THIRD AMENDMENT TO CREDIT AGREEMENT

This Third Amendment to Credit Agreement (“ Amendment ”) is dated as of November 30, 2018, by and among FASTENAL COMPANY , a Minnesota corporation (“ Borrower ”), the undersigned “ Lenders ” parties to the Credit Agreement herein defined and WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION , a national banking association (in its individual capacity, “ Wells Fargo ,” and in its administrative agent capacity for the Lenders, “ Administrative Agent ”).

RECITALS:

A.      Borrower, Administrative Agent and the “Lenders” referred to therein are parties to that certain Credit Agreement dated as of May 1, 2015, as amended by that certain First Amendment to Credit Agreement dated as of November 23, 2015 and that certain Second Amendment to Credit Agreement dated as of March 10, 2017 (as the same may be amended in writing and in effect from time to time, the “ Credit Agreement ”), pursuant to which Lenders have agreed to make loans and other financial accommodations available to the Borrower.

B.      U.S. Bank National Association (the “ Departing Lender ”) desires to no longer participate as a Lender under the Credit Agreement and to assign apportion of its interest under the Credit Agreement and Loan Documents to Bank of America, N.A. and the remaining portion of its interest under the Credit Agreement to Branch Banking and Trust Company (the “ New Lender ”).

C.      Borrower has requested certain modifications to the Credit Agreement, including but not limited to, an extension of the Revolving Credit Maturity Date, and the Lenders are willing to agree to such modifications to the Credit Agreement, all subject and pursuant to the terms and conditions contained in this Amendment.

NOW, THEREFORE, the parties hereby agree to amend the Credit Agreement as follows:

1.      Definitions . Capitalized terms not defined in this Amendment have the meanings given to them in the Credit Agreement. In addition, the following definitions in Section 1.1 of the Credit Agreement are hereby amended by adding the following definitions or, as applicable, deleting them in their entirety and substituting the following therefor:

“ LIBOR ” means, subject to the implementation of a Replacement Rate in accordance with Section 4.8(c),

(a)      for any interest rate calculation with respect to a LIBOR Rate Loan, the rate of interest per annum determined on the basis of the rate for deposits in Dollars for a period equal to the applicable Interest Period as published by the ICE Benchmark Administration Limited, a United Kingdom company, or a comparable or successor quoting service approved by the Administrative Agent, at approximately11:00 a.m. (London time) two (2) London Business Days prior to the first day of the applicable Interest Period. If, for any reason, such rate is not so published then “LIBOR” shall be determined by the Administrative Agent to be the arithmetic average of the rate per annum at which deposits in Dollars would be offered by first class banks in the London interbank market to the Administrative Agent at approximately 11:00 a.m. (London time) two (2) London Business Days prior to the first day of the applicable Interest Period for a period equal to such Interest Period, and

(b)      for any interest rate calculation with respect to a Floating Rate Loan, the rate of interest per annum determined on the basis of the rate for deposits in Dollars for an Interest Period equal to one month (commencing on the date of determination of such interest rate) as published by the ICE Benchmark Administration Limited, a United Kingdom company, or a comparable or successor quoting service approved by the Administrative Agent, at approximately 11:00 a.m. (London time) on such date of determination, or, if such date is not a Business Day, then the immediately preceding Business Day. If, for any reason, such rate is not so published then “LIBOR” for such Floating Rate Loan shall be determined by the Administrative Agent to be the arithmetic average of the rate per annum at which deposits in Dollars would be offered by first class banks in the London interbank market to

the Administrative Agent at approximately 11:00 a.m. (London time) on such date of determination for a period equal to one month commencing on such date of determination.

Each calculation by the Administrative Agent of LIBOR shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes, absent manifest error.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, (x) in no event shall LIBOR (including, without limitation, any Replacement Rate with respect thereto) be less than 0% and (y) unless otherwise specified in any amendment to this Agreement entered into in accordance with Section 4.8(c), in the event that a Replacement Rate with respect to LIBOR is implemented then all references herein to LIBOR shall be deemed references to such Replacement Rate.

“ Replacement Rate ” has the meaning assigned thereto in Section 4.8(c).

“ Revolving Credit Maturity Date ” means the earliest to occur of (a) November 30, 2023 (b) the date of termination of the entire Revolving Credit Commitment by the Borrower pursuant to Section 2.5, or (c) the date of termination of the Revolving Credit Commitment pursuant to Section 9.2(a).

2.      Accounting Matters . Section 11.9 of the Credit Agreement is hereby deleted in its entirety. Section 1.3 of the Credit Agreement is hereby deleted and replaced by the following provisions:

Section 1.3      Accounting Matters .

(a)      Accounting Terms . All accounting terms not specifically or completely defined herein shall be construed in conformity with, and all financial data (including financial ratios and other financial calculations) required to be submitted pursuant to this Agreement shall be prepared in conformity with GAAP, as in effect from time to time and applied in a manner consistent with that used in preparing the audited financial statements required by Section 7.1(a), except as otherwise specifically prescribed herein (including, without limitation, as prescribed by Section 1.3(b)). Notwithstanding the foregoing, for purposes of determining compliance with any covenant (including the computation of any financial covenant) contained herein, Indebtedness of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries shall be deemed to be carried at 100% of the outstanding principal amount thereof, and the effects of FASB ASC 825 and FASB ASC 470-20 on financial liabilities shall be disregarded.

(b)      Changes in GAAP . If at any time any change in GAAP or any changes in accounting principles or practices from those used in the preparation of the financial statements are hereafter occasioned by the promulgation of rules, regulations, pronouncements and opinions by or required by the Financial Accounting Standards Board or the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (or any successor thereto or agencies with similar functions), which results in a material change in the method of accounting in the financial statements required to be furnished to the Administrative Agent hereunder or in the calculation of financial covenants, standards or terms contained in this Agreement, and either the Borrower or the Required Lenders will so request, the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the Borrower will negotiate in good faith to amend such ratio or requirement to preserve the original intent thereof in light of such change in GAAP (subject to the approval of the Required Lenders); provided that, until so amended, (i) such ratio or requirement will continue to be computed in accordance with GAAP prior to such change therein and (ii) the Borrower will provide to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders financial statements and other documents required under this Agreement or as reasonably requested hereunder setting forth a reconciliation between calculations of such ratio or requirement made before and after giving effect to such change in GAAP. Without limiting the foregoing, leases shall continue to be classified and accounted for on a basis consistent with that reflected in the audited financial statements as required by Section 7.1(a) for all purposes of this Agreement notwithstanding any change in GAAP relating thereto, unless the parties hereto shall enter into a mutually acceptable amendment addressing such changes, as provided for above.

3.      Rates . Section 1.11 is hereby added to the Credit Agreement as follows:

Section 1.11      Rates . The Administrative Agent does not warrant or accept responsibility for, and shall not have any liability with respect to, the administration, submission or any other matter related to rates in the definition of “LIBOR”.

4.      Changed Circumstances . Subsection 4.8(a) of the Credit Agreement is hereby deleted and replaced by the following provision and a new section 4.8(c) is hereby added:

Section 4.8      Changed Circumstances .

(a)      Circumstances Affecting LIBOR Rate Availability . Unless and until a Replacement Rate is implemented in accordance with clause (c) below, in connection with any request for a LIBOR Rate Loan or a Floating Rate Loan as to which the interest rate is determined with reference to LIBOR or a conversion to or continuation thereof or otherwise, if for any reason (i) the Administrative Agent shall determine (which determination shall be conclusive and binding absent manifest error) that Dollar deposits are not being offered to banks in the London interbank Eurodollar market for the applicable amount and Interest Period of such Loan, (ii) the Administrative Agent shall determine (which determination shall be conclusive and binding absent manifest error) that reasonable and adequate means do not exist for the ascertaining the LIBOR Rate for such Interest Period with respect to a proposed LIBOR Rate Loan or a Floating Rate Loan as to which the interest rate is determined with reference to LIBOR or (iii) the Required Lenders shall determine (which determination shall be conclusive and binding absent manifest error) that the LIBOR Rate does not adequately and fairly reflect the cost to such Lenders of making or maintaining such Loans during such Interest Period, then the Administrative Agent shall promptly give notice thereof to the Borrower. Thereafter, until the Administrative Agent notifies the Borrower that such circumstances no longer exist, the obligation of the Lenders to make LIBOR Rate Loans or Floating Rate Loans as to which the interest rate is determined with reference to LIBOR and the right of the Borrower to convert any Loan to or continue any Loan as a LIBOR Rate Loan shall be suspended, and (i) in the case of LIBOR Rate Loans, the Borrower shall either (A) repay in full (or cause to be repaid in full) the then outstanding principal amount of each such LIBOR Rate Loan together with accrued interest thereon (subject to Section 4.1(d)), on the last day of the then current Interest Period applicable to such LIBOR Rate Loan; or (B) convert the then outstanding principal amount of each such LIBOR Rate Loan to a Floating Rate Loan as to which the interest rate is not determined by reference to LIBOR as of the last day of such Interest Period; or (ii) in the case of Floating Rate Loans as to which the interest rate is determined by reference to LIBOR, the Borrower shall convert the then outstanding principal amount of each such Loan to a Floating Rate Loan as to which the interest rate is not determine by reference to LIBOR as of the second (2 ^nd ) Business Day after receipt of the notice from the Administrative Agent set forth above.

…

(c) Alternative Rate of Interest . Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Section 4.8(a) above, if the Administrative Agent has made the determination (such determination to be conclusive absent manifest error) that (i) the circumstances described in Section 4.8(a)(i) or (a)(ii) have arisen and that such circumstances are unlikely to be temporary, (ii) any applicable interest rate specified herein is no longer a widely recognized benchmark rate for newly originated loans in the U.S. syndicated loan market in the applicable currency or (iii) the applicable supervisor or administrator (if any) of any applicable interest rate specified herein or any Governmental Authority having, or purporting to have, jurisdiction over the Administrative Agent has made a public statement identifying a specific date after which any applicable interest rate specified herein shall no longer be used for determining interest rates for loans in the U.S. syndicated loan market in the applicable currency, then the Administrative Agent may, to the extent practicable (with the consent of the Borrower and as determined by the Administrative Agent to be generally in accordance with similar situations in other transactions in which it is serving as administrative agent or otherwise consistent with market practice generally), establish a replacement interest rate (the “ Replacement Rate ”), in which case, the Replacement Rate shall, subject to the next two sentences, replace such applicable interest rate for all purposes under the Loan Documents unless and until (A) an event described in Section 4.8(a)(i), (a)(ii), (c)(i), (c)(ii) or (c)(iii) occurs with respect to the Replacement Rate or (B) the Administrative Agent (or the Required Lenders through the Administrative Agent) notifies the Borrower that the Replacement Rate does not adequately and fairly reflect the cost

to the Lenders of funding the Loans bearing interest at the Replacement Rate. In connection with the establishment and application of the Replacement Rate, this Agreement and the other Loan Documents shall be amended solely with the consent of the Administrative Agent and the Borrower, as may be necessary or appropriate, in the opinion of the Administrative Agent, to effect the provisions of this Section 4.8(c) including, without limitation, adjustments to the interest rate margins or interest rate benchmark floors as the Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders may request to equalize (to the extent practicable), as of the effective date of such amendment, the sum of the Replacement Rate and any applicable interest rate margin with respect thereto (taking into account applicable currencies and/or interest periods) with the sum of the applicable interest rate being replaced with such Replacement Rate and the interest rate margin applicable thereto). Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement or the other Loan Documents (including, without limitation, Section 11.2), such amendment shall become effective without any further action or consent of any other party to this Agreement so long as the Administrative Agent shall not have received, within five (5) Business Days of the delivery of such amendment to the Lenders, written notices from such Lenders that in the aggregate constitute Required Lenders, with each such notice stating that such Lender objects to such amendment (which such notice shall note with specificity the particular provisions of the amendment to which such Lender objects). To the extent the Replacement Rate is approved by the Administrative Agent in connection with this clause (c), the Replacement Rate shall be applied in a manner consistent with market practice; provided that, in each case, to the extent such market practice is not administratively feasible for the Administrative Agent, such Replacement Rate shall be applied as otherwise reasonably determined by the Administrative Agent (it being understood that any such modification by the Administrative Agent shall not require the consent of, or consultation with, any of the Lenders).

 

5.      Departing Lender . The Departing Lender has agreed that it shall no longer constitute a Lender under the Credit Agreement on the Effective Date after giving effect to the Assignments, pursuant to the Assignments, this Amendment, and the Payoff described in this paragraph. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Credit Agreement, on the Effective Date the Borrower shall pay (the “ Payoff ”) all of the outstanding Loans of the Departing Lender, together with accrued and unpaid interest and fees, which have not been assigned to the other Lenders pursuant to certain Assignments and Assumptions (the “ Assignments ”) executed and delivered by the Departing Lender, another Lender (or Lenders) and the Administrative Agent, effecting, as of and subject to the Effective Date, a sale and assignment by the Departing Lender, and purchase and assumption by such Lender or Lenders, of all of such Departing Lender’s rights, interests and commitments under the Credit Agreement. Upon the occurrence of the Effective Date and the effectiveness of the Assignments and the Payoff, the Departing Lender shall cease to be a Lender under the Credit Agreement, shall not have a Revolving Loan Commitment and shall have no further rights, duties or obligations under the Credit Agreement, except for such rights which expressly survive such Departing Lender’s assignment or prepayment in full (but subject to any waivers set forth in the Assignments). Prior to the Effective Date, the Departing Lender may, in its sole discretion, notify the Administrative Agent and the Borrower in writing that it no longer desires to be a Departing Lender, at which time it shall no longer thereupon be a Departing Lender for purposes of this Amendment.

6.      Effect of Assignment and Assumption Agreements . As of the date hereof, the Revolving Credit Commitment Percentages of Swingline Loans and L/C Obligations will be reallocated by the Administrative Agent among the Revolving Credit Lenders (including the New Lender and excluding the Departing Lender) in accordance with the revised Revolving Credit Commitment Percentages and the Revolving Credit Lenders (including the New Lender and excluding the Departing Lender) agree to make all payments and adjustments necessary to effect such reallocation. The Administrative Agent shall make entries in the Register for the recordation of the name and address of the New Lender, and the Commitments of, and principal amounts of (and stated interest on) the Loans owing to, each Lender (including the New Lender and excluding the Departing Lender) consistent with the terms of the Credit Agreement, as amended by this Amendment.

7.      No Other Changes . Except as explicitly amended by this Amendment, all of the terms and conditions of the Credit Agreement remain in full force and effect.

8.      Conditions Precedent/Subsequent . This Amendment shall be effective as of the date (the “ Effective Date ”) when the Administrative Agent shall have received an original hereof duly executed by the Borrower, the

Administrative Agent and the Lenders, together with the following, each in substance and form reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent:

a)      an Amended and Restated Revolving Note executed by Borrower to the order of Bank of America, N.A. in the maximum principal amount of $200,000,000;

b)      a Revolving Note executed by Borrower and payable to Branch Banking and Trust Company in the maximum principal amount of $135,000,000;

c)      Reaffirmation of Guaranty executed by Borrower and each Subsidiary Guarantor;

d)      Officer’s Certificates executed by Borrower and each Subsidiary Guarantor;

e)      Good Standing Certificates issued by the Minnesota Secretary of State for the Borrower and each Subsidiary Guarantor; and

f)      Opinions of Borrower’s General Counsel and Faegre Baker Daniels LLP.

9.      Representations and Warranties . Except as explicitly amended by this Amendment, Borrower reaffirms that each of the representations and warranties contained in the Credit Agreement is true and correct in all material respects (except to the extent any such representation and warranty is qualified by materiality or reference to Material Adverse Effect, in which case such representation and warranty is true and correct in all respects) on and as of the date hereof as though made on and as of such date, except to the extent that such representations and warranties relate solely to an earlier date; without limiting the forgoing, represents and warrants that the Credit Agreement, this Amendment, the related amendment documents listed in Subparagraph 8 above and each of the other Loan Documents constitute the continuing legal, valid and binding obligations of the Borrower enforceable against the Borrower in accordance with their respective terms (except as such enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar state or federal debtor relief laws from time to time in effect which affect the enforcement of creditors’ rights in general and general principles of equity), and are not, to the knowledge of any of the Borrower’s officers, subject to any existing defense, counterclaim or right of setoff by the Borrower, and acknowledges and agrees that, to the extent that any such defense, counterclaim and/or setoff exists, each of the same are hereby absolutely and forever waived and released.

10.      Release. Borrower hereby absolutely and unconditionally releases and forever discharges Administrative Agent and each Lender, and each of their respective participants, parent corporations, subsidiary corporations, affiliated corporations, insurers, indemnitors, successors and assigns thereof, together with all of the present and former directors, officers, agents and employees of any of the foregoing, from any and all claims, demands or causes of action of any kind, nature or description, whether arising in law or equity or upon contract or tort or under any state or federal law or otherwise, that Borrower has had, now has or has made claim to have against any such person for or by reason of any act, omission, matter, cause or thing whatsoever arising out of, related to or concerning the Credit Agreement or any Loan Documents from the beginning of time to and including the date of this Amendment, whether such claims, demands and causes of action are matured or unmatured or known or unknown.

11.      Miscellaneous . Except as amended hereby, the Credit Agreement remains in full force and effect in accordance with its original terms. Signature pages to this Amendment may be executed in any number of counterparts and by facsimile or email (PDF) transmission, all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same instrument.

[Signature Page Follows]

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

BORROWER:

FASTENAL COMPANY

By: /s/ Holden Lewis                 

Holden Lewis

Its Executive Vice President and

Chief Financial Officer

AGENT AND LENDERS :

WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Administrative Agent, Swingline Lender, Issuing Lender and Lender

By: /s/ Gregory J. Strauss                 

Gregory J. Strauss

Its Senior Vice President

MERCHANTS BANK, N.A.

as Lender

By: /s/ Randal J. Domeyer                 

Name: Randal J. Domeyer

Its Senior Vice President

BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.

as Lender

By: /s/ Richard G. Trembley             

Name: Richard G. Trembley

Its Senior Vice President

BRANCH BANKING AND TRUST COMPANY

as Lender

By: /s/ Kurt W. Anstaett                 

Name: Kurt W. Anstaett

Its Senior Vice President

OMNIBUS FIRST AMENDMENT TO

MASTER NOTE AGREEMENT AND SUBSIDIARY GUARANTY AGREEMENT

THIS OMNIBUS FIRST AMENDMENT TO MASTER NOTE AGREEMENT AND SUBSIDIARY GUARANTY AGREEMENT (this “ Amendment ”), is made and entered into as of November 30, 2018, by and among FASTENAL COMPANY , a Minnesota corporation (the “ Company ”), FASTENAL COMPANY PURCHASING , a Minnesota corporation (“ Fastenal Purchasing ”) and FASTENAL IP COMPANY , a Minnesota corporation (“ Fastenal IP ”; and together with Fastenal Purchasing, the “ Subsidiary Guarantors ”), on the one hand, and Metropolitan Life Insurance Company (“ MetLife ”), NYL Investors LLC (“ NYL ”), PGIM, Inc. (“ Prudential ”) and each holder of Notes (as defined in the Note Agreement defined below) that are signatories hereto (such holders, together with their successors and assigns, the “ Noteholders ”), on the other hand.

W I T N E S S E T H :

WHEREAS, the Company, MetLife, NYL, Prudential and the Purchasers (as defined in the Note Agreement defined below) are parties to a certain Master Note Agreement, dated as of July 20, 2016 (as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “ Note Agreement ”; capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in the Note Agreement), pursuant to which the Company previously issued and sold (a) $40,000,000 in aggregate principal amount of its 2.00% Series A Senior Notes Due July 20, 2021 (the “ Series A Notes ”), (b) $35,000,000 in aggregate principal amount of its 2.45% Series B Senior Notes Due July 20, 2022 (the “ Series B Notes ”) and (c) $60,000,000 in aggregate principal amount of its 3.22% Series C Senior Notes Due March 1, 2024 (the “ Series C Notes ”, and together with the Series A Notes and the Series B Notes, the “ Notes ”);

WHEREAS, the Subsidiary Guarantors are parties to a certain Subsidiary Guaranty Agreement in favor of MetLife, NYL, Prudential and the Noteholders, dated as of July 20, 2016 (as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “ Subsidiary Guaranty ”);

WHEREAS, the Notes are the only Notes currently outstanding under the Note Agreement and the Noteholders are the holders of 100% of the Notes;

WHEREAS, the Company has requested that the Noteholders amend certain provisions of the Note Agreement, and subject to the terms and conditions hereof, the Noteholders are willing to amend the Note Agreement in the respects but only in the respects set forth below;

WHEREAS, the Subsidiary Guarantors have requested that the Noteholders amend certain provisions of the Subsidiary Guaranty, and subject to the terms and conditions hereof, the Noteholders are willing to amend the Subsidiary Guaranty in the respects but only in the respects set forth below;

NOW, THEREFORE, for good and valuable consideration, the sufficiency and receipt of all of which are hereby acknowledged, the Company, the Subsidiary Guarantors and the Noteholders agree as follows:

1. Amendments to the Note Agreement .

(a)      The references to “$200,000,000” (i) on the cover page of the Note Agreement, (ii) following the address block on the first page of the Note Agreement and (iii) in Section 1 of the Note Agreement are each hereby deleted and replaced with “$600,000,000”.

(b)      Section 2.1(b)(1) of the Note Agreement is hereby amended and restated in its entirety to read: “(1) November 30, 2023 (or if such date is not a Business Day, the Business Day next preceding such date)”.

2. Amendment to Subsidiary Guaranty .

(a)      The references to “$200,000,000” (i) in paragraph Roman numeral I of the Subsidiary Guaranty and (ii) in paragraph Roman numeral I of the Guarantor Supplement attached as Exhibit A to the Subsidiary Guaranty are each deleted and replaced with “$600,000,000”.

3. Conditions to Effectiveness of this Amendment . Notwithstanding any other provision of this Amendment and without affecting in any manner the rights of MetLife, NYL, Prudential or the holders of the Notes hereunder, it is understood and agreed that this Amendment shall not become effective, and neither the Company nor the Subsidiary Guarantors shall have any rights under this Amendment, until MetLife, NYL, Prudential and the Noteholders shall have received (i) without limiting Section 9 hereof, reimbursement or payment of its costs and expenses incurred in connection with this Amendment (including reasonable fees, charges and disbursements of Schiff Hardin LLP, counsel to the Noteholders), to the extent reflected in a statement of MetLife, NYL, Prudential, any Noteholder or such counsel delivered to the Company at least one Business Day prior to the date of this Amendment and (ii) executed counterparts to this Amendment from the Company, the Subsidiary Guarantors, MetLife, NYL, Prudential and the Noteholders.

4. Representations and Warranties . To induce MetLife, NYL, Prudential and the Noteholders to enter into this Amendment, the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors hereby represent and warrant to MetLife, NYL, Prudential and the Noteholders that:

(a)      The Company and each Subsidiary Guarantor has the corporate or other legal entity power and authority to execute and deliver this Amendment and to perform the provisions of this Amendment, the Note Agreement, as amended hereby (the Note Agreement as so amended, the “ Amended Note Agreement ”) (in the case of the Company) and the Subsidiary Guaranty, as amended hereby (the Subsidiary Guaranty, as so amended, the “ Amended Subsidiary Guaranty ”) (in the case of the Subsidiary Guarantors).

(b)      This Amendment has been duly authorized by all necessary corporate or other legal entity action on the part of the Company and each Subsidiary Guarantor, and this Amendment, the Amended Note Agreement (in the case of the Company) and the Amended Subsidiary Guaranty (in the case of the Subsidiary Guarantors) constitute legal, valid and binding obligations of the Company and Subsidiary Guarantors, enforceable against the Company and Subsidiary Guarantors in accordance with their terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by (1) applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally and (2) general principles of equity (regardless of whether such enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law).

(c)      The execution and delivery of this Amendment and the performance by the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors of this Amendment, the Amended Note Agreement (in the case of the Company) and the Amended Subsidiary Guaranty (in the case of the Subsidiary Guarantors) do not (1) contravene, result in any breach of, or constitute a default under, or result in the creation of any Lien in respect of any property of the Company or any Subsidiary under, any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan, purchase or credit agreement, lease, corporate charter or by-laws, shareholders agreement or any other agreement or instrument to which the Company or any Subsidiary is bound or by which the Company or any Subsidiary or any of their respective Properties may be bound or affected, (2) conflict with or result in a breach of any of the terms, conditions or provisions of any order, judgment, decree or ruling of any court, arbitrator or Governmental

Authority applicable to the Company or any Subsidiary or (3) violate any provision of any statute or other rule or regulation of any Governmental Authority applicable to the Company or any Subsidiary.

(d)      No consent, approval or authorization of, or registration, filing or declaration with, any Governmental Authority is required in connection with the execution or delivery by the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor of this Amendment or the performance by the Company or a Subsidiary Guarantor of this Amendment, the Amended Note Agreement (in the case of the Company) or the Amended Subsidiary Guaranty (in the case of the Subsidiary Guarantors).

(e)      After giving effect to this Amendment, (1) except with respect to Schedule 5.4 to the Note Agreement, which has not been updated since delivery to MetLife, NYL and Prudential of the Request for Purchase dated December 14, 2016, the representations and warranties of the Company contained in the Note Agreement and of the Subsidiary Guarantors contained in the Subsidiary Guaranty are true and correct as of the date hereof (unless expressly stated to relate to an earlier date, in which case such representations and warranties were true and correct as of such earlier date), and (2) no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing as of the date hereof.

5. Reaffirmation. Each Subsidiary Guarantor hereby consents to the foregoing amendments to the Note Agreement and hereby ratifies and reaffirms all of its payment and performance obligations, contingent or otherwise, under the Subsidiary Guaranty, after giving effect to such amendments. Each Subsidiary Guarantor hereby acknowledges, notwithstanding the foregoing amendments, that the Subsidiary Guaranty remains in full force and effect and is hereby ratified and confirmed. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, each Subsidiary Guarantor agrees and confirms that the Subsidiary Guaranty continues to guaranty the Guaranteed Obligations (as defined in the Subsidiary Guaranty) arising under or in connection with the Amended Note Agreement or any of the Notes.

6. Effect of Amendments . Except as set forth expressly herein, all terms of the Amended Note Agreement and the Amended Subsidiary Guaranty shall be and remain in full force and effect and shall constitute the legal, valid, binding and enforceable obligations of the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors. The execution, delivery and effectiveness of this Amendment shall not, except as expressly provided herein, operate as a waiver of any right, power or remedy of the holders of the Notes under the Note Agreement or the Subsidiary Guaranty, nor constitute a waiver of any provision of the Note Agreement or the Subsidiary Guaranty.

7. Governing Law . This Amendment shall be construed and enforced in accordance with, and the rights of the parties shall be governed by, the laws of the State of New York excluding choice-of-law principles of the laws of such State that would permit the application of the laws of a jurisdiction other than such State.

8. No Novation . This Amendment is not intended by the parties to be, and shall not be construed to be, a novation of the Note Agreement or the Subsidiary Guaranty or an accord and satisfaction in regard thereto.

9. Costs and Expenses . The Company agrees to pay on demand all costs and expenses of MetLife, NYL, Prudential and the Noteholders in connection with the preparation, execution and delivery of this Amendment, including, without limitation, the reasonable fees and out-of-pocket expenses of outside counsel for the Noteholders with respect thereto.

10. Counterparts . This Amendment may be executed by one or more of the parties hereto in any number of separate counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original and all of which, taken together, shall be deemed to constitute one and the same instrument. Delivery of an executed counterpart of this Amendment by facsimile transmission or by electronic mail in pdf form shall be as effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart hereof.

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

COMPANY:

FASTENAL COMPANY

By: /s/ Daniel L. Florness                           Name: Daniel L. Florness                      

Title: Chief Executive Officer and President

FASTENAL COMPANY PURCHASING

FASTENAL IP COMPANY                             

By: /s/ Daniel L. Florness                          Name: Daniel L. Florness                      

Title: Chief Executive Officer and President

NYL INVESTORS LLC

By /s/ Sean Campbell             

Name: Sean Campbell

Title: Senior Director

NEW YORK LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY

By: /s/ Sean Campbell             

Name: Sean Campbell

Title: Corporate Vice President

Aggregate principal amount of Series B Notes owned: $16,100,000

Aggregate principal amount of Series C Notes owned: $14,100,000

NEW YORK LIFE INSURANCE AND ANNUITY CORPORATION

By:      NYL Investors LLC, its Investment Manager

By: /s/ Sean Campbell             

Name: Sean Campbell

Title: Senior Director

Aggregate principal amount of Series B Notes owned: $12,300,000

Aggregate principal amount of Series C Notes owned: $5,300,000

NEW YORK LIFE INSURANCE AND ANNUITY CORPORATION INSTITUTIONALLY OWNED LIFE INSURANCE SEPARATE ACCOUNT (BOLI 3-2)

By:      NYL Investors LLC, its Investment Manager

By: /s/ Sean Campbell             

Name: Sean Campbell

Title: Senior Director

Aggregate principal amount of Series C Notes owned:

$300,000

NEW YORK LIFE INSURANCE AND ANNUITY CORPORATION INSTITUTIONALLY OWNED LIFE INSURANCE SEPARATE ACCOUNT (BOLI 30C)

By:      NYL Investors LLC, its Investment Manager

By: /s/ Sean Campbell             

Name: Sean Campbell

Title: Senior Director

Aggregate principal amount of Series B Notes owned: $2,800,000

Aggregate principal amount of Series C Notes owned:

$300,000

THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON, A BANKING CORPORATION ORGANIZED UNDER THE LAWS OF NEW YORK, NOT IN ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY BUT SOLELY AS TRUSTEE UNDER THAT CERTAIN TRUST AGREEMENT DATED AS OF JULY 1ST, 2015 BETWEEN NEW YORK LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY, AS GRANTOR, JOHN HANCOCK LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY (U.S.A.), AS BENEFICIARY, JOHN HANCOCK LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY OF NEW YORK, AS BENEFICIARY, AND THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON, AS TRUSTEE

By:      New York Life Insurance Company, its attorney-in-fact

By: /s/ Sean Campbell             

Name: Sean Campbell

Title: Corporate Vice President

Aggregate principal amount of Series B Notes owned: $3,800,000

METROPOLITAN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY

By:      MetLife Investment Advisors, LLC, Its Investment Manager

By: /s/ Jennifer Potenta             

Name: Jennifer Potenta

Title: Managing Director

Aggregate principal amount of Series A Notes owned: $20,000,000

Aggregate principal amount of Series C Notes owned: $5,000,000

LINCOLN BENEFIT LIFE COMPANY

By:      MetLife Investment Advisors, LLC, Its Investment Manager

By: /s/ Frank O. Monfalcone             

Name: Frank O. Monfalcone

Title: Managing Director

Aggregate principal amount of Series A Notes owned: $20,000,000

Brighthouse Life Insurance Company (f/k/a MetLife Insurance Company USA)

By: MetLife Investment Advisors, LLC, Its Investment Manager

By: /s/ Judith A. Gulotta                                       

Name: Judith A. Gulotta

Title: Managing Director

Aggregate principal amount of Series C Notes owned: $10,000,000

METLIFE INSURANCE K.K.

By: MetLife Investment Advisors, LLC, Its Investment Manager

By: : /s/ Jennifer Potenta                                       

Name: Jennifer Potenta

Title: Managing Director

Aggregate principal amount of Series C Notes owned: $5,000,000

PGIM, INC.

By: /s/ Anna Sabiston                                              

Name: Anna Sabiston

Title: Vice President

THE PRUDENTIAL INSURANCE COMPANY OF AMERICA

By: /s/ Anna Sabiston                 

Name: Anna Sabiston

Title: Vice President

Aggregate principal amount of Series C Notes owned: $1,400,000

PRUDENTIAL LEGACY INSURANCE COMPANY

OF NEW JERSEY

By:      PGIM, Inc. (as Investment Manager)

    

By: /s/ Anna Sabiston                 

Name: Anna Sabiston

Title: Vice President

Aggregate principal amount of Series C Notes owned: $8,600,000

FARMERS NEW WORLD LIFE INSURANCE

COMPANY

By:      Prudential Private Placement Investors,

L.P. (as Investment Advisor)

By:      Prudential Private Placement Investors, Inc.

(as its General Partner)

By: s/ Anna Sabiston                 

Name: Anna Sabiston

Title: Vice President

Aggregate principal amount of Series C Notes owned: $6,250,000

ZURICH AMERICAN LIFE INSURANCE

COMPANY

By:      Prudential Private Placement Investors,

L.P. (as Investment Advisor)

By:      Prudential Private Placement Investors, Inc.

(as its General Partner)

By: /s/ Anna Sabiston                 

Name: Anna Sabiston

Title: Vice President

Aggregate principal amount of Series C Notes owned: $3,750,000