EX-10.1 2 d310711dex101.htm EX-10.1 EX-10.1

Exhibit 10.1

Execution Version

 

 

 

CREDIT AGREEMENT

dated as of

February 7, 2022,

among

SMART GLOBAL HOLDINGS, INC.,

as the Parent Borrower,

SMART MODULAR TECHNOLOGIES, INC.,

as Co-Borrower,

The Lenders Party Hereto

and

CITIZENS BANK, N.A.,

as Administrative Agent, Collateral Agent and an Issuing Bank

 

 

CITIZENS BANK, N.A.,

FIFTH THIRD BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

and

SANTANDER BANK, N.A.,

as Lead Arrangers and Joint Bookrunners,

FIFTH THIRD BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

and

SANTANDER BANK, N.A.,

as Co-Syndication Agents

and

BANK OF THE WEST,

CAPITAL ONE, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,

CITY NATIONAL BANK,

KEYBANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,

PEOPLE’S UNITED BANK,

SILICON VALLEY BANK,

WELLS FARGO BANK N.A.,

PNC BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

and

SUMITOMO MITSUI BANKING CORPORATION

as Co-Documentation Agents

 

 

 


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

         Page  
ARTICLE I  
DEFINITIONS  

SECTION 1.01

  Defined Terms      1  

SECTION 1.02

  Classification of Loans and Borrowings      64  

SECTION 1.03

  Terms Generally      64  

SECTION 1.04

  Accounting Terms; GAAP; Certain Calculations      64  

SECTION 1.05

  Certain Calculations and Tests      65  

SECTION 1.06

  Effectuation of Transactions      66  

SECTION 1.07

  Currency Translation; Rates      66  

SECTION 1.08

  Cashless Rollovers      67  

SECTION 1.09

  Limited Condition Transactions.      67  

SECTION 1.10

  Letter of Credit Amounts      68  

SECTION 1.11

  Times of Day; Timing of Performance      68  

SECTION 1.12

  Additional Alternative Currencies      68  

SECTION 1.13

  Compliance with Certain Sections      69  
ARTICLE II  
THE CREDITS  

SECTION 2.01

  Commitments      69  

SECTION 2.02

  Loans and Borrowings      69  

SECTION 2.03

  Requests for Borrowings      70  

SECTION 2.04

  Swingline Loans      71  

SECTION 2.05

  Letters of Credit      72  

SECTION 2.06

  Funding of Borrowings      78  

SECTION 2.07

  Interest Elections      79  

SECTION 2.08

  Termination and Reduction of Commitments      80  

SECTION 2.09

  Repayment of Loans; Evidence of Debt      80  

SECTION 2.10

  Amortization of Term Loans      81  

SECTION 2.11

  Prepayment of Loans      81  

SECTION 2.12

  Fees      89  

SECTION 2.13

  Interest      90  

SECTION 2.14

  Benchmark Replacement Setting      90  

SECTION 2.15

  Increased Costs      92  

SECTION 2.16

  Compensation for Losses      93  

SECTION 2.17

  Taxes      94  

SECTION 2.18

  Payments Generally; Pro Rata Treatment; Sharing of Setoffs      96  

SECTION 2.19

  Mitigation Obligations; Replacement of Lenders      98  

SECTION 2.20

  Incremental Credit Extension      98  

SECTION 2.21

  Refinancing Amendments      101  

SECTION 2.22

  Defaulting Lenders      102  

SECTION 2.23

  Illegality      103  

SECTION 2.24

  Loan Modification Offers      103  

SECTION 2.25

  Borrower Appointment      104  

 

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         Page  
ARTICLE III  
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES  

SECTION 3.01

  Organization; Powers      105  

SECTION 3.02

  Authorization; Enforceability      105  

SECTION 3.03

  Governmental Approvals; No Conflicts      105  

SECTION 3.04

  Financial Condition; No Material Adverse Effect      105  

SECTION 3.05

  Properties      105  

SECTION 3.06

  Litigation and Environmental Matters      106  

SECTION 3.07

  Compliance with Laws and Agreements      106  

SECTION 3.08

  Investment Company Status      106  

SECTION 3.09

  Taxes      106  

SECTION 3.10

  ERISA      106  

SECTION 3.11

  Disclosure      107  

SECTION 3.12

  Subsidiaries      107  

SECTION 3.13

  Intellectual Property; Licenses, Etc.      107  

SECTION 3.14

  Solvency      107  

SECTION 3.15

  [Reserved]      107  

SECTION 3.16

  Federal Reserve Regulations      107  

SECTION 3.17

  Use of Proceeds      107  

SECTION 3.18

  USA PATRIOT Act, Sanctions and Anti-Corruption      107  
ARTICLE IV  
CONDITIONS  

SECTION 4.01

  Effective Date      108  

SECTION 4.02

  Each Credit Event      110  
ARTICLE V  
AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS  

SECTION 5.01

  Financial Statements and Other Information      110  

SECTION 5.02

  Notices of Material Events      112  

SECTION 5.03

  Information Regarding Collateral      113  

SECTION 5.04

  Existence; Conduct of Business      113  

SECTION 5.05

  Payment of Taxes, Etc.      113  

SECTION 5.06

  Maintenance of Properties      113  

SECTION 5.07

  Insurance      113  

SECTION 5.08

  Books and Records; Inspection and Audit Rights      113  

SECTION 5.09

  Compliance with Laws      114  

SECTION 5.10

  Use of Proceeds and Letters of Credit      114  

SECTION 5.11

  Additional Subsidiaries      114  

SECTION 5.12

  Further Assurances      114  

SECTION 5.13

  Ratings      115  

SECTION 5.14

  Designation of Subsidiaries      115  

SECTION 5.15

  Change in Business      115  

SECTION 5.16

  Certain Post-Closing Obligations      115  

SECTION 5.17

  Changes in Fiscal Periods      115  

SECTION 5.18

  Anti-Money Laundering Laws; Anti-Corruption Laws; Sanctions      115  

 

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         Page  
ARTICLE VI  
NEGATIVE COVENANTS  

SECTION 6.01

  Indebtedness; Certain Equity Securities      116  

SECTION 6.02

  Liens      120  

SECTION 6.03

  Fundamental Changes      123  

SECTION 6.04

  Investments, Loans, Advances, Guarantees and Acquisitions      124  

SECTION 6.05

  Asset Sales      126  

SECTION 6.06

  [Reserved]      128  

SECTION 6.07

  Negative Pledge      128  

SECTION 6.08

  Restricted Payments; Certain Payments of Indebtedness      129  

SECTION 6.09

  Transactions with Affiliates      134  

SECTION 6.10

  Financial Covenants      135  
ARTICLE VII  
EVENTS OF DEFAULT  

SECTION 7.01

  Events of Default      136  

SECTION 7.02

  Right to Cure      138  

SECTION 7.03

  Application of Proceeds      139  
ARTICLE VIII  
THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT AND COLLATERAL AGENT  

SECTION 8.01

  Appointment and Authority      139  

SECTION 8.02

  Rights as a Lender      140  

SECTION 8.03

  Exculpatory Provisions      140  

SECTION 8.04

  Reliance by Administrative Agent      140  

SECTION 8.05

  Delegation of Duties      141  

SECTION 8.06

  Resignation of Administrative Agent      141  

SECTION 8.07

  Non-Reliance on the Administrative Agent and Other Lenders      142  

SECTION 8.08

  No Other Duties, Etc      142  

SECTION 8.09

  Administrative Agent May File Proofs of Claim      142  

SECTION 8.10

  No Waiver; Cumulative Remedies; Enforcement      143  

SECTION 8.11

  Erroneous Payments      143  

SECTION 8.12

  Collateral Matters      145  

SECTION 8.13

  Withholding Taxes      145  
ARTICLE IX  
MISCELLANEOUS  

SECTION 9.01

  Notices      146  

SECTION 9.02

  Waivers; Amendments      148  

SECTION 9.03

  Expenses; Indemnity; Damage Waiver      152  

SECTION 9.04

  Successors and Assigns      154  

SECTION 9.05

  Survival      160  

SECTION 9.06

  Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness      160  

SECTION 9.07

  Severability      160  

SECTION 9.08

  Right of Setoff      160  

SECTION 9.09

  Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Consent to Service of Process      161  

SECTION 9.10

  WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL      162  

 

-iii-


         Page  

SECTION 9.11

  Headings      162  

SECTION 9.12

  Confidentiality      162  

SECTION 9.13

  USA Patriot Act      163  

SECTION 9.14

  Judgment Currency      163  

SECTION 9.15

  Release of Liens and Guarantees      163  

SECTION 9.16

  Interest Rate Limitation      164  

SECTION 9.17

  Acknowledgement and Consent to Bail-In of Affected Financial Institutions      164  

SECTION 9.18

  Certain ERISA Matters      165  

SECTION 9.19

  No Fiduciary Relationship      165  

SECTION 9.20

  Obligation Joint and Several      166  

SECTION 9.21

  Electronic Execution of Assignments and Certain Other Documents      166  

SECTION 9.22

  Acknowledgement Regarding Any Supported QFCs      167  

 

-iv-


SCHEDULES:

     

Schedule 1.01(a)

      Excluded Subsidiaries

Schedule 2.01(a)

      Term Commitments

Schedule 2.01(b)

      Revolving Commitments; Letter of Credit Commitments

Schedule 3.12

      Subsidiaries

Schedule 5.16

      Certain Post-Closing Obligations

Schedule 6.01

      Existing Indebtedness

Schedule 6.02

      Existing Liens

Schedule 6.04(f)

      Existing Investments

Schedule 6.07

      Existing Restrictions

Schedule 6.09

      Existing Transactions with Affiliates

EXHIBITS:

     

Exhibit A

      Form of Assignment and Assumption

Exhibit B

      Form of Affiliated Lender Assignment and Assumption

Exhibit C

      Form of Guarantee Agreement

Exhibit D

      Form of Collateral Agreement

Exhibit E

      Form of First Lien Intercreditor Agreement

Exhibit F

      Form of Second Lien Intercreditor Agreement

Exhibit G

      Form of Closing Certificate

Exhibit H

      [Reserved]

Exhibit I

      Form of Specified Discount Prepayment Notice

Exhibit J

      Form of Specified Discount Prepayment Response

Exhibit K

      Form of Discount Range Prepayment Notice

Exhibit L

      Form of Discount Range Prepayment Offer

Exhibit M

      Form of Solicited Discounted Prepayment Notice

Exhibit N

      Form of Solicited Discounted Prepayment Offer

Exhibit O

      Form of Acceptance and Prepayment Notice

Exhibit P-1

      Form of U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate (For Non-U.S. Lenders That Are Not Partnerships For U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes)

Exhibit P-2

      Form of U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate (For Non-U.S. Lenders That Are Partnerships For U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes)

Exhibit P-3

      Form of U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate (For Non-U.S. Participants That Are Not Partnerships For U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes)

Exhibit P-4

      Form of U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate (For Non-U.S. Participants That Are Partnerships For U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes)

Exhibit Q

      Form of Borrowing Request

Exhibit R

      Form of Interest Election Request

Exhibit S

      Form of Notice of Loan Prepayment

 

 

-v-


CREDIT AGREEMENT, dated as of February 7, 2022 (this “Agreement”), among SMART GLOBAL HOLDINGS, INC., a Cayman Islands exempted company (the “Parent Borrower”), SMART MODULAR TECHNOLOGIES, INC., a California corporation (the “Co-Borrower” and, together with the Parent Borrower, the “Borrowers” and each a “Borrower”), the LENDERS from time to time party hereto, and Citizens Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent, Collateral Agent and an Issuing Bank.

WHEREAS, the Borrowers have requested (a) the Term Lenders to extend Term Loans, which, on the Effective Date shall be in an aggregate principal amount of $275,000,000, (b) the Revolving Lenders to provide Revolving Loans, subject to the Revolving Commitment, which, on the Effective Date shall be in an aggregate principal amount of $250,000,000, to the applicable Borrower at any time during the Revolving Availability Period, and (c) the Issuing Banks to issue Letters of Credit at any time during the Revolving Availability Period, in an aggregate face amount at any time outstanding not in excess of $35,000,000;

NOW THEREFORE, the parties hereto agree as follows:

ARTICLE I

DEFINITIONS

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

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

Acceptable Discount” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.11(a)(ii)(D).

Acceptable Prepayment Amount” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.11(a)(ii)(D).

Acceptance and Prepayment Notice” means an irrevocable written notice from a Term Lender accepting a Solicited Discounted Prepayment Offer to make a Discounted Term Loan Prepayment at the Acceptable Discount specified therein pursuant to Section 2.11(a)(ii)(D) substantially in the form of Exhibit O.

Acceptance Date” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.11(a)(ii)(D).

Accepting Lenders” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.24(a).

Accounting Changes” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 1.04(d).

Accrued Expenses” has the meaning assigned to such term in the definition of “Excess Cash Flow.”

Acquired EBITDA” means, with respect to any Pro Forma Entity for any period, the amount for such period of Consolidated EBITDA of such Pro Forma Entity (determined as if references to the Parent Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries in the definition of the term “Consolidated EBITDA” were references to such Pro Forma Entity and its Subsidiaries which will become Restricted Subsidiaries), all as determined on a consolidated basis for such Pro Forma Entity.

Acquired Entity or Business” has the meaning assigned to such term in the definition of “Consolidated EBITDA.”

Acquisition Transaction” means any Investment by any Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary in a Person if (a) as a result of such Investment, (i) such Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary or (ii) such Person, in one transaction or a series of related transactions, is merged, consolidated, or amalgamated with or into, or transfers or conveys substantially all of its assets (or all or substantially all the assets constituting a business unit, division, product line or line of business) to, or is liquidated into, the Parent Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary and (b) after giving effect to such Investment, the Parent Borrower is in compliance with Section 5.15, and, in each case, any Investment held by such Person.


Additional Lender” means any Additional Revolving Lender or any Additional Term Lender, as applicable.

Additional Revolving Lender” means, at any time, any bank or other financial institution or other Person (other than a natural Person) that agrees to provide any portion of any (a) Incremental Revolving Commitment Increase pursuant to an Incremental Facility Amendment in accordance with Section 2.20 or (b) Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness pursuant to a Refinancing Amendment in accordance with Section 2.21; provided that each Additional Revolving Lender shall be subject to the approval of the Administrative Agent, the Parent Borrower and, if such Additional Revolving Lender is not a Revolving Lender or an Affiliate or Approved Fund of a Revolving Lender, each Issuing Bank and the Swingline Lender (such approval in each case not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed).

Additional Term Lender” means, at any time, any bank or other financial institution or other Person (including any such bank or financial institution or Person that is a Lender at such time, but excluding any natural Person) that agrees to provide any portion of any (a) Incremental Term Loan pursuant to an Incremental Facility Amendment in accordance with Section 2.20 or (b) Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness pursuant to a Refinancing Amendment in accordance with Section 2.21; provided that each Additional Term Lender (other than any Person that is a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund of a Lender at such time or an Affiliated Lender or Affiliated Debt Fund) shall be subject to the approval of the Administrative Agent (such approval not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) and the Parent Borrower.

Administrative Agent” means Citizens Bank, N.A., in its capacity as administrative agent hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, and its successors in such capacity as provided in Article VIII.

Administrative Agent’s Office” means the Administrative Agent’s address and, as appropriate, account as set forth in Section 9.02, or such other address or account as the Administrative Agent may from time to time notify to the Parent Borrower and the Lenders.

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

Affected Class” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.24(a).

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

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

Affiliated Debt Fund” means an Affiliated Lender that is a bona fide debt fund primarily engaged in, or that advises funds or other investment vehicles that are engaged in, making, purchasing, holding or otherwise investing in commercial loans, bonds or similar extensions of credit or securities in the ordinary course.

Affiliated Lender” means, at any time, any Lender that is an Affiliate of Parent Borrower (other than Parent Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries) at such time.

Affiliated Lender Assignment and Assumption” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.04(g)(5).

Affiliated Lender Cap” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.04(g)(4).

 

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Agent” means the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent, each Lead Arranger, each Joint Bookrunner and any successors and assigns in such capacity, and “Agents” means two or more of them.

Agent Parties” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.01.

Agreed Currencies” means dollars and each Alternative Currency.

Agreement” has the meaning provided in the preamble hereto.

Agreement Currency” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.14(b).

Alternate Base Rate” means, for any day, a rate per annum equal to the greatest of (a) the Prime Rate in effect on such day, (b) the NYFRB Rate in effect on such day plus 0.50% per annum and (c) Term SOFR in effect on such day for a one-month Interest Period plus 1.00% per annum, provided that the Alternate Base Rate shall at no time be less than the Floor. If the Administrative Agent shall have determined (which determination shall be conclusive absent clearly manifest error) that it is unable to ascertain the NYFRB Rate or Term SOFR for any reason, including the inability or failure of the Administrative Agent to obtain sufficient quotations in accordance with the terms of the definition of the term NYFRB Rate, the Alternate Base Rate shall be determined without regard to clause (b) or (c), as applicable, of the preceding sentence until the circumstances giving rise to such inability no longer exist. Any change in the Alternate Base Rate due to a change in the Prime Rate, the NYFRB Rate or Term SOFR, as applicable, shall be effective from and including the effective date of such change in the Prime Rate, the NYFRB Rate or Term SOFR, as applicable, respectively. In no event shall the Alternate Base Rate be less than 1% at any time.

Alternative Currency” means each currency (other than dollars) that is approved in accordance with Section 1.12; provided that, for each Alternative Currency, such requested currency is an Eligible Currency.

Anti-Corruption Laws” means the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder, the UK Bribery Act and any other applicable laws and regulations from time to time concerning or relating to bribery or corruption

Applicable Account” means, with respect to any payment to be made to the Administrative Agent hereunder, the account specified by the Administrative Agent from time to time for the purpose of receiving payments of such type.

Applicable Creditor” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.14(b).

Applicable Discount” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.11(a)(ii)(C).

Applicable Fronting Exposure” means, with respect to any Person that is an Issuing Bank or the Swingline Lender at any time, the sum of (a) the Dollar Equivalent of the aggregate amount of all Letters of Credit issued by such Person in its capacity as an Issuing Bank (if applicable) that remains available for drawing at such time, (b) the Dollar Equivalent of the aggregate amount of all LC Disbursements made by such Person in its capacity as an Issuing Bank (if applicable) that have not yet been reimbursed by or on behalf of the applicable Borrower at such time and (c) the aggregate principal amount of all Swingline Loans made by such Person in its capacity as a Swingline Lender (if applicable) outstanding at such time.

Applicable Percentage” means, at any time with respect to any Revolving Lender, the percentage (carried out to the ninth decimal place) of the aggregate Revolving Commitments represented by such Lender’s Revolving Commitment at such time. If the Revolving Commitments have terminated or expired, the Applicable Percentages shall be determined based upon the Revolving Commitments most recently in effect, giving effect to any assignments pursuant to this Agreement and to any Lender’s status as a Defaulting Lender at the time of determination.

 

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Applicable Commitment Fee Rate” means, initially, 0.25%; provided that, from and after the delivery of the financial statements and related Compliance Certificate for the first full fiscal quarter of the Parent Borrower completed after the Effective Date pursuant to Section 5.01, the Applicable Commitment Fee Rate shall be based on the Total Leverage Ratio set forth in the most recent Compliance Certificate in accordance with the commitment fee grid below:

 

Level

   Total Leverage Ratio    Commitment Fee  

1

   > 4.50 to 1.00      0.350

2

   < 4.50 to 1.00 but > 3.75 to 1.00      0.325

3

   < 3.75 to 1.00 but > 3.25 to 1.00      0.300

4

   < 3.25 to 1.00 but > 2.50 to 1.00      0.275

5

   < 2.50 to 1.00 but > 1.75 to 1.00      0.250

6

   < 1.75 to 1.00 but > 1.25 to 1.00      0.250

7

   < 1.25 to 1.00      0.250

Any increase or decrease in the Applicable Commitment Fee Rate resulting from a change in the Total Leverage Ratio shall become effective as of the first Business Day immediately following the date a Compliance Certificate is delivered pursuant to Section 5.01; provided that, at the option of the Administrative Agent (at the direction of the Required Lenders and upon notice to the Parent Borrower of such determination), the highest commitment fee level shall apply as of the first Business Day after the date on which a Compliance Certificate was required to have been delivered but was not delivered, and shall continue to so apply to and including the date immediately prior to the date on which such Compliance Certificate is so delivered (and thereafter the commitment fee level otherwise determined in accordance with this definition shall apply). Upon the request of the Administrative Agent or Required Lenders, as applicable, on and after receipt of a notice that an Event of Default under Section 7.01(a) or (b) has occurred, the highest commitment fee level shall apply as of the date of such Event of Default (as reasonably determined by the Parent Borrower) and shall continue to so apply to but excluding the date on which such Event of Default shall cease to be continuing (and thereafter, in each case, the commitment fee level otherwise determined in accordance with this definition shall apply).

In the event that any financial statements under Section 5.01 or a Compliance Certificate is shown to be inaccurate at any time and such inaccuracy, if corrected, would have led to a higher Applicable Commitment Fee Rate for any period (an “Applicable Period”) than the Applicable Commitment Fee Rate applied for such Applicable Period, then (i) the Parent Borrower shall promptly (and in no event later than five (5) Business Days thereafter) deliver to the Administrative Agent a correct Compliance Certificate for such Applicable Period, (ii) the Applicable Commitment Fee Rate shall be determined by reference to the corrected Compliance Certificate, and (iii) the Parent Borrower shall pay to the Administrative Agent promptly upon written demand (and in no event later than five (5) Business Days after written demand) any additional interest owing as a result of such increased Applicable Commitment Fee Rate for such Applicable Period, which payment shall be promptly applied by the Administrative Agent in accordance with the terms hereof. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, any additional interest hereunder shall not be due and payable until written demand is made for such payment pursuant to this paragraph and accordingly, any nonpayment of such interest as a result of any such inaccuracy shall not constitute a Default (whether retroactively or otherwise), and no such amounts shall be deemed overdue (and no amounts shall accrue default interest pursuant to Section 2.13(c)), at any time prior to the date that is five (5) Business Days following such written demand. It is acknowledged and agreed that nothing in this definition will limit the rights of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders under the Loan Documents, including Article VII herein.

 

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Applicable Rate” means, for any day, (a) with respect to any Term Loan (1) 1.00% per annum, in the case of an ABR Loan, or (2) 2.00% per annum, in the case of a Term SOFR Loan and (b) with respect to any Revolving Loan (1) 1.00% per annum, in the case of an ABR Loan, or (2) 2.00% per annum, in the case of a Term SOFR Loan; provided that, from and after the delivery of the financial statements and related Compliance Certificate for the first full fiscal quarter of the Parent Borrower completed after the Effective Date pursuant to Section 5.01, the Applicable Rate shall be based on the Total Leverage Ratio set forth in the most recent Compliance Certificate in accordance with the pricing grid below:

 

Level

   Total Leverage Ratio    ABR Revolving Loan
Applicable Rate
    Term SOFR Revolving Loan
Applicable Rate
 

1

   > 4.50 to 1.00      2.00     3.00

2

   < 4.50 to 1.00 but > 3.75 to
1.00
     1.75     2.75

3

   < 3.75 to 1.00 but > 3.25 to
1.00
     1.50     2.50

4

   < 3.25 to 1.00 but > 2.50 to
1.00
     1.25     2.25

5

   < 2.50 to 1.00 but > 1.75 to
1.00
     1.00     2.00

6

   < 1.75 to 1.00 but > 1.25 to
1.00
     0.75     1.75

7

   < 1.25 to 1.00      0.25     1.25

Any increase or decrease in the Applicable Rate resulting from a change in the Total Leverage Ratio shall become effective as of the first Business Day immediately following the date a Compliance Certificate is delivered pursuant to Section 5.01; provided that, at the option of the Administrative Agent (at the direction of the Required Lenders and upon notice to the Parent Borrower of such determination), the highest pricing level shall apply as of the first Business Day after the date on which a Compliance Certificate was required to have been delivered but was not delivered, and shall continue to so apply to and including the date immediately prior to the date on which such Compliance Certificate is so delivered (and thereafter the pricing level otherwise determined in accordance with this definition shall apply). Upon the request of the Administrative Agent or Required Lenders, as applicable, on and after receipt of a notice that an Event of Default under Section 7.01(a) or (b) has occurred, the highest pricing level shall apply as of the date of such Event of Default (as reasonably determined by the Parent Borrower) and shall continue to so apply to but excluding the date on which such Event of Default shall cease to be continuing (and thereafter, in each case, the pricing level otherwise determined in accordance with this definition shall apply).

In the event that any financial statements under Section 5.01 or a Compliance Certificate is shown to be inaccurate at any time and such inaccuracy, if corrected, would have led to a higher Applicable Rate for any period (an “Applicable Period”) than the Applicable Rate applied for such Applicable Period, then (i) the Parent Borrower shall promptly (and in no event later than five (5) Business Days thereafter) deliver to the Administrative Agent a correct Compliance Certificate for such Applicable Period, (ii) the Applicable Rate shall be determined by reference to the corrected Compliance Certificate, and (iii) the Parent Borrower shall pay to the Administrative Agent promptly upon written demand (and in no event later than five (5) Business Days after written demand) any additional interest owing as a result of such increased Applicable Rate for such Applicable Period, which payment shall be promptly applied by the Administrative Agent in accordance with the terms hereof. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, any additional interest hereunder shall not be due and payable until written demand is made for such payment pursuant to this paragraph and accordingly, any nonpayment of such interest as a result of any such inaccuracy shall not constitute a Default (whether retroactively or otherwise), and no such amounts shall be deemed overdue (and no amounts shall accrue default interest pursuant to Section 2.13(c)), at any time prior to the date that is five (5) Business Days following such written demand. It is acknowledged and agreed that nothing in this definition will limit the rights of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders under the Loan Documents, including Article VII herein.

 

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Approved Bank” has the meaning assigned to such term in the definition of the term “Permitted Investments.”

Approved Foreign Bank” has the meaning assigned to such term in the definition of the term “Permitted Investments.”

Approved Fund” means any Person (other than a natural person) that is (or will be) engaged in making, purchasing, holding or investing in commercial loans and similar extensions of credit in the ordinary course of its activities and that is administered or managed by (a) a Lender, (b) an Affiliate of a Lender or (c) an entity or an Affiliate of an entity that administers or manages a Lender.

Asset Sale Prepayment Event” has the meaning assigned to such term in clause (a) of the definition of the term “Prepayment Event.”

Assignment and Assumption” means an assignment and assumption entered into by a Lender and an Eligible Assignee (with the consent of any Person whose consent is required by Section 9.04), or as otherwise required to be entered into under the terms of this Agreement, substantially in the form of Exhibit A or any other form reasonably approved by the Administrative Agent.

Auction Agent” means (a) the Administrative Agent or (b) any other financial institution or advisor employed by a Borrower (whether or not an Affiliate of the Administrative Agent) to act as an arranger in connection with any Discounted Term Loan Prepayment pursuant to Section 2.11(a)(ii); provided that the Borrowers shall not designate the Administrative Agent as the Auction Agent without the written consent of the Administrative Agent (it being understood that the Administrative Agent shall be under no obligation to agree to act as the Auction Agent).

Audited Financial Statements” means the audited consolidated balance sheets of the Parent Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries as at the end of, and related statements of income and cash flows of the Parent Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries for, the fiscal years ended August 28, 2020 and August 27, 2021.

Available Amount” means, on any date of determination, a cumulative amount equal to (without duplication):

(a) the greater of (i) $50,000,000 and (ii) 20% of Consolidated EBITDA for the most recently ended Test Period as of such time determined on a Pro Forma Basis (such greater amount, the “Starter Basket”), plus

(b) at the election of the Borrowers, either (x) an amount equal to 50% of Consolidated Net Income for the single period (treated as one accounting period) from the first day of the fiscal quarter of the Parent Borrower commencing after the Effective Date to the end of the most recent Test Period (which amount under this clause (b) shall not be less than zero for such period) or (y) the Cumulative Retained Excess Cash Flow Amount; provided that this clause (b) shall only be included in the calculation of the Available Amount so long as (i) no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and (ii) the Parent Borrower or Restricted Subsidiaries may incur $1 of Indebtedness pursuant to Section 6.01(a)(xix), plus

(c) returns, profits, distributions and similar amounts received in cash or Permitted Investments and the Fair Market Value of any in-kind amounts received by the Parent Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary on Investments made using the Available Amount (not to exceed the amount of such Investments), plus

 

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(d) the Fair Market Value of Investments made using the Available Amount (not to exceed the amount of such Investments) of the Parent Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries in any Unrestricted Subsidiary that has been re-designated as a Restricted Subsidiary or that has been merged or consolidated with or into the Parent Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries, plus

(e) the Net Proceeds of a sale or other Disposition of any Unrestricted Subsidiary (including the issuance or sale of Equity Interests of an Unrestricted Subsidiary) received by the Parent Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary, plus

(f) the aggregate amount of any Retained Declined Proceeds, Retained Asset Sale Proceeds and any Net Proceeds below the amount specified in the definition of “Asset Sale Prepayment Event”, in each case, for the single period beginning with the first fiscal quarter of the Parent Borrower commencing after the Effective Date; plus

(g) to the extent not included in Consolidated Net Income, dividends or other distributions or returns on capital received by the Parent Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary from an Unrestricted Subsidiary to the extent of the Investments made in such Unrestricted Subsidiary using the Available Amount (not to exceed the amount of such Investments).

provided that usage of the Available Amount shall be subject to no Event of Default continuing or resulting therefrom.

Available Amount Reference Period” means, with respect to any date of determination, the period commencing on the Effective Date and ending on the last day of the most recent fiscal year ending thereafter for which financial statements are delivered to the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 5.01(a).

Available Cash” means, as of any date of determination, the sum of the aggregate amount of cash and Permitted Investments of the Parent Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries as of such date that would not be reflected as “restricted” in the combined consolidated balance sheet of the Parent Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries (unless such appearance is related to the Loan Documents (or the Liens created thereunder)) not to exceed $100,000,000 (for the avoidance of doubt, Available Cash shall exclude Cash Collateral pledged in connection with cash collateralized letters of credit).

Available Equity Amount” means a cumulative amount equal to (without duplication):

(a) the Net Proceeds of new public or private issuances of Qualified Equity Interests in the Parent Borrower or any parent of the Parent Borrower which are contributed to (or received by) the Borrowers since the Effective Date to the extent Not Otherwise Applied, plus

(b) capital contributions received by the Parent Borrower after the Effective Date in cash or Permitted Investments (other than in respect of any Disqualified Equity Interest) and the Fair Market Value of any in-kind contributions since the Effective Date to the extent Not Otherwise Applied, plus

(c) the net cash proceeds received by the Parent Borrower or any other Loan Party from Indebtedness and Disqualified Equity Interest issuances issued after the Effective Date and which have been exchanged or converted into Qualified Equity Interests since the Effective Date to the extent Not Otherwise Applied, plus

(d) returns, profits, distributions and similar amounts received in cash or Permitted Investments and the Fair Market Value of any in-kind amounts received by the Borrowers and the Restricted Subsidiaries on Investments made using the Available Equity Amount (not to exceed the amount of such Investments).

 

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Available RP Capacity Amount” means the amount of Restricted Payments and Restricted Debt Payments that may be made at the time of determination pursuant to Sections 6.08(a)(v), (vii) and (xi) and Section 6.08(b)(iv) (in each case without duplication), minus the sum of the amount of the Available RP Capacity Amount utilized by the Parent Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary to (a) make Restricted Payments in reliance on Section 6.08(a)(v), (xii), and/or (xvi)(A), (b) make Investments pursuant to Section 6.04(n), (c) make Restricted Debt Payments pursuant to Section 6.08(b)(iv)(D) and (d) incur Indebtedness pursuant to Section 6.01(a)(xxiv)(A).

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

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

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

Basel III” means, collectively, those certain agreements on capital requirements, a leverage ratio and liquidity standards contained in “Basel III: A Global Regulatory Framework for More Resilient Banks and Banking Systems,” “Basel III: International Framework for Liquidity Risk Measurement, Standards and Monitoring,” and “Guidance for National Authorities Operating the Countercyclical Capital Buffer,” each as published by the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision in December 2010 (as revised from time to time), and as implemented by a Lender’s primary banking regulatory authority.

Benchmark” means, initially, the Term SOFR Reference Rate; provided that if a Benchmark Transition Event and its related Benchmark Replacement Date have occurred with respect to the Term SOFR Reference Rate or the then-current Benchmark, then “Benchmark” means the applicable Benchmark Replacement to the extent that such Benchmark Replacement has replaced such prior benchmark rate pursuant to Section 2.14(a). Any reference to “Benchmark” shall include, as applicable, the published component used in the calculation thereof.

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

(a) Daily Simple SOFR; or

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

provided, that any such Benchmark Replacement shall be administratively feasible as determined by the Administrative Agent in its sole discretion.

 

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

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

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

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

(b) in the case of clause (c) of the definition of “Benchmark Transition Event”, the first date on which such Benchmark (or the published component used in the calculation thereof) has been determined and announced by or on behalf of the administrator of such Benchmark (or such component thereof) or the regulatory supervisor for the administrator of such Benchmark (or such component thereof) to be non-representative; provided that such non-representativeness will be determined by reference to the most recent statement or publication referenced in such clause (c) and even if any Available Tenor of such Benchmark (or such component thereof) continues to be provided on such date.

For the avoidance of doubt, the “Benchmark Replacement Date” will be deemed to have occurred in the case of clause (a) or (b) with respect to any Benchmark upon the occurrence of the applicable event or events set forth therein with respect to all then-current Available Tenors of such Benchmark (or the published component used in the calculation thereof).

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

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

(b) a public statement or publication of information by the regulatory supervisor for the administrator of such Benchmark (or the published component used in the calculation thereof), the Federal Reserve Board, the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, an insolvency official with jurisdiction over the administrator for such Benchmark (or such component), a resolution authority with jurisdiction over the administrator for such Benchmark (or such component) or a court or an entity with similar insolvency or resolution authority over the administrator for such Benchmark (or such component), which states that the administrator of such Benchmark (or such component) has ceased or will cease to provide all Available Tenors of such Benchmark (or such component thereof) permanently or indefinitely; provided that, at the time of such statement or publication, there is no successor administrator that will continue to provide any Available Tenor of such Benchmark (or such component thereof); or

 

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(c) a public statement or publication of information by or on behalf of the administrator of such Benchmark (or the published component used in the calculation thereof) or the regulatory supervisor for the administrator of such Benchmark (or such component thereof) announcing that all Available Tenors of such Benchmark (or such component thereof) are not, or as of a specified future date will not be, representative.

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

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

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

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

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

Board of Directors” means, with respect to any Person, (a) in the case of any corporation, the board of directors of such Person or any committee thereof duly authorized to act on behalf of such board, (b) in the case of any limited liability company, the board of managers, board of directors, manager or managing member of such Person or the functional equivalent of the foregoing, (c) in the case of any partnership, the board of directors, board of managers, manager or managing member of a general partner of such Person or the functional equivalent of the foregoing and (d) in any other case, the functional equivalent of the foregoing. In addition, the term “director” means a director or functional equivalent thereof with respect to the relevant Board of Directors.

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

Borrower” or “Borrowers” has the meaning assigned to such term in the introductory paragraph hereto.

Borrower Materials” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 5.01.

Borrower Offer of Specified Discount Prepayment” means the offer by a Borrower to make a voluntary prepayment of Term Loans at a specified discount to par pursuant to Section 2.11(a)(ii)(B).

Borrower Solicitation of Discount Range Prepayment Offers” means the solicitation by a Borrower of offers for, and the corresponding acceptance by a Term Lender of, a voluntary prepayment of Term Loans at a specified range at a discount to par pursuant to Section 2.11(a)(ii)(C).

Borrower Solicitation of Discounted Prepayment Offers” means the solicitation by a Borrower of offers for, and the subsequent acceptance, if any, by a Term Lender of, a voluntary prepayment of Term Loans at a discount to par pursuant to Section 2.11(a)(ii)(D).

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

 

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Borrowing Minimum” means (a) in the case of a Term SOFR Revolving Borrowing, $5,000,000, (b) in the case of an ABR Revolving Borrowing, $1,000,000 and (c) in the case of a Swingline Loan, $1,000,000.

Borrowing Multiple” means (a) in the case of a Term SOFR Revolving Borrowing, $1,000,000, (b) in the case of an ABR Revolving Borrowing, $500,000 and (c) in the case of a Swingline Loan. $100,000.

Borrowing Request” means a request by a Borrower for a Borrowing in accordance with Section 2.03 and substantially in the form of Exhibit Q or such other form as may be reasonably approved by the Administrative Agent (including any form on an electronic platform or electronic transmission system as shall be approved by the Administrative Agent), appropriately completed and signed by a Responsible Officer of such Borrower.

Business Day” means any day that is not a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks in New York are authorized or required by law to remain closed.

Capital Expenditures” means, for any period, the additions to property, plant and equipment and other capital expenditures of the Parent Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries that are (or should be) set forth in a consolidated statement of cash flows of Parent Borrower for such period prepared in accordance with GAAP, including customer acquisition costs and incentive payments, conversion costs, contract acquisition costs and website development and website content development costs.

Capital Lease Obligation” means an obligation that is a Capitalized Lease; and the amount of Indebtedness represented thereby at any time shall be the amount of the liability in respect thereof that would at that time be required to be capitalized on a balance sheet in accordance with GAAP (for the avoidance of doubt, subject to Section 1.04(g)). It is understood and agreed that Capital Lease Obligations shall be deemed not to include Non-Finance Lease Obligations for purposes of the Loan Documents.

Capitalized Leases” means, as applied to any Person, any lease of any property (whether real, personal or mixed) by that Person as lessee that, in conformity with GAAP (for the avoidance of doubt, subject to Section 1.04(g)), is or is required to be accounted for as a capital lease or finance lease on the balance sheet of that Person.

Capitalized Software Expenditures” means, for any period, the aggregate of all expenditures (whether paid in cash or accrued as liabilities) by the Parent Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries during such period in respect of purchased software or internally developed software and software enhancements that, in conformity with GAAP, are or are required to be reflected as capitalized costs on the consolidated balance sheet of the Parent Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries.

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

Cash Management Obligations” means obligations of the Parent Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary in respect of (a) any overdraft and related liabilities arising from treasury, depository, cash pooling arrangements and cash management or treasury services or any automated clearing house transfers of funds, (b) netting services, employee credit or purchase card programs and similar arrangements, (c) letters of credit and bank guarantees and (d) other services related, ancillary or complementary to the foregoing (including Cash Management Services).

Cash Management Services” has the meaning assigned to such term in the definition of the term “Secured Cash Management Obligations.”

 

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Casualty Event” means any event that gives rise to the receipt by the Parent Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary of any insurance proceeds or condemnation awards in respect of any loss of or damage to any equipment, fixed assets or real property (including any improvements thereon) of the Parent Borrower or any other Loan Party to replace or repair such equipment, fixed assets or real property.

CFC” means a “controlled foreign corporation” within the meaning of Section 957 of the Code.

Change in Control means the acquisition of beneficial ownership by any Person or group, other than the Permitted Holders (or any holding company parent of Parent Borrower owned directly or indirectly by the Permitted Holders), of Equity Interests representing 40% or more of the aggregate votes entitled to vote for the election of directors of Parent Borrower having a majority of the aggregate votes on the Board of Directors of Parent Borrower and the aggregate number of votes for the election of such directors of the Equity Interests beneficially owned by such Person or group is greater than the aggregate number of votes for the election of such directors represented by the Equity Interests beneficially owned by the Permitted Holders, unless the Permitted Holders otherwise have the right (pursuant to contract, proxy or otherwise), directly or indirectly, to designate, nominate or appoint (and do so designate, nominate or appoint) directors of Parent Borrower having a majority of the aggregate votes on the Board of Directors of Parent Borrower.

For purposes of this definition, including other defined terms used herein in connection with this definition and notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this definition or any provision of Section 13d-3 of the Exchange Act, (i) “beneficial ownership” shall be as defined in Rules 13(d)-3 and 13(d)-5 under the Exchange Act as in effect on the date hereof, (ii) the phrase Person or group is within the meaning of Section 13(d) or 14(d) of the Exchange Act, but excluding any employee benefit plan of such Person or group or its subsidiaries and any Person acting in its capacity as trustee, agent or other fiduciary or administrator of any such plan, (iii) if any group includes one or more Permitted Holders, the issued and outstanding Equity Interests of Parent Borrower, directly or indirectly owned by the Permitted Holders that are part of such group shall not be treated as being beneficially owned by such group or any other member of such group for purposes of clause (b) of this definition, (iv) a Person or group shall not be deemed to beneficially own Equity Interests to be acquired by such Person or group pursuant to a stock or asset purchase agreement, merger agreement, option agreement, warrant agreement or similar agreement (or voting or option or similar agreement related thereto) until the consummation of the acquisition of the Equity Interests in connection with the transactions contemplated by such agreement and (v) a Person or group (other than Permitted Holders) will not be deemed to beneficially own the Equity Interests of another Person as a result of its ownership of Equity Interests or other securities of such other Person’s parent (or related contractual rights) unless it owns 50% or more of the total voting power of the Equity Interests entitled to vote for the election of directors of such Person’s parent having a majority of the aggregate votes on the Board of Directors of such Person’s parent.

Change in Law” means (a) the adoption of any rule, regulation, treaty or other law after the date of this Agreement, (b) any change in any rule, regulation, treaty or other law or in the administration, interpretation or application thereof by any Governmental Authority after the date of this Agreement or (c) the making or issuance of any request, guideline or directive (whether or not having the force of law) of any Governmental Authority made or issued after the date of this Agreement; provided that, notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, (i) any requests, rules, guidelines or directives under the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010 or issued in connection therewith and (ii) any requests, rules, guidelines or directives promulgated by the Bank of International Settlements, the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (or any successor or similar authority) or the United States or foreign regulatory authorities, in each case pursuant to Basel III, shall in each case be deemed to be a “Change in Law,” to the extent enacted, adopted, promulgated or issued after the date of this Agreement, but only to the extent such rules, regulations, or published interpretations or directives are applied to the Parent Borrower and its Subsidiaries by the Administrative Agent or any Lender in substantially the same manner as applied to other similarly situated borrowers under comparable syndicated credit facilities, including, without limitation, for purposes of Section 2.15.

Class” when used in reference to (a) any Loan or Borrowing, refers to whether such Loan, or the Loans comprising such Borrowing, are Revolving Loans, Incremental Revolving Loans, Other Revolving Loans, Term Loans, Incremental Term Loans, Other Term Loans or Swingline Loans, (b) any Commitment, refers to whether such Commitment is a Revolving Commitment, Other Revolving Commitment, Term Commitment, commitment in respect of Incremental Term Loans or Other Term Commitment and (c) any Lender, refers to whether such Lender

 

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has a Loan or Commitment with respect to a particular Class of Loans or Commitments. Other Term Commitments, Other Term Loans, Other Revolving Commitments (and the Other Revolving Loans made pursuant thereto), commitments in respect of Incremental Term Loans and Incremental Term Loans that have different terms and conditions shall be construed to be in different Classes.

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

Collateral” means any and all assets, whether real or personal, tangible or intangible, on which Liens are purported to be granted pursuant to the Security Documents as security for the Secured Obligations.

Collateral Agent” has the meaning assigned in the Collateral Agreement.

Collateral Agreement” means the Collateral Agreement among the Parent Borrower, each other Loan Party and the Collateral Agent, substantially in the form of Exhibit D.

Collateral and Guarantee Requirement” means, at any time, the requirement that:

(a) the Administrative Agent shall have received from each Borrower and each Domestic Subsidiary (other than an Excluded Subsidiary) either (x) a counterpart of the Guarantee Agreement duly executed and delivered on behalf of such Person or (y) in the case of any Person that becomes a Loan Party after the Effective Date (including by ceasing to be an Excluded Subsidiary), a supplement to the Guarantee Agreement, in the form specified therein, duly executed and delivered on behalf of such Person and (ii) from the Parent Borrower, the Co-Borrower and each Domestic Subsidiary Loan Party either (x) a counterpart of the Collateral Agreement duly executed and delivered on behalf of such Person or (y) in the case of any Person that becomes a Domestic Subsidiary Loan Party after the Effective Date (including by ceasing to be an Excluded Subsidiary), a supplement to the Collateral Agreement, in the form specified therein, duly executed and delivered on behalf of such Person, in each case under this clause (a) together with, in the case of any such Loan Documents executed and delivered after the Effective Date, documents of the type referred to in Section 4.01(c), and, to the extent reasonably requested by the Collateral Agent, opinions of the type referred to in Section 4.01(b);

(b) all outstanding Equity Interests of the Co-Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries (other than any Equity Interests constituting Excluded Assets) owned by or on behalf of any Loan Party shall have been pledged pursuant to the Collateral Agreement (and the Collateral Agent shall have received certificates or other instruments representing all such Equity Interests (if any), together with undated stock powers or other instruments of transfer with respect thereto endorsed in blank);

(c) if any Indebtedness for borrowed money of the Parent Borrower or any Subsidiary in a principal amount of $15,000,000 or more is owing by such obligor to any Loan Party and such Indebtedness is evidenced by a promissory note, such promissory note shall have been pledged pursuant to the Collateral Agreement (and, to the extent required by the Collateral Agreement, the Collateral Agent shall have received all such promissory notes, together with undated instruments of transfer with respect thereto endorsed in blank); and

(d) all certificates, agreements, documents and instruments, including Uniform Commercial Code financing statements, required by the Security Documents, Requirements of Law and reasonably requested by the Collateral Agent to be filed, delivered, registered or recorded to create the Liens intended to be created by the Security Documents and perfect such Liens to the extent required by, and with the priority required by, the Security Documents and the other provisions of the term “Collateral and Guarantee Requirement,” shall have been filed, registered or recorded or delivered to the Collateral Agent for filing, registration or recording.

Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this definition or anything in this Agreement or any other Loan Document to the contrary, (a) the foregoing provisions of this definition shall not require the creation or perfection of pledges of or security interests in, or the obtaining of title insurance, surveys, legal opinions or other deliverables

 

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with respect to, particular assets of the Loan Parties, or the provision of Guarantees by any Subsidiary, if, and for so long as and to the extent that the Administrative Agent and the Parent Borrower reasonably agree in writing that the cost of creating or perfecting such pledges or security interests in such assets, or obtaining such title insurance, surveys, legal opinions or other deliverables in respect of such assets, or providing such Guarantees (taking into account any adverse Tax consequences to Parent Borrower and its Subsidiaries (including the imposition of withholding or other material Taxes)), shall be excessive in relation to the benefits to be obtained by the Lenders therefrom, (b) Liens required to be granted from time to time pursuant to the term “Collateral and Guarantee Requirement” shall be subject to exceptions and limitations set forth in the Security Documents as in effect on the Effective Date, (c) in no event shall control agreements or other control or similar arrangements be required with respect to deposit accounts, securities accounts, commodities accounts or other assets specifically requiring perfection by control agreements (other than certificated securities), (d) no perfection actions shall be required with respect to Vehicles and other assets subject to certificates of title, (e) no perfection actions shall be required with respect to commercial tort claims with a value less than $15,000,000 individually, and other than the filing of UCC financing statements no perfection shall be required with respect to promissory notes evidencing debt for borrowed money in a principal amount of less than $15,000,000 individually, (f) no landlord lien waivers, estoppels or collateral access letters shall be required, (g) no actions shall be required to perfect a security interest in letter of credit rights (other than the filing of UCC financing statements), (h) no Loan Party shall be required to deliver or obtain any landlord lien waivers, estoppel certificates or collateral access agreements or letters, (i) no Loan Party shall be required to deliver or obtain a mortgage in respect of fee-owned or leased real property, (j) no actions shall be required to enter into any source code escrow arrangement or register any intellectual property, (k) in no event shall the Collateral include any Excluded Assets, (l) with respect to Loan Parties that exist as of the Effective Date, Collateral and Guarantee requirements shall be limited to those required by Section 4.01(f) and Section 5.16 with respect to existing assets and Section 5.12 with respect to any assets acquired after the Effective Date that are not otherwise Excluded Assets, and (m) the foregoing provisions of this definition shall not require the creation or perfection of pledges of or security interests in any assets of, or the provision of Guarantees by, any Foreign Subsidiary. The Collateral Agent may grant extensions of time or waivers for the creation and perfection of security interests in or the obtaining of title insurance, surveys, legal opinions or other deliverables with respect to particular assets or the provision of any Guarantee by any Subsidiary (including extensions beyond the Effective Date or in connection with assets acquired, or Subsidiaries formed or acquired, after the Effective Date) where it determines that such action cannot be accomplished without undue effort or expense by the time or times at which it would otherwise be required to be accomplished by this Agreement or the Security Documents.

Commitment” means (a) with respect to any Lender, its Revolving Commitment, Other Revolving Commitment of any Class, Term Commitment of any Class, commitment in respect of Incremental Term Loans and Other Term Commitment of any Class or any combination thereof (as the context requires) and (b) with respect to any Swingline Lender, its Swingline Commitment.

Commodity Exchange Act” means the Commodity Exchange Act (7 U.S.C. § 1 et seq.), as amended from time to time, and any successor statute.

Compliance Certificate” means a certificate of a Financial Officer required to be delivered pursuant to Section 5.01(d).

Conforming Changes” means, with respect to either the use or administration of the Benchmark, or any Benchmark Replacement, any technical, administrative or operational changes (including, for example and not by way of limitation or prescription, changes to the definition of “Alternate Base Rate,” the definition of “Business Day,” the definition of “Interest Period” or any similar or analogous definition, the definition of “Government Securities Business Day,” timing and frequency of determining rates and making payments of interest, timing of borrowing requests or prepayment, conversion or continuation notices, the applicability and length of lookback periods, the applicability of Section 2.16, and other technical, administrative or operational matters) that the Administrative Agent decides may be appropriate in connection with the use or administration of the Benchmark or to reflect the adoption and implementation of any Benchmark Replacement or to permit the use and administration thereof by the Administrative Agent in a manner substantially consistent with market practice (or, if the Administrative Agent decides that adoption of any portion of such market practice is not administratively feasible or if the Administrative Agent determines that no market practice for the administration of any such rate exists, in such other manner of administration as the Administrative Agent decides is reasonably necessary in connection with the administration of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents).

 

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Consolidated EBITDA” means, for any period, Consolidated Net Income for such period, plus:

(a) without duplication and to the extent already deducted (and not added back) in arriving at such Consolidated Net Income, the sum of the following amounts for such period:

(i) total interest expense and, to the extent not reflected in such total interest expense, any losses on hedging obligations or other derivative instruments entered into for the purpose of hedging interest rate risk, net of interest income and gains on such hedging obligations or such derivative instruments, and bank and letter of credit fees and costs of surety bonds in connection with financing activities, together with items excluded from the definition of “Consolidated Interest Expense” pursuant to clauses (i) through (xiv) thereof,

(ii) provision for taxes based on income, profits, revenue or capital, including federal, foreign, state, local and provincial income, franchise, excise, value added and similar taxes based on income, profits, revenue, gross receipts or capital and foreign withholding taxes paid or accrued during such period (including in respect of repatriated funds) including penalties and interest related to such taxes or arising from any tax examinations and (without duplication) any payments to the Parent Borrower pursuant to Section 6.08(a)(xvi) in respect of taxes,

(iii) depreciation and amortization (including amortization of Capitalized Software Expenditures, customer acquisition costs, conversion costs, contract acquisition costs, internal labor costs, incentive payments and amortization of deferred financing fees and accelerated and other deferred financing costs, OID or other capitalized costs),

(iv) other non-cash charges (other than any accrual in respect of bonuses) (provided, in each case, that if any non-cash charges represent an accrual or reserve for potential cash items in any future period, (A) such Person may elect not to add back such non-cash charges in the current period and (B) to the extent such Person elects to add back such non-cash charges in the current period, the cash payment in respect thereof in such future period shall be subtracted from Consolidated EBITDA to such extent, and excluding amortization of a prepaid cash item that was paid in a prior period),

(v) the amount of any non-controlling interest consisting of income attributable to non-controlling interests of third parties in any non-wholly-owned subsidiary deducted (and not added back in such period to Consolidated Net Income) excluding cash distributions in respect thereof,

(vi) (A) the amount of management, monitoring, consulting, advisory and transaction fees, indemnities and related expenses paid or accrued in such period to (or on behalf of) any other Permitted Holder (or any management company on behalf of any of the foregoing) (including any termination fees payable in connection with the early termination of management and monitoring agreements), (B) the amount of payments made to option, phantom equity or profits interest holders of Parent Borrower or any of its direct or indirect parent companies in connection with, or as a result of, any distribution being made to equityholders of such Person or its direct or indirect parent companies, which payments are being made to compensate such option, phantom equity or profits interest holders as though they were equityholders at the time of, and entitled to share in, such distribution, including any cash consideration for any repurchase of equity, in each case to the extent permitted in the Loan Documents and (C) the amount of fees, expenses and indemnities paid or accrued to directors and all general administrative costs relating to board meetings, including of Parent Borrower or any direct or indirect parent thereof,

 

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(vii) losses or discounts on sales of receivables and related assets in connection with any Permitted Receivables Financing,

(viii) [reserved],

(ix) any costs or expenses incurred by Parent Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary pursuant to any management equity plan or equity option or phantom equity plan or any other management or employee benefit plan or agreement, any long-term incentive plan, any severance agreement or any equity subscription or equityholder agreement, to the extent that such costs or expenses are non-cash or otherwise funded with cash proceeds contributed to the capital of the Parent Borrower or Net Proceeds of an issuance of Equity Interests of Parent Borrower (other than Disqualified Equity Interests),

(x) any net pension or other post-employment benefit costs representing amortization of unrecognized prior service costs, actuarial losses, including amortization of such amounts arising in prior periods, amortization of the unrecognized net obligation (and loss or cost) existing at the date of initial application of FASB Accounting Standards Codification 715, and any other items of a similar nature,

(xi) expenses consisting of internal software development costs that are expensed but could have been capitalized under alternative accounting policies in accordance with GAAP,

(xii) [reserved],

(xiii) other add backs and adjustments reflected in a quality of earnings report provided by a “big four” accounting firm or a nationally recognized accounting firm (or any other accounting firm reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent) with respect to any Permitted Acquisition or other Investment,

(xiv) any expenses reimbursed in cash during such period by non-Affiliate third parties (other than the Parent Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries), and

(xv) revenue of the Parent Borrower and its Subsidiaries arising from the operation of the Work Opportunity Tax Credit legislation (as if such legislation was approved on the first day of the fiscal year to which such revenue relates); provided that the aggregate amount added to Consolidated EBITDA for such period pursuant to this clause (xv) shall not exceed 2.0% of consolidated revenue for the Parent Borrower and its Subsidiaries for such period,

plus

(b) without duplication, the amount of “run rate” cost savings, operating expense reductions, revenue enhancements and synergies (including synergies from new or amended contracts) (collectively, “Run Rate Benefits”) related to the Transactions, any Specified Transaction or any restructuring, cost saving initiative, new contract or other initiative projected by the Parent Borrower in good faith to be realized as a result of actions that have been taken or initiated or are expected to be taken or initiated (in the good faith determination of the Parent Borrower) on or prior to the date that is 18 months after the end of the relevant Test Period (including actions initiated prior to the Effective Date), including any Run Rate Benefits, expenses and charges (including restructuring and integration charges) in connection with, or incurred by or on behalf of, any joint venture of the Parent Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries (whether accounted for on the financial statements of any such joint venture or the Parent Borrower), which Run Rate Benefits shall be added to Consolidated EBITDA until fully realized and calculated on a Pro Forma Basis as though such Run Rate Benefits had been realized on the first day of the relevant period, net of the amount of actual benefits realized from such actions; provided that (A) such Run Rate Benefits are reasonably quantifiable and factually supportable, (B) no Run Rate Benefits shall be added pursuant to this clause (b) to the extent duplicative of any expenses or charges relating to such Run Rate Benefits that are

 

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included in clause (a) above (it being understood and agreed that “run rate” shall mean the full recurring benefit that is associated with any action taken), (C) the share of any such Run Rate Benefits, expenses and charges with respect to a joint venture that are to be allocated to the Parent Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries shall not exceed the total amount thereof for any such joint venture multiplied by the percentage of income of such venture expected to be included in Consolidated EBITDA for the relevant Test Period and (D) the aggregate amount of Run Rate Benefits added pursuant to this clause (b) shall not, when combined with the amount calculated pursuant to clause (a) of the definition of “Consolidated Net Income”, exceed 30.0% of Consolidated EBITDA determined for the applicable period after giving effect to such added amount,

plus

(c) [reserved];

plus

(d) [reserved];

plus

(e) without duplication and to the extent already deducted (and not added back) in arriving at such Consolidated Net Income, the amount of discretionary research and development costs incurred by the Parent Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries which are identified in good faith by the Parent Borrower to have been incurred specifically for the purposes of qualifying for a reduced tax rate or other tax incentive in Brazil and that were not required to support the Parent Borrower’s ongoing research and development activities; provided that (i) the aggregate amount of such costs added pursuant to this clause shall not exceed $5,000,000 in any Test Period and (ii) if the aggregate amount of such costs added pursuant to this clause with respect to any fiscal year of the Parent Borrower exceeds the tax benefit actually derived therefrom calculated by the Parent Borrower in good faith based on its annual tax returns, the amount of any such excess shall reduce Consolidated EBITDA in the fiscal quarter in which such annual tax returns are filed or, if earlier, in the fiscal quarter in which such excess is determined;

plus

(f) cash receipts (or any netting arrangements resulting in reduced cash expenditures) not included in the calculation of Consolidated Net Income in any period to the extent non-cash gains relating to such income were deducted in the calculation of Consolidated EBITDA pursuant to paragraph (h) below for any previous period and not added back;

less

(g) without duplication and to the extent included in arriving at such Consolidated Net Income, the sum of the following amounts for such period:

(i) non-cash gains (excluding any non-cash gain to the extent it represents the reversal of an accrual or reserve for a potential cash item that reduced Consolidated Net Income or Consolidated EBITDA in any prior period),

(ii) the amount of any non-controlling interest consisting of loss attributable to non-controlling interests of third parties in any non-wholly-owned subsidiary added (and not deducted in such period from Consolidated Net Income),

in each case, as determined on a consolidated basis for the Parent Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries in accordance with GAAP; provided that

 

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(I) there shall be included in determining Consolidated EBITDA for any period, without duplication and, other than with respect to any Material Acquisition, at the option of the Parent Borrower (1) the Acquired EBITDA of any Person, property, business or asset acquired by the Parent Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary during such period (other than any Unrestricted Subsidiary) whether such acquisition occurred before or after the Effective Date to the extent not subsequently sold, transferred or otherwise disposed of (but not including the Acquired EBITDA of any related Person, property, business or assets to the extent not so acquired) (each such Person, property, business or asset acquired, including pursuant to a transaction consummated prior to the Effective Date, and not subsequently so disposed of, an “Acquired Entity or Business”), and the Acquired EBITDA of any Unrestricted Subsidiary that is converted into a Restricted Subsidiary during such period (each, a “Converted Restricted Subsidiary”), in each case based on the Acquired EBITDA of such Pro Forma Entity for such period (including the portion thereof occurring prior to such acquisition or conversion) determined on a historical Pro Forma Basis and (2) an adjustment in respect of each Acquired Entity or Business equal to the amount of the Pro Forma Adjustment with respect to such Acquired Entity or Business for such period (including the portion thereof occurring prior to such acquisition), and

(II) there shall be (A) excluded in determining Consolidated EBITDA for any period the Disposed EBITDA of any Person, property, business or asset (other than any Unrestricted Subsidiary) sold, transferred or otherwise disposed of, closed or classified as discontinued operations by the Parent Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary during such period (but if such operations are classified as discontinued due to the fact that they are subject to an agreement to dispose of such operations, at the Parent Borrower’s election only, when and to the extent such operations are actually disposed of) (each such Person, property, business or asset so sold, transferred or otherwise disposed of, closed or classified, a “Sold Entity or Business”), and the Disposed EBITDA of any Restricted Subsidiary that is converted into an Unrestricted Subsidiary during such period (each, a “Converted Unrestricted Subsidiary”), in each case based on the Disposed EBITDA of such Sold Entity or Business or Converted Unrestricted Subsidiary for such period (including the portion thereof occurring prior to such sale, transfer, disposition, closure, classification or conversion) determined on a historical Pro Forma Basis and (B) included in determining Consolidated EBITDA for any period in which a Sold Entity or Business is disposed, an adjustment equal to the Pro Forma Disposal Adjustment with respect to such Sold Entity or Business (including the portion thereof occurring prior to such disposal).

Notwithstanding the foregoing, (x) the Parent Borrower may, in its sole discretion, elect to not make any adjustment for any item pursuant to clauses (a) through (f) above if any such item individually is less than $1,250,000 in any fiscal quarter and (y) Consolidated EBITDA (a) for the fiscal quarter ended February 26, 2021, shall be deemed to be $ 54,022,563, (b) for the fiscal quarter ended May 28, 2021, shall be deemed to be $52,412,626, (c) for the fiscal quarter ended August 27, 2021, shall be deemed to be $76,823,479, and (d) for the fiscal quarter ended November 26, 2021, shall be deemed to be $77,377,865, in each case, as may be subject to addbacks and adjustments (without duplication) pursuant to clauses (a) through (f) above upon the occurrence of a “pro forma” event that occurs after the Effective Date and which is deemed to have occurred as of the first day of a period that includes any of the foregoing fiscal quarters.

Consolidated First Lien Debt” means, as of any date of determination, (a) the amount of Consolidated Total Debt (including in respect of the Loans hereunder) that is secured by a Lien on a material portion of the Collateral on an equal or super priority basis (but without regard to the control of remedies) with the Liens on the Collateral securing the Secured Obligations minus (b) Available Cash.

Consolidated Interest Expense” means the sum of cash interest expense (including that attributable to Capitalized Leases), net of cash interest income, of the Parent Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries with respect to all outstanding Indebtedness for borrowed money of the Parent Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries, including all commissions, discounts and other fees and charges owed with respect to letters of credit and bankers’ acceptance financing and net payments (over payments received), if any, made pursuant to interest rate hedging agreements with respect to Indebtedness, and excluding, for the avoidance of doubt, (i) amortization of (A) deferred financing costs, debt issuance costs, commissions, fees and expenses and any other amounts of non-cash interest

 

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(including as a result of the effects of acquisition method accounting or pushdown accounting) and (B) any costs or expenses incurred in connection with any amendment or modification of Indebtedness (whether or not consummated), (ii) non-cash interest expense attributable to the movement of the mark-to-market valuation of obligations under hedging agreements or other derivative instruments pursuant to FASB Accounting Standards Codification No. 815-Derivatives and Hedging, (iii) any one-time cash costs associated with breakage in respect of hedging agreements for interest rates or currency, (iv) commissions, discounts, yield and other fees and charges (including any interest expense) incurred in connection with any Permitted Receivables Financing, (v) all non-recurring cash interest expense or “additional interest” for failure to timely comply with registration rights obligations, (vi) any interest expense attributable to the exercise of appraisal rights and the settlement of any claims or actions (whether actual, contingent or potential) with respect to any Permitted Acquisition or any other Investment, all as calculated on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP, (vii) any payments with respect to make-whole premiums or other breakage costs of any Indebtedness, including, without limitation, any Indebtedness issued in connection with the Transactions, (viii) penalties and interest relating to taxes, (ix) accretion or accrual of discounted liabilities, (x) any interest expense attributable to a direct or indirect parent entity resulting from push down accounting, (xi) any expense resulting from the discounting of Indebtedness in connection with the application of recapitalization or purchase accounting, (xii) any interest expense or other fees or charges incurred with respect to any Escrowed Obligations (for the avoidance of doubt, so long as such Escrowed Obligations are held in escrow), (xiii) administrative agency or trustee fees, (xiv) any expense arising from any bridge, structuring, arrangement, commitment and/or other financing fee (including fees and expenses associated with the Transactions and annual agency fees), and (xv) any lease, rental or other expense in connection with a Non-Finance Lease Obligation.

Consolidated Net Debt” means, as of any date of determination, (a) Consolidated Total Debt minus (b) Available Cash.

Consolidated Net Income” means, for any period, the net income (loss) of the Parent Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries for such period determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP, excluding, without duplication:

(a) extraordinary, non-recurring or unusual gains or losses (less all fees and expenses relating thereto) or expenses (including extraordinary losses and unusual or non-recurring charges or expenses attributable to legal and judgment settlements and any unusual or non-recurring operating expenses directly attributable to the implementation of cost savings initiatives and any accruals or reserves in respect of any extraordinary, non-recurring or unusual items), severance, relocation costs, integration and facilities’ or offices’ pre-opening costs, opening costs, lease termination costs, processor termination or migration costs, closing and/or consolidation costs, start-up costs and other business optimization and rationalization expenses (including related to new product introductions, the consolidation of technology platforms and other strategic or cost saving initiatives and any costs or expenses related or attributable to the commencement of a New Project and including any related employee hiring or retention costs or employee redundancy or termination costs), restructuring charges, accruals or reserves (including restructuring and integration costs related to acquisitions consummated prior to or after the Effective Date and adjustments to existing reserves), whether or not classified as restructuring expense on the consolidated financial statements, signing costs, retention or completion bonuses, other executive recruiting and retention costs, transition costs, costs related to closure/consolidation of facilities, branches, data centers and/or offices (including, without limitation, costs incurred in respect of leased premises, including related to build out and the relocation of personnel and equipment), lease breakage costs, internal costs in respect of strategic initiatives and curtailments or modifications to pension and post-employment employee benefit plans (including any settlement of pension liabilities and charges resulting from changes in estimates, valuations and judgments thereof); provided that the aggregate amount excluded from Consolidated Net Income pursuant to this clause (a) shall not, when combined with the amount calculated pursuant to clause (b) of the definition of “Consolidated EBITDA”, exceed 30.0% of Consolidated EBITDA determined for the applicable period after giving effect to such added amount,

(b) the cumulative effect of a change in accounting principles and changes as a result of the adoption or modification of accounting policies during such period,

 

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(c) Transaction Costs (including any charges associated with the rollover, acceleration or payout of Equity Interests (including any restricted stock units, options or similar equity-linked interests) held by management of the Parent Borrower or any of its direct or indirect subsidiaries or parents in connection with the Transactions),

(d) the net income for such period of any Person that is an Unrestricted Subsidiary and any Person that is not a Subsidiary or that is accounted for by the equity method of accounting; provided that Consolidated Net Income shall be increased by the amount of dividends or distributions or other payments that are actually paid in cash or Permitted Investments (or, if not paid in cash or Permitted Investments, but later converted into cash or Permitted Investments, upon such conversion) by such Person to the Parent Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary thereof during such period,

(e) any fees and expenses (including any transaction or retention bonus or similar payment, any earnout, contingent consideration obligation or purchase price adjustment) incurred during such period, or any amortization thereof for such period, in connection with any acquisition (including any related bonus expense), Investment, asset disposition, issuance or repayment of debt, issuance of Equity Interests, refinancing transaction or amendment or other modification of any debt instrument (in each case, including any such transaction consummated prior to the Effective Date and any such transaction undertaken but not completed and including any fees or legal expenses related to the on-going administration of any debt instrument) and any charges or non-recurring merger costs incurred during such period as a result of any such transaction, in each case whether or not successful (including, for the avoidance of doubt, the effects of expensing all transaction-related expenses in accordance with FASB Accounting Standards Codification 805 and gains or losses associated with FASB Accounting Standards Codification 460),

(f) any income (loss) for such period attributable to the early extinguishment of Indebtedness, hedging agreements or other derivative instruments,

(g) accruals and reserves that are established or adjusted as a result of the Transactions in accordance with GAAP (including any adjustment of estimated payouts on existing earn-outs) or changes as a result of the adoption or modification of accounting policies during such period,

(h) all Non-Cash Compensation Expenses,

(i) any income (loss) attributable to deferred compensation plans or trusts,

(j) any income (loss) from investments recorded using the equity method of accounting (but including any cash dividends or distributions actually received by the Parent Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary in respect of such investment),

(k) any gain (loss) on asset sales, disposals or abandonments (other than asset sales, disposals or abandonments in the ordinary course of business) or income (loss) from discontinued operations (but if such operations are classified as discontinued due to the fact that they are subject to an agreement to dispose of such operations, only when and to the extent such operations are actually disposed of),

(l) any non-cash gain (loss) attributable to the mark to market movement in the valuation of hedging obligations or other derivative instruments pursuant to FASB Accounting Standards Codification 815-Derivatives and Hedging or mark to market movement of other financial instruments pursuant to FASB Accounting Standards Codification 825-Financial Instruments; provided that any cash payments or receipts relating to transactions realized in a given period shall be taken into account in such period,

(m) any non-cash gain (loss) related to currency remeasurements of Indebtedness, net loss or gain resulting from hedging agreements for currency exchange risk and revaluations of intercompany balances (including Indebtedness and gain or loss relating to translation of assets and liabilities) and other balance sheet items,

 

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(n) any non-cash expenses, accruals or reserves related to adjustments to historical tax exposures (provided, in each case, that the cash payment in respect thereof in such future period shall be subtracted from Consolidated Net Income for the period in which such cash payment was made),

(o) any impairment charge or asset write-off or write-down (including related to intangible assets (including goodwill), long-lived assets and investments in debt and equity securities),

(p) solely for the purpose of calculating the Available Amount, the net income for such period of any Restricted Subsidiary (other than any Guarantor) shall be excluded to the extent the declaration or payment of dividends or similar distributions by that Restricted Subsidiary of its net income is not at the date of determination permitted without any prior Governmental Approval (which has not been obtained) or, directly or indirectly, is otherwise restricted by the operation of the terms of its charter or any agreement, instrument, judgment, decree, order, statute, rule or governmental regulation applicable to that Restricted Subsidiary or its stockholders, unless such restriction with respect to the payment of dividends or similar distributions has been legally waived; provided that Consolidated Net Income of the Parent Borrower will be increased by the amount of dividends or other distributions or other payments actually paid in cash (or to the extent converted into cash) or Permitted Investments to the Parent Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary thereof in respect of such period, to the extent not already included therein,

(q) any accruals or obligations accrued related to workers’ compensation programs to the extent that expenses deducted in the calculation of net income exceed the net amounts paid in cash related to workers’ compensation programs in that period,

(r) any reserves, accruals or obligations accrued by the Parent Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries for any federal and state employment tax liabilities, including social security, federal unemployment, state unemployment and state disability taxes deducted in the calculation of net income during such period, less the amount of such obligations paid in cash with respect to such period, and

(s) earnout and contingent consideration obligations (including to the extent accounted for as bonuses or otherwise) and adjustments thereof and purchase price adjustments;

provided that the Parent Borrower may, in its sole discretion, elect to not make any adjustment for any item pursuant to clauses (a) through (s) above if any such item individually is less than $1,250,000 in any fiscal quarter.

There shall be excluded from Consolidated Net Income for any period the effects from applying acquisition method accounting, including applying acquisition method accounting to inventory, property and equipment, loans and leases, software and other intangible assets and deferred revenue (including deferred costs related thereto and deferred rent) required or permitted by GAAP and related authoritative pronouncements (including FASB Accounting Standards Codification 805 and including the effects of such adjustments pushed down to Parent Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries), as a result of the Transactions, any acquisition or Investment consummated prior to the Effective Date and any Permitted Acquisitions or other Investment or the amortization or write-off of any amounts thereof.

In addition, to the extent not already included in Consolidated Net Income, Consolidated Net Income shall include (i) the amount of proceeds received (or reasonably expected to be received) or due from business interruption insurance or government support payments (other than loans, to the extent not forgivable) or reimbursement of expenses and charges that are covered by indemnification, insurance and other reimbursement provisions in connection with the Transactions, any acquisition or other Investment or any disposition of any asset permitted hereunder or that occurred prior to the Effective Date (net of any amount so included in any prior period to the extent not so received or reimbursed within a two year period) and (ii) the amount of any cash tax benefits related to the tax amortization of intangible assets in such period.

Consolidated Total Assets” means, as at any date of determination, the amount that would be set forth opposite the caption “total assets” (or any like caption) on the most recent consolidated balance sheet of the Parent Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries in accordance with GAAP.

 

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Consolidated Total Debt” means, as of any date of determination, the outstanding principal amount of all third party Indebtedness for borrowed money (including purchase money Indebtedness), unreimbursed drawings under letters of credit, Capital Lease Obligations, third party Indebtedness obligations evidenced by notes or similar instruments (and excluding, for the avoidance of doubt, Swap Obligations), in each case of the Parent Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries on such date, on a consolidated basis and determined in accordance with GAAP (excluding, in any event, the effects of any discounting of Indebtedness resulting from the application of acquisition method or pushdown accounting in connection with the Transactions or any Permitted Acquisition or other Investment). For the avoidance of doubt, Consolidated Total Debt shall include obligations outstanding under the Cree Note.

Consolidated Working Capital” means, at any date, the excess of (a) the sum of all amounts (other than cash and Permitted Investments) that would, in conformity with GAAP, be set forth opposite the caption “total current assets” (or any like caption) on a consolidated balance sheet of the Parent Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries at such date, excluding the current portion of current and deferred income taxes over (b) the sum of all amounts that would, in conformity with GAAP, be set forth opposite the caption “total current liabilities” (or any like caption) on a consolidated balance sheet of the Parent Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries on such date, including deferred revenue but excluding, without duplication, (i) the current portion of any Funded Debt, (ii) all Indebtedness consisting of Loans and obligations under letters of credit to the extent otherwise included therein, (iii) the current portion of interest and (iv) the current portion of current and deferred income taxes; provided that, for purposes of calculating Excess Cash Flow, increases or decreases in working capital (A) arising from acquisitions, dispositions or Unrestricted Subsidiary or Restricted Subsidiary designations by the Borrowers and the Restricted Subsidiaries shall be measured from the date on which such acquisition, disposition or Unrestricted Subsidiary or Restricted Subsidiary designation occurred and not over the period in which Excess Cash Flow is calculated and (B) shall exclude (I) the impact of non-cash adjustments contemplated in the Excess Cash Flow calculation, (II) the impact of adjusting items in the definition of “Consolidated Net Income”, (III) any changes in current assets or current liabilities as a result of (x) the effect of fluctuations in the amount of accrued or contingent obligations, assets or liabilities under hedging agreements or other derivative obligations, (y) any reclassification, other than as a result of the passage of time, in accordance with GAAP of assets or liabilities, as applicable, between current and noncurrent or (z) the effects of acquisition method accounting and (IV) the impact of any Permitted Receivables Financing to the extent the cash proceeds of such Permitted Receivables Financing do not result in an equivalent decrease in Excess Cash Flow.

Contract Consideration” has the meaning assigned to such term in the definition of the term “ECF Deductions”.

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

Converted Restricted Subsidiary” has the meaning assigned to such term in the definition of the term “Consolidated EBITDA.”

Converted Unrestricted Subsidiary” has the meaning assigned to such term in the definition of the term “Consolidated EBITDA.”

Convertible Instrument Payments” means (i) payments by SMART Worldwide Holdings, Inc., a Cayman Islands exempted company, in respect of those certain 2.25% Convertible Senior Notes due 2026 (the “Senior 2026 Notes”) of the Parent Borrower, issued pursuant to that certain Indenture, dated as of February 11, 2020, among the Parent Borrower and U.S. Bank National Association, as Trustee (as defined therein) in an aggregate principal amount not exceeding $5,625,000 for each calendar year and (ii) payments in connection with any exercise of the early conversion thereof by the Parent Borrower.

Covered Entity” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.22(b).

Covered Party” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.22(a).

 

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Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness” means Indebtedness issued, incurred or otherwise obtained (including by means of the extension or renewal of existing Indebtedness) by a Loan Party in exchange for, or to extend, renew, replace or refinance, in whole or part, any Class of existing Term Loans or Revolving Loans (or unused Revolving Commitments) (“Refinanced Debt”); provided that such exchanging, extending, renewing, replacing or refinancing Indebtedness (a) is in an original aggregate principal amount not greater than the aggregate principal amount of the Refinanced Debt (including any unused Revolving Commitment at such time) (plus any premium, accrued interest and fees and expenses incurred in connection with such exchange, extension, renewal, replacement or refinancing), (b) does not mature earlier than or, except in the case of Revolving Commitments, have a Weighted Average Life to Maturity shorter than the Refinanced Debt (other than Customary Bridge Loans and except with respect to an amount equal to the Maturity Carveout Amount at such time), (c) shall not be guaranteed by any entity that is not a Loan Party, (d) in the case of any secured Indebtedness (i) is not secured by any assets not securing the Secured Obligations and (ii) is subject to the relevant Intercreditor Agreement(s) and (e) has covenants and events of default (excluding as to subordination, interest rate (including whether such interest is payable in cash or in kind), interest rate margins, pricing, rate floors, discounts, fees, premiums and prepayment or redemption provisions and other than with respect to Customary Bridge Loans) that either (I) are not materially more favorable (when taken as a whole) to the lenders or investors providing such Indebtedness than the terms and conditions of this Agreement (when taken as a whole) are to the Lenders (except for covenants or other provisions applicable only to periods after the Latest Maturity Date at the time of such refinancing), (II) are applicable only to periods after the Latest Maturity Date at the time of such refinancing, (III) reflect market terms and conditions (taken as a whole) at the time of incurrence of such Indebtedness (as determined by the Parent Borrower in good faith) or (IV) are reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent (provided that, at the Parent Borrower’s election, to the extent any financial maintenance covenant or other term or provision is added for the benefit of (X) the lenders of any such Indebtedness that consists of term facilities, no consent shall be required from the Administrative Agent or the Lenders to the extent that such term or provision is also added, or the features of such term or provision are provided, for the benefit of each Term Loan (and, for the avoidance of doubt, such term shall be deemed reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent) or (Y) the lenders of any such Indebtedness that consists of revolving credit facilities, no consent shall be required from the Administrative Agent or the Lenders to the extent that such term or provision is also added, or the features of such term or provision are provided, for the benefit of the Lenders of each Revolving Credit Facility) (and, for the avoidance of doubt, such term shall be deemed reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent).

Cree Notes” means the promissory notes issued to Cree, Inc. in connection with the acquisition by the Parent Borrower of CreeLed, Inc. pursuant to that certain Asset Purchase Agreement, dated as of October 18, 2020, among the Parent Borrower, Cree, Inc. and each other party thereto

Cumulative Retained Excess Cash Flow Amount” means, at any date, an amount equal to (a) the cumulative amount of Excess Cash Flow (which shall not be less than zero in any fiscal year) of the Parent Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries for the Available Amount Reference Period, minus (b) the amount that has been (or is required to be) applied to the prepayment of Term Loans in accordance with Section 2.11(d) for the Available Amount Reference Period (but, for the avoidance of doubt, excluding Retained ECF Proceeds and Retained Declined Proceeds).

Cure Amount” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 7.02.

Cure Right” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 7.02.

Customary Bridge Loans” means customary bridge loans with a maturity date of no longer than one year; provided that (a) the Weighted Average Life to Maturity of any loans, notes, securities or other Indebtedness which are exchanged for or otherwise replace such bridge loans is not shorter than the Weighted Average Life to Maturity of the Term Loans (without giving effect to any prior amortization or prepayments thereof) and (b) the final maturity date of any loans, notes, securities or other Indebtedness which are exchanged for or otherwise replace such bridge loans is no earlier than the Latest Maturity Date at the time such bridge loans are incurred.

Customary Escrow Provisions” means customary redemption or prepayment terms in connection with escrow arrangements.

 

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Customary Exceptions” means (a) customary asset sale, insurance and condemnation proceeds events, excess cash flow sweeps, change-of-control offers or events of default or, if in the form of loans, excess cash flow payments and customary Indebtedness mandatory prepayment provisions and/or (b) Customary Escrow Provisions.

Daily Simple SOFR means, for any day, a rate per annum equal to the greater of (a) the sum of (i) SOFR, with the conventions for this rate (which will include a lookback) being established by the Administrative Agent in accordance with the conventions for this rate selected or recommended by the Relevant Governmental Body for determining “Daily Simple SOFR” for syndicated business loans; provided, that if the Administrative Agent decides that any such convention is not administratively feasible for the Administrative Agent, then the Administrative Agent may establish another convention in its reasonable discretion plus (ii) the Daily Simple SOFR Adjustment, and (b) the Floor.

Daily Simple SOFR Adjustment” means 0.10%.

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

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

Defaulting Lender” means any Lender that has (a) failed to fund any portion of its Loans or participations in Letters of Credit or Swingline Loans within one Business Day of the date on which such funding is required hereunder, (b) notified the Parent Borrower, the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank, any Swingline Lender or any Lender in writing that it does not intend to comply with any of its funding obligations under this Agreement or has made a public statement or provided any written notification to any Person to the effect that it does not intend to comply with its funding obligations under this Agreement or generally under other agreements in which it commits to extend credit, (c) failed, within two (2) Business Days after request by the Administrative Agent (whether acting on its own behalf or at the reasonable request of the Parent Borrower (it being understood that the Administrative Agent shall comply with any such reasonable request)) or by any Issuing Bank to confirm that it will comply with the terms of this Agreement relating to its obligations to fund prospective Loans and participations in then outstanding Letters of Credit; provided that such Lender shall cease to be a Defaulting Lender pursuant to this clause (c) upon receipt of such written confirmation by the Administrative Agent and the Parent Borrower, (d) otherwise failed to pay over to the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank or any other Lender any other amount required to be paid by it hereunder within one Business Day of the date when due, unless the subject of a good faith dispute or subsequently cured, or (e)(i) become or is insolvent or has a parent company that has become or is insolvent, (ii) become the subject of a proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law or any action or proceeding of the type described in Section 7.01(h) or (i), or has had a receiver, conservator, trustee, administrator, assignee for the benefit of creditors or similar Person charged with reorganization or liquidation of its business or custodian appointed for it, or has taken any action in furtherance of, or indicating its consent to, approval of or acquiescence in any such proceeding or appointment or has a parent company that has become the subject of a bankruptcy or insolvency proceeding, or has had a receiver, conservator, trustee, administrator, assignee for the benefit of creditors or similar Person charged with reorganization or liquidation of its business or custodian appointed for it, or has taken any action in furtherance of, or indicating its consent to, approval of or acquiescence in any such proceeding or appointment, or (iii) become the subject of a Bail-In Action; provided that a Lender shall not be deemed to be a Defaulting Lender solely by virtue of the ownership or acquisition of any capital stock in such Lender or its direct or indirect parent by a Governmental Authority so long as such ownership interest does not result in or provide such Lender with immunity from the jurisdiction of courts within the United States or from the enforcement of judgments or writs of attachment on its assets or permit such Lender (or such Governmental Authority) to reject, repudiate, disavow or disaffirm any contracts or agreements made with such Lender; provided, further, that a Lender will cease to be a Defaulting Lender upon written receipt by both the Administrative Agent and the Parent Borrower of confirmation that the Lender will comply with its prospective funding obligations.

 

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Defaulting Lender Fronting Exposure” means, at any time there is a Defaulting Lender, (a) with respect to any Issuing Bank, such Defaulting Lender’s Applicable Percentage of the outstanding Letter of Credit obligations with respect to such Issuing Bank other than Letter of Credit obligations as to which such Defaulting Lender’s participation obligation has been reallocated to other Lenders or cash collateralized in accordance with the terms hereof and (b) with respect to the Swingline Lender, such Defaulting Lender’s Applicable Percentage of Swingline Loans other than Swingline Loans as to which such Defaulting Lender’s participation obligation has been reallocated to other Lenders or cash collateralized in accordance with the terms hereof.

Designated Non-Cash Consideration” means the Fair Market Value of non-cash consideration received by a Borrower or a Subsidiary in connection with a Disposition pursuant to Section 6.05(k) that is designated as Designated Non-Cash Consideration pursuant to a certificate of a Responsible Officer of such Borrower, setting forth the basis of such valuation, less the amount of cash or Permitted Investments received in connection with a subsequent sale of or collection on or other disposition of such Designated Non-Cash Consideration. A particular item of Designated Non-Cash Consideration will no longer be considered to be outstanding when and to the extent it has been paid, redeemed, sold or otherwise disposed of or returned in exchange for consideration in the form of cash or Permitted Investments in compliance with Section 6.05.

Discount Prepayment Accepting Lender” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.11(a)(ii)(B).

Discount Range” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.11(a)(ii)(C).

Discount Range Prepayment Amount” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.11(a)(ii)(C).

Discount Range Prepayment Notice” means a written notice of a Borrower Solicitation of Discount Range Prepayment Offers made pursuant to Section 2.11(a)(ii)(C) substantially in the form of Exhibit K.

Discount Range Prepayment Offer” means the irrevocable written offer by a Term Lender, substantially in the form of Exhibit L, submitted in response to an invitation to submit offers following the Auction Agent’s receipt of a Discount Range Prepayment Notice.

Discount Range Prepayment Response Date” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.11(a)(ii)(C).

Discount Range Proration” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.11(a)(ii)(C).

Discounted Prepayment Determination Date” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.11(a)(ii)(D).

Discounted Prepayment Effective Date” means, in the case of a Borrower Offer of Specified Discount Prepayment or Borrower Solicitation of Discount Range Prepayment Offer, five (5) Business Days following the receipt by each relevant Term Lender of notice from the Auction Agent in accordance with Section 2.11(a)(ii)(B), Section 2.11(a)(ii)(C) or Section 2.11(a)(ii)(D), as applicable, unless a shorter period is agreed to between a Borrower and the Auction Agent.

Discounted Term Loan Prepayment” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.11(a)(ii)(A).

Disposed EBITDA” means, with respect to any Sold Entity or Business or Converted Unrestricted Subsidiary for any period, the amount for such period of Consolidated EBITDA of such Sold Entity or Business or Converted Unrestricted Subsidiary (determined as if references to the Parent Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries in the definition of the term “Consolidated EBITDA” (and in the component financial definitions used therein) were references to such Sold Entity or Business and its subsidiaries or to such Converted Unrestricted Subsidiary and its subsidiaries), all as determined on a consolidated basis for such Sold Entity or Business or Converted Unrestricted Subsidiary.

Disposition” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 6.05.

 

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Disposition/Debt Percentage” means, (a) with respect to a Prepayment Event pursuant to clause (a) of such definition, the prepayment required by Section 2.11(c) if the Total Leverage Ratio for the most recently ended Test Period as of such time determined on a Pro Forma Basis (including giving Pro Forma Effect to any such prepayment required by Section 2.11(c)) is (i) greater than 1.75 to 1.00, 100%, (ii) greater than 1.50 to 1.00 but less than or equal to 1.75 to 1.00, 50% and (iii) equal to or less than 1.50 to 1.00, 0% and (b) with respect to a Prepayment Event pursuant to clause (b) of such definition, the prepayment required by Section 2.11(c), 100%.

Disqualified Equity Interest” means, with respect to any Person, any Equity Interest in such Person that by its terms (or by the terms of any security into which it is convertible or for which it is exchangeable, either mandatorily or at the option of the holder thereof), or upon the happening of any event or condition:

(a) matures or is mandatorily redeemable (other than solely for Equity Interests in such Person or in the Parent Borrower that do not constitute Disqualified Equity Interests and cash in lieu of fractional shares of such Equity Interests), whether pursuant to a sinking fund obligation or otherwise;

(b) is convertible or exchangeable, either mandatorily or at the option of the holder thereof, for Indebtedness or Equity Interests (other than solely for Equity Interests in such Person or in the Parent Borrower that do not constitute Disqualified Equity Interests and cash in lieu of fractional shares of such Equity Interests); or

(c) is redeemable (other than solely for Equity Interests in such Person or in the Parent Borrower that do not constitute Disqualified Equity Interests and cash in lieu of fractional shares of such Equity Interests) or is required to be repurchased by such Person or any of its Subsidiaries, in whole or in part, at the option of the holder thereof;

in each case, on or prior to the date 91 days after the Latest Maturity Date at the time of issuance of such Equity Interests; provided, however, that (i) an Equity Interest in any Person that would not constitute a Disqualified Equity Interest but for terms thereof giving holders thereof the right to require such Person to redeem or purchase such Equity Interest upon the occurrence of an “asset sale,” “condemnation event,” a “change in control” or similar event shall not constitute a Disqualified Equity Interest if any such requirement becomes operative only after repayment in full of all the Loans and all other Loan Document Obligations that are accrued and payable and the termination of the Commitments and (ii) if an Equity Interest in any Person is issued pursuant to any plan for the benefit of employees of Parent Borrower (or any direct or indirect parent thereof), the Parent Borrower or any of the Subsidiaries or by any such plan to such employees, such Equity Interest shall not constitute a Disqualified Equity Interest solely because it may be required to be repurchased by Parent Borrower (or any direct or indirect parent company thereof), the Parent Borrower or any of the Subsidiaries in order to satisfy applicable statutory or regulatory obligations of such Person or as a result of such employee’s termination, death, or disability.

Disqualified Lenders” means (a) those Persons identified by the Parent Borrower to the Lead Arrangers in writing (including by email) prior to the Effective Date (and after the Effective Date, that are reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent), (b) those Persons who are competitors of the Borrowers or any Subsidiary identified by the Parent Borrower to the Administrative Agent from time to time in writing (including by email), (c) Excluded Affiliates and (d) in the case of each Person identified pursuant to clauses (a) and (b) above, any of their Affiliates that are either (i) identified in writing by the Parent Borrower from time to time or (ii) clearly identifiable as Affiliates on the basis of such Affiliate’s name (other than, in the case of clause (b), Affiliates that are bona fide debt funds). Any supplement to the list of Disqualified Lenders pursuant to clause (a) or (b) above shall be sent by the Parent Borrower to the Administrative Agent in writing (including by email) and such supplement shall take effect two Business Days following the date such notice is received by the Administrative Agent (it being understood that no such supplement to the list of Disqualified Lenders shall operate to disqualify any Person that previously acquired an assignment or participation in respect of the Loans from continuing to hold or vote such previously acquired assignment or participation on the terms herein for Lenders that are not Disqualified Lenders). Notwithstanding the foregoing, any list of Disqualified Lenders shall only be required to be available to any Lender or Participant or prospective Lender or Participant on the Platform or another similar electronic system (i) to the extent the Parent Borrower desires to prevent any such Disqualified Lender from being a Lender or Participant or (ii) upon written request by such Lender or Participant or prospective Lender or Participant.

 

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director” has the meaning assigned to such term in the definition of “Board of Directors.”

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

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

Division Successor” means any Person that, upon the consummation of a Division of a Dividing Person, holds all or any portion of the assets, liabilities and/or obligations previously held by such Dividing Person immediately prior to the consummation of such Division. A Dividing Person which retains any of its assets, liabilities and/or obligations after a Division shall be deemed a Division Successor upon the occurrence of such Division.

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

Dollar Equivalent” means, at any time, (a) with respect to any amount denominated in dollars, such amount and (b) with respect to any amount denominated in any currency other than dollars, the equivalent amount thereof in dollars as determined by the Administrative Agent at such time in accordance with Section 1.07 hereof.

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

ECF Deductions” means, for any period, an amount equal to the sum of:

(a) without duplication of amounts deducted pursuant to clause (f) below in prior fiscal years, the amount of Capital Expenditures made in cash or accrued during such period, to the extent that such Capital Expenditures were financed with internally generated cash flow of the Parent Borrower or the Restricted Subsidiaries,

(b) [reserved],

(c) without duplication of amounts deducted pursuant to clause (f) below in prior fiscal years, the amount of Investments (other than Investments in Permitted Investments) and acquisitions not prohibited by this Agreement, to the extent that such Investments and acquisitions were financed with internally generated cash flow of the Parent Borrower or the Restricted Subsidiaries,

(d) [reserved],

(e) [reserved], and

(f) without duplication of amounts deducted from Excess Cash Flow in prior periods, (i) the aggregate consideration required to be paid in cash by the Parent Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries pursuant to binding contracts, commitments, letters of intent or purchase orders (the “Contract Consideration”), in each case, entered into prior to or during such period and (ii) to the extent set forth in a certificate of a Financial Officer delivered to the Administrative Agent at or before the time the Compliance Certificate for the period ending simultaneously with such Test Period is required to be delivered pursuant to Section 5.01(d), the aggregate amount of cash that is reasonably expected to be paid in respect of planned cash expenditures by the Parent Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries (the “Planned Expenditures”); in the case of each of clauses (i) and (ii), relating to Permitted Acquisitions, other Investments (other than Investments in Permitted Investments), Capital Expenditures (including Capitalized Software Expenditures or other purchases of Intellectual Property) to be consummated, made or paid during a subsequent Test Period; provided that, to the extent the aggregate amount of internally generated cash actually utilized to finance such Permitted Acquisitions, Investments or Capital Expenditures during such Test Period is less than the Contract Consideration or Planned Expenditures, as applicable, the amount of such shortfall shall be added to the calculation of Excess Cash Flow at the end of such Test Period.

 

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ECF Percentage” means, with respect to the prepayment required by Section 2.11(c) with respect to any fiscal year of the Parent Borrower, if the Total Leverage Ratio (prior to giving effect to the applicable prepayment pursuant to Section 2.11(c), but after giving effect to any voluntary prepayments made pursuant to Section 2.11(a) or any repurchase pursuant to Section 9.04(g) prior to the date of such prepayment) as of the end of such fiscal year is (a) greater than 1.75 to 1.00, 50% of Excess Cash Flow for such fiscal year, (b) greater than 1.50 to 1.00 but less than or equal to 1.75 to 1.00, 25% of Excess Cash Flow for such fiscal year and (c) equal to or less than 1.50 to 1.00, 0% of Excess Cash Flow for such fiscal year.

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

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

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

Effective Date” means the date on which the conditions specified in Section 4.01 are satisfied (or waived in accordance with Section 9.02).

Effective Date Refinancing” means the (i) repayment, repurchase or other discharge of all of the Existing Credit Agreement Indebtedness, (ii) repayment, repurchase or other discharge of all of that certain Purchase Price Note, dated as of March 1, 2021, among the Parent Borrower and Cree, Inc., as holder and termination and/or release of any security interests and guarantees in connection therewith and (iii) repayment, repurchase or other discharge of all of that certain Loan and Security Agreement, dated as of December 23, 2020 among the Co-Borrower, each subsidiary of the Co-Borrower party thereto, the lenders party thereto and Bank of America, N.A., as administrative agent, and termination and/or release of any security interests and guarantees in connection therewith.

Effective Yield” means, as to any Indebtedness as of any date of determination, the effective yield on such Indebtedness in the reasonable determination of the Administrative Agent and the Parent Borrower and consistent with generally accepted financial practices, taking into account the applicable interest rate margins, any interest rate floors (the effect of which floors shall be determined in a manner set forth in the proviso below) or similar devices and all fees, including upfront or similar fees or original issue discount (amortized over the shorter of (a) the remaining Weighted Average Life to Maturity of such Indebtedness and (b) the four years following the date of incurrence thereof) payable generally to lenders or other institutions providing such Indebtedness, but excluding any arrangement, structuring, ticking, commitment, amendment, unused line or underwriting fees or other similar fees payable in connection therewith and, if applicable, consent fees for an amendment (in each case regardless of whether any such fees are paid to or shared in whole or in part with any lender) and any other fees not paid to all relevant lenders generally; provided that with respect to any Indebtedness that includes a “SOFR floor” or “Base Rate floor,” (i) to the extent that Term SOFR (with an Interest Period of one month) or Alternate Base Rate (without giving effect to any floors in such definitions), as applicable, on the date that the Effective Yield is being calculated is less than such floor, the amount of such difference shall be deemed added to the interest rate margin for such Indebtedness for the purpose of calculating the Effective Yield and (ii) to the extent that Term SOFR (with an Interest Period of one month) or Alternate Base Rate (without giving effect to any floors in such definitions), as applicable, on the date that the Effective Yield is being calculated is greater than such floor, then the floor shall be disregarded in calculating the Effective Yield.

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

 

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Eligible Assignee” means (a) a Lender, (b) an Affiliate of a Lender (other than an Excluded Affiliate), (c) an Approved Fund and (d) any other Person (including, subject to the requirements of Section 9.04(g), (h) and (i), as applicable, the Parent Borrower or any of their Affiliates), other than, in each case, (i) a natural person, (ii) a Defaulting Lender or (iii) a Disqualified Lender.

Eligible Currency” means any lawful currency other than dollars that is readily available, freely transferable and convertible into dollars in the international interbank market available to the applicable Lender or the applicable Issuing Bank in such market and as to which a Dollar Equivalent may be readily calculated. If, after the designation of any currency as an Alternative Currency, any change in currency controls or exchange regulations or any change in the national or international financial, political or economic conditions are imposed in the country in which such currency is issued, result in, in the reasonable opinion of the applicable Lender or applicable Issuing Bank, (a) such currency no longer being readily available, freely transferable and convertible into dollars, (b) a Dollar Equivalent is no longer being readily calculable with respect to such currency or (c) such currency being impracticable for the Lenders or the Issuing Banks to provide (each of (a), (b) and (c), a “Disqualifying Event”), then the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify the Lenders, Issuing Banks and the Parent Borrower, and such country’s currency shall no longer be an Alternative Currency until such time as the Disqualifying Event(s) no longer exist. Within, five (5) Business Days after receipt of such notice from the Administrative Agent, the Parent Borrower shall repay Revolving Loans and reimburse LC Disbursements in such currency to which the Disqualifying Event applies.

Environmental Laws” means applicable common law and all applicable treaties, rules, regulations, codes, ordinances, judgments, orders, decrees and other applicable Requirements of Law, and all applicable injunctions or binding agreements issued, promulgated or entered into by or with any Governmental Authority, in each instance relating to pollution or the protection of the environment, including with respect to the preservation or reclamation of natural resources, Hazardous Materials, or to the extent relating to exposure to Hazardous Materials, the protection of human health or safety.

Environmental Liability” means any liability, obligation, loss, claim, action, order or cost, contingent or otherwise (including any liability for damages, costs of medical monitoring, costs of environmental remediation or restoration, administrative oversight costs, consultants’ fees, fines, penalties and indemnities), of the Parent Borrower or any Subsidiary directly or indirectly resulting from or based upon (a) any actual or alleged violation of any Environmental Law or permit, license or approval issued thereunder, (b) the generation, use, handling, transportation, storage, treatment or disposal of any Hazardous Materials, (c) exposure to any Hazardous Materials, (d) the Release or threatened Release of any Hazardous Materials or (e) any contract, agreement or other consensual arrangement pursuant to which liability is assumed or imposed with respect to any of the foregoing.

Equity Interests” means shares of capital stock, partnership interests, membership interests in a limited liability company, beneficial interests in a trust or other equity ownership interests in a Person (excluding, for the avoidance of doubt, any debt security that is convertible or exchangeable into any of the foregoing).

ERISA” means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended from time to time, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

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

ERISA Event” means (a) any “reportable event,” as defined in Section 4043 of ERISA or the regulations issued thereunder with respect to a Plan (other than an event for which the 30 day notice period is waived); (b) any failure by any Plan to satisfy the minimum funding standards (within the meaning of Section 412 or Section 430 of the Code or Section 302 of ERISA) applicable to such Plan, whether or not waived; (c) the filing pursuant to Section 412 of the Code or Section 302 of ERISA of an application for a waiver of the minimum funding standard with respect to any Plan; (d) a determination that any Plan is, or is expected to be, in “at-risk” status (as defined in Section 303(i)(4) of ERISA or Section 430(i)(4) of the Code); (e) the incurrence by a Loan Party or any of its ERISA Affiliates of any liability under Title IV of ERISA with respect to the termination of any Plan; (f) the receipt by a Loan Party or any ERISA Affiliate from the PBGC or a plan administrator of any notice relating to an intention

 

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to terminate any Plan or Plans or to appoint a trustee to administer any Plan; (g) the incurrence by a Loan Party or any of its ERISA Affiliates of any liability with respect to the withdrawal or partial withdrawal from any Plan (including any liability under Section 4062(e) of ERISA) or Multiemployer Plan; or (h) the receipt by a Loan Party or any ERISA Affiliate of any notice, or the receipt by any Multiemployer Plan from a Loan Party or any ERISA Affiliate of any notice, concerning the imposition of Withdrawal Liability or a determination that a Multiemployer Plan is, or is expected to be, insolvent, within the meaning of Title IV of ERISA or in endangered or critical status, within the meaning of Section 305 of ERISA.

Erroneous Payment” has the meaning assigned to it in Section 8.11(a).

Erroneous Payment Deficiency Assignment” has the meaning assigned to it in Section 8.11(d)(i).

Erroneous Payment Impacted Class” has the meaning assigned to it in Section 8.11(d)(i).

Erroneous Payment Return Deficiency” has the meaning assigned to it in Section 8.11(d)(i).

Erroneous Payment Subrogation Rights” has the meaning assigned to it in Section 8.11(e).

Escrow” has the meaning provided in the definition of “Indebtedness.”

Escrowed Obligations” has the meaning provided in the definition of “Indebtedness.”

Escrowed Proceeds” means the proceeds from the offering of any debt securities or other Indebtedness paid into an escrow account with an escrow agent on the date of the applicable offering or incurrence pursuant to escrow arrangements that permit the release of amounts on deposit in such escrow account upon satisfaction of certain conditions or the occurrence of certain events. The term “Escrowed Proceeds” shall include any interest earned on the amounts held in escrow.

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

Euro” or “” means the single currency of the European Union as constituted by the Treaty on European Union and as referred to in the legislative measures of the European Council for the introduction of, changeover to or operation of a single or unified European currency.

Event of Default” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 7.01.

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

(a) the sum, without duplication, of:

(i) Consolidated Net Income for such period,

(ii) an amount equal to the amount of all non-cash charges to the extent deducted in arriving at such Consolidated Net Income (provided, in each case, that if any non-cash charge represents an accrual or reserve for cash items in any future period, the cash payment in respect thereof in such future period shall be subtracted from Excess Cash Flow in such future period),

(iii) decreases in Consolidated Working Capital, long-term receivables and long-term prepaid assets and increases in long-term deferred revenue for such period,

(iv) an amount equal to the aggregate net non-cash loss on dispositions by the Parent Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries during such period (other than dispositions in the ordinary course of business) to the extent deducted in arriving at such Consolidated Net Income, and

 

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(v) cash proceeds in respect of Swap Agreements during such period to the extent not included in arriving at such Consolidated Net Income; less:

(b) the sum, without duplication, of:

(i) an amount equal to the amount of all non-cash credits included in arriving at such Consolidated Net Income (including any amounts included in Consolidated Net Income pursuant to the last sentence of the definition of “Consolidated Net Income” to the extent such amounts are due but not received during such period) and cash charges included by virtue of any clause of the definition of “Consolidated Net Income” (other than cash charges in respect of Transaction Costs paid on or about the Effective Date to the extent financed with the proceeds of Indebtedness (other than revolving loans) incurred on the Effective Date),

(ii) the aggregate amount of all principal payments of Indebtedness, including (A) the principal component of payments in respect of Capitalized Leases and (B) the amount of any mandatory prepayment of Loans or Other Applicable Indebtedness to the extent required due to a Disposition that resulted in an increase to Consolidated Net Income and not in excess of the amount of such increase, but excluding (I) all other prepayments of Term Loans and Other Applicable Indebtedness and (II) all prepayments of revolving loans (including the Revolving Loans) made during such period (other than in respect of any revolving credit facility (excluding Revolving Loans) to the extent there is an equivalent permanent reduction in commitments thereunder), except to the extent financed with the proceeds of other long term Indebtedness (other than revolving Indebtedness or intercompany loans among the Parent Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries) (unless such long term Indebtedness has been repaid with internally generated cash) of the Parent Borrower or the Restricted Subsidiaries,

(iii) an amount equal to the aggregate net non-cash gain on dispositions by the Parent Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries during such period (other than dispositions in the ordinary course of business) to the extent included in arriving at such Consolidated Net Income,

(iv) increases in Consolidated Working Capital, long-term receivables, long-term prepaid assets and decreases in long-term deferred revenue for such period,

(v) cash payments by the Parent Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries during such period in respect of purchase price holdbacks, earn out obligations, or long-term liabilities of the Parent Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries other than Indebtedness to the extent such payments are not expensed during such period or are not deducted in calculating Consolidated Net Income except to the extent financed with the proceeds of other long term Indebtedness (other than revolving Indebtedness or intercompany loans among the Parent Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries) (unless such long term Indebtedness has been repaid with internally generated cash) of the Parent Borrower or the Restricted Subsidiaries,

(vi) the amount of taxes (including penalties and interest) paid in cash and/or tax reserves set aside or payable (without duplication) in such period to the extent they exceed the amount of tax expense deducted in determining Consolidated Net Income for such period,

(vii) the aggregate amount of expenditures actually made by the Parent Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries in cash during such period (including expenditures for the payment of financing fees and cash restructuring charges but excluding cash expenditures reducing the amount of Term Loans required to be prepaid pursuant to Section 2.11(d)) to the extent that such expenditures are not expensed during such period or are not deducted in calculating Consolidated Net Income,

 

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

(ix) cash expenditures in respect of Swap Agreements during such period to the extent not deducted in arriving at such Consolidated Net Income, and

(x) without duplication of amounts deducted from Excess Cash Flow in prior periods, the aggregate amount of cash expected to be paid by the Parent Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries in respect of accrued and unpaid bonus expenses and legal settlement reserves as of the end of such period (the “Accrued Expenses”) and expected to be paid during the subsequent Test Period; provided that (A) to the extent the aggregate amount of internally generated cash actually utilized to pay such Accrued Expenses during such subsequent Test Period is less than the Accrued Expenses reducing Excess Cash Flow pursuant to this clause (viii) in the prior Test Period, the amount of such shortfall shall be added to the calculation of Excess Cash Flow at the end of such subsequent Test Period and (B) in no event shall Excess Cash Flow in such subsequent Test Period be reduced by the payment of Accrued Expenses during such subsequent Test Period to the extent the amount of such Accrued Expenses have reduced Excess Cash flow in the prior Test Period.

Exchange Act” means the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time.

Excluded Accounts” means (a) payroll, healthcare and other employee wage and benefit accounts, (b) tax accounts, including, without limitation, sales tax accounts, (c) escrow, defeasance and redemption accounts, (d) fiduciary or trust accounts, (e) disbursement accounts, (f) cash collateral accounts subject to Permitted Liens and (g) the funds or other property held in or maintained for such purposes in any such account described in clauses (a) through (f).

Excluded Affiliates” means, collectively, any Affiliates of any of the Lead Arrangers that are engaged as principals primarily in private equity, mezzanine financing or venture capital.

Excluded Assets” means (a) any fee-owned real property, (b) all leasehold interests in real property, (c) any governmental licenses or state or local franchises, charters or authorizations, to the extent a security interest in any such license, franchise, charter or authorization would be prohibited or restricted thereby (including any legally effective prohibition or restriction, but excluding any prohibition or restriction that is ineffective under the Uniform Commercial Code of any applicable jurisdiction), (d) any assets the pledge or grant of a security interest in which is prohibited by applicable law, rule or regulation (including any legally effective requirement to obtain the consent of any Governmental Authority, but excluding any prohibition or restriction that is ineffective under the Uniform Commercial Code or other applicable law), (e) Equity Interests of (x) Unrestricted Subsidiaries, (y) Immaterial Subsidiaries (except to the extent a security interest therein can be perfected by filing of a UCC financing Statement) and (z) not-for-profit Subsidiaries, captive insurance companies and other special purpose subsidiaries, (f) any asset if, to the extent that and for so long as the grant of a Lien thereon to secure the Secured Obligations is prohibited by any Requirements of Law (other than to the extent that any such prohibition would be rendered ineffective pursuant to the Uniform Commercial Code or any other applicable Requirements of Law) or would require consent or approval of any Governmental Authority (unless such consent or approval has been obtained) but excluding any prohibition or restriction that is ineffective under the Uniform Commercial Code of any applicable jurisdiction, (g) margin stock and, to the extent prohibited by, or creating an enforceable right of termination in favor of any other party thereto (other than any Loan Party) under the terms of any applicable Organizational Documents, joint venture agreement or equityholders’ agreement after giving effect to the applicable anti-assignment provisions of the Uniform Commercial Code of any applicable jurisdiction, Equity Interests in any Person other than the Parent Borrower and wholly-owned Restricted Subsidiaries, (h) assets to the extent a security interest in such assets would result in material adverse tax consequences to the Parent Borrower or one of its subsidiaries as reasonably determined by the Parent Borrower in consultation with the Administrative Agent, (i) any intent-to-use trademark application prior to the filing of a “Statement of Use” or “Amendment to Allege Use” with respect thereto, (j) any lease, license or other agreement or any property subject thereto (including pursuant to a purchase money security interest or similar arrangement) to the extent that a grant of a security interest therein would violate or invalidate

 

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such lease, license or agreement or purchase money arrangement or create a breach, default or right of termination in favor of any other party thereto (other than any Loan Party) or otherwise require consent of any party thereto (other than any Loan Party) unless such consent has been obtained in each case, after giving effect to the applicable anti-assignment provisions of the Uniform Commercial Code of any applicable jurisdiction or other similar applicable law, other than proceeds and receivables thereof, the assignment of which is expressly deemed effective under the Uniform Commercial Code of any applicable jurisdiction or other similar applicable law notwithstanding such prohibition, (k) receivables and related assets (or interests therein) (A) sold to any Receivables Subsidiary or (B) otherwise pledged, factored, transferred or sold in connection with any Permitted Receivables Financing, (l) commercial tort claims with a value of less than $15,000,000 and letter-of-credit rights with a value of less than $15,000,000 (except to the extent a security interest therein can be perfected by a UCC filing), (m) Vehicles and other assets subject to certificates of title, (n) any aircraft, airframes, aircraft engines or helicopters, or any equipment or other assets constituting a part thereof (except to the extent a security interest therein can be perfected by filing a UCC financing statement), (o) any and all assets and personal property owned or held by any Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party (including any Unrestricted Subsidiary), (p) any proceeds from any issuance of Indebtedness permitted to be incurred under Section 6.01 that are paid into an escrow account to be released upon satisfaction of certain conditions or the occurrence of certain events, including cash or Permitted Investments set aside at the time of the incurrence of such Indebtedness, in each case, to the extent such proceeds, cash or Permitted Investments prefund the payment of interest or premium or discount on such indebtedness (or any costs related to the issuance of such indebtedness) and are held in such escrow account or similar arrangement to be applied for such purpose and (q) Excluded Accounts.

Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, other goods, chattel paper, investment property, documents of title, instruments, money, intangibles and other assets shall be deemed to be “Excluded Assets” if the Administrative Agent and the Parent Borrower mutually agree that the cost or other consequences of obtaining or perfecting a security interest in such goods, chattel paper, investment property, documents of title, instruments, money, intangibles and other assets is excessive in relation to either the value of such goods, chattel paper, investment property, documents of title, instruments, money, intangibles and other assets as Collateral or to the practical benefit of the Lenders of the security afforded thereby.

Excluded Subsidiary” means any of the following (except as otherwise provided in clause (b) of the definition of “Subsidiary Loan Party”): (a) any Subsidiary that is not a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Parent Borrower on the Effective Date or, if later, on the date it first becomes a Subsidiary, (b) each Subsidiary listed on Schedule 1.01(a), (c) each Unrestricted Subsidiary, (d) each Immaterial Subsidiary, (e) any Subsidiary that is prohibited by (i) applicable Requirements of Law or (ii) any contractual obligation existing on the Effective Date or on the date any such Subsidiary is acquired (so long in respect of any such contractual prohibition such prohibition is not incurred in contemplation of such acquisition), in each case from guaranteeing the Secured Obligations or which would require governmental (including regulatory) consent, approval, license or authorization (unless such consent, approval, license or authorization has been obtained) to provide a Guarantee (unless such governmental consent, approval, license or authorization has been obtained), or for which the provision of a Guarantee would result in a material adverse tax consequence (including as a result of the operation of Section 956 of the Code or any similar law or regulation in any applicable jurisdiction) to the Parent Borrower or one of its subsidiaries (as reasonably determined by the Parent Borrower in consultation with the Administrative Agent), (f) any direct or indirect Foreign Subsidiary, (g) any Foreign Subsidiary of the Co-Borrower that is a CFC within the meaning of Section 957 of the Code, (h) any FSHCO, (i) any other Subsidiary excused from becoming a Loan Party pursuant to clause (a) of the last paragraph of the definition of the term “Collateral and Guarantee Requirement,” (j) each Receivables Subsidiary and (k) any not-for-profit Subsidiaries, captive insurance companies or other special purpose subsidiaries designated by the Parent Borrower from time to time. For the avoidance of doubt and notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, neither Borrower shall constitute an Excluded Subsidiary.

Excluded Swap Obligation” means, with respect to any Guarantor, (a) any Swap Obligation if, and to the extent that, all or a portion of the Guarantee of such Guarantor of, or the grant by such Guarantor of a security interest to secure, as applicable, such Swap Obligation (or any Guarantee thereof) is or becomes illegal under the Commodity Exchange Act or any rule, regulation or order of the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (or the application or official interpretation of any thereof) by virtue of such Guarantor’s failure for any reason to constitute an “eligible contract participant” as defined in the Commodity Exchange Act (determined after giving effect to any applicable keep well, support, or other agreement for the benefit of such Guarantor and any and all

 

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Guarantees of such Guarantor’s Swap Obligations by other Loan Parties) at the time the Guarantee of such Guarantor, or a grant by such Guarantor of a security interest, becomes effective with respect to such Swap Obligation or (b) any other Swap Obligation designated as an “Excluded Swap Obligation” of such Guarantor as specified in any agreement between the relevant Loan Parties and counterparty applicable to such Swap Obligations. If a Swap Obligation arises under a Master Agreement governing more than one Swap, such exclusion shall apply only to the portion of such Swap Obligation that is attributable to Swaps for which such Guarantee or security interest is or becomes excluded in accordance with the first sentence of this definition.

Excluded Taxes” means, with respect to the Administrative Agent, any Lender or any other recipient of any payment to be made by or on account of any obligation of any Loan Party hereunder or under any other Loan Document, (a) Taxes imposed on (or measured by) its net income or profits (however denominated), branch profits Taxes, and franchise Taxes, in each case (i) imposed by a jurisdiction as a result of such recipient being organized or having its principal office located in or, in the case of any Lender, having its applicable Lending Office located in, such jurisdiction or (ii) that are Other Connection Taxes, (b) any Tax that is attributable to such Lender’s failure to comply with Section 2.17(d), (c) any U.S. federal withholding Taxes imposed pursuant to a Requirement of Law in effect at the time such Lender (i) becomes a party hereto, other than pursuant to an assignment request by the Parent Borrower under Section 2.19 or (ii) designates a new Lending Office, except, in each case, to the extent that such Lender (or its assignor, if any) was entitled, immediately prior to the time of designation of a new Lending Office (or assignment), to receive additional amounts with respect to such withholding Tax under Section 2.17(a) and (d) any withholding Tax imposed pursuant to FATCA.

Existing Credit Agreement” means that certain Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of March 6, 2020 among the Co-Borrower, certain of the Loan Parties, certain financial institutions as lenders and the Barclays Bank PLC, as administrative agent.

Existing Credit Agreement Indebtedness” means the principal, interest, fees and other amounts, other than contingent obligations not due and payable, outstanding under the Existing Credit Agreement.

Fair Market Value” means with respect to any asset or group of assets on any date of determination, the value of the consideration obtainable in a sale of such asset at such date of determination assuming a sale by a willing seller to a willing purchaser dealing at arm’s length and arranged in an orderly manner over a reasonable period of time having regard to the nature and characteristics of such asset. Except as otherwise expressly set forth herein, such value shall be determined in good faith by the Parent Borrower.

Fair Value” means the amount at which the assets (both tangible and intangible), in their entirety, of the Parent Borrower and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole would change hands between a willing buyer and a willing seller, within a commercially reasonable period of time, each having reasonable knowledge of the relevant facts, with neither being under any compulsion to act.

FATCA” means Sections 1471 through 1474 of the Code as in effect on the date hereof (or any amended or successor version that is substantively comparable and not materially more onerous to comply with), any current or future Treasury regulations promulgated thereunder or official administrative interpretations thereof, any agreements entered into pursuant to current Section 1471(b)(1) of the Code (or any amended or successor version described above) and any intergovernmental agreements, treaties or conventions (and related legislation or official guidance) implementing the foregoing.

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

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

 

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Financial Performance Covenants” mean the covenants set forth in Section 6.10.

First Lien Intercreditor Agreement” means an intercreditor agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit E or any other intercreditor agreement reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the Borrowers.

First Lien Leverage Ratio” means, on any date, the ratio of (a) Consolidated First Lien Debt as of such date to (b) Consolidated EBITDA for the Test Period as of such date.

Fitch” means Fitch Ratings, Inc. and any successor to its rating agency business.

Fixed Amounts” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 1.05(a).

Floor means 0.00% per annum.

Foreign Prepayment Event” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.11(g).

Foreign Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary that is organized under the laws of a jurisdiction other than the United States of America, any state thereof or the District of Columbia.

FSHCO” means any Domestic Subsidiary of the Co-Borrower that has no material assets other than Equity Interests, or Equity Interests and Indebtedness, in one or more Foreign Subsidiaries of the Parent Borrower that are CFCs.

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

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

GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America, as in effect from time to time; provided, however, that if the Parent Borrower notifies the Administrative Agent that the Parent Borrower requests an amendment to any provision hereof to eliminate the effect of any change occurring after the Effective Date in GAAP or in the application thereof on the operation of such provision (or if the Administrative Agent notifies the Parent Borrower that the Required Lenders request an amendment to any provision hereof for such purpose), regardless of whether any such notice is given before or after such change in GAAP or in the application thereof, then such provision shall be interpreted on the basis of GAAP as in effect and applied immediately before such change shall have become effective until such notice shall have been withdrawn or such provision amended in accordance herewith. Notwithstanding any other provision contained herein, (a) all terms of an accounting or financial nature used herein shall be construed, and all computations of amounts and ratios referred to herein shall be made, without giving effect to any election under FASB Accounting Standards Codification 825-Financial Instruments, or any successor thereto (including pursuant to the FASB Accounting Standards Codification), to value any Indebtedness of the Parent Borrower or any subsidiary at “fair value,” as defined therein and (b) the amount of any Indebtedness under GAAP with respect to Capital Lease Obligations shall be determined in accordance with the definition of Capital Lease Obligations and Section 1.04(g).

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

 

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Governmental Approvals” means all authorizations, consents, approvals, permits, licenses and exemptions of, registrations and filings with, and reports to, Governmental Authorities.

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

Granting Lender” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.04(f).

Guarantee” of or by any Person (the “guarantor”) means any obligation, contingent or otherwise, of the guarantor guaranteeing or having the economic effect of guaranteeing any Indebtedness of any other Person (the “primary obligor”) in any manner, whether directly or indirectly, and including any obligation of the guarantor, direct or indirect, (a) to purchase or pay (or advance or supply funds for the purchase or payment of) such Indebtedness or to purchase (or to advance or supply funds for the purchase of) any security for the payment thereof, (b) to purchase or lease property, securities or services for the purpose of assuring the owner of such Indebtedness of the payment thereof, (c) to maintain working capital, equity capital or any other financial statement condition or liquidity of the primary obligor so as to enable the primary obligor to pay such Indebtedness or (d) as an account party in respect of any letter of credit or letter of guaranty issued to support such Indebtedness; provided that the term Guarantee shall not include endorsements for collection or deposit in the ordinary course of business or customary and reasonable indemnity obligations in effect on the Effective Date or entered into in connection with any acquisition or disposition of assets permitted under this Agreement (other than such obligations with respect to Indebtedness). The amount of any Guarantee shall be deemed to be an amount equal to the stated or determinable amount of the related primary obligation, or portion thereof, in respect of which such Guarantee is made or, if not stated or determinable, the maximum reasonably anticipated liability in respect thereof as determined in good faith by a Financial Officer. The term “Guarantee” as a verb has a corresponding meaning.

Guarantee Agreement” means the Guarantee Agreement among the Loan Parties and the Administrative Agent, substantially in the form of Exhibit C.

Guarantors” means collectively, (a) the Subsidiary Loan Parties and (b) with respect to the Secured Obligations of the Subsidiary Loan Parties, the Borrowers.

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

Identified Participating Lenders” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.11(a)(ii)(C).

Identified Qualifying Lenders” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.11(a)(ii)(D).

IFRS” means international accounting standards as promulgated by the International Accounting Standards Board.

Immaterial Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary that is not a Material Subsidiary.

Immediate Family Members” means with respect to any individual, such individual’s child, stepchild, grandchild or more remote descendant, parent, stepparent, grandparent, spouse, former spouse, qualified domestic partner, sibling, mother-in-law, father-in-law, son-in-law and daughter-in-law (including adoptive relationships) and any trust, partnership or other bona fide estate-planning vehicle the only beneficiaries of which are any of the foregoing individuals or any private foundation or fund that is controlled by any of the foregoing individuals or any donor-advised fund of which any such individual is the donor.

 

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Incremental Cap” means, as of any date of determination,

(I) an amount equal to the sum of (the “Free and Clear Incremental Amount”):

(a) the greater of (i) $240,000,000 and (ii) 100% of Consolidated EBITDA for the most recently ended Test Period as of such time determined on a Pro Forma Basis, plus

(b) the sum of the aggregate principal amount of (x) voluntary prepayments, repayments, redemptions, repurchases and debt buybacks (in an amount equal to the principal amount of the Indebtedness subject thereto) of Term Loans, any Incremental Term Loans and any Incremental Equivalent Debt or any other Indebtedness incurred under the Free and Clear Incremental Amount (including open market purchases at or below par, payments through Dutch auction procedures and payments utilizing Section 9.04(h) or any other analogous “yank-a-bank” provision in the documentation governing such Indebtedness) by the Parent Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries and (y) permanent commitment reductions in respect of the Revolving Credit Facility or any other revolving credit facility that is incurred under the Free and Clear Incremental Amount, except, in each case under this clause (b), to the extent funded with proceeds of long-term Indebtedness of the Parent Borrower or the Restricted Subsidiaries (other than (1) any revolving Indebtedness, (2) any intercompany loans among the Parent Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries or (3) Incremental Facilities or Incremental Equivalent Debt then being incurred in reliance on this clause (b) or clause (c) below) (other than any revolving credit facility that is Incremental Equivalent Debt or is incurred in reliance on the Free and Clear Incremental Amount, unless the commitments under such revolving credit facility have been permanently reduced in connection therewith), plus

(c) the sum of the aggregate principal amount of voluntary prepayments, repayments, redemptions, repurchases and buybacks of, and, in the case of revolving credit commitments, permanent commitment reductions in respect of (in each case, an amount equal to the principal amount of the Indebtedness subject thereto), any Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness, Other Term Loan, Other Revolving Credit Commitment or any Permitted Refinancing, as applicable, previously applied, directly or indirectly, to the prepayment, repayment, redemption, repurchase, buyback or permanent commitment reduction, as applicable, of any Indebtedness or revolving credit commitment, as applicable, described in clause (b) above (including open market purchases at or below par, payments through Dutch auction procedures and payments utilizing Section 9.04(h) or any other analogous “yank-a-bank” provision in the documentation governing such Indebtedness) by the Parent Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, except, in each case under this clause (c), to the extent funded with proceeds of long-term Indebtedness of the Parent Borrower or the Restricted Subsidiaries (other than (1) any revolving Indebtedness, (2) any intercompany loans among the Parent Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries or (3) Incremental Facilities or Incremental Equivalent Debt then being incurred in reliance on this clause (c) or clause (b) above), minus

(d) the aggregate principal amount of all Incremental Facilities and all Incremental Equivalent Debt outstanding at such time that was incurred in reliance on the foregoing clauses (a) through (c), and

(II) the maximum aggregate principal amount (the “Ratio Incremental Amount”) that can be incurred without causing the First Lien Leverage Ratio, after giving effect to the incurrence or establishment, as applicable, of any Incremental Facilities or Incremental Equivalent Debt (which shall be deemed to include the full amounts of any Incremental Revolving Commitment Increase or Incremental Delayed Draw Term Facility, in each case established at such time, assuming that the full amount of such Incremental Revolving Commitment Increase or Incremental Delayed Draw Term Facility is fully drawn) and the use of proceeds thereof, on a Pro Forma Basis (but without giving effect to any substantially simultaneous incurrence of any Incremental Facility or Incremental Equivalent Debt made pursuant to the Free and Clear Incremental Amount or under the Revolving Credit Facility in connection therewith), to exceed either (x) 2.75 to 1.00 for the most recent Test Period then ended or (y) if incurred in connection with a Permitted Acquisition or other Investment permitted pursuant to Section 6.04, the First Lien Leverage Ratio immediately prior to the incurrence of such Indebtedness; provided that in the case of any Incremental Facility or Incremental Equivalent Debt consisting of junior priority secured notes or loans or unsecured notes or loans, in lieu of compliance with the First Lien Leverage Ratio test set forth above, the Borrowers shall instead be in compliance, on a Pro Forma Basis (and without netting any cash proceeds of such incurrence), with

 

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either a Total Leverage Ratio (recomputed as of the last day of the most recently ended fiscal quarter of the Parent Borrower for which financial statements are internally available) equal to or less than (x) 5.00:1.00 or (y) if incurred in connection with a Permitted Acquisition or other Investment permitted pursuant to Section 6.04, the Total Leverage Ratio immediately prior to the incurrence of such Incremental Equivalent Debt; provided further that the amount of Incremental Equivalent Debt that may be incurred by non-Loan Parties pursuant to the immediately preceding proviso shall not exceed the greater of $85,000,000 and 35% of Consolidated EBITDA for the most recently ended Test Period as of such time determined on a Pro Forma Basis.

Incremental Delayed Draw Term Facility” means any Incremental Facility or Incremental Equivalent Debt in the form of a delayed draw term loan facility.

Incremental Delayed Draw Term Loans” means loans made pursuant to under any Incremental Delayed Draw Term Facility.

Incremental Equivalent Debt” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 6.01(a)(xxiv).

Incremental Facilities” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.20(a).

Incremental Facility Amendment” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.20(f).

Incremental Revolving Commitment Increase” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.20(a).

Incremental Term Loan” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.20(a).

Incurrence-Based Amounts” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 1.05(a).

Indebtedness” of any Person means, without duplication, (a) all obligations of such Person for borrowed money, (b) all obligations of such Person evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or similar instruments (including the Cree Note), (c) all obligations of such Person under conditional sale or other title retention agreements relating to property acquired by such Person, (d) all obligations of such Person in respect of the deferred purchase price of property or services (excluding trade accounts or payables, obligations payable in the ordinary course of business and any earn-out obligation until such obligation becomes a liability on the balance sheet of such Person in accordance with GAAP and if not paid within 60 days after being due and payable), (e) all Indebtedness of others secured by (or for which the holder of such Indebtedness has an existing right, contingent or otherwise, to be secured by) any Lien on property owned or acquired by such Person, whether or not the Indebtedness secured thereby has been assumed, (f) all Guarantees by such Person of Indebtedness of others, (g) all Capital Lease Obligations of such Person, (h) all obligations, contingent or otherwise, of such Person as an account party in respect of letters of credit and letters of guaranty and (i) all obligations, contingent or otherwise, of such Person in respect of bankers’ acceptances; provided that the term “Indebtedness” shall not include (i) deferred or prepaid revenue, (ii) purchase price holdbacks in respect of a portion of the purchase price of an asset to satisfy warranty or other unperformed obligations of the seller, (iii) any obligations attributable to the exercise of appraisal rights and the settlement of any claims or actions (whether actual, contingent or potential) with respect thereto, (iv) [reserved], (v) accrued expenses and royalties, (vi) asset retirement obligations and other pension related obligations (including pensions and retiree medical care) that are not overdue by more than 60 days and (vii) Non-Finance Lease Obligations. The Indebtedness of any Person shall include the Indebtedness of any other entity (including any partnership in which such Person is a general partner) to the extent such Person is liable therefor as a result of such Person’s ownership interest in or other relationship with such entity, except to the extent the terms of such Indebtedness provide that such Person is not liable therefor. The amount of Indebtedness of any Person for purposes of clause (e) above shall (unless such Indebtedness has been assumed by such Person) be deemed to be equal to the lesser of (A) the aggregate unpaid amount of such Indebtedness and (B) the Fair Market Value of the property encumbered thereby as determined by such Person in good faith. For all purposes hereof, the Indebtedness of the Parent Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries shall exclude (i) intercompany liabilities arising from their cash management, tax, and accounting operations and intercompany loans, advances or Indebtedness having a term not exceeding 364 days (inclusive of any rollover or extensions of terms) and made in the ordinary course of business, (ii) obligations under or in respect of any Permitted Receivables Financing, (iii) obligations, to the extent such obligations would otherwise constitute Indebtedness, under any agreement that has been defeased or satisfied and discharged pursuant to the terms of such agreement or (iv) indebtedness that constitutes “Indebtedness” merely by virtue of a pledge of an Investment (without any accompanying guaranty) in an Unrestricted Subsidiary.

 

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Notwithstanding the foregoing, other than in connection with making an LCT Election, Indebtedness will be deemed not to include obligations (“Escrowed Obligations”) incurred or otherwise outstanding in advance of, and the proceeds of which are to be applied in connection with, a transaction (including any repayment, prepayment or redemption as to which a notice thereof has been delivered to the applicable holders thereof), solely to the extent that the proceeds thereof are and continue to be held in an escrow, trust, collateral or similar account or arrangement (collectively, an “Escrow”) and are not otherwise made available for any other purpose (it being understood that in any event, any such proceeds held in such Escrow shall not be deemed to represent Available Cash for purposes of calculating the First Lien Leverage Ratio or Total Leverage Ratio); provided that upon the release of the proceeds of Escrowed Obligations from such Escrow such obligations, to the extent outstanding after such release, shall constitute Indebtedness that is incurred on such date.

Indemnified Taxes” means all Taxes, other than Excluded Taxes, imposed on or with respect to any payment made by or on account of any obligation of any Loan Party under any Loan Document.

Indemnitee” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.03(b).

Information” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.12(a).

Information Memorandum” means the information memorandum in connection with the syndication of the Commitments and the Loans.

Intellectual Property” has the meaning assigned to such term in the Collateral Agreement.

Intercreditor Agreements” means any First Lien Intercreditor Agreement, any Second Lien Intercreditor Agreement or any other intercreditor agreement reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the Borrowers.

Interest Coverage Ratio” means, as of any date, the ratio of (a) Consolidated EBITDA to (b) Consolidated Interest Expense, in each case for the Test Period as of such date.

Interest Election Request” means a request by a Borrower in accordance with Section 2.07 and substantially in the form of Exhibit R or such other form as may be reasonably approved by the Administrative Agent (including any form on an electronic platform or electronic transmission system as shall be approved by the Administrative Agent), appropriately completed and signed by a Responsible Officer of such Borrower.

Interest Payment Date” means (a) with respect to any ABR Loan (including a Swingline Loan), the last Business Day of each February, May, August and November and (b) with respect to any SOFR Loan, the last Business Day of the Interest Period applicable to the Borrowing of which such Loan is a part and, in the case of a SOFR Borrowing with an Interest Period of more than three months’ duration, each day prior to the last day of such Interest Period that occurs at intervals of three months’ duration after the first day of such Interest Period.

Interest Period” means, with respect to any SOFR Borrowing, the period commencing on the date of such Borrowing and ending on the numerically corresponding day in the calendar month that is one, three or six months thereafter as selected by a Borrower in its Borrowing Request, provided that (a) if any Interest Period would end on a day other than a Business Day, such Interest Period shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day unless such next succeeding Business Day would fall in the next calendar month, in which case such Interest Period shall end on the next preceding Business Day, (b) any Interest Period that commences on the last Business Day of a calendar month (or on a day for which there is no numerically corresponding day in the last calendar month of such Interest Period) shall end on the last Business Day of the last calendar month of such Interest Period and (c) no Interest Period shall extend beyond (i) in the case of Term Loans, the Term Maturity Date and (ii) in the case of Revolving Loans, the Revolving Maturity Date. For purposes hereof, the date of a Borrowing initially shall be the date on which such Borrowing is made and thereafter shall be the effective date of the most recent conversion or continuation of such Borrowing.

 

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Investment” means, as to any Person, any direct or indirect acquisition or investment by such Person, whether by means of (a) the purchase or other acquisition of Equity Interests or Indebtedness or other securities of another Person, (b) a loan, advance or capital contribution to, Guarantee or assumption of Indebtedness of, or purchase or other acquisition of any other Indebtedness or equity participation or interest in, another Person, including any partnership or joint venture interest in such other Person (excluding, in the case of the Parent Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries, their parent companies and their subsidiaries (i) intercompany advances arising from their cash management, tax, and accounting operations and (ii) intercompany loans, advances, or Indebtedness having a term not exceeding 364 days (inclusive of any rollover or extensions of terms) and made in the ordinary course of business) or (c) the purchase or other acquisition (in one transaction or a series of transactions) of all or substantially all of the property and assets or business of another Person or assets constituting a business unit, line of business or division of such Person. The amount, as of any date of determination, of (i) any Investment in the form of a loan or an advance shall be the principal amount thereof outstanding on such date, minus any cash payments actually received by such investor representing interest in respect of such Investment (to the extent any such payment to be deducted does not exceed the remaining principal amount of such Investment and without duplication of amounts increasing the Available Amount or the Available Equity Amount), but without any adjustment for write-downs or write-offs (including as a result of forgiveness of any portion thereof) with respect to such loan or advance after the date thereof, (ii) any Investment in the form of a Guarantee shall be equal to the stated or determinable amount of the related primary obligation, or portion thereof, in respect of which such Guarantee is made or, if not stated or determinable, the maximum reasonably anticipated liability in respect thereof, as determined in good faith by a Financial Officer, (iii) any Investment in the form of a transfer of Equity Interests or other non-cash property by the investor to the investee, including any such transfer in the form of a capital contribution, shall be the Fair Market Value of such Equity Interests or other property as of the time of the transfer, minus any payments actually received by such investor representing a return of capital of, or dividends or other distributions in respect of, such Investment (to the extent such payments do not exceed, in the aggregate, the original amount of such Investment and without duplication of amounts increasing the Available Amount or the Available Equity Amount), but without any other adjustment for increases or decreases in value of, or write-ups, write-downs or write-offs with respect to, such Investment after the date of such Investment, and (iv) any Investment (other than any Investment referred to in clause (i), (ii) or (iii) above) by the specified Person in the form of a purchase or other acquisition for value of any Equity Interests, evidences of Indebtedness or other securities of any other Person shall be the original cost of such Investment (including any Indebtedness assumed in connection therewith), plus (A) the cost of all additions thereto and minus (B) the amount of any portion of such Investment that has been repaid to the investor in cash as a repayment of principal or a return of capital, and of any cash payments actually received by such investor representing interest, dividends or other distributions in respect of such Investment (to the extent the amounts referred to in this clause (B) do not, in the aggregate, exceed the original cost of such Investment plus the costs of additions thereto and without duplication of amounts increasing the Available Amount or the Available Equity Amount), but without any other adjustment for increases or decreases in value of, or write-ups, write-downs or write-offs with respect to, such Investment after the date of such Investment. For purposes of Section 6.04, if an Investment involves the acquisition of more than one Person, the amount of such Investment shall be allocated among the acquired Persons in accordance with GAAP; provided that pending the final determination of the amounts to be so allocated in accordance with GAAP, such allocation shall be as reasonably determined by a Financial Officer.

Investor” means a holder of Equity Interests in the Parent Borrower (or any direct or indirect parent thereof).

ISDA CD Definitions” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.02(h).

ISP98” means the “International Standby Practices 1998” published by the Institute of International Banking Law & Practice, Inc. (or such later version thereof as may be in effect at the time of issuance).

 

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Issuing Bank” means (a) each Person listed on Schedule 2.01(b) with respect to such Person’s Letter of Credit Commitment and (b) each other Person that shall have become an Issuing Bank hereunder as provided in Section 2.05(k) (other than any Person that shall have ceased to be an Issuing Bank as provided in Section 2.05(l)), each in its capacity as an issuer of Letters of Credit hereunder. Each Issuing Bank may, in its discretion, arrange for one or more Letters of Credit to be issued by Affiliates of such Issuing Bank, in which case the term “Issuing Bank” shall include any such Affiliate with respect to Letters of Credit issued by such Affiliate and for all purposes of the Loan Documents. Each Issuing Bank may cause Letters of Credit to be issued by unaffiliated financial institutions and such Letters of Credit shall be treated as issued by such Issuing Bank for all purposes under the Loan Documents. In the event that there is more than one Issuing Bank at any time, references herein and in the other Loan Documents to the Issuing Bank shall be deemed to refer to the Issuing Bank in respect of the applicable Letter of Credit or to all Issuing Banks, as the context requires.

Joint Bookrunners” means Citizens Bank, N.A., Fifth Third Bank, National Association and Santander Bank, N.A.

Judgment Currency” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.14(b).

Junior Financing” means any Material Indebtedness of any Loan Party (other than any permitted intercompany Indebtedness owing to the Parent Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary) that is contractually subordinated in right of payment to the Loan Document Obligations.

Latest Maturity Date” means, at any date of determination, the latest maturity or expiration date applicable to any Loan or Commitment hereunder at such time, including the latest maturity or expiration date of any Other Term Loan, any Other Term Commitment, any Other Revolving Loan or any Other Revolving Commitment, in each case as extended in accordance with this Agreement from time to time.

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

LC Exposure” means, at any time, the sum of (a) the Dollar Equivalent of the aggregate amount of all Letters of Credit that remains available for drawing at such time (including, without limitation, any and all Letters of Credit for which documents have been presented that have not been honored or dishonored) and (b) the Dollar Equivalent of the aggregate amount of all LC Disbursements that have not yet been reimbursed by or on behalf of such Borrower at such time. The LC Exposure of any Revolving Lender at any time shall be its Applicable Percentage of the total LC Exposure at such time. For all purposes of this Agreement, if on any date of determination a Letter of Credit has expired by its terms but any amount may still be drawn thereunder by reason of the operation of Rule 3.13 or Rule 3.14 of the ISP98, such Letter of Credit shall be deemed to be “outstanding” in the amount so remaining available to be drawn. Unless otherwise specified herein, the amount of a Letter of Credit at any time shall be deemed to be the stated amount of such Letter of Credit in effect at such time; provided, that with respect to any Letter of Credit that, by its terms or the terms of any document related thereto, provides for one or more automatic increases in the stated amount thereof, the amount of such Letter of Credit shall be deemed to be the maximum stated amount of such Letter of Credit after giving effect to all such increases, whether or not such maximum stated amount is in effect at such time.

LCT Election” has the meaning provided in Section 1.09.

LCT Test Date” has the meaning provided in Section 1.09.

Lead Arrangers” means Citizens Bank, N.A., Fifth Third Bank, National Association and Santander Bank, N.A.

Lender-Related Person” has the meaning provided in Section 9.03(c).

Lenders” means the Persons listed on Schedule 2.01 and any other Person that shall have become a party hereto pursuant to an Assignment and Assumption, an Incremental Facility Amendment, a Loan Modification Agreement or a Refinancing Amendment, in each case, other than any such Person that ceases to be a party hereto pursuant to an Assignment and Assumption. Unless the context otherwise requires, the term “Lenders” includes each Issuing Bank and the Swingline Lender.

 

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Lending Office” means, as to any Lender, the office or offices of such Lender described as such in such Lender’s Administrative Questionnaire, or such other office or offices as a Lender may from time to time notify the Parent Borrower and the Administrative Agent, which office may include any Affiliate of such Lender or any domestic or foreign branch of such Lender or such Affiliate. Unless the context otherwise requires, each reference to a Lender shall include its applicable Lending Office.

Letter of Credit” means any letter of credit issued pursuant to this Agreement other than any such letter of credit that shall have ceased to be a “Letter of Credit” outstanding hereunder pursuant to Section 9.05. A Letter of Credit may be a commercial letter of credit or a standby letter of credit; provided, however, that (i) no Issuing Bank shall be required to issue commercial letters of credit and (ii) if any Issuing Bank agrees to issue any commercial letter of credit hereunder, such commercial letter of credit shall provide solely for cash payment upon presentation of a sight draft.

Letter of Credit Commitment” means an amount, as of the Effective Date, equal to $35,000,000; provided that, as to any Issuing Bank, such Issuing Bank’s Letter of Credit Commitment shall not exceed the amount set forth on Schedule 2.01(b) opposite such Issuing Bank’s name or, in the case of an Issuing Bank that becomes an Issuing Bank after the Effective Date, the amount notified in writing to the Administrative Agent by the Parent Borrower and such Issuing Bank; provided, further, that the Letter of Credit Commitment of any Issuing Bank may be increased or decreased if agreed in writing between the Parent Borrower and such Issuing Bank (each acting in its sole discretion) and notified to the Administrative Agent. The Letter of Credit Commitment is a sublimit of the Revolving Commitment and not in addition to the Revolving Commitment.

Letter of Credit Expiration Date” means the day that is three (3) Business Days prior to the Maturity Date then in effect for the Revolving Credit Facility.

Liabilities” means the recorded liabilities (including contingent liabilities that would be recorded in accordance with GAAP) of the Parent Borrower and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole, as of the Effective Date after giving effect to the consummation of the Transactions, determined in accordance with GAAP consistently applied.

Lien” means, with respect to any asset, (a) any mortgage, deed of trust, lien, pledge, hypothecation, encumbrance, charge or security interest in, on or of such asset and (b) the interest of a vendor or a lessor under any conditional sale agreement, capital lease or title retention agreement (or any financing lease having substantially the same economic effect as any of the foregoing) relating to such asset; provided that in no event shall an operating lease be deemed to constitute a Lien.

Limited Condition Transaction” means (a) (i) any Acquisition Transaction or any other acquisition or Investment permitted by this Agreement and (ii) Investments, the incurrence or issuance of Indebtedness and Liens, repayments, repurchases, redemptions or refinancing of Indebtedness, Restricted Payments and the designation of any Restricted Subsidiaries or Unrestricted Subsidiaries, in each case, in connection with any of the transactions described in the foregoing sub-clause (i), (b) any repayment, repurchase, redemption or refinancing of Indebtedness with respect to which a notice of repayment (or similar notice, which may be conditional) is required to be delivered and (c) any dividends or distributions on, or redemptions of, Equity Interests not prohibited by this Agreement declared or requiring irrevocable notice in advance thereof.

Loan Document Obligations” has the meaning specified in the Collateral Agreement.

Loan Documents” means this Agreement, any Refinancing Amendment, any Incremental Facility Amendment, any Loan Modification Agreement, the Guarantee Agreement, the Collateral Agreement, the Intercreditor Agreements, the other Security Documents and, except for purposes of Section 9.02, any promissory notes delivered pursuant to Section 2.09(e).

Loan Modification Agreement” means a Loan Modification Agreement, in form reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, among the Borrowers, the Administrative Agent and one or more Accepting Lenders, effecting one or more Permitted Amendments and such other amendments hereto and to the other Loan Documents as are contemplated by Section 2.24.

 

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Loan Modification Offer” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.24(a).

Loan Obligations” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.20.

Loan Parties” means the Parent Borrower, the Co-Borrower and the Subsidiary Loan Parties.

Loans” means the loans made by the Lenders to any Borrower pursuant to this Agreement.

Management Investors” means the present, future and/or former directors, officers, partners, members and employees of the Parent Borrower and/or any of their respective subsidiaries who are (directly or indirectly through one or more investment vehicles) Investors and any such Persons who become holders of Equity Interests in the Parent Borrower (or any direct or indirect parent thereof).

Master Agreement” has the meaning assigned to such term in the definition of “Swap Agreement.”

Material Acquisition” means any acquisition by the Parent Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary for consideration (including any assumed Indebtedness) in an aggregate amount greater than $50,000,000.

Material Adverse Effect” means any event, circumstance or condition that has had, or would reasonably be expected to have, a materially adverse effect on (a) the business or financial condition of the Parent Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, (b) the ability of the Parent Borrower and the other Loan Parties, taken as a whole, to perform their payment obligations under the Loan Documents or (c) the rights and remedies of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders (taken as a whole) under the Loan Documents.

Material Indebtedness” means, on any date of determination, any Indebtedness for borrowed money (other than the Loan Document Obligations), Capital Lease Obligations (other than, for the avoidance of doubt, Non-Finance Lease Obligations), unreimbursed drawings under letters of credit, third party Indebtedness obligations evidenced by notes or similar instruments or obligations in respect of one or more Swap Agreements, of any one or more of the Parent Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries in an aggregate principal amount exceeding the greater of (a) $50,000,000 and (b) 20% of Consolidated EBITDA for the most recently ended Test Period as of such time determined on a Pro Forma Basis; provided that in no event shall any Permitted Receivables Financing be considered Material Indebtedness for any purpose. For purposes of determining Material Indebtedness, the “principal amount” of the obligations in respect of any Swap Agreement at any time shall be the maximum aggregate amount (giving effect to any netting agreements) that the Parent Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary would be required to pay if such Swap Agreement were terminated at such time.

Material Subsidiary” means (a) each wholly-owned Restricted Subsidiary that, as of the last day of the fiscal quarter of the Parent Borrower most recently ended for which financial statements are available, had revenues or total assets for such quarter in excess of 5.0% of the consolidated revenues or total assets, as applicable, of the Parent Borrower for such quarter or that is designated by the Parent Borrower as a Material Subsidiary and (b) any group comprising wholly-owned Restricted Subsidiaries that each would not have been a Material Subsidiary under clause (a) but that, taken together, as of the last day of the fiscal quarter of the Parent Borrower most recently ended for which financial statements are available, had revenues or total assets for such quarter in excess of 10.0% of the consolidated revenues or total assets, as applicable, of the Parent Borrower for such quarter.

Maturity Carveout Amount” means, at the option of the Parent Borrower (in its sole discretion), the amount equal to (a) Indebtedness incurred with a final maturity date prior to the earliest maturity date otherwise expressly required under this Agreement with respect to such Indebtedness and/or a Weighted Average Life to Maturity shorter than the minimum Weighted Average Life to Maturity otherwise expressly required under this Agreement with respect to such Indebtedness in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed the greater (i) $25,000,000 and (ii) 10.0% of Consolidated EBITDA for Test Period then last ended determined on a Pro Forma Basis minus (b) the aggregate principal amount of (i) Incremental Term Loans utilizing the Maturity Carveout Amount pursuant to Section 2.20(b)(A)(I), (ii) Incremental Equivalent Debt utilizing the Maturity Carveout Amount pursuant to Section 2.20(b)(A)(I) and/or (iii) Maturity Carveout Refinancing Debt.

 

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Maximum Rate” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.16.

MFN Protection” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.20(b).

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

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

Net Proceeds” means, with respect to any event, (a) the proceeds received in respect of such event in cash or Permitted Investments, including (i) any cash or Permitted Investments received in respect of any non-cash proceeds, including any cash payments received by way of deferred payment of principal pursuant to a note or installment receivable or purchase price adjustment or earn-out (but excluding any interest payments), but only as and when received, (ii) in the case of a casualty, insurance proceeds that are actually received and (iii) in the case of a condemnation or similar event, condemnation awards and similar payments that are actually received, minus (b) the sum of (i) all fees and out-of-pocket expenses paid by any Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries in connection with such event (including attorney’s fees, investment banking fees, survey costs, title insurance premiums, and related search and recording charges, transfer taxes, deed or mortgage recording taxes, underwriting discounts and commissions, other customary expenses and brokerage, consultant, accountant and other customary fees), (ii) in the case of a Disposition of an asset (including pursuant to a Sale Leaseback or Casualty Event or similar proceeding), (A) any funded escrow established pursuant to the documents evidencing any Disposition to secure any indemnification obligations or adjustments to the purchase price associated with any such sale, transfer or disposition; provided that the amount of any subsequent reduction of such escrow (other than in connection with a payment in respect of any such liability) shall be deemed to be Net Proceeds occurring on the date of such reduction solely to the extent that the Borrowers and/or any Restricted Subsidiaries receives cash in an amount equal to the amount of such reduction, (B) the amount of all payments that are permitted hereunder and are made by the Borrowers and the Restricted Subsidiaries as a result of such event to repay Indebtedness (other than the Loans and any Indebtedness that is secured by a Lien on the Collateral ranking equal in priority (but without regard to the control of remedies)) secured by such asset or otherwise subject to mandatory prepayment as a result of such event, (C) the pro rata portion of net cash proceeds thereof (calculated without regard to this clause (C)) attributable to minority interests and not available for distribution to or for the account of the Borrowers and the Restricted Subsidiaries as a result thereof and (D) the amount of any liabilities directly associated with such asset and retained by the Borrowers or the Restricted Subsidiaries and (iii) the amount of all taxes paid (or reasonably estimated to be payable), including any withholding taxes estimated to be payable in connection with the repatriation of such Net Proceeds from a Foreign Subsidiary, and the amount of any reserves established by the Parent Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries to fund contingent liabilities reasonably estimated to be payable, in each case, in respect of such event, provided that any reduction at any time in the amount of any such reserves (other than as a result of payments made in respect thereof) shall be deemed to constitute the receipt by the Parent Borrower at such time of Net Proceeds in the amount of such reduction.

Net Short Lender” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.02(h).

New Contracts” has the meaning assigned to such term in the definition of “Consolidated EBITDA.”

New Project” means (a) each facility which is either a new facility, branch, data center or office or an expansion, relocation, remodeling or substantial modernization of an existing facility, branch, data center or office owned by any Borrower or the Subsidiaries which in fact commences operations and (b) each creation (in one or a series of related transactions) of a business unit to the extent such business unit commences operations or each expansion (in one or a series of related transactions) of business into a new market.

Non-Accepting Lender” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.24(c).

Non-Cash Compensation Expense” means any non-cash expenses and costs that result from the issuance of stock-based awards, partnership interest-based awards and similar incentive based compensation awards or arrangements.

 

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

Non-Finance Lease Obligation” means, as applied to any Person, any lease of any property (whether real, personal or mixed) by that Person as lessee that, in conformity with GAAP (for the avoidance of doubt, subject to Section 1.04(g)), is not and is not required to be accounted for as a capital lease or finance lease on the balance sheet of that Person. For the avoidance of doubt, a straight-line or operating lease shall be considered a Non-Finance Lease Obligation.

Not Otherwise Applied” means, with reference to the Available Amount or the Available Equity Amount, as applicable, that was not previously applied pursuant to Section 6.04(n), Section 6.08(a)(vii) or Section 6.08(b)(iv).

Notice of Loan Prepayment” means a notice of prepayment with respect to a Loan, which shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit S or such other form as may be reasonably approved by the Administrative Agent (including any form on an electronic platform or electronic transmission system as shall be approved by the Administrative Agent), appropriately completed and signed by a Responsible Officer.

NYFRB” means the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.

NYFRB Rate” means, for any day, the greater of (a) the Federal Funds Effective Rate in effect on such day and (b) the Overnight Bank Funding Rate in effect on such day (or for any day that is not a Business Day, for the immediately preceding Business Day); provided that if none of such rates are published for any day that is a Business Day, the term “NYFRB Rate” means the rate for a federal funds transaction quoted at 11:00 a.m. on such day received by the Administrative Agent from a federal funds broker of recognized standing selected by it; provided, further, that if any of the aforesaid rates as so determined be less than 0.00%, such rate shall be deemed to be 0.00% for purposes of this Agreement.

NYFRB’s Website” means the website of the NYFRB at http://www.newyorkfed.org, or any successor source.

Offered Amount” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.11(a)(ii)(D).

Offered Discount” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.11(a)(ii)(D).

OID” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.20(b).

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

Other Applicable Indebtedness” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.11(c).

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

 

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Other Loans” means one or more Classes of Loans that result from a Refinancing Amendment or a Loan Modification Agreement.

Other Revolving Commitments” means one or more Classes of revolving credit commitments hereunder or extended Revolving Commitments that result from a Refinancing Amendment or a Loan Modification Agreement.

Other Revolving Loans” means the Revolving Loans made pursuant to any Other Revolving Commitment or a Loan Modification Agreement.

Other Taxes” means all present or future recording, filing, stamp, court or documentary, intangible, recording, transfer, sales, property or similar Taxes arising from any payment made under any Loan Document or from the execution, delivery, performance, enforcement or registration of, from the receipt or perfection of a security interest under, or otherwise with respect to, any Loan Document, except any such Taxes that are Other Connection Taxes imposed with respect to an assignment (other than an assignment made pursuant to Section 2.19).

Other Term Commitments” means one or more Classes of term loan commitments hereunder that result from a Refinancing Amendment or Loan Modification Agreement.

Other Term Loans” means one or more Classes of Term Loans that result from a Refinancing Amendment or Loan Modification Agreement.

Overnight Bank Funding Rate” means, for any day, the rate comprised of both overnight federal funds and overnight eurocurrency borrowings by U.S.-managed banking offices of depository institutions, as such composite rate shall be determined by the NYFRB as set forth on the NYFRB’s Website from time to time, and published on the next succeeding Business Day by the NYFRB as an overnight bank funding rate.

Participant” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.04(c)(i).

Participant Register” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.04(c)(ii).

Participating Lender” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.11(a)(ii)(C).

Payment Recipient” has the meaning assigned to it in Section 8.11(a).

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

Permitted Acquisition” means an Acquisition Transaction; provided that (a) with respect to each such Acquisition Transaction, all actions required to be taken with respect to any such newly created or acquired Subsidiary (including each subsidiary thereof) or assets in order to satisfy the requirements set forth in clauses (a), (b), (c) and (d) of the definition of the term “Collateral and Guarantee Requirement” to the extent applicable shall have been taken (or arrangements for the taking of such actions within the timeframes required by Section 5.11 shall have been made that are reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent) (unless such newly created or acquired Subsidiary is designated as an Unrestricted Subsidiary pursuant to Section 5.14 or is otherwise an Excluded Subsidiary), (b) after giving effect to any such purchase or other acquisition, no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, (c) Acquisition Transactions of entities that do not become Guarantors hereunder shall be limited to an aggregate not to exceed the greater of (i) $60,000,000 and (ii) 25% of Consolidated EBITDA for the most recently ended Test Period as of such time determined on a Pro Forma Basis, (d) such purchase or other acquisition shall not constitute a “hostile takeover”, (e) the Parent Borrower shall be in pro forma compliance with Section 6.10 and (f) the Acquired Entity or Assets are in the same business as the Parent Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries or a business that is similar, reasonably related, synergistic, incidental, or ancillary thereto.

 

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Permitted Amendment” means an amendment to this Agreement and, if applicable, the other Loan Documents, effected in connection with a Loan Modification Offer pursuant to Section 2.24, applicable to all, or any portion of, the Loans and/or Commitments of any Class of the Accepting Lenders and, providing for (a) an extension of a maturity date and/or (b) a change in the Applicable Rate or other pricing terms (including any “MFN” provisions) with respect to the Loans and/or Commitments of the Accepting Lenders and/or (c) a change in the fees payable to, or the inclusion of new fees to be payable to, the Accepting Lenders and/or (d) a change to any prepayment provisions with respect to the Loans of such Accepting Lenders that are less favorable to such Accepting Lenders than to the Non-Accepting Lenders with respect to such applicable Loans and/or (e) call protection with respect to the Loans and/or commitments of the Accepting Lenders (including any “soft call” protection) and/or (f) additional covenants or other provisions applicable only to periods after the Latest Maturity Date at the time of such Loan Modification Offer (it being understood that to the extent that any financial maintenance covenant and any related equity cure or any other covenant is added for the benefit of any such Loans and/or Commitments, no consent shall be required by the Administrative Agent or any of the Lenders if such financial maintenance covenant and any related equity cure or other covenant is either (i) also added for the benefit of any corresponding Loans remaining outstanding after the issuance or incurrence of such Loans and/or Commitments or (ii) only applicable after the Latest Maturity Date at the time of such Loan Modification Offer).

Permitted Asset Swap” means the concurrent purchase and sale or exchange of Related Business Assets or a combination of Related Business Assets and cash or Permitted Investments between the Parent Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary and another Person.

Permitted Encumbrances” means:

(a) Liens for taxes, assessments or other governmental charges that are not overdue for a period of more than 60 days or that are being contested in good faith and by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted, if adequate reserves with respect thereto are maintained on the books of the applicable Person in accordance with GAAP;

(b) Liens imposed by law, such as carriers’, warehousemen’s, mechanics’, landlords’, materialmen’s, repairmen’s or construction contractors’ Liens and other similar Liens (including contractual landlord liens) arising in the ordinary course of business that secure amounts not overdue for a period of more than 60 days or, if more than 60 days overdue, are unfiled and no other action has been taken to enforce such Liens or that are being contested in good faith and by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted, if adequate reserves with respect thereto are maintained on the books of the applicable Person in accordance with GAAP;

(c) Liens incurred or deposits made in the ordinary course of business (i) in connection with workers’ compensation, unemployment insurance and other social security legislation and (ii) securing liability for reimbursement or indemnification obligations of (including obligations in respect of letters of credit or bank guarantees or similar instruments for the benefit of) insurance carriers providing property, casualty or liability insurance to the Parent Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary or otherwise supporting the payment of items set forth in the foregoing clause (i);

(d) Liens incurred or deposits made to secure the performance of bids, trade contracts, governmental contracts and leases, statutory obligations, surety, stay, customs and appeal bonds, performance bonds, bankers acceptance facilities and other obligations of a like nature (including those to secure health, safety and environmental obligations) and obligations in respect of letters of credit, bank guarantees or similar instruments that have been posted to support the same, incurred in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practices;

(e) easements, encumbrances, rights-of-way, reservations, restrictions, restrictive covenants, servitudes, sewers, electric lines, drains, telegraph and telephone and cable television lines, gas and oil pipelines and other similar purposes building codes, encroachments, protrusions, zoning restrictions, and other similar encumbrances and minor title defects or other irregularities in title and survey exceptions affecting real property that, in the aggregate, do not in any case materially interfere with the ordinary conduct of the business of the Parent Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a whole;

 

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(f) Liens securing, or otherwise arising from, judgments not constituting an Event of Default under Section 7.01(j);

(g) Liens on goods the purchase price of which is financed by a documentary letter of credit issued for the account of the Parent Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or Liens on bills of lading, drafts or other documents of title arising by operation of law or pursuant to the standard terms of agreements relating to letters of credit, bank guarantees and other similar instruments, provided that such Lien secures only the obligations of the Parent Borrower or such Subsidiaries in respect of such letter of credit to the extent such obligations are permitted by Section 6.01;

(h) rights of setoff, banker’s liens, netting agreements and other Liens arising by operation of law or by the terms of documents of banks or other financial institutions in relation to the maintenance of administration of deposit accounts, securities accounts, cash management arrangements or in connection with the issuance of letters of credit, bank guarantees or other similar instruments; and

(i) Liens arising from precautionary Uniform Commercial Code financing statements or similar filings, or Liens in respect of operating leases entered into by the Parent Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries.

Permitted First Priority Refinancing Debt” means any secured Indebtedness incurred by a Borrower or any Loan Party in the form of one or more series of senior secured notes or loans; provided that (a) such Indebtedness is secured by a Lien on the Collateral ranking equal in priority (but without regard to control of remedies) with the Lien on the Collateral securing the Secured Obligations and is not secured by any property or assets of such Borrower or any Subsidiary other than the Collateral, (b) such Indebtedness constitutes Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness in respect of Loans (including portions of Classes of Loans or Other Loans), (c) such Indebtedness (other than Customary Bridge Loans) does not have mandatory redemption features (other than Customary Exceptions) that could result in redemptions of such Indebtedness prior to the maturity of the Refinanced Debt (it being understood that the Borrowers and the Loan Parties shall be permitted to make any AHYDO “catch up” payments, if applicable) and (d) a Senior Representative acting on behalf of the holders of such Indebtedness shall have become party to a First Lien Intercreditor Agreement and, if applicable, a Second Lien Intercreditor Agreement. Permitted First Priority Refinancing Debt will include any Registered Equivalent Notes issued in exchange therefor.

Permitted Holder” means any of (a) any of the Management Investors and their Permitted Transferees, and (b) any group of which the Persons described in clause (a) are members and any other member of such group; provided that the Persons described in clause (a), without giving effect to the existence of such group or any other group, collectively own, directly or indirectly, Voting Equity Interests in such Person representing a majority of the aggregate votes entitled to vote for the election of directors of such Person.

Permitted Investments” means any of the following, to the extent owned by the Parent Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary:

(a) dollars, euro, pounds, Australian dollars, Swiss Francs, Canadian dollars, Yuan or such other currencies held by it from time to time in the ordinary course of business;

(b) readily marketable obligations issued or directly and fully guaranteed or insured by the government or any agency or instrumentality of (i) the United States, (ii) the United Kingdom or (iii) any member nation of the European Union rated A-2 (or the equivalent thereof) or better by S&P or P-2 (or the equivalent thereof) or better by Moody’s, having average maturities of not more than 24 months from the date of acquisition thereof; provided that the full faith and credit of the United States, the United Kingdom or such member nation of the European Union is pledged in support thereof;

(c) time deposits or demand deposits with, or insured certificates of deposit or bankers’ acceptances of, any commercial bank that (i) is a Lender or (ii) has combined capital and surplus of at least (x) $250,000,000 in the case of U.S. banks and (y) $100,000,000 (or the Dollar Equivalent as of the date of determination) in the case of non-U.S. banks (any such bank meeting the requirements of clause (i) or (ii) above being an “Approved Bank”), in each case with average maturities of not more than 12 months from the date of acquisition thereof;

 

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(d) commercial paper and variable or fixed rate notes issued by an Approved Bank (or by the parent company thereof) or any variable or fixed rate note issued by, or guaranteed by, a corporation rated A-2 (or the equivalent thereof) or better by S&P or P-2 (or the equivalent thereof) or better by Moody’s, in each case with average maturities of not more than 24 months from the date of acquisition thereof;

(e) repurchase agreements entered into by any Person with an Approved Bank, a bank or trust company (including any of the Lenders) or recognized securities dealer, in each case, having capital and surplus in excess of (i) $250,000,000 in the case of U.S. banks and (ii) $100,000,000 (or the Dollar Equivalent as of the date of determination) in the case of non-U.S. banks, in each case, for direct obligations issued by or fully guaranteed or insured by the government or any agency or instrumentality of (i) the United States, (ii) the United Kingdom or (iii) any member nation of the European Union rated A-2 (or the equivalent thereof) or better by S&P and P-2 (or the equivalent thereof) or better by Moody’s, in which such Person shall have a perfected first priority security interest (subject to no other Liens) and having, on the date of purchase thereof, a Fair Market Value of at least 100% of the amount of the repurchase obligations;

(f) marketable short-term money market and similar highly liquid funds either (i) having assets in excess of (x) $250,000,000 in the case of U.S. banks or other U.S. financial institutions and (y) $100,000,000 (or the Dollar Equivalent as of the date of determination) in the case of non-U.S. banks or other non-U.S. financial institutions or (ii) having a rating of at least A-2 or P-2 from either S&P or Moody’s (or, if at any time neither S&P nor Moody’s shall be rating such obligations, an equivalent rating from another nationally recognized rating service);

(g) securities with average maturities of 24 months or less from the date of acquisition issued or fully guaranteed by any state, commonwealth or territory of the United States, or by any political subdivision or taxing authority of any such state, commonwealth or territory having an investment grade rating from either S&P or Moody’s (or the equivalent thereof);

(h) investments with average maturities of 24 months or less from the date of acquisition in mutual funds rated A (or the equivalent thereof) or better by S&P or A2 (or the equivalent thereof) or better by Moody’s;

(i) instruments equivalent to those referred to in clauses (a) through (h) above denominated in Euro or any other foreign currency comparable in credit quality and tenor to those referred to above and customarily used by corporations for cash management purposes in any jurisdiction outside the United States to the extent reasonably required in connection with any business conducted by any Subsidiary organized in such jurisdiction;

(j) investments, classified in accordance with GAAP as current assets, in money market investment programs that are registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 or that are administered by financial institutions having capital of at least $250,000,000, and, in either case, the portfolios of which are limited such that substantially all of such investments are of the character, quality and maturity described in clauses (a) through (i) of this definition;

(k) with respect to any Foreign Subsidiary: (i) obligations of the national government of the country in which such Foreign Subsidiary is organized or maintains its chief executive office and principal place of business, provided such country is the United Kingdom, India, China, Australia, a member nation of the European Union whose legal tender is the British Pound Sterling or the Euro or a member of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, in each case maturing within one year after the date of investment therein, (ii) certificates of deposit of, bankers acceptances of, or time deposits with, any commercial bank which is organized and existing under the laws of the country in which such Foreign Subsidiary is organized or doing business, provided such country is the United Kingdom, India, China, Australia, a member state of the European Union or a member of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, and whose short-term commercial paper rating from S&P is at least “A-2” or the equivalent thereof or from Moody’s is at least “P-2” or the equivalent thereof (any such bank being an “Approved Foreign Bank”), and in each case with maturities of not more than 24 months from the date of acquisition and (iii) the equivalent of demand deposit accounts which are maintained with an Approved Foreign Bank; and

 

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(l) investment funds investing substantially all of their assets in securities of the types described in clauses (a) through (k) above.

Permitted Receivables Financing” means receivables securitizations or other receivables financings (including any factoring program) that are non-recourse to the Parent Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries (except for (a) recourse to any Foreign Subsidiaries that own the assets underlying such financing (or have sold such assets in connection with such financing), (b) any customary limited recourse or, to the extent applicable only to Foreign Subsidiaries, recourse that is customary in the relevant local market, (c) any performance undertaking or to the extent applicable only to Foreign Subsidiaries, any Guarantee that is customary in the relevant local market and (d) any unsecured parent Guarantee by the Parent Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary that is a parent company of the relevant Restricted Subsidiary that is party thereto and, in each case, reasonable extensions thereof); provided that, (i) the aggregate outstanding amount of all such receivables subject to the Permitted Receivables Financing at any time shall not exceed the greater of $120,000,000 and 50% of Consolidated EBITDA for the most recently ended Test Period as of such time determined on a Pro Forma Basis and (ii) with respect to Permitted Receivables Financings incurred in the form of a factoring program, the outstanding amount of such Permitted Receivables Financing for the purposes of this definition shall be deemed to be equal to the Permitted Receivables Net Investment for the last Test Period.

Permitted Receivables Net Investment” means the aggregate cash amount paid by the purchasers under any Permitted Receivables Financing in the form of a factoring program in connection with their purchase of accounts receivable and customary related assets or interests therein, as the same may be reduced from time to time by collections with respect to such accounts receivable and related assets or otherwise in accordance with the terms of such Permitted Receivables Financing (but excluding any such collections used to make payments of commissions, discounts, yield and other fees and charges incurred in connection with any Permitted Receivables Financing in the form of a factoring program which are payable to any Person other than the Parent Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary).

Permitted Refinancing” means, with respect to any Person, any modification, refinancing, refunding, renewal or extension of all or any portion of Indebtedness of such Person; provided that (a) the principal amount (or accreted value, if applicable) thereof does not exceed the principal amount (or accreted value, if applicable) of the Indebtedness so modified, refinanced, refunded, renewed or extended except by an amount equal to unpaid accrued interest and premium (including tender premium) thereon plus other amounts paid, and fees and expenses incurred (including upfront fees and original issue discount), in connection with such modification, refinancing, refunding, renewal or extension and by an amount equal to any existing commitments unutilized thereunder to the extent that the portion of any existing and unutilized commitment being refinanced was permitted to be drawn under Section 6.01 and Section 6.02 of this Agreement immediately prior to such refinancing (other than by reference to a Permitted Refinancing) and such drawing shall be deemed to have been made, (b) other than with respect to a Permitted Refinancing incurred pursuant to the Maturity Carveout Amount, in respect of Incremental Equivalent Debt, Indebtedness resulting from such modification, refinancing, refunding, renewal or extension has a final maturity date equal to or 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 modified, refinanced, refunded, renewed or extended (other than Customary Bridge Loans), (c) if the Indebtedness being modified, refinanced, refunded, renewed or extended is subordinated in right of payment to the Loan Document Obligations, Indebtedness resulting from such modification, refinancing, refunding, renewal or extension is subordinated in right of payment to the Loan Document Obligations on terms at least as favorable to the Lenders as those contained in the documentation governing the Indebtedness being modified, refinanced, refunded, renewed or extended, (d) if the Indebtedness being modified, refinanced, refunded, renewed or extended constitutes Junior Financing, the terms and conditions (excluding as to subordination, interest rate (including whether such interest is payable in cash or in kind), interest rate margins, pricing, rate floors, fees, discounts, premiums and prepayment or redemption

 

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provisions) of Indebtedness resulting from such modification, refinancing, refunding, renewal or extension, taken as a whole, either (I) are not materially more favorable to the investors providing such Indebtedness than the terms and conditions (when taken as a whole) of the Indebtedness being modified, refinanced, refunded, renewed or extended (except for covenants or other provisions applicable to periods after the Latest Maturity Date at the time such Indebtedness is incurred) (it being understood that, to the extent that any financial maintenance covenant or any other covenant is added for the benefit of any such Permitted Refinancing, the terms shall not be considered materially more favorable if such financial maintenance covenant or other covenant is either (A) also added for the benefit of any corresponding Loans remaining outstanding after the issuance or incurrence of such Permitted Refinancing or (B) only applicable after the Latest Maturity Date at the time of such refinancing) or (II) reflect market terms and conditions (taken as a whole) at the time such Indebtedness is incurred (as determined by the Parent Borrower in good faith); provided that a certificate of a Responsible Officer delivered to the Administrative Agent at least five (5) Business Days prior to such modification, refinancing, refunding, renewal or extension, together with a reasonably detailed description of the material terms and conditions of such resulting Indebtedness or drafts of the documentation relating thereto, stating that the Parent Borrower has determined in good faith that such terms and conditions satisfy the foregoing requirement, shall be conclusive evidence that such terms and conditions satisfy the foregoing requirement, and (e) the primary obligor in respect of, and/or the Persons (if any) that Guarantee, the Indebtedness resulting from such modification, refinancing, refunding, renewal or extension are the primary obligor in respect of, and/or Persons (if any) that Guaranteed, the Indebtedness being modified, refinanced, refunded, renewed or extended. For the avoidance of doubt, it is understood that a Permitted Refinancing may constitute a portion of an issuance of Indebtedness in excess of the amount of such Permitted Refinancing; provided that such excess amount is otherwise permitted to be incurred under Section 6.01. For the avoidance of doubt, it is understood and agreed that a Permitted Refinancing includes successive Permitted Refinancings of the same Indebtedness.

Permitted Second Priority Refinancing Debt” means any secured Indebtedness incurred by the Parent Borrower or any Loan Party in the form of one or more series of junior lien secured notes or junior lien secured loans; provided that (i) such Indebtedness is secured by a Lien on the Collateral ranking junior in priority to the Lien on the Collateral securing the Secured Obligations and is not secured by any property or assets of the Parent Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary other than the Collateral, (ii) such Indebtedness constitutes Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness in respect of Loans (including portions of Classes of Loans or Other Loans), (iii) such Indebtedness (other than Customary Bridge Loans) does not have mandatory redemption features (other than Customary Exceptions) that could result in redemptions of such Indebtedness prior to the maturity of the Refinanced Debt (it being understood that the Parent Borrower and Loan Parties shall be permitted to make any AHYDO “catch up” payments, if applicable) and (iv) a Senior Representative acting on behalf of the holders of such Indebtedness shall have become party to a Second Lien Intercreditor Agreement. Permitted Second Priority Refinancing Debt will include any Registered Equivalent Notes issued in exchange therefor.

Permitted Transferees” means, with respect to any Person that is a natural person (and any Permitted Transferee of such Person), (a) such Person’s Immediate Family Members, including his or her spouse, ex-spouse, children, step-children and their respective lineal descendants, (b) any trust or other legal entity the beneficiary of which is such Person’s immediate family, including his or her spouse, ex-spouse, children, stepchildren or their respective lineal descendants and (c) without duplication with any of the foregoing, such Person’s heirs, legatees, executors and/or administrators upon the death of such Person and any other Person who was an Affiliate of such Person upon the death of such Person and who, upon such death, directly or indirectly owned Equity Interests in the Parent Borrower.

Permitted Unsecured Refinancing Debt” means unsecured Indebtedness incurred by the Parent Borrower or any Loan Party in the form of one or more series of senior unsecured notes or loans; provided that (i) such Indebtedness constitutes Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness in respect of Loans (including portions of Classes of Loans or Other Loans), (ii) such Indebtedness (other than Customary Bridge Loans) does not have mandatory redemption features (other than Customary Exceptions) that could result in redemptions of such Indebtedness prior to the maturity of the Refinanced Debt (it being understood that the Parent Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries shall be permitted to make any AHYDO “catch up” payments, if applicable) and (iii) such Indebtedness is not secured by any Lien on any property or assets of the Parent Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary. Permitted Unsecured Refinancing Debt will include any Registered Equivalent Notes issued in exchange therefor.

 

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

Plan” means any “employee pension benefit plan” as defined in Section 3(2) of ERISA (other than a Multiemployer Plan) that is subject to the provisions of Title IV of ERISA or Section 412 of the Code or Section 302 of ERISA, and in respect of which a Loan Party or any ERISA Affiliate is (or, if such plan were terminated, would under Section 4069 of ERISA be deemed to be) an “employer” as defined in Section 3(5) of ERISA.

Planned Expenditures” has the meaning assigned to such term in clause (b) of the definition of the term “ECF Deductions”.

Platform” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 5.01.

Post-Transaction Period” means, with respect to any Specified Transaction, the period beginning on the date on which such Specified Transaction is consummated and ending on the last day of the eighth full consecutive fiscal quarter of the Parent Borrower immediately following the date on which such Specified Transaction is consummated.

Prepayment Event” means:

(a) any sale, transfer or other Disposition pursuant to Section 6.05(k) of Collateral of the Parent Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries (other than Dispositions resulting in aggregate Net Proceeds not exceeding the greater of (x) $12,000,000 and (y) 5% of Consolidated EBITDA for the most recently ended Test Period as of such time determined on a Pro Forma Basis in the case of any single transaction or series of related transactions) (each such event, an “Asset Sale Prepayment Event”); or

(b) the incurrence by the Parent Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries of any Indebtedness, other than Indebtedness permitted under Section 6.01 (other than Permitted Unsecured Refinancing Debt, Permitted First Priority Refinancing Debt, Permitted Second Priority Refinancing Debt and Other Term Loans resulting from a Refinancing Amendment) or permitted by the Required Lenders pursuant to Section 9.02.

Present Fair Saleable Value” means the amount that could be obtained by an independent willing seller from an independent willing buyer if the assets of the Parent Borrower and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole are sold with reasonable promptness in an arm’s-length transaction under present conditions for the sale of comparable business enterprises insofar as such conditions can be reasonably evaluated.

primary obligor” has the meaning assigned to such term in the definition of “Guarantee.”

Prime Rate” means the rate of interest per annum publicly announced from time to time by the Administrative Agent as its “prime rate”; each change in the Prime Rate shall be effective from and including the date such change is publicly announced as being effective.

Pro Forma Adjustment” means, for any Test Period, any adjustment to Consolidated EBITDA made in accordance with clause (b) of the definition of that term.

Pro Forma Basis,” “Pro Forma Compliance” and “Pro Forma Effect” means, with respect to compliance with any test, financial ratio or covenant (including, without limitation, any Incurrence-Based Amount or any Fixed Amount) hereunder required by the terms of this Agreement to be made on a Pro Forma Basis, that (a) to the extent applicable, the Pro Forma Adjustment shall have been made and (b) all Specified Transactions and the following transactions in connection therewith that have been made during the applicable period of measurement or subsequent to such period and prior to or simultaneously with the event for which the calculation is made shall be deemed to have occurred as of the first day of the applicable period of measurement in such test, financial ratio or covenant: (i) income statement items (whether positive or negative) attributable to the property or Person subject to such Specified Transaction, (A) in the case of a Disposition of Equity Interests in a Restricted Subsidiary such that

 

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such entity is no longer a Restricted Subsidiary or any division, business unit, line of business or product line of the Parent Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries, shall be excluded, and (B) in the case of a Permitted Acquisition or Investment described in the definition of “Specified Transaction,” shall be included, (ii) any retirement or repayment of Indebtedness, (iii) any Indebtedness incurred or assumed by the Parent Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries in connection therewith (but without giving effect to any concurrent incurrence of any Indebtedness pursuant to any Fixed Amount or Consolidated EBITDA grower basket or under any Revolving Credit Facility) and if such Indebtedness has a floating or formula rate, shall have an implied rate of interest for the applicable period for purposes of this definition determined by utilizing the rate that is or would be in effect with respect to such Indebtedness as at the relevant date of determination and (iv) Available Cash shall be calculated on the date of the consummation of the Specified Transaction after giving pro forma effect to such Specified Transaction (other than, for the avoidance of doubt, the cash proceeds of any Indebtedness the incurrence of which is a Specified Transaction or that is incurred to finance such Specified Transaction); provided that, without limiting the application of the Pro Forma Adjustment pursuant to clause (a) above, the foregoing pro forma adjustments may be applied to any such test, financial ratio or covenant solely to the extent that such adjustments are consistent with the definition of “Consolidated EBITDA” (and subject to the provisions set forth in clause (b) thereof) and give effect to events (including Run Rate Benefits) that are (i) (x) directly attributable to such transaction, (y) expected to have a continuing impact on the Parent Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries and (z) factually supportable or (ii) otherwise consistent with the definition of “Pro Forma Adjustment”.

Pro Forma Disposal Adjustment” means, for any Test Period that includes all or a portion of a fiscal quarter included in any Post-Transaction Period with respect to any Sold Entity or Business, the pro forma increase or decrease in Consolidated EBITDA projected by the Parent Borrower in good faith as a result of contractual arrangements between the Parent Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary entered into with such Sold Entity or Business at the time of its disposal or within the Post-Transaction Period and which represent an increase or decrease in Consolidated EBITDA which is incremental to the Disposed EBITDA of such Sold Entity or Business for the most recent Test Period prior to its disposal.

Pro Forma Entity” means any Acquired Entity or Business or any Converted Restricted Subsidiary.

Proposed Change” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.02(c).

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

Public Lender” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 5.01.

Purchasing Borrower Party” means the Parent Borrower or any subsidiary of the Parent Borrower.

QFC Credit Support” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.22.

Qualified Equity Interests” means Equity Interests in the Parent Borrower or any parent of the Parent Borrower other than, in each case, Disqualified Equity Interests.

Qualifying Lender” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.11(a)(ii)(D).

Rating Agency” means any of (a) Moody’s, (b) S&P or (c) Fitch.

Receivables Subsidiary” means any Special Purpose Entity established in connection with a Permitted Receivables Financing and any other subsidiary (other than any Loan Party) involved in a Permitted Receivables Financing which is not permitted by the terms of such Permitted Receivables Financing to guarantee the Loan Document Obligations or provide Collateral.

Refinanced Debt” has the meaning assigned to such term in the definition of “Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness.”

 

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Refinancing Amendment” means an amendment to this Agreement executed by each of (a) the Borrowers, (b) the Administrative Agent and (c) each Additional Lender and Lender that agrees to provide all or any portion of the Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness being incurred pursuant thereto, in accordance with Section 2.21.

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

Registered Equivalent Notes” means, with respect to any notes originally issued in a Rule 144A or other private placement transaction under the Securities Act of 1933, substantially identical notes (having substantially the same Guarantees) issued in a dollar-for-dollar exchange therefor pursuant to an exchange offer registered with the SEC.

Regulated Bank” means an Approved Bank that is (i) a U.S. depository institution the deposits of which are insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation; (ii) a corporation organized under section 25A of the U.S. Federal Reserve Act of 1913; (iii) a branch, agency or commercial lending company of a foreign bank operating pursuant to approval by and under the supervision of the Board under 12 CFR part 211; (iv) a non-U.S. branch of a foreign bank managed and controlled by a U.S. branch referred to in clause (iii); or (v) any other U.S. or non-U.S. depository institution or any branch, agency or similar office thereof supervised by a bank regulatory authority in any jurisdiction.

Related Business Assets” means assets (other than cash or Permitted Investments) used or useful in a Similar Business (which may consist of securities of a Person, including the Equity Interests of any Subsidiary (other than the Parent Borrower)).

Related Parties” means, with respect to any specified Person, such Person’s Affiliates and the partners, directors, officers, employees, trustees, agents, controlling persons, advisors, attorneys and other representatives of such Person and of each of such Person’s Affiliates and successors and permitted assigns.

Release” means any release, spill, emission, leaking, dumping, injection, pouring, deposit, disposal, discharge, dispersal, leaching or migration into the environment (including ambient air, surface water, groundwater, land surface or subsurface strata) and including the environment within any building or other structure.

Relevant Governmental Body” means the Federal Reserve Board or the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, or a committee officially endorsed or convened by the Federal Reserve Board and/or the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.

Removal Effective Date” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 8.06(b).

Required Additional Debt Terms” means with respect to any Indebtedness, (a) except with respect to Customary Bridge Loans and except with respect to an amount equal to the Maturity Carveout Amount at such time, such Indebtedness does not mature earlier than the Latest Maturity Date, (b) such Indebtedness (other than Customary Bridge Loans) does not have mandatory redemption features (other than Customary Exceptions) that could result in redemptions of such Indebtedness prior to the Latest Maturity Date (it being understood that the Parent Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries shall be permitted to make any AHYDO “catch up” payments, if applicable), (c) such Indebtedness is not guaranteed by any entity that is not a Loan Party, (d) any such Indebtedness that is secured (i) is not secured by any assets not securing the Secured Obligations, (ii) is subject to the relevant Intercreditor Agreement(s) and (iii) is subject to security agreements relating to such Indebtedness that are substantially the same as the Security Documents (with such differences as are reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the Parent Borrower) and (e) the terms and conditions of such Indebtedness (excluding interest rate (including whether such interest is payable in cash or in kind), pricing, interest rate margins, rate floors, discounts, fees, premiums and prepayment or redemption provisions) either (I) are not materially more favorable (when taken as a whole) to the lenders or investors providing such Indebtedness than the terms and conditions of this Agreement (when taken as a whole) are to the Lenders (it being understood that, to the extent that any financial maintenance covenant or any other covenant is added for the benefit of any Indebtedness, no consent shall be required by the Administrative Agent or any of the Lenders if such financial maintenance covenant or other covenant is either (i) also added for the benefit of any corresponding Loans remaining outstanding after the issuance

 

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or incurrence of any such Indebtedness in connection therewith or (ii) only applicable after the Latest Maturity Date at such time), (II) include covenants or other provisions applicable only to periods after the Latest Maturity Date at such time or (III) reflect market terms and conditions (taken as a whole) at the time of incurrence of such Indebtedness (as determined by the Parent Borrower in good faith); provided that a certificate of a Responsible Officer delivered to the Administrative Agent at least five (5) Business Days prior to the incurrence of such Indebtedness, together with a reasonably detailed description of the material terms and conditions of such resulting Indebtedness or drafts of the documentation relating thereto, stating that the Parent Borrower has determined in good faith that such terms and conditions satisfy the foregoing requirement, shall be conclusive evidence that such terms and conditions satisfy the foregoing requirement.

Required Class Lenders” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.02(b).

Required Lenders” means, at any time, Lenders having Revolving Exposures, Term Loans and unused Commitments (other than Swingline Commitments) representing more than 50% of the aggregate Revolving Exposures, outstanding Term Loans and unused Commitments (other than Swingline Commitments) at such time; provided that the Revolving Exposures, Term Loans and unused Commitments of the Borrowers or any Affiliate thereof (other than an Affiliated Debt Fund) shall be excluded for purposes of making a determination of Required Lenders; provided, further, whenever there are one or more Defaulting Lenders, the total outstanding Term Loans and Revolving Exposures of, and the unused Revolving Commitments of, each Defaulting Lender, shall be excluded for purposes of making a determination of Required Lenders.

Requirements of Law” means, with respect to any Person, any statutes, laws, treaties, rules, regulations, official administrative pronouncements, orders, decrees, writs, injunctions or determinations of any arbitrator or court or other Governmental Authority, in each case applicable to or binding upon such Person or any of its property or to which such Person or any of its property is subject.

Resignation Effective Date” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 8.06(a).

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

Responsible Officer” means the chief executive officer, chief financial officer, president, vice president, general counsel, treasurer or assistant treasurer or other similar officer, manager or a director of a Loan Party and with respect to certain limited liability companies, partnerships or other Loan Parties that do not have officers, any director, manager, sole member, managing member or general partner thereof, and as to any document delivered on the Effective Date or thereafter pursuant to paragraph (a) of the definition of the term “Collateral and Guarantee Requirement,” any secretary or assistant secretary of any Loan Party and, solely for purposes of notices given pursuant to Article II, any other officer of the applicable Loan Party so designated by any of the foregoing officers in a notice to the Administrative Agent or any other officer or employee of the applicable Loan Party designated pursuant to an agreement between the applicable Loan Party and the Administrative Agent. Any document delivered hereunder that is signed by a Responsible Officer of a Loan Party shall be conclusively presumed to have been authorized by all necessary corporate, partnership and/or other action on the part of such Loan Party and such Responsible Officer shall be conclusively presumed to have acted on behalf of such Loan Party.

Restricted Debt Payment” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 6.08(b).

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

Restricted Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary other than an Unrestricted Subsidiary.

 

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Retained Asset Sale Proceeds” means that portion of Net Proceeds of a Prepayment Event pursuant to clause (a) of such definition not required to be applied to prepay the Loans pursuant to Section 2.11(c) due to the Disposition/Debt Percentage being less than 100%.

Retained Declined Proceeds” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.11(e).

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

Revolving Commitment” means, with respect to each Lender, the commitment, if any, of such Lender to make Revolving Loans and to acquire participations in Letters of Credit and Swingline Loans hereunder, expressed as an amount representing the maximum possible aggregate amount of such Lender’s Revolving Exposure hereunder, as such commitment may be (a) reduced from time to time pursuant to Section 2.08 and (b) reduced or increased from time to time pursuant to (i) assignments by or to such Lender pursuant to an Assignment and Assumption or (ii) a Refinancing Amendment, Incremental Facility Amendment or a Loan Modification Agreement. The initial amount of each Lender’s Revolving Commitment is set forth on Schedule 2.01(b), or in the Assignment and Assumption, Incremental Facility Amendment, Loan Modification Agreement or Refinancing Amendment pursuant to which such Lender shall have assumed its Revolving Commitment, as the case may be. The initial aggregate amount of the Lenders’ Revolving Commitments as of the Effective Date is $250,000,000.

Revolving Credit Facility” means the Revolving Commitments and the provisions herein related to the Revolving Loans and Letters of Credit.

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

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

Revolving Loan” means a Loan made pursuant to clause (b) of Section 2.01.

Revolving Maturity Date” means February 7, 2027; provided that (i) if and when the Senior 2026 Notes have not been repurchased, repaid, retired and/or redeemed (and discharged in full) by the date that is 90 days prior to the maturity date of such Senior 2026 Notes, the Revolving Maturity Date shall instead be the date which is 90 days prior to the maturity date of such Senior 2026 Notes and (ii) if and when the Cree Notes have not been repurchased, repaid, retired and/or redeemed (and discharged in full) by the date that is 90 days prior to the maturity date of such Cree Notes, the Revolving Maturity Date shall instead be the date which is 90 days prior to the maturity date of such Cree Notes. For the avoidance of doubt, in no event shall the Revolving Maturity Date be later than February 7, 2027.

Run Rate Benefits” has the meaning assigned to such term in the definition of “Consolidated EBITDA.”

S&P” means S&P Global Ratings and any successor to its rating agency business.

Sale Leaseback” means any transaction or series of related transactions pursuant to which the Parent Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary (a) sells, transfers or otherwise disposes of any property, real or personal, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, and (b) as part of such transaction, thereafter rents or leases such property or other property that it intends to use for substantially the same purpose or purposes as the property being sold, transferred or disposed of.

Sanctioned Person” means a Person that is (a) the subject of Sanctions, (b) located in or organized under the laws of a country or territory which is subject to Sanctions (including without limitation Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Syria or the Crimea region), or (c) 50% or more owned (in the aggregate) or controlled by any of the foregoing.

 

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Sanctions” means economic or financial sanctions or trade embargoes imposed, administered or enforced from time to time by (a) the U.S. government, including those administered by the U.S. Treasury, Office of Foreign Assets Control, or the United States Department of State, (b) the United Nations Security Council, (c) the European Union and any of its member states, (d) or Her Majesty’s Treasury of the United Kingdom or (e) any other similar applicable sanctions or laws in force in any other jurisdictions where (i) the Parent Borrower or any Subsidiary conducts business, owns assets, or is organized or located in, or (ii) the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank, any Lender or any Arranger are subject to the laws of any such jurisdiction.

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

Second Lien Intercreditor Agreement” means the First Lien/Second Lien Intercreditor Agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit F or any other intercreditor agreement reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the Borrowers.

Secured Cash Management Obligations” means the due and punctual payment and performance of all obligations of the Borrowers and the Restricted Subsidiaries in respect of any overdraft, reimbursement and related liabilities arising from treasury, depository, cash pooling arrangements and cash management services, corporate credit and purchasing cards and related programs, letters of credit or any automated clearing house transfers of funds (collectively, “Cash Management Services”) provided to the Borrowers or any Subsidiary (whether absolute or contingent and howsoever and whenever created, arising, evidenced or acquired (including all renewals, extensions and modifications thereof and substitutions therefor)) that are (a) owed to the Administrative Agent or any of its Affiliates, (b) owed on the Effective Date to a Person that is a Lender or an Affiliate of a Lender as of the Effective Date, (c) owed to a Person that is an Agent, a Lender or an Affiliate of an Agent or Lender at the time such obligations are incurred, (d) Cash Management Services existing on the Effective Date and owed to any other Person identified by the Parent Borrower to the Administrative Agent on the Effective Date or (e) Cash Management Services existing after the Effective Date and owed to any other Person identified by the Parent Borrower to the Administrative Agent in writing from time to time and reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent; it being understood that each such provider of such Cash Management Services to the Borrowers or any Subsidiary shall be deemed (i) to appoint the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent as its agents under the applicable Loan Documents and (ii) to agree to be bound by the provisions of Article VIII, Section 9.03, Section 9.09 and any applicable Intercreditor Agreement as if it were a Lender.

Secured Obligations” means (a) the Loan Document Obligations, (b) the Secured Cash Management Obligations and (c) the Secured Swap Obligations (excluding with respect to any Loan Party, Excluded Swap Obligations of such Loan Party).

Secured Parties” means (a) each Lender and Issuing Bank, (b) the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent, (c) each Joint Bookrunner, (d) each Person to whom any Secured Cash Management Obligations are owed, (e) each counterparty to any Swap Agreement the obligations under which constitute Secured Swap Obligations and (f) the permitted successors and assigns of each of the foregoing.

Secured Swap Obligations” means all obligations of Borrowers and the Restricted Subsidiaries under each Swap Agreement that (a) is with a counterparty that is the Administrative Agent or any of its Affiliates, (b) is in effect on the Effective Date with a counterparty that is a Lender, an Agent or an Affiliate of a Lender or an Agent as of the Effective Date or (c) is entered into after the Effective Date with any counterparty that is a Lender, an Agent or an Affiliate of a Lender or an Agent at the time such Swap Agreement is entered into, in each case, to the extent designated in writing as a Secured Swap Obligation by the Parent Borrower to the Administrative Agent (unless otherwise constituting a Secured Swap Obligation immediately prior to the Effective Date); it being understood that each such provider of such Secured Swap Obligations to the Borrowers or any Subsidiary shall be deemed (i) to appoint the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent as its agents under the applicable Loan Documents and (ii) to agree to be bound by the provisions of Article VIII, Section 9.03, Section 9.09 and any applicable Intercreditor Agreement as if it were a Lender.

 

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Security Documents” means the Collateral Agreement and each other security agreement or pledge agreement executed and delivered pursuant to the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement, Section 4.01(f), Section 5.11, Section 5.12 or Section 5.16 to secure any of the Secured Obligations.

Senior 2026 Notes” has the meaning assigned to such term in the definition of “Convertible Instrument Payments”.

Senior Representative” means, with respect to any series of Permitted First Priority Refinancing Debt, Permitted Second Priority Refinancing Debt or other Indebtedness, the trustee, administrative agent, collateral agent, security agent or similar agent under the indenture or agreement pursuant to which such Indebtedness is issued, incurred or otherwise obtained, as the case may be, and each of their successors in such capacities.

Significant Event of Default” means any Event of Default under Section 7.01(a), (b), (h) or (i).

Significant Subsidiary” means any Restricted Subsidiary that, or any group of Restricted Subsidiaries that, taken together, as of the last day of the fiscal quarter of the Parent Borrower most recently ended for which financial statements are available, had revenues or total assets for such quarter in excess of 10.0% of the consolidated revenues or total assets, as applicable, of the Parent Borrower for such quarter.

Similar Business” means any business conducted or proposed to be conducted by the Borrowers and the Restricted Subsidiaries on the Effective Date or any business that is similar, reasonably related, synergistic, incidental, or ancillary thereto.

SOFR” means a rate equal to the secured overnight financing rate as published by the SOFR Administrator on the website of the SOFR Administrator, currently at http//www.newyorkfed.org (or any successor source for the secured overnight financing rate identified as such by the SOFR Administrator from time to time).

SOFR Administrator” means the Federal Reserve Bank of New York (or a successor administrator of the secured overnight financing rate).

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

SOFR Loan” means a Loan that bears interest at a rate based on Term SOFR, other than pursuant to clause (c) of the definition of “Alternate Base Rate.”

Sold Entity or Business” has the meaning assigned to such term in the definition of “Consolidated EBITDA.”

Solicited Discount Proration” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.11(a)(ii)(D).

Solicited Discounted Prepayment Amount” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.11(a)(ii)(D).

Solicited Discounted Prepayment Notice” means an irrevocable written notice of a Borrower Solicitation of Discounted Prepayment Offers made pursuant to Section 2.11(a)(ii)(D) substantially in the form of Exhibit M.

Solicited Discounted Prepayment Offer” means the irrevocable written offer by each Lender, substantially in the form of Exhibit N, submitted following the Administrative Agent’s receipt of a Solicited Discounted Prepayment Notice.

Solicited Discounted Prepayment Response Date” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.11(a)(ii)(D).

 

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Solvent” means (a) the Fair Value of the assets of the Parent Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis taken as a whole exceeds their Liabilities, (b) the Present Fair Saleable Value of the assets of the Parent Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis taken as a whole exceeds their Liabilities, (c) the Parent Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis taken as a whole after consummation of the Transactions is a going concern and has sufficient capital to reasonably ensure that it will continue to be a going concern for the period from the date hereof through the Latest Maturity Date taking into account the nature of, and the needs and anticipated needs for capital of, the particular business or businesses conducted or to be conducted by the Parent Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis as reflected in the projected financial statements and in light of the anticipated credit capacity and (d) for the period from the date hereof through the Latest Maturity Date, the Parent Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis taken as a whole will have sufficient assets and cash flow to pay their Liabilities as those liabilities mature or (in the case of contingent Liabilities) otherwise become payable, in light of business conducted or anticipated to be conducted by the Parent Borrower and its Subsidiaries as reflected in the projected financial statements and in light of the anticipated credit capacity.

Special Purpose Entity” means a direct or indirect subsidiary of the Parent Borrower, whose organizational documents contain restrictions on its purpose and activities and impose requirements intended to preserve its separateness from the Parent Borrower and/or one or more Subsidiaries of the Parent Borrower.

Specified Discount” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.11(a)(ii)(B).

Specified Discount Prepayment Amount” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.11(a)(ii)(B).

Specified Discount Prepayment Notice” means an irrevocable written notice of a Borrower Offer of Specified Discount Prepayment made pursuant to Section 2.11(a)(ii)(B) substantially in the form of Exhibit I.

Specified Discount Prepayment Response” means the irrevocable written response by each Lender, substantially in the form of Exhibit J, to a Specified Discount Prepayment Notice.

Specified Discount Prepayment Response Date” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.11(a)(ii)(B).

Specified Discount Proration” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.11(a)(ii)(B).

Specified Transaction” means, with respect to any period, any Investment (including any Permitted Acquisition), Disposition, incurrence or repayment of Indebtedness, Restricted Payment, subsidiary designation, New Project or other event that by the terms of the Loan Documents requires “Pro Forma Compliance” with a test or covenant hereunder or requires such test or covenant to be calculated on a “Pro Forma Basis.”

SPV” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.04(f).

Starter Basket” has the meaning assigned to such term in the definition of “Available Amount.”

Submitted Amount” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.11(a)(ii)(C).

Submitted Discount” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.11(a)(ii)(C).

subsidiary” means, with respect to any Person (the “parent”) at any date (a) any corporation, limited liability company, partnership, association or other entity of which securities or other ownership interests representing more than 50% of the equity or more than 50% of the ordinary voting power or, in the case of a partnership, more than 50% of the general partnership interests are, as of such date, owned, controlled or held and (b) at the option of the Parent Borrower, any other corporation, limited liability company, partnership, association or other entity the accounts of which would be consolidated with those the parent in the parent’s consolidated financial statements if such financial statements were prepared in accordance with GAAP.

Subsidiary” means any subsidiary of the Parent Borrower.

 

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Subsidiary Loan Party” means (a) each Domestic Subsidiary of the Parent Borrower (other than the Co-Borrower) that is a party to the Guarantee Agreement and (b) any other domestic Restricted Subsidiary that may be designated by the Parent Borrower (by way of delivering to the Collateral Agent a supplement to the Collateral Agreement and a supplement to the Guarantee Agreement, in each case, duly executed by such Subsidiary) in its sole discretion from time to time to be a guarantor in respect of the Secured Obligations, whereupon such Subsidiary shall be obligated to comply with the other requirements of Section 5.11 as if it were newly acquired and not an Excluded Subsidiary, in each case unless it ceases to be a Subsidiary Loan Party in accordance with this Agreement.

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

Supported QFC” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.22.

Swap” means any agreement, contract, or transaction that constitutes a “swap” within the meaning of section 1a(47) of the Commodity Exchange Act.

Swap Agreement” means (a) any and all rate swap transactions, basis swaps, credit derivative transactions, forward rate transactions, commodity swaps, commodity options, forward commodity contracts, equity or equity index swaps or options, bond or bond price or bond index swaps or options or forward bond or forward bond price or forward bond index transactions, interest rate options, forward foreign exchange transactions, cap transactions, floor transactions, collar transactions, currency swap transactions, cross-currency rate swap transactions, currency options, spot contracts, or any other similar transactions or any combination of any of the foregoing (including any options to enter into any of the foregoing), whether or not any such transaction is governed by or subject to any master agreement, and (b) any and all transactions of any kind, and the related confirmations, which are subject to the terms and conditions of, or governed by, any form of master agreement published by the International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc., any International Foreign Exchange Master Agreement, or any other master agreement (any such master agreement, together with any related schedules, a “Master Agreement”), including any such obligations or liabilities under any Master Agreement.

Swap Obligation” means, with respect to any Person, any obligation to pay or perform under any Swap.

Swingline Commitment” means the commitment of the Swingline Lender to make Swingline Loans up to an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $20,000,000.

Swingline Exposure” means, at any time, the aggregate principal amount of all Swingline Loans outstanding at such time. The Swingline Exposure of any Revolving Lender at any time shall be its Applicable Percentage of the aggregate Swingline Exposure at such time.

Swingline Lender” means (a) Citizens Bank, N.A., in its capacity the lender of Swingline Loans hereunder and (b) each Revolving Lender that shall have become a Swingline Lender hereunder as provided in Section 2.04(d) (other than any Person that shall have ceased to be a Swingline Lender as provided in Section 2.04(e)), each in its capacity as a lender of Swingline Loans hereunder.

Swingline Loan” means a Loan made pursuant to Section 2.04.

Tax Group” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 6.08(a)(xvi).

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

Term Commitment” means, with respect to each Term Lender, the commitment of such Term Lender to make a Term Loan hereunder on the Effective Date, expressed as an amount representing the maximum principal amount of the Term Loan to be made by such Term Lender hereunder, as such commitment may be (a) reduced from time to time pursuant to Section 2.08 and (b) reduced or increased from time to time pursuant to assignments by or to such Term Lender pursuant to an Assignment and Assumption. The initial amount of each Term Lender’s Term Commitment is set forth on Schedule 2.01(a) or in the Assignment and Assumption pursuant to which such Term Lender shall have assumed its Term Commitment, as the case may be. As of the date hereof, the total Term Commitment is $275,000,000.

 

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Term Facility” means the Term Loans and any Incremental Term Loans or any refinancing thereof.

Term Lenders” means the Persons listed on Schedule 2.01(a) and any other Person that shall have become a party hereto pursuant to an Assignment and Assumption in respect of any Term Loans, an Incremental Facility Amendment in respect of any Term Loans, Loan Modification Agreement in respect of any Term Loans or a Refinancing Amendment in respect of any Term Loans, other than any such Person that ceases to be a party hereto pursuant to an Assignment and Assumption.

Term Loan” means a Loan made pursuant to clause (a) of Section 2.01.

Term Maturity Date” means February 7, 2027; provided that (i) if and when the Senior 2026 Notes have not been repurchased, repaid, retired and/or redeemed (and discharged in full) by the date that is 90 days prior to the maturity date of such Senior 2026 Notes, the Term Maturity Date shall instead be the date which is 90 days prior to the maturity date of such Senior 2026 Notes and (ii) if and when the Cree Notes have not been repurchased, repaid, retired and/or redeemed (and discharged in full) by the date that is 90 days prior to the maturity date of such Cree Notes, the Term Maturity Date shall instead be the date which is 90 days prior to the maturity date of such Cree Notes. For the avoidance of doubt, in no event shall the Term Maturity Date be later than February 7, 2027.

Term SOFR” means a rate per annum equal to the greater of (a) the sum of (i) Term SOFR Reference Rate for a tenor comparable to the applicable Interest Period on the day (such day, the “Term SOFR Determination Day”) that is two (2) Government Securities Business Days prior to the first day of such Interest Period; provided, however, that if as of 5:00 p.m. (New York City time) on any Term SOFR Determination Day the Term SOFR Reference Rate for the applicable tenor has not been published by the Term SOFR Administrator and a Benchmark Replacement Date with respect to the Term SOFR Reference Rate has not occurred, then Term SOFR will be the Term SOFR Reference Rate for such tenor as published by the Term SOFR Administrator on the first preceding Government Securities Business Day for which such Term SOFR Reference Rate for such tenor was published by the Term SOFR Administrator so long as such first preceding Government Securities Business Day is not more than three (3) Government Securities Business Days prior to such Term SOFR Determination Day plus (ii) the Term SOFR Adjustment, and (b) the Floor.

Term SOFR Adjustment” means (a) with respect to an Interest Period of one month, 0.10%, (b) with respect to an Interest Period of three months, 0.15% and (c) with respect to an Interest Period of six months, 0.25%.

Term SOFR Administrator” means CME Group Benchmark Administration Limited (CBA) (or a successor administrator of the Term SOFR Reference Rate selected by the Administrative Agent in its reasonable discretion).

Term SOFR Determination Day” has the meaning specified in the definition of “Term SOFR”.

Term SOFR Reference Rate” means the forward-looking term rate based on SOFR published by the Term SOFR Administrator and displayed on CME’s Market Data Platform (or other commercially available source providing such quotations as may be selected by the Administrative Agent from time to time).

Termination Date” means the date on which (a) all Commitments shall have been terminated, (b) all Loan Document Obligations (other than in respect of contingent indemnification and contingent expense reimbursement claims not then due) have been paid in full and (c) all Letters of Credit (other than those that have been 100% Cash Collateralized or backstopped, or with respect to which other arrangements reasonably satisfactory to the applicable Issuing Bank have been made) have been cancelled or have expired (without any drawing having been made thereunder that has not been rejected or honored) and all amounts drawn or paid thereunder have been reimbursed in full.

 

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Test Period” means, at any date of determination (a) for any determination under this Agreement (other than any determination of the Applicable Rate, the commitment fee under Section 2.12 and compliance with the Financial Performance Covenants), the most recently completed four consecutive fiscal quarters of the Parent Borrower ending on or prior to such date for which financial statements are internally available and (b) for any determination of the Applicable Rate, the commitment fee under Section 2.12 and compliance with the Financial Performance Covenants, the most recently completed four consecutive fiscal quarters of the Parent Borrower ending on or prior to such date for which financial statements have been (or were required to have been) delivered pursuant to Section 5.01(a) or 5.01(b); provided that, prior to the first date after the Effective Date on which financial statements are internally available or have been delivered pursuant to Section 5.01(a) or 5.01(b), as applicable, the Test Period in effect shall be the period of four consecutive fiscal quarters of the Parent Borrower ended November 26, 2021.

Total Leverage Ratio” means, on any date, the ratio of (a) Consolidated Net Debt as of such date to (b) Consolidated EBITDA for the Test Period as of such date.

Transaction Costs” means any fees or expenses incurred or paid by Management Investors, the Borrowers or any Subsidiary in connection with the Transactions, this Agreement and the other Loan Documents and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby.

Transactions” means, collectively, (a) the Effective Date Refinancing, (b) the funding of the Term Loans on the Effective Date and the consummation of the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement, (c) the consummation of any other transactions in connection with the foregoing and (d) the payment of the fees and expenses incurred in connection with any of the foregoing (including the Transaction Costs).

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

UCC” or “Uniform Commercial Code” means the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect from time to time in the State of New York; provided, however, that, at any time, if by reason of mandatory provisions of law, any or all of the perfection or priority of the Collateral Agent’s security interest in any item or portion of the Collateral is governed by the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect in a U.S. jurisdiction other than the State of New York, the term “UCC” shall mean the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect, at such time, in such other jurisdiction for purposes of the provisions hereof relating to such perfection or priority and for purposes of definitions relating to such provisions.

UCP” means the Uniform Customs and Practice for Documentary Credits, International Chamber of Commerce (“ICC”) Publication No. 600 (or such later version as may be in effect at the time of issuance).

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

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

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

Unaudited Financial Statements” means the unaudited consolidated balance sheet of the Parent Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries as at the end of, and related statement of income and cash flows of the Parent Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries for, the fiscal quarter ended November 26, 2021.

 

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Unrestricted Subsidiary” means (a) any Subsidiary (other than the Co-Borrower) designated by the Parent Borrower as an Unrestricted Subsidiary pursuant to Section 5.14 subsequent to the Effective Date and (b) any Subsidiary of any such Unrestricted Subsidiary.

USA Patriot Act” means the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001, as amended from time to time.

U.S. Bankruptcy Code” means Title 11 of the United State Code, as amended, or any similar federal or state law for the relief of debtors.

U.S. Special Resolution Regimes” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.22.

U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.17.

Vehicles” means all railcars, cars, trucks, trailers, construction and earth moving equipment and other vehicles, in each case, covered by a certificate of title law of any state and all tires and other appurtenances to any of the foregoing.

Voting Equity Interests” means Equity Interests that are entitled to vote generally for the election of directors to the Board of Directors of the issuer thereof. Shares of preferred stock that have the right to elect one or more directors to the Board of Directors of the issuer thereof only upon the occurrence of a breach or default by such issuer thereunder shall not be considered Voting Equity Interests as long as the directors that may be elected to the Board of Directors of the issuer upon the occurrence of such a breach or default represent a minority of the aggregate voting power of all directors of Board of Directors of the issuer. The percentage of Voting Equity Interests of any issuer thereof beneficially owned by a Person shall be determined by reference to the percentage of the aggregate voting power of all Voting Equity Interests of such issuer that are represented by the Voting Equity Interests beneficially owned by such Person.

Weighted Average Life to Maturity” means, when applied to any Indebtedness at any date, the number of years obtained by dividing: (a) the sum of the products obtained by multiplying (i) the amount of each then remaining scheduled installment, sinking fund, serial maturity or other required scheduled payments of principal, including payment at final scheduled maturity, in respect thereof, by (ii) the number of years (calculated to the nearest one-twelfth) that will elapse between such date and the making of such payment; by (b) the then outstanding principal amount of such Indebtedness; provided that, for purposes of determining the Weighted Average Life to Maturity of any Indebtedness that is being modified, refinanced, refunded, renewed, replaced or extended (the “Applicable Indebtedness”), the effects of any prepayments or amortization made on such Applicable Indebtedness prior to the date of the applicable modification, refinancing, refunding, renewal, replacement or extension shall be disregarded.

wholly-owned subsidiary” means, with respect to any Person at any date, a subsidiary of such Person of which securities or other ownership interests representing 100% of the Equity Interests (other than (a) directors’ qualifying shares and (b) nominal shares issued to foreign nationals or other Persons to the extent required by applicable Requirements of Law) are, as of such date, owned, controlled or held by such Person or one or more wholly-owned subsidiaries of such Person or by such Person and one or more wholly-owned subsidiaries of such Person.

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

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

 

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

SECTION 1.03 Terms Generally. The definitions of terms herein shall apply equally to the singular and plural forms of the terms defined. Whenever the context may require, any pronoun shall include the corresponding masculine, feminine and neuter forms. The words “include,” “includes” and “including” are by way of example and shall be deemed to be followed by the phrase “without limitation.” The word “or” is not exclusive. The word “will” shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect as the word “shall.” In the computation of periods of time from a specified date to a later specified date, the word “from” means “from and including”; the words “to” and “until” each mean “to but excluding”; and the word “through” means “to and including”. Unless the context requires otherwise, (a) any definition of or reference to any agreement (including this Agreement and the other Loan Documents), instrument or other document herein shall be construed as referring to such agreement, instrument or other document as from time to time amended, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified (subject to any restrictions on such amendments, supplements or modifications set forth herein), (b) any reference herein to any Person shall be construed to include such Person’s successors and assigns (subject to any restrictions on assignment set forth herein) and, in the case of any Governmental Authority, any other Governmental Authority that shall have succeeded to any or all functions thereof, (c) the words “herein,” “hereof” and “hereunder,” and words of similar import, shall be construed to refer to this Agreement in its entirety and not to any particular provision hereof, (d) all references herein to Articles, Sections, Exhibits and Schedules shall be construed to refer to Articles and Sections of, and Exhibits and Schedules to, this Agreement, (e) the words “asset” and “property” shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect and to refer to any and all tangible and intangible assets and properties, including cash, securities, accounts and contract rights and (f) references to any law shall include all statutory and regulatory provisions consolidating, amending, replacing, supplementing or interpreting such law.

SECTION 1.04 Accounting Terms; GAAP; Certain Calculations.

(a) All accounting terms not specifically or completely defined herein shall be construed in conformity with, and all financial data (including financial ratios and other financial calculations) required to be submitted pursuant to this Agreement shall be prepared in conformity with GAAP.

(b) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, for purposes of determining compliance with any test or utilization of any basket contained in this Agreement (including, without limitation, any Incurrence-Based Amount and any Fixed Amount), Consolidated EBITDA, Consolidated Total Assets, the Total Leverage Ratio, the First Lien Leverage Ratio and the Interest Coverage Ratio, as applicable, shall be calculated on a Pro Forma Basis to give effect to the Transactions and all Specified Transactions that have been made during the applicable period of measurement or subsequent to such period and prior to or concurrently with the event for which the calculation is made and to the extent the proceeds of any new Indebtedness are to be used to repay other Indebtedness (including by repurchase, redemption, retirement, extinguishment, defeasance, discharge or pursuant to escrow or similar arrangements) no later than 60 days following the incurrence of such new Indebtedness, the Parent Borrower shall be permitted to give Pro Forma Effect to such repayment of Indebtedness; provided that, notwithstanding the foregoing, for purposes of determining actual compliance with the Financial Performance Covenants (but not any other provision of this Agreement that requires compliance with such covenant) and the definition of “Applicable Rate”, any Specified Transaction that occurred subsequent to such period shall not be given pro forma effect.

(c) Where reference is made to “the Parent Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis” or similar language, such consolidation shall not include any Subsidiaries of the Parent Borrower other than the Restricted Subsidiaries.

 

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(d) In the event that the Parent Borrower elects to prepare its financial statements in accordance with IFRS and such election results in a change in the method of calculation of financial covenants, standards or terms (collectively, the “Accounting Changes”) in this Agreement, the Parent Borrower and the Administrative Agent agree to enter into good faith negotiations in order to amend such provisions of this Agreement (including the levels applicable herein to any computation of the Total Leverage Ratio, the First Lien Leverage Ratio and the Interest Coverage Ratio) so as to reflect equitably the Accounting Changes with the desired result that the criteria for evaluating the Parent Borrower’s financial condition shall be substantially the same after such change as if such change had not been made. Until such time as such an amendment shall have been executed and delivered by the Parent Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the Required Lenders, all financial covenants, standards and terms in this Agreement shall continue to be calculated or construed in accordance with GAAP (as determined in good faith by a Responsible Officer of the Parent Borrower) (it being agreed that the reconciliation between GAAP and IFRS used in such determination shall be made available to Lenders) as if such change had not occurred.

(e) Each Lender and the Administrative Agent hereby acknowledges and agrees that Parent Borrower and its Subsidiaries may be required to restate historical financial statements as the result of the implementation of changes in GAAP or IFRS, or the respective interpretation or application thereof, and that such restatements will not, solely as a result of such change in GAAP or IFRS (or such interpretation or application), result in a Default or an Event of Default under the Loan Documents.

(f) For purposes of determining the permissibility of any action, change, transaction or event that requires a calculation of any financial ratio or test (including, without limitation, Section 6.10, any First Lien Leverage Ratio test, any Total Leverage Ratio test and/or any Interest Coverage Ratio test, the amount of Consolidated EBITDA and/or Consolidated Total Assets), such financial ratio or test shall be calculated at the time such action is taken (subject to Section 1.09), such change is made, such transaction is consummated or such event occurs, as the case may be, and no Default or Event of Default shall be deemed to have occurred solely as a result of a change in such financial ratio or test occurring after the time such action is taken, such change is made, such transaction is consummated or such event occurs, as the case may be.

(g) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary (i) until such time as financial statements of the Parent Borrower (or any parent entity thereof) filed with the SEC are required to reflect lease categorization in accordance with ASC 842 (Leases) (the “Lease Accounting Transition Time”), the determination of whether a lease is a Capitalized Lease or a Non-Finance Lease shall, for all purposes under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, be made without giving effect to ASC 842 (Leases) and (ii) from and after the Lease Accounting Transition Time, the determination of whether a lease is a Capitalized Lease or a Non-Finance Lease shall, for all purposes under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, be made giving effect to ASC 842 (Leases); provided that, other than for purposes of financial statements delivered pursuant to Section 5.01, the Parent Borrower may, with respect to any Test Period ending after the Lease Accounting Transition Time, elect, by notifying the Administrative Agent in writing prior to or concurrently with the delivery of a Compliance Certificate for such Test Period pursuant to Section 5.01(d), to determine whether a lease is a Capitalized Lease or a Non-Finance Lease without giving effect to ASC 842 (Leases).

SECTION 1.05 Certain Calculations and Tests.

(a) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, with respect to any amounts incurred or transactions entered into (or consummated) in reliance on a provision of this Agreement (including, without limitation, Revolving Loans and, to the extent established or incurred under the Free and Clear Incremental Amount, Incremental Facilities and Incremental Equivalent Debt) that does not require compliance with a financial ratio or test (including, without limitation, Section 6.10, any First Lien Leverage Ratio test, any Total Leverage Ratio test and/or any Interest Coverage Ratio test) (any such amounts, the “Fixed Amounts”) substantially concurrently with any amounts incurred or transactions entered into (or consummated) in reliance on a provision of this Agreement that requires compliance with a financial ratio or test (including, without limitation, Section 6.10, any First Lien Leverage Ratio test, any Total Leverage Ratio test and/or any Interest Coverage Ratio test) (any such amounts, the “Incurrence-Based Amounts”), it is understood and agreed that the Fixed Amounts shall be disregarded in the calculation of the financial ratio or test applicable to the Incurrence-Based Amounts in connection with such substantially concurrent incurrence. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 1.05, cash proceeds of any simultaneous incurrence of Indebtedness shall be disregarded in calculating the amount of Available Cash for purposes of determining whether Indebtedness is permitted to be incurred.

 

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(b) For the avoidance of doubt, in connection with the incurrence of any Indebtedness under Section 2.20, the definition of Required Lenders shall be calculated on a Pro Forma Basis in accordance with this Section 1.04, Section 2.20 and the definition of “Incremental Cap”; provided that any waiver, amendment or modification obtained on such basis (i) will not become operative until substantially contemporaneously with the incurrence of such Indebtedness, (ii) is not required in order to avoid a covenant Default and (iii) does not affect the rights or duties under this Agreement of Lenders holding Loans or Commitments of any then outstanding Class but not the Lenders in respect of such Indebtedness to be incurred.

(c) Any reference herein or in any other Loan Document to the ranking of Liens shall be determined without regard to control of remedies.

(d) For all purposes of this Agreement and the calculations subject hereto, at the Parent Borrower’s election, the acquisition of any Person, property, business or assets (and any pro forma events to occur in connection therewith, including the assumption or incurrence of any Indebtedness or Liens and any Run Rate Benefits) shall be deemed to have “occurred” and been “consummated” upon the Parent Borrower or any Subsidiary or entering into a binding definitive agreement or letter of intent with respect thereto, and such deemed occurrence shall continue until such transaction is actually consummated or is abandoned or such definitive agreement or letter of intent is otherwise terminated.

SECTION 1.06 Effectuation of Transactions. All references herein to the Borrowers and their subsidiaries shall be deemed to be references to such Persons, and all the representations and warranties of the Borrowers and the other Loan Parties contained in this Agreement and the other Loan Documents shall be deemed made, in each case, after giving effect to the Transactions to occur on the Effective Date, unless the context otherwise requires.

SECTION 1.07 Currency Translation; Rates.

(a) Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, for purposes of any determination under Article V, Article VI (other than Section 6.10) or Article VII or any determination under any other provision of this Agreement expressly requiring the use of a current exchange rate, all amounts incurred, outstanding or proposed to be incurred or outstanding in currencies other than dollars shall be translated into dollars at the Exchange Rate (rounded to the nearest currency unit, with 0.5 or more of a currency unit being rounded upward); provided, however, that for purposes of determining compliance with Article VI with respect to the amount of any Indebtedness, Investment, Disposition, Restricted Payment or prepayment of Indebtedness in a currency other than dollars, no Default or Event of Default shall be deemed to have occurred solely as a result of changes in rates of exchange occurring after the time such Indebtedness or Investment is incurred or Disposition, Restricted Payment or prepayment of Indebtedness made; provided that, for the avoidance of doubt, the foregoing provisions of this Section 1.07 shall otherwise apply to such Sections, including with respect to determining whether any Indebtedness or Investment may be incurred or Disposition, Restricted Payment or prepayment of Indebtedness made at any time under such Sections. For purposes of any determination of Consolidated Total Debt, amounts in currencies other than dollars shall be translated into dollars at the currency exchange rates used in preparing the most recently delivered financial statements pursuant to Section 5.01(a) or (b) and shall give effect to any Swap Agreement relating to such Indebtedness in effect on the date of determination relating to any such currencies. Each provision of this Agreement shall be subject to such reasonable changes of construction as the Administrative Agent may from time to time specify with the Parent Borrower’s consent (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld) to appropriately reflect a change in currency of any country and any relevant market conventions or practices relating to such change in currency.

(b) The Administrative Agent does not warrant or accept responsibility for, and shall not have any liability with respect to (a) administration, construction, calculation, publication, continuation, discontinuation, movement, or regulation of, or any other matter related to, the Alternate Base Rate, the Benchmark, or any alternative, successor or replacement rate thereto (including any Benchmark Replacement), any component definition thereof or rates referred to in the definition thereof, including whether any Benchmark is similar to, or will

 

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produce the same value or economic equivalence of, any other rate or whether financial instruments referencing or underlying the Benchmark will have the same volume or liquidity as those referencing or underlying any other rate, (b) the impact of any regulatory statements about, or actions taken with respect to any Benchmark (or component thereof), (c) changes made by any administrator to the methodology used to calculate any Benchmark (or component thereof) or (d) the effect, implementation or composition of any Conforming Changes. The Administrative Agent and its affiliates or other related entities may engage in transactions that affect the calculation of the Alternate Base Rate, the Benchmark, any alternative, successor or replacement rate (including any Benchmark Replacement) or any relevant adjustments thereto, in each case, in a manner adverse to the Borrower. The Administrative Agent does not warrant or accept responsibility for, and shall not have any liability with respect to, such transactions. The Administrative Agent may select information sources or services in its reasonable discretion to ascertain the Alternate Base Rate, the Benchmark, or any alternative, successor or replacement rate (including any Benchmark Replacement), in each case pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, and shall have no liability to the Borrower, any Lender or any other person or entity for damages of any kind, including direct or indirect, special, punitive, incidental or consequential damages, costs, losses or expenses (whether in tort, contract or otherwise and whether at law or in equity), for any error or calculation of any such rate (or component thereof) provided by any such information source or service.

SECTION 1.08 Cashless Rollovers. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement or in any other Loan Document, to the extent that any Lender extends the maturity date of, or replaces, renews or refinances, any of its then-existing Loans with Other Revolving Loans, Incremental Term Loans, Other Term Loans or loans incurred under a new credit facility, in each case, to the extent such extension, replacement, renewal or refinancing is effected by means of a “cashless roll” by such Lender pursuant to settlement mechanisms approved by the Parent Borrower, the Administrative Agent and such Lender, such extension, replacement, renewal or refinancing shall be deemed to comply with any requirement hereunder or any other Loan Document that such payment be made “in dollars”, “in immediately available funds”, “in cash” or any other similar requirement.

SECTION 1.09 Limited Condition Transactions.

Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement or any other Loan Document to the contrary, for purposes of:

(i) determining compliance with any provision of this Agreement (other than Section 6.10) which requires the calculation of the Interest Coverage Ratio, the Total Leverage Ratio or the First Lien Leverage Ratio;

(ii) determining the accuracy of representations and warranties and/or whether a Default or Event of Default (or any subset of Defaults or Events of Default) has occurred, is continuing or would result from an action; or

(iii) testing availability under baskets set forth in this Agreement (including any baskets based on, or measured as, a percentage of Consolidated EBITDA or Consolidated Total Assets or by reference to the Available Amount or the Available Equity Amount) (including the incurrence of any Incremental Facility);

in each case, in connection with a Limited Condition Transaction, at the option of the Parent Borrower (the Parent Borrower’s election to exercise such option in connection with any Limited Condition Transaction, an “LCT Election”), with such LCT Election to be made on or prior to (a) in the case of any Limited Condition Transaction described in clause (a) of the definition of “Limited Condition Transaction,” the date of execution of, at the option of the Parent Borrower, the definitive agreement or a letter of intent related to such Limited Condition Transaction, or (b) with respect to any Limited Condition Transaction described in clause (b) or (c) of the definition of “Limited Condition Transaction,” the date of delivery of irrevocable notice with respect thereto (provided that, in each case, the Parent Borrower may subsequently elect to rescind such LCT Election), and the date of determination of whether any such Limited Condition Transaction (including any Specified Transaction or other action in connection therewith) is permitted hereunder shall be deemed to be the date the definitive agreement or a letter of intent for such Limited Condition Transaction are entered into or the date of delivery of irrevocable notice with respect to such Limited Condition Transaction, as applicable (the “LCT Test Date”), and if, after giving Pro Forma Effect to the

 

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Limited Condition Transaction, the Specified Transactions and the other transactions to be entered into in connection therewith (including any incurrence of Indebtedness or Liens and the use of proceeds thereof) as if they had occurred at the beginning of the most recent Test Period ending prior to the LCT Test Date, the Parent Borrower could have taken such action on the relevant LCT Test Date in compliance with such ratio or basket, such ratio or basket shall be deemed to have been complied with; provided that, if financial statements for one or more subsequent fiscal quarters or fiscal years, as applicable, shall have become available prior to the consummation of the applicable Limited Condition Transaction, the Parent Borrower may elect, in its sole discretion, to re-determine availability under any applicable ratio, test or basket for purposes of clause (i) and (iii) above on the basis of such financial statements, in which case such date of redetermination shall thereafter be deemed to be the applicable LCT Test Date with respect to such ratio, test or basket for purposes of clause (i) and (iii) above.

For the avoidance of doubt, if the Parent Borrower has made an LCT Election and (x) any of the ratios or baskets for which compliance was determined or tested as of the LCT Test Date (including with respect to the incurrence of Indebtedness) are not satisfied as a result of fluctuations in any such ratio or basket, including due to fluctuations in Consolidated EBITDA of the Parent Borrower or the Person subject to such Limited Condition Transaction, at or prior to the consummation of the relevant transaction or action, such baskets or ratios will not be deemed to have been unsatisfied as a result of such fluctuations; provided, however, if any ratios or baskets improve as a result of such fluctuations, such improved ratios or baskets may be utilized and (y) such ratios and other provisions need not be tested again at the time of consummation of such Limited Condition Transaction or related Specified Transactions. If the Parent Borrower has made an LCT Election for any Limited Condition Transaction, then in connection with any subsequent calculation of any ratio or basket availability with respect to any other Specified Transaction on or following the relevant LCT Test Date and prior to the earlier of (i) the date on which such Limited Condition Transaction is consummated or (ii) the date that the definitive agreement, letter of intent or notice, as applicable, for such Limited Condition Transaction is terminated or expires without consummation of such Limited Condition Transaction, any such ratio or basket shall be calculated on a pro forma basis assuming such Limited Condition Transaction and other transactions in connection therewith (including any incurrence of Indebtedness or Liens and the use of proceeds thereof) have been consummated.

SECTION 1.10 Letter of Credit Amounts. Unless otherwise specified herein, the amount of a Letter of Credit at any time shall be deemed to be the stated amount of such Letter of Credit in effect at such time; provided, however, that with respect to any Letter of Credit that, by its terms or the terms of any other document, agreement and instrument entered into by applicable Issuing Bank and the Parent Borrower (or any Subsidiary) or in favor of such Issuing Bank and relating to such Letter of Credit, provides for one or more automatic increases in the stated amount thereof, the amount of such Letter of Credit shall be deemed to be the maximum stated amount of such Letter of Credit after giving effect to all such increases, whether or not such maximum stated amount is in effect at such time.

SECTION 1.11 Times of Day; Timing of Performance. Unless otherwise specified, all references herein to times of day shall be references to Eastern time (daylight or standard, as applicable). When the payment of any obligation or the performance of any covenant, duty or obligation is stated to be due or performance required on a day which is not a Business Day, the date of such payment (other than as described in the definition of Interest Period and in Section 2.18(a)) or performance shall extend to the immediately succeeding Business Day.

SECTION 1.12 Additional Alternative Currencies. The Parent Borrower may from time to time request that Revolving Loans be made and/or Letters of Credit be issued in a currency other than dollars; provided that such requested currency is an Eligible Currency. Such request shall be subject to the approval of the Administrative Agent; and, in the case of any such request with respect to Revolving Loans, each Revolving Lender; and, in the case of any such request with respect to the issuance of Letters of Credit, such request shall also be subject to the approval of the applicable Issuing Banks. Any such request shall be made to the Administrative Agent not later than 11:00 a.m., twenty (20) Business Days prior to the date of the desired Borrowing or issuance of a Letter of Credit (or such other time or date as may be reasonably agreed by the Administrative Agent and, in the case of any such request pertaining to Letters of Credit, the applicable Issuing Bank, in its or their sole discretion). In the case of any such request pertaining to Revolving Loans, the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each Revolving Lender of the interest rate applicable to such Eligible Currency and the minimum denominations applicable to partial prepayments (or assignments); and in the case of any such request pertaining to Letters of Credit, the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify the applicable Issuing Banks thereof. Each Revolving

 

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Lender (in the case of a request pertaining to Revolving Loans) shall notify the Administrative Agent, not later than 11:00 a.m., ten (10) Business Days after receipt of such request whether it consents, in its sole discretion, to the making of Revolving Loans in such requested currency. Any failure by Revolving Lender to respond to such request within the time period specified in the preceding sentence shall be deemed to be a refusal by such Revolving Lender to permit Revolving Loans to be issued in such requested currency. The applicable Issuing Bank (in the case of a request pertaining to Letters of Credit) shall notify the Administrative Agent, not later than 11:00 a.m., ten (10) Business Days after receipt of such request whether it consents, in its sole discretion, to the issuance of Letters of Credit, as the case may be, in such requested currency. Any failure by an Issuing Bank to respond to such request within the time period specified in the preceding sentence shall be deemed to be a refusal by such Issuing Bank to permit Letters of Credit to be issued in such requested currency. If the Administrative Agent (and, in the case of any request with respect to Revolving Loans, each Revolving Lender) consents to making Revolving Loans in such requested currency, the Administrative Agent shall so notify the Parent Borrower and (A) the Administrative Agent and the Parent Borrower may amend the definition of Benchmark for any currency for which there is no published Benchmark with respect thereto to the extent necessary to add the applicable Benchmark for such currency and (B) to the extent the definition of Term SOFR reflects the appropriate interest rate for such currency or has been amended to reflect the appropriate rate for such currency, such currency shall thereupon be deemed for all purposes to be an Alternative Currency hereunder for purposes of any Borrowing of Revolving Loans; and if the applicable Issuing Bank also consents to the issuance of Letters of Credit in such requested currency, the Administrative Agent shall so notify the Parent Borrower and such currency shall thereupon be deemed for all purposes to be an Alternative Currency hereunder for purposes of any Letter of Credit issuances. If the Administrative Agent shall fail to obtain consent to any request for an additional currency under this Section 1.12, the Administrative Agent shall promptly so notify the Parent Borrower.

SECTION 1.13 Compliance with Certain Sections. In the event that any Indebtedness, Lien, Restricted Payment, Restricted Debt Payment, Investment, Disposition or Affiliate transaction, as applicable, meets the criteria of more than one of the categories of transactions or items then permitted pursuant to any clause or subsection of Article VI, Article II or the definition of “Incremental Cap,” the Parent Borrower, in its sole discretion, may, from time to time, divide, classify and/or reclassify such transaction or item (or portion thereof) among any combination of one or more categories and will be required to include the amount and type of such transaction (or portion thereof) only in any one category at any time; provided that the reclassification described in this sentence shall be deemed to have occurred automatically with respect to any such transaction or item incurred or made pursuant to a Fixed Amount (including the Free and Clear Incremental Amount) that later would be permitted on a Pro Forma Basis to be incurred or made pursuant to an Incurrence-Based Amount (including the Ratio Incremental Amount). It is understood and agreed that any Indebtedness, Lien, Restricted Payment, Restricted Debt Payment, Investment, Disposition and/or Affiliate transaction need not be permitted solely by reference to one category of permitted Indebtedness, Lien, Restricted Payment, Restricted Debt Payment, Investment, Disposition and/or Affiliate transaction under Article VI, Article II or the definition of “Incremental Cap,” respectively, but may instead be permitted in part under any combination thereof.

ARTICLE II

THE CREDITS

SECTION 2.01 Commitments. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, (a) each Term Lender severally agrees to make a Term Loan to the Borrowers on the Effective Date denominated in dollars in a principal amount not exceeding its Term Commitment and (b) each Revolving Lender severally agrees to make Revolving Loans to the Borrowers denominated in dollars (or, if applicable, Alternative Currencies) from time to time during the Revolving Availability Period in an aggregate principal amount which will not result in such Lender’s Revolving Exposure exceeding such Lender’s Revolving Commitment. The Borrowers may borrow, prepay and reborrow Revolving Loans. Amounts repaid or prepaid in respect of Term Loans may not be reborrowed.

SECTION 2.02 Loans and Borrowings.

(a) Each Loan (other than a Swingline Loan) shall be made as part of a Borrowing consisting of Loans of the same Class and Type made by the Lenders ratably in accordance with their respective Commitments of the applicable Class. The failure of any Lender to make any Loan required to be made by it shall not relieve any other Lender of its obligations hereunder, provided that the Commitments of the Lenders are several and, other than as expressly provided herein with respect to a Defaulting Lender, no Lender shall be responsible for any other Lender’s failure to make Loans as required hereby.

 

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(b) Subject to Section 2.14, each Revolving Loan Borrowing and Term Loan Borrowing denominated in dollars shall be comprised entirely of ABR Loans or SOFR Loans, in each case, as a Borrower may request in accordance herewith; provided that all Borrowings made on the Effective Date must be made as ABR Borrowings unless such Borrower shall have given the notice required for a SOFR Borrowing under Section 2.03 and provided an indemnity extending the benefits of Section 2.16 to Lenders in respect of such Borrowings. Each Swingline Loan shall be an ABR Loan. Each Lender at its option may make any Loan by causing any domestic or foreign branch or Affiliate of such Lender to make such Loan; provided that any exercise of such option shall not affect the obligation of such Borrower to repay such Loan in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.

(c) At the commencement of each Interest Period for any SOFR Borrowing, such Borrowing shall be in an aggregate amount that is an integral multiple of the Borrowing Multiple and not less than the Borrowing Minimum; provided that a SOFR Borrowing that results from a continuation of an outstanding SOFR Borrowing may be in an aggregate amount that is equal to such outstanding Borrowing. At the time that each ABR Borrowing is made, such Borrowing shall be in an aggregate amount that is an integral multiple of the Borrowing Multiple and not less than the Borrowing Minimum. Each Swingline Loan shall be in an amount that is an integral multiple of the Borrowing Multiple and not less than the Borrowing Minimum. Borrowings of more than one Type and Class may be outstanding at the same time; provided that there shall not at any time be more than a total of twelve (12) SOFR Borrowings; provided, further that an additional three Borrowings in respect of each Class of Incremental Loans may be outstanding at the same time (or, in the case of either of the foregoing limits, such greater number as may be reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent).

SECTION 2.03 Requests for Borrowings. To request a Revolving Loan Borrowing or Term Loan Borrowing, the applicable Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent of such request, which notice may be given by (A) telephone or (B) a Borrowing Request; provided that any telephone notice must be confirmed promptly by delivery to the Administrative Agent of a Borrowing Request. Each such notice must be received by the Administrative Agent (a) in the case of a SOFR Borrowing, not later than 2:00 p.m., New York City time, three (3) Government Securities Business Days before the date of the proposed Borrowing (or, in the case of any SOFR Borrowing to be made on the Effective Date, such shorter period of time as may be agreed to by the Administrative Agent) or (b) in the case of an ABR Borrowing, not later than 11:00 a.m., New York City time, one (1) Business Day before the date of the proposed Borrowing; provided that any such notice of an ABR Revolving Loan Borrowing to finance the reimbursement of an LC Disbursement as contemplated by Section 2.05(f) may be given no later than 10:00 a.m., New York City time, one Business Day before the date of the proposed Borrowing. Each such Borrowing Request shall be irrevocable and shall be delivered by hand delivery, facsimile or other electronic transmission (or, if requested by telephone, promptly confirmed in writing by hand delivery, facsimile or other electronic transmission) to the Administrative Agent and shall be signed by the applicable Borrower. Each such Borrowing Request shall specify the following information:

(i) whether the requested Borrowing is to be a Term Loan Borrowing, a Revolving Loan Borrowing or a Borrowing of any other Class (specifying the Class thereof);

(ii) the aggregate amount of such Borrowing;

(iii) the date of such Borrowing, which shall be a Government Securities Business Days or Business Day, as applicable;

(iv) whether such Borrowing is to be an ABR Borrowing or a SOFR Borrowing;

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

(vi) the location and number of such Borrower’s account to which funds are to be disbursed, which shall comply with the requirements of Section 2.06 or, in the case of any ABR Revolving Loan Borrowing or Swingline Loan requested to finance the reimbursement of an LC Disbursement as provided in Section 2.05(f), the identity of the Issuing Bank that made such LC Disbursement; and

 

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(vii) that, as of the date of such Borrowing, the conditions set forth in Section 4.02(a) and Section 4.02(b) are satisfied.

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

SECTION 2.04 Swingline Loans.

(a) Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein (including Section 2.22), in reliance upon the agreements of the other Lenders set forth in this Section 2.04, the Swingline Lender agrees to make Swingline Loans to the Borrowers from time to time during the Revolving Availability Period denominated in dollars, in an aggregate principal amount at any time outstanding that will not result in (i) subject to Section 9.04(b)(ii), the outstanding Swingline Loans of the Swingline Lender exceeding its Swingline Commitment or (ii) the aggregate Revolving Exposures exceeding the aggregate Revolving Commitments, provided that the Swingline Lender shall not be required to make a Swingline Loan to refinance an outstanding Swingline Loan. Within the foregoing limits and subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, the Borrowers may borrow, prepay and reborrow Swingline Loans.

(b) To request a Swingline Loan, the Parent Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent and the Swingline Lender of such request in writing, not later than 10:00 a.m., New York time, or, if agreed by the Swingline Lender, 2:00 p.m., New York time, on the day of such proposed Swingline Loan. Each such notice shall be irrevocable and shall specify the requested date (which shall be a Business Day), the amount of the requested Swingline Loan and (x) if the funds are not to be credited to a general deposit account of such Borrower maintained with the Swingline Lender because such Borrower is unable to maintain a general deposit account with the Swingline Lender under applicable Requirements of Law, the location and number of such Borrower’s account to which funds are to be disbursed, which shall comply with Section 2.06, or (y) in the case of any ABR Revolving Loan Borrowing or Swingline Loan requested to finance the reimbursement of an LC Disbursement as provided in Section 2.05(f), the identity of the Issuing Bank that made such LC Disbursement. The Swingline Lender shall make each Swingline Loan available to such Borrower by means of a credit to the general deposit accounts of such Borrower maintained with the Swingline Lender (or, in the case of a Swingline Loan made to finance the reimbursement of an LC Disbursement as provided in Section 2.05(f), by remittance to the applicable Issuing Bank) by 3:00 p.m., New York City time, on the requested date of such Swingline Loan.

(c) The Swingline Lender may by written notice given to the Administrative Agent not later than 2:00 p.m., New York City time, on any Business Day require the Revolving Lenders to acquire participations on such Business Day in all or a portion of the Swingline Loans outstanding. Such notice shall specify the aggregate amount of Swingline Loans in which Revolving Lenders will participate. Promptly upon receipt of such notice, the Administrative Agent will give notice thereof to each Revolving Lender, specifying in such notice such Lender’s Applicable Percentage of such Swingline Loan or Swingline Loans. Each Revolving Lender hereby absolutely and unconditionally agrees, upon receipt of notice as provided above, to pay to the Administrative Agent, for the account of the Swingline Lender, such Lender’s Applicable Percentage of such Swingline Loan or Swingline Loans. Each Revolving Lender acknowledges and agrees that its obligation to acquire participations in Swingline Loans pursuant to this paragraph is absolute and unconditional and shall not be affected by any circumstance whatsoever, including the occurrence and continuance of a Default or any reduction or termination of the Revolving Commitments, and that each such payment shall be made without any offset, abatement, withholding or reduction whatsoever. Each Revolving Lender shall comply with its obligation under this paragraph by wire transfer of immediately available funds, in the same manner as provided in Section 2.06 with respect to Loans made by such Lender (with references to 12:00 noon, New York City time, in such Section being deemed to be references to 3:00 p.m., New York City time) (and Section 2.06 shall apply, mutatis mutandis, to the payment obligations of the Revolving Lenders pursuant

 

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to this paragraph), and the Administrative Agent shall promptly remit to the Swingline Lender the amounts so received by it from the Revolving Lenders. The Administrative Agent shall notify the Borrowers of any participations in any Swingline Loan acquired pursuant to this paragraph, and thereafter payments in respect of such Swingline Loan shall be made to the Administrative Agent and not to the Swingline Lender. Any amounts received by the Swingline Lender from the Borrowers (or other Person on behalf of the Borrowers) in respect of a Swingline Loan after receipt by the Swingline Lender of the proceeds of a sale of participations therein shall be promptly remitted by the Swingline Lender to the Administrative Agent; any such amounts received by the Administrative Agent shall be promptly remitted by the Administrative Agent to the Revolving Lenders that shall have made their payments pursuant to this paragraph and to the Swingline Lender, as their interests may appear, provided that any such payment so remitted shall be repaid to the Swingline Lender or the Administrative Agent, as the case may be, and thereafter to the Borrowers, if and to the extent such payment is required to be refunded to the Borrowers for any reason. The purchase of participations in a Swingline Loan pursuant to this paragraph shall not relieve the Borrowers of any default in the payment thereof.

(d) The Parent Borrower may, at any time and from time to time, designate as additional Swingline Lenders one or more Revolving Lenders that agree to serve in such capacity as provided below. The acceptance by a Revolving Lender of an appointment as a Swingline Lender hereunder shall be evidenced by an agreement, which shall be in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the Parent Borrower, executed by the Borrowers, the Administrative Agent and such designated Swingline Lender, and, from and after the effective date of such agreement, (i) such Revolving Lender shall have all the rights and obligations of a Swingline Lender under this Agreement and (ii) references herein to the term “Swingline Lender” shall be deemed to include such Revolving Lender in its capacity as a lender of Swingline Loans hereunder.

(e) The Parent Borrower may terminate the appointment of any Swingline Lender as a “Swingline Lender” hereunder by providing a written notice thereof to such Swingline Lender, with a copy to the Administrative Agent. Any such termination shall become effective upon the earlier of (i) such Swingline Lender’s acknowledging receipt of such notice and (ii) the fifth Business Day following the date of the delivery thereof, provided that no such termination shall become effective until and unless the Swingline Exposure of such Swingline Lender shall have been reduced to zero. Notwithstanding the effectiveness of any such termination, the terminated Swingline Lender shall remain a party hereto and shall continue to have all the rights of a Swingline Lender under this Agreement with respect to Swingline Loans made by it prior to such termination, but shall not make any additional Swingline Loans.

SECTION 2.05 Letters of Credit.

(a) General. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein (including Section 2.22), each Issuing Bank agrees, in reliance upon the agreement of the Revolving Lenders set forth in this Section 2.05, to issue Letters of Credit denominated in dollars or any Alternative Currency for a Borrower’s own account (or for the account of any Subsidiary so long as a Borrower and such Subsidiary are co-applicants in respect of such Letter of Credit), in a form reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent and the applicable Issuing Bank, which shall reflect the standard policies and procedures of such Issuing Bank, at any time and from time to time during the period from the Effective Date until the Letter of Credit Expiration Date. In the event of any inconsistency between the terms and conditions of this Agreement and the terms and conditions of any form of letter of credit application or other agreement submitted by a Borrower to, or entered into by such Borrower with, any Issuing Bank relating to any Letter of Credit, the terms and conditions of this Agreement shall control. Subject to the terms and conditions hereof, the Borrowers’ ability to obtain Letters of Credit shall be fully revolving, and accordingly each Borrower may, during the foregoing period, obtain Letters of Credit to replace Letters of Credit that have expired (without any drawing having been made thereunder that has not been rejected or honored) or that have been drawn upon and reimbursed.

(b) Issuance, Amendment, Renewal, Extension; Certain Conditions. To request the issuance of a Letter of Credit (or the amendment, renewal or extension of an outstanding Letter of Credit), a Borrower shall deliver in writing by hand delivery or facsimile (or transmit by electronic communication, if arrangements for doing so have been approved by the recipient) to the applicable Issuing Bank and the Administrative Agent (at least three (3) Business Days before the requested date of issuance, amendment, renewal or extension or such shorter period as the applicable Issuing Bank and the Administrative Agent may agree) a notice requesting the issuance of a Letter of

 

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Credit, or identifying the Letter of Credit to be amended, renewed or extended, and specifying the date of issuance, amendment, renewal or extension (which shall be a Business Day), the date on which such Letter of Credit is to expire (which shall comply with paragraph (d) of this Section 2.05), the currency and amount of such Letter of Credit, the name and address of the beneficiary thereof and such other information as shall be necessary to prepare, amend, renew or extend such Letter of Credit. If requested by the applicable Issuing Bank, such Borrower also shall submit a letter of credit or bank guarantee application on such Issuing Bank’s standard form in connection with any request for a Letter of Credit. A Letter of Credit shall be issued, amended, renewed or extended by an Issuing Bank only if (and upon issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of any Letter of Credit such Borrower shall be deemed to represent and warrant that), after giving effect to such issuance, amendment, renewal or extension, (i) the aggregate Revolving Exposures shall not exceed the aggregate Revolving Commitments, (ii) the aggregate LC Exposure shall not exceed the aggregate Letter of Credit Commitments and (iii) the LC Exposure of such Issuing Bank shall not exceed the Letter of Credit Commitments of such Issuing Bank. No Issuing Bank shall be under any obligation to issue (or amend) any Letter of Credit if (i) any order, judgment or decree of any Governmental Authority or arbitrator shall enjoin or restrain such Issuing Bank from issuing (or amending) the Letter of Credit, or any law applicable to such Issuing Bank any directive (whether or not having the force of law) from any Governmental Authority with jurisdiction over such Issuing Bank shall prohibit the issuance (or amendment) of letters of credit generally or the Letter of Credit in particular or shall impose upon such Issuing Bank with respect to the Letter of Credit any restriction, reserve or capital requirement (for which such Issuing Bank is not otherwise compensated hereunder) not in effect on the Effective Date, or shall impose upon such Issuing Bank any unreimbursed loss, cost or expense which was not applicable on the Effective Date and which such Issuing Bank in good faith deems material to it, (ii) except as otherwise agreed by such Issuing Bank, the Letter of Credit is in an initial stated amount less than $100,000, (iii) the issuance of such Letter of Credit would violate one or more policies of the Issuing Bank applicable to letters of credit or any laws binding upon the Issuing Bank and, in each case, in effect as of the Effective Date or (iv) any Lender is at that time a Defaulting Lender, if after giving effect to Section 2.22(a)(iv), any Defaulting Lender Fronting Exposure remains outstanding, unless such Issuing Bank has entered into arrangements, including the delivery of Cash Collateral, reasonably satisfactory to such Issuing Bank with such Borrower or such Lender to eliminate such Issuing Bank’s Defaulting Lender Fronting Exposure arising from either the Letter of Credit then proposed to be issued (or amended) or such Letter of Credit and all other LC Exposure as to which such Issuing Bank has Defaulting Lender Fronting Exposure. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Issuing Bank shall be required to issue a commercial or trade Letter of Credit unless reasonably agreed between such Issuing Bank and such Borrower.

(c) Notice. Each Issuing Bank agrees that it shall not permit any issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of a Letter of Credit to occur unless it shall have given to the Administrative Agent any written notice thereof required under paragraph (m) of this Section and each Issuing Bank hereby agrees to give such notice.

(d) Expiration Date. Unless cash collateralized or backstopped pursuant to arrangements reasonably acceptable to the applicable Issuing Bank, each Letter of Credit shall expire at or prior to the close of business on the earlier of (i) the date that is one year after the date of the issuance of such Letter of Credit (or, in the case of any renewal or extension thereof, one year after such renewal or extension) and (ii) the Letter of Credit Expiration Date; provided that if such expiry date is not a Business Day, such Letter of Credit shall expire at or prior to close of business on the next succeeding Business Day; provided, however, that any Letter of Credit may, upon the request of a Borrower, include a provision whereby such Letter of Credit shall be extended automatically for additional consecutive periods of one year or less (but not beyond the Letter of Credit Expiration Date) unless the applicable Issuing Bank notifies the beneficiary thereof within the time period specified in such Letter of Credit or, if no such time period is specified, at least 30 days prior to the then-applicable expiration date, that such Letter of Credit will not be renewed.

(e) Participations.

(i) By the issuance of a Letter of Credit or an amendment to a Letter of Credit increasing the amount thereof, and without any further action on the part of the Issuing Bank that is the issuer thereof or the Lenders, such Issuing Bank hereby grants to each Revolving Lender, and each Revolving Lender hereby irrevocably and unconditionally acquires from such Issuing Bank without recourse or warranty (regardless of whether the conditions set forth in Section 4.02 shall have been satisfied), a participation in such Letter of Credit equal to such Revolving Lender’s Applicable Percentage of the aggregate amount

 

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available to be drawn under such Letter of Credit. In consideration and in furtherance of the foregoing, each Revolving Lender hereby absolutely and unconditionally agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent, for the account of such Issuing Bank, such Revolving Lender’s Applicable Percentage of each LC Disbursement made by such Issuing Bank and not reimbursed by the Borrowers on the date due as provided in paragraph (f) of this Section 2.05, or of any reimbursement payment required to be refunded to the Borrowers for any reason. Each Revolving Lender acknowledges and agrees that its obligation to acquire participations pursuant to this paragraph in respect of Letters of Credit is absolute and unconditional and shall not be affected by any circumstance whatsoever, including any amendment, renewal or extension of any Letter of Credit or the occurrence and continuance of a Default or any reduction or termination of the Revolving Commitments, and that each such payment shall be made without any offset, abatement, withholding or reduction whatsoever.

(ii) At any time after an Issuing Bank has made a payment under any Letter of Credit and has received from any Revolving Lender such Lender’s Applicable Percentage of the applicable LC Disbursement in respect of such payment in accordance with Section 2.05(e)(i), if the Administrative Agent receives for the account of such Issuing Bank any payment in respect of the related unreimbursed amount of the applicable LC Disbursement or interest thereon (whether directly from the Borrowers or otherwise, including proceeds of Cash Collateral applied thereto by the Administrative Agent), the Administrative Agent will distribute to such Lender its Applicable Percentage thereof in the same funds as those received by the Administrative Agent.

(iii) If any payment received by the Administrative Agent for the account of the applicable Issuing Bank pursuant to Section 2.05(e)(i) is required to be returned under any of the circumstances described in Section 9.08 (including pursuant to any settlement entered into by the Issuing Bank in its discretion), each Revolving Lender shall pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of the applicable Issuing Bank its Applicable Percentage thereof on demand of the Administrative Agent, plus interest thereon from the date of such demand to the date such amount is returned by such Lender, at a rate per annum equal to the Federal Funds Effective Rate from time to time in effect. The obligations of the Lenders under this clause shall survive the payment in full of the Loan Document Obligations and the termination of this Agreement.

(f) Reimbursement. If an Issuing Bank shall make any LC Disbursement in respect of a Letter of Credit, the Borrowers shall reimburse such LC Disbursement by paying to the Issuing Bank through the Administrative Agent, with notice of such payment given to the Issuing Bank, an amount equal to such LC Disbursement not later than 4:00 p.m., New York City time, on the Business Day immediately following the day that the Borrowers receives notice of such LC Disbursement; provided that, if such LC Disbursement is not less than the Borrowing Minimum, the Borrowers may, subject to the conditions to borrowing set forth herein, request in accordance with Section 2.03 or 2.04 that such payment be financed with an ABR Revolving Loan Borrowing or a Swingline Loan, in each case in an equivalent amount and, to the extent so financed, the Borrowers’ obligation to make such payment shall be discharged and replaced by the resulting ABR Revolving Loan Borrowing or Swingline Loan. In the case of a Letter of Credit denominated in an Alternative Currency, the Borrowers shall reimburse the Issuing Bank through the Administrative Agent in such Alternative Currency, unless (A) the Issuing Bank (at its option) shall have specified in such notice that it will require reimbursement in dollars, or (B) in the absence of any such requirement for reimbursement in dollars, the Borrowers shall have notified the Issuing Bank promptly following receipt of the notice of the LC Disbursement that the Borrowers will reimburse the Issuing Bank in dollars. In the case of any such reimbursement in dollars of a LC Disbursement under a Letter of Credit denominated in an Alternative Currency, the Issuing Bank shall notify the Borrowers of the Dollar Equivalent of the amount of the LC Disbursement promptly following the determination thereof. In the event that (A) a LC Disbursement denominated in an Alternative Currency is to be reimbursed in dollars pursuant to the second sentence in this Section 2.05(f) and (B) the dollar amount paid by the Borrowers, whether on or after the date of the LC Disbursement, shall not be adequate on the date of that payment to purchase in accordance with normal banking procedures a sum denominated in the Alternative Currency equal to the LC Disbursement, such Borrower agrees, as a separate and independent obligation, to indemnify the Issuing Bank for the loss resulting from its inability on that date to purchase the Alternative Currency in the full amount of the LC Disbursement. If the Borrowers fail to make such payment when due, the Administrative Agent shall notify each Revolving Lender of the applicable LC Disbursement, the payment then due from the Borrowers in respect thereof and such Revolving Lender’s Applicable

 

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Percentage thereof. Promptly following receipt of such notice, each Revolving Lender shall pay to the Administrative Agent in dollars its Applicable Percentage of the payment then due from the Borrowers, and in the same manner as provided in Section 2.06 with respect to Loans made by such Lender (and Section 2.06 shall apply, mutatis mutandis, to the payment obligations of the Revolving Lenders pursuant to this paragraph), and the Administrative Agent shall promptly remit to the applicable Issuing Bank the amounts so received by it from the Revolving Lenders. Promptly following receipt by the Administrative Agent of any payment from or on behalf of the Borrowers pursuant to this paragraph, the Administrative Agent shall distribute such payment to the applicable Issuing Bank or, to the extent that Revolving Lenders have made payments pursuant to this paragraph to reimburse such Issuing Bank, then to such Revolving Lenders and such Issuing Bank as their interests may appear. Any payment made by a Revolving Lender pursuant to this paragraph to reimburse any Issuing Bank for any LC Disbursement (other than the funding of ABR Revolving Loans or a Swingline Loan as contemplated above) shall not constitute a Loan and shall not relieve the Borrowers of its obligation to reimburse such LC Disbursement.

(g) Obligations Absolute. The Borrowers’ joint and several obligation to reimburse LC Disbursements as provided in paragraph (f) of this Section 2.05 and the obligations of the Revolving Lenders as provided in paragraph (e) of this Section 2.05 is absolute, unconditional and irrevocable, and shall be performed strictly in accordance with the terms of this Agreement under any and all circumstances whatsoever and irrespective of (i) any lack of validity or enforceability of any Letter of Credit or this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents, or any term or provision therein, (ii) any draft or other document presented under a Letter of Credit proving to be forged, fraudulent or invalid in any respect or any statement therein being untrue or inaccurate in any respect, (iii) payment by an Issuing Bank under a Letter of Credit against presentation of a draft or other document that does not comply with the terms of such Letter of Credit, (iv) the occurrence of any Default or Event of Default, (v) the existence of any claim, counterclaim, setoff, defense or other right that the Borrowers may have at any time against any beneficiary, the Issuing Bank or any other person, (vi) any waiver by an Issuing Bank of any requirement that exists for such Issuing Bank’s protection and not the protection of the Borrowers or any waiver by an Issuing Bank which does not in fact materially prejudice the Borrowers, (vii) any payment made by an Issuing Bank in respect of an otherwise complying item presented after the date specified as the expiration date of, or the date by which documents must be received under such Letter of Credit if presentation after such date is authorized by the UCC, the ISP or the UCP, as applicable, or (viii) any other event or circumstance whatsoever, whether or not similar to any of the foregoing, that might, but for the provisions of this Section 2.05, constitute a legal or equitable discharge of, or provide a right of setoff against, the Borrowers’ obligations hereunder. None of the Administrative Agent, the Lenders, the Issuing Banks or any of their Affiliates shall have any liability or responsibility by reason of or in connection with the issuance or transfer of any Letter of Credit or any payment or failure to make any payment thereunder (irrespective of any of the circumstances referred to in the preceding sentence), or any error, omission, interruption, loss or delay in transmission or delivery of any draft, notice or other communication under or relating to any Letter of Credit (including any document required to make a drawing thereunder), any error in interpretation of technical terms or any consequence arising from causes beyond the control of the Issuing Banks; provided that the foregoing shall not be construed to excuse any Issuing Bank from liability to the Borrowers to the extent of any direct damages (as opposed to consequential, exemplary or punitive damages, claims in respect of which are hereby waived by the Borrowers to the extent permitted by applicable law) suffered by the Borrowers that are caused by such Issuing Bank’s failure to exercise care when determining whether drafts and other documents presented under a Letter of Credit comply with the terms thereof. The parties hereto expressly agree that, in the absence of gross negligence or willful misconduct on the part of an Issuing Bank (as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction in a final, non-appealable judgment), such Issuing Bank shall be deemed to have exercised care in each such determination. In furtherance of the foregoing and without limiting the generality thereof, the parties agree that, with respect to documents presented that appear on their face to be in substantial compliance with the terms of a Letter of Credit, an Issuing Bank may, in its sole discretion, either accept and make payment upon such documents without responsibility for further investigation, regardless of any notice or information to the contrary, or refuse to accept and make payment upon such documents if such documents are not in strict compliance with the terms of such Letter of Credit, and any such acceptance or refusal shall be deemed not to constitute gross negligence or willful misconduct.

(h) Disbursement Procedures. The applicable Issuing Bank shall, promptly following its receipt thereof, examine all documents purporting to represent a demand for payment under a Letter of Credit. Such Issuing Bank shall promptly notify the Administrative Agent and the Parent Borrower by telephone (confirmed by hand delivery, facsimile or electronic communication) (if arrangements for doing so have been approved by the applicable

 

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Issuing Bank) of such demand for payment and whether such Issuing Bank has made an LC Disbursement thereunder; provided that any failure to give or delay in giving such notice shall not relieve the Borrowers of their obligation to reimburse such Issuing Bank and the Revolving Lenders with respect to any such LC Disbursement in accordance with paragraph (f) of this Section.

(i) Interim Interest. If an Issuing Bank shall make any LC Disbursement, then, unless the Borrowers shall reimburse such LC Disbursement in full on the date such LC Disbursement is made, the unpaid amount thereof shall bear interest, for each day from and including the date such LC Disbursement is made to but excluding the date that the Borrowers reimburse such LC Disbursement, at the rate per annum then applicable to ABR Revolving Loans; provided that, if the Borrowers fail to reimburse such LC Disbursement when due pursuant to paragraph (f) of this Section 2.05, then Section 2.13(c) shall apply. Interest accrued pursuant to this paragraph shall be paid to the Administrative Agent, for the account of the applicable Issuing Bank, except that interest accrued on and after the date of payment by any Revolving Lender pursuant to paragraph (f) of this Section 2.05 to reimburse such Issuing Bank shall be for the account of such Lender to the extent of such payment and shall be payable within two Business Days of demand or, if no demand has been made, within two Business Days of the date on which the Borrowers reimburse the applicable LC Disbursement in full. If any Revolving Lender shall not have made its Applicable Percentage of such LC Disbursement available to the Administrative Agent as provided in clause (f) above, such Revolving Lender shall agree to pay interest on such amount, for each day from and including the date such amount is required to be paid at a rate determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with banking industry rules or practices on interbank compensation.

(j) Cash Collateralization. If any Event of Default under clause (a), (b), (h) or (i) of Section 7.01 shall occur and be continuing, on the Business Day on which the Parent Borrower receives notice from the Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders (or, if the maturity of the Loans has been accelerated, Revolving Lenders with LC Exposure representing more than 50.0% of the aggregate LC Exposure of all Revolving Lenders) demanding the deposit of Cash Collateral pursuant to this paragraph, the Borrowers shall deposit in an account with the Administrative Agent, in the name of the Administrative Agent and for the benefit of the Issuing Banks and the Revolving Lenders, an amount of cash in dollars equal to the Dollar Equivalent of the portions of the LC Exposure attributable to Letters of Credit, as of such date plus any accrued and unpaid interest thereon; provided that the obligation to deposit such Cash Collateral shall become effective immediately, and such deposit shall become immediately due and payable, without demand or other notice of any kind, upon the occurrence of any Event of Default with respect to the Borrowers described in clause (h) or (i) of Section 7.01. The Borrowers also shall deposit Cash Collateral pursuant to this paragraph as and to the extent required by Section 2.11(b). Each such deposit shall be held by the Administrative Agent as collateral for the payment and performance of the obligations of the Borrowers under this Agreement. At any time that there shall exist a Defaulting Lender, if any Defaulting Lender Fronting Exposure remains outstanding (after giving effect to Section 2.22(a)(iv)), then promptly upon the request of the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank or the Swingline Lender, the Borrowers shall deliver to the Administrative Agent Cash Collateral in an amount sufficient to cover such Defaulting Lender Fronting Exposure (after giving effect to any Cash Collateral provided by the Defaulting Lender). The Administrative Agent shall have exclusive dominion and control, including the exclusive right of withdrawal, over such account. Other than any interest earned on the investment of such deposits, which investments shall be made at the option and sole discretion of the Administrative Agent in Permitted Investments and at the Borrowers’ risk and expense, such deposits shall not bear interest. Interest or profits, if any, on such investments shall accumulate in such account. Moneys in such account shall be applied by the Administrative Agent to reimburse the Issuing Banks for LC Disbursements for which they have not been reimbursed and, to the extent not so applied, shall be held for the satisfaction of the reimbursement obligations of the Borrowers for the LC Exposure at such time or, if the maturity of the Loans has been accelerated (but subject to the consent of Revolving Lenders with LC Exposure representing more than 50.0% of the aggregate LC Exposure of all the Revolving Lenders), be applied to satisfy other obligations of the Borrowers under this Agreement in accordance with the terms of the Loan Documents. If the Borrowers are required to provide an amount of Cash Collateral hereunder as a result of the occurrence of an Event of Default or the existence of a Defaulting Lender, such amount (to the extent not applied as aforesaid) shall be returned to the Borrowers within three (3) Business Days after all Events of Default have been cured or waived or after the termination of Defaulting Lender status, as applicable. If the Borrowers are required to provide an amount of Cash Collateral hereunder pursuant to Section 2.11(b), such amount (to the extent not applied as aforesaid) shall be returned to the Borrowers as and to the extent that, after giving effect to such return, the Borrowers would remain in compliance with Section 2.11(b) and no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing.

 

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(k) Designation of Additional Issuing Banks. The Parent Borrower may, at any time and from time to time, designate as additional Issuing Banks one or more Revolving Lenders that agree to serve in such capacity as provided below. The acceptance by a Revolving Lender of an appointment as an Issuing Bank hereunder shall be evidenced by an agreement, which shall be in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the Parent Borrower, executed by the Borrowers, the Administrative Agent and such designated Revolving Lender and, from and after the effective date of such agreement, (i) such Revolving Lender shall have all the rights and obligations of an Issuing Bank under this Agreement and (ii) references herein to the term “Issuing Bank” shall be deemed to include such Revolving Lender in its capacity as an issuer of Letters of Credit hereunder.

(l) Termination of an Issuing Bank.

(i) The Parent Borrower may terminate the appointment of any Issuing Bank as an “Issuing Bank” hereunder by providing a written notice thereof to such Issuing Bank, with a copy to the Administrative Agent. Any such termination shall become effective upon the earlier of (x) such Issuing Bank’s acknowledging receipt of such notice and (y) the fifth Business Day following the date of the delivery thereof; provided that no such termination shall become effective until and unless the LC Exposure attributable to Letters of Credit issued by such Issuing Bank (or its Affiliates) shall have been reduced to zero. At the time any such termination shall become effective, the Parent Borrower shall pay all unpaid fees accrued for the account of the terminated Issuing Bank pursuant to Section 2.12(a). Notwithstanding the effectiveness of any such termination, the terminated Issuing Bank shall remain a party hereto and shall continue to have all the rights of an Issuing Bank under this Agreement with respect to Letters of Credit issued by it prior to such termination, but shall not issue any additional Letters of Credit.

(ii) Subject to the appointment and acceptance of a successor Issuing Bank, any Issuing Bank may resign as an Issuing Bank at any time upon 30 days’ prior written notice to the Administrative Agent, the Parent Borrower and the Lenders. In the event of any such resignation as an Issuing Bank, the Parent Borrower shall be entitled to appoint from among the Lenders a successor Issuing Bank hereunder. Notwithstanding the effectiveness of any such resignation, any former Issuing Bank shall remain a party hereto and shall continue to have all the rights of an Issuing Bank under this Agreement with respect to Letters of Credit issued by it prior to such termination, but shall not issue any additional Letters of Credit. Upon the appointment of a successor Issuing Bank, (x) such successor shall succeed to and become vested with all of the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring Issuing Bank as the case may be, and (y) the successor Issuing Bank shall issue letters of credit in substitution for the Letters of Credit, if any, outstanding on behalf such resigning Issuing Bank at the time of such succession or make other arrangements satisfactory to the applicable Issuing Bank to effectively assume the obligations of such Issuing Bank with respect to such Letters of Credit.

(m) Issuing Bank Reports to the Administrative Agent. Unless otherwise agreed by the Administrative Agent, each Issuing Bank shall, in addition to its notification obligations set forth elsewhere in this Section, report in writing to the Administrative Agent (i) periodic activity (for such period or recurrent periods as shall be reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent) in respect of Letters of Credit issued by such Issuing Bank, including all issuances, extensions, amendments and renewals, all expirations and cancellations and all disbursements and reimbursements, (ii) within five (5) Business Days following the time that such Issuing Bank issues, amends, renews or extends any Letter of Credit, the date of such issuance, amendment, renewal or extension, and the face amount of the Letters of Credit issued, amended, renewed or extended by it and outstanding after giving effect to such issuance, amendment, renewal or extension (and whether the amounts thereof shall have changed), (iii) on each Business Day on which such Issuing Bank makes any LC Disbursement, the date and amount of such LC Disbursement, (iv) on any Business Day on which a Borrower fails to reimburse an LC Disbursement required to be reimbursed to such Issuing Bank on such day, the date of such failure and amount of such LC Disbursement and (v) on any other Business Day, such other information as the Administrative Agent shall reasonably request as to the Letters of Credit issued by such Issuing Bank.

(n) Applicability of ISP and UCP. Unless otherwise expressly agreed by the applicable Issuing Bank and the applicable Borrower when a Letter of Credit is issued, (i) the rules of the ISP shall apply to each standby Letter of Credit, and (ii) the rules of the Uniform Customs and Practice for Documentary Credits, as most recently published by the International Chamber of Commerce at the time of issuance, shall apply to each commercial Letter

 

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of Credit. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Issuing Bank shall be responsible to the Borrowers for, and no Issuing Bank’s rights and remedies against the Borrowers shall be impaired by, any action or inaction of such Issuing Bank required or permitted under any law, order, or practice that is required or permitted to be applied to any Letter of Credit or this Agreement, including the Law or any order of a jurisdiction where such Issuing Bank or the beneficiary is located, the practice stated in the ISP or UCP, as applicable, or in the decisions, opinions, practice statements, or official commentary of the ICC Banking Commission, the Bankers Association for Finance and Trade – International Financial Services Association (BAFT-IFSA), or the Institute of International Banking Law & Practice, whether or not any Letter of Credit chooses such law or practice.

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

SECTION 2.06 Funding of Borrowings.

(a) Each Lender shall make each Loan to be made by it hereunder on the proposed date thereof by wire transfer of immediately available funds in the applicable currency by 12:00 noon, New York City time, to the Applicable Account of the Administrative Agent most-recently designated by it for such purpose by notice to the Lenders; provided that Swingline Loans shall be made as provided in Section 2.04. The Administrative Agent will make such Loans available to the Borrowers by promptly crediting the amounts so received, in like funds, to an account of the Borrowers designated by the Borrowers in the applicable Borrowing Request; provided that ABR Revolving Loans made to finance the reimbursement of an LC Disbursement as provided in Section 2.05(f) shall be remitted by the Administrative Agent to the applicable Issuing Bank or, to the extent that Revolving Lenders have made payments pursuant to Section 2.05(f) to reimburse such Issuing Bank, then to such Lenders and such Issuing Bank as their interests may appear.

(b) Unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from a Lender prior to the proposed date of any Borrowing that such Lender will not make available to the Administrative Agent such Lender’s share of such Borrowing, the Administrative Agent may assume that such Lender has made such share available on such date in accordance with paragraph (a) of this Section and may, in reliance on such assumption and in its sole discretion, make available to a Borrower a corresponding amount. In such event, if a Lender has not in fact made its share of the applicable Borrowing available to the Administrative Agent, then the applicable Lender agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent an amount equal to such share on demand of the Administrative Agent. If such Lender does not pay such corresponding amount forthwith upon demand of the Administrative Agent therefor, the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify the applicable Borrower, and the applicable Borrower agrees to pay such corresponding amount to the Administrative Agent forthwith on demand. The Administrative Agent shall also be entitled to recover from such Lender or the applicable Borrower interest on such corresponding amount, for each day from and including the date such amount is made available to the applicable Borrower to but excluding the date of payment to the Administrative Agent, at (i) in the case of such Lender, the greater of the Federal Funds Effective Rate and a rate determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation, or (ii) in the case of such Borrower, the interest rate applicable to such Borrowing in accordance with Section 2.13. If such Lender pays such amount to the Administrative Agent, then such amount shall constitute such Lender’s Loan included in such Borrowing.

(c) The obligations of the Lenders hereunder to make Term Loans and Revolving Loans, to fund participations in Letters of Credit and Swingline Loans and to make payments pursuant to Section 9.03(d) are several and not joint. The failure of any Lender to make any Loan, to fund any such participation or to make any payment under Section 9.03(d) on any date required hereunder shall not relieve any other Lender of its corresponding obligation to do so on such date, and, other than as expressly provided herein with respect to a Defaulting Lender, no Lender shall be responsible for the failure of any other Lender to so make its Loan, to purchase its participation or to make its payment under Section 9.03(d).

 

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SECTION 2.07 Interest Elections.

(A) Each Revolving Loan Borrowing and Term Loan Borrowing initially shall be of the Type specified in the applicable Borrowing Request or designated by Section 2.03 and, in the case of a SOFR Borrowing, shall have an initial Interest Period as specified in such Borrowing Request or designated by Section 2.03. Thereafter, each Borrower may elect to convert such Borrowing to a different Type or to continue such Borrowing and, in the case of a SOFR Borrowing, may elect Interest Periods therefor, all as provided in this Section. Each Borrower may elect different options with respect to different portions of the affected Borrowing, in which case each such portion shall be allocated ratably among the Lenders holding the Loans comprising such Borrowing, and the Loans comprising each such portion shall be considered a separate Borrowing. This Section shall not apply to Swingline Loans, which may not be converted or continued.

(b) To make an election pursuant to this Section, the applicable Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent of such election by telephone (or, at the option of the Parent Borrower, in writing) by the time that a Borrowing Request would be required under Section 2.03 if such Borrower were requesting a Borrowing of the Type resulting from such election to be made on the effective date of such election. Each such request may be given by (1) telephone or (2) an Interest Election Request.

(c) Each such request shall be irrevocable and each telephonic request shall be confirmed promptly by hand delivery, facsimile or other electronic transmission to the Administrative Agent of a written Interest Election Request signed by a Responsible Officer of the applicable Borrower.

(d) Each telephonic request and written Interest Election Request shall specify the following information in compliance with Section 2.03:

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

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

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

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

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

(e) Promptly following receipt of an Interest Election Request in accordance with this Section, the Administrative Agent shall advise each Lender of the applicable Class of the details thereof and of such Lender’s portion of each resulting Borrowing.

(f) If the applicable Borrower fails to deliver a timely Interest Election Request with respect to a SOFR Borrowing prior to the end of the Interest Period applicable thereto, then, unless such Borrowing is repaid as provided herein, at the end of such Interest Period, the applicable Borrower shall be deemed to have selected an Interest Period of one month’s duration.

 

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SECTION 2.08 Termination and Reduction of Commitments.

(a) Unless previously terminated, the Term Commitments shall terminate at 11:59 p.m., New York City time, on the Effective Date. The Revolving Commitments shall terminate at 11:59 p.m., New York City time, on the Revolving Maturity Date.

(b) Each Borrower may at any time terminate, or from time to time reduce, the Commitments of any Class; provided that (i) each reduction of the Commitments of any Class shall be in an amount that is an integral multiple of $500,000 and not less than $1,000,000 and (ii) each Borrower shall not terminate or reduce the Revolving Commitments if, after giving effect to any concurrent prepayment of the Revolving Loans or Swingline Loans in accordance with Section 2.11, the aggregate Revolving Exposures would exceed the aggregate Revolving Commitments. The Borrowers may terminate the Commitments of any Defaulting Lending on a non-pro rata basis upon notice to the Administrative Agent.

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

SECTION 2.09 Repayment of Loans; Evidence of Debt.

(a) Each Borrower, jointly and severally, hereby unconditionally promises to pay (i) to the Administrative Agent for the account of each Lender the then unpaid principal amount of each Revolving Loan of such Lender on the Revolving Maturity Date, (ii) to the Administrative Agent for the account of each Lender the then unpaid principal amount of each Term Loan of such Lender as provided in Section 2.10 and (iii) to the Swingline Lender the then unpaid principal amount of each Swingline Loan made by the Swingline Lender on the earlier to occur of (A) the date that is ten (10) Business Days after such Loan is made and (B) the Revolving Maturity Date; provided that on each date that a Revolving Borrowing is made, such Borrower shall repay all Swingline Loans that are then outstanding.

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

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

(d) The entries made in the accounts maintained pursuant to paragraph (b) or (c) of this Section shall be prima facie evidence of the existence and amounts of the obligations recorded therein, provided that the failure of any Lender or the Administrative Agent to maintain such accounts or any error therein shall not in any manner affect the obligation of the Borrowers to pay any amounts due hereunder in accordance with the terms of this Agreement. In the event of any inconsistency between the entries made pursuant to paragraphs (b) and (c) of this Section, the accounts maintained by the Administrative Agent pursuant to paragraph (c) of this Section shall control.

 

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(e) Any Lender may request through the Administrative Agent that Loans of any Class made by it be evidenced by a promissory note. In such event, the Borrowers shall execute and deliver to such Lender a promissory note payable to such Lender (or, if requested by such Lender, to its registered assigns) and in a form provided by the Administrative Agent and approved by the Borrowers.

SECTION 2.10 Amortization of Term Loans.

(a) Subject to adjustment pursuant to paragraph (c) of this Section 2.10, the applicable Borrower shall repay Term Loan Borrowings on the last Business Day of each February, May, August and November (commencing on May 31, 2022) in the principal amount of Term Loans equal to (i) for the first year after the Effective Date, (x) the aggregate outstanding principal amount of Term Loans immediately after closing on the Effective Date multiplied by (y) 0.625%, (ii) for the second through fourth years after the Effective Date, (x) the aggregate outstanding principal amount of Term Loans immediately after closing on the Effective Date multiplied by (y) 1.25% and (iii) for the fifth year after the Effective Date, (x) the aggregate outstanding principal amount of Term Loans immediately after closing on the Effective Date multiplied by (y) 1.875%.

(b) To the extent not previously paid, all Term Loans shall be due and payable on the Term Maturity Date.

(c) Any prepayment of a Term Loan Borrowing of any Class (i) pursuant to Section 2.11(a)(i) shall be applied to reduce the subsequent scheduled and outstanding repayments of the Term Loan Borrowings of such Class to be made pursuant to this Section as directed by the Borrowers (and absent such direction in direct order of maturity) and (ii) pursuant to Section 2.11(c) or Section 2.11(d) shall be applied to reduce the subsequent scheduled and outstanding repayments of the Term Loan Borrowings of such Class to be made pursuant to this Section, or, except as otherwise provided in any Incremental Facility Amendment, Refinancing Amendment or Loan Modification Offer, pursuant to the corresponding section of such Incremental Facility Amendment, Refinancing Amendment or Loan Modification Offer, as applicable, as directed by the Parent Borrower (and absent such direction in direct order of maturity).

(d) Prior to any repayment of any Term Loan Borrowings of any Class hereunder, the Borrowers shall select the Borrowing or Borrowings of the applicable Class to be repaid and shall notify the Administrative Agent in writing or by telephone (confirmed by hand delivery, facsimile or other electronic transmission) of such election not later than 2:00 p.m., New York City time, (x) in the case of SOFR Loans, three (3) Government Securities Business Days before the scheduled date of such repayment and (y) in the case of ABR Loans, one Business Day before the scheduled date of such repayment. In the absence of a designation by the Borrowers as described in the preceding sentence, the Administrative Agent shall make such designation in its reasonable discretion with a view, but no obligation, to minimize breakage costs owing under Section 2.16. Each repayment of a Borrowing shall be applied ratably to the Loans included in the repaid Borrowing. Repayments of Term Loan Borrowings shall be accompanied by accrued interest on the amount repaid.

SECTION 2.11 Prepayment of Loans.

(a) (i) The Borrowers shall have the right at any time and from time to time to prepay any Borrowing of any Class in whole or in part, without premium or penalty (subject to the immediately succeeding proviso).

(ii) Notwithstanding anything in any Loan Document to the contrary, so long as no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, a Borrower may prepay the outstanding Term Loans on the following basis:

(A) Each Borrower shall have the right to make a voluntary prepayment of Term Loans of any Class at a discount to par (such prepayment, the “Discounted Term Loan Prepayment”) pursuant to a Borrower Offer of Specified Discount Prepayment, Borrower Solicitation of Discount Range Prepayment Offers or Borrower Solicitation of Discounted Prepayment Offers, in each case made in accordance with this Section 2.11(a)(ii); provided that (x) the Borrowers shall not make any Borrowing of Revolving Loans to fund any Discounted Term Loan Prepayment and (y) the Borrowers shall not initiate any action under

 

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this Section 2.11(a)(ii) in order to make a Discounted Term Loan Prepayment with respect to any Class unless (I) at least ten (10) Business Days shall have passed since the consummation of the most recent Discounted Term Loan Prepayment with respect to such Class as a result of a prepayment made by the Borrowers on the applicable Discounted Prepayment Effective Date; or (II) at least three (3) Business Days shall have passed since the date the Parent Borrower was notified that no Term Lender was willing to accept any prepayment of any Term Loan and/or Other Term Loan at the Specified Discount, within the Discount Range or at any discount to par value, as applicable, or in the case of Borrower Solicitation of Discounted Prepayment Offers, the date of the applicable Borrower’s election not to accept any Solicited Discounted Prepayment Offers.

(B) (1) Subject to the proviso to subsection (A) above, a Borrower may from time to time offer to make a Discounted Term Loan Prepayment by providing the Auction Agent with three (3) Business Days’ notice in the form of a Specified Discount Prepayment Notice; provided that (I) any such offer shall be made available, at the sole discretion of such Borrower, to each Term Lender and/or each Lender with respect to any Class of Term Loans on an individual tranche basis, (II) any such offer shall specify the aggregate principal amount offered to be prepaid (the “Specified Discount Prepayment Amount”) with respect to each applicable Class, the Class or Classes of Term Loans subject to such offer and the specific percentage discount to par (the “Specified Discount”) of such Term Loans to be prepaid (it being understood that different Specified Discounts and/or Specified Discount Prepayment Amounts may be offered with respect to different Classes of Term Loans and, in such an event, each such offer will be treated as a separate offer pursuant to the terms of this Section), (III) the Specified Discount Prepayment Amount shall be in an aggregate amount not less than $1,000,000 and whole increments of $500,000 in excess thereof and (IV) each such offer shall remain outstanding through the Specified Discount Prepayment Response Date. The Auction Agent will promptly provide each relevant Term Lender with a copy of such Specified Discount Prepayment Notice and a form of the Specified Discount Prepayment Response to be completed and returned by each such Term Lender to the Auction Agent (or its delegate) by no later than 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the third Business Day after the date of delivery of such notice to the relevant Term Lenders (the “Specified Discount Prepayment Response Date”).

(2) Each relevant Term Lender receiving such offer shall notify the Auction Agent (or its delegate) by the Specified Discount Prepayment Response Date whether or not it agrees to accept a prepayment of any of its relevant then outstanding Term Loans at the Specified Discount and, if so (such accepting Term Lender, a “Discount Prepayment Accepting Lender”), the amount and the Classes of such Term Lender’s Term Loans to be prepaid at such offered discount. Each acceptance of a Discounted Term Loan Prepayment by a Discount Prepayment Accepting Lender shall be irrevocable. Any Term Lender whose Specified Discount Prepayment Response is not received by the Auction Agent by the Specified Discount Prepayment Response Date shall be deemed to have declined to accept the applicable Borrower Offer of Specified Discount Prepayment.

(3) If there is at least one Discount Prepayment Accepting Lender, the applicable Borrower will make prepayment of outstanding Term Loans pursuant to this paragraph (B) to each Discount Prepayment Accepting Lender in accordance with the respective outstanding amount and Classes of Term Loans specified in such Term Lender’s Specified Discount Prepayment Response given pursuant to subsection (2); provided that, if the aggregate principal amount of Term Loans accepted for prepayment by all Discount Prepayment Accepting Lenders exceeds the Specified Discount Prepayment Amount, such prepayment shall be made pro-rata among the Discount Prepayment Accepting Lenders in accordance with the respective principal amounts accepted to be prepaid by each such Discount Prepayment Accepting Lender and the Auction Agent (in consultation with the applicable Borrower and subject to rounding requirements of the Auction Agent made in its reasonable discretion) will calculate such proration (the “Specified Discount Proration”). The Auction Agent shall promptly, and in any case within three (3) Business Days following the Specified Discount Prepayment Response Date, notify (I) the Parent Borrower of the respective Term Lenders’ responses to such offer, the Discounted Prepayment Effective Date and the aggregate principal amount of the Discounted Term Loan Prepayment and the Classes to be prepaid, (II) each Term Lender of the Discounted Prepayment Effective Date, and the aggregate principal amount and the Classes of Term Loans to be prepaid at the Specified Discount on such date and (III) each Discount Prepayment Accepting Lender of the Specified Discount Proration, if any, and confirmation of the principal

 

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amount, Class and Type of Loans of such Term Lender to be prepaid at the Specified Discount on such date. Each determination by the Auction Agent of the amounts stated in the foregoing notices to the Parent Borrower and Term Lenders shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes absent manifest error. The payment amount specified in such notice to the applicable Borrower shall be due and payable by such Borrower on the Discounted Prepayment Effective Date in accordance with subsection (F) below (subject to subsection (J) below).

(C) (1) Subject to the proviso to subsection (A) above, a Borrower may from time to time solicit Discount Range Prepayment Offers by providing the Auction Agent with three (3) Business Days’ notice in the form of a Discount Range Prepayment Notice; provided that (I) any such solicitation shall be extended, at the sole discretion of the Parent Borrower, to each Term Lender and/or each Lender with respect to any Class of Term Loans on an individual tranche basis, (II) any such notice shall specify the maximum aggregate principal amount of the relevant Term Loans (the “Discount Range Prepayment Amount”), the Class or Classes of Term Loans subject to such offer and the maximum and minimum percentage discounts to par (the “Discount Range”) of the principal amount of such Term Loans with respect to each relevant Class of Term Loans willing to be prepaid by a Borrower (it being understood that different Discount Ranges and/or Discount Range Prepayment Amounts may be offered with respect to different Classes of Term Loans and, in such an event, each such offer will be treated as a separate offer pursuant to the terms of this Section), (III) the Discount Range Prepayment Amount shall be in an aggregate amount not less than $1,000,000 and whole increments of $500,000 in excess thereof and (IV) each such solicitation by such Borrower shall remain outstanding through the Discount Range Prepayment Response Date. The Auction Agent will promptly provide each relevant Term Lender with a copy of such Discount Range Prepayment Notice and a form of the Discount Range Prepayment Offer to be submitted by a responding relevant Term Lender to the Auction Agent (or its delegate) by no later than 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the third Business Day after the date of delivery of such notice to the relevant Term Lenders (the “Discount Range Prepayment Response Date”). Each relevant Term Lender’s Discount Range Prepayment Offer shall be irrevocable and shall specify a discount to par within the Discount Range (the “Submitted Discount”) at which such Term Lender is willing to allow prepayment of any or all of its then outstanding Term Loans of the applicable Class or Classes and the maximum aggregate principal amount and Classes of such Term Lender’s Term Loans (the “Submitted Amount”) such Term Lender is willing to have prepaid at the Submitted Discount. Any Term Lender whose Discount Range Prepayment Offer is not received by the Auction Agent by the Discount Range Prepayment Response Date shall be deemed to have declined to accept a Discounted Term Loan Prepayment of any of its Term Loans at any discount to their par value within the Discount Range.

(2) The Auction Agent shall review all Discount Range Prepayment Offers received on or before the applicable Discount Range Prepayment Response Date and shall determine (in consultation with the applicable Borrower and subject to rounding requirements of the Auction Agent made in its sole reasonable discretion) the Applicable Discount and Term Loans to be prepaid at such Applicable Discount in accordance with this subsection (C). The Borrowers agree to accept on the Discount Range Prepayment Response Date all Discount Range Prepayment Offers received by Auction Agent by the Discount Range Prepayment Response Date, in the order from the Submitted Discount that is the largest discount to par to the Submitted Discount that is the smallest discount to par, up to and including the Submitted Discount that is the smallest discount to par within the Discount Range (such Submitted Discount that is the smallest discount to par within the Discount Range being referred to as the “Applicable Discount”) which yields a Discounted Term Loan Prepayment in an aggregate principal amount equal to the lower of (I) the Discount Range Prepayment Amount and (II) the sum of all Submitted Amounts. Each Term Lender that has submitted a Discount Range Prepayment Offer to accept prepayment at a discount to par that is larger than or equal to the Applicable Discount shall be deemed to have irrevocably consented to prepayment of Term Loans equal to its Submitted Amount (subject to any required proration pursuant to the following subsection (3)) at the Applicable Discount (each such Term Lender, a “Participating Lender”).

(3) If there is at least one Participating Lender, the applicable Borrower will prepay the respective outstanding Term Loans of each Participating Lender in the aggregate principal amount and of the Classes specified in such Term Lender’s Discount Range Prepayment Offer at the Applicable Discount; provided that if the Submitted Amount by all Participating Lenders offered at a discount to par greater than

 

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the Applicable Discount exceeds the Discount Range Prepayment Amount, prepayment of the principal amount of the relevant Term Loans for those Participating Lenders whose Submitted Discount is a discount to par greater than or equal to the Applicable Discount (the “Identified Participating Lenders”) shall be made pro-rata among the Identified Participating Lenders in accordance with the Submitted Amount of each such Identified Participating Lender and the Auction Agent (in consultation with the applicable Borrower and subject to rounding requirements of the Auction Agent made in its sole reasonable discretion) will calculate such proration (the “Discount Range Proration”). The Auction Agent shall promptly, and in any case within five (5) Business Days following the Discount Range Prepayment Response Date, notify (I) the applicable Borrower of the respective Term Lenders’ responses to such solicitation, the Discounted Prepayment Effective Date, the Applicable Discount, and the aggregate principal amount of the Discounted Term Loan Prepayment and the Classes to be prepaid, (II) each Term Lender of the Discounted Prepayment Effective Date, the Applicable Discount, and the aggregate principal amount and Classes of Term Loans to be prepaid at the Applicable Discount on such date, (III) each Participating Lender of the aggregate principal amount and Classes of such Term Lender to be prepaid at the Applicable Discount on such date, and (z) if applicable, each Identified Participating Lender of the Discount Range Proration. Each determination by the Auction Agent of the amounts stated in the foregoing notices to the applicable Borrower and Term Lenders shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes absent manifest error. The payment amount specified in such notice to the applicable Borrower shall be due and payable by such Borrower on the Discounted Prepayment Effective Date in accordance with subsection (F) below (subject to subsection (J) below).

(D) (1) Subject to the proviso to subsection (A) above, the Borrowers may from time to time solicit Solicited Discounted Prepayment Offers by providing the Auction Agent with three (3) Business Days’ notice in the form of a Solicited Discounted Prepayment Notice; provided that (I) any such solicitation shall be extended, at the sole discretion of the applicable Borrower, to each Term Lender and/or each Lender with respect to any Class of Term Loans on an individual tranche basis, (II) any such notice shall specify the maximum aggregate dollar amount of the Term Loans (the “Solicited Discounted Prepayment Amount”) and the Class or Classes of Term Loans the applicable Borrower is willing to prepay at a discount (it being understood that different Solicited Discounted Prepayment Amounts may be offered with respect to different Classes of Term Loans and, in such an event, each such offer will be treated as a separate offer pursuant to the terms of this Section), (III) the Solicited Discounted Prepayment Amount shall be in an aggregate amount not less than $1,000,000 and whole increments of $500,000 in excess thereof and (IV) each such solicitation by such Borrower shall remain outstanding through the Solicited Discounted Prepayment Response Date. The Auction Agent will promptly provide each relevant Term Lender with a copy of such Solicited Discounted Prepayment Notice and a form of the Solicited Discounted Prepayment Offer to be submitted by a responding Term Lender to the Auction Agent (or its delegate) by no later than 5:00 p.m., New York City time on the third Business Day after the date of delivery of such notice to the relevant Term Lenders (the “Solicited Discounted Prepayment Response Date”). Each Term Lender’s Solicited Discounted Prepayment Offer shall (x) be irrevocable, (y) remain outstanding until the Acceptance Date, and (z) specify both a discount to par (the “Offered Discount”) at which such Term Lender is willing to allow prepayment of its then outstanding Term Loan and the maximum aggregate principal amount and Classes of such Term Loans (the “Offered Amount”) such Term Lender is willing to have prepaid at the Offered Discount. Any Term Lender whose Solicited Discounted Prepayment Offer is not received by the Auction Agent by the Solicited Discounted Prepayment Response Date shall be deemed to have declined prepayment of any of its Term Loans at any discount.

(2) The Auction Agent shall promptly provide the Parent Borrower with a copy of all Solicited Discounted Prepayment Offers received on or before the Solicited Discounted Prepayment Response Date. The Parent Borrower shall review all such Solicited Discounted Prepayment Offers and select the smallest of the Offered Discounts specified by the relevant responding Term Lenders in the Solicited Discounted Prepayment Offers that is acceptable to the Parent Borrower (the “Acceptable Discount”), if any. If the Parent Borrower elects to accept any Offered Discount as the Acceptable Discount, then as soon as practicable after the determination of the Acceptable Discount, but in no event later than by the third Business Day after the date of receipt by the Parent Borrower from the Auction Agent of a copy of all Solicited Discounted Prepayment Offers pursuant to the first sentence of this subsection (2) (the “Acceptance Date”), the Parent Borrower shall submit an Acceptance and Prepayment Notice to the Auction Agent setting forth the Acceptable Discount. If the Auction Agent shall fail to receive an Acceptance and Prepayment Notice from the Parent Borrower by the Acceptance Date, the Parent Borrower shall be deemed to have rejected all Solicited Discounted Prepayment Offers.

 

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(3) Based upon the Acceptable Discount and the Solicited Discounted Prepayment Offers received by Auction Agent by the Solicited Discounted Prepayment Response Date, within three (3) Business Days after receipt of an Acceptance and Prepayment Notice (the “Discounted Prepayment Determination Date”), the Auction Agent will determine (in consultation with the applicable Borrower and subject to rounding requirements of the Auction Agent made in its sole reasonable discretion) the aggregate principal amount and the Classes of Term Loans (the “Acceptable Prepayment Amount”) to be prepaid by the applicable Borrower at the Acceptable Discount in accordance with this Section 2.11(a)(ii)(D). If such Borrower elects to accept any Acceptable Discount, then such Borrower agrees to accept all Solicited Discounted Prepayment Offers received by Auction Agent by the Solicited Discounted Prepayment Response Date, in the order from largest Offered Discount to smallest Offered Discount, up to and including the Acceptable Discount. Each Term Lender that has submitted a Solicited Discounted Prepayment Offer with an Offered Discount that is greater than or equal to the Acceptable Discount shall be deemed to have irrevocably consented to prepayment of Term Loans equal to its Offered Amount (subject to any required pro-rata reduction pursuant to the following sentence) at the Acceptable Discount (each such Term Lender, a “Qualifying Lender”). The Borrowers will prepay outstanding Term Loans pursuant to this subsection (D) to each Qualifying Lender in the aggregate principal amount and of the Classes specified in such Term Lender’s Solicited Discounted Prepayment Offer at the Acceptable Discount; provided that if the aggregate Offered Amount by all Qualifying Lenders whose Offered Discount is greater than or equal to the Acceptable Discount exceeds the Solicited Discounted Prepayment Amount, prepayment of the principal amount of the Term Loans for those Qualifying Lenders whose Offered Discount is greater than or equal to the Acceptable Discount (the “Identified Qualifying Lenders”) shall be made pro rata among the Identified Qualifying Lenders in accordance with the Offered Amount of each such Identified Qualifying Lender and the Auction Agent (in consultation with the Parent Borrower and subject to rounding requirements of the Auction Agent made in its sole reasonable discretion) will calculate such proration (the “Solicited Discount Proration”). On or prior to the Discounted Prepayment Determination Date, the Auction Agent shall promptly notify (I) the Parent Borrower of the Discounted Prepayment Effective Date and Acceptable Prepayment Amount comprising the Discounted Term Loan Prepayment and the Classes to be prepaid, (II) each Term Lender of the Discounted Prepayment Effective Date, the Acceptable Discount, and the Acceptable Prepayment Amount of all Term Loans and the Classes to be prepaid to be prepaid at the Applicable Discount on such date, (III) each Qualifying Lender of the aggregate principal amount and the Classes of such Term Lender to be prepaid at the Acceptable Discount on such date, and (IV) if applicable, each Identified Qualifying Lender of the Solicited Discount Proration. Each determination by the Auction Agent of the amounts stated in the foregoing notices to such Borrower and Term Lenders shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes absent manifest error. The payment amount specified in such notice to such Borrower shall be due and payable by such Borrower on the Discounted Prepayment Effective Date in accordance with subsection (F) below (subject to subsection (J) below).

(E) In connection with any Discounted Term Loan Prepayment, the Borrowers and the Term Lenders acknowledge and agree that the Auction Agent may require as a condition to any Discounted Term Loan Prepayment, the payment of customary fees and expenses from the Borrowers in connection therewith.

(F) If any Term Loan is prepaid in accordance with paragraphs (B) through (D) above, such Borrower shall prepay such Term Loans on the Discounted Prepayment Effective Date. Such Borrower shall make such prepayment to the Auction Agent, for the account of the Discount Prepayment Accepting Lenders, Participating Lenders, or Qualifying Lenders, as applicable, at the Administrative Agent’s Office in immediately available funds not later than 11:00 a.m., New York City time, on the Discounted Prepayment Effective Date and all such prepayments shall be applied to the remaining principal installments of the relevant Class of Term Loans on a pro rata basis across such installments. The Term Loans so prepaid shall be accompanied by all accrued and unpaid interest on the par principal amount so prepaid up to, but not including, the Discounted Prepayment Effective Date. Each prepayment of the

 

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outstanding Term Loans pursuant to this Section 2.11(a)(ii) shall be paid to the Discount Prepayment Accepting Lenders, Participating Lenders, or Qualifying Lenders, as applicable. The aggregate principal amount of the Classes and installments of the relevant Term Loans outstanding shall be deemed reduced by the full par value of the aggregate principal amount of the Classes of Term Loans prepaid on the Discounted Prepayment Effective Date in any Discounted Term Loan Prepayment.

(G) To the extent not expressly provided for herein, each Discounted Term Loan Prepayment shall be consummated pursuant to procedures consistent, with the provisions in this Section 2.11(a)(ii), established by the Auction Agent acting in its reasonable discretion and as reasonably agreed by such Borrower.

(H) Notwithstanding anything in any Loan Document to the contrary, for purposes of this Section 2.11(a)(ii), each notice or other communication required to be delivered or otherwise provided to the Auction Agent (or its delegate) shall be deemed to have been given upon Auction Agent’s (or its delegate’s) actual receipt during normal business hours of such notice or communication; provided that any notice or communication actually received outside of normal business hours shall be deemed to have been given as of the opening of business on the next Business Day.

(I) Each of the Borrowers and each of the Term Lenders acknowledges and agrees that the Auction Agent may perform any and all of its duties under this Section 2.11(a)(ii) by itself or through any Affiliate of the Auction Agent and expressly consents to any such delegation of duties by the Auction Agent to such Affiliate and the performance of such delegated duties by such Affiliate. The exculpatory provisions pursuant to this Agreement shall apply to each Affiliate of the Auction Agent and its respective activities in connection with any Discounted Term Loan Prepayment provided for in this Section 2.11(a)(ii) as well as activities of the Auction Agent.

(J) Each Borrower shall have the right, by written notice to the Auction Agent, to revoke in full (but not in part) its offer to make a Discounted Term Loan Prepayment and rescind the applicable Specified Discount Prepayment Notice, Discount Range Prepayment Notice or Solicited Discounted Prepayment Notice therefor at its discretion at any time on or prior to the applicable Specified Discount Prepayment Response Date (and if such offer is revoked pursuant to this subclause (J), any failure by such Borrower to make any prepayment to a Term Lender, as applicable, pursuant to this Section 2.11(a)(ii) shall not constitute a Default or Event of Default under Section 7.01 or otherwise).

Notwithstanding anything to contrary, the provisions of this Section 2.11(a)(ii) shall permit any transaction permitted by such section to be conducted on a Class by Class basis and on a non-pro rata basis across Classes (but not within a single Class), in each case, as selected by the applicable Borrower.

(b) In the event and on each occasion that the aggregate Revolving Exposures exceed the aggregate Revolving Commitments, the Borrowers shall prepay Revolving Loan Borrowings or Swingline Loans (or, if no such Borrowings are outstanding, deposit Cash Collateral in an account with the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 2.05(j)) in an aggregate amount necessary to eliminate such excess.

(c) In the event and on each occasion that any Net Proceeds are received by or on behalf of the Borrowers or any of their Restricted Subsidiaries in respect of any Prepayment Event, the Parent Borrower shall, within ten Business Days after such Net Proceeds are received (or, in the case of a Prepayment Event described in clause (b) of the definition of the term “Prepayment Event,” on the date of such Prepayment Event), prepay Term Loan Borrowings in an aggregate amount equal to the Disposition/Debt Percentage of the amount of such Net Proceeds; provided that, in the case of any event described in clause (a) of the definition of the term “Prepayment Event” in reliance on clause (I) of the first proviso to Section 6.05(k), if the Borrowers or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries invests (or commits to invest) the Net Proceeds from such event (or a portion thereof) within 540 days after receipt of such Net Proceeds in the business of the Parent Borrower and its Subsidiaries (including any acquisitions or other Investment permitted under Section 6.04), then no prepayment shall be required pursuant to this paragraph in respect of such Net Proceeds in respect of such event (or the applicable portion of such Net Proceeds, if applicable) except to the extent of any such Net Proceeds therefrom that have not been so invested (or committed to be invested) by the end of such 540 day period (or if committed to be so invested within such 540 day

 

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period, have not been so invested within 720 days after receipt thereof), at which time a prepayment shall be required in an amount equal to such Net Proceeds that have not been so invested (or committed to be invested); provided, further, that the Borrowers may elect to deem expenditures that occur prior to the receipt of such Net Proceeds but otherwise would be permissible reinvestments to have been reinvested in accordance with the provisions of this Section 2.11(c) if such expenditures are made following the later of (A) ninety (90) days prior to receipt of such Net Proceeds and (B) the date the definitive agreement with a third party is entered into for the sale, transfer or other Disposition of the assets underlying such Net Proceeds); provided, further, that the Borrowers may use a portion of such Net Proceeds to prepay, redeem or repurchase (or to offer to prepay, redeem or repurchase) any other Indebtedness that is secured by a Lien on the Collateral that ranks equal in priority (but without regard to the control of remedies) with the Lien on the Collateral securing the Secured Obligations to the extent such other Indebtedness and the Liens securing the same are permitted hereunder and the documentation governing such other Indebtedness requires such a prepayment, redemption or repurchase (or such an offer to prepay, redeem or repurchase) (such Indebtedness required to be so repaid, redeemed or repurchased (or offered to be repaid, redeemed or repurchased), the “Other Applicable Indebtedness”), in each case in an amount not to exceed the product of (x) the amount of such Net Proceeds and (y) a fraction, the numerator of which is the outstanding principal amount of such Other Applicable Indebtedness and the denominator of which is the aggregate outstanding principal amount of Term Loans and such Other Applicable Indebtedness.

(d) Following the end of each fiscal year, commencing with the fiscal year ending August 25, 2023, the Borrowers shall prepay Term Loan Borrowings in an aggregate amount (the “ECF Payment Amount”) equal to the ECF Percentage of Excess Cash Flow for such fiscal year; provided that (A) at the applicable Borrower’s option, such amount shall be reduced by the sum of (i) the aggregate amount of prepayments, repurchases or redemptions during such fiscal year or, at the option of the applicable Borrower, after such fiscal year and prior to the date of the required Excess Cash Flow payment in lieu of being deducted from the Excess Cash Flow prepayment with respect to the fiscal year in which actually made (including, without limitation, loan buybacks and prepayments in connection with lender replacement provisions) of (x) Term Loans (and, to the extent the revolving commitments are reduced in a corresponding amount pursuant to Section 2.08, Revolving Loans and Other Revolving Loans) made pursuant to Section 2.11(a) and repurchases pursuant to Section 9.04(h) (provided that such reduction as a result of prepayments pursuant to Section 2.11(a)(ii) and repurchases pursuant to Section 9.04(h) shall be limited to the actual amount of such cash prepayment) and (y) other Indebtedness that is secured by any portion of the Collateral on an equal priority basis (but without regard to the control of remedies) with Liens securing the Secured Obligations (provided that in the case of the prepayment of any revolving commitments, there is a corresponding reduction in commitments), excluding, in each case under this sub-clause (i), all such prepayments funded with the proceeds of other long-term Indebtedness (other than revolving Indebtedness or intercompany loans among the Borrowers and their Restricted Subsidiaries) (unless such long-term Indebtedness has been repaid with internally generated cash) or issuances of Equity Interests and (ii) the ECF Deductions, (B) [reserved] and (C) no prepayment of Term Loans shall be required under this Section 2.11(d) unless, and solely to the extent that, the ECF Payment Amount for such fiscal year exceeds the greater of (x) $12,000,000 and (y) 5% of Consolidated EBITDA for the most recently ended Test Period as of such time determined on a Pro Forma Basis (such threshold, the “ECF Threshold”) (any amounts not in excess of such amount, “Retained ECF Proceeds”) (it being understood that the Borrowers shall only be required to repay Term Loans under this Section 2.11(d) for such fiscal year in the amount by which the ECF Payment Amount exceeds the ECF Threshold); provided, further, that the Borrowers may use a portion of such Excess Cash Flow to prepay, redeem or repurchase (or to offer to prepay, redeem or repurchase) any Other Applicable Indebtedness, in each case in an amount not to exceed the product of (x) the amount of such ECF Percentage of Excess Cash Flow and (y) a fraction, the numerator of which is the outstanding principal amount of such Other Applicable Indebtedness and the denominator of which is the aggregate outstanding principal amount of Term Loans and such Other Applicable Indebtedness. Each prepayment pursuant to this paragraph shall be made on or before the date that is ten Business Days after the date on which financial statements are required to be delivered pursuant to Section 5.01(a) with respect to the fiscal year for which Excess Cash Flow is being calculated.

(e) Prior to any optional or mandatory prepayment of Borrowings hereunder, the Borrowers shall select the Borrowing or Borrowings of any Class to be prepaid and shall specify such selection in the notice of such prepayment pursuant to paragraph (f) of this Section (including in the event of any mandatory prepayment of Term Loan Borrowings made at a time when Term Loan Borrowings of more than one Class remain outstanding); provided that (I) at the election of the Parent Borrower, any Term Lender (and, to the extent provided in the Incremental Facility Amendment, Refinancing Amendment or Loan Modification Offer for any Class of Term

 

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Loans, any Lender that holds Term Loans of such Class) may elect, by notice to the Administrative Agent by telephone (confirmed by hand delivery, facsimile or other electronic transmission) at least one Business Day prior to the prepayment date, to decline all or any portion of any prepayment of its Term Loans or Other Term Loans of any such Class pursuant to this Section (other than an optional prepayment pursuant to paragraph (a)(i) of this Section or a mandatory prepayment as a result of the Prepayment Event set forth in clause (b) of the definition thereof, which may not be declined), in which case the aggregate amount of the prepayment that would have been applied to prepay Term Loans of any such Class but was so declined shall be retained by the Borrowers and the Restricted Subsidiaries (such amounts, “Retained Declined Proceeds”) and (II) notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in this Agreement, any prepayment of Loans with the Net Proceeds of, or in exchange for, Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness pursuant to clause (b) of the definition of Prepayment Event shall be applied solely to each applicable Class or Classes of Loans being refinanced as selected by the Borrowers. Optional and mandatory prepayments of Term Loan Borrowings shall be allocated among the Term Loan Borrowings on a pro rata basis. In the absence of a designation by the Borrowers as described in the preceding provisions of this paragraph of the Type of Borrowing of any Class, the Administrative Agent shall make such designation in its reasonable discretion with a view, but no obligation, to minimize breakage costs owing under Section 2.16.

(f) The Borrowers shall notify the Administrative Agent (and, in the case of prepayment of a Swingline Loan, the Swingline Lender) of any prepayment hereunder by telephone or delivering a Notice of Loan Prepayment; provided that, unless otherwise agreed by the Administrative Agent, such notice must be received (i) in the case of prepayment of a SOFR Borrowing, not later than 11:00 a.m., New York City time, three (3) Business Days before the date of prepayment or (ii) in the case of prepayment of an ABR Borrowing, not later than 11:00 a.m., New York City time, one Business Day before the date of prepayment; provided, further, that each telephonic notice shall be confirmed promptly by hand delivery, facsimile or other electronic transmission to the Administrative Agent of a written Notice of Loan Prepayment signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrowers. Each such notice shall be irrevocable and shall specify the prepayment date and the principal amount of each Borrowing or portion thereof to be prepaid and, in the case of a mandatory prepayment, a reasonably detailed calculation of the amount of such prepayment; provided that a notice of optional prepayment may state that such notice is conditional upon the effectiveness of other credit facilities or the receipt of the proceeds from the issuance of other Indebtedness or the occurrence of some other identifiable event or condition, in which case such notice of prepayment may be revoked by the Borrowers (by notice to the Administrative Agent on or prior to the specified date of prepayment) if such condition is not satisfied. Promptly following receipt of any such notice (other than a notice relating solely to Swingline Loans), the Administrative Agent shall advise the Lenders of the contents thereof. Each partial prepayment of any Borrowing shall be in an amount that would be permitted in the case of an advance of a Borrowing of the same Type as provided in Section 2.02, except as necessary to apply fully the required amount of a mandatory prepayment. Each prepayment of a Borrowing shall be applied ratably to the Loans included in the prepaid Borrowing. Prepayments shall be accompanied by accrued interest to the extent required by Section 2.13. At the Borrowers’ election in connection with any prepayment pursuant to this Section 2.11, such prepayment shall not be applied to any Term Loan or Revolving Loan of a Defaulting Lender and shall be allocated ratably among the relevant non-Defaulting Lenders.

(g) Notwithstanding any other provisions of Section 2.11(c) or (c), (A) to the extent that any of or all the Net Proceeds of any Prepayment Event set forth in clause (a) of the definition thereof by a Foreign Subsidiary giving rise to a prepayment pursuant to Section 2.11(c) (a “Foreign Prepayment Event”) or Excess Cash Flow of a Foreign Subsidiary giving rise to a prepayment pursuant to Section 2.11(d) are prohibited or delayed by any Requirement of Law from being repatriated to the Borrowers, an amount equal to the portion of such Net Proceeds or Excess Cash Flow so affected will not be required to be applied to repay Term Loans at the times provided in Section 2.11(c) or (c), as the case may be, so long, but only so long, as the applicable Requirement of Law will not permit repatriation to the Borrowers (the Borrowers hereby agreeing to cause the applicable Foreign Subsidiary to promptly take all actions reasonably required by the applicable Requirement of Law to permit such repatriation), and once such repatriation of any of such affected Net Proceeds or Excess Cash Flow is permitted under the applicable Requirement of Law, an amount equal to such Net Proceeds or Excess Cash Flow will be promptly applied (net of additional taxes that would be payable or reserved against as a result of repatriating such amounts to the extent not taken into account by the definition of Net Proceeds or Excess Cash Flow, as applicable) to the repayment of the Term Loans pursuant to Section 2.11(c) or (c), as applicable, and (B) to the extent that and for so long as such Borrower has determined in good faith that repatriation of any of or all the Net Proceeds of any Foreign Prepayment Event or Excess Cash Flow of a Foreign Subsidiary would have a material adverse tax consequence (taking into

 

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account any foreign tax credit or benefit actually realized in connection with such repatriation) with respect to such Net Proceeds or Excess Cash Flow, an amount equal to the Net Proceeds or Excess Cash Flow so affected will not be required to be applied to repay Term Loans at the times provided in Section 2.11(c) or (c), as the case may be; provided that when the applicable Borrower determines in good faith that repatriation of any of or all the Net Proceeds of any Foreign Prepayment Event or Excess Cash Flow would no longer have a material adverse tax consequence (taking into account any foreign tax credit or benefit actually realized in connection with such repatriation) with respect to such Net Proceeds or Excess Cash Flow, an amount equal to such Net Proceeds or Excess Cash Flow shall be promptly applied (net of additional taxes that would be payable or reserved against as a result of repatriating such amounts to the extent not taken into account by the definition of Net Proceeds or Excess Cash Flow, as applicable) to the repayment of the Term Loans pursuant to Section 2.11(c) or (c), as applicable.

SECTION 2.12 Fees.

(a) Each Borrower agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent in dollars for the account of each Revolving Lender a commitment fee, which shall accrue at the Applicable Commitment Fee Rate on the actual daily unused amount of the Revolving Commitment of such Lender during the period from and including the Effective Date to but excluding the date on which the Revolving Commitments terminate. Accrued commitment fees shall be payable in arrears on the third Business Day following the last day of February, May, August and November of each year and on the date on which the Revolving Commitments terminate, commencing on the first such date to occur after the date hereof. All commitment fees shall be computed on the basis of a year of 360 days and shall be payable for the actual number of days elapsed (including the first day but excluding the last day). For purposes of computing commitment fees, a Revolving Commitment of a Lender shall be deemed to be used to the extent of the outstanding Revolving Loans and LC Exposure of such Lender (and the Swingline Exposure of such Lender shall be disregarded for such purpose).

(b) Each Borrower agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of each Revolving Lender (other than any Defaulting Lender) a participation fee with respect to its participations in Letters of Credit, which shall accrue at the Applicable Rate, in each case, used to determine the interest rate applicable to SOFR Revolving Loans, on the daily amount of such Revolving Lender’s LC Exposure (excluding any portion thereof attributable to unreimbursed LC Disbursements), during the period from and including the Effective Date to but excluding the later of the date on which such Revolving Lender’s Revolving Commitment terminates and the date on which such Revolving Lender ceases to have any LC Exposure. In addition, each Borrower agrees to pay to each Issuing Bank, for its own account, a fronting fee, in respect of each Letter of Credit issued by such Issuing Bank to such Borrower for the period from the date of issuance of such Letter of Credit through the expiration date of such Letter of Credit (or if terminated on an earlier date to the termination date of such Letter of Credit), computed at a rate equal to 0.125% per annum or such other percentage per annum to be agreed upon between such Borrower and such Issuing Bank of the daily outstanding amount of such Letter of Credit, as well as such Issuing Bank’s standard fees with respect to the issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of any Letter of Credit or processing of drawings thereunder. Participation fees and fronting fees accrued through and including the last day of February, May, August and November of each year shall be payable on the third Business Day following the last day of February, May, August and November of each year; provided that all such fees shall be payable on the date on which the Revolving Commitments terminate and any such fees accruing after the date on which the Revolving Commitments terminate shall be payable on demand until the expiration or cancellation of all outstanding Letters of Credit. All participation fees and fronting fees shall be computed on the basis of a year of 360 days and shall be payable for the actual number of days elapsed.

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

(d) The Borrowers agree to pay to the Administrative Agent, for its own account, an agency fee payable in the amount and at the times separately agreed upon between the Borrowers and the Administrative Agent.

(e) Notwithstanding the foregoing, and subject to Section 2.22, the Borrowers shall not be obligated to pay any amounts to any Defaulting Lender pursuant to this Section 2.12; provided that such amounts shall be payable to any non-Defaulting Lender which assumes the obligations of a Defaulting Lender pursuant to Section 2.22(a)(iv).

 

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SECTION 2.13 Interest.

(a) The Loans comprising each ABR Borrowing (including each Swingline Loan denominated in dollars) shall bear interest at the Alternate Base Rate plus the Applicable Rate.

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

(c) Notwithstanding the foregoing, if any principal of or interest on any Loan or any fee or other amount payable by the Borrowers hereunder is not paid when due, whether at stated maturity, upon acceleration or otherwise, during the continuance of an Event of Default under clauses (a), (b), (h) or (i) of Section 7.01, such overdue amount shall bear interest, after as well as before judgment, at a rate per annum equal to (i) in the case of overdue principal of any Loan, 2.00% per annum plus the rate otherwise applicable to such Loan as provided in the preceding paragraphs of this Section 2.13 or (ii) in the case of any other amount, 2.00% per annum plus the rate applicable to ABR Revolving Loans as provided in paragraph (a) of this Section; provided that no amount shall be payable pursuant to this Section 2.13(c) to a Defaulting Lender so long as such Lender shall be a Defaulting Lender; provided, further, that no amounts shall accrue pursuant to this Section 2.13(c) on any overdue amount, reimbursement obligation in respect of any LC Disbursement or other amount payable to a Defaulting Lender so long as such Lender shall be a Defaulting Lender; provided, further, that such amounts shall be payable to any non-Defaulting Lender which assumes the obligations of a Defaulting Lender pursuant to Section 2.22(a)(iv).

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

(e) All computations of interest for ABR Loans (including ABR Loans determined by reference to Term SOFR) shall be made on the basis of a year of 365 or 366 days, as the case may be, and actual days elapsed. All other computations of fees and interest shall be made on the basis of a 360-day year and actual days elapsed (which results in more fees or interest, as applicable, being paid than if computed on the basis of a 365-day year) or, in the case of interest in respect of Loans denominated in Alternative Currencies as to which generally accepted market practice differs from the foregoing, in accordance with such generally accepted market practice. Interest shall accrue on each Loan for the day on which the Loan is made, and shall not accrue on a Loan, or any portion thereof, for the day on which the Loan or such portion is paid, provided that any Loan that is repaid on the same day on which it is made shall, subject to Section 2.18, bear interest for one day. Each determination by the Administrative Agent of an interest rate or fee hereunder shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes, absent manifest error.

SECTION 2.14 Benchmark Replacement Setting.

(a) Benchmark Replacement. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein or in any other Loan Document, if a Benchmark Transition Event and its related Benchmark Replacement Date have occurred prior to the Reference Time in respect of any setting of the then-current Benchmark, then (x) if a Benchmark Replacement is determined in accordance with clause (a) of the definition of “Benchmark Replacement” for such Benchmark Replacement Date, such Benchmark Replacement will replace such Benchmark for all purposes hereunder and under any Loan Document in respect of such Benchmark setting and subsequent Benchmark settings without any amendment to, or further action or consent of any other party to, this Agreement or any other Loan Document and (y) if a Benchmark Replacement is determined in accordance with clause (b) of the definition of

 

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“Benchmark Replacement” for such Benchmark Replacement Date, such Benchmark Replacement will replace such Benchmark for all purposes hereunder and under any Loan Document in respect of any Benchmark setting at or after 5:00 p.m. (New York City time) on the fifth (5th) Business Day after the date notice of such Benchmark Replacement is provided to the Lenders without any amendment to, or further action or consent of any other party to, this Agreement or any other Loan Document so long as the Administrative Agent has not received, by such time, written notice of objection to such Benchmark Replacement from Lenders comprising the Required Lenders. If the Benchmark Replacement is Daily Simple SOFR, all interest payments will be payable on a monthly basis.

(b) Benchmark Replacement Conforming Changes. In connection with the use, administration, adoption or implementation of a Benchmark Replacement, the Administrative Agent will have the right to make Conforming Changes from time to time and, notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein or in any other Loan Document, any amendments implementing such Conforming Changes will become effective without any further action or consent of any other party to this Agreement or any other Loan Document.

(c) Notices; Standards for Decisions and Determinations. The Administrative Agent will promptly notify the Parent Borrower and the Lenders of (i) the implementation of any Benchmark Replacement and (ii) the effectiveness of any Conforming Changes in connection with the use, administration, adoption or implementation of a Benchmark Replacement. The Administrative Agent will notify the Parent Borrower of (x) the removal or reinstatement of any tenor of a Benchmark pursuant to Section 2.14(d) and (y) the commencement of any Benchmark Unavailability Period. Any determination, decision or election that may be made by the Administrative Agent or, if applicable, any Lender (or group of Lenders) pursuant to this Section 2.14, including any determination with respect to a tenor, rate or adjustment or of the occurrence or non-occurrence of an event, circumstance or date and any decision to take or refrain from taking any action or selection, will be conclusive and binding absent manifest error and may be made in its or their sole discretion and without consent from any other party to this Agreement or any other Loan Document, except, in each case, as expressly required pursuant to this Section 2.14.

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

(e) Benchmark Unavailability Period. Upon the Parent Borrower’s receipt of notice of the commencement of a Benchmark Unavailability Period, the Parent Borrower may revoke any pending request for a Borrowing of, conversion to or continuation of SOFR Loans to be made, converted or continued during any Benchmark Unavailability Period and, failing that, the Parent Borrower will be deemed to have converted any such request into a request for a Borrowing of or conversion to ABR Loans. During a Benchmark Unavailability Period or at any time that a tenor for the then-current Benchmark is not an Available Tenor, the component of the Alternate Base Rate based upon the then-current Benchmark or such tenor for such Benchmark, as applicable, will not be used in any determination of the Alternate Base Rate.

 

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(f) Inability to Determine Rates. Subject to clauses (a) through (e) above, if, on or prior to the first day of any Interest Period for any SOFR Loan:

(i) the Administrative Agent determines (which determination shall be conclusive and binding absent manifest error) that “Term SOFR” cannot be determined pursuant to the definition thereof, or

(ii) the Required Lenders determine that for any reason in connection with any request for a SOFR Loan (for the applicable Agreed Currency) or a conversion thereto or a continuation thereof that Term SOFR for any requested Interest Period with respect to a proposed SOFR Loan (for the applicable Agreed Currency) does not adequately and fairly reflect the cost to such Lenders of funding such Loan, and the Required Lenders have provided notice of such determination to the Administrative Agent,

the Administrative Agent will promptly so notify the Borrowers and each Lender.

Upon notice thereof by the Administrative Agent to the Borrower, any obligation of the Lenders to make or maintain SOFR Loans (but not the obligation of the Lenders to make or maintain ABR Borrowings), and any right of the Borrower to continue SOFR Loans or to convert ABR Borrowings to SOFR Loans (but not the right of the Borrower to request ABR Borrowings) shall be suspended (to the extent of the affected Interest Periods) until the Administrative Agent (with respect to clause (b), at the instruction of the Required Lenders) revokes such notice. Upon receipt of such notice, (i) the Borrower may revoke any pending request for a borrowing of, conversion to or continuation of SOFR Loans (to the extent of the affected Interest Periods) or, failing that, the Borrower will be deemed to have converted any such request into a request for a Borrowing of or conversion to ABR Loans in the amount specified therein and (ii) any outstanding affected SOFR Loans will be deemed to have been converted into ABR Loans at the end of the applicable Interest Period. Upon any such conversion, the Borrower shall also pay accrued interest on the amount so converted, together with any additional amounts required pursuant to Section 2.16. Subject to clauses (a) through (e) above, if the Administrative Agent determines (which determination shall be conclusive and binding absent manifest error) that “Term SOFR” cannot be determined pursuant to the definition thereof on any given day, the interest rate on ABR Borrowings shall be determined by the Administrative Agent without reference to clause (c) of the definition of “Alternate Base Rate” until the Administrative Agent revokes such determination.

SECTION 2.15 Increased Costs.

(a) If any Change in Law shall:

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

(ii) impose on any Lender or any Issuing Bank or the London interbank market any other condition, cost or expense (other than with respect to Taxes) affecting this Agreement or SOFR Loans made by such Lender or any Letter of Credit or participation therein; or

(iii) subject any Lender to any Taxes (other than Indemnified Taxes, Other Taxes or Excluded Taxes) on its loans, letters of credit, commitments, or other obligations, or its deposits, reserves, other liabilities or capital attributable thereto;

and the result of any of the foregoing shall be to increase the actual cost to such Lender of making or maintaining or continuing or converting to any SOFR Loan (or of maintaining its obligation to make any such Loan) or to increase the actual cost to such Lender or Issuing Bank of participating in, issuing or maintaining any Letter of Credit (or of maintaining its obligation to participate in or issue any Letter of Credit) or to reduce the amount of any sum received or receivable by such Lender or Issuing Bank hereunder (whether of principal, interest or otherwise), then, from time to time upon request of such Lender or Issuing Bank, the Borrowers will pay to such Lender or Issuing Bank, as the case may be, such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender or Issuing Bank, as the case may be, for such increased costs actually incurred or reduction actually suffered, provided that to the extent any such

 

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costs or reductions are incurred by any Lender as a result of any requests, rules, guidelines or directives enacted or promulgated under the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010 and Basel III after the Effective Date, then such Lender shall be compensated pursuant to this Section 2.15(a) only to the extent such Lender certifies that it is imposing such charges on similarly situated borrowers under the other syndicated credit facilities that such Lender is a lender under.

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

(c) A certificate of a Lender or an Issuing Bank setting forth the amount or amounts necessary to compensate such Lender or Issuing Bank or its holding company in reasonable detail, as the case may be, as specified in paragraph (a) or (b) of this Section delivered to the Borrowers shall be conclusive absent manifest error. The Borrowers shall pay such Lender or Issuing Bank, as the case may be, the amount shown as due on any such certificate within 15 Business Days after receipt thereof.

(d) Failure or delay on the part of any Lender or Issuing Bank to demand compensation pursuant to this Section shall not constitute a waiver of such Lender’s or Issuing Bank’s right to demand such compensation, provided that the Borrowers shall not be required to compensate a Lender or Issuing Bank pursuant to this Section 2.15 for any increased costs incurred or reductions suffered more than 180 days prior to the date that such Lender or Issuing Bank, as the case may be, notifies the Parent Borrower of the Change in Law giving rise to such increased costs or reductions and of such Lender’s or Issuing Bank’s intention to claim compensation therefor; provided, further, that, if the Change in Law giving rise to such increased costs or reductions is retroactive, then the 180-day period referred to above shall be extended to include the period of retroactive effect thereof.

SECTION 2.16 Compensation for Losses. In the event of (a) the payment of any principal of any SOFR Loan other than on the last day of an Interest Period applicable thereto (including as a result of an Event of Default), (b) the conversion of any SOFR Loan other than on the last day of the Interest Period applicable thereto, (c) the failure to borrow, convert, continue or prepay any Revolving Loan or Term Loan on the date specified in any notice delivered pursuant hereto (regardless of whether such notice may be revoked under Section 2.11(f) and is revoked in accordance therewith) or (d) the assignment of any SOFR Loan other than on the last day of the Interest Period applicable thereto as a result of a request by the Borrowers pursuant to Section 2.19 or Section 9.02(c), then, in any such event, the Borrowers shall, after receipt of a written request by any Lender affected by any such event (which request shall set forth in reasonable detail the basis for requesting such amount), compensate each Lender for the actual loss, cost and expense attributable to such event (which, for the avoidance of doubt, shall not include any margin or spread). For purposes of calculating amounts payable by the Borrowers to the Lenders under this Section 2.16, each Lender shall be deemed to have funded each SOFR Loan made by it at Term SOFR (determined without giving effect to the Floor) for such Loan by a matching deposit or other borrowing for a comparable amount and for a comparable period whether or not such SOFR Loan was in fact so funded. A certificate of any Lender setting forth any amount or amounts that such Lender is entitled to receive pursuant to this Section delivered to the Borrowers shall be conclusive absent manifest error. The Borrowers shall pay such Lender the amount shown as due on any such certificate within 15 Business Days after receipt of such demand. Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Section 2.16 will not apply to losses, costs or expenses resulting from Taxes, as to which Section 2.17 shall govern.

 

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SECTION 2.17 Taxes.

(a) All payments by or on account of any obligation of any Loan Party under any Loan Document shall be made free and clear of and without deduction for any Taxes, provided that if any applicable withholding agent shall be required by applicable Requirements of Law to withhold or deduct any Taxes with respect to any such payments, then (i) the applicable withholding agent shall make such withholdings or deductions, (ii) the applicable withholding agent shall timely pay the full amount withheld or deducted to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with applicable Requirements of Law and (iii) if the Tax in question is an Indemnified Tax or Other Tax, the amount payable by the applicable Loan Party shall be increased as necessary so that after all required deductions have been made (including deductions applicable to additional amounts payable under this Section 2.17) the applicable Lender (or, in the case of a payment received by the Administrative Agent for its own account, the Administrative Agent) receives an amount equal to the sum it would have received had no such deductions been made.

(b) Without limiting the provisions of paragraph (a) above, the Borrowers shall timely pay any Other Taxes to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with Requirements of Law.

(c) Each Borrower shall indemnify the Administrative Agent and each Lender, within 30 days after written demand therefor, for the full amount of any Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes paid or payable by the Administrative Agent or such Lender, as the case may be (including Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes imposed or asserted on or attributable to amounts payable under this Section 2.17) and any reasonable expenses arising therefrom or with respect thereto, whether or not such Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes were correctly or legally imposed or asserted by the relevant Governmental Authority. A certificate setting forth in reasonable detail the basis and calculation of the amount of such payment or liability delivered to the Parent Borrower by a Lender, or by the Administrative Agent on its own behalf or on behalf of a Lender, shall be conclusive absent manifest error.

(d) As soon as practicable after any payment of Taxes by a Loan Party to a Governmental Authority pursuant to this Section 2.17, the Parent Borrower shall deliver to the Administrative Agent the original or a certified copy of a receipt issued by such Governmental Authority evidencing such payment, a copy of the return reporting such payment or other evidence of such payment reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

(e) Each Lender shall deliver to the Parent Borrower and the Administrative Agent at the time or times reasonably requested by the Parent Borrower or the Administrative Agent, such properly completed and executed documentation prescribed by applicable Requirements of Law and such other documentation reasonably requested by the Parent Borrower or the Administrative Agent (i) as will permit such payments to be made without, or at a reduced rate of, withholding or (ii) as will enable the Parent Borrower or the Administrative Agent to determine whether or not such Lender is subject to withholding or information reporting requirements. Each Lender shall, whenever a lapse of time or change in circumstances renders such documentation obsolete, expired or inaccurate in any respect, deliver promptly to the Parent Borrower and the Administrative Agent updated or other appropriate documentation (including any new documentation reasonably requested by the Parent Borrower or the Administrative Agent) or promptly notify the Parent Borrower and the Administrative Agent in writing of its legal ineligibility to do so.

Without limiting the foregoing:

(1) Each Lender that is a “United States person” within the meaning of Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code shall deliver to the Parent Borrower and the Administrative Agent on or before the date on which it becomes a party to this Agreement (and from time to time thereafter upon the request of the Parent Borrower or the Administrative Agent) two properly completed and duly signed copies of Internal Revenue Service Form W-9 (or any successor form) certifying that such Lender is exempt from U.S. federal backup withholding.

(2) Each Lender that is not a “United States person” within the meaning of Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code shall deliver to the Parent Borrower and the Administrative Agent on or before the date on which it becomes a party to this Agreement (and from time to time thereafter upon the request of a Borrower or the Administrative Agent) whichever of the following is applicable:

 

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(A) two properly completed and duly signed copies of Internal Revenue Service Form W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E (or any successor forms) claiming eligibility for the benefits of an income tax treaty to which the United States is a party,

(B) two properly completed and duly signed copies of Internal Revenue Service Form W-8ECI (or any successor forms),

(C) in the case of a Lender claiming the benefits of the exemption for portfolio interest under Section 871(h) or Section 881(c) of the Code, (x) two properly completed and duly signed certificates substantially in the form of Exhibit P-1, P-2, P-3 or P-4, as applicable, (any such certificate, a “U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate”) and (y) two properly completed and duly signed copies of Internal Revenue Service Form W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E (or any successor forms),

(D) to the extent a Lender is not the beneficial owner (for example, where the Lender is a partnership or a participating Lender), two properly completed and duly signed copies of Internal Revenue Service Form W-8IMY (or any successor forms) of the Lender, accompanied by Internal Revenue Service Form W-8ECI, W-8BEN, W-8BEN-E, Form W-9 or Form W-8IMY, a U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate or any other required information (or any successor forms) from each beneficial owner that would be required under this Section 2.17(d) if such beneficial owner were a Lender, as applicable (provided that, if the Lender is a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes (and not a participating Lender) and one or more direct or indirect partners are claiming the portfolio interest exemption, the U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate may be provided by such Lender on behalf of such direct or indirect partner(s)), or

(E) two properly completed and duly signed copies of any other form prescribed by applicable U.S. federal income tax laws as a basis for claiming a complete exemption from, or a reduction in, U.S. federal withholding tax on any payments to such Lender under the Loan Documents, together with such supplementary documentation as may be prescribed by applicable Requirements of Law to permit the Parent Borrower or the Administrative Agent to determine the withholding or deduction required to be made.

(3) If a payment made to a Lender under any Loan Document would be subject to U.S. federal withholding tax imposed by FATCA if such Lender were to fail to comply with the applicable reporting requirements of FATCA (including those contained in Section 1471(b) or 1472(b) of the Code, as applicable), such Lender shall deliver to the Parent Borrower and the Administrative Agent at the time or times prescribed by Requirements of Law and at such time or times reasonably requested by a Borrower or the Administrative Agent such documentation prescribed by applicable Requirements of Law (including as prescribed by Section 1471(b)(3)(C)(i) of the Code) and such additional documentation reasonably requested by a Borrower or the Administrative Agent as may be necessary for the Parent Borrower and the Administrative Agent to comply with their obligations under FATCA, to determine whether such Lender has or has not complied with such Lender’s obligations under FATCA and, if necessary, to determine the amount, if any, to deduct and withhold from such payment. Solely for purposes of this clause (3), “FATCA” shall include any amendments made to FATCA after the date hereof.

Notwithstanding any other provisions of this clause (e), a Lender shall not be required to deliver any form or other documentation that such Lender is not legally eligible to deliver.

(f) If the Parent Borrower determines in good faith that a reasonable basis exists for claiming a refund of, any Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes for which indemnification has been provided under this Section 2.17, the Administrative Agent or the relevant Lender, as applicable, shall use commercially reasonable efforts to cooperate with the Parent Borrower in pursuing a claim for refund of such Taxes if so requested by the Parent Borrower; provided that (a) the Administrative Agent or such Lender determines in its reasonable discretion that it would not be subject to any unreimbursed third party cost or expense or otherwise be prejudiced by cooperating in such challenge, (b) the Parent Borrower pays all related expenses of the Administrative Agent or such Lender, as applicable and (c) the Parent Borrower indemnifies the Administrative Agent or such Lender, as applicable, for any

 

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liabilities or other costs incurred by such party in connection with such challenge. If the Administrative Agent or a Lender receives a refund of any Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes as to which it has been indemnified by the Parent Borrower or with respect to which the Parent Borrower has paid additional amounts pursuant to this Section 2.17, it shall promptly pay over such refund to the Parent Borrower (but only to the extent of indemnity payments made, or additional amounts paid, by the Parent Borrower under this Section 2.17 with respect to the Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes giving rise to such refund), net of all out-of-pocket expenses (including Taxes) of the Administrative Agent or such Lender and without interest (other than any interest paid by the relevant Governmental Authority with respect to such refund), provided that the Parent Borrower, upon the request of the Administrative Agent or such Lender, shall promptly repay the amount paid over to the Parent Borrower (plus any penalties, interest or other charges imposed by the relevant Governmental Authority) to the Administrative Agent or such Lender in the event the Administrative Agent or such Lender is required to repay such refund to such Governmental Authority. The Administrative Agent or such Lender, as the case may be, shall, at the Parent Borrower’s request, provide the Parent Borrower with a copy of any notice of assessment or other evidence of the requirement to repay such refund received from the relevant taxing authority (provided that the Administrative Agent or such Lender may delete any information therein that the Administrative Agent or such Lender deems confidential). Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, this Section 2.17(f) shall not be construed to require the Administrative Agent or any Lender to make available its Tax returns (or any other information relating to Taxes which it deems confidential) to any Loan Party or any other Person.

(g) Each Lender hereby authorizes the Administrative Agent to deliver to the Loan Parties and to any successor Administrative Agent any documentation provided by such Lender to the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 2.17(e).

(h) The agreements in this Section 2.17 shall survive resignation or replacement of the Administrative Agent or any transfer of rights or obligations by, or the replacement of, a Lender, the termination of the Commitments or the repayment, satisfaction or discharge of all Loan Document Obligations under any Loan Document.

(i) For purposes of this Section 2.17, the term “Lender” shall include any Issuing Bank and any Swingline Lender.

SECTION 2.18 Payments Generally; Pro Rata Treatment; Sharing of Setoffs.

(a) Each Borrower shall make each payment required to be made by it under any Loan Document (whether of principal, interest, fees, or reimbursement of LC Disbursement or of amounts payable under Section 2.15, 2.16 or 2.17, or otherwise) prior to the time expressly required hereunder or under such other Loan Document for such payment (or, if no such time is expressly required, prior to 2:00 p.m., New York City time), on the date when due, in immediately available funds, free and clear of and without setoff, recoupment, defense or counterclaim. Any amounts received after such time on any date may, in the discretion of the Administrative Agent, be deemed to have been received on the next succeeding Business Day for purposes of calculating interest thereon. All such payments shall be made to such account as may be specified by the Administrative Agent, except payments to be made directly to any Issuing Bank or the Swingline Lender shall be made as expressly provided herein and except that payments pursuant to Sections 2.15, 2.16, 2.17 and 9.03 shall be made directly to the Persons entitled thereto and payments pursuant to other Loan Documents shall be made to the Persons specified therein. The Administrative Agent shall distribute any such payments received by it for the account of any other Person to the appropriate recipient promptly following receipt thereof. If any payment (other than payments on the SOFR Loans) under any Loan Document shall be due on a day that is not a Business Day, the date for payment shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day. If any payment on a SOFR Loan becomes due and payable on a day other than a Business Day, the maturity thereof shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day unless the result of such extension would be to extend such payment into another calendar month, in which event such payment shall be made on the immediately preceding Business Day. In the case of any payment of principal pursuant to the preceding two sentences, interest thereon shall be payable at the then applicable rate for the period of such extension. All payments or prepayments of any Loan shall be made in the currency in which such Loan is denominated, all reimbursements of any LC Disbursements shall be made in dollars, all payments of accrued interest payable on a Loan or LC Disbursement shall be made in dollars, and all other payments under each Loan Document shall be made in dollars.

 

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

(c) If any Lender shall, by exercising any right of setoff or counterclaim or otherwise, obtain payment in respect of any principal of or interest on any of its Loans of a given Class or participations in LC Disbursements or Swingline Loans resulting in such Lender receiving payment of a greater proportion of the aggregate amount of its Loans of such Class or participations in LC Disbursements and Swingline Loans and accrued interest thereon than the proportion received by any other Lender with outstanding Loans of the same Class or participations in LC Disbursements, then the Lender receiving such greater proportion shall purchase (for cash at face value) participations in the Loans of such Class or participations in LC Disbursements and Swingline Loans of other Lenders to the extent necessary so that the benefit of all such payments shall be shared by the Lenders ratably in accordance with the aggregate amount of principal of and accrued interest on their respective Loans of such Class or participations in LC Disbursements and Swingline Loans; provided that (i) if any such participations are purchased and all or any portion of the payment giving rise thereto is recovered, such participations shall be rescinded and the purchase price restored to the extent of such recovery, without interest and (ii) the provisions of this paragraph shall not be construed to apply to (A) any payment made by such Borrower pursuant to and in accordance with the express terms of this Agreement (including the application of funds arising from the existence of a Defaulting Lender), (B) any payment obtained by a Lender as consideration for the assignment of or sale of a participation in any of its Loans or participations in LC Disbursements or Swingline Loans to any assignee or participant (including a Purchasing Borrower Party) or (C) any disproportionate payment obtained by a Lender of any Class as a result of the extension by Lenders of the maturity date or expiration date of some but not all Loans or Commitments of that Class or any increase in the Applicable Rate in respect of Loans of Lenders that have consented to any such extension. The Borrowers consent to the foregoing and agrees, to the extent it may effectively do so under applicable law, that any Lender acquiring a participation pursuant to the foregoing arrangements may exercise against the Borrowers’ rights of setoff and counterclaim with respect to such participation as fully as if such Lender were a direct creditor of the Borrowers, as applicable, in the amount of such participation.

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

(e) If any Lender shall fail to make any payment required to be made by it pursuant to Section 2.04(c), Section 2.05(e), Section 2.05(f), Section 2.06(a), Section 2.06(b), Section 2.06(c), Section 2.18(d) or Section 9.03(d), then the Administrative Agent may, in its discretion and in the order determined by the Administrative Agent (notwithstanding any contrary provision hereof), (i) apply any amounts thereafter received by the Administrative Agent for the account of such Lender to satisfy such Lender’s obligations under such Section until all such unsatisfied obligations are fully paid and/or (ii) hold any such amounts in a segregated account as Cash Collateral for, and to be applied to, any future funding obligations of such Lender under any such Section.

(f) If any Lender makes available to the Administrative Agent funds for any Loan to be made by such Lender as provided in the foregoing provisions of this Article II, and such funds are not made available to the applicable Borrower by the Administrative Agent because the conditions to the applicable Borrowing set forth in Article IV are not satisfied or waived in accordance with the terms hereof, the Administrative Agent shall return such funds (in like funds as received from such Lender) to such Lender, without interest.

 

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SECTION 2.19 Mitigation Obligations; Replacement of Lenders.

(a) Each Lender may make any Loans or each Issuing Bank may issue Letters of Credit to the Borrowers through any Lending Office, provided that the exercise of this option shall not affect the obligation of the Borrowers to repay the Loans or Letters of Credit in accordance with the terms of this Agreement. If any Lender requests compensation under Section 2.15, or if the Borrowers are required to pay any additional amount to, or otherwise indemnify, any Lender or any Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender pursuant to Section 2.17 or any event that gives rise to the operation of Section 2.23, then such Lender shall use reasonable efforts to designate a different Lending Office for funding or booking its Loans hereunder or its participation in any Letter of Credit affected by such event, or to assign and delegate its rights and obligations hereunder to another of its offices, branches or Affiliates, if, in the judgment of such Lender, such designation or assignment and delegation (i) would eliminate or reduce amounts payable pursuant to Section 2.15 or Section 2.17 or mitigate the applicability of Section 2.23, as the case may be, and (ii) would not subject such Lender to any unreimbursed cost or expense reasonably deemed by such Lender to be material and would not be inconsistent with the internal policies of, or otherwise be disadvantageous in any material economic, legal or regulatory respect to, such Lender.

(b) If (i) any Lender requests compensation under Section 2.15 or gives notice under Section 2.23, (ii) the Borrowers are required to pay any additional amount to any Lender or to any Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender pursuant to Section 2.17, or (iii) any Lender becomes or is a Defaulting Lender, then the Borrowers may, at its sole expense and effort, upon notice to such Lender and the Administrative Agent, require such Lender to assign and delegate, without recourse (in accordance with and subject to the restrictions contained in Section 9.04), all its interests, rights and obligations under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents to an Eligible Assignee that shall assume such obligations (which assignee may be another Lender or an Affiliated Lender, if a Lender accepts such assignment and delegation), provided that (A) the Borrowers shall have received the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent to the extent such consent would be required under Section 9.04(b) for an assignment of Loans or Commitments, as applicable (and if a Revolving Commitment is being assigned and delegated, each Issuing Bank and each Swingline Lender), which consents, in each case, shall not unreasonably be withheld or delayed, (B) such Lender shall have received payment of an amount equal to the outstanding principal of its Loans and unreimbursed participations in LC Disbursements and Swingline Loans, accrued but unpaid interest thereon, accrued but unpaid fees and all other amounts payable to it hereunder from the assignee (to the extent of such outstanding principal and accrued interest and fees) or the Borrowers (in the case of all other amounts), (C) the Borrowers or such assignee shall have paid (unless waived) to the Administrative Agent the processing and recordation fee specified in Section 9.04(b)(ii) and (D) in the case of any such assignment resulting from a claim for compensation under Section 2.15, payment required to be made pursuant to Section 2.17 or a notice given under Section 2.23, such assignment will result in a material reduction in such compensation or payments. A Lender shall not be required to make any such assignment and delegation if, prior thereto, as a result of a waiver by such Lender or otherwise (including as a result of any action taken by such Lender under paragraph (a) above), the circumstances entitling the Borrowers to require such assignment and delegation cease to apply. Each party hereto agrees that an assignment required pursuant to this paragraph may be effected pursuant to an Assignment and Assumption executed by the Borrowers, the Administrative Agent and the assignee and that the Lender required to make such assignment need not be a party thereto.

SECTION 2.20 Incremental Credit Extension.

(a) The Borrowers or any Subsidiary Loan Party may at any time and from time to time after the Effective Date, subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, by notice to the Administrative Agent request (i) one or more additional Classes of term loans or additional term loans of the same Class of any existing Class of term loans (which may include Incremental Delayed Draw Term Loans) (the “Incremental Term Loans”) or (ii) one or more increases in the amount of the Revolving Commitments of any Class (each such increase, an “Incremental Revolving Commitment Increase,” and, together with the Incremental Term Loans, the “Incremental Facilities”); provided that, subject to Section 1.09, after giving effect to the effectiveness of any Incremental Facility Amendment referred to below and at the time that any such Incremental Term Loan, Incremental Revolving Commitment Increase is made or effected, no Event of Default (or, in the case of the incurrence or provision of any Incremental Facility in connection with an Acquisition Transaction or other Investment not prohibited by the terms of this Agreement that is a Limited Condition Transaction, no Event of Default under clause (a), (b), (h) or (i) of

 

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Section 7.01) shall have occurred and be continuing or would result therefrom and the Parent Borrower shall be in pro forma compliance with the Financial Performance Covenants. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, the sum of (i) the aggregate principal amount of the Incremental Facilities, and (ii) the aggregate outstanding principal amount of Incremental Equivalent Debt shall not at the time of incurrence of any such Incremental Facilities or Incremental Equivalent Debt (and after giving effect to such incurrence) exceed the Incremental Cap at such time (calculated in a manner consistent with the definition of “Incremental Cap”).

(b) Each Incremental Term Loan shall comply with the following clauses (A) through (F):

(A) except with respect to the Maturity Carveout Amount, the maturity date of any Incremental Term Loans shall not be earlier than the Term Maturity Date and the Weighted Average Life to Maturity of the Incremental Term Loans shall not be shorter than the remaining Weighted Average Life to Maturity of the Term Loans (without giving effect to any previous amortization payments or prepayments of the Term Loans),

(B) subject to clause (F), the pricing (including any “MFN” or other pricing terms), interest rate margins, rate floors, fees, premiums (including prepayment premiums), funding discounts and, subject to clause (A), the maturity and amortization schedule for any Incremental Term Loans shall be determined by the Borrowers and the applicable Additional Lenders,

(C)(i) to the extent secured, the Incremental Term Loans shall be secured solely by a Lien on the Collateral ranking equal in priority (but without regard to the control of remedies) with (or, subject to a Second Lien Intercreditor Agreement, junior in priority to) the Lien on the Collateral securing the Secured Obligations and (ii) no Incremental Term Loans shall be guaranteed by entities other than the Guarantors or the Borrowers,

(D) Incremental Term Loans shall be on terms and pursuant to documentation to be determined by the Borrowers and the applicable Additional Lenders; provided that, to the extent such terms and documentation are not consistent with the Term Loans (except (i) to the extent permitted by clause (A) or (B) above or clause (E) or (F) below, (ii) as to pricing, interest rate margins, rate floors, discounts, fees, premiums and prepayment or redemption provisions and (iii) any funding conditions applicable to any Incremental Delayed Draw Term Facility), they shall either (I) taken as a whole, be not materially more favorable to the Lenders providing such Incremental Term Loan than the terms and conditions of the Term Loans (when taken as a whole) are to the Lenders thereunder, (II) be applicable only to periods after the Latest Maturity Date at the time of such refinancing, (III) reflect market terms and conditions (taken as a whole) at the time of incurrence of such Indebtedness (as determined by the Parent Borrower in good faith); provided that if such Incremental Term Loans include any financial covenant that is more restrictive to the Borrowers than the Financial Performance Covenants, then such financial covenant shall be added for the benefit of the Term Facility and the Revolving Credit Facility, (IV) be reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent or (V) be added, or the features of such term or provision shall be provided, for the benefit of any Loans or Commitments remaining outstanding thereafter (and, for the avoidance of doubt, such term shall be deemed reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent) (provided that a certificate of a Responsible Officer delivered to the Administrative Agent at least five (5) Business Days prior to the establishment of such Term Facility together with a reasonably detailed description of the material terms and conditions of such resulting Indebtedness or drafts of the documentation relating thereto, stating that the Parent Borrower has determined in good faith that such terms and conditions satisfy the foregoing requirement, shall be conclusive evidence that such terms and conditions satisfy the foregoing requirement),

(E) such Incremental Term Loans may be provided in any currency as mutually agreed among the Administrative Agent, the applicable Borrower and the applicable Additional Lenders. Each Incremental Term Loan shall be in a minimum principal amount of $5,000,000 and integral multiples of $1,000,000 in excess thereof (unless the applicable Borrower and Administrative Agent otherwise agree); provided that such amount may be less than $5,000,000, if such amount represents all the remaining availability under the Incremental Cap, and

 

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(F) with respect to any Incremental Term Loans funded after the Effective Date that (i) are secured by a Lien on the Collateral that ranks pari passu with the Liens securing the Term Loans, (ii) mature no later than two years after the Term Maturity Date, (iii) are in the form of dollar-denominated term loan “A” loans and (iv) in the event that the interest rate margins for any Incremental Term Loan are greater than the Applicable Rates for the Initial Term Loans by more than 0.50% per annum, then the Applicable Rates for the Initial Term Loans and Revolving Loans shall be increased to the extent necessary so that the Applicable Rates for the Term Loans are equal to the interest rate margins for such Incremental Term Loans minus 0.50% per annum (the “MFN Protection”); provided, further, that with respect to any Incremental Term Loans that do not bear interest at a rate determined by reference to Term SOFR, for purposes of calculating the applicable increase (if any) in the Applicable Rates for the Term Loans in the preceding provisos, the interest rate margin for such Incremental Term Loans shall be deemed to be the interest rate (calculated after giving effect to any increases required pursuant to the immediately succeeding proviso) of such Incremental Term Loans less the then applicable Term SOFR; provided, further, that in determining the Applicable Rates applicable to the Term Loans and the interest rate margins applicable to the Incremental Term Loans, (x) original issue discount (“OID”) or upfront fees (which shall be deemed, solely for purposes of this clause (x), to constitute like amounts of OID) payable by the Borrowers or the applicable Subsidiary Loan Party to the Lenders of the Term Loans and the Incremental Term Loans in the initial primary syndication thereof shall be included (with OID or upfront fees being equated to interest based on an assumed four-year life to maturity), (y) (1) with respect to the Term Loans, to the extent that Term SOFR for a three-month interest period on the closing date of the Incremental Facility Amendment is less than the Floor, if any, applicable to the Term Loans, the amount of such difference shall be deemed added to the Applicable Rate for the Term Loans solely for the purpose of determining whether an increase in the Applicable Rate for the Term Loans shall be required and (2) with respect to the Incremental Term Loans, to the extent that Term SOFR for a three-month interest period on the closing date of the Incremental Facility Amendment is less than the interest rate floor, if any, applicable to the Incremental Term Loans, the amount of such difference shall be deemed added to the interest rate margin for the Incremental Term Loans solely for the purpose of determining whether an increase in the Applicable Rate for the Term Loans shall be required and (z) arrangement, structuring, ticking, commitment, amendment, unused line or underwriting fees or other similar fees payable in connection with the Term Loans or such Incremental Term Loans, as applicable, consent fees for an amendment (in each case regardless of whether any such fees are paid to or shared in whole or in part with any lender) and any other fees not paid to all relevant lenders generally with respect to such Indebtedness, shall be excluded; provided, further, that any increase in the Applicable Rate applicable to the Term Loans due to the application or imposition of an interest rate floor on any such Incremental Term Loans may, at the election of the applicable Borrower, be effected through either (1) an increase in the relevant interest rate floor applicable to the Term Loans or (2) an increase in the Applicable Rate applicable to the Term Loans; provided, further, that the MFN Protection may be waived at any time with the consent of the Required Class Lenders with respect to the applicable Class of Term Loans.

(c) Any Incremental Revolving Commitment Increase (i) shall be treated the same as the Class of Revolving Commitments being increased (including with respect to maturity date thereof) and shall be considered to be part of the Class of Revolving Credit Facility being increased or (ii) shall have terms and conditions that are (A) reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, (B) added for the benefit of the existing Revolving Lenders or (C) only applicable after the Latest Maturity Date applicable to any Revolving Loan, Revolving Commitment, any Other Revolving Loan or any Other Revolving Commitment. To the extent secured, any Incremental Revolving Commitment Increase shall be secured solely by a Lien on the Collateral ranking equal in priority (but without regard to the control of remedies) with (or, subject to a Second Lien Intercreditor Agreement, junior in priority to) the Lien on the Collateral securing the Secured Obligations and no Incremental Revolving Commitment Increase shall be guaranteed by entities other than the Guarantors or the Borrowers,

(d) [reserved].

(e) Each notice from the Borrowers pursuant to this Section 2.20 shall set forth the requested amount of the relevant Incremental Term Loans or Incremental Revolving Commitment Increases.

(f) Commitments in respect of Incremental Term Loans and Incremental Revolving Commitment Increases shall become Commitments (or in the case of an Incremental Revolving Commitment Increase to be provided by an existing Lender with a Revolving Commitment, an increase in such Lender’s applicable Revolving Commitment) under this Agreement pursuant to an amendment (an “Incremental Facility Amendment”) to this Agreement and, as appropriate, the other Loan Documents, executed by the Borrowers and any applicable Subsidiary Loan Party, each Lender agreeing to provide such Commitment (provided that no Lender shall be

 

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obligated to provide any loans or commitments under any Incremental Facility unless it so agrees), if any, each Additional Lender, if any, the Administrative Agent (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) and, in the case of Incremental Revolving Commitment Increases, each Issuing Bank (in each case, such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed). Incremental Term Loans and loans under Incremental Revolving Commitment Increases shall be a “Loan” for all purposes of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents. The Incremental Facility Amendment may, without the consent of any other Lenders, but subject to the requirements of Section 9.02(b)(i) – (ix) and (xi), effect such amendments to this Agreement and the other Loan Documents as may be necessary, appropriate or advisable (including, notwithstanding the requirements of Section 9.02(b)(i) – (ix) and (xi), changing the amortization schedule or extending the call protection or other terms of existing Term Loans in a manner required to make the Incremental Term Loans fungible with such Term Loans), in the reasonable opinion of the Administrative Agent and the Borrowers, to effect the provisions of this Section 2.20 (including, in connection with an Incremental Revolving Commitment Increase, to reallocate Revolving Exposure on a pro rata basis among the relevant Revolving Lenders). The effectiveness of any Incremental Facility Amendment and the occurrence of any credit event (including the making of a Loan and the issuance, increase in the amount, or extension of a letter of credit thereunder) pursuant to such Incremental Facility Amendment may be subject to the satisfaction of such additional conditions as the parties thereto shall agree. The Borrowers and any Restricted Subsidiary may use the proceeds, if any, of the Incremental Term Loans and Incremental Revolving Commitment Increases for any purpose not prohibited by this Agreement.

(g) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, this Section 2.20 shall supersede any provisions in Section 2.18 or Section 9.02 to the contrary.

SECTION 2.21 Refinancing Amendments.

(a) At any time after the Effective Date, the Parent Borrower may obtain, from any Lender or any Additional Lender, Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness in respect of (a) all or any portion of any Class of Term Loans then outstanding under this Agreement (which for purposes of this clause (a) will be deemed to include any then outstanding Other Term Loans) or (b) all or any portion of the Revolving Loans (or unused Revolving Commitments) under this Agreement (which for purposes of this clause (b) will be deemed to include any then outstanding Other Revolving Loans and Other Revolving Commitments), in the form of (i) Other Term Loans or Other Term Commitments or (ii) Other Revolving Loans or Other Revolving Commitments, as the case may be, in each case pursuant to a Refinancing Amendment; provided that the Net Proceeds, if any, of such Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness shall be applied, substantially concurrently with the incurrence thereof, to the prepayment of outstanding Term Loans or reduction of Revolving Commitments being so refinanced, as the case may be; provided, further, that, without limitation, the terms and conditions applicable to such Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness may provide for any additional or different financial or other covenants or other provisions that are agreed between the Borrowers and the Lenders thereof and applicable only during periods after the Latest Maturity Date that is in effect on the date such Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness is issued, incurred or obtained; provided further that the consent of the Issuing Banks shall be required to the extent such consent would be required for an assignment pursuant to Section 9.04 (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld). Each Class of Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness incurred under this Section 2.21 shall be in an aggregate principal amount that is (x) not less than $5,000,000 in the case of Other Term Loans or $5,000,000 in the case of Other Revolving Loans and (y) an integral multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof (in each case unless the Borrowers and the Administrative Agent otherwise agree). Any Refinancing Amendment may provide for the issuance of Letters of Credit for the account of the Borrowers, or the provision of Swingline Loans, pursuant to any Other Revolving Commitments established thereby, on terms substantially equivalent to the terms applicable to Letters of Credit and Swingline Loans under the Revolving Commitments. The Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each applicable Lender as to the effectiveness of each Refinancing Amendment. Each of the parties hereto hereby agrees that, upon the effectiveness of any Refinancing Amendment, this Agreement shall be deemed amended to the extent (but only to the extent) necessary to reflect the existence and terms of the Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness incurred pursuant thereto (including any amendments necessary to treat the Loans and Commitments subject thereto as Other Term Loans, Other Revolving Loans, Other Revolving Commitments and/or Other Term Commitments). Any Refinancing Amendment may, without the consent of any other Lenders, but subject to the requirements of Section 9.02(b)(i) – (ix) and (xi), effect such amendments to this Agreement and the other Loan Documents as may be necessary or appropriate, in the reasonable opinion of the Administrative Agent and the Borrowers, to effect the provisions of this Section 2.21 (including, notwithstanding the requirements of

 

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Section 9.02(b)(i) – (vi), changing the amortization schedule or extending the call protection or other terms of existing Term Loans in a manner required to make the Other Term Loans fungible with such Term Loans). In addition, if so provided in the relevant Refinancing Amendment and with the consent of each Issuing Bank, participations in Letters of Credit expiring on or after the Revolving Maturity Date shall be reallocated from Lenders holding Revolving Commitments to Lenders holding extended revolving commitments in accordance with the terms of such Refinancing Amendment; provided, however, that such participation interests shall, upon receipt thereof by the relevant Lenders holding Revolving Commitments, be deemed to be participation interests in respect of such Revolving Commitments and the terms of such participation interests (including, without limitation, the commission applicable thereto) shall be adjusted accordingly.

(b) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, this Section 2.21 shall supersede any provisions in Section 2.18 or Section 9.02 to the contrary.

SECTION 2.22 Defaulting Lenders.

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

(i) Waivers and Amendments. Such Defaulting Lender’s right to approve or disapprove any amendment, waiver or consent with respect to this Agreement shall be restricted as set forth in Section 9.02.

(ii) Reallocation of Payments. Subject to the last sentence of Section 2.11(f), any payment of principal, interest, fees or other amounts received by the Administrative Agent for the account of that Defaulting Lender (whether voluntary or mandatory, at maturity, pursuant to Article VII or otherwise, and including any amounts made available to the Administrative Agent by that Defaulting Lender pursuant to Section 9.08), shall be applied at such time or times as may be determined by the Administrative Agent as follows: first, to the payment of any amounts owing by that Defaulting Lender to the Administrative Agent hereunder; second, in the case of a Revolving Lender, to the payment on a pro rata basis of any amounts owing by that Defaulting Lender to each Issuing Bank and the Swingline Lender hereunder; third, as a Borrower may request (so long as no Default or Event of Default exists), to the funding of any Loan in respect of which that Defaulting Lender has failed to fund its portion thereof as required by this Agreement, as determined by the Administrative Agent; fourth, to the payment of any amounts owing to the Lenders as a result of any judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction obtained by any Lender against that Defaulting Lender as a result of that Defaulting Lender’s breach of its obligations under this Agreement; fifth, in the case of a Revolving Lender, if so determined by the Administrative Agent and the Parent Borrower, to be held in a non-interest bearing deposit account and released in order to satisfy obligations of that Defaulting Lender to fund Loans under this Agreement; sixth, to the payment of any amounts owing to the Lenders, the Issuing Banks or the Swingline Lender as a result of any judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction obtained by any Lender, such Issuing Bank or the Swingline Lender against that Defaulting Lender as a result of that Defaulting Lender’s breach of its obligations under this Agreement; seventh, so long as no Default or Event of Default exists, to the payment of any amounts owing to any Loan Party as a result of any judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction obtained by any Loan Party against that Defaulting Lender as a result of that Defaulting Lender’s breach of its obligations under this Agreement; and eighth, to that Defaulting Lender or as otherwise directed by a court of competent jurisdiction; provided that if such payment is a payment of the principal amount of any Loans or LC Disbursements and such Lender is a Defaulting Lender under clause (a) of the definition thereof, such payment shall be applied solely to pay the relevant Loans of, and LC Disbursements owed to, the relevant non-Defaulting Lenders on a pro rata basis prior to being applied pursuant to Section 2.05(j) or this Section 2.22(a)(ii). Any payments, prepayments or other amounts paid or payable to a Defaulting Lender that are applied (or held) to pay amounts owed by a Defaulting Lender or to post Cash Collateral pursuant to Section 2.05(j) shall be deemed paid to and redirected by that Defaulting Lender, and each Lender irrevocably consents hereto.

 

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(iii) Certain Fees. That Defaulting Lender (x) shall not be entitled to receive or accrue any commitment fee pursuant to Section 2.12(a) for any period during which that Lender is a Defaulting Lender (and the Parent Borrower shall not be required to pay any such fee that otherwise would have been required to have been paid to that Defaulting Lender) and (y) shall be limited in its right to receive Letter of Credit fees as provided in Section 2.12(b).

(iv) Reallocation of Applicable Percentages to Reduce Fronting Exposure. During any period in which there is a Defaulting Lender, for purposes of computing the amount of the obligation of each non-Defaulting Lender to acquire, refinance or fund participations in Swingline Loans and Letters of Credit pursuant to Sections 2.04 and 2.05, the “Applicable Percentage” of each non-Defaulting Lender shall be computed without giving effect to the Revolving Commitment of that Defaulting Lender; provided that the aggregate obligation of each non-Defaulting Lender to acquire, refinance or fund participations in Letters of Credit and Swingline Loans shall not exceed the positive difference, if any, of (1) the Revolving Commitment of that non-Defaulting Lender minus (2) the aggregate principal amount of the Revolving Loans of that Lender.

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

SECTION 2.23 Illegality. If any Lender determines that any law has made it unlawful, or that any Governmental Authority has asserted that it is unlawful, for any Lender or its applicable Lending Office to make, maintain or fund Loans whose interest is determined by reference to Term SOFR, or to determine or charge interest rates based upon the Term SOFR, then, on notice thereof by such Lender to the Borrowers through the Administrative Agent, any obligation of such Lender to make or continue SOFR Loans or to convert ABR Loans to SOFR Loans shall be suspended until such Lender notifies the Administrative Agent and the Borrowers that the circumstances giving rise to such determination no longer exist. Upon receipt of such notice, (x) the Borrowers shall, upon three (3) Business Days’ notice from such Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), in the case of SOFR Loans, prepay or, if applicable in the case of SOFR Loans, convert all SOFR Loans of such Lender to ABR Loans either on the last day of the Interest Period therefor, if such Lender may lawfully continue to maintain such SOFR Loans to such day, or immediately, if such Lender may not lawfully continue to maintain such SOFR Loans and (y) if such notice asserts the illegality of such Lender determining or charging interest rates based upon Term SOFR, the Administrative Agent shall, during the period of such suspension, compute the Alternate Base Rate applicable to such Lender without reference to Term SOFR component thereof until the Administrative Agent is advised in writing by such Lender that it is no longer illegal for such Lender to determine or charge interest rates based upon Term SOFR. Each Lender agrees to notify the Administrative Agent and the Borrowers in writing promptly upon becoming aware that it is no longer illegal for such Lender to determine or charge interest rates based upon Term SOFR. Upon any such prepayment or conversion, the Borrowers shall also pay accrued interest on the amount so prepaid or converted.

SECTION 2.24 Loan Modification Offers.

(a) At any time after the Effective Date, the Borrowers may on one or more occasions, by written notice to the Administrative Agent, make one or more offers (each, a “Loan Modification Offer”) to all the Lenders of one or more Classes (each Class subject to such a Loan Modification Offer, an “Affected Class”) to effect one or more Permitted Amendments relating to such Affected Class pursuant to procedures reasonably specified by the Administrative Agent and reasonably acceptable to the Borrowers (including mechanics to permit conversions, cashless rollovers and exchanges by Lenders and other repayments and reborrowings of Loans of Accepting Lenders

 

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or Non-Accepting Lenders replaced in accordance with this Section 2.24). Such notice shall set forth (i) the terms and conditions of the requested Permitted Amendment and (ii) the date on which such Permitted Amendment is requested to become effective. Permitted Amendments shall become effective only with respect to the Loans and Commitments of the Lenders of the Affected Class that accept the applicable Loan Modification Offer (such Lenders, the “Accepting Lenders”) and, in the case of any Accepting Lender, only with respect to such Lender’s Loans and Commitments of such Affected Class as to which such Lender’s acceptance has been made.

(b) A Permitted Amendment shall be effected pursuant to a Loan Modification Agreement executed and delivered by the Borrowers, each applicable Accepting Lender and the Administrative Agent; provided that no Permitted Amendment shall become effective unless the Borrowers shall have delivered to the Administrative Agent such legal opinions, board resolutions, secretary’s certificates, officer’s certificates and other documents as shall be reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent in connection therewith. The Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each Lender as to the effectiveness of each Loan Modification Agreement. Each Loan Modification Agreement may, without the consent of any Lender other than the applicable Accepting Lenders, but subject to the requirements of Section 9.02(b)(i) – (vi), effect such amendments to this Agreement and the other Loan Documents as may be necessary or appropriate, in the opinion of the Administrative Agent, to give effect to the provisions of this Section 2.24, including any amendments necessary to treat the applicable Loans and/or Commitments of the Accepting Lenders as a new or the same “Class” of loans and/or commitments hereunder and in connection with a Permitted Amendment related to Revolving Loans and/or Revolving Commitments, to reallocate, if applicable, Revolving Exposure on a pro rata basis among the relevant Revolving Lenders.

(c) If, in connection with any proposed Loan Modification Offer, any Lender declines to consent to such Loan Modification Offer on the terms and by the deadline set forth in such Loan Modification Offer (each such Lender, a “Non-Accepting Lender”) then the Borrowers may, on notice to the Administrative Agent and the Non-Accepting Lender, replace such Non-Accepting Lender in whole or in part by causing such Lender to (and such Lender shall be obligated to) assign and delegate, without recourse (in accordance with and subject to the restrictions contained in Section 9.04) all or any part of its interests, rights and obligations under this Agreement in respect of the Loans and Commitments of the Affected Class to one or more Eligible Assignees (which Eligible Assignee may be another Lender, if a Lender accepts such assignment); provided that neither the Administrative Agent nor any Lender shall have any obligation to the Borrowers to find a replacement Lender; provided, further, that (i) the applicable assignee shall have agreed to provide Loans and/or Commitments on the terms set forth in the applicable Permitted Amendment, (ii) such Non-Accepting Lender shall have received payment of an amount equal to the outstanding principal of the Loans of the Affected Class assigned by it pursuant to this Section 2.24(c), accrued interest thereon, accrued fees and all other amounts payable to it hereunder from the Eligible Assignee (to the extent of such outstanding principal and accrued interest and fees) and (iii) unless waived, the Borrowers or such Eligible Assignee shall have paid to the Administrative Agent the processing and recordation fee specified in Section 9.04(b).

(d) No rollover, conversion or exchange (or other repayment or termination) of Loans or Commitments pursuant to any Loan Modification Agreement in accordance with this Section 2.24 shall constitute a voluntary or mandatory payment or prepayment for purposes of this Agreement.

(e) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, this Section 2.24 shall supersede any provisions in Section 2.18 or Section 9.02 to the contrary.

SECTION 2.25 Borrower Appointment. Each Borrower hereby irrevocably appoints each other Borrower to act as its agent for all purposes of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents and agrees that (i) each other Borrower may execute such documents on its behalf as such Borrower deems appropriate in its sole discretion and each Borrower shall be obligated by all of the terms of any such document executed on its behalf, (ii) any notice or communication delivered by the Administrative Agent or the Lender to any Borrower shall be deemed delivered to each Borrower and (iii) the Administrative Agent or the Lenders may accept, and be permitted to rely on, any document, instrument or agreement executed by any Borrower on behalf of each of the Loan Parties. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, a Responsible Officer of each Borrower, acting for the purposes of giving and receiving notices and consenting to amendments and waivers under the Loan Documents, shall be a Responsible Officer of each other Borrower for such purposes.

 

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ARTICLE III

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

Each of the Borrowers represents and warrants to the Lenders that:

SECTION 3.01 Organization; Powers. The Parent Borrower and each Restricted Subsidiary is (a) duly organized or incorporated, validly existing and in good standing (to the extent such concept exists in the relevant jurisdictions) under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization or incorporation, (b) has the corporate or other organizational power and authority to carry on its business as now conducted and to execute, deliver and perform its obligations under each Loan Document to which it is a party and, (c) is qualified to do business in, and is in good standing in, every jurisdiction where such qualification is required, except in the case of clause (a) (other than with respect to any Loan Party), clause (b) (other than with respect to the Parent Borrower) and clause (c), where the failure to do so, individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

SECTION 3.02 Authorization; Enforceability. This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Borrowers and constitutes, and each other Loan Document to which any Loan Party is to be a party, when executed and delivered by such Loan Party, will constitute, a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Borrowers or such Loan Party, as the case may be, enforceable against it in accordance with its terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and subject to general principles of equity, regardless of whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law.

SECTION 3.03 Governmental Approvals; No Conflicts. The execution, delivery and performance by any Loan Party of this Agreement or any other Loan Document (a) do not require any consent or approval of, registration or filing with, or any other action by, any Governmental Authority, except such as have been obtained or made and are in full force and effect and except filings necessary to perfect Liens created under the Loan Documents, (b) will not violate (i) the Organizational Documents of any Loan Party, or (ii) any Requirements of Law applicable to any Loan Party, (c) will not violate or result in a default under any indenture or other agreement or instrument evidencing Indebtedness binding upon the Borrowers or any other Restricted Subsidiary or their respective assets, or give rise to a right thereunder to require any payment, repurchase or redemption to be made by the Borrowers or any Restricted Subsidiary, or give rise to a right of, or result in, termination, cancellation or acceleration of any obligation thereunder, and (d) will not result in the creation or imposition of any Lien on any asset of the Borrowers or any Restricted Subsidiary, except Liens created under the Loan Documents, except (in the case of each of clauses (a), (b)(ii) and (c)) to the extent that the failure to obtain or make such consent, approval, registration, filing or action, or such violation, default or right as the case may be, individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

SECTION 3.04 Financial Condition; No Material Adverse Effect.

(a) The Audited Financial Statements and Unaudited Financial Statements (i) were prepared in accordance with GAAP consistently applied throughout the period covered thereby, except as otherwise expressly indicated therein, including the notes thereto, and (ii) fairly present in all material respects the financial condition of the Parent Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries as of the respective dates thereof and the consolidated results of their operations for the respective periods then ended in accordance with GAAP consistently applied during the periods referred to therein, except as otherwise expressly indicated therein, including the notes thereto.

(b) Since the Effective Date, there has been no Material Adverse Effect.

SECTION 3.05 Properties. Each Borrower and each Restricted Subsidiary has good and valid title to, or valid leasehold interests in, all its real and personal property material to its business, if any (excluding, for the avoidance of doubt, Intellectual Property, which is the subject of Section 3.13), (i) free and clear of all Liens except for Liens permitted by Section 6.02 and (ii) except for minor defects in title that do not interfere with its ability to conduct its business as currently conducted or as proposed to be conducted or to utilize such properties for their intended purposes, in each case, except as could not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect.

 

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SECTION 3.06 Litigation and Environmental Matters.

(a) There are no actions, suits or proceedings by or before any arbitrator or Governmental Authority pending against or, to the knowledge of any Borrower, threatened in writing against or affecting such Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary that could reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

(b) Except with respect to any other matters that, individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, none of the Parent Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary (i) has failed to comply with any Environmental Law or to obtain, maintain or comply with any permit, governmental license or other approval required under any Environmental Law, (ii) has, to the knowledge of the Parent Borrower, become subject to any Environmental Liability, (iii) has received written notice of any Environmental Liability or (iv) has, to the knowledge of the Parent Borrower, any basis to reasonably expect that the Parent Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary will become subject to any Environmental Liability. The representations and warranties contained in this Section 3.06(b) are the sole and exclusive representations and warranties of this Agreement with respect to environmental matters, including matters related to Environmental Law or Environmental Liability.

SECTION 3.07 Compliance with Laws and Agreements. The Parent Borrower and each Restricted Subsidiary is in compliance with (a) all Requirements of Law applicable to it or its property and (c) all indentures and other agreements and instruments evidencing Material Indebtedness binding upon it or its property, except, in each case, where the failure to do so, individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

SECTION 3.08 Investment Company Status. None of the Parent Borrower or any other Loan Party is required to be registered as an “investment company” under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended from time to time.

SECTION 3.09 Taxes. Except as could not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, the Parent Borrower and each Restricted Subsidiary (a) have timely filed or caused to be filed all Tax returns required to have been filed and (b) have paid or caused to be paid all Taxes required to have been paid (whether or not shown on a Tax return) including in their capacity as tax withholding agents, except any Taxes (i) that are not overdue by more than 30 days or (ii) that are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings, provided that the Parent Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, has set aside on its books adequate reserves therefor in accordance with GAAP.

SECTION 3.10 ERISA.

(a) Except as could not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, each Plan is in compliance with the applicable provisions of ERISA, the Code and other federal or state laws.

(b) Except as could not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to result in a Material Adverse Effect, (i) no ERISA Event has occurred during the five year period prior to the date on which this representation is made or deemed made or is reasonably expected to occur, (ii) neither any Loan Party nor any ERISA Affiliate has incurred, or reasonably expects to incur, any liability under Title IV of ERISA with respect to any Plan (other than premiums due and not delinquent under Section 4007 of ERISA), (iii) neither any Loan Party nor any ERISA Affiliate has incurred, or reasonably expects to incur, any liability (and no event has occurred which, with the giving of notice under Section 4219 of ERISA, would result in such liability) under Section 4201 or 4243 of ERISA with respect to a Multiemployer Plan and (iv) neither any Loan Party nor any ERISA Affiliate has engaged in a transaction that could be subject to Section 4069 or 4212(c) of ERISA.

 

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SECTION 3.11 Disclosure. As of the Effective Date, neither (a) the Information Memorandum nor (b) any of the other reports, financial statements, certificates or other written information furnished by or on behalf of any Loan Party to the Administrative Agent or any Lender in connection with the negotiation of any Loan Document or delivered thereunder (as modified or supplemented by other information so furnished) when taken as a whole contains any material misstatement of fact or omits to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not materially misleading, provided that, with respect to projected financial information, the Parent Borrower represents only that such information was prepared in good faith based upon assumptions believed by them to be reasonable at the time delivered and, if such projected financial information was delivered prior to the Effective Date, as of the Effective Date, it being understood that any such projected financial information may vary from actual results and such variations could be material. As of the Effective Date, the information included in the Beneficial Ownership Certification is true and correct in all respects.

SECTION 3.12 Subsidiaries. As of the Effective Date, Schedule 3.12 sets forth the name of, and the ownership interest of the Parent Borrower and each Subsidiary in, each Subsidiary.

SECTION 3.13 Intellectual Property; Licenses, Etc. Except as, individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, the Parent Borrower and each Restricted Subsidiary owns, licenses or possesses the right to use, all of the rights to Intellectual Property that are reasonably necessary for the operation of its business as currently conducted, and, without conflict with the Intellectual Property rights of any other Person. The Parent Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary do not, in the operation of their businesses as currently conducted, infringe upon any Intellectual Property rights held by any other Person except for such infringements, individually or in the aggregate, which could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. No claim or litigation regarding any of the Intellectual Property owned by the Parent Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries is pending or, to the knowledge of the Parent Borrower, threatened in writing against the Parent Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary, which, individually or in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

SECTION 3.14 Solvency. On the Effective Date, immediately after the consummation of the Transactions to occur on the Effective Date, the Parent Borrower and its Subsidiaries are, on a consolidated basis, Solvent.

SECTION 3.15 [Reserved].

SECTION 3.16 Federal Reserve Regulations. None of the Parent Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary is engaged or will engage, principally or as one of its important activities, in the business of purchasing or carrying margin stock (within the meaning of Regulation U of the Board of Governors), or extending credit for the purpose of purchasing or carrying margin stock. No part of the proceeds of the Loans will be used, directly or indirectly, for any purpose that entails a violation (including on the part of any Lender) of the provisions of Regulations U or X of the Board of Governors. If reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent, the Parent Borrower will furnish to the Administrative Agent and each Lender a statement to the foregoing effect in conformity with the requirements of FR Form U-1.

SECTION 3.17 Use of Proceeds. The Borrowers will use the proceeds of (a) the Term Loans made on the Effective Date to directly or indirectly finance a portion of the Transactions and to pay Transaction Costs and (b) Revolving Loans and Swingline Loans made on and after the Effective Date for working capital and general corporate purposes (including any purpose not prohibited by this Agreement).

SECTION 3.18 USA PATRIOT Act, Sanctions and Anti-Corruption.

(a) The Parent Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries shall not directly or, to the knowledge of the Parent Borrower, indirectly, use the proceeds of the Loans or Letters of Credit, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any subsidiary, joint venture partner or other Person, for the purpose of funding (i) any unlawful activities of or business with any Sanctioned Person, or (ii) any other transaction that will result in a violation of Sanctions by any party to this Agreement.

 

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(b) The Parent Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries will not use the proceeds of the Loans or Letters of Credit directly, or, to the knowledge of the Parent Borrower, indirectly, for, any payments or provision of anything of value to any governmental official or employee, political party, official of a political party, candidate for political office, or anyone else acting in an official capacity, in order to obtain, retain or direct business or obtain any improper advantage, in violation of any Anti-Corruption Laws.

(c) Except as could not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, to the knowledge of the Parent Borrower, none of the Parent Borrower or its Restricted Subsidiaries has, in the past five (5) years, committed a violation of applicable regulations of Sanctions, Title III of the USA Patriot Act or any Anti-Corruption Laws.

(d) (i) None of the Loan Parties is a Sanctioned Person, and (ii) except as could not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, no director or officer, or to the knowledge of the Parent Borrower, any employee or agent of any Loan Party or other Subsidiary is a Sanctioned Person.

ARTICLE IV

CONDITIONS

SECTION 4.01 Effective Date. The obligations of the Lenders to make Loans and each Issuing Bank to issue Letters of Credit hereunder shall not become effective until the date on which each of the following conditions shall be satisfied (or waived in accordance with Section 9.02):

(a) The Administrative Agent (or its counsel) shall have received from each party hereto either (i) a counterpart of this Agreement signed on behalf of such party or (ii) written evidence satisfactory to the Administrative Agent (which may include facsimile or other electronic transmission of a signed counterpart of this Agreement) that such party has signed a counterpart of this Agreement.

(b) The Administrative Agent shall have received a written opinion (addressed to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders and dated the Effective Date) of (i) Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP, New York and California counsel for the Loan Parties and (ii) Maples and Calder (Cayman) LLP, Cayman Islands counsel to the Parent Borrower. The Parent Borrower hereby requests such counsel to deliver such opinions.

(c) The Administrative Agent shall have received a certificate of each Loan Party, dated the Effective Date, substantially in the form of Exhibit G with appropriate insertions, executed by any Responsible Officer of such Loan Party, and including or attaching the documents referred to in paragraph (d) of this Section.

(d) The Administrative Agent shall have received a copy of (i) each Organizational Document of each Loan Party certified, to the extent applicable, as of a recent date by the applicable Governmental Authority, (ii) signature and incumbency certificates of the Responsible Officers of each Loan Party executing the Loan Documents to which it is a party, (iii) resolutions of the Board of Directors and/or similar governing bodies of each Loan Party approving and authorizing the execution, delivery and performance of Loan Documents to which it is a party, certified as of the Effective Date by its secretary, an assistant secretary or a Responsible Officer as being in full force and effect without modification or amendment, and (iv) a good standing certificate (to the extent such concept exists) from the applicable Governmental Authority of each Loan Party’s jurisdiction of incorporation, organization or formation.

(e) The Administrative Agent shall have received, or substantially simultaneously with the initial Borrowing on the Effective Date shall receive, all fees and other amounts previously agreed in writing by the Lead Arrangers and the Joint Bookrunners and the Parent Borrower to be due and payable on or prior to the Effective Date, including, to the extent invoiced at least three (3) Business Days prior to the Effective Date (except as otherwise reasonably agreed by the Parent Borrower), reimbursement or payment of all reasonable and documented out-of-pocket expenses (including reasonable fees, charges and disbursements of counsel) required to be reimbursed or paid by any Loan Party under any Loan Document.

 

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(f) Subject to Section 5.16, the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement shall have been satisfied; provided that if, notwithstanding the use by the Borrowers of commercially reasonable efforts to cause the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement to be satisfied on the Effective Date, the requirements thereof (other than (a) the execution and delivery of the Guarantee Agreement and the Collateral Agreement by the Loan Parties, (b) creation of and perfection of security interests in the certificated Equity Interests of the Co-Borrower and Significant Subsidiaries that are wholly owned subsidiaries of the Parent Borrower, and (c) delivery of Uniform Commercial Code financing statements with respect to perfection of security interests in other assets of the Loan Parties that may be perfected by the filing of a financing statement under the Uniform Commercial Code) are not satisfied as of the Effective Date, the satisfaction of such requirements shall not be a condition to the availability of the initial Loans on the Effective Date (but shall be required to be satisfied as promptly as practicable after the Effective Date and in any event within the period specified therefor in Schedule 5.16 or such later date as the Administrative Agent may reasonably agree).

(g) The Administrative Agent shall have received a certificate, dated the Effective Date and signed by Responsible Officer of the Parent Borrower, confirming compliance with the conditions set forth in Sections 4.02(a) and (b).

(h) The Lead Arrangers and the Joint Bookrunners shall have received the Audited Financial Statements and Unaudited Financial Statements.

(i) The Administrative Agent shall have received a Borrowing Request as required by Section 2.03.

(j) Substantially simultaneously with the initial Borrowing under the Term Facility, the Effective Date Refinancing shall be consummated.

(k) The Administrative Agent shall have received a certificate from a chief financial officer of the Parent Borrower certifying that the Parent Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis after giving effect to the Transactions are Solvent.

(l) The Administrative Agent and the Joint Bookrunners shall have received all documentation at least three (3) Business Days prior to the Effective Date and other information about the Loan Parties that shall have been reasonably requested in writing at least 10 Business Days prior to the Effective Date and that the Administrative Agent or the Joint Bookrunners have reasonably determined is required by United States regulatory authorities under applicable “know your customer” and anti-money laundering rules and regulations, including without limitation Title III of the USA Patriot Act.

(n) To the extent the Parent Borrower qualifies as a “legal entity customer” under the Beneficial Ownership Regulation, the Parent Borrower shall deliver to each Lender that so requests (which request is made through the Administrative Agent), a Beneficial Ownership Certification in relation to the Parent Borrower; provided that the Administrative Agent has provided the Parent Borrower a list of each such Lender and its electronic delivery requirements at least five (5) Business Days prior to the Effective Date (it being agreed that, upon the execution and delivery by such Lender of its signature page to this Agreement, the condition set forth in this clause shall be deemed to be satisfied with respect to such Lender).

(m) There shall not have been a Material Adverse Effect which has occurred since August 27, 2021.

 

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

SECTION 4.02 Each Credit Event. The obligation of each Lender to make a Loan on the occasion of any Borrowing, and of each Issuing Bank to issue, amend, renew, increase or extend any Letter of Credit, in each case other than in connection with any Incremental Facility, Loan Modification Offer or Permitted Amendment, is subject to receipt of the request therefor in accordance herewith and to the satisfaction of the following conditions:

(a) The representations and warranties of each Loan Party set forth in the Loan Documents shall be true and correct in all material respects on and as of the date of such Borrowing or the date of issuance, amendment, renewal, increase or extension of such Letter of Credit, as the case may be; provided that, to the extent that such representations and warranties specifically refer to an earlier date, they shall be true and correct in all material respects as of such earlier date; provided, further, that any representation and warranty that is qualified as to “materiality,” “Material Adverse Effect” or similar language shall be true and correct in all respects (giving effect to any such qualifications) on the date of such credit extension or on such earlier date, as the case may be.

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

To the extent this Section 4.02 is applicable, each Borrowing (provided that a conversion or a continuation of a Borrowing shall not constitute a “Borrowing” for purposes of this Section) and each issuance, amendment, renewal, increase or extension of a Letter of Credit shall be deemed to constitute a representation and warranty by the Parent Borrower on the date thereof as to the matters specified in clauses (a) and (b) of this Section.

ARTICLE V

AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS

Until the Termination Date shall have occurred, each of the Borrowers covenants and agrees with the Lenders that:

SECTION 5.01 Financial Statements and Other Information. The Parent Borrower will furnish to the Administrative Agent, on behalf of each Lender, the following:

(a) beginning with the fiscal year ending August 26, 2022 and thereafter, on or before the date that is 120 days after the end of each such fiscal year of the Parent Borrower (or on or before such later date on which such financial statements are permitted to be filed with the SEC), an audited consolidated balance sheet and audited consolidated statements of operations, cash flows and changes in members’ or stockholders’ equity of the Parent Borrower as of the end of and for such year, and related notes thereto, setting forth, beginning with the fiscal year ending August 25, 2023, in each case in comparative form the figures for the previous fiscal year, all reported on by Deloitte & Touche LLP or other independent public accountants of recognized national standing (without a “going concern” qualification and without any qualification or exception as to the scope of such audit (other than with respect to, or resulting from, (A) an upcoming maturity date of any Indebtedness, (B) the activities, operations, financial results, assets or liabilities of any Unrestricted Subsidiaries, (C) any actual or potential inability to satisfy a financial maintenance covenant in any period and/or (D) a change in accounting principles or practices reflecting a change in GAAP and required or approved by such independent public accountants)) to the effect that such consolidated financial statements present fairly in all material respects the financial position and results of operations and cash flows of the Parent Borrower and its Subsidiaries as of the end of and for such year on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP;

 

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(b) commencing with the financial statements for the fiscal quarter ending February 25, 2022, on or before the date that is 60 days after the end of each of the first three fiscal quarters of each fiscal year of the Parent Borrower (or on or before such later date on which such financial statements are permitted to be filed with the SEC), an unaudited consolidated balance sheet and unaudited consolidated statements of operations and cash flows of the Parent Borrower as of the end of and for such fiscal quarter (except in the case of cash flows) and the then elapsed portion of the fiscal year and, commencing with the financial statements for the fiscal quarter ending February 24, 2023, setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for the corresponding period or periods of (or, in the case of the balance sheet, as of the end of) the previous fiscal year, all certified by a Financial Officer as presenting fairly in all material respects the financial position and results of operations and cash flows of the Parent Borrower and the Subsidiaries as of the end of and for such fiscal quarter (except in the case of cash flows) and such portion of the fiscal year on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP, subject to normal year-end audit adjustments and the absence of footnotes;

(c) simultaneously with the delivery of each set of consolidated financial statements referred to in clauses (a) and (b) above, the related consolidating financial information reflecting adjustments, if any, necessary to eliminate the accounts of Unrestricted Subsidiaries (if any) from such consolidated financial statements;

(d) not later than five Business Days after the delivery of financial statements under clause (a) or (b) above, a certificate of a Financial Officer (i) certifying as to whether a Default has occurred and, if a Default has occurred, specifying the details thereof and any action taken or proposed to be taken with respect thereto and (ii) setting forth (x) reasonably detailed calculations demonstrating compliance with the Financial Performance Covenants and (y) unless the ECF Percentage is zero percent (0%), reasonably detailed calculations in the case of financial statements delivered under paragraph (a) above, beginning with the financial statements for the fiscal year of the Parent Borrower ending August 25, 2023, of Excess Cash Flow for such fiscal year;

(e) promptly following any request therefor, information and documentation reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent or any Lender (through the Administrative Agent) for purposes of compliance with applicable “know your customer” and anti-money-laundering rules and regulations, including, without limitation, the PATRIOT Act and the Beneficial Ownership Regulation;

(f) promptly after the same become publicly available, copies of all periodic and other reports, proxy statements and registration statements (other than amendments to any registration statement (to the extent such registration statement, in the form it became effective, is delivered to the Administrative Agent), exhibits to any registration statement and, if applicable, any registration statement on Form S-8) filed by either Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries with the SEC or with any national securities exchange; and

(g) promptly following any request therefor, such other information regarding the operations, business affairs and financial condition of the Parent Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary, or compliance with the terms of any Loan Document, as the Administrative Agent on its own behalf or on behalf of any Lender may reasonably request in writing.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the obligations in clauses (a) and (b) of this Section 5.01 may be satisfied with respect to financial information of the Parent Borrower and its Subsidiaries by furnishing (A) the Form 10-K or 10-Q (or the equivalent), as applicable, of Parent Borrower (or a parent company thereof) filed with the SEC or with a similar regulatory authority in a foreign jurisdiction or (B) the applicable financial statements of Parent Borrower (or any direct or indirect parent of Parent Borrower); provided that to the extent such information relates to a parent of the Parent Borrower, such information is accompanied by summary narrative information (which need not be audited) describing in reasonable detail the differences between the information relating to such parent, on the one hand, and the information relating to the Parent Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a stand-alone basis, on the other hand, and to the extent such information is in lieu of information required to be provided under Section 5.01(a), such materials are accompanied by a report and opinion of Deloitte & Touche LLP or any other independent registered public accounting firm of nationally recognized standing, which report and opinion shall be prepared in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards and shall not be subject to any “going concern” qualification or any qualification or exception as to the scope of such audit (other than with respect to, or resulting from, (i) an upcoming maturity date of any Indebtedness, (ii) the activities, operations, financial results, assets or liabilities of any Unrestricted Subsidiaries, (iii) any actual or potential inability to satisfy a financial maintenance covenant in any period and/or (iv) a change in accounting principles or practices reflecting a change in GAAP and required or approved by such independent public accountants).

 

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Documents required to be delivered pursuant to Section 5.01(a), (b), (c), (d) or (f) (to the extent any such documents are included in materials otherwise filed with the SEC) may be delivered electronically and if so delivered, shall be deemed to have been delivered on the earlier of the date (A) on which the Parent Borrower posts such documents, or provides a link thereto on the Parent Borrower’s or one of its Affiliates’ website on the Internet or (B) on which such documents are posted on the Parent Borrower’s behalf on IntraLinks/IntraAgency or another website, if any, to which each Lender and the Administrative Agent has access (whether a commercial, third-party website or whether sponsored by the Administrative Agent); provided that: (i) the Parent Borrower shall deliver such documents to the Administrative Agent upon its reasonable request until a written notice to cease delivering such documents is given by the Administrative Agent and (ii) the Parent Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent (by telecopier or electronic mail) of the posting of any such documents and upon its reasonable request, provide to the Administrative Agent by electronic mail electronic versions (i.e., soft copies) of such documents. The Administrative Agent shall have no obligation to request the delivery of or maintain paper copies of the documents referred to above, and each Lender shall be solely responsible for timely accessing posted documents and maintaining its copies of such documents.

The Parent Borrower hereby acknowledges that (a) the Administrative Agent, the Lead Arrangers and/or the Joint Bookrunners will make available to the Lenders materials and/or information provided by or on behalf of the Parent Borrower hereunder (collectively, “Borrower Materials”) by posting Borrower Materials on IntraLinks or another similar electronic system (the “Platform”) and (b) certain of the Lenders (each, a “Public Lender”) may have personnel who do not wish to receive material non-public information with respect to the Parent Borrower or its Affiliates, or the respective securities of any of the foregoing, and who may be engaged in investment and other market-related activities with respect to such Persons’ securities. The Parent Borrower hereby agrees that it will, upon the Administrative Agent’s reasonable request, use commercially reasonable efforts to identify that portion of Borrower Materials that may be distributed to the Public Lenders and that (i) all such Borrower Materials shall be clearly and conspicuously marked “PUBLIC” which, at a minimum, shall mean that the word “PUBLIC” shall appear prominently on the first page thereof; (ii) by marking Borrower Materials “PUBLIC,” the Parent Borrower shall be deemed to have authorized the Administrative Agent, the Lead Arrangers, the Joint Bookrunners, and the Lenders to treat such Borrower Materials as not containing any material non-public information (although it may be sensitive and proprietary) with respect to the Parent Borrower or its securities for purposes of United States federal and state securities laws (provided, however, that to the extent such Borrower Materials constitute Information, they shall be treated as set forth in Section 9.12); (iii) all Borrower Materials marked “PUBLIC” are permitted to be made available through a portion of the Platform designated “Public Side Information”; and (iv) the Administrative Agent, the Lead Arrangers and the Joint Bookrunners shall be entitled to treat any Borrower Materials that are not marked “PUBLIC” as being suitable only for posting on a portion of the Platform not designated “Public Side Information.” Other than as set forth in the immediately preceding sentence, the Parent Borrower shall be under no obligation to mark any Borrower Materials “PUBLIC”; provided that any financial statements delivered pursuant to Section 5.01(a) or (b) will be deemed “PUBLIC.”

SECTION 5.02 Notices of Material Events. Promptly after any Responsible Officer of any Borrower obtains actual knowledge thereof, such Borrower will furnish to the Administrative Agent (for distribution to each Lender through the Administrative Agent) written notice of the following:

(a) the occurrence of any Default;

(b) the filing or commencement of any action, suit or proceeding by or before any arbitrator or Governmental Authority against or, to the knowledge of a Financial Officer or another executive officer of the Parent Borrower, affecting the Parent Borrower or any Subsidiary or the receipt of a written notice of an Environmental Liability, in each case, that could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect; and

(c) the occurrence of an ERISA Event, in each case, that could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

Each notice delivered under this Section 5.02 shall be accompanied by a written statement of a Responsible Officer of the Parent Borrower setting forth the details of the event or development requiring such notice and any action taken or proposed to be taken with respect thereto.

 

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SECTION 5.03 Information Regarding Collateral.

(a) The Parent Borrower will furnish to the Administrative Agent promptly (and in any event within 60 days or such longer period as reasonably agreed to by the Collateral Agent) written notice of any change (i) in any Loan Party’s legal name (as set forth in its certificate of organization or like document) or (ii) in the jurisdiction of incorporation or organization of any Loan Party or in the form of its organization.

(b) Not later than five Business Days after delivery of financial statements pursuant to Section 5.01(a), the Parent Borrower shall deliver to the Administrative Agent a certificate executed by a Responsible Officer of the Parent Borrower setting forth the information required pursuant to Schedules I through IV of the Collateral Agreement or confirming that there has been no change in such information since the Effective Date or the date of the most recent certificate delivered pursuant to this Section.

SECTION 5.04 Existence; Conduct of Business. The Parent Borrower will, and will cause each Restricted Subsidiary to, do or cause to be done all things necessary to obtain, preserve, renew and keep in full force and effect its legal existence and the rights, governmental licenses, permits, privileges, franchises and Intellectual Property material to the conduct of its business, in each case (other than with respect to the preservation of the existence of the Parent Borrower), except to the extent that the failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, provided that the foregoing shall not prohibit any merger, consolidation, liquidation or dissolution permitted under Section 6.03, any Lien permitted by Section 6.02 or any Disposition permitted by Section 6.05.

SECTION 5.05 Payment of Taxes, Etc. The Parent Borrower will, and will cause each Restricted Subsidiary to, pay its obligations in respect of Taxes before the same shall become delinquent or in default, except where (i) the failure to make payment could not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to result in a Material Adverse Effect or (ii) such Taxes are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings, provided that the Parent Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, has set aside on its books adequate reserves therefor in accordance with GAAP.

SECTION 5.06 Maintenance of Properties. The Parent Borrower will, and will cause each Restricted Subsidiary to, keep and maintain all property material to the conduct of its business in good working order and condition (ordinary wear and tear excepted), except where the failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect.

SECTION 5.07 Insurance.

The Parent Borrower will, and will cause each Restricted Subsidiary to, maintain, with insurance companies that the Parent Borrower believes (in the good faith judgment of the management of the Parent Borrower) are financially sound and responsible at the time the relevant coverage is placed or renewed, insurance in at least such amounts (after giving effect to any self-insurance which and the Parent Borrower believes (in the good faith judgment of management of the Parent Borrower) is reasonable and prudent in light of the size and nature of its business) and against at least such risks (and with such risk retentions) as the Parent Borrower believes (in the good faith judgment of the management of the Parent Borrower) are reasonable and prudent in light of the size and nature of its business; and will furnish to the Lenders, upon written request from the Administrative Agent, information presented in reasonable detail as to the insurance so carried. Not later than 60 days after the Effective Date (or such later date as the Collateral Agent may agree in its reasonable discretion), each such policy of insurance maintained by a Loan Party shall (i) name the Collateral Agent, on behalf of the 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/mortgagee clause or endorsement that names Collateral Agent, on behalf of the Secured Parties as the lender’s loss payee/mortgagee thereunder.

SECTION 5.08 Books and Records; Inspection and Audit Rights. The Parent Borrower will, and will cause each Restricted Subsidiary to, maintain proper books of record and account in which entries that are full, true and correct in all material respects and are in conformity with GAAP (or applicable local standards) shall be made of all material financial transactions and matters involving the assets and business of the Parent Borrower or the Restricted Subsidiaries, as the case may be. The Parent Borrower will, and will cause each Restricted Subsidiary

 

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to, permit any representatives designated by the Administrative Agent or any Lender, upon reasonable prior notice, to visit and inspect its properties, to examine and make extracts from its books and records, and to discuss its affairs, finances and condition with its officers and independent accountants, all at such reasonable times and as often as reasonably requested; provided that, excluding any such visits and inspections during the continuation of an Event of Default, only the Administrative Agent on behalf of the Lenders may exercise visitation and inspection rights of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders under this Section 5.08 and the Administrative Agent shall not exercise such rights more often than one time during any calendar year absent the existence of an Event of Default and only one such visitation and inspection shall be at the reasonable expense of the Parent Borrower; provided, further that (a) when an Event of Default exists, the Administrative Agent or any Lender (or any of their respective representatives or independent contractors) may do any of the foregoing at the expense of the Parent Borrower at any time during normal business hours and upon reasonable advance notice and (b) the Administrative Agent and the Lenders shall give the Parent Borrower the opportunity to participate in any discussions with the Parent Borrower’s independent public accountants.

SECTION 5.09 Compliance with Laws. The Borrowers will, and will take reasonably commercial efforts to cause each Restricted Subsidiary to, comply with all Requirements of Law (including ERISA, Environmental Laws, USA Patriot Act and other anti-terrorism laws) with respect to it, its property and operations, except where the failure to do so, individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

SECTION 5.10 Use of Proceeds and Letters of Credit. The Borrowers will use the proceeds of the Term Loans to directly or indirectly finance a portion of the Transactions and to pay Transaction Costs. The Borrowers and their subsidiaries will use the proceeds of (i) Revolving Loans and Swingline Loans drawn after the Effective Date and Letters of Credit for working capital and general corporate purposes (including Permitted Acquisitions, Restricted Payments and any other purpose not prohibited by this Agreement) and (ii) any Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness applied among the Loans and any Incremental Term Loans in accordance with the terms of this Agreement. The Borrowers and the Restricted Subsidiaries will not, directly or to any Borrower’s knowledge, indirectly, use the proceeds of the Loans, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any Subsidiary, joint venture partner or other Person, for any purpose that will result in a violation by any Person (including any Person participating in the transaction, whether as underwriter, advisor, investor, lender or otherwise) of the USA Patriot Act. The proceeds of the Incremental Term Loans will be used for working capital and general corporate purposes (including Permitted Acquisitions, other permitted Investments, Restricted Payments and any other purpose not prohibited by this Agreement).

SECTION 5.11 Additional Subsidiaries.

(a) If any additional Restricted Subsidiary is formed or acquired after the Effective Date (including, without limitation, upon the formation of any Restricted Subsidiary that is a Division Successor), the Parent Borrower will, within 90 days after such newly formed or acquired Restricted Subsidiary is formed or acquired (unless such Restricted Subsidiary is an Excluded Subsidiary), notify the Collateral Agent thereof, and will and will cause such Restricted Subsidiary and the other Loan Parties to take all actions (if any) required to satisfy the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement with respect to such Restricted Subsidiary and with respect to any Equity Interest in or Indebtedness of such Restricted Subsidiary owned by or on behalf of any Loan Party within 60 days after such notice (or such longer period as the Collateral Agent shall reasonably agree).

(b) Within 90 days (or such longer period as the Administrative Agent may reasonably agree) after Holdings or the Parent Borrower identifies any new Material Subsidiary or any Restricted Subsidiary that has ceased to be an Excluded Subsidiary pursuant to Section 5.03(b), all actions (if any) required to be taken with respect to such Subsidiary in order to satisfy the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement shall have been taken with respect to such Subsidiary.

SECTION 5.12 Further Assurances. The Parent Borrower will, and will cause each Loan Party to, execute any and all further documents, financing statements, agreements and instruments, and take all such further actions (including the filing and recording of financing statements, fixture filings, mortgages, deeds of trust and other documents), that may be required under any applicable law and that the Collateral Agent or the Required Lenders may reasonably request, to cause the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement to be and remain satisfied, all at the expense of the Loan Parties.

 

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SECTION 5.13 Ratings. The Parent Borrower will use commercially reasonable efforts to cause the Parent Borrower to continuously have a public corporate credit rating from at least two Rating Agencies (but not to maintain a specific rating).

SECTION 5.14 Designation of Subsidiaries. The Parent Borrower may at any time after the Effective Date designate any Restricted Subsidiary of the Parent Borrower as an Unrestricted Subsidiary or any Unrestricted Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary; provided that immediately before and after such designation on a Pro Forma Basis as of the end of the most recent Test Period, (i) no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would exist after giving effect thereto and (ii) the Parent Borrower is in pro forma compliance with Section 6.10. The designation of any Subsidiary as an Unrestricted Subsidiary after the Effective Date shall constitute an Investment by the Parent Borrower therein at the date of designation in an amount equal to the Fair Market Value of the Parent Borrower’s or its Subsidiary’s (as applicable) investment therein. The designation of any Unrestricted Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary shall constitute (x) the incurrence at the time of designation of any Investment, Indebtedness or Liens of such Subsidiary existing at such time and (y) a return on any Investment by the Parent Borrower or the applicable Subsidiary in Unrestricted Subsidiaries pursuant to the preceding sentence in an amount equal to the Fair Market Value at the date of such designation of the Parent Borrower’s or its Subsidiary’s (as applicable) Investment in such Subsidiary. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, in no event shall any Unrestricted Subsidiary (I) own or exclusively license any material intellectual property used in the business of the Parent Borrower and its Subsidiaries, (II) own Equity Interests of any Restricted Subsidiary, (III) hold any Indebtedness owed to such Unrestricted Subsidiary by the Borrowers or any of their respective Restricted Subsidiaries or (IV) have Liens on the assets of the Borrowers or any of their respective Restricted Subsidiaries.

SECTION 5.15 Change in Business. The Parent Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, will not fundamentally and substantively alter the character of their business, taken as a whole, from the business conducted by them on the Effective Date and other business activities which are extensions thereof or otherwise incidental, complementary, reasonably related or ancillary to any of the foregoing.

SECTION 5.16 Certain Post-Closing Obligations. As promptly as practicable, and in any event within the time periods after the Effective Date specified in Schedule 5.16 unless extended by the Collateral Agent in its reasonable discretion, including to reasonably accommodate circumstances unforeseen on the Effective Date, the Parent Borrower and each other Loan Party shall deliver the documents or take the actions specified on Schedule 5.16, in each case except to the extent otherwise agreed by the Collateral Agent pursuant to its authority as set forth in the definition of the term “Collateral and Guarantee Requirement”.

SECTION 5.17 Changes in Fiscal Periods. The Parent Borrower shall not make any change in its fiscal year; provided, however, that the Parent Borrower may, upon written notice to the Administrative Agent, change its fiscal year to any other fiscal year reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent, in which case, the Parent Borrower and the Administrative Agent will, and are hereby authorized by the Lenders to, make any adjustments to this Agreement that are necessary to reflect such change in fiscal year (which adjustments may include, among other things, adjustments to financial reporting requirements to account for such changes, including without limitation, the impact on year over year comparison reporting and stub period reporting obligations).

SECTION 5.18 Anti-Money Laundering Laws; Anti-Corruption Laws; Sanctions. Each Parent Borrower will, and will take all reasonably available action to cause each Restricted Subsidiary to:

(a) Not use the proceeds of any Loans, Letters of Credit or Borrowing in furtherance of an offer, promise, provide, or authorize the provision of any money, property, contribution, gift, entertainment or other thing of value, directly or knowingly indirectly, to any government official (including any officer or employee of a government or government-owned or -controlled entity or of a public international organization, or any political party or party official or candidate for political office), or any other Person acting in an official capacity, to influence official action or secure an improper advantage, or to encourage the recipient to breach a duty of good faith or loyalty or the policies of his/her employer, or otherwise in violation of any Anti-Corruption Law;

 

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(b) Not use the proceeds of any Loans, Letters of Credit or Borrowing for the purpose of transacting any unlawful business directly or knowingly indirectly with or for the benefit of any Sanctioned Person or otherwise in violation of Sanctions; and

(c) Adopt and revise from time to time, as the case may be, adequate policies and procedures reasonably designed to ensure compliance with applicable Anti-Corruption Laws, Sanctions, and applicable anti-money laundering rules and regulations, including without limitation the USA Patriot Act.

ARTICLE VI

NEGATIVE COVENANTS

Until the Termination Date shall have occurred, each of the Borrowers covenants and agrees with the Lenders that:

SECTION 6.01 Indebtedness; Certain Equity Securities.

(a) The Parent Borrower will not, and will not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, create, incur, assume or permit to exist any Indebtedness, except:

(i) Indebtedness of the Borrowers and any of the Restricted Subsidiaries under the Loan Documents (including any Indebtedness incurred pursuant to Section 2.20, 2.21 or 2.24);

(ii) Indebtedness (A) outstanding on the Effective Date; provided that any such Indebtedness in excess of $10,000,000 individually shall only be permitted if set forth on Schedule 6.01, and any Permitted Refinancing thereof and (B) that is intercompany Indebtedness among the Parent Borrower and/or the Restricted Subsidiaries outstanding on the Effective Date and any Permitted Refinancing thereof;

(iii) Guarantees by the Parent Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries in respect of Indebtedness of the Parent Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary otherwise permitted hereunder; provided that (A) such Guarantee is otherwise permitted by Section 6.04, (B) no Guarantee by any Restricted Subsidiary of any Junior Financing shall be permitted unless such Restricted Subsidiary shall have also provided a Guarantee of the Loan Document Obligations pursuant to the Guarantee Agreement and (C) if the Indebtedness being Guaranteed is subordinated to the Loan Document Obligations, such Guarantee shall be subordinated to the Guarantee of the Loan Document Obligations on terms at least as favorable to the Lenders as those contained in the subordination of such Indebtedness;

(iv) Indebtedness (A) of any Loan Party owing to any other Loan Party, (B) of any Loan Party owing to any Restricted Subsidiary that is a non-Loan Party and (C) of any Restricted Subsidiary that is a non-Loan Party owing to any Loan Party; provided that Indebtedness incurred pursuant to subclause (C) shall only be permitted to the extent such Indebtedness (i) is related to ordinary course accounts payable and other intercompany cash management and/or servicing requirements, (ii) is related to funding for any Permitted Acquisition or other Investment permitted hereunder or (iii) does not exceed the greater of $85,000,000 and 35% of Consolidated EBITDA for the most recently ended Test Period as of such time determined on a Pro Forma Basis;

(v) (A) Indebtedness (including Capital Lease Obligations) of the Parent Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries financing the acquisition, construction, repair, replacement or improvement of fixed or capital assets (including all real or personal property, and whether through the direct purchase of property or any Person owning such property); provided that such Indebtedness is incurred concurrently with or within 270 days after the applicable acquisition, construction, repair, replacement or improvement; provided, further, that, at the time of any such incurrence of Indebtedness and after giving Pro Forma Effect thereto and the use of the proceeds thereof, the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness that is outstanding in reliance on this subclause (A) shall not exceed the greater of $85,000,000 and 35% of Consolidated EBITDA for the most recently ended Test Period as of such time determined on a Pro Forma Basis, and (B) any Permitted Refinancing of any Indebtedness set forth in the immediately preceding subclause (A);

 

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(vi) Indebtedness in respect of Swap Agreements (other than Swap Agreements entered into for speculative purposes);

(vii) (A) (1) Indebtedness of any Person that becomes a Restricted Subsidiary (or of any Person not previously a Restricted Subsidiary that is merged or consolidated with or into either Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary) after the Effective Date as a result of a Permitted Acquisition or other Investment (and any guarantee of such Indebtedness by a Subsidiary of such Person), (2) Indebtedness of any Person that is assumed by either Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary in connection with an acquisition of assets by either Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary in a Permitted Acquisition or other Investment, (3) any guarantee of Indebtedness described in the foregoing clauses (1) and (2) by any Person that so becomes a Restricted Subsidiary, that is the survivor of a merger or consolidation with such Person or that is a Subsidiary of such Person; provided that such Indebtedness (or guarantee thereof) is not incurred in contemplation of such Permitted Acquisition or other Investment; provided, further, that after giving effect to the incurrence of any such Indebtedness pursuant to this clause (vii), on a Pro Forma Basis, the Total Leverage Ratio is equal to or less than the greater of (x) 5.00 to 1.00 or (y) the Total Leverage Ratio in effect immediately prior to the incurrence of such Indebtedness;

(viii) [reserved];

(ix) Indebtedness representing deferred compensation to employees and other service providers of the Parent Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries incurred in the ordinary course of business;

(x) Indebtedness consisting of unsecured promissory notes issued by the Borrowers or any Restricted Subsidiary to current or former officers, directors and employees or their respective estates, spouses or former spouses to finance the purchase or redemption of Equity Interests of the Parent Borrower (or any direct or indirect parent thereof) permitted by Section 6.08(a);

(xi) Indebtedness constituting indemnification obligations or obligations in respect of purchase price or other similar adjustments (including “earn out” or similar obligations and mark to market adjustments with respect to the foregoing) incurred in connection with the Transactions or any Permitted Acquisition, any other Investment or any Disposition, in each case permitted under this Agreement;

(xii) Indebtedness consisting of obligations under deferred compensation or other similar arrangements incurred in connection with the Transactions or any Permitted Acquisition or other Investment permitted hereunder;

(xiii) Cash Management Obligations and other Indebtedness in respect of netting services, overdraft protections and similar arrangements and Indebtedness arising from the honoring of a bank or other financial institution of a check, draft or similar instrument drawn against insufficient funds, (including Indebtedness owed on a short term basis of no longer than 30 days to banks and other financial institutions incurred in the ordinary course of business of the Parent Borrower and their Restricted Subsidiaries with such banks or financial institutions that arises in connection with ordinary banking arrangements to manage cash balances of the Parent Borrower and their Restricted Subsidiaries);

(xiv) Indebtedness of the Parent Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries; provided that at the time of the incurrence thereof and after giving Pro Forma Effect thereto, the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness outstanding in reliance on this clause (xiv) shall not exceed the greater of $60,000,000 and 25% of Consolidated EBITDA for the most recently ended Test Period as of such time determined on a Pro Forma Basis;

 

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(xv) Indebtedness consisting of (A) the financing of insurance premiums or (B) take-or-pay obligations contained in supply arrangements, in each case in the ordinary course of business;

(xvi) Indebtedness incurred by the Parent Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries in respect of letters of credit, bank guarantees, bankers’ acceptances or similar instruments issued or created, or related to obligations or liabilities incurred, in the ordinary course of business, including in respect of workers compensation claims, health, disability or other employee benefits or property, casualty or liability insurance or self-insurance or other reimbursement-type obligations regarding workers compensation claims;

(xvii) obligations in respect of performance, bid, appeal and surety bonds and performance, bankers’ acceptance facilities and completion guarantees and similar obligations provided by the Parent Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries or obligations in respect of letters of credit, bank guarantees or similar instruments related thereto, in each case in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice;

(xviii) Indebtedness of the Parent Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries consisting of guarantees of the obligations of any Person (other than wholly-owned Subsidiaries) of which either Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary owns any Equity Interest; provided that at the time of the incurrence thereof and after giving Pro Forma Effect thereto, the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness outstanding in reliance on this clause (xviii) shall not exceed the greater of $60,000,000 and 25% of Consolidated EBITDA for the most recently ended Test Period as of such time determined on a Pro Forma Basis;

(xix) (A) Indebtedness of the Parent Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries; provided that, after giving effect to the incurrence of such Indebtedness (and any Permitted Acquisition or other permitted Investment consummated in connection therewith) on a Pro Forma Basis, the Total Leverage Ratio is equal to or less than either (x) 5.00 to 1.00 or (y) if such Indebtedness is incurred in connection with a Permitted Acquisition or other permitted Investment, the greater of (I) the Total Leverage Ratio in effect immediately prior to the incurrence of such Indebtedness and (II) 5.00 to 1.00 and (B) any Permitted Refinancing of Indebtedness incurred pursuant to the foregoing subclause (A); provided further that (x) to the extent constituting Material Indebtedness, the final maturity date with respect to such Indebtedness (other than with respect to and Customary Bridge Loans) shall be no earlier than the Latest Maturity Date and (y) the amount of Indebtedness that may be incurred by non-Loan Parties pursuant to this clause (xix) shall not exceed the greater of $85,000,000 and 35% of Consolidated EBITDA for the most recently ended Test Period as of such time determined on a Pro Forma Basis;

(xx) Indebtedness supported by a letter of credit issued pursuant to this Agreement or any other letter of credit, bank guarantee or similar instrument permitted by this Section 6.01(a), in a principal amount not to exceed the face amount of such letter of credit, bank guarantee or such other instrument

(xxi) Permitted Unsecured Refinancing Debt and any Permitted Refinancing thereof;

(xxii) Permitted First Priority Refinancing Debt and Permitted Second Priority Refinancing Debt, and, in each case, any Permitted Refinancing thereof;

(xxiii) [reserved];

(xxiv) (A) Indebtedness of the Borrowers or any Subsidiary Loan Party issued in lieu of Incremental Facilities (such Indebtedness incurred under this clause (xxiii), “Incremental Equivalent Debt”) consisting of secured or unsecured loans, bonds, notes or debentures; provided that (x) the aggregate principal amount of Incremental Equivalent Debt incurred pursuant to this clause (xxiii), together with the aggregate outstanding principal amount of Incremental Facilities at such time, shall not exceed the Incremental Cap at the time of incurrence of such Incremental Equivalent Debt and (y) such Indebtedness complies with the Required Additional Debt Terms (other than with respect to clause (d) of the definition

 

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of “Required Additional Debt Terms”) (provided that, except as set forth in this subclause (y) or sub-clause (x) above, for the avoidance of doubt, the terms and conditions applicable to Incremental Facilities set forth in Section 2.20 shall not apply with respect to Incremental Equivalent Debt) and (B) any Permitted Refinancing of Indebtedness incurred pursuant to the foregoing clause (A);

(xxv) (A) Indebtedness in an aggregate principal amount, measured at the time of incurrence and after giving Pro Forma Effect thereto and the use of the proceeds thereof, not to exceed 100% of the aggregate amount of direct or indirect equity investments in cash or Permitted Investments in the form of common Equity Interests or Qualified Equity Interests (excluding, for the avoidance of doubt, any Cure Amounts) received by the Parent Borrower or any parent entity thereof (to the extent contributed to the Parent Borrower in the form of common Equity Interests or Qualified Equity Interests) after the Effective Date to the extent not included within the Available Equity Amount or applied to increase any other basket hereunder and (B) any Permitted Refinancing of Indebtedness incurred pursuant to the foregoing clause (A);

(xxvi) Indebtedness of any Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party; provided that the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness of which the primary obligor or a guarantor is a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party outstanding in reliance on this clause (xxv) shall not exceed, at the time of incurrence thereof and after giving Pro Forma Effect thereto, the greater of $60,000,000 and 25% of Consolidated EBITDA for the most recently ended Test Period as of such time determined on a Pro Forma Basis;

(xxvii) (A) Indebtedness of the Borrowers or any Restricted Subsidiary incurred to finance a Permitted Acquisition or other Investment; provided that after giving effect to the incurrence of such Indebtedness (and any Permitted Acquisition or other permitted Investment consummated in connection therewith) on a Pro Forma Basis (and without netting any cash proceeds of such incurrence), the Total Leverage Ratio (recomputed as of the last day of the most recently ended fiscal quarter of the Parent Borrower for which financial statements are internally available) (i) is equal to or less than either (i) 5.00 to 1.00 or (ii) the greater of (I) the Total Leverage Ratio in effect immediately prior to the incurrence of such Indebtedness and (II) 5.00 to 1.00 and (B) any Permitted Refinancing of Indebtedness incurred pursuant to the foregoing subclause (A);

(xxviii) Indebtedness in the form of Capital Lease Obligations arising out of any Sale Leaseback and any Permitted Refinancing thereof;

(xxix) (A) Indebtedness of the Parent Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary in an aggregate amount at the time of incurrence thereof and after giving Pro Forma Effect thereto not to exceed the Available RP Capacity Amount and (B) any Permitted Refinancing of Indebtedness incurred pursuant to the foregoing clause (A);

(xxx) unfunded pension fund and other employee benefit plan obligations and liabilities to the extent that they are permitted to remain unfunded under applicable law;

(xxxi) all premiums (if any), interest (including post-petition interest and interest paid in kind), fees, expenses, charges and additional or contingent interest on obligations described in clauses (i) through (xxx) above;

(xxxii) (A) Indebtedness of the Parent Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary in an aggregate amount at the time of incurrence thereof and after giving Pro Forma Effect thereto not to exceed the Available Amount that is Not Otherwise Applied as in effect immediately prior to the time of such incurrence, (B) Indebtedness of the Parent Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary in an amount not to exceed the Available Equity Amount that is Not Otherwise Applied as in effect immediately prior to the time of such incurrence and (C) any Permitted Refinancing of Indebtedness incurred pursuant to the foregoing clauses (A) and (B); and

 

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(xxxiii) (A) the Senior 2026 Notes and (B) the Cree Notes.

Accrual of interest or dividends, the accretion of accreted value, the accretion or amortization of original issue discount and the payment of interest or dividends in the form of additional Indebtedness or Disqualified Equity Interests will not be deemed to be an incurrence of Indebtedness or Disqualified Equity Interests for purposes of this covenant.

SECTION 6.02 Liens. The Parent Borrower will not, and will not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, create, incur, assume or permit to exist any Lien securing debt for borrowed money, except:

(i) Liens created under the Loan Documents;

(ii) Permitted Encumbrances;

(iii) Liens existing on the Effective Date; provided that any Lien securing Indebtedness or other obligations in excess of $15,000,000 individually shall only be permitted if set forth on Schedule 6.02, and any modifications, replacements, renewals or extensions thereof; provided that (A) such modified, replacement, renewal or extension Lien does not extend to any additional property other than (i) after-acquired property that is affixed or incorporated into the property covered by such Lien and (ii) proceeds and products thereof, and (B) the obligations secured or benefited by such modified, replacement, renewal or extension Lien are permitted by Section 6.01;

(iv) Liens securing Indebtedness permitted under Section 6.01(a)(v) or (xxviv); provided that (A) such Liens attach concurrently with or within 270 days after the acquisition, repair, replacement, construction or improvement (as applicable) of the property subject to such Liens, (B) such Liens do not at any time encumber any property other than the property financed by such Indebtedness, except for accessions to such property and the proceeds and the products thereof, and any lease of such property (including accessions thereto) and the proceeds and products thereof and (C) with respect to Capital Lease Obligations, such Liens do not at any time extend to or cover any assets (except for accessions to or proceeds of such assets) other than the assets subject to such Capital Lease Obligations; provided, further, that individual financings of equipment provided by one lender may be cross collateralized to other financings of equipment provided by such lender;

(v) leases, licenses, subleases, sublicenses or covenants not to sue granted to others (whether or not on an exclusive or non-exclusive basis) that are entered into in the ordinary course of business or that do not (A) interfere in any material respect with the business of the Parent Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a whole or (B) secure any Indebtedness;

(vi) 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;

(vii) Liens (A) of a collection bank arising under Section 4-210 of the Uniform Commercial Code on items in the course of collection and (B) in favor of a banking institution arising as a matter of law encumbering deposits (including the right of setoff) and that are within the general parameters customary in the banking industry;

(viii) Liens (A) on cash advances or escrow deposits in favor of the seller of any property to be acquired in an Investment permitted pursuant to Section 6.04 to be applied against the purchase price for such Investment or otherwise in connection with any escrow arrangements with respect to any such Investment or any Disposition permitted under Section 6.05 (including any letter of intent or purchase agreement with respect to such Investment or Disposition), (B) consisting of an agreement to dispose of any property in a Disposition permitted under Section 6.05, in each case, solely to the extent such Investment or Disposition, as the case may be, would have been permitted on the date of the creation of such Lien or (C) with respect to escrow deposits consisting of the proceeds of Indebtedness (and related interest and fee amounts) otherwise permitted pursuant to Section 6.01 in connection with Customary Escrow Provisions financing, and contingent on the consummation of any Investment, Disposition or Restricted Payment permitted by Section 6.04, Section 6.05 or Section 6.08;

 

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(ix) Liens granted by any Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party; provided that the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness of which the primary obligor or a guarantor is a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party outstanding secured by Liens in reliance on this clause (ix) shall not exceed, at the time of incurrence thereof and after giving Pro Forma Effect thereto, the greater of $60,000,000 and 25% of Consolidated EBITDA for the most recently ended Test Period as of such time determined on a Pro Forma Basis;

(x) Liens granted by a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party in favor of any Loan Party, Liens granted by a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party in favor of Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party and Liens granted by a Loan Party in favor of any other Loan Party;

(xi) Liens existing on property at the time of its acquisition or existing on the property of any Person at the time such Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary (including by the designation of an Unrestricted Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary), in each case after the Effective Date; provided that (A) such Lien was not created in contemplation of such acquisition or such Person becoming a Restricted Subsidiary and (B) such Lien does not extend to or cover any other assets or property (other than, with respect to such Person, any replacements of such property or assets and additions and accessions, proceeds and products thereto, after-acquired property subject to a Lien securing Indebtedness and other obligations incurred prior to such time and which Indebtedness and other obligations are permitted hereunder that require or include, pursuant to their terms at such time, a pledge of after-acquired property of such Person, and the proceeds and the products thereof and customary security deposits in respect thereof and in the case of multiple financings of equipment provided by any lender, other equipment financed by such lender, it being understood that such requirement shall not be permitted to apply to any property to which such requirement would not have applied but for such acquisition);

(xii) any interest or title of a lessor under leases (other than leases constituting Capital Lease Obligations) entered into by the Parent Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business;

(xiii) Liens arising out of conditional sale, title retention, consignment or similar arrangements for sale or purchase of goods by the Parent Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business;

(xiv) Liens deemed to exist in connection with Investments in repurchase agreements permitted under clause (e) of the definition of the term “Permitted Investments”;

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

(xvi) Liens that are contractual rights of setoff (A) relating to the establishment of depository relations with banks not given in connection with the incurrence of Indebtedness, (B) relating to pooled deposit or sweep accounts to permit satisfaction of overdraft or similar obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business of the Parent Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries or (C) relating to purchase orders and other agreements entered into with customers of the Parent Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary in the ordinary course of business;

(xvii) ground leases in respect of real property on which facilities owned or leased by the Parent Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries are located;

(xviii) Liens on insurance policies and the proceeds thereof securing the financing of the premiums with respect thereto;

 

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(xix) Liens on the Collateral (A) securing Permitted First Priority Refinancing Debt, (B) securing Permitted Second Priority Refinancing Debt, (C) securing Incremental Equivalent Debt and (D) securing Indebtedness permitted pursuant to Section 6.01(a)(xxv), (xxvii), (xxxii); provided that (x) in the case of clause (B), such Liens do not secure Consolidated First Lien Debt and (y) in the case of clauses (B), (C) and (D), if such Liens are consensual Liens that are secured by the Collateral, such Indebtedness shall be subject to a First Lien Intercreditor Agreement or a Second Lien Intercreditor Agreement, as applicable;

(xx) other Liens; provided that at the time of incurrence of the obligations secured thereby (after giving Pro Forma Effect to any such obligations) the aggregate outstanding face amount of obligations secured by Liens existing in reliance on this clause (xx) shall not exceed the greater of $60,000,000 and 25% of Consolidated EBITDA for the most recently ended Test Period as of such time determined on a Pro Forma Basis;

(xxi) Liens on cash and Permitted Investments used to satisfy or discharge Indebtedness; provided such satisfaction or discharge is permitted hereunder;

(xxii) Liens on receivables and related assets incurred in connection with Permitted Receivables Financings;

(xxiii) (A) receipt of progress payments and advances from customers in the ordinary course of business to the extent the same creates a Lien on the related inventory and proceeds thereof and (B) Liens on specific items of inventory or other goods and proceeds of any Person securing such Person’s obligations in respect of bankers’ acceptances issued or created for the account of such Person to facilitate the purchase, shipment, or storage of such inventory or other goods in the ordinary course of business;

(xxiv) Liens on cash or Permitted Investments securing Swap Agreements in the ordinary course of business in accordance with applicable Requirements of Law;

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

(xxvi) security given to a public utility or any municipality or governmental authority when required by such utility or authority in connection with the operations of such Person in the ordinary course of business;

(xxvii) Liens on Escrowed Proceeds for the benefit of the related holders of Escrowed Obligations (or the underwriters, trustee, escrow agent or arrangers thereof) or on cash set aside at the time of the incurrence of any Escrowed Obligations to be used to pay accrued interest thereon and any redemption premiums and other amounts thereon;

(xxviii) (A) Liens on Equity Interests in joint ventures; provided that any such Lien is in favor of a creditor of such joint venture and such creditor is not an Affiliate of any partner to such joint venture and (B) purchase options, call, and similar rights of, and restrictions for the benefit of, a third party with respect to Equity Interests held by the Parent Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary in joint ventures;

(xxix) [reserved];

(xxx) Liens securing (A) Indebtedness permitted pursuant to Section 6.01(a)(vii) and Section 6.01(a)(xxv) and (B) any Permitted Refinancing of any of the foregoing; provided that, if such Liens are consensual Liens that are secured by the Collateral, such Indebtedness shall be subject to a First Lien Intercreditor Agreement or a Second Lien Intercreditor Agreement, as applicable; and

(xxxi) grants of software, technology and other intellectual property licenses.

 

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SECTION 6.03 Fundamental Changes. The Parent Borrower will not, and will not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, merge into or consolidate or amalgamate with any other Person, or permit any other Person to merge into or consolidate with it, or liquidate or dissolve (including, in each case, pursuant to a Division), except that:

(a) any Restricted Subsidiary may merge, consolidate or amalgamate with (x) either Borrower; provided that such Borrower shall be the continuing or surviving Person or (y) any one or more other Restricted Subsidiaries; provided that when any Subsidiary Loan Party is merging, consolidating or amalgamating with another Restricted Subsidiary either (A) the continuing or surviving Person shall be a Subsidiary Loan Party or (B) if the continuing or surviving Person is not a Subsidiary Loan Party, the acquisition of such Subsidiary Loan Party by such surviving Restricted Subsidiary is permitted under Section 6.04;

(b) any Restricted Subsidiary may liquidate or dissolve or change its legal form if the Parent Borrower determines in good faith that such action is in the best interests of the Parent Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries and is not materially disadvantageous to the Lenders;

(c) any Restricted Subsidiary may make a Disposition of all or substantially all of its assets (upon voluntary liquidation or otherwise) to the Parent Borrower or another Restricted Subsidiary; provided that if the transferor in such a transaction is a Loan Party, then either (A) the transferee must be a Loan Party, (B) to the extent constituting an Investment, such Investment must be an Investment in a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party permitted by Section 6.04 or (C) to the extent constituting a Disposition to a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party, such Disposition is for Fair Market Value and any promissory note or other non-cash consideration received in respect thereof is an Investment in a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party permitted by Section 6.04;

(d) the Parent Borrower may merge, amalgamate or consolidate with any other Person; provided that (A) the Parent Borrower shall be the continuing or surviving Person or (B) if the Person formed by or surviving any such merger, amalgamation or consolidation is not the Parent Borrower (any such Person, the “Successor Borrower”), (1) a Successor Borrower shall be an entity organized, existing or incorporated under the laws of the Cayman Islands or the United States, (2) a Successor Borrower shall expressly assume all the obligations of the Parent Borrower under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents to which the Parent Borrower is a party pursuant to a supplement hereto or thereto in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, (3) each Loan Party other than the Parent Borrower, unless it is the other party to such merger, amalgamation or consolidation, shall have reaffirmed, pursuant to an agreement in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, that its Guarantee of, and grant of any Liens as security for, the Secured Obligations shall apply to a Successor Borrower’s obligations under this Agreement and (4) the Parent Borrower shall have delivered to the Administrative Agent a certificate of a Responsible Officer and an opinion of counsel, each stating that such merger, amalgamation or consolidation complies with this Agreement; provided, further, that (x) if such Person is not a Loan Party, no Event of Default exists after giving effect to such merger, amalgamation or consolidation and (y) if the foregoing requirements are satisfied, a Successor Borrower will succeed to, and be substituted for, the Parent Borrower under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents; provided, further, that the Parent Borrower agrees to use commercially reasonable efforts to provide any documentation and other information about such Successor Borrower as shall have been reasonably requested in writing by any Lender through the Administrative Agent that such Lender shall have reasonably determined is required by regulatory authorities under applicable “know your customer” and anti-money laundering rules and regulations, including Title III of the USA Patriot Act and the Beneficial Ownership Regulation;

(e) any Restricted Subsidiary may merge, consolidate or amalgamate with any other Person in order to effect an Investment permitted pursuant to Section 6.04; provided that the continuing or surviving Person shall be a Restricted Subsidiary, which together with each of the Restricted Subsidiaries, shall have complied with the requirements of Sections 5.11 and 5.12; and

 

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(f) any Restricted Subsidiary may effect a merger, dissolution, liquidation consolidation or amalgamation to effect a Disposition permitted pursuant to Section 6.05.

SECTION 6.04 Investments, Loans, Advances, Guarantees and Acquisitions. The Parent Borrower will not, and will not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, make or hold any Investment, except:

(a) Permitted Investments at the time such Permitted Investment is made;

(b) loans or advances to officers, directors and employees of the Parent Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries (i) for reasonable and customary business-related travel, entertainment, relocation and analogous ordinary business purposes, (ii) in connection with such Person’s purchase of Equity Interests in the Parent Borrower (or any direct or indirect parent thereof) (provided that the amount of such loans and advances made in cash to such Person shall be contributed to the Parent Borrower in cash as common equity or Qualified Equity Interests) and (iii) for purposes not described in the foregoing clauses (i) and (ii); provided that at the time of incurrence thereof and after giving Pro Forma Effect thereto, the aggregate principal amount outstanding in reliance on this clause (iii) shall not exceed the greater of $12,000,000 and 5% of Consolidated EBITDA for the most recently ended Test Period;

(c) Investments by the Parent Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary in the Parent Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary; provided that Investments by the Loan Parties in Restricted Subsidiaries that are not Loan Parties pursuant to this clause (c) shall either be (i) in an aggregate amount not to exceed the greater of $50,000,000 or 20% of Consolidated EBITDA for the most recently ended Test Period as of such time determined on a Pro Forma Basis, (ii) part of a series of transactions that results in the proceeds of the intercompany investments ultimately being invested in (or distributed to) either Borrower or any Guarantor, (iii) intercompany investments, reorganizations and related activities related to tax planning and reorganization so long as after giving effect thereto, the value of the Guarantees and the security interest of the Lenders in the Collateral, taken as a whole, is not impaired in any material respect, (iv) related to ordinary course accounts payable and other intercompany cash management and/or servicing requirements consistent with past practice or (v) related to funding for any Permitted Acquisition or other Investment permitted hereunder.

(d) Investments consisting of prepayments to suppliers in the ordinary course of business;

(e) Investments consisting of extensions of trade credit in the ordinary course of business;

(f) Investments (i) existing or contemplated on the Effective Date and, if such Investment is in excess of $15,000,000 individually, set forth on Schedule 6.04(f) and any modification, replacement, renewal, reinvestment or extension thereof and (ii) Investments existing on the date hereof by the Parent Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary in the Parent Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary and any modification, renewal or extension thereof; provided that the amount of the original Investment is not increased except by the terms of such Investment to the extent as set forth on Schedule 6.04(f) or as otherwise permitted by this Section 6.04;

(g) Investments in Swap Agreements permitted under Section 6.01;

(h) promissory notes and other non-cash consideration received in connection with Dispositions permitted by Section 6.05;

(i) Permitted Acquisitions;

(j) the Transactions;

(k) Investments in the ordinary course of business consisting of endorsements for collection or deposit and customary trade arrangements with customers consistent with past practices;

 

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(l) Investments (including debt obligations and Equity Interests) received in connection with the bankruptcy or reorganization of suppliers and customers, from financially troubled account debtors or in settlement of delinquent obligations of, or other disputes with, customers and suppliers or upon the foreclosure with respect to any secured Investment or other transfer of title with respect to any secured Investment;

(m) loans and advances to the Parent Borrower (or any direct or indirect parent thereof) in lieu of, and not in excess of the amount of (after giving effect to any other loans, advances or Restricted Payments in respect thereof), Restricted Payments to the extent permitted to be made to the Parent Borrower (or such parent) in accordance with Section 6.08(a);

(n) other Investments and other acquisitions (i) so long as, at the time any such Investment or other acquisition is made, the aggregate outstanding amount of all Investments made in reliance on this clause (n)(i) together with the aggregate amount of all consideration paid in connection with all other Investments and acquisitions made in reliance on this clause (n)(i) shall not exceed the greater of $75,000,000 and 30% of Consolidated EBITDA for the most recently ended Test Period as of such time determined on a Pro Forma Basis; provided that this clause (n)(i) shall not be used for Investments and other acquisitions in Unrestricted Subsidiaries, (ii) in an amount not to exceed the Available Amount that is Not Otherwise Applied as in effect immediately prior to the time of making of such Investment, (iii) in an amount not to exceed the Available Equity Amount that is Not Otherwise Applied as in effect immediately prior to the time of making of such Investment and (iv) in an amount not to exceed the Available RP Capacity Amount as in effect immediately prior to the time of making of such Investment;

(o) [reserved];

(p) advances of payroll and other payments to employees and contractors in the ordinary course of business;

(q) Investments and other acquisitions to the extent that payment for such Investments is made with Qualified Equity Interests (excluding Cure Amounts) of the Parent Borrower (or any direct or indirect parent thereof); provided that (i) such amounts used pursuant to this clause (q) shall not increase the Available Equity Amount or be applied to increase any other basket hereunder and (ii) any amounts used for such an Investment or other acquisition that are not Qualified Equity Interests of the Parent Borrower (or any direct or indirect parent thereof) shall otherwise be permitted pursuant to this Section 6.04;

(r) Investments of a Subsidiary acquired after the Effective Date or of a Person merged or consolidated with any Subsidiary in accordance with this Section and Section 6.03 after the Effective Date to the extent that such Investments were not made in contemplation of or in connection with such acquisition, merger or consolidation and were in existence on the date of such acquisition, merger or consolidation;

(s) non-cash Investments in connection with tax planning and reorganization activities; provided that after giving effect to any such activities, the security interests of the Lenders in the Collateral, taken as a whole, would not be materially impaired;

(t) Investments consisting of Liens, Indebtedness, fundamental changes, Dispositions, Restricted Payments and prepayments, purchases and redemptions of Indebtedness permitted under Section 6.01, 6.02, 6.03, 6.05 and 6.08, respectively, in each case, other than by reference to this Section 6.04(t);

(u) additional Investments; provided that (i) after giving effect to such Investment on a Pro Forma Basis, the Total Leverage Ratio is less than or equal to 3.00 to 1.00 and (ii) no Event of Default exists or would result therefrom;

 

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(v) contributions to a “rabbi” trust for the benefit of employees, directors, consultants, independent contractors or other service providers or other grantor trust subject to claims of creditors in the case of a bankruptcy of the Parent Borrower;

(w) to the extent that they constitute Investments, purchases and acquisitions of inventory, supplies, materials or equipment or purchases, acquisitions, licenses or leases of other assets, Intellectual Property, or other rights, in each case in the ordinary course of business;

(x) Investments by an Unrestricted Subsidiary entered into prior to the day such Unrestricted Subsidiary is redesignated as a Restricted Subsidiary pursuant to the definition of “Unrestricted Subsidiary”;

(y) Investments by a captive insurance subsidiary in accordance with any investment policy or any insurance statutes or regulations applicable to it;

(z) Investments in connection with the Transactions;

(aa) Investments in any Person of which the Borrowers or any Restricted Subsidiary owns any Equity Interest; provided that at the time any such Investment is made, the aggregate outstanding amount of all Investments made in reliance on this clause (aa) together with the aggregate amount of all consideration paid in connection with all other Investments made in reliance on this clause (aa), shall not exceed the greater of (A) $60,000,000 and (B) 25% of Consolidated EBITDA for the most recently ended Test Period as of such time determined on a Pro Forma Basis;

(bb) Investments in Unrestricted Subsidiaries; provided that at the time any such Investment is made, the aggregate outstanding amount of all Investments made in reliance on this clause (bb) together with the aggregate amount of all consideration paid in connection with all other Investments made in reliance on this clause (bb), shall not exceed the greater of (A) $36,000,000 and (B) 15% of Consolidated EBITDA for the most recently ended Test Period as of such time determined on a Pro Forma Basis;

(aa) Investments in Subsidiaries in the form of receivables and related assets required in connection with a Permitted Receivables Financing (including the contribution or lending of cash and cash equivalents to Subsidiaries to finance the purchase of such assets from the Parent Borrower or other Restricted Subsidiaries or to otherwise fund required reserves);

(dd) guarantees by the Parent Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries of leases (other than Capitalized Leases), contracts or of other obligations of the Parent Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary that do not constitute Indebtedness, in each case entered into in the ordinary course of business; and

(ee) to the extent constituting an Investment, advances in respect of transfer pricing and cost-sharing arrangements (i.e., “cost-plus” arrangements) that are in the ordinary course of business;

SECTION 6.05 Asset Sales. The Parent Borrower will not, and will not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, sell, transfer, lease, license or otherwise dispose of any asset, including any Equity Interest owned by it, nor will the Parent Borrower permit any Restricted Subsidiary to issue any additional Equity Interest in such Restricted Subsidiary (other than issuing directors’ qualifying shares, nominal shares issued to foreign nationals or other Persons to the extent required by applicable Requirements of Law and other than issuing Equity Interests to the Parent Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary in compliance with Section 6.04(c)) (each, a “Disposition”), except:

(a) Dispositions of obsolete or worn out property, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, in the ordinary course of business and Dispositions of property no longer used or useful, or economically practicable to maintain, in the conduct of the business of the Parent Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries (including allowing any Intellectual Property (and any related registration or application) that is no longer used or useful, or economically practicable to maintain, to lapse or go abandoned or be invalidated);

 

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(b) Dispositions of inventory and other assets in the ordinary course of business;

(c) Dispositions of property to the extent that (i) such property is exchanged for credit against the purchase price of similar replacement property, (ii) an amount equal to the Net Proceeds of such Disposition are promptly applied to the purchase price of such replacement property or (iii) such Disposition qualifies for non-recognition treatment under Section 1031 of the Code, or any comparable or successor provision for like-kind property (and any boot thereon) and for use in a Similar Business;

(d) Dispositions of property to the Parent Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary; provided that if the transferor in such a transaction is a Loan Party, then either (i) the transferee must be a Loan Party, (ii) to the extent constituting an Investment, such Investment must be an Investment in a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party permitted by Section 6.04 or (iii) to the extent constituting a Disposition to a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party, such Disposition is for Fair Market Value and any promissory note or other non-cash consideration received in respect thereof is an Investment in a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party permitted by Section 6.04;

(e) Dispositions permitted by Section 6.03, Investments permitted by Section 6.04, Restricted Payments and prepayments, purchases and redemptions of Indebtedness permitted by Section 6.08, Liens permitted by Section 6.02, in each case, other than by reference to this Section 6.05(e);

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

(g) Dispositions of Permitted Investments;

(h) Dispositions of accounts receivable in connection with the settlement, collection or compromise thereof (including sales to factors or other third parties);

(i) leases, subleases, service agreements, covenants not to sue, licenses or sublicenses (including agreements involving the provision of software under an open source license, in copy or as a service, and related data and services), in each case that do not materially interfere with the business of the Parent Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a whole;

(j) transfers of property subject to Casualty Events upon receipt of the Net Proceeds of such Casualty Event;

(k) other Dispositions; provided that (i) such Disposition is made for Fair Market Value and (ii) except in the case of a Permitted Asset Swap, with respect to any Disposition pursuant to this clause (k) for a purchase price in excess of the greater of (x) $12,000,000 and (y) 5% of Consolidated Total Assets for the most recently ended Test Period as of such time determined on a Pro Forma Basis for any transaction or series of related transactions, the Parent Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary shall receive not less than (I) 75% of such consideration in the form of cash or Permitted Investments for each transaction permitted pursuant to this clause (k) since the Effective Date; provided, however, that for the purposes of this clause (ii), (A) the greater of the principal amount and carrying value of any liabilities (as reflected on the most recent balance sheet of the Parent Borrower (or a parent entity) thereof provided hereunder or in the footnotes thereto), or if incurred, accrued or increased subsequent to the date of such balance sheet, such liabilities that would have been reflected on the balance sheet of the Parent Borrower (or a parent entity thereof) provided hereunder or in the footnotes thereto if such incurrence, accrual or increase had taken place on or prior to the date of such balance sheet, as determined in good faith by the Parent Borrower, of the Parent Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary, other than liabilities that are by their terms subordinated in right of payment to the Loan Document Obligations, that are assumed by the transferee of any such assets (or are otherwise extinguished in connection with the transactions relating to such Disposition) pursuant to a written agreement which releases the Parent Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary from such liabilities, (B) any securities received by the Parent Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary from such transferee that are converted by the Parent Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary into cash or Permitted Investments (to the extent of the cash or Permitted Investments received) within 180 days following the closing of the applicable Disposition, shall be

 

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deemed to be cash, (C) the amount of Indebtedness, other than liabilities that are by their terms subordinated to the Loan Document Obligations or any intercompany debt owed to the Parent Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary, that is of any Person, that is no longer a Restricted Subsidiary as a result of such Disposition, to the extent that the Parent Borrower and all Restricted Subsidiaries have been validly released from any guarantee of payment of such Indebtedness in connection with such Disposition, (D) the amount of consideration consisting of Indebtedness of any Loan Party (other than Junior Financing) received after the Effective Date from Persons who are not the Parent Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary and (E) any Designated Non-Cash Consideration received by the Parent Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary in respect of such Disposition having an aggregate Fair Market Value, taken together with all other Designated Non-Cash Consideration received pursuant to this clause (k) that is at that time outstanding, not in excess (at the time of receipt of such Designated Non-Cash Consideration) of the greater of (x) $75,000,000 and (y) 30% of Consolidated EBITDA for the most recently ended Test Period as of such time determined on a Pro Forma Basis, with the Fair Market Value of each item of Designated Non-Cash Consideration being measured at the time received and without giving effect to subsequent changes in value, shall be deemed to be cash;

(l) Dispositions of Investments in joint ventures, including to the extent required by, or made pursuant to customary buy/sell arrangements between, the joint venture parties set forth in joint venture arrangements and similar binding arrangements;

(m) Dispositions of any assets (including Equity Interests) (A) acquired in connection with any Permitted Acquisition or other Investment permitted hereunder, which assets are not used or useful to the core or principal business of the Parent Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries or (B) made to obtain the approval of any applicable antitrust authority in connection with a Permitted Acquisition;

(n) transfers of condemned property as a result of the exercise of “eminent domain” or other similar powers to the respective Governmental Authority or agency that has condemned the same (whether by deed in lieu of condemnation or otherwise), and transfers of property arising from foreclosure or similar action or that have been subject to a casualty to the respective insurer of such real property as part of an insurance settlement;

(o) Dispositions by a captive insurance subsidiary of Investments;

(p) Dispositions of property for Fair Market Value not otherwise permitted under this Section 6.05 having an aggregate purchase price not to exceed the greater of (A) $36,000,000 and (B) 15% of Consolidated EBITDA for the most recently ended Test Period as of such time determined on a Pro Forma Basis;

(q) the sale or discount (with or without recourse) (including by way of assignment or participation) of other receivables (including, without limitation, trade and lease receivables) and related assets in connection with a Permitted Receivables Financing; and

(r) the unwinding of any Swap Obligations or Cash Management Obligations.

SECTION 6.06 [Reserved].

SECTION 6.07 Negative Pledge. The Parent Borrower will not, and will not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, enter into any agreement, instrument, deed or lease that prohibits or limits the ability of any Loan Party to create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Lien upon any of their respective properties or revenues, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, for the benefit of the Secured Parties with respect to the Secured Obligations or under the Loan Documents; provided that the foregoing shall not apply to restrictions and conditions imposed by:

(a) (i) Requirements of Law, (ii) any Loan Document, (iii) any documentation governing a Permitted Receivables Financing, (iv) any documentation governing Incremental Equivalent Debt, (v) any documentation governing Permitted Unsecured Refinancing Debt, Permitted First Priority Refinancing Debt or Permitted Second Priority Refinancing Debt, (vi) any documentation governing Indebtedness incurred pursuant to Sections 6.01(a)(v), 6.01(a)(viii) or 6.01(a)(xxviii) and (vii) any documentation governing any Permitted Refinancing incurred to refinance any such Indebtedness referenced in clauses (i)

 

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through (vi) above; provided, that with respect to Indebtedness (A) referred to in clauses (iv) and (v) above, such restrictions shall be no more restrictive in any material respect than the restrictions and conditions in the Loan Documents or, in the case of Junior Financing, are market terms at the time of issuance and (B) clause (v) above, such restrictions shall not expand the scope in any material respect of any such restriction or condition contained in the Indebtedness being refinanced;

(b) customary restrictions and conditions existing on the Effective Date and any extension, renewal, amendment, modification or replacement thereof, except to the extent any such amendment, modification or replacement expands the scope of any such restriction or condition;

(c) restrictions and conditions contained in agreements relating to the sale of a Subsidiary or any assets pending such sale; provided that such restrictions and conditions apply only to the Subsidiary or assets that is or are to be sold and such sale is permitted hereunder;

(d) customary provisions in leases, service agreements, licenses, sublicenses, covenants not to sue and other contracts restricting the assignment thereof;

(e) restrictions imposed by any agreement relating to secured Indebtedness permitted by this Agreement to the extent such restriction applies only to the property securing such Indebtedness;

(f) any restrictions or conditions set forth in any agreement in effect at any time any Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary (but not any modification or amendment expanding the scope of any such restriction or condition); provided that such agreement was not entered into in contemplation of such Person becoming a Restricted Subsidiary and the restriction or condition set forth in such agreement does not apply to the Parent Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary;

(g) restrictions or conditions in any Indebtedness permitted pursuant to Section 6.01 that is incurred or assumed by Restricted Subsidiaries that are not Loan Parties to the extent such restrictions or conditions are no more restrictive in any material respect than the restrictions and conditions in the Loan Documents or are market terms at the time of issuance and are imposed solely on such Restricted Subsidiary and its Subsidiaries;

(h) restrictions on cash (or Permitted Investments) or other deposits imposed by agreements entered into in the ordinary course of business (or other restrictions on cash or deposits constituting Permitted Encumbrances);

(i) restrictions set forth on Schedule 6.07 and any extension, renewal, amendment, modification or replacement thereof, except to the extent any such amendment, modification or replacement expands the scope of any such restriction or condition;

(j) customary provisions in joint venture agreements and other similar agreements applicable to joint ventures permitted by Section 6.04 and applicable solely to such joint venture; and

(k) customary net worth provisions contained in real property leases entered into by Subsidiaries, so long as the Parent Borrower has determined in good faith that such net worth provisions could not reasonably be expected to impair the ability of the Parent Borrower and its Subsidiaries to meet their ongoing obligations.

SECTION 6.08 Restricted Payments; Certain Payments of Indebtedness.

(a) The Parent Borrower will not, and will not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, pay or make, directly or indirectly, any Restricted Payment, except:

(i) each Restricted Subsidiary may make Restricted Payments to the Parent Borrower or any other Restricted Subsidiary; provided that in the case of any such Restricted Payment by a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a wholly-owned Subsidiary of the Parent Borrower, such Restricted Payment is made to the Parent Borrower, any Restricted Subsidiary and to each other owner of Equity Interests of such Restricted Subsidiary based on their relative ownership interests of the relevant class of Equity Interests;

 

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(ii) the Parent Borrower may declare and make dividend payments or other distributions payable solely in the Equity Interests of the Parent Borrower;

(iii) [reserved];

(iv) repurchases of Equity Interests in the Parent Borrower (or Restricted Payments by the the Parent Borrower to allow repurchases of Equity Interests in the Parent Borrower or any direct or indirect parent of the Parent Borrower), or any Restricted Subsidiary deemed to occur upon exercise of equity options or warrants or other incentive interests if such Equity Interests represent a portion of the exercise price of such equity options or warrants or other incentive interests;

(v) Restricted Payments to the Parent Borrower which the Parent Borrower may use to redeem, acquire, retire or repurchase its Equity Interests (or any options, warrants, restricted stock units or stock appreciation rights or other equity-linked interests issued with respect to any of such Equity Interests) (or to make Restricted Payments to allow any of the Parent Borrower’s direct or indirect parent companies to so redeem, retire, acquire or repurchase their Equity Interests or other such interests) held by current or former officers, managers, consultants, directors and employees and other service providers (or their respective Affiliates, spouses, former spouses, other Permitted Transferees, successors, executors, administrators, heirs, legatees or distributees) of the Parent Borrower (or any direct or indirect parent thereof), the Parent Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries, upon the death, disability, retirement or termination of employment or engagement of any such Person or otherwise in accordance with any equity option or equity appreciation rights plan, any management, director and/or employee equity ownership or incentive plan, equity subscription plan, profits interest, employment termination agreement or any other employment or service agreements with any director, officer or consultant or partnership or equity holders’ agreement; provided that, except with respect to non-discretionary repurchases or net-settlement of “Section 16” equity transactions, the aggregate amount of Restricted Payments permitted by this clause (vi) after the Effective Date, together with the aggregate amount of loans and advances to the Parent Borrower (or any direct or indirect parent thereof) made pursuant to Section 6.04(m) in lieu thereof, shall not, in any fiscal year of the Parent Borrower, exceed the sum of (a) the greater of $40,000,000 and 15% of Consolidated EBITDA for the most recently ended Test Period as of such time determined on a Pro Forma Basis (net of any proceeds from the reissuance or resale of such Equity Interests to another Person received by the Parent Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary), (b) the amount equal to the cash proceeds of key man life insurance policies received by the Parent Borrower or the Restricted Subsidiaries after the Effective Date, and (c) the cash proceeds from the sale of Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Equity Interests) of the Parent Borrower (to the extent contributed to the Parent Borrower in the form of common Equity Interests or Qualified Equity Interests) and, to the extent contributed to the Parent Borrower, the cash proceeds from the sale of Equity Interests of any direct or indirect parent entity thereof or management investment vehicle, in each case to any future, present or former employees, directors, managers or consultants of the Parent Borrower, any of its Subsidiaries or any direct or indirect parent entity thereof or management investment vehicle that occurs after the Effective Date, to the extent the cash proceeds from the sale of such Equity Interests are contributed to the Parent Borrower in the form of common Equity Interests or Qualified Equity Interests and are not Cure Amounts and have not otherwise been applied to the payment of Restricted Payments by virtue of the Available Equity Amount or are otherwise applied to increase any other basket hereunder; provided that any unused portion of the preceding basket calculated pursuant to clauses (a) and (b) above for any fiscal year may be carried forward to succeeding fiscal years; provided, further, that any Indebtedness Incurred or Investments or payments made in reliance upon the Available RP Capacity Amount utilizing the unused amounts available pursuant to this Section 6.08(a)(v) shall reduce the amounts available pursuant to this Section 6.08(a)(v);

 

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(vi) the Restricted Subsidiaries may make Restricted Payments to the Parent Borrower:

(A) the proceeds of which shall be used by the Parent Borrower to pay (or to make Restricted Payments to allow any direct or indirect parent of the Parent Borrower to pay) (1) its operating expenses incurred in the ordinary course of business and other corporate overhead costs and expenses (including administrative, legal, accounting, tax reporting and similar expenses payable to third parties) that are reasonable and customary and incurred in the ordinary course of business and attributable to the ownership or operations of the Borrowers and their respective Subsidiaries, (2) any reasonable and customary indemnification claims made by directors or officers of the Parent Borrower (or any parent thereof) attributable to the ownership or operations of the Parent Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries, (3) fees and expenses (x) due and payable by any of the Parent Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries and (y) otherwise not prohibited to be paid by the Parent Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries under this Agreement and (4) payments that would otherwise be permitted to be paid directly by the Parent Borrower or the Restricted Subsidiaries pursuant to Section 6.09(iii) or (x);

(B) the proceeds of which shall be used by the Parent Borrower to pay (or to make Restricted Payments to allow any direct or indirect parent of the Parent Borrower to pay) franchise and similar Taxes, and other fees and expenses, required to maintain its organizational existence;

(C) the proceeds of which shall be used by the Parent Borrower (or any other direct or indirect parent thereof) to make Restricted Payments of the type permitted by Section 6.08(a)(iii), Section 6.08(a)(v) or Section 6.08(a)(x);

(D) to finance any Investment permitted to be made pursuant to Section 6.04 other than Section 6.04(m); provided that (1) such Restricted Payment shall be made substantially concurrently with the closing of such Investment and (2) the Parent Borrower shall, immediately following the closing thereof, cause (x) all property acquired (whether assets or Equity Interests but not including any loans or advances made pursuant to Section 6.04(b)) to be contributed to the Parent Borrower or the Restricted Subsidiaries or (y) the Person formed or acquired to merge into or consolidate with the Parent Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries to the extent such merger, amalgamation or consolidation is permitted in Section 6.03) in order to consummate such Investment, in each case in accordance with the requirements of Sections 5.11 and 5.12;

(E) the proceeds of which shall be used to pay customary salary, bonus and other benefits payable to officers, employees and other service providers of the Parent Borrower or any direct or indirect parent company of the Parent Borrower to the extent such salaries, bonuses and other benefits are attributable to the ownership or operation of the Parent Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries; and

(F) the proceeds of which shall be used by the Parent Borrower to pay (or to make Restricted Payments to allow any direct or indirect parent thereof to pay) fees and expenses related to any equity offering, debt offering or other non-ordinary course transaction not prohibited by this Agreement (whether or not such offering or other transaction is successful);

(vii) Restricted Payments (A) in an aggregate amount not to exceed, at the time of making any such Restricted Payment and when taken together with the aggregate amount of loans and advances to the Parent Borrower (or any direct or indirect parent thereof) made pursuant to Section 6.04(m) in lieu of Restricted Payments permitted by this clause (viii), not to exceed the sum of (A) the greater of $40,000,000 and 15% of Consolidated EBITDA for the most recently ended Test Period as of such time determined on a Pro Forma Basis plus (B) the Available Amount that is Not Otherwise Applied (provided that, solely with respect to usage of the Starter Basket, after giving effect to such Restricted Payment on a Pro Forma Basis, the Total Leverage Ratio is less than or equal to 4.00 to 1.00) plus (C) the Available Equity Amount that is Not Otherwise Applied; provided that any Indebtedness Incurred or Investments or payments made in reliance upon the Available RP Capacity Amount utilizing the unused amounts available pursuant to this Section 6.08(a)(vii) shall reduce the amounts available pursuant to this Section 6.08(a)(vii);

 

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(viii) redemptions in whole or in part of any of its Equity Interests for another class of its Equity Interests or with proceeds from substantially concurrent equity contributions or issuances of new Equity Interests; provided that such new Equity Interests contain terms and provisions at least as advantageous to the Lenders in all respects material to their interests as those contained in the Equity Interests redeemed thereby;

(ix) (a) payments made or expected to be made in respect of withholding or similar Taxes payable by any future, present or former employee, director, manager, consultant or other service provider and any repurchases of Equity Interests in consideration of such payments including deemed repurchases, in each case, in connection with the exercise of equity options and the vesting of restricted equity and restricted equity units and (b) payments or other adjustments to outstanding Equity Interests in accordance with any management equity plan, equity option plan or any other similar employee benefit plan, agreement or arrangement in connection with any Restricted Payment;

(x) the Parent Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary may (a) pay cash in lieu of fractional Equity Interests in connection with any dividend, split or combination thereof or any Permitted Acquisition (or other similar Investment) and (b) honor any conversion request by a holder of convertible Indebtedness and make cash payments in lieu of fractional shares in connection with any such conversion and may make payments on convertible Indebtedness in accordance with its terms;

(xi) Restricted Payments in an annual amount not to exceed the sum of (a) 6.0% of the net cash proceeds received by or contributed to the Parent Borrower from any follow-on public equity issuance by the Parent Borrower and any follow on offerings plus (b) 7.0% of the market capitalization of Parent Borrower on the date of the declaration of a Restricted Payment in reliance on this clause (xii); provided that any Indebtedness Incurred or Investments or payments made in reliance upon the Available RP Capacity Amount utilizing the unused amounts available pursuant to this Section 6.08(a)(xi) shall reduce the amounts available pursuant to this Section 6.08(a)(xi);

(xii) payments made or expected to be made by the Parent Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary in respect of withholding or similar taxes payable upon exercise of Equity Interests by any future, present or former employee, director, officer, manager, consultant or other service provider (or their respective controlled Affiliates, Immediate Family Members or Permitted Transferees) and any repurchases of Equity Interests deemed to occur upon exercise of stock options or warrants if such Equity Interests represent a portion of the exercise price of such options or warrants or required withholding or similar taxes;

(xiii) additional Restricted Payments; provided that after giving effect to such Restricted Payment (A) on a Pro Forma Basis, the Total Leverage Ratio is less than or equal to 2.50 to 1.00 and (B) there is no continuing Significant Event of Default;

(xiv) [reserved];

(xv) the distribution, by dividend or otherwise, of shares of Equity Interests of, or Indebtedness owed to a Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary by, Unrestricted Subsidiaries (other than Unrestricted Subsidiaries the primary assets of which are Permitted Investments (except to the extent that such Permitted Investments constitute the proceeds of any sale of the assets or equity of any Unrestricted Subsidiary));

(xvi) the Parent Borrower may make Restricted Payments in cash, the proceeds of which shall be used by the Parent Borrower to pay (or to make Restricted Payments to allow any direct or indirect parent of the Parent Borrower to pay), for any taxable period for which the Parent Borrower and/or any of its Subsidiaries are members of a consolidated, combined or unitary tax group for U.S. federal and/or applicable state, local or foreign income Tax purposes (a “Tax Group”) of which the Parent Borrower or a direct or indirect parent of the Parent Borrower is the common parent (or the Parent Borrower is a disregarded entity or partnership directly or indirectly owned by a member or members of such a Tax Group), the portion of any U.S. federal, state, local or foreign Taxes (as applicable) of such Tax Group for

 

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such taxable period that are attributable to the income of the Parent Borrower and/or its applicable Subsidiaries; provided that (a) Restricted Payments made pursuant to this clause (a)(xvi) shall not exceed the Tax liability that the Parent Borrower and/or its applicable Subsidiaries (as applicable) would have incurred were such Taxes determined as if such entity(ies) were a stand-alone taxpayer or a stand-alone group for all relevant taxable periods and (b) Restricted Payments under this clause (a)(xvi) in respect of any Taxes attributable to the income of any Unrestricted Subsidiaries may be made only to the extent that such Unrestricted Subsidiaries have made cash payments for such purpose to the Parent Borrower or its Restricted Subsidiaries; and

(xvii) Restricted Payments to satisfy appraisal or other dissenters’ rights, pursuant to or in connection with a consolidation, amalgamation, merger, transfer of assets or acquisition that complies with Section 6.03 or Section 6.04.

(b) The Parent Borrower will not, and will not permit to Co-Borrower or any Subsidiary Loan Party to, make or pay, directly or indirectly, any payment or other distribution (whether in cash, securities or other property) of principal of or interest on any Junior Financing, or any payment or other distribution (whether in cash, securities or other property), including any sinking fund or similar deposit, on account of the purchase, redemption, retirement, prepayment, defeasance, acquisition, cancellation or termination of any Junior Financing more than one year prior to the scheduled maturity date thereof (any such payment, a “Restricted Debt Payment”), except:

(i) payment of regularly scheduled interest and principal payments as, in the form of payment and when due in respect of any Indebtedness, other than payments in respect of any Junior Financing prohibited by the subordination provisions thereof;

(ii) refinancings of Junior Financing Indebtedness with proceeds of, or in exchange for, other Junior Financing Indebtedness permitted to be incurred under Section 6.01;

(iii) the conversion of any Junior Financing to Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Equity Interests) of the Parent Borrower or any of its direct or indirect parent companies;

(iv) Restricted Debt Payments in an aggregate amount not to exceed the sum of (A) an amount at the time of making any such Restricted Debt Payment and when taken together with the aggregate amount of loans and advances to the Parent Borrower (or any direct or indirect parent thereof) made pursuant to Section 6.04(m) in lieu of Restricted Debt Payments permitted by this clause (iv) and any other Restricted Debt Payments made utilizing this subclause (A), the greater of $40,000,000 and 15% of Consolidated EBITDA for the most recently ended Test Period as of such time determined on a Pro Forma Basis plus (B) the Available Amount that is Not Otherwise Applied plus (C) the Available Equity Amount that is Not Otherwise Applied plus (D) the Available RP Capacity Amount;

(v) Restricted Debt Payments (including prior to their scheduled maturity); provided that after giving effect to such Restricted Debt Payment on a Pro Forma Basis, the Total Leverage Ratio is less than or equal to 2.50 to 1.00; and

(vi) Restricted Debt Payments in respect of (A) the Senior 2026 Notes or (B) the Cree Notes.

(c) The Parent Borrower will not, and will not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, amend or modify any documentation governing any Junior Financing, if the effect of such amendment or modification (when taken as a whole) is materially adverse to the Lenders, other than in connection with (i) a Permitted Refinancing of any such Junior Financing or (ii) in a manner expressly permitted by, or that does not contravene, the applicable intercreditor or subordination terms or agreement(s) governing the relationship between the Lenders, on the one hand, and the lenders or purchasers of the applicable Junior Financing, on the other hand.

 

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Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the foregoing provisions of this Section 6.08 will not prohibit the payment of any Restricted Payment or Restricted Debt Payment within 60 days after the date of declaration thereof or the giving of such irrevocable notice, as applicable, if at the date of declaration or the giving of such notice such payment would have complied with the provisions of this Agreement.

SECTION 6.09 Transactions with Affiliates. The Parent Borrower will not, and will not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, sell, lease or otherwise transfer any property or assets to, or purchase, lease or otherwise acquire any property or assets from, or otherwise engage in any other transactions with, any of its Affiliates, except:

(i) (A) transactions with the Parent Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary and (B) transactions involving aggregate payments or consideration of less than the greater of $12,500,000 and 5% of Consolidated EBITDA for the most recently ended Test Period as of such time determined on a Pro Forma Basis;

(ii) on terms substantially as favorable to the Parent Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary as would be obtainable by such Person at the time in a comparable arm’s-length transaction with a Person other than an Affiliate;

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

(iv) issuances of Equity Interests of Parent Borrower to the extent otherwise permitted by this Agreement;

(v) employment and severance arrangements (including salary or guaranteed payments and bonuses) between the Parent Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries and their respective officers, managers, employees and other service providers in the ordinary course of business or otherwise in connection with the Transactions (including loans and advances pursuant to Sections 6.04(b) and 6.04(p));

(vi) payments by the Parent Borrower (and any direct or indirect parent thereof), the Co-Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries pursuant to tax sharing agreements among the Parent Borrower (and any such parent thereof), the Parent Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries on customary terms to the extent attributable to the ownership or operation of the Parent Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries, to the extent payments are permitted by Section 6.08;

(vii) the payment of customary fees and reasonable out-of-pocket costs to, and indemnities provided on behalf of, directors, officers, managers, employees and other service providers of the Parent Borrower (or any direct or indirect parent company thereof), the Parent Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business to the extent attributable to the ownership or operation of the Parent Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries;

(viii) transactions pursuant to any agreement or arrangement in effect as of the Effective Date and set forth on Schedule 6.09, or any amendment, modification, supplement or replacement thereto (so long as any such amendment, modification, supplement or replacement is not disadvantageous in any material respect to the Lenders when taken as a whole as compared to the applicable agreement or arrangement as in effect on the Effective Date as determined by the Parent Borrower in good faith);

(ix) Restricted Payments permitted under Section 6.08 (and loans and advances made in lieu thereof pursuant to Section 6.04(m));

(x) customary payments by the Parent Borrower and any of the Restricted Subsidiaries made for any financial advisory, consulting, financing, underwriting or placement services or in respect of other investment banking activities (including in connection with acquisitions, divestitures or financings) and any subsequent transaction or exit fee, which payments are approved by the majority of the members of the Board of Directors or a majority of the disinterested members of the Board of Directors of such Person in good faith;

 

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(xi) the issuance or transfer of Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Equity Interests) of the Parent Borrower (or any direct or indirect parent thereof) to any Permitted Holder or to any former, current or future director, manager, officer, employee, consultant or other service provider (or any Affiliate of any of the foregoing) of the Parent Borrower, any of the Subsidiaries or any direct or indirect parent thereof;

(xii) the payment of consulting, advisory and other fees (including transaction fees), indemnities and expenses (plus any unpaid consulting, advisory and other fees (including transaction fees), indemnities and expenses thereunder accrued in any prior year);

(xiii) transactions with any Similar Business otherwise permitted under this Agreement, loans, advances and other transactions between or among the Parent Borrower, any Restricted Subsidiary or any joint venture (regardless of the form of legal entity) after the initial formation of, and investment in, such joint venture in which the Parent Borrower or any Subsidiary has invested (and which Subsidiary or joint venture would not be an Affiliate of the Parent Borrower but for the Parent Borrower’s or a Subsidiary’s ownership of Equity Interests in such joint venture or Subsidiary) to the extent permitted under Article VI;

(xiv) the existence and performance of agreements and transactions with any Unrestricted Subsidiary that were entered into prior to the designation of a Restricted Subsidiary as such Unrestricted Subsidiary to the extent that the transaction was permitted at the time that it was entered into with such Restricted Subsidiary and transactions entered into by an Unrestricted Subsidiary with an Affiliate prior to the redesignation of any such Unrestricted Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary; provided that such transaction was not entered into in contemplation of such designation or redesignation, as applicable;

(xv) transactions undertaken pursuant to membership in a purchasing consortium;

(xvi) the payment of fees and expenses to an Affiliate pursuant to any services agreement for the engagement of the chief executive officer, the chief financial officer or other member of management of the Parent Borrower, the Co-Borrower and their Subsidiaries (or any parent thereof);

(xvii) Affiliate repurchases of the Loans and/or Commitments to the extent permitted hereunder, and the holding of such Loans and the payments and other related transactions in respect thereof; and

(xviii) transactions in connection with any Permitted Receivables Financing.

SECTION 6.10 Financial Covenants. The Parent Borrower will not permit (a) the First Lien Leverage Ratio to exceed 3.00 to 1.00 as of the last day of any Test Period, (b) the Total Leverage Ratio to exceed 5.00 to 1.00 as of the last day of any Test Period; provided that, commencing after the eighth full fiscal quarter after the Effective Date, such Total Leverage Ratio level shall instead be 4.50 to 1.00; provided further that, commencing after the eighth full fiscal quarter after the Effective Date, in connection with any Material Acquisition, at the election of the Borrowers, the maximum Total Leverage Ratio for the next four testing periods after such Material Acquisition has been consummated shall be automatically increased by 0.50 to 1.00 above the otherwise permitted Total Leverage Ratio for the applicable fiscal quarter (not to exceed 5.00 to 1.00 in any event); provided further, that (i) no more than two (2) such elections may be made during the term of this Agreement and (ii) following the first such election, no subsequent election shall be made unless the Total Leverage Ratio has been less than or equal to 5.00 to 1.00 as of the last day of at least two consecutive Test Periods following the expiration of the first increase as set forth herein and (c) the Interest Coverage Ratio to be below 3.00 to 1.00 as of the last day of any Test Period.

 

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ARTICLE VII

EVENTS OF DEFAULT

SECTION 7.01 Events of Default. If any of the following events (any such event, an “Event of Default”) shall occur:

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

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

(c) any representation or warranty made or deemed made by or on behalf of the Parent Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries in or in connection with any Loan Document or any amendment or modification thereof or waiver thereunder, or in any report, certificate, financial statement or other document furnished pursuant to or in connection with any Loan Document or any amendment or modification thereof or waiver thereunder, (i) if qualified by materiality, shall prove to have been incorrect when made or deemed made and (ii) if not qualified by materiality, shall prove to have been incorrect in any material respect when made or deemed made, and, in each case, such incorrect representation or warranty (if curable, including by a restatement of any relevant financial statements) shall remain incorrect for a period of 30 days after notice thereof from the Administrative Agent to the Borrower;

(d) the Parent Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries shall fail to observe or perform any covenant, condition or agreement contained in Sections 5.02(a), 5.04 (with respect to the existence of the Parent Borrower) or in Article VI (other than Section 6.10); provided that subsequent delivery of a notice of Default shall cure such Event of Default for failure to provide notice, unless a Responsible Officer of Parent Borrower had actual knowledge that such Default or Event of Default had occurred and was continuing and reasonably should have known in the course of his or her duties that the failure to provide such notice would constitute an Event of Default; provided further that any Event of Default under Section 6.10 is subject to cure as provided in Section 7.02 and an Event of Default with respect to such Section shall not occur until the expiration of the 15th Business Day subsequent to the date on which the financial statements with respect to the applicable fiscal quarter (or the fiscal year ended on the last day of such fiscal quarter) are required to be delivered pursuant to Section 5.01(a) or Section 5.01(b), as applicable;

(e) any Loan Party shall fail to observe or perform any covenant, condition or agreement contained in any Loan Document (other than those specified in paragraph (a), (b) or (d) of this Section), and such failure shall continue unremedied for a period of 30 days after notice thereof from the Administrative Agent to Parent Borrower;

(f) the Parent Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries shall fail to make any payment (whether of principal or interest and regardless of amount) in respect of any Material Indebtedness, when and as the same shall become due and payable (after giving effect to any applicable grace period); provided further that this clause (f) shall not apply to any breach or default that is (I) remedied by the Parent Borrower or the applicable Restricted Subsidiary or (II) waived (including in the form of amendment) by the required holders of the applicable item of Indebtedness, in the case of (I) and (II), prior to the acceleration of Loans pursuant to this Section 7.01;

(g) any event or condition occurs that results in any Material Indebtedness becoming due prior to its scheduled maturity or that enables or permits (with all applicable grace periods having expired) the holder or holders of any Material Indebtedness or any trustee or agent on its or their behalf to cause any Material Indebtedness to become due, or to require the prepayment, repurchase, redemption or defeasance thereof, prior to its scheduled maturity, provided that this paragraph (g) shall not apply to (i) secured Indebtedness that becomes due as a result of the sale, transfer or other disposition (including as a result of a casualty or condemnation event) of the property or assets securing such Indebtedness (to the extent such sale, transfer or other disposition is not prohibited under this Agreement), (ii) termination events or similar events occurring under any Swap Agreement that constitutes Material Indebtedness (it being understood that paragraph (f) of this Section will apply to any failure to make any payment required as a result of any such termination or similar event) or (iii) any breach or default that is (I) remedied by the Parent Borrower or the applicable Restricted Subsidiary or (II) waived (including in the form of amendment) by the required holders of the applicable item of Indebtedness, in either case, prior to the acceleration of Loans pursuant to this Article VII;

 

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(h) an involuntary proceeding shall be commenced or an involuntary petition shall be filed seeking (i) liquidation, court protection, reorganization or other relief in respect of the Parent Borrower, the Co-Borrower or any Significant Subsidiary or its debts, or of a material part of its assets, under any Federal, state or foreign bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or similar law now or hereafter in effect or (ii) the appointment of a receiver, trustee, custodian, examiner, sequestrator, conservator or similar official for the Parent Borrower, the Co-Borrower or any Significant Subsidiary or for a material part of its assets, and, in any such case, such proceeding or petition shall continue undismissed or unstayed for 60 days or an order or decree approving or ordering any of the foregoing shall be entered;

(i) the Parent Borrower, the Co-Borrower or any Significant Subsidiary shall (i) voluntarily commence any proceeding or file any petition seeking liquidation, court protection, reorganization or other relief under any Federal, state or foreign bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or similar law now or hereafter in effect, (ii) consent to the institution of, or fail to contest in a timely and appropriate manner, any proceeding or petition described in paragraph (h) of this Section, (iii) apply for or consent to the appointment of a receiver, trustee, examiner, custodian, sequestrator, conservator or similar official for the Parent Borrower or any Significant Subsidiary or for a material part of its assets, (iv) file an answer admitting the material allegations of a petition filed against it in any such proceeding or (v) make a general assignment for the benefit of creditors;

(j) one or more enforceable judgments for the payment of money in an aggregate amount in excess of the greater of (a) $50,000,000 and (b) 20% of Consolidated EBITDA for the most recently ended Test Period as of such time determined on a Pro Forma Basis (to the extent not covered by insurance or indemnities as to which the applicable insurance company or third party has not denied its obligation) shall be rendered against the Parent Borrower, any of the Restricted Subsidiaries or any combination thereof and the same shall remain undischarged for a period of 60 consecutive days during which execution shall not be effectively stayed, or any judgment creditor shall legally attach or levy upon assets of such Loan Party that are material to the businesses and operations of the Parent Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, to enforce any such judgment;

(k) (i) an ERISA Event occurs that has resulted or would reasonably be expected to result in liability of any Loan Party under Title IV of ERISA in an aggregate amount that would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, or (ii) any Loan Party or any ERISA Affiliate fails to pay when due, after the expiration of any applicable grace period, any installment payment with respect to its Withdrawal Liability under Section 4201 of ERISA under a Multiemployer Plan that has resulted or would reasonably be expected to result in liability of any Loan Party in an aggregate amount that would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect;

(l) to the extent unremedied for a period of 10 Business Days (solely in respect of a default under subclause (x) of this clause (l)), any Lien purported to be created under any Security Document (x) shall cease to be, or (y) shall be asserted by any Loan Party not to be, a valid and perfected Lien on any material portion of the Collateral, except (i) as a result of the sale or other disposition of the applicable Collateral to a Person that is not a Loan Party in a transaction permitted under the Loan Documents, (ii) as a result of the Collateral Agent’s failure to (A) maintain possession of any stock certificates, promissory notes or other instruments delivered to it under the Security Documents or (B) file Uniform Commercial Code continuation statements, (iii) as to Collateral consisting of real property, to the extent that such losses are covered by a lender’s title insurance policy and such insurer has not denied coverage or (iv) as a result of acts or omissions of the Collateral Agent, the Administrative Agent or any Lender;

(m) any material provision of any Loan Document or any Guarantee of the Loan Document Obligations shall for any reason be asserted by any Loan Party not to be a legal, valid and binding obligation of any Loan Party thereto other than as expressly permitted hereunder or thereunder;

 

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(n) any Guarantees of the Loan Document Obligations by the Parent Borrower, the Co-Borrower or Subsidiary Loan Party pursuant to the Guarantee Agreement shall cease to be in full force and effect (in each case, other than in accordance with the terms of the Loan Documents); or

(o) a Change in Control shall occur;

then, and in every such event (other than an event with respect to Parent Borrower described in paragraph (h) or (i) of this Article), and at any time thereafter during the continuance of such event, the Administrative Agent shall, at the request of, or may, with the consent of, the Required Lenders, by notice to Parent Borrower, take any or all of the following actions, at the same or different times: (i) terminate the applicable Commitments, and thereupon the Commitments shall terminate immediately, (ii) declare the applicable Loans then outstanding to be due and payable in whole (or in part, in which case any principal not so declared to be due and payable may thereafter be declared to be due and payable), and thereupon the principal of the Loans so declared to be due and payable, together with accrued interest thereon and all fees and other obligations of the Borrowers accrued hereunder, shall become due and payable immediately and (iii) require backstop arrangements with respect to LC Exposure or the deposit of cash collateral in respect of LC Exposure as provided in Section 2.05(j), in each case, without presentment, demand, protest or other notice of any kind, all of which are hereby waived by the Borrowers; and in case of any event with respect to the Borrowers described in paragraph (h) or (i) of this Article, the Commitments shall automatically terminate and the principal of the Loans then outstanding, together with accrued interest thereon and all fees and other obligations of the Borrowers accrued hereunder, shall automatically become due and payable, without presentment, demand, protest or other notice of any kind, all of which are hereby waived by the Borrowers.

Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, each Lender and the Administrative Agent hereby acknowledge and agree that (x) a restatement of historical financial statements shall not result in a Default hereunder (whether pursuant to Section 7.01(c) as it relates to a representation made with respect to such financial statements (including any interim unaudited financial statements) or pursuant to Section 7.01(d) as it relates to delivery requirements for financial statements pursuant to Section 5.01) to the extent that such restatement does not reveal any material adverse difference in the financial condition, results of operations or cash flows of Parent Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries in the previously reported information from actual results reflected in such restatement for any relevant prior period and (y) no Event of Default or breach of any representation or warranty in Article III or any covenant in Article V or VI shall constitute a Default or Event of Default if such Event of Default or breach of such representation or warranty in Article III or such covenant in Article V or VI would not have occurred but for a fluctuation (or other adverse change) in currency exchange rates.

SECTION 7.02 Right to Cure. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in Section 7.01, in the event that Parent Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries fail to comply with the requirements of the Financial Performance Covenants as of the last day of any fiscal quarter of Parent Borrower, at any time after the beginning of such fiscal quarter until the expiration of the 15th Business Day following the date on which the financial statements with respect to such fiscal quarter (or the fiscal year ended on the last day of such fiscal quarter) are required to be delivered pursuant to Section 5.01(a) or Section 5.01(b), as applicable, the Parent Borrower or any parent entity thereof shall have the right to issue Qualified Equity Interests for cash or otherwise receive cash contributions to the capital of the Parent Borrower or any parent entity thereof as cash common equity or other Equity Interests in a form reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent (which the Parent Borrower or such parent entity shall contribute through its Subsidiaries of which Parent Borrower is a Subsidiary to Parent Borrower as cash common equity) (collectively, the “Cure Right”), and upon the receipt by the Parent Borrower of the Net Proceeds of such issuance that are Not Otherwise Applied (the “Cure Amount”) pursuant to the exercise by the Parent Borrower of such Cure Right the Financial Performance Covenants shall be recalculated giving effect to the following pro forma adjustment:

(a) Consolidated EBITDA shall be increased with respect to such applicable fiscal quarter and any four fiscal quarter period that contains such fiscal quarter, 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;

 

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(b) if, after giving effect to the foregoing pro forma adjustment (without giving effect to any portion of the Cure Amount on the balance sheet of the Parent Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries with respect to such fiscal quarter only but with giving pro forma effect to any portion of the Cure Amount applied to any repayment of any Indebtedness), the Parent Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries shall then be in compliance with the requirements of the Financial Performance Covenants, the Parent Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries 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 the Financial Performance Covenants that had occurred shall be deemed cured for the purposes of this Agreement; and

(c) Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, (i) in each four consecutive fiscal quarter period of the Parent Borrower there shall be at least two fiscal quarters in which the Cure Right is not exercised, (ii) during the term of this Agreement, the Cure Right shall not be exercised more than five times, (iii) the Cure Amount shall be no greater than the amount required for purposes of complying with the Financial Performance Covenants and any amounts in excess thereof shall not be deemed to be a Cure Amount, (iv) there shall be no pro forma reduction in Indebtedness (by netting or otherwise) with the proceeds of the Cure Amount for determining compliance with the Financial Performance Covenants for the fiscal quarter for which such Cure Amount is deemed applied, except there shall be such a reduction for any fiscal quarter after which such Cured Amount is deemed applied to the extent that such proceeds are actually applied to repay Indebtedness and (v) the Lenders shall not be required to make a Loan or issue, amend, renew or extend any Letter of Credit unless and until the Parent Borrower has received the Cure Amount required to cause the Parent Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries to be in compliance with the Financial Performance Covenants. Notwithstanding any other provision in this Agreement to the contrary, the Cure Amount received pursuant to any exercise of the Cure Right shall be disregarded for purposes of determining the Available Amount, the Available Equity Amount, any financial ratio-based conditions or tests, pricing or any available basket under Article VI of this Agreement.

SECTION 7.03 Application of Proceeds. After the exercise of remedies provided for in Section 7.01, any amounts received on account of the Secured Obligations shall be applied by the Collateral Agent in accordance with Section 4.02 of the Collateral Agreement and/or the similar provisions in the other Security Documents. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Excluded Swap Obligations with respect to any Guarantor shall not be paid with amounts received from such Guarantor or its assets, but appropriate adjustments shall be made with respect to payments from other Loan Parties to preserve the allocation to Secured Obligations otherwise set forth in Section 4.02 of the Collateral Agreement and/or the similar provisions in the other Security Documents. The Administrative Agent shall not be required to verify the payment of, or that other satisfactory arrangements have been made with respect to, Secured Cash Management Obligations or Secured Swap Obligations except to the extent expressly provided herein and unless the Administrative Agent has received written notice of such Secured Obligations, together with such supporting documentation as the Administrative Agent may request, from the applicable Secured Party.

ARTICLE VIII

THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT AND COLLATERAL AGENT

SECTION 8.01 Appointment and Authority. Each of the Lenders and the Issuing Banks hereby irrevocably appoints Citizens Bank, N.A. to serve as Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent under the Loan Documents, and authorizes the Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent to take such actions and to exercise such powers as are delegated to the Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent by the terms of the Loan Documents, together with such actions and powers as are reasonably incidental thereto. The provisions of this Article are solely for the benefit of the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent, the Lenders and the Issuing Banks, and none of the Parent Borrower or any other Loan Party shall have any rights as a third party beneficiary of any such provisions. It is understood and agreed that the use of the term “agent” herein or in any other Loan Documents (or any other similar term) with reference to the Administrative Agent is not intended to connote any fiduciary or other implied (or express) obligations arising under agency doctrine of any applicable law. Instead such term is used as a matter of market custom, and is intended to create or reflect only an administrative relationship between contracting parties. All provisions of this Article VIII applicable to the Administrative Agent shall apply to the Collateral Agent and the Collateral Agent shall be entitled to all the benefits and indemnities applicable to the Administrative Agent under this Agreement.

 

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SECTION 8.02 Rights as a Lender. The Person serving as the Administrative Agent hereunder shall have the same rights and powers in its capacity as a Lender or an Issuing Bank as any other Lender or Issuing Bank and may exercise the same as though it were not the Administrative Agent, and such Person and its Affiliates may accept deposits from, lend money to, act as the financial advisor or in any other advisory capacity for and generally engage in any kind of business with the Parent Borrower or any other Subsidiary or other Affiliate thereof as if such Person were not the Administrative Agent hereunder and without any duty to account therefor to the Lenders.

SECTION 8.03 Exculpatory Provisions. The Administrative Agent, the Joint Bookrunners or the Lead Arrangers, as applicable, shall not have any duties or obligations except those expressly set forth in the Loan Documents. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Administrative Agent, the Joint Bookrunners or the Lead Arrangers, as applicable, (a) shall not be subject to any fiduciary or other implied duties, regardless of whether a Default has occurred and is continuing, (b) shall not have any duty to take any discretionary action or to exercise any discretionary power, except discretionary rights and powers expressly contemplated by the Loan Documents that the Administrative Agent is required to exercise as directed in writing by the Required Lenders (or such other number or percentage of the Lenders as shall be expressly provided for herein or in the other Loan Documents); provided that the Administrative Agent shall not be required to take any action that, in its opinion or the opinion of its counsel, may expose the Administrative Agent to liability or that is contrary to any Loan Document or applicable law, and (c) shall not have any duty or responsibility to disclose, and shall not be liable for the failure to disclose, to any Lender or any Issuing Bank, any credit or other information concerning the business, prospects, operations, property, financial and other condition or creditworthiness of any of the Loan Parties or any of their Affiliate, that is communicated to, obtained or in the possession of, the Administrative Agent, the Joint Bookrunners, the Lead Arrangers or any of their Related Parties in any capacity, except for notices, reports and other documents expressly required to be furnished to the Lenders by the Administrative Agent herein. Neither the Administrative Agent nor any Joint Bookrunner or Lead Arranger shall be liable for any action taken or not taken by it with the consent or at the request of the Required Lenders (or such other number or percentage of the Lenders as shall be necessary, or as the Administrative Agent shall believe in good faith to be necessary, under the circumstances as provided in Section 9.02) or in the absence of its own gross negligence or willful misconduct as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by final and nonappealable judgment. The Administrative Agent shall be deemed not to have knowledge of any Default unless and until written notice thereof is given to the Administrative Agent by the Parent Borrower, a Lender or an Issuing Bank. Neither the Administrative Agent nor any Joint Bookrunner or Lead Arranger shall be responsible for or have any duty to ascertain or inquire into (i) any statement, warranty or representation made in or in connection with any Loan Document, (ii) the contents of any certificate, report or other document delivered thereunder or in connection therewith, (iii) the performance or observance of any of the covenants, agreements or other terms or conditions set forth in any Loan Document or the occurrence of any Default, (iv) the validity, enforceability, effectiveness or genuineness of any Loan Document or any other agreement, instrument or document, (v) the value or the sufficiency of any Collateral or creation, perfection or priority of any Lien purported to be created by the Security Documents or (vi) the satisfaction of any condition set forth in Article IV or elsewhere in any Loan Document, other than to confirm receipt of items expressly required to be delivered to the Administrative Agent. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Administrative Agent shall not have any responsibility or liability (x) arising from any confirmation of the Revolving Exposure or the component amounts thereof or (y) for monitoring or enforcing the list of Disqualified Lenders or for any assignment of any Loan or Commitment or for the sale of any participation, in either case, to a Disqualified Lender.

SECTION 8.04 Reliance by Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent shall be entitled to rely, and shall not incur any liability for relying, upon any notice, request, certificate, consent, statement, instrument, document or other writing (including any electronic message, Internet or intranet website posting or other distribution) believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed, sent or otherwise authenticated by the proper Person (including, if applicable, a Responsible Officer or Financial Officer of such Person). The Administrative Agent also may rely, and shall not incur any liability for relying, upon any statement made to it orally or by telephone and believed by it to be made by the proper Person (including, if applicable, a Financial Officer or a Responsible Officer of such Person). In determining compliance with any condition hereunder to the making of a Loan, or the issuance of a Letter of Credit, that by its terms must be fulfilled to the satisfaction of a Lender or the Issuing Bank, the Administrative Agent may presume that such condition is satisfactory to such Lender or the Issuing Bank unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice to the contrary from such Lender or the Issuing Bank prior to the making of such Loan or the issuance of such Letter of Credit. The Administrative Agent may consult with legal counsel (who may be counsel for the Parent Borrower), independent accountants and other experts selected by it, and shall not be liable for any action taken or not taken by it in accordance with the advice of any such counsel, accountants or experts.

 

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SECTION 8.05 Delegation of Duties. The Administrative Agent may perform any of and all its duties and exercise its rights and powers hereunder or under any other Loan Document by or through any one or more sub-agents appointed by the Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent and any such sub-agent may perform any of and all their duties and exercise their rights and powers through their respective Related Parties. The exculpatory provisions of this Article shall apply to any such sub-agent and to the Related Parties of the Administrative Agent and any such sub-agent, and shall apply to their respective activities in connection with the syndication of the credit facilities provided for herein as well as activities as Administrative Agent.

SECTION 8.06 Resignation of Administrative Agent.

(a) Subject to the appointment and acceptance of a successor Administrative Agent as provided in this paragraph, the Administrative Agent may resign upon 30 days’ notice to the Lenders, the Issuing Banks and the Parent Borrower. If the Administrative Agent becomes a Defaulting Lender and is not performing its role hereunder as Administrative Agent, the Administrative Agent may be removed as the Administrative Agent hereunder at the request of the Parent Borrower and the Required Lenders. Upon receipt of any such notice of resignation or upon such removal, the Required Lenders shall have the right, with the Parent Borrower’s consent (unless a Significant Event of Default has occurred and is continuing), to appoint a successor, which shall be a bank with an office in the United States, or an Affiliate of any such bank with an office in the United States. If no such successor shall have been so appointed by the Required Lenders and shall have accepted such appointment within 30 days after the retiring Administrative Agent gives notice of its resignation, then the retiring Administrative Agent may (but shall not be obligated to) on behalf of the Lenders and the Issuing Banks, appoint a successor Administrative Agent, which shall be an Approved Bank with an office in New York, New York, or an Affiliate of any such Approved Bank (the date upon which the retiring Administrative Agent is replaced, the “Resignation Effective Date”).

(b) If the Person serving as Administrative Agent is a Defaulting Lender, the Required Lenders and the Parent Borrower may, to the extent permitted by applicable law, by notice in writing to such Person remove such Person as Administrative Agent and, with the consent of the Parent Borrower, appoint a successor. If no such successor shall have been so appointed by the Required Lenders and shall have accepted such appointment within 30 days (the “Removal Effective Date”), then such removal shall nonetheless become effective in accordance with such notice on the Removal Effective Date.

(c) With effect from the Resignation Effective Date or the Removal Effective Date (as applicable) (1) the retiring or removed Administrative Agent shall be discharged from its duties and obligations hereunder and under the other Loan Documents (except (i) that in the case of any collateral security held by the Administrative Agent on behalf of the Lenders under any of the Loan Documents, the retiring or removed Administrative Agent shall continue to hold such collateral security until such time as a successor Administrative Agent is appointed and (ii) with respect to any outstanding payment obligations) and (2) except for any indemnity payments or other amounts then owed to the retiring or removed Administrative Agent, all payments, communications and determinations provided to be made by, to or through the Administrative Agent shall instead be made by or to each Lender directly, until such time, if any, as the Required Lenders appoint a successor Administrative Agent as provided for above. Upon the acceptance of a successor’s appointment as Administrative Agent hereunder, such successor shall succeed to and become vested with all of the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring (or removed) Administrative Agent (other than any rights to indemnity payments or other amounts owed to the retiring or removed Administrative Agent as of the Resignation Effective Date or the Removal Effective Date, as applicable), and the retiring or removed Administrative Agent shall be discharged from all of its duties and obligations hereunder and under the other Loan Documents as set forth in this Section. The fees payable by the Parent Borrower to a successor Administrative Agent shall be the same as those payable to its predecessor unless otherwise agreed between the Parent Borrower and such successor. After the retiring or removed Administrative Agent’s resignation or removal hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, the provisions of this Article and Section 9.04 shall continue in effect for the benefit of such retiring or removed Administrative Agent, its sub-agents and their respective Related Parties in respect of any actions taken or omitted to be taken by any of them while the retiring or removed Administrative Agent was acting as Administrative Agent

 

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SECTION 8.07 Non-Reliance on the Administrative Agent and Other Lenders. Each Lender and the Issuing Bank acknowledges that it has, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent, any Lead Arranger or Joint Bookrunner or any other Lender or any of their Related Parties and based on such documents and information as it has deemed appropriate, made its own credit analysis and decision to enter into this Agreement. Each Lender and each Issuing Bank also acknowledges that it will, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent, any Lead Arranger or Joint Bookrunner or any other Lender or any of their Related Parties and based on such documents and information as it shall from time to time deem appropriate, continue to make its own decisions in taking or not taking action under or based upon any Loan Document or any related agreement or any document furnished hereunder or thereunder. Each Lender represents and warrants that (i) the Loan Documents set forth the terms of a commercial lending facility and (ii) it is engaged in making, acquiring or holding commercial loans in the ordinary course and is entering into this Agreement as a Lender for the purpose of making, acquiring or holding commercial loans set forth herein as may be applicable to such Lender, and not for the purpose of purchasing, acquiring or holding any other type of financial instrument, and each Lender agrees not to assert a claim in contravention of the foregoing. Each Lender represents and warrants that it is sophisticated with respect to decisions to make, acquire or hold commercial loans, as may be applicable to such Lender, and either it, or the Person exercising discretion in making its decision to make, acquire or hold such commercial loans, is experienced in making, acquiring or holding such commercial loans. Each Lender, by delivering its signature page to this Agreement and funding its Loans on the Effective Date, or delivering its signature page to an Assignment and Assumption, Incremental Facility Amendment, Refinancing Amendment or Loan Modification Agreement pursuant to which it shall become a Lender hereunder, shall be deemed to have acknowledged receipt of, and consented to and approved, each Loan Document and each other document required to be delivered to, or be approved by or satisfactory to, the Administrative Agent or the Lenders on the Effective Date.

SECTION 8.08 No Other Duties, Etc. Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, none of the Lead Arrangers, Joint Bookrunners or any agent listed on the cover page hereof shall have any powers, duties or responsibilities under any Loan Documents, except in its capacity, as applicable, as the Administrative Agent, a Lender or an Issuing Bank hereunder.

SECTION 8.09 Administrative Agent May File Proofs of Claim. In case of the pendency of any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law or any other judicial proceeding relative to any Loan Party, the Administrative Agent (irrespective of whether the principal of any Loan or reimbursement for any outstanding Letter of Credit shall then be due and payable as herein expressed or by declaration or otherwise and irrespective of whether the Administrative Agent shall have made any demand on the Parent Borrower) shall be entitled and empowered (but not obligated) by intervention in such proceeding or otherwise:

(a) to file and prove a claim for the whole amount of the principal and interest owing and unpaid in respect of the Loans, Letter of Credit outstandings and all other Secured Obligations that are owing and unpaid and to file such other documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Lenders, the Issuing Bank and the Administrative Agent (including any claim for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Lenders, the Issuing Bank and the Administrative Agent and their respective agents and counsel and all other amounts due the Lenders, the Issuing Bank and the Administrative Agent under Sections 2.12 and 9.03) allowed in such judicial proceeding; and

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

and any custodian, receiver, assignee, trustee, liquidator, sequestrator or other similar official in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Lender and the Issuing Bank to make such payments to the Administrative Agent and, if the Administrative Agent shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Lenders and the Issuing Bank, to pay to the Administrative Agent any amount due for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Administrative Agent and its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Administrative Agent under Sections 2.12 and 9.03.

 

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

SECTION 8.10 No Waiver; Cumulative Remedies; Enforcement. No failure by any Lender, any Issuing Bank or the Administrative Agent to exercise, and no delay by any such Person in exercising, any right, remedy, power or privilege hereunder or under any other Loan Document shall operate as a waiver thereof; nor shall any single or partial exercise of any right, remedy, power or privilege hereunder preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, remedy, power or privilege. The rights, remedies, powers and privileges herein provided, and provided under each other Loan Document, are cumulative and not exclusive of any rights, remedies, powers and privileges provided by law.

SECTION 8.11 Erroneous Payments.

(a) If the Administrative Agent (x) notifies a Lender, Issuing Bank or Secured Party, or any Person who has received funds on behalf of a Lender, Issuing Bank or Secured Party (any such Lender, Issuing Bank, Secured Party or other recipient (and each of their respective successors and assigns), a “Payment Recipient”) that Administrative Agent has determined in its sole discretion (whether or not after receipt of any notice under Section 8.11(b)) that any funds (as set forth in such notice from the Administrative Agent) received by such Payment Recipient from the Administrative Agent or any of its Affiliates were erroneously or mistakenly transmitted to, or otherwise erroneously or mistakenly received by, such Payment Recipient (whether or not known to such Lender, Issuing Bank, Secured Party or other Payment Recipient on its behalf) (any such funds, whether transmitted or received as a payment, prepayment or repayment of principal, interest, fees, distribution or otherwise, individually and collectively, an “Erroneous Payment”) and (y) demands the return of such Erroneous Payment (or a portion thereof), such Erroneous Payment shall at all times remain the property of the Administrative Agent pending its return or repayment as contemplated below in this Section 8.11 and held in trust for the benefit of the Administrative Agent, and such Lender, Issuing Bank or Secured Party shall (or, with respect to any Payment Recipient who received such funds on its behalf, shall cause such Payment Recipient to) promptly, but in no event later than two Business Days thereafter (or such later date as the Administrative Agent may, in its sole discretion, specify in writing), return to the Administrative Agent the amount of any such Erroneous Payment (or portion thereof) as to which such a demand was made, in same day funds (in the currency so received), together with interest thereon (except to the extent waived in writing by the Administrative Agent) in respect of each day from and including the date such Erroneous Payment (or portion thereof) was received by such Payment Recipient to the date such amount is repaid to Administrative Agent in same day funds at the greater of the NYFRB Rate and a rate determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation from time to time in effect. A notice of the Administrative Agent to any Payment Recipient under this Section 8.11(a) shall be conclusive, absent manifest error.

(b) Without limiting the provisions of Section 8.11(a), each Payment Recipient (and each of their respective successors and assigns) hereby further agrees that if it receives a payment, prepayment or repayment (whether received as a payment, prepayment or repayment of principal, interest, fees, distribution or otherwise) from the Administrative Agent (or any of its Affiliates) (x) that is in a different amount than, or on a different date from, that specified in this Agreement or in a notice of payment, prepayment or repayment sent by the Administrative Agent (or any of its Affiliates) with respect to such payment, prepayment or repayment, (y) that was not preceded or accompanied by a notice of payment, prepayment or repayment sent by the Administrative Agent (or any of its Affiliates), or (z) that such Payment Recipient otherwise becomes aware was transmitted, or received, in error or by mistake (in whole or in part), in each case:

(i) it acknowledges and agrees that (A) in the case of immediately preceding clauses (x) or (y), an error shall be presumed to have been made (absent written confirmation from the Administrative Agent to the contrary) or (B) in the case of immediately preceding clause (z), an error and mistake has been made, in each case, with respect to such payment, prepayment or repayment; and

(ii) such Lender, Issuing Bank or Secured Party shall (and shall cause any other recipient that receives funds on its respective behalf to) promptly notify the Administrative Agent of its receipt of such payment, prepayment or repayment, the details thereof (in reasonable detail) and that it is so notifying the Administrative Agent pursuant to this Section 8.11(b). For the avoidance of doubt, the failure to deliver a notice to the Administrative Agent pursuant to this Section 8.11(b) shall not have any effect on a Payment Recipient’s obligations pursuant to Section 8.11(a) or on whether or not an Erroneous Payment has been made.

 

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(c) Each Lender, Issuing Bank and Secured Party hereby authorizes the Administrative Agent to set off, net and apply any and all amounts at any time owing to such Lender, Issuing Bank or Secured Party under any Loan Document, or otherwise payable or distributable by the Administrative Agent to such Lender, Issuing Bank or Secured Party under any Loan Document with respect to any payment of principal, interest, fees, or other amounts, against any amount that the Administrative Agent has demanded to be returned under Section 8.11(a).

(d) (i) In the event that an Erroneous Payment (or portion thereof) is not recovered by the Administrative Agent for any reason, after demand therefor in accordance with Section 8.11(a), from any Lender that has received such Erroneous Payment (or portion thereof) (and/or from any Payment Recipient who received such Erroneous Payment (or portion thereof) on its respective behalf) (such unrecovered amount, an “Erroneous Payment Return Deficiency”), upon the Administrative Agent’s notice to such Lender at any time, then effective immediately (with the consideration therefor being acknowledged by the parties hereto), (A) such Lender shall be deemed to have assigned its Loans (but not its Commitments) of the relevant Class with respect to which such Erroneous Payment was made (the “Erroneous Payment Impacted Class”) in an amount equal to the Erroneous Payment Return Deficiency (or such lesser amount as the Administrative Agent may specify) (such assignment of the Loans (but not Commitments) of the Erroneous Payment Impacted Class, the “Erroneous Payment Deficiency Assignment”) (on a cashless basis and such amount calculated at par plus any accrued and unpaid interest (with the assignment fee to be waived by the Administrative Agent in such instance)), and is hereby (together with the Borrower) deemed to execute and deliver an Assignment and Assumption with respect to such Erroneous Payment Deficiency Assignment, and such Lender shall deliver any Notes evidencing such Loans to the Parent Borrower or the Administrative Agent, (but the failure of such Person to deliver any such Notes shall not affect the effectiveness of the foregoing assignment), (B) the Administrative Agent as the assignee Lender shall be deemed to have acquired the Erroneous Payment Deficiency Assignment, (C) upon such deemed acquisition, the Administrative Agent as the assignee Lender shall become a Lender hereunder with respect to such Erroneous Payment Deficiency Assignment and the assigning Lender shall cease to be a Lender hereunder with respect to such Erroneous Payment Deficiency Assignment, excluding, for the avoidance of doubt, its obligations under the indemnification provisions of this Agreement and its applicable Commitments which shall survive as to such assigning Lender, (D) the Administrative Agent and the Parent Borrower shall be deemed to have waived any consents required under this Agreement to any such Erroneous Payment Deficiency Assignment, and (E) the Administrative Agent may reflect in the Register its ownership interest in the Loans subject to the Erroneous Payment Deficiency Assignment. For the avoidance of doubt, no Erroneous Payment Deficiency Assignment will reduce the Commitments of any Lender and such Commitments shall remain available in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.

(ii) The Administrative Agent may, in its discretion, sell any Loans acquired pursuant to an Erroneous Payment Deficiency Assignment and upon receipt of the proceeds of such sale, the Erroneous Payment Return Deficiency owing by the applicable Lender shall be reduced by the net proceeds of the sale of such Loan (or portion thereof), and the Administrative Agent shall retain all other rights, remedies and claims against such Lender (and/or against any recipient that receives funds on its respective behalf). In addition, an Erroneous Payment Return Deficiency owing by the applicable Lender (x) shall be reduced by the proceeds of prepayments or repayments of principal and interest or other distribution in respect of principal and interest, received by the Administrative Agent on or with respect to any such Loans acquired from such Lender pursuant to an Erroneous Payment Deficiency Assignment (to the extent that any such Loans are then owned by the Administrative Agent) and (y) may in the sole discretion of the Administrative Agent be reduced by any amount specified by the Administrative Agent in writing to the applicable Lender from time to time.

(e) The parties hereto agree (x) irrespective of whether the Administrative Agent may be equitably subrogated, in the event that an Erroneous Payment (or portion thereof) is not recovered from any Payment Recipient that has received such Erroneous Payment (or portion thereof) for any reason, the Administrative Agent shall be subrogated to all the rights and interests of such Payment Recipient (and, in the case of any Payment Recipient who has received funds on behalf of a Lender, Issuing Bank or Secured Party, to the rights and interests of such Lender, Issuing Bank or Secured Party, as the case may be) under the Loan Documents with respect to such

 

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amount (the “Erroneous Payment Subrogation Rights”) (provided that the Loan Parties’ Secured Obligations under the Loan Documents in respect of the Erroneous Payment Subrogation Rights shall not be duplicative of such Secured Obligations in respect of Loans that have been assigned to the Administrative Agent under an Erroneous Payment Deficiency Assignment) and (y) that an Erroneous Payment shall not pay, prepay, repay, discharge or otherwise satisfy any Secured Obligations owed by the Borrowers or any other Loan Party; provided that this Section 8.11 shall not be interpreted to increase (or accelerate the due date for) the Secured Obligations of the Borrowers relative to the amount (and/or timing for payment) of the Secured Obligations that would have been payable had such Erroneous Payment not been made by the Administrative Agent; provided, further, that for the avoidance of doubt, immediately preceding clauses (x) and (y) shall not apply to the extent any such Erroneous Payment is, and solely with respect to the amount of such Erroneous Payment that is, comprised of funds received by the Administrative Agent from the Borrowers for the purpose of making such Erroneous Payment.

(f) To the extent permitted by applicable law, no Payment Recipient shall assert any right or claim to an Erroneous Payment, and hereby waives, and is deemed to waive, any claim, counterclaim, defense or right of set-off or recoupment with respect to any demand, claim or counterclaim by the Administrative Agent for the return of any Erroneous Payment received, including without limitation any defense based on “discharge for value” or any similar doctrine.

(g) Each party’s obligations, agreements and waivers under this Section 8.11 shall survive the resignation or replacement of the Administrative Agent, any transfer of rights or obligations by, or the replacement of, a Lender or the Issuing Bank, the termination of the Commitments and/or the repayment, satisfaction or discharge of all Secured Obligations (or any portion thereof).

SECTION 8.12 Collateral Matters. No Lender shall have any right individually to realize upon any of the Collateral or to enforce any Guarantee of the Secured Obligations, it being understood and agreed that all powers, rights and remedies under the Loan Documents may be exercised solely by the Administrative Agent on behalf of the Lenders in accordance with the terms thereof. In the event of a foreclosure by the Administrative Agent on any of the Collateral pursuant to a public or private sale or other disposition, the Administrative Agent or any Lender may be the purchaser or licensor of any or all of such Collateral at any such sale or other disposition, and the Administrative Agent, as agent for and representative of the Lenders (but not any Lender or Lenders in its or their respective individual capacities unless Required 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 Secured Obligations as a credit on account of the purchase price for any Collateral payable by the Administrative Agent on behalf of the Lenders at such sale or other disposition. Each Lender, whether or not a party hereto, will be deemed, by its acceptance of the benefits of the Collateral and of the Guarantees of the Secured Obligations, to have agreed to the foregoing provisions.

SECTION 8.13 Withholding Taxes. To the extent required by any applicable Requirements of Law, the Administrative Agent may deduct or withhold from any payment to any Lender an amount equivalent to any applicable withholding Tax. Without limiting or expanding the provisions of Section 2.17, each Lender shall indemnify the Administrative Agent against, and shall make payable in respect thereof within 30 days after demand therefor, all Taxes and all related losses, claims, liabilities and expenses (including fees, charges and disbursements of any counsel for the Administrative Agent) incurred by or asserted against the Administrative Agent by the U.S. Internal Revenue Service or any other Governmental Authority as a result of the failure of the Administrative Agent to properly withhold Tax from amounts paid to or for the account of any Lender for any reason (including, without limitation, because the appropriate documentation was not delivered or not properly executed, because such Lender failed to properly maintain a Participant Register in accordance with Section 9.04(c)(ii), or because such Lender failed to notify the Administrative Agent of a change in circumstance that rendered the exemption from, or reduction of withholding tax ineffective), whether or not such Tax was correctly or legally imposed or asserted. A certificate as to the amount of such payment or liability delivered to any Lender by the Administrative Agent shall be conclusive absent manifest error. Each Lender hereby authorizes the Administrative Agent to set off and apply any and all amounts at any time owing to such Lender under this Agreement, any other Loan Document or otherwise against any amount due to the Administrative Agent under this paragraph. The agreements in this paragraph shall survive the resignation and/or replacement of the Administrative Agent, any assignment of rights by, or the replacement of, a Lender and the repayment, satisfaction or discharge of all other obligations under any Loan

 

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Document. For the avoidance of doubt, the term “Lender” in this Article VIII shall include any Issuing Bank and Swingline Lender.

ARTICLE IX

MISCELLANEOUS

SECTION 9.01 Notices. Except in the case of notices and other communications expressly permitted to be given by telephone, all notices and other communications provided for herein shall be in writing and shall be delivered by hand or overnight courier service, mailed by certified or registered mail or sent by fax, e-mail or other electronic transmission, as follows:

(a) If to any Loan Party, to:

Smart Global Holdings, Inc.

39870 Eureka Drive

Newark, CA 94560-4809

Attn: Legal Department

Email: anne.kuykendall@smartm.com; Chloe.Wan@SGHCorp.com

with a copy to (which shall not constitute notice):

Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP

425 Lexington Avenue

New York, NY 10017

Attention: Eli Isak

Email: eisak@stblaw.com

(b) If to the Administrative Agent, to:

Citizens Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent

28 State Street

Boston, MA 02109

Attention: Lisa Spiller

Telephone: 267-671-1148

Email: Lisa.Spiller@citizensbank.com

with a copy to (which shall not constitute notice):

King & Spalding LLP

300 S. Tryon Street, Suite 1700

Charlotte, NC 28202

Attention: Ron Lovelace

Email: rlovelace@kslaw.com

(c) If to the Administrative Agent, solely with respect to Borrowing Requests, Interest Election Requests, Notices of Loan Prepayments, Specified Discount Prepayment Notices, Solicited Discounted Prepayment Notices and Acceptance and Prepayment Notices, to:

Citizens Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent

28 State Street

Boston, MA 02109

Attention: Lisa Spiller

Telephone: 267-671-1148

Email: Lisa.Spiller@citizensbank.com

 

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(d) If to any Issuing Bank, to it at its address (or fax number or email address) most recently specified by it in a notice delivered to the Administrative Agent and the Parent Borrower (or, in the absence of any such notice, to the address (or fax number or email address) set forth in the Administrative Questionnaire of the Lender that is serving as such Issuing Bank or is an Affiliate thereof);

(e) If to the Swingline Lender, to it at its address (or fax number or email address) most recently specified by it in a notice delivered to the Administrative Agent and the Parent Borrower (or, in the absence of any such notice, to the address (or fax number or email address) set forth in the Administrative Questionnaire of the Swingline Lender that is serving as such Swingline Lender or is an Affiliate thereof); and

(f) If to any other Lender, to it at its address (or fax number or email address) set forth in its Administrative Questionnaire.

Notices and other communications sent by hand or overnight courier service, or mailed by certified or registered mail, shall be deemed to have been given when received; notices and other communications sent by fax or other electronic transmission shall be deemed to have been given when sent (except that, if not given during normal business hours for the recipient, shall be deemed to have been given at the opening of business on the next business day for the recipient).

The Parent Borrower may change its address, email or facsimile number for notices and other communications hereunder by notice to the Administrative Agent, the Administrative Agent may change its address, email or facsimile number for notices and other communications hereunder by notice to the Parent Borrower and the Lenders may change their address, email or facsimile number for notices and other communications hereunder by notice to the Administrative Agent. Notices and other communications to the Lenders and the Issuing Banks hereunder may also be delivered or furnished by electronic communication (including email and Internet or intranet websites) pursuant to procedures reasonably approved by the Administrative Agent, provided that the foregoing shall not apply to notices to any Lender or Issuing Bank pursuant to Article II if such Lender or Issuing Bank, as applicable, has notified the Administrative Agent that it is incapable of receiving notices under such Article by electronic communication.

THE PLATFORM IS PROVIDED “AS IS” AND “AS AVAILABLE.” THE AGENT PARTIES (AS DEFINED BELOW) DO NOT WARRANT THE ACCURACY OR COMPLETENESS OF THE BORROWER MATERIALS OR THE ADEQUACY OF THE PLATFORM, AND EXPRESSLY DISCLAIM LIABILITY FOR ERRORS IN OR OMISSIONS FROM THE BORROWER MATERIALS. NO WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS, IMPLIED OR STATUTORY, INCLUDING ANY WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, NON-INFRINGEMENT OF THIRD PARTY RIGHTS OR FREEDOM FROM VIRUSES OR OTHER CODE DEFECTS, IS MADE BY ANY AGENT PARTY IN CONNECTION WITH THE BORROWER MATERIALS OR THE PLATFORM. In no event shall the Administrative Agent or any of its Related Parties (collectively, the “Agent Parties”) have any liability to the Parent Borrower, any Lender, any Issuing Bank or any other Person for losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses of any kind (whether in tort, contract or otherwise) arising out of the Borrowers’, any Loan Party’s or the Administrative Agent’s transmission of Borrower Materials or notices through the Platform, any other electronic messaging service, or through the Internet, except to the extent that such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses have resulted from the willful misconduct, bad faith or gross negligence of the Administrative Agent or any of its Related Parties, as applicable.

The Administrative Agent, the Issuing Banks and the Lenders shall be entitled to rely and act upon any notices (including telephonic notices and Borrowing Requests) purportedly given by or on behalf of the Parent Borrower even if (i) such notices were not made in a manner specified herein, were incomplete or were not preceded or followed by any other form of notice specified herein, or (ii) the terms thereof, as understood by the recipient, varied from any confirmation thereof. All telephonic notices to and other telephonic communications with the Administrative Agent may be recorded by the Administrative Agent, and each of the parties hereto hereby consents to such recording.

 

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SECTION 9.02 Waivers; Amendments.

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

(b) Except as expressly provided herein, neither any Loan Document nor any provision thereof may be waived, amended or modified except, in the case of this Agreement, pursuant to an agreement or agreements in writing entered into by the Parent Borrower, the Administrative Agent (to the extent that such waiver, amendment or modification does not affect the rights, duties, privileges or obligations of the Administrative Agent under this Agreement, the Administrative Agent shall execute such waiver, amendment or other modification to the extent approved by the Required Lenders) and the Required Lenders or, in the case of any other Loan Document, pursuant to an agreement or agreements in writing entered into by the Administrative Agent and the Loan Party or Loan Parties that are parties thereto, in each case with the consent of the Required Lenders, provided that no such agreement shall:

(i) increase the Commitment of any Lender without the written consent of such Lender (but not the Required Lenders) (it being understood that a waiver of any condition precedent set forth in Section 4.02 or the waiver of any Default, Event of Default, mandatory prepayment or mandatory reduction of the Commitments shall not constitute an extension or increase of any Commitment of any Lender),

(ii) reduce the principal amount of any Loan or LC Disbursement (it being understood that a waiver of any Default, Event of Default, mandatory prepayment or mandatory reduction of the Commitments shall not constitute a reduction or forgiveness in principal) or reduce the rate of interest thereon, or reduce any fees payable hereunder, without the written consent of each Lender directly and adversely affected thereby (but not the Required Lenders) (it being understood that any change to the definition of “First Lien Leverage Ratio” or any other financial ratio or, in each case, the component definitions thereof shall not constitute a reduction of interest or fees), provided that only the consent of the Required Lenders shall be necessary to waive any obligation of the Parent Borrower to pay default interest pursuant to Section 2.13(c),

(iii) postpone the maturity of any Loan (it being understood that a waiver of any Default, Event of Default, mandatory prepayment or mandatory reduction of the Commitments shall not constitute an extension of any maturity date), or the date of any scheduled amortization payment of the principal amount of any Term Loan under Section 2.10 or the applicable Incremental Facility Amendment, Refinancing Amendment or Loan Modification Agreement, or the reimbursement date with respect to any LC Disbursement, or any date for the payment of any interest or fees payable hereunder, or reduce the amount of, waive or excuse any such payment, or postpone the scheduled date of expiration of any Commitment, without the written consent of each Lender directly and adversely affected thereby (but not the Required Lenders),

(iv) change any of the provisions of this Section without the written consent of each Lender directly and adversely affected thereby (but not the Required Lenders), provided that any such change which is in favor of a Class of Lenders holding Loans maturing after the maturity of other Classes of Lenders (and only takes effect after the maturity of such other Classes of Loans or Commitments) will require the written consent only of the Required Lenders with respect to each Class directly and adversely affected thereby,

 

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(v) lower the percentage set forth in the definition of “Required Lenders” or any other provision of any Loan Document specifying the number or percentage of Lenders (or Lenders of any Class) required to waive, amend or modify any rights thereunder or make any determination or grant any consent thereunder, without the written consent of each Lender (or each Lender of such Class, as the case may be) (but not the Required Lenders),

(vi) release all or substantially all the value of the Guarantees under the Guarantee Agreement (except as expressly provided in the Loan Documents) without the written consent of each Lender (other than a Defaulting Lender) (but not the Required Lenders),

(vii) subordinate the right of payment of the Loans to any other Indebtedness of the type described in clauses (a) or (b) of the definition thereof, or subordinate the Lien on all or substantially all of the Collateral granted in favor of the Collateral Agent, without the written consent of all of the Lenders (except pursuant to a transaction in which participation in such other Indebtedness is offered to the Lenders on a pro rata basis or in connection with a “debtor in possession” financing, on the same terms (including fees) as are offered to all other providers of such financing),

(viii) (A) other than as set forth in Section 1.12, change the currency in which any Loan is, or is to be, denominated, Letters of Credit are to be issued or payment under the Loan Documents is to be made or (B) amend the definition of “Alternative Currency”, the definition of “Eligible Currency” or Section 1.12, in each case without the written consent of each Lender directly affected thereby,

(ix) amend, modify or waive compliance with any condition precedent to the obligations of Revolving Lenders to make Revolving Loans in Section 4.02, or waive any Default or Event of Default (or amend any Loan Document to effectively waive any Default or Event of Default) solely for the purpose of satisfying the conditions precedent to the obligations of Revolving Lenders to make Revolving Loans in Section 4.02 without the consent of Revolving Lenders holding more than 50% of the outstanding Revolving Commitments and Revolving Exposure (as applicable) (but without the necessity of obtaining the prior written consent of the Required Lenders),

(x) amend, modify or waive the pro rata requirements or order of application of payments in Section 2.18 of this Agreement or Section 4.02 of the Collateral Agreement without the written consent of each Lender directly and adversely affected thereby, in each case, except in connection with any transaction permitted under Sections 2.20, 2.21, 2.22 and/or 2.24 or as otherwise provided in this Section 9.02, or

(xi) release all or substantially all the Collateral from the Liens of the Security Documents, without the written consent of each Lender (other than a Defaulting Lender), except as expressly provided in the Loan Documents,

provided, further, that (A) no such agreement shall amend, modify or otherwise affect the rights or duties of the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent, the Swingline Lender or the Issuing Bank without the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent, Collateral Agent, the Swingline Lender or the Issuing Bank, as the case may be, including, without limitation, any amendment of this Section, (B) any provision of this Agreement or any other Loan Document may be amended by an agreement in writing entered into by the Parent Borrower and the Administrative Agent to cure any ambiguity, omission, mistake, error, defect or inconsistency and (C) any provision of this Agreement or any other Loan Document may be amended by an agreement in writing entered into by the Parent Borrower and the Administrative Agent to (i) increase the interest rates (including any interest rate margins or interest rate floors), fees and other amounts payable to any Class or Classes of Lenders hereunder, (ii) add, increase, expand and/or extend call protection provisions and prepayment premiums and any “most favored nation” provisions benefiting any Class or Classes of Lenders hereunder and/or (iii) modify any other provision hereunder or under any other Loan Document in a manner, as determined by the Administrative Agent in its sole discretion, more favorable to the then-existing Lenders or Class or Classes of Lenders, in each case of this clause (C), in connection with the issuance or incurrence of any Incremental Facilities or other Indebtedness permitted hereunder, where the terms of any such Incremental Facilities or other Indebtedness are more favorable to the lenders thereof than the corresponding terms applicable to other Loans or Commitments then existing hereunder, and it is intended that one or more then-existing Classes of Loans or Commitments under this Agreement share in the benefit of such more

 

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favorable terms in order to comply with the provisions hereof relating to the incurrence of such Incremental Facilities or other Indebtedness, and (D) any waiver, amendment or modification of this Agreement that by its terms affects the rights or duties under this Agreement of Lenders holding Loans or Commitments of a particular Class (but not the Lenders holding Loans or Commitments of any other Class) may be effected by an agreement or agreements in writing entered into solely by the Parent Borrower and the requisite percentage in interest of the affected Class of Lenders that would be required to consent thereto under this Section if such Class of Lenders were the only Class of Lenders hereunder at the time (“Required Class Lenders”). Notwithstanding the foregoing, (a) this Agreement may be amended (or amended and restated) with the written consent of the Required Lenders, the Administrative Agent and the Parent Borrower (i) to add one or more additional credit facilities to this Agreement and to permit the extensions of credit from time to time outstanding thereunder and the accrued interest and fees in respect thereof to share ratably in the benefits of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents and (ii) to include appropriately the Lenders holding such credit facilities in any determination of the Required Lenders on substantially the same basis as the Lenders prior to such inclusion, (b) this Agreement and other Loan Documents may be amended or supplemented by an agreement or agreements in writing entered into by the Administrative Agent and the Parent Borrower or any Loan Party as to which such agreement or agreements is to apply, without the need to obtain the consent of any Lender, to include “parallel debt” or similar provisions, and any authorizations or granting of powers by the Lenders and the other Secured Parties in favor of the Collateral Agent, in each case required to create in favor of the Collateral Agent any security interest contemplated to be created under this Agreement, or to perfect any such security interest, where the Administrative Agent shall have been advised by its counsel that such provisions are necessary or advisable under local law for such purpose (with the Parent Borrower hereby agreeing to, and to cause their subsidiaries to, enter into any such agreement or agreements upon reasonable request of the Administrative Agent promptly upon such request) and (c) upon notice thereof by the Parent Borrower to the Administrative Agent with respect to the inclusion of any previously absent financial maintenance covenant or other covenant, this Agreement shall be amended by an agreement in writing entered into by the Parent Borrower and the Administrative Agent without the need to obtain the consent of any Lender to include any such covenant and any related equity cure provision on the date of the incurrence of the applicable Indebtedness to the extent required by the terms of such definition or section. Notwithstanding the foregoing, amendments to or waivers of guarantees, collateral security documents and related documents in connection with this Agreement may be in a form reasonably determined by the Administrative Agent and the Parent Borrower and may be, together with this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, amended and waived with the consent of the Administrative Agent at the request of the Parent Borrower without the need to obtain the consent of any other Lender if such amendment or waiver is delivered in order (i) to comply with local law or advice of local counsel, (ii) to cure ambiguities or defects or (iii) to cause such guarantee, collateral security document or other document to be consistent with this Agreement and the other Loan Documents.

(c) In connection with any proposed amendment, modification, waiver or termination (a “Proposed Change”) requiring the consent of all Lenders (or all Lenders of a Class) or all directly and adversely affected Lenders (or all directly and adversely affected Lenders of a Class), if the consent of the Required Lenders or the Required Class Lenders of any such affected Class, as applicable, to such Proposed Change is obtained, but the consent to such Proposed Change of other Lenders whose consent is required is not obtained (any such Lender whose consent is not obtained as described in paragraph (b) of this Section being referred to as a “Non-Consenting Lender”), then, the Parent Borrower may, at its sole expense and effort, upon notice to such Non-Consenting Lender and the Administrative Agent, require such Non-Consenting Lender to assign and delegate, without recourse (in accordance with and subject to the restrictions contained in Section 9.04), all its interests, rights and obligations under this Agreement to an Eligible Assignee that shall assume such obligations (which Eligible Assignee may be another Lender, if a Lender accepts such assignment), provided that (a) the Parent Borrower shall have received the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent to the extent such consent would be required under Section 9.04(b) for an assignment of Loans or Commitments, as applicable (and, if a Revolving Commitment is being assigned, each Issuing Bank and Swingline Lender), which consent shall not unreasonably be withheld, (b) such Non-Consenting Lender shall have received payment of an amount equal to the outstanding par principal amount of its Loans and participations in LC Disbursements and Swingline Loans, accrued interest thereon, accrued fees and all other amounts (including any amounts under Section 2.11(a)(i)), payable to it hereunder from or on behalf of the Eligible Assignee (to the extent of such outstanding principal and accrued interest and fees) or the Parent Borrower (in the case of all other amounts) and (c) unless waived, the Parent Borrower or such Eligible Assignee shall have paid to the Administrative Agent the processing and recordation fee specified in Section 9.04(b). Each party hereto agrees that an assignment required pursuant to this paragraph may be effected pursuant to an Assignment and Assumption executed by the Parent Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the assignee and that the Lender required to make such assignment need not be a party thereto.

 

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(d) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement or the other Loan Documents to the contrary, Revolving Commitments, Revolving Exposure and Term Loans of any Lender that is at the time a Defaulting Lender shall not have any voting or approval rights under the Loan Documents and shall be excluded in determining whether all Lenders (or all Lenders of a Class), all affected Lenders (or all affected Lenders of a Class), Required Class Lenders or the Required Lenders have taken or may take any action hereunder (including any consent to any amendment or waiver pursuant to this Section 9.02); provided that (i) the Commitment of any Defaulting Lender may not be increased or extended without the consent of such Defaulting Lender and (ii) any waiver, amendment or modification requiring the consent of all Lenders or each affected Lender that affects any Defaulting Lender more adversely than other affected Lenders shall require the consent of such Defaulting Lender.

(e) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement or the other Loan Documents to the contrary, each Affiliated Lender (other than an Affiliated Debt Fund) hereby agrees that, if a proceeding under the U.S. Bankruptcy Code or any other Federal, state or foreign bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or similar law shall be commenced by or against the Parent Borrower or any other Loan Party at a time when such Lender is an Affiliated Lender, such Affiliated Lender irrevocably authorizes and empowers the Administrative Agent to vote on behalf of such Affiliated Lender with respect to the Loans held by such Affiliated Lender in any manner in the Administrative Agent’s sole discretion, unless the Administrative Agent instructs such Affiliated Lender to vote, in which case such Affiliated Lender shall vote with respect to the Loans held by it as the Administrative Agent directs; provided that such Affiliated Lender shall be entitled to vote in accordance with its sole discretion (and not in accordance with the direction of the Administrative Agent) in connection with any plan of reorganization to the extent any such plan of reorganization proposes to treat any Secured Obligations held by such Affiliated Lender in a manner that is less favorable in any material respect to such Affiliated Lender than the proposed treatment of similar Secured Obligations held by Lenders that are not Affiliates of the Parent Borrower.

(f) Without any further consent of the Lenders, the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent shall be authorized to negotiate, execute and deliver on behalf of the Secured Parties any (i) Intercreditor Agreement in a form substantially consistent with Exhibit E or Exhibit F hereto or (ii) any customary “crossing-lien” intercreditor agreement entered into in connection with Indebtedness permitted under Section 6.01(a)(xxiii) and Liens permitted under Section 6.02(xxix).

(g) [reserved].

(h) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, in connection with any determination as to whether the Required Lenders or Required Class Lenders have (A) consented (or not consented) to any amendment or waiver of any provision of this Agreement or any other Loan Document or any departure by any Loan Party therefrom, (B) otherwise acted on any matter related to any Loan Document, or (C) directed or required the Administrative Agent or any Lender to undertake any action (or refrain from taking any action) with respect to or under any Loan Document, any Lender (other than (x) any Lender that is a Regulated Bank, (y) any Revolving Lender as of the Closing Date and (z) any Affiliate of any of the foregoing) that, as a result of its interest in any total return swap, total rate of return swap, credit default swap or other derivative contract (other than any such total return swap, total rate of return swap, credit default swap or other derivative contract entered into pursuant to bona fide market making activities), has a net short position with respect to the Loans and/or Commitments (each, a “Net Short Lender”) shall have no right to vote any of its Loans and Commitments and shall be deemed to have voted its interest as a Lender without discretion in the same proportion as the allocation of voting with respect to such matter by Lenders who are not Net Short Lenders. For purposes of determining whether a Lender has a “net short position” on any date of determination: (i) derivative contracts with respect to the Loans and Commitments and such contracts that are the functional equivalent thereof shall be counted at the notional amount thereof in dollars, (ii) the notional amounts in other currencies shall be converted to the Dollar Equivalent thereof by such Lender in a commercially reasonable manner consistent with generally accepted financial practices and based on the prevailing conversion rate (determined on a mid-market basis) on the date of determination, (iii) derivative contracts in respect of an index that includes any of the Parent Borrower or other Loan Parties or any instrument issued or guaranteed by any of the Parent Borrower or other Loan Parties shall not be deemed to create a short position with respect to the Loans and/or Commitments, so long as (x) such index is not created, designed, administered or requested by such Lender or its

 

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Affiliates and (y) the Parent Borrower and the other Loan Parties and any instrument issued or guaranteed by any of the Parent Borrower or other Loan Parties, collectively, shall represent less than five percent (5%) of the components of such index, (iv) derivative transactions that are documented using either the 2014 ISDA Credit Derivatives Definitions or the 2003 ISDA Credit Derivative Definitions (collectively, the “ISDA CDS Definitions”) shall be deemed to create a short position with respect to the Loans and/or Commitments if such Lender is a protection buyer or the equivalent thereof for such derivative transaction and (x) the Loans or the Commitments are a “Reference Obligation” under the terms of such derivative transaction (whether specified by name in the related documentation, included as a “Standard Reference Obligation” on the most recent list published by Markit, if “Standard Reference Obligation” is specified as applicable in the relevant documentation or in any other manner), (y) the Loans or the Commitments would be a “Deliverable Obligation” under the terms of such derivative transaction or (z) any of the Parent Borrower or other Loan Parties (or its successor) is designated as a “Reference Entity” under the terms of such derivative transaction, and (v) credit derivative transactions or other derivatives transactions not documented using the ISDA CDS Definitions shall be deemed to create a short position with respect to the Loans and/or Commitments if such transactions are functionally equivalent to a transaction that offers the Lender protection in respect of the Loans or the Commitments, or as to the credit quality of any of the Parent Borrower or other Loan Parties other than, in each case, as part of an index so long as (x) such index is not created, designed, administered or requested by such Lender and (y) the Parent Borrower and other Loan Parties and any instrument issued or guaranteed by any of the Parent Borrower or other Loan Parties, collectively, shall represent less than five percent (5%) of the components of such index. In connection with any such determination, each Lender shall promptly notify the Administrative Agent in writing that it is a Net Short Lender, or shall otherwise be deemed to have represented and warranted to the Parent Borrower and the Administrative Agent that it is not a Net Short Lender (it being understood and agreed that the Parent Borrower and the Administrative Agent shall be entitled to rely on each such representation and deemed representation).

(i) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein or in any other Loan Document, the authority to enforce rights and remedies hereunder and under the other Loan Documents against the Loan Parties or any of them shall be vested exclusively in, and all actions and proceedings at law in connection with such enforcement shall be instituted and maintained exclusively by, the Administrative Agent in accordance with Article VII for the benefit of all the Lenders and the Issuing Banks; provided, however, that the foregoing shall not prohibit (a) the Administrative Agent from exercising on its own behalf the rights and remedies that inure to its benefit (solely in its capacity as Administrative Agent) hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, (b) the Issuing Banks or the Swingline Lender from exercising the rights and remedies that inure to its benefit (solely in its capacity as Issuing Bank or Swingline Lender, as the case may be) hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, (c) any Lender from exercising setoff rights in accordance with Section 9.08 (subject to the terms of Section 2.18), or (d) any Lender from filing proofs of claim or appearing and filing pleadings on its own behalf during the pendency of a proceeding relative to any Loan Party under any Debtor Relief Law; and provided, further, that if at any time there is no Person acting as Administrative Agent hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, then (i) the Required Lenders shall have the rights otherwise ascribed to the Administrative Agent pursuant to Article VII and (ii) in addition to the matters set forth in clauses (b) and (c) of the preceding proviso and subject to Section 2.18, any Lender may, with the consent of the Required Lenders, enforce any rights and remedies available to it and as authorized by the Required Lenders.

SECTION 9.03 Expenses; Indemnity; Damage Waiver.

(a) The Parent Borrower shall pay, if the Effective Date occurs, (i) all reasonable and documented or invoiced out of pocket expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent, the Lead Arrangers, the Joint Bookrunners and their Affiliates (without duplication), including the reasonable fees, charges and disbursements of King & Spalding LLP and to the extent reasonably determined by the Administrative Agent to be necessary one local counsel in each applicable jurisdiction or otherwise retained with the Parent Borrower’s consent, in each case for the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent, the Lead Arrangers and the Joint Bookrunners, and to the extent retained with the Parent Borrower’s consent, consultants, in connection with the syndication of the credit facilities provided for herein, the preparation, execution, delivery and administration of the Loan Documents or any amendments, modifications or waivers of the provisions thereof and (ii) all reasonable and documented or invoiced out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent, each Issuing Bank, the Lead Arrangers, the Joint Bookrunners or any Lender, including the fees, charges and disbursements of counsel

 

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for the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent, the Issuing Banks, the Lead Arrangers, the Joint Bookrunners and the Lenders, in connection with the enforcement or protection of their respective rights in connection with the Loan Documents (including all such costs and expenses incurred during any legal proceeding, including any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Laws), including their respective rights under this Section, or in connection with the Loans made or Letters of Credit issued hereunder, including all such out-of-pocket expenses incurred during any workout, restructuring or negotiations in respect of such Loans or Letters of Credit; provided that such counsel shall be limited to one lead counsel and one local counsel in each applicable jurisdiction and, in the case of a conflict of interest, one additional counsel per class of similarly situated affected parties.

(b) Each Borrower shall indemnify each Agent, each Issuing Bank, each Lender, the Lead Arrangers and the Joint Bookrunners and each Related Party of any of the foregoing Persons (each such Person being called an “Indemnitee”) against, and hold each Indemnitee harmless from, any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities and reasonable and documented or invoiced out-of-pocket fees and expenses of one counsel and one local counsel in each applicable jurisdiction (and, in the case of a conflict of interest, where the Indemnitee affected by such conflict notifies the Parent Borrower of the existence of such conflict and thereafter retains its own counsel, one additional counsel per class of similarly situated affected Indemnitees) for all Indemnitees (which may include a single special counsel acting in multiple jurisdictions), incurred by or asserted against any Indemnitee by any third party or by the Parent Borrower, the Co-Borrower or any Subsidiary arising out of, in connection with, or as a result of (i) the execution or delivery of any Loan Document or any other agreement or instrument contemplated thereby, the performance by the parties to the Loan Documents of their respective obligations thereunder or the consummation of the Transactions or any other transactions contemplated thereby, (ii) any Loan or Letter of Credit or the use of the proceeds therefrom (including any refusal by the Issuing Bank to honor a demand for payment under a Letter of Credit if the documents presented in connection with such demand do not strictly comply with the terms of such Letter of Credit), (iii) to the extent in any way arising from or relating to any of the foregoing, any actual or alleged presence or Release of Hazardous Materials on, at or from any property currently or formerly owned or operated by the Parent Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary, or any other Environmental Liability, related to the Parent Borrower or any Subsidiary, or (iv) any actual or prospective claim, litigation, investigation or proceeding relating to any of the foregoing, whether based on contract, tort or any other theory, whether brought by a third party or by the Parent Borrower or any Subsidiary and regardless of whether any Indemnitee is a party thereto, provided that such indemnity shall not, as to any Indemnitee, be available to the extent that such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or related expenses (i) are determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by final, non-appealable judgment to have resulted from the gross negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct of, or a material breach of the Loan Documents by, such Indemnitee or its Related Parties or (ii) any dispute between or among Indemnitees not arising from an act or omission by the Parent Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries except that each Agent, the Lead Arrangers, Issuing Banks and the Joint Bookrunners shall be indemnified in their capacities as such to the extent that none of the exceptions set forth in clause (i) applies to such Person at such time. This Section 9.03(b) shall not apply with respect to Taxes other than Taxes that represent losses, claims, damages, etc. arising from any non-Tax claim.

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

 

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(d) To the extent that the Parent Borrower fails to pay any amount required to be paid by it to the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent or any Issuing Bank under paragraph (a) or (b) of this Section, each Lender severally agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent, Collateral Agent or Issuing Bank, as the case may be, such Lender’s pro rata share (determined as of the time that the applicable unreimbursed expense or indemnity payment is sought) of such unpaid amount, provided that the unreimbursed expense or indemnified loss, claim, damage, liability or related expense, as the case may be, was incurred by or asserted against the Administrative Agent, Collateral Agent or Issuing Bank, in its capacity as such. For purposes hereof, a Lender’s “pro rata share” shall be determined based upon its share of the aggregate Revolving Exposure, outstanding Term Loans and unused Commitments at the time. The obligations of the Lenders under this paragraph (c) are subject to the last sentence of Section 2.02(a) (which shall apply mutatis mutandis to the Lenders’ obligations under this paragraph (c)).

(e) To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, neither Borrower shall assert, and each hereby waives, any claim against any Indemnitee for any damages arising from the use by others of information or other materials obtained through telecommunications, electronic or other information transmission systems (including the Internet), provided that such indemnity shall not, as to any Indemnitee, be available to the extent that such damages are determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by final, non-appealable judgment to have resulted from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of, or a material breach of the Loan Documents by, such Indemnitee or its Related Parties.

(f) All amounts due under this Section shall be payable not later than thirty (30) days after written demand therefor; provided, however, that any Indemnitee shall promptly refund an indemnification payment received hereunder to the extent that there is a final judicial determination that such Indemnitee was not entitled to indemnification with respect to such payment pursuant to this Section 9.03.

SECTION 9.04 Successors and Assigns.

(a) The provisions of this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby (including any Affiliate of the Issuing Bank that issues any Letter of Credit), except that (i) no Borrower may assign or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of each Lender (and any attempted assignment or transfer by such Borrower without such consent shall be null and void), (ii) no assignment shall be made to any Defaulting Lender or any of its Subsidiaries, or any Persons who, upon becoming a Lender hereunder, would constitute any of the foregoing Persons described in this clause (ii) and (iii) no Lender may assign or otherwise transfer its rights or obligations hereunder except in accordance with this Section. Nothing in this Agreement, expressed or implied, shall be construed to confer upon any Person (other than the parties hereto, their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby (including any Affiliate of the Issuing Bank that issued any Letter of Credit), Participants (to the extent provided in paragraph (c) of this Section) and, to the extent expressly contemplated hereby, the Related Parties of each of the Agents, the Issuing Bank and the Lenders) any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or by reason of this Agreement.

(b) (i) Subject to the conditions set forth in paragraphs (b)(ii) and (g) below, any Lender may assign to one or more Eligible Assignees all or a portion of its rights and obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Commitment and the Loans at the time owing to it) with the prior written consent of (A) the Parent Borrower (such consent (except with respect to assignments to competitors of the Parent Borrower, the Co-Borrower or any Subsidiary that constitute Disqualified Lenders) not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed), provided that (1) no consent of the Parent Borrower shall be required for an assignment (w) by a Term Lender to any other Term Lender or an Affiliate of any Term Lender, (x) by a Term Lender to an Approved Fund, (y) by a Revolving Lender to any other Revolving Lender or their Affiliates of similar creditworthiness or (z) if a Significant Event of Default has occurred and is continuing unless, in the case of clause (z) above only, such assignment is to a competitor of the Parent Borrower, the Co-Borrower or any Subsidiary that constitute Disqualified Lenders, (2) the Parent Borrower shall have the right to withhold its consent to any assignment if, in order for such assignment to comply with applicable law, any Loan Party would be required to obtain the consent of, or make any filing or registration with, any Governmental Authority and (3) the Parent Borrower shall be deemed to have consented to any such assignment of Term Loans unless it shall object thereto by written notice to the Administrative Agent within 15 Business Days after written notice of such assignment shall have delivered to the Parent Borrower, (B) the Administrative Agent (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed), provided that no consent of the Administrative Agent shall be required for an assignment of a Term Loan to a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund or to the Parent Borrower or any Affiliate thereof or to an Affiliated Lender or Affiliated Debt Fund and (C) solely in the

 

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case of assignments of Revolving Loans and Revolving Commitments to an Eligible Assignee, each Issuing Bank and Swingline Lender (in each case, such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed), provided that, for the avoidance of doubt, no consent of any Issuing Bank or the Swingline Lender shall be required for an assignment of all or any portion of a Term Loan or Term Commitment. In connection with obtaining the Borrowers’ consent to assignments of Revolving Loans and Revolving Commitments in accordance with this Section, the Borrowers shall be permitted to designate in writing to the Administrative Agent up to two additional individuals who shall be copied on any such consent requests (or receive separate notice of such proposed assignments) from the Administrative Agent.

(ii) Assignments shall be subject to the following additional conditions: (A) except in the case of an assignment to a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund or an assignment of the entire remaining amount of the assigning Lender’s Commitment or Loans of any Class, the amount of the Commitment or Loans of the assigning Lender subject to each such assignment (determined as of the trade date specified in the Assignment and Assumption with respect to such assignment or, if no trade date is so specified, as of the date the Assignment and Assumption with respect to such assignment is delivered to the Administrative Agent) shall not be less than, in the case of a Revolving Loan or Revolving Commitment, $5,000,000 or, in the case of a Term Loan, $1,000,000, unless the Parent Borrower and the Administrative Agent otherwise consent (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed), provided that no such consent of the Parent Borrower shall be required if a Significant Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, (B) each partial assignment shall be made as an assignment of a proportionate part of all the assigning Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement, provided that this subclause (B) shall not be construed to prohibit assignment of a proportionate part of all the assigning Lender’s rights and obligations in respect of one Class of Commitments or Loans, (C) the parties to each assignment shall execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent an Assignment and Assumption (which shall include a representation by the assignee that it meets all the requirements to be an Eligible Assignee), together (unless waived by the Administrative Agent) with a processing and recordation fee of $3,500, provided that assignments made pursuant to Section 2.19(b) or Section 9.02(c) shall not require the signature of the assigning Lender to become effective; (D) the assignee, if it shall not be a Lender, shall deliver to the Administrative Agent any tax documentation required by Section 2.17(d) and an Administrative Questionnaire in which the assignee designates one or more credit contacts to whom all syndicate-level information (which may contain material non-public information about the Parent Borrower, the Loan Parties and their Related Parties or their respective securities) will be made available and who may receive such information in accordance with the assignee’s compliance procedures and applicable laws, including Federal and state securities laws and (E) unless the Parent Borrower otherwise consents, no assignment of all or any portion of the Revolving Commitment of a Lender that is also an Issuing Bank or Swingline Lender may be made unless (1) the assignee shall be or become an Issuing Bank or Swingline Lender, as applicable, and assume a ratable portion of the rights and obligations of such assignor in its capacity as Issuing Bank or Swingline Lender, as applicable, or (2) the assignor agrees, in its discretion, to retain all of its rights with respect to and obligations to make or issue Letters of Credit or Swingline Loans, as applicable, hereunder in which case the Applicable Fronting Exposure of such assignor may exceed such assignor’s Revolving Commitment for purposes of Sections 2.04(a) and 2.05(b) by an amount not to exceed the difference between the assignor’s Revolving Commitment prior to such assignment and the assignor’s Revolving Commitment following such assignment; provided that no such consent of the Parent Borrower shall be required if a Significant Event of Default has occurred and is continuing.

(iii) Subject to acceptance and recording thereof pursuant to paragraph (b)(v) of this Section, from and after the effective date specified in each Assignment and Assumption, the assignee thereunder shall be a party hereto and, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Assumption, have the rights and obligations of a Lender under this Agreement, and the assigning Lender thereunder shall, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Assumption, be released from its obligations under this Agreement (and, in the case of an Assignment and Assumption covering all of the assigning Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement, such Lender shall cease to be a party hereto but shall continue to be entitled to the benefits of (and subject to the obligations and limitations of) Sections 2.15, 2.16, 2.17 and 9.03 and to any fees payable hereunder that have accrued for such Lender’s account but have not yet been paid). Any assignment or transfer by a Lender of rights or obligations under this Agreement that does not comply with this Section shall be treated for purposes of this Agreement as a sale by such Lender of a participation in such rights and obligations in accordance with paragraph (c)(i) of this Section.

 

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(iv) The Administrative Agent, acting for this purpose as an agent of the Parent Borrower, shall maintain at one of its offices in Boston, Massachusetts, a copy of each Assignment and Assumption delivered to it, each Affiliated Lender Assignment and Assumption delivered to it and a register for the recordation of the names and addresses of the Lenders, and the Commitment of, and principal and interest amounts of the Loans and LC Disbursements owing to, each Lender pursuant to the terms hereof from time to time (the “Register”). The entries in the Register shall be conclusive absent manifest error, and the Parent Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Banks and the Lenders shall treat each Person whose name is recorded in the Register pursuant to the terms hereof as a Lender hereunder for all purposes of this Agreement, notwithstanding notice to the contrary. In addition, the Administrative Agent shall maintain on the Register information regarding the designation, and revocation of designation, of any Lender as a Defaulting Lender. The Register shall be available for inspection by the Parent Borrower and any Lender (but only to the extent of entries in the Register that are applicable to such Lender) at any reasonable time and from time to time upon reasonable prior notice. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event shall the Administrative Agent be obligated to ascertain, monitor or inquire as to whether any Lender or participant or prospective Lender or participant is an Affiliated Lender, nor shall the Administrative Agent be obligated to monitor the aggregate amount of the Loans or Incremental Term Loans held by Affiliated Lenders. The parties intend that any interest in or with respect to the Loans under this Agreement be treated as being issued and maintained in “registered form” within the meaning of Sections 163(f), 871(h)(2), and 881(c)(2) of the Code and any regulations thereunder (and any successor provisions), including without limitation under United States Treasury Regulations Section 5f.103-1(c) and Proposed Regulations Section 1.163-5 (and any successor provisions), and the provisions of this Agreement shall be construed in a manner that gives effect to such intent. Notwithstanding anything contained in this Agreement or any other Loan Document to the contrary, if any Lender was a Disqualified Lender at the time of the assignment of any Loans or Commitments to such Lender, following written notice from the Parent Borrower to such Lender and the Administrative Agent: (1) such Lender shall promptly assign all Loans and Commitments held by such Lender to an Eligible Assignee; provided that (A) the Administrative Agent shall not have any obligation to the Parent Borrower, such Lender or any other Person to find such a replacement Lender, (B) the Parent Borrower shall not have any obligation to such Disqualified Lender or any other Person to find such a replacement Lender or accept or consent to any such assignment to itself or any other Person subject to the Parent Borrower’s consent in accordance with Section 9.04(b)(ii) and (C) the assignment of such Loans and/or Commitments, as the case may be, shall be at Fair Market Value; (2) such Lender shall not have any voting or approval rights under the Loan Documents and shall be excluded in determining whether all Lenders (or all Lenders of any Class), all affected Lenders (or all affected Lenders of any Class), Required Class Lenders or the Required Lenders have taken or may take any action hereunder (including any consent to any amendment or waiver pursuant to Section 9.02); provided that (x) the Commitment of any Disqualified Lender may not be increased or extended without the consent of such Lender and (y) any waiver, amendment or modification requiring the consent of all Lenders or each affected Lender that affects any Disqualified Lender adversely and in a manner that is disproportionate to other affected Lenders shall require the consent of such Disqualified Lender; and (3) no Disqualified Lender is entitled to receive information provided solely to Lenders by the Administrative Agent or any Lender or will be permitted to attend or participate in meetings attended solely by the Lenders and the Administrative Agent, other than the right to receive notices or Borrowings, notices or prepayments and other administrative notices in respect of its Loans or Commitments required to be delivered to Lenders pursuant to Article II.

(v) Upon its receipt of a duly completed Assignment and Assumption executed by an assigning Lender and an assignee, the assignee’s completed Administrative Questionnaire and any tax documentation required by Section 2.17(d) (unless the assignee shall already be a Lender hereunder), the processing and recordation fee referred to in paragraph (b) of this Section and any written consent to such assignment required by paragraph (b) of this Section, the Administrative Agent shall accept such Assignment and Assumption and record the information contained therein in the Register. No assignment shall be effective for purposes of this Agreement unless it has been recorded in the Register as provided in this paragraph (b).

(vi) Subject to Section 9.20, the words “execution,” “signed,” “signature” and words of like import in any Assignment and Assumption shall be deemed to include Electronic Signatures, deliveries or the keeping of records in any electronic form (including deliveries by telecopy, emailed pdf. or any other electronic means that reproduces an image of an actual executed signature page), each of which shall be of the same legal effect, validity or enforceability as a manually executed signature, physical delivery thereof or the use of a paper-based recordkeeping system, as the case may be.

 

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(c) (i) Any Lender may, without the prior written consent of the Parent Borrower (except with respect to participations to competitors of the Parent Borrower, the Co-Borrower or any Subsidiary, that constitute Disqualified Lenders in which case the Parent Borrower’s consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed), the Administrative Agent, the Swingline Lender or any Issuing Bank, sell participations to one or more banks or other Persons (other than to a Person that is not an Eligible Assignee (provided that, for the purposes of this provision, Disqualified Lenders shall be deemed to be Eligible Assignees unless a list of Disqualified Lenders has been made available to all Lenders by the Parent Borrower)) (a “Participant”) in all or a portion of such Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Commitment and the Loans owing to it); provided that (A) such Lender’s obligations under this Agreement shall remain unchanged, (B) such Lender shall remain solely responsible to the other parties hereto for the performance of such obligations and (C) the Parent Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Banks and the other Lenders shall continue to deal solely and directly with such Lender in connection with such Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement. Any agreement or instrument pursuant to which a Lender sells such a participation shall provide that such Lender shall retain the sole right to enforce the Loan Documents and to approve any amendment, modification or waiver of any provision of the Loan Documents, provided that such agreement or instrument may provide that such Lender will not, without the consent of the Participant, agree to any amendment, modification or waiver described in the first proviso to Section 9.02(b) that directly and adversely affects such Participant. Subject to paragraph (c)(ii) of this Section, each Borrower agrees that each Participant shall be entitled to the benefits of Sections 2.15, 2.16 and 2.17 to the same extent as if it were a Lender (subject to the requirements and limitations thereof, it being understood that any tax documentation required by Section 2.17(e) shall be provided solely to the Lender that sold the participation) and had acquired its interest by assignment pursuant to paragraph (b) of this Section; provided that such Participant agrees to be subject to Section 2.18 as though it were an assignee under paragraph (b) of this Section. To the extent permitted by law, each Participant also shall be entitled to the benefits of Section 9.08 as though it were a Lender, provided that such Participant agrees to be subject to Section 2.18 as though it were a Lender.

(ii) Each Lender that sells a participation shall, acting solely for this purpose as a non-fiduciary agent of each Borrower, maintain a register on which it enters the name and address of each Participant and the principal amounts (and stated interest) of each Participant’s interest in the Loans or other obligations under the Loan Documents (the “Participant Register”), provided that no Lender shall have any obligation to disclose all or any portion of the Participant Register to any Person (including the identity of any Participant or any information relating to a Participant’s interest in any Commitments, Loans or its other obligations under any Loan Document) except to the extent that such disclosure is necessary in connection with a Tax audit or other proceeding to establish that such Commitment, Loan, or other obligation is in registered form under the Code or Treasury Regulations, including, without limitation, Section 5f.103-1(c) of the United States Treasury Regulations. The entries in the Participant Register shall be conclusive (absent manifest error), and each Person whose name is recorded in the Participant Register pursuant to the terms hereof shall be treated as a Participant for all purposes of this Agreement, notwithstanding notice to the contrary. For the avoidance of doubt, the Administrative Agent (in its capacity as Administrative Agent) shall have no responsibility for maintaining a Participant Register.

(iii) A Participant shall not be entitled to receive any greater payment under Section 2.15 or Section 2.17 than the applicable Lender would have been entitled to receive with respect to the participation sold to such Participant, unless the sale of the participation to such Participant is made with the Parent Borrower’s prior written consent.

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

(e) In connection with any assignment of rights and obligations of any Defaulting Lender hereunder, no such assignment shall be effective unless and until, in addition to the other conditions thereto set forth herein, the parties to the assignment shall make such additional payments to the Administrative Agent in an aggregate amount sufficient, upon distribution thereof as appropriate (which may be outright payment, purchases by the assignee of participations or sub-participations, or other compensating actions, including funding, with the consent of the Parent

 

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Borrower and the Administrative Agent, the applicable pro rata share of Loans previously requested but not funded by the Defaulting Lender, to each of which the applicable assignee and assignor hereby irrevocably consent), to (x) pay and satisfy in full all payment liabilities then owed by such Defaulting Lender to the Administrative Agent or any Lender hereunder (and interest accrued thereon) and (y) acquire (and fund as appropriate) its full pro rata share of all Loans and participations in Letters of Credit and Swingline Loans in accordance with its Applicable Percentage. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that any assignment of rights and obligations of any Defaulting Lender hereunder shall become effective under applicable law without compliance with the provisions of this paragraph, then the assignee of such interest shall be deemed to be a Defaulting Lender for all purposes of this Agreement until such compliance occurs.

(f) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, any Lender (a “Granting Lender”) may grant to a special purpose funding vehicle (an “SPV”), identified as such in writing from time to time by the Granting Lender to the Administrative Agent and the Parent Borrower, the option to provide to the Parent Borrower all or any part of any Loan that such Granting Lender would otherwise be obligated to make to the Parent Borrower pursuant to this Agreement, provided that (i) nothing herein shall constitute a commitment by any SPV to make any Loan and (ii) if an SPV elects not to exercise such option or otherwise fails to provide all or any part of such Loan, the Granting Lender shall be obligated to make such Loan pursuant to the terms hereof. The making of a Loan by an SPV hereunder shall utilize the Commitment of the Granting Lender to the same extent, and as if, such Loan were made by such Granting Lender. Each party hereto hereby agrees that no SPV shall be liable for any indemnity or similar payment obligation under this Agreement (all liability for which shall remain with the Granting Lender). In furtherance of the foregoing, each party hereto hereby agrees (which agreement shall survive the termination of this Agreement) that, prior to the date that is one year and one day after the payment in full of all outstanding commercial paper or other senior indebtedness of any SPV, such party will not institute against, or join any other person in instituting against, such SPV any bankruptcy, reorganization, arrangement, insolvency or liquidation proceedings under the laws of the United States or any State thereof. In addition, notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Section 9.04, any SPV may (i) with notice to, but without the prior written consent of, the Parent Borrower and the Administrative Agent and without paying any processing fee therefor, assign all or a portion of its interests in any Loans to the Granting Lender or to any financial institutions (consented to by the Parent Borrower and Administrative Agent) providing liquidity or credit support to or for the account of such SPV to support the funding or maintenance of Loans and (ii) disclose on a confidential basis any non-public information relating to its Loans to any rating agency, commercial paper dealer or provider of any surety, guarantee or credit or liquidity enhancement to such SPV. The Parent Borrower agrees that each SPV shall be entitled to the benefits of Sections 2.15, 2.16 and 2.17 to the same extent as if it were a Lender (subject to the requirements and limitations thereof, it being understood that any tax documentation required by Section 2.17(e) shall be provided solely to the Granting Lender) and had acquired its interest by assignment pursuant to paragraph (b) of this Section; provided that such Participant agrees to be subject to Section 2.18 as though it were an assignee under paragraph (b) of this Section; provided that an SPV shall not be entitled to receive any greater payment under Section 2.15 or Section 2.17 than the applicable Granting Lender would have been entitled to receive, unless the grant to such SPV is made with the Parent Borrower’s prior written consent (not to be unreasonable withheld, conditioned or delayed).

(g) Any Lender may, at any time, assign all or a portion of its rights and obligations under this Agreement to the Affiliated Lenders (and such Affiliated Lenders may contribute the same to the Parent Borrower), subject to the following limitations:

(1) Affiliated Lenders will not receive information provided solely to Lenders by the Administrative Agent or any Lender and will not be permitted to attend or participate in meetings attended solely by the Lenders and the Administrative Agent, other than the right to receive notices of Borrowings, notices of prepayments and other administrative notices in respect of its Loans or Commitments required to be delivered to Lenders pursuant to Article II; provided, however, that the foregoing provisions of this clause will not apply to any Affiliated Debt Fund;

(2) for purposes of any amendment, waiver or modification of any Loan Document (including such modifications pursuant to Section 9.02), or, subject to Section 9.02(d), any plan of reorganization or similar dispositive restructuring plan pursuant to the U.S. Bankruptcy Code, that in either case does not require the consent of each Lender or each affected Lender or does not adversely affect such Affiliated Lender in any material respect as compared to other Lenders, Affiliated Lenders will be deemed

 

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to have voted in the same proportion as the Lenders that are not Affiliated Lenders voting on such matter; and each Affiliated Lender hereby acknowledges, agrees and consents that if, for any reason, its vote to accept or reject any plan pursuant to the U.S. Bankruptcy Code is not deemed to have been so voted, then such vote will be (x) deemed not to be in good faith and (y) “designated” pursuant to Section 1126(e) of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code such that the vote is not counted in determining whether the applicable class has accepted or rejected such plan in accordance with Section 1126(c) of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code; provided that Affiliated Debt Funds will not be subject to such voting limitations and will be entitled to vote as any other Lender;

(3) Affiliated Lenders may not purchase Revolving Loans by assignment pursuant to this Section 9.04;

(4) the aggregate principal amount of Term Loans purchased by assignment pursuant to this Section 9.04 and held at any one time by Affiliated Lenders (other than Affiliated Debt Funds) may not exceed 25.0% of the outstanding principal amount of all Term Loans calculated at the time such Term Loans are purchased (such percentage, the “Affiliated Lender Cap”); provided that to the extent any assignment to an Affiliated Lender (other than Affiliated Debt Funds) would result in the aggregate principal amount of all Term Loans held by Affiliated Lenders (other than Affiliated Debt Funds) exceeding the Affiliated Lender Cap, the assignment of such excess amount will be void ab initio; ; and

(5) the assigning Lender and the Affiliated Lender purchasing such Lender’s Loans shall execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent an assignment agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit B hereto (an “Affiliated Lender Assignment and Assumption”); provided that each Affiliated Lender agrees to notify the Administrative Agent and the Parent Borrower promptly (and in any event within 10 Business Days) if it acquires any Person who is also a Lender, and each Lender agrees to notify the Administrative Agent and the Parent Borrower promptly (and in any event within 10 Business Days) if it becomes an Affiliated Lender.

Notwithstanding anything in Section 9.02 or the definition of “Required Lenders” to the contrary, for purposes of determining whether the Required Lenders have (i) consented (or not consented) to any amendment, modification, waiver, consent or other action with respect to any of the terms of any Loan Document or any departure by any Loan Party therefrom, (ii) otherwise acted on any matter related to any Loan Document, or (iii) directed or required the Administrative Agent, Collateral Agent or any Lender to undertake any action (or refrain from taking any action) with respect to or under any Loan Document, the aggregate amount of Loans held by any Affiliated Debt Funds shall be deemed to be not outstanding to the extent in excess of 49.9% of the amount required for all purposes of calculating whether the Required Lenders have taken any actions.

Each Affiliated Lender by its acquisition of any Loans outstanding hereunder will be deemed to have waived any right it may otherwise have had to bring any action in connection with such Loans against the Administrative Agent, in its capacity as such, and will be deemed to have acknowledged and agreed that the Administrative Agent shall have no liability for any losses suffered by any Person as a result of any purported assignment to or from an Affiliated Lender.

(h) Assignments of Term Loans to any Purchasing Borrower Party shall be permitted through open market purchases and/or “Dutch auctions”, so long as (i) any offer to purchase or take by assignment (other than through open market purchases) by such Purchasing Borrower Party shall have been made to all Term Lenders with respect to the applicable Class, (ii) no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, (iii) the Term Loans purchased are immediately cancelled and (iv) no proceeds from any loan under the Revolving Credit Facility shall be used to fund such assignments. Purchasing Borrower Parties may not purchase Revolving Loans.

(i) Upon any contribution of Loans to a Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary and upon any purchase of Loans by a Purchasing Borrower Party, (A) the aggregate principal amount (calculated on the face amount thereof) of such Loans shall automatically be cancelled and retired by such Borrower on the date of such contribution or purchase (and, if requested by the Administrative Agent, with respect to a contribution of Loans, any applicable contributing Lender shall execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent an Assignment and Assumption, or such other form as may be reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent, in respect thereof pursuant to which the respective Lender assigns its interest in such Loans to such Borrower for immediate cancellation) and (B) the Administrative Agent shall record such cancellation or retirement in the Register.

 

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SECTION 9.05 Survival. All covenants, agreements, representations and warranties made by the Loan Parties in the Loan Documents and in the certificates or other instruments delivered in connection with or pursuant to any Loan Document shall be considered to have been relied upon by the other parties hereto and shall survive the execution and delivery of the Loan Documents and the making of any Loans and issuance, amendment, renewal, increase, or extension of any Letter of Credit, regardless of any investigation made by any such other party or on its behalf and notwithstanding that the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank, or any Lender may have had notice or knowledge of any Default or incorrect representation or warranty at the time any credit is extended hereunder, and shall continue in full force and effect as long as the principal of or any accrued interest on any Loan or any fee or any other amount payable under this Agreement is outstanding and unpaid or any Letter of Credit is outstanding (without any drawing having been made thereunder that has not been rejected or honored) and all amounts drawn or paid thereunder having been reimbursed in full, and so long as the Commitments have not expired or terminated. The provisions of Sections 2.15, 2.16, 2.17 and 9.03 and Article VIII shall survive and remain in full force and effect regardless of the occurrence of the Termination Date. Notwithstanding the foregoing or anything else to the contrary set forth in this Agreement, in the event that, in connection with the refinancing or repayment in full of the credit facilities provided for herein, an Issuing Bank shall have provided to the Administrative Agent a written consent to the release of the Revolving Lenders from their obligations hereunder with respect to any Letter of Credit issued by such Issuing Bank (whether as a result of the obligations of the Parent Borrower (and any other account party) in respect of such Letter of Credit having been collateralized in full by a deposit of cash with such Issuing Bank or being supported by a letter of credit that names such Issuing Bank as the beneficiary thereunder, or otherwise), then from and after such time such Letter of Credit shall cease to be a “Letter of Credit” outstanding hereunder for all purposes of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, and the Revolving Lenders shall be deemed to have no participations in such Letter of Credit, and no obligations with respect thereto, under Section 2.05(e) or Section 2.05(f).

SECTION 9.06 Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts (and by different parties hereto on different counterparts), each of which shall constitute an original, but all of which when taken together shall constitute a single contract. This Agreement, the other Loan Documents and any separate letter agreements with respect to fees payable to the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent or the syndication of the Loans and Commitments constitute the entire contract among the parties relating to the subject matter hereof and supersede any and all previous agreements and understandings, oral or written, relating to the subject matter hereof. Except as provided in Section 4.01, this Agreement shall become effective when it shall have been executed by the Administrative Agent and when the Administrative Agent shall have received counterparts hereof that, when taken together, bear the signatures of each of the other parties hereto, and thereafter shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page of this Agreement by facsimile or other electronic means shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Agreement.

SECTION 9.07 Severability. Any provision of this Agreement held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability without affecting the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions hereof; and the invalidity of a particular provision in a particular jurisdiction shall not invalidate such provision in any other jurisdiction.

SECTION 9.08 Right of Setoff; Payments Set Aside.

(a) Right of Setoff. If a Significant Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, each Lender and each Issuing Bank is hereby authorized at any time and from time to time, to the fullest extent permitted by law, to set off and apply any and all deposits (general or special, time or demand, provisional or final, in whatever currency) at any time held and other obligations (in whatever currency) at any time owing by such Lender or such Issuing Bank to or for the credit or the account of any Borrower against any of and all the obligations of the Parent Borrower then due and owing under this Agreement held by such Lender or Issuing Bank, irrespective of whether or not such Lender or Issuing Bank shall have made any demand under this Agreement and although such obligations are owed to a branch or office of such Lender or Issuing Bank different from the branch or office

 

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holding such deposit or obligated on such Indebtedness; provided that in the event that any Defaulting Lender shall exercise any such right of setoff, (a) all amounts so set off shall be paid over immediately to the Administrative Agent for further application in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.22 and, pending such payment, shall be segregated by such Defaulting Lender from its other funds and deemed held in trust for the benefit of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders and (b) the Defaulting Lender shall provide promptly to the Administrative Agent a statement describing in reasonable detail the Secured Obligations owing to such Defaulting Lender as to which it exercised such right of setoff. The applicable Lender and applicable Issuing Bank shall notify the Parent Borrower and the Administrative Agent of such setoff and application, provided that any failure to give or any delay in giving such notice shall not affect the validity of any such setoff and application under this Section. The rights of each Lender and each Issuing Bank under this Section are in addition to other rights and remedies (including other rights of setoff) that such Lender or such Issuing Bank may have. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no amount set off from any Guarantor shall be applied to any Excluded Swap Obligation of such Guarantor.

(b) Payments Set Aside. To the extent that any payment by or on behalf of any Borrower is made to the Administrative Agent or any Lender, or the Administrative Agent or any Lender exercises its right of setoff, and such payment or the proceeds of such setoff or any part thereof is subsequently invalidated, declared to be fraudulent or preferential, set aside or required (including pursuant to any settlement entered into by the Administrative Agent or such Lender in its discretion) to be repaid to a trustee, receiver or any other party, in connection with any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law or other applicable law or equitable cause, then (i) to the extent of such recovery, the obligation or part thereof originally intended to be satisfied shall be revived and continued in full force and effect as if such payment had not been made or such setoff had not occurred, and (ii) each Lender severally agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent upon demand its applicable share of any amount so recovered from or repaid by the Administrative Agent, plus interest thereon from the date of such demand to the date such payment is made at a rate per annum equal to the greater of the NYFRB Rate from time to time in effect and a rate determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation.

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

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

(b) Subject to the last sentence of this clause (b), each of parties hereto hereby irrevocably and unconditionally submits, for itself and its property, to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Supreme Court of the State of New York sitting in New York County and of the United States District Court of the Southern District of New York sitting in New York County, and any appellate court from any thereof, in any action or proceeding arising out of or relating to any Loan Document, or for recognition or enforcement of any judgment, and each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably and unconditionally agrees that all claims in respect of any such action or proceeding may be heard and determined in such New York State or, to the extent permitted by law, in such Federal court. Each of the parties hereto agrees that a final judgment in any such action or proceeding shall be conclusive and may be enforced in other jurisdictions by suit on the judgment or in any other manner provided by law. Nothing in any Loan Document shall affect any right that any Agent, any Issuing Bank or any Lender may otherwise have to bring any action or proceeding relating to any Loan Document against the Borrowers or their respective properties in the courts of any jurisdiction.

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

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

 

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

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

SECTION 9.12 Confidentiality.

(a) Each of the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent, the Issuing Banks and the Lenders agrees to maintain the confidentiality of the Information (as defined below), except that Information may be disclosed (a) to their and their Affiliates’ directors, officers, employees, members, partners, trustees and agents, including accountants, legal counsel and other agents and advisors (it being understood that the Persons to whom such disclosure is made will be informed of the confidential nature of such Information and instructed to keep such Information confidential and any failure of such Persons to comply with this Section 9.12 shall constitute a breach of this Section 9.12 by the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent, the relevant Issuing Bank, or the relevant Lender, as applicable), (b) (x) to the extent requested by any regulatory authority, required by applicable law or by any subpoena or similar legal process or (y) necessary in connection with the exercise of remedies; provided that, (i) in each case, unless specifically prohibited by applicable law or court order, each Lender and the Administrative Agent shall notify the Parent Borrower of any request by any governmental agency or representative thereof (other than any such request in connection with an examination of the financial condition of such Lender by such governmental agency or other routine examinations of such Lender by such governmental agency) for disclosure of any such non-public information prior to disclosure of such information and (ii) in the case of clause (y) only, each Lender and the Administrative Agent shall use its reasonable best efforts to ensure that such Information is kept confidential in connection with the exercise of such remedies, and provided, further, that in no event shall any Lender or the Administrative Agent be obligated or required to return any materials furnished by the Parent Borrower or any of their Subsidiaries, (c) to any other party to this Agreement, (d) subject to an agreement containing confidentiality undertakings substantially similar to those of this Section, to (i) any assignee of or Participant in, or any prospective assignee of or Participant in, any of its rights or obligations under this Agreement or (ii) any actual or prospective counterparty (or its advisors) to any Swap Agreement relating to any Loan Party or their Subsidiaries and its obligations under the Loan Documents, (e) with the consent of the Parent Borrower, in the case of Information provided by the Parent Borrower or any other Subsidiary, (f) to the extent such Information (i) becomes publicly available other than as a result of a breach of this Section or (ii) becomes available to the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent, any Issuing Bank or any Lender on a non-confidential basis from a source other than the Parent Borrower, (g) to any ratings agency or the CUSIP Service Bureau on a confidential basis or (h) subject to an agreement containing confidentiality undertakings substantially similar to those of this Section, to market data collectors, similar services providers to the lending industry, and service providers to the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent, the Issuing Banks and the Lenders in connection with the administration and management of this Agreement. For the purposes of this Section, “Information” means all information received from a Borrower or any Subsidiary relating to a Borrower, any Subsidiary or their business, other than any such information that is available to the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent, any Issuing Bank or any Lender on a non-confidential basis prior to disclosure by a Borrower. Any Person required to maintain the confidentiality of Information as provided in this Section shall be considered to have complied with its obligation to do so if such Person has exercised the same degree of care to maintain the confidentiality of such Information as such Person would accord to its own confidential information.

(b) EACH LENDER ACKNOWLEDGES THAT INFORMATION AS DEFINED IN SECTION 9.12(a) FURNISHED TO IT PURSUANT TO THIS AGREEMENT MAY INCLUDE MATERIAL NON-PUBLIC INFORMATION CONCERNING THE BORROWERS, THE LOAN PARTIES AND THEIR RELATED PARTIES OR THEIR RESPECTIVE SECURITIES AND CONFIRMS THAT IT HAS DEVELOPED COMPLIANCE PROCEDURES REGARDING THE USE OF MATERIAL NON-PUBLIC INFORMATION AND THAT IT WILL HANDLE SUCH MATERIAL NON-PUBLIC INFORMATION IN ACCORDANCE WITH THOSE PROCEDURES AND APPLICABLE LAW, INCLUDING FEDERAL AND STATE SECURITIES LAWS.

 

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(c) ALL INFORMATION, INCLUDING REQUESTS FOR WAIVERS AND AMENDMENTS FURNISHED BY THE BORROWERS OR THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT PURSUANT TO, OR IN THE COURSE OF ADMINISTERING, THIS AGREEMENT, WILL BE SYNDICATE-LEVEL INFORMATION, WHICH MAY CONTAIN MATERIAL NON-PUBLIC INFORMATION ABOUT THE BORROWERS, THE LOAN PARTIES AND THEIR RELATED PARTIES OR THEIR RESPECTIVE SECURITIES. ACCORDINGLY, EACH LENDER REPRESENTS TO THE BORROWERS AND THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT THAT IT HAS IDENTIFIED IN ITS ADMINISTRATIVE QUESTIONNAIRE A CREDIT CONTACT WHO MAY RECEIVE INFORMATION THAT MAY CONTAIN MATERIAL NON-PUBLIC INFORMATION IN ACCORDANCE WITH ITS COMPLIANCE PROCEDURES AND APPLICABLE LAW, INCLUDING FEDERAL AND STATE SECURITIES LAWS.

SECTION 9.13 USA Patriot Act. Each Lender that is subject to the USA Patriot Act and the Administrative Agent (for itself and not on behalf of any Lender) hereby notifies each Loan Party that pursuant to the requirements of Title III of the USA Patriot Act, it is required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies each Loan Party, which information includes the name and address of such Loan Party and other information that will allow such Lender or the Administrative Agent, as applicable, to identify each Loan Party in accordance with the Title III of the USA Patriot Act.

SECTION 9.14 Judgment Currency.

(a) If, for the purpose of obtaining judgment in any court, it is necessary to convert a sum owing hereunder in one currency into another currency, each party hereto agrees, to the fullest extent that it may effectively do so, that the rate of exchange used shall be that at which in accordance with normal banking procedures in the relevant jurisdiction the first currency could be purchased with such other currency on the Business Day immediately preceding the day on which final judgment is given.

(b) The obligations of the Borrowers in respect of any sum due to any party hereto or any holder of any obligation owing hereunder (the “Applicable Creditor”) shall, notwithstanding any judgment in a currency (the “Judgment Currency”) other than the currency in which such sum is stated to be due hereunder (the “Agreement Currency”), be discharged only to the extent that, on the Business Day following receipt by the Applicable Creditor of any sum adjudged to be so due in the Judgment Currency, the Applicable Creditor may in accordance with normal banking procedures in the relevant jurisdiction purchase the Agreement Currency with the Judgment Currency; if the amount of the Agreement Currency so purchased is less than the sum originally due to the Applicable Creditor in the Agreement Currency, the Borrowers agree, as a separate obligation and notwithstanding any such judgment, to indemnify the Applicable Creditor against such loss. The obligations of the Borrowers under this Section shall survive the termination of this Agreement and the payment of all other amounts owing hereunder.

SECTION 9.15 Release of Liens and Guarantees.

(a) A Subsidiary Loan Party shall automatically be released from its obligations under the Loan Documents, and all security interests created by the Security Documents in Collateral owned by (and, in the case of clause (1), (2) and (3), in each case, to the extent constituting Excluded Assets, upon the request of the Parent Borrower, the Equity Interests of) such Subsidiary Loan Party shall be automatically released, (1) upon the consummation of any transaction permitted by this Agreement as a result of which such Subsidiary Loan Party ceases to be a Restricted Subsidiary (including pursuant to a merger with a Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party or a designation as an Unrestricted Subsidiary), (2) upon the request of the Parent Borrower, upon any Subsidiary Loan Party becoming an Excluded Subsidiary in connection with a transaction permitted under this Agreement, or (3) upon the request of the Parent Borrower, in connection with a transaction permitted under this Agreement, as a result of which such Subsidiary Loan Party ceases to be a wholly-owned Subsidiary or otherwise becomes an Excluded Subsidiary. Upon (i) any sale or other transfer by any Loan Party (other than to the Parent Borrower, the Co-Borrower or any other Loan Party) of any Collateral in a transaction permitted under this Agreement or (ii) the

 

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effectiveness of any written consent to the release of the security interest created under any Security Document in any Collateral or the release of any Loan Party from its Guarantee under the Guarantee Agreement pursuant to Section 9.02, the security interests in such Collateral created by the Security Documents or such guarantee shall be automatically released. Upon the occurrence of the Termination Date, all obligations under the Loan Documents and all security interests created by the Security Documents shall be automatically released. In connection with any termination or release pursuant to this Section, the Administrative Agent shall execute and deliver to any Loan Party, at such Loan Party’s expense, all documents that such Loan Party shall reasonably request to evidence such termination or release. Any execution and delivery of documents pursuant to this Section shall be without recourse to or warranty by the Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent will, and the Lenders irrevocably authorize the Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent to, release or subordinate any Lien on any property granted to or held by the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent under any Loan Document to the holder of any Lien on such property that is permitted by Section 6.02(iv), (viii)(A), (xxiv), (xx), (xi) or (xxii) to the extent required by the terms of the obligations secured by such Liens pursuant to documents reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent.

(b) Each of the Lenders and the Issuing Bank irrevocably authorizes the Administrative Agent to provide any release or evidence of release, termination or subordination contemplated by this Section 9.15. Upon request by the Administrative Agent at any time, the Required Lenders will confirm in writing the Administrative Agent’s authority to release or subordinate its interest in particular types or items of property, or to release any Loan Party from its obligations under any Loan Document, in each case in accordance with the terms of the Loan Document and this Section 9.15.

SECTION 9.16 Interest Rate Limitation. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in any Loan Document, the interest paid or agreed to be paid under the Loan Documents shall not exceed the maximum rate of non-usurious interest permitted by applicable law (the “Maximum Rate”). If the Administrative Agent or any Lender shall receive interest in an amount that exceeds the Maximum Rate, the excess interest shall be applied to the principal of the Loans or, if it exceeds such unpaid principal, refunded to the Borrowers. In determining whether the interest contracted for, charged or received by the Administrative Agent or a Lender exceeds the Maximum Rate, such Person may, to the extent permitted by applicable law, (a) characterize any payment that is not principal as an expense, fee or premium rather than interest, (b) exclude voluntary prepayments and the effects thereof, and (c) amortize, prorate, allocate and spread in equal or unequal parts the total amount of interest throughout the contemplated term of the obligations hereunder.

SECTION 9.17 Acknowledgement and Consent to Bail-In of Affected Financial Institutions. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in any Loan Document or in any other agreement, arrangement or understanding among any such parties, each party hereto acknowledges that any liability of any Affected Financial Institution arising under any Loan Document, to the extent such liability is unsecured, may be subject to the Write-Down and Conversion Powers of the applicable Resolution Authority and agrees and consents to, and acknowledges and agrees to be bound by:

(a) the application of any Write-Down and Conversion Powers by the applicable Resolution Authority to any such liabilities arising hereunder which may be payable to it by any party hereto that is an Affected Financial Institution; and

(b) the effects of any Bail-In Action on any such liability, including, if applicable:

(i) a reduction in full or in part or cancellation of any such liability;

(ii) a conversion of all, or a portion of, such liability into shares or other instruments of ownership in such Affected Financial Institution, its parent undertaking, or a bridge institution that may be issued to it or otherwise conferred on it, and that such shares or other instruments of ownership will be accepted by it in lieu of any rights with respect to any such liability under this Agreement or any other Loan Document; or

 

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

SECTION 9.18 Certain ERISA Matters.

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

(i) such Lender is not using “plan assets” (within the meaning of Section 3(42) of ERISA or otherwise for purposes of Title I of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code) of one or more Benefit Plans with respect to such Lender’s entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Letters of Credit, the Commitments or this Agreement;

(ii) the prohibited transaction exemption set forth in one or more PTEs, such as PTE 84-14 (a class exemption for certain transactions determined by independent qualified professional asset managers), PTE 95-60 (a class exemption for certain transactions involving insurance company general accounts), PTE 90-1 (a class exemption for certain transactions involving insurance company pooled separate accounts), PTE 91-38 (a class exemption for certain transactions involving bank collective investment funds) or PTE 96-23 (a class exemption for certain transactions determined by in-house asset managers), is applicable so as to exempt from prohibitions of Section 406 of ERISA and Section 4975 of the Code such Lender’s entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Letters of Credit, the Commitments and this Agreement;

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

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

(b) In addition, unless either (I) sub-clause (i) in the immediately preceding clause (a) is true with respect to a Lender or (II) a Lender has provided another representation, warranty and covenant in accordance with sub-clause (iv) in the immediately preceding clause (a), such Lender further (x) represents and warrants, as of the date such Person became a Lender party hereto, to, and (y) covenants, from the date such Person became a Lender party hereto to the date such Person ceases being a Lender party hereto, for the benefit of, the Administrative Agent and the Lead Arrangers and their respective Affiliates, and not, for the avoidance of doubt, to or for the benefit of the Parent Borrower or any other Loan Party, that the Administrative Agent, the Lead Arrangers or any of their respective Affiliates is not a fiduciary with respect to the assets of such Lender involved in such Lender’s entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Letters of Credit, the Commitments and this Agreement (including in connection with the reservation or exercise of any rights by the Administrative Agent under this Agreement, any Loan Document or any documents related hereto or thereto).

SECTION 9.19 No Fiduciary Relationship. Each Borrower, on behalf of itself and its subsidiaries, agrees that in connection with all aspects of the transactions contemplated hereby and any communications in connection therewith, each Borrower, the other Subsidiaries and their Affiliates, on the one hand, and the Agents, the Lenders and their respective Affiliates, on the other hand, will have a business relationship that does not create, by implication or otherwise, any fiduciary duty on the part of the Agents, the Lenders or their respective Affiliates, and no such duty will be deemed to have arisen in connection with any such transactions or communications. The Borrowers acknowledge that each Agent, Lender and their respective Affiliates may have economic interests that conflict with those of the Borrowers, their Subsidiaries and Affiliates.

 

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SECTION 9.20 Obligation Joint and Several. The Borrowers shall have joint and several liability in respect of all Loan Document Obligations in respect of the Loans (the “Loan Obligations”) hereunder and under any other Loan Document to which any Borrower is a party, without regard to any defense (other than the defense that payment in full has been made), setoff or counterclaim which may at any time be available to or be asserted by any other Loan Party against the Lenders, or by any other circumstance whatsoever (with or without notice to or knowledge of the Borrowers) which constitutes, or might be construed to constitute, an equitable or legal discharge of the Borrowers’ liability hereunder, in bankruptcy or in any other instance, and the Loan Obligations of the Borrowers hereunder shall not be conditioned or contingent upon the pursuit by the Lenders or any other person at any time of any right or remedy against the Borrowers or against any other person which may be or become liable in respect of all or any part of the Loan Obligations or against any Collateral or Guarantee therefor or right of offset with respect thereto. The Borrowers hereby acknowledge that this Agreement is the independent and several obligation of each Borrower (regardless of which Borrower shall have delivered a request for borrowings under Section 2.03) and may be enforced against each Borrower separately, whether or not enforcement of any right or remedy hereunder has been sought against any other Borrower. Each Borrower hereby expressly waives, with respect to any of the Loans made to any other Borrower hereunder and any of the amounts owing hereunder by such other Loan Parties in respect of such Loans, diligence, presentment, demand of payment, protest and all notices whatsoever, and any requirement that the Administrative Agent or any Lender exhaust any right, power or remedy or proceed against such other Loan Parties under this Agreement or any other agreement or instrument referred to herein or against any other person under any other guarantee of, or security for, any of such amounts owing hereunder.

SECTION 9.21 Electronic Execution of Assignments and Certain Other Documents. The words “execution,” “execute,” “signed,” “signature,” and words of like import in or related to any document to be signed in connection with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby (including without limitation Assignment and Assumptions, amendments or other Borrowing Requests, waivers and consents) (collectively, each an “Ancillary Document”) shall be deemed to include Electronic Signatures, deliveries or the keeping of records in any electronic form (including deliveries by telecopy, emailed pdf. or any other electronic means that reproduces an image of an actual executed signature page), each of which shall be of the same legal effect, validity or enforceability as a manually executed signature, physical delivery thereof or the use of a paper-based recordkeeping system, as the case may be, to the extent and as provided for in any applicable law, including the Federal Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act, the New York State Electronic Signatures and Records Act, or any other similar state laws based on the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act; provided that nothing herein shall require the Administrative Agent to accept Electronic Signatures in any form or format without its prior written consent and pursuant to procedures approved by it; provided, further, without limiting the foregoing, (i) to the extent the Administrative Agent has agreed to accept any Electronic Signature, the Administrative Agent and each of the Lenders shall be entitled to rely on such Electronic Signature purportedly given by or on behalf of the Parent Borrower or any other Loan Party without further verification thereof and without any obligation to review the appearance or form of any such Electronic signature and (ii) upon the request of the Administrative Agent or any Lender, any Electronic Signature shall be promptly followed by a manually executed counterpart. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Parent Borrower and each Loan Party hereby (A) agrees that, for all purposes, including without limitation, in connection with any workout, restructuring, enforcement of remedies, bankruptcy proceedings or litigation among the Administrative Agent, the Lenders, and the Parent Borrower and the Loan Parties, Electronic Signatures transmitted by telecopy, emailed pdf. or any other electronic means that reproduces an image of an actual executed signature page and/or any electronic images of this Agreement, any other Loan Document and/or any Ancillary Document shall have the same legal effect, validity and enforceability as any paper original, (B) the Administrative Agent and each of the Lenders may, at its option, create one or more copies of this Agreement, any other Loan Document and/or any Ancillary Document in the form of an imaged electronic record in any format, which shall be deemed created in the ordinary course of such Person’s business, and destroy the original paper document (and all such electronic records shall be considered an original for all purposes and shall have the same legal effect, validity and enforceability as a paper record), (C) waives any argument, defense or right to contest the legal effect, validity or enforceability of this Agreement, any other Loan Document and/or any Ancillary Document based solely on the lack of paper original copies of this Agreement, such other Loan Document and/or

 

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such Ancillary Document, respectively, including with respect to any signature pages thereto and (D) waives any claim against any Lender-Related Person for any Liabilities arising solely from the Administrative Agent’s and/or any Lender’s reliance on or use of Electronic Signatures and/or transmissions by telecopy, emailed pdf. or any other electronic means that reproduces an image of an actual executed signature page, including any Liabilities arising as a result of the failure of the Parent Borrower and/or any Loan Party to use any available security measures in connection with the execution, delivery or transmission of any Electronic Signature.

SECTION 9.22 Acknowledgement Regarding Any Supported QFCs. To the extent that the Loan Documents provide support, through a guarantee or otherwise, for any Swap Agreement or any other agreement or instrument that is a QFC (such support, “QFC Credit Support”, and each such QFC, a “Supported QFC”), the parties acknowledge and agree as follows with respect to the resolution power of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation under the Federal Deposit Insurance Act and Title II of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (together with the regulations promulgated thereunder, the “U.S. Special Resolution Regimes”) in respect of such Supported QFC and QFC Credit Support (with the provisions below applicable notwithstanding that the Loan Documents and any Supported QFC may in fact be stated to be governed by the laws of the State of New York and/or of the United States or any other state of the United States):

(a) In the event a Covered Entity that is party to a Supported QFC (each, a “Covered Party”) becomes subject to a proceeding under a U.S. Special Resolution Regime, the transfer of such Supported QFC and the benefit of such QFC Credit Support (and any interest and obligation in or under such Supported QFC and such QFC Credit Support, and any rights in property securing such Supported QFC or such QFC Credit Support) from such Covered Party will be effective to the same extent as the transfer would be effective under the U.S. Special Resolution Regime if the Supported QFC and such QFC Credit Support (and any such interest, obligation and rights in property) were governed by the laws of the United States or a state of the United States. In the event a Covered Party or a BHC Act Affiliate of a Covered Party becomes subject to a proceeding under a U.S. Special Resolution Regime, Default Rights under the Loan Documents that might otherwise apply to such Supported QFC or any QFC Credit Support that may be exercised against such Covered Party are permitted to be exercised to no greater extent than such Default Rights could be exercised under the U.S. Special Resolution Regime if the Supported QFC and the Loan Documents were governed by the laws of the United States or a state of the United States. Without limitation of the foregoing, it is understood and agreed that rights and remedies of the parties with respect to a Defaulting Lender shall in no event affect the rights of any Covered Party with respect to a Supported QFC or any QFC Credit Support.

(b) As used in this Section 9.22, the following terms have the following meanings:

BHC Act Affiliate” of a party means an “affiliate” (as such term is defined under, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 U.S.C. 1841(k)) of such party.

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

Default Right” has the meaning assigned to that term in, and shall be interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. §§ 252.81, 47.2 or 382.1, as applicable.

QFC has the meaning assigned to the term “qualified financial contract” in, and shall be interpreted in accordance with, 12 U.S.C. 5390(c)(8)(D).

 

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

 

SMART GLOBAL HOLDINGS, INC., as Parent Borrower
By:  

/s/ Ken Rizvi

  Name: Ken Rizvi
  Title: Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

SMART MODULAR TECHNOLOGIES, INC., as Co-Borrower

By:

 

/s/ Bruce Goldberg

 

Name: Bruce Goldberg

 

Title: Vice President and Secretary

 

[Signature Page – Credit Agreement]


CITIZENS BANK, N.A.,
as Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent
By:  

/s/ Janet Lee

  Name: Janet Lee
  Title:   Managing Director

 

[Signature Page – Credit Agreement]


CITIZENS BANK, N.A., as a Term Lender, Revolving Lender, Swingline Lender and Issuing Bank,
By:  

/s/ Janet Lee

  Name: Janet Lee
  Title:   Managing Director

 

[Signature Page – Credit Agreement]


FIFTH THIRD BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
By:  

/s/ Nick Meece

  Name: Nick Meece
  Title:   Officer

 

[Signature Page – Credit Agreement]


SANTANDER BANK
By:  

/s/ Andrew Naysmith

  Name: Andrew Naysmith
  Title:   Vice President
By:  

/s/ Pooja Kumar

  Name: Pooja Kumar
  Title:   Vice President

 

[Signature Page – Credit Agreement]


BANK OF THE WEST
By:  

/s/ Scott Bruni

  Name: Scott Bruni
  Title:   Director

 

[Signature Page – Credit Agreement]


CAPITAL ONE, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
By:  

/s/ Charlie Trisiripisal

  Name: Charlie Trisiripisal
  Title:   Duly Authorized Signatory

 

[Signature Page – Credit Agreement]


CITY NATIONAL BANK

By:

 

/s/ Brian R. Jones

 

Name: Brian R. Jones

 

Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[Signature Page – Credit Agreement]


KEYBANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
By:  

/s/ Suzannah Valdivia

  Name: Suzannah Valdivia
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[Signature Page – Credit Agreement]


PEOPLE’S UNITED BANK

By:

 

/s/ Kathryn Williams

 

Name: Kathryn Williams

 

Title:   SVP

 

[Signature Page – Credit Agreement]


PNC BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
By:  

/s/ Troy French

  Name: Troy French
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[Signature Page – Credit Agreement]


SILICON VALLEY BANK
By:  

/s/ Alex Grotevant

  Name: Alex Grotevant
  Title:   Vice President

 

[Signature Page – Credit Agreement]


SUMITOMO MITSUI BANK CORPORATION
By:  

/s/ Irlen Mak

  Name: Irlen Mak
  Title:   Director

 

[Signature Page – Credit Agreement]


WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
By:  

/s/ Kim McGuire

  Name: Kim McGuire
  Title:   SVP

 

[Signature Page – Credit Agreement]


BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
By:  

/s/ Erhlich Bautista

  Name: Erhlich Bautista
  Title:   Vice President

 

[Signature Page – Credit Agreement]


THE BANK OF EAST ASIA, LIMITED, NEW YORK BRANCH
By:  

/s/ James Hua

  Name: James Hua
  Title:   SVP
By:  

/s/ Chong Tan

  Name: Chong Tan
  Title:   SVP

 

[Signature Page – Credit Agreement]


BARCLAYS BANK PLC
By:  

/s/ Sean Duggan

  Name: Sean Duggan
  Title:   Vice President

 

[Signature Page – Credit Agreement]


CADENCE BANK
By:  

/s/ Andrew M. Widmer

  Name: Andrew M. Widmer
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[Signature Page – Credit Agreement]


CATHAY BANK
By:  

/s/ Dean Kawai

  Name: Dean Kawai
  Title:   SVP, Sr Loan Investment Officer

 

[Signature Page – Credit Agreement]


COMERICA BANK
By:  

/s/ Mark C. Skrzynski Jr.

  Name: Mark C. Skrzynski Jr.
  Title:   Vice President

 

[Signature Page – Credit Agreement]


FIRST HORIZON BANK
By:  

/s/ William W. George

  Name: William W. George
  Title:   Vice President

 

[Signature Page – Credit Agreement]


HSBC BANK USA N.A.
By:  

/s/ Da Chen

  Name: Da Chen
  Title:   Vice President

 

[Signature Page – Credit Agreement]


MIZUHO BANK, LTD.
By:  

/s/ Tracy Rahn

  Name: Tracy Rahn
  Title:   Executive Director

 

[Signature Page – Credit Agreement]


MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC.
By:  

/s/ Michael King

  Name: Michael King
  Title:   Vice President

 

[Signature Page – Credit Agreement]


SYNOVUS BANK
By:  

/s/ Robert Haley

  Name: Robert Haley
  Title:   Corporate Banker

 

[Signature Page – Credit Agreement]