EXHIBIT 10.1

EXECUTION VERSION

 

 

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Published CUSIP Number: 62458DAC2 - Deal

Published CUSIP Number: 62458DAD0 – Rev

CREDIT AGREEMENT

Dated as of January 30, 2015

among

MOVADO GROUP, INC.,

MOVADO GROUP DELAWARE HOLDINGS CORPORATION,

MOVADO LLC, and

MOVADO RETAIL GROUP, INC.,

as the Borrowers,

CERTAIN SUBSIDIARIES OF THE BORROWERS PARTY HERETO,

as the Guarantors,

 

BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.,

as Administrative Agent, Swingline Lender and

L/C Issuer,

 

and

THE LENDERS PARTY HERETO

MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER & SMITH INCORPORATED

BANK OF AMERICA MERRILL LYNCH,

as Sole Lead Arranger and Sole Bookrunner

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page

 

 

 

 

 

BORROWER PREPARED SCHEDULES
Schedule 1.01(c)	Responsible Officers
Schedule 2.03	Existing Letters of Credit
Schedule 5.10	Insurance
Schedule 5.12	Pension Plans
Schedule 5.20(a)	Subsidiaries, Joint Ventures, Partnerships and Other Equity Investments
Schedule 5.20(b)	Loan Parties
Schedule 5.21(b)(i)	Intellectual Property
Schedule 5.21(b)(ii)	Internet Domain Names
Schedule 5.21(c)	Pledged Equity Interests
Schedule 5.21(d)(i)	Real Properties
Schedule 5.21(d)(ii)	Other Properties
Schedule 5.21(e)	Material Contracts
Schedule 7.01	Existing Liens
Schedule 7.02(b)	Existing Indebtedness
Schedule 7.02(j)	Existing Contingent Obligations
Schedule 7.03	Existing Investments
Schedule 7.08	Transactions with Affiliates
ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT PREPARED SCHEDULES
Schedule 1.01(a)	Certain Addresses for Notices
Schedule 1.01(b)	Initial Commitments and Applicable Percentages
EXHIBITS
Exhibit A	Form of Administrative Questionnaire
Exhibit B	Form of Assignment and Assumption
Exhibit C	Form of Compliance Certificate
Exhibit D	Form of Joinder Agreement
Exhibit E	Form of Loan Notice
Exhibit F	Form of Permitted Acquisition Certificate
Exhibit G	Form of Revolving Note
Exhibit H	Form of Secured Party Designation Notice
Exhibit I	Form of Swingline Loan Notice
Exhibit J	Form of Officer’s Certificate
Exhibit K	Forms of U.S. Tax Compliance Certificates
Exhibit L	Form of Funding Indemnity Letter
Exhibit M	Form of Landlord Waiver
Exhibit N	Form of Financial Condition Certificate
Exhibit O	Form of Authorization to Share Insurance Information
Exhibit P	Form of Notice of Loan Prepayment

 

 

 

CREDIT AGREEMENT

This CREDIT AGREEMENT is entered into as of January 30, 2015, among MOVADO GROUP, INC., a New York corporation, MOVADO GROUP DELAWARE HOLDINGS CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation, MOVADO LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, and MOVADO RETAIL GROUP, INC., a New Jersey corporation (collectively, the “ Borrowers ”), the Guarantors (defined herein), the Lenders (defined herein), and BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., as Administrative Agent, Swingline Lender and L/C Issuer.

PRELIMINARY STATEMENTS :

WHEREAS , the Loan Parties (as hereinafter defined) have requested that the Lenders, the Swingline Lender and the L/C Issuer make loans and other financial accommodations to the Loan Parties in an aggregate amount of up to $100,000,000.

WHEREAS , the Lenders, the Swingline Lender and the L/C Issuer have agreed to make such loans and other financial accommodations to the Loan Parties on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein.

NOW THEREFORE , in consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements herein contained, the parties hereto covenant and agree as follows:

ARTICLE I

 

DEFINITIONS AND ACCOUNTING TERMS

 

1.01         Defined Terms.

 

As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the meanings set forth below:

“ Acquisition ” means the acquisition, whether through a single transaction or a series of related transactions, of (a) a majority of the Voting Stock or other controlling ownership interest in another Person (including the purchase of an option, warrant or convertible or similar type security to acquire such a controlling interest at the time it is exercised by the holder thereof), whether by purchase of such equity or other ownership interest or upon the exercise of an option or warrant for, or conversion of securities into, such equity or other ownership interest, (b) assets of another Person which constitute all or substantially all of the assets of such Person or of a division, line of business or other business unit of such Person, excluding any ordinary course Capital Expenditures or replacements of existing assets, or (c) Equity Interests in a joint venture from the joint venture partners of any Loan Party or Subsidiary; provided that, in the case of this clause (c), after such Acquisition, such Loan Party or Subsidiary shall own at least a majority of the Voting Stock or other controlling ownership interest of such joint venture.

“ Additional Secured Obligations ” means all obligations arising under Secured Cash Management Agreements and Secured Hedge Agreements whether direct or indirect (including those acquired by assumption), absolute or contingent, due or to become due, now existing or hereafter arising and including interest and fees that accrue after the commencement by or against any Loan Party or any Affiliate thereof 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;   provided that Additional Secured Obligations of a Loan Party shall exclude any Excluded Swap Obligations with respect to such Loan Party.

 

 

 

“ Administrative Agent ” means Bank of America in its capacity as administrative agent under any of the Loan Documents, or any successor administrative agent under any of the Loan Documents.

“ Administrative Agent’s Office ” means the Administrative Agent’s address and, as appropriate, account as set forth on Schedule 1.01(a) , or such other address or account as the Administrative Agent may from time to time notify the Borrowers and the Lenders.

“ Administrative Questionnaire ” means an Administrative Questionnaire in substantially the form of Exhibit A or any other form approved by the Administrative Agent.

“ 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.

“ Aggregate Commitments ” means the Revolving Commitments of all the Lenders.  The Aggregate Commitments on the Closing Date shall be $100,000,000.

“ Agreement ” means this Credit Agreement.

“ Agreement Currency ” has the meaning specified in Section 11.22.

“ Alternative Currency ” means each of the following currencies:  Canadian Dollars, Euros, Swiss Francs and Sterling, together with each other Eligible Currency (other than Dollars) that is approved in accordance with Section 1.09.

“ Alternative Currency Equivalent ” means, at any time, with respect to any amount denominated in Dollars, the equivalent amount thereof in the applicable Alternative Currency as determined by the Administrative Agent or the L/C Issuer, as the case may be, at such time on the basis of the Spot Rate (determined in respect of the most recent Revaluation Date) for the purchase of such Alternative Currency with Dollars.

“ Applicable Percentage ” means, in respect of the Revolving Facility with respect to any Revolving Lender at any time, the percentage (carried out to the ninth decimal place) of the Revolving Facility represented by such Lender’s Revolving Commitment at such time, subject to adjustment as provided in Section 2.15.  If the Revolving Commitments of all of the Lenders to make Revolving Loans and the obligation of the L/C Issuer to make L/C Credit Extensions have been terminated pursuant to Section 8.02, or if the Revolving Commitments have expired, then the Applicable Percentage of each Lender in respect of the Revolving Facility shall be determined based on the Applicable Percentage of such Revolving Lender in respect of the Revolving Facility most recently in effect, giving effect to any subsequent assignments.  The initial Applicable Percentage of each Revolving Lender in respect of the Revolving Facility is set forth opposite the name of such Lender on Schedule 1.01(b) or in the Assignment and Assumption pursuant to which such Revolving Lender becomes a party hereto, as applicable.

“ Applicable Rate ” means, for any day, the rate per annum set forth below opposite the applicable Level then in effect (based on the Consolidated Leverage Ratio), it being understood that the Applicable Rate (a) for Revolving Loans that are Base Rate Loans shall be the percentage set forth under the column “Applicable Rate for Base Rate Loans,” (b) for Revolving Loans that are Eurodollar Rate Loans, and for the Letter of Credit Fees, shall be the percentage set forth under the column “Applicable Rate for Eurodollar Rate Loans and Letter of Credit Fees,” and (c) for the commitment   fee shall be the percentage set forth under the column “Commitment Fee”:

 

 

Any increase or decrease in the Applicable Rate resulting from a change in the Consolidated Leverage Ratio shall become effective as of the first Business Day immediately following the date a Compliance Certificate is delivered pursuant to Section 6.02(a); provided , however , that if a Compliance Certificate is not delivered when due in accordance with such Section, then, upon the request of the Required Lenders, Pricing Level 3 shall apply, as of the first Business Day after the date on which such Compliance Certificate was required to have been delivered and shall remain in effect until the first Business Day following the date on which such Compliance Certificate is delivered.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this definition, (a) the determination of the Applicable Rate for any period shall be subject to the provisions of Section 2.10(b) and (b) the initial Applicable Rate shall be set forth in Level 1 until the first Business Day immediately following the date on which a Compliance Certificate is delivered to the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 6.02(a) for the first full fiscal quarter to occur following the Closing Date.  Any adjustment in the Applicable Rate shall be applicable to all Credit Extensions then existing or subsequently made or issued.

“ Appropriate Lender ” means, at any time, (a) with respect to the Revolving Facility, a Lender that has a Revolving Commitment or holds a Revolving Loan under the Revolving Facility at such time, (b) with respect to the Letter of Credit Sublimit, (i) the L/C Issuer and (ii) if any Letters of Credit have been issued pursuant to Section 2.03, the Revolving Lenders and (c) with respect to the Swingline Sublimit, (i) the Swingline Lender and (ii) if any Swingline Loans are outstanding pursuant to Section 2.04(a), the Revolving Lenders.

“ 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 Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, in its capacity as sole lead arranger and sole bookrunner.

“ 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 11.06(b)), and accepted by the Administrative Agent, in substantially the form of Exhibit B or any other form (including an electronic documentation form generated by use of an electronic platform) approved by the Administrative Agent.

“ Attributable Indebtedness ” means, on any date, (a) in respect of any Capitalized Lease of any Person, the capitalized amount thereof that would appear on a balance sheet of such Person prepared as of such date in accordance with GAAP, and (b) in respect of any Synthetic Lease Obligation, the capitalized amount of the remaining lease or similar payments under the relevant lease or other applicable agreement or instrument that would appear on a balance sheet of such Person prepared as of such date in accordance with GAAP if such lease or other agreement or instrument were accounted for as a Capitalized Lease .

 

 

“ Audited Financial Statements ” means the audited Consolidated balance sheet of the Parent and its Subsidiaries for the fiscal year ended January 31, 2014, and the related Consolidated statements of income or operations, shareholders’ equity and cash flows for such fiscal year of the Parent and its Subsidiaries, including the notes thereto.

“ Authorization to Share Insurance Information ” means the authorization substantially in the form of Exhibit O (or such other form as required by each of the Loan Party’s insurance companies).

“ Auto-Extension Letter of Credit ” has the meaning specified in Section 2.03(b)(iv).

“ Availability Period ” means the period from and including the Closing Date to the earliest of (i) the Maturity Date, (ii) the date of termination of the Aggregate Commitments pursuant to Section 2.06, and (iii) the date of termination of the Revolving Commitment of each Lender to make Revolving Loans and of the obligation of the L/C Issuer to make L/C Credit Extensions pursuant to Section 8.02 .

“ Bank of America ” means Bank of America, N.A. and its successors.

“ Base Rate ” means for any day a fluctuating rate of interest per annum equal to the highest of (a) the Federal Funds Rate plus 0.50%, (b) the rate of interest in effect for such day as publicly announced from time to time by Bank of America as its “prime rate,” and (c) the LIBOR Daily Floating Rate plus 1.00%; and if the Base Rate shall be less than zero, such rate shall be deemed zero for purposes of this Agreement.  The “prime rate” is a rate set by Bank of America based upon various factors including Bank of America’s costs and desired return, general economic conditions and other factors, and is used as a reference point for pricing some loans, which may be priced at, above, or below such announced rate.  Any change in such prime rate announced by Bank of America shall take effect at the opening of business on the day specified in the public announcement of such change.

“ Base Rate Loan ” means a Revolving Loan that bears interest based on the Base Rate.

“ Borrowers ” has the meaning specified in the introductory paragraph hereto.

“ Borrower Materials ” has the meaning specified in Section 6.02.

“ Borrowing ” means a Revolving Borrowing or a Swingline Borrowing, as the context may require.

“ Business Day ” means any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks are authorized to close under the Laws of, or are in fact closed in, the state where the Administrative Agent’s Office is located and, if such day relates to any Eurodollar Rate Loan, means any such day that is also a London Banking Day.

“ Canadian Dollar ” means the lawful currency of Canada.

“ Capital Expenditures ” means, with respect to any Person for any period, any expenditure in respect of the purchase or other acquisition of any fixed or capital asset (excluding normal replacements and maintenance which are properly charged to current operations).  For purposes of this definition, the purchase price of equipment that is purchased simultaneously with the trade-in of existing equipment or with insurance proceeds shall be included in Capital Expenditures only to the extent of the gross amount by which such purchase price exceeds the credit granted by the seller of such equipment for the equipment being traded in at such time or the amount of such insurance proceeds, as the case may be.

 

 

“ Capitalized Leases ” means all leases that have been or should be, in accordance with GAAP, recorded as capitalized leases.

“ Cash Collateralize ” means, to pledge and deposit with or deliver to the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the L/C Issuer or Swingline Lender (as applicable) or the Lenders, as collateral for L/C Obligations, the Obligations in respect of Swingline Loans, or obligations of the Revolving Lenders to fund participations in respect of either thereof (as the context may require), (a) cash or deposit account balances, (b) backstop letters of credit entered into on terms and from issuers satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the L/C Issuer and in amounts not less than the amounts specified in this Agreement or otherwise satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the L/C Issuer, and/or (c) if the Administrative Agent and the L/C Issuer or Swingline Lender shall agree, in their sole discretion, other credit support, in each case, in Dollars and pursuant to documentation in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the L/C Issuer or 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 Equivalents ” means any of the following types of Investments, to the extent owned by each Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries free and clear of all Liens (other than Permitted Liens):

(a)        readily marketable obligations issued or directly and fully guaranteed or insured by the United States or any agency or instrumentality thereof having maturities of not more than three hundred sixty days (360) days from the date of acquisition thereof; provided that the full faith and credit of the United States is pledged in support thereof;

(b)        time deposits with, or insured certificates of deposit or bankers’ acceptances of, any commercial bank that (i) is organized under the laws of the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia or is the principal banking subsidiary of a bank holding company organized under the laws of the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia, and is a member of the Federal Reserve System, (ii) issues (or the parent of which issues) commercial paper rated as described in clause (c) of this definition and (iii) has combined capital and surplus of at least $500,000,000, in each case with maturities of not more than twelve (12) months from the date of acquisition thereof;

(c)        repurchase obligations with a term of not more than 30 days for underlying investments of the types described in clauses (a) and (b) entered into with any bank meeting the qualifications specified in clause (b);

(d)        commercial paper issued by any Person organized under the laws of any state of the United States and rated at least “Prime-1” (or the then equivalent grade) by Moody’s or at least “A-1” (or the then equivalent grade) by S&P, in each case with maturities of not more than nine months from the date of acquisition thereof;

(e)        Investments, classified in accordance with GAAP as current assets of any Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, in money market investment programs registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, which are administered by financial institutions that have the highest rating obtainable from either Moody’s or S&P, and the portfolios of which are limited solely to Investments of the character, quality and maturity described in clauses (a), (b), (c) and (d) of this definition; and

 

 

(f)        with respect to Foreign Subsidiaries, any obligations, instruments or documents reasonably equivalent to any of the foregoing, as set forth in Parent’s investment policy in effect from time to time, a copy of which shall be delivered to, and which shall be reasonably acceptable to, the Administrative Agent.

“ Cash Management Agreement ” means any agreement that is not prohibited by the terms hereof to provide treasury or cash management services, including deposit accounts, overnight draft, credit cards, debit cards, p-cards (including purchasing cards and commercial cards), funds transfer, automated clearinghouse, zero balance accounts, returned check concentration, controlled disbursement, lockbox, account reconciliation and reporting and trade finance services and other cash management services.

“ Cash Management Bank ” means any Person in its capacity as a party to a Cash Management Agreement that, at the time it enters into a Cash Management Agreement with a Loan Party or any Subsidiary, is a Lender or an Affiliate of a Lender, in its capacity as a party to such Cash Management Agreement (even if such Person ceases to be a Lender or such Person’s Affiliate ceased to be a Lender); provided , however , that for any of the foregoing to be included as a “Secured Cash Management Agreement” on any date of determination by the Administrative Agent, the applicable Cash Management Bank (other than the Administrative Agent or an Affiliate of the Administrative Agent) and the Parent must have delivered a Secured Party Designation Notice to the Administrative Agent prior to such date of determination.

“ CFC ” means a Person that is a “controlled foreign corporation” under Section 957 of the Code.

“ Change in Law ” means the occurrence, after the Closing Date, 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 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 or issued.

“ Change of Control ” means an event or series of events by which:  (a) the Parent ceases to own and control, beneficially and of record, directly or indirectly, all outstanding Equity Interests in all Borrowers other than the Parent; (b) members of the Grinberg Family cease to own and control, beneficially and of record, at least thirty percent (30%) of the total voting power of the outstanding Equity Interests of the Parent; (c) any “person” or “group” (as such terms are used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act) is or becomes the beneficial owner (as defined in Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of a greater percentage of the total voting power of the outstanding Equity Interests of the Parent than the percentage of the total voting power of the outstanding Equity Interests of the Parent then “beneficially owned” (as defined in Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 of the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, by the members of the Grinberg Family; (d) Continuing Directors cease to be a majority of the members of the board of directors of the Parent; or (e) all or substantially all of a Borrower’s assets are sold or transferred, other than sale or transfer to another Borrower.

“ Closing Date ” means the date hereof.

“ Code ” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

 

 

 “ Collateral ” means all of the “ Collateral ” referred to in the Collateral Documents and all of the other property that is or is intended under the terms of the Collateral Documents to be subject to Liens in favor of the Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties.

“ Collateral Documents ” means, collectively, the Security Agreement, each Joinder Agreement, each of the collateral assignments, security agreements, pledge agreements or other similar agreements delivered to the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 6.14, and each of the other agreements, instruments or documents that creates or purports to create a Lien in favor of the Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties to secure the Secured Obligations.

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

 

“ Compliance Certificate ” means a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit C .

“ 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 the Parent and its Subsidiaries or any other Person, such statements or items on a consolidated basis in accordance with the consolidation principles of GAAP.

“ Consolidated Capital Expenditures ” means, for any period, for the Parent and its Subsidiaries on a Consolidated basis, all Capital Expenditures, but excluding expenditures to the extent made with the proceeds of any Involuntary Disposition used to purchase property that is useful in the business of the Parent and its Subsidiaries.

“ Consolidated EBITDA ” means, for any period, the sum of the following determined on a Consolidated basis, without duplication, for the Parent and its Subsidiaries in accordance with GAAP, (a) Consolidated Net Income for such period plus (b)  the following to the extent deducted in calculating such Consolidated Net Income (without duplication):  (i) Consolidated Interest Charges, (ii) the provision for federal, state, local and foreign income taxes payable, (iii) depreciation and amortization expense and (iv) non-cash charges and losses (excluding any such non-cash charges or losses to the extent there were cash charges with respect to such charges and losses in past accounting periods) and (v) business optimization expenses, streamlining costs, exit or disposal costs, facilities closure costs, brand exiting or discontinuance costs and other restructuring, severance or similar charges, reserves or expenses, including losses arising from the disposition of discontinued inventory  or excess components and raw materials, and non-recurring cash charges or unusual or non-recurring cash expenses and cash losses, provided that the amount added-back pursuant to this clause (v) shall not exceed $10,000,000 in any four fiscal quarter period, less (c) without duplication and to the extent reflected as a gain or otherwise included in the calculation of Consolidated Net Income for such period, non-cash gains (excluding any such non-cash gains to the extent there were cash gains with respect to such gains in past accounting periods).

“ Consolidated Funded Indebtedness ” means, as of any date of determination, for the Parent and its Subsidiaries on a Consolidated basis, the sum of (a) the outstanding principal amount of all obligations, whether current or long-term, for borrowed money (including Obligations hereunder) and all obligations evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes, loan agreements or other similar instruments; (b) all purchase money Indebtedness; (c) the maximum amount available to be drawn under issued and outstanding letters of credit (including standby and commercial), bankers’ acceptances, bank guaranties, surety bonds and similar instruments; (d) all obligations (including, without limitation, earnout

 

 

 

obligations) of such Person to pay the deferred purchase price of property or services (other than trade accounts payable in the ordinary course of business), (e) all Attributable Indebtedness; (f) all obligations to purchase, redeem, retire, defease or otherwise make any payment prior to the Maturity Date in respect of any Equity Interests or any warrant, right or option to acquire such Equity Interest, valued, in the case of a redeemable preferred interest, at the greater of its voluntary or involuntary liquidation preference plus accrued and unpaid dividends; (g) without duplication, all Guarantees with respect to outstanding Indebtedness of the types specified in clauses (a) through (f) above of Persons other than the Parent or any Subsidiary; and (h) all Indebtedness of the types referred to in clauses (a) through (g) above of any partnership or joint venture (other than a joint venture that is itself a corporation or limited liability company) in which the Parent or a Subsidiary is a general partner or joint venturer, unless such Indebtedness is expressly made non-recourse to the Parent or such Subsidiary.

“ Consolidated Leverage Ratio ” means, as of any date of determination, the ratio of (a) Consolidated Funded Indebtedness as of such date to (b) Consolidated EBITDA for the Measurement Period ending on such date, or if a Measurement Period is not ending on such date, the Measurement Period most recently ended prior to such date.

“ Consolidated Net Income ” means, at any date of determination, the net income (or loss) of the Parent and its Subsidiaries on a Consolidated basis for the most recently completed Measurement Period; provided that Consolidated Net Income shall exclude (a) extraordinary gains and extraordinary losses for such Measurement Period, (b) the net income of any Subsidiary during such Measurement Period to the extent that the declaration or payment of dividends or similar distributions by such Subsidiary of such income is not permitted by operation of the terms of its Organization Documents or any agreement, instrument or Law applicable to such Subsidiary during such Measurement Period, except that the Parent’s equity in any net loss of any such Subsidiary for such Measurement Period shall be included in determining Consolidated Net Income, (c) any income (or loss) for such Measurement Period of any Person if such Person is not a Subsidiary, except that the Parent’s equity in the net income of any such Person for such Measurement Period shall be included in Consolidated Net Income up to the aggregate amount of cash actually distributed by such Person during such Measurement Period to the Parent or a Subsidiary as a dividend or other distribution (and in the case of a dividend or other distribution to a Subsidiary, such Subsidiary is not precluded from further distributing such amount to the Parent as described in clause (b) of this proviso), (d) any gain or loss from currency translation gains or losses (or similar charges) or net gains or losses related to currency remeasurements of Indebtedness (including any net loss or gain in respect of Swap Contracts for currency exchange risk entered in relation to Indebtedness), in each case for such Measurement Period and (e) any net income (or loss) of any discontinued operations for such Measurement Period.

“ Contingent Obligation ” means any obligation of a Person arising from a guaranty, indemnity or other assurance of payment or performance of any Indebtedness, lease, dividend or other obligation (“ primary obligations ”) of another obligor (“ primary obligor ”) in any manner, whether directly or indirectly, including any obligation of such Person under any (a) guaranty, endorsement, co-making or sale with recourse of an obligation of a primary obligor; (b) obligation to make take-or-pay or similar payments regardless of nonperformance by any other party to an agreement; and (c) arrangement (i) to purchase any primary obligation or security therefor, (ii) to supply funds for the purchase or payment of any primary obligation, (iii) to maintain or assure working capital, equity capital, net worth or solvency of the primary obligor, (iv) to purchase assets or services for the purpose of assuring the ability of the primary obligor to perform a primary obligation, or (v) otherwise to assure or hold harmless the holder of any primary obligation against loss in respect thereof. The amount of any Contingent Obligation shall be deemed to be the stated or determinable amount of the primary obligation (or, if less, the maximum amount for which such Person may be liable under the instrument evidencing the Contingent Obligation) or, if not stated or determinable, the maximum reasonably anticipated liability with respect thereto.

 

 

 

“ Continuing Directors ” means the (i) directors of the Parent on the Closing Date and (ii) directors of the Parent whose election by the board of directors of the Parent, or whose nomination for election to the board of directors of the Parent by the shareholders of the Parent, was approved by a vote of at least a majority of the directors of the Parent who were either directors of the Parent on the Closing Date or whose election or nomination was previously so approved.

 

 “ Contractual Obligation ” means, as to any Person, any provision of any security issued by such Person or of any agreement, instrument or other undertaking to which such Person is a party or by which it or any of its property is bound.

“ 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.

“ Cost of Acquisition ” means, with respect to any Acquisition, as at the date of entering into any agreement therefor, (i) the sum of the following (without duplication):  (a) the value of the Equity Interests of any Borrower or any Subsidiary to be transferred in connection with such Acquisition, (b) the amount of any cash and fair market value of other property (excluding property described in clause (a) and the unpaid principal amount of any debt instrument) given as consideration in connection with such Acquisition, (c) the amount (determined by using the face amount or the amount payable at maturity, whichever is greater) of any Indebtedness incurred, assumed or acquired by any Borrower or any Subsidiary in connection with such Acquisition, (d) all additional purchase price amounts in the form of earnouts and other contingent obligations that should be recorded on the financial statements of any Borrower and its Subsidiaries in accordance with GAAP in connection with such Acquisition, (e) all amounts paid in respect of covenants not to compete and consulting agreements that should be recorded on the financial statements of the Parent and its Subsidiaries in accordance with GAAP, and other affiliated contracts in connection with such Acquisition, and (f) the aggregate fair market value of all other consideration given by any Borrower or any Subsidiary in connection with such Acquisition, less (ii) the amount of any cash and the fair market value of any Cash Equivalents received or obtained in connection with such Acquisition.  For purposes of determining the Cost of Acquisition for any transaction, the Equity Interests of a Borrower shall be valued in accordance with GAAP.

“ Credit Extension ” means each of the following:  (a) a Borrowing and (b) an L/C Credit Extension.

“ Debtor Relief Laws ” means the Bankruptcy Code of the United States, 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 event or condition that constitutes an Event of Default or that, with the giving of any notice, the passage of time, or both, would be an Event of Default.

“ Default Rate ” means (a) with respect to any Obligation for which a rate is specified, a rate per annum equal to two percent (2%) in excess of the rate otherwise applicable thereto and (b) with respect to any Obligation for which a rate is not specified or available, a rate per annum equal to the Base Rate plus the Applicable Rate for Revolving Loans that are Base Rate Loans plus two percent (2%), in each case, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law.

“ Defaulting Lender ” means, subject to Section 2.15(b), any Lender that (a) has failed to (i) fund all or any portion of its Loans within two (2) Business Days of the date such Loans were required to be

 

 

 

funded hereunder unless such Lender notifies the Administrative Agent and the Borrowers 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, the L/C Issuer, the Swingline Lender or any other Lender any other amount required to be paid by it hereunder (including in respect of its participation in Letters of Credit or Swingline Loans) within two (2) Business Days of the date when due, (b) has notified the Borrowers, the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuer 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 (3) Business Days after written request by the Administrative Agent or the Borrowers, to confirm in writing to the Administrative Agent and the Borrowers 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 Borrowers), 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, or (ii) had appointed for it a receiver, custodian, conservator, trustee, administrator, assignee for the benefit of creditors or similar Person charged with reorganization or liquidation of its business or assets, including the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other state or federal regulatory authority acting in such a capacity; 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, and the effective date of such status, shall be conclusive and binding absent manifest error, and such Lender shall be deemed to be a Defaulting Lender (subject to Section 2.15(b)) as of the date established therefor by the Administrative Agent in a written notice of such determination, which shall be delivered by the Administrative Agent to the Borrowers, the L/C Issuer, the Swingline Lender and each other Lender promptly following such determination.

“ Designated Jurisdiction ” means any country or territory to the extent that such country or territory is the subject of any Sanction.

“ Disposition ” or “ Dispose ” means the sale, transfer, license, lease or other disposition (including any Sale and Leaseback Transaction) of any property by any Loan Party or Subsidiary (or the granting of any option or other right to do any of the foregoing), including any sale, assignment, transfer or other disposal, with or without recourse, of any notes or accounts receivable or any rights and claims associated therewith, but excluding any Involuntary Disposition.

“ Dollar ” and “ $ ” mean lawful money of the United States.

“ Dollar Equivalent ” means, at any time, (a) with respect to any amount denominated in Dollars, such amount, and (b) with respect to any amount denominated in any Alternative Currency, the equivalent amount thereof in Dollars as determined by the Administrative Agent or the L/C Issuer, as the case may be, at such time on the basis of the Spot Rate (determined in respect of the most recent Revaluation Date) for the purchase of Dollars with such Alternative Currency.

 

 

 

“ Domestic Subsidiary ” means any Subsidiary that is organized under the laws of any political subdivision of the United States.

“ Eligible Assignee ” means any Person that meets the requirements to be an assignee under Section 11.06 (subject to such consents, if any, as may be required under Section 11.06(b)(iii)).

“ Eligible Currency ” means any lawful currency other than Dollars that is readily available, freely transferable and convertible into Dollars in the international interbank market available to the Lenders in such market and as to which a Dollar Equivalent may be readily calculated. If, after the designation of any currency as an Alternative Currency, any change in currency controls or exchange regulations or any change in the national or international financial, political or economic conditions is imposed in the country in which such currency is issued, which results in, in the reasonable opinion of the Administrative Agent and the L/C Issuer, (a) such currency no longer being readily available, freely transferable and convertible into Dollars, (b) a Dollar Equivalent no longer being readily calculable with respect to such currency, (c) such currency being impracticable for the Lenders to provide or (d) no longer being a currency in which the L/C Issuer is willing to make the applicable Credit Extensions (each of (a), (b), (c), and (d) a “ Disqualifying Event ”), then the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify the Lenders and the Borrowers, and such country’s currency shall no longer be an Alternative Currency until such time as the Disqualifying Event(s) no longer exist.

“ Environmental Laws ” means any and all federal, state, local, and foreign statutes, laws, regulations, ordinances, rules, judgments, orders, decrees, permits, concessions, grants, franchises, licenses, agreements or governmental restrictions relating to pollution and the protection of the environment or the release of any materials into the environment, including those related to hazardous substances or wastes, air emissions and discharges to waste or public systems.

“ Environmental Liability ” means any liability, contingent or otherwise (including any liability for damages, costs of environmental remediation, fines, penalties or indemnities), of any Borrower, any other Loan Party or any of their respective Subsidiaries directly or indirectly resulting from or based upon (a) violation of any Environmental Law, (b) the generation, use, handling, transportation, storage, treatment or disposal of any Hazardous Materials, (c) exposure to any Hazardous Materials, (d) the release or threatened release of any Hazardous Materials into the environment or (e) any contract, agreement or other consensual arrangement pursuant to which liability is assumed or imposed with respect to any of the foregoing.

“ Environmental Permit ” means any permit, approval, identification number, license or other authorization required under any Environmental Law.

“ Equity Interests ” means, with respect to any Person, all of the shares of capital stock of (or other ownership or profit interests in) such Person, all of the warrants, options or other rights for the purchase or acquisition from such Person of shares of capital stock of (or other ownership or profit interests in) such Person, all of the securities convertible into or exchangeable for shares of capital stock of (or other ownership or profit interests in) such Person or warrants, rights or options for the purchase or acquisition from such Person of such shares (or such other interests), and all of the other ownership or profit interests in such Person (including partnership, member or trust interests therein), whether voting or nonvoting, and whether or not such shares, warrants, options, rights or other interests are outstanding on any date of determination.

“ ERISA ” means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974.

 

 

“ ERISA Affiliate ” means any trade or business (whether or not incorporated) under common control with any Borrower within the meaning of Section 414(b) or (c) of the Code (and Sections 414(m) and (o) of the Code for purposes of provisions relating to Section 412 of the Code).

“ ERISA Event ” means (a) a Reportable Event with respect to a Pension Plan; (b) the withdrawal of any Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate from a Pension Plan subject to Section 4063 of ERISA during a plan year in which such entity was a “substantial employer” as defined in Section 4001(a)(2) of ERISA or a cessation of operations that is treated as such a withdrawal under Section 4062(e) of ERISA; (c) a complete or partial withdrawal by any Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate from a Multiemployer Plan or notification that a Multiemployer Plan is in reorganization; (d) the filing of a notice of intent to terminate, the treatment of a Pension Plan amendment as a termination under Section 4041 or 4041A of ERISA; (e) the institution by the PBGC of proceedings to terminate a Pension Plan; (f) any event or condition which constitutes grounds under Section 4042 of ERISA for the termination of, or the appointment of a trustee to administer, any Pension Plan; (g) the determination that any Pension Plan is considered an at-risk plan or a plan in endangered or critical status within the meaning of Sections 430, 431 and 432 of the Code or Sections 303, 304 and 305 of ERISA; (h) the imposition of any liability under Title IV of ERISA, other than for PBGC premiums due but not delinquent under Section 4007 of ERISA, upon  any Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate or (i) a failure by any Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate to meet all applicable requirements under the Pension Funding Rules in respect of a Pension Plan, whether or not waived, or the failure by any Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate to make any required contribution to a Multiemployer Plan.

“ Euro ” and “ € ” mean the single currency of the Participating Member States.

“ Eurodollar Rate ” means:

(a)        for any Interest Period with respect to a Eurodollar Rate Loan, the rate per annum equal to the London Interbank Offered Rate (“ LIBOR ”), or a comparable or successor rate which rate is approved by the Administrative Agent, as published on the applicable Bloomberg screen page (or such other commercially available source providing such quotations as may be designated by the Administrative Agent from time to time) (in such case, the “ LIBOR Rate ”) at or about 11:00 a.m., London time, two (2) Business Days prior to the commencement of such Interest Period, for Dollar deposits (for delivery on the first day of such Interest Period) with a term equivalent to such Interest Period; and

(b)        for any interest calculation with respect to a Base Rate Loan on any date, the rate per annum equal to the LIBOR Rate, at or about 11:00 a.m., London time, two (2) Business Days prior to such date for Dollar deposits with a term of one (1) month commencing that day;

provided that:  (i) to the extent a comparable or successor rate is approved by the Administrative Agent in connection herewith, the approved rate shall be applied in a manner consistent with market practice; provided , further that to the extent such market practice is not administratively feasible for the Administrative Agent, such approved rate shall be applied in a manner as otherwise reasonably determined by the Administrative Agent and (ii) if the Eurodollar Rate shall be less than zero, such rate shall be deemed zero for purposes of this Agreement.

“ Eurodollar Rate Loan ” means a Revolving Loan that bears interest at a rate based on clause (a) of the definition of “Eurodollar Rate.”

“ Event of Default ” has the meaning specified in Section 8.01.

 

 

“ Existing Loan Agreement ” means that certain Amended and Restated Loan and Security Agreement dated as of July 17, 2009 by and among the Borrowers, the lenders party thereto and the Administrative Agent.

 

“ Existing Letters of Credit ” means those certain outstanding standby letters of credit, each listed on Schedule 2.03 and outstanding under the Existing Loan Agreement.

 

“ Excluded Property ” means, with respect to any Loan Party, (i) the Equity Interests of any Foreign Subsidiary entitled to vote (within the meaning of Treas. Reg. Section 1.956 2(c)(2)) and directly owned by a Loan Party in excess of 65% of the aggregate outstanding Equity Interests entitled to vote (within the meaning of Treas. Reg. Section 1.956 2(c)(2)) issued by such Foreign Subsidiary, (ii) any rights or interests in or arising under any contract, lease, permit, license, charter or license agreement covering real or personal property, as such, if under the terms of such contract, lease, permit, charter or license agreement, the valid grant of a security interest or Lien therein to Administrative Agent is prohibited or would violate or create a right of termination in favor of any other party thereto under such contract, lease, permit, charter or license agreement, and such prohibition or restriction has not been or is not waived or the consent of the other party to such contract, lease, permit, charter or license agreement has not been or is not otherwise obtained, provided , that the forgoing exclusion shall in no way be construed (A) to apply if any such prohibition or restriction is unenforceable under the UCC or other applicable Laws or (B) so as to limit, impair or otherwise affect Administrative Agent's unconditional continuing security interests in and Liens upon any rights or interests of any Borrower in or to monies due or to become due under any such contract, lease, permit, license, charter or license agreement (including any “Accounts”, as such term is defined in the UCC), (iii) any assets with respect to which the granting of a pledge or security interest is prohibited by applicable Laws (in each case, except to the extent that such prohibition is unenforceable after giving effect to the applicable anti-assignment provisions of Article 9 of the UCC), (iv) any application for a trademark that would be invalidated, canceled, voided or abandoned due to the grant and/or enforcement of such security interest or Lien, including all such United States and foreign trademark applications that are based on an intent-to-use the mark in commerce, unless and until such time that the grant and/or enforcement of the security interest or Lien will not cause such trademark to be invalidated, canceled, voided or abandoned, (v) any asset owned by any Loan Party that is subject to a Lien permitted by Section 7.01(e), (f), (i) or (n), but only to the extent that  the grant of such Lien is prohibited by, or violates or creates a right of termination in favor of any other party thereto under the agreements giving rise to or governing such Lien or the obligations secured by such Lien, (vi) any Third Party Funds, (vii) any motor vehicles or other assets subject to certificates of title and (vii) those specifically identified assets as to which the Administrative Agent shall determine in its sole discretion that the cost or other consequence of obtaining a security interest therein or the perfection thereof are excessive in relation to the value afforded to the Secured Parties thereby; p rovided , however that Excluded Property shall not include any proceeds, substitutions or replacements of Excluded Property (unless such proceeds, substitutions or replacements would constitute Excluded Property) and provided , further , if any Excluded Property would otherwise have constituted Collateral, when such property shall cease to be Excluded Property, such property shall be deemed at all times from and thereafter to constitute Collateral.

“ Excluded Swap Obligation ” means, with respect to any Loan Party, any Swap Obligation if, and to the extent that, all or a portion of the Guaranty of such Loan Party of, or the grant by such Loan Party of a Lien to secure, such Swap Obligation (or any 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 thereof) by virtue of such Loan Party’s failure for any reason to constitute an “eligible contract participant” as defined in the Commodity Exchange Act (determined after giving effect to Section 10.11 and any other “keepwell”, support or other agreement for the benefit of such Loan Party and any and all guarantees of such Loan Party’s Swap Obligations by other

 

 

 

Loan Parties) at the time the Guaranty of such Loan Party, or grant by such Loan Party of a Lien, becomes effective with respect to such Swap Obligation.  If a Swap Obligation arises under a Master Agreement governing more than one Swap Contract, such exclusion shall apply only to the portion of such Swap Obligation that is attributable to Swap Contracts for which such Guaranty or Lien is or becomes excluded in accordance with the first sentence of this definition.

“ Excluded Taxes ” means any of the following Taxes imposed on or with respect to any 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 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 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, U.S. 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 any Borrower under Section 11.13) or (ii) such Lender changes its Lending Office, except in each case to the extent that, pursuant to Section 3.01(a) or (c), 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 3.01(e) and (d) any U.S. federal withholding Taxes imposed pursuant to FATCA.

“ Facility Termination Date ” means the date as of which all of the following shall have occurred:  (a) the Aggregate Commitments have terminated, (b) all Obligations have been paid in full (other than contingent indemnification obligations), and (c) all Letters of Credit have terminated or expired (other than Letters of Credit which have been Cash Collateralized in accordance with the terms hereof or as to which other arrangements with respect thereto satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the L/C Issuer shall have been made).

“ 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 and any agreements entered into pursuant to Section 1471(b)(1) of the Code.

“ 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 arranged by federal funds brokers on such day, as published by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York on the Business Day next succeeding such day; provided that (a) if such day is not a Business Day, the Federal Funds Rate for such day shall be such rate on such transactions on the next preceding Business Day as so published on the next succeeding Business Day, and (b) if no such rate is so published on such next succeeding Business Day, the Federal Funds Rate for such day shall be the average rate (rounded upward, if necessary, to a whole multiple of 1/100 of 1%) charged to Bank of America on such day on such transactions as reasonably determined by the Administrative Agent.

“ Fee Letter ” means the letter agreement, dated December 18, 2014, between the Parent, the Administrative Agent and the Arranger.

 

 

 “ Financial Condition Certificate ” means a financial condition certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit N .

“ Foreign Government Scheme or Arrangement ” has the meaning specified in Section 5.12(e) .

 

“ Foreign Lender ” means, with respect to any Borrower, (a) if such Borrower is a U.S. Person, a Lender that is not a U.S. Person, and (b) if such Borrower is not a U.S. Person, a Lender that is resident or organized under the laws of a jurisdiction other than that in which such Borrower is resident for tax purposes.  For purposes of this definition, the United States, each State thereof and the District of Columbia shall be deemed to constitute a single jurisdiction.

“ Foreign Plan ” has the meaning specified in Section 5.12(e) .

 

“ 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 that is a Revolving Lender, (a) with respect to the L/C Issuer, such Defaulting Lender’s Applicable Percentage of the outstanding L/C Obligations other than L/C Obligations as to which such Defaulting Lender’s participation obligation has been reallocated to other Revolving Lenders or Cash Collateralized in accordance with the terms hereof, and (b) with respect to the Swingline Lender, such Defaulting Lender’s Applicable Percentage of Swingline Loans other than Swingline Loans as to which such Defaulting Lender’s participation obligation has been reallocated to other Revolving 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 and similar extensions of credit in the ordinary course of its activities.

“ Funding Indemnity Letter ” means a funding indemnity letter, substantially in the form of Exhibit L .

 “ GAAP ” means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States set forth from time to time 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 agencies with similar functions of comparable stature and authority within the accounting profession) including, without limitation, the FASB Accounting Standards Codification, that are applicable to the circumstances as of the date of determination, consistently applied and subject to Section 1.03.

“ 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 , without limitation, any supra-national bodies such as the European Union or the European Central Bank).

“ Grinberg Family ” means Efraim Grinberg, his siblings and children and the spouses, heirs and estates of any of such foregoing Persons and shall include, without limitation, any trusts of which any such Persons are trustees, either alone or with others, and/or beneficiaries, and any partnerships, limited partnerships, limited liability companies, corporations or other entities of which any of such Persons is a

 

 

 

general partner or managing member or otherwise controls such entity directly or indirectly through other entities.

 

“ Guarantee ” means, as to any Person, (a) any obligation, contingent or otherwise, of such Person guaranteeing or having the economic effect of guaranteeing any Indebtedness of the kind described in clauses (a) through (g) of the definition thereof or other obligation payable or performable by another Person (the “ primary obligor ”) in any manner, whether directly or indirectly, and including any obligation of such Person, direct or indirect, (i) to purchase or pay (or advance or supply funds for the purchase or payment of) such Indebtedness or other obligation, (ii) to purchase or lease property, securities or services for the purpose of assuring the obligee in respect of such Indebtedness or other obligation of the payment or performance of such Indebtedness or other obligation, (iii) to maintain working capital, equity capital or any other financial statement condition or liquidity or level of income or cash flow of the primary obligor so as to enable the primary obligor to pay such Indebtedness or other obligation, or (iv) entered into for the purpose of assuring in any other manner the obligee in respect of such Indebtedness or other obligation of the payment or performance thereof or to protect such obligee against loss in respect thereof (in whole or in part), or (b) any Lien on any assets of such Person securing any Indebtedness of the kind described in clauses (a) through (g) of the definition thereof or other obligation of any other Person, whether or not such Indebtedness or other obligation is assumed or expressly undertaken by such Person (or any right, contingent or otherwise, of any holder of such Indebtedness or obligation to obtain any such Lien).  The amount of any Guarantee shall be deemed to be an amount equal to the stated or determinable amount of the related primary obligation, or portion thereof, in respect of which such Guarantee is made or, if not stated or determinable, the maximum reasonably anticipated liability in respect thereof as determined by the guaranteeing Person in good faith.  The term “ Guarantee ” as a verb has a corresponding meaning.

“ Guaranteed Obligation s” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.01.

 

“ Guarantors ” means, collectively, (a) the Subsidiaries of the Parent as are or may from time to time become parties to this Agreement pursuant to Section 6.13, and (b) with respect to Additional Secured Obligations owing by any Loan Party, or any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates and any Swap Obligation of a Specified Loan Party (determined before giving effect to Sections 10.01 and 10.11) under the Guaranty, the Borrowers.

“ Guaranty ” means, collectively, the Guarantee made by the Guarantors under Article X in favor of the Secured Parties, together with each other guaranty delivered pursuant to Section 6.13.

“ Hazardous Materials ” means all explosive or radioactive substances or wastes and all hazardous or toxic substances, wastes or other pollutants, including petroleum or petroleum distillates, natural gas, natural gas liquids, asbestos or asbestos-containing materials, polychlorinated biphenyls, radon gas, toxic mold, infectious or medical wastes and all other substances, wastes, chemicals, pollutants, contaminants or compounds of any nature in any form regulated pursuant to any Environmental Law.

“ Hedge Bank ” means any Person in its capacity as a party to a Swap Contract that, at the time it enters into a Swap Contract required by or not prohibited under Article VI or VII, is a Lender or an Affiliate of a Lender, in its capacity as a party to such Swap Contract (even if such Person ceases to be a Lender or such Person’s Affiliate ceased to be a Lender); provided , that in the case of a Secured Hedge Agreement with a Person who is no longer a Lender (or Affiliate of a Lender), such Person shall be considered a Hedge Bank only through the stated termination date (without extension or renewal) of such Secured Hedge Agreement; and provided , further , that for any of the foregoing to be included as a “Secured Hedge Agreement” on any date of determination by the Administrative Agent, the applicable Hedge Bank (other than the Administrative Agent or an Affiliate of the Administrative Agent) and the

 

 

 

Parent must have delivered a Secured Party Designation Notice to the Administrative Agent prior to such date of determination.

“ Honor Date ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.03(c).

“ Indebtedness ” means, as to any Person at a particular time, without duplication, all of the following, whether or not included as indebtedness or liabilities in accordance with GAAP:

(a)        all obligations of such Person for borrowed money and all obligations of such Person evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes, loan agreements or other similar instruments;

(b)        the maximum amount of all direct or contingent obligations of such Person arising under letters of credit (including standby letters of credit), bankers’ acceptances, bank guaranties and similar instruments;

(c)        net obligations of such Person under any Swap Contract;

(d)        all obligations (including, without limitation, all earnout obligations to the extent included as indebtedness or liabilities in accordance with GAAP) of such Person to pay the deferred purchase price of property or services, (other than trade accounts payable in the ordinary course of business and not past due for more than ninety (90) days);

(e)        indebtedness (excluding prepaid interest thereon) secured by a Lien on property owned or being purchased by such Person (including indebtedness arising under conditional sales or other title retention agreements), whether or not such indebtedness shall have been assumed by such Person or is limited in recourse;

(f)        all Attributable Indebtedness in respect of Capitalized Leases and Synthetic Lease Obligations of such Person and all Synthetic Debt of such Person;

(g)        all obligations of such Person to purchase, redeem, retire, defease or otherwise make any payment in respect of any Equity Interest in such Person or any other Person or any warrant, right or option to acquire such Equity Interest, valued, in the case of a redeemable preferred interest, at the greater of its voluntary or involuntary liquidation preference plus accrued and unpaid dividends; and

(h)        all Guarantees of such Person in respect of any of the foregoing.

For all purposes hereof, the Indebtedness of any Person shall include the Indebtedness of any partnership or joint venture (other than a joint venture that is itself a corporation or limited liability company) in which such Person is a general partner or a joint venturer, unless such Indebtedness is expressly made non-recourse to such Person.  The amount of any net obligation under any Swap Contract on any date shall be deemed to be the Swap Termination Value thereof as of such date.

“ 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 Loan Party under any Loan Document and (b) to the extent not otherwise described in clause (a), Other Taxes.

“ Indemnitees ” has the meaning specified in Section 11.04(b).

“ Information ” has the meaning specified in Section 11.07.

 

 

“ Intellectual Property ” has the meaning set forth in the Security Agreement.

“ Intercompany Debt ” has the meaning specified in Section 7.02.

“ Interest Payment Date ” means, (a) as to any Eurodollar Rate Loan, the last day of each Interest Period applicable to such Loan and the Maturity Date; provided , however , that if any Interest Period for a Eurodollar Rate Loan exceeds three (3) months, the respective dates that fall every three (3) months after the beginning of such Interest Period shall also be Interest Payment Dates; and (b) as to any Base Rate Loan or Swingline Loan, the last Business Day of each March, June, September and December and the Maturity Date.

“ Interest Period ” means, as to each Eurodollar Rate Loan, the period commencing on the date such Eurodollar Rate Loan is disbursed or converted to or continued as a Eurodollar Rate Loan and ending on the date one (1), two (2), three (3) or six (6) months thereafter, as selected by each Borrower in its Loan Notice , or such other period that is twelve (12) months or less requested by each Borrower and consented to by all of the Lender s, in each case, subject to availability; provided that:

(a)        any Interest Period that would otherwise end on a day that is not a Business Day shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day unless such Business Day falls in another calendar month, in which case such Interest Period shall end on the next preceding Business Day;

(b)        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 calendar month at the end of such Interest Period; and

(c)        no Interest Period shall extend beyond the Maturity Date.

“ Investment ” means, as to any Person, any direct or indirect acquisition or investment by such Person, whether by means of (a) the purchase or other acquisition of Equity Interests of another Person, (b) a loan, advance or capital contribution to, Guarantee or assumption of debt of, or purchase or other acquisition of any other debt or interest in, another Person (including any partnership or joint venture interest in such other Person and any arrangement pursuant to which the investor guaranties Indebtedness of such other Person), or (c) the purchase or other acquisition (in one transaction or a series of transactions) of assets of another Person which constitute all or substantially all of the assets of such Person or of a division, line of business or other business unit of such Person. For purposes of covenant compliance, the amount of any Investment shall be the amount actually invested, without adjustment for subsequent increases or decreases in the value of such Investment.

“ Involuntary Disposition ” means any loss of, damage to or destruction of, or any condemnation or other taking for public use of, any property of any Loan Party or any Subsidiary.

“ IRS ” means the United States Internal Revenue Service.

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

 

 

 

“ Issuer Documents ” means with respect to any Letter of Credit, the Letter of Credit Application, and any other document, agreement and instrument entered into by the L/C Issuer and any Borrower (or any Subsidiary) or in favor of the L/C Issuer and relating to such Letter of Credit.

“ Joinder Agreement ” means a joinder agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit D executed and delivered in accordance with the provisions of Section 6.13.

“ Judgment Currency ” has the meaning specified in Section 11.22.

“ Landlord Waiver ” means a landlord or warehouse waiver substantially in the form of Exhibit M .

“ Laws ” means, collectively, all international, foreign, federal, state and local statutes, treaties, rules, guidelines, regulations, ordinances, codes and administrative or judicial precedents or authorities, including the interpretation or administration thereof by any Governmental Authority charged with the enforcement, interpretation or administration thereof, and all applicable administrative orders, directed duties, requests, licenses, authorizations and permits of, and agreements with, any Governmental Authority, in each case whether or not having the force of law.

“ L/C Advance ” means, with respect to each Revolving Lender, such Lender’s funding of its participation in any L/C Borrowing in accordance with its Applicable Percentage. All L/C Advances shall be denominated in Dollars.

“ L/C Borrowing ” means an extension of credit resulting from a drawing under any Letter of Credit which has not been reimbursed on the date when made or refinanced as a Revolving Borrowing.   All L/C Borrowings shall be denominated in Dollars.

“ L/C Commitment ” means, as to each L/C Issuer, its obligation to issue Letters of Credit to the Borrowers pursuant to Section 2.03 in an aggregate principal amount at any one time outstanding not to exceed $15,000,000, as such amount may be adjusted from time to time in accordance with this Agreement.

“ L/C Credit Extension ” means, with respect to any Letter of Credit, the issuance thereof or extension of the expiry date thereof, or the increase of the amount thereof.

“ L/C Issuer ” means Bank of America, through itself or through one of its designated Affiliates or branch offices,   in its capacity as issuer of Letters of Credit hereunder, or any successor issuer of Letters of Credit hereunder.

“ L/C Obligations ” means, as at any date of determination, the aggregate amount available to be drawn under all outstanding Letters of Credit plus the aggregate of all Unreimbursed Amounts (including all L/C Borrowings).  For purposes of computing the amount available to be drawn under any Letter of Credit, the amount of such Letter of Credit shall be determined in accordance with Section 1.06.  For all purposes of this Agreement, if on any date of determination a Letter of Credit has expired by its terms but any amount may still be drawn thereunder by reason of the operation of Rule 3.14 of the ISP, such Letter of Credit shall be deemed to be “outstanding” in the amount so remaining available to be drawn.

“ Lender ” means each of the Persons identified as a “Lender” on the signature pages hereto, each other Person that becomes a “Lender” in accordance with this Agreement and their successors and assigns, and, unless the context requires otherwise, the Swingline Lender, but excluding any such Person that ceases to be a party hereto pursuant to an Assignment and Assumption.

 

 

“ Lending Office ” means, as to the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuer or any Lender, the office or offices of such Person described as such in such Person’s Administrative Questionnaire, or such other office or offices as such Person may from time to time notify the Borrowers and the Administrative Agent; which office may include any Affiliate of such Person or any domestic or foreign branch of such Person or such Affiliate.

“ Letter of Credit ” means any standby letter of credit issued hereunder.  Letters of Credit may be issued in Dollars or in an Alternative Currency.

“ Letter of Credit Application ” means an application and agreement for the issuance or amendment of a Letter of Credit in the form from time to time in use by the L/C Issuer.

“ Letter of Credit Expiration Date ” means the day that is seven (7) days prior to the Maturity Date (or, if such day is not a Business Day, the next preceding Business Day).

“ Letter of Credit Fee ” has the meaning specified in Section 2.03(h).

“ Letter of Credit Sublimit ” means an amount equal to the lesser of (a) $15,000,000 and (b) the Revolving Facility.  The Letter of Credit Sublimit is part of, and not in addition to, the Revolving Facility.

“ LIBOR ” has the meaning specified in the definition of Eurodollar Rate.

“ LIBOR Daily Floating Rate ” means:

(a)        the fluctuating rate of interest, which can change on each Business Day, equal to LIBOR, or a comparable or successor rate which rate is approved by the Administrative Agent, as published on the applicable Bloomberg screen page (or such other commercially available source providing such quotations as may be designated by the Administrative Agent from time to time) at or about 11:00 a.m., London time, two (2) Business Days prior to the date in question, for Dollar deposits with a term equivalent to a one (1) month term beginning on that date (in such case, the “ One Month LIBOR Rate ”); and

(b)        for any interest calculation with respect to a Base Rate Loan on any date, the rate per annum equal to the One Month LIBOR Rate;

provided that to the extent a comparable or successor rate is approved by the Administrative Agent in connection herewith, the approved rate shall be applied in a manner consistent with market practice; provided , further that to the extent such market practice is not administratively feasible for the Administrative Agent, such approved rate shall be applied in a manner as otherwise reasonably determined by the Administrative Agent.

“ Lien ” means any mortgage, pledge, hypothecation, assignment, deposit arrangement, encumbrance, lien (statutory or otherwise), charge, or preference, priority or other security interest or preferential arrangement in the nature of a security interest of any kind or nature whatsoever (including any conditional sale or other title retention agreement, any easement, right of way or other encumbrance on title to real property and any financing lease having substantially the same economic effect as any of the foregoing).

“ Loan ” means an extension of credit by a Lender to any Borrower under Article II in the form of a Revolving Loan or a Swingline Loan.

 

 

“ Loan Documents ” means, collectively, (a) this Agreement, (b) the Notes, (c) the Guaranty, (d) the Collateral Documents, (e) the Fee Letter, (f) each Issuer Document, (g) each Joinder Agreement, and (h) any agreement creating or perfecting rights in Cash Collateral pursuant to the provisions of Section 2.14 (but specifically excluding any Secured Hedge Agreement or any Secured Cash Management Agreement).

“ Loan Notice ” means a notice of (a) a Borrowing, (b) a conversion of Loans from one Type to the other, or (c) a continuation of Eurodollar Rate Loans, pursuant to Section 2.02(a), which shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit E or such other form as may be approved by the Administrative Agent  (including any form on an electronic platform or electronic transmission system as shall be approved by the Administrative Agent), appropriately completed and signed by a Responsible Officer of the applicable Borrower.

“ Loan Parties ” means, collectively, the Borrowers   and each Guarantor.

“ London Banking Day ” means any day on which dealings in Dollar deposits are conducted by and between banks in the London interbank eurodollar market.

“ Master Agreement ” has the meaning set forth in the definition of “Swap Contract.”

“ Material Adverse Effect ” means (a) a material adverse change in, or a material adverse effect upon, the operations, business, assets, properties, liabilities (actual or contingent) or financial condition of the Loan Parties and their respective Subsidiaries, taken as a whole; (b) a material impairment of the rights and remedies of the Administrative Agent or any Lender under any Loan Document, or of the ability of the Loan Parties (taken as a whole) to perform their obligations under any Loan Document; or (c) a material adverse effect upon the legality, validity, binding effect or enforceability against any Loan Party of any Loan Document to which it is a party.

“ Material Contract ” means, with respect to any Person, each contract or agreement (a) to which such Person is a party involving aggregate consideration payable to or by such Person of $10,000,000 or more in any year or (b) otherwise material to the business, condition (financial or otherwise), operations, performance, properties or prospects of such Person or (c) any other contract, agreement, permit or license, written or oral, of any Borrower and its Subsidiaries as to which the breach, nonperformance, cancellation or failure to renew by any party thereto, individually or in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

“ Material Domestic Subsidiary ” means any Domestic Subsidiary of the Parent that, together with its Subsidiaries, (a) generates more than 5% of Consolidated EBITDA on a Pro Forma Basis for the applicable Measurement Period or (b) has total assets (including equity interests in other Subsidiaries and excluding investments that are eliminated in consolidation) of equal to or greater than 5% of the total assets of the Parent and its Subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis as of the end of such Measurement Period; 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 20% of Consolidated EBITDA on a Pro Forma Basis for the applicable Measurement Period or (ii) have total assets (including equity interests in other Subsidiaries and excluding investments that are eliminated in consolidation) of equal to or greater than 20% of the total assets of the Parent and its Subsidiaries on a Consolidated basis as of the end of such Measurement Period, then the Parent 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 6.13 such that, after such Domestic Subsidiaries become Guarantors hereunder, the Domestic Subsidiaries that are not Guarantors shall (A) generate less than 20% of Consolidated EBITDA for the applicable Measurement Period and (B) have total assets of less than

 

 

 

 

20% of the total assets of the Parent and its Subsidiaries on a Consolidated basis as of the end of such Measurement Period.

“ Maturity Date ” means January 30, 2020; provided , however , that if such date is not a Business Day, the Maturity Date shall be the next preceding Business Day.

“ Measurement Period ” means, at any date of determination (a) for purposes of Section 7.11, the period of four (4) fiscal quarters of the Parent ending on such date and (b) for purposes of determining Pro Forma Compliance, the most recently completed four (4) fiscal quarters of the Parent for which financial statements have been delivered pursuant to Section 6.01.

“ 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 any period when a Lender constitutes a Defaulting Lender, an amount equal to 105% of the Fronting Exposure of the L/C Issuer 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 2.14(a)(i), (a)(ii) or (a)(iii), an amount equal to 105% of the Outstanding Amount of all L/C Obligations, and (c) otherwise, an amount determined by the Administrative Agent and the L/C Issuer in their sole discretion.

“ Moody’s ” means Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. and any successor thereto.

“ Multiemployer Plan ” means any employee benefit plan of the type described in Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA, to which any Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate makes or is obligated to make contributions, or during the preceding five (5) plan years, has made or been obligated to make contributions.

“ Multiple Employer Plan ” means a Plan which has two or more contributing sponsors (including any Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate) at least two of whom are not under common control, as such a plan is described in Section 4064 of ERISA.

“ Non-Consenting Lender ” means any Lender that does not approve any consent, waiver or amendment that (a) requires the approval of all Lenders or all affected Lenders in accordance with the terms of Section 11.01 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.

“ Non-Extension Notice Date ” has the meaning specified in Section 2.03(b)(iv).

“ Note ” means any Revolving Note.

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

“ Obligations ” means (a) all advances to, and debts, liabilities, obligations, covenants and duties of, any Loan Party arising under any Loan Document or otherwise with respect to any Loan, or Letter of Credit and (b) all obligations for any costs and expenses incurred in connection with enforcement and collection of the foregoing, including the fees, charges and disbursements of counsel, arising under any

 

 

 

 

Loan Document, in each case whether direct or indirect (including those acquired by assumption), absolute or contingent, due or to become due, now existing or hereafter arising and including interest and fees that accrue after the commencement by or against any Loan Party or any Affiliate thereof pursuant to 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; provided that Obligations of a Loan Party shall exclude any Excluded Swap Obligations with respect to such Loan Party.

“ OFAC ” means the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the United States Department of the Treasury.

“ Officer’s Certificate ” means a certificate substantially the form of Exhibit J or any other form approved by the Administrative Agent.

“ One Month LIBOR Rate ” has the meaning specified in the definition of LIBOR Daily Floating Rate.

 

“ Organization Documents ” means, (a) with respect to any corporation, the certificate or articles of incorporation and the bylaws (or equivalent or comparable constitutive documents with respect to any non-U.S. jurisdiction); (b) with respect to any limited liability company, the certificate or articles of formation or organization and operating agreement or limited liability company agreement (or equivalent or comparable documents with respect to any non-U.S. jurisdiction); (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 (or equivalent or comparable documents with respect to any non-U.S. jurisdiction) and (d) with respect to all entities, 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 (or equivalent or comparable documents with respect to any non-U.S. jurisdiction).

“ 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 or 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 3.06).

“ Outstanding Amount ” means (a) with respect to Revolving 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 Loans and Swingline Loans, as the case may be, occurring on such date; and (b) with respect to any L/C Obligations on any date, the Dollar Equivalent amount of the amount of such L/C Obligations on such date after giving effect to any L/C Credit Extension occurring on such date and any other changes in the aggregate Dollar Equivalent amount of the L/C Obligations as of such date, including as a result of any reimbursements by any Borrower of Unreimbursed Amounts.

“ Overnight Rate ” means, for any day, (a) with respect to any amount denominated in Dollars, the greater of (i) the Federal Funds Rate and (ii) an overnight rate determined by the Administrative Agent,

 

 

 

the L/C Issuer, or the Swingline Lender, as the case may be, in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation, and (b) with respect to any amount denominated in an Alternative Currency, an overnight rate determined by the Administrative Agent or the L/C Issuer, as the case may be, in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation.

“ Parent ” means Movado Group, Inc., a New York corporation.

“ Participant ” has the meaning specified in Section 11.06(d).

“ Participant Register ” has the meaning specified in Section 11.06(d).

“ Participating Member State ” means any member state of the European Union that adopts or has adopted the Euro as its lawful currency in accordance with legislation of the European Union relating to Economic and Monetary Union.

“ PBGC ” means the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation.

“ Pension Act ” means the Pension Protection Act of 2006.

“ Pension Funding Rules ” means the rules of the Code and ERISA regarding minimum required contributions (including any installment payment thereof) to Pension Plans and set forth in, with respect to plan years ending prior to the effective date of the Pension Act, Section 412 of the Code and Section 302 of ERISA, each as in effect prior to the Pension Act and, thereafter, Section 412, 430, 431, 432 and 436 of the Code and Sections 302, 303, 304 and 305 of ERISA.

“ Pension Plan ” means any employee pension benefit plan (including a Multiple Employer Plan or a Multiemployer Plan) that is maintained or is contributed to by any Borrower and any ERISA Affiliate and is either covered by Title IV of ERISA or is subject to the minimum funding standards under Section 412 of the Code.

“ Permitted Acquisition ” means an Acquisition by a Loan Party or Subsidiary of a Person or division, line of business or other business unit of a Person to be acquired in such Acquisition (the “ Target ”) that is, or is engaged in, a type of business (or is comprised of assets used in a type of business) permitted to be engaged in by the Borrowers and their Subsidiaries pursuant to the terms of this Agreement (a “ Permitted Business ”), in each case so long as:

(a)        no Default shall then exist or would exist after giving effect thereto;

(b)        the Loan Parties shall demonstrate to the reasonable satisfaction of the Administrative Agent that, after giving effect to the Acquisition, on a Pro Forma Basis, (i)   the   Loan Parties are in Pro Forma Compliance and (ii) the Consolidated Leverage Ratio shall be at least 0.25 to 1.0 less than the then applicable level set forth in Section 7.11, calculated using the same Measurement Period used to determine Pro Forma Compliance;

(c)        the applicable Loan Parties shall have complied with Sections 6.13 and 6.14, as applicable;

(d)        the Administrative Agent, on behalf of the Secured Parties, shall have received not less than (i) ten (10) Business Days (or such shorter period as the Administrative Agent may agree) prior to the consummation of any Permitted Acquisition having a Cost of Acquisition in excess of $10,000,000, (A) written notice of the proposed Acquisition and a

 

 

 

description of the material terms of such Acquisition and (B) a due diligence package relative to the proposed Acquisition, including forecasted balance sheets, profit and loss statements, and cash flow statements of the Person to be acquired, all prepared on a basis consistent with such Person’s historical financial statements, together with appropriate supporting details and a statement of underlying assumptions for the one (1) year period following the date of the proposed Acquisition, on a quarter by quarter basis and (ii) five (5) Business Days (or such shorter period as the Administrative Agent may agree) prior to the consummation of such Permitted Acquisition, (A) copies of the acquisition agreement and other material documents relative to the proposed Acquisition and (B) a Permitted Acquisition Certificate, executed by a Responsible Officer of the Parent certifying that such Permitted Acquisition complies with the requirements of this Agreement;

(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 applicable Loan Party and the Target;

(f)        after giving effect to such Acquisition and any Borrowings made in connection therewith, the aggregate principal amount of Revolving Loans available to be borrowed under Section 2.01 hereof shall be at least $25,000,000; and

(g)        with respect to any Acquisitions by any Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party, the aggregate Cost of Acquisition for all such Permitted Acquisitions during the term of this Agreement shall not exceed $75,000,000.

“ Permitted Acquisition Certificate ” means a certificate substantially the form of Exhibit F or any other form approved by the Administrative Agent.

“ Permitted Business ” has the meaning set forth in the definition of “Permitted Acquisition.”

“ Permitted Liens ” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.01.

“ Permitted Tax Distributions ” means, for so long as any Borrower is treated as a partnership for federal income tax purposes, aggregate cash distributions by any Borrower to its members in amounts sufficient to allow such members to pay their estimated and final federal, state and local income tax liabilities, based on the Effective Tax Rate (as defined herein), deemed to arise from the taxable income of the Person making such distribution (such taxable income calculated taking into account any additional deductions or losses available to a member as a result of any basis adjustment pursuant to Section 743 of the Code and taking into account losses, if any, of the distributing Person from prior periods which are permitted to be applied by the members to offset income in the current period, such losses to be applied on a member-by-member basis so that the excess losses of one member shall not be netted hereunder against the taxable income of another member) without regard to the amount of the members’ actual federal, state and local income tax liabilities.  Such distributions may be made not more frequently than quarterly with respect to each period for which an installment of estimated tax would be required to be paid by the members of the Person making such distribution (and then, not more than thirty (30) days prior to the due date of the taxes which are the subject of such distribution), except that an additional final distribution may be made after the final taxable income of any Borrower for any fiscal year has been determined in an amount equal to the excess of the income tax liability of the members of the applicable Borrower as computed herein with respect to the immediately preceding taxable year over the aggregate amount of any prior Permitted Tax Distributions made to the members with respect to such taxable year; provided, the maximum aggregate amount of Permitted Tax Distributions for any such period made to each member shall not exceed the product of (a) the taxable income of the Person making such

 

 

 

distribution (calculated as described above) allocable to such member (taking into account any additional deductions or losses available to the members as a result of any basis adjustment pursuant to Section 743 and taking into account losses, if any, of the distributing Person from prior periods which are permitted to be applied by such member to offset income in the current period) for such period, multiplied by (b) the Effective Tax Rate allocable to such member.  The Effective Tax Rate shall be equal to the sum of (i) the highest individual or corporate marginal federal income tax rate applicable to any member for the applicable year and (ii) the percentage with respect to state and local income tax rates for that year that the board of managers of the Person making the Permitted Tax Distributions determines in good faith is appropriate (provided that such percentage shall not exceed the highest state and local income tax rates applicable to any member).

“ Permitted Transfers ” means (a) Dispositions of inventory in the ordinary course of business; (b) Dispositions of property to any Borrower or any Subsidiary; provided , that if the transferor of such property is a Loan Party then the transferee thereof must be a Loan Party; (c) Dispositions of accounts receivable in connection with the collection or compromise thereof; (d) licenses, sublicenses, leases or subleases granted to third parties not interfering in any material respect with the business of any Borrower and its Subsidiaries; (e) the sale or disposition of Cash Equivalents in the ordinary course of business and (f) Resale Transactions.

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

“ Plan ” means any employee benefit plan within the meaning of Section 3(3) of ERISA (including a Pension Plan), maintained for employees of any Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate or any such Plan to which any Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate is required to contribute on behalf of any of its employees.

“ Platform ” has the meaning specified in Section 6.02.

“ Pledged Equity ” has the meaning specified in the Security Agreement.

“ Pro Forma Basis ” and “ Pro Forma Effect ” means, for any Disposition of all or substantially all of a division or a line of business or for any Acquisition, whether actual or proposed, for purposes of determining compliance with the financial covenants set forth in Section 7.11 or a test based on the Consolidated Leverage Ratio with respect to a Measurement Period, each such transaction or proposed transaction shall be deemed to have occurred on and as of the first day of the relevant Measurement Period, and the following pro forma adjustments shall be made:

(a)        in the case of an actual or proposed Disposition, all income statement items (whether positive or negative) attributable to the line of business or the Person subject to such Disposition shall be excluded from the results of any Borrower and its Subsidiaries for such Measurement Period as if such Disposition was consummated on the first day of the applicable Measurement Period;

(b)        in the case of an actual or proposed Acquisition, income statement items (whether positive or negative) attributable to the property, line of business or the Person subject to such Acquisition shall be included in the results of any Borrower and its Subsidiaries for such Measurement Period, and such  pro forma calculations may reflect operating expense reductions and other operating improvements and synergies from the applicable event projected by the Parent in good faith to be realized based on actions to be taken within 12 months after the applicable Acquisition is consummated, net of the amount of actual benefits realized during such Measurement Period from such actions and all costs required to achieve such reductions,

 

 

 

improvements and synergies, in each case, as if such Acquisition was consummated on the first day of the applicable Measurement Period; provided that all such expense reductions, improvements and synergies reflected pursuant to this Section shall not exceed 5% of the Consolidated EBITDA of the Parent and its Subsidiaries and the Target on a pro forma basis;

(c)        interest, fees and other expenses accrued during the relevant Measurement Period on, and the principal of, any Indebtedness repaid or to be repaid or refinanced in such transaction shall be excluded from the results of any Borrower and its Subsidiaries for such Measurement Period as if such Indebtedness were repaid or refinanced on the first day of the applicable Measurement Period; and

(d)        any Indebtedness actually or proposed to be incurred or assumed in such transaction shall be deemed to have been incurred as of the first day of the applicable Measurement Period, and interest thereon shall be deemed to have accrued from such day on such Indebtedness at the applicable rates provided therefor (and in the case of interest that does or would accrue at a formula or floating rate, at the rate in effect at the time of determination), taking into account any Swap Contract applicable to such Indebtedness, and shall be included in the results of any Borrower and its Subsidiaries for such Measurement Period.

 

“ Pro Forma Compliance ” means, with respect to any transaction, that such transaction does not cause, create or result in a Default after giving Pro Forma Effect, based upon the results of operations for the most recently completed Measurement Period to (a) such transaction and (b) all other transactions which are contemplated or required to be given Pro Forma Effect hereunder that have occurred on or after the first day of the relevant Measurement Period.

 

“ Public Lender ” has the meaning specified in Section 6.02.

“ Qualified ECP Guarantor ” means, at any time, each Loan Party with total assets exceeding $10,000,000 or that qualifies at such time as an “eligible contract participant” under the Commodity Exchange Act and can cause another Person to qualify as an “eligible contract participant” at such time under Section 1a(18)(A)(v)(II) of the Commodity Exchange Act.

“ Real Property ” means any real property owned by a Loan Party.

“ Recipient ” means (a) the Administrative Agent, (b) any Lender, or (c) the L/C Issuer, as applicable.

“ Reduction Amount ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.05(b)(viii).

“ Register ” has the meaning specified in Section 11.06(c).

“ 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.

“ Reportable Event ” means any of the events set forth in Section 4043(c) of ERISA, other than events for which the thirty (30) day notice period has been waived.

 

 

“ Request for Credit Extension ” means (a) with respect to a Borrowing, conversion or continuation of Revolving Loans, a Loan Notice, (b) with respect to an L/C Credit Extension, a Letter of Credit Application, and (c) with respect to a Swingline Loan, a Swingline Loan Notice.

“ Required Lenders ” means, at any time, Lenders having Total Credit Exposures representing at least 66-2/3% of the Total Credit Exposures of all Lenders.  The Total Credit Exposure of any Defaulting Lender shall be disregarded in determining Required Lenders at any time; provided that, the amount of any participation in any Swingline Loan and Unreimbursed Amounts that such Defaulting Lender has failed to fund that have not been reallocated to and funded by another Lender shall be deemed to be held by the Lender that is the Swingline Lender or L/C Issuer, as the case may be, in making such determination.

“ Resale Transaction ” means the sale, transfer or other disposition by any Borrower or Subsidiary of any asset acquired after the Closing Date pursuant to an Acquisition that is not necessary for the operation of the business of Borrowers and their Subsidiaries; provided that within 180 days after the consummation of such Permitted Acquisition, the Administrative Agent receives written notice from a Borrower identifying such asset with reasonable specificity and stating such that such asset is being held for disposition in a Resale Transaction.

“ Resignation Effective Date ” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.06.

“ Responsible Officer ” means the chief executive officer, president, chief operating officer, chief financial officer, treasurer, assistant treasurer, controller or secretary of a Loan Party and, solely for purposes of notices given pursuant to Article II, any other officer of the applicable Loan Party so designated by any of the foregoing officers in a notice to the Administrative Agent or any other officer or employee of the applicable Loan Party designated in or pursuant to an agreement between the applicable Loan Party and the Administrative Agent.  Any document delivered hereunder that is signed by a Responsible Officer of a Loan Party shall be conclusively presumed to have been authorized by all necessary corporate, partnership and/or other action on the part of such Loan Party and such Responsible Officer shall be conclusively presumed to have acted on behalf of such Loan Party. To the extent requested by the Administrative Agent, each Responsible Officer will provide an incumbency certificate and to the extent requested by the Administrative Agent, appropriate authorization documentation, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

“ Restricted Payment ” means (a) any dividend or other distribution (including without limitation Permitted Tax Distributions), direct or indirect, on account of any shares (or equivalent) of any class of Equity Interests of the Parent or any of its Subsidiaries, now or hereafter outstanding, (b) any redemption, retirement, sinking fund or similar payment, purchase or other acquisition for value, direct or indirect, of any shares (or equivalent) of any class of Equity Interests of the Parent or any of its Subsidiaries, now or hereafter outstanding, and (c) 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 Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries, now or hereafter outstanding.

“ Revaluation Date ” with respect to any Letter of Credit, each of the following:  (i) each date of issuance, amendment and/or extension of a Letter of Credit denominated in an Alternative Currency, (ii) each date of any payment by the L/C Issuer under any Letter of Credit denominated in an Alternative Currency, (iii) in the case of all Existing Letters of Credit denominated in Alternative Currencies, the Closing Date, and (iv) such additional dates as the Administrative Agent or the L/C Issuer shall determine or the Required Lenders shall require.

 

 

“ Revolving Borrowing ” means a borrowing consisting of simultaneous Revolving Loans of the same Type and, in the case of Eurodollar Rate Loans, having the same Interest Period made by each of the Revolving Lenders pursuant to Section 2.01.

“ Revolving Commitment ” means, as to each Revolving Lender, its obligation to (a) make Revolving Loans to the Borrowers pursuant to Section 2.01, (b) purchase participations in L/C Obligations, and (c) purchase participations in Swingline Loans, in an aggregate principal amount at any one time outstanding not to exceed the amount set forth opposite such Lender’s name on Schedule 1.01(b) under the caption “Revolving Commitment” or opposite such caption in the Assignment and Assumption pursuant to which such Lender becomes a party hereto, as applicable, as such amount may be adjusted from time to time in accordance with this Agreement.  The Revolving Commitments of all of the Revolving Lenders on the Closing Date shall be $100,000,000.

“ Revolving Exposure ” means, as to any Lender at any time, the aggregate principal amount at such time of its outstanding Revolving Loans and such Lender’s participation in L/C Obligations and Swingline Loans at such time.

“ Revolving Facility ” means, at any time, the amount of the Aggregate Commitments at such time.

“ Revolving Lender ” means, at any time, (a) so long as any Revolving Commitment is in effect, any Lender that has a Revolving Commitment at such time or (b) if the Revolving Commitments have terminated or expired, any Lender that has a Revolving Loan or a participation in L/C Obligations or Swingline Loans at such time.

“ Revolving Loan ” has the meaning specified in Section 2.01.

“ Revolving Note ” means a promissory note made by each Borrower in favor of a Revolving Lender evidencing (a) Revolving Loans made by such Revolving Lender, substantially in the form of Exhibit G or (b) Swingline Loans made by such Revolving Lender, substantially in the form of Exhibit I .

“ S&P ” means Standard & Poor’s Financial Services LLC, a subsidiary of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc., and any successor thereto.

“ Sale and Leaseback Transaction ” means, with respect to any Loan Party or any Subsidiary, any arrangement, directly or indirectly, with any Person whereby such Loan Party or such Subsidiary shall sell or transfer any property used or useful in its business, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, and thereafter rent or lease such property or other property that it intends to use for substantially the same purpose or purposes as the property being sold or transferred.

“ Sanction(s) ” means any sanction administered or enforced by the United States Government (including, without limitation, OFAC), the United Nations Security Council, the European Union, Her Majesty’s Treasury (“ HMT ”) or other relevant sanctions authority.

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

“ Secured Cash Management Agreement ” means any Cash Management Agreement between any Loan Party, or any of its Subsidiaries, and any Cash Management Bank.

 

 

 

“ Secured Hedge Agreement ” means any interest rate, currency, foreign exchange, or commodity Swap Contract required or permitted under Article VI or VII between any Loan Party, or any of its Subsidiaries,   and any Hedge Bank.

“ Secured Obligations ” means all Obligations and all Additional Secured Obligations.

 

“ Secured Parties ” means, collectively, the Administrative Agent, the Lenders, the L/C Issuer, the Hedge Banks, the Cash Management Banks, the Indemnitees and each co-agent or sub-agent appointed by the Administrative Agent from time to time pursuant to Section 9.05.

“ Secured Party Designation Notice ” means a notice from any Lender or an Affiliate of a Lender and the Parent (such notice by the Parent not to be unreasonably delayed) substantially in the form of Exhibit H .

“ Securities Act ” means the Securities Act of 1933, including all amendments thereto and regulations promulgated thereunder.

“ Security Agreement ” means the security and pledge agreement, dated as of the Closing Date, executed in favor of the Administrative Agent by each of the Loan Parties.

“ Securitization Transaction ” means, with respect to any Person, any financing transaction or series of financing transactions (including factoring arrangements) pursuant to which such Person or any Subsidiary of such Person may sell, convey or otherwise transfer, or grant a security interest in, accounts, payments, receivables, rights to future lease payments or residuals or similar rights to payment to a special purpose subsidiary or affiliate of such Person.

“ Significant Subsidiary ” means any Foreign Subsidiary of the Parent that as of any date of determination (a) generates more than 5% of Consolidated EBITDA on a Pro Forma Basis for the applicable Measurement Period or (b) has total assets (including Equity Interests in other Subsidiaries and excluding investments that are eliminated in consolidation) of equal to or greater than 5% of the total assets of the Parent and its Subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis as of the end of such Measurement Period.

“ 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 is greater than the total amount of liabilities, including contingent liabilities, of such Person, (b) the present fair saleable value of the assets of such Person 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 as they mature in the ordinary course of business.  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 Loan Party ” means any Loan Party that is not then an “eligible contract participant” under the Commodity Exchange Act (determined prior to giving effect to Section 10.11).

 

“ Spot Rate ” for a currency means the rate determined by the Administrative Agent or the L/C Issuer, as applicable, to be the rate quoted by the Person acting in such capacity as the spot rate for the

 

 

 

purchase by such Person of such currency with another currency through its principal foreign exchange trading office at approximately 11:00 a.m. on the date two (2) Business Days prior to the date as of which the foreign exchange computation is made; provided that the Administrative Agent or the L/C Issuer may obtain such spot rate from another financial institution designated by the Administrative Agent or the L/C Issuer if the Person acting in such capacity does not have as of the date of determination a spot buying rate for any such currency; and provided further that the L/C Issuer may use such spot rate quoted on the date as of which the foreign exchange computation is made in the case of any Letter of Credit denominated in an Alternative Currency.

 

“ Sterling ” and means the lawful currency of the United Kingdom.

“ Subsidiary ” of a Person means a corporation, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company or other business entity of which a majority of the shares of Voting Stock is at the time beneficially owned, or the management of which is otherwise controlled, directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, or both, by such Person.  Unless otherwise specified, all references herein to a “Subsidiary” or to “Subsidiaries” shall refer to a Subsidiary or Subsidiaries of the Parent.

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

“ Swap Obligations ” means with respect to any Loan Party any obligation to pay or perform under any agreement, contract or transaction that constitutes a “swap” within the meaning of Section 1a(47) of the Commodity Exchange Act.

“ Swap Termination Value ” means, in respect of any one or more Swap Contracts, after taking into account the effect of any legally enforceable netting agreement relating to such Swap Contracts, (a) for any date on or after the date such Swap Contracts have been closed out and termination value(s) determined in accordance therewith, such termination value(s), and (b) for any date prior to the date referenced in clause (a), the amount(s) determined as the mark-to-market value(s) for such Swap Contracts, as determined based upon one or more mid-market or other readily available quotations provided by any recognized dealer in such Swap Contracts (which may include a Lender or any Affiliate of a Lender).

“ Swingline Borrowing ” means a borrowing of a Swingline Loan pursuant to Section 2.04.

“ Swingline Lender ” means Bank of America,   in its capacity as provider of Swingline Loans, or any successor swingline lender hereunder.

“ Swingline Loan ” has the meaning specified in Section 2.04(a).

 

 

“ Swingline Loan Notice ” means a notice of a Swingline Borrowing pursuant to Section 2.04(b), which shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit I or such other form as approved by the Administrative Agent (including any form on an electronic platform or electronic transmission system as shall be approved by the Administrative Agent pursuant), appropriately completed and signed by a Responsible Officer of the Parent.

“ Swingline Sublimit ” means an amount equal to the lesser of (a) $25,000,000 and (b) the Revolving Facility.  The Swingline Sublimit is part of, and not in addition to, the Revolving Facility.

“ Swiss Franc ” means the lawful currency of Switzerland.

“ Synthetic Debt ” means, with respect to any Person as of any date of determination thereof, all obligations of such Person in respect of transactions entered into by such Person that are intended to function primarily as a borrowing of funds (including any minority interest transactions that function primarily as a borrowing) but are not otherwise included in the definition of “Indebtedness” or as a liability on the Consolidated balance sheet of such Person and its Subsidiaries in accordance with GAAP.

“ Synthetic Lease Obligation ” means the monetary obligation of a Person under (a) a so-called synthetic, off-balance sheet or tax retention lease, or (b) an agreement for the use or possession of property (including Sale and Leaseback Transactions), in each case, creating obligations that do not appear on the balance sheet of such Person but which, upon the application of any Debtor Relief Laws to such Person, would be characterized as the indebtedness of such Person (without regard to accounting treatment).

“ Target ” has the meaning set forth in the definition of “Permitted Acquisition.”

“ 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, additions to tax or penalties applicable thereto.

“ Third Party Funds ” shall mean (a) any accounts or funds, or any portion thereof, received by any Loan Party as agent on behalf of third parties in accordance with a written agreement that imposes a duty upon a Loan Party to collect and remit those funds to such third parties, (b) any accounts established for employee benefits, withholding tax, customs or other fiduciary purposes and (c) any deposits permitted under Section 7.01.

 

“ Threshold Amount ” means $10,000,000.

“ Total Credit Exposure ” means, as to any Lender at any time, the unused Revolving Commitments and the Revolving Exposure of such Lender at such time.

“ Total Revolving Outstandings ” means the aggregate Outstanding Amount of all Revolving Loans, Swingline Loans and L/C Obligations.

“ Type ” means, with respect to a Loan, its character as a Base Rate Loan or a Eurodollar Rate Loan.

“ UCC ” means the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect in the State of New York;   provided that, if perfection or the effect of perfection or non-perfection or the priority of any security interest in any Collateral is governed by the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect in a jurisdiction other than the State of New York, “ UCC ” means the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect from time to time in such other

 

 

 

jurisdiction for purposes of the provisions hereof relating to such perfection, effect of perfection or non-perfection or priority.

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

“ United States ” and “ U.S. ” mean the United States of America.

“ Unreimbursed Amount ” has the meaning specified in Section 2.03(c)(i).

“ U.S. Loan Party ” means any Loan Party that is organized under the laws of one of the states of the United States and that is not a CFC.

“ 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 specified in Section 3.01(e)(ii)(B)(3).

“ Voting Stock ” 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 for the election of directors (or persons performing similar functions) of such Person, whether or not the right to so vote has been suspended by the happening of such contingency.

“ Wholly-owned ” means, with respect to a Subsidiary of a Person, 100% of the outstanding Equity Interests of such Subsidiary (other than directors’ or nominee shares required under Law) are owned by such Person or one or more Wholly-owned Subsidiaries of such Person.

“ Withholding Agent ” means any Loan Party and the Administrative Agent.

1.02         Other Interpretive 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.  Whenever the context may require, any pronoun shall include the corresponding masculine, feminine and neuter forms.  The words “include,” “includes” and “including” shall be deemed to be followed by the phrase “without limitation.”  The word “will” shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect as the word “shall.”  Unless the context requires otherwise, (i) any definition of or reference to any agreement, instrument or other document (including the Loan Documents and any Organization Document) shall be construed as referring to such agreement, instrument or other document as from time to time amended, modified, extended, restated, replaced or supplemented from time to time (subject to any restrictions on such amendments, supplements or modifications set forth herein or in any other Loan Document), (ii) any reference herein to any Person shall be construed to include such Person’s successors and assigns, (iii) the words “hereto,” “herein,” “hereof” and “hereunder,” and words of similar import when used in any Loan Document, shall be construed to refer to such Loan Document in its entirety and not to any particular provision thereof, (iv) all references in a Loan Document to Articles, Sections, Preliminary Statements, Exhibits and Schedules shall be construed to refer to Articles and Sections of, and Preliminary Statements, Exhibits and

 

 

 

Schedules to, the Loan Document in which such references appear, (v) any reference to any law shall include all statutory and regulatory rules, regulations, orders and provisions consolidating, amending, replacing or interpreting such law and any reference to any law or regulation shall, unless otherwise specified, refer to such law or regulation as amended, modified, extended, restated, replaced or supplemented from time to time, and (vi) 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.  Any and all references to “Borrower” regardless of whether preceded by the term a, any, each of, all, and/or, the, or any other similar term shall be deemed to refer, as the context requires, to each and every (and/or any one or all) parties constituting a Borrower, individually and/or in the aggregate.

(b)        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.”

(c)        Section headings herein and in the other Loan Documents are included for convenience of reference only and shall not affect the interpretation of this Agreement or any other Loan Document.

1.03         Accounting Terms.

 

(a)         Generally .  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, applied in a manner consistent with that used in preparing the Audited Financial Statements, 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 Borrowers and their Subsidiaries shall be deemed to be carried at 100% of the outstanding principal amount thereof, and the effects of FASB ASC 825 on financial liabilities shall be disregarded.

(b)         Changes in GAAP .  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 Parent or the Required Lenders shall so request, the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the Parent 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 as in effect prior to such change therein and (ii) the Parent 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.   Without limiting the foregoing, leases shall continue to be classified and accounted for on a basis consistent with that reflected in the Audited Financial Statements for all purposes of this Agreement, notwithstanding any change in GAAP relating thereto, unless the parties hereto shall enter into a mutually acceptable amendment (pursuant to Section 11.01) addressing such changes, as provided for above.

(c)         Pro Forma Treatment .  Each Disposition of all or substantially all of a line of business, and each Acquisition, by any Borrower and its Subsidiaries that is consummated during any Measurement Period shall, for purposes of determining compliance with the financial

 

 

 

covenants set forth in Section 7.11 and for purposes of determining the Applicable Rate, be given Pro Forma Effect as of the first day of such Measurement Period.

1.04         Rounding.

 

Any financial ratios required to be maintained by the Borrowers 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 is expressed herein and rounding the result up or down to the nearest number (with a rounding-up if there is no nearest number).

1.05         Times of Day.

 

Unless otherwise specified, all references herein to times of day shall be references to Eastern time (daylight or standard, as applicable).

1.06         Letter of Credit Amounts.

 

Unless otherwise specified herein, the amount of a Letter of Credit at any time shall be deemed to be the Dollar Equivalent of the stated amount of such Letter of Credit in effect at such time; provided, however , that with respect to any Letter of Credit that, by its terms or the terms of any Issuer Document related thereto, provides for one or more automatic increases in the stated amount thereof, the amount of such Letter of Credit shall be deemed to be the Dollar Equivalent of the maximum stated amount of such Letter of Credit after giving effect to all such increases, whether or not such maximum stated amount is in effect at such time.

1.07         UCC 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.

1.08         Currency Equivalents; Rates.

 

(a)         The Administrative Agent or the L/C Issuer, as applicable, shall determine the Spot Rates as of each Revaluation Date to be used for calculating Dollar Equivalent amounts of Credit Extensions and Outstanding Amounts denominated in Alternative Currencies.  Such Spot Rates shall become effective as of such Revaluation Date and shall be the Spot Rates employed in converting any amounts between the applicable currencies until the next Revaluation Date to occur.  Except for purposes of financial statements delivered by Loan Parties hereunder or calculating financial covenants hereunder or except as otherwise provided herein, the applicable amount of any currency (other than Dollars) for purposes of the Loan Documents shall be such Dollar Equivalent amount as so determined by the Administrative Agent or the L/C Issuer, as applicable.

(b)        Wherever in this Agreement in connection with the issuance, amendment or extension of a Letter of Credit, an amount, such as a required minimum or multiple amount, is expressed in Dollars, but such Letter of Credit is denominated in an Alternative Currency, such amount shall be the relevant Alternative Currency Equivalent of such Dollar amount (rounded to the nearest unit of such Alternative Currency, with 0.5 of a unit being rounded upward), as determined by the Administrative Agent or the L/C Issuer, as the case m ay be.

 

 

(c)        The Administrative Agent does not warrant, nor accept responsibility, nor shall the Administrative Agent have any liability with respect to the administration, submission or any other matter related to the rates in the definition of “Eurodollar Rate” or with respect to any comparable or successor rate thereto

1.09         Additional Alternative Currencies for Letters of Credit.

 

(a)        The Borrowers may from time to time request that  Letters of Credit be issued in a currency other than those specifically listed in the definition of “Alternative Currency”; provided that such requested currency is an Eligible Currency.  Such request shall be subject to the approval of the Administrative Agent and the L/C Issuer in their sole discretion.

 

(b)        Any such request shall be made to the Administrative Agent not later than 11:00 a.m., twenty (20) Business Days prior to the date of the desired issuance (or such other time or date as may be agreed by the Administrative Agent and the L/C Issuer, in their sole discretion).  The Administrative Agent shall promptly notify the L/C Issuer thereof and the L/C Issuer shall notify the Administrative Agent, not later than 11:00 a.m., ten (10) Business Days after receipt of such request whether it consents, in its sole discretion, to the issuance of Letters of Credit, as the case may be, in such requested currency.

 

(c)        Any failure by the L/C Issuer to respond to such request within the time period specified in the preceding sentence shall be deemed to be a refusal by the L/C Issuer to permit Letters of Credit to be issued in such requested currency.  If the Administrative Agent and the L/C Issuer consent to the issuance of Letters of Credit in such requested currency, the Administrative Agent shall so notify the Borrowers.  If the Administrative Agent shall fail to obtain consent to any request for an additional currency under this Section 1.09, the Administrative Agent shall promptly so notify the Borrowers.

 

 

ARTICLE II

 

COMMITMENTS AND CREDIT EXTENSIONS

 

2.01         Revolving Loans.

 

Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, each Revolving Lender severally agrees to make loans (each such loan, a “ Revolving Loan ”) to each of the Borrowers in Dollars, from time to time, on any Business Day during the Availability Period, in an aggregate amount not to exceed at any time outstanding the amount of such Lender’s Revolving Commitment; provided, however , that after giving effect to any Revolving Borrowing, (i) the Total Revolving Outstandings shall not exceed the Revolving Facility, and (ii) the Revolving Exposure of any Lender shall not exceed such Revolving Lender’s Revolving Commitment.  Within the limits of each Revolving Lender’s Revolving Commitment, and subject to the other terms and conditions hereof, the Borrowers may each borrow Revolving Loans, prepay under Section 2.05, and reborrow under this Section 2.01.  Revolving Loans may be Base Rate Loans or Eurodollar Rate Loans, as further provided herein; provided, however , any Revolving Borrowings made on the Closing Date or any of the three (3) Business Days following the Closing Date shall be made as Base Rate Loans unless the Borrowers deliver a Funding Indemnity Letter not less than three (3) Business Days prior to the date of such Revolving Borrowing.

 

 

 
 

2.02         Borrowings, Conversions and Continuations of Loans.

 

(a)         Notice of Borrowing .  Each Borrowing, each conversion of Loans from one Type to the other, and each continuation of Eurodollar Rate Loans shall be made upon the applicable Borrower’s irrevocable notice to the Administrative Agent, which may be given by: (A) telephone or (B) a Loan Notice; provided that any telephonic notice must be confirmed promptly by delivery to the Administrative Agent of a Loan Notice.  Each such Loan Notice must be received by the Administrative Agent not later than 11:00 a.m., (i) three (3) Business Days prior to the requested date of any Borrowing of, conversion to or continuation of Eurodollar Rate Loans or of any conversion of Eurodollar Rate Loans to Base Rate Loans, and (ii) on the requested date of any Borrowing of Base Rate Loans; provided , however , that if the applicable Borrower wishes to request Eurodollar Rate Loans having an Interest Period other than one (1), two (2), three (3) or six (6) months in duration as provided in the definition of “Interest Period”, the applicable notice must be received by the Administrative Agent not later than 11:00 a.m. four (4) Business Days prior to the requested date of such Borrowing, conversion or continuation, whereupon the Administrative Agent shall give prompt notice to the Lenders of such request and determine whether the requested Interest Period is acceptable to all of them.  Not later than 11:00 a.m., three (3) Business Days before the requested date of such Borrowing, conversion or continuation, the Administrative Agent shall notify the applicable Borrower (which notice may be by telephone) whether or not the requested Interest Period has been consented to by all the Lenders.   Each Borrowing of, conversion to or continuation of Eurodollar Rate Loans shall be in a principal amount of $1,000,000 or a whole multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof.  Except as provided in Sections 2.03(c) and 2.04(c), each Borrowing of or conversion to Base Rate Loans shall be in a principal amount of $500,000 or a whole multiple of $100,000 in excess thereof.  Each Loan Notice and each telephonic notice shall specify (A) whether the applicable Borrower is requesting a Borrowing, a conversion of Loans from one Type to the other, or a continuation of Loans, as the case may be, (B) the requested date of the Borrowing, conversion or continuation, as the case may be (which shall be a Business Day), (C) the principal amount of Loans to be borrowed, converted or continued, (D) the Type of Loans to be borrowed or to which existing Loans are to be converted, and (E) if applicable, the duration of the Interest Period with respect thereto.  If any Borrower fails to specify a Type of Loan in a Loan Notice or if such Borrower fails to give a timely notice requesting a conversion or continuation, then the applicable Loans shall be made as, or converted to, Base Rate Loans.  Any such automatic conversion to Base Rate Loans shall be effective as of the last day of the Interest Period then in effect with respect to the applicable Eurodollar Rate Loans.  If any Borrower requests a Borrowing of, conversion to, or continuation of Eurodollar Rate Loans in any such Loan Notice, but fails to specify an Interest Period, it will be deemed to have specified an Interest Period of one (1) month.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, a Swingline Loan may not be converted to a Eurodollar Rate Loan.

(b)         Advances .  Following receipt of a Loan Notice, the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each Appropriate Lender of the amount of its Applicable Percentage of the applicable Loans, and if no timely notice of a conversion or continuation is provided by the applicable Borrower, the Administrative Agent shall notify each Appropriate Lender of the details of any automatic conversion to Base Rate Loans described in Section 2.02(a).  In the case of a Borrowing, each Appropriate Lender shall make the amount of its Loan available to the Administrative Agent in immediately available funds at the Administrative Agent’s Office not later than 1:00 p.m. on the Business Day specified in the applicable Loan Notice.  Upon satisfaction of the applicable conditions set forth in Section 4.02 (and, if such Borrowing is the initial Credit Extension, Section 4.01), the Administrative Agent shall make all funds so received available to the applicable Borrower in like funds as received by the Administrative Agent either

 

 

 

by (i) crediting the account of the applicable Borrower on the books of Bank of America with the amount of such funds or (ii) wire transfer of such funds, in each case in accordance with instructions provided to (and reasonably acceptable to) the Administrative Agent by the applicable Borrower; provided , however , that if, on the date a Loan Notice with respect to a Revolving Borrowing   is given by any Borrower, there are L/C Borrowings outstanding, then the proceeds of such Revolving Borrowing, first , shall be applied to the payment in full of any such L/C Borrowings, and second , shall be made available to the applicable Borrower as provided above.

(c)         Eurodollar Rate Loans .  Except as otherwise provided herein, a Eurodollar Rate Loan may be continued or converted only on the last day of an Interest Period for such Eurodollar Rate Loan.  During the existence of an Event of Default, the Administrative Agent may (and shall at the direction of the Required Lenders) declare that no Loans may be requested as, converted to or continued as Eurodollar Rate Loans.

(d)         Notice of Interest Rates . The Administrative Agent shall promptly notify the Borrowers and the Lenders of the interest rate applicable to any Interest Period for Eurodollar Rate Loans upon determination of such interest rate.  At any time that Base Rate Loans are outstanding, the Administrative Agent shall notify the Borrowers and the Lenders of any change in Bank of America’s prime rate used in determining the Base Rate promptly following the public announcement of such change.

(e)         Interest Periods .  After giving effect to all Revolving Borrowings, all conversions of Revolving Loans from one Type to the other, and all continuations of Revolving Loans as the same Type, there shall not be more than ten (10) Interest Periods in effect in respect of the Revolving Facility.

(f)         Cashless Settlement Mechanism .  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, any Lender may exchange, continue or rollover all or the 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 Borrowers, the Administrative Agent and such Lender.

 

 (i)        Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, (A) the L/C Issuer agrees, in reliance upon the agreements of the Revolving Lenders set forth in this Section, (1) from time to time on any Business Day during the period from the Closing Date until the Letter of Credit Expiration Date, to issue Letters of Credit denominated in Dollars or in one or more Alternative Currencies for the account of any of the Borrowers or any of their Domestic Subsidiaries or, in the L/C Issuer’s sole and absolute discretion, any of their Foreign Subsidiaries, and to amend Letters of Credit previously issued by it, in accordance with Section 2.03(b), and (2) to honor drawings under the Letters of Credit; and (B) the Revolving Lenders severally agree to participate in Letters of Credit issued for the account of any Borrower or its Subsidiaries and any drawings thereunder; provided that after giving effect to any L/C Credit Extension with respect to any Letter of Credit, (x) the Total Revolving Outstandings shall not exceed the Revolving Facility, (y) the Revolving Exposure of any Revolving Lender shall not exceed such Lender’s Revolving Commitment, and (z) the Outstanding Amount of the L/C Obligations shall

 

 

 

not exceed the Letter of Credit Sublimit.  Each request by any Borrower for the issuance or amendment of a Letter of Credit shall be deemed to be a representation by the Borrowers that the L/C Credit Extension so requested complies with the conditions set forth in the proviso to the preceding sentence.  Within the foregoing limits, and subject to the terms and conditions hereof, the Borrowers’ ability to obtain Letters of Credit shall be fully revolving, and accordingly the Borrowers may, during the foregoing period, obtain Letters of Credit to replace Letters of Credit that have expired or that have been drawn upon and reimbursed.  All Existing Letters of Credit shall be deemed to have been issued pursuant hereto and deemed L/C Obligations, and from and after the Closing Date shall be subject to and governed by the terms and conditions hereof.

 (ii)        The L/C Issuer shall not issue any Letter of Credit if:

(A)        subject to Section 2.03(b)(iv), the expiry date of the requested Letter of Credit would occur more than twelve (12) months after the date of issuance or last extension, unless the Required Lenders have approved such expiry date; or

(B)        the expiry date of the requested Letter of Credit would occur after the Letter of Credit Expiration Date; provided, that if each of the L/C Issuer and the Administrative Agent consents thereto in its sole discretion, the expiration date of a Letter of Credit may extend beyond the Letter of Credit Expiration Date so long as (x) the applicable Borrower Cash Collateralizes such Letter of Credit on or prior to the Letter of Credit Expiration Date on terms satisfactory to the L/C Issuer and the Administrative Agent and (y) each Lender’s participation in any undrawn Letter of Credit that is outstanding on the Maturity Date shall terminate on the Maturity Date.

 (iii)        The L/C Issuer shall not be under any obligation to issue any Letter of Credit if:

(A)        any order, judgment or decree of any Governmental Authority or arbitrator shall by its terms purport to enjoin or restrain the L/C Issuer from issuing the Letter of Credit, or any Law applicable to the L/C Issuer or any request or directive (whether or not having the force of law) from any Governmental Authority with jurisdiction over the L/C Issuer shall prohibit, or request that the L/C Issuer refrain from, the issuance of letters of credit generally or the Letter of Credit in particular or shall impose upon the L/C Issuer with respect to the Letter of Credit any restriction, reserve or capital requirement (for which the L/C Issuer is not otherwise compensated hereunder) not in effect on the Closing Date, or shall impose upon the L/C Issuer any unreimbursed loss, cost or expense which was not applicable on the Closing Date and which the L/C Issuer in good faith deems material to it;

(B)        the issuance of the Letter of Credit would violate one or more policies of the L/C Issuer applicable to letters of credit generally;

(C)        the Letter of Credit is to be denominated in a currency other than Dollars or an Alternative Currency;

 

 

(D)        any Revolving Lender is at that time a Defaulting Lender, unless the L/C Issuer has entered into arrangements, including the delivery of Cash Collateral, satisfactory to the L/C Issuer (in its sole discretion) with the Borrowers or such Revolving Lender to eliminate the L/C Issuer’s actual or potential Fronting Exposure (after giving effect to Section 2.15(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 the L/C Issuer has actual or potential Fronting Exposure, as it may elect in its sole discretion; or

(E)        the L/C Issuer does not as of the issuance date of the requested Letter of Credit issue Letters of Credit in the requested currency.

 

 (iv)        The L/C Issuer shall not amend any Letter of Credit if the L/C Issuer would not be permitted at such time to issue the Letter of Credit in its amended form under the terms hereof.

 (v)        The L/C Issuer shall be under no obligation to amend any Letter of Credit if (A) the L/C Issuer would have no obligation at such time to issue such Letter of Credit in its amended form under the terms hereof, or (B) the beneficiary of such Letter of Credit does not accept the proposed amendment to the Letter of Credit.

 (vi)        The L/C Issuer shall act on behalf of the Revolving Lenders with respect to any Letters of Credit issued by it and the documents associated therewith, and the L/C Issuer shall have all of the benefits and immunities (A) provided to the Administrative Agent in Article IX with respect to any acts taken or omissions suffered by the L/C Issuer in connection with Letters of Credit issued by it or proposed to be issued by it and Issuer Documents pertaining to such Letters of Credit as fully as if the term “Administrative Agent” as used in Article IX included the L/C Issuer with respect to such acts or omissions, and (B) as additionally provided herein with respect to the L/C Issuer.

(b)         Procedures for Issuance and Amendment of Letters of Credit .

 (i)        Each Letter of Credit shall be issued or amended, as the case may be, upon the request of any Borrower delivered to the L/C Issuer (with a copy to the Administrative Agent) in the form of a Letter of Credit Application, appropriately completed and signed by a Responsible Officer of the applicable Borrower. Such Letter of Credit Application may be sent by fax transmission, by United States mail, by overnight courier, by electronic transmission using the system provided by the L/C Issuer, by personal delivery or by any other means acceptable to the L/C Issuer. Such Letter of Credit Application must be received by the L/C Issuer and the Administrative Agent not later than 11:00 a.m. at least five (5) Business Days (or such later date and time as the Administrative Agent and the L/C Issuer may agree in a particular instance in their sole discretion) prior to the proposed issuance date or date of amendment, as the case may be.  In the case of a request for an initial issuance of a Letter of Credit, such Letter of Credit Application shall specify in form and detail satisfactory to the L/C Issuer:  (A) the proposed issuance date of the requested Letter of Credit (which shall be a Business Day); (B) the amount and currency thereof   and in the absence of specification of currency such application shall be deemed a request for a Letter of Credit denominated in Dollars; (C) the expiry date thereof; (D) the name and address of the beneficiary

 

 

 

thereof; (E) the documents to be presented by such beneficiary in case of any drawing thereunder; (F) the full text of any certificate to be presented by such beneficiary in case of any drawing thereunder; (G) the purpose and nature of the requested Letter of Credit; and (H) such other matters as the L/C Issuer may require.  In the case of a request for an amendment of any outstanding Letter of Credit, such Letter of Credit Application shall specify in form and detail satisfactory to the L/C Issuer (1) the Letter of Credit to be amended; (2) the proposed date of amendment thereof (which shall be a Business Day); (3) the nature of the proposed amendment; and (4) such other matters as the L/C Issuer may require.  Additionally, the applicable Borrower shall furnish to the L/C Issuer and the Administrative Agent such other documents and information pertaining to such requested Letter of Credit issuance or amendment, including any Issuer Documents, as the L/C Issuer or the Administrative Agent may require.

 (ii)        Promptly after receipt of any Letter of Credit Application, the L/C Issuer will confirm with the Administrative Agent (by telephone or in writing) that the Administrative Agent has received a copy of such Letter of Credit Application from the applicable Borrower and, if not, the L/C Issuer will provide the Administrative Agent with a copy thereof.  Unless the L/C Issuer has received written notice from any Revolving Lender, the Administrative Agent or any Loan Party, at least one (1) Business Day prior to the requested date of issuance or amendment of the applicable Letter of Credit, that one or more applicable conditions contained in Article IV shall not then be satisfied, then, subject to the terms and conditions hereof, the L/C Issuer shall, on the requested date, issue a Letter of Credit for the account of the applicable Borrower (or the applicable Subsidiary) or enter into the applicable amendment, as the case may be, in each case in accordance with the L/C Issuer’s usual and customary business practices.  Immediately upon the issuance of each Letter of Credit, each Revolving Lender shall be deemed to, and hereby irrevocably and unconditionally agrees to, purchase from the L/C Issuer a risk participation in such Letter of Credit in an amount equal to the product of such Revolving Lender’s Applicable Percentage times the amount of such Letter of Credit.

 (iii)        Promptly after its delivery of any Letter of Credit or any amendment to a Letter of Credit to an advising bank with respect thereto or to the beneficiary thereof, the L/C Issuer will also deliver to the applicable Borrower and the Administrative Agent a true and complete copy of such Letter of Credit or amendment.

 (iv)        If any Borrower so requests in any applicable Letter of Credit Application, the L/C Issuer may, in its sole discretion, agree to issue a standby Letter of Credit that has automatic extension provisions (each, an “ Auto-Extension Letter of Credit ”); provided that any such Auto-Extension Letter of Credit must permit the L/C Issuer to prevent any such extension at least once in each twelve (12) month period (commencing with the date of issuance of such Letter of Credit) by giving prior notice to the beneficiary thereof not later than a day (the “ Non-Extension Notice Date ”) in each such twelve (12) month period to be agreed upon at the time such Letter of Credit is issued.  Unless otherwise directed by the L/C Issuer, the Borrower shall not be required to make a specific request to the L/C Issuer for any such extension.  Once an Auto-Extension Letter of Credit has been issued, the Revolving Lenders shall be deemed to have authorized (but may not require) the L/C Issuer to permit the extension of such Letter of Credit at any time to an expiry date not later than the Letter of Credit Expiration Date; provided, however , that the L/C Issuer shall not permit any such extension if (A) the L/C Issuer has determined that it would not be permitted, or would have no

 

 

 

 

obligation at such time to issue such Letter of Credit in its revised form (as extended) under the terms hereof (by reason of the provisions of clause (ii) or (iii) of Section 2.03(a) or otherwise), or (B) it has received notice (which may be by telephone or in writing) on or before the day that is seven (7) Business Days before the Non-Extension Notice Date (1) from the Administrative Agent that the Required Lenders have elected not to permit such extension or (2) from the Administrative Agent, any Revolving Lender or the Borrower that one or more of the applicable conditions specified in Section 4.02 is not then satisfied, and in each such case directing the L/C Issuer not to permit such extension.

(c)         Drawings and Reimbursements; Funding of Participations .

 (i)        Upon receipt from the beneficiary of any Letter of Credit of any notice of a drawing under such Letter of Credit, the L/C Issuer shall notify the applicable Borrower and the Administrative Agent thereof.  In the case of a Letter of Credit denominated in an Alternative Currency, the Borrowers shall reimburse the L/C Issuer in Dollars.  In the case of any such reimbursement in Dollars of a drawing under a Letter of Credit denominated in an Alternative Currency, the L/C Issuer shall notify the Borrowers of the Dollar Equivalent of the amount of the drawing promptly following the determination thereof.   Not later than 11:00 a.m. on the date of any payment by the L/C Issuer under a Letter of Credit (each such date, an “ Honor Date ”), the Borrowers shall reimburse the L/C Issuer through the Administrative Agent in an amount equal to the amount of such drawing, if the Borrowers shall have received notice of such payment prior to 10:00 a.m. on the Honor Date or, if such notice has not been received by the Borrowers prior to such time on the Honor Date, then not later than 11:00 a.m. (x) on the Business Day that the Borrowers receive such notice, if such notice is received prior to 10:00 a.m. on the day of receipt or (y) the Business Day immediately following the day that the Borrowers receive such notice, if such notice is not received prior to such time on the day of receipt; provided that if a Borrower may, subject to the conditions to borrowing set forth herein, request in accordance with Section 2.02 or 2.04 that such payment be financed with a Borrowing of Revolving Loans or a Swingline Loan in an equal amount and, to the extent so financed, the Borrowers’ obligation to make such payment shall be discharged.  In the event that (A) a drawing denominated in an Alternative Currency is to be reimbursed in Dollars pursuant to the second sentence of this Section 2.03(c)(i) and (B) the Dollar amount paid by the Borrowers, whether on or after the Honor Date, shall not be adequate on the date of that payment to purchase in accordance with normal banking procedures a sum denominated in the Alternative Currency equal to the drawing, the Borrowers agree, as a separate and independent obligation, to indemnify the L/C Issuer for the loss resulting from its inability on that date to purchase the Alternative Currency in the full amount of the drawing.   If the Borrowers fail to so reimburse the L/C Issuer by such time, the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each Revolving Lender of the Honor Date, the amount of the unreimbursed drawing (expressed in Dollars in the amount of the Dollar Equivalent thereof in the case of a Letter of Credit denominated in an Alternative Currency) (the “ Unreimbursed Amount ”), and the amount of such Revolving Lender’s Applicable Percentage thereof.  In such event, the Borrowers shall be deemed to have requested a Revolving Borrowing of Base Rate Loans to be disbursed on the Honor Date in an amount equal to the Unreimbursed Amount, without regard to the minimum and multiples specified in Section 2.02 for the principal amount of Base Rate Loans, but subject to the amount of the unutilized portion of the Revolving Commitments and the conditions set forth in Section 4.02 (other than the delivery of a Loan Notice).  Any notice given by the L/C Issuer or the Administrative Agent pursuant to this Section

 

 

 

 

2.03(c)(i) may be given by telephone if immediately confirmed in writing; provided that the lack of such an immediate confirmation shall not affect the conclusiveness or binding effect of such notice.

 (ii)        Each Revolving Lender shall upon receipt of any notice pursuant to Section 2.03(c)(i) make funds available (and the Administrative Agent may apply Cash Collateral provided for this purpose) for the account of the L/C Issuer, in Dollars, at the Administrative Agent’s Office in an amount equal to its Applicable Percentage of the Unreimbursed Amount not later than 1:00 p.m. on the Business Day specified in such notice by the Administrative Agent, whereupon, subject to the provisions of Section 2.03(c)(iii), each Revolving Lender that so makes funds available shall be deemed to have made a Base Rate Loan to the Borrowers in such amount.  The Administrative Agent shall remit the funds so received to the L/C Issuer in Dollars.

 (iii)        With respect to any Unreimbursed Amount that is not fully refinanced by a Revolving Borrowing of Base Rate Loans because the conditions set forth in Section 4.02 cannot be satisfied or for any other reason, the Borrowers shall be deemed to have incurred from the L/C Issuer an L/C Borrowing in the amount of the Unreimbursed Amount that is not so refinanced, which L/C Borrowing shall be due and payable on demand (together with interest) and shall bear interest at the Default Rate.  In such event, each Revolving Lender’s payment to the Administrative Agent for the account of the L/C Issuer pursuant to Section 2.03(c)(ii) shall be deemed payment in respect of its participation in such L/C Borrowing and shall constitute an L/C Advance from such Lender in satisfaction of its participation obligation under this Section.

 (iv)        Until each Revolving Lender funds its Revolving Loan or L/C Advance pursuant to this Section 2.03(c) to reimburse the L/C Issuer for any amount drawn under any Letter of Credit, interest in respect of such Lender’s Applicable Percentage of such amount shall be solely for the account of the L/C Issuer.

 (v)        Each Revolving Lender’s obligation to make Revolving Loans or L/C Advances to reimburse the L/C Issuer for amounts drawn under Letters of Credit, as contemplated by this Section 2.03(c), shall be absolute and unconditional and shall not be affected by any circumstance, including (A) any setoff, counterclaim, recoupment, defense or other right which such Lender may have against the L/C Issuer, the Borrowers, any Subsidiary or any other Person for any reason whatsoever; (B) the occurrence or continuance of a Default; or (C) any other occurrence, event or condition, whether or not similar to any of the foregoing; provided, however , that each Revolving Lender’s obligation to make Revolving Loans pursuant to this Section 2.03(c) is subject to the conditions set forth in Section 4.02 (other than delivery by the applicable Borrower of a Loan Notice).  No such making of an L/C Advance shall relieve or otherwise impair the obligation of the Borrowers to reimburse the L/C Issuer for the amount of any payment made by the L/C Issuer under any Letter of Credit, together with interest as provided herein.

 (vi)        If any Revolving Lender fails to make available to the Administrative Agent for the account of the L/C Issuer any amount required to be paid by such Lender pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this Section 2.03(c) by the time specified in Section 2.03(c)(ii), then, without limiting the other provisions of this Agreement, the L/C Issuer shall be entitled to recover from such 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 L/C Issuer at a rate per annum equal to the applicable Overnight Rate from time to time in effect, plus any administrative, processing or similar fees customarily charged by the L/C Issuer in connection with the foregoing.  If such Lender pays such amount (with interest and fees as aforesaid), the amount so paid shall constitute such Lender’s Revolving Loan included in the relevant Revolving Borrowing or L/C Advance in respect of the relevant L/C Borrowing, as the case may be.  A certificate of the L/C Issuer submitted to any Revolving Lender (through the Administrative Agent) with respect to any amounts owing under this Section 2.03(c)(vi) shall be conclusive absent manifest error.

(d)         Repayment of Participations .

 (i)        At any time after the L/C Issuer has made a payment under any Letter of Credit and has received from any Revolving Lender such Lender’s L/C Advance in respect of such payment in accordance with Section 2.03(c), if the Administrative Agent receives for the account of the L/C Issuer any payment in respect of the related Unreimbursed Amount or interest thereon (whether directly from any Borrower or otherwise, including proceeds of Cash Collateral applied thereto by the Administrative Agent), the Administrative Agent will distribute to such Lender its Applicable Percentage thereof in Dollars and in the same funds as those received by the Administrative Agent.

 (ii)        If any payment received by the Administrative Agent for the account of the L/C Issuer pursuant to Section 2.03(c)(i) is required to be returned under any of the circumstances described in Section 11.05 (including pursuant to any settlement entered into by the L/C Issuer in its discretion), each Revolving Lender shall pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of the L/C Issuer its Applicable Percentage thereof on demand of the Administrative Agent, plus interest thereon from the date of such demand to the date such amount is returned by such Lender, at a rate per annum equal to the Applicable Overnight Rate from time to time in effect.  The obligations of the Lenders under this clause shall survive the payment in full of the Obligations and the termination of this Agreement.

(e)         Obligations Absolute .  The obligation of the Borrowers to reimburse the L/C Issuer for each drawing under each Letter of Credit and to repay each L/C Borrowing shall be absolute, unconditional and irrevocable, and shall be paid strictly in accordance with the terms of this Agreement under all circumstances, including the following:

 (i)        any lack of validity or enforceability of such Letter of Credit, this Agreement, or any other Loan Document;

 (ii)        the existence of any claim, counterclaim, setoff, defense or other right that any Borrower or any Subsidiary may have at any time against any beneficiary or any transferee of such Letter of Credit (or any Person for whom any such beneficiary or any such transferee may be acting), the L/C Issuer or any other Person, whether in connection with this Agreement or by such Letter of Credit, the transactions contemplated hereby or any agreement or instrument relating thereto, or any unrelated transaction;

 (iii)        any draft, demand, endorsement, certificate or other document presented under or in connection with such Letter of Credit proving to be forged, fraudulent, invalid or insufficient in any respect or any statement therein 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;

 (iv)        waiver by the L/C Issuer of any requirement that exists for the L/C Issuer’s protection and not the protection of the Borrowers or any waiver by the L/C Issuer which does not in fact materially prejudice the Borrowers;

 (v)        honor of a demand for payment presented electronically even if such Letter of Credit requires that demand be in the form of a draft;

 (vi)        any payment made by the L/C Issuer in respect of an otherwise complying item presented after the date specified as the expiration date of, or the date by which documents must be received under, such Letter of Credit if presentation after such date is authorized by the UCC, the ISP or the UCP, as applicable;

 (vii)        any payment by the L/C Issuer under such Letter of Credit against presentation of a draft or certificate that does not strictly comply with the terms of such Letter of Credit; or any payment made by the L/C Issuer under such Letter of Credit to any Person purporting to be a trustee in bankruptcy, debtor-in-possession, assignee for the benefit of creditors, liquidator, receiver or other representative of or successor to any beneficiary or any transferee of such Letter of Credit, including any arising in connection with any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law;

 (viii)        any other circumstance or happening whatsoever, whether or not similar to any of the foregoing, including any other circumstance that might otherwise constitute a defense available to, or a discharge of, any Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries; or

 (ix)        any adverse change in the relevant exchange rates or in the availability of the relevant Alternative Currency to any Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or in the relevant currency markets generally.

Each Borrower shall promptly examine a copy of each Letter of Credit and each amendment thereto that is delivered to it and, in the event of any claim of noncompliance with such Borrower’s instructions or other irregularity, such Borrower will immediately notify the L/C Issuer.  Each Borrower shall be conclusively deemed to have waived any such claim against the L/C Issuer and its correspondents unless such notice is given as aforesaid.

(f)          Role of L/C Issuer .  Each Lender and the Borrowers agree that, in paying any drawing under a Letter of Credit, the L/C Issuer shall not have any responsibility to obtain any document (other than any sight or time draft, certificates and documents expressly required by the Letter of Credit) or to ascertain or inquire as to the validity or accuracy of any such document or the authority of the Person executing or delivering any such document.  None of the L/C Issuer, the Administrative Agent, any of their respective Related Parties nor any correspondent, participant or assignee of the L/C Issuer shall be liable to any Lender for (i) any action taken or omitted in connection herewith at the request or with the approval of the Revolving Lenders or the Required Lenders, as applicable; (ii) any action taken or omitted in the absence of gross negligence or willful misconduct; or (iii) the due execution, effectiveness, validity or enforceability of any document or instrument related to any Letter of Credit or Issuer Document.  Each Borrower hereby assumes all risks of the acts or omissions of any beneficiary or transferee with respect to its use of any Letter of Credit; provided, however , that this assumption is not intended to, and shall not, preclude each Borrower’s pursuing such rights and remedies as it may

 

 

 

 

have against the beneficiary or transferee at law or under any other agreement.  None of the L/C Issuer, the Administrative Agent, any of their respective Related Parties nor any correspondent, participant or assignee of the L/C Issuer shall be liable or responsible for any of the matters described in Section 2.03(e); provided , however , that anything in such clauses to the contrary notwithstanding, each Borrower may have a claim against the L/C Issuer, and the L/C Issuer may be liable to each Borrower, to the extent, but only to the extent, of any direct, as opposed to consequential or exemplary, damages suffered by such Borrower which such Borrower proves, as determined by a final nonappealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction, were caused by the L/C Issuer’s willful misconduct or gross negligence or the L/C Issuer’s willful failure to pay under any Letter of Credit after the presentation to it by the beneficiary of a sight or time draft and certificate(s) strictly complying with the terms and conditions of a Letter of Credit.  In furtherance and not in limitation of the foregoing, the L/C Issuer may accept documents that appear on their face to be in order, without responsibility for further investigation, regardless of any notice or information to the contrary, and the L/C Issuer shall not be responsible for the validity or sufficiency of any instrument transferring, endorsing or assigning or purporting to transfer, endorse or assign a Letter of Credit or the rights or benefits thereunder or proceeds thereof, in whole or in part, which may prove to be invalid or ineffective for any reason.  The L/C Issuer may send a Letter of Credit or conduct any communication to or from the beneficiary via the Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication (“ SWIFT ”) message or overnight courier, or any other commercially reasonable means of communicating with a beneficiary.

(g)         Applicability of ISP and UCP; Limitation of Liability .  Unless otherwise expressly agreed by the L/C Issuer and the Borrowers when a Letter of Credit is issued, the rules of the ISP shall apply to each standby Letter of Credit.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the L/C Issuer shall not be responsible to the Borrowers for, and the L/C Issuer’s rights and remedies against the Borrowers shall not be impaired by, any action or inaction of the L/C Issuer required or permitted under any law, order, or practice that is required or permitted to be applied to any Letter of Credit or this Agreement, including the Law or any order of a jurisdiction where the L/C Issuer or the beneficiary is located, the practice stated in the ISP or UCP, as applicable, or in the decisions, opinions, practice statements, or official commentary of the ICC Banking Commission, the Bankers Association for Finance and Trade - International Financial Services Association (BAFT-IFSA), or the Institute of International Banking Law & Practice, whether or not any Letter of Credit chooses such law or practice.

(h)         Letter of Credit Fees .  The Borrowers shall pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of each Revolving Lender in accordance, subject to Section 2.15, with its Applicable Percentage a Letter of Credit fee (the “ Letter of Credit Fee ”) for each Letter of Credit equal to the Applicable Rate times the Dollar Equivalent of the daily amount available to be drawn under such Letter of Credit.  Letter of Credit Fees shall be (1) due and payable on the first Business Day following each fiscal quarter end, commencing with the first such date to occur after the issuance of such Letter of Credit on the Letter of Credit Expiration Date and thereafter on demand and (2) computed on a quarterly basis in arrears.  If there is any change in the Applicable Rate during any quarter, the daily amount available to be drawn under each Letter of Credit shall be computed and multiplied by the Applicable Rate separately for each period during such quarter that such Applicable Rate was in effect.

(i)          Fronting Fee and Documentary and Processing Charges Payable to L/C Issuer .  The Borrowers shall pay directly to the L/C Issuer for its own account a fronting fee with respect to each Letter of Credit, at the rate per annum specified in the Fee Letter, computed on the Dollar Equivalent of the daily amount available to be drawn under such Letter of Credit on a quarterly

 

 

 

basis in arrears.  Such fronting fee shall be due and payable on or prior to the date that is ten (10) Business Days following each fiscal quarter end, commencing with the first such date to occur after the issuance of such Letter of Credit, on the Letter of Credit Expiration Date and thereafter on demand.  For purposes of computing the daily amount available to be drawn under any Letter of Credit, the amount of such Letter of Credit shall be determined in accordance with Section 1.06.  In addition, the Borrowers shall pay directly to the L/C Issuer for its own account, in Dollars, the customary issuance, presentation, amendment and other processing fees, and other standard costs and charges, of the L/C Issuer relating to letters of credit as from time to time in effect.  Such customary fees and standard costs and charges are due and payable on demand and are nonrefundable.

(j)          Conflict with Issuer Documents .  In the event of any conflict between the terms hereof and the terms of any Issuer Document, the terms hereof shall control.

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

2.04         Swingline Loans.

 

(a)         The Swingline .  Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, the Swingline Lender, in reliance upon the agreements of the other Lenders set forth in this Section, may in its sole discretion   make loans to the Borrowers (each such loan, a “ Swingline Loan ”).  Each such Swingline Loan may be made, subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, to each of the Borrowers, in Dollars, from time to time on any Business Day.  During the Availability Period in an aggregate amount not to exceed at any time outstanding the amount of the Swingline Sublimit, notwithstanding the fact that such Swingline Loans, when aggregated with the Applicable Percentage of the Outstanding Amount of Revolving Loans and L/C Obligations of the Lender acting as Swingline Lender, may exceed the amount of such Lender’s Revolving Commitment; provided , however , that (i) after giving effect to any Swingline Loan, (A) the Total Revolving Outstandings shall not exceed the Revolving Facility at such time, and (B) the Revolving Exposure of any Revolving Lender at such time shall not exceed such Lender’s Revolving Commitment, (ii) the Borrowers shall not use the proceeds of any Swingline Loan to refinance any outstanding Swingline Loan, and (iii) the Swingline Lender shall not be under any obligation to make any Swingline Loan if it shall determine (which determination shall be conclusive and binding absent manifest error) that it has, or by such Credit Extension may have, Fronting Exposure.  Within the foregoing limits, and subject to the other terms and conditions hereof, the Borrowers may borrow under this Section, prepay under Section 2.05, and reborrow under this Section.  Each Swingline Loan shall bear interest only at a rate based on the Base Rate plus the Applicable Rate.  Immediately upon the making of a Swingline Loan, each Revolving Lender shall be deemed to, and hereby irrevocably and unconditionally agrees to, purchase from the Swingline Lender a risk participation in such Swingline Loan in an amount equal to the product of such Revolving Lender’s Applicable Percentage times the amount of such Swingline Loan.

(b)         Borrowing Procedures .

 

 

 Each Swingline Borrowing shall be made upon the applicable Borrower’s irrevocable notice to the Swingline Lender and the Administrative Agent, which may be given by:  (A) telephone or (B) a Swingline Loan Notice; provided that any telephonic notice must be confirmed immediately by delivery to the Swingline Lender and the Administrative Agent of a Swingline Loan Notice.  Each such Swingline Loan Notice must be received by the Swingline Lender and the Administrative Agent not later than 1:00 p.m. on the requested borrowing date, and shall specify (i) the amount to be borrowed, which shall be a minimum of $100,000, and (ii) the requested date of the Borrowing (which shall be a Business Day).  Promptly after receipt by the Swingline Lender of any Swingline Loan Notice, the Swingline Lender will confirm with the Administrative Agent (by telephone or in writing) that the Administrative Agent has also received such Swingline Loan Notice and, if not, the Swingline Lender will notify the Administrative Agent (by telephone or in writing) of the contents thereof.  Unless the Swingline Lender has received notice (by telephone or in writing) from the Administrative Agent (including at the request of any Revolving Lender) prior to 2:00 p.m. on the date of the proposed Swingline Borrowing (A) directing the Swingline Lender not to make such Swingline Loan as a result of the limitations set forth in the first proviso to the first sentence of Section 2.04(a), or (B) that one or more of the applicable conditions specified in Article IV is not then satisfied, then, subject to the terms and conditions hereof, the Swingline Lender will, not later than 3:00 p.m. on the borrowing date specified in such Swingline Loan Notice, make the amount of its Swingline Loan available to the applicable Borrower at its office by crediting the account of such Borrower on the books of the Swingline Lender in immediately available funds .

(c)         Refinancing of Swingline Loans .

 (i)        The Swingline Lender at any time in its sole discretion may request, on behalf of the Borrowers (which hereby irrevocably authorizes the Swingline Lender to so request on its behalf), that each Revolving Lender make a Base Rate Loan in an amount equal to such Lender’s Applicable Percentage of the amount of Swingline Loans then outstanding.  Such request shall be made in writing (which written request shall be deemed to be a Loan Notice for purposes hereof) and in accordance with the requirements of Section 2.02, without regard to the minimum and multiples specified therein for the principal amount of Base Rate Loans, but subject to the unutilized portion of the Revolving Facility and the conditions set forth in Section 4.02.  The Swingline Lender shall furnish the Borrowers with a copy of the applicable Loan Notice promptly after delivering such notice to the Administrative Agent.  Each Revolving Lender shall make an amount equal to its Applicable Percentage of the amount specified in such Loan Notice available to the Administrative Agent in immediately available funds (and the Administrative Agent may apply Cash Collateral available with respect to the applicable Swingline Loan) for the account of the Swingline Lender at the Administrative Agent’s Office not later than 1:00 p.m. on the day specified in such Loan Notice, whereupon, subject to Section 2.04(c)(ii), each Revolving Lender that so makes funds available shall be deemed to have made a Base Rate Loan to the Borrowers in such amount.  The Administrative Agent shall remit the funds so received to the Swingline Lender.

 (ii)        If for any reason any Swingline Loan cannot be refinanced by such a Revolving Borrowing in accordance with Section 2.04(c)(i), the request for Base Rate Loans submitted by the Swingline Lender as set forth herein shall be deemed to be a request by the Swingline Lender that each of the Revolving Lenders fund its risk participation in the relevant Swingline Loan and each Revolving Lender’s payment to the

 

 

 

Administrative Agent for the account of the Swingline Lender pursuant to Section 2.04(c)(i) shall be deemed payment in respect of such participation.

 (iii)        If any Revolving Lender fails to make available to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Swingline Lender any amount required to be paid by such Lender pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this Section 2.04(c) by the time specified in Section 2.04(c)(i), the Swingline Lender shall be entitled to recover from such 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 greater of the Federal Funds Rate and a rate determined by the Swingline Lender in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation, plus any administrative, processing or similar fees customarily charged by the Swingline Lender in connection with the foregoing.  If such Lender pays such amount (with interest and fees as aforesaid), the amount so paid shall constitute such Lender’s Revolving Loan included in the relevant Revolving Borrowing or funded participation in the relevant Swingline Loan, as the case may be.  A certificate of the Swingline Lender submitted to any Lender (through the Administrative Agent) with respect to any amounts owing under this clause (iii) shall be conclusive absent manifest error.

 (iv)        Each Revolving Lender’s obligation to make Revolving Loans or to purchase and fund risk participations in Swingline Loans pursuant to this Section 2.04(c) shall be absolute and unconditional and shall not be affected by any circumstance, including (A) any setoff, counterclaim, recoupment, defense or other right which such Lender may have against the Swingline Lender, the Borrowers or any other Person for any reason whatsoever, (B) the occurrence or continuance of a Default or (C) any other occurrence, event or condition, whether or not similar to any of the foregoing; provided however , that each Revolving Lender’s obligation to make Revolving Loans pursuant to this Section 2.04(c) is subject to the conditions set forth in Section 4.02 (other than delivery by the applicable Borrower of a Loan Notice).  No such funding of risk participations shall relieve or otherwise impair the obligation of the Borrowers to repay Swingline Loans, together with interest as provided herein.

(d)         Repayment of Participations .

 

 (i)        At any time after any Revolving Lender has purchased and funded a risk participation in a Swingline Loan, if the Swingline Lender receives any payment on account of such Swingline Loan, the Swingline Lender will distribute to such Revolving Lender its Applicable Percentage thereof in the same funds as those received by the Swingline Lender.

 (ii)        If any payment received by the Swingline Lender in respect of principal or interest on any Swingline Loan is required to be returned by the Swingline Lender under any of the circumstances described in Section 11.05 (including pursuant to any settlement entered into by the Swingline Lender in its discretion), each Revolving Lender shall pay to the Swingline Lender its Applicable Percentage thereof on demand of the Administrative Agent, plus interest thereon from the date of such demand to the date such amount is returned, at a rate per annum equal to the Federal Funds Rate.  The Administrative Agent will make such demand upon the request of the Swingline Lender.  The obligations of the Lenders under this clause shall survive the payment in full of the Obligations and the termination of this Agreement.

 

 

(e)         Interest for Account of Swingline Lender .  The Swingline Lender shall be responsible for invoicing the Borrowers for interest on the Swingline Loans.  Until each Revolving Lender funds its Base Rate Loan or risk participation pursuant to this Section to refinance such Revolving Lender’s Applicable Percentage of any Swingline Loan, interest in respect of such Applicable Percentage shall be solely for the account of the Swingline Lender.

(f)         Payments Directly to Swingline Lender .  The Borrowers shall make all payments of principal and interest in respect of the Swingline Loans directly to the Swingline Lender.

 (i)        The Borrowers may, upon notice to the Administrative Agent pursuant to delivery to the Administrative Agent of a Notice of Loan Prepayment, at any time or from time to time voluntarily prepay Revolving Loans in whole or in part without premium or penalty subject to Section 3.05; provided that, unless otherwise agreed by the Administrative Agent, (A) such notice must be received by the Administrative Agent not later than 11:00 a.m., (1) three (3) Business Days prior to any date of prepayment of Eurodollar Rate Loans and (2) on the date of prepayment of Base Rate Loans; (B) any prepayment of Eurodollar Rate Loans shall be in a principal amount of $1,000,000 or a whole multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof; and (C) any prepayment of Base Rate Loans shall be in a principal amount of $500,000 or a whole multiple of $100,000 in excess thereof or, in each case, if less, the entire principal amount thereof then outstanding.  Each such notice shall specify the date and amount of such prepayment and the Type(s) of Loans to be prepaid and, if Eurodollar Rate Loans are to be prepaid, the Interest Period(s) of such Loans.  The Administrative Agent will promptly notify each Lender of its receipt of each such notice, and of the amount of such Lender’s ratable portion of such prepayment (based on such Lender’s Applicable Percentage).  If such notice is given by a Borrower, the Borrowers shall make such prepayment and the payment amount specified in such notice shall be due and payable on the date specified therein; provided that if a notice of prepayment is given in connection with a conditional notice of termination of the Revolving Commitments as contemplated by Section 2.06, then such notice of prepayment may be revoked by written notice if such notice of termination is revoked in accordance with Section 2.06.  Any prepayment of principal shall be accompanied by all accrued interest on the amount prepaid, together with any additional amounts required pursuant to Section 3.05.  Subject to Section 2.15, such prepayments shall be paid to the Lenders in accordance with their respective Applicable Percentages.

 (ii)        The Borrowers may, upon notice to the Swingline Lender pursuant to delivery to the Swingline Lender of a Notice of Loan Prepayment (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), at any time or from time to time, voluntarily prepay Swingline Loans in whole or in part without premium or penalty; provided that, unless otherwise agreed by the Swingline Lender, (A) such notice must be received by the Swingline Lender and the Administrative Agent not later than 1:00 p.m. on the date of the prepayment, and (B) any such prepayment shall be in a minimum principal amount of $100,000 or a whole multiple of $100,000 in excess hereof (or, if less, the entire principal thereof then outstanding).  Each such notice shall specify the date and amount of such prepayment.  If such notice is given by a Borrower, the Borrowers shall make such

 

 

 

 

prepayment and the payment amount specified in such notice shall be due and payable on the date specified therein.  Any prepayment of principal shall be accompanied by all accrued interest on the amount prepaid, together with any additional amounts required pursuant to Section 3.05.

(b)         Mandatory; Revolving Outstandings .  If for any reason the Total Revolving Outstandings at any time exceed the Revolving Facility at such time, the Borrowers shall immediately prepay Revolving Loans, Swingline Loans and L/C Borrowings (together with all accrued but unpaid interest thereon) and/or Cash Collateralize the L/C Obligations in an aggregate amount equal to such excess; provided, however , that the Borrowers shall not be required to Cash Collateralize the L/C Obligations pursuant to this Section 2.05(b) unless, after the prepayment of the Revolving Loans and Swingline Loans, the Total Revolving Outstandings exceed the Revolving Facility at such time.

Within the parameters of the applications set forth above, prepayments pursuant to this Section 2.05(b) shall be applied first to Base Rate Loans and then to Eurodollar Rate Loans in direct order of Interest Period maturities.  All prepayments under this Section 2.05(b) shall be subject to Section 3.05, but otherwise without premium or penalty, and shall be accompanied by interest on the principal amount prepaid through the date of prepayment.

2.06         Termination or Reduction of Commitments.

 

(a)         Optional .  The Borrowers may, upon notice to the Administrative Agent, terminate the Revolving Facility, the Letter of Credit Sublimit or the Swingline Sublimit, or from time to time permanently reduce the Revolving Facility, the Letter of Credit Sublimit or the Swingline Sublimit; provided that (i) any such notice shall be received by the Administrative Agent not later than 11:00 a.m. three (3) Business Days prior to the date of termination or reduction, (ii) any such partial reduction shall be in an aggregate amount of $10,000,000 or any whole multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof and (iii) the Borrowers shall not terminate or reduce (A) the Revolving Facility if, after giving effect thereto and to any concurrent prepayments hereunder, the Total Revolving Outstandings would exceed the Revolving Facility, (B) the Letter of Credit Sublimit if, after giving effect thereto, the Outstanding Amount of L/C Obligations not fully Cash Collateralized hereunder would exceed the Letter of Credit Sublimit, or (C) the Swingline Sublimit if, after giving effect thereto and to any concurrent prepayments hereunder, the Outstanding Amount of Swingline Loans would exceed the Swingline Sublimit; provided , further , that a notice of termination of the Revolving Commitments delivered pursuant to this Section 2.06(a) may state that such notice is conditioned upon the effectiveness of other debt facilities or the consummation of other transactions, in which case such notice may be revoked by the Borrowers by written notice to the Administrative Agent at least one Business Day prior to the specified effective date if such condition is not satisfied.

 

(b)         Mandatory .  If after giving effect to any reduction or termination of Revolving Commitments under this Section 2.06, the Letter of Credit Sublimit or the Swingline Sublimit exceeds the Revolving Facility at such time, the Letter of Credit Sublimit or the Swingline Sublimit, as the case may be, shall be automatically reduced by the amount of such excess.

(c)         Application of Commitment Reductions; Payment of Fees .  The Administrative Agent will promptly notify the Lenders of any termination or reduction of the Letter of Credit Sublimit, Swingline Sublimit or the Revolving Commitment under this Section 2.06.  Upon any reduction of the Revolving Commitments, the Revolving Commitment of each Revolving Lender

 

 

 

shall be reduced by such Lender’s Applicable Percentage of such reduction amount.  All fees in respect of the Revolving Facility accrued until the effective date of any termination of the Revolving Facility shall be paid on the effective date of such termination.

2.07         Repayment of Loans.

 

(a)         Revolving Loans .  The Borrowers shall repay to the Revolving Lenders on the Maturity Date the aggregate principal amount of all Revolving Loans outstanding on such date.

(b)         Swingline Loans .  The Borrowers shall repay each Swingline Loan on the earlier to occur of (i) the date ten (10) Business Days after such Loan is made and (ii) the Maturity Date.

2.08         Interest and Default Rate.

 

(a)         Interest .  Subject to the provisions of Section 2.08(b), (i) each Eurodollar Rate Loan shall bear interest on the outstanding principal amount thereof for each Interest Period from the applicable borrowing date at a rate per annum equal to the Eurodollar Rate for such Interest Period plus the Applicable Rate for such Facility; (ii) each Base Rate Loan shall bear interest on the outstanding principal amount thereof from the applicable borrowing date at a rate per annum equal to the Base Rate plus the Applicable Rate for such Facility;   and (iii) each Swingline Loan shall bear interest on the outstanding principal amount thereof from the applicable borrowing date at a rate per annum equal to the Base Rate plus the Applicable Rate for the Revolving Facility.

(b)         Default Rate .

 (i)        If any amount of principal of any Loan is not paid when due (without regard to any applicable grace periods), whether at stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise, such amount shall thereafter bear interest at a fluctuating interest rate per annum at all times equal to the Default Rate to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Laws.

 (ii)        If any amount (other than principal of any Loan) payable by the Borrowers under any Loan Document is not paid when due (without regard to any applicable grace periods), whether at stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise, then upon the request of the Required Lenders such amount shall thereafter bear interest at a fluctuating interest rate per annum at all times equal to the Default Rate to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Laws.

 (iii)        Upon the request of the Required Lenders, while any Event of Default exists (including a payment Event of Default), all outstanding Obligations (including Letter of Credit Fees) may accrue at a fluctuating interest rate per annum at all times equal to the Default Rate to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Laws.

 (iv)        Accrued and unpaid interest on past due amounts (including interest on past due interest) shall be due and payable upon demand.

(c)         Interest Payments .  Interest on each Loan shall be due and payable in arrears on each Interest Payment Date applicable thereto and at such other times as may be specified herein.  Interest hereunder shall be due and payable in accordance with the terms hereof before and after judgment, and before and after the commencement of any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law.

 

 

2.09         Fees.

 

In addition to certain fees described in subsections (h) and (i)   of Section 2.03:

(a)         Commitment Fee .  The Borrowers shall pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of each Revolving Lender in accordance with its Applicable Percentage, a commitment fee in Dollars equal to the Applicable Rate times the actual daily amount by which the Revolving Facility exceeds the sum of (i) the Outstanding Amount of Revolving Loans and (ii) the Outstanding Amount of L/C Obligations, subject to adjustment as provided in Section 2.15.  For the avoidance of doubt, the Outstanding Amount of Swingline Loans shall not be counted towards or considered usage of the Aggregate Commitments.  The commitment fee shall accrue at all times during the Availability Period, including at any time during which one or more of the conditions in Article IV is not met, and shall be due and payable quarterly in arrears on the last Business Day of each March, June, September and December, commencing with the first such date to occur after the Closing Date, and on the last day of the Availability Period.  The commitment fee shall be calculated quarterly in arrears, and if there is any change in the Applicable Rate during any quarter, the actual daily amount shall be computed and multiplied by the Applicable Rate separately for each period during such quarter that such Applicable Rate was in effect.

(b)         Other Fees .

 (i)        The Borrowers shall pay to the Administrative Agent and the Arranger for its own account, in Dollars, fees in the amounts and at the times specified in the Fee Letter.  Such fees shall be fully earned when paid and shall not be refundable for any reason whatsoever.

 (ii)        The Borrowers shall pay to the Lenders, in Dollars, such fees as shall have been separately agreed upon in writing in the amounts and at the times so specified.

 

(a)         Computation of Interest and Fees .  All computations of interest for Base Rate Loans (including Base Rate Loans determined by reference to the Eurodollar 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 shall be made on the basis of a 360-day year and actual days elapsed (which results in more fees or interest, as applicable, being paid than if computed on the basis of a 365 day year).  Interest shall accrue on each Loan for the day on which the Loan is made, and shall not accrue on a Loan, or any portion thereof, for the day on which the Loan or such portion is paid, provided that any Loan that is repaid on the same day on which it is made shall, subject to Section 2.12(a), bear interest for one (1) day.  Each determination by the Administrative Agent of an interest rate or fee hereunder shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes, absent manifest error.

(b)         Financial Statement Adjustments or Restatements .  If, as a result of any restatement of or other adjustment to the financial statements of the Parent and its Subsidiaries or for any other reason, the Borrower, or the Lenders determine that (i) the Consolidated Leverage Ratio as calculated by the Parent as of any applicable date was inaccurate and (ii) a proper calculation of the Consolidated Leverage Ratio would have resulted in higher pricing for such period, the Borrowers shall be obligated to pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of the

 

 

 

 

applicable Lenders or the L/C Issuer, as the case may be, promptly on demand by the Administrative Agent (or, after the occurrence of an actual or deemed entry of an order for relief with respect to any of the Borrowers under the Bankruptcy Code of the United States, automatically and without further action by the Administrative Agent, any Lender or the L/C Issuer), an amount equal to the excess of the amount of interest and fees that should have been paid for such period over the amount of interest and fees actually paid for such period.  This paragraph shall not limit the rights of the Administrative Agent, any Lender or the L/C Issuer, as the case may be, under any provision of this Agreement to payment of any Obligations hereunder at the Default Rate or under Article VIII.  Each of the Borrower’s obligations under this paragraph shall survive the termination of the Aggregate Commitments and the repayment of all other Obligations hereunder.

2.11         Evidence of Debt.

 

(a)         Maintenance of Accounts .  The Credit Extensions made by each Lender shall be evidenced by one or more accounts or records maintained by such Lender and by the Administrative Agent in the ordinary course of business.  The accounts or records maintained by the Administrative Agent and each Lender shall be conclusive absent manifest error of the amount of the Credit Extensions made by the Lenders to the Borrowers 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 Borrowers 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 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, each of the Borrowers shall execute and deliver to such Lender (through the Administrative Agent) a Note, which shall evidence such Lender’s Loans in addition to such accounts or records.  Each Lender may attach schedules to its Note and endorse thereon the date, Type (if applicable), amount and maturity of its Loans and payments with respect thereto.

(b)         Maintenance of Records .  In addition to the accounts and records referred to in Section 2.11(a), each Lender and the Administrative Agent shall maintain in accordance with its usual practice accounts or records evidencing the purchases and sales by such 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 Lender in respect of such matters, the accounts and records of the Administrative Agent shall control in the absence of manifest error.

2.12         Payments Generally; Administrative Agent’s Clawback.

 

(a)         General .  All payments to be made by the Borrowers shall be made free and clear of and without condition or deduction for any counterclaim, defense, recoupment or setoff.  Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, all payments by the Borrowers hereunder shall be made to the Administrative Agent, for the account of the respective Lenders to which such payment is owed, at the Administrative Agent’s Office in Dollars and in immediately available funds not later than 2:00 p.m. on the date specified herein.  The Administrative Agent will promptly distribute to each Lender its Applicable Percentage (or other applicable share as provided herein) of such payment in like funds as received by wire transfer to such Lender’s Lending Office.  All payments received by the Administrative Agent after 2:00 p.m. shall be deemed received on the next succeeding Business Day and any applicable interest or fee shall continue to accrue.  Subject to Section 2.07(a) and as otherwise specifically provided for in this

 

 

 

Agreement, if any payment to be made by the Borrowers shall come due on a day other than a Business Day, payment shall be made on the next following Business Day, and such extension of time shall be reflected in computing interest or fees, as the case may be.

(b)        (i)         Funding by Lenders; Presumption by Administrative Agent .  Unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from a Lender prior to the proposed date of any Borrowing of Eurodollar Rate Loans (or, in the case of any Borrowing of Base Rate Loans, prior to 12:00 noon on the date of such 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 Section 2.02 (or, in the case of a Borrowing of Base Rate Loans, that such Lender has made such share available in accordance with and at the time required by Section 2.02) and may, in reliance upon such assumption, make available to the Borrowers 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 Borrowers severally agree to pay to the Administrative Agent forthwith on demand such corresponding amount in immediately available funds with interest thereon, for each day from and including the date such amount is made available to the Borrowers to but excluding the date of payment to the Administrative Agent, at (A) in the case of a payment to be made by such Lender, the greater of the Federal Funds Rate and a rate determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation, plus any administrative, processing or similar fees customarily charged by the Administrative Agent in connection with the foregoing, and (B) in the case of a payment to be made by the Borrowers, the interest rate applicable to Base Rate Loans.  If the Borrowers 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 Borrowers the amount of such interest paid by the Borrowers 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 Borrowers shall be without prejudice to any claim the Borrowers may have against a Lender that shall have failed to make such payment to the Administrative Agent.

 

 (ii)         Payments by Borrower; Presumptions by Administrative Agent .  Unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from the Borrowers prior to the date on which any payment is due to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Lenders or the L/C Issuer hereunder that the Borrowers will not make such payment, the Administrative Agent may assume that the Borrowers have made such payment on such date in accordance herewith and may, in reliance upon such assumption, distribute to the Appropriate Lenders or the L/C Issuer, as the case may be, the amount due.  In such event, if the Borrowers have not in fact made such payment, then each of the Appropriate Lenders or the L/C Issuer, as the case may be, severally agrees to repay to the Administrative Agent forthwith on demand the amount so distributed to such Lender or the L/C Issuer, in immediately available funds   with interest thereon, for each day from and including the date such amount is distributed to it to but excluding the date of payment to the Administrative Agent, at the greater of the Federal Funds Rate and a rate determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation.

A notice of the Administrative Agent to any Lender or the Borrowers with respect to any amount owing under this subsection (b) shall be conclusive, absent manifest error.

 

 

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

(d)         Obligations of Lenders Several .  The obligations of the Lenders hereunder to make Revolving Loans, to fund participations in Letters of Credit and Swingline Loans and to make payments pursuant to Section 11.04(c) are several and not joint.  The failure of any Lender to make any Loan, to fund any such participation or to make any payment under Section 11.04(c) on any date required hereunder shall not relieve any other Lender of its corresponding obligation to do so on such date, and no Lender shall be responsible for the failure of any other Lender to so make its Loan, to purchase its participation or to make its payment under Section 11.04(c).

(e)         Funding Source .  Nothing herein shall be deemed to obligate any Lender to obtain the funds for any Loan in any particular place or manner or to constitute a representation by any Lender that it has obtained or will obtain the funds for any Loan in any particular place or manner.

(f)         Pro Rata Treatment .  Except to the extent otherwise provided herein:  (i) each Borrowing (other than Swingline Borrowings) shall be made from the Appropriate Lenders, each payment of fees under Sections 2.09 and 2.03(h) and (i) shall be made for account of the Appropriate Lenders, and each termination or reduction of the amount of the Revolving Commitments shall be applied to the respective Revolving Commitments of the Lenders, pro rata according to the amounts of their respective Revolving Commitments; (ii) each Borrowing shall be allocated pro rata among the Lenders according to the amounts of their respective Revolving Commitments (in the case of the making of Revolving Loans) or their respective Loans that are to be included in such Borrowing (in the case of conversions and continuations of Loans); (iii) each payment or prepayment of principal of Loans by the Borrowers shall be made for account of the Appropriate Lenders pro rata in accordance with the respective unpaid principal amounts of the Loans held by them; and (iv) each payment of interest on Loans by the Borrowers shall be made for account of the Appropriate Lenders pro rata in accordance with the amounts of interest on such Loans then due and payable to the respective Appropriate Lenders.

2.13         Sharing of Payments by Lenders.

 

If any Lender shall, by exercising any right of setoff or counterclaim or otherwise, obtain payment in respect of (a) Obligations due and payable to such Lender hereunder and under the other Loan Documents at such time in excess of its ratable share (according to the proportion of (i) the amount of such Obligations due and payable to such Lender at such time to (ii) the aggregate amount of the Obligations due and payable to all Lenders hereunder and under the other Loan Documents at such time) of payments on account of the Obligations due and payable to all Lenders hereunder and under the other Loan Documents at such time obtained by all the Lenders at such time or (b) Obligations owing (but not due and payable) to such Lender hereunder and under the other Loan Documents at such time in excess of its ratable share (according to the proportion of (i) the amount of such Obligations owing (but not due and payable) to such Lender at such time to (ii) the aggregate amount of the Obligations owing (but not due and payable) to all Lenders hereunder and under the other

 

 

 

Loan Documents at such time) of payments on account of the Obligations owing (but not due and payable) to all Lenders hereunder and under the other Loan Documents at such time obtained by all of the Lenders at such time, then, in each case under clauses (a) and (b) above, 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 subparticipations in L/C Obligations and Swingline Loans 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 Obligations then due and payable to the Lenders or owing (but not due and payable) to the Lenders, as the case may be, provided that:

(1)        if any such participations or subparticipations are purchased and all or any portion of the payment giving rise thereto is recovered, such participations or subparticipations shall be rescinded and the purchase price restored to the extent of such recovery, without interest; and

(2)        the provisions of this Section shall not be construed to apply to (x) any payment made by or on behalf of the Borrowers 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), (y) the application of Cash Collateral provided for in Section 2.14, or (z) any payment obtained by a Lender as consideration for the assignment of or sale of a participation in any of its Loans or sub-participations in L/C Obligations or Swingline Loans to any assignee or participant, other than an assignment to any Loan Party or any Affiliate thereof (as to which the provisions of this Section shall apply).

Each Loan 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 such Loan Party rights of setoff and counterclaim with respect to such participation as fully as if such Lender were a direct creditor of such Loan Party in the amount of such participation.

2.14         Cash Collateral.

 

(a)         Certain Credit Support Events .  If (i) the L/C Issuer has honored any full or partial drawing request under any Letter of Credit and such drawing has resulted in an L/C Borrowing, (ii) as of the Letter of Credit Expiration Date, any L/C Obligation for any reason remains outstanding, (iii) the Borrowers shall be required to provide Cash Collateral pursuant to Section 2.05 or 8.02(c), or (iv) there shall exist a Defaulting Lender, the Borrowers shall promptly (in the case of clause (iii) above) or within one (1) Business Day (in all other cases) following any request by the Administrative Agent or the L/C Issuer, provide Cash Collateral in an amount not less than the applicable Minimum Collateral Amount (determined in the case of Cash Collateral provided pursuant to clause (iv) above, after giving effect to Section 2.15(a)(iv) and any Cash Collateral provided by the Defaulting Lender).  Additionally, if the Administrative Agent notifies the Parent at any time that the Outstanding Amount of all L/C Obligations at such time exceeds 105% of the Letter of Credit Sublimit then in effect, then within two (2) Business Days after receipt of such notice, the Parent shall provide Cash Collateral for the Outstanding Amount of the L/C Obligations in an amount not less than the amount by which the Outstanding Amount of all L/C Obligations exceeds the Letter of Credit Sublimit.

(b)         Grant of Security Interest .  Each Borrower, and to the extent provided by any Defaulting Lender, such Defaulting Lender, hereby grants to (and subjects to the control of) the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuer and the

 

 

 

Lenders, and agrees to maintain, a first priority security interest in all such cash, deposit accounts and all balances therein, and all other property so provided as collateral pursuant hereto, and in all proceeds of the foregoing, all as security for the obligations to which such Cash Collateral may be applied pursuant to Section 2.14(c).  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 or the L/C Issuer as herein provided, or that the total amount of such Cash Collateral is less than the Minimum Collateral Amount, each 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. All Cash Collateral (other than credit support not constituting funds subject to deposit) shall be maintained in one or more blocked, non-interest bearing deposit accounts at Bank of America.  The Borrowers shall pay on demand therefor from time to time all customary account opening, activity and other administrative fees and charges in connection with the maintenance and disbursement of Cash Collateral.

(c)         Application .  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, Cash Collateral provided under any of this Section 2.14 or Sections 2.03, 2.05, 2.15 or 8.02 in respect of Letters of Credit shall be held and applied to the satisfaction of the specific L/C Obligations, obligations to fund participations therein (including, as to Cash Collateral provided by a Revolving Lender that is a Defaulting Lender, any interest accrued on such obligation) and other obligations for which the Cash Collateral was so provided, prior to any other application of such property as may be provided for herein.

(d)         Release .  Cash Collateral (or the appropriate portion thereof) provided to reduce Fronting Exposure or to secure other obligations shall be released promptly following (i) the elimination of the applicable Fronting Exposure or other obligations giving rise thereto (including by the termination of Defaulting Lender status of the applicable Revolving Lender (or, as appropriate, its assignee following compliance with Section 11.06(b)(vi))) or (ii) the determination by the Administrative Agent and the L/C Issuer that there exists excess Cash Collateral (which determination shall be made upon the reasonable written request of the Borrowers); provided , however , (A) any such release shall be without prejudice to, and any disbursement or other transfer of Cash Collateral shall be and remain subject to, any other Lien conferred under the Loan Documents and the other applicable provisions of the Loan Documents, and (B) the Person providing Cash Collateral and the L/C Issuer may agree that Cash Collateral shall not be released but instead held to support future anticipated Fronting Exposure or other obligations.

2.15         Defaulting Lenders.

 

(a)         Adjustments .  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, if any Lender becomes a Defaulting Lender, then, until such time as that Lender is no longer a Defaulting Lender, to the extent permitted by applicable Law:

 (i)         Waivers and Amendments .  Such Defaulting Lender’s right to approve or disapprove any amendment, waiver or consent with respect to this Agreement shall be restricted as set forth in the definition of “Required Lenders” and Section 11.01.

 (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 VIII or otherwise) or received by the Administrative Agent from a Defaulting Lender pursuant to Section 11.08 shall be applied at such time or times as may be determined by the

 

 

 

 

Administrative Agent as follows:   first , to the payment of any amounts owing by 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 L/C Issuer or Swingline Lender hereunder; third , to Cash Collateralize the L/C Issuer’s Fronting Exposure with respect to such Defaulting Lender in accordance with Section 2.14; fourth , as the Borrowers may request (so long as no Default or Event of Default exists), to the funding of any Loan in respect of which such Defaulting Lender has failed to fund its portion thereof as required by this Agreement, as determined by the Administrative Agent; fifth , if so determined by the Administrative Agent and the Borrowers, 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 under this Agreement and (B) Cash Collateralize the L/C Issuer’s future Fronting Exposure with respect to such Defaulting Lender with respect to future Letters of Credit issued under this Agreement, in accordance with Section 2.14; sixth , to the payment of any amounts owing to the Lenders, the L/C Issuer or Swingline Lender as a result of any judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction obtained by any Lender, the L/C Issuer or the Swingline Lender against such Defaulting Lender as a result of such Defaulting Lender’s breach of its obligations under this Agreement; seventh , so long as no Default or Event of Default exists, to the payment of any amounts owing to the Borrowers as a result of any judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction obtained by the Borrowers against such Defaulting Lender as a result of such Defaulting Lender’s breach of its obligations under this Agreement; and eighth , to such Defaulting Lender or as otherwise as may be required under the Loan Documents in connection with any Lien conferred thereunder or directed by a court of competent jurisdiction; provided that if (1) such payment is a payment of the principal amount of any Loans or L/C Borrowings 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 were issued at a time when the conditions set forth in Section 4.02 were satisfied or waived, such payment shall be applied solely to pay the Loans of, and L/C Obligations owed to, all Non-Defaulting Lenders on a pro rata basis prior to being applied to the payment of any Loans of, or L/C Obligations 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 Commitments hereunder without giving effect to Section 2.15(a)(v).  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 2.15(a)(ii) shall be deemed paid to and redirected by such Defaulting Lender, and each Lender irrevocably consents hereto.

 (iii)         Certain Fees .

   (A)         Fees .  No Defaulting Lender shall be entitled to receive any fee payable under Section 2.09(a) for any period during which that Lender is a Defaulting Lender (and the Borrowers shall not be required to pay any such fee that otherwise would have been required to have been paid to that Defaulting Lender).

   (B)         Letter of Credit Fees . Each Defaulting Lender shall be entitled to receive Letter of Credit Fees for any period during which that Lender is a Defaulting Lender only to the extent allocable to its Applicable Percentage of the stated amount of Letters of Credit for which it has provided Cash Collateral pursuant to Section 2.14.

 

 

 

   (C)         Defaulting Lender Fees . With respect to   any Letter of Credit Fee not required to be paid to any Defaulting Lender pursuant to clause (B) above, the Borrowers 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 that has been reallocated to such Non-Defaulting Lender pursuant to clause (iv) below, (2) pay to the L/C Issuer the amount of any such fee otherwise payable to such Defaulting Lender to the extent allocable to such L/C Issuer’s Fronting Exposure to such Defaulting Lender, and (3) not be required to pay the remaining amount of any such fee.

 (iv)         Reallocation of Applicable Percentages 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 Applicable Percentages (calculated without regard to such Defaulting Lender’s Revolving Commitment) but only to the extent that such reallocation does not cause the aggregate Revolving Exposure of any Non-Defaulting Lender to exceed such Non-Defaulting Lender’s Revolving Commitment.  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 (a)(iv) above cannot, or can only partially, be effected, the Borrowers shall, without prejudice to any right or remedy available to it hereunder or under applicable Law, (A) first, prepay Swingline Loans in an amount equal to the Swingline Lender’s Fronting Exposure and (B) second, Cash Collateralize the L/C Issuer’s Fronting Exposure in accordance with the procedures set forth in Section 2.14.

(b)         Defaulting Lender Cure .  If the Borrowers, the Administrative Agent, Swingline Lender and the L/C Issuer 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), that 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 on a pro rata basis by the Lenders in accordance with their Applicable Percentages (without giving effect to Section 2.15(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 Borrowers while that Lender was a Defaulting Lender; and provided, further , that except to the extent otherwise expressly agreed by the affected parties, no change hereunder from Defaulting Lender to Lender will constitute a waiver or release of any claim of any party hereunder arising from that Lender’s having been a Defaulting Lender.

2.16         Increase in Revolving Facility.

 

(a)         Request for Increase .  Provided there exists no Default, upon notice to the Administrative Agent (which shall promptly notify the Revolving Lenders), the Borrowers may from time to time, request an increase in the Revolving Facility by an amount (for all such

 

 

 

requests) not exceeding $50,000,000 (an “ Incremental Facility ”); provided that (i) any such request for an Incremental Facility shall be in a minimum amount of $10,000,000 and in increments of $10,000,000, and (ii) the Borrowers may make a maximum of three (3) such requests.  At the time of sending such notice, the Borrowers (in consultation with the Administrative Agent) shall specify the time period within which each Revolving 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 Revolving Lenders).

(b)         Lender Elections to Increase .  Each Revolving Lender shall notify the Administrative Agent within such time period whether or not it agrees to increase its Revolving Commitment and, if so, whether by an amount equal to, greater than, or less than its Applicable Percentage of such requested increase.  Any Revolving Lender not responding within such time period shall be deemed to have declined to increase its Revolving Commitment.

(c)         Notification by Administrative Agent; Additional Revolving Lenders .  The Administrative Agent shall notify the Borrowers and each Revolving Lender of the Revolving Lenders’ responses to each request made hereunder.  To achieve the full amount of a requested increase, and subject to the approval of the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuer and the Swingline Lender, the Borrowers may also invite additional Eligible Assignees to become Revolving Lenders pursuant to a joinder agreement (“ New Revolving Lenders ”) in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and its counsel.

(d)         Effective Date and Allocations .  If the Revolving Facility is increased in accordance with this Section, the Administrative Agent and the Borrowers shall determine the effective date (the “ Revolving Increase Effective Date ”) and the final allocation of such increase.  The Administrative Agent shall promptly notify the Borrowers, the Revolving Lenders and the New Revolving Lenders of the final allocation of such increase and the Revolving Increase Effective Date.  On the Revolving Increase Effective Date, all outstanding Revolving Loans shall be reallocated among the Lenders (including any New Revolving Lenders) in accordance with the Lenders’ respective revised Applicable Percentages.

(e)         Conditions to Effectiveness of Increase .  As a condition precedent to such increase, the Borrowers shall deliver to the Administrative Agent a certificate of each Loan Party dated as of the Revolving Increase Effective Date (in sufficient copies for each Lender) signed by a Responsible Officer of such Loan Party (i) certifying and attaching the resolutions adopted by such Loan Party approving or consenting to such increase, and (ii) in the case of the Borrowers, certifying that, before and after giving effect to such increase, (A) with respect to representations and warranties that contain a materiality qualification, be true and correct on and as of the on and as of the Revolving Increase Effective Date and, with respect to representations and warranties that do not contain a materiality qualification, be true and correct in all material respects, on and as of the Revolving Increase Effective Date, and except (x) that for purposes of this Section, the representations and warranties contained in subsections (a) and (b) of Section 5.05 shall be deemed to refer to the most recent statements furnished pursuant to clauses (a) and (b), respectively, of Section 6.01, and (y) except that such representations and warranties that relate solely to an earlier date shall be true and correct in all material respects as of such earlier date, and (B) both before and after giving effect to the Incremental Facility, no Default exists.  The Borrowers shall deliver or cause to be delivered any other customary documents (including, without limitation, legal opinions) as reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent in connection with any Incremental Facility.  The Borrowers shall prepay any Revolving Loans outstanding on the Revolving Increase Effective Date (and pay any additional amounts required pursuant to Section 3.05) to the extent necessary to keep the outstanding Revolving Loans ratable

 

 

 

with any revised Applicable Percentages arising from any nonratable increase in the Revolving Commitments under this Section.

(f)         Conflicting Provisions .  This Section shall supersede any provisions in Section 2.13 or 11.01 to the contrary.

(g)         Incremental Facility .  Except as otherwise specifically set forth herein, all of the other terms and conditions applicable to such Incremental Facility shall be identical to the terms and conditions applicable to the Revolving Facility (other than with respect to any upfront fees payable in respect thereof, if applicable); it being understood that the Applicable Margin applicable to the then existing Lenders in respect of their Revolving Commitments may be increased without the consent of any Lender in connection with the incurrence of any such additional Revolving Commitments or increases in Revolving Commitments under the Incremental Facility.

2.17         Joint and Several Liability of the Borrowers.

 

(a)        Each of the Borrowers is accepting joint and several liability for the Obligations of all of the Borrowers hereunder and under the other Loan Documents in consideration of the financial accommodations to be provided by the Administrative Agent and the Lenders under this Agreement, for the mutual benefit, directly and indirectly, of each of the Borrowers and in consideration of the undertakings of each other Borrower to accept joint and several liability for the Obligations.

 

(b)        Each of the Borrowers, jointly and severally, hereby irrevocably and unconditionally accepts, not merely as a surety but also as a co-debtor, joint and several liability with the other Borrowers with respect to the payment and performance of all of the Obligations of the Borrowers (including, without limitation, any Obligations arising under this Section 2.17 ), it being the intention of the parties hereto that all of the Obligations shall be the joint and several obligations of each of the Borrowers without preferences or distinction among them.

 

(c)        If and to the extent that any of the Borrowers shall fail to make any payment with respect to any of the Obligations as and when due or to perform any of the Obligations in accordance with the terms thereof, then in each such event the Borrowers will make such payment with respect to, or perform, such Obligation.

 

(d)        The Obligations of each of the Borrowers under the provisions of this Section 2.17 constitute full recourse obligations of each of the Borrowers enforceable against each such Borrower to the full extent of its properties and assets.

 

(e)        Except as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement, each of the Borrowers, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, hereby waives notice of acceptance of its joint and several liability, notice of any Loans or other extensions of credit made under this Agreement, notice of any action at any time taken or omitted by the Administrative Agent or the Lenders under or in respect of any of the Obligations, and, generally, to the extent permitted by applicable law, all demands, notices (other than those required pursuant to the terms of this Agreement or the Loan Documents) and other formalities of every kind in connection with this Agreement.  Each Borrower, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, hereby waives all defenses which may be available by virtue of any valuation, stay, moratorium law or other similar law now or hereafter in effect, any right to require the marshaling of assets of the Borrowers and any other entity or Person primarily or secondarily liable with respect to any of the Obligations and all suretyship defenses generally.  Each of the Borrowers, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, hereby assents to, and waives notice of, any extension or postponement of

 

 

 

the time for the payment of any of the Obligations, the acceptance of any payment of any of the Obligations, the acceptance of any partial payment thereon, any waiver, consent or other action or acquiescence by the Lenders at any time or times in respect of any default by any of the Borrowers in the performance or satisfaction of any term, covenant, condition or provision of this Agreement, any and all other indulgences whatsoever by the Lenders in respect of any of the Obligations, and the taking, addition, substitution or release, in whole or in part, at any time or times, of any security for any of the Obligations or the addition, substitution or release, in whole or in part, of any of the Borrowers.  Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, each of the Borrowers assents to any other action or delay in acting or failure to act on the part of the Lenders with respect to the failure by any of the Borrowers to comply with any of its respective Obligations including, without limitation, any failure strictly or diligently to assert any right or to pursue any remedy or to comply fully with applicable laws or regulations thereunder, which might, but for the provisions of this Section 2.17 , afford grounds for terminating, discharging or relieving any Borrower, in whole or in part, from any of its Obligations under this Section 2.17 , it being the intention of each of the Borrowers that, so long as any of the Obligations hereunder remain unsatisfied, the Obligations of such the Borrowers under this Section 2.17 shall not be discharged except by performance and then only to the extent of such performance.  The Obligations of each of the Borrowers under this Section 2.17 shall not be diminished or rendered unenforceable by any winding up, reorganization, arrangement, liquidation, re-construction or similar proceeding with respect to any of the Borrowers, the Administrative Agent or the Lenders.  The joint and several liability of the Borrowers hereunder shall continue in full force and effect notwithstanding any absorption, merger, amalgamation or any other change whatsoever in the name, membership, constitution or place of formation of any of the Borrowers, the Administrative Agent or the Lenders.

 

(f)        Each of the Borrowers hereby agrees that the payment of any amounts due with respect to the indebtedness owing by any Borrower to any other Borrower is hereby subordinated to the prior payment in full in cash of the Obligations.  Each Borrower hereby agrees that after the occurrence and during the continuance of any Event of Default, upon the written request of the Administrative Agent, such Borrower will not demand, sue for or otherwise attempt to collect any indebtedness of any other Borrower owing to such Borrower until the Facility Termination Date shall have occurred.  If, notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, such Borrower shall collect, enforce or receive any amounts in respect of such indebtedness before the Facility Termination Date occurs, such amounts shall be collected, enforced, received by such Borrower as trustee for the Administrative Agent and be paid over to the Administrative Agent for the pro rata accounts of the Lenders (in accordance with each such Lender’s Applicable Percentage) to be applied to repay (or be held as security for the repayment of) the Obligations.

 

(g)         The provisions of this Section 2.17 are made for the benefit of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders and their successors and assigns, and may be enforced in good faith by them from time to time against any or all of the Borrowers as often as the occasion therefor may arise and without requirement on the part of the Administrative Agent or the Lenders first to marshal any of their claims or to exercise any of their rights against any other Borrower or to exhaust any remedies available to them against any other Borrower or to resort to any other source or means of obtaining payment of any of the Obligations hereunder or to elect any other remedy.  The provisions of this Section 2.17 shall remain in effect until all of the Obligations shall have been paid in full or otherwise fully satisfied.  If at any time, any payment, or any part thereof, made in respect of any of the Obligations, is rescinded or must otherwise be restored or returned by the Administrative Agent or the Lenders upon the insolvency, bankruptcy or reorganization of any of the Borrowers or is repaid in good faith settlement of a pending or threatened avoidance claim, or otherwise, the provisions of this Section 2.17 will forthwith be reinstated in effect, as though such payment had not been made.  The Borrowers hereby agree among themselves that, in connection with any payments made hereunder, each Borrower shall have contribution rights against the other Borrowers as permitted under applicable Law.

 

 

 

(h)        It is the intention and agreement of the Borrowers and the Lenders that the obligations of the Borrowers under this Agreement shall be valid and enforceable against each Borrower to the maximum extent permitted by applicable law.  Accordingly, if any provision of this Agreement creating any obligation of the Borrowers in favor of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders shall be declared to be invalid or unenforceable in any respect or to any extent, it is the stated intention and agreement of the Borrowers, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders that any balance of the obligation created by such provision and all other obligations of the Borrowers to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders created by other provisions of this Agreement shall remain valid and enforceable.  Likewise, if by final order a court of competent jurisdiction shall declare any sums which the Administrative Agent and the Lenders may be otherwise entitled to collect from the Borrowers under this Agreement to be in excess of those permitted under any law (including any federal or state fraudulent conveyance or like statute or rule of law) applicable to the Borrowers’ obligations under this Agreement, it is the stated intention and agreement of the Borrowers and the Administrative Agent and the Lenders that all sums not in excess of those permitted under such applicable law shall remain fully collectible by the Administrative Agent and the Lenders from the Borrowers.

 

(i)        Notwithstanding anything contained herein, the obligations of each Borrower under this Section 2.17 at any time shall be limited to an aggregate amount equal to the largest amount that would not render its obligations hereunder subject to avoidance as a fraudulent transfer or conveyance under Section 548 of the Bankruptcy Code or any other Debt Relief Laws.

 

ARTICLE III

 

TAXES, YIELD PROTECTION AND ILLEGALITY

 

3.01         Taxes.

 

(a)         Payments Free of Taxes; Obligation to Withhold; Payments on Account of Taxes .  Any and all payments by or on account of any obligation of any Loan Party under any Loan Document shall be made without deduction or withholding for any Taxes, except as required by applicable Laws.  If any applicable Laws (as determined in the good faith discretion of an applicable Withholding Agent) require 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 Governmental Authority in accordance with applicable Laws and, to the extent that the withholding or deduction is made on account of Indemnified Taxes, the sum payable by the applicable Loan 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 3.01) the applicable Recipient receives an amount equal to the sum it would have received had no such deduction or withholding been made

(b)         Payment of Other Taxes by the Loan Parties .  Without limiting the provisions of subsection (a) above, the Loan 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.

(c)         Tax Indemnifications .

 (i)        Each of the Loan Parties shall, and does hereby, jointly and severally indemnify each Recipient, and shall make payment in respect thereof 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 3.01) payable or paid by such Recipient or required to be withheld or deducted from a payment to such Recipient, and any penalties, interest and 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 Borrowers by a Lender or the L/C Issuer (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), or by the Administrative Agent on its own behalf or on behalf of a Lender or the L/C Issuer, shall be conclusive absent manifest error.  Each of the Loan Parties shall also, and does hereby, jointly and severally indemnify the Administrative Agent, and shall make payment in respect thereof within ten (10) days after demand therefor, for any amount which a Lender or the L/C Issuer for any reason fails to pay indefeasibly to the Administrative Agent as required pursuant to Section 3.01(c)(ii) below.

 (ii)        Each Lender and the L/C Issuer shall, and does hereby, severally indemnify and shall make payment in respect thereof within ten (10) days after demand therefor, (A) the Administrative Agent against any Indemnified Taxes attributable to such Lender or the L/C Issuer (but only to the extent that any Loan Party has not already indemnified the Administrative Agent for such Indemnified Taxes and without limiting the obligation of the Loan Parties to do so), (B) the Administrative Agent and the Loan Parties, as applicable, against any Taxes attributable to such Lender’s failure to comply with the provisions of Section 11.06(d) relating to the maintenance of a Participant Register and (C) the Administrative Agent and the Loan Parties, as applicable, against any Excluded Taxes attributable to such Lender or the L/C Issuer, in each case, that are payable or paid by the Administrative Agent or a Loan Party 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 and the L/C Issuer hereby authorizes the Administrative Agent to set off and apply any and all amounts at any time owing to such Lender or the L/C Issuer, as the case may be, under this Agreement or any other Loan Document against any amount due to the Administrative Agent under this clause (ii).

(d)         Evidence of Payments .  As soon as practicable after any payment of Taxes by any Loan Party to a Governmental Authority, as provided in this Section 3.01, the Borrowers 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 any return reporting such payment or other evidence of such payment reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

(e)         Status of Lenders; Tax Documentation .

 (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 Borrowers and the Administrative Agent, at the time or times reasonably requested by the Borrowers or the Administrative Agent, such properly completed and executed documentation reasonably requested by the Borrowers 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 Borrowers or the Administrative Agent, shall deliver such other documentation prescribed by applicable Law or reasonably requested by the Borrowers or the Administrative Agent as will enable

 

 

 

the Borrowers 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 3.01(e)(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 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, in the event that any Borrower is a U.S. Person,

(A)        any Lender that is a U.S. Person shall deliver to the applicable 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 such Borrower or the Administrative Agent), executed copies of IRS Form W-9 certifying that such Lender is exempt from U.S. federal backup withholding tax;

(B)        any Foreign Lender shall, to the extent it is legally entitled to do so, deliver to the applicable 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 such 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 (or W-8BEN, as applicable) establishing an exemption from, or reduction of, U.S. 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 (or W-8BEN, as applicable)  establishing an exemption from, or reduction of, U.S. federal withholding Tax pursuant to the “business profits” or “other income” article of such tax treaty;

(2)        executed originals 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 K-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 such 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 W-8BEN, as applicable); 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 (or W-8BEN, as applicable), a U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit K-2 or Exhibit K-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 K-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 applicable 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 such Borrower or the Administrative Agent), executed copies (or originals, as required) of any other form prescribed by applicable Law as a basis for claiming exemption from or a reduction in U.S. federal withholding Tax, duly completed, together with such supplementary documentation as may be prescribed by applicable Law to permit the applicable 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 U.S. federal withholding Tax imposed by FATCA if such Lender were to fail to comply with the applicable reporting requirements of FATCA (including those contained in Section 1471(b) or 1472(b) of the Code, as applicable), such Lender shall deliver to the applicable Borrower and the Administrative Agent at the time or times prescribed by law and at such time or times reasonably requested by such 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 such Borrower or the Administrative Agent as may be necessary for such 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.

 (iii)        Each Lender agrees that if any form or certification it previously delivered pursuant to this Section 3.01 expires or becomes obsolete or inaccurate in any respect, it shall update such form or certification or promptly notify the applicable Borrower and the Administrative Agent in writing of its legal inability to do so.

(f)         Treatment of Certain Refunds .  Unless required by applicable Laws, at no time shall the Administrative Agent have any obligation to file for or otherwise pursue on behalf of a Lender or the L/C Issuer, or have any obligation to pay to any Lender or the L/C Issuer, any refund of Taxes withheld or deducted from funds paid for the account of such Lender or the L/C Issuer, as the case may be.  If any Recipient 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 by any Loan Party or with respect to which any Loan Party has paid additional amounts pursuant to this Section 3.01, it shall pay to such Loan Party an amount equal to such refund (but only to the

 

 

 

extent of indemnity payments made, or additional amounts paid, by such Loan Party under this Section 3.01 with respect to the Taxes giving rise to such refund), net of all out-of-pocket expenses (including Taxes) incurred by such Recipient, as the case may be, and without interest (other than any interest paid by the relevant Governmental Authority with respect to such refund), provided that each Loan Party, upon the request of the Recipient, agrees to repay the amount paid over to such Loan Party (plus any penalties, interest or other charges imposed by the relevant Governmental Authority) to the Recipient in the event the Recipient is required to repay such refund to such Governmental Authority.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this subsection, in no event will the applicable Recipient be required to pay any amount to such Loan Party pursuant to this subsection the payment of which would place the Recipient in a less favorable net after-Tax position than such Recipient 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 subsection shall not be construed to require any Recipient to make available its tax returns (or any other information relating to its taxes that it deems confidential) to any Loan Party or any other Person.

(g)         Defined Terms .  For the purposes of this Section 3.01, the term “applicable Law” includes FATCA.

(h)         Survival .  Each party’s obligations under this Section 3.01 shall survive the resignation or replacement of the Administrative Agent or any assignment of rights by, or the replacement of, a Lender or the L/C Issuer, the termination of the Revolving Commitments and the repayment, satisfaction or discharge of all other Obligations.

3.02         Illegality and Designated Lenders.

 

If any Lender determines that any Law has made it unlawful, or that any Governmental Authority has asserted that it is unlawful, for any Lender or its Lending Office to perform any of its obligations hereunder or to make, maintain or fund or charge interest with respect to any Loan or Letter of Credit or to determine or charge interest rates based upon the Eurodollar Rate, or any Governmental Authority has imposed material restrictions on the authority of such Lender to purchase or sell, or to take deposits of, Dollars in the London interbank market, then, on notice thereof by such Lender to the Borrowers through the Administrative Agent, (a) any obligation of such Lender to issue, make, maintain, fund or charge interest with respect to any such Credit Extension or continue Eurodollar Rate Loans or to convert Base Rate Loans to Eurodollar Rate Loans shall be suspended, and (b) if such notice asserts the illegality of such Lender making or maintaining Base Rate Loans  the interest rate on which is determined by reference to the Eurodollar Rate component of the Base Rate, the interest rate on which Base Rate Loans of such Lender shall, if necessary to avoid such illegality, be determined by the Administrative Agent without reference to the Eurodollar Rate component of the Base Rate, in each case until such Lender notifies the Administrative Agent and the Borrowers that the circumstances giving rise to such determination no longer exist (which notice such Lender agrees to provide promptly).  Upon receipt of such notice, (i) the Borrowers shall, upon demand from such Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), prepay or, if applicable, convert all Eurodollar Rate Loans of such Lender to Base Rate Loans (the interest rate on which Base Rate Loans of such Lender shall, if necessary to avoid such illegality, be determined by the Administrative Agent without reference to the Eurodollar Rate component of the Base Rate), either on the last day of the Interest Period therefor, if such Lender may lawfully continue to maintain such Eurodollar Rate Loans to such day, or immediately, if such Lender may not lawfully continue to maintain such Eurodollar Rate Loans and (ii) if such notice asserts the illegality of such Lender determining or charging interest rates based upon the Eurodollar Rate, the Administrative Agent shall during the period of such suspension compute the Base Rate applicable to such Lender without

 

 

 

reference to the Eurodollar Rate component thereof until the Administrative Agent is advised in writing by such Lender that it is no longer illegal for such Lender to determine or charge interest rates based upon the Eurodollar Rate (which notice such Lender agrees to provide promptly).  Upon any such prepayment or conversion, the Borrowers shall also pay accrued interest on the amount so prepaid or converted.

3.03         Inability to Determine Rates.

 

(a)         If in connection with any request for a Eurodollar Rate Loan or a conversion to or continuation thereof, (i) the Administrative Agent determines that (A) Dollar deposits are not being offered to banks in the London interbank eurodollar market for the applicable amount and Interest Period of such Eurodollar Rate Loan, or (B) adequate and reasonable means do not exist for determining the Eurodollar Rate for any requested Interest Period with respect to a proposed Eurodollar Rate Loan or for determining the LIBOR Daily Floating Rate in connection with an existing or proposed Base Rate Loan (in each case with respect to clause (i), “ Impacted Loans ”), or (ii) the Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders determine that for any reason the Eurodollar Rate for any requested Interest Period with respect to a proposed Eurodollar Rate Loan does not adequately and fairly reflect the cost to such Lenders of funding such Loan, the Administrative Agent will promptly so notify the Borrowers and each Lender.  Thereafter, (x) the obligation of the Lenders to make or maintain Eurodollar Rate Loans shall be suspended (to the extent of the affected Eurodollar Rate Loans or Interest Periods), and (y) in the event of a determination described in the preceding sentence with respect to the LIBOR Daily Floating Rate component of the Base Rate, the utilization of the LIBOR Daily Floating Rate component in determining the Base Rate shall be suspended, in each case until the Administrative Agent (upon the instruction of the Required Lenders in the case of clause (ii) above)   revokes such notice.  Upon receipt of such notice, the Borrowers may revoke any pending request for a Borrowing of, conversion to or continuation of Eurodollar Rate Loans (to the extent of the affected Eurodollar Rate Loans or Interest Periods) or, failing that, will be deemed to have converted such request into a request for a Borrowing of Base Rate Loans in the amount specified therein.

(b)        Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Administrative Agent has made the determination described in clause (a)(i) of this Section, the Administrative Agent, in consultation with the Borrowers and the Required Lenders, may establish an alternative interest rate for the Impacted Loans, in which case, such alternative rate of interest shall apply with respect to the Impacted Loans until (1) the Administrative Agent revokes the notice delivered with respect to the Impacted Loans under clause (a)(i) of this Section, (2) the Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders notify the Administrative Agent and the Borrowers that such alternative interest rate does not adequately and fairly reflect the cost to such Lenders of funding the Impacted Loans, or (3) any Lender determines that any Law has made it unlawful, or that any Governmental Authority has asserted that it is unlawful, for such Lender or its applicable Lending Office to make, maintain or fund Loans whose interest is determined by reference to such alternative rate of interest or to determine or charge interest rates based upon such rate or any Governmental Authority has imposed material restrictions on the authority of such Lender to do any of the foregoing and provides the Administrative Agent and the Borrowers written notice thereof.

 

 

 (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 the L/C Issuer or the London interbank market any other condition, cost or expense (other than Taxes) affecting this Agreement or Eurodollar Rate 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 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 or the L/C Issuer 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 or the L/C Issuer hereunder (whether of principal, interest or any other amount) then, upon request of such Lender or the L/C Issuer, the Borrowers will pay to such Lender or the L/C Issuer, as the case may be, such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender or the L/C Issuer, as the case may be, for such additional costs incurred or reduction suffered.

(b)         Capital Requirements .  If any Lender or the L/C Issuer determines that any Change in Law affecting such Lender or the L/C Issuer or any Lending Office of such Lender or such Lender’s or the L/C Issuer’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 the L/C Issuer’s capital or on the capital of such Lender’s or the L/C Issuer’s holding company, if any, as a consequence of this Agreement, the Revolving Commitments 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 the L/C Issuer, to a level below that which such Lender or the L/C Issuer or such Lender’s or the L/C Issuer’s holding company could have achieved but for such Change in Law (taking into consideration such Lender’s or the L/C Issuer’s policies and the policies of such Lender’s or the L/C Issuer’s holding company with respect to capital adequacy), then from time to time the Borrowers will pay to such Lender or the L/C Issuer, as the case may be, such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender or the L/C Issuer or such Lender’s or the L/C Issuer’s holding company for any such reduction suffered.

(c)         Certificates for Reimbursement .  A certificate of a Lender or the L/C Issuer setting forth the amount or amounts necessary to compensate such Lender or the L/C Issuer or its holding company, as the case may be, as specified in subsection (a) or (b) of this Section and delivered to the Borrowers shall be conclusive absent manifest error.  The Borrowers shall pay such Lender or the L/C Issuer, as the case may be, the amount shown as due on any such certificate within ten (10) days after receipt thereof.

 (d)         Reserves on Eurodollar Rate Loans .  The Borrowers shall pay to each Lender, as long as such Lender shall be required to maintain reserves with respect to liabilities or assets consisting of or including eurocurrency funds or deposits (currently known as “Eurocurrency liabilities”), additional interest on the unpaid principal amount of each Eurodollar Rate Loan equal to the actual costs of such reserves allocated to such Loan by such Lender (as determined by such Lender in good faith, which determination shall be conclusive absent manifest error), which shall be due and payable on each date on which interest is payable on such Loan, provided

 

 

 

the Borrowers shall have received at least ten (10) days’ prior notice (with a copy to the Administrative Agent) of such additional interest or costs from such Lender.  If a Lender fails to give notice ten (10) days prior to the relevant Interest Payment Date, such additional interest shall be due and payable ten (10) days from receipt of such notice.

(e)         Delay in Requests .  Failure or delay on the part of any Lender or the L/C Issuer to demand compensation pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this Section 3.04 shall not constitute a waiver of such Lender’s or the L/C Issuer’s right to demand such compensation, provided that the Borrowers shall not be required to compensate a Lender or the L/C Issuer pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this Section for any increased costs incurred or reductions suffered more than nine (9) months prior to the date that such Lender or the L/C Issuer, as the case may be, notifies the Borrowers of the Change in Law giving rise to such increased costs or reductions and of such Lender’s or the L/C Issuer’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 (9) month period referred to above shall be extended to include the period of retroactive effect thereof).

3.05         Compensation for Losses.

 

Upon demand of any Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent) from time to time, the Borrowers shall promptly compensate such Lender for and hold such Lender harmless from any loss, cost or expense incurred by it as a result of:

(a)        any continuation, conversion, payment or prepayment of any Loan other than a Base Rate Loan on a day other than the last day of the Interest Period for such Loan (whether voluntary, mandatory, automatic, by reason of acceleration, or otherwise);

(b)        any failure by any Borrowers (for a reason other than the failure of such Lender to make a Loan) to prepay, borrow, continue or convert any Loan other than a Base Rate Loan   on the date or in the amount notified by such Borrower; or

(c)        any assignment of a Eurodollar Rate Loan on a day other than the last day of the Interest Period therefor as a result of a request by any Borrower pursuant to Section 11.13;

excluding any loss of anticipated profits and Applicable Margin, but including any loss or expense arising from the liquidation or reemployment of funds obtained by it to maintain such Loan or from fees payable to terminate the deposits from which such funds were obtained.  The Borrowers shall also pay any customary administrative fees charged by such Lender in connection with the foregoing.

A certificate of any Lender setting forth any amount which such Lender is entitled to receive pursuant to this Section 3.05 and the calculation of such amount in reasonable detail shall be delivered to the Borrowers and shall be conclusive absent manifest error.  The Borrowers shall pay such Lender the amount shown as due on any such certificate within ten (10) days after receipt thereof.

3.06         Mitigation Obligations; Replacement of Lenders.

 

(a)         Designation of a Different Lending Office .  If any Lender requests compensation under Section 3.04, or requires the Borrowers to pay any Indemnified Taxes or additional amounts to any Lender, the L/C Issuer, or any Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender or the L/C Issuer pursuant to Section 3.01, or if any Lender gives a notice pursuant to Section 3.02, such Lender or the L/C Issuer shall, as applicable, 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 or the L/C Issuer, such designation or assignment (i) would eliminate or reduce amounts payable pursuant to Section 3.01 or 3.04, as the case may be, in the future, or eliminate the need for the notice pursuant to Section 3.02, as applicable, and (ii) in each case, would not subject such Lender or the L/C Issuer, as the case may be, to any unreimbursed cost or expense and would not otherwise be disadvantageous to such Lender or the L/C Issuer, as the case may be.  The Borrowers hereby agree to pay all reasonable out of pocket costs and expenses incurred by any Lender or the L/C Issuer in connection with any such designation or assignment.

(b)         Replacement of Lenders .  If any Lender requests compensation under Section 3.04, or if any 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 3.01 and, in each case, such Lender has declined or is unable to designate a different lending office in accordance with Section 3.06(a), the Borrowers may replace such Lender in accordance with Section 11.13.

3.07         Survival.

 

All of the Borrowers’ obligations under this Article III shall survive termination of the Aggregate Commitments, repayment of all other Obligations hereunder, resignation of the Administrative Agent and the Facility Termination Date.

ARTICLE IV

 

CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO CREDIT EXTENSIONS

 

4.01         Conditions of Initial Credit Extension.

 

The obligation of the L/C Issuer and each Lender to make its initial Credit Extension hereunder is subject to satisfaction of the following conditions precedent:

(a)         Execution of Credit Agreement; Loan Documents .  The Administrative Agent shall have received (i) counterparts of this Agreement, executed by a Responsible Officer of each Loan Party and a duly authorized officer of each Lender, (ii) for the account of each Lender requesting a Note, a Note executed by a Responsible Officer of each Borrower, (iii) counterparts of the Security Agreement, and each other Collateral Document, executed by a Responsible Officer of the applicable Loan Parties and a duly authorized officer of each other Person party thereto, as applicable and (iv) counterparts of any other Loan Document, executed by a Responsible Officer of the applicable Loan Party and a duly authorized officer of each other Person party thereto.

(b)         Officer’s Certificate .  The Administrative Agent shall have received an Officer’s Certificate dated the Closing Date, certifying as to the Organization Documents of each Loan Party (which, to the extent filed with a Governmental Authority, shall be certified as of a recent date by such Governmental Authority), the resolutions of the governing body of each Loan Party, the good standing, existence or its equivalent of each Loan Party and of the incumbency (including specimen signatures) of the Responsible Officers of each Loan Party.

 

 

(c)         Legal Opinions of Counsel .  The Administrative Agent shall have received an opinion or opinions (including, if reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent, local counsel opinions) of counsel for the Loan Parties, dated the Closing Date and addressed to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders, in form and substance reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent.

(d)         Financial Statements .  The Administrative Agent and the Lenders shall have received copies of the financial statements referred to in Section 5.05, each in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to each of them.

(e)         Personal Property Collateral .  The Administrative Agent shall have received, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent:

 (i)        (A) searches of UCC filings in the jurisdiction of incorporation or formation, as applicable, of each Loan Party and each other jurisdiction deemed reasonably appropriate by the Administrative Agent, copies of the financing statements on file in such jurisdictions and evidence that no Liens exist other than Permitted Liens and (B) tax lien, judgment and bankruptcy searches in such jurisdictions as are deemed reasonably appropriate by the Administrative Agent;

 (ii)        patent/trademark/copyright filings in suitable form for filing with the United States Patent and Trademark Office or the United States Copyright Office, as applicable, as reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent in order to perfect the Administrative Agent’s security interest in the Intellectual Property registered or pending in the United States;

 (iii)        completed UCC financing statements for each appropriate jurisdiction as is necessary, in the Administrative Agent’s sole discretion, to perfect the Administrative Agent’s security interest in the Collateral;

 (iv)        stock or membership certificates, if any, evidencing the Pledged Equity and undated stock or transfer powers duly executed in blank; in each case to the extent such Pledged Equity is certificated   (it being understood that any Loan Party and any Subsidiary or other issuer thereof will be obligated to cause any such Pledged Equity not already certificated to become certificated);

 (v)        in the case of any personal property Collateral located at premises leased by a Loan Party and set forth on Schedule 5.21(g)(ii) , evidence reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent that the Borrowers shall have used commercially reasonable efforts to obtain consents and waivers from the landlords of such real property to the extent required to be delivered in connection with Section 6.14 (such letters, consents and waivers shall be in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, it being acknowledged and agreed that any Landlord Waiver is satisfactory to the Administrative Agent); and

 (vi)        to the extent required to be delivered pursuant to the terms and conditions of the Collateral Documents, all instruments, documents and chattel paper in the possession of any of the Loan Parties, together with allonges or assignments as may be necessary or appropriate to create and perfect the Administrative Agent’s and the Lenders’ security interest in such Collateral.

 

 

(f)         Liability, Casualty, Property and Business Interruption Insurance .  The Administrative Agent shall have received copies of insurance summaries, certificates of insurance, and endorsements of insurance evidencing liability, casualty, property and business interruption insurance meeting the requirements set forth herein or in the Collateral Documents or as required by the Administrative Agent.  The Loan Parties shall have delivered to the Administrative Agent an Authorization to Share Insurance Information.

(g)         Financial Condition Certificate .  The Administrative Agent shall have received a certificate or certificates executed by a Responsible Officer of the Parent as of the Closing Date, as to certain financial matters, substantially in the form of Exhibit N .

(h)         Loan Notice .  The Administrative Agent shall have received a Loan Notice with respect to the Loans to be made on the Closing Date.

(i)          Existing Indebtedness of the Loan Parties .  All of the existing Indebtedness for borrowed money of each Borrower and its Subsidiaries (other than Indebtedness permitted to exist pursuant to Section 7.02) shall be repaid in full and all security interests related thereto shall be terminated on or prior to the Closing Date.

(j)          Consents .  The Administrative Agent shall have received evidence that all members, boards of directors, governmental, shareholder and material third party consents and approvals necessary in connection with the entering into of this Agreement have been obtained.

(k)         Fees and Expenses .  The Administrative Agent and the Lenders shall have received all fees and expenses, if any, owing pursuant to the Fee Letter and Section 2.09.

(l)          Other Documents .  All other documents provided for herein or which the Administrative Agent or any other Lender may reasonably request or require.

(m)         Additional Information .  Such additional information and materials which the Administrative Agent and/or any Lender shall reasonably request or require.

Without limiting the generality of the provisions of the last paragraph of Section 9.03, for purposes of determining compliance with the conditions specified in this Section, 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.

4.02         Conditions to all Credit Extensions.

 

The obligation of each Lender and the L/C Issuer to honor any Request for Credit Extension is subject to the following conditions precedent:

(a)         Representations and Warranties . The representations and warranties of the Borrowers and each other Loan Party contained in Article II, Article V or any other Loan Document, or which are contained in any document furnished at any time under or in connection herewith or therewith, shall (i) with respect to representations and warranties that contain a materiality qualification, be true and correct on and as of the date of such Credit Extension and (ii) with respect to representations and warranties that do not contain a materiality qualification, be true and correct in all material respects on and as of the date of such Credit Extension, and

 

 

 

 

except that for purposes of this Section 4.02, the representations and warranties contained in Sections 5.05(a) and (b) shall be deemed to refer to the most recent statements furnished pursuant to Sections 6.01(a) and (b), respectively, except that such representations and warranties that relate solely to an earlier date shall be true and correct as of such earlier date (or with respect to such representations and warranties that do not contain a materiality qualification, be true and correct in all material respects as of such earlier date).

(b)         Default . No Default shall exist, or would result from such proposed Credit Extension or from the application of the proceeds thereof.

(c)         Request for Credit Extension . The Administrative Agent and, if applicable, the L/C Issuer or the Swingline Lender, shall have received a Request for Credit Extension in accordance with the requirements hereof.

Each Request for Credit Extension submitted by the Borrowers shall be deemed to be a representation and warranty that the conditions specified in Sections 4.02(a) and (b) have been satisfied on and as of the date of the applicable Credit Extension.

ARTICLE V

 

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

 

Each Loan Party represents and warrants to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders, as of the date made or deemed made, that:

5.01         Existence, Qualification and Power.

 

Each Loan Party and each of its Subsidiaries (a) is duly organized or formed, validly existing and, as applicable, in good standing under the Laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation or organization, (b) has all requisite power and authority and all requisite governmental licenses, authorizations, consents and approvals to (i) own or lease its assets and carry on its business and (ii) execute, deliver and perform its obligations under the Loan Documents to which it is a party, and (c) is duly qualified and is licensed and, as applicable, in good standing under the Laws of each jurisdiction where its ownership, lease or operation of properties or the conduct of its business requires such qualification or license; except in each case referred to in clause (a) (with respect to Subsidiaries that are not Loan Parties) (b)(i) or (c), to the extent that failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.  The copy of the Organization Documents of each Loan Party provided to the Administrative Agent pursuant to the terms of Section 4.01(b) is a true and correct copy of each such document as of the Closing Date, each of which is valid and in full force and effect as of the Closing Date.

5.02         Authorization; No Contravention.

 

The execution, delivery and performance by each Loan Party of each Loan Document to which such Person is a party have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate or other organizational action, and do not and will not (a) contravene the terms of any of such Person’s Organization Documents; (b) conflict with or result in any breach or contravention of, or the creation of any Lien under, or require any payment to be made under (i) any Contractual Obligation to which such Person is a party or affecting such Person or the properties of such Person or any of its Subsidiaries, except for any conflict, breach or contravention that, either individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, or (ii) any order, injunction, writ or decree of any Governmental Authority or

 

 

 

any arbitral award to which such Person or its property is subject; or (c) violate any Law in any material respect.

5.03         Governmental Authorization; Other Consents.

 

No approval, consent, exemption, authorization, or other action by, or notice to, or filing with, any Governmental Authority or any other Person is necessary or required in connection with (a) the execution, delivery or performance by, or enforcement against, any Loan Party of this Agreement or any other Loan Document, (b) the grant by any Loan Party of the Liens granted by it pursuant to the Collateral Documents, (c) the perfection or maintenance of the Liens created under the Collateral Documents (including the first priority nature thereof) or (d) the exercise by the Administrative Agent or any Lender of its rights under the Loan Documents or the remedies in respect of the Collateral pursuant to the Collateral Documents, other than (i) authorizations, approvals, actions, notices and filings which have been duly obtained and (ii) filings to perfect the Liens created by the Collateral Documents.

5.04         Binding Effect.

 

This Agreement has been, and each other Loan Document, when delivered hereunder, will have been, duly executed and delivered by each Loan Party that is party thereto.  This Agreement constitutes, and each other Loan Document when so delivered will constitute, a legal, valid and binding obligation of such Loan Party, enforceable against each Loan Party that is party thereto in accordance with its terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and subject to general principals of equity.

5.05         Financial Statements; No Material Adverse Effect.

 

(a)         Audited Financial Statements .  The Audited Financial Statements (i) were prepared in accordance with GAAP consistently applied throughout the period covered thereby, except as otherwise expressly noted therein; (ii) fairly present in all material respects the financial condition of the Parent and its Subsidiaries as of the date thereof and their results of operations, cash flows and changes in shareholder’s equity for the period covered thereby in accordance with GAAP consistently applied throughout the period covered thereby, except as otherwise expressly noted therein; and (iii) show all material indebtedness and other liabilities, direct or contingent, of the Parent and its Subsidiaries as of the date thereof, including liabilities for taxes, material commitments and Indebtedness.

(b)         Quarterly Financial Statements .  The unaudited Consolidated balance sheets of the Parent and its Subsidiaries dated October 31, 2014, and the related Consolidated statements of income or operations, shareholders’ equity and cash flows for the fiscal quarter ended on that date (i) were prepared in accordance with GAAP consistently applied throughout the period covered thereby, except as otherwise expressly noted therein, and (ii) fairly present in all material respects the financial condition of the Parent and its Subsidiaries as of the date thereof and their results of operations, cash flows and changes in shareholders’ equity for the period covered thereby, subject, in the case of clauses (i) and (ii), to the absence of footnotes and to normal year-end audit adjustments.

(c)         Material Adverse Effect .  Since the date of the balance sheet included in the Audited Financial Statements, there has been no event or circumstance, either individually or in the aggregate, that has had or could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

 

(d)         Forecasted Financials .  The Consolidated forecasted balance sheets, statements of income and cash flows of the Parent and its Subsidiaries delivered pursuant to Section 4.01 or Section 6.01 were prepared in good faith on the basis of the assumptions stated therein, which assumptions were fair in light of the conditions existing at the time of delivery of such forecasts, and represented, at the time of delivery, the Parent’s good faith estimate of its future financial condition and performance.

5.06         Litigation.

 

There are no actions, suits, proceedings, claims or disputes pending or, to the knowledge of the Loan Parties after reasonably diligent investigation, threatened, at law, in equity, in arbitration or before any Governmental Authority, by or against any Loan Party or any Subsidiary or against any of their properties or revenues that (a) purport to affect or pertain to this Agreement or any other Loan Document or any of the transactions contemplated hereby, or (b) either individually or in the aggregate could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

5.07         No Default.

 

Neither any Loan Party nor any Subsidiary thereof is in default under or with respect to, or a party to, any Contractual Obligation that could, either individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.  No Default has occurred and is continuing or would result from the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any other Loan Document.

5.08         Ownership of Property.

 

Each Loan Party and each of its Subsidiaries has good record and marketable title in fee simple to, or valid leasehold interests in, all real property necessary or used in the ordinary conduct of its business, except for such defects in title as could not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

5.09         Environmental Compliance.

 

(a)        The Loan Parties and their respective Subsidiaries review in the ordinary course of business the effect of existing Environmental Laws and claims alleging potential liability or responsibility for violation of any Environmental Law on their respective businesses, operations and properties, and as a result thereof the Loan Parties have reasonably concluded that such Environmental Laws and claims could not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(b)        Neither any Loan Party nor any of its Subsidiaries is undertaking, either individually or together with other potentially responsible parties, any investigation or assessment or remedial or response action relating to any actual or threatened release, discharge or disposal of Hazardous Materials at any site, location or operation, either voluntarily or pursuant to the order of any Governmental Authority or the requirements of any Environmental Law that could, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; and all Hazardous Materials generated, used, treated, handled or stored at, or transported to or from, any property currently or formerly owned or operated by any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries have been disposed of in a manner not reasonably expected to result in liability to any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries that could, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

 

5.10         Insurance.

 

The properties of the Borrowers and their Subsidiaries are insured with financially sound and reputable insurance companies not Affiliates of the Borrowers, in such amounts, with such deductibles and covering such risks as are customarily carried by companies engaged in similar businesses and owning similar properties in localities where the applicable Loan Party or the applicable Subsidiary operates.  Such insurance coverage of the Loan Parties as in effect on the Closing Date is outlined as to carrier, policy number, expiration date, type, and amount on Schedule 5.10 and such insurance coverage complies with the requirements set forth in this Agreement and the other Loan Documents.

5.11         Taxes.

 

Each Loan Party has filed all federal, material state and other material tax returns and reports required to be filed, and have paid all federal, state and other material taxes, assessments, fees and other governmental charges levied or imposed upon them or their properties, income or assets otherwise due and payable, except those which are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted and for which adequate reserves have been provided in accordance with GAAP.  There is no proposed tax assessment against any Loan Party that would, if made, have a Material Adverse Effect, nor is there any tax sharing agreement applicable to any Loan Party.  The filing and recording of any and all documents required to perfect the security interests granted to the Administrative Agent (for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties) will not result in any documentary, stamp or other taxes.

5.12         ERISA Compliance.

 

(a)        Each Plan is in compliance in all material respects with the applicable provisions of ERISA, the Code and other federal or state laws, except for such non-compliance as could not reasonably be expected to result in any liability in excess of the Threshold Amount.  Each Pension Plan that is intended to be a qualified plan under Section 401(a) of the Code has received a favorable determination letter or is subject to a favorable opinion letter from the IRS to the effect that the form of such Plan is qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code and the trust related thereto has been determined by the IRS to be exempt from federal income tax under Section 501(a) of the Code, or an application for such a letter is currently being processed by the IRS, and, to the best knowledge of the Loan Parties, nothing has occurred that would prevent or cause the loss of such tax-qualified status, except where the lack or absence of such qualification could not reasonably be expected to result in any liability in excess of the Threshold Amount.

(b)        There are no pending or, to the best knowledge of the Loan Parties, threatened claims, actions or lawsuits, or action by any Governmental Authority, with respect to any Plan that could reasonably be expected to result in any liability in excess of the Threshold Amount.  There has been no prohibited transaction or violation of the fiduciary responsibility rules with respect to any Plan that has resulted or could reasonably be expected to result in any liability in excess of the Threshold Amount.

(c)        Except as could not reasonably be expected to result in any liability in excess of the Threshold Amount, no ERISA Event has occurred, and no Loan Party nor any ERISA Affiliate is aware of any fact, event or circumstance that could reasonably be expected to constitute or result in an ERISA Event with respect to any Pension Plan.

(d)        Neither the Borrowers nor any ERISA Affiliate maintains or contributes to, or has any unsatisfied obligation to contribute to, or liability under, any active or terminated Pension

 

 

 

Plan other than (i) on the Closing Date, those listed on Schedule 5.12 hereto and (ii) thereafter, Pension Plans that do not result in any representation contained in this Section 5.12 being untrue.

 

(e)        With respect to each scheme or arrangement mandated by a government other than the United States (a “ Foreign Government Scheme or Arrangement ”) and with respect to each employee benefit plan maintained or contributed to by any Loan Party or any Subsidiary of any Loan Party that is not subject to United States law (a “ Foreign Plan ”), except, in each case, as could not reasonably be expected to result in any liability in excess of the Threshold Amount:

 (i)        any employer and employee contributions required by law or by the terms of any Foreign Government Scheme or Arrangement or any Foreign Plan have been made, or, if applicable, accrued, in accordance with normal accounting practices;

 

 (ii)        the fair market value of the assets of each funded Foreign Plan, the liability of each insurer for any Foreign Plan funded through insurance or the book reserve established for any Foreign Plan, together with any accrued contributions, is sufficient to procure or provide for the accrued benefit obligations, as of the date hereof, with respect to all current and former participants in such Foreign Plan according to the actuarial assumptions and valuations most recently used to account for such obligations in accordance with applicable generally accepted accounting principles; and

 

 (iii)        each Foreign Plan required to be registered has been registered and has been maintained in good standing with applicable regulatory authorities.

 

5.13         Margin Regulations; Investment Company Act.

 

 (a)         Margin Regulations .  The Borrowers are not engaged and will not engage, principally or as one of their important activities, in the business of purchasing or carrying margin stock (within the meaning of Regulation U issued by the FRB), or extending credit for the purpose of purchasing or carrying margin stock.  Following the application of the proceeds of each Borrowing or drawing under each Letter of Credit, not more than twenty-five percent (25%) of the value of the assets (either of the Borrowers only or of the Borrowers and their Subsidiaries on a Consolidated basis) subject to the provisions of Section 7.01 or Section 7.05 or subject to any restriction contained in any agreement or instrument between the Borrowers and any Lender or any Affiliate of any Lender relating to Indebtedness and within the scope of Section 8.01(e) will be margin stock.

(b)         Investment Company Act .  None of the Borrowers, any Person Controlling the Borrowers, or any Subsidiary is or is required to be registered as an “investment company” under the Investment Company Act of 1940.

5.14         Disclosure.

 

Each Borrower has disclosed to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders all agreements, instruments and corporate or other restrictions to which it or any of its Subsidiaries or any other Loan Party is subject, and all other matters known to it, that, individually or in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.  No written report, financial statement, certificate or other written information (other than financial models, other forward-looking information and information of a general economic or industry-specific nature) furnished by or on behalf of any Loan Party to the Administrative Agent or any Lender in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby and the negotiation of this Agreement or delivered hereunder or under any other Loan Document (in each

 

 

 

case as modified or supplemented by other information so furnished), contains any material misstatement of fact or omits to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading (after giving effect to all supplements thereto) in any material respect; provided that, with respect to projected financial information, each Loan Party represents only that such information was prepared in good faith based upon assumptions believed to be reasonable at the time.

5.15         Compliance with Laws.

 

Each Loan Party and each Subsidiary thereof is in compliance with the requirements of all Laws and all orders, writs, injunctions and decrees applicable to it or to its properties, except in such instances in which (a) such requirement of Law or order, writ, injunction or decree is being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted or (b) the failure to comply therewith, either individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

5.16         Solvency.

 

The Parent and its Subsidiaries on a Consolidated basis are Solvent.

5.17         Casualty, Etc.

 

Neither the businesses nor the properties of any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries are affected by any fire, explosion, accident, strike, lockout or other labor dispute, drought, storm, hail, earthquake, embargo, act of God or of the public enemy or other casualty (whether or not covered by insurance) that, either individually or in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

5.18         Sanctions Concerns and Anti-Corruption Laws.

 

(a)         Sanctions Concerns . No Loan Party, nor any Subsidiary, nor, to the knowledge of the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries, any director, officer, employee, agent, affiliate or representative thereof, is an individual or entity  that is, or is owned or controlled by any individual or entity that is (i) currently the subject or target of any Sanctions, (ii) included on OFAC’s List of Specially Designated Nationals, HMT’s Consolidated List of Financial Sanctions Targets and the Investment Ban List, or any similar list enforced by any other relevant sanctions authority or (iii) located, organized or resident in a Designated Jurisdiction.

(b)         Anti-Corruption Laws .  The Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries have conducted their business in compliance with the United States Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, the UK Bribery Act 2010 and other similar anti-corruption legislation or anti-money laundering legislation in other jurisdictions, and have instituted and maintained policies and procedures designed to promote and achieve compliance with such laws.

5.19         Responsible Officers.

 

Set forth on Schedule 1.01(c) are Responsible Officers, holding the offices indicated next to their respective names, as of the Closing Date and as of the last date such Schedule was required to be updated in accordance with Section 6.02 and such Responsible Officers are the duly elected and qualified officers of such Loan Party and are duly authorized to execute and deliver, on behalf of the respective Loan Party, this Agreement, the Notes and the other Loan Documents.

 

 

5.20         Subsidiaries; Equity Interests; Loan Parties.

 

(a)         Subsidiaries, Joint Ventures, Partnerships and Equity Investments .  Set forth on Schedule 5.20(a), is the following information which is true and complete in all respects as of the Closing Date and as of the last date such Schedule was required to be updated in accordance with Section 6.02:  (i) a complete and accurate list of all Subsidiaries, joint ventures and partnerships and other equity investments of the Loan Parties as of the Closing Date and as of the last date such Schedule was required to be updated in accordance with Section 6.02, (ii) the number of shares of each class of Equity Interests in each Loan Party outstanding, (iii) the percentage of outstanding shares of each class of Equity Interests owned by the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries and (iv) the class or nature of such Equity Interests in each Loan Party (i.e. voting, non-voting, preferred, etc.).  The outstanding Equity Interests in all Subsidiaries are validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable (to the extent such concepts are applicable)  and are owned free and clear of all Liens other than Permitted Liens.  There are no outstanding subscriptions, options, warrants, calls, rights or other agreements or commitments (other than stock options granted to employees or directors and directors’, buy/sell and put/call provisions in joint venture agreements and nominees’ shares required under applicable Law) of any nature relating to the Equity Interests of any Loan Party or any Subsidiary thereof, except as permitted under the Loan Documents.

(b)         Loan Parties .  Set forth on Schedule 5.20(b) is a complete and accurate list of all Loan Parties, showing as of the Closing Date, or as of the last date such Schedule was required to be updated in accordance with Section 6.02 (as to each Loan Party), (i) the exact legal name, (ii) any former legal names of such Loan Party in the four (4) months prior to the Closing Date, (iii) the jurisdiction of its incorporation or organization, as applicable, (iv) the type of organization, (v) the jurisdictions in which such Loan Party is qualified to do business, (vi) the address of its chief executive office, (vii) the address of its principal place of business, (viii) its U.S. federal taxpayer identification number or, in the case of any non-U.S. Loan Party that does not have a U.S. taxpayer identification number, its unique identification number issued to it by the jurisdiction of its incorporation or organization, (ix) the organization identification number, (x) ownership information (e.g. publicly held or if private or partnership, the owners and partners of each of the Loan Parties) and (xi) the industry or nature of business of such Loan Party.

5.21         Collateral Representations.

 

(a)         Collateral Documents .  The provisions of the Collateral Documents are effective to create in favor of the Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties a legal, valid and enforceable first priority Lien (subject to Permitted Liens) on all right, title and interest of the respective Loan Parties in the Collateral described therein to the extent required by such Collateral Documents.  Except for filings completed prior to the Closing Date and as contemplated hereby and by the Collateral Documents, no filing or other action will be necessary to perfect or protect such Liens.

(b)         Intellectual Property .  Set forth on Schedule 5.21(b) , as of the Closing Date and as of the last date such Schedule was required to be updated in accordance with Section 6.02, is a list of all material registered or issued Intellectual Property in the United States (including all applications for registration and issuance and all domain names) owned by each of the Loan Parties.

(c)         Pledged Equity Interests .  Set forth on Schedule 5.21(c) is a list as of the Closing Date of (i) all Pledged Equity and (ii) all other Equity Interests required to be pledged to the

 

 

 

Administrative Agent pursuant to the Collateral Documents (in each case, detailing the Grantor (as defined in the Security Agreement), the Person whose Equity Interests are pledged, the number of shares being pledged of each class of Equity Interests, the certificate number and percentage ownership of outstanding shares of each class of Equity Interests represented by the Equity Interests being pledged and the class or nature of the Equity Interests being pledged (i.e. voting, non-voting, preferred, etc.).

(d)         Properties .  Set forth on Schedule 5.21(d)(i) , as of the Closing Date and as of the last date such Schedule was required to be updated in accordance with Section 6.02,  is a list of all Real Properties (including (i) the name of the Loan Party owning such Real Property, (ii) the number of buildings located on such Real Property, (iii) the property address, (iv) the city, county, state and zip code which such Real Property is located).   Set forth on Schedule 5.21(d)(ii) , as of the Closing Date and as of the last date such Schedule was required to be updated in accordance with Section 6.02, is a list of (A) each headquarter location of the Loan Parties, (B) each other location where any significant administrative or governmental functions are performed, (C) each other location where the Loan Parties maintain any material books or records (electronic or otherwise) and (D) each location where any personal property Collateral is located at any premises owned or leased by a Loan Party with a Collateral value in excess of $2,000,000 (in each case, including (1) an indication if such location is leased or owned, (2), if leased, the name of the lessor, and if owned, the name of the Loan Party owning such property, (3) the address of such property (including, the city, state and zip code) and (4) to the extent owned, the approximate fair market value of such property).

(e)         Material Contracts .  Set forth on Schedule 5.21(e) is a complete and accurate list of all Material Contracts of the Borrowers and their Subsidiaries as of the Closing Date.

5.22         Intellectual Property; Licenses, Etc.

 

Each Loan Party and each of its Subsidiaries own, or possess the right to use, all of the material trademarks, service marks, trade names, copyrights, patents, patent rights, franchises, licenses and other intellectual property rights that are reasonably necessary for the operation of their respective businesses, without conflict with the rights of any other Person.  To the best knowledge of the Borrowers, no slogan or other advertising device, product, process, method, substance, part or other material now employed, or now contemplated to be employed, by any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries infringes upon any rights held by any other Person.  No claim or litigation regarding any of the foregoing is pending or, to the best knowledge of the Borrowers, threatened, which, either individually or in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

5.23         Labor Matters.

 

There are no collective bargaining agreements or Multiemployer Plans covering the employees of the Borrowers or any of their Subsidiaries as of the Closing Date and neither the Borrowers nor any Subsidiary has suffered any strikes, walkouts, work stoppages or other material labor difficulty within the last five (5) years preceding the Closing Date.

 

 

ARTICLE VI

 

AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS

 

Each of the Loan Parties hereby covenants and agrees that on the Closing Date and thereafter until the Facility Termination Date, such Loan Party shall, and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to:

6.01         Financial Statements.

 

Deliver to the Administrative Agent for distribution to each Lender:

(a)         Audited Financial Statements .  As soon as available, but in any event within ninety (90) days after the end of each fiscal year of the Parent , a Consolidated balance sheet of the Parent and its Subsidiaries as at the end of such fiscal year, and the related Consolidated statements of income or operations, changes in shareholders’ equity and cash flows for such fiscal year, setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for the previous fiscal year, prepared in accordance with GAAP, such Consolidated statements to be audited and accompanied by a report and opinion of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP or another independent certified public accountant of nationally recognized standing selected by the Parent and reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent, which report and opinion shall be prepared in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards and shall not be subject to any “going concern” or like qualification or exception or any qualification or exception as to the scope of such audit; provided that such report and opinion may be subject to a “going concern” or like qualification or exception if such qualification or exception is related solely to an upcoming maturity date of any Indebtedness under this Agreement occurring within 12 months from the time such opinion is required to be delivered to the Administrative Agent pursuant to this Section 6.01(a).

(b)         Quarterly Financial Statements .  As soon as available, but in any event within forty-five (45) days after the end of each of the first three (3) fiscal quarters of each fiscal year of the Parent, a Consolidated balance sheet of the Parent and its Subsidiaries as at the end of such fiscal quarter, and the related Consolidated statements of income or operations, changes in shareholders’ equity and cash flows for such fiscal quarter and for the portion of the Parent’s fiscal year then ended, setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for the corresponding fiscal quarter of the previous fiscal year and the corresponding portion of the previous fiscal year, prepared in accordance with GAAP and including a customary management discussion and analysis section,   certified by the chief executive officer, chief financial officer, treasurer or controller who is a Responsible Officer of the Parent as fairly presenting in all material respects the financial position and results of operations of the Parent and its Subsidiaries for such fiscal quarter and period, subject to normal year-end audit adjustments and the absence of footnotes.

(c)         Business Plan and Budget .  Not later than thirty (30) days after the end of each fiscal year of the Parent beginning with the fiscal year ending January 31, 2016, an annual business plan and budget of the Parent and its Subsidiaries on a Consolidated basis, in form and detail reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, including forecasts prepared by management of the Parent of Consolidated balance sheets and statements of income or operations and cash flows of the Parent and its Subsidiaries on an annual basis for the immediately following fiscal year.

As to any information contained in materials furnished pursuant to Section 6.02(g), the Parent shall not be separately required to furnish such information under Section 6.01(a) or (b) above, but the foregoing shall

 

 

 

not be in derogation of the obligation of the Parent to furnish the information and materials described in Sections 6.01(a) and (b) above at the times specified therein.

6.02         Certificates; Other Information.

 

Deliver to the Administrative Agent for distribution to each Lender:

(a)         Compliance Certificate .  Concurrently with the delivery of the financial statements referred to in Sections 6.01(a) and (b) (commencing with the delivery of the financial statements for the fiscal year ending January 31, 2015), a duly completed Compliance Certificate signed by the chief executive officer, chief financial officer, treasurer or controller which is a Responsible Officer of the Parent in form and detail reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, and in the event of any change in generally accepted accounting principles used in the preparation of such financial statements, the Parent shall also provide, if necessary for the determination of compliance with Section 7.11, a statement of reconciliation conforming such financial statements to GAAP.  Unless the Administrative Agent or a Lender through the Administrative Agent requests executed originals, delivery of the Compliance Certificate may be by electronic communication including fax or email and shall be deemed to be an original and authentic counterpart thereof for all purposes.

(b)         Updated Schedules .  Concurrently with the delivery of the financial statements referred to in Section 6.01(a) (commencing with the delivery of the financial statements for the fiscal year ending January 31, 2015), the following updated Schedules to this Agreement in form and detail reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent (which may be attached to the Compliance Certificate) to the extent required to make the representation related to such Schedule true and correct as of the date of such Compliance Certificate: Schedules 1.01(c) , 5.21(b) and 5.21(c) .

(c)         Calculations .  Concurrently with the delivery of the Compliance Certificate referred to in Section 6.02(a) required to be delivered with the financial statements referred to in Section 6.01(a), a certificate (which may be included in such Compliance Certificate) including the amount of all Capital Expenditures that were made during the prior fiscal year in form and detail reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

(d)         Changes in Entity Structure .  Within ten (10) days (or such shorter period as agreed to by the Administrative Agent) prior to any merger, consolidation, dissolution or other change in entity structure of any Loan Party permitted pursuant to the terms hereof, provide notice of such change in entity structure to the Administrative Agent in form and detail reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, along with such other information as reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent.  Provide notice to the Administrative Agent, not less than ten (10) days prior (or such shorter period of time as agreed to by the Administrative Agent) of any change in any Loan Party’s legal name, state of organization, or organizational existence.

(e)         Audit Reports; Management Letters; Recommendations .  Promptly after any request by the Administrative Agent or any Lender, copies of any detailed audit reports, management letters or recommendations submitted to the board of directors (or the audit committee of the board of directors) of any Loan Party by independent accountants in connection with the accounts or books of any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries, or any audit of any of them.

 

 

(f)         Annual Reports; Etc .  Promptly after the same are available, copies of each annual report, proxy or financial statement or other report or communication sent generally to the stockholders of the Parent, and copies of all annual, regular, periodic and special reports and registration statements which the Parent may file or be required to file with the SEC under Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, or with any national securities exchange, and in any case not otherwise required to be delivered to the Administrative Agent pursuant hereto.

(g)         Debt Securities Statements and Reports .  Promptly after the furnishing thereof, copies of any statement or report furnished generally to holders of debt securities of any Loan Party or of any of its Subsidiaries pursuant to the terms of any indenture, loan or credit or similar agreement and not otherwise required to be furnished to the Lenders pursuant to Section 6.01 or any other clause of this Section.

(h)         SEC Notices .  Promptly after receipt thereof by any Loan Party or any Subsidiary thereof, copies of each notice or other correspondence received from the SEC (or comparable agency in any applicable non-U.S. jurisdiction) concerning any investigation or possible investigation or other inquiry by such agency regarding financial or other operational results of any Loan Party or any Subsidiary thereof.

 (i)         Notices .  Not later than five (5) Business Days after receipt thereof by any Loan Party or any Subsidiary thereof, copies of all notices, requests and other documents (including amendments, waivers and other modifications) so received under or pursuant to any instrument, indenture, loan or credit or similar agreement regarding or related to any breach or default by any party thereto or any other event that could reasonably be expected to materially impair the value of the interests or the rights of any Loan Party or otherwise have a Material Adverse Effect and, from time to time upon request by the Administrative Agent, such information and reports regarding such instruments, indentures and loan and credit and similar agreements as the Administrative Agent may reasonably request.

(j)         Environmental Notice .  Promptly after the assertion or occurrence thereof, notice of any action or proceeding against or of any noncompliance by any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries with any Environmental Law or Environmental Permit that could (i) reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect or (ii) cause any Real Property to be subject to any restrictions on ownership, occupancy, use or transferability under any Environmental Law.

(k)         Additional Information .  Promptly, such additional information regarding the business, financial, legal or corporate affairs of any Loan Party or any Subsidiary thereof, or compliance with the terms of the Loan Documents, as the Administrative Agent or any Lender may from time to time reasonably request.

Documents required to be delivered pursuant to Section 6.01(a) or (b) or Section 6.02(g) (to the extent any such documents are included in materials otherwise filed with the SEC) may be delivered electronically and if so delivered, shall be deemed to have been delivered on the date (a) on which the Parent posts such documents, or provides a link thereto on the Parent’s website on the Internet at the website address listed on Schedule 1.01(a) ; or (b) on which such documents are posted on the Parent’s behalf on an Internet or intranet website, if any, to which each Lender and the Administrative Agent have access (whether a commercial, third-party website or whether sponsored by the Administrative Agent); provided that:  (i) the Parent shall deliver paper copies of such documents to the Administrative Agent or any Lender upon its request to the Parent to deliver such paper copies until a written request to cease delivering paper copies is given by the Administrative Agent or such Lender and (ii) the Parent shall

 

 

 

notify the Administrative Agent and each Lender (by fax transmission or e-mail transmission) of the posting of any such documents and provide to the Administrative Agent by e-mail electronic versions (i.e., soft copies) of such documents.  The Administrative Agent shall have no obligation to request the delivery of or to maintain paper copies of the documents referred to above, and in any event shall have no responsibility to monitor compliance by the Parent with any such request by a Lender for delivery, and each Lender shall be solely responsible for requesting delivery to it or maintaining its copies of such documents.

Each Borrower hereby acknowledges that the Administrative Agent and/or an Affiliate thereof may, but shall not be obligated to, make available to the Lenders and the L/C Issuer materials and/or information provided by or on behalf of the Borrowers hereunder (collectively, “ Borrower Materials ”) by posting the Borrower Materials on IntraLinks, Syndtrak, ClearPar or a substantially similar electronic transmission system (the “ Platform ”).

6.03         Notices.

 

Promptly after a Borrower’s obtaining knowledge thereof, but in any event within five (5) Business Days, notify the Administrative Agent and each Lender:

(a)        of the occurrence of any Default;

(b)        of any matter that has resulted or could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect ;

(c)        of the occurrence of any ERISA Event; or

(d)        of any material change in accounting policies or financial reporting practices by any Loan Party or any Subsidiary thereof, including any determination by the Borrowers referred to in Section 2.10(b).

Each notice pursuant to this Section 6.03 shall be accompanied by a statement of a Responsible Officer of the Parent setting forth details of the occurrence referred to therein and to the extent applicable, stating what action the Borrowers have taken and propose to take with respect thereto.  Each notice pursuant to Section 6.03(a) shall describe with particularity any and all provisions of this Agreement and any other Loan Document that have been breached.

6.04         Payment of Obligations.

 

Pay and discharge as the same shall become due and payable, all its obligations and liabilities, including (a) all material tax liabilities, assessments and governmental charges or levies upon it or its properties or assets and all lawful claims which, if unpaid, would by law become a Lien upon its property unless the same are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted and adequate reserves in accordance with GAAP are being maintained by the Borrowers or such Subsidiary and (b) all Indebtedness in aggregate in excess of the Threshold Amount, as and when due and payable, but subject to any subordination provisions contained in any instrument or agreement evidencing such Indebtedness.

 

 

6.05         Preservation of Existence, Etc.

 

(a)        preserve, renew and maintain in full force and effect its legal existence and, with respect to each Loan Party and each Significant Subsidiary, good standing under the Laws of the jurisdiction of its organization except in a transaction permitted by Section 7.04 or 7.05;

(b)        take all reasonable action to maintain all rights, privileges, permits, licenses and franchises necessary or desirable in the normal conduct of its business, except to the extent that failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; and

(c)        preserve or renew all of its registered patents, trademarks, trade names and service marks, the non-preservation of which could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

6.06         Maintenance of Properties.

 

 (a)        Maintain, preserve and protect all of its material properties and equipment necessary in the operation of its business in good working order and condition, ordinary wear and tear excepted and subject to casualty and condemnation; and

(b)        make all necessary repairs thereto and renewals and replacements thereof except where the failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect .

6.07         Maintenance of Insurance.

 

 (a)         Maintenance of Insurance .  Maintain with financially sound and reputable insurance companies not Affiliates of the Borrowers, insurance with respect to its properties and business against loss or damage of the kinds customarily insured against by Persons engaged in the same or similar business, of such types and in such amounts as are customarily carried under similar circumstances by such other Persons.

(b)         Evidence of Insurance .  Cause the Administrative Agent to be named as lenders’ loss payable, loss payee or mortgagee, as its interest may appear, and/or additional insured with respect of any such insurance providing liability coverage or coverage in respect of any Collateral, and to the extent commercially available on commercially reasonable terms, cause, unless otherwise agreed to by the Administrative Agent, each provider of any such insurance to agree, by endorsement upon the policy or policies issued by it or by independent instruments furnished to the Administrative Agent that it will give the Administrative Agent thirty (30) days prior written notice before any such policy or policies shall be cancelled (or ten (10) days prior notice in the case of cancellation due to the nonpayment of premiums).  Annually, upon expiration of current insurance coverage, the Loan Parties shall provide, or cause to be provided, to the Administrative Agent, such evidence of insurance as required by the Administrative Agent, including, but not limited to: (i) evidence of such insurance policies (including, without limitation and as applicable, ACORD Form 28 certificates (or similar form of insurance certificate), and ACORD Form 25 certificates (or similar form of insurance certificate)), (ii) declaration pages for each insurance policy and (iii) lender’s loss payable and/or additional insured endorsements, as applicable, if the Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties is not on the declarations page for such policy.  As requested by the Administrative Agent, the Loan Parties agree to deliver to the Administrative Agent an Authorization to Share Insurance Information.

 

 

6.08         Compliance with Laws.

 

Comply with the requirements of all Laws and all orders, writs, injunctions and decrees applicable to it or to its business or property, except in such instances in which (a) such requirement of Law or order, writ, injunction or decree is being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted; or (b) the failure to comply therewith could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

6.09         Books and Records.

 

Maintain proper books of record and account, in which full, true and correct entries in conformity with GAAP consistently applied shall be made of all financial transactions and matters involving the assets and business of such Loan Party or such Subsidiary, as the case may be.

6.10         Inspection Rights.

 

Permit representatives and independent contractors of the Administrative Agent 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 (provided that the Administrative Agent shall provide the Borrowers the opportunity to participate in any discussions with the independent public accountants), all at the expense of the Borrowers and at such reasonable times during normal business hours and as often as may be reasonably desired, upon reasonable advance notice to the Borrowers; provided , however , that when an Event of Default exists the Administrative Agent or any Lender (or any of their respective representatives or independent contractors) may do any of the foregoing at the expense of the Borrowers at any time during normal business hours and without advance notice.

6.11         Use of Proceeds.

 

Use the proceeds of the Credit Extensions for general corporate purposes not in contravention of any Law or of any Loan Document, including for share repurchases to the extent permitted by the terms of this Agreement.

6.12         [Reserved.]

 

6.13         Covenant to Guarantee Obligations.

 

The Loan Parties will cause each of their Material Domestic Subsidiaries, whether newly formed, after acquired or otherwise existing, to promptly (and in any event within thirty (30) days after such Subsidiary is formed or acquired (or such longer period of time as agreed to by the Administrative Agent in its reasonable discretion)) become a Guarantor hereunder by way of execution of a Joinder Agreement.  In connection therewith, the Loan Parties shall give notice to the Administrative Agent not less than ten (10) days prior to creating a Material Domestic Subsidiary (or such shorter period of time as agreed to by the Administrative Agent in its reasonable discretion), or acquiring the Equity Interests of any other Person that, once acquired, would constitute a Material Domestic Subsidiary.  In connection with the foregoing, the Loan Parties shall deliver to the Administrative Agent, with respect to each new Guarantor to the extent applicable, substantially the same documentation required pursuant to Sections 4.01(b), (c), (e) and (f) and 6.14 and such other documents or agreements as the Administrative Agent may reasonably request.

 

6.14         Covenant to Give Security.

 

Except with respect to Excluded Property:

(a)         Equity Interests and Personal Property .  Each Loan Party will cause the Pledged Equity and all of its tangible and intangible personal property now owned or hereafter acquired by it to be subject at all times to a first priority, perfected Lien (subject to Permitted Liens to the extent permitted by the Loan Documents) in favor of the Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties to secure the Secured Obligations pursuant to and to the extent contemplated by the terms and conditions of the Collateral Documents.  Each Loan Party shall provide opinions of counsel reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent and any filings and deliveries reasonably necessary in connection therewith to perfect the security interests therein, all in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

(b)         Landlord Waivers .  In the case of (i) each headquarter location of the Loan Parties, each other location where any significant administrative or governing functions are performed and each other location where the Loan Parties maintain any material books or records (electronic or otherwise) and (ii) any personal property Collateral located at any other premises leased by a Loan Party containing personal property Collateral with a value in excess of $2,000,000, the Loan Parties will provide the Administrative Agent with such estoppel letters, consents and waivers from the landlords on such real property to the extent (A) requested by the Administrative Agent and (B) the Loan Parties are able to secure such letters, consents and waivers after using commercially reasonable efforts (such letters, consents and waivers shall be in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, it being acknowledged and agreed that any Landlord Waiver is satisfactory to the Administrative Agent).

(c)         Further Assurances .  At any time upon request of the Administrative Agent, promptly execute and deliver any and all further instruments and documents and take all such other action as the Administrative Agent may deem reasonably necessary or desirable to maintain in favor of the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, Liens and insurance rights on the Collateral that are duly perfected in accordance with the requirements of, or the obligations of the Loan Parties under, the Loan Documents and all applicable Laws.

6.15         Further Assurances.

 

Promptly upon request by the Administrative Agent, or any Lender through the Administrative Agent, (a) correct any material defect or error that may be discovered in any Loan Document or in the execution, acknowledgment, filing or recordation thereof, and (b) do, execute, acknowledge, deliver, record, re-record, file, re-file, register and re-register any and all such further acts, deeds, certificates, assurances and other instruments (including promptly completing any registration or stamping of documents as may be applicable) as the Administrative Agent, or any Lender through the Administrative Agent, may reasonably require from time to time in order to (i) carry out more effectively the purposes of the Loan Documents, (ii) to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law, subject any Loan Party’s or any of its Subsidiaries’ properties, assets, rights or interests to the Liens now or hereafter intended to be created by any of the Collateral Documents to the extent contemplated thereby, (iii) perfect and maintain the validity, effectiveness and priority of any of the Collateral Documents and any of the Liens intended to be created thereunder to the extent contemplated thereby and (iv) assure, convey, grant, assign, transfer, preserve, protect and confirm more effectively unto the Secured Parties the rights granted or now or hereafter intended to be granted to the Secured Parties under any Loan Document or under any other instrument executed in connection with any Loan Document to which any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries is or is to be a party, and cause each of its Subsidiaries to do so.

 

 

6.16         [Reserved.]

 

6.17         Compliance with Environmental Laws.

 

Except where the failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, (a) comply, and cause all lessees and other Persons operating or occupying its properties to comply, in all material respects, with all applicable Environmental Laws and Environmental Permits; (b) obtain and renew all material Environmental Permits necessary for its operations and properties; and (c) conduct any investigation, study, sampling and testing, and undertake any cleanup, removal, remedial or other action necessary to remove and clean up all Hazardous Materials from any of its properties, in accordance in all material respects with the requirements of all Environmental Laws; provided , however , that neither the Borrowers nor any of their Subsidiaries shall be required to undertake any such cleanup, removal, remedial or other action to the extent that its obligation to do so is being contested in good faith and by proper proceedings and appropriate reserves are being maintained with respect to such circumstances in accordance with GAAP.

6.18        [Reserved]

 

6.19         Anti-Corruption Laws.

 

Conduct its business in compliance with the United States Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, the UK Bribery Act 2010 and other similar anti-corruption legislation or anti-money laundering legislation in other jurisdictions and maintain policies and procedures designed to promote and achieve compliance with such laws.

ARTICLE VII

 

NEGATIVE COVENANTS

 

Each of the Loan Parties hereby covenants and agrees that on the Closing Date and thereafter until the Facility Termination Date, no Loan Party shall, nor shall it permit any Subsidiary to, directly or indirectly:

7.01         Liens.

 

Create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Lien upon any of its property, assets or revenues, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, except for the following (the “ Permitted Liens ”):

(a)        Liens pursuant to any Loan Document;

(b)        Liens existing on the Closing Date and listed on Schedule 7.01 and any renewals, extensions or refinancings thereof, provided that (i) the property covered thereby is not increased (plus improvements and accessions to such property and proceeds thereof), (ii) the amount secured or benefited thereby is not increased except as contemplated by Section 7.02(b), (iii) the direct and contingent obligors with respect thereto are not more extensive, and (iv) any renewal or extension of the obligations secured or benefited thereby to the extent constituting Indebtedness is permitted by Section 7.02(b);

 

 

(c)        Liens for Taxes not yet due or which are being contested in good faith and by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted, if adequate reserves with respect thereto are maintained on the books of the applicable Person in accordance with GAAP;

(d)        carriers’, warehousemen’s, mechanics’, materialmen’s, 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 and by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted, if adequate reserves with respect thereto are maintained on the books of the applicable Person;

(e)        pledges or deposits in the ordinary course of business in connection with workers’ compensation, unemployment insurance and other social security legislation, other than any Lien imposed by ERISA;

(f)        deposits to secure the performance of bids, contracts and leases (other than Indebtedness), licenses, statutory obligations, surety, stay and appeal bonds, indemnity, performance and other similar bonds and other obligations of a like nature incurred in the ordinary course of business;

(g)        easements, rights-of-way, restrictions and other similar encumbrances affecting real property which, in the aggregate, are not substantial in amount, and which do not in any case materially interfere with the ordinary conduct of the business of the applicable Person;

(h)        Liens securing judgments for the payment of money (or appeal or other surety bonds relating to such judgments) not constituting an Event of Default under Section 8.01(h);

(i)        Liens securing Indebtedness permitted under Section 7.02(c); provided that (i) such Liens do not at any time encumber any property other than the property financed, acquired, developed, constructed, purchased, leased, repaired or improved by such Indebtedness and (ii) the Indebtedness secured thereby at the time incurred does not exceed the lower of the cost of such acquisition, development, construction, purchase, lease, repair or improvement or the fair market value of the applicable property;

(j)        bankers’ Liens, rights of setoff and other similar Liens existing solely with respect to cash, Cash Equivalents and other items on deposit in one or more accounts maintained by the Borrowers or any of its Subsidiaries with any depository institution, securities intermediary or commodities intermediary, in each case in the ordinary course of business in favor of the institutions with which such accounts are maintained;

(k)        Liens arising out of judgments or awards not resulting in an Event of Default; provided the applicable Loan Party or Subsidiary shall in good faith be prosecuting an appeal or proceedings for review or the period for commencing such appeal or proceeding shall not have expired;

(l)        Any interest or title of a lessee, licensee or sublessee under any lease, license or sublease entered into by any Loan Party or any Subsidiary thereof in the ordinary course of business or in connection with any Disposition permitted hereunder;

(m)        Liens of a collection bank arising under Section 4-210 of the UCC on items in the course of collection;

 

 

(n)        Liens on property of a Person existing at the time such Person is merged into or consolidated with any Borrower or any Subsidiary of the Borrowers or becomes a Subsidiary of any Borrower; provided that such Liens were not created in contemplation of such merger, consolidation or Investment and do not extend to any assets other than those of the Person merged into or consolidated with the Borrowers or such Subsidiary or acquired by the Borrowers or such Subsidiary, and the applicable obligations secured by such Lien to the extent constituting Indebtedness are permitted under Section 7.02;   and

(o)        Liens on assets of Foreign Subsidiaries that are not Loan Parties to secure permitted Indebtedness and other obligations of such Foreign Subsidiaries that are not Loan Parties; and

(p)        other Liens securing Indebtedness or other obligations outstanding in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $5,000,000.

7.02         Indebtedness.

 

Create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Indebtedness, except:

(a)        Indebtedness under the Loan Documents;

(b)        Indebtedness outstanding on the date hereof and listed on Schedule 7.02(b) and any refinancings, refundings, renewals or extensions thereof; provided that the amount of such Indebtedness is not increased at the time of such refinancing, refunding, renewal or extension except by an amount equal to a reasonable premium or other reasonable amount paid, and fees and expenses reasonably incurred, in connection with such refinancing and by an amount equal to any existing commitments unutilized thereunder and the direct or any contingent obligor with respect thereto is not changed, as a result of or in connection with such refinancing, refunding, renewal or extension;

(c)        Indebtedness in respect of Capitalized Leases, Synthetic Lease Obligations and purchase money obligations incurred to finance or reimburse the cost of the acquisition, development, construction, purchase, lease, repair or improvement of property (real or personal) used or useful in a Permitted Business, whether through the direct purchase of assets or the Equity Interests of any Person that owns no other assets or property than those that would be permitted to be purchased directly under this clause (c) (which Indebtedness may be issued at any time within 180 days of such acquisition, development, construction, purchase, lease, repair or improvement) and any refinancing, refunding, renewal or extension thereof consistent with the proviso to Section 7.01(b); provided , however , that the aggregate amount of all such Indebtedness at any one time outstanding shall not exceed $20,000,000;

(d)        (i) Unsecured Indebtedness of a Subsidiary of the Borrowers owed to the Borrowers or a Wholly-owned Subsidiary of the Borrowers, which Indebtedness shall (A) if owed to a Loan Party, to the extent required by the Administrative Agent, be evidenced by promissory notes which shall be pledged to the Administrative Agent as Collateral for the Secured Obligations in accordance with the terms of the Security Agreement and (B) be otherwise permitted under the provisions of Section 7.03, and (ii) Indebtedness of a Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party to another Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party (clause (i) and (ii), collectively, “ Intercompany Debt ”);

 

 

(e)        Guarantees of (i) the Loan Parties in respect of Indebtedness otherwise permitted hereunder of the Loan Parties and (ii) Subsidiaries that are not Loan Parties of Indebtedness otherwise permitted hereunder of the Loan Parties or any other Subsidiary;

(f)        Indebtedness of any Person that becomes a Subsidiary of any Borrower after the date hereof in a transaction permitted hereunder in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $10,000,000, provided that such Indebtedness is existing at the time such Person becomes a Subsidiary of any Borrower and was not incurred solely in contemplation of such Person’s becoming a Subsidiary of such Borrower), and any refinancings, refundings, renewals or extensions thereof; provided that the amount of such Indebtedness is not increased at the time of such refinancing, refunding, renewal or extension except by an amount equal to a reasonable premium or other reasonable amount paid, and accrued interest, fees and expenses reasonably incurred, in connection with such refinancing and by an amount equal to any existing commitments unutilized thereunder and the direct or any contingent obligor with respect thereto is not changed, as a result of or in connection with such refinancing, refunding, renewal or extension;

(g)        obligations (contingent or otherwise) existing or arising under any Swap Contract in respect of interest rate, currency, foreign exchange or commodities, provided that such obligations are (or were) entered into by such Person in the ordinary course of business and not for speculative purposes ;

(h)        Indebtedness incurred by a Borrower that (a) is expressly subordinate and junior in right of payment to the payment in full of the Obligations, which subordination terms shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, and (b) (i) matures, (ii) is not mandatorily redeemable or redeemable at the option of the holder thereof, in whole or in part, until and (iii) does not have any regularly scheduled payments of principal until, in each case, after the date that is six months after the Maturity Date;

(i)        Indebtedness of Foreign Subsidiaries that is not guaranteed by any Borrower or Guarantor, as long as the aggregate outstanding principal amount thereof does not exceed $60,000,000 at any time;

 

(j)        Contingent Obligations (a) arising from endorsements of checks, drafts or other items of payment for collection or deposit in the ordinary course of business; (b) existing on the Closing Date as set forth on Schedule 7.02(j) , and any extension or renewal thereof that does not increase the amount of such Contingent Obligation when extended or renewed; (c) incurred in the ordinary course of business with respect to surety, appeal or performance bonds, leases, licenses, or other similar obligations; (d) arising from customary indemnification obligations in favor of purchasers in connection with dispositions of assets permitted hereunder; (e) arising under the Loan Documents; or (f) in an aggregate amount of $5,000,000 or less at any time;

 

(k)        Indebtedness in respect of Swap Obligations permitted hereunder and Cash Management Agreements; and

 

(l)        other unsecured Indebtedness in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $20,000,000 at any time outstanding.

 

 

7.03         Investments.

 

Make or hold any Investments, except:

(a)        Investments held by the Borrowers and their Subsidiaries in the form of cash or Cash Equivalents;

(b)        advances to officers, directors and employees of the Borrowers and Subsidiaries in an aggregate amount not to exceed $2,000,000 at any time outstanding, for salary, commissions, travel, entertainment, relocation and analogous ordinary business purposes;

(c)        (i) Investments by any Borrower and its Subsidiaries in their respective Subsidiaries outstanding on the date hereof, (ii) additional Investments by any Borrower and its Subsidiaries in Loan Parties, (iii) additional Investments by Subsidiaries of any Borrower that are not Loan Parties in other Subsidiaries that are not Loan Parties and (iv) so long as no Default has occurred and is continuing or would result from such Investment, additional Investments by the Loan Parties in Wholly-owned Subsidiaries that are not Loan Parties in an aggregate amount invested from the date hereof not to exceed $10,000,000;

(d)        Investments consisting of extensions of credit in the nature of accounts receivable or notes receivable arising from the grant of trade credit in the ordinary course of business;

(e)        Guarantees permitted by Section 7.02;

(f)        Investments existing on the date hereof (other than those referred to in Section 7.03(c)(i)) and set forth on Schedule 7.03 ;

(g)        Permitted Acquisitions;

(h)        Investments (including debt obligations) received in connection with the bankruptcy or reorganization of suppliers and customers or in settlement of delinquent obligations of, and other disputes with, third parties arising in the ordinary course of business;

(i)        Investments consisting of the licensing or acquisition of Intellectual Property pursuant to joint marketing agreements, licenses or other agreements with other Persons;

(j)        Investments made as a result of the receipt of non-cash consideration from a Disposition that was made pursuant to and in compliance with Section 7.05;

(k)        any acquisition of assets or Equity Interests solely in exchange for the issuance of Equity Interests of the Parent in connection with a transaction otherwise permitted hereunder;

(l)        Investments resulting from the acquisition of a Person that becomes a Subsidiary of any Borrower that is otherwise permitted by this Agreement, which Investments at the time of such acquisition were held by the acquired Persons and were not acquired in contemplation of such acquisition;

(m)        Investments resulting from pledges and deposits permitted under Section 7.01; and