UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of report (Date of earliest event reported): April 12, 2022
Winmark Corporation
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)
Minnesota
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation)
000-22012 | 41-1622691 |
(Commission File Number) | (I.R.S. Employer Identification Number) |
605 Highway 169 North, Suite 400, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55441
(Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)
(763) 520-8500
(Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code)
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
☐Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
☐Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
☐ | Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b)) |
☐ | Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c)) |
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of each class: | Trading Symbol | Name of each exchange on which registered: |
Common Stock, no par value per share | WINA | Nasdaq Global Market |
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).
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. ☐
Item 1.01; 2.03Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement; Creation of a Direct Financial Obligation or an Obligation under an Off-Balance Sheet Arrangement of a Registrant.
Credit Agreement
On April 12, 2022, Winmark Corporation and its subsidiaries’ (collectively, the “Company”) entered into Amendment No. 10 to its Credit Agreement (the “Line of Credit”) with CIBC Bank USA (formerly known as The PrivateBank and Trust Company) (the “Lender”). The amendment, among other things,
● | Provides for a new $30.0 million delayed draw term facility, with available draws summarized as follows: |
o | The Company may draw up to five (5) loans over a period of 18 months, each draw having a principal amount not less than $3.0 million (or higher integral multiples of $1.0 million), with aggregate draws outstanding not to exceed $30.0 million; |
o | The final maturity of all drawn loans of April 12, 2029, with all payments of principal due on such date; |
o | Interest at a rate to be determined at the time of each draw, payable monthly in arrears on the outstanding aggregate principal balance. |
● | Decreases the aggregate commitments for revolving loans from $25.0 million to $20.0 million; |
● | Extends the termination date for revolving loans from August 31, 2024 to April 12, 2027; |
● | Removes the borrowing base covenant restriction for revolving loans; |
● | Replaces LIBOR with SOFR as an interest rate option in connection with borrowings on revolving loans and adjust the definition of and reduce the applicable margin to reflect such replacement; |
● | Amends the fixed charge coverage ratio definition to exclude principal payments on non-amortizing term loans that are refinanced with proceeds from permitted debt (as defined within the amendment); |
● | Permits the Company to issue additional term notes under a new Private Shelf Agreement with Prudential (as described below). |
Amendment No. 10 to the Credit Agreement is effective as of April 12, 2022. The foregoing description of Amendment No. 10 to the Credit Agreement does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full amendment included hereto as Exhibit 10.1.
Upon closing on the amendment to the Line of Credit, the Company completed a $15.0 million draw on the delayed draw term loan at a rate of 4.60%, the proceeds of which were used to pay down all amounts outstanding on the revolving portion of the Line of Credit and increase the Company’s cash balances.
Shelf Agreement
On April 12, 2022, the Company entered into a Private Shelf Agreement (the “Shelf Agreement”) with PGIM, Inc. (formerly Prudential Investment Management, Inc.), its affiliates and managed accounts (collectively, “Prudential”), summarized as follows:
● | For a period three years from entry into the Shelf Agreement, subject to certain customary conditions, the Company may offer and Prudential may purchase from the Company privately negotiated senior notes (“Shelf Notes”) in the aggregate principal amount up to (i) $100.0 million, less (ii) the aggregate principal amount of notes outstanding at such point (including notes outstanding under the existing Prudential Note Agreement, which at April 12, 2022 totaled $46.6 million); |
● | Each Shelf Note issued will have an average life and maturity of no more than 12.5 years from the date of original issuance, with interest payable at a rate per annum determined at the time of each issuance; |
● | The Shelf Notes will be secured by all of the Company’s assets and the Shelf Notes will rank pari passu with the Company’s obligations to the lenders under the amended Line of Credit and the amended Note Agreement; |
● | The Shelf Notes may be prepaid, at the option of the Company, in whole or in part (in a minimum amount of $1 million), but prepayments will require payment of a Yield Maintenance Amount (as defined within the Shelf Agreement); |
● | The Shelf Agreement contains customary affirmative covenants and negative covenants that are substantially the same as those contained in the amended Line of Credit and amended Note Agreement. |
The foregoing description of the Shelf Agreement does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the agreement included hereto as Exhibit 10.3.
Note Agreement
On April 12, 2022, the Company entered into Amendment No. 6 to its Note Agreement with Prudential. The amendment, among other things,
● | Permits the Company to incur the obligations described in and conform to the changes made by the Company’s entry into the amendments to the Line of Credit described above; |
● | Permits the Company to incur the obligations described in and conform to the changes made by the Company’s entry into the Shelf Agreement. |
Amendment No. 6 to the Note Agreement is effective as of April 12, 2022. The foregoing description of Amendment No. 6 to the Note Agreement does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full amendment included hereto as Exhibit 10.4.
Amended and Restated Intercreditor and Collateral Agency Agreement
In connection with the amendment to the Line of Credit, the Shelf Agreement and the amendment to the Note Agreement, CIBC and Prudential also amended and restated their Intercreditor and Collateral Agency Agreement (the “Intercreditor Agreement”) which the Company acknowledged. The Intercreditor Agreement contains customary provisions regarding the duties of CIBC as collateral agent under the Line of Credit as amended, the Shelf Agreement and Note Agreement as amended. The foregoing description of the Intercreditor Agreement does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the agreement included hereto as Exhibit 10.6.
Omnibus Amendment to Collateral Documents
The parties also entered into an amendment to applicable pledge and security agreements that affirm the pledges and security arrangements in favor of CIBC and Prudential in connection with the Line of Credit amendment, the Shelf Agreement and Note Agreement amendment. The foregoing description of the Omnibus Amendment to Collateral Documents does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the agreement included hereto as Exhibit 10.7.
Item 2.02Results of Operations and Financial Condition
On April 13, 2022, the Company announced in a press release its results of operations and financial condition for the first quarter ended March 26, 2022. A copy of the press release is attached as Exhibit 99.1 of this Current Report on Form 8-K.
Item 7.01Regulation FD Disclosure
On April 13, 2022, the Company announced in a press release its results of operations and financial condition for the first quarter ended March 26, 2022. A copy of the press release is attached as Exhibit 99.1 of this Current Report on Form 8-K
On April 13, 2022, the Company also announced in a press release that its Board of Directors has approved the payment of a cash dividend to its shareholders. The quarterly dividend of $0.70 per share will be paid on June 1, 2022 to shareholders of record on the close of business on May 11, 2022. Future dividends will be subject to Board approval. A copy of the press release is attached as Exhibit 99.2 of this Current Report on Form 8-K.
Item 8.01Other Events
On April 13, 2022, the Company also announced in a press release that its Board of Directors has approved the payment of a cash dividend to its shareholders. The quarterly dividend of $0.70 per share will be paid on June 1, 2022 to shareholders of record on the close of business on May 11, 2022. Future dividends will be subject to Board approval. A copy of the press release is attached as Exhibit 99.2 of this Current Report on Form 8-K.
Forward Looking Statements
Certain statements in this Current Report on Form 8-K are forward looking statements made under the safe harbor provision of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act. Such statements are based on management’s current expectations as of the date of this Report, but involve risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated by such forward looking statements. Investors are cautioned to consider these forward looking statements in light of important factors which may result in material variations between results contemplated by such forward looking statements and actual results and conditions. More detailed information about these factors is contained under the headings “Forward Looking Statements” and “Risk Factors” in the Company’s periodic reports filed with the SEC, including the Company’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 25, 2021. We caution investors to not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date they were made. The Company undertakes no obligation to revise or update publicly any forward-looking statements for any reason.
Item 9.01Financial Statements and Exhibits
(d)Exhibits
99.1 | ||
99.2 | ||
104 | Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL Document and incorporated as Exhibit 101) |
* Filed Herewith
(1) Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended June 26, 2010
(2) Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.8 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed on May 18, 2015
SIGNATURES
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 hereunto duly authorized.
WINMARK CORPORATION | ||
Date: April 13, 2022 | By: | /s/ Anthony D. Ishaug |
Anthony D. Ishaug | ||
Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer |
Exhibit 10.1
AMENDMENT NO. 10
to
CREDIT AGREEMENT
THIS AMENDMENT NO. 10 TO CREDIT AGREEMENT (this “Amendment”) is dated as of April 12, 2022 by and among WINMARK CORPORATION, WIRTH BUSINESS CREDIT, INC., WINMARK CAPITAL CORPORATION, and GROW BIZ GAMES, INC. (each of the foregoing are referred to herein individually as a “Loan Party” and collectively as the “Loan Parties”), and CIBC BANK USA (the “Administrative Agent” and a “Lender”).
RECITALS:
A.The Loan Parties, the Administrative Agent, and the Lender are parties to that certain Credit Agreement, dated as of July 13, 2010, as amended prior to the date hereof (the “Credit Agreement”).
B. The Loan Parties, the Administrative Agent, and the Lender desire to further amend the Credit Agreement as provided herein.
AGREEMENTS:
IN CONSIDERATION of the premises and mutual covenants herein, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties agree as follows:
WHEREAS, the Lenders have agreed to make available to the Loan Parties a revolving credit facility (which includes letters of credit) and a delayed draw term loan facility upon the terms and conditions set forth in this Credit Agreement (this “Agreement”).
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“Additional Prudential Debt”: Means Prudential Notes issued under the Private Shelf Agreement on or after the Tenth Amendment Effective Date.
“Aggregate Commitments”: The Commitments of all Lenders.
“Aggregate Revolving Commitments”: The Revolving Commitments of all Lenders, as reduced from time to time pursuant to Section 6.3.
“Applicable Margin”: For any day, the rate per annum set forth below opposite the level (the “Level”) then in effect, it being understood that the Applicable Margin for (i) SOFR Loans shall be the percentage set forth under the column “SOFR Margin” and (ii) Base Rate Loans shall be the percentage set forth under the column “Base Rate Margin”:
Level | Leverage Ratio | Margin | Base Rate Margin |
---|---|---|---|
I | Greater than or equal to 2.00 | 0% | |
II | Less than 2.00 | 0% |
The SOFR Margin and the Base Rate Margin shall be adjusted, to the extent applicable, on the fifth (5th) Business Day after the Loan Parties provide or are required to provide the annual or quarterly financial statements and other information pursuant to Sections 10.1.1 or 10.1.3, as applicable, and the related Compliance Certificate, pursuant to Section 10.1.4. Notwithstanding anything contained in this paragraph to the contrary, (a) if the Loan Parties fail to deliver the financial statements and Compliance Certificate in accordance with the provisions of Sections 10.1.1, 10.1.3 and 10.1.4, the SOFR Margin and the Base Rate Margin shall be based upon Level I above beginning on the date such financial statements and Compliance Certificate were required to be delivered until the fifth (5th) Business Day after such financial statements and Compliance Certificate are actually delivered, whereupon the Applicable Margin shall be determined by the then current Level; (b) no reduction to any Applicable Margin shall become effective at any time when an Unmatured Event of Default or an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing; and (c) the initial Applicable Margin on the Tenth Amendment Effective Date shall be based on the Level II until the date on which the financial statements and Compliance Certificate are required to be delivered for the Fiscal Quarter ending after the Tenth Amendment Effective Date.
“Business Day”: A day of the week (but not a Saturday, Sunday or holiday) on which the Chicago, Illinois offices of Agent are open to the public for carrying on substantially all of Agent’s business functions, provided, however, that when used in the context of a SOFR Loan, the term “Business Day” shall also exclude any day that is not also a SOFR Business Day. Unless specifically referenced in this Agreement as a Business Day, all references to “days” shall be to calendar days.
“Commitment”: As to each Lender, its obligation to (a) make Revolving Loans to the Company pursuant to Section 2.1.1 (the “Revolving Commitment”), (b) purchase
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participations in L/C Obligations, and (c) make Delayed Draw Term Loans to the Company pursuant to Section 2.1.3 (the “Delayed Draw Term Loan Commitment”), in an aggregate principal amount at any one time outstanding not to exceed the amount set forth opposite such Lender’s name on Schedule 2.1 or in the Assignment and Assumption pursuant to which such Lender becomes a party hereto, as applicable, as such amount may be adjusted from time to time in accordance with this Agreement.
“Continue”, “Continuation” and “Continued”: Means the continuation of a SOFR Loan based on Term SOFR from one Term SOFR Interest Period to another Term SOFR Interest Period pursuant to Section 2.2.3.
“Delayed Draw Term Loan”: As defined in Section 2.1.3.
“Delayed Draw Term Loan Availability Period”: With respect to the Delayed Draw Term Loan Commitment, the period commencing on the Tenth Amendment Effective Date to the earliest to occur of (a) October 12, 2023, (b) the date of termination of the Delayed Draw Term Loan Commitment pursuant to Section 13.2, and (c) the date on which each Lender has funded the maximum amount of such Lender’s Delayed Draw Term Loan Commitment.
“Delayed Draw Term Loan Maturity Date”: The earlier to occur of (a) April 12, 2029, or (b) such other date on which the Commitment terminates pursuant to Section 13.
“Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio”: As of any date of determination and calculated for a trailing twelve month period ending on such date of determination, the ratio of (a) the total EBITDA of the Loan Parties for such period, minus (i) the sum of income taxes paid in cash by the Loan Parties in such period, (ii) the sum of all Capital Expenditures made by the Loan Parties in such period, and (iii) the sum of all distributions (excluding any Special Dividend made in such period) made by the Loan Parties in such period, divided by (b) the sum for such period of (i) cash interest expense plus (ii) all scheduled payments of principal on Debt (excluding, (A) any Specified Principal Payment and (B) for the avoidance of doubt, any payment pursuant to Section 6).
“Floor”: A rate of interest equal to 0.00%.
“Lender”: As defined in the Preamble. In addition to the foregoing, for the purpose of identifying the Persons entitled to share in the Collateral and the proceeds thereof under, and in accordance with the provisions of, this Agreement and the Collateral Documents, the term “Lender” shall include Affiliates of a Lender providing a Bank Product.
“Loan or Loans”: The Revolving Loans and the Delayed Draw Term Loans, or any one or more of them, made by the Lenders to the Loan Parties under this Agreement.
“Loan Availability”: An amount equal to the Aggregate Revolving Commitments.
“Net Cash Proceeds”:
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(a)With respect to any Asset Disposition, the aggregate cash proceeds (including cash proceeds received pursuant to policies of insurance or by way of deferred payment of principal pursuant to a note, installment receivable or otherwise, but only as and when received) received by any Loan Party pursuant to such Asset Disposition net of (i) the direct costs relating to such sale, transfer or other disposition (including sales commissions and legal, accounting and investment banking fees), (ii) taxes paid or reasonably estimated by Loan Parties to be payable as a result thereof (after taking into account any available tax credits or deductions and any tax sharing arrangements) and (iii) amounts required to be applied to the repayment of any Debt secured by a Lien on the asset subject to such Asset Disposition (other than the Loans);
(b)with respect to any issuance of Capital Securities, the aggregate cash proceeds received by any Loan Party pursuant to such issuance, net of the direct costs relating to such issuance (including sales and underwriters’ commissions); and
with respect to any issuance of Debt (other than the Prudential Notes issued on or about the Fourth Amendment Effective Date and on or about the Fifth Amendment Effective Date and (ii) constituting Additional Prudential Debt), the aggregate cash proceeds received by any Loan Party pursuant to such issuance, net of the direct costs of such issuance (including up-front, underwriters’ and placement fees).
“Note”: Each promissory note executed by the Loan Parties in favor of a Lender in connection with this Agreement in the form of Exhibit A, or, with respect to the Delayed Draw Term Loans, the form attached as Exhibit E to the Tenth Amendment, in each case, as they may be amended, modified, supplemented, restated or replaced from time to time, or any one or more of them.
“Outstandings”: At any time, the sum of (a) the aggregate principal amount of all outstanding Revolving Loans after giving effect to any borrowings and prepayments or repayments occurring on such date, plus (b) the Stated Amount of all Letters of Credit.
“Pro Rata Share”: With respect to a Lender’s obligation to make Loans, participate in L/C Obligations, reimburse the L/C Issuer, and receive payments of principal, interest, fees, costs, and expenses with respect thereto, (x) prior to the Aggregate Commitments being terminated or reduced to zero, the percentage obtained by dividing (i) such Lender’s Commitment, by (ii) the Aggregate Commitments of all Lenders and (y) from and after the time the Aggregate Commitments have been terminated or reduced to zero, the percentage obtained by dividing (i) the aggregate unpaid principal amount of such Lender’s Outstandings plus the aggregate principal amount of such Lender’s Delayed Draw Term Loans by (ii) the aggregate unpaid principal amount of all Outstandings plus the aggregate principal amount of all outstanding Delayed Draw Term Loans.
“Program Repurchases”: Immaterial repurchases or redemptions of Capital Securities of the Company using operating cash on the balance sheet of the Company, proceeds of Loans, or the proceeds of Additional Prudential Debt, in each case pursuant to a share repurchase program approved by the Company’s board of directors.
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“Prudential Notes”: Those certain senior secured promissory notes issued by the Loan Parties pursuant to (i) that certain Note Agreement dated as of May 14, 2015, by and among the Loan Parties and Prudential, as it may be amended, modified, supplemented, restated or replaced from time to time and (ii) the Prudential Shelf Agreement.
“Prudential Intercreditor Agreement”: That certain Amended and Restated Intercreditor and Collateral Agency Agreement, dated as of the Tenth Amendment Effective Date by and among Prudential, the Administrative Agent, the Lenders, the holders of Additional Prudential Debt party thereto from time to time and the Loan Parties, as it may be amended, modified, supplemented, restated or replaced from time to time.
“Prudential Shelf Agreement”: That certain Private Shelf Agreement, dated as of the Tenth Amendment Effective Date, by and among the Loan Parties, PGIM, Inc. and the purchasers of any notes thereunder after the Tenth Amendment Effective Date, as it may be amended, modified, supplemented, restated or replaced from time to time.
“Reference Time”: With respect to any setting of the then-current Benchmark means (a) if such Benchmark is Term SOFR, then approximately a time substantially consistent with market practice two (2) SOFR Business Days prior to (i) if the date of such setting is a SOFR Business Day, such date or (ii) otherwise, the SOFR Business Day immediately preceding such date and (b) if such Benchmark is not Term SOFR, then the time determined by Agent in accordance with the Benchmark Conforming Changes. If by 5:00 pm (New York City time) on any interest lookback day, Term SOFR in respect of such interest lookback day as described in clause (a) above has not been published on the SOFR Administrator’s Website, then Term SOFR for such interest lookback day will be Term SOFR as published in respect of the first preceding SOFR Business Day for which Term SOFR was published on the SOFR Administrator’s Website; provided that such first preceding SOFR Business Day is not more than three (3) SOFR Business Days prior to such interest lookback day.
“Regular Dividends” means those regular quarterly cash dividends paid by the Company in respect of its Capital Securities consistent with past practices of the Company.
“Revolving Loans”: As defined in Section 2.1.1.
“SOFR”: With respect to any SOFR Business Day, a rate per annum equal to the secured overnight financing rate for such SOFR Business Day.
“SOFR Administrator”: CME Group Benchmark Administration Limited (CBA) (or a successor administrator of Term SOFR selected by Agent in its reasonable discretion).
“SOFR Administrator’s Website”: The website of the SOFR Administrator, currently at https://www.cmegroup.com/market-data/cme-group-benchmark-administration/term-sofr.html, or any successor source for Term SOFR identified by the SOFR Administrator from time to time.
“SOFR Borrowing”: The SOFR Loans comprising a borrowing of Loans.
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“SOFR Business Day”: Any day other than a Saturday or Sunday or a day on which the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association recommends that the fixed income departments of its members be closed for the entire day for purposes of trading in United States government securities.
“SOFR Loan”: A Loan that bears interest at a rate based on Term SOFR.
“SOFR Rate”: With respect to each day during which interest accrues on a SOFR Loan, the rate per annum (expressed as a percentage) equal to either (a) Term SOFR for the applicable Term SOFR Interest Period for such day; or (b) if the then-current Benchmark has been replaced with a Benchmark Replacement pursuant to Section 4.5, such Benchmark Replacement for such day.
“Specified Principal Payment”: Means (i) the $30,000,000 principal payment due on September 10, 2028 with respect to the Company’s $30,000,000.00 3.18% Senior Secured Notes issued to Prudential, as the same are outstanding as of the Tenth Amendment Effective Date and (ii) with respect to any Prudential Note evidencing any Additional Prudential Debt, to the extent such Additional Prudential Debt consists of a non-amortizing term note that is due and payable in one principal payment on the stated maturity date of such Additional Prudential Debt, such principal payment, so long as such principal payment consists of the payment in full of such note and, in each case with respect to the payments described in clauses (i) and clauses (ii), such payments are made with the proceeds of Debt that is permitted under Section 11.1 of the Credit Agreement.
“Tenth Amendment”: That certain Amendment No. 10 to Credit Agreement, dated as of April 12, 2022, by and among the Loan Parties, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders.
“Tenth Amendment Effective Date”: April 12, 2022.
“Term SOFR” With respect to each day of any applicable SOFR Loan for any Term SOFR Interest Period, the greater of (a) the forward-looking term rate for a period comparable to such Term SOFR Interest Period based on SOFR that is published by the SOFR Administrator and is displayed on the SOFR Administrator’s Website at approximately the Reference Time for such Term SOFR Interest Period and (b) the Floor. Unless otherwise specified in any amendment to this Agreement entered into in accordance with Section 4.5, in the event that a Benchmark Replacement with respect to Term SOFR is implemented, then all references herein to Term SOFR shall be deemed references to such Benchmark Replacement.
“Term SOFR Interest Period”: With respect to that portion of the Loan bearing interest based on Term SOFR, a period of 1 month to the extent such tenor is an Available Tenor, commencing on a SOFR Business Day as selected by the Company in accordance with this Agreement, or on such other SOFR Business Day as is acceptable to Agent and the Company; provided, however, that (a) if any Term SOFR Interest Period would end on a day other than a Business Day, such Term SOFR Interest Period shall be extended to the
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next succeeding Business Day unless such next succeeding Business Day would fall in the next calendar month, in which case such Term SOFR Interest Period shall end on the next preceding Business Day, (b) any Term SOFR Interest Period that commences on the last Business Day of a calendar month (or on a day for which there is no numerically corresponding day in the last calendar month of such Term SOFR Interest Period) shall end on the last Business Day of the last calendar month of such Term SOFR Interest Period, (c) no Term SOFR Interest Period shall extend beyond the Maturity Date and (d) no tenor that has been removed from this definition pursuant to Section 4.5 shall be available for specification in any borrowing request. For purposes hereof, the date of a Loan or SOFR Borrowing initially shall be the date on which such Loan or SOFR Borrowing is made and thereafter shall be the effective date of the most recent conversion or continuation of such Loan or SOFR Borrowing.
“Termination Date”: The earlier to occur of (a) April 12, 2027, or (b) such other date on which the Commitment terminates pursuant to Section 13.
2.1Commitments. On and subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, each Lender severally agrees to make Loans to, and the L/C Issuer agrees to issue Letters of Credit for the account of, the Loan Parties, jointly or severally, as follows:
2.1.1Revolving Loan Commitment. Each Lender severally agrees to make loans on a revolving basis (each a “Revolving Loan”) from time to time until the Termination Date in the amounts as the Company may request from the Lender; provided, however, that after giving effect to any Revolving Loan, (i) the Outstandings will not at any time exceed Loan Availability and (ii) the aggregate Outstandings of any Lender shall not exceed such Lender’s Revolving Commitment. Within the limits of each Lender’s Revolving Commitment, and subject to the other terms and conditions hereof, Company may borrow under this Section 2.1.1, prepay under Section 6.1.1, and reborrow under this Section 2.1.1.
2.1.2.L/C Commitment. Subject to Section 2.3.1, the L/C Issuer, in reliance on the agreements of the other Lenders set forth herein, agrees to issue letters of credit, in each case containing such terms and conditions as are permitted by this Agreement and are reasonably satisfactory to the L/C Issuer (each, a “Letter of Credit”), at the request of and for the account of the Company from time to time before the scheduled Termination Date; provided that (a) the aggregate Stated Amount of all Letters of Credit shall not at any time exceed $5,000,000 and (b) the Outstandings shall not at any time exceed Loan Availability.
2.1.3Delayed Draw Term Loans. Each Lender severally agrees to make term loans (each such loan, a “Delayed Draw Term Loan”) to the Company from time to time during the Delayed Draw Term Loan Availability Period in the amounts as the Company may request from the Lender; provided, however, that after giving effect to any Delayed Draw Term Loan, (i) the aggregate amount of Delayed Draw Term Loans made by a Lender shall not exceed such Lender’s Delayed Draw Term Loan Commitment, (ii) the aggregate
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outstanding Delayed Draw Term Loans shall not exceed $30,000,000, and (iii) there shall be no more than five (5) Delayed Draw Term Loans outstanding. Each Delayed Draw Term Loan shall be a term loan and may not be reborrowed.
2.2.1Various Types of Loans. Each Revolving Loan shall be divided into tranches which are either a Base Rate Loan or a SOFR Loan (each, a “type” of Revolving Loan), as the Company shall specify in the related Notice of Borrowing or conversion pursuant to Section 2.2.2 or 2.2.3. SOFR Loans having the same Term SOFR Interest Period which expire on the same day are sometimes called a “Group” or collectively “Groups”. Base Rate Loans and SOFR Loans may be outstanding at the same time, provided that not more than three (3) different Groups of SOFR Loans shall be outstanding at any one time. All borrowings, conversions and repayments of Revolving Loans shall be effected so that each Lender will have a ratable share (according to its Pro Rata Share) of all types and Groups of Revolving Loans.
2.2.2Borrowing Procedures.
(a)The Company shall give written notice (each such written notice, a “Notice of Borrowing”) substantially in the form of Exhibit D or telephonic notice (followed immediately by a Notice of Borrowing) to Agent of each proposed borrowing of a Revolving Loan not later than (a) in the case of a Base Rate Loan, 11:00 A.M., Minneapolis time, on the proposed date of such borrowing, and (b) in the case of a SOFR Loan, 11:00 A.M., Minneapolis time, at least three Business Days prior to the proposed date of such borrowing. Each such notice shall be effective upon receipt by Agent, shall be irrevocable, and shall specify the date, amount and type of borrowing and, in the case of a SOFR Loan, the initial Term SOFR Interest Period therefor. Each Base Rate Loan shall be in an aggregate amount of at least $100,000 or a higher integral multiple of $100,000. Each SOFR Loan shall be in an aggregate amount of at least $500,000 or a higher integral multiple of $100,000. If the Company fails to timely select such Term SOFR Interest Period as aforesaid, the Term SOFR Interest Period shall be a one-month Term SOFR Interest Period.
(b)Following receipt of a Notice of Borrowing, Agent shall promptly notify each Lender of the amount of its Applicable Percentage of the applicable Revolving Loans. Each Lender shall make the amount of its Revolving Loan available to Agent in immediately available funds at Administrative Agent’s Office not later than 1:00 p.m. on the Business Day specified in the applicable Notice of Borrowing. Upon satisfaction of the applicable conditions set forth in Section 12, Agent shall make all funds so received
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available to the Company in like funds as received by Agent either by (i) crediting the account of Company on the books of CIBC with the amount of such funds or (ii) wire transfer of such funds, in each case in accordance with instructions provided to (and reasonably acceptable to) Agent by the Company; provided, however, that if, on the date the Notice of Borrowing with respect to such borrowing is given by the Company, there are Unreimbursed Amounts outstanding, then the proceeds of such borrowing first, shall be applied, to the payment in full of any such Unreimbursed Amounts, and second, shall be made available to the Company as provided above.
2.2.3Conversion and Continuation Procedures.
(a)Subject to Section 2.2.1, the Company may, upon irrevocable written notice to Agent in accordance with clause (b) below:
(i)elect, as of any Business Day, to convert any Revolving Loans (or any part thereof in an aggregate amount not less than $100,000 or a higher integral multiple of $100,000) into Revolving Loans of the other type; or
(ii)elect, as of the last day of the applicable Term SOFR Interest Period, to continue any SOFR Loans having Term SOFR Interest Periods expiring on such day (or any part thereof in an aggregate amount not less than $500,000 or a higher integral multiple of $100,000) for a new Term SOFR Interest Period;
(b) The Company shall give written notice (each such written notice, a “Notice of Conversion/Continuation”) substantially in the form of Exhibit E or telephonic notice (followed immediately by a Notice of Conversion/Continuation) to Agent of each proposed conversion or continuation not later than (i) in the case of conversion into Base Rate Loans, 11:00 A.M., Minneapolis time, on the proposed date of such conversion and (ii) in the case of conversion into or continuation of SOFR Loans, 11:00 A.M., Minneapolis time, at least three Business Days prior to the proposed date of such conversion or continuation, specifying in each case:
(i)the proposed date of conversion or continuation;
(ii)the aggregate amount of Revolving Loans to be converted or continued;
(iii)the type of Revolving Loans resulting from the proposed conversion or continuation; and
(iv)in the case of conversion into, or continuation of, SOFR Loans, the duration of the requested Term SOFR Interest Period therefor.
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(c)If upon the expiration of any Term SOFR Interest Period applicable to SOFR Loans, the Company has failed to select timely a new Term SOFR Interest Period to be applicable to such SOFR Loans, the Company shall be deemed to have elected to convert such SOFR Loans into Base Rate Loans effective on the last day if such Term SOFR Interest Period.
(d)Any conversion of a SOFR Loan on a day other than the last date of a Term SOFR Interest Period therefor shall be subject to Section 8.4.
(e)Following receipt of a Notice of Conversion/Continuation, Agent shall promptly notify each Lender of such notice, and if no timely Notice of Conversion/Continuation is provided by the Company, Agent shall notify each Lender of the details of any automatic conversion to base Rate Loans described in Section 2.2.3(c). All conversions and continuation of Loans must be made uniformly and ratably among the Lenders.
2.2.4Delayed Draw Term Loan Procedures.
(a)The Company shall give a Notice of Borrowing or telephonic notice (followed immediately by a Notice of Borrowing) to Agent of each proposed borrowing of a Delayed Draw Term Loan not later than 11:00 A.M., Minneapolis time, at least five Business Days prior to the proposed date of such borrowing. Each such notice shall be effective upon receipt by Agent, shall be irrevocable (subject to Section 2.2.4(c)), and shall specify the date and amount and type of borrowing. Each Delayed Draw Term Loan shall be in an aggregate amount of at least $3,000,000 or a higher integral multiple of $1,000,000.
(b)Following receipt of a Notice of Borrowing relating to a Delayed Draw Term Loan, Agent shall promptly notify each Lender of the amount of its share of the applicable Delayed Draw Term Loan. Each Lender shall make the amount of its Delayed Draw Term Loan available to Agent in immediately available funds at Administrative Agent’s Office not later than 1:00 p.m. on the Business Day specified in the applicable Notice of Borrowing. Upon satisfaction of the applicable conditions set forth in Section 12 and Section 2.2.4(d), Agent shall make all funds so received available to the Company in like funds as received by Agent either by (i) crediting the account of Company on the books of CIBC with the amount of such funds or (ii) wire transfer of such funds, in each case in accordance with instructions provided to (and reasonably acceptable to) Agent by the Company.
(c)Following receipt of a Notice of Borrowing relating to a Delayed Draw Term Loan, Agent, in consultation with the Lenders, shall provide to the Company with the interest rate that will be applicable to the requested Delayed Draw Term Loan (the “Delayed Draw Term Loan Interest Rate”). If the Company does not object to the Delayed
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Draw Term Loan Interest Rate in a written objection notice delivered to the Agent by 3:00 P.M. Minneapolis time on the Business Day following its receipt from the Agent of the Delayed Draw Term Loan Interest Rate, it shall be deemed to have accepted the Delayed Draw Term Loan Interest Rate. If the Company objects to the Delayed Draw Term Loan Interest pursuant to the immediately preceding sentence, it shall be deemed to have revoked the Notice of Borrowing relating to such Delayed Draw Term Loan, and absent further agreement between the Company and the Agent, the Lenders shall have no obligation to fund the Delayed Draw Term Loan.
(d)As a condition to the funding of any Delayed Draw Term Loan, the Loan Parties shall deliver to the Agent a signed confirmation of acceptance (a “DDTL Confirmation of Acceptance”) with respect to the applicable Delayed Draw Term Loan and the applicable Delayed Draw Term Loan Interest Rate, which shall be substantially in the form attached to the Tenth Amendment as Exhibit F.
(e)Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Section 2.2.4, the Company agrees to borrow and the Lenders agree to make a Delayed Draw Term Loan to the Company in an amount equal to $15,000,000 on the Tenth Amendment Effective Date, as specified in the DDTL Confirmation of Acceptance delivered on the Tenth Amendment Effective Date. The Agent and the Lenders hereby waive any requirement for the Company to deliver a Notice of Borrowing in connection with the Delayed Draw Term Loan described in this paragraph (e).
2.4Certain Conditions. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, neither Agent nor any Lender or the L/C Issuer shall have an obligation to make any Loan, or to permit the continuation of or any conversion into any SOFR Loan, or to issue any Letter of Credit, if an Event of Default or Unmatured Event of Default exists.
(a)all or any part of the Defaulting Lender’s obligation to participate in L/C Obligations shall be reallocated among the non-Defaulting Lenders in accordance with their respective Pro Rata Shares as determined pursuant to the definition of “Pro Rata Share” but only to the extent (x) the sum of all non-Defaulting Lenders’ Outstandings plus such Lender’s Delayed Draw Term Loans plus such Defaulting Lender’s obligation to participate in L/C Obligations does not exceed the total of all non-Defaulting Lenders’ Commitments and (y) the conditions set forth in Section 12.2 are satisfied at such time; and
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3.1Notes. The Revolving Loans made by each Lender shall be evidenced by a Note, with appropriate insertions, payable to the order of each Lender in a face principal amount equal to its Revolving Commitment. The Delayed Draw Term Loans made by each Lender shall be evidenced by a Note, with appropriate insertions, payable to the order of each Lender in a face principal amount equal to its Delayed Draw Term Loan Commitment.
SECTION 4INTEREST RATES
4.1Interest Rates. The Loan Parties, jointly and severally, promise to pay interest on the unpaid principal amount of each Loan for the period commencing on the date of such Loan until such Loan is paid in full as follows:
provided that at any time an Event of Default exists, unless the Required Lenders otherwise consent, the interest rate applicable to each Loan shall be the Default Rate, provided further that such increase may thereafter be rescinded by the Required Lenders.
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Notwithstanding the foregoing, upon the occurrence of an Event of Default under Section 13.1.1 or 13.1.4, such increase shall occur automatically.
4.2Interest Payment Dates. Accrued interest on each Base Rate Loan shall be payable in arrears on the first day of each calendar month and at maturity. Accrued interest on each SOFR Loan having a Term SOFR Interest Period of three months or shorter shall be payable on the last day of such Term SOFR Interest Period relating to such Loan, upon a prepayment of such Loan, and at maturity. Accrued interest on each SOFR Loan having a Term SOFR Interest Period of longer than three months shall be payable on the respective dates that fall every three months after the beginning of such Term SOFR Interest Period relating to such Loan, upon a prepayment of such Loan, and at maturity. Accrued interest on each Delayed Draw Term Loan shall be payable in arrears on the first day of each calendar month and at maturity. After maturity, and at any time an Event of Default exists, accrued interest on all Loans shall be payable on demand. For purposes hereof, maturity shall mean the Delayed Draw Term Loan Maturity Date or the Termination Date, as applicable.
4.3Setting and Notice of SOFR Rates. The applicable SOFR Rate for each Term SOFR Interest Period shall be determined by Agent, and notice thereof shall be given by Agent promptly to the Company and the Lenders. Each determination of the applicable SOFR Rate by Agent shall be conclusive and binding upon the parties hereto, in the absence of demonstrable error. Agent shall, upon written request of the Company, deliver to the Company a statement showing the computations used by Agent in determining any applicable SOFR Rate hereunder.
4.4Computation of Interest. Interest on any applicable portion of the outstanding principal balance of the Loan shall be calculated by multiplying (i) the actual number of days elapsed in the period for which the calculation is being made by (ii) a daily rate based on a three hundred sixty (360) day year (or a 365/366 day year in the case of a Base Rate Loan) by (iii) such portion of the outstanding principal balance of the Loan. Such interest shall be calculated on a daily basis based upon the outstanding principal amount of such Loan as of the applicable date of determination.
4.5Benchmark Replacement Setting; Benchmark Conforming Changes. Upon the occurrence of a Benchmark Transition Event, Agent and the Company may amend this Agreement to replace the then-current Benchmark with a Benchmark Replacement. Any such amendment will become effective at 5:00 p.m. (New York City time) on the fifth (5th) Business Day after Agent has posted such proposed amendment to all Lenders and the Company so long as Agent has not received, by such time, written notice of objection thereto from Lenders comprising the Required Lenders. No such replacement will occur prior to the applicable Benchmark Transition Start Date. In connection with Term SOFR or the implementation of a Benchmark Replacement, Agent will have the right to make Benchmark Conforming Changes from time to time and,
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notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein or in any other Loan Document, any amendments implementing such Benchmark Conforming Changes will become effective without any further action or consent of any other party to this Agreement or any other Loan Document. Agent will promptly notify the Company and the Lenders of the implementation of any Benchmark Replacement and the effectiveness of any Benchmark Conforming Changes. Agent will promptly notify the Company of the removal or reinstatement of any tenor of a Benchmark pursuant to this Section 4.5. Any determination, decision or election that may be made by Agent or, if applicable, any Lender (or group of Lenders) pursuant to this Section 4.5 will be conclusive and binding absent manifest error and may be made in its or their sole discretion and without consent from any other party to this Agreement or any other Loan Document, except, in each case, as expressly required pursuant to this Section 4.5. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein or in any other Loan Document (other than any Hedging Agreement), at any time, (a) if the then-current Benchmark is a term rate (including Term SOFR) and either (i) any tenor for such Benchmark is not displayed on a screen or other information service that publishes such rate from time to time as selected by Agent in its reasonable discretion or (ii) the regulatory supervisor for the administrator of such Benchmark has provided a public statement or publication of information announcing that any tenor for such Benchmark is or will be no longer representative, then Agent may modify the definition of “Term SOFR Interest Period” (or any similar or analogous definition) for any Benchmark settings at or after such time to remove such unavailable or non-representative tenor, and (b) if a tenor that was removed pursuant to clause (a) above either (i) is subsequently displayed on a screen or information service for a Benchmark or (ii) is not, or is no longer, subject to an announcement that it is or will no longer be representative for a Benchmark, then Agent may modify the definition of “Term SOFR Interest Period” (or any similar or analogous definition) for all Benchmark settings at or after such time to reinstate such previously removed tenor. Upon the Company’s receipt of notice of the commencement of a Benchmark Unavailability Period, the Company may revoke any pending request for a SOFR Borrowing of, conversion to or continuation of SOFR Loans to be made, converted or continued during any Benchmark Unavailability Period and, failing that, the Company will be deemed to have converted any such request into a request for a borrowing of or conversion to Base Rate Loans, and any outstanding affected SOFR Loans will be deemed to have been converted into Base Rate Loans at the end of the applicable Term SOFR Interest Period.
The following terms have the following meanings:
“Available Tenor” means, as of any date of determination with respect to the then-current Benchmark, (a) if such Benchmark is a term rate, any tenor for such Benchmark (or component thereof) that is or may be used for determining the length of an interest period pursuant to this Agreement or (b) otherwise, any payment period for interest calculated with reference to such Benchmark (or component thereof) that is or may be used for determining any frequency of making payments of interest calculated with reference to such Benchmark, in each case, as of such date and not including, for the avoidance of doubt, any tenor for such Benchmark that is then-removed from the definition of “Term SOFR Interest Period” or similar term pursuant to Section 4.5.
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“Benchmark” means, initially, Term SOFR; provided that if a Benchmark Transition Event and its related Benchmark Replacement Date have occurred with respect to Term SOFR or the then-current Benchmark, then “Benchmark” means the applicable Benchmark Replacement to the extent that such Benchmark Replacement has replaced such prior benchmark rate pursuant to Section 4.5.
“Benchmark Conforming Changes” means, with respect to Term SOFR or any Benchmark Replacement, any technical, administrative or operational changes (including (a) changes to the definition of “Business Day” or other definitions, (b) the addition of concepts such as “interest period”, (c) changes to timing and/or frequency of determining rates, making interest payments, giving borrowing requests, prepayment, conversion or continuation notices, or length of lookback periods, (d) the applicability of compensation for losses, and (e) other technical, administrative or operational matters) that Agent decides may be appropriate to reflect the adoption and implementation of Term SOFR or such Benchmark Replacement and to permit the administration thereof by Agent in a manner substantially consistent with market practice (or, if Agent decides that adoption of any portion of such market practice is not administratively feasible or determines that no such market practice exists, in such other manner as Agent decides is reasonably necessary in connection with the administration of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents).
“Benchmark Replacement” means, with respect to any Benchmark Transition Event, the sum of: (a) the alternate benchmark rate that has been selected by Agent giving due consideration to (i) any selection or recommendation of a replacement benchmark rate or the mechanism for determining such a rate by the Relevant Governmental Body or (ii) any evolving or then-prevailing market convention for determining a benchmark rate as a replacement to the then-current Benchmark for Dollar-denominated syndicated credit facilities and (b) the related Benchmark Replacement Adjustment; provided that, if such Benchmark Replacement as so determined would be less than the Floor, such Benchmark Replacement will be deemed to be the Floor for the purposes of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents.
“Benchmark Replacement Adjustment” means, with respect to any replacement of the then-current Benchmark with an Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement for any applicable Available Tenor, the spread adjustment, or method for calculating or determining such spread adjustment (which may be a positive or negative value or zero) that has been selected by Agent giving due consideration to any selection or recommendation by the Relevant Governmental Body, or any evolving or then-prevailing market convention at such time, for determining a spread adjustment, or method for calculating or determining such spread adjustment, for such type of replacement for U.S. dollar-denominated syndicated credit facilities.
“Benchmark Replacement Date” means the earlier to occur of the following events with respect to the then-current Benchmark: (a) in the case of clause (a) or (b) of the definition of “Benchmark Transition Event”, the later of (i) the date of the public statement or publication of information referenced therein and (ii) the date on which the administrator of such Benchmark (or the published component used in the calculation thereof)
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permanently or indefinitely ceases to provide all Available Tenors of such Benchmark (or such component thereof); or (b) in the case of clause (c) of the definition of “Benchmark Transition Event”, the first date on which such Benchmark (or the published component used in the calculation thereof) has been determined and announced by the regulatory supervisor for the administrator of such Benchmark (or such component thereof) to be no longer representative; provided, that such non-representativeness will be determined by reference to the most recent statement or publication referenced in such clause (c) even if any Available Tenor of such Benchmark (or such component thereof) continues to be provided on such date. For the avoidance of doubt, the “Benchmark Replacement Date” will be deemed to have occurred in the case of clause (a) or (b) with respect to any Benchmark upon the occurrence of the applicable event or events set forth therein with respect to all then-current Available Tenors of such Benchmark (or the published component used in the calculation thereof).
“Benchmark Transition Event” means the occurrence of one or more of the following events with respect to the then-current Benchmark: (a) a public statement or publication of information by or on behalf of the administrator of such Benchmark (or the published component used in the calculation thereof) announcing that such administrator has ceased or will cease to provide all Available Tenors of such Benchmark (or such component thereof), permanently or indefinitely, provided that, at the time of such statement or publication, there is no successor administrator that will continue to provide any Available Tenor of such Benchmark (or such component thereof); (b) a public statement or publication of information by the regulatory supervisor for the administrator of such Benchmark (or the published component used in the calculation thereof), the Federal Reserve Board, the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, an insolvency official or resolution authority with jurisdiction over the administrator for such Benchmark (or such component), or a court or an entity with similar insolvency or resolution authority, which states that the administrator of such Benchmark (or such component) has ceased or will cease to provide all Available Tenors of such Benchmark (or such component thereof) permanently or indefinitely, provided that, at the time of such statement or publication, there is no successor administrator that will continue to provide any Available Tenor of such Benchmark (or such component thereof); or (c) a public statement or publication of information by the regulatory supervisor for the administrator of such Benchmark (or the published component used in the calculation thereof) announcing that all Available Tenors of such Benchmark (or such component thereof) are no longer, or as of a specified future date will no longer be, representative. For the avoidance of doubt, a “Benchmark Transition Event” will be deemed to have occurred with respect to any Benchmark if a public statement or publication of information set forth above has occurred with respect to each then-current Available Tenor of such Benchmark (or the published component used in the calculation thereof).
“Benchmark Transition Start Date” means, in the case of a Benchmark Transition Event, the earlier of (a) the applicable Benchmark Replacement Date and (b) if such Benchmark Transition Event is a public statement or publication of information of a prospective event, the 90th day prior to the expected date of such event as of such public statement or publication of information (or if the expected date of such prospective event
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is fewer than 90 days after such statement or publication, the date of such statement or publication).
“Benchmark Unavailability Period” means the period (if any) (a) beginning at the time that a Benchmark Replacement Date pursuant to clauses (a) or (b) of that definition has occurred if, at such time, no Benchmark Replacement has replaced the then-current Benchmark for all purposes hereunder and under any Loan Document in accordance with Section 4.5 and (b) ending at the time that a Benchmark Replacement has replaced the then-current Benchmark for all purposes hereunder and under any Loan Document in accordance with Section 4.5.
“Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement” means the applicable Benchmark Replacement excluding the related Benchmark Replacement Adjustment.
5.2Other Fees.
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SECTION 6REDUCTION OR TERMINATION OF THE REVOLVING COMMITMENT; PREPAYMENTS.
6.1Prepayments.
6.1.1Voluntary Prepayments. The Loan Parties may from time to time prepay the Loans in whole or in part; provided that the Company shall give Agent and each Lender notice thereof not later than 11:00 A.M., Minneapolis time, on the day of such prepayment (which shall be a Business Day), specifying the Loans to be prepaid and the date and amount of prepayment.
6.1.2Mandatory Prepayments. If on any day the Outstandings exceed the Aggregate Revolving Commitments, the Loan Parties shall immediately prepay the Revolving Loans and/or Cash Collateralize the outstanding Letters of Credit, or do a combination of the foregoing, in an amount sufficient to eliminate such excess. Subject to the Prudential Intercreditor Agreement, the Loan Parties shall make an immediate prepayment of the Loans upon the receipt by any Loan Party of any Net Cash Proceeds from any Asset Disposition, in an amount equal to 100% of such Net Cash Proceeds; provided that no prepayment shall be required under this sentence with respect to the first $4,000,000 of Net Cash Proceeds received by the Loan Parties in any Fiscal Year; and provided further that such prepayment shall be applied as directed by the Required Lenders.
6.1.3Manner of Prepayments. Each voluntary partial prepayment shall be in a principal amount of $25,000 or a higher integral multiple of $5,000. Any prepayment of a SOFR Loan on a day other than the last day of ana Term SOFR Interest Period therefor shall include interest on the principal amount being repaid and shall be subject to Section 8.4. Except as otherwise provided by this Agreement, all principal payments in respect of the Revolving Loans shall be applied first to repay outstanding Base Rate Loans, and then to repay outstanding SOFR Loans in direct order of Term SOFR Interest Period maturities.
6.2Repayments and Terminations. The Revolving Loans shall be irrevocably paid in full in cash, and the Commitment shall terminate, on the Termination Date. The Delayed Draw Term Loans shall be irrevocably paid in full in cash on the Delayed Draw Term Loan Maturity Date.
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6.3Reduction of Revolving Commitments. The Loan Parties may, at any time, upon not less than 30 days’ prior written notice from the Company to Agent and each Lender, reduce the amount of the Revolving Commitments, with any such reduction in a minimum amount of $1,000,000, or, if more, in an integral multiple of $500,000 and on a pro rata basis for each Commitment; provided, however, that the Loan Parties may not at any time reduce the amount of Revolving Commitments below the Outstandings. Upon any reduction as provided herein, the Administrative Agent shall deliver an updated Schedule 2.1 to the Loan Parties and the Lenders.
10.1.8Reserved.
10.1.12Prudential Notices. Promptly following receipt, copies of any notices (including notices of default or acceleration) received from or on behalf of Prudential (excluding notices regarding interest rate quotes and other administrative matters not relating to an issuance of Prudential Notes).
10.1.13Notice of Additional Debt. Prior to or concurrently with the incurrence of any Additional Prudential Debt, (i) true, correct, and complete copies all documents entered into by any Loan Party in connection with such Debt and (ii) a certificate of a Senior Officer of the Loan Parties certifying that: (A) no Unmatured Event of Default or Event of Default exists at the time of funding or effectiveness of such Debt, (B) the Company and the Subsidiaries are in pro forma compliance with the financial covenants contained in Sections 11.15, 11.16, and 11.17 at the time of funding or effectiveness of such Additional Prudential Debt, and (C) at the time of funding or effectiveness of such Debt, all representations and warranties by the Loan Parties contained herein or in any other Loan Document are true and correct in all material respects (without duplication of any materiality qualifier contained therein) as of the date of incurrence of such Debt and after giving pro forma effect thereto, except to the extent that such
19
representation or warranty expressly relates to an earlier date (in which event such representations and warranties shall be true and correct in all material respects (without duplication of any materiality qualifier contained therein) as of such earlier date).
(j)(i) Debt evidenced by Prudential Notes existing prior to the Tenth Amendment Effective Date and owed to Prudential but only so long as the Prudential Intercreditor Agreement is in full force and effect and (ii) the Additional Prudential Debt but only if such Additional Prudential Debt is subject to the Prudential Intercreditor Agreement and the Prudential Intercreditor Agreement is in full force and effect; so long as the total amount of Debt at any one time outstanding and permitted under this Section 11.1(j) does not exceed $100,000,000.
(h)Liens securing the Prudential Notes but only so long as the Prudential Intercreditor Agreement is in full force and effect.
(C)the aggregate consideration to be paid by the Loan Parties (including any Debt assumed or issued in connection therewith, the amount thereof to be calculated in accordance with GAAP) in connection with such Acquisition (or any series of related Acquisitions) is less than $20,000,000 individually and the aggregate consideration for all Acquisitions by the Loan Parties since the Tenth Amendment Effective Date does not exceed $20,000,000;
11.9Inconsistent Agreements. Not, and not permit any other Loan Party to, enter into any agreement containing any provision which would (a) be violated or breached by any borrowing by a Loan Party hereunder or by the performance by any Loan Party of any of its Obligations hereunder or under any other Loan Document, (b) prohibit any Loan Party from granting to Agent, for the ratable benefit of Agent and the Lenders, a Lien on any of its assets or (c) create or permit to exist or become effective any encumbrance or restriction on the ability of any Subsidiary to (i) pay dividends or make other distributions to the Company or any other Subsidiary, or pay any Debt owed to the Company or any other Subsidiary, (ii) make loans or advances to any Loan Party or (iii) transfer any of its assets or properties to any Loan Party, other than (A) customary restrictions and conditions contained in agreements relating to the sale of all or a substantial
20
part of the assets of any Subsidiary pending such sale, provided that such restrictions and conditions apply only to the Subsidiary to be sold and such sale is permitted hereunder, (B) restrictions or conditions imposed by any agreement relating to purchase money Debt, Capital Leases and other secured Debt permitted by this Agreement if such restrictions or conditions apply only to the property or assets securing such Debt, (C) restriction or conditions imposed by the agreements and documents governing or evidencing any Prudential Notes so long as no more restrictive than the equivalent restriction or condition contained in this Agreement, and (D) customary provisions in leases and other contracts restricting the assignment thereof.
13.1.5Non-Compliance with Loan Documents. (a) Failure by any Loan Party to comply with or to perform any covenant set forth in Sections 10.1.5, 10.3(b), 10.5, 10.9, or 10.1.13 or Section 11; or (b) failure by any Loan Party to comply with or to perform any other provision of this Agreement or any other Loan Document (and not constituting an Event of Default under any other provision of this Section 13) and continuance of such failure described in this clause (b) for 30 days.
16.3Notices. Except as otherwise provided in Sections 2.2.2, 2.2.3 and 2.2.4, all notices hereunder shall be in writing (including facsimile transmission) and shall be sent to the applicable party at its address shown on the signature page or at such other address as such party may, by written notice received by the other parties, have designated as its address for such purpose. Notices sent by facsimile transmission shall be deemed to have been given when sent; notices sent by mail shall be deemed to have been given three Business Days after the date when sent by registered or certified mail, postage prepaid; and notices sent by hand delivery or overnight courier service shall be deemed to have been given when received. For purposes of Sections 2.2.2, 2.2.3 and 2.2.4, Agent shall be entitled to rely on telephonic instructions from any person that Agent in good faith believes is an authorized officer or employee of the Company, and the Company shall hold Agent harmless from any loss, cost or expense resulting from any such reliance.
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For the avoidance of doubt, the amendments and consent contemplated by this Amendment shall not be effective until each of the foregoing conditions have been satisfied or waived in writing by the Lender and the Administrative Agent.
(a)The execution, delivery and performance by the Loan Parties of this Amendment and any other documents required to be executed and/or delivered by the Loan Parties by the terms of this Amendment have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action, do not require any approval or consent of, or any registration, qualification or filing with, any government agency or authority or any approval or consent of any other person, do not and will not conflict with, result in any violation of or constitute any default under, any provision of the Loan Parties’ organizational documents, any agreement binding on or applicable to the Loan Parties or any of their property, or any law or governmental regulation or court decree or order, binding upon or applicable to the Loan Parties or of any of their property and will not result in the creation or imposition of any Lien in or on any of their property pursuant to the provisions of any agreement applicable to the Loan Parties or any of their property, other than Liens in favor of the Administrative Agent.
(b)Both before and after giving effect to this Amendment, the representations and warranties contained in the Credit Agreement are true and correct as of the date hereof and will be true and correct as of the effectiveness of this Amendment, as though made on each such date, except to the extent that such representations and warranties relate solely to an earlier date.
(c)There does not exist any Unmatured Event of Default or Event of Default.
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[The signature pages follow.]
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THE PARTIES HAVE EXECUTED this Amendment No. 10 to Credit Agreement in the manner appropriate to each as of the date and year first above written.
LOAN PARTIES:
WINMARK CORPORATION
By: | /s/ Anthony D. Ishaug |
---|---|
Name: | Anthony D. Ishaug |
Title: | Chief Financial Officer |
WIRTH BUSINESS CREDIT, INC.
By: | /s/ Anthony D. Ishaug |
---|---|
Name: | Anthony D. Ishaug |
Title: | Chief Financial Officer |
WINMARK CAPITAL CORPORATION
By: | /s/ Anthony D. Ishaug |
---|---|
Name: | Anthony D. Ishaug |
Title: | Chief Financial Officer |
GROW BIZ GAMES, INC.
By: | /s/ Anthony D. Ishaug |
---|---|
Name: | Anthony D. Ishaug |
Title: | Chief Financial Officer |
(Signatures continue on next page.)
ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
AND A LENDER:
CIBC BANK USA
By: | /s/ Leanne Manning | |
---|---|---|
Name: | Leanne Manning | |
Title: | Managing Director |
EXHIBIT A
(see attached)
SCHEDULE 2.1
COMMITMENTS
AND APPLICABLE PERCENTAGES
(updated as of April 12, 2022)
Lender | Revolving Commitment | Delayed Draw Term Loan Commitment | Commitment | Applicable Percentage |
| | | | |
CIBC BANK USA | $20,000,000.00 | $30,000,000.00 | $50,000,000.00 | 100% |
| | | | |
Total | $20,000,000.00 | $30,000,000.00 | $50,000,000.00 | 100% |
| | | | |
EXHIBIT B
(see attached)
EXHIBIT D
FORM OF NOTICE OF BORROWING
To:CIBC BANK USA (the “Administrative Agent”)
Please refer to the Credit Agreement dated as of July 13, 2010 (as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Credit Agreement”) among Winmark Corporation (the “Company”) and its subsidiaries (together with the Company, the “Loan Parties”), each lender from time to time party hereto (collectively, the “Lenders” and individually, a “Lender”), CIBC BANK USA (“CIBC”), as a Lender and as Administrative Agent for the Lenders. Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein shall have the same meanings herein as in the Credit Agreement.
The undersigned hereby gives irrevocable notice, pursuant to [Section 2.2.2] [Section 2.2.4] of the Credit Agreement, of a request hereby for a borrowing as follows:
(i)The proposed borrowing is a [Revolving Loan] [Delayed Draw Term Loan].
(ii)The requested borrowing date for the proposed borrowing (which is a Business Day) is
, .
(iii)The aggregate amount of the proposed borrowing is $ .
(iv)With respect to a borrowing of a Revolving Loan:
(A)The type of Revolving Loans comprising the proposed borrowing are [Base Rate] [SOFR] Loans.
(B)The duration of the Term SOFR Interest Period for each SOFR Loan made as part of the proposed borrowing, if applicable, is 1 months.
The undersigned hereby certifies that on the date hereof and on the date of borrowing set forth above, and immediately after giving effect to the borrowing requested hereby: (i) there exists and there shall exist no Unmatured Event of Default or Event of Default under the Credit Agreement; (ii) each of the representations and warranties contained in the Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents is true and correct as of the date hereof, except to the extent that such representation or warranty expressly relates to another date and except for changes therein expressly permitted or expressly contemplated by the Credit Agreement; (iii) no more than three (3) different Group of SOFR Loans are/will be outstanding; and (iv) conditions contained in Section 12.2 of the Credit Agreement have been satisfied on and as of the date hereof, and will continue to be satisfied on and as of the date of the borrowing requested hereby, before and after giving effect thereto.
The Company has caused this Notice of Borrowing to be executed and delivered by its officer thereunto duly authorized on , .
WINMARK CORPORATION
By:
Name:
Title:
EXHIBIT C
(see attached)
EXHIBIT E
FORM OF NOTICE OF CONVERSION/CONTINUATION
To:CIBC BANK USA (the “Administrative Agent”)
Please refer to the Credit Agreement dated as of July 13, 2010 (as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Credit Agreement”) among Winmark Corporation (the “Company”) and its subsidiaries (together with the Company, the “Loan Parties”), each lender from time to time party hereto (collectively, the “Lenders” and individually, a “Lender”), CIBC BANK USA (“CIBC”), as a Lender and as Administrative Agent for the Lenders. Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein shall have the same meanings herein as in the Credit Agreement.
The undersigned hereby gives irrevocable notice, pursuant to Section 2.2.3 of the Credit Agreement, of its request to:
(a)on [date] convert $[ ] of the aggregate outstanding principal amount of the [ ] Loan, into a(n) [ ] Loan [and, in the case of a SOFR Loan, having a Term SOFR Interest Period of one month];
[(b)on [date] continue $[ ] of the aggregate outstanding principal amount of the SOFR Loan, as a SOFR Loan having a Term SOFR Interest Period of one month.]
The undersigned hereby represents and warrants that all of the conditions contained in Section 12.2 of the Credit Agreement have been satisfied on and as of the date hereof, and will continue to be satisfied on and as of the date of the conversion/continuation requested hereby, before and after giving effect thereto. The undersigned also represents and warrants that, before and after giving effect the conversion/continuation requested hereby, no more than three different Groups of SOFR Loans are/will be outstanding.
The Company has caused this Notice of Conversion/Continuation to be executed and delivered by its officer thereunto duly authorized on , .
WINMARK CORPORATION
By:
Name:
Title:
EXHIBIT D
(see attached)
DELAYED DRAW TERM LOAN NOTE
Minneapolis, Minnesota
The undersigned, jointly and severally, for value received, promise to pay to the order of CIBC BANK USA, an Illinois bank and trust company (the “Lender”), at the Administrative Agent’s Office (as defined in the Credit Agreement referred to below), the principal sum of Thirty Million Dollars ($30,000,000.000) or the aggregate unpaid amount of all Delayed Draw Term Loans made to the undersigned by the Lender pursuant to the Credit Agreement (as shown on the schedule attached hereto (and any continuation thereof) or in the records of the Lender), such principal amount to be payable on the dates set forth in the Credit Agreement.
The undersigned, jointly and severally, further promise to pay interest on the unpaid principal amount of each Delayed Draw Term Loan from the date of such Delayed Draw Term Loan until such Delayed Draw Term Loan is paid in full, payable at the rate(s) and at the time(s) set forth in the Credit Agreement. Payments of both principal and interest are to be made in lawful money of the United States of America.
This Note evidences indebtedness incurred under, and is subject to the terms and provisions of, the Credit Agreement, dated as of July 13, 2010 (as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Credit Agreement”; terms not otherwise defined herein are used herein as defined in the Credit Agreement), among the undersigned, CIBC BANK USA, as Administrative Agent for the lenders, certain other lenders party thereto and the Lender, to which Credit Agreement reference is hereby made for a statement of the terms and provisions under which this Note may or must be paid prior to its due date or its due date accelerated.
The undersigned, jointly and severally, agree to pay all costs of collection, including attorneys’ fees, in the event this Note is not paid when due. This Note is being delivered in, and shall be governed by, the laws of the State of Minnesota. Presentment or other demand for payment, notice of dishonor and protest are expressly waived.
[The signature page follows.]
[Signature page to $30,000,000 Delayed Draw Term Loan Note payable
to CIBC BANK USA]
WINMARK CORPORATION By: Name: Anthony D. Ishaug Title: Chief Financial Officer | GROW BIZ GAMES, INC. By: Name: Anthony D. Ishaug Title: Chief Financial Officer |
| |
WIRTH BUSINESS CREDIT, INC. By: Name: Anthony D. Ishaug Title: Chief Financial Officer | WINMARK CAPITAL CORPORATION By: Name: Anthony D. Ishaug Title: Chief Financial Officer |
EXHIBIT E
(see attached)
CONFIRMATION OF ACCEPTANCE
Please refer to the Credit Agreement dated as of July 13, 2010 (as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Credit Agreement”) among Winmark Corporation (the “Company”) and its subsidiaries (together with the Company, the “Loan Parties”), each lender from time to time party hereto (collectively, the “Lenders” and individually, a “Lender”), CIBC BANK USA (“CIBC”), as a Lender and as Administrative Agent for the Lenders (the “Agent”). Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein shall have the same meanings herein as in the Credit Agreement.
Pursuant to the certain Notice of Borrowing, dated __________, __, 20__, the Company has requested to borrow a Delayed Draw Term Loan on the terms and conditions set forth in the Credit Agreement.
The Agent, on behalf of the Lenders, hereby confirms the following with respect to the requested Delayed Draw Term Loan, effective as of the date this Confirmation of Acceptance is countersigned by the Company:
(i)Date of borrowing: _________________________________.
(ii)Principal amount of Delayed Draw Term Loan: $_________________________.
(iii) | Delayed Draw Term Loan Interest Rate: ____%. |
Dated as of __________, __, 202___
CIBC BANK USA, as Agent
By: ________________________
Name: ______________________
Title: _______________________
The Company hereby acknowledges receipt of this Confirmation of Acceptance and agrees to the terms of the Delayed Draw Term Loan set forth herein, including, without limitation, the Delayed Draw Term Loan Interest Rate as set forth herein.
The Company has caused this Confirmation of Acceptance to be executed and delivered by its duly authorized officer on __________, __, 20__.
WINMARK CORPORATION
By:
Name:
Title:
Exhibit 10.3
WINMARK CORPORATION
WIRTH BUSINESS CREDIT, INC.
WINMARK CAPITAL CORPORATION
GROW BIZ GAMES, INC.
Private Shelf Facility
_________________
PRIVATE SHELF AGREEMENT
_________________
Dated as of April 12, 2022
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SCHEDULE 6H--AFFILIATED TRANSACTION
SCHEDULE 8A(1)--SUBSIDIARIES
SCHEDULE 8G--LIST OF AGREEMENTS RESTRICTING DEBT
SCHEDULE 8K--FILINGS AND RECORDINGS
SCHEDULE 8Q--INFORMATION REGARDING THE COMPANY AND
SUBSIDIARIES
EXHIBIT A--FORM OF SHELF NOTE
EXHIBIT B--[RESERVED]
EXHIBIT C--FORM OF REQUEST FOR PURCHASE
EXHIBIT D--FORM OF CONFIRMATION OF ACCEPTANCE
EXHIBIT E--FORM OF OPINION OF ISSUERS’ COUNSEL
WINMARK CORPORATION
WIRTH BUSINESS CREDIT, INC.
WINMARK CAPITAL CORPORATION
GROW BIZ GAMES, INC.
c/o Winmark Corporation
605 Highway 169 North, Suite 400
Minneapolis, MN 55441
As of April 12, 2022
PGIM, Inc. (“Prudential”)
Each Prudential Affiliate (as hereinafter defined)
which becomes bound by certain provisions
of this Agreement as hereinafter provided
(collectively, the “Purchasers”)
c/o Prudential Private Capital
60 S. 6th Street, Suite 3700
Minneapolis, Minnesota 55402-4422
Ladies and Gentlemen:
The undersigned, Winmark Corporation, a Minnesota corporation (herein called the “Company”), Wirth Business Credit, Inc., a Minnesota corporation (herein called “Wirth”), Winmark Capital Corporation, a Minnesota corporation (herein called “Winmark Capital”), and Grow Biz Games, Inc., a Minnesota corporation (herein called “Grow Biz”; the Company, Wirth, Winmark Capital, Grow Biz and any other Person who joins this Agreement as an Issuer pursuant to paragraph 5J are herein sometimes collectively called the “Issuers”), hereby agree with you as set forth below. Reference is made to paragraph 10 hereof for definitions of capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined.
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pursuant to any such provision. Notes which have (a) the same final maturity, (b) the same principal prepayment dates, (c) the same principal prepayment amounts (as a percentage of the original principal amount of each Note), (d) the same interest rate, (e) the same interest payment periods and (f) the same date of issuance (which, in the case of a Note issued in exchange for another Note, shall be deemed for these purposes the date on which such Note’s ultimate predecessor Note was issued), are herein called a “Series” of Notes.
NOTWITHSTANDING THE WILLINGNESS OF PRUDENTIAL AFFILIATES TO CONSIDER PURCHASES OF SHELF NOTES, THIS AGREEMENT IS ENTERED INTO ON THE EXPRESS UNDERSTANDING THAT NEITHER PRUDENTIAL NOR ANY PRUDENTIAL AFFILIATE SHALL BE OBLIGATED TO MAKE OR ACCEPT OFFERS TO PURCHASE SHELF NOTES, OR TO QUOTE RATES, SPREADS OR OTHER TERMS WITH RESPECT TO SPECIFIC PURCHASES OF SHELF NOTES, AND THE FACILITY SHALL IN NO WAY BE CONSTRUED AS A COMMITMENT BY PRUDENTIAL OR ANY PRUDENTIAL AFFILIATE.
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Day for such purchase and sale, (vi) certify that the representations and warranties contained in paragraph 8 are true on and as of the date of such Request for Purchase and that there exists on the date of such Request for Purchase no Event of Default or Default and (vii) be substantially in the form of Exhibit C attached hereto. Each Request for Purchase shall be in writing and shall be deemed made when received by Prudential.
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expire, and no purchase or sale of Shelf Notes hereunder shall be made based on such expired interest rate quotes. If the Issuers thereafter notify Prudential of the Acceptance of any such interest rate quotes, such Acceptance shall be ineffective for all purposes of this Agreement, and Prudential shall promptly notify the Issuers that the provisions of this paragraph 2A(6) are applicable with respect to such Acceptance.
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(BEY - MMY) X DTS/360 X PA
where “BEY” means Bond Equivalent Yield, i.e., the bond equivalent yield per annum of such Accepted Note; “MMY” means Money Market Yield, i.e., the yield per annum on a commercial paper investment of the highest quality selected by Prudential on the date Prudential receives notice of the delay in the closing for such Accepted Note having a maturity date or dates the same as, or closest to, the Rescheduled Closing Day or Rescheduled Closing Days (a new alternative investment being selected by Prudential each time such closing is delayed); “DTS” means Days to Settlement, i.e., the number of actual days elapsed from and including the original Closing Day with respect to such Accepted Note (in the case of the first such payment with respect to such Accepted Note) or from and including the date of the next preceding payment (in the case of any subsequent delayed delivery fee payment with respect to such Accepted Note) to but excluding the date of such payment; and “PA” means Principal Amount, i.e., the principal amount of the Accepted Note for which such calculation is being made. In no case shall the Delayed Delivery Fee be less than zero. Nothing contained herein shall obligate any Purchaser to purchase any Accepted Note on any day other than the Closing Day for such Accepted Note, as the same may be rescheduled from time to time in compliance with paragraph 2A(7).
PI X PA
where “PI” means Price Increase, i.e., the quotient (expressed in decimals) obtained by dividing (a) the excess of the ask price (as determined by Prudential) of the Hedge Treasury Note(s) on the Cancellation Date over the bid price (as determined by Prudential) of the Hedge Treasury Notes(s) on the Acceptance Day for such Accepted Note by (b) such bid price; and “PA” has the meaning ascribed to it in paragraph 2A(8)(ii). The foregoing bid and ask prices shall be as reported by Telerate Systems, Inc. (or, if such data for any reason ceases to be available through Telerate Systems, Inc., any publicly available source of similar market data). Each price shall be rounded to the second decimal place. In no case shall the Cancellation Fee be less than zero.
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the initial revolving loan thereunder, certified by an Officer’s Certificate, dated the Effective Date, as correct and complete.
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limitation, any borrowings under the Credit Agreement); there shall exist on the date of closing no Event of Default or Default, both before and immediately after giving effect to the issuance of the Notes on the date of closing and the consummation of any other transactions contemplated hereby and by the other Transaction Documents (including, without limitation, any borrowings under the Credit Agreement); each Issuer shall have performed all agreements and satisfied all conditions required under this Agreement or the other Transaction Documents to be performed or satisfied on or before the date of closing; and each Issuer shall have delivered to such Purchaser an Officer’s Certificate, dated the date of closing, to each such effect.
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which it gives written notice of any prepayment pursuant to paragraph 4B, give telephonic notice of the principal amount of the Notes to be prepaid and the prepayment date to each Significant Holder which shall have designated a recipient of such notices in the Purchaser Schedule attached to the applicable Confirmation of Acceptance or by notice in writing to the Company.
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the required payments of principal thereof (including the required payment of principal due upon the maturity thereof) in the inverse order of their scheduled due dates.
Nothing in this paragraph 4E shall be deemed to constitute a waiver or modification of any provision of paragraph 6 hereof.
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Together with each delivery of financial statements required by clauses (i) and (iii) above, the Company will deliver to each Significant Holder an Officer’s Certificate (a) demonstrating (with
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computations in reasonable detail) compliance by the Company and its Subsidiaries with the provisions of paragraph 6A and stating that there exists no Event of Default or Default, or, if any Event of Default or Default exists, specifying the nature and period of existence thereof and what action the Company proposes to take with respect thereto and (b) at any time when the Company is not an SEC reporting company, containing a written statement of the Company’s management setting forth a discussion of the financial condition, changes in financial condition and results of operations of the Company and its Subsidiaries. In the event that the Company or any Subsidiary has made an election to measure any financial liability using fair value (which election is being disregarded for purposes of determining compliance with this Agreement pursuant to paragraph 10C) as to the period covered by any such financial statement, such Officer’s Certificate as to such period shall include a reconciliation from generally accepted accounting principles with respect to such election. Each Issuer also covenants that immediately after the Company or any Subsidiary becomes aware of an Event of Default or Default, it will deliver to each Significant Holder an Officer’s Certificate specifying the nature and period of existence thereof and what action the Company or its Subsidiaries proposes to take with respect thereto.
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other authorizations from federal, state, foreign, regional, municipal and other local regulatory bodies or administrative agencies or governmental bodies having jurisdiction over such Issuer and its Subsidiaries or any of their respective properties, products or services necessary to the ownership, operation or maintenance of their respective properties or to the conduct of their respective businesses, in each case to the extent necessary to ensure that noncompliance with such laws, ordinances or governmental rules or regulations or failures to obtain or maintain in full force and effect such licenses, certificates, permits, franchises, operating rights and other authorizations could not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect.
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(i)Maintain, and cause each other member of the Controlled Group to maintain, each Pension Plan in substantial compliance with all applicable requirements of law and regulations.
(ii)Make, and cause each other member of the Controlled Group to make, on a timely basis, all required contributions to any Multiemployer Plan.
(iii)Not, and not permit any other member of the Controlled Group to (a) seek a waiver of the minimum funding standards of ERISA, (b) terminate or withdraw from any Pension Plan or Multiemployer Plan or (c) take any other action with respect to any Pension Plan that would reasonably be expected to entitle the PBGC to terminate, impose liability in respect of, or cause a trustee to be appointed to administer, any Pension Plan, unless the actions or events described in clauses (a), (b) and (c) individually or in the aggregate would not have a Material Adverse Effect.
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Fiscal Year does not exceed 10% of the net book value of the consolidated assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries as of the last day of the preceding Fiscal Year; (d) the discounting of non-recourse leases in the ordinary course of business; and (e) any Acquisition by the Company or any domestic Wholly-Owned Subsidiary where:
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Subordination Agreements or amend, modify or supplement the Subordination Agreements in any respect, in each case without the prior written consent of the Required Holder(s).
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then (a) if such event is an Event of Default specified in clause (i) or (ii) of this paragraph 7A, any holder of any Note (other than any Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates) may at its option, by notice in writing to the Company, declare all of the Notes held by such holder to be, and all of the Notes held by such holder shall thereupon be and become, immediately due and payable at par together with interest accrued thereon and the Yield-Maintenance Amount, without presentment, demand, protest or other notice of any kind, all of which are hereby waived by each Issuer, (b) if such event is an Event of Default specified in clause (viii), (ix) or (x) of this paragraph 7A with respect to any Issuer, all of the Notes at the time outstanding shall automatically become immediately due and payable together with interest accrued thereon and together with the Yield-Maintenance Amount, if any, with respect to each Note, without presentment, demand, protest or notice of any kind, all of which are hereby waived by each Issuer, and (c) if such event is not an Event of Default specified in clause (viii), (ix) or (x) of this paragraph 7A with respect to any
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Issuer, the Required Holder(s) of the Notes of any Series may at its or their option, by notice in writing to the Company, declare all of the Notes of such Series to be, and all of the Notes of such Series shall thereupon be and become, immediately due and payable together with interest accrued thereon and together with the Yield-Maintenance Amount, if any, with respect to each Note of such Series, without presentment, demand, protest or other notice of any kind, all of which are hereby waived by each Issuer. Each Issuer acknowledges, and the parties hereto agree, that each holder of a Note has the right to maintain its investment in the Notes free from repayment by the Issuer (except as herein specifically provided for) and without the occurrence of an Event of Default and that the provision for payment of Yield-Maintenance Amount by the Issuer in the event the Notes are prepaid or are accelerated as a result of an Event of Default is intended to provide compensation for the deprivation of such right under such circumstances.
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statements of income, stockholders’ equity and cash flows for the two-month period ended on such date, prepared by the Company. Such financial statements (including any related schedules and/or notes) are true and correct in all material respects (subject, as to interim statements, to changes resulting from audits and year-end adjustments), have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles consistently followed throughout the periods involved and show all liabilities, direct and contingent, of the Company and its Subsidiaries required to be shown in accordance with such principles. The balance sheets fairly present the condition of the Company and its Subsidiaries as at the dates thereof, and the statements of income, stockholders’ equity and cash flows fairly present the results of the operations of the Company and its Subsidiaries and their cash flows for the periods indicated. Since March 1, 2022, neither the Company nor any Subsidiary of the Company has paid or declared any dividend on any shares of its capital stock or made any other distribution on account of any shares of its capital stock (other than dividends or distributions payable solely to the Company or a Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of the Company) or redeemed, purchased, retired or otherwise acquired any shares of its capital stock or any warrants, rights or options to acquire, or securities convertible into or exchangeable for, any shares of its capital stock (other than from the Company or a Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of the Company). There has been no material adverse change in the business, property or assets, condition (financial or otherwise), operations or prospects of the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole since December 25, 2021.
(i)Each Issuer has, and each of its Subsidiaries has, filed all federal, state and other income tax returns which, to the knowledge of the officers of any Issuer and its Subsidiaries, are required to be filed, and each has paid all taxes as shown on such returns and on all assessments received by it to the extent that such taxes have become due, except such taxes as are being actively contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings for which adequate reserves have been established in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.
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(ii)No Issuer intends to treat any of the transactions contemplated by any Transaction Document as being a “reportable transaction” within the meaning of Treasury Regulation Section 1.6011-4.
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the Federal Reserve System or to violate the Exchange Act, in each case as in effect now or as the same may hereafter be in effect.
(i)Each Issuer and each ERISA Affiliate have operated and administered each Pension Plan in compliance with all applicable laws except for such instances of noncompliance as have not resulted in and could not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. Neither any Issuer nor any ERISA Affiliate has incurred any liability pursuant to Title I or W of ERISA or the penalty or excise tax provisions of the Code relating to employee benefit plans (as defined in section 3 or ERISA), and no event, transaction or condition has occurred or exists that could, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in the incurrence of any such liability by any Issuer or any ERISA Affiliate, or in the imposition of any Lien on any of the rights, properties or assets of any Issuer or any ERISA Affiliate, in either case pursuant to Title I or W of ERISA or to section 430(k) of the Code or to any such penalty or excise tax provisions under the Code or Federal law or section 4068 of ERISA or by the granting of a security interest in connection with the amendment of a Plan, other than such liabilities or Liens as would not be individually or in the aggregate material in relation to the business, operations, affairs, financial condition, assets, properties, or prospects of the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole.
(ii)The present value of the aggregate benefit liabilities under each of the Pension Plans (other than Multiemployer Plans), determined as of the end of such Pension Plan’s most recently ended plan year on the basis of the actuarial assumptions specified for funding purposes in such Pension Plan’s most recent actuarial valuation report, did not exceed the aggregate current value of the assets of such Pension Plan allocable to such benefit liabilities. The term “benefit liabilities” has the meaning specified in section 4001 of ERISA and the terms “current value” and “present value” have the meaning specified in section 3 of ERISA.
(iii)Each Issuer and its ERISA Affiliates have not incurred withdrawal liabilities (and are not subject to contingent withdrawal liabilities) under section 4201 or 4204 of ERISA in respect of Multiemployer Plans that individually or in the aggregate are material in relation to the business, operations, affairs, financial condition, assets, properties, or prospects of the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole.
(iv)The expected postretirement benefit obligation (determined as of the last day of the Company’s most recently ended Fiscal Year in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification Topic 715-60, without regard to liabilities attributable to continuation coverage mandated by section 4980B of the Code) of the Issuers and their Subsidiaries is not material in relation to the business, operations, affairs, financial condition, assets, properties, or prospects of the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole.
(v)The execution and delivery of this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents and the issuance and sale of the Notes will be exempt from, or will not involve any transaction which is subject to, the prohibitions of section 406 of ERISA and will not involve any transaction in connection with which a penalty could be imposed under section 502(i) of ERISA or a tax could be imposed pursuant to section 4975 of the Code. The representation by the Issuers in the next
32
preceding sentence is made in reliance upon and subject to the accuracy of each Purchaser’s representation in paragraph 9B.
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the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, and neither any Issuer nor any of its Subsidiaries is in violation of any thereof in any material respect.
(i)Neither any Issuer nor any Controlled Entity is (a) is a Blocked Person, (b) has been notified that its name appears or may in the future appear on a State Sanctions List or (c) is a target of sanctions that have been imposed by the United Nations or the European Union.
(ii)Neither any Issuer nor any Controlled Entity (a) has violated, been found in violation of, or been charged or convicted under, any applicable U.S. Economic Sanctions Laws, Anti-Money Laundering Laws or Anti-Corruption Laws or (b) to any Issuer’s knowledge, is under
34
investigation by any Governmental Authority for possible violation of any U.S. Economic Sanctions Laws, Anti-Money Laundering Laws or Anti-Corruption Laws.
(iii)No part of the proceeds from the sale of the Notes hereunder:
(iv)Each Issuer has established procedures and controls which it reasonably believes are adequate (and otherwise comply with applicable law) to ensure that such Issuer and each Controlled Entity is and will continue to be in compliance with all applicable U.S. Economic Sanctions Laws, Anti-Money Laundering Laws and Anti-Corruption Laws.
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As used in this paragraph 9B, the terms “employee benefit plan”, “governmental plan”, and “separate account” shall have the respective meanings assigned to such terms in Section 3 of ERISA.
“Called Principal” shall mean, with respect to any Note, the principal of such Note that is to be prepaid pursuant to paragraph 4A(2) or 4B or is declared to be or otherwise becomes due and payable pursuant to paragraph 7A, as the context requires.
“Discounted Value” shall mean, with respect to the Called Principal of any Note, the amount obtained by discounting all Remaining Scheduled Payments with respect to such Called Principal from their respective scheduled due dates to the Settlement Date with respect to such Called Principal, in accordance with accepted financial practice and at a discount factor (as converted to reflect the periodic basis on which interest on such Note is payable, if interest is payable other than on a semi-annual basis) equal to the Reinvestment Yield with respect to such Called Principal.
“Reinvestment Yield” shall mean, with respect to the Called Principal of any Note, 0.50% over the yield to maturity implied by (i) the ask-side yields reported as of 10:00 a.m. (New York City local time) on the Business Day next preceding the Settlement Date with respect to such Called Principal for the most recent actively traded on the run U.S. Treasury securities having a maturity equal to the Remaining Average Life of such Called Principal as of such Settlement Date on the display designated as “Page PX1” on Bloomberg Financial Markets (or such other display as may replace Page PX1 on Bloomberg Financial Markets or, if Bloomberg Financial Markets shall cease to report such yields or shall cease to be Prudential Capital Group’s customary source of information for calculating yield-maintenance amounts on privately placed notes, then such source as is then Prudential Capital Group’s customary source of such information), or (ii) if such yields shall not be reported as of such time or the yields reported as of such time shall not be ascertainable (including by way of interpolation), the Treasury Constant Maturity Series yields reported, for the latest day for which such yields shall have been so reported as of the Business Day next preceding the Settlement Date with respect to such Called Principal, in Federal Reserve Statistical Release 11.15 (or any comparable successor publication) for U.S. Treasury securities having a constant maturity equal to the Remaining Average Life of such
38
Called Principal as of such Settlement Date. In the case of each determination under clause (i) or (ii) of the preceding sentence, such implied yield shall be determined, if necessary, by (a) converting U.S. Treasury bill quotations to bond equivalent yields in accordance with accepted financial practice and (b) interpolating linearly between (1) the applicable U.S. Treasury security with the maturity closest to and greater than such Remaining Average Life and (2) the applicable U.S. Treasury security with the maturity closest to and less than such Remaining Average Life. The Reinvestment Yield shall be rounded to that number of decimal places as appears in the coupon of the applicable Note.
“Remaining Average Life” shall mean, with respect to the Called Principal of any Note, the number of years (calculated to the nearest one-twelfth year) obtained by dividing (i) such Called Principal into (ii) the sum of the products obtained by multiplying (a) each Remaining Scheduled Payment of such Called Principal (but not of interest thereon) by (b) the number of years (calculated to the nearest one-twelfth year) which will elapse between the Settlement Date with respect to such Called Principal and the scheduled due date of such Remaining Scheduled Payment.
“Remaining Scheduled Payments” shall mean, with respect to the Called Principal of any Note, all payments of such Called Principal and interest thereon that would be due on or after the Settlement Date with respect to such Called Principal if no payment of such Called Principal were made prior to its scheduled due date.
“Settlement Date” shall mean, with respect to the Called Principal of any Note, the date on which such Called Principal is to be prepaid pursuant to paragraph 4A(2) or 4B or is declared to be or otherwise becomes due and payable pursuant to paragraph 7A, as the context requires.
“Yield-Maintenance Amount” shall mean, with respect to any Note, an amount equal to the excess, if any, of the Discounted Value of the Called Principal of such Note over the sum of (i) such Called Principal plus (ii) interest accrued thereon as of (including interest due on) the Settlement Date with respect to such Called Principal. The Yield-Maintenance Amount shall in no event be less than zero.
“Acceptance” shall have the meaning specified in paragraph 2A(5).
“Acceptance Day” shall have the meaning specified in paragraph 2A(5).
“Acceptance Window” shall have the meaning specified in paragraph 2A(5).
“Accepted Note” shall have the meaning specified in paragraph 2A(5).
“Acquisition” shall mean any transaction or series of related transactions for the purpose of or resulting, directly or indirectly, in (a) the acquisition of all or substantially all of the assets of a Person, or of all or substantially all of any business or division of a Person, (b) the acquisition of all or any portion of the Capital Securities of any Person, (c) a merger or consolidation or any other combination with another Person (other than a Person that is already a
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Subsidiary), or (d) any other Investment in a Person; provided, however, that an Investment in publicly-traded securities of a Person shall not constitute an Acquisition so long as such Investment does not result in (i) the acquisition of all or substantially all of the assets or Capital Securities of such Person, or (ii) a merger, consolidation or other combination with such Person.
“Additional Covenant” shall mean any affirmative or negative covenant or similar restriction applicable to any Issuer or any Subsidiary of any Issuer (regardless of whether such provision is labeled or otherwise characterized as a covenant), including any defined terms as used therein, the subject matter of which either (i) is similar to that of any covenant in paragraph 5 or 6 of this Agreement, or related definitions in this paragraph 10B, but contains one or more percentages, amounts, formulas or other provisions that are more restrictive as to any Issuer or any Subsidiary of any Issuer or more beneficial to the holder or holders of the Debt to which the document containing such covenant or similar restriction relates than as set forth herein (and such covenant or similar restriction shall be deemed an Additional Covenant only to the extent that it is more restrictive or more beneficial) or (ii) is different from the subject matter of any covenant in paragraph 5 or 6 of this Agreement, or the related definitions in this paragraph 10B.
“Additional Default” shall mean any provision contained in any Primary Debt Facility, including any defined terms as used therein, which permits the holder or holders of any Debt thereunder or any agent or trustee for such holder to accelerate (with the passage of time or giving of notice or both) the maturity thereof or otherwise require any Issuer or any Subsidiary of any Issuer to purchase such Debt prior to the stated maturity thereof (or automatically causes such Debt to so accelerate or be required to be purchased) and which either (i) is similar to any Default or Event of Default contained in paragraph 7A of this Agreement, or related definitions in this paragraph 10B, but contains one or more percentages, amounts, formulas or other provisions that are more restrictive as any Issuer or any Subsidiary of any Issuer, have a shorter grace period or are more beneficial to the holders of such Debt than as set forth herein (and such provision shall be deemed an Additional Default only to the extent that it is more restrictive, has a shorter grace period or is more beneficial) or (ii) is different from the subject matter of any Default or Event of Default contained in paragraph 7A of this Agreement, or the related definitions in this paragraph 10B.
“Affiliate” shall mean (i) with respect to any Person, (a) any other Person directly or indirectly Controlling, Controlled by, or under direct or indirect common Control with, such first Person, or (b) any officer or director of such Person and (ii) with respect to Prudential, shall include any managed account, investment fund or other vehicle for which Prudential or any Affiliate of Prudential then acts as investment advisor or portfolio manager.
“Anti-Corruption Laws” shall mean any law or regulation in a U.S. or any non-U.S. jurisdiction regarding bribery or any other corrupt activity, including the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and the U.K. Bribery Act 2010.
“Anti-Money Laundering Laws” shall mean any law or regulation in a U.S. or any non-U.S. jurisdiction regarding money laundering, drug trafficking, terrorist-related activities or other money laundering predicate crimes, including the Currency and Foreign Transactions Reporting Act of 1970 (otherwise known as the Bank Secrecy Act), the USA PATRIOT Act.
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“Asset Disposition” shall mean the sale, lease, assignment or other transfer for value (each, a “Disposition”) by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to any Person (other than the Company or a Subsidiary) of any asset or right of the Company or such Subsidiary (including, the loss, destruction or damage of any thereof or any actual or threatened (in writing to the Company or any Subsidiary) condemnation, confiscation, requisition, seizure or taking thereof) other than (i) the Disposition of any asset which is to be replaced, and is in fact replaced, within 30 days with another asset performing the same or a similar function and (ii) the sale or lease of inventory in the ordinary course of business.
“Available Facility Amount” shall have the meaning specified in paragraph 2A(1).
“Bank Agent” shall mean CIBC Bank USA (formerly-known-as The Private Bank and Trust Company) as agent for the Banks under the Credit Agreement, and its successors and assigns in that capacity.
“Banks” shall mean CIBC Bank USA (formerly-known-as The Private Bank and Trust Company), BMO Harris Bank N.A., and each other lender from time to time party to the Credit Agreement, and their respective successors and assigns.
“Bankruptcy Law” shall have the meaning given in clause (viii) of paragraph 7A.
“Blocked Person” shall mean (i) a Person whose name appears on the list of Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons published by OFAC, (ii) a Person, entity, organization, country or regime that is blocked or a target of sanctions that have been imposed under U.S. Economic Sanctions Laws or (iii) a Person that is an agent, department or instrumentality of, or is otherwise beneficially owned by, controlled by or acting on behalf of, directly or indirectly, any Person, entity, organization, country or regime described in clause (i) or (ii).
“Business Day” shall mean any day other than a Saturday, a Sunday or a day on which commercial banks in New York City are required or authorized to be closed.
“Cancellation Date” shall have the meaning specified in paragraph 2A(8)(iii).
“Cancellation Fee” shall have the meaning specified in paragraph 2A(8)(iii).
“Capital Expenditures” shall mean all expenditures which, in accordance with GAAP, would be required to be capitalized and shown on the consolidated balance sheet of the Company, including expenditures in respect of Capital Leases, but excluding expenditures made in connection with the replacement, substitution or restoration of assets to the extent financed (a) from insurance proceeds (or other similar recoveries) paid on account of the loss of or damage to the assets being replaced or restored or (b) with awards of compensation arising from the taking by eminent domain or condemnation of the assets being replaced.
“Capital Lease” shall mean with respect to any Person, any lease of (or other agreement conveying the right to use) any real or personal property by such Person that, in conformity with GAAP, is accounted for as a capital lease on the balance sheet of such Person.
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“Capital Securities” shall mean with respect to any Person, all shares, interests, participations or other equivalents (however designated, whether voting or non-voting) of such Person’s capital, whether now outstanding or issued or acquired after the date of closing, including common shares, preferred shares, membership interests in a limited liability company, limited or general partnership interests in a partnership or any other equivalent of such ownership interest.
“Capitalized Lease Obligation” shall mean as to any Person, all rental obligations of such Person, as lessee under a Capital Lease which are or will be required to be capitalized on the books of such Person.
“Change of Control” shall mean the occurrence of any of the following events: (i) any Person or two or more Persons acting in concert acquiring beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 of the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934), directly or indirectly, of Capital Securities of the Company representing 50% or more of the combined voting power of all Capital Securities of the Company entitled to vote in the election of directors; (ii) any Person or two or more Persons acting in concert acquiring by contract or otherwise, or entering into a contract or arrangement which upon consummation will result in its or their acquisition of, control over Capital Securities of the Company representing 50% or more of the combined voting power of all Capital Securities of the Company entitled to vote in the election of directors; or (iii) the Company shall cease to, directly or indirectly, own and control 100% of each class of the outstanding Capital Securities of each Subsidiary.
“CISADA” shall mean the Comprehensive Iran Sanctions Accountability and Divestment Act.
“closing” or “date of closing” shall have the meaning given in paragraph 2 hereof.
“Closing Day” shall mean, with respect to any Accepted Note, the Business Day specified for the closing of the purchase and sale of such Accepted Note in the Request for Purchase of such Accepted Note, provided that (i) if the Issuers and the Purchaser which is obligated to purchase such Accepted Note agree on an earlier Business Day for such closing, the “Closing Day” for such Accepted Note shall be such earlier Business Day, and (ii) if the closing of the purchase and sale of such Accepted Note is rescheduled pursuant to paragraph 2A(7), the Closing Day for such Accepted Note, for all purposes of this Agreement except references to “original Closing Day” in paragraph 2A(8)(ii), shall mean the Rescheduled Closing Day with respect to such Accepted Note.
“Code” shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
“Collateral” shall mean all accounts, accounts receivable, inventory, machinery, equipment, general intangibles, real estate, fixtures and all other tangible or intangible property, real, personal or mixed, of any Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries, whether now owned or hereafter acquired and whether now or hereafter existing.
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“Collateral Access Agreement” shall mean an agreement in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Required Holder(s) pursuant to which a mortgagee or lessor of real property on which collateral is stored or otherwise located, or a warehouseman, processor or other bailee of Inventory or other property owned by any Issuer or any Guarantor, acknowledges the Liens of the Collateral Agent and waives any Liens held by such Person on such property, and, in the case of any such agreement with a mortgagee or lessor, permits the Collateral Agent reasonable access to and use of such real property following the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default to assemble, complete and sell any collateral stored or otherwise located thereon, or any one or more of them.
“Collateral Agent” shall mean CIBC Bank USA (formerly-known-as The Private Bank and Trust Company), in its capacity as collateral agent under the Intercreditor Agreement, and its successor and assigns in that capacity.
“Collateral Documents” shall mean the Security Agreements, the Pledge Agreements, any Control Agreement, any Collateral Access Agreements and any other agreement, document or instrument in effect on the date of closing or executed by any Issuer or any Guarantor after the date of closing under which any Issuer or any Guarantor has granted a lien upon or security interest in any property or assets to the Collateral Agent to secure all or any part of the obligations of the Issuers under this Agreement or the Notes or of any Guarantor under any Guaranty Agreement, and all financing statements, certificates, documents and instruments relating thereto or executed or provided in connection therewith, each as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.
“Confirmation of Acceptance” shall have the meaning specified in paragraph 2A(5).
“Contingent Liability” shall mean with respect to any Person, each obligation and liability of such Person and all such obligations and liabilities of such Person incurred pursuant to any agreement, undertaking or arrangement by which such Person: (i) guarantees, endorses or otherwise becomes or is contingently liable upon (by direct or indirect agreement, contingent or otherwise, to provide funds for payment, to supply funds to, or otherwise to invest in, a debtor, or otherwise to assure a creditor against loss) the indebtedness, dividend, obligation or other liability of any other Person in any manner (other than by endorsement of instruments in the course of collection), including any indebtedness, dividend or other obligation which may be issued or incurred at some future time; (ii) guarantees the payment of dividends or other distributions upon the Capital Securities of any other Person; (c) undertakes or agrees (whether contingently or otherwise): (i) to purchase, repurchase, or otherwise acquire any indebtedness, obligation or liability of any other Person or any or any property or assets constituting security therefor, (ii) to advance or provide funds for the payment or discharge of any indebtedness, obligation or liability of any other Person (whether in the form of loans, advances, stock purchases, capital contributions or otherwise), or to maintain solvency, assets, level of income, working capital or other financial condition of any other Person, or (iii) to make payment to any other Person other than for value received; (d) agrees to lease property or to purchase securities, property or services from such other Person with the purpose or intent of assuring the owner of such indebtedness or obligation of the ability of such other Person to make payment of the indebtedness or obligation; (e) to induce the issuance of, or in connection with the issuance of, any letter of credit for the benefit of such other
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Person; or (f) undertakes or agrees otherwise to assure a creditor against loss. The amount of any Contingent Liability shall (subject to any limitation set forth herein) be deemed to be the outstanding principal amount (or maximum permitted principal amount, if larger) of the indebtedness, obligation or other liability guaranteed or supported thereby.
“Control” shall mean the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of a Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise. A person shall be deemed to be “controlled by” any other Person if such other Person possesses, directly or indirectly, power to vote 5% or more of the securities (on a fully diluted basis) having ordinary voting power for the election of directors or managers of such Person. “Controlling” and “Controlled” shall have the meanings correlative thereto.
“Control Agreement” shall mean an account control agreement, in form and substance satisfactory to Required Holder(s), among the Collateral Agent, the applicable Issuer or Guarantor and the depository or securities intermediary for any deposit, checking or brokerage account opened or maintained by an Issuer or Guarantor.
“Controlled Entity” shall mean (i) any of the Subsidiaries of any Issuer and any of their or any Issuers’ respective Controlled Affiliates and (ii) if any Issuer has a parent company, such parent company and its Controlled Affiliates.
“Controlled Group” shall mean all members of a controlled group of corporations, all members of a controlled group of trades or businesses (whether or not incorporated) under common control and all members of an affiliated service group which, together with the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, are treated as a single employer under Section 414 of the Code or Section 4001 of ERISA.
“Credit Agreement” shall mean the Existing Credit Agreement, as amended by the amendment thereto contemplated by paragraph 3A(2), and as further amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.
“Debt” shall mean with respect to any Person, without duplication, (i) all indebtedness of such Person, (ii) all borrowed money of such Person, whether or not evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or similar instruments, (iii) all obligations of such Person as lessee under Capital Leases which have been or should be recorded as liabilities on a balance sheet of such Person in accordance with GAAP, not including obligations of an Issuer or a Guarantor under non-recourse discounted leases, (iv) all obligations of such Person to pay the deferred purchase price of property or services (excluding trade accounts payable in the ordinary course of business), (v) all indebtedness secured by a Lien on the property of such Person, whether or not such indebtedness shall have been assumed by such Person; provided that if such Person has not assumed or otherwise become liable for such indebtedness, such indebtedness shall be measured at the fair market value of such property securing such indebtedness at the time of determination, (vi) all obligations, contingent or otherwise, with respect to the face amount of all letters of credit (whether or not drawn), bankers’ acceptances and similar obligations issued for the account of such Person, (vii) all Hedging Obligations of such Person, (viii) all Contingent Liabilities of such Person and (ix) all Debt of any partnership of which such Person is a general partner.
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“Default” shall mean any of the events specified in paragraph 7A, whether or not any requirement for such event to become an Event of Default has been satisfied.
“Default Rate” shall, with respect to any Series of Notes, have the meaning set forth in such Series of Notes.
“Delayed Delivery Fee” shall have the meaning specified in paragraph 2A(8)(ii).
“Depreciation” shall mean the total amounts added to depreciation, amortization, obsolescence, valuation and other proper reserves, as reflected on the Company’s financial statements and determined in accordance with GAAP.
“EBITDA” shall mean for any period, the Company’s and the Subsidiaries’ “Income from Operations” (as set forth on their consolidated income statement) plus leasing related cash interest expense, plus Depreciation, plus amortization, plus compensation expense related to the granting of stock options.
“Effective Date” shall mean April 12, 2022.
“Environmental Claims” shall mean all claims, however asserted, by any governmental, regulatory or judicial authority or other Person alleging potential liability or responsibility for violation of any Environmental Law, or for release or injury to the environment.
“Environmental Laws” shall mean any and all federal, state, local, and foreign statutes, laws, regulations, ordinances, rules, judgments, orders, decrees, permits, concessions, grants, franchises, licenses, agreements or governmental restrictions relating to pollution and the protection of the environment or the release of any materials into the environment, including but not limited to those related to Hazardous Materials.
“ERISA” shall mean the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended.
“ERISA Affiliate” shall mean any member of the same Controlled Group of any Issuer.
“Event of Default” shall mean any of the events specified in paragraph 7A, provided that there has been satisfied any requirement in connection with such event for the giving of notice, or the lapse of time, or the happening of any further condition, event or act.
“Exchange Act” shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
“Existing Credit Agreement” shall mean that certain Credit Agreement, dated as of July 13, 2010, among the Issuers, the Bank Agent and the Banks, as amended by Amendment No. 1 thereto, dated as of January 30, 2012, Amendment No. 2 thereto, dated as of February 29, 2012, Amendment No. 3 thereto, dated as of February 21, 2014, Amendment No. 4 thereto, dated as of April 14, 2015, Amendment No. 5 thereto, dated as of July 18, 2017, Amendment No. 6 thereto, dated as of December 16, 2019, Amendment No. 7 thereto, dated as of September 2, 2020,
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Amendment No. 8 thereto, dated as of October 14, 2020, Amendment No. 9 thereto, dated as of September 10, 2021, and Amendment No. 10 thereto, dated as of the Effective Date.
“Existing Note Agreement” shall mean that certain Note Agreement dated as of May 14, 2015, by and among the Issuers and certain Prudential Affiliates, as amended by Amendment No. 1 thereto, dated as of July 19, 2017, Amendment No. 2 thereto, dated as of December 16, 2019, Amendment No. 3 thereto, dated as of September 2, 2020, Amendment No. 4 thereto, dated as of October 14, 2020, and Amendment No. 5 thereto, dated as of September 10, 2021.
“Existing Prudential Notes” shall mean all notes issued and outstanding under the Existing Note Agreement.
“Facility” shall have the meaning specified in paragraph 2A(1).
“Fiscal Quarter” shall mean a fiscal quarter of a Fiscal Year.
“Fiscal Year” shall mean the fiscal year of the Company and its Subsidiaries, which period shall be the 12-month period ending on the last Saturday of each year. References to a Fiscal Year with a number corresponding to any calendar year (e.g., “Fiscal Year 2021”) refer to the Fiscal Year ending on the last Saturday of such calendar year.
“Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio” shall mean as of any date of determination and calculated for a trailing twelve month period ending on such date of determination, the ratio of (a) the total EBITDA of the Company and its Subsidiaries for such period, minus (i) the sum of income taxes paid in cash by the Company and its Subsidiaries in such period, (ii) the sum of all Capital Expenditures made by the Company and its Subsidiaries in such period, and (iii) the sum of all distributions (excluding any Special Dividend made in such period) made by the Company and its Subsidiaries in such period, divided by (b) the sum for such period of (i) cash interest expense plus (ii) all scheduled payments of principal on Debt (excluding, (A) the Specified Principal Payment and (B) for the avoidance of doubt, any payment pursuant to Section 6 of the Credit Agreement).
“GAAP” or “generally accepted accounting principles” shall have the meaning given in paragraph 10C.
“Governmental Authority” shall mean
(a) | the government of |
(i)the United States of America or any state or other political subdivision thereof, or
(ii)any other jurisdiction in which the Company or any Subsidiary conducts all or any part of its business, or which asserts jurisdiction over any properties of the Company or any Subsidiary, or
(b)any entity exercising executive, legislative, judicial, regulatory or administrative functions of, or pertaining to, any such government.
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“Governmental Official” shall mean any governmental official or employee, employee of any government-owned or government-controlled entity, political party, any official of a political party, candidate for political office, official of any public international organization or anyone else acting in an official capacity.
“Grow Biz” shall have the meaning given in the introductory paragraph of this Agreement.
“Guarantor” shall mean each other Person which may from time to time execute a Guaranty Agreement.
“Guaranty Agreement” and “Guaranty Agreements” shall have the meaning given in paragraph 5J hereof.
“Hazardous Materials” shall mean any and all pollutants, toxic or hazardous wastes or other substances that might pose a hazard to health and safety, the removal of which may be required or the generation, manufacture, refining, production, processing, treatment, storage, handling, transportation, transfer, use, disposal, release, discharge, spillage, seepage or filtration of which is or shall be restricted, prohibited or penalized by any applicable law including, but not limited to, asbestos, urea formaldehyde foam insulation, polychlorinated biphenyls, petroleum, petroleum products, lead based paint, radon gas or similar restricted, prohibited or penalized substances.
“Hedging Agreement” shall mean any interest rate, currency or commodity swap agreement, cap agreement or collar agreement, and any other agreement or arrangement designed to protect a Person against fluctuations in interest rates, currency exchange rates or commodity prices.
“Hedging Obligation” shall mean with respect to any Person, any liability of such Person under any Hedging Agreement. The amount of any Person’s obligation in respect of any Hedging Obligation shall be deemed to be the incremental obligation that would be reflected in the financial statements of such Person in accordance with GAAP.
“including” shall mean, unless the context clearly requires otherwise, “including without limitation”, whether or not so stated.
“Issuers” shall have the meaning given in the introductory paragraph to this Agreement.
“Indemnitee” shall have the meaning set forth in paragraph 11B.
“INHAM Exemption” shall have the meaning set forth in paragraph 9B.
“Institutional Investor” shall mean any insurance company, commercial, investment or merchant bank, finance company, mutual fund, registered money or asset manager, savings and loan association, credit union, registered investment advisor, pension fund, investment company, licensed broker or dealer, “qualified institutional buyer” (as such term is defined under
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Rule 144A promulgated under the Securities Act) or “accredited investor” (as such term is defined in Regulation D promulgated under the Securities Act).
“Intercreditor Agreement” shall have the meaning given in paragraph 3A(1)(i) hereof.
“Investment” shall mean with respect to any Person, any investment in another Person, whether by acquisition of any Capital Security, by making any loan or advance, or by making an Acquisition.
“Issuance Period” shall have the meaning specified in paragraph 2A(2).
“Leverage Ratio” shall mean as of any date of determination, the ratio of (i) Debt of the Company and its Subsidiaries on such date minus consolidated Subordinated Debt of the Company and its Subsidiaries on such date minus non-recourse Debt of the Company and its Subsidiaries on such date in connection with discounting activities of the Company and its Subsidiaries divided by (ii) EBITDA of the Company and its Subsidiaries for the trailing twelve month period ending on such date.
“Lien” shall mean any mortgage, pledge, security interest, encumbrance, minimum or compensating balance arrangement, lien (statutory or otherwise) or charge of any kind (including any agreement to give any of the foregoing, any conditional sale or other title retention agreement, any lease in the nature thereof (including Capital Leases), and the filing of or agreement to give any financing statement under the Uniform Commercial Code of any jurisdiction), or any other type of preferential arrangement for the purpose, or having the effect, of protecting a creditor against loss or securing the payment or performance of an obligation.
“Material Adverse Effect” shall mean a (i) material adverse change in, or a material adverse effect upon, the financial condition, operations, assets, business, properties or prospects of the Issuers taken as a whole, (ii) material impairment of the ability of any Issuer or Guarantor to perform any of its respective obligations under this Agreement the Notes or any other Transaction Document or (iii) material adverse effect upon any substantial portion of the collateral under the Collateral Documents or upon the legality, validity, binding effect or enforceability against any Issuer or Guarantor of this Agreement, the Notes or any other Transaction Document.
“Multiemployer Plan” shall mean any Plan which is a “multiemployer plan” (as such term is defined in section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA).
“NAIC” shall have the meaning set forth in paragraph 9B.
“NAIC Annual Statement” shall have the meaning set forth in paragraph 9B.
“Net Cash Proceeds” shall mean, with respect to any Asset Disposition, the aggregate cash proceeds (including cash proceeds received pursuant to policies of insurance or by way of deferred payment of principal pursuant to a note, installment receivable or otherwise, but only as and when received) received by the Company or any Subsidiary pursuant to such Asset Disposition net of (i) the direct costs relating to such sale, transfer or other disposition (including
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sales commissions and legal, accounting and investment banking fees), (ii) taxes paid or reasonably estimated by the Company and its Subsidiaries to be payable as a result thereof (after taking into account any available tax credits or deductions and any tax sharing arrangements) and (iii) amounts required to be applied to the repayment of any Debt secured by a Lien on the asset subject to such Asset Disposition (other than the Senior Indebtedness (as defined in the Intercreditor Agreement)).
“Noteholder Portion” shall mean, with respect to any event giving rise to an offer to prepay pursuant to paragraph 4E, a percentage expressed as a fraction, the numerator of which equals the aggregate outstanding principal amount of the Notes on the date of such event and the denominator of which equals the sum of the aggregate outstanding principal amount of the Notes on such date plus the aggregate principal amount of the Debt outstanding under the Credit Agreement and the Existing Note Agreement on such date.
“Notes” shall have the meaning given in paragraph 1 hereof.
“OFAC” shall mean Office of Foreign Assets Control, United States Department of the Treasury.
“OFAC Sanctions Program” shall mean any economic or trade sanction that OFAC is responsible for administering and enforcing. A list of OFAC Sanctions Programs may be found at http://www.treasury.gov/resource-center/sanctions/Programs/Pages/Programs.aspx.
“Officer’s Certificate” shall mean a certificate signed in the name of an Issuer by its President, one of its Vice Presidents or its Treasurer.
“Operating Lease” shall mean any lease of (or other agreement conveying the right to use) any real or personal property by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, as lessee, other than any Capital Lease.
“PBGC” shall mean the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation, or any successor or replacement entity thereto under ERISA.
“Pension Plan” shall mean a “pension plan”, as such term is defined in Section 3(2) of ERISA, which is subject to Title W of ERISA or the minimum funding standards of ERISA (other than a Multiemployer Pension Plan), and as to which the Company or any member of the Controlled Group may have any liability, including any liability by reason of having been a substantial employer within the meaning of Section 4063 of ERISA at any time during the preceding five years, or by reason of being deemed to be a contributing sponsor under Section 4069 of ERISA.
“Person” shall mean and include an individual, a partnership, a joint venture, a corporation, a trust, a limited liability company, an unincorporated organization and a government or any department or agency thereof.
“Pledge Agreement” and “Pledge Agreements” shall have the meaning given in paragraph 3A(1)(iii) hereof.
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“Primary Debt Facility” shall mean (i) the Credit Agreement, (ii) the Existing Note Agreement or (iii) any credit facility that replaces or refinances the Credit Agreement, the Existing Note Agreement or any other Primary Debt Facility.
“Program Repurchases” shall mean immaterial repurchases or redemptions of Capital Securities of the Company using operating cash on the balance sheet of the Company or proceeds of loans and notes issued under any Primary Debt Facility or this Agreement, in each case pursuant to a share repurchase program approved by the Company’s board of directors.
“Prudential” shall mean PGIM, Inc.
“Prudential Affiliate” shall mean (a) any corporation or other entity controlling, controlled by, or under common control with, Prudential, or (b) any managed account or investment fund which is managed by Prudential or a Prudential Affiliate described in clause (a) of this definition. For purposes of this definition, the terms “control”, “controlling” and “controlled” shall mean the ownership, directly or through subsidiaries, of a majority of a corporation’s or other entity’s voting stock or equivalent voting securities or interests.
“Purchasers” shall mean, with respect to any Accepted Notes, the Prudential Affiliate(s), and their respective successors and assigns, which are purchasing such Accepted Notes.
“QPAM Exemption” shall have the meaning set forth in paragraph 9B.
“Regular Dividends” means those regular quarterly cash dividends paid by the Company in respect of its Capital Securities consistent with past practices.
“Related Parties” shall mean, with respect to any Person, such Person’s Affiliates and the partners, directors, officers, employees, agents, trustees and advisors of such Person and of such Person’s Affiliates.
“Request for Purchase” shall have the meaning specified in paragraph 2A(3).
“Required Holder(s)” shall mean the holder or holders of more than 50% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes or of a Series of Notes, as the context may require, from time to time outstanding.
“Rescheduled Closing Day” shall have the meaning specified in paragraph 2A(7).
“Responsible Officer” of any Issuer shall mean the chief executive officer, chief operating officer, chief financial officer or chief accounting officer of such Issuer or any other officer of such Issuer involved principally in its financial administration or its controllership function.
“Securities Act” shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
“Security Agreement” and “Security Agreements” shall have the meaning given in paragraph 3A(1)(ii) hereof.
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“Series” shall have the meaning specified in paragraph 1.
“Shelf Notes” shall have the meaning given in paragraph 1 hereof.
“Significant Holder” shall mean (i) each Purchaser, so long as such Purchaser or any of its Affiliates shall hold (or be committed under this Agreement to purchase) any Note, or (ii) any other Person which, together with its Affiliates, is the holder of at least 5% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes of any Series from time to time outstanding.
“Special Dividends” means all dividends or other distributions paid by the Company in respect of its Capital Securities other than Regular Dividends, whether paid in cash or other property.
“Special Dividend Payment/Redemption Conditions” with respect to the payment of any Special Dividend or any purchase or redemption of the Company’s Capital Securities (other than Program Repurchases), the satisfaction of the following conditions:
“Specified Principal Payment” means (i) the $30,000,000 principal payment due on September 10, 2028 with respect to the Company’s $30,000,000.00 3.18% Senior Secured Notes issued to certain Prudential Affiliates, as the same are outstanding as of the Effective Date and (ii) with respect to any Notes, to the extent such Notes are non-amortizing term notes that is due and payable in one principal payment on the stated maturity date of such Notes, such principal payment, so long as such principal payment consists of the payment in full of such note and, in each case with respect to the payments described in clauses (i) and clauses (ii), such payments are made with the proceeds of Debt that is permitted under paragraph 6B of this Agreement.
“State Sanctions List” shall mean a list that is adopted by any state Governmental Authority within the United States of America pertaining to Persons that engage in investment or other commercial activities in Iran or any other country that is a target of economic sanctions imposed under U.S. Economic Sanctions Laws.
“Structuring Fee” shall have the meaning specified in paragraph 2A(8)(i).
“Subordinated Debt” shall mean any unsecured Debt of the Company which has subordination terms, covenants, pricing and other terms which have been approved in writing by the Required Holder(s).
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“Subordinated Debt Documents” shall mean all documents and instruments relating to the Subordinated Debt and all amendments and modifications thereof approved by the Required Holder(s).
“Subordination Agreements” shall mean the provisions of all subordination agreements executed by a holder of Subordinated Debt in favor of the holders of the Notes, from time to time after the date of closing.
“Subsidiary” shall mean, as to any Person, any corporation, association or other business entity in which such Person or one or more of its Subsidiaries or such Person and one or more of its Subsidiaries owns sufficient equity or voting interests to enable it or them (as a group) ordinarily, in the absence of contingencies, to elect a majority of the directors (or Persons performing similar functions) of such entity, and any partnership or joint venture if more than a 50% interest in profits or capital thereof is owned by such Person or one or more of its Subsidiaries or such Person and one or more of its Subsidiaries (unless such partnership can and does ordinarily take major business actions without the approval of such Person or one or more of its Subsidiaries). Unless the context otherwise clearly requires, any reference to a “Subsidiary” is a reference to a Subsidiary of the Company.
“Tangible Net Worth” shall mean as of any date of determination, the sum of the amounts set forth on the balance sheet of the Company and the Subsidiaries as total shareholder equity of the Company and the Subsidiaries, plus any Subordinated Debt, minus the book value of all intangible assets of the Company and the Subsidiaries (including all such items as goodwill, trade names, service marks, copyrights, patents, licenses, deferred items, unamortized debt discount, prepaid expenses and any other items deemed intangible by the Required Holder(s)), minus Investments in non-public companies net of cash dividends received in respect of such Investments.
“Total Plan Liability” shall mean at any time, the present value of all vested and unvested accrued benefits under all Pension Plans, determined as of the then most recent valuation date for each Pension Plan, using PBGC actuarial assumptions for single employer plan terminations.
“Transaction Documents” shall mean this Agreement, the Notes, the Intercreditor Agreement, the Issuers’ Acknowledgment to Intercreditor Agreement, the Guaranty Agreements, the Collateral Documents and the other agreements, documents, certificates and instruments now or hereafter executed or delivered by any Issuer, any Guarantor or any Subsidiary or Affiliate of any Issuer or any Guarantor in connection with this Agreement.
“Transferee” shall mean any direct or indirect transferee of all or any part of any Note purchased by any Purchaser under this Agreement.
“UCC” shall mean the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect in the State of Illinois.
“Unfunded Liability” shall mean the amount (if any) by which the present value of all vested and unvested accrued benefits under all Pension Plans exceeds the fair market value
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of all assets allocable to those benefits, all determined as of the then most recent valuation date for each Pension Plan, using PBGC actuarial assumptions for single employer plan terminations.
“USA PATRIOT Act” shall mean United States Public Law 107-56, Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism (USA PATRIOT ACT) Act of 2001, as amended from time to time, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder from time to time in effect.
“U.S. Economic Sanctions Laws” shall mean those laws, executive orders, enabling legislation or regulations administered and enforced by the United States pursuant to which economic sanctions have been imposed on any Person, entity, organization, country or regime, including the Trading with the Enemy Act, the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, the Iran Sanctions Act, the Sudan Accountability and Divestment Act and any other OFAC Sanctions Program.
“Voting Stock” shall mean, with respect to any corporation, any shares of stock of such corporation whose holders are entitled under ordinary circumstances to vote for the election of directors of such corporation (irrespective of whether at the time stock of any other class or classes shall have or might have voting power by reason of the happening of any contingency).
“Wholly-Owned Subsidiary” shall mean any Subsidiary of the Company all of the outstanding capital stock or other equity interests of every class of which is owned by the Company or another Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of the Company, and which has outstanding no options, warrants, rights or other securities entitling the holder thereof (other than the Company or a Wholly-Owned Subsidiary) to acquire shares of capital stock or other equity interests of such Subsidiary.
“Winmark Capital” shall have the meaning given in the introductory paragraph of this Agreement.
“Wirth” shall have the meaning given in the introductory paragraph of this Agreement.
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covenant (or if the Required Holder(s) notify the Company that the Required Holder(s) wish to amend paragraph 6 (or any related definition) for such purpose), then the Issuers’ compliance with such covenant shall be determined on the basis of GAAP in effect immediately before the relevant change in GAAP became effective, until either such notice is withdrawn or such covenant (or related definition) is amended in a manner satisfactory to the Company and the Required Holder(s) and the Company shall provide to the holders of the Notes financial statements and any 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. Any reference herein to any specific citation, section or form of law, statute, rule or regulation shall refer to such new, replacement or analogous citation, section or form should such citation, section or form be modified, amended or replaced. For purposes of determining compliance with this Agreement (including, without limitation, Article 5, Article 6 and the definition of “Debt”), any election by the Company to measure any financial liability using fair value (as permitted by Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification Topic No. 825-10-25 – Fair Value Option, International Accounting Standard 39 – Financial Instruments: Recognition and Measurement or any similar accounting standard) shall be disregarded and such determination shall be made as if such election had not been made.
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The Issuers also jointly and severally agree to promptly pay or reimburse each Purchaser or holder of a Note (upon demand, in accordance with each such Purchaser’s or holder’s written instruction) for all fees and costs paid or payable by such Purchaser or holder to the Capital Markets & Investment Analysis Office of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners in connection with the initial filing of this Agreement and all related documents and financial information, and all subsequent annual and interim filings of documents and financial information related to this Agreement, with such Capital Markets & Investment Analysis Office or any successor organization acceding to the authority thereof.
The Issuers shall indemnify each holder of the Notes and each of its Related Parties (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 fees, charges and disbursements of any counsel for any Indemnitee), and shall indemnify and hold harmless each Indemnitee from all fees and time charges and disbursements for attorneys who may be employees of any Indemnitee, incurred by any Indemnitee or asserted against any Indemnitee by any third
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party or by any Issuer or any Guarantor arising out of, in connection with, or as a result of (i) the execution or delivery of this Agreement, any other Transaction Document or any agreement or instrument contemplated hereby or thereby, the performance by the parties hereto of their respective obligations hereunder or thereunder, or the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, (ii) any Note or the use or proposed use of the proceeds therefrom, (iii) any actual or alleged presence or release of Hazardous Materials on or from any property owned or operated by the Issuers, the Guarantors or any of their Subsidiaries, or any Environmental Liability related in any way to the Issuers, the Guarantors or any of their Subsidiaries, or (iv) any actual or prospective claim, litigation, investigation or proceeding relating to any of the foregoing, whether based on contract, tort or any other theory, whether brought by a third party or by any Issuer or any Guarantor, and regardless of whether any Indemnitee is a party thereto IN ALL CASES, WHETHER OR NOT CAUSED BY OR ARISING, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, OUT OF THE COMPARATIVE, CONTRIBUTORY OR SOLE NEGLIGENCE OF THE INDEMNITEE; provided that such indemnity shall not, as to any Indemnitee, be available to the extent that such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or related expenses (x) are determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by final and nonappealable judgment to have resulted from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Indemnitee or (y) result from a claim brought by any Issuer or any Guarantor against an Indemnitee for breach in bad faith of such Indemnitee’s obligations hereunder or under any other Transaction Document, if such Issuer or such Guarantor has obtained a final and nonappealable judgment in its favor on such claim as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction.
The obligations of the Issuers under this paragraph 11B shall survive the transfer of any Note or portion thereof or interest therein by any Purchaser or Transferee and the payment of any Note.
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bound by any consent authorized by this paragraph 11C, whether or not such Note shall have been marked to indicate such consent, but any Notes issued thereafter may bear a notation referring to any such consent. No course of dealing between any Issuer or any Guarantor and the holder of any Note nor any delay in exercising any rights hereunder or under any other Transaction Document Note shall operate as a waiver of any rights of any holder of any Note. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, no negotiations or discussions in which any holder of any Note may engage regarding any possible amendments, consents or waivers with respect to this Agreement or any other Transaction Document shall constitute a waiver of any Default or Event of Default, any term of this Agreement or any other Transaction Documents or any rights of any such holder under this Agreement or any other Transaction Document. As used herein and in the Notes, the term “this Agreement” and references thereto shall mean this Agreement as it may from time to time be amended or supplemented.
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in connection with the delivery to any holder of a Note of information required to be delivered to such holder under this Agreement or requested by such holder (other than a holder that is a party to this Agreement or its nominee), such holder will enter into an agreement with the Company embodying the provisions of this paragraph 11F.
In the event that as a condition to receiving access to information relating to any Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries in connection with the transactions contemplated by or otherwise pursuant to this Agreement, any Purchaser or holder of a Note is required to agree to a confidentiality undertaking (whether through IntraLinks, another secure website, a secure virtual workspace or otherwise) which is different from this paragraph 11F, this paragraph 11F shall not be amended thereby and, as between such Purchaser or such holder and the Issuers, this paragraph 11F shall supersede any such other confidentiality undertaking.
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address as such Purchaser shall have specified to the Company in writing, (ii) if to any other holder of any Note, addressed to such other holder at such address as such other holder shall have specified to the Company in writing or, if any such other holder shall not have so specified an address to the Company, then addressed to such other holder in care of the last holder of such Note which shall have so specified an address to the Company, and (iii) if to any Issuer, addressed to it c/o the Company at 605 Highway 169 North, Suite 400, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55441, Attention: Chief Financial Officer, or at such other address as the Company shall have specified to the holder of each Note in writing; provided, however, that any such communication to any Issuer may also, at the option of the holder of any Note, be delivered by any other means either to any Issuer at its address specified above or to any officer of any Issuer. To the extent any Purchaser or other holder of a Note has provided the same address for delivery of information or notices under Agreement as another Purchaser or other holder of a Note, then only one set of copies is required for both such Persons.
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IRREVOCABLY ACCEPTS, UNCONDITIONALLY, THE JURISDICTION OF THE AFORESAID COURTS WITH RESPECT TO ANY SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING. EACH ISSUER FURTHER IRREVOCABLY CONSENTS TO THE SERVICE OF PROCESS OUT OF ANY OF THE AFOREMENTIONED COURTS IN ANY SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING BY THE MAILING OF COPIES THEREOF BY REGISTERED OR CERTIFIED MAIL, POSTAGE PREPAID, TO IT AT ITS ADDRESS PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 11J OR TO CT CORPORATION SYSTEM AT 208 SOUTH LASALLE STREET, CHICAGO, ILLINOIS 60604, SUCH SERVICE TO BECOME EFFECTIVE UPON RECEIPT. EACH ISSUER AGREES THAT A FINAL JUDGMENT IN ANY SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING SHALL BE CONCLUSIVE AND MAY BE ENFORCED IN ANY OTHER JURISDICTION BY SUIT ON SUCH JUDGMENT OR IN ANY OTHER MANNER PROVIDED BY LAW. NOTHING HEREIN SHALL AFFECT THE RIGHT OF ANY HOLDER OF A NOTE TO SERVE PROCESS IN ANY OTHER MANNER PERMITTED BY LAW OR TO COMMENCE LEGAL PROCEEDINGS OR OTHERWISE PROCEED AGAINST ANY ISSUER IN ANY OTHER JURISDICTION. EACH ISSUER HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ANY OBJECTION WHICH IT MAY NOW OR HEREAFTER HAVE TO THE LAYING OF VENUE OF ANY OF THE AFORESAID ACTIONS OR PROCEEDINGS ARISING OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THIS AGREEMENT OR THE OTHER TRANSACTION DOCUMENTS BROUGHT IN ANY OF THE AFORESAID COURTS AND HEREBY FURTHER IRREVOCABLY WAIVES AND AGREES NOT TO PLEAD OR CLAIM IN ANY SUCH COURT THAT ANY SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING BROUGHT IN ANY SUCH COURT HAS BEEN BROUGHT IN AN INCONVENIENT FORUM. TO THE EXTENT THAT ANY ISSUER HAS OR MAY HEREAFTER ACQUIRE IMMUNITY FROM JURISDICTION OF ANY COURT OR FROM ANY LEGAL PROCESS (WHETHER THROUGH SERVICE OF NOTICE, ATTACHMENT PRIOR TO JUDGMENT, ATTACHMENT IN AID OF EXECUTION, EXECUTION OR OTHERWISE WITH RESPECT TO ITSELF OR ITS PROPERTY), EACH ISSUER HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES SUCH IMMUNITY IN RESPECT OF ITS OBLIGATIONS UNDER THIS AGREEMENT OR THE OTHER TRANSACTION DOCUMENTS. EACH ISSUER AND EACH PURCHASER HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ANY AND ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT, THE OTHER TRANSACTION DOCUMENTS OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED THEREBY (INCLUDING IN CONNECTION WITH ANY CLAIMS OR DISPUTES RELATING THERETO, WHETHER SOUNDING IN CONTRACT OR TORT).
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this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents, that such party has discussed this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents with its counsel and that any and all issues with respect to this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents have been resolved as set forth herein and therein. No provision of this Agreement or any other Transaction Document shall be construed against or interpreted to the disadvantage of any party hereto by any court or other governmental or judicial authority by reason of such party having or being deemed to have structured, drafted or dictated such provision. Time is of the essence in the performance of this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents.
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electronic medium and (b) display any Issuer’s corporate logo in conjunction with any such reference.
(i)The obligations of the Issuers under this Agreement, the Notes and the other Transaction Documents are joint and several primary obligations of each Issuer regardless of which Issuer actually receives the proceeds of any Notes or the manner in which the Issuers, any Purchaser or any holder thereof accounts for such Notes on its books and records. Each Issuer agrees that it is receiving or will receive a direct pecuniary benefit for each Note issued hereunder.
(ii)Each Issuer hereby waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law:
(a)notice of the creation, renewal or accrual of any liability of an Issuer, present or future, or of the reliance of such holder of Notes upon this Agreement (it being understood that every Debt, liability and obligation described in this Agreement, the Notes or the other Transaction Documents shall conclusively be presumed to have been created, contracted or incurred in reliance upon the execution of this Agreement, the Notes and the other Transaction Documents);
(b)demand of payment by any holder of Notes from an Issuer or any other Person indebted in any manner on or for any of the Debt, liabilities or obligations hereby guaranteed; and
(c)presentment for the payment by any holder of Notes or any other Person of the Notes or any other instrument, protest thereof and notice of its dishonor to any party thereto and to such Issuer.
The obligations of each Issuer under this Agreement, the Notes and the other Transaction Documents and the rights of any holder of Notes to enforce such obligations by any proceedings, whether by action at law, suit in equity or otherwise, shall not be subject to any reduction, limitation, impairment or termination (other than by indefeasible payment in full in cash of the Notes and the obligations of the Issuers under this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents), whether by reason of any claim of any character whatsoever or otherwise and shall not be subject to any defense, set-off, counterclaim (other than any compulsory counterclaim), recoupment or termination whatsoever.
(iii)Except as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement, the obligations of the Issuers hereunder and under the Notes and the other Transaction Documents shall be binding upon the Issuers and their successors and assigns, and shall remain in full force and effect until the entire principal, interest and premium, if any, on the Notes and all other sums due under this Agreement shall have been paid and such obligations shall not be affected, modified or impaired upon the happening from time to time of any event, including without limitation any of the following, whether or not with notice to or the consent of the Issuers:
(a)the genuineness, validity, regularity or enforceability of the Notes, this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents or any other agreement or any of the terms of any thereof, the continuance of any obligation on the part of any Issuer or any
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other Person on or in respect of the Notes or under this Agreement, the other Transaction Documents or any other agreement or the power or authority or the lack of power or authority of any Issuer to issue the Notes or any Issuer to execute and deliver this Agreement or any other agreement or to perform any of its obligations hereunder or the existence or continuance of any Issuer or any other Person as a legal entity; or
(b)any default, failure or delay, willful or otherwise, in the performance by an Issuer or any other Person of any obligations of any kind or character whatsoever under the Notes, this Agreement, the other Transaction Documents or any other agreement; or
(c)any creditors’ rights, bankruptcy, receivership or other insolvency proceeding of any Issuer or any other Person or in respect of the property of an Issuer or any other Person or any merger, consolidation, reorganization, dissolution, liquidation, the sale of all or substantially all of the assets of or winding up of an Issuer or any other Person; or
(d)impossibility or illegality of performance on the part of any Issuer or any other Person of its obligations under the Notes, this Agreement, the other Transaction Documents or any other agreements; or
(e)in respect of an Issuer or any other Person, any change of circumstances, whether or not foreseen or foreseeable, whether or not imputable to an Issuer or any other Person, or other impossibility of performance through fire, explosion, accident, labor disturbance, floods, droughts, embargoes, wars (whether or not declared), civil commotion, acts of God or the public enemy, delays or failure of suppliers or carriers, inability to obtain materials, action of any Federal or state regulatory body or agency, change of law or any other causes affecting performance, or any other force majeure, whether or not beyond the control of an Issuer or any other Person and whether or not of the kind hereinbefore specified; or
(f)any attachment, claim, demand, charge, Lien, order, process, encumbrance or any other happening or event or reason, similar or dissimilar to the foregoing, or any withholding or diminution at the source, by reason of any taxes, assessments, expenses, Debt, obligations or liabilities of any character, foreseen or unforeseen, and whether or not valid, incurred by or against an Issuer or any other Person or any claims, demands, charges or Liens of any nature, foreseen or unforeseen, incurred by an Issuer or any other Person, or against any sums payable in respect of the Notes, under this Agreement or any other Transaction Document, so that such sums would be rendered inadequate or would be unavailable to make the payments herein provided; or
(g)any order, judgment, decree, ruling or regulation (whether or not valid) of any court of any nation or of any political subdivision thereof or any body, agency, department, official or administrative or regulatory agency of any thereof or any other action, happening, event or reason whatsoever which shall delay, interfere with, hinder or prevent, or in any way adversely affect, the performance by an Issuer or any other Person of its respective obligations under or in respect of the Notes, this Agreement or any other agreement; or
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(h)the failure of any Issuer to receive any benefit from or as a result of its execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement; or
(i)any failure or lack of diligence in collection or protection, failure in presentment or demand for payment, protest, notice of protest, notice of default and of nonpayment, any failure to give notice to any Issuer of failure of an Issuer or any other Person to keep and perform any obligation, covenant or agreement under the terms of the Notes, this Agreement, any other Transaction Document or any other agreement or failure to resort for payment to an Issuer or to any other Person or to any other Agreement or to any property, security, Liens or other rights or remedies; or
(j)the acceptance of any additional security or other agreement, the advance of additional money to an Issuer or any other Person, the renewal or extension of the Notes or amendments, modifications, consents or waivers with respect to the Notes, this Agreement, any other Transaction Document or any other agreement, or the sale, release, substitution or exchange of any security for the Notes; or
(k)any merger or consolidation of an Issuer or any other Person into or with any other Person or any sale, lease, transfer or other disposition of any of the assets of an Issuer or any other Person to any other Person, or any change in the ownership of any shares of an Issuer or any other Person or any release of any issuer; or ‘
(l)any defense whatsoever that: (i) an Issuer or any other Person might have to the payment of the Notes (principal, Yield-Maintenance Amount, if any, or interest), other than indefeasible payment thereof in Federal or other immediately available funds, or (ii) an Issuer or any other Person might have to the performance or observance of any of the provisions of the Notes, this Agreement, any other Transaction Document or any other agreement, whether through the satisfaction or purported satisfaction by an Issuer or any other Person of its debts due to any cause such as bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership, merger, consolidation, reorganization, dissolution, liquidation, winding-up or otherwise, other than the defense of indefeasible payment in full in cash of the Notes; or
(m)any act or failure to act with regard to the Notes, this Agreement, any other Transaction Document or any other agreement or anything which might vary the risk of any Issuer or any other Person; or
(n)any other circumstance which might otherwise constitute a defense available to, or a discharge of, any Issuer or any other Person in respect of the obligations of any Issuer or other Person under this Agreement or any other agreement, other than the defense of indefeasible payment in full in cash of the Notes;
provided that the specific enumeration of the above-mentioned acts, failures or omissions shall not be deemed to exclude any other acts, failures or omissions, though not specifically mentioned above, it being the purpose and intent of this Agreement and the Notes and the parties hereto that the obligations of each Issuer shall be absolute and unconditional and shall not be discharged, impaired or varied except by the indefeasible payment in full in cash of the principal of, premium,
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if any, and interest on the Notes in accordance with their respective terms whenever the same shall become due and payable as in the Notes provided and all other sums due and payable under this Agreement, at the place specified in and all in the manner and with the effect provided in the Notes and this Agreement, as each may be amended or modified from time to time. Without limiting the foregoing, it is understood that repeated and successive demands may be made and recoveries may be had hereunder as and when, from time to time, an Issuer shall default under or in respect of the terms of the Notes or this Agreement and that notwithstanding recovery hereunder for or in respect of any given default or defaults by an Issuer under the Notes, this Agreement or any other Transaction Document shall remain in full force and effect and shall apply to each and every subsequent default.
(iv)To the extent of any payments made under this Agreement or any Note, each Issuer making such payment shall have a right of contribution from the other Issuer, but such Issuer covenants and agrees that such right of contribution shall be subordinate in right of payment to the rights of the holder of Notes for which full payment has not been made or provided for and, to that end, such Issuer agrees not to claim or enforce any such right of contribution unless and until all of the Notes and all other sums due and payable under this Agreement and the Notes have been fully and irrevocably paid and discharged.
(v)Each Issuer agrees that to the extent an Issuer or any other Person makes any payment on any Note, which payment or any part thereof is subsequently invalidated, voided, declared to be fraudulent or preferential, set aside, recovered, rescinded or is required to be retained by or repaid to a trustee, receiver, or any other Person under any bankruptcy code, common law, or equitable cause, then and to the extent of such payment, the obligation or the part thereof intended to be satisfied shall be revived and continued in full force and effect with respect to the Issuers’ obligations hereunder, as if said payment had not been made. The liability of the Issuers hereunder and under the Notes shall not be reduced or discharged, in whole or in part, by any payment to any holder of a Note from any source that is thereafter paid, returned or refunded in whole or in part by reason of the assertion of a claim of any kind relating thereto, including, but not limited to, any claim for breach of contract, breach of warranty, preference, illegality, invalidity, or fraud asserted by any account debtor or by any other Person.
(vi)No holder of a Note shall be under any obligation: (a) to marshal any assets in favor of the Issuers or in payment of any or all of the liabilities of any Issuer under or in respect of the Notes or the obligations of the Companies hereunder or (b) to pursue any other remedy that the Issuers may or may not be able to pursue themselves and that may lighten the Issuers’ burden, any right to which each Issuer hereby expressly waives.
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BLANK. SIGNATURES ON THE FOLLOWING PAGE.]
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Very truly yours,
WINMARK CORPORATION
By: | /s/Anthony D. Ishaug |
Name: | Anthony D. Ishaug |
Tite: | Chief Financial Officer |
WIRTH BUSINESS CREDIT, INC.
By: | /s/Anthony D. Ishaug |
Name: | Anthony D. Ishaug |
Tite: | Chief Financial Officer |
WINMARK CAPITAL CORPORATION
By: | /s/Anthony D. Ishaug |
Name: | Anthony D. Ishaug |
Tite: | Chief Financial Officer |
GROW BIZ GAMES, INC.
By: | /s/Anthony D. Ishaug |
Name: | Anthony D. Ishaug |
Tite: | Chief Financial Officer |
The foregoing Agreement is
hereby accepted as of the
date first above written.
PGIM, Inc.
By: | /s/Anna Sabiston |
Name: | Anna Sabiston |
Tite: | Vice President |
[FORM OF SHELF NOTE]
WINMARK CORPORATION
WIRTH BUSINESS CREDIT, INC.
WINMARK CAPITAL CORPORATION
GROW BIZ GAMES, INC.
[____]% Senior Secured Note, Series ___, Due [__________, ____]
PPN:
ORIGINAL PRINCIPAL AMOUNT:
ORIGINAL ISSUE DATE:
INTEREST RATE:
INTEREST PAYMENT DATES:
FINAL MATURITY DATE:
PRINCIPAL PREPAYMENT DATES AND AMOUNTS:
FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned, WINMARK CORPORATION, a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of Minnesota (herein called the “Company”), Wirth Business Credit, Inc., a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of Minnesota (herein called “Wirth”), Winmark Capital Corporation, a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of Minnesota (herein called “Winmark Capital”), and Grow Biz Games, Inc., a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of Minnesota (“Grow Biz”; the Company, Wirth, Winmark Capital and Grow Biz being collectively called the “Issuers”), hereby jointly and severally promise to pay to _______________________________, or registered assigns, the principal sum of _______________________________ DOLLARS on [on the Final Maturity Date specified above (or so much thereof as shall not have been prepaid),] [, payable on the Principal Prepayment Dates and in the amounts specified above, and on the Final Maturity Date specified above in an amount equal to the unpaid balance of the principal hereof,], with interest (computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months) (a) on the unpaid balance thereof at the Interest Rate per annum specified above, payable on each Interest Payment Date specified above and on the Final Maturity Date specified above, commencing with the Interest Payment Date next succeeding the date hereof, until the principal hereof shall have become due and payable, and (b) (i) on any overdue payment (including any overdue prepayment) of principal, any overdue payment of Yield-Maintenance Amount, any overdue payment of interest (to the extent permitted by applicable law), and (ii) during any period when an Event of Default shall be in existence, at the election of the Required Holder(s), on the entire principal amount hereof, at a rate per annum from time to time equal to the Default Rate, payable quarterly as aforesaid (or, at the option of the registered holder hereof, on demand). The “Default Rate” shall mean a rate per annum from time to time equal to the lesser of (i) the maximum rate permitted by applicable law, and (ii) the greater of (a) [___% [2% over the coupon rate]] or (b) 2.00% over the rate of interest publicly announced by JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association, from time to time in New York City as its Prime Rate.
EXHIBIT A-1
Payments of principal of, interest on and any Yield-Maintenance Amount payable with respect to this Note are to be made at the main office of JPMorgan Chase Bank in New York City or at such other place as the holder hereof shall designate to the Company in writing, in lawful money of the United States of America.
This Note is one of a series of Senior Secured Notes (herein called the “Notes”) issued pursuant to a Private Shelf Agreement, dated as of April 12, 2022 (herein called the “Agreement”), among the Issuers and the respective Purchasers named therein and is entitled to the benefits thereof.
This Note is a registered Note and, as provided in the Agreement, upon surrender of this Note for registration of transfer, duly endorsed, or accompanied by a written instrument of transfer duly executed, by the registered holder hereof or such holder’s attorney duly authorized in writing, a new Note for a like principal amount will be issued to, and registered in the name of, the transferee. Prior to due presentment for registration of transfer, the Issuers may treat the person in whose name this Note is registered as the owner hereof for the purpose of receiving payment and for all other purposes, and the Issuers shall not be affected by any notice to the contrary.
The Issuers jointly and severally agrees to make required prepayments of principal on the dates and in the amounts specified in the Agreement. This Note is also subject to optional prepayment, in whole or from time to time in part, on the terms specified in the Agreement, but not otherwise.
This Note is secured by, and entitled to the benefits of, the Collateral Documents. Reference is made to the Collateral Documents for a statement concerning the terms and conditions governing the collateral security for the obligations of the Issuers hereunder.
Each Issuer and any and all endorsers, guarantors and sureties severally waive demand, presentment for payment, notice of dishonor or default, notice of intent to accelerate, notice of acceleration (except to the extent required in the Agreement), protest and diligence in collecting in connection with this Note, whether now or hereafter required by applicable law.
In case an Event of Default shall occur and be continuing, the principal of this Note may be declared or otherwise become due and payable in the manner and with the effect provided in the Agreement.
Capitalized terms used herein which are defined in the Agreement and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings as defined in the Agreement.
EXHIBIT A-2
THIS NOTE IS INTENDED TO BE PERFORMED IN THE STATE OF ILLINOIS AND SHALL BE CONSTRUED AND ENFORCED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAW OF SUCH STATE (EXCLUDING ANY CONFLICTS OF LAW RULES WHICH WOULD OTHERWISE CAUSE THIS NOTE TO BE CONSTRUED OR ENFORCED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF ANY OTHER JURISDICTION).
WINMARK CORPORATION
WIRTH BUSINESS CREDIT, INC.
WINMARK CAPITAL CORPORATION
GROW BIZ GAMES, INC.
EXHIBIT A-3
[RESERVED]
EXHIBIT B-1
EXHIBIT C
FORM OF REQUEST FOR PURCHASE
WINMARK CORPORATION
WIRTH BUSINESS CREDIT, INC.
WINMARK CAPITAL CORPORATION
GROW BIZ GAMES, INC.
Reference is made to the Private Shelf Agreement (the “Agreement”), dated as of April 12, 2022, between WINMARK CORPORATION, a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of Minnesota (herein called the “Company”), Wirth Business Credit, Inc., a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of Minnesota (herein called “Wirth”), Winmark Capital Corporation, a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of Minnesota (herein called “Winmark Capital”), and Grow Biz Games, Inc., a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of Minnesota (“Grow Biz”; the Company, Wirth, Winmark Capital and Grow Biz being collectively called the “Issuers”), on the one hand, and PGIM, Inc. (“Prudential”) and each Prudential Affiliate which becomes party thereto, on the other hand. Capitalized terms used and not otherwise defined herein shall have the respective meanings specified in the Agreement.
Pursuant to paragraph 2A(3) of the Agreement, the Issuers hereby make the following Request for Purchase:
1.Aggregate principal amount of
the Shelf Notes covered hereby
(the “Notes”) ................... $__________1
2.Individual specifications of the Notes:
Principal Amount | Final Maturity Date | Principal Prepayment Dates and Amounts | Interest Payment Period |
| | | |
| | | [___] in arrears |
3.Use of proceeds of the Notes:
4.Proposed day for the closing of the purchase and sale of the Notes:
1Minimum principal amount of $5,000,000.
EXHIBIT C-1
5.The purchase price of the Notes is to be transferred to:
Name and Address
and ABA RoutingNumber of
Number of Bank Account
6.Each Issuer certifies that (a) the representations and warranties contained in paragraph 8 of the Agreement are true on and as of the date of this Request for Purchase and (b) there exists on the date of this Request for Purchase no Event of Default or Default. [Each Guarantor certifies that the representations and warranties contained in Section [__] of the Guaranty Agreement are true on and as of the date of this Request for Purchase.]
Dated:
WINMARK CORPORATION
WIRTH BUSINESS CREDIT, INC.
WINMARK CAPITAL CORPORATION
GROW BIZ GAMES, INC.
EXHIBIT C-2
[NAME OF GUARANTORS]
EXHIBIT C-3
EXHIBIT D
FORM OF CONFIRMATION OF ACCEPTANCE
Reference is made to the Private Shelf Agreement (the “Agreement”), dated as of April 12, 2022, between WINMARK CORPORATION, a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of Minnesota (herein called the “Company”), Wirth Business Credit, Inc., a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of Minnesota (herein called “Wirth”), Winmark Capital Corporation, a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of Minnesota (herein called “Winmark Capital”), and Grow Biz Games, Inc., a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of Minnesota (“Grow Biz”; the Company, Wirth, Winmark Capital and Grow Biz being collectively called the “Issuers”), on the one hand, and PGIM, Inc. (“Prudential”) and each Prudential Affiliate which becomes party thereto, on the other hand. Capitalized terms used and not otherwise defined herein shall have the respective meanings specified in the Agreement.
Prudential or the Prudential Affiliate which is named below as a Purchaser of Notes hereby confirms the representations as to such Notes set forth in paragraph 9 of the Agreement, and agrees to be bound by the provisions of paragraphs 2A(5) and 2A(7) of the Agreement relating to the purchase and sale of such Notes and by the provisions of the second sentence of paragraph 11A of the Agreement.
Pursuant to paragraph 2A(5) of the Agreement, an Acceptance with respect to the following Accepted Notes is hereby confirmed:
I.Accepted Notes: Aggregate principal amount $__________________
(A)(a) Name of Purchaser:
(b) Principal amount:
(c) Final maturity date:
(d) Principal prepayment dates and amounts:
(e) Interest rate:
(f) Interest payment period:[_______] in arrears
(g) Payment and notice instructions: As set forth on attached
Purchaser Schedule
(B)(a) Name of Purchaser:
(b) Principal amount:
(c) Final maturity date:
(d) Principal prepayment dates and amounts:
(e) Interest rate:
(f) Interest payment period:[_______] in arrears
(g) Payment and notice instructions: As set forth on attached
Purchaser Schedule
[(C), (D)..... same information as above.]
EXHIBIT D-1
II.Closing Day:
Dated:
[PRUDENTIAL AFFILIATE]
By ______________________________
Vice President
Acknowledged and Agreed:
WINMARK CORPORATION
By:
Name:
Title:
WIRTH BUSINESS CREDIT, INC.
By:
Name:
Title:
WINMARK CAPITAL CORPORATION
By:
Name:
Title:
GROW BIZ GAMES, INC.
By:
Name:
Title:
EXHIBIT D-2
[ATTACH PURCHASER SCHEDULES]
EXHIBIT D-3
[FORM OF OPINION OF ISSUERS’ COUNSEL]
EXHIBIT E-1
EXHIBIT E-2
Exhibit 10.4
April 12, 2022
WINMARK CORPORATION
WIRTH BUSINESS CREDIT, INC.
WINMARK CAPITAL CORPORATION
GROW BIZ GAMES, INC.
c/o Winmark Corporation
605 Highway 169 North, Suite 400
Minneapolis, MN 55441
Re:Amendment No. 6 to Note Agreement
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Reference is made to the Note Agreement dated as of May 14, 2015 (as amended from time to time, the “Note Agreement”), among Winmark Corporation, a Minnesota corporation (the “Company”), Wirth Business Credit, Inc., a Minnesota corporation (“Wirth”), Winmark Capital Corporation, a Minnesota corporation (“Winmark Capital”), Grow Biz Games, Inc., a Minnesota corporation (“Grow Biz”; the Company, Wirth, Winmark Capital, Grow Biz and any other Person who joins the Note Agreement as an Issuer pursuant to paragraph 5J, collectively, the “Issuers”), The Prudential Insurance Company of America (“PICA”), Pruco Life Insurance Company (“Pruco”), Prudential Retirement Guaranteed Cost Business Trust (“PRG”), PAR U Hartford Life Insurance Comfort Trust (“PAR”), Prudential Annuities Life Assurance Corporation (“PALA”) and The Prudential Life Insurance Company, Ltd. (“PLIC”; PICA, Pruco, PRG, PAR and PALA collectively, the “Holders”). Capitalized terms used herein that are not otherwise defined herein shall have the meaning specified in the Note Agreement.
The Issuers have requested that the Holders agree to certain amendments to the Note Agreement as set forth below. Subject to the terms and conditions hereof, the Holders are willing to agree to such request. Accordingly, and in accordance with the provisions of paragraph 11C of the Note Agreement, the parties hereto agree as follows:
SECTION 1. Amendments to the Note Agreement. From and after the Effective Date (as defined in Section 4 hereof), the Note Agreement is amended as follows:
4E(2). Offer to Prepay. The offer to prepay Notes contemplated by paragraph 4E(1) shall be an offer to prepay, in accordance with and subject to this paragraph 4E, the Notes held by the holders thereof on the earlier of (i) the date of any mandatory prepayment under the Credit Agreement as a result of the Asset Disposition giving rise to such offer to prepay, (ii) the date of any mandatory prepayment under the Other Note Agreement as a result of the Asset Disposition giving rise to such offer to prepay, and (iii) the date any Net Cash Proceeds in respect of such Asset Disposition are received by or on behalf of the Company or
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any Subsidiary, but in no event sooner than 15 Business Days after the date the notice with respect thereto pursuant to paragraph 4E(1) has been given to the holders of the Notes, in an aggregate amount equal to the Noteholder Portion of the amount by which such Net Cash Proceeds exceed $4,000,000 in the aggregate during such Fiscal Year.
(vii)simultaneously with the transmission thereof, copies of (a) all notices, reports, financial statements or other communications given to the Bank Agent or the Banks under the Credit Agreement, excluding routine borrowing requests and (b) all notices, reports, financial statements or other communications given to the holders of notes under the Other Note Agreement, excluding routine note issuance requests;
“(ii)Obligations under the Credit Agreement in an aggregate outstanding principal amount of $20,000,000 for the revolving credit facility thereunder and $30,000,000 for the term loan facility thereunder, but only if such obligations are subject to the Intercreditor Agreement and the Intercreditor Agreement is in full force and effect;”
“(xi)Obligations under the Other Prudential Notes and the Other Note Agreement.”
“(vii)liens in favor of the Collateral Agent arising under the Collateral Documents to secure the obligations of the Issuers and the Guarantors under this Agreement, the Notes, the Credit Agreement, the Other Prudential Notes, the Other Note Agreement and the other Transaction Documents, but only if the Intercreditor Agreement shall be in full force and effect and applicable thereto.”
“(3)the aggregate consideration to be paid by the Company and its Subsidiaries (including any Debt assumed or issued in connection therewith, the amount thereof to be calculated in accordance with GAAP) in connection with such Acquisition (or any series of related Acquisitions) is less than $20,000,000 individually and the aggregate consideration for all Acquisitions by the Company and its Subsidiaries since Sixth Amendment Effective Date does not exceed $20,000,000;”
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“6J.Inconsistent Agreements. Each Issuer covenants that it will not, and not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, enter into any agreement containing any provision which would (i) be violated or breached by the issuance and sale of Notes hereunder or by the performance by any Issuer or Guarantor of any of its obligations hereunder or under any other Transaction Document, (ii) prohibit the Company or any of its Subsidiaries from granting to the Collateral Agent, for the ratable benefit of the Banks and the holders of the Notes and Other Prudential Notes, a Lien on any of its assets or (iii) create or permit to exist or become effective any encumbrance or restriction on the ability of any Subsidiary to (a) pay dividends or make other distributions to the Company or any other Subsidiary, or pay any Debt owed to the Company or any other Subsidiary, (b) make loans or advances to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or (c) transfer any of its assets or properties to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, other than (w) customary restrictions and conditions contained in agreements relating to the sale of all or a substantial part of the assets of any Subsidiary pending such sale, provided that such restrictions and conditions apply only to the Subsidiary to be sold and such sale is permitted hereunder, (x) restrictions or conditions imposed by any agreement relating to purchase money Debt, Capital Leases and other secured Debt permitted by this Agreement if such restrictions or conditions apply only to the property or assets securing such Debt, (y) restrictions or conditions imposed by the Credit Agreement or the Other Note Agreement, so long as no more restrictive than the equivalent restrictions and conditions contained in this Agreement and (z) customary provisions in leases and other contracts restricting the assignment thereof.”
“As of the date of closing no Subsidiary of the Company, other than the Issuers as of the date of closing, is a borrower, co-borrower, obligor or co-obligor under, or has a Contingent Liability with respect to any Debt under, the Credit Agreement or the Other Note Agreement.”
“8P.Absence of Financing Statements, Etc. Except with respect to the Liens permitted by paragraph 6C hereof and Liens in favor of the Collateral Agent securing the obligations of the Issuers under the Credit Agreement and the Other Note Agreement, there is no financing statement, security agreement, chattel mortgage, real estate mortgage or other document filed or recorded with any filing records, registry or other public office, that purports to cover, affect or give notice of any present or possible future Lien on, or security interest in, any assets or property of any Issuer or any Subsidiary or any rights relating thereto.”
“As of the date hereof, all filings, assignments, pledges and deposits of documents
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or instruments have been made, and all other actions have been taken, that are necessary or advisable under applicable law and are required to be made or taken on or prior to the date of closing under the provisions of this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents to create and perfect a security interest in the Collateral in favor of the Collateral Agent to secure the Notes, the Issuers’ obligations under the Credit Agreement and the Other Note Agreement, subject to no Liens other than Liens permitted under clauses (ii), (iv) and (vi) of paragraph 6C.”
“The Issuers have delivered to the Purchasers a true, correct and complete copies of the Credit Agreement, the Other Note Agreement, each Subordinated Debt Document, each Subordination Agreement and all amendments to each of the foregoing, in each case as in effect on the date of closing.”
“Existing Credit Agreement” shall mean the Credit Agreement, dated as of July 13, 2010, among the Issuers, the Bank Agent and the Banks, as amended by Amendment No. 1 thereto, dated as of January 30, 2012, Amendment No. 2 thereto, dated as of February 29, 2012, and Amendment No. 3 thereto, dated as of February 21, 2014, Amendment No. 4 thereto, dated as of April 14, 2015, Amendment No. 5 thereto, dated as of July 18, 2017, Amendment No. 6 thereto, dated as of December 16, 2019, Amendment No. 7 thereto, dated as of September 2, 2020, Amendment No. 8 thereto, dated as of October 14, 2020, Amendment No. 9 thereto, dated as of September 10, 2021, and Amendment No. 10 thereto, dated as of the Sixth Amendment Effective Date.
“Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio” shall mean as of any date of determination and calculated for a trailing twelve month period ending on such date of determination, the ratio of (a) the total EBITDA of the Company and its Subsidiaries for such period, minus (i) the sum of income taxes paid in cash by the Company and its Subsidiaries in such period, (ii) the sum of all Capital Expenditures made by the Company and its Subsidiaries in such period, and (iii) the sum of all distributions (excluding any Special Dividend made in such period) made by the Company and its Subsidiaries in such period, divided by (b) the sum for such period of (i) cash interest expense plus (ii) all scheduled payments of principal on Debt (excluding, (A) the Specified Principal Payment and (B) for the avoidance of doubt, any payment pursuant to Section 6 of the Credit Agreement).
“Noteholder Portion” shall mean, with respect to any event giving rise to an offer to prepay pursuant to paragraph 4E, a percentage expressed as a fraction, the numerator of which equals the aggregate outstanding principal amount of the Notes on the date of such event and the denominator of which equals the sum of the aggregate outstanding principal amount of the Notes on such date plus the
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aggregate principal amount of the Debt outstanding under the Credit Agreement and the Other Note Agreement on such date.
“Primary Bank Facility” shall mean (i) the Credit Agreement, (ii) the Other Note Agreement or (iii) any credit facility that replaces or refinances the Credit Agreement, the Other Note Agreement or any other Primary Bank Facility.
“Program Repurchases” shall mean immaterial repurchases or redemptions of Capital Securities of the Company using operating cash on the balance sheet of the Company or proceeds of loans and notes issued under any Primary Bank Facility or this Agreement, in each case pursuant to a share repurchase program approved by the Company’s board of directors.
“Other Note Agreement” shall mean that certain Private Shelf Agreement, dated as of April 12, 2022, by and among the Issuers, PGIM, Inc. and certain other Prudential Affiliates from time to time that become purchasers of Other Prudential Notes thereunder.
“Other Prudential Notes” shall mean all notes issued and outstanding under the Other Note Agreement.
“Sixth Amendment Effective Date” shall mean April 12, 2022.
“Specified Principal Payment” (i) the Series C Notes, as the same are outstanding as of the Sixth Amendment Effective Date and (ii) with respect to any Other Prudential Notes, to the extent such Other Prudential Notes are non-amortizing term notes that is due and payable in one principal payment on the stated maturity date of such Other Prudential Notes, such principal payment, so long as such principal payment consists of the payment in full of such note and, in each case with respect to the payments described in clauses (i) and clauses (ii), such payments are made with the proceeds of Debt that is permitted under paragraph 6B of this Agreement.
SECTION 3. Representations and Warranties. Each Issuer represents and warrants that (a) the execution and delivery of this letter by each Issuer has been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action on behalf of the Issuers, this letter has been executed and delivered by a duly authorized officer of the Issuers, as applicable, and this letter constitutes legal, valid and binding obligations of the Issuers, enforceable against the Issuers in accordance with their terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by (i) bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally and (ii) general principles of equity (regardless of whether such enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law),
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(b) each representation and warranty set forth in paragraph 8 of the Note Agreement and the other Transaction Documents to which it is a party is true and correct as of the date of execution and delivery of this letter by the Issuers with the same effect as if made on such date, before and after giving effect to this letter (except to the extent such representations and warranties expressly refer to an earlier date, in which case they were true and correct as of such earlier date), (c) no Event of Default or Default exists or has occurred and is continuing on the date hereof, before and after giving effect to this letter and (d) neither any Issuer nor any Subsidiary has paid or agreed to pay, and neither any Issuer nor any Subsidiary will pay or agree to pay, any fees or other consideration to any Person in connection with the amendment referenced in Section 4.1(iii) hereof, other than as set forth in Section 40 of such amendment and reimbursement of out-of-pocket fees and expenses of their own legal counsel and legal counsel to the Banks and the Bank Agent.
SECTION 4. Conditions Precedent. The amendments in Section 1 of this letter shall become effective as of the date (the “Effective Date”) that each of the following conditions has been satisfied:
4.1Documents. Each Holder shall have received original counterparts or, if satisfactory to such Holder, certified or other copies of all of the following, in form and substance satisfactory to such Holder, dated the date hereof unless otherwise indicated, and on the date hereof in full force and effect:
SECTION 5. [Reserved].
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SECTION 6. Reference to and Effect on Note Agreement; Ratification of Transaction Documents. Upon the effectiveness of the amendments in Section 1 of this letter, each reference to the Note Agreement in any other document, instrument or agreement shall mean and be a reference to the Note Agreement as modified by this letter. Except as specifically set forth in Section 1, the Note Agreement shall remain in full force and effect and is hereby ratified and confirmed in all respects. Except as expressly amended hereby, each of the Note Agreement and the other Transaction Documents are hereby ratified and confirmed in all respects and shall continue in full force and effect. Except as specifically stated in this letter, the execution, delivery and effectiveness of this letter shall not (a) amend the Note Agreement or any Note, (b) operate as a waiver of any right, power or remedy of any holder of the Notes, or (c) constitute a waiver of, or consent to any departure from, any provision of the Note Agreement or any Note at any time. The execution, delivery and effectiveness of this letter shall not be construed as a course of dealing or other implication that any holder of the Notes has agreed to or is prepared to grant any consents or agree to any waiver to the Note Agreement in the future, whether or not under similar circumstances.
SECTION 7. Release. Each of the Issuers hereby absolutely and unconditionally releases and forever discharges each Holder, and any and all 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, counterclaims, 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, which the Issuers 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 from the beginning of time to and including the date of this letter, whether such claims, counterclaims, demands or causes of action are matured or unmatured or known or unknown.
SECTION 8. Expenses. Each Issuer hereby confirms its obligations under the Note Agreement, whether or not the transactions hereby contemplated are consummated, to pay, promptly after request by any holder of the Notes, all reasonable out-of-pocket costs and expenses, including attorneys’ fees and expenses, incurred by any holder of the Notes in connection with this letter agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby, in enforcing any rights under this letter agreement, or in responding to any subpoena or other legal process or informal investigative demand issued in connection with this letter agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby. The obligations of the Issuers under this Section 8 shall survive transfer by any holder of any Note and payment of any Note.
SECTION 9. Governing Law. THIS LETTER SHALL BE CONSTRUED AND ENFORCED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, AND THE RIGHTS OF THE PARTIES SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, THE LAW OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS (EXCLUDING ANY CONFLICTS OF LAW RULES WHICH WOULD OTHERWISE CAUSE THIS AGREEMENT TO BE CONSTRUED OR ENFORCED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, OR THE RIGHTS OF THE PARTIES TO BE GOVERNED BY, THE LAWS OF ANY OTHER JURISDICTION).
SECTION 10. Counterparts; Section Titles. This letter may be executed in any number
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of counterparts and by different parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which when so executed and delivered shall be deemed to be an original and all of which when taken together shall constitute but one and the same instrument. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page to this letter by facsimile or electronic transmission shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this letter. The section titles contained in this letter are and shall be without substance, meaning or content of any kind whatsoever and are not a part of the agreement between the parties hereto.
(Signature Page Follows)
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Very truly yours,
PAR U HARTFORD LIFE INSURANCE COMFORT TRUST
By: Prudential Arizona Reinsurance Universal Company, as Grantor
By: PGIM, Inc., as investment manager
By: | /s/Anna Sabiston |
Name: | Anna Sabiston |
Its: | Vice President |
PRUCO LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
By: PGIM, Inc., as investment manager
By: | /s/Anna Sabiston |
Name: | Anna Sabiston |
Its: | Vice President |
THE PRUDENTIAL INSURANCE COMPANY OF AMERICA
By: PGIM, Inc., as investment manager
By: | /s/Anna Sabiston |
Name: | Anna Sabiston |
Its: | Vice President |
PRUDENTIAL ANNUITIES LIFE ASSURANCE CORPORATION
By: PGIM, Inc., as investment manager
By: | /s/Anna Sabiston |
Name: | Anna Sabiston |
Its: | Vice President |
THE PRUDENTIAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY, LTD.
By: PGIM Japan Co., Ltd., as Investment Manager
By: PGIM, Inc., as Sub-Advisor
By: | /s/Anna Sabiston |
Name: | Anna Sabiston |
Its: | Vice President |
The foregoing letter is hereby accepted as of the date first above written.
WINMARK CORPORATION
By: | /s/ Anthony D. Ishaug | |
Name: | Anthony D. Ishaug | |
Title: | Chief Financial Officer |
WIRTH BUSINESS CREDIT, INC.
By: | /s/ Anthony D. Ishaug | |
Name: | Anthony D. Ishaug | |
Title: | Chief Financial Officer |
WINMARK CAPITAL CORPORATION
By: | /s/ Anthony D. Ishaug | |
Name: | Anthony D. Ishaug | |
Title: | Chief Financial Officer |
GROW BIZ GAMES, INC.
By: | /s/ Anthony D. Ishaug | |
Name: | Anthony D. Ishaug | |
Title: | Chief Financial Officer |
Exhibit 10.6
AMENDED AND RESTATED
INTERCREDITOR AND COLLATERAL AGENCY AGREEMENT
This Amended and Restated Intercreditor and Collateral Agency Agreement (this “Agreement”), dated as of this 12th day of April 2022, is by and among CIBC Bank USA (“CIBC”), The Prudential Insurance Company of America (“Prudential”), Pruco Life Insurance Company (“Pruco”), PAR U Hartford Life Insurance Comfort Trust (“PAR”), Prudential Annuities Life Assurance Corporation (“PALA”), The Prudential Life Insurance Company, Ltd. (“PLIC”), PGIM, Inc. (“PGIM”), CIBC, in its capacity as Bank Agent, CIBC, in its capacity as Collateral Agent, and the additional Senior Lenders that may from time to time become party hereto in accordance with the terms hereof. All terms used herein which are defined in Section 1 hereof or in the text of any other Section hereof shall have the meanings given therein.
WITNESSETH:
WHEREAS, CIBC (formerly known as The PrivateBank and Trust Company), Bank Agent, Collateral Agent, Prudential, PAR, PALA, and PLIC are parties to that certain Intercreditor and Collateral Agency Agreement, dated as of May 15, 2015 (as amended, restated, supplemented, or otherwise modified prior to the date hereof, the “Existing Intercreditor Agreement”);
WHEREAS, pursuant to the Credit Agreement, the Bank Lenders have made on or prior to the date hereof and the Bank Lenders may from time to time hereafter make Loans and to the Borrowers and issue Letters of Credit for the account of the Borrowers;
WHEREAS, pursuant to the Note Agreement, certain of the Noteholders have purchased certain Senior Secured Notes of the Borrowers prior to the date hereof;
WHEREAS, pursuant to the Private Shelf Agreement, certain parties may in the future purchase Additional Notes of the Borrowers pursuant to the terms of the Private Shelf Agreement; and
WHEREAS, CIBC, Prudential, Pruco, PAR, PALA, and PLIC, the Bank Agent and the Collateral Agent have agreed to amend and restate the Existing Intercreditor Agreement on the terms and conditions set forth herein.
NOW, THEREFORE, for the above reasons, in consideration of the mutual covenants herein, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as follows:
1.Definitions.
For the purposes of this Agreement, the following terms shall have the meanings specified with respect thereto below. Any plural term that is used herein in the singular shall be taken to mean each entity or item of the defined class and any singular term that is used herein in the plural shall be taken to mean all of the entities or items of the defined class, collectively.
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“Additional Noteholders” shall mean the holders of the Additional Notes from time to time.
“Additional Notes” shall mean any additional senior secured notes issued by Borrowers in favor of Additional Noteholders that are or become a party hereto under the Private Shelf Agreement from time to time after the date hereof.
“Affiliate” shall mean, with respect to any Person, any other Person directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by, or under direct or indirect common control with, such first Person. A Person shall be deemed to control a corporation or other entity if such Person possesses, directly or indirectly, the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of such corporation or entity, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise.
“Bank Agent” shall mean CIBC, in its capacity as the agent for the Bank Lenders under the Credit Agreement, and its successors and assigns in that capacity.
“Bank Lenders” shall mean CIBC, in its capacity as a “Lender” under the Credit Agreement, and its successors and assigns, including any person subsequently becoming a party to the Credit Agreement as a “Lender” under the Credit Agreement.
“Bank Note” shall mean a “Note” as defined in the Credit Agreement.
“Bank Product Obligation Providers” shall mean any Bank Lender or Affiliate of a Bank Lender who may provide “Bank Products” (as defined in the Credit Agreement (as in effect on the date hereof)) to the Loan Parties.
“Bank Product Obligations” shall mean “Bank Product Obligations” as defined in the Credit Agreement (as in effect on the date hereof).
“Borrowers” shall mean Winmark Corporation, a Minnesota corporation (the “Company”), Wirth Business Credit, Inc., a Minnesota corporation (“Wirth”), Winmark Capital Corporation, a Minnesota corporation (“Winmark Capital”), Grow Biz Games, Inc., a Minnesota corporation (“Grow Biz”), and each subsidiary of a Borrower hereafter becoming party to the Credit Agreement as a Borrower, becoming a party to the Note Agreement as an Issuer pursuant to paragraph 5J of the Note Agreement and becoming a party to the Private Shelf Agreement pursuant to paragraph 5J of the Private Shelf Agreement.
“Collateral” shall mean all property and assets, and interests in property and assets, upon or in which any Loan Party has granted a lien or security interest to the Collateral Agent or any Senior Lender to secure the Senior Indebtedness and all balances held by the Collateral Agent, the Bank Agent or any Senior Lender for the account of any Loan Party or any other property held or owing by the Collateral Agent, the Bank Agent or any Senior Lender to or for the credit or for the account of any Loan Party with respect to which the Collateral Agent, the Bank Agent or any Senior Lender has rights to setoff or appropriate or a common law lien.
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“Collateral Agent” shall mean CIBC, in its capacity as agent for the Bank Lenders, the Bank Agent and the Noteholders pursuant to this Agreement, together with any successor or replacement agent which may be appointed pursuant to this Agreement.
“Collateral Agent Expenses” shall mean all costs and expenses incurred by the Collateral Agent in connection with the performance of its duties under this Agreement, including, without limitation, the realization upon or protection of the Collateral or enforcing or defending any lien upon or security interest in the Collateral or any other action taken in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement, expenses incurred for legal counsel in connection with the foregoing, and any other costs, expenses or liabilities incurred by the Collateral Agent for which the Collateral Agent is entitled to be reimbursed or indemnified by a Loan Party pursuant to this Agreement or any Collateral Document or a Guaranty Agreement or by the Senior Lenders pursuant to this Agreement.
“Collateral Agent Obligations” shall mean all obligations of any Loan Party to pay, reimburse or indemnify the Collateral Agent for any Collateral Agent Expenses.
“Collateral Documents” shall mean the Security Agreements, the Pledge Agreement and any other agreement, document or instrument in effect on the date hereof or executed by any Loan Party with the written consent of the Required Senior Lenders after the date hereof under which such Loan Party has granted a lien upon or security interest in any property or assets to the Collateral Agent to secure all or any part of the Senior Indebtedness, all financing statements, certificates, documents and instruments relating thereto or executed or provided in connection therewith, each as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.
“Credit Agreement” shall mean the Credit Agreement, dated as of July 13, 2010, among the Borrowers, the Bank Lenders and the Bank Agent, as amended by Amendment No. 1 to Credit Agreement dated as of January 30, 2012, Amendment No. 2 to Credit Agreement dated as of February 29, 2012, Amendment No.3 to Credit Agreement dated as of February 21, 2014, Amendment No. 4 to Credit Agreement dated as of April 14, 2015, Amendment No. 5 to Credit Agreement dated as of July 18, 2017, Amendment No. 6 to Credit Agreement dated as of December 16, 2019, Amendment No. 7 to Credit Agreement dated as of September 2, 2020, Amendment No. 8 to Credit Agreement dated as of October 14, 2020, Amendment No. 9 to Credit Agreement dated as of September 10, 2021, and Amendment No. 10 to Credit Agreement, dated as of the date hereof and as further amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.
“Delayed Draw Term Loan” shall mean a “Delayed Draw Term Loan”, as defined in the Credit Agreement.
“Enforcement” shall mean (a) for the Bank Agent or any Senior Lender to make demand for payment prior to the scheduled payment date, if any, of or accelerate the time for payment of any Loan, any Bank Note or any Senior Secured Note, or to call for funding of or collateral for any Letter of Credit prior to being presented with a draft drawn thereunder (or, in the event the draft is a time draft, prior to its due date), (b) for the Bank Agent or any Bank Lender to terminate its commitment to make Loans or issue Letters of Credit pursuant to the Credit
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Agreement (but not including the expiration of such commitment on the Termination Date or the expiration of the Delayed Draw Term Loan Availability Period on the date set forth in clause (a) of the definition thereof as set forth in the Credit Agreement), (c) for the Bank Agent or any Senior Lender to commence the judicial enforcement of any rights or remedies under or with respect to the Credit Agreement, any Bank Note, the Note Agreement, the Private Shelf Agreement, any Senior Secured Note or any Senior Indebtedness, or to setoff, freeze or otherwise appropriate any balances held by it for the account of any Loan Party or any other property at any time held or owing by it to or for the credit or for the account of any Loan Party, (d) for the Collateral Agent or any Senior Lender to commence the judicial enforcement of any rights or remedies under any Collateral Document (other than an action solely for the purpose of establishing or defending the lien or security interest intended to be created by any Collateral Document upon or in any Collateral as against or from claims of third parties on or in such Collateral), to setoff, freeze or otherwise appropriate any balances held by it for the account of any Loan Party or any other property at any time held or owing by it to or for the credit or for the account of any Loan Party or to otherwise take any action (whether judicial or non-judicial) to realize upon the Collateral, or (e) the commencement by, against or with respect to any Loan Party of any proceeding under any bankruptcy, reorganization, compromise, arrangement, insolvency, readjustment of debt, dissolution or liquidation or similar law or for the appointment of a receiver for such Loan Party or its assets.
“Event of Default” shall mean an “Event of Default”, as defined in the Credit Agreement, an “Event of Default”, as defined in the Note Agreement, or an “Event of Default”, as defined in the Private Shelf Agreement.
“Excluded Hedging Obligation” shall mean, with respect to any Loan Party, any Hedging Obligation if, and to the extent that, all or a portion of the guaranty of such Loan Party of, or the grant by such Loan Party of a security interest to secure, such Hedging Obligation (or any guaranty thereof) is or becomes illegal under the Commodity Exchange Act or any rule, regulation or order of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (or the application or official interpretation of any thereof) by virtue of such Loan Party’s failure for any reason to constitute an “eligible contract participant” as defined in the Commodity Exchange Act and the regulations thereunder at the time the guaranty of such Loan Party or the grant of such security interest becomes effective with respect to such Hedging Obligation. If a Hedging Obligation arises under a master agreement governing more than one swap, such exclusion shall apply only to the portion of such Hedging Obligation that is attributable to swaps for which such guaranty or security interest is or becomes illegal.
“Guarantors” shall mean any subsidiary of a Borrower hereafter executing or becoming party to a Guaranty Agreement in accordance with the provisions of paragraph 5J of the Note Agreement, paragraph 5J of the Private Shelf Agreement, or otherwise.
“Guaranty Agreements” shall mean any Guaranty Agreement hereafter made by a subsidiary of a Borrower in favor of the Noteholders or the Bank Lenders in accordance with the provisions of paragraph 5J of the Note Agreement, paragraph 5J of the Private Shelf Agreement, Section 10.10 of the Credit Agreement, or otherwise, in each case, to the extent each such subsidiary entering into a Guaranty Agreement is either a Guarantor or Borrower with respect to
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the Note Agreement, the Private Shelf Agreement and the Credit Agreement, as any such Guaranty Agreement may be amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.
“Hedging Obligation Providers” shall mean any Bank Lender or Affiliate of a Bank Lender who may enter into a “Hedging Agreement” (as defined in the Credit Agreement (as in effect on the date hereof)) with any of the Loan Parties.
“Hedging Obligations” shall mean “Hedging Obligations” as defined in the Credit Agreement (as in effect on the date hereof or as amended as permitted herein).
“Indemnitee” shall have the meaning given in Section 2(j) hereof.
“Insolvent Entity” shall mean any entity that (i) has become or is insolvent or has a parent company that has become or is insolvent, (ii) has become the subject of a bankruptcy or insolvency proceeding, or has had a receiver, conservator, trustee or custodian appointed for it, or has taken any action in furtherance of, or indicating its consent to, approval of or acquiescence in any such proceeding or appointment or (iii) has a parent company that has become the subject of a bankruptcy or insolvency proceeding, or has had a receiver, conservator, trustee or custodian appointed for it, or has taken any action in furtherance of, or indicating its consent to, approval of or acquiescence in any such proceeding or appointment.
“Letter of Credit Collateral Obligations” shall mean all of the obligations of the Borrowers under Section 13.2(c) of the Credit Agreement to deposit cash with the Collateral Agent with respect to Outstanding Letters of Credit Exposure.
“Letters of Credit” shall mean the letters of credit issued under Section 2.3 of the Credit Agreement.
“Loan” shall mean a “Loan or Loans”, as defined in the Credit Agreement.
“Loan and Reimbursement Obligations” shall mean the principal amount of the Loans and the reimbursement obligations due the Bank Lenders with respect to Letters of Credit issued on behalf of the Borrowers.
“Loan Parties” shall mean the Borrowers and the Guarantors.
“Note Agreement” shall mean the Note Agreement, dated as of May 14, 2015, between the Borrowers and the Noteholders who are the initial signatories hereto, as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.
“Noteholders” shall mean the holders of the Senior Secured Notes from time to time, including the Additional Noteholders.
“Outstanding Letters of Credit Exposure” at any time shall mean the undrawn face amount of all outstanding Letters of Credit at such time.
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“Person” shall mean and include an individual, a partnership, a joint venture, a corporation, a trust, a limited liability company, an unincorporated organization and a government or any department or agency thereof.
“Pledge Agreement” shall mean the Amended and Restated Pledge Agreement, dated as of May 14, 2015, made by the Company in favor of the Collateral Agent, as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.
“Post-Sharing Date Advance” shall mean, with respect to any Enforcement, any Loan which (a) is made by the Bank Lenders after the Sharing Date with respect to such Enforcement, (b) is not made on account of, or to satisfy, (i) Loan and Reimbursement Obligations or Letter of Credit Collateral Obligations which were outstanding on the applicable Sharing Date or any interest or fees thereon or (ii) any indemnification or expense reimbursement obligations under the Credit Agreement or any document relating thereto and (c) causes the Senior Loan Exposure (as defined in Section 6 hereof) of a Bank Lender at the time of such Enforcement to be greater than such Senior Lender’s Senior Loan Exposure on the Sharing Date with respect to such Enforcement; provided that in no event shall the aggregate principal amount of Post-Sharing Date Advances relating to any Enforcement exceed $500,000.
“Private Shelf Agreement” shall mean the Private Shelf Agreement, dated as of the date hereof, among the Borrowers, PGIM and any Additional Noteholders that purchase Senior Secured Notes thereunder, as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.
“Pro Rata Expenses Share” with respect to any Senior Lender shall mean (a) at any time before the time all commitments of the Bank Lenders to make Loans under the Credit Agreement have been terminated, the ratio of (i) the amount of such Senior Lender’s “Commitment” (as defined in the Credit Agreement) at such time, if such Senior Lender is a Bank Lender, or the aggregate outstanding principal amount of the Senior Secured Notes held by such Senior Lender at such time, if such Senior Lender is a Noteholder, to (ii) the total of the Bank Lenders’ Commitments (as defined in the Credit Agreement) and the aggregate outstanding principal amount of all of the Senior Secured Notes at such time, or (b) at any time on and after the time all commitments of the Bank Lenders to make Loans under the Credit Agreement have been terminated, the ratio of (i) aggregate amount of the Senior Indebtedness owed to such Senior Lender at such time, to (ii) the total amount of all outstanding Senior Indebtedness at such time.
“Required Enforcement Directing Lenders” shall mean (a) at any time, the Required Senior Lenders, and (b) at any time after 90 days after the date upon which the Required Bank Lenders or the Required Holder(s) have provided notice to the Collateral Agent and the other Senior Lenders of the occurrence of an Event of Default and the desire to direct the Collateral Agent to commence enforcement of the rights and remedies of the Collateral Agent under the Collateral Documents due to such Event of Default (including a general description of the proposed enforcement), either the Required Bank Lenders or the Required Holders(s), so long as, in the case of this clause (b), (i) no Senior Lender has notified the Collateral Agent in writing that it has a reasonable good faith belief that such enforcement would create any risk that the Collateral Agent or any Senior Lender would incur any liability to any Loan Party as a result of such enforcement, (ii) such Event of Default is a Specified Event of Default, and (iii) the outstanding
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amount of the Loan and Reimbursement Obligations and Outstanding Letters of Credit Exposure (if the Required Bank Lenders are the directing Senior Lenders) or of the Senior Secured Notes (if the Required Holder(s) are the directing Senior Lenders) is equal to at least the lesser of $1,000,000 or 5% of the aggregate amount of the outstanding Loan and Reimbursement Obligations, Outstanding Letters of Credit Exposure and Senior Secured Notes.
“Required Bank Lenders” shall mean the “Required Lenders”, as defined in the Credit Agreement.
“Required Holder(s)” at any time shall mean, collectively, holders of more than 50% of the aggregate outstanding principal amount of all Senior Secured Notes.
“Required Senior Lenders” at any time shall mean both (a) the Required Bank Lenders, and (b) the Required Holder(s).
“Revolving Loan” shall mean a “Revolving Loan”, as defined in the Credit Agreement.
“Security Agreements” shall mean each Amended and Restated Security Agreement, dated as of May 14, 2015, made by a Borrower in favor of the Collateral Agent and any Security Agreement hereinafter made by any subsidiary of a Borrower in favor of the Collateral Agent in accordance with paragraph 5K of the Note Agreement, paragraph 5K of the Private Shelf Agreement, and Section 10.10 of the Credit Agreement, or otherwise, each as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.
“Senior Indebtedness” shall mean the Collateral Agent Obligations, the Loan and Reimbursement Obligations, the Letter of Credit Collateral Obligations, the Bank Product Obligations, the Hedging Obligations, the principal amount of the Senior Secured Notes, and all of the other present or future indebtedness, liabilities and obligations of any Loan Party now or hereafter owed to any or all of the Collateral Agent, the Bank Agent, the Bank Lenders or the Noteholders, evidenced by or arising under, by virtue of or pursuant to this Agreement, the Credit Agreement, the Note Agreement, the Private Shelf Agreement, the Bank Notes, the Senior Secured Notes, the Collateral Documents or the Guaranty Agreements, whether such indebtedness, liabilities and obligations are direct or indirect, joint, several or joint and several, or now exist or hereafter arise, and all renewals and extensions thereof, including, without limitation, all interest on the Loans and the Senior Secured Notes and any Yield-Maintenance Amounts. The term “Senior Indebtedness” shall include all of the foregoing indebtedness, liabilities and obligations whether or not allowed as a claim in any bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or similar proceeding. In no event shall Senior Indebtedness include any Excluded Hedging Obligations.
“Senior Lenders” shall mean the Bank Lenders, the Noteholders, the Bank Product Obligation Providers and the Hedge Obligation Providers.
“Senior Secured Notes” shall mean, collectively, the Borrowers’ 5.50% Senior Secured Notes due May 14, 2025, the Borrowers’ 5.10% Senior Secured Notes due August 17, 2027, the Borrowers’ 3.18% Senior Secured Notes due September 10, 2028 and all Additional Notes.
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“Sharing Date” with respect to an Enforcement shall mean the earliest date on or prior to the date of such Enforcement (a) on which a Sharing Event occurred and (b) on each date after which, until the date of such Enforcement, one or more Sharing Events were in effect.
“Sharing Event” shall mean (a) an Enforcement, (b) the occurrence of any Specified Event of Default or (c) any refusal by the Bank Agent or any Bank Lender to make any Loan or issue any Letter of Credit requested by the Borrowers (irrespective of whether the conditions precedent thereto specified in the Credit Agreement have been satisfied) where such Loan or issuance would not cause the Borrowers to exceed the limitations set forth in Section 2.1 of the Credit Agreement.
“Specified Event of Default” shall mean (a) any default in any payment of any Senior Indebtedness when due, (b) any breach of Section 11 of the Credit Agreement, any breach of paragraph 6 of the Note Agreement or any breach of paragraph 6 of the Private Shelf Agreement, (c) an Event of Default described in Section 13.1.4 of the Credit Agreement, (d) an Event of Default described in paragraph 7A(viii), 7A(ix) or 7A(x) of the Note Agreement, or (e) an Event of Default described in paragraph 7A(viii), 7A(ix) or 7A(x) of the Private Shelf Agreement.
“Termination Date” shall mean the “Termination Date”, as defined in the Credit Agreement.
“Yield-Maintenance Amount” shall mean, collectively, the “Yield-Maintenance Amount”, as defined in each of the Note Agreement and the Private Shelf Agreement.
2.Appointment of CIBC as Collateral Agent for the Senior Lenders and the Bank Agent.
(a)Appointment of Collateral Agent. Subject in all respects to the terms and provisions of this Agreement, the Bank Lenders, the Noteholders and the Bank Agent hereby appoint CIBC (and confirm the appointment of CIBC under the Existing Intercreditor Agreement) to act as agent for the benefit of the Bank Lenders, the Noteholders and the Bank Agent with respect to the liens upon and the security interests in the Collateral and the rights and remedies granted under and pursuant to the Collateral Documents, and CIBC hereby accepts such appointment and agrees to act as such agent. The appointment of the Collateral Agent pursuant to this Agreement shall be effective with respect to all financing statements filed in any filing office with respect to any Loan Party prior to the date of this Agreement on and as of the date such financing statements were filed. The agency created hereby shall in no way impair or affect any of the rights and powers of, or impart any duties or obligations upon, CIBC in its individual capacity as a Bank Lender or as the Bank Agent. To the extent legally necessary to enable the Collateral Agent to enforce or otherwise foreclose and realize upon any of the liens or security interests in the Collateral in any legal proceeding which the Collateral Agent either commences or joins as a party in accordance with the terms hereof, the Bank Agent and each of the Senior Lenders agree to join as a party in such proceeding and take such action therein concurrently to enforce and obtain a judgment for the payment of the Senior Indebtedness held by it.
(b)Duties of Collateral Agent. Subject to the Collateral Agent having been directed to take such action in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, the Bank Agent and
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each Senior Lender hereby irrevocably authorizes the Collateral Agent to take such action on its behalf under the provisions of the Collateral Documents and any other instruments, documents and agreements referred to therein and to exercise such powers thereunder as are specifically delegated to the Collateral Agent by the terms thereof and such other powers as are reasonably incidental thereto. Subject to the provisions of Section 13 hereof, the Collateral Agent is hereby irrevocably authorized to take all actions on behalf of the Bank Agent and the Senior Lenders to enforce the rights and remedies of the Collateral Agent, the Bank Agent and the Senior Lenders provided for in the Collateral Documents or by applicable law with respect to the liens upon and security interests in the Collateral granted to secure the Senior Indebtedness; provided, however, that, notwithstanding any provision to the contrary in any Collateral Documents, (i) the Collateral Agent shall act solely at and in accordance with the written direction of the Required Senior Lenders or, with respect to any direction to enforce rights and remedies under the Collateral Documents, the Required Enforcement Directing Lenders, (ii) the Collateral Agent shall not, without the written consent of the Required Senior Lenders, release or terminate by affirmative action or consent any lien upon or security interest in any Collateral granted under any Collateral Documents (except (x) upon dispositions of Collateral by a Loan Party as permitted in accordance with the terms of the Credit Agreement, the Note Agreement, and the Private Shelf Agreement, prior to the occurrence of an Event of Default, and (y) upon disposition of such Collateral after an Event of Default pursuant to direction given under clause (i) hereof), and (iii) the Collateral Agent shall not accept any Senior Indebtedness in whole or partial consideration for the disposition of any Collateral without the written consent of the Required Senior Lenders. The Collateral Agent agrees to make such demands and give such notices under the Collateral Documents as may be requested by, and to take such action to enforce the Collateral Documents and to foreclose upon, collect and dispose of the Collateral or any portion thereof as may be directed by, the Required Senior Lenders or the Required Enforcement Directing Lenders, as applicable; provided, however, that the Collateral Agent shall not be required to take any action that is contrary to law or the terms of the Collateral Documents or this Agreement. Once a direction to take any action has been given to the Collateral Agent in accordance with this Section 2(b), and subject to any other directions which may be given from time to time by the Required Senior Lenders (or, with respect to the enforcement of rights or remedies under the Collateral Documents pursuant to a direction given by the Required Enforcement Directing Lenders, such Required Enforcement Directing Lenders), decisions regarding the manner in which any such action is to be implemented and conducted (with the exception of any decision to settle, compromise or dismiss any legal proceeding, with or without prejudice) shall be made by the Collateral Agent, with the assistance and upon the advice of its counsel. Notwithstanding the provisions of the preceding sentence, any and all decisions to settle, compromise or dismiss any legal proceeding, with or without prejudice, which implements, approves or results in or has the effect of causing any release, change or occurrence, where such release, change or occurrence otherwise would require unanimous approval of all of the Senior Lenders pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, also shall require the unanimous approval of all of the Senior Lenders.
(c)Requesting Instructions. The Collateral Agent may at any time request directions from the Senior Lenders as to any course of action or other matter relating to the performance of its duties under this Agreement and the Collateral Documents and the Senior Lenders shall respond to such request in a reasonably prompt manner.
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(d)Emergency Actions. If the Collateral Agent has asked the Senior Lenders for instructions following the receipt of any notice of an Event of Default and if the Required Senior Lenders have not responded to such request within 30 days, the Collateral Agent shall be authorized to take such actions with regard to such Event of Default which the Collateral Agent, in good faith, believes to be reasonably required to protect the Collateral from damage or destruction; provided, however, that once instructions have been received from the Required Enforcement Directing Lenders, the actions of the Collateral Agent shall be governed thereby and the Collateral Agent shall not take any further action which would be contrary thereto.
(e)Collateral Document Amendments. An amendment, supplement, modification, restatement or waiver of any provision of any Collateral Document, any consent to any departure by any Loan Party therefrom, or the execution or acceptance by the Collateral Agent of any Collateral Document not in effect on the date hereof shall be effective if, and only if, consented to in writing by the Required Senior Lenders; provided, however, that, (i) no such amendment, supplement, modification, restatement, waiver, consent or such Collateral Document not in effect on the date hereof which imposes any additional responsibilities upon the Collateral Agent shall be effective without the written consent of the Collateral Agent, (ii) no such amendment, supplement, modification, waiver or consent shall release any Collateral from the lien or security interest created by any Collateral Document not subject to the exception in Section 2(b)(ii) hereof or narrow the scope of the property or assets in which a lien or security interest is granted pursuant to any Collateral Document or change the description of the obligations secured thereby without the written consent of all Senior Lenders, and (iii) no such consent of the Required Senior Lenders shall be required for the execution and acceptance of any additional Collateral Documents in accordance with the provisions of paragraph 5K of the Note Agreement, paragraph 5K of the Private Shelf Agreement, and Section 10.10 of the Credit Agreement.
(f)Administrative Actions. The Collateral Agent shall have the right to take such actions hereunder and under the Collateral Documents, not inconsistent with the instructions of the Required Senior Lenders or the terms of the Collateral Documents and this Agreement, as the Collateral Agent deems necessary or appropriate to perfect or continue the perfection of the liens on the Collateral for the benefit of the Senior Lenders.
(g)Collateral Agent Acting Through Others. The Collateral Agent may perform any of its duties under this Agreement and the Collateral Documents by or through attorneys (which attorneys may be the same attorneys who represent the Bank Agent or any Senior Lender), agents or other persons reasonably deemed appropriate by the Collateral Agent. In addition, the Collateral Agent may act in good faith reliance upon the opinion or advice of attorneys selected by the Collateral Agent. In all cases the Collateral Agent may pay customary and reasonable compensation to all such attorneys, agents or other persons as may be employed in connection with the performance of its duties under this Agreement and the Collateral Documents.
(h)Resignation and Removal of Collateral Agent.
(i)The Collateral Agent (A) may resign at any time upon notice to the Senior Lenders, and (B) may be removed at any time upon the written request of the Required Senior Lenders sent to the Collateral Agent and the other Senior Lenders. For the purposes of any determination of Required Senior Lenders under this Section 2(h)(i),
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any Loan and Reimbursement Obligations, Outstanding Letters of Credit Exposure or Senior Secured Notes held by an Insolvent Entity shall be disregarded.
(ii)If the Collateral Agent shall resign or be removed, the Required Senior Lenders shall have the right to select a replacement Collateral Agent by notice to the Collateral Agent and the other Senior Lenders.
(iii)Upon any replacement of the Collateral Agent, the Collateral Agent shall assign all of the liens upon and security interests in all Collateral under this Agreement and the Collateral Documents, and all right, title and interest of the Collateral Agent under this Agreement and all the Collateral Documents, to the replacement Collateral Agent, without recourse to the Collateral Agent or any Senior Lender and at the expense of the Borrowers.
(iv)No resignation or removal of the Collateral Agent shall become effective until a replacement Collateral Agent shall have been selected as provided herein and shall have assumed in writing the obligations of the Collateral Agent hereunder and under the Collateral Documents. In the event that a replacement Collateral Agent shall not have been selected as provided herein or shall not have assumed such obligations within 90 days after the resignation or removal of the Collateral Agent, then the Collateral Agent may apply to a court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a replacement Collateral Agent.
(v)Any replacement Collateral Agent shall be a bank, trust company, or insurance company having capital, surplus and undivided profits of at least $250 million.
(i)Indemnification of Collateral Agent. The Loan Parties, by their consent hereto, hereby jointly and severally agree to indemnify and hold the Collateral Agent, its officers, directors, employees and agents (including, but not limited to, any attorneys acting at the direction or on behalf of the Collateral Agent) harmless against any and all costs, claims, damages, penalties, liabilities, losses and expenses (including, but not limited to, court costs and attorneys’ fees and disbursements) which may be incurred by or asserted against the Collateral Agent or any such officers, directors, employees and agents by reason of its status as agent hereunder or which pertain, whether directly or indirectly, to this Agreement, the Collateral Documents or to any action or failure to act of the Collateral Agent as agent hereunder, except to the extent any such action or failure to act by the Collateral Agent constitutes gross negligence or willful misconduct. The obligations of the Loan Parties under this Section 2(i) shall survive the payment in full of the Senior Indebtedness and the termination of this Agreement.
(j)Liability of Collateral Agent. In the absence of gross negligence, willful misconduct or a breach of this Agreement, the Collateral Agent will not be liable to the Bank Agent or any Senior Lender for any action or failure to act or any error of judgment, negligence, mistake or oversight on its part or on the part of any of its officers, directors, employees or agents. To the extent not paid by the Loan Parties, each Senior Lender hereby severally, and not jointly, agrees to indemnify and hold the Collateral Agent and each of its officers, directors, employees and agents (collectively, “Indemnitees”) harmless from and against any and all liabilities, costs, claims, damages, penalties, losses and actions of any kind or nature whatsoever (including, without
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limitation, the fees and disbursements of counsel for any Indemnitee) incurred by or asserted against any Indemnitee arising out of or in relation to this Agreement or the Collateral Documents or its status as agent hereunder or any action taken or omitted to be taken by any Indemnitee pursuant to and in accordance with any of the Collateral Documents and this Agreement, except to the extent arising from the gross negligence, willful misconduct or breach of this Agreement, with each Senior Lender being liable only for its Pro Rata Expenses Share, as of the date of the occurrence of the event giving rise to the claim for which indemnity is sought, of any such indemnification liability. The obligations of the Senior Lenders under this Section 2(j) shall survive the payment in full of the Senior Indebtedness and the termination of this Agreement.
(k)No Reliance on Collateral Agent. Neither the Collateral Agent nor any of its officers, directors, employees or agents (including, but not limited to, any attorneys acting at the direction or on behalf of the Collateral Agent) shall be deemed to have made any representations or warranties, express or implied, with respect to, nor shall the Collateral Agent or any such officer, director, employee or agent be liable to the Bank Agent or any Senior Lender or responsible for (i) any warranties or recitals made by any Loan Party in the Collateral Documents or any other agreement, certificate, instrument or document executed by any Loan Party in connection therewith, (ii) the due or proper execution or authorization of this Agreement or any Collateral Documents by any party other than the Collateral Agent, or the effectiveness, enforceability, validity, genuineness or collectibility as against any Loan Party of any Collateral Document or any other agreement, certificate, instrument or document executed by any of the Loan Parties in connection therewith, (iii) the present or future solvency or financial worth of any Loan Party, or (iv) the value, condition, existence or ownership of any of the Collateral or the perfection of any lien upon or security interest in the Collateral (whether now or hereafter held or granted) or the sufficiency of any action, filing, notice or other procedure taken or to be taken to perfect, attach or vest any lien or security interest in the Collateral. Except as may be required by Section 2(b) hereof, the Collateral Agent shall not be required, either initially or on a continuing basis, to (A) make any inquiry, investigation, evaluation or appraisal respecting, or enforce performance by any Loan Party of, any of the covenants, agreements or obligations of any Loan Party under any Collateral Document, or (B) undertake any other actions (other than actions expressly required to be taken by it under this Agreement). Nothing in any of the Collateral Documents, expressed or implied, is intended to or shall be so construed as to impose upon the Collateral Agent any obligations, duties or responsibilities except as set forth in this Agreement and therein. The Collateral Agent shall be protected in acting upon any notice, request, consent, certificate, order, affidavit, letter, telegram, telecopy or other paper or document given to it by any person reasonably and in good faith believed by it to be genuine and correct and to have been signed or sent by such person. The Collateral Agent shall have no duty to inquire as to the performance or observance of any of the terms, covenants or conditions of the Credit Agreement, the Note Agreement, or the Private Shelf Agreement. Except upon the direction of the Required Senior Lenders pursuant to Section 2(b) of this Agreement, the Collateral Agent will not be required to inspect the properties or books and records of any Loan Party for any purpose, including to determine compliance by the Loan Parties with their respective covenants respecting the perfection of security interests.
(l)Limited Agency. The Collateral Agent, the Bank Agent and the Senior Lenders agree that it is the intent of the Bank Agent and the Senior Lenders to limit the scope of the powers of the Collateral Agent to the specific powers delegated hereunder, together with such
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powers as are reasonably incidental thereto, and the Collateral Agent does not and shall not have any right or authority to bind the Bank Agent or any Senior Lender in any other manner or thing whatsoever.
3.Lien Priorities. The parties hereto expressly agree that the security interests and liens granted to the Collateral Agent shall secure the Senior Indebtedness on a pari passu basis for the benefit of the Bank Agent, the Collateral Agent and the Senior Lenders and that, notwithstanding the relative priority or the time of grant, creation, attachment or perfection under applicable law of any security interests and liens, if any, of any of the Bank Agent, the Collateral Agent or any Senior Lender upon or in any of the Collateral to secure any Senior Indebtedness, whether such security interests and liens are now existing or hereafter acquired or arising and whether such security interests and liens are in or upon now existing or hereafter arising Collateral, such security interests and liens shall be first and prior security interests and liens in favor of the Collateral Agent to secure the Senior Indebtedness on a pari passu basis for the benefit of the Bank Agent, the Collateral Agent and the Senior Lenders.
4.Certain Notices. The Collateral Agent, the Bank Agent and each Senior Lender agrees to use its best efforts to give to the others (a) copies of any notice of the occurrence or existence of an Event of Default sent to any Loan Party, simultaneously with the sending of such notice to such Loan Party, (b) notice of the occurrence or existence of an Event of Default of which such party has knowledge, promptly after obtaining knowledge thereof, (c) notice of the refusal of any Bank Lender to make any Loan or issue any Letter of Credit, promptly after such refusal, and (d) notice of an Enforcement by such party, prior to commencing such Enforcement, but the failure to give any of the foregoing notices shall not affect the validity of such notice of an Event of Default given to a Loan Party or create a cause of action against or cause a forfeiture of any rights of the party failing to give such notice or create any claim or right on behalf of any third party. The Collateral Agent agrees to deliver to each Senior Lender a copy of each notice or other communication received by it under any Collateral Document as soon as practicable after receipt thereof.
5.Distribution of Proceeds of Collateral After Enforcement and Distribution of Proceeds from Asset Dispositions.
(a)On and after the occurrence of an Enforcement, all proceeds of Collateral held or received by the Collateral Agent, the Bank Agent or any Senior Lender (including, without limitation, any amount of any balances held by the Collateral Agent, the Bank Agent or any Senior Lender for the account of any Loan Party or any other property held or owing by it to or for the credit or for the account of any Loan Party setoff or appropriated by it, but excluding, except as otherwise provided in paragraph (b) of this Section 5, amounts on deposit in the Special Cash Collateral Account provided for in such paragraph (b)) and any other payments received, directly or indirectly, by the Collateral Agent, the Bank Agent or any Senior Lender on or with respect to any Senior Indebtedness (including, without limitation, any payment under any Guaranty Agreement, any payment in an insolvency or reorganization proceeding and the proceeds from any sale of any Senior Indebtedness or any interest therein to any Loan Party or any affiliate of any Loan Party) shall be delivered to the Collateral Agent and distributed as follows:
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(i)First, to the Collateral Agent in the amount of any unpaid Collateral Agent Obligations;
(ii)Next, to the extent proceeds remain, to the Senior Lenders in the amount of any unreimbursed amounts paid by the Senior Lenders to any Indemnitee pursuant to Section 2(j) hereof, pro rata in proportion to the respective unreimbursed amounts thereof paid by each Senior Lender;
(iii)Next, to the extent proceeds remain, to the Senior Lenders in the amount of any Post-Sharing Date Advances and accrued and unpaid interest thereon, pro rata in proportion to the respective amounts thereof owed to each Senior Lender; and
(iv)Next, to the extent proceeds remain, to the Senior Lenders in the amount of any other unpaid Senior Indebtedness, pro rata in proportion to the respective amounts thereof owed to each Senior Lender (and, for this purpose, Letter of Credit Collateral Obligations shall be considered to have been paid to the extent of any amount then on deposit in the Special Cash Collateral Account provided for in paragraph (b) of this Section 5).
After the Senior Indebtedness has been finally paid in full in cash, the balance of proceeds of the Collateral, if any, shall be paid to the Loan Parties, as applicable, or as otherwise required by law.
(b)Any payment pursuant to clause (a)(iv) above with respect to Letter of Credit Collateral Obligations shall be paid to the Collateral Agent for deposit in an account (the “Special Cash Collateral Account”) to be held as Collateral for the Senior Indebtedness and disposed of as provided herein. On each date after the occurrence of an Enforcement on which a payment is made to a beneficiary pursuant to a draw on a Letter of Credit, the Collateral Agent shall distribute to the Bank Agent from the Special Cash Collateral Account for application to the payment of the reimbursement obligation due to the Bank Lenders with respect to such draw an amount equal to the product of (1) the amount then on deposit in the Special Cash Collateral Account, and (2) a fraction, the numerator of which is the amount of such draw and the denominator of which is the amount of the Outstanding Letters of Credit Exposure immediately prior to such draw. On each date after the occurrence of an Enforcement on which a reduction in the Outstanding Letters of Credit Exposure occurs other than on account of a payment made to a beneficiary pursuant to a draw on a Letter of Credit, then the Collateral Agent shall distribute from the Special Cash Collateral Account an amount equal to the product of (1) the amount then on deposit in the Special Cash Collateral Account and (2) a fraction the numerator of which is the amount of such reduction in the Outstanding Letters of Credit Exposure and the denominator of which is the amount of the Outstanding Letters of Credit Exposure immediately prior to such reduction, which amount shall be distributed as provided in clause (a)(iv) above. At such time as the amount of the Outstanding Letters of Credit Exposure is reduced to zero, any amount remaining in the Special Cash Collateral Account, after the distribution therefrom as provided above, shall be distributed as provided in clause (a)(iv) above.
(c)Each Loan Party, by its acknowledgment hereto, agrees that in the event any payment is made with respect to any Senior Indebtedness that is delivered to the Collateral
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Agent or another Senior Lender pursuant to this Section 5, (i) the Senior Indebtedness discharged by such payment shall be the amount or amounts of the Senior Indebtedness with respect to which such payment is distributed pursuant to this Section 5 notwithstanding that the payment may have initially been made by a Loan Party with respect to other Senior Indebtedness, and (ii) such payment shall be deemed to reduce the Senior Indebtedness of any Senior Lenders receiving any distributions from such payment under Section 5(a) or (b) in the amount of such distributions and shall be deemed to restore and reinstate the Senior Indebtedness of any Senior Lender making any such payment under Section 5(a) or (b) in the amount of such payment; provided that if for any reason such restoration and reinstatement shall not be binding against any Loan Party, the Senior Lenders agree to take such actions as shall have the effect of placing them in the same relative positions as they would have been if such restoration and reinstatement had been binding against the Loan Parties.
(d)In the event any Senior Lender receives proceeds from an Asset Disposition (as defined in the Credit Agreement, the Note Agreement, or the Private Shelf Agreement) and such proceeds are required to be applied by the Loan Parties to any Senior Indebtedness pursuant to the terms of the Credit Agreement, the Note Agreement, or the Private Shelf Agreement, such proceeds shall be delivered to the Collateral Agent and distributed to the Senior Lenders entitled thereto pursuant to the terms of the Credit Agreement, the Note Agreement, or the Private Shelf Agreement pro rata in proportion to the respective principal amounts of all unpaid Senior Indebtedness owed to each Senior Lender at the time such proceeds are delivered to the Collateral Agent.
6.Possible Purchase of Participations Upon Occurrence of Enforcement.
(a)If at the time of the occurrence of an Enforcement the amount of any Senior Lender’s Senior Loan Exposure is less than the amount of such Senior Lender’s Senior Loan Exposure on the Sharing Date with respect to such Enforcement (the excess of the amount of such Senior Lender’s Senior Loan Exposure on such Sharing Date over the amount of such Senior Lender’s Senior Loan Exposure at the time of the occurrence of such Enforcement being called such Senior Lender’s “Senior Loan Reduction Amount”), then such Senior Lender shall be deemed to have purchased from each other Senior Lender, and each other Senior Lender shall be deemed to have sold to such Senior Lender, an undivided participation in the outstanding principal amount of the Loan and Reimbursement Obligations and Senior Secured Notes held by, and Outstanding Letters of Credit Exposure of, such other Senior Lender in an amount equal to such other Senior Lender’s Sharing Date Pro Rata Share of such purchasing Senior Lender’s Senior Loan Reduction Amount. Each Senior Lender agrees to pay for any such participation at 100% of the amount thereof, plus any accrued and unpaid interest on the Senior Secured Notes or Loan and Reimbursement Obligations relating to the participation purchased to the day of payment, within 10 business days after notice of such Enforcement, except that, with respect to any participation in Outstanding Letters of Credit Exposure, the participation shall be a risk participation payable at the same time as the related Letter of Credit is drawn. Payment of each such participation shall be made in the manner specified in the Note Agreement, the Private Shelf Agreement, or the Credit Agreement, as applicable, for payments on the Loan and Reimbursement Obligations or Senior Secured Notes, as the case may be. In the event any Senior Lender fails to pay for any such participation when due, such Senior Lender agrees that it will pay upon demand interest thereon for the period from the date such payment was due to the date such payment is made at a rate per
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annum equal to 2.0% plus the rate of interest publicly announced by CIBC from time to time as its “Prime Rate”. Each participation purchased hereunder from any Senior Lender shall be pro rata in the outstanding Loan and Reimbursement Obligations or Senior Secured Notes owed to, and Outstanding Letters of Credit Exposure of, such selling Senior Lender in proportion to the respective amounts thereof on the Sharing Date with respect to the Enforcement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, obligations of any two Senior Lenders to purchase participations from each other shall be offset so that only the net amount of one of such Senior Lender’s obligation to purchase a participation, if any, shall be due.
(b)For the purposes hereof:
(i)A Senior Lender’s “Senior Loan Exposure” at any time is the outstanding principal amount of the Loan and Reimbursement Obligations or Senior Secured Notes owed to such Senior Lender, plus the Outstanding Letters of Credit Exposure of such Senior Lender, at such time.
(ii)A Senior Lender’s “Sharing Date Pro Rata Share” of a Senior Loan Reduction Amount relating to any Enforcement is the ratio that such Senior Lender’s Senior Loan Exposure on the Sharing Date with respect to such Enforcement is of the total Senior Loan Exposures of all Senior Lenders on such Sharing Date.
7.Terms of Participations. Any participation purchased pursuant to Section 6 shall be subject to the following:
(a)Whenever a seller of any such participation (a “Seller”) receives payment or other recovery on account of Senior Indebtedness in which a participation has been sold (including a distribution with respect to such Senior Indebtedness pursuant to Section 5 hereof), such Seller will (except to the extent that it may be obligated to apply such payment or recovery otherwise under any provision of this Agreement) pay over to each purchaser of such participation (a “Purchaser”), in the kind of funds received, an amount equal to such Purchaser’s pro rata share of such payment or other recovery (in accordance with its participation interest in the outstanding amount of such Senior Indebtedness); provided that, if any amount of the purchase price for such participation is due and owing by such Purchaser to such Seller, then such Seller may apply such Purchaser’s pro rata share of such payment or other recovery to the payment to such Seller of the amount of such purchase price owed by such Purchaser to such Seller. If any such payment or recovery received by a Seller is rescinded or must otherwise be returned by a Seller for any reason, each Purchaser will, upon notice from such Seller, forthwith pay over to such Seller its pro rata share of the amount so rescinded or recovered. All payments by a Seller to a Purchaser with respect to amounts to be paid over by a Seller to a Purchaser hereunder shall be made by wire transfer for credit (not later than 2:00 p.m., Central Time, on the business day after the day received by the Seller, or if received by the Seller later than 2:00 p.m. Central Time on any day, on the second business day after the date received by the Seller) to the account of such Purchaser where payments are to be made to such Purchaser under the Note Agreement, the Private Shelf Agreement, or the Credit Agreement, as the case may be. The participations in the Senior Indebtedness sold hereunder are participations only in the outstanding principal amount of the Loan and Reimbursement Obligations or the Senior Secured Notes, as the case may be, and in the interest on the principal amount to the extent a participation therein has been sold. No payment
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received by a Seller on account of Senior Indebtedness other than on account of the principal of or interest on the Loan and Reimbursement Obligations or the Senior Secured Notes, such as payments on account of Yield-Maintenance Amount, is required to be paid over to a Purchaser hereunder.
(b)No Seller nor any of its officers, directors, employees or agents (including, but not limited to, any attorneys acting at the direction or on behalf of a Seller) shall be deemed to have made any representations or warranties, expressed or implied, with respect to, nor shall a Seller or any such officer, director, employee, or agent be liable to any Purchaser or be responsible for (i) any warranties or recitals made by any Loan Party in any agreement, document or instrument evidencing or relating to the Senior Indebtedness in which a participation has been sold or under which such Senior Indebtedness was issued or sold, (ii) the due or proper execution or authorization of this Agreement or any such agreement, document or instrument by any party other than such Seller, or the effectiveness, enforceability, validity, genuineness or collectibility as against any Loan Party of this Agreement or any such agreement, document or instrument, or (iii) the present or future solvency or financial worth of any Loan Party. Each Seller shall, however, be deemed to represent that it owns the Senior Indebtedness to the extent of the participation sold therein free of any encumbrance in favor of a third-party. The Seller shall not be required, either initially or on an continuing basis, to (1) make any inquiry, investigation, evaluation or appraisal respecting, or enforce the performance by any Loan Party of, any of the covenants, agreements or obligations of any Loan Party under this Agreement or any such agreement, document or instrument, or (2) undertake any action other than those expressly set forth in subsection (a) of this Section 7. Each Seller shall be protected in acting upon any notice, request, consent, certificate, order, affidavit, letter, telegram, telecopy or other paper or document reasonably and in good faith believed by it to be genuine and correct and to have been signed or sent by any person designated by any other party to receive notices pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement.
(c)Subject to the provisions of Section 9 hereof, any Seller may, with respect to any Senior Indebtedness in which a participation has been sold, use its sole discretion in exercising or refraining from exercising any rights or taking or refraining from taking any action to which it may be entitled to take with respect thereto or under any instrument or document evidencing or relating to such Senior Indebtedness or under any agreement under which such Senior Indebtedness was issued or sold.
(d)The interests of a Seller and a Purchaser in the Senior Indebtedness in which a participation has been purchased and sold under Section 6 hereof shall be ratably equal and pari passu and none shall have priority over the other. The relationship between a Seller and a Purchaser with respect to any such participation shall be that of seller and purchaser, respectively, of a property interest rather than a debtor-creditor relationship or a joint venture. Except as provided in subsection (b) of this Section 7, the sale and purchase of any such participation is made without recourse, representation or warranty of any kind. Upon the request of any Purchaser, any Seller of a participation agrees to execute and deliver to such Purchaser a certificate evidencing the participation purchased in form reasonably satisfactory to such Purchaser.
(e)To the extent not paid by the Loan Parties, each Purchaser hereby severally, and not jointly, agrees to indemnify and hold each Seller and each of its officers, employees, agents and representatives (collectively, the “Seller Indemnitees”) harmless from and against any and
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all liabilities, costs, claims damages, penalties, losses and actions of any kind or nature whatsoever (including, without limitation, the fees and disbursements of counsel for any Seller Indemnitee) incurred by or asserted against any Seller Indemnitee arising out of or in relation to any action taken or omitted to be taken by any Seller Indemnitee pursuant to or in connection with the Senior Indebtedness in which a participation has been sold pursuant to Section 6 hereof after such sale (including, without limitation, any amounts for which such Seller may be obligated to pay pursuant to Section 2(j) hereof) or any action by the Seller after such time to collect or otherwise enforce the same, except to the extent arising from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of the Seller or such Seller Indemnitee; provided, each Purchaser being liable only for its pro rata share of such indemnification liability based upon its pro rata interest in such Senior Indebtedness.
(f)Each Purchaser agrees that if it should obtain payment or other recovery (whether voluntary, involuntary, through the exercise of any right of setoff or otherwise) on account of its participation in any Senior Indebtedness in excess of its pro rata share of payments and other recoveries on account of such Senior Indebtedness, determined in accordance with the amount of its participation in such Senior Indebtedness as compared to the total outstanding amount of such Senior Indebtedness, then such Purchaser agrees that it shall purchase from each Seller and the other Purchasers such additional participation in such Senior Indebtedness as shall be necessary to cause such Purchaser to share such excess payment ratably with each Seller and the other Purchasers, provided that if all or any portion of such excess payment is thereafter rescinded or must otherwise be returned by such Purchaser for any reason, then such purchases shall be rescinded and the purchase price shall be restored to the extent of such recovery.
(g)Each Seller reserves the right from time to time or at any time to repurchase from the Purchasers, on a pro rata basis and without discount or premium, all or any portion of any participation in any Senior Indebtedness purchased by a Purchaser pursuant to Section 6 hereof. All amounts payable in connection with any such repurchase shall be paid by the Seller to the Purchasers, on the date of such repurchase, by wire transfer to the account set forth in the Credit Agreement, the Private Shelf Agreement, or the Note Agreement, as the case may be, for payments of such Senior Indebtedness payable to such Purchaser.
8.Certain Credit Extensions and Amendments to Agreements by the Senior Lenders; Actions Related to Collateral and Guaranty Agreements; Other Liens and Security Interests.
(a)(i) The Bank Agent and each Bank Lender agrees that, without the consent in writing by the Required Holders, it will not (A) make any Revolving Loan or issue any Letter of Credit if such loans or issuances would cause the aggregate outstanding principal amount of Revolving Loans and undrawn face amount of Letters of Credit to exceed the sum of (x) $20,000,000 less (y) the amount of all permanent reductions of the “Revolving Commitment” (as defined in the Credit Agreement) after the date of hereof, (B) make any Delayed Draw Term Loans if such loans would cause the aggregate outstanding principal amount of Delayed Draw Term Loans to exceed $30,000,000, (C) except for (x) Persons becoming Borrowers after the date hereof and (y) the Guaranty Agreements, retain or obtain the primary or secondary obligations of any other obligor or obligors with respect to all or any part of the Senior Indebtedness, or (D) from and after the institution of any bankruptcy or insolvency proceeding involving any Loan Party, as
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respects the Collateral enter into any agreement with such Loan Party with respect to post-petition usage of cash collateral, post-petition financing arrangements or adequate protection.
(ii) Each Noteholder agrees that, without the consent in writing by the Required Bank Lenders, it will not (A) make note purchases, advances, loans or extensions of credit pursuant to the Note Agreement or the Private Shelf Agreement if such purchases, advances, loans or extensions of credit would cause the outstanding aggregate principal amount of Senior Indebtedness under the Note Agreement and the Private Shelf Agreement, collectively, to exceed $100,000,000, (B) except for (x) Persons becoming Borrowers after the date hereof and (y) the Guaranty Agreements, retain or obtain the primary or secondary obligations of any other obligor or obligors with respect to all or any part of the Senior Indebtedness, or (C) from and after the institution of any bankruptcy or insolvency proceeding involving any Loan Party, as respects the Collateral enter into any agreement with such Loan Party with respect to post-petition usage of cash collateral, post-petition financing arrangements or adequate protection.
(b)The Bank Agent and each Senior Lender agrees that, except as provided in Section 8(c), it will have recourse to the Collateral only through the Collateral Agent, that it shall have no independent recourse thereto and that it shall refrain from exercising any rights or remedies under the Collateral Documents which have or may have arisen or which may arise as a result of an Event of Default or an acceleration of the maturities of the Senior Indebtedness, except that, upon the direction of the Required Enforcement Directing Lenders, the Bank Agent and any Senior Lender may setoff any amount of any balances held by it for the account of any Loan Party or any other property held or owing by it to or for the credit or for the account of any Loan Party provided that the amount setoff is delivered to the Collateral Agent for application pursuant to Section 5 hereof. Without such direction, neither the Bank Agent nor any Senior Lender shall setoff any such amount. For the purposes of perfection any setoff rights which may be available under applicable law, any balances held by the Collateral Agent, the Bank Agent or any Senior Lender for the account of any Loan Party or any other property held or owing by the Collateral Agent, the Bank Agent or any Senior Lender to or for the credit or account of any Loan Party shall be deemed to be held as agent for all Senior Lenders.
(c)Neither the Collateral Agent, the Bank Agent nor any Senior Lender shall take or receive a security interest in or lien upon any of the property or assets of any Loan Party as security for the payment of any indebtedness of any Loan Party other than the Senior Indebtedness, nor shall the Collateral Agent, the Bank Agent nor any Senior Lender take or receive a security interest in or a lien upon any of the property or assets of any Loan Party as security for the payment of any Senior Indebtedness other than liens and security interests granted to the Collateral Agent in the Collateral pursuant to the Collateral Documents. The existence of a common law lien and set off rights on deposit accounts shall not be prohibited by the provisions of this paragraph (c) provided that any realization on such lien or set off rights and the application of the proceeds thereof shall be subject to the provisions of this Agreement.
(d)Nothing contained in this Agreement shall (i) prevent any Senior Lender from imposing a default rate of interest in accordance with the Credit Agreement, the Note Agreement, the Private Shelf Agreement, or any Senior Secured Notes, as applicable, or prevent a Senior Lender from raising any defenses in any action in which it has been made a party defendant or has been joined as a third party, except that the Collateral Agent may direct and control any
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defense directly relating to the Collateral or any one or more of the Collateral Documents as directed by the Required Senior Lenders or the Required Enforcement Directing Lenders, as the case may be, which shall be governed by the provisions of this Agreement, (ii) affect or impair the right any Senior Lender may have under the terms and conditions governing the Senior Indebtedness to accelerate and demand repayment of such Senior Indebtedness or (iii) subject to the express limitations set forth in this Agreement, prevent any Senior Lender from agreeing to new or modified covenants and other terms under, or otherwise amending, the Note Agreement, the Private Shelf Agreement, the Senior Secured Notes, the Credit Agreement or the Bank Notes. Subject only to the express limitations set forth in this Agreement, each Senior Lender retains the right to freely exercise its rights and remedies as a general creditor of the Loan Parties in accordance with applicable law and agreements with the Loan Parties, including without limitation the right to file a lawsuit and obtain a judgment therein against the Loan Parties and to enforce such judgment against any assets of the Loan Parties other than the Collateral. Nothing contained in this Agreement shall be construed as an amendment of, or a waiver of or a consent to the departure by any Loan Party from, any provision of the Credit Agreement, the Note Agreement, or the Private Shelf Agreement.
(e)Subject to the provisions set forth in this Agreement, each Senior Lender and its affiliates may (without having to account therefor to any Senior Lender) own, sell, acquire and hold equity and debt securities of the Loan Parties and lend money to and generally engage in any kind of business with the Loan Parties (as if, in the case of CIBC, it was not acting as Collateral Agent), and, subject to the provisions of this Agreement, the Senior Lenders and their affiliates may accept dividends, interest, principal payments, fees and other consideration from the Loan Parties for services in connection with this Agreement or otherwise without having to account for the same to the other Senior Lenders, provided that any such amounts which constitute Senior Indebtedness are provided for in the Credit Agreement, the Note Agreement, or the Private Shelf Agreement.
9.Accounting; Adjustments.
(a)The Collateral Agent, the Bank Agent and each Senior Lender agrees to render an accounting to any of the others of the amounts of the outstanding Senior Indebtedness, receipts of payments from the Loan Parties or from the Collateral and of other items relevant to the provisions of this Agreement upon the reasonable request from one of the others as soon as reasonably practicable after such request, giving effect to the application of payments and the proceeds of Collateral as hereinbefore provided in this Agreement.
(b)Each party hereto agrees that (i) to the extent any amount distributed to it hereunder is in excess of the amount due to be distributed to it hereunder, it shall pay to the other parties hereto such amounts so that, after giving effect to such payments, the amounts received by all parties hereto are equal to the amounts to be paid to them hereunder, and (ii) in the event any payment made to any party hereto is subsequently invalidated, declared fraudulent or preferential, set aside or required to be paid to a trustee, receiver, or any other party under any bankruptcy act, state, provincial or federal law, common law or equitable cause, then each of the other parties hereto shall pay to such party such amounts so that, after giving effect to the payments hereunder by all such other parties, the amounts received by all parties are not in excess of the amounts to be
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paid to them hereunder as though any payment so invalidated, declared to be fraudulent or preferential, set aside or required to be repaid had not been made.
10.Notices. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, any notice required or desired to be served, given or delivered hereunder shall be in writing, and shall be deemed to have been validly served, given or delivered three (3) business days after deposit in the United States mails, with proper postage prepaid, one business day after delivery to a courier for next day delivery, upon delivery by courier or upon transmission by telecopy or similar electronic medium (provided that a copy of any such notice sent by such transmission is also sent by one of the other means provided hereunder within one day after the date sent by such transmission) to the addresses set forth below the signatures hereto, with a copy to any person or persons set forth below such signature shown as to receive a copy, or to such other address as any party designates to the others in the manner herein prescribed. Any party giving notice to any other party hereunder shall also give copies of such notice to all other parties.
11.Contesting Liens or Security Interests; No Partitioning or Marshalling of Collateral; Contesting Senior Indebtedness.
(a)Neither the Bank Agent, the Collateral Agent nor any Senior Lender shall contest the validity, perfection, priority or enforceability of or seek to avoid, have declared fraudulent or have put aside any lien or security interest granted to the Collateral Agent as contemplated hereby and each party hereby agrees to cooperate in the defense of any action contesting the validity, perfection, priority or enforceability of such liens or security interests. Each party shall also use its best efforts to notify the other parties of any change in the location of any of the Collateral or the business operations of any Loan Party or of any change in law which would make it necessary or advisable to file additional financing statements in another location as against any Loan Party with respect to the liens and security interests intended to be created by the Collateral Documents, but the failure to do so shall not create a cause of action against the party failing to give such notice or create any claim or right on behalf of any other party hereto and any third party.
(b)Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement or in any Collateral Document, neither the Bank Agent nor any Senior Lender shall have the right to have any of the Collateral, or any security interest or other property being held as security for all or any part of the Senior Indebtedness by the Collateral Agent, partitioned, or to file a complaint or institute any proceeding at law or in equity to have any of the Collateral or any such security interest or other property partitioned, and the Bank Agent and each Senior Lender hereby waives any such right. The Collateral Agent, the Bank Agent and each Senior Lender hereby waive any and all rights to have the Collateral, or any part thereof, marshalled upon any foreclosure of any of the liens or security interests securing the Senior Indebtedness.
(c)Neither the Bank Agent, the Collateral Agent nor any Senior Lender shall contest the validity or enforceability of or seek to avoid, have declared fraudulent or have set aside any Senior Indebtedness. In the event any Senior Indebtedness is invalidated, avoided, declared fraudulent or set aside for the benefit of any Loan Party, the Bank Agent, the Collateral Agent and the Senior Lenders agree that such Senior Indebtedness shall nevertheless be considered to be outstanding for all purposes of this Agreement.
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12.No Additional Rights for Loan Parties Hereunder; Senior Indebtedness Held By Borrower and its Affiliates; Credit Bidding. Each Loan Party, by its consent hereto, acknowledges that it shall have no rights under this Agreement. If the Collateral Agent, the Bank Agent or any Senior Lender shall violate the terms of this Agreement, each Loan Party agrees, by its consent hereto, that it shall not use such violation as a defense to any enforcement by any such party against such Loan Party nor assert such violation as a counterclaim or basis for setoff or recoupment against any such party. Each of the parties hereto and, by its consent hereto, each Loan Party agrees, that any Senior Indebtedness that may at any time be held by any Loan Party or any Affiliate of any Loan Party shall not be considered to be outstanding for any purpose under this Agreement, such Loan Party or Affiliate shall not be a “Senior Lender”, “Bank Lender” or “Noteholder” under this Agreement and such Loan Party or Affiliate shall not be entitled to the benefit of any provision of this Agreement. Each Loan Party further agrees that it will not object to, contest or oppose (or cause any other Person to object to, contest or oppose or support any other Person in objecting to, contesting or opposing) in any manner any “credit bid” by the Collateral Agent or any Senior Lender of any of all the Senior Indebtedness in any sale of assets of any Loan Party pursuant to Section 363 of the Bankruptcy Code of 1978, as amended (the “Bankruptcy Code”), a plan of reorganization under the Bankruptcy Code or otherwise under any other provision of the Bankruptcy Code or in a similar process in any proceeding under any bankruptcy, reorganization, compromise, arrangement, insolvency, readjustment of debt, dissolution or liquidation or similar law.
13.Bankruptcy Proceedings. Nothing contained herein shall limit or restrict the independent right of any Senior Lender to initiate an action or actions in any bankruptcy, reorganization, compromise, arrangement, insolvency, readjustment of debt, dissolution or liquidation or similar proceeding in its individual capacity and to appear or be heard on any matter before the bankruptcy or other applicable court in any such proceeding, including, without limitation, with respect to any question concerning the post-petition usage of Collateral and post-petition financing arrangements. The Collateral Agent is not entitled to initiate such actions on behalf of any Senior Lender or to appear and be heard on any matter before the bankruptcy or other applicable court in any such proceeding as the representative of any Senior Lender. The Collateral Agent is not authorized in any such proceeding to enter into any agreement for, or give any authorization or consent with respect to, any determination of adequate protection with respect to the Senior Indebtedness or the post-petition usage of Collateral, unless such agreement, authorization or consent has been approved in writing by the Required Senior Lenders. This Agreement shall survive the commencement of any such bankruptcy, reorganization, compromise, arrangement, insolvency, readjustment of debt, dissolution or liquidation or similar proceeding.
14.Independent Credit Investigation. None of the Collateral Agent, the Bank Agent or any Senior Lender, nor any of its respective directors, officers, agents or employees, shall be responsible to any of the others for the solvency or financial condition of any Loan Party or the ability of any Loan Party to repay any of the Senior Indebtedness, or for the value, sufficiency, existence or ownership of any of the Collateral, the perfection or vesting of any lien or security interest, or the statements of any Loan Party, oral or written, or for the validity, sufficiency or enforceability of any of the Senior Indebtedness, the Credit Agreement, the Note Agreement, the Private Shelf Agreement, any Guaranty Agreement, any Collateral Document, any document or agreement executed or delivered in connection with or pursuant to any of the foregoing, or the liens or security interests granted by the Loan Parties to the Collateral Agent in
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connection therewith. Each of the Collateral Agent, the Bank Agent and each Senior Lender has entered into its respective financial agreements with the Loan Parties based upon its own independent investigation, and makes no warranty or representation to the other, nor does it rely upon any representation by any of the others, with respect to the matters identified or referred to in this Section.
15.Supervision of Obligations. Except to the extent otherwise expressly provided herein, each Senior Lender shall be entitled to manage and supervise the obligations of the Loan Parties to it in accordance with applicable law and such Senior Lender’s practices in effect from time to time without regard to the existence of any other Senior Lender.
16.Turnover of Collateral. If the Bank Agent or any Senior Lender acquires custody, control or possession of any Collateral or any proceeds thereof other than pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, the Bank Agent or such Senior Lender, as the case may be, shall promptly cause such Collateral or the proceeds thereof to be delivered to or put in the custody, possession or control of the Collateral Agent for disposition and distribution in accordance with the provisions of Section 5 of this Agreement. Until such time as the Bank Agent or such Senior Lender, as the case may be, shall have complied with the provisions of the immediately preceding sentence, the Bank Agent or such Senior Lender, as the case may be, shall be deemed to hold such Collateral and the proceeds thereof in trust for the parties entitled thereto under this Agreement.
17.Options to Purchase.
(a)After the occurrence of an Event of Default, each Bank Lender (acting alone or with other Bank Lenders) shall have the option to purchase all (but not less than all) of the outstanding Senior Indebtedness owed to the Noteholders at a purchase price equal to 100% of the amount thereof on the date of purchase (including all interest thereon to the date of purchase), plus an amount equal to the Yield-Maintenance Amount which would be payable under the Note Agreement if the Senior Secured Notes were prepaid pursuant to paragraph 4B of the Note Agreement on such date of purchase and under the Private Shelf Agreement if the Senior Secured Notes were prepaid pursuant to paragraph 4B of the Private Shelf Agreement on such date of purchase.
(b)After the occurrence of an Event of Default, each Noteholder shall have the option to purchase all (but not less than all) of the outstanding Senior Indebtedness owed to the Bank Lenders at a purchase price equal to 100% of the amount thereof on the date of purchase (including all interest thereon to the date of purchase).
(c)Any Senior Lender desiring to exercise its option to purchase under this Section 17 may do so by giving notice to the Senior Lenders whose Senior Indebtedness is to be purchased. The closing of the purchase and sale shall take place on the 5th business day after such notice is given. At the closing the buyer(s) will pay the sellers the purchase price of the Senior Indebtedness being purchased except that, as respects the purchase in Outstanding Letters of Credit Exposure, the purchase shall be a risk participation therein payable at the same time as the related Letter of Credit is drawn. Payment of such purchase price shall be made in the same manner as specified in the Credit Agreement for payments upon the Loans, in the Note Agreement for payments on the Senior Secured Notes, or in the Private Shelf Agreement for payments on the
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Senior Secured Notes, as the case may be. Any notice of exercise of any such option to purchase shall be irrevocable. In the event more than one notice of exercise of an option to purchase under this Section 17 is given, only the notice first given shall be effective and the other notices given shall be ineffective.
18.Bank Product Obligations and Hedging Obligations. The Bank Agent and each Bank Lender shall cause each of its Affiliates that is a Bank Product Obligation Provider or otherwise the holder of Bank Product Obligations to comply with the provisions of this Agreement. The Bank Agent and each Bank Lender shall cause each of its Affiliates that is a Hedging Obligation Provider or otherwise the holder of Hedging Obligations to comply with the provisions of this Agreement.
19.Amendment. This Agreement and the provisions hereof may be amended, modified or waived only by a writing signed by the Collateral Agent, the Bank Agent and the Required Holder(s).
20.Successors and Assigns. Subject to the provisions of Section 12 hereof, this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the respective successors and assigns of each of the parties hereof, including subsequent holders of the Senior Indebtedness and persons subsequently becoming parties to the Credit Agreement as a “Bank Lender” thereunder and persons subsequently becoming parties to the Private Shelf Agreement as a “Purchaser” thereunder, provided that (a) neither the Collateral Agent, the Bank Agent nor any Senior Lender shall assign or transfer any interest in any Senior Indebtedness or permit any person to become a Senior Lender party to the Credit Agreement, the Note Agreement, or the Private Shelf Agreement unless such transfer or assignment is made subject to this Agreement and such transferee, assignee or person executes and delivers to the Collateral Agent, the Bank Agent and each other Senior Lender an Assumption Agreement in the form of Exhibit A hereto under which such transferee, assignee or person assumes the obligations of the transferor or assignor or the obligations of a “Bank Lender” or a “Noteholder”, as the case may be, hereunder from and after the time of such transfer or assignment or the time such person becomes a party to the Credit Agreement, the Note Agreement, or the Private Shelf Agreement and (b) the appointment of any replacement Collateral Agent shall be subject to the provisions of Section 2(h) hereof.
21.Limitation Relative to Other Agreements. Nothing contained in this Agreement is intended to impair (a) as between the Noteholders and the Loan Parties, the rights of the Noteholders and the obligations of the Loan Parties under the Note Agreement, the Private Shelf Agreement, and the Senior Secured Notes or (b) as between the Bank Agent, the Bank Lenders and the Loan Parties, the rights of the Bank Agent and the Bank Lenders and the obligations of the Loan Parties under the Credit Agreement and the Bank Notes.
22.Confirmations and Agreements.
(a)Each party subject hereto agrees that it will not, and will use commercially reasonably efforts to cause its agents, employees, officers, directors, shareholders, partners, and its representatives associated with or acting on its behalf (collectively, the “Representatives”), and its sub-contractors, if any, not to, directly or indirectly through a third-party intermediary, in connection with this Agreement and the transactions resulting herefrom, offer, pay, promise to
24
pay, or authorize the giving of money or anything of value to any Government Official (as defined below) for the purpose of inducing such Government Official to use his or her influence or position with the government or instrumentality thereof to affect or influence any act or decision of such government or instrumentality, in order to assist in obtaining or retaining business for, directing business to, or securing an improper advantage for such party.
(b)Each party subject hereto will, and will use commercially reasonable efforts to cause its Representatives and sub-contractors, if any, to maintain books and records that accurately reflect any payment of money or thing of value to a Government Official, directly or indirectly, in connection with any matter relating to this Agreement.
(c)The term “Government Official” includes any employee, agent or representative of a non-U.S. government, and any non-U.S. political party, party official or candidate. Government Official may also include royalty, non-U.S. legislators, representatives of non-U.S. state-owned enterprises, employees of public international organizations (including but not limited to the United Nations, International Monetary Fund, World Bank and other international agencies and organizations), and employees and officers of foreign embassies or trade organizations having offices in the U.S., regardless of rank or position, and any individuals acting on behalf of a Government Official.
23.Counterparts; Facsimile or Electronic Signatures. This Agreement may be executed in several counterparts and by each party on a separate counterpart, each of which, when so executed and delivered, shall be an original, but all of which together shall constitute but one and the same instrument. In proving this Agreement, it shall not be necessary to produce or account for more than one such counterpart signed by the party against whom enforcement is sought. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page to this Agreement by facsimile or electronic transmission shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Agreement. The words “execution”, “signed”, “signature”, “delivery” and words of like import in or relating to this letter agreement shall be deemed to include electronic signatures, deliveries or the keeping of records in electronic form, each of which shall be of the same legal effect, validity or enforceability as a manually executed signature, physical delivery thereof or the use of a paper-based recordkeeping system, as the case may be, to the extent and as provided for in any applicable law, including the Federal Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act, the New York State Electronic Signatures and Records Act or any other similar state laws based on the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act.
24.Governing Law. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED AS TO VALIDITY, INTERPRETATION, ENFORCEMENT AND EFFECT BY THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA (EXCLUDING ANY CONFLICTS OF LAW RULES WHICH WOULD OTHERWISE CAUSE THIS AGREEMENT TO BE GOVERNED BY THE LAWS OF ANY OTHER JURISDICTION).
25. Amendment to and Restatement of the Existing Intercreditor Agreement. This Agreement constitutes an amendment to, and a complete restatement of, the Existing Intercreditor Agreement.
25
[Signature Pages Follow]
26
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the day and year first written above.
CIBC BANK USA, in its individual capacity, as Bank Agent, as a Bank Lender and as Collateral Agent
By: | /s/Leanne Manning |
Name: | Leanne Manning |
Its: | Managing Director |
Address for notices:
50 South Sixth Street, Suite 1415
Minneapolis, Minnesota 55402
Attn: Leanne Manning
Facsimile: 612-333-1391
(Signatures continue on the next page.)
THE PRUDENTIAL INSURANCE COMPANY OF AMERICA
By: PGIM, Inc., as investment manager
By: | /s/Anna Sabiston |
Name: | Anna Sabiston |
Its: | Vice President |
PRUCO LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
By: PGIM, Inc., as investment manager
By: | /s/Anna Sabiston |
Name: | Anna Sabiston |
Its: | Vice President |
PAR U HARTFORD LIFE INSURANCE COMFORT TRUST
By: Prudential Arizona Reinsurance Universal Company, as Grantor
By: PGIM, Inc., as investment manager
By: | /s/Anna Sabiston |
Name: | Anna Sabiston |
Its: | Vice President |
PRUDENTIAL ANNUITIES LIFE ASSURANCE CORPORATION
By: PGIM, Inc., as investment manager
By: | /s/Anna Sabiston |
Name: | Anna Sabiston |
Its: | Vice President |
THE PRUDENTIAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY, LTD.
By: PGIM Japan Co., Ltd., as Investment Manager
By: PGIM, Inc., as Sub-Advisor
By: | /s/Anna Sabiston |
Name: | Anna Sabiston |
Its: | Vice President |
PGIM, INC.
By: | /s/Anna Sabiston |
Name: | Anna Sabiston |
Its: | Vice President |
Address for notices for each of the above entities:
c/o Prudential Private Capital
60 South Sixth Street, Suite 3710
Minneapolis, MN 55402
Attn: Managing Director
Facsimile: 612-326-2222
EXHIBIT A
FORM OF ASSUMPTION AGREEMENT
Assumption Agreement
Reference is made to the Amended and Restated Intercreditor and Collateral Agency Agreement, dated April __, 2022, by and among CIBC Bank USA (“CIBC”), The Prudential Insurance Company of America (“Prudential”), Pruco Life Insurance Company (“Pruco”), PGIM, Inc. (“PGIM”), CIBC, in its capacity as Bank Agent, CIBC, in its capacity as Collateral Agent, and the other parties from time to time party thereto (the “Intercreditor Agreement”). Terms used in this Assumption Agreement and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings given in the Intercreditor Agreement.
The undersigned hereby advises the Collateral Agent, the Bank Agent and the other Senior Lenders that as of the date set forth below the undersigned [is the assignee or transferee of [describe Senior Indebtedness assigned or transferred] from [name of assigning or transferring Senior Lender]] [became a party to the Credit Agreement as “Lender” thereunder] [purchased Senior Secured Notes pursuant to the Private Shelf Agreement] and, pursuant to the provisions of Section 20 of the Intercreditor Agreement, the undersigned hereby [assumes the obligations of] [[name of assigning or transferring Senior Lender] with respect to [describe Senior Indebtedness assigned or transferred]] [a Bank Lender] [a Noteholder] under the Intercreditor Agreement from and after the date hereof [(i) consents and agrees to all the provisions of the Intercreditor Agreement applicable to it, (ii) adopts the Intercreditor Agreement applicable to it as [a Bank Lender] [a Noteholder] with the same force and effect as if it was originally a party thereto, and (iii) agrees to be bound by the terms of the Intercreditor Agreement applicable to it as [a Bank Lender] [a Noteholder].]
Please be advised that for the purposes of Section 10 of the Intercreditor Agreement the address for notices to the undersigned is as follows:
Name:
Address:
Attention:
Facsimile:
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has caused this Assumption Agreement to be duly executed as of _________, _____.
A-1
ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF AND CONSENT AND AGREEMENT
TO AMENDED AND RESTATED INTERCREDITOR AND COLLATERAL AGENCY AGREEMENT
The undersigned, the Loan Parties described in the Amended and Restated Intercreditor and Collateral Agency Agreement, dated as of April 12, 2022 (the “Intercreditor Agreement”), among the Collateral Agent, the Bank Agent and the Senior Lenders (as defined therein), acknowledge and, to the extent required, consent to the terms and conditions thereof. The undersigned Loan Parties do hereby further acknowledge and agree to their joint and several agreements under Sections 2(i), 5(c) and 12 of the Intercreditor Agreement and acknowledge and agree that no Loan Party is a third-party beneficiary of, or has any rights under, the Intercreditor Agreement. The undersigned hereby further agree that any proceeds or any payment made by any Loan Party to any Senior Lender which is required to be delivered to the Collateral Agent and distributed in accordance with the provisions of Section 5(a) of the Intercreditor Agreement shall be deemed to have been delivered by the Loan Parties to pay the Senior Indebtedness in the amounts in which any such proceeds or payments are allocated under such Section 5(c) notwithstanding the amount initially paid to or received by any particular Senior Lender or which such Senior Lender delivered to the Collateral Agent.
This Acknowledgment of and Consent and Agreement to Amended and Restated Intercreditor and Collateral Agency Agreement (this “Acknowledgement”) and any amendment hereof may be executed in several counterparts and by each party on a separate counterpart, each of which, when so executed and delivered, shall be an original, but all of which together shall constitute but one of the same instrument. In providing this Acknowledgment, it shall not be necessary to produce or account for more than one such counterpart signed by the party against whom enforcement is sought. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page to this Acknowledgment by facsimile or electronic transmission shall be effective as a delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Acknowledgment. The words “execution”, “signed”, “signature”, “delivery” and words of like import in or relating to this letter agreement shall be deemed to include electronic signatures, deliveries or the keeping of records in electronic form, each of which shall be of the same legal effect, validity or enforceability as a manually executed signature, physical delivery thereof or the use of a paper-based recordkeeping system, as the case may be, to the extent and as provided for in any applicable law, including the Federal Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act, the New York State Electronic Signatures and Records Act or any other similar state laws based on the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties below have caused this Acknowledgment to be executed by their respective duly authorized officers as of April 12, 2022.
(Signature pages follows.)
1
WINMARK CORPORATION
By: | /s/Anthony D. Ishaug |
Name: | Anthony D. Ishaug |
Its: | Chief Financial Officer |
WIRTH BUSINESS CREDIT, INC.
By: | /s/Anthony D. Ishaug |
Name: | Anthony D. Ishaug |
Its: | Chief Financial Officer |
WINMARK CAPITAL CORPORATION
By: | /s/Anthony D. Ishaug |
Name: | Anthony D. Ishaug |
Its: | Chief Financial Officer |
GROW BIZ GAMES, INC.
By: | /s/Anthony D. Ishaug |
Name: | Anthony D. Ishaug |
Its: | Chief Financial Officer |
Exhibit 10.7
OMNIBUS AMENDMENT TO COLLATERAL DOCUMENTS
THIS OMNIBUS AMENDMENT TO COLLATERAL DOCUMENTS (this “Amendment”) is entered into as of this 12th day of April 2022 by and among CIBC Bank USA (formerly known as the PrivateBank and Trust Company), in its capacity as collateral agent (the “Collateral Agent”) for the Senior Lenders (as defined in the Intercreditor Agreement defined below, the “Senior Lenders”), Winmark Corporation, a Minnesota corporation (“Winmark”), Wirth Business Credit, Inc., a Minnesota corporation (“Wirth”), Winmark Capital Corporation, a Minnesota corporation ( “Winmark Capital”), and Grow Biz Games, Inc., a Minnesota corporation (“Grow Biz”).
WHEREAS, the Collateral Agent and Winmark are parties to that certain Amended and Restated Pledge Agreement, dated as of May 14, 2015 (as amended, restated, supplemented, or otherwise modified prior to the date hereof, the “Pledge Agreement”), whereby Winmark granted to the Collateral Agent (for the ratable benefit of the Senior Lenders) a security interest in the Collateral (as defined in the Pledge Agreement).
WHEREAS, the Collateral Agent and Winmark are parties to that certain Amended and Restated Security Agreement, dated as of May 14, 2015 (as amended, restated, supplemented, or otherwise modified prior to the date hereof, the “Winmark Security Agreement”), whereby Winmark granted to the Collateral Agent (for the ratable benefit of the Senior Lenders) a security interest in the Collateral (as defined in the Winmark Security Agreement).
WHEREAS, the Collateral Agent and Wirth are parties to that certain Amended and Restated Security Agreement, dated as of May 14, 2015 (as amended, restated, supplemented, or otherwise modified prior to the date hereof, the “Wirth Security Agreement”), whereby Wirth granted to the Collateral Agent (for the ratable benefit of the Senior Lenders) a security interest in the Collateral (as defined in the Wirth Security Agreement).
WHEREAS, the Collateral Agent and Winmark Capital are parties to that certain Amended and Restated Security Agreement, dated as of May 14, 2015 (as amended, restated, supplemented, or otherwise modified prior to the date hereof, the “Winmark Capital Security Agreement”), whereby Winmark Capital granted to the Collateral Agent (for the ratable benefit of the Senior Lenders) a security interest in the Collateral (as defined in the Winmark Capital Security Agreement).
WHEREAS, the Collateral Agent and Grow Biz are parties to that certain Amended and Restated Security Agreement, dated as of May 14, 2015 (as amended, restated, supplemented, or otherwise modified prior to the date hereof, the “Grow Biz Capital Security Agreement” and together with the Winmark Security Agreement, the Wirth Security Agreement, and the Winmark Capital Security Agreement, the “Security Agreements”; the Security Agreements together with the Pledge Agreement, the “Collateral Documents”), whereby Grow Biz Capital granted to the Collateral Agent (for the ratable benefit of the Senior Lenders) a security interest in the Collateral (as defined in the Grow Biz Capital Security Agreement).
WHEREAS, on the date hereof, Winmark, Wirth, Winmark Capital, and Grow Biz are entering to that certain Private Shelf Agreement with PGIM, Inc. and certain noteholders from
time to time that purchase certain notes issued by Winmark, Wirth, Winmark Capital, and Grow Biz thereunder.
WHEREAS, on the date hereof, the Collateral Agent and the other parties to the Intercreditor Agreement (as defined in each of the Collateral Documents) are entering into that certain Amended and Restated Intercreditor and Collateral Agency Agreement which will amend and restate the Intercreditor Agreement (as defined in each of the Collateral Documents) in its entirety.
NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing, and of the terms and conditions set forth herein, the parties hereto agree as follows:
C.The Pledgor, the other Issuers (as defined in the Note Agreement (as defined below)), and certain purchasers (the “Purchasers”) of the Pledgor’s and the other Issuer’s (as defined in the Note Agreement (as defined below)) senior secured notes (the “Senior Secured Notes”) are parties to (i) that certain Note Purchase Agreement, dated as of May 14, 2015 (as amended, restated, supplemented, or otherwise modified from time to time, the “2015 Note Agreement”) and (ii) that certain Private Shelf Agreement, dated as of April __, 2022 (as amended, restated, supplemented, or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Private Shelf Agreement”, and together with the 2015 Note Agreement, collectively, the “Note Agreement”). The holders from time to time of the Senior Secured Notes are referred to herein as the “Noteholders”.
D.Pursuant to that certain Amended and Restated Intercreditor and Collateral Agency Agreement, dated as of April __, 2022 (as amended, restated, supplemented, or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Intercreditor Agreement”), by and between the Collateral Agent, the Bank Agent, the Bank Lenders and the Noteholders, the Collateral Agent shall, among other things, be appointed as collateral agent in respect of the Collateral described herein.
(c)Recital C of each Security Agreement is hereby amended and restated in its entirety to read as follows:
C.The Debtor, the other Issuers (as defined in the Note Agreement (as defined below)), and certain purchasers (the “Purchasers”) of the Debtor’s and the other
2
Issuers (as defined in the Note Agreement (as defined below)) senior secured notes (the “Senior Secured Notes”) are parties to (i) that certain Note Purchase Agreement, dated as of May 14, 2015 (as amended, restated, supplemented, or otherwise modified from time to time, the “2015 Note Agreement”) and (ii) that certain Private Shelf Agreement, dated as of April __, 2022 (as amended, restated, supplemented, or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Private Shelf Agreement”, and together with the 2015 Note Agreement, collectively, the “Note Agreement”). The holders from time to time of the Senior Secured Notes are referred to herein as the “Noteholders”.
(d)Recital D of each Security Agreement is hereby amended and restated in its entirety to read as follows:
D.Pursuant to that certain Amended and Restated Intercreditor and Collateral Agency Agreement, dated as of April __, 2022 (as amended, restated, supplemented, or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Intercreditor Agreement”), by and between the Collateral Agent, the Bank Agent, the Bank Lenders and the Noteholders, the Collateral Agent shall, among other things, be appointed as collateral agent in respect of the Collateral described herein.
(Signature page follows.)
3
This Omnibus Amendment to Collateral Documents has been duly executed by each of the parties hereto, effective as of the date first set forth above.
CIBC BANK USA, as Collateral Agent By: /s/ Leanne Manning Name: Leanne Manning Title: Managing Director |
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WINMARK CORPORATION By: /s/ Anthony D. Ishaug Name: Anthony D. Ishaug Title: Chief Financial Officer |
|
WIRTH BUSINESS CREDIT, INC. By: /s/ Anthony D. Ishaug Name: Anthony D. Ishaug Title: Chief Financial Officer |
|
WINMARK CAPITAL CORPORATION By: /s/ Anthony D. Ishaug Name: Anthony D. Ishaug Title: Chief Financial Officer |
|
GROW BIZ GAMES, INC. By: /s/ Anthony D. Ishaug Name: Anthony D. Ishaug Title: Chief Financial Officer |
Exhibit 99.1
Contact:Brett D. Heffes
763/520-8500
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
WINMARK CORPORATION ANNOUNCES
FIRST QUARTER RESULTS
Minneapolis, MN (April 13, 2022) - Winmark Corporation (Nasdaq: WINA) announced today net income for the quarter ended March 26, 2022 of $9,852,500 or $2.65 per share diluted compared to net income of $9,311,100 or $2.40 per share diluted in 2021.
Winmark - the Resale Company®, is a nationally recognized franchising business focused on sustainability and small-business formation. We champion and guide entrepreneurs interested in operating one of our award winning resale franchises: Plato’s Closet®, Once Upon A Child®, Play It Again Sports®, Style Encore® and Music Go Round®. At March 26, 2022, there were 1,276 franchises in operation and over 2,800 available territories. An additional 44 franchises have been awarded but are not open.
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), relating to future events or the future financial performance of the Company. Such forward-looking statements are only predictions or statements of intention subject to risks and uncertainties and actual events or results could differ materially from those anticipated. Because actual result may differ, shareholders and prospective investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements.
WINMARK CORPORATION
CONDENSED BALANCE SHEETS
(Unaudited)
|
| March 26, 2022 |
| December 25, 2021 | ||
ASSETS | ||||||
Current Assets: | | |
| | | |
Cash and cash equivalents | | $ | 287,500 | | $ | 11,407,000 |
Restricted cash | | | 55,000 | | | 30,000 |
Receivables, net | | | 1,473,300 | | | 1,103,400 |
Net investment in leases - current | | | 2,593,000 | | | 2,890,600 |
Income tax receivable | | | — | | | 667,500 |
Inventories | | | 492,300 | | | 325,200 |
Prepaid expenses | | | 985,100 | | | 1,008,600 |
Total current assets | | | 5,886,200 | | | 17,432,300 |
| | | | | | |
Net investment in leases – long-term | | | 165,000 | | | 229,300 |
Property and equipment, net | | | 1,895,900 | | | 1,976,900 |
Operating lease right of use asset | | | 2,921,700 | | | 2,982,000 |
Goodwill | | | 607,500 | | | 607,500 |
Other assets | | | 428,700 | | | 418,300 |
Deferred income taxes | | | 3,365,900 | | | 3,252,700 |
| | $ | 15,270,900 | | $ | 26,899,000 |
| | | | | | |
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY (DEFICIT) | ||||||
Current Liabilities: | | | | | | |
Notes payable, net | | $ | 4,232,600 | | $ | 4,232,600 |
Accounts payable | | | 1,896,000 | | | 2,099,000 |
Income tax payable | | | 2,374,300 | | | — |
Accrued liabilities | | | 2,515,400 | | | 2,001,000 |
Deferred revenue | | | 1,634,400 | | | 1,645,000 |
Total current liabilities | | | 12,652,700 | | | 9,977,600 |
Long-Term Liabilities: | | | | | | |
Line of Credit | | | 13,600,000 | | | — |
Notes payable, net | | | 42,318,200 | | | 43,376,400 |
Deferred revenue | | | 6,831,000 | | | 6,863,500 |
Operating lease liabilities | | | 4,686,700 | | | 4,810,100 |
Other liabilities | | | 950,000 | | | 954,800 |
Total long-term liabilities | | | 68,385,900 | | | 56,004,800 |
Shareholders’ Equity (Deficit): | | | | | | |
Common stock, no par, 10,000,000 shares authorized, | | | — | | | — |
Retained earnings (accumulated deficit) | | | (65,767,700) | | | (39,083,400) |
Total shareholders’ equity (deficit) | | | (65,767,700) | | | (39,083,400) |
| | $ | 15,270,900 | | $ | 26,899,000 |
2
Winmark Corporation
CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(Unaudited)
| | Three Months Ended | | | ||||
| | March 26, 2022 | | March 27, 2021 | | | ||
Revenue: |
| | |
| | |
|
|
Royalties | | $ | 15,390,100 | | $ | 14,048,800 | | |
Leasing income | | | 2,871,700 | | | 3,237,000 | | |
Merchandise sales | | | 914,300 | | | 592,400 | | |
Franchise fees | | | 420,600 | | | 359,000 | | |
Other | | | 453,100 | | | 421,700 | | |
Total revenue | | | 20,049,800 | | | 18,658,900 | | |
Cost of merchandise sold | | | 864,500 | | | 558,800 | | |
Leasing expense | | | 216,000 | | | 389,500 | | |
Provision for credit losses | | | (8,900) | | | (48,700) | | |
Selling, general and administrative expenses | | | 5,540,000 | | | 5,102,300 | | |
Income from operations | | | 13,438,200 | | | 12,657,000 | | |
Interest expense | | | (513,100) | | | (318,100) | | |
Interest and other income (expense) | | | (900) | | | 6,800 | | |
Income before income taxes | | | 12,924,200 | | | 12,345,700 | | |
Provision for income taxes | | | (3,071,700) | | | (3,034,600) | | |
Net income | | $ | 9,852,500 | | $ | 9,311,100 | | |
Earnings per share - basic | | $ | 2.74 | | $ | 2.49 | | |
Earnings per share - diluted | | $ | 2.65 | | $ | 2.40 | | |
Weighted average shares outstanding - basic | | | 3,597,926 | | | 3,736,676 | | |
Weighted average shares outstanding - diluted | | | 3,716,322 | | | 3,874,227 | | |
3
Winmark Corporation
CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(Unaudited)
4
Exhibit 99.2
Contact:Brett D. Heffes
763/520-8500
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
WINMARK CORPORATION
ANNOUNCES INCREASE IN CASH DIVIDEND
Minneapolis, MN (April 13, 2022) - Winmark Corporation (Nasdaq: WINA) announced today that its Board of Directors has approved an increase in its regular quarterly cash dividend to shareholders. The quarterly dividend of $0.70 per share represents an increase of $0.25 from its previous dividend rate. The cash dividend will be paid June 1, 2022 to shareholders of record on the close of business on May 11, 2022. Future dividends will be subject to Board approval.
Winmark - the Resale Company®, is a nationally recognized franchising business focused on sustainability and small business formation. We champion and guide entrepreneurs interested in operating one of our award winning resale franchises: Plato’s Closet®, Once Upon A Child®, Play It Again Sports®, Style Encore® and Music Go Round®. At March 26, 2022, there were 1,276 franchises in operation and over 2,800 available territories. An additional 44 franchises have been awarded but are not open