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UNITED STATES  
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION  
Washington, D.C. 20549  

FORM 10-Q  
    Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934  
  
For the quarterly period ended: September 30, 2022
or  
 Transition report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934  
  
For the transition period from ________________ to ________________    
Commission file number:  000-25426  
    nati-20220930_g1.jpg
NATIONAL INSTRUMENTS CORPORATION  
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)  
Delaware74-1871327
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
  
11500 North MoPac Expressway 
Austin,78759
Texas
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip code)
 
Registrant's telephone number, including area code:  (512) 683-0100  
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of each classTrading symbol(s)Name of exchange on which registered
Common Stock, $0.01 par valueNATINasdaq Stock Market
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant: (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes  No   
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files). Yes No   
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer”, “accelerated filer”, “smaller reporting company”, and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.    
Large accelerated filer
Accelerated filer
Non-accelerated filer
Smaller reporting company
Emerging growth company 
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐ 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes No  
Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer's classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date.  
ClassOutstanding at October 24, 2022
Common Stock, $0.01 par value130,568,539
1


NATIONAL INSTRUMENTS CORPORATION
INDEX  
Page No.
  
 
  
 
September 30, 2022 (unaudited) and December 31, 2021
  
 
(unaudited) for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022 and 2021
  
 
(unaudited) for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022 and 2021
  
 
(unaudited) for the nine months ended September 30, 2022 and 2021
(unaudited) for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022 and 2021
  
  
  
  
  
  
 
  
  
  
  
  
2


PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION  

Item 1. Financial Statements
NATIONAL INSTRUMENTS CORPORATION  
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(in thousands, except share and per share data)
September 30,December 31,
20222021
Assets(unaudited) 
Cash and cash equivalents$149,002 $211,106 
Accounts receivable, net380,792 341,275 
Inventories, net373,544 289,243 
Prepaid expenses and other current assets144,145 89,925 
Total current assets1,047,483 931,549 
Property and equipment, net254,127 253,668 
Goodwill593,148 575,992 
Intangible assets, net219,730 220,418 
Operating lease right-of-use assets59,906 58,641 
Other long-term assets71,140 74,717 
Total assets$2,245,534 $2,114,985 
Liabilities and stockholders' equity  
Accounts payable and accrued expenses$96,848 $83,218 
Accrued compensation61,166 111,261 
Deferred revenue - current118,257 137,818 
Operating lease liabilities - current13,288 13,137 
Other taxes payable61,002 59,109 
Debt, current25,000 — 
Other current liabilities52,079 40,671 
Total current liabilities427,640 445,214 
Deferred income taxes13,725 14,249 
Income tax payable - non-current40,646 54,195 
Deferred revenue - non-current50,177 32,822 
Operating lease liabilities - non-current32,027 30,468 
Debt, non-current542,768 300,000 
Other long-term liabilities15,066 14,340 
Total liabilities1,122,049 891,288 
Commitments and contingencies
Stockholders' equity:  
Preferred stock:  par value $0.01;  5,000,000 shares authorized; none issued and outstanding 
— — 
Common stock:  par value $0.01;  360,000,000 shares authorized; 130,568,539 shares and 132,293,898 shares issued and outstanding, respectively 
1,306 1,323 
Additional paid-in capital1,183,329 1,129,647 
Retained (deficit) earnings(18,135)112,858 
Accumulated other comprehensive loss(43,015)(20,131)
Total stockholders’ equity1,123,485 1,223,697 
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity$2,245,534 $2,114,985 
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements. 

3


NATIONAL INSTRUMENTS CORPORATION
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
(in thousands, except per share data)
(unaudited)  
  
Three Months EndedNine Months Ended
September 30,September 30,
2022202120222021
    
Net sales:    
Product$389,620 $325,724 $1,088,110 $927,307 
Software maintenance38,308 41,438 120,589 121,733 
Total net sales427,928 367,162 1,208,699 1,049,040 
    
Cost of sales:    
Product139,823 99,072 378,154 286,485 
Software maintenance3,879 3,643 12,249 10,882 
Total cost of sales143,702 102,715 390,403 297,367 
    
Gross profit284,226 264,447 818,296 751,673 
    
Operating expenses:    
Sales and marketing119,951 117,065 365,015 345,048 
Research and development82,861 82,165 250,610 243,685 
General and administrative34,617 31,037 104,569 94,672 
Total operating expenses237,429 230,267 720,194 683,405 
Gain on sale of assets33,636 — 33,636 — 
Operating income80,433 34,180 131,738 68,268 
    
Other expense(5,150)(1,820)(8,622)(9,851)
Income before income taxes75,283 32,360 123,116 58,417 
Provision for income taxes13,376 5,183 23,539 9,438 
    
Net income$61,907 $27,177 $99,577 $48,979 
    
Basic earnings per share$0.47 $0.20 $0.75 $0.37 
    
Weighted average shares outstanding - basic132,044 133,031 132,040 132,657 
    
Diluted earnings per share$0.47 $0.20 $0.75 $0.37 
    
Weighted average shares outstanding - diluted132,581 133,686 133,001 133,829 
    
Dividends declared per share$0.28 $0.27 $0.84 $0.81 
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements. 
4


NATIONAL INSTRUMENTS CORPORATION
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
(in thousands)
(unaudited)  
Three Months EndedNine Months Ended
September 30,September 30,
2022202120222021
    
Net income$61,907 $27,177 $99,577 $48,979 
Other comprehensive (loss) income, before tax and net of reclassification adjustments:    
Foreign currency translation adjustment(18,563)(5,675)(32,009)(10,585)
Unrealized loss on securities available-for-sale— (21)— (162)
Unrealized gain on derivative instruments3,960 4,243 11,987 18,605 
Other comprehensive (loss) income, before tax(14,603)(1,453)(20,022)7,858 
Tax expense related to items of other comprehensive income932 948 2,862 4,208 
Other comprehensive (loss) income, net of tax(15,535)(2,401)(22,884)3,650 
Comprehensive income$46,372 $24,776 $76,693 $52,629 
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

5


NATIONAL INSTRUMENTS CORPORATION
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(in thousands)
(unaudited)  
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
20222021
Cash flow from operating activities:  
Net income$99,577 $48,979 
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:  
Disposal gain on sale of assets(33,636)— 
Depreciation and amortization68,828 73,418 
Stock-based compensation60,843 56,064 
(Gain) loss from equity-method investees(483)5,082 
Deferred income taxes928 (2,030)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities(204,987)(95,477)
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities(8,930)86,036 
  
Cash flow from investing activities:  
Acquisitions, net of cash received(72,802)(19,784)
Capital expenditures(39,193)(26,147)
Proceeds from sale of assets40,987 — 
Capitalization of internally developed software(388)(1,246)
Additions to other intangibles(3,165)(2,317)
Payments to acquire equity-method investments— (15,753)
Sales and maturities of short-term investments— 59,714 
Net cash used in investing activities(74,561)(5,533)
 
Cash flow from financing activities:  
Proceeds from revolving line of credit268,000 100,000 
Principal payments on revolving line of credit(498,000)— 
Proceeds from term loan500,000 — 
Payments on term loan— (98,750)
Debt issuance costs(2,348)(1,993)
Proceeds from issuance of common stock25,444 25,438 
Repurchase of common stock(151,831)(25,000)
Dividends paid(111,161)(107,397)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities30,104 (107,702)
  
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash(8,717)(2,336)
  
Net change in cash and cash equivalents(62,104)(29,535)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period211,106 260,232 
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period$149,002 $230,697 
 
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.   

6



NATIONAL INSTRUMENTS CORPORATION  
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
(in thousands, except share data and per share data)
(unaudited)
Common Stock SharesCommon Stock AmountAdditional-Paid in CapitalRetained Earnings/(Deficit)Accumulated Other Comprehensive LossTotal Stockholders' Equity
Balance at June 30, 2022132,316,344 $1,323 $1,173,131 $21,533 $(27,480)$1,168,507 
Net income— — — 61,907 — 61,907 
Other comprehensive loss, net of tax— — — — (15,535)(15,535)
Issuance of common stock under employee plans285,330 7,582 — — 7,585 
Stock-based compensation— — 19,979 — — 19,979 
Repurchase of common stock(2,033,135)(20)(17,363)(64,447)— (81,830)
Dividends paid (1)— — — (37,128)— (37,128)
Balance at September 30, 2022130,568,539 1,306 1,183,329 (18,135)(43,015)1,123,485 
Common Stock SharesCommon Stock AmountAdditional-Paid in CapitalRetained Earnings/(Deficit)Accumulated Other Comprehensive LossTotal Stockholders' Equity
Balance at December 31, 2021132,293,898 1,323 1,129,647 112,858 (20,131)1,223,697 
Net income— — — 99,577 — 99,577 
Other comprehensive loss, net of tax— — — — (22,884)(22,884)
Issuance of common stock under employee plans2,066,704 21 25,423 — — 25,444 
Stock-based compensation— — 60,643 — — 60,643 
Repurchase of common stock(3,792,063)(38)(32,384)(119,409)— (151,831)
Dividends paid (1)— — — (111,161)— (111,161)
Balance at September 30, 2022130,568,539 $1,306 $1,183,329 $(18,135)$(43,015)$1,123,485 
(1) Cash dividends declared per share of common stock were $0.28 for the three months ended September 30, 2022, and $0.84 for the nine months ended September 30, 2022.
 
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements. 
7



Common Stock SharesCommon Stock AmountAdditional-Paid in CapitalRetained Earnings/(Deficit)Accumulated Other Comprehensive LossTotal Stockholders' Equity
Balance at June 30, 2021132,980,932 $1,330 $1,087,622 $161,475 $(14,775)$1,235,652 
Net income— — — 27,177 — 27,177 
Other comprehensive loss, net of tax— — — — (2,401)(2,401)
Issuance of common stock under employee plans240,368 8,197 — — 8,199 
Stock-based compensation— — 18,814 — — 18,814 
Repurchase of common stock(599,066)(6)(4,715)(20,279)— (25,000)
Dividends paid (1)— — — (35,969)— (35,969)
Balance at September 30, 2021132,622,234 1,326 1,109,918 132,404 (17,176)1,226,472 
Common Stock SharesCommon Stock AmountAdditional-Paid in CapitalRetained Earnings/(Deficit)Accumulated Other Comprehensive LossTotal Stockholders' Equity
Balance at December 31, 2020131,246,615 1,312 1,033,284 211,101 (20,826)1,224,871 
Net income— — — 48,979 — 48,979 
Other comprehensive income, net of tax— — — — 3,650 3,650 
Issuance of common stock under employee plans1,974,685 20 25,418 — — 25,438 
Stock-based compensation— — 55,931 — — 55,931 
Repurchase of common stock(599,066)(6)(4,715)(20,279)— (25,000)
Dividends paid (1)— — — (107,397)— (107,397)
Balance at September 30, 2021132,622,234 $1,326 $1,109,918 $132,404 $(17,176)$1,226,472 
(1) Cash dividends declared per share of common stock were $0.27 for the three months ended September 30, 2021, and $0.81 for the nine months ended September 30, 2021.

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
8





NATIONAL INSTRUMENTS CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS  
  
Note 1 – Basis of presentation  
  
The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021, included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") on February 22, 2022 (the "Form 10-K"). In our opinion, the accompanying consolidated financial statements reflect all adjustments (consisting only of normal recurring items) considered necessary to state fairly our financial position at September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, the results of our operations and comprehensive income for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022 and 2021, our cash flows for the nine months ended September 30, 2022 and 2021 and our statement of stockholders' equity for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022 and 2021. Our operating results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ending December 31, 2022. These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States.

Gain on Sale of Assets

During the three months ended September 30, 2022, we recognized a gain of $33.6 million from the sale of approximately 75-acres of land in Williamson County, Texas and two office buildings in Aachen, Germany. The buildings in Germany were previously used for certain research and development activities that have been relocated to other research and development locations. The disposal gain is presented as “Gain on sale of assets” in the Consolidated Statements of Income.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In October 2021, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued ASU No. 2021-08—Business Combinations (Topic 805): Accounting for Contract Assets and Contract Liabilities from Contracts with Customers. The new guidance requires contract assets and contract liabilities acquired in a business combination to be recognized in accordance with ASC Topic 606 as if the acquirer had originated the contracts. We early adopted the standard on January 1, 2022. The adoption of this accounting standard update did not have a material effect on our consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

In November 2021, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") No. 2021-10- Government Assistance, to increase transparency of government assistance including the disclosure of (1) the types of assistance, (2) an entity’s accounting for the assistance, and (3) the effect of the assistance on an entity’s financial statements. ASU 2021-10 is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2021. Early adoption is permitted. We are currently evaluating the impact of this accounting standard update on our annual financial statement disclosures.

In September 2022, the FASB issued ASU No. 2022-04-Supplier Finance Programs (Subtopic 405-50): Disclosure of Supplier Finance Program Obligations. The amendments in Update 2022-04 require that a buyer in a supplier finance program disclose sufficient information about the program to allow a user of financial statements to understand the program’s nature, activity during the period, changes from period to period, and potential magnitude. The amendments in this Update do not affect the recognition, measurement, or financial statement presentation of obligations covered by supplier finance programs. The amendments in this Update are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2022, including interim periods within those fiscal years, except for the amendment on rollforward information, which is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2023. Early adoption is permitted. We are currently evaluating the impact of this accounting standard update on our annual financial statement disclosures.

Although there are several other accounting pronouncements recently issued by the FASB, we do not expect the adoption of any of these accounting pronouncements to have material impact on our consolidated financial statements.

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

There were no material changes to our significant accounting policies during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022 compared to the significant accounting policies described in our Form 10-K.


9


Other (Expense) Income

Other (expense) income, net consisted of the following amounts:
Three Months Ended September 30,Nine Months Ended September 30,
(In thousands)(Unaudited)(Unaudited)
2022202120222021
Interest income$103 $56 $207 $330 
Interest expense(4,851)(657)(8,643)(2,584)
Gain (Loss) from equity-method investments353 278 483 (5,082)
Net foreign exchange loss(3,625)(1,226)(5,560)(2,681)
Other gain (loss)2,870 (271)4,891 166 
Other expense, net$(5,150)$(1,820)$(8,622)$(9,851)

Other Current Liabilities

Other current liabilities on our consolidated balance sheet includes the following amounts (in thousands):
As of September 30, 2022As of December 31,
(unaudited)2021
Income taxes payable - current$17,211 $14,457 
Hedge payable - current10,833 7,091 
Employer social security taxes - current— 5,785 
Other24,035 13,338 
Total$52,079 $40,671 

Earnings Per Share

Basic earnings per share (“EPS”) is computed by dividing net income by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during each period. Diluted EPS is computed by dividing net income by the weighted average number of common shares and common share equivalents outstanding (if dilutive) during each period. The number of common share equivalents, which includes restricted stock units ("RSUs"), is computed using the treasury stock method. 

The reconciliation of the denominators used to calculate basic EPS and diluted EPS for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022 and 2021 are as follows (in thousands):
Three Months Ended September 30,Nine Months Ended September 30,
(Unaudited)(Unaudited)
2022202120222021
Weighted average shares outstanding-basic132,044 133,031 132,040 132,657 
Plus: Common share equivalents    
RSUs537 655 961 1,172 
Weighted average shares outstanding-diluted132,581 133,686 133,001 133,829 

Shares issuable upon vesting of RSU awards of 1,048,000 shares and 143,000 shares for the three months ended September 30, 2022 and 2021, respectively, and 400,000 shares and 123,000 shares for the nine months ended September 30, 2022 and 2021, respectively, were excluded in the computations of diluted EPS because the effect of including the stock awards would have been anti-dilutive.



10



Note 2 - Revenue

Revenue Recognition

Revenue is recognized upon transfer of control of the promised products or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration we expect to receive in exchange for those products or services. We enter into contracts that can include various combinations of our products or services, which are generally capable of being distinct and accounted for as separate performance obligations. Revenue is recognized net of allowances for returns and any taxes collected from customers, which are subsequently remitted to governmental authorities.

Disaggregation of Revenues

We disaggregate revenue from contracts with customers based on the timing of transfer of goods or services to customers (point-in-time or over time), geographic region based on the billing location of the customer and customer industry grouping.

Total net sales based on the timing of transfer of goods or services to customers and geographic region are as follows:
Three Months Ended September 30,
(Unaudited)
20222021
(In thousands)
Net sales:
Point-in-Time(1)
Over TimeTotal
Point-in-Time(1)
Over TimeTotal
Americas$166,318 $26,643 $192,961 $125,069 $23,835 $148,904 
EMEA91,249 19,087 110,336 72,430 22,433 94,863 
APAC114,100 10,531 124,631 112,931 10,464 123,395 
Total net sales(1)
$371,667 $56,261 $427,928 $310,430 $56,732 $367,162 
(1) Net sales contains hedging gains and losses, which do not represent revenues recognized from customers.
See Note 5 - Derivative instruments and hedging activities of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for more information on the impact of our hedging activities on our results of operations.
Nine Months Ended September 30,
(Unaudited)
20222021
(In thousands)
Net sales:
Point-in-Time(1)
Over TimeTotal
Point-in-Time(1)
Over TimeTotal
Americas$432,402 $78,946 $511,348 $341,870 $68,436 $410,306 
EMEA247,687 60,807 308,494 204,786 64,769 269,555 
APAC357,088 31,769 388,857 337,455 31,724 369,179 
Total net sales(1)
$1,037,177 $171,522 $1,208,699 $884,111 $164,929 $1,049,040 
(1) Net sales contains hedging gains and losses, which do not represent revenues recognized from customers.
See Note 5 - Derivative instruments and hedging activities of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for more information on the impact of our hedging activities on our results of operations.

The industry grouping used to disaggregate net sales is determined at the customer account level. Accounts assigned to one of our three industry-specific groupings are either designated as Semiconductor and Electronics, Transportation, or Aerospace, Defense and Government. We are able to leverage the investments in these areas to also serve a broad base of diverse customers in the other industries we serve, which are included in our Portfolio grouping. Our recent acquisitions described in Note 16 are presented within the "Transportation" industry grouping below.

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Three Months Ended September 30,Nine Months Ended September 30,
(In thousands)(Unaudited)
Industry Grouping2022202120222021
Semiconductor & Electronics101,678 93,892 320,920 292,114 
Transportation83,692 52,954 212,471 149,410 
Aerospace, Defense & Government104,641 92,646 297,569 256,211 
Portfolio137,917 127,670 377,739 351,305 
Total net sales$427,928 $367,162 $1,208,699 $1,049,040 

Information about Contract Balances

Amounts billed in advance of services being provided are typically accounted for as deferred revenue. Nearly all of our deferred revenue balance is related to extended hardware and software maintenance contracts. Payment terms and conditions vary by contract type, although payment is typically due within 30 to 90 days of contract inception. In instances where the timing of revenue recognition differs from the timing of invoicing, we have determined our contracts generally do not include a significant financing component. The primary purpose of our invoicing terms is to provide customers with simplified and predictable ways of purchasing our products and services, not to receive financing from our customers, such as invoicing at the beginning of a subscription term with a portion of the revenue recognized ratably over the contract period, or to provide customers with financing, such as multi-year on-premises licenses that are invoiced annually with revenue recognized upfront.

Changes in deferred revenue, current and non-current, during the nine months ended September 30, 2022 were as follows:

(In thousands)Amount
Balance as of December 31, 2021$170,640 
Deferral of revenue billed in current period, net of recognition130,948 
Recognition of revenue deferred in prior periods(118,902)
Foreign currency translation impact(14,252)
Balance as of September 30, 2022 (unaudited)$168,434 

For the nine months ended September 30, 2022, revenue recognized from performance obligations satisfied in prior periods (for example, due to changes in transaction price) was not material. Amounts recognized as revenue in excess of amounts billed are recorded as unbilled receivables. Unbilled receivables which are anticipated to be invoiced in the next twelve months are included in "Other current assets" on the consolidated balance sheet. Based on the nature of our contracts with customers, we do not typically recognize unbilled receivables related to revenues recognized in excess of amounts billed. For the nine months ended September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, the amounts recorded that were related to unbilled receivables were not material.

Unsatisfied Performance Obligations

Revenue expected to be recognized in any future period related to remaining performance obligations, excluding revenue pertaining to contracts that have an original expected duration of one year or less and contracts where revenue is recognized as invoiced, was approximately $94 million as of September 30, 2022. Because we typically invoice customers at contract inception, this amount is included in our current and non-current deferred revenue balances and primarily relates to multi-year payments for hardware service and software service offerings. As of September 30, 2022, we expect to recognize approximately 12% of the revenue related to these unsatisfied performance obligations during the remainder of 2022, 42% during 2023, and 46% thereafter.

Assets Recognized from the Costs to Obtain a Contract with a Customer

We recognize an asset for the incremental costs of obtaining a contract with a customer if we expect the benefit of those costs to be longer than one year. We have determined that certain sales incentive programs meet the requirements to be capitalized. Capitalized incremental costs related to initial contracts and renewals are amortized over the same period because the commissions paid on both the initial contract and renewals are commensurate with one another. Total capitalized costs to
12



obtain a contract were not material during the periods presented and are included in other long-term assets on our consolidated balance sheets.

Note 3 – Investments

Equity-Method Investments

The carrying value of our equity method investments was $28 million and $32 million as of September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively. During the three months ended September 30, 2022 and 2021, net sales to our equity-method investees were approximately $1.5 million and $0.9 million, respectively. During the nine months ended September 30, 2022 and 2021, net sales to our equity-method investees were approximately $4.3 million and $2.5 million, respectively. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022 and 2021, purchases from our equity-method investees were not material.

We recorded a $3.5 million impairment loss related to an equity-method investment during the three months ended March 31, 2021. Our proportionate share of the income/(loss) from equity-method investments is included within "Other expense". Refer to Note 1 - Basis of Presentation of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information on these amounts for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022 and 2021.
        
Note 4 – Fair value measurements 

We define fair value to be the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. When determining the fair value measurements for assets and liabilities required or permitted to be recorded at fair value, we consider the principal or most advantageous market that market participants may use when pricing the asset or liability.   
We follow a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value. Fair value measurement is determined based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement. The three values of the fair value hierarchy are the following:   
Level 1 – Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities   
Level 2 – Inputs other than quoted prices included within Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly   
Level 3 – Inputs that are not based on observable market data   
Assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis are summarized below:
Fair Value Measurements at Reporting Date Using
(In thousands)(Unaudited)
DescriptionSeptember 30, 2022Level 1Level 2Level 3
Assets    
Other assets:    
Derivatives30,275 — 30,275 — 
Total Assets 
$30,275 $— $30,275 $— 
    
Liabilities    
Derivatives$(11,624)$— $(11,624)$— 
Total Liabilities 
$(11,624)$— $(11,624)$— 
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(In thousands)Fair Value Measurements at Reporting Date Using
DescriptionDecember 31, 2021Level 1Level 2Level 3
Assets    
Cash and cash equivalents:    
Money market funds$101,290 $101,290 $— $— 
Other assets:
Derivatives12,407 — 12,407 — 
Total Assets $113,697 $101,290 $12,407 $— 
    
Liabilities    
Derivatives$(9,468)$— $(9,468)$— 
Total Liabilities $(9,468)$— $(9,468)$— 

We value our available-for-sale short-term investments and cash equivalents based on pricing from third party pricing vendors, who may use quoted prices in active markets for identical assets (Level 1 inputs) or inputs other than quoted prices that are observable either directly or indirectly (Level 2 inputs) in determining fair value. We classify all of our fixed income available-for-sale securities as having Level 2 inputs. The valuation techniques used to measure the fair value of our financial instruments having Level 2 inputs were derived from non-binding market consensus prices that are corroborated by observable market data, quoted market prices for similar instruments, or pricing models, such as discounted cash flow techniques. We believe all of these sources reflect the credit risk associated with each of our available-for-sale short-term investments. Short-term investments available-for-sale typically consist of debt securities issued by states of the U.S. and political subdivisions of the U.S., corporate debt securities and debt securities issued by U.S. government organizations and agencies. We did not have any short-term investments as of December 31, 2021 or September 30, 2022.
  
Derivatives include foreign currency forward contracts. Our foreign currency forward contracts are valued using an income approach (Level 2) based on the spot rate less the contract rate multiplied by the notional amount. We consider counterparty credit risk in the valuation of our derivatives. However, counterparty credit risk did not impact the valuation of our derivatives during the nine months ended September 30, 2022. There were no transfers in or out of Level 1 or Level 2 during the nine months ended September 30, 2022.  
  
We did not have any items that were measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis at September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021. The carrying value of net accounts receivable, accounts payable, and long-term debt contained in the consolidated balance sheets approximates fair value.
 
Note 5 – Derivative instruments and hedging activities  
  
We recognize all of our derivative instruments as either assets or liabilities in our statement of financial position at fair value. The accounting for changes in the fair value (i.e., gains or losses) of a derivative instrument depends on whether it has been designated and qualifies as part of a hedging relationship and further, on the type of hedging relationship. For those derivative instruments that are designated and qualify as hedging instruments, we designate the hedging instrument, based upon the exposure being hedged, as a fair value hedge, cash flow hedge, or a hedge of a net investment in a foreign operation.

We have direct operations in approximately 40 countries. Sales outside of the Americas accounted for approximately 55% and 59% of our net sales during the three months ended September 30, 2022 and 2021, respectively, and approximately 58% and 61% during the nine months ended September 30, 2022 and 2021, respectively. Our activities expose us to a variety of market risks, including the effects of changes in foreign currency exchange rates. These financial risks are monitored and managed by us as an integral part of our overall risk management program.   
  
We maintain a foreign currency risk management strategy that uses derivative instruments (foreign currency forward contracts) to help protect our earnings and cash flows from fluctuations caused by the volatility in currency exchange rates. Movements in foreign currency exchange rates pose a risk to our operations and competitive position, in that exchange rate changes may affect our profitability and cash flow, and the business or pricing strategies of our non-U.S. based competitors.
 
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The vast majority of our foreign sales are denominated in the customers’ local currency. We use foreign currency forward contracts as hedges of forecasted sales that are denominated in foreign currencies and as hedges of foreign currency denominated financial assets or liabilities. These contracts are entered into to help protect against the risk that the eventual dollar-net-cash inflows resulting from such sales or firm commitments will be adversely affected by changes in exchange rates. We also use foreign currency forward contracts as hedges of forecasted expenses that are denominated in foreign currencies. These contracts are entered into to help protect against the risk that the eventual dollar-net-cash outflows resulting from foreign currency operating and cost of sales expenses will be adversely affected by changes in exchange rates.
 
We designate foreign currency forward contracts as cash flow hedges of forecasted net sales or forecasted expenses. In addition, we hedge our foreign currency denominated balance sheet exposures using foreign currency forward contracts that are not designated as hedging instruments. None of our derivative instruments contain a credit-risk-related contingent feature.
 
 Cash flow hedges  

To help protect against the reduction in value caused by a fluctuation in foreign currency exchange rates of forecasted foreign currency cash flows resulting from international sales over the next one to three years, we have instituted a foreign currency cash flow hedging program. We hedge portions of our forecasted net sales and forecasted expenses denominated in foreign currencies with forward contracts. For forward contracts, when the value of the dollar changes significantly against the foreign currencies, the change in the present value of future foreign currency cash flows may be offset by the change in the fair value of the forward contracts designated as hedges. We use foreign currency forward contracts for up to 100% of our forecasted exposures in selected currencies (primarily in Euro, Japanese yen, Hungarian forint, British pound, Malaysian ringgit, Korean won and Chinese yuan) and limit the duration of these contracts to 40 months or less.  

For derivative instruments that are designated and qualify as a cash flow hedge, the gain or loss on the derivative is reported as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income ("OCI") and reclassified into earnings in the same line item (net sales, operating expenses, or cost of sales) associated with the forecasted transaction and in the same period or periods during which the hedged transaction affects earnings. Hedge effectiveness of foreign currency forwards designated as cash flow hedges is measured by comparing the hedging instrument’s cumulative change in fair value from inception to maturity to the forecasted transaction’s terminal value.

We held forward contracts designated as cash flow hedges with the following notional amounts:
(In thousands)US Dollar Equivalent
As of September 30, 2022As of December 31,
(Unaudited)2021
British pound$19,480 $25,947 
Chinese yuan57,385 99,066 
Euro95,533 145,351 
Hungarian forint29,135 54,939 
Japanese yen21,507 43,128 
Korean won6,316 21,180 
Malaysian ringgit12,717 29,624 
Total forward contracts notional amount$242,073 $419,235 
  
The contracts in the foregoing table had contractual maturities of 15 months or less at September 30, 2022 and 24 months or less at December 31, 2021.  

At September 30, 2022, we expect to reclassify $25.1 million of gains on derivative instruments from accumulated OCI to net sales during the next twelve months when the hedged international sales occur, $5.4 million of losses on derivative instruments from accumulated OCI to cost of sales during the next twelve months when the hedged cost of sales are incurred and $4.0 million of losses on derivative instruments from accumulated OCI to operating expenses during the next twelve months when the hedged operating expenses occur. Expected amounts are based on derivative valuations at September 30, 2022. Actual results may vary materially as a result of changes in the corresponding exchange rates subsequent to this date.  
  
Other Derivatives  

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Other derivatives not designated as hedging instruments consist primarily of foreign currency forward contracts that we use to hedge our foreign denominated monetary assets and liabilities to help protect against the change in value caused by a fluctuation in foreign currency exchange rates. We typically attempt to hedge up to 90% of our outstanding foreign denominated net receivables or net payables and typically limit the duration of these foreign currency forward contracts to approximately 90 days or less. The gain or loss on the derivatives as well as the offsetting gain or loss on the hedge item attributable to the hedged risk is recognized in current earnings under the line item “Other expense.” As of September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, we held foreign currency forward contracts that were not designated as hedging instruments with a notional amount of $124 million and $94 million, respectively.   

The following tables present the fair value of derivative instruments on our Consolidated Balance Sheets at September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively.   
Asset Derivatives
September 30, 2022December 31, 2021
(In thousands)(Unaudited)
Balance Sheet LocationFair ValueFair Value
Derivatives designated as hedging instruments   
Foreign exchange contracts - ST forwardsPrepaid expenses and other current assets$25,122 $8,993 
Foreign exchange contracts - LT forwardsOther long-term assets241 2,908 
Total derivatives designated as hedging instruments $25,363 $11,901 
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments   
Foreign exchange contracts - ST forwardsPrepaid expenses and other current assets$4,912 $506 
Total derivatives not designated as hedging instruments $4,912 $506 
Total derivatives $30,275 $12,407 
   
Liability Derivatives
September 30, 2022December 31, 2021
(In thousands)(Unaudited)
Balance Sheet LocationFair ValueFair Value
Derivatives designated as hedging instruments   
Foreign exchange contracts - ST forwardsOther current liabilities$(9,414)$(6,425)
Foreign exchange contracts - LT forwardsOther long-term liabilities(790)(2,377)
Total derivatives designated as hedging instruments $(10,204)$(8,802)
   
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments   
Foreign exchange contracts - ST forwardsOther current liabilities$(1,420)$(666)
Total derivatives not designated as hedging instruments $(1,420)$(666)
   
Total derivatives $(11,624)$(9,468)
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The following tables present the effect of derivative instruments on our Consolidated Statements of Income for the three months ended September 30, 2022 and 2021, respectively:
September 30, 2022
(In thousands)
(Unaudited)
Derivatives in Cash Flow Hedging RelationshipGain or (Loss) Recognized in OCI on Derivative Location of Gain or (Loss) Reclassified from Accumulated OCI into IncomeGain or (Loss) Reclassified from Accumulated OCI into Income
Foreign exchange contracts - forwards$5,366 Net sales$7,347 
   
Foreign exchange contracts - forwards(786)Cost of sales(1,392)
   
Foreign exchange contracts - forwards(620)Operating expenses(929)
Total$3,960  $5,026 

September 30, 2021
(In thousands)
(Unaudited)
Derivatives in Cash Flow Hedging RelationshipGain or (Loss) Recognized in OCI on DerivativeLocation of Gain or (Loss) Reclassified from Accumulated OCI into IncomeGain or (Loss) Reclassified from Accumulated OCI into Income
Foreign exchange contracts - forwards$7,400 Net sales$(815)
   
Foreign exchange contracts - forwards(1,869)Cost of sales(73)
   
Foreign exchange contracts - forwards(1,288)Operating expenses(88)
Total$4,243  $(976)

(In thousands)   
Derivatives not Designated as Hedging InstrumentsLocation of Gain (Loss) Recognized in IncomeAmount of Gain (Loss) Recognized in IncomeAmount of Gain (Loss) Recognized in Income
 September 30, 2022September 30, 2021
 (Unaudited)(Unaudited)
Foreign exchange contracts - forwardsOther expense$5,622 (1,679)
   
Total $5,622 $(1,679)
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The following tables present the effect of derivative instruments on our Consolidated Statements of Income for the nine months ended September 30, 2022 and 2021, respectively:
September 30, 2022
(In thousands)
(Unaudited)
Derivatives in Cash Flow Hedging RelationshipGain or (Loss) Recognized in OCI on DerivativeLocation of Gain or (Loss) Reclassified from Accumulated OCI into IncomeGain or (Loss) Reclassified from Accumulated OCI into Income
Foreign exchange contracts - forwards$17,502 Net sales$14,141 
   
Foreign exchange contracts - forwards(3,253)Cost of sales(2,579)
   
Foreign exchange contracts - forwards(2,262)Operating expenses(1,859)
Total$11,987  $9,703 
September 30, 2021
(In thousands)
(Unaudited)
Derivatives in Cash Flow Hedging RelationshipGain or (Loss) Recognized in OCI on Derivative Location of Gain or (Loss) Reclassified from Accumulated OCI into IncomeGain or (Loss) Reclassified from Accumulated OCI into Income
Foreign exchange contracts - forwards$23,098 Net sales$(5,249)
   
Foreign exchange contracts - forwards(2,675)Cost of sales(73)
   
Foreign exchange contracts - forwards(1,818)Operating expenses(70)
Total$18,605  $(5,392)
(In thousands)   
Derivatives not Designated as Hedging InstrumentsLocation of Gain (Loss) Recognized in IncomeAmount of Gain (Loss) Recognized in IncomeAmount of Gain (Loss) Recognized in Income
 September 30, 2022September 30, 2021
 (Unaudited)(Unaudited)
Foreign exchange contracts - forwardsOther expense$8,409 $(3,942)
Total $8,409 $(3,942)
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Note 6 – Inventories, net 
  
Inventories, net consist of the following: 
September 30, 2022December 31,
(In thousands)(Unaudited)2021
  
Raw materials  $253,698 $181,676 
Work-in-process14,915 14,573 
Finished goods104,931 92,994 
Total$373,544 $289,243 

Note 7 – Intangible assets, net and goodwill 
  
Intangible assets at September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021 are as follows:
September 30, 2022 
(In thousands)(Unaudited)December 31, 2021
Gross Carrying AmountAccumulated AmortizationNet Carrying AmountGross Carrying AmountAccumulated AmortizationNet Carrying Amount
Capitalized software development costs$20,964 $(16,722)$4,242 $45,671 $(36,457)$9,214 
Acquired technology171,754 (48,108)123,646 148,155 (34,264)113,891 
Customer relationships99,780 (28,985)70,795 93,931 (19,717)74,214 
Patents37,070 (30,882)6,188 36,217 (29,316)6,901 
Other35,539 (20,680)14,859 32,962 (16,764)16,198 
Total$365,107 $(145,377)$219,730 $356,936 $(136,518)$220,418 
    
Amortization of capitalized software development costs is computed on an individual product basis for those products available for market and is recognized based on the product’s estimated economic life, which generally range from three to six years. Acquired technology, customer relationships and other intangible assets are amortized over their useful lives, which generally range from five to ten years. Patents are amortized using the straight-line method over their estimated period of benefit, which generally range from ten to seventeen years. Total intangible assets amortization expenses were $14.3 million and $13.4 million for the three months ended September 30, 2022 and 2021, respectively, and $41.5 million and $43.3 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2022 and 2021, respectively.

Goodwill
  
The carrying amount of goodwill as of September 30, 2022 was as follows:
(In thousands)Amount
Balance as of December 31, 2021$575,992 
Acquisitions32,693 
Measurement period adjustments4,243 
Foreign currency translation impact(19,780)
Balance as of September 30, 2022 (unaudited)$593,148 


Refer to Note 16 - Acquisitions of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for additional details on the acquisition-related amounts recorded to goodwill during the nine months ended September 30, 2022.


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The excess purchase price over the fair value of assets acquired is recorded as goodwill. As businesses are acquired, we assign assets acquired (including goodwill) and liabilities assumed to either our existing reporting unit or a newly identified reporting unit as of the date of the acquisition. In the event a disposal group meets the definition of a business, goodwill is allocated to the disposal group based on the relative fair value of the disposal group to the related reporting unit. We have one operating segment and we allocate goodwill to one reporting unit for goodwill impairment testing. Goodwill is tested for impairment on an annual basis, and between annual tests if indicators of potential impairment exist, using a fair-value-based approach based on the market capitalization of the reporting unit. Our annual impairment test is performed in the fourth quarter of each year.

No impairment of goodwill was identified during the nine months ended September 30, 2022 or the twelve months ended December 31, 2021.
   
 
Note 8 – Leases

We have operating leases for corporate offices, automobiles, and certain equipment. Our leases have remaining terms of 1 year to 92 years, some of which may include options to extend the leases for up to 9 years, and some of which may include options to terminate the leases within 1 year. Leases with an initial term of 12 months or less are not recorded on the balance sheet. We recognize lease expense for these leases on a straight-line basis over the lease term.

Amounts related to finance lease activities and income from leasing activities were not material for the periods presented.

The components of operating lease expense were as follows (unaudited):
Three Months EndedNine Months Ended
(In thousands)September 30, 2022September 30, 2021September 30, 2022September 30, 2021
Operating Lease Cost (1)$5,657 $5,174 $16,561 $15,712 
(1) Includes variable and short-term lease costs

Maturities of lease liabilities as of September 30, 2022 were as follows (unaudited):

(In thousands)
Years ending December 31,Operating Leases
2022 (Excluding the nine months ended September 30, 2022)
$4,601 
202314,472 
202411,615 
20258,164 
20267,154 
Thereafter2,922 
Total future minimum lease payments48,928 
Less imputed interest(3,613)
    Total lease liabilities$45,315 
As of September 30, 2022, we have additional operating leases that have not commenced during the nine months ended September 30, 2022, which were not material.
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Note 9 – Income taxes

We account for income taxes under the asset and liability method. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the expected tax consequences of temporary differences between the tax bases of assets and liabilities and their reported amounts. Valuation allowances are established when necessary to reduce deferred tax assets to amounts which are more likely than not to be realized. We had a valuation allowance of $84 million at September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021. A majority of the valuation allowance is related to the deferred tax assets of National Instruments Hungary Kft.

We account for uncertainty in income taxes recognized in our financial statements using prescribed recognition thresholds and measurement attributes for financial statement disclosure of tax positions taken or expected to be taken on our tax returns. We had $11.9 million and $9.4 million of gross unrecognized tax benefits at September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively, all of which would affect our effective income tax rate if recognized. We recorded a gross increase in unrecognized tax benefits of $1.2 million for the three months ended September 30, 2022, as a result of the tax positions taken during the current period. As of September 30, 2022, it is reasonably possible that we will recognize gross tax benefits in the amount of $1.5 million in the next twelve months due to the closing of open tax years. The nature of the uncertainty is related to tax positions taken on returns that have not been examined by the applicable tax authority.  Our continuing policy is to recognize interest and penalties related to income tax matters in income tax expense. During the three months ended September 30, 2022, we recognized interest expense related to uncertain tax positions of approximately $40,000. As of September 30, 2022, we had approximately $0.4 million accrued for interest related to uncertain tax positions. The tax years 2015 through 2022 remain open to examination by the major taxing jurisdictions to which we are subject.  
 
Our provision for income taxes reflected an effective tax rate of 18% and 16% for the three months ended September 30, 2022 and 2021, respectively, and 19% and 16% for the nine months ended September 30, 2022 and 2021, respectively. For the three months ended September 30, 2022, our effective tax rate was lower than the U.S. federal statutory rate of 21% primarily as a result of deduction for foreign-derived intangible income, enhanced deduction for certain research and development expenses, and U.S. research and development tax credit, offset by, foreign taxes greater than the statutory rate, change in unrecognized tax benefits, state income taxes net of federal benefit, and nondeductible officer compensation. For the nine months ended September 30, 2022, our effective tax rate was lower than the U.S. federal statutory rate of 21% primarily as a result of deduction for foreign-derived intangible income, enhanced deduction for certain research and development expenses, and U.S. research and development tax credit, offset by foreign taxes greater than the statutory rate, excess tax expense from share-based compensation, change in unrecognized tax benefits, state income taxes net of federal benefit, and nondeductible officer compensation. For the three months ended September 30, 2021, our effective tax rate was lower than the U.S. federal statutory rate of 21% primarily as a result of an enhanced deduction for certain research and development expenses, foreign taxes lower than the statutory rate, the research and development tax credit, and the deduction for foreign-derived intangible income, offset by the U.S. tax on global intangible low-taxed income, excess tax expense from share-based compensation, nondeductible officer compensation, and state income taxes net of federal benefit. For the nine months ended September 30, 2021, our effective tax rate was lower than the U.S. federal statutory rate of 21% primarily as a result of an enhanced deduction for certain research and development expenses, the research and development tax credit and the deduction for foreign-derived intangible income, offset by the U.S. tax on global intangible low-taxed income, nondeductible officer compensation, and state income taxes net of federal benefit.

Our earnings from our operations in Hungary are subject to a statutory tax rate of 9%. In addition, our research and development activities in Hungary benefit from a tax law in Hungary that provides for an enhanced deduction for qualified research and development expenses. The tax position of our Hungarian operations resulted in income tax benefits of $3.0 million and $5.9 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022, respectively, and income tax benefit of $1.9 million and $2.2 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021, respectively.

Earnings from our operations in Malaysia are free of tax under a tax holiday effective January 1, 2013. This tax holiday expires in 2037. If we fail to satisfy the conditions of the tax holiday, this tax benefit may be terminated early. The income tax benefits of the tax holiday for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022 were approximately $0.5 million and $1.6 million, respectively. The income tax benefits of the tax holiday for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021 were approximately $0.6 million and $0.9 million, respectively.  The impact of the tax holiday on a per share basis for each of the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022 and September 30, 2021 was approximately $0.01 per share.

No other taxing jurisdictions had a significant impact on our effective tax rate. We have not entered into any advanced pricing or other agreements with the Internal Revenue Service ("IRS") with regard to any foreign jurisdictions.


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Note 10 – Comprehensive income    

Our OCI is comprised of net income, foreign currency translation adjustments, and unrealized gains and losses on forward contracts and securities classified as available-for-sale. The accumulated OCI, net of tax, for the nine months ended September 30, 2022 and 2021, consisted of the following:  
September 30, 2022
(Unaudited)
(In thousands)Currency translation adjustmentInvestmentsDerivative instrumentsAccumulated other comprehensive income/(loss)
Balance as of December 31, 2021$(23,179)$— 3,048 $(20,131)
Current-period other comprehensive (loss) income(32,009)— 21,690 (10,319)
Reclassified from accumulated OCI into income— — (9,703)(9,703)
Income tax expense— — 2,862 2,862 
Balance as of September 30, 2022$(55,188)$— $12,173 $(43,015)
September 30, 2021
(Unaudited)
(In thousands)Currency translation adjustmentInvestmentsDerivative instrumentsAccumulated other comprehensive income/(loss)
Balance as of December 31, 2020$(10,066)$(426)(10,334)$(20,826)
Current-period other comprehensive (loss) income(10,585)(162)13,213 2,466 
Reclassified from accumulated OCI into income— — 5,392 5,392 
Income tax (expense) benefit— (4)4,212 4,208 
Balance as of September 30, 2021$(20,651)$(584)$4,059 $(17,176)
  
Note 11 – Authorized shares of common and preferred stock and stock-based compensation plans
  
Authorized shares of common and preferred stock

The total number of shares which we are authorized to issue is 365,000,000 shares, consisting of (i) 5,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share, and (ii) 360,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share.


Stock-Based Compensation Plan  

Our stockholders approved our 2010 Incentive Plan (the “2010 Plan”) on May 11, 2010. At the time of approval, 3,000,000 shares of our common stock were reserved for issuance under the 2010 Plan, as well as the 3,362,304 shares of common stock that were reserved but not issued under the 1994 Plan and the 2005 Incentive Plan (the "2005 Plan") as of May 11, 2010, and any shares that are returned to the 1994 Plan and the 2005 Plan as a result of the forfeiture or termination of options or RSUs or repurchase of shares issued under those plans. The 2010 Plan provided for the granting of incentive awards in the form of restricted stock and RSUs to employees, directors and consultants of the Company and employees and consultants of any parent or subsidiary of the Company. Awards vest over a threefive or ten-year period, beginning on the date of grant. Vesting of ten-year awards may accelerate based on our previous year’s earnings and growth but ten-year awards cannot accelerate to vest over a period of less than five years. The 2010 Plan terminated on May 12, 2015, except with respect to the outstanding awards previously granted thereunder. There were 2,518,416 shares of common stock that were reserved but not issued under the 2010 Plan as of May 12, 2015.


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Our stockholders approved our 2015 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2015 Plan”) on May 12, 2015. At the time of approval, 3,000,000 shares of our common stock were reserved for issuance under the 2015 Plan, as well as the 2,518,416 shares of common stock that were reserved but not issued under the 2010 Plan as of May 12, 2015, and any shares that were returned to the 1994 Plan, 2005 Plan, and the 2010 Plan as a result of the forfeiture or termination of options or RSUs or repurchase of shares issued under those plans. The 2015 Plan provides for the granting of incentive awards in the form of restricted stock and RSUs to employees, directors and consultants of the Company and employees and consultants of any parent or subsidiary of the Company and such awards may be subject to performance-based vesting conditions. Awards generally vest over a three, four, five or ten-year period, beginning on the date of grant. Vesting of ten-year awards may accelerate based on our previous year’s earnings and growth but ten-year awards cannot accelerate to vest over a period of less than five years. The 2015 Plan terminated on May 5, 2020, except with respect to the outstanding awards previously granted thereunder. There were 567,142 shares of common stock that were reserved but not issued under the 2015 Plan as of May 5, 2020.   

Our stockholders approved our 2020 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2020 Plan”) on May 5, 2020. At the time of approval, 4,500,000 shares of our common stock were reserved for issuance under the 2020 Plan, as well as the 567,142 shares of common stock that were reserved but not issued under the 2015 Plan as of May 5, 2020, and any shares that were returned to the 2005 Plan, 2010 Plan, and 2015 Plan as a result of the forfeiture or termination of options or RSUs or repurchase of shares issued under those plans. The 2020 Plan provides for the granting of incentive awards in the form of restricted stock and RSUs to employees, directors and consultants of the Company and employees and consultants of any parent or subsidiary of the Company. Awards generally vest over a one, two, three or four-year period, beginning on the date of the grant and awards may be subject to performance-based vesting conditions. There were 1,568,571 shares of common stock that were reserved but not issued under the 2020 Plan as of May 10, 2022.

Our stockholders approved our 2022 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2022 Plan”) on May 10, 2022. At the time of approval, 4,500,000 shares of our common stock were reserved for issuance under the 2022 Plan, as well as the 1,568,571 shares of common stock that were reserved but not issued under the 2020 Plan as of May 10, 2022, and any shares that were returned to the 2005 Plan, 2010 Plan, 2015 Plan and 2020 Plan as a result of the forfeiture, repurchase or termination of unissued shares subject to options or RSUs issued under those plans. The 2022 Plan provides for the granting of incentive awards in the form of restricted stock and RSUs to employees, directors and consultants of the Company and employees and consultants of any parent or subsidiary of the Company. Awards generally vest over a one, two, three or four-year period, beginning on the date of the grant and awards may be subject to performance-based vesting conditions. There were 6,042,755 shares available for grant under the 2022 Plan at September 30, 2022.

Performance-based stock units

During the nine months ended September 30, 2022 and 2021, we granted 164,843 and 130,006 performance-based restricted stock units (“PRSUs”), respectively, to executive officers pursuant to the 2020 Plan. The PRSUs may be earned based on our total shareholder return (“TSR”) compared to the TSR of the Russell 2000 Index (the “Index”) over a three-year performance period. For the PRSUs granted during the nine months ended September 30, 2022, the three-year performance period commenced on January 1, 2022 and will end on December 31, 2024, and for the PRSUs granted during the nine months ended September 30, 2021, the three year performance commenced on January 1, 2021 and will end on December 31, 2023, using the average daily closing price over a 30-day lookback in each case. The number of awards earned could range from zero to two times the target number of shares granted.


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The fair values of PRSUs are estimated using a Monte Carlo simulation. The determination of fair value of the PRSUs is based on our stock price and a number of assumptions including the expected volatility, expected dividend yield and the risk-free interest rate. The expected volatility at the date of grant was based on the historical volatilities of our stock and the companies included in the Index over the performance period. The Monte Carlo model is based on random projections of stock-price paths and must be repeated numerous times to achieve a probabilistic assessment. The key assumptions used in valuing these market-based awards are as follows:

Nine Months Ended
(unaudited)
September 30, 2022September 30, 2021
Number of simulations100,000100,000
Expected volatility37.81%40.60%
Expected life in years2.95 years2.95 years
Risk-free interest rate1.33%0.21%
Dividend yield2.52%2.66%

The weighted average grant date fair value of the market-based awards, as determined by the Monte Carlo valuation model, was $59.65 per share and $66.97 per share in 2022 and 2021, respectively.
Employee stock purchase plan  

Our employee stock purchase plan (“ESPP”) permits substantially all domestic employees and employees of designated subsidiaries to acquire our common stock at a purchase price of 85% of the lower of the market price at the beginning or the end of the purchase period. The plan has quarterly purchase periods beginning on February 1, May 1, August 1 and November 1 of each year. Employees may designate up to 15% of their compensation for the purchase of common stock under the ESPP. On May 10, 2022, our stockholders approved an additional 3,000,000 shares for issuance under our ESPP. At September 30, 2022, we had 4,270,314 shares of common stock reserved for future issuance under the ESPP. We issued 791,207 shares under this plan in the nine months ended September 30, 2022 and the weighted average purchase price was $32.16 per share. During the nine months ended September 30, 2022, we did not make any changes in accounting principles or methods of estimates with respect to our ESPP.  

Stock repurchases and retirements 
 
On April 21, 2010, our Board of Directors authorized a program to repurchase shares of our common stock from time to time, depending on market conditions and other factors (the “2019 Program”). The Board has amended the 2019 Program several times over the years to increase the number of shares that may be purchased under the program. On October 23, 2019, our Board amended the 2019 Program to increase the number of shares that may be repurchased by 3,000,000 shares.

On January 19, 2022, our Board of Directors approved a new stock repurchase plan for up to $250 million of our common stock, effective immediately (the "2022 Program"). This new repurchase program is in addition to the existing 2019 Program. Under the 2022 Program, shares may be repurchased from time to time in open market transactions, in privately negotiated transactions or otherwise. The timing and the other terms of the repurchase will depend on a variety of factors, including legal requirements, economic and market conditions, and other investment opportunities. The 2022 Program may be changed, suspended or discontinued at any time and does not have a specified expiration date.

As of March 31, 2022, there were no shares remaining available for repurchase under the 2019 Program. As of September 30, 2022, there was $109 million available for repurchase under the 2022 Program. During the three months ended September 30, 2022, we repurchased 2,033,135 shares of our common stock at a weighted average price per share of $40.25 under the 2022 Program. During the nine months ended September 30, 2022, we repurchased 3,792,063 shares of our common stock at a weighted average price of $40.04 under the 2019 Program and 2022 Program. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021, we repurchased 599,066 shares of our common stock at a weighted average price per share of $41.73. under the 2019 Program.

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Note 12 – Segment and geographic information 
  
We operate as one operating segment. Operating segments are defined as components of an enterprise for which separate financial information is evaluated regularly by the chief operating decision maker, who is our chief executive officer, in deciding how to allocate resources and in assessing performance. Our chief operating decision maker evaluates our financial information and resources and assesses the performance of these resources on a consolidated basis. Since we operate as one operating segment, all required financial segment information can be found in the condensed consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto.
  
We sell our products in three geographic regions which consist of the Americas region, Europe, Middle East and Africa region ("EMEA"), and Asia-Pacific region ("APAC"). Our sales to these regions share similar economic characteristics including the nature of products and services we sell, the type and class of customers, and the methods used to distribute our products and services. Revenue from the sale of our products, which are similar in nature, and software maintenance are reflected as total net sales in our Consolidated Statements of Income. (See Note 2 - Revenue of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for total net sales by the geographic regions in which we operate).    

The following table presents summarized information for net sales by country. Revenues from external customers are generally attributed to countries based upon the customer's location. Net sales attributable to each individual foreign country outside the U.S. and China were not material.

(in millions)United States
China(1)
Rest of the WorldTotal
Net sales:
Three months ended September 30, 2022$185 $57 $186 $428 
Three months ended September 30, 2021$141 $59 $167 $367 
Nine months ended September 30, 2022
$489 $178 $542 $1,209 
Nine months ended September 30, 2021
$388 $172 $489 $1,049 
(1): Includes Mainland China and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region

The following table presents summarized information for long-lived assets by country. Long-lived assets attributable to each individual country outside the U.S., Hungary and Malaysia were not material. Long-lived assets consist of property, plant, and equipment and operating lease right-of-use assets excluding intangible assets.

(in millions)United StatesHungaryMalaysiaRest of the WorldTotal
Long-lived Assets:
September 30, 2022$123 $52 $82 $57 $314 
December 31, 2021$125 $51 $76 $60 $312 

Note 13 – Debt

The following table presents the amounts outstanding related to our borrowing arrangements discussed above as of September 30, 2022 (unaudited) and December 31, 2021, respectively:
September 30,December 31,
(in thousands)20222021
Secured Credit Agreement
2022 Term loan (effective interest rate of 4.7%)
$500,000 $— 
2021 Revolving credit facility (effective interest rate of 4.7%)
70,000 300,000 
Total Debt570,000 300,000 
Less: Unamortized debt issuance costs(2,232)— 
Less: Current portion of total debt(25,000)— 
Total Debt, non-current$542,768 $300,000 

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Debt Issuance Costs

As of September 30, 2022, debt issuance costs of approximately $2.2 million attributable to the revolving credit facility are presented within "Other long-term assets" in our Consolidated Balance Sheet and debt issuance costs of approximately $2.2 million attributable to the term loan are presented within "Debt, non-current". These amounts are amortized to interest expense over the life of the Credit Agreement.

Credit Agreement

On August 24, 2022, we entered into a Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement (the "Credit Agreement") with Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as the administrative agent, swingline lender and issuing lender (the "Administrative Agent"), Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, BofA Securities, Inc. and Citibank, N.A., as joint lead arrangers and joint bookrunners, BofA Securities, Inc. and Citibank, N.A., as syndication agents, and the lenders party thereto. The Credit Agreement amends and restates and refinances our Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of June 18, 2021, by and among us, the lenders from time-to-time party thereto and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as the administrative agent. All outstanding loans under the Prior Credit Agreement were repaid in full in connection with the entry into the Credit Agreement. The replacement of the previous debt facility with the Credit Agreement was treated as a debt modification and the remaining balance of unamortized debt issuance costs were allocated to the new loan facilities, as described below.

The Credit Agreement provides for an initial $1 billion credit facility consisting of (a) a secured revolving loan facility in an aggregate principal amount of up to $500 million at any time outstanding, with a sublimit of $25 million for the issuance of letters of credit, and (b) a secured term loan facility in an aggregate principal amount of $500 million. Subject to the terms of the Credit Agreement, including obtaining commitments from existing lenders or new lenders, we may request additional term loans and/or revolving loan commitments. The revolving loan facility and the term loan facility terminate, and all revolving loans outstanding and/or outstanding term loan amounts (together with accrued interest and fees) are payable in full, on August 24, 2027, unless terminated earlier pursuant to the terms of the Credit Agreement. The term loans amortize in quarterly payments equal to 1.25% of the original principal amount of the term loans, with the remaining outstanding balance due at maturity.

The term loans and revolving loans accrue interest, at our option, at (i) a base rate equal to the highest of (a) the prime rate, (b) the federal funds rate plus 0.50%, and (c) an adjusted term SOFR for an interest period of one month plus 1.00%, in each case, plus a margin of 0.25% to 0.75%, or (ii) an adjusted term SOFR (for an interest period of one, three or six months) plus a margin of 1.25% to 1.75%, with the margin being determined based upon our consolidated total net leverage ratio. The Credit Agreement contains financial covenants requiring us to maintain a maximum consolidated total net leverage ratio of less than or equal to 3.50 to 1.00, which increases to 4.00 to 1.00 for a specified period following material acquisitions, and a minimum consolidated interest coverage ratio of greater than or equal to 3.00 to 1.00, in each case determined in accordance with the Credit Agreement.

The Credit Agreement provides for a commitment fee of 0.150% to 0.250% per annum, determined based upon our consolidated total net leverage ratio, on the average daily unused portion of the revolving committed amount, payable quarterly in arrears.

Under the circumstances described in the Credit Agreement, certain of our wholly owned domestic subsidiaries (the "Subsidiary Guarantors") are required to enter into a guaranty agreement ("Guaranty") in favor of the Administrative Agent guarantying our obligations under the Credit Agreement, among other things. As of September 30, 2022, there were no Subsidiary Guarantors, and no Guaranty had been executed. In connection with the Credit Agreement, we entered into a Second Amended and Restated Collateral Agreement (the "Collateral Agreement") pursuant to which we granted a continuing security interest on substantially all of our assets, in favor of the Administrative Agent (for the benefit of the lenders under the Credit Agreement), to secure our obligations under the Credit Agreement. Subsidiary Guarantors are required to join the Collateral Agreement and make similar grants of security interests.


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The Credit Agreement contains customary affirmative and negative covenants. The affirmative covenants include, among other things, delivery of financial statements, compliance certificates and notices, payment of taxes and other obligations, maintenance of existence, maintenance of properties and insurance, maintenance of books and records, and compliance with applicable laws and regulations. The negative covenants include, among other things, limitations on indebtedness, liens, mergers, consolidations, acquisitions and sales of assets, investments, changes in the nature of the business, affiliate transactions and certain restricted payments. The Credit Agreement contains customary events of default including, among other things, payment defaults, breaches of covenants or representations and warranties, cross-defaults with certain other indebtedness, bankruptcy and insolvency events, judgment defaults and change in control events, subject to grace periods in certain instances. Upon an event of default, the Administrative Agent and the lenders may declare all or a portion of the outstanding obligations payable by us to be immediately due and payable and exercise other rights and remedies provided for under the Credit Agreement. Under certain circumstances, a default interest rate will apply on all obligations during the existence of an event of default under the Credit Agreement at a per annum interest rate equal to 2.00% above the otherwise applicable interest rate.

Proceeds of revolving loans of the Credit Agreement may be used for working capital and other general corporate purposes including acquisitions, share repurchases and dividend payouts. We may prepay the loans under the Credit Agreement in whole or in part at any time without premium or penalty.

Note 14 – Commitments and contingencies  
  
We provide product warranties with varying lengths of time and terms. Products sold with one-year limited warranties do not cover anything beyond ensuring that the product functions as intended and are accounted for as assurance-type warranties. Products bundled with multi-year warranty and services obligations or separately-priced optional warranty programs are accounted for as separate performance obligations. For the assurance-type warranties described above, a provision is made for estimated future warranty costs at the time of the sale for the estimated costs that may be incurred under the limited warranty. Our estimate is based on historical experience and product sales during the period.  The warranty reserve for the nine months ended September 30, 2022 and 2021 was as follows:
Nine Months Ended September 30,
(In thousands)(Unaudited)
20222021
Balance at the beginning of the period$3,210 $2,872 
Accruals for warranties issued during the period1,362 2,037 
Accruals related to pre-existing warranties(567)(636)
Settlements made (in cash or in kind) during the period(1,676)(1,291)
Balance at the end of the period$2,329 $2,982 
  
In the ordinary course of business, we enter into purchase orders with suppliers for the purchase of goods and services, including non-cancelable agreements for certain inventory components ("unconditional purchase obligations"). The majority of our unconditional purchase obligations relate to amounts due within the next 12 months. As of September 30, 2022, our unconditional purchase obligations primarily consist of payments to various suppliers for customized inventory and inventory components. As of September 30, 2022, our future payments under noncancellable unconditional purchase obligations with a remaining term in excess of one year were approximately $20.9 million. As of December 31, 2021, our future payments under noncancellable unconditional purchase obligations with a remaining term in excess of one year were approximately $11.7 million. As of September 30, 2022, our outstanding guarantees for payment of customs and foreign grants were not material.

We are not currently a party to any material litigation. However, in the ordinary course of our business, we have in the past, are currently and may likely become involved in various legal proceedings, claims, and regulatory, tax or government inquiries and investigations, and could incur uninsured liability in any one or more of them. We also periodically receive notifications from various third parties related to alleged infringement of patents or other intellectual property rights, commercial disputes or other matters. No assurances can be given with respect to the extent or outcome of any investigation, litigation or dispute. 


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Note 15 – Restructuring

On October 26, 2021, we initiated a restructuring plan (the “2021 Plan”) that resulted in the site closure of our facilities in Aachen, Germany. This targeted restructuring effort was intended to further optimize our research and development operations and accelerate investment in strategic growth opportunities. The majority of these charges were recognized during the fourth quarter of 2021.

During the third quarter of 2022, we also incurred restructuring-related expenses of less than $1.0 million related to a targeted headcount reduction that will be substantially complete by December 31, 2022. These severance-related charges are presented within "General and Administrative" below.

On October 29, 2020, we announced a workforce reduction plan (the “2020 Plan”) intended to accelerate our growth strategy and further optimize our operations and cost structure. The majority of charges related to this Plan were recognized during the three months ended December 31, 2020. We implemented a majority of the actions under this Plan as of December 31, 2021. During the third quarter of 2022, we recorded an inventory write-down of approximately $3.9 million, presented in "Cost of sales", related to the final transition of manufacturing activities from our RF and microwave test business from Santa Clara, California to our manufacturing hubs in Hungary and Malaysia. The majority of the other charges incurred are related to severance payments.

A summary of the charges in our consolidated statement of operations resulting from our restructuring activities is shown below:
Three Months Ended September 30,Nine Months Ended September 30,
(In thousands)(Unaudited)(Unaudited)
2022202120222021
Cost of sales$3,944 $(7)$3,944 $(50)
Research and development37 65 729 444 
Sales and marketing— (223)— 3,924 
General and administrative813 54 813 2,159 
Total restructuring and other related costs$4,794 $(111)$5,486 $6,477 

A summary of balance sheet activity during 2022 related to our restructuring activity is shown below:

(in thousands)Restructuring Liability
Balance as of December 31, 2021$11,520 
Income statement expense1,542 
Cash payments(10,034)
Balance as of September 30, 2022$3,028 

The restructuring liability of $3.0 million at September 30, 2022 related primarily to severance payments associated with the restructuring activity is recorded in the “accrued compensation” line item of our consolidated balance sheet.

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Note 16 – Acquisitions

Acquisition of Test Systems Business (“TS Business”) From Kratzer Automation AG (“Kratzer”)

On May 2, 2022, we completed the acquisition of certain assets of, and assumed certain liabilities of, the test systems business of Germany-based Kratzer. As part of this integrated transaction, we also purchased 100% of the shares in certain subsidiaries of Kratzer including Kratzer Automation S.a.r.l. ("Kratzer France"), Kratzer Automation Inc. ("Kratzer US") and Kratzer Automation (Shanghai) Co., Ltd. ("Kratzer China"). The acquisitions of Kratzer France, Kratzer US, and Kratzer China were completed on June 1, 2022, June 2, 2022, and August 26, 2022, respectively. This transaction was accounted for as a business combination using the acquisition method of accounting. Total cash consideration for the transaction was $56.8 million inclusive of $0.7 million in cash acquired. All of the acquired assets and liabilities of the TS Business have been recorded at their respective fair values as of the acquisition date. The acquisition was funded by cash on hand.

Transaction costs have been expensed as incurred. We expensed $2.2 million of transaction costs related to the acquisition of the TS Business, which are included in selling, general and administrative expenses.

The excess of the purchase price over the net assets acquired was recorded as goodwill. The goodwill generated from the acquisition is primarily attributed to expected growth in the scope of and market opportunities for our existing offerings related to vehicle electrification test systems and other related applications. The goodwill is deductible locally and the U.S. over 15 years for federal income tax purposes.

Fair value of net assets acquired and liabilities assumed

The information below represents the preliminary purchase price allocation of the TS Business (in thousands):
May 2, 2022
Consideration Transferred
$
56,806 
Cash and cash equivalents
672 
Accounts receivable
3,756 
Inventories
5,209 
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
1,936 
Property and equipment
1,151 
Goodwill
19,181 
Intangible assets
35,502 
Operating lease right-of-use assets
4,642 
Other long-term assets
109 
Accounts payable and accrued expenses
(999)
Accrued compensation
(464)
Operating lease liabilities - current
(1,051)
Other current liabilities
(9,431)
Other taxes payable95 
Operating lease liabilities - non-current
(3,502)
Net Assets Acquired
$
56,806 

The preliminary purchase price allocation related to the acquisition was not finalized as of September 30, 2022. These preliminary estimates of the fair value of the assets acquired and the liabilities assumed are based on the information currently available, and we are continuing to evaluate the underlying inputs and assumptions used in our valuations. Accordingly, these preliminary estimates are subject to change during the measurement period, which is up to one year from the date of acquisition. A decrease in the fair value of assets acquired or an increase in the fair value of liabilities assumed in the acquisition would result in a corresponding increase in the amount of goodwill acquired. The primary areas of purchase price that are not yet finalized relate to intangible assets, income taxes and residual goodwill.

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Acquired intangible assets will be amortized over their estimated useful lives on a straight-line basis. The following table summarizes the preliminary purchase price allocation and the preliminary average remaining useful lives for identifiable intangible assets acquired.
Estimated Fair Value (in thousands)
Estimated Useful Lives (in years)
Customer relationships
$5,030 
8
Developed software
27,720 
5
Trade name contractual rights
2,570 
2
Other182 
4-12
Total
35,502 

Customer relationships represent the fair value of future projected revenue that will be derived from sales of products to existing customers. The economic useful life was determined by examining the period of time over which a target cumulative present value of discounted cash flows could be achieved.

Developed software represents the fair value of automation systems for performing test bench tasks and management systems for all resources and accruing data in the test field. The economic life of this software is estimated to be 5-8 years based on the expected future utilization of the software in its current form.

Results of operations of the business acquired have been included in our condensed consolidated financial statements subsequent to the dates of acquisition. Pro-forma results of operations have not been presented as the impact of the acquired operations was not material.

Acquisition of Electronic Vehicle (“EV”) Business From Heinzinger Electronic GmbH ("Heinzinger")

On February 28, 2022, we completed the acquisition of the systems business of Heinzinger for $22.5 million in total cash consideration, subject to certain post-closing adjustments. This transaction is being accounted for as a business combination using the acquisition method of accounting. All of the acquired assets and liabilities of Heinzinger have been recorded at their respective fair values as of the acquisition date. We recognized approximately $14 million of goodwill and $7 million of other intangible assets as part of our preliminary purchase price allocation. Transaction costs have been expensed as incurred and were not material to the periods presented. The acquisition was funded by cash on hand.

The preliminary purchase price allocation related to the acquisition was not finalized as of September 30, 2022, and is based upon a preliminary valuation which is subject to change as we obtain additional information with respect to certain intangible assets and income taxes. Pro-forma results of operations have not been presented as the impact of the acquired operations was not material.

The excess of the purchase price over the net assets acquired was recorded as goodwill. Goodwill generated from the acquisition is primarily attributable to expected growth in the scope of and market opportunities for our existing offerings related to vehicle electrification and other related applications. Goodwill is deductible for tax purposes.

Acquisition of N H Research, LLC ("NHR")

On October 19, 2021, we completed the acquisition of NHR, a manufacturer of test and measurement solutions for high power applications including EV and batteries. As a result of acquiring 100% of the outstanding share capital of NHR, NHR became our wholly owned subsidiary. This transaction is being accounted for as a business combination using the acquisition method of accounting. All of the acquired assets and liabilities of NHR have been recorded at their respective fair values as of the acquisition date. Transaction costs have been expensed as incurred.

At the acquisition date, total consideration transferred was approximately $205 million, inclusive of $3 million in cash acquired. The excess of the purchase price over the net assets acquired was recorded as goodwill. Goodwill generated from the acquisition is primarily attributable to expected growth in the scope of and market opportunities for our existing offerings related to vehicle electrification and other related applications. As a result of the structure of the transaction, the balance of goodwill is deductible in the U.S. over 15 years for income tax purposes.


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The acquisition was funded primarily by cash on hand in addition to $200 million drawn under our existing credit facility in October 2021. See Note 13 Debt of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for further information on our outstanding borrowings. During the year ended December 31, 2021, we expensed $6 million of transaction costs in connection with the acquisition of NHR, which were included in operating expenses.

During the first quarter of 2022, we recorded a measurement period adjustment to our preliminary estimate of the fair value of liabilities assumed related to amounts owed for certain pre-acquisition activities. The increase to the fair value of acquired liabilities was $5.1 million, with a corresponding increase to goodwill. The change to this provisional amount had no impact to the current period income statement.

During the second quarter of 2022, we recorded measurement period adjustments to total consideration transferred related to amounts received for certain pre-acquisition activities and certain post-closing adjustments. The net decrease to total consideration transferred was $0.8 million, with a corresponding decrease to goodwill. This change had no impact to the current period income statement.

Fair value of net assets acquired and liabilities assumed

The information below represents the preliminary purchase price allocation of NHR (in thousands):
October 19, 2021
Consideration Transferred$205,396 
Cash2,935 
Accounts receivable, net3,902 
Inventories, net4,764 
Property and equipment, net287 
Other assets and liabilities(4,621)
Intangible assets98,510 
Goodwill102,090 
Accounts payable and accrued expenses(2,186)
Deferred revenue(285)
Net assets acquired$205,396 

Our preliminary estimates of the fair value of the assets acquired and the liabilities assumed are based on the information currently available, and we are continuing to evaluate the underlying inputs and assumptions used in our valuations. Accordingly, these preliminary estimates are subject to change during the measurement period, which is up to one year from the date of acquisition. A decrease in the fair value of assets acquired or an increase in the fair value of liabilities assumed in the acquisition would result in a corresponding increase in the amount of goodwill acquired. The primary areas of the purchase price that are not yet finalized relate to certain liabilities related to preacquisition activities and residual goodwill.

Acquired intangible assets will be amortized over their estimated useful lives on a straight-line basis. The following table summarizes the preliminary purchase price allocation, and the preliminary average remaining useful lives, for identifiable intangible assets acquired:
Estimated Fair Value (in thousands)Estimated Useful Lives (in years)
Customer relationships
$54,350 
7
Developed software6,010 
2-7
Existing product configurations28,300 
9
In-process research and development (IPR&D)4,030 Indefinite
Trade name
5,820 
6
Total$98,510 

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Customer relationships represent the fair value of future projected revenue that will be derived from sales of products to existing customers. Customer relationships were valued using the multi-period excess earnings method of the income approach. This method reflects the present value of the projected cash flows that are expected to be generated by customer relationships less charges representing the contribution of other assets to those cash flows. The economic useful life was determined by examining the period of time over which a target cumulative present value of discounted cash flows could be achieved.

Existing product configurations represent the existing hardware configurations of products sold by NHR. These products are created from component parts and assembled based on their intended purpose and application. Existing product configurations were valued using the avoided costs / lost profits method. The fair value represents the total costs that would be avoided by having this asset in place. The economic useful life was determined based on the number of years since launch for each product compared to the expected total life of each product.

Unaudited Pro Forma Information

The following unaudited pro forma financial information presents combined results of operations for the periods presented, as if the NHR acquisition had occurred on January 1, 2020, with adjustments to give effect to pro forma events that are directly attributable to the acquisition. These pro forma adjustments include additional amortization expense for the identifiable intangible assets and an increase in interest expense related to the additional borrowings entered into in connection with the acquisition, net of tax effects. For the pro forma presentation, given the assumed acquisition date of January 1, 2020, transaction and integration costs that were incurred at or subsequent to the actual acquisition date have been included in the calculation of pro forma net income for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021, whereas transaction and integration costs that were incurred prior to the acquisition date have been excluded from the calculation of pro forma net income. The unaudited pro forma results are presented for informational purposes only and are not necessarily indicative of what actual results of operations would have been if the acquisition had occurred as the beginning of the period presented, nor are they indicative of future results of operations. The unaudited pro forma results do not include the impact of synergies, nor any potential impacts on current or future market conditions which could alter the unaudited pro forma results.

Three months ended September 30,Nine Months Ended September 30,
(in thousands)20212021
Net sales
$376,654 $1,075,653 
Net income
$27,460 $48,973 


Other Acquisitions

During the second quarter of 2021, we also completed the acquisition of a software company that specialized in signal processing and hi-fi simulation software for validation of autonomous vehicles and advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), for approximately $20 million in total cash consideration, subject to certain post-closing adjustments. This transaction was accounted for as a business combination using the acquisition method of accounting. All of the acquired assets and liabilities of the software company have been recorded at their respective fair values as of the acquisition date. We recognized approximately $17 million of goodwill and $4 million of other intangible assets as part of our purchase price allocation. Transaction costs have been expensed as incurred and were not material to the periods presented.

Pro-forma results of operations have not been presented because the effects of the acquired operations were not material.

The excess of the purchase price over the net assets acquired was recorded as goodwill. Goodwill generated from the acquisition is primarily attributable to expected growth in the scope of and market opportunities for our software-defined automated test and measurement platform. Goodwill is not deductible for tax purposes.
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Note 17 – Subsequent events  
  
Dividends

On October 19, 2022, our Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.28 per common share, payable on November 28, 2022, to stockholders of record as of the close of business on November 7, 2022.











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Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

National Instruments Corporation and its subsidiaries (referred to as the “Company,” “we,” “us,” “our,” “National Instruments” or “NI”) has made forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), that are subject to risks and uncertainties. Any statements contained herein regarding our future financial performance, operations, plans, investments, expected effects of investments, or other matters (including, without limitation, statements to the effect that we “believe,” “expect,” “plan,” “intend to,” “may,” “could,” “can,” “will,” “project,” “predict,” “anticipate,” “continue,” “strive to,” “endeavor to,” “seek to,” “are committed to,” "remaining committed to," “are encouraged by,” "remain cautious," "remain optimistic," “estimate”, "focus on"; statements of “goals,” “commitments,” "strategy," "opportunities" or “visions”; or other variations thereof or comparable terminology or the negative thereof) should be considered forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements are based on current expectations and projections of future events. We claim the protection of the safe harbor for forward-looking statements contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 for all forward-looking statements.

Although we believe that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, forward-looking statements are not guarantees of performance and actual results could differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements as a result of a number of important factors, including those set forth under the heading “Risk Factors” below and in "Part 1, Item 1A. Risk Factors" in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021 (the "Form 10-K") filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"). Actual results could differ materially from those stated or implied by our forward-looking statements, due to risks and uncertainties associated with our business or under different assumptions or conditions. You should not place undue reliance on any of these forward-looking statements. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which it is made, and we disclaim any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

The following discussion should be read in conjunction with the Form 10-K and the condensed consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes included in Part 1, Item 1 of this Form 10-Q.
  
Overview and Current Business Outlook
For more than 40 years, we have enabled engineers and scientists around the world to accelerate productivity, innovation and discovery. Our software-centric platform provides an advanced approach through integration of software and modular hardware to create automated test and automated measurement systems. We believe our long-term track record of innovation and our differentiated platform help support the success of our customers, employees, suppliers, community and stockholders. We have been profitable in every year since 1990. We sell to a large number of customers in a wide variety of industries.
The key strategies that we focus on in running our business are the following:
Expanding our available market opportunity
We strive to increase our available market by identifying new opportunities in existing customers, attracting and serving new customers, and expanding our business to market adjacencies. Our large network of existing customers provides a broad base from which to expand.
Maintaining a high level of customer satisfaction
To maintain a high level of customer satisfaction we strive to offer innovative, modular and integrated products through a global sales and support network. We strive to maintain a high degree of backward compatibility across different platforms to preserve the customer’s investment in our products. In this time of intense global competition, we believe it is crucial that we continue to offer products with high quality and reliability, and that our products provide cost-effective solutions for our customers.  
Leveraging external and internal technology
Our product strategy is to provide superior products by leveraging generally available technology, supporting open architectures on multiple platforms and by leveraging our core technologies across multiple products.
We sell into test and measurement and industrial/embedded applications in a broad range of industries and are subject to the economic and industry forces that drive those markets. Examples of these types of customers include semiconductor and electronics, transportation, and aerospace, defense and government.

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Leveraging a worldwide sales, distribution and manufacturing network

We distribute and sell our software and hardware products primarily through a direct sales organization. We also use independent distributors, original equipment manufacturers, value added resellers, system integrators, and consultants to market and sell our products. We continue to focus on scale and efficiency in serving our broad base of customers. This includes ongoing investment in ni.com for a better digital experience and significantly expanding the usage of our distributor channels. We have sales offices in the U.S. and sales offices and distributors in key international markets. Sales outside of the Americas accounted for approximately 55% and 59% of our net sales during the three months ended September 30, 2022 and 2021, respectively, and approximately 58% and 61% of our net sales during the nine months ended September 30, 2022 and 2021, respectively. The vast majority of our foreign sales are denominated in the customers’ local currency, which exposes us to the effects of changes in foreign currency exchange rates. We expect that a significant portion of our total revenues will continue to be derived from international sales. (See Note 2 - Revenue and Note 12 - Segment and geographic information of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for details concerning the geographic breakdown of our net sales and long-lived assets, respectively).
  
We manufacture substantially all of our product volume at our facilities in Debrecen, Hungary and Penang, Malaysia.
Delivering high quality, reliable products
We believe that our long-term growth and success depend on delivering high quality software and hardware products on a timely basis. Accordingly, we focus significant efforts on research and development. We focus our research and development efforts on enhancing existing products and developing new products that incorporate appropriate features and functionality to be competitive with respect to technology, price and performance. Our success also depends on our ability to obtain and maintain patents and other proprietary rights related to technologies used in our products. We have engaged in litigation when necessary, and will likely engage in future litigation to protect our intellectual property rights.
Our operating results fluctuate from period to period due to changes in global economic conditions and a number of other factors such as the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, geopolitical instability, supply chain constraints, inflationary pressures and tightening monetary policies. As a result, we believe our historical results of operations should not be relied upon as indications of future performance. There can be no assurance that our net sales will grow, or not decline, or that we will remain profitable in future periods.
Backlog

Backlog is a measure of firm orders that are received but have not yet shipped to customers. Our measure of backlog excludes amounts related to shipments where the customer has specified delivery in a future period.

Our backlog was approximately $239 million and $154 million at September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively, primarily driven by strong order growth during the year and longer lead times for certain components. We expect the majority of backlog to be recognized as revenue within 12 months. While backlog on any particular date can be an indicator of short-term revenue performance, it is not necessarily a reliable indicator of medium or long-term revenue performance.

Current business outlook  

During the third quarter of 2022, we continued to experience strong demand from our customers across the geographic regions and end markets that we serve, with the value of total orders increasing by approximately 12% compared to the same period in 2021. However, we are seeing indications of softening demand in some areas of our business and we currently expect order growth to slow on a year over year basis over the next few quarters. Although certain end markets, particularly in our broader "Portfolio" and "Semiconductor" industry groups, may be negatively impacted by weaker macroeconomic conditions, we remain optimistic about additional opportunities to drive revenue growth for 2022 and beyond. We expect our customers will continue to make investments in emerging technologies related to 5G/mmWave, vehicle electrification, advanced driver assistance systems (“ADAS"), new space innovation, and increased defense spending.


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We also continue to experience component shortages for some of our products as well as higher costs to obtain a consistent supply of certain components due to global supply chain constraints. The duration of these supply chain challenges remains uncertain but we are currently expecting the situation to improve in the first half of 2023. Additionally, strong demand and a strategic shift to longer lead times to fulfill orders for certain offerings has continued to shift the timing of revenue recognition into future periods and increase our backlog. While we expect to continue to experience some logistical challenges and cost pressures on our gross margin related to these supply chain constraints over the next few quarters, we are optimistic about our ability to maintain competitive lead times while continuing to maintain higher backlog levels as part of our strategic focus on application-specific system offerings. We have been able to mitigate some of the recent supply chain disruptions by expanding our supplier base, redesigning certain products to remove dependencies on certain components, and leveraging our modular platform to meet our customers' needs with available products.

During the first quarter of 2022, we began to accelerate our transition to a predominantly subscription-based licensing model for the majority of our software offerings. Revenue from software and related services was approximately 19% of our total revenue during the first three quarters of 2022. While we expect our subscription base, recurring revenue and cash flow to increase over time as a result of this licensing model transition, we expect some initial headwinds to our net sales and operating profitability during the transition period. However, we expect recent additions and enhancements to our software portfolio will continue to differentiate our products and fuel demand across our end markets. We currently estimate the impact of the transition to subscription licensing will reduce our total annual revenue by approximately 2% for 2022, but we expect to see a favorable year over year impact to our revenue beginning in 2023.

As part of our efforts to streamline the process of doing business with NI, we have increased our focus on customer account tiers when assessing trends in our order growth. Specifically, we have grouped our customers into tiers based on their historical spending patterns and potential for future order growth. Our "Focus" account tiers are comprised of approximately 2,500 accounts we have identified as having a high potential to maintain or expand our business through system-level offerings. The Focus tier currently represents approximately 70% of our total order value. Our "Broad-based" account tier is comprised of the remainder of our customer base of approximately 30,000 accounts. The Broad-based tier currently represents approximately 30% of our total order value. During the three months ended September 30, 2022, orders from our Focus accounts and Broad-based accounts increased by 11% and 15%, respectively, compared to the same period in 2021.

We also continue to focus on scale and efficiency when engaging with our Broad-based customers. Our focus to streamline the process of doing business with NI means effectively scaling our operations while also improving the experience for the large number of smaller accounts. We are making additional investments in ni.com for a better digital experience and expect to continue to expand customer reach through our distributor channel during 2022 and beyond. We are also simplifying our product offerings for the Broad-based customers to make our products easier-to-use. We believe these actions will allow our direct sales force to accelerate our revenue growth through proactive engagements with accounts where we can deliver enterprise-level value. During the three months ended September 30, 2022, indirect sales through our distributor channels increased to represent about 18% of our total sales, compared to 12% in the same period of 2021. During the nine months ended September 30, 2022, indirect sales through our distributor channels increased to approximately 15% of our total net sales, compared to 8% in the same period of 2021. As of September 30, 2022, we estimate our distributors were carrying less than $15 million of our products in inventory in total, and the majority of these distributors are not eligible for significant price adjustments related to their previous purchases. For the three months ended September 30, 2022, no single distributor or end customer accounted for more than 4% of our total net sales.

Acquisitions and divestitures

Refer to Note 1 - Basis of presentation and Note 16 - Acquisitions of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information on our acquisitions and divestitures during the periods presented.


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Critical Accounting Estimates

In preparing our consolidated financial statements, we make assumptions, judgments and estimates that can have a significant impact on our net sales, operating income and net income, as well as on the value of certain assets and liabilities on our condensed consolidated balance sheets. We base our assumptions, judgments and estimates on historical experience and other factors that we believe to be reasonable under the circumstances. At least quarterly, we evaluate our assumptions, judgments and estimates, and make changes as deemed necessary.
    
These estimates may change as new events occur and additional information is obtained. Actual results could differ materially from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions. For further information about our critical accounting estimates, see the discussion in Item 7, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” under the heading “Critical Accounting Estimates” in our Form 10-K. There have been no material changes to our critical accounting policies and estimates since the Form 10-K.


Results of Operations  
  
The following table sets forth, for the periods indicated, the percentage of net sales represented by certain items reflected in our Consolidated Statements of Income:  
Three Months Ended September 30,Nine Months Ended September 30,
(Unaudited)(Unaudited)
2022202120222021
Net sales:    
Americas45.1 %40.6 %42.3 %39.1 %
EMEA25.8 25.8 25.5 25.7 
APAC29.1 33.6 32.2 35.2 
Total net sales100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 
Cost of sales33.6 28.0 32.3 28.3 
Gross profit66.4 72.0 67.7 71.7 
Operating expenses:    
Sales and marketing28.0 31.9 30.2 32.9 
Research and development19.4 22.4 20.7 23.2 
General and administrative8.1 8.5 8.7 9.0 
Total operating expenses55.5 62.7 59.6 65.1 
Gain on sale of assets7.9 

— 

2.8 

— 
Operating income18.8 9.3 10.9 6.5 
Other expense(1.2)

(0.5)

(0.7)

(0.9)
Income before income taxes17.6 8.8 10.2 5.6 
Provision for income taxes3.1 1.4 1.9 0.9 
Net income14.5 %7.4 %8.2 %4.7 %
  Figures may not sum due to rounding.


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Results of Operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022 and 2021

Net Sales.  The following table sets forth our net sales for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022 and 2021 along with the changes between the corresponding periods.

Three Months Ended September 30,Nine Months Ended September 30,
(Unaudited)(Unaudited)
  Change  Change
(In millions)20222021DollarsPercentage20222021DollarsPercentage
        
Product sales$389.6 $325.7 63.920%$1,088.1 $927.3 160.817%
Software maintenance sales38.3 41.4 (3.1)(8)%120.6 121.7 (1.1)(1)%
Total net sales$427.9 $367.2 60.817%$1,208.7 $1,049.0 159.715%
Figures may not sum due to rounding.

Net Sales - Summary

Net sales for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022 were up 17% percent and 15% percent, respectively, compared to the same period in 2021.

The increase in product sales was primarily attributable to strong demand for our products, recent acquisitions and realization of recent price increases, which was partially offset by changes in foreign currency exchange rates. During the nine-months ended September 30, 2022, we continued to experience strong demand for our system-level offerings, particularly for our semiconductor, transportation, and aerospace, defense and government test solutions (See Note 2 - Revenue for additional information on revenue by industry grouping). The impact of recent pricing changes increased our total revenue for the three months ended September 30, 2022 by approximately 9% compared to the same period in 2021 and 6% for the nine months ended September 30, 2022 compared to the same period in 2021. Geographically, we saw strong growth in the Americas region, which was partially driven by revenue from acquisitions completed within the last 12 months. Recent acquisitions increased our total revenue for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022 by approximately 5% and 4%, respectively, compared to same periods in 2021.

The decrease in software maintenance sales was primarily related to the impact of changes in foreign currency exchange rates and an anticipated temporary decrease in software maintenance billings during the trailing twelve months as part of our transition to a subscription licensing model.
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Net Sales by Region
The following table sets forth our net sales by geographic region for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022 and 2021 along with the changes between the corresponding periods and the region’s percentage of total net sales.

Three Months Ended September 30,Nine Months Ended September 30,
(Unaudited)(Unaudited)
  Change  Change
(In millions)20222021DollarsPercentage20222021DollarsPercentage
        
Americas$193.0$148.944.130%$511.3$410.3101.025%
Percentage of total net sales45.1 %40.6 %  42.3 %39.1 %  
        
EMEA$110.3$94.915.516%$308.5$269.638.914%
Percentage of total net sales25.8 %25.8 %  25.5 %25.7 %  
        
APAC$124.6$123.41.21%$388.9$369.219.75%
Percentage of total net sales29.1 %33.6 %  32.2 %35.2 %  
Figures may not sum due to rounding.

We expect sales outside of the Americas to continue to represent a significant portion of our net sales. We intend to continue to expand our international presence by driving growth in existing markets and continuing to increase the use of distributors to sell our products in some countries. 

The vast majority of the sales made by our direct sales offices in the Americas (excluding the U.S.), EMEA, and APAC are denominated in local currencies, and accordingly, the U.S. dollar equivalent of these sales is affected by changes in foreign currency exchange rates. In order to provide a framework for assessing how our underlying business performed excluding the effects of foreign currency fluctuations between periods, we compare the percentage change in our results from period to period using constant currency disclosure. To calculate the change in constant currency, current and comparative prior period results for entities reporting in currencies other than U.S. Dollars are converted into U.S. Dollars at constant exchange rates (i.e., the average rates in effect during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021). The impact of changes in foreign currency exchange rates on sales includes the net effect of related hedging activities described below.
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The following tables present this information, along with the impact of changes in foreign currency exchange rates on sales denominated in local currencies, for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022.

Three Months Ended September 30, 2021Change
in Constant Dollars
Impact of changes in foreign currency exchange rates on net salesThree Months Ended September 30, 2022
(In millions)GAAP 
Net Sales
DollarsPercentageDollarsPercentageGAAP 
Net Sales
      
Americas$148.9 44.7 30.0%(0.6)(0.4)%$193.0 
EMEA$94.9 25.5 26.9%(10.1)(10.6)%$110.3 
APAC$123.4 7.7 6.2%(6.4)(5.2)%$124.6 
Total net sales$367.2 77.8 21.2%(17.1)(4.6)%$427.9 
      
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2021Change
in Constant Dollars
Impact of changes in foreign currency exchange rates on net salesNine Months Ended September 30, 2022
(In millions)GAAP 
Net Sales
DollarsPercentageDollarsPercentageGAAP 
Net Sales
     
Americas$410.3 102.3 24.9%(1.2)(0.3)%$511.3 
EMEA$269.6 57.0 21.1%(18.1)(6.7)%$308.5 
APAC$369.2 29.6 8.0%(10.0)(2.7)%$388.9 
Total net sales$1,049.0 188.9 18.0%(29.3)(2.8)%$1,208.7 
  Figures may not sum due to rounding.

We use a foreign currency cash flow hedging program to help protect against changes in U.S. dollar equivalent value caused by fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates of forecasted foreign currency cash flows resulting from international sales. We hedge portions of our forecasted net sales denominated in foreign currencies with average rate forward contracts. During the three months ended September 30, 2022 and 2021, these hedges had the effect of increasing our net sales by $7.3 million and decreasing our net sales by $0.8 million, respectively. During the nine months ended September 30, 2022 and 2021, these hedges had the effect of increasing our net sales by $14.1 million and decreasing our net sales by $5.2 million, respectively. (See Note 5 - Derivative instruments and hedging activities of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for further discussion regarding our cash flow hedging program and its related impact on our net sales for 2022 and 2021). 
 
Gross Profit. Our gross profit as a percentage of sales is impacted by many factors including changes in our sales mix of revenue from hardware, software and services. We continue to focus on cost control and cost reduction measures throughout our manufacturing cycle. The following table sets forth our gross profit and gross profit as a percentage of net sales for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022 and 2021 along with the percentage changes in gross profit for the corresponding periods.
Three Months Ended September 30,Nine Months Ended September 30,
(Unaudited)(Unaudited)
    
(In millions)2022202120222021
    
Gross Profit$284.2$264.4$818.3$751.7
% change compared with prior period7.5% 8.9% 
Gross Profit as a percentage of net sales66.4%72.0%67.7%71.7%


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The increases in our gross profit and decreases in gross profit as a percentage of net sales were primarily related to the following:
Three Months EndedNine Months Ended
(Unaudited)(Unaudited)
September 30, 202172.0 %71.7 %
Impact of changes in our selling price 2.4 %1.7 %
Impact of changes in foreign currency exchange rates(1.4)%(0.7)%
Impact of increase in component costs(4.4)%(4.2)%
Impact of changes in sales mix related to recently acquired businesses(1.3)%(0.8)%
Impact of changes in inventory write-downs and restructuring related activities(0.8)%(0.4)%
Impact of changes in amortization of capitalized software development costs and acquired intangibles0.4 %0.8 %
Impact of changes in sales mix excluding recent acquisitions0.2 %0.4 %
Impact of increase in outbound freight and other logistic costs(0.7)%(0.8)%
September 30, 202266.4 %67.7 %

To help protect against changes in our cost of sales caused by a fluctuation in foreign currency exchange rates of forecasted foreign currency cash flows, we have a foreign currency cash flow hedging program. We hedge portions of our forecasted costs of sales denominated in foreign currencies with average rate forward contracts. During the three months ended September 30, 2022 and 2021, these hedges had the effect of increasing our cost of sales by $1.4 million and $0.1 million, respectively. During the nine months ended September 30, 2022 and 2021, these hedges had the effect of increasing our cost of sales by $2.6 million and $0.1 million, respectively. (See Note 5 - Derivative instruments and hedging activities of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for further discussion regarding our cash flow hedging program and its related impact on our cost of sales for 2022 and 2021).

Operating Expenses. The following table sets forth our operating expenses for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022 and 2021, along with the percentage changes between the corresponding periods and the line item as a percentage of total net sales.
Three Months Ended September 30,Nine Months Ended September 30,
(Unaudited)(Unaudited)
(In thousands)20222021Change20222021Change
      
Sales and marketing$119,951 $117,065 2%$365,015 $345,048 6%
Percentage of total net sales28%32% 30%33% 
      
Research and development$82,861 $82,165 1%$250,610 $243,685 3%
Percentage of total net sales19%22% 21%23% 
      
General and administrative$34,617 $31,037 12%$104,569 $94,672 10%
Percentage of total net sales8%8% 9%9% 
      
Total operating expenses$237,429 $230,267 3%$720,194 $683,405 5%
Percentage of total net sales55%63% 60%65% 


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Operating Expenses - three months ended September 30, 2022

The year over year increase of $7 million in our operating expenses during the three months ended September 30, 2022 was primarily related to the following:

$5 million increase attributable to amortization of acquisition-related intangibles and acquisition-related transaction and integration costs; and
$2 million increase in personnel costs, primarily attributable to our recent acquisitions and salary increases, partially offset by a decrease in accruals for expected attainment under our variable compensation program and the impact of changes in foreign currency exchange rates.


Sales and Marketing

The primary drivers of the increase in sales and marketing expenses for the three months ended September 30, 2022 compared to the same period in 2021 were related to an increase in personnel costs, an increase in acquisition related expenses, and an increase in the amortization of acquired intangibles partially offset by a decrease in marketing and tradeshows expenses and lower accruals under our variable compensation programs.

Research and Development

The primary drivers of the increase in research and development expenses for the three months ended September 30, 2022 compared to the same period in 2021 were related to an increase in personnel costs related to our recent acquisitions and salary increases offset by lower accruals under our variable compensation programs.

General and administrative

The primary drivers of the increase in general and administrative expenses for the three months ended September 30, 2022 compared to the same period in 2021 were additional costs related to an increase in outside services partially offset by lower accruals under our variable compensation programs and personnel costs.    

Operating Expenses - nine months ended September 30, 2022

The year over year increase of $37 million in our operating expenses during the nine months ended September 30, 2022 was primarily related to the following:


$15 million increase in personnel costs, primarily attributable to our recent acquisitions, higher salaries and stock-based compensation expense, and higher commissions due to strong bookings growth during the year, partially offset by a decrease in accruals for expected attainment under our variable compensation program and lower severance-related charges;
$12 million increase related to outside service costs partially offset by lower advertising and trade show spend; and
$10 million increase related to amortization of acquisition-related intangibles partially offset by lower acquisition-related transaction and integration costs.


Sales and Marketing

The primary drivers of the increase in sales and marketing expenses for the nine months ended September 30, 2022 compared to the same period in 2021 were related to an increase in salaries, travel, and the amortization of acquired intangibles partially offset by lower severance-related costs and lower accruals under our variable compensation program.

Research and Development

The primary drivers of the increase in research and development expenses for the nine months ended September 30, 2022 compared to the same period in 2021 were related to an increase in salaries and outside services, partially offset by lower accruals under our variable compensation programs.

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General and administrative

The primary drivers of the increase in general and administrative expenses for the nine months ended September 30, 2022 compared to the same period in 2021 were related to an increase in salaries and outside services partially offset by a decrease in acquisition related expenses and lower accruals under our variable compensation program.

Gain on sale of assets. During July 2022, we sold approximately 75-acres of land in Williamson County, Texas and two office buildings in Aachen, Germany. We recognized a total gain of $34 million which is presented as "Gain on sale of assets" in our Consolidated Statements of Income.

Operating Income (loss).  For the three months ended September 30, 2022 and 2021, operating income was $80 million and $34 million, respectively. As a percentage of net sales, operating income was 18.8% and 9.3% for the three months ended September 30, 2022 and 2021, respectively. For the nine months ended September 30, 2022 and 2021, operating income was $132 million and $68 million, respectively. As a percentage of net sales, operating income was 10.9% and 6.5% for the nine months ended September 30, 2022 and 2021, respectively. The increase in operating income in absolute dollars for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022, compared to the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021, is attributable to the factors discussed in Net Sales, Gross Profit, Operating Expenses and the Gain on Sale of Assets above.

Other (Expense) Income.  

 Interest Income. For the three months ended September 30, 2022 and 2021, interest income was $0.1 million and $0.1 million, respectively. For the nine months ended September 30, 2022 and 2021, interest income was $0.2 million and $0.3 million, respectively. During the nine months ended September 30, 2022, the Federal Reserve increased the federal funds rate target from a range of zero to 0.25% to a range of 3.00% to 3.25% However, this increase will likely have limited impact on our interest income given our low levels of short-term investments.

 Interest Expense. For the three months ended September 30, 2022 and 2021, interest expense was approximately $4.9 million and $0.7 million, respectively. For the nine months ended September 30, 2022 and 2021, interest expense was approximately $8.6 million, and $2.6 million, respectively. These interest charges are related to interest on outstanding borrowings, commitment fees and amortization of deferred costs related to the Credit Agreement. Interest expense increased during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022 compared to the same period in 2021 primarily due to additional borrowings and a higher benchmark interest rate driven by recent Federal Reserve policy decisions. During the three months ended June 30, 2021, we amended and restated in its entirety and refinanced our existing Credit Agreement. We recognized approximately $0.6 million of expense related to the portion of debt issuance costs that were allocated to the previous Credit Agreement and accounted for as an extinguishment of debt during the second quarter of 2021. We cannot predict future interest expense as it will depend on interest rates and our indebtedness at the time. Refer to Note 13 - Debt of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information regarding the terms of the Credit Agreement and related borrowings.

Gain (loss) From Equity-Method Investments. For the three months ended September 30, 2022 and 2021, income from equity-method investments was approximately $0.4 million and $0.3 million, respectively. For the nine months ended September 30, 2022 and 2021, income from equity-methods investment was approximately $0.5 million and loss from equity-method investments was approximately $5.1 million, respectively. The improvement for the nine months ended September 30, 2022 compared to the same period in 2021 was primarily attributable to an impairment loss of $3.5 million recorded in the three months ended March 31, 2021.

Net Foreign Exchange Gain/Loss. For the three months ended September 30, 2022 and 2021, net foreign exchange loss was $3.6 million and $1.2 million, respectively. During the nine months ended September 30, 2022 and 2021, net foreign exchange loss was $5.6 million and $2.7 million, respectively. Gains and losses on foreign currency are primarily due to the impact of re-measuring foreign currency monetary assets and liabilities into the functional currency of the corresponding entity. The amount of the gain or loss on foreign currency is driven by the volume of foreign currency transactions and the foreign currency exchange rates for the period.
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Other Gain (Loss). For three months ended September 30, 2022 and 2021, other gain (loss) was $3 million and $(0.3) million, respectively. During the nine months ended September 30, 2022 and 2021, other gain was $5 million and $0.2 million, respectively. The year over year increase for both the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022 was primarily related to a $3.4 million insurance recovery related to a pre-acquisition claim liability from one of our recent acquisitions.

Provision for Income Taxes.    For the three months ended September 30, 2022 and 2021, our provision for income taxes reflected an effective tax rate of 18% and 16%, respectively. For the nine months ended September 30, 2022 and 2021, our provision for income taxes reflected an effective tax rate of 19% and 16%, respectively. The factors that caused our effective tax rate to change year over year are detailed in the table below:
Three Months EndedNine Months Ended
September 30, 2022September 30, 2022
(Unaudited)(Unaudited)
Effective tax rate at September 30, 202116 %16 %
Foreign-derived intangible income deduction(5)(5)
Global intangible low-taxed income inclusion(3)(3)
Enhanced deduction for certain research and development expenses(1)(1)
Research and development tax credit(1)— 
Foreign taxes greater than federal statutory rate
Employee share-based compensation— 
Change in unrecognized tax benefits
State income taxes, net of federal benefit
Capital gain on assets sale
Effective tax rate at September 30, 202218 %19 %
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Other operational metrics  
We believe that the following additional unaudited operational metrics assist investors in assessing our operational performance relative to others in our industry and to our historical results. The following tables provide details with respect to the amount of GAAP charges related to certain items that were recorded in the line items indicated below.
Three Months Ended September 30,Nine Months Ended September 30,
(Unaudited)(Unaudited)
(In thousands)2022202120222021
Stock-based compensation    
Cost of sales$1,300 $1,183 $3,775 $3,487 
Sales and marketing7,148 6,332 21,439 18,949 
Research and development6,163 5,811 18,522 17,704 
General and administrative5,429 5,530 17,107 16,050 
Provision for income taxes(3,039)(2,798)(7,687)(10,036)
Total$17,001 $16,058 $53,156 $46,154 
Three Months Ended September 30,Nine Months Ended September 30,
(Unaudited)(Unaudited)
(In thousands)2022202120222021
Amortization of acquisition-related intangibles and fair value adjustments    
Net sales$371 $421 $1,114 $1,971 
Cost of sales$6,806 $4,194 $17,025 $12,691 
Sales and marketing5,712 2,331 17,423 6,859 
Research and development— — (320)— 
Other expense482 529 1,500 1,476 
Provision for income taxes(2,272)(917)(5,802)(2,870)
Total$11,099 $6,558 $30,940 $20,127 
Three Months Ended September 30,Nine Months Ended September 30,
(Unaudited)(Unaudited)
(In thousands)2022202120222021
Acquisition-related transaction and integration costs, restructuring charges, and other   
Net sales$(411)$— $(411)$— 
Cost of sales$6,604 $(7)$8,548 $(50)
Sales and marketing2,819 584 5,464 6,071 
Research and development453 386 1,555 1,422 
General and administrative1,461 850 4,479 7,388 
Gain on sale of business/assets(33,636)— (33,636)— 
Other expense(3,153)316 (5,285)4,322 
Provision for income taxes5,850 (238)4,494 (3,701)
Total$(20,013)$1,891 $(14,792)$15,452 
Three Months Ended September 30,Nine Months Ended September 30,
(Unaudited)(Unaudited)
(In thousands)2022202120222021
Capitalization and amortization of internally developed software costs   
Cost of sales$1,160 $5,532 $5,090 $18,633 
Research and development(202)(525)(388)(1,246)
Provision for income taxes(216)(1,192)(1,059)(3,792)
Total$742 $3,815 $3,643 $13,595 
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Liquidity and Capital Resources  

Overview

At September 30, 2022, we had $149 million in cash and cash equivalents. Our cash and cash equivalent balances are held in numerous financial institutions throughout the world, including substantial amounts held outside of the U.S. The following table presents the geographic distribution of our cash and cash equivalents as of September 30, 2022:
(in millions)DomesticInternationalTotal
Cash and cash equivalents$57.7$91.3$149.0
39%61%

The following table presents our working capital, cash and cash equivalents and short-term investments:    
September 30, 2022December 31,Increase/
(In thousands)(unaudited)2021(Decrease)
   
Working capital$619,843 $486,335 $133,508 
Cash and cash equivalents (1)
149,002 211,106 (62,104)
Short-term investments (1)
— — — 
Total cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments$149,002 $211,106 $(62,104)
   
(1) Included in working capital   
  
Our principal sources of liquidity include cash, cash equivalents, cash flows generated from our operations, cash generated from issuance of common stock through our employee stock purchase plan and available borrowings under the Credit Agreement. The primary drivers of the net increase in working capital between December 31, 2021 and September 30, 2022 were:

Cash and cash equivalents decreased by $62 million for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2022. Additional analysis of the changes in our cash flows for the period ended September 30, 2022 compared to the prior year period is discussed below;

Inventory increased by $84 million. Inventory turns on a trailing twelve-month basis were 1.5 at September 30, 2022 and 1.5 at December 31, 2021. The increase in inventory was primarily attributable to an increase in the unit cost and volume of our raw materials to support increased demand for our products and minimize supply chain disruptions;

Accounts receivable, net increased by $40 million. Days sales outstanding increased to 64 days at September 30, 2022, compared to 58 days at December 31, 2021. The increase in accounts receivable is primarily related to quarterly fluctuations in our net sales;

Prepaid and other current assets increased by $54 million, which was primarily related to timing of prepaid insurance and service renewals, prepaid tax assets, and changes in the fair value of our foreign currency forward contracts;

Accounts payable and accrued expenses increased by $14 million, which was primarily related to the timing of invoices to our raw materials suppliers;

The current portion of deferred revenue decreased by $20 million, which was primarily related to the impact of changes in foreign currency rates and an anticipated decrease in software billings due to the ongoing transition of our remaining perpetual license offerings to a subscription licensing model;

Accrued compensation decreased by $50 million attributable to annual payments under our variable compensation programs related to 2021 attainment and severance payments, partially offset by accruals related to expected payouts under our 2022 variable compensation programs;

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Other current liabilities increased by $11 million which was primarily related to changes in the fair value of our foreign currency forward contracts and the timing of certain tax payments; and

Other taxes payable increased by $2 million primarily related to the timing of payments for VAT and other indirect taxes.


Analysis of Cash Flow

The following table summarizes our cash flow results for the nine months ended September 30, 2022 and 2021.
  
Nine Months Ended September 30,
(In thousands)(unaudited)
20222021
Cash (used in) provided by operating activities$(8,930)$86,036 
Cash used in investing activities(74,561)(5,533)
Cash provided by (used in) financing activities30,104 (107,702)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash(8,717)(2,336)
Net change in cash and cash equivalents(62,104)(29,535)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period211,106 260,232 
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period$149,002 $230,697 
   
Operating Activities

Cash provided by operating activities is comprised of net income adjusted for certain items and changes in working capital. Cash flows from operating activities can fluctuate significantly from period to period as working capital needs and the timing of payments for income taxes, variable pay, restructuring activities, and other items impact reported cash flows.

Cash provided by operating activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2022 decreased by $95 million compared to the same period in 2021. This decrease was primarily due to a $110 million decrease in cash provided by changes in operating assets and liabilities during the year, further described below, partially offset by an increase of $15 million in net income adjusted for certain non-cash operating items, including stock-based compensation, depreciation and amortization, and gains on sale of assets:

The aggregate of changes in accounts receivable, inventory and accounts payable used net cash of $133 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2022 compared to net cash used of $47 million in the comparable period in 2021. The amount of cash flow generated from or used by the aggregate of accounts receivable, inventory and accounts payable depends upon the cash conversion cycle, which represents the number of days that elapse from the day we pay for the purchase of raw materials and components to the collection of cash from our customers and can be significantly impacted by the timing of shipments and purchases, as well as collections and payments in a period. We have significantly increased inventory purchases compared to 2021 to support current and anticipated demand for our products and minimize supply chain disruptions.

The changes in accrued compensation used cash of $35 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2022 compared to cash provided of $4 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2021. The year over year change is primarily related to an increase in payments under our variable pay programs due to 2021 attainment partially offset by lower severance payments.

The aggregate of changes in prepaid assets, deferred revenue and other assets and liabilities used cash of $37 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2022 compared to $52 million in the comparable period in 2021.


47


Investing Activities

Cash used in investing activities increased by $69 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2022 compared to the same period in 2021. This was primarily attributable to an increase in cash outflows related to acquisitions of $53 million and capital expenditures of $13 million during the first three quarters of 2022, compared to the same period in 2021. During the nine months ended September 30, 2022 cash proceeds received from the net sale of short-term investments decreased by $60 million which was mostly offset by a $16 million decrease in cash outflows related to equity-method investments and $41 million in proceeds received from the sale of real estate described. (See Note 1 - Basis of Presentation for additional discussion regarding our recent asset sales).

Financing Activities

Cash provided by financing activities increased by $138 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2022 compared to the same period in 2021. This was primarily related to a $268 million increase in net proceeds received from our debt facilities, net of issuance costs, partially offset by an increase in cash outflows related to our share repurchases of $127 million and an increase in our dividend payments of $4 million . (See Note 11 – Authorized shares of common and preferred stock and stock based compensation plans of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for additional discussion about our equity compensation plans and share repurchase program and Note 13 - Debt for additional discussion about our debt facilities).

Contractual Cash Obligations.     Information related to our contractual obligations as of December 31, 2021 can be found in “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations-Contractual Obligations,” in Part II-Item 7 of the Form 10-K. At September 30, 2022, there were no material changes outside the ordinary course of business to our contractual obligations from those reported in our Form 10-K. See Note 8 - Leases of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information regarding our non-cancellable operating lease obligations as of September 30, 2022.

Credit Agreement. See Note 13 - Debt of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for additional details on our Credit Agreement.

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements.    We do not have any off-balance sheet debt. At September 30, 2022, we did not have any relationships with any unconsolidated entities or financial partnerships, such as entities often referred to as structured finance entities, which would have been established for the purpose of facilitating off-balance sheet arrangements. As such, we are not exposed to any financing, liquidity, market or credit risk that could arise if we were engaged in such relationships.  
  
Prospective Capital Needs. We believe that our existing cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments, together with cash generated from operations, cash generated from the issuance of common stock through our employee stock purchase plan, available borrowing capacity under the Credit Agreement and additional credit capacity will be sufficient to cover our working capital needs, capital expenditures, investment requirements, commitments, payment of dividends to our stockholders and repurchases of our common stock for at least the next 12 months. We may seek to pursue additional financing or to raise additional funds by seeking additional credit financing, including through an increase in revolving and/or term loan commitments under the Credit Agreement, or selling equity or debt to the public or in private transactions from time to time. If we elect to raise additional funds, we may not be able to obtain such funds on a timely basis or on acceptable terms, if at all. If we raise additional funds by issuing additional equity or convertible debt securities, the ownership percentages of our existing stockholders would be reduced. In addition, the equity or debt securities that we issue may have rights, preferences or privileges senior to those of our common stock.

Although we believe that we can fund our operating activities for at least the next 12 months, our future capital requirements may vary materially from those now planned. We anticipate that the amount of capital we will need in the future will depend on many factors, including:  

48


payment of dividends to our stockholders;
required levels of research and development and other operating costs;
our business, product, capital expenditure and research and development plans, and product and technology roadmaps; 
acquisitions of other businesses, assets, products or technologies; 
repurchase of our common stock;
the overall levels of sales of our products and gross profit margins;
the levels of inventory and accounts receivable that we maintain;
general economic and political uncertainty and specific conditions in the markets we address, including any volatility in the industrial economy in the various geographic regions in which we do business;
the inability of certain of our customers who depend on credit to have access to their traditional sources of credit to finance the purchase of products from us, which may lead them to reduce their level of purchases or to seek credit or other accommodations from us;
capital improvements for facilities; 
our relationships with suppliers and customers; and 
the amount of proceeds received as a result of our employee stock purchase plan.  
  
Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements  

See Note 1 – Basis of presentation in Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements. 
49


Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

Changes in currency exchange rates and interest rates are our primary financial market risks. Quantitative and qualitative disclosures about market risk appear in “Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk” in Part II of our Form 10-K and, except as noted below, there were no material changes during the nine months ended September 30, 2022 to this information reported in our Form 10-K.

Interest Expense Risk

Our borrowings under the Credit Agreement bear interest at a variable rate which exposes us to market risk related to changes in interest rates. We have not entered into derivative transactions related to our borrowing arrangements. The primary base interest rate is SOFR. Assuming the outstanding balance on our floating rate indebtedness remains constant over a year, a 100-basis point increase in the interest rate would decrease annual net income and cash flow by $6 million.



50


Item 4. Controls and Procedures 

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

Based on an evaluation under the supervision and with the participation of our management, our principal executive officer and our principal financial officer have concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act were effective as of September 30, 2022, to ensure that information required to be disclosed by us in reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act is (i) recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC rules and forms and (ii) accumulated and communicated to our management, including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

There were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting during the third quarter of 2022, which were identified in connection with management’s evaluation required by paragraph (d) of Rules 13a-15 and 15d-15 under the Exchange Act, that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

PART II - OTHER INFORMATION
  
Item 1. Legal Proceedings

We are not currently a party to any material litigation. However, in the ordinary course of our business, we have in the past, are currently and will likely become involved in various legal proceedings, claims, and regulatory, tax or government inquiries and investigations, and could incur uninsured liability in any one or more of them. We also periodically receive notifications from various third parties related to alleged infringement of patents or intellectual property rights, commercial disputes or other matters. No assurances can be given with respect to the extent or outcome of any investigation, litigation or dispute.

Item 1A. Risk Factors

Our business, financial condition and operating results can be affected by a number of factors, whether currently known or unknown, including but not limited to those described in Part I, Item 1A of our Form 10-K under the heading “Risk Factors,” any one or more of which could, directly or indirectly, cause our actual financial condition and operating results to vary materially from past, or from anticipated future, financial condition and operating results. Any of these factors, in whole or in part, could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition, operating results and stock price.
The following risk factor is provided to update the risk factors previously disclosed under the heading “Risk Factors” in our Form 10-K. The developments described in the additional risk factor presented below have heightened, or in some cases manifested, certain of the risks disclosed in the other risk factors identified in the “Risk Factors” section of our Form 10-K.

51


Uncertain Global Economic and Geopolitical Conditions, Including in China and Other Countries, Could Materially Adversely Affect Our Business and Results of Operations. Our operations and performance are sensitive to fluctuations in general economic and geopolitical conditions, both in the U.S. and globally. Uncertainty about global and regional economic conditions poses a risk to us as businesses may decrease or postpone spending in response to events such as continued trade tensions between the U.S. and China, or new or existing trade tensions with other countries, geopolitical instability, pandemics and other major public health issues including the COVID-19 pandemic, financial market volatility, tariffs or other trade restrictions, government regulatory actions, negative financial news or other factors. Negative trends or sentiments in worldwide and regional economic conditions have in the past and could again have a material adverse effect on demand for our products and services. For example, in recent years, there have been significant changes to U.S. trade policies, legislation, treaties and tariffs, in particular trade policies and tariffs affecting China. Some of these trade policies, including the U.S.’s trading relationship with China, have been renegotiated during this timeframe and are subject to further changes in the future. Changes to current policies by the U.S. or other governments could adversely affect our business, including potentially through increased import tariffs and other influences on U.S. trade relations with China and other countries. The imposition of additional tariffs or other trade barriers could increase our costs in certain markets, and may cause our customers to find alternative sourcing. Protectionist and retaliatory trade measures by any of the United States, China or another country could limit our customers’ ability to sell their products and services and could reduce demand for our customers’ products. Even if resolved, these trends could have a broad negative impact on the global industrial economy, which could have a material adverse impact on our business and our results of operations. In addition, the application of various regulations depends on the classification of our products which can change over time as such regulations are modified or interpreted. The ongoing geopolitical tensions related to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and resulting sanctions imposed by the U.S. and other countries have impacted our shipments and ongoing services to customers with operations in Russia and Ukraine. During the first quarter of 2022, we suspended sales into Russia. Although our sales into Russia represented less than 1 percent of our total revenue in 2021, further escalation of geopolitical tensions could have a broader impact that expands into other markets where we do business, which could adversely affect our business and/or our supply chain, business partners or customers in the broader region.

We have recently experienced an increase in inflationary pressures in many of the jurisdictions in which we operate. We have and may continue to attempt to offset the effect of these inflationary pressures by increasing the prices of our products. These factors as well as others we may not contemplate could have a material adverse effect on the spending patterns of businesses including our current and potential customers which could have a material adverse effect on our net sales and our results of operations. See “Current business outlook” in this Form 10-Q for information regarding recent business conditions.
52


Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

Purchases of Equity Securities by the Issuer and Affiliated Purchasers

The following table provides information as of September 30, 2022 with respect to the shares of our common stock that we repurchased under our stock repurchase program during the third quarter of 2022.

PeriodTotal number of shares purchasedAverage price paid per shareTotal number of shares purchased as part of publicly announced plans or programs
Approximate dollar value of shares of common stock that may yet be purchased under the plans or programs (1)
    
July 1, 2022 to July 31, 2022— $— — $191,114,923 
    
August 1, 2022 to August 31, 2022520,902 $41.91 520,902 $169,284,570 
    
September 1, 2022 to September 30, 20221,512,233 $39.68 1,512,233 $109,284,577 
Total2,033,135 $40.25 2,033,135 $109,284,577 
(1) On January 19, 2022, our Board of Directors approved a stock repurchase program for up to $250 million of our common stock. The stock repurchase program does not have an expiration date.

Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities
  
None.

Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures
  
Not applicable.

Item 5. Other Information

None.

Item 6. Exhibits
53


EXHIBITS
101*
Inline XBRL Document Set for the condensed consolidated financial statements and
accompanying notes in Part I, Item 1, “Financial Statements” of this Quarterly Report on
Form 10-Q
104*Cover Page Interactive Data File (formatted as Inline XBRL and contained in Exhibit 101)
(1)
Incorporated by reference to the same-numbered exhibit filed with the Company’s Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013 on February 20, 2014 (File No. 000-25426)
(2)
Incorporated by reference to the same-numbered exhibit filed with the Company’s Form 10-Q on August 2, 2021 (File No. 000-25426)
*Filed herewith
**Furnished herewith
54


SIGNATURE
  
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.  
  
Dated:  October 28, 2022
NATIONAL INSTRUMENTS CORPORATION
By: /s/ Karen Rapp
Karen Rapp
EVP, Chief Financial Officer
(Principal Financial Officer)

55
Execution Version
    Published CUSIP Number: 63651UAG8
Revolving Credit CUSIP Number: 63651UAH6
    Term Loan CUSIP Number: 63651UAJ2
        

$1,000,000,000

THIRD AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT

dated as of August 24, 2022,

by and among

NATIONAL INSTRUMENTS CORPORATION,
as Borrower,

the Lenders referred to herein,
as Lenders,

and

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




WELLS FARGO SECURITIES, LLC,
BOFA SECURITIES, INC. and CITIBANK, N.A.,
as Joint Lead Arrangers and Joint Bookrunners

BOFA SECURITIES, INC. and CITIBANK, N.A.,
as Syndication Agents

41073965

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
ARTICLE I Definitions
1
SECTION 1.1    Definitions
1
SECTION 1.2    Other Definitions and Provisions
33
SECTION 1.3    Accounting Terms
34
SECTION 1.4    UCC Terms
34
SECTION 1.5    Rounding
34
SECTION 1.6    References to Agreement and Laws
35
SECTION 1.7    Times of Day
35
SECTION 1.8    Guarantees/Earn-Outs
35
SECTION 1.9    Covenant Compliance Generally
35
SECTION 1.10    Limited Condition Transactions
35
SECTION 1.11    Rates
36
SECTION 1.12    Divisions
37
ARTICLE II Revolving Credit Facility
37
SECTION 2.1    Revolving Credit Loans
37
SECTION 2.2    Swingline Loans
37
SECTION 2.3    Procedure for Advances of Revolving Credit Loans and Swingline Loans
39
SECTION 2.4    Repayment and Prepayment of Revolving Credit and Swingline Loans
40
SECTION 2.5    Voluntary Reduction of the Revolving Credit Commitment
41
SECTION 2.6    Termination of Revolving Credit Facility
41
ARTICLE III Letter of Credit Facility
42
SECTION 3.1    L/C Facility
42
SECTION 3.2    Procedure for Issuance of Letters of Credit
43
SECTION 3.3    Commissions and Other Charges
43
SECTION 3.4    L/C Participations
44
SECTION 3.5    Reimbursement
45
SECTION 3.6    Obligations Absolute
45
SECTION 3.7    Effect of Letter of Credit Documents
46
SECTION 3.8    Resignation of Issuing Lenders
46
SECTION 3.9    Reporting of Letter of Credit Information and L/C Commitment
47
SECTION 3.10    Letters of Credit Issued for Subsidiaries
47
SECTION 3.11    Letter of Credit Amounts
47
SECTION 3.12    Cash Collateral for Extended Letters of Credit
47
ARTICLE IV Term Loan Facility
49
SECTION 4.1    Initial Term Loan
49
SECTION 4.2    Procedure for Advance of Term Loan.
49
SECTION 4.3    Repayment of Term Loans.
50
SECTION 4.4    Prepayments of Term Loans.
50
i

TABLE OF CONTENTS
(continued)
Page
ARTICLE V General Loan Provisions
52
SECTION 5.1    Interest
52
SECTION 5.2    Notice and Manner of Conversion or Continuation of Loans
53
SECTION 5.3    Fees
54
SECTION 5.4    Manner of Payment
54
SECTION 5.5    Evidence of Indebtedness
55
SECTION 5.6    Sharing of Payments by Lenders
55
SECTION 5.7    Administrative Agent’s Clawback
56
SECTION 5.8    Changed Circumstances
56
SECTION 5.9    Indemnity
59
SECTION 5.10    Increased Costs
59
SECTION 5.11    Taxes
60
SECTION 5.12    Mitigation Obligations; Replacement of Lenders
63
SECTION 5.13    Incremental Increases
64
SECTION 5.14    Cash Collateral
67
SECTION 5.15    Defaulting Lenders
68
ARTICLE VI Conditions of Closing and Borrowing
70
SECTION 6.1    Conditions to Closing and Initial Extensions of Credit
70
SECTION 6.2    Conditions to All Extensions of Credit
73
ARTICLE VII Representations and Warranties of the Credit Parties
73
SECTION 7.1    Financial Condition
73
SECTION 7.2    No Material Change
74
SECTION 7.3    Organization and Good Standing
74
SECTION 7.4    Power; Authorization; Enforceable Obligations
74
SECTION 7.5    No Conflicts
74
SECTION 7.6    No Default
74
SECTION 7.7    Ownership
75
SECTION 7.8    Litigation
75
SECTION 7.9    Taxes
75
SECTION 7.10    Compliance with Law
75
SECTION 7.11    ERISA
75
SECTION 7.12    Corporate Structure; Equity Interests, Etc
76
SECTION 7.13    Governmental Regulations, Etc
76
SECTION 7.14    Purpose of Loans
76
SECTION 7.15    Environmental Matters
76
SECTION 7.16    Solvency
77
SECTION 7.17    Disclosure
77
SECTION 7.18    Brokers’ Fees
77


TABLE OF CONTENTS
(continued)
Page
SECTION 7.19    Labor Matters
77
SECTION 7.20    Nature of Business
78
SECTION 7.21    Certificates
78
SECTION 7.22    Names
78
SECTION 7.23    Anti-Corruption Laws; Anti-Money Laundering Laws and Sanctions
78
SECTION 7.24    Investment Company Act
78
SECTION 7.25    Insurance
78
SECTION 7.26    No Burdensome Restrictions
78
SECTION 7.27    Margin Stock
79
ARTICLE VIII Affirmative Covenants
79
SECTION 8.1    Financial Statements
79
SECTION 8.2    Certificates; Other Reports
80
SECTION 8.3    Payment of Taxes and Other Obligations
81
SECTION 8.4    Conduct of Business and Maintenance of Existence
81
SECTION 8.5    Maintenance of Property; Insurance
81
SECTION 8.6    Maintenance of Books and Records
81
SECTION 8.7    Notices
81
SECTION 8.8    Environmental Laws
82
SECTION 8.9    Financial Covenants
82
SECTION 8.10    Additional Guarantors and Collateral
83
SECTION 8.11    Compliance with Laws
83
SECTION 8.12    Further Assurances and Post-Closing Covenants
83
SECTION 8.13    Compliance with Anti-Corruption Laws; Beneficial Ownership Regulation, Anti-Money Laundering Laws and Sanctions
84
ARTICLE IX Negative Covenants
84
SECTION 9.1    Indebtedness
84
SECTION 9.2    Liens
86
SECTION 9.3    Nature of Business
89
SECTION 9.4    Consolidation, Merger, Sale or Purchase of Assets, etc
89
SECTION 9.5    Advances, Investments and Loans
91
SECTION 9.6    Transactions with Affiliates
92
SECTION 9.7    Ownership of Subsidiaries; Restrictions
92
SECTION 9.8    Corporate Changes
92
SECTION 9.9    Limitation on Restricted Actions
93
SECTION 9.10    Restricted Payments
93
SECTION 9.11    Sale Leasebacks
94
SECTION 9.12    No Further Negative Pledges
94
ARTICLE X Default and Remedies
95
SECTION 10.1    Events of Default
95


TABLE OF CONTENTS
(continued)
Page
SECTION 10.2    Remedies
97
SECTION 10.3    Rights and Remedies Cumulative; Non-Waiver; etc
97
SECTION 10.4    Crediting of Payments and Proceeds
98
SECTION 10.5    Administrative Agent May File Proofs of Claim
98
SECTION 10.6    Credit Bidding
99
ARTICLE XI The Administrative Agent
100
SECTION 11.1    Appointment and Authority
100
SECTION 11.2    Rights as a Lender
100
SECTION 11.3    Exculpatory Provisions
100
SECTION 11.4    Reliance by the Administrative Agent
101
SECTION 11.5    Delegation of Duties
101
SECTION 11.6    Resignation of Administrative Agent
102
SECTION 11.7    Non-Reliance on Administrative Agent and Other Lenders
103
SECTION 11.8    No Other Duties, Etc
103
SECTION 11.9    Collateral and Guaranty Matters
103
SECTION 11.10    Secured Hedge Obligations and Secured Cash Management Obligations
104
SECTION 11.11    Erroneous Payments.
104
ARTICLE XII Miscellaneous
106
SECTION 12.1    Notices
106
SECTION 12.2    Amendments, Waivers and Consents
108
SECTION 12.3    Expenses; Indemnity
111
SECTION 12.4    Right of Setoff
113
SECTION 12.5    Governing Law; Jurisdiction, Etc
113
SECTION 12.6    Waiver of Jury Trial
114
SECTION 12.7    Reversal of Payments
114
SECTION 12.8    Injunctive Relief
114
SECTION 12.9    Successors and Assigns; Participations
115
SECTION 12.10    Treatment of Certain Information; Confidentiality
118
SECTION 12.11    Performance of Duties
119
SECTION 12.12    All Powers Coupled with Interest
119
SECTION 12.13    Survival
119
SECTION 12.14    Titles and Captions
120
SECTION 12.15    Severability of Provisions
120
SECTION 12.16    Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness; Electronic Execution
120
SECTION 12.17    Term of Agreement
121
SECTION 12.18    USA PATRIOT Act; Anti-Money Laundering Laws
121
SECTION 12.19    Independent Effect of Covenants
121
SECTION 12.20    No Advisory or Fiduciary Responsibility
121


TABLE OF CONTENTS
(continued)
Page
SECTION 12.21    Amendment and Restatement; No Novation
122
SECTION 12.22    Inconsistencies with Other Documents
122
SECTION 12.23    Acknowledgement and Consent to Bail-In of Affected Financial Institutions
122
SECTION 12.24    Certain ERISA Matters
123
SECTION 12.25    Acknowledgement Regarding Any Supported QFCs
123





EXHIBITS
Exhibit A-1-Form of Revolving Credit Note
Exhibit A-2-Form of Swingline Note
Exhibit A-3-Form of Term Loan Note
Exhibit B-Form of Notice of Borrowing
Exhibit C-Form of Notice of Account Designation
Exhibit D-Form of Notice of Prepayment
Exhibit E-Form of Notice of Conversion/Continuation
Exhibit F-Form of Compliance Certificate
Exhibit G-Form of Assignment and Assumption
Exhibit H-1-Form of U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate (Non-Partnership Foreign Lenders)
Exhibit H-2-Form of U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate (Non-Partnership Foreign Participants)
Exhibit H-3-Form of U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate (Foreign Participant Partnerships)
Exhibit H-4-Form of U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate (Foreign Lender Partnerships)
Exhibit I-Form of Joinder Agreement
Exhibit J
Exhibit K
Form of Permitted Acquisition Certificate
Form of Subsidiary Guaranty Agreement
SCHEDULES
Schedule 1.1-Existing Letters of Credit
Schedule 1.2-Lenders; Commitments and Commitment Percentages
Schedule 8.12
-
-
Post-Closing Matters

vi


THIRD AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT, dated as of August 24, 2022, by and among NATIONAL INSTRUMENTS CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation, as Borrower, the lenders who are party to this Agreement and the lenders who may become a party to this Agreement pursuant to the terms hereof, as Lenders, and WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, a national banking association, as Administrative Agent for the Lenders.
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE
WHEREAS, the Borrower has requested, and subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders have agreed to extend, certain credit facilities to the Borrower.
NOW, THEREFORE, for good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged by the parties hereto, such parties hereby agree as follows:
AGREEMENT
ARTICLE I

DEFINITIONS
SECTION 1.1Definitions. The following terms when used in this Agreement shall have the meanings assigned to them below:
Acquired EBITDA” means, with respect to any Person or business acquired pursuant to an Acquisition for any period, the amount for such period of Consolidated EBITDA of any such Person or business so acquired (determined using such definitions as if references to the Borrower and its Subsidiaries therein were to such Person or business), as calculated by the Borrower in good faith and which shall be factually supported by historical financial statements; provided, that, notwithstanding the foregoing to the contrary, in determining Acquired EBITDA for any Person or business that does not have historical financial accounting periods which coincide with that of the financial accounting periods of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries (a) references to Reference Period in any applicable definitions shall be deemed to mean the same relevant period as the applicable period of determination for the Borrower and its Subsidiaries and (b) to the extent the commencement of any such Reference Period shall occur during a fiscal quarter of such acquired Person or business (such that only a portion of such fiscal quarter shall be included in such Reference Period), Acquired EBITDA for the portion of such fiscal quarter so included in such Reference Period shall be deemed to be an amount equal to (x) Acquired EBITDA otherwise attributable to the entire fiscal quarter (determined in a manner consistent with the terms set forth above) multiplied by (y) a fraction, the numerator of which shall be the number of months of such fiscal quarter included in the relevant Reference Period and the denominator of which shall be actual months in such fiscal quarter.
Acquisition” means any acquisition, or any series of related acquisitions, consummated on or after the date of this Agreement, by which any Credit Party or any of its Subsidiaries (a) acquires any business or all or substantially all of the assets of any Person, or business unit, line of business or division thereof, whether through purchase of assets, exchange, issuance of stock or other equity or debt securities, merger, reorganization, amalgamation, division or otherwise or (b) directly or indirectly acquires (in one transaction or as the most recent transaction in a series of transactions) at least a majority (in number of votes) of the securities of a corporation which have ordinary voting power for the election of members of the board of directors or the equivalent governing body (other than securities having such power only by reason of the happening of a contingency) or a majority (by percentage or voting power) of the outstanding ownership interests of a partnership, limited liability company or other company (excluding the formation of a new Subsidiary).
Adjusted Term SOFR” means, for purposes of any calculation, the rate per annum equal to (a) Term SOFR for such calculation plus (b) the Term SOFR Adjustment; provided that if Adjusted Term SOFR as so determined shall ever be less than the Floor, then Adjusted Term SOFR shall be deemed to be the Floor.
1


Administrative Agent” means Wells Fargo, in its capacity as Administrative Agent hereunder, and any successor thereto appointed pursuant to Section 11.6.
Administrative Agent’s Office” means the office of the Administrative Agent specified in or determined in accordance with the provisions of Section 12.1(c).
Administrative Questionnaire” means an administrative questionnaire in a form supplied by the Administrative Agent.
Affected Financial Institution” means (a) any EEA Financial Institution or (b) any UK Financial Institution.
Affiliate” means, with respect to a specified Person, another Person that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, Controls or is Controlled by or is under common Control with the Person specified.
Agent Parties” has the meaning assigned thereto in Section 12.1(e).
Agreement” means this Credit Agreement.
All-In Yield” means, as to any Indebtedness, the effective all-in yield applicable thereto as reasonably determined by the Administrative Agent in consultation with the Borrower in a manner consistent with generally accepted financial practices, taking into account: (a) interest rate margins, (b) original issue discount (“OID”) and upfront or similar fees (which shall be deemed to constitute like amounts of OID) payable by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates to the lenders under, or holders of, such Indebtedness in the initial primary syndication thereof (with OID and upfront fees being equated to interest based on assumed four-year life to maturity (or, if less, the stated weighted average life to maturity at the time of its incurrence of the applicable Indebtedness)), and (c) any interest rate floor, but excluding (i) any arrangement, commitment, structuring, agency or underwriting fees that are not paid to or shared with all relevant lenders generally in connection with the commitment or syndication of such Indebtedness, (ii) any ticking, unused line or similar fees or (iii) any other fee that is not paid directly by the Borrower generally to all relevant lenders ratably in the primary syndication of such Indebtedness; provided that (A) to the extent that any interest rate specified for such Indebtedness that is subject to a floor (in each case, without giving effect to any such floor on the date on which the All-In Yield is being calculated) is less than such floor, the amount of such difference will be deemed added to the interest rate margin applicable to such Indebtedness for purposes of calculating the All-In Yield and (B) to the extent that any interest rate specified for such Indebtedness that is subject to a floor (in each case, without giving effect to any such floor on the date on which the All-In Yield is being calculated) is equal to or greater than such floor, the floor will be disregarded in calculating the All-In Yield.
Announcements” has the meaning assigned thereto in Section 1.11.
Anti-Corruption Laws” means all laws, rules, and regulations of any jurisdiction from time to time concerning or relating to bribery or corruption, including the United States Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977 and the rules and regulations thereunder and the U.K. Bribery Act 2010 and the rules and regulations thereunder.
Anti-Money Laundering Laws” means any and all laws, statutes, regulations or obligatory government orders, decrees, ordinances or rules related to terrorism financing, money laundering, any predicate crime to money laundering or any financial record keeping, including any applicable provision of the Patriot Act and The Currency and Foreign Transactions Reporting Act (also known as the “Bank Secrecy Act,” 31 U.S.C. §§ 5311-5330 and 12 U.S.C. §§ 1818(s), 1820(b) and 1951-1959).
Applicable Law” means all applicable provisions of constitutions, laws, statutes, ordinances, rules, treaties, regulations, permits, licenses, approvals, official interpretations and binding orders of Governmental Authorities and all binding orders and decrees of all courts and arbitrators.
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Applicable Margin” means the corresponding percentages per annum as set forth below based on the Consolidated Total Net Leverage Ratio:
Pricing LevelConsolidated Total Net Leverage RatioCommitment FeeAdjusted Term SOFR +Base Rate +
ILess than or equal to 1.00 to 1.000.150%1.25%0.25%
IIGreater than 1.00 to 1.00, but less than or equal to 2.00 to 1.000.200%1.50%0.50%
IIIGreater than 2.00 to 1.000.250%1.75%0.75%
The Applicable Margin shall be determined and adjusted quarterly on the date five (5) Business Days after the day on which the Borrower provides a Compliance Certificate pursuant to Section 8.2(a) for the most recently completed fiscal quarter of the Borrower (each such date, a “Calculation Date”); provided that (a) the Applicable Margin shall be based on Pricing Level II until the first Calculation Date occurring after the Closing Date and, thereafter the Pricing Level shall be determined by reference to the Consolidated Total Net Leverage Ratio as of the last day of the most recently completed fiscal quarter of the Borrower preceding the applicable Calculation Date, and (b) if the Borrower fails to provide a Compliance Certificate when due as required by Section 8.2(a) for the most recently completed fiscal quarter of the Borrower preceding the applicable Calculation Date, the Applicable Margin from the date on which such Compliance Certificate was required to have been delivered shall be based on Pricing Level III until such time as such Compliance Certificate is delivered, at which time the Pricing Level shall be determined by reference to the Consolidated Total Net Leverage Ratio as of the last day of the most recently completed fiscal quarter of the Borrower preceding such Calculation Date. The applicable Pricing Level shall be effective from one Calculation Date until the next Calculation Date. Any adjustment in the Pricing Level shall be applicable to all Extensions of Credit then existing or subsequently made or issued.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that any financial statement or Compliance Certificate delivered pursuant to Section 8.1 or 8.2(a) is shown to be inaccurate (regardless of whether (i) this Agreement is in effect, (ii) any Commitments are in effect, or (iii) any Extension of Credit is outstanding when such inaccuracy is discovered or such financial statement or Compliance Certificate was delivered), and such inaccuracy, if corrected, would have led to the application of a higher Applicable Margin for any period (an “Applicable Period”) than the Applicable Margin applied for such Applicable Period, then (A) the Borrower shall promptly (and in any case within five (5) Business Days) deliver to the Administrative Agent a corrected Compliance Certificate for such Applicable Period, (B) the Applicable Margin for such Applicable Period shall be determined as if the Consolidated Total Net Leverage Ratio in the corrected Compliance Certificate were applicable for such Applicable Period, and (C) the Borrower shall promptly (and in any case within five (5) Business Days) and retroactively be obligated to pay to the Administrative Agent the accrued additional interest and fees owing as a result of such increased Applicable Margin for such Applicable Period, which payment shall be promptly applied by the Administrative Agent in accordance with Section 5.4. Nothing in this paragraph shall limit the rights of the Administrative Agent and Lenders with respect to Sections 5.1(b) and 10.2 nor any of their other rights under this Agreement or any other Loan Document. The Borrower’s obligations under this paragraph shall survive the termination of the Commitments and the repayment of all other Obligations hereunder.
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The Applicable Margins set forth above shall be increased as, and to the extent, required by Section 5.13.
Approved Fund” means any Fund that is administered or managed by (a) a Lender, (b) an Affiliate of a Lender or (c) an entity or an Affiliate of an entity that administers or manages a Lender.
Arranger” means Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, in its capacity as sole lead arranger and bookrunner.
Asset Disposition” means the sale, transfer, license, lease or other disposition of any Property (including any sale and leaseback transaction, division, merger or disposition of Equity Interests), whether in a single transaction or a series of related transactions, by any Credit Party or any Subsidiary thereof.
Assignment and Assumption” means an assignment and assumption entered into by a Lender and an Eligible Assignee (with the consent of any party whose consent is required by Section 12.9), and accepted by the Administrative Agent, in substantially the form attached as Exhibit G or any other form approved by the Administrative Agent.
Available Tenor” means, as of any date of determination and with respect to the then-current Benchmark, as applicable, (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 “Interest Period” pursuant to Section 5.8(c)(iv).
Bail-In Action” means the exercise of any Write-Down and Conversion Powers by the applicable Resolution Authority in respect of any liability of an Affected Financial Institution.
Bail-In Legislation” means, with respect to (a) any EEA Member Country implementing Article 55 of Directive 2014/59/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of the European Union, the implementing law, rule, regulation or requirement for such EEA Member Country from time to time which is described in the EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule and (b) the United Kingdom, Part I of the United Kingdom Banking Act 2009 (as amended from time to time) and any other law, regulation or rule applicable in the United Kingdom relating to the resolution of unsound or failing banks, investment firms or other financial institutions or their affiliates (other than through liquidation, administration or other insolvency proceedings).
Bankruptcy Code” means 11 U.S.C. §§ 101 et seq.
Base Rate” means, at any time, the highest of (a) the Prime Rate, (b) the Federal Funds Rate plus 0.50% and (c) Adjusted Term SOFR for a one-month tenor in effect on such day plus 1.00%; each change in the Base Rate shall take effect simultaneously with the corresponding change or changes in the Prime Rate, the Federal Funds Rate or Adjusted Term SOFR, as applicable (provided that clause (c) shall not be applicable during any period in which Adjusted Term SOFR is unavailable or unascertainable). In no event shall the Base Rate be less than 0% at any time.
Base Rate Loan” means any Loan bearing interest at a rate based upon the Base Rate as provided in Section 5.1(a).
Benchmark” means, initially, the Term SOFR Reference Rate; provided that if a Benchmark Transition Event has occurred with respect to the Term SOFR Reference Rate or the then-current Benchmark, then “Benchmark” means the applicable Benchmark Replacement to the extent that such Benchmark Replacement has replaced such prior benchmark rate pursuant to Section 5.8(c)(i).
Benchmark Replacement” means, with respect to any Benchmark Transition Event, the sum of: (a) the alternate benchmark rate that has been selected by the Administrative Agent and the Borrower
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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 the Administrative Agent and the Borrower giving due consideration to (a) any selection or recommendation of a spread adjustment, or method for calculating or determining such spread adjustment, for the replacement of such Benchmark with the applicable Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement by the Relevant Governmental Body or (b) any evolving or then-prevailing market convention for determining a spread adjustment, or method for calculating or determining such spread adjustment, for the replacement of such Benchmark with the applicable Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement for Dollar-denominated syndicated credit facilities.
Benchmark Replacement Date” means the earliest to occur of the following events with respect to the then-current Benchmark:
(a)in the case of clause (a) or (b) of the definition of “Benchmark Transition Event,” the later of (i) the date of the public statement or publication of information referenced therein and (ii) the date on which the administrator of such Benchmark (or the published component used in the calculation thereof) permanently or indefinitely ceases to provide all Available Tenors of such Benchmark (or such component thereof); or
(b)in the case of clause (c) of the definition of “Benchmark Transition Event,” the first date on which such Benchmark (or the published component used in the calculation thereof) has been determined and announced by the regulatory supervisor for the administrator of such Benchmark (or such component thereof) to be non-representative; provided that such non-representativeness will be determined by reference to the most recent statement or publication referenced in such clause (c) and even if any Available Tenor of such Benchmark (or such component thereof) continues to be provided on such date.
For the avoidance of doubt, the “Benchmark Replacement Date” will be deemed to have occurred in the case of clause (a) or (b) with respect to any Benchmark upon the occurrence of the applicable event or events set forth therein with respect to all then-current Available Tenors of such Benchmark (or the published component used in the calculation thereof).
(c)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 FRB, the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, an insolvency official with jurisdiction over the administrator for such Benchmark (or such component), a resolution authority with jurisdiction over the administrator for such Benchmark (or such component) or a court or an entity with similar insolvency or resolution authority over the administrator for such Benchmark (or such component), which states that the administrator of such Benchmark (or such component) has ceased or will cease to provide all Available
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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 not, or as of a specified future date will not be, representative.
For the avoidance of doubt, a “Benchmark Transition Event” will be deemed to have occurred with respect to any Benchmark if a public statement or publication of information set forth above has occurred with respect to each then-current Available Tenor of such Benchmark (or the published component used in the calculation thereof).
Benchmark 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 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) (x) beginning at the time that a Benchmark Replacement Date has occurred if, at such time, no Benchmark Replacement has replaced the then-current Benchmark for all purposes hereunder and under any Loan Document in accordance with Section 5.8(c)(i) and (y) 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 5.8(c)(i).
Beneficial Ownership Certification” means a certification regarding beneficial ownership as required by the Beneficial Ownership Regulation.
Beneficial Ownership Regulation” means 31 CFR § 1010.230.
Benefit Plan” means any of (a) an “employee benefit plan” (as defined in ERISA) that is subject to Title I of ERISA, (b) a “plan” as defined in and subject to Section 4975 of the Code or (c) any Person whose assets include (for purposes of ERISA Section 3(42) or otherwise for purposes of Title I of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code) the assets of any such “employee benefit plan” or “plan”.
Borrower” means National Instruments Corporation, a Delaware corporation.
Borrower Materials” has the meaning assigned thereto in Section 8.2.
Business” means, in the aggregate, all operations and businesses conducted by the Credit Parties.
Business Day” means any day that (a) is not a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which the Federal Reserve Bank of New York is closed and (b) is not a day in which commercial banks in Houston, Texas or Charlotte, North Carolina, are closed.
Calculation Date” has the meaning assigned thereto in the definition of Applicable Margin.
Capital Lease” means, as applied to any Person, subject to Section 1.3(b), any lease of any Property (whether real, personal or mixed) by that Person as lessee which, in accordance with GAAP, is required to be accounted for as a capital lease on the balance sheet of that Person.
Capital Lease Obligations” of any Person means, subject to Section 1.3(b), the obligations of such Person to pay rent or other amounts under any lease of (or other arrangement conveying the right to use) real or personal property, or a combination thereof, which obligations would be required to be
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classified and accounted for as Capital Leases on a balance sheet of such Person under GAAP, and the amount of such obligations shall be the capitalized amount thereof determined in accordance with GAAP.
Cash Collateralize” means, to pledge and deposit with, or deliver to the Administrative Agent, or directly to the applicable Issuing Lender (with notice thereof to the Administrative Agent), for the benefit of one or more of the Issuing Lenders, the Swingline Lender or the Lenders, as collateral for L/C Obligations or obligations of the Lenders to fund participations in respect of L/C Obligations or Swingline Loans, cash or deposit account balances or, if the Administrative Agent and the applicable Issuing Lender and the Swingline Lender shall agree, in their sole discretion, other credit support, in each case pursuant to documentation in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, such Issuing Lender and the Swingline Lender, as applicable. “Cash Collateral” shall have a meaning correlative to the foregoing and shall include the proceeds of such cash collateral and other credit support.
Cash Collateralized Letter of Credit” has the meaning assigned thereto in Section 3.11(d).
Cash Equivalents” means, collectively, (a) marketable direct obligations issued or unconditionally guaranteed by the United States or any agency thereof to the extent such obligations are backed by the full faith and credit of the United States, in each case maturing within one (1) year from the date of acquisition thereof, (b) commercial paper maturing no more than one (1) year from the date of acquisition thereof and currently having one of the two highest ratings obtainable from either S&P or Moody’s (or, if at any time either S&P or Moody’s are not rating such fund, an equivalent rating from another nationally recognized statistical rating agency), (c) investments in certificates of deposit, banker’s acceptances and time deposits maturing within one (1) year from the date of acquisition thereof issued or guaranteed by or placed with, and money market deposit accounts issued or offered by, any domestic office of any commercial bank organized under the laws of the United States of America or any State thereof that has a combined capital and surplus and undivided profits of not less than $500,000,000 and having a long-term debt rating of “A” or better by S&P or “A2” or better from Moody’s (or, if at any time either S&P or Moody’s are not rating such fund, an equivalent rating from another nationally recognized statistical rating agency), (d) shares of any money market mutual fund that has (i) substantially all of its assets invested in the types of investments referred to in clauses (a) through (c) above, (ii) net assets of not less than $250,000,000 and (iii) a rating of at least A-2 from S&P or at least P-2 from Moody’s (or, if at any time either S&P or Moody’s are not rating such fund, an equivalent rating from another nationally recognized statistical rating agency), (e) in the case of any Foreign Subsidiary, substantially similar investments of the type described in clauses (a) through (d) above denominated in foreign currencies and from similarly capitalized and rated foreign banks in the jurisdiction in which such Foreign Subsidiary is organized and (f) other investments made in accordance with the investment policy of the Borrower as in effect on the Closing Date or as amended from time to time and approved by Administrative Agent for the purposes of this Agreement.
Cash Management Agreement” means any agreement to provide cash management services, including treasury, depository, overdraft, credit or debit card (including non-card electronic payables and purchasing cards), electronic funds transfer and other cash management arrangements.
CFC” means a Foreign Subsidiary that is a “controlled foreign corporation” within the meaning of Section 957 of the Code and any Subsidiary owned directly or indirectly by such Foreign Subsidiary.
CFC Holdco” means a Subsidiary substantially all the assets of which consist of Equity Interests in Foreign Subsidiaries that each constitute a CFC and/or Indebtedness or accounts receivable owed by Foreign Subsidiaries that each constitute a CFC or are treated as owed by any such Foreign Subsidiaries for U.S. federal income tax purposes.
Change in Control” means at any time the occurrence of any of the following events: (a) any “person” or “group” (as such terms are used in Section 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act as in effect on the date hereof), is or becomes the “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Exchange Act as in effect on the date hereof), directly or indirectly, of thirty-five percent (35%) or more of the then outstanding Voting Equity of the Borrower; or (b) the replacement of a majority of the board of directors of the Borrower over a two-year period from the directors who constituted the board of
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directors at the beginning of such period, and such replacement shall not have been approved by a vote of at least a majority of the board of directors of the Borrower then still in office who either were members of such board of directors at the beginning of such period or whose election as a member of such board of directors was previously so approved (either by a specific vote or approval of a proxy statement issued by the Borrower on behalf of its entire board of directors in which such individual is named as a nominee for director).
Change in Law” means the occurrence, after the date of this Agreement, of any of the following: (a) the adoption or taking effect of any law, rule, regulation or treaty, (b) any change in any law, rule, regulation or treaty or in the administration, interpretation, implementation or application thereof by any Governmental Authority or (c) the making or issuance of any request, rule, guideline or directive (whether or not having the force of law) by any Governmental Authority; provided that notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, (i) the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and all requests, rules, guidelines or directives thereunder or issued in connection therewith or in implementation thereof and (ii) all requests, rules, guidelines or directives promulgated by the Bank for International Settlements, the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (or any successor or similar authority) or the United States or foreign regulatory authorities, in each case pursuant to Basel III, shall in each case be deemed to be a “Change in Law”, regardless of the date enacted, adopted, implemented or issued.
Citibank Existing Letters of Credit” means those letters of credit existing on the Closing Date and identified on Schedule 1.1 as being issued by Citibank, N.A.
Class” means, when used in reference to any Loan, whether such Loan is a Revolving Credit Loan, Swingline Loan or Term Loan, and when used in reference to any Commitment, whether such Commitment is a Revolving Credit Commitment or a Term Loan Commitment.
Closing Date” means the date of this Agreement.
Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.
Collateral” means the collateral security for the Secured Obligations pledged or granted pursuant to the Security Documents, but excluding any Excluded Assets (as defined in the Collateral Agreement).
Collateral Agreement” means the amended and restated collateral agreement of even date herewith executed by the Credit Parties in favor of the Administrative Agent, for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties, which shall be in form and substance acceptable to the Administrative Agent.
Commitment Fee” has the meaning assigned thereto in Section 5.3(a).
Commitment Percentage” means, as to any Lender, such Lender’s Revolving Credit Commitment Percentage or Term Loan Percentage, as applicable.
Commitments” means, collectively, as to all Lenders, the Revolving Credit Commitments and the Term Loan Commitments.
Commodity Exchange Act” means the Commodity Exchange Act (7 U.S.C. § 1 et seq.).
Compliance Certificate” means a certificate of the chief financial officer or the treasurer of the Borrower substantially in the form attached as Exhibit F.
Conforming Changes” means, with respect to either the use or administration of Term SOFR or the use, administration, adoption or implementation of any Benchmark Replacement, any technical, administrative or operational changes (including changes to the definition of “Base Rate,” the definition of “Business Day,” the definition of “U.S. Government Securities Business Day,” the definition of “Interest Period” or any similar or analogous definition (or the addition of a concept of “interest period”), timing and frequency of determining rates and making payments of interest, timing of borrowing requests
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or prepayment, conversion or continuation notices, the applicability and length of lookback periods, the applicability of Section 5.9 and other technical, administrative or operational matters) that the Administrative Agent decides may be appropriate to reflect the adoption and implementation of any such rate or to permit the use and administration thereof by the Administrative Agent in a manner substantially consistent with market practice (or, if the Administrative Agent decides that adoption of any portion of such market practice is not administratively feasible or if the Administrative Agent determines that no market practice for the administration of any such rate exists, in such other manner of administration as the Administrative Agent decides is reasonably necessary in connection with the administration of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents).
Connection Income Taxes” means Other Connection Taxes that are imposed on or measured by net income (however denominated) or that are franchise Taxes or branch profits Taxes.
Consolidated” means, when used with reference to financial statements or financial statement items of any Person, such statements or items on a consolidated basis in accordance with applicable principles of consolidation under GAAP.
Consolidated Assets” means, as of any date of determination, the Consolidated assets of the Credit Parties and their Subsidiaries at such date, as determined in accordance with GAAP.

Consolidated EBITDA” means, as of any date of determination for the Reference Period ending on such date, determined on a Consolidated basis for the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, without duplication:
(a) Consolidated Net Income for such period plus
(b) the sum of the following to the extent deducted in calculating Consolidated Net Income (other than as set forth in clause (b)(xii)) for such period:
(i) Consolidated Interest Expense for such period,
(ii) provisions for taxes (including, without limitation, any federal, state, local and foreign income and similar taxes) of the Credit Parties and their Subsidiaries paid or accrued for such period,
(iii) depreciation and amortization expense of the Credit Parties and their Subsidiaries for such period,
(iv) other non-cash losses, charges or expenses (excluding reserves for future cash charges but including non-cash impairment of goodwill and intangible assets) of the Credit Parties and their Subsidiaries for such period,
(v) the non-cash portion of stock compensation to the extent actually paid during such period,
(vi) (A) subject to the proviso set forth in clause (vii) below, unusual or non-recurring expenses, charges and losses during such period and (B) extraordinary expenses, charges and losses during such period, in each case incurred other than in the ordinary course of business,
(vii) non-recurring expenses or losses incurred in connection with (A) the Transactions, (B) Permitted Acquisitions and other Investments permitted hereunder, (C) issuances of any Equity Interests, (D) dispositions of assets permitted under the Loan Documents or (E) the incurrence, amendment, modification, refinancing or repayment of Indebtedness (in each case of clauses (B) through (E), whether or not successful, and including amendments or modifications to the terms of any such transactions), including, without limitation, legal, accounting and advisory fees; provided that the aggregate amount added back in reliance on clause (vi)(A) and subclauses (B) through (E) of this clause (vii) shall not exceed twenty percent (20%) of Consolidated
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EBITDA for such Reference Period (calculated after giving effect to any such amounts added back under such clauses;
(viii) one-time restructuring, integration or similar charges, expenses or reserves (which for the avoidance of doubt, shall include, but not be limited to, retention, severance, systems establishment costs, contract termination costs, including future lease commitments, and costs to consolidate facilities and relocate employees) incurred by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, whether or not classified as restructuring charges or expenses under GAAP; provided that the aggregate amount added back in reliance on this clause (viii), when combined with any amounts added back in reliance on clause (xii) below, shall not exceed thirty percent (30%) of Consolidated EBITDA for such Reference Period (calculated after giving effect to any such amounts added back under such clauses)),
(ix) expenses, charges and losses in the form of earn-out obligations and other contingent consideration obligations (including to the extent accounted for as performance and retention bonuses, compensation or otherwise) and adjustments thereof and purchase price adjustments, in each case in connection with any Permitted Acquisitions or other Investments permitted hereunder, whether consummated prior to or after the Closing Date,
(x) charges, losses or expenses to the extent subject to indemnity or reimbursement by a third party to the extent actually reimbursed, or, so long as the Borrower has made a determination that a reasonable basis exists for indemnification or reimbursement and only to the extent that such amount is (A) not denied by the applicable indemnitor or reimbursing party in writing; and (B) in fact indemnified or reimbursed within 180 days of such determination (with a deduction in the applicable future period for any amount so added back to the extent not so indemnified or reimbursed within such 180 day period),
(xi) the amount of any expenses paid on behalf of any member of the board of directors or reimbursable to such member of the board of directors,
(i)the amount of any “run rate” synergies, operating expense reductions and other net cost savings and integration costs, in each case projected by the Borrower in connection with Permitted Acquisitions (including, for the avoidance of doubt, acquisitions occurring prior to the Closing Date), Asset Dispositions (including the termination or discontinuance of activities constituting such business) and/or other operating improvement, restructuring, cost savings initiative or other similar initiative (calculated on a Pro Forma Basis as though such synergies, expense reductions and cost savings had been realized on the first day of the period for which Consolidated EBITDA is being determined), net of the amount of actual benefits realized during such period from such actions; provided that (i) such synergies, expense reductions and cost savings are reasonably identifiable, factually supportable, expected to have a continuing impact on the operations of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries and have been determined by the Borrower in good faith to be reasonably anticipated to be realizable within 18 months following any such action as set forth in reasonable detail on a certificate of a Responsible Officer of the Borrower delivered to the Administrative Agent, (ii) no such amounts shall be added pursuant to this clause to the extent duplicative of any expenses or charges otherwise added to Consolidated EBITDA, whether through a pro forma adjustment, the definition of Pro Forma Basis or otherwise and (iii) the aggregate amount added pursuant to this clause (xii), when combined with any amounts added back in reliance on clause (viii) above, shall in no event exceed 30% of Consolidated EBITDA for such Reference Period (calculated after giving effect to any such add-backs pursuant to such clauses);
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(ii)losses or discounts on any sale of receivables, Securitization Assets and related assets in connection with any Qualified Factoring Transaction; minus
(c) non-cash charges previously added back to Consolidated Net Income in determining Consolidated EBITDA to the extent such non-cash charges have become cash charges during such period minus
(d) any other unusual, extraordinary, non-recurring cash or non-cash gains included in Consolidated Net Income during such period (including, without limitation, (i) gains from the sale or exchange of assets and (ii) gains from early extinguishment of Indebtedness or Hedge Agreements of the Credit Parties and their Subsidiaries);
provided that, to the extent included in determining Consolidated Net Income for such Reference Period, Consolidated EBITDA shall be calculated so as to exclude (x) the effects of adjustments (including, without limitation, in connection with the fair value adjustment tied to deferred revenue and fair value adjustments determined in accordance with GAAP related to earn-outs, holdbacks or other contingent consideration obligations) resulting from the application of purchase accounting related to the Transactions, any Acquisition consummated prior to the date hereof or any Permitted Acquisition or the amortization or write-off of any amounts thereof (including any write-off of in-process research and development), net of Taxes and (y) the cumulative effect of any changes in GAAP or accounting principles applied by management during such Reference Period. For purposes of this Agreement, Consolidated EBITDA shall be calculated on a Pro Forma Basis.
Consolidated Funded Indebtedness” means, as of any date of determination, with respect to any Person, without duplication, all Indebtedness of such Person (other than Indebtedness set forth in clauses (c), (d), (e), (f) and (i) of such definition and any Guarantees of such Indebtedness).
Consolidated Interest Coverage Ratio” means, as of any date of determination, the ratio of (a) Consolidated EBITDA for the most recently completed Reference Period to (b) Consolidated Interest Expense for the most recently completed Reference Period.
Consolidated Interest Expense” means, as of any date of determination for the Reference Period ending on such date, all interest expense (excluding amortization of debt discount and premium, but including the interest component under Capital Leases and synthetic leases, tax retention operating leases, off-balance sheet loans and similar off-balance sheet financing products) for such period of the Credit Parties and their Subsidiaries on a Consolidated basis (including, without limitation, all commissions, discounts and other fees and charges owed with respect to letters of credit and bankers acceptance financing and net costs under Hedge Agreements to the extent such net costs are allocable to such period in accordance with GAAP and discounts, commissions, fees and other similar charges associated with any Qualified Factoring Transaction).
Consolidated Net Income” means for any period, with respect to the Credit Parties and their Subsidiaries on a Consolidated basis, the net income (or loss) of such Person for such period determined in accordance with GAAP.
Consolidated Total Net Leverage Ratio” means as of any date of determination, for the Reference Period ending on such date, the ratio of (a)(i) Consolidated Funded Indebtedness of the Credit Parties and their Subsidiaries on the last day of such period on a Consolidated basis minus (ii) Unrestricted Cash and Cash Equivalents on such date in an aggregate amount not to exceed $200,000,000 to (b) Consolidated EBITDA of the Credit Parties and their Subsidiaries for such period.
Control” means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of a Person, whether through the ability to exercise voting power, by contract or otherwise. “Controlling” and “Controlled” have meanings correlative thereto.
Credit Facility” means, collectively, the Revolving Credit Facility, the Term Loan Facility, the Swingline Facility and the L/C Facility.
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Credit Parties” means, collectively, the Borrower and the Guarantors.
Debt Issuance” means the issuance of any Indebtedness for borrowed money by any Credit Party or any of its Subsidiaries.
Debtor Relief Laws” means the Bankruptcy Code of the United States of America, and all other liquidation, conservatorship, bankruptcy, assignment for the benefit of creditors, moratorium, rearrangement, receivership, insolvency, reorganization, or similar debtor relief laws of the United States or other applicable jurisdictions from time to time in effect.
Default” means any of the events specified in Section 10.1 which with the passage of time, the giving of notice or any other condition, would constitute an Event of Default.
Defaulting Lender” means, subject to Section 5.15(b), any Lender that (a) has failed to (i) fund all or any portion of the Revolving Credit Loans, any Term Loan or participations in Letters of Credit or Swingline Loans required to be funded by it hereunder within two Business Days of the date such Loans or participations were required to be funded hereunder unless such Lender notifies the Administrative Agent and the Borrower in writing that such failure is the result of such Lender’s determination that one or more conditions precedent to funding (each of which conditions precedent, together with any applicable default, shall be specifically identified in such writing) has not been satisfied, or (ii) pay to the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Lender, the Swingline Lender or any other Lender any other amount required to be paid by it hereunder within two Business Days of the date when due, (b) has notified the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Lender or the Swingline Lender in writing that it does not intend to comply with its funding obligations hereunder, or has made a public statement to that effect (unless such writing or public statement relates to such Lender’s obligation to fund a Loan hereunder and states that such position is based on such Lender’s determination that a condition precedent to funding (which condition precedent, together with any applicable default, shall be specifically identified in such writing or public statement) cannot be satisfied), (c) has failed, within three Business Days after written request by the Administrative Agent or the Borrower, to confirm in writing to the Administrative Agent and the Borrower that it will comply with its prospective funding obligations hereunder (provided that such Lender shall cease to be a Defaulting Lender pursuant to this clause (c) upon receipt of such written confirmation by the Administrative Agent and the Borrower), or (d) has, or has a direct or indirect parent company that has, (i) become the subject of a proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law, (ii) had appointed for it a receiver, custodian, conservator, trustee, administrator, assignee for the benefit of creditors or similar Person charged with reorganization or liquidation of its business or assets, including the FDIC or any other state or federal regulatory authority acting in such a capacity or (iii) become the subject of a Bail-In Action; provided that a Lender shall not be a Defaulting Lender solely by virtue of the ownership or acquisition of any equity interest in that Lender or any direct or indirect parent company thereof by a Governmental Authority so long as such ownership interest does not result in or provide such Lender with immunity from the jurisdiction of courts within the United States or from the enforcement of judgments or writs of attachment on its assets or permit such Lender (or such Governmental Authority) to reject, repudiate, disavow or disaffirm any contracts or agreements made with such Lender. Any determination by the Administrative Agent that a Lender is a Defaulting Lender under any one or more of clauses (a) through (d) above shall be conclusive and binding absent manifest error, and such Lender shall be deemed to be a Defaulting Lender (subject to Section 5.15(b)) upon delivery of written notice of such determination to the Borrower, each Issuing Lender, the Swingline Lender and each Lender.
Disclosure Letter” means the disclosure letter, dated the Closing Date, delivered by the Borrower to the Administrative Agent with respect to this Agreement.
Disposed EBITDA” means, with respect to any Person or business unit or line of business that is sold or disposed of in an Asset Disposition during any period, the amount for such period of Consolidated EBITDA of any such Person or business subject to such Asset Disposition (determined using such definitions as if references to the Borrower and its Subsidiaries therein were to such Person or business), as calculated by the Borrower in good faith.
Disposition” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.4(a).
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Dollars” or “$” means, unless otherwise qualified, dollars in lawful currency of the United States.
Domestic Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary organized under the laws of State of the United States or the District of Columbia.
EEA Financial Institution” means (a) any credit institution or investment firm established in any EEA Member Country which is subject to the supervision of an EEA Resolution Authority, (b) any entity established in an EEA Member Country which is a parent of an institution described in clause (a) of this definition, or (c) any financial institution established in an EEA Member Country which is a subsidiary of an institution described in clauses (a) or (b) of this definition and is subject to consolidated supervision with its parent.
EEA Member Country” means any of the member states of the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway.
EEA Resolution Authority” means any public administrative authority or any Person entrusted with public administrative authority of any EEA Member Country (including any delegee) having responsibility for the resolution of any EEA Financial Institution.
Eligible Assignee” means any Person that meets the requirements to be an assignee under Section 12.9(b)(iii) and (v) (subject to such consents, if any, as may be required under Section 12.9(b)(iii)).
Environmental Claims” means any and all administrative, regulatory or judicial actions, suits, demands, demand letters, claims, liens, accusations, allegations, notices of noncompliance or violation, investigations (other than internal reports prepared by any Person in the ordinary course of business and not in response to any third party action or request of any kind) or proceedings relating in any way to any actual or alleged violation of or liability under any Environmental Law or relating to any permit issued, or any approval given, under any such Environmental Law, including any and all claims by Governmental Authorities for enforcement, cleanup, removal, response, remedial or other actions or damages, contribution, indemnification, cost recovery, compensation or injunctive relief resulting from Hazardous Materials or arising from alleged injury or threat of injury to public health or the environment.
Environmental Laws” means any and all federal, foreign, state, provincial and local laws, statutes, ordinances, codes, rules, standards and regulations, permits, licenses, approvals, interpretations and orders of courts or Governmental Authorities, relating to the protection of public health (as relates to exposure to Hazardous Materials) or the protection of the environment, including, but not limited to, requirements pertaining to the manufacture, processing, distribution, use, treatment, storage, disposal, transportation, handling, reporting, licensing, permitting, investigation or remediation of Hazardous Materials.
Equity Interests” means (a) in the case of a corporation, capital stock, (b) in the case of an association or business entity, any and all shares, interests, participations, rights or other equivalents (however designated) of capital stock, (c) in the case of a partnership, partnership interests (whether general or limited), (d) in the case of a limited liability company, membership interests, (e) any other interest or participation that confers on a Person the right to receive a share of the profits and losses of, or distributions of assets of, the issuing Person and (f) any and all warrants, rights or options to purchase any of the foregoing.
ERISA” means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, and the rules and regulations thereunder.
ERISA Affiliate” means any Person who together with any Credit Party or any of its Subsidiaries is treated as a single employer within the meaning of Section 414(b), (c), (m) or (o) of the Code or Section 4001(b) of ERISA.
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ERISA Event” means (a) with respect to any Plan, the occurrence of a Reportable Event or the substantial cessation of operations (within the meaning of Section 4062(e) of ERISA); (b) the withdrawal by any Credit Party or any ERISA Affiliate from a Multiemployer Plan during a plan year in which it was a substantial employer (as such term is defined in Section 4001(a)(2) of ERISA), or the termination of a Multiemployer Plan; (c) the distribution of a notice of intent to terminate or the actual termination of a Plan pursuant to Section 4041 (a)(2) or 4041A of ERISA; (d) the institution of proceedings to terminate or the actual termination of a Plan by the PBGC under Section 4042 of ERISA; (e) any event or condition which might constitute grounds under Section 4042 of ERISA for the termination of, or the appointment of a trustee to administer, any Plan; (f) the complete or partial withdrawal of any Credit Party or any ERISA Affiliate from a Multiemployer Plan; (g) the failure to make a required contribution to any Single Employer Plan or Multiemployer Plan that would result in the imposition of a lien or other encumbrance or the provision of security under Section 430 of the Code or Section 303 or 4068 of ERISA, or the arising of such a lien or encumbrance; (h) there being or arising any “unpaid minimum required contribution” or “accumulated funding deficiency” (as defined or otherwise set forth in Section 4971 of the Code or Part 3 of Subtitle B of Title I of ERISA), whether or not waived; (i) the filing of any request for or receipt of a minimum funding waiver under Section 412 of the Code with respect to any Single Employer Plan or Multiemployer Plan, or that such filing may be made; or (j) a determination that any Single Employer Plan or Multiemployer Plan is, or is expected to be, in at-risk status under Title IV of ERISA.
Erroneous Payment” has the meaning assigned thereto in Section 11.11(a).
Erroneous Payment Deficiency Assignment” has the meaning assigned thereto in Section 11.11(d).
Erroneous Payment Impacted Class” has the meaning assigned thereto in Section 11.11(d).
Erroneous Payment Return Deficiency” has the meaning assigned thereto in Section 11.11(d).
EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule” means the EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule published by the Loan Market Association (or any successor thereto), as in effect from time to time.
Event of Default” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 10.1.
Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C. § 77 et seq.).
Excluded Subsidiary” means a CFC Holdco or any Domestic Subsidiary that is owned directly or indirectly by a CFC.
Excluded Swap Obligation” means, with respect to any Credit Party, any Swap Obligation if, and to the extent that, all or a portion of the liability of such Credit Party for or the guarantee of such Credit Party of (including by any joint and several liability provisions), or the grant by such Credit Party of a security interest to secure, such Swap Obligation (or any liability or guarantee 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 Credit 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 liability for or the guarantee of such Credit Party or the grant of such security interest becomes effective with respect to such Swap Obligation (such determination being made after giving effect to any applicable keepwell, support or other agreement for the benefit of the applicable Credit Party, including under the keepwell provisions in the Subsidiary Guaranty Agreement). If a Swap Obligation arises under a master agreement governing more than one swap, such exclusion shall apply only to the portion of such Swap Obligation that is attributable to swaps for which such guarantee or security interest is or becomes illegal for the reasons identified in the immediately preceding sentence of this definition.
Excluded Taxes” means any of the following Taxes imposed on or with respect to a Recipient or required to be withheld or deducted from a payment to a Recipient, (a) Taxes imposed on or measured by net income (however denominated), franchise Taxes, and branch profits Taxes, in each case, (i) imposed
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as a result of such Recipient being organized under the laws of, or having its principal office or, in the case of any Lender, its applicable Lending Office located in, the jurisdiction imposing such Tax (or any political subdivision thereof) or (ii) that are Other Connection Taxes, (b) in the case of a Lender, United States federal withholding Taxes imposed on amounts payable to or for the account of such Lender with respect to an applicable interest in a Loan or Commitment pursuant to a law in effect on the date on which (i) such Lender acquires such interest in the Loan or Commitment (other than pursuant to an assignment request by the Borrower under Section 5.12(b)) or (ii) such Lender changes its Lending Office, except in each case to the extent that, pursuant to Section 5.11, amounts with respect to such Taxes were payable either to such Lender’s assignor immediately before such Lender became a party hereto or to such Lender immediately before it changed its Lending Office, (c) Taxes attributable to such Recipient’s failure to comply with Section 5.11(g) and (d) any withholding Taxes imposed under FATCA.
Existing Credit Agreement” means that certain Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of June 18, 2021, by and among the Borrower, the lenders party thereto and Wells Fargo, as administrative agent, as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time prior to the Closing Date.
Existing Letters of Credit” means the Wells Fargo Existing Letters of Credit and the Citibank Existing Letters of Credit.
Extended Letter of Credit” has the meaning assigned thereto in Section 3.1(b).
Extensions of Credit” means, as to any Lender at any time, (a) an amount equal to the sum of (i) the aggregate principal amount of all Revolving Credit Loans made by such Lender then outstanding, (ii) such Lender’s Revolving Credit Commitment Percentage of the L/C Obligations then outstanding, (iii) such Lender’s Revolving Credit Commitment Percentage of the Swingline Loans then outstanding and (iv) the aggregate principal amount of the Term Loans made by such Lender then outstanding, or (b) the making of any Loan or participation in any Letter of Credit by such Lender, as the context requires.
Factoring Transaction” means any transaction or series of transactions that may be entered into by the Borrower or any Subsidiary pursuant to which the Borrower or such Subsidiary may sell, convey, assign or otherwise transfer (or purport to sell, convey, assign or otherwise transfer) Securitization Assets (which may include a grant of security interest in such Securitization Assets so sold, conveyed, assigned or otherwise transferred or purported to be so sold, conveyed, assigned or otherwise transferred) to any Person.
FASB ASC” means the Accounting Standards Codification of the Financial Accounting Standards Board.
FATCA” means Sections 1471 through 1474 of the Code, as of the date of this Agreement (or any amended or successor version that is substantively comparable and not materially more onerous to comply with), any current or future regulations or official interpretations thereof, any agreements entered into pursuant to Section 1471(b)(1) of the Code, and any fiscal or regulatory legislation, rules or practices adopted pursuant to any intergovernmental agreement, treaty or convention among Governmental Authorities and implementing such Sections of the Code.
FCA” has the meaning assigned thereto in Section 1.11.
FDIC” means the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation.
Federal Funds Rate” means, for any day, the rate per annum equal to the weighted average of the rates on overnight federal funds transactions with members of the Federal Reserve System, as published by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York on the Business Day next succeeding such day, provided that if such rate is not so published for any day which is a Business Day, the Federal Funds Rate for such day shall be the average of the quotation for such day on such transactions received by the Administrative Agent from three federal funds brokers of recognized standing selected by the Administrative Agent.
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Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Federal Funds Rate shall be less than zero, such rate shall be deemed to be zero for purposes of this Agreement.
Fee Letters” means (a) the engagement letter dated as of July 27, 2022 among the Borrower, Wells Fargo and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC and (b) any letter between the Borrower and any Issuing Lender (other than Wells Fargo) relating to certain fees payable to such Issuing Lender in its capacity as such.
First Tier Foreign Subsidiary” means any Foreign Subsidiary, the Equity Interests of which are owned directly by any Credit Party.
Fiscal Year” means the fiscal year of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries ending on December 31 of each calendar year.
Floor” means a rate of interest equal to 0%.
Foreign Lender” means a Lender that is not a U.S. Person.
Foreign Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary that is not a Domestic Subsidiary.
FRB” means the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System of the United States.
Fronting Exposure” means, at any time there is a Defaulting Lender, (a) with respect to any Issuing Lender, such Defaulting Lender’s Revolving Credit Commitment Percentage of the outstanding L/C Obligations with respect to Letters of Credit issued by such Issuing Lender, other than such L/C Obligations as to which such Defaulting Lender’s participation obligation has been reallocated to other Lenders or Cash Collateralized in accordance with the terms hereof and (b) with respect to the Swingline Lender, such Defaulting Lender’s Revolving Credit Commitment Percentage of outstanding Swingline Loans other than Swingline Loans as to which such Defaulting Lender’s participation obligation has been reallocated to other Lenders or Cash Collateralized in accordance with the terms hereof.
Fund” means any Person (other than a natural Person) that is (or will be) engaged in making, purchasing, holding or otherwise investing in commercial loans, bonds and similar extensions of credit in the ordinary course of its activities.
GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States set forth in the opinions and pronouncements of the Accounting Principles Board and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and statements and pronouncements of the Financial Accounting Standards Board or such other principles as may be approved by a significant segment of the accounting profession in the United States, that are applicable to the circumstances as of the date of determination, consistently applied.
Governmental Approvals” means all authorizations, consents, approvals, permits, licenses and exemptions of, and all registrations and filings with or issued by, any Governmental Authorities.
Governmental Authority” means the government of the United States or any other nation, or of any political subdivision thereof, whether state or local, and any agency, authority, instrumentality, regulatory body, court, central bank or other entity exercising executive, legislative, judicial, taxing, regulatory or administrative powers or functions of or pertaining to government (including any supra-national bodies such as the European Union or the European Central Bank).
Guarantee” of or by any Person (the “guarantor”) means any obligation, contingent or otherwise, of the guarantor guaranteeing or having the economic effect of guaranteeing any Indebtedness or other obligation of any other Person (the “primary obligor”) in any manner, whether directly or indirectly, and including any obligation of the guarantor, direct or indirect, (a) to purchase or pay (or advance or supply funds for the purchase or payment of) such Indebtedness or other obligation or to purchase (or to advance or supply funds for the purchase of) any security for the payment thereof, (b) to purchase or lease
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property, securities or services for the purpose of assuring the owner of such Indebtedness or other obligation of the payment thereof, (c) to maintain working capital, equity capital or any other financial statement condition or liquidity of the primary obligor so as to enable the primary obligor to pay such Indebtedness or other obligation or (d) as an account party in respect of any letter of credit or letter of guaranty issued to support such Indebtedness or obligation; provided that the term “Guarantee” shall not include endorsements for collection or deposit or customary warranty obligations, in each case, in the ordinary course of business, or customary and reasonable indemnity obligations.
Guarantors” means, collectively, each Subsidiary Guarantor.
Hazardous Materials” means any substances or materials (a) which are or become defined as hazardous wastes, hazardous substances, pollutants, contaminants, chemical substances or mixtures or toxic substances under any Environmental Law, (b) which are toxic, explosive, corrosive, flammable, infectious, radioactive, carcinogenic, mutagenic or otherwise harmful to public health or the environment and are or become regulated by any Governmental Authority, (c) the presence of which require investigation or remediation under any Environmental Law or common law, (d) the discharge or emission or release of which requires a permit or license under any Environmental Law or other Governmental Approval, (e) which are deemed by a Governmental Authority to constitute a nuisance or a trespass which pose a health or safety hazard to Persons or neighboring properties, or (f) which contain, without limitation, asbestos, polychlorinated biphenyls, urea formaldehyde foam insulation, petroleum hydrocarbons, petroleum derived substances or waste, crude oil, nuclear fuel, natural gas or synthetic gas.
Hedge Agreement” means (a) any and all rate swap transactions, basis swaps, credit derivative transactions, forward rate transactions, commodity swaps, commodity options, forward commodity contracts, equity or equity index swaps or options, bond or bond price or bond index swaps or options or forward bond or forward bond price or forward bond index transactions, interest rate options, forward foreign exchange transactions, cap transactions, floor transactions, collar transactions, currency swap transactions, cross-currency rate swap transactions, currency options, spot contracts, or any other similar transactions or any combination of any of the foregoing (including any options to enter into any of the foregoing), whether or not any such transaction is governed by or subject to any master agreement, and (b) any and all transactions of any kind, and the related confirmations, which are subject to the terms and conditions of, or governed by, any form of master agreement published by the International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc., any International Foreign Exchange Master Agreement, or any other master agreement; provided that the term “Hedge Agreement” shall not include (i) any derivative instruments issued under equity incentive or similar plans (including any stock option or phantom stock plan), (ii) any forward, option or warrant for the purchase or sale of Equity Interests of the Borrower or (iii) contracts for the purchase of securities of the Borrower.
IBA” has the meaning assigned thereto in Section 1.11.
Increase Effective Date” has the meaning assigned thereto in Section 5.13(c).
Incremental Amendment” has the meaning assigned thereto in Section 5.13(f).
Incremental Facilities Limit means, (a) $100,000,000 less (b) the total aggregate initial principal amount (as of the date of incurrence thereof) of all previous Incremental Increases incurred pursuant to clause (a) plus (c) an unlimited amount, so long as after giving effect to the incurrence of such Incremental Increases, on a Pro Forma Basis (but without netting the proceeds of any Loans in connection with the Incremental Increase from such calculation and assuming all commitments under such Incremental Increase are fully drawn), the Consolidated Total Net Leverage Ratio does not exceed 3.00 to 1.00.
Incremental Increase” has the meaning assigned thereto in Section 5.13(a).
Incremental Lender” has the meaning assigned thereto in Section 5.13(b).
Incremental Revolving Credit Facility Increase” has the meaning assigned thereto in Section 5.13(a).
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Incremental Term Loan” has the meaning assigned thereto in Section 5.13(a).
Incremental Term Loan Commitment” has the meaning assigned thereto in Section 5.13(a).
Indebtedness” means, with respect to any Person, without duplication, (a) all obligations of such Person for borrowed money, (b) all obligations of such Person evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or similar instruments, (c) all obligations of such Person under conditional sale or other title retention agreements relating to property purchased by such Person (other than customary reservations or retentions of title under agreements with suppliers entered into in the ordinary course of business), (d) all obligations of such Person incurred, issued or assumed as the deferred purchase price of property or services purchased by such Person (excluding trade accounts payable, intercompany charges of expenses, intercompany payables and other accrued obligations, in each case incurred in the ordinary course of business) which would appear as liabilities on a balance sheet of such Person, (e) all obligations of such Person under take-or-pay or similar arrangements, (f) all Indebtedness of others secured by (or for which the holder of such Indebtedness has an existing right, contingent or otherwise, to be secured by) any Lien on property owned or acquired by such Person, whether or not the obligations secured thereby have been assumed, (g) all Guarantees of such Person with respect to Indebtedness of another Person, (h) the principal portion of all Capital Lease Obligations plus any accrued interest thereon, (i) all net obligations of such Person under Hedge Agreements, (j) the maximum amount of all letters of credit issued or bankers’ acceptances facilities created for the account of such Person and, without duplication, all drafts drawn thereunder (to the extent unreimbursed), (k) the principal balance outstanding under any synthetic lease, tax retention operating lease, off-balance sheet loan or similar off-balance sheet financing product plus any accrued interest thereon and (l) all Indebtedness of any partnership or unincorporated joint venture in which such Person is a general partner or a joint venturer (to the extent such Person is liable therefor as a result of its ownership interest in such joint venture), except to the extent the terms of such Indebtedness provide that such Person is not liable therefor.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the foregoing, in connection with any Permitted Acquisition or any other acquisition by the Borrower or any Subsidiary permitted hereunder (or any sale, transfer or other disposition by the Borrower or any Subsidiary permitted hereunder), the term “Indebtedness” shall not include contingent post-closing purchase price adjustments or earn-out payments to which the seller in such Permitted Acquisition or such other acquisition (or the buyer in such sale, transfer or other disposition, as the case may be) may become entitled or purchase price holdbacks or contingent indemnity obligations that may be owed to such seller (or buyer, if applicable) in respect thereof; provided, however, that to the extent that any such post-closing purchase price adjustment or earn-out payment becomes fixed and is, or would be, required to be classified as indebtedness on the Borrower’s consolidated balance sheet prepared in accordance with GAAP and is due and payable, such purchase price adjustment or earn-out payment shall be included as “Indebtedness.”
For the avoidance of doubt and notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the foregoing, the term “Indebtedness” shall not include obligations of the Borrower or any Subsidiary arising under any Vendor Financing Arrangement.
The amount of Indebtedness of any Person for purposes of clause (f) above shall (unless such Indebtedness has been assumed by such Person) be deemed to be equal to the lesser of (i) the aggregate unpaid amount of such Indebtedness and (ii) the fair market value of the property encumbered thereby as determined by such Person in good faith.
Indemnified Taxes” means (a) Taxes, other than Excluded Taxes, imposed on or with respect to any payment made by or on account of any obligation of any Credit Party under any Loan Document and (b) to the extent not otherwise described in clause (a), Other Taxes.
Indemnitee” has the meaning assigned thereto in Section 12.3(b).
Information” has the meaning assigned thereto in Section 12.10.
Initial Term Loan” means the term loan made, or to be made, to the Borrower by the Term Loan Lenders pursuant to Section 4.1.
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Insurance and Condemnation Event” means the receipt by any Credit Party or any of its Subsidiaries of any cash insurance proceeds or condemnation award payable by reason of theft, loss, physical destruction or damage, taking or similar event with respect to any of their respective Property.
Interest Period” means, as to any SOFR Loan, the period commencing on the date such SOFR Loan is disbursed or converted to or continued as a SOFR Loan and ending on the date one (1), three (3) or six (6) months thereafter, in each case as selected by the Borrower in its Notice of Borrowing or Notice of Conversion/Continuation and subject to availability; provided that:
(a)the Interest Period shall commence on the date of advance of or conversion to any SOFR Loan and, in the case of immediately successive Interest Periods, each successive Interest Period shall commence on the date on which the immediately preceding Interest Period expires;
(b)if any Interest Period would otherwise expire on a day that is not a Business Day, such Interest Period shall expire on the next succeeding Business Day; provided that if any Interest Period would otherwise expire on a day that is not a Business Day but is a day of the month after which no further Business Day occurs in such month, such Interest Period shall expire on the immediately preceding Business Day;
(c)any Interest Period that begins on the last Business Day of a calendar month (or on a day for which there is no numerically corresponding day in the calendar month at the end of such Interest Period) shall end on the last Business Day of the relevant calendar month at the end of such Interest Period;
(d)no Interest Period shall extend beyond the Revolving Credit Maturity Date or the Term Loan Maturity Date, as applicable, and Interest Periods shall be selected by the Borrower so as to permit the Borrower to make the quarterly principal installment payments pursuant to Section 4.3 without payment of any amounts pursuant to Section 5.9;
(e)there shall be no more than six (6) Interest Periods in effect at any time; and
(f)no tenor that has been removed from this definition pursuant to Section 5.8(c)(iv) shall be available for specification in any Notice of Borrowing or Notice of Conversion/Continuation.
Interstate Commerce Act” means the body of law commonly known as the Interstate Commerce Act (49 U.S.C. App. § 1 et seq.).
Investment” by any Person in any other Person means (a) any Acquisition of such other Person, (b) any other acquisition of Equity Interests, bonds, notes, debentures, partnership, joint venture or other ownership interests or other securities of such other Person, (c) any advance, loan or other extension of credit to, such other Person, or (d) any other capital contribution to such other Person, including, without limitation, any Guarantees (including any support for a letter of credit issued on behalf of such Person) incurred for the benefit of such other Person and any Asset Disposition (other than worn-out or obsolete assets or scrap inventory) to such other Person for consideration less than the fair market value of the Property disposed in such transaction, but excluding any Restricted Payment to such other Person. Investments which are capital contributions or purchases of Equity Interests which have a right to participate in the profits of the issuer thereof shall be valued at the amount (or, in the case of any Investment made with Property other than cash, the book value of such Property) actually contributed or paid (including cash and non-cash consideration and any assumption of Indebtedness, but without adjustment for subsequent increases or decreases in the value of such Investment) to purchase such Equity Interests as of the date of such contribution or payment, less any amount realized in respect of such Investment upon the sale, collection or return of capital (not to exceed the original amount invested). Investments which are loans, advances, extensions of credit or Guarantees shall be valued at the principal amount of such loan, advance or extension of credit outstanding as of the date of determination or, as applicable, the principal amount of the loan or advance outstanding as of the date of determination actually guaranteed by such Guarantee.
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Investment Company Act” means the Investment Company Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. § 80(a)(1), et seq.).
IRS” means the United States Internal Revenue Service.
ISP” means the International Standby Practices, International Chamber of Commerce Publication No. 590 (or such later version thereof as may be in effect at the applicable time).
Issuing Lender” means (a) with respect to the Existing Wells Fargo Letters of Credit and any other Letters of Credit issued hereunder on or after the Closing Date, Wells Fargo and (b) with respect to the Citibank Existing Letters of Credit, and any other Letters of Credit issued hereunder on or after the Closing Date, Citibank, N.A. or any Affiliate thereof, in its capacity as issuer thereof.
Joinder Agreement” means a joinder agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit I hereto or such other form as may be approved by the Administrative Agent and the Borrower.
L/C Commitment” means, as to any Issuing Lender, the obligation of such Issuing Lender to issue Letters of Credit for the account of the Borrower or one or more of its Subsidiaries from time to time in an aggregate amount equal to (a) for each of the Issuing Lenders, the amount set forth opposite the name of each such Issuing Lender on Schedule 1.2 and (b) for any other Issuing Lender becoming an Issuing Lender after the Closing Date, such amount as separately agreed to in a written agreement between the Borrower and such Issuing Lender (which such agreement shall be promptly delivered to the Administrative Agent upon execution), in each case of clauses (a) and (b) above, any such amount may be changed after the Closing Date in a written agreement between the Borrower and such Issuing Lender (which such agreement shall be promptly delivered to the Administrative Agent upon execution); provided that the L/C Commitment with respect to any Person that ceases to be an Issuing Lender for any reason pursuant to the terms hereof shall be $0 (subject to the Letters of Credit of such Person remaining outstanding in accordance with the provisions hereof).
L/C Facility” means the letter of credit facility established pursuant to Article III.
L/C Obligations” means at any time, an amount equal to the sum of (a) the aggregate undrawn and unexpired amount of the then outstanding Letters of Credit and (b) the aggregate amount of drawings under Letters of Credit which have not then been reimbursed pursuant to Section 3.5.
L/C Participants” means, with respect to any Letter of Credit, the collective reference to all the Revolving Credit Lenders other than the applicable Issuing Lender.
L/C Sublimit” means the lesser of (a) $25,000,000 and (b) the aggregate amount of the Revolving Credit Commitments.
LCT Test Date” has the meaning assigned thereto in Section 1.10(a).
Lender” means the Persons listed on Schedule 1.2 and any other Person that shall have become a party to this Agreement as a Lender pursuant to an Assignment and Assumption or pursuant to Section 5.13, other than any Person that ceases to be a party hereto as a Lender pursuant to an Assignment and Assumption. Unless the context otherwise requires, the term “Lenders” includes the Swingline Lender.
Lending Office” means, with respect to any Lender, the office of such Lender maintaining such Lender’s Extensions of Credit, which office may, to the extent the applicable Lender notifies the Administrative Agent in writing, include an office of any Affiliate of such Lender or any domestic or foreign branch of such Lender or Affiliate.
Letter of Credit Application” means an application requesting the applicable Issuing Lender to issue a Letter of Credit in the form specified by the applicable Issuing Lender from time to time.
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Letter of Credit Documents” means with respect to any Letter of Credit, such Letter of Credit, the Letter of Credit Application, a letter of credit agreement or reimbursement agreement and any other document, agreement and instrument required by the applicable Issuing Lender and relating to such Letter of Credit, in each case in the form specified by the applicable Issuing Lender from time to time.
Letters of Credit” means the collective reference to letters of credit issued pursuant to Section 3.1 and the Existing Letters of Credit.
Leverage Increase” has the meaning set forth in Section 8.9(a).
Lien” means, with respect to any asset, any mortgage, leasehold mortgage, lien, pledge, charge, security interest, hypothecation or encumbrance of any kind in respect of such asset. For the purposes of this Agreement, a Person shall be deemed to own subject to a Lien any asset which it has acquired or holds subject to the interest of a vendor or lessor under any conditional sale agreement, Capital Lease Obligation or other title retention agreement relating to such asset.
Limited Condition Transaction” means any Acquisition or other Investment, or any unconditional and irrevocable permitted repayment or redemption of, or offer to purchase, any Indebtedness (including the incurrence of any Indebtedness in connection with any of the foregoing), in each case, that (a) is not prohibited hereunder and (b) is not conditioned on the availability of, or on obtaining, third-party financing.
Loan Documents” means, collectively, this Agreement, each Note, the Letter of Credit Documents, the Security Documents, the Subsidiary Guaranty Agreement, the Fee Letters, and each other document, instrument, certificate and agreement executed and delivered by the Credit Parties or any of their respective Subsidiaries in favor of or provided to the Administrative Agent or any Secured Party in connection with this Agreement or otherwise referred to herein or contemplated hereby (excluding any Secured Hedge Agreement and any Secured Cash Management Agreement).
Loans” means the collective reference to the Revolving Credit Loans, the Term Loan and the Swingline Loans, and “Loan” means any of such Loans.
Material Acquisition” means any Permitted Acquisition involving the payment of consideration (including assumed or acquired indebtedness and seller notes, deferred payments and earnouts) by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries equal to or in excess of $100,000,000.
Material Adverse Effect” means a (a) a material adverse change in, or a material adverse effect on, the operations, business, assets, properties, liabilities (actual or contingent) or financial condition of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, (b) a material impairment of the rights and remedies, taken as a whole, of the Administrative Agent or the Lenders under any Loan Document, or of the ability of the Credit Parties, taken as a whole, to perform their payment obligations under the Loan Documents or (c) a material adverse effect upon the legality, validity, binding effect or enforceability against any Credit Party of any Loan Document to which it is a party.
Material Domestic Subsidiary” means, with respect to the Closing Date or any date of determination under Section 8.10, any Domestic Subsidiary of the Borrower that, together with its Subsidiaries after eliminating intercompany obligations, (a) generates more than 10% of Consolidated EBITDA on a Pro Forma Basis for the four (4) fiscal quarter period most recently ended or (b) owns more than 10% of the Consolidated Assets as of the last day of the most recently ended fiscal quarter of the Borrower; provided, however, that if at any time there are Domestic Subsidiaries which are not classified as “Material Domestic Subsidiaries” but which collectively (i) generate more than 15% of Consolidated EBITDA on a Pro Forma Basis for the most recently ended Fiscal Year of the Borrower or (ii) own more than 15% of the Consolidated Assets as of the last day of the most recently ended Fiscal Year of the Borrower, then the Borrower shall promptly designate one or more of such Domestic Subsidiaries as Material Domestic Subsidiaries and cause any such Domestic Subsidiaries to comply with the provisions of Section 8.10 such that, after such Domestic Subsidiaries become Guarantors hereunder, the Domestic Subsidiaries that are not Guarantors shall (iii) generate less than 15% of Consolidated EBITDA and (iv) own less than 15% of the Consolidated Assets. For purposes of determining whether or not any
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newly formed or acquired Subsidiary is a “Material Domestic Subsidiary”, the foregoing calculations shall be performed at the time of such acquisition or formation (including any asset contributions made to such Subsidiary concurrently with such acquisition or formation) giving effect to such acquisition or formation (including any asset contributions made to such Subsidiary concurrently with such acquisition or formation) on a Pro Forma Basis as of the last day of the most recently ended fiscal quarter of the Borrower. As of the Closing Date there are no Material Domestic Subsidiaries.
Material Foreign Subsidiary” means any Foreign Subsidiary of the Borrower that, together with its Subsidiaries, (a) generates more than 5% of Consolidated EBITDA on a Pro Forma Basis for the most recently ended Fiscal Year of the Borrower or (b) owns more than 10% of the Consolidated Assets as of the last day of the most recently ended fiscal quarter of the Borrower.
Material Subsidiary” means any Material Domestic Subsidiary or any Material Foreign Subsidiary.
Materials of Environmental Concern” means any gasoline or petroleum (including crude oil or any fraction thereof) or petroleum products or any hazardous or toxic substances, materials or wastes, defined or regulated as such in or under any Environmental Laws, including, without limitation, asbestos, polychlorinated biphenyls and urea-formaldehyde insulation.
Minimum Collateral Amount” means, at any time, (a) with respect to Cash Collateral consisting of cash or deposit account balances provided to reduce or eliminate Fronting Exposure during the existence of a Defaulting Lender, an amount equal to 102% of the Fronting Exposure of the Issuing Lenders with respect to Letters of Credit issued and outstanding at such time, (b) with respect to Cash Collateral consisting of cash or deposit account balances provided in accordance with the provisions of Section 10.2(b), an amount equal to 102% of the aggregate outstanding amount of all L/C Obligations and (c) otherwise, an amount determined by the Administrative Agent and each of the applicable Issuing Lenders that is entitled to Cash Collateral hereunder at such time in their reasonable discretion.
Moody’s” means Moody’s Investors Service, Inc.
Multiemployer Plan” means a “multiemployer plan” as defined in Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA to which any Credit Party or any ERISA Affiliate is making, or is accruing an obligation to make, or has accrued an obligation to make contributions within the preceding five (5) years, or to which any Credit Party or any ERISA Affiliate has any liability (contingent or otherwise).
Net Cash Proceeds” means, as applicable, (a) with respect to any Asset Disposition or Insurance and Condemnation Event, all cash and Cash Equivalents received by any Credit Party or any of its Subsidiaries therefrom (including any cash or Cash Equivalents received by way of deferred payment pursuant to, or by monetization of, a note receivable or otherwise, as and when received) less the sum of (i) all income taxes and other taxes assessed by, or reasonably estimated to be payable to, a Governmental Authority as a result of such transaction (provided that if such estimated taxes exceed the amount of actual taxes required to be paid in cash in respect of such Asset Disposition, the amount of such excess shall constitute Net Cash Proceeds), (ii) all reasonable and customary out-of-pocket fees and expenses incurred in connection with such transaction or event, (iii) the principal amount of, premium, if any, and interest on any Indebtedness (other than Indebtedness under the Loan Documents) secured by a Lien on the asset (or a portion thereof) disposed of, which Indebtedness is required to be repaid in connection with such transaction or event and (iv) all amounts that are set aside as a reserve (A) for adjustments in respect of the purchase price of such assets, (B) for any liabilities associated with such sale or casualty, to the extent such reserve is required by GAAP or as otherwise required pursuant to the documentation with respect to such Asset Disposition or Insurance and Condemnation Event, (C) for the payment of unassumed liabilities relating to the assets sold or otherwise disposed of at the time of, or within 30 days after, the date of such sale or other disposition and (D) for the payment of indemnification obligations; provided that, to the extent and at the time any such amounts are released from such reserve and received by such Credit Party or any of its Subsidiaries, such amounts shall constitute Net Cash Proceeds, and (b) with respect to any Debt Issuance, the gross cash proceeds received by any Credit Party or any of its Subsidiaries therefrom less all reasonable and customary out-of-pocket legal, underwriting and other fees and expenses incurred in connection therewith.
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Non-Consenting Lender” means any Lender that does not approve any consent, waiver, amendment, modification or termination that (a) requires the approval of all Lenders or all affected Lenders in accordance with the terms of Section 12.2 and (b) has been approved by the Required Lenders.
Non-Defaulting Lender” means, at any time, each Lender that is not a Defaulting Lender at such time.
Notes” means the collective reference to the Revolving Credit Notes, the Term Loan Notes and the Swingline Note.
Notice of Account Designation” has the meaning assigned thereto in Section 2.3(b).
Notice of Borrowing” has the meaning assigned thereto in Section 2.3(a).
Notice of Conversion/Continuation” has the meaning assigned thereto in Section 5.2.
Notice of Prepayment” has the meaning assigned thereto in Section 2.4(c).
Obligations” means, in each case, whether now in existence or hereafter arising: (a) the principal of and interest on (including interest accruing after the filing of any bankruptcy or similar petition) the Loans, (b) the L/C Obligations and (c) all other fees and commissions (including attorneys’ fees), charges, indebtedness, loans, liabilities, financial accommodations, obligations, covenants and duties owing by the Credit Parties to the Lenders, the Issuing Lenders or the Administrative Agent, in each case under any Loan Document, with respect to any Loan or Letter of Credit of every kind, nature and description, direct or indirect, absolute or contingent, due or to become due, contractual or tortious, liquidated or unliquidated, and whether or not evidenced by any note and including interest and fees that accrue after the commencement by or against any Credit Party of any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Laws, naming such Person as the debtor in such proceeding, regardless of whether such interest and fees are allowed claims in such proceeding.
OFAC” means the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control.
OID” has the meaning assigned thereto in the definition of “All-In Yield”.
Organizational Documents” means, (a) with respect to any corporation, the certificate or articles of incorporation and the bylaws (or equivalent or comparable constitutive documents); (b) with respect to any limited liability company, the certificate or articles of formation or organization and operating agreement or limited liability company agreement (or equivalent or comparable documents); and (c) with respect to any partnership, joint venture, trust or other form of business entity, the partnership, joint venture or other applicable agreement of formation or organization and any agreement, instrument, filing or notice with respect thereto filed in connection with its formation or organization with the applicable Governmental Authority in the jurisdiction of its formation or organization and, if applicable, any certificate or articles of formation or organization of such entity.
Other Connection Taxes” means, with respect to any Recipient, Taxes imposed as a result of a present or former connection between such Recipient and the jurisdiction imposing such Tax (other than connections arising from such Recipient having executed, delivered, become a party to, performed its obligations under, received payments under, received or perfected a security interest under, engaged in any other transaction pursuant to or enforced any Loan Document, or sold or assigned an interest in any Loan or Loan Document).
Other Taxes” means all present or future stamp, court, documentary, intangible, recording, filing or similar Taxes that arise from any payment made under, from the execution, delivery, performance, enforcement or registration of, from the receipt or perfection of a security interest under, or otherwise with respect to, any Loan Document, except any such Taxes that are Other Connection Taxes imposed with respect to an assignment (other than an assignment made pursuant to Section 5.12(b)).
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Overnight Rate” means, for any day, the greater of (a) the Federal Funds Rate and (b) an overnight rate determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation.
Participant” has the meaning assigned thereto in Section 12.9(d).
Participant Register” has the meaning assigned thereto in Section 12.9(d).
PATRIOT Act” means the USA PATRIOT Act (Title III of Pub. L. 107-56 (signed into law October 26, 2001)).
Payment Recipient” has the meaning assigned thereto in Section 11.11(a).
PBGC” means the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation or any successor agency.
Permitted Acquisition” means any Acquisition that meets all of the following requirements, which in the case of a Limited Condition Transaction shall be subject to Section 1.10:
(a)no Default or Event of Default shall then exist or would exist after giving effect thereto;
(b)the Credit Parties shall demonstrate to the reasonable satisfaction of the Administrative Agent that, after giving effect to the acquisition on a Pro Forma Basis (determined after giving effect to any Leverage Increase that would result from the consummation of such Permitted Acquisition to the extent constituting a Material Acquisition), (A) the Credit Parties are in compliance with each of the financial covenants set forth in Section 8.9 and (B) the Consolidated Total Net Leverage Ratio shall be 0.25 to 1.0 less than the then applicable level set forth in Section 8.9;
(c)the Person or business to be acquired shall be in a line of business permitted pursuant to Section 8.4 or, in the case of an Acquisition of assets, the assets acquired are useful in the business of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as conducted immediately prior to such Acquisition or permitted pursuant to Section 8.4;
(d)the Administrative Agent shall have received (A) a description of the material terms of such acquisition and (B) for any such acquisition with total consideration in excess of $50,000,000, (1) audited financial statements (or, if unavailable, management-prepared financial or pro forma financial statements) of the target of such Acquisition (the “Target”) for its two most recent fiscal years and unaudited financial statements for any fiscal quarters ended within the fiscal year to date (to the extent available) and (2) a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit J, executed by an Responsible Officer of the Borrower certifying that such Permitted Acquisition complies with the requirements of this Agreement at least five (5) Business Days prior to the consummation of such acquisition; and
(e)such acquisition shall not be a “hostile” acquisition and shall have been approved by the Board of Directors (or equivalent) and/or shareholders (or equivalent) of the Target and, to the extent required by applicable law, the applicable Credit Party.
Permitted Investments” means, at any time, Investments by the Credit Parties and the Subsidiaries permitted to exist at such time pursuant to the terms of Section 9.5.
Permitted Liens” means the Liens permitted pursuant to Section 9.2.
Person” means any natural person, corporation, limited liability company, trust, joint venture, association, company, partnership, Governmental Authority or other entity.
Plan” means each of the “employee benefit plans” (as such term is defined in Section 3(3) of ERISA), of which any Credit Party or any ERISA Affiliate is or ever was a sponsor or participating employer or as to which any Credit Party or any of its ERISA Affiliates makes contributions or is required to make contributions.
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Platform” means Debt Domain, Intralinks, SyndTrak or a substantially similar electronic transmission system.
Prime Rate” means, at any time, the rate of interest per annum publicly announced from time to time by the Administrative Agent as its prime rate. Each change in the Prime Rate shall be effective as of the opening of business on the day such change in such prime rate occurs. The parties hereto acknowledge that the rate announced publicly by the Administrative Agent as its prime rate is an index or base rate and shall not necessarily be its lowest or best rate charged to its customers or other banks.
Pro Forma Basis” means:
(a)for purposes of calculating Consolidated EBITDA for any period during which one or more Specified Transactions occurs, that (i) such Specified Transaction (and all other Specified Transactions that have been consummated during the applicable period) shall be deemed to have occurred as of the first day of the applicable period of measurement, (ii) there shall be included in determining Consolidated EBITDA for such period, without duplication, the Acquired EBITDA of any Person or business, or attributable to any property or asset, acquired by the Borrower or any Subsidiary during such period (but not the Acquired EBITDA of any related Person or business or any Acquired EBITDA attributable to any assets or property, in each case to the extent not so acquired) in connection with a Permitted Acquisition to the extent not subsequently sold, transferred, abandoned or otherwise disposed of by the Borrower or such Subsidiary during such period, based on the actual Acquired EBITDA of such acquired entity or business for such period (including the portion thereof occurring prior to such acquisition) and (iii) there shall be excluded in determining Consolidated EBITDA for such period, without duplication, the Disposed EBITDA of any Person or business, or attributable to any property or asset, disposed of by the Borrower or any Subsidiary during such period in connection with an Asset Disposition or discontinuation of operations, based on the Disposed EBITDA of such disposed entity or business or discontinued operations for such period (including the portion thereof occurring prior to such disposition or discontinuation); provided that the foregoing amounts shall be without duplication of any adjustments that are already included in the calculation of Consolidated EBITDA; and
(b)in the event that the Borrower or any Subsidiary thereof incurs (including by assumption or guarantees) or repays (including by redemption, repayment, retirement, discharge, defeasance or extinguishment) any Indebtedness included in the calculations of any financial ratio or test (in each case, other than Indebtedness incurred or repaid under any revolving credit facility in the ordinary course of business for working capital purposes), (i) during the applicable measurement period or (ii) subsequent to the end of the applicable measurement period and prior to or simultaneously with the event for which the calculation of any such ratio is made, then such financial ratio or test shall be calculated giving pro forma effect to such incurrence or repayment of Indebtedness, to the extent required, as if the same had occurred on the first day of the applicable measurement period and any such Indebtedness that is incurred (including by assumption or guarantee) that has a floating or formula rate of interest shall have an implied rate of interest for the applicable period determined by utilizing the rate which is or would be in effect with respect to such Indebtedness as of the relevant date of determination.
Property” means any right or interest in or to property of any kind whatsoever, whether real, personal or mixed and whether tangible or intangible, including Equity Interests.
PTE” means a prohibited transaction class exemption issued by the U.S. Department of Labor, as any such exemption may be amended from time to time.
Public Lenders” has the meaning assigned thereto in Section 8.2.
Qualified Factoring Transaction” means any Factoring Transaction that meets the following conditions:
(a)such Factoring Transaction is non-recourse to, and does not obligate, the Borrower or any Subsidiary, or their respective properties or assets (other than Securitization Assets) in any way (other than in respect of the Standard Securitization Undertakings);
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(b)all sales, conveyances, assignments and/or contributions of Securitization Assets by the Borrower or any Subsidiary are made at fair market value (as determined in good faith by a Financial Officer of the Borrower),
(c)such Factoring Transaction (including financing terms, covenants, termination events (if any) and other provisions thereof) are market terms at the time such Factoring Transaction is first entered into (as determined in good faith by a Financial Officer of the Borrower); and
(d)any Liens incurred in connection with such Factoring Transaction shall not encumber the property of any Credit Party (other than as permitted pursuant to Section 9.2(gg)).
The grant of a security interest in any Securitization Assets of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries to secure any Indebtedness permitted pursuant to Section 9.1 (other than any Indebtedness in respect of a Qualified Factoring Transaction) shall not be deemed a Qualified Factoring Transaction.
Real Properties” means, at any time, a collective reference to each of the facilities and real properties owned, leased or operated by any Credit Party or any of its Subsidiaries at such time.
Recipient” means (a) the Administrative Agent, (b) any Lender and (c) any Issuing Lender, as applicable.
Reference Period” means, as of any date of determination, the period of four (4) consecutive fiscal quarters ended on or immediately prior to such date for which financial statements of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries have been delivered to the Administrative Agent hereunder.
Register” has the meaning assigned thereto in Section 12.9(c).
Reimbursement Obligation” means the obligation of the Borrower to reimburse any Issuing Lender pursuant to Section 3.5 for amounts drawn under Letters of Credit issued by such Issuing Lender.
Reinstated Letter of Credit” has the meaning assigned thereto in Section 3.12(e).
Related Parties” means, with respect to any Person, such Person’s Affiliates and the partners, directors, officers, employees, agents, trustees, administrators, managers, advisors and representatives of such Person and of such Person’s Affiliates.
Relevant Governmental Body” means the FRB or the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, or a committee officially endorsed or convened by the FRB or the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, or any successor thereto.
Removal Effective Date” has the meaning assigned thereto in Section 11.6(b).
Reportable Event” means any of the events set forth in Section 4043(c) of ERISA, other than those events as to which the notice requirement has been waived by regulation.
Required Lenders” means, at any time, Lenders having Total Credit Exposure representing more than fifty percent (50%) of the Total Credit Exposure of all Lenders; provided, however, at any time there are 2 or more Lenders, Required Lenders shall require at least 2 Lenders. The Total Credit Exposure of any Defaulting Lender shall be disregarded in determining Required Lenders at any time.
Resignation Effective Date” has the meaning assigned thereto in Section 11.6(a).
Resolution Authority” means an EEA Resolution Authority or, with respect to any UK Financial Institution, a UK Resolution Authority.
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Responsible Officer” means, as to any Person, the chief executive officer, president, vice president of finance, chief financial officer, controller, treasurer or assistant treasurer of such Person or any other officer of such Person designated in writing by the Borrower or such Person and reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent; provided that, to the extent requested thereby, the Administrative Agent shall have received a certificate of such Person certifying as to the incumbency and genuineness of the signature of each such officer. Any document delivered hereunder or under any other Loan Document that is signed by a Responsible Officer of a Person shall be conclusively presumed to have been authorized by all necessary corporate, limited liability company, partnership and/or other action on the part of such Person and such Responsible Officer shall be conclusively presumed to have acted on behalf of such Person.
Restricted Payment” means (i) any dividend or other payment or distribution, direct or indirect, on account of any shares of any class of Equity Interests of any Credit Party now or hereafter outstanding (including without limitation any payment in connection with any dissolution, merger, consolidation or disposition involving any Credit Party), or to the holders, in their capacity as such, of any shares of any class of Equity Interests of any Credit Party, now or hereafter outstanding (other than dividends or distributions payable in Equity Interests of the applicable Person to any Credit Party and payments of cash in lieu of issuing fractional shares), (ii) any redemption, retirement, sinking fund or similar payment, purchase or other acquisition for value, direct or indirect, of any shares of any class of Equity Interests of any Credit Party, now or hereafter outstanding, (iii) any payment made to retire, or to obtain the surrender of, any outstanding warrants, options or other rights to acquire shares of any class of Equity Interests of any Credit Party, now or hereafter outstanding and (iv) any prepayment of principal, premium (if any) on, redemption, purchase, retirement, defeasance, sinking fund or similar payment with respect to, any Subordinated Indebtedness.
Revolving Credit Commitment” means (a) as to any Revolving Credit Lender, the obligation of such Revolving Credit Lender to make Revolving Credit Loans to, and to purchase participations in L/C Obligations and Swingline Loans for the account of, the Borrower hereunder in an aggregate principal amount at any time outstanding not to exceed the amount set forth opposite such Revolving Credit Lender’s name on the Register, as such amount may be modified at any time or from time to time pursuant to the terms hereof (including Section 5.13) and (b) as to all Revolving Credit Lenders, the aggregate commitment of all Revolving Credit Lenders to make Revolving Credit Loans, as such amount may be modified at any time or from time to time pursuant to the terms hereof (including Section 5.13). The aggregate Revolving Credit Commitment of all the Revolving Credit Lenders on the Closing Date shall be $500,000,000. The Revolving Credit Commitment of each Revolving Credit Lender on the Closing Date is set forth opposite the name of such Lender on Schedule 1.2.
Revolving Credit Commitment Percentage” means, with respect to any Revolving Credit Lender at any time, the percentage of the total Revolving Credit Commitments of all the Revolving Credit Lenders represented by such Revolving Credit Lender’s Revolving Credit Commitment. If the Revolving Credit Commitments have terminated or expired, the Revolving Credit Commitment Percentages shall be determined based upon the Revolving Credit Commitments most recently in effect, giving effect to any assignments. The Revolving Credit Commitment Percentage of each Revolving Credit Lender on the Closing Date is set forth opposite the name of such Lender on Schedule 1.2.
Revolving Credit Exposure” means, as to any Revolving Credit Lender at any time, the aggregate principal amount at such time of its outstanding Revolving Credit Loans and such Revolving Credit Lender’s participation in L/C Obligations and Swingline Loans at such time.
Revolving Credit Facility” means the revolving credit facility established pursuant to Article II (including any increase in such revolving credit facility pursuant to Section 5.13).
Revolving Credit Lenders” means, collectively, all of the Lenders with a Revolving Credit Commitment or if the Revolving Credit Commitment has been terminated, all Lenders having Revolving Credit Exposure.
Revolving Credit Loan” means any revolving loan made to the Borrower pursuant to Section 2.1, and all such revolving loans collectively as the context requires.
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Revolving Credit Maturity Date” means the earliest to occur of (a) August 24, 2027, (b) the date of termination of the entire Revolving Credit Commitment by the Borrower pursuant to Section 2.5, and (c) the date of termination of the Revolving Credit Commitment pursuant to Section 10.2(a).
Revolving Credit Note” means a promissory note made by the Borrower in favor of a Revolving Credit Lender evidencing the Revolving Credit Loans made by such Revolving Credit Lender, substantially in the form attached as Exhibit A-1, and any substitutes therefor, and any replacements, restatements, renewals or extension thereof, in whole or in part.
Revolving Credit Outstandings” means the sum of (a) with respect to Revolving Credit Loans and Swingline Loans on any date, the aggregate outstanding principal amount thereof after giving effect to any borrowings and prepayments or repayments of Revolving Credit Loans and Swingline Loans, as the case may be, occurring on such date; plus (b) with respect to any L/C Obligations on any date, the aggregate outstanding amount thereof on such date after giving effect to any Extensions of Credit occurring on such date and any other changes in the aggregate amount of the L/C Obligations as of such date, including as a result of any reimbursements of outstanding unpaid drawings under any Letters of Credit or any reductions in the maximum amount available for drawing under Letters of Credit taking effect on such date.
Revolving Extensions of Credit” means (a) any Revolving Credit Loan then outstanding, (b) any Letter of Credit then outstanding or (c) any Swingline Loan then outstanding.
S&P” means Standard & Poor’s Rating Service, a division of S&P Global Inc. and any successor thereto.
Sanctioned Country” means at any time, a country, region or territory which is itself (or whose government is) the subject or target of any Sanctions (including, as of the Closing Date, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Syria, the so-called Donetsk People’s Republic, the so-called Luhansk People’s Republic and Crimea).
Sanctioned Person” means, at any time, (a) any Person listed in any Sanctions-related list of designated Persons maintained by OFAC (including OFAC’s Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List and OFAC’s Consolidated Non-SDN List), the U.S. Department of State, the United Nations Security Council, the European Union, any European member state, Her Majesty’s Treasury, or other relevant sanctions authority, (b) any Person operating, organized or resident in a Sanctioned Country, (c) any Person owned or controlled by any such Person or Persons described in clauses (a) and (b), including a Person that is deemed by OFAC to be a Sanctions target based on the ownership of such legal entity by Sanctioned Person(s) or (d) any Person otherwise a target of Sanctions, including vessels and aircraft, that are designated under any Sanctions program.
Sanctions” means any and all economic or financial sanctions, sectoral sanctions, secondary sanctions, trade embargoes and restrictions and anti-terrorism laws, including but not limited to those imposed, administered or enforced from time to time by the U.S. government (including those administered by OFAC or the U.S. Department of State), the United Nations Security Council, the European Union, any European member state, Her Majesty’s Treasury, or other relevant sanctions authority in any jurisdiction in which (a) the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates is located or conducts business, (b) in which any of the proceeds of the Extensions of Credit will be used, or (c) from which repayment of the Extensions of Credit will be derived.
SEC” means the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, or any Governmental Authority succeeding to any of its principal functions.
Secured Cash Management Agreement” means (a) any Cash Management Agreement in effect on the Closing Date between or among any Credit Party or any of its Subsidiaries and a counterparty that is (i) a Lender, (ii) the Administrative Agent or (iii) an Affiliate of a Lender or the Administrative Agent, in each case as determined as of the Closing Date or (b) any Cash Management Agreement entered into after the Closing Date between or among any Credit Party or any of its Subsidiaries and a counterparty
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that is (i) a Lender, (ii) the Administrative Agent or (iii) an Affiliate of a Lender or the Administrative Agent, in each case as determined at the time such Cash Management Agreement is entered into.
Secured Cash Management Obligations” means all existing or future payment and other obligations owing by any Credit Party or any of its Subsidiaries under any Secured Cash Management Agreement.
Secured Hedge Agreement” means (a) any Hedge Agreement in effect on the Closing Date between or among any Credit Party or any of its Subsidiaries and a counterparty that is (i) a Lender, (ii) the Administrative Agent or (iii) an Affiliate of a Lender or the Administrative Agent, in each case as determined as of the Closing Date or (b) any Hedge Agreement entered into after the Closing Date between or among any Credit Party or any of its Subsidiaries and a counterparty that is (i) a Lender, (ii) the Administrative Agent or (iii) an Affiliate of a Lender or the Administrative Agent, in each case as determined at the time such Hedge Agreement is entered into.
Secured Hedge Obligations” means all existing or future payment and other obligations owing by any Credit Party or any of its Subsidiaries under any Secured Hedge Agreement; provided that the “Secured Hedge Obligations” of a Credit Party shall exclude any Excluded Swap Obligations with respect to such Credit Party.
Secured Obligations” means, collectively, (a) the Obligations, (b) any Secured Hedge Obligations and (c) any Secured Cash Management Obligations.
Secured Parties” means, collectively, the Administrative Agent, the Lenders, the Issuing Lenders, the holders of any Secured Hedge Obligations, the holders of any Secured Cash Management Obligations, each co-agent or sub-agent appointed by the Administrative Agent from time to time pursuant to Section 11.5, any other holder from time to time of any of any Secured Obligations and, in each case, their respective successors and permitted assigns.
Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933 (15 U.S.C. § 77 et seq.).
Securitization Assets” means accounts receivable, royalty or other revenue streams, other rights to payment, including with respect to rights of payment pursuant to the terms of joint ventures (in each case, whether now existing or arising in the future), and any assets related thereto, including all collateral securing any of the foregoing, all contracts and all guarantees or other obligations in respect of any of the foregoing, proceeds of any of the foregoing and other assets which are customarily transferred or in respect of which security interests are customarily granted in connection with non-recourse (other than Standard Securitization Undertakings), asset securitization or factoring transactions and any Hedge Agreements entered into by the Borrower or any such Subsidiary in connection with such assets subject to a Qualified Factoring Transaction.
Security Documents” means the collective reference to the Collateral Agreement, and each other agreement or writing pursuant to which any Credit Party pledges or grants a security interest in any Property or assets securing the Secured Obligations.
Single Employer Plan” means any Plan which is covered by Title IV of ERISA, but which is not a Multiemployer Plan.
SOFR” means a rate equal to the secured overnight financing rate as administered by the SOFR Administrator.
SOFR Administrator” means the Federal Reserve Bank of New York (or a successor administrator of the secured overnight financing rate).
SOFR Loan” means any Loan bearing interest at a rate based on Adjusted Term SOFR as provided in Section 5.1(a), other than pursuant to clause (c) of the definition of “Base Rate”.
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Solvent” and “Solvency” mean, with respect to any Person on any date of determination, that on such date (a) the fair value of the Property of such Person on a going concern basis is greater than the total amount of liabilities, including contingent liabilities, of such Person, (b) the present fair salable value of the assets of such Person on a going concern basis is not less than the amount that will be required to pay the probable liability of such Person on its debts as they become absolute and matured, (c) such Person does not intend to, and does not believe that it will, incur debts or liabilities beyond such Person’s ability to pay such debts and liabilities as they mature, (d) such Person is not engaged in business or a transaction, and is not about to engage in business or a transaction, for which such Person’s property would constitute an unreasonably small capital, and (e) such Person is able to pay its debts and liabilities, contingent obligations and other commitments generally as they mature in the ordinary course of business. For purposes of this definition, the amount of contingent liabilities at any time shall be computed as the amount that, in the light of all the facts and circumstances existing at such time, represents the amount that can reasonably be expected to become an actual or matured liability.
Specified Transactions” means (a) any Asset Disposition having gross sales proceeds in excess of $50,000,000, (b) any Permitted Acquisition with total consideration in excess of $50,000,000 and (c) the Transactions.
Standard Securitization Undertakings” means representations, warranties, covenants and indemnities entered into by the Borrower or any Subsidiary that, taken as a whole, are customary in a Factoring Transaction.
Subordinated Indebtedness” means any Indebtedness incurred by any Credit Party which by its express written terms is subordinated in right of payment to the prior payment of the Secured Obligations and contains subordination and other terms reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent.
Subsidiary” means as to any Person, any corporation, partnership, limited liability company or other entity of which more than fifty percent (50%) of the outstanding Equity Interests having ordinary voting power to elect a majority of the board of directors (or equivalent governing body) or other managers of such corporation, partnership, limited liability company or other entity is at the time owned by (directly or indirectly) by such Person (irrespective of whether, at the time, Equity Interests of any other class or classes of such corporation, partnership, limited liability company or other entity shall have or might have voting power by reason of the happening of any contingency). Unless otherwise qualified, references to “Subsidiary” or “Subsidiaries” herein shall refer to those of the Borrower.
Subsidiary Guarantors” means, collectively, each Subsidiary of the Borrower that shall be required to execute and deliver a guaranty or guaranty supplement pursuant to Section 8.10, or that the Borrower elects to have execute a guaranty or guaranty supplement pursuant to Section 8.10.
Subsidiary Guaranty Agreement” means an unconditional guaranty agreement executed by the Subsidiary Guarantors in favor of the Administrative Agent, for the ratable benefit and the Secured Parties, in substantially the form of Exhibit K.
Swap Obligation” means, with respect to any Credit Party, any obligation to pay or perform under any agreement, contract or transaction that constitutes a “swap” within the meaning of Section 1a(47) of the Commodity Exchange Act.
Swingline Commitment” means the lesser of (a) $25,000,000 and (b) the aggregate amount of the Commitments.
Swingline Facility” means the swingline facility established pursuant to Section 2.2.
Swingline Lender” means Wells Fargo in its capacity as swingline lender hereunder or any successor thereto.
Swingline Loan” means any swingline loan made by the Swingline Lender to the Borrower pursuant to Section 2.2, and all such swingline loans collectively as the context requires.
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Swingline Note” means a promissory note made by the Borrower in favor of the Swingline Lender evidencing the Swingline Loans made by the Swingline Lender, substantially in the form attached as Exhibit A-2, and any substitutes therefor, and any replacements, restatements, renewals or extension thereof, in whole or in part.
Swingline Participation Amount” has the meaning assigned thereto in Section 2.2(b)(iii).
Taxes” means all present or future taxes, levies, imposts, duties, deductions, withholdings (including backup withholding), assessments, fees or other charges imposed by any Governmental Authority, including any interest, fines, additions to tax or penalties applicable thereto.
Term Loan Commitment” means (a) as to any Term Loan Lender, the obligation of such Term Loan Lender to make a portion of the Initial Term Loan and/or Incremental Term Loans, as applicable, to the account of the Borrower hereunder on the Closing Date (in the case of the Initial Term Loan) or the applicable borrowing date (in the case of any Incremental Term Loan) in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed the amount set forth opposite such Lender’s name on Schedule 1.2, as such amount may be increased, reduced or otherwise modified at any time or from time to time pursuant to the terms hereof and (b) as to all Term Loan Lenders, the aggregate commitment of all Term Loan Lenders to make such Term Loans. The aggregate Term Loan Commitment with respect to the Initial Term Loan of all Term Loan Lenders on the Closing Date shall be $500,000,000. The Term Loan Commitment of each Term Loan Lender as of the Closing Date is set forth opposite the name of such Term Loan Lender on Schedule 1.2.
Term Loan Facility” means the term loan facility established pursuant to Article IV (including any new term loan facility established pursuant to Section 5.13).
Term Loan Lender” means any Lender with a Term Loan Commitment and/or outstanding Term Loans.
Term Loan Maturity Date” means the first to occur of (a) August 24, 2027, and (b) the date of acceleration of the Term Loans pursuant to Section 10.2(a).
Term Loan Note” means a promissory note made by the Borrower in favor of a Term Loan Lender evidencing the portion of the Term Loans made by such Term Loan Lender, substantially in the form attached as Exhibit A-3, and any substitutes therefor, and any replacements, restatements, renewals or extension thereof, in whole or in part.
Term Loan Percentage” means, with respect to any Term Loan Lender at any time, the percentage of the total outstanding principal balance of the Term Loans represented by the outstanding principal balance of such Term Loan Lender’s Term Loans. The Term Loan Percentage of each Term Loan Lender as of the Closing Date is set forth opposite the name of such Lender on Schedule 1.2.
Term Loans” means the Initial Term Loans and, if applicable, the Incremental Term Loans and “Term Loan” means any of such Term Loans.
Term SOFR” means,
(a)for any calculation with respect to a SOFR Loan, the Term SOFR Reference Rate for a tenor comparable to the applicable Interest Period on the day (such day, the “Periodic Term SOFR Determination Day”) that is two (2) U.S. Government Securities Business Days prior to the first day of such Interest Period, as such rate is published by the Term SOFR Administrator; provided, however, that if as of 5:00 p.m. (Eastern time) on any Periodic Term SOFR Determination Day the Term SOFR Reference Rate for the applicable tenor has not been published by the Term SOFR Administrator and a Benchmark Replacement Date with respect to the Term SOFR Reference Rate has not occurred, then Term SOFR will be the Term SOFR Reference Rate for such tenor as published by the Term SOFR Administrator on the first preceding U.S. Government Securities Business Day for which such Term SOFR Reference Rate for such tenor was published by the Term SOFR Administrator so long as such
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first preceding U.S. Government Securities Business Day is not more than three (3) U.S. Government Securities Business Days prior to such Periodic Term SOFR Determination Day, and
(b)for any calculation with respect to a Base Rate Loan on any day, the Term SOFR Reference Rate for a tenor of one month on the day (such day, the “Base Rate Term SOFR Determination Day”) that is two (2) U.S. Government Securities Business Days prior to such day, as such rate is published by the Term SOFR Administrator; provided, however, that if as of 5:00 p.m. (Eastern time) on any Base Rate Term SOFR Determination Day the Term SOFR Reference Rate for the applicable tenor has not been published by the Term SOFR Administrator and a Benchmark Replacement Date with respect to the Term SOFR Reference Rate has not occurred, then Term SOFR will be the Term SOFR Reference Rate for such tenor as published by the Term SOFR Administrator on the first preceding U.S. Government Securities Business Day for which such Term SOFR Reference Rate for such tenor was published by the Term SOFR Administrator so long as such first preceding U.S. Government Securities Business Day is not more than three (3) U.S. Government Securities Business Days prior to such Base Rate SOFR Determination Day;
provided, further, that if Term SOFR determined as provided above (including pursuant to the proviso under clause (a) or clause (b) above) shall ever be less than the Floor, then Term SOFR shall be deemed to be the Floor.
Term SOFR Adjustment” means a percentage equal to 0.10% per annum.
Term SOFR Administrator” means CME Group Benchmark Administration Limited (CBA) (or a successor administrator of the Term SOFR Reference Rate selected by the Administrative Agent in its reasonable discretion).
Term SOFR Reference Rate” means the forward-looking term rate based on SOFR.
Total Credit Exposure” means, as to any Lender at any time, the unused Commitments, Revolving Credit Exposure and outstanding principal amount of Term Loans of such Lender at such time.
Trade Date” has the meaning assigned thereto in Section 12.9(i)(i).
Transferred Intellectual Property” means any intellectual property and/or rights thereto sold or otherwise transferred from a Credit Parties to a Foreign Subsidiary after the Closing Date pursuant to Section 9.4(a)(xx) or Section 9.5(s).
Transactions” means, collectively, the initial Extensions of Credit, the negotiation, execution and delivery of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents and the payment of all fees, expenses and costs incurred in connection with the foregoing.
UCC” means the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect in the State of New York.
UK Financial Institution” means any BRRD Undertaking (as such term is defined under the PRA Rulebook (as amended from time to time) promulgated by the United Kingdom Prudential Regulation Authority) or any person falling within IFPRU 11.6 of the FCA Handbook (as amended from time to time) promulgated by the United Kingdom Financial Conduct Authority, which includes certain credit institutions and investment firms, and certain affiliates of such credit institutions or investment firms.

UK Resolution Authority” means the Bank of England or any other public administrative authority having responsibility for the resolution of any UK Financial Institution.
Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement” means the applicable Benchmark Replacement excluding the related Benchmark Replacement Adjustment.
United States” means the United States of America.
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Unrestricted Cash and Cash Equivalents” means, as of any date of determination, the sum of all cash and Cash Equivalents of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries that are unrestricted and not subject to any Liens (other than Liens permitted under Section 9.2(a), (k) and (x)); provided that the proceeds of any Indebtedness incurred substantially concurrently with the event for which determination of such amount is made shall be excluded.
U.S. Government Securities Business Day” means any day except for (a) a Saturday, (b) a Sunday or (c) a day on which the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association recommends that the fixed income departments of its members be closed for the entire day for purposes of trading in United States government securities; provided, that for purposes of notice requirements in Sections 2.3(a), 2.4(c), 4.2(a), 4.4(a) and 5.2, in each case, such day is also a Business Day.
U.S. Person” means any Person that is a “United States person” as defined in Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code.
U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate” has the meaning assigned thereto in Section 5.11(g).
Vendor Financing Arrangement” means any supply chain financing arrangement, structured vendor payable program, payables financing arrangement, reverse factoring arrangement or any other similar arrangement or program pursuant to which the Borrower or any Subsidiary provides a vendor an option to factor such vendor’s receivables from the Borrower or such Subsidiary.
Voting Equity” means, with respect to any Person, Equity Interests issued by such Person the holders of which are ordinarily, in the absence of contingencies, entitled to vote on any matter requiring the vote of holders of such Equity Interests as set forth in such Person’s Organizational Documents or as provided by applicable law, even though the right so to vote has been suspended by the happening of such a contingency.
Weighted Average Life to Maturity” means, when applied to any Indebtedness at any date, the number of years obtained by dividing: (a) the sum of the products obtained by multiplying (i) the amount of each then remaining installment, sinking fund, serial maturity or other required payments of principal, including payment at final maturity, in respect thereof, by (ii) the number of years (calculated to the nearest one-twelfth) that will elapse between such date and the making of such payment; by (b) the then outstanding principal amount of such Indebtedness, in each case of clauses (a) and (b), without giving effect to the application of any prior prepayment to such installment, sinking fund, serial maturity or other required payment of principal.
Wells Fargo” means Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, a national banking association.
Wells Fargo Existing Letters of Credit” means those letters of credit existing on the Closing Date and identified on Schedule 1.1 as being issued by Wells Fargo.
Withholding Agent” means the Borrower and the Administrative Agent.
Write-Down and Conversion Powers” means, with respect to (a) any EEA Resolution Authority, the write-down and conversion powers of such EEA Resolution Authority from time to time under the Bail-In Legislation for the applicable EEA Member Country, which write-down and conversion powers are described in the EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule and (b) the United Kingdom, any powers of the applicable Resolution Authority under the Bail-In Legislation to cancel, reduce, modify or change the form of a liability of any UK Financial Institution or any contract or instrument under which that liability arises, to convert all or part of that liability into shares, securities or obligations of that person or any other person, to provide that any such contract or instrument is to have effect as if a right had been exercised under it or to suspend any obligation in respect of that liability or any of the powers under that Bail-In Legislation that are related to or ancillary to any of those powers.
SECTION 1.2Other Definitions and Provisions. With reference to this Agreement and each other Loan Document, unless otherwise specified herein or in such other Loan Document: (a) the definitions of terms herein shall apply equally to the singular and plural forms of the terms defined,
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(b) whenever the context may require, any pronoun shall include the corresponding masculine, feminine and neuter forms, (c) the words “include”, “includes” and “including” shall be deemed to be followed by the phrase “without limitation”, (d) the word “will” shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect as the word “shall”, (e) any reference herein to any Person shall be construed to include such Person’s successors and assigns, (f) the words “herein”, “hereof” and “hereunder”, and words of similar import, shall be construed to refer to this Agreement in its entirety and not to any particular provision hereof, (g) all references herein to Articles, Sections, Exhibits and Schedules shall be construed to refer to Articles and Sections of, and Exhibits and Schedules to, this Agreement, (h) the words “asset” and “property” shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect and to refer to any and all tangible and intangible assets and properties, including cash, securities, accounts and contract rights, (i) the term “documents” includes any and all instruments, documents, agreements, certificates, notices, reports, financial statements and other writings, however evidenced, whether in physical or electronic form and (j) in the computation of periods of time from a specified date to a later specified date, the word “from” means “from and including;” the words “to” and “until” each mean “to but excluding;” and the word “through” means “to and including”.
SECTION 1.3Accounting Terms.
(A)All accounting terms not specifically or completely defined herein shall be construed in conformity with, and all financial data (including financial ratios and other financial calculations) required to be submitted pursuant to this Agreement shall be prepared in conformity with GAAP, applied on a consistent basis, as in effect from time to time and in a manner consistent with that used in preparing the audited financial statements required by Section 8.1(a), except as otherwise specifically prescribed herein. Notwithstanding the foregoing, for purposes of determining compliance with any covenant (including the computation of any financial covenant) contained herein, Indebtedness of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries shall be deemed to be carried at 100% of the outstanding principal amount thereof, and the effects of FASB ASC 825 and FASB ASC 470-20 on financial liabilities shall be disregarded.
(B)If at any time any change in GAAP would affect the computation of any financial ratio or requirement set forth in any Loan Document, and either the Borrower or the Required Lenders shall so request, the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the Borrower shall negotiate in good faith to amend such ratio or requirement to preserve the original intent thereof in light of such change in GAAP (subject to the approval of the Required Lenders); provided that, until so amended, (i) such ratio or requirement shall continue to be computed in accordance with GAAP prior to such change therein and (ii) the Borrower shall provide to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders financial statements and other documents required under this Agreement or as reasonably requested hereunder setting forth a reconciliation between calculations of such ratio or requirement made before and after giving effect to such change in GAAP; provided, further that (A) for purposes of the definitions of “Indebtedness” and “Consolidated Funded Indebtedness” and all other financial definitions and calculations pursuant to this Agreement (but not the preparation of financial statements in accordance with GAAP), all obligations of any Person that are or would have been treated as operating leases for purposes of GAAP prior to the effectiveness of FASB ASC 842 shall continue to be accounted for as operating leases (whether or not such operating lease obligations were in effect on such date) notwithstanding the fact that such obligations are required in accordance with FASB ASC 842 (on a prospective or retroactive basis or otherwise) to be treated as Capital Lease Obligations in the financial statements and (B) upon reasonable written request by the Administrative Agent, the Borrower shall promptly provide a schedule showing the modifications necessary to reconcile the adjustments made pursuant to clause (A) above with such financial statements.
SECTION 1.4UCC Terms. Terms defined in the UCC in effect on the Closing Date and not otherwise defined herein shall, unless the context otherwise indicates, have the meanings provided by those definitions. Subject to the foregoing, the term “UCC” refers, as of any date of determination, to the UCC then in effect.
SECTION 1.5Rounding. Any financial ratios required to be maintained pursuant to this Agreement shall be calculated by dividing the appropriate component by the other component, carrying the result to one place more than the number of places by which such ratio or percentage is expressed
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herein and rounding the result up or down to the nearest number (with a rounding-up if there is no nearest number).
SECTION 1.6References to Agreement and Laws. Unless otherwise expressly provided herein, (a) any definition or reference to formation documents, governing documents, agreements (including the Loan Documents) and other contractual documents or instruments shall be deemed to include all subsequent amendments, restatements, extensions, supplements and other modifications thereto, but only to the extent that such amendments, restatements, extensions, supplements and other modifications are not prohibited by any Loan Document; and (b) any definition or reference to any Applicable Law, including Anti-Corruption Laws, Anti-Money Laundering Laws, the Bankruptcy Code, the Code, the Commodity Exchange Act, ERISA, the Exchange Act, the PATRIOT Act, the Securities Act, the UCC, the Investment Company Act, the Trading with the Enemy Act of the United States or any of the foreign assets control regulations of the United States Treasury Department, shall include all statutory and regulatory provisions consolidating, amending, replacing, supplementing or interpreting such Applicable Law.
SECTION 1.7Times of Day. Unless otherwise specified, all references herein to times of day shall be references to Eastern time (daylight or standard, as applicable).
SECTION 1.8Guarantees/Earn-Outs. Unless otherwise specified, (a) the amount of any Guarantee shall be the lesser of the amount of the obligations guaranteed and still outstanding and the maximum amount for which the guaranteeing Person may be liable pursuant to the terms of the instrument embodying such Guarantee and (b) the amount of any purchase price adjustment, earn-out or similar obligation shall be the amount of such obligation as reflected on the balance sheet of such Person in accordance with GAAP.
SECTION 1.9Covenant Compliance Generally. For purposes of determining compliance under Sections 9.1, 9.2, 9.4, 9.5 and 9.10, any amount in a currency other than Dollars will be converted to Dollars in a manner consistent with that used in calculating Consolidated Net Income in the most recent annual financial statements of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries delivered pursuant to Section 8.1(a) or Section 6.1(e), as applicable. Notwithstanding the foregoing, for purposes of determining compliance with Sections 9.1, 9.2 and 9.5, with respect to any amount of Indebtedness or Investment in a currency other than Dollars, no breach of any basket contained in such sections shall be deemed to have occurred solely as a result of changes in rates of exchange occurring after the time such Indebtedness or Investment is incurred; provided that for the avoidance of doubt, the foregoing provisions of this Section 1.10 shall otherwise apply to such Sections, including with respect to determining whether any Indebtedness or Investment may be incurred at any time under such Sections.
SECTION 1.10Limited Condition Transactions. In the event that the Borrower notifies the Administrative Agent in writing that any proposed transaction is a Limited Condition Transaction and that the Borrower wishes to test the conditions to such Limited Condition Transaction and any Indebtedness that is to be used to finance such Limited Condition Transaction and the related transaction costs and expenses associated with such Limited Condition Transaction in accordance with this Section 1.10, then the following provisions shall apply:
(a)any condition to such Limited Condition Transaction or such Indebtedness that requires that no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing at the time of such Limited Condition Transaction or the incurrence of such Indebtedness, shall be satisfied if (i) no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing at the time of the execution of the definitive purchase agreement, merger agreement or other acquisition agreement governing such Limited Condition Transaction, or the issuance of the irrevocable notice of repayment, redemption or offer to purchase (the “LCT Test Date”) and (ii) no Event of Default under any of Section 10.1(a) or 10.1(e) shall have occurred and be continuing both immediately before and immediately after giving effect to such Limited Condition Transaction and any Indebtedness incurred in connection therewith (including any such additional Indebtedness);
(b)any condition to such Limited Condition Transaction or such Indebtedness that the representations and warranties in this Agreement and the other Loan Documents shall be true and correct
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at the time of consummation of such Limited Condition Transaction or the incurrence of such Indebtedness shall be deemed satisfied if (i) all representations and warranties in this Agreement and the other Loan Documents are true and correct in all material respects (except for any representation and warranty that is qualified by materiality or reference to Material Adverse Effect, which such representation and warranty shall be true and correct in all respects) as of the LCT Test Date, or if such representation speaks as of an earlier date, as of such earlier date and (ii) as of the date of consummation of such Limited Condition Transaction, (A) the representations and warranties under the relevant definitive agreement governing such Limited Condition Transaction as are material to the lenders providing such Indebtedness shall be true and correct, but only to the extent that the Borrower or its applicable Subsidiary has the right (taking into account any applicable cure provisions and determined without regard to any notice requirement) to terminate its obligations under such agreement or otherwise decline to close such Limited Condition Transaction as a result of a breach of such representations and warranties or the failure of those representations and warranties to be true and correct and (B) certain of the representations and warranties in this Agreement and the other Loan Documents which are customary for similar “funds certain” financings and required by the lenders providing such Indebtedness shall be true and correct in all material respects (except for any representation and warranty that is qualified by materiality or reference to Material Adverse Effect, which such representation and warranty shall be true and correct in all respects);
(c)any financial ratio test or condition to be tested in connection with such Limited Condition Transaction and the availability of such Indebtedness and other transactions in connection therewith (including the incurrence or assumption of Indebtedness) will be tested as of the LCT Test Date, in each case, after giving effect to the relevant Limited Condition Transaction and related incurrence of Indebtedness, on a Pro Forma Basis where applicable, and, for the avoidance of doubt, (i) such ratios and baskets shall not be tested at the time of consummation of such Limited Condition Transaction or incurrence of Indebtedness and (ii) if any of such ratios are exceeded or conditions are not met following the LCT Test Date, but prior to the closing of such Limited Condition Transaction, as a result of fluctuations in such ratio or amount (including due to fluctuations in Consolidated EBITDA of the Borrower or the Person subject to such Limited Condition Transaction), at or prior to the consummation of the relevant transaction or action, such ratios will not be deemed to have been exceeded and such conditions will not be deemed unmet as a result of such fluctuations solely for purposes of determining whether the relevant transaction or action is permitted to be consummated or taken;
(d)except as provided in the next sentence, in connection with any subsequent calculation of any ratio or basket on or following the relevant LCT Test Date and prior to the earlier of the date on which such Limited Condition Transaction is consummated and the date that the definitive agreement (or other documentation) for such Limited Condition Transaction is terminated or expires without consummation of such Limited Condition Transaction, any such ratio or basket shall be calculated (i) on a Pro Forma Basis assuming such Limited Condition Transaction and other transactions in connection therewith (including the incurrence or assumption of Indebtedness) have been consummated and (ii) assuming such Limited Condition Transaction and other transactions in connection therewith (including the incurrence or assumption of Indebtedness) have not been consummated. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any calculation of a ratio in connection with determining the Applicable Margin and determining whether or not the Borrower is in compliance with the financial covenants set forth in Section 8.9 shall, in each case be calculated assuming such Limited Condition Transaction and other transactions in connection therewith (including the incurrence or assumption of Indebtedness) have not been consummated.
The foregoing provisions shall apply with similar effect during the pendency of multiple Limited Condition Transactions such that each of the possible scenarios is separately tested.
SECTION 1.11Rates. The Administrative Agent does not warrant or accept any responsibility for, and shall not have any liability with respect to, (a) the continuation of, administration of, submission of, calculation of or any other matter related to the Term SOFR Reference Rate, Adjusted Term SOFR or Term SOFR, or any component definition thereof or rates referred to in the definition thereof, or with respect to any alternative, successor or replacement rate thereto (including any Benchmark Replacement), including whether the composition or characteristics of any such alternative, successor or replacement rate (including any Benchmark Replacement), as it may or may not be adjusted pursuant to Section 5.8(c),
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will be similar to, or produce the same value or economic equivalence of, or have the same volume or liquidity as, the Term SOFR Reference Rate, Adjusted Term SOFR, Term SOFR or any other Benchmark prior to its discontinuance or unavailability, or (b) the effect, implementation or composition of any Conforming Changes. The Administrative Agent and its Affiliates or other related entities may engage in transactions that affect the calculation of the Term SOFR Reference Rate, Adjusted Term SOFR, Term SOFR, any alternative, successor or replacement rate (including any Benchmark Replacement) or any relevant adjustments thereto and such transactions may be adverse to the Borrower. The Administrative Agent may select information sources or services in its reasonable discretion to ascertain the Term SOFR Reference Rate, Adjusted Term SOFR or Term SOFR, or any other Benchmark, any component definition thereof or rates referred to in the definition thereof, in each case pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, and shall have no liability to the Borrower, any Lender or any other person or entity for damages of any kind, including direct or indirect, special, punitive, incidental or consequential damages, costs, losses or expenses (whether in tort, contract or otherwise and whether at law or in equity), for any error or calculation of any such rate (or component thereof) provided by any such information source or service.
SECTION 1.12Divisions. For all purposes under the Loan Documents, in connection with any division or plan of division under Delaware law (or any comparable event under a different jurisdiction’s laws): (a) if any asset, right, obligation or liability of any Person becomes the asset, right, obligation or liability of a different Person, then it shall be deemed to have been transferred from the original Person to the subsequent Person, and (b) if any new Person comes into existence, such new Person shall be deemed to have been organized on the first date of its existence by the holders of its Equity Interests at such time.
ARTICLE II

REVOLVING CREDIT FACILITY
SECTION 2.1 Revolving Credit Loans. Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, and in reliance upon the representations and warranties set forth in this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, each Revolving Credit Lender severally agrees to make Revolving Credit Loans in Dollars to the Borrower from time to time from the Closing Date to, but not including, the Revolving Credit Maturity Date as requested by the Borrower in accordance with the terms of Section 2.3; provided, that (a) the Revolving Credit Outstandings shall not exceed the Revolving Credit Commitment and (b) the Revolving Credit Exposure of any Revolving Credit Lender shall not at any time exceed such Revolving Credit Lender’s Revolving Credit Commitment. Each Revolving Credit Loan by a Revolving Credit Lender shall be in a principal amount equal to such Revolving Credit Lender’s Revolving Credit Commitment Percentage of the aggregate principal amount of Revolving Credit Loans requested on such occasion. Subject to the terms and conditions hereof, the Borrower may borrow, repay and reborrow Revolving Credit Loans hereunder until the Revolving Credit Maturity Date.

SECTION 2.2 Swingline Loans.
(A)Availability. Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents and in reliance upon the representations and warranties set forth in this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, the Swingline Lender may, in its sole discretion, make Swingline Loans in Dollars to the Borrower from time to time from the Closing Date to, but not including, the Revolving Credit Maturity Date; provided, that (i) after giving effect to any amount requested, the Revolving Credit Outstandings shall not exceed the Revolving Credit Commitment and (ii) the aggregate principal amount of all outstanding Swingline Loans (after giving effect to any amount requested) shall not exceed the Swingline Commitment.
(B)Refunding.
(i)The Swingline Lender, at any time and from time to time in its sole and absolute discretion may, on behalf of the Borrower (which hereby irrevocably directs the Swingline Lender to act on its behalf), by written notice given no later than 12:00 noon on any Business Day request each
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Revolving Credit Lender to make, and each Revolving Credit Lender hereby agrees to make, a Revolving Credit Loan as a Base Rate Loan in an amount equal to such Revolving Credit Lender’s Revolving Credit Commitment Percentage of the aggregate amount of the Swingline Loans outstanding on the date of such notice, to repay the Swingline Lender. Each Revolving Credit Lender shall make the amount of such Revolving Credit Loan available to the Administrative Agent in immediately available funds at the Administrative Agent’s Office not later than 2:00 p.m. on the day specified in such notice. The proceeds of such Revolving Credit Loans shall be immediately made available by the Administrative Agent to the Swingline Lender for application by the Swingline Lender to the repayment of the Swingline Loans. No Revolving Credit Lender’s obligation to fund its respective Revolving Credit Commitment Percentage of a Swingline Loan shall be affected by any other Revolving Credit Lender’s failure to fund its Revolving Credit Commitment Percentage of a Swingline Loan, nor shall any Revolving Credit Lender’s Revolving Credit Commitment Percentage be increased as a result of any such failure of any other Revolving Credit Lender to fund its Revolving Credit Commitment Percentage of a Swingline Loan.
(ii)The Borrower shall pay to the Swingline Lender on demand, and in any event on the Revolving Credit Maturity Date, in immediately available funds the amount of such Swingline Loans to the extent amounts received from the Revolving Credit Lenders are not sufficient to repay in full the outstanding Swingline Loans requested or required to be refunded. In addition, the Borrower irrevocably authorizes the Administrative Agent to charge any account maintained by the Borrower with the Swingline Lender (up to the amount available therein) in order to immediately pay the Swingline Lender the amount of such Swingline Loans to the extent amounts received from the Revolving Credit Lenders are not sufficient to repay in full the outstanding Swingline Loans requested or required to be refunded. If any portion of any such amount paid to the Swingline Lender shall be recovered by or on behalf of the Borrower from the Swingline Lender in bankruptcy or otherwise, the loss of the amount so recovered shall be ratably shared among all the Revolving Credit Lenders in accordance with their respective Revolving Credit Commitment Percentages.
(iii)If for any reason any Swingline Loan cannot be refinanced with a Revolving Credit Loan pursuant to Section 2.2(b)(i), each Revolving Credit Lender shall, on the date such Revolving Credit Loan was to have been made pursuant to the notice referred to in Section 2.2(b)(i), purchase for cash an undivided participating interest in the then outstanding Swingline Loans by paying to the Swingline Lender an amount (the “Swingline Participation Amount”) equal to such Revolving Credit Lender’s Revolving Credit Commitment Percentage of the aggregate principal amount of Swingline Loans then outstanding. Each Revolving Credit Lender will immediately transfer to the Swingline Lender, in immediately available funds, the amount of its Swingline Participation Amount. Whenever, at any time after the Swingline Lender has received from any Revolving Credit Lender such Revolving Credit Lender’s Swingline Participation Amount, the Swingline Lender receives any payment on account of the Swingline Loans, the Swingline Lender will distribute to such Revolving Credit Lender its Swingline Participation Amount (appropriately adjusted, in the case of interest payments, to reflect the period of time during which such Lender’s participating interest was outstanding and funded and, in the case of principal and interest payments, to reflect such Revolving Credit
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Lender’s pro rata portion of such payment if such payment is not sufficient to pay the principal of and interest on all Swingline Loans then due); provided that in the event that such payment received by the Swingline Lender is required to be returned, such Revolving Credit Lender will return to the Swingline Lender any portion thereof previously distributed to it by the Swingline Lender.
(iv)Each Revolving Credit Lender’s obligation to make the Revolving Credit Loans referred to in Section  2.2(b)(i) and to purchase participating interests pursuant to Section 2.2(b)(iii) shall be absolute and unconditional and shall not be affected by any circumstance, including (A) any setoff, counterclaim, recoupment, defense or other right that such Revolving Credit Lender or the Borrower may have against the Swingline Lender, the Borrower or any other Person for any reason whatsoever, (B) the occurrence or continuance of a Default or an Event of Default or the failure to satisfy any of the other conditions specified in Article VI, (C) any adverse change in the condition (financial or otherwise) of the Borrower, (D) any breach of this Agreement or any other Loan Document by the Borrower, any other Credit Party or any other Revolving Credit Lender or (E) any other circumstance, happening or event whatsoever, whether or not similar to any of the foregoing.
(v)If any Revolving Credit Lender fails to make available to the Administrative Agent, for the account of the Swingline Lender, any amount required to be paid by such Revolving Credit Lender pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this Section 2.2(b) by the time specified in Section 2.2(b)(i) or 2.2(b)(iii), as applicable, the Swingline Lender shall be entitled to recover from such Revolving Credit Lender (acting through the Administrative Agent), on demand, such amount with interest thereon for the period from the date such payment is required to the date on which such payment is immediately available to the Swingline Lender at a rate per annum equal to the Overnight Rate, plus any administrative, processing or similar fees customarily charged by the Swingline Lender in connection with the foregoing. If such Revolving Credit Lender pays such amount (with interest and fees as aforesaid), the amount so paid shall constitute such Revolving Credit Lender’s Revolving Credit Loan or Swingline Participation Amount, as the case may be. A certificate of the Swingline Lender submitted to any Revolving Credit Lender (through the Administrative Agent) with respect to any amounts owing under this clause (v) shall be conclusive absent manifest error.
(c) Defaulting Lenders. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, this Section 2.2 shall be subject to the terms and conditions of Section 5.14 and Section 5.15.
SECTION 2.3 Procedure for Advances of Revolving Credit Loans and Swingline Loans.
(A)Requests for Borrowing. The Borrower shall give the Administrative Agent irrevocable prior written notice substantially in the form of Exhibit B (a “Notice of Borrowing”) not later than 12:00 noon (i) on the same Business Day as each Base Rate Loan and each Swingline Loan and (ii)(x) for borrowing of SOFR Loans on the Closing Date, at least one (1) U.S. Government Securities Business Day prior to the Closing Date, and (y) for any other borrowing of SOFR Loans, at least three (3) U.S. Government Securities Business Days before the date of such borrowing, of its intention to borrow, specifying (A) the date of such borrowing, which shall be a Business Day, (B) the amount of such borrowing, which shall be, (x) with respect to Base Rate Loans (other than Swingline Loans) in an aggregate principal amount of $5,000,000 or a whole multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof, (y) with respect to SOFR Loans in an aggregate principal amount of $5,000,000 or a whole multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof and (z) with respect to Swingline Loans in an aggregate principal amount of $1,000,000 or a whole multiple of $500,000 in excess thereof (or, in each case, the remaining amount of the
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Revolving Credit Commitment or the Swingline Commitment, as applicable), (C) whether such Loan is to be a Revolving Credit Loan or Swingline Loan, (D) in the case of a Revolving Credit Loan whether such Revolving Credit Loan is to be a SOFR Loan or a Base Rate Loan, and (E) in the case of a SOFR Loan, the duration of the Interest Period applicable thereto. If the Borrower fails to specify a type of Loan in a Notice of Borrowing, then the applicable Loans shall be made as Base Rate Loans. If the Borrower requests a borrowing of SOFR Loans in any such Notice of Borrowing, but fails to specify an Interest Period, it will be deemed to have specified an Interest Period of one month. A Notice of Borrowing received after 12:00 noon shall be deemed received on the next Business Day or U.S. Government Securities Business Day, as applicable. The Administrative Agent shall promptly notify the Revolving Credit Lenders of each Notice of Borrowing.
(B)Disbursement of Revolving Credit and Swingline Loans. Not later than 2:00 p.m. on the proposed borrowing date, (i) each Revolving Credit Lender will make available to the Administrative Agent, for the account of the Borrower, at the Administrative Agent’s Office in funds immediately available to the Administrative Agent, such Revolving Credit Lender’s Revolving Credit Commitment Percentage of the Revolving Credit Loans to be made on such borrowing date and (ii) the Swingline Lender will make available to the Administrative Agent, for the account of the Borrower, at the office of the Administrative Agent in funds immediately available to the Administrative Agent, the Swingline Loans to be made on such borrowing date. The Borrower hereby irrevocably authorizes the Administrative Agent to disburse the proceeds of each borrowing requested pursuant to this Section in immediately available funds by crediting or wiring such proceeds to the deposit account of the Borrower identified in the most recent notice substantially in the form attached as Exhibit C (a “Notice of Account Designation”) delivered by the Borrower to the Administrative Agent or as may be otherwise agreed upon by the Borrower and the Administrative Agent from time to time. Subject to Section 5.7 hereof, the Administrative Agent shall not be obligated to disburse the portion of the proceeds of any Revolving Credit Loan requested pursuant to this Section to the extent that any Revolving Credit Lender has not made available to the Administrative Agent its Revolving Credit Commitment Percentage of such Loan. Revolving Credit Loans to be made for the purpose of refunding Swingline Loans shall be made by the Revolving Credit Lenders as provided in Section 2.2(b).
SECTION 2.4 Repayment and Prepayment of Revolving Credit and Swingline Loans.
(a)Repayment on Termination Date. The Borrower hereby agrees to repay the outstanding principal amount of (i) all Revolving Credit Loans in full on the Revolving Credit Maturity Date, and (ii) all Swingline Loans in accordance with Section 2.2(b) (but, in any event, no later than the Revolving Credit Maturity Date), together, in each case, with all accrued but unpaid interest thereon.
(b)Mandatory Prepayments. If at any time the Revolving Credit Outstandings exceed the Revolving Credit Commitment, the Borrower agrees to repay immediately upon notice from the Administrative Agent, by payment to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Revolving Credit Lenders, Extensions of Credit in an amount equal to such excess with each such repayment applied first, to the principal amount of outstanding Swingline Loans, second to the principal amount of outstanding Revolving Credit Loans and third, with respect to any Letters of Credit then outstanding, a payment of Cash Collateral into a Cash Collateral account opened by the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Revolving Credit Lenders, in an amount equal to such excess (such Cash Collateral to be applied in accordance with Section 10.2(b)).
(c)Optional Prepayments. The Borrower may at any time and from time to time prepay Revolving Credit Loans and Swingline Loans, in whole or in part, without premium or penalty, with irrevocable prior written notice to the Administrative Agent substantially in the form attached as Exhibit D (a “Notice of Prepayment”) given not later than 12:00 noon (i) on the same Business Day as prepayment of each Base Rate Loan and each Swingline Loan and (ii) at least three (3) U.S. Government Securities Business Days before prepayment of each SOFR Loan, specifying the date and amount of prepayment and whether the prepayment is of SOFR Loans, Base Rate Loans, Swingline Loans or a combination thereof, and, if of a combination thereof, the amount allocable to each. Upon receipt of such notice, the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each Revolving Credit Lender. If any such notice is given, the amount specified in such notice shall be due and payable on the date set forth in such notice. Partial prepayments shall be in an aggregate amount of $5,000,000 or a whole multiple of $1,000,000 in
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excess thereof with respect to Base Rate Loans (other than Swingline Loans), $5,000,000 or a whole multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof with respect to SOFR Loans and $1,000,000 or a whole multiple of $500,000 in excess thereof with respect to Swingline Loans (or if less, the remaining outstanding principal amount of any such Loan). A Notice of Prepayment received after 12:00 noon shall be deemed received on the next Business Day or U.S. Government Securities Business Day, as applicable. Each such repayment shall be accompanied by any amount required to be paid pursuant to Section 5.9 hereof. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any Notice of Prepayment delivered in connection with any refinancing of all of the Credit Facility with the proceeds of such refinancing or of any incurrence of Indebtedness or the occurrence of some other identifiable event or condition, may be, if expressly so stated to be, contingent upon the consummation of such refinancing or incurrence or occurrence of such other identifiable event or condition and may be revoked by the Borrower in the event such contingency is not met (provided that the failure of such contingency shall not relieve the Borrower from its obligations in respect thereof under Section 5.9).
(d)Limitation on Prepayment of SOFR Loans. The Borrower may not prepay any SOFR Loan on any day other than on the last day of the Interest Period applicable thereto unless such prepayment is accompanied by any amount required to be paid pursuant to Section 5.9 hereof.
(e)Hedge Agreements. No repayment or prepayment of the Loans pursuant to this Section shall affect any of the Borrower’s obligations under any Hedge Agreement entered into with respect to the Loans.
SECTION 2.5 Voluntary Reduction of the Revolving Credit Commitment.
(A)The Borrower shall have the right at any time and from time to time, upon at least five (5) Business Days prior irrevocable written notice to the Administrative Agent, to permanently reduce, without premium or penalty, (i) the entire Revolving Credit Commitment at any time or (ii) portions of the Revolving Credit Commitment, from time to time, in an aggregate principal amount not less than $1,000,000 or any whole multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof. Any reduction of the Revolving Credit Commitment shall be applied to the Revolving Credit Commitment of each Revolving Credit Lender according to its Revolving Credit Commitment Percentage. All Commitment Fees accrued until the effective date of any termination of the Revolving Credit Commitment shall be paid on the effective date of such termination. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any notice to reduce the Revolving Credit Commitment delivered in connection with any refinancing of all of the Credit Facility with the proceeds of such refinancing or of any incurrence of Indebtedness or the occurrence of some other identifiable event or condition, may be, if expressly so stated to be, contingent upon the consummation of such refinancing or incurrence or occurrence of such identifiable event or condition and may be revoked by the Borrower in the event such contingency is not met (provided that the failure of such contingency shall not relieve the Borrower from its obligations in respect thereof under Section 5.9).
(B)Each permanent reduction permitted pursuant to this Section shall be accompanied by a payment of principal sufficient to reduce the aggregate outstanding Revolving Credit Loans, Swingline Loans and L/C Obligations, as applicable, after such reduction to the Revolving Credit Commitment as so reduced, and if the aggregate amount of all outstanding Letters of Credit exceeds the Revolving Credit Commitment as so reduced, the Borrower shall be required to deposit Cash Collateral in a Cash Collateral account opened by the Administrative Agent in an amount equal to such excess. Such Cash Collateral shall be applied in accordance with Section 10.2(b). Any reduction of the Revolving Credit Commitment to zero shall be accompanied by payment of all outstanding Revolving Credit Loans and Swingline Loans (and furnishing of Cash Collateral satisfactory to the Administrative Agent for all L/C Obligations or other arrangements satisfactory to the respective Issuing Lenders) and shall result in the termination of the Revolving Credit Commitment and the Swingline Commitment and the Revolving Credit Facility. If the reduction of the Revolving Credit Commitment requires the repayment of any SOFR Loan, such repayment shall be accompanied by any amount required to be paid pursuant to Section 5.9 hereof.
SECTION 2.6 Termination of Revolving Credit Facility. The Revolving Credit Facility and the Revolving Credit Commitments shall terminate on the Revolving Credit Maturity Date.
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ARTICLE III

LETTER OF CREDIT FACILITY
SECTION 3.1     L/C Facility.
(A)Availability. Subject to the terms and conditions hereof, each Issuing Lender, in reliance on the agreements of the Revolving Credit Lenders set forth in Section 3.4(a), agrees to issue standby Letters of Credit in an aggregate amount not to exceed its L/C Commitment for the account of the Borrower or, subject to Section 3.10, any Subsidiary thereof. Letters of Credit may be issued on any Business Day from the Closing Date to, but not including the fifteenth (15th) Business Day prior to the Revolving Credit Maturity Date in such form as may be approved from time to time by the applicable Issuing Lender; provided, that no Issuing Lender shall issue any Letter of Credit if, after giving effect to such issuance, (i) the aggregate amount of the outstanding Letters of Credit issued by such Issuing Lender would exceed its L/C Commitment, (ii) the L/C Obligations would exceed the L/C Sublimit or (iii) the Revolving Credit Outstandings would exceed the Revolving Credit Commitment. Letters of Credit issued hereunder shall constitute utilization of the Revolving Credit Commitments.
(B)Terms of Letters of Credit. Each Letter of Credit shall (i) be denominated in Dollars in a minimum amount of $250,000 (or such lesser amount as agreed to by the applicable Issuing Lender and the Administrative Agent), (ii) expire on a date no more than twelve (12) months after the date of issuance or last renewal or extension of such Letter of Credit (subject to automatic renewal or extension for additional one (1) year periods (but not to a date later than the date set forth below) pursuant to the terms of the Letter of Credit Documents or other documentation acceptable to the applicable Issuing Lender), which date shall be no later than the fifth (5th) Business Day prior to the Revolving Credit Maturity Date; provided that any Letter of Credit may expire after such date (each such Letter of Credit, an “Extended Letter of Credit”) with the consent of the applicable Issuing Lender and subject to the requirements of Section 3.11, and (iii) unless otherwise expressly agreed by the applicable Issuing Lender and the Borrower when a Letter of Credit is issued by it, be subject to the ISP, as set forth in the Letter of Credit Documents or as determined by the applicable Issuing Lender and, to the extent not inconsistent therewith, the laws of the State of New York. No Issuing Lender shall at any time be obligated to issue any Letter of Credit hereunder if (A) any order, judgment or decree of any Governmental Authority or arbitrator shall by its terms purport to enjoin or restrain such Issuing Lender from issuing such Letter of Credit, or any Applicable Law applicable to such Issuing Lender or any request or directive (whether or not having the force of law) from any Governmental Authority with jurisdiction over such Issuing Lender shall prohibit, or request that such Issuing Lender refrain from, the issuance of letters of credit generally or such Letter of Credit in particular or shall impose upon such Issuing Lender with respect to letters of credit generally or such Letter of Credit in particular any restriction or reserve or capital requirement (for which such Issuing Lender is not otherwise compensated) not in effect on the Closing Date, or any unreimbursed loss, cost or expense that was not applicable, in effect or known to such Issuing Lender as of the Closing Date and that such Issuing Lender in good faith deems material to it, (B) the conditions set forth in Section 6.2 are not satisfied, (C) the issuance of such Letter of Credit would violate one or more policies of such Issuing Lender applicable to letters of credit generally, (D) the proceeds of which would be made available to any Person (x) to fund any activity or business of or with any Sanctioned Person, or in any Sanctioned Country or (y) in any manner that would result in a violation of any Sanctions by any party to this Agreement or (E) any Revolving Credit Lender is at that time a Defaulting Lender, unless such Issuing Lender has entered into arrangements, including the delivery of Cash Collateral, satisfactory to such Issuing Lender (in its sole discretion) with the Borrower or such Lender to eliminate such Issuing Lender’s actual or potential Fronting Exposure (after giving effect to Section 5.15(a)(iv)) with respect to the Defaulting Lender arising from either the Letter of Credit then proposed to be issued or that Letter of Credit and all other L/C Obligations as to which such Issuing Lender has actual or potential Fronting Exposure, as it may elect in its sole discretion. References herein to “issue” and derivations thereof with respect to Letters of Credit shall also include extensions or modifications of any outstanding Letters of Credit, unless the context otherwise requires. As of the Closing Date, each of the Existing Letters of Credit shall constitute, for all purposes of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, a Letter of Credit issued and outstanding hereunder.
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(C)Defaulting Lenders. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, Article III shall be subject to the terms and conditions of Section 5.14 and Section 5.15.
SECTION 3.2     Procedure for Issuance of Letters of Credit. The Borrower may from time to time request that any Issuing Lender issue, amend, renew or extend a Letter of Credit by delivering to such Issuing Lender at its applicable office (with a copy to the Administrative Agent at the Administrative Agent’s Office) a Letter of Credit Application therefor, completed to the satisfaction of such Issuing Lender, and such other certificates, documents and other Letter of Credit Documents and information as such Issuing Lender or the Administrative Agent may request, not later than 12:00 noon at least two (2) Business Days (or such later date and time as the Administrative Agent and such Issuing Lender may agree in their sole discretion) prior to the proposed date of issuance, amendment, renewal or extension, as the case may be. Such notice shall specify (a) the requested date of issuance, amendment, renewal or extension (which shall be a Business Day), (b) the date on which such Letter of Credit is to expire (which shall comply with Section 3.1(b)), (c) the amount of such Letter of Credit, (d) the name and address of the beneficiary thereof, (e) the purpose and nature of such Letter of Credit and (f) such other information as shall be necessary to issue, amend, renew or extend such Letter of Credit. Upon receipt of any Letter of Credit Application, the applicable Issuing Lender shall process such Letter of Credit Application and the certificates, documents and other Letter of Credit Documents and information delivered to it in connection therewith in accordance with its customary procedures and shall, subject to Section 3.1 and Article VI, promptly issue, amend, renew or extend the Letter of Credit requested thereby (subject to the timing requirements set forth in this Section 3.2) by issuing the original of such Letter of Credit to the beneficiary thereof or as otherwise may be agreed by such Issuing Lender and the Borrower. Additionally, the Borrower shall furnish to the applicable Issuing Lender and the Administrative Agent such other documents and information pertaining to such requested Letter of Credit issuance or amendment, renewal or extension, including any Letter of Credit Documents, as the applicable Issuing Lender or the Administrative Agent may require. The applicable Issuing Lender shall promptly furnish to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent a copy of such Letter of Credit and the related Letter of Credit Documents and the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each Revolving Credit Lender of the issuance and upon request by any Revolving Credit Lender, furnish to such Revolving Credit Lender a copy of such Letter of Credit and the amount of such Revolving Credit Lender’s participation therein.
SECTION 3.3     Commissions and Other Charges.
(a)Letter of Credit Commissions. Subject to Section 5.15(a)(iii)(B), the Borrower shall pay to the Administrative Agent, for the account of the applicable Issuing Lender and the L/C Participants, a letter of credit commission with respect to each Letter of Credit in the amount equal to the daily amount available to be drawn under such standby Letters of Credit times the Applicable Margin with respect to Revolving Credit Loans that are SOFR Loans (determined, in each case, on a per annum basis). Such commission shall be payable quarterly in arrears on the last Business Day of each calendar quarter (commencing with the first such date to occur after the issuance of such Letter of Credit), on the Revolving Credit Maturity Date and thereafter on demand of the Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent shall, promptly following its receipt thereof, distribute to the applicable Issuing Lender and the L/C Participants all commissions received pursuant to this Section 3.3 in accordance with their respective Revolving Credit Commitment Percentages.
(b)Issuance Fee. In addition to the foregoing commission, the Borrower shall pay directly to the applicable Issuing Lender, for its own account, an issuance fee with respect to each Letter of Credit issued by such Issuing Lender in such amount as agreed upon between such Issuing Lender and the Borrower. Such issuance fee shall be payable quarterly in arrears on the last Business Day of each calendar quarter commencing with the first such date to occur after the issuance of such Letter of Credit, on the Revolving Credit Maturity Date and thereafter on demand of the applicable Issuing Lender. For the avoidance of doubt, such issuance fee shall be applicable to and paid upon each of the Existing Letters of Credit.
(c)Other Fees, Costs, Charges and Expenses. In addition to the foregoing fees and commissions, the Borrower shall pay or reimburse each Issuing Lender for such normal and customary fees, costs, charges and expenses as are incurred or charged by such Issuing Lender in issuing, effecting payment under, amending or otherwise administering any Letter of Credit issued by it. Such customary
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fees, costs, charges and expenses are due and payable within ten (10) Business Days of written demand therefore, accompanied by invoices for such fees, costs, charges and expenses, and are nonrefundable.
SECTION 3.4     L/C Participations.
(A)Each Issuing Lender irrevocably agrees to grant and hereby grants to each L/C Participant, and, to induce each Issuing Lender to issue Letters of Credit hereunder, each L/C Participant irrevocably agrees to accept and purchase and hereby accepts and purchases from each Issuing Lender, on the terms and conditions hereinafter stated, for such L/C Participant’s own account and risk an undivided interest equal to such L/C Participant’s Revolving Credit Commitment Percentage in each Issuing Lender’s obligations and rights under and in respect of each Letter of Credit issued by it hereunder and the amount of each draft paid by such Issuing Lender thereunder. Each L/C Participant unconditionally and irrevocably agrees with each Issuing Lender that, if a draft is paid under any Letter of Credit issued by such Issuing Lender for which such Issuing Lender is not reimbursed in full by the Borrower through a Revolving Credit Loan or otherwise in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, such L/C Participant shall pay to such Issuing Lender upon demand at such Issuing Lender’s address for notices specified herein an amount equal to such L/C Participant’s Revolving Credit Commitment Percentage of the amount of such draft, or any part thereof, which is not so reimbursed.
(B)Upon becoming aware of any amount required to be paid by any L/C Participant to any Issuing Lender pursuant to Section 3.4(a) in respect of any unreimbursed portion of any payment made by such Issuing Lender under any Letter of Credit, issued by it, such Issuing Lender shall notify the Administrative Agent of such unreimbursed amount and the Administrative Agent shall notify each L/C Participant (with a copy to the applicable Issuing Lender) of the amount and due date of such required payment and such L/C Participant shall pay to the Administrative Agent (which, in turn shall pay such Issuing Lender) the amount specified on the applicable due date. If any such amount is paid to such Issuing Lender after the date such payment is due, such L/C Participant shall pay to the Administrative Agent, which in turn shall pay such Issuing Lender on demand, in addition to such amount, the product of (i) such amount, times (ii) the Overnight Rate as determined by the Administrative Agent during the period from and including the date such payment is due to the date on which such payment is immediately available to such Issuing Lender, times (iii) a fraction the numerator of which is the number of days that elapse during such period and the denominator of which is 360, plus any administrative, processing or similar fees customarily charged by such Issuing Lender in connection with the foregoing. A certificate of such Issuing Lender with respect to any amounts owing under this Section shall be conclusive in the absence of manifest error. With respect to payment to such Issuing Lender of the unreimbursed amounts described in this Section, if the L/C Participants receive notice that any such payment is due (A) prior to 2:00 p.m. on any Business Day, such payment shall be due that Business Day, and (B) after 2:00 p.m. on any Business Day, such payment shall be due on the following Business Day.
(C)Whenever, at any time after any Issuing Lender has made payment under any Letter of Credit issued by it and has received from any L/C Participant its Revolving Credit Commitment Percentage of such payment in accordance with this Section, such Issuing Lender receives any payment related to such Letter of Credit (whether directly from the Administrative Agent or otherwise), or any payment of interest on account thereof, such Issuing Lender will distribute to such L/C Participant its pro rata share thereof; provided, that in the event that any such payment received by such Issuing Lender shall be required to be returned by such Issuing Lender, such L/C Participant shall return to the Administrative Agent, which shall in turn pay to such Issuing Lender, the portion thereof previously distributed by such Issuing Lender to it.
(D)Each L/C Participant’s obligation to make the Revolving Credit Loans referred to in Section  3.4(b) and to purchase participating interests pursuant to Section 3.4(a) shall be absolute and unconditional and shall not be affected by any circumstance, including (i) any setoff, counterclaim, recoupment, defense or other right that such Revolving Credit Lender or the Borrower may have against the Issuing Lender, the Borrower or any other Person for any reason whatsoever, (ii) the occurrence or continuance of a Default or an Event of Default or the failure to satisfy any of the other conditions specified in Article VI, (iii) any adverse change in the condition (financial or otherwise) of the Borrower, (iv) any breach of this Agreement or any other Loan Document by the Borrower, any other Credit Party
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or any other Revolving Credit Lender or (v) any other circumstance, happening or event whatsoever, whether or not similar to any of the foregoing.
SECTION 3.5     Reimbursement. In the event of any drawing under any Letter of Credit, the Borrower agrees to reimburse (either with the proceeds of a Revolving Credit Loan as provided for in this Section or with funds from other sources), in same day funds, the applicable Issuing Lender by paying to the Administrative Agent the amount of such drawing not later than 12:00 noon on (i) the Business Day that the Borrower receives notice of such drawing, if such notice is received by the Borrower prior to 10:00 a.m., or (ii) the Business Day immediately following the day that the Borrower receives such notice, if such notice is not received prior to such time, for the amount of (x) such draft so paid and (y) any amounts referred to in Section 3.3(c) incurred by such Issuing Lender in connection with such payment (to the extent invoices therefor have been provided by the Issuing Lender to the Borrower). Unless the Borrower shall immediately notify the Administrative Agent and such Issuing Lender that the Borrower intends to reimburse such Issuing Lender for such drawing from other sources or funds, the Borrower shall be deemed to have timely given a Notice of Borrowing to the Administrative Agent requesting that the Revolving Credit Lenders make a Revolving Credit Loan as a Base Rate Loan on the applicable repayment date in the amount (without regard to the minimum and multiples specified in Section 2.3(a)) of (i) such draft so paid and (ii) any amounts referred to in Section 3.3(c) incurred by such Issuing Lender in connection with such payment, and the Revolving Credit Lenders shall make a Revolving Credit Loan as a Base Rate Loan in such amount, the proceeds of which shall be applied to reimburse such Issuing Lender for the amount of the related drawing and such fees and expenses (to the extent invoices therefor have been provided by the Issuing Lender to the Borrower). Each Revolving Credit Lender acknowledges and agrees that its obligation to fund a Revolving Credit Loan in accordance with this Section to reimburse such Issuing Lender for any draft paid under a Letter of Credit issued by it is absolute and unconditional and shall not be affected by any circumstance whatsoever, including non-satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 2.3(a) or Article VI. If the Borrower has elected to pay the amount of such drawing with funds from other sources and shall fail to reimburse such Issuing Lender as provided above, or if the amount of such drawing is not fully refunded through a Base Rate Loan as provided above, the unreimbursed amount of such drawing shall bear interest at the rate which would be payable on any outstanding Base Rate Loans which were then overdue from the date such amounts become payable (whether at stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise) until paid in full.
SECTION 3.6     Obligations Absolute.
(a)The Borrower’s obligations under this Article III (including the Reimbursement Obligation) shall be absolute, unconditional and irrevocable under any and all circumstances whatsoever, and shall be performed strictly in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, and irrespective of:
(i)any lack of validity or enforceability of any Letter of Credit, any Letter of Credit Document or this Agreement, or any term or provision therein or herein;
(ii)the existence of any claim, counterclaim, setoff, defense or other right that the Borrower may have or have had against the applicable Issuing Lender or any beneficiary of a Letter of Credit (or any Person for whom any such beneficiary or any such transferee may be acting), the applicable Issuing Lender or any other Person, whether in connection with this Agreement, the transactions contemplated hereby or by such Letter of Credit or any agreement or instrument relating thereto, or any unrelated transaction;
(iii)the validity or genuineness of documents or of any endorsements thereon, even though such documents shall in fact prove to be invalid, fraudulent, forged or insufficient in any respect or any statement in such draft or other document being untrue or inaccurate in any respect; or any loss or delay in the transmission or otherwise of any document required in order to make a drawing under such Letter of Credit;
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(iv)any payment by the Issuing Lender under a Letter of Credit against presentation of a draft or other document that does not comply with the terms of such Letter of Credit; or
(v)any other event or circumstance whatsoever, whether or not similar to any of the foregoing, that might, but for the provisions of this Section, constitute a legal or equitable discharge of, or provide a right of setoff against, the Borrower’s obligations hereunder.
(b)     The Borrower also agrees that the applicable Issuing Lender and the L/C Participants shall not be responsible for, and the Borrower’s Reimbursement Obligation under Section 3.5 shall not be affected by, among other things, the validity or genuineness of documents or of any endorsements thereon, even though such documents shall in fact prove to be invalid, fraudulent or forged, or any dispute between or among the Borrower and any beneficiary of any Letter of Credit or any other party to which such Letter of Credit may be transferred or any claims whatsoever of the Borrower against any beneficiary of such Letter of Credit or any such transferee. The applicable Issuing Lender, the L/C Participants and their respective Related Parties shall not have any liability or responsibility by reason of or in connection with the issuance or transfer of any Letter of Credit, or any payment or failure to make any payment thereunder (irrespective of any of the circumstances referred to in the preceding sentence), or any error, omission, interruption, loss or delay in transmission or delivery of any draft, notice or other communication under or relating to any Letter of Credit (including any document required to make a drawing thereunder), any error in interpretation of technical terms or any consequence arising from causes beyond the control of the applicable Issuing Lender; provided that the foregoing shall not be construed to excuse an Issuing Lender from liability to the Borrower to the extent of any direct damages (as opposed to special, indirect, consequential or punitive damages, claims in respect of which are hereby waived by the Borrower to the extent permitted by Applicable Law) suffered by the Borrower that are caused by such Issuing Lender’s failure to exercise care when determining whether drafts and other documents presented under a Letter of Credit comply with the terms thereof. The parties hereto expressly agree that, in the absence of bad faith, gross negligence or willful misconduct on the part of the applicable Issuing Lender (as finally determined by a court of competent jurisdiction), such Issuing Lender shall be deemed to have exercised care in each such determination.
(c)     In furtherance of the foregoing and without limiting the generality thereof, the parties agree that (i) with respect to documents presented which appear on their face to be in substantial compliance with the terms of a Letter of Credit, the applicable Issuing Lender may, in its sole discretion, either accept and make payment upon such documents without responsibility for further investigation, regardless of any notice or information to the contrary, or refuse to accept and make payment upon such documents if such documents are not in strict compliance with the terms of such Letter of Credit, (ii) an Issuing Lender may act upon any instruction or request relative to a Letter of Credit or requested Letter of Credit that such Issuing Lender in good faith believes to have been given by a Person authorized to give such instruction or request and (iii) an Issuing Lender may replace a purportedly lost, stolen, or destroyed original Letter of Credit or missing amendment thereto with a certified true copy marked as such or waive a requirement for its presentation. The responsibility of any Issuing Lender to the Borrower in connection with any draft presented for payment under any Letter of Credit issued by it shall, in addition to any payment obligation expressly provided for in such Letter of Credit, be limited to determining that the documents (including each draft) delivered under such Letter of Credit in connection with such presentment substantially conforms to the requirements under such Letter of Credit.
SECTION 3.7     Effect of Letter of Credit Documents. To the extent that any provision of any Letter of Credit Document related to any Letter of Credit is inconsistent with the provisions of this Article III, the provisions of this Article III shall apply.
SECTION 3.8     Resignation of Issuing Lenders.
(a)Any Issuing Lender may resign at any time by giving at least 30 days’ prior notice to the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the Borrower. After the resignation of an Issuing Lender hereunder, the retiring Issuing Lender shall remain a party hereto and shall continue to have all the rights and obligations of an Issuing Lender under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents with respect to
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Letters of Credit issued by it prior to such resignation, but shall not be required to issue additional Letters of Credit or to extend, renew or increase the outstanding Letter of Credit.
(b)Any resigning Issuing Lender shall retain all the rights, powers, privileges and duties of an Issuing Lender hereunder with respect to all Letters of Credit issued by it that are outstanding as of the effective date of its resignation as an Issuing Lender and all L/C Obligations with respect thereto (including the right to require the Revolving Credit Lenders to take such actions as are required under Section 3.4). Without limiting the foregoing, upon the resignation of a Lender as an Issuing Lender hereunder, the Borrower may, or at the request of such resigned Issuing Lender the Borrower shall, use commercially reasonable efforts to, arrange for one or more of the other Issuing Lenders to issue Letters of Credit hereunder in substitution for the Letters of Credit, if any, issued by such resigned Issuing Lender and outstanding at the time of such resignation, or make other arrangements satisfactory to the resigned Issuing Lender to effectively cause another Issuing Lender to assume the obligations of the resigned Issuing Lender with respect to any such Letters of Credit.
SECTION 3.9     Reporting of Letter of Credit Information and L/C Commitment. At any time that there is an Issuing Lender that is not also the financial institution acting as Administrative Agent, then (a) no later than the fifth Business Day following the last day of each calendar month, (b) on each date that a Letter of Credit is amended, terminated or otherwise expires, (c) on each date that a Letter of Credit is issued or the expiry date of a Letter of Credit is extended, and (d) upon the request of the Administrative Agent, each Issuing Lender (or, in the case of clauses (b), (c) or (d) of this Section, the applicable Issuing Lender) shall deliver to the Administrative Agent a report setting forth in form and detail reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent information (including any reimbursement, Cash Collateral, or termination in respect of Letters of Credit issued by such Issuing Lender) with respect to each Letter of Credit issued by such Issuing Lender that is outstanding hereunder. In addition, each Issuing Lender shall provide notice to the Administrative Agent of its L/C Commitment, or any change thereto, promptly upon it becoming an Issuing Lender or making any change to its L/C Commitment. No failure on the part of any Issuing Lender to provide such information pursuant to this Section 3.9 shall limit the obligations of the Borrower or any Revolving Credit Lender hereunder with respect to its reimbursement and participation obligations hereunder.
SECTION 3.10     Letters of Credit Issued for Subsidiaries. Notwithstanding that a Letter of Credit issued or outstanding hereunder is in support of any obligations of, or is for the account of, a Subsidiary, or states that a Subsidiary is the “account party,” “applicant,” “customer,” “instructing party,” or the like of or for such Letter of Credit, and without derogating from any rights of the applicable Issuing Lender (whether arising by contract, at law, in equity or otherwise) against such Subsidiary in respect of such Letter of Credit, the Borrower (a) shall be obligated to reimburse, or to cause the applicable Subsidiary to reimburse, the applicable Issuing Lender hereunder for any and all drawings under such Letter of Credit as if such Letter of Credit had been issued solely for the account of the Borrower and (b) irrevocably waives any and all defenses that might otherwise be available to it as a guarantor or surety of any or all of the obligations of such Subsidiary in respect of such Letter of Credit. The Borrower hereby acknowledges that the issuance of Letters of Credit for the account of any of its Subsidiaries inures to the benefit of the Borrower and that the Borrower’s business derives substantial benefits from the businesses of such Subsidiaries.
SECTION 3.11     Letter of Credit Amounts. Unless otherwise specified, all references herein to the amount of a Letter of Credit at any time shall be deemed to mean the maximum face amount of such Letter of Credit after giving effect to all increases thereof contemplated by such Letter of Credit or the Letter of Credit Documents therefor (at the time specified therefor in such applicable Letter of Credit or Letter of Credit Documents and as such amount may be reduced by (a) any permanent reduction of such Letter of Credit or (b) any amount which is drawn, reimbursed and no longer available under such Letter of Credit).
SECTION 3.12     Cash Collateral for Extended Letters of Credit.
(A)Cash Collateralization. The Borrower shall provide Cash Collateral to each applicable Issuing Lender with respect to each Extended Letter of Credit issued by such Issuing Lender (in an amount equal to 102% of the maximum face amount of each Extended Letter of Credit, calculated in
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accordance with Section 1.8) by a date that is no later than 30 days prior to the Revolving Credit Maturity Date by depositing such amount in immediately available funds, in Dollars, into a cash collateral account maintained at the applicable Issuing Lender and shall enter into a cash collateral agreement in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to such Issuing Lender and such other documentation as such Issuing Lender or the Administrative Agent may reasonably request; provided that if the Borrower fails to provide Cash Collateral with respect to any such Extended Letter of Credit by such time, such event shall be treated as a drawing under such Extended Letter of Credit in an amount equal to 102% of the maximum face amount of each such Letter of Credit, calculated in accordance with Section 1.8, which shall be reimbursed (or participations therein funded) in accordance with this Article III, with the proceeds of Revolving Credit Loans (or funded participations) being utilized to provide Cash Collateral for such Letter of Credit (provided that for purposes of determining the usage of the Revolving Credit Commitment any such Extended Letter of Credit that has been, or will concurrently be, Cash Collateralized with proceeds of a Revolving Credit Loan, the portion of such Extended Letter of Credit that has been (or will concurrently be) so Cash Collateralized will not be deemed to be utilization of the Revolving Credit Commitment).
(B)Grant of Security Interest. The Borrower, and to the extent provided by the L/C Participants, each of such L/C Participants, hereby grants to the applicable Issuing Lender of each Extended Letter of Credit, and agrees to maintain, a first priority security interest in, all Cash Collateral required to be provided by this Section 3.12 as security for such Issuing Lender’s obligation to fund draws under such Extended Letters of Credit, to be applied pursuant to subsection (c) below. If at any time the applicable Issuing Lender determines that the Cash Collateral is subject to any right or claim of any Person other than such Issuing Lender as herein provided, or that the total amount of such Cash Collateral is less than the amount required pursuant to subsection (a) above, the Borrower will, promptly upon demand by such Issuing Lender, pay or provide to such Issuing Lender additional Cash Collateral in an amount sufficient to eliminate such deficiency.
(C)Application. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement or any other Loan Document, Cash Collateral provided under this Section 3.12 in respect of Extended Letters of Credit shall be applied to reimburse the applicable Issuing Lender for all drawings made under such Extended Letters of Credit and any and all fees, expenses and charges incurred in connection therewith, prior to any other application of such property as may otherwise be provided for herein.
(D)Cash Collateralized Letters of Credit. Subject to clause (e) below, if the Borrower has fully Cash Collateralized the applicable Issuing Lender with respect to any Extended Letter of Credit issued by such Issuing Lender in accordance with subsections (a) through (c) above and the Borrower and the applicable Issuing Lender have made arrangements between them with respect to the pricing and fees associated therewith (each such Extended Letter of Credit, a “Cash Collateralized Letter of Credit”), then after the date of notice to the Administrative Agent thereof by the applicable Issuing Lender and for so long as such Cash Collateral remains in place (i) such Cash Collateralized Letter of Credit shall cease to be a “Letter of Credit” hereunder, (ii) such Cash Collateralized Letter of Credit shall not constitute utilization of the Revolving Credit Commitment, (iii) no Revolving Credit Lender shall have any further obligation to fund participations or Revolving Credit Loans to reimburse any drawing under any such Cash Collateralized Letter of Credit, (iv) no Letter of Credit commissions under Section 3.3(a) shall be due or payable to the Revolving Credit Lenders, or any of them, hereunder with respect to such Cash Collateralized Letter of Credit, and (v) any fronting fee, issuance fee or other fee with respect to such Cash Collateralized Letter of Credit shall be as agreed separately between the Borrower and such Issuing Lender.
(E)Reinstatement. The Borrower and each Revolving Credit Lender agree that, if any payment or deposit made by the Borrower or any other Person applied to the Cash Collateral required under this Section 3.12 is at any time avoided, annulled, set aside, rescinded, invalidated, declared to be fraudulent or preferential or otherwise required to be refunded or repaid, or is repaid in whole or in part pursuant to a good faith settlement of a pending or threatened in writing avoidance claim, or the proceeds of any such Cash Collateral are required to be refunded by the applicable Issuing Lender to the Borrower or any Revolving Credit Lender or its respective estate, trustee, receiver or any other Person, under any Applicable Law or equitable cause, then, to the extent of such payment or repayment, (i) the applicable Extended Letter of Credit shall automatically be a “Letter of Credit” hereunder in a face amount equal to
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such payment or repayment (each such Letter of Credit, a “Reinstated Letter of Credit”), (ii) such Reinstated Letter of Credit shall no longer be deemed to be Cash Collateralized hereunder and shall constitute a utilization of the Revolving Credit Commitment, (iii) each Revolving Credit Lender shall be obligated to fund participations or Revolving Credit Loans to reimburse any drawing under such Reinstated Letter of Credit, (iv) Letter of Credit commissions under Section 3.3(a) shall accrue and be due and payable to the Revolving Credit Lenders with respect to such Reinstated Letter of Credit and (v) the Borrower’s and each Revolving Credit Lender’s liability hereunder (and any Guaranty, Lien or Collateral guaranteeing or securing such liability) shall be and remain in full force and effect, as fully as if such payment or deposit had never been made, and, if prior thereto, this Agreement shall have been canceled, terminated, paid in full or otherwise extinguished (and if any Guaranty, Lien or Collateral guaranteeing or securing such Borrower’s or such Revolving Credit Lender’s) liability hereunder shall have been released or terminated by virtue of such cancellation, termination, payment or extinguishment), the provisions of this Article III and all other rights and duties of the applicable Issuing Lender, the L/C Participants and the Credit Parties with respect to such Reinstated Letter of Credit (and any Guaranty, Lien or Collateral guaranteeing or securing such liability) shall be reinstated in full force and effect, and such prior cancellation, termination, payment or extinguishment shall not diminish, release, discharge, impair or otherwise affect the obligations of such Persons in respect of such Reinstated Letter of Credit (and any Guaranty, Lien or Collateral guaranteeing or securing such obligation).
(F)Survival. With respect to any Extended Letter of Credit, each party’s obligations under this Article III and all other rights and duties of the applicable Issuing Lender of such Extended Letter of Credit, the L/C Participants and the Credit Parties with respect to such Extended Letter of Credit shall survive the resignation or replacement of the applicable Issuing Lender or any assignment of rights by the applicable Issuing Lender, the termination of the Commitments and the repayment, satisfaction or discharge of the Obligations.
ARTICLE IV

TERM LOAN FACILITY
SECTION 4.1     Initial Term Loan. Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, and in reliance upon the representations and warranties set forth in this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, each Term Loan Lender severally agrees to make the Initial Term Loan to the Borrower on the Closing Date in a principal amount equal to such Lender’s Term Loan Commitment as of the Closing Date.
SECTION 4.1     Procedure for Advance of Term Loan.
(a)     Initial Term Loan. The Borrower shall give the Administrative Agent an irrevocable Notice of Borrowing prior to 11:00 a.m. on the Closing Date requesting that the Term Loan Lenders make the Initial Term Loan as a Base Rate Loan on such date (provided that the Borrower may request, no later than one (1) U.S. Government Securities Business Day prior to the Closing Date, that the Lenders make the Initial Term Loan as a SOFR Loan if the Borrower has delivered to the Administrative Agent a letter in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent indemnifying the Lenders in the manner set forth in Section 5.9 of this Agreement). Upon receipt of such Notice of Borrowing from the Borrower, the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each Term Loan Lender thereof. Not later than 1:00 p.m. on the Closing Date, each Term Loan Lender will make available to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Borrower, at the Administrative Agent’s Office in immediately available funds, the amount of such Initial Term Loan to be made by such Term Loan Lender on the Closing Date. The Borrower hereby irrevocably authorizes the Administrative Agent to disburse the proceeds of the
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Initial Term Loan in immediately available funds by wire transfer to such Person or Persons as may be designated by the Borrower in writing.
(b)     Incremental Term Loans. Any Incremental Term Loans shall be borrowed pursuant to, and in accordance with Section 5.13.
SECTION 4.3     Repayment of Term Loans.
(a)Initial Term Loan. The Borrower shall repay the aggregate outstanding principal amount of the Initial Term Loan in consecutive quarterly installments on the last Business Day of each of March, June, September and December (commencing December 31, 2022) each in an amount equal to $6,250,000, except as the amounts of individual installments may be adjusted pursuant to Section 4.4 hereof. If not sooner paid, the Initial Term Loan shall be paid in full, together with accrued interest thereon, on the Term Loan Maturity Date.
(b)Incremental Term Loans. The Borrower shall repay the aggregate outstanding principal amount of each Incremental Term Loan (if any) as determined pursuant to, and in accordance with, Section 5.13.
SECTION 4.4     Prepayments of Term Loans.
(a)Optional Prepayments. The Borrower shall have the right at any time and from time to time, without premium or penalty, except as set forth in Section 5.9, to prepay the Term Loans, in whole or in part, upon delivery to the Administrative Agent of a Notice of Prepayment not later than 12:00 noon (i) on the same Business Day as prepayment of each Base Rate Loan and (ii) at least three (3) U.S. Government Securities Business Days before prepayment of each SOFR Loan, specifying the date and amount of prepayment, whether the prepayment is of SOFR Loans or Base Rate Loans or a combination thereof, and, if of a combination thereof, the amount allocable to each and whether the prepayment is of the Initial Term Loan, an Incremental Term Loan or a combination thereof, and, if of a combination thereof, the amount allocable to each. Each optional prepayment of the Term Loans hereunder shall be in an aggregate principal amount of at least $5,000,000 or any whole multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof (or, if less, the remaining outstanding principal amount thereof) and shall be applied to prepay the Initial Term Loan and, if applicable, any Incremental Term Loans, on a pro rata basis (each such prepayment to be applied to reduce the scheduled principal amortizations payments under Section 4.3(a) as directed by the Borrower or, if not so directed, to the scheduled principal amortization payments (including the final bullet payment on the Maturity Date) on a pro rata basis). Each repayment shall be accompanied by any amount required to be paid pursuant to Section 5.9 hereof. A Notice of Prepayment received after 12:00 noon shall be deemed received on the next Business Day or U.S. Government Securities Business Day, as applicable. The Administrative Agent shall promptly notify the applicable Term Loan Lenders of each Notice of Prepayment. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any Notice of Prepayment delivered in connection with any refinancing of all of the Credit Facility with the proceeds of such refinancing or of any other incurrence of Indebtedness or the occurrence of some other identifiable event or condition, may be, if expressly so stated to be, contingent upon the consummation of such refinancing or incurrence or occurrence of such other identifiable event or condition and may be revoked by the Borrower in the event such contingency is not met; provided that the delay or failure of such contingency shall not relieve the Borrower from its obligations in respect thereof under Section 5.9.
(b)Mandatory Prepayments.
(i)Debt Issuances. The Borrower shall make mandatory principal prepayments of the Loans in the manner set forth in clause (v) below in an amount equal to one hundred percent (100%) of the aggregate Net Cash Proceeds from any Debt Issuance not otherwise permitted pursuant to Section 9.1. Such prepayment shall be made within five (5) Business Days after the date of receipt of the Net Cash Proceeds of any such Debt Issuance.
(ii)Asset Dispositions and Insurance and Condemnation Events. The Borrower shall make mandatory principal prepayments of the Loans in the manner set forth in clause (v) below in amounts equal to one hundred percent (100%) of the aggregate Net Cash Proceeds from (A)
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any Asset Disposition (other than any Asset Disposition permitted pursuant to, and in accordance with, clauses (a)(i) through (a)(xx) of Section 9.4) or (B) any Insurance and Condemnation Event, to the extent that the aggregate amount of such Net Cash Proceeds, in the case of each of clauses (A) and (B), exceed $25,000,000 during any Fiscal Year. Such prepayments shall be made within five (5) Business Days after the date of receipt of the Net Cash Proceeds; provided that, so long as no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, no prepayment shall be required under this Section 4.4(b)(ii) with respect to such portion of such Net Cash Proceeds that the Borrower shall have, on or prior to such date given written notice to the Administrative Agent of its intent to reinvest in accordance with Section 4.4(b)(iii).
(iii)Reinvestment Option. With respect to any Net Cash Proceeds realized or received with respect to any Asset Disposition or any Insurance and Condemnation Event by any Credit Party or any Subsidiary thereof (in each case, to the extent not excluded pursuant to Section 4.4(b)(ii)), at the option of the Borrower, the Credit Parties and their Subsidiaries may reinvest all or any portion of such Net Cash Proceeds in assets used or useful for the business of the Credit Parties and their Subsidiaries within (x) twelve (12) months following receipt of such Net Cash Proceeds or (y) if such Credit Party enters into a bona fide commitment to reinvest such Net Cash Proceeds within twelve (12) months following receipt thereof, within the later of (A) twelve (12) months following receipt thereof and (B) six (6) months of the date of such commitment; provided that if any Net Cash Proceeds are no longer intended to be or cannot be so reinvested at any time after delivery of a notice of reinvestment election, an amount equal to any such Net Cash Proceeds shall be applied within five (5) Business Days after the applicable Credit Party reasonably determines that such Net Cash Proceeds are no longer intended to be or cannot be so reinvested to the prepayment of the Loans as set forth in this Section 4.4(b); provided further that any Net Cash Proceeds relating to Collateral shall be reinvested in assets constituting Collateral.  Pending the final application of any such Net Cash Proceeds, the applicable Credit Party or its applicable Subsidiary may invest an amount equal to such Net Cash Proceeds in any manner that is not prohibited by this Agreement.
(iv)[Reserved.]
(v)Notice; Manner of Payment. Upon the occurrence of any event triggering the prepayment requirement under clauses (i) or (ii) above, the Borrower shall promptly deliver notice thereof (or deliver a reinvestment notice, as applicable) to the Administrative Agent and upon receipt of such notice, the Administrative Agent shall promptly so notify the Lenders. Each prepayment of the Loans under this Section shall be applied, ratably between the Initial Term Loans and (unless otherwise agreed by the applicable Incremental Lenders) any Incremental Term Loans to reduce the next four (4) scheduled principal installments of the Initial Term Loans in direct order and then to the remaining scheduled principal installments (including the payments due at maturity) of the Initial Term Loans on a pro rata basis (and as determined by the Borrower and the applicable Incremental Lenders to reduce the remaining scheduled principal installments of any Incremental Term Loans) pursuant to Section 4.3, with any excess being remitted to the Borrower.
(vi)Prepayment of SOFR Loans. Each prepayment of SOFR Loans shall be accompanied by any amount required to be paid pursuant to Section 5.9; provided that, so long as no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, if any prepayment of SOFR Loans is required to be made under this Section 4.4(b) prior to the last day of the Interest Period therefor, in lieu of making any payment pursuant to this Section 4.4(b) in respect of any such SOFR Loan prior to the last day of the Interest Period therefor, the Borrower may, in its sole discretion, deposit an amount sufficient to make any such prepayment otherwise required to be made thereunder together with accrued interest to the last day of such Interest Period into an account held at, and subject to the sole control of, the Administrative Agent until the last day of such Interest Period, at which time the Administrative Agent shall be authorized (without any further action by or notice to or from the Borrower or any other Credit Party) to apply such amount to the prepayment of such Term Loans in accordance with this Section 4.4(b).  Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of any Default or Event of Default, the Administrative Agent shall also be authorized (without any further action by or notice to or from the Borrower or
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any other Credit Party) to apply such amount to the prepayment of the outstanding Term Loans in accordance with the relevant provisions of this Section 4.4(b).
(vii)Repatriation of Net Cash Proceeds. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Section 4.4, with respect to any of or all the Net Cash Proceeds of any Asset Disposition or Insurance and Condemnation Event giving rise to a prepayment pursuant to Section 4.4(b)(ii) (A) to the extent that any of or all of such Net Cash Proceeds is prohibited or delayed by Applicable Law from being distributed or otherwise transferred to the Borrower, the portion of such Net Cash Proceeds so affected will not be required to be applied to repay Loans at the times provided in Section 4.4(b)(ii), but instead, such amounts may be retained by the applicable Subsidiary so long, but only so long, as the Applicable Law will not permit such distribution or transfer (the Borrower hereby agreeing to cause the applicable Subsidiary to promptly take all actions reasonably required by the Applicable Law to permit such distribution or transfer), and once such distribution or transfer of any of such affected Net Cash Proceeds is permitted under the applicable local law, such distribution or transfer will be promptly effected and such distributed or transferred Net Cash Proceeds will be promptly (and in any event not later than three (3) Business Days after such distribution or transfer) applied (net of additional taxes payable or reserved against as a result thereof) to the prepayments pursuant to this Section 4.4(b) to the extent provided herein and (B) to the extent that Borrower has reasonably determined in good faith and as has been agreed by the Administrative Agent (acting reasonably) that distribution or other transfer of any of or all such Net Cash Proceeds (or the obligation to do so) would have a material adverse tax cost consequence (taking into account any foreign tax credit or benefit received in connection with such distribution or transfer and, for the avoidance of doubt, utilization of any net operating loss shall be deemed to be a material adverse tax consequence) with respect to such Net Cash Proceeds, the Net Cash Proceeds so affected may be retained by the applicable Subsidiary.
(viii)No Reborrowings. Amounts prepaid under the Term Loan pursuant to this Section may not be reborrowed.
ARTICLE V

GENERAL LOAN PROVISIONS
SECTION 5.1     Interest.
(a)Interest Rate Options. Subject to the provisions of this Section, at the election of the Borrower, (i) Revolving Credit Loans and Term Loans shall bear interest at (A) the Base Rate plus the Applicable Margin or (B) Adjusted Term SOFR plus the Applicable Margin (provided that Adjusted Term SOFR shall not be available until three (3) U.S. Government Securities Business Days after the Closing Date unless the Borrower has delivered to the Administrative Agent a letter in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent indemnifying the Lenders in the manner set forth in Section 5.9 of this Agreement) and (ii) any Swingline Loan shall bear interest at the Base Rate plus the Applicable Margin. The Borrower shall select the rate of interest and Interest Period, if any, applicable to any Loan at the time a Notice of Borrowing is given or at the time a Notice of Conversion/Continuation is given pursuant to Section 5.2.
(b)Default Rate. Subject to Section 10.3, (i) immediately upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default under Section 10.1(a) or (e), or (ii) at the election of the Required Lenders (or the Administrative Agent at the direction of the Required Lenders), upon the occurrence and during the continuance of any other Event of Default, (A) the Borrower shall no longer have the option to request SOFR Loans, Swingline Loans or Letters of Credit, (B) all outstanding SOFR Loans shall bear interest at a rate per annum of two percent (2%) in excess of the rate (including the Applicable Margin) then applicable to SOFR Loans until the end of the applicable Interest Period and thereafter at a rate equal to two percent (2%) in excess of the rate (including the Applicable Margin) then applicable to Base Rate Loans, (C) all outstanding Base Rate Loans and other Obligations arising hereunder or under any other Loan Document shall bear interest at a rate per annum equal to two percent (2%) in excess of the rate (including the Applicable Margin) then applicable to Base Rate Loans or such other Obligations arising
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hereunder or under any other Loan Document and (D) all accrued and unpaid interest shall be due and payable on demand of the Administrative Agent. Interest shall continue to accrue on the Obligations after the filing by or against the Borrower of any petition seeking any relief in bankruptcy or under any Debtor Relief Law.
(c)Interest Payment and Computation. Interest on each Base Rate Loan shall be due and payable in arrears on the last Business Day of each calendar quarter commencing December 31, 2022; and interest on each SOFR Loan shall be due and payable on the last day of each Interest Period applicable thereto, and if such Interest Period extends over three (3) months, at the end of each three (3) month interval during such Interest Period; provided that (i) in the event of any repayment or prepayment of any SOFR Loan, accrued interest on the principal amount repaid or prepaid shall be payable on the date of such repayment or prepayment and (ii) in the event of any conversion of any SOFR Loan prior to the end of the Interest Period therefor, accrued interest on such Loan shall be payable on the effective date of such conversion. All computations of interest for Base Rate Loans when the Base Rate is determined by the Prime Rate shall be made on the basis of a year of 365 or 366 days, as the case may be, and actual days elapsed. All other computations of fees and interest provided hereunder shall be made on the basis of a 360-day year and actual days elapsed (which results in more fees or interest, as applicable, being paid than if computed on the basis of a 365/366-day year).
(d)Maximum Rate. In no contingency or event whatsoever shall the aggregate of all amounts deemed interest under this Agreement charged or collected pursuant to the terms of this Agreement exceed the highest rate permissible under any Applicable Law which a court of competent jurisdiction shall, in a final determination, deem applicable hereto. In the event that such a court determines that the Lenders have charged or received interest hereunder in excess of the highest applicable rate, the rate in effect hereunder shall automatically be reduced to the maximum rate permitted by Applicable Law and the Lenders shall at the Administrative Agent’s option (i) promptly refund to the Borrower any interest received by the Lenders in excess of the maximum lawful rate or (ii) apply such excess to the principal balance of the Obligations. It is the intent hereof that the Borrower not pay or contract to pay, and that neither the Administrative Agent nor any Lender receive or contract to receive, directly or indirectly in any manner whatsoever, interest in excess of that which may be paid by the Borrower under Applicable Law.
(e)Term SOFR Conforming Changes. In connection with the use or administration of Term SOFR, the Administrative Agent will have the right to make Conforming Changes from time to time and, notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein or in any other Loan Document, any amendments implementing such Conforming Changes will become effective without any further action or consent of any other party to this Agreement or any other Loan Document. The Administrative Agent will promptly notify the Borrower and the Lenders of the effectiveness of any Conforming Changes in connection with the use or administration of Term SOFR.
SECTION 5.2     Notice and Manner of Conversion or Continuation of Loans. Provided that no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is then continuing, the Borrower shall have the option to (a) convert at any time following the third U.S. Government Securities Business Day after the Closing Date, all or any portion of any outstanding Base Rate Loans (other than Swingline Loans) in a principal amount equal to $5,000,000 or any whole multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof (or such lesser amount as shall represent all of the Base Rate Loans then outstanding) into one or more SOFR Loans and (b) upon the expiration of any Interest Period, (i) convert all or any part of its outstanding SOFR Loans in a principal amount equal to $5,000,000 or a whole multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof (or such lesser amount as shall represent all of the SOFR Loans then outstanding) into Base Rate Loans (other than Swingline Loans) or (ii) continue any such SOFR Loans as SOFR Loans. Whenever the Borrower desires to convert or continue Loans as provided above, the Borrower shall give the Administrative Agent irrevocable prior written notice in the form attached as Exhibit E (a “Notice of Conversion/Continuation”) not later than 12:00 noon three (3) U.S. Government Securities Business Days before the day on which a proposed conversion or continuation of such Loan is to be effective specifying (A) the Loans to be converted or continued, and, in the case of any SOFR Loan to be converted or continued, the last day of the Interest Period therefor, (B) the effective date of such conversion or continuation (which shall be a Business Day), (C) the principal amount of such Loans to be converted or continued, and (D) the Interest Period to be applicable to such converted or continued SOFR Loan. If the Borrower fails
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to give a timely Notice of Conversion/Continuation prior to the end of the Interest Period for any SOFR Loan, then the applicable SOFR Loan shall be converted to a Base Rate Loan. Any such automatic conversion to a Base Rate Loan shall be effective as of the last day of the Interest Period then in effect with respect to the applicable SOFR Loan. If the Borrower requests a conversion to, or continuation of, a SOFR Loan, but fails to specify an Interest Period, it will be deemed to have specified an Interest Period of one month. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, a Swingline Loan may not be converted to a SOFR Loan. The Administrative Agent shall promptly notify the affected Lenders of such Notice of Conversion/Continuation.
SECTION 5.3     Fees.
(a)Commitment Fee. Commencing on the Closing Date, subject to Section 5.15(a)(iii)(A), the Borrower shall pay to the Administrative Agent, for the account of the Revolving Credit Lenders, a non-refundable commitment fee (the “Commitment Fee”) at a rate per annum equal to the applicable amount for Commitment Fees as set forth in the definition of Applicable Margin on the average daily unused portion of the Revolving Credit Commitment of the Revolving Credit Lenders (other than the Defaulting Lenders, if any); provided, that the amount of outstanding Swingline Loans shall not be considered usage of the Revolving Credit Commitment for the purpose of calculating the Commitment Fee. The Commitment Fee shall be payable in arrears on the last Business Day of each calendar quarter during the term of this Agreement commencing December 31, 2022 and ending on the date upon which all Obligations (other than contingent indemnification and reimbursement obligations not then due and Obligations in respect of Secured Cash Management Agreements and Secured Hedge Obligations) arising under the Revolving Credit Facility shall have been paid and satisfied in full, all Letters of Credit have been terminated or expired (or been Cash Collateralized) and the Revolving Credit Commitment has been terminated. The Commitment Fee shall be distributed by the Administrative Agent to the Revolving Credit Lenders (other than any Defaulting Lender) pro rata in accordance with such Revolving Credit Lenders’ respective Revolving Credit Commitment Percentages.
(b)Reserved.
(c)Other Fees. The Borrower shall pay to the Arranger and the Administrative Agent for their own respective accounts fees in the amounts and at the times specified in their Fee Letter. The Borrower shall pay to the Lenders such fees as shall have been separately agreed upon in writing in the amounts and at the times so specified.
SECTION 5.4     Manner of Payment. Each payment by the Borrower on account of the principal of or interest on the Loans or of any fee, commission or other amounts (including the Reimbursement Obligation) payable to the Lenders under this Agreement shall be made not later than 2:00 p.m. on the date specified for payment under this Agreement to the Administrative Agent at the Administrative Agent’s Office for the account of the Lenders entitled to such payment in Dollars, in immediately available funds and shall be made without any setoff, counterclaim or deduction whatsoever. Any payment received after such time but before 2:00 p.m. on such day shall be deemed a payment on such date for the purposes of Section 10.1, but for all other purposes shall be deemed to have been made on the next succeeding Business Day. Any payment received after 2:00 p.m. shall be deemed to have been made on the next succeeding Business Day for all purposes. Upon receipt by the Administrative Agent of each such payment, the Administrative Agent shall distribute to each such Lender at its address for notices set forth herein its Commitment Percentage in respect of the relevant Credit Facility (or other applicable share as provided herein) of such payment and shall wire advice of the amount of such credit to each Lender. Each payment to the Administrative Agent on account of the principal of or interest on the Swingline Loans or of any fee, commission or other amounts payable to the Swingline Lender shall be made in like manner, but for the account of the Swingline Lender. Each payment to the Administrative Agent of any Issuing Lender’s fees or L/C Participants’ commissions shall be made in like manner, but for the account of such Issuing Lender or the L/C Participants, as the case may be. Each payment to the Administrative Agent of Administrative Agent’s fees or expenses shall be made for the account of the Administrative Agent and any amount payable to any Lender under Sections 5.9, 5.10, 5.11 or 12.3 shall be paid to the Administrative Agent for the account of the applicable Lender. Subject to the definition of Interest Period, if any payment under this Agreement shall be specified to be made upon a day which is not a Business Day, it shall be made on the next succeeding day which is a Business Day and such
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extension of time shall in such case be included in computing any interest if payable along with such payment. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if there exists a Defaulting Lender each payment by the Borrower to such Defaulting Lender hereunder shall be applied in accordance with Section 5.15(a)(ii).
SECTION 5.5     Evidence of Indebtedness.
(a)Extensions of Credit. The Extensions of Credit made by each Lender and each Issuing Lender shall be evidenced by one or more accounts or records maintained by such Lender or such Issuing Lender and by the Administrative Agent in the ordinary course of business. The accounts or records maintained by the Administrative Agent and each Lender or the applicable Issuing Lender shall be conclusive absent manifest error of the amount of the Extensions of Credit made by the Lenders or such Issuing Lender to the Borrower and its Subsidiaries and the interest and payments thereon. Any failure to so record or any error in doing so shall not, however, limit or otherwise affect the obligation of the Borrower hereunder to pay any amount owing with respect to the Obligations. In the event of any conflict between the accounts and records maintained by any Lender or any Issuing Lender and the accounts and records of the Administrative Agent in respect of such matters, the accounts and records of the Administrative Agent shall control in the absence of manifest error. Upon the request of any Lender made through the Administrative Agent, the Borrower shall execute and deliver to such Lender (through the Administrative Agent) a Revolving Credit Note, Term Loan Note and/or Swingline Note, as applicable, which shall evidence such Lender’s Revolving Credit Loans, Term Loans and/or Swingline Loans, as applicable, in addition to such accounts or records. Each Lender may attach schedules to its Notes and endorse thereon the date, amount and maturity of its Loans and payments with respect thereto.
(b)Participations. In addition to the accounts and records referred to in subsection (a), each Revolving Credit Lender and the Administrative Agent shall maintain in accordance with its usual practice accounts or records evidencing the purchases and sales by such Revolving Credit Lender of participations in Letters of Credit and Swingline Loans. In the event of any conflict between the accounts and records maintained by the Administrative Agent and the accounts and records of any Revolving Credit Lender in respect of such matters, the accounts and records of the Administrative Agent shall control in the absence of manifest error.
SECTION 5.6     Sharing of Payments by Lenders. If any Lender shall, by exercising any right of setoff or counterclaim or otherwise, obtain payment in respect of any principal of or interest on any of its Loans or other obligations hereunder resulting in such Lender’s receiving payment of a proportion of the aggregate amount of its Loans and accrued interest thereon or other such obligations (other than pursuant to Sections 5.9, 5.10, 5.11 or 12.3) greater than its pro rata share thereof as provided herein, then the Lender receiving such greater proportion shall (a) notify the Administrative Agent of such fact, and (b) purchase (for cash at face value) participations in the Loans and such other obligations of the other Lenders, or make such other adjustments as shall be equitable, so that the benefit of all such payments shall be shared by the Lenders ratably in accordance with the aggregate amount of principal of and accrued interest on their respective Loans and other amounts owing them; provided that:
(i)if any such participations are purchased and all or any portion of the payment giving rise thereto is recovered, such participations shall be rescinded and the purchase price restored to the extent of such recovery, without interest, and
(ii)the provisions of this paragraph shall not be construed to apply to (A) any payment made by the Borrower pursuant to and in accordance with the express terms of this Agreement (including the application of funds arising from the existence of a Defaulting Lender), (B) the application of Cash Collateral provided for in Section 3.12 or Section 5.14 or (C) any payment obtained by a Lender as consideration for the assignment of, or sale of, a participation in any of its Loans or participations in Swingline Loans and Letters of Credit to any assignee or participant, other than to the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates (as to which the provisions of this paragraph shall apply).
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Each Credit Party consents to the foregoing and agrees, to the extent it may effectively do so under Applicable Law, that any Lender acquiring a participation pursuant to the foregoing arrangements may exercise against each Credit Party rights of setoff and counterclaim with respect to such participation as fully as if such Lender were a direct creditor of each Credit Party in the amount of such participation.
SECTION 5.7     Administrative Agent’s Clawback.
(a)Funding by Lenders; Presumption by Administrative Agent. Unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from a Lender (i) in the case of Base Rate Loans, not later than 12:00 noon on the date of any proposed borrowing and (ii) otherwise, prior to the proposed date of any borrowing that such Lender will not make available to the Administrative Agent such Lender’s share of such borrowing, the Administrative Agent may assume that such Lender has made such share available on such date in accordance with Sections 2.3(b) and 4.2 and may, in reliance upon such assumption, make available to the Borrower a corresponding amount. In such event, if a Lender has not in fact made its share of the applicable borrowing available to the Administrative Agent, then the applicable Lender and the Borrower severally agree to pay to the Administrative Agent, without duplication, forthwith on demand such corresponding amount with interest thereon, for each day from and including the date such amount is made available to the Borrower to but excluding the date of payment to the Administrative Agent, at (A) in the case of a payment to be made by such Lender, the Overnight Rate and (B) in the case of a payment to be made by the Borrower, the interest rate applicable to Base Rate Loans. If the Borrower and such Lender shall pay such interest to the Administrative Agent for the same or an overlapping period, the Administrative Agent shall promptly remit to the Borrower the amount of such interest paid by the Borrower for such period. If such Lender pays its share of the applicable borrowing to the Administrative Agent, then the amount so paid shall constitute such Lender’s Loan included in such borrowing. Any payment by the Borrower shall be without prejudice to any claim the Borrower may have against a Lender that shall have failed to make such payment to the Administrative Agent.
(b)Payments by the Borrower; Presumptions by Administrative Agent. Unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from the Borrower prior to the date on which any payment is due to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Lenders, the Issuing Lenders or the Swingline Lender hereunder that the Borrower will not make such payment, the Administrative Agent may assume that the Borrower has made such payment on such date in accordance herewith and may, in reliance upon such assumption, distribute to the Lenders, the Issuing Lenders or the Swingline Lender, as the case may be, the amount due. In such event, if the Borrower has not in fact made such payment, then each of the Lenders, the Issuing Lenders or the Swingline Lender, as the case maybe, severally agrees to repay to the Administrative Agent forthwith on demand the amount so distributed to such Lender, Issuing Lender or the Swingline Lender, with interest thereon, for each day from and including the date such amount is distributed to it to but excluding the date of payment to the Administrative Agent, at the Overnight Rate.
(c)Nature of Obligations of Lenders. The obligations of the Lenders under this Agreement to make the Loans, to issue or participate in Letters of Credit and to make payments under this Section, Section 5.11(e), Section 12.3(c) or Section 12.7, as applicable, are several and are not joint or joint and several. The failure of any Lender to make available its Commitment Percentage of any Loan requested by the Borrower shall not relieve it or any other Lender of its obligation, if any, hereunder to make its Commitment Percentage of such Loan available on the borrowing date, but no Lender shall be responsible for the failure of any other Lender to make its Commitment Percentage of such Loan available on the borrowing date.
SECTION 5.8     Changed Circumstances.
(a)Circumstances Affecting Benchmark Availability. Subject to clause (c) below, in connection with any request for a SOFR Loan or a conversion to or continuation thereof or otherwise, if for any reason (i) the Administrative Agent shall determine (which determination shall be conclusive and binding absent manifest error) that reasonable and adequate means do not exist for ascertaining Adjusted Term SOFR for the applicable Interest Period with respect to a proposed SOFR Loan on or prior to the first day of such Interest Period or (ii) the Required Lenders shall determine (which determination shall be conclusive and binding absent manifest error) that Adjusted Term SOFR does not adequately and fairly
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reflect the cost to such Lenders of making or maintaining such Loans during such Interest Period and, in the case of clause (ii), the Required Lenders have provided notice of such determination to the Administrative Agent, then, in each case, the Administrative Agent shall promptly give notice thereof to the Borrower. Upon notice thereof by the Administrative Agent to the Borrower, any obligation of the Lenders to make SOFR Loans, and any right of the Borrower to convert any Loan to or continue any Loan as a SOFR Loan, shall be suspended (to the extent of the affected SOFR Loans or the affected Interest Periods) until the Administrative Agent (with respect to clause (ii), at the instruction of the Required Lenders) revokes such notice. Upon receipt of such notice, (A) the Borrower may revoke any pending request for a borrowing of, conversion to or continuation of SOFR Loans (to the extent of the affected SOFR Loans or the affected Interest Periods) or, failing that, the Borrower will be deemed to have converted any such request into a request for a borrowing of or conversion to Base Rate Loans in the amount specified therein and (B) any outstanding affected SOFR Loans will be deemed to have been converted into Base Rate Loans at the end of the applicable Interest Period. Upon any such prepayment or conversion, the Borrower shall also pay accrued interest on the amount so prepaid or converted, together with any additional amounts required pursuant to Section 5.9.
(b)Laws Affecting SOFR Availability. If, after the date hereof, the introduction of, or any change in, any Applicable Law or any change in the interpretation or administration thereof by any Governmental Authority, central bank or comparable agency charged with the interpretation or administration thereof, or compliance by any of the Lenders (or any of their respective Lending Offices) with any request or directive (whether or not having the force of law) of any such Governmental Authority, central bank or comparable agency, shall make it unlawful or impossible for any of the Lenders (or any of their respective Lending Offices) to honor its obligations hereunder to make or maintain any SOFR Loan, or to determine or charge interest based upon SOFR, the Term SOFR Reference Rate, Adjusted Term SOFR or Term SOFR, such Lender shall promptly give notice thereof to the Administrative Agent and the Administrative Agent shall promptly give notice to the Borrower and the other Lenders (an “Illegality Notice”). Thereafter, until each affected Lender notifies the Administrative Agent and the Administrative Agent notifies the Borrower that the circumstances giving rise to such determination no longer exist, (i) any obligation of the Lenders to make SOFR Loans, and any right of the Borrower to convert any Loan to a SOFR Loan or continue any Loan as a SOFR Loan, shall be suspended and (ii) if necessary to avoid such illegality, the Administrative Agent shall compute the Base Rate without reference to clause (c) of the definition of “Base Rate”. Upon receipt of an Illegality Notice, the Borrower shall, if necessary to avoid such illegality, upon demand from any Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), prepay or, if applicable, convert all SOFR Loans to Base Rate Loans (in each case, if necessary to avoid such illegality, the Administrative Agent shall compute the Base Rate without reference to clause (c) of the definition of “Base Rate”), on the last day of the Interest Period therefor, if all affected Lenders may lawfully continue to maintain such SOFR Loans to such day, or immediately, if any Lender may not lawfully continue to maintain such SOFR Loans to such day. Upon any such prepayment or conversion, the Borrower shall also pay accrued interest on the amount so prepaid or converted, together with any additional amounts required pursuant to Section 5.9.
(c)Benchmark Replacement Setting.
(i)Benchmark Replacement. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein or in any other Loan Document, upon the occurrence of a Benchmark Transition Event, the Administrative Agent and the Borrower may amend this Agreement to replace the then-current Benchmark with a Benchmark Replacement. Any such amendment with respect to a Benchmark Transition Event will become effective at 5:00 p.m. on the fifth (5th) Business Day after the Administrative Agent has posted such proposed amendment to all affected Lenders and the Borrower so long as the Administrative Agent has not received, by such time, written notice of objection to such amendment from Lenders comprising the Required Lenders. No replacement of a Benchmark with a Benchmark Replacement pursuant to this Section 5.8(c)(i)(A) will occur prior to the applicable Benchmark Transition Start Date.
(ii)Benchmark Replacement Conforming Changes. In connection with the use, administration, adoption or implementation of a Benchmark Replacement, the Administrative Agent will have the right to make Conforming Changes from time to time and, notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein or in any other Loan Document, any amendments implementing
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such Conforming Changes will become effective without any further action or consent of any other party to this Agreement or any other Loan Document.
(iii)Notices; Standards for Decisions and Determinations. The Administrative Agent will promptly notify the Borrower and the Lenders of (A) the implementation of any Benchmark Replacement and (B) the effectiveness of any Conforming Changes in connection with the use, administration, adoption or implementation of a Benchmark Replacement. The Administrative Agent will promptly notify the Borrower of the removal or reinstatement of any tenor of a Benchmark pursuant to Section 5.8(c)(iv). Any determination, decision or election that may be made by the Administrative Agent or, if applicable, any Lender (or group of Lenders) pursuant to this Section 5.8(c), including any determination with respect to a tenor, rate or adjustment or of the occurrence or non-occurrence of an event, circumstance or date and any decision to take or refrain from taking any action or any selection, will be conclusive and binding absent manifest error and may be made in its or their sole discretion and without consent from any other party to this Agreement or any other Loan Document, except, in each case, as expressly required pursuant to this Section 5.8(c).
(iv)Unavailability of Tenor of Benchmark. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein or in any other Loan Document, at any time (including in connection with the implementation of a Benchmark Replacement), (A) if the then-current Benchmark is a term rate (including the Term SOFR Reference Rate) and either (1) any tenor for such Benchmark is not displayed on a screen or other information service that publishes such rate from time to time as selected by the Administrative Agent in its reasonable discretion or (2) the regulatory supervisor for the administrator of such Benchmark has provided a public statement or publication of information announcing that any tenor for such Benchmark is not or will not be representative, then the Administrative Agent may modify the definition of “Interest Period” (or any similar or analogous definition) for any Benchmark settings at or after such time to remove such unavailable or non-representative tenor and (B) if a tenor that was removed pursuant to clause (A) above either (1) is subsequently displayed on a screen or information service for a Benchmark (including a Benchmark Replacement) or (2) is not, or is no longer, subject to an announcement that it is not or will not be representative for a Benchmark (including a Benchmark Replacement), then the Administrative Agent may modify the definition of “Interest Period” (or any similar or analogous definition) for all Benchmark settings at or after such time to reinstate such previously removed tenor.
(v)Benchmark Unavailability Period. Upon the Borrower’s receipt of notice of the commencement of a Benchmark Unavailability Period, (A) the Borrower may revoke any pending request for a borrowing of, conversion to or continuation of SOFR Loans to be made, converted or continued during any Benchmark Unavailability Period and, failing that, the Borrower will be deemed to have converted any such request into a request for a borrowing of or conversion to Base Rate Loans and (B) any outstanding affected SOFR Loans will be deemed to have been converted to Base Rate Loans at the end of the applicable Interest Period. During any Benchmark Unavailability Period or at any time that a tenor for the then-current Benchmark is not an Available Tenor, the component of the Base Rate based upon the then-current Benchmark or such tenor for such Benchmark, as applicable, will not be used in any determination of the Base Rate.
(d)Illegality. If, in any applicable jurisdiction, the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Lender or any Lender determines that any Applicable Law has made it unlawful, or that any Governmental Authority has asserted that it is unlawful, for the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Lender or any Lender to (i) perform any of its obligations hereunder or under any other Loan Document, (ii) to fund or maintain its participation in any Loan or (iii) issue, make, maintain, fund or charge interest or fees with respect to any Extension of Credit, such Person shall promptly notify the Administrative Agent, then, upon the Administrative Agent notifying the Borrower, and until such notice by such Person is revoked, any obligation of such Person to issue, make, maintain, fund or charge interest or fees with respect to any such Extension of Credit shall be suspended, and to the extent required by Applicable Law, cancelled. Upon receipt of such notice, the Credit Parties shall, (A) repay that Person’s participation in the Loans or other applicable Obligations on the last day of the Interest Period for each Loan, or on another applicable date
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with respect to another Obligation, occurring after the Administrative Agent has notified the Borrower or, in each case, if earlier, the date specified by such Person in the notice delivered to the Administrative Agent (being no earlier than the last day of any applicable grace period permitted by Applicable Law) and (B) take all reasonable actions requested by such Person to mitigate or avoid such illegality.
SECTION 5.9     Indemnity. The Borrower hereby indemnifies each of the Lenders against any loss, cost or expense (including any loss, cost or expense arising from the liquidation or reemployment of funds or from any fees payable) which may arise, be attributable to or result due to or as a consequence of (a) any failure by the Borrower to make any payment when due of any amount due hereunder in connection with a SOFR Loan, (b) any failure of the Borrower to borrow or continue a SOFR Loan or convert to a SOFR Loan on a date specified therefor in a Notice of Borrowing or Notice of Conversion/Continuation, (c) any failure of the Borrower to prepay any SOFR Loan on a date specified therefor in any Notice of Prepayment, (d) any payment, prepayment or conversion of any SOFR Loan on a date other than the last day of the Interest Period therefor (including as a result of an Event of Default) or (e) the assignment of any SOFR Loan other than on the last day of the Interest Period applicable thereto as a result of a request by the Borrower pursuant to Section 5.12(b). A certificate of such Lender setting forth in reasonable detail the basis for determining such amount or amounts necessary to compensate such Lender shall be forwarded to the Borrower through the Administrative Agent and shall be conclusively presumed to be correct save for manifest error. All of the obligations of the Credit Parties under this Section 5.9 shall survive the resignation or replacement of the Administrative Agent or any assignment of rights by, or the replacement of, a Lender, the termination of the Commitments and the repayment, satisfaction or discharge of all obligations under any Loan Document.
SECTION 5.10     Increased Costs.
(a)Increased Costs Generally. If any Change in Law shall:
(i)impose, modify or deem applicable any reserve (including pursuant to regulations issued from time to time by the FRB for determining the maximum reserve requirement (including any emergency, special, supplemental or other marginal reserve requirement) with respect to eurocurrency funding (currently referred to as “Eurocurrency liabilities” in Regulation D of the FRB, as amended and in effect from time to time)), special deposit, compulsory loan, insurance charge or similar requirement against assets of, deposits with or for the account of, or advances, loans or other credit extended or participated in by, any Lender or any Issuing Lender;
(ii)subject any Recipient to any Taxes (other than (A) Indemnified Taxes, (B) Taxes described in clauses (b) through (d) of the definition of Excluded Taxes and (C) Connection Income Taxes) on its loans, loan principal, letters of credit, commitments, or other obligations, or its deposits, reserves, other liabilities or capital attributable thereto; or
(iii)impose on any Lender or any Issuing Lender any other condition, cost or expense (other than Taxes) affecting this Agreement or Loans made by such Lender or any Letter of Credit or participation therein;
and the result of any of the foregoing shall be to increase the cost to such Lender, any Issuing Lender or such other Recipient of making, converting to, continuing or maintaining any Loan (or of maintaining its obligation to make any such Loan), or to increase the cost to such Lender, such Issuing Lender or such other Recipient of participating in, issuing or maintaining any Letter of Credit (or of maintaining its obligation to participate in or to issue any Letter of Credit), or to reduce the amount of any sum received or receivable by such Lender, such Issuing Lender or such other Recipient hereunder (whether of principal, interest or any other amount) then, upon written request of such Lender, such Issuing Lender or other Recipient, the Borrower shall promptly pay to any such Lender, such Issuing Lender or other Recipient, as the case may be, such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender, such Issuing Lender or other Recipient, as the case may be, for such additional costs incurred or reduction suffered. Any demand for compensation pursuant to this Section 5.10(a) shall be made only to the extent such Lender, Issuing Lender or other Recipient is making similar demand with respect to its similarly
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situated commercial borrowers generally where such Lender, Issuing Lender, or other Recipient has the legal right to make such demand.
(b)Capital Requirements. If any Lender or any Issuing Lender determines that any Change in Law affecting such Lender or such Issuing Lender or any Lending Office of such Lender or such Lender’s or such Issuing Lender’s holding company, if any, regarding capital or liquidity requirements, has or would have the effect of reducing the rate of return on such Lender’s or such Issuing Lender’s capital or on the capital of such Lender’s or such Issuing Lender’s holding company, if any, as a consequence of this Agreement, the Revolving Credit Commitment of such Lender or the Loans made by, or participations in Letters of Credit or Swingline Loans held by, such Lender, or the Letters of Credit issued by such Issuing Lender, to a level below that which such Lender or such Issuing Lender or such Lender’s or such Issuing Lender’s holding company could have achieved but for such Change in Law (taking into consideration such Lender’s or such Issuing Lender’s policies and the policies of such Lender’s or such Issuing Lender’s holding company with respect to capital adequacy and liquidity), then from time to time upon written request of such Lender or such Issuing Lender the Borrower shall promptly pay to such Lender or such Issuing Lender, as the case may be, such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender or such Issuing Lender or such Lender’s or such Issuing Lender’s holding company for any such reduction suffered. Any demand for compensation pursuant to this Section 5.10(b) shall be made only to the extent such Lender, Issuing Lender or other Recipient is making similar demand with respect to its similarly situated commercial borrowers generally where such Lender, Issuing Lender, or other Recipient has the legal right to make such demand.
(c)Certificates for Reimbursement. A certificate of a Lender, or an Issuing Lender or such other Recipient setting forth in reasonable detail the amount or amounts necessary to compensate such Lender or such Issuing Lender, such other Recipient or any of their respective holding companies, as the case may be, as specified in paragraph (a) or (b) of this Section and delivered to the Borrower, shall be conclusive absent manifest error. The Borrower shall pay such Lender or such Issuing Lender or such other Recipient, as the case may be, the amount shown as due on any such certificate within ten (10) days after receipt thereof.
(d)Delay in Requests. Failure or delay on the part of any Lender or any Issuing Lender or such other Recipient to demand compensation pursuant to this Section shall not constitute a waiver of such Lender’s or such Issuing Lender’s or such other Recipient’s right to demand such compensation; provided that the Borrower shall not be required to compensate any Lender or an Issuing Lender or any other Recipient pursuant to this Section for any increased costs incurred or reductions suffered more than one hundred eighty (180) days prior to the date that such Lender or such Issuing Lender or such other Recipient, as the case may be, notifies the Borrower of the Change in Law giving rise to such increased costs or reductions, and of such Lender’s or such Issuing Lender’s or such other Recipient’s intention to claim compensation therefor (except that if the Change in Law giving rise to such increased costs or reductions is retroactive, then the nine-month period referred to above shall be extended to include the period of retroactive effect thereof).
(e)Survival. All of the obligations of the Credit Parties under this Section 5.10 shall survive the resignation or replacement of the Administrative Agent or any assignment of rights by, or the replacement of, a Lender, the termination of the Commitments and the repayment, satisfaction or discharge of all obligations under any Loan Document.
SECTION 5.11     Taxes.
(a)Defined Terms. For purposes of this Section 5.11, the term “Lender” includes any Issuing Lender and the term “Applicable Law” includes FATCA.
(b)Payments Free of Taxes. Any and all payments by or on account of any obligation of any Credit Party under any Loan Document shall be made without deduction or withholding for any Taxes, except as required by Applicable Law. If any Applicable Law (as determined in the good faith discretion of an applicable Withholding Agent) requires the deduction or withholding of any Tax from any such payment by a Withholding Agent, then the applicable Withholding Agent shall be entitled to make such deduction or withholding and shall timely pay the full amount deducted or withheld to the relevant
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Governmental Authority in accordance with Applicable Law and, if such Tax is an Indemnified Tax, then the sum payable by the applicable Credit Party shall be increased as necessary so that, after such deduction or withholding has been made (including such deductions and withholdings applicable to additional sums payable under this Section), the applicable Recipient receives an amount equal to the sum it would have received had no such deduction or withholding been made.
(c)Payment of Other Taxes by the Credit Parties. The Credit Parties shall timely pay to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with Applicable Law, or at the option of the Administrative Agent timely reimburse it for the payment of, any Other Taxes.
(d)Indemnification by the Credit Parties. The Credit Parties shall jointly and severally indemnify each Recipient, within ten (10) days after demand therefor, for the full amount of any Indemnified Taxes (including Indemnified Taxes imposed or asserted on or attributable to amounts payable under this Section) payable or paid by such Recipient or required to be withheld or deducted from a payment to such Recipient and any reasonable expenses arising therefrom or with respect thereto, whether or not such Indemnified Taxes were correctly or legally imposed or asserted by the relevant Governmental Authority. A certificate as to the amount of such payment or liability delivered to the Borrower by a Recipient (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), or by the Administrative Agent on its own behalf or on behalf of a Recipient, shall be conclusive absent manifest error.
(e)Indemnification by the Lenders. Each Lender shall severally indemnify the Administrative Agent, within ten (10) days after demand therefor, for (i) any Indemnified Taxes attributable to such Lender (but only to the extent that any Credit Party has not already indemnified the Administrative Agent for such Indemnified Taxes and without limiting the obligation of the Credit Parties to do so), (ii) any Taxes attributable to such Lender’s failure to comply with the provisions of Section 12.9(d) relating to the maintenance of a Participant Register and (iii) any Excluded Taxes attributable to such Lender, in each case, that are payable or paid by the Administrative Agent in connection with any Loan Document, and any reasonable expenses arising therefrom or with respect thereto, whether or not such Taxes were correctly or legally imposed or asserted by the relevant Governmental Authority. A certificate as to the amount of such payment or liability delivered to any Lender by the Administrative Agent shall be conclusive absent manifest error. Each Lender hereby authorizes the Administrative Agent to setoff and apply any and all amounts at any time owing to such Lender under any Loan Document or otherwise payable by the Administrative Agent to the Lender from any other source against any amount due to the Administrative Agent under this paragraph (e).
(f)Evidence of Payments. As soon as practicable after any payment of Taxes by any Credit Party to a Governmental Authority pursuant to this Section 5.11, such Credit Party shall deliver to the Administrative Agent the original or a certified copy of a receipt issued by such Governmental Authority evidencing such payment, a copy of the return reporting such payment or other evidence of such payment reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.
(g)Status of Lenders.
(i)Any Lender that is entitled to an exemption from or reduction of withholding Tax with respect to payments made under any Loan Document shall deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent, at the time or times reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, such properly completed and executed documentation reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent as will permit such payments to be made without withholding or at a reduced rate of withholding. In addition, any Lender, if reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, shall deliver such other documentation prescribed by Applicable Law or reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent as will enable the Borrower or the Administrative Agent to determine whether or not such Lender is subject to backup withholding or information reporting requirements. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the preceding two sentences, the completion, execution and submission of such documentation (other than such documentation set forth in Section 5.11(g)(ii)(A), (ii)(B) and (ii)(D) below) shall not be required if in the Lender’s reasonable judgment such completion, execution or submission would subject such Lender to any
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material unreimbursed cost or expense or would materially prejudice the legal or commercial position of such Lender.
(ii)Without limiting the generality of the foregoing:
(A)any Lender that is a U.S. Person shall deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent on or prior to the date on which such Lender becomes a Lender under this Agreement (and from time to time thereafter upon the reasonable request of the Borrower or the Administrative Agent), executed copies of IRS Form W-9 certifying that such Lender is exempt from United States federal backup withholding tax;
(B)any Foreign Lender shall, to the extent it is legally entitled to do so, deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent (in such number of copies as shall be requested by the recipient) on or prior to the date on which such Foreign Lender becomes a Lender under this Agreement (and from time to time thereafter upon the reasonable request of the Borrower or the Administrative Agent), whichever of the following is applicable:
(1)in the case of a Foreign Lender claiming the benefits of an income tax treaty to which the United States is a party (x) with respect to payments of interest under any Loan Document, executed copies of IRS Form W-8BEN-E establishing an exemption from, or reduction of, United States federal withholding Tax pursuant to the “interest” article of such tax treaty and (y) with respect to any other applicable payments under any Loan Document, IRS Form W-8BEN-E establishing an exemption from, or reduction of, United States federal withholding Tax pursuant to the “business profits” or “other income” article of such tax treaty;
(2)executed copies of IRS Form W-8ECI;
(3)in the case of a Foreign Lender claiming the benefits of the exemption for portfolio interest under Section 881(c) of the Code, (x) a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit H-1 to the effect that such Foreign Lender is not a “bank” within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Code, a “10 percent shareholder” of the Borrower within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(B) of the Code, or a “controlled foreign corporation” described in Section 881(c)(3)(C) of the Code (a “U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate”) and (y) executed copies of IRS Form W-8BEN-E; or
(4)to the extent a Foreign Lender is not the beneficial owner, executed copies of IRS Form W-8IMY, accompanied by IRS Form W-8ECI, IRS Form W-8BEN-E, a U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit H-2 or Exhibit H-3, IRS Form W-9, and/or other certification documents from each beneficial owner, as applicable; provided that if the Foreign Lender is a partnership and one or more direct or indirect partners of such Foreign Lender are claiming the portfolio interest exemption, such Foreign Lender may provide a U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit H-4 on behalf of each such direct and indirect partner;
(C)any Foreign Lender shall, to the extent it is legally entitled to do so, deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent (in such number of copies as shall be requested by the recipient) on or prior to the date on which such Foreign Lender becomes a Lender under this Agreement (and from time to time thereafter upon the reasonable request of the Borrower or the Administrative Agent), executed copies of any other form prescribed by Applicable Law as a basis for claiming exemption from or a reduction in United States federal withholding Tax, duly completed, together with such supplementary documentation as may be prescribed by Applicable Law to permit the
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Borrower or the Administrative Agent to determine the withholding or deduction required to be made; and
(D)if a payment made to a Lender under any Loan Document would be subject to United States federal withholding Tax imposed by FATCA if such Lender were to fail to comply with the applicable reporting requirements of FATCA (including those contained in Section 1471(b) or 1472(b) of the Code, as applicable), such Lender shall deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent at the time or times prescribed by law and at such time or times reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent such documentation prescribed by Applicable Law (including as prescribed by Section 1471(b)(3)(C)(i) of the Code) and such additional documentation reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent as may be necessary for the Borrower and the Administrative Agent to comply with their obligations under FATCA and to determine that such Lender has complied with such Lender’s obligations under FATCA or to determine the amount to deduct and withhold from such payment. Solely for purposes of this clause (D), “FATCA” shall include any amendments made to FATCA after the date of this Agreement.
(h)Each Lender agrees that if any form or certification it previously delivered expires or becomes obsolete or inaccurate in any respect, it shall update such form or certification or promptly notify the Borrower and the Administrative Agent in writing of its legal inability to do so.
(i)Treatment of Certain Refunds. If any party determines, in its sole discretion exercised in good faith, that it has received a refund of any Taxes as to which it has been indemnified pursuant to this Section 5.11 (including by the payment of additional amounts pursuant to this Section 5.11), it shall pay to the indemnifying party an amount equal to such refund (but only to the extent of indemnity payments made under this Section with respect to the Taxes giving rise to such refund), net of all out-of-pocket expenses (including Taxes) of such indemnified party and without interest (other than any interest paid by the relevant Governmental Authority with respect to such refund). Such indemnifying party, upon the request of such indemnified party, shall repay to such indemnified party the amount paid over pursuant to this paragraph (h) (plus any penalties, interest or other charges imposed by the relevant Governmental Authority) in the event that such indemnified party is required to repay such refund to such Governmental Authority. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this paragraph (h), in no event will the indemnified party be required to pay any amount to an indemnifying party pursuant to this paragraph (h) the payment of which would place the indemnified party in a less favorable net after-Tax position than the indemnified party would have been in if the Tax subject to indemnification and giving rise to such refund had not been deducted, withheld or otherwise imposed and the indemnification payments or additional amounts with respect to such Tax had never been paid. This paragraph shall not be construed to require any indemnified party to make available its Tax returns (or any other information relating to its Taxes that it deems confidential) to the indemnifying party or any other Person.
(j)Survival. Each party’s obligations under this Section 5.11 shall survive the resignation or replacement of the Administrative Agent or any assignment of rights by, or the replacement of, a Lender, the termination of the Commitments and the repayment, satisfaction or discharge of all obligations under any Loan Document.
SECTION 5.12     Mitigation Obligations; Replacement of Lenders.
(a)Designation of a Different Lending Office. If any Lender requests compensation under Section 5.10, or requires the Borrower to pay any Indemnified Taxes or additional amounts to any Lender or any Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender pursuant to Section 5.11, then such Lender shall, at the request of the Borrower, use reasonable efforts to designate a different Lending Office for funding or booking its Loans hereunder or to assign its rights and obligations hereunder to another of its offices, branches or affiliates, if, in the judgment of such Lender, such designation or assignment (i) would eliminate or reduce amounts payable pursuant to Section 5.10 or Section 5.11, as the case may be, in the future and (ii) would not subject such Lender to any unreimbursed cost or expense and would
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not otherwise be disadvantageous to such Lender. The Borrower hereby agrees to pay all reasonable costs and expenses incurred by any Lender in connection with any such designation or assignment.
(b)Replacement of Lenders. If any Lender requests compensation under Section 5.10, or if the Borrower is required to pay any Indemnified Taxes or additional amounts to any Lender or any Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender pursuant to Section 5.11, and, in each case, such Lender has declined or is unable to designate a different Lending Office in accordance with Section 5.12(a), or if any Lender is a Defaulting Lender or a Non-Consenting Lender, then the Borrower may, at its sole expense and effort, upon notice to such Lender and the Administrative Agent, require such Lender to assign and delegate, without recourse (in accordance with and subject to the restrictions contained in, and consents required by, Section 12.9), all of its interests, rights (other than its existing rights to payments pursuant to Section 5.10 or Section 5.11) and obligations under this Agreement and the related Loan Documents to an Eligible Assignee that shall assume such obligations (which assignee may be another Lender, if a Lender accepts such assignment); provided that:
(i)the Borrower shall have paid to the Administrative Agent the assignment fee (if any) specified in Section 12.9;
(ii)such Lender shall have received payment of an amount equal to the outstanding principal of its Loans and funded participations in Letters of Credit and Swingline Loans, accrued interest thereon, accrued fees and all other amounts payable to it hereunder and under the other Loan Documents (including any amounts under Section 5.9) from the assignee (to the extent of such outstanding principal and accrued interest and fees) or the Borrower (in the case of all other amounts);
(iii)in the case of any such assignment resulting from a claim for compensation under Section 5.10 or payments required to be made pursuant to Section 5.11, such assignment will result in a reduction in such compensation or payments thereafter;
(iv)such assignment does not conflict with Applicable Law; and
(v)in the case of any assignment resulting from a Lender becoming a Non-Consenting Lender, the applicable assignee shall have consented to the applicable amendment, waiver or consent.
A Lender shall not be required to make any such assignment or delegation if, prior thereto, as a result of a waiver by such Lender or otherwise, the circumstances entitling the Borrower to require such assignment and delegation cease to apply. Each party hereto agrees that an assignment and delegation required pursuant to this paragraph may be effected pursuant to an Assignment and Assumption executed by the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the assignee and that the Lender required to make such assignment and delegation need not be a party thereto.
(c)Selection of Lending Office. Subject to Section 5.12(a), each Lender may make any Loan to the Borrower through any Lending Office, provided that the exercise of this option shall not affect the obligations of the Borrower to repay the Loan in accordance with the terms of this Agreement or otherwise alter the rights of the parties hereto.
SECTION 5.13     Incremental Increases.
(a)Request for Incremental Increase. At any time after the Closing Date, upon written notice to the Administrative Agent, the Borrower may, from time to time, request (i) one or more incremental term loan commitments (an “Incremental Term Loan Commitment”) to make one or more additional term loans (which may include a borrowing of an additional term loan the principal amount of which will be added to the outstanding principal amount of the existing tranche of Term Loans with the latest scheduled maturity date) (any such additional term loan, an “Incremental Term Loan”) and/or (ii) one or more increases in the Revolving Credit Commitments (each, a “Incremental Revolving Credit
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Facility Increase” and, together with the Incremental Term Loan Commitments and Incremental Term Loans, the “Incremental Increases”); provided that (A) the aggregate initial principal amount of such requested Incremental Increase shall not exceed the Incremental Facilities Limit, (B) any such Incremental Increase shall be in a minimum amount of $1,000,000 (or such lesser amount as agreed to by the Administrative Agent) or, if less, the remaining amount of the Incremental Facilities Limit, (C) no Lender will be required or otherwise obligated to provide any portion of such Incremental Increase and (D) no more than five (5) Incremental Increases shall be permitted to be requested during the term of this Agreement.
(b)Incremental Lenders. Each notice from the Borrower pursuant to this Section 5.13 shall set forth the requested amount and proposed terms of the relevant Incremental Increase. Incremental Increases may be provided by any existing Lender or by any other Persons (each such Lender or other Person, an “Incremental Lender”); provided that the Administrative Agent, each Issuing Lender and/or the Swingline Lender, as applicable, shall have consented (not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed) to such Incremental Lender’s providing such Incremental Increases to the extent any such consent would be required under Section 12.9(b) for an assignment of Loans or Commitments, as applicable, to such Incremental Lender. At the time of sending such notice, the Borrower (in consultation with the Administrative Agent) shall specify the time period within which each proposed Incremental Lender is requested to respond, which shall in no event be less than ten (10) Business Days from the date of delivery of such notice to the proposed Incremental Lenders (or such shorter period as agreed to by the Administrative Agent). Each proposed Incremental Lender may elect or decline, in its sole discretion, and shall notify the Administrative Agent within such time period whether it agrees, to provide an Incremental Increase and, if so, whether by an amount equal to, greater than or less than requested. Any Person not responding within such time period shall be deemed to have declined to provide an Incremental Increase.
(c)Increase Effective Date and Allocations. The Administrative Agent and the Borrower shall determine the effective date (the “Increase Effective Date”) and the final allocation of such Incremental Increase (limited in the case of the Incremental Lenders to their own respective allocations thereof). The Administrative Agent shall promptly notify the Borrower and the Incremental Lenders of the final allocation of such Incremental Increases and the Increase Effective Date.
(d)Terms of Incremental Increases. The terms of each Incremental Increase (which shall be set forth in the relevant Incremental Amendment) shall be determined by the Borrower and the applicable Incremental Lenders; provided that:
(i)in the case of each Incremental Term Loan:
(A)the maturity of any such Incremental Term Loan shall not be earlier than the then latest scheduled maturity date of the Loans and Commitments in effect as of the Increase Effective Date and the Weighted Average Life to Maturity of any such Incremental Term Loan shall not be shorter than the remaining Weighted Average Life to Maturity of such latest maturing Term Loans;
(B)the All-In Yield and pricing grid, if applicable, for such Incremental Term Loan shall be determined by the Administrative Agent, the applicable Incremental Lenders and the Borrower on the applicable Increase Effective Date; provided that if the All-In Yield in respect of any Incremental Term Loan exceeds the All-In Yield for the Initial Term Loan by more than 0.50%, then the Applicable Margin for the Initial Term Loan shall be increased so that the All-In Yield in respect of such Initial Term Loan is equal to the All-In Yield for the Incremental Term Loan minus 0.50%;
(C)any mandatory prepayment (other than scheduled amortization payments) of each Incremental Term Loan shall be made on a pro rata basis with all then existing Term Loans, except that the Borrower and the Incremental Lenders in respect of such Incremental Term Loan may, in their sole discretion, elect to prepay or receive, as applicable, any prepayments on a less than pro rata basis (but not on a greater than pro rata basis); and
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(D)except as provided above, all other terms and conditions applicable to any Incremental Term Loan shall be consistent with the terms and conditions applicable to the Initial Term Loan or otherwise reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the Borrower (provided that such other terms and conditions, taken as a whole, shall not be more favorable to the Lenders under any Incremental Term Loans than such other terms and conditions, taken as a whole, under the Initial Term Loans);
(ii)in the case of each Incremental Revolving Credit Facility Increase:
(A)each such Incremental Revolving Credit Facility Increase shall have the same terms, including maturity, Applicable Margin and Commitment Fees, as the Revolving Credit Facility; provided that (x) any upfront fees payable by the Borrower to the Lenders under any Incremental Revolving Credit Facility Increases may differ from those payable under the then existing Revolving Credit Commitments and (y) the Applicable Margins or Commitment Fees or interest rate floor applicable to any Incremental Revolving Credit Facility Increase may be higher than the Applicable Margins or Commitment Fees or interest rate floor applicable to the Revolving Credit Facility if the Applicable Margins or Commitment Fees or interest rate floor applicable to the Revolving Credit Facility are increased to equal the Applicable Margins and Commitment Fees and interest rate floor applicable to such Incremental Revolving Credit Facility Increase; and
(B)the outstanding Revolving Credit Loans and Revolving Credit Commitment Percentages of Swingline Loans and L/C Obligations will be reallocated by the Administrative Agent on the applicable Increase Effective Date among the Revolving Credit Lenders (including the Incremental Lenders providing such Incremental Revolving Credit Facility Increase) in accordance with their revised Revolving Credit Commitment Percentages (and the Revolving Credit Lenders (including the Incremental Lenders providing such Incremental Revolving Credit Facility Increase) agree to make all payments and adjustments necessary to effect such reallocation and the Borrower shall pay any and all costs required pursuant to Section 5.9 in connection with such reallocation as if such reallocation were a repayment); and
(iii)each Incremental Increase shall constitute Obligations of the Borrower and will be guaranteed by the Guarantors and secured on a pari passu basis with the other Secured Obligations.
(e)Conditions to Effectiveness of Incremental Increases. Any Incremental Increase shall become effective as of such Increase Effective Date and shall be subject to the following conditions precedent, which, in the case of an Incremental Term Loan the primary purpose of which is to finance a substantially concurrent Limited Condition Transaction, shall be subject to Section 1.10:
(i)no Default or Event of Default shall exist on such Increase Effective Date immediately prior to or after giving effect to (A) such Incremental Increase or (B) the making of the initial Extensions of Credit pursuant thereto;
(ii)all of the representations and warranties set forth in Article VII shall be true and correct in all material respects (or if qualified by materiality or Material Adverse Effect, in all respects) as of such Increase Effective Date, or if such representation speaks as of an earlier date, as of such earlier date;
(iii)the Administrative Agent shall have received from the Borrower, a Compliance Certificate demonstrating that (A) the Borrower is in compliance with the financial covenants set forth in Section 8.9 (giving effect to the Leverage Increase, if applicable) and (B) the Consolidated Total Net Leverage Ratio is less than the maximum Consolidated Total Net Leverage Ratio in effect as of the Increase Effective Date pursuant to Section 8.9(a) (giving effect to the Leverage Increase, if applicable), in each case based on the financial statements for the most recently completed Reference Period that have been delivered pursuant hereto, both before
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and after giving effect on a Pro Forma Basis to the incurrence of any such Incremental Increase (and assuming that any such Incremental Revolving Credit Facility Increase is fully drawn) and any Permitted Acquisition, refinancing of Indebtedness or other event consummated in connection therewith giving rise to a Pro Forma Basis adjustment;
(iv)the Credit Parties shall have executed an Incremental Amendment in form and substance reasonably acceptable to the Borrower and the applicable Incremental Lenders; and
(v)the Administrative Agent shall have received from the Borrower, any customary legal opinions or other documents (including a resolution duly adopted by the board of directors (or equivalent governing body) of each Credit Party authorizing such Incremental Increase) reasonably requested by Administrative Agent in connection with such Incremental Increase.
(f)Incremental Amendments. Each such Incremental Increase shall be effected pursuant to an amendment (an “Incremental Amendment”) to this Agreement and, as appropriate, the other Loan Documents, executed by the Credit Parties, the Administrative Agent and the applicable Incremental Lenders, which Incremental Amendment may, without the consent of any other Lenders, effect such amendments to this Agreement and the other Loan Documents as may be necessary or appropriate, in the reasonable opinion of the Administrative Agent, to effect the provisions of this Section 5.13.
(g)Use of Proceeds. The proceeds of any Incremental Increase may be used by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries for working capital and other general corporate purposes, including the financing of Permitted Acquisitions and other Investments permitted hereunder and any other use not prohibited by this Agreement.
SECTION 5.14     Cash Collateral. At any time that there shall exist a Defaulting Lender, within one Business Day following the written request of the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent) or the Swingline Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), the Borrower shall Cash Collateralize the Fronting Exposure of such Issuing Lender and/or the Swingline Lender, as applicable, with respect to such Defaulting Lender (determined after giving effect to Section 5.15(a)(iv) and any Cash Collateral provided by such Defaulting Lender) in an amount not less than the Minimum Collateral Amount.
(a)Grant of Security Interest. The Borrower, and to the extent provided by any Defaulting Lender, such Defaulting Lender, hereby grants to the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of each Issuing Lender and the Swingline Lender, and agrees to maintain, a first priority security interest in all such Cash Collateral as security for the Defaulting Lender’s obligation to fund participations in respect of L/C Obligations and Swingline Loans, to be applied pursuant to subsection (b) below. If at any time the Administrative Agent determines that Cash Collateral is subject to any right or claim of any Person other than the Administrative Agent, each Issuing Lender and the Swingline Lender as herein provided, or that the total amount of such Cash Collateral is less than the Minimum Collateral Amount, the Borrower will, promptly upon demand by the Administrative Agent, pay or provide to the Administrative Agent additional Cash Collateral in an amount sufficient to eliminate such deficiency (after giving effect to any Cash Collateral provided by the Defaulting Lender).
(b)Application. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement or any other Loan Document, Cash Collateral provided under this Section 5.14 or Section 5.15 in respect of Letters of Credit and Swingline Loans shall be applied to the satisfaction of the Defaulting Lender’s obligation to fund participations in respect of L/C Obligations and Swingline Loans (including, as to Cash Collateral provided by a Defaulting Lender, any interest accrued on such obligation) for which the Cash Collateral was so provided, prior to any other application of such property as may otherwise be provided for herein.
(c)Termination of Requirement. Cash Collateral (or the appropriate portion thereof) provided to reduce the Fronting Exposure of any Issuing Lender and/or the Swingline Lender, as applicable, shall no longer be required to be held as Cash Collateral pursuant to this Section 5.14 following (i) the elimination of the applicable Fronting Exposure (including by the termination of Defaulting Lender status of the applicable Lender), or (ii) the determination by the Administrative Agent,
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the Issuing Lenders and the Swingline Lender that there exists excess Cash Collateral; provided that, subject to Section 5.15, the Person providing Cash Collateral, the Issuing Lenders and the Swingline Lender may agree that Cash Collateral shall be held to support future anticipated Fronting Exposure or other obligations, but so long as no Default then exists, any Cash Collateral no longer required to be so held as Cash Collateral shall, upon written request of the Borrower, be returned to the Borrower.
SECTION 5.15     Defaulting Lenders.
(a)Defaulting Lender Adjustments. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, if any Lender becomes a Defaulting Lender, then, until such time as such Lender is no longer a Defaulting Lender, to the extent permitted by Applicable Law:
(i)Waivers and Amendments. Such Defaulting Lender’s right to approve or disapprove any amendment, waiver or consent with respect to this Agreement shall be restricted as set forth in the definition of “Required Lenders” and Section 12.2.
(ii)Defaulting Lender Waterfall. Any payment of principal, interest, fees or other amounts received by the Administrative Agent for the account of such Defaulting Lender (whether voluntary or mandatory, at maturity, pursuant to Article X or otherwise) or received by the Administrative Agent from a Defaulting Lender pursuant to Section 12.4 shall be applied at such time or times as may be determined by the Administrative Agent as follows: first, to the payment of any amounts owing by such Defaulting Lender to the Administrative Agent hereunder; second, to the payment on a pro rata basis of any amounts owing by such Defaulting Lender to the Issuing Lenders or the Swingline Lender hereunder; third, to Cash Collateralize the Fronting Exposure of the Issuing Lenders and the Swingline Lender with respect to such Defaulting Lender in accordance with Section 5.14; fourth, as the Borrower may request (so long as no Default or Event of Default exists), to the funding of any Loan or funded participation in respect of which such Defaulting Lender has failed to fund its portion thereof as required by this Agreement, as determined by the Administrative Agent; fifth, if so determined by the Administrative Agent and the Borrower, to be held in a deposit account and released pro rata in order to (A) satisfy such Defaulting Lender’s potential future funding obligations with respect to Loans and funded participations under this Agreement and (B) Cash Collateralize the Issuing Lenders’ future Fronting Exposure with respect to such Defaulting Lender with respect to future Letters of Credit issued under this Agreement, in accordance with Section 5.14; sixth, to the payment of any amounts owing to the Lenders, the Issuing Lenders or the Swingline Lender as a result of any judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction obtained by any Lender, any Issuing Lender or the Swingline Lender against such Defaulting Lender as a result of such Defaulting Lender’s breach of its obligations under this Agreement; seventh, so long as no Default or Event of Default exists, to the payment of any amounts owing to the Borrower as a result of any judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction obtained by the Borrower against such Defaulting Lender as a result of such Defaulting Lender’s breach of its obligations under this Agreement; and eighth, to such Defaulting Lender or as otherwise directed by a court of competent jurisdiction; provided that if (1) such payment is a payment of the principal amount of any Loans or funded participations in Letters of Credit or Swingline Loans in respect of which such Defaulting Lender has not fully funded its appropriate share, and (2) such Loans were made or the related Letters of Credit or Swingline Loans were issued at a time when the conditions set forth in Section 6.2 were satisfied or waived, such payment shall be applied solely to pay the Loans of, and funded participations in Letters of Credit or Swingline Loans owed to, all Non-Defaulting Lenders on a pro rata basis prior to being applied to the payment of any Loans of, or funded participations in Letters of Credit or Swingline Loans owed to, such Defaulting Lender until such time as all Loans and funded and unfunded participations in L/C Obligations and Swingline Loans are held by the Lenders pro rata in accordance with the Revolving Credit Commitments under the applicable Revolving Credit Facility without giving effect to Section 5.15(a)(iv). Any payments, prepayments or other amounts paid or payable to a Defaulting Lender that are applied (or held) to pay amounts owed by a Defaulting Lender or to post Cash Collateral pursuant to this Section 5.15(a)(ii) shall be deemed paid to and redirected by such Defaulting Lender, and each Lender irrevocably consents hereto.
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(iii)Certain Fees.
(A)No Defaulting Lender shall be entitled to receive any Commitment Fee for any period during which that Lender is a Defaulting Lender (and the Borrower shall not be required to pay any such fee that otherwise would have been required to have been paid to that Defaulting Lender).
(B)Each Defaulting Lender shall be entitled to receive Letter of Credit commissions pursuant to Section 3.3 for any period during which that Lender is a Defaulting Lender only to the extent allocable to its Revolving Credit Commitment Percentage of the stated amount of Letters of Credit for which it has provided Cash Collateral pursuant to Section 5.14.
(C)With respect to any Commitment Fee or Letter of Credit commission not required to be paid to any Defaulting Lender pursuant to clause (A) or (B) above, the Borrower shall (1) pay to each Non-Defaulting Lender that portion of any such fee otherwise payable to such Defaulting Lender with respect to such Defaulting Lender’s participation in L/C Obligations or Swingline Loans that has been reallocated to such Non-Defaulting Lender pursuant to clause (iv) below, (2) pay to each applicable Issuing Lender and Swingline Lender, as applicable, the amount of any such fee otherwise payable to such Defaulting Lender to the extent allocable to such Issuing Lender’s or Swingline Lender’s Fronting Exposure to such Defaulting Lender, and (3) not be required to pay the remaining amount of any such fee.
(iv)Reallocation of Participations to Reduce Fronting Exposure. All or any part of such Defaulting Lender’s participation in L/C Obligations and Swingline Loans shall be reallocated among the Non-Defaulting Lenders in accordance with their respective Revolving Credit Commitment Percentages (calculated without regard to such Defaulting Lender’s Revolving Credit Commitment) but only to the extent that such reallocation does not cause the aggregate Revolving Credit Exposure of any Non-Defaulting Lender to exceed such Non-Defaulting Lender’s Revolving Credit Commitment. Subject to Section 12.23, no reallocation hereunder shall constitute a waiver or release of any claim of any party hereunder against a Defaulting Lender arising from that Lender having become a Defaulting Lender, including any claim of a Non-Defaulting Lender as a result of such Non-Defaulting Lender’s increased exposure following such reallocation.
(v)Cash Collateral, Repayment of Swingline Loans. If the reallocation described in clause (iv) above cannot, or can only partially, be effected, the Borrower shall, without prejudice to any right or remedy available to it hereunder or under law, (x) first, repay Swingline Loans in an amount equal to the Swingline Lenders’ Fronting Exposure and (y) second, Cash Collateralize the Issuing Lenders’ Fronting Exposure in accordance with the procedures set forth in Section 5.14.
(b)Defaulting Lender Cure. If the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Lenders and the Swingline Lender agree in writing that a Lender is no longer a Defaulting Lender, the Administrative Agent will so notify the parties hereto, whereupon as of the effective date specified in such notice and subject to any conditions set forth therein (which may include arrangements with respect to any Cash Collateral), such Lender will, to the extent applicable, purchase at par that portion of outstanding Loans of the other Lenders or take such other actions as the Administrative Agent may determine to be necessary to cause the Loans and funded and unfunded participations in Letters of Credit and Swingline Loans to be held pro rata by the Lenders in accordance with the Commitments under the applicable Credit Facility (without giving effect to Section 5.15(a)(iv)), whereupon such Lender will cease to be a Defaulting Lender; provided that no adjustments will be made retroactively with respect to fees accrued or payments made by or on behalf of the Borrower while that Lender was a Defaulting Lender; and provided, further, that except to the extent otherwise expressly agreed by the affected parties, no change hereunder from Defaulting Lender to Non-Defaulting Lender will constitute a waiver or release of any claim of any party hereunder arising from that Lender’s having been a Defaulting Lender.
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ARTICLE VI

CONDITIONS OF CLOSING AND BORROWING
SECTION 6.1 Conditions to Closing and Initial Extensions of Credit. The obligation of the Lenders to close this Agreement and to make the initial Loans or issue or participate in the initial Letter of Credit, if any, is subject to the satisfaction of each of the following conditions:
(a)Executed Loan Documents. This Agreement, a Revolving Credit Note in favor of each Revolving Credit Lender requesting a Revolving Credit Note, a Term Loan Note in favor of each Term Loan Lender requesting a Term Loan Note, a Swingline Note in favor of the Swingline Lender (in each case, if requested thereby) and the Security Documents to be delivered on the Closing Date, together with any other applicable Loan Documents, shall have been duly authorized, executed and delivered to the Administrative Agent by the parties thereto, shall be in full force and effect and no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing.
(b)Closing Certificates; Etc. The Administrative Agent shall have received each of the following in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent:
(i)Officer’s Certificate. A certificate from a Responsible Officer of the Borrower to the effect that (A) all representations and warranties of the Credit Parties contained in this Agreement and the other Loan Documents delivered on the Closing Date are true and correct in all material respects (except to the extent any such representation and warranty is qualified by materiality or reference to Material Adverse Effect, in which case, such representation and warranty shall be true and correct in all respects); (B) after giving effect to the Transactions, no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing; and (C) since December 31, 2021, no event has occurred or condition arisen, either individually or in the aggregate, that has had or could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(ii)Certificate of Secretary of each Credit Party. A certificate of a Responsible Officer of each Credit Party certifying as to the incumbency and genuineness of the signature of each officer of such Credit Party executing Loan Documents to which it is a party and certifying that attached thereto is a true, correct and complete copy of (A) the articles or certificate of incorporation or formation (or equivalent), as applicable, of such Credit Party and all amendments thereto, certified as of a recent date (to the extent practicable) by the appropriate Governmental Authority in its jurisdiction of incorporation, organization or formation (or equivalent), as applicable, (B) the bylaws or governing documents of such Credit Party as in effect on the Closing Date, (C) resolutions duly adopted by the board of directors (or other governing body) of such Credit Party authorizing and approving the transactions contemplated hereunder and the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents to which it is a party, and (D) each certificate required to be delivered pursuant to Section 6.1(b)(iii).
(iii)Certificates of Good Standing. Certificates as of a recent date of the good standing of each Credit Party under the laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation, organization or formation (or equivalent), as applicable.
(iv)Opinions of Counsel. Opinions of counsel to the Credit Parties addressed to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders with respect to the Credit Parties, the Loan Documents and such other matters as the Administrative Agent shall request.
(c)Personal Property Collateral.
(i)Filings and Recordings. Subject to the limitations and qualifications in the Security Documents, to the extent the Administrative Agent has any filings and recordations that are necessary to perfect the security interests of the Administrative Agent, on behalf of the Secured Parties, in the Collateral, which have not already been made, the Administrative Agent shall have received all filings and recordations that are necessary to perfect the security interests
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of the Administrative Agent, on behalf of the Secured Parties, in the Collateral and the Administrative Agent shall have received evidence reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent that upon such filings and recordations such security interests constitute valid and perfected first priority Liens thereon (subject to Permitted Liens).
(ii)Pledged Collateral. To the extent not already in the possession of the Administrative Agent, the Administrative Agent shall have received original stock certificates or other certificates evidencing the certificated Equity Interests pledged pursuant to the Security Documents, together with an undated stock power for each such certificate duly executed in blank by the registered owner thereof.
(iii)Lien Search. The Administrative Agent shall have received the results of a Lien search (including a search as to judgments, bankruptcy, tax and intellectual property matters), in form and substance reasonably satisfactory thereto, made against the Credit Parties under the Uniform Commercial Code (or applicable judicial docket) as in effect in each jurisdiction in which filings or recordations under the Uniform Commercial Code should be made to evidence or perfect security interests in all assets of such Credit Party, indicating among other things that the assets of each such Credit Party are free and clear of any Lien (except for Permitted Liens).
(iv)Property and Liability Insurance. The Administrative Agent shall have received, in each case in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, evidence of property, business interruption and liability insurance covering each Credit Party (with appropriate endorsements adding the Administrative Agent as lender’s loss payee (and mortgagee, as applicable) on all US.-issued policies for property hazard insurance and, to the extent reasonably available, as additional insured on all U.S.-issued policies for general liability insurance).
(v)Intellectual Property. To the extent not on file with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office or U.S. Copyright Office, as applicable, the Administrative Agent shall have received security agreements duly executed by the applicable Credit Parties for all federally registered copyrights, copyright applications, patents, patent applications, trademarks and trademark applications included in the Collateral, in each case in proper form for filing with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office or U.S. Copyright Office, as applicable.
(d)Consents; Defaults.
(i)Governmental and Third Party Approvals. The Credit Parties shall have received all material governmental, shareholder and third party consents and approvals necessary (or any other material consents as determined in the reasonable discretion of the Administrative Agent) in connection with the Transactions, which shall be in full force and effect.
(ii)No Injunction, Etc. No action, suit, proceeding or investigation shall be pending or, to the knowledge of the Borrower, threatened in writing in any court or before any arbitrator or any Governmental Authority that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(e)Financial Matters.
(i)Financial Statements. The Administrative Agent shall have received (A) the audited Consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as of December 31, 2021 and the related audited statements of income and retained earnings and cash flows for the Fiscal Year then ended and (B) unaudited Consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as of June 30, 2022 and related unaudited interim statements of income and retained earnings.
(ii)[Reserved].
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(iii)Financial Condition/Solvency Certificate. The Borrower shall have delivered to the Administrative Agent a certificate, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, and signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower, that (A) after giving effect to the Transactions, each Credit Party and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, are Solvent, (B) attached thereto are calculations evidencing compliance on a Pro Forma Basis after giving effect to the Transactions with the covenants contained in Section 8.9, and (C) the financial projections previously delivered to the Administrative Agent represent the good faith estimates (utilizing reasonable assumptions) of the financial condition and operations of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries.
(iv)Payment at Closing. The Borrower shall have paid or made arrangements to pay contemporaneously with closing (A) to the Administrative Agent, the Arranger and the Lenders the fees set forth or referenced in Section 5.3 and any other accrued and unpaid fees or commissions due hereunder, (B) all reasonable and documented fees, charges and disbursements of counsel to the Administrative Agent (directly to such counsel if requested by the Administrative Agent) to the extent accrued and unpaid prior to or on the Closing Date and to the extent invoices therefor are provided to the Borrower at least one (1) Business Day prior to the Closing Date, plus such additional amounts of such fees, charges and disbursements as shall constitute its reasonable estimate of such fees, charges and disbursements incurred or to be incurred by it through the closing proceedings (provided that such estimate shall not thereafter preclude a final settling of accounts between the Borrower and the Administrative Agent) and (C) to any other Person such amount as may be due thereto in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby, including all taxes, fees and other charges in connection with the execution, delivery, recording, filing and registration of any of the Loan Documents, to the extent invoices therefor are provided to the Borrower at least one (1) Business Day prior to the Closing Date.
(f)Miscellaneous.
(i)Notice of Account Designation. The Administrative Agent shall have received a Notice of Account Designation specifying the account or accounts to which the proceeds of any Loans made on or after the Closing Date are to be disbursed.
(ii)PATRIOT Act, etc. The Administrative Agent and the Lenders shall have received, at least five (5) Business Days prior to the Closing Date, all documentation and other information requested by the Administrative Agent or any Lender or required by regulatory authorities in order for the Administrative Agent and the Lenders to comply with requirements of any Anti-Money Laundering Laws, including the PATRIOT Act and any applicable “know your customer” rules and regulations. At least five (5) Business Days prior to the Closing Date, the Borrower shall have delivered to the Administrative Agent, and directly to any Lender requesting the same, a Beneficial Ownership Certification in relation to it (or a certification that such Borrower qualifies for an express exclusion from the “legal entity customer” definition under the Beneficial Ownership Regulations).
(iii)Other Documents. All opinions, certificates and other instruments and all proceedings in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement shall be reasonably satisfactory in form and substance to the Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent shall have received copies of all other documents, certificates and instruments reasonably requested thereby, with respect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
(g)Without limiting the generality of the provisions of Section 11.3(c), for purposes of determining compliance with the conditions specified in this Section 6.1, the Administrative Agent and each Lender that has signed this Agreement shall be deemed to have consented to, approved or accepted or to be satisfied with, each document or other matter required thereunder to be consented to or approved by or acceptable or satisfactory to a Lender unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from such Lender prior to the proposed Closing Date specifying its objection thereto.
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SECTION 6.2    SECTION 5.15Conditions to All Extensions of Credit. Subject to Section 5.13 and Section 1.10 solely with respect to any Incremental Term Loan incurred to finance a substantially concurrent Limited Condition Transaction, the obligations of the Lenders to make or participate in any Extensions of Credit (including the initial Extension of Credit) and/or any Issuing Lender to issue or extend any Letter of Credit are subject to the satisfaction of the following conditions precedent on the relevant borrowing, issuance or extension date:
(d)Continuation of Representations and Warranties. The representations and warranties contained in this Agreement and the other Loan Documents shall be true and correct in all material respects, except for any representation and warranty that is qualified by materiality or reference to Material Adverse Effect, which such representation and warranty shall be true and correct in all respects, on and as of such borrowing, issuance or extension date with the same effect as if made on and as of such date (except for any such representation and warranty that by its terms is made only as of an earlier date, which representation and warranty shall remain true and correct in all material respects as of such earlier date, except for any representation and warranty that is qualified by materiality or reference to Material Adverse Effect, which such representation and warranty shall be true and correct in all respects as of such earlier date).
(e)No Existing Default. No Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing (i) on the borrowing date with respect to such Loan or after giving effect to the Loans to be made on such date or (ii) on the issuance or extension date with respect to such Letter of Credit or after giving effect to the issuance or extension of such Letter of Credit on such date.
(f)Notices. The Administrative Agent shall have received a Notice of Borrowing, Letter of Credit Application, as applicable, from the Borrower in accordance with Section 2.3(a), or Section 3.2, as applicable.
(g)New Swingline Loans/Letters of Credit. So long as any Lender is a Defaulting Lender, (i) the Swingline Lender shall not be required to fund any Swingline Loans unless it is satisfied that it will have no Fronting Exposure after giving effect to such Swingline Loan and (ii) the Issuing Lenders shall not be required to issue, extend, renew or increase any Letter of Credit unless it is satisfied that it will have no Fronting Exposure after giving effect thereto.
Each Notice of Borrowing or Letter of Credit Application, as applicable, submitted by the Borrower shall be deemed to be a representation and warranty that the conditions specified in Sections 6.2(a) and (b) have been satisfied on and as of the date of the applicable Extension of Credit.
ARTICLE VII

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE CREDIT PARTIES
To induce the Administrative Agent and Lenders to enter into this Agreement and to induce the Lenders to make Extensions of Credit, the Credit Parties hereby represent and warrant to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders both before and after giving effect to the transactions contemplated hereunder, which representations and warranties shall be deemed made on the Closing Date and as otherwise set forth in Section 6.2, that:
SECTION 7.1    Financial Condition. The audited Consolidated financial statements of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021, together with the related Consolidated statements of income or operations, equity and cash flows for the fiscal years ended on such dates:
(1)were prepared in accordance with GAAP consistently applied throughout the period covered thereby, except as otherwise expressly noted therein;
(2)fairly present in all material respects the consolidated financial condition of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, as applicable, as of the date thereof and results of operations for the period covered thereby; and
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(3)show all material Indebtedness and other material liabilities, direct or contingent, of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, as applicable, as of the date thereof, including liabilities for taxes, material commitments and material contingent obligations, to the extent required to be shown on a balance sheet prepared in accordance with GAAP.
SECTION 7.2 No Material Change. Since December 31, 2021, there has been no development or event relating to or affecting any of the Credit Parties which has had or could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
SECTION 7.3 Organization and Good Standing. Each Credit Party (a) is duly organized, validly existing and is in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation or organization, (b) has the corporate or other necessary company power and authority, and the legal right, to own and operate its property, to lease the property it operates as lessee and to conduct the business in which it is currently engaged, and (c) is duly qualified as a foreign entity and in good standing under the laws of each jurisdiction where its ownership, lease or operation of property or the conduct of its business requires such qualification, other than in such jurisdictions where the failure to be so qualified and in good standing could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. No Credit Party nor any Subsidiary thereof is an Affected Financial Institution.
SECTION 7.4 Power; Authorization; Enforceable Obligations. Each of the Credit Parties has the corporate or other necessary company power and authority, and the legal right, to make, deliver and perform the Loan Documents to which it is a party and, in the case of the Borrower, to obtain extensions of credit hereunder, and has taken all necessary corporate or other necessary company action on the part of such Credit Party to authorize the borrowings, other extensions of credit and guarantees, as applicable, on the terms and conditions of this Agreement and to authorize the execution, delivery and performance of the Loan Documents to which it is a party. No consent or authorization of, filing with, notice to or other similar act by or in respect of, any Governmental Authority or any other Person is required to be obtained or made by or on behalf of any Credit Party in connection with the borrowings or other extensions of credit hereunder, or with the execution, delivery, performance, validity or enforceability of the Loan Documents to which any Credit Party is a party, except such as have been obtained or made and are in full force and effect. This Agreement has been, and each other Loan Document to which any Credit Party is a party will be, duly executed and delivered on behalf of such Credit Party. This Agreement constitutes, and each other Loan Document to which each Credit Party is a party when executed and delivered by such Credit Party will constitute, a legal, valid and binding obligation of such Credit Party enforceable against such party in accordance with its terms, except as enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally and by general equitable principles (whether enforcement is sought by proceedings in equity or at law).
SECTION 7.5 No Conflicts. Neither the execution and delivery by any Credit Party of the Loan Documents, nor the consummation of the transactions contemplated therein, nor performance of and compliance with the terms and provisions thereof by any such Credit Party that is a party thereto will (a) violate or conflict with any provision of the Organizational Documents of such Person, (b) violate, contravene or conflict in any material respect with any Applicable Law (including, without limitation, Regulation T, U or X), order, writ, judgment, injunction, decree or permit applicable to such Credit Party, (c) violate, contravene or conflict with contractual provisions of, or cause an event of default under, any material indenture, loan agreement, mortgage, deed of trust, contract or other material agreement or instrument to which it is a party or by which it may be bound or (d) result in or require the creation of any Lien upon or with respect to its properties.
SECTION 7.6 No Default. No Credit Party is in default in any respect under any contract, lease, loan agreement, indenture, mortgage, security agreement or other agreement or obligation to which it is a
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party or by which any of its properties is bound which default could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. No Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing.
SECTION 7.7 Ownership. Each Credit Party has good title to, or has the rights to use, all of the assets material to its business and none of such owned assets is subject to any Lien other than Permitted Liens.
SECTION 7.8 Litigation. There does not exist any pending or, to the knowledge of the Credit Parties, threatened in writing action, suit, investigation, claim or legal, equitable, arbitration or administrative proceeding against any Credit Party or any of its Subsidiaries which could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
SECTION 7.9 Taxes. Each of the Credit Parties and its Subsidiaries has filed, or caused to be filed, all federal income tax returns and all other material tax returns (federal, state, local and foreign) required to be filed and paid (a) all amounts of taxes shown thereon to be due (including interest and penalties) and (b) all other taxes, fees, assessments and other governmental charges (including mortgage recording taxes, documentary stamp taxes and intangibles taxes) owing by it, except for such taxes, fees, assessments or charges (i) that are not yet delinquent, (ii) that are being contested in good faith and by proper proceedings and against which adequate reserves are being maintained in accordance with GAAP, or (iii) to the extent that the amount of any such taxes is immaterial and the failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
SECTION 7.10 Compliance with Law. Each Credit Party is in compliance with all Applicable Law (including without limitation Environmental Laws) applicable to it, or to its properties, unless, in each case, such failure to comply could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. There exists no event, occurrence, condition or act, which, with the giving of notice or the lapse of time, would constitute a violation of any Applicable Law by any Credit Party which, in each case, could reasonably be expected to cause a Material Adverse Effect.
SECTION 7.11 ERISA.
(a)During the five-year period prior to the date on which this representation is made or deemed made: (i) no ERISA Event has occurred, and, to the best knowledge of the Responsible Officers of the Credit Parties, no event or condition has occurred or exists as a result of which any ERISA Event could reasonably be expected to occur, with respect to any Plan; (ii) each Plan has been maintained, operated, and funded in compliance with its own terms and in compliance with the provisions of ERISA, the Code, and any other applicable Federal or state laws, except where such failure or noncompliance could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; and (iii) no Lien in favor of the PBGC or a Plan has arisen or is reasonably likely to arise on account of any Plan.
(b)The actuarial present value of all “benefit liabilities” (as defined in Section 4001(a)(16) of ERISA), whether or not vested, under each Single Employer Plan, as of the last annual valuation date prior to the date on which this representation is made or deemed made (determined, in each case, in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board Statement 87, utilizing the actuarial assumptions used in such Plan’s most recent actuarial valuation report), did not exceed as of such valuation date the fair market value of the assets of such Plan.
(c)None of the Credit Parties, nor any ERISA Affiliate, has incurred, or, to the knowledge of the Responsible Officers of the Credit Parties, could be reasonably expected to incur, any withdrawal liability under ERISA to any Multiemployer Plan. None of the Credit Parties, nor any ERISA Affiliate, would become subject to any withdrawal liability under ERISA if any Credit Party or any ERISA Affiliate were to withdraw completely from all Multiemployer Plans as of the valuation date most closely preceding the date on which this representation is made or deemed made. No Credit Party, nor any ERISA Affiliate, has received any notification that any Multiemployer Plan is in reorganization (within the meaning of Section 4241 of ERISA), is insolvent (within the meaning of Section 4245 of ERISA), or has been terminated (within the meaning of Title IV of ERISA), and no Multiemployer Plan is, to the best knowledge of the Responsible Officers of such parties, reasonably expected to be in reorganization, insolvent, or terminated.
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(d)Except as could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, no prohibited transaction (within the meaning of Section 406 of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code) or breach of fiduciary responsibility has occurred with respect to a Plan which has subjected or may subject any Credit Party or any ERISA Affiliate to any liability under Sections 406, 409, 502(i), or 502(l) of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code, or under any agreement or other instrument pursuant to which any Credit Party or any ERISA Affiliate has agreed or is required to indemnify any Person against any such liability.
(e)No Credit Party, nor any ERISA Affiliate, has any material liability with respect to “expected post-retirement benefit obligations” within the meaning of the Financial Accounting Standards Board Statement 106
SECTION 7.12 Corporate Structure; Equity Interests, Etc. Set forth on Schedule 7.12 to the Disclosure Letter is a complete and accurate list of all Subsidiaries, joint ventures, and partnerships of the Credit Parties as of the Closing Date. Schedule 7.12 to the Disclosure Letter also includes the following, with respect to each Credit Party as of the Closing Date: (i) its jurisdiction of incorporation, (ii) other than in the case of the Borrower, number of shares of each class of, or membership interests constituting, Equity Interests outstanding, and (iii) number and percentage of outstanding shares of each class or membership interests of each Subsidiary owned (directly or indirectly) by the Credit Parties.
SECTION 7.13 Governmental Regulations, Etc. None of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (including, without limitation, the direct or indirect use of the proceeds of the Loans) will violate or result in a violation of the Securities Act, the Securities Exchange Act or of Regulation U and in no event shall the proceeds of the Loans be used for the purpose of “purchasing” or “carrying” “margin stock” within the respective meanings of each of such terms under Regulation U.
SECTION 7.14 Purpose of Loans. The proceeds of the Loans hereunder shall be or have been used as follows: (a) on the Closing Date, (i) to prepay in full (and terminate) the aggregate principal amount of the revolving loans outstanding under the Existing Credit Agreement on the Closing Date (and any interest and fees owed in respect thereof), and (ii) to pay any costs, fees or other expenses arising from, or associated with, the Transactions, and (b) thereafter, (i) to provide ongoing working capital and for other general corporate purposes of the Credit Parties and their Subsidiaries (including, without limitation, capital expenditures, Restricted Payments and Permitted Acquisitions) and (ii) to pay any costs, fees or other expenses arising from, or associated with, the Transactions. The Borrower shall not use, and shall ensure that its Subsidiaries and its or their respective directors, officers and employees shall not use, the proceeds of any Extension of Credit, directly or indirectly, (x) in furtherance of an offer, payment, promise to pay, or authorization of the payment or giving of money, or anything else of value, to any Person in violation of any Anti-Corruption Laws or Anti-Money Laundering Laws, (y) for the purpose of funding, financing or facilitating any activities, business or transaction of or with any Sanctioned Person, or in any Sanctioned Country, or (z) in any manner that would result in the violation of any Sanctions applicable to any party hereto.
SECTION 7.15 Environmental Matters. Except as could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect:
(a)each of the Real Properties and all operations at the Real Properties are in compliance with all applicable Environmental Laws, there is no violation of any Environmental Law with respect to the Real Properties or the Businesses, and there are no conditions relating to the Real Properties or the Businesses that could reasonably be expected to give rise to liability under any applicable Environmental Laws;
(b)none of the Real Properties contains, or to Borrower’s knowledge has previously contained, any Materials of Environmental Concern at, on or under the Real Properties in amounts or concentrations that constitutes or constituted a violation of, or that could reasonably be expected to give rise to liability under, Environmental Laws;
(c)no Credit Party has received any written or verbal notice of, or inquiry from any Governmental Authority regarding, any violation, alleged violation, non-compliance, liability or potential
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liability regarding environmental matters or compliance with Environmental Laws with regard to any of the Real Properties or the Businesses, nor does any Responsible Officer of any Credit Party have knowledge or reason to believe that any such notice will be received or is being threatened;
(d)materials of Environmental Concern have not been transported or disposed of from the Real Properties, or generated, treated, stored or disposed of at, on or under any of the Real Properties or any other location, in each case by or on behalf of the Credit Parties in material violation of, or in a manner that could reasonably be expected to give rise to liability under, any applicable Environmental Law;
(e)no judicial proceeding or governmental or administrative action is pending or, to the knowledge of the Responsible Officers of the Credit Parties, threatened in writing, under any Environmental Law to which any Credit Party is or will be named as a party, nor are there any consent decrees or other decrees, consent orders, administrative orders or other orders, or other administrative or judicial requirements outstanding under any Environmental Law with respect to the Credit Parties, the Real Properties or the Businesses; and
(f)there has been no release, or threat of release, of Materials of Environmental Concern at or from the Real Properties, or arising from or related to the operations (including, without limitation, disposal) of the Credit Parties in connection with the Real Properties or otherwise in connection with the Businesses, in violation of or in amounts or in a manner that could reasonably be expected to give rise to liability under Environmental Laws.
SECTION 7.16 Solvency. After giving effect to the execution and delivery of the Loan Documents, the making of any Extension of Credit under this Agreement and the consummation of the Transactions, the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, will not be “insolvent,” within the meaning of such term as defined in §101 of Title 11 of the United States Code, as amended from time to time, or be unable to pay its debts generally as such debts become due, or have an unreasonably small capital to engage in any business or transaction, whether current or contemplated.
SECTION 7.17 Disclosure. When taken together with the Borrower’s filings with the SEC, the Credit Parties have disclosed to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders all agreements, instruments, and corporate or other restrictions to which each Credit Party is subject, and all other matters known to any of them, that, individually or in the aggregate, would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. None of the reports, financial statements, certificates or other information (other than projections or general market or economic data or conditions) furnished by or on behalf of the Credit Parties to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders in connection with the negotiation of this Agreement or any other Loan Document or delivered hereunder or thereunder (as modified or supplemented by any other information so furnished), when taken as a whole and taken together with the Borrower’s filings with the SEC, contains any material misstatement of fact or omits to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein, taken as a whole, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not materially misleading. All projections delivered prior to, at, or after the Closing Date are based upon estimates and assumptions, all of which the Credit Parties believe to be in good faith in light of conditions and facts known to Credit Parties as of the date of delivery of such projections and, as of the Closing Date, reflect the Credit Parties’ good faith estimate of the future financial performance of the Credit Parties and of the other information projected therein for the period set forth therein (it being understood that projections are subject to significant uncertainties and contingencies and that no assurances can be given that any projection will be realized and that variances between actual results and projected financial results can be material). As of the Closing Date, all of the information included in the Beneficial Ownership Certification is true and correct.
SECTION 7.18 Brokers’ Fees. No Credit Party has an obligation to any Person in respect of any finder’s, broker’s, investment banking or other similar fee in connection with any of the transactions contemplated under the Loan Documents.
SECTION 7.19 Labor Matters. There are no collective bargaining agreements or Multiemployer Plans covering the employees of any of the Credit Parties or their Subsidiaries as of the Closing Date and no Credit Party nor any Subsidiary has suffered any strikes, walkouts, work stoppages or other material
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labor difficulty within the last five years that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
SECTION 7.20 Nature of Business. As of the Closing Date, each of the Credit Parties and their Subsidiaries is engaged in a business related to technology services.
SECTION 7.21 Certificates. Each Credit Party is in good standing with respect to all governmental approvals, permits, licenses, certificates (including, without limitation, doing business certificates in all states it currently does business), inspections, consents and franchises necessary to continue to conduct its business and the businesses heretofore conducted by its predecessors and to own or lease and operate its properties except, in each case, where the failure to possess the same or so be in good standing could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
SECTION 7.22 Names. No Credit Party, nor any predecessor of such parties has, during the five (5) years preceding the Closing Date, been known as or used any other corporate, fictitious or trade names or trade styles, other than the present corporate name of the Credit Parties and the names listed on Schedule 7.22 to the Disclosure Letter.
SECTION 7.23 Anti-Corruption Laws; Anti-Money Laundering Laws and Sanctions.
(a)None of (i) the Borrower, any Subsidiary or, to the knowledge of the Borrower or such Subsidiary, any of their respective directors, officers, employees or Affiliates, or (ii) to the knowledge of the Borrower, any agent or representative of the Borrower or any Subsidiary that will act in any capacity in connection with or benefit from the credit facility hereunder, (A) is a Sanctioned Person or currently the subject or target of any Sanctions, (B) has its assets located in a Sanctioned Country, (C) is under administrative, civil or criminal investigation for an alleged violation of, or received notice from or made a voluntary disclosure to any governmental entity regarding a possible violation of, Anti-Corruption Laws, Anti-Money Laundering Laws or Sanctions by a governmental authority that enforces Sanctions or any Anti-Corruption Laws or Anti-Money Laundering Laws, or (D) directly or indirectly derives revenues from investments in, or transactions with, Sanctioned Persons.
(b)Each of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries has implemented and maintains in effect policies and procedures designed to ensure compliance by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries and their respective directors, officers, employees, agents and Affiliates with all Anti-Corruption Laws, Anti-Money Laundering Laws and applicable Sanctions.
(c)Each of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, and to the knowledge of the Borrower, director, officer, employee, agent and Affiliate of Borrower and each such Subsidiary, is in compliance with all Anti-Corruption Laws, Anti-Money Laundering Laws in all material respects and applicable Sanctions.
SECTION 7.24 Investment Company Act. No Credit Party is an “investment company”, or a company “controlled” by an “investment company”, within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended. No Credit Party is subject to regulation under the Federal Power Act, the Interstate Commerce Act, the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 2005 or any federal or state statute or regulation limiting its ability to incur the Secured Obligations.
SECTION 7.25 Insurance. The insurance coverage of the Credit Parties and their Subsidiaries is outlined as to carrier, policy number, expiration date, type and amount on Schedule 7.25 to the Disclosure Letter as of the Closing Date and such insurance coverage complies with the requirements set forth in Section 8.5(b).
SECTION 7.26 No Burdensome Restrictions. None of the Credit Parties or their Subsidiaries is a party to any agreement or instrument or subject to any other obligation or any charter or corporate
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restriction or any provision of any applicable law, rule or regulation which, individually or in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
SECTION 7.27 Margin Stock. No Credit Party nor any Subsidiary thereof is engaged principally or as one of its activities in the business of extending credit for the purpose of “purchasing” or “carrying” any “margin stock” (as each such term is defined or used, directly or indirectly, in Regulation U of the FRB). Following the application of the proceeds of each Extension of Credit, not more than twenty-five percent (25%) of the value of the assets (either of the Borrower only or of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a Consolidated basis) will be “margin stock”.
ARTICLE VIII

AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS
Until all of the Obligations (other than contingent indemnification and reimbursement obligations not then due and other than Secured Cash Management Obligations and Secured Hedge Obligations) have been paid and satisfied in full in cash, all Letters of Credit have been terminated or expired (or been Cash Collateralized) and the Commitments terminated, each Credit Party will, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to:
SECTION 8.1 Financial Statements. The Borrower shall furnish to the Administrative Agent (which shall promptly make such information available to the Lenders in accordance with its customary practice):
(a)Annual Financial Statements. As soon as available and in any event no later than the earlier of (i) to the extent applicable, the date the Borrower is required by the SEC to deliver its Form 10-K for each Fiscal Year of the Borrower (beginning with the Fiscal Year ending December 31, 2022), after giving effect to any applicable extensions, and (ii) ninety (90) days after the end of each Fiscal Year of the Borrower (beginning with the Fiscal Year ending December 31, 2022), a copy of the Consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as of the end of such fiscal year and the related Consolidated statements of income, stockholders’ equity and cash flows of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries for such year, which shall be audited by Ernst & Young LLP or a firm of independent certified public accountants of nationally recognized standing, setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for the previous year, reported on without a “going concern” or like qualification or exception, or qualification indicating that the scope of the audit was inadequate to permit such independent certified public accountants to certify such financial statements without such qualification.
(b)Quarterly Financial Statements. As soon as available and in any event no later than the earlier of (i) to the extent applicable, the date the Borrower is required by the SEC to deliver its Form 10-Q for any fiscal quarter of the Borrower (beginning with the fiscal quarter ending September 30, 2022), after giving effect to any applicable extensions, and (ii) forty-five (45) days after the end of each of the first three (3) fiscal quarters of each Fiscal Year of the Borrower (beginning with the fiscal quarter ending September 30, 2022), a copy of the Consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as of the end of such period and related Consolidated statements of income and of cash flows for the Borrower and its Subsidiaries for such quarterly period and for the portion of the Fiscal Year ending with such period, in each case setting forth in comparative form Consolidated figures for the corresponding period or periods of the preceding Fiscal Year (subject to normal recurring year end audit adjustments and the absence of footnotes); and
(c)Annual Operating Budget and Cash Flow. As soon as available, but in any event within forty (45) days after the end of each Fiscal Year of the Borrower (beginning with the Fiscal Year ending December 31, 2022), a copy of the annual operating budget or plan including cash flow projections of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries for the next four fiscal quarter period prepared on a quarterly basis, in form and detail consistent with those historically prepared by the Borrower, together with a summary of the material assumptions made in the preparation of such annual budget or plan.
All such financial statements shall be complete and correct in all material respects (subject, in the case of interim statements, to normal recurring year end audit adjustments and the absence of footnotes) and to be
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prepared in the case of the annual and quarterly financial statements provided in accordance with subsections (a) and (b) above, in accordance with GAAP applied consistently throughout the periods reflected therein and further accompanied by a description of, and an estimation of the effect on the financial statements on account of, a change, if any, in GAAP.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, financial statements and reports required to be delivered pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this Section may be delivered electronically and if so delivered, shall be deemed to have been delivered on the date on which the Administrative Agent receives such reports from the Borrower through electronic mail and shall be deemed to be delivered on the date such documents are filed for public availability on the SEC’s Electronic Data Gathering and Retrieval System; provided that, upon the Lender’s request, the Borrower shall provide paper copies of any documents required hereby to the Lender.
SECTION 8.2 Certificates; Other Reports. Furnish to the Administrative Agent (which shall promptly make such information available to the Lenders in accordance with its customary practice):
(a)Officer’s Certificate. Concurrently with the delivery of the financial statements referred to in Sections 8.1(a) and 8.1(b) above, a certificate of a Responsible Officer substantially in the form of Exhibit 8.2(a) stating that (i) such financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Credit Parties and their Subsidiaries, on a Consolidated basis, as of and for the periods indicated in conformity with GAAP applied on a consistent basis, except in the case of unaudited financial statements to the absence of footnotes and subject to year-end audit adjustments and (ii) such Responsible Officer has obtained no knowledge of any Default or Event of Default except as specified in such certificate and such certificate shall include the calculations in reasonable detail required to indicate compliance with Section 8.9 as of the last day of such period.
(b)SEC Filings; Etc. Promptly after the same are filed, copies of all annual, regular, periodic and special reports and registration statements which the Borrower may file or be required to file with the SEC under Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, or with any national securities exchange, and in any case not otherwise required to be delivered to the Administrative Agent pursuant hereto (it being understood that documents required to be delivered pursuant to this clause (b) may be delivered electronically and if so delivered, shall be deemed to have been delivered on the date on which the Administrative Agent receives such reports from the Borrower through electronic mail and shall be deemed to be delivered on the date such documents are filed for public availability on the SEC’s Electronic Data Gathering and Retrieval System).
(c)Management Letters; Etc. Promptly upon receipt thereof, a copy or summary of any other report, or “management letter” or similar report submitted by independent accountants to any Credit Party or any of their Subsidiaries in connection with any annual, interim or special audit of the books of such Person.
(d)[Reserved].
(e)General Information. Promptly, such additional financial and other information as the Administrative Agent or the Lenders may from time to time reasonably request.
(f)The Borrower hereby acknowledges that (a) the Administrative Agent and/or the Arranger will make available to the Lenders and the Issuing Lenders materials and/or information provided by or on behalf of the Borrower hereunder (collectively, “Borrower Materials”) by posting the Borrower Materials on the Platform and (b) certain of the Lenders may be “public-side” Lenders (i.e., Lenders that do not wish to receive material non-public information with respect to the Borrower or its securities) (each, a “Public Lender”). The Borrower hereby agrees that it will use commercially reasonable efforts to identify that portion of the Borrower Materials that may be distributed to the Public Lenders and that (w) all such Borrower Materials shall be clearly and conspicuously marked “PUBLIC” which, at a minimum, means that the word “PUBLIC” shall appear prominently on the first page thereof; (x) by marking Borrower Materials “PUBLIC,” the Borrower shall be deemed to have authorized the Administrative Agent, the Arranger, the Issuing Lenders and the Lenders to treat such Borrower Materials as not containing any material non-public information (although it may be sensitive and proprietary) with
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respect to the Borrower or its securities for purposes of United States Federal and state securities laws (provided, however, that to the extent such Borrower Materials constitute Information, they shall be treated as set forth in Section 12.10); (y) all Borrower Materials marked “PUBLIC” are permitted to be made available through a portion of the Platform designated “Public Investor;” and (z) the Administrative Agent and the Arranger shall be entitled to treat any Borrower Materials that are not marked “PUBLIC” as being suitable only for posting on a portion of the Platform not designated “Public Investor.” Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Borrower shall be under no obligation to mark any Borrower Materials “PUBLIC”.
SECTION 8.3 Payment of Taxes and Other Obligations. Pay, discharge or otherwise satisfy at or before maturity or before they become delinquent, as the case may be, subject, where applicable, to specified grace periods, (a) all of its taxes (Federal, state, local and any other taxes) and (b) all of its other obligations and liabilities of whatever nature in accordance with industry practice and (c) any additional costs that are imposed as a result of any failure to so pay, discharge or otherwise satisfy such taxes, obligations and liabilities, except in each case (i) when the amount or validity of any such taxes, obligations and liabilities is currently being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and reserves, if applicable, in conformity with GAAP with respect thereto have been provided on the books of the Credit Parties or (ii) in the case of an obligation other than Federal income or other material taxes, to the extent that the failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
SECTION 8.4 Conduct of Business and Maintenance of Existence. Except as expressly permitted under Section 9.4, continue to engage in business of the same general type as now conducted by it on the Closing Date, and businesses reasonably related thereto or that are a reasonable extension thereof, and preserve, renew and keep in full force and effect its corporate or other formative existence and good standing, take all reasonable action to maintain all rights, privileges and franchises necessary or desirable in the normal conduct of its business and to comply with all contractual obligations and Applicable Law, in each case except as expressly permitted under Section 9.4 or as could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
SECTION 8.5 Maintenance of Property; Insurance.
(a)Keep all material property useful and necessary in its business in good working order and condition (ordinary wear and tear and obsolescence excepted).
(b)Maintain with financially sound and reputable insurance companies liability, casualty, property and business interruption insurance in at least such amounts and against at least such risks as are usually insured against in the same or similar geographic area by companies engaged in the same or a similar business; and furnish to the Administrative Agent, upon the reasonable request of the Administrative Agent, information as to the insurance so carried. All such U.S.-issued policies of property and general liability insurance shall, to the extent reasonably available, (i) provide that no cancellation or material modification thereof shall be effective until at least 30 days after receipt by the Administrative Agent of written notice thereof (except as a result of non-payment of premium in which case only 10 days’ prior written notice shall be required), (ii) in the case of U.S.-issued policies of general liability insurance, to the extent reasonably available, add the Administrative Agent as an additional insured thereunder and (iii) in the case of each U.S.-issued property insurance policy, add the Administrative Agent as lender’s loss payee or mortgagee, as applicable.
SECTION 8.6 Maintenance of Books and Records. Keep proper books, records and accounts in which entries are made that are true and correct in all material respects and are sufficient to prepare financial statements in conformity with GAAP.
SECTION 8.7 Notices. Give notice in writing to the Administrative Agent of:
(a)promptly, but in any event within ten (10) Business Days after any Responsible Officer of a Credit Party knows thereof, the occurrence of any Default or Event of Default;
(b)promptly, any default or event of default under any contractual obligation of any Credit Party or any of its Subsidiaries which involves a monetary claim in excess of $25,000,000;
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(c)the commencement of all proceedings and investigations by or before any Governmental Authority and all actions and proceedings in any court or before any arbitrator against or involving any Credit Party or any Subsidiary thereof or any of their respective properties, assets or businesses in each case that could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect;
(d)as soon as possible and in any event within thirty (30) days after any Credit Party knows or has reason to know thereof: (i) a failure to make any required contribution to a Single Employer Plan or Multiemployer Plan, the creation of any Lien in favor of the PBGC (other than a Permitted Lien) or a Plan or any withdrawal from, or the termination, reorganization or insolvency of, any Multiemployer Plan, (ii) the institution of proceedings or the taking of any other action by the PBGC or any Credit Party, any ERISA Affiliate or any Multiemployer Plan, with respect to the withdrawal from, or the termination, reorganization or insolvency of, any Single Employer Plan or Multiemployer Plan or (iii) the occurrence of an ERISA Event;
(e)promptly, any notice of any violation received by any Credit Party from any Governmental Authority including, without limitation, any notice of violation of Environmental Laws where such violation could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; and
(f)promptly, any other development or event which could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(g)Each notice pursuant to this Section shall be accompanied by a statement of an Responsible Officer setting forth details of the occurrence referred to therein and stating what action the Credit Parties propose to take with respect thereto. In the case of any notice of a Default or Event of Default, the Borrower shall specify that such notice is a Default or Event of Default notice on the face thereof.
SECTION 8.8 Environmental Laws.
(a)Except as could not reasonably be expected, either individually or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect, comply with, and require compliance in all material respects by all tenants and subtenants of such Credit Party or Subsidiary, if any, with, all applicable Environmental Laws and obtain and comply with and maintain, and ensure that all tenants and subtenants obtain and comply with and maintain, any and all licenses, approvals, notifications, registrations or permits required by applicable Environmental Laws; and
(b)Except as could not reasonably be expected, either individually or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect, conduct and complete all investigations, studies, sampling and testing, and all remedial, removal and other actions required under Environmental Laws and promptly comply with all lawful orders and directives of all Governmental Authorities regarding Environmental Laws except to the extent that the same are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings.
SECTION 8.9 Financial Covenants. Comply with the following financial covenants:
(a)Consolidated Total Net Leverage Ratio. The Consolidated Total Net Leverage Ratio, calculated as of the last day of each fiscal quarter (beginning with the fiscal quarter ending September 30, 2022), shall be less than or equal to 3.50 to 1.00; provided that upon the consummation of any Material Acquisition, such Consolidated Total Net Leverage Ratio shall be increased to 4.00 to 1.00 (the “Leverage Increase”) for the period beginning with the fiscal quarter in which such Material Acquisition was consummated through the last day of the fourth full fiscal quarter thereafter.
(b)Consolidated Interest Coverage Ratio. The Consolidated Interest Coverage Ratio, calculated as of the last day of each fiscal quarter (beginning with the fiscal quarter ending September 30, 2022), shall be greater than or equal to 3.00 to 1.00.
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SECTION 8.10 Additional Guarantors and Collateral.
(a)The Credit Parties will cause each of their Material Domestic Subsidiaries that are not Excluded Subsidiaries, whether newly formed, after acquired or otherwise existing to promptly (and in any event within (i) thirty (30) days after such Subsidiary is formed or acquired if such Subsidiary is a Material Domestic Subsidiary (pursuant to the definition thereof) upon its formation or acquisition or (ii) forty-five (45) days after financial statements are delivered pursuant to Section 8.1(a) which demonstrate that a Domestic Subsidiary has become a Material Domestic Subsidiary pursuant to the definition thereof (or, in the case of (a) or (b), such longer period of time as agreed to by the Administrative Agent in its reasonable discretion)) (1) become a Guarantor hereunder by way of execution of a Joinder Agreement, (2) grant a security interest in all Collateral (subject to the exceptions specified in the Collateral Agreement) owned by such Subsidiary by delivering to the Administrative Agent a duly executed Joinder Agreement and a supplement to each applicable Security Document or such other document as the Administrative Agent shall reasonably request and deem appropriate for such purpose and comply with the terms of each applicable Security Document, (3) deliver to the Administrative Agent, with respect to each new Guarantor to the extent applicable, substantially the same documentation required pursuant to Sections 6.1 and such other documents or agreements as the Administrative Agent may reasonably request, (4) if the Equity Interests of such Subsidiary are certificated, deliver to the Administrative Agent such original certificated Equity Interests or other certificates and stock or other transfer powers evidencing the Equity Interests of such Person, (5) deliver to the Administrative Agent such updated Schedules to the Security Documents as requested by the Administrative Agent with respect to such Subsidiary, and (6) deliver to the Administrative Agent such other documents as may be reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent, all in form, content and scope reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.
(b)The Credit Parties will, promptly after any Person becomes (x) a First Tier Foreign Subsidiary that is a Material Foreign Subsidiary or (y) a CFC Holdco that is a Material Domestic Subsidiary or Material Foreign Subsidiary, as applicable, promptly (and, in any event, within forty five (45) days, as such time period may be extended by the Administrative Agent in its sole discretion), cause (i) the applicable Credit Party to deliver to the Administrative Agent Security Documents pledging sixty-five percent (65%) of the total outstanding voting Equity Interests (and one hundred percent (100%) of the non-voting Equity Interests) of any such new First Tier Foreign Subsidiary that is a CFC or any such new CFC Holdco and 100% of the Equity Interests of any new First Tier Foreign Subsidiary that is not a CFC or a CFC Holdco and a consent thereto executed by such new First Tier Foreign Subsidiary (including, if applicable, original certificated Equity Interests (or the equivalent thereof pursuant to the Applicable Laws and practices of any relevant foreign jurisdiction) evidencing the Equity Interests of such new First Tier Foreign Subsidiary or CFC Holdco, as applicable, together with an appropriate undated stock or other transfer power for each certificate duly executed in blank by the registered owner thereof), (ii) such Person to deliver to the Administrative Agent such opinions, documents and certificates of the type referred to in Section 6.1 as may be reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent, (iii) such Person to deliver to the Administrative Agent such updated Schedules to the Loan Documents as requested by the Administrative Agent with regard to such Person and (iv) such Person to deliver to the Administrative Agent such other documents as may be reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent, all in form, content and scope reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.
SECTION 8.11 Compliance with Laws. Comply with all Applicable Law and orders (including Environmental Laws), and all applicable restrictions imposed by all Governmental Authorities, applicable to it if noncompliance with any such Applicable Law, order or restriction could reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect.
SECTION 8.12 Further Assurances and Post-Closing Covenants.
(a)Additional Information. Subject to the limitations and exclusions set forth in the Security Documents, the Credit Parties shall provide such information regarding the operations, business affairs and financial condition of the Credit Parties and their Subsidiaries as the Administrative Agent may reasonably request, and execute any and all further documents, financing statements, agreements and instruments, and take all such further actions (including the filing and recording of financing statements and other documents), which may be required under any Applicable Law, or which the Administrative
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Agent or the Required Lenders may reasonably request, to grant, preserve, protect or perfect the Liens created or intended to be created by the Security Documents or the validity or priority of any such Lien, all at the expense of the Credit Parties. Subject to the limitations and exclusions set forth in the Security Documents, the Borrower also agrees to provide to the Administrative Agent, from time to time upon the reasonable request by the Administrative Agent, evidence reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent as to the perfection and priority of the Liens created or intended to be created by the Security Documents.
(b)Visits and Inspections. Each of the Credit Parties shall permit representatives and independent contractors of the Administrative Agent (who may be accompanied by any Lender) up to one time during any twelve month period to visit and inspect any of its properties, to examine its corporate, financial and operating records, and make copies thereof or abstracts therefrom, and to discuss its affairs, finances and accounts with its directors, officers, and independent public accountants, all at the expense of the Borrower, and at such reasonable times during normal business hours, upon reasonable advance notice to the Borrower; provided, however, that when an Event of Default exists, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders (or any of their respective representatives or independent contractors) may do any of the foregoing at the expense of the Borrower at any time during normal business hours and without advance notice and without limit to the number of visits. Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Section 8.12(b) shall not be construed to limit ordinary course discussions between representatives of the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and of the Credit Parties.
SECTION 8.13 Compliance with Anti-Corruption Laws; Beneficial Ownership Regulation, Anti-Money Laundering Laws and Sanctions. (a) Maintain in effect and enforce policies and procedures designed to promote and achieve compliance in all material respects by the Borrower, its Subsidiaries and their respective directors, officers, employees and agents with all applicable Anti-Corruption Laws, applicable Anti-Money Laundering Laws and applicable Sanctions, (b) notify the Administrative Agent of the Borrower ceasing to fall within an express exclusion to the definition of “legal entity customer” under the Beneficial Ownership Regulation and (c) in the event the Borrower ceases to fall within an express exclusion to the definition of “Legal entity customer” under the Beneficial Ownership Regulation, promptly upon the reasonable request of the Administrative Agent or any Lender, provide the Administrative Agent or directly to such Lender, as the case may be, any information or documentation requested by it for purposes of complying with the Beneficial Ownership Regulation. No proceeds of any Extension of Credit shall be used, directly or indirectly, by the Borrower, any of its Subsidiaries or, to the knowledge of the Borrower, any of its or their respective directors, officers, employees and agents in violation of Section 7.14.
ARTICLE IX

NEGATIVE COVENANTS
Until all of the Obligations (other than contingent indemnification and reimbursement obligations not then due and other than Secured Cash Management Obligations and Secured Hedge Obligations) have been paid and satisfied in full in cash, all Letters of Credit have been terminated or expired (or been Cash Collateralized) and the Commitments terminated, the Credit Parties will not, and will not permit any of their respective Subsidiaries to:
SECTION 9.1 Indebtedness. Create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Indebtedness except:
(a)Indebtedness arising or existing under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents;
(b)Indebtedness of the Credit Parties and their Subsidiaries existing as of the Closing Date (and, if such Indebtedness has an aggregate principal amount outstanding in excess of $1,000,000, listed on Schedule 9.1(b) to the Disclosure Letter) and any renewals, refinancings or extensions thereof in a principal amount not in excess of that outstanding as of the date of such renewal, refinancing or extension, plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon, an amount equal to a reasonable premium or other reasonable amount paid and fees and expenses reasonably incurred, in connection with such renewal, refinancing or extension;
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(c)Indebtedness of the Credit Parties and their Subsidiaries incurred after the Closing Date consisting of Capital Leases or Indebtedness incurred to provide all or a portion of the purchase price or cost of construction, repair or improvement of property; provided that (i) such Indebtedness when incurred shall not exceed the purchase price or cost of construction of such personal property asset; (ii) no such Indebtedness shall be renewed, refinanced or extended for a principal amount in excess of the principal balance outstanding thereon at the time of such renewal, refinancing or extension, plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon, an amount equal to a reasonable premium or other reasonable amount paid and fees and expenses reasonably incurred, in connection with such renewal, refinancing or extension; and (iii) at the time such Indebtedness is incurred, the aggregate principal amount of all such Indebtedness outstanding shall not exceed the greater of (x) $50,000,000 or (y) 2.5% of Consolidated total assets of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as of the most recently ended Reference Period;
(d)Unsecured intercompany Indebtedness among the Credit Parties and their Subsidiaries; provided, that such Indebtedness shall constitute a Permitted Investment pursuant to Section 9.5;
(e)Indebtedness and obligations (i) owing under Hedge Agreements entered into in order to manage existing or anticipated interest rate, exchange rate or commodity price risks and not for speculative purposes and (ii) in respect of Cash Management Agreements entered into in the ordinary course of business;
(f)Indebtedness of a Person existing at the time such Person becomes a Subsidiary of a Credit Party, or is merged with or into a Credit Party, or in respect of a line of business or business unit acquired in a transaction permitted hereunder, in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $50,000,000 at any time outstanding for all such Persons and transactions; provided that any such Indebtedness was not created in anticipation of or in connection with the transaction or series of transactions pursuant to which such Person became a Subsidiary of a Credit Party, and any renewal, refinancing or extension thereof in a principal amount not in excess of that outstanding as of the date of such renewal, refinancing or extension, plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon, an amount equal to a reasonable premium or other reasonable amount paid and fees and expenses reasonable incurred in connection with such renewal, refinancing or extension;
(g)Indebtedness of Foreign Subsidiaries in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $50,000,000 at any time outstanding;
(h)Indebtedness of the Credit Parties and their Subsidiaries incurred after the Closing Date, so long as the aggregate principal amount of such Indebtedness at any time outstanding shall not exceed the greater of (x) $75,000,000 or (y) 3.5% of Consolidated total assets of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as of the most recently ended Reference Period;
(i)Guarantees in respect of Indebtedness of a Credit Party or a Subsidiary to the extent such Indebtedness is permitted to exist or be incurred pursuant to this Section;
(j)obligations in respect of bankers’ acceptances, performance bonds, surety bonds, release, appeal and similar bonds, completion guarantees, statutory obligations or with respect to workers’ compensation claims, payment obligations in connection with self-insurance or similar obligations provided by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business, and obligations owed to (including in respect of letters of credit for the benefit of) any Person in connection with workers’ compensation, health, disability, or other employee benefit or property, casualty or liability insurance provided by such Person to the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries pursuant to reimbursement or indemnification obligations to such Person, in each case incurred in the ordinary course of business;
(k)Indebtedness arising in connection with customary cash management services and from the honoring by a bank or financial institution of a check, draft or similar instrument drawn against insufficient funds, in each case in the ordinary course of business;
(l)customer deposits and advance payments received in the ordinary course of business from customers for goods and services purchased in the ordinary course of business;
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(m)Indebtedness consisting of (i) the financing of insurance premiums or (ii) take-or-pay obligations contained in supply agreements, in each case incurred in the ordinary course of business;
(n)to the extent constituting Indebtedness, earn-out obligations in connection with Permitted Acquisitions;
(o)Indebtedness which may be deemed to exist in connection with agreements providing for indemnification, purchase price adjustments and similar obligations or guarantees securing the performance of the Borrower or any Subsidiary (both before and after liability associated therewith becomes fixed), in each case, in connection with the acquisition or disposition of assets permitted by this Agreement;
(p)Indebtedness with respect to letters of credit not issued under this Agreement, so long as the aggregate liability in respect of all such letters of credit does not exceed $25,000,000 at any time;
(q)To the extent constituting Indebtedness, obligations in respect of Standard Securitization Undertakings with respect to a Qualified Factoring Transaction; and
(r)other unsecured Indebtedness of the Credit Parties and their Subsidiaries so long as (i) the affirmative covenants, negative covenants, financial covenants and events of default in respect of such Indebtedness are no more restrictive on the applicable obligor (taken as a whole in the judgment of the Borrower) than the affirmative covenants, negative covenants, financial covenants and Events of Default hereof; provided, however, that the interest rate, fees and other economic terms of such Indebtedness shall not be required to be less restrictive than the interest rate, fees and other economic terms hereof, (ii) the scheduled final maturity date of such Indebtedness shall be no earlier than six months following the Revolving Credit Maturity Date, (iii) the Credit Parties shall be in compliance on a Pro Forma Basis with the financial covenants set forth in Section 8.9 hereof, recalculated for the most recently ended Reference Period and (iv) no Default or Event of Default shall exist or shall result therefrom.
SECTION 9.2 Liens. Create, incur, assume or permit to exist any Lien with respect to any of their respective property or assets of any kind (whether real or personal, tangible or intangible), whether now owned or hereafter acquired, except for the following (the “Permitted Liens”):
(a)Liens created by or otherwise existing under or in connection with this Agreement or the other Loan Documents (including, without limitation, Liens in favor of the Swingline Lender and/or the Issuing Lenders, as applicable, on Cash Collateral granted pursuant to the Loan Documents);
(b)Liens securing purchase money Indebtedness and Capital Lease Obligations (and refinancings thereof) to the extent permitted under Section 9.1(c); provided, that (i) any such Lien attaches to such property concurrently with or within one hundred eighty (180) days after the acquisition thereof and (ii) such Lien attaches solely to the property so acquired or financed in such transaction and any additions, accessions, parts, improvements and attachments thereto and the proceeds thereof;
(c)Liens securing Indebtedness permitted under Section 9.1(h);
(d)Liens for taxes, assessments, charges or other governmental levies not yet due or as to which the period of grace, if any, related thereto has not expired, or which are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and adequate reserves with respect thereto are maintained on the books of any Credit Party or its Subsidiaries, as the case may be, to the extent required by GAAP;
(e)statutory, common law or contractual Liens such as carriers’, warehousemen’s, mechanics’, materialmen’s, landlords’, repairmen’s or other like Liens arising in the ordinary course of business which are not overdue for a period of more than thirty (30) days or which are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings; provided that a reserve or other appropriate provision shall have been made therefore to the extent required by GAAP;
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(f)pledges or deposits in connection with workers’ compensation, unemployment insurance and other social security or similar legislation (other than any Lien imposed by ERISA) and deposits securing liability to insurance carriers under insurance or self-insurance arrangements, in each case including pledges or deposits securing liability for reimbursement or indemnity arrangements and letter of credit or bank guaranty reimbursement arrangements with respect thereto;
(g)pledges or deposits to secure the performance of bids, trade contracts (other than for borrowed money), leases, statutory obligations, surety and appeal bonds, performance bonds and other obligations of a like nature incurred in the ordinary course of business;
(h)easements, zoning restrictions, rights of way, restrictions, minor defects, irregularities in title, and other similar encumbrances affecting real property which, in the aggregate, are not substantial in amount, and which do not in any case materially detract from the value of the property subject thereto or materially interfere with the ordinary conduct of the business of the applicable Person;
(i)Liens existing on the Closing Date and set forth on Schedule 9.2(i) to the Disclosure Letter; provided that (i) no such Lien shall at any time be extended to cover property or assets other than the property or assets subject thereto on the Closing Date and any additions, accessions, parts, improvements thereon, attachments thereto and the proceeds thereof and (ii) the principal amount of the Indebtedness secured by such Lien shall not be extended, renewed, refunded or refinanced except in accordance with Section 9.1;
(j)any extension, renewal or replacement (or successive extensions, renewals or replacements), in whole or in part, of any Lien referred to in this definition (other than Liens set forth on Schedule 9.2(i) to the Disclosure Letter); provided that such extension, renewal or replacement Lien shall be limited to all or a part of the property which secured the Lien so extended, renewed or replaced (plus any additions, accessions, parts, improvements and attachments thereto and the proceeds thereof);
(k)(i) Liens arising in the ordinary course of business by virtue of any contractual, statutory or common law provision relating to banker’s Liens, rights of set-off or similar rights and remedies covering deposit or securities accounts (including funds or other assets credited thereto) or other funds maintained with a depository institution or securities intermediary and (ii) Liens of a collection bank arising under Section 4-210 of the Uniform Commercial Code on items in the course of collection;
(l)any zoning, building or similar laws or rights reserved to or vested in any Governmental Authority;
(m)restrictions on transfers of securities imposed by applicable Securities Laws;
(n)Liens arising out of judgments or awards not resulting in an Event of Default;
(o)any interest or title of a lessor, licensor or sublessor under any lease, license or sublease entered into by any Credit Party or any Subsidiary and not interfering in any material respect with the business of any Credit Party or any Subsidiary and covering only the assets so leased, licensed or subleased;
(p)assignments of insurance or condemnation proceeds provided to landlords (or their mortgagees) pursuant to the terms of any lease and Liens or rights reserved in any lease for rent or for compliance with the terms of such lease;
(q)Liens on assets of Foreign Subsidiaries securing Indebtedness permitted by Section 9.1(g);
(r)Liens in favor of customs and revenue authorities arising as a matter of law to secure payment of customs duties in connection with the importation of goods;
(s)Liens on insurance proceeds securing the premium of financed insurance proceeds;
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(t)(i) licenses and sublicenses of intellectual property in the ordinary course of business (including intercompany licensing of intellectual property between the Borrower and any Subsidiary and between Subsidiaries in connection with cost-sharing arrangements, distribution, marketing, make-sell or other similar arrangements) and (ii) any interest of co-sponsors, co-owners or co-developers of intellectual property;
(u)Liens securing reasonable and customary fees for services in favor of banks, securities intermediaries and other depository institutions;
(v)Liens on any cash earnest money deposit made by the Borrower or any Subsidiary in connection with any letter of intent or acquisition agreement that is not prohibited by this Agreement;
(w)deposits as security for contested taxes or contested import or customs duties;
(x)Liens securing any overdraft and related liabilities arising from treasury, depository or cash management services or automated clearinghouse transfer of funds;
(y)any encumbrance or restriction with respect to the transfer of the Equity Interests in any joint venture or similar arrangement pursuant to the terms thereof;
(z)Liens on specific items of inventory or other goods and the proceeds thereof securing obligations in respect of documentary letters of credit or bankers’ acceptances issued or created for the account of the Borrower or any Subsidiary in the ordinary course of business to facilitate the purchase, shipment or storage of such inventory or other goods;
(aa)assignments of the right to receive income effected as part of the sale of a Subsidiary or business unit that is otherwise permitted pursuant to Section 9.4;
(bb) any Lien existing on any property or asset (and any additions, accessions, parts, improvements and attachments thereto and the proceeds thereof) prior to the acquisition thereof by the Borrower or any Subsidiary or existing on any property or asset (and any additions, accessions, parts, improvements and attachments thereto and the proceeds thereof) of any Person that becomes a Subsidiary after the date hereof prior to the time such Person becomes a Subsidiary; provided that (i) such Lien is not created in contemplation of or in connection with such acquisition or such Person becoming a Subsidiary, as the case may be and (ii) such Lien shall not apply to any other property or assets (other than any additions, accessions, parts, improvements and attachments thereto and the proceeds thereof) of the Borrower or any Subsidiary;
(cc)leases and subleases granted to others in the ordinary course of business that do not interfere in any material respect with the business of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole;
(dd)pledges or deposits made by Foreign Subsidiaries to secure letters of credit, bank guarantees and similar instruments obtained in the ordinary course of business in an aggregate amount not to exceed $30,000,000 at any time outstanding;
(ee)Liens on cash collateral to secure letters of credit permitted under Section 9.1(p);
(ff)Liens arising out of conditional sale, title retention, consignment or similar arrangements for sale of goods by any of the Borrower or its Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business;
(gg)Liens on Securitization Assets sold, conveyed, assigned or otherwise transferred or purported to be sold, conveyed, assigned or otherwise transferred in connection with a Qualified Factoring Transaction permitted pursuant to Section 9.4(a)(xix); and
(hh)additional Liens securing Indebtedness and other obligations, so long as at the time such Indebtedness or other obligations are incurred, the aggregate outstanding principal amount thereof does
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not exceed the greater of (x) $50,000,000 or (y) 2.5% of Consolidated total assets of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as of the most recently ended Reference Period.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Credit Party will, or will permit any of their respective Subsidiaries to, create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Lien on or with respect to any of its Transferred Intellectual Property, other than Liens described above in clauses (a), (d), (e), (k), (o), (t) and (bb), as applicable
SECTION 9.3 Nature of Business. Alter the character of its business in any material respect from that conducted as of the Closing Date and businesses reasonably related, ancillary or complementary thereto or that constitute a reasonable extension thereof.
SECTION 9.4 Consolidation, Merger, Sale or Purchase of Assets, etc.
(a)dissolve, liquidate or wind up its affairs, or sell, transfer, lease or otherwise dispose of its property or assets (each a “Disposition”), except the following, without duplication, shall be expressly permitted:
(i)     (A) the sale, transfer, lease or other disposition of inventory, equipment and materials in the ordinary course of business and (B) the conversion of cash into Cash Equivalents and Cash Equivalents into cash;

(ii)     the sale, transfer or other disposition of property or assets to an unrelated party not in the ordinary course of business where and to the extent that they are the result of an Insurance and Condemnation Event or any taking under powers of eminent domain or by condemnation or similar proceedings;

(iii)     the sale, lease, transfer or other disposition of machinery, parts, equipment or other assets no longer used or useful in the conduct of the business of the Credit Parties or any of their Subsidiaries, including non-core assets acquired in a Permitted Acquisition;

(iv)     the sale, lease or transfer of property or assets from one Credit Party to another Credit Party or dissolution of any Credit Party (other than the Borrower) to the extent any and all assets of such Credit Party are distributed to another Credit Party;

(v)     the termination of any Cash Management Agreements or Hedge Agreements;

(vi)     transactions permitted by Section 9.4(b) and transactions permitted by Section 9.10;

(vii)     licenses of technology and intellectual property rights (including patents, trademarks and copyrights) in the ordinary course of business (including, intercompany licensing of intellectual property between the Borrower and any Subsidiary and between Subsidiaries in connection with cost-sharing arrangements, distribution, marketing, make-sell or other similar arrangements);

(viii)     any Subsidiary that is not a Credit Party may liquidate or dissolve if (A) the Borrower determines in good faith that such liquidation or dissolution is in the best interests of the Borrower, (B) such liquidation or dissolution is not materially disadvantageous to the Lenders and (C) all assets of such liquidated or dissolved Subsidiary, after payment of all creditors of such Subsidiary, shall be conveyed to the Borrower or a Subsidiary;

(ix)     (A) any Subsidiary that is not a Credit Party may sell, transfer, lease or otherwise dispose of its assets to any Credit Party or another Subsidiary that is not a Credit Party and (B) any Credit Party may sell, transfer, lease or otherwise dispose of its
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assets to a Subsidiary that is not a Credit Party in the ordinary course of business and at fair market value (as reasonably determined by the Borrower) or so long as at the time of such sale, transfer, lease or other disposition, the aggregate amount thereof during any Fiscal Year does not exceed the greater of (x) $50,000,000 and (y) 2.5% of Consolidated total assets of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as of the most recently ended Reference Period;

(x)    to the extent constituting a transfer or disposition, (A) the making of any Investment permitted pursuant to Section 9.5 and (B) the creation, incurrence or assumption of any Lien permitted under Section 9.2 shall be permitted;

(xi)     the use, transfer or disposition of cash or Cash Equivalents in a manner that is not prohibited by the terms of this Agreement;

(xii)     the Borrower and its applicable Subsidiaries may transfer to any Domestic Subsidiary any property acquired pursuant to a Permitted Acquisition to facilitate internal reorganizations or tax planning strategies;

(xiii)     the settlement, waiver, release or surrender of claims or litigation rights of any kind;

(xiv)     the transfer of improvements or alterations made by the Credit Parties and their Subsidiaries in connection with the lease of any real or personal property by the Credit Parties and their Subsidiaries;

(xv)     the write-off, discount, sale or other disposition of defaulted or past-due receivables and similar obligations in the ordinary course of business and not undertaken as part of an accounts receivable financing transaction;

(xvi)    the lapse of registered intellectual property of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries to the extent not economically desirable in the conduct of their business;

(xvii)    Dispositions in respect of fixed assets (which, for the avoidance of doubt, shall not include any intellectual property) to the extent that (i) such fixed assets are exchanged for credit against the purchase price of similar replacement fixed assets or (ii) the proceeds of such Disposition are promptly applied to the purchase price of such replacement fixed assets;

(xviii)    Dispositions in sale leaseback transactions in connection with Indebtedness permitted pursuant to Section 9.1(c); and

(xix)    the sale, conveyance, assignment, transfer or other Disposition of Securitization Assets to any Person in a Qualified Factoring Transaction; provided that the aggregate unpaid amount of accounts receivable, royalty or other revenue streams, other rights to payment, that have been sold, conveyed, assigned or otherwise transferred (or purported to be sold, conveyed, assigned or otherwise transferred) by the Borrower or any Subsidiary in connection with such Qualified Factoring Transaction shall not exceed $50,000,000 at any time outstanding;

(xx)    so long as no Default or Event of Default shall then exist or would result therefrom and the Credit Parties shall be in compliance with each of the financial covenants set forth in Section 8.9 hereof, Dispositions of intellectual property and/or rights thereto from any Credit Party to any Foreign Subsidiary;

(xxi)    Dispositions of property or assets not to exceed 10% of Consolidated Assets (measured as of the end of the immediately preceding fiscal quarter) in the aggregate during the term of this Agreement; provided, however, that any Dispositions pursuant to this clause (xxi) shall not give rise to any Default as a result of a subsequent decline in Consolidated Assets; provided, further, that after giving any effect to any
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Disposition pursuant to this clause (xxi), (A) the Credit Parties shall be in compliance on a Pro Forma Basis with the financial covenants set forth in Section 8.9 hereof (without giving effect to any Leverage Increase), recalculated for the most recently ended Reference Period and (B) no Default or Event of Default shall exist or shall result therefrom;

(b)(i) purchase, lease or otherwise acquire (in a single transaction or a series of related transactions) all, or substantially all of the property or assets of any Person or any line of business or enterprise, other than Permitted Acquisitions and other Investments or acquisitions permitted pursuant to Section 9.5 or (ii) consummate a merger or consolidation, except for (A) Investments or acquisitions permitted pursuant to Section 9.5 so long as if any Credit Party is subject to such merger or consolidation, a Credit Party is the surviving entity, (B) (y) the merger or consolidation of a Subsidiary that is not a Credit Party with and into a Credit Party; provided that such Credit Party will be the surviving entity and (z) the merger or consolidation of a Credit Party with and into another Credit Party; provided that if the Borrower is a party thereto, the Borrower will be the surviving corporation, and (C) the merger or consolidation of a Subsidiary that is not a Credit Party with and into another Subsidiary that is not a Credit Party.
SECTION 9.5 Advances, Investments and Loans. Make any Investment except for the following (the “Permitted Investments”):
(a)cash and investments constituting Cash Equivalents at the time made;
(b)Investments existing or contractually committed to as of the Closing Date as set forth on Schedule 9.5(b) to the Disclosure Letter and Investments by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries existing on the Closing Date in the Equity Interests of its Subsidiaries;
(c)(i) receivables owing to the Credit Parties or any of their Subsidiaries or any receivables, prepayments, deposits and advances to suppliers or vendors, in each case if created, acquired or made in the ordinary course of business and payable or dischargeable in accordance with customary trade terms and (ii) intercompany charges of expenses and intercompany payables, in each case if created, acquired or made in the ordinary course of business;
(d)Investments in and loans to any Credit Party;
(e)loans and advances to officers, directors and employees in an aggregate amount not to exceed $5,000,000 at any time outstanding; provided that such loans and advances shall comply with all Applicable Law (including Sarbanes-Oxley);
(f)Investments (including debt obligations) received in connection with the bankruptcy or reorganization of suppliers and customers and in settlement of delinquent obligations of, and other disputes with or judgments against, customers and suppliers arising in the ordinary course of business;
(g)Permitted Acquisitions, including the formation of a Subsidiary in connection with a specific and identified Permitted Acquisition and the capitalization of such Subsidiary whether by capital contribution or intercompany loan;
(h)(i) Investments by any Credit Party in Subsidiaries that are not Credit Parties in an aggregate amount not to exceed $50,000,000 at any one time outstanding, (ii) Investments by any non-Credit Party in any other non-Credit Party and (iii) Investments constituting intercompany loans by any Credit Party to any Subsidiaries that are not Credit Parties, the proceeds of which are substantially contemporaneously applied to consummate a Permitted Acquisition;
(i)Cash Management Agreements and Hedge Agreements to the extent permitted by Section 9.1;
(j)Investments in joint ventures and other minority interests in an aggregate amount not to exceed $100,000,000 at any one time outstanding;
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(k)(i) Guarantees constituting Indebtedness permitted by Section 9.1 and (ii) guaranties of leases or other obligations that do not constitute Indebtedness;
(l)Investments arising under Hedge Agreements permitted by Section 9.1;
(m)to the extent constituting Investments, pledges and deposits permitted pursuant to Section 9.2;
(n)Investments of any Person that becomes a Subsidiary after the date hereof, provided that (i) such Investments exist at the time that such Person becomes a Subsidiary and (ii) such Investments were not made in anticipation of such Person becoming a Subsidiary;
(o)security deposits, prepaid expenses and negotiable instruments held for collection in the ordinary course of business;
(p)leases of equipment to customers permitted by Section 9.4(a)(i);
(q)Investments (other than Investments in Credit Parties or Subsidiaries) arising out of the receipt of non-cash consideration for any disposition permitted by Section 9.4 and any Investments that consist of or result from any merger or consolidation permitted by Section 9.4;
(r)an Investment by the Borrower in National Instruments Israel Ltd., as described on Section 9.5(r) of the Disclosure Letter;
(s)so long as no Default or Event of Default shall then exist or would result therefrom and the Credit Parties shall be in compliance with each of the financial covenants set forth in Section 8.9 hereof, Investments in the form of transfers of intellectual property and/or rights thereto from any Credit Party to any Foreign Subsidiary; and
(t)additional loan advances and/or Investments of a nature not contemplated by the foregoing clauses hereof; provided that such loans, advances and/or Investments made after the Closing Date pursuant to this clause shall not exceed, at the time made, an aggregate amount equal to the greater of (x) $50,000,000 and (y) 2.5% of Consolidated total assets of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as of the most recently ended Reference Period.
SECTION 9.6 Transactions with Affiliates. Enter into any transaction or series of transactions, whether or not in the ordinary course of business, with any officer, director, shareholder or Affiliate of such Person other than on terms and conditions substantially as favorable as would be obtainable in a comparable arm’s-length transaction with a Person other than an officer, director, shareholder or Affiliate, other than (a) transactions solely between or among the Borrower and its Subsidiaries or between or among Subsidiaries, (b) any Restricted Payment permitted by Section 9.10, (c) Investments permitted by Section 9.5, (d) indemnification arrangements and employee agreements, compensation arrangements (including equity-based compensation and reasonable and customary fees paid to directors) and severance arrangements with and reimbursement of expenses of, in each case, current or former officers and directors, (e) extraordinary retention, bonus or similar arrangements approved by the Borrower’s board of directors (or a committee thereof), (f) the issuance of Equity Interests of the Borrower to any Person, (g) advances to officers, directors and employees of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries permitted by Section 9.5 and (h) severance arrangements entered into in the ordinary course of business:
SECTION 9.7 Ownership of Subsidiaries; Restrictions. The Credit Parties will not sell, transfer, pledge or otherwise dispose of any Equity Interests in any of their Subsidiaries, nor will they permit any of their Subsidiaries to issue, sell, transfer, pledge or otherwise dispose of any of their Equity Interests, except in a transaction permitted by Section 9.4 or Section 9.5.
SECTION 9.8 Corporate Changes. (a) Change its Fiscal Year; provided that any Subsidiary acquired after the Closing Date may change its fiscal year for GAAP purposes to correspond with the Borrower’s fiscal year, (b) amend, modify or change its articles of incorporation, certificate of
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designation (or corporate charter or other similar organizational document) operating agreement or bylaws (or other similar document) in any respect materially adverse to the interests of the Lenders without the Lenders’ prior written consent. No Credit Party shall (a) (i) change its state of incorporation or organization, without providing five (5) days prior written notice to the Administrative Agent or (ii) change its registered legal name, without providing five (5) days prior written notice to the Administrative Agent, (b) have more than one state of incorporation, organization or formation or (c) change its accounting method (except in accordance with GAAP) in any manner adverse to the interests of the Lenders without the Administrative Agent’s prior written consent.
SECTION 9.9 Limitation on Restricted Actions. Directly or indirectly, create or otherwise cause or suffer to exist or become effective any encumbrance or restriction on the ability of (a) any such Person (other than the Borrower) to pay dividends or make any other distributions to any Credit Party on its Equity Interests or with respect to any other interest or participation in, or measured by, its profits, (b) any such Person to pay any Indebtedness or other obligation owed to any Credit Party, (c) any such Person to make loans or advances to any Credit Party, (d) any such Person to sell, lease or transfer any of its properties or assets to any Credit Party, or (e) any such Person to act as a Guarantor pursuant to the Loan Documents or amend or otherwise modify the Loan Documents, except (in respect of any of the matters referred to in clauses (a) through (d) above) for such encumbrances or restrictions existing under or by reason of (i) this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, (ii) applicable law or rule, regulation, order, license, permit, grant or similar restriction of any applicable Governmental Authority, (iii) any document or instrument governing Indebtedness incurred pursuant to Section 9.1(c), Section 9.1(f), Section 9.1(g) or Section 9.1(h); provided that any such restriction contained therein relates only to the asset securing such Indebtedness, (iv) any Permitted Lien or any document or instrument governing any Permitted Lien; provided that any such restriction contained therein relates only to the asset or assets subject to such Permitted Lien, (v) customary restrictions and conditions contained in asset sale agreements, purchase agreements, acquisition agreements (including by way of merger, acquisition or consolidation) entered into by the Borrower or any Subsidiary, solely to the extent in effect pending consummation of such transaction and so long as such restrictions relate only to the assets subject thereto, (vi) customary provisions in leases, licenses and other contracts restricting the assignment, subletting or encumbrance thereof, (vii) restrictions and conditions in any indenture, agreement, document, instrument or other arrangement relating to the assets or business of any Subsidiary existing prior to the acquisition of such Subsidiary (and not created in contemplation of such acquisition), (viii) contractual encumbrances or restrictions in effect as of the date hereof and set forth on Schedule 9.9 to the Disclosure Letter (but shall apply to any extension or renewal of, or any amendment or modification expanding the scope of, any such restriction or condition), (ix) customary provisions in joint ventures agreements (and other similar agreements) (provided that such provisions apply only to such joint venture and to Equity Interests in such joint venture), (x) customary net worth provisions or similar financial maintenance provisions contained in real property leases entered into by a Subsidiary, so long as the Borrower has determined in good faith that such net worth provisions could not reasonably be expected to impair the ability of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries to meet their ongoing obligations under the Loan Documents, (xi) restrictions on cash or other deposits imposed by customers of the Borrower or any Subsidiary under contracts entered into in the ordinary course of business, (xii) restrictions under any arrangement with any Governmental Authority imposed on any Foreign Subsidiary in connection with governmental grants, financial aid, tax holidays or similar benefits or economic interests and (xiii) restrictions in connection with the Investment by the Borrower in National Instruments Israel Ltd., as described on Section 9.9 of the Disclosure Letter.
SECTION 9.10 Restricted Payments. Directly or indirectly, declare, order, make or set apart any sum for or pay any Restricted Payment, except (a) to make dividends payable solely in the same class of Equity Interests of such Person, (b) to make dividends or other distributions payable to the Credit Parties (directly or indirectly through its Subsidiaries), (c) to make Restricted Payments to any Credit Party or Subsidiary thereof and to any other Person that owns an Equity Interest in such Person, ratably according to their respective holdings of the type of Equity Interest in respect of which such Restricted Payment is being made, (d) to make Restricted Payments so long as both before and after giving effect to each such Restricted Payment on a Pro Forma Basis (tested as of the date such Restricted Payment is declared, so long as such Restricted Payment is paid within sixty (60) days of such declaration) (i) no Default or Event of Default shall then exist or would result therefrom, (ii) the Credit Parties shall be in compliance with each of the financial covenants set forth in Section 8.9 hereof and (iii) the Consolidated Total Net
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Leverage Ratio shall be less than 3.00 to 1.00 (e) the Borrower may make Restricted Payments pursuant to and in accordance with stock option plans or other benefit plans for management, employees or other eligible service providers of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, (f) the Borrower may distribute rights pursuant to a stockholder rights plan or redeem such rights, provided that such redemption is in accordance with the terms of such stockholder rights plan, (g) the Borrower may make Restricted Payments in connection with the retention of Equity Interests in payment of withholding taxes in connection with equity-based compensation plans, (h) the Borrower or any Subsidiary may receive or accept the return to the Borrower or any Subsidiary of Equity Interests of the Borrower or any Subsidiary constituting a portion of the purchase price consideration in settlement of indemnification claims or as a result of purchase price adjustments (including earn-outs and similar obligations), (i) to make Restricted Payments on Subordinated Indebtedness with the proceeds of refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof permitted by Section 9.1, (j) to pay quarterly dividends on Borrower’s common stock; provided, that, (i) to the extent the Consolidated Total Net Leverage Ratio on a Pro Forma Basis is equal to or greater than 3.00 to 1.00, such payments shall not exceed $0.33 per share per quarter, (ii) the Credit Parties shall be in compliance with each of the financial covenants set forth in Section 8.9 hereof on a Pro Forma Basis and (iii) for purposes of calculating Consolidated Total Net Leverage Ratio and compliance with the financial covenants pursuant to the foregoing subclauses (i) and (ii) on a Pro Forma Basis, such calculations shall be determined as of the date such Restricted Payment is declared giving pro forma effect to the anticipated payment, so long as such Restricted Payment is paid within sixty (60) days of such declaration and (k) to make other Restricted Payments in an aggregate amount not to exceed $5,000,000 in any Reference Period.
SECTION 9.11 Sale Leasebacks. Except as permitted by Section 9.4(a)(xviii), directly or indirectly, become or remain liable as lessee or as guarantor or other surety with respect to any lease, whether an operating lease or a Capital Lease, of any property (whether real, personal or mixed), whether now owned or hereafter acquired, (a) which any Credit Party or any Subsidiary has sold or transferred or is to sell or transfer to a Person which is not a Credit Party or a Subsidiary or (b) which any Credit Party or any Subsidiary intends to use for substantially the same purpose as any other property which has been sold or is to be sold or transferred by a Credit Party or a Subsidiary to another Person which is not a Credit Party or a Subsidiary in connection with such lease.
SECTION 9.12 No Further Negative Pledges. Enter into, assume or become subject to any agreement prohibiting or otherwise restricting the creation or assumption of any Lien upon any of their properties or assets, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, or requiring the grant of any security for such obligation if security is given for some other obligation, except (a) pursuant to this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, (b) pursuant to any document or instrument governing Indebtedness incurred pursuant to Section 9.1(c), Section 9.1(f), Section 9.1(g) or Section 9.1(h); provided that any such restriction contained therein relates only to the asset securing such Indebtedness, (c) in connection with any Permitted Lien or any document or instrument governing any Permitted Lien; provided that any such restriction contained therein relates only to the asset or assets subject to such Permitted Lien; (d) customary restrictions and conditions contained in asset sale agreements, purchase agreements, acquisition agreements (including by way of merger, acquisition or consolidation) entered into by the Borrower or any Subsidiary, solely to the extent in effect pending consummation of such transaction and so long as such restrictions relate only to the assets subject thereto, (e) customary provisions in leases, licenses and other contracts restricting the assignment, subletting or encumbrance thereof, (f) restrictions and conditions in any indenture, agreement, document, instrument or other arrangement relating to the assets or business of any Subsidiary existing prior to the consummation of a Permitted Acquisition in which such Subsidiary was acquired (and not created in contemplation of such Permitted Acquisition, (g) contractual encumbrances or restrictions in effect as of the date hereof and set forth on Schedule 9.12 to the Disclosure Letter (but shall apply to any extension or renewal of, or any amendment or modification expanding the scope of, any such restriction or condition), (h) customary provisions in joint venture agreements (and other similar agreements) (provided that such provisions apply only to such joint venture and to Equity Interests in such joint venture), (i) restrictions on cash or other deposits imposed by customers of the Borrower or any Subsidiary under contracts entered into in the ordinary course of business, (j) restrictions under any arrangement with any Governmental Authority imposed on any Foreign Subsidiary in connection with governmental grants, financial aid, tax holidays or similar benefits or economic interests, (k) restrictions imposed by applicable law or any applicable rule, regulation, order,
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license, permit, grant or similar restriction and (l) restrictions or conditions imposed by any agreement related to any Qualified Factoring Transaction.
ARTICLE X

DEFAULT AND REMEDIES
SECTION 10.1 Events of Default. An Event of Default shall exist upon the occurrence of any of the following specified events (each an “Event of Default”):
(a)Payment. (i) The Borrower shall fail to pay any principal on any Loan, Revolving Note or Term Loan Note when due (whether at maturity, by reason of acceleration or otherwise) in accordance with the terms hereof or thereof; or (ii) the Borrower shall fail to reimburse the Issuing Lender for any L/C Obligations when due (whether at maturity, by reason of acceleration or otherwise) in accordance with the terms hereof; or (iii) the Borrower shall fail to pay any interest on any Loan or any fee or other amount payable hereunder when due (whether at maturity, by reason of acceleration or otherwise) in accordance with the terms hereof and such failure shall continue unremedied for three (3) Business Days; or (iv) or any Guarantor shall fail to pay on the Subsidiary Guaranty Agreement in respect of any of the foregoing or in respect of any other Guarantees hereunder (after giving effect to the grace period in clause (iii)); or
(b)Misrepresentation. Any representation or warranty made or deemed made herein or in any of the other Loan Documents or which is contained in any certificate, document or financial or other statement furnished at any time under or in connection with this Agreement shall prove (i) with respect to representations and warranties that contain a materiality qualification, to have been incorrect, false or misleading on or as of the date made or deemed made; or (ii) with respect to representations and warranties that do not contain a materiality qualification, to have been incorrect, false or misleading in any material respect on or as of the date made or deemed made; or
(c)Covenant Default.
(i)Any Credit Party shall fail to perform, comply with or observe any term, covenant or agreement applicable to it contained in Sections 8.1, 8.2, 8.4, 8.7, 8.9, 8.11 and Article IX.
(ii)Any Credit Party shall fail to comply with any other covenant contained in this Agreement or the other Loan Document (other than as described in Sections 10.1(a) or 10.1(c)(i) above) and, with respect to this clause (ii) only, such breach or failure to comply is not cured within thirty (30) days of its occurrence; or
(d)Indebtedness Cross-Default. (i) Any Credit Party or any of its Subsidiaries shall default in any payment of principal of or interest on any Indebtedness (other than the Loans, Reimbursement Obligations and the Subsidiary Guaranty Agreement) in a principal amount outstanding of at least $50,000,000 for the Credit Parties and any of their Subsidiaries in the aggregate beyond any applicable grace period, if any, provided in the instrument or agreement under which such Indebtedness was created; or (ii) any Credit Party or any of its Subsidiaries shall default in the observance or performance of any other agreement or condition relating to any Indebtedness (other than the Loans, Reimbursement Obligations and the Subsidiary Guaranty Agreement) in a principal amount outstanding of at least $50,000,000 in the aggregate for the Credit Parties and their Subsidiaries or contained in any instrument or agreement evidencing, securing or relating thereto, or any other event shall occur or condition exist, the effect of which default or other event or condition is to cause, or to permit the holder or holders of such Indebtedness or beneficiary or beneficiaries of such Indebtedness (or a trustee or agent on behalf of such holder or holders or beneficiary or beneficiaries) to cause, with the giving of notice if required, such Indebtedness to become due prior to its stated maturity or to be repurchased, prepaid, deferred or redeemed (automatically or otherwise); provided that this clause (d) shall not apply to secured Indebtedness that becomes due as a result of the voluntary sale or transfer of the property or assets securing such Indebtedness; or
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(e)Bankruptcy Default. (i) A Credit Party or any of its Material Subsidiaries shall commence any case, proceeding or other action (A) under any existing or future law of any jurisdiction, domestic or foreign, relating to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or relief of debtors, seeking to have an order for relief entered with respect to it, or seeking to adjudicate it a bankrupt or insolvent, or seeking reorganization, arrangement, adjustment, winding up, liquidation, dissolution, composition or other relief with respect to it or its debts, or (B) seeking appointment of a receiver, trustee, custodian, conservator or other similar official for it or for all or any substantial part of its assets, or a Credit Party or any of its Material Subsidiaries shall make a general assignment for the benefit of its creditors; or (ii) there shall be commenced against a Credit Party or any of its Material Subsidiaries any case, proceeding or other action of a nature referred to in clause (i) above which (A) results in the entry of an order for relief or any such adjudication or appointment or (B) remains undismissed, undischarged or unbonded for a period of sixty (60) days; or (iii) there shall be commenced against a Credit Party or any of its Material Subsidiaries any case, proceeding or other action seeking issuance of a warrant of attachment, execution, distraint or similar process against all or any substantial part of their assets which results in the entry of an order for any such relief which shall not have been vacated, discharged, or stayed or bonded pending appeal within sixty (60) days from the entry thereof; or (iv) a Credit Party or any of its Material Subsidiaries shall take any action in furtherance of, or indicating its consent to, approval of, or acquiescence in, any of the acts set forth in clause (i), (ii), or (iii) above; or (v) a Credit Party or any of its Material Subsidiaries shall generally not, or shall be unable to, or shall admit in writing their inability to, pay its debts as they become due; or
(f)Judgment Default. One or more judgments or decrees shall be entered against a Credit Party or any of its Subsidiaries involving in the aggregate a liability (to the extent not covered by insurance) of $50,000,000 or more and all such judgments or decrees shall not have been paid and satisfied, vacated, discharged, stayed or bonded pending appeal within earlier of (A) sixty (60) days from the entry thereof or (B) the expiration of the period during which an appeal of such judgment or decree is permitted; or
(g)ERISA Default. The occurrence of any of the following involving, individually or in the aggregate, liability to the Credit Parties of $50,000,000 or more: (i) Any Person shall engage in any non-exempt “prohibited transaction” (as defined in Section 406 of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code) involving any Plan, (ii) any Lien in favor of the PBGC or a Plan (other than a Permitted Lien) shall arise on the assets of the Credit Parties or any ERISA Affiliate, (iii) an ERISA Event shall occur, (iv) any Single Employer Plan shall terminate for purposes of Title IV of ERISA, (v) a Credit Party, any of its Subsidiaries or any ERISA Affiliate shall, or in the reasonable opinion of the Administrative Agent is likely to, incur any liability in connection with a withdrawal from, or the Insolvency or Reorganization of, any Multiemployer Plan or (vi) any other similar event or condition shall occur or exist with respect to a Plan; and, in each case in clauses (iv) through (vi) above, such event or condition shall occur or exist with respect to a Plan; or
(h)Change in Control. There shall occur a Change of Control; or
(i)Invalidity of Guaranty. At any time after the execution and delivery thereof, the Subsidiary Guaranty Agreement, for any reason other than the satisfaction in full of all Secured Obligations, shall cease to be in full force and effect (other than in accordance with its terms) or shall be declared to be null and void, or any Credit Party shall contest the validity, enforceability, perfection or priority of any Loan Document in writing or deny in writing that it has any further liability, including with respect to future advances by the Lenders, under any Loan Document to which it is a party; or
(j)Invalidity of Loan Documents. Any material provision of any Loan Document shall fail to be in full force and effect or to give the Administrative Agent and the Lenders the, rights, powers and privileges, taken as a whole, purported to be created thereby (except as such documents may be terminated or no longer in force and effect in accordance with the terms thereof, other than those indemnities and provisions which by their terms shall survive), or any Security Document shall for any reason cease to create a valid and perfected first priority Lien (subject to Permitted Liens) on, or security interest in, any material portion of the Collateral purported to be covered thereby, in each case other than in accordance with the express terms hereof or thereof or by virtue of any action or inaction by the Administrative Agent or any Secured Party.
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SECTION 10.2 Remedies. Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, with the consent of the Required Lenders, the Administrative Agent may, or upon the request of the Required Lenders, the Administrative Agent shall, by notice to the Borrower:
(a)Acceleration; Termination of Credit Facility. Terminate the Commitments and declare the principal of and interest on the Loans and the Reimbursement Obligations at the time outstanding, and all other amounts owed to the Lenders and to the Administrative Agent under this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents (including all L/C Obligations, whether or not the beneficiaries of the then outstanding Letters of Credit shall have presented or shall be entitled to present the documents required thereunder) and all other Obligations, to be forthwith due and payable, whereupon the same shall immediately become due and payable without presentment, demand, protest or other notice of any kind, all of which are expressly waived by each Credit Party, anything in this Agreement or the other Loan Documents to the contrary notwithstanding, and terminate the Credit Facility and any right of the Borrower to request borrowings or Letters of Credit thereunder; provided, that upon the occurrence of an Event of Default specified in Section 10.1(e), the Credit Facility shall be automatically terminated and all Obligations shall automatically become due and payable without presentment, demand, protest or other notice of any kind, all of which are expressly waived by each Credit Party, anything in this Agreement or in any other Loan Document to the contrary notwithstanding.
(b)Letters of Credit. With respect to all Letters of Credit with respect to which presentment for honor shall not have occurred at the time of an acceleration pursuant to the preceding paragraph, demand that the Borrower shall at such time deposit in a Cash Collateral account opened by the Administrative Agent an amount equal to the Minimum Collateral Amount of the aggregate then undrawn and unexpired amount of such Letter of Credit. Amounts held in such Cash Collateral account shall be applied by the Administrative Agent to the payment of drafts drawn under such Letters of Credit, and the unused portion thereof after all such Letters of Credit shall have expired or been fully drawn upon, if any, shall be applied to repay the other Secured Obligations in accordance with Section 10.4. After all such Letters of Credit shall have expired or been fully drawn upon, the Reimbursement Obligation shall have been satisfied and all other Secured Obligations shall have been paid in full, the balance, if any, in such Cash Collateral account shall be returned to the Borrower.
(c)General Remedies. Exercise on behalf of the Secured Parties all of its other rights and remedies under this Agreement, the other Loan Documents and Applicable Law, in order to satisfy all of the Secured Obligations.
SECTION 10.3 Rights and Remedies Cumulative; Non-Waiver; etc.
(a)The enumeration of the rights and remedies of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders set forth in this Agreement is not intended to be exhaustive and the exercise by the Administrative Agent and the Lenders of any right or remedy shall not preclude the exercise of any other rights or remedies, all of which shall be cumulative, and shall be in addition to any other right or remedy given hereunder or under the other Loan Documents or that may now or hereafter exist at law or in equity or by suit or otherwise. No delay or failure to take action on the part of the Administrative Agent or any Lender in exercising any right, power or privilege shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any such right, power or privilege preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, power or privilege or shall be construed to be a waiver of any Event of Default. No course of dealing between the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders or their respective agents or employees shall be effective to change, modify or discharge any provision of this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents or to constitute a waiver of any Event of Default.
(b)Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein or in any other Loan Document, the authority to enforce rights and remedies hereunder and under the other Loan Documents against the Credit Parties or any of them shall be vested exclusively in, and all actions and proceedings at law in connection with such enforcement shall be instituted and maintained exclusively by, the Administrative Agent in accordance with Section 10.2 for the benefit of all the Lenders and the Issuing Lenders; provided that the foregoing shall not prohibit (a) the Administrative Agent from exercising on its own behalf the rights and remedies that inure to its benefit (solely in its capacity as Administrative Agent) hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, (b) any Issuing Lender or the Swingline Lender from
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exercising the rights and remedies that inure to its benefit (solely in its capacity as an Issuing Lender or Swingline Lender, as the case may be) hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, (c) any Lender from exercising setoff rights in accordance with Section 12.4 (subject to the terms of Section 5.6), or (d) any Lender from filing proofs of claim or appearing and filing pleadings on its own behalf during the pendency of a proceeding relative to any Credit Party under any Debtor Relief Law; and provided, further, that if at any time there is no Person acting as Administrative Agent hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, then (i) the Required Lenders shall have the rights otherwise ascribed to the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 10.2 and (ii) in addition to the matters set forth in clauses (b), (c) and (d) of the preceding proviso and subject to Section 5.6, any Lender may, with the consent of the Required Lenders, enforce any rights and remedies available to it and as authorized by the Required Lenders.
SECTION 10.4 Crediting of Payments and Proceeds. In the event that the Obligations have been accelerated pursuant to Section 10.2 or the Administrative Agent or any Lender has exercised any remedy set forth in this Agreement or any other Loan Document, all payments received on account of the Secured Obligations and all net proceeds from the enforcement of the Secured Obligations shall, subject to the provisions of Sections 3.12, 5.14 and 5.15, be applied by the Administrative Agent as follows:
First, to payment of that portion of the Secured Obligations constituting fees, indemnities, expenses and other amounts, including attorney fees, payable to the Administrative Agent in its capacity as such;
Second, to payment of that portion of the Secured Obligations constituting fees (other than Commitment Fees and Letter of Credit fees payable to the Revolving Credit Lenders), indemnities and other amounts (other than principal and interest) payable to the Lenders, the Issuing Lenders and the Swingline Lender under the Loan Documents, including attorney fees, ratably among the Lenders, the Issuing Lenders and the Swingline Lender in proportion to the respective amounts described in this clause Second payable to them;
Third, to payment of that portion of the Secured Obligations constituting accrued and unpaid Commitment Fees and Letter of Credit fees payable to the Revolving Credit Lenders and interest on the Loans and Reimbursement Obligations, ratably among the Lenders, the Issuing Lenders and the Swingline Lender in proportion to the respective amounts described in this clause Third payable to them;
Fourth, to payment of that portion of the Secured Obligations constituting unpaid principal of the Loans and Reimbursement Obligations and Secured Hedge Obligations and Secured Cash Management Obligations then owing and to Cash Collateralize any L/C Obligations then outstanding, ratably among the holders of such obligations in proportion to the respective amounts described in this clause Fourth payable to them; and
Last, the balance, if any, after all of the Secured Obligations have been paid in full, to the Borrower or as otherwise required by Applicable Law.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, Secured Cash Management Obligations and Secured Hedge Obligations shall be excluded from the application described above if the Administrative Agent has not received written notice thereof, together with such supporting documentation as the Administrative Agent may request, from the applicable holders thereof following such acceleration or exercise of remedies and at least three (3) Business Days prior to the application of the proceeds thereof. Each holder of Secured Cash Management Obligations or Secured Hedge Obligations not a party to this Agreement that has given the notice contemplated by the preceding sentence shall, by such notice, be deemed to have acknowledged and accepted the appointment of the Administrative Agent pursuant to the terms of Article XI for itself and its Affiliates as if a “Lender” party hereto.
SECTION 10.5 Administrative Agent May File Proofs of Claim. In case of the pendency of any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law or any other judicial proceeding relative to any Credit Party, the Administrative Agent (irrespective of whether the principal of any Loan or L/C Obligation shall then be due and payable as herein expressed or by declaration or otherwise and irrespective of whether the
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Administrative Agent shall have made any demand on any Credit Party) shall be entitled and empowered (but not obligated) by intervention in such proceeding or otherwise:
(a)to file and prove a claim for the whole amount of the principal and interest owing and unpaid in respect of the Loans, L/C Obligations and all other Secured Obligations that are owing and unpaid and to file such other documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Lenders, the Issuing Lenders and the Administrative Agent (including any claim for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Lenders, the Issuing Lenders and the Administrative Agent and their respective agents and counsel and all other amounts due the Lenders, the Issuing Lenders and the Administrative Agent under Sections 3.3, 5.3 and 12.3) allowed in such judicial proceeding; and
(b)to collect and receive any monies or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims and to distribute the same;
and any custodian, receiver, assignee, trustee, liquidator, sequestrator or other similar official in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Lender and each Issuing Lender to make such payments to the Administrative Agent and, in the event that the Administrative Agent shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Lenders and the Issuing Lenders, to pay to the Administrative Agent any amount due for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Administrative Agent and its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Administrative Agent under Sections 3.3, 5.3 and 12.3.
SECTION 10.6 Credit Bidding.
(1)The Administrative Agent, on behalf of itself and the Secured Parties, shall have the right, exercisable at the direction of the Required Lenders, to credit bid and purchase for the benefit of the Administrative Agent and the Secured Parties all or any portion of Collateral at any sale thereof conducted by the Administrative Agent under the provisions of the UCC, including pursuant to Sections 9-610 or 9-620 of the UCC, at any sale thereof conducted under the provisions of the United States Bankruptcy Code, including Section 363 thereof, or a sale under a plan of reorganization, or at any other sale or foreclosure conducted by the Administrative Agent (whether by judicial action or otherwise) in accordance with Applicable Law. Such credit bid or purchase may be completed through one or more acquisition vehicles formed by the Administrative Agent to make such credit bid or purchase and, in connection therewith, the Administrative Agent is authorized, on behalf of itself and the other Secured Parties, to adopt documents providing for the governance of the acquisition vehicle or vehicles, and assign the applicable Secured Obligations to any such acquisition vehicle in exchange for Equity Interests and/or debt issued by the applicable acquisition vehicle (which shall be deemed to be held for the ratable account of the applicable Secured Parties on the basis of the Secured Obligations so assigned by each Secured Party); provided that any actions by the Administrative Agent with respect to such acquisition vehicle or vehicles, including any disposition of the assets or Equity Interests thereof, shall be governed, directly or indirectly, by the vote of the Required Lenders, irrespective of the termination of this Agreement and without giving effect to the limitations on actions by the Required Lenders contained in Section 12.2.
(2)Each Lender hereby agrees, on behalf of itself and each of its Affiliates that is a Secured Party, that, except as otherwise provided in any Loan Document or with the written consent of the Administrative Agent and the Required Lenders, it will not take any enforcement action, accelerate obligations under any of the Loan Documents, or exercise any right that it might otherwise have under Applicable Law to credit bid at foreclosure sales, UCC sales or other similar dispositions of Collateral.
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ARTICLE XI

THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
SECTION 11.1 Appointment and Authority.
(a)Each of the Lenders and each Issuing Lender hereby irrevocably appoints Wells Fargo to act on its behalf as the Administrative Agent hereunder and under the other Loan Documents and authorizes the Administrative Agent to take such actions on its behalf and to exercise such powers as are delegated to the Administrative Agent by the terms hereof or thereof, together with such actions and powers as are reasonably incidental thereto. Except as provided in Sections 11.6 and 11.9 the provisions of this Article are solely for the benefit of the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the Issuing Lenders, and neither the Borrower nor any Subsidiary thereof shall have rights as a third-party beneficiary of any of such provisions. It is understood and agreed that the use of the term “agent” herein or in any other Loan Documents (or any other similar term) with reference to the Administrative Agent is not intended to connote any fiduciary or other implied (or express) obligations arising under agency doctrine of any Applicable Law. Instead such term is used as a matter of market custom, and is intended to create or reflect only an administrative relationship between contracting parties.
(b)The Administrative Agent shall also act as the “collateral agent” under the Loan Documents, and each of the Lenders (including each holder of Secured Hedge Obligations and Secured Cash Management Obligations) and the Issuing Lenders hereby irrevocably appoints and authorizes the Administrative Agent to act as the agent of such Lender and such Issuing Lender for purposes of acquiring, holding and enforcing any and all Liens on Collateral granted by any of the Credit Parties to secure any of the Secured Obligations, together with such powers and discretion as are reasonably incidental thereto (including to enter into additional Loan Documents or supplements to existing Loan Documents on behalf of the Secured Parties). In this connection, the Administrative Agent, as “collateral agent” and any co-agents, sub-agents and attorneys-in-fact appointed by the Administrative Agent pursuant to this Article XI for purposes of holding or enforcing any Lien on the Collateral (or any portion thereof) granted under the Security Documents, or for exercising any rights and remedies thereunder at the direction of the Administrative Agent), shall be entitled to the benefits of all provisions of Articles XI and XII (including Section 12.3, as though such co-agents, sub-agents and attorneys-in-fact were the “collateral agent” under the Loan Documents) as if set forth in full herein with respect thereto.
SECTION 11.2 Rights as a Lender. The Person serving as the Administrative Agent hereunder shall have the same rights and powers in its capacity as a Lender as any other Lender and may exercise the same as though it were not the Administrative Agent and the term “Lender” or “Lenders” shall, unless otherwise expressly indicated or unless the context otherwise requires, include the Person serving as the Administrative Agent hereunder in its individual capacity. Such Person and its Affiliates may accept deposits from, lend money to, own securities of, act as the financial advisor or in any other advisory capacity for and generally engage in any kind of business with the Borrower or any Subsidiary or other Affiliate thereof as if such Person were not the Administrative Agent hereunder and without any duty to account therefor to the Lenders.
SECTION 11.3 Exculpatory Provisions.
(a)The Administrative Agent shall not have any duties or obligations except those expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents, and its duties hereunder and thereunder shall be administrative in nature. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Administrative Agent:
(i)shall not be subject to any fiduciary or other implied duties, regardless of whether a Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing;
(ii)shall not have any duty to take any discretionary action or exercise any discretionary powers, except discretionary rights and powers expressly contemplated hereby or by the other Loan Documents that the Administrative Agent is required to exercise as directed in writing by the Required Lenders (or such other number or percentage of the Lenders as shall be expressly provided for herein or in the other Loan Documents), provided that the Administrative
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Agent shall not be required to take any action that, in its opinion or the opinion of its counsel, may expose the Administrative Agent to liability or that is contrary to any Loan Document or Applicable Law, including for the avoidance of doubt any action that may be in violation of the automatic stay under any Debtor Relief Law or that may effect a forfeiture, modification or termination of property of a Defaulting Lender in violation of any Debtor Relief Law; and
(iii)shall not, except as expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents, have any duty to disclose, and shall not be liable for the failure to disclose, any information relating to the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates that is communicated to or obtained by the Person serving as the Administrative Agent or any of its Affiliates in any capacity.
(b)The Administrative Agent shall not be liable for any action taken or not taken by it (i) with the consent or at the request of the Required Lenders (or such other number or percentage of the Lenders as shall be necessary, or as the Administrative Agent shall believe in good faith shall be necessary, under the circumstances as provided in Section 12.2 and Section 10.2) or (ii) in the absence of its own gross negligence or willful misconduct as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by final non-appealable judgment. The Administrative Agent shall be deemed not to have knowledge of any Default or Event of Default unless and until notice describing such Default or Event of Default and indicating that such notice is a “Notice of Default” is given to the Administrative Agent by the Borrower, a Lender or an Issuing Lender.
(c)The Administrative Agent shall not be responsible for or have any duty to ascertain or inquire into (i) any statement, warranty or representation made in or in connection with this Agreement or any other Loan Document, (ii) the contents of any certificate, report or other document delivered hereunder or thereunder or in connection herewith or therewith (including any report provided to it by an Issuing Lender pursuant to Section 3.9), (iii) the performance or observance of any of the covenants, agreements or other terms or conditions set forth herein or therein or the occurrence of any Default or Event of Default, (iv) the validity, enforceability, effectiveness or genuineness of this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any other agreement, instrument or document, (v) the satisfaction of any condition set forth in Article VI or elsewhere herein, other than to confirm receipt of items expressly required to be delivered to the Administrative Agent or (vi) the utilization of any Issuing Lender’s L/C Commitment (it being understood and agreed that each Issuing Lender shall monitor compliance with its own L/C Commitment without any further action by the Administrative Agent).
SECTION 11.4 Reliance by the Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent shall be entitled to rely upon, and shall not incur any liability for relying upon, any notice, request, certificate, consent, statement, instrument, document or other writing (including any electronic message, Internet or intranet website posting or other distribution) believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed, sent or otherwise authenticated by the proper Person. The Administrative Agent also may rely upon any statement made to it orally or by telephone and believed by it to have been made by the proper Person, and shall not incur any liability for relying thereon. In determining compliance with any condition hereunder to the making of a Loan, or the issuance, extension, renewal or increase of a Letter of Credit, that by its terms must be fulfilled to the satisfaction of a Lender or an Issuing Lender, the Administrative Agent may presume that such condition is satisfactory to such Lender or such Issuing Lender unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice to the contrary from such Lender or such Issuing Lender prior to the making of such Loan or the issuance of such Letter of Credit. The Administrative Agent may consult with legal counsel (who may be counsel for the Borrower), independent accountants and other experts selected by it, and shall not be liable for any action taken or not taken by it in accordance with the advice of any such counsel, accountants or experts.
SECTION 11.5 Delegation of Duties. The Administrative Agent may perform any and all of its duties and exercise its rights and powers hereunder or under any other Loan Document by or through any one or more sub-agents appointed by the Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent and any such sub-agent may perform any and all of its duties and exercise its rights and powers by or through their respective Related Parties. The exculpatory provisions of this Article shall apply to any such sub-agent and to the Related Parties of the Administrative Agent and any such sub-agent, and shall apply to their respective activities in connection with the syndication of the Credit Facility as well as activities as
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Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent shall not be responsible for the negligence or misconduct of any sub-agents except to the extent that a court of competent jurisdiction determines in a final and non-appealable judgment that the Administrative Agent acted with gross negligence or willful misconduct in the selection of such sub-agents.
SECTION 11.6 Resignation of Administrative Agent.
(a)The Administrative Agent may at any time give notice of its resignation to the Lenders, the Issuing Lenders and the Borrower. Upon receipt of any such notice of resignation, the Required Lenders shall have the right, in consultation with the Borrower, to appoint a successor, which shall be a bank or financial institution reasonably experienced in serving as administrative agent on syndicated bank facilities with an office in the United States, or an Affiliate of any such bank or financial institution with an office in the United States. If no such successor shall have been so appointed by the Required Lenders and shall have accepted such appointment within 30 days after the retiring Administrative Agent gives notice of its resignation (or such earlier day as shall be agreed by the Required Lenders) (the “Resignation Effective Date”), then the retiring Administrative Agent may (but shall not be obligated to), on behalf of the Lenders and the Issuing Lenders, appoint a successor Administrative Agent meeting the qualifications set forth above; provided that in no event shall any such successor Administrative Agent be a Defaulting Lender. Whether or not a successor has been appointed, such resignation shall become effective in accordance with such notice on the Resignation Effective Date.
(b)If the Person serving as Administrative Agent is a Defaulting Lender pursuant to clause (d) of the definition thereof, the Required Lenders may, to the extent permitted by Applicable Law, by notice in writing to the Borrower and such Person, remove such Person as Administrative Agent and, in consultation with the Borrower, appoint a successor. If no such successor shall have been so appointed by the Required Lenders and shall have accepted such appointment within 30 days (or such earlier day as shall be agreed by the Required Lenders) (the “Removal Effective Date”), then such removal shall nonetheless become effective in accordance with such notice on the Removal Effective Date.
(c)With effect from the Resignation Effective Date or the Removal Effective Date (as applicable), (i) the retiring or removed Administrative Agent shall be discharged from its duties and obligations hereunder and under the other Loan Documents (except that in the case of any collateral security held by the Administrative Agent on behalf of the Lenders or the Issuing Lenders under any of the Loan Documents, the retiring or removed Administrative Agent shall continue to hold such collateral security until such time as a successor Administrative Agent is appointed) and (ii) except for any indemnity payments owed to the retiring or removed Administrative Agent, all payments, communications and determinations provided to be made by, to or through the Administrative Agent shall instead be made by or to each Lender and each Issuing Lender directly, until such time, if any, as the Required Lenders appoint a successor Administrative Agent as provided for above. Upon the acceptance of a successor’s appointment as Administrative Agent hereunder, such successor shall succeed to and become vested with all of the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring or removed Administrative Agent (other than any rights to indemnity payments owed to the retiring or removed Administrative Agent), and the retiring or removed Administrative Agent shall be discharged from all of its duties and obligations hereunder or under the other Loan Documents. The fees payable by the Borrower to a successor Administrative Agent shall be the same as those payable to its predecessor unless otherwise agreed between the Borrower and such successor. After the retiring or removed Administrative Agent’s resignation or removal hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, the provisions of this Article and Section 12.3 shall continue in effect for the benefit of such retiring or removed Administrative Agent, its sub-agents and their respective Related Parties in respect of any actions taken or omitted to be taken by any of them while the retiring or removed Administrative Agent was acting as Administrative Agent or relating to its duties as Administrative Agent that are carried out following its retirement or removal.
(d)Any resignation by, or removal of, Wells Fargo as Administrative Agent pursuant to this Section shall also constitute its resignation as an Issuing Lender and Swingline Lender. Upon the acceptance of a successor’s appointment as Administrative Agent hereunder, (i) such successor shall succeed to and become vested with all of the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring Issuing Lender, if in its sole discretion it elects to, and Swingline Lender, (ii) the retiring Issuing Lender and
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Swingline Lender shall be discharged from all of their respective duties and obligations hereunder or under the other Loan Documents, and (iii) the successor Issuing Lender, if in its sole discretion it elects to, shall issue letters of credit in substitution for the Letters of Credit, if any, outstanding at the time of such succession or make other arrangements satisfactory to the retiring Issuing Lender to effectively assume the obligations of the retiring Issuing Lender with respect to such Letters of Credit.
SECTION 11.7 Non-Reliance on Administrative Agent and Other Lenders. Each Lender and each Issuing Lender acknowledges that it has, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent or any other Lender or any of their Related Parties and based on such documents and information as it has deemed appropriate, made its own credit analysis and decision to enter into this Agreement. Each Lender and each Issuing Lender also acknowledges that it will, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent or any other Lender or any of their Related Parties and based on such documents and information as it shall from time to time deem appropriate, continue to make its own decisions in taking or not taking action under or based upon this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any related agreement or any document furnished hereunder or thereunder.
SECTION 11.8 No Other Duties, Etc. Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, none of the syndication agents, documentation agents, co-agents, arrangers or bookrunners listed on the cover page hereof shall have any powers, duties or responsibilities under this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents, except in its capacity, as applicable, as the Administrative Agent, a Lender or an Issuing Lender hereunder.
SECTION 11.9 Collateral and Guaranty Matters.
(a)Each of the Lenders (including in its or any of its Affiliate’s capacities as a holder of Secured Hedge Obligations and Secured Cash Management Obligations) irrevocably authorize the Administrative Agent, at its option and in its discretion:
(i)to release any Lien on any Collateral granted to or held by the Administrative Agent, for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties, under any Loan Document (A) upon the termination of the Revolving Credit Commitment and payment in full of all Secured Obligations (other than (1) contingent indemnification and reimbursement obligations and (2) Secured Cash Management Obligations or Secured Hedge Obligations) and the expiration or termination of all Letters of Credit (other than Letters of Credit which have been Cash Collateralized or as to which other arrangements satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the applicable Issuing Lender shall have been made), (B) that is sold or otherwise disposed of or to be sold or otherwise disposed of as part of or in connection with any sale or other disposition to a Person other than a Credit Party permitted under the Loan Documents, without delivery of any instrument or performance of any act by any Person, or (C) if approved, authorized or ratified in writing in accordance with Section 12.2;
(ii)to subordinate any Lien on any Collateral granted to or held by the Administrative Agent under any Loan Document to the holder of any Lien permitted pursuant to Section 9.2(b); and
(iii)to release any Subsidiary Guarantor from its obligations under any Loan Documents if such Person ceases to be a Subsidiary as a result of a transaction permitted under the Loan Documents, all without delivery of any instrument or performance of any act by any Person.
Upon request by the Administrative Agent at any time, the Required Lenders will confirm in writing the Administrative Agent’s authority to release or subordinate its interest in particular types or items of property, or to release any Subsidiary Guarantor from its obligations under the Subsidiary Guaranty Agreement, pursuant to this Section 11.9. In each case as specified in this Section 11.9, the Administrative Agent will, at the Borrower’s expense, execute and deliver to the applicable Credit Party such documents as such Credit Party may reasonably request to evidence the release of such item of Collateral from the assignment and security interest granted under the Security Documents or to subordinate its interest in such item, or to release such Guarantor from its obligations under the
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Subsidiary Guaranty Agreement, in each case in accordance with the terms of the Loan Documents and this Section 11.9. In the case of any such sale, transfer or disposal of any property constituting Collateral or any Guarantor in a transaction constituting an Asset Disposition permitted pursuant to Section 9.5 to a Person other than a Credit Party, the Liens created by any of the Security Documents on such property, and the guarantee obligations of such Guarantor, shall be automatically released without need for further action by any person.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the parties hereto acknowledge and agree (a) in circumstances where the Administrative Agent reasonably determines that the cost or effort of obtaining or perfecting a security interest in any asset that constitutes Collateral is excessive in relation to the benefit afforded to the Secured Parties thereby, the Administrative Agent may exclude such Collateral from the creation and/or perfection requirements set forth in this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, (b) the Administrative Agent may grant extensions of time for the creation and/or perfection of Liens in a particular property (including extensions of time beyond the Closing Date) where it determines that such creation and/or perfection cannot be accomplished without undue effort and/or expense by the time or times at which it would otherwise be required by this Agreement or any other Loan Document and (c) other than to the extent contemplated and required in accordance with Section 8.13(b) and Section 8.13(e), no Credit Party shall be required to take actions outside the United States to create and/or perfect local law security in any Collateral.
(b)The Administrative Agent shall not be responsible for or have a duty to ascertain or inquire into any representation or warranty regarding the existence, value or collectability of the Collateral, the existence, priority or perfection of the Administrative Agent’s Lien thereon, or any certificate prepared by any Credit Party in connection therewith, nor shall the Administrative Agent be responsible or liable to the Lenders for any failure to monitor or maintain any portion of the Collateral.
(c)Notwithstanding anything in this Section or any other Loan Document to the contrary, in no event shall any Cash Collateral provided with respect to any Extended Letter of Credit be released without the prior written consent of the applicable Issuing Lender of such Extended Letter of Credit.
SECTION 11.10 Secured Hedge Obligations and Secured Cash Management Obligations. No holder of any Secured Hedge Obligations or Secured Cash Management Obligations that obtains the benefits of Section 10.4 or any Collateral by virtue of the provisions hereof or of any Security Document shall have any right to notice of any action or to consent to, direct or object to any action hereunder or under any other Loan Document or otherwise in respect of the Collateral (including the release or impairment of any Collateral) other than in its capacity as a Lender and, in such case, only to the extent expressly provided in the Loan Documents. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Article XI to the contrary, the Administrative Agent shall not be required to verify the payment of, or that other satisfactory arrangements have been made with respect to, Secured Cash Management Obligations and Secured Hedge Obligations unless the Administrative Agent has received written notice of such Secured Cash Management Obligations and Secured Hedge Obligations, together with such supporting documentation as the Administrative Agent may request, from the applicable holders thereof.
SECTION 11.11 Erroneous Payments.
(a)Each Lender, each Issuing Lender, each other Secured Party and any other party hereto hereby severally agrees that if (i) the Administrative Agent notifies (which such notice shall be conclusive absent manifest error) such Lender or Issuing Lender or any other Secured Party (or the Lender Affiliate of a Secured Party) or any other Person that has received funds from the Administrative Agent or any of its Affiliates, either for its own account or on behalf of a Lender, Issuing Lender or other Secured Party (each such recipient, a “Payment Recipient”) that the Administrative Agent has determined in its sole discretion that any funds received by such Payment Recipient were erroneously transmitted to, or otherwise erroneously or mistakenly received by, such Payment Recipient (whether or not known to such Payment Recipient) or (ii) any Payment Recipient receives any payment from the Administrative Agent (or any of its Affiliates) (x) that is in a different amount than, or on a different date from, that specified in a notice of payment, prepayment or repayment sent by the Administrative Agent (or any of its Affiliates) with respect to such payment, prepayment or repayment, as applicable, (y) that was not
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preceded or accompanied by a notice of payment, prepayment or repayment sent by the Administrative Agent (or any of its Affiliates) with respect to such payment, prepayment or repayment, as applicable, or (z) that such Payment Recipient otherwise becomes aware was transmitted or received in error or by mistake (in whole or in part) then, in each case, an error in payment shall be presumed to have been made (any such amounts specified in clauses (i) or (ii) of this Section 11.11(a), whether received as a payment, prepayment or repayment of principal, interest, fees, distribution or otherwise; individually and collectively, an “Erroneous Payment”), then, in each case, such Payment Recipient is deemed to have knowledge of such error at the time of its receipt of such Erroneous Payment; provided that nothing in this Section shall require the Administrative Agent to provide any of the notices specified in clauses (i) or (ii) above. Each Payment Recipient agrees that it shall not assert any right or claim to any Erroneous Payment, and hereby waives any claim, counterclaim, defense or right of set-off or recoupment with respect to any demand, claim or counterclaim by the Administrative Agent for the return of any Erroneous Payments, including without limitation waiver of any defense based on “discharge for value” or any similar doctrine.
(b)Without limiting the immediately preceding clause (a), each Payment Recipient agrees that, in the case of clause (a)(ii) above, it shall promptly notify the Administrative Agent in writing of such occurrence.
(c)In the case of either clause (a)(i) or (a)(ii) above, such Erroneous Payment shall at all times remain the property of the Administrative Agent and shall be segregated by the Payment Recipient and held in trust for the benefit of the Administrative Agent, and upon demand from the Administrative Agent such Payment Recipient shall (or, shall cause any Person who received any portion of an Erroneous Payment on its behalf to), promptly, but in all events no later than one Business Day thereafter, return to the Administrative Agent the amount of any such Erroneous Payment (or portion thereof) as to which such a demand was made in same day funds and in the currency so received, together with interest thereon in respect of each day from and including the date such Erroneous Payment (or portion thereof) was received by such Payment Recipient to the date such amount is repaid to the Administrative Agent at the greater of the Federal Funds Rate and a rate determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation from time to time in effect.
(d)In the event that an Erroneous Payment (or portion thereof) is not recovered by the Administrative Agent for any reason, after demand therefor by the Administrative Agent in accordance with immediately preceding clause (c), from any Lender that is a Payment Recipient or an Affiliate of a Payment Recipient (such unrecovered amount as to such Lender, an “Erroneous Payment Return Deficiency”), then at the sole discretion of the Administrative Agent and upon the Administrative Agent’s written notice to such Lender (i) such Lender shall be deemed to have made a cashless assignment of the full face amount of the portion of its Loans (but not its Commitments) of the relevant Class with respect to which such Erroneous Payment was made (the “Erroneous Payment Impacted Class”) to the Administrative Agent or, at the option of the Administrative Agent, the Administrative Agent’s applicable lending affiliate in an amount that is equal to the Erroneous Payment Return Deficiency (or such lesser amount as the Administrative Agent may specify) (such assignment of the Loans (but not Commitments) of the Erroneous Payment Impacted Class, the “Erroneous Payment Deficiency Assignment”) plus any accrued and unpaid interest on such assigned amount, without further consent or approval of any party hereto and without any payment by the Administrative Agent or its applicable lending affiliate as the assignee of such Erroneous Payment Deficiency Assignment. Without limitation of its rights hereunder, the Administrative Agent may cancel any Erroneous Payment Deficiency Assignment at any time by written notice to the applicable assigning Lender and upon such revocation all of the Loans assigned pursuant to such Erroneous Payment Deficiency Assignment shall be reassigned to such Lender without any requirement for payment or other consideration. The parties hereto acknowledge and agree that (1) any assignment contemplated in this clause (d) shall be made without any requirement for any payment or other consideration paid by the applicable assignee or received by the assignor, (2) the provisions of this clause (d) shall govern in the event of any conflict with the terms and conditions of Section 12.9 and (3) the Administrative Agent may reflect such assignments in the Register without further consent or action by any other Person.
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(e)Each party hereto hereby agrees that (x) in the event an Erroneous Payment (or portion thereof) is not recovered from any Payment Recipient that has received such Erroneous Payment (or portion thereof) for any reason, the Administrative Agent (1) shall be subrogated to all the rights of such Payment Recipient with respect to such amount and (2) is authorized to set off, net and apply any and all amounts at any time owing to such Payment Recipient under any Loan Document, or otherwise payable or distributable by the Administrative Agent to such Payment Recipient from any source, against any amount due to the Administrative Agent under this Section 11.11 or under the indemnification provisions of this Agreement, (y) the receipt of an Erroneous Payment by a Payment Recipient shall not for the purpose of this Agreement be treated as a payment, prepayment, repayment, discharge or other satisfaction of any Obligations owed by the Borrower or any other Credit Party, except, in each case, to the extent such Erroneous Payment is, and solely with respect to the amount of such Erroneous Payment that is, comprised of funds received by the Administrative Agent from the Borrower or any other Credit Party for the purpose of making for a payment on the Obligations and (z) to the extent that an Erroneous Payment was in any way or at any time credited as payment or satisfaction of any of the Obligations, the Obligations or any part thereof that were so credited, and all rights of the Payment Recipient, as the case may be, shall be reinstated and continue in full force and effect as if such payment or satisfaction had never been received.
(f)Each party’s obligations under this Section 11.11 shall survive the resignation or replacement of the Administrative Agent or any transfer of right or obligations by, or the replacement of, a Lender, the termination of the Commitments or the repayment, satisfaction or discharge of all Obligations (or any portion thereof) under any Loan Document.
(g)Nothing in this Section 11.11 will constitute a waiver or release of any claim of any party hereunder arising from any Payment Recipient’s receipt of an Erroneous Payment.
ARTICLE XII

MISCELLANEOUS
SECTION 12.1 Notices.
(a)Notices Generally. Except in the case of notices and other communications expressly permitted to be given by telephone (and except as provided in paragraph (b) below), all notices and other communications provided for herein shall be in writing and shall be delivered by hand or overnight courier service, mailed by certified or registered mail, sent by email or sent by facsimile as follows:
If to the Borrower:
National Instruments Corporation
11500 N. MoPac Expressway
Austin, TX 78759-3504
Attn:    Mr. Pedro Andrade
Tel:    +1 512 683-0100
e-mail: pedro.andrade@ni.com

With a copy (which shall not constitute notice to any Credit Party) to:

National Instruments Corporation
11500 N. MoPac Expressway
Austin, TX 78759-3504
Attn:    R. Eddie Dixon, Jr., General Counsel
Tel:    +1 512 683-6814
e-mail: eddie.dixon@ni.com
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If to Wells Fargo, as Administrative Agent:
Wells Fargo Bank, National Association
MAC D1109-019
1525 West W.T. Harris Blvd.
Charlotte, NC 28262
Attention of: Syndication Agency Services
Telephone No.: (704) 590-2706
Facsimile No.: (844) 879-5899
With copies to:
Wells Fargo Bank, National Association
111 Congress Ave., Suite 1100
Austin, TX 78701
Attn: Clayton Scovill
Tel: (717) 875 2321
e-mail: clayton.scovill@wellsfargo.com

If to any Lender:
To the address of such Lender set forth on the Register with respect to deliveries of notices and other documentation that may contain material non-public information.
Notices sent by hand or overnight courier service, or mailed by certified or registered mail, shall be deemed to have been given when received; notices sent by facsimile or email shall be deemed to have been given when sent (except that, if not given during normal business hours for the recipient, shall be deemed to have been given at the opening of business on the next Business Day for the recipient). Notices delivered through electronic communications to the extent provided in paragraph (b) below, shall be effective as provided in said paragraph (b).
(b)Electronic Communications. Notices and other communications to the Lenders and the Issuing Lenders hereunder may be delivered or furnished by electronic communication (including e-mail and Internet or intranet websites) pursuant to procedures approved by the Administrative Agent, provided that the foregoing shall not apply to notices to any Lender or any Issuing Lender pursuant to Article II or III if such Lender or such Issuing Lender, as applicable, has notified the Administrative Agent that is incapable of receiving notices under such Article by electronic communication. The Administrative Agent or the Borrower may, in its discretion, agree to accept notices and other communications to it hereunder by electronic communications pursuant to procedures approved by it, provided that approval of such procedures may be limited to particular notices or communications. Unless the Administrative Agent otherwise prescribes, (i) notices and other communications sent to an e-mail address shall be deemed received upon the sender’s receipt of an acknowledgement from the intended recipient (such as by the “return receipt requested” function, as available, return e-mail or other written acknowledgement), and (ii) notices or communications posted to an Internet or intranet website shall be deemed received upon the deemed receipt by the intended recipient at its e-mail address as described in the foregoing clause (i) of notification that such notice or communication is available and identifying the website address therefor; provided that, for both clauses (i) and (ii) above, if such notice, email or other communication is not sent during the normal business hours of the recipient, such notice, email or other communication shall be deemed to have been sent at the opening of business on the next Business Day for the recipient.
(c)Administrative Agent’s Office. The Administrative Agent hereby designates its office located at the address set forth above, or any subsequent office which shall have been specified for such purpose by written notice to the Borrower and Lenders, as the Administrative Agent’s Office referred to herein, to which payments due are to be made and at which Loans will be disbursed and Letters of Credit requested.
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(d)Change of Address, Etc. Each of the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Lender or the Swingline Lender may change its address or other contact information for notices and other communications hereunder by notice to the other parties hereto. Any Lender may change its address or facsimile number for notices and other communications hereunder by notice to the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, each Issuing Lender and the Swingline Lender.
(e)Platform.
(i)Each Credit Party agrees that the Administrative Agent may, but shall not be obligated to, make the Borrower Materials available to the Issuing Lenders and the other Lenders by posting the Borrower Materials on the Platform.
(ii)The Platform is provided “as is” and “as available.” The Agent Parties (as defined below) do not warrant the accuracy or completeness of the Borrower Materials or the adequacy of the Platform, and expressly disclaim liability for errors or omissions in the Borrower Materials. No warranty of any kind, express, implied or statutory, including any warranty of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, non-infringement of third-party rights or freedom from viruses or other code defects, is made by any Agent Party in connection with the Borrower Materials or the Platform. In no event shall the Administrative Agent or any of its Related Parties (collectively, the “Agent Parties”) have any liability to any Credit Party, any Lender or any other Person or entity for losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses of any kind (whether in tort, contract or otherwise) arising out of any Credit Party’s or the Administrative Agent’s transmission of communications through the Internet (including the Platform), except to the extent that such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses are determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by final and non-appealable judgment to have resulted from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Agent Party; provided that in no event shall any Agent Party have any liability to any Credit Party, any Lender, any Issuing Lender or any other Person for indirect, special, incidental, consequential or punitive damages, losses or expenses (as opposed to actual damages, losses or expenses).
(f)Private Side Designation. Each Public Lender agrees to cause at least one individual at or on behalf of such Public Lender to at all times have selected the “Private Side Information” or similar designation on the content declaration screen of the Platform in order to enable such Public Lender or its delegate, in accordance with such Public Lender’s compliance procedures and Applicable Law, including United States Federal and state securities Applicable Laws, to make reference to Borrower Materials that are not made available through the “Public Side Information” portion of the Platform and that may contain material non-public information with respect to the Borrower or its securities for purposes of United States Federal or state securities Applicable Laws.
SECTION 12.2 Amendments, Waivers and Consents. Except as set forth below or as specifically provided in any Loan Document, any term, covenant, agreement or condition of this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents may be amended or waived by the Lenders, and any consent given by the Lenders, if, but only if, such amendment, waiver or consent is in writing signed by the Required Lenders (or by the Administrative Agent with the consent of the Required Lenders) and delivered to the Administrative Agent and, in the case of an amendment, signed by the Borrower; provided, that no amendment, waiver or consent shall:
(a)amend, modify or waive (i) Section 6.2 or any other provision of this Agreement if the effect of such amendment, modification or waiver is to require the Revolving Credit Lenders (pursuant to, in the case of any such amendment to a provision hereof other than Section 6.2, any substantially concurrent request by the Borrower for a borrowing of Revolving Credit Loans or issuance of Letters of Credit) to make Revolving Credit Loans when such Revolving Credit Lenders would not otherwise be required to do so, (ii) the amount of the Swingline Commitment or (iii) the amount of the L/C Sublimit, in each case without the written consent of the Required Revolving Credit Lenders;
(b)[Reserved];
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(c)increase or extend the Commitment of any Lender (or reinstate any Commitment terminated pursuant to Section 10.2) or increase the amount of Loans of any Lender, in any case, without the written consent of such Lender;
(d)waive, extend or postpone any date fixed by this Agreement or any other Loan Document for any payment or mandatory prepayment of principal, interest, fees or other amounts due to the Lenders (or any of them) hereunder or under any other Loan Document without the written consent of each Lender directly and adversely affected thereby;
(e)reduce the principal of, or the rate of interest specified herein on, any Loan or Reimbursement Obligation, or (subject to clauses (iv) and (vii) of the proviso set forth in the paragraph below) any fees or other amounts payable hereunder or under any other Loan Document without the written consent of each Lender directly and adversely affected thereby; provided that (i) only the consent of the Required Lenders shall be necessary to waive any obligation of the Borrower to pay interest at the rate set forth in Section 5.1(b) during the continuance of an Event of Default and (ii) only the consent of the Required Lenders shall be necessary to amend any financial covenant hereunder (or any defined term used therein) even if the effect of such amendment would be to reduce the rate of interest on any Loan or L/C Obligation or to reduce any fee payable hereunder;
(f)change Section 5.6 or Section 10.4 in a manner that would alter the pro rata sharing of payments or order of application required thereby without the written consent of each Lender directly and adversely affected thereby;
(g)change Section 4.4(b)(v) (or amend any other term of the Loan Documents that would have the effect of changing Section 4.4(b)(v)) in a manner that would alter the order of application of amounts prepaid pursuant thereto without the written consent of each Lender directly and adversely affected thereby;
(h)except as otherwise permitted by this Section 12.2 change any provision of this Section or reduce the percentages specified in the definitions of “Required Lenders,” “Required Revolving Credit Lenders” or any other provision hereof specifying the number or percentage of Lenders required to amend, waive or otherwise modify any rights hereunder or make any determination or grant any consent hereunder, without the written consent of each Lender directly and adversely affected thereby;
(i)impose any greater restriction on the ability of any Lender under any Class to assign any of its rights or obligations hereunder without the written consent of the Required Facility Lenders under such Class;
(j)consent to the assignment or transfer by any Credit Party of such Credit Party’s rights and obligations under any Loan Document to which it is a party (except as permitted pursuant to Section 9.4), in each case, without the written consent of each Lender;
(k)release (i) all of the Subsidiary Guarantors or (iii) Subsidiary Guarantors comprising substantially all of the credit support for the Secured Obligations, in any case, from the Subsidiary Guaranty Agreement (other than as authorized in Section 11.9), without the written consent of each Lender;
(l)release all or substantially all of the Collateral or release any Security Document which would have the effect of releasing all or substantially all of the Collateral (other than as authorized in Section 11.9 or as otherwise specifically permitted or contemplated in this Agreement or the applicable Security Document) without the written consent of each Lender; or
(m)amend any term of the Loan Documents in a manner that, by its terms, subordinates the Obligations hereunder to any other Indebtedness without the prior written consent of each Lender other than a Defaulting Lender, or amend any term of the Loan Documents in a manner that, by its terms, subordinates the Liens on all or substantially all of the Collateral securing the Obligations to Liens securing any other Indebtedness, without the prior written consent of each Lender other than a Defaulting Lender, in each case except (i) in connection with any Indebtedness or Lien that was permitted by the
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Loan Documents (without giving effect to such amendment) to be senior to the Obligations or (ii) pursuant to a transaction in which participation in such other Indebtedness is offered to the Lenders on a pro rata basis or in connection with a “debtor in possession” financing, on the same terms (including fees) as are offered to all other providers of such financing.
provided further, that (i) no amendment, waiver or consent shall, unless in writing and signed by each affected Issuing Lender in addition to the Lenders required above, affect the rights or duties of such Issuing Lender under this Agreement (including Section 11.9(c)) or any Letter of Credit Documents relating to any Letter of Credit issued or to be issued by it; (ii) no amendment, waiver or consent shall, unless in writing and signed by the Swingline Lender in addition to the Lenders required above, affect the rights or duties of the Swingline Lender under this Agreement; (iii) no amendment, waiver or consent shall, unless in writing and signed by the Administrative Agent in addition to the Lenders required above, affect the rights or duties of the Administrative Agent under this Agreement or any other Loan Document or modify Section 12.24 hereof; (iv) each Fee Letter may be amended, or rights or privileges thereunder waived, in a writing executed only by the parties thereto, (v) each Letter of Credit Document and each cash collateral agreement or other document entered into in connection with an Extended Letter of Credit may be amended, or rights or privileges thereunder waived, in a writing executed only by the parties thereto; provided that a copy of such amended Letter of Credit Document, cash collateral agreement or other document, as the case may be, shall be promptly delivered to the Administrative Agent upon such amendment or waiver, (vi) the Administrative Agent and the Borrower shall be permitted to amend any provision of the Loan Documents (and such amendment shall become effective without any further action or consent of any other party to any Loan Document) if the Administrative Agent and the Borrower shall have jointly identified an obvious error or any error, ambiguity, defect or inconsistency or omission of a technical or immaterial nature in any such provision and (vii) the Administrative Agent and the Borrower may, without the consent of any Lender, enter into amendments or modifications to this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents or to enter into additional Loan Documents as the Administrative Agent reasonably deems appropriate in order to implement any Benchmark Replacement or any Conforming Changes or otherwise effectuate the terms of Section 5.8(c) in accordance with the terms of Section 5.8(c). Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, no Defaulting Lender shall have any right to approve or disapprove any amendment, waiver or consent hereunder, except that (A) the Commitment of such Lender may not be increased or extended without the consent of such Lender, and (B) any amendment, waiver, or consent hereunder which requires the consent of all Lenders or each affected Lender that by its terms disproportionately and adversely affects any such Defaulting Lender relative to other affected Lenders shall require the consent of such Defaulting Lender.
Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, each Lender hereby irrevocably authorizes the Administrative Agent on its behalf, and without further consent of any Lender (but with the consent of the Borrower and the Administrative Agent), to (x) amend and restate this Agreement and the other Loan Documents if, upon giving effect to such amendment and restatement, such Lender shall no longer be a party to this Agreement (as so amended and restated), the Commitments of such Lender shall have terminated, such Lender shall have no other commitment or other obligation hereunder and shall have been paid in full all principal, interest and other amounts owing to it or accrued for its account under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents and (y) enter into amendments or modifications to this Agreement (including amendments to this Section 12.2) or any of the other Loan Documents or to enter into additional Loan Documents as the Administrative Agent reasonably deems appropriate in order to effectuate the terms of Section 5.13 (including as applicable, (1) to permit the Incremental Increases to share ratably in the benefits of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, (2) to include an Incremental Increase, as applicable, in any determination of (i) Required Lenders or Required Revolving Credit Lenders, as applicable or (ii) similar required lender terms applicable thereto); provided that no amendment or modification shall result in any increase in the amount of any Lender’s Commitment or any increase in any Lender’s Commitment Percentage, in each case, without the written consent of such affected Lender and (3) to make amendments to any outstanding tranche of Term Loans to permit any Incremental Term Commitments and Incremental Term Loans to be “fungible” (including for purposes of the Code) with such tranche of Term Loans, including increases in the Applicable Margin or any fees payable to such outstanding tranche of Term Loans or providing such outstanding tranche of Term Loans with the benefit of any call protection or covenants that are applicable to the proposed Incremental Term Commitments or Incremental Term Loans; provided that any such amendments or modifications to such
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outstanding tranche of Term Loans shall not directly adversely affect the Lenders holding such tranche of Term Loans without their consent.
SECTION 12.3 Expenses; Indemnity.
(a)Costs and Expenses. The Borrower and any other Credit Party, jointly and severally, shall pay (i) all reasonable and documented out of pocket expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent and its Affiliates (including the reasonable and documented fees, charges and disbursements of counsel for the Administrative Agent), in connection with the syndication of the Credit Facility, the preparation, negotiation, execution, delivery and administration of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents or any amendments, modifications or waivers of the provisions hereof or thereof (whether or not the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby shall be consummated), (ii) all reasonable and documented out of pocket expenses incurred by any Issuing Lender in connection with the issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of any Letter of Credit or any demand for payment thereunder and (iii) all out of pocket expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent, any Lender or any Issuing Lender (including the fees, charges and disbursements of any counsel for the Administrative Agent, any Lender or any Issuing Lender), in connection with the enforcement or protection of its rights (A) in connection with this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, including its rights under this Section, or (B) in connection with the Loans made or Letters of Credit issued hereunder, including all such out of pocket expenses incurred during any workout, restructuring or negotiations in respect of such Loans or Letters of Credit.
(b)Indemnification by the Borrower. The Borrower shall indemnify the Administrative Agent (and any sub-agent thereof), each Lender and each Issuing Lender, and each Related Party of any of the foregoing Persons (each such Person being called an “Indemnitee”) against, and hold each Indemnitee harmless from, and shall pay or reimburse any such Indemnitee for, any and all Losses (as defined below) incurred by or awarded against any Indemnitee by any Person (including any Credit Party) other than any Related Party of such Indemnitee, arising out of, in connection with, or as a result of (i) the execution or delivery of this Agreement, any other Loan 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 (including the Transactions), (ii) any Loan or Letter of Credit or the use or proposed use of the proceeds therefrom (including any refusal by any Issuing Lender to honor a demand for payment under a Letter of Credit if the documents presented in connection with such demand do not strictly comply with the terms of such Letter of Credit), (iii) any actual or alleged presence or release of Hazardous Materials on or from any property owned or operated by any Credit Party or any Subsidiary thereof, or any Environmental Claim related in any way to any Credit Party or any Subsidiary, (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 Credit Party or any Subsidiary thereof, and regardless of whether any Indemnitee is a party thereto, or (v) any claim (including any Environmental Claims), investigation, litigation or other proceeding (whether or not the Administrative Agent or any Lender is a party thereto) and the prosecution and defense thereof, arising out of or in any way connected with the Loans, this Agreement, any other Loan Document, or any documents contemplated by or referred to herein or therein or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, including reasonable attorneys and consultant’s fees, provided that such indemnity shall not, as to any Indemnitee, be available to the extent that such Losses are determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by final and non-appealable judgment to have resulted from (A) the bad faith, gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Indemnitee or its Related Parties, (B) a claim brought by any Credit Party or any Subsidiary thereof against an Indemnitee for breach in bad faith of such Indemnitee’s obligations hereunder or under any other Loan Document, if such Credit Party or such Subsidiary has obtained a final and non-appealable judgment in its favor on such claim as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction, (C) result from a dispute solely among Indemnitees (other than any claims against any Indemnitee in its capacity as the Administrative Agent or an Arranger or any similar role under the Loan Documents) and not arising out of any act or omission of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates or (D) resulting from any agreement governing any settlement effected without the prior written consent of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed); provided that, with respect to this clause (D), (x) the Borrower shall be deemed to consent to such settlement if it does not respond to the Indemnitee’s request within 5 Business Days; (y) the foregoing indemnity will apply if the Borrower shall have been offered an opportunity to assume the defense of such matter and shall have declined to do
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so and (z) the foregoing indemnity will apply if there is a final judgment for the plaintiff in such proceeding. This Section 12.3(b) shall not apply with respect to Taxes other than any Taxes that represent losses, claims, damages, etc. arising from any non-Tax claim. The Credit Parties agree to not, without the prior written consent of each Indemnified Party affected thereby, settle any threatened or pending claim or action that would give rise to the right of any Indemnified Party to claim indemnification hereunder unless such settlement is solely for money damages to be paid by the Credit Parties. Each Indemnified Party agrees to provide the Credit Parties with prompt written notice of any claim, action, suit or allegation that may give rise to a right to indemnity under this Section 12.3(b); provided however that the Credit Parties will only be relieved of their obligations under this Section to the extent their ability to defend the claim is actually prejudiced by the failure to provide prompt notice. Each Indemnified Party will render sole control over the defense of any claim for which it is seeking indemnity under this Section, and will not settle any such claim without the prior written consent of the Credit Parties. The term “Losses” as used in this Section 12.3(b) shall mean (i) any amounts awarded by a court of competent jurisdiction or arbitrator to a third party against the Indemnified Party based on indemnifiable claims after the Credit Parties have presented their defenses (or after such Person has elected not to, or failed to, defend such indemnifiable claims); (ii) any amounts paid to a third party in settlement of indemnifiable claims to the extent such amounts were agreed to in writing by the Credit Parties (or agreed to by the Indemnified Party after the Credit Parties have elected not to, or failed to, defend such indemnifiable claims); and (iii) reasonable and documented attorney’s fees and other costs incurred by the Credit Parties associated with defending indemnifiable claims (or reasonable and documented attorney’s fees and other reasonable and documented costs incurred by the Indemnified Parties associated with defending indemnifiable claims if the Credit Parties have elected not to, or failed to, defend such indemnifiable claims). The Borrower shall not be liable for any indirect, consequential, special or punitive damages pursuant to this Section unless such damages are included in any third party claim in connection with any indemnification claim.
(c)Reimbursement by Lenders. To the extent that the Borrower for any reason fails to pay any amount required under clause (a) or (b) of this Section to be paid by it to the Administrative Agent (or any sub-agent thereof), any Issuing Lender, the Swingline Lender or any Related Party of any of the foregoing, each Lender severally agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent (or any such sub-agent), such Issuing Lender, the Swingline Lender or such Related Party, as the case may be, such Lender’s pro rata share (determined as of the time that the applicable unreimbursed expense or indemnity payment is sought based on each Lender’s share of the Total Credit Exposure at such time, or if the Total Credit Exposure has been reduced to zero, then based on such Lender’s share of the Total Credit Exposure immediately prior to such reduction) of such unpaid amount (including any such unpaid amount in respect of a claim asserted by such Lender); provided that with respect to such unpaid amounts owed to any Issuing Lender or the Swingline Lender solely in its capacity as such, only the Revolving Credit Lenders shall be required to pay such unpaid amounts, such payment to be made severally among them based on such Revolving Credit Lenders’ Commitment Percentage (determined as of the time that the applicable unreimbursed expense or indemnity payment is sought or, if the Revolving Credit Commitment has been reduced to zero as of such time, determined immediately prior to such reduction); provided, further, that the unreimbursed expense or indemnified loss, claim, damage, liability or related expense, as the case may be, was incurred by or asserted against the Administrative Agent (or any such sub-agent), such Issuing Lender or the Swingline Lender in its capacity as such, or against any Related Party of any of the foregoing acting for the Administrative Agent (or any such sub-agent), such Issuing Lender or the Swingline Lender in connection with such capacity. The obligations of the Lenders under this clause (c) are subject to the provisions of Section 5.7.
(d)Waiver of Consequential Damages, Etc. To the fullest extent permitted by Applicable Law, the Borrower and each other Credit Party shall not assert, and hereby waives, any claim against any Indemnitee, on any theory of liability, for special, indirect, consequential or punitive damages (as opposed to direct or actual damages) arising out of, in connection with, or as a result of, this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any agreement or instrument contemplated hereby, the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, any Loan or Letter of Credit or the use of the proceeds thereof. No Indemnitee referred to in clause (b) above shall be liable for any damages arising from the use by unintended recipients of any information or other materials distributed by it through telecommunications, electronic or other information transmission systems in connection with this Agreement or the other Loan
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Documents or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, except to the extent arising from such Indemnitee’s gross negligence or willful misconduct.
(e)Payments. All amounts due under this Section shall be payable promptly after demand therefor.
(f)Survival. Each party’s obligations under this Section shall survive the termination of the Loan Documents and payment of the obligations hereunder.
SECTION 12.4 Right of Setoff. If an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, each Lender, each Issuing Lender, the Swingline Lender and each of their respective Affiliates is hereby authorized at any time and from time to time, to the fullest extent permitted by Applicable Law, to setoff and apply any and all deposits (general or special, time or demand, provisional or final, in whatever currency) at any time held and other obligations (in whatever currency) at any time owing by such Lender, such Issuing Lender, the Swingline Lender or any such Affiliate to or for the credit or the account of the Borrower or any other Credit Party against any and all of the obligations of the Borrower or such Credit Party now or hereafter existing under this Agreement or any other Loan Document to such Lender, such Issuing Lender or the Swingline Lender or any of their respective Affiliates, irrespective of whether or not such Lender, such Issuing Lender, the Swingline Lender or any such Affiliate shall have made any demand under this Agreement or any other Loan Document and although such obligations of the Borrower or such Credit Party may be contingent or unmatured or are owed to a branch or office of such Lender, such Issuing Lender, the Swingline Lender or such Affiliate different from the branch, office or Affiliate holding such deposit or obligated on such indebtedness; provided that in the event that any Defaulting Lender or any Affiliate thereof shall exercise any such right of setoff, (x) all amounts so setoff shall be paid over immediately to the Administrative Agent for further application in accordance with the provisions of Section 5.15 and, pending such payment, shall be segregated by such Defaulting Lender or Affiliate of a Defaulting Lender from its other funds and deemed held in trust for the benefit of the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Lenders, the Swingline Lender and the Lenders, and (y) the Defaulting Lender or its Affiliate shall provide promptly to the Administrative Agent a statement describing in reasonable detail the Secured Obligations owing to such Defaulting Lender or any of its Affiliates as to which such right of setoff was exercised. The rights of each Lender, each Issuing Lender, the Swingline Lender and their respective Affiliates under this Section are in addition to other rights and remedies (including other rights of setoff) that such Lender, such Issuing Lender, the Swingline Lender or their respective Affiliates may have. Each Lender, such Issuing Lender and the Swingline Lender agree to notify the Borrower and the Administrative Agent promptly after any such setoff and application; provided that the failure to give such notice shall not affect the validity of such setoff and application.
SECTION 12.5 Governing Law; Jurisdiction, Etc.
(a)Governing Law. This Agreement and the other Loan Documents and any claim, controversy, dispute or cause of action (whether in contract or tort or otherwise) based upon, arising out of or relating to this Agreement or any other Loan Document (except, as to any other Loan Document, as expressly set forth therein) and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the law of the State of New York.
(b)Submission to Jurisdiction. The Borrower and each other Credit Party irrevocably and unconditionally agrees that it will not commence any action, litigation or proceeding of any kind or description, whether in law or equity, whether in contract or in tort or otherwise, against the Administrative Agent, any Lender, any Issuing Lender, the Swingline Lender, or any Related Party of the foregoing in any way relating to this Agreement or any other Loan Document or the transactions relating hereto or thereto, in any forum other than the courts of the State of New York sitting in New York County, and of the United States District Court of the Southern District of New York, and any appellate court from any thereof, and each of the parties hereto irrevocably and unconditionally submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of such courts and agrees that all claims in respect of any such action, litigation or proceeding may be heard and determined in such New York State court or, to the fullest extent permitted by Applicable Law, in such federal court.  Each of the parties hereto agrees that a final judgment in any such action, litigation or proceeding shall be conclusive and may be enforced in other jurisdictions by suit on the judgment or in any other manner provided by law.  Nothing in this Agreement or in any other Loan
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Document shall affect any right that the Administrative Agent, any Lender, any Issuing Lender or the Swingline Lender may otherwise have to bring any action or proceeding relating to this Agreement or any other Loan Document against the Borrower or any other Credit Party or its properties in the courts of any jurisdiction.
(c)Waiver of Venue. The Borrower and each other Credit Party irrevocably and unconditionally waives, to the fullest extent permitted by Applicable Law, any objection that it may now or hereafter have to the laying of venue of any action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or any other Loan Document in any court referred to in paragraph (b) of this Section. Each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by Applicable Law, the defense of an inconvenient forum to the maintenance of such action or proceeding in any such court.
(d)Service of Process. Each party hereto irrevocably consents to service of process in the manner provided for notices in Section 12.1. Nothing in this Agreement will affect the right of any party hereto to serve process in any other manner permitted by Applicable Law.
SECTION 12.6 Waiver of Jury Trial.
EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR THEREBY (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT OR ANY OTHER THEORY). IF AND TO THE EXTENT THAT THE FOREGOING WAIVER OF THE RIGHT TO A JURY TRIAL IS UNENFORCEABLE FOR ANY REASON IN SUCH FORUM, EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO HEREBY CONSENTS TO THE ADJUDICATION OF ALL CLAIMS PURSUANT TO JUDICIAL REFERENCE AS PROVIDED IN CALIFORNIA CODE OF CIVIL PROCEDURE SECTION 638, AND THE JUDICIAL REFEREE SHALL BE EMPOWERED TO HEAR AND DETERMINE ALL ISSUES IN SUCH REFERENCE, WHETHER FACT OR LAW. EACH PARTY HERETO ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT AND THE OTHER PARTIES HERETO HAVE BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION.
SECTION 12.7 Reversal of Payments. To the extent any Credit Party makes a payment or payments to the Administrative Agent for the ratable benefit of any of the Secured Parties or to any Secured Party directly or the Administrative Agent or any Secured Party receives any payment or proceeds of the Collateral or any Secured Party exercises its right of setoff, which payments or proceeds (including any proceeds of such setoff) or any part thereof are subsequently invalidated, declared to be fraudulent or preferential, set aside and/or required to be repaid to a trustee, receiver or any other party under any Debtor Relief Law, other Applicable Law or equitable cause, then, to the extent of such payment or proceeds repaid, the Secured Obligations or part thereof intended to be satisfied shall be revived and continued in full force and effect as if such payment or proceeds had not been received by the Administrative Agent, and each Lender and each Issuing Lender severally agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent upon demand its (or its applicable Affiliate’s) applicable ratable share (without duplication) of any amount so recovered from or repaid by the Administrative Agent plus interest thereon at a per annum rate equal to the Federal Funds Rate from the date of such demand to the date such payment is made to the Administrative Agent.
SECTION 12.8 Injunctive Relief. The Borrower recognizes that, in the event the Borrower fails to perform, observe or discharge any of its obligations or liabilities under this Agreement, any remedy of law may prove to be inadequate relief to the Lenders. Therefore, the Borrower agrees that the Lenders, at
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the Lenders’ option, shall be entitled to temporary and permanent injunctive relief in any such case without the necessity of proving actual damages.
SECTION 12.9 Successors and Assigns; Participations.
(a)Successors and Assigns Generally. The provisions of this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby, except that the Borrower may not assign or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent and each Lender and no Lender may assign or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations hereunder except (i) to an assignee in accordance with the provisions of paragraph (b) of this Section, (ii) by way of participation in accordance with the provisions of paragraph (d) of this Section or (iii) by way of pledge or assignment of a security interest subject to the restrictions of paragraph (e) of this Section (and any other attempted assignment or transfer by any party hereto shall be null and void). Nothing in this Agreement, expressed or implied, shall be construed to confer upon any Person (other than the parties hereto, their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby, Participants to the extent provided in paragraph (d) of this Section and, to the extent expressly contemplated hereby, the Related Parties of each of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders) any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or by reason of this Agreement.
(b)Assignments by Lenders. Any Lender may at any time assign to one or more assignees all or a portion of its rights and obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Commitment and the Loans at the time owing to it); provided that, in each case with respect to any Credit Facility, any such assignment shall be subject to the following conditions:
(i)Minimum Amounts.
(A)in the case of an assignment of the entire remaining amount of the assigning Lender’s Commitment and/or the Loans at the time owing to it (in each case with respect to any Credit Facility) or contemporaneous assignments to related Approved Funds (determined after giving effect to such assignments) that equal at least the amount specified in paragraph (b)(i)(B) of this Section in the aggregate or in the case of an assignment to a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund, no minimum amount need be assigned; and
(B)in any case not described in paragraph (b)(i)(A) of this Section, the aggregate amount of the Commitment (which for this purpose includes Loans outstanding thereunder) or, if the applicable Commitment is not then in effect, the principal outstanding balance of the Loans of the assigning Lender subject to each such assignment (determined as of the date the Assignment and Assumption with respect to such assignment is delivered to the Administrative Agent or, if “Trade Date” is specified in the Assignment and Assumption, as of the Trade Date) shall not be less than $5,000,000, unless each of the Administrative Agent and, so long as no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Borrower otherwise consents (each such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed); provided that the Borrower shall be deemed to have given its consent ten (10) Business Days after the date written notice thereof has been delivered by the assigning Lender (through the Administrative Agent) unless such consent is expressly refused by the Borrower prior to such tenth (10th) Business Day;
(ii)Proportionate Amounts. Each partial assignment shall be made as an assignment of a proportionate part of all the assigning Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement with respect to the Loan or the Commitment assigned;
(iii)Required Consents. No consent shall be required for any assignment except to the extent required by paragraph (b)(i)(B) of this Section and, in addition:
(A)the consent of the Borrower (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) shall be required unless (x) an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing at the time of such assignment or (y) such assignment is to a Lender, an
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Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund; provided, that the Borrower shall be deemed to have consented to any such assignment unless it shall object thereto by written notice to the Administrative Agent within 10 Business Days after having received notice thereof;
(B)the consent of the Administrative Agent (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) shall be required for assignments in respect of (i) the Revolving Credit Facility if such assignment is to a Person that is not a Lender with a Commitment, an Affiliate of such Lender or an Approved Fund with respect to such Lender or (ii) the Term Loans to a Person who is not a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund; and
(C)the consents of the Issuing Lenders and the Swingline Lender (such consents not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) shall be required for any assignment in respect of the Revolving Credit Facility.
(iv)Assignment and Assumption. The parties to each assignment shall execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent an Assignment and Assumption, together with a processing and recordation fee of $3,500 for each assignment; provided that (A) only one such fee will be payable in connection with simultaneous assignments to two or more related Approved Funds by a Lender and (B) the Administrative Agent may, in its sole discretion, elect to waive such processing and recordation fee in the case of any assignment. The assignee, if it is not a Lender, shall deliver to the Administrative Agent an Administrative Questionnaire.
(v)No Assignment to Certain Persons. No such assignment shall be made to (A) the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates, (B) a natural Person (or a holding company, investment vehicle or trust for, or owned and operated for the primary benefit of, a natural Person) or (C) any Defaulting Lender or any of its Subsidiaries, or any Person who, upon becoming a Lender hereunder, would constitute any of the foregoing Persons described in this clause (v).
(vi)Certain Additional Payments. In connection with any assignment of rights and obligations of any Defaulting Lender hereunder, no such assignment shall be effective unless and until, in addition to the other conditions thereto set forth herein, the parties to the assignment shall make such additional payments to the Administrative Agent in an aggregate amount sufficient, upon distribution thereof as appropriate (which may be outright payment, purchases by the assignee of participations or subparticipations, or other compensating actions, including funding, with the consent of the Borrower and the Administrative Agent, the applicable pro rata share of Loans previously requested, but not funded by, the Defaulting Lender, to each of which the applicable assignee and assignor hereby irrevocably consent), to (A) pay and satisfy in full all payment liabilities then owed by such Defaulting Lender to the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Lenders, the Swingline Lender and each other Lender hereunder (and interest accrued thereon), and (B) acquire (and fund as appropriate) its full pro rata share of all Loans and participations in Letters of Credit and Swingline Loans in accordance with its Revolving Credit Commitment Percentage. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that any assignment of rights and obligations of any Defaulting Lender hereunder shall become effective under Applicable Law without compliance with the provisions of this paragraph, then the assignee of such interest shall be deemed to be a Defaulting Lender for all purposes of this Agreement until such compliance occurs.
Subject to acceptance and recording thereof by the Administrative Agent pursuant to paragraph (c) of this Section, from and after the effective date specified in each Assignment and Assumption, the assignee thereunder shall be a party to this Agreement and, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Assumption, have the rights and obligations of a Lender under this Agreement, and the assigning Lender thereunder shall, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Assumption, be released from its obligations under this Agreement (and, in the case of an Assignment and Assumption covering all of the assigning Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement, such Lender shall cease to be a party hereto) but shall continue to be entitled to the benefits of Sections 5.8,
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5.9, 5.10, 5.11 and 12.3 with respect to facts and circumstances occurring prior to the effective date of such assignment; provided, that except to the extent otherwise expressly agreed by the affected parties, no assignment by a Defaulting Lender will constitute a waiver or release of any claim of any party hereunder arising from that Lender’s having been a Defaulting Lender. Any assignment or transfer by a Lender of rights or obligations under this Agreement that does not comply with this paragraph shall be treated for purposes of this Agreement as a sale by such Lender of a participation in such rights and obligations in accordance with paragraph (d) of this Section (other than a purported assignment to a natural Person or the Borrower or any of the Borrower’s Subsidiaries or Affiliates, which shall be null and void).
(c)Register. The Administrative Agent, acting solely for this purpose as a non-fiduciary agent of the Borrower, shall maintain at one of its offices in Charlotte, North Carolina, a register for the recordation of the names and addresses of the Lenders, the Commitments of, and principal amounts of (and stated interest on) the Loans owing to, each Lender pursuant to the terms hereof from time to time, and each L/C Participant’s interest in each Letter of Credit issued hereunder (the “Register”). The entries in the Register shall be conclusive, absent manifest error, and the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders shall treat each Person whose name is recorded in the Register pursuant to the terms hereof as a Lender hereunder for all purposes of this Agreement. The Register shall be available for inspection by the Borrower and any Lender (but only to the extent of entries in the Register that are applicable to such Lender), at any reasonable time and from time to time upon reasonable prior notice.
(d)Participations. Any Lender may at any time, without the consent of, or notice to, the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Lender or the Swingline Lender, sell participations to any Person (other than a natural Person, (or a holding company, investment vehicle or trust for, or owned and operated for the primary benefit of, a natural Person), or the Borrower or any of the Borrower’s Subsidiaries or Affiliates) (each, a “Participant”) in all or a portion of such Lender’s rights and/or obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Commitment and/or the Loans owing to it); provided that (i) such Lender’s obligations under this Agreement shall remain unchanged, (ii) such Lender shall remain solely responsible to the other parties hereto for the performance of such obligations and (iii) the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, each Issuing Lender, the Swingline Lender and the other Lenders shall continue to deal solely and directly with such Lender in connection with such Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement. For the avoidance of doubt, each Lender shall be responsible for the indemnity under Section 12.3(c) with respect to any payments made by such Lender to its Participant(s).
Any agreement or instrument pursuant to which a Lender sells such a participation shall provide that such Lender shall retain the sole right to enforce this Agreement and to approve any amendment, modification or waiver of any provision of this Agreement; provided that such agreement or instrument may provide that such Lender will not, without the consent of the Participant, agree to any amendment, modification or waiver described in Section 12.2(b), (c), (d) or (e) that directly and adversely affects such Participant. The Borrower agrees that each Participant shall be entitled to the benefits of Sections 5.9, 5.10 and 5.11 (subject to the requirements and limitations therein, including the requirements under Section 5.11(g) (it being understood that the documentation required under Section 5.11(g) shall be delivered to the participating Lender)) to the same extent as if it were a Lender and had acquired its interest by assignment pursuant to paragraph (b) of this Section; provided that such Participant (A) agrees to be subject to the provisions of Section 5.12 as if it were an assignee under paragraph (b) of this Section; and (B) shall not be entitled to receive any greater payment under Sections 5.10 or 5.11, with respect to any participation, than its participating Lender would have been entitled to receive. Each Lender that sells a participation agrees, at the Borrower’s request and expense, to use reasonable efforts to cooperate with the Borrower to effectuate the provisions of Section 5.12(b) with respect to any Participant. To the extent permitted by law, each Participant also shall be entitled to the benefits of Section 12.4 as though it were a Lender; provided that such Participant agrees to be subject to Section 5.6 and Section 12.4 as though it were a Lender.
Each Lender that sells a participation shall, acting solely for this purpose as a non-fiduciary agent of the Borrower, maintain a register on which it enters the name and address of each Participant and the principal amounts of (and stated interest on) each Participant’s interest in the Loans or other obligations under the Loan Documents (the “Participant Register”); provided that no Lender shall have any obligation to disclose all or any portion of the Participant Register (including the identity of any
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Participant or any information relating to a Participant’s interest in any commitments, loans, letters of credit or its other obligations under any Loan Document) to any Person except to the extent that such disclosure is necessary to establish that such commitment, loan, letter of credit or other obligation is in registered form under Section 5f.103-1(c) and Proposed Section 1.163-5 of the United States Treasury Regulations. The entries in the Participant Register shall be conclusive absent manifest error, and such Lender shall treat each Person whose name is recorded in the Participant Register as the owner of such participation for all purposes of this Agreement notwithstanding any notice to the contrary. For the avoidance of doubt, the Administrative Agent (in its capacity as Administrative Agent) shall have no responsibility for maintaining a Participant Register.
(e)Certain Pledges. Any Lender may at any time pledge or assign a security interest in all or any portion of its rights under this Agreement to secure obligations of such Lender, including any pledge or assignment to secure obligations to a Federal Reserve Bank; provided that no such pledge or assignment shall release such Lender from any of its obligations hereunder or substitute any such pledgee or assignee for such Lender as a party hereto.
(f)Cashless Settlement. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, any Lender may exchange, continue or rollover all or a portion of its Loans in connection with any refinancing, extension, loan modification or similar transaction permitted by the terms of this Agreement, pursuant to a cashless settlement mechanism approved by the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and such Lender.
SECTION 12.10 Treatment of Certain Information; Confidentiality. Each of the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and each Issuing Lender agrees to maintain the confidentiality of the Information (as defined below), except that Information may be disclosed (a) to its Affiliates and to its and its Affiliates’ respective Related Parties in connection with the Credit Facility, this Agreement, the transactions contemplated hereby or in connection with marketing of services by such Affiliate or Related Party to the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries (it being understood that the Persons to whom such disclosure is made will be informed of the confidential nature of such Information and instructed to keep such Information confidential), (b) to the extent required or requested by, or required to be disclosed to, any regulatory or similar authority purporting to have jurisdiction over such Person or its Related Parties (including any self-regulatory authority, such as the National Association of Insurance Commissioners) or in accordance with the Administrative Agent’s, such Issuing Lender’s or any Lender’s regulatory compliance policy if the Administrative Agent, such Issuing Lender or such Lender, as applicable, deems such disclosure to be necessary for the mitigation of claims by those authorities against the Administrative Agent, such Issuing Lender or such Lender, as applicable, or any of its Related Parties (in which case, the Administrative Agent, such Issuing Lender or such Lender, as applicable, shall use commercially reasonable efforts to, except with respect to any audit or examination conducted by bank accountants or any governmental bank regulatory authority exercising examination or regulatory authority, promptly notify the Borrower, in advance, to the extent practicable and otherwise permitted by Applicable Law), (c) as to the extent required by Applicable Laws or regulations or in any legal, judicial, administrative proceeding or other compulsory process (in which case, the Administrative Agent, such Issuing Lender or such Lender, as applicable, shall use commercially reasonable efforts to promptly notify the Borrower, in advance, to the extent practicable and otherwise permitted by Applicable Law), (d) to any other party hereto, (e) in connection with the exercise of any remedies under this Agreement, under any other Loan Document or under any Secured Hedge Agreement or Secured Cash Management Agreement, or any action or proceeding relating to this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any Secured Hedge Agreement or Secured Cash Management Agreement, or the enforcement of rights hereunder or thereunder, (f) subject to an agreement containing provisions substantially the same as those of this Section, to (i) any assignee of or Participant in, or any prospective assignee of or Participant in, any of its rights and obligations under this Agreement and, in each case, their respective financing sources, (ii) any actual or prospective party (or its Related Parties) to any Secured Hedge Agreement under which payments are to be made by reference to the Borrower and its obligations, this Agreement or payments hereunder, (iii) an investor or prospective investor in an Approved Fund that also agrees that Information shall be used solely for the purpose of evaluating an investment in such Approved Fund, (iv) a trustee, collateral manager, servicer, backup servicer, noteholder or secured party in an Approved Fund in connection with the administration, servicing and reporting on the assets serving as collateral for an Approved Fund, or (v) a nationally recognized rating agency that requires access to information regarding the Borrower and its Subsidiaries,
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the Loans and the Loan Documents in connection with ratings issued with respect to an Approved Fund, (g) on a confidential basis to (i) any rating agency in connection with rating the Borrower or its Subsidiaries or the Credit Facility or (ii) the CUSIP Service Bureau or any similar agency in connection with the issuance and monitoring of CUSIP numbers with respect to the Credit Facility, (h) with the consent of the Borrower, (i) deal terms and other information customarily reported to Thomson Reuters, other bank market data collectors and similar service providers to the lending industry and service providers to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders in connection with the administration of the Loan Documents, (j) to the extent such Information (i) becomes publicly available other than as a result of a breach of this Section or (ii) becomes available to the Administrative Agent, any Lender, any Issuing Lender or any of their respective Affiliates from a third party that is not, to such Person’s knowledge, subject to confidentiality obligations to the Borrower, (k) to the extent that such information is independently developed by such Person without use of Information required to be kept confidential pursuant to this Section 12.10, (l) to the extent required by an insurance company in connection with providing insurance coverage or providing reimbursement pursuant to this Agreement or (m) for purposes of establishing a “due diligence” defense. For purposes of this Section, “Information” means all information received from any Credit Party or any Subsidiary thereof relating to any Credit Party or any Subsidiary thereof or any of their respective businesses, other than any such information that is available to the Administrative Agent, any Lender or any Issuing Lender on a nonconfidential basis prior to disclosure by any Credit Party or any Subsidiary thereof. Any Person required to maintain the confidentiality of Information as provided in this Section shall be considered to have complied with its obligation to do so if such Person has exercised the same degree of care to maintain the confidentiality of such Information as such Person would accord to its own confidential information.
SECTION 12.11 Performance of Duties. Each of the Credit Party’s obligations under this Agreement and each of the other Loan Documents shall be performed by such Credit Party at its sole cost and expense.
SECTION 12.12 All Powers Coupled with Interest. All powers of attorney and other authorizations granted to the Lenders, the Administrative Agent and any Persons designated by the Administrative Agent or any Lender pursuant to any provisions of this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents shall be deemed coupled with an interest and shall be irrevocable so long as any of the Obligations remain unpaid or unsatisfied (other than contingent indemnification and reimbursement obligations not then due), any of the Commitments remain in effect or the Credit Facility has not been terminated.
SECTION 12.13 Survival.
(a)All representations and warranties set forth in Article VII and all representations and warranties contained in any certificate delivered by any Credit Party to the Administrative Agent or any Lender in connection with the Loan Documents, or any of the Loan Documents (including, but not limited to, any such representation or warranty made in or in connection with any amendment thereto) shall constitute representations and warranties made under this Agreement. All representations and warranties made under this Agreement shall be made or deemed to be made at and as of the Closing Date (except those that are expressly made as of a specific date), shall survive the Closing Date and shall not be waived by the execution and delivery of this Agreement, any investigation made by or on behalf of the Lenders or any borrowing hereunder.
(b)Notwithstanding any termination of this Agreement, the indemnities to which the Administrative Agent and the Lenders are entitled under the provisions of this Article XII and any other provision of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents shall continue in full force and effect and shall protect the Administrative Agent and the Lenders against events arising after such termination as well as before.
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SECTION 12.14 Titles and Captions. Titles and captions of Articles, Sections and subsections in, and the table of contents of, this Agreement are for convenience only, and neither limit nor amplify the provisions of this Agreement.
SECTION 12.15 Severability of Provisions. Any provision of this Agreement or any other Loan Document which is prohibited or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective only to the extent of such prohibition or unenforceability without invalidating the remainder of such provision or the remaining provisions hereof or thereof or affecting the validity or enforceability of such provision in any other jurisdiction. In the event that any provision is held to be so prohibited or unenforceable in any jurisdiction, the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the Borrower shall negotiate in good faith to amend such provision to preserve the original intent thereof in such jurisdiction (subject to the approval of the Required Lenders).
SECTION 12.16 Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness; Electronic Execution.
(a)Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts (and by different parties hereto in different counterparts), each of which shall constitute an original, but all of which when taken together shall constitute a single contract. This Agreement and the other Loan Documents, and any separate letter agreements with respect to fees payable to the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Lender, the Swingline Lender and/or the Arranger, constitute the entire contract among the parties relating to the subject matter hereof and supersede any and all previous agreements and understandings, oral or written, relating to the subject matter hereof. Except as provided in Section 6.1, this Agreement shall become effective when it shall have been executed by the Administrative Agent and when the Administrative Agent shall have received counterparts hereof that, when taken together, bear the signatures of each of the other parties hereto. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page of this Agreement by facsimile or in electronic (i.e., “pdf” or “tif”) format shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Agreement.
(b)Electronic Execution. The words “execute,” “execution,” “signed,” “signature,” “delivery” and words of like import in or related to this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any document, amendment, approval, consent, waiver, modification, information, notice, certificate, report, statement, disclosure, or authorization to be signed or delivered in connection with this Agreement or any other Loan Document or the transactions contemplated hereby shall be deemed to include Electronic Signatures or execution in the form of an Electronic Record, and contract formations on electronic platforms approved by the Administrative Agent, 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 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.  Each party hereto agrees that any Electronic Signature or execution in the form of an Electronic Record shall be valid and binding on itself and each of the other parties hereto to the same extent as a manual, original signature.  For the avoidance of doubt, the authorization under this paragraph may include, without limitation, use or acceptance by the parties of a manually signed paper which has been converted into electronic form (such as scanned into PDF format), or an electronically signed paper converted into another format, for transmission, delivery and/or retention.  Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, the Administrative Agent is under no obligation to accept an Electronic Signature in any form or in any format unless expressly agreed to by the Administrative Agent pursuant to procedures approved by it; provided that without limiting the foregoing, (i) to the extent the Administrative Agent has agreed to accept such Electronic Signature from any party hereto, the Administrative Agent and the other parties hereto shall be entitled to rely on any such Electronic Signature purportedly given by or on behalf of the executing party without further verification and (ii) upon the request of the Administrative Agent or any Lender, any Electronic Signature shall be promptly followed by an original manually executed counterpart thereof.  Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, each party hereto hereby (A) agrees that, for all purposes, including without limitation, in connection with any workout, restructuring, enforcement of remedies, bankruptcy proceedings or litigation among the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and any of the Credit Parties, electronic images of this Agreement or any other Loan Document (in each case, including with respect to any signature pages thereto)  shall have the same legal effect, validity and enforceability as any paper
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original, and (B) waives any argument, defense or right to contest the validity or enforceability of the Loan Documents based solely on the lack of paper original copies of any Loan Documents, including with respect to any signature pages thereto.
SECTION 12.17 Term of Agreement. This Agreement shall remain in effect from the Closing Date through and including the date upon which all Obligations (other than contingent indemnification and reimbursement obligations not then due and other than Secured Cash Management Obligations and Secured Hedge Obligations) arising hereunder or under any other Loan Document shall have been paid and satisfied in full in cash, all Letters of Credit have been terminated or expired (or been Cash Collateralized) or otherwise satisfied in a manner acceptable to the applicable Issuing Lender) and the Commitments have been terminated. No termination of this Agreement shall affect the rights and obligations of the parties hereto arising prior to such termination or in respect of any provision of this Agreement which survives such termination.
SECTION 12.18 USA PATRIOT Act; Anti-Money Laundering Laws. The Administrative Agent and each Lender hereby notifies the Borrower that pursuant to the requirements of the PATRIOT Act, the Beneficial Ownership Regulation or any other Anti-Money Laundering Laws, each of them is required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies each Credit Party, which information includes the name and address of each Credit Party and other information that will allow such Lender to identify each Credit Party in accordance with the PATRIOT Act, the Beneficial Ownership Regulation or such Anti-Money Laundering Laws.
SECTION 12.19 Independent Effect of Covenants. The Borrower expressly acknowledges and agrees that each covenant contained in Articles VIII or IX hereof shall be given independent effect. Accordingly, the Borrower shall not engage in any transaction or other act otherwise permitted under any covenant contained in Articles VIII or IX, before or after giving effect to such transaction or act, the Borrower shall or would be in breach of any other covenant contained in Articles VIII or IX.
SECTION 12.20 No Advisory or Fiduciary Responsibility.
(a)In connection with all aspects of each transaction contemplated hereby, each Credit Party acknowledges and agrees, and acknowledges its Affiliates’ understanding, that (i) the facilities provided for hereunder and any related arranging or other services in connection therewith (including in connection with any amendment, waiver or other modification hereof or of any other Loan Document) are an arm’s-length commercial transaction between the Borrower and its Affiliates, on the one hand, and the Administrative Agent, the Arrangers and the Lenders, on the other hand, and the Borrower is capable of evaluating and understanding and understands and accepts the terms, risks and conditions of the transactions contemplated hereby and by the other Loan Documents (including any amendment, waiver or other modification hereof or thereof), (ii) in connection with the process leading to such transaction, each of the Administrative Agent, the Arrangers and the Lenders is and has been acting solely as a principal and is not the financial advisor, agent or fiduciary, for the Borrower or any of its Affiliates, stockholders, creditors or employees or any other Person, (iii) none of the Administrative Agent, the Arrangers or the Lenders has assumed or will assume an advisory, agency or fiduciary responsibility in favor of the Borrower with respect to any of the transactions contemplated hereby or the process leading thereto, including with respect to any amendment, waiver or other modification hereof or of any other Loan Document (irrespective of whether any Arranger or Lender has advised or is currently advising the Borrower or any of its Affiliates on other matters) and none of the Administrative Agent, the Arrangers or the Lenders has any obligation to the Borrower or any of its Affiliates with respect to the financing transactions contemplated hereby except those obligations expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents, (iv) the Arrangers and the Lenders and their respective Affiliates may be engaged in a broad range of transactions that involve interests that differ from, and may conflict with, those of the Borrower and its Affiliates, and none of the Administrative Agent, the Arrangers or the Lenders has any obligation to disclose any of such interests by virtue of any advisory, agency or fiduciary relationship and (v) the Administrative Agent, the Arrangers and the Lenders have not provided and will not provide any legal, accounting, regulatory or tax advice with respect to any of the transactions contemplated hereby (including any amendment, waiver or other modification hereof or of any other Loan Document) and the Credit Parties have consulted their own legal, accounting, regulatory and tax advisors to the extent they have deemed appropriate.
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(b)Each Credit Party acknowledges and agrees that each Lender, the Arrangers and any Affiliate thereof may lend money to, invest in, and generally engage in any kind of business with, any of the Borrower, any Affiliate thereof or any other person or entity that may do business with or own securities of any of the foregoing, all as if such Lender, Arranger or Affiliate thereof were not a Lender or Arranger or an Affiliate thereof (or an agent or any other person with any similar role under the Credit Facilities) and without any duty to account therefor to any other Lender, the Arrangers, the Borrower or any Affiliate of the foregoing.  Each Lender, the Arrangers and any Affiliate thereof may accept fees and other consideration from the Borrower or any Affiliate thereof for services in connection with this Agreement, the Credit Facilities or otherwise without having to account for the same to any other Lender, the Arrangers, the Borrower or any Affiliate of the foregoing.
SECTION 12.21 Amendment and Restatement; No Novation. This Agreement constitutes an amendment and restatement of the Existing Credit Agreement, effective from and after the Closing Date. The execution and delivery of this Agreement shall not constitute a novation of any indebtedness or other obligations owing to the Lenders or the Administrative Agent under the Existing Credit Agreement based on facts or events occurring or existing prior to the execution and delivery of this Agreement. On the Closing Date, the credit facilities described in the Existing Credit Agreement, shall be amended, supplemented, modified and restated in their entirety by the facilities described herein, and all loans and other obligations of the Borrower outstanding as of such date under the Existing Credit Agreement, shall be deemed to be loans and obligations outstanding under the corresponding facilities described herein, without any further action by any Person, except that the Administrative Agent shall make such transfers of funds as are necessary in order that the outstanding balance of such Loans, together with any Loans funded on the Closing Date, reflect the respective Commitment of the Lenders hereunder.
SECTION 12.22 Inconsistencies with Other Documents. In the event there is a conflict or inconsistency between this Agreement and any other Loan Document, the terms of this Agreement shall control; provided that any provision of the Security Documents which imposes additional burdens on the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or further restricts the rights of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or gives the Administrative Agent or Lenders additional rights shall not be deemed to be in conflict or inconsistent with this Agreement and shall be given full force and effect.
SECTION 12.23 Acknowledgement and Consent to Bail-In of Affected Financial Institutions. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in any Loan Document or in any other agreement, arrangement or understanding among any such parties, each party hereto acknowledges that any liability of any party hereto that is an Affected Financial Institution arising under any Loan Document, to the extent such liability is unsecured, may be subject to the Write-Down and Conversion Powers of the applicable Resolution Authority and agrees and consents to, and acknowledges and agrees to be bound by:
(a)the application of any Write-Down and Conversion Powers by the applicable Resolution Authority to any such liabilities arising hereunder which may be payable to it by any party hereto that is an Affected Financial Institution; and
(b)the effects of any Bail-In Action on any such liability, including, if applicable:
(i)a reduction in full or in part or cancellation of any such liability;
(ii)a conversion of all, or a portion of, such liability into shares or other instruments of ownership in such Affected Financial Institution, its parent undertaking, or a bridge institution that may be issued to it or otherwise conferred on it, and that such shares or other instruments of ownership will be accepted by it in lieu of any rights with respect to any such liability under this Agreement or any other Loan Document; or
(iii)the variation of the terms of such liability in connection with the exercise of the Write-Down and Conversion Powers of the applicable Resolution Authority.
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SECTION 12.24 Certain ERISA Matters.
(a)Each Lender (x) represents and warrants, as of the date such Person became a Lender party hereto, to, and (y) covenants, from the date such Person became a Lender party hereto to the date such Person ceases being a Lender party hereto, for the benefit of, the Administrative Agent, each Arranger and their respective Affiliates, and not, for the avoidance of doubt, to or for the benefit of the Borrower or any other Credit Party, that at least one of the following is and will be true:
(i)such Lender is not using “plan assets” (within the meaning of Section 3(42) of ERISA or otherwise) of one or more Benefit Plans with respect to such Lender’s entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Letters of Credit or the Commitments;
(ii)the transaction exemption set forth in one or more PTEs, such as PTE 84-14 (a class exemption for certain transactions determined by independent qualified professional asset managers), PTE 95-60 (a class exemption for certain transactions involving insurance company general accounts), PTE 90-1 (a class exemption for certain transactions involving insurance company pooled separate accounts), PTE 91-38 (a class exemption for certain transactions involving bank collective investment funds) or PTE 96-23 (a class exemption for certain transactions determined by in-house asset managers), is applicable with respect to such Lender’s entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Letters of Credit, the Commitments and this Agreement;
(iii)(A) such Lender is an investment fund managed by a “Qualified Professional Asset Manager” (within the meaning of Part VI of PTE 84-14), (B) such Qualified Professional Asset Manager made the investment decision on behalf of such Lender to enter into, participate in, administer and perform the Loans, the Letters of Credit, the Commitments and this Agreement, (C) the entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Letters of Credit, the Commitments and this Agreement satisfies the requirements of sub-sections (b) through (g) of Part I of PTE 84-14 and (D) to the best knowledge of such Lender, the requirements of subsection (a) of Part I of PTE 84-14 are satisfied with respect to such Lender’s entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Letters of Credit, the Commitments and this Agreement; or
(iv)such other representation, warranty and covenant as may be agreed in writing between the Administrative Agent, in its sole discretion, and such Lender.
(b)In addition, unless either (1) sub-clause (i) in the immediately preceding clause (a) is true with respect to a Lender or (2) a Lender has provided another representation, warranty and covenant in accordance with sub-clause (iv) in the immediately preceding clause (a), such Lender further (x) represents and warrants, as of the date such Person became a Lender party hereto, to, and (y) covenants, from the date such Person became a Lender party hereto to the date such Person ceases being a Lender party hereto, for the benefit of, the Administrative Agent, each Arranger and their respective Affiliates, and not, for the avoidance of doubt, to or for the benefit of the Borrower or any other Credit Party, that none of the Administrative Agent, any Arranger and their respective Affiliates is a fiduciary with respect to the assets of such Lender involved in such Lender’s entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Letters of Credit, the Commitments and this Agreement (including in connection with the reservation or exercise of any rights by the Administrative Agent under this Agreement, any Loan Document or any documents related hereto or thereto).
SECTION 12.25 Acknowledgement Regarding Any Supported QFCs. To the extent that the Loan Documents provide support, through a guarantee or otherwise, for Hedge Agreements or any other agreement or instrument that is a QFC (such support, “QFC Credit Support” and, each such QFC, a “Supported QFC”), the parties acknowledge and agree as follows with respect to the resolution power of the FDIC under the Federal Deposit Insurance Act and Title II of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (together with the regulations promulgated thereunder, the “U.S. Special Resolution Regimes”) in respect of such Supported QFC and QFC Credit Support (with the provisions below applicable notwithstanding that the Loan Documents and any Supported QFC may in fact be stated
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to be governed by the laws of the State of New York and/or of the United States or any other state of the United States):
(a)In the event a Covered Entity that is party to a Supported QFC (each, a “Covered Party”) becomes subject to a proceeding under a U.S. Special Resolution Regime, the transfer of such Supported QFC and the benefit of such QFC Credit Support (and any interest and obligation in or under such Supported QFC and such QFC Credit Support, and any rights in property securing such Supported QFC or such QFC Credit Support) from such Covered Party will be effective to the same extent as the transfer would be effective under the U.S. Special Resolution Regime if the Supported QFC and such QFC Credit Support (and any such interest, obligation and rights in property) were governed by the laws of the United States or a state of the United States. In the event a Covered Party or a BHC Act Affiliate of a Covered Party becomes subject to a proceeding under a U.S. Special Resolution Regime, Default Rights under the Loan Documents that might otherwise apply to such Supported QFC or any QFC Credit Support that may be exercised against such Covered Party are permitted to be exercised to no greater extent than such Default Rights could be exercised under the U.S. Special Resolution Regime if the Supported QFC and the Loan Documents were governed by the laws of the United States or a state of the United States. Without limitation of the foregoing, it is understood and agreed that rights and remedies of the parties with respect to a Defaulting Lender shall in no event affect the rights of any Covered Party with respect to a Supported QFC or any QFC Credit Support.
(b)As used in this Section 12.25, the following terms have the following meanings:
BHC Act Affiliate” of a party means an “affiliate” (as such term is defined under, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 U.S.C. 1841(k)) of such party.
Covered Entity” means any of the following:
(i)a “covered entity” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 252.82(b);
(ii)a “covered bank” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 47.3(b); or
(iii)a “covered FSI” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 382.2(b).
Default Right” has the meaning assigned to that term in, and shall be interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. §§ 252.81, 47.2 or 382.1, as applicable.
QFC” has the meaning assigned to the term “qualified financial contract” in, and shall be interpreted in accordance with, 12 U.S.C. 5390(c)(8)(D).     
[Signature pages to follow]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed under seal by their duly authorized officers, all as of the day and year first written above.
NATIONAL INSTRUMENTS CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation, as Borrower
By: /s/ Karen Marie Rapp    
Name: Karen Rapp    
Title: Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer    

[Signature Page to Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement]


AGENTS AND LENDERS:
WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Administrative Agent, Swingline Lender, Issuing Lender and Lender
By: /s/ Clayton B. Scovill    
Name: Clayton B. Scovill    
Title: Senior Vice President    



[Signature Page to Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement]


BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., as Lender
By: /s/ Erhlich Bautista    
Name: Erhlich Bautista    
Title: Vice President    



[Signature Page to Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement]


Citibank, N.A., as Lender and Issuing Lender
By: /s/ Andrew Witkoff    
Name: Andrew Witkoff    
Title: Senior Vice President    
[Signature Page to Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement]


JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Lender

By: /s/ Caitlin Stewart    
Name: Caitlin Stewart    
Title: Executive Director


[Signature Page to Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement]


Regions Bank, as Lender

By: /s/ Claudia Biedenharn    
Name: Claudia Biedenharn    
Title: Director
[Signature Page to Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement]


BARCLAYS BANK PLC, as Lender

By: /s/ Sean Duggan    
Name: Sean Duggan    
Title: Director
[Signature Page to Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement]



EXHIBIT A-1
to
Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement
dated as of August 24, 2022
by and among
National Instruments Corporation,
as Borrower,
the lenders party thereto,
as Lenders,
and
Wells Fargo Bank, National Association,
as Administrative Agent


FORM OF REVOLVING CREDIT NOTE
45007609v1


REVOLVING CREDIT NOTE
    __________, 20___


FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned, NATIONAL INSTRUMENTS CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation, (the “Borrower”), promises to pay to _______________ (the “Lender”), at the place and times provided in the Credit Agreement referred to below, the unpaid principal amount of all Revolving Credit Loans of the Lender from time to time pursuant to that certain Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of August 24, 2022 (the “Credit Agreement”), by and among the Borrower, the Lenders party thereto and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Administrative Agent. Capitalized terms used herein and not defined herein shall have the meanings assigned thereto in the Credit Agreement.
The unpaid principal amount of this Revolving Credit Note from time to time outstanding is payable as provided in the Credit Agreement and shall bear interest as provided in Section 5.1 of the Credit Agreement. All payments of principal and interest on this Revolving Credit Note shall be payable in Dollars in immediately available funds as provided in the Credit Agreement.
This Revolving Credit Note is entitled to the benefits of, and evidences Obligations incurred under, the Credit Agreement, to which reference is made for a description of the security for this Revolving Credit Note and for a statement of the terms and conditions on which the Borrower is permitted and required to make prepayments and repayments of principal of the Obligations evidenced by this Revolving Credit Note and on which such Obligations may be declared to be immediately due and payable.
THIS REVOLVING CREDIT NOTE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, CONSTRUED AND ENFORCED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
The Borrower hereby waives all requirements as to diligence, presentment, demand of payment, protest and (except as required by the Credit Agreement) notice of any kind with respect to this Revolving Credit Note.

[Remainder of page intentionally left blank; signature page follows]

Form of Revolving Credit Note



IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Revolving Credit Note as of the day and year first above written.
NATIONAL INSTRUMENTS CORPORATION
By:                        
Name:
Title:

Form of Revolving Credit Note



EXHIBIT A-2
to
Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement
dated as of August 24, 2022
by and among
National Instruments Corporation,
as Borrower,
the lenders party thereto,
as Lenders,
and
Wells Fargo Bank, National Association,
as Administrative Agent



FORM OF SWINGLINE NOTE





SWINGLINE NOTE
    __________, 20___


FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned, NATIONAL INSTRUMENTS CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation (the “Borrower”), promises to pay to WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION (the “Lender”), at the place and times provided in the Credit Agreement referred to below, the unpaid principal amount of all Swingline Loans of the Lender from time to time pursuant to that certain Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of August 24, 2022 (the “Credit Agreement”), by and among the Borrower, the Lenders party thereto and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Administrative Agent. Capitalized terms used herein and not defined herein shall have the meanings assigned thereto in the Credit Agreement.
The unpaid principal amount of this Swingline Note from time to time outstanding is payable as provided in the Credit Agreement and shall bear interest as provided in Section 5.1 of the Credit Agreement. Swingline Loans refunded as Revolving Credit Loans in accordance with Section 2.2(b) of the Credit Agreement shall be payable by the Borrower as Revolving Credit Loans pursuant to the Revolving Credit Notes, and shall not be payable under this Swingline Note as Swingline Loans. All payments of principal and interest on this Swingline Note shall be payable in Dollars in immediately available funds as provided in the Credit Agreement.
This Swingline Note is entitled to the benefits of, and evidences Obligations incurred under, the Credit Agreement, to which reference is made for a description of the security for this Swingline Note and for a statement of the terms and conditions on which the Borrower is permitted and required to make prepayments and repayments of principal of the Obligations evidenced by this Swingline Note and on which such Obligations may be declared to be immediately due and payable.
THIS SWINGLINE NOTE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, CONSTRUED AND ENFORCED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
The Borrower hereby waives all requirements as to diligence, presentment, demand of payment, protest and (except as required by the Credit Agreement) notice of any kind with respect to this Swingline Note.
[Remainder of page intentionally left blank; signature page follows]

Form of Swingline Note



IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Swingline Note as of the day and year first above written.
NATIONAL INSTRUMENTS CORPORATION
By:                        
Name:
Title:


Form of Swingline Note




EXHIBIT A-3
to
Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement
dated as of August 24, 2022
by and among
National Instruments Corporation,
as Borrower,
the lenders party thereto,
as Lenders,
and
Wells Fargo Bank, National Association,
as Administrative Agent


FORM OF TERM LOAN NOTE



45007609v1


TERM LOAN NOTE
    __________, 20___


FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned, NATIONAL INSTRUMENTS CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation, (the “Borrower”), promises to pay to _______________ (the “Lender”), at the place and times provided in the Credit Agreement referred to below, the unpaid principal amount of all Term Loans of the Lender from time to time pursuant to that certain Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of August 24, 2022 (the “Credit Agreement”), by and among the Borrower, the Lenders party thereto and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Administrative Agent. Capitalized terms used herein and not defined herein shall have the meanings assigned thereto in the Credit Agreement.
The unpaid principal amount of this Term Loan Note from time to time outstanding is payable as provided in the Credit Agreement and shall bear interest as provided in Section 5.1 of the Credit Agreement. All payments of principal and interest on this Term Loan Note shall be payable in Dollars in immediately available funds as provided in the Credit Agreement.
This Term Loan Note is entitled to the benefits of, and evidences Obligations incurred under, the Credit Agreement, to which reference is made for a description of the security for this Term Loan Note and for a statement of the terms and conditions on which the Borrower is permitted and required to make prepayments and repayments of principal of the Obligations evidenced by this Term Loan Note and on which such Obligations may be declared to be immediately due and payable.
THIS TERM LOAN NOTE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, CONSTRUED AND ENFORCED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
The Borrower hereby waives all requirements as to diligence, presentment, demand of payment, protest and (except as required by the Credit Agreement) notice of any kind with respect to this Term Loan Note.

[Remainder of page intentionally left blank; signature page follows]

Form of Term Loan Note



IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Term Loan Note as of the day and year first above written.
NATIONAL INSTRUMENTS CORPORATION
By:                        
Name:
Title:


Form of Term Loan Note




EXHIBIT B
to
Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement
dated as of August 24, 2022
by and among
National Instruments Corporation,
as Borrower,
the lenders party thereto,
as Lenders,
and
Wells Fargo Bank, National Association,
as Administrative Agent



FORM OF NOTICE OF BORROWING

Form of Term Loan Note



NOTICE OF BORROWING

Dated as of: _____________

Wells Fargo Bank, National Association,
as Administrative Agent
MAC D 1109-019
1525 West W.T. Harris Blvd.
Charlotte, North Carolina 28262
Attention: Syndication Agency Services

Ladies and Gentlemen:

This irrevocable Notice of Borrowing is delivered to you pursuant to Section 2.3 of the Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of August 24, 2022 (the “Credit Agreement”), by and among National Instruments Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the “Borrower”), the Lenders party thereto and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Administrative Agent. Capitalized terms used herein and not defined herein shall have the meanings assigned thereto in the Credit Agreement.
1.    The Borrower hereby requests that the Lenders make [the Initial Term Loan][a Revolving Credit Loan][a Swingline Loan][an Incremental Term Loan] to the Borrower in the aggregate principal amount of $___________. (Complete with an amount in accordance with Section 2.3, Section 4.2(a) or Section 5.13, as applicable, of the Credit Agreement.)
2.    The Borrower hereby requests that such Loan(s) be made on the following Business Day: _____________________. (Complete with a Business Day in accordance with Section 4.2(a) of the Credit Agreement for the Initial Term Loan, Section 2.3 of the Credit Agreement for Revolving Credit Loans or Swingline Loans or Section 5.13 of the Credit Agreement for an Incremental Term Loan).
3.    The Borrower hereby requests that such Loan(s) bear interest at the following interest rate, plus the Applicable Margin, as set forth below:
Component of Loan1
Interest Rate
Interest Period
(SOFR
Loan only)
[Base Rate Loan or SOFR Loan]2

4.    The aggregate principal amount of all Loans and L/C Obligations outstanding as of the date hereof (including the Loan(s) requested herein) does not exceed the maximum amount permitted to be outstanding pursuant to the terms of the Credit Agreement.
5.    All of the conditions applicable to the Loan(s) requested herein as set forth in the Credit Agreement have been satisfied as of the date hereof and will remain satisfied to the date of such Loan.
[Remainder of page intentionally left blank; signature page follows]


1 Complete with the Dollar amount of that portion of the overall Loan requested that is to bear interest at the selected interest rate and/or Interest Period (e.g., for a $20,000,000 loan, $5,000,000 may be requested as a Base Rate Loan, $8,000,000 may be requested as a SOFR Loan with an interest period of three months and $7,000,000 may be requested as a SOFR Loan with an interest period of one month).
2 Complete with (i) Base Rate Loan or SOFR Loan for the Initial Term Loan, Revolving Credit Loans or any Incremental Term Loan or (ii) Base Rate Loan for Swingline Loans.
Form of Notice of Borrowing



IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Notice of Borrowing as of the day and year first written above.
NATIONAL INSTRUMENTS CORPORATION
By:                        
Name:
Title:


Form of Notice of Borrowing



EXHIBIT C
to
Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement
dated as of August 24, 2022
by and among
National Instruments Corporation,
as Borrower,
the lenders party thereto,
as Lenders,
and
Wells Fargo Bank, National Association,
as Administrative Agent



FORM OF NOTICE OF ACCOUNT DESIGNATION





NOTICE OF ACCOUNT DESIGNATION

Dated as of: _________

Wells Fargo Bank, National Association,
as Administrative Agent
MAC D 1109-019
1525 West W.T. Harris Blvd.
Charlotte, North Carolina 28262
Attention: Syndication Agency Services

Ladies and Gentlemen:

This Notice of Account Designation is delivered to you pursuant to Section 2.3(b) of the Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of August 24, 2022 (the “Credit Agreement”), by and among National Instruments Corporation, a Delaware corporation, as Borrower, the Lenders party thereto and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Administrative Agent. Capitalized terms used herein and not defined herein shall have the meanings assigned thereto in the Credit Agreement.
1.    The Administrative Agent is hereby authorized to disburse all Loan proceeds into the following account(s):
____________________________
Bank Name: ____________
ABA Routing Number: _________
Account Number: _____________

2.    This authorization shall remain in effect until revoked or until a subsequent Notice of Account Designation is provided to the Administrative Agent.
[Remainder of page intentionally left blank; signature page follows]

Form of Notice of Account Designation


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Notice of Account Designation as of the day and year first written above.
NATIONAL INSTRUMENTS CORPORATION
By:                        
Name:
Title:


Form of Notice of Account Designation


EXHIBIT D
to
Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement
dated as of August 24, 2022
by and among
National Instruments Corporation,
as Borrower,
the lenders party thereto,
as Lenders,
and
Wells Fargo Bank, National Association,
as Administrative Agent



FORM OF NOTICE OF PREPAYMENT






NOTICE OF PREPAYMENT

Dated as of: _____________

Wells Fargo Bank, National Association,
as Administrative Agent
MAC D 1109-019
1525 West W.T. Harris Blvd.
Charlotte, North Carolina 28262
Attention: Syndication Agency Services

Ladies and Gentlemen:

    This irrevocable Notice of Prepayment is delivered to you pursuant to
Section 2.4(c) of the Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of August 24, 2022 (the “Credit Agreement”), by and among National Instruments Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the “Borrower”), the Lenders party thereto and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Administrative Agent. Capitalized terms used herein and not defined herein shall have the meanings assigned thereto in the Credit Agreement.
1.    The Borrower hereby provides notice to the Administrative Agent that it shall repay the following [Base Rate Loans] and/or [SOFR Loans]: _______________. (Complete with an amount in accordance with Section 2.4 or Section 4.4, as applicable, of the Credit Agreement.)
2.    The Loan(s) to be prepaid consist of: [check each applicable box]
    Initial Term Loan
a Swingline Loan
    a Revolving Credit Loan
    Incremental Term Loan
3.    The Borrower shall repay the above-referenced Loans on the following Business Day: _______________. (Complete with a date no earlier than (i) the same Business Day as of the date of this Notice of Prepayment with respect to any Swingline Loan or Base Rate Loan and (ii) three (3) Business Days subsequent to date of this Notice of Prepayment with respect to any SOFR Loan.)
[4.    [add condition to prepayment as permitted pursuant to Section 2.4(c) or Section 4.4(a), if applicable]
[Remainder of page intentionally left blank; signature page follows]
Form of Notice of Prepayment


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Notice of Prepayment as of the day and year first written above.
NATIONAL INSTRUMENTS CORPORATION
By:                        
Name:
Title:


Form of Notice of Prepayment


EXHIBIT E
to
Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement
dated as of August 24, 2022
by and among
National Instruments Corporation,
as Borrower,
the lenders party thereto,
as Lenders,
and
Wells Fargo Bank, National Association,
as Administrative Agent



FORM OF NOTICE OF CONVERSION/CONTINUATION






NOTICE OF CONVERSION/CONTINUATION

Dated as of: _____________

Wells Fargo Bank, National Association,
as Administrative Agent
MAC D 1109-019
1525 West W.T. Harris Blvd.
Charlotte, North Carolina 28262
Attention: Syndication Agency Services

Ladies and Gentlemen:

This irrevocable Notice of Conversion/Continuation (this “Notice”) is delivered to you pursuant to Section 5.2 of the Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of August 24, 2022 (the “Credit Agreement”), by and among National Instruments Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the “Borrower”), the Lenders party thereto and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Administrative Agent. Capitalized terms used herein and not defined herein shall have the meanings assigned thereto in the Credit Agreement.
1.    The Loan to which this Notice relates is [the Initial Term Loan][a Revolving Credit Loan] [an Incremental Term Loan]. (Delete as applicable.)
2.    This Notice is submitted for the purpose of: (Check one and complete applicable information in accordance with the Credit Agreement.)
    Converting all or a portion of a Base Rate Loan into a SOFR Loan

Outstanding principal balance:    $______________
Principal amount to be converted:    $______________
Requested effective date of conversion:    _______________
Requested new Interest Period:    _______________

    Converting all or a portion of a SOFR Loan into a Base Rate Loan

Outstanding principal balance:    $______________
Principal amount to be converted:    $______________
Last day of the current Interest Period:    _______________
Requested effective date of conversion:    _______________
Form of Notice of Conversion/Continuation


    Continuing all or a portion of a SOFR Loan as a SOFR Loan

Outstanding principal balance:    $______________
Principal amount to be continued:    $______________
Last day of the current Interest Period:    _______________
Requested effective date of continuation:    _______________
Requested new Interest Period:    _______________
3.    The aggregate principal amount of all Loans and L/C Obligations outstanding as of the date hereof does not exceed the maximum amount permitted to be outstanding pursuant to the terms of the Credit Agreement.
[Remainder of page intentionally left blank; signature page follows]

Form of Notice of Conversion/Continuation


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Notice of Conversion/Continuation as of the day and year first written above.
NATIONAL INSTRUMENTS CORPORATION
By:                        
Name:
Title:


Form of Notice of Conversion/Continuation


EXHIBIT F
to
Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement
dated as of August 24, 2022
by and among
National Instruments Corporation,
as Borrower,
the lenders party thereto,
as Lenders,
and
Wells Fargo Bank, National Association,
as Administrative Agent



FORM OF COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE



COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE
Dated as of: _____________

The undersigned Responsible Officer, on behalf of NATIONAL INSTRUMENTS CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation (the “Borrower”), hereby certifies to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders, each as defined in the Credit Agreement referred to below, as follows:
1.    This certificate is delivered to you pursuant to Section 8.2 of the Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of August 24, 2022 (the “Credit Agreement”), by and among the Borrower, the Lenders party thereto and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Administrative Agent. Capitalized terms used herein and not defined herein shall have the meanings assigned thereto in the Credit Agreement.
2.    I have reviewed the financial statements of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries dated as of _______________ and for the _______________ period[s] then ended and such statements fairly present in all material respects the financial condition of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as of the dates indicated and the results of their operations and cash flows for the period[s] indicated.
3.    I have reviewed the terms of the Credit Agreement, and the related Loan Documents and have made, or caused to be made under my supervision, a review in reasonable detail of the transactions and the condition of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries during the accounting period covered by the financial statements referred to in Paragraph 2 above. Such review has not disclosed the existence during or at the end of such accounting period of any condition or event that constitutes a Default or an Event of Default, nor do I have any knowledge of the existence of any such condition or event as at the date of this certificate [except, if such condition or event existed or exists, describe the nature and period of existence thereof and what action the Borrower has taken, is taking and proposes to take with respect thereto].
4.    As of the date of this certificate, the Borrower and its Subsidiaries are in compliance with the financial covenants contained in Section 8.9 of the Credit Agreement as shown on such Schedule 1 and the Borrower and its Subsidiaries are in compliance with the other covenants and restrictions contained in the Credit Agreement.
[Remainder of page intentionally left blank; signature page follows]

Form of Compliance Certificate


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Compliance Certificate as of the day and year first written above.
NATIONAL INSTRUMENTS CORPORATION
By:                        
Name:
Title:

                        
Form of Compliance Certificate


Schedule 1
to
Compliance Certificate

For the Quarter/Year ended ______________________ (the “Statement Date”)

A.    Section 8.9(a)    Consolidated Total Net Leverage Ratio

(I)Consolidated Funded Indebtedness of the Credit Parties and their Subsidiaries on the
last day of the applicable Reference Period on a Consolidated basis, minus Unrestricted Cash and Cash Equivalents on such date in an aggregate amount not to exceed $200,000,000                                $__________

(II)Consolidated EBITDA of the Credit Parties and their Subsidiaries
for the applicable Reference Period                    $__________

    (III)    Line A.(I) divided by Line A.(II)                     ____ to 1.00

    (IV)    Maximum permitted Consolidated Total Leverage Ratio as set
        forth in Section 8.9(a) of the Credit Agreement                 3.50 to 1.00

(V)    Maximum permitted Consolidated Total Leverage Ratio as set forth in
Section 8.9(a) for the period beginning with the fiscal quarter in which
a Material Acquisition was consummated through the last day of the
fourth full fiscal quarter thereafter                      4.00 to 1.00

    (VI)    In Compliance?                                 Yes/No


B.    Section 8.9(b)     Consolidated Interest Coverage Ratio

(I)Consolidated EBITDA of the Credit Parties and their Subsidiaries
for the applicable Reference Period                    $__________

(II)Consolidated Interest Expense for the applicable Reference Period    $__________

    (III)    Line B.(I) divided by Line B.(II)                         ____ to 1.00

    (IV)    Minimum permitted Consolidated Interest Coverage Ratio
as set forth in Section 8.9(b) of the Credit Agreement             3.00 to 1.00

    (V)    In Compliance?                                 Yes/No


Form of Compliance Certificate


Schedule 2
to
Compliance Certificate



Consolidated EBITDA
Quarter 1
ended
__/__/__
Quarter 2
ended
__/__/__
Quarter 3
ended
__/__/__
Quarter 4
ended
__/__/__
Total
(Quarters 1-4)
(1)Consolidated Net Income for such period
(2)The following amounts, without duplication, to the extent deducted in determining Consolidated Net Income for such period:

(a)Consolidated Interest Expense for such period

(a)provisions for taxes (including, without limitation, any federal, state, local and foreign income and similar taxes) of the Credit Parties and their Subsidiaries paid or accrued for such period

(a)depreciation and amortization expense of the Credit Parties and their Subsidiaries for such period

(a)other non-cash losses, charges or expenses (excluding reserves for future cash charges but including non-cash impairment of goodwill and intangible assets) of the Credit Parties and their Subsidiaries for such period

(a)the non-cash portion of stock compensation to the extent actually paid during such period

(a)(A) subject to the proviso set forth in clause (g) below, unusual or non-recurring expenses, charges and losses during such period and (B) extraordinary expenses, charges and losses during such period, in each case incurred other than in the ordinary course of business,



(a)non-recurring expenses or losses incurred in connection with (A) the Transactions, (B) Permitted Acquisitions and other Investments permitted hereunder, (C) issuances of any Equity Interests, (D) dispositions of assets permitted under the Loan Documents or (E) the incurrence, amendment, modification, refinancing or repayment of Indebtedness (in each case of clauses (B) through (E), whether or not successful, and including amendments or modifications to the terms of any such transactions), including, without limitation, legal, accounting and advisory fees; provided that the aggregate amount added back in reliance on clause (f)(A) and subclauses (B) through (E) of this clause (g) shall not exceed twenty percent (20%) of Consolidated EBITDA for such Reference Period (calculated after giving effect to any such amounts added back under such clauses)



(a)one-time restructuring, integration or similar charges, expenses or reserves (which for the avoidance of doubt, shall include, but not be limited to, retention, severance, systems establishment costs, contract termination costs, including future lease commitments, and costs to consolidate facilities and relocate employees) incurred by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, whether or not classified as restructuring charges or expenses under GAAP; provided that the aggregate amount added back in reliance on this clause (h), when combined with any amounts added back in reliance on clause (l) below shall not exceed thirty percent (30%) of Consolidated EBITDA for such Reference Period (calculated after giving effect to any such amounts added back under this clause (h))

(a)expenses, charges and losses in the form of earn-out obligations and other contingent consideration obligations (including to the extent accounted for as performance and retention bonuses, compensation or otherwise) and adjustments thereof and purchase price adjustments, in each case in connection with any Permitted Acquisitions or other Investments permitted hereunder, whether consummated prior to or after the Closing Date



(a)charges, losses or expenses to the extent subject to indemnity or reimbursement by a third party to the extent actually reimbursed, or, so long as the Borrower has made a determination that a reasonable basis exists for indemnification or reimbursement and only to the extent that such amount is (A) not denied by the applicable indemnitor or reimbursing party in writing; and (B) in fact indemnified or reimbursed within 180 days of such determination (with a deduction in the applicable future period for any amount so added back to the extent not so indemnified or reimbursed within such 180 day period)

(a)the amount of any expenses paid on behalf of any member of the board of directors or reimbursable to such member of the board of directors



(a)the amount of any “run rate” synergies, operating expense reductions and other net cost savings and integration costs, in each case projected by the Borrower in connection with Permitted Acquisitions (including, for the avoidance of doubt, acquisitions occurring prior to the Closing Date), Asset Dispositions (including the termination or discontinuance of activities constituting such business) and/or other operating improvement, restructuring, cost savings initiative or other similar initiative taken after the Closing Date that have been consummated during the applicable Reference Period (calculated on a Pro Forma Basis as though such synergies, expense reductions and cost savings had been realized on the first day of the period for which Consolidated EBITDA is being determined), net of the amount of actual benefits realized during such period from such actions; provided that (i) such synergies, expense reductions and cost savings are reasonably identifiable, factually supportable, expected to have a continuing impact on the operations of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries and have been determined by the Borrower in good faith to be reasonably anticipated to be realizable within 18 months following any such action as set forth in reasonable detail on a certificate of a Responsible Officer of the Borrower delivered to the Administrative Agent, (ii) no such amounts shall be added pursuant to this clause to the extent duplicative of any expenses or charges otherwise added to Consolidated EBITDA, whether through a pro forma adjustment, the definition of Pro Forma Basis or otherwise and (iii) the aggregate amount added pursuant to this clause (l), when combined with any amounts added back in reliance on clause (h) above, shall in no event exceed 30% of Consolidated EBITDA for such Reference Period (calculated after giving effect to any such add-backs pursuant to this clause (l))



(a)losses or discounts on any sale of receivables, Securitization Assets and related assets in connection with any Qualified Factoring Transaction
(3)
Line (2)(a) plus Line (2)(b) plus Line (2)(c) plus Line (2)(d) plus Line (2)(e) plus Line (2)(f) plus Line (2)(g) plus Line (2)(h) plus Line (2)(i) plus Line (2)(j) plus Line (2)(k) plus Line (2)(l) plus Line (2)(m)
(4)The following amounts, without duplication, to the extent added in computing Consolidated Net Income for such period:
(a)    non-cash charges previously added back to Consolidated Net Income in determining Consolidated EBITDA to the extent such non-cash charges have become cash charges during such period
(b)    any other unusual, extraordinary, non-recurring cash or non-cash gains included in Consolidated Net Income during such period (including, without limitation, (i) gains from the sale or exchange of assets and (ii) gains from early extinguishment of Indebtedness or Hedge Agreements of the Credit Parties and their Subsidiaries)
(5)
Line (4)(a) plus Line (4)(b)


(6)Pro Forma Basis Adjustments to Consolidated EBITDA, if applicable3
(7)
Totals (Line (1) plus Line (3) less Line (5) plus or minus, as applicable, Line (6))
3 Pro Forma Basis for purposes of calculating Consolidated EBITDA for any period during which one or more Specified Transactions occurs, that (i) such Specified Transaction (and all other Specified Transactions that have been consummated during the applicable period) shall be deemed to have occurred as of the first day of the applicable period of measurement, (ii) there shall be included in determining Consolidated EBITDA for such period, without duplication, the Acquired EBITDA of any Person or business, or attributable to any property or asset, acquired by the Borrower or any Subsidiary during such period (but not the Acquired EBITDA of any related Person or business or any Acquired EBITDA attributable to any assets or property, in each case to the extent not so acquired) in connection with a Permitted Acquisition to the extent not subsequently sold, transferred, abandoned or otherwise disposed of by the Borrower or such Subsidiary during such period, based on the actual Acquired EBITDA of such acquired entity or business for such period (including the portion thereof occurring prior to such acquisition) and (iii) there shall be excluded in determining Consolidated EBITDA for such period, without duplication, the Disposed EBITDA of any Person or business, or attributable to any property or asset, disposed of by the Borrower or any Subsidiary during such period in connection with an Asset Disposition or discontinuation of operations, based on the Disposed EBITDA of such disposed entity or business or discontinued operations for such period (including the portion thereof occurring prior to such disposition or discontinuation); provided that the foregoing amounts shall be without duplication of any adjustments that are already included in the calculation of Consolidated EBITDA.



EXHIBIT G
to
Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement
dated as of August 24, 2022
by and among
National Instruments Corporation,
as Borrower,
the lenders party thereto,
as Lenders,
and
Wells Fargo Bank, National Association,
as Administrative Agent



FORM OF ASSIGNMENT AND ASSUMPTION





ASSIGNMENT AND ASSUMPTION
This Assignment and Assumption (the “Assignment and Assumption”) is dated as of the Effective Date set forth below and is entered into by and between [INSERT NAME OF ASSIGNOR] (the “Assignor”) and the parties identified on the Schedules hereto and [the] [each]4 Assignee identified on the Schedules hereto as “Assignee” or as “Assignees” (collectively, the “Assignees” and each, an “Assignee”). [It is understood and agreed that the rights and obligations of the Assignees5 hereunder are several and not joint.]6 Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Credit Agreement identified below (the “Credit Agreement”), receipt of a copy of which is hereby acknowledged by [the] [each] Assignee. The Standard Terms and Conditions set forth in Annex 1 attached hereto are hereby agreed to and incorporated herein by reference and made a part of this Assignment and Assumption as if set forth herein in full.
For an agreed consideration, the Assignor hereby irrevocably sells and assigns to the [Assignee] [respective Assignees], and [the] [each] Assignee hereby irrevocably purchases and assumes from the Assignor, subject to and in accordance with the Standard Terms and Conditions and the Credit Agreement, as of the Effective Date inserted by the Administrative Agent as contemplated below (i) all of the Assignor’s rights and obligations in its capacity as a Lender under the Credit Agreement and any other documents or instruments delivered pursuant thereto to the extent related to the amount and percentage interest identified below of all of such outstanding rights and obligations of the Assignor under the respective facilities identified below (including without limitation any letters of credit, guarantees, and swingline loans included in such facilities) and (ii) to the extent permitted to be assigned under Applicable Law, all claims, suits, causes of action and any other right of the Assignor (in its capacity as a Lender) against any Person, whether known or unknown, arising under or in connection with the Credit Agreement, any other documents or instruments delivered pursuant thereto or the loan transactions governed thereby or in any way based on or related to any of the foregoing, including, but not limited to, contract claims, tort claims, malpractice claims, statutory claims and all other claims at law or in equity related to the rights and obligations sold and assigned pursuant to clause (i) above (the rights and obligations sold and assigned to [the] [any] Assignee pursuant to clauses (i) and (ii) above being referred to herein collectively as, [the] [an]Assigned Interest”). Each such sale and assignment is without recourse to the Assignor and, except as expressly provided in this Assignment and Assumption, without representation or warranty by the Assignor.
1.    Assignor:    [INSERT NAME OF ASSIGNOR]

2.    Assignee(s):    See Schedules attached hereto

3.    Borrower:    National Instruments Corporation

4.    Administrative Agent:    Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as the administrative agent under the Credit Agreement

5.    Credit Agreement:    The Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of August 24, 2022, by and among National Instruments Corporation, as Borrower, the Lenders party thereto and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Administrative Agent (as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified)

6.    Assigned Interest:     See Schedules attached hereto

4 For bracketed language here and elsewhere in this form relating to the Assignee(s), if the assignment is to a single Assignee, choose the first bracketed language. If the assignment is to multiple Assignees, choose the second bracketed language.
5 Select as appropriate.
6 Include bracketed language if there are multiple Assignees.
Form of Assignment and Assumption


[7.    Trade Date:    ______________]7


[Remainder of page intentionally left blank; signature page follows]

7 To be completed if the Assignor and the Assignees intend that the minimum assignment amount is to be determined as of the Trade Date.
Form of Assignment and Assumption


Effective Date: _____________ ___, 2____ [TO BE INSERTED BY THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT AND WHICH SHALL BE THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF RECORDATION OF TRANSFER IN THE REGISTER THEREFOR]
The terms set forth in this Assignment and Assumption are hereby agreed to:
ASSIGNOR
[NAME OF ASSIGNOR]
By:                        
Name:
Title:
ASSIGNEES
See Schedules attached hereto


Form of Assignment and Assumption


[Consented to and]8 Accepted:

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


By:_________________________________
Name:
Title:


[Consented to:]9

NATIONAL INSTRUMENTS CORPORATION, as Borrower


By:________________________________
Name:
Title:





8 To be added only if the consent of the Administrative Agent and/or the Swingline Lender and Issuing Lender is required by the terms of the Credit Agreement. May also use a Master Consent.
9 To be added only if the consent of the Borrower is required by the terms of the Credit Agreement. May also use a Master Consent.
Form of Assignment and Assumption


SCHEDULE 1
To Assignment and Assumption
By its execution of this Schedule, the Assignee identified on the signature block below agrees to the terms set forth in the attached Assignment and Assumption.
Assigned Interests:

Facility Assigned10Aggregate Amount of Commitment/ Loans for all Lenders11Amount of Commitment/
Loans Assigned12
Percentage Assigned of Commitment/
Loans13
CUSIP Number
$$
%
$$
%
$$
%




[NAME OF ASSIGNEE]14
[and is an Affiliate/Approved Fund of [identify Lender]15]

By:______________________________
Name:
Title:



10 Fill in the appropriate terminology for the types of facilities under the Credit Agreement that are being assigned under this Agreement (e.g. “Commitment,” “Incremental Term Loan Commitment,” etc.)
11 Amount to be adjusted by the counterparties to take into account any payments or prepayments made between the Trade Date and the Effective Date.
12 Amount to be adjusted by the counterparties to take into account any payments or prepayments made between the Trade Date and the Effective Date.
13 Set forth, to at least 9 decimals, as a percentage of the Commitment/Loans of all Lenders thereunder.
14 Add additional signature blocks, as needed.
15 Select as appropriate.
Form of Assignment and Assumption


ANNEX 1
to Assignment and Assumption
STANDARD TERMS AND CONDITIONS FOR
ASSIGNMENT AND ASSUMPTION
1.    Representations and Warranties.

1.1    Assignor. The Assignor (a) represents and warrants that (i) it is the legal and beneficial owner of [the] [the relevant] Assigned Interest, (ii) [the] [such] Assigned Interest is free and clear of any lien, encumbrance or other adverse claim, (iii) it has full power and authority, and has taken all action necessary, to execute and deliver this Assignment and Assumption and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and (iv) it is [not] a Defaulting Lender; and (b) assumes no responsibility with respect to (i) any statements, warranties or representations made in or in connection with the Credit Agreement or any other Loan Document, (ii) the execution, legality, validity, enforceability, genuineness, sufficiency or value of the Loan Documents or any collateral thereunder, (iii) the financial condition of the Borrower, any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates or any other Person obligated in respect of any Loan Document or (iv) the performance or observance by the Borrower, any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates or any other Person of any of their respective obligations under any Loan Document.
1.2.    Assignee[s]. [The] [Each] Assignee (a) represents and warrants that (i) it has full power and authority, and has taken all action necessary, to execute and deliver this Assignment and Assumption and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and to become a Lender under the Credit Agreement, (ii) it meets the requirements of an Eligible Assignee under the Credit Agreement (subject to such consents, if any, as may be required under Section 12.9(b)(iii) of the Credit Agreement), (iii) from and after the Effective Date, it shall be bound by the provisions of the Credit Agreement as a Lender thereunder and, to the extent of [the] [the relevant] Assigned Interest, shall have the obligations of a Lender thereunder, (iv) it is sophisticated with respect to decisions to acquire assets of the type represented by the Assigned Interest and either it, or the Person exercising discretion in making its decision to acquire [the] [such] Assigned Interest, is experienced in acquiring assets of such type, (v) it has received a copy of the Credit Agreement, and has received or has been accorded the opportunity to receive copies of the most recent financial statements delivered pursuant to [Section 6.1] [Section 8.1]16 thereof, as applicable, and such other documents and information as it deems appropriate to make its own credit analysis and decision to enter into this Assignment and Assumption and to purchase [the] [such] Assigned Interest, (vi) it has, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent or any other Lender and based on such documents and information as it has deemed appropriate, made its own credit analysis and decision to enter into this Assignment and Assumption and to purchase [the] [such] Assigned Interest, and (vii) if it is a Foreign Lender, attached to the Assignment and Assumption is any documentation required to be delivered by it pursuant to the terms of the Credit Agreement, duly completed and executed by [the] [such] Assignee; and (b) agrees that (i) it will, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent, [the] [any] Assignor or any other Lender, and based on such documents and information as it shall deem appropriate at the time, continue to make its own credit decisions in taking or not taking action under the Loan Documents, and (ii) it will perform in accordance with their terms all of the obligations which by the terms of the Loan Documents are required to be performed by it as a Lender.
2.    Payments. From and after the Effective Date, the Administrative Agent shall make all payments in respect of [the] [each] Assigned Interest (including payments of principal, interest, fees and other amounts) to [the] [the relevant] Assignor for amounts which have accrued to but excluding the Effective Date and to [the] [the relevant] Assignee for amounts which have accrued from and after the Effective Date.
3.    General Provisions. This Assignment and Assumption shall be binding upon, and inure to the benefit of, the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns. This Assignment and Assumption may be executed in any number of counterparts, which together shall constitute one
16 Update as necessary to refer to appropriate Financial Statement delivery Section in Credit Agreement.
Form of Assignment and Assumption


instrument. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page of this Assignment and Assumption by telecopy shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Assignment and Assumption. This Assignment and Assumption shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the law of the State of New York.



Form of Assignment and Assumption


EXHIBIT H-1
to
Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement
dated as of August 24, 2022
by and among
National Instruments Corporation,
as Borrower,
the lenders party thereto,
as Lenders,
and
Wells Fargo Bank, National Association,
as Administrative Agent



FORM OF U.S. TAX COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE
(NON-PARTNERSHIP FOREIGN LENDERS)


U.S. TAX COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE
(For Foreign Lenders That Are Not Partnerships For U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes)

Reference is hereby made to the Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of August 24, 2022 (the “Credit Agreement”), by and among National Instruments Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the “Borrower”), the Lenders party thereto and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Administrative Agent. Capitalized terms used herein and not defined herein shall have the meanings assigned thereto in the Credit Agreement.
Pursuant to the provisions of Section 5.11 of the Credit Agreement, the undersigned hereby certifies that (a) it is the sole record and beneficial owner of the Loan(s) (as well as any Note(s) evidencing such Loan(s)) in respect of which it is providing this certificate, (b) it is not a “bank” within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Code, (c) it is not a “10 percent shareholder” of the Borrower within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(B) of the Code and (d) it is not a “controlled foreign corporation” related to the Borrower as described in Section 881(c)(3)(C) of the Code.
The undersigned has furnished the Administrative Agent and the Borrower with a certificate of its non-U.S. Person status on IRS Form W-8BEN or a W-8BEN-E, as applicable. By executing this certificate, the undersigned agrees that (a) if the information provided on this certificate changes, the undersigned shall promptly so inform the Borrower and the Administrative Agent and (b) the undersigned shall have at all times furnished the Borrower and the Administrative Agent with a properly completed and currently effective certificate in either the calendar year in which each payment is to be made to the undersigned, or in either of the two (2) calendar years preceding such payments.

[NAME OF LENDER]
By:
Name:
Title:
Date: ________ __, 20__



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



EXHIBIT H-2
to
Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement
dated as of August 24, 2022
by and among
National Instruments Corporation,
as Borrower,
the lenders party thereto,
as Lenders,
and
Wells Fargo Bank, National Association,
as Administrative Agent



FORM OF U.S. TAX COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE
(NON-PARTNERSHIP FOREIGN PARTICIPANTS)


U.S. TAX COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE
(For Foreign Participants That Are Not Partnerships For U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes)

Reference is hereby made to the Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of August 24, 2022 (the “Credit Agreement”), by and among National Instruments Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the “Borrower”), the Lenders party thereto and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Administrative Agent. Capitalized terms used herein and not defined herein shall have the meanings assigned thereto in the Credit Agreement.
Pursuant to the provisions of Section 5.11 of the Credit Agreement, the undersigned hereby certifies that (a) it is the sole record and beneficial owner of the participation in respect of which it is providing this certificate, (b) it is not a “bank” within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Code, (c) it is not a “10 percent shareholder” of the Borrower within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(B) of the Code and (d) it is not a “controlled foreign corporation” related to the Borrower as described in Section 881(c)(3)(C) of the Code.
The undersigned has furnished its participating Lender with a certificate of its non-U.S. Person status on IRS Form W-8BEN or a W-8BEN-E, as applicable. By executing this certificate, the undersigned agrees that (a) if the information provided on this certificate changes, the undersigned shall promptly so inform such Lender in writing and (b) the undersigned shall have at all times furnished such Lender with a properly completed and currently effective certificate in either the calendar year in which each payment is to be made to the undersigned, or in either of the two (2) calendar years preceding such payments.

[NAME OF PARTICIPANT]
By:
Name:
Title:
Date: ________ __, 20__




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


EXHIBIT H-3
to
Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement
dated as of August 24, 2022
by and among
National Instruments Corporation,
as Borrower,
the lenders party thereto,
as Lenders,
and
Wells Fargo Bank, National Association,
as Administrative Agent



FORM OF U.S. TAX COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE
(FOREIGN PARTICIPANT PARTNERSHIPS)



U.S. TAX COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE
(For Foreign Participants That Are Partnerships For U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes)

Reference is hereby made to the Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of August 24, 2022 (the “Credit Agreement”), by and among National Instruments Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the “Borrower”), the Lenders party thereto and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Administrative Agent. Capitalized terms used herein and not defined herein shall have the meanings assigned thereto in the Credit Agreement.
Pursuant to the provisions of Section 5.11 of the Credit Agreement, the undersigned hereby certifies that (a) it is the sole record owner of the participation in respect of which it is providing this certificate, (b) its direct or indirect partners/members are the sole beneficial owners of such participation, (c) with respect such participation, neither the undersigned nor any of its direct or indirect partners/members is a “bank” extending credit pursuant to a loan agreement entered into in the ordinary course of its trade or business within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Code, (d) none of its direct or indirect partners/members is a “10 percent shareholder” of the Borrower within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(B) of the Code and (e) none of its direct or indirect partners/members is a “controlled foreign corporation” related to the Borrower as described in Section 881(c)(3)(C) of the Code.
The undersigned has furnished its participating Lender with IRS Form W-8IMY accompanied by one of the following forms from each of its partners/members that is claiming the portfolio interest exemption: (a) an IRS Form W-8BEN or a W-8BEN-E or (b) an IRS Form W-8IMY accompanied by an IRS Form W-8BEN or a W-8BEN-E from each of such partner’s/member’s beneficial owners that is claiming the portfolio interest exemption. By executing this certificate, the undersigned agrees that (i) if the information provided on this certificate changes, the undersigned shall promptly so inform such Lender and (ii) the undersigned shall have at all times furnished such Lender with a properly completed and currently effective certificate in either the calendar year in which each payment is to be made to the undersigned, or in either of the two (2) calendar years preceding such payments.

[NAME OF PARTICIPANT]
By:
Name:
Title:
Date: ________ __, 20__
Form of U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate
(For Foreign Participants That Are Partnerships For U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes)



EXHIBIT H-4
to
Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement
dated as of August 24, 2022
by and among
National Instruments Corporation,
as Borrower,
the lenders party thereto,
as Lenders,
and
Wells Fargo Bank, National Association,
as Administrative Agent



FORM OF U.S. TAX COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE
(FOREIGN LENDER PARTNERSHIPS)


U.S. TAX COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE
(For Foreign Lenders That Are Partnerships For U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes)

Reference is hereby made to the Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of August 24, 2022 (the “Credit Agreement”), by and among National Instruments Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the “Borrower”), the Lenders party thereto and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Administrative Agent. Capitalized terms used herein and not defined herein shall have the meanings assigned thereto in the Credit Agreement.
Pursuant to the provisions of Section 5.11 of the Credit Agreement, the undersigned hereby certifies that (a) it is the sole record owner of the Loan(s) (as well as any Note(s) evidencing such Loan(s)) in respect of which it is providing this certificate, (b) its direct or indirect partners/members are the sole beneficial owners of such Loan(s) (as well as any Note(s) evidencing such Loan(s)), (c) with respect to the extension of credit pursuant to this Credit Agreement or any other Loan Document, neither the undersigned nor any of its direct or indirect partners/members is a “bank” extending credit pursuant to a loan agreement entered into in the ordinary course of its trade or business within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Code, (d) none of its direct or indirect partners/members is a “10 percent shareholder” of the Borrower within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(B) of the Code and (e) none of its direct or indirect partners/members is a “controlled foreign corporation” related to the Borrower as described in Section 881(c)(3)(C) of the Code.
The undersigned has furnished the Administrative Agent and the Borrower with IRS Form W-8IMY accompanied by one of the following forms from each of its partners/members that is claiming the portfolio interest exemption: (a) an IRS Form W-8BEN or a W-8BEN-E or (b) an IRS Form W-8IMY accompanied by an IRS Form W-8BEN or a W-8BEN-E from each of such partner’s/member’s beneficial owners that is claiming the portfolio interest exemption. By executing this certificate, the undersigned agrees that (i) if the information provided on this certificate changes, the undersigned shall promptly so inform the Borrower and the Administrative Agent and (ii) the undersigned shall have at all times furnished the Borrower and the Administrative Agent with a properly completed and currently effective certificate in either the calendar year in which each payment is to be made to the undersigned, or in either of the two (2) calendar years preceding such payments.

[NAME OF LENDER]
By:
Name:
Title:
Date: ________ __, 20__
Form of U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate
(For Foreign Lenders That Are Partnerships For U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes)



EXHIBIT I
to
Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement
dated as of August 24, 2022
by and among
National Instruments Corporation,
as Borrower,
the lenders party thereto,
as Lenders,
and
Wells Fargo Bank, National Association,
as Administrative Agent



FORM OF JOINDER AGREEMENT



EXHIBIT I

[FORM OF]
JOINDER AGREEMENT


THIS JOINDER AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”), dated as of [__________, ____], is by and among [_____________________, a ______________________] (the “Subsidiary Guarantor”), NATIONAL INSTRUMENTS CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation (the “Borrower”), and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, in its capacity as administrative agent (in such capacity, the “Administrative Agent”) under that certain Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of August 24, 2022 (as amended, modified, extended, restated, replaced, or supplemented from time to time, the “Credit Agreement”), by and among the Borrower, the Lenders party thereto and the Administrative Agent. Capitalized terms used herein but not otherwise defined shall have the meanings provided in the Credit Agreement.

The Subsidiary Guarantor is an Additional Credit Party, and, consequently, the Credit Parties are required by Section 8.10 of the Credit Agreement to cause the Subsidiary Guarantor to become a “Guarantor” thereunder.

Accordingly, the Subsidiary Guarantor and the Borrower hereby agree as follows with the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Lenders:

1.    The Subsidiary Guarantor hereby acknowledges, agrees and confirms that, by its execution of this Agreement, the Subsidiary Guarantor will be deemed to be a party to and a “Guarantor” under the Subsidiary Guaranty Agreement and shall have all of the obligations of a Guarantor thereunder as if it had executed the Subsidiary Guaranty Agreement. The Subsidiary Guarantor hereby ratifies, as of the date hereof, and agrees to be bound by, all of the terms, provisions and conditions contained in the applicable Credit Documents, including, without limitation (a) all of the representations and warranties set forth in Article VII of the Credit Agreement and (b) all of the affirmative and negative covenants set forth in Articles VIII and IX of the Credit Agreement.

2.    The Subsidiary Guarantor hereby acknowledges, agrees and confirms that, by its execution of this Agreement, the Subsidiary Guarantor will be deemed to be a party to the Collateral Agreement, and shall have all the rights and obligations of an “Grantor” (as such term is defined in the Collateral Agreement) thereunder as if it had executed the Collateral Agreement. The Subsidiary Guarantor hereby ratifies, as of the date hereof, and agrees to be bound by, all of the terms, provisions and conditions contained in the Collateral Agreement. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing terms of this Paragraph 2, the Subsidiary Guarantor hereby grants to the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Lenders, a continuing security interest in, and a right of set off, to the extent applicable, against any and all right, title and interest of the Subsidiary Guarantor in and to the Collateral (as such term is defined in Section 2.1 of the Collateral Agreement) of the Subsidiary Guarantor.

3.    The Subsidiary Guarantor acknowledges and confirms that it has received a copy of the Credit Agreement and the schedules and exhibits thereto and each Security Document and the schedules and exhibits thereto. The information on the schedules to the Credit Agreement and the Security Documents are hereby supplemented (to the extent permitted under the Credit Agreement or Security Documents) to reflect the information shown on the attached Schedule A.

4.    The information on Schedule B to this Joinder Agreement is true and correct as of the date hereof.

5.    Each of the Borrower and the Subsidiary Guarantor agrees that at any time and from time to time, upon the written request of the Administrative Agent, it will execute and deliver such further documents and do such further acts as the Administrative Agent may reasonably request in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Credit Agreement in order to effect the purposes of this Agreement.

Form of Joinder Agreement


6.    This Agreement (a) may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of which shall constitute an original but all of which when taken together shall constitute one contract and (b) may, upon execution, be delivered by facsimile or electronic mail, which shall be deemed for all purposes to be an original signature.

7.    This Agreement shall be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of New York. The terms of Sections 12.5 and 12.6 of the Credit Agreement are incorporated herein by reference, mutatis mutandis, and the parties hereto agree to such terms.

[REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]

Form of Joinder Agreement




IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the Borrower and the Subsidiary Guarantor has caused this Agreement to be duly executed by its authorized officer, and the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Lenders, has caused the same to be accepted by its authorized officer, as of the day and year first above written.

SUBSIDIARY GUARANTOR:        [SUBSIDIARY GUARANTOR]

By:                            
Name:                            
Title:                            


BORROWER:                    NATIONAL INSTRUMENTS CORPORATION,
a Delaware corporation

By:                            
Name:                            
Title:                            


Acknowledged, accepted and agreed:

WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
as Administrative Agent

By:                        
Name:                        
Title:                        


Form of Joinder Agreement




Schedule A

Schedules to Credit Agreement and Security Documents


[TO BE COMPLETED BY BORROWER]

Form of Joinder Agreement



Schedule B

Disclosure Information

Legal Name of Credit Party (and any previous legal names within the past four months):
State of Organization:
Jurisdictions of Organization:
Type of Organization:
Address of Chief Executive Office:
Address of Principal Place of Business:
Business Phone Number:
Organizational Identification Number:17
Federal Tax Identification Number:
Ownership Information (e.g. publicly held, if private or partnership—identity of owners/partners):
Each of the following locations: (a) each headquarter location of the Subsidiary Guarantor (and an indication if such location is leased or owned), (b) each other location where any significant administrative or governmental functions are performed (and an indication if such location is leased or owned), and (c) each other location where the Subsidiary Guarantor maintains any books or records (electronic or otherwise) (and an indication if such location is leased or owned).
All patents, trademarks and copyrights owned by the Subsidiary Guarantor as of the date hereof, and all patent applications, trademark applications, and copyright applications made by the Subsidiary Guarantor as of the date hereof:
Description of all commercial tort claims of the Subsidiary Guarantor:
List the issued and outstanding equity interests owned by (a) the Subsidiary Guarantor and (b) the owner of the Subsidiary Guarantor’s equity interests:

17 This item does not apply to a Credit Party organized under the laws of Alabama, Indiana, Massachusetts, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Mexico, New York, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Vermont or West Virginia.
Form of Joinder Agreement



EXHIBIT J
to
Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement
dated as of August 24, 2022
by and among
National Instruments Corporation,
as Borrower,
the lenders party thereto,
as Lenders,
and
Wells Fargo Bank, National Association,
as Administrative Agent



FORM OF PERMITTED ACQUISITION CERTIFICATE

Form of Joinder Agreement



EXHIBIT J

[FORM OF]
PERMITTED ACQUISITION CERTIFICATE


TO:        Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Administrative Agent

RE:    Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of August 24, 2022, by and among NATIONAL INSTRUMENTS CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation (the “Borrower”), the Guarantors, the Lenders and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Administrative Agent for the Lenders (as amended, modified, extended, restated, replaced, or supplemented from time to time, the “Credit Agreement”; capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined shall have the meanings set forth in the Credit Agreement)

DATE:        [Date]
    

[Insert applicable Credit Party] intends to acquire (the “Acquisition”) substantially all of the assets of [_____] (the “Target”). The undersigned officer of the [insert applicable Credit Party], hereby certifies that:


(a)    No Default or Event of Default exists or would exist after giving effect to the Acquisition.

(b)    After giving effect to the Acquisition on a Pro Forma Basis (determined after giving effect to any Leverage Increase that would result from the consummation of such Permitted Acquisition to the extent constituting a Material Acquisition), (A) the Credit Parties are in compliance with each of the financial covenants set forth in Section 8.9 of the Credit Agreement, as demonstrated by the financial covenant calculations set forth on Schedule A attached hereto, and (B) the Consolidated Total Net Leverage Ratio shall be 0.25 to 1.0 less than the then applicable level set forth in Section 8.9.

(c)    The Person or business to be acquired is in a line of business permitted pursuant to Section 8.4 of the Credit Agreement or, in the case of an Acquisition of assets, the assets acquired are useful in the business of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as conducted immediately prior to such Acquisition or permitted pursuant to Section 8.4.

(f)    Attached hereto as Schedule B is a description of the material terms of the Acquisition (including a description of the business and the form of consideration).

(g)    Attached hereto as Schedule C are the [audited financial statements] [management-prepared financial statements] of the Target for its two most recent fiscal years and for any fiscal quarters ended within the fiscal year to date and unaudited financial statements for any fiscal quarters ended within the fiscal year to date (to the extent available).


This Certificate may, upon execution, be delivered by facsimile or electronic mail, which shall be deemed for all purposes to be an original signature.


[REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]

Form of Permitted Acquisition Certificate



NATIONAL INSTRUMENTS CORPORATION,
a Delaware corporation

By:                    
Name:                    
Title:                    

Form of Joinder Agreement



Schedule A

Financial Covenant Calculations


[TO BE COMPLETED BY BORROWER]




Form of Permitted Acquisition Certificate



Schedule B

Description of Material Terms


[TO BE COMPLETED BY BORROWER]




Form of Joinder Agreement



Schedule C

[Audited Financial Statements] [Management-Prepared Financial Statements]


[TO BE COMPLETED BY BORROWER]

Form of Joinder Agreement



EXHIBIT K
to
Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement
dated as of August 24, 2022
by and among
National Instruments Corporation,
as Borrower,
the lenders party thereto,
as Lenders,
and
Wells Fargo Bank, National Association,
as Administrative Agent



FORM OF SUBSIDIARY GUARANTOR AGREEMENT










SUBSIDIARY GUARANTY AGREEMENT
dated as of [_], 20[__]
by and among
Certain Domestic Subsidiaries of
NATIONAL INSTRUMENTS CORPORATION,
as Guarantors,
in favor of
WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
as Administrative Agent





TABLE OF CONTENTS Page
ARTICLE I DEFINED TERMS
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SECTION 1.1 Definitions
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SECTION 1.2 Other Definitional Provisions
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ARTICLE II GUARANTY
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SECTION 2.1 Guaranty
2
SECTION 2.2 Bankruptcy Limitations on Guarantors
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SECTION 2.3 Agreements for Contribution
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SECTION 2.4 Nature of Guaranty
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SECTION 2.5 Waivers
5
SECTION 2.6 Modification of Loan Documents, etc.
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SECTION 2.7 Demand by the Administrative Agent
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SECTION 2.8 Remedies
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SECTION 2.9 Benefits of Guaranty
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SECTION 2.10 Termination; Reinstatement
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SECTION 2.11 Payments
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SECTION 2.12 Keepwell
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ARTICLE III REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
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SECTION 3.1 Organization; Power; Qualification
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SECTION 3.2 Authorization of Guaranty and other Loan Documents
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SECTION 3.3 Compliance of Guaranty and other Loan Documents
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SECTION 3.4 Compliance with Law; Governmental Approvals
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ARTICLE IV COVENANTS
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ARTICLE V MISCELLANEOUS
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SECTION 5.1 Notices
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SECTION 5.2 Amendments, Waivers and Consents
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SECTION 5.3 Expenses; Indemnification; Waiver of Consequential Damages, etc.
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SECTION 5.4 Right of Setoff
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SECTION 5.5 Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Venue; Service of Process
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SECTION 5.6 Waiver of Jury Trial
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SECTION 5.7 Injunctive Relief
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SECTION 5.9 Successors and Assigns
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SECTION 5.10 All Powers Coupled With Interest
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SECTION 5.11 Survival of Indemnities
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SECTION 5.12 Severability of Provisions
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SECTION 5.13 Counterparts
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SECTION 5.14 Integration
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SECTION 5.15 Advice of Counsel, No Strict Construction
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SECTION 5.16 Acknowledgements
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SECTION 5.17 Releases
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SECTION 5.18 Additional Guarantors
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SECTION 5.19 Secured Parties
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SECTION 5.20 Subordination of Intercompany Indebtedness
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THIS GUARANTY AGREEMENT (this “Guaranty”), dated as of [_], 20[__], is made by certain Domestic Subsidiaries of NATIONAL INSTRUMENTS CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation (such Domestic Subsidiaries, collectively, the “Guarantors” and each, a “Guarantor”), in favor of WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Administrative Agent (in such capacity, the “Administrative Agent”), for the benefit of itself and the Secured Parties.
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE
Pursuant to the terms of the Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of August 24, 2022 (the “Credit Agreement”), by and among the Borrower, the Lenders and the Administrative Agent, the Lenders have agreed to make Extensions of Credit to the Borrower upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth therein.
The Borrower and the Guarantors, though separate legal entities, acknowledge that all Extensions of Credit to the Borrower will inure, directly or indirectly, to the benefit of each of the Guarantors.
It is a condition to the continuing obligation of the Lenders to make their respective Extensions of Credit to the Borrower under the Credit Agreement that the Guarantors shall have executed and delivered this Guaranty to the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties.
NOW, THEREFORE, for good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged by the parties hereto, and to induce the Administrative Agent and the Lenders to enter into the Credit Agreement and to induce the Lenders to make their respective Extensions of Credit to the Borrower thereunder, the Guarantors hereby, jointly and severally agree with the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, as follows:
AGREEMENT


DEFINED TERMS
SECTION 1.1 Definitions. The following terms when used in this Guaranty shall have the meanings assigned to them below:
Additional Guarantor” means each Domestic Subsidiary of the Borrower which hereafter becomes a Guarantor pursuant to Section 5.18 hereof and Section 8.10 of the Credit Agreement.
Guaranteed Obligations” has the meaning assigned thereto in Section 2.1.
SECTION 1.2 Other Definitional Provisions.
(a)Terms defined in the Credit Agreement and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meaning assigned thereto in the Credit Agreement.
(b)The terms of Sections 1.2, 1.6, 1.7 and 12.15 of the Credit Agreement are incorporated herein by reference as if fully set forth herein; provided that references therein to “Agreement” shall mean this Guaranty.
(c)Where the context requires, terms relating to the Collateral or any part thereof, when used in relation to a Guarantor, shall refer to such Guarantor’s Collateral or the relevant part thereof.
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ARTICLE II

GUARANTY
SECTION 2.1 Guaranty. Each Guarantor hereby, jointly and severally with the other Guarantors, absolutely, irrevocably and unconditionally guarantees, as a primary obligor and not merely as a surety, to the Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties, and their respective permitted successors, endorsees, transferees and assigns, the prompt payment and performance of all Secured Obligations of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, whether primary or secondary (whether by way of endorsement or otherwise), whether now existing or hereafter arising, whether or not from time to time reduced or extinguished (except by payment thereof) or hereafter increased or incurred, whether enforceable or unenforceable as against the Borrower or any other Credit Party, whether or not discharged, stayed or otherwise affected by any Debtor Relief Law or proceeding thereunder, whether created directly with the Administrative Agent or any other Secured Party or acquired by the Administrative Agent or any other Secured Party through assignment or endorsement or otherwise, whether matured or unmatured, whether joint or several, as and when the same become due and payable (whether at maturity or earlier, by reason of acceleration, mandatory repayment or otherwise), in accordance with the terms of any such instruments evidencing any such obligations, including all renewals, extensions or modifications thereof (all of the foregoing being hereafter collectively referred to as the “Guaranteed Obligations”). Notwithstanding anything in this Guaranty, in no event shall any Guarantor have any liability or obligation hereunder in respect of any Excluded Swap Obligations of such Guarantor.
SECTION 2.2 Bankruptcy Limitations on Guarantors. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in Section 2.1, it is the intention of each Guarantor and the Secured Parties that, in any proceeding involving the bankruptcy, reorganization, arrangement, adjustment of debts, relief of debtors, dissolution or insolvency or any similar proceeding with respect to any Guarantor or its assets, the amount of such Guarantor’s obligations with respect to the Guaranteed Obligations (or any other obligations of such Guarantor to the Secured Parties) shall be equal to, but not in excess of, the maximum amount thereof not subject to avoidance or recovery by operation of Debtor Relief Laws after giving effect to Section 2.3(a). To that end, but only in the event and to the extent that after giving effect to Section 2.3(a), such Guarantor’s obligations with respect to the Guaranteed Obligations (or any other obligations of such Guarantor to the Secured Parties) or any payment made by such Guarantor pursuant to such Guaranteed Obligations (or any other obligations of such Guarantor to the Secured Parties) would, but for the operation of the first sentence of this Section 2.2, be subject to avoidance or recovery in any such proceeding under Debtor Relief Laws after giving effect to Section 2.3(a), the amount of such Guarantor’s obligations with respect to the Guaranteed Obligations (or any other obligations of such Guarantor to the Secured Parties) shall be limited to the largest amount which, after giving effect thereto, would not, under Debtor Relief Laws, render such Guarantor’s obligations with respect to the Guaranteed Obligations (or any other obligations of such Guarantor to the Secured Parties) unenforceable or avoidable or otherwise subject to recovery under Debtor Relief Laws. To the extent any payment actually made pursuant to the Guaranteed Obligations exceeds the limitation of the first sentence of this Section 2.2 and is otherwise subject to avoidance and recovery in any such proceeding under Debtor Relief Laws, the amount subject to avoidance shall in all events be limited to the amount by which such actual payment exceeds such limitation and the Guaranteed Obligations as limited by the first sentence of this Section 2.2 shall in all events remain in full force and effect and be fully enforceable against such Guarantor. The first sentence of this Section 2.2 is intended solely to preserve the rights of the Secured Parties hereunder against such Guarantor in such proceeding to the maximum extent permitted by Debtor Relief Laws and neither such Guarantor, the Borrower, any other Guarantor nor any other Person shall have any right or claim under such sentence that would not otherwise be available under Debtor Relief Laws in such proceeding.
SECTION 2.3 Agreements for Contribution.
(a)The Guarantors hereby agree among themselves that, if any Guarantor shall make an Excess Payment (as defined below), such Guarantor shall have a right of contribution from each other Guarantor in an amount equal to such other Guarantor’s Contribution Share (as defined below) of such Excess Payment. The payment obligations of any Guarantor under this Section 2.3(a) shall be
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subordinate and subject in right of payment to the Guaranteed Obligations until such time as the Guaranteed Obligations (other than (1) contingent indemnification and reimbursement obligations, (2) obligations and liabilities under Secured Cash Management Agreements or Secured Hedge Agreements that are not then due and payable and (3) Letters of Credit that have either been Cash Collateralized or as to which arrangements satisfactory to the applicable Issuing Lender shall have been made) have been paid in full in cash and the Commitments terminated, and none of the Guarantors shall exercise any right or remedy under this Section 2.3(a) against any other Guarantor until such Guaranteed Obligations have been paid in full in cash and the Commitments terminated. For purposes of this Section 2.3(a), (i) “Excess Amount” means, (for any Guarantor the amount by which the aggregate present fair salable value of its assets and properties exceeds the amount of its debts and liabilities and including probable, contingent, subordinated, unmatured, and unliquidated liabilities, but excluding its obligations hereunder) provided that if the fair salable value of the assets and properties of any Guarantor does not exceed such Guarantor’s debts and liabilities (including obligations hereunder) such Guarantor’s Excess Amount shall be zero (0); (ii) “Excess Payment” means the amount paid by any Guarantor in excess of its Ratable Share (as defined below) of any Guaranteed Obligations; (iii) “Ratable Share” means, for any Guarantor in respect of any payment of Guaranteed Obligations, the ratio (expressed as a percentage) as of the date of such payment of Guaranteed Obligations of (A) the Excess Amount of such Guarantor to (B) the sum of the Excess Amounts of all of the Guarantors; provided, however, that, for purposes of calculating the Ratable Shares of the Guarantors in respect of any payment of Guaranteed Obligations, any Guarantor that became a Guarantor subsequent to the date of any such payment shall be deemed to have been a Guarantor on the date of such payment and the financial information for such Guarantor as of the date such Guarantor became a Guarantor shall be utilized for such Guarantor in connection with such payment; and (iv) “Contribution Share” means, for any Guarantor in respect of any Excess Payment made by any other Guarantor, the ratio (expressed as a percentage) as of the date of such Excess Payment of (A) the Excess Amount of such Guarantor to (B) the sum of the Excess Amounts of all of the Guarantors other than the maker of such Excess Payment; provided, however, that, for purposes of calculating the Contribution Shares of the Guarantors in respect of any Excess Payment, any Guarantor that became a Guarantor subsequent to the date of any such Excess Payment shall be deemed to have been a Guarantor on the date of such Excess Payment and the financial information for such Guarantor as of the date such Guarantor became a Guarantor shall be utilized for such Guarantor in connection with such Excess Payment. Each of the Guarantors recognizes and acknowledges that the rights to contribution arising hereunder shall constitute an asset in favor of the party entitled to such contribution. This Section 2.3 shall not be deemed to affect any right of subrogation, indemnity, reimbursement or contribution that any Guarantor may have under Applicable Law against the Borrower in respect of any payment of Guaranteed Obligations.
(b)No Subrogation. Notwithstanding any payment or payments by any of the Guarantors hereunder, or any setoff or application of funds of any of the Guarantors by the Administrative Agent or any other Secured Party, or the receipt of any amounts by the Administrative Agent or any other Secured Party with respect to any of the Guaranteed Obligations, none of the Guarantors shall be entitled to be subrogated to any of the rights of the Administrative Agent or any other Secured Party against the Borrower or the other Guarantors or against any collateral security held by the Administrative Agent or any other Secured Party for the payment of the Guaranteed Obligations nor shall any of the Guarantors seek any reimbursement or contribution from the Borrower or any of the other Guarantors in respect of payments made by such Guarantor in connection with the Guaranteed Obligations, until all amounts owing to the Administrative Agent and the Secured Parties on account of the Guaranteed Obligations (other than (1) contingent indemnification and reimbursement obligations, (2) obligations and liabilities under Secured Cash Management Agreements or Secured Hedge Agreements that are not then due and payable and (3) Letters of Credit that have either been Cash Collateralized or as to which arrangements satisfactory to the applicable Issuing Lender have been made) are paid in full in cash and the Commitments are terminated. If any amount shall be paid to any Guarantor on account of such subrogation reimbursement or contribution rights at any time when all of such Guaranteed Obligations shall not have been paid in full (other than (1) contingent indemnification and reimbursement obligations, (2) obligations and liabilities under Secured Cash Management Agreements or Secured Hedge Agreements that are not then due and payable and (3) Letters of Credit that have either been Cash Collateralized or as to which arrangements satisfactory to the applicable Issuing Lender have been made), such amount shall be held by such Guarantor in trust for the Administrative Agent, segregated from other funds of such Guarantor, and shall, forthwith upon receipt by such Guarantor, be turned over to the
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Administrative Agent in the exact form received by such Guarantor (duly endorsed by such Guarantor to the Administrative Agent, if required) to be applied against the Guaranteed Obligations, whether matured or unmatured, in such order as set forth in the Credit Agreement.
SECTION 2.4 Nature of Guaranty.
(a)Each Guarantor agrees that this Guaranty is a continuing, unconditional guaranty of payment and performance and not of collection, and that its obligations under this Guaranty shall be primary, absolute and unconditional, irrespective of, and unaffected by:
(i)the genuineness, legality, validity, regularity, enforceability or any future amendment of, or change in, or supplement to, the Credit Agreement, any other Loan Document, any Cash Management Agreement or any Hedge Agreement or any other agreement, document or instrument to which the Borrower, any Guarantor or any of their respective Subsidiaries or Affiliates is or may become a party, (including any increase in the Secured Obligations resulting from any extension of additional credit or otherwise);
(ii)any action under or in respect of the Credit Agreement, any other Loan Document, any Cash Management Agreement or any Hedge Agreement in the exercise of any remedy, power or privilege contained therein or available to any of them at law, in equity or otherwise, or waiver or refraining from exercising any such remedies, power or privileges (including any manner of sale, disposition or any application of any sums by whomever paid or however realized to any Guaranteed Obligations owing by the Borrower or any Guarantor to the Administrative Agent or any other Secured Party in such manner as the Administrative Agent or any other Secured Party shall determine in its reasonable discretion);
(iii)the absence of any action to enforce this Guaranty, the Credit Agreement, any other Loan Document, any Cash Management Agreement or any Hedge Agreement or the waiver or consent by the Administrative Agent or any other Secured Party with respect to any of the provisions of this Guaranty, the Credit Agreement, any other Loan Document, any Cash Management Agreement or any Hedge Agreement;
(iv)the existence, value or condition of, or failure to perfect its Lien against, any security for or other guaranty of the Guaranteed Obligations or any action, or the absence of any action, by the Administrative Agent or any other Secured Party in respect of such security or guaranty (including, without limitation, the release of any such security or guaranty);
(v)any structural change in, restructuring of or other similar organizational change of the Borrower, any Guarantor, any other guarantors or any of their respective Subsidiaries or Affiliates; or
(vi) any other action or circumstances which might otherwise constitute a legal or equitable discharge or defense of a surety or guarantor;
it being agreed by each Guarantor that, subject to the first sentence of Section 2.2, its obligations under this Guaranty shall not be discharged until the final payment and performance, in full, of the Guaranteed Obligations (other than (1) contingent indemnification and reimbursement obligations, (2) obligations and liabilities under Secured Cash Management Agreements or Secured Hedge Agreements that are not then due and payable and (3) Letters of Credit that have either been Cash Collateralized or as to which arrangements satisfactory to the applicable Issuing Lender have been made) and the termination of the Commitments.
(b)Each Guarantor represents, warrants and agrees that the Guaranteed Obligations and its obligations under this Guaranty are not and shall not be subject to any counterclaims, offsets or defenses of any kind (other than the defense of payment) against the Administrative Agent, the other Secured Parties or the Borrower whether now existing or which may arise in the future.
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(c)Each Guarantor hereby agrees and acknowledges that the Guaranteed Obligations, and any of them, shall conclusively be deemed to have been created, contracted or incurred, or renewed, extended, amended or waived, in reliance upon this Guaranty, and all dealings among the Borrower and any of the Guarantors, on the one hand, and the Administrative Agent and the other Secured Parties, on the other hand, likewise shall be conclusively presumed to have been had or consummated in reliance upon this Guaranty.
SECTION 2.5 Waivers. To the extent permitted by Applicable Law, each Guarantor expressly waives all of the following rights and defenses (and agrees not to take advantage of or assert any such right or defense):
(a)any rights it may now or in the future have under any statute, or at law or in equity, or otherwise, to compel the Administrative Agent or any other Secured Party to proceed in respect of the Guaranteed Obligations against the Borrower or any other Person or against any security for or other guaranty of the payment and performance of the Guaranteed Obligations before proceeding against, or as a condition to proceeding against, such Guarantor;
(b)any defense based upon the failure of the Administrative Agent or any other Secured Party to commence an action in respect of the Guaranteed Obligations against the Borrower, such Guarantor, any other guarantor or any other Person or any security for the payment and performance of the Guaranteed Obligations;
(c)any right to insist upon, plead or in any manner whatever claim or take the benefit or advantage of, any appraisal, valuation, stay, extension, marshalling of assets or redemption laws, or exemption, whether now or at any time hereafter in force, which may delay, prevent or otherwise affect the performance by such Guarantor of its obligations under, or the enforcement by the Administrative Agent or the other Secured Parties of this Guaranty;
(d)any right of diligence, presentment, demand, protest and notice (except as specifically required herein or in the other Loan Documents) of whatever kind or nature with respect to any of the Guaranteed Obligations or any requirement that any Secured Party protect, secure, perfect or insure any Lien or any property subject thereto and waives, to the fullest extent permitted by Applicable Law, the benefit of all provisions of Applicable Law which are or might be in conflict with the terms of this Guaranty;
(e)any and all right to notice of the creation, renewal, extension or accrual of any of the Guaranteed Obligations and notice of or proof of reliance by the Administrative Agent or any other Secured Party upon, or acceptance of, this Guaranty; and
(f)any right of setoff or recoupment or counterclaim against or in respect of the Guaranteed Obligations
Each Guarantor agrees that any notice or directive given at any time to the Administrative Agent or any other Secured Party which is inconsistent with any of the foregoing waivers shall be null and void and may be ignored by the Administrative Agent or such Secured Party, and, in addition, may not be pleaded or introduced as evidence in any litigation relating to this Guaranty for the reason that such pleading or introduction would be at variance with the written terms of this Guaranty, unless the Administrative Agent and the Required Lenders have specifically agreed otherwise in writing. The foregoing waivers are of the essence of the transaction contemplated by the Credit Agreement, the other Loan Documents, the Cash Management Agreements and the Hedge Agreements and, but for this Guaranty and such waivers, the Administrative Agent and other Secured Parties would decline to enter into the Credit Agreement, the other Loan Documents, the Cash Management Agreements and the Hedge Agreements.
SECTION 2.6 Modification of Loan Documents, etc. Neither the Administrative Agent nor any other Secured Party shall incur any liability to any Guarantor as a result of any of the following, and none of the following shall impair or release this Guaranty or any of the obligations of any Guarantor under this Guaranty:
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(a)any change or extension of the manner, place or terms of payment of, or renewal or alteration of all or any portion of, the Guaranteed Obligations;
(b)any action under or in respect of the Credit Agreement, any other Loan Document, any Cash Management Agreement or any Hedge Agreement in the exercise of any remedy, power or privilege contained therein or available to any of them at law, in equity or otherwise, or waiver or refraining from exercising any such remedies, powers or privileges;
(c)any amendment to, or modification of, in any manner whatsoever, any Loan Document, any Cash Management Agreement or any Hedge Agreement;
(d)any extension or waiver of the time for performance by any Guarantor, any other guarantor, the Borrower or any other Person of, or compliance with, any term, covenant or agreement on its part to be performed or observed under a Loan Document, a Cash Management Agreement or a Hedge Agreement, or waiver of such performance or compliance or consent to a failure of, or departure from, such performance or compliance;
(e)the taking and holding of security or collateral for the payment of the Guaranteed Obligations or the sale, exchange, release, disposal of, or other dealing with, any property pledged, mortgaged or conveyed, or in which the Administrative Agent or the other Secured Parties have been granted a Lien, to secure any Indebtedness of any Guarantor, any other guarantor or the Borrower to the Administrative Agent or the other Secured Parties;
(f)the release of anyone who may be liable in any manner for the payment of any amounts owed by any Guarantor, any other guarantor or the Borrower to the Administrative Agent or any other Secured Party;
(g)any modification or termination of the terms of any intercreditor or subordination agreement pursuant to which claims of other creditors of any Guarantor, any other guarantor or the Borrower are subordinated to the claims of the Administrative Agent or any other Secured Party; or
(h)any application of any sums by whomever paid or however realized to any Guaranteed Obligations owing by any Guarantor, any other guarantor or the Borrower to the Administrative Agent or any other Secured Party in such manner as the Administrative Agent or any other Secured Party shall determine in its reasonable discretion.
SECTION 2.7 Demand by the Administrative Agent. In addition to the terms set forth in this Article II and in no manner imposing any limitation on such terms, if all or any portion of the then outstanding Guaranteed Obligations are declared to be immediately due and payable, then the Guarantors shall, upon demand in writing therefor by the Administrative Agent to the Guarantors, pay all or such portion of the outstanding Guaranteed Obligations due hereunder then declared due and payable.
SECTION 2.8 Remedies. Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of any Event of Default, with the consent of the Required Lenders, the Administrative Agent may, or upon the request of the Required Lenders, the Administrative Agent shall, enforce against the Guarantors their obligations and liabilities hereunder and exercise such other rights and remedies as may be available to the Administrative Agent hereunder, under the Credit Agreement, the other Loan Documents, the Cash Management Agreements, the Hedge Agreements or otherwise.
SECTION 2.9 Benefits of Guaranty. The provisions of this Guaranty are for the benefit of the Administrative Agent and the other Secured Parties and their respective permitted successors, transferees, endorsees and assigns, and nothing herein contained shall impair, as between the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, the Administrative Agent and the other Secured Parties, the obligations of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries under the Loan Documents, the Cash Management Agreements or the Hedge Agreements. In the event all or any part of the Guaranteed Obligations are transferred, endorsed or assigned by the Administrative Agent or any other Secured Party to any Person or Persons as permitted under the Credit Agreement, any reference to an “Administrative Agent”, or “Secured Party” herein shall be deemed to refer equally to such Person or Persons.
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SECTION 2.10 Termination; Reinstatement.
(a)Subject to clause (c) below, this Guaranty shall remain in full force and effect until all the Guaranteed Obligations (other than (1) contingent indemnification and reimbursement obligations, (2) obligations and liabilities under Secured Cash Management Agreements or Secured Hedge Agreements that are not then due and payable and (3) Letters of Credit that have either been Cash Collateralized or as to which arrangements satisfactory to the applicable Issuing Lender have been made) shall have been paid in full in cash and the Commitments terminated.
(b)No payment made by the Borrower, any Guarantor, any other guarantor or any other Person received or collected by the Administrative Agent or any other Secured Party from the Borrower, any Guarantor, any other guarantor or any other Person by virtue of any action or proceeding or any setoff or appropriation or application at any time or from time to time in reduction of or in payment of the Guaranteed Obligations shall be deemed to modify, reduce, release or otherwise affect the liability of any Guarantor hereunder which shall, notwithstanding any such payment (other than any payment made by such Guarantor in respect of the obligations of the Guarantors or any payment received or collected from such Guarantor in respect of the obligations of the Guarantors), remain liable for the obligations of the Guarantors up to the maximum liability of such Guarantor hereunder until the Guaranteed Obligations (other than (1) contingent indemnification and reimbursement obligations, (2) obligations and liabilities under Secured Cash Management Agreements or Secured Hedge Agreements that are not then due and payable and (3) Letters of Credit that have either been Cash Collateralized or as to which arrangements satisfactory to the applicable Issuing Lender have been made) shall have been paid in full in cash and the Commitments terminated.
(c)Each Guarantor agrees that, if any payment made by the Borrower or any other Person applied to the Guaranteed Obligations is at any time avoided, annulled, set aside, rescinded, invalidated, declared to be fraudulent or preferential or otherwise required to be refunded or repaid, or is repaid in whole or in part pursuant to a good faith settlement of a pending or threatened avoidance claim, or the proceeds of any Collateral are required to be refunded by the Administrative Agent or any other Secured Party to the Borrower, its estate, trustee, receiver or any other Person, including, without limitation, any Guarantor, under any Applicable Law or equitable cause, then, to the extent of such payment or repayment, each Guarantor’s liability hereunder (and any Lien or Collateral securing such liability) shall be and remain in full force and effect, as fully as if such payment had never been made, and, if prior thereto, this Guaranty shall have been canceled or surrendered (and if any Lien or Collateral securing such Guarantor’s liability hereunder shall have been released or terminated by virtue of such cancellation or surrender), this Guaranty (and such Lien or Collateral) shall be reinstated in full force and effect, and such prior cancellation or surrender shall not diminish, release, discharge, impair or otherwise affect the obligations of such Guarantor in respect of the amount of such payment (or any Lien or Collateral securing such obligation).
SECTION 2.11 Payments. Any payments by the Guarantors shall be made to the Administrative Agent, to be credited and applied to the Guaranteed Obligations in accordance with Section 10.4 of the Credit Agreement, in immediately available Dollars to an account designated by the Administrative Agent or at the Administrative Agent’s Office or at any other address that may be specified in writing from time to time by the Administrative Agent.
SECTION 2.12 Keepwell. Each Qualified ECP Guarantor (as defined below) hereby jointly and severally, absolutely, unconditionally and irrevocably undertakes to provide such funds and other support as may be needed from time to time by each other Credit Party to honor all of its obligations under this Guaranty and the other Loan Documents in respect of Swap Obligations other than Excluded Swap Obligations (provided, however, that each Qualified ECP Guarantor shall only be liable under this Section for the maximum amount of such liability that can be hereby incurred without rendering its obligations under this Section, or otherwise under this Agreement or any other Loan Document, voidable under Debtor Relief Laws and not for any greater amount). Subject to Section 2.10, the obligations of each Qualified ECP Guarantor under this Section shall remain in full force and effect until all of the Guaranteed Obligations (other than (1) contingent indemnification and reimbursement obligations, (2) obligations and liabilities under Secured Cash Management Agreements or Secured Hedge Agreements that are not then due and payable and (3) Letters of Credit that have either been Cash
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Collateralized or as to which arrangements satisfactory to the applicable Issuing Lender have been made) shall have been paid in full in cash and the Commitments terminated. Each Qualified ECP Guarantor intends that this Section constitute, and this Section shall be deemed to constitute, a “keepwell, support or other agreement” for the benefit of each other Credit Party for all purposes of Section 1a(18)(A)(v)(II) of the Commodity Exchange Act. For purposes of this Section, “Qualified ECP Guarantor” means, in respect of any Swap Obligation, each Credit Party that has total assets exceeding $10,000,000 at the time the relevant guarantee or grant of the relevant security interest becomes effective with respect to such Swap Obligation or such other Person as constitutes an “eligible contract participant” under the Commodity Exchange Act or any regulations promulgated thereunder and can cause another Person to qualify as an “eligible contract participant” at such time by entering into a keepwell under Section 1a(18)(A)(v)(II) of the Commodity Exchange Act.
ARTICLE III

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
To induce the Administrative Agent and the Lenders to enter into the Credit Agreement and to induce the Secured Parties to make their respective Extensions of Credit, Secured Cash Management Agreements and/or Secured Hedge Agreements, as applicable, to the Borrower or another Credit Party (as the case may be), each Guarantor hereby represents and warrants to the Administrative Agent that:
SECTION 3.1 Organization; Power; Qualification. Such Guarantor (a) is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation or organization, (b) has the corporate or other necessary company power and authority, and the legal right, to own and operate its Properties, to lease the property it operates as lessee and to conduct the business in which it is currently engaged, and (c) is duly qualified as a foreign entity and in good standing under the laws of each jurisdiction where its ownership, lease or operation of Properties or conduct of its business requires such qualification, except jurisdictions where the failure to be so qualified and in good standing could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
SECTION 3.2 Authorization of Guaranty and other Loan Documents. Such Guarantor has the corporate or other necessary company power and authority and has taken all necessary corporate or other necessary company action on the part of such Guarantor to authorize the execution, delivery and performance of this Guaranty and each of the other Loan Documents to which it is a party in accordance with their respective terms. This Guaranty and each of the other Loan Documents to which it is a party have been duly executed and delivered on behalf of such Guarantor by the duly authorized officers of such Guarantor, and each such document constitutes the legal, valid and binding obligation of such Guarantor, enforceable against such Guarantor in accordance with its terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by Debtor Relief Laws from time to time in effect which affect the enforcement of creditors’ rights in general and the availability of equitable remedies.
SECTION 3.3 Compliance of Guaranty and other Loan Documents. The execution, delivery and performance by such Guarantor of this Guaranty and each other Loan Document to which it is a party, in accordance with their respective terms and the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby do not and will not, by the passage of time, the giving of notice or otherwise, (a) require any Governmental Approval or violate any Applicable Law relating to such Guarantor, (b) conflict with, result in a breach of or constitute a default under the Organizational Documents of such Guarantor, (c) conflict with, result in a breach of or constitute a default under any material indenture, loan agreement, mortgage, deed of trust, contract or any other material agreement or instrument to which such Guarantor is a party or by which any of its properties may be bound or any Governmental Approval relating to such Guarantor, which could, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, (d) result in or require the creation or imposition of any Lien upon or with respect to any property now owned or hereafter acquired by such Guarantor other than Permitted Liens or (e) require any consent or authorization of, filing with, or other act in respect of, an arbitrator or Governmental Authority and no consent of any other Person is required in connection with the execution, delivery, performance, validity or enforceability of this Guaranty other than consents, authorizations, filings or other acts or consents for which the failure to obtain or make could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
8


SECTION 3.4 Compliance with Law; Governmental Approvals. Each Guarantor (a) has all Governmental Approvals required by any Applicable Law for it to conduct its business, each of which is in full force and effect, is final and not subject to review on appeal and is not the subject of any pending or, to the best of its knowledge, threatened attack by direct or collateral proceeding, (b) is in compliance with each Governmental Approval applicable to it and in compliance with all other Applicable Laws relating to it or any of its respective properties and (c) has timely filed all material reports, documents and other materials required to be filed by it under all Applicable Laws with any Governmental Authority and has retained all material records and documents required to be retained by it under Applicable Law except in each case (a), (b) or (c) where the failure to have, comply or file could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
ARTICLE IV

COVENANTS
Until the Guaranteed Obligations (other than (1) contingent indemnification and reimbursement obligations, (2) obligations and liabilities under Secured Cash Management Agreements or Secured Hedge Agreements that are not then due and payable and (3) Letters of Credit that have either been Cash Collateralized or as to which arrangements satisfactory to the applicable Issuing Lender have been made) shall have been paid in full in cash and the Commitments terminated each Guarantor covenants and agrees that it will perform and observe, and cause each of its Subsidiaries to perform and observe, all of the terms, covenants and agreements set forth in the Loan Documents that are required to be, or that the Borrower has agreed to cause to be, performed or observed by such Guarantor or its Subsidiary.
ARTICLE V

MISCELLANEOUS
SECTION 5.1 Notices. All notices and communications hereunder shall be given to the addresses and otherwise made in accordance with Section 12.1 of the Credit Agreement; provided that notices and communications to the Guarantors shall be directed to the Guarantors, care of the Borrower, at the address of the Borrower set forth in Section 12.1 of the Credit Agreement.
SECTION 5.2 Amendments, Waivers and Consents. None of the terms or provisions of this Guaranty may be waived, amended, supplemented or otherwise modified, nor any consent be given, except in accordance with Section 12.2 of the Credit Agreement.
SECTION 5.3 Expenses; Indemnification; Waiver of Consequential Damages, etc.
(a)The Guarantors shall, jointly and severally, pay all out-of-pocket expenses (including, without limitation, attorney’s fees and expenses) incurred by the Administrative Agent and each other Secured Party without duplication of and to the extent the Borrower would be required to do so pursuant to Section 12.3 of the Credit Agreement.
(b)The Guarantors shall, jointly and severally, pay and indemnify each Recipient against Indemnified Taxes without duplication of and to the extent the Borrower would be required to do so pursuant to Section 5.11 of the Credit Agreement.
(c)The Guarantors shall, jointly and severally, indemnify each Indemnitee without duplication of and to the extent the Borrower would be required to do so pursuant to Section 12.3 of the Credit Agreement.
(d)Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Guaranty, to the fullest extent permitted by Applicable Law, each Guarantor agrees that it shall not assert, and hereby waives, any claim against any Indemnitee, on any theory of liability, for special, indirect, consequential or punitive damages (as opposed to direct or actual damages) arising out of, in connection with, or as a result of, this Guaranty, any other Loan Document, any Cash Management Agreement, any Hedge Agreement or any
9


agreement or instrument contemplated hereby, the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, any Loan or Letter of Credit or the use of the proceeds thereof.
(e)No Indemnitee referred to in this Section 5.3 shall be liable for any damages arising from the use by unintended recipients of any information or other materials distributed by it through telecommunications, electronic or other information transmission systems in connection with this Guaranty, the other Loan Documents, any Cash Management Agreements, any Hedge Agreements or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, except to the extent arising from such Indemnitee’s gross negligence or willful misconduct.
(f)All amounts due under this Section 5.3 shall be payable promptly after demand therefor.
(g)Each party’s obligations under this Section 5.3 shall survive the termination of the Loan Documents and the payment of the Obligations thereunder.
SECTION 5.4 Right of Setoff. If an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, upon any amount becoming due and payable by the Borrower under the Credit Agreement (whether at the sated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise) each Secured Party and each of its respective Affiliates is hereby authorized at any time and from time to time, to the fullest extent permitted by Applicable Law, to setoff and apply any and all deposits (general or special, time or demand, provisional or final, in whatever currency) at any time held and other obligations (in whatever currency) at any time owing by such Secured Party or any such Affiliate to or for the credit or the account of such Guarantor to the same extent a Lender could do so under Section 12.4 of the Credit Agreement. The rights of each Secured Party and its respective Affiliates under this Section 5.4 are in addition to other rights and remedies (including other rights of setoff) that such Secured Party or its respective Affiliates may have. Each Secured Party agrees to notify such Guarantor and the Administrative Agent promptly after any such setoff and application; provided that the failure to give such notice shall not affect the validity of such setoff and application.
SECTION 5.5 Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Venue; Service of Process.
(a)Governing Law. This Guaranty and any claim, controversy, dispute or cause of action (whether in contract or tort or otherwise) based upon, arising out of or relating to this Guaranty and the transactions contemplated hereby shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York.
(b)Submission to Jurisdiction. Each Guarantor agrees that it will not commence any action, litigation or proceeding of any kind or description, whether in law or equity, whether in contract or in tort or otherwise against the Administrative Agent, or any other Secured Party or any Related Party of the foregoing, in any way relating to this Guaranty or the transactions relating hereto in any forum other than the courts of the State of New York sitting in New York County and of the United States District Court of the Southern District of New York, and any appellate court from any thereof and each of the parties hereto irrevocably and unconditionally submits to the jurisdiction of such courts and agrees that all claims in respect of any such action, litigation or proceeding may be heard and determined in such New York State court or, to the fullest extent permitted by Applicable Law, in such federal court. Each of the parties hereto agrees that a final judgment in any such action, litigation or proceeding shall be conclusive and may be enforced in other jurisdictions by suit on the judgment or in any other manner provided by law. Nothing in this Guaranty or in any other Loan Document shall affect any right that the Administrative Agent or any other Secured Party may otherwise have to bring any action, litigation or proceeding relating to this Guaranty or any other Loan Document against any Guarantor or its Properties in the courts of any jurisdiction.
(c)Waiver of Venue. Each Guarantor irrevocably and unconditionally waives, to the fullest extent permitted by Applicable Law, any objection that it may now or hereafter have to the laying of venue of any action, litigation or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Guaranty or any other Loan Document in any court referred to in paragraph (b) of this Section 5.5. Each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by Applicable Law, the defense of an inconvenient forum to the maintenance of such action or proceeding in any such court.
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(d)Service of Process. Each party hereto irrevocably consents to service of process in the manner provided for notices in Section 12.1 of the Credit Agreement. Nothing in this Guaranty will affect the right of any party hereto to serve process in any other manner permitted by Applicable Law.
(e)Appointment of the Borrower as Agent for the Guarantors. Each Guarantor hereby irrevocably appoints and authorizes the Borrower to act as its agent for service of process and notices required to be delivered under this Guaranty or under the other Loan Documents, it being understood and agreed that receipt by the Borrower of any summons, notice or other similar item shall be deemed effective receipt by such Guarantor and its Subsidiaries.
SECTION 5.6 Waiver of Jury Trial. EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS GUARANTY OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR THEREBY (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT OR ANY OTHER THEORY). EACH PARTY HERETO ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT AND THE OTHER PARTIES HERETO HAVE BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS GUARANTY AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION 5.6.
SECTION 5.7 Injunctive Relief. Each Guarantor recognizes that, in the event such Guarantor fails to perform, observe or discharge any of its obligations or liabilities under this Guaranty or any other Loan Document, any remedy of law may prove to be inadequate relief to the Administrative Agent and the other Secured Parties. Therefore, each Guarantor agrees that the Administrative Agent and the other Secured Parties, at the option of the Administrative Agent and the other Secured Parties, shall be entitled to temporary and permanent injunctive relief in any such case without the necessity of proving actual damages.
SECTION 5.8 No Waiver by Course of Conduct, Cumulative Remedies. No course of dealing between any Guarantor, the Administrative Agent or any Secured Party or their respective agents or employees shall be effective to change, modify or discharge any provision of this Guaranty or any other Loan Documents or to constitute a waiver of any Event of Default. The enumeration of the rights and remedies of the Administrative Agent and the other Secured Parties set forth in this Guaranty is not intended to be exhaustive and the exercise by the Administrative Agent and the other Secured Parties of any right or remedy shall not preclude the exercise of any other rights or remedies, all of which shall be cumulative, and shall be in addition to any other right or remedy given hereunder or under the other Loan Documents or that may now or hereafter exist at law or in equity or by suit or otherwise. Neither the Administrative Agent nor any other Secured Party shall by any act (except by a written instrument pursuant to Section 5.2), delay, indulgence, omission or otherwise be deemed to have waived any right or remedy hereunder or to have acquiesced in any Default or Event of Default. No delay or failure to take action on the part of the Administrative Agent or any other Secured Party in exercising any right, power or privilege hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof nor shall any single or partial exercise of any such right, power or privilege hereunder preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, power or privilege or shall be construed to be a waiver of any Event of Default. A waiver by the Administrative Agent or any other Secured Party of any right or remedy hereunder on any one occasion shall not be construed as a bar to any right or remedy which the Administrative Agent or such Secured Party would otherwise have on any future occasion.
SECTION 5.9 Successors and Assigns. The provisions of this Guaranty shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and permitted assigns; except that no Guarantor may assign or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations under this Guaranty without the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent and the other Secured Parties (except as otherwise provided by the Credit Agreement).
SECTION 5.10 All Powers Coupled With Interest. All powers of attorney and other authorizations granted to the Secured Parties, the Administrative Agent and any Persons designated by the Administrative Agent or any other Secured Party pursuant to any provisions of this Guaranty or any of the other Loan Documents shall be deemed coupled with an interest and shall be irrevocable so long as any of
11


the Guaranteed Obligations (other than (1) contingent indemnification and reimbursement obligations, (2) obligations and liabilities under Secured Cash Management Agreements or Secured Hedge Agreements that are not then due and payable and (3) Letters of Credit that have either been Cash Collateralized or as to which arrangements satisfactory to the applicable Issuing Lender have been made) remain unpaid or unsatisfied, any of the Commitments remain in effect or the Credit Facility has not been terminated.
SECTION 5.11 Survival of Indemnities. Notwithstanding any termination of this Guaranty, the indemnities to which the Administrative Agent and the other Secured Parties are entitled under the provisions of Section 5.3 and any other provision of this Guaranty and the other Loan Documents shall continue in full force and effect and shall protect the Administrative Agent and the other Secured Parties against events arising after such termination as well as before.
SECTION 5.12 Severability of Provisions. Any provision of this Guaranty or any other Loan Document which is prohibited or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective only to the extent of such prohibition or unenforceability without invalidating the remainder of such provision or the remaining provisions hereof or thereof or affecting the validity or enforceability of such provision in any other jurisdiction.
SECTION 5.13 Counterparts. This Guaranty may be executed in any number of counterparts (and by different parties hereto in separate counterparts), each of which shall constitute an original, but all of which taken together shall constitute a single contract. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page to this Guaranty or any document or instrument delivered in connection herewith by facsimile or in electronic (i.e., “pdf” or “tif”) form shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Guaranty or such other document or instrument, as applicable.
SECTION 5.14 Integration. This Guaranty and the other Loan Documents, and any separate letter agreements with respect to fees constitute the entire contract of the parties relating to the subject matter hereof and supersede all previous agreements and understandings, written or oral, relating to the subject matter hereof. In the event of any conflict between the provisions of this Guaranty and those of (a) the Credit Agreement, the provisions of the Credit Agreement shall control, (b) the Collateral Agreement, the provisions of the Collateral Agreement shall control and (c) any other Loan Document not referenced in clauses (a) and (b) above, the provisions of this Guaranty shall control; provided that the inclusion of supplemental rights or remedies in favor of the Administrative Agent or the other Secured Parties in any other Loan Document shall not be deemed a conflict with this Guaranty.
SECTION 5.15 Advice of Counsel, No Strict Construction. Each of the parties represents to each other party hereto that it has discussed this Guaranty with its counsel. The parties hereto have participated jointly in the negotiation and drafting of this Guaranty. In the event an ambiguity or question of intent or interpretation arises, this Guaranty shall be construed as if drafted jointly by the parties hereto and no presumption or burden of proof shall arise favoring or disfavoring any party by virtue of the authorship of any provisions of this Guaranty.
SECTION 5.16 Acknowledgments. Each Guarantor hereby acknowledges that:
(a)it has received a copy of the Credit Agreement and has reviewed and understands the same;
(b)neither the Administrative Agent nor any other Secured Party has any fiduciary relationship with or duty to any Guarantor arising out of or in connection with this Guaranty or any of the other Loan Documents, and the relationship between the Guarantors, on the one hand, and the Administrative Agent and the other Secured Parties, on the other hand, in connection herewith or therewith is solely that of debtor and creditor; and
(c)no joint venture is created hereby or by the other Loan Documents or otherwise exists by virtue of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby among the Secured Parties or among the Guarantors and the Secured Parties.
12


SECTION 5.17 Releases.
(a)Subject to Section 11.9 of the Credit Agreement, at such time as the Guaranteed Obligations (other than (1) contingent indemnification and reimbursement obligations, (2) obligations and liabilities under Secured Cash Management Agreements or Secured Hedge Agreements that are not then due and payable and (3) Letters of Credit that have either been Cash Collateralized or as to which arrangements satisfactory to the applicable Issuing Lender shall have been made) shall have been paid in full in cash and the Commitments have been terminated, this Guaranty and all obligations (other than those expressly stated to survive such termination or as may be reinstated after such termination) of the Administrative Agent and each Guarantor hereunder shall immediately and automatically terminate, all without delivery of any instrument or performance of any act by any other Person.
(b)In the event that all the Equity Interests of any Guarantor of the Borrower shall be sold, transferred or otherwise disposed of in a transaction permitted by the Credit Agreement, then, such Guarantor shall automatically be discharged and released from its obligations hereunder without any further action by any other Person effective immediately prior to the time of such sale, transfer or other disposition. At the request of the Borrower and at the expense of such Guarantor, the Administrative Agent shall promptly deliver confirmation of such discharge and release and, in addition to the foregoing, the Administrative Agent will execute and deliver to such Guarantor such documents as such Guarantor may reasonably request to evidence the release of such Guarantor from its obligations under this Guaranty, in each case, in accordance with the terms of this Guaranty and Section 11.9 of the Credit Agreement.
SECTION 5.18 Additional Guarantors. Each Subsidiary of the Borrower that is required to become a party to this Guaranty pursuant to Section 8.10 of the Credit Agreement shall become a Guarantor for all purposes of this Guaranty upon execution and delivery by such Subsidiary of a supplement in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.
SECTION 5.19 Secured Parties. Each Secured Party not a party to the Credit Agreement who obtains the benefit of this Guaranty shall be deemed to have acknowledged and accepted the appointment of the Administrative Agent pursuant to the terms of the Credit Agreement, and that with respect to the actions and omissions of the Administrative Agent hereunder or otherwise relating hereto that do or may affect such Secured Party, the Administrative Agent and each of its Affiliates shall be entitled to all the rights, benefits and immunities conferred under Article XI of the Credit Agreement.
SECTION 5.20 Subordination of Intercompany Indebtedness. Any Indebtedness of any Borrower or any other Credit Party now or hereafter held by any Guarantor is hereby subordinated in right of payment to the prior payment in full in cash of all of the Guaranteed Obligations (other than (1) contingent indemnification and reimbursement obligations, (2) obligations and liabilities under Secured Cash Management Agreements or Secured Hedge Agreements that are not then due and payable and (3) Letters of Credit that have either been Cash Collateralized or as to which arrangements satisfactory to the applicable Issuing Lender shall have been made).  Notwithstanding the foregoing, provided an Event of Default does not exist and the Administrative Agent shall have provided written notice to the Borrower that such payments may no longer be made, any Borrower or any other Credit Party may make any payments (whether principal, interest, fees, expenses or any other payment of any kind) to any Guarantor on account of any such Indebtedness.  After the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default and if the Administrative Agent shall have provided written notice to the Borrower that such payments may no longer be made, none of the Guarantors will demand, sue for, or otherwise attempt to collect any such Indebtedness until the payment in full in cash of the Guaranteed Obligations (other than (1) contingent indemnification and reimbursement obligations, (2) obligations and liabilities under Secured Cash Management Agreements or Secured Hedge Agreements that are not then due and payable and (3) Letters of Credit that have either been Cash Collateralized or as to which arrangements satisfactory to the applicable Issuing Lender shall have been made) and termination or expiration of the Commitments under the Credit Agreement.  If any amount shall erroneously be paid to any Guarantor on account of any such Indebtedness of any Credit Party, such amount shall be held in trust for the benefit of the Credit Parties and shall forthwith be paid to the Administrative Agent to be credited against the payment of the Guaranteed Obligations, whether matured or unmatured, in accordance with the terms of the Credit Agreement.
13


[Signature Pages to Follow]
14


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the Guarantors has executed and delivered this Guaranty by their duly authorized officers, all as of the day and year first above written.
[GUARANTOR],
a [_______] [corporation], as Guarantor


By:                             
Name:                            
Title:                            


    



National Instruments Corporation
Subsidiary Guaranty Agreement
Signature Pages


Acknowledged by the Administrative Agent as of the day and year first written above:
WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Administrative Agent
By:                         
Name:
Title:









Schedule 1.1
Existing Letters of Credit
Issuing LenderAccount PartyBeneficiaryLC NumberFace AmountIssue DateExpiration Date
Wells FargoNational Instruments CorpAmerican Alternate Insurance CompanyIS0452242UUSD 1,000,0009/9/20168/31/2023
Wells FargoN H Research, LLCAmerican Alternate Insurance CompanyIS000259361UUSD 200,0002/9/20222/9/2023
CITIBANK EUROPE PLC, GERMANY BRANCHNATIONAL INSTRUMENTS GERMANY GMBHCITIBANK EUROPE PLC, GERMANY BRANCH69625946EUR 5,8006/30/20228/31/2023
CITIBANK GERMANYNATIONAL INSTRUMENTS GERMANY GMBHCITIBANK GERMANY69625947EUR 10,6957/5/20222/28/2023
CITIBANK GERMANYNATIONAL INSTRUMENTS GERMANY GMBHCITIBANK GERMANY69625948EUR 50,0007/6/20221/31/2024
CITIBANK GERMANYNATIONAL INSTRUMENTS GERMANY GMBHCITIBANK GERMANY69625949EUR 235,0006/30/20221/31/2023
CITIBANK GERMANYNATIONAL INSTRUMENTS GERMANY GMBHCITIBANK GERMANY69625950EUR 64,4346/30/20228/31/2023
CITIBANK GERMANYNATIONAL INSTRUMENTS GERMANY GMBHCITIBANK GERMANY69625951EUR 2,0007/6/20223/31/2023
CITIBANK GERMANYNATIONAL INSTRUMENTS GERMANY GMBHCITIBANK GERMANY69625952EUR 16,4127/6/20227/31/2023
CITIBANK GERMANYNATIONAL INSTRUMENTS GERMANY GMBHCITIBANK GERMANY69625954EUR 58,185.187/5/20222/28/2023



CITIBANK GERMANYNATIONAL INSTRUMENTS GERMANY GMBHCITIBANK GERMANY69625955EUR 153,836.627/1/20223/31/2024
CITIBANK GERMANYNATIONAL INSTRUMENTS GERMANY GMBHCITIBANK GERMANY69625956EUR 916,2867/1/20221/31/2023
CITIBANK EUROPE PLC, GERMANY BRANCHNATIONAL INSTRUMENTS GERMANY GMBHCITIBANK EUROPE PLC, GERMANY BRANCH69625957EUR 51,0517/1/20227/31/2023
CITIBANK EUROPE PLC, GERMANY BRANCHNATIONAL INSTRUMENTS GERMANY GMBHCITIBANK EUROPE PLC, GERMANY BRANCH69625958EUR 703,2907/1/20228/31/2023
CITIBANK GERMANYNATIONAL INSTRUMENTS GERMANY GMBHCITIBANK GERMANY69625959EUR 496,158.367/1/20221/31/2023
CITI NA SYDNEY BRANCHNATIONAL INSTRUMENTS AUSTRALIA PTY LTDThe Trust Company Limited CAN 004 027 749
Level 18, 123 Pitt Street
Sydney NSW 2000
5031900512AUD 142,47412/5/20189/15/2023
CITIBANK BERHADNI MALAYSIA SDN BHDTenaga Nasional Berhad
Pulau Pinang
NO 30 WISMA TNB
JLN ANSON
OFF JLN WESTLAND
10400 PULAU PINANG
5567658029MYR 590,0003/23/20225/30/2023
CITIBANK BERHADNI MALAYSIA SDN BHD
Unit Land Management
Jabatan Real Estate Ventures,
Tenaga Nasional Berhad,
Aras 3, Bangunan Wilayah,
No. 129, Jalan Bangsar,
59200 Kuala Lumpur
5563658041MYR 20,0004/25/20228/14/2023







Schedule 1.2
Schedule of Lenders and Commitments

LendersTerm Loan CommitmentTerm Loan PercentageRevolving Credit CommitmentRevolving Credit Commitment PercentageL/C Commitment
Wells Fargo Bank, National Association$139,473,684.2127.894737%$125,526,315.7925.105263%$25,000,000.00
Bank of America, N.A.$118,421,052.6323.684211%$106,578,947.3721.315789%N/A
Citibank N.A.$118,421,052.6323.684211%$106,578,947.3721.315789%N/A
JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.$78,947,368.4215.789474%$71,052,631.5814.210526%N/A
Regions Bank$44,736,842.118.947368%$40,263,157.898.052632%N/A
Barclays Bank PLC – New York Branch$0.000.000000%$50,000,000.0010.000000%N/A

TOTAL
$500,000,000.00100.000000%

$500,000,000.00
100.000000%

$25,000,000.00



Schedule 8.12
Post-Closing Matters
None.




EXHIBIT 31.1
CERTIFICATION OF CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
PURSUANT TO
18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,
AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO
SECTION 302 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

I, Eric Starkloff, certify that:
1.I have reviewed this report on Form 10-Q of National Instruments Corporation;
2.Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;
3.Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;
4.The registrant's other certifying officer(s) and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:
a.Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;
b.Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;
c.Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant's disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and
d.Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and
5.The registrant's other certifying officer(s) and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant's auditors and the audit committee of the registrant's board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):
a.All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant's ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and
b.Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting.

Date: October 28, 2022
By:
 /s/ Eric Starkloff
Eric Starkloff
Chief Executive Officer


EXHIBIT 31.2

CERTIFICATION OF CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
PURSUANT TO
18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,
AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO
SECTION 302 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

I, Karen Rapp, certify that:
1.I have reviewed this report on Form 10-Q of National Instruments Corporation;
2.Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;
3.Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;
4.The registrant's other certifying officer(s) and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:
a.Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;
b.Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;
c.Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant's disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and
d.Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and
5.The registrant's other certifying officer(s) and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant's auditors and the audit committee of the registrant's board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):
a.All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant's ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and
b.Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting.

Date:  October 28, 2022
By:/s/ Karen Rapp                               
Karen Rapp
Chief Financial Officer


EXHIBIT 32.1

CERTIFICATION OF CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER AND CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
PURSUANT TO
18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,
AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO
SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

I, Eric Starkloff, certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that the Quarterly Report of National Instruments Corporation on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended September 30, 2022 fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and that information contained in such Form 10-Q fairly presents in all material respects the financial condition and results of operations of National Instruments Corporation.
By: /s/ Eric Starkloff
Eric Starkloff
Chief Executive Officer
Date: October 28, 2022
I, Karen Rapp, certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that the Quarterly Report of National Instruments Corporation on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended September 30, 2022 fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and that information contained in such Form 10-Q fairly presents in all material respects the financial condition and results of operations of National Instruments Corporation.
By: /s/ Karen Rapp
Karen Rapp
Chief Financial Officer
Date: October 28, 2022