consent of the Administrative Agent and the Co-Borrowers, as may be necessary or appropriate, in the opinion of the Administrative Agent, to effect the provisions of this Section 3.03(c). Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement or the other Loan Documents (including Section 10.01), such amendment shall become effective without any further action or consent of any other party to this Agreement so long as the Administrative Agent shall not have received, within five (5) Business Days of the delivery of such amendment to the Lenders, written notices from such Lenders that in the aggregate constitute Required Lenders, with each such notice stating that such Lender objects to such amendment. To the extent the Replacement Rate is approved by the Administrative Agent and the Co-Borrowers in connection with this Section 3.03(c), the Replacement Rate shall be applied in a manner consistent with market practice; provided that, in each case, to the extent such market practice is not administratively feasible for the Administrative Agent, such Replacement Rate shall be applied as otherwise reasonably determined by the Administrative Agent (it being understood that any such modification by the Administrative Agent shall not require the consent of, or consultation with, any of the Lenders). Notwithstanding anything else herein, any definition of the Replacement Rate shall provide that in no event shall such Replacement Rate be less than zero for purposes of this Agreement.

3.04 Increased Costs.

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

(i) impose, modify or deem applicable any reserve, special deposit, compulsory loan, insurance charge or similar requirement against assets of, deposits with or for the account of, or credit extended or participated in by, any Lender (except any reserve requirement contemplated by Section 3.04(e)) or any L/C Issuer;

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

(iii) impose on any Lender or any L/C Issuer or the London interbank market any other condition, cost or expense (other than Taxes) affecting this Agreement or Eurodollar Rate Loans made by such Lender or any Letter of Credit or participation therein;

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

 

68


(b) Capital Requirements. If any Lender or any L/C Issuer determines that any Change in Law affecting such Lender or such L/C Issuer or any Lending Office of such Lender or such Lender’s or such L/C Issuer’s holding company, if any, regarding capital or liquidity requirements has or would have the effect of reducing the rate of return on such Lender’s or the L/C Issuer’s capital or on the capital of such Lender’s or such L/C Issuer’s holding company, if any, as a consequence of this Agreement, the Commitments of such Lender or the Loans made by, or participations in Letters of Credit or Swing Line Loans held by, such Lender, or the Letters of Credit issued by such L/C Issuer, to a level below that which such Lender or such L/C Issuer or such Lender’s or such L/C Issuer’s holding company could have achieved but for such Change in Law (taking into consideration such Lender’s or such L/C Issuer’s policies and the policies of such Lender’s or such L/C Issuer’s holding company with respect to capital adequacy or liquidity), then from time to time the Co-Borrowers will pay to such Lender or such L/C Issuer, as the case may be, such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender or such L/C Issuer or such Lender’s or such L/C Issuer’s holding company for any such reduction suffered.

(c) Certificates for Reimbursement. A certificate of a Lender or L/C Issuer setting forth in reasonable detail the amount or amounts necessary to compensate such Lender or such L/C Issuer or its holding company, as the case may be, as specified in Sections 3.04(a) or (b) and delivered to the Co-Borrowers shall be conclusive absent manifest error. The Co-Borrowers shall pay such Lender or such L/C Issuer, as the case may be, the amount shown as due on any such certificate within 10 days after receipt thereof.

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

(e) Reserves on Eurodollar Rate Loans. The Co-Borrowers shall pay to each Lender, as long as such Lender shall be required to maintain reserves with respect to liabilities or assets consisting of or including Eurocurrency funds or deposits (currently known as “Eurocurrency liabilities”), additional interest on the unpaid principal amount of each Eurodollar Rate Loan equal to the actual costs of such reserves allocated to such Loan by such Lender (as determined by such Lender in good faith, which determination shall be conclusive), which shall be due and payable on each date on which interest is payable on such Loan, provided the Co-Borrowers shall have received at least 10 days’ prior notice (with a copy to the Administrative Agent) of such additional interest from such Lender. If a Lender fails to give notice 10 days prior to the relevant Interest Payment Date, such additional interest shall be due and payable 10 days from receipt of such notice.

 

69


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

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

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

(c) any assignment of a Eurodollar Rate Loan on a day other than the last day of the Interest Period therefor as a result of a request by the Co-Borrowers pursuant to Section 10.13;

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

For purposes of calculating amounts payable by the Co-Borrowers to the Lenders under this Section 3.05, each Lender shall be deemed to have funded each Eurodollar Rate Loan made by it at the Eurodollar Rate for such Loan by a matching deposit or other borrowing in the London interbank eurodollar market for a comparable amount and for a comparable period, whether or not such Eurodollar Rate Loan was in fact so funded.

3.06 Mitigation Obligations; Replacement of Lenders.

(a) Designation of a Different Lending Office. If any Lender requests compensation under Section 3.04, or the Co-Borrowers are required to pay any Indemnified Taxes or additional amounts to any Lender, any L/C Issuer, or any Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender or any L/C Issuer pursuant to Section 3.01, or if any Lender gives a notice pursuant to Section 3.02, then at the request of the Co-Borrowers such Lender or such L/C Issuer shall, as applicable, use reasonable efforts to designate a different Lending Office for funding or booking its Loans hereunder or to assign its rights and obligations hereunder to another of its offices, branches or affiliates, if, in the judgment of such Lender or such L/C Issuer, such designation or assignment (i) would eliminate or reduce amounts payable pursuant to Section 3.01 or 3.04, as the case may be, in the future, or eliminate the need for the notice pursuant to Section 3.02, as applicable, and (ii) in each case, would not subject such Lender or such L/C Issuer, as the case may be, to any unreimbursed cost or expense and would not otherwise be disadvantageous to such Lender or such L/C Issuer, as the case may be. The Co-Borrowers hereby agree to pay all reasonable costs and expenses incurred by any Lender or any L/C Issuer in connection with any such designation or assignment.

 

70


(b) Replacement of Lenders. If any Lender is a Defaulting Lender or requests compensation under Section 3.04, or if the Co-Borrowers are required to pay any Indemnified Taxes or additional amount to any Lender or any Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender pursuant to Section 3.01, the Co-Borrowers may replace such Lender in accordance with Section 10.13.

3.07 Survival. All of the Co-Borrowers’ obligations under this Article III shall survive termination of the Aggregate Commitments, repayment of all other Obligations hereunder, and resignation of the Administrative Agent.

ARTICLE IV.

CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO CREDIT EXTENSIONS

4.01 Conditions of Initial Credit Extension. The obligation of each L/C Issuer and each Lender to make its initial Credit Extension hereunder is subject to satisfaction of the following conditions precedent on the Closing Date:

(a) The Administrative Agent’s receipt of the following, each of which shall be originals or telecopies (followed promptly by originals) unless otherwise specified, each properly executed by a Responsible Officer of the signing Loan Party, each dated the Closing Date (or, in the case of certificates of governmental officials, a recent date before the Closing Date) and each in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and each of the Lenders:

(i) executed counterparts of this Agreement;

(ii) a Note executed by the Co-Borrowers in favor of each Lender requesting a Note;

(iii) such certificates of resolutions or other action, incumbency certificates and/or other certificates of Responsible Officers of each Loan Party as the Administrative Agent may require evidencing the identity, authority and capacity of each Responsible Officer thereof authorized to act as a Responsible Officer in connection with this Agreement and the other Loan Documents to which such Loan Party is a party;

(iv) such documents and certifications as the Administrative Agent may reasonably require to evidence that each Loan Party is duly organized or formed, validly existing, in good standing and qualified to engage in business in its state of incorporation and in each jurisdiction where its ownership, lease or operation of properties or the conduct of its business requires such qualification, except to the extent that failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;

(v) a favorable opinion of (A) McDermott Will & Emery LLP, special counsel to the Loan Parties and (B) the General Counsel of the Loan Parties, each addressed to the Administrative Agent and each Lender, as to matters concerning the Loan Parties and the Loan Documents as the Administrative Agent may reasonably request;

 

71


(vi) a certificate of a Responsible Officer of each Loan Party either (A) attaching copies of all consents, licenses and approvals required in connection with the execution, delivery and performance by such Loan Party and the validity against such Loan Party of the Loan Documents to which it is a party, and such consents, licenses and approvals shall be in full force and effect, or (B) stating that no such consents, licenses or approvals are so required;

(vii) a certificate signed by a Responsible Officer of the Co-Borrowers certifying (A) that the conditions specified in Sections 4.02(a) and (b) have been satisfied, (B) except as set forth in any filings with the Securities & Exchange Commission by Premier, Inc. prior to the Closing Date (but excluding any risk factors, forward-looking disclosures and any other disclosures that are cautionary, predictive or forward-looking in nature other than any specific, historic factual information contained therein), there has been no event or circumstance that has occurred since June 30, 2018 that has had or could be reasonably expected to have, either individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect and (C) a calculation of the Consolidated Total Net Leverage Ratio as of the last day of the fiscal year of the Co-Borrowers ended on June 30, 2018;

(viii) a certificate signed by a Responsible Officer of the Co-Borrowers certifying that there is no action, suit, investigation or proceeding pending or, to the knowledge of the Co-Borrowers, threatened in any court or before any arbitrator or governmental authority that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;

(ix) an officer’s certificate prepared by the chief financial officer or other Responsible Officer approved by the Administrative Agent of Holdings as to the financial condition, solvency and related matters of the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries, on a Consolidated Basis, after giving effect to the transactions and the initial borrowings under the Loan Documents.

(x) evidence reasonably establishing that all insurance required to be maintained pursuant to the Loan Documents has been obtained and is in effect;

(xi) copies of the financial statements referred to in Section 5.05;

(xii) evidence reasonably establishing that Indebtedness for borrowed money of the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries existing pursuant to the Existing Credit Agreement shall be repaid in full and all security interests, if any, and guarantees related thereto shall be terminated on or prior to the Closing Date; and

(xiii) such other assurances, certificates, documents, consents or opinions as the Administrative Agent, any L/C Issuer, the Swing Line Lender or the Required Lenders reasonably may require.

(b) Any fees required to be paid on or before the Closing Date shall have been paid.

 

72


(c) Unless waived by the Administrative Agent, the Co-Borrowers shall have paid (a) all reasonable actual fees, charges and disbursements of Robinson, Bradshaw & Hinson, P.A., counsel to the Administrative Agent and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC (directly to such counsel if requested by the Administrative Agent), to the extent invoiced on or prior to the Closing Date and (b) all reasonable actual due diligence expenses incurred by the Administrator Agent and the Arrangers, in connection with the syndication of the credit facilities provided for herein and the preparation, negotiation, execution, and delivery of the Loan Documents; provided, however, the fees paid to counsel to the Administrative Agent and the Arrangers shall in no event exceed the amount set forth in the Fee Letter.

(d) (i) Upon the reasonable request of any Lender made at least ten days prior to the Closing Date, the Co-Borrowers shall have provided to such Lender, and such Lender shall be reasonably satisfied with, the documentation and other information so requested in connection with applicable “know your customer” and anti-money-laundering rules and regulations, including the PATRIOT Act, in each case at least five days prior to the Closing Date and (ii) at least five days prior to the Closing Date, any Loan Party that qualifies as a “legal entity customer” under the Beneficial Ownership Regulation shall have delivered, to each Lender that so requests, a Beneficial Ownership Certification in relation to such Loan Party.

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

4.02 Conditions to all Credit Extensions. The obligation of each Lender to honor any Request for Credit Extension (other than a Committed Loan Notice requesting only a conversion of Committed Loans to the other Type, or a continuation of Eurodollar Rate Loans) is subject to the following conditions precedent:

(a) The representations and warranties of the Co-Borrowers and each other Loan Party contained in Article V (other than those set forth and contained in Sections 5.05(c) and 5.06) or any other Loan Document, or which are contained in any document furnished at any time under or in connection herewith or therewith, (i) with respect to representations and warranties that contain a materiality qualification, shall be true and correct on and as of the date of such Credit Extension, except to the extent that such representations and warranties specifically refer to an earlier date, in which case they shall be true and correct as of such earlier date and (ii) with respect to representations and warranties that do not contain a materiality qualification shall be true and correct in all material respects on and as of the date of such Credit Extension, except to the extent that such representations and warranties specifically refer to an earlier date, in which case they shall be true and correct in all material respects as of such earlier date, and in each case except that for purposes of this Section 4.02, the representations and warranties contained in Sections 5.05(a) and (b) shall be deemed to refer to the most recent statements furnished pursuant to Sections 6.01(a) and (b), respectively.

 

73


(b) No Default or Event of Default shall exist, or would result from such proposed Credit Extension or from the application of the proceeds thereof.

(c) The Administrative Agent and, if applicable, the applicable L/C Issuer or the Swing Line Lender shall have received a Request for Credit Extension in accordance with the requirements hereof.

Each Request for Credit Extension (other than a Committed Loan Notice requesting only a conversion of Committed Loans to the other Type or a continuation of Eurodollar Rate Loans) submitted by the Co-Borrowers shall be deemed to be a representation and warranty that the conditions specified in Sections 4.02(a) and (b) have been satisfied on and as of the date of the applicable Credit Extension.

ARTICLE V.

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

Each of the Loan Parties represents and warrants to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders that:

5.01 Existence, Qualification and Power. Each Loan Party (a) is duly organized or formed, validly existing and, as applicable, in good standing under the Laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation or organization, (b) has all requisite corporate, partnership or limited liability company power and authority and all requisite governmental licenses, authorizations, consents and approvals to (i) own or lease its assets and carry on its business and (ii) execute, deliver and perform its obligations under the Loan Documents to which it is a party, and (c) is duly qualified and is licensed and, as applicable, in good standing under the Laws of each jurisdiction where its ownership, lease or operation of properties or the conduct of its business requires such qualification or license; except in each case referred to in clause (b)(i) or (c), to the extent that failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. No Loan Party nor any Subsidiary thereof is an Affected Financial Institution or a Covered Party.

5.02 Authorization; No Contravention. The execution, delivery and performance by each Loan Party of each Loan Document to which such Person is party, have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate or other organizational action, and do not and will not (a) contravene the terms of any of such Person’s Organization Documents; (b) conflict with or result in any breach or contravention of, or the creation of any Lien under, or require any payment to be made under (i) any material Contractual Obligation to which such Person is a party or (ii) any order, injunction, writ or decree of any Governmental Authority or any arbitral award to which such Person or its Property is subject, in each case of clauses (i) and (ii), in any material respects; or (c) violate any Law in any material respect.

5.03 Governmental Authorization; Other Consents. Except as has been obtained or effected, as the case may be, no approval, consent, exemption, authorization, or other action by, or notice to, or filing with, any Governmental Authority is necessary or required in connection with the execution, delivery or performance by any Loan Party of this Agreement or any other Loan Document and, except as set forth on Schedule 5.03, no consent of any other Person is required in connection with the execution, delivery or performance by any Loan Party of this Agreement or any other Loan Document except any such consent has been obtained or the failure of which to obtain could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

74


5.04 Binding Effect. This Agreement has been, and each other Loan Document, when delivered hereunder, will have been, duly executed and delivered by each Loan Party that is party thereto. This Agreement constitutes, and each other Loan Document when so delivered will constitute, a legal, valid and binding obligation of such Loan Party, enforceable against each Loan Party that is party thereto in accordance with its terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other Laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and subject to general principals of equity (regardless of whether such enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law).

5.05 Financial Statements; No Material Adverse Effect.

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

(b) The unaudited Consolidated balance sheets of Premier, Inc. and its direct and indirect Subsidiaries on a Consolidated basis dated September 30, 2018 and the related Consolidated statements of income or operations, shareholders’ equity and cash flows for the fiscal quarter ended on that date (i) were prepared in accordance with GAAP consistently applied throughout the period covered thereby, except as otherwise expressly noted therein, and (ii) fairly present in all material respects the financial condition of Holdings and its direct and indirect Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis as of the date thereof and their results of operations for the period covered thereby, subject, in the case of clauses (i) and (ii), to the absence of footnotes and to normal year-end audit adjustments. Schedule 5.05 sets forth, as of the Closing Date, all material indebtedness and other liabilities, direct or contingent, of Holdings and its Consolidated Subsidiaries as of the date of such financial statements, including liabilities for taxes, material commitments and Indebtedness.

(c) Except as disclosed in the filings made by Premier, Inc. with the SEC prior to the Closing Date (but excluding any risk factors, forward-looking disclosures and any other disclosures that are cautionary, predictive or forward-looking in nature other than any specific, historic factual information contained therein), since the date of the Audited Financial Statements, there has been no event or circumstance that has occurred, either individually or in the aggregate, that has had or could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(d) The three-year projections of Premier, Inc. and its Subsidiaries delivered to the Lenders on or prior to the Closing Date have been prepared in good faith based upon reasonable assumptions.

 

75


5.06 Litigation. There are no actions, suits, proceedings, claims or disputes pending or, to the knowledge of the Co-Borrowers, threatened in writing, at law, in equity, in arbitration or before any Governmental Authority, by or against the Co-Borrowers or any of their Subsidiaries or against any of their properties or revenues that (a) purport to affect or pertain to this Agreement or any other Loan Document, or any of the transactions contemplated hereby, or (b) either individually or in the aggregate, if determined adversely, could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

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

5.08 Ownership of Property; Liens. Each Co-Borrower and each Subsidiary has good record and marketable title in fee simple to, or valid leasehold interests in, all Property necessary or used in the ordinary conduct of its business, except for such defects in title as could not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. The Property of the Co-Borrowers and their respective Subsidiaries is subject to no Liens, other than Liens permitted by Section 7.01.

5.09 Environmental Compliance. Each Co-Borrower and its Subsidiaries conduct in the ordinary course of business a review of the effect of reasonably applicable Environmental Laws and claims alleging potential liability or responsibility for violation of any Environmental Law on their respective businesses, operations and properties, and as a result thereof the Co-Borrowers have reasonably concluded that such Environmental Laws and claims could not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

5.10 Insurance. The properties of each Co-Borrower and its Subsidiaries are insured with financially sound and reputable insurance companies not Affiliates of the Co-Borrowers, in such amounts (after giving effect to any self-insurance compatible with the following standards), with such deductibles and covering such risks as are customarily carried by companies engaged in similar businesses and owning similar properties in localities where any Co-Borrowers or the applicable Subsidiary operates.

5.11 Taxes. Each Co-Borrower and its Subsidiaries have filed all Federal, state and other material tax returns and reports required to be filed, and have paid all Federal, state and other material taxes, assessments, fees and other governmental charges levied or imposed upon them or their properties, income or assets otherwise due and payable, except those which are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted and for which adequate reserves have been provided in accordance with GAAP. There is no proposed tax assessment against any Co-Borrower or any Subsidiary that would, if made, have a Material Adverse Effect. Neither any Loan Party nor any Subsidiary thereof is party to any tax sharing agreement.

 

76


5.12 ERISA Compliance.

(a) Except as has not resulted or could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, each Plan is in compliance with the applicable provisions of ERISA, the Code and other Federal or state laws. Each Pension Plan that is intended to be a qualified plan under Section 401(a) of the Code has received a favorable determination letter from the Internal Revenue Service to the effect that the form of such Plan is qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code and the trust related thereto has been determined by the Internal Revenue Service to be exempt from federal income tax under Section 501(a) of the Code, or an application for such a letter is currently being processed by the Internal Revenue Service. To the knowledge of the Co-Borrowers, nothing has occurred that would prevent or cause the loss of such tax-qualified status.

(b) There are no pending or, to the knowledge of the Co-Borrowers, threatened claims, actions or lawsuits, or action by any Governmental Authority, with respect to any Plan that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. There has been no prohibited transaction or violation of the fiduciary responsibility rules with respect to any Plan that has resulted or could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

(c) During the five year period prior to which this representation is made, (i) no ERISA Event has occurred, and neither the Co-Borrowers nor any ERISA Affiliate is aware of any fact, event or circumstance that could reasonably be expected to constitute or result in an ERISA Event with respect to any Pension Plan; (ii) the Co-Borrowers and each ERISA Affiliate has met all applicable requirements under the Pension Funding Rules in respect of each Pension Plan, and no waiver of the minimum funding standards under the Pension Funding Rules has been applied for or obtained; (iii) as of the most recent valuation date for any Pension Plan, the funding target attainment percentage (as defined in Section 430(d)(2) of the Code) is 60% or higher and neither the Co-Borrowers nor any ERISA Affiliate knows of any facts or circumstances that could reasonably be expected to cause the funding target attainment percentage for any such plan to drop below 60% as of the most recent valuation date; (iv) neither the Co-Borrowers nor any ERISA Affiliate has incurred any liability to the PBGC other than for the payment of premiums, and there are no premium payments which have become due that are unpaid; (v) neither the Co-Borrowers nor any ERISA Affiliate has engaged in a transaction that could be subject to Section 4069 or Section 4212(c) of ERISA; and (vi) no Pension Plan has been terminated by the plan administrator thereof nor by the PBGC, and no event or circumstance has occurred or exists that could reasonably be expected to cause the PBGC to institute proceedings under Title IV of ERISA to terminate any Pension Plan.

(d) Neither the Co-Borrowers nor any ERISA Affiliate maintains or contributes to, or has any unsatisfied obligation to contribute to, or liability under, any active or terminated Pension Plan other than (i) on the Closing Date, those listed on Schedule 5.12 attached hereto and (ii) thereafter, Pension Plans not otherwise prohibited by this Agreement.

(e) Each Co-Borrower represents and warrants as of the Closing Date that such Co-Borrower is not and will not be using “plan assets” (within the meaning of 29 CFR § 2510.3-101, as modified by Section 3(42) of ERISA or otherwise) of one or more Benefit Plans in connection with the Loans, the Letters of Credit or the Commitments.

 

77


5.13 Subsidiaries; Capital Stock. No Co-Borrower has any Subsidiaries other than those specifically disclosed in Part (a) of Schedule 5.13, and all of the outstanding Capital Stock in such Subsidiaries have been validly issued, are fully paid and nonassessable and are owned by a Loan Party in the amounts specified on Part (a) of Schedule 5.13 and free and clear of all Liens other than Liens permitted by Section 7.01. No Co-Borrower has any equity investments in any other corporation or entity other than those specifically disclosed in Part (b) of Schedule 5.13. All of the outstanding Capital Stock of the Co-Borrowers have been validly issued and are fully paid and nonassessable. The Loan Parties may update or supplement Schedule 5.13 from time to time in connection with any Credit Extension or Guarantor Joinder Agreement.

5.14 Margin Regulations; Investment Company Act.

(a) No Loan Party is engaged nor will engage, principally or as one of their important activities, in the business of purchasing or carrying margin stock (within the meaning of Regulation U issued by the FRB), or extending credit for the purpose of purchasing or carrying margin stock.

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

5.15 Disclosure.

(a) The Loan Parties have disclosed to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders all agreements, instruments and corporate or other restrictions to which they or any of their Subsidiaries is subject, and all other matters known to them, that, individually or in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. No report, financial statement or certificate furnished in writing by any Loan Party to the Administrative Agent or any Lender delivered hereunder or under any other Loan Document (in each case, as modified or supplemented by other information so furnished) contains any material misstatement of fact or omits to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided that, with respect to projected financial information, the Loan Parties represent only that such information was prepared in good faith based upon assumptions believed to be reasonable at the time (it being recognized that projections to future events are not to be viewed as facts and that the actual results during the period or periods covered by any projections may materially differ from the projected results).

(b) As of the Closing Date, the information included in the Beneficial Ownership Certification, if applicable, is true and correct in all respects.

5.16 Compliance with Laws.

(a) Each Loan Party and each Subsidiary thereof is in compliance in all material respects with the requirements of all Laws and all orders, writs, injunctions and decrees applicable to it or to its properties, except in such instances in which (i) such requirement of Law or order, writ, injunction or decree is being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted or (ii) the failure to comply therewith, either individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

78


(b) To the extent applicable, each Co-Borrower and its Subsidiaries is in compliance, in all material respects, with (i) the Trading with the Enemy Act, as amended, and each of the foreign assets control regulations of the United States Treasury Department (31 CFR Subtitle B, Chapter V, as amended) and any other enabling legislation or executive order relating thereto and (ii) the Act. No part of the proceeds of the Loans will be used, directly or indirectly, by any Loan Party or any Subsidiary for any payments to any governmental official or employee, political party, official of a political party, candidate for political office, or anyone else acting in an official capacity, in order to obtain, retain or direct business or obtain any improper advantage, in violation of any Anti-Corruption Laws.

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

(d) Each Loan Party and each of their respective Subsidiaries is in compliance in all material respects with HIPAA, except for such noncompliance which, either individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. Further, in each contractual arrangement that is subject to HIPAA, each Loan Party which is a party to such contractual arrangement and each of their respective Subsidiaries which is a party to such contractual arrangement has: (i) to the extent required by HIPAA entered into a written business associate agreement (as such term is defined under the HIPAA regulations) that substantially meets the requirements of HIPAA; (ii) at all times complied in all material respects with such business associate agreements in respect of the HIPAA privacy and security standards; and (iii) at no time experienced or had a material unauthorized use or disclosure of Protected Health Information (as such term is defined under the HIPAA regulations) or privacy or security breach or other privacy or security incident within the meaning of HIPAA, except, in each case, for such failure to enter into agreements, such noncompliance with the terms of agreements in respect of the HIPAA privacy and security standards, and such unauthorized uses or disclosures, privacy or security breaches or other privacy or security incidents which, either individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

5.17 Taxpayer Identification Number. Each Loan Party’s true and correct U.S. taxpayer identification numbers are set forth on Schedule 10.02.

 

79


5.18 Intellectual Property; Licenses, Etc. Each Co-Borrower and its Subsidiaries own, or possess the right to use, such trademarks, service marks, trade names, copyrights, patents, patent rights, franchises, licenses and other intellectual property rights (hereinafter collectively referred to as the “IP Rights”) that are reasonably necessary for the operation of their respective businesses, except where the failure to own or possess the right to use such IP Rights, either individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. To the knowledge of the Loan Parties, no slogan or other advertising device, product, process or method now employed by any Co-Borrower or any Subsidiary infringes upon any valid and enforceable rights held by any other Person except where such infringement, either individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. Except as specifically disclosed in Schedule 5.18, no litigation regarding any of the foregoing is pending or, to the knowledge of the Loan Parties, threatened in writing, which, either individually or in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

5.19 Solvency. The Loan Parties, taken as whole, are solvent and are able to pay their debts and other liabilities, contingent obligations and other commitments as they mature in the normal course of business, and the fair saleable value of the Loan Parties’ assets, measured on a going concern basis, exceeds all probable liabilities, including those to be incurred pursuant to this Agreement. The Loan Parties, taken as a whole, do not have unreasonably small capital in relation to the business in which they are or propose to be engaged. The Loan Parties have not incurred, and do not believe that they will incur, debts beyond their ability to pay such debts as they become due. In executing the Loan Documents and consummating the Transactions, none of the Loan Parties intends to hinder, delay or defraud either present or future creditors or other Persons to which one or more of the Loan Parties is or will become indebted. On the Closing Date, the foregoing representations and warranties shall be made both before and after giving effect to the transactions contemplated hereby.

5.20 Labor Matters. There are no collective bargaining agreements or Multiemployer Plans covering the employees of the Loan Parties or any of their Subsidiaries as of the Closing Date and none of the Loan Parties or their Subsidiaries (a) has suffered any strikes, walkouts, work stoppages or other material labor difficulty within the last three years or (b) has knowledge of any potential or pending strike, walkout or work stoppage. No unfair labor practice complaint is pending against any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries which, if determined adversely, could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. There are no strikes, walkouts, work stoppages or other material labor difficulty pending or, to the knowledge of the Loan Parties, threatened against any Loan Party.

5.21 Financial Statements. The information contained in the financial statements of Premier, Inc. delivered to the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 6.01 for the most recently ended fiscal period is not materially different than the financial information of the Co-Borrowers and its Subsidiaries on a Consolidated basis.

 

80


ARTICLE VI.

AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS

So long as any Lender shall have any Commitment hereunder, any Loan or other Obligation (other than contingent indemnification obligations) hereunder shall remain unpaid or unsatisfied, or any Letter of Credit shall remain outstanding, each Loan Party shall, and shall (except in the case of the covenants set forth in Sections 6.01, 6.02, and 6.03) cause each Subsidiary to:

6.01 Financial Statements. Deliver to the Administrative Agent and each Lender, in form and detail reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the Required Lenders:

(a) as soon as available, but in any event within 90 days after the end of each fiscal year (commencing with the fiscal year ended June 30, 2019), a Consolidated balance sheet of PHSI and its direct and indirect Subsidiaries on a Consolidated basis as of the end of such fiscal year, and the related Consolidated statements of income or operations, changes in shareholders’ equity, and cash flows for such fiscal year, setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for the previous fiscal year, all in reasonable detail and prepared in accordance with GAAP, such Consolidated statements to be audited and accompanied by a report and opinion of an independent certified public accountant of nationally recognized standing reasonably acceptable to the Required Lenders, 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;

(b) as soon as available, but in any event within 45 days after the end of each of the first three fiscal quarters of each fiscal year (commencing with the fiscal quarter ended September 30, 2018), a Consolidated balance sheet of PHSI and its direct and indirect Subsidiaries on a Consolidated basis as of the end of such fiscal quarter, the related Consolidated statements of income or operations for such fiscal quarter and for the portion of the fiscal year then ended, and the related Consolidated statements of changes in shareholders’ equity, and cash flows for the portion of the fiscal year then ended, in each case (i) setting forth in comparative form, as applicable, the figures for the corresponding fiscal quarter of the previous fiscal year and the corresponding portion of the previous fiscal year, all in reasonable detail, such Consolidated statements to be certified by the chief executive officer, chief financial officer, treasurer or controller of PHSI, as fairly presenting the financial condition, results of operations, shareholders’ equity and cash flows of PHSI and its direct and indirect Subsidiaries on a Consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP, subject only to normal year-end audit adjustments and (ii) including management discussion and analysis of operating results inclusive of operating metrics in comparative form; and

(c) as soon as available, but in any event within thirty (30) days after the end of each fiscal year (including the fiscal year ending June 30, 2019), a copy of the detailed annual operating budget or plan including cash flow projections of PHSI and its Subsidiaries for the next four fiscal quarter period prepared on a quarterly basis, in form and detail reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders, together with a summary of the material assumptions made in the preparation of such annual budget or plan.

 

81


As to any information contained in materials furnished pursuant to Section 6.02(d), the Co-Borrowers shall not be separately required to furnish such information under Sections 6.01(a) or (b), but the foregoing shall not be in derogation of the obligation of the Co-Borrowers to furnish the information and materials described in Sections 6.01(a) and (b) at the times specified therein.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the Loan Parties may satisfy their obligations to deliver any financial information under this Section 6.01 by furnishing financial information of Premier, Inc. and its Consolidated Subsidiaries to the extent there are no material differences as determined by PHSI in its reasonable discretion; provided that in the event that PHSI determines that there are material differences, then upon request by the Administrative Agent and (x) within 45 days after the date of such request with respect to quarterly financial statements or (y) within 60 days after the date of such request with respect to annual financial statements, PHSI shall deliver (i) calculations made in good faith by a Responsible Officer of PHSI to eliminate the effect of such differences on a pro forma basis or (ii) separate such financial statements of PHSI and its Consolidated Subsidiaries. For any period for which the Loan Parties have delivered financial statements of Premier, Inc. and its Consolidated Subsidiaries in accordance with the preceding sentence, upon the reasonable request of the Administrative Agent, the Loan Parties shall provide unaudited unconsolidated financial information with respect to Premier, Inc.

6.02 Certificates; Other Information. Deliver to the Administrative Agent and each Lender, in form and detail reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the Required Lenders:

(a) promptly upon adoption thereof, any material amendments, supplements and modifications to the Investment Guidelines;

(b) concurrently with the delivery of the financial statements referred to in Sections 6.01(a) and (b) (commencing with the delivery of the financial statements for the fiscal quarter ended September 30, 2018), a duly completed Compliance Certificate signed by the chief executive officer, chief financial officer, treasurer, assistant treasurer or controller of PHSI;

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

(d) promptly after the same are available, copies of each report, proxy statement or financial statement or other report or communication sent to the stockholders or bondholders of the Co-Borrowers, and copies of all annual, regular, periodic and special reports and registration statements which the Co-Borrowers may file or be required to file with the SEC under Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Securities Act of 1933, and not otherwise required to be delivered to the Administrative Agent pursuant hereto;

 

82


(e) promptly after the furnishing thereof, copies of any statement or report furnished to any holder of debt securities of any Loan Party or any Subsidiary thereof pursuant to the terms of any indenture, loan or credit or similar agreement and not otherwise required to be furnished to the Lenders pursuant to Section 6.01 or any other clause of this Section 6.02;

(f) promptly, and in any event within ten Business Days after receipt thereof by any Loan Party or any Subsidiary thereof, copies of each notice or other correspondence received from the SEC (or comparable agency in any applicable non-U.S. jurisdiction) concerning any investigation or possible investigation or other inquiry by such agency regarding financial or other operational results of any Loan Party or any Subsidiary thereof, excluding routine comment letters from the SEC regarding (i) registration statements that the Co-Borrowers have previously filed or may file with the SEC under the Securities Act of 1933 and (ii) periodic and other filings or proxy or information statements that the Co-Borrowers may file with the SEC under Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934;

(g) promptly upon receipt thereof, a copy or summary of any other report, or “management letter” or similar report submitted by independent accountants to any Loan Party or any of their Subsidiaries in connection with any annual, interim or special audit of the books of such Person;

(h) promptly following any request therefor, provide information and documentation reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent or any Lender for purposes of compliance with applicable “know your customer” and anti-money-laundering rules and regulations, including the PATRIOT Act and the Beneficial Ownership Regulation; and

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

Documents required to be delivered pursuant to Section 6.01(a) or (b) or Section 6.02(d) (to the extent any such documents are included in materials otherwise filed with the SEC) may be delivered electronically and if so delivered, shall be deemed to have been delivered on the date (i) on which the Co-Borrowers post or file such documents, or provides a link thereto on the Co-Borrowers’ website on the Internet at the website address listed on Schedule 10.02 or become publicly available on any website maintained by the SEC; or (ii) on which such documents are posted on the Co-Borrowers’ behalf on an Internet or intranet 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 the Co-Borrowers shall notify the Administrative Agent and each Lender (by facsimile or electronic mail) 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. Notwithstanding anything contained herein, in every instance the Co-Borrowers shall be required to provide paper or electronic (PDF) copies of the Compliance Certificates required by Section 6.02(b) to the Administrative Agent. Except for such Compliance Certificates, the Administrative Agent shall have no obligation to request the delivery or to maintain copies of the documents referred to above, and in any event shall have no responsibility to monitor compliance by the Co-Borrowers with any such request for delivery, and each Lender shall be solely responsible for requesting delivery to it or maintaining its copies of such documents.

 

83


Each Co-Borrower hereby acknowledges that (a) the Administrative Agent and the Arrangers will make available to the Lenders and the L/C Issuers materials and/or information provided by or on behalf of the Co-Borrowers hereunder (hereinafter collectively referred to as “Borrower Materials”) by posting the Co-Borrowers Materials on IntraLinks or another similar electronic system (hereinafter referred to as the “Platform”) and (b) certain of the Lenders (hereinafter each referred to as a “Public Lender”) may have personnel who do not wish to receive material non-public information with respect to the Co-Borrowers or their Affiliates, or the respective securities of any of the foregoing, and who may be engaged in investment and other market-related activities with respect to such Persons’ securities. Each of the Co-Borrowers hereby agrees that, so long as said Co-Borrower is the issuer of any outstanding debt or equity securities that are registered or issued pursuant to a private offering or is actively contemplating issuing any such securities, (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 Co-Borrowers shall be deemed to have authorized the Administrative Agent, the Arrangers, the L/C Issuers and the Lenders to treat such Borrower Materials as not containing any material non-public information with respect to the Co-Borrowers or their 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 10.07); (y) all Borrower Materials marked “PUBLIC” are permitted to be made available through a portion of the Platform designated “Public Side Information;” and (z) the Administrative Agent and the Arrangers 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 that is not designated “Public Side Information.” Notwithstanding the foregoing to the contrary, the Co-Borrowers shall be under no obligation to mark any Borrower Materials “PUBLIC.”

6.03 Notices. Promptly following a Responsible Officer’s having knowledge thereof, notify the Administrative Agent (who, in turn, will notify each other Lender):

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

(b) of any matter that has resulted or could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, including (i) breach or non-performance of, or any default under, a Contractual Obligation of any Co-Borrower or any Subsidiary; (ii) any dispute, litigation, investigation, proceeding or suspension between any Co-Borrower or any Subsidiary and any Governmental Authority; or (iii) the commencement of, or any material adverse development in, any litigation or proceeding affecting any Co-Borrower or any Subsidiary, including pursuant to any applicable Environmental Laws;

(c) of the occurrence of any ERISA Event that has resulted or would reasonably be expected to result in liability of any Co-Borrower under Title IV of ERISA to the Pension Plan, Multiemployer Plan or the PBGC in an aggregate amount in excess of $10,000,000; and

 

84


(d) of any material change in accounting policies or financial reporting practices by any Co-Borrower or any Subsidiary, including any determination by any Co-Borrower referred to in Section 2.10(b).

Each notice pursuant to this Section 6.03 (other than any notice pursuant to Section 6.03(d)) shall be accompanied by a statement of a Responsible Officer of the Co-Borrowers setting forth in reasonable detail of the occurrence referred to therein and if requested by Administrative Agent, a statement of what action the Co-Borrowers have taken and propose to take with respect thereto. Each notice pursuant to Section 6.03(a) shall describe with particularity any and all provisions of this Agreement and any other Loan Document that have been breached.

6.04 Payment of Obligations. Pay and discharge as the same shall become due and payable, all its obligations and liabilities, including (a) all tax liabilities, assessments and governmental charges or levies upon it or its properties or assets; (b) all lawful claims which, if unpaid, would by law become a Lien upon its Property; and (c) all Indebtedness, as and when due and payable, but subject to any subordination provisions contained in any instrument or agreement evidencing such Indebtedness, except where, in regard to the matters described in clauses (a), (b) and (c) above, the same are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted and adequate reserves in accordance with GAAP are being maintained by such Co-Borrower or such Subsidiary, or the failure to make payment could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

6.05 Preservation of Existence, Etc. Preserve, renew and maintain in full force and effect each Co-Borrower and each Subsidiary’s legal existence and good standing under the Laws of the jurisdiction of its organization except in a transaction permitted by Section 7.03 or Section 7.04; (b) take all reasonable action to maintain all rights, privileges, permits, licenses and franchises necessary or desirable in the normal conduct of its business, except to the extent that failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; and (c) preserve or renew all of its registered patents, trademarks, trade names and service marks, the non-preservation of which could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

6.06 Maintenance of Properties. Maintain, preserve and protect all of its material properties and equipment necessary in the operation of its business in good working order and condition, ordinary wear and tear, casualty and condemnation excepted in the reasonable judgment of the Co-Borrowers; and (b) make all necessary repairs thereto and renewals and replacements thereof except where the failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

6.07 Maintenance of Insurance. Maintain with financially sound and reputable insurance companies, insurance with respect to its properties and business against loss or damage of the kinds customarily insured against by Persons engaged in the same or similar business, of such types and in such amounts (after giving effect to any self-insurance compatible with the following standards) as are customarily carried under similar circumstances by such other Persons.

 

85


6.08 Compliance with Laws.

(a) Comply in all material respects with the requirements of all Laws (including HIPAA) and all orders, writs, injunctions and decrees applicable to them or to their business or Property, except in such instances in which (i) such requirement of Law or order, writ, injunction or decree is being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted; or (ii) the failure to comply therewith could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(b) Maintain in effect and enforce policies and procedures reasonably designed to ensure compliance in all material respects by such Loan Party, its Subsidiaries and their respective directors, officers, employees and agents with Anti-Corruption Laws and applicable Sanctions.

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

6.10 Inspection Rights. Permit representatives and independent contractors of the Administrative Agent and each Lender to visit and inspect any of its properties, to examine its corporate, financial and operating records, and make copies thereof or abstracts therefrom, and to discuss its affairs, finances and accounts with its directors, officers, and independent public accountants, all at the expense of the Administrative Agent and Lenders so long as no Event of Default exists, and at such reasonable times during normal business hours and as often as may be reasonably desired, upon reasonable advance notice to the Co-Borrowers; provided, however, that (a) the Administrative Agent and the Lenders shall not exercise such rights more often than one time during any calendar year absent the existence of an Event of Default and (b) when an Event of Default exists the Administrative Agent or any Lender (or any of their respective representatives or independent contractors) may do any of the foregoing at the expense of the Co-Borrowers at any time during normal business hours and with reasonable advance notice.

6.11 Use of Proceeds. Use the proceeds of the Credit Extensions (a) to refinance the existing indebtedness, if any, of the Co-Borrowers and its Subsidiaries under the Existing Credit Agreement (the “Refinancing”), (b) to pay fees, commissions and expenses in connection with the Closing Date Transactions and (c) to finance ongoing working capital requirements, including permitted acquisitions, other general corporate purposes not in contravention of any Law or of any Loan Document and associated costs and expenses and other general corporate purposes of the Co-Borrowers and their Subsidiaries.

 

86


6.12 Additional Guarantors.

(a) Notify the Administrative Agent at the time that any Person becomes a Domestic Subsidiary, and promptly thereafter (and in any event within 30 days following the last day of the fiscal quarter in which such Person becomes a Domestic Subsidiary or such later date as is reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent), cause such Person to (i) become a Guarantor by executing and delivering to the Administrative Agent a Joinder Agreement or such other document as the Administrative Agent shall reasonably deem appropriate for such purpose and (ii) deliver to the Administrative Agent documents of the types referred to in Sections 4.01(a)(iii) and (iv) and favorable opinions of counsel (who may be in-house counsel) to such Person (which shall cover, among other things, the legality, validity, binding effect and enforceability of the documentation referred to in the foregoing clause (i)), all in form, content and scope reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent; provided, that, with respect to any such Person that becomes a Domestic Subsidiary on or within three (3) days prior to the Closing Date, any failure to identify such Person as a Domestic Subsidiary, a Guarantor, or in any other provision of this Agreement applicable to a Domestic Subsidiary or Guarantor as of the Closing Date, shall not be a breach of any provision hereof.

Excluded Subsidiaries shall not be considered Subsidiaries hereunder and therefore shall not be required to become Guarantors pursuant to Section 6.12(a), provided, that if all such Excluded Subsidiaries (i) generate more than 25% of Consolidated EBITDA on a pro forma basis or (ii) own more than 25% of the Assets, in each case, as of the last day of the most recently ended fiscal quarter, then the Co-Borrowers shall, and shall cause their respective Subsidiaries to, cause such number of Excluded Subsidiaries to become Guarantors, within 30 days following the last day of such fiscal quarter, in accordance with Section 6.12(a) as is necessary to cause the matters described in this proviso to cease to be true after giving effect to any such Excluded Subsidiaries becoming a Guarantor.

(b) Any Excluded Subsidiary that becomes a Guarantor hereunder in accordance with the provisions contained in this Section 6.12 shall, immediately upon becoming a Guarantor, be deemed to be a Subsidiary (and shall cease to be an Excluded Subsidiary) for all purposes under this Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents.

6.13 Pari Passu Status. Cause the Obligations to rank at least pari passu in right of payment with all other present and future unsecured Indebtedness of such Co-Borrower and its Subsidiaries.

6.14 Further Assurances. The Loan Parties shall provide such information regarding the operations, business affairs and financial condition of Premier, Inc., the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries as the Administrative Agent or any Lender may reasonably request.

ARTICLE VII.

NEGATIVE COVENANTS

So long as any Lender shall have any Commitment hereunder, any Loan or other Obligation (other than contingent indemnification obligations) hereunder shall remain unpaid or unsatisfied, or any Letter of Credit shall remain outstanding, no Loan Party shall, nor shall it permit any Subsidiary to, directly or indirectly:

7.01 Liens. Create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Lien upon any of its Property or revenues, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, other than the following:

(a) Customary Permitted Liens;

 

87


(b) Liens in existence on the date hereof as set forth on Schedule 7.01 attached hereto and made a part hereof and any extensions, renewals, or replacements thereof, provided that (i) the aggregate principal amount of the Indebtedness secured by such Lien(s) immediately prior to such extension, renewal, or replacement is not increased or the maturity thereof changed and (ii) such Lien(s) is not extended to any other Property in violation of this Agreement;

(c) Liens incidental to the conduct of its business or the ownership of its Property which were not incurred in connection with the borrowing of money or the obtaining of advances of credit and which in the aggregate do not materially detract from the use or value of its Property or materially impair the use thereof in the operation of its business;

(d) Liens in favor of any Co-Borrower or any Wholly Owned Subsidiary on Property of a Subsidiary to secure obligations of such Subsidiary to a Co-Borrower or to a Wholly Owned Subsidiary;

(e) Liens arising out of judgments for the payment of money to the extent not constituting an Event of Default;

(f) Liens on Property of any Person securing purchase money Indebtedness (including Capital Leases) of such Person permitted under Section 7.02(c), provided that any such Lien attaches to such Property concurrently with or within one hundred and twenty (120) days after the acquisition thereof or any Permitted Refinancing thereof, and provided, further, that no such Lien shall at any time be extended to or cover any Property other than Property acquired with such purchase money Indebtedness or subject to such Capital Lease (or Property replacing such Property) and the proceeds thereof;

(g) Liens provided for in equipment leases (including financing statements and undertakings to file the same), provided that such Liens are limited to the equipment subject to such leases, accessions thereto and the proceeds thereof;

(h) Liens in favor of AmerisourceBergen Drug Corporation and McKesson Corporation securing Indebtedness permitted pursuant to Section 7.02(o);

(i) Liens securing Indebtedness or other obligations to any counterparty under repurchase or securities loan agreements;

(j) Liens existing solely with respect to cash or deposit account balances used to Cash Collateralize obligations of a Lender to (i) any L/C Issuer, in accordance with the terms, conditions, and provisions of Section 2.03(a)(iii)(F) or (ii) the Swing Line Lender, in accordance with the terms, conditions, and provisions of Section 2.04(c)(i);

(k) Liens created by this Agreement or any other Loan Document;

(l) Liens securing Indebtedness permitted under Section 7.02(p); provided that such Liens do not secure Indebtedness owing by any Co-Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries in respect of (i) any private placement or note purchase facility or facilities or (ii) any senior credit facility or facilities (including the Facility);

 

88


(m) Normal and customary rights of setoff upon deposits of cash in favor of banks or other depository institutions;

(n) Liens of a collection bank arising under Section 4-210 of the Uniform Commercial Code on items in the course of collection;

(o) Any Lien existing on any Property or asset prior to the acquisition thereof by a Loan Party or existing on any Property or asset of any Person that becomes a Subsidiary or is merged with and into a Loan Party after the date hereof prior to the time such Person becomes a Subsidiary or is merged with and into any Co-Borrower or any Subsidiary or any Permitted Refinancing thereof; provided that such Lien shall secure only those obligations which it secures on the date of such acquisition or the date such Person becomes a Subsidiary or is merged with and into a Loan Party, as the case may be, or any Permitted Refinancing thereof;

(p) Liens that are contractual rights of set-off relating to (i) the establishment of depository relations with banks or other financial institutions not given in connection with the issuance or incurrence of Indebtedness or (ii) pooled deposit, automatic clearing house or sweep accounts of a Loan Party to permit satisfaction of overdraft or similar obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business of a Loan Party;

(q) Non-exclusive licenses, sublicenses, leases or subleases granted to others (i) not interfering in any material respect with the business of the Loan Parties, taken as a whole, and (ii) not securing any Indebtedness;

(r) Liens on insurance policies and the proceeds thereof securing the financing of the premiums with respect thereto, which Indebtedness is permitted to be incurred pursuant to Section 7.02(l);

(s) Pledges or deposits of cash and Permitted Investments (i) securing deductibles, self-insurance, co-payment, co-insurance, retentions, indemnification and similar obligations to providers of insurance or (ii) related to workers compensation, unemployment insurance and social security laws or regulations, in each case, not securing Indebtedness and in the ordinary course of business;

(t) Deposits to secure performance bids, trade contracts, leases, statutory obligations, surety and appeal bonds, performance bonds and other similar obligations, in each case in the ordinary course of business;

(u) Liens solely on any cash earnest money deposits or deposits in connection with the indemnity obligations made by a Loan Party in connection with any letter of intent or purchase agreement with respect to any Permitted Acquisition; and

(v) Liens so long as neither (i) the aggregate outstanding principal amount of the obligations secured thereby nor (ii) the aggregate Fair Market Value (determined by senior management of the applicable Loan Party as of the date such Lien is incurred) of the assets subject thereto exceeds (as to all Loan Parties) $10,000,000 at any one time.

 

89


7.02 Indebtedness. Create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Indebtedness except, without duplication:

(a) Indebtedness arising under this Agreement;

(b) Indebtedness of the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries existing as of the Closing Date set forth in Schedule 7.02 and Permitted Refinancings thereof;

(c) Purchase money Indebtedness hereafter incurred by the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries to finance the purchase of fixed assets (including through Capital Leases), provided that (i) the total of all such Indebtedness shall not exceed an aggregate principal amount of $50,000,000 at any one time outstanding; (ii) such Indebtedness when incurred shall not exceed the purchase price of the asset(s) acquired; (iii) no such Indebtedness shall be refinanced other than by a Permitted Refinancing thereof, and (iv) any such Indebtedness is incurred prior to or within ninety (90) days after such acquisition of the fixed asset or in connection with a Permitted Refinancing thereof;

(d) Obligations of any Loan Party or any Subsidiary in respect of Bank Products;

(e) Indebtedness for taxes, assessments or charges of any Governmental Authority or claims not at the time due and payable or which are being actively contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and against which reserves (to the extent required) in accordance with GAAP have been established by such Loan Party or Subsidiary, but only if the non-payment of such taxes being contested does not result in a Lien upon any property of any Loan Party or Subsidiary that has priority over the Lender’s Lien on the Property;

(f) Contingent liabilities arising out of the endorsement of negotiable instruments in the ordinary course of collection or similar transactions in the ordinary course of business;

(g) Unsecured intercompany Indebtedness among the Loan Parties;

(h) Guaranties by a Loan Party or any Subsidiary of a Loan Party’s obligations of the types listed in this Section 7.02;

(i) Indebtedness of PHA to its limited partners arising pursuant to its partnership agreement or any other Co-Borrower to its respective stockholders arising pursuant to its stockholders agreement;

(j) Indebtedness of any Person that becomes a Subsidiary or is merged with and into a Borrower, in each case, after the date hereof, or any Permitted Refinancing thereof; provided, that (i) such Indebtedness exists at the time such Person becomes a Subsidiary or is merged with and into a Borrower and is not created in contemplation of or in connection with such Person becoming a Subsidiary or being merged with and into a Borrower or is a Permitted Refinancing thereof and (ii) the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness permitted by this Section 7.02(j) shall not exceed $50,000,000 at any time outstanding;

(k) Indebtedness owed to any Person providing workers’ compensation, health, disability or other employee benefits (including contractual and statutory benefits) or property, casualty, liability or credit insurance, pursuant to reimbursement or indemnification obligations to such Person, in each case incurred in the ordinary course of business;

 

90


(l) Indebtedness consisting of the financing of insurance premiums;

(m) Indebtedness of a Loan Party (including letters of credit) in respect of workers’ compensation claims, performance bonds, bid bonds, surety and appeal bonds, performance and completion guarantees and similar obligations, payment obligations in connection with self-insurance or similar obligations, in the ordinary course of business;

(n) Other unsecured Indebtedness (other than Priority Indebtedness) of the Loan Parties; provided that the Loan Parties are in pro forma compliance with each of the financial covenants set forth in Section 7.08;

(o) Indebtedness of a Loan Party to either AmerisourceBergen Drug Corporation or McKesson Corporation in an aggregate amount not to exceed $3,000,000 at any time outstanding; and

(p) Other Indebtedness (including Priority Indebtedness) of the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries; provided, that the aggregate amount of such Indebtedness shall not exceed an aggregate amount equal to 15% of Assets at any time.

7.03 Fundamental Changes. Merge, dissolve, liquidate, wind-up, consolidate with or into another Person, or Dispose of (whether in one transaction or in a series of transactions) all or substantially all of its assets (whether now owned or hereafter acquired) to or in favor of any Person or, with respect to a Co-Borrower, change its structure as a corporation, except that, so long as no Default or Event of Default exists or would result therefrom,

(a) any Co-Borrower or any Subsidiary may consummate Permitted Acquisitions;

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

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

(d) any Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party may merge or consolidate with or into, or sell, transfer, lease or otherwise dispose of (in one transaction or in a series of transactions) all or substantially all of its assets or all or substantially all of the Capital Stock of any of its Subsidiaries to, any Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party so long as such transaction could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;

 

91


(e) any Subsidiary of any Co-Borrower may merge or consolidate with or into, or sell, transfer, lease or otherwise dispose of (in one transaction or in a series of transactions) all or substantially all of its assets or all or substantially all of the Capital Stock of any of its Subsidiaries to, any Person so long as such transaction is otherwise permitted under Section 7.13, and if such Subsidiary was a Loan Party immediately prior to effecting any such transaction, the surviving entity is a Loan Party; and

(f) any Subsidiary (other than a Co-Borrower) may liquidate or dissolve if (i) Co-Borrowers determine in good faith that such action is in the interest of the Co-Borrowers and its Subsidiaries, (ii) such transaction is not disadvantageous in any material respect to the rights or interest of the Administrative Agent or the Lenders and (iii) the assets of such Subsidiary are transferred to a Loan Party.

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

(a) (i) any Loan Party or any Subsidiary may Dispose of assets to a Loan Party, (ii) any Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party may Dispose of assets to a Loan Party and (iii) any Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party may Dispose of assets to any other Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party;

(b) any Co-Borrower or any Subsidiary may Dispose of inventory in the ordinary course of its business (including the Disposition of obsolete inventory);

(c) any Co-Borrower or any Subsidiary may Dispose of assets that, in its good faith judgment, do not have any material useful or productive capacity, are fully used or depreciated, are obsolete or are no longer necessary or productive in the ordinary course of its business;

(d) any Co-Borrower or any Subsidiary may Dispose of assets other than as set forth in each other subsection of this Section 7.04; provided that (i) such assets sold in any calendar year shall not, in the aggregate, account for more than twenty-five percent (25%) of Consolidated EBITDA or more than twenty-five percent (25%) of the total revenues of the Co-Borrowers and their direct and indirect Subsidiaries, on a Consolidated basis, for the prior calendar year, and (ii) as of any date of determination, such assets sold during the term of this Agreement shall not, in the aggregate, account for more than fifty percent (50%) of Consolidated EBITDA or more than fifty percent (50%) of the total revenues of the Co-Borrowers and their direct and indirect Subsidiaries, on a Consolidated basis, in each case on a cumulative basis from June 30, 2018 through the most recently completed fiscal quarter for which financial statements are available;

(e) each Co-Borrower and its Subsidiaries may enter into and consummate transactions permitted by Section 7.03;

(f) any Co-Borrower or any Subsidiary may grant non-exclusive licenses or sublicenses of rights or interests in intellectual property to third parties in the ordinary course of its business;

(g) any Co-Borrower or any Subsidiary may lease and sublease Property to other Persons in the ordinary course of its business;

 

92


(h) the sale, lease, license or transfer of assets in connection with the closing of any Loan Party’s leased locations to the extent such leased locations are no longer used or useful in the conduct of such Loan Party’s business,

(i) any loss of, damage to or destruction of, or any condemnation or other taking for public use of, any Property of any Loan Party;

(j) intellectual property that is, in the good faith judgment of the Loan Parties, no longer economically practicable to maintain or useful in the conduct of the business of the Loan Parties, taken as a whole,

(k) assignments, licenses, sublicenses, leases or subleases (including, of intellectual property) granted to others not interfering in any material respect with the business of the Loan Parties, taken as a whole,

(l) any sale or discount without recourse of accounts receivable or notes receivable or similar obligations arising in the exercise of the good faith judgment of senior management of the Co-Borrowers or the applicable Subsidiary in connection with the compromise, settlement or collection thereof, and

(m) any transfer of cash and any sale or liquidation of Investments permitted under Section 7.13, in each case, for cash at Fair Market Value (as determined by senior management of such Loan Party).

7.05 Change in Nature of Business. Engage in any material line of business substantially different from those lines of business conducted by the Co-Borrowers and their respective Subsidiaries on the date hereof or any business substantially related, reasonably complimentary, ancillary or incidental thereto. No Loan Party will, nor will it permit any of its Subsidiaries to, (a) amend, modify or change its articles of incorporation, certificate of designation (or corporate charter or other similar organizational document) operating agreement or bylaws (or other similar document) in any respect materially adverse to the interests of the Lenders or (b) change its accounting method (except in accordance with GAAP) in any manner materially adverse to the interests of the Lenders.

7.06 Transactions with Affiliates. Enter into any transaction of any kind with any Affiliate of a Co-Borrower, whether or not in the ordinary course of business, other than (a) on fair and reasonable terms substantially as favorable to such Co-Borrower or such Subsidiary as would be obtainable by such Co-Borrower or such Subsidiary at the time in a comparable arm’s length transaction with a Person other than an Affiliate, (b) normal compensation, fees and advances to and reimbursement of expenses of and indemnities provided for the benefit of officers and directors, (c) pursuant to agreements in existence on the date hereof, (d) Investments permitted pursuant to Section 7.13, (e) transactions and payments otherwise permitted by this Article VII, and (f) transactions and payments made pursuant to the terms of the GPO Participation Agreements in effect from time to time among PHA and its customers.

 

93


7.07 Use of Proceeds. Use the proceeds of any Credit Extension, whether directly or indirectly, and whether immediately, incidentally or ultimately, to purchase or carry margin stock (within the meaning of Regulation U of the FRB) or to extend credit to others for the purpose of purchasing or carrying margin stock or to refund indebtedness originally incurred for such purpose. The Co-Borrowers will not request any Loan or Letter of Credit, and the Co-Borrowers shall not use, and shall procure that its Subsidiaries and its or their respective directors, officers, employees and agents shall not use, the proceeds of any Loan or Letter of Credit (a) in furtherance of an offer, payment, promise to pay, or authorization of the payment or giving of money, or anything else of value, to any Person in violation of any Anti-Corruption Laws, (b) for the purpose of funding, financing or facilitating any activities, business or transaction of or with any Sanctioned Person, or in any Sanctioned Country, or (c) in any manner that would result in the violation of any Sanctions applicable to any Loan Party.

7.08 Financial Covenants.

(a) Consolidated Interest Coverage Ratio. Permit the Consolidated Interest Coverage Ratio as of the end of any fiscal quarter to be less than 2.50 to 1.00.

(b) Consolidated Total Net Leverage Ratio. Permit the Consolidated Total Net Leverage Ratio at any time during any period of four fiscal quarters to be greater than 3.75 to 1.00, provided that, in connection with any Permitted Acquisition for which the aggregate consideration exceeds $250,000,000 (a “Qualified Acquisition”), the maximum Consolidated Total Net Leverage Ratio, at the election of the Co-Borrowers (which election may be made no more than three (3) times during the term of this Agreement), with prior notice to the Administrative Agent not later than 10 Business Days after the date of consummation of the Qualified Acquisition, shall increase to 4.25 to 1.00 for the four (4) consecutive fiscal quarter period beginning with the fiscal quarter in which such Qualified Acquisition is consummated and, unless increased in accordance with this Section 7.08(b) in respect of a subsequent Qualified Acquisition, shall be 3.75 to 1.00 as of the end of each subsequent fiscal quarter.

7.09 Restricted Payments. Declare or make, directly or indirectly, any Restricted Payment, or incur any obligation (contingent or otherwise) to declare or make any Restricted Payment other than (a) Tax Distributions, (b) dividends payable solely in the Capital Stock of such Person, (c) dividends or other distributions payable to the Loan Parties and (d) so long as (i) no Default or Event of Default has occurred or is continuing or would result therefrom and (ii) after giving effect to such Restricted Payment on a pro forma basis, the Loan Parties are in compliance with each of the financial covenants set forth in Section 7.08.

7.10 Sales and Leasebacks. Enter into any arrangement with any lender or investor or to which such lender or investor is a party providing for the leasing by any Co-Borrower or any Subsidiary of real or personal property which has been or is to be Disposed of by such Co-Borrower or such Subsidiary to such lender or investor or to any Person to whom funds have been or are to be advanced by such lender or investor on the security of such property or rental obligations of the Co-Borrowers or such Subsidiary, in any case in excess at any time of an amount equal to ten percent (10%) of Assets at such time, unless (a) the assets so Disposed of are subject to, and may be Disposed of in compliance with, Section 7.04 and (b) such lease obligations are Capital Leases and, immediately after giving effect to such transaction, no Default or Event of Default exists or would exist after giving effect to such transaction, including any Default or Event of Default with respect to the financial covenants set forth in Section 7.08.

 

94


7.11 Reserved.

7.12 Accounting Changes. Make any change in its (a) accounting policies or reporting practices, except (i) as required or permitted by GAAP or (ii) otherwise, if not a material change, or (b) fiscal year if such change is made for the purposes of, amongst others, avoiding the occurrence of an Event of Default.

7.13 Investments. Make any Investments, except for:

(a) Investments consisting of cash and Cash Equivalents including amounts held in any Loan Party’s deposit accounts or investment accounts;

(b) Investments consisting of accounts receivable created, acquired or made by any a Loan Party or any Subsidiary in the ordinary course of business and payable or dischargeable in accordance with customary trade terms;

(c) Investments consisting of Capital Stock, obligations, securities or other property received by any Loan Party or any Subsidiary in settlement of accounts receivable (created in the ordinary course of business) (i) from bankrupt or insolvent obligors or (ii) arising from any litigation, arbitration or other dispute;

(d) Investments existing as of the Closing Date and set forth on Schedule 7.13;

(e) Investments in the form of one or more Permitted Acquisitions;

(f) Loans to and other Investments in any Loan Party (including in the form of guaranties);

(g) guarantees by any Loan Party of leases (other than Capital Leases) or of other obligations that do not constitute Indebtedness, in each case entered into in the ordinary course of business;

(h) Investments in connection with Hedging Agreements;

(i) Investments in prepaid expenses, negotiable instruments held for collection and lease, utility and workers’ compensation, performance and other similar deposits provided to third parties in the ordinary course of business;

(j) Investments with respect to performance bonds, bankers’ acceptances, workers’ compensation claims, surety and appeal bond payments, obligations in connection with self-insurance or similar obligations and bank overdrafts;

(k) Investments made in accordance with the Investment Guidelines; and

(l) other Investments by the Loan Parties; provided that the Loan Parties are in pro forma compliance with each of the financial covenants set forth in Section 7.08.

 

95


7.14 Limitation on Restricted Actions. Except as otherwise provided for in this Loan Agreement, create or otherwise cause or suffer to exist or become effective any encumbrance or restriction on the ability of any such Person to (a) pay dividends or make any other distributions to any Loan Party on its Capital Stock or with respect to any other interest or participation in, or measured by, its profits, (b) pay any Indebtedness or other obligation owed to any Loan Party, (c) make loans or advances to any Loan Party, (d) sell, lease or transfer any of its properties or assets to any Loan Party, or (e) act as a Guarantor except (in respect of any of the matters referred to in clauses (a) through (d) above) for such encumbrances or restrictions existing under or by reason of (i) this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, (ii) applicable law, (iii) any document or instrument governing Indebtedness incurred pursuant to Section 7.02; provided that any such restriction contained therein relates only to the asset or assets constructed or acquired in connection therewith, or (iv) any Lien permitted pursuant to Section 7.01 or any document or instrument governing any such Lien; provided, that any such restriction contained therein relates only to the asset or assets subject to such Lien.

7.15 [Reserved].

ARTICLE VIII.

EVENTS OF DEFAULT AND REMEDIES

8.01 Events of Default. Any of the following shall constitute an Event of Default:

(a) Non-Payment. Any Co-Borrower or any other Loan Party fails to pay (i) when and as required to be paid herein, any amount of principal of any Loan or any L/C Obligation, or (ii) within five days after the same becomes due, any interest on any Loan or on any L/C Obligation, or any fee due hereunder, or (iii) within five Business Days following the Administrative Agent’s demand for such reimbursement or payment for such amounts, any other amount payable hereunder or under any other Loan Document; or

(b) Specific Covenants. Any Loan Party fails to perform or observe any term, covenant or agreement contained in (i) any of Sections 6.05, 6.10, 6.11, or Article VII or (ii) Sections 6.01, 6.02 or 6.12 and such failure continues for 10 Business Days; or

(c) Other Defaults. Any Loan Party fails to perform or observe any other covenant or agreement (not specified in Section 8.01(a) or (b)) contained in any Loan Document on its part to be performed or observed and such failure continues for 30 days following the earlier to occur of (i) knowledge by a Responsible Officer of any Loan Party or (ii) receipt by any Loan Party of notice thereof from the Administrative Agent; or

(d) Representations and Warranties. Any representation, warranty, certification or statement of fact made or deemed made by or on behalf of such Co-Borrower or any other Loan Party herein, in any other Loan Document, or in any document delivered in connection herewith or therewith shall be incorrect or misleading in any substantial and material respect when made or deemed made; or

 

96


(e) Cross-Default. (i) Any Co-Borrower or any Loan Party (A) fails to make any payment when due (whether by scheduled maturity, required prepayment, acceleration, demand, or otherwise and after the giving of any required notice and the running of any applicable grace or cure periods) in respect of any Indebtedness or Guarantee (other than Indebtedness hereunder and Indebtedness under Hedging Agreements) having an aggregate principal amount (including undrawn committed or available amounts and including amounts owing to all creditors under any combined or syndicated credit arrangement) of more than $75,000,000.00, or (B) fails to observe or perform any other agreement or condition relating to any such Indebtedness or Guarantee having an aggregate principal amount of more than $75,000,000.00 or contained in any instrument or agreement evidencing, securing or relating thereto, or any other event occurs, the effect of which default or other event (but only after the giving of any required notice, the expiration of any permitted grace period or both) is to cause, or to permit the holder or holders of such Indebtedness or the beneficiary or beneficiaries of such Guarantee (or a trustee or agent on behalf of such holder or holders or beneficiary or beneficiaries) to cause, with the giving of notice if required, such Indebtedness to be demanded or to become due or to be repurchased, prepaid, defeased or redeemed (automatically or otherwise), or an offer to repurchase, prepay, defease or redeem such Indebtedness to be made, prior to its stated maturity, or such Guarantee to become payable or cash collateral in respect thereof to be demanded; or (ii) there occurs under any Hedging Agreement an Early Termination Date (as defined in such Hedging Agreement) resulting from (A) any event of default under such Hedging Agreement as to which the Co-Borrowers or any Loan Party is the Defaulting Party (as defined in such Hedging Agreement) or (B) any Termination Event (as so defined) under such Hedging Agreement as to which a Co-Borrower or any Loan Party is an Affected Party (as so defined) and, in either event, the Hedging Agreement Termination Value owed by such Co-Borrower or such Loan Party as a result thereof is greater than $75,000,000.00; or

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

(g) Inability to Pay Debts; Attachment. (i) Any Loan Party becomes unable or admits in writing its inability or fails generally to pay its debts as they become due, or (ii) any writ or warrant of attachment or execution or similar process is issued or levied against any Property of any such Person in an aggregate principal amount of more than $50,000,000.00 and is not released, vacated or fully bonded within 30 days after its issue or levy; or

(h) Judgments. There is entered against any Loan Party (i) one or more final judgments or orders for the payment of money in an aggregate amount (as to all such judgments or orders) exceeding $50,000,000.00 (to the extent not covered by independent third-party insurance as to which the insurer does not dispute coverage), or (ii) any one or more non-monetary final judgments that have, or could reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect and, in either case, (A) enforcement proceedings are commenced by any creditor upon such judgment or order, or (B) there is a period of 30 consecutive days during which a stay of enforcement of such judgment, by reason of a pending appeal or otherwise, is not in effect; or

 

97


(i) ERISA. (i) An ERISA Event occurs with respect to a Pension Plan or Multiemployer Plan which, when taken together with all other ERISA Events that have occurred, has resulted or would reasonably be expected to result in liability of any Co-Borrower under Title IV of ERISA to the Pension Plan, Multiemployer Plan or the PBGC in an aggregate amount in excess of $50,000,000, or (ii) any Co-Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate fails to pay when due, after the expiration of any applicable grace period, any installment payment with respect to its withdrawal liability under Section 4201 of ERISA under a Multiemployer Plan in an aggregate amount in excess of $50,000,000; or

(j) Invalidity of Loan Documents. Any material provision of any Loan Document, at any time after its execution and delivery and for any reason other than (i) as expressly permitted hereunder or thereunder, (ii) to the extent arising from the action or inaction of the Administrative Agent that does not result from a breach by any Loan Party or any Subsidiary thereof under the Loan Documents or (iii) satisfaction in full of all the Obligations, ceases to be in full force and effect; or any Loan Party or any other Person acting on behalf of a Loan Party contests in any manner the validity or enforceability of any provision of any Loan Document; or any Loan Party denies that it has any or further liability or obligation under any Loan Document, or purports to revoke, terminate or rescind any provision of any Loan Document; or

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

8.02 Remedies Upon Event of Default. If any Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Administrative Agent shall, at the request of, or may, with the consent of, the Required Lenders, take any or all of the following actions:

(a) declare the commitment of each Lender to make Loans and any obligation of each L/C Issuer to make L/C Credit Extensions to be terminated, whereupon such commitments and obligation shall be terminated;

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

(c) require that the Co-Borrowers Cash Collateralize the L/C Obligations (in an amount equal to the then Outstanding Amount thereof); and

(d) exercise on behalf of itself, the Lenders and the L/C Issuers all rights and remedies available to it, the Lenders and the L/C Issuers under the Loan Documents;

provided, however, that upon the occurrence of an actual or deemed entry of an order for relief with respect to the Co-Borrowers under the Bankruptcy Code of the United States, the obligation of each Lender to make Loans and any obligation of each L/C Issuer to make L/C Credit Extensions shall automatically terminate, the unpaid principal amount of all outstanding Loans and all interest and other amounts as aforesaid shall automatically become due and payable, and the obligation of the Co-Borrowers to Cash Collateralize the L/C Obligations as aforesaid shall automatically become effective, in each case without further act of the Administrative Agent or any Lender.

 

98


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

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

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

Third, to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting accrued and unpaid Letter of Credit Fees and interest on the Loans, L/C Borrowings and other Obligations, ratably among the Lenders and the L/C Issuers in proportion to the respective amounts described in this clause Third payable to them;

Fourth, to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting unpaid principal of the Loans and L/C Borrowings and amounts due and payable in respect of Bank Products (other than Excluded Swap Obligations), ratably among the Lenders and the L/C Issuers in proportion to the respective amounts described in this clause Fourth held by them;

Fifth, to the Administrative Agent for the account of the L/C Issuers, to Cash Collateralize that portion of L/C Obligations comprised of the aggregate undrawn amount of Letters of Credit to the extent not otherwise Cash Collateralized by the Co-Borrowers pursuant to Sections 2.03 and 2.16;

Sixth, to all other Obligations and other obligations which shall have become due and payable under the Loan Documents or otherwise and not repaid pursuant to clauses “First” through “Fifth” above; and

Last, the balance, if any, after all of the Obligations have been indefeasibly paid in full, to the Co-Borrowers or as otherwise required by Law.

Subject to Section 2.03(c) and Section 2.16, amounts used to Cash Collateralize the aggregate undrawn amount of Letters of Credit pursuant to clause Fifth above shall be applied to satisfy drawings under such Letters of Credit as they occur. If any amount remains on deposit as Cash Collateral after all Letters of Credit have either been fully drawn or expired, such remaining amount shall be applied to the other Obligations, if any, in the order set forth above.

 

99


ARTICLE IX.

ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT

9.01 Appointment and Authority. Each of the Lenders and each L/C Issuer hereby irrevocably appoints Wells Fargo Bank to act on its behalf as the Administrative Agent hereunder and under the other Loan Documents and authorizes the Administrative Agent to take such actions on its behalf and to exercise such powers as are delegated to the Administrative Agent by the terms hereof or thereof, together with such actions and powers as are reasonably incidental thereto. The provisions of this Article IX are solely for the benefit of the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the L/C Issuers, and none of the Co-Borrowers or any other Loan Party shall have rights as a third party beneficiary of any of such provisions. It is understood and agreed that the use of the term “agent” herein or in any other Loan Documents (or any other similar term) with reference to the Administrative Agent is not intended to connote any fiduciary or other implied (or express) obligations arising under agency doctrine of any Applicable Law. Instead such term is used as a matter of market custom, and is intended to create or reflect only an administrative relationship between contracting parties.

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

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

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

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

 

100


(c) shall not, except as expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents, have any duty to disclose, and shall not be liable for the failure to disclose, any information relating to the Co-Borrowers or any of their Affiliates that is communicated to or obtained by the Person serving as the Administrative Agent or any of its Affiliates in any capacity.

The Administrative Agent shall not be liable for any action taken or not taken by it (i) with the consent or at the request of the Required Lenders (or such other number or percentage of the Lenders as shall be necessary, or as the Administrative Agent shall believe in good faith shall be necessary, under the circumstances as provided in Sections 10.01 and 8.02) or (ii) in the absence of its own gross negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by final and nonappealable judgment. The Administrative Agent shall be deemed not to have knowledge of any Default or Event of Default unless and until notice describing such Default or Event of Default is given in writing to the Administrative Agent by the Co-Borrowers, a Lender or a L/C Issuer.

The Administrative Agent shall not be responsible for or have any duty to ascertain or inquire into (i) any statement, warranty or representation made in or in connection with this Agreement or any other Loan Document, (ii) the contents of any certificate, report or other document delivered hereunder or thereunder or in connection herewith or therewith, (iii) the performance or observance of any of the covenants, agreements or other terms or conditions set forth herein or therein or the occurrence of any Default or Event of Default, (iv) the validity, enforceability, effectiveness or genuineness of this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any other agreement, instrument or document or (v) the satisfaction of any condition set forth in Article IV or elsewhere herein, other than to confirm receipt of items expressly required to be delivered to the Administrative Agent.

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

9.05 Delegation of Duties. The Administrative Agent may perform any and all of its duties and exercise its rights and powers hereunder or under any other Loan Document by or through any one or more sub-agents appointed by the Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent and any such sub-agent may perform any and all of its duties and exercise its rights and

 

101


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

9.06 Resignation of Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent may at any time give notice of its resignation to the Lenders, the L/C Issuers and the Co-Borrowers. Upon receipt of any such notice of resignation, the Required Lenders shall have the right, in consultation with the Co-Borrowers, to appoint a successor, which shall be a bank with an office in the United States, or an Affiliate of any such bank with an office in the United States. If no such successor shall have been so appointed by the Required Lenders and shall have accepted such appointment within 30 days after the retiring Administrative Agent gives notice of its resignation, then the retiring Administrative Agent may on behalf of the Lenders and the L/C Issuers, appoint a successor Administrative Agent meeting the qualifications set forth above; provided that if the Administrative Agent shall notify the Co-Borrowers and the Lenders that no qualifying Person has accepted such appointment, then such resignation shall nonetheless become effective in accordance with such notice and (1) the retiring Administrative Agent shall be discharged from its duties and obligations hereunder and under the other Loan Documents (except that in the case of any collateral security held by the Administrative Agent on behalf of the Lenders or the L/C Issuers under any of the Loan Documents, the retiring Administrative Agent shall continue to hold such collateral security until such time as a successor Administrative Agent is appointed) and (2) all payments, communications and determinations provided to be made by, to or through the Administrative Agent shall instead be made by or to each Lender and each L/C Issuer directly, until such time as the Required Lenders appoint a successor Administrative Agent as provided for above in this Section. Upon the acceptance of a successor’s appointment as Administrative Agent hereunder, such successor shall succeed to and become vested with all of the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring (or retired) Administrative Agent, and the retiring Administrative Agent shall be discharged from all of its duties and obligations hereunder or under the other Loan Documents (if not already discharged therefrom as provided above in this Section). The fees payable by the Co-Borrowers to a successor Administrative Agent shall be the same as those payable to its predecessor unless otherwise agreed between the Co-Borrowers and such successor. After the retiring Administrative Agent’s resignation hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, the provisions of this Article and Section 10.04 shall continue in effect for the benefit of such retiring Administrative Agent, its sub-agents and their respective Related Parties in respect of any actions taken or omitted to be taken by any of them while the retiring Administrative Agent was acting as Administrative Agent.

Any resignation by Wells Fargo Bank as Administrative Agent pursuant to this Section shall also constitute its resignation as an L/C Issuer and Swing Line Lender. Upon the acceptance of a successor’s appointment as Administrative Agent hereunder, (a) such successor shall succeed to and become vested with all of the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring L/C Issuer and Swing Line Lender, (b) the retiring L/C Issuer and Swing Line Lender

 

102


shall be discharged from all of its or their respective duties and obligations hereunder or under the other Loan Documents, and (c) the successor L/C Issuer shall issue letters of credit in substitution for the Letters of Credit issued by the retiring L/C Issuer, if any, outstanding at the time of such succession or make other arrangements reasonably satisfactory to the retiring L/C Issuer to effectively assume the obligations of the retiring L/C Issuer with respect to such Letters of Credit.

If the Person serving as Administrative Agent is a Defaulting Lender pursuant to clause (d) of the definition of “Defaulting Lender”, the Required Lenders may, to the extent permitted by applicable laws, by notice in writing to the Co-Borrowers and such Person, remove such Person as Administrative Agent and, in consultation with the Co-Borrowers, appoint a successor, which shall be a bank with an office in the United States, or an Affiliate of any such bank with an office in the United States; provided that, without the consent of the Co-Borrowers (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld), the Required Lenders shall not be permitted to select a successor that is not a U.S. financial institution described in Treasury Regulation Section 1.1441-1(b)(2)(ii) or a U.S. branch of a foreign bank described in Treasury Regulation Section 1.1441-1(b)(2)(iv)(A). If no such successor shall have been so appointed by the Required Lenders and shall have accepted such appointment within thirty (30) days (or such earlier day as shall be agreed by the Required Lenders) (hereinafter referred to as the “Removal Effective Date”), then such removal shall nonetheless become effective in accordance with such notice on the Removal Effective Date.

9.07 Non-Reliance on Administrative Agent and Other Lenders. Each Lender and each L/C Issuer acknowledges that it has, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent or any other Lender or any of their Related Parties and based on such documents and information as it has deemed appropriate, made its own credit analysis and decision to enter into this Agreement. Each Lender and each L/C Issuer also acknowledges that it will, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent or any other Lender or any of their Related Parties and based on such documents and information as it shall from time to time deem appropriate, continue to make its own decisions in taking or not taking action under or based upon this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any related agreement or any document furnished hereunder or thereunder.

9.08 No Other Duties, Etc. Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, none of the Bookrunners, Arrangers, syndications agents, or co-documentation agents, if any, listed on the cover page hereof shall have any powers, duties or responsibilities under this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents, except in its capacity, as applicable, as the Administrative Agent, a Lender or an L/C Issuer hereunder.

9.09 Administrative Agent May File Proofs of Claim. In case of the pendency of any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law or any other judicial proceeding relative to any Loan Party, the Administrative Agent (irrespective of whether the principal of any Loan or L/C Obligation shall then be due and payable as herein expressed or by declaration or otherwise and irrespective of whether the Administrative Agent shall have made any demand on the Co-Borrowers) shall be entitled and empowered, by intervention in such proceeding or otherwise:

 

103


(a) to file and prove a claim for the whole amount of the principal and interest owing and unpaid in respect of the Loans, L/C Obligations and all other Obligations that are owing and unpaid and to file such other documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Lenders, the L/C Issuers and the Administrative Agent (including any claim for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Lenders, the L/C Issuers and the Administrative Agent and their respective agents and counsel and all other amounts due the Lenders, the L/C Issuers and the Administrative Agent under Sections 2.03(h) and (i), 2.09 and 10.04) allowed in such judicial proceeding; and

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

and any custodian, receiver, assignee, trustee, liquidator, sequestrator or other similar official in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Lender and each L/C Issuer to make such payments to the Administrative Agent and, in the event that the Administrative Agent shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Lenders and the L/C Issuers, to pay to the Administrative Agent any amount due for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Administrative Agent and its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Administrative Agent under Sections 2.09 and 10.04.

Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to authorize the Administrative Agent to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Lender or any L/C Issuer any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Obligations or the rights of any Lender or any L/C Issuer to authorize the Administrative Agent to vote in respect of the claim of any Lender or any L/C Issuer in any such proceeding.

9.10 Collateral and Loan Party Guaranty Matters. The Lenders and the L/C Issuers irrevocably authorize the Administrative Agent, at its option and in its discretion,

(a) to release any Lien on any Property granted to or held by the Administrative Agent under any Loan Document (i) upon termination of the Aggregate Commitments and payment in full of all Obligations (other than contingent indemnification obligations) and the expiration or termination of all Letters of Credit (other than Letters of Credit as to which other arrangements reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the applicable L/C Issuer shall have been made), (ii) that is sold or to be sold as part of or in connection with any sale permitted hereunder or under any other Loan Document, or (iii) subject to Section 10.01, if approved, authorized or ratified in writing by the Required Lenders; and

(b) to release any Guarantor from its obligations under the Loan Party Guaranty if such Person ceases to be a Subsidiary as a result of a transaction permitted hereunder.

Upon request by the Administrative Agent at any time, the Required Lenders will confirm in writing the Administrative Agent’s authority to release or subordinate its interest in particular types or items of Property, or to release any Guarantor from its obligations under the Loan Party Guaranty pursuant to this Section 9.10. In furtherance of clause (b) of this Section 9.10, Administrative Agent shall release any Guarantor from its obligations under the Loan Party Guaranty if such Person ceases to be a Subsidiary as a result of a transaction permitted hereunder.

 

104


9.11 Certain ERISA Matters.

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

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

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

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

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

(b) In addition, unless either (1) sub-clause (i) in the immediately preceding clause (a) is true with respect to a Lender or (2) a Lender has provided another representation, warranty and covenant in accordance with sub-clause (iv) in the immediately preceding clause (a), such Lender further (x) represents and warrants, as of the date such Person became a Lender party hereto, to, and (y) covenants, from the date such Person became a Lender party hereto to the date

 

105


such Person ceases being a Lender party hereto, for the benefit of, the Administrative Agent and not, for the avoidance of doubt, to or for the benefit of any Co-Borrower or any other Loan Party, that the Administrative Agent is not a fiduciary with respect to the assets of such Lender involved in such Lender’s entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Letters of Credit, the Commitments and this Agreement (including in connection with the reservation or exercise of any rights by the Administrative Agent under this Agreement, any Loan Document or any documents related hereto or thereto).

9.12 Erroneous Payments.

(a) Each Lender and each L/C Issuer hereby severally agrees that if (i) the Administrative Agent notifies (which such notice shall be conclusive absent manifest error) such Lender or L/C Issuer or any other Person that has received funds from the Administrative Agent or any of its Affiliates, either for its own account or on behalf of a Lender or L/C Issuer (each such recipient, a “Payment Recipient”) that the Administrative Agent has determined in its sole discretion that any funds received by such Payment Recipient were erroneously transmitted to, or otherwise erroneously or mistakenly received by, such Payment Recipient (whether or not known to such Payment Recipient) or (ii) any Payment Recipient receives any payment from the Administrative Agent (or any of its Affiliates) (x) that is in a different amount than, or on a different date from, that specified in a notice of payment, prepayment or repayment sent by the Administrative Agent (or any of its Affiliates) with respect to such payment, prepayment or repayment, as applicable, (y) that was not preceded or accompanied by a notice of payment, prepayment or repayment sent by the Administrative Agent (or any of its Affiliates) with respect to such payment, prepayment or repayment, as applicable, or (z) that such Payment Recipient otherwise becomes aware was transmitted or received in error or by mistake (in whole or in part) then, in each case, an error in payment shall be presumed to have been made (any such amounts specified in clauses (i) or (ii) of this Section 9.12(a), whether received as a payment, prepayment or repayment of principal, interest, fees, distribution or otherwise; individually and collectively, an “Erroneous Payment”), then, in each case, such Payment Recipient is deemed to have knowledge of such error at the time of its receipt of such Erroneous Payment; provided that nothing in this Section shall require the Administrative Agent to provide any of the notices specified in clauses (i) or (ii) above. Each Payment Recipient agrees that it shall not assert any right or claim to any Erroneous Payment, and hereby waives any claim, counterclaim, defense or right of set-off or recoupment with respect to any demand, claim or counterclaim by the Administrative Agent for the return of any Erroneous Payments, including without limitation waiver of any defense based on “discharge for value” or any similar doctrine. For the avoidance of doubt, no Co-Borrower nor any other Loan Party shall constitute a “Payment Recipient”.

(b) Without limiting the immediately preceding Section 9.12(a), each Payment Recipient agrees that, in the case of clause (ii) of Section 9.12(a), it shall promptly notify the Administrative Agent in writing of such occurrence.

(c) In the case of either clause (i) or (ii) of Section 9.12(a), such Erroneous Payment shall at all times remain the property of the Administrative Agent and shall be segregated by the Payment Recipient and held in trust for the benefit of the Administrative Agent, and upon demand from the Administrative Agent such Payment Recipient shall (or, shall cause any Person who received any portion of an Erroneous Payment on its behalf to), promptly, but in all events

 

106


no later than one Business Day thereafter, return to the Administrative Agent the amount of any such Erroneous Payment (or portion thereof) as to which such a demand was made in same day funds and in the currency so received, together with interest thereon in respect of each day from and including the date such Erroneous Payment (or portion thereof) was received by such Payment Recipient to the date such amount is repaid to the Administrative Agent at the greater of the Federal Funds Rate and a rate determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation from time to time in effect.

(d) In the event that an Erroneous Payment (or portion thereof) is not recovered by the Administrative Agent for any reason, after demand therefor by the Administrative Agent in accordance with immediately preceding clause (c), from any Lender that is a Payment Recipient or an Affiliate of a Payment Recipient (such unrecovered amount as to such Lender, an “Erroneous Payment Return Deficiency”), then at the sole discretion of the Administrative Agent and upon the Administrative Agent’s written notice to such Lender (i) such Lender shall be deemed to have made a cashless assignment of the full face amount of the portion of its Loans (but not its Commitments) to the Administrative Agent or, at the option of the Administrative Agent, the Administrative Agent’s applicable lending affiliate in an amount that is equal to the Erroneous Payment Return Deficiency (or such lesser amount as the Administrative Agent may specify) (such assignment of the Loans (but not Commitments), the “Erroneous Payment Deficiency Assignment”) plus any accrued and unpaid interest on such assigned amount, without further consent or approval of any party hereto and without any payment by the Administrative Agent or its applicable lending affiliate as the assignee of such Erroneous Payment Deficiency Assignment. The parties hereto acknowledge and agree that (1) any assignment contemplated in this Section 9.12(d) shall be made without any requirement for any payment or other consideration paid by the applicable assignee or received by the assignor, (2) the provisions of this Section 9.12(d) shall govern in the event of any conflict with the terms and conditions of Section 10.06 and (3) the Administrative Agent may reflect such assignments in the Register without further consent or action by any other Person.

(e) Each party hereto hereby agrees that (x) in the event an Erroneous Payment (or portion thereof) is not recovered from any Payment Recipient that has received such Erroneous Payment (or portion thereof) for any reason, the Administrative Agent (1) shall be subrogated to all the rights of such Payment Recipient with respect to such amount (provided that the Loan Parties’ Obligations under the Loan Documents in respect of such subrogation rights shall not be duplicative of such Obligations in respect of Loans that have been assigned to the Administrative Agent under an Erroneous Payment Deficiency Assignment) and (2) is authorized to set off, net and apply any and all amounts at any time owing to such Payment Recipient under any Loan Document, or otherwise payable or distributable by the Administrative Agent to such Payment Recipient from any source, against any amount due to the Administrative Agent under this Section 9.12 or under the indemnification provisions of this Agreement, (y) the receipt of an Erroneous Payment by a Payment Recipient shall not for the purpose of this Agreement be treated as a payment, prepayment, repayment, discharge or other satisfaction of any Obligations owed by any Co-Borrower or any other Loan Party, except, in each case, to the extent such Erroneous Payment is, and solely with respect to the amount of such Erroneous Payment that is, comprised of funds received by the Administrative Agent from any Co-Borrower or any other Loan Party for the purpose of making a payment on the Obligations, provided that this Section 9.12 shall not be interpreted to increase (or accelerate the due date for), or have the effect of

 

107


increasing (or accelerating the due date for), the Obligations of the Co-Borrowers relative to the amount (and/or timing for payment) of the Obligations that would have been payable had such Erroneous Payment not been made by the Administrative Agent and (z) to the extent that an Erroneous Payment was in any way or at any time credited as payment or satisfaction of any of the Obligations, the Obligations or any part thereof that were so credited, and all rights of the Payment Recipient, as the case may be, shall be reinstated and continue in full force and effect as if such payment or satisfaction had never been received.

(f) Each party’s obligations under this Section 9.12 shall survive the resignation or replacement of the Administrative Agent or any transfer of right or obligations by, or the replacement of, a Lender, the termination of the Commitments or the repayment, satisfaction or discharge of all Obligations (or any portion thereof) under any Loan Document.

(g) Nothing in this Section 9.12 will constitute a waiver or release of any claim of the Administrative Agent hereunder arising from any Payment Recipient’s receipt of an Erroneous Payment.

ARTICLE X.

MISCELLANEOUS

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

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

(b) extend or increase the Commitment of any Lender (or reinstate any Commitment terminated pursuant to Section 8.02) without the prior express written consent of such Lender;

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

(d) reduce the principal of, or the rate of interest specified herein on, any Loan or L/C Borrowing, or (subject to clause (iv) of the second proviso to this Section 10.01) any fees or other amounts payable hereunder or under any other Loan Document without the prior express written consent of each Lender directly affected thereby; provided, however, that only the consent of the Required Lenders shall be necessary (i) to amend the definition of “Default Rate” or to waive any obligation of the Co-Borrowers to pay interest or Letter of Credit Fees at the Default Rate or (ii) to amend any financial covenant hereunder (or any defined term used therein) even if the effect of such amendment would be to reduce the rate of interest on any Loan or L/C Borrowing or to reduce any fee payable hereunder;

 

108


(e) change Section 2.13 or Section 8.03 in a manner that would alter the pro rata sharing of payments required thereby without the written consent of each Lender directly adversely affected thereby;

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

(g) release all or substantially all of the value of the Loan Party Guaranty without the prior express written consent of each Lender, except to the extent the release of any Guarantor is permitted pursuant to Section 9.10 (in which case such release may be made by the Administrative Agent acting alone);

and, provided further, that (i) no amendment, waiver or consent shall, unless in writing and signed by the L/C Issuers in addition to the Lenders required above, affect the rights or duties of a L/C Issuer under this Agreement or any Issuer Document relating to any Letter of Credit issued or to be issued by it; (ii) no amendment, waiver or consent shall, unless in writing and signed by the Swing Line Lender in addition to the Lenders required above, affect the rights or duties of the Swing Line Lender under this Agreement; (iii) no amendment, waiver or consent shall, unless in writing and signed by the Administrative Agent in addition to the Lenders required above, affect the rights or duties of the Administrative Agent under this Agreement or any other Loan Document; and (iv) the Fee Letters may be amended, or rights or privileges thereunder waived, in a writing executed only by the parties thereto. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, no Defaulting Lender shall have any right to approve or disapprove any amendment, waiver or consent hereunder, (and any amendment, waiver or consent which by its terms requires the consent of all Lenders or each affected Lender may be effected with the consent of the applicable Lenders other than Defaulting Lenders), except that (x) the Commitment of any Defaulting Lender may not be increased or extended or the maturity of any of its Loans may not be extended, the rate of interest on any of its Loans may not be reduced and the principal amount of any of its Loans may not be forgiven, in each case without the consent of such Defaulting Lender and (y) any waiver, amendment, consent or modification requiring the consent of all Lenders or each affected Lender that by its terms affects any Defaulting Lender more adversely relative to other affected Lenders shall require the consent of such Defaulting Lender.

In addition, notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, the Co-Borrowers may, by written notice to the Administrative Agent from time to time, make one or more offers (each, a “Loan Modification Offer”) to all of the Lenders of any class to make one or more amendments or modifications to (a) allow the maturity and scheduled amortization of the Loans and/or Commitments of the Accepting Lenders (as defined below) to be extended and (b) increase the Applicable Rate, the Commitment Fees and/or the Letter of Credit Fees set forth in the Applicable Rate payable with respect to the Loans and Commitments of the Accepting Lenders, (“Permitted Amendments”) pursuant to procedures reasonably specified by the Administrative Agent and reasonably acceptable to the Co-Borrowers. 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. Permitted Amendments shall become effective

 

109


only with respect to the Loans and/or Commitments of the Lenders that accept the applicable Loan Modification Offer (such Lenders, the “Accepting Lenders”) and, in the case of any Accepting Lender, only with respect to such Lender’s Loans and/or Commitments as to which such Lender’s acceptance has been made. Each Loan Party and each Accepting Lender shall execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent an agreement containing the terms of the Permitted Amendments (a “Loan Modification Agreement”) and such other documentation as the Administrative Agent shall reasonably specify to evidence the acceptance of the Permitted 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 Credit 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 and Commitments of the Accepting Lenders as to which such Lenders’ acceptance has been made.

Notwithstanding any provision herein to the contrary, if the Administrative Agent and the Co-Borrowers acting together identify any ambiguity, omission, mistake, typographical error or other defect in any provision of this Agreement or any other Loan Document (including the schedules and exhibits thereto), then the Administrative Agent and the Co-Borrowers shall be permitted to amend, modify or supplement such provision to cure such ambiguity, omission, mistake, typographical error or other defect, and such amendment shall become effective without any further action or consent of any other party to this Agreement if the same is not objected to in writing by the Required Lenders to the Administrative Agent within five Business Days following receipt of notice thereof.

10.02 Notices; Effectiveness; Electronic Communication.

(a) Notices Generally. Except in the case of notices and other communications expressly permitted to be given by telephone (and except as provided in Section 10.02(b)), 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 electronic mail as follows, and all notices and other communications expressly permitted hereunder to be given by telephone shall be made to the applicable telephone number, as follows:

(i) if to the Co-Borrowers, the Administrative Agent, any L/C Issuer or the Swing Line Lender, to the address, facsimile number, electronic mail address or telephone number specified for such Person on Schedule 10.02; and

(ii) if to any other Lender, to the address, facsimile number, electronic mail address or telephone number specified in its Administrative Questionnaire.

Notices and other communications sent by hand or overnight courier service, or mailed by certified or registered mail, shall be deemed to have been given when received; notices and other communications sent by facsimile shall be deemed to have been given when sent (except that, if not given during normal business hours for the recipient, shall be deemed to have been given at the opening of business on the next Business Day for the recipient). Notices and other communications delivered through electronic communications to the extent provided in Section 10.02(b), shall be effective as provided in Section 10.02(b).

 

110


(b) Electronic Communications. Notices and other communications to the Lenders and the L/C Issuers hereunder may be delivered or furnished by electronic communication (including e-mail and Internet or intranet websites) pursuant to procedures approved by the Administrative Agent, provided that the foregoing shall not apply to notices to any Lender or the L/C Issuers pursuant to Article II if such Lender or such L/C Issuer, as applicable, has notified the Administrative Agent that it is incapable of receiving notices under such Article by electronic communication. The Administrative Agent or the Co-Borrowers may, in their respective discretion, agree to accept notices and other communications to them hereunder by electronic communications pursuant to procedures approved by them, provided that approval of such procedures may be limited to particular notices or communications.

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

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

 

111


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

(e) Reliance by Administrative Agent, L/C Issuers and Lenders. The Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuers and the Lenders shall be entitled to rely and act upon any notices (including telephonic Committed Loan Notices and Swing Line Loan Notices) purportedly given by or on behalf of the Co-Borrowers even if (i) such notices were not made in a manner specified herein, were incomplete or were not preceded or followed by any other form of notice specified herein, or (ii) the terms thereof, as understood by the recipient, varied from any confirmation thereof. The Co-Borrowers shall indemnify the Administrative Agent, each L/C Issuer, each Lender and the Related Parties of each of them from all losses, costs, expenses and liabilities resulting from the reliance by such Person on each notice purportedly given by or on behalf of the Co-Borrowers. All telephonic notices to and other telephonic communications with the Administrative Agent may be recorded by the Administrative Agent, and each of the parties hereto hereby consents to such recording.

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

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein or in any other Loan Document, the authority to enforce rights and remedies hereunder and under the other Loan Documents against the Loan Parties or any of them shall be vested exclusively in, and all actions and proceedings at law in connection with such enforcement shall be instituted and maintained exclusively by, the Administrative Agent in accordance with Section 8.02 for the benefit of all the Lenders and the L/C Issuers; provided, however, that the foregoing shall not prohibit (a) the Administrative Agent from exercising on its own behalf the rights and remedies that inure to its benefit (solely in its capacity as Administrative Agent) hereunder and under the other Loan

 

112


Documents, (b) any L/C Issuer or the Swing Line Lender from exercising the rights and remedies that inure to its benefit (solely in its capacity as an L/C Issuer or Swing Line Lender, as the case may be) hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, (c) any Lender from exercising setoff rights in accordance with Section 10.08 (subject to the terms of Section 2.13), or (d) any Lender from filing proofs of claim or appearing and filing pleadings on its own behalf during the pendency of a proceeding relative to any Loan Party under any Debtor Relief Law; and provided, further, that if at any time there is no Person acting as Administrative Agent hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, then (i) the Required Lenders shall have the rights otherwise ascribed to the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 8.02 and (ii) in addition to the matters set forth in clauses (b), (c) and (d) of the preceding proviso and subject to Section 2.13, any Lender may, with the consent of the Required Lenders, enforce any rights and remedies available to it and as authorized by the Required Lenders.

10.04 Expenses; Indemnity; Damage Waiver.

(a) Costs and Expenses. The Co-Borrowers shall pay (i) all reasonable and properly documented actual out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent and its Affiliates (including the reasonable and properly documented actual fees, charges and disbursements of counsel for the Administrative Agent), in connection with the syndication of the credit facilities provided for herein, the preparation, negotiation, execution, delivery and administration of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents or any amendments, modifications or waivers of the provisions hereof or thereof (whether or not the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby shall be consummated and promptly following written demand therefor), (ii) all reasonable and properly documented actual out-of-pocket expenses incurred by each L/C Issuer in connection with the issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of any Letter of Credit issued by it or any demand for payment thereunder and (iii) all reasonable and properly documented actual out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent, any Lender or any L/C Issuer (including the reasonable and properly documented actual fees, charges and disbursements of any counsel for the Administrative Agent, any Lender or any L/C Issuer in connection with the enforcement or protection of its rights (A) in connection with this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, including its rights under this Section, or (B) in connection with the Loans made or Letters of Credit issued hereunder, including all such out-of-pocket expenses incurred during any workout, restructuring or negotiations in respect of such Loans or Letters of Credit. The Co-Borrowers shall have no obligation to pay, or reimburse any Person for, the fees and time charges of attorneys who are employees of the Administrative Agent, any Lender or any L/C Issuer.

(b) Indemnification by the Co-Borrowers. The Co-Borrowers shall indemnify the Administrative Agent (and any sub-agent thereof), each Lender and each L/C Issuer, 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 liabilities, damages, claims, costs and expenses (including the reasonable and properly documented actual fees, charges and disbursements of one external counsel and one external local counsel in each applicable jurisdiction if required and as selected by the Administrative Agent (and to the extent an Indemnitee determines, after consultation with legal counsel, that an actual or potential conflict may require use of separate counsel by such Indemnitee, separate legal counsel for such Indemnitee)), incurred by any Indemnitee or asserted against any Indemnitee by any third party

 

113


or by the Co-Borrowers or any other Loan Party arising out of, in connection with, or as a result of (i) the execution or delivery of this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any agreement or instrument contemplated hereby or thereby, the performance by the parties hereto of their respective obligations hereunder or thereunder, the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, or, in the case of the Administrative Agent (and any sub-agent thereof) and its Related Parties only, the administration of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents (including in respect of any matters addressed in Section 3.01), (ii) any Loan or Letter of Credit or the use or proposed use of the proceeds therefrom (including any refusal by the applicable L/C Issuer to honor a demand for payment under a Letter of Credit if the documents presented in connection with such demand do not strictly comply with the terms of such Letter of Credit), (iii) any actual or alleged presence or release of Hazardous Materials on or from any Property owned or operated by the Co-Borrowers or any of their Subsidiaries, or any Environmental Liability related in any way to the Co-Borrowers or any of their Subsidiaries, or (iv) any actual or prospective claim, litigation, investigation or proceeding relating to any of the foregoing, whether based on contract, tort or any other theory, whether brought by a third party or by the Co-Borrowers or any other Loan Party, and regardless of whether any Indemnitee is a party thereto; provided that such indemnity shall not, as to any Indemnitee, be available to the extent that such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or related expenses (w) have resulted from the gross negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct of such Indemnitee; (x) result from a claim brought by the Co-Borrowers or any other Loan Party against an Indemnitee for breach in bad faith of such Indemnitee’s obligations hereunder or under any other Loan Document; (y) the material breach of the this Agreement or the other Loan Documents by an Indemnitee; or (z) any dispute solely among Indemnitees, solely to the extent that the underlying dispute does not (A) arise as a result of any action, inaction or representation of, or information provided by or on behalf of, the Co-Borrowers or any of their subsidiaries or affiliates or (B) relate to claims against any indemnified party in its capacity or in fulfilling its role as an Administrative Agent or arranger or any similar role under this Agreement or the other Loan Documents (in the case of each of the preceding clauses (w) through (z), as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction in a final non-appealable judgment). This Section 10.04(b) shall not apply with respect to Taxes other than any Taxes that represent liabilities, damages, claims, costs and expenses arising from any non-Tax claim.

(c) Reimbursement by Lenders. To the extent that the Co-Borrowers for any reason fail to indefeasibly pay any amount required under Section 10.04(a) or (b) to be paid by them to the Administrative Agent (or any sub-agent thereof), any L/C Issuer or any Related Party of any of the foregoing, each Lender severally agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent (or any such sub-agent), such L/C Issuer or such Related Party, as the case may be, such Lender’s Applicable Percentage (determined as of the time that the applicable unreimbursed expense or indemnity payment is sought) of such unpaid amount, provided that the unreimbursed expense or indemnified loss, claim, damage, liability or related expense, as the case may be, was incurred by or asserted against the Administrative Agent (or any such sub-agent) or any L/C Issuer in its capacity as such, or against any Related Party of any of the foregoing acting for the Administrative Agent (or any such sub-agent) or such L/C Issuer in connection with such capacity. The obligations of the Lenders under this Section 10.04(c) are subject to the provisions of Section 2.12(d).

 

114


(d) Waiver of Consequential Damages, Etc. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the Co-Borrowers shall not assert, and hereby waives, any claim against any Indemnitee, on any theory of liability, for special, indirect, consequential or punitive damages (as opposed to direct or actual damages) arising out of, in connection with, or as a result of, this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any agreement or instrument contemplated hereby, the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, any Loan or Letter of Credit or the use of the proceeds thereof. No Indemnitee referred to in Section 10.04(b) shall be liable for any damages arising from the use by unintended recipients of any information or other materials distributed to such unintended recipients by such Indemnitee through telecommunications, electronic or other information transmission systems in connection with this Agreement or the other Loan Documents or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby other than for direct or actual damages resulting from the gross negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct of such Indemnitee as determined by a final and nonappealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction.

(e) Payments. All amounts due under this Section shall be payable not later than twenty (20) Business Days after demand therefor.

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

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

10.06 Successors and Assigns.

(a) Successors and Assigns Generally. The provisions of this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby, except that none of the Co-Borrowers or any other Loan Party may assign or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations hereunder without the prior express written consent of the Administrative Agent and each Lender and no Lender may assign or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations hereunder except (i) to an assignee in

 

115


accordance with the provisions of Section 10.06(b), (ii) by way of participation in accordance with the provisions of Section 10.06(d), or (iii) by way of pledge or assignment of a security interest subject to the restrictions of Section 10.06(f) (and any other attempted assignment or transfer by any party hereto shall be null and void). Nothing in this Agreement, expressed or implied, shall be construed to confer upon any Person (other than the parties hereto, their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby, Participants to the extent provided in Section 10.06(d) and, to the extent expressly contemplated hereby, the Related Parties of each of the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuers and the Lenders) any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or by reason of this Agreement.

(b) Assignments by Lenders. Any Lender may at any time assign to one or more assignees all or a portion of its rights and obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Commitment and the Loans (including for purposes of this Section 10.06(b), participations in L/C Obligations and in Swing Line Loans) at the time owing to it); provided that any such assignment shall be subject to the following conditions:

(i) Minimum Amounts.

(A) in the case of an assignment of the entire remaining amount of the assigning Lender’s Commitment and the Loans at the time owing to it or in the case of an assignment to a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund, no minimum amount need be assigned; and

(B) in any case not described in Section 10.06(b)(i)(A), the aggregate amount of the Commitment (which for this purpose includes Loans outstanding thereunder) or, if the Commitment is not then in effect, the principal outstanding balance of the Loans of the assigning Lender subject to each such assignment, determined as of the date the Assignment and Assumption with respect to such assignment is delivered to the Administrative Agent or, if “Trade Date” is specified in the Assignment and Assumption, as of the Trade Date, shall not be less than $5,000,000.00 unless each of the Administrative Agent and, so long as no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Co-Borrowers otherwise consent (each such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed); provided, however, that concurrent assignments to members of an Assignee Group and concurrent assignments from members of an Assignee Group to a single Eligible Assignee (or to an Eligible Assignee and members of its Assignee Group) will be treated as a single assignment for purposes of determining whether such minimum amount has been met.

(ii) Proportionate Amounts. Each partial assignment shall be made as an assignment of a proportionate part of all the assigning Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement with respect to the Loans or the Commitment assigned, except that this Section 10.06(b)(ii) shall not apply to the Swing Line Lender’s rights and obligations in respect of Swing Line Loans;

 

116


(iii) Required Consents. No consent shall be required for any assignment except to the extent required by Section 10.06(b)(i)(B) and, in addition:

(A) the consent of the Co-Borrowers (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed) shall be required unless (1) an Event of Default under Section 8.01(a) or (f) has occurred and is continuing at the time of such assignment or (2) such assignment is to a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund; provided that the Co-Borrowers shall be deemed to have consented to any such assignment unless it shall object thereto by written notice to the Administrative Agent within ten (10) Business Days after having received notice thereof;

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

(C) the consent of each L/C Issuer (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed) shall be required for any assignment that increases the obligation of the assignee to participate in exposure under one or more Letters of Credit (whether or not then outstanding); and

(D) the consent of the Swing Line Lender (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed) shall be required for any assignment.

(iv) Assignment and Assumption. The parties to each assignment shall execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent an Assignment and Assumption, together with a processing and recordation fee in the amount of $3,500.00; provided, however, that the Administrative Agent may, in its sole discretion, elect to waive such processing and recordation fee in the case of any assignment. The assignee, if it is not a Lender, shall deliver to the Administrative Agent an Administrative Questionnaire.

(v) No Assignment to Co-Borrower or Related Parties. No such assignment shall be made to the Co-Borrowers, any Guarantor, or any of the Co-Borrowers respective Affiliates or Subsidiaries.

(vi) No Assignment to Natural Persons. No such assignment shall be made to a natural person.

(vii) Certain Additional Payments. In connection with any assignment of rights and obligations of any Defaulting Lender hereunder, no such assignment shall be effective unless and until, in addition to the other conditions thereto set forth herein, the parties to the assignment shall make such additional payments to the Administrative Agent in an aggregate amount sufficient, upon distribution thereof as appropriate (which may be outright payment, purchases by the assignee of participations or subparticipations, or other compensating actions, including funding, with the consent of the Co-Borrowers and the Administrative Agent, the applicable pro rata share of Loans previously requested but not funded by the Defaulting Lender, to each of which the applicable assignee and assignor hereby irrevocably consent), to (x) pay and satisfy in

 

117


full all payment liabilities then owed by such Defaulting Lender to the Administrative Agent or any Lender hereunder (and interest accrued thereon) and (y) acquire (and fund as appropriate) its full pro rata share of all Loans and participations in Letters of Credit and Swing Line Loans in accordance with its Applicable Percentage. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that any assignment of rights and obligations of any Defaulting Lender hereunder shall become effective under applicable Law without compliance with the provisions of this paragraph, then the assignee of such interest shall be deemed to be a Defaulting Lender for all purposes of this Agreement until such compliance occurs.

Subject to acceptance and recording thereof by the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 10.06(c), from and after the effective date specified in each Assignment and Assumption, the assignee thereunder shall be a party to this Agreement and, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Assumption, have the rights and obligations of a Lender under this Agreement, and the assigning Lender thereunder shall, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Assumption, be released from its obligations under this Agreement (and, in the case of an Assignment and Assumption covering all of the assigning Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement, such Lender shall cease to be a party hereto) but shall continue to be entitled to the benefits of Sections 3.01, 3.04, 3.05, and 10.04 with respect to facts and circumstances occurring prior to the effective date of such assignment. Upon request, the Co-Borrowers (at their reasonable expense) shall execute and deliver a Note to the assignee Lender. Any assignment or transfer by a Lender of rights or obligations under this Agreement that does not comply with this Section 10.06(b) 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 Section 10.06(d).

(c) Register. The Administrative Agent, acting solely for this purpose as an agent of the Co-Borrowers (and such agency being solely for tax purposes), shall maintain at the Administrative Agent’s Office a copy of each Assignment and Assumption delivered to it and a register for the recordation of the names and addresses of the Lenders, and the Commitments of, and principal amounts of the Loans and L/C Obligations owing to, each Lender pursuant to the terms hereof from time to time (hereinafter referred to as the “Register”). The entries in the Register shall be conclusive, and the Co-Borrowers, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders may 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. In addition, the Administrative Agent shall maintain on the Register information regarding the designation, and revocation of designation, of any Lender as a Defaulting Lender. The Register shall be available for inspection by the Co-Borrowers and any Lender, at any reasonable time and from time to time upon reasonable prior notice.

(d) Participations. Any Lender may at any time, without the consent of, or notice to, the Co-Borrowers, the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuers or the Swing Line Lender, sell participations to any Person (other than a natural person, a Defaulting Lender or the Co-Borrowers or any Guarantor or any of the Co-Borrowers’ respective Affiliates or Subsidiaries) (hereinafter each shall be referred to as a “Participant”) in all or a portion of such Lender’s rights and/or obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Commitment and/or the Loans (including such Lender’s participations in L/C Obligations and/or Swing Line Loans)

 

118


owing to it); provided that (i) such Lender’s obligations under this Agreement shall remain unchanged, (ii) such Lender shall remain solely responsible to the other parties hereto for the performance of such obligations and (iii) the Co-Borrowers, the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the L/C Issuers shall continue to deal solely and directly with such Lender in connection with such Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement. For the avoidance of doubt, each Lender shall be responsible for the indemnity under Section 10.04(c) without regard to the existence of any participation.

Any agreement or instrument pursuant to which a Lender sells such a participation shall provide that such Lender shall retain the sole right to enforce this Agreement and to approve any amendment, modification or waiver of any provision of this Agreement; provided that such agreement or instrument may provide that such Lender will not, without the consent of the Participant, agree to any amendment, waiver or other modification described in the first proviso to Section 10.01 that affects such Participant. Subject to Section 10.06(e), the Co-Borrowers agree that each Participant shall be entitled to the benefits of Sections 3.01, 3.04 and 3.05 to the same extent as if it were a Lender and had acquired its interest by assignment pursuant to Section 10.06(b). To the extent permitted by law, each Participant also shall be entitled to the benefits of Section 10.08 as though it were a Lender, provided such Participant agrees to be subject to Section 2.13 as though it were a Lender. Each Lender that sells a participation shall, acting solely for this purpose as an agent of the Co-Borrowers, maintain a register on which it enters the name and address of each Participant and the principal amounts (and stated interest) of each Participant’s interest in the Loans or other obligations under the Loan Documents (the “Participant Register”); provided that no Lender shall have any obligation to disclose all or any portion of the Participant Register (including the identity of any Participant or any information relating to a Participant’s interest in any commitments, loans, letters of credit or its other obligations under any Loan Document) to any Person except to the extent that such disclosure is necessary to establish that such commitment, loan, letter of credit or other obligation is in registered form under Section 5f.103 1(c) of the United States Treasury Regulations. The entries in the Participant Register shall be conclusive absent manifest error, and such Lender shall treat each Person whose name is recorded in the Participant Register as the owner of such participation for all purposes of this Credit Agreement notwithstanding any notice to the contrary. For the avoidance of doubt, the Administrative Agent (in its capacity as Administrative Agent) shall have no responsibility for maintaining a Participant Register.

(e) Limitations upon Participant Rights. A Participant shall not be entitled to receive any greater payment under Section 3.01 or 3.04 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 Co-Borrowers’ 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 3.01 unless the Co-Borrowers are notified of the participation sold to such Participant and such Participant agrees, for the benefit of the Co-Borrowers, to comply with Section 3.01 as though it were a Lender.

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

 

119


(g) Resignation as L/C Issuer or Swing Line Lender after Assignment. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, if at any time Wells Fargo Bank assigns all of its Commitment and Loans pursuant to Section 10.06(b), Wells Fargo Bank may, (i) upon 30 days’ notice to the Co-Borrowers and the Lenders, resign as an L/C Issuer and/or (ii) upon 30 days’ notice to the Co-Borrowers, resign as Swing Line Lender. In the event of any such resignation as an L/C Issuer or Swing Line Lender, the Co-Borrowers shall be entitled to appoint from among the Lenders a successor L/C Issuer or Swing Line Lender hereunder; provided, however, that no failure by the Co-Borrowers to appoint any such successor shall affect the resignation of Wells Fargo Bank as an L/C Issuer or Swing Line Lender, as the case may be. If Wells Fargo Bank resigns as an L/C Issuer, it shall retain all the rights, powers, privileges and duties of an L/C Issuer hereunder with respect to all Letters of Credit issued by it that are outstanding as of the effective date of its resignation as an L/C Issuer and all L/C Obligations with respect thereto (including the right to require the Lenders to make Base Rate Committed Loans or fund risk participations in Unreimbursed Amounts pursuant to Section 2.03(c)). If Wells Fargo Bank resigns as Swing Line Lender, it shall retain all the rights of the Swing Line Lender provided for hereunder with respect to Swing Line Loans made by it and outstanding as of the effective date of such resignation, including the right to require the Lenders to make Base Rate Committed Loans or fund risk participations in outstanding Swing Line Loans pursuant to Section 2.04(c). Upon the appointment of a successor L/C Issuer and/or Swing Line Lender, (a) such successor shall succeed to and become vested with all of the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring L/C Issuer or Swing Line Lender, as the case may be, and (b) the successor L/C Issuer shall issue letters of credit in substitution for the Letters of Credit issued by the retiring L/C Issuer, if any, outstanding at the time of such succession or make other arrangements reasonably satisfactory to Wells Fargo Bank to effectively assume the obligations of Wells Fargo Bank with respect to such Letters of Credit.

10.07 Treatment of Certain Information; Confidentiality. Each of the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the L/C Issuers agrees to maintain the confidentiality of the “Information” (as such term is defined below), except that Information may be disclosed (a) to its Affiliates and to its and its Affiliates’ respective Related Parties (it being understood that the Persons to whom such disclosure is made will be informed of the confidential nature of such Information and instructed to keep such Information confidential), (b) to the extent requested by any regulatory authority purporting to have jurisdiction over it (including any self-regulatory authority, such as the National Association of Insurance Commissioners), (c) to the extent required by applicable laws or regulations or by any subpoena or similar legal process, (d) to any other party hereto, (e) in connection with the exercise of any remedies hereunder or under any other Loan Document or any action or proceeding relating to this Agreement or any other Loan Document or the enforcement of rights hereunder or thereunder, (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 and obligations under this Agreement or any Eligible Assignee invited to be a Lender pursuant to Section 2.14 or (ii) any actual or prospective counterparty (or its advisors) to any swap or derivative transaction relating to the Co-Borrowers and their obligations or payments hereunder, (g) with the consent of the Co-Borrowers, (h) on a confidential basis to the CUSIP Service Bureau or any similar agency

 

120


in connection with the application, issuance, publishing and monitoring of CUSIP numbers or other market identifiers with respect to the credit facilities provided hereunder or (i) to the extent such Information (x) becomes publicly available other than as a result of a breach of this Section or (y) becomes available to the Administrative Agent, any Lender, any L/C Issuer or any of their respective Affiliates on a nonconfidential basis from a source other than the Co-Borrowers. In addition, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders may disclose the existence of this Agreement and information about this Agreement to market data collectors, similar service providers to the lending industry and service providers to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders in connection with the administration of this Agreement, the other Loan Documents, and the Commitments.

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

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

10.08 Right of Setoff. If an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, each Lender, each L/C Issuer and each of their respective Affiliates is hereby authorized at any time and from time to time, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, to set off and apply any and all deposits (general or special, time or demand, provisional or final) at any time held and other obligations at any time owing by such Lender, such L/C Issuer or any such Affiliate to or for the credit or the account of a Co-Borrower or any other Loan Party against any and all of the obligations of a Co-Borrower or such Loan Party now or hereafter existing under this Agreement or any other Loan Document to such Lender or such L/C Issuer, irrespective of whether or not such Lender or such L/C Issuer shall have made any demand under this Agreement or any other Loan Document and although such obligations of a Co-Borrower or such Loan Party may be contingent or unmatured or are owed to a branch or office of such Lender or such L/C Issuer different from the branch or office holding such deposit or obligated on such indebtedness; provided, that in the event that any Defaulting Lender shall exercise any such right of setoff, (a) all amounts so set off shall be paid over immediately to the Administrative Agent for further application in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.17 and, pending such payment, shall be segregated by such Defaulting Lender from its other funds and deemed held in trust for the benefit of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders, and (b) the Defaulting Lender shall provide promptly to the Administrative Agent a statement describing in reasonable detail the Obligations owing to such Defaulting Lender as to which it exercised such right of setoff.

 

121


The rights of each Lender, each L/C Issuer and their respective Affiliates under this Section are in addition to other rights and remedies (including other rights of setoff) that such Lender, such L/C Issuer or their respective Affiliates may have. Each Lender and each L/C Issuer agrees to notify the Co-Borrowers and the Administrative Agent promptly after any such setoff and application, provided that the failure to give such notice shall not affect the validity of such setoff and application.

10.09 Interest Rate Limitation. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in any Loan Document, the interest paid or agreed to be paid under the Loan Documents shall not exceed the maximum rate of non-usurious interest permitted by applicable Law (hereinafter referred to as the “Maximum Rate”). If the Administrative Agent or any Lender shall receive interest in an amount that exceeds the Maximum Rate, the excess interest shall be applied to the principal of the Loans or, if it exceeds such unpaid principal, refunded to the Co-Borrowers. In determining whether the interest contracted for, charged, or received by the Administrative Agent or a Lender exceeds the Maximum Rate, such Person may, to the extent permitted by applicable Law, (a) characterize any payment that is not principal as an expense, fee, or premium rather than interest, (b) exclude voluntary prepayments and the effects thereof, and (c) amortize, prorate, allocate, and spread in equal or unequal parts the total amount of interest throughout the contemplated term of the Obligations hereunder.

10.10 Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness.

(a) This Agreement may be executed in counterparts (and by different parties hereto in different counterparts), each of which shall constitute an original, but all of which when taken together shall constitute a single contract.

(b) This Agreement and the other Loan Documents constitute the entire contract among the parties relating to the subject matter hereof and supersede any and all previous agreements and understandings, oral or written, relating to the subject matter hereof (including the credit facilities and letters of credit referenced in paragraphs of this Section 10.10.

(c) Except as provided in Section 4.01, this Agreement shall become effective when it shall have been executed by the Administrative Agent and when the Administrative Agent shall have received counterparts hereof that, when taken together, bear the signatures of each of the other parties hereto. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page of this Agreement by telecopy or other electronic imaging means (e.g. “pdf” or “tif”) shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Agreement.

10.11 Survival of Representations and Warranties. All representations and warranties made hereunder and in any other Loan Document or other document delivered pursuant hereto or thereto or in connection herewith or therewith shall survive the execution and delivery hereof and thereof. Such representations and warranties have been or will be relied upon by the Administrative Agent and each Lender, regardless of any investigation made by the Administrative Agent or any Lender or on their behalf and notwithstanding that the Administrative Agent or any Lender may have had notice or knowledge of any Default or Event of Default at the time of any Credit Extension, and shall continue in full force and effect as long as any Loan or any other Obligation hereunder shall remain unpaid or unsatisfied or any Letter of Credit shall remain outstanding.

 

122


10.12 Severability. If any provision of this Agreement or the other Loan Documents is held to be illegal, invalid or unenforceable, (a) the legality, validity and enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents shall not be affected or impaired thereby and (b) the parties shall endeavor in good faith negotiations to replace the illegal, invalid or unenforceable provisions with valid provisions the economic effect of which comes as close as possible to that of the illegal, invalid or unenforceable provisions. The invalidity of a provision in a particular jurisdiction shall not invalidate or render unenforceable such provision in any other jurisdiction. Without limiting the foregoing provisions of this Section 10.12, if and to the extent that the enforceability of any provisions in this Agreement relating to Defaulting Lenders shall be limited by Debtor Relief Laws, as determined in good faith by the Administrative Agent, any L/C Issuer or the Swing Line Lender, as applicable, then such provisions shall be deemed to be in effect only to the extent not so limited.

10.13 Replacement of Lenders. If any Lender requests compensation under Section 3.04, or if the Co-Borrowers are required to pay any additional amount to any Lender or any Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender pursuant to Section 3.01, or if any Lender is a Defaulting Lender or a Non-Consenting Lender, or if any other circumstance exists hereunder that gives the Co-Borrowers the right to replace a Lender as a party hereto, then the Co-Borrowers may, at their sole expense and effort, upon notice to such Lender and the Administrative Agent, require such Lender to assign and delegate, without recourse (in accordance with and subject to the restrictions contained in, and consents required by, Section 10.06), all of its interests, rights and obligations under this Agreement and the related Loan Documents to an assignee that shall assume such obligations (which assignee may be another Lender, if a Lender accepts such assignment), provided that:

(a) the Co-Borrowers shall have paid to the Administrative Agent the assignment fee specified in Section 10.06(b);

(b) such Lender shall have received payment of an amount equal to one hundred percent (100%) of the outstanding principal of its Loans and L/C Advances, accrued interest thereon, accrued fees and all other amounts payable to it hereunder and under the other Loan Documents (including any amounts under Section 3.05) from the assignee (to the extent of such outstanding principal and accrued interest and fees) or the Co-Borrowers (in the case of all other amounts);

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

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

(e) such assignment does not conflict with applicable Laws.

 

123


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

10.14 Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Etc.

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

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

(c) WAIVER OF VENUE. EACH LOAN PARTY HEREBY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY OBJECTION THAT IT MAY NOW OR HEREAFTER HAVE TO THE LAYING OF VENUE OF ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT IN ANY COURT REFERRED TO IN SECTION 10.14(b). EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, THE DEFENSE OF AN INCONVENIENT FORUM TO THE MAINTENANCE OF SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING IN ANY SUCH COURT.

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

 

124


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

10.16 No Advisory or Fiduciary Responsibility. In connection with all aspects of each transaction contemplated hereby (including in connection with any amendment, waiver or other modification hereof or of any other Loan Document), each Loan Party hereby acknowledges and agrees, and acknowledges its Affiliates’ understanding, that: (a) (i) the arranging and other services regarding this Agreement provided by the Administrative Agent, the Arrangers and the Lenders are arm’s-length commercial transactions between the Co-Borrowers, each other Loan Party and their respective Affiliates, on the one hand, and the Administrative Agent, the Arrangers and the Lenders, on the other hand, (ii) each of the Co-Borrowers and the other Loan Parties has consulted its own legal, accounting, regulatory and tax advisors to the extent it has deemed appropriate, and (iii) the Co-Borrowers and each other Loan Party is capable of evaluating, and understands and accepts, the terms, risks and conditions of the transactions contemplated hereby and by the other Loan Documents; (b) (i) the Administrative Agent, the Arrangers and the Lenders each is and has been acting solely as a principal and, except as expressly agreed in writing by the relevant parties, has not been, is not, and will not be acting as an advisor, agent or fiduciary for the Co-Borrowers, any other Loan Party or any of their respective Affiliates, or any other Person and (ii) neither the Administrative Agent, any Arranger nor any Lender has any obligation to the Co-Borrowers, any other Loan Party or any of their respective Affiliates with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby except those obligations expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents; and (c) the Administrative Agent, the Arrangers, the Lenders and their respective Affiliates may be engaged in a broad range of transactions that involve interests that differ from those of the Co-Borrowers, the other Loan Parties and their respective Affiliates, and neither the Administrative Agent nor any Arranger has any obligation to disclose any of such interests to the Co-Borrowers, any other Loan Party or any of their respective Affiliates. To the fullest extent permitted by law, each Loan Party hereby waives and releases any claims that it may have against the Administrative Agent, the Arrangers and the Lenders with respect to any breach or alleged breach of agency or fiduciary duty in connection with any aspect of any transaction contemplated hereby.

 

125


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

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

10.19 Time of the Essence. Time is of the essence of the Loan Documents.

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

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

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

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

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

 

126


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

10.21 Acknowledgement Regarding Any Supported QFCs. To the extent that the Loan Documents provide support, through a guarantee or otherwise, for any agreement or instrument that is a QFC (such support, “QFC Credit Support” and, each such QFC, a “Supported QFC”), the parties acknowledge and agree as follows with respect to the resolution power of the FDIC under the Federal Deposit Insurance Act and Title II of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (together with the regulations promulgated thereunder, the “U.S. Special Resolution Regimes”) in respect of such Supported QFC and QFC Credit Support (with the provisions below applicable notwithstanding that the Loan Documents and any Supported QFC may in fact be stated to be governed by the laws of the State of New York and/or of the United States or any other state of the United States):

(a) In the event a Covered Entity that is party to a Supported QFC (each, a “Covered Party”) becomes subject to a proceeding under a U.S. Special Resolution Regime, the transfer of such Supported QFC and the benefit of such QFC Credit Support (and any interest and obligation in or under such Supported QFC and such QFC Credit Support, and any rights in property securing such Supported QFC or such QFC Credit Support) from such Covered Party will be effective to the same extent as the transfer would be effective under the U.S. Special Resolution Regime if the Supported QFC and such QFC Credit Support (and any such interest, obligation and rights in property) were governed by the laws of the United States or a state of the United States. In the event a Covered Party or a BHC Act Affiliate of a Covered Party becomes subject to a proceeding under a U.S. Special Resolution Regime, Default Rights under the Loan Documents that might otherwise apply to such Supported QFC or any QFC Credit Support that may be exercised against such Covered Party are permitted to be exercised to no greater extent than such Default Rights could be exercised under the U.S. Special Resolution Regime if the Supported QFC and the Loan Documents were governed by the laws of the United States or a state of the United States. Without limitation of the foregoing, it is understood and agreed that rights and remedies of the parties with respect to a Defaulting Lender shall in no event affect the rights of any Covered Party with respect to a Supported QFC or any QFC Credit Support.

(b) As used in this Section 10.21, the following terms have the following meanings:

BHC Act Affiliate” of a party means an “affiliate” (as such term is defined under, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 U.S.C. 1841(k)) of such party.

Covered Entity” means any of the following:

(i) a “covered entity” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 252.82(b);

(ii) a “covered bank” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 47.3(b); or

(iii) a “covered FSI” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 382.2(b).

 

127


Default Right” has the meaning assigned to that term in, and shall be interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. §§ 252.81, 47.2 or 382.1, as applicable.

QFC” has the meaning assigned to the term “qualified financial contract” in, and shall be interpreted in accordance with, 12 U.S.C. 5390(c)(8)(D).

ARTICLE XI.

LOAN PARTY GUARANTY

11.01 The Guaranty. In order to induce the Lenders to enter into this Agreement and any Bank Product Provider to enter into any Bank Product and to extend credit hereunder and thereunder and in recognition of the direct benefits to be received by the Guarantors from the extensions of credit hereunder and any Bank Product, each of the Guarantors hereby agrees with the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the Bank Product Provider as follows: each Guarantor hereby unconditionally and irrevocably jointly and severally guarantees as primary obligor and not merely as surety the full and prompt payment when due, whether upon maturity, by acceleration or otherwise, of any and all Obligations. If any or all of the indebtedness becomes due and payable hereunder or under any Bank Product, each Guarantor unconditionally promises to pay such indebtedness to the Administrative Agent, the Lenders, the Bank Product Providers, or their respective order, on demand, together with any and all reasonable expenses which may be incurred by the Administrative Agent or the Lenders in collecting any of the Obligations. The Loan Party Guaranty set forth in this Article XI is a guaranty of timely payment and not of collection. The word “indebtedness” is used in this Article XI in its most comprehensive sense and includes any and all advances, debts, obligations and liabilities of the Co-Borrowers, including specifically all Obligations, arising in connection with this Agreement, the other Loan Documents or any Bank Product, in each case, heretofore, now, or hereafter made, incurred or created, whether voluntarily or involuntarily, absolute or contingent, liquidated or unliquidated, determined or undetermined, whether or not such indebtedness is from time to time reduced, or extinguished and thereafter increased or incurred, whether the Co-Borrowers may be liable individually or jointly with others, whether or not recovery upon such indebtedness may be or hereafter become barred by any statute of limitations, and whether or not such indebtedness may be or hereafter become otherwise unenforceable. This Guaranty is a continuing guaranty and shall be binding upon each Guarantor and its successors and assigns, and each Guarantor irrevocably waives any right to revoke this Guaranty as to future transactions giving rise to any Obligations.

Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary contained herein or in any other of the Loan Documents, to the extent the obligations of a Guarantor shall be adjudicated to be invalid or unenforceable for any reason (including because of any applicable state or federal law relating to fraudulent conveyances or transfers) then the obligations of each such Guarantor hereunder shall be limited to the maximum amount that is permissible under applicable law (whether federal or state and including the Bankruptcy Code).

11.02 Bankruptcy. Additionally, each of the Guarantors unconditionally and irrevocably guarantees jointly and severally the payment of any and all Obligations of the Co-Borrowers to the Lenders and any Bank Product Provider whether or not due or payable by the Co-Borrowers upon the occurrence of any Bankruptcy Event and unconditionally promises to

 

128


pay such Obligations to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Lenders and to any such Bank Product Provider, or order, on demand, in lawful money of the United States. Each of the Guarantors further agrees that to the extent that the Co-Borrowers or a Guarantor shall make a payment or a transfer of an interest in any property to the Administrative Agent, any Lender or any Bank Product Provider, which payment or transfer or any part thereof is subsequently invalidated, declared to be fraudulent or preferential, or otherwise is avoided, and/or required to be repaid to the Co-Borrowers or a Guarantor, the estate of the Co-Borrowers or a Guarantor, a trustee, receiver or any other party under any bankruptcy law, state or federal law, common law or equitable cause, then to the extent of such avoidance or repayment, the obligation or part thereof intended to be satisfied shall be revived and continued in full force and effect as if said payment had not been made.

11.03 Nature of Liability. The liability of each Guarantor hereunder is exclusive and independent of any security for or other guaranty of the Obligations of the Co-Borrowers whether executed by any such Guarantor, any other guarantor or by any other party, and no Guarantor’s liability hereunder shall be affected or impaired by (a) any direction as to application of payment by the Co-Borrowers or by any other party, or (b) any other continuing or other guaranty, undertaking or maximum liability of a guarantor or of any other party as to the Obligations of the Co-Borrowers, or (c) any payment on or in reduction of any such other guaranty or undertaking, or (d) any dissolution, termination or increase, decrease or change in personnel by the Co-Borrowers, or (e) any payment made to the Administrative Agent, the Lenders or any Bank Product Provider on the Obligations which the Administrative Agent, such Lenders or such Bank Product Provider the Co-Borrowers pursuant to court order in any bankruptcy, reorganization, arrangement, moratorium or other debtor relief proceeding, and each of the Guarantors waives any right to the deferral or modification of its obligations hereunder by reason of any such proceeding.

11.04 Independent Obligation. The obligations of each Guarantor hereunder are independent of the obligations of any other Guarantor or the Co-Borrowers, and a separate action or actions may be brought and prosecuted against each Guarantor whether or not action is brought against any other Guarantor or the Co-Borrowers and whether or not any other Guarantor or any Co-Borrower is joined in any such action or actions.

11.05 Authorization. Each of the Guarantors authorizes the Administrative Agent, each Lender and each Bank Product Provider without notice or demand (except as shall be required by applicable statute and cannot be waived), and without affecting or impairing its liability hereunder, from time to time to (a) renew, compromise, extend, increase, accelerate or otherwise change the time for payment of, or otherwise change the terms of the Obligations or any part thereof in accordance with this Agreement and any Bank Product, as applicable, including any increase or decrease of the rate of interest thereon, (b) take and hold security from any Guarantor or any other party for the payment of this Loan Party Guaranty or the Obligations and exchange, enforce waive and release any such security, (c) apply such security and direct the order or manner of sale thereof as the Administrative Agent and the Lenders in their discretion may determine, (d) release or substitute any one or more endorsers, Guarantors, the Co-Borrowers or other obligors and (e) to the extent otherwise permitted herein, release or substitute any Collateral.

 

129


11.06 Reliance. It is not necessary for the Administrative Agent, the Lenders or any Bank Product Provider to inquire into the capacity or powers of the Co-Borrowers or the officers, directors, members, partners or agents acting or purporting to act on its behalf, and any Obligations made or created in reliance upon the professed exercise of such powers shall be guaranteed hereunder.

11.07 Waiver.

(a) Each of the Guarantors waives any right (except as shall be required by applicable statute and cannot be waived) to require the Administrative Agent, any Lender or any Bank Product Provider to (i) proceed against the Co-Borrowers, any other guarantor or any other party, (ii) proceed against or exhaust any security held from the Co-Borrowers, any other guarantor or any other party, or (iii) pursue any other remedy in the Administrative Agent’s, any Lender’s or any Bank Product Provider’s whatsoever. Each of the Guarantors waives any defense based on or arising out of any defense of the Co-Borrowers, any other guarantor or any other party other than payment in full of the Obligations (other than contingent indemnification obligations for which no claim has been made or cannot be reasonably identified by an Indemnitee based on the then-known facts and circumstances), including any defense based on or arising out of the disability of the Co-Borrowers, any other guarantor or any other party, or the unenforceability of the Obligations or any part thereof from any cause, or the cessation from any cause of the liability of the Co-Borrowers other than payment in full of the Obligations. The Administrative Agent may, at its election, foreclose on any security held by the Administrative Agent or a Lender by one or more judicial or nonjudicial sales, whether or not every aspect of any such sale is commercially reasonable (to the extent such sale is permitted by applicable law), or exercise any other right or remedy the Administrative Agent or any Lender may have against the Co-Borrowers or any other party, or any security, without affecting or impairing in any way the liability of any Guarantor hereunder except to the extent the Obligations have been paid in full and the Commitments have been terminated. Each of the Guarantors waives any defense arising out of any such election by the Administrative Agent or any of the Lenders, even though such election operates to impair or extinguish any right of reimbursement or subrogation or other right or remedy of the Guarantors against the Co-Borrowers or any other party or any security.

(b) Each of the Guarantors waives all presentments, demands for performance, protests and notices, including notices of nonperformance, notice of protest, notices of dishonor, notices of acceptance of this Loan Party Guaranty, and notices of the existence, creation or incurring of new or additional Obligations. Each Guarantor assumes all responsibility for being and keeping itself informed of the Co-Borrowers’ financial condition and assets, and of all other circumstances bearing upon the risk of nonpayment of the Obligations and the nature, scope and extent of the risks which such Guarantor assumes and incurs hereunder, and agrees that neither the Administrative Agent nor any Lender shall have any duty to advise such Guarantor of information known to it regarding such circumstances or risks.

(c) Each of the Guarantors hereby agrees it will not exercise any rights of subrogation which it may at any time otherwise have as a result of this Loan Party Guaranty (whether contractual, under Section 509 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code, or otherwise) to the claims of the Lenders or any Bank Product Provider against the Co-Borrowers or any other guarantor of the Obligations of the Co-Borrowers owing to the Lenders or such Bank Product Provider

 

130


(collectively, the “Other Parties”) and all contractual, statutory or common law rights of reimbursement, contribution or indemnity from any Other Party which it may at any time otherwise have as a result of this Loan Party Guaranty until such time as the Obligations shall have been paid in full and the Commitments have been terminated. Each of the Guarantors hereby further agrees not to exercise any right to enforce any other remedy which the Administrative Agent, the Lenders or any Bank Product Provider now have or may hereafter have against any Other Party, any endorser or any other guarantor of all or any part of the Obligations of the Co-Borrowers and any benefit of, and any right to participate in, any security or collateral given to or for the benefit of the Lenders and/or the Bank Product Providers to secure payment of the Obligations of the Co-Borrowers until such time as the Obligations (other than contingent indemnification obligations) shall have been paid in full and the Commitments have been terminated.

11.08 Limitation on Enforcement. The Lenders and the Bank Product Providers agree that this Loan Party Guaranty may be enforced only by the action of the Administrative Agent acting upon the instructions of the Required Lenders or such Bank Product Provider (only with respect to obligations under the applicable Bank Product) and that no Lender or Bank Product Provider shall have any right individually to seek to enforce or to enforce this Loan Party Guaranty, it being understood and agreed that such rights and remedies may be exercised by the Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Lenders under the terms of this Agreement and for the benefit of any Bank Product Provider under any Bank Product.

11.09 Confirmation of Payment. The Administrative Agent and the Lenders will, upon request after payment of the Obligations which are the subject of this Loan Party Guaranty and termination of the Commitments relating thereto, confirm to the Co-Borrowers, the Guarantors or any other Person that such indebtedness and obligations have been paid and the Commitments relating thereto terminated, subject to the provisions of Section 11.02.

11.10 Eligible Contract Participant. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in any Loan Document, no Guarantor shall be deemed under this Article XI to be a guarantor of any Swap Obligations if such Guarantor was not an “eligible contract participant” as defined in § 1a(18) of the Commodity Exchange Act, at the time the guarantee under this Article XI becomes effective with respect to such Swap Obligation and to the extent that the providing of such guarantee by such Guarantor would violate the Commodity Exchange Act; provided however that in determining whether any Guarantor is an “eligible contract participant” under the Commodity Exchange Act, the guarantee of the Obligations of such Guarantor under this Article XI by a Guarantor that is also a Qualified ECP Guarantor shall be taken into account.

11.11 Keepwell. Without limiting anything in this Article XI, each Qualified ECP Guarantor hereby jointly and severally absolutely, unconditionally and irrevocably undertakes to provide such funds or other support as may be needed from time to time to each Guarantor that is not an “eligible contract participant” under the Commodity Exchange Act at the time the guarantee under this Article XI becomes effective with respect to any Swap Obligation, to honor all of the Obligations of such Guarantor under this Article XI in respect of such Swap Obligations (provided, however, that each Qualified ECP Guarantor shall only be liable under this Section 11.11 for the maximum amount of such liability that can be hereby incurred without rendering its undertaking under this Section 11.11, or otherwise under this Article XI, voidable

 

131


under applicable Law relating to fraudulent conveyance or fraudulent transfer, and not for any greater amount). The undertaking of each Qualified ECP Guarantor under this Section 11.11 shall remain in full force and effect until termination of the Commitments and payment in full of all Loans and other Obligations. Each Qualified ECP Guarantor intends that this Section 11.11 constitute, and this Section 11.11 shall be deemed to constitute, a “keepwell, support, or other agreement” for the benefit of each Guarantor that would otherwise not constitute an “eligible contract participant” under the Commodity Exchange Act.

[REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK; SIGNATURE PAGES OMITTED]

 

132