UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-Q
(Mark One)
☒ | Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 For the quarterly period ended April 29, 2023 |
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☐ | Transition report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 For the transition period from _____________ to _____________ |
Commission file number: 1-2191
CALERES, INC. | |
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter) | |
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New York | 43-0197190 |
(State or other jurisdiction | (IRS Employer Identification Number) |
of incorporation or organization) | |
8300 Maryland Avenue | 63105 |
St. Louis, Missouri | (Zip Code) |
(Address of principal executive offices) | |
(314) 854-4000 | |
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code) |
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of each class | Trading Symbol(s) | Name of each exchange on which registered |
Common Stock - par value of $0.01 per share | CAL | New York Stock Exchange |
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes ☑ No ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files). Yes ☑ No ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company," and "emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act:
Large accelerated filer ☑ | Accelerated filer ☐ |
Non-accelerated filer ☐ | Smaller reporting company ☐ |
| Emerging growth company ☐ |
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).
Yes ☐ No ☑
As of May 26, 2023, 36,272,442 common shares were outstanding.
INDEX | ||
Page | ||
3 | ||
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations | 23 | |
31 | ||
31 | ||
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32 | ||
32 | ||
32 | ||
32 | ||
32 | ||
32 | ||
33 | ||
34 | ||
35 |
2
PART IFINANCIAL INFORMATION
ITEM 1FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
CALERES, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(Unaudited) | |||||||||
($ thousands) |
| April 29, 2023 |
| April 30, 2022 |
| January 28, 2023 | |||
Assets |
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| |||
Current assets: |
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|
|
|
| ||||
Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 36,151 | $ | 33,717 | $ | 33,700 | |||
Receivables, net |
| 148,068 |
| 181,551 |
| 132,802 | |||
Inventories, net |
| 559,467 |
| 643,527 |
| 580,215 | |||
Income taxes |
| 11,882 |
| 11,815 |
| 17,527 | |||
Property and equipment, held for sale | 16,777 | 16,777 | 16,777 | ||||||
Prepaid expenses and other current assets |
| 48,535 |
| 46,254 |
| 50,434 | |||
Total current assets |
| 820,880 |
| 933,641 |
| 831,455 | |||
Prepaid pension costs |
| 84,782 |
| 101,609 |
| 83,396 | |||
Lease right-of-use assets |
| 513,817 |
| 503,393 |
| 518,196 | |||
Property and equipment, net |
| 157,730 |
| 137,600 |
| 160,883 | |||
Goodwill and intangible assets, net |
| 212,353 |
| 224,475 |
| 215,392 | |||
Other assets |
| 28,521 |
| 27,580 |
| 27,150 | |||
Total assets | $ | 1,818,083 | $ | 1,928,298 | $ | 1,836,472 | |||
Liabilities and Equity |
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Current liabilities: |
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|
|
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Borrowings under revolving credit agreement | $ | 291,500 | $ | 305,000 | $ | 307,500 | |||
Trade accounts payable |
| 261,753 |
| 386,821 |
| 229,908 | |||
Income taxes |
| 11,953 |
| 39,418 |
| 7,650 | |||
Lease obligations |
| 136,297 |
| 118,692 |
| 136,051 | |||
Other accrued expenses |
| 177,774 |
| 219,956 |
| 230,087 | |||
Total current liabilities |
| 879,277 |
| 1,069,887 |
| 911,196 | |||
Other liabilities: |
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|
|
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|
| |||
Noncurrent lease obligations |
| 437,171 |
| 452,742 |
| 444,074 | |||
Income taxes |
| 6,940 |
| 7,786 |
| 7,786 | |||
Deferred income taxes |
| 19,185 |
| 14,811 |
| 19,001 | |||
Other liabilities |
| 23,629 |
| 25,044 |
| 28,302 | |||
Total other liabilities |
| 486,925 |
| 500,383 |
| 499,163 | |||
Equity: |
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Common stock |
| 363 |
| 374 |
| 357 | |||
Additional paid-in capital |
| 173,640 |
| 169,025 |
| 180,747 | |||
Accumulated other comprehensive loss |
| (26,260) |
| (8,328) |
| (26,750) | |||
Retained earnings |
| 298,574 |
| 191,165 |
| 266,329 | |||
Total Caleres, Inc. shareholders’ equity |
| 446,317 |
| 352,236 |
| 420,683 | |||
Noncontrolling interests |
| 5,564 |
| 5,792 |
| 5,430 | |||
Total equity |
| 451,881 |
| 358,028 |
| 426,113 | |||
Total liabilities and equity | $ | 1,818,083 | $ | 1,928,298 | $ | 1,836,472 |
See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.
3
CALERES, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS
| (Unaudited) | |||||
Thirteen Weeks Ended | ||||||
($ thousands, except per share amounts) |
| April 29, 2023 | April 30, 2022 | |||
Net sales | $ | 662,734 | $ | 735,116 | ||
Cost of goods sold |
| 360,052 |
| 408,122 | ||
Gross profit |
| 302,682 |
| 326,994 | ||
Selling and administrative expenses |
| 253,095 |
| 260,799 | ||
Operating earnings |
| 49,587 |
| 66,195 | ||
Interest expense, net |
| (5,623) |
| (2,299) | ||
Other income, net |
| 1,492 |
| 3,422 | ||
Earnings before income taxes |
| 45,456 |
| 67,318 | ||
Income tax provision |
| (10,664) |
| (17,333) | ||
Net earnings |
| 34,792 |
| 49,985 | ||
Net earnings (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests |
| 65 |
| (524) | ||
Net earnings attributable to Caleres, Inc. | $ | 34,727 | $ | 50,509 | ||
Basic earnings per common share attributable to Caleres, Inc. shareholders | $ | 0.97 | $ | 1.34 | ||
Diluted earnings per common share attributable to Caleres, Inc. shareholders | $ | 0.97 | $ | 1.32 |
See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.
4
CALERES, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
(Unaudited) | |||||
Thirteen Weeks Ended | |||||
($ thousands) | April 29, 2023 |
| April 30, 2022 | ||
Net earnings | $ | 34,792 | $ | 49,985 | |
Other comprehensive income (loss) ("OCI"), net of tax: |
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| |
Foreign currency translation adjustment |
| (151) |
| (163) | |
Pension and other postretirement benefits adjustments |
| 710 |
| 440 | |
Other comprehensive income, net of tax |
| 559 |
| 277 | |
Comprehensive income |
| 35,351 |
| 50,262 | |
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests |
| 134 |
| (525) | |
Comprehensive income attributable to Caleres, Inc. | $ | 35,217 | $ | 50,787 |
See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.
5
CALERES, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(Unaudited) |
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Thirteen Weeks Ended | ||||||
($ thousands) | April 29, 2023 |
| April 30, 2022 |
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Operating Activities |
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Net earnings | $ | 34,792 | $ | 49,985 | ||
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash provided by operating activities: |
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Depreciation |
| 8,481 |
| 8,064 | ||
Amortization of capitalized software |
| 1,194 |
| 1,265 | ||
Amortization of intangible assets |
| 3,039 |
| 3,028 | ||
Amortization of debt issuance costs and debt discount |
| 102 |
| 102 | ||
Share-based compensation expense |
| 2,905 |
| 3,799 | ||
Loss on disposal of property and equipment |
| 245 |
| 933 | ||
Impairment charges for property, equipment, and lease right-of-use assets |
| 39 |
| 1,777 | ||
Adjustment to expected credit losses | (264) | (617) | ||||
Deferred income taxes |
| 184 |
| 80 | ||
Changes in operating assets and liabilities: |
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Receivables |
| (15,028) |
| (58,698) | ||
Inventories |
| 20,656 |
| (46,775) | ||
Prepaid expenses and other current and noncurrent assets |
| (648) |
| 1,044 | ||
Trade accounts payable |
| 31,885 |
| 55,372 | ||
Accrued expenses and other liabilities |
| (59,624) |
| (43,126) | ||
Income taxes, net |
| 9,102 |
| 43,376 | ||
Other, net |
| 437 |
| 77 | ||
Net cash provided by operating activities |
| 37,497 |
| 19,686 | ||
Investing Activities |
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Purchases of property and equipment |
| (5,750) |
| (9,305) | ||
Capitalized software |
| (798) |
| (2,345) | ||
Net cash used for investing activities |
| (6,548) |
| (11,650) | ||
Financing Activities |
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Borrowings under revolving credit agreement |
| 126,000 |
| 205,000 | ||
Repayments under revolving credit agreement |
| (142,000) |
| (190,000) | ||
Dividends paid |
| (2,482) |
| (2,648) | ||
Acquisition of treasury stock |
| — |
| (14,673) | ||
Issuance of common stock under share-based plans, net |
| (10,006) |
| (3,599) | ||
Contributions by noncontrolling interests |
| — |
| 1,500 | ||
Net cash used for financing activities |
| (28,488) |
| (4,420) | ||
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents |
| (10) |
| (14) | ||
Increase in cash and cash equivalents |
| 2,451 |
| 3,602 | ||
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period |
| 33,700 |
| 30,115 | ||
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period | $ | 36,151 | $ | 33,717 |
See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.
6
CALERES, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Accumulated | Total | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Other | Caleres, Inc. | Non- | |||||||||||||||||||||
(Unaudited) | Common Stock | Additional | Comprehensive | Retained | Shareholders’ | controlling | |||||||||||||||||
($ thousands, except number of shares and per share amounts) |
| Shares |
| Dollars |
| Paid-In Capital |
| Loss |
| Earnings |
| Equity |
| Interests |
| Total Equity | |||||||
BALANCE JANUARY 28, 2023 |
| 35,715,752 | $ | 357 | $ | 180,747 | $ | (26,750) | $ | 266,329 | $ | 420,683 | $ | 5,430 | $ | 426,113 | |||||||
Net earnings |
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|
| 34,727 |
| 34,727 |
| 65 |
| 34,792 | |||||||||||
Foreign currency translation adjustment |
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|
| (220) |
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| (220) |
| 69 |
| (151) | ||||||||||
Pension and other postretirement benefits adjustments, net of tax of $245 |
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| 710 |
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| 710 |
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| 710 | ||||||||||
Comprehensive income (loss) |
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| 490 |
| 34,727 |
| 35,217 |
| 134 |
| 35,351 | ||||||||||
Dividends ($0.07 per share) |
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| (2,482) |
| (2,482) |
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| (2,482) | ||||||||||
Issuance of common stock under share-based plans, net |
| 558,847 |
| 6 |
| (10,012) |
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|
| (10,006) |
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| (10,006) | |||||||||
Share-based compensation expense |
|
|
| 2,905 |
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|
| 2,905 |
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|
| 2,905 | |||||||||
BALANCE APRIL 29, 2023 |
| 36,274,599 | $ | 363 | $ | 173,640 | $ | (26,260) | $ | 298,574 | $ | 446,317 | $ | 5,564 | $ | 451,881 | |||||||
BALANCE JANUARY 29, 2022 |
| 37,635,145 | $ | 376 | $ | 168,830 | $ | (8,606) | $ | 157,970 | $ | 318,570 | $ | 4,817 | $ | 323,387 | |||||||
Net earnings (loss) |
|
|
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|
| 50,509 |
| 50,509 |
| (524) |
| 49,985 | |||||||||||
Foreign currency translation adjustment |
|
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| (162) |
|
|
| (162) |
| (1) |
| (163) | ||||||||||
Pension and other postretirement benefits adjustments, net of tax of $141 |
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|
| 440 |
|
| 440 |
| — |
| 440 | |||||||||||
Comprehensive income |
| 278 | 50,509 | 50,787 | (525) |
| 50,262 | ||||||||||||||||
Contributions by noncontrolling interests | 1,500 | 1,500 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Dividends ($0.07 per share) |
|
|
|
|
| (2,648) |
| (2,648) |
|
|
| (2,648) | |||||||||||
Acquisition of treasury stock |
| (701,324) | (7) | (14,666) | (14,673) |
|
| (14,673) | |||||||||||||||
Issuance of common stock under share-based plans, net |
| 512,508 |
| 5 |
| (3,604) |
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| (3,599) |
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| (3,599) | |||||||||
Share-based compensation expense |
|
|
| 3,799 |
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|
|
| 3,799 |
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|
| 3,799 | |||||||||
BALANCE APRIL 30, 2022 |
| 37,446,329 | $ | 374 | $ | 169,025 | $ | (8,328) | $ | 191,165 | $ | 352,236 | $ | 5,792 | $ | 358,028 |
See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.
7
CALERES, INC.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Note 1 Basis of Presentation and General
Basis of Presentation
The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the instructions to Form 10-Q of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) and reflect all adjustments and accruals of a normal recurring nature, which management believes are necessary to present fairly the financial position, results of operations, comprehensive income and cash flows of Caleres, Inc. ("the Company"). These statements, however, do not include all information and footnotes necessary for a complete presentation of the Company’s consolidated financial position, results of operations, comprehensive income and cash flows in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. The condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its wholly-owned and majority-owned subsidiaries, after the elimination of intercompany accounts and transactions.
The Company’s business is seasonal in nature due to consumer spending patterns, with higher back-to-school and holiday season sales. Although the third fiscal quarter has historically accounted for a substantial portion of the Company’s earnings for the year, the Company has experienced more equal distribution among the quarters in recent years. Interim results may not necessarily be indicative of results which may be expected for any other interim period or for the year as a whole.
The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements and footnotes should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and footnotes included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended January 28, 2023.
Noncontrolling Interests
During 2019, the Company entered into a joint venture with Brand Investment Holding Limited (“Brand Investment Holding”), a member of the Gemkell Group, to sell Sam Edelman, Naturalizer and other branded footwear in China. The Company and Brand Investment Holding are each 50% owners of the joint venture, which is named CLT Brand Solutions (“CLT”). During the thirteen weeks ended April 30, 2022, capital contributions of $3.0 million were made to CLT, including $1.5 million received from Brand Investment Holding. There were no capital contributions during the thirteen weeks ended April 29, 2023. Net sales and operating earnings were $5.2 million and $0.1 million, respectively, for the thirteen weeks ended April 29, 2023. Net sales and operating losses were $2.9 million and $0.9 million, respectively, for the thirteen weeks ended April 30, 2022.
The Company consolidates CLT into its condensed consolidated financial statements. Net earnings (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests represents the share of net earnings or losses that is attributable to Brand Investment Holding. Transactions between the Company and the joint venture have been eliminated in the condensed consolidated financial statements.
Use of Estimates
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the condensed consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Property and Equipment, Held for Sale
During 2021, the Company began actively marketing for sale its nine-acre corporate headquarters campus (the “Campus”) located in Clayton, Missouri. In April 2022, the Company entered into an agreement for the sale of the Campus. Although the Company expected the Campus to qualify as a completed sale within a year, the agreement was terminated in the fourth quarter of 2022. The Company continued to actively market the Campus for sale and in February 2023, the Company entered into an agreement to sell the Campus, subject to certain closing conditions. The Company expects the Campus to qualify as a completed sale within the next year. Accordingly, the Campus, primarily consisting of land and buildings, has been classified as property and equipment, held for sale on the consolidated balance sheets as of April 29, 2023 within the Eliminations and Other category. The Company evaluated the Campus asset group for impairment and determined that no indicators were present as of April 29, 2023.
Note 2 Impact of New Accounting Pronouncements
Impact of Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements
In September 2022, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2022-04, Liabilities – Supplier Finance Programs (Topic 405-50): Disclosure of Supplier Finance Program Obligations. The guidance requires qualitative and
8
quantitative disclosures about supplier finance programs in annual financial statements, including key terms of the programs, amounts outstanding, balance sheet presentation and a rollforward of amounts outstanding during the year. For interim periods, the ASU requires disclosure of total obligations outstanding that have been confirmed as valid. The ASU is effective for years beginning after December 15, 2022, except for the rollforward requirement, which is effective in fiscal year 2024. The Company adopted the amendments on a retrospective basis during the first quarter of 2023, with the exception of the annual rollforward requirement, which will be adopted on a prospective basis by the effective date. Refer to Note 5 to the condensed consolidated financial statements for additional information regarding the Company’s supplier finance program.
Note 3 Revenues
Disaggregation of Revenues
The following table disaggregates revenue by segment and major source for the periods ended April 29, 2023 and April 30, 2022:
Thirteen Weeks Ended April 29, 2023 | ||||||||||||
Eliminations and | ||||||||||||
($ thousands) |
| Famous Footwear |
| Brand Portfolio |
| Other |
| Total | ||||
Retail stores | $ | 308,239 | $ | 16,438 | $ | — | $ | 324,677 | ||||
E-commerce - Company websites (1) |
| 40,206 |
| 53,431 |
| — |
| 93,637 | ||||
E-commerce - wholesale drop-ship (1) |
| — |
| 34,798 |
| (1,268) |
| 33,530 | ||||
Total direct-to-consumer sales | 348,445 | 104,667 | (1,268) | 451,844 | ||||||||
Wholesale - e-commerce (1) |
| — |
| 54,979 |
| — |
| 54,979 | ||||
Wholesale - landed |
| — |
| 142,896 |
| (10,672) |
| 132,224 | ||||
Wholesale - first cost |
| — |
| 19,949 |
| — |
| 19,949 | ||||
Licensing and royalty |
| 585 |
| 3,015 |
| — |
| 3,600 | ||||
Other (2) |
| 128 |
| 10 |
| — |
| 138 | ||||
Net sales | $ | 349,158 | $ | 325,516 | $ | (11,940) | $ | 662,734 |
| Thirteen Weeks Ended April 30, 2022 | |||||||||||
Eliminations and | ||||||||||||
($ thousands) |
| Famous Footwear |
| Brand Portfolio |
| Other |
| Total | ||||
Retail stores | $ | 331,988 | $ | 14,217 | $ | — | $ | 346,205 | ||||
E-commerce - Company websites (1) |
| 51,938 |
| 50,702 |
| — |
| 102,640 | ||||
E-commerce - wholesale drop-ship (1) | — | 31,773 | (998) | 30,775 | ||||||||
Total direct-to-consumer sales | 383,926 | 96,692 | (998) | 479,620 | ||||||||
Wholesale - e-commerce (1) |
| — |
| 60,716 |
| — |
| 60,716 | ||||
Wholesale - landed |
| — |
| 175,327 |
| (14,128) |
| 161,199 | ||||
Wholesale - first cost |
| — |
| 30,076 |
| — |
| 30,076 | ||||
Licensing and royalty |
| 422 |
| 2,906 |
| — |
| 3,328 | ||||
Other (2) |
| 154 |
| 23 |
| — |
| 177 | ||||
Net sales | $ | 384,502 | $ | 365,740 | $ | (15,126) | $ | 735,116 |
(1) | Collectively referred to as "e-commerce" in the narrative below |
(2) | Includes breakage revenue from unredeemed gift cards |
Retail stores
The Company generates revenue from retail sales where control is transferred and revenue is recognized at the point of sale. Retail sales are recorded net of estimated returns and exclude sales tax. The Company records a returns reserve and a corresponding return asset for expected returns of merchandise.
Retail sales to members of the Company’s loyalty programs, including the Famously You Rewards program, include two performance obligations: the sale of merchandise and the delivery of points that may be redeemed for future purchases. The transaction price is allocated to the separate performance obligations based on the relative stand-alone selling price. The stand-alone selling price for the points is estimated
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using the retail value of the merchandise earned, adjusted for estimated breakage based upon historical redemption patterns. The revenue associated with the initial merchandise purchased is recognized immediately and the value assigned to the points is deferred until the points are redeemed, forfeited or expired.
E-commerce
The Company generates revenue from sales on websites maintained by the Company that are shipped from the Company’s distribution centers or retail stores directly to the consumer, or picked up directly by the consumer from the Company’s stores (“e-commerce – Company websites”); sales from the Company’s wholesale customers’ websites that are fulfilled on a drop-ship basis (“e-commerce – wholesale drop ship”); and other e-commerce sales (“wholesale – e-commerce”), collectively referred to as "e-commerce". The Company transfers control and recognizes revenue for merchandise sold that is shipped directly to an individual consumer upon delivery to the consumer.
Landed wholesale
Landed sales are wholesale sales in which the Company obtains title to the footwear from the overseas suppliers and maintains title until the merchandise clears United States customs. The merchandise is shipped directly to the customer from the Company’s warehouses. Many customers purchasing footwear on a landed basis arrange their own transportation of merchandise and, with limited exceptions, control is transferred at the time of shipment. Landed sales generally carry a higher profit rate than first-cost wholesale sales as a result of the brand equity associated with the product along with the additional customs, warehousing and logistics services provided to customers and the risks associated with inventory ownership.
First-cost wholesale
First-cost sales are wholesale sales in which the Company purchases merchandise from an international factory that manufactures the product and subsequently sells to a customer at an overseas port. Many of the customers then import this product into the United States. Revenue is recognized at the time the merchandise is delivered to the customer’s designated freight forwarder and control is transferred to the customer.
Licensing and royalty
The Company has license agreements with third parties allowing them to sell the Company’s branded product, or other merchandise that uses the Company’s owned or licensed brand names. These license agreements provide the licensee access to the Company’s symbolic intellectual property, and revenue is therefore recognized over the license term. For royalty contracts that do not have guaranteed minimums, the Company recognizes revenue as the licensee’s sales occur. For royalty contracts that have guaranteed minimums, revenue for the guaranteed minimum is recognized on a straight-line basis during the term, until such time that the cumulative royalties exceed the total minimum guarantee. Up-front payments are recognized over the contractual term to which the guaranteed minimum relates.
The Company also licenses its Famous Footwear trade name and logo to a third-party financial institution to offer Famous Footwear-branded credit cards to its consumers. The Company receives royalties based upon cardholder spending, which is recognized as licensing revenue at the time when the credit card is used.
Contract Balances
Revenue is recorded at the transaction price, net of estimates for variable consideration for which reserves are established, including returns, allowances and discounts. Variable consideration is estimated using the expected value method and given the large number of contracts with similar characteristics, the portfolio approach is applied to determine the variable consideration for each revenue stream. Reserves for projected returns are based on historical patterns and current expectations.
Information about significant contract balances from contracts with customers is as follows:
Changes in contract balances with customers generally reflect differences in relative sales volume for the periods presented. In addition, during the thirteen weeks ended April 29, 2023, the loyalty programs liability increased $8.8 million due to points and material rights earned on purchases and decreased $9.5 million due to expirations and redemptions. During the thirteen weeks ended April 30, 2022, the loyalty programs liability increased $7.6 million due to points and material rights earned on purchases and decreased $8.2 million due to expirations and redemptions. The liability for loyalty programs is presented within other accrued expenses when earned and is generally
10
expected to be recognized as revenue within one year. The gift card liability is established upon the sale of a gift card and revenue is recognized either upon redemption of the gift card by the consumer or based upon the gift card breakage rate, which is generally within the 24-month period following the sale of the gift card.
The following table summarizes the activity in the Company’s allowance for expected credit losses during the thirteen weeks ended April 29, 2023 and April 30, 2022:
Note 4 Earnings Per Share
The Company uses the two-class method to compute basic and diluted earnings per common share attributable to Caleres, Inc. shareholders. In periods of net loss, no effect is given to the Company’s participating securities since they do not contractually participate in the losses of the Company. The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted earnings per common share attributable to Caleres, Inc. shareholders for the periods ended April 29, 2023 and April 30, 2022:
Thirteen Weeks Ended | ||||||
($ thousands, except per share amounts) |
| April 29, 2023 |
| April 30, 2022 | ||
NUMERATOR | ||||||
Net earnings | $ | 34,792 | $ | 49,985 | ||
Net (earnings) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests |
| (65) |
| 524 | ||
Net earnings attributable to Caleres, Inc. | $ | 34,727 | $ | 50,509 | ||
Net earnings allocated to participating securities |
| (1,478) |
| (2,017) | ||
Net earnings attributable to Caleres, Inc. after allocation of earnings to participating securities | $ | 33,249 | $ | 48,492 | ||
|
|
|
| |||
DENOMINATOR |
|
|
|
| ||
Denominator for basic earnings per common share attributable to Caleres, Inc. shareholders |
| 34,407 |
| 36,209 | ||
Dilutive effect of share-based awards |
| — |
| 467 | ||
Denominator for diluted earnings per common share attributable to Caleres, Inc. shareholders |
| 34,407 |
| 36,676 | ||
|
|
|
| |||
Basic earnings per common share attributable to Caleres, Inc. shareholders | $ | 0.97 | $ | 1.34 | ||
|
|
|
| |||
Diluted earnings per common share attributable to Caleres, Inc. shareholders | $ | 0.97 | $ | 1.32 |
There were no outstanding options to purchase shares of common stock for the thirteen weeks ended April 29, 2023. Options to purchase 16,667 shares of common stock for the thirteen weeks ended April 30, 2022 were not included in the denominator for diluted earnings per common share attributable to Caleres, Inc. shareholders because the effect would be anti-dilutive.
The Company did not repurchase any shares under the share repurchase programs during the thirteen weeks ended April 29, 2023. During the thirteen weeks ended April 30, 2022, the Company repurchased 701,324 shares under the 2019 publicly announced share repurchase program, which permits repurchases of up to 5.0 million shares. Refer to further discussion in Item 2, Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds.
11
Note 5 Supply Chain Financing
The Company facilitates a voluntary supply chain finance program (“the Program”) that provides certain of the Company’s suppliers the opportunity to sell receivables related to products that the Company has purchased to participating financial institutions at a rate that leverages the Company’s credit rating, which may be more beneficial to the suppliers than the rate they can obtain based upon their own credit rating. The Company negotiates payment and other terms directly with the suppliers, regardless of whether the supplier participates in the Program, and the Company’s responsibility is limited to making payment based on the terms originally negotiated with the supplier. The suppliers that participate in the Program have discretion to determine which invoices, if any, are sold to the participating financing institutions. The liabilities to the suppliers that participate in the Program are presented as accounts payable in the Company’s condensed consolidated balance sheets, with changes reflected within cash flows from operating activities when settled. As of April 29, 2023 and April 30, 2022, the Company had $16.8 million and $45.0 million, respectively, of accounts payable subject to supply chain financing arrangements.
Note 6 Business Segment Information
Following is a summary of certain key financial measures for the Company’s business segments for the periods ended April 29, 2023 and April 30, 2022:
Famous | Brand | Eliminations | ||||||||||
($ thousands) |
| Footwear |
| Portfolio |
| and Other |
| Total | ||||
Thirteen Weeks Ended April 29, 2023 |
|
|
|
| ||||||||
Net sales | $ | 349,158 | $ | 325,516 | $ | (11,940) | $ | 662,734 | ||||
Intersegment sales (1) |
| — | 11,940 | — |
| 11,940 | ||||||
Operating earnings (loss) |
| 17,056 |
| 42,669 |
| (10,138) |
| 49,587 | ||||
Segment assets |
| 830,994 |
| 844,263 |
| 142,826 |
| 1,818,083 | ||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |||||
Thirteen Weeks Ended April 30, 2022 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| ||||
Net sales | $ | 384,502 | $ | 365,740 | $ | (15,126) | $ | 735,116 | ||||
Intersegment sales (1) |
| — | 15,126 | — |
| 15,126 | ||||||
Operating earnings (loss) |
| 49,688 |
| 41,349 |
| (24,842) |
| 66,195 | ||||
Segment assets |
| 790,778 |
| 987,397 |
| 150,123 |
| 1,928,298 | ||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1) | Included in net sales in the Brand Portfolio segment and eliminated in the Eliminations and Other category. |
The Eliminations and Other category includes corporate assets, administrative expenses and other costs and recoveries, which are not allocated to the operating segments, as well as the elimination of intersegment sales and profit.
Following is a reconciliation of operating earnings to earnings before income taxes:
12
Note 7 Inventories
The Company’s net inventory balance was comprised of the following:
($ thousands) |
| April 29, 2023 |
| April 30, 2022 |
| January 28, 2023 | |||
Raw materials | $ | 18,367 | $ | 16,112 | $ | 21,172 | |||
Work-in-process |
| 563 |
| 666 |
| 569 | |||
Finished goods |
| 540,537 |
| 626,749 |
| 558,474 | |||
Inventories, net | $ | 559,467 | $ | 643,527 | $ | 580,215 |
Note 8 Goodwill and Intangible Assets
Goodwill and intangible assets were as follows:
($ thousands) |
| April 29, 2023 |
| April 30, 2022 |
| January 28, 2023 | |||
Intangible Assets |
|
|
|
|
|
| |||
Famous Footwear | $ | 2,800 | $ | 2,800 | $ | 2,800 | |||
Brand Portfolio (1) |
| 342,083 |
| 342,083 |
| 342,083 | |||
Total intangible assets |
| 344,883 |
| 344,883 |
| 344,883 | |||
Accumulated amortization |
| (137,486) |
| (125,364) |
| (134,447) | |||
Total intangible assets, net |
| 207,397 |
| 219,519 |
| 210,436 | |||
Goodwill |
|
|
|
|
|
| |||
Brand Portfolio (2) |
| 4,956 |
| 4,956 |
| 4,956 | |||
Total goodwill |
| 4,956 |
| 4,956 |
| 4,956 | |||
Goodwill and intangible assets, net | $ | 212,353 | $ | 224,475 | $ | 215,392 |
(1) | The carrying amount of intangible assets as of April 29, 2023, April 30, 2022 and January 28, 2023 is presented net of accumulated impairment charges of $106.2 million. |
(2) | The carrying amount of goodwill as of April 29, 2023, April 30, 2022 and January 28, 2023 is presented net of accumulated impairment charges of $415.7 million. |
13
The Company’s intangible assets as of April 29, 2023, April 30, 2022 and January 28, 2023 were as follows:
Amortization expense related to intangible assets was $3.0 million for both the thirteen weeks ended April 29, 2023 and April 30, 2022. The Company estimates that amortization expense related to intangible assets will be approximately $11.9 million in 2023, $11.0 million in 2024,
and , and $10.9 million in 2027.Goodwill is tested for impairment at least annually, or more frequently if events or circumstances indicate it might be impaired, using either the qualitative assessment or a quantitative fair value-based test. The Company recorded no goodwill impairment charges during the thirteen weeks ended April 29, 2023 or April 30, 2022.
Indefinite-lived intangible assets are tested for impairment as of the first day of the fourth quarter of each fiscal year unless events or circumstances indicate an interim test is required. The Company recorded no impairment charges for indefinite-lived intangible assets during the thirteen weeks ended April 29, 2023 or April 30, 2022.
Note 9 Leases
The Company leases all of its retail locations, a manufacturing facility, and certain office locations, distribution centers and equipment. At contract inception, leases are evaluated and classified as either operating or finance leases. Leases with an initial term of 12 months or less are not recorded on the balance sheet.
Lease right-of-use assets and lease liabilities are recognized based on the present value of the future minimum lease payments over the lease term. The majority of the Company’s leases do not provide an implicit rate and therefore, the Company uses an incremental borrowing rate based on information available at the commencement date to determine the present value of future payments. For operating leases, lease expense for minimum lease payments is recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term. Variable lease payments are expensed as incurred.
14
The Company regularly analyzes the results of all of its stores and assesses the viability of underperforming stores to determine whether events or circumstances exist that indicate the stores should be closed or whether the carrying amount of their long-lived assets may not be recoverable. After allowing for an appropriate start-up period and consideration of any unusual nonrecurring events, property and equipment at stores and the lease right-of-use assets indicated as impaired are written down to fair value as calculated using a discounted cash flow method. The fair value of the lease right-of-use assets is determined utilizing projected cash flows for each store location, discounted using a risk-adjusted discount rate, subject to a market floor based on current market lease rates. The Company recorded an immaterial amount of asset impairment charges in the thirteen weeks ended April 29, 2023. During the thirteen weeks ended April 30, 2022, the Company recorded asset impairment charges of $1.8 million, primarily related to capitalized software. Refer to Note 14 to the condensed consolidated financial statements for further discussion on these impairment charges.
During the thirteen weeks ended April 29, 2023, the Company entered into new or amended leases that resulted in the recognition of right-of-use assets and lease obligations of $29.6 million on the condensed consolidated balance sheets. As of April 29, 2023, the Company has entered into lease commitments for six retail locations for which the leases have not yet commenced. The Company anticipates that two leases will begin in the current fiscal year, three leases will begin in fiscal 2024 and one lease will begin in fiscal 2025. Upon commencement, right-of-use assets and lease liabilities of approximately $1.4 million, $2.2 million and $0.4 million will be recorded on the condensed consolidated balance sheets in
, and , respectively.The components of lease expense for the thirteen weeks ended April 29, 2023 and April 30, 2022 were as follows:
Note 10 Financing Arrangements
Credit Agreement
The Company maintains a revolving credit facility for working capital needs. The Company is the lead borrower, and Sidney Rich Associates, Inc., BG Retail, LLC, Allen Edmonds LLC, Vionic Group LLC, Vionic International LLC and Blowfish, LLC are each co-borrowers and guarantors.
On October 5, 2021, the Company entered into a Fifth Amendment to Fourth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement (as so amended, the "Credit Agreement") which, among other modifications, decreased the amount available under the revolving credit facility by $100.0 million to an aggregate amount of up to $500.0 million, subject to borrowing base restrictions, and may be increased by up to $250.0 million. The Credit Agreement also decreased the spread applied to the London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”) or prime rate by a total of 75 basis points. On April 27, 2023, the Company entered into a Sixth Amendment to Fourth Amended and Restated Credit agreement to transition the borrowings on the revolving credit facility from bearing interest based on LIBOR to a term secured overnight financing rate (“SOFR”).
Borrowing availability under the Credit Agreement is limited to the lesser of the total commitments and the borrowing base ("Loan Cap"), which is based on stated percentages of the sum of eligible accounts receivable, eligible inventory and eligible credit card receivables, as defined, less applicable reserves. Under the Credit Agreement, the Loan Parties’ obligations are secured by a first-priority security interest in all accounts receivable, inventory and certain other collateral.
15
Interest on borrowings is at variable rates based on the SOFR, or the prime rate (as defined in the Credit Agreement), plus a spread. The interest rate and fees for letters of credit vary based upon the level of excess availability under the Credit Agreement. There is an unused line fee payable on the unused portion under the facility and a letter of credit fee payable on the outstanding face amount under letters of credit.
The Credit Agreement limits the Company’s ability to create, incur, assume or permit to exist additional indebtedness and liens, make investments or specified payments, give guarantees, pay dividends, make capital expenditures and merge or acquire or sell assets. In addition, if excess availability falls below the greater of 10.0% of the Loan Cap and $40.0 million for three consecutive business days, and the fixed charge coverage ratio is less than 1.25 to 1.0, the Company would be in default under the Credit Agreement and certain additional covenants would be triggered.
The Credit Agreement contains customary events of default, including, without limitation, payment defaults, breaches of representations and warranties, covenant defaults, cross-defaults to similar obligations, certain events of bankruptcy and insolvency, judgment defaults and the failure of any guaranty or security document supporting the agreement to be in full force and effect. If an event of default occurs, the collateral agent may assume dominion and control over the Company’s cash (a “cash dominion event”) until such event of default is cured or waived or the excess availability exceeds such amount for 30 consecutive days, provided that a cash dominion event shall be deemed continuing (even if an event of default is no longer continuing and/or excess availability exceeds the required amount for 30 consecutive business days) after a cash dominion event has occurred and been discontinued on two occasions in any 12-month period. The Credit Agreement also contains certain other covenants and restrictions. The Company was in compliance with all covenants and restrictions under the Credit Agreement as of April 29, 2023.
At April 29, 2023, the Company had $291.5 million of borrowings outstanding and $10.6 million in letters of credit outstanding under the Credit Agreement. Total additional borrowing availability was $197.9 million at April 29, 2023.
16
Note 11 Shareholders’ Equity
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss
The following table sets forth the changes in accumulated other comprehensive loss (OCL) by component for the periods ended April 29, 2023 and April 30, 2022:
|
|
| |||||||
Pension and | Accumulated | ||||||||
Foreign | Other | Other | |||||||
Currency | Postretirement | Comprehensive | |||||||
($ thousands) | Translation | Transactions (1) | (Loss) Income | ||||||
Balance at January 28, 2023 | $ | (1,213) | $ | (25,537) | $ | (26,750) | |||
Other comprehensive loss before reclassifications | (220) | — | (220) | ||||||
Reclassifications: |
|
|
| ||||||
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss | — | 955 | 955 | ||||||
Tax benefit |
| — |
| (245) |
| (245) | |||
Net reclassifications |
| — |
| 710 |
| 710 | |||
Other comprehensive (loss) income |
| (220) |
| 710 |
| 490 | |||
Balance at April 29, 2023 | $ | (1,433) | $ | (24,827) | $ | (26,260) | |||
Balance at January 29, 2022 | $ | (788) | $ | (7,818) | $ | (8,606) | |||
Other comprehensive loss before reclassifications |
| (162) |
| — |
| (162) | |||
Reclassifications: |
|
|
|
|
|
| |||
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss |
| — |
| 581 |
| 581 | |||
Tax benefit |
| — |
| (141) |
| (141) | |||
Net reclassifications |
| — |
| 440 |
| 440 | |||
Other comprehensive (loss) income |
| (162) |
| 440 |
| 278 | |||
Balance at April 30, 2022 | $ | (950) | $ | (7,378) | $ | (8,328) |
(1) | Amounts reclassified are included in other income, net. Refer to Note 13 to the condensed consolidated financial statements for additional information related to pension and other postretirement benefits. |
Note 12 Share-Based Compensation
The Company recognized share-based compensation expense of $2.9 million and $3.8 million during the thirteen weeks ended April 29, 2023 and April 30, 2022, respectively.
The Company had net issuances of 558,847 and 512,508 shares of common stock during the thirteen weeks ended April 29, 2023 and April 30, 2022, respectively, for restricted stock grants, stock performance awards issued to employees and common and restricted stock grants issued to non-employee directors, net of forfeitures and shares withheld to satisfy the tax withholding requirement.
17
Restricted Stock
The following table summarizes restricted stock activity for the periods ended April 29, 2023 and April 30, 2022:
Thirteen Weeks Ended | Thirteen Weeks Ended | |||||||||||
April 29, 2023 | April 30, 2022 | |||||||||||
Weighted- | Weighted- | |||||||||||
Total Number | Average | Total Number | Average | |||||||||
of Restricted | Grant Date | of Restricted | Grant Date | |||||||||
| Shares |
| Fair Value |
|
| Shares |
| Fair Value | ||||
January 28, 2023 | 1,603,960 | $ | 18.57 | January 29, 2022 | 1,390,397 | $ | 14.24 | |||||
Granted | 546,384 | 23.09 | Granted | 671,200 | 21.00 | |||||||
Forfeited | (122,245) | 17.96 | Forfeited | (50,966) | 12.63 | |||||||
Vested |
| (420,504) |
| 12.88 |
| Vested |
| (387,854) |
| 12.48 | ||
April 29, 2023 |
| 1,607,595 | $ | 21.64 | April 30, 2022 |
| 1,622,777 | $ | 17.51 |
Of the 546,384 restricted shares granted during the thirteen weeks ended April 29, 2023, 533,584 shares have a graded vesting term of three years, with 50% vesting after two years and 50% after three years, 7,000 shares have a graded vesting term of three years, with 50% vesting after eighteen months and 50% after three years, and 5,800 shares have a cliff-vesting term of two years. The Company granted 671,200 restricted shares during the thirteen weeks ended April 30, 2022, which have a graded-vesting term of three years, with 50% vesting after two years and 50% after three years.
Performance Awards
During the thirteen weeks ended April 29, 2023, the Company granted performance share awards for a targeted 276,434 shares, with a weighted-average grant date fair value of $23.12 in connection with the 2023 performance award (2023 – 2025 performance period). During the thirteen weeks ended April 30, 2022, the Company granted performance share awards for a targeted 87,750 shares, with a weighted-average grant date fair value of $20.99 in connection with the 2020 performance award (2020 – 2022 performance period). At the end of the vesting period, the employee will have earned an amount of shares or units between 0% and 200% of the targeted award, depending on the attainment of certain financial goals for the service period and individual achievement of strategic initiatives over the cumulative period of the award. The 2023 performance award is payable in common stock for up to 100% of the targeted award and the remainder in cash if any portion exceeds the targeted award. Compensation expense is recognized based on the fair value of the award and the anticipated number of shares or units to be awarded for each tranche in accordance with the vesting schedule of the units over the three-year service period.
During the thirteen weeks ended April 30, 2022, the Company granted long-term incentive awards payable in cash for the 2022-2024 performance period, with a target value of $8.3 million and a maximum value of $16.6 million. This award, which vests after a three-year period, is dependent upon the attainment of certain financial goals of the Company for each of the three years and individual achievement of strategic initiatives over the cumulative period of the award. The estimated value of the award, which is reflected within other liabilities on the condensed consolidated balance sheets, is being expensed ratably over the three-year performance period.
Restricted Stock Units for Non-Employee Directors
Equity-based grants may be made to non-employee directors in the form of restricted stock units ("RSUs") payable in cash or common stock at no cost to the non-employee director. The RSUs are subject to a vesting requirement (usually one year) and earn dividend equivalents at the same rate as dividends on the Company’s common stock. The dividend equivalents, which vest immediately, are automatically re-invested in additional RSUs. Expense related to the initial grant of RSUs is recognized ratably over the vesting period based upon the fair value of the RSUs. The RSUs payable in cash are remeasured at the end of each period. Expense for the dividend equivalents is recognized at fair value when the dividend equivalents are granted. Gains and losses resulting from changes in the fair value of the RSUs payable in cash subsequent to the vesting period and through the settlement date are recognized in the Company’s condensed consolidated statements of earnings. The Company granted 1,423 and 1,907 RSUs to non-employee directors for dividend equivalents, during the thirteen weeks ended April 29, 2023 and April 30, 2022, respectively, with weighted-average grant date fair values of $21.47 and $20.64, respectively.
18
Note 13 Retirement and Other Benefit Plans
The following table sets forth the components of net periodic benefit income for the Company, including the domestic and Canadian plans:
Pension Benefits |
| Other Postretirement Benefits | ||||||||||
| Thirteen Weeks Ended | Thirteen Weeks Ended | ||||||||||
($ thousands) | April 29, 2023 |
| April 30, 2022 |
| April 29, 2023 |
| April 30, 2022 | |||||
Service cost | $ | 1,258 | $ | 1,762 | $ | — | $ | — | ||||
| 3,615 |
| 2,971 |
| 13 |
| 10 | |||||
| (6,075) |
| (6,984) |
| — |
| — | |||||
Amortization of: |
|
|
|
|
|
| ||||||
| 1,011 |
| 681 |
| (28) |
| (25) | |||||
| (28) |
| (75) |
| — |
| — | |||||
Total net periodic benefit income | $ | (219) | $ | (1,645) | $ | (15) | $ | (15) |
The non-service cost components of net periodic benefit income are included in other income, net in the condensed consolidated statements of earnings. Service cost is included in selling and administrative expenses.
Note 14 Fair Value Measurements
Fair Value Hierarchy
Fair value measurement disclosure requirements specify a hierarchy of valuation techniques based upon whether the inputs to those valuation techniques reflect assumptions other market participants would use based upon market data obtained from independent sources (“observable inputs”) or reflect the Company’s own assumptions of market participant valuation (“unobservable inputs”). In accordance with the fair value guidance, the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value are categorized into three levels based on the reliability of the inputs as follows:
● | Level 1 – Quoted prices in active markets that are unadjusted and accessible at the measurement date for identical, unrestricted assets or liabilities; |
● | Level 2 – Quoted prices for identical assets and liabilities in markets that are not active, quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets or financial instruments for which significant inputs are observable, either directly or indirectly; and |
● | Level 3 – Prices or valuations that require inputs that are both significant to the fair value measurement and unobservable. |
In determining fair value, the Company uses valuation techniques that maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs to the extent possible. The Company also considers counterparty credit risk in its assessment of fair value. Classification of the financial or non-financial asset or liability within the hierarchy is determined based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement.
Measurement of Fair Value
The Company measures fair value as an exit price, the price to sell an asset or transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date, using the procedures described below for all financial and non-financial assets and liabilities measured at fair value.
Non-Qualified Deferred Compensation Plan Assets and Liabilities
The Company maintains a non-qualified deferred compensation plan (the “Deferred Compensation Plan”) for the benefit of certain management employees. The investment funds offered to the participants generally correspond to the funds offered in the Company’s 401(k) plan, and the account balance fluctuates with the investment returns on those funds. The Deferred Compensation Plan permits the deferral of up to 50% of base salary and 100% of compensation received under the Company’s annual incentive plan. The deferrals are held in a separate trust, which has been established by the Company to administer the Deferred Compensation Plan. The assets of the trust are subject to the claims of the Company’s creditors in the event that the Company becomes insolvent. Consequently, the trust qualifies as a grantor trust for income tax purposes (i.e., a “Rabbi Trust”). The liabilities of the Deferred Compensation Plan are presented in other accrued expenses and the assets held by the trust are classified within prepaid expenses and other current assets in the condensed consolidated balance
19
sheets. Changes in deferred compensation plan assets and liabilities are charged to selling and administrative expenses. The fair value is based on unadjusted quoted market prices for the funds in active markets with sufficient volume and frequency (Level 1).
Deferred Compensation Plan for Non-Employee Directors
Non-employee directors are eligible to participate in a deferred compensation plan with deferred amounts valued as if invested in the Company’s common stock through the use of phantom stock units (“PSUs”). Under the plan, each participating director’s account is credited with the number of PSUs equal to the number of shares of the Company’s common stock that the participant could purchase or receive with the amount of the deferred compensation, based upon the average of the high and low prices of the Company’s common stock on the last trading day of the fiscal quarter when the cash compensation was earned. Dividend equivalents are paid on PSUs at the same rate as dividends on the Company’s common stock and are re-invested in additional PSUs at the next fiscal quarter-end. The liabilities of the plan are based on the fair value of the outstanding PSUs and are presented in other accrued expenses (current portion) or other liabilities in the condensed consolidated balance sheets. Gains and losses resulting from changes in the fair value of the PSUs are presented in selling and administrative expenses in the Company’s condensed consolidated statements of earnings. The fair value of each PSU is based on an unadjusted quoted market price for the Company’s common stock in an active market with sufficient volume and frequency on each measurement date (Level 1).
Restricted Stock Units for Non-Employee Directors
Under the Company’s incentive compensation plans, cash-equivalent restricted stock units (“RSUs”) of the Company were previously granted at no cost to non-employee directors. These cash-equivalent RSUs are subject to a vesting requirement (usually one year), earn dividend-equivalent units, and are settled in cash on the date the director terminates service or such earlier date as a director may elect, subject to restrictions, based on the then current fair value of the Company’s common stock. The fair value of each cash-equivalent RSU is based on an unadjusted quoted market price for the Company’s common stock in an active market with sufficient volume and frequency on each measurement date (Level 1). Additional information related to RSUs for non-employee directors is disclosed in Note 12 to the condensed consolidated financial statements.
The following table presents the Company’s assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis at April 29, 2023, April 30, 2022 and January 28, 2023. During the thirteen weeks ended April 29, 2023 and April 30, 2022, there were no transfers into or out of Level 3.
Impairment Charges
The Company assesses the impairment of long-lived assets whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value may not be recoverable. Factors the Company considers important that could trigger an impairment review include underperformance relative to historical or projected future operating results, a significant change in the manner of the use of the asset, or a negative industry or economic trend. When the Company determines that the carrying value of long-lived assets may not be recoverable based upon the existence of one or more of the aforementioned factors, impairment is measured based on a projected discounted cash flow method. Certain factors,
20
such as estimated store sales and expenses, used for this nonrecurring fair value measurement are considered Level 3 inputs as defined by FASB ASC Topic 820, Fair Value Measurement. Long-lived assets held and used with a carrying amount of $559.5 million and $503.6 million at April 29, 2023 and April 30, 2022, respectively, were assessed for indicators of impairment. This assessment resulted in impairment charges for operating lease right-of-use assets, leasehold improvements and furniture and fixtures in the Company’s retail stores, and in the thirteen weeks ended April 30, 2022, capitalized software.
Thirteen Weeks Ended | ||||||
($ thousands) |
| April 29, 2023 |
| April 30, 2022 | ||
Long-Lived Asset Impairment Charges |
|
|
|
| ||
Famous Footwear | $ | 39 | $ | 370 | ||
Brand Portfolio |
| — |
| 1,407 | ||
Total long-lived asset impairment charges | $ | 39 | $ | 1,777 |
Fair Value of the Company’s Other Financial Instruments
The fair values of cash and cash equivalents, receivables and trade accounts payable approximate their carrying values due to the short-term nature of these instruments.
The fair values of the borrowings under revolving credit agreement of $291.5 million and $305.0 million as of April 29, 2023 and April 30, 2022, respectively, approximate their carrying values due to the short-term nature of the borrowings (Level 1).
Note 15 Income Taxes
The Company’s consolidated effective tax rate can vary considerably from period to period, depending on a number of factors. The Company’s consolidated effective tax rates were 23.5% and 25.7% for the thirteen weeks ended April 29, 2023 and April 30, 2022, respectively. The lower effective tax rate for the thirteen weeks ended April 29, 2023 was driven by discrete tax benefits of approximately $0.6 million in the first quarter of 2023 related to the Company’s stock-based compensation.
As of April 29, 2023, no deferred taxes have been provided on the accumulated unremitted earnings of the Company’s foreign subsidiaries that are not subject to United States income tax, beyond the amounts recorded for the one-time transition tax for the mandatory deemed repatriation of cumulative international earnings, as required by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. The Company periodically evaluates its international investment opportunities and plans, as well as its international working capital needs, to determine the level of investment required and, accordingly, determines the level of international earnings that is considered indefinitely reinvested. Based upon that evaluation, earnings of the Company’s international subsidiaries that are not otherwise subject to United States taxation are considered to be indefinitely reinvested, and accordingly, deferred taxes have not been provided. If changes occur in future investment opportunities and plans, those changes will be reflected when known and may result in providing residual United States deferred taxes on unremitted international earnings.
Note 16 Commitments and Contingencies
Environmental Remediation
Prior operations included numerous manufacturing and other facilities for which the Company may have responsibility under various environmental laws for the remediation of conditions that may be identified in the future. The Company is involved in environmental remediation and ongoing compliance activities at several sites and has been notified that it is or may be a potentially responsible party at several other sites.
Redfield
The Company is remediating, under the oversight of Colorado authorities, the groundwater and indoor air at its owned facility in Colorado (the “Redfield site” or, when referring to remediation activities at or under the facility, the “on-site remediation”) and residential neighborhoods adjacent to and near the property (the “off-site remediation”) that have been affected by solvents previously used at the facility. The on-site remediation calls for the operation of a pump and treat system (which prevents migration of contaminated groundwater off the property) as the final remedy for the site, subject to monitoring and periodic review of the on-site conditions and other remedial technologies that may be developed in the future. In 2016, the Company submitted a revised plan to address on-site conditions, including direct treatment of source areas, and received approval from the oversight authorities to begin implementing the revised plan. The Company has received permission from the oversight authorities to convert the pump and treat system to a passive treatment barrier system and began implementing the conversion during the first quarter of 2023.
21
Off-site groundwater concentrations have been reducing over time since installation of the pump and treat system in 2000 and injection of clean water beginning in 2003. However, localized areas of contaminated bedrock just beyond the property line continue to impact off-site groundwater. The modified work plan for addressing this condition includes converting the off-site bioremediation system into a monitoring well network and employing different remediation methods in these recalcitrant areas. In accordance with the work plan, a pilot test was conducted of certain groundwater remediation methods and the results of that test were used to develop more detailed plans for remedial activities in the off-site areas, which were approved by the authorities and are being implemented in a phased manner. The results of groundwater monitoring are being used to evaluate the effectiveness of these activities. The Company continues to implement the expanded remedy work plan that was approved by the oversight authorities in 2015 and to work with the oversight authorities on the off-site work plan.
The cumulative expenditures for both on-site and off-site remediation through April 29, 2023 were $33.4 million. The Company has recovered a portion of these expenditures from insurers and other third parties. The reserve for the anticipated future remediation activities at April 29, 2023 is $9.6 million, of which $8.7 million is recorded within other liabilities and $0.9 million is recorded within other accrued expenses. Of the total $9.6 million reserve, $4.8 million is for off-site remediation and $4.8 million is for on-site remediation. The liability for the on-site remediation was discounted at 4.8%. On an undiscounted basis, the on-site remediation liability would be $13.2 million as of April 29, 2023. The Company expects to spend approximately $0.6 million in 2023, $0.1 million in
of the following and $12.2 million in the aggregate thereafter related to the on-site remediation.Other
Various federal and state authorities have identified the Company as a potentially responsible party for remediation at certain other sites. However, the Company does not currently believe that its liability for such sites, if any, would be material.
The Company continues to evaluate its remediation plans in conjunction with its environmental consultants and records its best estimate of remediation liabilities. However, future actions and the associated costs are subject to oversight and approval of various governmental authorities. Accordingly, the ultimate costs may vary, and it is possible costs may exceed the recorded amounts.
Litigation
The Company is involved in legal proceedings and litigation arising in the ordinary course of business. In the opinion of management, the outcome of such ordinary course of business proceedings and litigation currently pending is not expected to have a material adverse effect on the Company’s results of operations or financial position. Legal costs associated with litigation are expensed as incurred.
22
ITEM 2 MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
OVERVIEW
Business Overview
We are a global footwear company that operates retail stores and e-commerce websites, and designs, develops, sources, manufactures and distributes footwear for people of all ages. Our mission is to inspire people to feel great...feet first. We offer the consumer a diversified portfolio of leading footwear brands built on deep consumer insights, generating unwavering consumer loyalty and trust. As both a retailer and a wholesaler, we have a perspective on the marketplace that enables us to serve consumers from different vantage points. We believe our diversified business model provides us with synergies by spanning consumer segments, categories and distribution channels. A combination of thoughtful planning and rigorous execution is key to our success in optimizing our business and portfolio of brands.
Known Trends Impacting Our Business
Macroeconomic Environment
Macroeconomic factors, including, among others, inflation, the rising interest rate environment, increasing real estate costs and higher consumer debt levels, continued to impact consumer discretionary spending and our financial results during the first quarter of 2023. We experienced a decline in consumer traffic in our retail stores during the first quarter of 2023, contributing to a decrease in our net sales. While we believe that the structural changes we’ve implemented in the last few years enables the Company to be successful in a variety of different operating environments, changes in macro-level consumer spending trends may continue to adversely impact our financial results in the future. As a result of these macroeconomic factors, we began initiating expense reduction initiatives in the first quarter of 2023, that are expected to result in savings in fiscal 2023. These actions, which will continue in the second quarter, include eliminating open corporate positions, reducing non-merchandise procurement costs and realizing synergies in the Brand Portfolio segment. We have also experienced lower freight costs in the first quarter of 2023, and expect that trend to continue for the remainder of fiscal 2023.
Financial Highlights
Highlights of our consolidated and segment results are as follows:
Thirteen Weeks Ended | |||||||||||
($ millions, except per share amounts) | April 29, 2023 |
| April 30, 2022 | Change (1) | |||||||
Consolidated net sales | $662.7 | $735.1 | ($72.4) | (9.8) | % | ||||||
Famous Footwear segment net sales | $349.2 | $384.5 | ($35.3) | (9.2) | % | ||||||
Famous Footwear comparable sales % change | (8.5) | % | (4.0) | % | n/m | n/m | |||||
Brand Portfolio segment net sales | $325.5 | $365.7 | ($40.2) | (11.0) | % | ||||||
Gross profit | $302.7 | $327.0 | ($24.3) | (7.4) | % | ||||||
Gross margin | 45.7 | % | 44.5 | % | n/m | 119 bps | |||||
Operating earnings | $49.6 | $66.2 | ($16.6) | (25.1) | % | ||||||
Diluted earnings per share | $0.97 | $1.32 | ($0.35) | (26.5) | % |
(1) | n/m – not meaningful |
Metrics Used in the Evaluation of Our Business
The following are a few key metrics by which we evaluate our business, identify trends and make strategic decisions:
Comparable sales
The comparable sales metric is a metric commonly used in the retail industry to evaluate the revenue generated for stores that have been open for more than a year, though other retailers may calculate the metric differently. Management uses the comparable sales metric as a measure of an individual store’s success to determine whether it is performing in line with expectations. Our comparable sales metric is a daily-weighted calculation for the period, which includes sales for stores that have been open for at least 13 months. In addition, in order to be included in the comparable sales metric, a store must be open in the current period as well as the corresponding day(s) of the comparable retail calendar in the prior year. Accordingly, closed stores are excluded from the comparable sales metric for each day of the closure. Relocated stores are treated as new stores and therefore excluded from the calculation. E-commerce sales for those websites that function as an extension of a retail chain are included in the comparable sales calculation. We believe the comparable sales metric is useful to shareholders and investors in assessing our retail sales performance of existing locations with comparable prior year sales, separate from the impact of store openings or store closures.
23
Sales per square foot
The sales per square foot metric is commonly used in the retail industry to calculate the efficiency of sales based upon the square footage in a store. Management uses the sales per square foot metric as a measure of an individual store’s success to determine whether it is performing in line with expectations. The sales per square foot metric is calculated by dividing total retail store sales, excluding e-commerce sales and the retail operations of our joint venture in China, by the total square footage of the retail store base at the end of each month of the respective period.
Direct-to-consumer sales
Direct-to-consumer sales includes sales from our retail stores, our company-owned websites and sales through our customers’ websites that we fulfill on a drop-ship basis. While we take an omni-channel approach to reach consumers, we believe that our direct-to-consumer channels reinforce the image of our brands and strengthens our connection with the end consumer. In addition, direct-to-consumer sales generally result in a higher gross margin for the Company as compared to wholesale sales. As a result, management monitors trends in direct-to-consumer sales as a percentage of our Brand Portfolio segment and total consolidated net sales.
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
Following are the consolidated results and the results by segment:
CONSOLIDATED RESULTS
| Thirteen Weeks Ended | ||||||||||
| April 29, 2023 |
| April 30, 2022 |
| |||||||
% of | % of | ||||||||||
($ millions) |
|
|
| Net Sales |
|
|
| Net Sales |
| ||
Net sales | $ | 662.7 |
| 100.0 | % | $ | 735.1 |
| 100.0 | % | |
Cost of goods sold |
| 360.0 |
| 54.3 | % |
| 408.1 |
| 55.5 | % | |
Gross profit |
| 302.7 |
| 45.7 | % |
| 327.0 |
| 44.5 | % | |
Selling and administrative expenses |
| 253.1 |
| 38.2 | % |
| 260.8 |
| 35.5 | % | |
Operating earnings |
| 49.6 |
| 7.5 | % |
| 66.2 |
| 9.0 | % | |
Interest expense, net |
| (5.6) |
| (0.8) | % |
| (2.3) |
| (0.3) | % | |
Other income, net |
| 1.5 |
| 0.2 | % |
| 3.4 |
| 0.5 | % | |
Earnings before income taxes |
| 45.5 |
| 6.9 | % |
| 67.3 |
| 9.2 | % | |
Income tax provision |
| (10.7) |
| (1.7) | % |
| (17.3) |
| (2.4) | % | |
Net earnings |
| 34.8 |
| 5.2 | % |
| 50.0 | 6.8 | % | ||
Net earnings (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests |
| 0.1 |
| 0.0 | % |
| (0.5) |
| (0.1) | % | |
Net earnings attributable to Caleres, Inc. | $ | 34.7 |
| 5.2 | % | $ | 50.5 |
| 6.9 | % |
Net Sales
Net sales decreased $72.4 million, or 9.8%, to $662.7 million for the first quarter of 2023, compared to $735.1 million for the first quarter of 2022. Net sales of our Brand Portfolio segment decreased $40.2 million, or 11.0% during the first quarter of 2023, compared to the first quarter of 2022. We experienced strong demand during the first quarter of 2022, as our wholesale customers aggressively replenished their inventory levels following improvements to the supply chain delays that were experienced throughout 2021. For the first quarter of 2023, the challenging macroeconomic environment resulted in many of our wholesale customers more tightly managing inventory levels and moderating purchases, which contributed to the decrease in wholesale net sales compared to the prior year. In addition, while our fashion brands trended better, and casual and dress were our top performing categories, brands with a larger assortment of canvas sneakers experienced larger sales declines. Net sales for Famous Footwear decreased $35.3 million, or 9.2%, in the first quarter of 2023 compared to the first quarter of 2022, with comparable sales down 8.5%. Macroeconomic factors continued to impact consumer sentiment, resulting in declines in customer traffic in our retail stores, contributing to the net sales decrease. Due to the late arrival of warmer spring weather in certain parts of the country, we experienced a slower start to our sandal business this year. On a consolidated basis, our direct-to-consumer sales represented approximately 68% of total net sales for the first quarter of 2023, compared to 65% in the first quarter of 2022. We remain focused on maximizing the vertical opportunity between the Famous Footwear and Brand Portfolio segments, with LifeStride, Dr. Scholl’s and Naturalizer representing three of Famous Footwear’s top 15 best-selling footwear brands during the quarter.
Gross Profit
Gross profit decreased $24.3 million, or 7.4%, to $302.7 million for the first quarter of 2023, compared to $327.0 million for the first quarter of 2022. As a percentage of net sales, gross profit increased to 45.7% for the first quarter of 2023, compared to 44.5% for the first quarter of 2022, driven by an increase in the gross margin of our Brand Portfolio segment. Our gross profit rate for Brand Portfolio reflected higher average prices, due in part to an increase in the mix of our higher margin brands and lower inbound freight costs as supply chain operations
24
have normalized. This increase was partially offset by a decline in gross margin in our Famous Footwear segment. Due to supply chain constraints and higher demand in 2021 and the first quarter of 2022, there were fewer product markdowns required and minimal clearance selling. In the first quarter of 2023, our Famous Footwear segment experienced a higher mix of clearance product sold, in line with historical levels.
We classify certain warehousing, distribution, sourcing and other inventory procurement costs in selling and administrative expenses. Accordingly, our gross profit and selling and administrative expense rates, as a percentage of net sales, may not be comparable to other companies.
Selling and Administrative Expenses
Selling and administrative expenses decreased $7.7 million, or 3.0%, to $253.1 million for the first quarter of 2023, compared to $260.8 million for the first quarter of 2022. The decrease was driven by lower cash and stock-based incentive costs and lower warehouse costs, partially offset by higher marketing expenses and retail facilities costs. As a percentage of net sales, selling and administrative expenses increased to 38.2% for the first quarter of 2023, from 35.5% for the first quarter of 2022, reflecting deleveraging of expenses on lower net sales.
Operating Earnings
Operating earnings decreased $16.6 million to $49.6 million for the first quarter of 2023, compared to $66.2 million for the first quarter of 2022, reflecting the factors described above. As a percentage of net sales, operating earnings were 7.5% for the first quarter of 2023, compared to 9.0% for the first quarter of 2022.
Interest Expense, Net
Interest expense, net increased $3.3 million, or 145.0%, to $5.6 million for the first quarter of 2023, compared to $2.3 million for the first quarter of 2022, reflecting higher interest expense on the revolving credit facility attributable to higher interest rates, partially offset by slightly lower average borrowings. The interest on our revolving credit facility is based on a variable interest rate, which has resulted in higher interest expense in the current rising interest rate environment. Our interest expense in 2023 will continue to be impacted by higher interest rates.
Other Income, Net
Other income, net decreased $1.9 million, or 56.4%, to $1.5 million for the first quarter of 2023, compared to $3.4 million for the first quarter of 2022, which reflects a reduction of certain components of net periodic benefit income associated with our pension plans. Refer to Note 13 to the condensed consolidated financial statements for additional information regarding our retirement plans.
Income Tax Provision
Our effective tax rate can vary considerably from period to period, depending on a number of factors. Our consolidated effective tax rate was 23.5% for the first quarter of 2023, compared to 25.7% for the first quarter of 2022. The lower effective tax rate for the first quarter of 2023 was driven by discrete tax benefits of approximately $0.6 million in the first quarter of 2023 related to our stock-based compensation.
Net Earnings Attributable to Caleres, Inc.
Net earnings attributable to Caleres, Inc. were $34.7 million for the first quarter of 2023, compared to $50.5 million for the first quarter of 2022, as a result of the factors described above.
25
FAMOUS FOOTWEAR
Thirteen Weeks Ended | ||||||||||||
April 29, 2023 |
| April 30, 2022 |
| |||||||||
($ millions, except sales per square foot) |
|
| % of Net Sales |
|
| % of Net Sales |
| |||||
Net sales | $ | 349.2 | 100.0 | % | $ | 384.5 | 100.0 | % | ||||
Cost of goods sold | 190.1 | 54.4 | % | 195.3 | 50.8 | % | ||||||
Gross profit | 159.1 | 45.6 | % | $ | 189.2 | 49.2 | % | |||||
Selling and administrative expenses | 142.0 | 40.7 | % | 139.5 | 36.3 | % | ||||||
Operating earnings | $ | 17.1 | 4.9 | % | $ | 49.7 | 12.9 | % | ||||
|
|
|
| |||||||||
Key Metrics |
|
|
|
| ||||||||
Comparable sales % change | (8.5) | % |
| (4.0) | % |
| ||||||
Comparable sales $ change | $ | (31.8) |
| $ | (15.6) |
| ||||||
Sales change from new and closed stores, net (1) | $ | (3.0) |
| $ | 2.0 |
| ||||||
Impact of changes in Canadian exchange rate on sales | $ | (0.5) |
| $ | (0.0) |
| ||||||
Sales per square foot, excluding e-commerce (thirteen weeks ended) | $ | 54 |
| $ | 57 |
| ||||||
Sales per square foot, excluding e-commerce (trailing twelve months) | $ | 250 |
| $ | 251 |
| ||||||
Square footage (thousand sq. ft.) |
| 5,702 |
| 5,870 |
| |||||||
|
|
|
| |||||||||
Stores opened |
| 2 |
| — |
| |||||||
Stores closed |
| 9 |
| 7 |
| |||||||
Ending stores |
| 866 |
| 887 |
|
Net Sales
Net sales of $349.2 million in the first quarter of 2023 decreased $35.3 million, or 9.2% compared to the first quarter of 2022. Comparable sales decreased 8.5% compared to the first quarter of 2022. A challenging macroeconomic environment led to sales declines in both our retail stores and e-commerce business. In addition, a late start to spring weather in many parts of the country led to a soft start to the sandal season. Our kids category, which is a key differentiator for Famous Footwear, outperformed the rest of our categories as families prioritized purchases of children’s footwear. During the first quarter of 2023, we opened two stores and closed nine stores, resulting in 866 stores and total square footage of 5.7 million at the end of the first quarter of 2023, compared to 887 stores and total square footage of 5.9 million at the end of the first quarter of 2022. Sales to members of our customer loyalty program, Famously You Rewards ("Rewards"), continue to account for a majority of the segment’s sales, with approximately 79% of our net sales made to program members in both the first quarter of 2023 and 2022.
Gross Profit
Gross profit decreased $30.1 million, or 15.9%, to $159.1 million for the first quarter of 2023, compared to $189.2 million for the first quarter of 2022. As a percentage of net sales, our gross profit decreased to 45.6% for the first quarter of 2023, compared to 49.2% for the first quarter of 2022. Due to supply chain constraints and higher demand in 2021 and the first quarter of 2022, there were fewer product markdowns required and minimal clearance selling. In the first quarter of 2023, our Famous Footwear segment experienced a higher mix of clearance product sold, in line with historical levels.
Selling and Administrative Expenses
Selling and administrative expenses increased $2.5 million, or 1.8%, to $142.0 million for the first quarter of 2023, compared to $139.5 million for the first quarter of 2022. The increase was driven by higher retail facilities costs, primarily attributable to higher rent expense resulting from inflationary pressures and higher depreciation expense driven by our investment in prototype stores and store renovations during 2022 and the first quarter of 2023. We also experienced higher marketing expense, primarily associated with initiatives to enhance consumer experience. These increases were partially offset by lower warehouse costs and cash-based incentive compensation. As a percentage of net sales, selling and administrative expenses increased to 40.7% for the first quarter of 2023, compared to 36.3% for the first quarter of 2022.
Operating Earnings
Operating earnings decreased $32.6 million to $17.1 million for the first quarter of 2023, compared to $49.7 million for the first quarter of 2022, reflecting lower sales and gross profit and higher operating expenses, as described above. As a percentage of net sales, operating earnings were 4.9% for the first quarter of 2023, compared to 12.9% for the first quarter of 2022.
26
BRAND PORTFOLIO
Thirteen Weeks Ended | |||||||||||
April 29, 2023 |
| April 30, 2022 |
| ||||||||
% of |
| % of | |||||||||
($ millions, except sales per square foot) |
| Net Sales |
|
|
| Net Sales |
| ||||
Net sales | $ | 325.5 | 100.0 | % | $ | 365.7 | 100.0 | % | |||
Cost of goods sold | 181.6 | 55.8 | % | 226.4 | 61.9 | % | |||||
Gross profit | 143.9 | 44.2 | % | 139.3 | 38.1 | % | |||||
Selling and administrative expenses | 101.2 | 31.1 | % | 98.0 | 26.8 | % | |||||
Operating earnings | $ | 42.7 | 13.1 | % | $ | 41.3 | 11.3 | % | |||
|
|
|
| ||||||||
Key Metrics |
|
|
|
| |||||||
Direct-to-consumer (% of net sales) (1) | 32 | % |
| 26 | % |
| |||||
Change in wholesale net sales ($) | $ | (42.2) |
| $ | 104.2 |
| |||||
Change in retail net sales ($) | $ | 2.0 |
| $ | 11.2 |
| |||||
Unfilled order position at end of period | $ | 272.9 |
| $ | 401.5 |
| |||||
|
|
|
| ||||||||
Sales per square foot, excluding e-commerce (2) | $ | 280 |
| $ | 269 |
| |||||
Square footage (thousands sq. ft.) (2) | 101 |
| 108 |
| |||||||
|
|
| |||||||||
North America stores: | |||||||||||
Stores opened | 1 |
| — |
| |||||||
Stores closed | 2 |
| 4 |
| |||||||
Ending stores - North America | 62 | 66 | |||||||||
Ending stores - China | 31 | 17 | |||||||||
Ending stores - Total Brand Portfolio | 93 |
| 83 |
|
(1) | Direct-to-consumer includes sales of our retail stores and e-commerce sites and sales through our customers’ websites that we fulfill on a drop-ship basis. |
(2) | These metrics exclude the retail operations of our joint venture in China. Refer to Note 1 to the condensed consolidated financial statements for further discussion of the joint venture. |
Net Sales
Net sales of $325.5 million in the first quarter of 2023 decreased $40.2 million, or 11.0%, compared to the record-setting first quarter of 2022. We experienced strong demand during the first quarter of 2022, as our wholesale customers aggressively replenished their inventory levels following improvements to the supply chain delays that were experienced throughout 2021. For the first quarter of 2023, the challenging macroeconomic environment resulted in many of our wholesale customers more tightly managing inventory levels and moderating purchases, which contributed to the decrease in wholesale net sales compared to the prior year. In addition, while our fashion brands trended better, and casual and dress were our top performing categories, brands with a larger assortment of casual sneakers experienced larger sales declines. During the first quarter of 2023, we opened one store and closed two stores in the United States resulting in a total of 62 stores and total square footage of 0.1 million, compared to 66 stores and total square footage of 0.1 million at the end of the first quarter of 2022. In addition, we continued to expand our retail store presence in China by opening two new stores, resulting in a total of 31 stores compared to 17 stores at the end of the first quarter of 2022.
Our unfilled order position for our wholesale sales decreased $128.6 million, or 32.0%, to $272.9 million at April 29, 2023, compared to $401.5 million at April 30, 2022. The decrease in our backlog order levels compared to last year primarily reflects more conservative buying by our wholesale customers as they manage their inventory levels in response to consumer sentiment.
Gross Profit
Gross profit increased $4.6 million, or 3.3%, to $143.9 million for the first quarter of 2023, compared to $139.3 million for the first quarter of 2022, primarily reflecting a higher gross margin rate. As a percentage of net sales, our gross profit increased significantly to 44.2% for the first quarter of 2023, compared to 38.1% for the first quarter of 2022, reflecting higher average prices and lower inbound freight costs as our supply chain normalized.
27
Selling and Administrative Expenses
Selling and administrative expenses increased $3.2 million, or 3.3%, to $101.2 million for the first quarter of 2023, compared to $98.0 million for the first quarter of 2022. The increase was primarily due to higher marketing expenses to drive sales growth and higher warehouse costs, partially offset by lower salary and benefits expenses. As a percentage of net sales, selling and administrative expenses increased to 31.1% for the first quarter of 2023, compared to 26.8% for the first quarter of 2022.
Operating Earnings
Operating earnings increased to $42.7 million for the first quarter of 2023, from $41.3 million for the first quarter of 2022, as a result of the factors described above. As a percentage of net sales, operating earnings were 13.1% for the first quarter of 2023, compared to 11.3% in the first quarter of 2022.
ELIMINATIONS AND OTHER
Thirteen Weeks Ended | ||||||||||||
April 29, 2023 |
| April 30, 2022 |
| |||||||||
% of | % of | |||||||||||
($ millions) |
| Net Sales |
|
| Net Sales |
| ||||||
Net sales | $ | (11.9) | 100.0 | % | $ | (15.1) | 100.0 | % | ||||
Cost of goods sold | (11.6) | 97.5 | % | (13.6) | 89.8 | % | ||||||
Gross profit | (0.3) | 2.5 | % | (1.5) | 10.2 | % | ||||||
Selling and administrative expenses | 9.8 | (82.4) | % | 23.3 | (154.0) | % | ||||||
Operating loss | $ | (10.1) | 84.9 | % | $ | (24.8) | 164.2 | % |
The Eliminations and Other category includes the elimination of intersegment sales and profit, unallocated corporate administrative expenses, and other costs and recoveries.
The net sales elimination of $11.9 million for the first quarter of 2023 is $3.2 million, or 21.1%, lower than the first quarter of 2022, reflecting a decrease in product sold from our Brand Portfolio segment to Famous Footwear.
Selling and administrative expenses decreased $13.5 million, to $9.8 million in the first quarter of 2023, compared to $23.3 million for the first quarter of 2022. The decrease primarily reflects lower expenses related to our cash and stock-based incentive compensation plans.
28
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
Borrowings
Total debt obligations of $291.5 million at April 29, 2023 decreased $13.5 million, from $305.0 million at April 30, 2022, and decreased $16.0 million, from $307.5 million at January 28, 2023. Net interest expense for the first quarter of 2023 increased $3.3 million to $5.6 million, compared to $2.3 million for the first quarter of 2022, due to higher interest rates. This increase was partially offset by slightly lower average borrowings under our revolving credit agreement. The interest on our revolving credit facility is based on a variable rate, which has resulted in higher interest expense in the current rising interest rate environment. Our interest expense in 2023 will continue to be adversely affected by the elevated interest rates.
Credit Agreement
As further discussed in Note 10 to the condensed consolidated financial statements, the Company maintains a revolving credit facility for working capital needs. On October 5, 2021, we entered into a Fifth Amendment to Fourth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement (“Fifth Amendment”) that, among other modifications, extended the maturity date of the credit facility from January 18, 2024, to October 5, 2026 and decreased the amount available under the revolving credit facility by $100.0 million to an aggregate amount of up to $500.0 million, subject to borrowing base restrictions, and may be increased by up to $250.0 million. Interest on the borrowings was at variable rates based on the London Interbank Offered Rate ("LIBOR") (with a floor of 0.0%), or the prime rate (as defined in the Fifth Amendment), plus a spread. The Fifth Amendment decreased the spread applied to the LIBOR or prime rate by a total of 75 basis points. On April 27, 2023, the Company entered into a Sixth Amendment to Fourth Amended and Restated Credit agreement (as so amended, the “Credit Agreement”) to transition the borrowings on the revolving credit facility from bearing interest based on LIBOR to a term secured overnight financing rate (“SOFR”).
At April 29, 2023, we had $291.5 million in borrowings and $10.6 million in letters of credit outstanding under the Credit Agreement. Total borrowing availability was $197.9 million at April 29, 2023. We were in compliance with all covenants and restrictions under the Credit Agreement as of April 29, 2023.
Working Capital and Cash Flow
Thirteen Weeks Ended | ||||||||||
($ millions) |
| April 29, 2023 |
| April 30, 2022 |
| Change |
| |||
Net cash provided by operating activities | $ | 37.5 | $ | 19.7 | $ | 17.8 | ||||
Net cash used for investing activities | (6.5) | (11.7) | 5.2 | |||||||
Net cash used for financing activities | (28.5) | (4.4) | (24.1) | |||||||
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents | (0.0) | (0.0) | 0.0 | |||||||
Increase in cash and cash equivalents | $ | 2.5 | $ | 3.6 | $ | (1.1) |
Reasons for the major variances in cash provided (used) in the table above are as follows:
Cash provided by operating activities was $17.8 million higher in the thirteen weeks ended April 29, 2023 as compared to the thirteen weeks ended April 30, 2022, primarily reflecting the following factors:
● | A decrease in inventory during the thirteen weeks ended April 29, 2023, compared to an increase during the thirteen weeks ended April 30, 2022, due in part to lower in-transit inventory levels as the supply chain has normalized; and |
● | A smaller increase in accounts receivable during the thirteen weeks ended April 29, 2023 primarily attributable to lower wholesale sales, compared to the thirteen weeks ended April 30, 2022; partially offset by |
● | A smaller increase in net income taxes payable during the thirteen weeks ended April 29, 2023, compared to the thirteen weeks ended April 20, 2022; |
● | A smaller increase in trade accounts payable during the thirteen weeks ended April 29, 2023, reflecting lower inventory purchases compared to the thirteen weeks ended April 30, 2022, |
● | A larger decrease in accrued expenses and other liabilities during the thirteen weeks ended April 29, 2023, compared to the thirteen weeks ended April 30, 2022; and |
● | Lower net earnings in the thirteen weeks ended April 29, 2023, compared to the thirteen weeks ended April 30, 2022. |
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Cash used for investing activities was $5.2 million lower for the thirteen weeks ended April 29, 2023 as compared to the thirteen weeks ended April 30, 2022, reflecting lower capital expenditures. In 2023, we expect our purchases of property and equipment and capitalized software to be between $55 million and $65 million, as compared to $64.0 million in 2022.
Cash used for financing activities was $24.1 million higher for the thirteen weeks ended April 29, 2023 as compared to the thirteen weeks ended April 30, 2022, primarily due to net repayments on our revolving credit agreement of $16.0 million in the thirteen weeks ended April 29, 2023, compared to net borrowings of $15.0 million in the comparable period in 2022. In addition, the issuance of common stock under share-based plans was $6.4 million higher in the thirteen weeks ended April 29, 2023, compared to the thirteen weeks ended April 30, 2022. These increases were partially offset by $14.7 million of repurchases of our common stock under our share repurchase programs during the thirteen weeks ended April 30, 2022, with no corresponding share repurchases during the thirteen weeks ended April 29, 2023.
A summary of key financial data and ratios at the dates indicated is as follows:
April 29, 2023 |
| April 30, 2022 |
| January 28, 2023 |
| |||||
Working capital ($ millions) (1) | $ | (58.4) | $ | (136.2) | $ | (79.7) | ||||
Current ratio (2) | 0.93:1 | 0.87:1 | 0.91:1 | |||||||
Debt-to-capital ratio (3) | 39.2 | % | 46.0 | % | 41.9 | % |
(1) | Working capital has been computed as total current assets less total current liabilities. |
(2) | The current ratio has been computed by dividing total current assets by total current liabilities. |
(3) | The debt-to-capital ratio has been computed by dividing the borrowings under our revolving credit agreement by total capitalization. Total capitalization is defined as total debt and total equity. |
Working capital at April 29, 2023 was ($58.4) million, which was $77.8 million and $21.3 million higher than at April 30, 2022 and January 28, 2023, respectively. The increase in working capital from April 30, 2022 primarily reflects lower trade accounts payable and accrued expenses, partially offset by lower inventory. The increase in working capital from January 28, 2023 primarily reflects lower accrued expenses, partially offset by higher trade accounts payable. Our current ratio was 0.93:1 as of April 29, 2023, compared to 0.87:1 at April 30, 2022 and 0.91:1 at January 28, 2023. Our debt-to-capital ratio was 39.2% as of April 29, 2023, compared to 46.0% as of April 30, 2022 and 41.9% at January 28, 2023.
We declared and paid dividends of $0.07 per share in the first quarter of both 2023 and 2022. The declaration and payment of any future dividend is at the discretion of the Board of Directors and will depend on our results of operations, financial condition, business conditions and other factors deemed relevant by our Board of Directors. However, we presently expect that dividends will continue to be paid.
We have various contractual or other obligations, including borrowings under our revolving credit facility, operating lease commitments, one-time transition tax for the mandatory deemed repatriation of cumulative foreign earnings and obligations for our supplemental executive retirement plan and other postretirement benefits. We also have purchase obligations to purchase inventory, assets and other goods and services. We believe our operating cash flows are sufficient to meet our material cash requirements for at least the next 12 months.
CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES AND ESTIMATES
No material changes have occurred related to critical accounting policies and estimates since the end of the most recent fiscal year. For further information on the Company’s critical accounting policies and estimates, see Part II, Item 7 of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended January 28, 2023.
RECENTLY ISSUED ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS
Recently issued accounting pronouncements, if any, and their impact on the Company are described in Note 2 to the condensed consolidated financial statements.
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This Form 10-Q contains certain forward-looking statements and expectations regarding the Company’s future performance and the performance of its brands. Such statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially.
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These risks include (i) inflationary pressures; (ii) supply chain disruptions; (iii) changing consumer demands, which may be influenced by general economic conditions and other factors; (iv) rapidly changing consumer preferences and purchasing patterns and fashion trends; (v) customer concentration and increased consolidation in the retail industry; (vi) intense competition within the footwear industry; (vii) foreign currency fluctuations; (viii) political and economic conditions or other threats to the continued and uninterrupted flow of inventory from China and other countries, where the Company relies heavily on third-party manufacturing facilities for a significant amount of its inventory; (ix) cybersecurity threats or other major disruption to the Company’s information technology systems; (x) the ability to accurately forecast sales and manage inventory levels; (xi) a disruption in the Company’s distribution centers; (xii) the ability to recruit and retain senior management and other key associates; (xiii) the ability to secure/exit leases on favorable terms; (xiv) the ability to maintain relationships with current suppliers; (xv) transitional challenges with acquisitions and divestitures; (xvi) changes to tax laws, policies and treaties; (xvii) compliance with applicable laws and standards with respect to labor, trade and product safety issues; and (xviii) the ability to attract, retain, and maintain good relationships with licensors and protect our intellectual property rights. The Company’s reports to the Securities and Exchange Commission contain detailed information relating to such factors, including, without limitation, the information under the caption “Risk Factors” in Part I, Item 1A of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended January 28, 2023, which information is incorporated by reference herein and updated by the Company’s Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. The Company does not undertake any obligation or plan to update these forward-looking statements, even though its situation may change.
ITEM 3 QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
No material changes have taken place in the quantitative and qualitative information about market risk since the end of the most recent fiscal year. For further information, see Part II, Item 7A of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended January 28, 2023.
ITEM 4 CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
It is the Chief Executive Officer’s and Chief Financial Officer’s ultimate responsibility to ensure we maintain disclosure controls and procedures designed to provide reasonable assurance that information required to be disclosed in the reports that we file or submit under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Commission’s rules and forms and is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our principal executive and principal financial officers, or persons performing similar functions, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. Our disclosure controls and procedures include mandatory communication of material events, automated accounting processing and reporting, management review of monthly, quarterly and annual results, an established system of internal controls and ongoing monitoring by our internal auditors.
A control system, no matter how well conceived or operated, can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance that the objectives of the control system are met. Furthermore, the design of a control system must reflect the fact there are resource constraints, and the benefits of controls must be considered relative to their costs. Because of the inherent limitations in all control systems, no evaluation of controls can provide absolute assurance that all control issues and instances of fraud, if any, have been detected. These inherent limitations include the realities that judgments in decision-making can be faulty, and breakdowns can occur because of simple error or mistake. Additionally, controls can be circumvented by the individual acts of some persons, by collusion of two or more people, or by management override of the controls. The design of any system of controls is based in part upon certain assumptions about the likelihood of future events, and there can be no assurance any design will succeed in achieving its stated goals under all potential future conditions; over time, controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate. Because of the inherent limitations in a cost-effective control system, misstatements due to errors or fraud may occur and not be detected. Our disclosure controls and procedures are designed to provide a reasonable level of assurance that their objectives are achieved. As of April 29, 2023, management of the Company, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934). Based upon and as of the date of that evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have concluded our disclosure controls and procedures were effective at the reasonable assurance level.
Based on the evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have concluded that there have been no changes in the Company’s internal controls over financial reporting during the quarter ended April 29, 2023 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.
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PART II OTHER INFORMATION
ITEM 1 LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
We are involved in legal proceedings and litigation arising in the ordinary course of business. In the opinion of management, the outcome of such ordinary course of business proceedings and litigation currently pending will not have a material adverse effect on our results of operations or financial position. All legal costs associated with litigation are expensed as incurred.
Information regarding Legal Proceedings is set forth within Note 16 to the condensed consolidated financial statements and incorporated by reference herein.
ITEM 1A RISK FACTORS
There have been no material changes that have occurred related to our risk factors since the end of the most recent fiscal year. For further information, see Part I, Item 1A of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended January 28, 2023.
ITEM 2 UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS
The following table provides information relating to our repurchases of common stock during the first quarter of 2023:
(1) | Includes shares that are tendered by employees related to certain share-based awards to satisfy tax withholding amounts for restricted stock and stock performance awards. |
(2) | On September 2, 2019, the Board of Directors approved a stock repurchase program ("2019 Program") authorizing the repurchase of 5,000,000 shares of our outstanding common stock. In addition, on March 10, 2022, the Board of Directors approved a stock repurchase program ("2022 Program") authorizing the repurchase of an additional 7,000,000 shares of our outstanding common stock. We can use the repurchase programs to repurchase shares on the open market or in private transactions. Under these programs, the Company did not repurchase any shares during the thirteen weeks ended April 29, 2023, and repurchased 701,324 shares during the thirteen weeks ended April 30, 2022. As of April 29, 2023, there were 6,367,379 shares authorized to be repurchased under the repurchase programs. Our repurchases of common stock are limited under our revolving credit agreement. |
ITEM 3 DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES
None.
ITEM 4 MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES
Not applicable.
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ITEM 6 EXHIBITS
|
| |
3.1 |
| |
3.2 |
| |
10.1 | † | |
31.1 | † | |
31.2 | † | |
32.1 | † | |
101.INS | † | iXBRL Instance Document |
101.SCH | † | iXBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document |
101.CAL | † | iXBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document |
101.LAB | † | iXBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document |
101.PRE | † | iXBRL Taxonomy Presentation Linkbase Document |
101.DEF | † | iXBRL Taxonomy Definition Linkbase Document |
104 | † | Cover Page Interactive Data File, formatted in iXBRL and contained in Exhibit 101. |
† Denotes exhibit is filed with this Form 10-Q.
34
SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
| CALERES, INC. | |
| ||
Date: June 6, 2023 | /s/ Jack P. Calandra | |
Jack P. Calandra Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer on behalf of the Registrant and as the Principal Financial Officer |
35
Exhibit 10.1
SIXTH AMENDMENT TO
FOURTH AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT
SIXTH AMENDMENT TO FOURTH AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT
AGREEMENT (this “Amendment”) dated as of April 27, 2023 by and among CALERES, INC. a New York corporation (the “Lead Borrower”),
the other Borrowers party hereto (together with the Lead Borrower, the “Borrowers”), the Lenders party hereto, and
BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., as Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent;
in consideration of the mutual covenants herein contained and benefits to be derived herefrom.
W I T N E S S E T H:
WHEREAS, the Borrowers, the Lenders, the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent, among others, have entered into a certain Fourth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of December 18, 2014, (as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time prior to the effectiveness of this Amendment, the “Existing Credit Agreement”); and
WHEREAS, the Borrowers, the Lenders and the Administrative Agent have agreed to amend the Existing Credit Agreement as set forth herein.
NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual promises and agreements herein contained, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:
1. | Incorporation of Terms and Conditions of Existing Credit Agreement. All of the terms and conditions of the Existing Credit Agreement (including, without limitation, all definitions set forth therein) are specifically incorporated herein by reference. All capitalized terms not otherwise defined herein shall have the same meaning as in the Existing Credit Agreement, as amended by this Amendment (the “Amended Credit Agreement”). |
2. | Representations and Warranties. Each Loan Party hereby represents and warrants that after giving effect to this Amendment, (i) no Default or Event of Default exists under the Amended Credit Agreement or under any other Loan Document, and (ii) all representations and warranties contained in the Amended Credit Agreement and in the other Loan Documents are true and correct in all material respects (except in the case of any representation and warranty qualified by “materiality” or “Material Adverse Effect”, which is true and correct in all respects) as of the date hereof, except to the extent that such representations and warranties specifically refer to an earlier date, in which case they are true and correct in all material respects (except in the case of any representation and warranty qualified by “materiality” or “Material Adverse Effect”, which is true and correct in all respects) as of such earlier date. |
4. | Conditions to Effectiveness. This Amendment shall become effective on the date (the “Sixth Amendment Effective Date”) when each of the following conditions precedent has been fulfilled to the reasonable satisfaction of the Administrative Agent: |
b. | Corporate Action. All action on the part of the Loan Parties necessary for the valid execution, delivery and performance by the Loan Parties of this Amendment shall have been duly and effectively taken. |
c. | No Default. After giving effect to this Amendment, no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing. |
d. | Beneficial Ownership Certification. At least three (3) Business Days prior to the Sixth Amendment Effective Date, any Borrower that qualifies as a “legal entity customer” under the Beneficial Ownership Regulation shall deliver, to each Lender that so requests, a Beneficial Ownership Certification in relation to such Borrower. |
Without limiting the generality of the provisions of the last paragraph of Section 8.5 of the Amended Credit Agreement, for purposes of determining compliance with the conditions specified in this Section 4, each Lender that has signed this Amendment 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 Sixth Amendment Effective Date specifying its objection thereto.
5. | Ratification and Reaffirmation. Each of the Loan Parties hereby ratifies and confirms all of its Obligations to the Agents, the Issuing Bank and the Lenders under the Amended Credit Agreement, including, without limitation, the Revolving Loans, Swingline Loans and other Credit Extensions, and each of the Loan Parties hereby affirms its absolute and |
-2-
unconditional promise to pay to the Lenders, the Issuing Bank and the Agents, as applicable, the Revolving Loans, other Credit Extensions, reimbursement obligations and all other amounts due or to become due and payable to the Lenders, the Issuing Bank and the Agents, as applicable, under the Amended Credit Agreement and it is the intent of the parties hereto that nothing contained herein shall constitute a novation or accord and satisfaction. Except as expressly amended hereby, the Existing Credit Agreement shall continue in full force and effect.
6. | Binding Effect; Integration, Etc. The terms and provisions hereof shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their heirs, representatives, successors and assigns. This Amendment and the Amended Credit Agreement shall hereafter be read and construed together as a single document, and all references in the Existing Credit Agreement, any other Loan Document or any agreement or instrument related to the Existing Credit Agreement shall hereafter refer to the Amended Credit Agreement. This Amendment shall constitute a Loan Document. |
7. | Multiple Counterparts. This Amendment may be executed in multiple counterparts, each of which shall constitute an original and together which shall constitute but one and the same instrument. Delivery of any executed counterpart of a signature page of this Amendment by telecopy or e-mail shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Amendment. |
8. | Governing Law; Waiver of Jury Trial. EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY AGREES THAT THE PROVISIONS OF SECTION 9.10 AND SECTION 9.11 OF THE EXISTING CREDIT AGREEMENT SHALL APPLY TO THIS AMENDMENT. |
[Signature Pages Follow]
-3-
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Amendment has been duly executed and delivered by each of the parties hereto as of the date first above written.
CALERES, INC.
SIDNEY RICH ASSOCIATES, INC. BG RETAIL, LLC
ALLEN EDMONDS LLC VIONIC GROUP LLC
VIONIC INTERNATIONAL LLC BLOWFISH, LLC
as to each of the foregoing
By: | /s/ William J. Berberich, Jr. |
Name: | William J. Berberich, Jr. |
Title: | Vice President, Taxes and Treasurer |
[Caleres - Signature Page to Sixth Amendment to Fourth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement]
BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.,
as Agent and as a Lender
By: | /s/ Courtney Kolb |
Name: | Courtney Kolb |
Title: | Vice President |
[Caleres - Signature Page to Sixth Amendment to Fourth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement]
Truist Bank, as a Lender
By: | /s/ Virginia Singletary |
Name: | Virginia Singletary |
Title: | VP |
[Caleres – Signature Page to Sixth Amendment to Fourth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement]
Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., as a Lender
By: | /s/ Tamar Scoville |
Name: | Tamar Scoville |
Title: | Vice President |
[Caleres - Signature Page to Sixth Amendment to Fourth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement]
FIFTH THIRD BANK, NATIONAL
ASSOCIATION, as a Lender
By: | /s/ Jared N. Wile |
Name: | Jared N. Wile |
Title: | Vice President |
[Caleres – Signature Page to Sixth Amendment to Fourth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement]
JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., as a
Lender
By: | /s/ Bonnie J. David |
Name: | Bonnie J. David |
Title: | Authorized Officer |
[Caleres – Signature Page to Sixth Amendment to Fourth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement]
U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
as a Lender
By: | /s/ David Lawrence |
Name: | David Lawrence |
Title: | Vice President |
[Caleres - Signature Page to Sixth Amendment to Fourth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement]
ANNEX A
Composite Credit Agreement [See Attached]
Conformed Credit Agreement through FifthSixth Amendment – Annex A
FOURTH AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT
dated as of December 18, 2014,
as amended on July 20, 2015,
as further amended on August 17, 2016, and as amended on January 18, 2019, and as amended on April 14, 2020,
and as further amended on October 5, 2021, and as further amended on April 27, 2023
among
CALERES, INC.,
as Lead Borrower for:
CALERES, INC.
SIDNEY RICH ASSOCIATES, INC. BG RETAIL, LLC
ALLEN EDMONDS LLC VIONIC GROUP LLC
VIONIC INTERNATIONAL LLC
The LENDERS Party Hereto BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
as Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent
BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
as Lead Issuing Bank
WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
as an Issuing Bank
WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION TRUIST BANK
as Co-Syndication Agents
BOFA SECURITIES, INC.
WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION TRUIST BANK
as Joint Lead Arrangers and Joint Bookrunners
(ii)
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Acceptance99
(iv)
(v)
(vi)
EXHIBITS
(vii)
SCHEDULES
1.1Lenders and Commitments
(viii)
FOURTH AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”)
dated as of December 18, 2014 (as amended on July 20, 2015, as further amended on August 17, 2016, as further amended on January 18, 2019, as further amended on April 14, 2020 and, as further amended on October 5, 2021 and as further amended on April 27, 2023) among:
CALERES, INC., a corporation organized under the laws of the State of New York having a place of business at 8300 Maryland Avenue, St. Louis, Missouri 63105, as Lead Borrower for the Borrowers, being
said CALERES, INC.,
SIDNEY RICH ASSOCIATES, INC., a corporation organized under the laws of the State of Missouri having a place of business at 8300 Maryland Avenue, St. Louis, Missouri 63105 (“Sidney Rich”),
BG RETAIL, LLC, a limited liability company organized under the laws of the State of Delaware having a place of business at 8300 Maryland Avenue, St. Louis, Missouri 63105 (“BG Retail”),
ALLEN EDMONDS LLC, a limited liability company organized under the laws of the State of Wisconsin having a place of business at 8300 Maryland Avenue, St. Louis, Missouri 63105 (“Allen Edmonds”),
VIONIC GROUP LLC, a limited liability company organized under the laws of the state of Delaware having a place of business at 8300 Maryland Avenue, St. Louis, Missouri 63105 (“Vionic Group”), and
VIONIC INTERNATIONAL LLC, a limited liability company organized under the laws of the state of Delaware having a place of business at 8300 Maryland Avenue, St. Louis, Missouri 63105 (“Vionic International”),
the LENDERS party hereto; and
BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., a national banking association, as Lead Issuing Bank; and BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., a national banking association, as Administrative Agent
and Collateral Agent for the Secured Parties; and
WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as an Issuing Bank;
WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, and TRUIST BANK, as
Co-Syndication Agents; and
BOFA SECURITIES, INC., WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, and
TRUIST BANK as Joint Lead Arrangers and Bookrunners;
in consideration of the mutual covenants herein contained and benefits to be derived herefrom.
1
W I T N E S S E T H:
WHEREAS, the Borrowers, Brown Shoe Company of Canada Ltd/ Chaussures Brown Du Canada Ltee, the Lenders party thereto, and Bank of America, N.A., as Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent for the Lenders, are party to that certain Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of January 7, 2011, which amended and restated that certain Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of January 21, 2009, which amended and restated that certain Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of July 21, 2004, which amended and restated that certain Credit Agreement dated as of December 20, 2001 (collectively, as amended and in effect, the “Existing Credit Agreement”); and
WHEREAS, the Borrowers, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders hereunder desire to amend and restate the Existing Credit Agreement as provided herein.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual conditions and agreements set forth in this Agreement, and for good and valuable consideration, the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, the Lenders, the Agents, and the Borrowers hereby agree that the Existing Credit Agreement shall be amended and restated, without novation, in its entirety to read as follows:
“ABL Priority Collateral” means, at any time, Collateral of the type that is included in the Borrowing Base (or any related assets and proceeds thereof), which for the avoidance of doubt, at a minimum, shall include all Inventory, Accounts, Credit Card Receivables, deposit accounts, securities accounts containing proceeds of Inventory, Accounts, Credit Card Receivables, and any cash or other assets in such accounts related to such items (and, to the extent evidencing or otherwise related to such items, all general intangibles, insurance proceeds, tax refunds, letters of credit and letter of credit rights, commercial tort claims, chattel paper, instruments, supporting obligations, documents, investment property, payment intangibles and related proceeds and assets).
“Acceptance” means a time draft or bill of exchange relating to a Commercial Letter of Credit which has been accepted by any Acceptance Lender in its absolute discretion.
“Acceptance Fees” means the fees payable in respect of Acceptances pursuant to Section
2.15.
“Acceptance Fee Percentage” means:
Effective Date and on each Adjustment Date thereafter, the Acceptance Fee Percentage shall be determined from the following pricing grid based upon Average Excess Availability for the
2
immediately preceding Fiscal Quarter. If a Default or Event of Default exists at the time any reduction in the Acceptance Fee Percentage is to be implemented, such reduction shall not occur until the first day of the first calendar month following the date on which such Default or Event of Default is waived or cured, and at the option of the Administrative Agent or at the direction of the Required Lenders upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, the Acceptance Fee Percentage shall be set at Level II and shall be determined in the manner set forth in Section 2.15 hereof; provided further if any Borrowing Base Certificates are at any time restated or otherwise revised (including as a result of an audit) or if the information set forth in any Borrowing Base Certificates otherwise proves to be false or incorrect as of the date of such Borrowing Base Certificate such that the Acceptance Fee Percentage would have been higher than was otherwise in effect during any period, without constituting a waiver of any Default or Event of Default arising as a result thereof, such Acceptance Fee Percentage due under this Agreement shall be immediately recalculated at such higher rate for any applicable periods and shall be due and payable on demand.
Level | Average Excess Availability | Acceptance Fee Percentage |
I | Greater than 50% of the Loan Cap | 0.625% |
II | Less than or equal to 50% of the Loan Cap | 0.750% |
“Acceptance Lender” means any Lender in its capacity as an “acceptance lender” of Acceptances hereunder.
“Acceptance Reimbursement Obligations” means, at any time and without duplication, the aggregate indebtedness, liabilities, and obligations of the Borrowers to pay to any Acceptance Lender (or reimburse any Acceptance Lender for) any amount due under any Acceptance at maturity.
“Accommodation Payment” has the meaning provided therefor in Section 9.15(d). “Account” shall mean “accounts” as defined in the UCC, including, without limitation,
all: accounts, accounts receivable and rights to payment (whether or not earned by performance) for: property that has been or is to be sold, leased, licensed, assigned, or otherwise disposed of; services rendered or to be rendered; a policy of insurance issued or to be issued; or a secondary obligation incurred or to be incurred.
“ACH” shall mean the automated clearing house transfers of funds for the account of any Loan Party.
“Additional Commitment Lender” has the meaning provided therefor in Section 2.2(b).
3
“Adjusted Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio” means, as of the last day of any Fiscal Quarter of the Lead Borrower, for the preceding four Fiscal Quarters then ended, the ratio of (a) Consolidated EBITDA for such period, to (b) Adjusted Fixed Charges for such period.
“Adjusted Fixed Charges” means, for any period, as determined for the Lead Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a Consolidated basis, without duplication, the sum of (a) Consolidated Interest Expense during such period, (b) Maintenance Capital Expenditures during such period,
(c) | scheduled principal payments of Indebtedness payable over the course of the preceding four |
(4) Fiscal Quarters, (d) federal, state, local, and foreign income taxes net of refunds received, to the extent any such taxes are paid in cash during such period (excluding taxes paid to repatriate foreign earnings for fiscal periods which are more than twelve months prior to the date of determination of Adjusted Fixed Charges for any period), and (e) Restricted Payments during such period, excluding any Restricted Payments (x) consisting of dividends or distributions made in Capital Stock under clause (a) of the definition thereof and (y) permitted under Section 6.7(a)(iii).
“Adjusted Net Earnings from Operations” means, with respect to any fiscal period of the Lead Borrower, the Lead Borrower’s and its Subsidiaries’ net income after provision or benefit for income taxes for such fiscal period, excluding any and all of the following included in such net income determined on a Consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP: (a) gain or loss arising from the sale of any capital assets, (b) gain or loss arising from any write-up or write-down in the book value of any fixed or intangible assets, (c) earnings or losses of any Person (other than a Subsidiary of the Lead Borrower) in which the Lead Borrower or any consolidated Subsidiary of the Lead Borrower has an ownership interest unless (and only to the extent) any such earnings shall actually have been received by the Lead Borrower or such consolidated Subsidiary in the form of cash distributions, (d) gains or losses arising from the acquisition of debt or equity securities of the Lead Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or from the cancellation or forgiveness of Indebtedness, (e) gains or losses arising from extraordinary items as determined in accordance with GAAP, (f) gains or losses arising from any non-recurring non-cash transactions, (g) gains or losses arising from any non-recurring cash transactions up to
$5,000,000 after taxes in the aggregate in any Fiscal Year, (h) gains and losses from the recording of share based compensation, including, without limitation, stock option expense, (i) any restructuring, business optimization costs, charges or reserves (including any unusual or non-recurring operating expenses directly attributable to the implementation of cost savings initiatives), fees of restructuring or business optimization consultants, integration and non-recurring severance, relocation costs, one-time compensation charges, consolidation, transition, integration, or other similar charges and expenses, contract termination costs, excess pension charges, system establishing charges, start-up or closure or transition costs, expenses related to any reconstruction, decommissioning, recommissioning or reconfiguration of fixed assets for alternative uses, fees, expenses, or charges relating to curtailments or modifications to pension and post-retirement employee benefit plans and litigation settlements or losses outside the ordinary course of business; provided, that the aggregate amount added back pursuant to this clause (i) may not exceed 10% for any four (4) Fiscal Quarter period of Adjusted Net Earnings from Operations, (j) any transaction fees, commissions, costs or expenses (or any amortization thereof) relating to any acquisition or joint venture investment, disposition, issuance of Capital Stock or any other equity interests, recapitalization or the incurrence, prepayment, amendment, modification, restructuring, or refinancing of Indebtedness (including the Loans), in each case,
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not prohibited hereunder (whether or not successful), and (k) any cost savings, operating expense reductions, and synergies projected by the Lead Borrower to result from actions taken during such period that (i) are reasonably expected to be realized within eighteen (18) months of the applicable action and (ii) are calculated on a basis consistent with GAAP and are, in each case, reasonably identifiable, factually supportable, and expected to have a continuing impact on the operations of the Lead Borrower and its Subsidiaries; provided, that the aggregate amount added back pursuant to this clause (k) may not exceed 10% for any four (4) Fiscal Quarter period of Adjusted Net Earnings from Operations.
“Adjustment Date” means the first day of each calendar month following the end of each Fiscal Quarter.
“Administrative Agent” means Bank of America, N.A., in its capacity as administrative agent for the Secured Parties hereunder.
“Affected Financial Institution” means any EEA Financial Institution or UK Financial Institution.
“Affiliate” means, with respect to a specified Person, (i) any other Person Controlling, Controlled by or under direct or indirect common Control with that Person, (ii) any other Person directly or indirectly holding 5% or more of any class of the Capital Stock or other equity interests (including options, warrants, convertible securities and similar rights) of that Person,
(iii) any other Person 5% or more of any class of whose Capital Stock or other equity interests (including options, warrants, convertible securities and similar rights) is held directly or indirectly by that Person, and (iv) any other Person that Controls that Person.
“Agent’s Office” means the Agents’ address and, as appropriate, account as set forth on the signature page hereto, or such other address or account as the Agents may from time to time notify the Lead Borrower and the Lenders.
“Agents” means collectively, the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent. “Agreement” means this Fourth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, as modified,
amended, supplemented or restated, and in effect from time to time.
“Allen Edmonds” has the meaning provided therefor in the Recitals. “Allocable Amount” has the meaning provided therefor in Section 9.15(d).
“Applicable Law” means as to any Person: (i) all statutes, rules, regulations, orders, or other requirements having the force of law and (ii) all court orders, judgments and injunctions, and/or similar rulings, in each instance ((i) and (ii)) of or by any Governmental Authority, or court, or tribunal which are applicable to such Person, or any property of such Person.
“Applicable Lenders” means the Required Lenders or all Lenders, as applicable. “Applicable Margin” means:
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Level | Average Excess Availability | Prime Rate Loans | LIBOTerm SOFR Loans |
I | Greater than 50% of the Loan Cap | 0.25% | 1.25% |
II | Less than or equal to 50% of the Loan Cap | 0.50% | 1.50% |
“Appraisal Percentage” means (i) for the Selected Months of each Fiscal Year, 92.5%, and (ii) at all other times, 90%.
“Appraised Value Percentage” means with respect to Inventory of any Loan Party, the orderly liquidation value thereof (expressed as a percentage of the Cost of such Inventory) as determined from time to time (and updated at least once in each calendar year) in a manner acceptable to the Administrative Agent by an experienced and reputable independent appraiser acceptable to the Administrative Agent, net of all costs of liquidation thereof.
“Approved Fund” means any Fund that is administered or managed by (a) a Lender, (b) an Affiliate of a Lender or (c) an entity or an Affiliate of an entity that administers or manages a Lender.
“Assignment and Acceptance” means an assignment and acceptance entered into by a Lender and an Eligible Assignee (with the consent of any party whose consent is required by Section 9.5), and accepted by the Administrative Agent, in the form of Exhibit A or any other form approved by the Administrative Agent.
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“Availability Reserves” means, without duplication of any other Reserves or items that are otherwise addressed or excluded through eligibility criteria or in the most recently conducted appraisal, such reserves as the Administrative Agent from time to time determines in the Administrative Agent’s Permitted Discretion (after consultation with the Lead Borrower (whose consent to any Availability Reserve shall not be required)) as being appropriate (a) to reflect the impediments to the Collateral Agent’s ability to realize upon the Collateral, (b) to reflect claims and liabilities that the Administrative Agent determines will need to be satisfied in connection with the realization upon the Collateral, (c) to reflect criteria, events, conditions, contingencies or risks which adversely affect any component of the Borrowing Base, or the assets, business, financial performance or financial condition of any Loan Party, or (d) to reflect that a Default or an Event of Default then exists. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, in the Administrative Agent’s Permitted Discretion, Availability Reserves may include (but are not limited to) (i) reserves for rent at leased locations; (ii) reserves based on Customer Credit Liabilities; (iii) reserves for customs, duties, and other costs to release Inventory which is being imported into the United States of America; (iv) reserves for outstanding taxes and other governmental charges, including, ad valorem, real estate, personal property, and other taxes which might have priority over the interests of the Collateral Agent in the Collateral; (v) reserves for accrued, unpaid interest on the Obligations; (vi) reserves for salaries, wages and benefits due to employees of any Borrower; (vii) reserves for warehouseman’s or bailee’s charges; (viii) Bank Products Reserves; (ix) Cash Management Reserves; (x) the Senior Notes Repayment Reserve;
(xi) reserves for reasonably anticipated changes in appraised value of Inventory between appraisals; and (xii) reserves for amounts secured by any Liens, choate or inchoate, which rank or are capable of ranking in priority to the Collateral Agent’s and/or Lenders’ Liens and/or for amounts which may represent costs relating to the enforcement of the Collateral Agent’s Liens including, without limitation, in the good faith credit discretion of the Administrative Agent, any such amounts due and not paid for vacation pay, wages, amounts due and not paid under any legislation relating to workers’ compensation or to employment insurance. Availability Reserves shall be established and calculated in a manner and methodology consistent with the Administrative Agent’s practices with the Loan Parties as of the Fifth Amendment Effective Date, provided that in establishing and calculating any such Availability Reserves, the Administrative Agent may take into account changes to the Loan Parties’ business after the Fifth Amendment Effective Date, and provided further, however, that if (x) an Event of Default exists,
(y) any of the conditions described in clauses (ii) and (iii) of the first sentence of the definition of “Permitted Discretion” apply, or (z) any factor or circumstance described in clause (D) of the second sentence of the definition of “Permitted Discretion” exists, then Availability Reserves may be established and calculated in a manner and methodology consistent with the Administrative Agent’s practices as of the Fifth Amendment Effective Date with other similarly situated borrowers. The Availability Reserves in effect on the Fifth Amendment Effective Date are reflected on the Borrowing Base Certificate delivered to the Administrative Agent pursuant to the Fifth Amendment.
“Available Tenor” means, as of any date of determination and with respect to the then-current Benchmark, as applicable, (x) if the then-current Benchmark is a term rate, any tenor for such Benchmark that is or may be used for determining the length of an Interest Period or (y) otherwise, any payment period for interest calculated with reference to such Benchmark, as applicable, pursuant to this Agreement as of such date.
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“Average Credit Extensions” means, as of any date of determination, the average daily amount of Credit Extensions outstanding for the immediately preceding Fiscal Quarter. The Administrative Agent shall provide the Lead Borrower with a calculation of such Average Credit Extensions on the fourth Business Day of each Fiscal Quarter for the immediately preceding Fiscal Quarter upon request of the Lead Borrower, or alternatively, give the Lead Borrower electronic access to the Administrative Agent’s systems to the extent necessary to provide such information.
“Average Excess Availability” means, as of any date of determination, the average daily Excess Availability for the immediately preceding Fiscal Quarter. The Administrative Agent shall provide the Lead Borrower with a calculation of Average Excess Availability on the fourth Business Day of each Fiscal Quarter for the immediately preceding Fiscal Quarter upon request of the Lead Borrower, or alternatively, give the Lead Borrower electronic access to the Administrative Agent’s systems to the extent necessary to provide such information.
“B&H” means B&H Footwear Company Limited, a Hong Kong corporation and a joint venture between a Subsidiary of the Lead Borrower and an unrelated third party.
“Bail-In Action” means the exercise of any Write-Down and Conversion Powers by the applicable EEA Resolution Authority in respect of any liability of an EEA Financial Institution.
“Bail-In Legislation” means, with respect to (x) 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, or (y) the United Kingdom, Part I of the United Kingdom Banking Act 2009 (as amended from time to time) and any other law, regulation or rule applicable in the United Kingdom relating to the resolution of unsound or failing banks, investment firms or other financial institutions or their affiliates (other than through liquidation, administration or other insolvency proceedings).
“Bank of America” means Bank of America, N.A., a national banking association. “Bank Product Reserves” means such reserves as the Administrative Agent from time to
time determine in its Permitted Discretion as being appropriate to reflect the liabilities and obligations of the Loan Parties with respect to Bank Products then provided or outstanding.
“Bank Products” means any services or facilities provided to any Loan Party (or to any Subsidiary thereof, whether or not a Loan Party; provided that any such services or facilities provided to any Subsidiary which is not a Loan Party are hereby guaranteed by the Loan Parties) by the Agent, any Lender, or any of their respective Affiliates, including, without limitation, on account of (a) Swap Contracts, (b) leasing, (c) factoring, and (d) supply chain finance services (including, without limitation, trade payable services and supplier accounts receivable purchases), but excluding Cash Management Services.
“Bankruptcy Code” means Title 11 of the United States Code (11 U.S.C. Section 101 et seq.) as now or hereafter in effect, or any successor thereto.
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“Benchmark” means, initially, LIBO Rate; provided that if a replacement of the Benchmark has occurred pursuant to Section 2.32(c) then “Benchmark” means the applicable Benchmark Replacement to the extent that such Benchmark Replacement has replaced such prior benchmark rate. Any reference to “Benchmark” shall include, as applicable, the published component used in the calculation thereof.
“Benchmark Replacement” means:
(b) | the sum of: (i) Daily Simple SOFR and (ii) 0.26161% (26.161 basis points); |
provided that, if initially LIBO Rate is replaced with the rate contained in clause (b) above (Daily Simple SOFR plus the applicable spread adjustment) and subsequent to such replacement, the Administrative Agent determines that Term SOFR has become available and is administratively feasible for the Administrative Agent in its sole discretion, and the Administrative Agent notifies the Lead Borrower and each Lender of such availability, then from and after the beginning of the Interest Period, relevant interest payment date or payment period for interest calculated, in each case, commencing no less than thirty (30) days after the date of such notice, the Benchmark Replacement shall be as set forth in clause (a) above; and
provided that, if the Benchmark Replacement as determined pursuant to clause (1) or (2) above would be less than the LIBOR Floor the Benchmark Replacement will be deemed to be the LIBOR Floor for the purposes of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents.
Any Benchmark Replacement shall be applied in a manner consistent with market practice; provided that to the extent such market practice is not administratively feasible for the Administrative Agent, such Benchmark Replacement shall be applied in a manner as otherwise reasonably determined by the Administrative Agent.
“Benchmark Replacement Conforming Changes” means, with respect to any Benchmark Replacement, any technical, administrative or operational changes (including changes to the definition of “Prime Rate,” the definition of “Business Day,” the definition of “Interest Period,” timing and frequency of determining rates and making payments of interest, timing of borrowing requests or prepayment, conversion or continuation notices, the applicability and length of lookback periods, the applicability of breakage provisions, and other technical, administrative or operational matters) that the Administrative Agent decides may be appropriate to reflect the adoption and implementation of such Benchmark Replacement and to permit the administration thereof by the Administrative Agent in a manner substantially consistent with market practice
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(or, if the Administrative Agent decides that adoption of any portion of such market practice is not administratively feasible or if the Administrative Agent determines that no market practice for the administration of such Benchmark Replacement exists, in such other manner of administration as the Administrative Agent decides is reasonably necessary in connection with the administration of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents).
“Benchmark Transition Event” means, with respect to any then-current Benchmark other than LIBO Rate, the occurrence of a public statement or publication of information by or on behalf of the administrator of the then-current Benchmark or a Governmental Authority with jurisdiction over such administrator announcing or stating that all Available Tenors are or will no longer be representative, or made available, or used for determining the interest rate of loans, or shall or will otherwise cease, provided that, at the time of such statement or publication, there is no successor administrator that is satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, that will continue to provide any representative tenors of such Benchmark after such specific date.
“Beneficial Ownership Certification” means a certification regarding beneficial ownership 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 and subject to Section 4975 of the Code or
“BG Retail” has the meaning provided therefor in the Recitals.
“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.
“Blocked Account Agreements” means agency agreements with the banks maintaining deposit accounts of any of the Loan Parties where funds from one or more DDAs are concentrated, which agreements shall be in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.
“Blocked Account Banks” means (i) Bank of America, and (ii) each other bank with whom the Loan Parties have entered into Blocked Account Agreements.
“Blocked Accounts” means each deposit account of the Loan Parties which is the subject of a Blocked Account Agreement or is maintained with Bank of America.
“Board” means the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System of the United States of America.
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“Borrower Security Agreement” means the Amended and Restated Security Agreement dated as of July 21, 2004 and executed and delivered by the Borrowers to the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties.
“Borrowers” means individually and collectively, (a) the Lead Borrower, Sidney Rich, BG Retail, Allen Edmonds, Vionic Group, Vionic International and (b) any other Person which becomes a “Borrower” in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement; provided, however, that “Borrower” shall cease to include any of the foregoing which is released from its obligations as a Borrower pursuant to Section 8.17 hereof.
“Borrowing” means (a) the incurrence of Loans of a single Type, on a single date and having, in the case of LIBOTerm SOFR Loans, a single Interest Period, or (b) a Swingline Loan.
“Borrowing Base” means, at any time of calculation, an amount equal to:
Inventory Reserves, multiplied by (ii) the Appraisal Percentage; plus
“Borrowing Base Certificate” has the meaning provided therefor in Section 5.1(f). “Borrowing Request” means a request by the Lead Borrower on behalf of the Borrowers
for a Borrowing in accordance with Section 2.4.
“Breakage Costs” has the meaning provided therefor in Section 2.21(b).
“Business Day” means (a) any day that is not a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks in Charlotte, North Carolina or Boston, Massachusetts are authorized or required by law to remain closed, or are in fact closed where the Agent’s Office is located, and
(b) when used in connection with a LIBO Loan, any day on which banks are open for dealings in dollar deposits in the London interbank market.
“Canadian Sanction Laws” means any Canadian laws, regulations or orders governing transactions in controlled goods or technologies or dealings with countries, entities, organizations, or individuals subject to economic sanctions and similar measures, including the Special Economic Act (Canada), the United States Act (Canada), the Freezing Assets of Corrupt
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Foreign Officials Act (Canada), Part II.1 of the Criminal Code (Canada) and the Export and Import of Permits Act (Canada) and any related regulations.
“Capital Expenditures” means, with respect to any Person for any period, (a) all expenditures made (whether made in the form of cash or other property) or costs incurred for the acquisition, improvement or repair of fixed or capital assets of such Person (but excluding any asset acquired (x) in connection with a Permitted Acquisition, or (y) with the proceeds of insurance or condemnation awards), in each case that are (or should be) set forth as capital expenditures in a Consolidated statement of cash flows of such Person for such period, in each case prepared in accordance with GAAP, and (b) Financing Lease Obligations incurred by a Person during such period to the extent capitalized in accordance with GAAP.
“Capital Stock” means with respect to any Person, all of the shares of capital stock of (or other ownership or profit interests in) such Person, all of the warrants, options or other rights for the purchase or acquisition from such Person of shares of capital stock of (or other ownership or profit interests in) such Person, all of the securities convertible into or exchangeable for shares of capital stock of (or other ownership or profit interests in) such Person or warrants, rights or options for the purchase or acquisition from such Person of such shares (or such other interests), and all of the other ownership or profit interests in such Person (including partnership, member or trust interests therein), whether voting or nonvoting, and whether or not such shares, warrants, options, rights or other interests are outstanding on any date of determination.
“Cash Collateral Account” means an interest-bearing account established by the Borrowers with the Collateral Agent at Bank of America under the sole and exclusive dominion and control of the Collateral Agent designated as the “Caleres Cash Collateral Account”.
“Cash Dominion Event” means either (i) the occurrence and continuance of any Event of Default, or (ii) the failure of the Borrowers to maintain for three (3) consecutive Business Days Excess Availability of at least the greater of (i) ten (10%) percent of the Loan Cap and (ii)
$40,000,000. For purposes of this Agreement, the occurrence of a Cash Dominion Event shall be deemed continuing (i) so long as such Event of Default has not been cured or waived, and/or
(ii) if the Cash Dominion Event arises as a result of the Borrowers’ failure to maintain Excess Availability as required hereunder, until Excess Availability has exceeded the greater of (i) ten (10%) percent of the Loan Cap and (ii) $40,000,000 for thirty (30) consecutive calendar days, in which case a Cash Dominion Event shall no longer be deemed to be continuing for purposes of this Agreement; provided that a Cash Dominion Event shall be deemed continuing (even if an Event of Default is no longer continuing and/or Excess Availability exceeds the required amount for thirty (30) consecutive calendar days) after a Cash Dominion Event has occurred and been discontinued on two (2) occasions in any twelve (12) month period; provided further that such Cash Dominion Event shall terminate on the date that is twelve months after the date of the first discontinuance described in the foregoing proviso but only if on such date an Event of Default is no longer continuing and/or Excess Availability exceeds the required amount for thirty (30) consecutive calendar days (without limiting the Administrative Agent’s right to assert the existence of a Cash Dominion Event thereafter).
“Cash Management Reserves” means such reserves as the Administrative Agent, from time to time, determines in its Permitted Discretion as being appropriate to reflect the reasonably
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anticipated liabilities and obligations of the Loan Parties with respect to Cash Management Services then provided or outstanding.
“Cash Management Services” means any one or more of the following types of services or facilities provided to any Loan Party (or to any Subsidiary thereof, whether or not a Loan Party; provided that any such services or facilities provided to any Subsidiary which is not a Loan Party are hereby guaranteed by the Loan Parties) by any Lender or any of its Affiliates: (a) ACH transactions, (b) other cash management services, including, without limitation, controlled disbursement services, treasury, depository, overdraft, and electronic funds transfer services, (c) foreign exchange facilities, (d) credit card processing services, (e) purchase cards and (f) credit or debit cards.
“Cash Receipts” has the meaning provided therefor in Section 2.23(b).
“CERCLA” means the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act, 42 U.S.C. § 9601 et seq.
“CFC” means a “controlled foreign corporation” within the meaning of Section 957(a) of the Code.
“CFC Holdco” means a Domestic Subsidiary with no material assets other than Capital Stock of one or more Foreign Subsidiaries that are CFCs.
“Change in Control” means, at any time, (a) occupation of a majority of the seats (other than vacant seats) on the board of directors of the Lead Borrower by Persons who were neither
(i) nominated by the board of directors of the Lead Borrower nor (ii) appointed by directors so nominated; or (b) any person (within the meaning of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended), which is or becomes the beneficial owner (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 and 13d-5 of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) directly or indirectly of fifty percent (50%) or more of the total voting power of the Voting Stock of the Lead Borrower on a fully diluted basis, whether as a result of the issuance of securities of the Lead Borrower, any merger, consolidation, sale, or distribution, or otherwise, or (c) the failure of the Lead Borrower to own, directly or indirectly, 100% (or such lesser percentage as may be owned directly or indirectly, as of the Fifth Amendment Effective Date or as of the later acquisition thereof) of the Capital Stock or ownership interest, as applicable, of all other Loan Parties, except where such failure is as a result of a transaction not prohibited by the Loan Documents; or (d) any “change in control” or similar event however defined in any documents governing Material Indebtedness of any Loan Party.
“Change in Law” means (a) the adoption of any law, rule or regulation after the Relevant Date, (b) any change in any law, rule or regulation or in the interpretation or application thereof by any Governmental Authority after the Relevant Date or (c) compliance by any Lender, Issuing Bank or Acceptance Lender (or, for purposes of Section 2.25, by any lending office of such Lender, Issuing Bank or Acceptance Lender or by such Lender’s, Issuing Bank’s or Acceptance Lender’s holding company, if any) with any request, guideline or directive (whether or not having the force of law) of any Governmental Authority made or issued after the Relevant Date provided however, for purposes of this Agreement, (x) the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and
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Consumer Protection Act and all requests, rules, guidelines or directives thereunder or issued in connection therewith and (y) all requests, rules, guidelines or directives promulgated by the Bank for International Settlements, the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (or any successor or similar authority) or the United States or foreign regulatory authorities, in each case pursuant to Basel III, shall in each case be deemed to have gone into effect and been adopted after the Fifth Amendment Effective Date.
“Charges” has the meaning provided therefor in Section 9.14.
“Charter Document” means as to any Person, its partnership agreement, certificate or articles of incorporation, operating agreement, membership agreement or similar constitutive document or agreement, its by-laws and all shareholder or other equity holder agreements, voting trusts and similar arrangements to which such Person is a party or which is applicable to its Capital Stock, its partnership interests, membership interests or other equity interests and all other arrangements relating to the Control or management of such Person.
“CME” means CME Group Benchmark Administration Limited.
“Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, as amended from time to time.
“Collateral” means any and all “Collateral” as defined in any applicable Security Document.
“Collateral Agent” means Bank of America, N.A., in its capacity as collateral agent under the Security Documents.
“Commercial Letter of Credit” means any Letter of Credit issued for the purpose of providing the primary payment mechanism in connection with the purchase of any materials, goods or services by a Loan Party in the ordinary course of business of such Loan Party.
“Commercial Letter of Credit Fee” means with respect to any Commercial Letter of Credit issued hereunder:
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the information set forth in any Borrowing Base Certificates otherwise proves to be false or incorrect as of the date of such Borrowing Base Certificate such that the Commercial Letter of Credit Fee would have been higher than was otherwise in effect during any period, without constituting a waiver of any Default or Event of Default arising as a result thereof, such Commercial Letter of Credit Fee due under this Agreement shall be immediately recalculated at such higher rate for any applicable periods and shall be due and payable on demand.
Level | Average Excess Availability | Applicable Percentage |
I | Greater than 50% of the Loan Cap | 0.625% |
II | Less than or equal to 50% of the Loan Cap | 0.750% |
“Commitment” means, with respect to each Lender, the commitment of such Lender hereunder in the amount set forth opposite its name on Schedule 1.1 hereto or as may subsequently be set forth in the Register from time to time, as the same may be either (i) reduced from time to time pursuant to Section 2.17 hereof, or (ii) increased from time to time pursuant to Section 2.2 hereof.
“Commitment Fee” has the meaning provided therefor in Section 2.13. “Commitment Increase” has the meaning provided therefor in Section 2.2(b).
“Commitment Percentage” means, with respect to each Lender, that percentage of the Commitments of all Lenders hereunder in the amount set forth opposite its name on Schedule 1.1 hereto or as may subsequently be set forth in the Register from time to time, as the same may be either (i) reduced from time to time pursuant to Section 2.17 hereof, or (ii) increased or reduced from time to time pursuant to Section 2.2 hereof.
“Commodity Exchange Act” means the Commodity Exchange Act (7 U.S.C. § 1 et seq.). “Communication” has the meaning provided therefor in Section 9.7(b).
“Compliance Certificate” has the meaning provided therefor in Section 5.1(d). “Concentration Account” has the meaning provided therefor in Section 2.23(a).
“Confirmation Agreement” means that certain Confirmation, Ratification and Amendment of Ancillary Loan Documents dated as of January 18, 2019 by and among the Loan Parties and the Agents, together with all similar agreements previously or hereafter executed and delivered by any or all of the Loan Parties.
“Conforming Changes” means with respect to use, administration of or conventions associated with SOFR, Term SOFR or any proposed Successor Rate, as applicable, any
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conforming changes to the definitions of Prime Rate, SOFR, Term SOFR and Interest Period, timing and frequency of determining rates and making payments of interest and other technical, administrative or operational matters (including, for the avoidance of doubt, the definitions of Business Day and U.S. Government Securities Business Day, timing of borrowing requests or prepayment, conversion or continuation notices, and length of lookback periods) as may be appropriate, in Administrative Agent's discretion and in consultation with the Lead Borrower, to reflect the adoption and implementation of such applicable rate(s) and to permit the administration thereof by Administrative Agent in a manner substantially consistent with market practice (or, if the Administrative Agent determines that adoption of any portion of such market practice is not administratively feasible or that no market practice for the administration of such rate exists, in such other manner of administration as Administrative Agent determines in consultation with the Lead Borrower is reasonably necessary in connection with the administration of any Loan Document).
“Consolidated” means, when used to modify a financial term, test, statement, or report of a Person, refers to the application or preparation of such term, test, statement or report (as applicable) based upon the consolidation, in accordance with GAAP, of the financial condition or operating results of such Person and its Subsidiaries.
“Consolidated EBITDA” means with respect to any Fiscal Period of the Lead Borrower, the result for such period of (i) Adjusted Net Earnings from Operations, plus (ii) depreciation, amortization and all other non-cash charges that were deducted in the calculation of Adjusted Net Earnings from Operations for such period plus (iii) federal, state, local and foreign income taxes that were deducted in the calculation of Adjusted Net Earnings from Operations for such period, plus (iv) Consolidated Interest Expense to the extent deducted in the calculation of Adjusted Net Earnings from Operations for such period, in each case determined on a Consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP.
“Consolidated Interest Expense” means, for any period for any Person, interest expense of such Person for such period, determined on a Consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP.
“Control” means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of a Person, whether through the ability to exercise voting power, by contract or otherwise. The terms “Controlling” and “Controlled” have meanings correlative thereto.
“Cost” means, with respect to Inventory, the lower of cost (on a first-in, first-out basis) or market value, as reported on the Borrowers’ inventory records and in a manner consistent with current practice.
“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).
“Covered Party” has the meaning provided therefor in Section 9.26.
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“Credit Card Notifications” has the meaning provided therefor in Section 2.23(d).
“Credit Card Receivables” means each “payment intangible” (as defined in the UCC) together with all income, payments and proceeds thereof, owed by a major credit or debit card issuer (including, but not limited to, Visa, Mastercard, American Express, JCB, Paypal, BillMeLater, and Discover and such other issuers approved by the Administrative Agent) to a Loan Party resulting from charges by a customer of a Loan Party on credit or debit cards issued by such issuer in connection with the sale of goods by a Loan Party, or services performed by a Loan Party, in each case in the ordinary course of its business.
“Credit Exposure” has the meaning provided therefor in Section 8.13.
“Credit Extensions” as of any day, shall be equal to the sum of (a) the principal balance of all Loans then outstanding, (b) the then amount of the Letter of Credit Outstandings and (c) the aggregate amount of any unpaid Acceptance Reimbursement Obligations, whether or not then due.
“Customer Credit Liabilities” means, at any time, the aggregate face value at such time of
“Daily Simple SOFR” with respect to any applicable determination date means the secured overnight financing rate (“SOFR”) as published on such date by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, as the administrator of the benchmark (or a successor administrator) on the Federal Reserve Bank of New York’s website (or any successor source satisfactory to Administrative Agent).
“DDAs” means any checking or other demand deposit account maintained by any Loan
Party.
“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.
“Default Right” has the meaning assigned to that term in, and shall be interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. §§ 252.81, 47.2 or 382.1, as applicable.
“Defaulting Lender” means, subject to Section 8.13(b), any Lender that (a) has failed to
(i) fund all or any portion of its Loans within two (2) Business Days of the date such Loans were required to be funded hereunder, or (ii) pay to any Agent, Issuing Bank, the Swingline Lender or any other Lender any other amount required to be paid by it hereunder (including in respect of its participation in Letters of Credit or Swingline Loans) within two (2) Business Days of the date when due, (b) has notified the Lead Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the Lead Issuing Bank or the Swingline Lender in writing that it does not intend to comply with its funding obligations hereunder, or has made a public statement to that effect, (c) has failed, within three (3) Business Days after written request by the Administrative Agent or the Lead Borrower, to confirm in writing to the Administrative Agent and the Lead Borrower that it will comply with its prospective funding obligations hereunder (provided that such Lender shall cease to be a
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Defaulting Lender pursuant to this clause (c) upon receipt of such written confirmation by the Administrative Agent and the Lead Borrower), or (d) has, or has a direct or indirect parent company that has, (i) become the subject of a proceeding under the Bankruptcy Code or other similar Applicable Law of any jurisdiction or any other bankruptcy, insolvency, or similar laws of the United States of America, any state or territory thereof, or any foreign jurisdiction, now or hereafter in effect, (ii) had appointed for it a receiver, custodian, conservator, trustee, administrator, assignee for the benefit of creditors or similar Person charged with reorganization or liquidation of its business or assets, including the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other state or federal regulatory authority acting in such a capacity, or (iii) become the subject of a Bail-In Action; provided that a Lender shall not be a Defaulting Lender solely by virtue of the ownership or acquisition of any Capital Stock in that Lender or any direct or indirect parent company thereof by a Governmental Authority so long as such ownership interest does not result in or provide such Lender with immunity from the jurisdiction of courts within the United States or from the enforcement of judgments or writs of attachment on its assets or permit such Lender (or such Governmental Authority) to reject, repudiate, disavow or disaffirm any contracts or agreements made with such Lender. Any determination by the Administrative Agent that a Lender is a Defaulting Lender under any one or more of clauses (a) through (d) above, and of the effective date of such status, shall be conclusive and binding absent manifest error, and such Lender shall be deemed to be a Defaulting Lender (subject to Section 8.13(b)) as of the date established therefor by the Administrative Agent in a written notice of such determination, which shall be delivered by the Administrative Agent to the Lead Borrower, the Lead Issuing Bank, the Swingline Lender and each other Lender promptly following such determination.
“Designated Disposition” means, collectively, the sales, transfers, leases or other dispositions described on Schedule 15 of the Information Certificate.
“Designated Jurisdiction” means any country or territory to the extent that such country or territory is the subject of any Sanction.
“Disbursement Accounts” has the meaning provided therefor in Section 2.23(a). “Disqualified Stock” means any Capital Stock of any Person that, by its terms (or by the
terms of any security into which it is convertible or for which it is exchangeable at the option of the holder thereof), or upon the happening of any event, matures or is mandatorily redeemable, pursuant to a sinking fund obligation or otherwise, or is redeemable at the option of the holder thereof, in whole or in part, in each case prior to the Termination Date.
“Dollar Equivalent” of an amount denominated in currency other than Dollars shall mean, at any time for the determination thereof, the amount of Dollars which could be purchased with the amount of such other currency involved in such computation at the spot exchange rate therefor as quoted by the Agent as of 11:00 A.M. (Boston time) on the date two (2) Business Days prior to the date of any determination thereof for purchase on such date.
“Dollars” or “$” refers to lawful money of the United States of America.
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“Domestic Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary that is organized under the laws of the United States of America or any state thereof or the District of Columbia.
“Early Opt-in Effective Date” means, with respect to any Early Opt-in Election, the sixth (6th) Business Day after the date notice of such Early Opt-in Election is provided to the Lenders, so long as the Administrative Agent has not received, by 5:00 p.m. (New York City time) on the fifth (5th) Business Day after the date notice of such Early Opt-in Election is provided to the Lenders, written notice of objection to such Early Opt-in Election from Lenders comprising the Required Lenders.
“Early Opt-in Election” means the occurrence of:
“Earn-Out Obligations” means any contingent consideration payable to the seller in connection with a Permitted Acquisition based on future operating performance of the acquired Person or assets or other purchase price adjustment or indemnification obligation payable following the consummation of such Permitted Acquisition based on criteria set forth in the documentation governing or relating to such Permitted Acquisition.
“EDGAR” means the Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval system maintained by the Securities and Exchange Commission.
“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 4.1 were satisfied.
“Electronic Copy” has the meaning provided therefor in Section 9.7(b).
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“Eligible Accounts” means Accounts (excluding, for the avoidance of doubt, Credit Card Receivables) due to a Loan Party as arise in the ordinary course of business, which have been earned by performance, and are deemed by the Administrative Agent in its reasonable discretion to be eligible for inclusion in the calculation of the Borrowing Base. Without limiting the foregoing, unless otherwise approved in writing by the Administrative Agent, none of the following shall be deemed to be Eligible Accounts:
$3,000,000 of Accounts for which more than ninety (90) days but less than one hundred twenty
(120) days have elapsed since the date of the original invoice therefor, but which are less than sixty (60) days past due, in the ordinary course of the Loan Parties’ business and provided further that Eligible Accounts may include Accounts of major retailers, including, without limitation, Macy’s, Dillards, Nordstrom, Amazon.com, Designer Brands Inc., Walmart, Kohl’s, and The TJX Companies, Inc., for which more than one hundred twenty (120) days but less than one hundred forty-five days (145) have elapsed since the date of the original invoice therefor, but which are less than sixty (60) days past due, in the ordinary course of the Loan Parties’ business without regard to the $3,000,000 limitation;
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request, proposal or petition for liquidation, reorganization, arrangement, adjustment of debts, adjudication as a bankrupt, winding-up, or other relief under the Bankruptcy Code or other similar Applicable Law of any jurisdiction or any other bankruptcy, insolvency, or similar laws of the United States of America, any state or territory thereof, or any foreign jurisdiction, now or hereafter in effect; (iii) the making of any general assignment for the benefit of creditors by such account debtor; (iv) the appointment of a receiver or trustee for such account debtor or for any of the assets of the account debtor, including, without limitation, the appointment of or taking possession by a “custodian,” as defined in the Bankruptcy Code; (v) the institution by or against such account debtor of any other type of insolvency proceeding (under the Bankruptcy Code or other similar Applicable Law of any jurisdiction or otherwise) or of any formal or informal proceeding for the dissolution or liquidation of, settlement of claims against, or winding up of affairs of, such account debtor; (vi) the sale, assignment, or transfer of all or any material part of the assets of such account debtor; (vii) the nonpayment generally by such account debtor of its debts as they become due; or (viii) the cessation of the business of such account debtor as a going concern;
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If any Account at any time ceases to be an Eligible Account, then such Account shall promptly be excluded from the calculation of the Borrowing Base.
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“Eligible Assignee” means (a) a commercial bank, commercial finance company, or other asset based lender having total assets in excess of $1,000,000,000, (b) any Lender listed on the signature pages of this Agreement, (c) any Affiliate of any Lender, (d) an Approved Fund, and
(e) if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, any Person reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent; provided that, notwithstanding the foregoing, “Eligible Assignee” shall not include (i) a Loan Party or any of the Loan Parties’ Affiliates or Subsidiaries, (ii) a natural person (or a holding company, investment vehicle or trust for, or owned and operated for the primary benefit of, a natural person), (iii) a Defaulting Lender or any of its Subsidiaries, or any Person who, upon becoming a Lender hereunder, would constitute a Defaulting Lender or a Subsidiary thereof or (iv) any direct competitor of the Lead Borrower which has been previously disclosed in writing to the Administrative Agent by the Lead Borrower.
“Eligible Credit Card Receivables” means at the time of any determination thereof, each Credit Card Receivable that satisfies the following criteria at the time of creation and continues to meet such criteria at the time of such determination: such Credit Card Receivable (i) has been earned by performance and represents the bona fide amounts due to a Loan Party from a credit card payment processor and/or credit card issuer, and in each case is originated in the ordinary course of business of such Loan Party, and (ii) in each case is deemed by the Administrative Agent in its reasonable discretion to be eligible for inclusion in the calculation of the Borrowing Base. Without limiting the foregoing, to qualify as an Eligible Credit Card Receivable, an Account shall indicate no Person other than a Loan Party as payee or remittance party. Without limiting the foregoing, unless otherwise approved in writing by the Administrative Agent, none of the following shall be deemed to be Eligible Credit Card Receivables:
(a) | Credit Card Receivables which do not constitute a “payment intangible” (as defined in the UCC); |
(b) | Credit Card Receivables that have been outstanding for more than five (5) Business Days from the date of sale; |
(c) | Credit Card Receivables with respect to which a Loan Party does not have good, valid and marketable title thereto, free and clear of any Lien (other than (x) Liens granted to the Collateral Agent, for its benefit and the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties, pursuant to the Security Documents, (y) Liens in favor of the holders or lenders of the Refinancing Debt permitted pursuant to Section 6.2(h) hereof and (z) Liens to secure Permitted Senior Debt); |
(d) | Credit Card Receivables that are not subject to a first priority security interest in favor of the Collateral Agent, for its benefit and the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties (it being the intent that chargebacks in the ordinary course by such processors shall not be deemed violative of this clause); |
(e) | Credit Card Receivables which are disputed, are with recourse to a Loan Party, or with respect to which a claim, counterclaim, right of setoff, recoupment or chargeback has been asserted, unless such Person has entered into an agreement reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent to waive setoff rights, but in each such case only to the extent of such claim, counterclaim, right of setoff, recoupment or chargeback, it being understood that for purposes of this clause (e), |
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“with recourse” means solely that the applicable Loan Party is liable to the relevant credit card processor in the event that the credit cardholder fails to pay his or her credit card bill;
(f) | Credit Card Receivables as to which the processor has the right under certain circumstances to require a Loan Party to repurchase such Credit Card Receivables from such credit card processor; |
(g) | Credit Card Receivables with respect to which any one or more of the following events has occurred to the issuer or payment processor of the applicable credit card: (i) the filing by or against such issuer or payment processor of a request, proposal or petition for liquidation, reorganization, arrangement, adjustment of debts, adjudication as a bankrupt, winding-up, or other relief under the Bankruptcy Code or other similar Applicable Law of any jurisdiction or any other bankruptcy, insolvency, or similar laws of the United States of America or any foreign jurisdiction, now or hereafter in effect; (ii) the making of any general assignment for the benefit of creditors by such issuer or payment processor; |
(iii) the appointment of a receiver or trustee for such issuer or payment processor or for any of the assets of the issuer or payment processor, including, without limitation, the appointment of or taking possession by a “custodian,” as defined in the Bankruptcy Code; (iv) the institution by or against such issuer or payment processor of any other type of insolvency proceeding (under the Bankruptcy Code or other similar Applicable Law of any jurisdiction or otherwise) or of any formal or informal proceeding for the dissolution or liquidation of, settlement of claims against, or winding up of affairs of, such issuer or payment processor; (v) the sale, assignment, or transfer of all or any material part of the assets of such issuer or payment processor; (vi) the nonpayment generally by such issuer or payment processor of its debts as they become due; or (vii) the cessation of the business of such issuer or payment processor as a going;
(h) | Credit Card Receivables with respect to which either the perfection, enforceability, or validity of the Collateral Agent’s Liens in such Credit Card Receivables, or the Collateral Agent’s right or ability to obtain direct payment to the Collateral Agent of the proceeds of such Credit Card Receivables, is governed by any federal, state or local statutory requirements other than those of the UCC; |
(i) | Credit Card Receivables which are not valid, legally enforceable obligations of the applicable issuer with respect thereto; |
(j) | Credit Card Receivables which do not conform to all representations, warranties or other provisions in the Loan Documents relating to Credit Card Receivables; |
(k) | Credit Card Receivables which are evidenced by a promissory note or other instrument or by chattel paper; |
(l) | Credit Card Receivables with respect to which such Loan Party or the Administrative Agent has, in the Administrative Agent’s reasonable credit |
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judgment, deemed such Credit Card Receivables as uncollectible or has any reason to believe that such Credit Card Receivables are uncollectible; and
(m) | Credit Card Receivables which the Administrative Agent determines in its reasonable credit judgment is ineligible for any other reason. |
If any Credit Card Receivable at any time ceases to be an Eligible Credit Card Receivable, then such Credit Card Receivable shall promptly be excluded from the calculation of the Borrowing Base.
“Eligible In-Transit Inventory” means, as of the date of determination thereof, without duplication of other Eligible Inventory, Inventory:
“Eligible Inventory” means, as of the date of determination thereof, (a) Eligible In-Transit Inventory, and (b) items of Inventory of the Loan Parties that are finished goods, merchantable and readily saleable to the public in the ordinary course, in each case deemed by the Administrative Agent in its reasonable discretion to be eligible for inclusion in the calculation of the Borrowing Base. Without limiting the foregoing, unless otherwise approved in writing by the Administrative Agent, none of the following shall be deemed to be Eligible Inventory:
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with access to the Inventory of such Loan Party held by such Person on consignment and a reasonable time to repossess or remove such Inventory (or dispose of such Inventory from the premises of Bloomingdale’s, Inc., Amazon.com and/or QVC, as applicable), in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Collateral Agent), or such Loan Party does not have good and valid title thereto;
(c) | Inventory that represents (i) goods damaged, defective or otherwise unmerchantable, |
(ii) goods that do not conform in all material respects to the representations and warranties contained in this Agreement or any of the Security Documents, or (iii) goods that are obsolete, slow moving, stale, or not usable or saleable at prices approximating at least Cost; in the normal course of such Loan Party’s business, in each case, to the extent any of the foregoing ((i) through (iii)) is not factored into the calculation of Appraised Value Percentage;
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for any other such Inventory shall not exceed 50% of the Cost of such Inventory, and, in each case, such Inventory shall be deemed Eligible Inventory for no more than ninety (90) days except as set forth in the following proviso, and provided further that, during such ninety (90) day period referred to above, the Collateral Agent shall cause an appraisal of such Inventory to be completed, shall establish Inventory Reserves (if applicable) therefor, and shall otherwise determine whether such Inventory shall be deemed Eligible Inventory;
(k) | Inventory that does not consist of finished goods; |
$25,000,000 (excluding Dr. Scholls Inventory), and (B) licensed Inventory in the Famous Footwear Division of the Loan Parties shall be deemed Eligible Inventory only to the extent that the value of such Inventory does not exceed $25,000,000 (excluding Dr. Scholls Inventory); or
“Eligible Letter of Credit” means, as of any date of determination thereof, a Commercial Letter of Credit which supports the purchase of Inventory, (i) which Inventory does not constitute Eligible In-Transit Inventory and for which no documents of title have then been issued; (ii) which Inventory otherwise would constitute Eligible Inventory (without giving effect to the
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exclusions set forth in clauses (b), (d) and (n) of the definition of “Eligible Inventory”), (c) which Commercial Letter of Credit has an expiry within sixty (60) days of the date of initial issuance of such Commercial Letter of Credit, and (iv) which Commercial Letter of Credit provides that it may be drawn only after the Inventory is completed and after documents of title have been issued for such Inventory reflecting a Borrower or the Collateral Agent as consignee of such Inventory.
“Environmental Laws” means all Applicable Laws issued, promulgated or entered into by or with any Governmental Authority, relating in any way to the environment, preservation or reclamation of natural resources, handling, treatment, storage, disposal, Release or threatened Release of any Hazardous Material or to health and safety matters.
“Environmental Liability” means any liability, contingent or otherwise (including any liability for damages, natural resource damage, costs of environmental remediation, administrative oversight costs, fines, penalties or indemnities), of any Person directly or indirectly resulting from or based upon (a) violation of any Environmental Law, (b) the generation, use, handling, transportation, storage, treatment or disposal of any Hazardous Materials, (c) exposure to any Hazardous Materials, (d) the release or threatened release of any Hazardous Materials into the environment or (e) any contract, agreement or other consensual arrangement pursuant to which liability is assumed or imposed with respect to any of the foregoing.
“ERISA” means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended from time to time, and the regulations promulgated and rulings issued thereunder.
“ERISA Affiliate” means any trade or business (whether or not incorporated) that, together with any Borrower, is treated as a single employer under Section 414(b) or (c) of the Code or, solely for purposes of Section 302 of ERISA and Section 412 of the Code, is treated as a single employer under Section 414 of the Code.
“ERISA Event” means (a) any “reportable event”, as defined in Section 4043 of ERISA or the regulations issued thereunder with respect to a Plan (other than an event for which the 30-day notice period is waived); (b) the existence with respect to any Plan of an “accumulated funding deficiency” (as defined in Section 412 of the Code or Section 302 of ERISA), whether or not waived; (c) the filing pursuant to Section 412(d) of the Code or Section 303(d) of ERISA of an application for a waiver of the minimum funding standard with respect to any Plan; (d) the incurrence by a Borrower or any of its ERISA Affiliates of any liability under Title IV of ERISA with respect to the termination of any Plan; (e) the receipt by a Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate from the PBGC or a plan administrator of any notice relating to an intention to terminate any Plan or Plans or to appoint a trustee to administer any Plan; (f) the incurrence by a Borrower or any of its ERISA Affiliates of any liability with respect to the withdrawal or partial withdrawal from any Plan or Multiemployer Plan; or (g) the receipt by a Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate of any notice, or the receipt by any Multiemployer Plan from a Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate of any notice, concerning the imposition of Withdrawal Liability or a determination that a Multiemployer Plan is, or is expected to be, insolvent or in reorganization, within the meaning of Title IV of ERISA.
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“EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule” means the EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule published by the Loan Market Association (or any successor person), as in effect from time to time.
“Event of Default” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 7. An “Event of Default” shall be deemed to have occurred and to be continuing unless and until that Event of Default has been duly waived in writing or cured, in each case as provided in this Agreement.
“Excess Availability” means, as of any date of determination, the excess, if any, of (a) the Loan Cap, over (b) the outstanding Credit Extensions.
“Excluded Subsidiary” means (i) any Subsidiary that is a direct or indirect Subsidiary of a Foreign Subsidiary that is a CFC, (ii) any CFC Holdco, (iii) any Subsidiary that is prohibited or restricted by Applicable Law, regulation, or by any contractual obligation existing on the Fifth Amendment Effective Date or on the date such Person becomes a Subsidiary (as long as such contractual obligation was not entered into in contemplation of such Person becoming a Subsidiary) from becoming a Borrower or Facility Guarantor or if such becoming a Borrower or Facility Guarantor would require governmental (including regulatory) consent, approval, license, or authorization unless such consent, approval, license, or authorization has been received, (iv) any Subsidiary that is a not-for-profit organization, and (v) any other Subsidiary with respect to which, in the reasonable judgment of the Agents (confirmed in writing by notice to the Lead Borrower), the cost or other consequence of becoming a Borrower or Facility Guarantor shall be excessive in view of the benefits to be obtained by the Lenders therefrom.
“Excluded Swap Obligation” means, with respect to any Loan Party, any Swap Obligation if, and to the extent that, all or a portion of the guaranty of such Loan Party under the Facility Guaranty of, or the grant under a Loan Document by such Loan Party of a security interest to secure, such Swap Obligation (or any guaranty thereof) is or becomes illegal under the Commodity Exchange Act (or the application or official interpretation thereof) by virtue of such Loan Party’s failure for any reason to constitute an “eligible contract participant” as defined in the Commodity Exchange Act (determined after giving effect to Section 9.24 hereof and any and all guarantees of such Loan Party’s Swap Obligations by other Loan Parties) at the time the guaranty of such Loan Party, or grant by such Loan Party of a security interest, becomes effective with respect to such Swap Obligation. If a Swap Obligation arises under a Master Agreement governing more than one Swap Contract, such exclusion shall apply only to the portion of such Swap Obligation that is attributable to Swap Contracts for which such guaranty or security interest becomes illegal.
“Excluded Taxes” means any of the following Taxes imposed on or with respect to a Recipient or required to be deducted or withheld from a payment to a Recipient, (a) Taxes imposed on or measured by net income (however denominated), franchise Taxes, and branch profits Taxes, in each case, (i) imposed as a result of such Recipient being organized under the laws of, or having its principal office or, in the case of any Lender, its applicable lending office located in, the jurisdiction imposing such Tax (or any political subdivision thereof) or (ii) that are Other Connection Taxes, (b) any branch profits taxes imposed by the United States of America or any similar Tax imposed by any other jurisdiction in which any Borrower or Lender is located, (c) in the case of a Lender, any U.S. withholding Tax that is imposed on amounts payable to or for the account of such Lender at the time such Lender becomes a party to this
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Agreement (or designates a New Lending Office), except to the extent that such Lender (or its assignor, if any) was entitled, at the time of designation of a New Lending Office (or assignment), to receive additional amounts from the Borrowers with respect to such withholding Tax pursuant to Section 2.28, (d) any U.S. federal withholding Taxes imposed under FATCA, (e) Taxes attributable to a Recipient’s failure to comply with Section 2.28(e), and (f) any Canadian Tax (i) imposed on a payment by or on account of any obligation of a Loan Party hereunder: (A) to a person with which the Loan Party does not deal at arm’s length (for purposes of the Income Tax Act (Canada)) at the time of making such payment or (B) in respect of a debt or other obligation to pay an amount to a person with whom the payer is not dealing at arm’s length (for the purposes of the Income Tax Act (Canada)) at the time of such payment, or (ii) that would not have been imposed but for a Recipient being a "specified shareholder" (as defined in subsection 18(5) of the Income Tax Act (Canada)) of a Loan Party or not dealing at arm’s length (for purposes of the Income Tax Act (Canada)) with such a specified shareholder.
“Existing Credit Agreement” has the meaning set forth in the Preamble to the Agreement. “Extended Commitments” means any class of Commitments the maturity of which shall
have been extended pursuant to Section 2.31.
“Extended Loans” means any Revolving Loans made pursuant to the Extended Commitments.
“Extension” has the meaning provided therefor in Section 2.31(a).
“Extension Amendment” means an amendment to this Agreement (which may, at the option of the Administrative Agent and the Lead Borrower, be in the form of an amendment and restatement of this Agreement) among the Loan Parties, the applicable extending Lenders, the Administrative Agent and, to the extent required by Section 2.31, the Issuing Banks and/or the Swingline Lender implementing an Extension in accordance with Section 2.31.
“Extension Offer” has the meaning provided therefor in Section 2.31(a). “Facility Guarantors” means each Borrower.
“Facility Guarantors’ Collateral Documents” means the Borrower Security Agreement, pledge agreements, and other instruments, documents or agreements executed and/or amended and delivered by the Facility Guarantors to secure the Facility Guaranty and/or the Obligations.
“Facility Guaranty” means the Amended and Restated Domestic Guaranty dated as of July 21, 2004, executed by the Facility Guarantors in favor of the Agents, the Issuing Banks, Acceptance Lenders, the Lenders and the other Secured Parties.
“FATCA” means Sections 1471 through 1474 of the Code, as of the date of this Agreement (or any amended or successor version that is substantively comparable and not materially more onerous to comply with) and any current or future regulations or official interpretations thereof and any agreements entered into pursuant to Section 1471(b)(1) of the Code and any fiscal or regulatory legislation, rules or practices adopted pursuant to any
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intergovernmental agreement entered into in connection with the implementation of such Sections of the Code.
“FCA” has the meaning provided therefor in Section 2.32(c).
“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.
“Fee Letter” means, the letter entitled “Fee Letter” among the Borrowers and the Administrative Agent dated as of September 7, 2021, as may be amended, supplemented or replaced and in effect from time to time.
“Fifth Amendment” means, that certain Fifth Amendment to Fourth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement by and among, the Borrowers, the Administrative Agent, and the Lenders party thereto dated as of the Fifth Amendment Effective Date.
“Fifth Amendment Effective Date” means, October 5, 2021.
“Financial Officer” means, with respect to any Borrower, the chief financial officer, chief accounting officer, senior vice president-finance, treasurer, controller or assistant controller of such Borrower.
“Financing Lease Obligations” of any Person means the obligations of such Person to pay rent or other amounts under any lease of (or other arrangement conveying the right to use) real or personal property, or a combination thereof, which obligations are required to be classified and accounted for as financing leases on a balance sheet of such Person under GAAP, and the amount of such obligations shall be the capitalized amount thereof determined in accordance with GAAP.
“Fiscal Period” means one of the three Fiscal Periods in a Fiscal Quarter each of which is approximately one month in duration. There are twelve (12) Fiscal Periods in each Fiscal Year.
“Fiscal Quarter” means one of four thirteen (13) week or, if applicable, fourteen (14) week quarters in a Fiscal Year, with the first of such quarters beginning on the first day of a Fiscal Year and ending on Saturday of the thirteenth (or fourteenth, if applicable) week in such quarter.
“Fiscal Year” means, with respect to the Lead Borrower, the Lead Borrower’s Fiscal Year for financial accounting purposes. As of the Fifth Amendment Effective Date, the current Fiscal Year of the Lead Borrower will end on January 29, 2022.
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“Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio” means, as of the last day of any Fiscal Quarter of the Lead Borrower for the preceding four Fiscal Quarters then ended, the ratio of (a) Consolidated EBITDA for such period, to (b) Fixed Charges for such period.
“Fixed Charges” means, for any period, as determined for the Lead Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a Consolidated basis, without duplication, the sum of (a) Consolidated Interest Expense during such period, (b) Capital Expenditures (excluding Capital Expenditures funded with Indebtedness other than Revolving Loans) during such period, (c) scheduled principal payments of Indebtedness payable over the course of the preceding four (4) Fiscal Quarters,
(d) federal, state, local, and foreign income taxes net of refunds received, to the extent any such taxes are paid in cash during such period (excluding taxes paid to repatriate foreign earnings for fiscal periods which are more than twelve months prior to the date of determination of Fixed Charges for any period), and (e) Restricted Payments during such period, excluding any Restricted Payments (x) consisting of dividends or distributions made in Capital Stock under clause (a) of the definition thereof, (y) permitted under Section 6.7(a)(iii), and (z) Permitted Stock Repurchases.
“Floor” means 0% per annum.
“Foreign Lender” means any Lender that is organized under the laws of a jurisdiction other than the United States of America or any State thereof or the District of Columbia.
“Foreign Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary other than a Domestic Subsidiary.
“Fronting Exposure” means, at any time there is a Defaulting Lender, (a) with respect to any Issuing Bank, such Defaulting Lender’s Commitment Percentage of the Letter of Credit Outstandings with respect to Letters of Credit issued by such Issuing Bank other than Letter of Credit Outstandings 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 Commitment Percentage of Swingline Loans other than Swingline Loans as to which such Defaulting Lender’s participation obligation has been reallocated to other Lenders in accordance with the terms hereof.
“Fronting Fee” has the meaning provided therefor in Section 2.14(b).
“Fund” means any Person (other than a natural person) that is (or will be) engaged in making, purchasing, holding or otherwise investing in commercial loans and similar extensions of credit in the ordinary course of its business.
“GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States set forth in the opinions and pronouncements of the Accounting Principles Board and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and statements and pronouncements of the Financial Accounting Standards Board or such other principles as may be approved by a significant segment of the accounting profession in the United States, that are applicable to the circumstances as of the date of determination, consistently applied.
“Governmental Authority” means the government of the United States of America or any other nation or any political subdivision thereof, whetherany federal, state or, local, and
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anyforeign or other agency, authority, instrumentality, regulatory body, department, agency, board, commission, tribunal, committee, courtcourt, instrumentality, political subdivision, central bank, or other entity or officer exercising executive, legislative, judicial, taxing, regulatory or administrative powers or functions of or pertaining to government.for any governmental, judicial, investigative, regulatory or self-regulatory authority (including the Financial Conduct Authority, the Prudential Regulation Authority and any supra-national bodies such as the European Union or the European Central Bank).
“Guarantee” of or by any Person (the “guarantor”) means any obligation, contingent or otherwise, of the guarantor guaranteeing or having the economic effect of guaranteeing any Indebtedness or other obligation of any other Person (the “primary obligor”) in any manner, whether directly or indirectly, and including any obligation of the guarantor, direct or indirect,
(a) to purchase or pay (or advance or supply funds for the purchase or payment of) such Indebtedness or other obligation or to purchase (or to advance or supply funds for the purchase of) any security for the payment thereof, (b) to purchase or lease property, securities or services for the purpose of assuring the owner of such Indebtedness or other obligation of the payment thereof, (c) to maintain working capital, equity capital or any other financial statement condition or liquidity of the primary obligor so as to enable the primary obligor to pay such Indebtedness or other obligation or (d) as an account party in respect of any letter of credit or acceptance or letter of guaranty issued to support such Indebtedness or obligation, provided that the term “Guarantee” shall not include endorsements for collection or deposit in the ordinary course of business.
“Hazardous Materials” means all explosive or radioactive substances or wastes and all hazardous or toxic substances, wastes or other pollutants, including petroleum or petroleum distillates, asbestos or asbestos containing materials, polychlorinated biphenyls, radon gas, infectious or medical wastes, mold and other fungi, bacteria, and all other substances or wastes of any nature regulated pursuant to any Environmental Law, including any material listed as a hazardous substance under Section 101(14) of CERCLA.
“Headquarters” means the Real Estate at which the Lead Borrower’s headquarters are maintained and other Real Estate located adjacent thereto, including the Real Estate located at 8300, 8350, 8400 and 8500 Maryland Avenue, St. Louis, Missouri and the lot at the corner of Maryland Avenue and Topton Way, St. Louis, Missouri.
“IBA” has the meaning provided therefor in Section 2.32(c).
“Impacted Loans” has the meaning provided therefor in Section 2.32(a).
“Indebtedness” of any Person means, without duplication, (a) all obligations of such Person for borrowed money (including any obligations for borrowed money which are without recourse to the credit of such Person), (b) all obligations of such Person evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or similar instruments, (c) all obligations of such Person upon which interest charges are customarily paid, (d) all obligations of such Person under conditional sale or other title retention agreements relating to property acquired by such Person, (e) all obligations of such Person in respect of the deferred purchase price of property or services (excluding current accounts payable incurred in the ordinary course of business and, in each case, not more than 120
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days after the date on which such trade account payable was created unless such account is the subject of a bona fide dispute and adequate reserves have been established therefor in accordance with GAAP), (f) all Indebtedness of others secured by (or for which the holder of such Indebtedness has an existing right, contingent or otherwise, to be secured by) any Lien on property owned or acquired by such Person, whether or not the Indebtedness secured thereby has been assumed, (g) all Guarantees by such Person of Indebtedness of others, (h) all Financing Lease Obligations of such Person, (i) all obligations, contingent or otherwise, of such Person as an account party in respect of letters of credit and letters of guaranty, (j) all obligations, contingent or otherwise, of such Person in respect of bankers’ acceptances, (k) the net termination obligations of all Swap Contracts, and (l) the present value (discounted at the interest rate applicable to such obligations) of the principal and interest portions of all rental obligations of such Person under any Synthetic Lease, tax retention operating lease, off-balance sheet loan or similar off-balance sheet financing where such transaction is considered borrowed money indebtedness for tax purposes but is not recorded on the balance sheet in accordance with GAAP. 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.
“Indemnified Taxes” means Taxes other than Excluded Taxes. “Indemnitee” has the meaning provided therefor in Section 9.3(b).
“Information Certificate” means a certificate in a form approved by the Collateral Agent. The term “Information Certificate” shall include the Information Certificate delivered on the Fifth Amendment Effective Date and each Information Certificate delivered in connection with the joinder of a new Borrower or Facility Guarantor and approved by the Administrative Agent in accordance with the proviso to Section 5.1(d), and as each may be supplemented in accordance with Section 5.1(d).
“Interest Payment Date” means (a) with respect to any Prime Rate Loan (including a Swingline Loan), the fifth (5th) day of each January, April, July and October, and (b) with respect to any LIBOTerm SOFR Loan, on the last day of the Interest Period applicable to the Borrowing of which such Loan is a part, and, in addition, if such LIBOTerm SOFR Loan has an Interest Period of greater than ninety (90) days, on the last day of the third, sixth and ninth months three months, the respective dates that fall every three months after the beginning of such Interest Period, as applicable shall also be Interest Payment Dates. Except as otherwise provided herein, if any day on which a payment is due is not a Business Day, then the payment shall be due on the next day following which is a Business Day and such extension of time shall be included in computing interest and fees in connection with such payment.
“Interest Period” means, with respect to any LIBO Borrowing as to each Term SOFR Loan, the period commencing on the date of such BorrowingTerm SOFR Loan is disbursed or converted to or continued as a Term SOFR Loan and ending on the date one, three or six months thereafter, and, if available from all of the Lenders, twelve months thereafter, asas selected by the Lead Borrower may elect by notice to the Administrative Agent in accordance
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with the provisions of this Agreement,in its Notice of Borrowing (in each case subject to availability); provided that:
(ai) if any Interest Period that would otherwise end on a day other thanthat is not a Business Day, such Interest Period shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day unless, in the case of a Term SOFR Loan, such next succeeding Business Day would fall in the nextfalls in another calendar month, in which case such Interest Period shall end on the next preceding Business Day, and ;
(bii) any Interest Period pertaining to a Term SOFR Loan that commencesbegins 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 during whichat the end of such Interest Period ends) shall end on the last Business Day of the calendar month at the end of such Interest Period,; and (c) any Interest Period which would otherwise end after the Termination Date shall end on the Termination Date.
(iii)no Interest Period shall extend beyond the 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.
“Inventory” has the meaning assigned to such term in the Borrower Security Agreement. “Inventory Reserves” means, without duplication of any other Reserves or items that are
otherwise addressed or excluded through eligibility criteria or in the most recently conducted appraisal, such reserves as may be established from time to time by the Administrative Agent in the Administrative Agent’s Permitted Discretion (after consultation with the Lead Borrower (whose consent to any Inventory Reserves shall not be required)) with respect to the determination of the saleability, at retail, of the Eligible Inventory or which reflect such other factors as affect the appraised or market value of the Eligible Inventory. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, in the Administrative Agent’s Permitted Discretion, Inventory Reserves may include (but are not limited to) reserves based on (i) Shrink; (ii) capitalized freight and internal profit reserves used in the Borrowers’ calculation of cost of goods sold; (iii) obsolescence; (iv) seasonality; (v) imbalance; (vi) change in Inventory character or composition;
(vii) change in inventory mix; (viii) reasonably anticipated changes in appraised value of Inventory between appraisals; and (ix) retail markdowns and markups inconsistent with prior period practice and performance; industry standards; current business plans; or advertising calendar and planned advertising events. Inventory Reserves shall be established and calculated in a manner and methodology consistent with the Administrative Agent’s practices with the Loan Parties as of the Fifth Amendment Effective Date, provided that in establishing and calculating any such Inventory Reserves, the Administrative Agent may take into account changes to the Loan Parties’ business after the Fifth Amendment Effective Date, and provided further, however, that if (x) an Event of Default exists, (y) any of the conditions described in clauses (ii) and (iii) of the first sentence of the definition of “Permitted Discretion” apply, or (z) any factor or circumstance described in clause (D) of the second sentence of the definition of “Permitted Discretion” exists, then Inventory Reserves may be established and calculated in a manner and
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methodology consistent with the Administrative Agent’s practices as of the Effective Date with other similarly situated borrowers. The Inventory Reserves in effect on the Fifth Amendment Effective Date are reflected on the Borrowing Base Certificate delivered to the Administrative Agent pursuant to the Fifth Amendment.
“Investment” has the meaning provided therefor in Section 6.4.
“ISP” means, with respect to any Letter of Credit, the “International Standby Practices 1998” published by the Institute of International Banking Law & Practice (or such later version thereof as may be in effect at the time of issuance).
“Issuing Bank” means, collectively, the Lead Issuing Bank, and, upon the reasonable consent of the Administrative Agent, up to two (2) additional Lenders who agree to act as an Issuing Bank (other than the Lead Issuing Bank), provided that any such additional Lender shall be deemed an Issuing Bank hereunder solely during the period during which a Letter of Credit issued by such Lender (other than the Lead Issuing Bank) is outstanding and either undrawn (in whole or in part) or with respect to which there is an unreimbursed L/C Disbursement. Any Issuing Bank may, in its discretion, arrange for one or more Letters of Credit to be issued by Affiliates of such Issuing Bank, in which case during the period during which any such Letter of Credit is outstanding and either undrawn (in whole or in part) or with respect to which there is an unreimbursed L/C Disbursement, during such period the term “Issuing Bank” shall include any such Affiliate with respect to such Letters of Credit.
“L/C Disbursement” means a payment made by any Issuing Bank pursuant to a Letter of
Credit.
“Lead Arrangers” means BofA Securities, Inc., Wells Fargo Bank, National Association,
and Truist Bank, in their capacities as lead arrangers and bookrunners. “Lead Borrower” means Caleres, Inc.
“Lead Issuing Bank” means Bank of America, in its capacity as such and any successor in such capacity.
“Lenders” means the Persons identified on Schedule 1.1 and each assignee that becomes a party to this Agreement as set forth in Section 9.5(b), or each Person that becomes an Additional Commitment Lender as set forth in Section 2.2(a).
“Letter of Credit” means a letter of credit that satisfies all of the following conditions: (i) is issued pursuant to this Agreement for the account of any Borrower or any Facility Guarantor or for the joint account of any Borrower or any Facility Guarantor and any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries, (ii) is a Standby Letter of Credit or Commercial Letter of Credit, (iii) is issued in connection with the purchase of Inventory by any Loan Party, or in support of an obligation of any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries incurred in the ordinary course of business, or for any other purpose that is reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent, and (iv) is in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Lead Issuing Bank and, if applicable, the Issuing Bank issuing such Letter of Credit.
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“Letter of Credit Fees” means the fees payable in respect of Letters of Credit pursuant to Section 2.14.
“Letter of Credit Outstandings” means, at any time, the sum of (a) with respect to Letters of Credit outstanding at such time, the aggregate maximum amount that then is or at any time thereafter may become available for drawing or payment thereunder plus (b) all amounts theretofore drawn or paid under Letters of Credit for which the applicable Issuing Bank has not then been reimbursed by the Loan Parties.
“LIBO Borrowing” means a Borrowing comprised of LIBO Loans.
“LIBO Loan” means any Loan bearing interest at a rate determined by reference to the LIBO Rate in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.
“LIBO Rate” means the higher of:
(i) | the LIBOR Floor, and |
“LIBOR Floor” means 0% per annum.
“Lien” means, with respect to any asset, (a) any mortgage, deed of trust, lien, pledge, hypothecation, encumbrance, charge or security interest in, on or of such asset, (b) the interest of a vendor or a lessor under any conditional sale agreement, financing lease or title retention agreement (or any financing lease having substantially the same economic effect as any of the foregoing) relating to such asset (c) any other lien, charge, privilege, secured claim, title retention, garnishment right, deemed trust, encumbrance or other right affecting assets, choate or inchoate, arising by any statute, act of law of any jurisdiction at common law or in equity or by agreement; and (d) in the case of securities, any purchase option, call or similar right of a third party with respect to such securities.
“Loan Account” has the meaning provided therefor in Section 2.22.
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“Loan Cap” means, at any time of determination, the lesser of (a) the Total Commitments or (b) the Borrowing Base.
“Loan Documents” means this Agreement, the Notes, the Letters of Credit, the Fee Letter, all Borrowing Base Certificates, the Blocked Account Agreements, the Credit Card Notifications, the Security Documents, the Facility Guaranty, the Confirmation Agreement, and any other instrument or agreement now or hereafter executed and delivered in connection herewith or therewith, or in connection with any Bank Product or Cash Management Services.
“Loan Party” means each Borrower and each Facility Guarantor.
“Loans” means all loans (including, without limitation, Revolving Loans and Swingline Loans) at any time made to the Borrowers or for account of the Borrowers pursuant to this Agreement.
“London Banking Day” means any day on which dealings in Dollar deposits are conducted by and between banks in the London interbank eurodollar market.
“Macy’s” means, collectively, Macy’s Inc. (formerly known as Federated Department Stores, Inc.) and any successor thereto.
“Maintenance Capital Expenditures” means Capital Expenditures incurred for the purposes of maintaining existing facilities, but excluding initial expenditures related to new facilities and remodels of existing facilities.
“Margin Stock” has the meaning assigned to such term in Regulation U.
“Master Agreement” has the meaning set forth in the definition of “Swap Contract.” “Material Adverse Effect” means a material adverse effect on (a) the business,
operations, property, assets, or condition, financial or otherwise, of the Loan Parties, taken as a whole, (b) the ability of the Loan Parties, taken as a whole, to perform any material obligation or to pay any Obligations under this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents, or (c) the validity or enforceability of this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents or any of the material rights or remedies of the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent or the Lenders hereunder or thereunder.
“Material Indebtedness” means Indebtedness (other than the Loans and Letters of Credit) of any one or more of the Loan Parties in an aggregate principal amount exceeding $25,000,000. All Senior Notes and Permitted Senior Debt shall at all times constitute Material Indebtedness at any time while the Senior Notes and Permitted Senior Debt are in effect.
“Material Subsidiary” means each wholly-owned Domestic Subsidiary of a Loan Party (other than an Excluded Subsidiary) which, as of the last day of any Fiscal Quarter, satisfied any one or more of the following tests:
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or
property that would constitute Collateral valued in excess of $25,000,000, then all such Subsidiaries shall be deemed Material Subsidiaries; or
For clarity, a Subsidiary shall not be deemed a “Material Subsidiary” unless it meets any of the foregoing tests, notwithstanding that such Subsidiary is the holder of the Capital Stock of another Subsidiary which satisfies such tests.
“Maturity Date” means October 5, 2026.
“Maximum Rate” has the meaning provided therefor in Section 9.14. “Minority Lenders” has the meaning provided therefor in Section 9.2(c). “Moody’s” means Moody’s Investors Service, Inc.
“Multiemployer Plan” means a multiemployer plan as defined in Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA.
“Net Amount of Eligible Accounts” means, at any time, the gross amount of Eligible Accounts less, without duplication, (a) sales, excise, or similar taxes which are not reserved in the Borrowing Base, and (b) returns, discounts, claims, credits, allowances, accrued rebates, offsets, deductions, counterclaims, disputes, and other defenses of any nature at any time issued, owing, granted, outstanding, available, or claimed, in each case calculated and determined in Dollars.
“Net Amount of Eligible Credit Card Receivables” means, at any time, the gross amount of Eligible Credit Card Receivables less, without duplication, (a) sales, excise, or similar taxes which are not reserved in the Borrowing Base, and (b) returns, discounts, claims, credits, allowances, accrued rebates, offsets, deductions, counterclaims, disputes, and other defenses of any nature at any time issued, owing, granted, outstanding, available, or claimed, in each case calculated and determined in Dollars.
“New Lending Office” has the meaning provided therefor in Section 2.28(e). “Noncompliance Notice” has the meaning provided therefor in Section 2.6(b).
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“Non-Defaulting Lender” means, at any time, each Lender that is not a Defaulting Lender at such time.
“Notes” means (a) the promissory notes of the Borrowers substantially in the form of Exhibit B, each payable to the order of a Lender, evidencing the Revolving Loans and (b) the Swingline Note.
“Obligations” means (a) the due and punctual payment by the Borrowers of (i) the principal of, and interest (including all interest that accrues after the commencement of any case or proceeding by or against any Borrower under any federal or state bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or similar law, whether or not allowed in such case or proceeding) on the Loans, when and as due, whether at maturity, by acceleration, upon one or more dates set for prepayment or otherwise, (ii) each payment required to be made by the Borrowers under the Credit Agreement in respect of any Letter of Credit or Acceptance, when and as due, including payments in respect of reimbursement of disbursements, interest thereon and obligations to provide cash collateral and (iii) all other monetary obligations, including fees, costs, expenses and indemnities, whether primary, secondary, direct, contingent, fixed or otherwise, of the Loan Parties to the Secured Parties under the Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents, including all monetary obligations that accrue after the commencement of any case or proceeding by or against any Borrower under any federal or state bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or similar law, whether or not allowed in such case or proceeding, (b) the due and punctual payment and performance of all covenants, agreements, obligations and liabilities of the Loan Parties under or pursuant to this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, and (c) solely to the extent that there is sufficient Collateral following satisfaction of the Obligations described in clause (a) of this definition, the payment and performance under any transaction with any Lender or any of its Affiliates, which arises out of any Bank Products or Cash Management Services; provided that Obligations of a Loan Party shall exclude any Excluded Swap Obligations with respect to such Loan Party.
“OFAC” means the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the United States Department of the Treasury.
“Other Connection Taxes” means, with respect to any Recipient, Taxes imposed as a result of a present or former connection between such Recipient and the jurisdiction imposing such Tax (other than connections arising from such Recipient having executed, delivered, become a party to, performed its obligations under, received payments under, received or perfected a security interest under, engaged in any other transaction pursuant to or enforced any Loan Document, or sold or assigned an interest in any Loan or Loan Document).
“Other Rate Early Opt-in” means the Administrative Agent and the Lead Borrower have elected to replace LIBO Rate with a Benchmark Replacement other than a SOFR-based rate pursuant to (1) an Early Opt-in Election and (2) Section 2.32(c)(ii) and paragraph (2) of the definition of “Benchmark Replacement”.
“Other Taxes” means any and all current or future stamp or documentary taxes or any other excise or property taxes, charges or similar levies arising from any payment made under any Loan Document or from the execution, delivery or enforcement of, or otherwise with respect
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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 2.30).
“Overadvance” means, at any time of calculation, a circumstance in which the Credit Extensions exceed the Loan Cap.
“Participant” has the meaning provided therefor in Section 9.5(e).
“Participant Register” has the meaning provided therefor in Section 9.04(e)(ii). “Payment Conditions” means, at the time of determination with respect to a specified
transaction or payment, that (a) no Default or Event of Default then exists or would arise as a result of the entering into such transaction or the making of such payment and (b) after giving pro forma effect to such transaction or payment and for each day of the sixty (60) day period immediately preceding such transaction or payment, Excess Availability shall exceed (i) with respect to any Restricted Payments subject to the Payment Conditions, the greater of (x) fifteen percent (15%) of the Loan Cap and (y) $60,000,000, and (ii) with respect to any other transactions or payments subject to the Payment Conditions, the greater of (x) twelve and one-half percent (12.5%) of the Loan Cap and (y) $50,000,000; (c) the Adjusted Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio, on a pro-forma basis (in each case, after giving effect to such transaction or payment) shall be equal to or greater than 1.0:1.0, provided that, in the event that after giving pro forma effect to such transaction or payment and for each day of the sixty (60) day period immediately preceding such transaction or payment, Excess Availability shall exceed (i) with respect to any Restricted Payments subject to Payment Conditions, the greater of (x) twenty percent (20%) of the Loan Cap and (y) $80,000,000, and (ii) with respect to any other transactions or payments subject to the Payment Conditions, the greater of (x) seventeen and one-half percent (17.5%) of the Loan Cap and (y) $70,000,000, then the provisions of this clause
“PBGC” means the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation referred to and defined in ERISA and any successor entity performing similar functions.
“Permitted Acquisition” means an Investment in, a purchase of the Capital Stock in, or the acquisition of all or a substantial portion of the assets or properties of, any Person or of any business unit or division of any Person, the entering into any exchange of securities with any Person, or the entering into any transaction, merger or consolidation of any Person, or any acquisition of any retail store locations of any Person (each of the foregoing an “Acquisition”) in each case which satisfies each of the following conditions:
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(iii) | The Borrowers shall have furnished the Administrative Agent with the information required under Section 5.1(i) of this Agreement; |
(iv) | If the Acquisition is of the Capital Stock of any Person, the Acquisition is structured so that the Person shall become a wholly owned Subsidiary of the Lead Borrower and such Person will become a Borrower or Facility Guarantor if required in accordance with Section 5.14 hereof and if such Person is required to become a Borrower or Facility Guarantor, the Borrowers (including such Person) shall take such steps as are necessary to grant to the Collateral Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, a legal, valid and enforceable first priority security interest (except as provided in Section 6.2 hereof) in all of the assets (that would otherwise constitute Collateral) acquired in connection with such Acquisition; |
(v) | If a Borrower shall merge with such other Person, such Borrower shall be the surviving party of such merger; |
(vii) | the total consideration paid or payable in connection with any Acquisition (whether in cash, property or securities) shall not exceed $60,000,000 for any Acquisition or $150,000,000 in the aggregate for all Acquisitions after the Fifth Amendment Effective Date, unless, in each case, the Payment Conditions are satisfied; and |
(viii) | no Loan Party shall, as a result of or in connection with any such acquisition, assume or incur any direct or contingent liabilities (whether relating to environmental, tax, litigation, or other matters) that could reasonably be expected, as of the date of such acquisition, to result in the existence or occurrence of a Material Adverse Effect. |
“Permitted Discretion” means the Administrative Agent’s good faith credit judgment based upon any factor or circumstance which it reasonably believes in good faith: (i) will or could reasonably be expected to adversely affect the value of the Collateral, the enforceability or priority of the Collateral Agent’s Liens thereon in favor of the Secured Parties or the amount which the Collateral Agent and the Secured Parties would likely receive (after giving consideration to delays in payment and costs of enforcement) in the liquidation of such Collateral; (ii) suggests that any collateral report or financial information delivered to the Administrative Agent by or on behalf of the Loan Parties is incomplete, inaccurate or misleading in any material respect; (iii) could reasonably be expected to materially increase the likelihood of a bankruptcy, reorganization or other insolvency proceeding involving any Loan Party; or (iv) creates or reasonably could be expected to create a Default or Event of Default. In exercising such judgment, the Administrative Agent may consider such factors or circumstances already included in or tested by the definition of Eligible Accounts, Eligible In-Transit Inventory, or Eligible Inventory, as well as any of the following: (A) the financial and business climate and prospects of any Loan Party’s industry and general macroeconomic conditions; (B) changes in demand for and pricing of Inventory; (C) changes in any concentration of risk with respect to Inventory; (D) any other factors or circumstances that will or could reasonably be expected to
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have a Material Adverse Effect; (E) audits of books and records by third parties, history of chargebacks or other credit adjustments; and (F) any other factors that change or could reasonably be expected to change the credit risk of lending to the Borrowers on the security of the Accounts and Inventory. Notwithstanding the foregoing, it shall not be within Permitted Discretion for the Administrative Agent to establish Reserves which are duplicative of each other whether or not such reserves fall under more than one reserve category.
“Permitted Encumbrances” means:
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provided that, except as provided in any one or more of clauses (i) through (xiii) above, the term “Permitted Encumbrances” shall not include any Lien securing Indebtedness.
“Permitted Investments” means each of the following:
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provided that, notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) after the occurrence and during the continuance of a Cash Dominion Event, no such additional Investments (other than those described in clause (v) above) shall be permitted to be made by a Borrower unless either (A) no Loans are then outstanding, or (B) the Investment is a temporary Investment pending expiration of an Interest Period for a LIBOTerm SOFR Loan, the proceeds of which Investment will be applied to the Obligations after the expiration of such Interest Period, and (ii) no such Investments shall be permitted by a Borrower unless such Investments are pledged by the applicable Borrower to the Administrative Agent as additional collateral for the Obligations pursuant to such agreements as may be reasonably required by the Administrative Agent.
“Permitted Overadvance” means an Overadvance determined by the Administrative Agent, in its reasonable discretion, (a) which is made to maintain, protect or preserve the Collateral and/or the Lenders’ rights under the Loan Documents, or (b) which is otherwise in the Lenders’ interests; provided that Permitted Overadvances shall not (i) exceed five percent of the then Borrowing Base in the aggregate outstanding at any time and (ii) remain outstanding for more than thirty (30) consecutive Business Days, unless in case of clause (ii) (A) a liquidation of all or substantially all of the Collateral is being undertaken, or (B) the Required Lenders otherwise agree; and provided further that the foregoing shall not (1) modify or abrogate any of the provisions of Section 2.7(h) regarding the Lenders’ obligations with respect to L/C Disbursements, (2) modify or abrogate any of the provisions of Section 2.6 regarding Swingline Lender’s obligations with respect to Swingline Loans, or (3) result in any claim or liability against the Administrative Agent (regardless of the amount of any Overadvance) for “inadvertent Overadvances” (i.e. where an Overadvance results from changed circumstances beyond the control of the Administrative Agent (such as a reduction in the collateral value)), and further provided that in no event shall the Administrative Agent make an Overadvance, if after giving effect thereto, the principal amount of the Credit Extensions (including any Overadvance or proposed Overadvance) would exceed the Total Commitments.
“Permitted Senior Debt” means Indebtedness of the Loan Parties in the form of loans under credit agreements, notes issued under an indenture or Indebtedness under other similar agreements or instruments, as the same may be amended, restated, modified, supplemented, extended, renewed, refunded, replaced or refinanced from time to time in one or more agreements (in each case with the same or new lenders, holders, institutional investors or agents) including any agreements extending the maturity thereof or otherwise restructuring all or any portion of the Indebtedness thereunder or increasing the amount loaned or issued thereunder or altering the maturity thereof; provided that:
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events and acceleration rights after an event of default and, to the extent such Indebtedness is amortizing, regularly scheduled principal payments in an amount of not exceed 5% of the total principal amount of such Indebtedness per annum;
“Permitted Senior Debt Intercreditor Agreement” has the meaning provided therefor in the definition of Permitted Senior Debt.
“Permitted Senior Debt Priority Collateral” has the meaning provided therefor in the definition of Permitted Senior Debt.
“Permitted Stock Repurchase” means a purchase by the Lead Borrower of Capital Stock of the Lead Borrower so long as, after giving effect to such purchase, (a) no Default or Event of Default then exists or would arise of a result of making such purchase and (b) the Payment Conditions are satisfied.
“Person” means any natural person, corporation, limited liability company, trust, joint venture, association, company, partnership, Governmental Authority or other entity.
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“Plan” means any employee pension benefit plan (other than a Multiemployer Plan) subject to the provisions of Title IV of ERISA or Section 412 of the Code or Section 302 of ERISA, and in respect of which a Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate is (or, if such plan were terminated, would under Section 4069 of ERISA be deemed to be) an “employer” as defined in Section 3(5) of ERISA.
“Prime Rate” means for any day a fluctuating rate per annum equal to the highest of (a) the Federal Funds Effective Rate plus 1/2 of 1%, (b) the rate of interest in effect for such day as publicly announced from time to time by Bank of America as its “prime rate,” and (c) the LIBO RateTerm SOFR plus 1.00%. The “prime rate” is a rate set by Bank of America based upon various factors including Bank of America’s costs and desired return, general economic conditions and other factors, and is used as a reference point for pricing some loans, which may be priced at, above, or below such announced rate. Any change in such prime rate announced by Bank of America shall take effect at the opening of business on the day specified in the public announcement of such change. If the Prime Rate is being used as an alternate rate of interest pursuant to Section 2.32 hereof, then the Prime Rate shall be the greater of clauses (a) and (b) above and shall be determined without reference to clause (c) above.
“Prime Rate Loan” means any Loan bearing interest at a rate determined by reference to the Prime Rate in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.
“PTE” means a prohibited transaction class exemption issued by the U.S. Department of Labor, as any such exemption may be amended from time to time.
“QFC” has the meaning assigned to the term “qualified financial contract” in, and shall be interpreted in accordance with 12 U.S.C. 5390(c)(8)(D).
“QFC Credit Support” has the meaning provided therefor in Section 9.26.
“Qualified ECP Guarantor” means, at any time, each Loan Party with total assets exceeding $10,000,000 or that qualifies at such time as an “eligible contract participant” under the Commodity Exchange Act and can cause another Person to qualify as an “eligible contract participant” at such time under Section 1a(18)(A)(v)(II) of the Commodity Exchange Act.
“Real Estate” means all land, together with the buildings, structures, parking areas, and other improvements thereon, now or hereafter owned or leased by any Loan Party, including all easements, rights-of-way, and similar rights relating thereto and all leases, tenancies, and occupancies thereof.
“Recipient” means the Agents, any Lender, the Issuing Bank or any other recipient of any payment to be made by or on account of any obligation of any Loan Party hereunder.
“Refinancing Debt” means publicly issued or privately placed notes or other Indebtedness (without duplication of any replacement or refinancing permitted in the definition of “Permitted Senior Debt”) which refinances all or a portion of the Senior Notes so long as, after giving effect thereto (i) the aggregate principal amount of the Senior Notes and Refinancing Debt outstanding after giving effect to the issuance of the Refinancing Debt is not greater than $350,000,000, (ii) the result of such refinancing shall not result in a maturity date which is earlier than six (6)
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months following the Maturity Date or decreased weighted average life, (iii) the lenders or holders of the refinancing debt are not afforded covenants, defaults, rights or remedies, taken as a whole, which are materially more burdensome to the obligor or obligors than those contained in the Senior Notes or other Indebtedness being refinanced, (iv) the obligor or obligors under any such refinancing debt are Loan Parties hereunder, (v) such refinancing debt may be secured by a first priority Lien on any Collateral of the type that is not included in the Borrowing Base or any related assets and proceeds thereof only and a second priority Lien on any Collateral of the type included in the Borrowing Base and related assets and proceeds thereof (provided that the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Loan Parties is granted a second priority Lien on any assets for which a first priority Lien is granted to secure such refinancing debt) provided that it shall be subject to an intercreditor agreement reasonably acceptable to the Collateral Agent, (vi) the documentation pursuant to which such refinancing debt shall be issued (including, if such refinancing debt is secured, the security documents), shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Collateral Agent, (vii) if the Refinancing Debt is the refinancing of the Senior Notes, the subordination, to the extent applicable, and other material provisions are no less favorable to the Lenders than those terms of the Senior Notes being refinanced, and (viii) the Refinancing Debt is not exchangeable or convertible into any other Indebtedness which does not comply with clauses
(i) through (vii) above. For purposes of this definition, if the Senior Notes (1) have been called for redemption in accordance with the terms of the Senior Notes Indenture and (2) the Lead Borrower has irrevocably deposited funds in such amounts as are sufficient to pay and discharge the entire Indebtedness on the Senior Notes in accordance with the terms of the Senior Notes Indenture and has satisfied and discharged the Senior Notes Indenture in accordance with the terms thereof, the Senior Notes will not be considered to be outstanding.
“Register” has the meaning provided therefor in Section 9.5(c).
“Regulation U” means Regulation U of the Board as from time to time in effect and all official rulings and interpretations thereunder or thereof.
“Regulation X” means Regulation X of the Board as from time to time in effect and all official rulings and interpretations thereunder or thereof.
“Related Parties” means, with respect to any specified Person, such Person’s Affiliates and the respective directors, officers, employees, agents and advisors of such Person and such Person’s Affiliates.
“Release” has the meaning set forth in Section 101(22) of CERCLA.
“Relevant Governmental Body” means the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System or the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, or a committee officially endorsed or convened by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System or the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, or any successor thereto.
“Relevant Date” means (i) in the case of each Lender signatory hereto on the Fifth Amendment Effective Date, the Fifth Amendment Effective Date, and (ii) in the case of each other Lender, the effective date of the Assignment and Acceptance or other document pursuant to which it becomes a Lender.
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“Required Lenders” means, at any time, at least three (3) Lenders having Commitments greater than 50% of the Total Commitments, or if the Commitments have been terminated, Lenders holding in the aggregate greater than 50% of all Loans and Letters of Credit Outstanding (with the aggregate amount, without duplication, of each Lender’s risk participation and funded participation in Letters of Credit and Swingline Loans being deemed “held” by such Lender (and an Issuing Bank or Swingline Lender) for purposes of this definition), provided that the Commitment of, and the portion of the Loans and Letters of Credit Outstanding held or deemed held by, any Defaulting Lender shall be excluded for purposes of making a determination of Required Lenders.
“Rescindable Amount” has the meaning provided therefor in Section 2.27(c). “Reserves” means the Inventory Reserves and Availability Reserves.
“Responsible Officer” means with respect to any Borrower, the chief executive officer or the president or any Financial Officer.
“Resolution Authority” means an EEA Resolution Authority or, with respect to any UK Financial Institution, a UK Resolution Authority.
“Restricted Payment” means, with respect to any Person (other than a natural person):
“Revolving Loans” means all Loans at any time made by a Lender pursuant to Article II. “S&P” means Standard & Poor’s Rating Services, a division of the McGraw-Hill
Companies, Inc.
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“Sanction(s)” means any sanction administered or enforced by the United States Government (including, without limitation, OFAC), the United Nations Security Council, the European Union, HerHis Majesty’s Treasury (“HMT”), the federal government of Canada (including, without limitation, Canadian Sanction Laws) or other relevant sanctions authority.
“Scheduled Unavailability Date” has the meaning specified in Section 2.32(b). “Secured Parties” has the meaning assigned to such term in the Borrower Security
Agreement.
“Security Documents” means the Borrower Security Agreement, the Facility Guaranty, the Facility Guarantors’ Collateral Documents, any Permitted Senior Debt Intercreditor Agreement, and each other security agreement, guaranty or other instrument or document executed and delivered pursuant to Section 5.15 or any other provision hereof or any other Loan Document, to secure any of the Obligations.
“Selected Months” means any consecutive three (3) month period occurring during the applicable Fiscal Year of the Loan Parties, which is selected by the Lead Borrower, with written notice thereof being delivered to the Administrative Agent prior to the beginning of such Fiscal Year; provided that failure to make any such election shall result in the consecutive three (3) month period from the prior Fiscal Year to remain in effect; provided that the Lead Borrower shall not be permitted to elect the first three (3) months of any Fiscal Year to the extent they had elected the last three (3) months of the prior Fiscal Year.
“Senior Notes Indenture” means the Indenture, dated as of July 27, 2015, among the Lead Borrower, the guarantors party thereto and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee, pursuant to which the Senior Notes were issued.
“Senior Notes” means the Lead Borrower’s 6.250% Senior Notes due 2023 issued pursuant to the Senior Notes Indenture.
“Senior Notes Repayment Reserve” means the Availability Reserve described in Section
5.5(b).
“Settlement Date” has the meaning provided therefor in Section 2.8(b).
“Shrink” means Inventory which has been lost, misplaced, stolen, or is otherwise
unaccounted for.
“Sidney Rich” has the meaning provided therefor in the Recitals.
“Sixth Amendment” means, that certain Sixth Amendment to Fourth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement by and among, the Borrowers, the Administrative Agent, and the Lenders party thereto dated as of the Sixth Amendment Effective Date.
“Sixth Amendment Effective Date” means April 27, 2023.
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“SOFR” has the meaning specified in the definition of Daily Simple SOFRmeans the Secured Overnight Financing Rate as administered by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York (or a successor administrator).
“SOFR Early Opt-in” means the Administrative Agent and the Lead Borrower have elected to replace LIBO Rate pursuant to (1) an Early Opt-in Election and (2) Section 2.33(c)(i) and paragraph (1) of the definition of “Benchmark Replacement”.
“SOFR Adjustment” means 0.10% (10.00 basis points) per annum.
“Solvent” means, with respect to any Person on a particular date, that on such date, (a) at fair valuations, all of the properties and assets of such Person are greater than the sum of the debts, including contingent liabilities, of such Person, (b) the present fair saleable value of the properties and assets of such Person is not less than the amount that would be required to pay the probable liability of such Person on its debts as they become absolute and matured, (c) such Person is able to realize upon its properties and assets and pay its debts and other liabilities, contingent obligations and other commitments as they mature in the normal course of business,
(d) such Person does not intend to, and does not believe that it will, incur debts beyond such Person’s ability to pay as such debts mature, and (e) such Person is not engaged in a business or a transaction, and is not about to engage in a business or transaction, for which such Person’s properties and assets would constitute unreasonably small capital after giving due consideration to the prevailing practices in the industry in which such Person is engaged.
“Specified Loan Party” means any Loan Party that is not then an “eligible contract participant” under the Commodity Exchange Act (determined prior to giving effect to Section 9.24).
Credit.
“Standby Letter of Credit” means any Letter of Credit other than a Commercial Letter of
“Standby Letter of Credit Fee” means with respect to any Standby Letter of Credit issued
hereunder:
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incorrect as of the date of such Borrowing Base Certificate such that the Standby Letter of Credit Fee would have been higher than was otherwise in effect during any period, without constituting a waiver of any Default or Event of Default arising as a result thereof, such Standby Letter of Credit Fee due under this Agreement shall be immediately recalculated at such higher rate for any applicable periods and shall be due and payable on demand.
Level | Average Excess Availability | Applicable Percentage |
I | Greater than 50% of the Loan Cap | 1.25% |
II | Less than or equal to 50% of the Loan Cap | 1.50% |
“Subordinated Debt” means unsecured Indebtedness of any Loan Party entered into after the Effective Date (including any such Indebtedness that is convertible into Capital Stock (other than Disqualified Stock)) which is subordinated to payment of the Obligations on terms and conditions reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent, and any amendments, renewals, restatements, or other modifications thereof.
“Subsidiary” means, with respect to any Person (the “parent”) at any date, any corporation, limited liability company, partnership, association or other entity the accounts of which would be consolidated with those of the parent in the parent’s consolidated financial statements if such financial statements were prepared in accordance with GAAP as of such date, as well as any other corporation, limited liability company, partnership, association or other entity (a) of which securities or other ownership interests representing more than 50% of the equity or more than 50% of the ordinary voting power or, in the case of a partnership, more than 50% of the general partnership interests are, as of such date, directly or indirectly owned, controlled or held, or (b) that is, as of such date, otherwise directly or indirectly Controlled, by the parent and/or one or more subsidiaries of the parent. Unless the context otherwise requires, all references in the Loan Documents to “Subsidiaries” shall be deemed to refer to Subsidiaries of the Lead Borrower. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, B&H and its subsidiaries shall not be deemed to be Subsidiaries until such time as the Lead Borrower directly or indirectly owns 100% of the Capital Stock of B&H.
“Successor Rate” has the meaning specified in Section 2.32(b).
“Super-Majority Lenders” means, at any time, Lenders having Commitments equal in the aggregate to at least 75% of the Total Commitments, or if the Commitments have been terminated, Lenders holding in the aggregate at least 75% of all Loans and Letters of Credit Outstanding (with the aggregate amount, without duplication, of each Lender’s risk participation and funded participation in Letters of Credit and Swingline Loans being deemed “held” by such Lender (and an Issuing Bank or Swingline Lender) for purposes of this definition), provided that the Commitment of, and the portion of the Loans and Letters of Credit Outstanding held or
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deemed held by, any Defaulting Lender shall be excluded for purposes of making a determination of Super-Majority Lenders.
“Supported QFC” has the meaning provided therefor in Section 9.26.
“Swap Contract” 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 Obligations” means with respect to any Loan Party any obligation to pay or perform under any agreement, contract or transaction that constitutes a “swap” within the meaning of Section 1a(47) of the Commodity Exchange Act.
“Swingline Lender” means Bank of America, N.A., in its capacity as lender of Swingline Loans hereunder.
“Swingline Loan” means a Loan made by the Swingline Lender to the Borrowers pursuant to Section 2.6 hereof.
“Swingline Loan Sublimit” means $50,000,000.
“Swingline Note” means a promissory note made by the Borrowers to the Swingline Lender to evidence the Swingline Loans, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Swingline Lender.
“Synthetic Lease” means any lease or other agreement for the use or possession of property creating obligations which does not appear as Indebtedness on the balance sheet of the lessee thereunder but which, upon the insolvency or bankruptcy of such Person, would be characterized as Indebtedness of such lessee without regard to the accounting treatment.
“Taxes” means any and all current or future taxes, levies, imposts, duties, deductions, charges or withholdings imposed by any Governmental Authority.
“Term SOFR” means
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provided that if the Term SOFR determined in accordance with either of the foregoing provisions (i) or (ii) of this definition would otherwise be less than the Floor, the Term SOFR shall be deemed to be the Floor for purposes of this Agreement.
“Term SOFR Loan” means a Revolving Loan that bears interest at a rate based on clause (i) of the definition of Term SOFR.
“Term SOFR Replacement Date” has the meaning specified in Section 2.32(b).
“Term SOFR” means, for the applicable corresponding tenor (or if any Available Tenor of a Benchmark does not correspond to an Available Tenor for the applicable Benchmark Replacement, the closest corresponding Available Tenor and if such Available Tenor corresponds equally to two Available Tenors of the applicable Benchmark Replacement, the corresponding tenor of the shorter duration shall be applied), Screen Rate” means the forward-looking SOFR term rate based on SOFR that has been selected or recommended by the Relevant Governmental Body.administered by CME (or any successor administrator satisfactory to the Administrative Agent) and published on the applicable Reuters screen page (or such other commercially available source providing such quotations as may be designated by the Administrative Agent from time to time).
“Termination Date” means the earliest to occur of (i) the Maturity Date, (ii) the date on which the maturity of the Loans are accelerated and the Commitments are terminated in accordance with Section 7, (iii) the date of the occurrence of any Event of Default pursuant to Section 7.1(i) or 7.1(j), or (iv) the effective date of termination of the Commitments pursuant to Section 2.17 hereof.
“Trading with the Enemy Act” has the meaning provided therefor in Section 9.20.
“Total Commitments” means, at any time, the sum of the Commitments at such time. As of the Fifth Amendment Effective Date, the Total Commitments are $500,000,000.
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“Type”, when used in reference to any Loan or Borrowing, refers to whether the rate of interest on such Loan, or on the Loans comprising such Borrowing, is determined by reference to the LIBO RateTerm SOFR or the Prime Rate.
“U.S. Special Resolution Regimes” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.26.
“UCC” means the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect from time to time in the State of New York.
“UCP” means, with respect to any Letter of Credit, the Uniform Customs and Practice for Documentary Credits, International Chamber of Commerce (“ICC”) Publication No. 600 (or such later version thereof as may be in effect at the time of issuance).
“UK Financial Institution” means any BRRD Undertaking (as defined under the PRA Rulebook (as amended from time to time) promulgated by the United Kingdom Prudential Regulation Authority) or any Person subject to 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.
“Unused Commitment” means, on any day, (a) the then Total Commitments minus (b) the sum of (i) the principal amount of Loans then outstanding (including the principal amount of Swingline Loans then outstanding), and (ii) the then Letter of Credit Outstandings and (iii) the then unreimbursed Acceptances.
“U.S. Government Securities Business Day” means any Business Day, except any Business Day on which any of the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association, the New York Stock Exchange or the Federal Reserve Bank of New York is not open for business because such day is a legal holiday under the federal laws of the United States or the laws of the State of New York, as applicable.
“Vionic Group” has the meaning provided therefor in the Recitals. “Vionic International” has the meaning provided therefor in the Recitals.
“Voting Stock” means, with respect to any corporation, the outstanding stock of all classes (or equivalent interests) which ordinarily, in the absence of contingencies, entitles holders thereof to vote for the election of directors (or Persons performing similar functions) of such corporation, even though the right so to vote has been suspended by the happening of such contingency.
“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.
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“Write-Down and Conversion Powers” (a) the write-down and conversion powers of the applicable EEA Resolution Authority from time to time under the Bail-In Legislation for the applicable EEA Member Country, which powers are described in the EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule; or (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.
1.2. | Terms Generally. |
(a) any definition of or reference to any agreement, instrument or other document herein shall be construed as referring to such agreement, instrument or other document as from time to time amended, supplemented or otherwise modified (subject to any restrictions on such amendments, supplements or modifications set forth herein), (b) any reference herein to any Person shall be construed to include such Person’s successors and assigns or, for natural persons, such Person’s successors, heirs, executors, administrators and other legal representatives, (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 Sections, Exhibits and Schedules shall be construed to refer to 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, (f) all financial statements and other financial information provided by the Loan Parties to the Administrative Agent or any Lender shall be provided with reference to Dollars, and (g) this Agreement and the other Loan Documents are the result of negotiation among, and have been reviewed by counsel to, among others, the Loan Parties and the Administrative Agent and are the product of discussions and negotiations among all parties. Accordingly, this Agreement and the other Loan Documents are not intended to be construed against the Administrative Agent or any of the Lenders merely on account of the Administrative Agent’s or any Lender’s involvement in the preparation of such documents.
(b) | [Reserved] |
1.3. | Accounting Terms. |
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manner consistent with that used in preparing the Audited Financial Statements, except as otherwise specifically prescribed herein.
1.7. | Interest Rates. |
(a) The Administrative Agent does not warrant, nor accept responsibility, nor shall the Administrative Agent have any liability with respect to the administration, submission or any other matter related to the rates in the definition of “LIBO RateTerm SOFR” or with respect to any rate that is an alternative or replacement for or successor to any of such rate (including, without limitation, any Benchmark ReplacementSuccessor Rate) or the effect of any of the foregoing, or of any Benchmark Replacement Conforming Changes.
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2. | AMOUNT AND TERMS OF CREDIT. |
2.1. | Commitment of the Lenders. |
2.2. | Increase in Total Commitments. |
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respond (which shall in no event be less than ten (10) Business Days from the date of delivery of such notice to the Lenders).
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appropriate modification) to the extent necessary to reflect the new Commitment of such Additional Commitment Lender;
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2.4. | Making of Loans. |
2.25. Subject to the other provisions of this Section 2.4 and the provisions of Section 2.26, Borrowings of Loans of more than one Type may be incurred at the same time, but no more than twelvefifteen (1215) Borrowings of LIBOTerm SOFR Loans may be outstanding at any time.
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Borrowing available to the Administrative Agent, then the applicable Lender and the Borrowers severally agree to pay to the Administrative Agent forthwith on demand such corresponding amount with interest thereon, for each day from and including the date such amount is made available to the Borrowers to but excluding the date of payment to the Administrative Agent, at
(i) in the case of such Lender, the Federal Funds Effective Rate or (ii) in the case of the Borrowers, the interest rate applicable to Prime Rate Loans. If such Lender pays such amount to the Administrative Agent, then such amount shall constitute such Lender’s Loan included in such Borrowing. Upon receipt of the funds made available by the Lenders to fund any Borrowing hereunder, the Administrative Agent shall disburse such funds in the manner specified in the notice of borrowing delivered by the Lead Borrower and shall use reasonable efforts to make the funds so received from the Lenders available to the Borrowers no later than 3:00 p.m., Boston time.
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party to this Agreement or any other Loan Document; provided, that, with respect to any such amendment effected, the Administrative Agent shall post each such amendment implementing such Conforming Changes to the Lead Borrower and the Lenders reasonably promptly after such amendment becomes effective.
2.6. | Swingline Loans. |
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(ii) | [Reserved]. |
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until the Administrative Agent advises any such Issuing Bank or Acceptance Lender that the provisions of Section 4.2 are not satisfied, or (B) the aggregate amount of the Letters of Credit and Acceptances issued in any such week exceeds such amount as shall be agreed by the Administrative Agent and such Issuing Bank or Acceptance Lender, such Issuing Bank or Acceptance Lender shall be required to so notify the Administrative Agent in writing only once each week of the Letters of Credit and Acceptances issued by such Issuing Bank or Acceptance Lender during the immediately preceding week as well as the daily amounts outstanding for the prior week, such notice to be furnished on such day of the week as the Administrative Agent and such Issuing Bank or Acceptance Lender may agree.
4.2 is not then satisfied, and in each such case directing such Issuing Bank not to permit such extension.
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undivided interest and participation, to the extent of such Lender’s Commitment Percentage, in such Letter of Credit or Acceptance, each drawing thereunder and the obligations of the Borrowers under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents with respect thereto. Upon any change in the Commitments pursuant to Section 2.2, 2.17, and/or 9.5, it is hereby agreed that with respect to all Letter of Credit Outstandings, there shall be an automatic adjustment to the participations hereby created to reflect the new Commitment Percentages of the assigning and assignee Lenders and any Additional Commitment Lender. Any action taken or omitted by such Issuing Bank or Acceptance Lender under or in connection with a Letter of Credit or Acceptance, if taken or omitted in the absence of gross negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct, shall not create for such Issuing Bank or Acceptance Lender, as applicable, any resulting liability to any Lender.
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Lender issue an Acceptance (or the amendment, renewal or extension of an outstanding Acceptance), the Lead Borrower shall give to such Issuing Bank or Acceptance Lender, as applicable, and the Administrative Agent at least three (3) Business Days’ prior written (including telegraphic, telex, facsimile or cable communication) notice (or such shorter period as may be agreed upon in writing by such Issuing Bank or Acceptance Lender, as applicable and Lead Borrower) specifying the date on which the proposed Letter of Credit or Acceptance is to be issued, amended, renewed or extended (which shall be a Business Day), the stated amount of the Letter of Credit or Acceptance so requested, the expiration date of such Letter of Credit or Acceptance, the name and address of the beneficiary thereof, and the provisions thereof. If requested by such Issuing Bank or Acceptance Lender, as applicable, the Borrowers shall also submit a letter of credit application on such Issuing Bank’s or Acceptance Lender’s, as applicable, standard form in connection with any request for the issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of a Letter of Credit or Acceptance.
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absence of gross negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct on the part of any Issuing Bank or Acceptance Lender, as applicable (as finally determined by a court of competent jurisdiction), such Issuing Bank or Acceptance Lender, as applicable, 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 compliance with the terms of a Letter of Credit or Acceptance, the applicable Issuing Bank or Acceptance Lender, as applicable, 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 or Acceptance.
(l) | [Reserved]. |
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Credit, and (ii) the rules of the UCP shall apply to each Commercial Letter of Credit. Notwithstanding the foregoing, except to the extent that a court of competent jurisdiction has determined in a final, non-appealable judgment that such Issuing Bank has acted with gross negligence or willful misconduct, no Issuing Bank shall be responsible to the Borrowers for, and such Issuing Bank’s rights and remedies against the Borrowers shall not 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.
2.8. | Settlements Amongst Lenders. |
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necessary to insure that, after giving effect to all such transfers, the amount of Revolving Loans made by each Lender shall be equal to such Lender’s applicable Commitment Percentage of Revolving Loans outstanding as of such Settlement Date. If the summary statement requires transfers to be made to the Administrative Agent by the Lenders and is received at or prior to 1:00 p.m., Boston time, on a Business Day, such transfers shall be made in immediately available funds no later than 3:00 p.m., Boston time, that day; and, if received after 1:00 p.m., Boston time, then no later than 3:00 p.m., Boston time, on the next Business Day. The obligation of each Lender to transfer such funds is irrevocable, unconditional and without recourse to or warranty by the Administrative Agent. If and to the extent any Lender shall not have so made its transfer to the Administrative Agent, such Lender agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent, forthwith on demand such amount, together with interest thereon, for each day from such date until the date such amount is paid to the Administrative Agent at the Federal Funds Effective Rate.
2.9. | Notes; Repayment of Loans. |
2.10. | Interest on Loans. |
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The Commitment Fee so accrued in any calendar quarter shall be payable on or prior to the fifth (5th) day of each January, April, July, and October, in arrears, except that all Commitment Fees so accrued as of the Termination Date shall be payable on the Termination Date. The Administrative Agent shall pay the Commitment Fee to the Lenders based upon their Commitment Percentages.
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year of 365 or 366 days, as applicable, and payable on the fifth (5th) day of each January, April, July and October, in arrears.
2.18. | [Reserved]. |
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time, on the date of any conversion), to convert any outstanding Borrowings of LIBOTerm SOFR Loans to a Borrowing of Prime Rate Loans,
subject to the following:
If the Lead Borrower does not give notice to convert any Borrowing of Prime Rate Loans, or does not give notice to continue, or does not have the right to continue, any Borrowing as LIBOTerm SOFR Loans, in each case as provided above, such Borrowing shall automatically be converted to, or continued as, as applicable, a Borrowing of Prime Rate Loans at the expiration of the then current Interest Period. The Administrative Agent shall, after it receives notice from the Borrower, promptly give each Lender notice of any conversion, in whole or part, of any Loan made by such Lender.
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request of the Required Lenders) (A) prepay the Loans in an amount necessary to eliminate such excess, and (B) if, after giving effect to the prepayment in full of all outstanding Loans such excess has not been eliminated, deposit cash into the Cash Collateral Account in an amount equal to 105% of the Letter of Credit Outstandings. Without in any way limiting the foregoing, the Administrative Agent shall, weekly or more frequently in the Administrative Agent’s Permitted Discretion, make the necessary exchange rate calculations with respect to Letters of Credit denominated in a currency other than Dollars, to determine whether any excess exists on such date.
2.21. | Optional Prepayment of Loans; Reimbursement of Lenders. |
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facsimile notice to the Administrative Agent prior to 12:00 noon, Boston time, on the date of prepayment, subject to the following limitations:
$5,000,000 (unless all such outstanding LIBOTerm SOFR Loans are being prepaid in full).
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for a comparable period with leading banks in the London interbankSOFR market (collectively, “Breakage Costs”). Any Lender demanding reimbursement for such loss shall deliver to the Lead Borrower from time to time one or more certificates setting forth the amount of such loss as determined by such Lender and setting forth in reasonable detail the manner in which such amount was determined. A certificate of any Lender setting forth any amount or amounts that such Lender is entitled to receive pursuant to this Section shall be presumptively correct absent manifest error. The Borrowers shall pay such Lender the amount shown as due on any such certificate within ten (10) days after receipt of such certificate; provided, however, that if any Breakage Costs are incurred as a result of repayment of Loans on the Maturity Date or the refinancing of this credit facility and so long as the amount of such Breakage Costs is included as part of the payoff amount set forth in the relevant payoff letter and the relevant Lender has delivered the certificate required hereby, payment of such Breakage Costs shall be made on the date of such termination or the Maturity Date, as applicable.
(c) | [Reserved]. |
2.22. | Maintenance of Loan Account; Statements of Account. |
2.23. | Cash Receipts. |
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(c) | So long as no Cash Dominion Event has occurred and is continuing: |
$250,000.00 (or such higher amount as the Administrative Agent in its Permitted Discretion determines) in the aggregate for all DDAs (including all such subaccounts) as is necessary or appropriate to cover dishonored checks, credit card chargebacks, bank fees and similar charges, in each case in the ordinary course of business. For purposes of the calculation of the amount on deposit in any single DDA (or in any subaccount of a DDA), there shall be excluded any amounts for which an ACH transfer has been initiated but which transfer has not as yet been made in the ordinary course of business.
(d) | After the occurrence and during the continuation of a Cash Dominion Event: |
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2.24. | Application of Payments. |
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payable on Credit Extensions; third, to repay outstanding Swingline Loans; fourth, to repay other outstanding Revolving Loans that are Prime Rate Loans and all outstanding reimbursement obligations under Letters of Credit and Acceptances; fifth, to repay outstanding Revolving Loans that are LIBOTerm SOFR Loans and all Breakage Costs due in respect of such repayment pursuant to Section 2.21(b) or, at the Lead Borrower’s option, to fund a cash collateral deposit to the Cash Collateral Account sufficient to pay, and with direction to pay, all such outstanding LIBOTerm SOFR Loans on the last day of the then-pending Interest Period therefor; sixth, if an Event of Default then exists and is continuing, to fund a cash collateral deposit in the Cash Collateral Account in an amount equal to 105% of all Letter of Credit Outstandings; seventh, to pay all Obligations then due arising out of any Cash Management Services provided by any Lender or its Affiliate, and, in the event that the Obligations have been accelerated, to provide collateral security to the extent required by Section 9.6 hereof, and eighth, to pay all other Obligations that are then outstanding and then due and payable, including without limitation, all Obligations arising out of any Bank Products provided by any Lender or its Affiliate and, in the event that the Obligations have been accelerated, to provide collateral security to the extent required by Section 9.6 hereof. If all amounts set forth in clauses first through and including eighth above are paid, any excess amounts shall be deposited in a separate cash collateral account, and shall promptly be released to the Borrowers upon the request of the Lead Borrower. The application of payments shall be subject to Section 7.3 hereof.
2.25. | Increased Costs. |
(a) | If any Change in Law shall: |
and the result of any of the foregoing shall be to increase the cost to such Lender of making or maintaining any LIBOTerm SOFR Loan (or of maintaining its obligation to make any such Loan) or to increase the cost to such Lender, Issuing Bank or Acceptance Lender of participating in, issuing or maintaining any Letter of Credit or Acceptance or to reduce the amount of any sum received or receivable by such Lender or Issuing Bank or Acceptance Lender hereunder (whether
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of principal, interest or otherwise) other than Taxes, which shall be governed by Section 2.28 hereof, then the Borrowers will pay to such Lender, Issuing Bank or Acceptance Lender, as the case may be, such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender, Issuing Bank or Acceptance Lender, as the case may be, for such additional costs incurred or reduction suffered.
2.26. | Change in Legality. |
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after the FifthSixth Amendment Effective Date which adversely affects the London interbank market or the position of such Lender in the London interbank market, then, by written notice to the Lead Borrower, such Lender may (i) declare that LIBOTerm SOFR Loans will not thereafter be made by such Lender hereunder, whereupon any request by the Borrowers for a LIBO BorrowingTerm SOFR Loan shall, as to such Lender only, be deemed a request for a Prime Rate Loan (computed without reference to the Term SOFR component thereof) unless such declaration shall be subsequently withdrawn; and (ii) require that all outstanding LIBOTerm SOFR Loans made by it be converted to Prime Rate Loans, in which event all such LIBOTerm SOFR Loans shall be automatically converted to Prime Rate Loans (computed without reference to the Term SOFR component thereof) as of the effective date of such notice as provided in paragraph (b) below. In the event any Lender shall exercise its rights under clause (i) or (ii) of this paragraph (a), all payments and prepayments of principal which would otherwise have been applied to repay the LIBOTerm SOFR Loans that would have been made by such Lender or the converted LIBOTerm SOFR Loans of such Lender shall instead be applied to repay the Prime Rate Loans (computed without reference to the Term SOFR component thereof) made by such Lender in lieu of, or resulting from the conversion of, such LIBOTerm SOFR Loans.
2.27. | Payments. |
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each Loan Document shall be made in Dollars (except that drawings under Letters of Credit shall be reimbursed in the same currency as such Letter of Credit was denominated).
2.28. | Taxes. |
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case may be) receives an amount equal to the sum it would have received had no such deductions been made.
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certifying that it is not a foreign partnership, estate or trust. Such forms shall be delivered by each Lender on or before the date it becomes a party to this Agreement (or, in the case of a transferee that is a participation holder, on or before the date such participation holder becomes a transferee hereunder) and on or before the date, if any, such Lender changes its applicable lending office by designating a different lending office (a “New Lending Office”). In addition, each Lender shall deliver such forms promptly upon the obsolescence or invalidity of any form previously delivered by such Lender. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 2.28(e), a Lender shall not be required to deliver any form pursuant to this Section 2.28(e) that such Lender is not legally able to deliver.
(a) or (c) above to the extent that the obligation to pay such additional amounts would not have arisen but for a failure by such Lender to comply with the provisions of paragraph (e) above. Should a Lender become subject to Taxes because of its failure to deliver a form required hereunder, the Loan Parties shall, at such Lender’s expense, take such steps as such Lender shall reasonably request to assist such Lender to recover such Taxes.
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owing to such Lender under this Agreement or any other Loan Document against any amount due to the Administrative Agent under this Section 2.28(h).
2.30. | Mitigation Obligations; Replacement of Lenders. |
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disadvantageous to such Lender. The Borrowers hereby agree to pay all reasonable costs and expenses incurred by any Lender in connection with any such designation or assignment; provided, however, that the Borrowers shall not be liable for such costs and expenses of a Lender requesting compensation if (i) such Lender becomes a party to this Agreement on a date after the Fifth Amendment Effective Date and (ii) the relevant Change in Law occurs on a date prior to the date such Lender becomes a party hereto.
(y) require such Lender to assign and delegate, without recourse (in accordance with and subject to the restrictions contained in Section 9.5), 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 (i) except in the case of an assignment to another Lender, the Borrowers shall have received the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent, the Lead Issuing Bank, each other Lender which is then an Issuing Bank, and the Swingline Lender, which consent shall not unreasonably be withheld, (ii) such Lender shall have received payment of an amount equal to the outstanding principal of its Loans and participations in unreimbursed drawings under Letters of Credit, Acceptances and Swingline Loans, accrued interest thereon, accrued fees and all other amounts payable to it hereunder, from the assignee (to the extent of such outstanding principal and accrued interest and fees) or the Borrowers (in the case of all other amounts) and (iii) in the case of any such assignment resulting from a claim for compensation under Section 2.25 or payments required to be made pursuant to Section 2.28, such assignment will result in a reduction in such compensation or payments. A Lender shall not be required to make any such assignment and delegation if, prior thereto, as a result of a waiver by such Lender or otherwise, the circumstances entitling the Borrowers to require such assignment and delegation cease to apply.
2.31. | Extension of Commitments. |
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Administrative Agent shall agree in its sole discretion)) and (iii) identify the relevant class of Commitments to which such Extension relates. Each Lender of the applicable class shall be offered (an “Extension Offer”) an opportunity to participate in such Extension on a pro rata basis and on the same terms and conditions as each other Lender of such class pursuant to procedures established by, or reasonably acceptable to, the Administrative Agent and the Lead Borrower. If the aggregate principal amount of Commitments in respect of which Lenders shall have accepted the relevant Extension Offer shall exceed the maximum aggregate principal amount of Commitments subject to the Extension Offer as set forth in the Extension notice, then the Commitments of Lenders of the applicable class shall be extended ratably up to such maximum amount based on the respective principal amounts with respect to which such Lenders have accepted such Extension Offer.
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to establish Extended Commitments as a new class or tranche of Commitments and such other technical amendments as may be necessary or appropriate in the reasonable opinion of the Administrative Agent and the Lead Borrower in connection with the establishment of such new class or tranche (including to preserve the pro rata treatment of the extended and non-extended classes or tranches and to provide for the reallocation of Credit Exposure upon the expiration or termination of the commitments under any class or tranche), in each case on terms consistent with this Section.
2.32. | Inability to Determine Rates. |
(x) the obligation of the Lenders to make or, maintain LIBO, or convert Prime Rate Loans to, Term SOFR Loans shall be suspended, (to the extent of the affected LIBOTerm SOFR Loans or Interest Periods), and (y) in the event of a determination described in the preceding sentence with respect to the LIBO RateTerm SOFR component of the Prime Rate, the utilization of the LIBO Ratesuch component in determining the Prime Rate shall be suspended, in each case until the Administrative Agent (or, in the case of a determination by the Required Lenders described in clause (ii) of Section 2.32(a)above, until the Administrative Agent upon instruction of the Required Lenders) revokes such notice. Upon receipt of such notice, (I) the BorrowersLead Borrower may revoke any pending request for a Borrowing of, conversion to or continuation of LIBOTerm SOFR Loans (to the extent of the affected LIBOTerm SOFR Loans or Interest Periods) or, failing that, will be deemed to have Convertedconverted such request into a request for a Borrowing of Prime Rate Loans in the amount specified therein, and (II) any outstanding Term SOFR Loans shall convert to Prime Rate Loans at the end of their respective Interest Periods.
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then, on a date and time determined by Administrative Agent (any such date, “Term SOFR Replacement Date”), which date shall be at the end of an Interest Period or on the relevant interest payment date, as applicable, for interest calculated and, solely with respect to clause
(ii) above, no later than the Scheduled Unavailability Date, Term SOFR will be replaced hereunder and under any other applicable Loan Document with Daily Simple SOFR plus the SOFR Adjustment, for any payment period for interest calculated that can be determined by Administrative Agent, in each case, without any amendment to, or further action or consent of any other party to, any Loan Document (“Successor Rate”). If the Successor Rate is Daily Simple SOFR plus the SOFR Adjustment, all interest will be payable on a monthly basis.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, (x) if Administrative Agent determines that Daily Simple SOFR is not available on or prior to the Term SOFR Replacement Date or (y) if the events or circumstances of the type described in clauses (i) or (ii) above have occurred with respect to the Successor Rate then in effect, then in each case, Administrative Agent and the Lead Borrower may amend this Agreement solely for the purpose of replacing Term SOFR or any then current Successor Rate in accordance with this Section at the end of any Interest Period, relevant interest payment date or payment period for interest calculated, as applicable, with an alternative benchmark rate giving due consideration to any evolving or then existing convention for such alternative benchmarks in similar U.S. dollar denominated syndicated credit facilities syndicated and agented in the United States and, in each case, including any mathematical or other adjustments to such benchmark giving due consideration to any evolving or then existing convention for such benchmarks in similar U.S. dollar denominated credit facilities syndicated and agented in the United States, which adjustment or method for calculating such adjustment shall be published on an information service selected by Administrative Agent from time to time in its reasonable discretion and may be periodically updated. For the avoidance of doubt, any such proposed rate and adjustments shall constitute a Successor Rate. Any such amendment shall become effective at 5:00 p.m. on the fifth Business Day after
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Administrative Agent posts such proposed amendment to all Lenders and the Lead Borrower unless, prior to such time, Required Lenders deliver to Administrative Agent written notice that Required Lenders object to the amendment.
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such Benchmark Replacement from Lenders comprising the Required Lenders (and any such objection shall be conclusive and binding absent manifest error).
(y) On the Early Opt-in Effective Date in respect of an Other Rate Early Opt-in, the Benchmark Replacement will replace LIBO Rate for all purposes hereunder and under any Loan Document in respect of any setting of such Benchmark on such day and all subsequent settings without any amendment to, or further action or consent of any other party to this Agreement or any other Loan Document
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unavailable or non-representative for Benchmark (including Benchmark Replacement) settings and (B) the Administrative Agent may reinstate any such previously removed tenor for Benchmark (including Benchmark Replacement) settings.
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3.5. | Properties. |
3.6. | Litigation and Environmental Matters. |
(ii) that involve any of the Loan Documents.
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respect to any Environmental Liability or (iv) knows of any basis for any Environmental Liability.
3.10. | ERISA. |
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Parties as a whole and the successful operation of each Loan Party is dependent upon the successful performance and operation of each other Loan Party. Each of the Loan Parties expects to derive benefit (and its board of directors or other governing body has determined that it may reasonably be expected to derive benefit) directly and indirectly from successful operations of the Lead Borrower and each of the other Loan Parties. Each Loan Party expects to derive benefit (and its board of directors or other governing body has determined that it may reasonably be expected to derive benefit) directly and indirectly from the credit extended by the Lenders, the Issuing Banks and the Acceptance Lenders to the Loan Parties hereunder, both in their separate capacities and as members of the group of companies. Each Loan Party has determined that the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and any other Loan Document to be executed by such Loan Party is within its purpose, will be of direct and indirect benefit to such Loan Party, and is in its best interests.
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knowledge of the Loan Parties, no union or other labor organization is seeking to organize, or to be recognized as, a collective bargaining unit of employees of any Loan Party or for any similar purpose except as could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, and
3.19. | Federal Reserve Regulations. |
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connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the other Loan Documents with the intent to hinder, delay, or defraud either present or future creditors of any Loan Party.
(iii) Disbursement Accounts maintained by the Loan Parties as of the Fifth Amendment Effective Date.
3.25. | Anti-Corruption Laws and Sanctions. |
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with such laws and applicable Sanctions, and to the knowledge of each Borrower, the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries are in compliance with such applicable anti-corruption laws and applicable Sanctions in all material respects.
3.26. | Affected Financial Institution. None of the Borrowers is an Affected Financial Institution. |
4. | CONDITIONS. |
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contemplated hereby (including the reasonable fees and expenses of counsel to the Agents) shall have been paid in full, except that the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be paid on the earlier of the Effective Date or within three (3) Business Day after receipt of invoice therefor.
(o) | There shall be no Default or Event of Default on the Effective Date. |
(s) | The Lead Arrangers shall have achieved syndication of the Loans. |
The Administrative Agent shall notify the Lead Borrower and the Lenders of the Effective Date, and such notice shall be conclusive and binding.
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warranties (i) that relate solely to an earlier date shall be true and correct as of such earlier date and (ii) shall be true and correct in all respects if they are qualified by a materiality standard.
The request by the Borrowers for, and the acceptance by the Borrowers of, each extension of credit hereunder shall be deemed to be a representation and warranty by the Borrowers that the conditions specified in this Section 4.2 have been satisfied at that time and that after giving effect to such extension of credit the Borrowers shall continue to be in compliance with the Borrowing Base. The conditions set forth in this Section 4.2 are for the sole benefit of the Administrative Agent and each Lender and may be waived by the Administrative Agent in whole or in part without prejudice to the Administrative Agent or any Lender, including, without limitation, without prejudice to the Required Lenders’ rights under Section 7.1 and 9.2 hereof.
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failed to comply with the terms, covenants, provisions or conditions of this Agreement insofar as they relate to accounting matters, except for those described in reasonable detail in such statement;
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or updates unless the Administrative Agent delivers a written objection thereto to the Lead Borrower within thirty (30) days after the date such revisions or updates have been received;
(h) | [Reserved]; |
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provided to the board of directors of the Lead Borrower with respect to such Permitted Acquisition;
(p) | [Reserved] |
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(g) | the filing of any Lien for unpaid taxes in excess of $5,000,000 against any Loan Party; |
Each notice delivered under this Section shall be accompanied by a statement of a Financial Officer or other executive officer of the Lead Borrower setting forth the details of the event or development requiring such notice and, if applicable, any action taken or proposed to be taken with respect thereto.
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5.3. | Information Regarding Collateral. |
(iii) in any Loan Party’s identity or organizational structure or (iv) in any Loan Party’s jurisdiction of incorporation, Federal Taxpayer Identification Number or organizational identification number assigned to it by its state of organization.
5.5. | Payment of Obligations. |
$5,000,000), and (e) the failure to make payment pending such contest could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to limit the rights of the Administrative Agent under Section 2.3.
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repurchased or redeemed the Senior Notes or to have refinanced the Senior Notes at least 45 days prior to the scheduled maturity date of the Senior Notes as provided above shall not constitute a Default or Event of Default and (ii) if the Senior Notes have not been so defeased, repurchased, redeemed or refinanced as provided above, the Administrative Agent shall impose an Availability Reserve in an amount equal to the outstanding principal amount of the Senior Notes until such Senior Notes are repurchased, redeemed or refinanced.
5.7. | Insurance. |
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to the extent available from the applicable insurer, a clause or endorsement stating that the interest of the Collateral Agent shall not be impaired or invalidated by any act or neglect of the insured Person or the owner of any premises, including, without limitation, as a result of the use of any such premises for purposes more hazardous than are permitted by such policy, and (iii) to the extent available from the applicable insurer, a clause or endorsement stating that none of the Loan Parties, the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent, or any other party shall be a coinsurer. Each commercial general liability policy shall contain (1) a clause or endorsement requiring the insurer to give not less than thirty (30) days prior written notice to the Collateral Agent in the event of cancellation or non-renewal of such policy for any reason whatsoever except non-payment of premium and a clause or endorsement requiring the insurer to give not less than ten (10) days prior written notice to the Collateral Agent in the event of cancellation of such policy for non-payment of premium (giving the Collateral Agent the right to cure defaults in the payment of premiums), and (2) a clause or endorsement stating that the Collateral Agent shall be named as additional insured parties, mortgagee or assignee, as applicable. All premiums for such required insurance shall be paid by the Loan Parties when due, and certificates of insurance shall be sent to the appropriate Loan Parties and the Collateral Agent, and if requested by the Collateral Agent, photocopies of the policies, shall be delivered to the Collateral Agent. The Loan Parties shall deliver to the Collateral Agent, prior to the cancellation or non-renewal of any such policy of insurance, a copy of a renewal or replacement policy (or other evidence of renewal of a policy previously delivered to the Collateral Agent). To the extent requested by the Collateral Agent, the Loan Parties shall deliver to the Collateral Agent evidence satisfactory to the Collateral Agent of payment of the applicable portion of the annual premium then due and payable. If any Loan Party fails to procure (or cause to be procured) such insurance or to pay the premiums therefor when due, the Agents may, without waiving any Event of Default occasioned thereby, obtain such insurance and pay such premiums at the expense of the Loan Parties. All proceeds of any insurance claim relating to Collateral shall be promptly deposited by the applicable Loan Party to a Blocked Account or the Concentration Account, and such proceeds until so deposited shall be held in trust for the Collateral Agent by the applicable Loan Party. The Agents shall apply any proceeds received in accordance with Section 2.24 hereof or Section
6.2 of the Security Agreement, as applicable.
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request. To the extent that the Lead Borrower fails to reasonably satisfy such request within such period, the Lead Borrower will permit any representatives that are designated by the Collateral Agent to inspect the insurance policies maintained by or on behalf of the Loan Parties and to inspect books and records related thereto and any properties covered thereby. The Loan Parties shall pay the reasonable fees and expenses of any representatives retained by the Collateral Agent to conduct any such inspection.
(1) appraisal of the Loan Parties’ Inventory and one (1) commercial finance examination, at the Loan Parties’ expense during such period; and
The Loan Parties shall pay the reasonable fees and expenses of the Administrative Agent or professionals (including consultants, accountants, lawyers and appraisers) retained by the Agents in connection with the appraisals and commercial finance examinations (A) described in clauses (i) and (ii) above, (B) undertaken at any time at the request of the Administrative Agent
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if required by Applicable Law and (C) undertaken at the request of the Administrative Agent, as it in its discretion deems necessary or appropriate, after the occurrence and the continuation of an Event of Default. In addition to the foregoing the Administrative Agent will have the right to conduct additional commercial finance examinations and appraisals during normal business hours and upon reasonable advance notice at the expense of the Administrative Agent, as it in its discretion deems necessary or appropriate.
5.11. | Physical Inventories. |
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redeem or repurchase the Senior Notes in accordance with Section 6.7(b) hereof and (e) for general corporate purposes, all to the extent permitted herein. No part of the proceeds of any Loan will be used, whether directly or indirectly, for any purpose that entails a violation of any of the Regulations of the Board, including Regulations U and X.
5.15. | Further Assurances. |
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(a) | Indebtedness created under the Loan Documents; |
(c) | Indebtedness of any Loan Party to any other Loan Party; |
(i) | Indebtedness in respect of the Senior Notes and the Refinancing Debt; |
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(n) | Permitted Senior Debt; |
$50,000,000 at any time outstanding unless, at the time of incurrence of any such Indebtedness which would result in such amount being exceeded, the Payment Conditions shall have been satisfied;
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(a) | Liens created under the Loan Documents; |
(b) | Permitted Encumbrances; |
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6.3. | Fundamental Changes. |
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to exist any loans or advances to, guarantee any Indebtedness of, or make or permit to exist any Investment or any other interest in, any other Person, or purchase or otherwise acquire (in one transaction or a series of transactions) any assets of any other Person constituting a business unit (each of the foregoing, an “Investment”), except for:
(h) | Investments by a Loan Party Borrower in another Loan Party; |
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(b) | sales, transfers and dispositions among the Loan Parties; |
(c) | the sale of the Headquarters; |
(d) | the sale and leaseback of any other of the Loan Parties’ Real Estate or other fixed assets; |
(e) | the Designated Dispositions; |
$50,000,000 shall be paid to the Administrative Agent (whether or not a Cash Dominion Event has occurred and is then continuing) for application to the Obligations, provided further that, if a Cash Dominion Event then exists and is continuing, all of such proceeds (and not only those in excess of $50,000,000) shall be paid to the Administrative Agent for application to the Obligations; and
provided that all sales, transfers, leases and other dispositions permitted hereby (other than sales, transfers and other disposition permitted under clauses (a)(ii), (b) and (g)) shall be made at arm’s length and for fair value and for not less than 75% cash consideration.
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conditions imposed by Applicable Law or by the Loan Documents, (ii) the foregoing shall not apply to restrictions and conditions existing on the Fifth Amendment Effective Date identified in the Information Certificate (but shall apply to any extension or renewal of, or any amendment or modification expanding the scope of, any such restriction or condition), (iii) the foregoing shall not apply to customary restrictions and conditions contained in agreements relating to the sale of a Subsidiary pending such sale, provided that such restrictions and conditions apply only to the Subsidiary that is to be sold and such sale is permitted hereunder, (iv) clause (a) of this Section shall not apply to restrictions of conditions imposed by any agreement relating to secured Indebtedness permitted hereunder if such restrictions or conditions apply only to the property or assets securing such Indebtedness, (v) clause (a) of this Section shall not apply to customary provisions in leases or licenses or other agreements, including, without limitation, those relating to franchises, patents, copyrights, trademarks, tradenames, service marks, licenses and permits, and other intellectual property restricting the assignment thereof, and (vi) clauses (a) and (b)(ii) of this Section shall not apply to the Permitted Senior Debt or the Senior Notes Indenture and any indenture or credit agreement in respect of the Refinancing Debt, which, in each case, such agreement or indenture shall be in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Agents.
6.7. | Restricted Payments; Certain Payments of Indebtedness. |
$150,000,000 in the aggregate for all such dividends after the Fifth Amendment Effective Date, unless, in each case, the Payment Conditions are satisfied, (ii) any Loan Party may declare dividends payable solely in additional shares of such Loan Party’s common stock, (iii) the Subsidiaries of the Lead Borrower may declare and pay dividends (whether in cash, securities or other property) with respect to their Capital Stock, provided that no Loan Party that is directly or indirectly owned by a Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party shall be permitted to declare or pay any cash dividend to its parent unless, substantially contemporaneously therewith, such Loan Party’s direct or indirect parent that is not a Loan Party declares and pays a dividend consisting of such cash, securities and other property to a Loan Party, and (iv) the Lead Borrower may make Permitted Stock Repurchases.
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(b) any other Material Indebtedness or material agreements (including without limitation, any instruments, documents or agreements governing Permitted Senior Debt, in each case to the extent that such amendment, modification or waiver would result in an Event of Default under any of the Loan Documents or would be in violation of the Permitted Senior Debt Intercreditor Agreement), in each case to the extent that such amendment, modification or waiver could reasonably likely to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
6.13. | Minimum Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio. If Excess Availability is less than the greater of |
(i) ten (10%) percent of the Loan Cap and (ii) $40,000,000 at any time, the Loan Parties shall maintain a Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio, calculated on a trailing four Fiscal Quarters basis of
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not less than 1.0:1.0. Such Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio shall be first tested monthly as of the month ending immediately prior to the date that Excess Availability is first less than the greater of (i) ten (10%) percent of the Loan Cap and (ii) $40,000,000 and shall continue to be tested until Excess Availability has exceeded the greater of (i) ten (10%) percent of the Loan Cap and (ii)
$40,000,000 on each day for two consecutive Fiscal Quarters. 6.14.
(a) The Borrowers will not, nor will the Lead Borrower permit any other Loan Party to directly or indirectly, use any Credit Extension or the proceeds of any Credit Extension, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such Credit Extension or the proceeds of any Credit Extension to any Person, to fund any activities of or business with any Person, or in any Designated Jurisdiction, or in any other manner that will result in a violation by any Person (including any Person participating in the transaction, whether as Lender, Lead Arrangers, Agent, Issuing Bank or otherwise) of Sanctions.
6.15.
(a) The Borrowers will not, nor will the Lead Borrower permit any other Loan Party directly or indirectly, use any Credit Extension or the proceeds of any Credit Extension for any purpose which would breach the United States Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, the UK Bribery Act 2010, the Corruption of Foreign Public Officials Act (Canada), and other similar anti-corruption legislation in other jurisdictions to the extent applicable to the Borrowers or any other Loan Party.
7. | EVENTS OF DEFAULT |
7.1. | Events of Default. If any of the following events (“Events of Default”) shall occur: |
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Section 6;
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this Section, (iii) apply for or consent to the appointment of a receiver, interim receiver, trustee, custodian, sequestrator, conservator, administrator, monitor, or similar official for any Loan Party or for a substantial part of its assets, (iv) file an answer admitting the material allegations of a petition filed against it in any such proceeding, (v) make a general assignment for the benefit of creditors or (vi) take any action for the purpose of effecting any of the foregoing;
(ii) any Lien purported to be created under any Security Document shall cease to be, or shall be asserted by any Loan Party or other Person not to be, a valid and perfected Lien on any Collateral, with the priority required by the applicable Security Document;
(n) | a Change in Control shall occur; |
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then, and in every such event (other than an event with respect to each Loan Party described in clause (h) or (i) of this Section), and at any time thereafter during the continuance of such event, the Administrative Agent may, and at the request of the Required Lenders shall, by notice to the Lead Borrower, take any of the following actions, at the same or different times: (i) reduce the Total Commitments, or the advance rates against Eligible Accounts and/or Eligible Inventory used in computing the Borrowing Base, or reduce one or more of the other elements used in computing the Borrowing Base or, without limiting the definitions of Availability Reserves or Inventory Reserves, establish additional Reserves or increase any Reserves thereunder; (ii) restrict the amount of or refuse to make Revolving Loans; (iii) restrict or refuse to provide Letters of Credit or Acceptances, (iv) terminate the Commitments, and thereupon the Commitments shall terminate immediately, and (v) declare the Loans and other Obligations (excluding Obligations with respect to Bank Products and Cash Management Services) then outstanding to be due and payable, and thereupon the principal of the Loans and such Obligations 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, without presentment, demand, protest or other notice of any kind, all of which are hereby waived by the Borrowers; and (vi) require the Borrowers to furnish cash collateral in an amount equal to 105% of the Letter of Credit Outstandings, (to be applied in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.7(k) hereof) and in case of any event with respect to any Borrower described in clause (h) or (i) of this Section, the Commitments shall automatically terminate and the principal of the Loans then outstanding, together with accrued interest thereon and all fees and other Obligations (excluding Obligations with respect to Bank Products and Cash Management Services) of the Loan Parties accrued hereunder, shall automatically become due
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and payable, without presentment, demand, protest or other notice of any kind, all of which are hereby waived by the Loan Parties.
8. | THE AGENTS. |
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other Loan Documents to which it is a party and to perform its duties and obligations thereunder, together with all powers reasonably incidental thereto, and (iii) agree and consent to all of the provisions of the Security Documents. All Collateral shall be held or administered by the Collateral Agent (or its duly-appointed agent) for its benefit and for the ratable benefit of the other Secured Parties. Any proceeds received by the Collateral Agent from the foreclosure, sale, lease or other disposition of any of the Collateral and any other proceeds received pursuant to the terms of the Security Documents or the other Loan Documents shall be paid over to the Administrative Agent for application as provided in Sections 2.20, 2.24, or 7.3, as applicable. The Collateral Agent shall have no duties or responsibilities except as set forth in this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, nor shall it have any fiduciary relationship with any Lender, and no implied covenants, responsibilities, duties, obligations, or liabilities shall be read into the Loan Documents or otherwise exist against the Collateral Agent.
8.3. | Sharing of Excess Payments; Payments Set Aside. |
7.3 pro rata in proportion to its Commitment Percentage; provided, that if any such excess payment is thereafter recovered or otherwise set aside such purchase of participations shall be correspondingly rescinded (without interest). The Borrowers expressly consent to the foregoing arrangements and agree that any Lender, any Agent, any Issuing Bank, or any Acceptance Lender holding (or deemed to be holding) a participation in any Loan or other Obligation may exercise any and all rights of banker’s lien, setoff or counterclaim with respect to any and all moneys owing by such Borrower to such Lender, Agent, Issuing Bank or Acceptance Lender as fully as if such Lender, Agent, Issuing Bank, or Acceptance Lender held a Note and was the original obligee thereon, in the amount of such participation.
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Bankruptcy Code or otherwise, 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, Issuing Bank and Acceptance Lender severally agrees to pay to the Agents upon demand its pro rata share (without duplication) of any amount so recovered from or repaid by the Agents. The obligations of the Lenders, the Issuing Banks and the Acceptance Lenders under clause (ii) of the preceding sentence shall survive the payment in full of the Obligations and the termination of this Agreement.
8.5. | Liability of Agents. |
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terms, conditions, covenants, or agreements of this Agreement or any of the Loan Documents, or
(F) shall be responsible to any Lender, Issuing Bank or Acceptance Lender for the state or condition of any properties of the Loan Parties or any other obligor hereunder constituting Collateral for the Obligations of the Loan Parties hereunder or under any of the other Loan Documents, or any information contained in the books or records of the Loan Parties; or (G) shall be responsible to any Lender, Issuing Bank or Acceptance Lender for the validity, enforceability, collectibility, effectiveness or genuineness of this Agreement or any other Loan Document or any other certificate, document or instrument furnished in connection therewith; or
(H) shall be responsible to any Lender, Issuing Bank or Acceptance Lender for the validity, priority or perfection of any Lien securing or purporting to secure the Obligations or the value or sufficiency of any of the Collateral.
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$100,000,000, (ii) or a Person capable of complying with all of the duties of such Agent (and the Issuing Banks), hereunder (in the opinion of the retiring Agent and as certified to the Lenders in writing by such successor Agent) which, in the case of (i) and (ii) above, so long as there is no Default or Event of Default shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Lead Borrower (whose consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed). Upon the acceptance of any appointment as Agent by a successor Agent, such successor Agent shall thereupon succeed to and become vested with all the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring Agent and the retiring Agent shall be discharged from its duties and obligations under this Agreement. After any retiring Agent’s resignation hereunder as such Agent, the provisions of this Section 8 shall inure to its benefit as to any actions taken or omitted to be taken by it while it was such Agent under this Agreement.
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request (so long as no Default or Event of Default exists), to the funding of any Loan in respect of which such Defaulting Lender has failed to fund its portion thereof as required by this Agreement, as determined by the Administrative Agent; fifth, if so determined by the Administrative Agent and the Lead Borrower, to be held in a deposit account and released pro rata in order to (x) satisfy such Defaulting Lender’s potential future funding obligations with respect to Loans under this Agreement and (y) cash collateralize the Issuing Banks’ future Fronting Exposure with respect to such Defaulting Lender with respect to future Letters of Credit issued under this Agreement; sixth, to the payment of any amounts owing to the Lenders, the Issuing Bank or Swingline Lender as a result of any judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction obtained by any Lender, any Issuing Bank or the Swingline Lender against such Defaulting Lender as a result of such Defaulting Lender’s breach of its obligations under this Agreement; seventh, so long as no Default or Event of Default exists, to the payment of any amounts owing to the Borrowers as a result of any judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction obtained by the Borrowers against such Defaulting Lender as a result of such Defaulting Lender’s breach of its obligations under this Agreement; and eighth, to such Defaulting Lender or as otherwise directed by a court of competent jurisdiction; provided that if (x) such payment is a payment of the principal amount of any Loans or Letter of Credit Outstandings in respect of which such Defaulting Lender has not fully funded its appropriate share, and (y) such Loans were made or the related Letters of Credit were issued at a time when the conditions set forth in Section 4.2 were satisfied or waived, such payment shall be applied solely to pay the Loans of, and Letter of Credit Outstandings owed to, all Non-Defaulting Lenders on a pro rata basis prior to being applied to the payment of any Loans of, or Letter of Credit Outstandings owed to, such Defaulting Lender until such time as all Loans and funded and unfunded participations in Letters of Credit and Swingline Loans are held by the Lenders pro rata in accordance with the Commitments hereunder without giving effect to Section 8.13(d). Any payments, prepayments or other amounts paid or payable to a Defaulting Lender that are applied (or held) to pay amounts owed by a Defaulting Lender or to post cash collateral pursuant to this Section 8.13(b) shall be deemed paid to and redirected by such Defaulting Lender, and each Lender irrevocably consents hereto.
(c) | Certain Fees. |
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clause (d) below, (y) pay to the Issuing Banks and Swingline Lender, as applicable, the amount of any such fee otherwise payable to such Defaulting Lender to the extent allocable to such Issuing Bank’s or Swingline Lender’s Fronting Exposure to such Defaulting Lender, and (z) not be required to pay the remaining amount of any such fee.
(e) | Cash Collateral, Repayment of Swingline Loans. If the reallocation described in clause |
(d) above cannot, or can only partially, be effected, the Borrowers shall, without prejudice to any right or remedy available to them hereunder or under Applicable Law, (x) first, prepay Swingline Loans in an amount equal to the Swingline Lenders’ Fronting Exposure and (y) second, cash collateralize the Issuing Bank’s Fronting Exposure.
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and any custodian, receiver, interim receiver, assignee, trustee, liquidator, sequestrator, monitor or other similar official in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Lender, Issuing Bank and Acceptance Lender 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, the Issuing Banks and the Acceptance Lenders, 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 through 2.15 and 9.3.
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, any Issuing Bank or any Acceptance Lender any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Obligations or the rights of any Lender, any Issuing Bank or any Acceptance Lender or to authorize the Administrative Agent to vote in respect of the claim of any Lender, any Issuing Bank or any Acceptance Lender in any such proceeding.
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payment in full of all Obligations (other than contingent indemnification obligations for which no claim has been asserted), (B) (x) the expiration or termination of all Letters of Credit or (y) the deposit of cash collateral with the Administrative Agent in an amount equal to 105% of the Letter of Credit Outstandings, and (C) the providing of collateral security to the extent required by Section 9.6 hereof, (ii) that is sold or to be sold as part of or in connection with any sale permitted hereunder or under any other Loan Document, or (iii) if approved, authorized or ratified in writing by the Applicable Lenders in accordance with Section 9.2;
Upon request by any Agent at any time, the Applicable Lenders will confirm in writing such Agent’s authority to release or subordinate its interest in particular types or items of property, or to release any Facility Guarantor from its obligations under the Facility Guaranty pursuant to this Section 8.17. In each case as specified in this Section 8.17, the Agents will, at the Loan Parties’ expense, execute and deliver to the applicable Loan Party such documents as such Loan Party may reasonably request to evidence the release of such item of Collateral from the assignment and security interest granted under the Security Documents or to subordinate its interest in such item, or to release such Facility Guarantor from its obligations under the Facility Guaranty, in each case in accordance with the terms of the Loan Documents and this Section 8.17.
8.19. | ERISA Matters. |
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general accounts), PTE 90-1 (a class exemption for certain transactions involving insurance company pooled separate accounts), PTE 91-38 (a class exemption for certain transactions involving bank collective investment funds) or PTE 96-23 (a class exemption for certain transactions determined by in-house asset managers), is applicable with respect to such Lender’s entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Letters of Credit, the Commitments and this Agreement,
(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
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obligation to return any Rescindable Amount. The Administrative Agent shall inform each Secured Party promptly upon determining that any payment made to such Secured Party comprised, in whole or in part, a Rescindable Amount.
9. | MISCELLANEOUS. |
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Crider, Esquire (Telecopy No. (617) 341-7701; Telephone No. (617) 341-7789; Email: marjorie.crider@morganlewis.com);
Any party hereto may change its address or telecopy number for notices and other communications hereunder by notice to the other parties hereto. All notices and other communications given to any party hereto in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed to have been given three (3) days after mailing or otherwise on the date of receipt.
9.2. | Waivers; Amendments. |
(i) increase the Commitment of any Lender without such Lender’s prior consent, (ii) except as provided in Section 2.2, increase the Total Commitments without the written consent of all of the Lenders, (iii) reduce the principal amount of any Loan or L/C Disbursement or reduce the rate of interest thereon, or reduce any fees payable hereunder, without the written consent of each Lender affected thereby, (iv) postpone the scheduled date of payment of the principal amount of any Loan or L/C Disbursement, or any interest thereon, or any fees payable hereunder, or reduce the amount of, waive or excuse any such payment, or, except as provided in Section 2.31, postpone the scheduled date of expiration of the Commitments or the Maturity Date, without the written consent of each Lender affected thereby, (v) change Sections 2.8(b), 2.8(c), 2.20, 2.23, or 2.24, without the written consent of each Lender, (vi) change any of the provisions of this Section 9.2 or the definition of the term “Required Lenders”, “Super-Majority Lenders”,
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“Minority Lenders” or any other provision of any Loan Document specifying the number or percentage of Lenders required to waive, amend or modify any rights thereunder or make any determination or grant any consent thereunder, without the written consent of each Lender, (vii) release any Loan Party from its obligations under any Loan Document, or limit its liability in respect of such Loan Document (except to the extent permitted in the Loan Documents), without the written consent of each Lender, (viii) except for sales described in Section 6.5 or as permitted in the Security Documents, release any material portion of the Collateral from the Liens of the Security Documents, without the written consent of each Lender, (ix) change the definition of the term “Borrowing Base” or any component definition thereof if as a result thereof the amounts available to be borrowed by the Borrowers would be increased, without the written consent of each Lender, provided that the foregoing shall not limit the discretion of the Administrative Agent to change, establish or eliminate any Reserves, provided further that the Administrative Agent shall not change or eliminate the Reserve set forth in Section 5.5(b) hereof without the consent of the Super-Majority Lenders, (x) increase the Permitted Overadvance, without the written consent of each Lender, (xi) except as permitted hereunder, subordinate the Obligations hereunder, or the Liens granted hereunder or under the other Loan Documents, to any other Indebtedness or Lien, as the case may be without the prior written consent of each Lender, or
(xii) increase the amount available as Swingline Loans without the prior written consent of each Lender, and provided further that (x) no such agreement shall amend, modify or otherwise affect the rights or duties of the Agents, the Issuing Banks or the Acceptance Lenders without the prior written consent of the Agents, the applicable Issuing Bank or the applicable Acceptance Lender, as the case may be and (y) no Lender consent is required to effect any amendment or supplement to the Permitted Senior Intercreditor Agreement that is for the purpose of adding holders of the obligations under the Permitted Senior Debt as parties thereto, as expressly contemplated by the terms of Permitted Senior Intercreditor Agreement (it being understood that any such amendment, modification or supplement may make such other changes to the Permitted Senior Intercreditor Agreement, that, in the good faith determination of the Agents, are required to effectuate the foregoing and provided, that such other changes are not adverse, in any material respect, to the interests of the Lenders).
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to such amendment and (z) such other modifications to this Agreement or the Loan Documents as may be appropriate and incidental to the foregoing.
9.3. | Expenses; Indemnity; Damage Waiver. |
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(each such Person being called an “Indemnitee”) against, and hold each Indemnitee harmless from, any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities and related expenses, including the reasonable and documented fees, charges and disbursements of one firm of counsel for each Agent and one firm of counsel for all of the other Indemnitees taken as a whole (and, solely in the case of an actual or reasonably perceived conflict of interest, one additional counsel for each affected Indemnitee) incurred by or asserted against any Indemnitee arising out of, in connection with, or as a result of (i) the execution or delivery of any Loan Document or any other agreement or instrument contemplated hereby, the performance by the parties to the Loan Documents of their respective obligations thereunder or the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Loan Documents or any other transactions contemplated hereby, (ii) any Loan or Letter of Credit or Acceptance or the use of the proceeds therefrom (including any refusal by an Issuing Bank or Acceptance Lender to honor a demand for payment under a Letter of Credit or Acceptance if the documents presented in connection with such demand do not strictly comply with the terms of such Letter of Credit or Acceptance), (iii) any actual or alleged presence or release of Hazardous Materials on or from any property currently or formerly owned or operated by any Loan Party, or any Environmental Liability of any Loan Party, (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 and regardless of whether any Indemnitee is a party thereto, or (v) any documentary taxes, assessments or similar charges made by any Governmental Authority by reason of the execution and delivery of this Agreement or any other Loan Document, provided that such indemnity shall not, as to any Indemnitee, be available to the extent that such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or related expenses resulted from the gross negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct of such Indemnitee or any Affiliate of such Indemnitee (or of any officer, director, employee, advisor or agent of such Indemnitee or any such Indemnitee’s Affiliates).
9.4. | Designation of Lead Borrower as Borrowers’ Agent. |
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(ii) | If, for any reason, and at any time during the term of this Agreement, |
then the Lenders may make Loans directly to, and cause the issuance of Letters of Credit and Acceptances directly for the account of such of the Borrowers as the Administrative Agent determines to be expedient, which Loans may be made without regard to the procedures otherwise included herein.
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any determination by the Administrative Agent to cease making Loans or causing Letters of Credit or Acceptances to be issued to or for the benefit of any Borrower.
9.5. | Successors and Assigns. |
$2,500,000 integral multiples in excess thereof) unless the Administrative Agent otherwise
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consents, (iii) unless a Lender has assigned and delegated all of its rights and obligations under the Loan Documents, no such assignment and/or delegation shall be permitted unless, after giving effect thereto, such Lender retains a Commitment in a minimum amount of $10,000,000,
(iv) each partial assignment shall be made as an assignment of a proportionate part of all the assigning Lender’s rights and obligations, and (v) the parties to each assignment shall execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent an Assignment and Acceptance, together with a processing and recordation fee of $5,000. Subject to acceptance and recording thereof pursuant to paragraph (d) of this Section, from and after the effective date specified in each Assignment and Acceptance the assignee thereunder shall be a party hereto and, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Acceptance, 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 Acceptance, be released from its obligations under this Agreement (and, in the case of an Assignment and Acceptance covering all of the assigning Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement, such Lender shall cease to be a party hereto but shall continue to be entitled to the benefits of Section 9.3). Any assignment or transfer by a Lender of rights or obligations under this Agreement that does not comply with this paragraph 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 (e) of this Section. The Loan Parties hereby acknowledge and agree that any assignment shall give rise to a direct obligation of the Loan Parties to the assignee and that the assignee shall be considered to be a “Lender” for all purposes under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents
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unchanged, (ii) such Lender shall remain solely responsible to the other parties hereto for the performance of such obligations and (iii) the Loan Parties, the Agents, the Issuing Banks, the Acceptance Lenders 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 a participation in the Commitments, the Loans, the Letters of Credit Outstandings and the Acceptance Reimbursement Obligations 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 9.2(b) that affects such Participant. Subject to paragraph (f) of this Section, the Borrowers agree that each Participant shall be entitled to the benefits of Sections 2.25, 2.27, and 2.28 to the same extent as if it were a Lender and had acquired its interest by assignment pursuant to paragraph (b) of this Section. To the extent permitted by Applicable Law, each Participant also shall be entitled to the benefits of Section 9.9 as though it were a Lender, provided such Participant agrees to be subject to Section 2.27(c) 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 the Borrowers, maintain a register on which it enters the name and address of each participant and the principal amounts (and stated interest) of each participant’s interest in the Loans or other obligations under the Loan Documents (the “Participant Register”), which entries shall be conclusive absent manifest error; provided that no Lender shall have any obligation to disclose all or any portion of the Participant Register (including the identity of any participant or any information relating to a participant’s interest in any commitments, loans, letters of credit or its other obligations under any Loan Document) to any person except to the extent that such disclosure is necessary to establish that such commitment, loan, letter of credit or other obligation is in registered form under Section 5f.103-1(c) of the United States Treasury Regulations.
(f) | A Participant shall not be entitled to receive any greater payment under Sections 2.25, |
2.27 and 2.28 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 Lead Borrower’s prior written consent. A Participant that would be a Foreign Lender if it were a Lender shall not be entitled to the benefits of Section 2.28 unless (i) the Lead Borrower is notified of the participation sold to such Participant and such Participant agrees, for the benefit of the Loan Parties, to comply with Section 2.28(e) as though it were a Lender and
(ii) such Participant is eligible for exemption from the withholding tax referred to therein, following compliance with Section 2.28(e).
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9.7. | Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness. |
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whether or not the Agent or such Lender shall have made demand under this Agreement or any other Loan Documents and although such Obligations may be contingent or unmatured or otherwise fully secured and regardless of the adequacy of the Collateral. Each Lender agrees to promptly notify the Loan Parties and the Agent after any such setoff and application made by such Lender; provided, however, the failure to give such notice shall not affect the validity of such setoff and application. NOTWITHSTANDING THE FOREGOING, NO LENDER SHALL EXERCISE ANY RIGHT OF SETOFF, BANKER’S LIEN OR THE LIKE AGAINST ANY DEPOSIT ACCOUNT OR PROPERTY OF ANY LOAN PARTY HELD OR MAINTAINED BY SUCH LENDER WITHOUT THE PRIOR WRITTEN CONSENT OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT OR THE REQUIRED LENDERS.
9.10. | Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Consent to Service of Process. |
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(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.
9.15. | Additional Waivers. |
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amendment or modification of, or any release from any of the terms or provisions of, this Agreement, any other Loan Document, or any other agreement, including with respect to any other Borrower of the Obligations under this Agreement, or (iii) the failure to perfect any security interest in, or the release of, the Collateral or any other the security held by or on behalf of the Collateral Agent or any other Secured Party.
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be paid to the Collateral Agent to be credited against the payment of the Obligations, whether matured or unmatured, in accordance with the terms of the Loan Documents. Subject to the foregoing, to the extent that any Borrower shall, under this Agreement as a joint and several obligor, repay any of the Obligations constituting Revolving Loans made to another Borrower hereunder or other Obligations incurred directly and primarily by any other Borrower (an “Accommodation Payment”), then the Borrower making such Accommodation Payment shall be entitled to contribution and indemnification from, and be reimbursed by, each of the other Borrowers in an amount, for each of such other Borrowers, equal to a fraction of such Accommodation Payment, the numerator of which fraction is such other Borrower's Allocable Amount and the denominator of which is the sum of the Allocable Amounts of all of the Borrowers. As of any date of determination, the “Allocable Amount” of each Borrower shall be equal to the maximum amount of liability for Accommodation Payments which could be asserted against such Borrower hereunder without (a) rendering such Borrower “insolvent” within the meaning of Section 101 (31) of the Bankruptcy Code, Section 2 of the Uniform Fraudulent Transfer Act (“UFTA”) or Section 2 of the Uniform Fraudulent Conveyance Act (“UFCA”),
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EACH LENDER ACKNOWLEDGES THAT INFORMATION AS DEFINED IN THE IMMEDIATELY PRECEDING PARAGRAPH FURNISHED TO IT PURSUANT TO THIS AGREEMENT MAY INCLUDE MATERIAL NON-PUBLIC INFORMATION CONCERNING THE BORROWERS AND ITS 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.
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 OTHER LOAN PARTIES
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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.
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business or obtain any improper advantage, in violation of the United States Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended.
(a) Executive Order 13224 of September 21, 2001 Blocking Property and Prohibiting Transactions With Persons Who Commit, Threaten to Commit, or Support Terrorism (66 Fed. Reg. 49079 (2001)) (the "Executive Order") and (b) the Act. Furthermore, none of the Borrowers or their Affiliates (a) is or will become a "blocked person" as described in the Executive Order, the Trading With the Enemy Act or the Foreign Assets Control Regulations or
(b) engages or will engage in any dealings or transactions, or be otherwise associated, with any such "blocked person".
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may have against each of the Agents or any Lender with respect to any breach or alleged breach of agency or fiduciary duty.
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 Lender or Issuing Bank that is an Affected Financial Institution arising under any Loan Document, to the extent such liability is unsecured, may be
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subject to the Write-Down and Conversion Powers of an applicable Resolution Authority and agrees and consents to, and acknowledges and agrees to be bound by.
(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; |
9.26. | Acknowledgement Regarding Any Supported QFCs. |
To the extent that the Loan Documents provide support, through a guarantee or otherwise, for any Swap Contract 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):
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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.
[Remainder of Page Intentionally Left Blank.]
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ANNEX B
Updated Exhibits to Credit Agreement [See Attached]
EXHIBIT E NOTICE OF BORROWING
To:Bank of America, N.A.Date: 100 Federal Street
Boston, Massachusetts 02110 Attention: Courtney Kolb
Re: Fourth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of December 18, 2014 (as amended, amended and restated, modified, supplemented or renewed from time to time, the “Credit Agreement”) by, among others, CALERES, INC. (the “Lead Borrower”), the other Borrowers party thereto, the Lenders from time to time party thereto, and Bank of America, N.A., as administrative agent and collateral agent for the Lenders (in such capacities, the “Agent”) and as Lead Issuing Bank.
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Reference is made to the above described Credit Agreement. All capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings set forth in the Credit Agreement. The Lead Borrower, as agent for itself and the other Borrowers pursuant to Section 9.4 of the Credit Agreement, hereby irrevocably notifies you of the Borrowing specified below:
Type of Borrowing (Prime Rate or Term SOFR) | Amount | Interest Period for Term SOFR Advances |
| $ | [1] [3] [6] month[s] |
| $ | [1] [3] [6] month[s] |
| $ | [1] [3] [6] month[s] |
| $ | [1] [3] [6] month[s] |
3. | The account to which the proceeds of such Borrowing are to be deposited, if not Account No. 5045183372 maintained by the Borrowers with Bank of America, N.A., is as follows: . |
1
The Lead Borrower hereby certifies that the following statements are true on the date hereof, and will be true on the date of the proposed Borrowing, before and after giving effect thereto and to the application of the proceeds thereof:
This Notice of Borrowing is issued pursuant to and is subject to the Credit Agreement. [Remainder of page intentionally left blank]
This Notice of Borrowing is duly executed as of the date set forth above.
LEAD BORROWER: CALERES, INC., as
agent for itself and the other Borrowers
By: Name: Title:
Exhibit 31.1
CERTIFICATIONS
I, John W. Schmidt, certify that:
1. I have reviewed this report on Form 10-Q of Caleres, Inc. (the “registrant”);
2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;
3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;
4. The registrant’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:
a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;
b) Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;
c) Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and
d) Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant's internal control over financial reporting; and
5. The registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):
a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant's ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and
b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.
/s/ John W. Schmidt |
John W. Schmidt |
President, Chief Executive Officer and Director |
Caleres, Inc. |
June 6, 2023 |
Exhibit 31.2
CERTIFICATIONS
I, Jack P. Calandra, certify that:
1. I have reviewed this report on Form 10-Q of Caleres, Inc. (the “registrant”);
2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;
3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;
4. The registrant’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:
a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;
b) Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;
c) Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and
d) Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant's internal control over financial reporting; and
5. The registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):
a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant's ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and
b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.
/s/ Jack P. Calandra |
Jack P. Calandra |
Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer |
Caleres, Inc. |
June 6, 2023 |
Exhibit 32.1
Certification Pursuant to
18 U.S.C. §1350,
As Adopted Pursuant to
Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
In connection with the Quarterly Report of Caleres, Inc. (the “Registrant”) on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended April 29, 2023, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), we, John W. Schmidt, President, Chief Executive Officer and Director of the Registrant, and Jack P. Calandra, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the Registrant, certify, to the best of our knowledge, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. §1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:
(1) The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and
(2) The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Registrant.
/s/ John W. Schmidt |
John W. Schmidt |
President, Chief Executive Officer and Director |
Caleres, Inc. |
June 6, 2023 |
|
/s/ Jack P. Calandra |
Jack P. Calandra |
Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer |
Caleres, Inc. |
June 6, 2023 |