Credit Agreement, dated January 11, 2023, between Service Corporation International, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent, and certain other financial institutions, as lenders party thereto

EX-10.1 2 tm233187d1_ex10-1.htm EXHIBIT 10.1

Exhibit 10.1

 

Execution Version

 

 

 

$2,175,000,000

SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT

 

dated as of

 

January 11, 2023

 

among

 

SERVICE CORPORATION INTERNATIONAL,
as Borrower,

 

The Lenders Party Hereto,

 

JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.,
as Administrative Agent,

 

PNC BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
and
REGIONS BANK,
as Co-Syndication Agents

 

and

 

ZIONS BANCORPORATION, N.A. dba AMEGY BANK,
BANK OF THE WEST,
FIFTH THIRD BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
and
TEXAS CAPITAL BANK,
as Co-Documentation Agents

 

____________

 

JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.,
WELLS FARGO SECURITIES, LLC,
BofA SECURITIES, INC.,
and
TRUIST SECURITIES, INC.,
as Joint Bookrunners and Joint Lead Arrangers

 

 

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

Page

 

Article I Definitions	1
Section 1.01   Defined Terms	1
Section 1.02   Classification of Loans and Borrowings	31
Section 1.03   Terms Generally	31
Section 1.04   Accounting Terms; GAAP	32
Section 1.05   Division	32
Section 1.06   Interest Rates; Benchmark Notification	32
Section 1.07   Letter of Credit Amounts	33
Article II The Credits	33
Section 2.01   Commitments	33
Section 2.02   Loans and Borrowings	33
Section 2.03   Requests for Borrowings	34
Section 2.04   Reserved	35
Section 2.05   Letters of Credit	35
Section 2.06   Funding of Borrowings	40
Section 2.07   Interest Elections	40
Section 2.08   Termination and Reduction of Commitments	42
Section 2.09   Repayment of Loans; Evidence of Debt	42
Section 2.10   Optional Prepayment of Loans	44
Section 2.11   Mandatory Prepayment of Term Loans	44
Section 2.12   Fees	45
Section 2.13   Interest	46
Section 2.14   Alternate Rate of Interest	47
Section 2.15   Increased Costs	49
Section 2.16   Break Funding Payments	51
Section 2.17   Taxes	51
Section 2.18   Payments Generally; Pro Rata Treatment; Sharing of Set-offs	55
Section 2.19   Mitigation Obligations; Replacement of Lenders	57
Section 2.20   Expansion Option	58
Section 2.21   Cash Collateral	59
Section 2.22   Defaulting Lenders	60
Section 2.23   Illegality	62
Article III Representations and Warranties	63
Section 3.01   Organization; Powers	63
Section 3.02   Authorization; Enforceability	63
Section 3.03   Governmental Approvals; No Conflicts	63
Section 3.04   Financial Condition; No Material Adverse Change	63
Section 3.05   Properties	63
Section 3.06   Litigation and Environmental Matters	64
Section 3.07   Compliance with Laws and Agreements	64
Section 3.08   Investment Company Status	64

 

 

Section 3.09   Taxes	64
Section 3.10   ERISA	64
Section 3.11   Disclosure	65
Section 3.12   Subsidiaries	65
Section 3.13   Margin Stock	65
Section 3.14   Use of Proceeds	65
Section 3.15   Solvency	66
Section 3.16   Sanctions and Anti-Corruption Laws	66
Section 3.17   Affected Financial Institutions	66
Section 3.18   Plan Assets; Prohibited Transactions	66
Article IV Conditions	66
Section 4.01   Effective Date	66
Section 4.02   Each Credit Event	68
Article V Affirmative Covenants	68
Section 5.01   Financial Statements; Other Information	68
Section 5.02   Notices of Material Events	70
Section 5.03   Existence; Conduct of Business	70
Section 5.04   Payment of Obligations	70
Section 5.05   Maintenance of Properties	70
Section 5.06   Books and Records; Inspection Rights	70
Section 5.07   Compliance with Laws	71
Section 5.08   Use of Proceeds and Letters of Credit	71
Section 5.09   Insurance	71
Section 5.10   Required Guarantors	71
Section 5.11   Sanctions and Anti-Corruption Laws	72
Article VI Negative Covenants	72
Section 6.01   Indebtedness Covenant	72
Section 6.02   Reserved	74
Section 6.03   Lien Covenant	74
Section 6.04   Sale and Leaseback Transactions	75
Section 6.05   Limitation on Fundamental Changes	76
Section 6.06   Restrictions on Investments, Loans, Advances, Guarantees and Acquisitions	76
Section 6.07   Limitation on Asset Sales	78
Section 6.08   Swap Agreements	79
Section 6.09   Limitation on Restricted Payments	79
Section 6.10   Restrictions on Transactions with Affiliates	79
Section 6.11   Restrictions on Restrictive Agreements	80
Section 6.12   Financial Covenant	81
Article VII Events of Default	81
Article VIII The Administrative Agent	84
Section 8.01   Authorization and Action	84

 

 

Section 8.02   Administrative Agent’s Reliance, Limitation of Liability, Etc	86
Section 8.03   Posting of Communications	88
Section 8.04   The Administrative Agent Individually	89
Section 8.05   Successor Administrative Agent	89
Section 8.06   Acknowledgements of Lenders and Issuing Banks	90
Section 8.07   Certain ERISA Matters	92
Article IX Miscellaneous	94
Section 9.01   Notices	94
Section 9.02   Waivers; Amendments; Release of Guarantors	95
Section 9.03   Expenses; Limitation of Liability; Indemnity; Etc	96
Section 9.04   Successors and Assigns	98
Section 9.05   Survival	102
Section 9.06   Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness, Electronic Execution	102
Section 9.07   Severability	103
Section 9.08   Right of Setoff	104
Section 9.09   Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Consent to Service of Process	104
Section 9.10   WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL	105
Section 9.11   Headings	105
Section 9.12   Confidentiality	105
Section 9.13   Interest Rate Limitation	106
Section 9.14   USA Patriot Act	107
Section 9.15   Joinder of Borrower to Guarantee Agreement	107
Section 9.16   No Advisory or Fiduciary Responsibility	107
Section 9.17   Acknowledgement and Consent to Bail-In of Affected Financial Institutions	107
Section 9.18   FINAL AGREEMENT OF THE PARTIES	108
Section 9.19   Amendment and Restatement	108
Section 9.20   Exiting Lenders	108
Section 9.21   Acknowledgement Regarding Any Supported QFCs	109

 

 

EXHIBITS:

 

Exhibit 1.01A	Form of Borrowing Request
Exhibit 1.01B	Form of Guarantee Agreement
Exhibit 1.01C-1	Form of Revolving Note
Exhibit 1.01C-2	Form of Term Note
Exhibit 2.17A	U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate (For Foreign Lenders that are not Partnerships for U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes)
Exhibit 2.17B	U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate (For Foreign Participants that are not Partnerships for U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes)
Exhibit 2.17C	U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate (For Foreign Participants that are Partnerships for U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes)
Exhibit 2.17D	U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate (For Foreign Lenders that are Partnerships for U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes)
Exhibit 5.01	Form of Compliance Certificate
Exhibit 9.04	Form of Assignment and Assumption

 

 

SCHEDULES:

 

Schedule 2.01	Commitments and Letter of Credit Commitments
Schedule 2.05(k)	Existing Letters of Credit
Schedule 3.06	Disclosed Matters
Schedule 3.12	List of Subsidiaries
Schedule 6.01(b)	Existing Indebtedness
Schedule 6.03(b)	Existing Liens
Schedule 6.06(b)	Existing Investments
Schedule 6.11	Restrictive Agreements

 

 

THIS SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”), dated as of January 11, 2023, is entered into among Service Corporation International, a Texas corporation, the Lenders party hereto, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent, PNC Bank, National Association and Regions Bank, as Co-Syndication Agents and Zions Bancorporation, N.A. dba Amegy Bank, Bank of the West, Fifth Third Bank, National Association and Texas Capital Bank, as Co-Documentation Agents.

 

WHEREAS, Borrower is a party to that certain Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated May 22, 2019 (as amended, the “Existing Credit Agreement”) among the Borrower, the lenders party thereto and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent for such lenders; and

 

WHEREAS, the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders mutually desire to amend and restate the Existing Credit Agreement in its entirety;

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the mutual covenants set forth herein, the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, and the Lenders agree that the Existing Credit Agreement is amended and restated in its entirety as follows:

 

Article I
Definitions

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

 

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

 

“Adjusted Daily Simple SOFR” means an interest rate per annum equal to (a) the Daily Simple SOFR, plus (b) 0.10%; provided that if Adjusted Daily Simple SOFR as so determined would be less than the Floor, such rate shall be deemed to be equal to the Floor for the purposes of this Agreement.

 

“Adjusted Term SOFR Rate” means, for any Interest Period, an interest rate per annum equal to (a) the Term SOFR Rate for such Interest Period, plus (b) 0.10%; provided that if the Adjusted Term SOFR Rate as so determined would be less than the Floor, such rate shall be deemed to be equal to the Floor for the purposes of this Agreement.

 

“Administrative Agent” means JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. (or any of its designated branch offices or affiliates), in its capacity as administrative agent for the Lenders hereunder.

 

“Administrative Questionnaire” means an Administrative Questionnaire in a form supplied by the Administrative Agent.

 

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

 

 

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

 

“Agent-Related Person” has the meaning assigned to it in Section 9.03(d).

 

“Alternate Base Rate” means, for any day, a rate per annum equal to the greatest of (a) the Prime Rate in effect on such day, (b) the FRBNY Rate in effect on such day plus ½ of 1% and (c) the Adjusted Term SOFR Rate for a one month Interest Period as published two U.S. Government Securities Business Days prior to such day (or if such day is not a U.S. Government Securities Business Day, the immediately preceding U.S. Government Securities Business Day) plus 1%; provided that for the purpose of this definition, the Adjusted Term SOFR Rate for any day shall be based on the Term SOFR Reference Rate at approximately 5:00 a.m. Chicago time on such day (or any amended publication time for the Term SOFR Reference Rate, as specified by the CME Term SOFR Administrator in the Term SOFR Reference Rate methodology). Any change in the Alternate Base Rate due to a change in the Prime Rate, the FRBNY Rate or the Adjusted Term SOFR Rate shall be effective from and including the effective date of such change in the Prime Rate, the FRBNY Rate or the Adjusted Term SOFR Rate, respectively. If the Alternate Base Rate is being used as an alternate rate of interest pursuant to Section 2.14 (for the avoidance of doubt, only until the Benchmark Replacement has been determined pursuant to Section 2.14(b)), then the Alternate Base Rate shall be the greater of clauses (a) and (b) above and shall be determined without reference to clause (c) above. For the avoidance of doubt, if the Alternate Base Rate as determined pursuant to the foregoing would be less than 1.00%, such rate shall be deemed to be 1.00% for purposes of this Agreement.

 

“Ancillary Document” has the meaning assigned to it in Section 9.06(b).

 

“Anti-Corruption Laws” means all laws, rules and regulations of any jurisdiction applicable to the Borrower or the Subsidiaries from time to time concerning or relating to bribery or corruption.

 

“Applicable Margin” means, for any day, with respect to any Loan, or with respect to the commitment fees payable hereunder, as the case may be, the Applicable Margin per annum set forth below under the caption “ABR Spread”, “Term Benchmark/RFR Spread” or “Commitment Fee Rate”, as the case may be, based upon the Leverage Ratio:

 

 

Category	Leverage Ratio:	ABR Spread	TERM BENCHMARK/ RFR Spread	Commitment Fee Rate
I	≥ 4.00 to 1.00	1.25%	2.25%	0.25%
II	≥ 3.50 to 1.00 but < 4.00 to 1.00	1.00%	2.00%	0.20%
III	≥ 3.00 to 1.00 but < 3.50 to 1.00	0.75%	1.75%	0.15%
Iv	< 3.00 to 1.00	0.50%	1.50%	0.10%

 

For purposes of the foregoing, each change in the Applicable Margin resulting from a change in the Leverage Ratio shall be effective during the period commencing on and including the date of delivery to the Administrative Agent of such consolidated financial statements and corresponding compliance certificate indicating such change and ending on the date immediately preceding the effective date of the next such change; provided that the Leverage Ratio shall be deemed to be in Category I at any time (a) that an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or (b) at the option of the Administrative Agent or at the request of the Required Lenders if the Borrower fails to deliver the consolidated financial statements and corresponding compliance certificate required to be delivered by it pursuant to Section 5.01(a) or Section 5.01(b), as applicable, and Section 5.01(c), during the period from the expiration of the time for delivery thereof until such consolidated financial statements and certificate are delivered; provided further that the Leverage Ratio shall be deemed to be in Category IV for the period from the Effective Date through the date that the consolidated financial statements and corresponding compliance certificate are delivered for the fiscal quarter ending December 31, 2022. In the event that any financial statement or certificate delivered pursuant to Section 5.01(a) or Section 5.01(b), as applicable, or Section 5.01(c) is shown to be inaccurate when delivered (regardless of whether the Commitments are in effect when such inaccuracy is discovered) and such inaccuracy, if corrected, would have led to the application of a higher Applicable Margin for any such period (an “Applicable Period”) than the Applicable Margin applied for such Applicable Period, and only in such case, then the Borrower shall immediately (i) deliver to the Administrative Agent corrected financial statements for such Applicable Period, (ii) determine the Applicable Margin for such Applicable Period based upon the corrected financial statements and (iii) immediately pay to the Administrative Agent the accrued additional interest owning as a result of such increased Applicable Margin for such Applicable Period. This provision is in addition to the rights of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders with respect to Section 2.13(d) and their other respective rights under this Agreement and shall not limit the right of the Administrative Agent to declare an Event of Default. Financial statements shall not be deemed to be “inaccurate” solely because the same are subsequently restated to reflect changes in GAAP.

 

“Applicable Party” has the meaning assigned to it in Section 8.03(c).

 

“Applicable Percentage” means, with respect to any Revolving Lender, the percentage of the total Revolving Commitments represented by such Lender’s Revolving Commitment; provided that in the case of Section 2.22 when a Defaulting Lender shall exist, “Applicable Percentage”

 

 

shall mean the percentage of the total Revolving Commitments (disregarding any Defaulting Lender’s Revolving Commitment) represented by such Lender’s Revolving Commitment. If the Revolving Commitments have terminated or expired, the Applicable Percentages shall be determined based upon the Commitments most recently in effect, giving effect to any assignments and to any Lender’s status as a Defaulting Lender at the time of determination.

 

“Approved Electronic Platform” has the meaning assigned to it in Section 8.03(a).

 

“Approved Fund” has the meaning assigned to it in Section 9.04(b).

 

“Arrangers” means JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, BofA Securities, Inc. and Truist Securities, Inc., in their capacities as joint bookrunners and co-lead arrangers hereunder.

 

“Assignment and Assumption” means an assignment and assumption entered into by a Lender and an assignee (with the consent of any party whose consent is required by Section 9.04), and accepted by the Administrative Agent, in the form of Exhibit 9.04 or any other form (including electronic records generated by the use of an electronic platform) approved by the Administrative Agent.

 

“Augmenting Lender” has the meaning assigned to it in Section 2.20.

 

“Available Tenor” means, as of any date of determination and with respect to the then-current Benchmark, as applicable, any tenor for such Benchmark (or component thereof) or payment period for interest calculated with reference to such Benchmark (or component thereof), as applicable, that is or may be used for determining the length of an Interest Period for any term rate or otherwise, for determining any frequency of making payments of interest calculated pursuant to this Agreement as of such date and not including, for the avoidance of doubt, any tenor for such Benchmark that is then-removed from the definition of “Interest Period” pursuant to clause (e) of Section 2.14.

 

“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 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 Products” means each and any of the following bank services provided to any Loan Party by a Lender or any of its Affiliates: (a) commercial credit cards, (b) commercial checking accounts, (c) stored value cards and (d) treasury management services (including, without limitation, controlled disbursements, automated clearinghouse transactions, return items, overdrafts and interstate depository network services).

 

 

“Benchmark” means, initially, with respect to any (a) RFR Loan, the Daily Simple SOFR and (b) any Term Benchmark Loan, the Term SOFR Rate; provided that if a Benchmark Transition Event, and the related Benchmark Replacement Date have occurred with respect to the Daily Simple SOFR or Term SOFR Rate, as applicable, or the then-current Benchmark, then “Benchmark” means the applicable Benchmark Replacement to the extent that such Benchmark Replacement has replaced such prior benchmark rate pursuant to clause (b) of Section 2.14.

 

“Benchmark Replacement” means, for any Available Tenor, the first alternative set forth in the order below that can be determined by the Administrative Agent for the applicable Benchmark Replacement Date:

 

(a)            the Adjusted Daily Simple SOFR;

 

(b)            the sum of: (i) the alternate benchmark rate that has been selected by the Administrative Agent and the Borrower as the replacement for the then-current Benchmark for the applicable Corresponding Tenor giving due consideration to (A) any selection or recommendation of a replacement benchmark rate or the mechanism for determining such a rate by the Relevant Governmental Body or (B) any evolving or then-prevailing market convention for determining a benchmark rate as a replacement for the then-current Benchmark for dollar-denominated syndicated credit facilities at such time in the United States and (ii) the related Benchmark Replacement Adjustment.

 

If the Benchmark Replacement as determined pursuant to clause (a) or (b) above would be less than the Floor, the Benchmark Replacement will be deemed to be the Floor for the purposes of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents.

 

“Benchmark Replacement Adjustment” means, with respect to any replacement of the then-current Benchmark with an Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement for any applicable Interest Period and Available Tenor for any setting of such Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement, the spread adjustment, or method for calculating or determining such spread adjustment, (which may be a positive or negative value or zero) that has been selected by the Administrative Agent and the Borrower for the applicable Corresponding Tenor giving due consideration to (a) any selection or recommendation of a spread adjustment, or method for calculating or determining such spread adjustment, for the replacement of such Benchmark with the applicable Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement by the Relevant Governmental Body on the applicable Benchmark Replacement Date and/or (b) any evolving or then-prevailing market convention for determining a spread adjustment, or method for calculating or determining such spread adjustment, for the replacement of such Benchmark with the applicable Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement for dollar-denominated syndicated credit facilities at such time.

 

“Benchmark Replacement Conforming Changes” means, with respect to any Benchmark Replacement and/or any Term Benchmark Loan, any technical, administrative or operational changes (including changes to the definition of “Alternate Base Rate,” the definition of “Business Day,” the definition of “U.S. Government Securities Business Day,” the definition of “Interest Period,” timing and frequency of determining rates and making payments of interest, timing of borrowing requests or prepayment, conversion or continuation notices, length of lookback periods, the applicability of breakage provisions, and other technical, administrative or operational matters)  

 

 

that the Administrative Agent, in consultation with the Borrower, decides may be appropriate to reflect the adoption and implementation of such Benchmark and to permit the administration thereof by the Administrative Agent in a manner substantially consistent with market practice (or, if the Administrative Agent decides that adoption of any portion of such market practice is not administratively feasible or if the Administrative Agent determines that no market practice for the administration of such Benchmark exists, in such other manner of administration as the Administrative Agent decides is reasonably necessary in connection with the administration of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents).

 

“Benchmark Replacement Date” means, with respect to any Benchmark, the earliest to occur of the following events with respect to such then-current Benchmark:

 

(a)            in the case of clause (a) or (b) of the definition of “Benchmark Transition Event,” the later of (a) the date of the public statement or publication of information referenced therein and (b) the date on which the administrator of such Benchmark (or the published component used in the calculation thereof) permanently or indefinitely ceases to provide all Available Tenors of such Benchmark (or such component thereof); or

 

(b)            in the case of clause (c) of the definition of “Benchmark Transition Event,” the first date on which such Benchmark (or the published component used in the calculation thereof) has been determined and announced by the regulatory supervisor for the administrator of such Benchmark (or such component thereof) to be no longer representative; provided, that such non-representativeness will be determined by reference to the most recent statement or publication referenced in such clause (c) and even if any Available Tenor of such Benchmark (or such component thereof) continues to be provided on such date.

 

For the avoidance of doubt, (i) if the event giving rise to the Benchmark Replacement Date occurs on the same day as, but earlier than, the Reference Time in respect of any determination, the Benchmark Replacement Date will be deemed to have occurred prior to the Reference Time for such determination and (ii) the “Benchmark Replacement Date” will be deemed to have occurred in the case of clause (a) or (b) with respect to any Benchmark upon the occurrence of the applicable event or events set forth therein with respect to all then-current Available Tenors of such Benchmark (or the published component used in the calculation thereof).

 

“Benchmark Transition Event” means, with respect to any Benchmark, the occurrence of one or more of the following events with respect to such then-current Benchmark:

 

(a)            a public statement or publication of information by or on behalf of the administrator of such Benchmark (or the published component used in the calculation thereof) announcing that such administrator has ceased or will cease to provide all Available Tenors of such Benchmark (or such component thereof), permanently or indefinitely, provided that, at the time of such statement or publication, there is no successor administrator that will continue to provide any Available Tenor of such Benchmark (or such component thereof);

 

(b)            a public statement or publication of information by the regulatory supervisor for the administrator of such Benchmark (or the published component used in the calculation thereof), the Federal Reserve Board, the FRBNY, the CME Term SOFR Administrator, an insolvency

 

 

official with jurisdiction over the administrator for such Benchmark (or such component), a resolution authority with jurisdiction over the administrator for such Benchmark (or such component) or a court or an entity with similar insolvency or resolution authority over the administrator for such Benchmark (or such component), in each case, which states that the administrator of such Benchmark (or such component) has ceased or will cease to provide all Available Tenors of such Benchmark (or such component thereof) permanently or indefinitely; provided that, at the time of such statement or publication, there is no successor administrator that will continue to provide any Available Tenor of such Benchmark (or such component thereof); or

 

(c)            a public statement or publication of information by the regulatory supervisor for the administrator of such Benchmark (or the published component used in the calculation thereof) announcing that all Available Tenors of such Benchmark (or such component thereof) are no longer, or as of a specified future date will no longer be, representative.

 

For the avoidance of doubt, a “Benchmark Transition Event” will be deemed to have occurred with respect to any Benchmark if a public statement or publication of information set forth above has occurred with respect to each then-current Available Tenor of such Benchmark (or the published component used in the calculation thereof).

 

“Benchmark Unavailability Period” means, with respect to any Benchmark, the period (if any) (x) beginning at the time that a Benchmark Replacement Date pursuant to clauses (a) or (b) of that definition has occurred if, at such time, no Benchmark Replacement has replaced such then-current Benchmark for all purposes hereunder and under any Loan Document in accordance with Section 2.14 and (y) ending at the time that a Benchmark Replacement has replaced such then-current Benchmark for all purposes hereunder and under any Loan Document in accordance with Section 2.14.

 

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

 

“Beneficial Ownership Regulation” means 31 C.F.R. § 1010.230.

 

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

 

“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.

 

“Borrower” means Service Corporation International, a Texas corporation.

 

“Borrowing” means (a) Revolving Loans of the same Type, made, converted or continued on the same date and, in the case of Term Benchmark Loans, as to which a single Interest Period is in effect or (b) Term Loans of the same Type, made, converted or continued on the same date and, in the case of Term Benchmark Loans, as to which a single Interest Period is in effect.

 

 

“Borrowing Request” means a request by the Borrower for a Borrowing substantially in the form of Exhibit 1.01A or any other form approved by the Administrative Agent.

 

“Business Day” means, any day (other than a Saturday or a Sunday) on which banks are open for business in Houston, Texas and New York City; provided that, in addition to the foregoing, a Business Day shall be (a) in relation to RFR Loans and any interest rate settings, fundings, disbursements, settlements or payments of any such RFR Loan, or any other dealings of such RFR Loan and (b) in relation to Loans referencing the Adjusted Term SOFR Rate and any interest rate settings, fundings, disbursements, settlements or payments of any such Loans referencing the Adjusted Term SOFR Rate or any other dealings of such Loans referencing the Adjusted Term SOFR Rate, any such day that is only a U.S. Government Securities Business Day.

 

“Capital Lease Obligations” of any Person means the obligations of such Person to pay rent or other amounts under any lease of (or other arrangement conveying the right to use) real or personal property, or a combination thereof, which obligations are required to be classified and accounted for as capital leases or financing leases on a balance sheet of such Person under GAAP, and the amount of such obligations shall be the capitalized amount thereof determined in accordance with GAAP.

 

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

 

“Change in Control” means (a) the acquisition of ownership, directly or indirectly, beneficially or of record, by any Person or group (within the meaning of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission thereunder as in effect on the Effective Date) of Equity Interests representing more than 35% of the aggregate ordinary voting power represented by the issued and outstanding Equity Interests of the Borrower; or (b) occupation of a majority of the seats (other than vacant seats) on the board of directors of the Borrower by Persons who were neither (i) nominated or approved by the board of directors of the Borrower nor (ii) appointed by directors so nominated or approved.

 

“Change in Law” means the occurrence, after the Effective Date, of any of the following: (a) the adoption of 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) compliance by any Lender or Issuing Bank (or for purposes of Section 2.15(b), by any lending office of such Lender or by such Lender’s or Issuing Bank’s holding company, if any) with any request, guideline or directive (whether or not having the force of law) of any Governmental Authority made or issued after the Effective Date; provided, that notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, (x) the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and all requests, rules, guidelines or directives thereunder or issued in connection therewith or in the implementation thereof and (y) all requests, rules, guidelines or

 

 

directives promulgated by the Bank for International Settlements, the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (or any successor or similar authority) or the United States or foreign regulatory authorities, in each case pursuant to Basel III, shall in each case be deemed to be a “Change in Law”, regardless of the date enacted, adopted, implemented or issued.

 

“Charges” has the meaning assigned to it in Section 9.13.

 

“Class”, when used in reference to any Loan or Borrowing, refers to whether such Loan, or the Loans comprising such Borrowing, are Revolving Loans or Term Loans, and when used in reference to any Commitment, refers to whether such Commitment is a Revolving Commitment or Term Loan Commitment.

 

“CME Term SOFR Administrator” means CME Group Benchmark Administration Limited as administrator of the forward-looking term Secured Overnight Financing Rate (SOFR) (or a successor administrator).

 

“Co-Documentation Agent” means the Persons identified as such on the cover page of this Agreement.

 

“Co-Syndication Agent” means the Persons identified as such on the cover page of this Agreement.

 

“Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.

 

“Commitment” means a Revolving Commitment or a Term Loan Commitment or any combination thereof (as the context may require).

 

“Commodity Exchange Act” means the Commodity Exchange Act (7 U.S.C. § 1 et seq.), and any successor statute.

 

“Communications” has the meaning assigned to it in Section 8.03(c).

 

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

 

“Consolidated EBITDA” means EBITDA for the Borrower and the Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis.

 

“Consolidated Operating Income” means, for any period, the operating income or loss of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries for such period determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP.

 

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

 

 

“Corresponding Tenor” with respect to any Available Tenor means, as applicable, either a tenor (including overnight) or an interest payment period having approximately the same length (disregarding business day adjustment) as such Available Tenor.

 

“Covered Entity” means any of the following: (a) a “covered entity” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 252.82(b); (b) a “covered bank” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 47.3(b); or (c) a “covered FSI” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 382.2(b).

 

“Covered Party” has the meaning assigned to it in Section 9.21.

 

“Daily Simple SOFR” means, for any day (a “SOFR Rate Day”), a rate per annum equal to SOFR for the day (such day “SOFR Determination Date”) that is five (5) U.S. Government Securities Business Days prior to (i) if such SOFR Rate Day is a U.S. Government Securities Business Day, such SOFR Rate Day or (ii) if such SOFR Rate Day is not a U.S. Government Securities Business Day, the U.S. Government Securities Business Day immediately preceding such SOFR Rate Day, in each case, as such SOFR is published by the SOFR Administrator on the SOFR Administrator’s Website. Any change in Daily Simple SOFR due to a change in SOFR shall be effective from and including the effective date of such change in SOFR without notice to the Borrower.

 

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

 

“Default” means any event or condition which constitutes an Event of Default or which upon notice, lapse of time or both would, unless cured or waived, become an Event of Default.

 

“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.

 

“Defaulting Lender” means, subject to Section 2.22(b), any Lender that (a) has failed to (i) fund all or any portion of its Loans within two Business Days of the date such Loans were required to be funded hereunder unless such Lender notifies the Administrative Agent and the Borrower in writing that such failure is a result of such Lender’s determination that one or more conditions precedent to funding (each of which conditions precedent, together with any applicable default, shall be specifically identified in such writing) has not been satisfied, or (ii) pay to the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank or any other Lender any other amount required to be paid by it hereunder (including in respect to its participation in Letters of Credit) within two Business Days of the date when due, (b) has notified the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank or any Lender in writing that it does not intend to comply with any of its funding obligations under this Agreement 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 Lender’s determination that a condition precedent to funding (which condition precedent, together with any applicable default, shall be specifically identified in such writing or public statement) cannot be satisfied), (c) has failed, within three Business Days after written request by the

 

 

Administrative Agent or the Borrower, to confirm in writing to the Administrative Agent and the Borrower that it will comply with its prospective funding obligations hereunder (provided that such Lender shall cease to be a Defaulting Lender pursuant to this clause (c) upon receipt of such written confirmation by the Administrative Agent and the Borrower), or (d) has, or has a direct or indirect parent company that has, (i) become the subject of a proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law, (ii) had appointed for it a receiver, custodian, conservator, trustee, administrator, assignee for the benefit of creditors or similar Person charged with reorganization or liquidation of its business or assets, including the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other state or federal regulatory authority acting in such a capacity, or (iii) become the subject of a Bail-In Action; provided that a Lender shall not be a Defaulting Lender solely by virtue of the ownership or acquisition of any equity interest in that Lender or any direct or indirect parent company thereof by 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 shall be conclusive and binding absent manifest error, and such Lender shall be deemed to be a Defaulting Lender (subject to Section 2.22(b)) upon delivery of written notice of such determination to the Borrower, each Issuing Bank and each Lender.

 

“Designated Joint Venture” has the meaning assigned to it in Section 6.06(c).

 

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

 

“Dividing Person” has the meaning assigned to it in the definition of “Division”.

 

“Division” means the division of the assets, property, rights, series, debts, liabilities, duties and/or obligations of a Person (the “Dividing Person”) among two or more Persons (whether pursuant to a “plan of division” or similar arrangement), which may or may not include the Dividing Person and pursuant to which the Dividing Person may or may not survive.

 

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

 

“Domestic Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary that is not a Foreign Subsidiary. For purposes of this Agreement, any Subsidiary organized under the laws of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico shall be deemed to be a “Domestic Subsidiary”.

 

“EBITDA” means, for any period, without duplication, for the Borrower and the Subsidiaries, Consolidated Operating Income

 

(a)            minus any gains or plus any losses on sales and impairments of assets, to the extent included in Consolidated Operating Income;

 

(b)            plus depreciation and amortization (to the extent included in operating expenses and excluding amortization of deferred loan costs);

 

 

(c)            plus non-cash stock compensation expense/amortization (to the extent included in operating expenses);

 

(d)            plus rent expense in previous periods associated with assets later capitalized with on-balance sheet debt;

 

(e)            plus (A) cash expenses incurred and related to any acquisition or restructuring to the extent included in operating expenses within the first 24 months after the related acquisition or restructuring, such as, but not limited to, severance of management and employees, termination costs and buyouts of contracts and lease agreements, conversions of computer systems and networks, transfer of documents and other assets, legal and advisory fees directly related thereto, and other items reasonably incurred of a similar nature and (B) non-cash acquisition expenses that would not otherwise be picked up in other non-cash addbacks to EBITDA;

 

(f)             minus expenses attributable to surety premiums;

 

(g)            minus Pro Forma Divested EBITDA (to the extent positive and previously included in operating income) or plus Pro Forma Divested EBITDA (to the extent negative and previously included in operating income);

 

(h)            plus EBITDA of any acquired operations in the period from the beginning of the period for which EBITDA is to be determined to the date of such acquisition;

 

(i)             plus EBITDA of discontinued operations still owned (to the extent positive) and minus EBITDA of discontinued operations still owned (to the extent negative);

 

(j)             plus net cash flow from/to non-consolidated joint ventures to the extent received/paid in cash;

 

(k)            plus non-recurring and non-cash expenses (to the extent included in operating expenses) and minus non-recurring and non-cash income (to the extent included in operating income);

 

(l)             plus readily identifiable cost savings and other synergies that are related to Permitted Acquisitions and for which substantial steps will be taken within 12 months after the calculation date, to the extent not already included in the calculation of EBITDA;

 

(m)           plus one-time fees, cash charges and other cash expenses, premiums or penalties incurred in connection with any asset sale, any issuance of equity interests or any issuance, incurrence or repayment of indebtedness and/or any refinancing transaction or modification or amendment of any debt instrument (including any transaction undertaken but not completed);

 

(n)            plus any net after-tax effect of extraordinary, nonrecurring or unusual losses or expenses including the effect of all fees and expenses relating thereto (to the extent included in operating income) and minus any net after-tax effect of extraordinary, nonrecurring or unusual gains or income (to the extent included in operating income); and

 

 

(o)            plus any non-cash loss attributable to the mark to market movement in the valuation of hedging obligations or other derivative instruments and minus any non-cash gain attributable to the mark to market movement in the valuation of hedging obligations or other derivative instruments.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the aggregate amount of the add-backs permitted pursuant to clauses (e), (l) and (n) above, shall not exceed 15% of Consolidated EBITDA for the applicable four quarter period (calculated after giving effect to any such add-backs). Upon request by the Administrative Agent, the Borrower shall provide a reasonably detailed itemization of amounts included in the calculation of EBITDA pursuant to clauses (e) and (l) above.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

“Effective Date” means the date on which the conditions specified in Section 4.01 are satisfied (or waived in accordance with Section 9.02), which date is the date of this Agreement.

 

“Electronic Signature” means an electronic sound, symbol, or process attached to, or associated with, a contract or other record and adopted by a Person with the intent to sign, authenticate or accept such contract or record.

 

“Environmental Laws” means all laws, rules, regulations, codes, ordinances, orders, decrees, judgments, injunctions, notices or binding agreements issued, promulgated or entered into by any Governmental Authority, relating in any way to the environment, preservation or reclamation of natural resources, the management, release or threatened release of any Hazardous Material or to health and safety matters.

 

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

 

 

“Equity Interests” means shares of capital stock, partnership interests, membership interests in a limited liability company, beneficial interests in a trust or other equity ownership interests in a Person, and any warrants, options or other rights entitling the holder thereof to purchase or acquire any such equity interest.

 

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

 

“ERISA Affiliate” means any trade or business (whether or not incorporated) that, together with the Borrower, is treated as a single employer under Section 414(b) or (c) of the Code or Section 4001(14) of ERISA or, solely for purposes of Section 302 of ERISA and Section 412 of the Code, is treated as a single employer under Section 414 of the Code.

 

“ERISA Event” means (a) any “reportable event”, as defined in Section 4043 of ERISA or the regulations issued thereunder with respect to a Plan (other than an event for which the 30 day notice period is waived); (b) the failure to satisfy the “minimum funding standard” (as defined in Section 412 of the Code or Section 302 of ERISA), whether or not waived; (c) the filing pursuant to Section 412(c) of the Code or Section 302(c) of ERISA of an application for a waiver of the minimum funding standard with respect to any Plan; (d) the incurrence by the Borrower or any of its ERISA Affiliates of any liability under Title IV of ERISA with respect to the termination of any Plan; (e) the receipt by the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate from the PBGC or a plan administrator of any notice relating to an intention to terminate any Plan or Plans or to appoint a trustee to administer any Plan; (f) the incurrence by the Borrower or any of its ERISA Affiliates of any liability with respect to the withdrawal or partial withdrawal of the Borrower or any of its ERISA Affiliates from any Plan or Multiemployer Plan; or (g) the receipt by the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate of any notice, or the receipt by any Multiemployer Plan from the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate of any notice, concerning the imposition upon the Borrower or any of its ERISA Affiliates of Withdrawal Liability or a determination that a Multiemployer Plan is, or is expected to be, insolvent or in reorganization, within the meaning of Title IV of ERISA.

 

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

 

“Event of Default” has the meaning assigned to it in Article VII.

 

“Excluded Subsidiaries” means (a) each of SCI International, LLC, SCI Cerberus, LLC, SCI Parkway, LLC and Stewart Enterprises (Europe), Inc.; (b) Dunwood Cemetery Service Company; (c) Investors Trust, Inc., for so long as it is a regulated trust company; (d) West Lawn Cemetery, for so long as it is subject to regulatory restrictions that prohibit the execution of a Guarantee Agreement; (e) Heaven’s Pets at Lakelawn Metairie, LLC, for so long as it is an immaterial non-wholly owned Domestic Subsidiary of Stewart Enterprises, Inc.; (f) any Domestic Subsidiary of the Borrower (i) for so long as it is subject to regulatory restrictions that prohibit the execution of a Guarantee Agreement or (ii) that is an immaterial non-wholly owned Domestic Subsidiary of the Borrower, each as certified to the Administrative Agent pursuant to a certificate of a Financial Officer or other executive officer of the Borrower; (g) any Domestic Subsidiary the primary asset of which consists of Equity Interests in any Foreign Subsidiary and that has no outstanding Guarantee of Indebtedness of the Borrower or any Domestic Subsidiary; (h) any

 

 

Managed Entity; (i) any Regulated Subsidiary, including without limitation, Big Bend Insurance Company, Inc., for so long as such Regulated Subsidiary is subject to regulatory restrictions that prohibit the execution of a Guarantee Agreement; (j) any funeral home located in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts that is required to be majority-owned by a funeral director pursuant to applicable requirements of law; (k) any cemetery located in the State of Oklahoma that is owned by a trust pursuant to applicable requirements of law; and (l) any funeral home located in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania that is not permitted to be owned by a corporation or similar entity pursuant to applicable requirements of law.

 

“Excluded Swap Obligations” means, with respect to any Guarantor, any Swap Obligation if, and to the extent that, all or a portion of the Guarantee of such Guarantor of such Swap Obligation (or any Guarantee thereof) is or becomes illegal under the Commodity Exchange Act or any rule, regulation or order of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (or the application or official interpretation of any thereof) by virtue of such 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 Guarantee of such Guarantor 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 Guarantee is or becomes illegal.

 

“Excluded Taxes” means any of the following Taxes imposed on or with respect to a Recipient or required to be withheld or deducted from a payment to a Recipient, (a) Taxes imposed on or measured by net income (however denominated), franchise Taxes, and branch profits Taxes, in each case, (i) imposed as a result of such Recipient being organized under the laws of, or having its principal office or, in the case of any Lender, its applicable lending office located in, the jurisdiction imposing such Tax (or any political subdivision thereof) or (ii) that are Other Connection Taxes, (b) in the case of a Lender, U.S. federal withholding Taxes imposed on amounts payable to or for the account of such Lender with respect to an applicable interest in a Loan, Letter of Credit or Commitment pursuant to a law in effect on the date on which (i) such Lender acquires such interest in the Loan, Letter of Credit or Commitment (other than pursuant to an assignment request by the Borrower under Section 2.19(b)) or (ii) such Lender changes its lending office, except in each case to the extent that, pursuant to Section 2.17, amounts with respect to such Taxes were payable either to such Lender’s assignor immediately before such Lender acquired the applicable interest in a Loan, Letter of Credit or Commitment or to such Lender immediately before it changed its lending office, (c) Taxes attributable to such Recipient’s failure to comply with Section 2.17(g) and (d) any U.S. federal withholding Taxes imposed under FATCA.

 

“Existing Credit Agreement” has the meaning given in the preamble hereto.

 

“Existing Letters of Credit” means those letters of credit described on Schedule 2.05(k).

 

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

 

 

“Federal Funds Effective Rate” means, for any day, the rate calculated by the FRBNY based on such day’s federal funds transactions by depository institutions (as determined in such manner as the FRBNY shall set forth on its public website from time to time) and published on the next succeeding Business Day by the FRBNY as the federal funds effective rate; provided that if the Federal Funds Effective Rate as so determined would be less than zero, such rate shall be deemed to be zero for purposes of this Agreement.

 

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

 

“Financial Officer” means the chief financial officer, principal accounting officer, treasurer or controller of the Borrower.

 

“Floor” means the benchmark rate floor, if any, provided in this Agreement initially (as of the execution of this Agreement, the modification, amendment or renewal of this Agreement or otherwise) with respect to the Adjusted Term SOFR Rate or the Adjusted Daily Simple SOFR, as applicable. For the avoidance of doubt the initial Floor for each of Adjusted Term SOFR Rate or the Adjusted Daily Simple SOFR shall be 0%.

 

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

 

“Foreign Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary organized under the laws of a jurisdiction other than the United States or any of its territories or possessions or any political subdivision thereof. For purposes of this Agreement, any Subsidiary organized under the laws of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico shall not be deemed to be a “Foreign Subsidiary”.

 

“FRBNY” means the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.

 

“FRBNY Rate” means, for any day, the greater of (a) the Federal Funds Effective Rate in effect on such day and (b) the Overnight Bank Funding Rate in effect on such day (or for any day that is not a Business Day, for the immediately preceding Business Day); provided that, if none of such rates are published for any day that is a Business Day, the term “FRBNY Rate” means the rate for a federal funds transaction quoted at 11:00 a.m. on such day received by the Administrative Agent from a federal funds broker of recognized standing selected by it; provided, further, that, if any of the aforesaid rates shall be less than zero, such rate shall be deemed to be zero for purposes of this Agreement.

 

“Fronting Exposure” means, at any time there is a Defaulting Lender, with respect to any Issuing Bank, such Defaulting Lender’s Applicable Percentage of the LC Exposure with respect to Letters of Credit issued by such Issuing Bank at such time other than LC Exposure as to which such Defaulting Lender’s participation obligation has been reallocated to other Revolving Lenders or Cash Collateralized in accordance with the terms hereof.

 

“GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America.

 

“Governmental Authority” means the government of the United States of America, any other nation or any political subdivision thereof, whether state or local, and any agency, authority, instrumentality, regulatory body, court, central bank or other entity exercising executive,

 

 

legislative, judicial, taxing, regulatory or administrative powers or functions of or pertaining to government (including any supra-national bodies such as the European Union or the European Central Bank).

 

“Guarantee” of or by any Person (the “guarantor”) means any obligation, contingent or otherwise, of the guarantor guaranteeing or having the economic effect of guaranteeing any Indebtedness or other obligation of any other Person (the “primary obligor”) in any manner, whether directly or indirectly, and including any obligation of the guarantor, direct or indirect, (a) to purchase or pay (or advance or supply funds for the purchase or payment of) such Indebtedness or other obligation or to purchase (or to advance or supply funds for the purchase of) any security for the payment thereof, (b) to purchase or lease property, securities or services for the purpose of assuring the owner of such Indebtedness or other obligation of the payment thereof, (c) to maintain working capital, equity capital or any other financial statement condition or liquidity of the primary obligor so as to enable the primary obligor to pay such Indebtedness or other obligation or (d) as an account party in respect of any letter of credit or letter of guaranty issued to support such Indebtedness or obligation; provided, that the term Guarantee shall not include endorsements for collection or deposit in the ordinary course of business.

 

“Guarantee Agreement” means the Guarantee of the Guarantors, substantially in the form of Exhibit 1.01B hereto, guaranteeing the Obligations.

 

“Guarantors” means all Domestic Subsidiaries of the Borrower, other than the Excluded Subsidiaries (unless the Borrower, in its sole discretion, elects to cause one or more Excluded Subsidiaries to execute a Guarantee Agreement, at which time such Person or Persons will become Guarantors hereunder), and any other Subsidiary required to execute a Guarantee Agreement pursuant to Section 5.10.

 

“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.

 

“Incremental Term Loan” has the meaning assigned to it in Section 2.20.

 

“Indebtedness” of any Person means, without duplication, (a) all obligations of such Person for borrowed money or with respect to deposits or advances of any kind, (b) all obligations of such Person evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or similar instruments, (c) all obligations of such Person upon which interest charges are customarily paid, (d) all obligations of such Person under conditional sale or other title retention agreements relating to property acquired by such Person, (e) all obligations of such Person in respect of the deferred purchase price of property or services (excluding current accounts payable incurred in the ordinary course of business), (f) all Indebtedness of others secured by (or for which the holder of such Indebtedness has an existing right, contingent or otherwise, to be secured by) any Lien on property owned or acquired by such Person, whether or not the Indebtedness secured thereby has been assumed, (g) all Guarantees by such Person of Indebtedness of others, (h) all Capital Lease Obligations of such Person, (i) all obligations, contingent or otherwise, of such Person as an account party in respect of letters of

 

 

credit and letters of guaranty and (j) all obligations, contingent or otherwise, of such Person in respect of bankers’ acceptances. The Indebtedness of any Person shall include the Indebtedness of any other entity (including any partnership in which such Person is a general partner) to the extent such Person is liable therefor as a result of such Person’s ownership interest in or other relationship with such entity, except to the extent the terms of such Indebtedness provide that such Person is not liable therefor. The aggregate principal amount of each item of Indebtedness shall be determined in accordance with Section 1.04 hereof, as applicable.

 

“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.

 

“Indemnitee” has the meaning assigned to it in Section 9.03(c).

 

“Information” has the meaning assigned to it in Section 9.12.

 

“Interest Election Request” means a request by the Borrower to convert or continue a Borrowing in accordance with Section 2.07.

 

“Interest Payment Date” means (a) with respect to any ABR Loan, the last day of each March, June, September and December and the Maturity Date, (b) with respect to any RFR Loan, (i) each date that is on the numerically corresponding day in each calendar month that is one month after the Borrowing of such Loan (or, if there is no such numerically corresponding day in such month, then the last day of such month) and (ii) the Maturity Date and (c) with respect to any Term Benchmark Loan, the last day of each Interest Period applicable to the Borrowing of which such Loan is a part and, in the case of a Term Benchmark Borrowing with an Interest Period of more than three months’ duration, each day prior to the last day of such Interest Period that occurs at intervals of three months’ duration after the first day of such Interest Period, and the Maturity Date.

 

“Interest Period” means, with respect to any Term Benchmark Borrowing, the period commencing on the date of such Borrowing and ending on the numerically corresponding day in the calendar month that is one, three or six months thereafter (in each case, subject to the availability for the Benchmark applicable to the relevant Loan), as the Borrower may elect; provided, that (i) if any Interest Period would end on a day other than a Business Day, such Interest Period shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day unless such next succeeding Business Day would fall in the next calendar month, in which case such Interest Period shall end on the next preceding Business Day, (ii) any Interest Period that commences on the last Business Day of a calendar month (or on a day for which there is no numerically corresponding day in the last calendar month of such Interest Period) shall end on the last Business Day of the last calendar month of such Interest Period and (iii) no tenor that has been removed from this definition pursuant to Section 2.14(e) shall be available for specification in such Borrowing Request or Interest Election Request. For purposes hereof, the date of a Borrowing initially shall be the date on which such Borrowing is made and thereafter shall be the effective date of the most recent conversion or continuation of such Borrowing.

 

“IRS” means the United States Internal Revenue Service.

 

 

“Issuing Bank” means each of JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, Bank of America, N.A., Truist Bank and any Lender that is an issuing bank with respect to the Existing Letters of Credit, each in its capacity as the issuer of Letters of Credit hereunder, and their successors in such capacity as provided in Section 2.05(i). Any Issuing Bank may, in its discretion, arrange for one or more Letters of Credit to be issued by Affiliates of such Issuing Bank, in which case the term “Issuing Bank” shall include any such Affiliate with respect to Letters of Credit issued by such Affiliate. Each reference herein to the “Issuing Bank” in connection with a Letter of Credit or other matter shall be deemed to be a reference to the relevant Issuing Bank with respect thereto.

 

“LC Disbursement” means a payment made by an Issuing Bank pursuant to a Letter of Credit.

 

“LC Exposure” means, at any time, the sum of (a) the aggregate undrawn amount of all outstanding Letters of Credit at such time, plus (b) the aggregate amount of all LC Disbursements that have not yet been reimbursed by or on behalf of the Borrower at such time. The LC Exposure of any Revolving Lender at any time shall be its Applicable Percentage of the total LC Exposure at such time. 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 Article 29(a) of the Uniform Customs and Practice for Documentary Credits, International Chamber of Commerce Publication No. 600 (or such later version thereof as may be in effect at the applicable time) or Rule 3.13 or Rule 3.14 of the International Standby Practices, International Chamber of Commerce Publication No. 590 (or such later version thereof as may be in effect at the applicable time) or similar terms of the Letter of Credit itself, or if compliant documents have been presented but not yet honored, such Letter of Credit shall be deemed to be “outstanding” and “undrawn” in the amount so remaining available to be paid, and the obligations of the Borrower and each Lender shall remain in full force and effect until the Issuing Bank and the Lenders shall have no further obligations to make any payments or disbursements under any circumstances with respect to any Letter of Credit.

 

“Lender-Related Person” has the meaning assigned to it in Section 9.03(b).

 

“Lenders” means the Persons listed on Schedule 2.01 and any other Person that shall have become a party hereto pursuant to an Assignment and Assumption or otherwise, other than any such Person that ceases to be a party hereto pursuant to an Assignment and Assumption or otherwise. Unless the context otherwise requires, the term “Lenders” includes the Issuing Banks.

 

“Letter of Credit” means any letter of credit issued pursuant to this Agreement and includes the Existing Letters of Credit.

 

“Letter of Credit Commitment” means, with respect to each Issuing Bank, the commitment of such Issuing Bank to issue Letters of Credit hereunder. The amount of each Issuing Bank’s Letter of Credit Commitment as of the Effective Date is set forth on Schedule 2.01 hereto. The Letter of Credit Commitment of an Issuing Bank may be modified from time to time by agreement between such Issuing Bank and the Borrower, and notified to the Administrative Agent.

 

 

“Leverage Ratio” means, on any date, the ratio of (a) the difference of (i) Total Debt minus (ii) all unrestricted cash of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries to (b) Consolidated EBITDA for the immediately preceding four (4) fiscal quarters.

 

“Liabilities” means any losses, claims (including intraparty claims), demands, damages or liabilities of any kind.

 

“Lien” means, with respect to any asset, (a) any mortgage, deed of trust, lien, pledge, hypothecation, encumbrance, charge or security interest in, on or of such asset, (b) the interest of a vendor or a lessor under any conditional sale agreement, capital lease or title retention agreement (or any financing lease having substantially the same economic effect as any of the foregoing) relating to such asset and (c) in the case of securities, any purchase option, call or similar right of a third party with respect to such securities (but excluding, for the avoidance of doubt, purchase options granted in connection with stock option plans).

 

“Loan Documents” means this Agreement, the Notes, the Guarantee Agreement and any other documents executed in connection herewith or therewith.

 

“Loan Parties” means the Borrower and the Guarantors.

 

“Loans” means the Revolving Loans and the Term Loans.

 

“Managed Entity” means any Domestic Subsidiary

 

(a)            that is subject to an agreement with a Guarantor, pursuant to which

 

(i)             such Guarantor (A) operates such Domestic Subsidiary, (B) leases assets to such Domestic Subsidiary and/or (C) provides consulting, sales, marketing, accounting and/or management services to such Domestic Subsidiary and

 

(ii)            such Domestic Subsidiary is obligated to pay such Guarantor all or substantially all of such Domestic Subsidiary’s earnings in consideration for such Guarantor’s performance of its obligations thereunder, if

 

(b)            the Borrower is not the direct or indirect legal owner of a majority of the Equity Interests (if any) issued by such Domestic Subsidiary.

 

“Marketed EBITDA” means the trailing 12-month EBITDA figure disclosed to potential buyers preceding the sale of an operation or a Subsidiary.

 

“Material Adverse Effect” means a material adverse effect on (a) the business, assets, operations, or financial condition of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries taken as a whole, (b) the ability of the Borrower to perform any of its obligations under this Agreement or (c) the rights or remedies available to the Lenders under this Agreement.

 

“Material Indebtedness” means Indebtedness (other than the Loans and Letters of Credit), or obligations in respect of one or more Swap Agreements, of any one or more of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries in an aggregate principal amount exceeding $200,000,000. For purposes of

 

 

determining Material Indebtedness, the “principal amount” of the obligations of the Borrower or any Subsidiary in respect of any Swap Agreement at any time shall be the maximum aggregate amount (giving effect to any netting agreements) that the Borrower or such Subsidiary would be required to pay if such Swap Agreement were terminated at such time.

 

“Maturity Date” means the fifth anniversary of the Effective Date; provided, however, if such date is not a Business Day, the Maturity Date shall be the next preceding Business Day.

 

“Maximum Rate” has the meaning assigned to it in Section 9.13.

 

“Moody’s” means Moody’s Investors Service, Inc.

 

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

 

“Net Cash Proceeds” means, as applicable, (a) with respect to any Non-Ordinary Course Disposition, the gross proceeds received by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries therefrom (including any cash, cash equivalents, cash payments pursuant to, or by monetization of, a note receivable or otherwise, as and when received) less the sum of (i) all Taxes owing or estimated to be payable to a Governmental Authority as a result of such transaction, (ii) all reasonable and customary out-of-pocket fees and expenses incurred in connection with such transaction or event and (iii) the principal amount of, premium, if any, and interest on any Indebtedness secured by a Lien on the asset (or a portion thereof) disposed of, which Indebtedness is required to be repaid in connection with such transaction or event, and (b) with respect to any issuance or incurrence of Indebtedness, the gross cash proceeds received by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries therefrom less all reasonable and customary out-of-pocket legal, underwriting and other fees and expenses incurred in connection therewith.

 

“Non-Consenting Lender” means any Lender that does not approve any consent, waiver or amendment that (a) requires the approval of all affected Lenders in accordance with Section 9.02 and (b) has been approved by the Required Lenders, Required Revolving Lenders or Required Term Loan Lenders, as applicable.

 

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

 

“Non-Guarantors” means the Foreign Subsidiaries and the Excluded Subsidiaries, except such Subsidiaries (if any) that are Guarantors.

 

“Non-Ordinary Course Disposition” means any sale, transfer, lease or other disposition of assets by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries (including, without limitation, any disposition occurring as a result of a casualty or condemnation event) not in the ordinary course of its business; provided that the following shall not constitute “Non-Ordinary Course Dispositions”: (i) any transaction between or among the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, (ii) Sale and Leaseback Transactions permitted by Section 6.04 hereof and (iii) any Transportation Equipment Transaction.

 

 

“Note” means the promissory notes substantially in the form of Exhibit 1.01C executed by the Borrower to a Lender, partially evidencing the Obligations.

 

“Obligations” means (a) the due and punctual payment by the Borrower or the applicable Loan Parties of (i) the principal of and premium, if any, and interest (including interest accruing during the pendency of any bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or other similar proceeding, regardless of whether allowed or allowable in such proceeding) on the Loans, when and as due, whether at maturity, by acceleration, upon one or more dates set for prepayment or otherwise, (ii) each payment required to be made by the Borrower under this Agreement in respect of any Letter of Credit, when and as due, including payments in respect of reimbursement of disbursements, interest thereon and obligations to provide cash collateral and (iii) all other monetary obligations, including fees, costs, expenses and indemnities, whether primary, secondary, direct, contingent, fixed or otherwise (including monetary obligations incurred during the pendency of any bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or other similar proceeding, regardless of whether allowed or allowable in such proceeding), of the Loan Parties to the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the Issuing Banks under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, (b) the due and punctual payment and performance of all covenants, agreements, obligations and liabilities of the Loan Parties, monetary or otherwise, under or pursuant to this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, (c) the due and punctual payment of all obligations of the Loan Parties under each Swap Agreement entered into (i) prior to the Effective Date with any counterparty that is a Lender (or an Affiliate thereof) on the Effective Date or (ii) on or after the Effective Date with any counterparty that is a Lender (or an Affiliate thereof) at the time such Swap Agreement is entered into and (d) the due and punctual payment of all obligations of the Loan Parties in respect of Bank Products; provided that only with respect to any Guarantor the Obligations shall specifically exclude the Excluded Swap Obligations of such Guarantor.

 

“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, Letter of Credit 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 2.19(b)).

 

“Overnight Bank Funding Rate” means, for any day, the rate comprised of both overnight federal funds and overnight eurodollar transactions denominated in dollars by U.S.-managed banking offices of depository institutions, as such composite rate shall be determined by FRBNY as set forth on its public website from time to time, and published on the next succeeding Business Day by the FRBNY as an overnight bank funding rate.

 

“Participant” has the meaning assigned to it in Section 9.04(c).

 

 

“Participant Register” has the meaning assigned to it in Section 9.04(c).

 

“Patriot Act” has the meaning assigned to it in Section 9.14.

 

“Payment” has the meaning assigned to it in Section 8.06(c).

 

“Payment Notice” has the meaning assigned to it in Section 8.06(c).

 

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

 

“Permitted Acquisition” means any acquisition (by merger or otherwise and whether effected pursuant to a Division) by the Borrower or a Subsidiary of all or substantially all the assets of, or all the Equity Interests in, a Person or division or line of business of a Person, if (a) immediately after giving effect thereto, no Default has occurred and is continuing or would result therefrom, (b) the business of such acquired Person, or such acquired business, is reasonably related to the business of the Borrower on the Effective Date, (c) the requirements of Section 5.10 shall have been satisfied within the time periods specified therein, (d) the Borrower and the Subsidiaries are in compliance, on a pro forma basis after giving effect to such acquisition, with Section 6.12, as if such acquisition had occurred on the first day of the relevant period for testing compliance with such Section, (e) such acquisition has been approved by all necessary corporate and other action by the Person so acquired or the Person selling the assets or other property so acquired by the Borrower or such Subsidiary and (f) in the case of any acquisition in which the aggregate consideration paid by the Borrower and the Subsidiaries exceeds $75,000,000, the Borrower has delivered to the Administrative Agent an officer’s certificate to the effect set forth in clauses (a), (b), (c), (d) and (e) above, together with all financial information reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent relating to the Person or assets acquired and reasonably detailed calculations demonstrating the pro forma Leverage Ratio after giving effect to such acquisition.

 

“Permitted Encumbrances” means:

 

(a)            Liens imposed by law for taxes, assessments or other governmental charges that are not yet due or are being contested in accordance with Section 5.04;

 

(b)            carriers’, warehousemen’s, mechanics’, materialmen’s, repairmen’s and other like liens imposed by law, arising in the ordinary course of business and securing obligations that are not overdue by more than 30 days or are being contested in accordance with Section 5.04;

 

(c)            pledges and deposits made in the ordinary course of business in compliance with workers’ compensation, unemployment insurance and other social security laws or regulations;

 

(d)            deposits to secure the performance of bids, trade contracts, leases, statutory obligations, surety and appeal bonds, performance bonds and other obligations of a like nature, in each case in the ordinary course of business;

 

(e)            judgment liens in respect of judgments that do not constitute an Event of Default;

 

 

(f)             covenants, conditions, easements, zoning restrictions, rights-of-way, encroachments and similar encumbrances on real property that do not secure any monetary obligations and do not materially detract from the use of the affected property or interfere with the ordinary conduct of business of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole;

 

(g)            Liens in favor of a banking or other financial institution arising as a matter of law or in the ordinary course of business under customary general terms and conditions encumbering deposits or other funds maintained with a financial institution (including the right of set-off) and that are within the general parameters customary in the banking industry or arising pursuant to such banking institution’s general terms and conditions;

 

(h)            leases or subleases of real property which do not materially interfere with the ordinary conduct of the business of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries; and

 

(i)             Liens arising out of conditional sale, title retention, consignment or similar arrangements for the sale of goods entered into in the ordinary course of business;

 

provided that the term “Permitted Encumbrances” shall not include any lien securing Indebtedness for borrowed money.

 

“Permitted Investments” means:

 

(a)            direct obligations of, or obligations the principal of and interest on which are unconditionally guaranteed by, the United States of America or Canada (or by any agency thereof to the extent such obligations are backed by the full faith and credit of the United States of America or Canada), in each case maturing within one year from the date of acquisition thereof;

 

(b)            investments in commercial paper maturing within 270 days from the date of acquisition thereof and having, at such date of acquisition, a rating of A2 or better by S&P, P2 or better by Moody’s, or R1 “mid” or better by The Dominion Bond Rating Service;

 

(c)            investments in certificates of deposit, banker’s acceptances and time deposits (including eurodollar deposits) maturing within 180 days from the date of acquisition thereof issued or guaranteed by or placed with, and money market deposit accounts issued or offered by, any Lender or any domestic office of any commercial bank organized under the laws of the United States of America or Canada or any State or Province thereof which has a combined capital and surplus and undivided profits of not less than $500,000,000;

 

(d)            fully collateralized repurchase agreements with a term of not more than 30 days for securities described in clause (a) above and entered into with a financial institution satisfying the criteria described in clause (c) above;

 

(e)            money market funds that (i) comply with the criteria set forth in Securities and Exchange Commission Rule 2a-7 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, (ii) are rated AAA by S&P or Aaa by Moody’s and (iii) have portfolio assets of at least $5,000,000,000;

 

 

(f)             investments in corporate debt securities (including loan participations) that (a) mature within 60 days from the date of acquisition, and (b) are rated BBB or better by S&P or Baa2 or better by Moody’s at the date of acquisition;

 

(g)            investments in municipal securities or auction rate securities that are rated AA or better by S&P or Aa or better by Moody’s, provided that the Borrower has the right to put such securities back to the issuer or seller thereof at least once every 60 days; and

 

(h)            other investments in an amount not to exceed $10,000,000 in the aggregate at any one time by Foreign Subsidiaries in certificates of deposit, banker’s acceptances and time deposits (or other substantially similar investments) maturing within 180 days from the date of acquisition thereof issued or guaranteed by or placed with, and money market deposit accounts (or other substantially similar deposit accounts) issued or offered by, any foreign commercial bank not organized under the laws of the United States of America or Canada or any state or province thereof.

 

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

 

“Plan” means any employee pension benefit plan (other than a Multiemployer Plan) subject to the provisions of Title IV of ERISA or Section 412 of the Code or Section 302 of ERISA, and in respect of which the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate is (or, if such plan were terminated, would under Section 4069 of ERISA be deemed to be) an “employer” as defined in Section 3(5) of ERISA.

 

“Plan Asset Regulations” means 29 CFR § 2510.3-101 et seq., as modified by Section 3(42) of ERISA.

 

“Prime Rate” means the rate of interest last quoted by The Wall Street Journal as the “Prime Rate” in the U.S. or, if The Wall Street Journal ceases to quote such rate, the highest per annum interest rate published by the Federal Reserve Board in Federal Reserve Statistical Release H.15 (519) (Selected Interest Rates) as the “bank prime loan” rate or, if such rate is no longer quoted therein, any similar rate quoted therein (as determined by the Administrative Agent) or any similar release by the Federal Reserve Board (as determined by the Administrative Agent). Each change in the Prime Rate shall be effective from and including the date such change is publicly announced or quoted as being effective.

 

“Pro Forma Divested EBITDA” means the total Marketed EBITDA from divested operations included in Consolidated Operating Income in the preceding four quarters before consideration of divestures.

 

“Proceeding” means any claim, litigation, investigation, action, suit, arbitration or administrative, judicial or regulatory action or proceeding in any jurisdiction.

 

“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.

 

 

“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).

 

“QFC Credit Support” has the meaning assigned to it in Section 9.21.

 

“Qualified Acquisition” means a Permitted Acquisition for which the cash consideration (including, for the avoidance of doubt, the expected amount of any earnout and deferred purchase price and similar payments and seller financing) is greater than or equal to $250,000,000.

 

“Qualified Acquisition Period” has the meaning assigned to it in Section 6.12.

 

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

 

“Reference Time” with respect to any setting of the then-current Benchmark means (a) if such Benchmark is the Term SOFR Rate, 5:00 a.m. (Chicago time) on the day that is two U.S. Government Securities Business Days preceding the date of such setting, (b) if the RFR for such Benchmark is Daily Simple SOFR, then four Business Days prior to such setting or (c) if such Benchmark is none of the Term SOFR Rate or Daily Simple SOFR, the time determined by the Administrative Agent in its reasonable discretion.

 

“Register” has the meaning assigned to it in Section 9.04(b).

 

“Regulated Subsidiary” means any wholly-owned Subsidiary formed for the purpose of self-insurance that is subject to reserve or capital requirements imposed by any Governmental Authority.

 

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

 

“Relevant Governmental Body” means, the Federal Reserve Board and/or the FRBNY, or a committee officially endorsed or convened by the Federal Reserve Board and/or the FRBNY or, in each case, any successor thereto.

 

“Relevant Rate” means (a) with respect to any Term Benchmark Borrowing, the Adjusted Term SOFR Rate or (b) with respect to any RFR Borrowing, the Adjusted Daily Simple SOFR, as applicable.

 

“Required Lenders” means, at any time, Lenders holding more than 50% of the sum of (a) the aggregate principal amount of the Term Loans then outstanding and (b) the total Revolving Commitments (or, if the Revolving Commitments have terminated or expired, the Revolving Credit Exposures) at such time. The Term Loans and Revolving Commitment or Revolving Credit Exposure, as applicable, of any Defaulting Lender shall be disregarded in determining Required Lenders at any time.

 

“Required Revolving Lenders” means, at any time, Revolving Lenders holding more than 50% of the total Revolving Commitments (or, if the Revolving Commitments have terminated or

 

 

expired, the Revolving Credit Exposures) at such time. The Revolving Commitment or Revolving Credit Exposure, as applicable, of any Defaulting Lender, shall be disregarded in determining Required Revolving Lenders at any time.

 

“Required Term Loan Lenders” means, at any time, Term Loan Lenders holding more than 50% of the aggregate principal amount of the Term Loans then outstanding. The Term Loans of any Defaulting Lender shall be disregarded in determining Required Term Loan Lenders at any time.

 

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

 

“Restricted Payment” means any dividend or other distribution (whether in cash, securities or other property) with respect to any Equity Interests in the Borrower or any Subsidiary, or any payment (whether in cash, securities or other property), including any sinking fund or similar deposit, on account of the purchase, redemption, retirement, acquisition, cancellation or termination of any such Equity Interests or any option, warrant or other right to acquire any such Equity Interests.

 

“Revolving Availability Period” means the period from and including the Effective Date to but excluding the earlier of the Maturity Date and the date of termination of the Revolving Commitments.

 

“Revolving Commitment” means, with respect to each Revolving Lender, the commitment of such Lender to make Revolving Loans including the acquisition of participations in Letters of Credit hereunder, as such commitment may be (a) reduced from time to time pursuant to Section 2.08, (b) increased from time to time pursuant to Section 2.20, and (c) reduced or increased from time to time pursuant to assignments by or to such Lender pursuant to Section 9.04. The initial amount of each Revolving Lender’s Revolving Commitment is set forth on Schedule 2.01, or in the Assignment and Assumption pursuant to which such Lender shall have assumed its Revolving Commitment, as applicable. The aggregate amount of the Revolving Lenders’ Revolving Commitments as of the Effective Date is $1,500,000,000.

 

“Revolving Credit Exposure” means, with respect to any Revolving Lender at any time, the sum of the outstanding principal amount of such Revolving Lender’s Revolving Loans and its LC Exposure at such time.

 

“Revolving Lender” means a Lender with a Revolving Commitment or, if the Revolving Commitments have been terminated, a Lender with Revolving Credit Exposure.

 

“Revolving Loan” means a Loan made pursuant to Section 2.01(a).

 

“RFR Borrowing” means, as to any Borrowing, the RFR Loans comprising such Borrowing.

 

“RFR Loan” means a Loan that bears interest at a rate based on the Adjusted Daily Simple SOFR.

 

 

“S&P” means Standard & Poor’s Rating Services, a Standard & Poor’s Financial Services LLC business.

 

“Sale and Leaseback Transaction” means any arrangement whereby the Borrower or a Subsidiary shall sell or transfer any real property, used or useful in its business, whether now owned or hereinafter acquired, and thereafter rent or lease from the buyer or transferee of the sold or transferred property that it intends to use for substantially the same purpose or purposes as the property sold or transferred.

 

“Sanctioned Country” means, at any time, a country, region or territory which is itself the subject or target of any Sanctions (at the time of this Agreement, the so-called Donetsk People’s Republic, the so-called Luhansk People’s Republic, the Crimea Region of Ukraine, Cuba, Iran, North Korea and Syria).

 

“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, the U.S. Department of State, His Majesty’s Treasury of the United Kingdom, the United Nations Security Council, the European Union or any European Union member state, (b) any Person operating, organized or resident in a Sanctioned Country or (c) any Person controlled by any such Person or Persons described in the foregoing clauses (a) or (b).

 

“Sanctions” means economic or financial sanctions or trade embargoes imposed, administered or enforced from time to time by (a) the U.S. government, including those administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Department of the Treasury or the U.S. Department of State or (b) the United Nations Security Council, the European Union, any European Union member state or His Majesty’s Treasury of the United Kingdom.

 

“SOFR” means a rate equal to the secured overnight financing rate as administered by the SOFR Administrator.

 

“SOFR Administrator” means the FRBNY (or a successor administrator of the secured overnight financing rate).

 

“SOFR Administrator’s Website” means the FRBNY’s website, currently at http://www.newyorkfed.org, or any successor source for the secured overnight financing rate identified as such by the SOFR Administrator from time to time.

 

“SOFR Determination Date” has the meaning specified in the definition of “Daily Simple SOFR”.

 

“SOFR Rate Day” has the meaning specified in the definition of “Daily Simple SOFR”.

 

“Subsidiary” means, with respect to any Person (the “parent”) at any date, any corporation, limited liability company, partnership, association or other entity the accounts of which would be consolidated with those of the parent in the parent’s consolidated financial statements if such financial statements were prepared in accordance with GAAP as of such date, as well as any other corporation, limited liability company, partnership, association or other entity (a) of which securities or other ownership interests representing more than 50% of the equity or more than 50%

 

 

of the ordinary voting power or, in the case of a partnership, more than 50% of the general partnership interests are, as of such date, owned, controlled or held, or (b) that is, as of such date, otherwise Controlled, by the parent or one or more subsidiaries of the parent or by the parent and one or more subsidiaries of the parent. Unless otherwise indicated, “Subsidiary” shall mean a Subsidiary of the Borrower.

 

“Supported QFC” has the meaning assigned to it in Section 9.21.

 

“Swap Agreement” means any agreement with respect to any swap, forward, future or derivative transaction or option or similar agreement involving, or settled by reference to, one or more rates, currencies, commodities, equity or debt instruments or securities, or economic, financial or pricing indices or measures of economic, financial or pricing risk or value or any similar transaction or any combination of these transactions; provided that no phantom stock or similar plan providing for payments only on account of services provided by current or former directors, officers, employees or consultants of the Borrower or the Subsidiaries shall be a Swap Agreement.

 

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

 

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

 

“Term Benchmark” when used in reference to any Loan or Borrowing, refers to whether such Loan, or the Loans comprising such Borrowing, are bearing interest at a rate determined by reference to the Adjusted Term SOFR Rate.

 

“Term Loan” means a Loan made pursuant to Section 2.01(b) and shall include, for the avoidance of doubt, the Incremental Term Loans.

 

“Term Loan Commitment” means, with respect to each Term Loan Lender, the commitment of such Lender to make a Term Loan on the Effective Date in a principal amount not to exceed the amount set forth with respect to such Lender on Schedule 2.01 under the caption “Term Loan Commitment”. The aggregate amount of the Term Loan Lenders’ Term Loan Commitments as of the Effective Date is $675,000,000.

 

“Term Loan Lender” means a Lender that has a Term Loan Commitment or an outstanding Term Loan at such time.

 

“Term SOFR Determination Day” has the meaning assigned to it under the definition of Term SOFR Reference Rate.

 

“Term SOFR Rate” means, with respect to any Term Benchmark Borrowing and for any tenor comparable to the applicable Interest Period, the Term SOFR Reference Rate at approximately 5:00 a.m., Chicago time, two U.S. Government Securities Business Days prior to

 

 

the commencement of such tenor comparable to the applicable Interest Period, as such rate is published by the CME Term SOFR Administrator.

 

“Term SOFR Reference Rate” means, for any day and time (such day, the “Term SOFR Determination Day”), with respect to any Term Benchmark Borrowing and for any tenor comparable to the applicable Interest Period, the rate per annum published by the CME Term SOFR Administrator and identified by the Administrative Agent as the forward-looking term rate based on SOFR. If by 5:00 pm (New York City time) on such Term SOFR Determination Day, the “Term SOFR Reference Rate” for the applicable tenor has not been published by the CME Term SOFR Administrator and a Benchmark Replacement Date with respect to the Term SOFR Rate has not occurred, then, so long as such day is otherwise a U.S. Government Securities Business Day, the Term SOFR Reference Rate for such Term SOFR Determination Day will be the Term SOFR Reference Rate as published in respect of the first preceding U.S. Government Securities Business Day for which such Term SOFR Reference Rate was published by the CME Term SOFR Administrator, so long as such first preceding U.S. Government Securities Business Day is not more than five (5) U.S. Government Securities Business Days prior to such Term SOFR Determination Day.

 

“Total Debt” means the consolidated total Indebtedness of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries in an amount that would be reflected on a balance sheet prepared as of such date on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP, consisting of Indebtedness for borrowed money, Capital Lease Obligations and debt obligations evidenced by bonds, debentures, promissory notes or similar instruments; provided that Total Debt shall not include Indebtedness in respect of letters of credit (including Letters of Credit), except to the extent of unreimbursed amounts thereunder.

 

“Transactions” means the execution, delivery and performance by the Borrower of this Agreement, the borrowing of Loans, the use of the proceeds thereof and the issuance of Letters of Credit hereunder.

 

“Transportation Equipment Transactions” has the meaning assigned to it in Section 6.01(e).

 

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

 

“UK Financial Institutions” 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.

 

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

 

“Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement” means the applicable Benchmark Replacement excluding the related Benchmark Replacement Adjustment.

 

 

“U.S. Government Securities Business Day” means any day except for (a) a Saturday, (b) a Sunday or (c) a day on which the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association recommends that the fixed income departments of its members be closed for the entire day for purposes of trading in United States government securities.

 

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

 

“U.S. Special Resolution Regime” has the meaning assigned to it in Section 9.21.

 

“U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate” has the meaning assigned to it in Section 2.17(g).

 

“Withdrawal Liability” means liability to a Multiemployer Plan as a result of a complete or partial withdrawal from such Multiemployer Plan, as such terms are defined in Part I of Subtitle E of Title IV of ERISA.

 

“Withholding Agent” means any Loan Party and the Administrative Agent.

 

“Write-Down and Conversion Powers” means, (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.

 

Section 1.02         Classification of Loans and Borrowings. For purposes of this Agreement, Loans may be classified and referred to by Class (e.g., a “Revolving Loan”) or by Type (e.g., a “Term Benchmark Loan”) or by Class and Type (e.g., a “Term Benchmark Revolving Loan”). Borrowings also may be classified and referred to by Class (e.g., a “Revolving Borrowing”) or by Type (e.g., a “Term Benchmark Borrowing”) or by Class and Type (e.g., a “Term Benchmark Revolving Borrowing”).

 

Section 1.03         Terms Generally. The definitions of terms herein shall apply equally to the singular and plural forms of the terms defined. Whenever the context may require, any pronoun shall include the corresponding masculine, feminine and neuter forms. The words “include”, “includes” and “including” shall be deemed to be followed by the phrase “without limitation”. The word “will” shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect as the word “shall”. Unless the context requires otherwise (a) any definition of or reference to any agreement, instrument or other document herein shall be construed as referring to such agreement, instrument or other document as from time to time amended, supplemented or otherwise modified (subject to any restrictions on such amendments, supplements or modifications set forth herein), (b) any reference herein to any Person shall be construed to include such Person’s successors and assigns, (c) the words “herein”, “hereof” and “hereunder”, and words of similar import, shall be construed

 

 

to refer to this Agreement in its entirety and not to any particular provision hereof, (d) all references herein to Articles, Sections, Exhibits and Schedules shall be construed to refer to Articles and Sections of, and Exhibits and Schedules to, this Agreement, (e) any reference to any law, rule or regulation herein shall, unless otherwise specified, refer to such law, rule or regulation as amended, modified or supplemented from time to time and (f) the words “asset” and “property” shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect and to refer to any and all tangible and intangible assets and properties, including cash, securities, accounts and contract rights.

 

Section 1.04        Accounting Terms; GAAP. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, all terms of an accounting or financial nature shall be construed in accordance with GAAP, as in effect from time to time; provided that, if the Borrower notifies the Administrative Agent that the Borrower requests an amendment to any provision hereof to eliminate the effect of any change occurring after the Effective Date in GAAP or in the application thereof on the operation of such provision (or if the Administrative Agent notifies the Borrower that the Required Lenders request an amendment to any provision hereof for such purpose), regardless of whether any such notice is given before or after such change in GAAP or in the application thereof, then such provision shall be interpreted on the basis of GAAP as in effect and applied immediately before such change shall have become effective until such notice shall have been withdrawn or such provision amended in accordance herewith. Notwithstanding the foregoing, for purposes of determining compliance with any covenant (including the computation of any financial covenant) contained herein, (a) Indebtedness of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries shall be deemed to be carried at 100% of the outstanding principal amount thereof, and the effects of FASB ASC 825 and FASB ASC 470-20 on financial liabilities shall be disregarded and (b) for the purposes of determining whether any lease-related liability shall be included within the definition of “Indebtedness” hereunder, all operating and non-financing leases that are not “Indebtedness” as of the Effective Date (and all similar leases entered into after the Effective Date) shall be excluded from Indebtedness during the term of this Agreement, regardless of any changes to GAAP.

 

Section 1.05         Division. For all purposes under the Loan Documents, in connection with any Division, (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 Equity Interests at such time.

 

Section 1.06         Interest Rates; Benchmark Notification. The interest rate on a Loan may be derived from an interest rate benchmark that may be discontinued or is, or may in the future become, the subject of regulatory reform. Upon the occurrence of a Benchmark Transition Event, Section 2.14(b) provides a mechanism for determining an alternative rate of interest. The Administrative Agent does not warrant or accept any responsibility for, and shall not have any liability with respect to, the administration, submission, performance or any other matter related to any interest rate used in this Agreement, or with respect to any alternative or successor rate thereto, or replacement rate thereof, including without limitation, whether the composition or characteristics of any such alternative, successor or replacement reference rate will be similar to, or produce the same value or economic equivalence of, the existing interest rate being replaced or have the same volume or liquidity as did any existing interest rate prior to its discontinuance or unavailability. The Administrative Agent and its affiliates and/or other related entities may engage

 

 

in transactions that affect the calculation of any interest rate used in this Agreement or any alternative, successor or alternative rate (including any Benchmark Replacement) and/or any relevant adjustments thereto, in each case, in a manner adverse to the Borrower. The Administrative Agent may select information sources or services in its reasonable discretion to ascertain any interest rate used in this Agreement, any component thereof, or rates referenced in the definition thereof, in each case pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, and shall have no liability to the Borrower, any Lender or any other person or entity for damages of any kind, including direct or indirect, special, punitive, incidental or consequential damages, costs, losses or expenses (whether in tort, contract or otherwise and whether at law or in equity), for any error or calculation of any such rate (or component thereof) provided by any such information source or service.

 

Section 1.07         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 available to be drawn at such time; provided that with respect to any Letter of Credit that, by its terms or the terms of any Letter of Credit Agreement related thereto, provides for one or more automatic increases in the available amount thereof, the amount of such Letter of Credit shall be deemed to be the maximum amount of such Letter of Credit after giving effect to all such increases, whether or not such maximum amount is available to be drawn at such time.

 

Article II
The Credits

Section 2.01         Commitments.

 

(a)            Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, each Revolving Lender severally agrees to make Revolving Loans to the Borrower from time to time during the Revolving Availability Period in an aggregate principal amount that will not result in (i) such Lender’s Revolving Credit Exposure exceeding such Lender’s Revolving Commitment or (ii) the sum of the total Revolving Credit Exposures exceeding the total Revolving Commitments. Within the foregoing limits and subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, the Borrower may borrow, prepay and reborrow Revolving Loans.

 

(b)            Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, each Term Loan Lender severally agrees to make Term Loans to the Borrower on the Effective Date in a principal amount equal to such Lender’s Term Loan Commitment. Once repaid or prepaid, Term Loans may not be reborrowed.

 

Section 2.02          Loans and Borrowings.

 

(a)            Each Revolving Loan shall be made as part of a Borrowing consisting of Revolving Loans made by the Revolving Lenders ratably in accordance with their respective Revolving Commitments. Each Term Loan shall be made as part of a Borrowing consisting of Term Loans made by the Term Loan Lenders ratably in accordance with their respective Term Loan Commitments. The failure of any Lender to make any Loan required to be made by it shall not relieve any other Lender of its obligations hereunder; provided that the Commitments of the

 

 

Lenders are several and no Lender shall be responsible for any other Lender’s failure to make Loans as required.

 

(b)            Subject to Section 2.14, each Borrowing shall be comprised entirely of ABR Loans or Term Benchmark Loans as the Borrower may request in accordance herewith; provided that all Borrowings made on the Effective Date must be made as ABR Borrowings, unless the Borrower shall have notified the Administrative Agent in writing not later than 10:00 a.m., Houston time, three (3) Business Days before the Effective Date of its election for the initial Borrowing to be a Term Benchmark Borrowing. Each Lender at its option may make any Loan by causing any domestic or foreign branch or Affiliate of such Lender to make such Loan; provided that any exercise of such option shall not affect the obligation of the Borrower to repay such Loan in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.

 

(c)            At the commencement of each Interest Period for any Term Benchmark Borrowing, such Borrowing shall be in an aggregate amount that is an integral multiple of $1,000,000 and not less than $5,000,000. At the time that each ABR Borrowing is made, such Borrowing shall be in an aggregate amount that is an integral multiple of $1,000,000 and not less than $5,000,000; provided that an ABR Revolving Borrowing may be in an aggregate amount that is equal to the entire unused balance of the total Revolving Commitments or that is required to finance the reimbursement of an LC Disbursement as contemplated by Section 2.05(e). Borrowings of more than one Type may be outstanding at the same time; provided that there shall not at any time be more than a total of fifteen (15) Term Benchmark Borrowings or RFR Borrowings outstanding.

 

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

 

Section 2.03         Requests for Borrowings. To request a Borrowing, the Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent of such request by electronic transmission of a Borrowing Request (a) in the case of a Term Benchmark Borrowing, not later than 10:00 a.m., Houston time, three Business Days before the date of the proposed Borrowing or (b) in the case of an ABR Borrowing, not later than 11:00 a.m., Houston time, on the date of the proposed Borrowing; provided that any such notice of an ABR Revolving Borrowing to finance the reimbursement of an LC Disbursement as contemplated by Section 2.05(e) may be given not later than 10:00 a.m., Houston time, on the date of the proposed Borrowing. Each such Borrowing Request shall be irrevocable. Each such Borrowing Request shall specify the following information in compliance with Section 2.02:

 

(a)            the aggregate amount of the requested Borrowing;

 

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

 

(c)            whether such Borrowing is to be an ABR Borrowing or a Term Benchmark Borrowing;

 

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

 

 

(e)            the location and number of the Borrower’s account to which funds are to be disbursed, which shall comply with the requirements of Section 2.06.

 

If no election as to the Type of Borrowing is specified, then the requested Borrowing shall be an ABR Borrowing. If no Interest Period is specified with respect to any requested Term Benchmark Borrowing, then the Borrower shall be deemed to have selected an Interest Period of one month’s duration. Promptly following receipt of a Borrowing Request in accordance with this Section, the Administrative Agent shall advise each applicable Lender of the details thereof and of the amount of such Lender’s Loan to be made as part of the requested Borrowing.

 

Section 2.04          Reserved.

 

Section 2.05          Letters of Credit.

 

(a)            General. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, the Borrower may request the issuance of Letters of Credit for its own account, in a form reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent and the applicable Issuing Bank, at any time and from time to time during the Revolving Availability Period. In the event of any inconsistency between the terms and conditions of this Agreement and the terms and conditions of any form of letter of credit application or other agreement submitted by the Borrower to, or entered into by the Borrower with, any Issuing Bank relating to any Letter of Credit, the terms and conditions of this Agreement shall control.

 

(b)            Notice of Issuance, Amendment, Renewal, Extension; Certain Conditions. To request the issuance of a Letter of Credit (or the amendment, renewal or extension of an outstanding Letter of Credit), the Borrower shall hand deliver or telecopy (or transmit by electronic communication, if arrangements for doing so have been approved by the applicable Issuing Bank) to the applicable Issuing Bank and the Administrative Agent (reasonably in advance of the requested date of issuance, amendment, renewal or extension) a notice requesting the issuance of a Letter of Credit, or identifying the Letter of Credit to be amended, renewed or extended, and specifying the date of issuance, amendment, renewal or extension (which shall be a Business Day), the date on which such Letter of Credit is to expire (which shall comply with paragraph (c) of this Section), the amount of such Letter of Credit, the name and address of the beneficiary thereof and such other information as shall be necessary to prepare, amend, renew or extend such Letter of Credit. If requested by the applicable Issuing Bank, the Borrower also shall submit a letter of credit application on such Issuing Bank’s standard form in connection with any request for a Letter of Credit; provided that (a) in the event of any conflict between such application and this Agreement, this Agreement shall control, and (b) any grant of a Lien contained in such application shall be ineffective so long as this Agreement remains in place. A Letter of Credit shall be issued, amended, renewed or extended only if (and upon issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of each Letter of Credit, the Borrower shall be deemed to represent and warrant that), after giving effect to such issuance, amendment, renewal or extension (i) (x) the aggregate undrawn amount of all outstanding Letters of Credit issued by the relevant Issuing Bank at such time plus (y) the aggregate amount of all LC Disbursements made by such Issuing Bank that have not yet been reimbursed by or on behalf of the Borrower at such time shall not exceed its Letter of Credit Commitment (unless otherwise agreed to by such Issuing Bank), (ii) the aggregate LC Exposure

 

 

shall not exceed $100,000,000 and (iii) the total Revolving Credit Exposures shall not exceed the total Revolving Commitments.

 

(c)            Expiration Date.

 

(i)                 Subject to clause (ii) of this Section 2.05(c), each Letter of Credit shall expire at or prior to the close of business on the earlier of (x) the date one year after the date of the issuance of such Letter of Credit (or, in the case of any renewal or extension thereof, one year after such renewal or extension) and (y) the date that is five Business Days prior to the Maturity Date; provided, a Letter of Credit may provide for a later expiration date if, simultaneously with the issuance (or if applicable, the renewal) thereof, the Borrower pledges to the applicable Issuing Bank, in a manner reasonably satisfactory to it, funds in an account with such Issuing Bank equal to 105% of the face amount of such Letter of Credit.

 

(ii)              If the Borrower so requests in any applicable request for a Letter of Credit, the applicable Issuing Bank may, in its sole discretion, agree to issue a Letter of Credit that has automatic extension provisions (each, an “Automatic Extension L/C”); provided that such extension provisions under the Automatic Extension L/C shall not extend the expiration date later than the date that is five Business Days prior to the Maturity Date unless simultaneously with such extension the Borrower pledges to the applicable Issuing Bank, in a manner reasonably satisfactory to it, funds in an account with such Issuing Bank equal to 105% of the face amount of such Automatic Extension L/C; provided further, that any such Automatic Extension L/C must permit the applicable Issuing Bank 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 (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 Issuing Bank, the Borrower shall not be required to make a specific request to such Issuing Bank for any such extension. [Once an Automatic Extension L/C has been issued, the Revolving Lenders shall be deemed to have authorized (but may not require) the applicable Issuing Bank to permit the extension of such Letter of Credit at any time] to an expiration date not later than the date that is five Business Days prior to the Maturity Date unless simultaneously with such extension the Borrower pledges to the applicable Issuing Bank, in a manner reasonably satisfactory to it, funds in an account with such Issuing Bank equal to 105% of the face amount of such Automatic Extension L/C; provided, however, that the applicable Issuing Bank shall not permit any such extension if (A) such Issuing Bank 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 of this Agreement, or (B) it has received notice (which may be by telephone or in writing) on or before the day that is five Business Days before the Non-Extension Notice Date from the Administrative Agent, any Revolving Lender or the Borrower that one or more of the applicable conditions specified in Section 4.02 is not then satisfied, and in each such case directing such Issuing Bank not to permit such extension.

 

(d)           Participations. By the issuance of a Letter of Credit (or an amendment to a Letter of Credit increasing the amount thereof) and without any further action on the part of the applicable

 

 

Issuing Bank or the Revolving Lenders, such Issuing Bank hereby grants to each Revolving Lender, and each Revolving Lender hereby acquires from such Issuing Bank, a participation in such Letter of Credit equal to such Lender’s Applicable Percentage of the aggregate amount available to be drawn under such Letter of Credit. In consideration and in furtherance of the foregoing, each Revolving Lender hereby absolutely and unconditionally agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent, for the account of such Issuing Bank, such Lender’s Applicable Percentage of each LC Disbursement made by such Issuing Bank and not reimbursed by the Borrower on the date due as provided in paragraph (e) of this Section, or of any reimbursement payment required to be refunded to the Borrower for any reason. Each Revolving Lender acknowledges and agrees that its obligation to acquire participations pursuant to this paragraph in respect of Letters of Credit is absolute and unconditional and shall not be affected by any circumstance whatsoever, including any amendment, renewal or extension of any Letter of Credit or the occurrence and continuance of a Default or reduction or termination of the Commitments, and that each such payment shall be made without any offset, abatement, withholding or reduction whatsoever.

 

(e)            Reimbursement. If any Issuing Bank shall make any LC Disbursement in respect of a Letter of Credit, the Borrower shall reimburse such LC Disbursement by paying to the Administrative Agent an amount equal to such LC Disbursement not later than 11:00 a.m., Houston time, on the date that such LC Disbursement is made, if the Borrower shall have received notice of such LC Disbursement prior to 9:00 a.m., Houston time, on such date, or, if such notice has not been received by the Borrower prior to such time on such date, then not later than 11:00 a.m., Houston time, on (i) the Business Day that the Borrower receives such notice, if such notice is received prior to 9:00 a.m., Houston time, on the day of receipt, or (ii) the Business Day immediately following the day that the Borrower receives such notice, if such notice is not received prior to such time on the day of receipt; provided that, if such LC Disbursement is not less than $1,000,000, the Borrower may, subject to the conditions to borrowing set forth herein, request in accordance with Section 2.03 that such payment be financed with an ABR Revolving Borrowing in an equivalent amount and, to the extent so financed, the Borrower’s obligation to make such payment shall be discharged and replaced by the resulting ABR Revolving Borrowing. If the Borrower fails to make such payment when due, the Administrative Agent shall notify each Revolving Lender of the applicable LC Disbursement, the payment then due from the Borrower in respect thereof and such Lender’s Applicable Percentage thereof. Promptly following receipt of such notice, each Revolving Lender shall pay to the Administrative Agent its Applicable Percentage of the payment then due from the Borrower, in the same manner as provided in Section 2.06 with respect to Loans made by such Lender (and Section 2.06 shall apply, mutatis mutandis, to the payment obligations of the Revolving Lenders), and the Administrative Agent shall promptly pay to the applicable Issuing Bank the amounts so received by it from the Revolving Lenders. Promptly following receipt by the Administrative Agent of any payment from the Borrower pursuant to this paragraph, the Administrative Agent shall distribute such payment to the applicable Issuing Bank or, to the extent that Revolving Lenders have made payments pursuant to this paragraph to reimburse the applicable Issuing Bank, then to such Lenders and such Issuing Bank as their interests may appear. Any payment made by a Revolving Lender pursuant to this paragraph to reimburse an Issuing Bank for any LC Disbursement (other than the funding of ABR Revolving Loans as contemplated above) shall not constitute a Loan and shall not relieve the Borrower of its obligation to reimburse such LC Disbursement.

 

 

(f)            Obligations Absolute. The Borrower’s obligation to reimburse LC Disbursements as provided in paragraph (e) of this Section shall be absolute, unconditional and irrevocable, and shall be performed strictly in accordance with the terms of this Agreement under any and all circumstances whatsoever and irrespective of (i) any lack of validity or enforceability of any Letter of Credit or this Agreement, or any term or provision therein, (ii) any draft or other document presented under a Letter of Credit proving to be forged, fraudulent or invalid in any respect or any statement therein being untrue or inaccurate in any respect, (iii) payment by any Issuing Bank under a Letter of Credit against presentation of a draft or other document that does not comply with the terms of such Letter of Credit, or (iv) any other event or circumstance whatsoever, whether or not similar to any of the foregoing, that might, but for the provisions of this Section, constitute a legal or equitable discharge of, or provide a right of setoff against, the Borrower’s obligations hereunder. Neither the Administrative Agent, the Revolving Lenders nor any Issuing Bank, nor any of their Related Parties, shall have any liability or responsibility by reason of or in connection with the issuance or transfer of any Letter of Credit or any payment or failure to make any payment thereunder (irrespective of any of the circumstances referred to in the preceding sentence), or any error, omission, interruption, loss or delay in transmission or delivery of any draft, notice or other communication under or relating to any Letter of Credit (including any document required to make a drawing thereunder), any error in interpretation of technical terms or any consequence arising from causes beyond the control of such Issuing Bank; provided that the foregoing shall not be construed to excuse any Issuing Bank from liability to the Borrower to the extent of any direct damages (as opposed to special, indirect, consequential or punitive damages, claims in respect of which are hereby waived by the Borrower to the extent permitted by applicable law) suffered by the Borrower that are caused by such Issuing Bank’s failure to exercise care when determining whether drafts and other documents presented under a Letter of Credit comply with the terms thereof. The parties hereto expressly agree that, in the absence of negligence or willful misconduct on the part of any Issuing Bank (as finally determined by a court of competent jurisdiction), such Issuing Bank shall be deemed to have exercised care in each such determination. In furtherance of the foregoing and without limiting the generality thereof, the parties agree that, with respect to documents presented which appear on their face to be in substantial compliance with the terms of a Letter of Credit, each Issuing Bank may, in its sole discretion, either accept and make payment upon such documents without responsibility for further investigation, regardless of any notice or information to the contrary, or refuse to accept and make payment upon such documents if such documents are not in strict compliance with the terms of such Letter of Credit.

 

(g)           Disbursement Procedures. The applicable Issuing Bank shall, promptly following its receipt thereof, examine all documents purporting to represent a demand for payment under a Letter of Credit. Such Issuing Bank shall promptly notify the Administrative Agent and the Borrower by telephone (confirmed electronically or by telecopy) of such demand for payment and whether such Issuing Bank has made or will make an LC Disbursement thereunder; provided that any failure to give or delay in giving such notice shall not relieve the Borrower of its obligation to reimburse such Issuing Bank and the Revolving Lenders with respect to any such LC Disbursement.

 

(h)           Interim Interest. If any Issuing Bank shall make any LC Disbursement, then, unless the Borrower shall reimburse such LC Disbursement in full on the date such LC Disbursement is made, the unpaid amount thereof shall bear interest, for each day from and including the date such LC Disbursement is made to but excluding the date that the Borrower

 

 

reimburses such LC Disbursement, at the rate per annum then applicable to ABR Loans; provided that, if the Borrower fails to reimburse such LC Disbursement when due pursuant to paragraph (e) of this Section, then Section 2.13(d) shall apply. Interest accrued pursuant to this paragraph shall be for the account of such Issuing Bank, except that interest accrued on and after the date of payment by any Revolving Lender pursuant to paragraph (e) of this Section to reimburse such Issuing Bank shall be for the account of such Lender to the extent of such payment.

 

(i)             Replacement of the Issuing Bank.

 

(i)             Any Issuing Bank may be replaced at any time by written agreement among the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the replaced Issuing Bank and the successor Issuing Bank. The Administrative Agent shall notify the Revolving Lenders of any such replacement of any Issuing Bank. At the time any such replacement shall become effective, the Borrower shall pay all unpaid fees accrued for the account of the replaced Issuing Bank pursuant to Section 2.12(b). From and after the effective date of any such replacement, (x) the successor Issuing Bank shall have all the rights and obligations of an Issuing Bank under this Agreement with respect to Letters of Credit to be issued thereafter and (y) references herein to the term “Issuing Bank” shall be deemed to refer to such successor or to any previous Issuing Bank, or to such successor and all previous Issuing Banks, as the context shall require. After the replacement of an Issuing Bank hereunder, the replaced Issuing Bank shall remain a party hereto and shall continue to have all the rights and obligations of an Issuing Bank under this Agreement with respect to Letters of Credit issued by it prior to such replacement, but shall not be required to issue additional Letters of Credit.

 

(ii)            Subject to the appointment and acceptance of a successor Issuing Bank, any Issuing Bank may resign as an Issuing Bank at any time upon thirty days’ prior written notice to the Administrative Agent, the Borrower and the Lenders, in which case, such Issuing Bank shall be replaced in accordance with Section 2.05(i)(i) above.

 

(j)             Cash Collateralization. If any Event of Default shall occur and be continuing, on the Business Day that the Borrower receives notice from the Administrative Agent or the Revolving Lenders holding at least fifty percent (50%) of the Revolving Commitments (or, if the maturity of the Loans has been accelerated, Lenders with LC Exposure representing greater than 25% of the total LC Exposure) demanding the deposit of cash collateral pursuant to this paragraph, the Borrower shall deposit in an account with the Administrative Agent, in the name of the Administrative Agent and for the benefit of the Revolving Lenders, an amount in cash equal to the LC Exposure as of such date plus any accrued and unpaid interest thereon; provided that the obligation to deposit such cash collateral shall become effective immediately, and such deposit shall become immediately due and payable, without demand or other notice of any kind, upon the occurrence of any Event of Default with respect to the Borrower described in clause (h) or (i) of Article VII. Such deposit shall be held by the Administrative Agent as collateral for the payment and performance of the obligations of the Borrower under this Agreement. The Administrative Agent shall have exclusive dominion and control, including the exclusive right of withdrawal, over such account. Other than any interest earned on the investment of such deposits, which investments shall be made at the option and sole discretion of the Administrative Agent and at the Borrower’s risk and expense, such deposits shall not bear interest. Interest or profits, if any, on

 

 

such investments shall accumulate in such account. Moneys in such account shall be applied by the Administrative Agent to reimburse the applicable Issuing Bank for LC Disbursements for which it has not been reimbursed and, to the extent not so applied, shall be held for the satisfaction of the reimbursement obligations of the Borrower for the LC Exposure at such time or, if the maturity of the Loans has been accelerated (but subject to the consent of Lenders with LC Exposure representing greater than 25% of the total LC Exposure), be applied to satisfy other obligations of the Borrower to the Lenders under this Agreement. If the Borrower is required to provide an amount of cash collateral hereunder as a result of the occurrence of an Event of Default, such amount (to the extent not applied as aforesaid) shall be returned to the Borrower within three Business Days after all Events of Default have been cured or waived.

 

(k)            Existing Letters of Credit. The Existing Letters of Credit will for all purposes be considered Letters of Credit under this Agreement.

 

Section 2.06          Funding of Borrowings.

 

(a)            Each Lender shall make each Loan to be made by it hereunder on the proposed date thereof by wire transfer of immediately available funds by 2:00 p.m., Houston time, to the account of the Administrative Agent most recently designated by it for such purpose by notice to the Lenders. The Administrative Agent will make such Loans available to the Borrower by promptly crediting the amounts so received, in like funds, to an account of the Borrower maintained with the Administrative Agent in Houston and designated by the Borrower in the applicable Borrowing Request; provided that ABR Revolving Loans made to finance the reimbursement of an LC Disbursement as provided in Section 2.05(e) shall be remitted by the Administrative Agent to the applicable Issuing Bank.

 

(b)            Unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from a Lender prior to the proposed date of any Borrowing that such Lender will not make available to the Administrative Agent such Lender’s share of such Borrowing, the Administrative Agent may assume that such Lender has made such share available on such date in accordance with paragraph (a) of this Section and may, in reliance upon such assumption, make available to the Borrower a corresponding amount. In such event, if a Lender has not in fact made its share of the applicable Borrowing available to the Administrative Agent, then the applicable Lender and the Borrower severally agree to pay to the Administrative Agent forthwith on demand such corresponding amount with interest thereon, for each day from and including the date such amount is made available to the Borrower to but excluding the date of payment to the Administrative Agent, at (i) in the case of such Lender, the greater of the FRBNY Rate and a rate as reasonably determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation or (ii) in the case of the Borrower, the interest rate applicable to such Borrowing (without any obligation to pay any break funding payment under Section 2.16 in connection with such payment). If such Lender pays such amount to the Administrative Agent, then such amount shall constitute such Lender’s Loan included in such Borrowing. If the Borrower pays such amount to the Administrative Agent, it shall not relieve the defaulting Lender of its legal responsibility for its default.

 

Section 2.07          Interest Elections.

 

 

(a)            Each Borrowing initially shall be of the Type specified in the applicable Borrowing Request and, in the case of a Term Benchmark Borrowing, shall have an initial Interest Period as specified in such Borrowing Request. Thereafter, the Borrower may elect to convert such Borrowing to a different Type or to continue such Borrowing and, in the case of a Term Benchmark Borrowing, may elect Interest Periods therefor, all as provided in this Section. The Borrower may elect different options with respect to different portions of the affected Borrowing, in which case each such portion shall be allocated ratably among the Lenders holding the Loans comprising such Borrowing, and the Loans comprising each such portion shall be considered a separate Borrowing.

 

(b)            To make an election pursuant to this Section, the Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent of such election by electronic transmission of an Interest Election Request in a form approved by the Administrative Agent and signed by the Borrower by the time that a Borrowing Request would be required under Section 2.03 if the Borrower were requesting a Borrowing of the Type resulting from such election to be made on the effective date of such election. Each such Interest Election Request shall be irrevocable.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

(e)            If the Borrower fails to deliver a timely Interest Election Request with respect to a Term Benchmark Borrowing prior to the end of the Interest Period applicable thereto, then, unless such Borrowing is repaid as provided herein, at the end of such Interest Period such Borrowing shall be converted to an ABR Borrowing. Notwithstanding any contrary provision hereof, if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and the Administrative Agent, at the request of

 

 

the Required Revolving Lenders or the Required Term Loan Lenders (as applicable to the Revolving Loans or Term Loans, respectively), so notifies the Borrower, then, so long as an Event of Default is continuing (i) no outstanding Borrowing may be converted to or continued as a Term Benchmark Borrowing and (ii) unless repaid, each Term Benchmark Borrowing shall be converted to an ABR Borrowing at the end of the Interest Period applicable thereto.

 

Section 2.08          Termination and Reduction of Commitments.

 

(a)            Unless previously terminated, the Revolving Commitments shall automatically terminate on the Maturity Date. The Term Loan Commitments shall automatically terminate at 5:00 p.m., Houston time, on the Effective Date.

 

(b)            The Borrower may at any time terminate, or from time to time reduce, the Revolving Commitments; provided that (i) each reduction of the Revolving Commitments shall be in an amount that is an integral multiple of $1,000,000 and not less than $5,000,000 and (ii) the Borrower shall not terminate or reduce the Revolving Commitments if, after giving effect to any concurrent prepayment of the Revolving Loans in accordance with Section 2.10, the Revolving Credit Exposure would exceed the total Revolving Commitments; provided that for purposes of this paragraph, the LC Exposure shall be deemed to be zero if there exists either cash collateral equal to 105% of the LC Exposure or one or more back-up letters of credit for the benefit of each applicable Issuing Bank in form and substance and issued by issuer(s) satisfactory to each such Issuing Bank in its sole discretion. Upon the provision of such cash collateral or back-up letters of credit and the payment in full of all Obligations, then the Revolving Lenders shall be released from their obligations under Section 2.05(d), and all letter of credit fees accruing after the termination of the Revolving Commitments shall be for the account of the applicable Issuing Banks.

 

(c)            The Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent of any election to terminate or reduce the Revolving Commitments under paragraph (b) of this Section at least three (3) Business Days prior to the effective date of such termination or reduction, specifying such election and the effective date thereof. Promptly following receipt of any notice, the Administrative Agent shall advise the Revolving Lenders of the contents thereof. Each notice delivered by the Borrower pursuant to this Section shall be irrevocable; provided that a notice of termination of the Revolving Commitments delivered by the Borrower may state that such notice is conditioned upon the effectiveness of other credit facilities, in which case such notice may be revoked by the Borrower (by notice to the Administrative Agent on or prior to the specified effective date) if such condition is not satisfied. Any termination or reduction of the Revolving Commitments shall be permanent. Each reduction of the Revolving Commitments shall be made ratably among the Revolving Lenders in accordance with their respective Revolving Commitments.

 

Section 2.09          Repayment of Loans; Evidence of Debt.

 

(a)            The Borrower hereby unconditionally promises to pay (i) to the Administrative Agent for the account of each Revolving Lender the then-unpaid principal amount of each Revolving Loan on the Maturity Date and (ii) to the Administrative Agent for the account of each Term Loan Lender calendar quarterly installments payable on the last day of each March, June, September and December commencing on March 31, 2023 as follows: (A) for the calendar quarter

 

 

ended March 31, 2023 and the next three calendar quarters thereafter, an aggregate principal amount for such four (4) quarter period equal to 2.5% of the original aggregate principal amount of the Term Loans, (B) for the calendar quarter ended March 31, 2024 and the next three calendar quarters thereafter, an aggregate principal amount for such four (4) quarter period equal to 2.5% of the original aggregate principal amount of the Term Loans, (C) for the calendar quarter ended March 31, 2025 and the next three calendar quarters thereafter, an aggregate principal amount for such four (4) quarter period equal to 2.5% of the original aggregate principal amount of the Term Loans, (D) for the calendar quarter ended March 31, 2026 and the next three calendar quarters thereafter, an aggregate principal amount for such four (4) quarter period equal to 5.0% of the original aggregate principal amount of the Term Loans and (E) for the calendar quarter ended March 31, 2027 and for each calendar quarter thereafter to the Maturity Date, an aggregate principal amount for such period equal to 7.5% of the original aggregate principal amount of the Term Loans and (F) the then-unpaid principal amount of the Term Loans on the Maturity Date. In the event Incremental Term Loans are advanced pursuant to Section 2.20, the original principal amount of such Incremental Term Loans shall be payable, and the Borrower hereby unconditionally promises to pay such Incremental Term Loans, in quarterly installments payable on the last day of each calendar quarter, commencing on the last day of the first full calendar quarter after the date on which such Incremental Term Loans are advanced, in the same percentage amounts set forth above (expressed as a percentage of the original principal amount of such Incremental Term Loans), as if such Incremental Term Loans had been advanced on the Effective Date, with the then-unpaid principal amount of such Incremental Term Loans payable on the Maturity Date.

 

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

 

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

 

(d)           The entries made in the accounts maintained pursuant to paragraph (b) or (c) of this Section shall be prima facie evidence of the existence and amounts of the obligations recorded therein; provided that the failure of any Lender or the Administrative Agent to maintain such accounts or any error therein shall not in any manner affect the obligation of the Borrower to repay the Loans in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.

 

(e)           Any Lender may request that Loans made by it be evidenced by a Note. In such event, the Borrower shall prepare, execute and deliver to such Lender a Note payable to such Lender (or, if requested by such Lender, to such Lender and its registered assigns). Thereafter, the Loans evidenced by such promissory note and interest thereon shall at all times (including after assignment pursuant to Section 9.04) be represented by one or more promissory notes in such form.

 

 

Section 2.10          Optional Prepayment of Loans.

 

(a)           The Borrower shall have the right at any time and from time to time to prepay any Borrowing in whole or in part without premium or penalty (but subject to Section 2.16) in minimum amounts equal to $5,000,000 and in integral multiples of $1,000,000 in excess thereof (or, if less, in the amount of the then-outstanding principal amount of such Borrowing), subject to prior notice in accordance with paragraph (b) of this Section.

 

(b)           The Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent by electronic transmission of any prepayment hereunder (i) in the case of prepayment of a Term Benchmark Borrowing, not later than 11:00 a.m., Houston time, three Business Days before the date of prepayment or (ii) in the case of prepayment of an ABR Borrowing, not later than 11:00 a.m., Houston time, one Business Day before the date of prepayment. Each such notice shall be irrevocable and shall specify the prepayment date and the principal amount of each Borrowing or portion thereof to be prepaid; provided that, if a notice of prepayment is given in connection with a conditional notice of termination of the Revolving Commitments as contemplated by Section 2.08, then such notice of prepayment may be revoked if such notice of termination is revoked in accordance with Section 2.08. Promptly following receipt of any such notice, the Administrative Agent shall advise the applicable Lenders of the contents thereof. Each prepayment of a Borrowing shall be applied ratably to the Loans included in the prepaid Borrowing. Prepayments of the Term Loans made pursuant to this Section 2.10 shall be applied to reduce pro rata as among the Term Loans the remaining scheduled principal installments of the Term Loans pursuant to Section 2.09(a)(ii) in such order as may be directed by the Borrower (or, in the absence of such direction, in direct order of maturity). Prepayments shall be accompanied by accrued interest to the extent required by Section 2.13.

 

Section 2.11          Mandatory Prepayment of Term Loans.

 

(a)           If the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries receives Net Cash Proceeds from a Non-Ordinary Course Disposition and the pro forma Leverage Ratio, after giving effect to such Non-Ordinary Course Disposition (and all other appropriate pro forma events), but excluding the proceeds of such Non-Ordinary Course Disposition for the purposes of netting cash on hand in the foregoing calculation of the Leverage Ratio, is equal to or greater than 4.00 to 1.00, the Borrower shall prepay the Term Loans, within fifteen (15) Business Days following the receipt thereof, in an amount equal to 100% of such Net Cash Proceeds; provided that, if the pro forma Leverage Ratio, after giving effect to such Non-Ordinary Course Disposition (and all other appropriate pro forma events), but excluding the proceeds of such Non-Ordinary Course Disposition for the purposes of netting cash on hand in the foregoing calculation of the Leverage Ratio, is less than or equal to 5.00 to 1.00 and no Event of Default exists, the Borrower shall be permitted to reinvest such Net Cash Proceeds to repair, replace or restore the assets disposed of pursuant to such Non-Ordinary Course Disposition or reinvest such Net Cash Proceeds in productive assets or properties or otherwise in the business of the Borrower or its Subsidiaries (collectively, the “Reinvestment”) within one year after receipt of such Net Cash Proceeds, in which case, the Borrower shall give the Administrative Agent written notice (the “Reinvestment Notice”) thereof within fifteen (15) Business Days following the receipt of such Net Cash Proceeds. If the Borrower elects to use Net Cash Proceeds for Reinvestment pursuant to the immediately preceding sentence, within one year following the date of the Reinvestment Notice (the “Reinvestment Period”), the Borrower shall

 

 

provide evidence reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent that such Reinvestment has been completed on or before the end of the Reinvestment Period and, to the extent such Reinvestment has not been completed, the Borrower shall prepay the Term Loans in an amount equal to the amount of such Net Cash Proceeds not used for such Reinvestment. For the avoidance of doubt, if the pro forma Leverage Ratio, after giving effect to such Non-Ordinary Course Disposition (and all other appropriate pro forma events), but excluding the proceeds of such Non-Ordinary Course Disposition for the purposes of netting cash on hand in the foregoing calculation of the Leverage Ratio, is less than 4.00 to 1.00, no prepayments under this Section 2.11 shall be required.

 

(b)           If the Borrower or any Subsidiary issues or incurs any Indebtedness (other than Indebtedness permitted under Section 6.01), the Borrower shall prepay the Term Loans on date of such issuance or incurrence in an amount equal to 100% of the Net Cash Proceeds thereof.

 

(c)           Prepayments of the Term Loans made pursuant to this Section 2.11 shall be applied to reduce pro rata as among the Term Loans the remaining scheduled principal installments of the Term Loans pursuant to Section 2.09(a)(ii) in reverse order of maturity.

 

Section 2.12         Fees.

 

(a)           The Borrower agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of each Revolving Lender a commitment fee, which shall accrue at the Commitment Fee Rate described in the definition of “Applicable Margin” on the daily undrawn amount of the Revolving Commitment of such Lender during the period from and including the Effective Date to but excluding the date on which such Revolving Commitment terminates. For purposes of calculating commitment fees, the face amount of any outstanding Letters of Credit shall be considered to be drawn under the Revolving Commitments. Accrued commitment fees in respect of the Revolving Commitments shall be payable in arrears on the last day of March, June, September and December of each year and on the date on which the Revolving Commitments terminate, commencing on the first such date to occur after the Effective Date. All commitment fees shall be computed on the basis of a year of 360 days and shall be payable for the actual number of days elapsed (including the first day but excluding the last day).

 

(b)           The Borrower agrees to pay (i) to the Administrative Agent for the account of each Revolving Lender a participation fee with respect to its participations in Letters of Credit, which shall accrue at the same Applicable Margin used to determine the interest rate applicable to Term Benchmark Loans on the average daily amount of such Lender’s LC Exposure (excluding any portion thereof attributable to unreimbursed LC Disbursements) during the period from and including the Effective Date to but excluding the later of the date on which such Lender’s Revolving Commitment terminates and the date on which such Lender ceases to have any LC Exposure, and (ii) to each Issuing Bank a fronting fee, which shall accrue at the rate of 0.125% per annum on the average daily amount of the LC Exposure (excluding any portion thereof attributable to unreimbursed LC Disbursements) of such Issuing Bank during the period from and including the Effective Date to but excluding the later of the date of termination of the Revolving Commitments and the date on which there ceases to be any LC Exposure, as well as such Issuing Bank’s standard fees with respect to the issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of any Letter of Credit or processing of drawings thereunder. Participation fees and fronting fees accrued

 

 

through and including the last day of March, June, September and December of each year shall be payable on the third Business Day following such last day, commencing on the first such date to occur after the Effective Date; provided that all such fees shall be payable on the date on which the Revolving Commitments terminate and any such fees accruing after the date on which the Revolving Commitments terminate shall be payable on demand. Any other fees payable to the Issuing Banks pursuant to this paragraph shall be payable within 10 days after demand. All participation fees and fronting fees shall be computed on the basis of a year of 360 days and shall be payable for the actual number of days elapsed (including the first day but excluding the last day).

 

(c)            The Borrower agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent, for its own account, fees payable in the amounts and at the times separately agreed upon between the Borrower and the Administrative Agent.

 

(d)            All fees payable hereunder shall be paid on the dates due, in immediately available funds, to the Administrative Agent (or to each Issuing Bank, in the case of fees payable to it) for distribution, in the case of commitment fees and participation fees, to the Lenders. Fees paid shall not be refundable under any circumstances.

 

Section 2.13          Interest.

 

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

 

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

 

(c)            Each RFR Loan shall bear interest at a rate per annum equal to the Adjusted Daily Simple SOFR plus the Applicable Margin.

 

(d)            Notwithstanding the foregoing, if any principal of or interest on any Loan or any fee or other amount payable by the Borrower hereunder is not paid when due, whether at stated maturity, upon acceleration or otherwise, such overdue amount shall bear interest, after as well as before judgment, at a rate per annum equal to (i) in the case of overdue principal of any Loan, 2.0% plus the rate otherwise applicable to such Loan as provided in the preceding paragraphs of this Section or (ii) in the case of any other amount, 2.0% plus the rate applicable to ABR Loans as provided in paragraph (a) of this Section.

 

(e)            Accrued interest on each Loan shall be payable in arrears on each Interest Payment Date for such Loan and, in the case of Revolving Loans, upon termination of the Revolving Commitments; provided that (i) interest accrued pursuant to paragraph (d) of this Section shall be payable on demand, (ii) in the event of any repayment or prepayment of any Loan (other than a prepayment of an ABR Revolving Loan prior to the end of the Revolving Availability Period), accrued interest on the principal amount repaid or prepaid shall be payable on the date of such repayment or prepayment and (iii) in the event of any conversion of any Term Benchmark Loan prior to the end of the current Interest Period therefor, accrued interest on such Loan shall be payable on the effective date of such conversion.

 

 

(f)             Interest computed by reference to the Term SOFR Rate or Daily Simple SOFR and the Alternate Base Rate hereunder shall be computed on the basis of a year of 360 days. Interest computed by reference to the Alternate Base Rate only at times when the Alternate Base Rate is based on the Prime Rate shall be computed on the basis of a year of 365 days (or 366 days in a leap year). In each case interest shall be payable for the actual number of days elapsed (including the first day but excluding the last day). All interest hereunder on any Loan shall be computed on a daily basis based upon the outstanding principal amount of such Loan as of the applicable date of determination. A determination of the applicable Alternate Base Rate, Adjusted Term SOFR Rate, Term SOFR Rate, Adjusted Daily Simple SOFR or Daily Simple SOFR shall be determined by the Administrative Agent, and such determination shall be conclusive absent manifest error.

 

Section 2.14          Alternate Rate of Interest.

 

(a)            Subject to clauses (b), (c), (d), (e) and (f) of this Section 2.14, if:

 

(i)             the Administrative Agent determines (which determination shall be conclusive absent manifest error) (A) prior to the commencement of any Interest Period for a Term Benchmark Borrowing, that adequate and reasonable means do not exist for ascertaining the Adjusted Term SOFR Rate (including because the Term SOFR Reference Rate is not available or published on a current basis), for such Interest Period or (B) at any time, that adequate and reasonable means do not exist for ascertaining the applicable Adjusted Daily Simple SOFR; or

 

(ii)            the Administrative Agent is advised by the Required Lenders that (A) prior to the commencement of any Interest Period for a Term Benchmark Borrowing, the Adjusted Term SOFR Rate for such Interest Period will not adequately and fairly reflect the cost to such Lenders (or Lender) of making or maintaining their Loans (or its Loan) included in such Borrowing for such Interest Period or (B) at any time, Adjusted Daily Simple SOFR will not adequately and fairly reflect the cost to such Lenders (or Lender) of making or maintaining their Loans (or its Loan) included in such Borrowing,

 

then the Administrative Agent shall give notice thereof to the Borrower and the Lenders by telephone or electronic mail as promptly as practicable thereafter and, until (x) the Administrative Agent notifies the Borrower and the Lenders that the circumstances giving rise to such notice no longer exist with respect to the relevant Benchmark and (y) the Borrower delivers a new Interest Election Request in accordance with the terms of Section 2.07 or a new Borrowing Request in accordance with the terms of Section 2.03, (i) the Borrower may revoke any pending request for a borrowing of, conversion to or continuation of Term Benchmark Borrowings (to the extent of the affected Term Benchmark Borrowings or affected Interest Periods) or (ii) any Interest Election Request that requests the conversion of any Borrowing to, or continuation of any Borrowing as, a Term Benchmark Borrowing and any Borrowing Request that requests a Term Benchmark Borrowing shall instead be deemed to be an Interest Election Request or a Borrowing Request, as applicable, for (x) an RFR Borrowing so long as the Adjusted Daily Simple SOFR is not also the subject of Section 2.14(a)(i) or (ii) above or (y) an ABR Borrowing if the Adjusted Daily Simple SOFR also is the subject of Section 2.14(a)(i) or (ii) above; provided that if the circumstances giving rise to such notice affect only one Type of Borrowings, then all other Types of Borrowings shall be permitted. Furthermore, if any Term Benchmark Loan is outstanding on the date of the

 

 

Borrower’s receipt of the notice from the Administrative Agent referred to in this Section 2.14(a) with respect to a Relevant Rate applicable to such Term Benchmark Loan, then until (x) the Administrative Agent notifies the Borrower and the Lenders that the circumstances giving rise to such notice no longer exist with respect to the relevant Benchmark and (y) the Borrower delivers a new Interest Election Request in accordance with the terms of Section 2.07 or a new Borrowing Request in accordance with the terms of Section 2.03, any Term Benchmark Loan shall on the last day of the Interest Period applicable to such Loan (or the next succeeding Business Day if such day is not a Business Day), be converted by the Administrative Agent to, and shall constitute, (x) an RFR Borrowing so long as the Adjusted Daily Simple SOFR is not also the subject of Section 2.14(a)(i) or (ii) above or (y) an ABR Loan if the Adjusted Daily Simple SOFR also is the subject of Section 2.14(a)(i) or (ii) above, on such day.

 

(b)            Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein or in any other Loan Document, if a Benchmark Transition Event and its related Benchmark Replacement Date have occurred prior to the Reference Time in respect of any setting of the then-current Benchmark, then (x) if a Benchmark Replacement is determined in accordance with clause (1) of the definition of “Benchmark Replacement” for such Benchmark Replacement Date, such Benchmark Replacement will replace such Benchmark for all purposes hereunder and under any Loan Document in respect of such Benchmark setting and subsequent Benchmark settings without any amendment to, or further action or consent of any other party to, this Agreement or any other Loan Document and (y) if a Benchmark Replacement is determined in accordance with clause (2) of the definition of “Benchmark Replacement” for such Benchmark Replacement Date, such Benchmark Replacement will replace such Benchmark for all purposes hereunder and under any Loan Document in respect of any Benchmark setting at or after 5:00 p.m. (New York City time) on the fifth (5th) Business Day after the date notice of such Benchmark Replacement is provided to the Lenders without any amendment to, or further action or consent of any other party to, this Agreement or any other Loan Document so long as the Administrative Agent has not received, by such time, written notice of objection to such Benchmark Replacement from Lenders comprising the Required Lenders.

 

(c)            Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein or in any other Loan Document, the Administrative Agent will have the right to make Benchmark Replacement Conforming Changes from time to time and, notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein or in any other Loan Document, any amendments implementing such Benchmark Replacement Conforming Changes will become effective without any further action or consent of any other party to this Agreement or any other Loan Document.

 

(d)            The Administrative Agent will promptly notify the Borrower and the Lenders of (i) any occurrence of a Benchmark Transition Event, (ii) the implementation of any Benchmark Replacement, (iii) the effectiveness of any Benchmark Replacement Conforming Changes, (iv) the removal or reinstatement of any tenor of a Benchmark pursuant to clause (e) below and (v) the commencement or conclusion of any Benchmark Unavailability Period. Any determination, decision or election that may be made by the Administrative Agent or, if applicable, any Lender (or group of Lenders) pursuant to this Section 2.14, including any determination with respect to a tenor, rate or adjustment or of the occurrence or non-occurrence of an event, circumstance or date and any decision to take or refrain from taking any action or any selection, will be conclusive and binding absent manifest error and may be made in its or their sole discretion

 

 

and without consent from any other party to this Agreement or any other Loan Document, except, in each case, as expressly required pursuant to this Section 2.14.

 

(e)            Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein or in any other Loan Document, at any time (including in connection with the implementation of a Benchmark Replacement), (i) if the then-current Benchmark is a term rate (including the Term SOFR Rate) and either (A) any tenor for such Benchmark is not displayed on a screen or other information service that publishes such rate from time to time as selected by the Administrative Agent in its reasonable discretion or (B) the regulatory supervisor for the administrator of such Benchmark has provided a public statement or publication of information announcing that any tenor for such Benchmark is or will be no longer representative, then the Administrative Agent may modify the definition of “Interest Period” for any Benchmark settings at or after such time to remove such unavailable or non-representative tenor and (ii) if a tenor that was removed pursuant to clause (i) above either (A) is subsequently displayed on a screen or information service for a Benchmark (including a Benchmark Replacement) or (B) is not, or is no longer, subject to an announcement that it is or will no longer be representative for a Benchmark (including a Benchmark Replacement), then the Administrative Agent may modify the definition of “Interest Period” for all Benchmark settings at or after such time to reinstate such previously removed tenor.

 

(f)             Upon the Borrower’s receipt of notice of the commencement of a Benchmark Unavailability Period, the Borrower may revoke any request for a Term Benchmark Borrowing of, conversion to or continuation of Term Benchmark Loans to be made, converted or continued during any Benchmark Unavailability Period and, failing that, the Borrower will be deemed to have converted any request for a Term Benchmark Borrowing into a request for a Borrowing of or conversion to (i) an RFR Borrowing so long as the Adjusted Daily Simple SOFR is not the subject of a Benchmark Transition Event or (ii) an ABR Borrowing if the Adjusted Daily Simple SOFR is the subject of a Benchmark Transition Event. During any Benchmark Unavailability Period or at any time that a tenor for the then-current Benchmark is not an Available Tenor, the component of ABR based upon the then-current Benchmark or such tenor for such Benchmark, as applicable, will not be used in any determination of ABR. Furthermore, if any Term Benchmark Loan is outstanding on the date of the Borrower’s receipt of notice of the commencement of a Benchmark Unavailability Period with respect to a Relevant Rate applicable to such Term Benchmark Loan, then until such time as a Benchmark Replacement is implemented pursuant to this Section 2.14, any Term Benchmark Loan shall on the last day of the Interest Period applicable to such Loan (or the next succeeding Business Day if such day is not a Business Day), be converted by the Administrative Agent to, and shall constitute, (x) an RFR Borrowing so long as the Adjusted Daily Simple SOFR is not the subject of a Benchmark Transition Event or (y) an ABR Loan if the Adjusted Daily Simple SOFR is the subject of a Benchmark Transition Event, on such day.

 

Section 2.15          Increased Costs.

 

(a)            If any Change in Law shall:

 

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

 

 

(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 Issuing Bank or the applicable offshore interbank market any other condition, cost or expense (other than Taxes) affecting this Agreement or Loans made by such Lender or any Letter of Credit or participation therein;

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

(d)            Failure or delay on the part of any Lender or any Issuing Bank to demand compensation pursuant to this Section shall not constitute a waiver of such Lender’s or such Issuing Bank’s right to demand such compensation; provided that the Borrower shall not be required to compensate a Lender or Issuing Bank pursuant to this Section for any increased costs or reductions incurred more than one hundred eighty (180) days prior to the date that such Lender or such Issuing Bank, as the case may be, notifies the Borrower of the Change in Law giving rise to such increased costs or reductions and of such Lender’s or such Issuing Bank’s intention to

 

 

claim compensation therefor; provided further that, if the Change in Law giving rise to such increased costs or reductions is retroactive, then the 180-day period referred to above shall be extended to include the period of retroactive effect thereof.

 

Section 2.16          Break Funding Payments.

 

(a)            With respect to Loans that are not RFR Loans, in the event of (i) the payment of any principal of any Term Benchmark Loan other than on the last day of an Interest Period applicable thereto (including as a result of an Event of Default or an optional or mandatory prepayment of Loans), (ii) the conversion of any Term Benchmark Loan other than on the last day of the Interest Period applicable thereto, (iii) the failure to borrow, convert, continue or prepay any Term Benchmark Loan on the date specified in any notice delivered pursuant hereto (regardless of whether such notice may be revoked under Section 2.10(b) and is revoked in accordance therewith), or (iv) the assignment of any Term Benchmark Loan other than on the last day of the Interest Period applicable thereto as a result of a request by the Borrower pursuant to Section 2.19, then, in any such event, the Borrower shall compensate each Lender for the loss, cost and expense attributable to such event (if any). A certificate of any Lender setting forth any amount or amounts that such Lender is entitled to receive pursuant to this Section shall be delivered to the Borrower and shall be conclusive absent manifest error. The Borrower shall pay such Lender the amount shown as due on any such certificate within 10 days after receipt thereof.

 

(b)            With respect to RFR Loans, in the event of (i) the payment of any principal of any RFR Loan other than on the Interest Payment Date applicable thereto (including as a result of an Event of Default or an optional or mandatory prepayment of Loans), (ii) the failure to borrow or prepay any RFR Loan on the date specified in any notice delivered pursuant hereto (regardless of whether such notice may be revoked under ‎Section 2.10(b) and is revoked in accordance therewith) or (iii) the assignment of any RFR Loan other than on the Interest Payment Date applicable thereto as a result of a request by the Borrower pursuant to ‎Section 2.19, then, in any such event, the Borrower shall compensate each Lender for the loss, cost and expense attributable to such event (if any). A certificate of any Lender setting forth any amount or amounts that such Lender is entitled to receive pursuant to this Section shall be delivered to the Borrower and shall be conclusive absent manifest error. The Borrower shall pay such Lender the amount shown as due on any such certificate within 10 days after receipt thereof.

 

Section 2.17          Taxes.

 

(a)            For purposes of this Section 2.17, the term “Lender” includes each Issuing Bank and the term “applicable law” includes FATCA.

 

(b)            Any and all payments by or on account of any obligation of the Borrower hereunder 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 applicable Loan Party shall be increased as necessary so that after

 

 

such deduction or withholding for Indemnified Tax has been made (including such deductions and withholdings applicable to additional sums payable under this Section) the applicable Recipient receives an amount equal to the sum it would have received had no such deduction or withholding for Indemnified Tax been made.

 

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

 

(e)            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 Borrower has not already indemnified the Administrative Agent for such Indemnified Taxes and without limiting the obligation of the Borrower to do so), (ii) any Taxes attributable to such Lender’s failure to comply with the provisions of Section 9.04(c) 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 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 paragraph (e).

 

(f)             As soon as practicable after any payment of Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes by the Borrower to a Governmental Authority, the Borrower shall deliver to the Administrative Agent the original or a certified copy of a receipt issued by such Governmental Authority evidencing such payment, a copy of the return reporting such payment or other evidence of such payment reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

 

(g)            (i) Any Lender that is entitled to an exemption from or reduction of withholding Tax with respect to payments under this Agreement shall deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent, at the time or times reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, such properly completed and executed documentation reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent as will permit such payments to be made without withholding or at a reduced rate of withholding. In addition, any Lender, if reasonably requested

 

 

by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, shall deliver such other documentation prescribed by applicable law or reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent as will enable the Borrower or the Administrative Agent to determine whether or not such Lender is subject to backup withholding or information reporting requirements. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the preceding two sentences, the completion, execution and submission of such documentation (other than such documentation set forth in Section 2.17(g)(ii)(A), (ii)(B) and (ii)(D) below) shall not be required if in the Lender’s reasonable judgment such completion, execution or submission would subject such Lender to any material unreimbursed cost or expense or would materially prejudice the legal or commercial position of such Lender.

 

(ii)            Without limiting the generality of the foregoing,

 

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

 

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

 

(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, an executed copy of IRS Form W-8BEN or IRS Form W-8BEN-E (or applicable successor form) 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 (or applicable successor form) 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)            an executed copy 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 2.17A to the effect that such Foreign Lender is not a “bank” within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Code, a “10 percent shareholder” of the Borrower within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(B) of the Code, or a “controlled foreign corporation” described in Section 881(c)(3)(C) of the Code (a “U.S. Tax Compliance

 

 

Certificate”) and (y) an executed copy of IRS Form W-8BEN or IRS Form W-8BEN-E (or applicable successor form); or

 

(4)            to the extent a Foreign Lender is not the beneficial owner, an executed copy of IRS Form W-8IMY, accompanied by IRS Form W-8ECI, IRS Form W-8BEN or IRS Form W-8BEN-E (or applicable successor form), a U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit 2.17B or Exhibit 2.17C, 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 2.17D on behalf of each such direct and indirect partner;

 

(C)           any Foreign Lender shall, to the extent it is legally entitled to do so, deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent (in such number of copies as shall be requested by the recipient) on or prior to the date on which such Foreign Lender becomes a Lender under this Agreement (and from time to time thereafter upon the reasonable request of the Borrower or the Administrative Agent), executed 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 Borrower or the Administrative Agent to determine the withholding or deduction required to be made; and

 

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

 

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

 

(h)            If a party determines, in its sole discretion exercised in good faith, that it has received a refund of any Taxes as to which it has been indemnified pursuant to this Section 2.17

 

 

(including by the payment of additional amounts pursuant to this Section 2.17), it shall pay to the indemnifying party an amount equal to such refund (but only to the extent of indemnity payments made under this Section 2.17 with respect to 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 paragraph (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 paragraph (h), in no event will the indemnified party be required to pay any amount to an indemnifying party pursuant to this paragraph (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)             Each party’s obligations under this Section 2.17 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.

 

Section 2.18          Payments Generally; Pro Rata Treatment; Sharing of Set-offs.

 

(a)            The Borrower shall make each payment required to be made by it hereunder (whether of principal, interest, fees or reimbursement of LC Disbursements, or of amounts payable under Section 2.15, Section 2.16 or Section 2.17, or otherwise) prior to 12:00 noon, Houston time, on the date when due, in immediately available funds, without set off or counterclaim. Any amounts received after such time on any date may, in the discretion of the Administrative Agent, be deemed to have been received on the next succeeding Business Day for purposes of calculating interest thereon. All such payments shall be made to the Administrative Agent at its offices at 712 Main Street, Houston, Texas, except payments to be made directly to an Issuing Bank as expressly provided herein and except that payments pursuant to Section 2.15, Section 2.16 or Section 2.17 and Section 9.03 shall be made directly to the Persons entitled thereto. The Administrative Agent shall distribute any such payments received by it for the account of any other Person to the appropriate recipient promptly following receipt thereof. If any payment hereunder shall be due on a day that is not a Business Day, the date for payment shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day, and, in the case of any payment accruing interest, interest thereon shall be payable for the period of such extension. All payments hereunder shall be made in dollars.

 

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

 

 

LC Disbursements then due hereunder, ratably among the parties entitled thereto in accordance with the amounts of principal and unreimbursed LC Disbursements then due to such parties.

 

(c)            If any Lender shall, by exercising any right of set off or counterclaim or otherwise, obtain payment in respect of any principal of or interest on any of its Loans or participations in LC Disbursements resulting in such Lender receiving payment of a greater proportion of the aggregate amount of its Loans and participations in LC Disbursements and accrued interest thereon than the proportion received by any other Lender, then the Lender receiving such greater proportion shall purchase (for cash at face value) participations in the Loans and participations in LC Disbursements of other Lenders to the extent necessary so that the benefit of all such payments shall be shared by the Lenders ratably in accordance with the aggregate amount of principal of and accrued interest on their respective Loans and participations in LC Disbursements; provided that (i) if any such participations are purchased and all or any portion of the payment giving rise thereto is recovered, such participations shall be rescinded and the purchase price restored to the extent of such recovery, without interest, and (ii) the provisions of this paragraph shall not be construed to apply to any payment made by the Borrower pursuant to and in accordance with the express terms of this Agreement or any payment obtained by a Lender as consideration for the assignment of or sale of a participation in any of its Loans or participations in LC Disbursements to any assignee or participant, other than to the Borrower or any Subsidiary or Affiliate thereof (as to which the provisions of this paragraph shall apply). The Borrower consents to the foregoing and agrees, to the extent it may effectively do so under applicable law, that any Lender acquiring a participation pursuant to the foregoing arrangements may exercise against the Borrower rights of set-off and counterclaim with respect to such participation as fully as if such Lender were a direct creditor of the Borrower in the amount of such participation.

 

(d)            Unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from the Borrower prior to the date on which any payment is due to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Lenders or the Issuing Banks hereunder that the Borrower will not make such payment, the Administrative Agent may assume that the Borrower has made such payment on such date in accordance herewith and may, in reliance upon such assumption, distribute to the Lenders or the Issuing Banks, as the case may be, the amount due. In such event, if the Borrower has not in fact made such payment, then each of the Lenders or the applicable Issuing Banks, as the case may be, severally agrees to repay to the Administrative Agent forthwith on demand the amount so distributed to such Lender or such Issuing Bank with interest thereon, for each day from and including the date such amount is distributed to it to but excluding the date of payment to the Administrative Agent, at the FRBNY Rate.

 

(e)            If any Lender shall fail to make any payment required to be made by it pursuant to Section 2.05(d), Section 2.05(e), Section 2.06(b), Section 2.18(d), or Section 9.03(d) then the Administrative Agent may, in its discretion and notwithstanding any contrary provision hereof, (i) apply any amounts thereafter received by the Administrative Agent for the account of such Lender and for the benefit of the Administrative Agent or the applicable Issuing Bank to satisfy such Lender’s obligations under such Sections until all such unsatisfied obligations are fully paid, and/or (ii) hold any such amounts in a segregated account as cash collateral for, and application to, any future funding obligations of such Lender under such Sections; in the case of each of (i) and (ii) above, in any order as determined by the Administrative Agent in its discretion.

 

 

Section 2.19          Mitigation Obligations; Replacement of Lenders.

 

(a)            If any Lender requests compensation under Section 2.15, or requires the Borrower to pay any Indemnified Taxes or additional amounts to any Lender or any Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender pursuant to Section 2.17, then such Lender shall (at the request of the Borrower) use reasonable efforts to designate a different lending office for funding or booking its Loans hereunder or to assign its rights and obligations hereunder to another of its offices, branches or affiliates, if, in the judgment of such Lender, such designation or assignment (i) would eliminate or reduce amounts payable pursuant to Section 2.15 or Section 2.17, as the case may be, in the future and (ii) would not subject such Lender to any unreimbursed cost or expense and would not otherwise be disadvantageous to such Lender. The Borrower hereby agrees to pay all reasonable costs and expenses incurred by any Lender in connection with any such designation or assignment.

 

(b)            If any Lender requests compensation under Section 2.15, or if the Borrower is required to pay any Indemnified Taxes or additional amounts to any Lender or any Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender pursuant to Section 2.17, and, in each case, such Lender has declined or is unable to designate a different lending office in accordance with Section 2.19(a), or if any Lender becomes a Defaulting Lender or a Non-Consenting Lender, or if any Lender delivers a notice of illegality pursuant to Section 2.23, then the Borrower may, at its sole expense and effort, upon notice to such Lender and the Administrative Agent, require such Lender to assign and delegate, without recourse (in accordance with and subject to the restrictions contained in Section 9.04), all its interests, rights (other than its existing rights to payments pursuant to Section 2.15 or Section 2.17) and obligations under this Agreement to an assignee that shall assume such obligations (which assignee may be another Lender, if a Lender accepts such assignment); provided that (i) the Borrower shall have received such consents, if any, as may be required under Section 9.04, which consents shall not unreasonably be withheld, (ii) such Lender shall have received payment of an amount equal to the outstanding principal of its Loans and participations in LC Disbursements, accrued interest thereon, accrued fees and all other amounts payable to it hereunder, from the assignee (to the extent of such outstanding principal and accrued interest and fees) or the Borrower (in the case of all other amounts), (iii) in the case of any such assignment resulting from a claim for compensation under Section 2.15 or payments required to be made pursuant to Section 2.17, such assignment will result in a reduction in such compensation or payments in the future, (iv) such assignment does not conflict with applicable law, and (v) in the case of any assignment resulting from a Lender becoming a Non-Consenting Lender, the applicable assignee shall have consented to the applicable amendment, waiver or consent. A Lender shall not be required to make any such assignment and delegation if, prior thereto, as a result of a waiver by such Lender or otherwise, the circumstances entitling the Borrower to require such assignment and delegation cease to apply. Each party hereto agrees that (A) an assignment required pursuant to this paragraph may be effected pursuant to an Assignment and Assumption executed by the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the assignee (or, to the extent applicable, an agreement incorporating an Assignment and Assumption by reference pursuant to an Approved Electronic Platform as to which the Administrative Agent and such parties are participants), and (B) the Lender required to make such assignment need not be a party thereto in order for such assignment to be effective and shall be deemed to have consented to and be bound by the terms thereof; provided that, following the effectiveness of any such assignment, the other parties to such assignment agree to execute and deliver such documents necessary to evidence such assignment

 

 

as reasonably requested by the applicable Lender; provided that any such documents shall be without recourse to or warranty by the parties thereto

 

Section 2.20         Expansion Option. The Borrower may on no more than two occasions during the period beginning on the Effective Date to and including the date that is six months prior to the Maturity Date, provided that no Qualified Acquisition Period is then in existence, elect to increase the Revolving Commitments or enter into one or more tranches of term loans (each an “Incremental Term Loan”), in each case in minimum increments of $25,000,000 so long as, after giving effect thereto, the aggregate amount of such increases and all such Incremental Term Loans does not exceed $500,000,000. The Borrower may arrange for any such increase or tranche to be provided by one or more Lenders or by one or more new banks, financial institutions or other entities (each such Lender, new bank, financial institution or other entity, an “Augmenting Lender”); provided that (i) each Augmenting Lender, if not already a Lender hereunder, shall be subject to the approval of the Administrative Agent and, in the case of a new Revolving Commitment, each Issuing Bank (which approvals shall not be unreasonably withheld) and shall become a party to this Agreement by completing and delivering to the Administrative Agent a duly executed accession agreement in a form reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the Borrower (an “Accession Agreement”) and (ii) no Lender shall be required to increase its Revolving Commitment or participate in any tranche of Incremental Term Loans. No consent of any Lender (other than the Lenders participating in the increase or any Incremental Term Loan) shall be required for any increase in the Revolving Commitments or any Incremental Term Loan pursuant to this Section 2.20. Increases and new Revolving Commitments or Incremental Term Loans created pursuant to this Section 2.20 shall become effective on the date agreed by the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the Augmenting Lenders and the Administrative Agent shall notify each Lender thereof. Upon the effectiveness of any Accession Agreement to which any Augmenting Lender is a party, such Augmenting Lender shall thereafter be deemed to be a party to this Agreement and shall be entitled to all rights, benefits and privileges accorded a Lender hereunder and subject to all obligations of a Lender hereunder. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no increase in the Revolving Commitments (or in the Revolving Commitment of any Lender) or tranche of Incremental Term Loans shall become effective under this Section unless, (i) on the proposed date of the effectiveness of such increase or Incremental Term Loans, (A) the conditions set forth in paragraphs (a) and (b) of Section 4.02 shall be satisfied and the Administrative Agent shall have received a certificate to that effect dated such date and executed by a Financial Officer of the Borrower and (B) the Borrower shall be in compliance on a pro forma basis (giving effect to the use of proceeds of such increase or Incremental Term Loan) with the covenant contained in Section 6.12 and (ii) the Administrative Agent shall have received documents consistent with those delivered on the Effective Date as to the organizational power and authority of the Borrower to borrow such increased Revolving Commitments or Incremental Term Loans. On the effective date of any increase in the Revolving Commitments, subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, (i) each Augmenting Lender shall make available to the Administrative Agent such amounts in immediately available funds as the Administrative Agent shall determine, for the benefit of the other Revolving Lenders, as being required in order to cause, after giving effect to such increase and the use of such amounts to make payments to the other Revolving Lenders, each Revolving Lender’s portion of the outstanding Revolving Loans of all the Revolving Lenders to equal its Applicable Percentage of such outstanding Revolving Loans, and (ii) the Borrower shall be deemed to have repaid and reborrowed all outstanding Revolving Loans as of the date of any increase in the Revolving Commitments (with such reborrowing to consist of the Types of

 

 

Revolving Loans, with related Interest Periods if applicable, specified in a notice delivered by the Borrower, in accordance with the requirements of Section 2.03). The deemed payments made pursuant to clause (ii) of the immediately preceding sentence shall, in respect of each Term Benchmark Loan, be accompanied by payment of all accrued interest on the amount prepaid and, in respect of each Term Benchmark Loan, shall be subject to indemnification pursuant to the provisions of Section 2.16 if the deemed payment occurs other than on the last day of the related Interest Periods. On the effective date of any Incremental Term Loans being made, subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, each Augmenting Lender shall make a loan to the Borrower in an amount equal to its pro rata portion of the tranche of such Incremental Term Loans and such loan shall constitute an Incremental Term Loan for purposes hereof. The Incremental Term Loans shall be Term Loans for all purposes hereunder and the terms of the Incremental Term Loans shall be identical to the Term Loans advanced on the Effective Date; provided that the Incremental Term Loans shall amortize as set forth in Section 2.09.

 

Section 2.21          Cash Collateral. At any time that there shall exist a Defaulting Lender, within one Business Day following the written request of the Administrative Agent or any Issuing Bank (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), the Borrower shall Cash Collateralize the Issuing Banks’ Fronting Exposure with respect to such Defaulting Lender (determined after giving effect to Section 2.22(a)(iv) and any Cash Collateral provided by such Defaulting Lender) in an amount equal to such Fronting Exposure as of such date.

 

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

 

(b)            Application. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, Cash Collateral provided under this Section 2.21 or Section 2.22 in respect of Letters of Credit shall be applied to the satisfaction of the Defaulting Lender’s obligation to fund participations in respect of Letters of Credit (including, as to Cash Collateral provided by a Defaulting Lender, any interest accrued on such obligation) for which the Cash Collateral was so provided, prior to any other application of such property as may otherwise be provided for herein.

 

(c)            Termination of Requirement. Cash Collateral (or the appropriate portion thereof) provided to reduce any Issuing Bank’s Fronting Exposure shall no longer be required to be held as Cash Collateral pursuant to this Section 2.21 following (i) the elimination of the applicable Fronting Exposure (including by the termination of Defaulting Lender status of the applicable Lender), and upon the occurrence of such event, the Cash Collateral provided by the Borrower shall be promptly returned to the Borrower, or (ii) the determination by the Administrative Agent and each Issuing Bank that there exists excess Cash Collateral, and upon the occurrence of such

 

 

event, such excess Cash Collateral shall be promptly returned to the Borrower, to the extent such excess amount was provided by the Borrower; provided that, subject to Section 2.22, the Person providing Cash Collateral and each Issuing Bank may agree that Cash Collateral shall be held to support future anticipated Fronting Exposure or other obligations.

 

Section 2.22          Defaulting Lenders.

 

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

 

(i)             Waivers and Amendments. Such Defaulting Lender’s right to approve or disapprove any amendment, waiver or consent with respect to this Agreement shall be restricted as set forth in the definitions of Required Lenders, Required Revolving Lenders or Required Term Loan Lenders, as applicable, and the last sentence of Section 9.02(b).

 

(ii)            Defaulting Lender Waterfall. Any payment of principal, interest, fees or other amounts received by the Administrative Agent hereunder for the account of such Defaulting Lender (whether voluntary or mandatory, at maturity, pursuant to Article VII or otherwise) or received by the Administrative Agent from a Defaulting Lender pursuant to Section 9.08 shall be applied at such time or times as may be determined by the Administrative Agent as follows: first, to the payment of any amounts owing by such Defaulting Lender to the Administrative Agent hereunder; second, to the payment on a pro rata basis of any amounts owing by such Defaulting Lender to the Issuing Banks hereunder; third, to Cash Collateralize the Issuing Banks’ Fronting Exposure with respect to such Defaulting Lender in accordance with Section 2.21; fourth, as the Borrower 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 Borrower, to be held in a deposit account and released pro rata in order to (x) satisfy such Defaulting Lender’s potential future funding obligations with respect to Loans under this Agreement and (y) Cash Collateralize the Issuing Banks’ future Fronting Exposure with respect to such Defaulting Lender with respect to future Letters of Credit issued under this Agreement, in accordance with Section 2.21; sixth, to the payment of any amounts owing to the Lenders or the Issuing Banks as a result of any judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction obtained by any Lender or any Issuing Bank against such Defaulting Lender as a result of such 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 Borrower as a result of any judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction obtained by the Borrower against such Defaulting Lender as a result of such Defaulting Lender’s breach of its obligations under this Agreement; and eighth, to such Defaulting Lender or as otherwise directed by a court of competent jurisdiction; provided that if (x) such payment is a payment of the principal amount of any Loans or LC Disbursements in respect of which such Defaulting Lender has not fully funded its appropriate share, and (y) such Loans were made or the related Letters of Credit were issued at a time when the conditions set forth in Section 4.02 were satisfied or waived, such payment shall be applied solely to pay the Loans of, and LC Disbursements

 

 

owed to, all Non-Defaulting Lenders on a pro rata basis prior to being applied to the payment of any Loans of, or LC Disbursements owed to, such Defaulting Lender until such time as all Loans and funded and unfunded participations in Letter of Credit Obligations are held by the Lenders pro rata in accordance with the Commitments hereunder without giving effect to Section 2.22(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 2.22(a)(ii) shall be deemed paid to and redirected by such Defaulting Lender, and each Lender and each Issuing Bank irrevocably consents hereto.

 

(iii)           Certain Fees.

 

(A)           No Defaulting Lender shall be entitled to receive any commitment fees pursuant to Section 2.12(a) for any period during which that Lender is a Defaulting Lender (and the Borrower shall not be required to pay any such fee that otherwise would have been required to have been paid to that Defaulting Lender).

 

(B)            Each Defaulting Lender shall be entitled to receive participation fees pursuant to Section 2.12(b) 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 2.21.

 

(C)            With respect to any participation fees not required to be paid to any Defaulting Lender pursuant to clause (B) above, the Borrower shall (1) 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 LC Disbursements that has been reallocated to such Non-Defaulting Lender pursuant to clause (iv) below, (2) pay to each Issuing Bank the amount of any such fee otherwise payable to such Defaulting Lender to the extent allocable to such Issuing Bank’s Fronting Exposure to such Defaulting Lender, and (3) not be required to pay the remaining amount of any such fee.

 

(iv)           Reallocation of Participations to Reduce Fronting Exposure. All or any part of such Defaulting Lender’s participation in LC Disbursements shall be reallocated among the Non-Defaulting Lenders in accordance with their respective Applicable Percentages (calculated without regard to such Defaulting Lender’s Revolving Commitment) but only to the extent that such reallocation does not cause the aggregate Revolving Credit Exposure of any Non-Defaulting Lender to exceed such Non-Defaulting Lender’s Revolving Commitment. Subject to Section 9.17, no reallocation hereunder shall constitute a waiver or release of any claim of any party hereunder against a Defaulting Lender arising from that Lender having become a Defaulting Lender, including any claim of a Non-Defaulting Lender as a result of such Non-Defaulting Lender’s increased exposure following such reallocation.

 

(v)            Cash Collateral. If the reallocation described in clause (iv) above cannot, or can only partially, be effected, the Borrower shall, without prejudice to any right or

 

 

remedy available to it hereunder or under law, Cash Collateralize the Issuing Banks’ Fronting Exposure in accordance with the procedures set forth in Section 2.21.

 

(b)            Defaulting Lender Cure. If the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the Issuing Banks agree in writing that a Lender is no longer a Defaulting Lender, the Administrative Agent will so notify the parties hereto, whereupon as of the effective date specified in such notice and subject to any conditions set forth therein (which may include arrangements with respect to any Cash Collateral), that Lender will, to the extent applicable, purchase at par that portion of outstanding Loans of the other Lenders or take such other actions as the Administrative Agent may determine to be necessary to cause the Loans and funded and unfunded participations in Letters of Credit to be held pro rata by the Lenders in accordance with the Commitments (without giving effect to Section 2.22(a)(iv)), whereupon such Lender will cease to be a Defaulting Lender; provided that no adjustments will be made retroactively with respect to fees accrued or payments made by or on behalf of the Borrower while that Lender was a Defaulting Lender; and provided, further, that except to the extent otherwise expressly agreed by the affected parties, no change hereunder from Defaulting Lender to Lender will constitute a waiver or release of any claim of any party hereunder arising from that Lender’s having been a Defaulting Lender.

 

(c)            New Letters of Credit. So long as any Lender is a Defaulting Lender, no Issuing Bank shall be required to issue, extend, renew or increase any Letter of Credit unless it is satisfied that it will have no Fronting Exposure after giving effect thereto.

 

Section 2.23          Illegality. If any Lender determines that any Change in Law has made it unlawful, or that any Governmental Authority has asserted that it is unlawful, for any Lender or its applicable lending office to make, maintain, or fund Loans whose interest is determined by reference to SOFR, the Term SOFR Reference Rate, the Adjusted Term SOFR Rate or Term SOFR, or to determine or charge interest rates based upon SOFR, the Term SOFR Reference Rate, the Adjusted Term SOFR Rate or Term SOFR, then, upon notice thereof by such Lender to the Borrower (through the Administrative Agent), (a) any obligation of the Lenders to make Term Benchmark Loans, and any right of the Borrower to continue Term Benchmark Loans or to convert ABR Loans to Term Benchmark Loans shall be suspended, and (b) the interest rate on which ABR Loans of such Lender shall, if necessary to avoid such illegality, be determined by the Administrative Agent without reference to clause (c) of the definition of “Alternate Base Rate”, in each case until such affected Lender notifies the Administrative Agent and the Borrower that the circumstances giving rise to such determination no longer exist. Upon receipt of such notice, the Borrower shall, if necessary to avoid such illegality, upon demand from such Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), prepay or, if applicable, convert all Term Benchmark Loans to ABR Loans (the interest rate on which ABR Loans of such Lender shall, if necessary to avoid such illegality, be determined by the Administrative Agent without reference to clause (c) of the definition of “Alternate Base Rate”), on the last day of the Interest Period therefor, if all affected Lenders may lawfully continue to maintain such Term Benchmark Loans to such day, or immediately, if any Lender may not lawfully continue to maintain such Term Benchmark Loans, in each case until the Administrative Agent is advised in writing by each affected Lender that it is no longer illegal for such Lender to determine or charge interest rates based upon SOFR, the Term SOFR Reference Rate, the Adjusted Term SOFR Rate or Term SOFR. Upon any such prepayment or conversion, the Borrower shall also pay accrued interest on the amount so prepaid or converted, together with any additional amounts required pursuant to Section 2.16.

 

 

Article III
Representations and Warranties

 

The Borrower represents and warrants to the Lenders that:

 

Section 3.01         Organization; Powers. Each of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries (a) is duly organized and validly existing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization, (b) has all requisite power and authority to carry on its business as now conducted and (c) is qualified to do business in, and is in good standing in, its jurisdiction of organization and every jurisdiction where such qualification is required, except, in the case of the foregoing clauses (a), (b) or (c), where the failure to do so, individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

Section 3.02         Authorization; Enforceability. The Transactions are within the Borrower’s corporate powers and have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate and stockholder action. This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by the Borrower and constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Borrower, enforceable in accordance with its terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and subject to general principles of equity, regardless of whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law.

 

Section 3.03         Governmental Approvals; No Conflicts. The Transactions (a) do not require any consent or approval of, registration or filing with, or any other action by, any Governmental Authority, except such as have been obtained or made and are in full force and effect, (b) will not violate any applicable law or regulation or the charter, by-laws or other organizational documents of the Borrower or any Subsidiary or any order of any Governmental Authority, (c) will not breach or result in a default under any indenture, agreement or other instrument binding upon the Borrower or any Subsidiary or its assets, or give rise to a right thereunder to require any payment to be made by the Borrower or any Subsidiary, and (d) will not result in the creation or imposition of any Lien on any asset of the Borrower or any Subsidiary.

 

Section 3.04         Financial Condition; No Material Adverse Change.

 

(a)            The Borrower has heretofore furnished to the Lenders its consolidated balance sheet and statements of income, stockholders equity and cash flows (i) as of and for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021, reported on by PriceWaterhouseCoopers LLP, independent public accountants and (ii) as of and for the fiscal quarters and the portions of the fiscal year ended March 31, 2022, June 30, 2022 and September 30, 2022, in each case, certified by one of its Financial Officers. Such financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position and results of operations and cash flows of the Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries as of such dates and for such periods in accordance with GAAP, subject to year-end audit adjustments and the absence of footnotes in the case of the statements referred to in clause (ii) above

 

(b)            Since December 31, 2021, there has been no Material Adverse Effect.

 

Section 3.05          Properties.

 

 

(a)            Each of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries has good title to, or valid leasehold interests in, all its real and personal property material to its business as currently conducted, except for Permitted Encumbrances, Liens permitted by Section 6.03 and such other defects in title as could not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(b)            Each of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries owns, or is licensed to use, all trademarks, tradenames, copyrights, patents and other intellectual property material to its business, and the use thereof by the Borrower and the Subsidiaries does not infringe upon the rights of any other Person, except for any such infringements that, individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

Section 3.06          Litigation and Environmental Matters.

 

(a)            There are no actions, suits or proceedings by or before any arbitrator or Governmental Authority pending against or, to the knowledge of the Borrower, threatened against or affecting the Borrower or any Subsidiary (i) as to which there is a reasonable possibility of an adverse determination and that, if adversely determined, could reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to result in a Material Adverse Effect (other than the Disclosed Matters) or (ii) that involve this Agreement or the Transactions.

 

(b)            Except with respect to any other matters that, individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, neither the Borrower nor any Subsidiary (i) has failed to comply with any Environmental Law or to obtain, maintain or comply with any permit, license or other approval required under any Environmental Law, (ii) has become subject to any Environmental Liability, (iii) has received notice of any claim with respect to any Environmental Liability or (iv) knows of any basis for any Environmental Liability.

 

Section 3.07          Compliance with Laws and Agreements. Each of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries is in compliance with all laws, regulations and orders of any Governmental Authority applicable to it or its property and all indentures, agreements and other instruments binding upon it or its property, except where the failure to do so, individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. No Default has occurred and is continuing.

 

Section 3.08          Investment Company Status. Neither the Borrower nor any Subsidiary is an “investment company” as defined in, or subject to regulation under, the Investment Company Act of 1940.

 

Section 3.09          Taxes. Each of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries has timely filed or caused to be filed all Tax returns and reports required to have been filed and has paid or caused to be paid all Taxes required to have been paid by it, except (a) Taxes that are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and for which the Borrower or such Subsidiary, as applicable, has set aside on its books adequate reserves or (b) to the extent that the failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

Section 3.10          ERISA. No ERISA Event has occurred or is reasonably expected to occur that, when taken together with all other such ERISA Events for which liability is reasonably

 

 

expected to occur, could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. The present value of all accumulated benefit obligations under each Plan (based on the assumptions used for purposes of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 87) did not, as of the date of the most recent financial statements reflecting such amounts, exceed by more than $30,000,000 the fair market value of the assets of such Plan, and the present value of all accumulated benefit obligations of all underfunded Plans (based on the assumptions used for purposes of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 87) did not, as of the date of the most recent financial statements reflecting such amounts, exceed by more than $50,000,000 the fair market value of the assets of all such underfunded Plans.

 

Section 3.11          Disclosure.

 

(a)            The Borrower has disclosed to the Lenders all agreements, instruments and corporate or other restrictions to which it or any Subsidiary is subject, and all other matters known to it, that, individually or in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. None of the written reports, financial statements, certificates or other written information furnished by or on behalf of the Borrower to the Administrative Agent or any Lender in connection with the negotiation of this Agreement or delivered hereunder (as modified or supplemented by other information so furnished) contains any material misstatement of fact or omits to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein, taken as a whole in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided that, with respect to projected financial information, the Borrower represents only that such information was prepared in good faith based upon assumptions believed to be reasonable at the time (with it being understood that actual results may differ from such projections and such differences may be material).

 

(b)            As of the Effective Date, the information included in each Beneficial Ownership Certification provided on or about the Effective Date to any Lender in connection with this Agreement is true and correct in all respects.

 

Section 3.12         Subsidiaries. Schedule 3.12 sets forth as of the Effective Date the name of, and the ownership interest of the Borrower and any Subsidiary in, each Subsidiary and identifies which are Foreign Subsidiaries, Excluded Subsidiaries and Guarantors. The shares of capital stock or other ownership interests of each Subsidiary reflected on Schedule 3.12 as directly or indirectly owned by the Borrower are free and clear of all Liens.

 

Section 3.13         Margin Stock. Neither the Borrower nor any Subsidiary is engaged principally, or as one of its important activities, in the business of extending credit for the purpose of buying or carrying Margin Stock (as defined in Regulation U of the Board). The proceeds of the Loans and the Letters of Credit will not be used in a way that will result in any of the Loans or the Letters of Credit under this Agreement being violative of Regulation U or Regulation X of the Board.

 

Section 3.14         Use of Proceeds. The proceeds of the Loans shall be used to repay existing Indebtedness, for working capital and for general corporate purposes (including, without limitation, Permitted Acquisitions) of, in each case, the Borrower and the Subsidiaries.

 

 

Section 3.15         Solvency. Immediately following the making of each Loan on the Effective Date and after giving effect to the application of the proceeds of such Loan on the Effective Date, (a) the fair market value of the assets of the Loan Parties (on a consolidated basis) will exceed their debts and liabilities; (b) the present fair saleable value of the property of the Loan Parties (on a consolidated basis) will be greater than the amount that will be required to pay the probable liability of their debts and other liabilities; (c) the Loan Parties (on a consolidated basis) will be able to pay their debts and liabilities as they become absolute and mature; and (d) the Loan Parties (on a consolidated basis) will not have unreasonably small capital with which to conduct their business as such business is now conducted and is proposed to be conducted following the Effective Date.

 

Section 3.16         Sanctions and Anti-Corruption Laws. The Borrower has implemented and maintains in effect policies and procedures designed to promote compliance by the Borrower, the Subsidiaries and their respective directors, officers and employees with Anti-Corruption Laws and applicable Sanctions, and the Borrower, the Subsidiaries and their respective officers and employees and, to the knowledge of the Borrower, its directors, are in compliance with Anti-Corruption Laws and applicable Sanctions in all material respects. None of (a) the Borrower, any Subsidiary or, to the knowledge of the Borrower or such Subsidiary, any of their respective directors, officers or employees, or (b) to the knowledge of the Borrower, any agent of the 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 Borrowing or Letter of Credit, use of proceeds or other transaction contemplated by this Agreement will violate Anti-Corruption Laws or applicable Sanctions.

 

Section 3.17          Affected Financial Institutions. No Loan Party is an Affected Financial Institution.

 

Section 3.18          Plan Assets; Prohibited Transactions. None of the Borrower or any of the Subsidiaries is an entity deemed to hold “plan assets” (within the meaning of the Plan Asset Regulations), and neither the execution, delivery nor performance of the transactions contemplated under this Agreement, including the making of any Loan and the issuance of any Letter of Credit hereunder, will give rise to a non-exempt prohibited transaction under Section 406 of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code.

 

Article IV
Conditions

 

Section 4.01          Effective Date. The obligations of the Lenders to make Loans and of the Issuing Banks to issue Letters of Credit hereunder shall not become effective until the date on which the Administrative Agent (or its counsel) shall have received from each applicable Loan Party, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to it:

 

(a)            either (i) a counterpart of this Agreement signed by the Borrower or (ii) written evidence satisfactory to the Administrative Agent (which may include electronic or telecopy transmission of signed signature pages) that the Borrower has signed a counterpart of this Agreement;

 

 

(b)            a Note for each Lender requesting a Note;

 

(c)            the executed Guarantee Agreement (or electronic or telecopy copy of a signed signature page thereof) from each Domestic Subsidiary other than the Excluded Subsidiaries, and such Foreign Subsidiaries, Excluded Subsidiaries or both as are required by Section 5.10 to be Guarantors;

 

(d)            favorable written opinions (addressed to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders and dated the Effective Date) of Proskauer Rose LLP, counsel for the Loan Parties, Locke Lord LLP, Texas counsel for the Borrower and the general counsel of the Borrower and covering such matters relating to the Loan Parties, this Agreement or the Transactions as the Administrative Agent shall reasonably request. The Borrower hereby requests such counsel to deliver such opinion;

 

(e)            such documents and certificates as the Administrative Agent or its counsel may reasonably request relating to the organization, existence and good standing of the Borrower, the authorization of the Transactions and any other legal matters relating to the Borrower, this Agreement or the Transactions, all in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and its counsel;

 

(f)             a certificate, dated the Effective Date and signed by the President, a Vice President or a Financial Officer of the Borrower, confirming compliance with the conditions set forth in paragraphs (a) and (b) of Section 4.02;

 

(g)            (i) audited consolidated balance sheet and related statements of operations, stockholders’ equity and cash flows of the Borrower for the two most recent fiscal years ended prior to the Effective Date as to which such financial statements are available and (ii) unaudited consolidated balance sheet and related statements of operations, stockholders’ equity and cash flows of the Borrower for each quarterly period ended subsequent to the date of the latest financial statements delivered pursuant to clause (i) of this Section 4.01(g) as to which such financial statements are available;

 

(h)            evidence of liability and hazard insurance for each Loan Party in such amounts and on such terms as are standard and customary in the industry in which said entities conduct their operations;

 

(i)             the Administrative Agent and the Lenders shall have received, at least seven (7) days prior to the Effective Date, (i) all documentation and other information regarding the Borrower and the Subsidiaries requested in connection with applicable “know your customer” and anti-money laundering rules and regulations, including the Patriot Act, and their respective internal policies and (ii) to the extent the Borrower or any of the Subsidiaries qualifies as a “legal entity customer” under the Beneficial Ownership Regulation, a Beneficial Ownership Certification in relation to the Borrower and such Subsidiaries;

 

(j)             all fees and other amounts due and payable on or prior to the Effective Date, including, to the extent invoiced, reimbursement or payment of all out of pocket expenses required to be reimbursed or paid by the Borrower hereunder; and

 

 

(k)            such other documents or items as the Administrative Agent may reasonably request.

 

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

 

Section 4.02         Each Credit Event. The obligation of each Lender to make a Loan on the occasion of any Borrowing, and of each Issuing Bank to issue, amend, renew or extend any Letter of Credit, is subject to the satisfaction of the following conditions:

 

(a)            The representations and warranties of the Borrower set forth in this Agreement shall be true and correct in all material respects on and as of the date of such Borrowing or the date of issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of such Letter of Credit, as applicable, 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; provided that the aforementioned materiality qualifier shall not apply to the extent any representations and warranties contain a materiality qualifier within such representation and warranty.

 

(b)            At the time of and immediately after giving effect to such Borrowing or the issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of such Letter of Credit, as applicable, no Default shall have occurred and be continuing.

 

(c)            The Administrative Agent shall have received a Borrowing Request as required by Section 2.03 or the applicable Issuing Bank and the Administrative Agent shall have received a request for the issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of a Letter of Credit as required by Section 2.05(b), as applicable.

 

Each Borrowing and each issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of a Letter of Credit shall be deemed to constitute a representation and warranty by the Borrower on the date thereof as to the matters specified in paragraphs (a) and (b) of this Section.

 

Article V
Affirmative Covenants

 

Until the Commitments have expired or been terminated and the principal of and interest on each Loan and all fees payable hereunder have been paid in full and all Letters of Credit have expired or terminated or have been Cash Collateralized as contemplated by Section 2.05(c) and all LC Disbursements shall have been reimbursed, the Borrower covenants and agrees with the Lenders that:

 

Section 5.01          Financial Statements; Other Information. The Borrower will furnish to the Administrative Agent:

 

(a)            within 90 days after the end of each fiscal year of the Borrower, its audited consolidated balance sheet and related statements of operations, stockholders’ equity and cash flows as of the end of and for such year, setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for the previous fiscal year, all reported on by PriceWaterhouseCoopers or other independent public accountants of recognized national standing (without a “going concern” or like qualification

 

 

or exception and without any qualification or exception as to the scope of such audit) to the effect that such consolidated financial statements present fairly in all material respects the financial condition and results of operations of the Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP consistently applied;

 

(b)            within 45 days after the end of each of the first three fiscal quarters of each fiscal year of the Borrower, its consolidated balance sheet and related statements of operations, stockholders’ equity and cash flows as of the end of and for such fiscal quarter and the then elapsed portion of the fiscal year, setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for the corresponding period or periods of (or, in the case of the balance sheet, as of the end of) the previous fiscal year, all certified by one of its Financial Officers as presenting fairly in all material respects the financial condition and results of operations of the Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP consistently applied, subject to normal year-end audit adjustments and the absence of footnotes;

 

(c)            concurrently with any delivery of financial statements under clause (a) or (b) above, a certificate of a Financial Officer of the Borrower (i) certifying as to whether a Default has occurred and, if a Default has occurred, specifying the details thereof and any action taken or proposed to be taken with respect thereto, (ii) setting forth reasonably detailed calculations demonstrating compliance with Section 6.12 (in the form of compliance certificate attached hereto as Exhibit 5.01) and (iii) stating whether any change in GAAP or in the application thereof has occurred since the date of the audited financial statements referred to in Section 3.04 and, if any such change has occurred, specifying the effect of such change on the financial statements accompanying such certificate; and

 

(d)            promptly following any request therefor, such other information regarding the operations, business affairs and financial condition of the Borrower or any Subsidiary, or compliance with the terms of this Agreement, as the Administrative Agent or any Lender may reasonably request including, without limitation, (i) updated Beneficial Ownership Certifications for the Borrower and the Subsidiaries as so requested, or written confirmation that the information provided in the Beneficial Ownership Certifications delivered to the Administrative Agent or any Lender on or about the Effective Date in connection with this Agreement remains true and correct in all respects and (ii) all documentation and other information reasonably requested in connection with applicable “know your customer” and anti-money laundering rules and regulations, including the Patriot Act, and the internal policies of the Administrative Agent or such Lender.

 

Documents required to be delivered pursuant to Section 5.01(a) or Section 5.01(b) (to the extent any such documents are included in materials otherwise filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission) may be delivered electronically and if so delivered, shall be deemed to have been delivered on the date (i) on which the Borrower posts such documents, or provides a link thereto on the Borrower’s website on the Internet; or (ii) on which such documents are posted on the Borrower’s 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). Notwithstanding anything contained herein, in every instance the Borrower shall be required to provide electronic copies of the certificates required by Section 5.01(c) to the Administrative Agent. Except for such 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 Borrower 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.

 

Section 5.02          Notices of Material Events. The Borrower will furnish to the Administrative Agent prompt written notice of the following:

 

(a)            the occurrence of any Default;

 

(b)            the filing or commencement of any Proceeding by or before any arbitrator or Governmental Authority against or affecting the Borrower or any Affiliate thereof that, if adversely determined, could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect; and

 

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

 

Each notice delivered under this Section shall be accompanied by a statement of a Financial Officer or other executive officer of the Borrower setting forth the details of the event or development requiring such notice and any action taken or proposed to be taken with respect thereto.

 

Section 5.03          Existence; Conduct of Business. The Borrower will, and will cause each Subsidiary to, do or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve, renew and keep in full force and effect its legal existence and the rights, licenses, permits, privileges and franchises material to the conduct of its business unless the failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; provided that the foregoing shall not prohibit any merger, consolidation, liquidation or dissolution permitted under Section 6.05.

 

Section 5.04          Payment of Obligations. The Borrower will, and will cause each Subsidiary to, pay its obligations, including Tax liabilities, that, if not paid, could result in a Material Adverse Effect before the same shall become delinquent or in default, except where (a) the validity or amount thereof is being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings, (b) the Borrower or such Subsidiary has set aside on its books adequate reserves with respect thereto in accordance with GAAP and (c) the failure to make payment pending such contest could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

Section 5.05          Maintenance of Properties. The Borrower will, and will cause each Subsidiary to, keep and maintain all property material to the conduct of its business in good working order and condition, ordinary wear and tear excepted, unless the failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

Section 5.06          Books and Records; Inspection Rights. The Borrower will, and will cause each Subsidiary to, keep proper books of record and account in which full, true and correct entries are made of all dealings and transactions in relation to its business and activities. The Borrower will, and will cause each Subsidiary to, permit any representatives designated by the Administrative Agent or any Lender, upon reasonable prior notice, to visit and inspect its properties, to examine and make extracts from its books and records, and to discuss its affairs, finances and condition with its officers and independent accountants, all at such reasonable times and as often as reasonably requested.

 

 

Section 5.07          Compliance with Laws. The Borrower will, and will cause each Subsidiary to, comply with all laws, rules, regulations and orders of any Governmental Authority applicable to it or its property, including, without limitation, Environmental Laws and all applicable orders, rules and regulations of the U.S. Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control, except where the failure to do so, individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

Section 5.08          Use of Proceeds and Letters of Credit. The proceeds of the Loans shall be used as set forth in Section 3.14. No part of the proceeds of any Loan will be used, whether directly or indirectly, for any purpose that entails a violation of any of the Regulations of the Board, including Regulations T, U and X. Letters of Credit will be issued only to support the general corporate purposes of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries. The Borrower will not request any Borrowing or Letter of Credit, and the Borrower shall not use or permit the Subsidiaries and its or their respective directors, officers, employees and agents to use, the proceeds of any Borrowing 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 party hereto.

 

Section 5.09         Insurance. The Borrower will, and will cause each Subsidiary to, maintain, with financially sound and reputable insurance companies, insurance in such amounts (with no greater risk retention) and against such risks as are customary among companies of established reputation engaged in the same or similar businesses and operating in the same or similar locations, which may, for the avoidance of doubt, include a layer of self-insurance. The Borrower will furnish to the Lenders, upon request of the Administrative Agent, information in reasonable detail as to the insurance so maintained.

 

Section 5.10          Required Guarantors.

 

(a)            If, during any fiscal quarter, any Domestic Subsidiary (other than an Excluded Subsidiary, subject to paragraph (b) below) is formed or acquired (by way of Division or otherwise) or any Excluded Subsidiary ceases to be an Excluded Subsidiary, the Borrower will provide notice of such formation, acquisition or cessation in the compliance certificate delivered pursuant to Section 5.01(c) for such fiscal quarter and, concurrently with the delivery of such compliance certificate, cause such Subsidiary to execute and deliver a Guarantee Agreement.

 

(b)            If, as of the end of any fiscal quarter, (i) the aggregate combined revenues of the Non-Guarantors (other than the Regulated Subsidiaries) exceed twenty-five percent (25%) of the aggregate total consolidated revenues for the most recently ended period of four (4) fiscal quarters of the Borrower and all of the Subsidiaries or (ii) the aggregate combined assets of the Non-Guarantors (other than the Regulated Subsidiaries) exceed twenty-five percent (25%) of the aggregate total consolidated assets (measured according to book value basis) as of the end of the most recently ended fiscal quarter of the Borrower and all of the Subsidiaries, the Borrower shall, concurrently with the delivery of the compliance certificate pursuant to Section 5.01(c) for such fiscal quarter, cause one or more of the Non-Guarantors to execute and deliver a Guarantee Agreement such that, after giving effect to such Guarantee Agreement, both the aggregate

 

 

combined revenue and the aggregate combined assets (measured according to book value basis) of all remaining Non-Guarantors (other than the Regulated Subsidiaries), are less than twenty-five percent (25%) of the total consolidated revenue and total assets, respectively, of the Borrower and all of the Subsidiaries.

 

Section 5.11          Sanctions and Anti-Corruption Laws. The Borrower will maintain in effect and enforce policies and procedures designed to promote compliance by the Borrower, the Subsidiaries and their respective directors, officers and employees with Anti-Corruption Laws and applicable Sanctions.

 

Article VI
Negative Covenants

 

Until the Commitments have expired or been terminated and the principal of and interest on each Loan and all fees payable hereunder have been paid in full and all Letters of Credit have expired or terminated or have been Cash Collateralized as contemplated by Section 2.05(c) and all LC Disbursements shall have been reimbursed, the Borrower covenants and agrees with the Lenders that:

 

Section 6.01         Indebtedness Covenant. The Borrower will not, and will not permit any Subsidiary to, create, incur, assume or permit to exist any Indebtedness, except:

 

(a)            Indebtedness created under the Loan Documents;

 

(b)            (i) Indebtedness existing on the Effective Date and set forth on Schedule 6.01(b) hereto, and (ii) extensions, renewals and replacements of any such Indebtedness that do not increase the outstanding principal amount (except by an amount equal to the accrued and unpaid interest thereon, any premium paid and fees and expenses incurred in connection with such refinancing and by an amount equal to any existing commitments unutilized thereunder) or change the parties directly or indirectly responsible for the payment thereof; provided that any such refinancing Indebtedness shall not mature before the earlier of (A) the maturity date of the Indebtedness refinanced and (B) the date six months following the Maturity Date; and provided further that to the extent such Indebtedness is unsecured, it shall remain unsecured;

 

(c)            Indebtedness of the Borrower to any Subsidiary and of any Subsidiary to the Borrower or any other Subsidiary; provided that Indebtedness of any Non-Guarantor to any Loan Party shall be subject to Section 6.06 below;

 

(d)            Guarantees by the Borrower of Indebtedness of any Subsidiary and Guarantees by any Guarantor of Indebtedness of any Subsidiary, to the extent said Indebtedness is permitted hereunder; provided that such Guarantees of Indebtedness of any Non-Guarantor shall be subject to Section 6.06 below;

 

(e)            Indebtedness of the Borrower or any Subsidiary incurred after the Effective Date under purchase money financings meeting the requirements of Section 6.01(f) other than proviso (B) therein and leases (collectively, “Transportation Equipment Transactions”), in each case of motor vehicles (including off-road vehicles) and aircraft;

 

 

(f)             (i) Indebtedness of the Borrower or any Subsidiary incurred after the Effective Date to finance the acquisition, construction or improvement of any fixed or capital assets, including Capital Lease Obligations and any Indebtedness assumed in connection with the acquisition of any such assets, or secured by a Lien on any such assets prior to the acquisition thereof, and extensions, renewals and replacements of any such Indebtedness that do not increase the outstanding principal amount or change the parties directly or indirectly responsible for the payment thereof, (ii) Attributable Debt (as defined below) of the Borrower or any Subsidiary incurred after the Effective Date pursuant to Sale and Leaseback Transactions permitted by Section 6.04 and (iii) Indebtedness represented by seller notes executed by the Borrower or any Subsidiary incurred after the Effective Date in connection with Permitted Acquisitions; provided that (A) the Indebtedness in clause (i) hereof is incurred prior to or within 120 days (or such longer period if necessary solely to obtain any permits or licenses required in connection with such acquisition, construction or improvement) after such acquisition or the completion of such construction or improvement and (B) the aggregate principal amount of the Indebtedness permitted by this clause (f) in excess of Attributable Debt shall not exceed $75,000,000 at any time outstanding. “Attributable Debt” means, with respect to any Sale and Leaseback Transaction, the present value (computed in accordance with GAAP as if the obligations incurred in connection with such Sale and Leaseback Transaction were Capital Lease Obligations) of the total obligations of the lessee for rental payments during the remaining term of the lease included in such Sale and Leaseback Transaction (including any period for which such lease has been extended). In the case of any lease which is terminable by the lessee upon payment of a penalty, the Attributable Debt shall be the lesser of (i) the Attributable Debt determined assuming termination upon the first date such lease may be terminated (in which case the Attributable Debt shall also include the amount of the penalty, but no rent shall be considered as required to be paid under such lease subsequent to the first date upon which it may be so terminated) and (ii) the Attributable Debt determined assuming no such termination. Any determination of any rate implicit in the terms of the lease included in such Sale and Leaseback Transaction made in accordance with generally accepted financial practices by the Borrower shall be binding and conclusive absent manifest error;

 

(g)            Indebtedness incurred by any one or more Foreign Subsidiaries of the Borrower; provided that the aggregate principal amount of such Indebtedness permitted by this clause does not exceed $100,000,000;

 

(h)            Indebtedness of any Subsidiary; provided that the aggregate principal amount of all Indebtedness permitted by this clause shall not exceed $100,000,000 at any time outstanding;

 

(i)             obligations incurred in connection with covenants not to compete to the extent such obligations are treated as indebtedness under GAAP; provided that the aggregate principal amount of all Indebtedness permitted by this clause shall not exceed $100,000,000 at any time outstanding;

 

(j)             Indebtedness of any Subsidiary in existence (but not incurred or created in connection with an acquisition) on the date on which such Subsidiary is acquired by the Borrower; provided (i) neither the Borrower nor any of the Subsidiaries existing before giving effect to such acquisition has any obligation with respect to such Indebtedness, (ii) none of the properties of the Borrower or any of the Subsidiaries existing before giving effect to such acquisition is bound with respect to such Indebtedness and (iii) the Borrower is in compliance with the financial covenants after such acquisition;

 

 

(k)            obligations in respect of performance, bid, appeal and surety bonds and completion guarantees and other similar arrangements (excluding letters of credit, bank guaranties and bankers’ acceptances) incurred in the ordinary course of business;

 

(l)             Indebtedness in respect of Swap Agreements that are incurred in compliance with Section 6.08;

 

(m)           (i) Obligations in respect of Bank Products and other Indebtedness in respect of netting services and automatic clearinghouse arrangements or (ii) Indebtedness arising from the honoring of a bank or other financial institution of a check, draft or similar instrument drawn against insufficient funds in the ordinary course of business, provided that such Indebtedness is extinguished within five Business Days of its incurrence; and

 

(n)            Indebtedness of the Borrower not permitted by any other clause of this Section 6.01; provided that (i) no Default exists at the time, or is created as a result of, the incurrence of such Indebtedness, (ii) for all Indebtedness in excess of $100,000,000, such Indebtedness does not have a maturity date before the date six months following the Maturity Date, (iii) the terms of such Indebtedness, taken as a whole, are not materially more restrictive than the terms of the Loan Documents, and (iv) the Borrower is in compliance, on a pro forma basis after giving effect to the incurrence of such Indebtedness (including the use of proceeds thereof), with Section 6.12, provided that the proceeds from the incurrence of such Indebtedness shall be excluded for purposes of netting cash on hand in the foregoing calculation of the Leverage Ratio.

 

Section 6.02          Reserved.

 

Section 6.03          Lien Covenant. The Borrower will not, and will not permit any Subsidiary to, create, incur, assume or permit to exist any Lien on any property or asset now owned or hereafter acquired by it, or assign or sell any income or revenues (including accounts receivable) or rights in respect of any thereof, except:

 

(a)            Permitted Encumbrances;

 

(b)            Liens existing on the Effective Date and listed on Schedule 6.03(b) and any modifications, replacements, renewals or extensions thereof; provided that (i) the property covered thereby is not changed other than the addition of proceeds, products, accessions and improvements to such property on customary terms, (ii) the amount of the obligations secured thereby is not increased except, in respect of Indebtedness, if permitted by Section 6.01(b), (iii) no additional Loan Party shall become a direct or contingent obligor of the obligations secured thereby and (iv) any modification, replacement, renewal or extension of the obligations secured or benefited thereby is permitted by Section 6.01(b);

 

(c)            any Lien existing on any property or asset prior to the acquisition thereof by the Borrower or any Subsidiary or existing on any property or asset of any Person that becomes a Subsidiary after the Effective Date prior to the time such Person becomes a Subsidiary; provided that such Lien is not created in contemplation of or in connection with such acquisition or such Person becoming a Subsidiary, as the case may be;

 

 

(d)            Liens on property subject to Transportation Equipment Transactions; provided that the Indebtedness secured by any Transportation Equipment Transactions does not exceed the cost of acquiring the property subject thereto;

 

(e)            Liens on fixed or capital assets acquired, constructed or improved by the Borrower or any Subsidiary; provided that (i) such Liens secure permitted Indebtedness, (ii) such Liens and the Indebtedness secured thereby are incurred prior to or within 120 days (or such longer period if necessary solely to obtain any permits or licenses required in connection with such acquisition, construction or improvement) after such acquisition or the completion of such construction or improvement, (iii) the Indebtedness secured thereby does not exceed the cost of acquiring, constructing or improving such fixed or capital assets and (iv) such Liens shall not apply to any other property or assets of the Borrower or any Subsidiary;

 

(f)             Liens on Cash Collateral pursuant to Section 2.05(j) and Section 2.21;

 

(g)            (i) Liens on the assets of any Loan Party in favor of any other Loan Party and (ii) Liens on the assets of any Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party in favor of any Loan Party;

 

(h)            precautionary Uniform Commercial Code filings by lessors under operating leases covering solely the property subject to such leases;

 

(i)             Liens to secure any refinancing, refunding, extension, renewal or replacement, in whole or in part, of any Indebtedness secured by any Lien referred to in the foregoing clauses (c), (d) and (e); provided, however, that (i) such new Lien shall be limited to all or part of the same property that secured the original Lien (plus improvements on such property), and (ii) the Indebtedness secured by such Lien at such time is not increased to any amount greater than the sum of (A) the outstanding principal amount or, if greater, committed amount of the Indebtedness described under clauses (c), (d) and (e) at the time the original Lien became a Lien permitted under this Section 6.03 and (B) an amount necessary to pay any fees and expenses, including premiums, related to such refinancing, refunding, extension, renewal or replacement; and

 

(j)             additional Liens securing an aggregate amount of Indebtedness or other obligations not exceeding $100,000,000 in the aggregate at any time outstanding.

 

Section 6.04          Sale and Leaseback Transactions. The Borrower will not, and will not permit any Subsidiary to, enter into any Sale and Leaseback Transaction (other than any Transportation Equipment Transaction) unless the Borrower, within 120 days of the consummation of such Sale and Leaseback Transaction, applies an amount equal to the greater of (a) the Net Cash Proceeds of the sale of the real property leased pursuant to such Sale and Leaseback Transaction or (b) the fair market value of the real property so leased at the time of entering into such Sale and Leaseback Transaction (as determined by the Borrower’s board of directors), to the prepayment of the outstanding Term Loans; and provided further that all Attributable Debt associated with any such Sale and Leaseback Transaction shall be treated as Indebtedness of the Borrower and shall be subject to the limitations of the Indebtedness covenant.

 

 

Section 6.05          Limitation on Fundamental Changes.

 

(a)            The Borrower will not, and will not permit any Subsidiary to, merge into or consolidate with any other Person, or permit any other Person to merge into or consolidate with it, or sell, transfer, lease or otherwise dispose of (in one transaction or in a series of transactions and whether effected pursuant to a Division or otherwise) assets (including capital stock of Subsidiaries) constituting all or substantially all the assets of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis (whether now owned or hereafter acquired), or, in the case of any Loan Party, liquidate or dissolve, except that, if at the time thereof and immediately after giving effect thereto no Default shall have occurred and be continuing (i) any Subsidiary may merge into the Borrower in a transaction in which the Borrower is the surviving corporation, (ii) any Subsidiary may merge into any other Subsidiary in a transaction in which the surviving entity is a Subsidiary; provided, however, that after giving effect to such transaction, the surviving Subsidiary must be a Guarantor if either of such Subsidiaries was previously a Guarantor, (iii) any permitted asset disposition involving the sale of a Subsidiary may be effected by a merger of such Subsidiary, (iv) any Subsidiary may sell, transfer, lease or otherwise dispose of its assets to the Borrower or to another Subsidiary; provided, however, that (A) no Guarantor may sell, transfer, lease or otherwise dispose of its assets to a Non-Guarantor except as permitted pursuant to Section 6.07, and (B) after giving effect to such transaction, the surviving Subsidiary must be a Guarantor if either of such Subsidiaries was previously a Guarantor, and (v) any Subsidiary may liquidate or dissolve if the Borrower determines in good faith that such liquidation or dissolution is in the interest of the Borrower and is not materially disadvantageous to the Lenders; provided that any such merger involving a Person that is not a wholly owned Subsidiary immediately prior to such merger shall not be permitted unless also permitted by Section 6.06 regarding Restrictions on Investments.

 

(b)            The Borrower will not, and will not permit any Subsidiary to, engage to any material extent in any business other than businesses of the type conducted by the Borrower and the Subsidiaries on the Effective Date and businesses reasonably related thereto.

 

Section 6.06         Restrictions on Investments, Loans, Advances, Guarantees and Acquisitions. The Borrower will not, and will not permit any Subsidiary to, purchase, hold or acquire (including pursuant to any merger with any Person that was not a wholly owned Subsidiary prior to such merger) any capital stock, evidences of Indebtedness or securities (including any option, warrant or other right to acquire any of the foregoing) of, make or permit to exist any loans or advances to, guarantee any obligations of, or make or permit to exist any investment or any other interest in, any other Person, or purchase or otherwise acquire (in one transaction or a series of transactions), in each case whether effected pursuant to a Division, any assets of any other Person constituting a business unit, except:

 

(a)            Permitted Investments;

 

(b)            investments, guarantees and loans existing on the Effective Date and set forth on Schedule 6.06(b) and any modification, replacement, renewal, reinvestment or extension thereof; provided that the amount of the original investment is not increased except by the terms of such investment and as otherwise permitted by this Section 6.06;

 

 

(c)            investments by the Borrower and the Subsidiaries in Equity Interests in their respective Subsidiaries and in joint ventures engaged in businesses reasonably related to the business of the Borrower as of the Effective Date (such joint ventures, “Designated Joint Ventures”) and loans or advances made by the Borrower to any Subsidiary or Designated Joint Venture or made by any Subsidiary to the Borrower or any other Subsidiary or Designated Joint Venture; provided that the aggregate amount of investments, loans and advances made by Loan Parties in or to Non-Guarantors and Designated Joint Ventures, together with the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness of Non-Guarantors and Designated Joint Ventures that is Guaranteed by any Loan Party pursuant to clause (e) below, shall not exceed $200,000,000 at any time outstanding, when combined with investments made pursuant to clause (o) below;

 

(d)            obligations of the Borrower to any Subsidiary, or of any Subsidiary to the Borrower or any other Subsidiary, arising from intercompany cash management and cash pooling arrangements in the ordinary course of business, and the settlement of intercompany balances generated by such intercompany cash management and cash pooling arrangements;

 

(e)            Guarantees constituting permitted Indebtedness; provided that (i) a Subsidiary shall not Guarantee any Indebtedness of the Borrower unless such Subsidiary is a Guarantor and (ii) the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness of Non-Guarantors and Designated Joint Ventures that is Guaranteed by any Loan Party pursuant to this clause (e), together with investments, loans and advances made by Loan Parties in or to Non-Guarantors and Designated Joint Ventures pursuant to clause (c) above, shall not exceed $200,000,000 at any time outstanding, when combined with investments made pursuant to clause (o) below;

 

(f)             Guarantees by the Borrower of accounts payable of Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business;

 

(g)            investments received in connection with the bankruptcy or reorganization of, or settlement of delinquent accounts and disputes with, customers and suppliers, in each case in the ordinary course of business;

 

(h)            investments in perpetual care trusts, pre-need trusts or similar transactions made (i) in the ordinary course of such Person’s business and (ii) subject to applicable Federal, state or local regulations;

 

(i)             Equity Interests and debt obligations owned by the Borrower or any Subsidiary as a result of the receipt of non-cash consideration from the disposition of any assets in compliance with Section 6.07;

 

(j)             Permitted Acquisitions;

 

(k)            investments in Regulated Subsidiaries for reserves and capital to the extent required by applicable Governmental Authorities, as determined in good faith by the Borrower, so long as the pro forma Leverage Ratio, after giving effect to such investment (including, for the avoidance of doubt, the reduction in cash on hand after giving effect to such investment), is less than or equal to 4.50 to 1.00;

 

 

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

 

(m)           investments in Swap Agreements permitted by Section 6.08;

 

(n)            investments by the Borrower in respect of, including by way of any contributions to, any employee benefit, pension or retirement plan; and

 

(o)            investments not permitted by any other clause of this Section in an aggregate amount not to exceed $200,000,000 outstanding at any time, when combined with the aggregate amount of investments, loans and advances made by Loan Parties in or to Non-Guarantors and Designated Joint Ventures pursuant to clause (c) above and the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness of Non-Guarantors and Designated Joint Ventures that is Guaranteed by any Loan Party pursuant to clause (e) above.

 

Section 6.07          Limitation on Asset Sales. The Borrower will not, and will not permit any Subsidiary to, sell, transfer, lease or otherwise dispose of any asset (in one transaction or in a series of transactions and whether effected pursuant to a Division or otherwise), including any Equity Interest, owned by it, nor will the Borrower permit any of the Subsidiaries to issue any additional Equity Interest in such Subsidiary, except:

 

(a)            (i) dispositions of inventory (including parcels in developed cemetery properties), used, obsolete, worn out or surplus equipment and Permitted Investments in the ordinary course of business and (ii) dispositions of property which the Borrower in good faith determines is no longer used or useful in the conduct of the business of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries;

 

(b)            sales, transfers and dispositions to the Borrower or a Subsidiary; provided that any such sales, transfers or dispositions involving a Non-Guarantor shall be made in compliance with Section 6.10 regarding Restrictions on Transactions with Affiliates below; and

 

(c)            Sale and Leaseback Transactions permitted by Section 6.04 hereof;

 

(d)            dispositions of accounts receivable in connection with the collection or compromise thereof;

 

(e)            to the extent constituting sales, transfers, leases or dispositions, the granting of Liens permitted by Section 6.03, the making of investments permitted by Section 6.06, mergers, consolidations, liquidations and the sale of all or substantially all assets permitted by Section 6.05 and Restricted Payments permitted by Section 6.09; and

 

(f)             sales, transfers, leases and other dispositions of assets (other than accounts receivable or inventory) the sale of which is not otherwise permitted by any other clause; provided that (i) the aggregate fair market value of all assets sold, transferred or otherwise disposed of in reliance upon this clause (f) shall not exceed $1,000,000,000, (ii) all sales, transfers, leases and other dispositions individually, or in a series of related transactions, for consideration in excess of $5,000,000 permitted pursuant to this clause (f) shall be made for fair value and (iii) the aggregate,

 

 

non-cash consideration received in connection with all such sales shall not exceed $200,000,000 during the term hereof.

 

For purposes of this Section and Section 6.06, any transaction which is a “like kind exchange” under Section 1031 of the Code shall be considered a disposition (if the Borrower or any Subsidiary receives cash consideration upon the completion thereof) or an acquisition (if the Borrower or a Subsidiary pays cash consideration upon the completion thereof) only upon the completion of such transaction, and then only to the extent of the cash received or paid.

 

Section 6.08          Swap Agreements. The Borrower will not, and will not permit any Subsidiary to, enter into any Swap Agreement, except (a) Swap Agreements entered into to hedge or mitigate risks (including foreign exchange risks) to which the Borrower or any Subsidiary has actual exposure (other than in respect of Equity Interests or Indebtedness of the Borrower or any Subsidiary), and (b) Swap Agreements entered into in order to effectively cap, collar or exchange interest rates (from fixed to floating rates, from one floating rate to another floating rate or otherwise) with respect to any interest-bearing liability or investment of the Borrower or any Subsidiary.

 

Section 6.09          Limitation on Restricted Payments. The Borrower will not, and will not permit any Subsidiary to, declare or make, or agree to pay or make, directly or indirectly, any Restricted Payment except:

 

(a)            any Subsidiary may make any Restricted Payment to the Borrower or any other Subsidiary; provided that no Loan Party may make any Restricted Payment to a Non-Guarantor on a non-ratable basis;

 

(b)            the Borrower may repurchase Equity Interests of the Borrower upon the exercise of options or the vesting of restricted stock awards to the extent such Equity Interests represent a portion of the exercise price therefor or for payment of associated taxes; provided that the total consideration paid for repurchases of such Equity Interests shall not exceed $10,000,000 in any fiscal year; and

 

(c)            during any Qualified Acquisition Period, at any time the pro forma Leverage Ratio (after giving effect to such Restricted Payment, including, for the avoidance of doubt, the reduction in cash on hand after giving effect to such Restricted Payment) is greater than 5.00 to 1.00, and so long as no Default or Event of Default exists at the time, or is created as a result thereof, the Borrower or any Subsidiary may declare or make, or agree to pay or make, directly or indirectly, Restricted Payments in an aggregate amount not to exceed $200,000,000 for all Restricted Payments declared and/or paid at such times in any fiscal year.

 

At any time the pro forma Leverage Ratio (after giving effect to such Restricted Payment, including, for the avoidance of doubt, the reduction in cash on hand after giving effect to such Restricted Payment) is less than or equal to 5.00 to 1.00, and so long as no Default or Event of Default exists at the time or is created as a result of any such Restricted Payment, the provisions of this Section will not apply.

 

Section 6.10          Restrictions on Transactions with Affiliates. The Borrower will not, and will not permit any Subsidiary to, sell, lease or otherwise transfer any property or assets to, or

 

 

purchase, lease or otherwise acquire any property or assets from, or otherwise engage in any other transactions with, any of its Affiliates, except (a) transactions in the ordinary course of business at prices and on terms and conditions not less favorable to the Borrower or such Subsidiary than could be obtained on an arm’s-length basis from unrelated third parties, (b) transactions between or among Loan Parties not involving any other Affiliate and transactions between or among Subsidiaries that are not Loan Parties not involving any other Affiliate, (c) any investment, loan or advance involving a Subsidiary that is permitted hereunder, (d) any Restricted Payment permitted by Section 6.09, (e) issuances of securities or other payments pursuant to, or the funding of, employment arrangements, indemnification agreements, stock options and stock ownership plans approved by the board of directors of the Borrower or such Subsidiary and the grant of stock options or similar rights to employees and directors of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries pursuant to plans approved by the board of directors of the Borrower and (f) the payment of reasonable fees and expenses and the provision of customary indemnities to directors of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries who are not employees of the Borrower or its Subsidiaries.

 

Section 6.11         Restrictions on Restrictive Agreements. The Borrower will not, and will not permit any Subsidiary to, directly or indirectly, enter into, incur or permit to exist any agreement or other arrangement that prohibits, restricts or imposes any condition upon (a) the ability of the Borrower or any Subsidiary to create, incur or permit to exist any Lien upon any of its properties or assets, or (b) the ability of any Subsidiary to pay dividends or other distributions with respect to any shares of its capital stock or to guarantee Indebtedness of the Borrower or any other Subsidiary that are, in each case in this clause (b), more restrictive than that which exists as of the Effective Date; provided that the foregoing shall not apply to (i) restrictions and conditions imposed by law or by any Loan Document, (ii) restrictions and conditions existing on the Effective Date identified on Schedule 6.11 (but shall apply to any extension or renewal of, or any amendment or modification expanding the scope of, any such restriction or commitment) or at the time any Subsidiary becomes a Subsidiary of the Borrower, so long as such agreement was not entered into solely in contemplation of such Person becoming a Subsidiary of the Borrower, (iii) restrictions and conditions contained in any extension, renewal, replacement, amendment or modification of each indenture (including any supplemental indentures entered into pursuant to the terms thereof) to which the Borrower is a party on the Effective Date and that is identified on the schedule referenced in clause (ii) above, so long as such restrictions and conditions are not materially more restrictive than those in the indenture being extended, renewed, replaced, amended or modified, (iv) restrictions and conditions in any agreement representing Indebtedness of a Foreign Subsidiary of the Borrower which is permitted by Section 6.01, (v) in the case of clause (a), (A) restrictions and conditions in any document governing Indebtedness permitted under Section 6.01(e) and (f) solely to the extent any such negative pledge relates to the property financed by or the subject of such Indebtedness, (B) customary restrictions on leases, subleases, licenses or asset sale agreements otherwise permitted hereby so long as such restrictions may relate to the assets subject thereto, (C) any agreement representing Indebtedness of a Subsidiary of the Borrower that is not a Loan Party which is permitted by Section 6.01, solely to the extent that such restriction applies only to property of such Subsidiary that secured such Indebtedness or (D) customary provisions restricting assignment of any agreement entered into in the ordinary course of business and (vi) the foregoing shall not apply to customary restrictions and conditions contained in agreements relating to the sale of a Subsidiary pending such sale, provided such restrictions and conditions apply only to the Subsidiary that is to be sold and such sale is permitted hereunder.

 

 

Section 6.12          Financial Covenant. The Borrower will not permit the Leverage Ratio as of the last day of each fiscal quarter to be greater than 5.00 to 1.00; provided that, at the Borrower’s option to be exercised by written notice (including by email) to the Administrative Agent upon the consummation of a Qualified Acquisition, but no more than two times during the term hereof, the Leverage Ratio shall not exceed 5.50 to 1.00 as of the last day of the fiscal quarter in which such Qualified Acquisition was consummated and as of the last day of each of the three full fiscal quarters ending immediately thereafter (such four quarter period, only to the extent the Borrower has made such an election, a “Qualified Acquisition Period”).

 

Article VII
Events of Default

 

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

 

(a)            the Borrower shall fail to pay any principal of any Loan or any reimbursement obligation in respect of any LC Disbursement when and as the same shall become due and payable, whether at the due date thereof or at a date fixed for prepayment thereof or otherwise;

 

(b)            the Borrower shall fail to pay any interest on any Loan or any fee or any other amount (other than an amount referred to in clause (a) of this Article) payable under this Agreement, when and as the same shall become due and payable, and such failure shall continue unremedied for a period of five (5) Business Days;

 

(c)            any representation or warranty made or deemed made by or on behalf of the Borrower or any Subsidiary in or in connection with this Agreement or any amendment or modification hereof or waiver hereunder, or in any report, certificate, financial statement or other document furnished pursuant to or in connection with this Agreement or any amendment or modification hereof or waiver hereunder, shall prove to have been incorrect in any material respect when made or deemed made;

 

(d)            the Borrower shall fail to observe or perform any covenant, condition or agreement contained in Section 5.02, Section 5.03 (with respect to the Borrower’s existence) or Section 5.08, Section 5.10 or in Article VI;

 

(e)            the Borrower shall fail to observe or perform any covenant, condition or agreement contained in this Agreement (other than those specified in clause (a), (b) or (d) of this Article), and such failure shall continue unremedied for a period of 30 days after notice thereof from the Administrative Agent to the Borrower (which notice will be given at the request of any Lender);

 

(f)             the Borrower or any Subsidiary shall fail to make any payment (whether of principal or interest and regardless of amount) in respect of any Material Indebtedness, when and as the same shall become due and payable;

 

(g)            any event or condition occurs that results in any Material Indebtedness becoming due prior to its scheduled maturity or that enables or permits (with or without the giving of notice, the lapse of time or both) the holder or holders of any Material Indebtedness or any trustee or agent on its or their behalf to cause any Material Indebtedness to become due, or to require the  

 

prepayment, repurchase, redemption or defeasance thereof, prior to its scheduled maturity; provided that this clause (g) shall not apply to secured Indebtedness that becomes due as a result of the voluntary sale or transfer of the property or assets securing such Indebtedness;

 

(h)            an involuntary proceeding shall be commenced or an involuntary petition shall be filed seeking (i) liquidation, reorganization or other relief in respect of the Borrower or any Subsidiary or its debts, or of a substantial part of its assets, under any Debtor Relief Law or (ii) the appointment of a receiver, trustee, custodian, sequestrator, conservator or similar official for the Borrower or any Subsidiary or for a substantial part of its assets, and, in any such case, such proceeding or petition shall continue undismissed for 60 days or an order or decree approving or ordering any of the foregoing shall be entered;

 

(i)             the Borrower or any Subsidiary shall (i) voluntarily commence any proceeding or file any petition seeking liquidation, reorganization or other relief under any Debtor Relief Law, (ii) consent to the institution of, or fail to contest in a timely and appropriate manner, any proceeding or petition described in clause (h) of this Article, (iii) apply for or consent to the appointment of a receiver, trustee, custodian, sequestrator, conservator or similar official for the Borrower or any Subsidiary or for a substantial part of its assets, (iv) file an answer admitting the material allegations of a petition filed against it in any such proceeding, (v) make a general assignment for the benefit of creditors or (vi) take any action for the purpose of effecting any of the foregoing;

 

(j)             the Borrower or any Subsidiary shall become unable, admit in writing its inability or fail generally to pay its debts as they become due;

 

(k)            one or more judgments for the payment of money in an aggregate amount in excess of $200,000,000 shall be rendered against the Borrower, any Subsidiary or any combination thereof and the same shall remain undischarged for a period of 30 consecutive days during which execution shall not be effectively stayed, or any action shall be legally taken by a judgment creditor to attach or levy upon any assets of the Borrower or any Subsidiary to enforce any such judgment;

 

(l)             an ERISA Event shall have occurred that, in the opinion of the Required Lenders, when taken together with all other ERISA Events that have occurred, could reasonably be expected to result in liability of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries increasing after the Effective Date in an aggregate amount exceeding $200,000,000; or

 

(m)           a Change in Control shall occur;

 

then, and in every such event (other than an event with respect to the Borrower described in clause (h) or (i) of this Article), and at any time thereafter during the continuance of such event, the Administrative Agent may, and at the request of the Required Lenders shall, by notice to the Borrower, take either or both of the following actions, at the same or different times: (i) terminate the Commitments (including the Letter of Credit Commitments), and thereupon the Commitments shall terminate immediately, and (ii) declare the Loans then outstanding to be due and payable in whole (or in part, in which case any principal not so declared to be due and payable may thereafter be declared to be due and payable), and thereupon the principal of the Loans so declared to be due and payable, together with accrued interest thereon and all fees and other Obligations of the

 

 

Borrower accrued hereunder, shall become due and payable immediately, without presentment, demand, protest or other notice of any kind, all of which are hereby waived by the Borrower; and in case of any event with respect to the Borrower described in clause (h) or (i) of this Article, the Commitments shall automatically terminate and the principal of the Loans then outstanding, together with accrued interest thereon and all fees and other obligations of the Borrower accrued hereunder, shall automatically become due and payable, without presentment, demand, protest or other notice of any kind, all of which are hereby waived by the Borrower, and (iii) take such other steps to collect the Loans and protect the interest of the Lenders as shall be allowed by law or in equity.

 

In the event that the Obligations have been accelerated pursuant to the immediately preceding paragraph or the Administrative Agent or any Lender has exercised any remedy set forth in this Agreement or any other Loan Document, all payments received by the Administrative Agent and the Lenders upon the Obligations and all net proceeds from the enforcement of the Obligations shall be applied:

 

First, to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting fees, indemnities, expenses and other amounts, including attorney fees, payable to the Administrative Agent in its capacity as such, the Issuing Banks in their capacity as such, ratably among the Administrative Agent and the Issuing Banks in proportion to the respective amounts described in this clause First payable to them;

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Fifth, to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting unpaid payment obligations under Swap Agreements described in clause (c) of the definition of Obligations and under Bank Products described in clause (d) of the definition of Obligations, ratably among the Persons to whom such obligations are owed in proportion to the respective amounts described in this clause Fifth held by them;

 

Sixth, to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Issuing Banks, to Cash Collateralize any LC Exposure then outstanding; and

 

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

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, Excluded Swap Obligations with respect to any Guarantor that is not an “eligible contract participant” as defined in the Commodity Exchange Act and the

 

 

regulations thereunder shall not be paid with amounts received from such Guarantor or its assets, but appropriate adjustments shall be made with respect to payments from other Loan Parties to preserve the allocation to that portion of the Obligations constituting unpaid payment obligations under Swap Agreements described in clause (c) of the definition of Obligations otherwise set forth above.

 

Article VIII
The Administrative Agent

 

Section 8.01          Authorization and Action.

 

(a)            Each Lender and each Issuing Bank hereby irrevocably appoints the entity named as Administrative Agent in the heading of this Agreement and its successors and assigns to serve as the administrative agent under the Loan Documents and each Lender and each Issuing Bank authorizes the Administrative Agent to take such actions as agent on its behalf and to exercise such powers under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents as are delegated to the Administrative Agent under such agreements and to exercise such powers as are reasonably incidental thereto. Without limiting the foregoing, each Lender and each Issuing Bank hereby authorizes the Administrative Agent to execute and deliver, and to perform its obligations under, each of the Loan Documents to which the Administrative Agent is a party, and to exercise all rights, powers and remedies that the Administrative Agent may have under such Loan Documents.

 

(b)            As to any matters not expressly provided for herein and in the other Loan Documents (including enforcement or collection), the Administrative Agent shall not be required to exercise any discretion or take any action, but shall be required to act or to refrain from acting (and shall be fully protected in so acting or refraining from acting) upon the written instructions of the Required Lenders (or such other number or percentage of the Lenders as shall be necessary, pursuant to the terms in the Loan Documents), and, unless and until revoked in writing, such instructions shall be binding upon each Lender and each Issuing Bank; provided, however, that the Administrative Agent shall not be required to take any action that (i) the Administrative Agent in good faith believes exposes it to liability unless the Administrative Agent receives an indemnification and is exculpated in a manner satisfactory to it from the Lenders and the Issuing Banks with respect to such action or (ii) is contrary to this Agreement or any other Loan Document or applicable law, including any action that may be in violation of the automatic stay under any requirement of law relating to bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization or relief of debtors or that may effect a forfeiture, modification or termination of property of a Defaulting Lender in violation of any requirement of law relating to bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization or relief of debtors; provided, further, that the Administrative Agent may seek clarification or direction from the Required Lenders prior to the exercise of any such instructed action and may refrain from acting until such clarification or direction has been provided. Except as expressly set forth in the Loan Documents, the Administrative Agent shall not have any duty to disclose, and shall not be liable for the failure to disclose, any information relating to the Borrower, any Subsidiary or any Affiliate of any of the foregoing that is communicated to or obtained by the Person serving as the Administrative Agent or any of its Affiliates in any capacity. Nothing in this Agreement shall require the Administrative Agent to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur any financial liability in the performance of any of its duties hereunder or in the exercise of any of its rights or

 

 

powers if it shall have reasonable grounds for believing that repayment of such funds or adequate indemnity against such risk or liability is not reasonably assured to it.

 

(c)            In performing its functions and duties hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, the Administrative Agent is acting solely on behalf of the Lenders and the Issuing Banks (except in limited circumstances expressly provided for herein relating to the maintenance of the Register), and its duties are entirely mechanical and administrative in nature. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing:

 

(i)             the Administrative Agent does not assume and shall not be deemed to have assumed any obligation or duty or any other relationship as the agent, fiduciary or trustee of or for any Lender, Issuing Bank or holder of any other obligation other than as expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents, regardless of whether a Default or an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing (and it is understood and agreed that the use of the term “agent” (or any similar term) herein or in any other Loan Document with reference to the Administrative Agent is not intended to connote any fiduciary duty or other implied (or express) obligations arising under agency doctrine of any applicable law, and that such term is used as a matter of market custom and is intended to create or reflect only an administrative relationship between contracting parties); additionally, each Lender agrees that it will not assert any claim against the Administrative Agent based on an alleged breach of fiduciary duty by the Administrative Agent in connection with this Agreement and/or the transactions contemplated hereby; and

 

(ii)            nothing in this Agreement or any Loan Document shall require the Administrative Agent to account to any Lender for any sum or the profit element of any sum received by the Administrative Agent for its own account.

 

(d)            The Administrative Agent may perform any 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 of their respective duties and exercise their respective rights and powers 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 pursuant to this Agreement. The Administrative Agent shall not be responsible for the negligence or misconduct of any sub-agent except to the extent that a court of competent jurisdiction determines in a final and nonappealable judgment that the Administrative Agent acted with gross negligence or willful misconduct in the selection of such sub-agent.

 

(e)            None of any Co-Syndication Agent, any Co-Documentation Agent or any Arranger shall have obligations or duties whatsoever in such capacity under this Agreement or any other Loan Document and shall incur no liability hereunder or thereunder in such capacity, but all such persons shall have the benefit of the indemnities provided for hereunder.

 

(f)             In case of the pendency of any proceeding with respect to any Loan Party under any Federal, state or foreign bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or similar law now or hereafter in effect, the Administrative Agent (irrespective of whether the principal of any Loan or any LC Disbursement shall then be due and payable as herein expressed or by declaration or otherwise and

 

 

irrespective of whether the Administrative Agent shall have made any demand on the Borrower) shall be entitled and empowered (but not obligated) by intervention in such proceeding or otherwise:

 

(i)             to file and prove a claim for the whole amount of the principal and interest owing and unpaid in respect of the Loans, LC Disbursements and all other Obligations that are owing and unpaid and to file such other documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Lenders, the Issuing Banks and the Administrative Agent (including any claim under Sections 2.12, 2.13, 2.15, 2.17 and 9.03) allowed in such judicial proceeding; and

 

(ii)            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 proceeding is hereby authorized by each Lender and each Issuing Bank to make such payments to the Administrative Agent and, in the event that the Administrative Agent shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Lenders and the Issuing Banks, to pay to the Administrative Agent any amount due to it, in its capacity as the Administrative Agent, under the Loan Documents (including under Section 9.03). 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 Issuing Bank any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Obligations or the rights of any Lender or Issuing Bank or to authorize the Administrative Agent to vote in respect of the claim of any Lender or Issuing Bank in any such proceeding.

 

(g)            The provisions of this Article are solely for the benefit of the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the Issuing Banks, and, except solely to the extent of the Borrower’s rights to consent pursuant to and subject to the conditions set forth in this Article, none of the Borrower or any Subsidiary, or any of their respective Affiliates, shall have any rights as a third party beneficiary under any such provisions.

 

Section 8.02          Administrative Agent’s Reliance, Limitation of Liability, Etc.

 

(a)            Neither the Administrative Agent nor any of its Related Parties shall be (i) liable for any action taken or omitted to be taken by such party, the Administrative Agent or any of its Related Parties under or in connection with this Agreement or the other Loan Documents (x) with the consent of 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 to be necessary, under the circumstances as provided in the Loan Documents) or (y) in the absence of its own gross negligence or willful misconduct (such absence to be presumed unless otherwise determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by a final and non-appealable judgment) or (ii) responsible in any manner to any of the Lenders for any recitals, statements, representations or warranties made by any Loan Party or any officer thereof contained in this Agreement or any other Loan Document or in any certificate, report, statement or other document referred to or provided for in, or received by the Administrative Agent under or in connection with, this Agreement or any other Loan Document or for the value, validity, effectiveness, genuineness, enforceability or

 

 

sufficiency of this Agreement or any other Loan Document (including, for the avoidance of doubt, in connection with the Administrative Agent’s reliance on any Electronic Signature transmitted by telecopy, emailed pdf. or any other electronic means that reproduces an image of an actual executed signature page) or for any failure of any Loan Party to perform its obligations hereunder or thereunder.

 

(b)            The Administrative Agent shall be deemed not to have knowledge of any (i) notice of any of the events or circumstances set forth or described in Section 5.02 unless and until written notice thereof stating that it is a “notice under Section 5.02” in respect of this Agreement and identifying the specific clause under said Section is given to the Administrative Agent by the Borrower, or (ii) notice of any Default or Event of Default unless and until written notice thereof (stating that it is a “notice of Default” or a “notice of an Event of Default”) is given to the Administrative Agent by the Borrower, a Lender or an Issuing Bank. Further, the Administrative Agent shall not be responsible for or have any duty to ascertain or inquire into (A) any statement, warranty or representation made in or in connection with any Loan Document, (B) the contents of any certificate, report or other document delivered thereunder or in connection therewith, (C) the performance or observance of any of the covenants, agreements or other terms or conditions set forth in any Loan Document or the occurrence of any Default or Event of Default, (D) the sufficiency, validity, enforceability, effectiveness or genuineness of any Loan Document or any other agreement, instrument or document, or (E) the satisfaction of any condition set forth in Article IV or elsewhere in any Loan Document, other than to confirm receipt of items (which on their face purport to be such items) expressly required to be delivered to the Administrative Agent or satisfaction of any condition that expressly refers to the matters described therein being acceptable or satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

 

(c)            Without limiting the foregoing, the Administrative Agent (i) may treat the payee of any promissory note as its holder until such promissory note has been assigned in accordance with Section 9.04, (ii) may rely on the Register to the extent set forth in Section 9.04, (iii) may consult with legal counsel (including counsel to the Borrower), independent public accountants and other experts selected by it, and shall not be liable for any action taken or omitted to be taken in good faith by it in accordance with the advice of such counsel, accountants or experts, (iv) makes no warranty or representation to any Lender or Issuing Bank and shall not be responsible to any Lender or Issuing Bank for any statements, warranties or representations made by or on behalf of any Loan Party in connection with this Agreement or any other Loan Document, (v) 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 satisfaction of a Lender or an Issuing Bank, may presume that such condition is satisfactory to such Lender or Issuing Bank unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice to the contrary from such Lender or Issuing Bank sufficiently in advance of the making of such Loan or the issuance of such Letter of Credit and (vi) shall be entitled to rely on, and shall incur no liability under or in respect of this Agreement or any other Loan Document by acting upon, any notice, consent, certificate or other instrument or writing (which writing may be a fax, any electronic message, Internet or intranet website posting or other distribution) or any statement made to it orally or by telephone and believed by it to be genuine and signed or sent or otherwise authenticated by the proper party or parties (whether or not such Person in fact meets the requirements set forth in the Loan Documents for being the maker thereof).

 

 

Section 8.03          Posting of Communications.

 

(a)            The Borrower agrees that the Administrative Agent may, but shall not be obligated to, make any Communications available to the Lenders and the Issuing Banks by posting the Communications on IntraLinks™, DebtDomain, SyndTrak, ClearPar or any other electronic platform chosen by the Administrative Agent to be its electronic transmission system (the “Approved Electronic Platform”).

 

(b)            Although the Approved Electronic Platform and its primary web portal are secured with generally-applicable security procedures and policies implemented or modified by the Administrative Agent from time to time (including, as of the Effective Date, a user ID/password authorization system) and the Approved Electronic Platform is secured through a per-deal authorization method whereby each user may access the Approved Electronic Platform only on a deal-by-deal basis, each of the Lenders, each of the Issuing Banks and the Borrower acknowledges and agrees that the distribution of material through an electronic medium is not necessarily secure, that the Administrative Agent is not responsible for approving or vetting the representatives or contacts of any Lender that are added to the Approved Electronic Platform, and that there may be confidentiality and other risks associated with such distribution. Each of the Lenders, each of the Issuing Banks and the Borrower hereby approves distribution of the Communications through the Approved Electronic Platform and understands and assumes the risks of such distribution.

 

(c)            THE APPROVED ELECTRONIC PLATFORM AND THE COMMUNICATIONS ARE PROVIDED “AS IS” AND “AS AVAILABLE”. THE APPLICABLE PARTIES (AS DEFINED BELOW) DO NOT WARRANT THE ACCURACY OR COMPLETENESS OF THE COMMUNICATIONS, OR THE ADEQUACY OF THE APPROVED ELECTRONIC PLATFORM AND EXPRESSLY DISCLAIM LIABILITY FOR ERRORS OR OMISSIONS IN THE APPROVED ELECTRONIC PLATFORM AND THE COMMUNICATIONS. NO WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS, IMPLIED OR STATUTORY, INCLUDING ANY WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, NON-INFRINGEMENT OF THIRD PARTY RIGHTS OR FREEDOM FROM VIRUSES OR OTHER CODE DEFECTS, IS MADE BY THE APPLICABLE PARTIES IN CONNECTION WITH THE COMMUNICATIONS OR THE APPROVED ELECTRONIC PLATFORM. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT, ANY ARRANGER, ANY CO-DOCUMENTATION AGENT, ANY CO-SYNDICATION AGENT OR ANY OF THEIR RESPECTIVE RELATED PARTIES (COLLECTIVELY, “APPLICABLE PARTIES”) HAVE ANY LIABILITY TO ANY LOAN PARTY, ANY LENDER, ANY ISSUING BANK OR ANY OTHER PERSON OR ENTITY FOR DAMAGES OF ANY KIND, INCLUDING DIRECT OR INDIRECT, SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, LOSSES OR EXPENSES (WHETHER IN TORT, CONTRACT OR OTHERWISE) ARISING OUT OF ANY LOAN PARTY’S OR THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT’S TRANSMISSION OF COMMUNICATIONS THROUGH THE INTERNET OR THE APPROVED ELECTRONIC PLATFORM.

 

“Communications” means, collectively, any notice, demand, communication, information, document or other material provided by or on behalf of any Loan Party pursuant to any Loan Document or the transactions contemplated therein which is distributed by the Administrative

 

 

Agent, any Lender or any Issuing Bank by means of electronic communications pursuant to this Section, including through an Approved Electronic Platform.

 

(d)            Each Lender and each Issuing Bank agrees that notice to it (as provided in the next sentence) specifying that Communications have been posted to the Approved Electronic Platform shall constitute effective delivery of the Communications to such Lender for purposes of the Loan Documents. Each Lender and Issuing Bank agrees (i) to notify the Administrative Agent in writing (which could be in the form of electronic communication) from time to time of such Lender’s or Issuing Bank’s (as applicable) email address to which the foregoing notice may be sent by electronic transmission and (ii) that the foregoing notice may be sent to such email address.

 

(e)            Each of the Lenders, each of the Issuing Banks and the Borrower agrees that the Administrative Agent may, but (except as may be required by applicable law) shall not be obligated to, store the Communications on the Approved Electronic Platform in accordance with the Administrative Agent’s generally applicable document retention procedures and policies.

 

(f)             Nothing herein shall prejudice the right of the Administrative Agent, any Lender or any Issuing Bank to give any notice or other communication pursuant to any Loan Document in any other manner specified in such Loan Document.

 

Section 8.04          The Administrative Agent Individually. With respect to its Commitments, Loans, Letter of Credit Commitment and Letters of Credit, the Person serving as the Administrative Agent shall have and may exercise the same rights and powers hereunder and is subject to the same obligations and liabilities as and to the extent set forth herein for any other Lender or Issuing Bank, as the case may be. The terms “Issuing Banks”, “Lenders”, “Required Lenders” and any similar terms shall, unless the context clearly otherwise indicates, include the Administrative Agent in its individual capacity as a Lender, Issuing Bank or as one of the Required Lenders, as applicable. The Person serving as the Administrative Agent 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 banking, trust or other business with, the Borrower, any Subsidiary or any Affiliate of any of the foregoing as if such Person was not acting as the Administrative Agent and without any duty to account therefor to the Lenders or the Issuing Banks.

 

Section 8.05          Successor Administrative Agent.

 

(a)            The Administrative Agent may resign at any time by giving 30 days’ prior written notice thereof to the Lenders, the Issuing Banks and the Borrower, whether or not a successor Administrative Agent has been appointed. Upon any such resignation, the Required Lenders shall have the right to appoint a successor Administrative Agent. If no successor Administrative Agent shall have been so appointed by the Required Lenders, and shall have accepted such appointment, within 30 days after the retiring Administrative Agent’s giving of notice of resignation, then the retiring Administrative Agent may, on behalf of the Lenders and the Issuing Banks, appoint a successor Administrative Agent, which shall be a bank with an office in Houston, Texas, or an Affiliate of any such bank. In either case, such appointment shall be subject to the prior written approval of the Borrower (which approval may not be unreasonably withheld and shall not be required while an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing). Upon the acceptance of any

 

 

appointment as Administrative Agent by a successor Administrative Agent, such successor Administrative Agent shall succeed to, and become vested with, all the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring Administrative Agent. Upon the acceptance of appointment as Administrative Agent by a successor Administrative Agent, the retiring Administrative Agent shall be discharged from its duties and obligations under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents. Prior to any retiring Administrative Agent’s resignation hereunder as Administrative Agent, the retiring Administrative Agent shall take such action as may be reasonably necessary to assign to the successor Administrative Agent its rights as Administrative Agent under the Loan Documents.

 

(b)            Notwithstanding paragraph (a) of this Section, in the event no successor Administrative Agent shall have been so appointed and shall have accepted such appointment within 30 days after the retiring Administrative Agent gives notice of its intent to resign, the retiring Administrative Agent may give notice of the effectiveness of its resignation to the Lenders, the Issuing Banks and the Borrower, whereupon, on the date of effectiveness of such resignation stated in such notice, (i) the retiring Administrative Agent shall be discharged from its duties and obligations hereunder and under the other Loan Documents and (ii) the Required Lenders shall succeed to and become vested with all the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring Administrative Agent; provided that (A) all payments required to be made hereunder or under any other Loan Document to the Administrative Agent for the account of any Person other than the Administrative Agent shall be made directly to such Person and (B) all notices and other communications required or contemplated to be given or made to the Administrative Agent shall directly be given or made to each Lender and each Issuing Bank. Following the effectiveness of the Administrative Agent’s resignation from its capacity as such, the provisions of this Article and Section 9.03, as well as any exculpatory, reimbursement and indemnification provisions set forth in any other Loan Document, 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.

 

Section 8.06          Acknowledgements of Lenders and Issuing Banks.

 

(a)            Each Lender and each Issuing Bank represents and warrants that (i) the Loan Documents set forth the terms of a commercial lending facility, (ii) it is engaged in making, acquiring or holding commercial loans and in providing other facilities set forth herein as may be applicable to such Lender or Issuing Bank, in each case in the ordinary course of business, and not for the purpose of purchasing, acquiring or holding any other type of financial instrument (and each Lender and each Issuing Bank agrees not to assert a claim in contravention of the foregoing), (iii) it has, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent, any Arranger, any Co-Syndication Agent, any Co-Documentation Agent or any other Lender or Issuing Bank, or any of the Related Parties of any of the foregoing, and based on such documents and information as it has deemed appropriate, made its own credit analysis and decision to enter into this Agreement as a Lender, and to make, acquire or hold Loans hereunder and (iv) it is sophisticated with respect to decisions to make, acquire and/or hold commercial loans and to provide other facilities set forth herein, as may be applicable to such Lender or such Issuing Bank, and either it, or the Person exercising discretion in making its decision to make, acquire and/or hold such commercial loans or to provide such other facilities, is experienced in making, acquiring or holding such commercial loans or providing such other facilities. Each Lender and each Issuing Bank also acknowledges

 

 

that it will, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent, any Arranger, any Co-Syndication Agent, any Co-Documentation Agent or any other Lender or Issuing Bank, or any of the Related Parties of any of the foregoing, and based on such documents and information (which may contain material, non-public information within the meaning of the United States securities laws concerning the Borrower and its Affiliates) as it shall from time to time deem appropriate, continue to make its own decisions in taking or not taking action under or based upon this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any related agreement or any document furnished hereunder or thereunder.

 

(b)            Each Lender, by delivering its signature page to this Agreement on the Effective Date, or delivering its signature page to an Assignment and Assumption or any other Loan Document pursuant to which it shall become a Lender hereunder, shall be deemed to have acknowledged receipt of, and consented to and approved, each Loan Document and each other document required to be delivered to, or be approved by or satisfactory to, the Administrative Agent or the Lenders on the Effective Date.

 

(c)            (i) Each Lender hereby agrees that (x) if the Administrative Agent notifies such Lender that the Administrative Agent has determined in its sole discretion that any funds received by such Lender from the Administrative Agent or any of its Affiliates (whether as a payment, prepayment or repayment of principal, interest, fees or otherwise; individually and collectively, a “Payment”) were erroneously transmitted to such Lender (whether or not known to such Lender), and demands the return of such Payment (or a portion thereof), such Lender shall promptly, but in no event later than one Business Day thereafter, return to the Administrative Agent the amount of any such Payment (or portion thereof) as to which such a demand was made in same day funds, together with interest thereon in respect of each day from and including the date such Payment (or portion thereof) was received by such Lender to the date such amount is repaid to the Administrative Agent at the greater of the FRBNY Rate and a rate determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation from time to time in effect, and (y) to the extent permitted by applicable law, such Lender shall not assert, and hereby waives, as to the Administrative Agent, 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 Payments received, including without limitation any defense based on “discharge for value” or any similar doctrine. A notice of the Administrative Agent to any Lender under this Section 8.06(c) shall be conclusive, absent manifest error.

 

(ii)            Each Lender hereby further agrees that if it receives a 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 sent by the Administrative Agent (or any of its Affiliates) with respect to such Payment (a “Payment Notice”) or (y) that was not preceded or accompanied by a Payment Notice, it shall be on notice, in each such case, that an error has been made with respect to such Payment. Each Lender agrees that, in each such case, or if it otherwise becomes aware a Payment (or portion thereof) may have been sent in error, such Lender shall promptly notify the Administrative Agent of such occurrence and, upon demand from the Administrative Agent, it shall promptly, but in no event later than one Business Day thereafter, return to the Administrative Agent the amount of any such Payment (or portion thereof) as to which such a demand was made in same day funds, together with interest thereon in respect of each day from and including the date

 

 

such Payment (or portion thereof) was received by such Lender to the date such amount is repaid to the Administrative Agent at the greater of the FRBNY Rate and a rate determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation from time to time in effect.

 

(iii)           The Borrower hereby agrees that (x) in the event an erroneous Payment (or portion thereof) are not recovered from any Lender that has received such Payment (or portion thereof) for any reason, the Administrative Agent shall be subrogated to all the rights of such Lender with respect to such amount and (y) an erroneous Payment shall not pay, prepay, repay, discharge or otherwise satisfy any Obligations owed by the Borrower or any other Loan Party; provided that the immediately preceding clauses (x) and (y) shall not apply to the extent any 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, or on behalf of (including through the exercise of remedies under any Loan Document), the Borrower for the purpose of a payment on the Obligations.

 

(iv)           Each party’s obligations under this Section 8.06(c) shall survive the resignation or replacement of the Administrative Agent or any transfer of rights or obligations by, or the replacement of, a Lender, the termination of the Commitments or the repayment, satisfaction or discharge of all Obligations under any Loan Document.

 

Section 8.07          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 each Arranger and their respective Affiliates, and not, for the avoidance of doubt, to or for the benefit of the Borrower or any other Loan Party, that at least one of the following is and will be true:

 

(i)             such Lender is not using “plan assets” (within the meaning of the Plan Asset Regulations) of one or more Benefit Plans in connection with the Loans, the Letters of Credit or the Commitments,

 

(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 subsections (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 sub-clause (i) in the immediately preceding clause (a) is true with respect to a Lender or such Lender has provided another representation, warranty and covenant as provided in sub-clause (iv) in the immediately preceding clause (a), such Lender further (x) represents and warrants, as of the date such Person became a Lender party hereto, to, and (y) covenants, from the date such Person became a Lender party hereto to the date such Person ceases being a Lender party hereto, for the benefit of, the Administrative Agent, and each Arranger and their respective Affiliates, and not, for the avoidance of doubt, to or for the benefit of the Borrower or any other Loan Party, that none of the Administrative Agent, or any Arranger, any Co-Syndication Agent or any Co-Documentation Agent or any of their respective Affiliates is a fiduciary with respect to the assets of such Lender (including in connection with the reservation or exercise of any rights by the Administrative Agent under this Agreement, any Loan Document or any documents related to hereto or thereto).

 

(c)            The Administrative Agent, and each Arranger, Co-Syndication Agent and Co-Documentation Agent hereby informs the Lenders that each such Person is not undertaking to provide investment advice or to give advice in a fiduciary capacity, in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby, and that such Person has a financial interest in the transactions contemplated hereby in that such Person or an Affiliate thereof (i) may receive interest or other payments with respect to the Loans, the Letters of Credit, the Commitments, this Agreement and any other Loan Documents (ii) may recognize a gain if it extended the Loans, the Letters of Credit or the Commitments for an amount less than the amount being paid for an interest in the Loans, the Letters of Credit or the Commitments by such Lender or (iii) may receive fees or other payments in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby, the Loan Documents or otherwise, including structuring fees, commitment fees, arrangement fees, facility fees, upfront fees, underwriting fees, ticking fees, agency fees, administrative agent or collateral agent fees, utilization fees, minimum usage fees, letter of credit fees, fronting fees, deal-away or alternate transaction fees, amendment fees, processing fees, term out premiums, banker’s acceptance fees, breakage or other early termination fees or fees similar to the foregoing.

 

 

Article IX
Miscellaneous

 

Section 9.01          Notices.

 

(a)            Except in the case of notices and other communications expressly permitted to be given by telephone (and subject to paragraph (b) below), all notices and other communications provided for herein shall be in writing and shall be delivered by hand or overnight courier service, mailed by certified or registered mail or sent by telecopy or electronic mail, as follows:

 

(i)             if to the Borrower, to it at 1929 Allen Parkway, Houston, Texas 77019, Attention of Chief Financial Officer (Phone No. (713) 525-7768; Telecopy No. (713) 525-7581; E-Mail Address ***@***), with copies to General Counsel (Phone No. (713) 525-5259; Telecopy No. (866) 548-3994; Email Address ***@***) and Treasurer (Phone No. (713) 525-9779; Telecopy No. (713) 525-5591; E-Mail Address ***@***);

 

(ii)            if to the Administrative Agent, or to JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., in its capacity as an Issuing Bank, to JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., Loan and Agency Services Group, 4350 Congress Street, Charlotte, North Carolina 28209, Attention: Andrew Littlejohn (Phone No. 704 ###-###-####; Telecopy No. 312 ###-###-####; E-Mail Address ***@***), with a copy to ***@***; and

 

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

 

Notices sent by hand or overnight courier service, or mailed by certified or registered mail, shall be deemed to have been given when received; notices sent by 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 delivered through Approved Electronic Platforms, to the extent provided in paragraph (b) below, shall be effective as provided in said paragraph (b).

 

(b)            Notices and other communications to the Borrower, any Loan Party, the Lenders and the Issuing Banks hereunder may be delivered or furnished by using Approved Electronic Platforms pursuant to procedures approved by the Administrative Agent; provided that the foregoing shall not apply to notices pursuant to Article II unless otherwise agreed by the Administrative Agent and the applicable Lender. The Administrative Agent or the Borrower may, in its discretion, agree to accept notices and other communications to it hereunder by electronic communications pursuant to procedures approved by it; provided that approval of such procedures may be limited to particular notices or communications.

 

(c)            Unless the Administrative Agent otherwise prescribes, (i) notices and other communications sent to an e-mail address shall be deemed received upon the sender’s receipt of an acknowledgement from the intended recipient (such as by the “return receipt requested” function, as available, return e-mail or other written acknowledgement), and (ii) notices or

 

 

communications posted to an Internet or intranet website shall be deemed received upon the deemed receipt by the intended recipient, at its e-mail address as described in the foregoing clause (i), of notification that such notice or communication is available and identifying the website address therefor; provided that, for both clauses (i) and (ii) above, if such notice, email or other communication is not sent during the normal business hours of the recipient, such notice or communication shall be deemed to have been sent at the opening of business on the next business day for the recipient.

 

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

 

Section 9.02          Waivers; Amendments; Release of Guarantors.

 

(a)            No failure or delay by the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank or any Lender in exercising any right or power hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any such right or power, or any abandonment or discontinuance of steps to enforce such a right or power, preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right or power. The rights and remedies of the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Banks and the Lenders hereunder are cumulative and are not exclusive of any rights or remedies that they would otherwise have. No waiver of any provision of this Agreement or consent to any departure by the Borrower therefrom shall in any event be effective unless the same shall be permitted by paragraph (b) of this Section, and then such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the purpose for which given. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the making of a Loan or issuance of a Letter of Credit shall not be construed as a waiver of any Default, regardless of whether the Administrative Agent, any Lender or any Issuing Bank may have had notice or knowledge of such Default at the time.

 

(b)            Subject to Section 2.14(b) and (c) and Section 9.02(d) below, neither this Agreement nor any provision hereof may be waived, amended or modified except pursuant to an agreement or agreements in writing entered into by the Borrower and the Required Lenders or by the Borrower and the Administrative Agent with the consent of the Required Lenders; provided that no such agreement shall (i) increase the Commitment of any Lender without the written consent of such Lender, (ii) reduce the principal amount of any Loan or LC Disbursement or reduce the rate of interest thereon, or reduce any fees payable hereunder, without the written consent of each Lender affected thereby, (iii) postpone the scheduled date of payment of the principal amount of any Loan or LC Disbursement, or any interest thereon, or any fees payable hereunder, or reduce the amount of, waive or excuse any such payment, or postpone the scheduled date of expiration of any Commitment, without the written consent of each Lender affected thereby, (iv) change Section 2.18(b) or (c) or the order in which payments and proceeds are applied to the Obligations as set forth in Article VII, in each case, in a manner that would alter the pro rata sharing of payments required thereby, without the written consent of each Lender, (v) reserved, (vi) change any provisions of (A) Section 2.21, Section 2.22 or the definition of “Defaulting Lender”, without the written consent of each Revolving Lender or (B) clause (d) of the definition of “Defaulting Lender” or the application of Section 2.22 to any Lender that is a “Defaulting Lender” by virtue of clause (d) of the definition of “Defaulting Lender” without the written consent of each Term Loan Lender, or (vii) change any of the provisions of this Section or the definition of “Required Lenders,” or any other provision hereof specifying the number or

 

 

percentage of Lenders required to waive, amend or modify any rights hereunder or make any determination or grant any consent hereunder, without the written consent of each Lender (but all of the Revolving Lenders may amend the definition of “Required Revolving Lenders,” and all of the Term Loan Lenders may amend the definition of “Required Term Loan Lenders”); provided further that no such agreement shall amend, modify or otherwise affect the rights or duties of the Administrative Agent or the Issuing Banks hereunder without the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent or the Issuing Banks, as the case may be. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Administrative Agent may, in its discretion, waive the provisions of Article VII(i) and (j) with respect to any Non-Guarantor if the Borrower determines in good faith that the termination of the existence of such Non-Guarantor is in the interest of the Borrower and not materially disadvantageous to the Lenders. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, no Defaulting Lender shall have any right to approve or disapprove any amendment, waiver or consent hereunder, except that the Commitment of such Defaulting Lender may not be increased or extended, the principal amount of any Loan made by such Defaulting Lender may not be reduced (other than by payment) and the maturity of any Loan made by such Defaulting Lender may not be extended, in each case, without the consent of such Defaulting Lender.

 

(c)            Notwithstanding any contrary position in this Agreement or any other Loan Document, if (i) a Guarantor is no longer a Subsidiary and (ii) at the time such Guarantor became a non-subsidiary, no Event of Default then existed, then such Guarantor shall be automatically released from its obligations under the Guarantee Agreement to which it is a party, without need for any formal action by the Administrative Agent or any Lender; and the Administrative Agent will confirm such release by a notice to the Borrower upon receipt of a request therefor.

 

(d)            If the Administrative Agent and the Borrower acting together identify any ambiguity, omission, mistake, typographical error or other defect in any provision of this Agreement or any other Loan Document, then the Administrative Agent and the Borrower 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.

 

Section 9.03          Expenses; Limitation of Liability; Indemnity; Etc.

 

(a)            Expenses. The Borrower shall pay (i) all reasonable out of pocket expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent and its Affiliates, including the reasonable fees, charges and disbursements of counsel for the Administrative Agent, in connection with the syndication of the credit facilities provided for herein, the preparation and administration of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents or any amendments, modifications or waivers of the provisions hereof or thereof (whether or not the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby shall be consummated), (ii) all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Issuing Banks in connection with the issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of any Letter of Credit or any demand for payment thereunder and (iii) all out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank or any Lender, including the fees, charges and disbursements of any counsel for the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank or any Lender, in connection with the enforcement or protection of its rights in connection with this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, including its rights under this Section, or in connection with the Loans made or Letters of Credit issued

 

 

hereunder, including all such out-of-pocket expenses incurred during any workout, restructuring or negotiations in respect of such Loans or Letters of Credit.

 

(b)            Limitation of Liability. To the extent permitted by applicable law (i) the Borrower shall not assert, and the Borrower hereby waives, any claim against the Administrative Agent, any Arranger, any Co-Syndication Agent, any Co-Documentation Agent, any Issuing Bank and any Lender, and any Related Party of any of the foregoing Persons (each such Person being called a “Lender-Related Person”) for any Liabilities arising from the use by others of information or other materials (including, without limitation, any personal data) obtained through telecommunications, electronic or other information transmission systems (including the Internet), and (ii) no party hereto shall assert, and each such party hereby waives, any Liabilities against any other party hereto, on any theory of liability, for special, indirect, consequential or punitive damages (as opposed to direct or actual damages) arising out of, in connection with, or as a result of, this Agreement, any other Loan Document, or any agreement or instrument contemplated hereby or thereby, the Transactions, any Loan or Letter of Credit or the use of the proceeds thereof; provided that, nothing in this Section 9.03(b) shall relieve the Borrower of any obligation it may have to indemnify an Indemnitee, as provided in Section 9.03(c), against any special, indirect, consequential or punitive damages asserted against such Indemnitee by a third party.

 

(c)            Indemnity. The Borrower shall indemnify the Administrative Agent, each Issuing Bank, each Lender, each Arranger, each Co-Syndication Agent and each Co-Documentation Agent, 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 and related expenses, including the fees, charges and disbursements of any counsel for any Indemnitee, incurred by or asserted against any Indemnitee arising out of, in connection with, or as a result of (i) the execution or delivery of this Agreement or any agreement or instrument contemplated hereby, the performance by the parties hereto of their respective obligations hereunder or the consummation of the Transactions or any other transactions contemplated hereby, (ii) any Loan or Letter of Credit or the use of the proceeds therefrom (including any refusal by any Issuing Bank to honor a demand for payment under a Letter of Credit if the documents presented in connection with such demand do not strictly comply with the terms of such Letter of Credit), (iii) any actual or alleged presence or release of Hazardous Materials on or from any property owned or operated by the Borrower or any Subsidiary, or any Environmental Liability related in any way to the Borrower or any Subsidiary, or (iv) any actual or prospective Proceeding relating to any of the foregoing, whether or not such Proceeding is brought by the Borrower or its equity holders, Affiliates, creditors or any other Person and whether based on contract, tort or any other theory 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 Liabilities or related expenses are determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by final and nonappealable judgment to have resulted from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Indemnitee. This Section 9.03(c) shall not apply with respect to Taxes, other than any Taxes that represent losses, claims or damages arising from any non-Tax claim.

 

(d)            Lender Reimbursement. Each Lender severally agrees to pay any amount required to be paid by the Borrower under paragraphs (a), (b) or (c) of this Section 9.03 to the Administrative Agent and each Issuing Bank, and each Related Party of any of the foregoing Persons (each, an “Agent-Related Person”) (to the extent not reimbursed by the Borrower and

 

 

without limiting the obligation of the Borrower to do so), ratably according to such Lender’s pro rata share (determined as of the time such amount is sought based on each Lender’s share of the outstanding Term Loans and total Revolving Credit Exposures at such time) of such amount, and agrees to indemnify and hold each Agent-Related Person harmless from and against any and all Liabilities and related expenses, including the fees, charges and disbursements of any kind whatsoever that may at any time (whether before or after the payment of the Loans) be imposed on, incurred by or asserted against such Agent-Related Person in any way relating to or arising out of the Commitments, this Agreement, any of the other Loan Documents or any documents contemplated by or referred to herein or therein or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby or any action taken or omitted by such Agent-Related Person under or in connection with any of the foregoing; provided that the unreimbursed expense or Liability or related expense, as the case may be, was incurred by or asserted against such Agent-Related Person in its capacity as such; provided further that no Lender shall be liable for the payment of any portion of such Liabilities, costs, expenses or disbursements that are found by a final and nonappealable decision of a court of competent jurisdiction to have resulted primarily from such Agent-Related Person’s gross negligence or willful misconduct.  The agreements in this Section shall survive the termination of this Agreement and the payment of the Loans and all other amounts payable hereunder.

 

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

 

WITHOUT LIMITING ANY PROVISION OF THIS AGREEMENT, IT IS THE EXPRESS INTENTION OF THE PARTIES HERETO THAT EACH PERSON TO BE INDEMNIFIED HEREUNDER SHALL BE INDEMNIFIED AND HELD HARMLESS AGAINST ANY AND ALL LIABILITIES AND RELATED EXPENSES ARISING OUT OF OR RESULTING FROM THE ORDINARY, SOLE AND CONTRIBUTORY NEGLIGENCE OF SUCH PERSON.

 

Section 9.04          Successors and Assigns.

 

(a)            The provisions of this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby (including any Affiliate of any Issuing Bank that issues any Letter of Credit), except that (i) the Borrower may not assign or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of each Lender (and any attempted assignment or transfer by the Borrower without such consent shall be null and void) and (ii) no Lender may assign or otherwise transfer its rights or obligations hereunder except in accordance with this Section. Nothing in this Agreement, expressed or implied, shall be construed to confer upon any Person (other than the parties hereto, their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby (including any Affiliate of any Issuing Bank that issues any Letter of Credit), Participants (to the extent provided in paragraph (c) of this Section) and, to the extent expressly contemplated hereby, the Related Parties of each of the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Banks and the Lenders) any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or by reason of this Agreement.

 

 

(b)            (i) Subject to the conditions set forth in paragraph (b)(ii) below, any Lender may assign to one or more assignees all or a portion of its rights and obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Commitment and the Loans at the time owing to it) with the prior written consent (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld) of:

 

(A)           the Borrower, provided that no consent of the Borrower shall be required for an assignment to a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund or, if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, any other assignee, provided further that the Borrower shall be deemed to have consented to any such assignment unless it shall object thereto by written notice to the Administrative Agent within five Business Days after having received written notice (including by email) thereof;

 

(B)            the Administrative Agent, provided that no consent of the Administrative Agent shall be required for an assignment of (1) a Revolving Commitment to an assignee that is a Revolving Lender immediately prior to giving effect to such assignment or (2) all or any portion of a Term Loan to a Lender, or to an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund; and

 

(C)            each Issuing Bank, provided that no consent of the Issuing Banks shall be required for an assignment of a Term Loan.

 

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

 

(A)           except in the case of an assignment to a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund or an assignment of the entire remaining amount of the assigning Lender’s Revolving Commitment or Loans of either Class, the amount of the Revolving Commitment or Loans of the assigning Lender subject to each such assignment (determined as of the date the Assignment and Assumption with respect to such assignment is delivered to the Administrative Agent) shall not be less than $5,000,000 (in the case of a Revolving Commitment) and $1,000,000 (in the case of a Term Loan) unless each of the Borrower and the Administrative Agent otherwise consent, provided that no such consent of the Borrower shall be required if an Event of Default under clause (a), (b), (h) or (i) of Article VII has occurred and is continuing;

 

(B)            the parties to each assignment shall execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent an Assignment and Assumption, together with a processing and recordation fee of $3,500;

 

(C)            the assignee, if it shall not be a Lender, shall deliver to the Administrative Agent an Administrative Questionnaire; and

 

(D)            no assignment shall be made to (1) a natural person (or a holding company, investment vehicle or trust for, or owned and operated for the primary benefit of, a natural person), (2) the Borrower or any Affiliate or Subsidiary thereof or (3) any Defaulting Lender or any of its Subsidiaries, or any Person who, upon

 

 

becoming a Lender hereunder, would constitute any of the foregoing Persons described in this clause (D).

 

The term “Approved 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 and that is administered or managed by (a) a Lender, (b) an Affiliate of a Lender or (c) an entity or an Affiliate of an entity that administers or manages a Lender.

 

(iii)           Subject to acceptance and recording thereof pursuant to paragraph (b)(iv) of this Section, from and after the effective date specified in each Assignment and Assumption the assignee thereunder shall be a party hereto and, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Assumption, have the rights and obligations of a Lender under this Agreement, and the assigning Lender thereunder shall, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Assumption, be released from its obligations under this Agreement (and, in the case of an Assignment and Assumption covering all of the assigning 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 Section 2.15, Section 2.16, Section 2.17 and Section 9.03; provided that such release shall not affect any legal responsibility for such Lender’s actions and failures to act occurring before the effective date of such Assignment and Assumption). Any assignment or transfer by a Lender of rights or obligations under this Agreement that does not comply with this Section 9.04 shall be treated for purposes of this Agreement as a sale by such Lender of a participation in such rights and obligations in accordance with paragraph (c) of this Section.

 

(iv)           The Administrative Agent, acting for this purpose as an agent of the Borrower, shall maintain at one of its offices a copy of each Assignment and Assumption delivered to it and a register for the recordation of the names and addresses of the Lenders, and the Commitment of, and principal amount of the Loans and LC Disbursements owing to, each Lender pursuant to the terms hereof from time to time (the “Register”). The entries in the Register shall be conclusive, and the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Banks 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. The Register shall be available for inspection by the Borrower, any Issuing Bank and any Lender, at any reasonable time and from time to time upon reasonable prior notice.

 

(v)            Upon its receipt of a duly completed Assignment and Assumption executed by an assigning Lender and an assignee, the assignee’s completed Administrative Questionnaire (unless the assignee shall already be a Lender hereunder), the processing and recordation fee referred to in paragraph (b) of this Section and any written consent to such assignment required by paragraph (b) of this Section, the Administrative Agent shall accept such Assignment and Assumption and record the information contained therein in the Register; provided that if either the assigning Lender or the assignee shall have failed to make any payment required to be made by it pursuant to Section 2.05(d), Section 2.05(e), Section 2.06(b), Section 2.18(d), or Section 9.03(d), the Administrative Agent

 

 

shall have no obligation to accept such Assignment and Assumption and record the information therein in the Register unless and until such payment shall have been made in full, together with all accrued interest thereon. No assignment shall be effective for purposes of this Agreement unless it has been recorded in the Register as provided in this paragraph.

 

(c)            Any Lender may, without the consent of the Borrower, the Administrative Agent or the Issuing Banks, sell participations to any Person (other than a natural person (or a holding company, investment vehicle or trust for, or owned and operated for the primary benefit of, a natural person) or the Borrower or any of its Affiliates or Subsidiaries) (each, a “Participant”) in all or a portion of such Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Commitments and the Loans owing to it); provided that (i) such Lender’s obligations under this Agreement shall remain unchanged, (ii) such Lender shall remain solely responsible to the other parties hereto for the performance of such obligations and (iii) the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Banks and the other Lenders shall continue to deal solely and directly with such Lender in connection with such Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement. Any agreement or instrument pursuant to which a Lender sells such a participation shall provide that such Lender shall retain the sole right to enforce this Agreement and to approve any amendment, modification or waiver of any provision of this Agreement; provided that such agreement or instrument may provide that such Lender will not, without the consent of the Participant, agree to any amendment, modification or waiver described in the first proviso to Section 9.02(b) that affects such Participant. The Borrower agrees that each Participant shall be entitled to the benefits of Section 2.15, Section 2.16 and Section 2.17 (subject to the requirements and limitations therein, including the requirements under Section 2.17(g) (it being understood that the documentation required under Section 2.17(g) shall be delivered to the participating Lender)) to the same extent as if it were a Lender and had acquired its interest by assignment pursuant to paragraph (b) of this Section; provided that such Participant (i) agrees to be subject to the provisions of Section 2.19 as if it were an assignee under paragraph (b) of this Section; and (ii) shall not be entitled to receive any greater payment under Section 2.15 or Section 2.17, with respect to any participation, than its participating Lender would have been entitled to receive, except to the extent to receive a greater payment results from a Change in Law that occurs after the Participant acquired the applicable participation. Each Lender that sells a participation agrees, at the Borrower’s request and expense, to use reasonable efforts to cooperate with the Borrower to effectuate the provisions of Section 2.19(b) with respect to any Participant. To the extent permitted by law, each Participant also shall be entitled to the benefits of Section 9.08 as though it were a Lender; provided that such Participant agrees to be subject to Section 2.18(c) as though it were a Lender. Each Lender that sells a participation shall, acting solely for this purpose as a non-fiduciary agent of the Borrower, maintain a register on which it enters the name and address of each Participant and the principal amounts (and stated interest) of each Participant’s interest in the Loans or other obligations under the Loan Documents (the “Participant Register”); provided that no Lender shall have any obligation to disclose all or any portion of the Participant Register (including the identity of any Participant or any information relating to a Participant’s interest in any commitments, loans, letters of credit or its other obligations under any Loan Document) to any Person except to the extent that such disclosure is necessary to establish that such commitment, loan, letter of credit or other obligation is in registered form under Section 5f.103-1(c) of the United States Treasury Regulations. The entries in the Participant Register shall be conclusive absent manifest error, and such Lender shall treat each Person whose name is recorded in the Participant

 

 

Register as the owner of such participation for all purposes of this Agreement notwithstanding any notice to the contrary. For the avoidance of doubt, the Administrative Agent (in its capacity as Administrative Agent) shall have no responsibility for maintaining a Participant Register.

 

(d)            Any Lender may at any time pledge or assign a security interest in all or any portion of its rights under this Agreement to secure obligations of such Lender, including without limitation any pledge or assignment to secure obligations to a Federal Reserve Bank or any central bank, and this Section shall not apply to any such pledge or assignment of a security interest; provided that no such pledge or assignment of a security interest shall release a Lender from any of its obligations hereunder or substitute any such pledgee or assignee for such Lender as a party hereto.

 

Section 9.05          Survival. All covenants, agreements, representations and warranties made by the Borrower herein and in the certificates or other instruments delivered in connection with or pursuant to this Agreement shall be considered to have been relied upon by the other parties hereto, and shall survive the execution and delivery of this Agreement and the making of any Loans and issuance of any Letters of Credit, regardless of any investigation made by any such other party or on its behalf and notwithstanding that the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank or any Lender may have had notice or knowledge of any Default or incorrect representation or warranty at the time any credit is extended hereunder, and such covenants and agreements shall continue in full force and effect as long as the principal of or any accrued interest on any Loan or any fee or any other amount payable under this Agreement is outstanding and unpaid or any Letter of Credit is outstanding (but excluding any Letter of Credit that has been Cash Collateralized as contemplated by Section 2.05(c)) and so long as the Commitments have not expired or terminated. The provisions of Section 2.15, Section 2.16, Section 2.17, Section 9.03, Section 9.12 and Article VIII shall survive and remain in full force and effect regardless of the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, the repayment of the Loans, the expiration or termination of the Letters of Credit and the Commitments or the termination of this Agreement or any provision hereof.

 

Section 9.06          Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness, Electronic Execution.

 

(a)            This Agreement may be executed in counterparts (and by different parties hereto on different counterparts), each of which may be delivered by electronic or telecopy transmission and each of which shall constitute an original, but all of which when taken together shall constitute a single contract. The Loan Documents and any separate letter agreements with respect to fees payable to the Administrative Agent constitute the entire contract among the parties relating to the subject matter hereof and supersede any and all previous agreements and understandings, oral or written, relating to the subject matter hereof. Except as provided in Section 4.01, this Agreement shall become effective when it shall have been executed by the Administrative Agent and when the Administrative Agent shall have received counterparts hereof which, when taken together, bear the signatures of each of the other parties hereto, and thereafter shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns.

 

(b)            Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page of (x) this Agreement, (y) any other Loan Document and/or (z) any document, amendment, approval, consent, information, notice (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any notice delivered pursuant to Section

 

 

9.01), certificate, request, statement, disclosure or authorization related to this Agreement, any other Loan Document and/or the transactions contemplated hereby and/or thereby (each an “Ancillary Document”) that is an Electronic Signature transmitted by telecopy, emailed pdf. or any other electronic means that reproduces an image of an actual executed signature page shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Agreement, such other Loan Document or such Ancillary Document, as applicable. The words “execution,” “signed,” “signature,” “delivery,” and words of like import in or relating to this Agreement, any other Loan Document and/or any Ancillary Document shall be deemed to include Electronic Signatures, deliveries or the keeping of records in any electronic form (including deliveries by telecopy, emailed pdf. or any other electronic means that reproduces an image of an actual executed signature page), each of which shall be of the same legal effect, validity or enforceability as a manually executed signature, physical delivery thereof or the use of a paper-based recordkeeping system, as the case may be; provided that nothing herein shall require the Administrative Agent to accept Electronic Signatures in any form or format without its prior written consent and pursuant to procedures approved by it; provided, further, without limiting the foregoing, (i) to the extent the Administrative Agent has agreed to accept any Electronic Signature, the Administrative Agent and each of the Lenders shall be entitled to rely on such Electronic Signature purportedly given by or on behalf of the Borrower or any other Loan Party without further verification thereof and without any obligation to review the appearance or form of any such Electronic signature and (ii) upon the request of the Administrative Agent or any Lender, any Electronic Signature shall be promptly followed by a manually executed counterpart (provided that failure to deliver a manually executed counterpart shall not affect the effectiveness of any document). Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Borrower hereby (A) agrees that, for all purposes, including without limitation, in connection with any workout, restructuring, enforcement of remedies, bankruptcy proceedings or litigation among the Administrative Agent, the Lenders, the Borrower and the Loan Parties, Electronic Signatures transmitted by telecopy, emailed pdf. or any other electronic means that reproduces an image of an actual executed signature page and/or any electronic images of this Agreement, any other Loan Document and/or any Ancillary Document shall have the same legal effect, validity and enforceability as any paper original, (B) the Administrative Agent and each of the Lenders may, at its option, create one or more copies of this Agreement, any other Loan Document and/or any Ancillary Document in the form of an imaged electronic record in any format, which shall be deemed created in the ordinary course of such Person’s business, and destroy the original paper document (and all such electronic records shall be considered an original for all purposes and shall have the same legal effect, validity and enforceability as a paper record), (C) waives any argument, defense or right to contest the legal effect, validity or enforceability of this Agreement, any other Loan Document and/or any Ancillary Document based solely on the lack of paper original copies of this Agreement, such other Loan Document and/or such Ancillary Document, respectively, including with respect to any signature pages thereto and (D) waives any claim against any Lender-Related Person for any Liabilities arising solely from the Administrative Agent’s and/or any Lender’s reliance on or use of Electronic Signatures and/or transmissions by telecopy, emailed pdf. or any other electronic means that reproduces an image of an actual executed signature page, including any Liabilities arising as a result of the failure of the Borrower and/or any Loan Party to use any available security measures in connection with the execution, delivery or transmission of any Electronic Signature..

 

Section 9.07         Severability. Any provision of this Agreement held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of

 

 

such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability without affecting the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions hereof; and the invalidity of a particular provision in a particular jurisdiction shall not invalidate such provision in any other jurisdiction.

 

Section 9.08          Right of Setoff. If an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, each Lender, each Issuing Bank, 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 Issuing Bank or any such Affiliate, to or for the credit or the account of the Borrower against any and all of the obligations of the Borrower now or hereafter existing under this Agreement or any other Loan Document to such Lender or such Issuing Bank or their respective Affiliates, irrespective of whether or not such Lender, such Issuing Bank or Affiliate shall have made any demand under this Agreement or any other Loan Document and although such obligations of the Borrower may be contingent or unmatured or are owed to a branch, office or Affiliate of such Lender or such Issuing Bank different from the branch, office or Affiliate 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 2.22 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, the Issuing Banks, 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. The rights of each Lender, each Issuing Bank and their respective Affiliates under this Section are in addition to other rights and remedies (including other rights of setoff) that such Lender, the Issuing Bank or their respective Affiliates may have. Each Lender and each Issuing Bank agrees to notify the Borrower and the Administrative Agent promptly after any such setoff and application; provided that the failure to give such notice shall not affect the validity of such setoff and application.

 

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

 

(a)            This Agreement shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the law of the State of Texas.

 

(b)            The Borrower hereby irrevocably and unconditionally submits, for itself and its property, to the nonexclusive jurisdiction of the District Courts of the State of Texas sitting in Houston, Harris County, Texas and of the United States District Court of the Southern District of Texas, and any appellate court from any thereof, in any action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement, or for recognition or enforcement of any judgment, and each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably and unconditionally agrees that all claims in respect of any such action or proceeding may be heard and determined in such Texas State or, to the extent permitted by law, in such Federal court. Each of the parties hereto agrees that a final judgment in any such action or proceeding shall be conclusive and may be enforced in other jurisdictions by suit on the judgment or in any other manner provided by law. Nothing in this Agreement shall affect any right that the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank or any Lender may otherwise have to bring

 

 

any action or proceeding relating to this Agreement against the Borrower or its properties in the courts of any jurisdiction.

 

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

 

(d)            Each party to this Agreement irrevocably consents to service of process in the manner provided for notices in Section 9.01. Nothing in this Agreement will affect the right of any party to this Agreement to serve process in any other manner permitted by law.

 

Section 9.10         WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL. EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT OR ANY OTHER THEORY). EACH PARTY HERETO (A) CERTIFIES THAT NO REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF ANY OTHER PARTY HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PARTY WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER AND (B) ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT AND THE OTHER PARTIES HERETO HAVE BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION.

 

Section 9.11          Headings. Article and Section headings and the Table of Contents used herein are for convenience of reference only, are not part of this Agreement and shall not affect the construction of, or be taken into consideration in interpreting, this Agreement.

 

Section 9.12          Confidentiality. Each of the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Banks and the Lenders agrees to maintain the confidentiality of the Information (as defined below), except that Information may be disclosed (a) to its and its Affiliates’ directors, officers, employees and agents, including accountants, legal counsel and other advisors (it being understood that the Persons to whom such disclosure is made will be informed of the confidential nature of such Information and instructed to keep such Information confidential), (b) to the extent requested by any Governmental Authority (including any self-regulatory authority, such as the National Association of Insurance Commissioners), (c) to the extent required by applicable laws or regulations or by any subpoena or similar legal process, (d) to any other party to this Agreement, (e) in connection with the exercise of any remedies hereunder or any suit, action or proceeding relating to this Agreement or the enforcement of rights hereunder, (f) subject to an agreement containing provisions substantially the same as those of this Section, to (i) any assignee of or Participant in, or any prospective assignee of or Participant in, any of its rights or obligations under this Agreement, (ii) any pledgee referred to in Section 9.04(d), or (iii) any actual or prospective counterparty (or its advisors) to any swap or derivative transaction relating to the Borrower and its obligations, (g) on a confidential basis to (i) any rating agency in connection with rating the

 

 

Borrower or its Subsidiaries or the credit facilities provided for herein or (ii) the CUSIP Service Bureau or any similar agency in connection with the issuance and monitoring of identification numbers with respect to the credit facilities provided for herein, (h) with the consent of the Borrower or (i) to the extent such Information (i) becomes publicly available other than as a result of a breach of this Section or (ii) becomes available to the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank or any Lender on a nonconfidential basis from a source other than the Borrower. For the purposes of this Section, “Information” means all information received from the Borrower relating to the Borrower or its business, other than any such information that is available to the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank or any Lender on a nonconfidential basis prior to disclosure by the Borrower; provided that, in the case of information received from the Borrower after the Effective Date, 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.

 

Section 9.13          Interest Rate Limitation. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, in no event whatsoever shall the amount contracted for, charged, paid or otherwise agreed to be paid to or received by the Administrative Agent or any Lender for the use, forbearance or detention of money under this Agreement or any Loan Document or otherwise exceed the maximum non-usurious rate pursuant to applicable law (the “Maximum Rate”), and if at any time the interest rate applicable to any Loan, together with all fees, charges and other amounts which are treated as interest on such Loan under applicable law (collectively the “Charges”), shall exceed the Maximum Rate, the rate of interest payable in respect of such Loan hereunder, together with all Charges payable in respect thereof, shall be limited to the Maximum Rate and, to the extent lawful, the interest and Charges that would have been payable in respect of such Loan but were not payable as a result of the operation of this Section shall be cumulated and the interest and Charges payable to such Lender in respect of other Loans or periods shall be increased (but not above the Maximum Rate therefor) until such cumulated amount, together with interest thereon at the Federal Funds Effective Rate to the date of repayment, shall have been received by such Lender. Anything in this Agreement or any other Loan Document to the contrary notwithstanding, the Borrower shall not be required to pay unearned interest and shall never be required to pay interest at a rate in excess of the Maximum Rate, and if the effective rate of interest which would otherwise be payable under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents would exceed the Maximum Rate, or if the Administrative Agent or any Lender shall receive any unearned interest or shall receive monies that are deemed to constitute interest which would increase the effective rate of interest payable by the Borrower under this Agreement or Loan Document to a rate in excess of the Maximum Rate, then (a) the amount of interest which would otherwise be payable by the Borrower under this Agreement or any Loan Document shall be reduced to the amount allowed under applicable law, and (b) any unearned interest paid by the Borrower or any interest paid by the Borrower in excess of the Maximum Rate shall be credited on the principal of (or, if the principal amount shall have been paid in full, refunded to the Borrower). It is further agreed that, without limitation of the foregoing, all calculations of the rate of interest contracted for, charged or received by any Lender under this Agreement or any Loan Document, are made for the purpose of determining whether such rate exceeds the Maximum Rate, and shall be made by amortizing, prorating and spreading in equal parts during the period of the full stated term of the Loans evidenced by said Notes all interest at any time contracted for, charged or received by such

 

 

Lender in connection therewith. To the extent that either Chapter 303 or 306, or both, of the Texas Finance Code apply in determining the Maximum Rate, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders hereby elect to determine the applicable rate ceiling by using the weekly ceiling from time to time in effect, subject to the Administrative Agent’s and the Lenders’ right subsequently to change such method in accordance with applicable law, as the same may be amended or modified from time to time.

 

Section 9.14          USA Patriot Act. Each Lender that is subject to the requirements of the USA Patriot Act (Title III of Pub. L. 107-56 (signed into law October 26, 2001)) (the “Patriot Act”) hereby notifies the Borrower that pursuant to the requirements of the Patriot Act, it is required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies the Borrower, which information includes the name and address of the Borrower and other information that will allow such Lender to identify the Borrower in accordance with the Patriot Act.

 

Section 9.15          Joinder of Borrower to Guarantee Agreement. By its execution hereof, the Borrower hereby joins the Guarantee Agreement for the sole purpose of agreeing to the provisions of Section 20 thereof.

 

Section 9.16          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), the Borrower acknowledges and agrees that: (a) (i) the arranging and other services regarding this Agreement provided by the Lenders are arm’s-length commercial transactions between the Borrower and its Affiliates, on the one hand, and the Lenders, on the other hand, (ii) the Borrower has consulted its own legal, accounting, regulatory and tax advisors to the extent it has deemed appropriate, and (iii) the Borrower 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) each of the Lenders 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 Borrower or any of its Affiliates, or any other Person and (ii) no Lender has any obligation to the Borrower or any of its Affiliates with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby except those obligations expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents; and (c) each of the Lenders and their respective Affiliates may be engaged in a broad range of transactions that involve interests that differ from those of the Borrower and its Affiliates, and no Lender has any obligation to disclose any of such interests to the Borrower or its Affiliates. To the fullest extent permitted by law, the Borrower hereby waives and releases any claims that it may have against each of 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.

 

Section 9.17          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 may be subject to the Write-Down and Conversion Powers of the applicable Resolution Authority and agrees and consents to, and acknowledges and agrees to be bound by:

 

 

(a)            the application of any Write-Down and Conversion Powers by the applicable Resolution Authority to any such liabilities arising hereunder which may be payable to it by any 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 entity, or a bridge institution that may be issued to it or otherwise conferred on it, and that such shares or other instruments of ownership will be accepted by it in lieu of any rights with respect to any such liability under this Agreement or any other Loan Document; or

 

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

 

Section 9.18         FINAL AGREEMENT OF THE PARTIES. THIS WRITTEN AGREEMENT (INCLUDING THE EXHIBITS AND SCHEDULES HERETO) AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS CONSTITUTE A “LOAN AGREEMENT” AS DEFINED IN SECTION 26.02(a) OF THE TEXAS BUSINESS AND COMMERCE CODE, AND REPRESENT THE FINAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE PARTIES RELATING TO THE SUBJECT MATTER HEREOF AND THEREOF AND MAY NOT BE CONTRADICTED BY EVIDENCE OF PRIOR, CONTEMPORANEOUS OR SUBSEQUENT ORAL AGREEMENTS OF THE PARTIES. THERE ARE NO UNWRITTEN ORAL AGREEMENTS BETWEEN THE PARTIES RELATING TO THE SUBJECT MATTER HEREOF AND THEREOF. Any previous agreement among the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof is superseded by this Agreement. Nothing in this Agreement, expressed or implied, is intended to confer upon any party other than the parties hereto any rights, remedies, obligations or liabilities under or by reason of this Agreement.

 

Section 9.19          Amendment and Restatement. This Agreement is an amendment and restatement of the Existing Credit Agreement and supersedes the Existing Credit Agreement in its entirety. This Agreement is not in any way intended to constitute a novation of the obligations and liabilities existing under the Existing Credit Agreement or evidence payment of all or any portion of such obligations and liabilities.

 

Section 9.20         Exiting Lenders. Each of Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria, S.A. New York Branch, MUFG Bank, Ltd., Capital One, National Association, HSBC Bank USA, N.A., Citizens Bank and Hancock Whitney Bank, as a “Lender” under the Existing Credit Agreement (each, an “Exiting Lender”), hereby sells, assigns, transfers and conveys to the Lenders hereto, and each of the Lenders hereto hereby purchases and accepts, so much of the aggregate commitments under, and loans outstanding under, the Existing Credit Agreement such that, after giving effect to this Agreement (a) each Exiting Lender shall (i) be paid in full for all amounts owing under the Existing Credit Agreement as agreed and calculated by such Exiting Lender and the Administrative Agent in accordance with the Existing Credit Agreement, (ii) cease to be a “Lender” under the Existing Credit Agreement and the “Loan Documents” as defined therein and (iii) relinquish its

 

 

rights (provided that it shall still be entitled to any rights of indemnification which by their express terms survive the termination, repayment, satisfaction or discharge of such Exiting Lender’s obligations under the Existing Credit Agreement in respect of any circumstance or event or condition arising prior to the Effective Date) and be released from its obligations under the Existing Credit Agreement and the other “Loan Documents” as defined therein and (b) the Commitments of each Lender shall be as set forth on Schedule 2.01 hereto. Such purchases shall be deemed to have been effected by way of, and subject to the terms and conditions of, Assignment and Assumptions without the payment of any related assignment fee, and no other documents or instruments shall be, or shall be required to be, executed in connection with such assignments (all of which are hereby waived). The foregoing assignments, transfers and conveyances are without recourse to any Exiting Lender and without any warranties whatsoever by the Administrative Agent or any Exiting Lender as to title, enforceability, collectability, documentation or freedom from liens or encumbrances, in whole or in part, other than the warranty of each Exiting Lender that it has not previously sold, transferred, conveyed or encumbered such interests. The assignee Lenders and the Administrative Agent shall make all appropriate adjustments in payments under the Existing Credit Agreement, the “Notes” and the other “Loan Documents” thereunder for periods prior to the adjustment date among themselves. Each Exiting Lender is executing this Agreement for the sole purpose of evidencing its agreement to this Section 9.20 only and for no other purpose.

 

Section 9.21          Acknowledgement Regarding Any Supported QFCs. To the extent that the Loan Documents provide support, through a guarantee or otherwise, for Swap Agreements or any other 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 Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation 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):

 

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.

 

[END OF TEXT]

 

 

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

 

 

 

	SERVICE CORPORATION INTERNATIONAL
	By:	/s/ Eric D. Tanzberger
	Name:	Eric D. Tanzberger
	Title:	Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

 

 

 

 

 

	ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT, ISSUING BANK AND LENDER:
	JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
	By:	/s/ John Kushnerick
	Name:	John Kushnerick
	Title:	Managing Director

 

 

   

 

	ISSUING BANK AND LENDER:
	WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
	By:	/s/ Eugene Stunson
	Name:	Eugene Stunson
	Title:	Director

 

 

 

 

	ISSUING BANK AND LENDER:
	BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
	By:	/s/ Adam Rose
	Name:	Adam Rose
	Title:	SVP

 

  

 

	ISSUING BANK AND LENDER:
	TRUIST BANK
	By:	/s/ John P. Wofford
	Name:	John P. Wofford
	Title:	Authorized Officer

 

 

  

 

	CO-SYNDICATION AGENT AND LENDER:
	PNC BANK
	By:	/s/ Natalie Hill
	Name:	Natalie Hill
	Title:	Senior Vice President

 

 

 

 

 

	CO-SYNDICATION AGENT AND LENDER:
	REGIONS BANK
	By:	/s/ Sankar R. Nair
	Name:	Sankar R. Nair
	Title:	Vice President

 

 

 

 

	CO-DOCUMENTATION AGENT AND LENDER:
	ZIONS BANCORPORATION, N.A. dba AMEGY BANK
	By:	/s/ Brad Ellis
	Name:	Brad Ellis
	Title:	Sr. Vice President

 

 

 

 

 

	CO-DOCUMENTATION AGENT AND LENDER:
	BANK OF THE WEST
	By:	/s/ Jamie Bretschneider
	Name:	Jamie Bretschneider
	Title:	Vice President

 

 

 

	CO-DOCUMENTATION AGENT AND LENDER:
	FIFTH THIRD BANK
	By:	/s/ Kelley Shield
	Name:	Kelley Shield
	Title:	Managing Director

 

 

 

 

 

	CO-DOCUMENTATION AGENT AND LENDER:
	TEXAS CAPITAL BANK
	By:	/s/ Zach Granberry
	Name:	Zach Granberry
	Title:	Executive Vice President

 

 

 

 

 

	LENDER:
	THE BANK OF NOVA SCOTIA
	By:	/s/ Frans Braniotis
	Name:	Frans Braniotis
	Title:	Managing Director

 

 

 

  

	LENDER:
	U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
	By:	/s/ Michael Day
	Name:	Michael Day
	Title:	Assistant Vice President

 

 

 

 

 

	LENDER:
	BOKF, NA dba BANK OF TEXAS
	By:	/s/ Jonathan M. Meyer
	Name:	Jonathan M. Meyer
	Title:	Senior Vice President

 

 

 

 

 

	LENDER:
	THE HUNTINGTON NATIONAL BANK
	By:	/s/ Ryan Benefiel
	Name:	Ryan Benefiel
	Title:	Assistant Vice President

 

 

 

 

	LENDER:
	RAYMOND JAMES BANK
	By:	/s/ Douglas S. Marron
	Name:	Douglas S. Marron
	Title:	SVP

 

 

 

	LENDER:
	ROYAL BANK OF CANADA
	By:	/s/ Bryan Ho
	Name:	Bryan Ho
	Title:	Vice President – Corporate Client Group

 

 

 

	LENDER:
	CADENCE BANK
	By:	/s/ William Tyler Woodby
	Name:	William Tyler Woodby
	Title:	Vice President

 

 

 

	LENDER:
	COMERICA BANK
	By:	/s/ Alex Farrell
	Name:	Alex Farrell
	Title:	AVP

 

 

 

 

Acknowledged and agreed to only with respect to Section 9.20 of the Agreement by:

 

EXITING LENDER:

 

BANCO BILBAO VIZCAYA ARGENTARIA, S.A. NEW YORK BRANCH

 

By:	/s/ Cara Younger
Name:	Cara Younger
Title:	Managing Director

 

 

By:	/s/ Miriam Trautmann
Name:	Miriam Trautmann
Title:	Managing Director

 

 

 

 

 

Acknowledged and agreed to only with respect to Section 9.20 of the Agreement by:

 

EXITING LENDER:

 

CAPITAL ONE, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

 

By:	/s/ Joseph DiLeo
Name:	Joseph DiLeo
Title:	Duly Authorized Signatory

 

 

 

 

Acknowledged and agreed to only with respect to Section 9.20 of the Agreement by:

 

EXITING LENDER:

 

CITIZENS BANK

 

By:	/s/ Douglas M. Kennedy
Name:	Douglas M. Kennedy
Title:	Senior Vice President

 

 

 

 

Acknowledged and agreed to only with respect to Section 9.20 of the Agreement by:

 

EXITING LENDER:

 

HANCOCK WHITNEY BANK

 

By:	/s/ Nathaniel Ellis
Name:	Nathaniel Ellis
Title:	Senior Vice President

 

 

 

 

Acknowledged and agreed to only with respect to Section 9.20 of the Agreement by:

 

EXITING LENDER:

 

HSBC BANK USA, N.A.

 

By:	/s/ Jay Fort
Name:	Jay Fort
Title:	Regional Head - Wholesale Credit Management

 

 

 

Acknowledged and agreed to only with respect to Section 9.20 of the Agreement by:

 

EXITING LENDER:

 

MUFG BANK, LTD.

 

 

By:	/s/ Christine L. Howatt
Name:	Christine L. Howatt
Title:	Authorized Signatory