CREDIT AND GUARANTY AGREEMENT

Contract Categories: Business Finance - Credit Agreements
EX-10.21 35 dex1021.htm CREDIT AND GUARANTY AGREEMENT Credit and Guaranty Agreement

Exhibit 10.21

Execution Copy

CREDIT AND GUARANTY AGREEMENT

dated as of December 13, 2005

among

SOLARWINDS.NET, INC.,

as Borrower,

SOLARWINDS.NET, LLC AND

CERTAIN SUBSIDIARIES OF SOLARWINDS.NET, LLC

as Guarantors,

VARIOUS LENDERS,

GOLDENTREE ASSET MANAGEMENT, LP,

as Lead Arranger and Syndication Agent,

and

THE BANK OF NEW YORK,

as Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent

 

 

$85,000,000 First Lien Senior Secured Credit Facility

 

 


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

          Page

SECTION 1.

   DEFINITIONS AND INTERPRETATION    1

1.1

   Definitions    1

1.2

   Accounting Terms    28

1.3

   Interpretation, etc.    28

SECTION 2.

   LOANS    29

2.1

   Loans    29

2.2

   Pro Rata Shares; Availability of Funds    29

2.3

   Use of Proceeds    30

2.4

   Evidence of Debt; Register; Lenders’ Books and Records; Notes    30

2.5

   Interest on Loans    31

2.6

   Default Interest    31

2.7

   Fees    32

2.8

   Payments    32

2.9

   Voluntary Prepayments    32

2.10

   Mandatory Prepayments    33

2.11

   Application of Prepayments    34

2.12

   General Provisions Regarding Payments    35

2.13

   Ratable Sharing    36

2.14

   Increased Costs; Capital Adequacy    36

2.15

   Taxes; Withholding, etc.    38

2.16

   Obligation to Mitigate    40

2.17

   Removal or Replacement of a Lender    40

SECTION 3.

   CONDITIONS PRECEDENT    41

3.1

   Closing Date    41

SECTION 4.

   REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES    45

4.1

   Organization; Requisite Power and Authority; Qualification    45

4.2

   Capital Stock and Ownership    45

4.3

   Due Authorization    45

4.4

   No Conflict    45

4.5

   Governmental Consents    46

4.6

   Binding Obligation    46

4.7

   Historical Financial Statements    46

4.8

   Projections    46

4.9

   No Material Adverse Change    46

4.10

   Reserved    46

4.11

   Adverse Proceedings, etc.    47

4.12

   Payment of Taxes    47

4.13

   Properties    47

4.14

   Environmental Matters    48

4.15

   No Defaults    48

4.16

   [RESERVED]    48


4.17

   Governmental Regulation    48

4.18

   Margin Stock    48

4.19

   Employee Matters    49

4.20

   Employee Benefit Plans    49

4.21

   Certain Fees    50

4.22

   Solvency    50

4.23

   Related Agreements    50

4.24

   Intellectual Property    50

4.25

   Compliance with Statutes, etc.    53

4.26

   Disclosure    53

4.27

   Patriot Act    53

SECTION 5.

   AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS    53

5.1

   Financial Statements and Other Reports    54

5.2

   Existence    57

5.3

   Payment of Taxes and Claims    57

5.4

   Maintenance of Properties    58

5.5

   Insurance    58

5.6

   Inspections    58

5.7

   Lenders Meetings    59

5.8

   Compliance with Laws    59

5.9

   Subsidiaries    59

5.10

   Additional Material Real Estate Assets    60

5.11

   Further Assurances    60

5.12

   Key Man Life Insurance    60

SECTION 6.

   NEGATIVE COVENANTS    60

6.1

   Indebtedness    61

6.2

   Liens    62

6.3

   Equitable Lien    64

6.4

   No Further Negative Pledges    64

6.5

   Restricted Junior Payments    65

6.6

   Restrictions on Subsidiary Distributions    65

6.7

   Investments    65

6.8

   Financial Covenants    67

6.9

   Fundamental Changes; Disposition of Assets    69

6.10

   Disposal of Subsidiary Interests    70

6.11

   Sales and Lease-Backs    70

6.12

   Transactions with Shareholders and Affiliates    70

6.13

   Conduct of Business    70

6.14

   Amendments or Waivers of Certain Related Agreements    70

SECTION 7.

   GUARANTY    71

7.1

   Guaranty of the Obligations    71

7.2

   Contribution by Guarantors    71

7.3

   Payment by Guarantors    72

7.4

   Liability of Guarantors Absolute    72


7.5

   Waivers by Guarantors    74

7.6

   Guarantors’ Rights of Subrogation, Contribution, etc.    75

7.7

   Subordination of Other Obligations    75

7.8

   Continuing Guaranty    75

7.9

   Authority of Guarantors or Company    76

7.10

   Financial Condition of Company    76

7.11

   Bankruptcy, etc.    76

7.12

   Discharge of Guaranty Upon Sale of Guarantor    77

SECTION 8.

   EVENTS OF DEFAULT    77

8.1

   Events of Default    77

8.2

   Cure Rights    80

SECTION 9.

   AGENTS    81

9.1

   Appointment of Agents    81

9.2

   Powers and Duties    82

9.3

   General Immunity    83

9.4

   Agents Entitled to Act as Lender    84

9.5

   Lenders’ Representations, Warranties and Acknowledgment    85

9.6

   Right to Indemnity    86

9.7

   Successor Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent    86

9.8

   Collateral Documents and Guaranty    87

SECTION 10.

   MISCELLANEOUS    88

10.1

   Notices    88

10.2

   Expenses    88

10.3

   Indemnity    89

10.4

   Set-Off    90

10.5

   Amendments and Waivers    90

10.6

   Successors and Assigns; Participations    91

10.7

   Independence of Covenants    94

10.8

   Survival of Representations, Warranties and Agreements    94

10.9

   No Waiver; Remedies Cumulative    95

10.10

   Marshalling; Payments Set Aside    95

10.11

   Severability    95

10.12

   Obligations Several; Independent Nature of Lenders’ Rights    95

10.13

   Headings    95

10.14

   APPLICABLE LAW    96

10.15

   CONSENT TO JURISDICTION    96

10.16

   WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL    96

10.17

   Confidentiality    97

10.18

   Usury Savings Clause    98

10.19

   Counterparts    98

10.20

   Effectiveness    98

10.21

   Patriot Act    99

10.22

   Electronic Execution of Assignments    99


Schedules

Schedule 3.1:

   Organizational and Capital Structure

Schedule 4.1:

   Jurisdictions of Operation

Schedule 4.2:

   Capital Stock

Schedule 4.13:

   Real Estate

Schedule 4.16:

   Material Contracts

Schedule 4.24:

   Intellectual Property

Schedule 6.1:

   Existing Indebtedness

Schedule 6.2:

   Liens

Schedule 6.6:

   Restrictions on Subsidiary Distributions

Schedule 6.7:

   Investments

Schedule 6.12:

   Transactions with Shareholders and Affiliates

Exhibits

Exhibit A:

   Form of Assignment Agreement

Exhibit B:

   Form of Certificate re Non Bank Status

Exhibit C:

   Form of Closing Date Certificate

Exhibit D:

   Form of Compliance Certificate

Exhibit E:

   Form of Counterpart Agreement

Exhibit F:

   Form of Note

Exhibit G:

   Form of Funding Notice

Exhibit H :

   Form of Intercompany Note

Exhibit I:

   Reserved

Exhibit J:

   Form of Mortgage

Exhibit K:

   Form of Pledge and Security Agreement

Exhibit L:

   Form of Solvency Certificate

Exhibit M:

   Form of Legal Opinion
Appendices

Appendix A:

   Commitments

Appendix B:

   Principal Office


CREDIT AND GUARANTY AGREEMENT

This CREDIT AND GUARANTY AGREEMENT, dated as of December 13, 2005, is entered into by and among SolarWinds.Net, Inc., an Oklahoma corporation (“Holdings”), SolarWinds.Net, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Company”), and certain Subsidiaries of Company, as Guarantors, the Lenders party hereto from time to time, GoldenTree Asset Management, L.P., as Lead Arranger and as Syndication Agent (in such capacities, “Syndication Agent”), and The Bank of New York, a New York banking corporation, as Administrative Agent (together with its permitted successors in such capacity, “Administrative Agent”) and as Collateral Agent (together with its permitted successor in such capacity, “Collateral Agent”).

RECITALS:

WHEREAS, capitalized terms used in these Recitals shall have the respective meanings set forth for such terms in Section 1.1 hereof;

WHEREAS, Lenders have agreed to extend first lien term loans hereunder to Company in an aggregate amount not to exceed $85,000,000;

WHEREAS, pursuant to a Second Lien Credit and Guarantee Agreement, dated the date hereof (the “Second Lien Credit Agreement”), the lenders thereunder have agreed to extend second lien term loans to Company in an aggregate amount not to exceed $25,000,000;

WHEREAS, Company has agreed to secure all of its Obligations hereunder by granting to Collateral Agent, for the benefit of Secured Parties, a First Priority Lien on its assets, including a pledge of all of the Capital Stock of each of its Subsidiaries; and

WHEREAS, Guarantors have agreed to guarantee the obligations of Company hereunder and to secure their respective Obligations by granting to Collateral Agent, for the benefit of Secured Parties, a First Priority Lien on their respective assets, including a pledge of all of the Capital Stock of each of their respective Subsidiaries (including Company).

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the agreements, provisions and covenants herein contained, the parties hereto agree as follows:

SECTION 1. DEFINITIONS AND INTERPRETATION

1.1 Definitions. The following terms used herein, including in the preamble, recitals, exhibits and schedules hereto, shall have the following meanings:

“Acquisition” means the acquisition of approximately 67.8% of the issued and outstanding shares of Holdings’ common stock, and 67.8% of the issued and outstanding shares of Holdings’ preferred stock pursuant to the Acquisition Agreement

Acquisition Agreement” means the Stock Purchase Agreement, dated as of December 13, 2005, by and among Bain Capital Venture Integral Investors, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, BCV Coinvest SW, LP, a Delaware limited partnership, Insight


Venture Partners IV, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership, Insight Venture Partners IV (Fund B), L.P., a Delaware limited partnership, Insight Venture Partners (Cayman) IV, L.P., a Cayman limited partnership, Insight Venture Partners IV, a Delaware limited partnership (Co-Investors), L.P., a Delaware limited partnership, Insight Venture Partners V, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership, Goldentree Credit Opportunities, LP, Goldentree High Yield Partners, LP, Goldentree High Yield Partners (100), LP, Goldentree High Yield Partners II, LP, Goldentree Capital Solutions Fund, Robert Martin, Holdings, the stockholders of Holdings listed on the signature pages thereof, and, solely for purposes of Article X thereof, Donald C. Yonce and David A. Yonce.

“Administrative Agent” as defined in the preamble hereto.

“Adverse Proceeding” means any action, suit, proceeding (whether administrative, judicial or otherwise), governmental investigation or arbitration (whether or not purportedly on behalf of Company or any of its Subsidiaries) at law or in equity, or before or by any Governmental Authority, domestic or foreign (including any Environmental Claims and any action, suit, proceeding, governmental investigation or arbitration for which indemnification is claimed pursuant to any Contractual Obligation), whether pending or, to the knowledge of Company or any of its Subsidiaries, threatened against or affecting Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any property of Company or any of its Subsidiaries.

“Affiliate” means, as applied to any Person, any other Person directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by, or under common control with, that Person. For the purposes of this definition, “control” (including, with correlative meanings, the terms “controlling”, “controlled by” and “under common control with”), as applied to any Person, means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power (i) to vote 10% or more of the Securities having ordinary voting power for the election of directors of such Person or (ii) to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of that Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities or by contract or otherwise.

“Agent” means each of Administrative Agent, Syndication Agent and Collateral Agent.

“Aggregate Amounts Due” as defined in Section 2.13.

“Aggregate Payments” as defined in Section 7.2.

“Agreement” means this Credit and Guaranty Agreement, dated as of December 13, 2005, as it may be amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.

Applicable Margin” as defined in Section 2.5(a).

“Asset Sale” means a sale, lease or sub-lease (as lessor or sublessor), sale and leaseback, assignment, conveyance, transfer, license or other disposition to, or any exchange of property with any Person (other than Company or any Guarantor Subsidiary), in one transaction or a series of transactions, of all or any part of Company’s or any of its Subsidiaries’ businesses, assets or properties of any kind, whether real, personal, or mixed and whether tangible or intangible, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, including, without limitation, the Capital

 

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Stock of any of Company’ Subsidiaries, other than (i) inventory or software(or other assets) sold, licensed or leased in the ordinary course of business (excluding any such sales by operations or divisions discontinued or to be discontinued), (ii) damaged, worn out or obsolete assets, (iii) dispositions of Cash Equivalents and (iv) sales of other assets for aggregate consideration of less than $250,000 with respect to any transaction or series of related transactions and less than $500,000 in the aggregate during any Fiscal Year.

“Assignment Agreement” means an Assignment and Assumption Agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit A, with such amendments or modifications as may be approved by Administrative Agent.

“Assignment Effective Date” as defined in Section 10.6(b).

“Authorized Officer” means, as applied to any Person, any individual holding the position of chairman of the board (if an officer), chief executive officer, president or one of its vice presidents (or the equivalent thereof), and such Person’s chief financial officer or treasurer.

“Bankruptcy Code” means Title 11 of the United States Code entitled “Bankruptcy,” as now and hereafter in effect, or any successor statute.

“Beneficiary” means each Agent and Lender.

“Board of Governors” means the Board of Governors of the United States Federal Reserve System, or any successor thereto.

“Business Day” means any day (i) excluding Saturday, Sunday and any day which is a legal holiday under the laws of the State of New York or is a day on which banking institutions located in such state are authorized or required by law or other governmental action to close and (ii) which is also a day for trading by and between banks in Dollar deposits in the London interbank market.

“Capital Lease Obligations” of any person shall mean 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 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.

“Capital Stock” means any and all shares, interests, participations or other equivalents (however designated) of capital stock of a corporation, any and all equivalent ownership interests in a Person (other than a corporation), including, without limitation, partnership interests and membership interests, and any and all warrants, rights or options to purchase or other arrangements or rights to acquire any of the foregoing.

“Cash” means money, currency or a credit balance in any demand or Deposit Account.

 

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“Cash Equivalents” means, as at any date of determination, (i) marketable securities (a) issued or directly and unconditionally guaranteed as to interest and principal by the United States Government or (b) issued by any agency of the United States the obligations of which are backed by the full faith and credit of the United States, in each case maturing within one year after such date; (ii) marketable direct obligations issued by any state of the United States of America or any political subdivision of any such state or any public instrumentality thereof, in each case maturing within one year after such date and having, at the time of the acquisition thereof, a rating of at least A-1 from S&P or at least P-1 from Moody’s; (iii) commercial paper maturing no more than one year from the date of creation thereof and having, at the time of the acquisition thereof, a rating of at least A-1 from S&P or at least P-1 from Moody’s; (iv) certificates of deposit or bankers’ acceptances maturing within one year after such date and issued or accepted by any commercial bank organized under the laws of the United States of America or any state thereof or the District of Columbia that (a) is at least “adequately capitalized” (as defined in the regulations of its primary Federal banking regulator) and (b) has Tier 1 capital (as defined in such regulations) of not less than $100,000,000; (v) shares of any money market mutual fund that (a) has at least 95% of its assets invested continuously in the types of investments referred to in clauses (i) and (ii) above, and (vi) repurchase obligations with a term of not more than 30 days for the underlying securities of the types described in clause (i) above entered into with any bank meeting the qualifications specified in clause (iv) above.

Casualty Event” shall mean any loss of title or any loss of or damage to or destruction of, or any condemnation or other taking (including by any Governmental Authority) of, any property of Company or any of its Subsidiaries. “Casualty Event” shall include but not be limited to any taking of all or any part of any Real Property of any person or any part thereof, in or by condemnation or other eminent domain proceedings pursuant to any law, or by reason of the temporary requisition of the use or occupancy of all or any part of any Real Property of any person or any part thereof by any Governmental Authority, civil or military, or any settlement in lieu thereof.

“Certificate re Non-Bank Status” means a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit B.

“Change of Control” shall be deemed to have occurred if:

(a) prior to an IPO, either (i) prior to the second anniversary of the Acquisition, the Permitted Holders, directly or indirectly, cease to own, or to have the power to vote or direct the voting of, Capital Stock of Holdings representing less than 60% of the voting power of the total outstanding Capital Stock of Holdings, or (ii) on or after the second anniversary of the Acquisition, the Permitted Holders, directly or indirectly, cease to own, or to have the power to vote or direct the voting of, Capital Stock of Holdings representing less than 50% of the voting power of the total outstanding Capital Stock of Holdings, or (iii) any “person” or “group” (as such terms are used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act), other than the Permitted Holders described in clauses (a) and (b) of the definition of Permitted Holders, is or becomes the beneficial owner (as defined in Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Exchange Act, except that for purposes of this clause such person or group shall be deemed to have “beneficial ownership” of all securities that such person or group has the right to acquire, whether

 

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such right is exercisable immediately or only after the passage of time), directly or indirectly, of Capital Stock of Holdings representing more than 50% of the voting power of the total outstanding Capital Stock of Holdings;

(b) following an IPO, (i) the Permitted Holders, directly or indirectly, shall fail to own, or to have the power to vote or direct the voting of, Capital Stock of Holdings representing more than 50% of the voting power of the total outstanding Capital Stock of Holdings and (ii) any “person” or “group” (as such terms are used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act), other than one or more Permitted Holders, is or becomes the beneficial owner (as defined in Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Exchange Act, except that for purposes of this clause such person or group shall be deemed to have “beneficial ownership” of all securities that such person or group has the right to acquire, whether such right is exercisable immediately or only after the passage of time), directly or indirectly, of Capital Stock of Holdings representing more than 35% of the voting power of the total outstanding Capital Stock of Holdings;

(c) following an IPO, during any period of two consecutive years, individuals who at the beginning of such period constituted the Board of Directors of Holdings (together with any new directors whose election to such Board of Directors or whose nomination for election was approved by a vote of a majority of the members of the Board of Directors of Holdings, which members comprising such majority are then still in office and were either directors at the beginning of such period or whose election or nomination for election was previously so approved) cease for any reason to constitute a majority of the Board of Directors of Holdings; or

(d) Holdings ceases to own and have the power to vote or direct the voting of 100% of the Capital Stock of Company.

“Closing Date” means the date on which the Loans are made.

“Closing Date Certificate” means a Closing Date Certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit C.

“Collateral” means, collectively, all of the real, personal and mixed property (including Capital Stock) in which Liens are purported to be granted pursuant to the Collateral Documents as security for the Obligations.

“Collateral Agent” as defined in the preamble hereto.

“Collateral Documents” means the Pledge and Security Agreement, the Mortgages, if any, and all other instruments, documents and agreements delivered by any Credit Party pursuant to this Agreement or any of the other Credit Documents in order to grant to Collateral Agent, for the benefit of Secured Parties, a Lien on any real, personal or mixed property of that Credit Party as security for the Obligations.

“Commitment” means the commitment of a Lender to make or otherwise fund a Loan, and “Commitments” means such commitments of all Lenders in the aggregate. The amount of each Lender’s Commitment, if any, is set forth on Appendix A or in the applicable

 

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Assignment Agreement, subject to any adjustment or reduction pursuant to the terms and conditions hereof. The aggregate amount of the Commitments as of the Closing Date is $85,000,000.

“Company” as defined in the preamble hereto.

“Company Owned Intellectual Property” shall mean Intellectual Property, excluding Other Intellectual Property, that is owned by Company or any of its Subsidiaries, including Company Registered Intellectual Property and any Intellectual Property that has been sold, transferred or assigned by a third party or person to any Company.

“Company Registered Intellectual Property” shall mean all of the Registered Intellectual Property owned by or filed in the name of, Company or any of its Subsidiaries.

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

“Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA” means, for any period, an amount determined for Company and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis equal to (i) the sum, without duplication, of the amounts for such period of (a) Consolidated Net Income, (b) Consolidated Interest Expense, (c) provisions for taxes based on income, (d) total depreciation expense, (e) total amortization expense, (f) non-recurring cash fees, cash charges and other cash expenses made or incurred in connection with the Transactions that are paid within 180 days of the completion of the Transactions,(g) non-recurring cash fees, cash charges and other cash expenses made or incurred in connection with a Permitted Acquisition that are paid within 180 days of the completion of such Permitted Acquisition, (h) other non-Cash items reducing Consolidated Net Income (excluding any such non-Cash item to the extent that it represents an accrual or reserve for potential Cash items in any future period or amortization of a prepaid Cash item that was paid in a prior period), and (i) one-time non-recurring costs incurred in connection with any disposition or discontinuation of any line or unit of business in an aggregate amount for all such costs in such period not to exceed $1,000,000, to the extent deducted in the calculation of Consolidated Net Income, minus (ii) other non-Cash items increasing Consolidated Net Income for such period (excluding any such non-Cash item to the extent it represents the reversal of an accrual or reserve for potential Cash item in any prior period). Notwithstanding anything else herein to the contrary, for purposes of calculating Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA, Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA for the first quarter of Fiscal Year 2005 shall be deemed to be $5,327,000, for the second quarter of Fiscal Year 2005 shall be deemed to be $5,835,000, and for the third quarter of Fiscal Year 2005 shall be deemed to be $6,596,000.

“Consolidated Capital Expenditures” means, for any period, the aggregate of all expenditures of Company and its Subsidiaries during such period determined on a consolidated basis that, in accordance with GAAP, are or should be included in “purchase of property and equipment” or similar items reflected in the consolidated statement of cash flows of Company and its Subsidiaries, but excluding (i) expenditures made in connection with the replacement, substitution or restoration of property pursuant to Section 2.10(a), (ii) the purchase price of equipment that is purchased substantially contemporaneously with trade-in of existing

 

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equipment to the extent the price of such equipment is reduced by the trade-in credit granted by the seller, and (iii) the purchase price of equipment that is purchased during such period to the extent the consideration therefore consists of a combination of (x) used or surplus equipment traded in at the time of such purchase and (y) the proceeds of a concurrent sale of used or surplus equipment, in each case in the ordinary course of business.

“Consolidated Cash Interest Expense” means, for any period, Consolidated Interest Expense for such period, excluding any amount not payable in Cash.

“Consolidated Current Assets” shall mean, as at any date of determination, the total assets of Company and its Subsidiaries which may properly be classified as current assets on a consolidated balance sheet of Company and its Subsidiaries in accordance with GAAP.

“Consolidated Current Liabilities” shall mean, as at any date of determination, the total liabilities of Company and its Subsidiaries which may properly be classified as current liabilities (other than the current portion of any Loans) on a consolidated balance sheet of Company and its Subsidiaries in accordance with GAAP.

“Consolidated Excess Cash Flow” means, for any period, Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA for such period, minus, without duplication:

(a) Debt Service for such period;

(b) any voluntary prepayments of Loans so long as such amounts are not already reflected in Debt Service, during such period;

(c) Consolidated Capital Expenditures during such period (excluding Consolidated Capital Expenditures made in such period where a certificate in the form contemplated by the following clause (d) was previously delivered) that are paid in cash;

(d) Consolidated Capital Expenditures that Company or any of its Subsidiaries shall, during such period, become obligated to make but that are not made during such period; provided that Company shall deliver a certificate to the Administrative Agent not later than 90 days after the end of such period, signed by an Officer of Company and certifying that such Consolidated Capital Expenditures will be made in the following Fiscal Quarter;

(e) taxes of Company and its Subsidiaries that were paid in cash during such period or will be paid within six months after the end of such period and for which reserves have been established;

(f) the absolute value of the difference, if negative, of the amount of Net Working Capital at the end of the prior period for which Consolidated Excess Cash Flow was measured less the amount of Net Working Capital at the end of such period;

(g) losses excluded from the calculation of Consolidated Net Income by operation of clause (d) of the definition thereof that are paid in cash during such period;

 

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(h) to the extent added to determine Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA, all items that did not result from a cash payment to Company or any of its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis during such period; and

(i) up to $20,000,000 of the cash purchase price paid in Permitted Acquisitions during such period except to the extent financed with the proceeds of Indebtedness, Excluded Issuances, or other proceeds that would not be included in Consolidated Pro Forma EBITDA;

provided that any amount deducted pursuant of any of the foregoing clauses that will be paid after the close of such period shall not be deducted again in a subsequent period; plus, without duplication:

(i) the difference, if positive, of the amount of Net Working Capital at the end of the prior period less the amount of Net Working Capital at the end of such period;

(ii) all proceeds received during such period of any Indebtedness to the extent used to finance any Capital Expenditure (other than Indebtedness under this Agreement to the extent there is no corresponding deduction to Excess Cash Flow above in respect of the use of such borrowings);

(iii) to the extent any permitted Capital Expenditures referred to in (d) above do not occur in the period specified in the certificate of Company provided pursuant to (d) above, such amounts of Capital Expenditures that were not so made in the period specified in such certificates;

(iv) income or gain excluded from the calculation of Consolidated Net Income by operation of clause (d) or (e) of the definition thereof that is realized in cash during such period;

(v) if deducted in the computation of Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA, interest income; and

(vi) to the extent subtracted in determining Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA, all items that did not result from a cash payment by Company or any of its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis during such period.

“Consolidated Interest Expense” means, for any period, total interest expense (including that portion attributable to Capital Leases in accordance with GAAP and capitalized interest) of Company and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis with respect to all outstanding Indebtedness of Company and its Subsidiaries, including all commissions, discounts and other fees and charges owed with respect to letters of credit and net costs under Interest Rate Agreements. For purposes of measuring Consolidated Interest Expense for the first three periods of measurement in Sections 6.8(a) and 6.8(b), total interest expense for the Fiscal Year 2006 shall be annualized.

 

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“Consolidated Net Income” means, for any period, the net income (or loss) of Company and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis for such period taken as a single accounting period determined in conformity with GAAP, provided that there shall be excluded (a) the income (or loss) of any Person (other than a Subsidiary of Company) in which any other Person (other than Company or any of its Subsidiaries) has a joint interest, except to the extent of the amount of dividends or other distributions actually paid to Company or any of its Subsidiaries by such Person during such period, (b) the income (or loss) of any Person accrued prior to the date it becomes a Subsidiary of Company or is merged into or consolidated with Company or any of its Subsidiaries or that Person’s assets are acquired by Company or any of its Subsidiaries, (c) the income of any Subsidiary of Company to the extent that the declaration or payment of dividends or similar distributions by that Subsidiary of that income is not at the time permitted by operation of the terms of its charter or any agreement, instrument, judgment, decree, order, statute, rule or governmental regulation applicable to that Subsidiary, (d) any after-tax gains or losses attributable to asset sales or returned surplus assets of any Pension Plan, and (e) (to the extent not included in clauses (a) through (d) above) any net extraordinary gains or net extraordinary losses.

“Consolidated Pro Forma EBITDA” means, for any consecutive four Fiscal Quarter period, the sum of (i) Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA for such four Fiscal Quarter period plus (ii) for any business acquired during such four Fiscal Quarter period, (A) Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA of such acquired business determined as though such business or operations were acquired as of the first day of such period by Company and its Subsidiaries and (B) all charges incurred in such period by such acquired business in respect of compensation expense, occupancy costs, rental expense or other verifiable cost items that will not continue after the completion of integration of the acquired business into the business of Company and its Subsidiaries as certified by Company in an Officer’s Certificate delivered to the Administrative Agent and either reflected on a basis consistent with Regulation S-X promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission or approved by Administrative Agent, less (iii) Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA of all business or operations divested during such four Fiscal Quarter period as though such business were divested as of the first day of such period by Company and its Subsidiaries.

“Consolidated Total Debt” means, as at any date of the effect of determination, the aggregate stated balance sheet amount of all Indebtedness of Company and its Subsidiaries determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP.

“Consultant” shall mean any person who currently is developing or has developed or contributed to the development of any Intellectual Property for or on behalf of Company or one of its Subsidiaries who at the time of such development or contribution was not an Employee.

“Contingent Obligation” shall mean, as to any person, any obligation, agreement, understanding or arrangement of such person guaranteeing or intended to guarantee any Indebtedness, leases, dividends or other obligations (“primary obligations”) of any other person (the “primary obligor”) in any manner, whether directly or indirectly, including any obligation of such person, whether or not contingent, (a) to purchase any such primary obligation or any property constituting direct or indirect security therefor; (b) to advance or supply funds (i) for the purchase or payment of any such primary obligation or (ii) to maintain working capital or equity capital of the primary obligor or otherwise to maintain the net worth or solvency of the

 

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primary obligor; (c) to purchase property, securities or services primarily for the purpose of assuring the owner of any such primary obligation of the ability of the primary obligor to make payment of such primary obligation; (d) with respect to bankers’ acceptances, letters of credit and similar credit arrangements, until a reimbursement obligation arises (which reimbursement obligation shall constitute Indebtedness); or (e) otherwise to assure or hold harmless the holder of such primary obligation against loss in respect thereof; provided, however, that the term “Contingent Obligation” shall not include endorsements of instruments for deposit or collection in the ordinary course of business or any product warranties. The amount of any Contingent Obligation shall be deemed to be an amount equal to the stated or determinable amount of the primary obligation in respect of which such Contingent Obligation is made (or, if less, the maximum amount of such primary obligation for which such person may be liable, whether singly or jointly, pursuant to the terms of the instrument evidencing such Contingent Obligation) or, if not stated or determinable, the maximum reasonably anticipated liability in respect thereof (assuming such person is required to perform thereunder) as determined by such person in good faith.

“Contractual Obligation” means, as applied to any Person, any provision of any Security issued by that Person or of any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, contract, undertaking, agreement or other instrument to which that Person is a party or by which it or any of its properties is bound or to which it or any of its properties is subject.

“Contributing Guarantors” as defined in Section 7.2.

“Controlled Investment Affiliate” means, as to any person, any other person which directly or indirectly is in control of, is controlled by, or is under common control with, such person and is organized by such person (or any person controlling such person) primarily for making equity or debt investments in Company or other portfolio companies.

“Counterpart Agreement” means a Counterpart Agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit E delivered by a Credit Party pursuant to Section 5.9.

“Credit Document” means any of this Agreement, the Notes, if any, Intercreditor Agreement, the Collateral Documents, and all other documents, instruments or agreements executed and delivered by a Credit Party for the benefit of any Agent or any Lender in connection herewith.

“Credit Party” means each Person (other than any Agent or any Lender or any other representative thereof) from time to time party to a Credit Document.

“Currency Agreement” means any foreign exchange contract, currency swap agreement, futures contract, option contract, synthetic cap or other similar agreement or arrangement, each of which is for the purpose of hedging the foreign currency risk associated with Company’ and its Subsidiaries’ operations and not for speculative purposes.

“Debt Service” shall mean, for any period, Consolidated Cash Interest Expense for such period plus scheduled principal amortization of all Indebtedness for such period.

 

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“Default” means a condition or event that, after notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute an Event of Default.

“Deposit Account” means a demand, time, savings, passbook or like account with a bank, savings and loan association, credit union or like organization, other than an account evidenced by a negotiable certificate of deposit.

“Disqualified Capital Stock” shall mean any Capital Stock which, by its terms (or by the terms of any security into which it is convertible or for which it is exchangeable), or upon the happening of any event, (a) matures (excluding any maturity as the result of an optional redemption by the issuer thereof) or is mandatorily redeemable, pursuant to a sinking fund obligation or otherwise, or is redeemable at the option of the holder thereof, in whole or in part, on or prior to the first anniversary of the Maturity Date, (b) is convertible into or exchangeable (unless at the sole option of the issuer thereof) for (i) debt securities or (ii) any Capital Stock referred to in (a) above, in each case at any time on or prior to the first anniversary of the Maturity Date, or (c) contains any repurchase obligation which may come into effect prior to payment in full of all Obligations under this Agreement.

“Dollars” and the sign “$” mean the lawful money of the United States of America.

“Eligible Assignee” means (i) any Lender, any Affiliate of any Lender and any Related Fund of any Lender; (ii) any investment or mutual fund or other entity that is an “accredited investor” (as defined in Regulation D under the Securities Act) and which extends credit or buys loans as one of its businesses; and (iii) (a) a commercial bank organized under the laws of the United States or any state thereof; (b) a savings and loan association or savings bank organized under the laws of the United States or any state thereof; and (c) a commercial bank organized under the laws of any other country or a political subdivision thereof; provided that (1) such bank is acting through a branch or agency located in the United States or (2) such bank is organized under the laws of a country that is a member of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development or a political subdivision of such country; provided that neither Company nor any Affiliate of Company shall be an Eligible Assignee.

“Employee Benefit Plan” means any “employee benefit plan” as defined in Section 3(3) of ERISA which is or was sponsored, maintained or contributed to by, or required to be contributed by, Company, any of its Subsidiaries or any of their respective ERISA Affiliates.

“Employee” shall mean any current, former or retired employee, officer or director of Company or one of its Subsidiaries.

“Environmental Claim” means any investigation, notice, notice of violation, claim, action, suit, proceeding, demand, abatement order or other order or directive (conditional or otherwise), by any Governmental Authority or any other Person, arising (i) pursuant to or in connection with any actual or alleged violation of any Environmental Law; (ii) in connection with any Hazardous Material or any actual or alleged Hazardous Materials Activity; or (iii) in connection with any actual or alleged damage, injury, threat or harm to health, safety, natural resources or the environment.

 

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“Environmental Laws” means any and all current or future foreign or domestic, federal or state (or any subdivision of either of them), statutes, ordinances, orders, rules, regulations, judgments, Governmental Authorizations, or any other requirements of Governmental Authorities relating to (i) environmental matters, including those relating to any Hazardous Materials Activity; (ii) the generation, use, storage, transportation or disposal of Hazardous Materials; or (iii) occupational safety and health, industrial hygiene, land use or the protection of human, plant or animal health or welfare, in any manner applicable to Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any Facility.

“ERISA” means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended from time to time, and any successor thereto.

“ERISA Affiliate” means, as applied to any Person, (i) any corporation which is a member of a controlled group of corporations within the meaning of Section 414(b) of the Internal Revenue Code of which that Person is a member; (ii) any trade or business (whether or not incorporated) which is a member of a group of trades or businesses under common control within the meaning of Section 414(c) of the Internal Revenue Code of which that Person is a member; and (iii) any member of an affiliated service group within the meaning of Section 414(m) or (o) of the Internal Revenue Code of which that Person, any corporation described in clause (i) above or any trade or business described in clause (ii) above is a member. Any former ERISA Affiliate of Company or any of its Subsidiaries shall continue to be considered an ERISA Affiliate of Company or any such Subsidiary within the meaning of this definition with respect to the period such entity was an ERISA Affiliate of Company or such Subsidiary and with respect to liabilities arising after such period for which Company or such Subsidiary could be liable under the Internal Revenue Code or ERISA.

“ERISA Event” means (i) a “reportable event” within the meaning of Section 4043 of ERISA and the regulations issued thereunder with respect to any Pension Plan (excluding those for which the provision for 30-day notice to the PBGC has been waived by regulation); (ii) the failure to meet the minimum funding standard of Section 412 of the Internal Revenue Code with respect to any Pension Plan (whether or not waived in accordance with Section 412(d) of the Internal Revenue Code) or the failure to make by its due date a required installment under Section 412(m) of the Internal Revenue Code with respect to any Pension Plan or the failure to make any required contribution to a Multiemployer Plan; (iii) the provision by the administrator of any Pension Plan pursuant to Section 4041(a)(2) of ERISA of a notice of intent to terminate such plan in a distress termination described in Section 4041(c) of ERISA; (iv) the withdrawal by Company, any of its Subsidiaries or any of their respective ERISA Affiliates from any Pension Plan with two or more contributing sponsors or the termination of any such Pension Plan resulting in liability to Company, any of its Subsidiaries or any of their respective Affiliates pursuant to Section 4063 or 4064 of ERISA; (v) the institution by the PBGC of proceedings to terminate any Pension Plan, or the occurrence of any event or condition which might constitute grounds under ERISA for the termination of, or the appointment of a trustee to administer, any Pension Plan; (vi) the imposition of liability on Company, any of its Subsidiaries or any of their respective ERISA Affiliates pursuant to Section 4062(e) or 4069 of ERISA or by reason of the application of Section 4212(c) of ERISA; (vii) the withdrawal of Company, any of its Subsidiaries or any of their respective ERISA Affiliates in a complete or partial withdrawal (within the meaning of Sections 4203 and 4205 of ERISA) from any Multiemployer Plan if there

 

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is any potential liability therefore, or the receipt by Company, any of its Subsidiaries or any of their respective ERISA Affiliates of notice from any Multiemployer Plan that it is in reorganization or insolvency pursuant to Section 4241 or 4245 of ERISA, or that it intends to terminate or has terminated under Section 4041A or 4042 of ERISA; (viii) the occurrence of an act or omission which could give rise to the imposition on Company, any of its Subsidiaries or any of their respective ERISA Affiliates of fines, penalties, taxes or related charges under Chapter 43 of the Internal Revenue Code or under Section 409, Section 502(c), (i) or (l), or Section 4071 of ERISA in respect of any Employee Benefit Plan; (ix) the assertion of a material claim (other than routine claims for benefits) against any Employee Benefit Plan other than a Multiemployer Plan or the assets thereof, or against Company, any of its Subsidiaries or any of their respective ERISA Affiliates in connection with any Employee Benefit Plan; (x) receipt from the Internal Revenue Service of notice of the failure of any Pension Plan (or any other Employee Benefit Plan intended to be qualified under Section 401(a) of the Internal Revenue Code) to qualify under Section 401(a) of the Internal Revenue Code, or the failure of any trust forming part of any Pension Plan to qualify for exemption from taxation under Section 501(a) of the Internal Revenue Code; or (xi) the imposition of a Lien pursuant to Section 401(a)(29) or 412(n) of the Internal Revenue Code or pursuant to ERISA with respect to any Pension Plan.

“Event of Default” means each of the conditions or events set forth in Section 8.1.

“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time, and any successor statute.

“Excluded Issuance” shall mean an issuance and sale of Qualified Capital Stock of Company, to the extent such Qualified Capital Stock is used, or the Net Securities Proceeds thereof shall be, within 45 days of the consummation of such issuance and sale, used, without duplication, to finance Capital Expenditures or Permitted Acquisitions.

“Existing Indebtedness” means the Indebtedness identified on Schedule A.

“Facility” means any real property (including all buildings, fixtures or other improvements located thereon) now, hereafter or heretofore owned, leased, operated or used by Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any of their respective predecessors or Affiliates.

“Fair Share Contribution Amount” as defined in Section 7.2.

“Fair Share” as defined in Section 7.2.

“Financial Officer Certification” means, with respect to the financial statements for which such certification is required, the certification of the chief financial officer of Company that such financial statements fairly present, in all material respects, the financial condition of Company and its Subsidiaries as at the dates indicated and the results of their operations and their cash flows for the periods indicated, subject to changes resulting from audit and normal year-end adjustments.

“Financial Plan” as defined in Section 5.1(i).

 

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“First Priority” means, with respect to any Lien purported to be created in any Collateral pursuant to any Collateral Document, that such Lien is the only Lien to which such Collateral is subject, other than any Permitted Lien.

“Fiscal Quarter” means a fiscal quarter of any Fiscal Year.

“Fiscal Year” means the fiscal year of Company and its Subsidiaries ending on December 31st of each calendar year.

“Funding Guarantor” as defined in Section 7.2.

“Funding Notice” means a notice substantially in the form of Exhibit G.

“GAAP” means, subject to the limitations on the application thereof set forth in Section 1.2, United States generally accepted accounting principles in effect as of the date of determination thereof.

“Governmental Acts” means any act or omission, whether rightful or wrongful, of any present or future de jure or de facto government or Governmental Authority.

“Governmental Authority” means any federal, state, municipal, national or other government, governmental department, commission, board, bureau, court, agency or instrumentality or political subdivision thereof or any entity or officer exercising executive, legislative, judicial, regulatory or administrative functions of or pertaining to any government or any court, in each case whether associated with a state of the United States, the United States, or a foreign entity or government.

“Governmental Authorization” means any permit, license, authorization, plan, directive, consent order or consent decree of or from any Governmental Authority.

“Grantor” as defined in the Pledge and Security Agreement.

“Guaranteed Obligations” as defined in Section 7.1.

“Guarantor” means (a) from and after the Initial Contribution, Holdings and (b) each Subsidiary of Company that executes and delivers a counterpart of this Agreement on the Closing Date or from time to time thereafter pursuant to Section 5.9.

“Guarantor Subsidiary” means each Guarantor that is a Subsidiary of Company.

“Guaranty” means the guaranty of each Guarantor set forth in Section 7.

“Hazardous Materials” means any chemical, material or substance, exposure to which is prohibited, limited or regulated by any Governmental Authority or which may or could pose a hazard to the health and safety of the owners, occupants or any Persons in the vicinity of any Facility or to the indoor or outdoor environment.

 

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“Hazardous Materials Activity” means any past, current, proposed or threatened activity, event or occurrence involving any Hazardous Materials, including the use, manufacture, possession, storage, holding, presence, existence, location, Release, threatened Release, discharge, placement, generation, transportation, processing, construction, treatment, abatement, removal, remediation, disposal, disposition or handling of any Hazardous Materials, and any corrective action or response action with respect to any of the foregoing.

Hedging Agreement” means any swap, cap, collar, forward purchase or similar agreements or arrangements dealing with interest rates, currency exchange rates or commodity prices, either generally or under specific contingencies.

Hedging Obligations” means obligations under or with respect to Hedging Agreements.

“Highest Lawful Rate” means the maximum lawful interest rate, if any, that at any time or from time to time may be contracted for, charged, or received under the laws applicable to any Lender which are presently in effect or, to the extent allowed by law, under such applicable laws which may hereafter be in effect and which allow a higher maximum nonusurious interest rate than applicable laws now allow.

“Historical Financial Statements” means as of the Closing Date, (i) the audited financial statements of Holdings and its Subsidiaries, for Fiscal Year 2004, consisting of a balance sheet and the related consolidated statement of income, stockholders’ equity and cash flow for such Fiscal Year, and the unaudited financial statements of Holdings and its Subsidiaries for Fiscal Years 2002 and 2003, consisting of balance sheets, and the related consolidated statements of income and stockholders’ equity for such Fiscal Years, and (ii) the unaudited financial statements of Holdings and its Subsidiaries as at the most recently ended Fiscal Quarter, consisting of a balance sheet and the related consolidated statements of income, stockholders’ equity and cash flows for the three-, six-or nine-month period, as applicable, ending on such date, and, in the case of clauses (i) and (ii), certified by the chief executive officer of Holdings that they fairly present, in all material respects, the financial condition of Holdings and its Subsidiaries as at the dates indicated and the results of their operations and their cash flows for the periods indicated, subject to changes resulting from audit and normal year-end adjustments.

Holdings” as defined in the preamble hereto.

“Increased Cost Lender” as defined in Section 2.17.

“Indebtedness”, as applied to any Person, means, without duplication, (i) all indebtedness for borrowed money; (ii) that portion of obligations with respect to Capital Leases that is properly classified as a liability on a balance sheet in conformity with GAAP; (iii) notes payable and drafts accepted representing extensions of credit whether or not representing obligations for borrowed money; (iv) any obligation owed for all or any part of the deferred purchase price of property or services (excluding any such obligations incurred under ERISA), which purchase price is (a) due more than six months from the date of incurrence of the obligation in respect thereof or (b) evidenced by a note or similar written instrument; (v) all

 

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indebtedness secured by any Lien on any property or asset owned or held by that Person regardless of whether the indebtedness secured thereby shall have been assumed by that Person or is nonrecourse to the credit of that Person; (vi) the face amount of any letter of credit issued for the account of that Person or as to which that Person is otherwise liable for reimbursement of drawings; (vii) the direct or indirect guaranty, endorsement (otherwise than for collection or deposit in the ordinary course of business), co-making, discounting with recourse or sale with recourse by such Person of the obligation of another; (viii) any obligation of such Person the primary purpose or intent of which is to provide assurance to an obligee that the obligation of the obligor thereof will be paid or discharged, or any agreement relating thereto will be complied with, or the holders thereof will be protected (in whole or in part) against loss in respect thereof; (ix) any liability of such Person for an obligation of another through any agreement (contingent or otherwise) (a) to purchase, repurchase or otherwise acquire such obligation or any security therefor, or to provide funds for the payment or discharge of such obligation (whether in the form of loans, advances, stock purchases, capital contributions or otherwise) or (b) to maintain the solvency or any balance sheet item, level of income or financial condition of another if, in the case of any agreement described under subclauses (a) or (b) of this clause (ix), the primary purpose or intent thereof is as described in clause (viii) above; and (x) all obligations of such Person in respect of any exchange traded or over the counter derivative transaction, including, without limitation, any Interest Rate Agreement and Currency Agreement, whether entered into for hedging or speculative purposes; provided, in no event shall obligations under any Interest Rate Agreement and any Currency Agreement be deemed “Indebtedness” for any purpose under Section 6.8.

“Indemnified Liabilities” means, collectively, any and all liabilities, obligations, losses, damages (including natural resource damages), penalties, claims (including Environmental Claims), costs (including the costs of any investigation, study, sampling, testing, abatement, cleanup, removal, remediation or other response action necessary to remove, remediate, clean up or abate any Hazardous Materials Activity), expenses and disbursements of any kind or nature whatsoever (including the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for Indemnitees in connection with any investigative, administrative or judicial proceeding commenced or threatened by any Person, whether or not any such Indemnitee shall be designated as a party or a potential party thereto, and any fees or expenses incurred by Indemnitees in enforcing this indemnity), whether direct, indirect or consequential and whether based on any federal, state or foreign laws, statutes, rules or regulations (including securities and commercial laws, statutes, rules or regulations and Environmental Laws), on common law or equitable cause or on contract or otherwise, that may be imposed on, incurred by, or asserted against any such Indemnitee, in any manner relating to or arising out of (i) this Agreement or the other Credit Documents or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby (including the Lenders’ agreement to make Loans or the use or intended use of the proceeds thereof, or any enforcement of any of the Credit Documents (including any sale of, collection from, or other realization upon any of the Collateral or the enforcement of the Guaranty)); (ii) the statements contained in the commitment letter delivered by any Lender to Company or Permitted Holders with respect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement; or (iii) any Environmental Claim or any Hazardous Materials Activity relating to or arising from, directly or indirectly, any past or present activity, operation, land ownership, or practice of Company or any of its Subsidiaries.

“Indemnitee” as defined in Section 10.3.

 

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Initial Contribution” as defined in Section 2.3.

“Intellectual Property” shall mean any and all of the following: (i) all United States, international and foreign patents and applications therefor and all reissues, divisions, divisionals, renewals, extensions, provisionals, continuations and continuations-in-part thereof, and all patents, applications, documents and filings claiming priority to or serving as a basis for priority thereof; (ii) all inventions (whether or not patentable), invention disclosures, improvements, trade secrets, proprietary information, know how, computer software programs (in both source code and object code form), technology, technical data and customer lists, proprietary information, and all documentation relating to any of the foregoing; (iii) all copyrights, copyrights registrations and applications therefor, and all other rights corresponding thereto throughout the world; (iv) all industrial designs and any registrations and applications therefor throughout the world; (v) all trade names, logos, common law trademarks and service marks, trademark and service mark registrations and applications therefor throughout the world; (vi) all proprietary databases and data collections and all rights therein throughout the world; (vii) all moral and economic rights of authors and inventors, however denominated, throughout the world; (viii) all registered domain names and numbers; (ix) goodwill and remedies against infringement thereof and rights of protection of an interest therein under the laws of all jurisdictions; or (x) any similar or equivalent rights to any of the foregoing or other intellectual property rights anywhere in the world.

“Intercompany Note” shall mean a promissory note substantially in the form of Exhibit H.

“Intercreditor Agreement” means that certain Intercreditor Agreement, dated as of December 13, 2005, by and among SolarWinds.Net, LLC, SolarWinds.Net, Inc., The Bank of New York, in its capacity as collateral agent for the First Lien Obligations (as defined therein), and The Bank of New York, in its capacity as collateral agent for the Second Lien Obligations (as defined therein).

“Interest Coverage Ratio” means the ratio as of the last day of any Fiscal Quarter of (i) Consolidated Pro Forma EBITDA for the four-Fiscal Quarter period then ended to (ii) Consolidated Cash Interest Expense for such four-Fiscal Quarter period.

“Interest Payment Date” means each March 31, June 30, September 30, and December 31 of each year, commencing on March 31, 2006 through the final maturity date of such Loan. For the avoidance of doubt, the first interest payment to be made on the Loans shall be for the period from and including the Closing date to March 31, 2006.

“Interest Rate Agreement” means any interest rate swap agreement, interest rate cap agreement, interest rate collar agreement, interest rate hedging agreement or other similar agreement or arrangement, each of which is for the purpose of hedging the interest rate exposure associated with Company and its Subsidiaries’ operations and not for speculative purposes.

“Interest Rate Determination Date” means, with respect to each Fiscal Quarter, the date that is two Business Days prior to the first day of such Fiscal Quarter; provided that with respect to interest payable from the Closing Date to December 31, 2005, the Interest Rate Determination Date shall be the Business Day prior to the Closing Date.

 

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“Internal Revenue Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended to the date hereof and from time to time hereafter, and any successor statute.

“Investment” means (i) any direct or indirect purchase or other acquisition by Company or any of its Subsidiaries of, or of a beneficial interest in, any of the Securities of any other Person (other than a Guarantor Subsidiary); (ii) any direct or indirect redemption, retirement, purchase or other acquisition for value, by any Subsidiary of Company from any Person (other than Company or any Guarantor Subsidiary), of any Capital Stock of such Person; and (iii) any direct or indirect loan, advance (other than advances to employees for moving, entertainment and travel expenses, drawing accounts and similar expenditures in the ordinary course of business) or capital contributions by Company or any of its Subsidiaries to any other Person (other than Company or any Guarantor Subsidiary), including all indebtedness and accounts receivable from that other Person that are not current assets or did not arise from sales to that other Person in the ordinary course of business. The amount of any Investment shall be the original cost of such Investment plus the cost of all additions thereto, without any adjustments for increases or decreases in value, or write-ups, write-downs or write-offs with respect to such Investment.

IPO” shall mean the first underwritten public offering by Company of its Equity Interests after the Closing Date pursuant to a registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission in accordance with the Securities Act.

“Joint Venture” means a joint venture, partnership or other similar arrangement, whether in corporate, partnership or other legal form; provided, in no event shall any corporate Subsidiary of any Person be considered to be a Joint Venture to which such Person is a party.

“Landlord Consent and Estoppel” means, with respect to any Leasehold Property, a letter, certificate or other instrument in writing from the lessor under the related lease, pursuant to which, among other things, the landlord consents to the granting of a Mortgage on such Leasehold Property by the Credit Party tenant, such Landlord Consent and Estoppel to be in form and substance acceptable to Collateral Agent in its reasonable discretion, but in any event sufficient for Collateral Agent to obtain a Title Policy with respect to such Mortgage.

“Lead Arranger” as defined in the preamble hereto.

“Leasehold Property” means any leasehold interest of any Credit Party as lessee under any lease of real property, other than any such leasehold interest designated from time to time by the Requisite Lenders in their sole discretion as not being required to be included in the Collateral.

“Lender” means each financial institution listed on the signature pages hereto as a Lender, and any other Person that becomes a party hereto pursuant to an Assignment Agreement.

 

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“Leverage Ratio” means the ratio as of the last day of any Fiscal Quarter of (i) Consolidated Total Debt as of such day to (ii) Consolidated Pro Forma EBITDA for the four-Fiscal Quarter period ending on such date.

“LIBOR Rate” means the three month London interbank offered rate as reset for a Fiscal Quarter on each Interest Rate Determination Date.

Lien shall mean, with respect to any property, (a) any mortgage, deed of trust, lien, pledge, encumbrance, claim, charge, assignment, hypothecation, security interest or encumbrance of any kind or any filing of any financing statement under the UCC or any other similar notice of Lien under any similar notice or recording statute of any Governmental Authority, including any easement, right-of-way or other encumbrance on title to Real Property, in each of the foregoing cases whether voluntary or imposed by law, and any agreement to give any of the foregoing; (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 property; and (c) in the case of securities, any purchase option, call or similar right of a third party with respect to such securities.

“Loan” means a First Lien Term Loan made by a Lender to Company pursuant to Section 2.1(a).

“Loan Exposure” means, with respect to any Lender, as of any date of determination, the outstanding principal amount of the Loans of such Lender; provided, at any time prior to the making of the Loans, the Loan Exposure of any Lender shall be equal to such Lender’s Commitment.

Management Agreement means that certain (a) letter agreement between Insight Business Development, Holdings and Company, dated December 13, 2005, as in effect on the date of this Agreement, and (b) letter agreement between Bain Capital Venture Partners, SolarWinds Management LLC, and Yonce Management LLC, dated December 13, 2005, as in effect on the date of this Agreement.

“Margin Stock” as defined in Regulation U of the Board of Governors as in effect from time to time.

Material Adverse Effect shall mean (a) a material adverse effect on the business, property, results of operations, or condition, financial or otherwise of Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole; (b) material impairment of the ability of the Credit Parties to fully and timely perform any of their obligations under any Credit Document; (c) material impairment of the rights of or benefits or remedies available to the Lenders or the Collateral Agent under any Credit Document; or (d) a material adverse effect on the Collateral or the Liens in favor of the Collateral Agent (for its benefit and for the benefit of the other Secured Parties) on the Collateral or the priority of such Liens.

“Material Contract” means any contract or other arrangement to which Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party (other than the Credit Documents) for which breach, nonperformance, cancellation or failure to renew could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

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“Material Real Estate Asset” means (i) (a) any fee-owned Real Estate Asset having a fair market value in excess of $500,000 as of the date of the acquisition thereof and (b) all Leasehold Properties other than those with respect to which the aggregate payments under the term of the lease are less than $100,000 per annum or (ii) any Real Estate Asset that the Requisite Lenders have reasonably determined is material to the business, operations, properties, assets or condition (financial or otherwise) of Company or any Subsidiary thereof.

“Maturity Date” means the earlier of (i) the sixth anniversary of the Closing Date, and (ii) the date that all Loans shall become due and payable in full hereunder, whether by acceleration or otherwise.

“Moody’s” means Moody’s Investor Services, Inc.

“Mortgage” means a Mortgage substantially in the form of Exhibit J, as it may be amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.

“Multiemployer Plan” means any Employee Benefit Plan which is a “multiemployer plan” as defined in Section 3(37) of ERISA.

“NAIC” means The National Association of Insurance Commissioners, and any successor thereto.

“Narrative Report” means, with respect to the financial statements for which such narrative report is required, a narrative report describing the operations of Company and its Subsidiaries in the form prepared for presentation to senior management thereof for the applicable Fiscal Quarter or Fiscal Year and for the period from the beginning of the then current Fiscal Year to the end of such period to which such financial statements relate.

“Net Asset Sale Proceeds” means, with respect to any Asset Sale, an amount equal to: (i) Cash payments (including any Cash received by way of deferred payment pursuant to, or by monetization of, a note receivable or otherwise, but only as and when so received) received by Company or any of its Subsidiaries from such Asset Sale, minus (ii) any bona fide direct costs incurred in connection with such Asset Sale, including (a) reasonable and customary broker’s fees, commissions or legal fees, (b) income or gains taxes payable by the seller as a result of any gain recognized in connection with such Asset Sale and transfer and similar taxes incurred by Company or any of its Subsidiaries in connection therewith, (c) payment of the outstanding principal amount of, premium or penalty, if any, interest and other amounts on any Indebtedness (other than the Loans) that is secured by a Lien on the stock or assets in question and that is required to be repaid under the terms thereof as a result of such Asset Sale; (d) a reasonable reserve for any indemnification payments (fixed or contingent) attributable to seller’s indemnities and representations and warranties to purchaser or purchase price adjustments in respect of such Asset Sale undertaken by Company or any of its Subsidiaries in connection with such Asset Sale; and (d) Company’s good faith estimate of payments required to be made with respect to unassumed liabilities relating to the properties sold within 90 days of such Asset Sale (provided that, to the extent such cash proceeds are not used to make payments in respect of such unassumed liabilities within 90 days of such Asset Sale, such cash proceeds shall constitute Net Asset Sale Proceeds).

 

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Net Insurance/Condemnation Proceeds means an amount equal to: (i) any Cash payments or proceeds received by Company or any of its Subsidiaries (a) under any casualty insurance policy in respect of a covered loss thereunder or (b) as a result of the taking of any assets of Company or any of its Subsidiaries by any Person pursuant to the power of eminent domain, condemnation or otherwise, or pursuant to a sale of any such assets to a purchaser with such power under threat of such a taking, minus (ii) (a) any actual and reasonable costs incurred by Company or any of its Subsidiaries in connection with the adjustment or settlement of any claims of Company or such Subsidiary in respect thereof, and (b) any bona fide direct costs incurred in connection with any sale of such assets as referred to in clause (i)(b) of this definition, including income taxes payable as a result of any gain recognized in connection therewith; provided that “Net Insurance/Condemnation Proceeds” shall not include proceeds received in respect of any such loss or event to the extent the amount of such proceeds is equal to or less than $500,000.

“Net Securities Proceeds” means the cash proceeds (net of underwriting discounts and commissions and other reasonable costs and expenses associated therewith, including reasonable legal fees and expenses) of a capital contribution to Company or from the issuance of Capital Stock by Company of any of its Subsidiaries (excluding any proceeds from the issuance of Capital Stock of Company that are used to finance a Permitted Acquisition) to any Person.

Net Working Capital means, at any time, Consolidated Current Assets at such time minus Consolidated Current Liabilities at such time.

“Nonpublic Information” means information which has not been disseminated in a manner making it available to investors generally, within the meaning of Regulation FD.

“Non-Consenting Lender” as defined in Section 2.17.

“Non-Excluded Taxes” as defined in Section 2.15(a).

Non-Guarantor Subsidiary means each Subsidiary that is not a Subsidiary Guarantor.

“Non-US Lender” as defined in Section 2.15(d).

“Note” means a promissory note in the form of Exhibit F, as it may be amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.

“Notice” means a Funding Notice.

“Obligations” means all obligations of every nature of each Credit Party under the Credit Documents from time to time owed to the Agents (including former Agents), the Lenders or any of them, under any Credit Document, whether for principal, interest (including interest which, but for the filing of a petition in bankruptcy with respect to such Credit Party,

 

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would have accrued on any Obligation, whether or not a claim is allowed against such Credit Party for such interest in the related bankruptcy proceeding), premium, fees, expenses, indemnification or otherwise.

“Obligee Guarantor” as defined in Section 7.7.

“Officer” means the president, chief executive officer, a vice president, chief financial officer, treasurer or other individual appointed to serve in a similar capacity as the foregoing.

“Organizational Documents” means (i) with respect to any corporation, its certificate or articles of incorporation or organization, as amended, and its by-laws, as amended, (ii) with respect to any limited partnership, its certificate of limited partnership, as amended, and its partnership agreement, as amended, (iii) with respect to any general partnership, its partnership agreement, as amended, and (iv) with respect to any limited liability company, its articles of organization, as amended, and its operating agreement, as amended. In the event any term or condition of this Agreement or any other Credit Document requires any Organizational Document to be certified by a secretary of state or similar governmental official, the reference to any such “Organizational Document” shall only be to a document of a type customarily certified by such governmental official.

“Other Intellectual Property” shall mean any Intellectual Property, other than Company Owned Intellectual Property, that is used in the business of Company or any of its Subsidiaries with respect to Company’s or one of its Subsidiary’s products and services currently used, sold, licensed or otherwise commercially exploited or under development.

“PBGC” means the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation or any successor thereto.

“Pension Plan” means any Employee Benefit Plan, other than a Multiemployer Plan, which is subject to Section 412 of the Internal Revenue Code or Section 302 of ERISA.

“Permitted Acquisition” means acquisition of 100% of the Capital Stock of a Person or all or substantially all of the assets of another Person, provided (i) such Person becomes a direct wholly-owned Subsidiary of Company or any Guarantor that is a direct wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company; (ii) Company certifies that to the Administrative Agent that on a Pro Forma basis for such acquisition (including any financing incurred in connection with such acquisition) Company is in compliance with its financial covenants contained herein, (iii) the consideration paid in connection with such acquisition (excluding consideration funded from the reinvestment of Net Asset Sale Proceeds or Net Insurance/Condemnation Proceeds or from equity contributions to Company) does not exceed $10,000,000, and (iv) the cash consideration for such acquisition is financed only with any combination of (x) cash of Company and its Subsidiaries, (y) the cash proceeds of an issuance by Company of its ordinary Capital Stock and (z) the cash proceeds of any debt permitted to be incurred under Section 6.1.

“Permitted Liens” means each of the Liens permitted pursuant to Section 6.2.

 

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“Permitted Holders” means (a) Insight Venture Partners and its Controlled Investment Affiliates, (b) Bain Capital Ventures and its Controlled Investment Affiliates; (c) Donald Yonce, his controlled Affiliates and any trust established for his benefit or the benefit of any of his family members and (d) Dave Yonce, his controlled Affiliates and any trust established for his benefit or the benefit of any of his family members.

“Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness” means any Indebtedness of Company or any Guarantor issued in exchange for, or the net proceeds of which are used to renew, refund, refinance, replace, defease or discharge other Indebtedness of Company or such Guarantor (other than intercompany Indebtedness); provided that:

(i) the principal amount (or accreted value, if applicable) of such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness does not exceed the principal amount (or accreted value, if applicable) of the Indebtedness renewed, refunded, refinanced, replaced, defeased or discharged (plus all accrued interest on the Indebtedness and the amount of all fees and expenses, including premiums, incurred in connection therewith);

(ii) such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness has a final maturity date later than the final maturity date of, and has a Weighted Average Life to Maturity equal to or greater than the Weighted Average Life to Maturity of, the Indebtedness being renewed, refunded, refinanced, replaced, defeased or discharged;

(iii) if the Indebtedness being renewed, refunded, refinanced, replaced, defeased or discharged is subordinated in right of payment to the Loans, such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness has a final maturity date later than the final maturity date of, and is subordinated in right of payment to, the Loans on terms at least as favorable to the holders of Loans as those contained in the documentation governing the Indebtedness being renewed, refunded, refinanced, replaced, defeased or discharged; and

(iv) such Indebtedness is incurred either by Company or by such Guarantor who is the obligor on the Indebtedness being renewed, refunded, refinanced, replaced, defeased or discharged.

“Person” means and includes natural persons, corporations, limited partnerships, general partnerships, limited liability companies, limited liability partnerships, joint stock companies, Joint Ventures, associations, companies, trusts, banks, trust companies, land trusts, business trusts or other organizations, whether or not legal entities, and Governmental Authorities.

“Pledge and Security Agreement” means the Pledge and Security Agreement to be executed by Company and each Guarantor substantially in the form of Exhibit K, as it may be amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.

“Principal Office” means, for the Administrative Agent, its “Principal Office” as set forth on Appendix B, or such other office or office of a third party or sub-agent, as appropriate, as such Person may from time to time designate in writing to Company, Administrative Agent and each Lender.

 

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“Projections” as defined in Section 4.8.

“Pro Forma Basis” shall mean on a basis in accordance with Regulation S-X and otherwise reasonably satisfactory to the Requisite Lenders.

“Pro Rata Share” means the percentage obtained by dividing (a) the Loan Exposure of that Lender by (b) the aggregate Loan Exposure of all Lenders.

Publicly Available Software shall mean each of (i) any software that contains, or is derived in any manner (in whole or in part) from, any software that is distributed as free software, open source software (e.g. Linux), or pursuant to similar licensing and distribution models; and (ii) any soft-ware that requires as a condition of use, modification, and/or distribution of such software that such soft-ware or other software incorporated into, derived from, or distributed with such software be disclosed or distributed in source code form. Publicly Available Software includes, without limitation, soft-ware licensed or distributed pursuant to any of the following licenses or distribution models similar to any of the following: (a) GNU General Public License (GPL) or Lesser/Library GPL (LGPL), (b) the Artistic License (e.g. PERL), (c) the Mozilla Public License, (d) the Netscape Public License, (e) the Sun Community Source License (SCSL), the Sun Industry Source License (SISL), and (f) the Apache Software License.

Purchase Money Obligation means, for any person, the obligations of such person in respect of Indebtedness (including Capital Lease Obligations) incurred for the purpose of financing all or any part of the purchase price of any property (including Equity Interests of any person) or the cost of installation, construction or improvement of any property and any refinancing thereof; provided, however, that (i) such Indebtedness is incurred within 90 days after such acquisition of such property by such person and (ii) the amount of such Indebtedness does not exceed 100% of the cost of such acquisition, installation, construction or improvement, as the case may be.

“Qualified Capital Stock” of any person shall mean any Capital Stock of such person that are not Disqualified Capital Stock.

Real Estate Asset means, at any time of determination, any interest (fee, leasehold or otherwise) then owned by any Credit Party in any real property.

“Record Document” means, with respect to any Leasehold Property, (i) the lease evidencing such Leasehold Property or a memorandum thereof, executed and acknowledged by the owner of the affected real property, as lessor, or (ii) if such Leasehold Property was acquired or subleased from the holder of a Recorded Leasehold Interest, the applicable assignment or sublease document, executed and acknowledged by such holder, in each case in form sufficient to give such constructive notice upon recordation and otherwise in form reasonably satisfactory to the Requisite Lenders.

“Recorded Leasehold Interest” means a Leasehold Property with respect to which a Record Document has been recorded in all places necessary or desirable, in the reasonable judgment of Requisite Lenders, to give constructive notice of such Leasehold Property to third-party purchasers and encumbrancers of the affected real property.

 

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“Register” as defined in Section 2.4(b).

“Registered Intellectual Property” shall mean all United States, international and foreign: (i) patents and patent applications (including provisional applications and design patents and applications) and all reissues, divisions, divisionals, renewals, extensions, counterparts, continuations and continuations-in-part thereof, and all patents, applications, documents and filings claiming priority thereto or serving as a basis for priority thereof; (ii) registered trademarks, registered service marks, applications to register trademarks, applications to register service marks, intent-to-use applications, or other registrations or applications related to trademarks; (iii) registered copyrights and applications for copyright registration; (iv) domain name registrations and Internet number assignments; and (v) any other Intellectual Property that is the subject of an application, certificate, filing or registration issued, filed with, or recorded by any state, government or other public legal authority.

“Regulation D” means Regulation D of the Board of Governors, as in effect from time to time.

“Regulation FD” means Regulation FD as promulgated by the US Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Act and Exchange Act as in effect from time to time.

“Related Agreements” means, collectively, the Second Lien Credit Agreement and the Acquisition Agreement.

“Related Fund” means, with respect to any Lender that is an investment fund, any other investment fund that invests in commercial loans and that is managed or advised by the same investment advisor as such Lender or by an Affiliate of such investment advisor.

“Release” means any release, spill, emission, leaking, pumping, pouring, injection, escaping, deposit, disposal, discharge, dispersal, dumping, leaching or migration of any Hazardous Material into the indoor or outdoor environment (including the abandonment or disposal of any barrels, containers or other closed receptacles containing any Hazardous Material), including the movement of any Hazardous Material through the air, soil, surface water or groundwater.

“Replacement Lender” as defined in Section 2.17.

“Required Prepayment Date” as defined in Section 2.11(c).

“Requisite Lenders” means, at any time of determination, Lenders holding more than 50% of the aggregate Loan Exposure of all Lenders.

“Restricted Junior Payment” means (i) any dividend or other distribution, direct or indirect, on account of any shares of any class of stock of Company now or hereafter outstanding, except a dividend payable solely in shares of that class of stock to the holders of that class; (ii) any redemption, retirement, sinking fund or similar payment, purchase or other acquisition for value, direct or indirect, of any shares of any class of stock of Company now or hereafter outstanding; and (iii) any payment made to retire, or to obtain the surrender of, any outstanding warrants, options or other rights to acquire shares of any class of stock of Company now or hereafter outstanding.

 

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“S&P” means Standard & Poor’s Ratings Group, a division of The McGraw Hill Corporation.

“Second Lien Indebtedness” means up to $25,000,000 in aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness incurred pursuant to the Second Lien Credit Agreement, as it may be amended, supplemented, replaced, refinanced or otherwise modified from time to time.

“Secured Parties” has the meaning assigned to that term in the Pledge and Security Agreement.

“Securities” means any stock, shares, partnership interests, voting trust certificates, certificates of interest or participation in any profit-sharing agreement or arrangement, options, warrants, bonds, debentures, notes, or other evidences of indebtedness, secured or unsecured, convertible, subordinated or otherwise, or in general any instruments commonly known as “securities” or any certificates of interest, shares or participations in temporary or interim certificates for the purchase or acquisition of, or any right to subscribe to, purchase or acquire, any of the foregoing.

“Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended from time to time, and any successor statute.

“Settlement Confirmation” as defined in Section 10.6(b).

“Settlement Service” as defined in Section 10.6(d).

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

“Solvency Certificate” means a Solvency Certificate of the chief financial officer of Company substantially in the form of Exhibit L.

“Solvent” with respect to any Credit Party, means that as of the date of determination both (i)(a) the then fair saleable value of the property of such Credit Party is (1) greater than the total amount of liabilities (including contingent liabilities) of such Credit Party and (2) not less than the amount that will be required to pay the probable liabilities on such Credit Party’s then existing debts as they become absolute and due considering all financing alternatives, ordinary operating income and potential asset sales reasonably available to such Credit Party; (b) such Credit Party’s capital is not unreasonably small in relation to its business or any contemplated or undertaken transaction; and (c) such Credit Party does not intend to incur, or believe (nor should it reasonably believe) that it will incur, debts beyond its ability to pay such debts as they become due; and (ii) such Credit Party is “solvent” within the meaning given that term and similar terms under applicable laws relating to fraudulent transfers and conveyances. For purposes of this definition, the amount of any contingent liability at any time shall be computed as the amount that, in light of all of the facts and circumstances existing at such time, represents the amount that can reasonably be expected to become an actual or matured liability.

 

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“Subsidiary” means, with respect to any Person, any corporation, partnership, limited liability company, association, joint venture or other business entity of which more than 50% of the total voting power of shares of stock or other ownership interests entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency) to vote in the election of the Person or Persons (whether directors, managers, trustees or other Persons performing similar functions) having the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies thereof is at the time owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by that Person or one or more of the other Subsidiaries of that Person or a combination thereof; provided, in determining the percentage of ownership interests of any Person controlled by another Person, no ownership interest in the nature of a “qualifying share” of the former Person shall be deemed to be outstanding.

“Syndication Agent” as defined in the preamble hereto.

“Tax” means any present or future tax, levy, impost, duty, assessment, charge, fee, deduction or withholding of any nature and whatever called, by whomsoever, on whomsoever and wherever imposed, levied, collected, withheld or assessed; provided, “Tax on the overall net income” of a Person shall be construed as a reference to a tax imposed by the jurisdiction in which that Person is organized or in which that Person’s applicable principal office (and/or, in the case of a Lender, its lending office) is located or in which that Person (and/or, in the case of a Lender, its lending office) is deemed to be doing business with respect to all or part of the net income, profits or gains (whether worldwide, or only insofar as such income, profits or gains are considered to arise in or to relate to a particular jurisdiction, or otherwise) of that Person (and/or, in the case of a Lender, its applicable lending office).

Tax Return means all returns, statements, filings, attachments and other documents or certifications required to be filed in respect of Taxes.

“Terminated Lender” as defined in Section 2.17.

“Title Policy” means an insurance contract that indemnifies the lender against title claim challenges.

“Transaction Costs” means the fees, costs and expenses payable by Company or any of Company’s Subsidiaries on or before the Closing Date in connection with the transactions contemplated by the Credit Documents and the Related Agreements.

“UCC” means the Uniform Commercial Code (or any similar or equivalent legislation) as in effect in any applicable jurisdiction.

“Waivable Mandatory Prepayment” as defined in Section 2.11(c).

 

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“Weighted Average Life to Maturity” means, when applied to any Indebtedness at any date, the number of years obtained by dividing:

(1) the sum of the products obtained by multiplying (a) the amount of each then remaining installment, sinking fund, serial maturity or other required payments of principal, including payment at final maturity, in respect of the Indebtedness, by (b) the number of years (calculated to the nearest one-twelfth) that will elapse between such date and the making of such payment; by

(2) the then outstanding principal amount of such Indebtedness.

Wholly Owned Subsidiary means, as to any person, (a) any corporation 100% of whose capital stock (other than directors’ qualifying shares) is at the time owned by such person and/or one or more Wholly Owned Subsidiaries of such person and (b) any partnership, association, joint venture, limited liability company or other entity in which such person and/or one or more Wholly Owned Subsidiaries of such person have a 100% equity interest at such time.

1.2 Accounting Terms. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, all accounting terms not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings assigned to them in conformity with GAAP. Financial statements and other information required to be delivered by Company to Lenders pursuant to Section 5.1(a), 5.1(b) and 5.1(c) shall be prepared in accordance with GAAP as in effect at the time of such preparation (and delivered together with the reconciliation statements provided for in Section 5.1(e), if applicable). Subject to the foregoing, calculations in connection with the definitions, covenants and other provisions hereof shall utilize accounting principles and policies in conformity with those used to prepare the Historical Financial Statements. If at any time any change in GAAP would affect the computation of any financial ratio or requirement set forth in any Credit Document, and Company or Requisite Lenders shall so request, Lenders and Company shall negotiate in good faith to amend such ratio or requirement to preserve the original intent thereof in light of such change in GAAP (subject to the approval of Requisite Lenders), provided that, until so amended, such ratio or requirement shall continue to be computed in accordance with GAAP prior to such change therein and Company shall provide to Administrative Agent and Lenders reconciliation statements provided for in subsection 5.1(e).

1.3 Interpretation, etc. Any of the terms defined herein may, unless the context otherwise requires, be used in the singular or the plural, depending on the reference. References herein to any Section, Appendix, Schedule or Exhibit shall be to a Section, an Appendix, a Schedule or an Exhibit, as the case may be, hereof unless otherwise specifically provided. The use herein of the word “include” or “including”, when following any general statement, term or matter, shall not be construed to limit such statement, term or matter to the specific items or matters set forth immediately following such word or to similar items or matters, whether or not no limiting language (such as “without limitation” or “but not limited to” or words of similar import) is used with reference thereto, but rather shall be deemed to refer to all other items or matters that fall within the broadest possible scope of such general statement, term or matter.

 

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SECTION 2. LOANS

2.1 Loans.

(a) Loan Commitments. Subject to the terms and conditions hereof, each Lender severally agrees to make, on the Closing Date, a Loan to Holdings in an amount equal to such Lender’s Commitment. Holdings may make only one borrowing under the Commitments, which shall be on the Closing Date. Any amount borrowed under this Section 2.1(a) and subsequently repaid or prepaid may not be reborrowed. Subject to Sections 2.9 and 2.10, all amounts owed hereunder with respect to the Loans shall be paid in full no later than the Maturity Date. Each Lender’s Commitment shall terminate immediately and without further action on the Closing Date after giving effect to the funding of such Lender’s Commitment on such date.

(b) Borrowing Mechanics for Loans.

(i) Holdings shall deliver to Administrative Agent a fully executed Funding Notice no later than three days prior to the Closing Date. Promptly upon receipt by Administrative Agent of such Funding Notice, Administrative Agent shall notify each Lender of the proposed borrowing.

(ii) Each Lender shall make its Loan available to Administrative Agent not later than 12:00 p.m. (New York City time) on the Closing Date, by wire transfer of same day funds in Dollars, at the Principal Office in Appendix B or as otherwise designated by Administrative Agent. Upon satisfaction or waiver of the conditions precedent specified herein, Administrative Agent shall make the proceeds of the Loans available to Holdings on the Closing Date by causing an amount of same day funds in Dollars equal to the proceeds of all such Loans received by Administrative Agent from Lenders to be credited to the account of Company at the Principal Office designated by Administrative Agent or to such other account as may be designated in writing to Administrative Agent by Holdings.

2.2 Pro Rata Shares; Availability of Funds.

(a) Pro Rata Shares. All Loans shall be made, and all participations purchased, by Lenders simultaneously and proportionately to their respective Pro Rata Shares, it being understood that no Lender shall be responsible for any default by any other Lender in such other Lender’s obligation to make a Loan requested hereunder or purchase a participation required hereby nor shall any Commitment of any Lender be increased or decreased as a result of a default by any other Lender in such other Lender’s obligation to make a Loan requested hereunder or purchase a participation required hereby.

(b) Availability of Funds. Unless Administrative Agent shall have been notified by any Lender prior to the Closing Date that such Lender does not intend to make available to Administrative Agent the amount of such Lender’s Loan requested on the Closing Date, Administrative Agent may assume that such Lender has made such amount available to Administrative Agent on the Closing Date and Administrative Agent may, in its sole discretion, but shall not be obligated to, make available to Holdings a corresponding amount on the Closing Date. If such corresponding amount is not in fact made available to Administrative Agent by

 

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such Lender, Administrative Agent shall be entitled to recover such corresponding amount on demand from such Lender together with interest thereon, for each day from the Closing Date until the date such amount is paid to Administrative Agent, at the customary rate set by Administrative Agent for the correction of errors among banks for three Business Days and thereafter at the LIBOR Rate. If such Lender does not pay such corresponding amount forthwith upon Administrative Agent’s demand therefor, Administrative Agent shall promptly notify Holdings and Holdings shall immediately pay such corresponding amount to Administrative Agent together with interest thereon, for each day from the Closing Date until the date such amount is paid to Administrative Agent, at the rate payable hereunder for such Loans. Nothing in this Section 2.2(b) shall be deemed to relieve any Lender from its obligation to fulfill its Commitments hereunder or to prejudice any rights that Holdings may have against any Lender as a result of any default by such Lender hereunder.

2.3 Use of Proceeds. The proceeds of the Loans made on the Closing Date shall be applied by Holdings to redeem shares of Capital Stock of Holdings owned by Donald Yonce, Dave Yonce and their Affiliates and other related parties and to pay related fees and expenses. No portion of the proceeds of any Loan shall be used in any manner that causes or might cause such Loans or the application of such proceeds to violate Regulation T, Regulation U or Regulation X of the Board of Governors or any other regulation thereof or to violate the Exchange Act.

Each party hereto acknowledges that promptly after the Lenders make the Loans, Holdings intends contribute all of its material assets and liabilities to Company. Following such contribution (the “Initial Contribution”), Company agrees that it will automatically assume all obligations of Holdings as the borrower of the Loans, Holdings shall be deemed to be the borrower of the Loans for all purposes hereunder, and Holdings shall become a Guarantor hereunder.

2.4 Evidence of Debt; Register; Lenders’ Books and Records; Notes.

(a) Lenders’ Evidence of Debt. Each Lender shall maintain on its internal records an account or accounts evidencing the Obligations of Company to such Lender, including the amounts of the Loans made by it and each repayment and prepayment in respect thereof. Any such recordation shall be conclusive and binding on Company, absent manifest error; provided, that the failure to make any such recordation, or any error in such recordation, shall not affect any Lender’s Commitment or Company’s Obligations in respect of any applicable Loans; and provided further, in the event of any inconsistency between the Register and any Lender’s records, the recordations in the Register shall govern.

(b) Register. Administrative Agent (or its agent or sub-agent appointed by it) shall maintain at the Principal Office a register for the recordation of the names and addresses of Lenders and Loans of each Lender from time to time (the “Register”). The Register, as in effect at the close of business on the preceding Business Day, shall be available for inspection by Company or any Lender at any reasonable time and from time to time upon reasonable prior notice. Administrative Agent shall record, or shall cause to be recorded, in the Register the Loans in accordance with the provisions of Section 10.6, and each repayment or prepayment in respect of the principal amount of the Loans, and any such recordation shall be conclusive and

 

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binding on Company and each Lender, absent manifest error; provided, failure to make any such recordation, or any error in such recordation, shall not affect Company’s Obligations in respect of any Loan. Company hereby designates Administrative Agent to serve as Company’s agent solely for purposes of maintaining the Register as provided in this Section 2.4, and Company hereby agrees that, to the extent Administrative Agent serves in such capacity, Administrative Agent and its officers, directors, employees, agents, sub-agents and affiliates shall constitute “Indemnitees” under Section 10.3 hereof.

(c) Notes. If so requested by any Lender by written notice to Company (with a copy to Administrative Agent) at least two Business Days prior to the Closing Date, or at any time thereafter, Company shall execute and deliver to such Lender (and/or, if applicable and if so specified in such notice, to any Person who is an assignee of such Lender pursuant to Section 10.6) on the Closing Date (or, if such notice is delivered after the Closing Date, promptly after Company’s receipt of such notice) a Note or Notes to evidence such Lender’s Loan.

2.5 Interest on Loans.

(a) Except as otherwise set forth herein, Loans shall bear interest on the unpaid principal amount thereof from the date made through repayment (whether by acceleration or otherwise) at the LIBOR Rate plus 3.50% (the “Applicable Margin”).

(b) Interest payable pursuant to Section 2.5(a) shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year and the actual number of days elapsed in the period during which it accrues. In computing interest on any Loan, the date of the making of such Loan shall be included, and the date of payment of such Loan shall be excluded; provided, if a Loan is repaid on the same day on which it is made, one day’s interest shall be paid on that Loan.

(c) Except as otherwise set forth herein, interest on each Loan (i) shall accrue on a daily basis on and to the March 31, June 30, September 30, and December 31 most recently ended on or prior to such payment date and shall be payable in arrears on each Interest Payment Date; (iii) shall accrue on a daily basis and shall be payable in arrears upon any prepayment of that Loan, whether voluntary or mandatory, to the extent accrued on the amount being prepaid; and (iv) shall accrue on a daily basis and shall be payable in arrears at maturity of the Loans, including final maturity of the Loans.

2.6 Default Interest. Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, the principal amount of all Loans outstanding and, to the extent permitted by applicable law, any interest payments on the Loans or any fees or other amounts owed hereunder, shall thereafter bear interest (including post-petition interest in any proceeding under the Bankruptcy Code or other applicable bankruptcy laws) payable on demand at a rate that is equal to the lesser of (a) 2.0% per annum in excess of the interest rate otherwise payable hereunder with respect to the applicable Loans and (b) the maximum rate of interest permitted under applicable law. Payment or acceptance of the increased rates of interest provided for in this Section 2.6 is not a permitted alternative to timely payment and shall not constitute a waiver of any Event of Default or otherwise prejudice or limit any rights or remedies of Administrative Agent or any Lender.

 

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2.7 Fees.

Company agrees to pay to Agents such fees in the amounts and at the times separately agreed upon.

2.8 Payments.

The principal amounts of the Loans shall be due and repaid on the Maturity Date.

2.9 Voluntary Prepayments.

(a) Voluntary Prepayments.

(i) Any time and from time to time Company may prepay any Loans on any Business Day in whole or in part, in an aggregate minimum amount of $1,000,000 and integral multiples of $500,000 in excess of that amount; and

(ii) All such prepayments shall be made upon not less than one Business Day’s prior written or telephonic notice given to Administrative Agent by 12:00 p.m. (New York City time) on the date required and, if given by telephone, promptly confirmed in writing to Administrative Agent (and Administrative Agent will promptly transmit such telephonic or original notice for Loans by telefacsimile or telephone to each Lender). Upon the giving of any such notice, the principal amount of the Loans specified in such notice shall become due and payable on the prepayment date specified therein.

(b) Call Protection. In the event that the Loans are voluntarily prepaid in whole or in part, Company shall pay to Lenders having Loan Exposure a prepayment premium on the amount so prepaid as follows:

 

Number of calendar months elapsed since the Closing Date

   Prepayment premium as a
percentage of the amount so
prepaid

prior to 12

   102% (2% premium)

on or after 12 prior to 24

   101% (1% premium)

thereafter

   100% (no premium)

 

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2.10 Mandatory Prepayments.

(a) Asset Sales; Insurance/Condemnation Proceeds. No later than three Business Days after the date of receipt by Company or any Subsidiary of any Net Asset Sale Proceeds in respect of any Asset Sale or any Net Insurance/Condemnation Proceeds, Company shall either (1) prepay the Loans, or (2) so long as no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, deliver to Administrative Agent an Officer’s Certificate setting forth (x) that portion of such Net Asset Sale Proceeds or Net Insurance/Condemnation Proceeds that Company or such Subsidiary intends to reinvest in Permitted Acquisitions or equipment or other productive assets that are not classified as current assets on its balance sheet and are of the general type used in the business of Company and its Subsidiaries within 270 days of such date of receipt and (y) the proposed use of such portion of the Net Asset Sale Proceeds or Net Insurance/Condemnation Proceeds and such other information with respect to such reinvestment as Administrative Agent may reasonably request; provided that if the property with respect to which Net Asset Sale Proceeds or Net Insurance/Condemnation Proceeds shall have been received constituted Collateral, then all property purchases with such Net Asset Sale Proceeds or Net Insurance/Condemnation Proceeds shall be made subject to the First Lien of the Collateral Documents in favor of the Collateral Agent, for its benefit and for the benefit of the other Secured Parties. In addition, Company shall, no later than 270 days after receipt of such Net Asset Sale Proceeds or Net Insurance/Condemnation Proceeds that have not theretofore been applied to the Obligations or that have not been so reinvested as provided above, make an additional prepayment of the Loans in the full amount of all such Net Asset Sale Proceeds or Net Insurance/Condemnation Proceeds that have then not been so reinvested.

(b) [RESERVED]

(c) Issuance of Equity Securities. No later than the third Business Day following the date of receipt by Company of any Net Securities Proceeds, Company shall prepay the Loans in an aggregate amount equal to 100 % of such Net Securities Proceeds; provided that if the Company’s Leverage Ratio for the immediately preceding 12 month period for which financial statements are available is less than 3.00:1.00, after giving pro forma effect to such receipt and use of such Net Proceeds, 75% of such Net Proceeds shall be used to prepay the Loans; provided further that if the Company’s Leverage Ratio for the immediately preceding 12 month period for which financial statements are available is less than 2.00:1.00, after giving pro forma effect to such receipt and use of such Net Proceeds, 50% of such Net Proceeds shall be used to prepay the Loans.

(d) Issuance of Debt. No later than the third Business Day following the date of receipt by Company or any of its Subsidiaries of any Cash proceeds from the incurrence of any Indebtedness of Company or any of its Subsidiaries (other than with respect to any Indebtedness permitted to be incurred pursuant to Section 6.1) or the proceeds of any Key Man Life Insurance, Company shall prepay the Loans in an aggregate amount equal to 100% of such proceeds, net of underwriting discounts and commissions and other reasonable costs and expenses associated therewith, including reasonable legal fees and expenses.

(e) Consolidated Excess Cash Flow. In the event that there shall be Consolidated Excess Cash Flow for any Fiscal Year (commencing with Fiscal Year 2006), Company shall, no later than 120 days after the end of such Fiscal Year, offer to prepay the Loans in an aggregate amount equal to 50% of such Consolidated Excess Cash Flow. If Lenders elect to waive such

 

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prepayment pursuant to Section 2.11(c), Company may (i) retain the Consolidated Excess Cash Flow that would have otherwise been used for such prepayment, or (ii) at Company’s option, use the Consolidated Excess Cash Flow that would have otherwise been used for such prepayment, plus an amount equal to 25% of Consolidated Excess Cash Flow for such Fiscal Year, to prepay the Loan pursuant to Section 2.9, provided that, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in such Section, such prepayment shall be made with a no prepayment premium.

(f) Prepayment Certificate. Concurrently with any prepayment of the Loans, Company shall deliver to Administrative Agent a certificate of an Authorized Officer demonstrating the calculation of the amount of the applicable net proceeds or Consolidated Excess Cash Flow, as the case may be. In the event that Company shall subsequently determine that the actual amount received exceeded the amount set forth in such certificate, Company shall promptly make an additional prepayment of the Loans and Company shall concurrently therewith deliver to Administrative Agent a certificate of an Authorized Officer demonstrating the derivation of such excess.

2.11 Application of Prepayments.

(a) Application of Voluntary Prepayments. Any prepayment of any Loan pursuant to Section 2.9 shall be applied on a pro rata basis to reduce the principal on all outstanding Loans.

(b) Application of Mandatory Prepayments. Any amount required to be paid pursuant to Sections 2.10(a) through 2.10(e) shall be applied to prepay Loans on a pro rata basis (in accordance with the respective outstanding principal amounts thereof).

(c) Waivable Mandatory Prepayment. Anything contained herein to the contrary notwithstanding, so long as any Loans are outstanding, in the event Company is required to make any mandatory prepayment (a “Waivable Mandatory Prepayment”) of the Loans, not less than three Business Days prior to the date (the “Required Prepayment Date”) on which Company is required to make such Waivable Mandatory Prepayment, Company shall notify Administrative Agent of the amount of such prepayment, and Administrative Agent will promptly thereafter notify each Lender holding an outstanding Loan of the amount of such Lender’s Pro Rata Share of such Waivable Mandatory Prepayment and such Lender’s option to refuse such amount. Each such Lender may exercise such option by giving written notice to Company and Administrative Agent of its election to do so on or before the first Business Day prior to the Required Prepayment Date (it being understood that any Lender which does not notify Company and Administrative Agent of its election to exercise such option on or before the first Business Day prior to the Required Prepayment Date shall be deemed to have elected, as of such date, not to exercise such option). On the Required Prepayment Date, Company shall pay to Administrative Agent the amount of the Waivable Mandatory Prepayment, which amount shall be applied in an amount equal to that portion of the Waivable Mandatory Prepayment payable to those Lenders that have elected not to exercise such option, to prepay the Loans of such Lenders.

 

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2.12 General Provisions Regarding Payments.

(a) All payments by Company of principal, interest, fees and other Obligations shall be made in Dollars in same day funds, without defense, setoff or counterclaim, free of any restriction or condition, and delivered to Administrative Agent not later than 12:00 p.m. (New York City time) on the date due at the Principal Office designated by Administrative Agent for the account of Lenders; for purposes of computing interest and fees, funds received by Administrative Agent after that time on such due date shall be deemed to have been paid by Company on the next succeeding Business Day.

(b) All payments in respect of the principal amount of any Loan shall be accompanied by payment of accrued interest on the principal amount being repaid or prepaid.

(c) Administrative Agent (or its agent or sub-agent appointed by it) shall promptly distribute to each Lender by wire transfer at such wire transfer address as such Lender shall indicate in writing, such Lender’s applicable Pro Rata Share of all payments and prepayments of principal and interest due hereunder, together with all other amounts due thereto, including, without limitation, all fees payable with respect thereto, to the extent received by Administrative Agent.

(d) Whenever any payment to be made hereunder with respect to any Loan shall be stated to be due on a day that is not a Business Day, such payment shall be made on the next succeeding Business Day.

(e) Company hereby authorizes Administrative Agent to charge Company’s accounts with Administrative Agent in order to cause timely payment to be made to Administrative Agent of all principal, interest, fees and expenses due hereunder (subject to sufficient funds being available in its accounts for that purpose).

(f) Administrative Agent shall deem any payment by or on behalf of Company hereunder that is not made in same day funds prior to 12:00 p.m. (New York City time) to be a non-conforming payment. Any such payment shall not be deemed to have been received by Administrative Agent until the later of (i) the time such funds become available funds, and (ii) the applicable next Business Day. Administrative Agent shall give prompt telephonic notice to Company and each applicable Lender (confirmed in writing) if any payment is non-conforming. Any non-conforming payment may constitute or become a Default or Event of Default in accordance with the terms of Section 8.1(a). Interest shall continue to accrue on any principal as to which a non-conforming payment is made until such funds become available funds (but in no event less than the period from the date of such payment to the next succeeding applicable Business Day) at the rate determined pursuant to Section 2.6 from the date such amount was due and payable until the date such amount is paid in full.

(g) If an Event of Default shall have occurred and not otherwise been waived, and the maturity of the Obligations shall have been accelerated pursuant to Section 8.1, all payments or proceeds received by Agents hereunder in respect of any of the Obligations, shall be applied in accordance with the application arrangements described in Section 7.2 of the Pledge and Security Agreement.

 

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2.13 Ratable Sharing. Lenders hereby agree among themselves that, except as otherwise provided in the Collateral Documents with respect to amounts realized from the exercise of rights with respect to Liens on the Collateral, if any of them shall, whether by voluntary payment (other than a voluntary prepayment of Loans made and applied in accordance with the terms hereof), through the exercise of any right of set-off or banker’s lien, by counterclaim or cross action or by the enforcement of any right under the Credit Documents or otherwise, or as adequate protection of a deposit treated as cash collateral under the Bankruptcy Code, receive payment or reduction of a proportion of the aggregate amount of principal, interest, fees and other amounts then due and owing to such Lender hereunder or under the other Credit Documents (collectively, the “Aggregate Amounts Due” to such Lender) which is greater than the proportion received by any other Lender in respect of the Aggregate Amounts Due to such other Lender, then the Lender receiving such proportionately greater payment shall (a) notify Administrative Agent and each other Lender of the receipt of such payment and (b) apply a portion of such payment to purchase participations (which it shall be deemed to have purchased from each seller of a participation simultaneously upon the receipt by such seller of its portion of such payment) in the Aggregate Amounts Due to the other Lenders so that all such recoveries of Aggregate Amounts Due shall be shared by all Lenders in proportion to the Aggregate Amounts Due to them; provided, if all or part of such proportionately greater payment received by such purchasing Lender is thereafter recovered from such Lender upon the bankruptcy or reorganization of Company or otherwise, those purchases shall be rescinded and the purchase prices paid for such participations shall be returned to such purchasing Lender ratably to the extent of such recovery, but without interest. Company expressly consents to the foregoing arrangement and agrees that any holder of a participation so purchased may exercise any and all rights of banker’s lien, set-off or counterclaim with respect to any and all monies owing by Company to that holder with respect thereto as fully as if that holder were owed the amount of the participation held by that holder.

2.14 Increased Costs; Capital Adequacy.

(a) Compensation For Increased Costs and Taxes. Subject to the provisions of Section 2.15 (which shall be controlling with respect to the matters covered thereby), in the event that any Lender shall determine (which determination shall, absent manifest error, be final and conclusive and binding upon all parties hereto, but shall be made only after consultation with Company) that any law, treaty or governmental rule, regulation or order, or any change therein or in the interpretation, administration or application thereof (including the introduction of any new law, treaty or governmental rule, regulation or order), or any determination of a court or governmental authority, in each case that becomes effective after the date hereof, or compliance by such Lender with any guideline, request or directive issued or made after the date hereof by any central bank or other governmental or quasi-governmental authority (whether or not having the force of law): (i) subjects such Lender (or its applicable lending office) to any additional Tax (other than any Tax on the overall net income of such Lender) with respect to this Agreement or any of the other Credit Documents or any of its obligations hereunder or thereunder or any payments to such Lender (or its applicable lending office) of principal, interest, fees or any other amount payable hereunder; (ii) imposes, modifies or holds applicable any reserve (including any marginal, emergency, supplemental, special or other reserve), special deposit, compulsory loan, FDIC insurance or similar requirement against assets held by, or deposits or other liabilities in or for the account of, or advances or loans by, or other credit extended by, or any other acquisition

 

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of funds by, any office of such Lender; or (iii) imposes any other condition (other than with respect to a Tax matter) on or affecting such Lender (or its applicable lending office) or its obligations hereunder or the London interbank market; and the result of any of the foregoing is to increase the cost to such Lender of agreeing to make, making or maintaining Loans hereunder or to reduce any amount received or receivable by such Lender (or its applicable lending office) with respect thereto; then, in any such case, Company shall promptly pay to such Lender, upon receipt of the statement referred to in the next sentence, such additional amount or amounts (in the form of an increased rate of, or a different method of calculating, interest or otherwise as such Lender in its sole discretion shall determine) as may be necessary to compensate such Lender for any such increased cost or reduction in amounts received or receivable hereunder. Such Lender shall deliver to Company (with a copy to Administrative Agent) a written statement, setting forth in reasonable detail the basis for calculating the additional amounts owed to such Lender under this Section 2.14(a), which statement shall be conclusive and binding upon all parties hereto absent manifest error.

(b) Capital Adequacy Adjustment. In the event that any Lender shall have determined that the adoption, effectiveness, phase-in or applicability after the Closing Date of any law, rule or regulation (or any provision thereof) regarding capital adequacy, or any change therein or in the interpretation or administration thereof by any Governmental Authority, central bank or comparable agency charged with the interpretation or administration thereof, or compliance by any Lender (or its applicable lending office) with any guideline, request or directive regarding capital adequacy (whether or not having the force of law) of any such Governmental Authority, central bank or comparable agency, has or would have the effect of reducing the rate of return on the capital of such Lender or any corporation controlling such Lender as a consequence of, or with reference to, such Lender’s Loans or participations therein or other obligations hereunder with respect to the Loans to a level below that which such Lender or such controlling corporation could have achieved but for such adoption, effectiveness, phase-in, applicability, change or compliance (taking into consideration the policies of such Lender or such controlling corporation with regard to capital adequacy), then from time to time, within five Business Days after receipt by Company from such Lender of the statement referred to in the next sentence, Company shall pay to such Lender such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender or such controlling corporation on an after-tax basis for such reduction. Such Lender shall deliver to Company (with a copy to Administrative Agent) a written statement, setting forth in reasonable detail the basis for calculating the additional amounts owed to Lender under this Section 2.14(b), which statement shall be conclusive and binding upon all parties hereto absent manifest error.

(c) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, Company shall not be under any obligation to compensate any Lender under clause (a) or (b) of this Section 2.14 for increased costs or reductions with respect to any period prior to the date that is more than 180 days prior to such request if such Lender knew or could reasonably have been expected to know of the circumstances giving rise to such increase costs or reductions and of the fact that such circumstances would result in a claim for increased compensation by reason of such increased costs or reductions.

 

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2.15 Taxes; Withholding, etc.

(a) Payments to Be Free and Clear. All sums payable by any Credit Party hereunder and under the other Credit Documents shall (except to the extent required by law) be paid free and clear of, and without any deduction or withholding on account of, any Tax (other than a Tax on the overall net income of any Lender or the Administrative Agent) imposed, levied, collected, withheld or assessed by or within the United States of America or any political subdivision in or of the United States of America or any other jurisdiction from or to which a payment is made by or on behalf of any Credit Party or by any federation or organization of which the United States of America or any such jurisdiction is a member at the time of payment (“Non-Excluded Taxes”).

(b) Withholding of Taxes. If any Credit Party or any other Person is required by law to make any deduction or withholding on account of any such Non-Excluded Tax from any sum paid or payable by any Credit Party to Administrative Agent or any Lender under any of the Credit Documents: (i) Company shall notify Administrative Agent of any such requirement or any change in any such requirement as soon as Company becomes aware of it; (ii) Company shall pay any such Tax before the date on which penalties attach thereto, such payment to be made (if the liability to pay is imposed on any Credit Party) for its own account or (if that liability is imposed on Administrative Agent or such Lender, as the case may be) on behalf of and in the name of Administrative Agent or such Lender; (iii) the sum payable by such Credit Party in respect of which the relevant deduction, withholding or payment is required shall be increased to the extent necessary to ensure that, after the making of that deduction, withholding or payment, Administrative Agent or such Lender, as the case may be, receives on the due date a net sum equal to what it would have received had no such deduction, withholding or payment been required or made; and (iv) within thirty days after paying any sum from which it is required by law to make any deduction or withholding, and within thirty days after the due date of payment of any Tax which it is required by clause (ii) above to pay, Company shall deliver to Administrative Agent evidence satisfactory to the other affected parties of such deduction, withholding or payment and of the remittance thereof to the relevant taxing or other authority; provided, no such additional amount shall be required to be paid to the Administrative Agent or any Lender under clause (iii) above except (i) to the extent that any change after the date hereof (in the case of each Administrative Agent or Lender listed on the signature pages hereof on the Closing Date), or after the effective date of the Assignment Agreement pursuant to which such Lender became a Lender (in the case of each other Lender), in any such requirement for a deduction, withholding or payment as is mentioned therein shall result in an increase in the rate of such deduction, withholding or payment from that in effect at the date hereof or at the date of such Assignment Agreement, as the case may be, in respect of payments to such Lender, or (ii) that is attributable to a Lender’s failure to comply with the requirements of Section 2.15(c) or 2.15(d).

(c) U.S. Lenders. Each Lender that (i) is a “U.S. Person” as defined in Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code and (ii) whose name does not include “Incorporated,” “Inc.,” “Corporation,” “Corp.,” “P.C.,” “insurance company,” or “assurance company” shall deliver to the Administrative Agent for transmission to the Company two properly completed and duly executed copies of U.S. Internal Revenue Service Form W-9. Such forms shall be delivered by each such Lender on or before the Closing Date (in the case of each Lender listed on the signature pages hereof on the Closing Date) or on or prior to the date of the Assignment Agreement pursuant to which it becomes a Lender (in the case of each other Lender). In addition, each such Lender shall deliver such forms a reasonable period of time before the obsolescence or invalidity of any form previously delivered by such Lender.

 

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(d) Evidence of Exemption From U.S. Withholding Tax. Each Lender that is not a United States Person (as such term is defined in Section 7701(a)(30) of the Internal Revenue Code) for U.S. federal income tax purposes (a “Non-US Lender”) shall deliver to Administrative Agent for transmission to Company, on or prior to the Closing Date (in the case of each Lender listed on the signature pages hereof on the Closing Date) or on or prior to the date of the Assignment Agreement pursuant to which it becomes a Lender (in the case of each other Lender), and at such other times as may be necessary in the determination of Company or the Requisite Lenders (each in the reasonable exercise of its discretion), (i) two original copies of Internal Revenue Service Form W-8BEN or W-8ECI (or any successor forms), properly completed and duly executed by such Lender, and such other documentation required under the Internal Revenue Code and reasonably requested by Company to establish that such Lender is not subject to deduction or withholding of United States federal income tax with respect to any payments to such Lender of principal, interest, fees or other amounts payable under any of the Credit Documents, or (ii) if such Lender is not a “bank” or other Person described in Section 881(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and cannot deliver either Internal Revenue Service Form W-8ECI pursuant to clause (i) above, a Certificate re Non-Bank Status together with two original copies of Internal Revenue Service Form W-8BEN (or any successor form), properly completed and duly executed by such Lender, and such other documentation required under the Internal Revenue Code and reasonably requested by Company to establish that such Lender is not subject to deduction or withholding of United States federal income tax with respect to any payments to such Lender of interest payable under any of the Credit Documents. Each Lender required to deliver any forms, certificates or other evidence with respect to United States federal income tax withholding matters pursuant to this Section 2.15(d) hereby agrees, from time to time after the initial delivery by such Lender of such forms, certificates or other evidence, whenever a lapse in time or change in circumstances renders such forms, certificates or other evidence obsolete or inaccurate in any material respect, that such Lender shall promptly deliver to Administrative Agent for transmission to Company two new original copies of Internal Revenue Service Form W-8BEN or W-8ECI , or a Certificate re Non-Bank Status and two original copies of Internal Revenue Service Form W-8BEN (or any successor form), as the case may be, properly completed and duly executed by such Lender, and such other documentation required under the Internal Revenue Code and reasonably requested by Company to confirm or establish that such Lender is not subject to deduction or withholding of United States federal income tax with respect to payments to such Lender under the Credit Documents, or notify Administrative Agent and Company of its inability to deliver any such forms, certificates or other evidence. Company shall not be required to pay any additional amount to any Non-US Lender under Section 2.15(b)(iii) if such Lender shall have failed (1) to deliver the forms, certificates or other evidence referred to in this Section 2.15(d), or (2) to notify Administrative Agent and Company of its inability to deliver any such forms, certificates or other evidence, as the case may be; provided, if such Lender shall have satisfied the requirements of the first sentence of this Section 2.15(d) on the Closing Date or on the date of the Assignment Agreement pursuant to which it became a Lender, as applicable, nothing in this last sentence of Section 2.15(d) shall relieve Company of its obligation to pay any additional amounts pursuant this Section 2.15 in the event that, as a result of any change in any applicable law, treaty or governmental rule, regulation or order, or any change in the interpretation, administration or

 

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application thereof, such Lender is no longer permitted by applicable law to deliver forms, certificates or other evidence at a subsequent date establishing the fact that such Lender is not subject to withholding as described herein.

(e) If any Lender determines, in its sole discretion, that it has received a refund of any Non-Excluded Taxes with respect to which any Credit Party has paid additional amounts pursuant to this Section 2.15, it shall pay over such refund to the Credit Party, net of all out-of-pocket expenses of the Administrative Agent or such Lender. This paragraph shall not be construed to require the Administrative Agent or any Lender to make available its tax returns (or any other information relating to its taxes which it deems confidential) to any Credit Party or any other Person.

2.16 Obligation to Mitigate. Each Lender agrees that, as promptly as practicable after the officer of such Lender responsible for administering its Loans becomes aware of the occurrence of an event or the existence of a condition that would entitle such Lender to receive payments under Section 2.13, 2.14 or 2.15, it will, to the extent not inconsistent with the internal policies of such Lender and any applicable legal or regulatory restrictions, use reasonable efforts to (a) make, issue, fund or maintain its Loans through another office of such Lender, or (b) take such other measures as such Lender may deem reasonable, if as a result thereof the additional amounts which would otherwise be required to be paid to such Lender pursuant to Section 2.13, 2.14 or 2.15 would be materially reduced and if, as determined by such Lender in its sole discretion, the making, issuing, funding or maintaining of such Loans through such other office or in accordance with such other measures, as the case may be, would not otherwise adversely affect such Loans or the interests of such Lender; provided, such Lender will not be obligated to utilize such other office pursuant to this Section 2.16 unless Company agrees to pay all incremental expenses incurred by such Lender as a result of utilizing such other office as described above. A certificate as to the amount of any such expenses payable by Company pursuant to this Section 2.16 (setting forth in reasonable detail the basis for requesting such amount) submitted by such Lender to Company (with a copy to Administrative Agent) shall be conclusive absent manifest error.

2.17 Removal or Replacement of a Lender. Anything contained herein to the contrary notwithstanding, in the event that: (a) (i) any Lender (an “Increased Cost Lender”) shall give notice to Company that such Lender is entitled to receive payments under Section 2.13, 2.14 or 2.15, (ii) the circumstances which entitle such Lender to receive such payments shall remain in effect, and (iii) such Lender shall fail to withdraw such notice within five Business Days after Company’s request for such withdrawal; or (b) in connection with any proposed amendment, modification, termination, waiver or consent with respect to any of the provisions hereof as contemplated by Section 10.5(b), the consent of Requisite Lenders shall have been obtained but the consent of one or more of such other Lenders (each a “Non-Consenting Lender”) whose consent is required shall not have been obtained; then, with respect to each such Increased-Cost Lender or Non-Consenting Lender (the “Terminated Lender”), Company may, by giving written notice to Administrative Agent and any Terminated Lender of its election to do so, elect to cause such Terminated Lender (and such Terminated Lender hereby irrevocably agrees) to assign its outstanding Loans in full to one or more Eligible Assignees (each a “Replacement Lender”) in accordance with the provisions of Section 10.6 and Company shall pay any fees payable thereunder in connection with such assignment; provided,

 

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(1) on the date of such assignment, the Replacement Lender shall pay to Terminated Lender an amount equal to the sum of (A) an amount equal to the principal of, and all accrued interest on, all outstanding Loans of the Terminated Lender and (B) an amount equal to all accrued, but theretofore unpaid fees owing to such Terminated Lender; (2) on the date of such assignment, Company shall pay any amounts payable to such Terminated Lender pursuant to Section 2.13, 2.14 or 2.15; or otherwise as if it were a prepayment pursuant to Section 2.9 and (3) in the event such Terminated Lender is a Non-Consenting Lender, each Replacement Lender shall consent, at the time of such assignment, to each matter in respect of which such Terminated Lender was a Non-Consenting Lender. Upon the prepayment of all amounts owing to any Terminated Lender, such Terminated Lender shall no longer constitute a “Lender” for purposes hereof; provided, any rights of such Terminated Lender to indemnification hereunder shall survive as to such Terminated Lender.

SECTION 3. CONDITIONS PRECEDENT

3.1 Closing Date. The obligation of each Lender to make a Loan on the Closing Date is subject to the satisfaction, or waiver in accordance with Section 10.5, of the following conditions on or before the Closing Date:

(a) Credit Documents. Administrative Agent shall have received sufficient copies of each Credit Document originally executed and delivered by each applicable Credit Party for each Lender.

(b) Organizational Documents; Incumbency. Administrative Agent shall have received (i) a copy of each Organizational Document executed and delivered by each Credit Party, as applicable, and, to the extent applicable, certified as of a recent date by the appropriate governmental official, each dated the Closing Date or a recent date prior thereto; (ii) signature and incumbency certificates of the officers of such Person executing the Credit Documents to which it is a party; (iii) resolutions of the Board of Directors or similar governing body of each Credit Party approving and authorizing the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the other Credit Documents and the Related Agreements to which it is a party or by which it or its assets may be bound as of the Closing Date, certified as of the Closing Date by its secretary or an assistant secretary as being in full force and effect without modification or amendment; (iv) a good standing certificate from the applicable Governmental Authority of each Credit Party’s jurisdiction of incorporation, organization or formation and in each jurisdiction in which it is qualified as a foreign corporation or other entity to do business where the failure to be so qualified could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, each dated a recent date prior to the Closing Date; and (v) such other documents as Administrative Agent may reasonably request.

(c) Organizational and Capital Structure. The organizational structure and capital structure of Company and its Subsidiaries, both before and after giving effect to Acquisition, shall be as set forth on Schedule 3.1.

 

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(d) Consummation of Transactions Contemplated by Related Agreements.

(i) On the Closing Date (1) all conditions to the Acquisition set forth in Acquisition documents shall have been satisfied or the fulfillment of any such conditions shall have been waived, (2) the Acquisition shall have become effective in accordance with the terms of the Acquisition Agreement and (3) the aggregate cash consideration paid in connection with the Acquisition shall not exceed $204,000,000.

(ii) Administrative Agent shall have received a fully executed or conformed copy of each Related Agreement and any documents executed in connection therewith, together with copies of each of the opinions of counsel delivered to the parties under the Related Agreements, accompanied by a letter from each such counsel (to the extent not inconsistent with such counsel’s established internal policies) authorizing Lenders to rely upon such opinion to the same extent as though it were addressed to Lenders. Each Related Agreement shall be in full force and effect, shall include terms and provisions reasonably satisfactory to Requisite Lenders and no provision thereof shall have been modified or waived in any respect determined by Requisite Lenders to be material, in each case without the consent of Requisite Lenders.

(e) Existing Indebtedness. On the Closing Date, Company and its Subsidiaries shall have (i) repaid in full all Existing Indebtedness (other than the notes payable to Tom Sawyer in January 2006), (ii) terminated any commitments to lend or make other extensions of credit thereunder, (iii) delivered to Administrative Agent and Syndication Agent all documents or instruments necessary to release all Liens securing Existing Indebtedness or other obligations of Company and its Subsidiaries thereunder being repaid on the Closing Date, and (iv) made arrangements satisfactory to Administrative Agent with respect to the cancellation of any letters of credit outstanding thereunder.

(f) Transaction Costs. On or prior to the Closing Date, Company shall have delivered to Administrative Agent Company’s reasonable best estimate of the Transactions Costs (other than fees payable to any Agent).

(g) Governmental Authorizations and Consents. Each Credit Party shall have obtained all Governmental Authorizations and all consents of other Persons, in each case that are necessary in connection with the transactions contemplated by the Credit Documents and the Related Agreements and each of the foregoing shall be in full force and effect and in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Requisite Lenders. All applicable waiting periods shall have expired without any action being taken or threatened by any competent authority which would restrain, prevent or otherwise impose adverse conditions on the transactions contemplated by the Credit Documents or the Related Agreements or the financing thereof and no action, request for stay, petition for review or rehearing, reconsideration, or appeal with respect to any of the foregoing shall be pending, and the time for any applicable agency to take action to set aside its consent on its own motion shall have expired.

 

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(h) Personal Property Collateral. In order to create in favor of Collateral Agent, for the benefit of Secured Parties, a valid, perfected First Priority security interest in the personal property Collateral, Collateral Agent shall have received:

(i) evidence satisfactory to the Requisite Lenders of the compliance by each Credit Party of their obligations under the Pledge and Security Agreement and the other Collateral Documents (including, without limitation, their obligations to execute and deliver UCC financing statements, originals of securities, instruments and chattel paper and any agreements governing deposit and/or securities accounts as provided therein);

(ii) (A) The results of a recent search, by a Person satisfactory to Collateral Agent, of all effective UCC financing statements (or equivalent filings) made with respect to any personal or mixed property of any Credit Party in the jurisdictions reasonably requested by the Requisite Lenders, together with copies of all such filings disclosed by such search, and (B) UCC termination statements (or similar documents) duly executed by all applicable Persons for filing in all applicable jurisdictions as may be necessary to terminate any effective UCC financing statements (or equivalent filings) disclosed in such search (other than any such financing statements in respect of Permitted Liens);

(iii) opinions of counsel (which opinions and such counsel shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Requisite Lenders) with respect to the creation and perfection of the security interests in favor of Collateral Agent in such Collateral and such other matters governed by the laws of each jurisdiction in which any Credit Party or any personal property Collateral is located as the Requisite Lenders may reasonably request, in each case in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Requisite Lenders; and

(iv) evidence that each Credit Party shall have taken or caused to be taken any other action, executed and delivered or caused to be executed and delivered any other agreement, document and instrument (including without limitation, any Intercompany Notes evidencing Indebtedness permitted to be incurred pursuant to Section 6.1(b)) and made or caused to be made any other filing and recording (other than as set forth herein) reasonably required by the Requisite Lenders.

(i) Financial Statements; Projections. Lenders shall have received from Company (i) the Historical Financial Statements, (ii) pro forma consolidated and consolidating balance sheets of Company and its Subsidiaries as at the Closing Date, and reflecting the consummation of the Acquisition the related financings and the other transactions contemplated by the Credit Documents to occur on or prior to the Closing Date, which pro forma financial statements shall be in form and substance satisfactory to the Requisite Lenders, and (iii) the Projections. Such pro forma financial statements shall reflect no less than $24,500,000 in Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA for the twelve months ended October 31, 2005.

(j) Evidence of Insurance. Collateral Agent shall have received a certificate from Company’s insurance broker or other evidence satisfactory to the Requisite Lenders that all insurance required to be maintained pursuant to Section 5.5 is in full force and effect, together with endorsements naming the Collateral Agent, for the benefit of Secured Parties, as additional insured and loss payee thereunder to the extent required under Section 5.5.

 

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(k) Opinions of Counsel to Credit Parties. Lenders and their respective counsel shall have received originally executed copies of the favorable written opinion of Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP, counsel for Credit Parties, in the form of Exhibit M and as to such other matters as the Requisite Lenders may reasonably request, dated as of the Closing Date and otherwise in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Requisite Lenders (and each Credit Party hereby instructs such counsel to deliver such opinion to Agents and Lenders).

(l) Solvency Certificate. On the Closing, Date Administrative Agent and Syndication Agent shall have received a Solvency Certificate from Company.

(m) Closing Date Certificate. Company shall have delivered to Administrative Agent an originally executed Closing Date Certificate, together with all attachments thereto.

(n) Closing Date. Lenders shall have made the Loans and Second Lien Loans to Company on or before December 31, 2005.

(o) No Litigation. There shall not exist any action, suit, investigation, litigation or proceeding or other legal or regulatory developments, pending or, to the knowledge of Company, threatened in any court or before any arbitrator or Governmental Authority that, in the reasonable opinion of Requisite Lenders, singly or in the aggregate, materially impairs the Acquisition, the financing thereof or any of the other transactions contemplated by the Credit Documents or the Related Agreements, or that could have a Material Adverse Effect.

(p) Completion of Proceedings. All partnership, corporate and other proceedings taken or to be taken in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby and all documents incidental thereto not previously found acceptable by the Requisite Lenders and its counsel shall be satisfactory in form and substance to the Requisite Lenders and such counsel, and the Requisite Lenders and such counsel shall have received all such counterpart originals or certified copies of such documents as the Requisite Lenders may reasonably request.

(q) Funding Notice. Administrative Agent shall have received a fully executed and delivered Funding Notice;

(r) Representations and Warranties. As of the Closing Date, the representations and warranties contained herein and in the other Credit Documents shall be true and correct in all material respects on and as of the Closing Date to the same extent as though made on and as of that date, except to the extent such representations and warranties specifically relate to an earlier date, in which case such representations and warranties shall have been true and correct in all material respects on and as of such earlier date;

(s) No Event of Default. As of such Closing Date, no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would result from the Loans.

Any Agent or Requisite Lenders shall be entitled, but not obligated to, request and receive, prior to the making of any Loans, additional information reasonably satisfactory to the requesting party confirming the satisfaction of any of the foregoing if, in the good faith judgment of such Agent or Requisite Lenders such request is warranted under the circumstances.

 

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SECTION 4. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

In order to induce Lenders to enter into this Agreement and to make the Loans to be made thereby, each Credit Party represents and warrants to each Lender, on the Closing Date, that the following statements are true and correct (it being understood and agreed that the representations and warranties made on the Closing Date are deemed to be made concurrently with the consummation of Acquisition):

4.1 Organization; Requisite Power and Authority; Qualification. Each of Company and its Subsidiaries (a) is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of organization as identified in Schedule 4.1, (b) has all requisite power and authority to own and operate its properties, to carry on its business as now conducted and as proposed to be conducted, to enter into the Credit Documents to which it is a party and to carry out the transactions contemplated thereby, and (c) is qualified to do business and in good standing in every jurisdiction where its assets are located and wherever necessary to carry out its business and operations, except in jurisdictions where the failure to be so qualified or in good standing has not had, and could not be reasonably expected to have, a Material Adverse Effect.

4.2 Capital Stock and Ownership. The Capital Stock of each of Company and its Subsidiaries has been duly authorized and validly issued and is fully paid and non-assessable. Except as set forth on Schedule 4.2, as of the date hereof, there is no existing option, warrant, call, right, commitment or other agreement to which Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party requiring, and there is no membership interest or other Capital Stock of Company or any of its Subsidiaries outstanding which upon conversion or exchange would require, the issuance by Company or any of its Subsidiaries of any additional membership interests or other Capital Stock of Company or any of its Subsidiaries or other Securities convertible into, exchangeable for or evidencing the right to subscribe for or purchase, a membership interest or other Capital Stock of Company or any of its Subsidiaries. Schedule 4.2 correctly sets forth the ownership interest of Company and each of its Subsidiaries in their respective Subsidiaries as of the Closing Date both before and after giving effect to Acquisition.

4.3 Due Authorization. The execution, delivery and performance of the Credit Documents have been duly authorized by all necessary action on the part of each Credit Party that is a party thereto.

4.4 No Conflict. The execution, delivery and performance by Credit Parties of the Credit Documents to which they are parties and the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Credit Documents do not and will not (a) violate any provision of any law or any governmental rule or regulation applicable to Company or any of its Subsidiaries, any of the Organizational Documents of Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or any order, judgment or decree of any court or other agency of government binding on Company or any of its Subsidiaries except to the extent such violation could not be reasonably expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; (b) conflict with, result in a breach of or constitute (with due notice or lapse of time or both) a default under any Contractual Obligation of Company or any of its Subsidiaries except to the extent such conflict, breach or default could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; (c) result in or require the creation or imposition of any Lien upon any of the properties or assets of Company or any of its Subsidiaries (other than

 

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any Liens created under any of the Credit Documents in favor of Collateral Agent, on behalf of Secured Parties); or (d) require any approval of stockholders, members or partners or any approval or consent of any Person under any Contractual Obligation of Company or any of its Subsidiaries, except for such approvals or consents which will be obtained on or before the Closing Date and disclosed in writing to Lenders and except for any such approvals or consents the failure of which to obtain will not have a Material Adverse Effect.

4.5 Governmental Consents. The execution, delivery and performance by Credit Parties of the Credit Documents to which they are parties and the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Credit Documents do not and will not require any registration with, consent or approval of, or notice to, or other action to, with or by, any Governmental Authority except as otherwise set forth in the Agreement, and except for filings and recordings with respect to the Collateral to be made, or otherwise delivered to the Collateral Agent for filing and/or recordation, as of the Closing Date.

4.6 Binding Obligation. Each Credit Document has been duly executed and delivered by each Credit Party that is a party thereto and is the legally valid and binding obligation of such Credit Party, enforceable against such Credit Party in accordance with its respective terms, except as may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar laws relating to or limiting creditors’ rights generally or by equitable principles relating to enforceability.

4.7 Historical Financial Statements. The Historical Financial Statements were prepared in conformity with GAAP and fairly present, in all material respects, the financial position, on a consolidated basis, of the Persons described in such financial statements as at the respective dates thereof and the results of operations and cash flows, on a consolidated basis, of the entities described therein for each of the periods then ended, subject, in the case of any such unaudited financial statements, to changes resulting from audit and normal year-end adjustments. As of the Closing Date, neither Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has any contingent liability or liability for taxes, long-term lease or unusual forward or long-term commitment that is not reflected in the Historical Financial Statements or the notes thereto and which in any such case is required by GAAP to be reflected in such financial statements or the notes thereto and material in relation to the business, operations, properties, assets, or condition (financial or otherwise) of Company and any of its Subsidiaries taken as a whole.

4.8 Projections. On and as of the Closing Date, the Projections of Company and its Subsidiaries for the period of Fiscal Year 2005 through and including Fiscal Year 2010 (the “Projections”) are based on good faith estimates and assumptions made by the management of Company; provided, the Projections are not to be viewed as facts and that actual results during the period or periods covered by the Projections may differ from such Projections and that the differences may be material.

4.9 No Material Adverse Change. Since December 31, 2004, no event, circumstance or change has occurred that has caused or evidences, either in any case or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect.

4.10 Reserved.

 

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4.11 Adverse Proceedings, etc. There are no Adverse Proceedings, individually or in the aggregate, that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. Neither Company nor any of its Subsidiaries (a) is in violation of any applicable laws (including Environmental Laws) that, individually or in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, or (b) is subject to or in default with respect to any final judgments, writs, injunctions, decrees, rules or regulations of any court or any federal, state, municipal or other governmental department, commission, board, bureau, agency or instrumentality, domestic or foreign, that, individually or in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

4.12 Payment of Taxes. Each of Company and its Subsidiaries has (a) timely filed or caused to be timely filed all material Tax Returns required to have been filed by it and all such Tax Returns are true and correct in all material respects and (b) duly and timely paid or caused to be duly and timely paid all Taxes (whether or not shown on any Tax Return) due and payable by it and all assessments received by it, except Taxes (i) that are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and for which Company has set aside on its books adequate reserves in accordance with GAAP or (ii) which could not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect. Company has made adequate provision in accordance with GAAP for all Taxes not yet due and payable. Company is unaware of any proposed or pending tax assessments, deficiencies or audits that could be reasonably expected to, individually or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Effect.

4.13 Properties.

(a) Title. Each of Company and its Subsidiaries has (i) valid leasehold interests in (in the case of leasehold interests in real or personal property), and (ii) good title to (in the case of all other personal property), all of their respective properties and assets reflected in the most recent financial statements delivered pursuant to Section 5.1, in each case except for assets disposed of since the date of such financial statements in the ordinary course of business or as otherwise permitted under Section 6.9, except for Permitted Liens or minor defects in title that, in the aggregate, are not substantial in amount and do not materially detract from the value of the property subject thereto or interfere with its ability to conduct its business as currently conducted or to utilize such properties and assets for their intended purposes. Except as permitted by this Agreement, all such properties and assets are free and clear of Liens.

(b) Real Estate. As of the Closing Date, Schedule 4.13 contains a true, accurate and complete list of (i) all Real Estate Assets, and (ii) all leases, subleases or assignments of leases (together with all amendments, modifications, supplements, renewals or extensions of any thereof) affecting each Real Estate Asset of any Credit Party, regardless of whether such Credit Party is the landlord or tenant (whether directly or as an assignee or successor in interest) under such lease, sublease or assignment. Each agreement listed in clause (ii) of the immediately preceding sentence is in full force and effect and Company does not have knowledge of any default that has occurred and is continuing thereunder, and each such agreement constitutes the legally valid and binding obligation of each applicable Credit Party, enforceable against such Credit Party in accordance with its terms, except as enforcement may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar laws relating to or limiting creditors’ rights generally or by equitable principles.

 

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4.14 Environmental Matters. Neither Company nor any of its Subsidiaries nor any of their respective Facilities or operations are subject to any outstanding written order, consent decree or settlement agreement with any Person relating to any Environmental Law, any Environmental Claim, or any Hazardous Materials Activity that, individually or in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. Neither Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has received any letter or request for information under Section 104 of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (42 U.S.C. § 9604) or any comparable state law. There are and, to each of Company’s and its Subsidiaries’ knowledge, have been, no conditions, occurrences, or Hazardous Materials Activities which could reasonably be expected to form the basis of an Environmental Claim against Company or any of its Subsidiaries that, individually or in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. Neither Company nor any of its Subsidiaries nor, to any Credit Party’s knowledge, any predecessor of Company or any of its Subsidiaries has filed any notice under any Environmental Law indicating past or present treatment of Hazardous Materials at any Facility, and none of Company’s or any of its Subsidiaries’ operations involves the generation, transportation, treatment, storage or disposal of hazardous waste, as defined under 40 C.F.R. Parts 260-270 or any state equivalent. Compliance with all current or reasonably foreseeable future requirements pursuant to or under Environmental Laws could not be reasonably expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect. No event or condition has occurred or is occurring with respect to Company or any of its Subsidiaries relating to any Environmental Law, any Release of Hazardous Materials, or any Hazardous Materials Activity which individually or in the aggregate has had, or could reasonably be expected to have, a Material Adverse Effect.

4.15 No Defaults. Neither Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is in default in the performance, observance or fulfillment of any of the obligations, covenants or conditions contained in any of its Contractual Obligations, and no condition exists which, with the giving of notice or the lapse of time or both, could constitute such a default, except where the consequences, direct or indirect, of such default or defaults, if any, could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

4.16 [RESERVED]

4.17 Governmental Regulation. Neither Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is subject to regulation under the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935, the Federal Power Act or the Investment Company Act of 1940 or under any other federal or state statute or regulation which may limit its ability to incur Indebtedness or which may otherwise render all or any portion of the Obligations unenforceable. Neither Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is a “registered investment company” or a company “controlled” by a “registered investment company” or a “principal underwriter” of a “registered investment company” as such terms are defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940.

4.18 Margin Stock. Neither Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is engaged principally, or as one of its important activities, in the business of extending credit for the purpose of purchasing or carrying any Margin Stock. No part of the proceeds of the Loans made to such Credit Party will be used to purchase or carry any such Margin Stock or to extend credit to others for the purpose of purchasing or carrying any such margin stock or for any purpose that violates, or is inconsistent with, the provisions of Regulation T, U or X of the Board of Governors.

 

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4.19 Employee Matters. Neither Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is engaged in any unfair labor practice that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. There is (a) no unfair labor practice complaint pending against Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or to the best knowledge of Company, threatened against any of them before the National Labor Relations Board and no grievance or arbitration proceeding arising out of or under any collective bargaining agreement that is so pending against Company or any of its Subsidiaries or to the best knowledge of Company, threatened against any of them, (b) no strike or work stoppage in existence or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened involving Company or any of its Subsidiaries that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, and (c) to the knowledge of Company, no union representation question existing with respect to the employees of Company or any of its Subsidiaries and, to the knowledge of Company, no union organization activity that is taking place, except (with respect to any matter specified in clause (a), (b) or (c) above, either individually or in the aggregate) such as is not reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect.

4.20 Employee Benefit Plans.

Company, each of its Subsidiaries and each of their respective ERISA Affiliates are in compliance in all material respects with all applicable provisions and requirements of ERISA and the Internal Revenue Code and the regulations and published interpretations thereunder with respect to each Employee Benefit Plan, except for any such failure that, individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, and have performed all their obligations under each Employee Benefit Plan. Each Employee Benefit Plan which is intended to qualify under Section 401(a) of the Internal Revenue Code has received a favorable determination letter from the Internal Revenue Service indicating that such Employee Benefit Plan is so qualified and nothing has occurred subsequent to the issuance of such determination letter which would cause such Employee Benefit Plan to lose its qualified status. No liability to the PBGC (other than required premium payments), the Internal Revenue Service, any Employee Benefit Plan or any trust established under Title IV of ERISA has been or is expected to be incurred by Company, any of its Subsidiaries or any of their ERISA Affiliates. No ERISA Event has occurred or is reasonably expected to occur. Except to the extent required under Section 4980B of the Internal Revenue Code or similar state laws, no Employee Benefit Plan provides health or welfare benefits (through the purchase of insurance or otherwise) for any retired or former employee of Company, any of its Subsidiaries or any of their respective ERISA Affiliates. The present value of the aggregate benefit liabilities under each Pension Plan sponsored, maintained or contributed to by Company, any of its Subsidiaries or any of their ERISA Affiliates (determined as of the end of the most recent plan year on the basis of the actuarial assumptions specified for funding purposes in the most recent actuarial valuation for such Pension Plan), did not exceed the aggregate current value of the assets of such Pension Plan. As of the most recent valuation date for each Multiemployer Plan for which the actuarial report is available, the potential liability of Company, its Subsidiaries and their respective ERISA Affiliates for a complete withdrawal from such Multiemployer Plan (within the meaning of Section 4203 of ERISA), when aggregated with such potential liability for a complete withdrawal from all Multiemployer Plans, based on information available pursuant to Section

 

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4221(e) of ERISA is zero. Company, each of its Subsidiaries and each of their ERISA Affiliates have complied with the requirements of Section 515 of ERISA with respect to each Multiemployer Plan and are not in material “default” (as defined in Section 4219(c)(5) of ERISA) with respect to payments to a Multiemployer Plan.

4.21 Certain Fees.

No broker’s or finder’s fee or commission will be payable with respect hereto or any of the transactions contemplated hereby.

4.22 Solvency.

The Credit Parties, taken as a whole, are and, upon the incurrence of any Obligation by any such Credit Party on any date on which this representation and warranty is made, will be, Solvent.

4.23 Related Agreements.

(a) Delivery. Company has delivered to Administrative Agent and Syndication Agent complete and correct copies of (i) each Related Agreement and of all exhibits and schedules thereto as of the date hereof and (ii) copies of any material amendment, restatement, supplement or other modification to or waiver of each Related Agreement entered into after the date hereof.

(b) Representations and Warranties. All representations and warranties of Company set forth in the Acquisition Agreement were true and correct in all material respects as of the time such representations and warranties were made and shall be true and correct in all material respects as of the Closing Date as if such representations and warranties were made on and as of such date, unless stated to relate to a specific earlier date, in which case such representations and warranties shall be true and correct in all material respects as of such earlier date.

(c) Governmental Approvals. All Governmental Authorizations and all other authorizations, approvals and consents of any other Person required by the Related Agreements or to consummate the Acquisition have been obtained and are in full force and effect.

(d) Conditions Precedent. On the Closing Date, (i) all of the conditions to effecting or consummating Acquisition set forth in the Related Agreements have been duly satisfied or, with the consent of the Requisite Lenders, waived, and (ii) Acquisition has been consummated in accordance with the Related Agreements and all applicable laws.

4.24 Intellectual Property.

(a) Schedule 4.24 lists: (i) all Company Registered Intellectual Property; and (ii) all material licenses (in and out), sublicenses and other written agreements to which each Company is a party and pursuant to which a Company or any other Person is authorized to use any of the Company Owned Intellectual Property or exercise any rights with respect thereto, other than licenses of commercially available, off-the-shelf software, or “shrink wrap” end user licenses with a one time license fee of less than $25,000 or annual license fees of less than $10,000.

 

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(b) With respect to each item of Company Owned Intellectual Property, (i) except as set forth on Schedule 4.24(b) it is owned solely by Company free and clear of any Liens and (ii) each Company has all rights in the Company Owned Intellectual Property necessary to the conduct of the business of Company as it is currently conducted and (iii) Company and its Subsidiaries have the right to sell, transfer, assign and sublicense, with the right to grant further sublicenses, to any third party, Person or entity any and all rights in Company Owned Intellectual Property (excluding any Publicly Available Software incorporated therein).

(c) Except as set forth in Schedule 4.24(c), Company and each of its Subsidiaries is in compliance with and has not breached, violated or defaulted under, or received notice that it has breached, violated or defaulted under, any of the material terms or conditions of any license, sublicense or other agreement to which Company or such Subsidiary is a party or otherwise bound relating to any of the Other Intellectual Property, nor does Company or such Subsidiary have knowledge of any event or occurrence that would reasonably be expected to constitute such a breach, violation or default (with or without the lapse of time, giving of notice or both). Each such agreement is in full force and effect. Under each contract, license and agreement concerning or relating to Other Intellectual Property to which Company or its Subsidiaries is a party, Company, its Subsidiaries and their permitted assigns and successors are authorized to exercise all rights necessary to conduct the business of Company as it is currently conducted. Following the Closing Date, except as set forth in Schedule 4.24(c), Company and its Subsidiaries will be permitted to exercise rights under such contracts, licenses and agreements to the same extent it would have been able to had the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (including the Acquisition) not occurred and without the payment of any additional amounts or consideration other than fees, royalties or payments which Company or its Subsidiaries would otherwise have been required to pay had the transactions contemplated by this Agreement not occurred, except in each case as could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. Except as set forth in Schedule 4.24(c), neither Company nor its Subsidiaries is obligated to provide any consideration (whether financial or otherwise) to any third party, nor is any third party otherwise entitled to any consideration, with respect to any exercise of rights by such Company in the Company Owned Intellectual Property.

(d) The use of the Company Owned Intellectual Property and Other Intellectual Property by Company and each of its Subsidiaries in the conduct of the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries as it is currently conducted does not, to Company’s knowledge, infringe any Intellectual Property rights of another Person or give rise to any claim of unfair competition. No funds or facilities of any university were used in the development of Company Owned Intellectual Property. Except as set forth in Schedule 4.24(d), no claims (i) challenging the validity, enforceability or ownership by a Company or any of its Subsidiaries of any of the Company Owned Intellectual Property or (ii) to the effect that the use, reproduction, modification, manufacture, distribution, licensing, sub-licensing, sale, or any other exercise of rights in any Company Owned Intellectual Property by Company or any of its Subsidiaries, infringes or will infringe on any Intellectual Property right of any Person have been asserted in writing against Company or any of its Subsidiaries or, to each Company’s knowledge, are threatened by any Person nor, to Company’s knowledge, does there exist any valid basis for such

 

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a claim. Except as set forth on Schedule 4.24(d), there are no legal or governmental proceedings, including interference, re-examination, reissue, opposition, nullity, or cancellation proceedings pending or, to the Company’s knowledge, threatened that relate to any of the Company Registered Intellectual Property, other than review of pending patent and trademark applications. All Company Registered Intellectual Property is subsisting. To Company’s knowledge, there is no unauthorized use, infringement, or misappropriation of any Company Owned Intellectual Property by any third party, employee or former employee.

(e) Except as set forth on Schedule 4.24(e), Company and each of its Subsidiaries has secured from all parties (including Employees and Consultants) who have developed or created any portion of the Company Owned Intellectual Property, valid and enforceable written assignments of any of their respective rights in any such work, invention, improvement, including any Intellectual Property rights therein, to Company. To Company’s knowledge, no Employee or Consultant of Company or any of its Subsidiaries has incorporated Other Intellectual Property, in whole or in part, into the Company Owned Intellectual Property.

(f) Except as set forth in Schedule 4.24(f), the transactions contemplated under this Agreement will not materially adversely alter, impair or otherwise materially adversely affect any rights of Company or any of its Subsidiaries in or to any Company Owned Intellectual Property or Other Intellectual Property.

(g) Except as set forth in Schedule 4.24(g), the Company Owned Intellectual Property is not subject to any source code escrow or similar agreement.

(h) Company has taken commercially reasonable measures consistent with industry standards to protect the proprietary nature and commercial value of the Company Owned Intellectual Property and to maintain in confidence all trade secrets and confidential information owned or used by Company and its Subsidiaries.

(i) To Company’s knowledge, neither the Company Owned Intellectual Property nor the Other Intellectual Property contains any “viruses” that currently affect or will affect the use, sales and other commercial exploitation of Company’s products and services in a manner that reasonably would be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. For the purposes of this Agreement, “virus” means any computer code designed to disrupt, disable or harm in any manner the operation of any software or hardware. To Company’s knowledge, neither the Company Owned Intellectual Property nor the Other Intellectual Property contains any worm, bomb, backdoor, clock, timer or other disabling device, code, design or routine which causes the software or any portion thereof to be erased, inoperable or otherwise incapable of being used, either automatically, with the passage of time or upon command by any party.

(j) Except as set forth in Schedule 4.24(j): (i) the Company Owned Intellectual Property does not include any Publicly Available Software; and (ii) no Company (or, to Company’s knowledge, no Employee of Consultant thereof) has used Publicly Available Software in whole or in part in the development of any part of Company Owned Intellectual Property in a manner that may subject the Company Owned Intellectual Property, in whole or in part, to all or part of the license obligations of any Publicly Available Software. To the extent that Company has made any additions or modifications to the items set forth on Schedule 4.24(j),

 

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such additions and modifications are not a material portion of the Company Intellectual Owned Property. Public disclosure and release of the source code for the items set forth on Schedule 4.24(j), including any additions and modifications, will not materially adversely affect Company’s business as presently conducted or proposed to be conducted.

(k) Company’s agreements with Consultants for the performance of professional services on Company’s or customers’ behalf do not confer upon any Person other than a Company any ownership right with respect to any Intellectual Property developed in connection with such agreement or license.

4.25 Compliance with Statutes, etc. Each of Company and its Subsidiaries is in compliance with all applicable statutes, regulations and orders of, and all applicable restrictions imposed by, all Governmental Authorities, in respect of the conduct of its business and the ownership of its property (including compliance with all applicable Environmental Laws with respect to any Real Estate Asset or governing its business and the requirements of any permits issued under such Environmental Laws with respect to any such Real Estate Asset or the operations of Company or any of its Subsidiaries), except such non-compliance that, individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

4.26 Disclosure. No information, report, financial statement, certificate, Notice, exhibit or schedule furnished by or on behalf of Company to the Administrative Agent or any Lender in connection with the negotiation of any Credit Document or included therein or delivered pursuant thereto, taken as a whole, contained or contains any material misstatement of fact or omitted or omits to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were or are made, not misleading as of the date such information is dated or certified; provided that to the extent any such information, report, financial statement, exhibit or schedule was based upon or constitutes a forecast or projection, Company represents only that it acted in good faith and utilized reasonable assumptions and due care in the preparation of such information, report, financial statement, exhibit or schedule.

4.27 Patriot Act. To the extent applicable, each Credit Party is in compliance, in all material respects, with the (i) Trading with the Enemy Act, as amended, and each of the foreign assets control regulations of the Untied States Treasury Department (31 CFR, Subtitle B, Chapter V, as amended) and any other enabling legislation or executive order relating thereto, and (ii) Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism (USA Patriot Act of 2001). No part of the proceeds of the Loans will be used, directly or indirectly, for any payments to any governmental official or employee, political party, official of a political party, candidate for political office, or anyone else acting in an official capacity, in order to obtain, retain or direct business or obtain any improper advantage, in violation of the United States Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended.

 

SECTION 5.  AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS

Each Credit Party covenants and agrees that until payment in full in cash of all Obligations, each Credit Party shall perform, and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to perform, all covenants in this Section 5.

 

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5.1 Financial Statements and Other Reports.

Company will deliver to Administrative Agent and Lenders:

(a) Monthly Reports. As soon as available, and in any event within 30 days after the end of each month ending after the Closing Date, the consolidated balance sheet of Company and its Subsidiaries as at the end of such month and the related consolidated statements of income, stockholders’ equity and cash flows of Company and its Subsidiaries for such month and for the period from the beginning of the then current Fiscal Year to the end of such month, setting forth in each case in comparative form the corresponding figures for the corresponding periods of the previous Fiscal Year and the corresponding figures from the Financial Plan for the current Fiscal Year, to the extent prepared on a monthly basis, all in reasonable detail, together with a Financial Officer Certification with respect thereto;

(b) Quarterly Financial Statements. As soon as available, and in any event within 45 days after the end of each of the first three Fiscal Quarters of each Fiscal Year, the consolidated balance sheets of Company and its Subsidiaries as at the end of such Fiscal Quarter and the related consolidated (and with respect to statements of income, (i) consolidating statements of Guarantor and non-Guarantor subsidiaries shall be provided and (ii) the components of total revenue generated by each of the Company’s products and software programs shall be provided) statements of income, stockholders’ equity and cash flows of Company and its Subsidiaries for such Fiscal Quarter and for the period from the beginning of the then current Fiscal Year to the end of such Fiscal Quarter, setting forth in each case in comparative form the corresponding figures for the corresponding periods of the previous Fiscal Year and the corresponding figures from the Financial Plan for the current Fiscal Year, all in reasonable detail, together with a Financial Officer Certification and a Narrative Report with respect thereto;

(c) Annual Financial Statements. As soon as available, and in any event within 120 days after the end of each Fiscal Year, (i) the consolidated balance sheets of Company and its Subsidiaries as at the end of such Fiscal Year and the related consolidated (and with respect to statements of income, consolidating) statements of income, stockholders’ equity and cash flows of Company and its Subsidiaries for such Fiscal Year, setting forth in each case in comparative form the corresponding figures for the previous Fiscal Year and the corresponding figures from the Financial Plan for the Fiscal Year covered by such financial statements, in reasonable detail, together with a Financial Officer Certification and a Narrative Report with respect thereto; and (ii) with respect to such consolidated financial statements a report thereon from an independent certified public accountants of recognized national standing selected by Company, and reasonably satisfactory to the Requisite Lenders (which report shall be unqualified as to going concern and scope of audit, and shall state that such consolidated financial statements fairly present, in all material respects, the consolidated financial position of Company and its Subsidiaries as at the dates indicated and the results of their operations and their cash flows for the periods indicated in conformity with GAAP applied on a basis consistent with prior years (except as otherwise disclosed in such financial statements) and that the examination by such accountants in connection with such consolidated financial statements has been made in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards) together with a written statement by such independent certified public accountants stating (1) that their audit examination has included a

 

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review of the terms of the Credit Documents, (2) whether, in connection therewith, any condition or event that constitutes a Default or an Event of Default has come to their attention and, if such a condition or event has come to their attention, specifying the nature and period of existence thereof, and (3) that nothing has come to their attention that causes them to believe that the information contained in any Compliance Certificate is not correct or that the matters set forth in such Compliance Certificate are not stated in accordance with the terms hereof (it being understood that such statement shall be subject to qualifications customarily included in such statements and/or reports and limited to the items that independent certified public accountants are permitted to cover in such statements pursuant to their professional standards and customs of the profession); provided however that the statements described in clauses (1) through (3) above shall not be required if making such statements is contrary to the then current recommendations of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants;

(d) Compliance Certificate. Together with each delivery of financial statements of Company and its Subsidiaries pursuant to Sections 5.1(b) and 5.1(c), a duly executed and completed Compliance Certificate;

(e) Statements of Reconciliation after Change in Accounting Principles. If, as a result of any change in accounting principles and policies from those used in the preparation of the Historical Financial Statements, the consolidated financial statements of Company and its Subsidiaries delivered pursuant to Section 5.1(b) or 5.1(c) will differ in any material respect from the consolidated financial statements that would have been delivered pursuant to such subdivisions had no such change in accounting principles and policies been made, then, together with the first delivery of such financial statements after such change, one or more statements of reconciliation for all such prior financial statements in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Requisite Lenders;

(f) Notice of Default. Promptly upon any Officer of Company obtaining knowledge (i) of any condition or event that constitutes a Default or an Event of Default or that notice has been given to Company with respect thereto; (ii) that any Person has given any notice to Company or any of its Subsidiaries or taken any other action with respect to any event or condition set forth in Section 8.1(b); or (iii) of the occurrence of any event or change that has caused or evidences, either in any case or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect, a certificate of its Authorized Officer specifying the nature and period of existence of such condition, event or change, or specifying the notice given and action taken by any such Person and the nature of such claimed Event of Default, Default, default, event or condition, and what action Company has taken, is taking and proposes to take with respect thereto;

(g) Notice of Litigation. Promptly upon any Officer of Company obtaining knowledge of (i) the institution of, or non-frivolous threat of, any Adverse Proceeding not previously disclosed in writing by Company to Lenders, or (ii) any material development in any Adverse Proceeding that, in the case of either clause (i) or (ii), if adversely determined could be reasonably expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, or seeks to enjoin or otherwise prevent the consummation of, or to recover any damages or obtain relief as a result of, the transactions contemplated hereby, written notice thereof together with such other information as may be reasonably available to Company to enable Lenders and their counsel to evaluate such matters;

 

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(h) ERISA. (i) Promptly upon any Officer becoming aware of the occurrence of or forthcoming occurrence of any ERISA Event, a written notice specifying the nature thereof, what action Company, any of its Subsidiaries or any of their respective ERISA Affiliates has taken, is taking or proposes to take with respect thereto and, when known, any action taken or threatened by the Internal Revenue Service, the Department of Labor or the PBGC with respect thereto; and (ii) with reasonable promptness, copies of (1) each Schedule B (Actuarial Information) to the annual report (Form 5500 Series) filed by Company, any of its Subsidiaries or any of their respective ERISA Affiliates with the Internal Revenue Service with respect to each Pension Plan; (2) all notices received by Company, any of its Subsidiaries or any of their respective ERISA Affiliates from a Multiemployer Plan sponsor concerning an ERISA Event; and (3) copies of such other documents or governmental reports or filings relating to any Employee Benefit Plan as the Requisite Lenders shall reasonably request;

(i) Financial Plan. As soon as practicable and in any event no later than thirty days after to the beginning of each Fiscal Year, a consolidated plan and financial forecast for such Fiscal Year and each Fiscal Year (or portion thereof) through the final maturity date of the Loans (a “Financial Plan”), including (i) a forecasted consolidated balance sheet and forecasted consolidated statements of income and cash flows of Company and its Subsidiaries for each such Fiscal Year, together with pro forma Compliance Certificates for each such Fiscal Year and an explanation of the assumptions on which such forecasts are based;

(j) Insurance Report. As soon as practicable after any material change in insurance coverage maintained by Company and its Subsidiaries notice thereof to Administrative Agent specifying the changes and the reasons therefore;

(k) Notice of Change in Board of Directors. With reasonable promptness, written notice of any change in the board of directors (or similar governing body) of Company;

(l) Notice Regarding Material Contracts. Promptly, and in any event within ten Business Days after any Material Contract of Company or any of its Subsidiaries is terminated or amended in a manner that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, and an explanation of any actions being taken with respect theretoreto;

(m) Information Regarding Collateral. (a) Company will furnish to Collateral Agent prompt written notice of any change (i) in any Credit Party’s corporate name, (ii) in any Credit Party’s identity or corporate structure or (iii) in any Credit Party’s Federal Taxpayer Identification Number. Company agrees not to effect or permit any change referred to in the preceding sentence unless all filings have been made under the Uniform Commercial Code or otherwise that are required in order for Collateral Agent to continue at all times following such change to have a valid, legal and perfected security interest in all the Collateral and for the Collateral at all times following such change to have a valid, legal and perfected security interest as contemplated in the Collateral Documents. Company also agrees promptly to notify Collateral Agent if any material portion of the Collateral is damaged or destroyed;

(n) Annual Collateral Verification. Each year, at the time of delivery of annual financial statements with respect to the preceding Fiscal Year pursuant to Section 5.1(c), Company shall deliver to Collateral Agent a certificate of its Authorized Officer (i) either

 

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confirming that there has been no change in such information since the Closing Date or the date of the most recent certificate delivered pursuant to this Section and/or identifying such changes, or (ii) certifying that all Uniform Commercial Code financing statements (including fixtures filings, as applicable) or other appropriate filings, recordings or registrations, have been filed of record in each governmental, municipal or other appropriate office in each jurisdiction identified pursuant to clause (i) above to the extent necessary to protect and perfect the security interests under the Collateral Documents for a period of not less than 18 months after the date of such certificate (except as noted therein with respect to any continuation statements to be filed within such period). Company agrees to record and file, at its own expense, financing statements (and continuation statements when applicable) with respect to the Collateral now existing or hereafter created meeting the requirements of applicable state law in such manner and in such jurisdictions as are necessary to perfect, and maintain perfected the Collateral, and to deliver a file stamped copy of each such financing statement or other evidence of filing to the Agents. The Agents shall be under no obligation whatsoever to file such financing or continuation statements or to make any other filing under the UCC; and

(o) Other Information. With reasonable promptness, such other information and data with respect to Company or any of its Subsidiaries as from time to time may be reasonably requested by Administrative Agent or any Lender.

5.2 Existence.

Except as otherwise permitted under Section 6.9, each Credit Party will, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to, at all times preserve and keep in full force and effect its existence and all rights and franchises, licenses and permits material to its business; provided, no Credit Party or any of its Subsidiaries shall be required to preserve any such existence, right or franchise, licenses and permits if such Person’s board of directors (or similar governing body) shall determine that the preservation thereof is no longer desirable in the conduct of the business of such Person, and that the loss thereof is not disadvantageous in any material respect to such Person or to Lenders.

5.3 Payment of Taxes and Claims. Each Credit Party will, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to, pay all Taxes imposed upon it or any of its properties or assets or in respect of any of its income, businesses or franchises before any penalty accrues thereon, and all claims (including claims for labor, services, materials and supplies) for sums that have become due and payable and that by law have or may become a Lien upon any of its properties or assets, prior to the time when any penalty or fine shall be incurred with respect thereto; provided that no such Tax, assessment, charge or claim need be paid if it is being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings promptly instituted and diligently conducted, so long as (a) adequate reserve or other appropriate provision, as shall be required in conformity with GAAP shall have been made therefor, and (b) in the case of a Tax or claim which has or may become a Lien against any of the Collateral, such contest proceedings conclusively operate to stay the sale of any portion of the Collateral to satisfy such Tax or claim. No Credit Party will, nor will it permit any of its Subsidiaries to, file or consent to the filing of any consolidated income tax return with any Person (other than Company or any of its Subsidiaries). Neither Company nor Holdings will treat or report the transactions contemplated by this Credit Agreement or the Acquisition Agreement as constituting a “tax shelter” within the meaning of Section 6111(c), Section

 

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6111(d) or Section 6662(d)(2)(C)(iii) of the Code, or a “reportable transaction” within the meaning of Treasury Regulation Section 1.6011-4, unless Company has provided the Lenders and the Administrative Agent written notice of its intent to treat or report such transactions as such, as well as its reasons (which may be given orally or in writing) for such treatment or reporting.

5.4 Maintenance of Properties.

Each Credit Party will, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to, maintain or cause to be maintained in good repair, working order and condition, ordinary wear and tear excepted, all material properties used or useful in the business of Company and its Subsidiaries; provided that nothing in this Section 5.4 shall prevent sales of property, consolidations or mergers by or involving a Credit Party in accordance with Section 6.9.

5.5 Insurance.

Company will maintain or cause to be maintained, with financially sound and reputable insurers, such public liability insurance, third party property damage insurance, business interruption insurance and casualty insurance with respect to liabilities, losses or damage in respect of the assets, properties and businesses of Company and its Subsidiaries as may customarily be carried or maintained under similar circumstances by Persons of established reputation engaged in similar businesses, in each case in such amounts (giving effect to self-insurance), with such deductibles, covering such risks and otherwise on such terms and conditions as shall be customary for such Persons. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, Company will maintain or cause to be maintained replacement value casualty insurance on the Collateral under such policies of insurance, with such insurance companies, in such amounts, with such deductibles, and covering such risks as are at all times carried or maintained under similar circumstances by Persons of established reputation engaged in similar businesses. Except as approved by the Requisite Lenders, each such policy of insurance shall (i) name Collateral Agent, on behalf of Secured Parties as an additional insured thereunder as its interests may appear and (ii) in the case of each casualty insurance policy, contain a loss payable clause or endorsement, satisfactory in form and substance to the Requisite Lenders, that names Collateral Agent, on behalf of Lenders as the loss payee thereunder and provides for at least thirty days’ prior written notice to Collateral Agent of any modification or cancellation of such policy.

5.6 Inspections.

Each Credit Party will, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to, permit any authorized representatives designated by a majority of the Lenders to visit and inspect any of the properties of any Credit Party and any of its respective Subsidiaries, to inspect, copy and take extracts from its and their financial and accounting records, and to discuss its and their affairs, finances and accounts with its and their officers and independent public accountants, all upon reasonable notice and at such reasonable times during normal business hours and as often as may reasonably be requested; provided, that, unless an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, the representative of the Lenders shall be permitted to so visit and inspect any such properties no more than two times per fiscal year. Company shall be permitted to have a representative present at all such discussions and visits.

 

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5.7 Lenders Meetings.

Company will, upon the request of Requisite Lenders, participate in a meeting of Administrative Agent and Lenders once during each Fiscal Year to be held at Company’s corporate offices (or at such other location as may be agreed to by Company and Administrative Agent) at such time as may be agreed to by Company and Administrative Agent.

5.8 Compliance with Laws.

Each Credit Party will comply, and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries and all other Persons, if any, on or occupying any Facilities to comply, with the requirements of all applicable laws, rules, regulations and orders of any Governmental Authority (including all Environmental Laws), noncompliance with which could reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect.

5.9 Subsidiaries.

In the event that any Person becomes a Subsidiary of Company and is organized under the laws of any state in the United States (or becomes a foreign Subsidiary that guarantees any Indebtedness of Company), Company shall within 30 days (a) cause such Subsidiary to become a Guarantor hereunder and a Grantor under the Pledge and Security Agreement by executing and delivering to Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent a Counterpart Agreement, and (b) take all such actions and execute and deliver, or cause to be executed and delivered, all such documents, instruments, agreements, and certificates as are similar to those described in Sections 3.1(b), 3.1(h), 3.1(i), 3.1(j), 3.1(l) and 3.1(m). Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Section 5.9 shall not apply to any Subsidiary of Company that has assets with a fair market value of less than $25,000.

 

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5.10 Additional Material Real Estate Assets.

In the event that any Credit Party acquires a Material Real Estate Asset or a Real Estate Asset owned or leased on the Closing Date becomes a Material Real Estate Asset and such interest has not otherwise been made subject to the Lien of the Collateral Documents in favor of Collateral Agent, for the benefit of Secured Parties, then such Credit Party within thirty (30) days of acquiring such Material Real Estate Asset or such Real Estate Asset becoming a Material Real Estate Asset shall take all such actions and execute and deliver, or cause to be executed and delivered, all such mortgages, documents, instruments, agreements, opinions and certificates, including a Mortgage, with respect to each such Material Real Estate Asset that the Requisite Lenders shall reasonably request to create in favor of Collateral Agent, for the benefit of Secured Parties, a valid and, subject to any filing and/or recording referred to herein, perfected First Priority security interest in such Material Real Estate Assets. In addition to the foregoing, Company shall, at the request of Requisite Lenders, deliver, from time to time, to Administrative Agent such appraisals as are required by law or regulation of Real Estate Assets with respect to which Collateral Agent has been granted a Lien.

5.11 Further Assurances.

At any time or from time to time upon the reasonable request of Requisite Lenders, each Credit Party will, at its expense, promptly execute, acknowledge and deliver such further documents and do such other acts and things as Requisite Lenders may reasonably request in order to effect fully the purposes of the Credit Documents. In furtherance and not in limitation of the foregoing, each Credit Party shall take such actions as Requisite Lenders may reasonably request from time to time to ensure that the Obligations are guarantied by the Guarantors and are secured by substantially all of the assets of Company, and its Subsidiaries and all of the outstanding Capital Stock of Company and its Subsidiaries (subject to limitations contained in the Credit Documents with respect to Foreign Subsidiaries).

5.12 Key Man Life Insurance.

(a) Key Man Life Insurance. Within 60 days following the Closing Date, the Company shall obtain no less than $35,000,000 of key man life (“Key Man Life Insurance”) insurance on Donald Yonce (or such other amount as can be purchased with $35,000 per year in insurance payments) having terms and conditions reasonably satisfactory to the Lenders.

(b) Maintenance of Key Man Life Insurance. Company will maintain or cause to be maintained, with financially sound and reputable insurers, life insurance on Donald Yonce in an amount no less than $35,000,000 (or such other amount as can be purchased with $35,000 per year in insurance payments) and with terms and conditions reasonably satisfactory to the Lenders.

 

SECTION 6.  NEGATIVE COVENANTS

Each Credit Party covenants and agrees that until payment in full of all Obligations, such Credit Party shall perform, and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to perform, all covenants in this Section 6.

 

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6.1 Indebtedness.

No Credit Party shall, nor shall it permit any of its Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, create, incur, assume or guaranty, or otherwise become or remain directly or indirectly liable with respect to any Indebtedness, except:

(a)(i) the Obligations and (ii) Indebtedness incurred under the Second Lien Credit Agreement;

(b) Indebtedness outstanding on the Closing Date and listed on Schedule 6.1;

(c) Indebtedness under Hedging Obligations that are designed to protect against fluctuations in interest rates, foreign currency exchange rates or commodity prices, in each case not entered into for speculative purposes; provided that if such Hedging Obligations relate to interest rates, (a) such Hedging Obligations relate to payment obligations on Indebtedness otherwise permitted to be incurred by the Credit Documents and (b) the notional principal amount of such Hedging Obligations at the time incurred does not exceed the principal amount of the Indebtedness to which such Hedging Obligations relate;

(d) Indebtedness permitted by Section 6.7(f) and Section 6.7(g);

(e) Indebtedness in respect of Purchase Money Obligations and Capital Lease Obligations, and refinancings or renewals thereof, in an aggregate amount not to exceed $250,000 at any time outstanding;

(f) Contingent Obligations of any Credit Party in respect of Indebtedness otherwise permitted under this Section 6.1;

(g) Indebtedness arising from the honoring by a bank or other financial institution of a check, draft or similar instrument inadvertently (except in the case of daylight overdrafts) drawn against insufficient funds in the ordinary course of business; provided, however, that such Indebtedness is extinguished within five Business Days of incurrence; and

(h) Indebtedness of the Credit Parties and Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries arising in connection with endorsement of instruments for deposit in the ordinary course of business;

(i) Indebtedness acquired or assumed in connection with any Permitted Acquisition in an aggregate principal amount not in excess of $5,000,000 at any time outstanding; provided, that such Indebtedness existed at the time of such Permitted Acquisition and was not created in connection therewith or in contemplation thereof;

(j) unsecured subordinated Indebtedness of the Credit Parties that is subordinated in right of payment to Obligations, the proceeds of which are used to finance the cash consideration payable in a Permitted Acquisition (including the refinancing of Indebtedness of the acquired Subsidiary and the payment of related fees and expenses) in an aggregate principal amount, not in excess of $5,000,000 at any time outstanding; provided, that such Indebtedness (i) matures after the six-month anniversary of the Maturity Date, (ii) requires no scheduled payment of principal prior to its maturity, (iii) contains subordination provisions that are reasonably

 

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acceptable to the Requisite Lenders and (iv) does not require the issuer thereof or any other obligor thereon to maintain any specified financial condition or performance (other than as a condition to the taking of certain actions);

(k) additional unsecured subordinated Indebtedness of the Credit Parties the proceeds of which are used to prepay outstanding Loans pursuant to Section 2.9; provided, that such Indebtedness (i) matures after the six-month anniversary of the Maturity Date, (ii) requires no scheduled payment of principal prior to its maturity, (iii) contains subordination provisions that are reasonably acceptable to the Requisite Lenders and (iv) does not require the issuer thereof or any other obligor thereon to maintain any specified financial condition or performance (other than as a condition to the taking of certain actions);

(l) other unsecured Indebtedness of the Credit Parties in an aggregate principal amount not exceeding $1,000,000 at any time outstanding;

(m) up to $250,000 of Indebtedness constituting reimbursement obligations with respect to letters of credit issued in the ordinary course of business; provided, that (i) upon the drawing of such letters of credit or the incurrence of such Indebtedness, such obligations are reimbursed within 30 days following such drawing or incurrence and (ii) such letters of credit are not provided to secure the repayment of other Indebtedness of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries;

(n) Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness incurred to extend, renew or refinance any Indebtedness described clauses (a), (b), (i), (j), (k) and (l) above;

(o) Indebtedness that may be deemed to arise as a result of agreements of Company or any Domestic Subsidiary of Company providing for indemnification, adjustment of purchase price or any similar obligations, in each case, incurred in connection with the disposition of any business, assets or Equity Interests of any Subsidiary; provided that the aggregate maximum liability associated with such provisions may not exceed the gross proceeds (including non-cash proceeds) of such disposition;

(p) Indebtedness in respect of (i) workers’ compensation claims, self-insurance obligations, bankers’ acceptance and (ii) performance and surety bonds provided by Company or a Domestic Subsidiary in the ordinary course of business; and

(q) Indebtedness arising from the honoring by a bank or other financial institution of a check, draft or similar instrument (except in the case of daylight overdrafts) inadvertently drawn against insufficient funds in the ordinary course of business, so long as such Indebtedness is covered within five Business Days;

6.2 Liens.

No Credit Party shall, nor shall it permit any of its Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, create, incur, assume or permit to exist any Lien on or with respect to any property or asset of any kind (including any document or instrument in respect of goods or accounts receivable) of Company or any of its Subsidiaries, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, or any income or profits therefrom, or file or permit the filing of, or permit to remain in effect, any

 

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financing statement or other similar notice of any Lien with respect to any such property, asset, income or profits under the UCC of any State or under any similar recording or notice statute, except:

(a) Liens in favor of Collateral Agent (i) for the benefit of Secured Parties granted pursuant to any Credit Document or (ii) securing Indebtedness and other obligations under the Second Lien Credit Agreement;

(b) Liens for Taxes if obligations with respect to such Taxes are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings promptly instituted and diligently conducted;

(c) statutory Liens of landlords, banks (and rights of set-off), of carriers, warehousemen, mechanics, repairmen, workmen and materialmen, and other Liens imposed by law (other than any such Lien imposed pursuant to Section 401 (a)(29) or 412(n) of the Internal Revenue Code or by ERISA), in each case incurred in the ordinary course of business (i) for amounts not yet overdue or (ii) for amounts that are overdue and that (in the case of any such amounts overdue for a period in excess of five days) are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings, so long as such reserves or other appropriate provisions, if any, as shall be required by GAAP shall have been made for any such contested amounts;

(d) Liens incurred in the ordinary course of business in connection with workers’ compensation, unemployment insurance and other types of social security, or to secure the performance of tenders, statutory obligations, surety and appeal bonds, bids, leases, government contracts, trade contracts, performance and return-of-money bonds and other similar obligations (exclusive of obligations for the payment of borrowed money or other Indebtedness), so long as no foreclosure, sale or similar proceedings have been commenced with respect to any portion of the Collateral on account thereof;

(e) easements, rights-of-way, restrictions, encroachments, and other minor defects or irregularities in title, in each case which do not and will not interfere in any material respect with the ordinary conduct of the business of Company or any of its Subsidiaries;

(f) any interest or title of a lessor or sublessor under any lease of real estate permitted hereunder;

(g) Liens solely on any cash earnest money deposits made by Company or any of its Subsidiaries in connection with any letter of intent or purchase agreement permitted hereunder;

(h) purported Liens evidenced by the filing of precautionary UCC financing statements relating solely to operating leases of personal property entered into in the ordinary course of business;

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

(j) any zoning or similar law or right reserved to or vested in any governmental office or agency to control or regulate the use of any real property;

 

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(k) licenses of patents, trademarks and other intellectual property rights granted by Company or any of its Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business and not interfering in any respect with the ordinary conduct of the business of Company or such Subsidiary;

(l) Liens described in Schedule 6.2;

(m) Liens securing Indebtedness permitted pursuant to Section 6.1(e); provided, any such Lien shall encumber only the asset acquired with the proceeds of such Indebtedness and other assets acquired with Indebtedness permitted under Section 6.1(e) owing to the same Person or an Affiliate of such Person;

(n) other Liens on assets other than the Collateral securing Indebtedness in an aggregate amount not to exceed $1,000,000 at any time outstanding; and

(o) Liens encumbering deposits made to secure obligations arising from statutory, regulatory, contractual or warranty requirements of the Company or any of its Domestic Subsidiaries, including rights of offset and set-off; and

(p) Liens on property (including Capital Stock) existing at the time of acquisition of the property by Company or any Domestic Subsidiary of Company; provided that such Liens were in existence prior to, such acquisition, and not incurred in contemplation of, such acquisition.

6.3 Equitable Lien.

If any Credit Party or any of its Subsidiaries shall create or assume any Lien upon any of its properties or assets, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, other than Permitted Liens, it shall make or cause to be made effective provisions whereby the Obligations will be secured by such Lien equally and ratably with any and all other Indebtedness secured thereby as long as any such Indebtedness shall be so secured; provided, notwithstanding the foregoing, this covenant shall not be construed as a consent by Requisite Lenders to the creation or assumption of any such Lien not otherwise permitted hereby.

6.4 No Further Negative Pledges.

Except with respect to (a) specific property encumbered to secure payment of particular Indebtedness or to be sold pursuant to an executed agreement with respect to a permitted Asset Sale, (b) restrictions by reason of customary provisions restricting assignments, subletting or other transfers contained in leases, licenses and similar agreements entered into in the ordinary course of business (provided that such restrictions are limited to the property or assets secured by such Liens or the property or assets subject to such leases, licenses or similar agreements, as the case may be) and (c) restrictions contained in the Second Lien Credit Agreement, no Credit Party nor any of its Subsidiaries shall enter into any agreement prohibiting the creation or assumption of any Lien upon any of its properties or assets to secure the Obligations, whether now owned or hereafter acquired.

 

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6.5 Restricted Junior Payments.

Company shall not, and shall not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, declare, order, pay, make or set apart any sum for any Restricted Junior Payment; provided that, Company may, make Restricted Junior Payments to Holdings (i) in an aggregate amount not to exceed $500,000 in any Fiscal Year, to the extent necessary to permit Holdings to pay general administrative costs and expenses, (ii) to the extent necessary to permit Holdings to discharge the consolidated tax liabilities of Holdings and its Subsidiaries, in each case so long as (a) Holdings applies the amount of any such Restricted Junior Payment for such purpose and (b) the amount of such Restricted Junior Payment does not exceed the amount of the consolidated tax liabilities of Holdings that are attributable to the Company and the Company’s Subsidiaries, and (iii) so long as no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or shall be caused thereby, in order for Holdings to repurchase or redeem outstanding shares of Capital Stock (or options to purchase Capital Stock) of Holdings owned by current or former employees, officers, or directors of Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries pursuant to any management equity subscription agreement, stock option agreement or similar equity agreement, shareholders agreement or benefit plan, provided that the aggregate amount of all Restricted Junior Payments paid pursuant to this subclause (iii) in any Fiscal Year shall not exceed $50,000 plus the amount of any net cash proceeds received by Holdings in such Fiscal Year from the sale of Capital Stock of Holdings to any and all such employees, officers or directors that do not constitute an Excluded Issuance(it being understood, however, that unused amounts permitted to be paid pursuant to this proviso are Holdings available to be carried over to subsequent Fiscal Years).

6.6 Restrictions on Subsidiary Distributions.

Except as provided herein, no Credit Party shall, nor shall it permit any of its Subsidiaries to, create or otherwise cause or suffer to exist or become effective any consensual encumbrance or restriction of any kind on the ability of any Subsidiary of Company to (a) pay dividends or make any other distributions on any of such Subsidiary’s Capital Stock owned by Company or any other Subsidiary of Company, (b) repay or prepay any Indebtedness owed by such Subsidiary to Company or any other Subsidiary of Company, (c) make loans or advances to Company or any other Subsidiary of Company, or (d) transfer any of its property or assets to Company or any other Subsidiary of Company other than restrictions (i) in agreements evidencing Indebtedness permitted by Section 6.1(k) that impose restrictions on the property so acquired, (ii) by reason of customary provisions restricting assignments, subletting or other transfers contained in leases, licenses, joint venture agreements and similar agreements entered into in the ordinary course of business, (iii) that are or were created by virtue of any transfer of, agreement to transfer or option or right with respect to any property, assets or Capital Stock not otherwise prohibited under this Agreement and (iv) contained in the Second Lien Credit Agreement

6.7 Investments.

Directly or indirectly, lend money or credit (by way of guarantee or otherwise) or make advances to any person, or purchase or acquire any stock, bonds, notes, debentures or other obligations or securities of, or any other interest in, or make any capital contribution to, any other person, or purchase or own a futures contract or otherwise become liable for the purchase or sale of currency or other commodities at a future date in the nature of a futures contract (all of the foregoing, collectively, “Investments”), except that the following shall be permitted:  

(a) Company may consummate the Acquisition in accordance with the provisions of the Acquisition Agreement;

 

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(b) Investments outstanding on the Closing Date and identified on Schedule 6.7;

(c) Company may (i) acquire and hold accounts receivables owing to any of them if created or acquired in the ordinary course of business and payable or dischargeable in accordance with customary terms, (ii) invest in, acquire and hold cash and Cash Equivalents, (iii) endorse negotiable instruments held for collection in the ordinary course of business or (iv) make lease, utility and other similar deposits in the ordinary course of business;

(d) Hedging Obligations incurred pursuant to Section 6.1;

(e) loans and advances to directors, employees and officers of Company and the Subsidiaries for (i) bona fide business purposes (but without duplication of amounts referred to in clause (ii)), in an aggregate amount not to exceed $250,000 at any time outstanding, and (ii) to purchase Capital Stock of Company, in aggregate amount not to exceed $500,000 at any time outstanding;

(f) Investments (i) by Company in any Guarantor, (ii) by any Subsidiary in Company or any Guarantor, (iii) by a Guarantor in another Guarantor and (iv) by a Subsidiary that is not a Subsidiary Guarantor in any other Subsidiary that is not a Subsidiary Guarantor; provided that any Investment in the form of a loan or advance shall be evidenced by the Intercompany Note and, in the case of a loan or advance by a Credit Party, pledged by such Credit Party as Collateral pursuant to the Collateral Documents;

(g) Investments by Company or any Guarantor in a Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of Company that is not a Guarantor; provided that the aggregate amount of all Investments made in any such Subsidiary pursuant to this clause (g) shall not exceed $500,000 plus the Net Proceeds of all Excluded Issuances used to finance Capital Expenditure of such Subsidiary and the aggregate amount of all Investments made pursuant to this clause (g) shall not exceed $1,500,000 plus the Net Proceeds of all Excluded Issuances used to finance Capital Expenditures of all such Subsidiaries; provided further that any Investment in the form of a loan or advance shall be evidenced by the Intercompany Note and, in the case of a loan or advance by a Credit Party, pledged by such Credit Party as Collateral pursuant to the Collateral Documents;

(h) Investments in securities of trade creditors or customers in the ordinary course of business and consistent with Company’s past practices that are received in settlement of bona fide disputes or pursuant to any plan of reorganization or liquidation or similar arrangement upon the bankruptcy or insolvency of such trade creditors or customers;

(i) Investments made by Company or any Subsidiary as a result of consideration received in connection with an Asset Sale made in compliance with this Agreement;

(j) other investments in an aggregate amount not to exceed $500,000 at any time outstanding;

 

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(k) Investments in joint ventures or similar arrangements in an aggregate amount at any time outstanding not to exceed $500,000; and

(l) Investments constituting a Permitted Acquisition.

6.8 Financial Covenants.

(a) Interest Coverage Ratio. Company shall not permit the Interest Coverage Ratio as of the last day of any Fiscal Quarter, beginning with the Fiscal Quarter commencing January 1, 2006, to be less than the correlative ratio indicated:

 

Fiscal Quarter

   Interest
Coverage Ratio
 

Q1 2006

   2.50 x

Q2 2006

   2.50 x

Q3 2006

   2.50 x

Q4 2006

   2.50 x

Q1 2007

   2.60 x

Q2 2007

   2.70 x

Q3 2007

   2.80 x

Q4 2007

   3.00 x

Q1 2008

   3.00 x

Q2 2008

   3.25 x

Q3 2008

   3.50 x

Q4 2008

   3.50 x

Q1 2009

   3.50 x

Q2 2009

   3.50 x

Q3 2009

   3.50 x

Q4 2009

   3.50 x

Q1 2010

   3.50 x

Q2 2010

   3.50 x

Q3 2010

   3.50 x

Q4 2010

   3.50 x

Q1 2011

   3.50 x

Q2 2011

   3.50 x

Q3 2011

   3.50 x

Q4 2011

   3.50 x

 

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(b) Leverage Ratio. Company shall not permit the Leverage Ratio as of the last day of any Fiscal Quarter, beginning with the Fiscal Quarter commencing January 1, 2006, to exceed the correlative ratio indicated:

 

Fiscal Quarter

   Leverage Ratio  

Q1 2006

   4.50 x

Q2 2006

   4.50 x

Q3 2006

   4.50 x

Q4 2006

   4.40 x

Q1 2007

   4.25 x

Q2 2007

   4.00 x

Q3 2007

   3.80 x

Q4 2007

   3.60 x

Q1 2008

   3.50 x

Q2 2008

   3.40 x

Q3 2008

   3.25 x

Q4 2008

   3.10 x

Q1 2009

   3.00 x

Q2 2009

   3.00 x

Q3 2009

   2.80 x

Q4 2009

   2.75 x

Q1 2010

   2.60 x

Q2 2010

   2.50 x

Q3 2010

   2.50 x

Q4 2010

   2.50 x

Q1 2011

   2.35 x

Q2 2011

   2.25 x

Q3 2011

   2.25 x

Q4 2011

   2.10 x

(c) Maximum Consolidated Capital Expenditures. Company shall not, and shall not permit its Subsidiaries to, make or incur Consolidated Capital Expenditures, in any Fiscal Year indicated below, in an aggregate amount for Company and its Subsidiaries in excess of the corresponding amount set forth below opposite such Fiscal Year; provided, such amount for any Fiscal Year shall be increased by an amount equal to 75% of the excess, if any, of such amount for the previous Fiscal Year and not any year before the previous Fiscal Year (as adjusted in accordance with this proviso) over the actual amount of Consolidated Capital Expenditures for such previous Fiscal Year:

 

Fiscal Year

   Consolidated Capital
Expenditures

2006

   $ 1,500,000

2007

   $ 2,000,000

2008

   $ 2,500,000

2009

   $ 3,000,000

2010

   $ 3,500,000

2011

   $ 4,000,000

 

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6.9 Fundamental Changes; Disposition of Assets.

No Credit Party shall, nor shall it permit any of its Subsidiaries to, enter into any transaction of merger or consolidation, or liquidate, wind-up or dissolve itself (or suffer any liquidation or dissolution), or convey, sell, lease or sub-lease (as lessor or sublessor), exchange, transfer or otherwise dispose of, in one transaction or a series of transactions, all or any part of its business, assets or property of any kind whatsoever, whether real, personal or mixed and whether tangible or intangible, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, except:

(a) any Subsidiary of Company may be merged with or into Company or any Guarantor Subsidiary, or any Subsidiary of Company may be liquidated, wound up or dissolved, or all or any part of its business, property or assets may be conveyed, sold, leased, transferred or otherwise disposed of, in one transaction or a series of transactions, to Company or any Guarantor Subsidiary; provided, in the case of such a merger, Company or such Guarantor Subsidiary, as applicable shall be the continuing or surviving Person;

(b) sales or other dispositions of assets that do not constitute Asset Sales;

(c) Asset Sales, the proceeds of which (valued at the principal amount thereof in the case of non-Cash proceeds consisting of notes or other debt Securities and valued at fair market value in the case of other non-Cash proceeds) (i) are less than $250,000 with respect to any single Asset Sale or series of related Asset Sales and (ii) when aggregated with the proceeds of all other Asset Sales made within the same Fiscal Year, are less than $500,000; provided (1) the consideration received for such assets shall be in an amount at least equal to the fair market value thereof (determined in good faith by the board of directors of Company (or similar governing body)), (2) no less than 50% thereof shall be paid in Cash, and (3) the Net Asset Sale Proceeds thereof shall be applied as required by Section 2.10(a);

(d) disposals of obsolete, worn out or surplus property;

(e) in order to resolve disputes that occur in the ordinary course of business, Company and its Subsidiaries may discount or otherwise compromise for less than the face value thereof, notes or accounts receivable; and

(f) any Person may be merged with or into Company or any Subsidiary if the acquisition of the Capital Stock of such Person by Company or such Subsidiary would have been permitted pursuant to Section 6.7; provided that (a) in the case of Company, Company shall be the continuing or surviving Person, (b) if a Subsidiary is not the surviving or continuing Person, the surviving Person becomes a Subsidiary and complies with the provisions of Section 6.8 and (c) no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred or be continuing after giving effect thereto.

 

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6.10 Disposal of Subsidiary Interests.

Except for any sale of all of its interests in the Capital Stock of any of its Subsidiaries in compliance with the provisions of Section 6.9, no Credit Party shall, nor shall it permit any of its Subsidiaries to, (a) directly or indirectly sell, assign, pledge or otherwise encumber or dispose of any Capital Stock of any of its Subsidiaries, except to qualify directors if required by applicable law; or (b) permit any of its Subsidiaries directly or indirectly to sell, assign, pledge or otherwise encumber or dispose of any Capital Stock of any of its Subsidiaries, except to another Credit Party (subject to the restrictions on such disposition otherwise imposed hereunder), or to qualify directors if required by applicable law.

6.11 Sales and Lease-Backs.

No Credit Party shall, nor shall it permit any of its Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, become or remain liable as lessee or as a guarantor or other surety with respect to any lease of any property (whether real, personal or mixed), whether now owned or hereafter acquired, which such Credit Party (a) has sold or transferred or is to sell or to transfer to any other Person (other than Company or any of its Subsidiaries), or (b) intends to use for substantially the same purpose as any other property which has been or is to be sold or transferred by such Credit Party to any Person (other than Company or any of its Subsidiaries) in connection with such lease.

6.12 Transactions with Shareholders and Affiliates. No Credit Party shall, nor shall it permit any of its Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, enter into or permit to exist any transaction (including the purchase, sale, lease or exchange of any property or the rendering of any service) with any Affiliate of Company on terms that are less favorable to Company or that Subsidiary, as the case may be, than those that might be obtained at the time from a Person who is not such a holder or Affiliate; provided, the foregoing restriction shall not apply to (a) any transaction between Company and any Guarantor Subsidiary; (b) reasonable and customary fees paid to and indemnification agreements with members of the board of directors (or similar governing body) of Company and its Subsidiaries; (c) compensation arrangements for officers and other employees of Company and its Subsidiaries entered into in the ordinary course of business; (d) transactions described in Schedule 6.12; and (e) the payment up to $1,000,000 of fees pursuant to the Management Agreement.

6.13 Conduct of Business.

From and after the Closing Date, no Credit Party shall, nor shall it permit any of its Subsidiaries to, engage in any business other than (i) the businesses engaged in by such Credit Party on the Closing Date and similar or related businesses and (ii) such other lines of business as may be consented to by Requisite Lenders.

6.14 Amendments or Waivers of Certain Related Agreements.

No Credit Party shall nor shall it permit any of its Subsidiaries to, agree to any material amendment, restatement, supplement or other modification to, or waiver of, any of its material rights under any Related Agreement after the Closing Date without in each case obtaining the prior written consent of Requisite Lenders to such amendment, restatement, supplement or other modification or waiver.

 

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SECTION 7.  GUARANTY

7.1 Guaranty of the Obligations.

Subject to the provisions of Section 7.2, Guarantors jointly and severally hereby irrevocably and unconditionally guaranty to Administrative Agent for the ratable benefit of the Beneficiaries the due and punctual payment in full of all Obligations when the same shall become due, whether at stated maturity, by required prepayment, declaration, acceleration, demand or otherwise (including amounts that would become due but for the operation of the automatic stay under Section 362(a) of the Bankruptcy Code, 11 U.S.C. § 362(a)) (collectively, the “Guaranteed Obligations”).

7.2 Contribution by Guarantors.

All Guarantors desire to allocate among themselves (collectively, the “Contributing Guarantors”), in a fair and equitable manner, their obligations arising under this Guaranty. Accordingly, in the event any payment or distribution is made on any date by a Guarantor (a “Funding Guarantor”) under this Guaranty such that its Aggregate Payments exceeds its Fair Share as of such date, such Funding Guarantor shall be entitled to a contribution from each of the other Contributing Guarantors in an amount sufficient to cause each Contributing Guarantor’s Aggregate Payments to equal its Fair Share as of such date. “Fair Share” means, with respect to a Contributing Guarantor as of any date of determination, an amount equal to (a) the ratio of (i) the Fair Share Contribution Amount with respect to such Contributing Guarantor to (ii) the aggregate of the Fair Share Contribution Amounts with respect to all Contributing Guarantors multiplied by (b) the aggregate amount paid or distributed on or before such date by all Funding Guarantors under this Guaranty in respect of the obligations Guaranteed. “Fair Share Contribution Amount” means, with respect to a Contributing Guarantor as of any date of determination, the maximum aggregate amount of the obligations of such Contributing Guarantor under this Guaranty that would not render its obligations hereunder or thereunder subject to avoidance as a fraudulent transfer or conveyance under Section 548 of Title 11 of the United States Code or any comparable applicable provisions of state law; provided, solely for purposes of calculating the “Fair Share Contribution Amount” with respect to any Contributing Guarantor for purposes of this Section 7.2, any assets or liabilities of such Contributing Guarantor arising by virtue of any rights to subrogation, reimbursement or indemnification or any rights to or obligations of contribution hereunder shall not be considered as assets or liabilities of such Contributing Guarantor. “Aggregate Payments” means, with respect to a Contributing Guarantor as of any date of determination, an amount equal to (1) the aggregate amount of all payments and distributions made on or before such date by such Contributing Guarantor in respect of this Guaranty (including, without limitation, in respect of this Section 7.2), minus (2) the aggregate amount of all payments received on or before such date by such Contributing Guarantor from the other Contributing Guarantors as contributions under this Section 7.2. The amounts payable as contributions hereunder shall be determined as of the date on which the related payment or distribution is made by the applicable Funding Guarantor. The allocation among Contributing Guarantors of their obligations as set forth in this Section 7.2 shall not be construed in any way to limit the liability of any Contributing Guarantor hereunder. Each Guarantor is a third party beneficiary to the contribution agreement set forth in this Section 7.2.

 

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7.3 Payment by Guarantors.

Subject to Section 7.2, Guarantors hereby jointly and severally agree, in furtherance of the foregoing and not in limitation of any other right which any Beneficiary may have at law or in equity against any Guarantor by virtue hereof, that upon the failure of Company to pay any of the Guaranteed Obligations when and as the same shall become due, whether at stated maturity, by required prepayment, declaration, acceleration, demand or otherwise (including amounts that would become due but for the operation of the automatic stay under Section 362(a) of the Bankruptcy Code, 11 U.S.C. § 362(a)), Guarantors will upon demand pay, or cause to be paid, in Cash, to Administrative Agent for the ratable benefit of Beneficiaries, an amount equal to the sum of the unpaid principal amount of all Guaranteed Obligations then due as aforesaid, accrued and unpaid interest on such Guaranteed Obligations (including interest which, but for Company’s becoming the subject of a case under the Bankruptcy Code, would have accrued on such Guaranteed Obligations, whether or not a claim is allowed against Company for such interest in the related bankruptcy case) and all other Guaranteed Obligations then owed to Beneficiaries as aforesaid.

7.4 Liability of Guarantors Absolute.

Each Guarantor agrees that its obligations hereunder are irrevocable, absolute, independent and unconditional and shall not be affected by any circumstance which constitutes a legal or equitable discharge of a guarantor or surety other than payment in full of the Guaranteed Obligations. In furtherance of the foregoing and without limiting the generality thereof, each Guarantor agrees as follows:

(a) this Guaranty is a guaranty of payment when due and not of collectability. This Guaranty is a primary obligation of each Guarantor and not merely a contract of surety;

(b) Administrative Agent may enforce this Guaranty upon the occurrence of an Event of Default notwithstanding the existence of any dispute between Company and any Beneficiary with respect to the existence of such Event of Default;

(c) the obligations of each Guarantor hereunder are independent of the obligations of Company and the obligations of any other guarantor (including any other Guarantor) of the obligations of Company, and a separate action or actions may be brought and prosecuted against such Guarantor whether or not any action is brought against Company or any of such other guarantors and whether or not Company is joined in any such action or actions;

(d) payment by any Guarantor of a portion, but not all, of the Guaranteed Obligations shall in no way limit, affect, modify or abridge any Guarantor’s liability for any portion of the Guaranteed Obligations which has not been paid. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, if Administrative Agent is awarded a judgment in any suit brought to enforce any Guarantor’s covenant to pay a portion of the Guaranteed Obligations, such judgment shall not be deemed to release such Guarantor from its covenant to pay the portion of the Guaranteed

 

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Obligations that is not the subject of such suit, and such judgment shall not, except to the extent satisfied by such Guarantor, limit, affect, modify or abridge any other Guarantor’s liability hereunder in respect of the Guaranteed Obligations;

(e) any Beneficiary, upon such terms as it deems appropriate, without notice or demand and without affecting the validity or enforceability hereof or giving rise to any reduction, limitation, impairment, discharge or termination of any Guarantor’s liability hereunder, from time to time may (i) renew, extend, accelerate, increase the rate of interest on, or otherwise change the time, place, manner or terms of payment of the Guaranteed Obligations; (ii) settle, compromise, release or discharge, or accept or refuse any offer of performance with respect to, or substitutions for, the Guaranteed Obligations or any agreement relating thereto and/or subordinate the payment of the same to the payment of any other obligations; (iii) request and accept other guaranties of the Guaranteed Obligations and take and hold security for the payment hereof or the Guaranteed Obligations; (iv) release, surrender, exchange, substitute, compromise, settle, rescind, waive, alter, subordinate or modify, with or without consideration, any security for payment of the Guaranteed Obligations, any other guaranties of the Guaranteed Obligations, or any other obligation of any Person (including any other Guarantor) with respect to the Guaranteed Obligations; (v) enforce and apply any security now or hereafter held by or for the benefit of such Beneficiary in respect hereof or the Guaranteed Obligations and direct the order or manner of sale thereof, or exercise any other right or remedy that such Beneficiary may have against any such security, in each case as such Beneficiary in its discretion may determine consistent herewith and any applicable security agreement, including foreclosure on any such security pursuant to one or more judicial or nonjudicial sales, whether or not every aspect of any such sale is commercially reasonable, and even though such action operates to impair or extinguish any right of reimbursement or subrogation or other right or remedy of any Guarantor against Company or any security for the Guaranteed Obligations; and (vi) exercise any other rights available to it under the Credit Documents; and

(f) this Guaranty and the obligations of Guarantors hereunder shall be valid and enforceable and shall not be subject to any reduction, limitation, impairment, discharge or termination for any reason (other than payment in full of the Guaranteed Obligations), including the occurrence of any of the following, whether or not any Guarantor shall have had notice or knowledge of any of them: (i) any failure or omission to assert or enforce or agreement or election not to assert or enforce, or the stay or enjoining, by order of court, by operation of law or otherwise, of the exercise or enforcement of, any claim or demand or any right, power or remedy (whether arising under the Credit Documents, at law, in equity or otherwise) with respect to the Guaranteed Obligations or any agreement relating thereto, or with respect to any other guaranty of or security for the payment of the Guaranteed Obligations; (ii) any rescission, waiver, amendment or modification of, or any consent to departure from, any of the terms or provisions (including provisions relating to events of default) hereof, any of the other Credit Documents or any agreement or instrument executed pursuant thereto, or of any other guaranty or security for the Guaranteed Obligations, in each case whether or not in accordance with the terms hereof or such Credit Document or any agreement relating to such other guaranty or security; (iii) the Guaranteed Obligations, or any agreement relating thereto, at any time being found to be illegal, invalid or unenforceable in any respect; (iv) the application of payments received from any source (other than payments received pursuant to the other Credit Documents or from the proceeds of any security for the Guaranteed Obligations, except to the extent such security also

 

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serves as collateral for indebtedness other than the Guaranteed Obligations) to the payment of indebtedness other than the Guaranteed Obligations, even though any Beneficiary might have elected to apply such payment to any part or all of the Guaranteed Obligations; (v) any Beneficiary’s consent to the change, reorganization or termination of the corporate structure or existence of Company or any of its Subsidiaries and to any corresponding restructuring of the Guaranteed Obligations; (vi) any failure to perfect or continue perfection of a security interest in any collateral which secures any of the Guaranteed Obligations; (vii) any defenses, set-offs or counterclaims which Company may allege or assert against any Beneficiary in respect of the Guaranteed Obligations, including failure of consideration, breach of warranty, payment, statute of frauds, statute of limitations, accord and satisfaction and usury; and (viii) any other act or thing or omission, or delay to do any other act or thing, which may or might in any manner or to any extent vary the risk of any Guarantor as an obligor in respect of the Guaranteed Obligations.

7.5 Waivers by Guarantors.

Each Guarantor hereby waives, for the benefit of Beneficiaries: (a) any right to require any Beneficiary, as a condition of payment or performance by such Guarantor, to (i) proceed against Company, any other guarantor (including any other Guarantor) of the Guaranteed Obligations or any other Person, (ii) proceed against or exhaust any security held from Company, any such other guarantor or any other Person, (iii) proceed against or have resort to any balance of any Deposit Account or credit on the books of any Beneficiary in favor of Company or any other Person, or (iv) pursue any other remedy in the power of any Beneficiary whatsoever; (b) any defense arising by reason of the incapacity, lack of authority or any disability or other defense of Company or any other Guarantor including any defense based on or arising out of the lack of validity or the unenforceability of the Guaranteed Obligations or any agreement or instrument relating thereto or by reason of the cessation of the liability of Company or any other Guarantor from any cause other than payment in full of the Guaranteed Obligations; (c) any defense based upon any statute or rule of law which provides that the obligation of a surety must be neither larger in amount nor in other respects more burdensome than that of the principal; (d) any defense based upon any Beneficiary’s errors or omissions in the administration of the Guaranteed Obligations, except behavior which amounts to bad faith; (e) (i) any principles or provisions of law, statutory or otherwise, which are or might be in conflict with the terms hereof and any legal or equitable discharge of such Guarantor’s obligations hereunder, (ii) the benefit of any statute of limitations affecting such Guarantor’s liability hereunder or the enforcement hereof, (iii) any rights to set-offs, recoupments and counterclaims, and (iv) promptness, diligence and any requirement that any Beneficiary protect, secure, perfect or insure any security interest or lien or any property subject thereto; (f) notices, demands, presentments, protests, notices of protest, notices of dishonor and notices of any action or inaction, including acceptance hereof, notices of default hereunder or any agreement or instrument related thereto, notices of any renewal, extension or modification of the Guaranteed Obligations or any agreement related thereto, notices of any extension of credit to Company and notices of any of the matters referred to in Section 7.4 and any right to consent to any thereof; and (g) any defenses or benefits that may be derived from or afforded by law which limit the liability of or exonerate guarantors or sureties, or which may conflict with the terms hereof.

 

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7.6 Guarantors’ Rights of Subrogation, Contribution, etc. Until the Guaranteed Obligations shall have been indefeasibly paid in full, each Guarantor hereby waives any claim, right or remedy, direct or indirect, that such Guarantor now has or may hereafter have against Company or any other Guarantor or any of its assets in connection with this Guaranty or the performance by such Guarantor of its obligations hereunder, in each case whether such claim, right or remedy arises in equity, under contract, by statute, under common law or otherwise and including without limitation (a) any right of subrogation, reimbursement or indemnification that such Guarantor now has or may hereafter have against Company with respect to the Guaranteed Obligations, (b) any right to enforce, or to participate in, any claim, right or remedy that any Beneficiary now has or may hereafter have against Company, and (c) any benefit of, and any right to participate in, any collateral or security now or hereafter held by any Beneficiary. In addition, until the Guaranteed Obligations shall have been indefeasibly paid in full, each Guarantor shall withhold exercise of any right of contribution such Guarantor may have against any other guarantor (including any other Guarantor) of the Guaranteed Obligations, including, without limitation, any such right of contribution as contemplated by Section 7.2. Each Guarantor further agrees that, to the extent the waiver or agreement to withhold the exercise of its rights of subrogation, reimbursement, indemnification and contribution as set forth herein is found by a court of competent jurisdiction to be void or voidable for any reason, any rights of subrogation, reimbursement or indemnification such Guarantor may have against Company or against any collateral or security, and any rights of contribution such Guarantor may have against any such other guarantor, shall be junior and subordinate to any rights any Beneficiary may have against Company, to all right, title and interest any Beneficiary may have in any such collateral or security, and to any right any Beneficiary may have against such other guarantor. If any amount shall be paid to any Guarantor on account of any such subrogation, reimbursement, indemnification or contribution rights at any time when all Guaranteed Obligations shall not have been finally and indefeasibly paid in full, such amount shall be held in trust for Administrative Agent on behalf of Beneficiaries and shall forthwith be paid over to Administrative Agent for the benefit of Beneficiaries to be credited and applied against the Guaranteed Obligations, whether matured or unmatured, in accordance with the terms hereof.

7.7 Subordination of Other Obligations.

Any Indebtedness of Company or any Guarantor now or hereafter held by any Guarantor (the “Obligee Guarantor”) is hereby subordinated in right of payment to the Guaranteed Obligations, and any such indebtedness collected or received by the Obligee Guarantor after an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing shall be held in trust for Administrative Agent on behalf of Beneficiaries and shall forthwith be paid over to Administrative Agent for the benefit of Beneficiaries to be credited and applied against the Guaranteed Obligations but without affecting, impairing or limiting in any manner the liability of the Obligee Guarantor under any other provision hereof.

7.8 Continuing Guaranty.

This Guaranty is a continuing guaranty and shall remain in effect until all of the Guaranteed Obligations shall have been paid in full. Each Guarantor hereby irrevocably waives any right to revoke this Guaranty as to future transactions giving rise to any Guaranteed Obligations.

 

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7.9 Authority of Guarantors or Company.

It is not necessary for any Beneficiary to inquire into the capacity or powers of any Guarantor or Company or the officers, directors or any agents acting or purporting to act on behalf of any of them.

7.10 Financial Condition of Company.

Any Loan may be made to without notice to or authorization from any Guarantor regardless of the financial or other condition of Company at the time of any such grant or continuation. No Beneficiary shall have any obligation to disclose or discuss with any Guarantor its assessment, or any Guarantor’s assessment, of the financial condition of Company. Each Guarantor has adequate means to obtain information from Company on a continuing basis concerning the financial condition of Company and its ability to perform its obligations under the Credit Documents, and each Guarantor assumes the responsibility for being and keeping informed of the financial condition of Company and of all circumstances bearing upon the risk of nonpayment of the Guaranteed Obligations. Each Guarantor hereby waives and relinquishes any duty on the part of any Beneficiary to disclose any matter, fact or thing relating to the business, operations or conditions of Company now known or hereafter known by any Beneficiary.

7.11 Bankruptcy, etc. (a) So long as any Guaranteed Obligations remain outstanding, no Guarantor shall, without the prior written consent of Administrative Agent acting pursuant to the written instructions of Requisite Lenders, commence or join with any other Person in commencing any bankruptcy, reorganization or insolvency case or proceeding of or against Company or any other Guarantor. The obligations of Guarantors hereunder shall not be reduced, limited, impaired, discharged, deferred, suspended or terminated by any case or proceeding, voluntary or involuntary, involving the bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership, reorganization, liquidation or arrangement of Company or any other Guarantor or by any defense which Company or any other Guarantor may have by reason of the order, decree or decision of any court or administrative body resulting from any such proceeding.

(b) Each Guarantor acknowledges and agrees that any interest on any portion of the Guaranteed Obligations which accrues after the commencement of any case or proceeding referred to in clause (a) above (or, if interest on any portion of the Guaranteed Obligations ceases to accrue by operation of law by reason of the commencement of such case or proceeding, such interest as would have accrued on such portion of the Guaranteed Obligations if such case or proceeding had not been commenced) shall be included in the Guaranteed Obligations because it is the intention of Guarantors and Beneficiaries that the Guaranteed Obligations which are guaranteed by Guarantors pursuant hereto should be determined without regard to any rule of law or order which may relieve Company of any portion of such Guaranteed Obligations. Guarantors will permit any trustee in bankruptcy, receiver, debtor in possession, assignee for the benefit of creditors or similar Person to pay Administrative Agent, or allow the claim of Administrative Agent in respect of, any such interest accruing after the date on which such case or proceeding is commenced.

(c) In the event that all or any portion of the Guaranteed Obligations are paid by Company, the obligations of Guarantors hereunder shall continue and remain in full force and effect or be reinstated, as the case may be, in the event that all or any part of such payment(s) are rescinded or recovered directly or indirectly from any Beneficiary as a preference, fraudulent transfer or otherwise, and any such payments which are so rescinded or recovered shall constitute Guaranteed Obligations for all purposes hereunder.

 

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7.12 Discharge of Guaranty Upon Sale of Guarantor.

If all of the Capital Stock of any Guarantor or any of its successors in interest hereunder shall be sold or otherwise disposed of (including by merger or consolidation) in accordance with the terms and conditions hereof, the Guaranty of such Guarantor or such successor in interest, as the case may be, hereunder shall automatically be discharged and released without any further action by any Beneficiary or any other Person effective as of the time of such Asset Sale.

SECTION 8. EVENTS OF DEFAULT

8.1 Events of Default.

If any one or more of the following conditions or events shall occur and be continuing:

(a) Failure to Make Payments When Due. Failure by Company to pay (i) when due any installment of principal of any Loan, whether at stated maturity, by acceleration, by notice of voluntary prepayment, by mandatory prepayment or otherwise; or (ii) any interest on any Loan or any fee or any other amount due hereunder within three days after the date due; or

(b) Default in Other Agreements. (i) Failure of any Credit Party to pay when due any principal of or interest on or any other amount payable in respect of one or more items of Indebtedness (other than Indebtedness referred to in Section 8.1(a)) with an aggregate principal amount of $2,000,000 or more, in each case beyond the grace period, if any, provided therefor; or (ii) breach or default by any Credit Party with respect to any other material term of (1) one or more items of Indebtedness in the aggregate principal amounts referred to in clause (i) above or (2) any loan agreement, mortgage, indenture or other agreement relating to such item(s) of Indebtedness, in each case beyond the grace period, if any, provided therefor, if the effect of such breach or default is to cause, or to permit the holder or holders of that Indebtedness (or a trustee on behalf of such holder or holders), to cause, that Indebtedness to become or be declared due and payable (or redeemable) prior to its stated maturity or the stated maturity of any underlying obligation, as the case may be (with all notices provided for therein having been given and all grace periods provided for therein having lapsed, such that no further notice or passage of time is required in order for such holders or such trustee to exercise such right, other than notice of their or its election to exercise such right); or

(c) Breach of Certain Covenants. Failure of any Credit Party to perform or comply with any term or condition contained in Section 2.3, Section 5.1(f), Section 5.2 or Section 6; or

(d) Breach of Representations, etc. Any representation, warranty, certification or other statement made or deemed made by any Credit Party in any Credit Document or in any statement or certificate at any time given by any Credit Party or any of its Subsidiaries in writing pursuant hereto or thereto or in connection herewith or therewith shall be false in any material respect as of the date made or deemed made; or

 

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(e) Other Defaults Under Credit Documents. Any Credit Party shall default in the performance of or compliance with any term contained herein or any of the other Credit Documents, other than any such term referred to in any other Section of this Section 8.1, and such default shall not have been remedied or waived within 45 days after receipt by Company of notice from Administrative Agent or any Lender of such default; or

(f) Involuntary Bankruptcy; Appointment of Receiver, etc. (i) A court of competent jurisdiction shall enter a decree or order for relief in respect of Company or any of its Significant Subsidiaries in an involuntary case under the Bankruptcy Code or under any other applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or similar law now or hereafter in effect, which decree or order is not stayed; or any other similar relief shall be granted under any applicable federal or state law; or (ii) an involuntary case shall be commenced against Company or any of its Significant Subsidiaries under the Bankruptcy Code or under any other applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or similar law now or hereafter in effect; or a decree or order of a court having jurisdiction in the premises for the appointment of a receiver, liquidator, sequestrator, trustee, custodian or other officer having similar powers over Company or any of its Significant Subsidiaries, or over all or a substantial part of its property, shall have been entered; or there shall have occurred the involuntary appointment of an interim receiver, trustee or other custodian of Company or any of its Significant Subsidiaries for all or a substantial part of its property; or a warrant of attachment, execution or similar process shall have been issued against any substantial part of the property of Company or any of its Significant Subsidiaries, and any such event described in this clause (ii) shall continue for ninety days without having been dismissed, bonded or discharged; or

(g) Voluntary Bankruptcy; Appointment of Receiver, etc. (i) Company or any of its Significant Subsidiaries shall have an order for relief entered with respect to it or shall commence a voluntary case under the Bankruptcy Code or under any other applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or similar law now or hereafter in effect, or shall consent to the entry of an order for relief in an involuntary case, or to the conversion of an involuntary case to a voluntary case, under any such law, or shall consent to the appointment of or taking possession by a receiver, trustee or other custodian for all or a substantial part of its property; or Company or any of its Significant Subsidiaries shall make any assignment for the benefit of creditors; or (ii) Company or any of its Significant Subsidiaries shall be unable, or shall fail generally, or shall admit in writing its inability, to pay its debts as such debts become due; or the board of directors (or similar governing body) of Company or any of its Significant Subsidiaries (or any committee thereof) shall adopt any resolution or otherwise authorize any action to approve any of the actions referred to herein or in Section 8.1(f); or

(h) Judgments and Attachments. Any money judgment, writ or warrant of attachment or similar process involving an amount in excess of $2,000,000 (to the extent not adequately covered by insurance as to which a solvent and unaffiliated insurance company has acknowledged coverage) shall be entered or filed against Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any of their respective assets and shall remain undischarged, unvacated, unbonded or unstayed for a period of ninety days (or in any event later than five days prior to the date of any proposed sale thereunder); or

 

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(i) Dissolution. Any order, judgment or decree shall be entered against the Company and any Significant Subsidiary decreeing the dissolution or split up of such Credit Party and such order shall remain undischarged or unstayed for a period in excess of thirty days; or

(j) Employee Benefit Plans. (i) There shall occur one or more ERISA Events which individually or in the aggregate results in or might reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect; or (ii) there exists any fact or circumstance that reasonably could be expected to result in the imposition of a Lien or security interest under Section 412(n) of the Internal Revenue Code or under ERISA.

(k) Change of Control. A Change of Control shall occur;

(l) Guaranties, Collateral Documents and other Credit Documents. At any time after the execution and delivery thereof, (i) the Guaranty for any reason, other than the satisfaction in full of all Obligations, shall cease to be in full force and effect (other than in accordance with its terms) or shall be declared to be null and void or any Guarantor shall repudiate its obligations thereunder, (ii) this Agreement or any Collateral Document ceases to be in full force and effect (other than by reason of a release of Collateral in accordance with the terms hereof or thereof or the satisfaction in full of the Obligations in accordance with the terms hereof) or shall be declared null and void, or Collateral Agent shall not have or shall cease to have a valid and perfected Lien in any Collateral purported to be covered by the Collateral Documents with the priority required by the relevant Collateral Document, in each case for any reason other than the failure of Collateral Agent or any Secured Party to take any action within its control, or (iii) any Credit Party shall contest the validity or enforceability of any Credit Document in writing or deny in writing that it has any further liability, including with respect to future advances by Lenders, under any Credit Document to which it is a party; or

(m) Role of Holdings. Holdings shall (i) conduct, transact or otherwise engage in, or commit to conduct, transact or otherwise engage in, any business or commercial operations other than those incidental to its ownership of the Capital Stock of Company, (ii) incur, create, assume or suffer to exist any Indebtedness, except (A) nonconsensual obligations imposed by operation of law and (B) obligations pursuant to the Credit Documents to which it is a party, or (iii) own, lease, manage or otherwise operate any properties or assets (including cash other than cash received in connection with dividends made by Company in accordance with this Agreement pending application in the manner contemplated by this Agreement, and (C) the ownership of shares of Capital Stock of Company.

THEN, (1) upon the occurrence of any Event of Default described in Section 8.1(f) or 8.1(g), automatically, and (2) upon the occurrence of any other Event of Default, at the written direction of Requisite Lenders, upon notice to Company by Administrative Agent, (A) each of the following shall immediately become due and payable, in each case without presentment, demand, protest or other requirements of any kind, all of which are hereby expressly waived by each Credit Party: (I) the unpaid principal amount of and accrued interest on the Loans, and (II)

 

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all other Obligations; provided, the foregoing shall not affect in any way the obligations of Lenders under Section 2.4 or Section 2.16; and (C) Administrative Agent may cause Collateral Agent to enforce any and all Liens and security interests created pursuant to Collateral Documents.

8.2 Cure Rights

(a) Debt Default Cure Right. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Section 8, in the event that Company would otherwise fail to comply with the requirements of Sections 6.8(a) or (b) (each, a “Financial Performance Covenant”) at the end of any fiscal quarter, unless the Company Exercises an EBITDA Cure Right, at any time within ten days after the date on which a Compliance Certificate must be delivered for the end of such fiscal quarter or fiscal year, as applicable, Company shall have the right (the Debt Default Cure Right”), exercisable at any time during the term of this Agreement to prepay Indebtedness pursuant to Section 2.10(d) through the issuance of Permitted Cure Securities (as defined below) for cash or otherwise receive cash contributions to the capital of Company; provided that such right may not be exercised with respect to more than two fiscal quarters during any consecutive four fiscal quarter period without receiving a waiver by Administrative Agent. Upon exercise by Company of a Debt Default Cure Right, such Financial Performance Covenants shall be recalculated giving effect to the prepayment of Indebtedness pursuant to Section 2.10(d).

 

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(b) EBITDA Default Cure Right. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Section 8, in the event that Company would otherwise fail to comply with a Financial Performance Covenant at the end of any fiscal quarter, unless the Company exercises a Debt Default Cure Right, at any time within ten days after the date on which a Compliance Certificate must be delivered for the end of such fiscal quarter or fiscal year, as applicable, Company shall have the right, exercisable at any time during the term of this Agreement (provided that such right may not be exercised with respect to more than one fiscal quarter during any consecutive four fiscal quarter period), to issue Permitted Cure Securities (as defined below) for cash or otherwise receive cash contributions to the capital of Company (in any case, not in excess of $1,000,000 in the aggregate in any consecutive four fiscal quarter period) (the “EBITDA Cure Right”). Upon the receipt by Company of such cash (the “Cure Amount”) pursuant to the exercise by Company of such EBITDA Cure Right, such Financial Performance Covenants shall be recalculated giving effect to the following pro forma adjustment: Consolidated EBITDA shall be increased solely for the purpose of measuring the Financial Performance Covenants and not for any other purpose under this Agreement, by an amount equal to the Cure Amount.

(c) Effect of Cure. If, after giving effect to the foregoing recalculations, Company shall then be in compliance with the requirements of all Financial Performance Covenants, Company shall be deemed to have satisfied the requirements of the Financial Performance Covenants as of the relevant date of determination with the same effect as though there had been no failure to comply therewith at such date, and the applicable breach or default of any such Financial Performance Covenant that would have otherwise occurred on such date but for the application of the foregoing recalculations shall be deemed not to have occurred.

(d) Permitted Junior Securities. As used in this Section 8, the term “Permitted Cure Securities” shall mean an equity security of Company having no mandatory redemption, repurchase, repayment or similar requirements prior to the six-month anniversary of the Maturity Date and upon which all dividends or distributions, at the election of Company, may be payable in additional shares of such equity security.

SECTION 9. AGENTS

9.1 Appointment of Agents. GoldenTree Asset Management, LP is hereby appointed Syndication Agent hereunder, and each Lender hereby authorizes GoldenTree Asset Management, LP to act as Syndication Agent in accordance with the terms hereof and the other Credit Documents. The Bank of New York is hereby appointed Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent hereunder and under the other Credit Documents and each Lender at any time a party hereto hereby authorizes The Bank of New York to act as Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent in accordance with the terms hereof and the other Credit Documents. Each Agent hereby agrees to act in its capacity as such upon the express conditions contained herein and the other Credit Documents to which it is a party as applicable. The provisions of this Section 9 are solely for the benefit of Agents and Lenders and no Credit Party shall have any rights as a third party beneficiary of any of the provisions thereof. In performing its functions and duties hereunder, each Agent shall act solely as an agent of Lenders and does not assume and shall not be deemed to have assumed any obligation towards or relationship of agency or trust with or for Company or any of its Subsidiaries. Syndication Agent, without consent of or notice

 

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to any party hereto, may assign any and all of its rights or obligations hereunder to any of its Affiliates. As of the Closing Date, GoldenTree Asset Management LP, in its capacity as Syndication Agent shall not have any obligations but shall be entitled to all benefits of this Section 9.

9.2 Powers and Duties.

(a) Each Lender irrevocably authorizes each Agent to take such action on such Lender’s behalf and to exercise such powers, rights and remedies hereunder and under the other Credit Documents as are specifically delegated or granted to such Agent by the terms hereof and thereof, together with such powers, rights and remedies as are reasonably incidental thereto. Each Agent shall have only those duties and responsibilities that are expressly specified herein and the other Credit Documents. Each Agent may exercise such powers, rights and remedies and perform such duties by or through its agents or employees. No Agent shall have, by reason hereof or any of the other Credit Documents, a fiduciary relationship in respect of any Lender; and nothing herein or any of the other Credit Documents, expressed or implied, is intended to or shall be so construed as to impose upon any Agent any obligations in respect hereof or any of the other Credit Documents except as expressly set forth herein or therein.

 

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(b) Administrative Agent shall be under no obligation to exercise any of its rights or powers vested in it by this Agreement, at the request, order or direction of any Required Holders, pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement, unless such Required Holders shall have offered to the Administrative Agent reasonable security or indemnity satisfactory to it against the costs, expenses and liabilities (including, without limitation, attorneys’ fees) which might be incurred therein or thereby. The Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent shall not have any obligation whatsoever to any Lender or to any other Person to assure that the Collateral exists or is owned by the Borrower or any of its subsidiaries or is cared for, protected or insured or has been encumbered or that the Liens granted to the Collateral Agent herein or pursuant to the Credit Documents have been properly or sufficiently or lawfully created, perfected, protected or enforced or are entitled to any particular priority, or to exercise at all or in any particular manner or under any duty of care, disclosure or fidelity, or to continue exercising, any of the rights, authorities and powers granted or available to the Collateral Agent or the Administrative Agent in this Agreement or in any of the Credit Documents, except as expressly provided herein or therein.

(c) In no event shall any Agent be responsible or liable for any failure or delay in the performance of its obligations hereunder or under the Credit Documents arising out of or caused by, directly or indirectly, forces beyond its control, including without limitation strikes, work stoppages, accidents, acts of war or terrorism, civil or military disturbances, nuclear or natural catastrophes or acts of God, and interruptions ,loss or malfunctions of utilities, communications or computer (software and hardware) services; it being understood that each Agent shall use reasonable efforts with are consistent with accepted practices in the banking industry to resume performance as soon as practicable under the circumstances.

(d) Each Lender hereby instructs the Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent, as the case may be, to enter into the Intercreditor Agreement and the other Credit Documents and such amendments and restatements of the Intercreditor Agreement and the other Credit Documents to the extent permitted thereunder.

9.3 General Immunity.

(a) No Responsibility for Certain Matters. No Agent shall be responsible to any Lender for the execution, effectiveness, genuineness, validity, enforceability, collectability or sufficiency hereof or any other Credit Document or for any representations, warranties, recitals

 

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or statements made herein or therein or made in any written or oral statements or in any financial or other statements, instruments, reports or certificates or any other documents furnished or made by any Agent to Lenders or by or on behalf of any Credit Party, and Lender or any person providing the Settlement Service to any Agent or any Lender in connection with the Credit Documents and the transactions contemplated thereby or for the financial condition or business affairs of any Credit Party or any other Person liable for the payment of any Obligations, nor shall any Agent be required to ascertain or inquire as to the performance or observance of any of the terms, conditions, provisions, covenants or agreements contained in any of the Credit Documents or as to the use of the proceeds of the Loans or as to the existence or possible existence of any Event of Default or Default or to make any disclosures with respect to the foregoing. Anything contained herein to the contrary notwithstanding, Administrative Agent shall not have any liability arising from confirmations of the amount of outstanding Loans or the component amounts thereof.

(b) Exculpatory Provisions. No Agent nor any of its officers, partners, directors, employees or agents shall be liable to Lenders for any action taken or omitted by any Agent under or in connection with any of the Credit Documents except to the extent caused by such Agent’s gross negligence or willful misconduct. Each Agent shall be entitled to refrain from any act or the taking of any action (including the failure to take an action) in connection herewith or any of the other Credit Documents or from the exercise of any power, discretion or authority vested in it hereunder or thereunder unless and until such Agent shall have received instructions in respect thereof from Requisite Lenders (or such other Lenders as may be required to give such instructions under Section 10.5) and, upon receipt of such instructions from Requisite Lenders (or such other Lenders, as the case may be), such Agent shall be entitled to act or (where so instructed) refrain from acting, and shall be fully protected in so acting or refraining to act, or to exercise such power, discretion or authority, in accordance with such instructions. Without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing, (i) each Agent shall be entitled to obtain and to obtain and rely on, and shall be fully protected in relying, upon any communication, instrument or document believed by it to be genuine and correct and to have been signed or sent by the proper Person or Persons, including any Settlement Confirmation or other communication issues by any Settlement Service, and shall be entitled to rely on and shall be fully protected in relying on opinions and advice of attorneys (who may be attorneys for Company and its Subsidiaries), accountants, experts and other professional advisors selected by it; and (ii) no Lender shall have any right of action whatsoever against any Agent as a result of such Agent acting or (where so instructed) refraining from acting hereunder or any of the other Credit Documents in accordance with the instructions of Requisite Lenders (or such other Lenders as may be required to give such instructions under Section 10.5).

(c) Delegation of Duties. Each Agent may perform any and all of its duties and exercise its rights and powers under this Agreement or under any other Credit Document by or through any one or more sub-agents appointed by such Agent. Each Agent and any such sub-agent may perform any and all of its duties and exercise its rights and powers by or through their respective Affiliates. The exculpatory, indemnification and other provisions of this Section 9.3 and of Section 9.6

 

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shall apply to any the Affiliates and subagents of each Agent and shall apply to their respective activities in connection with the syndication of the credit facilities provided for herein as well as activities as each Agent. All of the rights, benefits, and privileges (including the exculpatory and indemnification provisions) of this Section 9.3 and of Section 9.6 shall apply to any such sub-agent and to the Affiliates of any such sub-agent, and shall apply to their respective activities as sub-agent as if such sub-agent and Affiliates were named herein. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, with respect to each sub-agent appointed by the an Agent, (i) such sub-agent shall be a third party beneficiary under this Agreement with respect to all such rights, benefits and privileges (including exculpatory rights and rights to indemnification) and shall have all of the rights and benefits of a third party beneficiary, including an independent right of action to enforce such rights, benefits and privileges (including exculpatory rights and rights to indemnification) directly, without the consent or joinder of any other Person, against any or all of the Credit Parties and the Lenders, (ii) such rights, benefits and privileges (including exculpatory rights and rights to indemnification) shall not be modified or amended without the consent of such sub-agent, and (iii) such sub-agent shall only have obligations to such Agent and not to any Credit Party, Lender or any other Person and no Credit Party, Lender or any other Person shall have any rights, directly or indirectly, as a third party beneficiary or otherwise, against such sub-agent.

9.4 Agents Entitled to Act as Lender.

The agency hereby created shall in no way impair or affect any of the rights and powers of, or impose any duties or obligations upon, any Agent in its individual capacity, if any, as a Lender hereunder. With respect to its participation, if any, in the Loans, each Agent shall have the same rights and powers hereunder as any other Lender and may exercise the same as if it were not performing the duties and functions delegated to it hereunder, and the term “Lender” shall, unless the context clearly otherwise indicates, include each Agent in its individual capacity. Any Agent and its Affiliates may accept deposits from, lend money to, own securities of, and generally engage in any kind of banking, trust, financial advisory or other business with Company or any of its Affiliates as if it were not performing the duties specified herein, and may accept fees and other consideration from Company for services in connection herewith and otherwise without having to account for the same to Lenders.

9.5 Lenders’ Representations, Warranties and Acknowledgment.

(a) Each Lender at any time a party hereto represents and warrants that it has made its own independent investigation of the financial condition and affairs of Company and its Subsidiaries in connection with the Loan made hereunder and that it has made and shall continue to make its own appraisal of the creditworthiness of Company and its Subsidiaries. No Agent shall have any duty or responsibility, either initially or on a continuing basis, to make any such investigation or any such appraisal on behalf of Lenders or to provide any Lender with any credit or other information with respect thereto, whether coming into its possession before the making of the Loans or at any time or times thereafter, and no Agent shall have any responsibility with respect to the accuracy of or the completeness of any information provided to Lenders.

(b) Each Lender, by delivering its signature page to this Agreement or an Assignment and funding its Loan on the Closing Date, shall be deemed to have acknowledged receipt of, and consented to and approved, each Credit Document and each other document required to be approved by any Agent, Requisite Lenders or Lenders, as applicable on the Closing Date.

 

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9.6 Right to Indemnity.

Each Lender, in proportion to its Pro Rata Share, severally agrees to indemnify each Agent, to the extent that such Agent shall not have been reimbursed by any Credit Party, for and against any and all liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, claims, penalties, actions, judgments, suits, costs, expenses (including counsel fees and disbursements) or disbursements of any kind or nature whatsoever which may be imposed on, incurred by or asserted against such Agent in exercising its powers, rights and remedies or performing its duties hereunder or under the other Credit Documents or otherwise in its capacity as such Agent in any way relating to or arising out of this Agreement or the other Credit Documents; provided, no Lender shall be liable for any portion of such liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties, actions, judgments, suits, costs, expenses or disbursements resulting from such Agent’s gross negligence or willful misconduct. If any indemnity furnished to any Agent for any purpose shall, in the opinion of such Agent, be insufficient or become impaired, such Agent may call for additional indemnity and cease, or not commence, to do the acts indemnified against until such additional indemnity is furnished; provided, in no event shall this sentence require any Lender to indemnify any Agent against any liability, obligation, loss, damage, claims, penalty, action, judgment, suit, cost, expense or disbursement in excess of such Lender’s Pro Rata Share thereof; and provided further, this sentence shall not be deemed to require any Lender to indemnify any Agent against any liability, obligation, loss, damage, claims, penalty, action, judgment, suit, cost, expense or disbursement described in the proviso in the immediately preceding sentence.

9.7 Successor Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent. Administrative Agent may resign at any time by giving thirty days’ prior written notice thereof to Lenders and Company, and Administrative Agent may be removed at any time with or without cause by an instrument or concurrent instruments in writing delivered to Company and Administrative Agent and signed by Requisite Lenders. Upon any such notice of resignation or any such removal, Requisite Lenders shall have the right, upon five Business Days’ notice to Company, to appoint a successor Administrative Agent. Upon the written acceptance of any appointment as Administrative Agent hereunder by a successor Administrative Agent, that successor Administrative Agent shall thereupon succeed to and become vested with all the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring or removed Administrative Agent and the retiring or removed Administrative Agent shall promptly (i) transfer to such successor Administrative Agent all sums, Securities and other items of Collateral held under the Collateral Documents, together with all records and other documents necessary or appropriate in connection with the performance of the duties of the successor Administrative Agent under the Credit Documents, and (ii) execute and deliver to such successor Administrative Agent such amendments to financing statements delivered to it, and take such other actions, as may be necessary or appropriate in connection with the assignment to such successor Administrative Agent of the security interests created under the Collateral Documents, whereupon such retiring or removed Administrative Agent shall be discharged from its duties and obligations hereunder. After any retiring or removed Administrative Agent’s resignation or removal hereunder as Administrative Agent, the provisions of this Section 9 shall inure to its benefit as to any actions taken or omitted to be taken by it while it was Administrative Agent hereunder (including all indemnities hereunder).

 

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Such successor Administrative Agent shall assume in writing the obligations of such retiring Administrative Agent hereunder. If the Requisite Lenders have not designated a successor Administrative Agent within 30 days of such resignation or removal, the Administrative Agent may petition a court of competent jurisdiction, at the expense of the Company, to appoint a successor Administrative Agent, the cost of which shall be borne by the Company. Any corporation into which the Administrative Agent may be merged or with which it may be consolidated, or any corporation resulting from any merger or consolidation to which the Administrative Agent is a party, or any state or national bank or trust company in any manner succeeding to all or substantially all of the corporate trust business of the Administrative Agent shall automatically succeed to all of the rights and obligations of the Administrative Agent hereunder without any document so providing or further action on the part of any of the parties hereto.

9.8 Collateral Documents and Guaranty.

(a) Agents under Collateral Documents and Guaranty. Each Lender hereby further authorizes Administrative Agent or Collateral Agent, as applicable, on behalf of and for the benefit of Secured Parties, to be the agent for and representative of Lenders with respect to the Guaranty, the Collateral and the Collateral Documents. Subject to Section 10.5, without further written consent or authorization from Lenders, Administrative Agent or Collateral Agent, as applicable may execute any documents or instruments necessary to (i) release any Lien encumbering any item of Collateral that is the subject of a sale or other disposition of assets permitted hereby or to which Requisite Lenders (or such other Lenders as may be required to give such consent under Section 10.5) have otherwise consented in writing or (ii) release any Guarantor from the Guaranty pursuant to Section 7.12 or with respect to which Requisite Lenders (or such other Lenders as may be required to give such consent under Section 10.5) have otherwise consented in writing.

(b) Right to Realize on Collateral and Enforce Guaranty. Anything contained in any of the Credit Documents to the contrary notwithstanding, Company, Administrative Agent, Collateral Agent and each Lender hereby agree that (i) no Lender shall have any right individually to realize upon any of the Collateral or to enforce the Guaranty, it being understood and agreed that all powers, rights and remedies hereunder may be exercised solely by Administrative Agent, on behalf of Lenders in accordance with the terms hereof and all powers, rights and remedies under the Collateral Documents may be exercised solely by Collateral Agent, and (ii) in the event of a foreclosure by Collateral Agent on any of the Collateral pursuant to a public or private sale, Collateral Agent or any Lender may be the purchaser of any or all of such Collateral at any such sale and Collateral Agent, as agent for and representative of Secured Parties (but not any Lender or Lenders in its or their respective individual capacities unless Requisite Lenders shall otherwise agree in writing) shall be entitled, for the purpose of bidding and making settlement or payment of the purchase price for all or any portion of the Collateral sold at any such public sale, to use and apply any of the Obligations as a credit on account of the purchase price for any collateral payable by Collateral Agent at such sale.

 

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SECTION 10. MISCELLANEOUS

10.1 Notices.

(a) Notices Generally. Any notice or other communication herein required or permitted to be given to a Credit Party or Administrative Agent, shall be sent to such Person’s address as set forth on Appendix B or in the other relevant Credit Document, and in the case of any Lender, the address as indicated on Appendix B or otherwise indicated to Administrative Agent in writing. Except as otherwise set forth in paragraph (b) below, each notice hereunder shall be in writing and may be personally served, telexed or sent by telefacsimile or United States mail or courier service and shall be deemed to have been given when delivered in person or by courier service and signed for against receipt thereof, upon receipt of telefacsimile or telex, or three Business Days after depositing it in the United States mail with postage prepaid and properly addressed; provided, no notice to any Agent shall be effective until received by such Agent; provided further, any such notice or other communication shall at the request of the Administrative Agent be provided to any sub-agent appointed pursuant to Section 9.3(c) hereto as designated by the Administrative Agent from time to time.

(b) Electronic Communications. Notices and other communications to the Lenders hereunder may be delivered or furnished by electronic communication (including e-mail and Internet or intranet websites) pursuant to procedures approved by Administrative Agent, provided that the foregoing shall not apply to notices to any Lender pursuant to Section 2 if such Lender has notified Administrative Agent that it is incapable of receiving notices under such Section by electronic communication. Administrative Agent or Company may, in its discretion, agree to accept notices and other communications to it hereunder by electronic communications pursuant to procedures approved by it, provided that approval of such procedures may be limited to particular notices or communications. Unless Administrative Agent otherwise prescribes, (i) notices and other communications sent to an e-mail address shall be deemed received upon the sender’s receipt of an acknowledgement from the intended recipient (such as by the “return receipt requested” function, as available, return e-mail or other written acknowledgement), provided that if such notice or other communication is not sent during the normal business hours of the recipient, such notice or communication shall be deemed to have been sent at the opening of business on the next Business Day for the recipient, and (ii) notices or communications posted to an Internet or intranet website shall be deemed received upon the deemed receipt by the intended recipient at its e-mail address as described in the foregoing clause (i) of notification that such notice or communication is available and identifying the website address therefor.

10.2 Expenses.

Whether or not the transactions contemplated hereby shall be consummated, Company agrees to pay promptly (a) all the actual and reasonable costs and expenses of preparation of the Credit Documents and any consents, amendments, waivers or other modifications thereto; (b) all the costs of furnishing all opinions by counsel for Company and the other Credit Parties; (c) the reasonable fees, expenses and disbursements of counsel to Agents (in each case including allocated costs of internal counsel) in connection with the negotiation, preparation, execution and administration of the Credit Documents and any consents, amendments, waivers or other modifications thereto and any other documents or matters requested by Company); (d) all the actual costs and reasonable expenses of creating and perfecting Liens in favor of Collateral Agent, for the benefit of Lenders pursuant hereto, including filing and recording fees, expenses and taxes, stamp or documentary taxes, search fees, title insurance premiums and reasonable fees, expenses and disbursements of counsel to each

 

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Agent and of counsel providing any opinions that any Agent or Requisite Lenders may request in respect of the Collateral or the Liens created pursuant to the Collateral Documents; (e) all the actual costs and reasonable fees, expenses and disbursements of any auditors, accountants, consultants or appraisers; (f) all the actual costs and reasonable expenses (including the reasonable fees, expenses and disbursements of any appraisers, consultants, advisors and agents employed or retained by Collateral Agent and its counsel) in connection with the custody or preservation of any of the Collateral; (g) all other actual and reasonable costs and expenses incurred by each Agent in connection with the syndication of the Loans and Commitments and the negotiation, preparation and execution of the Credit Documents and any consents; (h) all actual costs and expenses incurred in connection with a Lender’s obtaining an annual “shadow rating” for the Company; and (h) after the occurrence of a Default or an Event of Default, all costs and expenses, including reasonable attorneys’ fees (including allocated costs of internal counsel) and costs of settlement, incurred by any Agent and Lenders in enforcing any Obligations of or in collecting any payments due from any Credit Party hereunder or under the other Credit Documents by reason of such Default or Event of Default (including in connection with the sale of, collection from, or other realization upon any of the Collateral or the enforcement of the Guaranty) or in connection with any refinancing or restructuring of the credit arrangements provided hereunder in the nature of a “work-out” or pursuant to any insolvency or bankruptcy cases or proceedings.

10.3 Indemnity.

(a) In addition to the payment of expenses pursuant to Section 10.2, whether or not the transactions contemplated hereby shall be consummated, each Credit Party agrees to defend (subject to Indemnitees’ selection of counsel), indemnify, pay and hold harmless, each Agent and Lender and the officers, partners, directors, trustees, employees, agents, sub-agents and Affiliates of each Agent and each Lender (each, an “Indemnitee”), from and against any and all Indemnified Liabilities; provided, no Credit Party shall have any obligation to any Indemnitee hereunder with respect to any Indemnified Liabilities to the extent such Indemnified Liabilities arise from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of that Indemnitee. To the extent that the undertakings to defend, indemnify, pay and hold harmless set forth in this Section 10.3 may be unenforceable in whole or in part because they are violative of any law or public policy, the applicable Credit Party shall contribute the maximum portion that it is permitted to pay and satisfy under applicable law to the payment and satisfaction of all Indemnified Liabilities incurred by Indemnitees or any of them.

(b) To the extent permitted by applicable law, no Credit Party shall assert, and each Credit Party hereby waives, any claim against Lenders, Agents and their respective Affiliates, directors, employees, attorneys, agents or sub-agents, on any theory of liability, for special, indirect, consequential or punitive damages (as opposed to direct or actual damages) (whether or not the claim therefor is based on contract, tort or duty imposed by any applicable legal requirement) arising out of, in connection with, arising out of, as a result of, or in any way related to, this Agreement or any Credit Document or any agreement or instrument contemplated hereby or thereby or referred to herein or therein, the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, any Loan or the use of the proceeds thereof or any act or omission or event occurring in connection therewith, and Company hereby waives, releases and agrees not to sue upon any such claim or any such damages, whether or not accrued and whether or not known or suspected to exist in its favor.

 

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10.4 Set-Off.

In addition to any rights now or hereafter granted under applicable law and not by way of limitation of any such rights, upon the occurrence of any Event of Default each Lender is hereby authorized by each Credit Party at any time or from time to time subject to the consent of Administrative Agent (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed), without notice to any Credit Party or to any other Person (other than Administrative Agent), any such notice being hereby expressly waived, to set off and to appropriate and to apply any and all deposits (general or special, including Indebtedness evidenced by certificates of deposit, whether matured or unmatured, but not including trust accounts) and any other Indebtedness at any time held or owing by such Lender to or for the credit or the account of any Credit Party against and on account of the obligations and liabilities of any Credit Party to such Lender hereunder, and under the other Credit Documents, including all claims of any nature or description arising out of or connected hereto, or with any other Credit Document, irrespective of whether or not (a) such Lender shall have made any demand hereunder or (b) the principal of or the interest on the Loans or any other amounts due hereunder shall have become due and payable pursuant to Section 2 and although such obligations and liabilities, or any of them, may be contingent or unmatured.

10.5 Amendments and Waivers.

(a) Requisite Lenders’ Consent. Subject to Sections 10.5(b) and 10.5(c), no amendment, modification, termination or waiver of any provision of the Credit Documents, or consent to any departure by any Credit Party therefrom, shall in any event be effective without the written concurrence of the Requisite Lenders.

(b) Affected Lenders’ Consent. Without the written consent of each Lender that would be affected thereby, no amendment, modification, termination, or consent shall be effective if the effect thereof would:

(i) extend the scheduled final maturity of any Loan or Note;

(ii) waive, reduce or postpone any scheduled repayment (but not prepayment);

(iii) reduce the rate of interest on any Loan (other than any waiver of any increase in the interest rate applicable to any Loan pursuant to Section 2.6) or any fee or any premium payable hereunder;

(iv) extend the time for payment of any such interest or fees;

(v) amend, modify, terminate or waive any provision of this Section 10.5(b) or Section 10.5(c);

(vi) amend the definition of “Requisite Lenders” or “Pro Rata Share”;

 

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(vii) release all or substantially all of the Collateral or all or substantially all of the Guarantors from the Guaranty except as expressly provided in the Credit Documents; or

(viii) consent to the assignment or transfer by any Credit Party of any of its rights and obligations under any Credit Document.

(c) Other Consents. No amendment, modification, termination or waiver of any provision of the Credit Documents, or consent to any departure by any Credit Party therefrom, shall:

(i) amend the definition of “Requisite Lenders”;

(ii) amend, modify, terminate or waive any provision of Section 9 as the same applies to any Agent, or any other provision hereof as the same applies to the rights or obligations of any Agent, in each case without the consent of such Agent.

(d) Execution of Amendments, etc. Administrative Agent may, but shall have no obligation to, with the concurrence of any Lender, execute amendments, modifications, waivers or consents on behalf of such Lender. Any waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the specific purpose for which it was given. No notice to or demand on any Credit Party in any case shall entitle any Credit Party to any other or further notice or demand in similar or other circumstances. Any amendment, modification, termination, waiver or consent effected in accordance with this Section 10.5 shall be binding upon each Lender at the time outstanding, each future Lender and, if signed by a Credit Party, on such Credit Party.

10.6 Successors and Assigns; Participations.

(a) Generally. This Agreement shall be binding upon the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns and shall inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and the successors and assigns of Lenders and the Agents. No Credit Party’s rights or obligations hereunder nor any interest therein may be assigned or delegated by any Credit Party without the prior written consent of all Lenders. 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 and, to the extent expressly contemplated hereby, Affiliates of each of the Agents and Lenders) any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or by reason of this Agreement.

(b) Register. Company, Administrative Agent and Lenders shall deem and treat the Persons listed as Lenders in the Register as the holders and owners of the corresponding Commitments and Loans listed therein for all purposes hereof, and no assignment or transfer of any such Commitment or Loan shall be effective, in each case, unless and until recorded in the Register following receipt of (x) a written or electronic confirmation of an assignment issued by a Settlement Service pursuant to Section 10.6(d) (a “Settlement Confirmation”) or (y) an Assignment Agreement effecting the assignment or transfer thereof, in each case, as provided in Section 10.6(d). Each assignment shall be recorded in the Register on the Business Day the Settlement Confirmation or Assignment Agreement is received by the Administrative Agent, if received by 12:00 noon New York City time, and on the following Business Day if received after

 

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such time, prompt notice thereof shall be provided to Company and a copy of such Assignment Agreement or Settlement Confirmation shall be maintained, as applicable. The date of such recordation of a transfer shall be referred to herein as the “Assignment Effective Date.” Any request, authority or consent of any Person who, at the time of making such request or giving such authority or consent, is listed in the Register as a Lender shall be conclusive and binding on any subsequent holder, assignee or transferee of the corresponding Commitments or Loans.

(c) Right to Assign. Each Lender shall have the right at any time to sell, assign or transfer all or a portion of its rights and obligations under this Agreement, including, without limitation, all or a portion of its Loans owing to it or other Obligations (provided, however, that each such assignment shall be of a uniform, and not varying, percentage of all rights and obligations under and in respect of any Loan):

(i) to any Person meeting the criteria of clause (i) of the definition of the term of “Eligible Assignee” upon the giving of notice to Company and Administrative Agent; and

(ii) to any Person meeting the criteria of clause (ii) of the definition of the term of “Eligible Assignee” upon giving of notice to Company and Administrative Agent; provided, further each such assignment pursuant to this Section 10.6(c)(ii) shall be in an aggregate amount of not less than $1,000,000 (or such lesser amount as may be agreed to by Company and Administrative Agent or as shall constitute the aggregate amount of the Loan of the assigning Lender).

(d) Mechanics. Assignments of Loans by Lenders may be made via an electronic settlement system acceptable to Administrative Agent as designated in writing from time to time to the Lenders by Administrative Agent (the “Settlement Service”). Each such assignment shall be effected by the assigning Lender and proposed assignee pursuant to the procedures then in effect under the Settlement Service, which procedures shall be consistent with the other provisions of this Section 10.6. Each assignor Lender and proposed assignee shall comply with the requirements of the Settlement Service in connection with effecting any transfer of Loans pursuant to the Settlement Service. Administrative Agent’s and Company’s consent shall be deemed to have been granted pursuant to Section 10.6(c)(ii) with respect to any transfer effected through the Settlement Service. Subject to the other requirements of this Section 10.6, assignments and assumptions of Loans may also be effected by manual execution delivery to the Administrative Agent of an Assignment Agreement with the prior written consent of each of Company and Administrative Agent (such consent not to be (x) unreasonably withheld or delayed or (y) in the case of Company, required at any time an Event of Default shall have occurred and then be continuing). Initially, assignments and assumptions of Loans shall be effected by such manual execution until Administrative Agent notifies Lenders to the contrary. Assignments made pursuant to the foregoing provision shall be effective as of the Assignment Effective Date. In connection with all assignments there shall be delivered to Administrative Agent such forms, certificates or other evidence, if any, with respect to United States federal income tax withholding matters as the assignee under such Assignment Agreement may be required to deliver pursuant to Section 2.15(c) or 2.15(d). Notwithstanding anything herein or in any Assignment Agreement to the contrary and (i) unless notice to the contrary is delivered to the Lenders from the Administrative Agent or (ii) so long as no Default or Event of Default has

 

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occurred and is continuing, payment to the assignor by the assignee in respect of the settlement of an assignment of any Loan shall include such compensation to the assignor as may be agreed upon by the assignor and the assignee with respect to all unpaid interest which has accrued on such Loan to but excluding the Assignment Effective Date. On and after the applicable Assignment Effective Date, the applicable assignee shall be entitled to receive all interest paid or payable with respect to the assigned Loan, whether such interest accrued before or after the applicable Assignment Effective Date.

(e) Representations and Warranties of Assignee. Each Lender, upon execution and delivery hereof or upon succeeding to an interest in the Commitments and Loans, as the case may be, represents and warrants as of the Closing Date or as of the Assignment Effective Date that (i) it is an Eligible Assignee; (ii) it has experience and expertise in the making of or investing in commitments or loans such as the applicable Commitments or Loans, as the case may be; and (iii) it will make or invest in, as the case may be, its Commitments or Loans for its own account in the ordinary course of its business and without a view to distribution of such Commitments or Loans within the meaning of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act or other federal securities laws (it being understood that, subject to the provisions of this Section 10.6, the disposition of such Commitments or Loans or any interests therein shall at all times remain within its exclusive control).

(f) Effect of Assignment. Subject to the terms and conditions of this Section 10.6, as of the “Assignment Effective Date” (i) the assignee thereunder shall have the rights and obligations of a “Lender” hereunder to the extent of its interest in the Loans and Commitments as reflected in the Register and shall thereafter be a party hereto and a “Lender” for all purposes hereof; (ii) the assigning Lender thereunder shall, to the extent that rights and obligations hereunder have been assigned to the assignee, relinquish its rights (other than any rights which survive the termination hereof under Section 10.8) and be released from its obligations hereunder (and, in the case of an assignment covering all or the remaining portion of an assigning Lender’s rights and obligations hereunder, such Lender shall cease to be a party hereto on the Assignment Effective Date; provided, anything contained in any of the Credit Documents to the contrary notwithstanding, and (y) such assigning Lender shall continue to be entitled to the benefit of all indemnities hereunder as specified herein with respect to matters arising out of the prior involvement of such assigning Lender as a Lender hereunder); (iii) the Commitments shall be modified to reflect any Commitment of such assignee, if any; and (iv) if any such assignment occurs after the issuance of any Note hereunder, the assigning Lender shall, upon the effectiveness of such assignment or as promptly thereafter as practicable, surrender its applicable Notes to Administrative Agent for cancellation, and thereupon Company shall issue and deliver new Notes, if so requested by the assignee and/or assigning Lender, to such assignee and/or to such assigning Lender, with appropriate insertions, to reflect the outstanding Loans of the assignee and/or the assigning Lender.

(g) Participations. Each Lender shall have the right at any time to sell one or more participations to any Person (other than Company, any of its Subsidiaries or any of its Affiliates) in all or any part of its Commitments, Loans or in any other Obligation. The holder of any such participation, other than an Affiliate of the Lender granting such participation, shall not be entitled to require such Lender to take or omit to take any action hereunder except with respect to any amendment, modification or waiver that would (i) extend the final scheduled

 

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maturity of any Loan or Note in which such participant is participating, or reduce the rate or extend the time of payment of interest or fees thereon (except in connection with a waiver of applicability of any post-default increase in interest rates) or reduce the principal amount thereof, or increase the amount of the participant’s participation over the amount thereof then in effect (it being understood that a waiver of any Default or Event of Default shall not constitute a change in the terms of such participation, and that an increase in any Commitment or Loan shall be permitted without the consent of any participant if the participant’s participation is not increased as a result thereof), (ii) consent to the assignment or transfer by any Credit Party of any of its rights and obligations under this Agreement or (iii) release all or substantially all of the Collateral under the Collateral Documents (except as expressly provided in the Credit Documents) supporting the Loans hereunder in which such participant is participating. Company agrees that each participant shall be entitled to the benefits of Sections 2.18(c), 2.19 and 2.20 to the same extent as if it were a Lender and had acquired its interest by assignment pursuant to paragraph (c) of this Section; provided, (i) a participant shall not be entitled to receive any greater payment under Section 2.19 or 2.20 than the applicable Lender would have been entitled to receive with respect to the participation sold to such participant, unless the sale of the participation to such participant is made with Company’s prior written consent and (ii) a participant it were a Lender shall not be entitled to the benefits of Section 2.20 unless Company is notified of the participation sold to such participant and such participant agrees, for the benefit of Company, to comply with Section 2.20 as though it were a Lender. To the extent permitted by law, each participant also shall be entitled to the benefits of Section 10.4 as though it were a Lender, provided such Participant agrees to be subject to Section 2.17 as though it were a Lender.

(h) Certain Other Assignments. In addition to any other assignment permitted pursuant to this Section 10.6, any Lender may assign and/or pledge all or any portion of its Loans, the other Obligations owed by or to such Lender, and its Notes, if any, to secure obligations of such Lender including, without limitation, any Federal Reserve Bank as collateral security pursuant to Regulation A of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and any operating circular issued by such Federal Reserve Bank; provided, no Lender, as between Company and such Lender, shall be relieved of any of its obligations hereunder as a result of any such assignment and pledge, and provided further, in no event shall the applicable Federal Reserve Bank, pledgee or trustee be considered to be a “Lender” or be entitled to require the assigning Lender to take or omit to take any action hereunder.

10.7 Independence of Covenants.

All covenants hereunder shall be given independent effect so that if a particular action or condition is not permitted by any of such covenants, the fact that it would be permitted by an exception to, or would otherwise be within the limitations of, another covenant shall not avoid the occurrence of a Default or an Event of Default if such action is taken or condition exists.

10.8 Survival of Representations, Warranties and Agreements.

All representations, warranties and agreements made herein shall survive the execution and delivery hereof and the making of the Loans. Notwithstanding anything herein or

 

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implied by law to the contrary, the agreements of each Credit Party set forth in Sections 2.18(c), 2.19, 2.20, 10.2, 10.3 and 10.4 and the agreements of Lenders set forth in Sections 2.17, 9.3(b) and 9.6 shall survive the payment of the Loans, and the reimbursement of any amounts drawn thereunder, and the termination hereof.

10.9 No Waiver; Remedies Cumulative.

No failure or delay on the part of any Agent or any Lender in the exercise of any power, right or privilege hereunder or under any other Credit Document shall impair such power, right or privilege or be construed to be a waiver of any default or acquiescence therein, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any such power, right or privilege preclude other or further exercise thereof or of any other power, right or privilege. The rights, powers and remedies given to each Agent and each Lender hereby are cumulative and shall be in addition to and independent of all rights, powers and remedies existing by virtue of any statute or rule of law or in any of the other Credit Documents. Any forbearance or failure to exercise, and any delay in exercising, any right, power or remedy hereunder shall not impair any such right, power or remedy or be construed to be a waiver thereof, nor shall it preclude the further exercise of any such right, power or remedy.

10.10 Marshalling; Payments Set Aside.

Neither any Agent nor any Lender shall be under any obligation to marshal any assets in favor of any Credit Party or any other Person or against or in payment of any or all of the Obligations. To the extent that any Credit Party makes a payment or payments to Administrative Agent or Lenders (or to Administrative Agent, on behalf of Lenders), or any Agent or Lenders enforce any security interests or exercise their rights of setoff, and such payment or payments or the proceeds of such enforcement or setoff or any part thereof are subsequently invalidated, declared to be fraudulent or preferential, set aside and/or required to be repaid to a trustee, receiver or any other party under any bankruptcy law, any other state or federal law, common law or any equitable cause, then, to the extent of such recovery, the obligation or part thereof originally intended to be satisfied, and all Liens, rights and remedies therefor or related thereto, shall be revived and continued in full force and effect as if such payment or payments had not been made or such enforcement or setoff had not occurred.

10.11 Severability.

In case any provision in or obligation hereunder or under any other Credit Document shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any jurisdiction, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions or obligations, or of such provision or obligation in any other jurisdiction, shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.

10.12 Obligations Several; Independent Nature of Lenders’ Rights.

The obligations of Lenders hereunder are several and no Lender shall be responsible for the obligations or Commitment of any other Lender hereunder. Nothing contained herein or in any other Credit Document, and no action taken by Lenders pursuant hereto or thereto, shall be deemed to constitute Lenders as a partnership, an association, a joint venture or any other kind of entity. The amounts payable at any time hereunder to each Lender

 

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shall be a separate and independent debt, and each Lender shall be entitled to protect and enforce its rights arising out hereof and it shall not be necessary for any other Lender to be joined as an additional party in any proceeding for such purpose.

10.13 Headings.

Section headings herein are included herein for convenience of reference only and shall not constitute a part hereof for any other purpose or be given any substantive effect.

10.14 APPLICABLE LAW.

THIS AGREEMENT AND THE RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF THE PARTIES HEREUNDER SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND SHALL BE CONSTRUED AND ENFORCED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK WITHOUT REGARD TO CONFLICT OF LAWS PRINCIPLES THEREOF.

10.15 CONSENT TO JURISDICTION.

ALL JUDICIAL PROCEEDINGS BROUGHT BY OR AGAINST ANY CREDIT PARTY, ANY GUARANTOR, ANY LENDER OR THE COMPANY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING HERETO OR ANY OTHER CREDIT DOCUMENT, OR ANY OF THE OBLIGATIONS, MAY BE BROUGHT IN ANY STATE OR FEDERAL COURT OF COMPETENT JURISDICTION IN THE STATE, COUNTY AND CITY OF NEW YORK. BY EXECUTING AND DELIVERING THIS AGREEMENT, EACH CREDIT PARTY, FOR ITSELF AND IN CONNECTION WITH ITS PROPERTIES, IRREVOCABLY (A) ACCEPTS GENERALLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY THE NONEXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION AND VENUE OF SUCH COURTS; (B) WAIVES ANY DEFENSE OF FORUM NON CONVENIENS; (C) AGREES THAT SERVICE OF ALL PROCESS IN ANY SUCH PROCEEDING IN ANY SUCH COURT MAY BE MADE BY REGISTERED OR CERTIFIED MAIL, RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED, TO THE APPLICABLE CREDIT PARTY AT ITS ADDRESS PROVIDED IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 10.1; (D) AGREES THAT SERVICE AS PROVIDED IN CLAUSE (C) ABOVE IS SUFFICIENT TO CONFER PERSONAL JURISDICTION OVER THE APPLICABLE CREDIT PARTY IN ANY SUCH PROCEEDING IN ANY SUCH COURT, AND OTHERWISE CONSTITUTES EFFECTIVE AND BINDING SERVICE IN EVERY RESPECT; AND (E) AGREES THAT AGENTS AND LENDERS RETAIN THE RIGHT TO SERVE PROCESS IN ANY OTHER MANNER PERMITTED BY LAW OR TO BRING PROCEEDINGS AGAINST ANY CREDIT PARTY IN THE COURTS OF ANY OTHER JURISDICTION.

10.16 WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL.

EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO HEREBY AGREES TO WAIVE ITS RESPECTIVE RIGHTS TO A JURY TRIAL OF ANY CLAIM OR CAUSE OF ACTION BASED UPON OR ARISING HEREUNDER OR UNDER ANY OF THE OTHER CREDIT DOCUMENTS OR ANY DEALINGS BETWEEN THEM RELATING TO THE SUBJECT MATTER OF THIS LOAN TRANSACTION OR THE LENDER/COMPANY RELATIONSHIP THAT IS BEING ESTABLISHED. THE SCOPE OF THIS WAIVER IS INTENDED TO BE ALL-ENCOMPASSING OF ANY AND ALL DISPUTES THAT MAY BE

 

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FILED IN ANY COURT AND THAT RELATE TO THE SUBJECT MATTER OF THIS TRANSACTION, INCLUDING CONTRACT CLAIMS, TORT CLAIMS, BREACH OF DUTY CLAIMS AND ALL OTHER COMMON LAW AND STATUTORY CLAIMS. EACH PARTY HERETO ACKNOWLEDGES THAT THIS WAIVER IS A MATERIAL INDUCEMENT TO ENTER INTO A BUSINESS RELATIONSHIP, THAT EACH HAS ALREADY RELIED ON THIS WAIVER IN ENTERING INTO THIS AGREEMENT, AND THAT EACH WILL CONTINUE TO RELY ON THIS WAIVER IN ITS RELATED FUTURE DEALINGS. EACH PARTY HERETO FURTHER WARRANTS AND REPRESENTS THAT IT HAS REVIEWED THIS WAIVER WITH ITS LEGAL COUNSEL AND THAT IT KNOWINGLY AND VOLUNTARILY WAIVES ITS JURY TRIAL RIGHTS FOLLOWING CONSULTATION WITH LEGAL COUNSEL. THIS WAIVER IS IRREVOCABLE, MEANING THAT IT MAY NOT BE MODIFIED EITHER ORALLY OR IN WRITING (OTHER THAN BY A MUTUAL WRITTEN WAIVER SPECIFICALLY REFERRING TO THIS SECTION 10.16 AND EXECUTED BY EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO), AND THIS WAIVER SHALL APPLY TO ANY SUBSEQUENT AMENDMENTS, RENEWALS, SUPPLEMENTS OR MODIFICATIONS HERETO OR ANY OF THE OTHER CREDIT DOCUMENTS OR TO ANY OTHER DOCUMENTS OR AGREEMENTS RELATING TO THE LOANS MADE HEREUNDER. IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, THIS AGREEMENT MAY BE FILED AS A WRITTEN CONSENT TO A TRIAL BY THE COURT.

10.17 Confidentiality.

Each Lender shall hold all non-public information regarding Company and its Subsidiaries and their businesses identified as such by Company and obtained by such Lender pursuant to the requirements hereof in accordance with such Lender’s customary procedures for handling confidential information of such nature, it being understood and agreed by Company that, in any event, a Lender may make (i) disclosures of such information to Affiliates of such Lender and to their agents and advisors (and to other persons authorized by a Lender or Agent to organize, present or disseminate such information in connection with disclosures otherwise made in accordance with this Section 10.17), (ii) disclosures of such information reasonably required by any bona fide or potential assignee, transferee or participant in connection with the contemplated assignment, transfer or participation by such Lender of any Loans or any participations therein, (iii) disclosure to any rating agency when required by it, provided that, prior to any disclosure, such rating agency shall undertake in writing to preserve the confidentiality of any confidential information relating to the Credit Parties received by it from any of the Agents or any Lender, and (iv) disclosures required or requested by any governmental agency or representative thereof or by the NAIC or pursuant to legal or judicial process; provided, unless specifically prohibited by applicable law or court order, each Lender shall make reasonable efforts to notify Company of any request by any governmental agency or representative thereof (other than any such request in connection with any examination of the financial condition or other routine examination of such Lender by such governmental agency) for disclosure of any such non-public information prior to disclosure of such information. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth herein, each party (and each of their respective employees, representatives or other agents) may disclose to any and all persons, without limitations of any kind, the tax treatment and tax structure of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and all materials of any kind (including opinions and other tax analyses) that are provided to any such party relating to such tax treatment and tax structure. However, any information relating to the tax

 

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treatment or tax structure shall remain subject to the confidentiality provisions hereof (and the foregoing sentence shall not apply) to the extent reasonably necessary to enable the parties hereto, their respective Affiliates, and their and their respective Affiliates’ directors and employees to comply with applicable securities laws. For this purpose, “tax structure” means any facts relevant to the federal income tax treatment of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement but does not include information relating to the identity of any of the parties hereto or any of their respective Affiliates.

10.18 Usury Savings Clause.

Notwithstanding any other provision herein, the aggregate interest rate charged with respect to any of the Obligations, including all charges or fees in connection therewith deemed in the nature of interest under applicable law shall not exceed the Highest Lawful Rate. If the rate of interest (determined without regard to the preceding sentence) under this Agreement at any time exceeds the Highest Lawful Rate, the outstanding amount of the Loans made hereunder shall bear interest at the Highest Lawful Rate until the total amount of interest due hereunder equals the amount of interest which would have been due hereunder if the stated rates of interest set forth in this Agreement had at all times been in effect. In addition, if when the Loans made hereunder are repaid in full the total interest due hereunder (taking into account the increase provided for above) is less than the total amount of interest which would have been due hereunder if the stated rates of interest set forth in this Agreement had at all times been in effect, then to the extent permitted by law, Company shall pay to Administrative Agent an amount equal to the difference between the amount of interest paid and the amount of interest which would have been paid if the Highest Lawful Rate had at all times been in effect. Notwithstanding the foregoing, it is the intention of Lenders and Company to conform strictly to any applicable usury laws. Accordingly, if any Lender contracts for, charges, or receives any consideration which constitutes interest in excess of the Highest Lawful Rate, then any such excess shall be cancelled automatically and, if previously paid, shall at such Lender’s option be applied to the outstanding amount of the Loans made hereunder or be refunded to Company.

10.19 Counterparts.

This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which when so executed and delivered shall be deemed an original, but all such counterparts together shall constitute but one and the same instrument.

10.20 Effectiveness.

This Agreement shall become effective upon the execution of a counterpart hereof by each of the parties hereto and receipt by Company and Administrative Agent of written or telephonic notification of such execution and authorization of delivery thereof.

 

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10.21 Patriot Act. Each Lender and Administrative Agent (for itself and not on behalf of any Lender) hereby notifies Company that pursuant to the requirements of the Act, it is required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies Company, which information includes the name and address of Company and other information that will allow such Lender or Administrative Agent, as applicable, to identify Company in accordance with the Act and Company agrees to provide each Lender and Administrative Agent with all such information.

10.22 Electronic Execution of Assignments.

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

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

 

SolarWinds.Net, LLC
By:   /s/    DAVID YONCE
Name:   David Yonce
Title:   President
SolarWinds.Net, Inc.
By:   /s/    DAVID YONCE
Name:   David Yonce
Title:   President


GoldenTree Asset Management, L.P., as Lead Arranger and as Syndication Agent
By: GoldenTree Asset Management, LP
By:   /s/    JONATHAN EZROW
Name:   Jonathan Ezrow
Title:   Portfolio Manager

The Bank of New York, as Administrative Agent

and Collateral Agent

By:   /s/    MERVYN YAN
Name:   Mervyn Yan
Title:   Assistant Treasurer
GoldenTree Capital Solutions Fund Financing, as Lender
By: GoldenTree Asset Management, LP
By:   /s/    JONATHAN EZROW
Name:   Jonathan Ezrow
Title:   Portfolio Manager
GoldenTree Capital Opportunities, LP, as Lender
By: GoldenTree Asset Management, LP
By:   /s/    JONATHAN EZROW
Name:   Jonathan Ezrow
Title:   Portfolio Manager
GoldenTree Capital Solutions Offshore Fund Financing, as Lender
By: GoldenTree Asset Management, LP
By:   /s/    JONATHAN EZROW
Name:   Jonathan Ezrow
Title:   Portfolio Manager
GoldenTree 2004 Trust, as Lender
By: GoldenTree Asset Management, LP
By:   /s/    JONATHAN EZROW
Name:   Jonathan Ezrow
Title:   Portfolio Manager


 

GoldenTree Credit Opportunities Financing I, Ltd., as Lender
By: GoldenTree Asset Management, LP
By:   /s/    JONATHAN EZROW
Name:   Jonathan Ezrow
Title:   Portfolio Manager
GoldenTree Credit Opportunities Financing II, Ltd., as Lender
By: GoldenTree Asset Management, LP
By:   /s/    JONATHAN EZROW
Name:   Jonathan Ezrow
Title:   Portfolio Manager


Appendix A

Commitment Schedule

 

GoldenTree 2004 Trust    33,743,824.68
GoldenTree Credit Opportunities Financing I, Ltd.    22,680,930.57
GoldenTree Credit Opportunities Financing II, Ltd.    4,147,273.02
GoldenTree Capital Opportunities, LP    5,261,955.46
GoldenTree Capital Solutions Fund Financing    8,294,765.09
GoldenTree Capital Solutions Offshore Fund Financing    10,871,251.18

TOTAL

   85,000,000.00


Appendix B

The Bank of New York

101 Barclay Street - 8 East

New York, NY 10286

 

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