UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, DC 20549

 


 

FORM 8-K

 

CURRENT REPORT

PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE

SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported):  July 26, 2018

 

STAG INDUSTRIAL, INC.

(Exact name of registrant specified in its charter)

 

Maryland

 

001-34907

 

27-3099608

(State or Other Jurisdiction

 

(Commission

 

(IRS Employer

of Incorporation)

 

File Number)

 

Identification No.)

 

One Federal Street, 23rd Floor

Boston, Massachusetts  02110

(Address of principal executive offices, zip code)

 

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (617) 574-4777

 

Not applicable

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

 

o             Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

 

o             Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

 

o             Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

 

o             Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).

 

Emerging growth company   o

 

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.  o

 

 

 



 

Item 1.01.                                         ENTRY INTO A MATERIAL DEFINITIVE AGREEMENT.

 

On July 26, 2018:

 

·                   STAG Industrial, Inc., a Maryland corporation (the “ Company ”), and its operating partnership, STAG Industrial Operating Partnership, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (the “ Borrower ”), entered into a credit agreement, dated as of July 26, 2018, with Wells Fargo Bank, National Association and other lenders, pursuant to which the lenders provide a revolving unsecured credit facility up to $500 million maturing January 15, 2023 (the “ Credit Agreement ”).

 

·                   The Company and the Borrower entered into a term loan agreement, dated as of July 26, 2018, with Wells Fargo Bank, National Association and other lenders, pursuant to which the lenders provide an unsecured $175 million term loan maturing January 15, 2024 (the “ New Term Loan Agreement ”).

 

·                   The Company and the Borrower entered into a second amendment, dated as of July 26, 2018 (the “ Amendment to Term Loan A Agreement ”), to amended and restated term loan agreement, dated as of December 20, 2016, with Wells Fargo Bank, National Association and other lenders, pursuant to which the lenders provide an unsecured $150 million term loan maturing March 31, 2022.

 

·                   The Company and the Borrower entered into a second amendment, dated as of July 26, 2018 (the “ Amendment to Term Loan B Agreement ”), to second amended and restated term loan agreement, dated as of December 20, 2016, with Wells Fargo Bank, National Association and other lenders, pursuant to which the lenders provide an unsecured $150 million term loan maturing March 21, 2021.

 

·                   The Company and the Borrower entered into a third amendment, dated as of July 26, 2018 (the “ Amendment to Term Loan C Agreement ”), to term loan agreement, dated as of September 29, 2015, with Wells Fargo Bank, National Association and other lenders, pursuant to which the lenders provide an unsecured $150 million term loan maturing September 29, 2020.

 

·                   The Company and the Borrower entered into a first amendment, dated as of July 26, 2018 (the “ Amendment to Term Loan D Agreement ”), to term loan agreement, dated as of July 28, 2017, with Bank of America, N.A. and other lenders, pursuant to which the lenders provide an unsecured $150 million term loan maturing January 4, 2023.

 

Credit Agreement

 

On July 26, 2018, the Company, through the Borrower, entered into the Credit Agreement with Wells Fargo Bank, National Association and the other lenders named therein.  The Credit Agreement provides for a senior unsecured revolving credit facility up to $500 million, with a sublimit of $50 million for swing line loans and $30 million for letters of credit.  Additionally, the Credit Agreement has a feature that allows the Borrower to request an increase in the aggregate commitments up to $1 billion, subject to certain terms and conditions.  Unless otherwise terminated pursuant to the terms of the Credit Agreement, the credit facility will mature on January 15, 2023.

 

Wells Fargo Securities, LLC and Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner and Smith Incorporated served as Joint Book Runners on the Credit Agreement, with Wells Fargo Bank, National Association serving as Administrative Agent, L/C Issuer and Swing Line Lender, with Bank of America, N.A. serving as Syndication Agent and an L/C Issuer, and with Capital One, National Association, Regions Bank and TD Bank, N.A. serving as Co-Documentation Agents.  The other lenders are Capital One, National Association, PNC Capital markets, LLC, Regions Capital Markets and TD Securities (USA) LLC.  The Borrower paid the Administrative Agent customary fees in connection with its services related to the Credit Agreement.

 

Principal Outstanding :  The Credit Agreement replaced the Borrower’s previous $450 million revolving unsecured credit facility pursuant to a credit agreement, dated as of December 18, 2014.  On July 26, 2018, the Borrower drew $92 million in proceeds from the Credit Agreement and used the proceeds to repay the balance outstanding under the previous revolving credit facility. Funds from the outstanding balance had been used to fund acquisitions under contract and working capital needs. On July 27, 2018, the Borrower repaid $82 million of the $92 million balance, using $75 million in proceeds from Term Loan D and $7 million in available cash.

 

2



 

Interest Rate :  Borrowings under the Credit Agreement bear interest at a floating rate per annum equal to, at the Borrower’s election, LIBOR or the Base Rate (each as defined in the Credit Agreement) plus a spread.  Until the Company achieves at least two debt ratings among Fitch, Inc., Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. and Standard & Poor’s Financial Services LLC (or their successors), the spread is determined by a leverage-based pricing grid.  Depending upon the Company’s consolidated leverage ratio, the leverage-based spread ranges from 1.05% to 1.50% for LIBOR borrowings and from 0.05% to 0.50% for Base Rate borrowings.  If and when the Company achieves the two or more debt ratings, the spread is determined by a performance-based pricing grid.  Depending upon the Company’s debt ratings, the performance-based spread ranges from 0.775% to 1.45% for LIBOR borrowings and from 0.00% to 0.45% for Base Rate borrowings.

 

Facility Fee :  The Credit Agreement provides for a facility fee payable by the Borrower in accordance with its Applicable Percentage (as defined in the Credit Agreement) equal to the Applicable Rate (as defined in the Credit Agreement) times the actual daily amount of the outstanding commitments.

 

Covenants :  The Borrower’s ability to borrow, maintain borrowings and avoid default under the Credit Agreement is subject to the Company’s ongoing compliance with a number of customary financial and other covenants.

 

Pursuant to the terms of the Credit Agreement, the Company may not pay distributions that exceed the minimum amount required for the Company to qualify and maintain its status as a real estate investment trust if a default or event of default occurs and is continuing.

 

Guarantors :  The Company and certain of its subsidiaries guarantee the obligations under the Credit Agreement.

 

The foregoing description of the Credit Agreement does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Credit Agreement, a copy of which has been filed as Exhibit 10.1 to this report and is incorporated in this Item 1.01 by reference.

 

New Term Loan Agreement

 

On July 26, 2018, the Company, through the Borrower, entered into the New Term Loan Agreement with Wells Fargo Bank, National Association and the other lenders named therein.  The New Term Loan Agreement provides for a senior unsecured term loan in the original principal amount of up to $175 million.  Additionally, the New Term Loan Agreement includes a feature that allows the Company to request an increase the aggregate size of the term loan up to $350 million, subject to certain terms and conditions.  Unless otherwise terminated pursuant to the terms of the New Term Loan Agreement, the term loan will mature on January 15, 2024.

 

Wells Fargo Securities, LLC and Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner and Smith Incorporated served as Joint Book Runners, and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner and Smith Incorporated, Capital One, National Association, PNC Capital Markets, LLC, Regions Capital Markets and TD Securities (USA) LLC served as Joint Lead Arrangers on the New Term Loan Agreement.  Wells Fargo Bank, National Association served as the Administrative Agent.  The other lenders are Raymond James Bank, N.A., Royal Bank of Canada, U.S. Bank, national Association, Branch Banking and Trust Company, and BMO Harris Bank N.A.  The Borrower paid the Joint Lead Arrangers and the Administrative Agent customary fees in connection with their services related to the New Term Loan Agreement.

 

Principal Outstanding :  The New Term Loan Agreement includes a delayed draw feature that allows the Borrower to draw up to six advances of at least $25 million each until July 25, 2019.  To the extent that the Borrower does not request advances of the $150 million of aggregate commitments by July 25, 2019, the unadvanced commitments terminate.  The Borrower did not make a draw at closing; accordingly, as of July 26, 2018, no amounts were outstanding under the New Term Loan Agreement.

 

Beginning 90 days after the closing date, the New Term Loan Agreement provides for an unused fee payable to the lenders at a rate per annum of 0.15% of the unadvanced aggregate commitments (currently $175 million).  The unused fee is due and payable monthly until the earliest of (i) the date that commitments of $175 million have been

 

3



 

fully advanced, (ii) July 26, 2019 and (iii) the date that the commitments of $175 million have been reduced to zero pursuant to the terms of the New Term Loan Agreement.

 

Interest Rate :  Borrowings under the New Term Loan Agreement bear interest at a floating rate per annum equal to, at the Borrower’s election, LIBOR or the Base Rate (each as defined in the New Term Loan Agreement) plus a spread.  Until the Company achieves at least two debt ratings among Fitch, Inc., Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. and Standard & Poor’s Financial Services LLC (or their successors), the spread is determined by a leverage-based pricing grid.  Depending upon the Company’s consolidated leverage ratio, the leverage-based spread ranges from 1.20% to 1.70% for LIBOR borrowings and from 0.20% to 0.70% for Base Rate borrowings.  If and when the Company achieves the two or more debt ratings, the spread is determined by a performance-based pricing grid.  Depending upon the Company’s debt ratings, the performance-based spread ranges from 0.85% to 1.65% for LIBOR borrowings and from 0.00% to 0.65% for Base Rate borrowings.

 

On July 24, 2018, the Company entered into four interest rate swap agreements with a total notional amount of $175 million to fix LIBOR at 2.9187% on borrowings under the New Term Loan Agreement.  The interest rate swap agreements become effective on July 26, 2019 and expire on January 15, 2024.

 

Covenants :  The Borrower’s ability to borrow, maintain borrowings and avoid default under the New Term Loan Agreement is subject to the Company’s ongoing compliance with a number of customary financial and other covenants substantially consistent with the financial covenants in the Credit Agreement.

 

Pursuant to the terms of the New Term Loan Agreement, the Company may not pay distributions that exceed the minimum amount required for the Company to qualify and maintain its status as a real estate investment trust if a default or event of default occurs and is continuing.

 

Guarantors :  The Company and certain of its subsidiaries guarantee the obligations under the New Term Loan Agreement.

 

The foregoing description of the New Term Loan Agreement does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the New Term Loan Agreement, a copy of which has been filed as Exhibit 10.2 to this report and is incorporated in this Item 1.01 by reference.

 

Amendments to Term Loan Agreements

 

On July 26, 2018, the Company and the Borrower entered into the Amendment to Term Loan A Agreement,  Amendment to Term Loan B Agreement, Amendment to Term Loan C Agreement and Amendment to Term Loan D Agreement, to conform certain provisions of such agreements to the Credit Agreement and the New Term Loan Agreement.

 

The foregoing description of the amendments does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the amendments, copies of which have been filed as Exhibits 10.3, 10.4, 10.5 and 10.6 to this report and are incorporated in this Item 1.01 by reference.

 

ITEM 2.03.                                CREATION OF A DIRECT FINANCIAL OBLIGATION OR AN OBLIGATION UNDER AN OFF-BALANCE SHEET ARRANGEMENT OF A REGISTRANT.

 

The information set forth under Item 1.01 of this report is incorporated herein by reference.

 

4



 

ITEM 9.01.                                FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS.

 

(d) Exhibits

 

Exhibit Number

 

Description

10.1

 

Credit Agreement, dated as of July 26, 2018, by and among STAG Industrial Operating Partnership, L.P., as Borrower, STAG Industrial, Inc., as a Guarantor, Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Administrative Agent, and the other lenders party thereto.

 

 

 

10.2

 

Term Loan Agreement, dated as of July 26, 2018, by and among STAG Industrial Operating Partnership, L.P., as Borrower, STAG Industrial, Inc., as a Guarantor, Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Administrative Agent, and the other lenders party thereto.

 

 

 

10.3

 

Second Amendment to Amended and Restated Term Loan Agreement, dated as of July 26, 2018 by and among STAG Industrial Operating Partnership, L.P., as Borrower, STAG Industrial, Inc., as a Guarantor, Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Administrative Agent, and the other lenders party thereto.

 

 

 

10.4

 

Second Amendment to Second Amended and Restated Term Loan Agreement, dated as of July 26, 2018 by and among STAG Industrial Operating Partnership, L.P., as Borrower, STAG Industrial, Inc., as a Guarantor, Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Administrative Agent, and the other lenders party thereto.

 

 

 

10.5

 

Third Amendment to Term Loan Agreement, dated as of September July 26, 2018, by and among STAG Industrial Operating Partnership, L.P., as Borrower, STAG Industrial, Inc., as a Guarantor, Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Administrative Agent, and the other lenders party thereto.

 

 

 

10.6

 

First Amendment to Term Loan Agreement, dated as of July 26, 2018 by and among STAG Industrial Operating Partnership, L.P., as Borrower, STAG Industrial, Inc., as a Guarantor, Bank of America, N.A., as Administrative Agent, and the other lenders party thereto.

 

5



 

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

 

 

STAG INDUSTRIAL, INC.

 

 

Dated: July 31, 2018

By:

/s/ Jeffrey M. Sullivan

 

 

Jeffrey M. Sullivan

 

 

Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary

 

6


EXHIBIT 10.1

 

EXECUTION VERSION

 

Published CUSIP Number:  852353UAE8

 

CREDIT AGREEMENT

 

Dated as of July 26, 2018

 

among

 

STAG INDUSTRIAL OPERATING PARTNERSHIP, L.P. ,
as the Borrower,

 

STAG INDUSTRIAL, INC. ,
as a Guarantor,

 

WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
 as the Administrative Agent, an L/C Issuer, and the Swing Line Lender

 

and

 

THE FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS NOW OR HEREAFTER SIGNATORIES HERETO AND THEIR ASSIGNEES PURSUANT TO SECTION 11.06 ,
as Lenders

 

and

 

WELLS FARGO SECURITIES, LLC
and
MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER AND SMITH INCORPORATED
as the Joint Bookrunners

 

BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.,

as Syndication Agent and an L/C Issuer

 

and

 

CAPITAL ONE, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, PNC BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, REGIONS BANK, and TD BANK, N.A.

as Co-Documentation Agents

 

and

 

WELLS FARGO SECURITIES, LLC, MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER AND SMITH INCORPORATED, CAPITAL ONE, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, PNC CAPITAL MARKETS, LLC, REGIONS CAPITAL MARKETS and TD SECURITIES (USA) LLC
as the Joint Lead Arrangers

 

WFB LOAN NO. 1008215

 



 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

Section

 

Page

 

 

Article I. Definitions and Accounting Terms

1

 

 

 

1.01

Defined Terms

1

1.02

Other Interpretive Provisions

31

1.03

Accounting Terms

32

1.04

Rounding

33

1.05

Times of Day

33

1.06

Letter of Credit Amounts

33

1.07

Rates

33

 

 

Article II. The Commitments and Credit Extensions

33

 

 

 

2.01

Committed Loans

33

2.02

Borrowings, Conversions and Continuations of Committed Loans

34

2.03

Letters of Credit

35

2.04

Swing Line Loans

44

2.05

Prepayments

47

2.06

Termination, Reduction, or Increase of Commitments and Loans

48

2.07

Repayment of Loans

49

2.08

Interest

50

2.09

Fees

50

2.10

Computation of Interest and Fees; Retroactive Adjustments of Applicable Rate

51

2.11

Evidence of Debt

52

2.12

Payments Generally; The Administrative Agent’s Clawback

52

2.13

Sharing of Payments by the Lenders

54

2.14

[Reserved]

55

2.15

Cash Collateral

55

2.16

Defaulting Lenders

56

2.17

Guaranties

58

2.18

Extension of Maturity Date

59

 

 

Article III. Taxes, Yield Protection and Illegality

60

 

 

 

3.01

Taxes

60

3.02

Illegality

64

3.03

Changed Circumstances

65

3.04

Increased Costs; Reserves on LIBOR Loans

66

3.05

Compensation for Losses

67

3.06

Mitigation Obligations; Replacement of the Lenders

68

3.07

Survival

68

 

 

Article IV. Unencumbered Properties

68

 

 

 

4.01

Initial Unencumbered Properties

68

4.02

Reserved

68

4.03

Notices of Qualification as an Unencumbered Property

68

4.04

Eligibility

69

4.05

Reserved

69

4.06

Guaranty

69

4.07

Admission of New Unencumbered Properties

69

 



 

Section

 

Page

 

 

4.08

[Reserved]

69

4.09

[Reserved]

69

4.10

Exclusion Events

69

 

 

Article V. Conditions Precedent to Credit Extensions

70

 

 

 

5.01

Conditions of Initial Credit Extension

70

5.02

Conditions to all Credit Extensions

72

 

 

Article VI. Representations and Warranties

73

 

 

 

6.01

Existence, Qualification and Power; Compliance with Laws

73

6.02

Authorization; No Contravention

73

6.03

Governmental Authorization; Other Consents

73

6.04

Binding Effect

74

6.05

Financial Statements; No Material Adverse Effect

74

6.06

Litigation

74

6.07

No Default

74

6.08

Ownership of Property; Liens; Equity Interests

74

6.09

Environmental Compliance

75

6.10

Insurance

75

6.11

Taxes

75

6.12

ERISA Compliance

76

6.13

Subsidiaries; Equity Interests

76

6.14

Margin Regulations; Investment Company Act

77

6.15

Disclosure

77

6.16

Compliance with Laws

77

6.17

Taxpayer Identification Number

77

6.18

Intellectual Property; Licenses, Etc.

78

6.19

Reserved

78

6.20

Solvency

78

6.21

REIT Status of the Parent

78

6.22

Labor Matters

78

6.23

Ground Lease Representation

78

6.24

Unencumbered Properties

79

6.25

OFAC

79

6.26

EEA Financial Institution

79

 

 

Article VII. Affirmative Covenants

80

 

 

 

7.01

Financial Statements

80

7.02

Certificates; Other Information

80

7.03

Notices

82

7.04

Payment of Obligations

83

7.05

Preservation of Existence, Etc.

83

7.06

Maintenance of Properties

83

7.07

Maintenance of Insurance

83

7.08

Compliance with Laws; Beneficial Ownership Regulations

84

7.09

Books and Records

84

7.10

Inspection Rights

84

7.11

Use of Proceeds

84

7.12

Environmental Matters

85

7.13

Ground Leases

86

7.14

Unencumbered Properties

87

 

ii



 

Section

 

Page

 

 

Article VIII. Negative Covenants

87

 

 

 

8.01

Liens

88

8.02

Indebtedness

89

8.03

Investments

89

8.04

Fundamental Changes

90

8.05

Dispositions

91

8.06

Restricted Payments

91

8.07

Change in Nature of Business

91

8.08

Transactions with Affiliates

91

8.09

Burdensome Agreements

91

8.10

Use of Proceeds

92

8.11

Unencumbered Properties; Ground Leases

92

8.12

Environmental Matters

93

8.13

Negative Pledge; Indebtedness

93

8.14

Financial Covenants

94

 

 

 

Article IX. Events of Default and Remedies

94

 

 

 

9.01

Events of Default

94

9.02

Remedies Upon Event of Default

97

9.03

Application of Funds

97

 

 

Article X. The Administrative Agent

98

 

 

 

10.01

Appointment and Authority

98

10.02

Rights as a Lender

99

10.03

Exculpatory Provisions

99

10.04

Reliance by the Administrative Agent

100

10.05

Delegation of Duties

100

10.06

Resignation of the Administrative Agent

100

10.07

Non-Reliance on the Administrative Agent and Other Lenders

102

10.08

No Other Duties, Etc.

102

10.09

The Administrative Agent May File Proofs of Claim

102

10.10

Guaranty Matters

103

 

 

Article XI. Miscellaneous

103

 

 

 

11.01

Amendments, Etc.

103

11.02

Notices; Effectiveness; Electronic Communication

104

11.03

No Waiver; Cumulative Remedies; Enforcement

106

11.04

Expenses; Indemnity; Damage Waiver

107

11.05

Payments Set Aside

109

11.06

Successors and Assigns

109

11.07

Treatment of Certain Information; Confidentiality

114

11.08

Right of Setoff

114

11.09

Interest Rate Limitation

115

11.10

Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness

115

11.11

Survival of Representations and Warranties

115

11.12

Severability

116

11.13

Replacement of the Lenders

116

11.14

Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Etc.

116

11.15

No Advisory or Fiduciary Responsibility

118

11.16

Electronic Execution of Assignments and Certain Other Documents

118

 

iii



 

Section

 

Page

 

 

11.17

USA PATRIOT ACT

119

11.18

ENTIRE AGREEMENT

119

11.19

Acknowledgement and Consent to Bail-In of EEA Financial Institutions

119

11.20

Certain ERISA Matters

120

 

 

SCHEDULES

 

 

 

 

2.01

Commitments and Applicable Percentages

 

2.03

Existing L/Cs

 

4.01

Initial Unencumbered Properties

 

6.06

Litigation

 

6.09

Environmental Matters

 

6.13

Subsidiaries and Other Equity Investments and Equity Interests in the Borrower and Each Subsidiary Guarantor

 

6.18

Intellectual Property Matters

 

8.01

Existing Liens

 

8.13

Indebtedness

 

11.02

The Administrative Agent’s Office; Certain Addresses for Notices

 

RO

Responsible Officers

 

 

 

 

EXHIBITS

 

 

 

 

Form of

 

 

 

 

A

Committed Loan Notice

 

A-1

Swing Line Loan Notice

 

B-1

Form of Revolving Note

 

B-2

Reserved

 

B-3

Form of Swing Line Note

 

C

Compliance Certificate

 

D-1

Assignment and Assumption

 

D-2

Administrative Questionnaire

 

E

Form of Disbursement Instruction Agreement

 

F-1

Form of Parent Guaranty

 

F-2

Form of Subsidiary Guaranty

 

G

Reserved

 

H-1

U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate

 

H-2

U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate

 

H-3

U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate

 

H-4

U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate

 

 

iv



 

CREDIT AGREEMENT

 

This CREDIT AGREEMENT (the “ Agreement ”) is entered into as of July 26, 2018, among STAG INDUSTRIAL OPERATING PARTNERSHIP, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (the “ Borrower ”), STAG INDUSTRIAL, INC., a Maryland corporation and the sole member of the sole general partner of the Borrower (the “ Parent ”), each lender from time to time party hereto (collectively, the “ Lenders ” and individually, a “ Lender ”), and WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as the Administrative Agent, the Swing Line Lender and an L/C Issuer.

 

The Borrower has requested that the Lenders provide a revolving credit facility, and the Lenders are willing to do so on the terms and conditions set forth herein.

 

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:

 

Acceptable Ground Lease ” means a ground lease with respect to an Acceptable Property executed by a Subsidiary Guarantor, as lessee, that (a) has a remaining lease term (including extension or renewal rights) of at least twenty-five (25) years, calculated as of the date such Acceptable Property is deemed an Unencumbered Property, and that the Administrative Agent determines, in its sole discretion, is a financeable ground lease and is otherwise acceptable or (b) has a bargain purchase option (as defined in accordance with GAAP).

 

Acceptable Property ” means a Property (a) that is approved by the Administrative Agent and the Required Lenders, or (b) that meets the following requirements:

 

(i)                                      such Property is wholly-owned by, or ground leased pursuant to an Acceptable Ground Lease to, the Borrower or a Subsidiary Guarantor free and clear of any Liens (other than Liens permitted by Section 8.01 );

 

(ii)                                   such Property is an industrial, manufacturing, warehouse/distribution and/or office property located within the United States;

 

(iii)                                if such Property is owned by a Subsidiary Guarantor, or is ground leased pursuant to an Acceptable Ground Lease to a Subsidiary Guarantor, then the Equity Interests of such Subsidiary Guarantor are owned, directly or indirectly by the Borrower, free and clear of any Liens other than Liens permitted by Section 8.01 ; and

 

(iv)                               such Property is free of all structural defects or major architectural deficiencies, title defects, environmental conditions or other adverse matters except for defects, deficiencies, conditions or other matters which, individually or collectively, are not material to the profitable operation of such Property.

 

Additional Permitted Indebtedness ” means unsecured Indebtedness permitted to be incurred pursuant to Section 8.02(f) .

 



 

Adjusted NOI ” means, with respect to any Property for the Current Reporting Quarter, annualized, an amount equal to (a) the aggregate gross revenues (excluding non-cash revenues) from the operations of such Property during such period, minus (b) the sum of (i) all expenses and other proper charges incurred in connection with the operation of such Property during such period (including real estate taxes, but excluding any property and asset management fees, debt service charges, income taxes, depreciation, amortization and other non-cash expenses and excluding capital expenditures), (ii) a management fee equal to the greater of (A) two percent (2%) of the aggregate gross base rental revenues (excluding non-cash revenues) from the operations of such Property during such period and (B) actual property management fees paid, and (iii) a replacement reserve of $0.10 per square foot (excluding any Property acquired during the Current Reporting Quarter).  Adjusted NOI shall exclude the amount of any revenues and expenses from any Dark Property.  Adjusted NOI shall be increased, without duplication, by (i) annualized rental revenues (excluding non-cash revenues), net of associated expenses, from any new lease which went into effect with the tenant taking occupancy (or any lease with respect to any Property acquired during the Current Reporting Quarter) and the Borrower is recognizing revenue from such tenant in accordance with GAAP during such Current Reporting Quarter, and (ii) annualized gross base rental revenues (excluding non-cash revenues) for the first monthly gross base rental payment for any lease in a free rent period and the Borrower is recognizing revenue from the applicable tenant in accordance with GAAP during such Current Reporting Quarter.

 

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

 

Administrative Agent’s Office ” means the Administrative Agent’s address and, as appropriate, account as set forth on Schedule 11.02 , or such other address or account as the Administrative Agent may from time to time notify the Borrower and the Lenders.

 

Administrative Questionnaire ” means an Administrative Questionnaire in substantially the form of Exhibit D-2 or any other form approved by the Administrative Agent.

 

Affiliate ” means, with respect to any 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; provided in no event shall Agent or any Lender be deemed to be an Affiliate of the Borrower.

 

Aggregate Commitments ” means the Commitments of all the Lenders as adjusted from time to time in accordance with the terms hereof.  The initial amount of the Aggregate Commitments in effect on the Closing Date is $500,000,000.

 

Agreement ” means this Credit Agreement.

 

Anti-Corruption Laws ” means all laws, rules, and regulations of any jurisdiction applicable to the Borrower or its Subsidiaries from time to time concerning or relating to bribery, corruption or money laundering.

 

Applicable Percentage ” means, with respect to any Lender at any time, the percentage (carried out to the ninth decimal place) of the Aggregate Commitments represented by such Lender’s Commitment at such time, subject to adjustment as provided in Section 2.16 .  If the commitment of each Lender to make Loans, the Swing Line Lender to make Swing Line Loans, and the obligation of each L/C Issuer to make L/C Credit Extensions have been terminated pursuant to Section 9.02 or if the Aggregate Commitments have expired, then the Applicable Percentage of each Lender shall be determined based on the Applicable Percentage of such Lender most-recently in effect, giving effect to any subsequent assignments.  The initial Applicable Percentage of each Lender is set forth opposite the name of such

 

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Lender on Schedule 2.01 or in the Assignment and Assumption pursuant to which such Lender becomes a party hereto, as applicable.

 

Applicable Rate ” means the following:

 

A. Unless and until the Rating Conditions have been satisfied, with respect to any Loan, the following percentages per annum determined according to the Consolidated Leverage Ratio as set forth in the most recent Compliance Certificate received by the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 7.02(a) :

 

Leveraged-Based Pricing Grid :

 

Applicable Rate

 

Pricing
Level

 

Consolidated
Leverage Ratio

 

LIBOR Loan
and Letter of
Credit
Applicable
Margin

 

Base Rate
 Applicable
Margin

 

Facility Fee
Rate

 

All-in-
Drawn
Eurodollar
Rate

 

1

 

< 35%

 

1.05

%

0.05

%

0.15

%

1.20

%

2

 

> 35% but < 40%

 

1.10

%

0.10

%

0.15

%

1.25

%

3

 

> 40% but < 45%

 

1.15

%

0.15

%

0.20

%

1.35

%

4

 

> 45% but < 50%

 

1.25

%

0.25

%

0.20

%

1.45

%

5

 

> 50% but < 55%

 

1.30

%

0.30

%

0.30

%

1.60

%

6

 

> 55%

 

1.50

%

0.50

%

0.30

%

1.80

%

 

Any increase or decrease in the Applicable Rate resulting from a change in the Consolidated Leverage Ratio shall become effective as of the first (1 st ) Business Day immediately following the date a Compliance Certificate is delivered pursuant to Section 7.02(a)  provided 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 6 shall apply as of the first (1 st ) Business Day after the date on which such Compliance Certificate was required to have been delivered, provided that if such request is not delivered within thirty (30) days of the date such Compliance Certificate was due, Pricing Level 6 shall apply as of the date of delivery of such request, and shall remain in effect until the date on which such Compliance Certificate is delivered.  The Applicable Rate in effect from the Closing Date until adjusted as set forth above shall be set at Pricing Level 1.

 

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this definition, the determination of the Applicable Rate for any period shall be subject to the provisions of Section 2.10(b) .

 

or

 

B.                                     If and when the Rating Conditions have been satisfied:

 

(i)                                      with respect to any Loan, the following percentages per annum, based upon the Debt Rating as set forth below (determined in accordance with the Performance-Based Pricing Grid set forth below); and

 

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(ii)                                   with respect to each Letter of Credit, the LIBOR Loan Applicable Margin, based upon the Debt Rating as set forth below (determined in accordance with the Performance-Based Pricing Grid set forth below);

 

Performance-Based Pricing Grid :

 

Debt Rating

 

Pricing
Level

 

LIBOR
Loan
Applicable
Margin

 

Base Rate
Applicable
Margin

 

Facility Fee
Rate

 

All-in-
Drawn
Eurodollar
Rate

 

All-in-
Drawn Base
Rate

 

> A-/A3

 

1

 

0.775

%

0.00

%

0.125

%

0.900

%

0.125

%

BBB+/Baa1

 

2

 

0.825

%

0.00

%

0.150

%

0.975

%

0.150

%

BBB/Baa2

 

3

 

0.900

%

0.00

%

0.200

%

1.100

%

0.200

%

BBB-/Baa3

 

4

 

1.100

%

0.10

%

0.250

%

1.350

%

0.350

%

< BBB-/Baa3

 

5

 

1.450

%

0.45

%

0.300

%

1.750

%

0.750

%

 

Each change in the Applicable Rate resulting from a publicly announced change in the Debt Rating shall be effective, in the case of an upgrade, during the period commencing on the date of delivery by the Borrower to the Administrative Agent of notice thereof pursuant to Section 7.03(e)  and ending on the date immediately preceding the effective date of the next such change and, in the case of a downgrade, during the period commencing on the date of the public announcement thereof and ending on the date immediately preceding the effective date of the next such change.

 

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.

 

Assignee Group ” means two (2) or more Eligible Assignees that are Affiliates of one another or two (2) or more Approved Funds managed by the same investment advisor.

 

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 D-1 or any other form (including electronic documentation generated by MarkitClear or other electronic platform) approved by the Administrative Agent.

 

Attributable Indebtedness ” means, on any date in respect of any Capital 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.

 

Audited Financial Statements ” means the audited financial statements of the Parent for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017 and, from and after the delivery of the financial statements of the Parent required pursuant to Section 7.01(a)  for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2018, the most-recent financial statements furnished pursuant to Section 7.01(a) .

 

Availability Period ” means with respect to Commitments, the period from and including the Closing Date to the earliest of (a) the then applicable Maturity Date with respect to the Loan, (b) the date of termination of the Aggregate Commitments pursuant to Section 2.06 , and (c) the date of termination of the commitment of each Lender to make Loans, the commitment of the Swing Line Lender to make

 

4



 

Swing Line Loans, and of the obligation of each L/C Issuer to make L/C Credit Extensions pursuant to Section 9.02 .

 

Award ” means any compensation paid by any Governmental Authority in connection with a Condemnation in respect of all or any part of any Unencumbered Property.

 

Bail-In Action ” means the exercise of any Write-Down and Conversion Powers by the applicable EEA Resolution Authority in respect of any liability of an EEA Financial Institution.

 

Bail-In Legislation ” means, with respect to any EEA Member Country implementing Article 55 of Directive 2014/59/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of the European Union, the implementing law for such EEA Member Country from time to time which is described in the EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule.

 

Balloon Payments ” shall mean with respect to any loan constituting Indebtedness, any required principal payment of such loan which is payable at the maturity of such Indebtedness, provided, however, that the final payment of a fully amortized loan shall not constitute a Balloon Payment.

 

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

 

Base Rate ” means, at any time, the highest of (a) the Prime Rate, (b) the Federal Funds Rate plus 0.50% and (c) the LIBOR Market Index Rate plus 1%; each change in the Base Rate shall take effect simultaneously with the corresponding change or changes in the Prime Rate, the Federal Funds Rate or the LIBOR Market Index Rate (provided that clause (c) shall not be applicable during any period in which LIBOR is unavailable or unascertainable).

 

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

 

Beneficial Ownership Certification ” means a certification regarding beneficial ownership as required by the Beneficial Ownership Regulation.

 

Beneficial Ownership Regulation ” means 31 C.F.R. § 1010.230.

 

Book Value ” means all land, building, improvements, leasing commissions and deferred leasing intangibles less accumulated depreciation and amortization.

 

Borrower ” has the meaning specified in the introductory paragraph hereto.

 

Borrower Materials ” has the meaning specified in Section 7.02 .

 

Borrowing ” means a Committed Borrowing or a Swing Line 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 or the State of New York, and, if such day relates to any LIBOR Loan, means any such day that is also a London Banking Day.

 

Capital Lease ” means, with respect to any Person, the obligations of such Person to pay rent or other amounts under any lease of (or other arrangement conveying the right to use) real or personal

 

5



 

property, or a combination thereof, which obligations are required to be classified and accounted for as capital leases on a balance sheet of such Person under GAAP.

 

Capital Lease Obligations ” means, with respect to any Person for any period, the capitalized amount of obligations under Capital Leases for such Person for such period as determined in accordance with GAAP.

 

Capitalization Rate ” means seven percent (7.0%).

 

Cash Collateralize ” means to pledge and deposit with or deliver to the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Administrative Agent, the Swing Line Lender, or the L/C Issuers (as applicable) and the Lenders, as collateral for L/C Obligations or Swing Line Loans or obligations of the Lenders to fund participations in respect thereof (as the context may require), cash or deposit account balances or, if any L/C Issuer or the Swing Line Lender benefitting from such collateral shall agree in its sole discretion, other credit support, in each case pursuant to documentation in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to (a) the Administrative Agent and (b) the L/C Issuers or the Swing Line Lender (as applicable).  The term “ 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 Guarantor, the Borrower or any of their Subsidiaries free and clear of all Liens (other than Liens permitted hereunder):

 

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

 

(b)                                  demand or time deposits with, or insured certificates of deposit or bankers’ acceptances of, any commercial bank that (A) is a Lender or (B) (i) is organized under the laws of the United States of America, 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 of America, 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 $1,000,000,000, in each case with maturities of not more than 90 days from the date of acquisition thereof;

 

(c)                                   commercial paper in an aggregate amount of no more than $5,000,000 per issuer outstanding at any time issued by any Person organized under the laws of any state of the United States of America 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 180 days from the date of acquisition thereof;

 

(d)                                  Investments, classified in accordance with GAAP as current assets of the Parent 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) and (c) of this definition; and

 

(e)                                   Other liquid or readily marketable investments in an amount not to exceed five percent (5%) of Total Asset Value.

 

6



 

Casualty ” means, with respect to any Unencumbered Property, if such Unencumbered Property has been damaged or destroyed, in whole or in part, by fire or other casualty.

 

Change in Law ” means the occurrence, after the date of this Agreement, of any of the following: (a) the adoption or taking effect of any Law, rule, regulation or treaty; (b) any change in any Law, rule, regulation or treaty or in the administration, interpretation, implementation or application thereof by any Governmental Authority; or (c) the making or issuance of any request, rule, guideline or directive (whether or not having the force of law) by any Governmental Authority; provided that notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, (x) the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and all requests, rules, guidelines or directives thereunder or issued in connection therewith or in implementation thereof and (y) all requests, rules, guidelines or directives promulgated by the Bank for International Settlements, the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (or any successor or similar authority) or the United States or foreign regulatory authorities, in each case pursuant to Basel III, shall in each case be deemed to be a “Change in Law”, regardless of the date enacted, adopted, issued or implemented.

 

Change of Control ” means an event or series of events by which:

 

(a)                                  any “ person ” or “ group ” (as such terms are used in Sections 13(d)  and 14(d)  of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, but excluding any employee benefit plan of such person or its Subsidiaries, and any person or entity acting in its capacity as trustee, agent or other fiduciary or administrator of any such plan) becomes the “ beneficial owner ” (as defined in Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, except that a person or group shall be deemed to have “beneficial ownership” of all Equity Interests that such person or group has the right to acquire, whether such right is exercisable immediately or only after the passage of time (such right, an “ option right ”)), directly or indirectly, of thirty-five percent (35%) or more of the Equity Interests of the Parent entitled to vote for members of the board of directors or equivalent governing body of the Parent on a fully-diluted basis (and taking into account all such Equity Interests that such person or group has the right to acquire pursuant to any option right);

 

(b)                                  during any period of twelve (12) consecutive months, a majority of the members of the board of directors or other equivalent governing body of the Parent cease to be composed of individuals (i) who were members of that board or equivalent governing body on the first day of such period, (ii) whose election or nomination to that board or equivalent governing body was approved by individuals referred to in clause (i)  above constituting at the time of such election or nomination at least a majority of that board or equivalent governing body or (iii) whose election or nomination to that board or other equivalent governing body was approved by individuals referred to in clauses (i)  and (ii)  above constituting at the time of such election or nomination at least a majority of that board or equivalent governing body; or

 

(c)                                   the Parent shall cease to (i) either be the sole general partner of, or wholly own and control the general partner of, the Borrower or (ii) own, directly or indirectly, greater than fifty percent (50%) of the Equity Interests of the Borrower.

 

Closing Date ” means the first date all the conditions precedent in Section 5.01 are satisfied or waived in accordance with Section 11.01 .

 

Code ” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 .

 

Commitment ” means, as to each Lender, its obligation to (a) make Committed Loans to the Borrower pursuant to Section 2.01 , (b) purchase participations in L/C Obligations, and (c) purchase

 

7



 

participations in Swing Line 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 2.01 or in the Assignment and Assumption pursuant to which such Lender becomes a party hereto, as applicable, as such amount may be adjusted from time to time in accordance with this Agreement.

 

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

 

Committed Loan ” has the meaning specified in Section 2.01(a) .

 

Committed Loan Notice” means a notice of (a) a Committed Borrowing, (b) a conversion of Committed Loans from one Type to the other, or (c) a continuation of LIBOR Loans, pursuant to Section 2.02(a) , which, if in writing, shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit A .

 

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.

 

Companies ” means, without duplication, the Parent and its Consolidated Subsidiaries (including the Borrower), and “Company” means any one of the Companies.

 

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

 

Condemnation ” means a temporary or permanent taking by any Governmental Authority as the result, in lieu, or in anticipation, of the exercise of the right of condemnation or eminent domain of all or any part of any Unencumbered Property, or any interest therein or right accruing thereto, including any right of access thereto or any change of grade affecting any Unencumbered Property or any part thereof.

 

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 EBITDA ” means, for any Person for any period, an amount equal to (a) Consolidated Net Income, plus (b) the sum of the following (without duplication and to the extent reflected as a charge in the statement of such Consolidated Net Income for such period): (i) income tax expense; (ii) interest expense, amortization or write-off of debt discount and debt issuance costs and commissions, discounts and other fees and charges associated with Indebtedness; (iii) depreciation and amortization expense; (iv) amortization of intangibles (including goodwill) and organization costs; (v) any extraordinary, unusual or non-recurring expenses or losses (including, whether or not otherwise includable as a separate item in the statement of such Consolidated Net Income for such period, losses on sales of assets outside of the ordinary course of business), including property acquisition costs; (vi) any other non-cash charges, and (vii) all commissions, guaranty fees, discounts and other fees and charges owed by such Person with respect to letters of credit and bankers’ acceptance financing and net costs of such Person under Swap Contracts in respect of interest rates to the extent such net costs are allocable to such period in accordance with GAAP; minus (c) the sum of the following (to the extent included in the statement of such Consolidated Net Income for such period): (i) interest income (except to the extent deducted in determining such Consolidated Net Income); (ii) any extraordinary, unusual or non-recurring income or gains (including, whether or not otherwise includable as a separate item in the statement of such Consolidated Net Income for such period, gains on the sales of assets outside of the ordinary course of business); and (iii) any other non-cash income.

 

8



 

Consolidated Fixed Charges ” means, on a consolidated basis, for any Person for any period, the sum (without duplication) of (a) Consolidated Interest Expense, (b) provision for cash income taxes made by such Person on a consolidated basis in respect of such period, (c) scheduled principal amortization payments due during such period on account of Indebtedness of such Person (excluding Balloon Payments), and (d) Restricted Payments paid in cash with respect to preferred Equity Interests of such Person during such period (other than any repayments of principal with respect to preferred Equity Interests).

 

Consolidated Interest Expense ” means, for any Person for any period, the total interest expense (including that attributable to Capital Lease Obligations) of such Person for such period with respect to all outstanding Total Funded Debt (including all commissions, discounts and other fees and charges owed by such Person with respect to letters of credit and bankers’ acceptance financing and net costs of such Person under Swap Contracts in respect of interest rates to the extent such net costs are allocable to such period in accordance with GAAP).  Consolidated Interest Expenses shall exclude non-cash charges, interest rate hedge termination payments or receipts, loan prepayment costs, and upfront loan fees, interest expense covered by an interest reserve established under a loan facility and any interest expense under any construction loan or construction activity that under GAAP is required to be capitalized.

 

Consolidated Leverage Ratio ” means, as of any date of determination, the quotient (expressed as a percentage) of (a) Consolidated Total Debt, divided by (b) Total Asset Value.

 

Consolidated Net Income ” means, for any Person for any period, the consolidated net income (or loss) of such Person for such period, determined on a consolidated basis; provided that in calculating Consolidated Net Income of the Parent for any period, there shall be excluded (a) the income (or deficit) of any Person accrued prior to the date it becomes a Subsidiary or is merged into or consolidated with the Parent or any of its Subsidiaries, (b) the income (or deficit) of any Person (other than a Company) in which any Company has an ownership interest, except to the extent that any such income is actually received by such Company in the form of dividends or similar distributions, and (c) the undistributed earnings of any Subsidiary of any Company to the extent that the declaration or payment of dividends or similar distributions by such Subsidiary is not at the time permitted by the terms of any Contractual Obligation (other than under any Loan Document) or requirement of Law applicable to such Subsidiary.

 

Consolidated Subsidiary ” means any Person in which the Parent or the Borrower has a direct or indirect ownership interest and whose financial results would be consolidated under GAAP with the financial results of the Parent on the consolidated financial statements of the Parent.

 

Consolidated Total Debt ” means, as of any date of determination, the aggregate principal amount of all Indebtedness of the Parent on such date, determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP which would be required to be included on the liabilities side of the balance sheet of the Parent in accordance with GAAP, and including the Companies’ Share of the principal amount of all Indebtedness of Unconsolidated Affiliates, but, in each case, excluding the net obligations of the Parent on a consolidated basis under any Swap Contract.

 

Construction in Progress ” means (a) a Property with new ground up construction, (b) a Property under renovation in which (i) greater than thirty percent (30%) of the square footage of such Property is unavailable for occupancy due to renovation and (ii) no rents are being paid on such square footage or (c) a building expansion.  The classification of “Construction in Progress” will cease on the earlier to occur of (A) the time that such Property has an Occupancy Rate of greater than eighty percent (80%), and (B) one hundred eighty (180) days after completion of construction, renovation or expansion of such Property, as applicable.

 

9



 

Contamination ” means the presence of Hazardous Materials in amounts exceeding regulatory action levels.

 

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.  The terms “ Controlling ” and “ Controlled ” have meanings correlative thereto.

 

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

 

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

 

Current Reporting Quarter ” means the most recent fiscal quarter for which quarterly financial statements have been delivered to the Lenders pursuant to Section 7.01 .

 

Customary Recourse Exceptions ” means, with respect to any Indebtedness, personal recourse that is limited to fraud, misrepresentation, misapplication of cash, waste, environmental claims and liabilities, prohibited transfers, violations of single purposes entity covenants, and other circumstances customarily excluded by institutional lenders from exculpation provisions and/or included in separate guaranty or indemnification agreements in non-recourse financing of Real Property.

 

Dark Property ” means any Property as to which, as of the last day of the Current Reporting Quarter, (a) all leases have terminated, (b) the Borrower is not recognizing revenue from any tenants in accordance with GAAP or (c) the Adjusted NOI for such Property is negative.

 

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 and affecting the rights of creditors generally.

 

Debt Rating ” means, as of any date of determination, the rating as determined by a minimum of two of S&P, Moody’s or Fitch (collectively, the “ Debt Ratings ”) of the Borrower’s non-credit-enhanced, senior unsecured long-term debt; provided that (a) if the respective Debt Ratings issued by the foregoing rating agencies differ by one level, then the Pricing Level for the higher of such Debt Ratings shall apply (with the Debt Rating for Pricing Level 1 being the highest and the Debt Rating for Pricing Level 5 being the lowest); (b) if there is a split in Debt Ratings of more than one level, then the Pricing Level that is one level lower than the Pricing Level of the higher Debt Rating shall apply; (c) if the Borrower has only one Debt Rating, the Pricing Level that is one level lower than that of such Debt Rating shall apply; and (d) if, after satisfying the Rating Condition, the Borrower does not have any Debt Rating, Pricing Level 5 shall apply.

 

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.

 

10



 

Default Rate ” means (a) when used with respect to Obligations other than Letter of Credit Fees, an interest rate equal to (i) the Base Rate plus (ii) the Applicable Rate, if any, applicable to Base Rate Loans plus (iii) two percent (2%) per annum; provided that with respect to a LIBOR Loan, the Default Rate shall be an interest rate equal to the interest rate (including any Applicable Rate) otherwise applicable to such Loan plus two percent (2%) per annum, and (b) when used with respect to Letter of Credit Fees, a rate equal to the Applicable Rate plus two percent (2%) per annum.

 

Defaulting Lender ” means, subject to Section 2.16(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 Borrower in writing that such failure is the result of such Lender’s determination that one or more conditions precedent to funding (each of which conditions precedent, together with any applicable default, shall be specifically identified in such writing) has not been satisfied, or (ii) pay to the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuers, the Swing Line 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 Swing Line Loans) within two (2) Business Days of the date when due, (b) has notified the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuers or the Swing Line 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 Borrower, to confirm in writing to the Administrative Agent and the Borrower that it will comply with its prospective funding obligations hereunder (provided that such Lender shall cease to be a Defaulting Lender pursuant to this clause (c) upon receipt of such written confirmation by the Administrative Agent and the Borrower), or (d) has, or has a direct or indirect parent company which controls such Lender that has, (i) become the subject of a proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law, (ii) had appointed for it a receiver, custodian, conservator, trustee, administrator, assignee for the benefit of creditors or similar Person charged with reorganization or liquidation of its business or assets, including the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other state or federal regulatory authority acting in such a capacity or (iii) become the subject of a Bail-In Action; provided that a Lender shall not be a Defaulting Lender solely by virtue of the ownership or acquisition of any 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 of the effective date of such status, shall be conclusive and binding absent manifest error, and such Lender shall be deemed to be a Defaulting Lender (subject to Section 2.16(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 Borrower, each L/C Issuer, the Swing Line Lender and each Lender promptly following such determination.

 

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

 

Disbursement Instruction Agreement ” means an agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit E to be executed and delivered by the Borrower pursuant to Section 5.01(a) , as the same may be amended, restated or modified from time to time with the prior written approval of the Administrative Agent.

 

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Disposition ” or “ Dispose ” means the sale, transfer, license, lease (other than a real estate lease entered into in the ordinary course of business as part of Property leasing operations) or other disposition (including any sale and leaseback transaction) of any property by any Person, 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 arrangement constituting a Lien.

 

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

 

EEA Financial Institution ” means (a) any institution established in any EEA Member Country which is subject to the supervision of an EEA Resolution Authority, (b) any entity established in an EEA Member Country which is a parent of an institution described in clause (a) of this definition, or (c) any institution established in an EEA Member Country which is a subsidiary of an institution described in clauses (a) or (b) of this definition and is subject to consolidated supervision with its parent.

 

EEA Member Country ” means any of the member states of the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway.

 

EEA Resolution Authority ” means any public administrative authority or any Person entrusted with public administrative authority of any EEA Member Country (including any delegee) having responsibility for the resolution of any EEA Financial Institution.

 

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

 

Environmental Assessment ” has the meaning specified in Section 7.12(b) .

 

Environmental Claim ” means any investigative, enforcement, cleanup, removal, containment, remedial, or other private or governmental or regulatory action at any time instituted or completed pursuant to any applicable Environmental Requirement against any Company or against or with respect to any Real Property or any condition, use, or activity on any Real Property (including any such action against the Administrative Agent or any Lender), and any claim at any time made by any Person against any Company or against or with respect to any Real Property or any condition, use, or activity on any Real Property (including any such claim against the Administrative Agent or any Lender), relating to damage, contribution, cost recovery, compensation, loss, or injury resulting from or in any way arising in connection with any Hazardous Material or any Environmental Requirement.

 

Environmental Damages ” means all liabilities (including strict liability), losses, damages (excluding consequential, special, exemplary or punitive damages except to the extent such damages were imposed upon an Indemnitee as a result of any claims made against such Indemnitee by a governmental entity or any other third party), judgments, penalties, fines, costs and expenses (including fees, costs and expenses of attorneys, consultants, contractors, experts and laboratories), of any and every kind or character, at law or in equity, contingent or otherwise, matured or unmatured, foreseeable or unforeseeable, made, incurred, suffered, brought, or imposed at any time and from time to time, whether before or after the Release Date and arising in whole or in part from:

 

(a)                                  the presence of any Hazardous Material on any Unencumbered Property, or any escape, seepage, leakage, spillage, emission, release, discharge or disposal of any Hazardous Material on or from any Unencumbered Property, or the migration or release or threatened migration or release of any Hazardous Material to, from or through any Unencumbered Property, on or before the Release Date; or

 

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(b)                                  any act, omission, event or circumstance existing or occurring in connection with the handling, treatment, containment, removal, storage, decontamination, clean up, transport or disposal of any Hazardous Material which is at any time on or before the Release Date present on any Unencumbered Property; or

 

(c)                                   the breach of any representation, warranty, covenant or agreement contained in this Agreement relating to the presence of any Hazardous Material on any Unencumbered Property because of any event or condition occurring or existing on or before the Release Date; or

 

(d)                                  any violation on or before the Release Date, of any Environmental Requirement in connection with any Unencumbered Property in effect on or before the Release Date, regardless of whether any act, omission, event or circumstance giving rise to the violation constituted a violation at the time of the occurrence or inception of such act, omission, event or circumstance; or

 

(e)                                   any Environmental Claim, or the filing or imposition of any environmental Lien against any Unencumbered Property, because of, resulting from, in connection with, or arising out of any of the matters referred to in subparagraphs (a)  through (d)  preceding;

 

and regardless of whether any of the foregoing was caused by the Borrower, any other Loan Party or their respective tenant or subtenant, or a prior owner of an Unencumbered Property or its tenant or subtenant, or any third party including (i) injury or damage to any person, property or natural resource occurring on or off of an Unencumbered Property including the cost of demolition and rebuilding of any improvements on any Real Property; (ii) the investigation or remediation of any such Hazardous Material or violation of Environmental Requirement including the preparation of any feasibility studies or reports and the performance of any cleanup, remediation, removal, response, abatement, containment, closure, restoration, monitoring or similar work required by any Environmental Requirement or necessary to have full use and benefit of Unencumbered Properties as contemplated by the Loan Documents (including any of the same in connection with any foreclosure action or transfer in lieu thereof); (iii) all liability to pay or indemnify any Person or Governmental Authority for costs expended in connection with any of the foregoing; (iv) the investigation and defense of any claim, whether or not such claim is ultimately withdrawn or defeated; and (v) the settlement of any claim or judgment.  “ Costs ” as used in this definition shall also include any diminution in the value of the security afforded by the Unencumbered Property or any future reduction of the sales price of any Unencumbered Property by reason of any matter set forth in Sections 7.12 or 8.12 .

 

Environmental Laws ” means any and all applicable 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 Requirement ” means any Environmental Law, agreement or restriction, as the same now exists or may be changed or amended or come into effect in the future, which pertains to any Hazardous Material or the environment including ground or air or water or noise pollution or contamination, and underground or aboveground tanks.

 

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

 

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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.

 

Equity Issuance ” means the issuance or sale by any Person of any of its Equity Interests or any capital contribution to such Person by the holders of its Equity Interests.

 

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 the 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 the Parent 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 the Parent 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(a)(1) or (2)  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 notification that a Multiemployer Plan is 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; or (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 the Parent or any ERISA Affiliate.

 

EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule ” means the EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule published by the Loan Market Association (or any successor Person), as in effect from time to time.

 

Event of Default ” has the meaning specified in Section 9.01 .

 

Excluded Party ” shall mean any REIT, any parent company of or Person who Controls any REIT in each instance engaged primarily in owning and operating Real Property, and any other Person whom the Borrower has reasonably identified in writing to the Administrative Agent as a competitor or potential competitor of the Borrower.

 

Excluded Swap Obligation ” means, with respect to any Loan Party, any Swap Contract if, and to the extent that, all or a portion of the liability of such Loan Party for or the Guarantee of such Loan Party of, or the grant by such Loan Party of a Lien to secure, such Swap Contract (or any liability or guarantee thereof) is or becomes illegal under the Commodity Exchange Act or any rule, regulation or order of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (or the application or official interpretation of any thereof) by virtue of such Loan Party’s failure for any reason to constitute an “eligible contract participant” as defined in the Commodity Exchange Act and the regulations thereunder at the time the liability for or the Guarantee of such Loan Party or the grant of such Lien becomes effective with respect to such Swap Contract (such determination being made after giving effect to any applicable keepwell, support or other agreement for the benefit of the applicable Loan Party, including under Section 27 of the Subsidiary Guaranty).  If a Swap Contract arises under a master agreement governing more than one

 

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swap, such exclusion shall apply only to the portion of such Swap Contract that is attributable to swaps for which such Guarantee or Lien is or becomes illegal for the reasons identified in the immediately preceding sentence of this definition.

 

Excluded Taxes means any of the following Taxes imposed on or with respect to 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 the 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)(ii)  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.

 

Exclusion Event has the meaning specified in Section 4.10 .

 

Exclusion Notice has the meaning specified in Section 4.10.

 

Existing Credit Agreement ” means that certain Credit Agreement dated as of December 18, 2014, as amended and assigned to the date hereof, among the Borrower, Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as administrative agent, and a syndicate of lenders.

 

Existing L/C ” has the meaning specified in Section 2.03(a) .

 

Extension Notice ” has the meaning specified in Section 2.18 .

 

FASB ASC ” means the Accounting Standards Codification of the Financial Accounting Standards Board.

 

Facility Fee ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.09(b) .

 

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 agreement 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 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, then 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, (b) if no such rate is so published on such next succeeding Business Day, then 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 Wells Fargo on such day on such transactions as determined by the

 

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Administrative Agent and (c) if the Federal Funds Rate should be less than zero, such rate shall be deemed to be zero for purposes of this Agreement.

 

Fee Letters ” means the letter agreements dated as of (a) June 21, 2018 among the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC and (b) the Closing Date among the Borrower, Bank of America, N.A., and Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner and Smith Incorporated.

 

FIRREA ” means the Financial Institution Recovery, Reform and Enforcement Act of 1989, as amended.

 

Fitch” means Fitch, Inc., and any successor thereto.

 

Fixed Charge Ratio ” means, as of any date of determination, the quotient (expressed as a percentage) of (a) Consolidated EBITDA, divided by (b) Consolidated Fixed Charges.

 

Foreign Lender ” means (a) if the Borrower is a U.S. Person, a Lender that is not a U.S. Person, and (b) if the 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 the Borrower is resident for tax purposes (including such a Lender when acting in the capacity of an L/C Issuer).  For purposes of this definition, the United States, each State thereof and the District of Columbia shall be deemed to constitute a single jurisdiction.

 

FRB ” means the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System of the United States.

 

Fronting Exposure ” means, at any time there is a Defaulting Lender, (a) with respect to an 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 Lenders, Cash Collateralized in accordance with the terms hereof, or cancelled in accordance with the terms hereof, and (b) with respect to the Swing Line Lender, such Defaulting Lender’s Applicable Percentage of Swing Line Loans other than Swing Line Loans as to which such Defaulting Lender’s participation obligation has been reallocated to other Lenders or Cash Collateralized in accordance with the terms hereof.

 

Fund ” means any Person (other than a natural person) that is (or will be) engaged in making, purchasing, holding or otherwise investing in commercial loans and similar extensions of credit in the ordinary course of its activities.

 

Funds from Operations ” means, for any Person for any period, the sum of (a) Consolidated Net Income plus (b) depreciation and amortization expense determined in accordance with GAAP excluding amortization expense attributable to capitalized debt costs; provided that there shall not be included in such calculation (i) any proceeds of any insurance policy other than rental or business interruption insurance received by such Person, (ii) any gain or loss which is classified as “extraordinary” in accordance with GAAP, (iii) any capital gains and taxes on capital gains, (iv) income (or loss) associated with third-party ownership of non-controlling Equity Interests, and (v) gains or losses on the sale of discontinued operations as detailed in the most-recent financial statements delivered pursuant to Section 7.01(a)  or (b) , as applicable.

 

GAAP ” means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States set forth in the opinions and pronouncements of the Accounting Principles Board and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and statements and pronouncements of the Financial Accounting Standards Board or such other principles as may be approved by a significant segment of the accounting profession in the

 

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United States, that are applicable to the circumstances as of the date of determination, consistently applied.

 

Governmental Authority ” means the government of the United States or any other nation, or of any political subdivision thereof, whether state or local, and any agency, authority, instrumentality, regulatory body, court, central bank or other entity exercising executive, legislative, judicial, taxing, regulatory or administrative powers or functions of or pertaining to government (including any supra-national bodies such as the European Union or the European Central Bank).

 

Guarantee ” means, as to any Person, (a) any obligation, contingent or otherwise, of such Person guaranteeing or having the economic effect of guaranteeing any Indebtedness 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 or other obligation of any other Person, whether or not such Indebtedness or other obligation is assumed by such Person (or any right, contingent or otherwise, of any holder of such Indebtedness 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.

 

Guaranties ” means the Parent Guaranty and the Subsidiary Guaranties, and “ Guaranty ” means any one of the Guaranties.

 

Guarantors ” means, collectively, the Parent and each Subsidiary Guarantor, and “ Guarantor ” means any one of the Guarantors.

 

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

 

“Immaterial Subsidiary ” means any Subsidiary whose assets constitute less than one percent (1%) of Total Asset Value; provided that if at any time the aggregate Total Asset Value of the “Immaterial Subsidiaries” which are not Guarantors exceeds ten percent (10%) of Total Asset Value, then the Borrower shall designate certain “Immaterial Subsidiaries” as Guarantors such that the aggregate Total Asset Value of the “Immaterial Subsidiaries” which are not Guarantors does not exceed ten percent (10%) of Total Asset Value.

 

Improvements ” means any Subsidiary Guarantor’s interest in and to all on site improvements to the Unencumbered Properties, together with all fixtures, tenant improvements, and appurtenances now or later to be located on the Unencumbered Properties and/or in such improvements.

 

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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)                                  all direct or contingent obligations of such Person arising under letters of credit (including standby and commercial), bankers’ acceptances, bank guaranties, surety bonds and similar instruments;

 

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

 

(d)                                  all 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 and, in each case, either (i) not past due for more than one hundred and eighty (180) days or (ii) being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted);

 

(e)                                   Capital Lease Obligations;

 

(f)                                    all obligations of such Person to purchase, redeem, retire, defease or otherwise make any payment in respect of any ownership interest (excluding perpetual preferred ownership interests) in such Person or any other Person, valued, in the case of a redeemable preferred interest, at the greater of its voluntary or involuntary liquidation preference plus (without duplication and only to the extent required to be paid) accrued and unpaid dividends;

 

(g)                                   all Guarantees of such Person in respect of any of the foregoing (except for guaranties of customary exceptions for fraud, misapplication of funds, environmental indemnities, voluntary bankruptcy, collusive involuntary bankruptcy and other similar customary exceptions to non-recourse liability); and

 

(h)                                  all obligations of the kind referred to in clauses (a) through (g) above secured by (or for which the holder of such obligation has an existing right, contingent or otherwise, to be secured by) any lien on Property (including accounts and contract rights) owned by such Person, whether or not such Person has assumed or become liable for the payment of such obligation, but limited to the lesser of (i) the fair market value of the property subject to such lien and (ii) the aggregate amount of the obligations so secured.

 

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; provided that, solely for purposes of calculating the financial covenants set forth in Sections 8.14(a), (b)  and (c) , Indebtedness shall exclude the net obligations of the Parent on a consolidated basis under Swap Contracts entered into to hedge or mitigate any interest rate risk in respect of borrowed money for which the Parent, the Borrower or any Subsidiary has actual exposure.  The amount of any Capital Lease Obligations as of any date shall be deemed to be the amount of Attributable Indebtedness in respect 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 (a), Other Taxes.

 

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

 

Information ” has the meaning specified in Section 11.07.

 

Initial Unencumbered Properties ” means the Acceptable Properties listed on Schedule 4.01 , and “ Initial Unencumbered Property ” means any one of the Initial Unencumbered Properties.

 

Interest Payment Date ” means (a) as to any Loan other than a Base Rate Loan, the last day of each Interest Period applicable to such Loan and the Maturity Date applicable to such Loan; provided that if any Interest Period for a LIBOR Loan exceeds three (3) months, then 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 (including a Swing Line Loan), the last Business Day of each March, June, September, and December and the Maturity Date applicable to such Loan.

 

Interest Period ” means as to each LIBOR Loan, the period commencing on the date such LIBOR Loan is disbursed or converted to or continued as a LIBOR Loan and ending on the date one (1), two (2), three (3) or six (6) months (if available to all Lenders) thereafter, as selected by the Borrower in its Loan Notice; provided that :

 

(i)                                      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, in the case of a LIBOR Loan, such Business Day falls in another calendar month, in which case such Interest Period shall end on the next preceding Business Day;

 

(ii)                                   any Interest Period pertaining to a LIBOR Loan 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

 

(iii)                                no Interest Period for a subject Loan shall extend beyond the Maturity Date applicable to such Loan.

 

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 equity participation or interest in, another Person, including any partnership or joint venture interest in such other Person and any arrangement pursuant to which the investor Guarantees 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 that constitute a business unit.  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.

 

IP Rights ” has the meaning specified in Section 6.18 .

 

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).

 

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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 an L/C Issuer and the Borrower (or any Subsidiary) or in favor of such L/C Issuer and relating to such Letter of Credit.

 

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 Lender, such Lender’s funding of its participation in any L/C Borrowing in accordance with its Applicable Percentage.

 

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 Committed Borrowing.

 

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 Issuers ” means Wells Fargo and Bank of America in their respective capacities as issuers 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.

 

Lead Arrangers ” means Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, Capital One, National Association, PNC Capital Markets, LLC, Regions Capital Markets and TD Securities (USA) LLC in their capacities as joint lead arrangers.

 

Lease ” means each existing or future lease, sublease (to the extent of any Subsidiary Guarantor’s rights thereunder), license, or other agreement (other than an Acceptable Ground Lease) under the terms of which any Person has or acquires any right to occupy or use any Property, or any part thereof, or interest therein, and each existing or future guaranty of payment or performance thereunder.

 

Lender ” has the meaning specified in the introductory paragraph hereto and, as the context requires, includes the Swing Line Lender.

 

Lending Office ” means, as to any Lender, the office or offices of such Lender described as such in such Lender’s Administrative Questionnaire, or such other office or offices as a Lender may from time to time notify the Borrower and the Administrative Agent.

 

Letter of Credit ” means (i) any standby letter of credit issued hereunder providing for the payment of cash upon the honoring of a presentation thereunder and (ii) each Existing L/C.

 

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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 Issuers.

 

Letter of Credit Expiration Date ” means the day that is seven (7) days prior to the Maturity Date then in effect with respect to the Loans (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 $30,000,000.00; provided that unless otherwise consented to in writing by the applicable L/C Issuer and notified to the Administrative Agent no L/C Issuer shall be required to issue Letters of Credit having a face amount in excess of $15,000,000.00.  The Letter of Credit Sublimit is part of, and not in addition to, the Aggregate Commitments.

 

LIBOR ” means, subject to the implementation of a Replacement Rate in accordance with Section 3.03(b) , with respect to any LIBOR borrowings for any interest period, the rate of interest obtained by dividing (i) the rate of interest per annum determined on the basis of the rate for deposits in U.S. dollars for a period equal to the applicable interest period as published by the ICE Benchmark Administration Limited, a United Kingdom company, or a comparable or successor quoting service approved by the Administrative Agent, at approximately 11:00 a.m. (London time) two business days prior to the first day of the applicable interest period by (ii) a percentage equal to 1 minus the stated maximum rate (stated as a decimal) of all reserves, if any, required to be maintained with respect to Eurocurrency funding (currently referred to as “Eurocurrency liabilities”) as specified in Regulation D of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (or against any other category of liabilities which includes deposits by reference to which the interest rate on LIBOR Loans is determined or any applicable category of extensions of credit or other assets which includes loans by an office of any Lender outside of the United States of America); provided that if such determined rate shall be less than zero, such rate shall be deemed to be zero for purposes of this Agreement.  If, for any reason, such rate is not so published then “LIBOR” shall be determined by the Administrative Agent to be the arithmetic average of the rate per annum at which deposits in U.S. dollars would be offered by first class banks in the London interbank market to the Administrative Agent at approximately 11:00 a.m. (London time) two business days prior to the first day of the applicable interest period for a period equal to such interest period.  Any change in the maximum rate or reserves described in the preceding clause (ii) shall result in a change in LIBOR on the date on which such change in such maximum rate becomes effective.

 

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

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, (x) in no event shall LIBOR (including, without limitation, any Replacement Rate or other determination with respect thereto) be less than 0% and (y) unless otherwise specified in any amendment to this Agreement entered into in accordance with Section 3.03(b) , in the event that a Replacement Rate with respect to LIBOR is implemented then all references herein to LIBOR shall be deemed references to such Replacement Rate.

 

LIBOR Loan ” means a Committed Loan that bears interest at a rate based on LIBOR.

 

LIBOR Market Index Rate ” means, for any day, LIBOR as of that day that would be applicable for a LIBOR borrowing having a one-month interest period determined at approximately 10:00 a.m. Central time for such day (rather than 11:00 a.m. (London time) two business days prior to the first day of such interest period as otherwise provided in the definition of “LIBOR”), or if such day is not a business

 

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day, the immediately preceding business day.  The LIBOR Market Index Rate shall be determined on a daily basis.

 

Lien ” means any mortgage, pledge, hypothecation, assignment, deposit arrangement, encumbrance, lien (statutory or other), charge or other security interest or any preference, priority or other security agreement or preferential arrangement 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 Capital Lease having substantially the same economic effect as any of the foregoing).

 

Loan ” means an extension of credit by a Lender to the Borrower under Article II in the form of a Committed Loan or a Swing Line Loan.

 

Loan Documents ” means this Agreement, each Note, each Issuer Document, any agreement creating or perfecting rights in Cash Collateral pursuant to the provisions of Section 2.15 of this Agreement, the Fee Letters, and the Guaranties.

 

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 LIBOR Loans, pursuant to Section 2.02(a) , which, if in writing, shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit A .

 

Loan Parties ” means, collectively, the Borrower and each Guarantor and “ Loan Party ” means any one of the Loan Parties.

 

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

 

Material Acquisition ” means any acquisition (or series of related acquisitions) or investments (or series of related investments) permitted by this Agreement and consummated in accordance with the terms of this Agreement for which the aggregate consideration paid in respect of such acquisition or investment (including any Indebtedness assumed in connection therewith) exceeds 10% of Total Asset Value for the Current Reporting Quarter, without giving pro forma effect to such acquisition.

 

Material Adverse Effect ” means: (a) a material adverse change in, or a material adverse effect upon, the business, assets, operations, or financial condition of the Companies, taken as a whole; (b) a material impairment of the ability of the Loan Parties, taken as a whole, to perform their obligations under the Loan Documents; or (c) a material adverse effect upon the legality, validity, binding effect, or enforceability against the Loan Parties, taken as a whole, of the Loan Documents to which they are parties.

 

Material Environmental Event ” means, with respect to any Unencumbered Property, (a) a violation of any Environmental Law with respect to such Unencumbered Property, or (b) the presence of any Hazardous Materials on, about, or under such Unencumbered Property that, under or pursuant to any Environmental Law, would require remediation, if in the case of either (a) or (b), such event or circumstance could reasonably be expected to have a Material Property Event.

 

Material Property Event ” means, with respect to any Unencumbered Property, the occurrence of any event or circumstance occurring or arising after the date of this Agreement that resulted in a (a) material adverse effect with respect to the financial condition or the operations of such Unencumbered Property, (b) material adverse effect on the value of such Unencumbered Property, or (c) material adverse effect on the ownership of such Unencumbered Property.

 

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Material Title Defects ” means, with respect to any Unencumbered Property, defects, Liens (other than Liens for local real estate taxes and similar local governmental charges), and other encumbrances in the nature of easements, servitudes, restrictions, and rights-of-way that would customarily be deemed unacceptable title exceptions for a prudent lender (i.e., a prudent lender would reasonably determine that such exceptions, individually or in the aggregate, materially impair the value or operations of such Unencumbered Property, would prevent such Unencumbered Property from being used in the manner in which it is currently being used, or would result in a violation of any Law which would have a material and adverse effect on such Unencumbered Property); provided that Material Title Defects shall not include any Liens or other encumbrances (i) that existed as of the date of the title insurance policies issued in connection with the Prior Credit Agreement for the Initial Unencumbered Properties, (ii) that existed as of the date of this Agreement and that are listed on Schedule 8.01 or (iii) with respect to any Unencumbered Properties added following the date of this Agreement, Liens and other encumbrances similar in type and extent to those contemplated by clauses (i) and (ii) above.

 

Material Subsidiary ” means each Subsidiary of the Borrower other than a Non-Guarantor Subsidiary.

 

Maturity Date ” means January 15, 2023 or such later date to which the Maturity Date may be extended pursuant to Section 2.18 , such extended Maturity Date; provided that if such date is not a Business Day, then the Maturity Date shall be the next preceding Business Day.

 

Minimum Collateral Amount ” means, at any time, (i) with respect to Cash Collateral consisting of cash or deposit account balances provided to reduce or eliminate Fronting Exposure during the existence of a Defaulting Lender, an amount equal to 100% of the Fronting Exposure of the L/C Issuers with respect to Letters of Credit issued and outstanding at such time, (ii) with respect to Cash Collateral consisting of cash or deposit account balances provided in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.16(a)(i), (a)(ii)  or (a)(iii), an amount equal to 100% of the Outstanding Amount of all L/C Obligations, and (iii) otherwise, an amount determined by the Administrative Agent and the L/C Issuers in their sole discretion.

 

Minimum Distributions ” means (a) for the Parent for any fiscal year of the Parent, Restricted Payments in an amount not less than the aggregate amount of distributions required to be paid by the Parent in order for the Parent to qualify as a REIT, and (b) for the Borrower for any fiscal year of the Borrower, Restricted Payments in an amount not less than the aggregate amount of distributions required to be paid by the Borrower to the Parent in order for the Parent to qualify as a REIT.

 

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 the Parent 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 (2) or more contributing sponsors (including the Parent or any ERISA Affiliate) at least two (2) of whom are not under common control, as such a plan is described in Section 4064 of ERISA.

 

Non-Guarantor Subsidiary means any Subsidiary (whether direct or indirect) of the Borrower, other than any Subsidiary which owns an Unencumbered Property or any Subsidiary which owns any of the Equity Interests of any such Subsidiary, which (a) is (i) formed for or converted to the specific purpose of holding title to Real Property assets which are collateral for Indebtedness owing or to be owed

 

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by such Subsidiary, provided that such Indebtedness must be incurred or assumed within ninety (90) days, such ninety (90) day period to be extended for an additional sixty (60) days if the Borrower provides an executed term sheet or commitment letter for the financing of such Real Property to the Administrative Agent (or, in either instance, for such longer period as the Administrative Agent may agree in writing) of such formation or conversion or such Subsidiary shall cease to qualify as a Non Guarantor Subsidiary, and (ii) expressly prohibited in writing from guaranteeing Indebtedness of any other person or entity pursuant to (A) a provision in any document, instrument or agreement evidencing such Indebtedness of such Subsidiary or (B) a provision of such Subsidiary’s Organization Documents, in each case, which provision was included in such Organization Document or such other document, instrument or agreement at the request of the applicable third party creditor and as an express condition to the extension or assumption of such Indebtedness; provided that a Subsidiary meeting the requirements set forth in this clause (a) shall only remain a “Non-Guarantor Subsidiary” for so long as (1) each of the foregoing requirements set forth in this clause (a) are satisfied, (2) such Subsidiary does not guarantee any other Indebtedness, and (3) the Indebtedness with respect to which the restrictions noted in clause (a) (ii) are imposed remains outstanding; (b)(i) becomes a Subsidiary following the Closing Date, (ii) is not a Wholly Owned Subsidiary of the Borrower, and (iii) with respect to which the Borrower and its Affiliates, as applicable, do not have sufficient voting power to cause such Subsidiary to become a Guarantor hereunder; (c) is an Immaterial Subsidiary; (d) is a Subsidiary which has been released from its Obligations under a Subsidiary Guaranty pursuant to Section 2.17(b) , or (e) is not a domestic Subsidiary. For the avoidance of doubt, STAG Industrial Management, LLC, the Subsidiary that employs the Parent Guarantor’s employees, shall be deemed to be a Non-Guarantor Subsidiary.

 

Non-Recourse Indebtedness ” means, for any Person, any Indebtedness of such Person for the repayment of which neither the Parent or the Borrower has any personal liability (other than for Customary Recourse Exceptions) or, if such Person is the Parent or the Borrower, in which recourse of the applicable holder of such Indebtedness for non-payment is limited to such holder’s Liens on a particular asset or group of assets (other than for Customary Recourse Exceptions).  For the avoidance of doubt, if any Indebtedness is partially guaranteed by the Parent or the Borrower, then the portion of such Indebtedness that is not so guaranteed shall still be Non-Recourse Indebtedness if it otherwise satisfies the requirements in this definition.

 

Note ” means a promissory note made by the Borrower in favor of each Lender requesting the same evidencing Loans made by such Lender, substantially in the form of Exhibit B-1 and B-3 , as applicable.

 

Note Purchase Agreements ” means (i) that certain Note Purchase Agreement, dated as of April 16, 2014 among the Parent, the Borrower, and the purchasers party thereto, (ii) that certain Note Purchase Agreement, dated as of December 18, 2014 among the Parent, the Borrower, and the purchasers party thereto, and (iii) that certain Note Purchase Agreement, dated as of June 13, 2018, among the Parent, the Borrower, and the purchasers party thereto, in each case as amended from time to time.

 

Obligations means 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, 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; including, without limitation of the foregoing, all present and future indebtedness, liabilities, and obligations now or hereafter owed to the Administrative Agent, any Lender, or any Affiliate of the Administrative Agent or any Lender (including, for the avoidance of doubt,

 

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any Specified Derivatives Providers) arising from, by virtue of, or pursuant to any Swap Contract, other than any Excluded Swap Obligation, that relates solely to the Obligations.

 

Occupancy Rate ” means, for any Property, the percentage of the rentable area of such Property occupied by bona fide tenants of such Property or leased by tenants pursuant to bona fide tenant Leases, in each case, which tenants are not more than 60 days past due in the payment of all rent or other similar payments due under such Leases and paying rent.

 

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, and (c) with respect to any partnership, joint venture, trust or other form of business entity, the partnership, joint venture or other applicable agreement of formation or organization and any agreement, instrument, filing or notice with respect thereto filed in connection with its formation or organization with the applicable Governmental Authority in the jurisdiction of its formation or organization and, if applicable, any certificate or articles of formation or organization of such entity.

 

Other Connection Taxes ” means, with respect to any Recipient, Taxes imposed as a result of a present or former connection between such Recipient and the jurisdiction imposing such Tax (other than connections arising from such Recipient having executed, delivered, become a party to, performed its obligations under, received payments under, received or perfected a security interest under, engaged in any other transaction pursuant to or enforced any Loan Document, or sold or assigned an interest in any Loan or Loan Document).

 

Other Taxes ” means all present or future stamp, court 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 Committed Loans on any date, the aggregate outstanding principal amount thereof after giving effect to any borrowings and prepayments or repayments of Loans occurring on such date, (b) with respect to Swing Line Loans on any date, the aggregate outstanding principal amount thereof after giving effect to any borrowings and prepayments or repayments of Swing Line Loans occurring on such date, and (c) with respect to any L/C Obligations on any date, 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 amount of the L/C Obligations as of such date, including as a result of any reimbursements by the Borrower of Unreimbursed Amounts.

 

Parent ” has the meaning specified in the introductory paragraph hereto.

 

Parent Guaranty means the Guaranty Agreement executed by the Parent in favor of the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Lenders and any Specified Derivatives Providers, in form and substance acceptable to the Administrative Agent.

 

Parent Share ” means a share of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Parent.

 

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

 

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

 

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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, Sections 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 the 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.

 

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 the Parent or any ERISA Affiliate or any such Plan to which the Parent or any ERISA Affiliate is required to contribute on behalf of any of its employees.

 

Platform ” has the meaning specified in Section 7.02 .

 

Prime Rate ” means, at any time, the rate of interest per annum publicly announced from time to time by the Administrative Agent as its prime rate.  Each change in the Prime Rate shall be effective as of the opening of business on the day such change in such prime rate occurs.  The parties acknowledge that the rate announced publicly by the Administrative Agent as its prime rate is an index or base rate and shall not necessarily be its lowest or best rate charged to its customers or other banks.

 

Prior Credit Agreement ” means that certain Credit Agreement dated as of April 20, 2011 among the Borrower, Bank of America, N.A., as agent and a syndicate of lenders.

 

Property ” means any Real Property which is owned or ground leased, directly or indirectly, by any Company.

 

PTE ” means a prohibited transaction class exemption issued by the U.S. Department of Labor, as any such exemption may be amended from time to time.

 

Public Lender ” has the meaning specified in Section 7.02 .

 

Qualified ECP Guarantor ” means, in respect of any Swap Contract, each Loan Party that has total assets exceeding $10,000,000 at the time the relevant Guarantee or grant of the relevant security interest becomes effective with respect to such Swap Contract or such other person as constitutes an “eligible contract participant” under the Commodity Exchange Act or any regulations promulgated thereunder and can cause another person to qualify as an “eligible contract participant” at such time by entering into a keepwell under Section 1a(18)(A)(v)(II)  of the Commodity Exchange Act.

 

Rating Condition ” means the achievement by the Borrower of a Debt Rating.

 

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Real Property ” of any Person means all of the right, title, and interest of such Person in and to land, improvements, and fixtures.

 

Recipient ” means the Administrative Agent, any Lender, the L/C Issuers or any other recipient of any payment to be made by or on account of any obligation of any Loan Party hereunder.

 

Recourse Indebtedness ” means Indebtedness that is not Non-Recourse Indebtedness; provided that personal recourse for Customary Recourse Exceptions shall not, by itself, cause such Indebtedness to be characterized as Recourse Indebtedness.

 

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

 

REIT ” means a “real estate investment trust” in accordance with Section 856 of the Code.

 

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.

 

Replacement Rate ” has the meaning assigned thereto in Section 3.03(b) .

 

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 Committed Loans, a Committed Loan Notice, (b) with respect to an L/C Credit Extension, a Letter of Credit Application, and (c) with respect to a Swing Line Loan, a Swing Line Loan Notice.

 

Required Lenders ” means, at any time, the Lenders having Commitments representing more than 50% of the Aggregate Commitments of all Lenders or, if the commitment of each Lender to make Loans and the obligation of the L/C Issuers to make L/C Credit Extensions have been terminated pursuant to Section 9.02 , the Lenders holding in the aggregate more than fifty percent (50%) of the Total Outstandings (with the aggregate amount of each Lender’s risk participation and funded participation in Swing Line Loans and L/C Obligations being deemed “held” by such Lender for purposes of this definition).  The Commitment of any Defaulting Lender shall be disregarded in determining the Required Lenders at any time; provided that , the amount of any participation in any Swing Line 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 Swing Line Lender or the L/C Issuers, as the case may be, in making such determination.  At all times when two or more Lenders (excluding Defaulting Lenders) are party to this Agreement, the term “Required Lenders” shall in no event mean fewer than two Lenders.

 

Responsible Officer ” means the chief executive officer, president, chief financial officer, chief operating officer, chief accounting officer, treasurer, assistant treasurer or controller of a Loan Party, and solely for purposes of the delivery of incumbency certificates pursuant to Section 5.01 , the secretary or any assistant 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.  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.  Each initial Responsible Officer is listed on Schedule RO .

 

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Restricted Payment ” means any dividend or other distribution (whether in cash, Equity Interests or other property) with respect to any capital stock or other Equity Interest of any Company or Subsidiary, or any payment (whether in cash, Equity Interests or other property), including any sinking fund or similar deposit, on account of the purchase, redemption, retirement, acquisition, cancellation or termination of any such capital stock or other Equity Interests, or on account of any return of capital to such Company’s or Subsidiary’s stockholders, partners or members (or the equivalent Person thereof).

 

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

 

Sanction(s) ” means any international economic sanction administered or enforced by OFAC, the United Nations Security Council, the European Union, Her Majesty’s Treasury or other relevant sanctions authority.

 

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

 

Secured Indebtedness ” means (without duplication), with respect to a Person as of any given date, the aggregate principal amount of all Indebtedness of such Person or its subsidiaries outstanding at such date and that is secured by a Lien, and including the Companies’ Share of all Indebtedness of Unconsolidated Affiliates that is secured by a Lien, but excluding for the avoidance of doubt, any net obligations under any Swap Contract that is secured by a Lien, all Unsecured Indebtedness and all Indebtedness hereunder, and provided further that the obligations under any revolving credit agreement (including this Agreement or any amendment or replacement thereof) shall not constitute Secured Indebtedness due to the existence of cash collateral security requirements in connection with customary defaulting lender provisions.

 

Secured Leverage Ratio ” means, as of any date of determination, the quotient (expressed as a percentage) of (a) Secured Indebtedness of Parent and its Subsidiaries, divided by (b) Total Asset Value.

 

Share ” means the Borrower’s and the Parent’s direct or indirect share of a Consolidated Subsidiary or an Unconsolidated Affiliate as reasonably determined by the Borrower based upon the Borrower’s and the Parent’s economic interest (whether direct or indirect) in such Consolidated Subsidiary or Unconsolidated Affiliate, as of the date of such determination.

 

Specified Derivatives Provider ” shall have the meaning provided in Section 9.03 .

 

Subsidiary ” of a Person means a corporation, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company or other business entity of which a majority of the Equity Interests having ordinary voting power for the election of directors or other governing body (other than Equity Interests having such power only by reason of the happening of a contingency) are 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 Borrower.

 

Subsidiary Guarantors ” means, as of any date, each domestic Subsidiary which owns an Unencumbered Property, all domestic Subsidiaries of the Borrower owning a direct or indirect interest in an Unencumbered Property, each other domestic Material Subsidiary, and the general partner of each Subsidiary Guarantor that is a limited partnership and “ Subsidiary Guarantor ” means any one of the Subsidiary Guarantors; provided, however, that (a) STAG Industrial Management, LLC and (b) STAG

 

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Industrial TRS, LLC and its Subsidiaries shall in no event be deemed or required to be a Subsidiary Guarantor.

 

Subsidiary Guaranty ” means the Guaranty Agreement executed by each Subsidiary Guarantor in favor of the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Lenders and any Specified Derivatives Providers, in form and substance acceptable to the Administrative Agent.

 

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, (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, and (c) 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).

 

Swing Line Borrowing ” means a borrowing of a Swing Line Loan pursuant to Section 2.04.

 

Swing Line Lender ” means Wells Fargo in its capacity as provider of Swing Line Loans, or any successor swing line lender hereunder.

 

Swing Line Loan ” has the meaning specified in Section 2.04(a).

 

Swing Line Loan Notice ” means a notice of a Swing Line Borrowing pursuant to Section 2.04(b), which, if in writing, shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit A-1 .

 

Swing Line Sublimit ” means an amount equal to $50,000,000.00.  The Swing Line Sublimit is part of, and not in addition to, the Aggregate Commitments.

 

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.

 

Term Loan Agreements ” means (a) that certain Term Loan Agreement, dated as of September 29, 2015, among the Borrower, the Parent, Wells Fargo, as administrative agent, and the other lenders

 

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party thereto, (b) that certain Term Loan Agreement, dated as of July 28, 2017, among the Borrower, the Parent, Bank of America, N.A., as administrative agent, and the other lenders party thereto, (c) that certain Amended and Restated Term Loan Agreement, dated as of December 20, 2016, among the Borrower, the Parent, Wells Fargo, as administrative agent, and the other lenders party thereto, (d) that certain Second Amended and Restated Term Loan Agreement, dated as of December 20, 2016, among the Borrower, the Parent, Wells Fargo, as administrative agent, and the other lenders party thereto and (e) that certain Term Loan Agreement, dated as of July 26, 2018, among the Borrower, the Parent, Wells Fargo, as administrative agent, and the other lenders party thereto, in each case, as amended from time to time.

 

Threshold Amount ” means (a) $40,000,000 with respect to Recourse Indebtedness, (b) $75,000,000 with respect to all Non-Recourse Indebtedness, and (c) $40,000,000 with respect to all other amounts.

 

Total Asset Value ” means, for the Companies, on a consolidated basis, as on any date, the sum of (a) an amount equal to (i) aggregate Adjusted NOI with respect to all Properties (without duplication from the assets in clauses (b) through (g) below) for the Current Reporting Quarter, annualized divided by (ii) the Capitalization Rate, plus (b) 75% of the Book Value of any Dark Property (provided that no Dark Property shall be included in the calculation of Total Asset Value for a period greater than 12 months), plus (c) the acquisition cost of Construction in Progress and the costs of improvements thereon and renovations thereof, plus (d) cash and cash equivalents (including restricted cash) on such date, plus (e) the Companies’ Share of the foregoing items and components attributable to Unconsolidated Affiliates, plus (f) an amount equal to the book value (adjusted in accordance with GAAP to reflect any default or other impairment of such loan) of mortgage loans, construction loans, capital improvement loans, and other loans, in each case owned by a Company, plus (g) fifty percent (50%) of the book value of any undeveloped land.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, for purposes of determining Total Asset Value, to the extent the amount of Total Asset Value attributable to (a) the amount under clause (b) above would exceed 10% of Total Asset Value, such excess shall be excluded, (b) the amount under clause (c) and (g) above would exceed 15% of Total Asset Value, such excess shall be excluded, (c) the amount under clause (e) above would exceed 30% of Total Asset Value, such excess shall be excluded, (d) the amount under clause (f) above would exceed 15% of Total Asset Value, such excess shall be excluded, and (e) the amount under clauses (b), (c), (e), (f) and (g) above would exceed 30% of Total Asset Value, such excess shall be excluded.

 

Total Funded Debt ” means, as of any date, Consolidated Total Debt excluding intercompany Indebtedness, deferred income taxes, security deposits, accounts payable and accrued liabilities, and any prepaid rents, in each case determined in accordance with GAAP.

 

Total Outstandings ” means, as of any date of determination, the aggregate Outstanding Amount of all Loans and all L/C Obligations.

 

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

 

Unconsolidated Affiliate ” means any Person in which a Company has an Equity Interest and whose financial results would not be consolidated under GAAP with the financial results of the Parent on the consolidated financial statements of the Parent.

 

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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.

 

Unencumbered Adjusted NOI ” means, for any period, the aggregate Adjusted NOI of all Unencumbered Properties excluding any Dark Property for such period.

 

Unencumbered Asset Value ” means without duplication, the sum of, for each Unencumbered Property owned or ground leased for the Current Reporting Quarter, (i) an amount equal to (x) the Unencumbered Adjusted NOI attributable to such Unencumbered Property for such Current Reporting Quarter, annualized, divided by (ii) the Capitalization Rate.

 

Unencumbered Leverage Ratio ” means, as of any date of determination, the quotient (expressed as a percentage) of (a) Unsecured Indebtedness of Parent and its Subsidiaries, divided by (b) Unencumbered Asset Value.

 

Unencumbered Properties ” means each Acceptable Property that either (a) is an Initial Unencumbered Property or (b) becomes an Unencumbered Property pursuant to Section 4.03 , and “ Unencumbered Property ” means any one of the Unencumbered Properties.

 

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

 

Unsecured Indebtedness ” means Indebtedness which is not Secured Indebtedness.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, all Indebtedness which is secured by a pledge of equity interests only and is recourse to the Borrower or the Parent shall be deemed to be Unsecured Indebtedness.

 

Unsecured Interest Coverage Ratio ” means, as of any date of determination, the quotient (expressed as a percentage) of (a) Unencumbered Adjusted NOI to (b) Unsecured Interest Expense.

 

Unsecured Interest Expense ” means, with respect to any period, Consolidated Interest Expense of the Parent and its Subsidiaries for such period attributable to Unsecured Indebtedness of the Parent and its Subsidiaries.

 

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)(III) .

 

Wells Fargo ” means Wells Fargo Bank, National Association and its successors.

 

Write-Down and Conversion Powers ” means, with respect to any EEA Resolution Authority, the write-down and conversion powers of such EEA Resolution Authority from time to time under the Bail-In Legislation for the applicable EEA Member Country, which write-down and conversion powers are described in the EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule.

 

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:

 

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(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 any Organization Document) shall be construed as referring to such agreement, instrument or other document as from time to time amended, supplemented, or otherwise modified (subject to any restrictions on such amendments, supplements or modifications set forth herein 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, Exhibits and Schedules shall be construed to refer to Articles and Sections of, and Exhibits and Schedules to, the Loan Document in which such references appear, (v) any reference to any law shall include all statutory and regulatory 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 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, Equity Interests, accounts and contract rights.

 

(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 Borrower and its Subsidiaries shall be deemed to be carried at 100% of the outstanding principal amount thereof, and the effects of FASB ASC 825 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 Borrower or the Required Lenders shall so request, the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the Borrower shall negotiate in good faith to amend such ratio or requirement to preserve the original intent thereof in light of such change in GAAP (subject to the approval of the Required Lenders); provided that until so amended, (i) such ratio or requirement shall continue to be computed in accordance with GAAP prior to such change therein and (ii) the Borrower shall provide to the

 

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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 addressing such changes, as provided for above.

 

(c)           Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities.   All references herein to consolidated financial statements of the Companies or to the determination of any amount for the Companies on a consolidated basis or any similar reference shall, in each case, be deemed to include each variable interest entity that the Parent is required to consolidate pursuant to FASB ASC 810 as if such variable interest entity were a Subsidiary as defined herein, provided further that for all purposes in calculating consolidated covenants hereunder the Parent shall be deemed to own one hundred percent (100%) of the equity interests in the Borrower.

 

1.04         Rounding .  Any financial ratios required to be maintained by the Borrower 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 undrawn amount of such Letter of Credit in effect at such time; provided 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, for purposes of determining the Total Outstandings, be deemed to be 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         Rates.  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 “LIBOR” or with respect to any comparable or successor rate thereto.

 

Article II.
The Commitments and Credit Extensions

 

2.01         Committed Loans .  Each Lender severally agrees to make Committed Loans to the Borrower from time to time, on any Business Day subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein and the limitations set forth in Section 2.01(c ):

 

(a)           Committed Loans .  Each Lender severally agrees to make loans (each such loan, a “ Committed Loan ”) in an aggregate amount not to exceed at any time outstanding the amount of such Lender’s Commitment.

 

(b)           [Reserved] .

 

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(c)           Committed Loan Limitations Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 2.01(a) , after giving effect to any Committed Borrowing, (i) the Total Outstandings shall not exceed the Aggregate Commitments and (ii) the Credit Exposure of any Lender shall not exceed such Lender’s Commitment.  With respect to Committed Loans, within the limits of each Lender’s Commitment and the Aggregate Commitments, and subject to the other terms and conditions hereof, the Borrower may borrow under this Section 2.01 , prepay under Section 2.05 , and reborrow under this Section 2.01 .  Committed Loans may be Base Rate Loans or LIBOR Loans, as further provided herein.

 

2.02         Borrowings, Conversions and Continuations of Committed Loans.

 

(a)           Each Committed Borrowing, each conversion of Committed Loans from one Type to the other, and each continuation of LIBOR Loans shall be made upon the Borrower’s irrevocable notice to the Administrative Agent, which may be given by telephone.  Each such notice must be received by the Administrative Agent not later than 10:00 a.m. (i) three (3) Business Days prior to the requested date of any Borrowing of, conversion to or continuation of LIBOR Loans or of any conversion of LIBOR Loans to Base Rate Committed Loans, and (ii) on the requested date of any Borrowing of Base Rate Committed Loans.  Each telephonic notice by the Borrower pursuant to this Section 2.02(a)  must be confirmed promptly by delivery to the Administrative Agent of a written Committed Loan Notice, appropriately completed and signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower.  Each Borrowing of, conversion to or continuation of LIBOR Loans shall be in a principal amount of $2,500,000 or a whole multiple of $500,000 in excess thereof.  Except as provided in Sections 2.03(c)  and 2.04(b) , each Borrowing of or conversion to Base Rate Committed Loans shall be in a principal amount of $250,000 or a whole multiple of $50,000 in excess thereof.  Each Committed Loan Notice (whether telephonic or written) shall specify (i) whether the Borrower is requesting a Committed Borrowing, a conversion of Committed Loans from one Type to the other, or a continuation of LIBOR Loans, (ii) the requested date of the Committed Borrowing, conversion or continuation, as the case may be (which shall be a Business Day), (iii) the principal amount of Committed Loans to be borrowed, converted or continued, (iv) the Type of Committed Loans to be borrowed or to which existing Committed Loans are to be converted, and (v) if applicable, the duration of the Interest Period with respect thereto.  If the Borrower fails to specify a Type of Committed Loan in a Committed Loan Notice or if the Borrower fails to give a timely notice requesting a conversion or continuation, then (I) so long as no Event of Default exists, the applicable Committed Loans shall be made as, or continued to, a LIBOR Loan of the same Type and with an Interest Period of one (1) month and (II) if an Event of Default exists, then the applicable Committed 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 LIBOR Loans.  If the Borrower requests a Committed Borrowing of, conversion to, or continuation of LIBOR Loans in any such Committed Loan Notice, but fails to specify an Interest Period, then it will be deemed to have specified an Interest Period of one (1) month.

 

(b)           Following receipt of a Committed Loan Notice, the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each Lender of the amount of its Applicable Percentage of the applicable Committed Loans, and if no timely notice of a conversion or continuation is provided by the Borrower, the Administrative Agent shall notify each Lender of the details of any automatic continuation or conversion to Base Rate Loans described in the preceding subsection.  In the case of a Committed Borrowing, each Lender shall make the amount of its Committed Loan available to the Administrative Agent in immediately available funds at the Administrative Agent’s Office not later than 12:00 noon on the Business Day specified in the applicable Committed Loan Notice.  Upon satisfaction of the applicable conditions set forth in Section 5.02 (and, if such

 

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Committed Borrowing is the initial Credit Extension, Section 5.01 ), the Administrative Agent shall make all funds so received available to the Borrower by 3:00 p.m. in like funds as received by the Administrative Agent either by (i) crediting the account of the Borrower on the books of Wells Fargo 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 Borrower; provided that if, on the date the Committed Loan Notice with respect to such Borrowing is given by the Borrower, there are L/C Borrowings outstanding, then the proceeds of such Borrowing, first , shall be applied to the payment in full of any such L/C Borrowings, and second , shall be made available to the Borrower as provided above.

 

(c)           Except as otherwise provided herein, a LIBOR Loan may be continued or converted only on the last day of an Interest Period for such LIBOR Loan.  During the existence of an Event of Default, no Loans may be requested as, converted to or continued as LIBOR Loans without the consent of the Required Lenders.

 

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

 

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

 

2.03         Letters of Credit .

 

(a)           The Letter of Credit Commitment .

 

(i)            Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, (A)  each L/C Issuer agrees, in reliance upon the agreements of the Lenders set forth in this Section 2.03 , (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 for the account of the Borrower or its Subsidiaries, and to amend or extend Letters of Credit previously issued by such L/C Issuer, in accordance with subsection (b)  below, and (2) to honor drawings under the Letters of Credit; and (B) the Lenders severally agree to participate in Letters of Credit issued for the account of the 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 Outstandings shall not exceed the Aggregate Commitments, (y) the Credit Exposure of any Lender shall not exceed such Lender’s Commitment, and (z) the Outstanding Amount of the L/C Obligations shall not exceed the Letter of Credit Sublimit.  Each request by the Borrower for the issuance or amendment of a Letter of Credit shall be deemed to be a representation by the Borrower 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 Borrower’s ability to obtain Letters of Credit shall be fully revolving, and accordingly the Borrower 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. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the letters of credit identified on Schedule 2.03 (the “ Existing L/Cs ”) shall be deemed to be a “Letter of Credit” issued on the Closing Date for all purposes of this Agreement and (i) the stated amount of the Existing

 

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L/Cs and the Unreimbursed Amount of the Existing L/Cs shall be included in the calculation of L/C Obligations, (ii) the provisions of this Section 2.03 , including without limitation Sections 2.03(h)  and (i) , shall apply to the Existing L/Cs and (iii) the Borrower and each of the Lenders hereby expressly acknowledges its respective obligations hereunder with respect to the Existing L/Cs .

 

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

 

(A)          subject to Section 2.03(b)(iii) , the initial stated expiry date of the requested Letter of Credit (notwithstanding “evergreen” renewal provisions) 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, unless (1) all the Lenders have approved such expiry date, or (2) the Borrower agrees to deliver to the Administrative Agent no later than thirty (30) days prior to the Letter of Credit Expiration Date Cash Collateral in an amount equal to the undrawn amount of such Letter of Credit, with the Borrower hereby irrevocably requesting a Committed Borrowing of a Base Rate Loan to fund such Cash Collateral payment in the event the Borrower does not deliver such Cash Collateral to the Administrative Agent on the due date thereof.

 

(iii)          An 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 any L/C Issuer from issuing the Letter of Credit, or any Law applicable to any L/C Issuer or any request or directive (whether or not having the force of law) from any Governmental Authority with jurisdiction over any L/C Issuer shall prohibit, or request that any L/C Issuer refrain from, the issuance of letters of credit generally or the Letter of Credit in particular or shall impose upon any L/C Issuer with respect to the Letter of Credit any restriction, reserve or capital requirement (for which such L/C Issuer is not otherwise compensated hereunder) not in effect on the Closing Date, or shall impose upon any L/C Issuer any unreimbursed loss, cost or expense which was not applicable on the Closing Date and which such 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 any L/C Issuer applicable to letters of credit generally;

 

(C)          except as otherwise agreed by the Administrative Agent and the L/C Issuers, the Letter of Credit is in an initial stated amount less than $25,000;

 

(D)          the Letter of Credit is to be denominated in a currency other than Dollars;

 

(E)           any Lender is at that time a Defaulting Lender, unless the applicable L/C Issuer has received Cash Collateral or entered into other arrangements satisfactory to such L/C Issuer (in its sole discretion) with the

 

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Borrower or such Lender, in each case to eliminate such L/C Issuer’s actual or potential Fronting Exposure (after giving effect to Section 2.16(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 any L/C Issuer has actual or potential Fronting Exposure, as it may elect in its sole discretion; or

 

(F)           the Letter of Credit contains any provisions for automatic reinstatement of the stated amount after any drawing thereunder.

 

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

 

(vi)          An L/C Issuer shall act on behalf of the Lenders with respect to any Letters of Credit issued by it and the documents associated therewith, and the L/C Issuers shall have all of the benefits and immunities (A) provided to the Administrative Agent in Article X with respect to any acts taken or omissions suffered by any 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 X included the L/C Issuers with respect to such acts or omissions, and (B) as additionally provided herein with respect to the L/C Issuers.

 

(b)           Procedures for Issuance and Amendment of Letters of Credit; Auto-Extension Letters of Credit.

 

(i)            Each Letter of Credit shall be issued or amended, as the case may be, upon the request of the Borrower delivered to the applicable 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 Borrower.  Such Letter of Credit Application may be sent by facsimile, by United States mail, by overnight courier, by electronic transmission using the system provided by such L/C Issuer, by personal delivery or by any other means acceptable to such L/C Issuer.  Such Letter of Credit Application must be received by the applicable L/C Issuer and the Administrative Agent not later than 11:00 a.m. at least two (2) Business Days (or such later date and time as the Administrative Agent and such 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 applicable L/C Issuer: (A) the proposed issuance date of the requested Letter of Credit (which shall be a Business Day); (B) the amount thereof; (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 customary matters as such L/C Issuer may reasonably require of similarly situated borrowers.  In the case of a request for an

 

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amendment of any outstanding Letter of Credit, such Letter of Credit Application shall specify in form and detail satisfactory to such L/C Issuer (A) the Letter of Credit to be amended; (B) the proposed date of amendment thereof (which shall be a Business Day); (C) the nature of the proposed amendment; and (D) such other matters as such L/C Issuer may require.  Additionally, the Borrower shall furnish to the applicable 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 such L/C Issuer or the Administrative Agent may reasonably require.

 

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

 

(iii)          If the Borrower so requests in any applicable Letter of Credit Application, then the applicable L/C Issuer shall agree, unless such L/C Issuer provides a good faith explanation to the Borrower why it cannot so issue such Letter of Credit, to issue a 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 Issuers 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 applicable L/C Issuer, the Borrower shall not be required to make a specific request to such L/C Issuer for any such extension.  Once an Auto-Extension Letter of Credit has been issued, the Lenders shall be deemed to have authorized (but may not require) such 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, or such later date (but no later than twelve (12) months after the Letter of Credit Expiration Date) if (1) all the Lenders have approved such expiry date, or (2) the Borrower agrees to deliver to the Administrative Agent no later than thirty (30) days prior to the Letter of Credit Expiration Date Cash Collateral in an amount equal to the undrawn amount of such Letter of Credit, with the Borrower hereby irrevocably requesting a Committed Borrowing of a Base Rate Loan to fund such Cash Collateral payment in the event the Borrower does not deliver such Cash Collateral to the Administrative Agent on the due date thereof; provided that the applicable L/C Issuer shall not permit any such extension if (A) such 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

 

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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, (2) from the Borrower that the Borrower has elected not to permit such extension, or (3) from the Administrative Agent, any Lender or the Borrower that one or more of the applicable conditions specified in Section 5.02 is not then satisfied, and in each such case directing such L/C Issuer not to permit such extension.

 

(iv)          Promptly after their 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 applicable L/C Issuer will also deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent a true and complete copy of such Letter of Credit or amendment.

 

(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 applicable L/C Issuer shall exercise commercially reasonable efforts to notify the Borrower and the Administrative Agent thereof within two (2) Business Days after receipt of such notice and of the date required for payment of such drawing under such Letter of Credit.  Not later than 11:00 a.m. on the date of any payment by any L/C Issuer under a Letter of Credit (each such date, an “ Honor Date ”), the Borrower shall reimburse such L/C Issuer through the Administrative Agent in an amount equal to the amount of such drawing.  If the Borrower fails to so reimburse such L/C Issuer by such time, the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each Lender of the Honor Date, the amount of the unreimbursed drawing (the “ Unreimbursed Amount ”), and the amount of such Lender’s Applicable Percentage thereof.  In such event, the Borrower shall be deemed to have requested a Committed 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 Aggregate Commitments and the conditions set forth in Section 5.02 (other than the delivery of a Committed Loan Notice).  Any notice given by any 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.  If such Base Rate Loans are so disbursed to pay an Unreimbursed Amount, then no Default or Event of Default shall be deemed to have occurred.

 

(ii)           Each Lender shall upon 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 any L/C Issuer 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 Lender that so makes funds available shall be deemed to have made a Base Rate Loan to the Borrower in such amount.  The Administrative Agent shall remit the funds so received to such L/C Issuer.

 

(iii)          With respect to any Unreimbursed Amount that is not fully refinanced by a Committed Borrowing of Base Rate Loans because the conditions set forth in Section 5.02 cannot be satisfied or for any other reason, the Borrower shall be deemed to

 

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have incurred from the applicable 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 Lender’s payment to the Administrative Agent for the account of any 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 2.03 .

 

(iv)          Until each Lender funds its Committed Loan or L/C Advance pursuant to this Section 2.03(c)  to reimburse any 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 such L/C Issuer.

 

(v)           Each Lender’s obligation to make Committed Loans or L/C Advances to reimburse any 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 such L/C Issuer, the Borrower 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 that each Lender’s obligation to make Committed Loans pursuant to this Section 2.03(c)  is subject to the conditions set forth in Section 5.02 (other than delivery by the Borrower of a Committed Loan Notice).  No such making of an L/C Advance shall relieve or otherwise impair the obligation of the Borrower to reimburse any L/C Issuer for the amount of any payment made by such L/C Issuer under any Letter of Credit, together with interest as provided herein.

 

(vi)          If any Lender fails to make available to the Administrative Agent for the account of any 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, such 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 such L/C Issuer at a rate per annum equal to the greater of the Federal Funds Rate and a rate determined by such L/C Issuer in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation, plus any administrative, processing or similar fees customarily charged by such 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 Committed Loan included in the relevant Committed Borrowing or L/C Advance in respect of the relevant L/C Borrowing, as the case may be.  A certificate of any L/C Issuer submitted to any Lender (through the Administrative Agent) with respect to any amounts owing under this clause (vi)  shall be conclusive absent manifest error.

 

(d)           Repayment of Participations .

 

(i)            At any time after any L/C Issuer has made a payment under any Letter of Credit and has received from any 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 such L/C Issuer any payment in respect of the related Unreimbursed Amount or interest thereon (whether directly from the Borrower or otherwise, including proceeds

 

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of Cash Collateral applied thereto by the Administrative Agent), the Administrative Agent will distribute to such Lender its Applicable Percentage thereof in the same funds as those received by the Administrative Agent.

 

(ii)           If any payment received by the Administrative Agent for the account of any 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 such L/C Issuer in its discretion), each Lender shall pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of such 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 Federal Funds 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 Borrower to reimburse the applicable 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 the 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), any L/C Issuer or any other Person, whether in connection with this Agreement, the transactions contemplated hereby or by such Letter of Credit or any agreement or instrument relating thereto, or any unrelated transaction;

 

(iii)          any draft, demand, certificate or other document presented under 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 any L/C Issuer of any requirement that exists for such L/C Issuer’s protection and not the protection of the Borrower or any waiver by any L/C Issuer which does not in fact materially prejudice the Borrower;

 

(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 any 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 any 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 any L/C Issuer under such Letter of Credit to any Person purporting to be a trustee in bankruptcy, debtor-in-possession, assignee for

 

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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; or

 

(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, the Borrower or any Subsidiary.

 

the 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 the Borrower’s instructions or other irregularity, the Borrower will promptly, and in any event within three (3) Business Days, notify the applicable L/C Issuer.  The Borrower shall be conclusively deemed to have waived any such claim against any L/C Issuer and its correspondents unless such notice is given as aforesaid.

 

(f)            Role of L/C Issuer .  Each Lender and the Borrower agree that, in paying any drawing under a Letter of Credit, an L/C Issuer shall not have any responsibility to obtain any document (other than any sight 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 Issuers, the Administrative Agent, any of their respective Related Parties nor any correspondent, participant or assignee of any 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 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.  The 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 that this assumption is not intended to, and shall not, preclude the Borrower’s pursuing such rights and remedies as it may have against the beneficiary or transferee or any other Person at law or under any other agreement.  None of the L/C Issuers, the Administrative Agent, any of their respective Related Parties nor any correspondent, participant or assignee of any L/C Issuer shall be liable or responsible for any of the matters described in clauses (i)  through (viii)  of Section 2.03(e) ; provided that anything in such clauses to the contrary notwithstanding, the Borrower may have a claim against any L/C Issuer, and such L/C Issuer may be liable to the Borrower, to the extent, but only to the extent, of any direct, as opposed to consequential or exemplary, damages suffered by the Borrower which the Borrower proves were caused by an L/C Issuer’s willful misconduct or gross negligence or an L/C Issuer’s willful failure to pay under any Letter of Credit after the presentation to it by the beneficiary of a sight 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, an 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 such L/C Issuer shall not be responsible for the validity or sufficiency of any instrument transferring or assigning or purporting to transfer 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. Any 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 applicable L/C Issuer and the Borrower when a Letter of Credit is issued

 

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the rules of the ISP shall apply to each standby Letter of Credit.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the L/C Issuer s shall not be responsible to the Borrower for, and the L/C Issuers’ rights and remedies against the Borrower shall not be impaired by, any action or inaction of any 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 any 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 Borrower shall pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of each Lender in accordance 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 daily amount available to be drawn under such Letter of Credit; provided that any Letter of Credit Fees otherwise payable for the account of a Defaulting Lender with respect to any Letter of Credit as to which such Defaulting Lender has not provided Cash Collateral satisfactory to the applicable L/C Issuer pursuant to this Section 2.03 shall be payable, to the maximum extent permitted by applicable Law, to the other Lenders in accordance with the upward adjustments in their respective Applicable Percentages allocable to such Letter of Credit pursuant to Section 2.16(a)(iv) , with the balance of such fee (other than the fees attributable to L/C Obligations for which the Borrower has provided Cash Collateral), if any, payable to any L/C Issuer for its own account.  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 .  Letter of Credit Fees shall be (i) due and payable on the tenth (10 th ) Business Day after the end of each March, June, September and December, commencing with the first (1 st ) such date to occur after the issuance of such Letter of Credit, on the Letter of Credit Expiration Date and thereafter on demand and (ii) 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.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, upon the request of the Required Lenders, while any Event of Default exists, all Letter of Credit Fees shall accrue at the Default Rate.

 

(i)            Fronting Fee and Documentary and Processing Charges Payable to the L/C Issuer s .  The Borrower shall pay directly to each L/C Issuer for its own account a fronting fee with respect to each Letter of Credit, at a rate per annum specified in the Fee Letters, computed on 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 the tenth (10 th ) Business Day after the end of each March, June, September and December in respect of the most-recently ended quarterly period (or portion thereof, in the case of the first payment), commencing with the first (1 st ) 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 Borrower shall pay directly to each L/C Issuer for its own account the customary issuance, presentation, amendment and other processing fees, and other standard costs and charges, of such 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 within five (5) Business Days of demand and are nonrefundable.

 

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(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 Borrower shall be obligated to reimburse the applicable L/C Issuer hereunder for any and all drawings under such Letter of Credit.  The Borrower hereby acknowledges that the issuance of Letters of Credit for the account of Subsidiaries inures to the benefit of the Borrower, and that the Borrower’s business derives substantial benefits from the businesses of such Subsidiaries.

 

(l)            L/C Issuer Agreements.  Unless otherwise requested by the Administrative Agent, each L/C Issuer shall report in writing to the Administrative Agent (i) on the first Business Day of each calendar month, the daily activity (set forth by day) in respect of Letters of Credit during the immediately preceding month, including all issuances, extensions, amendments and renewals, all expirations and cancellations and all disbursements and reimbursements, (ii) on or prior to each Business Day on which such L/C Issuer expects to issue, amend, renew or extend any Letter of Credit, the date of such issuance, amendment, renewal or extension, and the aggregate face amount of the Letters of Credit to be issued, amended, renewed or extended by it and outstanding after giving effect to such issuance, amendment, renewal or extension occurred (and whether the amount thereof changed), it being understood that such L/C Issuer shall not permit any issuance, renewal, extension or amendment resulting in an increase in the amount of any Letter of Credit to occur without first obtaining written confirmation from the Administrative Agent that it is then permitted under this Agreement, (iii) on each Business Day on which such L/C Issuer makes any L/C Borrowing, the date of such L/C Borrowing and the amount of such L/C Borrowing, (iv) on any Business Day on which the Borrower fails to reimburse an L/C Borrowing required to be reimbursed to such L/C Issuer on such day, the date of such failure and the amount of such L/C Borrowing and (v) on any other Business Day, such other information as the Administrative Agent shall reasonably request.

 

2.04         Swing Line Loans.

 

(a)           The Swing Line .  Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, the Swing Line Lender, in reliance upon the agreements of the other Lenders set forth in this Section 2.04 , may in its sole discretion make loans (each such loan, a “ Swing Line Loan ”) to the Borrower from time to time on any Business Day during the Availability Period in an aggregate amount not to exceed at any time outstanding the lesser of (x) the Swing Line Sublimit and (y) an amount equal to the Swing Line Lender’s Commitment in its capacity as a Lender, minus the aggregate outstanding principal amount of such Lender’s Committed Loans and all Swing Line Loans, minus such Lender’s participation in L/C Obligations; provided, however , that (x) after giving effect to any Swing Line Loan, (i) the Total Outstandings shall not exceed the Aggregate Commitments, and (ii) the Credit Exposure of any Lender shall not exceed such Lender’s Commitment, (y) the Borrower shall not use the proceeds of any Swing Line Loan to refinance any outstanding Swing Line Loan and (z) the Swing Line Lender shall not be under any obligation to make any Swing Line 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 Borrower may borrow under this Section 2.04 , prepay under Section 2.04 , and reborrow under this Section 2.04 .  Each Swing Line Loan shall be a Base Rate Loan.  Immediately upon the making of a Swing Line Loan, each Lender shall be deemed to, and hereby irrevocably and unconditionally agrees to, purchase from the Swing Line Lender a risk

 

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participation in such Swing Line Loan in an amount equal to the product of such Lender’s Applicable Percentage times the amount of such Swing Line Loan.

 

(b)           Borrowing Procedures .  Each Swing Line Borrowing shall be made upon the Borrower’s irrevocable notice to the Swing Line Lender and the Administrative Agent, which may be given by telephone. Each such notice must be received by the Swing Line 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 $25,000, and (ii) the requested borrowing date, which shall be a Business Day.  Each such telephonic notice must be confirmed promptly by delivery to the Swing Line Lender and the Administrative Agent of a written Swing Line Loan Notice, appropriately completed and signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower.  Promptly after receipt by the Swing Line Lender of any telephonic Swing Line Loan Notice, the Swing Line Lender will confirm with the Administrative Agent (by telephone or in writing) that the Administrative Agent has also received such Swing Line Loan Notice and, if not, the Swing Line Lender will notify the Administrative Agent (by telephone or in writing) of the contents thereof.  Unless the Swing Line Lender has received notice (by telephone or in writing) from the Administrative Agent (including at the request of any Lender) prior to 2:00 p.m. on the date of the proposed Swing Line Borrowing (A) directing the Swing Line Lender not to make such Swing Line 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 Section 5.02 is not then satisfied, then, subject to the terms and conditions hereof, the Swing Line Lender will, not later than 3:00 p.m. on the borrowing date specified in such Swing Line Loan Notice, make the amount of its Swing Line Loan available to the Borrower at its office by crediting the account of the Borrower on the books of the Swing Line Lender in immediately available funds.

 

(c)           Refinancing of Swing Line Loans .

 

(i)            The Swing Line Lender at any time in its sole discretion may request, on behalf of the Borrower (which hereby irrevocably authorizes the Swing Line Lender to so request on its behalf), that each Lender make a Base Rate Committed Loan in an amount equal to such Lender’s Applicable Percentage of the amount of Swing Line Loans then outstanding.  Such request shall be made in writing (which written request shall be deemed to be a Committed 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 Aggregate Commitments and the conditions set forth in Section 5.02 .  The Swing Line Lender shall furnish the Borrower with a copy of the applicable Committed Loan Notice promptly after delivering such notice to the Administrative Agent.  Each Lender shall make an amount equal to its Applicable Percentage of the amount specified in such Committed 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 Swing Line Loan) for the account of the Swing Line Lender at the Administrative Agent’s Office not later than 1:00 p.m. on the day specified in such Committed Loan Notice, whereupon, subject to Section 2.04(c)(ii) , each Lender that so makes funds available shall be deemed to have made a Base Rate Committed Loan to the Borrower in such amount.  The Administrative Agent shall remit the funds so received to the Swing Line Lender.

 

(ii)           If for any reason any Swing Line Loan cannot be refinanced by such a Committed Borrowing in accordance with Section 2.04(c)(i) , the request for Base Rate Committed Loans submitted by the Swing Line Lender as set forth herein shall be

 

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deemed to be a request by the Swing Line Lender that each of the Lenders fund its risk participation in the relevant Swing Line Loan and each Lender’s payment to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Swing Line Lender pursuant to Section 2.04(c)(i)  shall be deemed payment in respect of such participation.

 

(iii)          If any Lender fails to make available to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Swing Line 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 Swing Line 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 Swing Line Lender at a rate per annum equal to the greater of the Federal Funds Rate and a rate determined by the Swing Line Lender in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation, plus any administrative, processing or similar fees customarily charged by the Swing Line 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 Committed Loan included in the relevant Committed Borrowing or funded participation in the relevant Swing Line Loan, as the case may be.  A certificate of the Swing Line 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 Lender’s obligation to make Committed Loans or to purchase and fund risk participations in Swing Line 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 Swing Line Lender, the Borrower 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 Lender’s obligation to make Committed Loans pursuant to this Section 2.04(c )  is subject to the conditions set forth in Section 5.02 .  No such funding of risk participations shall relieve or otherwise impair the obligation of the Borrower to repay Swing Line Loans, together with interest as provided herein.

 

(d)           Repayment of Participations .

 

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

 

(ii)           If any payment received by the Swing Line Lender in respect of principal or interest on any Swing Line Loan is required to be returned by the Swing Line Lender under any of the circumstances described in Section 11.05 (including pursuant to any settlement entered into by the Swing Line Lender in its discretion), each Lender shall pay to the Swing Line 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 Swing Line

 

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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 the Swing Line Lender .  The Swing Line Lender shall be responsible for invoicing the Borrower for interest on the Swing Line Loans.  Until each Lender funds its Base Rate Committed Loan or risk participation pursuant to this Section 2.04 to refinance such Lender’s Applicable Percentage of any Swing Line Loan, interest in respect of such Applicable Percentage shall be solely for the account of the Swing Line Lender.

 

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

 

2.05         Prepayments.

 

(a)           The Borrower may, upon notice to the Administrative Agent, at any time or from time to time voluntarily prepay Committed Loans in whole or in part without premium or penalty; provided that (i) such notice must be received by the Administrative Agent not later than 11:00 a.m. (A) three (3) Business Days prior to any date of prepayment of LIBOR Loans and (B) on the date of prepayment of Base Rate Committed Loans; (ii) any prepayment of LIBOR Loans shall be in a principal amount of $1,000,000 or a whole multiple of $100,000 in excess thereof; and (iii) any prepayment of Base Rate Committed Loans shall be in a principal amount of $100,000 or a whole multiple of $25,000 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 Committed Loans to be prepaid and, if LIBOR 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 Applicable Percentage of such prepayment.  If such notice is given by the Borrower, then the Borrower 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 a LIBOR Loan 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 2.16 , each such prepayment shall be applied to the Committed Loans of the Lenders in accordance with their respective Applicable Percentages.

 

(b)           The Borrower may, upon notice to the Swing Line Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), at any time or from time to time, voluntarily prepay Swing Line Loans in whole or in part without premium or penalty; provided that (i) such notice must be received by the Swing Line Lender and the Administrative Agent not later than 1:00 p.m. on the date of the prepayment, and (ii) any such prepayment shall be in a minimum principal amount of $100,000.  Each such notice shall specify the date and amount of such prepayment.  If such notice is given by the Borrower, the Borrower shall make such prepayment and the payment amount specified in such notice shall be due and payable on the date specified therein.

 

(c)           If for any reason the Total Outstandings at any time exceed the Aggregate Commitments, then the Borrower shall, within five (5) Business Days, prepay Loans and/or Cash Collateralize the L/C Obligations in an aggregate amount equal to such excess, with any such prepayment being first applied to the Total Outstandings; provided that the Borrower shall not be required to Cash Collateralize the L/C Obligations pursuant to this Section 2.05(c)  unless after the prepayment in full of the Committed Loans and Swing Line Loans, the Total Outstandings exceed the Aggregate Commitments.

 

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2.06         Termination, Reduction, or Increase of Commitments and Loans.

 

(a)           Voluntary and Mandatory Reductions .

 

(i)            the Borrower may, upon notice to the Administrative Agent, terminate the Aggregate Commitments, or from time to time permanently reduce the Aggregate Commitments; provided that (i) any such notice shall be received by the Administrative Agent not later than 11:00 a.m. three (3) Business Days (or such shorter period agreed to by the Administrative Agent in writing) 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, (iii) the Borrower shall not terminate or reduce the Aggregate Commitments if, after giving effect thereto and to any concurrent prepayments hereunder, the Total Outstandings would exceed the Aggregate Commitments, and (iv) if, after giving effect to any reduction of the Aggregate Commitments, the Letter of Credit Sublimit or the Swing Line Sublimit exceeds the amount of the Aggregate Commitments, then such Sublimit shall be automatically reduced by the amount of such excess.

 

(ii)           The Aggregate Commitments shall automatically be reduced to zero ($0) upon the termination or expiration of the Availability Period.

 

(b)           Increase in Aggregate Commitments .

 

(i)            Election to Increase .  Provided there exists no Default, upon notice to the Administrative Agent (which shall promptly notify the Lenders), the Parent and the Borrower may from time to time, elect an increase in the Aggregate Commitments to an amount not exceeding $ 1,000,000,000 (less the amount of any permanent reductions in the Aggregate Commitments pursuant to Section 2.06 ) either by designating another bank or financial institution not theretofore a Lender to become a Lender (such designation to be effective only with the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuers and the Swing Line Lender, which consents will not be unreasonably withheld) and/or by agreeing with an existing Lender or Lenders, in such Lender or Lenders’ absolute discretion, that such Lender’s Commitment shall be increased; provided that (i) any such election for an increase shall be in a minimum amount of $10,000,000, and (ii) the Parent and the Borrower may make a maximum of three (3) such requests.  Upon execution and delivery by the Borrower and such Lender or other bank or financial institution of an instrument in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent to effect such increase, including, as required, a new or amended Note, such existing Lender shall have a Commitment as therein set forth or such bank or financial institution shall become a Lender with a Commitment as therein set forth and all the rights and obligations of a Lender with such a Commitment hereunder.

 

(ii)           Effective Date .  If the Aggregate Commitments are increased in accordance with this Section 2.06(b) , then the Administrative Agent, the Parent, and the Borrower shall determine the effective date (the “ Increase Effective Date ”) that such commitment increase was made.  The Administrative Agent shall promptly notify the Parent, the Borrower, and the Lenders of the Increase Effective Date.

 

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(iii)          Conditions to Effectiveness of Increase .

 

(1)           As a condition precedent to such increase, the Parent and the Borrower shall deliver to the Administrative Agent a certificate dated as of the Increase Effective Date (in sufficient copies for each Lender) signed by a Responsible Officer of the Parent or the Borrower (on behalf of each Loan Party) (i) certifying and attaching the resolutions adopted by such Parent and the Borrower (on behalf of each Loan Party) approving or consenting to such increase, and (ii) certifying that, before and after giving effect to such increase, (A) the representations and warranties contained in Article VI and the other Loan Documents are true and correct in all material respects (except in the case of a representation or warranty qualified by materiality or Material Adverse Effect, in which case such representation or warranty shall be true and correct in all respects) on and as of the Increase Effective Date, except to the extent that such representations and warranties specifically refer to an earlier date, in which case they are true and correct in all material respects (except in the case of a representation or warranty qualified by materiality or Material Adverse Effect, in which case such representation or warranty shall be true and correct in all respects) as of such earlier date, and except that for purposes of this Section 2.06 , the representations and warranties contained in Section   6.05(b)  shall be deemed to refer to the most-recent statements furnished pursuant to Section 7.01(b) , and (B) no Default exists.  The Borrower shall prepay any Loans outstanding on the Increase Effective Date (and pay any additional amounts required pursuant to Section 3.05 ) to the extent necessary to keep the outstanding Loans ratable with any revised Applicable Percentages arising from any non-ratable increase in the Commitments under this Section 2.06(b)(iii) ;

 

(2)           The Borrower shall execute and provide new Notes to such Lenders as may request herewith.

 

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

 

(c)           General .  The Administrative Agent will promptly notify the Lenders of any notice of termination, reduction or increase of the Aggregate Commitments.  Any reduction of the Aggregate Commitments shall be applied to the Commitment of each Lender according to its Applicable Percentage.

 

2.07         Repayment of Loans.

 

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

 

(b)           The Borrower shall repay each Swing Line Loan on the earlier to occur of (i) the date that is one (1) Business Day after the Swing Line Lender makes demand for such Loan, (ii) the date that is five (5) Business Days after such Loan is made, (iii) the date on which any Committed Loan shall be made, if such date is after the date on which such Swing Line Loan was made, and (iv) the Maturity Date.

 

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2.08         Interest.

 

(a)           Subject to the provisions of subsection (b)  below, (i) each LIBOR Loan shall bear interest on the outstanding principal amount thereof for each Interest Period at a rate per annum equal to LIBOR for such Interest Period plus the Applicable Rate; (ii) each Base Rate Committed 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; and (iii) each Swing Line 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 (or such other rate as the Borrower and the Swing Line Lender shall mutually agree).

 

(b)

 

(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, then 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 Borrower 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 (other than as set forth in clauses (b)(i) and (b)(ii) above), the Borrower shall pay interest on the principal amount of all outstanding Obligations hereunder 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 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)           [Reserved] .

 

(b)           Facility Fee The Borrower shall pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of each Lender in accordance with its Applicable Percentage, a facility fee (the “ Facility Fee ”) equal to the Applicable Rate times the actual daily amount of the Commitments (or, if the Commitments have terminated, on the Total Outstandings), regardless of usage, subject to adjustment as provided in Section 2.16 .  The Facility Fee shall accrue at all times during the Availability Period after the Rating Condition has been satisfied (and thereafter so long as any Committed Loans, Swing Line Loans or L/C Obligations remain outstanding), including at any time during which one or more of the conditions in Article IV is not met, and shall be due and

 

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payable quarterly in arrears on the tenth (10 th )  Business Day after the end 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 (and, if applicable, thereafter on demand).  The Facility 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.

 

(c)           Extension Fees .

 

If the Maturity Date is being extended in accordance with Section 2.1 8 , the Borrower shall pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of each Revolving Lender a fee equal to (i) 0.0625% of the amount of such Lender’s Commitment (whether or not utilized) in effect on the effective date of the first such extension and (ii) 0.075% of the amount of such Lender’s Commitment (whether or not utilized) in effect on the effective date of the second such extension.  Such fees shall be due and payable in full on and as a condition to the effective date of the applicable extension.

 

(d)           Other Fees .

 

(i)            The Borrower shall pay to the Lead Arrangers and the Administrative Agent, for their own respective accounts, fees in the amounts and at the times specified in the respective Fee Letters (without duplication of fees otherwise referenced herein).  Such fees shall be fully earned when paid and shall not be refundable for any reason whatsoever.

 

(ii)           The Borrower shall pay to the Lenders such fees as shall have been separately agreed upon in writing in the amounts and at the times so specified.  Such fees shall be fully earned when paid and shall not be refundable for any reason whatsoever

 

2.10         Computation of Interest and Fees; Retroactive Adjustments of Applicable Rate .

 

(a)           All computations of interest for Base Rate Loans (including Base Rate Loans determined by reference to LIBOR) 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)           If, as a result of any restatement of or other adjustment to the financial statements of the Parent or for any other reason, then the Parent, the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, or the Lenders determine that (i) the Consolidated Leverage Ratio as calculated by the Parent and the Borrower 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, then the Borrower shall immediately and retroactively be obligated to pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of the applicable Lenders or L/C Issuer, as the case may be, within three (3) Business Days after demand by the Administrative Agent (or, after the occurrence of an actual or deemed

 

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entry of an order for relief with respect to any Loan Party under the Bankruptcy Code of the United States, automatically and without further action by the Administrative Agent, any Lender or 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 L/C Issuer, as the case may be, under Section 2.03(c)(iii) , 2.03(i)  or 2.08(b)  or under Article IX .

 

2.11         Evidence of Debt.

 

(a)           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 Borrower and the interest and payments thereon.  Any failure to so record or any error in doing so shall not, however, limit or otherwise affect the obligation of the Borrower hereunder to pay any amount owing with respect to the Obligations.  In the event of any conflict between the accounts and records maintained by any Lender and the accounts and records of the Administrative Agent in respect of such matters, the accounts and records of the Administrative Agent shall control in the absence of manifest error.  Upon the request of any Lender made through the Administrative Agent, the Borrower shall execute and deliver to such Lender (through the Administrative Agent) a Note, which shall evidence such Lender’s Loans in addition to such accounts or records.  Each such Note shall (i) in the case of Loans (other than Swing Line Loans), be in the form of Exhibit B-1 (a “ Revolving Note ”), and (ii) in the case of the Swing Line Loans, be in the form of Exhibit B-3 (a “ Swing Line Note ”).  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)           In addition to the accounts and records referred to in subsection (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 Swing Line 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; The Administrative Agent’s Clawback.

 

(a)           General .  All payments to be made by the Borrower shall be made without condition or deduction for any counterclaim, defense, recoupment or setoff.  Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, all payments by the Borrower 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 1:00 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.  If and to the extent the Administrative Agent shall not make such payments to a Lender when due as set forth in the preceding sentence, then such unpaid amounts shall accrue interest, payable by the Administrative Agent, at the Federal Funds Rate from the due date until (but not including) the date on which the Administrative Agent makes such payments to such Lender.  All payments received by the Administrative Agent after 1:00 p.m. shall be deemed received on the next succeeding Business Day and any applicable interest or fee shall continue to accrue.  If any

 

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payment to be made by the Borrower 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)           Clawback .

 

(i)            Funding by the Lenders; Presumption by the Administrative Agent .  Unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from a Lender prior to the proposed date of any Committed Borrowing of LIBOR Loans (or, in the case of any Committed Borrowing of Base Rate Loans, prior to 1:00 p.m. on the date of such Borrowing) that such Lender will not make available to the Administrative Agent such Lender’s share of such Committed 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 Committed 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 Borrower a corresponding amount.  In such event, if a Lender has not in fact made its share of the applicable Committed Borrowing available to the Administrative Agent, then the applicable Lender and the Borrower 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 Borrower to but excluding the date of payment to the Administrative Agent, at (A) in the case of a payment to be made by such Lender, the 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 Borrower, the interest rate applicable to Base Rate Loans.  If the Borrower and such Lender shall pay such interest to the Administrative Agent for the same or an overlapping period, then the Administrative Agent shall promptly remit to the Borrower the amount of such interest paid by the Borrower for such period.  If such Lender pays its share of the applicable Committed Borrowing to the Administrative Agent, then the amount so paid shall constitute such Lender’s Committed Loan included in such Committed Borrowing.  Any payment by the Borrower shall be without prejudice to any claim the Borrower may have against a Lender that shall have failed to make such payment to the Administrative Agent.

 

(ii)           Payments by the Borrower; Presumptions by the Administrative Agent .  Unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from the Borrower prior to the date on which any payment is due to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Lenders or the applicable L/C Issuer hereunder that the Borrower will not make such payment, the Administrative Agent may assume that the Borrower has made such payment on such date in accordance herewith and may, in reliance upon such assumption, distribute to the Lenders or any L/C Issuer, as the case may be, the amount due.  In such event, if the Borrower has not in fact made such payment, then each of the Lenders or any 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 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 , within one (1) Business Day.  If and to the extent the Administrative

 

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Agent shall not return such funds to a Lender when due as set forth in the preceding sentence, then such unpaid amounts shall accrue interest, payable by the Administrative Agent, at the Federal Funds Rate from the due date until (but not including) the date on which the Administrative Agent returns such funds to such Lender.

 

A notice of the Administrative Agent to any Lender or the Borrower 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 Borrower by the Administrative Agent because the conditions to the applicable Credit Extension set forth in Article V are not satisfied or waived in accordance with the terms hereof, then the Administrative Agent shall return such funds (in like funds as received from such Lender) to such Lender, without interest.

 

(d)           Obligations of the Lenders Several .  The obligations of the Lenders hereunder to make Committed Loans, to fund participations in Swing Line Loans and/or in Letters of Credit and to make payments pursuant to Section  11.04(d)  are several and not joint.  The failure of any Lender to make any Committed Loan, to fund any participation or to make any payment under Section  11.04(d)  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 Committed Loan, to purchase its participation or to make its payment under Section  11.04(d) .

 

(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)            Funds Transfer .  The Administrative Agent will, in its sole discretion, determine the funds transfer system and the means by which each transfer will be made. The Administrative Agent may delay or refuse to accept a funds transfer request if the transfer would: (i) violate the terms of this authorization, (ii) require use of a bank unacceptable to the Administrative Agent or any Lender, in its reasonable discretion, or prohibited by any Governmental Authority, (iii) cause the Administrative Agent or any Lender to violate any Federal Reserve or other regulatory risk control program or guideline or (iv) otherwise cause the Administrative Agent or any Lender to violate any applicable Law or regulation.  The Borrower hereby authorizes the Administrative Agent to disburse the proceeds of any Loan made by the Lenders or any of their Affiliates pursuant to the Loan Documents as requested by an authorized representative of the Borrower to any of the accounts designated in the Disbursement Instruction Agreement.

 

2.13         Sharing of Payments by the Lenders .  If any Lender shall, by exercising any right of setoff or counterclaim or otherwise, obtain payment in respect of any principal of or interest on any of the Committed Loans made by it, or the participations in Swing Line Loans or L/C Obligations held by it resulting in such Lender’s receiving payment of a proportion of the aggregate amount of such Committed Loans or participations and accrued interest thereon greater than its pro rata share thereof as provided herein, then the Lender receiving such greater proportion shall (a) notify the Administrative Agent of such fact, and (b) purchase (for cash at face value) participations in the Committed Loans and sub-participations in Swing Line Loans or L/C Obligations of the other Lenders, or make such other

 

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adjustments as shall be equitable, so that the benefit of all such payments shall be shared by the Lenders ratably in accordance with the aggregate amount of principal of and accrued interest on their respective Committed Loans and other amounts owing them, provided that :

 

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

 

(ii)           the provisions of this Section shall not be construed to apply to (x) any payment made by or on behalf of the Borrower pursuant to and in accordance with the express terms of this Agreement (including the application of funds arising from the existence of a Defaulting Lender), (y) the application of Cash Collateral provided for in Section 2.15 , or (z) any payment obtained by a Lender as consideration for the assignment of or sale of a participation in any of its Committed Loans or sub -participations in Swing Line Loans or L/C Obligations to any assignee or participant, other than an assignment to the Borrower 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         [Reserved] .

 

2.15         Cash Collateral.

 

(a)           Certain Credit Support Events .  Upon the request of the Administrative Agent or any L/C Issuer if (i) an 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, or (ii) as of the Letter of Credit Expiration Date, any L/C Obligation for any reason remains outstanding, the Borrower shall, in each case, immediately Cash Collateralize the then Outstanding Amount of all L/C Obligations.  At any time that there shall exist a Defaulting Lender, within five (5) Business Days of the request of the Administrative Agent, the Swing Line Lender or an L/C Issuer, the Borrower shall deliver to the Administrative Agent Cash Collateral in an amount sufficient to cover all Fronting Exposure (after giving effect to Section 2.16(a)(iv) , Section 11.13 , and any Cash Collateral provided by the Defaulting Lender).

 

(b)           Grant of Security Interest .  All Cash Collateral (other than credit support not constituting funds subject to deposit) shall be maintained in blocked, interest-bearing deposit accounts at Wells Fargo.  The Borrower, and to the extent provided by any Lender, such Lender, hereby grants to (and subjects to the control of) the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuers and the Lenders (including the Swing Line Lender), 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 2.15(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 as herein provided, or that the total amount of such Cash Collateral is less than the applicable

 

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Fronting Exposure and other obligations secured thereby, the Borrower or the relevant Defaulting Lender will, within five (5) Business Days after demand by the Administrative Agent, pay or provide to the Administrative Agent additional Cash Collateral in an amount sufficient to eliminate such deficiency.

 

(c)           Application .  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, Cash Collateral provided under any of this Section 2.15 or Sections 2.03 , 2.05 , 2.16 or 9.02 in respect of Letters of Credit or Swing Line Loans shall be held and applied to the satisfaction of the specific L/C Obligations, Swing Line Loans, obligations to fund participations therein (including, as to Cash Collateral provided by 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 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 Lender (or, as appropriate, its assignee following compliance with Section 11.06(b)(vi) )) or (ii) the Administrative Agent’s good faith determination that there exists excess Cash Collateral; provided that (x) that Cash Collateral furnished by or on behalf of a Loan Party shall not be released during the continuance of a Default or Event of Default (and following application as provided in this Section 2.15 may be otherwise applied in accordance with Section 9.03 ), and (y) the Person providing Cash Collateral and the applicable L/C Issuer or the Swing Line Lender may agree that Cash Collateral shall not be released but instead held to support future anticipated Fronting Exposure or other obligations.

 

2.16         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 .  That 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 in 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 IX 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 reasonably 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 any L/C Issuer or the Swing Line Lender hereunder; third , to Cash Collateralize any L/C Issuer’s Fronting Exposure with respect to such Defaulting Lender in accordance with Section 2.15 ; fourth , as the Borrower 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 Borrower, to be held in an interest bearing deposit account and released pro rata in order to (x) satisfy such Defaulting Lender’s potential future funding obligations with respect to Loans under this

 

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Agreement and (y) Cash Collateralize any 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 2.15 ; sixth , to the payment of any amounts owing to the Lenders, the L/C Issuers or the Swing Line Lender as a result of any judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction obtained by any Lender, the L/C Issuers or the Swing Line 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 Event of Default exists, to the payment of any amounts owing to the Borrower as a result of any judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction obtained by the Borrower against such Defaulting Lender as a result of such Defaulting Lender’s breach of its obligations under this Agreement; and eighth , to such Defaulting Lender or as otherwise directed by a court of competent jurisdiction; provided that if (x) 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 (y) such Loans were made or the related Letters of Credit were issued at a time when the conditions set forth in Section 5.02 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 Swing Line Loans are held by the Lenders pro rata in accordance with the Commitments hereunder without giving effect to Section 2.16(a)(iv) . Any payments, prepayments or other amounts paid or payable to a Defaulting Lender that are applied (or held) to pay amounts owed by a Defaulting Lender or to post Cash Collateral pursuant to this Section 2.17(a)(ii )  shall be deemed paid to and redirected by such Defaulting Lender, and each Lender irrevocably consents hereto.

 

(iii)          Certain Fees .

 

(A)          No Defaulting Lender (x) shall be entitled to receive any Facility Fee pursuant to Section 2.09 for any period during which that Lender is a Defaulting Lender (and the Borrower shall not be required to pay any such fee that otherwise would have been required to have been paid to that Defaulting Lender) pursuant to Section 2.09 for any period during which that Lender is a Defaulting Lender and the Borrower shall (A) except to the extent the Borrower has provided Cash Collateral with respect to such Defaulting Lender’s Fronting Exposure, be required to pay to the Swing Line Lender, as applicable, the amount of such fee allocable to its Fronting Exposure arising from that Defaulting Lender and (B) not be required to pay the remaining amount of such fee that otherwise would have been required to have been paid to that Defaulting Lender, and (y) shall be limited in its right to receive Letter of Credit Fees as provided in Section 2.03(h) .

 

(B)          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 2.15 .

 

(iv)          Reallocation of Applicable Percentages to Reduce Fronting Exposure .  All or any part of such Defaulting Lender’s participation in L/C Obligations and Swing Line Loans shall be reallocated among the Non-Defaulting Lenders in

 

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accordance with their respective Applicable Percentages (calculated without regard to such Defaulting Lender’s Commitment) but only to the extent that such reallocation does not cause the aggregate Credit Exposure of any Non-Defaulting Lender to exceed such Non-Defaulting Lender’s 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 Swing Line Loans .  If the reallocation described in clause (a)(iv)  above cannot, or can only partially, be effected, the Borrower shall, without prejudice to any right or remedy available to it hereunder or under applicable Law, (x) first, prepay Swing Line Loans in an amount equal to the Swing Line Lenders’ Fronting Exposure and (y) second, Cash Collateralize any L/C Issuer’s Fronting Exposure in accordance with the procedures set forth in Section 2.15 .

 

(b)           Defaulting Lender Cure .  If the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the Swing Line Lender, and the L/C Issuers agree in writing in their sole discretion that a Defaulting Lender should no longer be deemed to be 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 Committed Loans and funded and unfunded participations in Letters of Credit or Swing Line Loans to be held on a pro rata basis by the Lenders in accordance with their Applicable Percentages (without giving effect to Section 2.16(a)(iv) ), whereupon that Lender will cease to be a Defaulting Lender; provided that no adjustments will be made retroactively with respect to fees accrued or payments made by or on behalf of the Borrower while that Lender was a Defaulting Lender; and provided , further , that , except to the extent otherwise expressly agreed by the affected parties, no change hereunder from Defaulting Lender to Lender will constitute a waiver or release of any claim of any party hereunder arising from that Lender’s having been a Defaulting Lender.

 

2.17         Guaranties .  Pursuant to the Parent Guaranty, the Parent shall unconditionally Guarantee in favor of the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and any Specified Derivatives Providers the full payment and performance of the Obligations. Pursuant to the Subsidiary Guaranty or an addendum thereto in the form attached to the Subsidiary Guaranty, the Parent and the Borrower shall cause each Subsidiary Guarantor to execute a Subsidiary Guaranty unconditionally guarantying in favor of the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and any Specified Derivatives Providers the full payment and performance of the Obligations; provided, however , that such Subsidiary Guaranty may be released and reinstated in accordance with its terms.

 

(a)           Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement or any other Loan Document, (x) concurrently with the delivery of each Compliance Certificate, with respect to any Person that became a Subsidiary of the Parent owning a direct or indirect interest in the Borrower since the date of the most recent Compliance Certificate or (y) substantially concurrently with any Subsidiary of the Parent (other than the Borrower) entering into any Guarantee of Indebtedness of the Parent, the Borrower or any Subsidiary of the Borrower owning directly or indirectly any Unencumbered Property, the Parent, the Borrower and such Subsidiary shall deliver to the Administrative Agent each of the following: (i) a joinder to the Subsidiary Guaranty executed by such Subsidiary, (ii) concurrently with the delivery of each Compliance Certificate a

 

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comprehensive list of all Guarantors, which identifies the joining and departing entities, and (iii) the items that would have been delivered under subsections (iii) and (v) of Section 5.01(a)  if such Subsidiary had been a Subsidiary Guarantor on the Closing Date, in form and substance substantially consistent with such items delivered on the Closing Date or otherwise reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

 

(b)           The Borrower may request in writing that the Administrative Agent release, and upon receipt of such request the Administrative Agent shall release, a Subsidiary Guarantor from the Guaranty so long as: (i) such Subsidiary Guarantor is not otherwise required to be a party to the Guaranty under the immediately preceding subsection (a)  (after giving effect to clause (ii) hereof); (ii) such Subsidiary Guarantor no longer Guarantees (or which Guarantee is being substantially concurrently released) any other Indebtedness of the Parent, the Borrower or any Subsidiary of the Borrower owning directly or indirectly any Unencumbered Property, (iii) no Default or Event of Default shall then be in existence or would occur as a result of such release, including without limitation, a Default or Event of Default resulting from a violation of any of the covenants contained in Section  8.14 ; and (iv) the Administrative Agent shall have received such written request at least five (5) Business Days (or such shorter period as may be acceptable to the Administrative Agent) prior to the requested date of release.  Delivery by the Borrower to the Administrative Agent of any such request shall constitute a representation by the Parent and the Borrower that the conditions set forth in the preceding sentence are or will be satisfied as of the requested date of release.

 

2.18         Extension of Maturity Date.

 

Subject to the terms of this Section 2.18 , the Borrower shall have the right to extend the current Maturity Date by six (6) months by executing and delivering to the Administrative Agent at least sixty (60) days but not more than ninety (90) days prior to the current Maturity Date, a written notice of such extension (an “ Extension Notice ”).  The Administrative Agent shall forward to each Lender a copy of such Extension Notice delivered to the Administrative Agent promptly upon receipt thereof.  Subject to satisfaction of the following conditions on the Maturity Date, the Maturity Date shall be extended for six (6) months: (x) immediately prior to such extension and immediately after giving effect thereto, (A) no Default or Event of Default shall or would exist and (B) the representations and warranties made or deemed made by the Borrower and each other Loan Party in the Loan Documents to which any of them is a party, shall be true and correct in all material respects on and as of the date of such extension with the same force and effect as if made on and as of such date except to the extent that such representations and warranties expressly relate solely to an earlier date (in which case such representations and warranties shall have been true and correct in all material respects on and as of such earlier date) and except for changes in factual circumstances specifically and expressly permitted under the Loan Documents (provided that, for purposes of this clause (B), any representation or warranty which is qualified by materiality or “material adverse effect” or similar language shall be true and correct in all respects) and (y) the Borrower shall have paid the Fees payable under Section 2.09(c) .  At the time of effectiveness of any such extension, upon the Administrative Agent’s request, the Borrower shall deliver to the Administrative Agent a certificate from a Senior Officer certifying the matters referred to in the immediately preceding clauses (x)(A) and (x)(B).  The Maturity Date may be extended only twice pursuant to this Section 2.18 .

 

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Article III.
Taxes, Yield Protection and Illegality

 

3.01         Taxes.

 

(a)           Payments Free of Taxes; Obligation to Withhold; Payments on Account of Taxes .

 

(i)            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 the Administrative Agent) require the deduction or withholding of any Tax from any such payment by the Administrative Agent or a Loan Party, then the Administrative Agent or such Loan Party shall be entitled to make such deduction or withholding, upon the basis of the information and documentation to be delivered pursuant to subsection (e)  below.

 

(ii)           If any Loan Party or the Administrative Agent shall be required by the Code to withhold or deduct any Taxes, including both United States Federal backup withholding and withholding taxes, from any payment, then (A) the Administrative Agent shall withhold or make such deductions as are determined by the Administrative Agent to be required based upon the information and documentation it has received pursuant to subsection (e)  below, (B) the Administrative Agent shall timely pay the full amount withheld or deducted to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with the Code, and (C) 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 any required withholding or the making of all required deductions (including deductions 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 withholding or deduction been made.

 

(iii)          If any Loan Party or the Administrative Agent shall be required by any applicable Laws other than the Code to withhold or deduct any Taxes from any payment, then (A) such Loan Party or the Administrative Agent, as required by such Laws, shall withhold or make such deductions as are determined by it to be required based upon the information and documentation it has received pursuant to subsection (e)  below, (B) such Loan Party or the Administrative Agent, to the extent required by such Laws, shall timely pay the full amount withheld or deducted to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with such Laws, and (C) 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 any required withholding or the making of all required deductions (including deductions 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 withholding or deduction been made.

 

(b)           Payment of Other Taxes by the Borrower .  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 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 reasonable expenses arising therefrom or with respect thereto, whether or

 

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not such Indemnified Taxes were correctly or legally imposed or asserted by the relevant Governmental Authority.  A certificate as to the amount of such payment or liability delivered to the Borrower by a Lender or an 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 any L/C Issuer, shall be conclusive absent manifest error.  Each of the Loan Parties shall, and does hereby, jointly and severally indemnify the Administrative Agent, and shall make payment in respect thereof within 10 days after demand therefor, for any amount which a Lender or any 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 L/C Issuer shall, and does hereby, severally indemnify, and shall make payment in respect thereof within 10 days after demand therefor, ( x ) the Administrative Agent against any Indemnified Taxes attributable to such Lender or 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), ( y ) 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 1 1 .06(d)  relating to the maintenance of a Participant Register and ( z ) the Administrative Agent and the Loan Parties, as applicable, against any Excluded Taxes attributable to such Lender or 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 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 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 .  Upon request by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, as the case may be, after any payment of Taxes by the Borrower or by the Administrative Agent to a Governmental Authority as provided in this Section 3.01 , the Borrower shall deliver to the Administrative Agent or the Administrative Agent shall deliver to the Borrower, as the case may be, the original or a certified copy of a receipt issued by such Governmental Authority evidencing such payment, a copy of any return required by Laws to report such payment or other evidence of such payment reasonably satisfactory to the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, as the case may be.

 

(e)           Status of the 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 Borrower and the Administrative Agent, at the time or times reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, such properly completed and executed documentation reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent as will permit such payments to be made without withholding or at a reduced rate of withholding.  In addition, any Lender, if reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, shall deliver such other documentation prescribed by applicable law or reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent as will enable the Borrower or the Administrative Agent to determine whether or not such Lender is

 

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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 the Borrower is a U.S. Person,

 

(A)          any Lender that is a U.S. Person shall deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent on or prior to the date on which such Lender becomes a Lender under this Agreement (and from time to time thereafter upon the reasonable request of the Borrower or the Administrative Agent), executed originals 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 Borrower and the Administrative Agent (in such number of copies as shall be requested by the recipient) on or prior to the date on which such Foreign Lender becomes a Lender under this Agreement (and from time to time thereafter upon the reasonable request of the Borrower or the Administrative Agent), whichever of the following is applicable:

 

(1)           in the case of a Foreign Lender claiming the benefits of an income tax treaty to which the United States is a party (x) with respect to payments of interest under any Loan Document, executed originals of IRS Form W-8BEN or IRS Form W-8BEN-E 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 or IRS Form W-8BEN-E 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 H-1 to the effect that such Foreign Lender is not a “bank” within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(A)  of the Code, a “10 percent shareholder” of the Borrower within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(B)  of the Code, or a “controlled foreign corporation” described in Section 881(c)(3)(C)  of the Code (a “ U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate ”) and (y) executed originals of IRS Form W-8BEN or IRS Form W-8BEN-E; or

 

(4)           to the extent a Foreign Lender is not the beneficial owner, executed originals of IRS Form W-8IMY, accompanied by IRS Form W-8ECI, IRS Form W-8BEN, IRS Form W-8BEN-E, a U.S. Tax

 

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Compliance Certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit H-2 or Exhibit H-3 , IRS Form W-9, and/or other certification documents from each beneficial owner, as applicable; provided that if the Foreign Lender is a partnership and one or more direct or indirect partners of such Foreign Lender are claiming the portfolio interest exemption, such Foreign Lender may provide a U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit H-4 on behalf of each such direct and indirect partner;

 

(C)          any Foreign Lender shall, to the extent it is legally entitled to do so, deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent (in such number of copies as shall be requested by the recipient) on or prior to the date on which such Foreign Lender becomes a Lender under this Agreement (and from time to time thereafter upon the reasonable request of the Borrower or the Administrative Agent), executed originals 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 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 Borrower and the Administrative Agent at the time or times prescribed by law and at such time or times reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent such documentation prescribed by applicable law (including as prescribed by Section 1471(b)(3)(C)(i)  of the Code) and such additional documentation reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent as may be necessary for the Borrower and the Administrative Agent to comply with their obligations under FATCA and to determine that such Lender has complied with such Lender’s obligations under FATCA or to determine the amount to deduct and withhold from such payment.  Solely for purposes of this clause (D), “FATCA” shall include any amendments made to FATCA after the date of this Agreement.

 

(iii)          Each Lender agrees that if any form or certification it previously delivered expires or becomes obsolete or inaccurate in any respect, it shall update such form or certification or promptly notify the Borrower and the Administrative Agent in writing of its legal inability to do so.  Each Lender shall promptly (A) notify the Borrower and the Administrative Agent of any change in circumstances which would modify or render invalid any claimed exemption or reduction, and (B) take such steps as shall not be materially disadvantageous to it, in the reasonable judgment of such Lender, and as may be reasonably necessary (including the re-designation of its Lending Office) to avoid any requirement of applicable Laws of any jurisdiction that the Borrower or the Administrative Agent make any withholding or deduction for taxes from amounts payable to such Lender.

 

(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 an L/C Issuer, or have any obligation to pay to any Lender or L/C Issuer, any refund of

 

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Taxes withheld or deducted from funds paid for the account of such Lender or 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 the Loan Party an amount equal to such refund (but only to the extent of indemnity payments made, or additional amounts paid, by a 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, and without interest (other than any interest paid by the relevant Governmental Authority with respect to such refund), provided that the Loan Party, upon the request of the Recipient, agrees to repay the amount paid over to the 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 the 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 indemnification payments or additional amounts giving rise to such refund 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)           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 an L/C Issuer, the termination of the Commitments and the repayment, satisfaction and discharge of all other Obligations.

 

3.02         Illegality .  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 applicable Lending Office to make, maintain or fund Loans whose interest is determined by reference to LIBOR, or to determine or charge interest rates based upon LIBOR, 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 Borrower through the Administrative Agent, (i) any obligation of such Lender to make or continue LIBOR Loans or to convert Base Rate Committed Loans to LIBOR Loans shall be suspended, and (ii) 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 LIBOR 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 LIBOR component of the Base Rate, in each case until such Lender notifies the Administrative Agent and the Borrower that the circumstances giving rise to such determination no longer exist.  Upon receipt of such notice, (x) the Borrower shall, upon demand from such Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), prepay or, if applicable, convert all LIBOR 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 LIBOR component of the Base Rate), either on the last day of the Interest Period therefor, if such Lender may lawfully continue to maintain such LIBOR Loans to such day, or immediately, if such Lender may not lawfully continue to maintain such LIBOR Loans and (y) if such notice asserts the illegality of such Lender determining or charging interest rates based upon LIBOR, the Administrative Agent shall during the period of such suspension compute the Base Rate applicable to such Lender without reference to the LIBOR 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 LIBOR.  Upon any such prepayment or conversion, the Borrower shall also pay accrued interest on the amount so prepaid or converted.

 

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3.03         Changed Circumstances .

 

(a)     Circumstances Affecting LIBOR Rate Availability .  Unless and until a Replacement Rate is implemented in accordance with clause (b) below, in connection with any request for a LIBOR Loan or a conversion to or continuation thereof or otherwise, if for any reason (i) the Administrative Agent shall determine (which determination shall be conclusive and binding absent manifest error) that Dollar deposits are not being offered to banks in the London interbank Eurodollar market for the applicable amount and Interest Period of such Loan, (ii) the Administrative Agent shall determine (which determination shall be conclusive and binding absent manifest error) that reasonable and adequate means do not exist for ascertaining LIBOR for such Interest Period with respect to a proposed LIBOR Loan or (iii) the Required Lenders shall determine (which determination shall be conclusive and binding absent manifest error) that the LIBOR does not adequately and fairly reflect the cost to such Lenders of making or maintaining such Loans during such Interest Period, then the Administrative Agent shall promptly give notice thereof to the Borrower.  Thereafter, until the Administrative Agent notifies the Borrower that such circumstances no longer exist, the obligation of the Lenders to make LIBOR Loans and the right of the Borrower to convert any Loan to or continue any Loan as a LIBOR Loan shall be suspended, and the Borrower shall either (A) repay in full (or cause to be repaid in full) the then outstanding principal amount of each such LIBOR Loan together with accrued interest thereon (subject to Section  11.09 ) , on the last day of the then current Interest Period applicable to such LIBOR Loan; or (B) convert the then outstanding principal amount of each such LIBOR Loan to a Base Rate Loan as of the last day of such Interest Period.

 

(b)     Alternative Rate of Interest .  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Section  3.03(a)  above, if the Administrative Agent has made the determination (such determination to be conclusive absent manifest error) that (i) the circumstances described in Section  3.03(a)(i)  or (a)(ii)  have arisen and that such circumstances are unlikely to be temporary, (ii) any applicable interest rate specified herein is no longer a widely recognized benchmark rate for newly originated loans in the syndicated loan market in the applicable currency or (iii) the applicable supervisor or administrator (if any) of any applicable interest rate specified herein or any Governmental Authority having, or purporting to have, jurisdiction over the Administrative Agent has made a public statement identifying a specific date after which any applicable interest rate specified herein shall no longer be used for determining interest rates for loans in the syndicated loan market in the applicable currency, then the Administrative Agent may, to the extent practicable (in consultation with the Borrower and as determined by the Administrative Agent to be generally in accordance with similar situations in other transactions in which it is serving as administrative agent or otherwise consistent with market practice generally), establish a replacement interest rate (the “ Replacement Rate ”), in which case, the Replacement Rate shall, subject to the next two sentences, replace such applicable interest rate for all purposes under the Loan Documents unless and until (A) an event described in Section  3.03(a)(i) , (a)(ii) , (b)(i) , ( b )(ii)  or (c)(iii)  occurs with respect to the Replacement Rate or (B) the Required Lenders (directly, or through the Administrative Agent) notify the Borrower that the Replacement Rate does not adequately and fairly reflect the cost to the Lenders of funding the Loans bearing interest at the Replacement Rate.  In connection with the establishment and application of the Replacement Rate, this Agreement and the other Loan Documents shall be amended solely with the consent of the Administrative Agent and the Borrower, as may be necessary or appropriate, in the opinion of the Administrative Agent, to effect the provisions of this Section  3.03(b) .  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement or the other Loan Documents (including, without limitation, Section  11 . 01 ), such amendment shall become effective without any further action or consent of any other party to this Agreement so long as the Administrative Agent shall not have received, within five (5) Business Days of the delivery of such amendment to the Lenders, written notices from such Lenders that in the aggregate constitute Required Lenders, with each such notice stating that such Lender objects to such amendment.  To the extent the Replacement Rate is approved by the Administrative Agent in connection with this clause (b), the

 

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Replacement Rate shall be applied in a manner consistent with market practice; provided that, in each case, to the extent such market practice is not administratively feasible for the Administrative Agent, such Replacement Rate shall be applied as otherwise reasonably determined by the Administrative Agent (it being understood that any such modification by the Administrative Agent shall not require the consent of, or consultation with, any of the Lenders).

 

3.04         Increased Costs; Reserves on LIBOR Loans.

 

(a)           Increased Costs Generally .  If any Change in Law shall:

 

(i)            impose, modify or deem applicable any reserve, special deposit, liquidity, compulsory loan, insurance charge or similar assessment or requirement against assets of, deposits with or for the account of, or credit extended or participated in by, the Administrative Agent, any Lender (except any reserve requirement contemplated by Section 3.06(e) ) or any L/C Issuer;

 

(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 the Administrative Agent, any Lender or L/C Issuer or the London interbank market any other condition, cost or expense affecting this Agreement or LIBOR 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 the Administrative Agent, such Lender or any Recipient, as applicable, of making, converting, continuing or maintaining any Loan (or of maintaining its obligation to make any such Loan), or to increase the cost to such Administrative Agent, Lender, such L/C Issuer or any Recipient of participating in, issuing or maintaining any Letter of Credit (or of maintaining its obligation to participate in or to issue any Letter of Credit), or to reduce the amount of any sum received or receivable by such Administrative Lender, such L/C Issuer or any Recipient hereunder (whether of principal, interest or any other amount) then the Borrower will pay to the Administrative Agent, such Lender, L/C Issuer or Recipient, as applicable, such additional amount or amounts as will compensate the Administrative Agent, such Lender, L/C Issuer or Recipient, as applicable, for such additional costs incurred or reduction suffered.

 

(b)           Capital Requirements .  If any Lender or L/C Issuer determines that any Change in Law affecting such Lender or L/C Issuer or any Lending Office of such Lender or such Lender’s or L/C Issuer’s holding company, if any, regarding capital or liquidity ratios or requirements has or would have the effect of reducing the rate of return on such Lender’s or L/C Issuer’s capital or on the capital of such Lender’s or L/C Issuer’s holding company, if any, as a consequence of this Agreement, the Commitments of such Lender or the Loans made by, or participations in Letters of Credit held by, such Lender, or the Letters of Credit issued by such L/C Issuer, to a level below that which such Lender or L/C Issuer or such Lender’s or L/C Issuer’s holding company could have achieved but for such Change in Law (taking into consideration such Lender’s or L/C Issuer’s policies and the policies of such Lender’s or L/C Issuer’s holding company with respect to capital adequacy and liquidity), then from time to time the Borrower will pay to such Lender or L/C Issuer, as the case may be, such additional amount

 

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or amounts as will compensate such Lender or L/C Issuer or such Lender’s or L/C Issuer’s holding company for any such reduction suffered.

 

(c)           Certificates for Reimbursement .  A certificate of a Lender or an L/C Issuer setting forth the amount or amounts necessary to compensate such Lender or 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 Borrower shall be conclusive absent manifest error.  The Borrower shall pay such Lender or L/C Issuer, as the case may be, the amount shown as due on any such certificate within fifteen (15) days after receipt thereof.

 

(d)           Delay in Requests .  Failure or delay on the part of any Lender or L/C Issuer to demand compensation pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this Section shall not constitute a waiver of such Lender’s or L/C Issuer’s right to demand such compensation, provided that the Borrower shall not be required to compensate a Lender or an 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 L/C Issuer, as the case may be, notifies the Borrower of the Change in Law giving rise to such increased costs or reductions and of such Lender’s or 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).

 

(e)           Reserves on LIBOR Loans .  The Borrower 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 LIBOR 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), which shall be due and payable on each date on which interest is payable on such Loan, provided that the Borrower shall have received at least ten (10) days’ prior notice (with a copy to the Administrative Agent) of such additional interest 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.

 

3.05         Compensation for Losses .  Upon demand of any Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent) from time to time, the Borrower 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 the Borrower (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 the Borrower; or

 

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

 

excluding any loss of anticipated profits and 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

 

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deposits from which such funds were obtained.  The Borrower shall also pay any customary administrative fees charged by such Lender in connection with the foregoing.

 

For purposes of calculating amounts payable by the Borrower to the Lenders under this Section 3.05 , each Lender shall be deemed to have funded each LIBOR Loan made by it at LIBOR for such Loan by a matching deposit or other borrowing in the London interbank eurodollar market for a comparable amount and for a comparable period, whether or not such LIBOR Loan was in fact so funded.

 

3.06         Mitigation Obligations; Replacement of the Lenders.

 

(a)           Designation of a Different Lending Office .  If any Lender requests compensation under Section 3.04 , or the Borrower is required to pay any Indemnified Taxes or additional amount to any Lender, any L/C Issuer, or any Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender or L/C Issuer pursuant to Section 3.01 , or if any Lender gives a notice pursuant to Section 3.02 , then at the request of the Borrower such Lender or 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 reasonable judgment of such Lender or 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 L/C Issuer, as the case may be, to any material unreimbursed cost or expense and would not otherwise be materially disadvantageous to such Lender or L/C Issuer, as the case may be.  The Borrower hereby agrees to pay all reasonable costs and expenses incurred by any Lender or L/C Issuer in connection with any such designation or assignment.

 

(b)           Replacement of the Lenders .  If any Lender requests compensation under Section 3.04 , or if the Borrower is required to pay any Indemnified Taxes or additional amounts to any Lender or any Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender pursuant to Section 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 Borrower may replace such Lender in accordance with Section 11.13 .

 

3.07         Survival .  All of the Borrower’s obligations under this Article III shall survive termination of the Aggregate Commitments, repayment of all other Obligations hereunder, and resignation of the Administrative Agent.

 

Article IV.
Unencumbered Properties

 

4.01         Initial Unencumbered Properties .  As of the Closing Date, the Initial Unencumbered Properties shall consist of the Properties set forth on Schedule 4.01 .

 

4.02         Reserved .

 

4.03         Notices of Qualification as an Unencumbered Property .  The Borrower shall provide the Administrative Agent with a written notice of an Acceptable Property to be deemed an Unencumbered Property.

 

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4.04         Eligibility .  In order for an Acceptable Property to be eligible for inclusion as an Unencumbered Property, such Acceptable Property shall satisfy the following requirements unless otherwise approved by the Required Lenders:

 

(a)           no Material Title Defect with respect to such Acceptable Property shall exist;

 

(b)           such Acceptable Property shall have reasonable access to public utilities; and

 

(c)           such Acceptable Property shall not have any material defects.

 

4.05         Reserved .

 

4.06         Guaranty .  An Acceptable Property shall not be deemed an Unencumbered Property until the applicable Subsidiary Guarantor shall have executed and delivered (or caused to be executed and delivered) to the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Lenders and any Specified Derivatives Providers, the Subsidiary Guaranty.

 

4.07         Admission of New Unencumbered Properties .  If, after the date of this Agreement, the Borrower has submitted to the Administrative Agent the notice contemplated by Section 4.03 , then such Acceptable Property shall be deemed to be an Unencumbered Property.

 

4.08         [Reserved].

 

4.09         [Reserved].

 

4.10         Exclusion Events .  Each of the following events shall be an “ Exclusion Event ” with respect to an Unencumbered Property:

 

(a)           such Unencumbered Property suffers a Material Environmental Event or a Material Title Defect after the date of this Agreement which the Administrative Agent determines, acting reasonably and in good faith, materially impairs the Unencumbered Asset Value or marketability of such Unencumbered Property;

 

(b)           the Administrative Agent determines that such Unencumbered Property has suffered a Material Property Event after the date such Property was deemed an Unencumbered Property (or in the case of an uninsured Casualty, in respect of such Unencumbered Property, is reasonably likely to become a Material Property Event) which the Administrative Agent determines, acting reasonably and in good faith, materially impairs the Unencumbered Asset Value or marketability of such Unencumbered Property;

 

(c)           a Lien for the performance of work or the supply of materials which is established against such Unencumbered Property, or any stop notice served on the owner of such Unencumbered Property, the Administrative Agent or a Lender, remains unsatisfied or unbonded for a period of thirty (30) days after the date of filing or service and such Lien has priority over any Loan previously or thereafter made under this Agreement;

 

(d)           (i) any default by any Subsidiary Guarantor, as tenant under any applicable Acceptable Ground Lease, in the observance or performance of any material term, covenant, or condition of any applicable Acceptable Ground Lease on the part of such Subsidiary Guarantor to be observed or performed and said default is not cured following the expiration of any applicable grace and notice periods therein provided, or (ii)  the leasehold estate created by any applicable

 

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Acceptable Ground Lease shall be surrendered or (iii)  any applicable Acceptable Ground Lease shall cease to be in full force and effect or (iv) any applicable Acceptable Ground Lease shall be terminated or canceled for any reason or under any circumstances whatsoever, or any of the material terms, covenants or conditions of any applicable Acceptable Ground Lease shall be modified, changed, supplemented, altered, or amended in any manner not otherwise permitted hereunder without the consent of the Administrative Agent; and

 

(e)           the Borrower shall cease to own, directly or indirectly, one hundred percent (100%) of the Equity Interests of any Subsidiary Guarantor that owns an Unencumbered Property free and clear of any Liens (other than Liens in favor of the Administrative Agent).

 

After the occurrence of any Exclusion Event, the Administrative Agent, at the direction of the Required Lenders in their sole discretion, shall have the right at any time and from time to time to notify the Borrower (the “ Exclusion Notice ”) that, effective ten (10) Business Days after the giving of such notice and for so long as such Exclusion Event exists, such Property shall no longer be considered an Unencumbered Property.

 

If the Administrative Agent delivers an Exclusion Notice and such Exclusion Event no longer exists, then the Borrower may give the Administrative Agent written notice thereof (together with reasonably detailed evidence of the cure of such condition) and such Unencumbered Property shall be considered an Unencumbered Property as long as such Unencumbered Property meets all the requirements to be deemed an Unencumbered Property set forth in this Article IV.  Any Property that is excluded from the Unencumbered Properties pursuant to this Section 4.10 may subsequently be reinstated as an Unencumbered Property, even if an Exclusion Event exists, upon such terms and conditions as the Required Lenders may approve.

 

Upon the occurrence of an Default under Section 8.11(a) , the Borrower shall have the right to elect, upon written notice to the Administrative Agent, that the Lenders designate one or more Unencumbered Properties to be excluded as Unencumbered Properties in order to effect compliance with Section 8.11(a) , with the Borrower thereafter having the right to elect to have any such Unencumbered Property thereafter deemed an Unencumbered Property, provided no Exclusion Event shall exist at such time with respect to such Unencumbered Property.

 

Article V.
Conditions Precedent to Credit Extensions

 

5.01         Conditions of Initial Credit Extension .  The obligation of each L/C Issuer, the Swing Line Lender, and each Lender to make its initial Credit Extension hereunder is subject to satisfaction of the following conditions precedent:

 

(a)           The Administrative Agent’s receipt of the following, each of which shall be originals or telecopies (followed promptly by originals) unless otherwise specified, each properly executed by a Responsible Officer of the signing Loan Party, each dated the Closing Date (or, in the case of certificates of governmental officials, a recent date before the Closing Date) and each in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and each of the Lenders:

 

(i)            executed counterparts of this Agreement and the Guaranties sufficient in number for distribution to the Administrative Agent, each Lender, and the Borrower for each Initial Unencumbered Property;

 

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(ii)           a Note executed by the Borrower in favor of each Lender requesting a Note;

 

(iii)          copies of the Organization Documents of each Loan Party certified to be true and complete as of a recent date by the appropriate Governmental Authority of the state or other jurisdiction of its incorporation or organization, where applicable, and certified by a Responsible Officer of such Loan Party to be true and correct as of the Closing Date;

 

(iv)          such certificates of resolutions or other action, incumbency certificates and/or other certificates of Responsible Officers of each Loan Party as the Administrative Agent may require evidencing the identity, authority and capacity of each Responsible Officer thereof authorized to act as a Responsible Officer in connection with this Agreement and the other Loan Documents to which such Loan Party is a party;

 

(v)           such documents and certifications as the Administrative Agent may reasonably require to evidence that each Loan Party is duly organized or formed, and that each Loan Party is validly existing, in good standing and qualified to engage in business in each jurisdiction where its ownership, lease or operation of properties or the conduct of its business requires such qualification, except to the extent that failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;

 

(vi)          a favorable opinion of DLA Piper LLP (US), counsel to the Loan Parties, addressed to the Administrative Agent and each Lender, as to the matters set forth in Exhibit G and such other matters concerning the Loan Parties and the Loan Documents as the Required Lenders may reasonably request;

 

(vii)         a certificate of a Responsible Officer of each Loan Party either (A) attaching copies of all consents, licenses and approvals required in connection with the execution, delivery and performance by such Loan Party and the validity against such Loan Party of the Loan Documents to which it is a party, and such consents, licenses and approvals shall be in full force and effect, or (B) stating that no such consents, licenses or approvals are so required;

 

(viii)        a certificate signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower certifying (A) that the conditions specified in Sections 5.02(a)  and (b)  have been satisfied, and (B) that there has been no event or circumstance since the date of the Audited Financial Statements that has had or could be reasonably expected to have, either individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect;

 

(ix)          a duly completed Compliance Certificate as of the Closing Date, signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower;

 

(x)           evidence that the Existing Credit Agreement has been or concurrently with the Closing Date is being terminated and any Liens securing obligations under the Existing Credit Agreement have been or concurrently with the Closing Date are being released;

 

(xi)          evidence that all insurance required to be maintained pursuant to the Loan Documents has been obtained and is in effect;

 

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(xii)                            a Disbursement Instruction Agreement effective as of the Agreement Date;

 

(xiii)                         the Borrower shall have provided to the Administrative Agent and each Lender the documentation and other information requested by the Administrative Agent or such Lender in connection with applicable “know your customer” and anti-money-laundering rules and regulations, including the PATRIOT Act, in each case at least five (5) Business Days prior to the Closing Date;

 

(xiv)                        at least five days prior to the Closing Date, each Loan Party that qualifies as a “legal entity customer” under the Beneficial Ownership Regulation shall have delivered to the Administrative Agent, and any Lender requesting the same, a Beneficial Ownership Certification in relation to such Loan Party or such Subsidiary, in each case at least five (5) Business Days prior to the Closing Date; and

 

(xv)                           such other assurances, certificates, documents, consents or opinions as the Administrative Agent, the Swing Line Lender, the L/C Issuers or the Required Lenders reasonably may require.

 

(b)                                  Any fees required to be paid on or before the Closing Date shall have been paid.

 

(c)                                   Unless waived by the Administrative Agent, the Borrower shall have paid all fees, charges and disbursements of counsel to the Administrative Agent (directly to such counsel if requested by the Administrative Agent) to the extent invoiced prior to the Closing Date, plus such additional amounts of such fees, charges and disbursements as shall constitute its reasonable estimate of such fees, charges and disbursements incurred or to be incurred by it through the closing proceedings ( provided that such estimate shall not thereafter preclude a final settling of accounts between the Borrower and the Administrative Agent).

 

Without limiting the generality of the provisions of the last paragraph of Section 10.03 , for purposes of determining compliance with the conditions specified in this Section 5.01 , 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.

 

5.02                         Conditions to all Credit Extensions .  The obligation of each Lender to honor any Request for Credit Extension (other than a Committed Loan Notice requesting only a conversion of Committed Loans to the other Type, or a continuation of LIBOR Loans) is subject to the following conditions precedent:

 

(a)                                  The representations and warranties of the Borrower and each other Loan Party contained in Article VI or any other Loan Document, or which are contained in any document furnished at any time under or in connection herewith or therewith, shall be true and correct in all material respects (except in the case of a representation or warranty qualified by materiality or Material Adverse Effect, in which case such representation or warranty shall be true and correct in all respects) on and as of the date of such Credit Extension, except to the extent that such representations and warranties specifically refer to an earlier date, in which case they shall be true and correct in all material respects (except in the case of a representation or warranty qualified by materiality or Material Adverse Effect, in which case such representation or warranty shall be true and correct in all respects) as of such earlier date, and except that for purposes of this

 

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Section   5.02 , the representations and warranties contained in Section 6.05(b)  shall be deemed to refer to the most-recent statements furnished pursuant to Section 7.01(b) .

 

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

 

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

 

(d)                                  After giving effect to such proposed Credit Extension, the Borrower shall be in compliance with Section 2.01(c) .

 

Each Request for Credit Extension (other than a Committed Loan Notice requesting only a conversion of Committed Loans to the other Type or a continuation of LIBOR Loans) submitted by the Borrower shall be deemed to be a representation and warranty that the conditions specified in Sections   5.02(a) , (b) , and (d)  have been satisfied on and as of the date of the applicable Credit Extension.

 

Article VI.
Representations and Warranties

 

Each of the Parent and the Borrower represents and warrants to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders that:

 

6.01                         Existence, Qualification and Power; Compliance with Laws .  The Parent, the Borrower and each Subsidiary Guarantor (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) in the case of the Loan Parties, 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 (b)(i)  or (c)  to the extent that failure to do so would not have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

6.02                         Authorization; No Contravention .  The execution, delivery and performance by each Loan Party of each Loan Document to which such Person is 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 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.

 

6.03                         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 the execution, delivery or performance by, or enforcement against, any Loan Party of this Agreement or any other Loan Document except for those that have been obtained, taken or made, as the case may be, and those specified herein.

 

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6.04                         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, except as enforcement may be limited by Debtor Relief Laws or general equitable principles relating to or limiting creditors’ rights generally.

 

6.05                         Financial Statements; No Material Adverse Effect.

 

(a)                                  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 the financial condition of the Parent as of the date thereof and their results of operations for each period covered thereby in accordance with GAAP consistently applied throughout the each period covered thereby, except as otherwise expressly noted therein; and (iii) show all material indebtedness and other liabilities, direct or contingent, of the Parent as of the date thereof, including liabilities for taxes, material commitments and Indebtedness required by GAAP to be reflected therein.

 

(b)                                  The most recent unaudited consolidated balance sheet of the Parent delivered pursuant to Section 7.01(b) , 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 the financial condition of the Parent as of the date thereof and its results of operations 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)                                   From and after the date of the Audited Financial Statements, and thereafter, from and after the date of the most recent financial statements delivered pursuant to Section 7.01(a)  or 7.01(b), there has been no event or circumstance, either individually or in the aggregate, that has had or would have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

6.06                         Litigation .  There are no actions, suits, proceedings, claims or disputes pending or, to the knowledge of any Company, threatened or contemplated, at law, in equity, in arbitration or before any Governmental Authority, by or against any Company 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) except as specifically disclosed in Schedule 6.06 , either individually or in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, and there has been no adverse change in the status, or financial effect on any Company, of the matters described on Schedule  6.06 , which change could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

6.07                         No Default .  No Company is in default under or with respect 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.

 

6.08                         Ownership of Property; Liens; Equity Interests .  Each Subsidiary Guarantor has good record and marketable title in fee simple to, or valid leasehold interests in, all Unencumbered Properties 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.  Each applicable Subsidiary Guarantor has good record and marketable fee simple title (or, in the case of Acceptable Ground Leases, a valid leasehold) to the Unencumbered Property owned by such Subsidiary

 

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Guarantor, subject only to Liens permitted by Section 8.01 .  All of the outstanding Equity Interests in each Subsidiary Guarantor have been validly issued, are fully paid and non -assessable and are owned by the applicable holders free and clear of all Liens (other than Liens permitted by Section 8.01 ).

 

6.09                         Environmental Compliance.

 

(a)                                  The Companies conduct in the ordinary course of business a review of 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 Parent and the Borrower have reasonably concluded that, except as specifically disclosed in Schedule 6.09 , such Environmental Laws and claims could not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(b)                                  After due inquiry in accordance with good commercial or customary practices to determine whether Contamination is present on any Property, without regard to whether the Administrative Agent or any Lender has or hereafter obtains any knowledge or report of the environmental condition of such Property, except as may be indicated in environmental reports delivered to the Administrative Agent and except to the extent the same could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect: (i) such Property has not been used (A) for landfilling, dumping, or other waste or Hazardous Material disposal activities or operations, or (B) for generation, storage, use, sale, treatment, processing, or recycling of any Hazardous Material, or for any other use that has resulted in Contamination, and in each case, to each Company’s knowledge, no such use on any adjacent property occurred at any time prior to the date hereof; (ii) there is no Hazardous Material, storage tank (or similar vessel) whether underground or otherwise, sump or well currently on any Property; (iii) no Company has received any notice of, or has knowledge of, any Environmental Claim or any completed, pending, proposed or threatened investigation or inquiry concerning the presence or release of any Hazardous Material on any Property or any adjacent property or concerning whether any condition, use or activity on any Property or any adjacent property is in violation of any Environmental Requirement; (iv) the present conditions, uses, and activities on each Property do not violate any Environmental Requirement and the use of any Property which any Company (and each tenant and subtenant) makes and intends to make of any Property complies and will comply with all applicable Environmental Requirements; (v) no Property appears on the National Priorities List, any federal or state “superfund” or “superlien” list, or any other list or database of properties maintained by any local, state, or federal agency or department showing properties which are known to contain or which are suspected of containing a Hazardous Material; (vi) no Company has ever applied for and been denied environmental impairment liability insurance coverage relating to any Property; (vii) no Company has, nor, to any Company’s knowledge, have any tenants or subtenants, obtained any permit or authorization to construct, occupy, operate, use, or conduct any activity on any Property by reason of any Environmental Requirement; and (viii) to any Company’s knowledge, there are no underground or aboveground storage tanks on such Property.

 

6.10                         Insurance .  The properties of the Loan Parties are insured with financially sound and reputable insurance companies not Affiliates of any Loan Party, 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 Loan Parties operate.

 

6.11                         Taxes .  The Companies have filed all material Federal, state and other tax returns and reports required to be filed, and have paid all material Federal, state and other taxes, assessments, fees and other governmental charges levied or imposed upon them or their properties, income or assets otherwise

 

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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 or which would not result in a Material Adverse Effect.  There is no proposed tax assessment against any Company that would, if made, have a Material Adverse Effect. Neither any Loan Party nor any Subsidiary thereof is party to any tax sharing agreement.

 

6.12                         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.  Each Pension Plan that is intended to be a qualified plan under Section 401(a)  of the Code has received a favorable determination letter from the Internal Revenue Service 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 Internal Revenue Service 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 Internal Revenue Service.  To the best knowledge of the Parent and the Borrower, nothing has occurred that would prevent or cause the loss of such tax-qualified status.  The Parent and each ERISA Affiliate have made all required contributions to each Plan subject to Section 412 of the Code, and no application for a funding waiver or an extension of any amortization period pursuant to Section 412 of the Code has been made with respect to any Plan.

 

(b)                                  There are no pending or, to the best knowledge of the Parent and the Borrower, threatened claims, actions or lawsuits, or action by any Governmental Authority, with respect to any Plan that would have a Material Adverse Effect.  There has been no prohibited transaction or violation of the fiduciary responsibility rules with respect to any Plan that has resulted or would have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(c)                                   (i) No ERISA Event has occurred, and neither the Parent nor any ERISA Affiliate is aware of any fact, event or circumstance that would constitute or result in an ERISA Event with respect to any Pension Plan; (ii) the Parent and each ERISA Affiliate has met all applicable requirements under the Pension Funding Rules in respect of each Pension Plan, and no waiver of the minimum funding standards under the Pension Funding Rules has been applied for or obtained; (iii) as of the most-recent valuation date for any Pension Plan, the funding target attainment percentage (as defined in Section 430(d)(2)  of the Code) is 60% or higher and neither the Parent nor any ERISA Affiliate knows of any facts or circumstances that would cause the funding target attainment percentage for any such plan to drop below 60% as of the most-recent valuation date; (iv) neither the Parent nor any ERISA Affiliate has incurred any liability to the PBGC other than for the payment of premiums, and there are no premium payments which have become due that are unpaid; (v) neither the Parent nor any ERISA Affiliate has engaged in a transaction that could be subject to Section 4069 or Section 4212(c)  of ERISA; and (vi) no Pension Plan has been terminated by the plan administrator thereof nor by the PBGC, and no event or circumstance has occurred or exists that would cause the PBGC to institute proceedings under Title IV of ERISA to terminate any Pension Plan, in each case, that would result in a liability, individually, or in the aggregate, in excess of the Threshold Amount.

 

(d)                                  As of the Closing Date the Borrower is not nor will be using “plan assets” (within the meaning of 29 CFR § 2510.3-101, as modified by Section 3(42) of ERISA) of one or more Benefit Plans in connection with the Loans, the Letters of Credit or the Commitments.

 

6.13                         Subsidiaries; Equity Interests .  As of the Closing Date, the Parent and the Borrower have no Subsidiaries other than those specifically disclosed in Part (a) of Schedule 6.13 , and all of the

 

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outstanding Equity Interests in such Subsidiaries have been validly issued, are fully paid and non -assessable and are owned by a Company in the amounts specified on Part (a) of Schedule   6.13 free and clear of all Liens.  As of the Closing Date, neither the Parent nor the Borrower has any direct or indirect Equity Interests in any other Person other than those specifically disclosed in Part (b) of Schedule   6.13 .  All of the outstanding Equity Interests in each Subsidiary Guarantor have been validly issued, are fully paid and non-assessable and are owned by the applicable holders in the amounts specified on Part (c) of Schedule   6.13 free and clear of all Liens.

 

6.14                         Margin Regulations; Investment Company Act .

 

(a)                                  Neither the Parent nor the Borrower is 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.

 

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

 

6.15                         Disclosure .

 

(a)                                  The Parent and the Borrower have disclosed to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders all agreements, instruments and corporate or other restrictions to which any Company is subject, and all other matters known to them, that, individually or in the aggregate, would have a Material Adverse Effect.  The reports, financial statements, certificates or other information furnished (whether in writing or orally) by or on behalf of any Company 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), taken as a whole, do not contain any material misstatement of fact or fail to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided that (a) with respect to projected financial information, the Parent and the Borrower represent only that such information was prepared in good faith based upon assumptions believed to be reasonable at the time made, and (b) with respect to any lease abstracts provided by the Borrower, to the best of the Borrower’s knowledge, same will not contain any material misstatement of fact or fail to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

 

(b)                                  As of the Closing Date, the information included in the Beneficial Ownership Certification is true and correct in all respects.

 

6.16                         Compliance with Laws .  Each Company is in compliance in all material respects 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, would have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

6.17                         Taxpayer Identification Number .  As of the date hereof, each Loan Party’s true and correct U.S. taxpayer identification number is set forth on Schedule 11.02 .

 

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6.18                         Intellectual Property; Licenses, Etc.   Each Loan Party owns, or possesses the right to use, all of the trademarks, service marks, trade names, copyrights, patents, patent rights, franchises, licenses and other intellectual property rights (collectively, “ IP Rights ”) that are reasonably necessary for the operation of their respective businesses, without conflict with the rights of any other Person except, in each case, where the failure to do so would have a Material Adverse Effect.  To the best knowledge of each Loan Party, 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 infringes upon any rights held by any other Person except where such infringement would not have a Material Adverse Effect.  Except as specifically disclosed in Schedule 6.18 , no claim or litigation regarding any of the foregoing is pending or, to the best knowledge of each Loan Party, threatened, which, either individually or in the aggregate, would have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

6.19                         Reserved .

 

6.20                         Solvency .  No Loan Party (a) has entered into the transaction or executed this Agreement or any other Loan Document with the actual intent to hinder, delay or defraud any creditor and (b) has not received reasonably equivalent value in exchange for its obligations under the Loan Documents.  After giving effect to any Loan, the fair saleable value of the Loan Parties’ assets, taken as a whole, exceeds and will, immediately following the making of any such Loan, exceed the Loan Parties’ total liabilities, including subordinated, unliquidated, disputed and contingent liabilities.  The Loan Parties’ assets, taken as a whole, do not constitute unreasonably small capital to carry out their business as conducted or as proposed to be conducted, nor will their assets constitute unreasonably small capital immediately following the making of any Loan.  The Loan Parties do not intend to incur debt and liabilities (including contingent liabilities and other commitments) beyond their ability to pay such debt and liabilities as they mature (taking into account the timing and amounts of cash to be received by the Loan Parties and the amounts to be payable on or in respect of obligations of the Loan Parties).  No petition under any Debtor Relief Laws has been filed against any Loan Party in the last seven (7) years, and neither the Borrower nor any other Loan Party in the last seven (7) years has ever made an assignment for the benefit of creditors or taken advantage of any insolvency act for the benefit of debtors.  No Loan Party is contemplating either the filing of a petition by it under any Debtor Relief Laws or the liquidation of all or a major portion of its assets or property (except for dispositions permitted hereunder), and no Loan Party has knowledge of any Person contemplating the filing of any such petition against it or any other Loan Party.

 

6.21                         REIT Status of the Parent .  The Parent qualified as a REIT commencing with its taxable year ending December 31, 2013 and will remain qualified in each taxable year thereafter.

 

6.22                         Labor Matters .  There is (a) no significant unfair labor practice complaint pending against any Company or, to the best of each Company’s knowledge, threatened against any Company, before the National Labor Relations Board, and no significant grievance or significant arbitration proceeding arising out of or under any collective bargaining agreement is pending on the date hereof against any Company or, to best of any Company’s knowledge, threatened against any Company which, in either case, would result in a Material Adverse Effect, and (b) no significant strike, labor dispute, slowdown or stoppage is pending against any Company or, to the best of any Company’s knowledge, threatened against any Company which would result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

6.23                         Ground Lease Representation.

 

(a)                                  The applicable Subsidiary Guarantor has delivered to the Administrative Agent true and correct copies of each Acceptable Ground Lease to the extent requested by the Administrative Agent.

 

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(b)                                  Each Acceptable Ground Lease is in full force and effect.

 

6.24                         Unencumbered Properties .  To the Borrower’s knowledge and except where the failure of any of the following to be true and correct would not have a Material Adverse Effect:

 

(a)                                  Each Unencumbered Property complies with all Laws, including all subdivision and platting requirements, without reliance on any adjoining or neighboring property.  No Loan Party has received any notice or claim from any Person that an Unencumbered Property, or any use, activity, operation, or maintenance thereof or thereon, is not in compliance with any Law, and has no knowledge of any such noncompliance except as disclosed in writing to the Administrative Agent;

 

(b)                                  The Loan Parties have not directly or indirectly conveyed, assigned, or otherwise disposed of, or transferred (or agreed to do so) any development rights, air rights, or other similar rights, privileges, or attributes with respect to an Unencumbered Property, including those arising under any zoning or property use ordinance or other Laws;

 

(c)                                   All utility services necessary for the use of each Unencumbered Property and the operation thereof for their intended purpose are available at each Unencumbered Property;

 

(d)                                  The current use of each Unencumbered Property complies in all material respects with all applicable zoning ordinances, regulations, and restrictive covenants affecting such Unencumbered Property, all use restrictions of any Governmental Authority having jurisdiction have been satisfied; and

 

(e)                                   No Unencumbered Property is the subject of any pending or, to any Loan Party’s knowledge, threatened Condemnation or material adverse zoning proceeding for which the Administrative Agent has not been notified in accordance with Section 7.03(f) .

 

6.25                         OFAC .   No Loan Party, nor, to the knowledge of any Loan Party, any Related Party, (i) is currently the subject of any Sanctions, (ii) is located, organized or residing in any Designated Jurisdiction, or (iii) is or has been (within the previous five (5) years) engaged in any transaction with any Person who is now or was then the subject of Sanctions or who is located, organized or residing in any Designated Jurisdiction.  No Loan, nor the proceeds from any Loan, has been used, directly or indirectly, to lend, contribute, provide or has otherwise made available to fund any activity or business in any Designated Jurisdiction or to fund any activity or business of any Person located, organized or residing in any Designated Jurisdiction or who is the subject of any Sanctions, or in any other manner that will result in any violation by any Person (including any Lender, the Lead Arrangers, the Administrative Agent, any L/C Issuer or the Swing Line Lender) of Sanctions.  Each Loan Party, their respective officers and, to the knowledge of the Parent and the Borrower, its respective directors, employees and agents and any Related Party, are in compliance with Anti-Corruption Laws in all material respects. No Credit Extension, use of the proceeds of any Credit Extension, or other transactions contemplated hereby will violate Anti-Corruption Laws or applicable Sanctions.  Neither the making of the Credit Extensions hereunder nor the use of the proceeds thereof will violate the Patriot Act, the Trading with the Enemy Act, as amended, or any of the foreign assets control regulations of the United States Treasury Department (31 C.F.R., Subtitle B, Chapter V, as amended) or any enabling legislation or executive order relating thereto or successor statute thereto. Each Loan Party is in compliance in all material respects with the Patriot Act.

 

6.26                         EEA Financial Institution.   No Loan Party is an EEA Financial Institution.

 

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Article VII.
Affirmative Covenants

 

So long as any Lender shall have any Commitment hereunder, any Loan or other Obligation hereunder (excluding contingent indemnification obligations to the extent no unsatisfied claim giving rise thereto has been asserted) shall remain unpaid or unsatisfied, or any Letter of Credit shall remain outstanding:

 

7.01                         Financial Statements .  Each of the Parent and the Borrower shall deliver to the Administrative Agent and each Lender, in form and detail reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the Required Lenders:

 

(a)                                  as soon as available, but in any event within one hundred five (105) days after the end of each fiscal year of the Parent (or, if earlier, fifteen (15) days after the date required to be filed with the SEC without giving effect to any extension permitted by the SEC) (commencing with the fiscal year ending December 31, 2018, a consolidated balance sheet of the Parent 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, all in reasonable detail and prepared in accordance with GAAP, such consolidated statements to be audited and accompanied by a report and opinion of an independent certified public accountant of nationally recognized standing reasonably acceptable to the Required Lenders, 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; and

 

(b)                                  as soon as available, but in any event within sixty (60) days after the end of each of the first three (3) fiscal quarters of each fiscal year of the Parent (or, if earlier, five (5) days after the date required to be filed with the SEC) (commencing with the fiscal quarter ending June 30, 2018), a consolidated balance sheet of the Parent, the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as at the end of such fiscal quarter, the related consolidated statements of income or operations for such fiscal quarter and for the portion of the Parent’s fiscal year then ended, and the related consolidated statements of changes in shareholders’ equity, and cash flows for the portion of the Parent’s fiscal year then ended, in each case setting forth in comparative form, as applicable, the figures for the corresponding fiscal quarter of the previous fiscal year and the corresponding portion of the previous fiscal year, all in reasonable detail, such consolidated statements to be certified by the chief executive officer, chief financial officer, treasurer or controller of the Parent as fairly presenting the financial condition, results of operations, shareholders’ equity and cash flows of the Parent in accordance with GAAP, subject only to normal year-end audit adjustments and the absence of footnotes

 

As to any information contained in materials furnished pursuant to Section 7.02 , the Parent and the Borrower shall not be separately required to furnish such information under clause (a)  or (b)  above, but the foregoing shall not be in derogation of the obligation of the Parent and the Borrower to furnish the information and materials described in clauses (a)  and (b)  above at the times specified therein.

 

7.02                         Certificates; Other Information .  Each of the Parent and the Borrower shall deliver to the Administrative Agent and each Lender, in form and detail reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the Required Lenders:

 

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(a)                                  concurrently with the delivery of the financial statements referred to in Sections 7.01(a)  and (b) , a duly completed Compliance Certificate signed by the chief executive officer, chief financial officer, chief accounting officer, treasurer or controller of the Borrower (which delivery may, unless the Administrative Agent or a Lender requests executed originals, be by electronic communication including fax or email and shall be deemed to be an original authentic counterpart thereof for all purposes);

 

(b)                                  promptly after any request by the Administrative Agent, copies of any detailed audit opinions or review reports submitted to the board of directors (or the audit committee of the board of directors) of the Parent by independent accountants in connection with the accounts or books of the Parent;

 

(c)                                   promptly after the same are available, copies of each annual report, proxy or financial statement or other report or communication sent to the stockholders of the Parent, and copies of all annual, regular, periodic and special reports and registration statements which the Borrower may file or be required to file with the SEC under Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and not otherwise required to be delivered to the Administrative Agent pursuant hereto;

 

(d)                                  promptly after the furnishing thereof, copies of any statement or report furnished to any holder of publicly-held debt securities of the Parent or the Borrower 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 7.01 or any other clause of this Section 7.02 ;

 

(e)                                   promptly, and in any event within five (5) Business Days after receipt thereof by the Parent or the Borrower, copies of each notice or other correspondence received from the SEC (or comparable agency in any applicable non-U.S. jurisdiction) concerning any material investigation or other material inquiry by such agency regarding financial or other operational results of any Company unless restricted from doing so by such agency; and

 

(f)                                    promptly, such additional information regarding the business, financial or corporate affairs of the Parent or the Borrower or any Unencumbered Property, 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 7.01(a)  or (b)  or Section 7.02(c)  (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 (i) on which the Parent or the Borrower (A) files any such document with the Securities and Exchange Commission’s EDGAR system (or any successor thereto) in a manner accessible to the public at large or (B) posts such documents, or provides a link thereto on the Parent and the Borrower’s website on the Internet at the website address listed on Schedule 11.02 ; or (ii) on which such documents are posted on the Parent and the Borrower’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). 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 and the Borrower 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.

 

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The Parent and the Borrower hereby acknowledge that (a) the Administrative Agent and/or the Lead Arrangers will make available to the Lenders and the L/C Issuers materials and/or information provided by or on behalf of the Parent and the Borrower hereunder (collectively, the “Borrower Materials”) by posting the Borrower Materials on IntraLinks, SyndTrak or another similar electronic system (the “Platform”) and (b) certain of the Lenders (each, a “Public Lender”) may have personnel who do not wish to receive material non-public information with respect to the Parent, the Borrower or their Affiliates, or the respective Equity Interests of any of the foregoing, and who may be engaged in investment and other market-related activities with respect to such Persons’ Equity Interests. The Parent and the Borrower hereby agree that (w) all the Borrower Materials that are to be made available to the Public Lenders shall be clearly and conspicuously marked “PUBLIC” which, at a minimum, shall mean that the word “PUBLIC” shall appear prominently on the first page thereof; (x) by marking the Borrower Materials “PUBLIC,” the Parent and the Borrower shall be deemed to have authorized the Administrative Agent, the Lead Arrangers, the L/C Issuers and the Lenders to treat such Borrower Materials as not containing any material non-public information with respect to the Parent and the Borrower or their Equity Interests for purposes of United States Federal and state securities laws (provided that to the extent such Borrower Materials constitute Information, they shall be treated as set forth in Section 11.07 ); (y) all the Borrower Materials marked “PUBLIC” are permitted to be made available through a portion of the Platform designated “Public Side Information;” and (z) the Administrative Agent and the Lead Arrangers shall be entitled to treat any the Borrower Materials that are not marked “PUBLIC” as being suitable only for posting on a portion of the Platform not designated “Public Side Information.”

 

7.03                         Notices .  Each of the Parent and the Borrower shall, upon becoming aware of same, promptly notify the Administrative Agent who shall notify each Lender:

 

(a)                                  of the occurrence of any Default;

 

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

 

(c)                                   of the occurrence of any ERISA Event which has resulted or would result in liabilities of any Company in an aggregate amount in excess of the Threshold Amount;

 

(d)                                  of any material litigation, arbitration or governmental investigation or proceeding instituted or threatened in writing against any Unencumbered Property, and any material development therein;

 

(e)                                   of any announcement by Moody’s, Fitch or S&P of any change in a Debt Rating or in its “outlook” with respect to a Debt Rating;

 

(f)                                    of any actual or threatened in writing Condemnation or zoning proceeding of any portion of any Unencumbered Property, any negotiations with respect to any such taking, or any material loss of or substantial damage to any Unencumbered Property, in each case, except to the extent that the same could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;

 

(g)                                   of any Casualty with respect to any Unencumbered Property except to the extent that the same could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;

 

(h)                                  of any material permit, license, certificate or approval required with respect to any Unencumbered Property that lapses or ceases to be in full force and effect or any claim from any person that any Unencumbered Property, or any use, activity, operation or maintenance

 

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thereof or thereon, is not in compliance with any Law, in each case, except to the extent that the same could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;

 

(i)                                      of any material change in accounting policies or financial reporting practices by any Company, including any determination by the Borrower referred to in Section 2.10(b) ; and

 

(j)                                     of any labor controversy pending or threatened against any Company, and any material development in any labor controversy except to the extent that the same could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

Each notice pursuant to this Section 7.03 shall be accompanied by a statement of a Responsible Officer of the Parent and the Borrower setting forth details of the occurrence referred to therein and stating what action the Parent and/or the Borrower has taken and proposes to take with respect thereto.  Each notice pursuant to Section 7.03(a)  shall describe with particularity any and all provisions of this Agreement and any other Loan Document that have been breached.

 

7.04                         Payment of Obligations .  Each of the Parent and the Borrower shall, and shall cause each other Loan Party to, pay and discharge as the same shall become due and payable, all its obligations and liabilities, including: (a) all tax liabilities, assessments and governmental charges or levies upon a Loan Party or its properties or assets, 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 such Loan Party; (b) all lawful claims which, if unpaid, would by law become a Lien upon its property other than Liens of the type permitted under Sections 8.01(a)  through (g) ; and (c) all Indebtedness, as and when due and payable except, in each case, where the failure to do so would not result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

7.05                         Preservation of Existence, Etc.   Each of the Parent and the Borrower shall, and shall cause each other Loan Party to (a) preserve, renew and maintain in full force and effect its legal existence and good standing under the Laws of the jurisdiction of its organization except in a transaction permitted by Section  8.04 ; (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 would not have a Material Adverse Effect; and (c) preserve or renew all of its IP Rights, the non-preservation of which would have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

7.06                         Maintenance of Properties .  Each of the Parent and the Borrower shall, and shall cause each other Company to (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 except to the extent the failure to do so would not result in a Material Adverse Effect; (b) make all necessary repairs thereto and renewals and replacements thereof except where the failure to do so would not have a Material Adverse Effect; (c) use the standard of care typical in the industry in the operation and maintenance of its (i) Unencumbered Properties, and, (ii) as to its other Properties except where the failure to do so would not have a Material Adverse Effect; and (d) keep the Unencumbered Properties in good order, repair, operating condition, and appearance, causing all necessary repairs, renewals, replacements, additions, and improvements to be promptly made, and not allow any of the Unencumbered Properties to be misused, abused or wasted or to deteriorate (ordinary wear and tear excepted) except where the failure to do so would not have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

7.07                         Maintenance of Insurance .  Each of the Parent and the Borrower shall, and shall cause each other Company to, maintain with financially sound and reputable insurance companies not Affiliates of any Company, insurance (including flood insurance if available or required) with respect to its properties and business against loss or damage of the kinds customarily insured against by Persons

 

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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.

 

7.08                         Compliance with Laws; Beneficial Ownership Regulations .  Each of the Parent and the Borrower shall, and shall cause each other Subsidiary Guarantor to, (a) comply in all material respects with the requirements of all Laws (including without limitation Anti-Corruption Laws and applicable Sanctions) and all orders, writs, injunctions and decrees applicable to it or to its business or property, except in such instances in which (i) such requirement of Law or order, writ, injunction or decree is being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted; or (ii) the failure to comply therewith would not have a Material Adverse Effect, (b) notify the Administrative Agent and each Lender that previously received a Beneficial Ownership Certification of any change in the information provided in the Beneficial Ownership Certification that would result in a change to the list of beneficial owners identified therein and (c) promptly upon the reasonable request of the Administrative Agent or any Lender, provide the Administrative Agent or such Lender, as the case may be, any information or documentation requested by it for purposes of complying with the Beneficial Ownership Regulation.

 

7.09                         Books and Records .  Each of the Parent and the Borrower shall, and shall cause each other Company to: (a) 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 each Company, as the case may be; and (b) maintain such books of record and account in material conformity with all applicable requirements of any Governmental Authority having regulatory jurisdiction over any Company, as the case may be.

 

7.10                         Inspection Rights .  Subject to the rights of tenants, each of the Parent and the Borrower shall, and shall cause each other Loan Party to, permit representatives and independent contractors of the Administrative Agent and each Lender, at the expense of the Administrative Agent or such Lender, to visit and inspect and photograph any Unencumbered Property and any of its other properties, to examine its corporate, financial and operating records, and all recorded data of any kind or nature, regardless of the medium of recording including all software, writings, plans, specifications and schematics, and make copies thereof or abstracts therefrom, and to discuss its affairs, finances and accounts with its officers all at the expense of the Borrower and at such reasonable times during normal business hours, upon reasonable advance notice to the applicable Loan Party and no more often than once in any period of twelve (12) consecutive months unless an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing; provided that when an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing 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 Borrower at any time during normal business hours and without advance notice, subject to the rights of tenants.  Any inspection or audit of the Unencumbered Properties or the books and records, including recorded data of any kind or nature, regardless of the medium of recording including software, writings, plans, specifications and schematics of any Loan Party, or the procuring of documents and financial and other information, by the Administrative Agent on behalf of itself or on behalf of the Lenders shall be for the Administrative Agent’s and the Lenders’ protection only, and shall not constitute any assumption of responsibility to any Loan Party or anyone else with regard to the condition, construction, maintenance or operation of the Unencumbered Properties nor the Administrative Agent’s approval of any certification given to the Administrative Agent nor relieve any Loan Party of the Borrower’s or any other Loan Party’s obligations.

 

7.11                         Use of Proceeds .  Each of the Parent and the Borrower shall, and shall cause each other Company to, use the proceeds of the Credit Extensions (a) to refinance the obligations of the Companies under existing facilities, (b) to finance the acquisition of Properties, (c) to pay operating and leasing expenses with respect to its Properties, and (d) for general corporate purposes, in each case, not in contravention of any Law or of any Loan Document.

 

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7.12                         Environmental Matters .  Each of the Parent and the Borrower shall, and shall cause each other Loan Party to:

 

(a)                                  Violations; Notice to the Administrative Agent .  Use reasonable efforts to:

 

(i)                                      Keep the Unencumbered Properties free of Contamination, except to the extent that any failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;

 

(ii)                                   Promptly deliver to the Administrative Agent a copy of each report pertaining to any Property or to any Loan Party prepared by or on behalf of such Loan Party pursuant to a material violation of any Environmental Requirement to the extent that the same could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; and

 

(iii)                                As soon as practicable advise the Administrative Agent in writing of any Environmental Claim or of the discovery of any Contamination on any Unencumbered Property that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, as soon as any Loan Party first obtains knowledge thereof, including a description of the nature and extent of the Environmental Claim and/or Hazardous Material and all relevant circumstances.

 

(b)                                  Site Assessments and Information .  If the Parent or the Borrower fails to comply with Section 7.12(a)  or if any other Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, then if requested by the Administrative Agent, at the Borrower’s expense, deliver to the Administrative Agent from time to time, but no more frequently than once per calendar year unless an Event of Default exists, in each case within seventy five (75) days after the Administrative Agent’s request, an Environmental Assessment (hereinafter defined) made after the date of the Administrative Agent’s request.  As used in this Agreement, the term “ Environmental Assessment ” means a report of an environmental assessment of any or all Unencumbered Properties and of such scope so as to be compliant with the guidelines established by the ASTM (including the taking of soil borings and air and groundwater samples and other above and below ground testing) as the Administrative Agent may reasonably request to be performed by a licensed environmental consulting firm reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent.  Each applicable Loan Party shall cooperate with each consulting firm making any such Environmental Assessment and shall supply to the consulting firm all information available to such Loan Party to facilitate the completion of the Environmental Assessment.  If any Loan Party fails to furnish the Administrative Agent within thirty (30) days after the Administrative Agent’s request with a copy of an agreement with an acceptable environmental consulting firm to provide such Environmental Assessment, or if any Loan Party fails to furnish to the Administrative Agent such Environmental Assessment within seventy five (75) days after the Administrative Agent’s request, upon written notice to the Parent and the Borrower, the Administrative Agent may cause any such Environmental Assessment to be made at the Borrower’s expense and risk.  Subject to the rights of tenant, the Administrative Agent and its designees are hereby granted access to the Unencumbered Properties upon written notice, and a license which is coupled with an interest and irrevocable, to make or cause to be made such Environmental Assessments.  The Administrative Agent may disclose to any Governmental Authority, to the extent required by Applicable Law, any information the Administrative Agent ever has about the environmental condition or compliance of the Unencumbered Properties, but shall be under no duty to disclose any such information except as may be required by Law.  The Administrative Agent shall be under no duty to make any Environmental Assessment of the Unencumbered Properties, and in no event shall any such Environmental Assessment by the

 

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Administrative Agent be or give rise to a representation that any Hazardous Material is or is not present on the Unencumbered Properties, or that there has been or shall be compliance with any Environmental Requirement, nor shall any Company or any other Person be entitled to rely on any Environmental Assessment made by the Administrative Agent or at the Administrative Agent’s request but the Administrative Agent shall deliver a copy of such report to the Parent and the Borrower.  Neither the Administrative Agent nor any Lender owes any duty of care to protect any Company or any other Person against, or to inform them of, any Hazardous Material or other adverse condition affecting the Unencumbered Properties.

 

(c)                                   Remedial Actions .  If any Contamination which could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect is discovered on any Unencumbered Property at any time and regardless of the cause, (i) promptly at the applicable Loan Parties’ sole expense, remove, treat, and dispose of the Hazardous Material in compliance with all applicable Environmental Requirements in addition to taking such other action as is necessary to have the full use and benefit of such Unencumbered Property as contemplated by the Loan Documents, and provide the Administrative Agent with satisfactory evidence thereof; and (ii) if reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent, provide to the Administrative Agent within thirty (30) days of the Administrative Agent’s request a bond, letter of credit, or other financial assurance, including self-assurance, evidencing to the Administrative Agent’s satisfaction that all necessary funds are readily available to pay the costs and expenses of the actions required by the preceding clause (i) and to discharge any assessments or liens established against such Unencumbered Property as a result of the presence of the Hazardous Material on the Unencumbered Property. After completion of such remedial actions, the applicable Loan Party shall promptly request regulatory approval, take all reasonable measures to expedite issuance of such approval and upon receipt thereof deliver to the Administrative Agent a letter indicating that no further action is required with respect to the applicable Unencumbered Property or similar confirmation by the applicable regulator that all required remedial action as stated above has been taken and successfully completed to the satisfaction of the applicable regulator.  The Loan Parties shall not be deemed to have satisfied their remedial obligations under this provision until they have provided the Administrative Agent such confirmation.

 

7.13                         Ground Leases Solely with respect to Unencumbered Property, each of the Parent and the Borrower shall, and shall cause each other Loan Party to:

 

(a)                                  Diligently perform and observe in all material respects all of the terms, covenants, and conditions of any Acceptable Ground Lease as tenant under such Acceptable Ground Lease; and

 

(b)                                  Promptly notify the Administrative Agent of (i) the giving to the applicable Subsidiary Guarantor of any notice of any default by such Subsidiary Guarantor under any Acceptable Ground Lease and deliver to the Administrative Agent a true copy of each such notice within five (5) Business Days of such Subsidiary Guarantor’s receipt thereof, and (ii) any bankruptcy, reorganization, or insolvency of the landlord under any Acceptable Ground Lease or of any notice thereof, and deliver to the Administrative Agent a true copy of such notice within five (5) Business Days of the applicable Subsidiary Guarantor’s receipt.

 

(c)                                   Exercise any individual option to extend or renew the term of an Acceptable Ground Lease upon demand by the Administrative Agent made at any time within thirty (30) days prior to the last day upon which any such option may be exercised, and each applicable Subsidiary Guarantor hereby expressly authorizes and appoints the Administrative Agent as its attorney-in-fact to exercise any such option in the name of and upon behalf of such Subsidiary

 

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Guarantor, which power of attorney shall be irrevocable and shall be deemed to be coupled with an interest.

 

If the applicable Subsidiary Guarantor shall default in the performance or observance of any term, covenant, or condition of any Acceptable Ground Lease on the part of such Subsidiary Guarantor and shall fail to cure the same prior to the expiration of any applicable cure period provided thereunder, then the Administrative Agent shall have the right, but shall be under no obligation, to pay any sums and to perform any act or take any action as may be appropriate to cause all of the terms, covenants, and conditions of such Acceptable Ground Lease on the part of such Subsidiary Guarantor to be performed or observed on behalf of such Subsidiary Guarantor, to the end that the rights of such Subsidiary Guarantor in, to, and under such Acceptable Ground Lease shall be kept unimpaired and free from default.  If the landlord under any Acceptable Ground Lease shall deliver to the Administrative Agent a copy of any notice of default under such Acceptable Ground Lease, then such notice shall constitute full protection to the Administrative Agent for any action taken or omitted to be taken by the Administrative Agent, in good faith, in reliance thereon.

 

7.14                         Unencumbered Properties.

 

(a)                                  Except where the failure to comply with any of the following would not have a Material Adverse Effect, each of the Parent and the Borrower shall, and shall use commercially reasonable efforts to cause each other Loan Party or the applicable tenant, to:

 

(i)                                      Pay all real estate and personal property taxes, assessments, water rates or sewer rents, ground rents, maintenance charges, impositions, and any other charges, including vault charges and license fees for the use of vaults, chutes and similar areas adjoining any Unencumbered Property, now or hereafter levied or assessed or imposed against any Unencumbered Property or any part thereof (except those which are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted);

 

(ii)                                   Promptly pay (or cause to be paid) when due all bills and costs for labor, materials, and specifically fabricated materials incurred in connection with any Unencumbered Property (except those which are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted), and in any event never permit to be created or exist in respect of any Unencumbered Property or any part thereof any other or additional Lien or security interest other than Liens permitted by Section 8.01 ; and

 

(iii)                                Operate the Unencumbered Properties in a good and workmanlike manner and in all material respects in accordance with all Laws in accordance with such Loan Party’s prudent business judgment.

 

(b)                                  Except where the failure would not have a material and adverse effect on the value of the Unencumbered Properties, taken as whole, each of the Parent and the Borrower shall, and shall cause each other Loan Party to, to the extent owned and controlled by a Loan Party, preserve, protect, renew, extend and retain all material rights and privileges granted for or applicable to each Unencumbered Property.

 

Article VIII.
Negative Covenants

 

So long as any Lender shall have any Commitment hereunder, any Loan or other Obligation hereunder (excluding contingent indemnification obligations to the extent no unsatisfied claim giving rise

 

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thereto has been asserted) shall remain unpaid or unsatisfied, or any Letter of Credit shall remain outstanding:

 

8.01                         Liens .  Each of the Parent and the Borrower shall not, nor shall it permit any other Loan Party to, directly or indirectly, create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Lien upon any Unencumbered Property, other than the following:

 

(a)                                  Liens pursuant to any Loan Document;

 

(b)                                  Liens existing on the date hereof and listed on Schedule 8.01 ;

 

(c)                                   Liens for taxes not yet due and payable 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)                                    easements, rights-of-way, restrictions, restrictive covenants, encroachments, protrusions and other similar encumbrances affecting real property which, in the aggregate, are not substantial in amount, and which do not in any case materially detract from the value of the property subject thereto or materially interfere with the ordinary conduct of the business of the applicable Person;

 

(g)                                   Liens securing judgments for the payment of money not constituting an Event of Default under Section 9.01(i) ;

 

(h)                                  the rights of tenants under leases or subleases not interfering with the ordinary conduct of business of such Person;

 

(i)                                      Liens securing obligations in the nature of personal property financing leases for furniture, furnishings or similar assets, Capital Leases Obligations and other purchase money obligations for fixed or capital assets; provided that (i) such Liens do not at any time encumber any property other than the property financed by such Indebtedness, (ii) the obligations secured thereby does not exceed the cost or fair market value, whichever is lower, of the property being acquired on the date of acquisition, and (iii) with respect to Capital Leases, such Liens do not at any time extend to or cover any assets other than the assets subject to such Capital Leases;

 

(j)                                     Liens securing obligations in the nature of the performance of bids, trade contracts and leases (other than Indebtedness), statutory obligations, surety bonds (other than bonds related to judgments or litigation), performance bonds and other obligations of a like nature incurred in the ordinary course of business;

 

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(k)                                  all Liens, encumbrances and other matters disclosed in any owner’s title insurance policies or other title reports and updated thereof accepted by the Administrative Agent; and

 

(l)                                      such other title and survey exceptions as the Administrative Agent has approved in writing in the Administrative Agent’s reasonable discretion.

 

8.02                         Indebtedness .  Each of the Parent and the Borrower shall not, nor shall it permit any other Loan Party to, 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 8.02 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;

 

(c)                                   Guarantees of (i) the Borrower or the Parent in respect of Indebtedness otherwise permitted hereunder of the Borrower or any other Guarantor, (ii) the Parent or the Borrower, in respect of Indebtedness otherwise permitted hereunder of any Non-Guarantor Subsidiary if, in the case of any Guarantee pursuant to this clause (ii), (x) no Default shall exist immediately before or immediately after the making of such Guarantee, and (y) there exists no violation of the financial covenants set forth in Section 8.14 hereunder on a pro forma basis after the making of such Guarantee, and (iii) Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries made in the ordinary course of business;

 

(d)                                  obligations (contingent or otherwise) of the Borrower or any Subsidiary existing or arising under any Swap Contract, provided that such obligations are (or were) entered into by such Person in the ordinary course of business for the purpose of directly mitigating risks associated with liabilities, commitments, investments, assets, or property held or reasonably anticipated by such Person, or changes in the value of securities issued by such Person, and not for purposes of speculation or taking a “market view”;

 

(e)                                   Indebtedness in respect of Capital Leases and purchase money obligations for fixed or capital assets within the limitations set forth in Section 8.01(i) , and unsecured Indebtedness in the form of trade payables incurred in the ordinary course of business ; and

 

(f)                                    Indebtedness of the Borrower or the Parent incurred or assumed after the date hereof that is either unsecured or is secured by Liens on assets of the Parent or the Borrower (other than any Unencumbered Property or the Equity Interests in any Loan Party); provided, such Indebtedness shall be permitted under this Section 8.02(f)  only if: (i) no Default shall exist immediately before or immediately after the incurrence or assumption of such Indebtedness, and (ii) there exists no violation of the financial covenants set forth in Section 8.14 hereunder on a pro forma basis after the incurrence or assumption of such Indebtedness.

 

8.03                         Investments .  Neither the Parent nor the Borrower shall have and shall not permit the Companies’ to have any Investments other than:

 

(a)                                  Investments in the form of cash or Cash Equivalents;

 

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(b)                                  Investments existing on the date hereof and set forth on Schedule 6.13 ;

 

(c)                                   advances to officers, directors and employees of the Borrower and Subsidiaries for travel, entertainment, relocation and analogous ordinary business purposes;

 

(d)                                  Investments of the Guarantor and the Borrower in the form of Equity Interests and investments of the Borrower in any wholly-owned Subsidiary, and Investments of the Borrower directly in, or of any wholly-owned Subsidiary in another wholly-owned Subsidiary which owns, real property assets which are functional industrial, manufacturing, warehouse/distribution and/or office properties located within the United States, provided in each case the Investments held by the Borrower or Subsidiary are in accordance with the provisions of this Section 8.03 other than this Section 8.03(d) ;

 

(e)                                   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;

 

(f)                                    Investments in non-wholly owned Subsidiaries and Unconsolidated Affiliates;

 

(g)                                   Investments in mortgages and mezzanine loans;

 

(h)                                  Investments in unimproved land holdings and Construction in Progress;

 

(i)                                      Investments by the Parent for the redemption, conversion, exchange, retirement, sinking fund or similar payment, purchase or other acquisition for value, direct or indirect, of any Equity Interests of the Parent or the Borrower now or hereafter outstanding to the extent permitted under Section 8.06 below; and

 

(j)                                     Other Investments not to exceed at any time ten percent (10%) of Total Asset Value.

 

8.04                         Fundamental Changes .  Each of the Parent and the Borrower shall not, nor shall it permit any other Loan Party to, directly or indirectly, merge, dissolve, liquidate, consolidate with or into another Person, or Dispose of (whether in one transaction or in a series of transactions) all or substantially all of its assets (whether now owned or hereafter acquired) to or in favor of any Person, except that, so long as no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or would result therefrom:

 

(a)                                  any Loan Party (other than the Parent or the Borrower) may merge with (i) the Parent or the Borrower, provided that the Parent or the Borrower, as applicable, shall be the continuing or surviving Person, or (ii) any other Loan Party, or (iii) any other Person, provided that if it owns an Unencumbered Property and is not the surviving entity, then such Property shall cease to be an Unencumbered Property;

 

(b)                                  any Loan Party (other than the Parent or the Borrower) may Dispose of all or substantially all of its assets (upon voluntary liquidation or otherwise) to another Loan Party;

 

(c)                                   any Loan Party may Dispose of a Property owned by such Loan Party in the ordinary course of business and for fair value; and

 

(d)                                  the Parent or the Borrower may merge or consolidate with another Person so long as either the Parent or the Borrower, as the case may be, is the surviving entity, shall remain in

 

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pro forma compliance with the covenants set forth in Section 8.14 below after giving effect to such transaction, and the Borrower shall have given the Administrative Agent at least fifteen (15) Business Days’ prior written notice of such merger or consolidation, such notice to include a certification as to the pro forma compliance referenced above, with the Borrower agreeing to provide such other financial information as the Administrative Agent shall reasonably request in order to verify such pro forma compliance.

 

Nothing in this Section shall be deemed to prohibit the sale or leasing of Property or portions of Property in the ordinary course of business.

 

8.05                         Dispositions .  Each of the Parent, the Borrower or any Loan Party shall not make any Disposition or enter into any agreement to make any Disposition, except:

 

(a)                                  Dispositions of obsolete or worn out property, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, in the ordinary course of business;

 

(b)                                  Dispositions of inventory in the ordinary course of business;

 

(c)                                   Any other Dispositions of Properties or other assets in an arm’s length transaction; provided that the Borrower and the Parent will remain in pro forma compliance with the covenants set forth in Section 8.14 after giving effect to such transaction.

 

8.06                         Restricted Payments .  Each of the Parent and the Borrower shall not, nor shall it permit any other Company to, directly or indirectly, declare or make, directly or indirectly, any Restricted Payment other than (a) Minimum Distributions, (b) Restricted Payments made by any Company to the Borrower or the Parent, or (c) provided no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing at the time of such payment or would result therefrom, other Restricted Payments.

 

8.07                         Change in Nature of Business .  Except for Investments permitted under Section 8.03 , each of the Parent and the Borrower shall not, nor shall it permit any other Loan Party to, directly or indirectly, engage in any material line of business substantially different from those lines of business conducted by the Companies on the date hereof or any business substantially related or incidental thereto.

 

8.08                         Transactions with Affiliates .  Each of the Parent and the Borrower shall not, nor shall it permit any other Loan Party to, directly or indirectly, enter into any transaction of any kind with any Affiliate of a Company, whether or not in the ordinary course of business, other than on fair and reasonable terms substantially as favorable to such Loan Party as would be obtainable by such Company at the time in a comparable arm’s length transaction with a Person other than an Affiliate.

 

8.09                         Burdensome Agreements .  Each of the Parent and the Borrower shall not, nor shall it permit any other Loan Party to, directly or indirectly enter into any Contractual Obligation (other than this Agreement or any other Loan Document) that directly or indirectly prohibits any Company from (a) creating or incurring any Lien on any Unencumbered Property unless simultaneously therewith, such Unencumbered Property ceases to be an Unencumbered Property, other than restrictions or conditions set forth in the Note Purchase Agreements, the Term Loan Agreements and, to the extent such restrictions or conditions are customary for such Indebtedness, any other agreements governing Indebtedness permitted under Section 8.02 , in each case, which restrictions are no more restrictive, taken as a whole than the comparable restrictions and conditions set forth in this Agreement as determined in the good faith judgment of the Borrower, (b) other than restrictions or conditions set forth in the Note Purchase Agreements, the Term Loan Agreements and, to the extent such restrictions or conditions are customary for such Indebtedness, any other agreements governing Indebtedness permitted under Section 8.02 , in

 

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each case, which restrictions are no more restrictive, taken as a whole than the comparable restrictions and conditions set forth in this Agreement as determined in the good faith judgment of the Borrower , limiting the ability (i) of any Subsidiary to make Restricted Payments to the Borrower or any Guarantor or to otherwise transfer property to the Borrower or any Guarantor, (ii) of any Subsidiary to Guarantee the Indebtedness of the Borrower or (iii) of the Borrower or any Subsidiary to create, incur, assume or suffer to exist Liens on property of such Person; provided, however, that this clause (iii) shall not prohibit any negative pledge incurred or provided in favor of any holder of Indebtedness permitted under Section 8.03(e)  solely to the extent any such negative pledge relates to the property financed by or the subject of such Indebtedness; or (c) requiring the grant of a Lien to secure an obligation of such Person if a Lien is granted to secure another obligation of such Person.

 

8.10                         Use of Proceeds .  Each of the Parent and the Borrower shall not, nor shall it permit any other Company to, directly or indirectly, use the proceeds of any Credit Extension, whether directly or indirectly, and whether immediately, incidentally or ultimately, to purchase or carry margin stock (within the meaning of Regulation U of the FRB) or to extend credit to others for the purpose of purchasing or carrying margin stock or to refund indebtedness originally incurred for such purpose.  The Borrower shall not request any Credit Extension, shall not use, and shall ensure that its Subsidiaries and its or their respective directors, officers, employees and agents do not use the proceeds of any Credit Extension (i) in furtherance of an offer, payment, promise to pay, or authorization of the payment or giving of money, or anything else of value, to any Person in violation of any Anti-Corruption Laws or (ii) in any manner that would result in the violation of any applicable Sanctions.

 

8.11                         Unencumbered Properties; Ground Leases Each of the Parent and the Borrower shall not, nor shall it permit any other Loan Party to, directly or indirectly:

 

(a)                                  Use or occupy or conduct any activity on, or knowingly permit the use or occupancy of or the conduct of any activity on any Unencumbered Properties by any tenant, in any manner which violates any Law or which constitutes a public or private nuisance in any manner which would have a Material Adverse Effect or which makes void, voidable, or cancelable any insurance then in force with respect thereto or makes the maintenance of insurance in accordance with Section 7.07 commercially unreasonable (including by way of increased premium);

 

(b)                                  [Reserved];

 

(c)                                   Without the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed), (i) impose any material easement, restrictive covenant, or encumbrance upon any Unencumbered Property, (ii) execute or file any subdivision plat or condominium declaration affecting any Unencumbered Property, or (iii) consent to the annexation of any Unencumbered Property to any municipality;

 

(d)                                  Do any act, or suffer to be done any act by any Company or any of its Affiliates, which would reasonably be expected to materially decrease the value of any Unencumbered Property (including by way of negligent act);

 

(e)                                   [Reserved];

 

(f)                                    Allow there to be fewer than twenty-five (25) Unencumbered Properties as of any date of determination;

 

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(g)                                   Allow the Total Asset Value of the Unencumbered Properties to be less than One Hundred Fifty Million Dollars ($150,000,000.00);

 

(h)                                  Without the prior consent of the Lenders (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed), surrender the leasehold estate created by any Acceptable Ground Lease or terminate or cancel any Acceptable Ground Lease or materially modify, change, supplement, alter, or amend any Acceptable Ground Lease, either orally or in writing, in each case, to the extent such event would reasonably be expected to be materially adverse to the interests of the Lenders; and

 

(i)                                      Enter into any Contractual Obligations related to any Unencumbered Property providing for the payment a management fee (or any other similar fee) to anyone other than a Company if, with respect thereto, the Administrative Agent has reasonably required that such fee be subordinated to the Obligations in a manner satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, and an acceptable subordination agreement has not yet been obtained.

 

8.12                         Environmental Matters .  Each of the Parent and the Borrower shall not knowingly directly or indirectly:

 

(a)                                  Cause, commit, permit, or allow to continue (i) any violation of any Environmental Requirement by or with respect to any Unencumbered Property or any use of or condition or activity on any Unencumbered Property, or (ii) the attachment of any environmental Liens on any Unencumbered Property, in each case, that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;

 

(b)                                  Place, install, dispose of, or release, or cause, permit, or allow the placing, installation, disposal, spilling, leaking, dumping, or release of, any Hazardous Material on any Unencumbered Property in any manner that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; and

 

(c)                                   Use any Hazardous Material on any Unencumbered Property except in such a manner which could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

8.13                         Negative Pledge; Indebtedness .  Each of the Parent and the Borrower shall not permit:

 

(a)                                  The Equity Interests of the Borrower held by the Parent to be subject to any Lien.

 

(b)                                  Any Person (other than the Parent or the Borrower) that directly or indirectly owns Equity Interests in any Subsidiary Guarantor to (i) incur any Indebtedness (whether Recourse Indebtedness or Non-Recourse Indebtedness) (other than Indebtedness listed on Schedule 8.13 and Additional Permitted Indebtedness), (ii) provide Guarantees to support Indebtedness (other than Indebtedness listed on Schedule 8.13 and Additional Permitted Indebtedness), or (iii) have its Equity Interests subject to any Lien or other encumbrance (other than in favor of the Administrative Agent).

 

(c)                                   Any Subsidiary Guarantor that owns an Unencumbered Property to (i) incur any Indebtedness (whether Recourse Indebtedness or Non-Recourse Indebtedness) (other than the Obligations, Indebtedness listed on Schedule 8.13 and Additional Permitted Indebtedness) or (ii) provide Guarantees to support Indebtedness (other than the Obligations, Indebtedness listed on Schedule 8.13 and Additional Permitted Indebtedness).

 

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8.14                         Financial Covenants .  The Parent shall not, directly or indirectly, permit:

 

(a)                                  Maximum Consolidated Leverage Ratio .  As of the last day of any fiscal quarter, the Consolidated Leverage Ratio to exceed sixty percent (60%); provided that, if any Material Acquisition shall occur and the Consolidated Leverage Ratio shall have been less than sixty percent (60%) for at least one full fiscal quarter immediately preceding the proposed Consolidated Leverage Ratio Covenant Holiday, then, at the election of the Borrower upon delivery of prior written notice to the Administrative Agent, concurrently with or prior to the delivery of a Compliance Certificate pursuant to Section 7.02(a) , and provided that no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, the maximum Consolidated Leverage Ratio covenant level shall be increased to sixty-five (65%) for the fiscal quarter in which such Material Acquisition is consummated and the three (3) fiscal quarters immediately following the fiscal quarter in which such Material Acquisition is consummated (any such increase a “ Consolidated Leverage Ratio Covenant Holiday ”); provided further that not more than two (2) Consolidated Leverage Ratio Covenant Holidays may be elected by the Borrower during the term of this Agreement;

 

(b)                                  Maximum Secured Leverage Ratio . As of the last day of any fiscal quarter, the Secured Leverage Ratio to exceed forty percent (40%);

 

(c)                                   Maximum Unencumbered Leverage Ratio .  As of the last day of any fiscal quarter, the Unencumbered Leverage Ratio to exceed sixty percent (60%); provided that, if any Material Acquisition shall occur and the Unencumbered Leverage Ratio shall have been less than sixty percent (60%) for at least one full fiscal quarter immediately preceding the proposed Unencumbered Leverage Ratio Covenant Holiday, then, at the election of the Borrower upon delivery of prior written notice to the Administrative Agent, concurrently with or prior to the delivery of a Compliance Certificate pursuant to Section 7.02(a) , and provided that no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, the maximum Unencumbered Leverage Ratio covenant level shall be increased to sixty-five (65%) for the fiscal quarter in which such Material Acquisition is consummated and the three (3) fiscal quarters immediately following the fiscal quarter in which such Material Acquisition is consummated (any such increase an “ Unencumbered Leverage Ratio Covenant Holiday ”); provided further that not more than two (2) Unencumbered Leverage Ratio Covenant Holidays may be elected by the Borrower during the term of this Agreement;

 

(d)                                  [Reserved] ;

 

(e)                                   Minimum Fixed Charge Ratio .  As of the last day of any fiscal quarter, the Fixed Charge Ratio for the Parent, on a consolidated basis, for the fiscal quarter then ended, annualized, to be less than or equal to 1.5 to 1.0;

 

(f)                                    Minimum Unsecured Interest Coverage Ratio . As of the last day of any fiscal quarter, the Unsecured Interest Coverage Ratio for the Parent, on a consolidated basis, for the fiscal quarter then ended, annualized, to be less than or equal to 1.75 to 1.00; and

 

Article IX.
Events of Default and Remedies

 

9.01                         Events of Default .  Any of the following shall constitute an Event of Default:

 

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(a)                                  Non-Payment .  The Borrower or any other Loan Party fails to pay (i) when and as required to be paid herein, any amount of principal of any Loan or any L/C Obligation, or (ii) within five (5) days after the same becomes due, any interest on any Loan or on any L/C Obligation due hereunder, except that there shall be no grace period for interest due on any applicable Maturity Date, or (iii) within ten (10) days after notice from the Administrative Agent, any other amount payable to the Administrative Agent, any L/C Issuer, the Swing Line Lender or any Lender hereunder or under any other Loan Document except that there shall be no grace period for any amount due on any Maturity Date; or

 

(b)                                  Specific Covenants .  Any Loan Party fails to perform or observe any term, covenant or agreement contained in any of Section 7.11 or Article VIII (other than Sections 8.11 (a)  and (c), or 8.13 ) or the Parent fails to perform or observe any term, covenant or agreement contained in the Parent Guaranty or any Subsidiary Guarantor fails to perform or observe any term, covenant or agreement contained in the Subsidiary Guaranty; or

 

(c)                                   Performance .  Any Loan Party fails to perform or observe any term, covenant or agreement contained in any of Section 7.01 , 7.02 , or 7.03 , and such failure continues unremedied for ten (10) Business Days after such failure has occurred; or

 

(d)                                  Other Defaults .  Any Loan Party fails to perform or observe any other covenant or agreement (not specified in subsection (a) , (b) , or (c)  above) contained in any Loan Document on its part to be performed or observed and such failure continues unremedied for thirty (30) days after the earlier of notice from the Administrative Agent or the actual knowledge of the Loan Party, and in the case of a default that cannot be cured within such thirty (30) day period despite the Borrower’s diligent efforts but is susceptible of being cured within ninety (90) days of the Borrower’s receipt of the Administrative Agent’s original notice, then the Borrower shall have such additional time as is reasonably necessary to effect such cure, but in no event in excess of ninety (90) days from the Borrower’s receipt of the Administrative Agent’s original notice, subject in each instance to the Borrower’s remedial rights under Section 7.12(c) ; or

 

(e)                                   Representations and Warranties .  Any representation, warranty, certification or statement of fact made or deemed made by or on behalf of the Borrower or any other Loan Party herein, in any other Loan Document, or in any document delivered in connection herewith or therewith shall be incorrect or misleading when made or deemed made and shall not be cured or remedied so that such representation, warranty, certification or statement of fact is no longer incorrect or misleading within ten (10) days after the earlier of notice from the Administrative Agent or the actual knowledge of any Loan Party thereof; or

 

(f)                                    Cross-Default .  (i) Any Company (A) fails to make any payment when due (whether by scheduled maturity, required prepayment, acceleration, demand, or otherwise), after the expiration of any applicable grace periods, in respect of any Indebtedness or Guarantee (other than (x) Indebtedness hereunder, and (y) Indebtedness under Swap Contracts) having an aggregate principal amount (including amounts owing to all creditors under any combined or syndicated credit arrangement) of more than the Threshold Amount, or (B) fails to observe or perform any other agreement or condition relating to any such Indebtedness or Guarantee or contained in any instrument or agreement evidencing, securing or relating thereto, or any other event occurs, the effect of which default or other event is to cause, or to permit the holder or holders of such Indebtedness or the beneficiary or beneficiaries of such Guarantee (or a trustee or agent on behalf of such holder or holders or beneficiary or beneficiaries) to cause, with the giving of notice if required, such Indebtedness or more than the Threshold Amount to be demanded or to become due or to be repurchased, prepaid, defeased or redeemed (automatically or otherwise), or

 

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an offer to repurchase, prepay, defease or redeem such Indebtedness to be made, prior to its stated maturity, or such Guarantee to become payable or cash collateral in respect thereof to be demanded; or (ii) there occurs under any Swap Contract an Early Termination Date (as defined in such Swap Contract) resulting from (A) any event of default under such Swap Contract as to which any Company is the Defaulting Party (as defined in such Swap Contract) or (B) any Termination Event (as so defined) under such Swap Contract as to which any Company is an Affected Party (as so defined) and, in either event, the Swap Termination Value owed by such Company as a result thereof is greater than the Threshold Amount; or

 

(g)                                   Insolvency Proceedings, Etc.   Any Loan Party institutes or consents to the institution of any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law, or makes an assignment for the benefit of creditors; or applies for or consents to the appointment of any receiver, trustee, custodian, conservator, liquidator, rehabilitator or similar officer for it or for all or any material part of its property; or any receiver, trustee, custodian, conservator, liquidator, rehabilitator or similar officer is appointed without the application or consent of such Person and the appointment continues undischarged or unstayed for sixty (60) calendar days; or any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law relating to any such Person or to all or any material part of its property is instituted without the consent of such Person and continues undismissed or unstayed for sixty (60) calendar days, or an order for relief is entered in any such proceeding; or

 

(h)                                  Inability to Pay Debts; Attachment .  (i) the Parent or the Borrower becomes unable to pay its debts as they become due, or any Loan Party admits in writing its inability or fails generally to pay its debts as they become due, or (ii) any writ or warrant of attachment or execution or similar process is issued or levied against all or any material part of the property of any such Loan Party and is not released, vacated or fully bonded within thirty (30) days after its issue or levy; or

 

(i)                                      Judgments .  There is entered against any Loan Party (i) one or more final judgments or orders for the payment of money in an aggregate amount (as to all such judgments or orders) exceeding the Threshold Amount (to the extent not covered by independent third-party insurance as to which the insurer does not dispute coverage), or (ii) any one or more non-monetary final judgments that have, or would have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect and, in either case, (A) enforcement proceedings are commenced by any creditor upon such judgment or order, or (B) there is a period of ten (10) consecutive days during which a stay of enforcement of such judgment, by reason of a pending appeal or otherwise, is not in effect; or

 

(j)                                     ERISA .  (i) An ERISA Event occurs with respect to a Pension Plan or Multiemployer Plan which has resulted or would result in liability of any Company under Title IV of ERISA to the Pension Plan, Multiemployer Plan or the PBGC in an aggregate amount in excess of the Threshold Amount, or (ii) the Parent or any ERISA Affiliate fails to pay when due, after the expiration of any applicable grace period, any installment payment with respect to its withdrawal liability under Section 4201 of ERISA under a Multiemployer Plan in an aggregate amount in excess of the Threshold Amount; or

 

(k)                                  Invalidity of Loan Documents .  Any Loan Document at any time after its execution and delivery and for any reason other than as expressly permitted hereunder or thereunder or satisfaction in full of all the Obligations, ceases to be in full force and effect in all material respects; or any Loan Party or any other Person contests in any manner the validity or enforceability of any Loan Document; or any Loan Party denies that it has any or further liability

 

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or obligation under any Loan Document, or purports to revoke, terminate or rescind any Loan Document, except as expressly permitted hereunder; or

 

(l)                                      REIT Status of the Parent .  The Parent ceases to be treated as a REIT or the Parent Shares shall fail to be listed and traded on the New York Stock Exchange; or

 

(m)                              Change of Control .  There occurs any Change of Control.

 

9.02                         Remedies Upon Event of Default .  If any Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Administrative Agent shall, at the request of, or may, with the consent of, the Required Lenders, take any or all of the following actions:

 

(a)                                  declare the commitment of each Lender (including the Swing Line Lender) to make Loans and any obligation of any L/C Issuer to make L/C Credit Extensions to be terminated, whereupon such commitments and obligation shall be terminated;

 

(b)                                  declare the unpaid principal amount of all outstanding Loans, all interest accrued and unpaid thereon, and all other amounts owing or payable hereunder or under any other Loan Document to be immediately due and payable without presentment, demand, protest or other notice of any kind, all of which are hereby expressly waived by the Borrower;

 

(c)                                   require that the Borrower Cash Collateralize the L/C Obligations (in an amount equal to the then Outstanding Amount thereof); and

 

(d)                                  exercise on behalf of itself, the Lenders and the L/C Issuers all rights and remedies available to it, the Lenders and the L/C Issuers under the Loan Documents;

 

provided that upon the occurrence of an actual or deemed entry of an order for relief with respect to the Borrower under the Bankruptcy Code of the United States, the obligation of each Lender to make Loans and any obligation of any L/C Issuer to make L/C Credit Extensions shall automatically terminate, the unpaid principal amount of all outstanding Loans and all interest and other amounts as aforesaid shall automatically become due and payable, and the obligation of the Borrower to Cash Collateralize the L/C Obligations as aforesaid shall automatically become effective, in each case without further act of the Administrative Agent or any Lender.

 

9.03                         Application of Funds .  After the exercise of remedies provided for in Section 9.02 (or after the Loans have automatically become immediately due and payable and the L/C Obligations have automatically been required to be Cash Collateralized as set forth in the proviso to Section 9.02 ), any amounts received on account of the Obligations shall, subject to the provisions of Sections 2.15 and 2.16 , be applied by the Administrative Agent in the following order:

 

First , to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting fees, indemnities, expenses and other amounts (including fees, charges and disbursements of counsel to the Administrative Agent and amounts payable under Article III ) payable to the Administrative Agent in its capacity as such;

 

Second , to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting fees, indemnities and other amounts (other than principal, interest and Letter of Credit Fees) payable to the Lenders, the Swing Line Lender, and the L/C Issuers (including fees, charges and disbursements of counsel to the respective Lenders, the Swing Line Lender, and the L/C Issuers and amounts payable under Article III ), ratably among them in proportion to the respective amounts described in this clause   Second payable to them;

 

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Third , to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting accrued and unpaid Letter of Credit Fees and interest on the Loans, L/C Borrowings, and other Obligations, ratably among the Lenders, and the L/C Issuers in proportion to the respective amounts described in this clause   Third payable to them;

 

Fourth , to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting (x) unpaid principal of the Loans, Swing Line Loans, and L/C Borrowings and (y) payment obligations then owing to the Administrative Agent, any Lender, or any Affiliate of the Administrative Agent or any Lender (“ Specified Derivatives Providers ”) arising from, by virtue of, or pursuant to any Swap Contract, other than any Excluded Swap Obligation, that relates solely to the Obligations, ratably among the Lenders, the Swing Line Lender, the L/C Issuers and the Specified Derivatives Providers in proportion to the respective amounts described in this clause Fourth payable to them;

 

Fifth , to the Administrative Agent for the account of the L/C Issuers, to Cash Collateralize that portion of L/C Obligations comprised of the aggregate undrawn amount of Letters of Credit to the extent not otherwise Cash Collateralized by the Borrower pursuant to Sections 2.03 and 2.15 ; and

 

Last , the balance, if any, after all of the Obligations have been paid in full, to the Borrower or as otherwise required by Law.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, Obligations owing to Specified Derivatives Providers shall be excluded from the application described above if the Administrative Agent has not received written notice thereof, together with such supporting documentation as the Administrative Agent may request, from the applicable Specified Derivatives Provider.  Each Specified Derivatives Provider not a party to this Agreement that has given the notice contemplated by the preceding sentence shall, by such notice, be deemed to have acknowledged and accepted the appointment of the Administrative Agent pursuant to the terms of Article X for itself and its Affiliates as if a “Lender” party hereto.

 

Subject to Sections 2.03(c)  and 2.15 , amounts used to Cash Collateralize the aggregate undrawn amount of Swing Line Loans and/or Letters of Credit pursuant to clause   Fifth above shall be applied to satisfy drawings under such Swing Line Loans and/or Letters of Credit as they occur.  If any amount remains on deposit as Cash Collateral after all Swing Line Loans and/or Letters of Credit have either been fully drawn or expired, such remaining amount shall be promptly applied to the other Obligations, if any, in the order set forth above.

 

Article X.
The Administrative Agent

 

10.01                  Appointment and Authority .  Each of the Lenders, the Swing Line Lender, and the L/C Issuers hereby irrevocably appoints Wells Fargo to act on its behalf as the Administrative Agent hereunder and under the other Loan Documents and authorizes the Administrative Agent to take such actions on its behalf and to exercise such powers as are delegated to the Administrative Agent by the terms hereof or thereof, together with such actions and powers as are reasonably incidental thereto.  The provisions of this Article are solely for the benefit of the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the L/C Issuers, neither the Borrower nor any other Loan Party shall have rights as a third party beneficiary of any of such provisions.  It is understood and agreed that the use of the term “agent” (or any other similar term) herein or in any other Loan Documents with reference to the Administrative Agent is not intended to connote any fiduciary or other implied (or express) obligations arising under agency doctrine of any applicable Law. Instead such term is used as a matter of market custom, and is intended to create or reflect only an administrative relationship between contracting parties.

 

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10.02                  Rights as a Lender .  The Person serving as the Administrative Agent hereunder shall have the same rights and powers in its capacity as a Lender as any other Lender and may exercise the same as though it were not the Administrative Agent and the term “Lender” or “Lenders” shall, unless otherwise expressly indicated or unless the context otherwise requires, include the Person serving as the Administrative Agent hereunder in its individual capacity.  Such Person and its Affiliates may accept deposits from, lend money to, own securities of, act as the financial advisor or in any other advisory capacity for and generally engage in any kind of business with the Borrower or any Subsidiary or other Affiliate thereof as if such Person were not the Administrative Agent hereunder and without any duty to account therefor to the Lenders.

 

10.03                  Exculpatory Provisions .  The Administrative Agent shall not have any duties or obligations except those expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents, and its duties hereunder shall be administrative in nature.  Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Administrative Agent:

 

(a)                                  shall not be subject to any fiduciary or other implied duties, regardless of whether a Default has occurred and is continuing;

 

(b)                                  shall not have any duty to take any discretionary action or exercise any discretionary powers, except discretionary rights and powers expressly contemplated hereby or by the other Loan Documents that the Administrative Agent is required to exercise as directed in writing by the Required Lenders (or such other number or percentage of the Lenders as shall be expressly provided for herein or in the other Loan Documents), provided that the Administrative Agent shall not be required to take any action that, in its opinion or the opinion of its counsel, may expose the Administrative Agent to liability or that is contrary to any Loan Document or applicable law, including for the avoidance of doubt any action that may be in violation of the automatic stay under any Debtor Relief Law or that may effect a forfeiture, modification or termination of property of a Defaulting Lender in violation of any Debtor Relief Law; and

 

(c)                                   shall not, except as expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents, have any duty to disclose, and shall not be liable for the failure to disclose, any information relating to the Borrower or any of its Affiliates that is communicated to or obtained by the Person serving as the Administrative Agent or any of its Affiliates in any capacity.

 

The Administrative Agent shall not be liable for any action taken or not taken by it (i) with the consent or at the request of the Required Lenders (or such other number or percentage of the Lenders as shall be necessary, or as the Administrative Agent shall believe in good faith shall be necessary, under the circumstances as provided in Sections 11.01 and 9.02 ) or (ii) in the absence of its own gross negligence or willful misconduct as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by final and nonappealable judgment.  The Administrative Agent shall be deemed not to have knowledge of any Default unless and until notice describing such Default is given in writing to the Administrative Agent by the Borrower, a Lender or an L/C Issuer.

 

The Administrative Agent shall not be responsible for or have any duty to ascertain or inquire into (i) any statement, warranty or representation made in or in connection with this Agreement or any other Loan Document, (ii) the contents of any certificate, report or other document delivered hereunder or thereunder or in connection herewith or therewith, (iii) the performance or observance of any of the covenants, agreements or other terms or conditions set forth herein or therein or the occurrence of any Default, (iv) the validity, enforceability, effectiveness or genuineness of this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any other agreement, instrument or document or (v) the satisfaction of any condition set

 

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forth in Article IV or elsewhere herein, other than to confirm receipt of items expressly required to be delivered to the Administrative Agent.

 

10.04                  Reliance by the Administrative Agent .  The Administrative Agent shall be entitled to rely upon, and shall not incur any liability for relying upon, any notice, request, certificate, consent, statement, instrument, document or other writing (including any electronic message, Internet or intranet website posting or other distribution) believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed, sent or otherwise authenticated by the proper Person.  The Administrative Agent also may rely upon any statement made to it orally or by telephone and believed by it to have been made by the proper Person, and shall not incur any liability for relying thereon.  In determining compliance with any condition hereunder to the making of a Loan, or the issuance, extension, renewal or increase of a Letter of Credit, that by its terms must be fulfilled to the satisfaction of a Lender or an L/C Issuer, the Administrative Agent may presume that such condition is satisfactory to such Lender or L/C Issuer unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice to the contrary from such Lender or L/C Issuer prior to the making of such Loan or the issuance of such Letter of Credit.  The Administrative Agent may consult with legal counsel (who may be counsel for the Borrower), independent accountants and other experts selected by it, and shall not be liable for any action taken or not taken by it in accordance with the advice of any such counsel, accountants or experts.

 

10.05                  Delegation of Duties .  The Administrative Agent may perform any and all of its duties and exercise its rights and powers hereunder or under any other Loan Document by or through any one or more sub-agents appointed by the Administrative Agent.  The Administrative Agent and any such sub-agent may perform any and all of its duties and exercise its rights and powers by or through their respective Related Parties.  The exculpatory provisions of this Article shall apply to any such sub-agent and to the Related Parties of the Administrative Agent and any such sub-agent, and shall apply to their respective activities in connection with the syndication of the credit facilities provided for herein as well as activities as the Administrative Agent.  The Administrative Agent shall not be responsible for the negligence or misconduct of any sub-agents except to the extent that a court of competent jurisdiction determines in a final and non-appealable judgment that the Administrative Agent acted with gross negligence or willful misconduct in the selection of such sub-agents.

 

10.06                  Resignation of the Administrative Agent.

 

(a)                                  The Administrative Agent may at any time give notice of its resignation to the Lenders, the L/C Issuers and the Borrower.  Upon receipt of any such notice of resignation, the Required Lenders shall have the right, subject to the reasonable approval of the Borrower (with any Lender or affiliate of a Lender being deemed approved, unless such Lender is a Defaulting Lender, and which approval shall not be required if an Event Default shall be in existence), to appoint a successor, which shall be a bank with an office in the United States, or an Affiliate of any such bank with an office in the United States.  If no such successor shall have been so appointed by the Required Lenders and shall have accepted such appointment within 30 days after the retiring Administrative Agent gives notice of its resignation (or such earlier day as shall be agreed by the Required Lenders) (the “ Resignation Effective Date ”), then the retiring Administrative Agent may (but shall not be obligated to) on behalf of the Lenders and the L/C Issuers, appoint a successor Administrative Agent meeting the qualifications set forth above.  Whether or not a successor has been appointed, such resignation shall become effective in accordance with such notice on the Resignation Effective Date.

 

(b)                                  If the Person serving as the Administrative Agent is a Defaulting Lender pursuant to clause (d)  of the definition thereof, the Required Lenders may, to the extent permitted by applicable law, by notice in writing to the Borrower and such Person remove such Person as the

 

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Administrative Agent and, in consultation with the Borrower, appoint a successor. If no such successor shall have been so appointed by the Required Lenders and shall have accepted such appointment within 30 days (or such earlier day as shall be agreed by the Required Lenders) (the “Removal Effective Date”), then such removal shall nonetheless become effective in accordance with such notice on the Removal Effective Date.

 

(c)                                   With effect from the Resignation Effective Date or the Removal Effective Date (as applicable) (1) the retiring or removed Administrative Agent shall be discharged from its duties and obligations hereunder and under the other Loan Documents (except that in the case of any pledge security held by the Administrative Agent on behalf of the Lenders or the L/C Issuers under any of the Loan Documents, the retiring or removed Administrative Agent shall continue to hold such collateral security until such time as a successor Administrative Agent is appointed) and (2) except for any indemnity payments or other amounts then owed to the retiring or removed Administrative Agent, all payments, communications and determinations provided to be made by, to or through the Administrative Agent shall instead be made by or to each Lender and L/C Issuer directly, until such time, if any, as the Required Lenders appoint a successor Administrative Agent as provided for above.  Upon the acceptance of a successor’s appointment as the Administrative Agent hereunder, such successor shall succeed to and become vested with all of the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring (or removed) the Administrative Agent (other than any rights to indemnity payments or other amounts owed to the retiring or removed Administrative Agent as of the Resignation Effective Date or the Removal Effective Date, as applicable), and the retiring or removed Administrative Agent shall be discharged from all of its duties and obligations hereunder or under the other Loan Documents (if not already discharged therefrom as provided above in this Section).  The fees payable by the Borrower to a successor Administrative Agent shall be the same as those payable to its predecessor unless otherwise agreed between the Borrower and such successor.  After the retiring or removed Administrative Agent’s resignation or removal hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, the provisions of this Article and Section 1 0 .04 shall continue in effect for the benefit of such retiring or removed Administrative Agent, its sub-agents and their respective Related Parties in respect of any actions taken or omitted to be taken by any of them while the retiring or removed Administrative Agent was acting as the Administrative Agent.

 

(d)                                  Any resignation by Wells Fargo as the Administrative Agent pursuant to this Section shall also constitute its resignation as an L/C Issuer and the Swing Line Lender.  If Wells Fargo or Bank of America resigns as an L/C Issuer, it shall retain all the rights, powers, privileges and duties of an L/C Issuer hereunder with respect to all Letters of Credit outstanding as of the effective date of its resignation as an L/C Issuer and all L/C Obligations with respect thereto, including the right to require the Lenders to make Base Rate Loans or fund risk participations in Unreimbursed Amounts pursuant to Section 2.03(c) .  If Wells Fargo resigns as the Swing Line Lender, it shall retain all the rights of the Swing Line Lender provided for hereunder with respect to Swing Line Loans made by it and outstanding as of the effective date of such resignation, including the right to require the Lenders to make Base Rate Loans or fund risk participations in outstanding Swing Line Loans pursuant to Section 2.04(c) .  Upon the appointment by the Required Lenders of a successor L/C Issuer or the Swing Line Lender hereunder (which successor shall in all cases be a Lender other than a Defaulting Lender), (a) such successor shall succeed to and become vested with all of the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring L/C Issuer or the Swing Line Lender, as applicable, (b) the retiring L/C Issuer and the Swing Line Lender shall be discharged from all of their respective duties and obligations hereunder or under the other Loan Documents, and (c) unless all outstanding Letters of Credit are returned to the retiring L/C Issuer, the successor L/C Issuer shall issue letters of credit in substitution for the Letters of Credit, if any, outstanding at the time of such succession or make other arrangements

 

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satisfactory to Wells Fargo or Bank of America, as applicable, to effectively assume the obligations of the retiring L/C Issuer with respect to such Letters of Credit.

 

10.07                  Non-Reliance on the Administrative Agent and Other Lenders .  Each Lender and L/C Issuer acknowledges that it has, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent or any other Lender or any of their Related Parties and based on such documents and information as it has deemed appropriate, made its own credit analysis and decision to enter into this Agreement.  Each Lender and L/C Issuer also acknowledges that it will, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent or any other Lender or any of their Related Parties and based on such documents and information as it shall from time to time deem appropriate, continue to make its own decisions in taking or not taking action under or based upon this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any related agreement or any document furnished hereunder or thereunder.

 

10.08                  No Other Duties, Etc.   Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, none of the Lead Arrangers, Bookrunners, Syndication Agent or co-Documentation Agents listed on the cover page hereof shall have any powers, duties or responsibilities under this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents, except in its capacity, as applicable, as the Administrative Agent, a Lender or an L/C Issuer hereunder.

 

10.09                  The Administrative Agent May File Proofs of Claim .  In case of the pendency of any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law or any other judicial proceeding relative to any Loan Party, the Administrative Agent (irrespective of whether the principal of any Loan or L/C Obligation shall then be due and payable as herein expressed or by declaration or otherwise and irrespective of whether the Administrative Agent shall have made any demand on the Borrower) shall be entitled and empowered, by intervention in such proceeding or otherwise:

 

(a)                                  to file and prove a claim for the whole amount of the principal and interest owing and unpaid in respect of the Loans, L/C Obligations and all other Obligations that are owing and unpaid and to file such other documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Lenders, the L/C Issuers and the Administrative Agent (including any claim for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Lenders, the L/C Issuers and the Administrative Agent and their respective agents and counsel and all other amounts due the Lenders, the L/C Issuers and the Administrative Agent under Sections 2.03(i)  and (j) , 2.09 and 1 1 .04 ) allowed in such judicial proceeding; and

 

(b)                                  to collect and receive any monies or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims and to distribute the same;

 

and any custodian, receiver, assignee, trustee, liquidator, sequestrator or other similar official in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Lender, the Swing Line Lender and each L/C Issuer to make such payments to the Administrative Agent and, in the event that the Administrative Agent shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Lenders, the Swing Line Lender and the L/C Issuers, to pay to the Administrative Agent any amount due for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Administrative Agent and its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Administrative Agent under Sections 2.09 and 11.04 .

 

Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to authorize the Administrative Agent to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Lender, the Swing Line Lender or any L/C Issuer any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Obligations or the rights of any Lender or L/C Issuer to authorize the Administrative Agent to vote in respect of the claim of any Lender or L/C Issuer in any such proceeding.

 

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10.10                  Guaranty Matters .  Upon request by the Administrative Agent at any time, the Required Lenders will confirm in writing the Administrative Agent’s authority to release any Guarantor from its obligations under a Guaranty pursuant to the terms of this Agreement.

 

Article XI.
Miscellaneous

 

11.01                  Amendments, Etc.   No amendment or waiver of any provision of this Agreement or any other Loan Document, and no consent to any departure by the Borrower or any other Loan Party therefrom, shall be effective unless in writing signed by the Required Lenders and the Borrower or the applicable Loan Party, as the case may be, and acknowledged by the Administrative Agent, and each such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the specific purpose for which given; provided that no such amendment, waiver or consent shall:

 

(a)                                  waive any condition set forth in Section 5.01(a)  without the written consent of each Lender;

 

(b)                                  extend or increase the Commitment of any Lender (or reinstate any Commitment terminated pursuant to Section 9.02 ) without the written consent of such Lender;

 

(c)                                   postpone any date fixed by this Agreement or any other Loan Document for any payment or mandatory prepayment of principal, interest, fees or other amounts due to a Lender or any scheduled or mandatory reduction of the Aggregate Commitments hereunder or under any other Loan Document without the written consent of each Lender directly affected thereby;

 

(d)                                  reduce or forgive the principal of, or the rate of interest specified herein on, any Loan or L/C Borrowing, or (subject to clause   (iii)  of the second proviso to this Section 11.01 ) any fees or other amounts payable hereunder or under any other Loan Document, without the written consent of each Lender directly affected thereby; provided that only the consent of the Required Lenders shall be necessary to amend the definition of “ Default Rate ,” waive any obligation of the Borrower to pay interest or Letter of Credit Fees at the Default Rate, or change the manner of computation of any financial ratio (including any change in any applicable defined term) used in determining the Applicable Rate that would result in a reduction of any interest rate on any Loan or any fee payable hereunder;

 

(e)                                   change Section 9.03 in a manner that would alter the pro rata sharing of payments required thereby without the written consent of each Lender;

 

(f)                                    change any provision of this Section  or the definition of “ Required Lenders ” or any other provision hereof specifying the number or percentage of the Lenders required to amend, waive or otherwise modify any rights hereunder or make any determination or grant any consent hereunder, without the written consent of each Lender;

 

(g)                                   release all or substantially all of the value of the Guaranties without the written consent of each Lender;

 

and, provided, further , that (i) no amendment, waiver or consent shall, unless in writing and signed by the L/C Issuers in addition to the Lenders required above, affect the rights or duties of any L/C Issuer under this Agreement or any Issuer Document relating to any Letter of Credit issued or to be issued by it; (ii) no amendment, waiver or consent shall, unless in writing and signed by the Swing Line Lender in addition to

 

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the Lenders required above, affect the rights or duties of the Swing Line Lender under this Agreement; and (iii) no amendment, waiver or consent shall, unless in writing and signed by the Administrative Agent in addition to the Lenders required above, affect the rights or duties of the Administrative Agent under this Agreement or any other Loan Document; and (iv)  the Fee Letters may be amended, or rights or privileges thereunder waived, in a writing executed only by the parties thereto.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, no Defaulting Lender shall have any right to approve or disapprove any amendment, waiver or consent hereunder (and any amendment, waiver or consent which by its terms requires the consent of all Lenders or each affected Lender may be effected with the consent of the applicable Lenders other than Defaulting Lenders), except that (x) the Commitment of any Defaulting Lender may not be increased or extended without the consent of such Lender and (y) any waiver, amendment or modification requiring the consent of all Lenders or each affected Lender that by its terms affects any Defaulting Lender more adversely than other affected Lenders shall require the consent of such Defaulting Lender.  All communications from the Administrative Agent to any Lender requesting such Lender’s determination, consent, approval or disapproval (a) shall be given in the form of a written notice to such Lender, (b) shall be accompanied by a description of the matter or issue as to which such determination, approval, consent or disapproval is requested, or shall advise such Lender where information, if any, regarding such matter or issue may be inspected, or shall otherwise describe the matter or issue to be resolved, (c) shall include, if reasonably requested by such Lender and to the extent not previously provided to such Lender, written materials and, as appropriate, a brief summary of all oral information provided to the Administrative Agent by the Borrower in respect of the matter or issue to be resolved, and (d) shall include the Administrative Agent’s recommended course of action or determination in respect thereof.

 

11.02                  Notices; Effectiveness; Electronic Communication.

 

(a)                                  Notices Generally .  Except in the case of notices and other communications expressly permitted to be given by telephone (and except as provided in subsection (b)  below), all notices and other communications provided for herein shall be in writing and shall be delivered by hand or overnight courier service, mailed by certified or registered mail or sent by telecopier as follows, and all notices and other communications expressly permitted hereunder to be given by telephone shall be made to the applicable telephone number, as follows:

 

(i)                                      if to the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the Swing Line Lender or an L/C Issuer, to the address, telecopier number, electronic mail address or telephone number specified for such Person on Schedule 11.02 ; and

 

(ii)                                   if to any other Lender, to the address, telecopier number, electronic mail address or telephone number specified in its Administrative Questionnaire (including, as appropriate, notices delivered solely to the Person designated by a Lender on its Administrative Questionnaire then in effect for the delivery of notices that may contain material non-public information relating to the Borrower).

 

Notices and other communications sent by hand or overnight courier service, or mailed by certified or registered mail, shall be deemed to have been given when received; notices and other communications sent by telecopier shall be deemed to have been given when sent (except that, if not given during normal business hours for the recipient, shall be deemed to have been given at the opening of business on the next business day for the recipient).  Notices and other communications delivered through electronic communications to the extent provided in subsection (b)  below, shall be effective as provided in such subsection (b) .

 

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(b)                                  Electronic Communications .  Notices and other communications to the Lenders and the L/C Issuers hereunder may be delivered or furnished by electronic communication (including e-mail and Internet or intranet websites) pursuant to procedures approved by the Administrative Agent, provided that the foregoing shall not apply to notices to any Lender or L/C Issuer pursuant to Article II if such Lender or L/C Issuer, as applicable, has notified the Administrative Agent that it is incapable of receiving notices under such Article by electronic communication.  The Administrative Agent, the Swing Line Lender, the L/C Issuers or the Borrower may each, in its discretion, agree to accept notices and other communications to it hereunder by electronic communications pursuant to procedures approved by it; provided that approval of such procedures may be limited to particular notices or communications.

 

Unless the Administrative Agent otherwise prescribes, (i) notices and other communications sent to an e-mail address shall be deemed received upon the sender’s receipt of an acknowledgement from the intended recipient (such as by the “return receipt requested” function, as available, return e-mail or other written acknowledgement), and (ii) notices or communications posted to an Internet or intranet website shall be deemed received upon the deemed receipt by the intended recipient at its e-mail address as described in the foregoing clause (i)  of notification that such notice or communication is available and identifying the website address therefor; provided that , for both clauses (i)  and (ii) , if such notice, email or other communication is not sent during the normal business hours of the recipient, such notice, email or communication shall be deemed to have been sent at the opening of business on the next business day for the recipient.

 

(c)                                   The Platform .  THE PLATFORM IS PROVIDED “AS IS” AND “AS AVAILABLE.”  THE AGENT PARTIES (AS DEFINED BELOW) DO NOT WARRANT THE ACCURACY OR COMPLETENESS OF THE BORROWER MATERIALS OR THE ADEQUACY OF THE PLATFORM, AND EXPRESSLY DISCLAIM LIABILITY FOR ERRORS IN OR OMISSIONS FROM THE BORROWER MATERIALS.  NO WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS, IMPLIED OR STATUTORY, INCLUDING ANY WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, NON-INFRINGEMENT OF THIRD PARTY RIGHTS OR FREEDOM FROM VIRUSES OR OTHER CODE DEFECTS, IS MADE BY ANY AGENT PARTY IN CONNECTION WITH THE BORROWER MATERIALS OR THE PLATFORM.  In no event shall the Administrative Agent or any of its Related Parties (collectively, the “ Agent Parties ”) have any liability to the Borrower, any Lender, any L/C Issuer or any other Person for losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses of any kind (whether in tort, contract or otherwise) arising out of the Borrower’s or the Administrative Agent’s transmission of the Borrower Materials through the Internet, except to the extent that such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses are determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by a final and nonappealable judgment to have resulted from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Agent Party; provided that in no event shall any Agent Party have any liability to the Borrower, any Lender, any L/C Issuer or any other Person for indirect, special, incidental, consequential or punitive damages (as opposed to direct or actual damages) resulting therefrom.

 

(d)                                  Change of Address, Etc .  Each of the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the Swing Line Lender and the L/C Issuers may change its address, telecopier or telephone number for notices and other communications hereunder by notice to the other parties hereto.  Each other Lender may change its address, telecopier or telephone number for notices and other communications hereunder by notice to the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the Swing Line Lender and the L/C Issuers.  In addition, each Lender agrees to notify the Administrative Agent from time to time to ensure that the Administrative Agent has on record (i) an effective address, contact name, telephone number, telecopier number and electronic mail address to which notices

 

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and other communications may be sent and (ii) accurate wire instructions for such Lender.  Furthermore, each Public Lender agrees to cause at least one (1) individual at or on behalf of such Public Lender to at all times have selected the “Private Side Information” or similar designation on the content declaration screen of the Platform in order to enable such Public Lender or its delegate, in accordance with such Public Lender’s compliance procedures and applicable Law, including United States Federal and state securities Laws, to make reference to the Borrower Materials that are not made available through the “Public Side Information” portion of the Platform and that may contain material non-public information with respect to the Borrower or its Equity Interests for purposes of United States Federal or state securities laws.

 

(e)                                   Reliance by the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuer s , the Swing Line Lender and the Lenders .  The Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuers, the Swing Line Lender and the Lenders shall be entitled to rely and act upon any notices (including telephonic Committed Loan Notices and Swing Line Loan Notices) purportedly given by or on behalf of the Borrower even if (i) such notices were not made in a manner specified herein, were incomplete or were not preceded or followed by any other form of notice specified herein, or (ii) the terms thereof, as understood by the recipient, varied from any confirmation thereof.  The Borrower shall indemnify the Administrative Agent, each L/C Issuer, the Swing Line Lender, each Lender and the Related Parties of each of them from all losses, costs, expenses and liabilities resulting from the reliance by such Person on each notice purportedly given by or on behalf of the Borrower.  All telephonic notices to and other telephonic communications with the Administrative Agent may be recorded by the Administrative Agent, and each of the parties hereto hereby consents to such recording.

 

11.03                  No Waiver; Cumulative Remedies; Enforcement .  No failure by any Lender, any L/C Issuer or the Administrative Agent to exercise, and no delay by any such Person in exercising, any right, remedy, power or privilege hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof; nor shall any single or partial exercise of any right, remedy, power or privilege hereunder preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, remedy, power or privilege.  The rights, remedies, powers and privileges herein provided and provided under each other Loan Document are cumulative and not exclusive of any rights, remedies, powers and privileges provided by Law.

 

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein or in any other Loan Document, the authority to enforce rights and remedies hereunder and under the other Loan Documents against the Loan Parties or any of them shall be vested exclusively in, and all actions and proceedings at law in connection with such enforcement shall be instituted and maintained exclusively by, the Administrative Agent in accordance with Section 9.02 for the benefit of all the Lenders and the L/C Issuers; provided that the foregoing shall not prohibit (a) the Administrative Agent from exercising on its own behalf the rights and remedies that inure to its benefit (solely in its capacity as the Administrative Agent) hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, (b) any L/C Issuer or the Swing Line Lender from exercising the rights and remedies that inure to its benefit (solely in its capacity as an L/C Issuer or the Swing Line Lender, as the case may be) hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, (c) any Lender from exercising setoff rights in accordance with Section 11.08 (subject to the terms of Section 2.13 ), or (d) any Lender from filing proofs of claim or appearing and filing pleadings on its own behalf during the pendency of a proceeding relative to any Loan Party under any Debtor Relief Law; and provided , further , that if at any time there is no Person acting as the Administrative Agent hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, then (i) the Required Lenders shall have the rights otherwise ascribed to the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 9.02 and (ii) in addition to the matters set forth in clauses (b) , (c)  and (d)  of the preceding proviso and subject to Section 2.13 , any Lender may, with the consent of the Required Lenders, enforce any rights and remedies available to it and as authorized by the Required Lenders.

 

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11.04                  Expenses; Indemnity; Damage Waiver.

 

(a)                                  Costs and Expenses .  Each Loan Party shall jointly and severally pay (i) all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent and its Affiliates (including (a) the reasonable fees, charges and disbursements of counsel for the Administrative Agent; (b) fees and charges of each consultant, inspector, and engineer; (c) uniform commercial code searches; (d) judgment and tax lien searches for the Borrower and each Guarantor; (e) escrow fees; and (f) documentary taxes, in connection with the initial syndication of the credit facilities provided for herein, the preparation, negotiation, execution, delivery and administration of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents or any amendments, modifications or waivers of the provisions hereof or thereof (whether or not the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby shall be consummated), (ii) all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by any L/C Issuer in connection with the issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of any Letter of Credit or any demand for payment thereunder and (iii) all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent, any Lender or L/C Issuer (including the reasonable fees, charges and disbursements of any counsel for the Administrative Agent, any Lender (only if a Default shall be in existence) or L/C Issuer), in connection with the enforcement or protection of its rights (A) in connection with this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, including its rights under this Section , or (B) in connection with the Loans made or Letters of Credit issued hereunder, including all such out-of-pocket expenses incurred during any workout, restructuring or negotiations in respect of such Loans or Letters of Credit; provided, however that the Borrower shall not be required to pay the expenses of more than one law firm acting as counsel for the Lenders (in addition to expenses for any appropriate local or special counsel) in connection with such workout or enforcement to the extent the Lenders reasonably determine that joint representation is appropriate under the circumstances.

 

(b)                                  Indemnification .  The Parent and the Borrower shall jointly and severally indemnify the Administrative Agent (and any sub-agent thereof), each Lender and L/C Issuer, and each Related Party of any of the foregoing Persons (each such Person being called an “ Indemnitee ”) against, and hold each Indemnitee harmless from, any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities and related expenses (including the reasonable fees, charges and disbursements of any counsel for any Indemnitee), incurred by any Indemnitee or asserted against any Indemnitee by any third party or by the Borrower or any other Loan Party resulting from any action, suit, or proceeding relating to (i) the execution or delivery of this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any agreement or instrument contemplated hereby or thereby, the performance by the parties hereto of their respective obligations hereunder or thereunder, the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, or, in the case of the Administrative Agent (and any sub-agent thereof) and its Related Parties only, the administration of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents (including in respect of any matters addressed in Section 3.01 ), (ii) any Loan or Letter of Credit or the use or proposed use of the proceeds therefrom (including any refusal by an L/C Issuer to honor a demand for payment under a Letter of Credit if the documents presented in connection with such demand do not strictly comply with the terms of such Letter of Credit), (iii) any actual or alleged presence or release of Hazardous Materials on or from any property owned or operated by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, or any Environmental Damages related in any way to the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, or (iv) any actual or prospective claim, litigation, investigation or proceeding relating to any of the foregoing, whether based on contract, tort or any other theory, whether brought by a third party or by the Borrower or any other Loan Party, and regardless of whether any Indemnitee is a party thereto; provided that such indemnity shall not, as to any Indemnitee, be available to the extent that such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or related expenses (w) are determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by final and nonappealable judgment to have resulted from the gross negligence or willful

 

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misconduct of such Indemnitee or any Related Party of such Indemnitee , (x) result from a claim brought by the Borrower or any other Loan Party against an Indemnitee for breach in bad faith of such Indemnitee’s obligations hereunder or under any other Loan Document, if the Borrower or such other Loan Party has obtained a final and nonappealable judgment in its favor on such claim as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction, (y) for which an Indemnitee has been compensated pursuant to the terms of this Agreement or the Fee Letters, or (z) to the extent based upon contractual obligations of such Indemnitee owing by such Indemnitee to any third party which are not expressly set forth in this Agreement.

 

(c)                                   [ Reserved ] .

 

(d)                                  Reimbursement by the Lenders .  To the extent that the Loan Parties for any reason fail to indefeasibly pay any amount required under subsection (a)  or (b)  of this Section to be paid by the Loan Parties to the Administrative Agent (or any sub-agent thereof), the L/C Issuers, the Swing Line Lender or any Related Party of any of the foregoing (and without limiting their obligation to do so), each Lender severally agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent (or any such sub-agent), the L/C Issuers or such Related Party, as the case may be, such Lender’s pro rata share (determined as of the time that the applicable unreimbursed expense or indemnity payment is sought based on each Lender’s Applicable Percentage) of such unpaid amount (including any such unpaid amount in respect of a claim asserted by such Lender), such payment to be made severally among them based on such Lenders’ Applicable Percentage (determined as of the time that the applicable unreimbursed expense or indemnity payment is sought) of such unpaid amount, provided that the unreimbursed expense or indemnified loss, claim, damage, liability or related expense, as the case may be, was incurred by or asserted against the Administrative Agent (or any such sub-agent), any L/C Issuer or the Swing Line Lender in its capacity as such, or against any Related Party of any of the foregoing acting for the Administrative Agent (or any such sub-agent), any L/C Issuer or the Swing Line Lender in connection with such capacity.  The obligations of the Lenders under this subsection ( c )  are subject to the provisions of Section 2.12(d) .

 

(e)                                   Waiver of Consequential Damages, Etc.   To the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law, no Loan Party shall assert, and each Loan Party hereby waives and acknowledges that no other Person shall have, any claim against any Indemnitee, on any theory of liability, for special, indirect, consequential or punitive damages (as opposed to direct or actual damages) arising out of, in connection with, or as a result of, this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any agreement or instrument contemplated hereby, the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, any Loan or Letter of Credit or the use of the proceeds thereof.  No Indemnitee referred to in subsection (b)  above shall be liable for any damages arising from the use by unintended recipients of any information or other materials distributed to such unintended recipients by such Indemnitee through telecommunications, electronic or other information transmission systems in connection with this Agreement or the other Loan Documents or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby other than for direct or actual damages resulting from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Indemnitee as determined by a final and nonappealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction.

 

(f)                                    Payments .  All amounts due under this Section  shall be payable not later than ten (10) Business Days after demand therefor.

 

(g)                                   Survival .  The agreements in this Section and the indemnity provisions of Section 11.02(e)  shall survive the resignation of the Administrative Agent, the Swing Line

 

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Lender and any L/C Issuer, the replacement of any Lender, the termination of the Aggregate Commitments, and the repayment, satisfaction or discharge of all the other Obligations.

 

11.05                  Payments Set Aside .  To the extent that any payment by or on behalf of the Borrower is made to the Administrative Agent, any L/C Issuer or any Lender, or the Administrative Agent, any L/C Issuer or any Lender exercises its right of setoff, and such payment or the proceeds of such setoff or any part thereof is subsequently invalidated, declared to be fraudulent or preferential, set aside or required (including pursuant to any settlement entered into by the Administrative Agent, such L/C Issuer or such Lender in its discretion) to be repaid to a trustee, receiver or any other party, in connection with any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law or otherwise, then (a) to the extent of such recovery, the obligation or part thereof originally intended to be satisfied shall be revived and continued in full force and effect as if such payment had not been made or such setoff had not occurred, and (b) each Lender and L/C Issuer severally agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent upon demand its applicable share (without duplication) of any amount so recovered from or repaid by the Administrative Agent (without relieving the Borrower of its obligation to make any such payment so required), plus interest thereon from the date of such demand to the date such payment is made at a rate per annum equal to the Federal Funds Rate from time to time in effect.  The obligations of the Lenders and the L/C Issuers under clause (b)  of the preceding sentence shall survive the payment in full of the Obligations and the termination of this Agreement.

 

11.06                  Successors and Assigns.

 

(a)                                  Successors and Assigns Generally .  The provisions of this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby, except that neither the Borrower nor any other Loan Party may assign or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent and each Lender and no Lender may assign or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations hereunder except (i) to an assignee in accordance with the provisions of subsection (b)  of this Section, (ii) by way of participation in accordance with the provisions of subsection  (d)  of this Section, or (iii) by way of pledge or assignment of a security interest subject to the restrictions of subsection (e)  of this Section (and any other attempted assignment or transfer by any party hereto shall be null and void).  Nothing in this Agreement, expressed or implied, shall be construed to confer upon any Person (other than the parties hereto, their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby, Participants to the extent provided in subsection  (d)  of this Section and, to the extent expressly contemplated hereby, the Related Parties of each of the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuers and the Lenders) any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or by reason of this Agreement.

 

(b)                                  Assignments by the Lenders .  Any Lender may, at no cost or expense to any Loan Party (except as provided in Section 11.13 ), at any time assign to one or more assignees all or a portion of its rights and obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Commitment and the Loans (including for purposes of this subsection (b) , participations in L/C Obligations and in Swing Line Loans) at the time owing to it); provided that any such assignment shall be subject to the following conditions:

 

(i)                                      Minimum Amounts .

 

(A)                                in the case of an assignment of the entire remaining amount of the assigning Lender’s Commitment and/or the Loans at the time owing to it or contemporaneous assignments to related Approved Funds that equal at least the amount specified in paragraph (b)(i)(B) of this Section in the aggregate or in the

 

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case of an assignment to a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund, no minimum amount need be assigned (but any such assignment shall be of a pro rata interest in each of the Loans); and

 

(B)                                in any case not described in subsection (b)(i)(A)  of this Section, the aggregate amount of the Commitment (which for this purpose includes Loans outstanding thereunder) or, if the Commitment is not then in effect, the principal outstanding balance of the Loans of the assigning Lender subject to each such assignment, determined as of the date the Assignment and Assumption with respect to such assignment is delivered to the Administrative Agent or, if “Trade Date” is specified in the Assignment and Assumption, as of the Trade Date, shall not be less than $5,000,000 and shall be an assignment of a pro rata interest in each of the Loans, and the amount assigned to the Eligible Assignee shall not be less than $5,000,000, unless each of the Administrative Agent and, so long as no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Borrower otherwise consents (each such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed); provided that concurrent assignments to members of an Assignee Group and concurrent assignments from members of an Assignee Group to a single Eligible Assignee (or to an Eligible Assignee and members of its Assignee Group) will be treated as a single assignment for purposes of determining whether such minimum amount has been met.

 

(ii)                                   Proportionate Amounts .  Each partial assignment shall be made as an assignment of a proportionate part of all the assigning Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement with respect to the Loans or the Commitment assigned except that this clause (ii) shall not apply to the Swing Line Lender’s rights and obligations in respect of Swing Line Loans;

 

(iii)                                Required Consents .  No consent shall be required for any assignment except to the extent required by subsection (b)(i)(B)  of this Section and, in addition:

 

(A)                                the consent of the Borrower (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) shall be required unless (1) an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing at the time of such assignment or (2) such assignment is to a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender, an Approved Fund or to any Federal Reserve Bank or other central bank authority or comparable agency having jurisdiction over such Lender; provided that the Borrower shall be deemed to have consented to any such assignment unless it shall object thereto by written notice to the Administrative Agent within ten (10) Business Days after having received notice thereof;

 

(B)                                the consent of the Administrative Agent (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) shall be required if such assignment is to a Person that is not a Lender, an Affiliate of such Lender or an Approved Fund with respect to such Lender; and

 

(C)                                the consent of the L/C Issuers and the Swing Line Lender shall be required for any assignment in respect of the Loans and shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed.

 

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(iv)                               Assignment and Assumption .  The parties to each assignment shall execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent an Assignment and Assumption, together with a processing and recordation fee in the amount of $3,500; provided that the Administrative Agent may, in its sole discretion, elect to waive such processing and recordation fee in the case of any assignment.  The assignee, if it is not a Lender, shall deliver to the Administrative Agent an Administrative Questionnaire.

 

(v)                                  No Assignment to Certain Persons .  No such assignment shall be made (A) to the Parent or the Borrower or any of their Affiliates or Subsidiaries, or (B) without the consent of the Administrative Agent and the Borrower, to any Defaulting Lender or any of its Subsidiaries, or any Person who, upon becoming a Lender hereunder, would constitute any of the foregoing Persons described in this clause (B) , (C) to a natural person, or (D) without the consent of the Borrower, to any Excluded Party.

 

(vi)                               Certain Additional Payments .  In connection with any assignment of rights and obligations of any Defaulting Lender hereunder, no such assignment shall be effective unless and until, in addition to the other conditions thereto set forth herein, the parties to the assignment shall make such additional payments to the Administrative Agent in an aggregate amount sufficient, upon distribution thereof as appropriate (which may be outright payment, purchases by the assignee of participations or sub-participations, or other compensating actions, including funding, with the consent of the Borrower and the Administrative Agent, the applicable pro rata share of Loans previously requested but not funded by the Defaulting Lender, to each of which the applicable assignee and assignor hereby irrevocably consent), to (x) pay and satisfy in full all payment liabilities then owed by such Defaulting Lender to the Administrative Agent, any L/C Issuer or any Lender hereunder (and interest accrued thereon) and (y) acquire (and fund as appropriate) its full pro rata share of all Loans and participations in Letters of Credit and Swing Line Loans in accordance with its Applicable Percentage.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that any assignment of rights and obligations of any Defaulting Lender hereunder shall become effective under applicable Law without compliance with the provisions of this paragraph, then the assignee of such interest shall be deemed to be a Defaulting Lender for all purposes of this Agreement until such compliance occurs.

 

Subject to acceptance and recording thereof by the Administrative Agent pursuant to subsection (c)  of this Section, from and after the effective date specified in each Assignment and Assumption, the assignee thereunder shall be a party to this Agreement and, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Assumption, have the rights and obligations of a Lender under this Agreement, and the assigning Lender thereunder shall, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Assumption, be released from its obligations under this Agreement (and, in the case of an Assignment and Assumption covering all of the assigning Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement, such Lender shall cease to be a party hereto) but shall continue to be entitled to the benefits of Sections 3.01, 3.04 , 3.05 , and 11.04 with respect to facts and circumstances occurring prior to the effective date of such assignment, provided, that except to the extent otherwise expressly agreed by the affected parties, no assignment by a Defaulting Lender will constitute a waiver or release of any claim of any party hereunder arising from that Lender’s having been a Defaulting Lender.  Upon request, the Borrower (at its expense) shall execute and deliver a Note to the assignee Lender.  Any assignment or transfer by a Lender of rights or obligations under this Agreement that does not comply with this subsection shall be treated for purposes of this Agreement as a sale by such

 

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Lender of a participation in such rights and obligations in accordance with subsection (d)  of this Section.

 

(c)                                   Register .  The Administrative Agent, acting solely for this purpose as a non-fiduciary agent of the Borrower (and such agency being solely for tax purposes), shall maintain at the Administrative Agent’s Office a copy of each Assignment and Assumption delivered to it (or the equivalent thereof in electronic form) and a register for the recordation of the names and addresses of the Lenders, and the Commitments of, and principal amounts (and stated interest) of the Loans and L/C Obligations owing to, each Lender pursuant to the terms hereof from time to time (the “ Register ”).  The entries in the Register shall be conclusive absent manifest error, and the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders may treat each Person whose name is recorded in the Register pursuant to the terms hereof as a Lender hereunder for all purposes of this Agreement .   The Register shall be available for inspection by the Borrower and any Lender, at any reasonable time and from time to time upon reasonable prior notice.

 

(d)                                  Participations .  Any Lender may at any time, without the consent of, or notice to, the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuers or the Swing Line Lender sell participations to any Person (other than a natural person, an Excluded Party, a Defaulting Lender or the Parent or the Borrower or any of their Affiliates or Subsidiaries) (each, a “ Participant ”) in all or a portion of such Lender’s rights and/or obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Commitment and/or the Loans (including such Lender’s participations in L/C Obligations and Swing Line Loans) owing to it); provided that (i) such Lender’s obligations under this Agreement shall remain unchanged, (ii) such Lender shall remain solely responsible to the other parties hereto for the performance of such obligations and (iii) the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the L/C Issuers shall continue to deal solely and directly with such Lender in connection with such Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement.  For the avoidance of doubt, each Lender shall be responsible for the indemnity under Section 11.04(d)  without regard to the existence of any participation.

 

Any agreement or instrument pursuant to which a Lender sells such a participation shall provide that such Lender shall retain the sole right to enforce this Agreement and to approve any amendment, modification or waiver of any provision of this Agreement; provided that such agreement or instrument may provide that such Lender will not, without the consent of the Participant, agree to any amendment, waiver or other modification described in the first proviso to Section 11.01 that affects such Participant.  The Borrower agrees that each Participant shall be entitled to the benefits of Sections 3.01 , 3.04 and 3.05 to the same extent as if it were a Lender and had acquired its interest by assignment pursuant to subsection (b)  of this Section (it being understood that the documentation required under Section 3.01(e)  shall be delivered to the Lender who sells the participation); provided that such Participant (A) agrees to be subject to the provisions of Sections 3.06 and 11.13 as if it were an assignee under paragraph (b) of this Section and (B) shall not be entitled to receive any greater payment under Sections 3.01 or 3.04 , with respect to any participation than the Lender from whom it acquired the applicable participation would have been entitled to receive, except to the extent such entitlement to receive a greater payment results from a Change in Law that occurs after the Participant acquired the applicable participation.  Each Lender that sells a participation agrees, at the Borrower’s request and expense, to use reasonable efforts to cooperate with the Borrower to effectuate the provisions of Section 3.06 with respect to any Participant.  To the extent permitted by law, each Participant also shall be entitled to the benefits of Section 11.08 as though it were a Lender; provided that such Participant agrees to be subject to Section 2.13 as though it were a Lender.  Each Lender that sells a participation shall, acting solely for this purpose as a non-fiduciary agent of the Borrower, maintain a register on which it enters the name and address of each Participant and the principal amounts (and stated interest) of each Participant’s interest in the Loans or other obligations under the Loan Documents (the “Participant Register”); provided that no Lender shall

 

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have any obligation to disclose all or any portion of the Participant Register (including the identity of any Participant or any information relating to a Participant’s interest in any commitments, loans, letters of credit or its other obligations under any Loan Document) to any Person except to the extent that such disclosure is necessary to establish that such commitment, loan, letter of credit or other obligation is in registered form under Section 5f.103-1(c)  of the United States Treasury Regulations. The entries in the Participant Register shall be conclusive absent manifest error, and such Lender shall treat each Person whose name is recorded in the Participant Register as the owner of such participation for all purposes of this Agreement notwithstanding any notice to the contrary. For the avoidance of doubt, the Administrative Agent (in its capacity as the Administrative Agent) shall have no responsibility for maintaining a Participant Register.

 

(e)                                   Certain Pledges .  Any Lender may at any time pledge or assign a security interest in all or any portion of its rights under this Agreement (including under its Note, if any) to secure obligations of such Lender, including any pledge or assignment to secure obligations to a Federal Reserve Bank or other central bank authority or comparable agency having jurisdiction over such Lender; provided that no such pledge or assignment shall release such Lender from any of its obligations hereunder or substitute any such pledgee or assignee for such Lender as a party hereto.

 

(f)                                    Resignation as an L/C Issuer or the Swing Line Lender after Assignment .  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, if at any time Wells Fargo or Bank of America, as applicable, assigns all of its Commitment and Loans pursuant to subsection (b )  above, Wells Fargo or Bank of America, as applicable, may, (i) upon 30 days’ notice to the Borrower and the Lenders, resign as an L/C Issuer and/or (ii) upon 30 days’ notice to the Borrower, resign as the Swing Line Lender.  In the event of any such resignation as an L/C Issuer or the Swing Line Lender, the Borrower shall be entitled to appoint from among the Lenders a successor L/C Issuer or the Swing Line Lender hereunder; provided, however , that no failure by the Borrower to appoint any such successor shall affect the resignation of Wells Fargo or Bank of America as L/C Issuer or the Swing Line Lender, as the case may be.  If Wells Fargo or Bank of America resigns as an L/C Issuer, it shall retain all the rights, powers, privileges and duties of an L/C Issuer hereunder with respect to all Letters of Credit outstanding as of the effective date of its resignation as an L/C Issuer and all L/C Obligations with respect thereto (including the right to require the Lenders to make Base Rate Committed Loans or fund risk participations in Unreimbursed Amounts pursuant to Section 2.03(c) ).  If Wells Fargo resigns as the Swing Line Lender, it shall retain all the rights of the Swing Line Lender provided for hereunder with respect to Swing Line Loans made by it and outstanding as of the effective date of such resignation, including the right to require the Lenders to make Base Rate Committed Loans or fund risk participations in outstanding Swing Line Loans pursuant to Section 2.04(c) .  Upon the appointment of a successor L/C Issuer and/or the Swing Line Lender, (a) such successor shall succeed to and become vested with all of the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring L/C Issuer or the Swing Line Lender, as the case may be, and (b) the successor L/C Issuer shall issue letters of credit in substitution for the Letters of Credit, if any, outstanding at the time of such succession or make other arrangements satisfactory to Wells Fargo or Bank of America, as applicable, to effectively assume the obligations of such retiring L/C Issuer with respect to such Letters of Credit.

 

(g)                                   USA Patriot Act Notice; Compliance .  In order for the Administrative Agent to comply with “know your customer” and anti-money laundering rules and regulations, including without limitation, the Patriot Act, prior to any Lender that is organized under the laws of a jurisdiction outside of the United States of America becoming a party hereto, the Administrative Agent may request, and such Lender shall provide to the Administrative Agent, its name, address,

 

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tax identification number and/or such other identification information as shall be necessary for the Administrative Agent to comply with federal law.

 

11.07                  Treatment of Certain Information; Confidentiality .  Each of the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the L/C Issuers agrees to maintain the confidentiality of the Information (as defined below), except that Information may be disclosed (a) to its Affiliates and to its Related Parties (it being understood that the Persons to whom such disclosure is made will be informed of the confidential nature of such Information and instructed to keep such Information confidential), (b) to the extent required or requested by any regulatory authority purporting to have jurisdiction over such Person or its Related Parties (including any self-regulatory authority, such as the National Association of Insurance Commissioners), (c) to the extent required by applicable Laws or regulations or by any subpoena or similar legal process so long as the Administrative Agent, any L/C Issuer and any Lender, as the case may be, requests confidential treatment of such Information to the extent permitted by Law (provided that the requesting Administrative Agent, L/C Issuer or Lender shall not be responsible for the failure by any such party to keep the Information confidential), (d) to any other party hereto, (e) in connection with the exercise of any remedies hereunder or under any other Loan Document or any action or proceeding relating to this Agreement or any other Loan Document or the enforcement of rights hereunder or thereunder, (f) subject to an agreement containing provisions substantially the same as those of this Section, to (i) any assignee of or Participant in, or any prospective assignee of or Participant in, any of its rights and obligations under this Agreement or any Eligible Assignee invited to be a Lender pursuant to Section  3.06 (c), Section 11. 13 or (ii) any actual or prospective party (or its Related Parties) to any swap, derivative or other transaction under which payments are to be made by reference to the Borrower and its obligations, this Agreement or payments hereunder, (g) on a confidential basis to (i)  any rating agency in connection with rating the Borrower or its Subsidiaries or the credit facilities provided hereunder or (ii) the CUSIP Service Bureau or any similar agency in connection with the issuance and monitoring of CUSIP numbers or other market identifiers with respect to the credit facilities provided hereunder, (h) with the consent of the Borrower or (i) to the extent such Information (x) becomes publicly available other than as a result of a breach of this Section or (y) becomes available to the Administrative Agent, any Lender, any L/C Issuer or any of their respective Affiliates on a non-confidential basis from a source other than the Borrower provided that the source of such information was not at the time known to be bound by a confidentiality agreement or other legal or contractual obligation of confidentiality with respect to such Information.  For purposes of this Section, “Information” means all information received from the Borrower or any Subsidiary relating to the Borrower or any Subsidiary or any of their respective businesses, other than any such information that is available to the Administrative Agent, any Lender or any L/C Issuer on a non-confidential basis prior to disclosure by the Borrower or any Subsidiary, provided that, in the case of information received from the Borrower or any Subsidiary after the date hereof, such information is clearly identified at the time of delivery as confidential.  Any Person required to maintain the confidentiality of Information as provided in this Section shall be considered to have complied with its obligation to do so if such Person has exercised the same degree of care to maintain the confidentiality of such Information as such Person would accord to its own confidential information.

 

Each of the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the L/C Issuers acknowledges that (a) the Information may include material non-public information concerning the Borrower or a Subsidiary, as the case may be, (b) it has developed compliance procedures regarding the use of material non-public information and (c) it will handle such material non-public information in accordance with applicable Law, including United States Federal and state securities Laws.

 

11.08                  Right of Setoff .  If an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing and the Administrative Agent and the Required Lenders shall have consented in writing thereto, each Lender, each L/C Issuer and each of their respective Affiliates (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any Specified Derivatives Providers) is hereby authorized at any time and from time to time, to the fullest

 

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extent permitted by applicable law, to set off and apply any and all deposits (general or special, time or demand, provisional or final, in whatever currency) at any time held and other obligations (in whatever currency) at any time owing by such Lender, such L/C Issuer or any such Affiliate to or for the credit or the account of the Borrower or any other Loan Party against any and all of the obligations of the Borrower or such Loan Party now or hereafter existing under this Agreement or any other Loan Document to such Lender or L/C Issuer or their respective Affiliates, irrespective of whether or not such Lender, L/C Issuer or Affiliate shall have made any demand under this Agreement or any other Loan Document and although such obligations of the Borrower or such Loan Party may be contingent or unmatured or are owed to a branch, office or Affiliate of such Lender or L/C Issuer different from the branch, office or Affiliate holding such deposit or obligated on such indebtedness; provided, that in the event that any Defaulting Lender shall exercise any such right of setoff, (x) all amounts so set off shall be paid over immediately to the Administrative Agent for further application in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.17 and, pending such payment, shall be segregated by such Defaulting Lender from its other funds and deemed held in trust for the benefit of the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuers and the Lenders, and (y) the Defaulting Lender shall provide promptly to the Administrative Agent a statement describing in reasonable detail the Obligations owing to such Defaulting Lender as to which it exercised such right of setoff.  The rights of each Lender, each L/C Issuer and their respective Affiliates under this Section are in addition to other rights and remedies (including other rights of setoff) that such Lender, such L/C Issuer or their respective Affiliates may have.  Each Lender and each L/C Issuer agrees to notify the Borrower and the Administrative Agent promptly after any such setoff and application, provided that the failure to give such notice shall not affect the validity of such setoff and application.

 

11.09                  Interest Rate Limitation .  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in any Loan Document, the interest paid or agreed to be paid under the Loan Documents shall not exceed the maximum rate of non-usurious interest permitted by applicable Law (the “ Maximum Rate ”).  If the Administrative Agent or any Lender shall receive interest in an amount that exceeds the Maximum Rate, the excess interest shall be applied to the principal of the Loans or, if it exceeds such unpaid principal, refunded to the Borrower.  In determining whether the interest contracted for, charged, or received by the Administrative Agent or a Lender exceeds the Maximum Rate, such Person may, to the extent permitted by applicable Law, (a) characterize any payment that is not principal as an expense, fee, or premium rather than interest, (b) exclude voluntary prepayments and the effects thereof, and (c) amortize, prorate, allocate, and spread in equal or unequal parts the total amount of interest throughout the contemplated term of the Obligations hereunder.

 

11.10                  Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness .  This Agreement may be executed in counterparts (and by different parties hereto in different counterparts), each of which shall constitute an original, but all of which when taken together shall constitute a single contract.  This Agreement and the other Loan Documents, and any separate letter agreements with respect to fees payable to the Administrative Agent or the L/C Issuers constitute the entire contract among the parties relating to the subject matter hereof and supersede any and all previous agreements and understandings, oral or written, relating to the subject matter hereof.  Except as provided in Section 5.01 , this Agreement shall become effective when it shall have been executed by the Administrative Agent and when the Administrative Agent shall have received counterparts hereof that, when taken together, bear the signatures of each of the other parties hereto.  Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page of this Agreement by telecopy, by email with a pdf copy attached, or other electronic imaging means shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Agreement.

 

11.11                  Survival of Representations and Warranties .  All representations and warranties made hereunder and in any other Loan Document or other document delivered pursuant hereto or thereto or in connection herewith or therewith shall survive the execution and delivery hereof and thereof.  Such representations and warranties have been or will be relied upon by the Administrative Agent and each

 

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Lender, regardless of any investigation made by the Administrative Agent or any Lender or on their behalf and notwithstanding that the Administrative Agent or any Lender may have had notice or knowledge of any Default at the time of any Credit Extension, and shall continue in full force and effect as long as any Loan or any other Obligation hereunder shall remain unpaid or unsatisfied or any Letter of Credit shall remain outstanding.

 

11.12                  Severability .  If any provision of this Agreement or the other Loan Documents is held to be illegal, invalid or unenforceable, (a) the legality, validity and enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents shall not be affected or impaired thereby and (b) the parties shall endeavor in good faith negotiations to replace the illegal, invalid or unenforceable provisions with valid provisions the economic effect of which comes as close as possible to that of the illegal, invalid or unenforceable provisions.  The invalidity of a provision in a particular jurisdiction shall not invalidate or render unenforceable such provision in any other jurisdiction.  Without limiting the foregoing provisions of this Section 11.12 , if and to the extent that the enforceability of any provisions in this Agreement relating to Defaulting Lenders shall be limited by Debtor Relief Laws, as determined in good faith by the Administrative Agent or the L/C Issuers or the Swing Line Lender then such provisions shall be deemed to be in effect only to the extent not so limited.

 

11.13                  Replacement of the Lenders .  If the Borrower is entitled to replace a Lender pursuant to the provisions of Section 3.06 , or if any Lender is a Defaulting Lender or if any other circumstance exists hereunder that gives the Borrower the right to replace a Lender as a party hereto, then the Borrower may, at its sole expense and effort, upon notice to such Lender and the Administrative Agent, require such Lender to assign and delegate, without recourse (in accordance with and subject to the restrictions contained in, and consents required by, Section 11.06 ), all of its interests, rights (other than its existing rights to payments pursuant to Sections 3.01 , 3.04 and 3.05 ) and obligations under this Agreement and the related Loan Documents to an Eligible Assignee that shall assume such obligations (which assignee may be another Lender, if a Lender accepts such assignment), provided that:

 

(a)                                  the Borrower shall have paid to the Administrative Agent the assignment fee (if any) specified in Section 1 1 .06(b) ;

 

(b)                                  such Lender shall have received payment of an amount equal to the outstanding principal of its Loans and L/C Advances, accrued interest thereon, accrued fees and all other amounts payable to it hereunder and under the other Loan Documents (including any amounts under Section 3.05 ) from the assignee (to the extent of such outstanding principal and accrued interest and fees) or the Borrower (in the case of all other amounts);

 

(c)                                   in the case of any such assignment resulting from a claim for compensation under Section 3.04 or payments required to be made pursuant to Section 3.01 , such assignment will result in a reduction in such compensation or payments thereafter; and

 

(d)                                  such assignment does not conflict with applicable Laws.

 

(e)                                   A Lender shall not be required to make any such assignment or delegation if, prior thereto, as a result of a waiver by such Lender or otherwise, the circumstances entitling the Borrower to require such assignment and delegation cease to apply.

 

11.14                  Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Etc.

 

(a)                                  GOVERNING LAW .  THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS AND ANY CLAIMS, CONTROVERSY, DISPUTE OR CAUSE OF ACTION

 

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(WHETHER IN CONTRACT OR TORT OR OTHERWISE) BASED UPON, ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT (EXCEPT, AS TO ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT, AS EXPRESSLY SET FORTH THEREIN) AND THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY AND THEREBY SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

 

(b)                                  SUBMISSION TO JURISDICTION .  THE BORROWER AND EACH OTHER LOAN PARTY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY AGREES THAT IT WILL NOT COMMENCE ANY ACTION, LITIGATION OR PROCEEDING OF ANY KIND OR DESCRIPTION, WHETHER IN LAW OR EQUITY, WHETHER IN CONTRACT OR IN TORT OR OTHERWISE, AGAINST THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT, ANY LENDER, THE L/C ISSUERS, OR ANY RELATED PARTY OF THE FOREGOING IN ANY WAY RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS RELATING HERETO OR THERETO, IN ANY FORUM OTHER THAN THE COURTS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK COUNTY AND OF THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT OF THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK, AND ANY APPELLATE COURT FROM ANY THEREOF, AND EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY SUBMITS TO THE JURISDICTION OF SUCH COURTS AND AGREES THAT ALL CLAIMS IN RESPECT OF ANY SUCH ACTION, LITIGATION OR PROCEEDING MAY BE HEARD AND DETERMINED IN SUCH NEW YORK STATE COURT OR, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, IN SUCH FEDERAL COURT.  EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO AGREES THAT A FINAL JUDGMENT IN ANY SUCH ACTION, LITIGATION OR PROCEEDING SHALL BE CONCLUSIVE AND MAY BE ENFORCED IN OTHER JURISDICTIONS BY SUIT ON THE JUDGMENT OR IN ANY OTHER MANNER PROVIDED BY LAW.  NOTHING IN THIS AGREEMENT OR IN ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT SHALL AFFECT ANY RIGHT THAT THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT, ANY LENDER OR ANY L/C ISSUER MAY OTHERWISE HAVE TO BRING ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT AGAINST THE BORROWER OR ANY OTHER LOAN PARTY OR ITS PROPERTIES IN THE COURTS OF ANY JURISDICTION.

 

(c)                                   WAIVER OF VENUE .  EACH OF THE PARENT, THE BORROWER AND EACH OTHER LOAN PARTY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY OBJECTION THAT IT MAY NOW OR HEREAFTER HAVE TO THE LAYING OF VENUE OF ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT IN ANY COURT REFERRED TO IN PARAGRAPH (b) OF THIS SECTION.  EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, THE DEFENSE OF AN INCONVENIENT FORUM TO THE MAINTENANCE OF SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING IN ANY SUCH COURT.

 

(d)                                  SERVICE OF PROCESS .  EACH PARTY HERETO IRREVOCABLY CONSENTS TO SERVICE OF PROCESS IN THE MANNER PROVIDED FOR NOTICES IN SECTION 11.02 PROVIDED THAT, IN THE CASE OF SERVICE ON ANY LOAN PARTY A COPY IS ALSO DELIVERED TO JEFFREY SULLIVAN, GENERAL COUNSEL FOR PARENT AND BORROWER.  NOTHING IN THIS AGREEMENT WILL AFFECT THE RIGHT OF ANY PARTY HERETO TO SERVE PROCESS IN ANY OTHER MANNER PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW.

 

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(e)                                   WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL .  EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR THEREBY (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT OR ANY OTHER THEORY).  EACH PARTY HERETO (A) CERTIFIES THAT NO REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF ANY OTHER PERSON HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PERSON WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER AND (B) ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT AND THE OTHER PARTIES HERETO HAVE BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION.

 

11.15                  No Advisory or Fiduciary Responsibility .  In connection with all aspects of each transaction contemplated hereby (including in connection with any amendment, waiver or other modification hereof or of any other Loan Document), the Parent, the Borrower, and each other Loan Party acknowledges and agrees, and acknowledges its Affiliates’ understanding, that: (i)(A) the arranging and other services regarding this Agreement provided by the Administrative Agent and the Lead Arrangers are arm’s-length commercial transactions between the Parent, the Borrower, each other Loan Party and their respective Affiliates, on the one hand, and the Administrative Agent and the Lead Arrangers, on the other hand, (B) each of the Parent, the Borrower, and the other Loan Parties has consulted its own legal, accounting, regulatory and tax advisors to the extent it has deemed appropriate, and (C) the Borrower and each other Loan Party is capable of evaluating, and understands and accepts, the terms, risks and conditions of the transactions contemplated hereby and by the other Loan Documents; (ii)(A) each of the Administrative Agent, the Lead Arrangers and the Lenders is and has been acting solely as a principal and, except as expressly agreed in writing by the relevant parties, has not been, is not, and will not be acting as an advisor, agent or fiduciary for the Parent, the Borrower, any other Loan Party, or any of their respective Affiliates, or any other Person and (B) the Administrative Agent, the Lead Arrangers and the Lender have no obligation to the Parent, the Borrower, any other Loan Party, or any of their respective Affiliates with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby except those obligations expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents; and (iii) the Administrative Agent, the Lead Arrangers and the Lenders and their respective Affiliates may be engaged in a broad range of transactions that involve interests that differ from those of the Parent, the Borrower, the other Loan Parties, and their respective Affiliates, and the Administrative Agent, the Lead Arrangers and the Lenders have no obligation to disclose any of such interests to the Parent, the Borrower, any other Loan Party, or any of their respective Affiliates.  To the fullest extent permitted by Law, each of the Parent, the Borrower, and the other Loan Parties hereby waives and releases any claims that it may have against the Administrative Agent and the Lead Arrangers with respect to any breach or alleged breach of agency or fiduciary duty in connection with any aspect of any transaction contemplated hereby.

 

11.16                  Electronic Execution of Assignments and Certain Other Documents .  The words “execution,” “signed,” “signature,” and words of like import in any Assignment and Assumption or in any amendment or other modification hereof (including waivers and consents) shall be deemed to include electronic signatures , the electronic matching or assignment terms and contract formations on electronic platforms approved by the Administrative Agent or the keeping of records in electronic form, each of which shall be of the same legal effect, validity or enforceability as a manually executed signature or the use of a paper-based recordkeeping system, as the case may be, to the extent and as provided for in any applicable Law, including the Federal Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act, the

 

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New York State Electronic Signatures and Records Act, or any other similar state laws based on the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act.

 

11.17                  USA PATRIOT ACT .  Each Lender that is subject to the Patriot Act (as hereinafter defined) and the Administrative Agent (for itself and not on behalf of any Lender) hereby notifies the Borrower that pursuant to the requirements of The Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001 (Title III of Pub. L. No. 107-56 (signed into law October 26, 2001)) (the “ Patriot Act ”), it is required to obtain, verify and record certain information that identifies individuals or business entities which open an “account” with such financial institution, which information includes the name, address, and tax identification number of the Borrower and such other identification information that will allow such Lender or the Administrative Agent, as applicable, to identify the Borrower in accordance with the Patriot Act and comply with federal law.  An “account” for this purpose may include, without limitation, a deposit account, cash management service, a transaction or asset account, a credit account, a loan or other extension of credit, and/or other financial services product. the Borrower shall, promptly following a request by the Administrative Agent or any Lender, provide all documentation and other information that the Administrative Agent or such Lender requests in order to comply with its ongoing obligations under applicable “know your customer” and anti-money laundering rules and regulations, including the Patriot Act.

 

11.18                  ENTIRE AGREEMENT .  THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS REPRESENT THE FINAL AGREEMENT AMONG THE PARTIES AND MAY NOT BE CONTRADICTED BY EVIDENCE OF PRIOR, CONTEMPORANEOUS, OR SUBSEQUENT ORAL AGREEMENTS OF THE PARTIES.  THERE ARE NO UNWRITTEN ORAL AGREEMENTS AMONG THE PARTIES.

 

11.19                  Acknowledgement and Consent to Bail-In of EEA Financial Institutions .  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in any Loan Document or in any other agreement, arrangement or understanding among any such parties, each party hereto acknowledges that any liability of any EEA Financial Institution arising under any Loan Document may be subject to the Write-Down and Conversion Powers of an EEA Resolution Authority and agrees and consents to, and acknowledges and agrees to be bound by:

 

(a)                                  the application of any Write-Down and Conversion Powers by an EEA Resolution Authority to any such liabilities arising hereunder which may be payable to it by any party hereto that is an EEA Financial Institution; and

 

(b)                                  the effects of any Bail-In Action on any such liability, including, if applicable:

 

(i)                                      a reduction in full or in part or cancellation of any such liability;

 

(ii)                                   a conversion of all, or a portion of, such liability into shares or other instruments of ownership in such EEA Financial Institution, its parent entity, or a bridge institution that may be issued to it or otherwise conferred on it, and that such shares or other instruments of ownership will be accepted by it in lieu of any rights with respect to any such liability under this Agreement or any other Loan Document; or

 

(iii)                                the variation of the terms of such liability in connection with the exercise of the Write-Down and Conversion Powers of any EEA Resolution Authority.

 

119



 

11.20                                                                                          Certain ERISA Matters.

 

(a) Each Lender (x) represents and warrants, as of the date such Person became a Lender party hereto, to, and (y) covenants, from the date such Person became a Lender party hereto to the date such Person ceases being a Lender party hereto, for the benefit of, the Administrative Agent, each Lead Arranger and their respective Affiliates, and not, for the avoidance of doubt, to or for the benefit of the Borrower or any other Loan Party, that at least one of the following is and will be true:

 

(i)                                      such Lender is not using “plan assets” (within the meaning of 29 CFR § 2510.3-101, as modified by Section 3(42) of ERISA) of one or more Benefit Plans in connection with the Loans, the Letters of Credit or the Commitments;

 

(ii)                                   the transaction exemption set forth in one or more PTEs, such as PTE 84-14 (a class exemption for certain transactions determined by independent qualified professional asset managers), PTE 95-60 (a class exemption for certain transactions involving insurance company general accounts), PTE 90-1 (a class exemption for certain transactions involving insurance company pooled separate accounts), PTE 91-38 (a class exemption for certain transactions involving bank collective investment funds) or PTE 96-23 (a class exemption for certain transactions determined by in-house asset managers), is applicable with respect to such Lender’s entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Letters of Credit, the Commitments and this Agreement;

 

(iii)                                (A) such Lender is an investment fund managed by a “Qualified Professional Asset Manager” (within the meaning of Part VI of PTE 84-14), (B) such Qualified Professional Asset Manager made the investment decision on behalf of such Lender to enter into, participate in, administer and perform the Loans, the Letters of Credit, the Commitments and this Agreement, (C) the entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Letters of Credit, the Commitments and this Agreement satisfies the requirements of sub-sections (b) through (g) of Part I of PTE 84-14 and (D) to the best knowledge of such Lender, the requirements of subsection (a) of Part I of PTE 84-14 are satisfied with respect to such Lender’s entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Letters of Credit, the Commitments and this Agreement; or

 

(iv)                               such other representation, warranty and covenant as may be agreed in writing between the Administrative Agent, in its sole discretion, and such Lender.

 

(b)                               In addition, unless sub-clause (i) in the immediately preceding clause (a) is true with respect to a Lender or such Lender has not provided another representation, warranty and covenant as provided in sub-clause (iv) in the immediately preceding clause (a), such Lender further (x) represents and warrants, as of the date such Person became a Lender party hereto, to, and (y) covenants, from the date such Person became a Lender party hereto to the date such Person ceases being a Lender party hereto, for the benefit of, the Administrative Agent, each Lead Arranger and their respective Affiliates, and not, for the avoidance of doubt, to or for the benefit of the Borrower or any other Credit Party, that:

 

(i)                                      none of the Administrative Agent, any Lead Arranger nor any of their respective Affiliates is a fiduciary with respect to the assets of such Lender (including in connection with the reservation or exercise of any rights by the Administrative Agent

 

120



 

under this Agreement, any Loan Document or any documents related to hereto or thereto);

 

(ii)                                   the Person making the investment decision on behalf of such Lender with respect to the entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Letters of Credit, the Commitments and this Agreement is independent (within the meaning of 29 CFR § 2510.3-21) and is a bank, an insurance carrier, an investment adviser, a broker-dealer or other person that holds, or has under management or control, total assets of at least $50 million, in each case as described in 29 CFR § 2510.3-21(c)(1)(i)(A)-(E),

 

(iii)                                the Person making the investment decision on behalf of such Lender with respect to the entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Letters of Credit, the Commitments and this Agreement is capable of evaluating investment risks independently, both in general and with regard to particular transactions and investment strategies (including in respect of the Secured Obligations);

 

(iv)                               the Person making the investment decision on behalf of such Lender with respect to the entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Letters of Credit, the Commitments and this Agreement is a fiduciary under ERISA or the Code, or both, with respect to the Loans, the Letters of Credit, the Commitments and this Agreement and is responsible for exercising independent judgment in evaluating the transactions hereunder, and

 

(v) no fee or other compensation is being paid directly to the Administrative Agent, each Lead Arranger or their respective Affiliates for investment advice (as opposed to other services) in connection with the Loans, the Letters of Credit, the Commitments or this Agreement.

 

(c) The Administrative Agent and each Lead Arranger hereby informs the Lenders that each such Person is not undertaking to provide impartial investment advice, or to give advice in a fiduciary capacity, in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby, and that such Person has a financial interest in the transactions contemplated hereby in that such Person or an Affiliate thereof (i) may receive interest or other payments with respect to the Loans, the Letters of Credit, the Commitments and this Agreement, (ii) may recognize a gain if it extended the Loans, the Letters of Credit or the Commitments for an amount less than the amount being paid for an interest in the Loans, the Letters of Credit or the Commitments by such Lender or (iii) may receive fees or other payments in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby, the Loan Documents or otherwise, including structuring fees, commitment fees, arrangement fees, facility fees, upfront fees, underwriting fees, ticking fees, agency fees, administrative agent or collateral agent fees, utilization fees, minimum usage fees, letter of credit fees, fronting fees, deal-away or alternate transaction fees, amendment fees, processing fees, term out premiums, banker’s acceptance fees, breakage or other early termination fees or fees similar to the foregoing.

 

[signature pages follow]

 

121



 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF , the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed as of the date first above written.

 

 

BORROWER :

 

 

 

STAG INDUSTRIAL OPERATING PARTNERSHIP, L.P. ,

 

a Delaware limited partnership

 

 

 

By:

STAG Industrial GP, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, its General Partner

 

 

 

By:

/s/ William R. Crooker

 

Name:

William R. Crooker

 

Title:

Authorized Officer

 

 

 

PARENT :

 

 

 

STAG INDUSTRIAL, INC. ,

 

a Maryland corporation

 

 

 

By:

/s/ William R. Crooker

 

Name:

William R. Crooker

 

Title:

Authorized Officer

 

Signature Page to
STAG 2018 Credit Agreement

 



 

 

WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION ,

 

as the Administrative Agent, a Lender, an L/C Issuer, and the Swing Line Lender

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ D. Bryan Gregory

 

Name:

D. Bryan Gregory

 

Title:

Managing Director

 

Signature Page to
STAG 2018 Credit Agreement

 



 

 

BANK OF AMERICA, N.A. ,

 

as the Syndication Agent, a Lender, and an L/C Issuer

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Kelsey O’ Neil

 

Name:

Kelsey O’ Neil

 

Title:

VP, Portfolio Manager

 

Signature Page to
STAG 2018 Credit Agreement

 



 

 

CAPITAL ONE, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION ,

 

as a Lender

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Peter Ilovic

 

Name:

Peter Ilovic

 

Title:

Vice President

 

Signature Page to
STAG 2018 Credit Agreement

 



 

 

PNC BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION ,

 

as a Lender

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ John R. Roach, Jr.

 

Name:

John R. Roach, Jr.

 

Title:

Senior Vice President

 

Signature Page to
STAG 2018 Credit Agreement

 



 

 

REGIONS BANK ,

 

as a Lender

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Paul E. Burgan

 

Name:

Paul E. Burgan

 

Title:

Vice President

 

Signature Page to
STAG 2018 Credit Agreement

 



 

 

TD BANK, N.A. ,

 

as a Lender

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Brian Welch

 

Name:

Brian Welch

 

Title:

SVP Team Lead

 

Signature Page to
STAG 2018 Credit Agreement

 



 

 

CITIBANK, N.A. ,

 

as a Lender

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Christopher J. Albano

 

Name:

Christopher J. Albano

 

Title:

Authorized Signatory

 

Signature Page to
STAG 2018 Credit Agreement

 



 

 

RAYMOND JAMES BANK, N.A. ,

 

as a Lender

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ James Armstrong

 

Name:

James Armstrong

 

Title:

CRE Lending Manager / SVP

 

Signature Page to
STAG 2018 Credit Agreement

 



 

 

ROYAL BANK OF CANADA ,

 

as a Lender

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Sheena Lee

 

Name:

Sheena Lee

 

Title:

Authorized Signatory

 

Signature Page to
STAG 2018 Credit Agreement

 



 

 

U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION ,

 

as a Lender

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ David Heller

 

Name:

David Heller

 

Title:

SVP

 

Signature Page to
STAG 2018 Credit Agreement

 



 

 

BRANCH BANKING & TRUST COMPANY ,

 

as a Lender

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Mark Edwards

 

Name:

Mark Edwards

 

Title:

Senior Vice President

 



 

 

BMO HARRIS BANK N.A. ,

 

as a Lender

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Kevin Fennell

 

Name:

Kevin Fennell

 

Title:

Director

 

Signature Page to
STAG 2018 Credit Agreement

 



 

SCHEDULE 2.01

 

COMMITMENTS AND APPLICABLE PERCENTAGES

 

Lender

 

Commitment

 

Applicable Percentage

 

Wells Fargo Bank, National Association

 

$

54,500,000

 

10.900000000

%

Bank of America, N.A.

 

$

54,500,000

 

10.900000000

%

Capital One, National Association

 

$

47,500,000

 

9.500000000

%

PNC Bank, National Association

 

$

47,500,000

 

9.500000000

%

Regions Bank

 

$

47,500,000

 

9.500000000

%

TD Bank, N.A.

 

$

47,500,000

 

9.500000000

%

Citibank, N.A.

 

$

50,000,000

 

10.000000000

%

Raymond James Bank, N.A.

 

$

35,000,000

 

7.000000000

%

Royal Bank of Canada

 

$

35,000,000

 

7.000000000

%

U.S. Bank National Association

 

$

35,000,000

 

7.000000000

%

Branch Banking and Trust Company

 

$

27,500,000

 

5.500000000

%

BMO Harris Bank, N.A.

 

$

18,500,000

 

3.700000000

%

Total

 

$

500,000,000

 

100.00

%

 



 

SCHEDULE 2.03

 

EXISTING L/CS

 

Alias

 

Facility/Borrower

 

Current
Amount

 

Effective
Date

 

Adjusted
Expiry

 

BOA 68100542

 

REVOLVER / STAG INDUSTRIAL OP, L.P.

 

125,000.00

 

18-Dec-14

 

31-Dec-18

 

IS000004554U

 

REVOLVER / STAG INDUSTRIAL OP, L.P.

 

2,238,545.00

 

28-Jun-17

 

27-Jun-19

 

IS000008365U

 

REVOLVER / STAG INDUSTRIAL OP, L.P.

 

250,000.00

 

28-Jul-17

 

29-Jul-19

 

IS0397683U

 

REVOLVER / STAG INDUSTRIAL OP, L.P.

 

3,237,600.00

 

24-Mar-16

 

25-Mar-19

 

 



 

EXECUTION VERSION

 

EXHIBIT A

 

FORM OF COMMITTED LOAN NOTICE

 

Date:             ,      

 

To:                              Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as the Administrative Agent

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

Reference is made to that certain Credit Agreement, dated as of June 26, 2018 (as amended, restated, extended, supplemented, or otherwise modified in writing from time to time, the “ Agreement ;” the terms defined therein being used herein as therein defined), among STAG Industrial Operating Partnership, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (the “ Borrower ”), STAG Industrial, Inc., a Maryland corporation, the Lenders from time to time party thereto, and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as the Administrative Agent, the Swing Line Lender and an L/C Issuer.

 

The undersigned hereby requests (select one):

o

A Committed Borrowing of Committed Loans

o

A conversion or continuation of Committed Loans

 

 

1.

On                              (a Business Day).

 

 

2.

In the amount of $                    .

 

 

3.

Comprised of                                 .

 

[Type of Loan requested]

 

 

4.

For LIBOR Loans: with an Interest Period of [one (1)][two (2)][three (3)][six (6)] month(s).

 

The Borrowing, if any, requested herein complies with the applicable provisions of Section 2.01 of the Agreement.

 

 

BORROWER:

 

 

 

STAG INDUSTRIAL OPERATING PARTNERSHIP, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership

 

 

 

By:

STAG Industrial GP, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, its General Partner

 

 

 

By:

 

 

Name:

Stephen C. Mecke

 

Title:

Authorized Officer

 

 

A - 1



 

EXHIBIT A-1

 

FORM OF SWING LINE LOAN NOTICE

 

Date:             ,     

 

To:                              Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as the Administrative Agent

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

Reference is made to that certain Credit Agreement, dated as of July 26, 2018 (as amended, restated, extended, supplemented, or otherwise modified in writing from time to time, the “ Agreement ;” the terms defined therein being used herein as therein defined), among STAG Industrial Operating Partnership, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (the “ Borrower ”), STAG Industrial, Inc., a Maryland corporation, the Lenders from time to time party thereto, and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as the Administrative Agent, the Swing Line Lender and an L/C Issuer.

 

The undersigned hereby requests:

 

o                                     A Swing Line Borrowing of Swing Line Loans

 

1.                                       On                              (a Business Day).

 

2.                                       In the amount of $                    .

 

The Swing Line Borrowing, if any, requested herein complies with the applicable provisions of Section 2.04 of the Agreement.

 

 

BORROWER:

 

 

 

STAG INDUSTRIAL OPERATING PARTNERSHIP, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership

 

 

 

By:

STAG Industrial GP, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, its General Partner

 

 

 

By:

 

 

Name:

Stephen C. Mecke

 

Title:

Authorized Officer

 

A-1 - 1



 

EXHIBIT B-1

 

FORM OF REVOLVING NOTE

 

FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned (the “ Borrower ”), hereby promises to pay to                       or its registered assigns (the “ Lender ”), in accordance with the provisions of the Agreement (as hereinafter defined), the principal amount of each Committed Loan from time to time made by the Lender to the Borrower under that certain Credit Agreement, dated as of July 26, 2018 (as amended, restated, extended, supplemented, or otherwise modified in writing from time to time, the “ Agreement ;” the terms defined therein being used herein as therein defined), among the Borrower, STAG Industrial, Inc., a Maryland corporation and the sole member of the sole general partner of the Borrower, the Lenders from time to time party thereto, and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as the Administrative Agent, the Swing Line Lender and an L/C Issuer.

 

The Borrower promises to pay interest on the unpaid principal amount of each Committed Loan from the date of such Committed Loan until such principal amount is paid in full, at such interest rates and at such times as provided in the Agreement.  All payments of principal and interest shall be made to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Lender in Dollars in immediately available funds at the Administrative Agent’s Office.  If any amount is not paid in full when due hereunder, such unpaid amount shall bear interest, to be paid upon demand, from the due date thereof until the date of actual payment (and before as well as after judgment) computed at the per annum rate set forth in the Agreement.

 

This Note is one of the Notes referred to in the Agreement, is entitled to the benefits thereof and may be prepaid in whole or in part subject to the terms and conditions provided therein.  This Note is also entitled to the benefits of the Guaranties.  Upon the occurrence and continuation of one or more of the Events of Default specified in the Agreement, all amounts then remaining unpaid on this Note shall become, or may be declared to be, immediately due and payable all as provided in the Agreement.  Committed Loans made by the Lender shall be evidenced by one or more loan accounts or records maintained by the Lender in the ordinary course of business. The Lender may also attach schedules to this Note and endorse thereon the date, amount and maturity of its Committed Loans and payments with respect thereto.

 

The Borrower, for itself, its successors and assigns, hereby waives diligence, presentment, protest and demand and notice of protest, demand, dishonor and non-payment of this Note.

 

THIS NOTE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

 

*******

 

B-1 - 1



 

 

BORROWER:

 

 

 

STAG INDUSTRIAL OPERATING PARTNERSHIP, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership

 

 

 

By:

STAG Industrial GP, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, its General Partner

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

Name:

Stephen C. Mecke

 

Title:

Authorized Officer

 

B-1 - 2

 

Signature Page to

Revolving Note

 



 

COMMITTED LOANS AND PAYMENTS WITH RESPECT THERETO

 

Date

 

Type of
Loan Made

 

Amount of
Loan Made

 

End of
Interest
Period

 

Amount of
Principal or
Interest
Paid This
Date

 

Outstanding
Principal
Balance
This Date

 

Notation
Made By

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

B-1 - 3



 

EXHIBIT B-3

 

FORM OF SWING LINE NOTE

 

FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned (the “ Borrower ”), hereby promises to pay to                       or its registered assigns (the “ Lender ”), in accordance with the provisions of the Agreement (as hereinafter defined), the principal amount of each Swing Line Loan from time to time made by the Lender to the Borrower under that certain Credit Agreement, dated as of July 26, 2018 (as amended, restated, extended, supplemented, or otherwise modified in writing from time to time, the “ Agreement ;” the terms defined therein being used herein as therein defined), among the Borrower, STAG Industrial, Inc., a Maryland corporation and the sole member of the sole general partner of the Borrower, the Lenders from time to time party thereto, and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as the Administrative Agent, the Swing Line Lender and an L/C Issuer.

 

The Borrower promises to pay interest on the unpaid principal amount of each Swing Line Loan from the date of such Swing Line Loan until such principal amount is paid in full, at such interest rates and at such times as provided in the Agreement.  All payments of principal and interest shall be made to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Lender in Dollars in immediately available funds at the Administrative Agent’s Office.  If any amount is not paid in full when due hereunder, such unpaid amount shall bear interest, to be paid upon demand, from the due date thereof until the date of actual payment (and before as well as after judgment) computed at the per annum rate set forth in the Agreement.

 

This Note is one of the Notes referred to in the Agreement, is entitled to the benefits thereof and may be prepaid in whole or in part subject to the terms and conditions provided therein.  This Note is also entitled to the benefits of the Guaranties.  Upon the occurrence and continuation of one or more of the Events of Default specified in the Agreement, all amounts then remaining unpaid on this Note shall become, or may be declared to be, immediately due and payable all as provided in the Agreement.  Swing Line Loans made by the Lender shall be evidenced by one or more loan accounts or records maintained by the Lender in the ordinary course of business. The Lender may also attach schedules to this Note and endorse thereon the date, amount and maturity of its Swing Line Loans and payments with respect thereto.

 

The Borrower, for itself, its successors and assigns, hereby waives diligence, presentment, protest and demand and notice of protest, demand, dishonor and non-payment of this Note.

 

THIS NOTE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

 

*******

 

B-3 - 1



 

 

BORROWER:

 

 

 

STAG INDUSTRIAL OPERATING PARTNERSHIP, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership

 

 

 

By:

STAG Industrial GP, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, its General Partner

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

Name:

Stephen C. Mecke

 

Title:

Authorized Officer

 

B-3 - 2



 

SWING LINE LOANS AND PAYMENTS WITH RESPECT THERETO

 

Date

 

Type of
Loan Made

 

Amount of
Loan Made

 

End of
Interest
Period

 

Amount of
Principal or
Interest
Paid This
Date

 

Outstanding
Principal
Balance
This Date

 

Notation
Made By

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

B-3 - 3



 

EXHIBIT C

 

FORM OF COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE

 

Financial Statement Date:        ,    

 

To:                              Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as the Administrative Agent

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

Reference is made to that certain Credit Agreement, dated as of July 26, 2018 (as amended, restated, extended, supplemented, or otherwise modified in writing from time to time, the “ Agreement ;” the terms defined therein being used herein as therein defined), among STAG Industrial Operating Partnership, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (the “ Borrower ”), STAG Industrial, Inc., a Maryland corporation and the sole general partner of the Borrower (the “ Parent ”), the Lenders from time to time party thereto, and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as the Administrative Agent, the Swing Line Lender and an L/C Issuer.

 

The undersigned Responsible Officer hereby certifies as of the date hereof that he/she is the                             of the Parent, and that, as such, he/she is authorized to execute and deliver this Certificate to the Administrative Agent on the behalf of the Parent, for itself and as general partner of the Borrower, and that:

 

[Use the following paragraph 1 for fiscal year-end financial statements]

 

1.                                       The Parent has delivered the year-end audited financial statements required by Section 7.01(a)  of the Agreement for the fiscal year of the Parent ended as of the above date, together with the report and opinion of an independent certified public accountant required by such section.

 

[Use the following paragraph 1 for fiscal quarter-end financial statements]

 

1.                                       The Parent has delivered the unaudited financial statements required by Section 7.01(b)  of the Agreement for the fiscal quarter of the Parent ended as of the above date.  Such financial statements fairly present the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the Companies in accordance with GAAP as at such date and for such period, subject only to normal year-end audit adjustments and the absence of footnotes.

 

2.                                       The undersigned has reviewed and is familiar with the terms of the Agreement and has made, or has caused to be made under his/her supervision, a detailed review of the transactions and condition (financial or otherwise) of the Companies during the accounting period covered by such financial statements.

 

3.                                       A review of the activities of the Companies during such fiscal period has been made under the supervision of the undersigned with a view to determining whether during such fiscal period the Companies performed and observed all of their Obligations under the Loan Documents, and

 

[select one:]

 

[during such fiscal period each Company has performed and observed each covenant and condition of the Loan Documents applicable to it, and no Default has occurred and is continuing.]

 

C - 1



 

—or—

 

[during such fiscal period the following covenants or conditions have not been performed or observed and the following is a list of each such Default and its nature and status:]

 

4.                                       The representations and warranties of the Parent and the Borrower contained in Article VI of the Agreement, and any representations and warranties of any Loan Party that are contained in any document furnished at any time under or in connection with the Loan Documents, are true and correct on and as of the date hereof, except to the extent that such representations and warranties specifically refer to an earlier date, in which case they are true and correct as of such earlier date, and except that for purposes of this Compliance Certificate, the representations and warranties contained in Section 6.05(b)  shall be deemed to refer to the most-recent statements furnished pursuant to Section 7.01(b)  of the Agreement, in each case, including the statements delivered in connection with this Compliance Certificate.

 

5.                                       The financial covenant analyses and information set forth on Schedules 1 and 2 attached hereto are true and accurate on and as of the date of this Certificate.

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF , the undersigned has executed this Certificate as of            , 20  .

 

 

BORROWER:

 

 

 

STAG INDUSTRIAL OPERATING PARTNERSHIP, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership

 

 

 

By:

STAG Industrial GP, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, its General Partner

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

Name:

Stephen C. Mecke

 

Title:

Authorized Officer

 

 

 

 

PARENT:

 

 

 

STAG INDUSTRIAL, INC. ,

 

a Maryland corporation

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

Name:

Stephen C. Mecke

 

Title:

Authorized Officer

 

C - 2



 

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

 

SCHEDULE 1
to the Compliance Certificate
($ in 000’s)

 

I.

Section 8.14(a)  — Maximum Consolidated Leverage Ratio.

 

 

 

 

A.

Consolidated Total Debt as of the Statement Date:

 

$

 

 

 

B.

Total Asset Value as of the Statement Date (See Schedule 2 ):

 

$

 

 

 

C.

Consolidated Leverage Ratio (Line I.A divided by Line I.B):

 

 

%

 

 

Maximum permitted :

 

60

%

II.

Section 8.14(b)  — Maximum Secured Leverage Ratio.

 

 

 

 

A.

Secured Indebtedness as of the Statement Date:

 

$

 

 

 

B.

Total Asset Value as of the Statement Date (See Schedule 2 ):

 

$

 

 

 

C.

Secured Leverage Ratio (Line II.A divided by Line II.B):

 

 

%

 

 

Maximum permitted :

 

40

%

III.

Section 8.14(c)  — Maximum Unencumbered Leverage Ratio.

 

 

 

 

A.

Unsecured Indebtedness as of the Statement Date:

 

$

 

 

 

B.

Unencumbered Asset Value as of the Statement Date (See Schedule 2 ):

 

$

 

 

 

C.

Unencumbered Leverage Ratio (Line III.A divided by Line III.B):

 

 

%

 

 

Maximum permitted :

 

60

%

IV.

Section 8.14(e)  — Minimum Fixed Charge Ratio.

 

 

 

 

A.

Consolidated EBITDA for the four (4) fiscal quarters ending on the Statement Date (the “ Subject Period ”) (See Schedule 2 ):

 

$

 

 

 

B.

Consolidated Fixed Charges for the Subject Period (See Schedule 2 ):

 

$

 

 

 

C.

Fixed Charge Ratio (Line IV.A. divided by Line IV.B):

 

to 1

 

 

 

Minimum required :

 

1.5 to 1.0

 

V.

Section 8.14(f)  — Minimum Unsecured Interest Coverage Ratio.

 

 

 

 

A.

Unencumbered Adjusted NOI (See Schedule 2 ):

 

$

 

 

 

B.

Unsecured Interest Expense (See Schedule 2 ):

 

$

 

 

 

C.

Unsecured Interest Coverage Ratio (Line V.A divided by Line V.B):

 

$

 

 

 

C - 3



 

 

 

Minimum required :

 

1.75 to 1.00

 

 

C - 4



 

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

 

SCHEDULE 2
to the Compliance Certificate
($ in 000’s)

 

CALCULATION OF TOTAL ASSET VALUE, UNENCUMBERED ASSET VALUE, CONSOLIDATED EBITDA, CONSOLIDATED FIXED CHARGES, UNENCUMBERED ADJUSTED NOI, UNSECURED INTEREST EXPENSE, ETC.

(all in accordance with the definition for such term
as set forth in the Agreement)

 

[Provide Various Calculations]

 

C - 5



 

EXHIBIT D-1

 

ASSIGNMENT AND ASSUMPTION

 

This Assignment and Assumption (this “ Assignment and Assumption ”) is dated as of the Effective Date set forth below and is entered into by and between [the][each](1) Assignor identified in item 1 below ([the][each, an] “ Assignor ”) and [the][each](2) Assignee identified in item 2 below ([the][each, an] “ Assignee ”).  [It is understood and agreed that the rights and obligations of [the Assignors][the Assignees](3) hereunder are several and not joint.](4)  Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Credit Agreement identified below (the “ Credit Agreement ”), receipt of a copy of which is hereby acknowledged by the Assignee.  The Standard Terms and Conditions set forth in Annex 1 attached hereto are hereby agreed to and incorporated herein by reference and made a part of this Assignment and Assumption as if set forth herein in full.

 

For an agreed consideration, [the][each] Assignor hereby irrevocably sells and assigns to [the Assignee][the respective Assignees], and [the][each] Assignee hereby irrevocably purchases and assumes from [the Assignor][the respective Assignors], subject to and in accordance with the Standard Terms and Conditions and the Credit Agreement, as of the Effective Date inserted by the Administrative Agent as contemplated below (i) all of [the Assignor’s][the respective Assignors’] rights and obligations in [its capacity as a Lender][their respective capacities as Lenders] under the Credit Agreement and any other documents or instruments delivered pursuant thereto to the extent related to the amount and percentage interest identified below of all such outstanding rights and obligations of [the Assignor][the respective Assignors] under the Commitment described below (including the Letters of Credit included in such Commitment) and (ii) to the extent permitted to be assigned under applicable law, all claims, suits, causes of action and any other right of [the Assignor (in its capacity as a Lender)][the respective Assignors (in their respective capacities as Lenders)] against any Person, whether known or unknown, arising under or in connection with the Credit Agreement, any other documents or instruments delivered pursuant thereto or the loan transactions governed thereby or in any way based on or related to any of the foregoing, including, but not limited to, contract claims, tort claims, malpractice claims, statutory claims and all other claims at law or in equity related to the rights and obligations sold and assigned pursuant to clause (i)  above (the rights and obligations sold and assigned by [the][any] Assignor to [the][any] Assignee pursuant to clauses (i)  and (ii)  above being referred to herein collectively as [the][an] “ Assigned Interest ”).  Each such sale and assignment is without recourse to [the][any] Assignor and, except as expressly provided in this Assignment and Assumption, without representation or warranty by [the][any] Assignor.

 

1.

Assignor[s]:

 

 

 

 

 

 

2.

Assignee[s]:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[for each Assignee, indicate [Affiliate][Approved Fund] of [ identify Lender ]]

 


 

(1)                                  For bracketed language here and elsewhere in this form relating to the Assignor(s), if the assignment is from a single Assignor, choose the first bracketed language.  If the assignment is from multiple Assignors, choose the second bracketed language.

(2)                                  For bracketed language here and elsewhere in this form relating to the Assignee(s), if the assignment is to a single Assignee, choose the first bracketed language.  If the assignment is to multiple Assignees, choose the second bracketed language.

(3)                                  Select as appropriate.

(4)                                  Include bracketed language if there are either multiple Assignors or multiple Assignees.

 

Form of Assignment and Assumption

 

D-1 - 1



 

3.                                       Borrower:                                           STAG Industrial Operating Partnership, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership

 

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

 

5.                                       Credit Agreement:                                              Credit Agreement, dated as of July 26, 2018 (as amended, restated, extended, supplemented, or otherwise modified in writing from time to time, the “ Credit Agreement ”), among the Borrower, STAG Industrial, Inc., Maryland corporation (the “ Parent ”), the Lenders from time to time party thereto, and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as the Administrative Agent, the Swing Line Lender and an L/C Issuer

 

6.                                       Assigned Interest[s]:

 

Assignor[s](5)

 

Assignee[s](6)

 

Aggregate
Amount of
Commitment/
Loans
for all
Lenders(7)

 

Amount of
Commitment
/ Loans
Assigned

 

Percentage
Assigned of
Commitment/
Loans(8)

 

CUSIP
Number

 

 

 

 

 

$

 

 

$

 

 

 

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

 

 

$

 

 

 

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

 

 

$

 

 

 

%

 

 

 

[7.                                   Trade Date:                  ](9)

 

Effective Date:                   , 20   [TO BE INSERTED BY THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT AND WHICH SHALL BE THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF RECORDATION OF TRANSFER IN THE REGISTER THEREFOR.]

 

The terms set forth in this Assignment and Assumption are hereby agreed to:

 

 

ASSIGNOR

 

 

 

[NAME OF ASSIGNOR]

 


(5)                                  List each Assignor, as appropriate.

(6)                                  List each Assignee, as appropriate.

(7)                                  Amounts in this column and in the column immediately to the right to be adjusted by the counterparties to take into account any payments or prepayments made between the Trade Date and the Effective Date.

(8)                                  Set forth, to at least 9 decimals, as a percentage of the Commitment/Loans of all Lenders thereunder.

(9)                                  To be completed if the Assignor and the Assignee intend that the minimum assignment amount is to be determined as of the Trade Date.

 

Form of Assignment and Assumption

 

D-1 - 2



 

 

By:

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

 

 

 

ASSIGNEE

 

 

 

[NAME OF ASSIGNEE]

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

 

Form of Assignment and Assumption

 

D-1 - 3



 

[Consented to and](10) Accepted :

 

 

 

WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION ,

 

as the Administrative Agent

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

 

 

 

WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION ,

 

as an L/C Issuer

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

 

 

 

BANK OF AMERICA, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION ,

 

as an L/C Issuer

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

 

 


(10)                           To be added only if the consent of the Administrative Agent and the L/C Issuers, as applicable, is required by the terms of the Credit Agreement.

 

Form of Assignment and Assumption

 

D-1 - 4



 

[Consented to:] (11)

 

 

 

BORROWER:

 

 

 

STAG INDUSTRIAL OPERATING PARTNERSHIP, L.P. ,

 

a Delaware limited partnership

 

 

 

By:

STAG Industrial GP, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, its General Partner

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

Authorized Officer

 

 


(11)                           To be added only if the consent of Borrower and/or other parties ( e.g., an L/C Issuer) is required by the terms of the Credit Agreement.

 

Form of Assignment and Assumption

 

D-1 - 5



 

ANNEX 1 TO ASSIGNMENT AND ASSUMPTION

 

STANDARD TERMS AND CONDITIONS FOR

 

ASSIGNMENT AND ASSUMPTION

 

1.                                       Representations and Warranties.

 

1.1.                             Assignor .  [The][Each] Assignor (a) represents and warrants that (i) it is the legal and beneficial owner of [the][[the relevant] Assigned Interest, (ii) [the][such] Assigned Interest is free and clear of any lien, encumbrance or other adverse claim and (iii) it has full power and authority, and has taken all action necessary, to execute and deliver this Assignment and Assumption and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby; and (b) assumes no responsibility with respect to (i) any statements, warranties or representations made in or in connection with the Credit Agreement or any other Loan Document, (ii) the execution, legality, validity, enforceability, genuineness, sufficiency or value of the Loan Documents or any collateral thereunder, (iii) the financial condition of the Borrower, any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates or any other Person obligated in respect of any Loan Document or (iv) the performance or observance by the Borrower, any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates or any other Person of any of their respective obligations under any Loan Document.

 

1.2.                             Assignee .  [The][Each] Assignee (a) represents and warrants that (i) it has full power and authority, and has taken all action necessary, to execute and deliver this Assignment and Assumption and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and to become a Lender under the Credit Agreement, (ii) it meets all the requirements to be an assignee under Section 11.06(b)(iii)  and (v)  of the Credit Agreement (subject to such consents, if any, as may be required under Section 11.06(b)(iii)  of the Credit Agreement), (iii) from and after the Effective Date, it shall be bound by the provisions of the Credit Agreement as a Lender thereunder and, to the extent of [the][the relevant] Assigned Interest, shall have the obligations of a Lender thereunder, (iv) it is sophisticated with respect to decisions to acquire assets of the type represented by [the][such] Assigned Interest and either it, or the Person exercising discretion in making its decision to acquire [the][such] Assigned Interest, is experienced in acquiring assets of such type, (v) confirms that none of the funds, monies, assets or other consideration being used to make the purchase and assumption hereunder are “plan assets” as defined under ERISA and that its rights, benefits and interests in and under the Credit Documents will not be “plan assets” under ERISA, (vi) it has received a copy of the Credit Agreement, and has received or has been accorded the opportunity to receive copies of the most-recent financial statements delivered pursuant to Sections 7.01(a)  and (b)  thereof, as applicable, and such other documents and information as it deems appropriate to make its own credit analysis and decision to enter into this Assignment and Assumption and to purchase [the][such] Assigned Interest, (vii) it has, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent or any other Lender and based on such documents and information as it has deemed appropriate, made its own credit analysis and decision to enter into this Assignment and Assumption and to purchase [the][such] Assigned Interest, and (viii) if it is a Foreign Lender, attached hereto is any documentation required to be delivered by it pursuant to the terms of the Credit Agreement, duly completed and executed by [the][such] Assignee; and (b) agrees that (i) it will, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent, [the][any] Assignor or any other Lender, and based on such documents and information as it shall deem appropriate at the time, continue to make its own credit decisions in taking or not taking action under the Loan Documents, and (ii) it will perform in accordance with their terms all of the obligations which by the terms of the Loan Documents are required to be performed by it as a Lender.

 

2.                                       Payments .  From and after the Effective Date, the Administrative Agent shall make all payments in respect of [the][each] Assigned Interest (including payments of principal, interest, fees and other

 

Form of Assignment and Assumption

 

D-1 - 6



 

amounts) to [the][the relevant] Assignor for amounts which have accrued to but excluding the Effective Date and to [the][the relevant] Assignee for amounts which have accrued from and after the Effective Date.

 

3.                                       General Provisions .  This Assignment and Assumption shall be binding upon, and inure to the benefit of, the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns.  This Assignment and Assumption may be executed in any number of counterparts, which together shall constitute one instrument.  Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page of this Assignment and Assumption by telecopy shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Assignment and Assumption.  This Assignment and Assumption shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the law of the State of New York.

 

Form of Assignment and Assumption

 

D-1 - 7



 

EXHIBIT D-2

 

FORM OF ADMINISTRATIVE QUESTIONNAIRE

 

(see attached)

 

D-2 - 1



 

Administrative Details Questionnaire

 

Borrower: STAG Industrial Operating Partnership, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership

 

Agent Address:

Wells Fargo Bank, National Association

Return form to:

 

 

Loan Service Operations

Telephone:

 

 

 

Facsimile:

 

 

 

E-mail:

 

 

Attn:

Email  Cc:

 

 

It is very important that all of the requested information be completed accurately and that this questionnaire be returned promptly. If your institution is sub-allocating its allocation, please fill out an administrative questionnaire for each legal entity.

 

Legal Name of Lender to appear in Documentation:

 

 

Signature Block Information:

 

 

 

Signing Credit Agreement:

o

Yes

o

No

 

Coming in via Assignment:

o

Yes

o

No

 

Type of Lender:

(Bank, Asset Manager, Broker/Dealer, CLO/CDO, Finance Company, Hedge Fund, Insurance, Mutual Fund, Pension Fund, Other Regulated Investment Fund, Special Purpose Vehicle or Other, please specify)

 

Taxpayer ID Number:

 

Foreign Entity:

Yes    o    No    o

 

Country of Origin

 

(If yes, please complete and return appropriate FOREIGN IRS Form [usually Form W-8BEN or W-ECI])

 

D-2 - 2



 

Contacts/Notification Methods: Borrowings, Paydowns, Interest, Fees, etc.

 

 

Primary Credit Contact

 

Secondary Credit Contact

Name:

 

 

 

Title:

 

 

 

Address:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Telephone:

 

 

 

Facsimile:

 

 

 

E-Mail Address:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

 

Title:

 

 

 

Address:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Telephone:

 

 

 

Facsimile:

 

 

 

E-Mail Address:

 

 

 

 

Primary Operations Contact

 

Secondary Operations Contact

 

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

 

Title:

 

 

 

Address:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Telephone:

 

 

 

Facsimile:

 

 

 

E-Mail Address:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

 

Title:

 

 

 

Address:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Telephone:

 

 

 

Facsimile:

 

 

 

E-Mail Address:

 

 

 

 

D-2 - 3



 

 

Primary L/C Contact

 

Secondary L/C Contact

Name:

 

 

 

Title:

 

 

 

Address:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Telephone:

 

 

 

Facsimile:

 

 

 

E-Mail Address:

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

 

Title:

 

 

 

Address:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Telephone:

 

 

 

Facsimile:

 

 

 

E-Mail Address:

 

 

 

 

PLEASE COMPLETE FOR ANY ELECTRONIC DISTRIBUTION CONTACTS (In addition to contacts listed above).

 

Name:

 

 

 

Working Title:

 

 

 

Address:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Telephone:

 

 

 

E-Mail Address:

 

 

 

Access Level

Operational or Credit:

 

 

 

 

D-2 - 4



 

Lender’s Domestic Wire Instructions

 

Bank Name:

 

City and State:

 

ABA/Routing No.:

 

Account Name:

 

Account No.:

 

FFC Account Name:

 

FFC Account No.:

 

Attention:

 

Reference:

 

 

Lender’s Foreign Wire Instructions (please include wiring instructions for EACH currency as applicable)

 

Bank Name:

 

ABA/Routing No.:

 

Account Name:

 

Account No.:

 

FFC Account Name:

 

FFC Account No.:

 

Attention:

 

Reference:

 

SWIFT:

 

Country of Origin:

 

 

 

, hereby authorizes Wells Fargo Bank to rely on the payment instructions contained in this Administrative Details Form.

 

By:

 

 

 

 

 

Its:

 

 

 

D-2 - 5



 

Agent’s Wire Instructions

 

Bank Name:

Wells Fargo Bank

City and State:

Minneapolis, MN

ABA/Routing No.:

121000248

Account Name:

Agency CRE Clearing Account

Account No.:

02057751628807

FFC Account Name:

 

FFC Account No.:

 

Attention:

DA — See page 1 for Loan Service Operations Contact

Reference:

BORROWER NAME

 

D-2 - 6



 

TAX REPORTING INFORMATION (PLEASE REVIEW THE INFORMATION BELOW AND SUBMIT THE APPROPRIATE IRS TAX FORM ALONG WITH THIS COMPLETED ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS QUESTIONNAIRE).

 

TAX DOCUMENTS

 

U.S. DOMESTIC INSTITUTIONS:

 

If your institution is incorporated or organized within the United States, you must complete and return Form W-9 (Request for Taxpayer Identification Number and Certification) . Please be advised that we request that you submit an original Form W-9 .

 

o             Attach Form W-9 for current Tax Year

 

o             Confirm Tax ID Number:

 

FOREIGN INSTITUTIONS:

 

I. Corporations:

 

If your institution is incorporated outside of the United States for U.S. federal income tax purposes, and is the beneficial owner of the interest and other income it receives, you must complete one of the following three tax forms, as applicable to your institution:

 

a.) Form W8BEN (Certificate of Foreign Status of Beneficial Owner),

 

b.) Form W-8ECI (Income Effectively Connected to a U.S. Trade or Business),

 

c.) Form W-8EXP (Certificate of Foreign Government or Governmental Agency).

 

A U.S. taxpayer identification number is required for any institution submitting Form W-8ECI. It is also required on Form W-8BEN for certain institutions claiming the benefits of a tax treaty with the U.S. Please be advised that U.S. tax regulations do not permit the acceptance of faxed forms. An original tax form must be submitted .

 

o             Attach Form W-8 for current Tax Year

 

o             Confirm Tax ID Number:

 

II. Flow-Through Entities :

 

If your institution is organized outside the U.S., and is classified for U.S. federal income tax purposes as either a Partnership, Trust, Qualified or Non-Qualified Intermediary, or other non U.S. flow-through entity, an original Form W-8IMY (Certificate of Foreign Intermediary, Foreign Flow-Through Entity, or Certain U.S. Branches for United States Tax Withholding) must be completed by the intermediary together with a withholding statement. Flow-through entities other than Qualified Intermediaries are required to include tax forms for each of the underlying beneficial owners. Please be advised that U.S. tax regulations do not permit the acceptance of faxed forms. Original tax form(s) must be submitted .

 

o             Attach Form W-8 for current Tax Year

 

o             Confirm Tax ID Number:

 

Pursuant to the language contained in the tax section of the Credit Agreement, the applicable tax form for your institution must be completed and returned prior to the first payment of income. Failure to provide the proper tax form when requested may subject your institution to U.S. tax withholding.

 

D-2 - 7



 

EXHIBIT E

 

FORM OF DISBURSEMENT INSTRUCTION AGREEMENT

 

Borrower:  STAG Industrial Operating Partnership, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership

 

Administrative Agent:  Wells Fargo Bank, National Association

 

Loan:   Loan number 1008215 made pursuant to that certain Credit Agreement dated as of July [26], 2018 among the Borrower, STAG Industrial, Inc., a Maryland corporation and the sole general partner of the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, and the Lenders from time to time party thereto, as amended from time to time

 

Effective Date:   July 26, 2018

 

Check applicable box:

 

o             New — This is the first Disbursement Instruction Agreement submitted in connection with the Loan.

o             Replace Previous Agreement — This is a replacement Disbursement Instruction Agreement.  All prior instructions submitted in connection with this Loan are cancelled as of the Effective Date set forth above.

 

This Agreement must be signed by the Borrower and is used for the following purposes:

 

(1)          to designate an individual or individuals with authority to request disbursements of Loan proceeds, whether at the time of Loan closing/origination or thereafter;

 

(2)          to designate an individual or individuals with authority to request disbursements of funds from Restricted Accounts (as defined in the Terms and Conditions attached to this Agreement), if applicable; and

 

(3)          to provide Administrative Agent with specific instructions for wiring or transferring funds on Borrower’s behalf.

 

Any of the disbursements, wires or transfers described above are referred to herein as a “ Disbursement .”

 

Specific dollar amounts for Disbursements must be provided to Administrative Agent at the time of the applicable Disbursement in the form of a signed closing statement or an email instruction or other written communication, or telephonic request pursuant to Section 2.02(a)  of the Credit Agreement (each, a “ Disbursement Request ”) from an applicable Authorized Representative (as defined in the Terms and Conditions attached to this Agreement).

 

A new Disbursement Instruction Agreement must be completed and signed by the Borrower if (i) all or any portion of a Disbursement is to be transferred to an account or an entity not described in this Agreement or (ii) Borrower wishes to add or remove any Authorized Representatives.

 

See the Additional Terms and Conditions attached hereto for additional information and for definitions of certain capitalized terms used in this Agreement.

 

E - 1



 

Disbursement of Loan Proceeds at Origination/Closing

 

Closing Disbursement Authorizers :  Administrative Agent is authorized to accept one or more Disbursement Requests from any of the individuals named below (each, a “ Closing Disbursement Authorizer ”) to disburse Loan proceeds on or about the date of the Loan origination/closing and to initiate Disbursements in connection therewith (each, a “ Closing Disbursement ”):

 

 

Individual’s Name

Title

1.

 

 

2.

 

 

3.

 

 

 

Describe Restrictions, if any, on the authority of the Closing Disbursement Authorizers (dollar amount limits, wire/deposit destinations, etc.):

 

N/A

 

If there are no restrictions described here, any Closing Disbursement Authorizer may submit a Disbursement Request for all available Loan proceeds.

 

Permitted Wire Transfers:   Disbursement Requests for the Closing Disbursement(s) to be made by wire transfer must specify the amount and applicable Receiving Party.  Each Receiving Party included in any such Disbursement Request must be listed below.  Administrative Agent is authorized to use the wire instructions that have been provided directly to Administrative Agent by the Receiving Party or Borrower and attached as the Closing Exhibit.  All wire instructions must be in the format specified on the Closing Exhibit.

 

 

Names of Receiving Parties for the Closing Disbursement(s) (may include as many parties as needed; wire instructions for each Receiving Party must be attached as the Closing Exhibit)

1.

 

 

2.

 

 

3.

 

 

 

Direct Deposit:   Disbursement Requests for the Closing Disbursement(s) to be deposited into an account at Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. must specify the amount and applicable account.  Each account included in any such Disbursement Request must be listed below.

 

Name on Deposit Account:

Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. Deposit Account Number:

Further Credit Information/Instructions:

 

E - 2



 

Disbursements of Loan Proceeds Subsequent to Loan Closing/Origination

 

Subsequent Disbursement Authorizers :  Administrative Agent is authorized to accept one or more Disbursement Requests from any of the individuals named below (each, a “ Subsequent Disbursement Authorizer ”) to disburse Loan proceeds after the date of the Loan origination/closing and to initiate Disbursements in connection therewith (each, a “ Subsequent Disbursement ”):

 

 

Individual’s Name

Title

1.

 

 

2.

 

 

3.

 

 

 

Describe Restrictions, if any, on the authority of the Subsequent Disbursement Authorizers (dollar amount limits, wire/deposit destinations, etc.):

 

N/A

 

If there are no restrictions described here, any Subsequent Disbursement Authorizer may submit a Disbursement Request for all available Loan proceeds.

 

Permitted Wire Transfers:   Disbursement Requests for Subsequent Disbursements to be made by wire transfer must specify the amount and applicable Receiving Party.  Each Receiving Party included in any such Disbursement Request must be listed below.  Administrative Agent is authorized to use the wire instructions that have been provided directly to Administrative Agent by the Receiving Party or Borrower and attached as the Subsequent Disbursement Exhibit. All wire instructions must be in the format specified on the Subsequent Disbursement Exhibit.

 

 

Names of Receiving Parties for Subsequent Disbursements (may include as many parties as needed; wire instructions for each Receiving Party must be attached as the Subsequent Disbursement Exhibit)

1.

 

 

2.

 

 

3.

 

 

 

Direct Deposit:   Disbursement Requests for Subsequent Disbursements to be deposited into an account at Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. must specify the amount and applicable account.  Each account included in any such Disbursement Request must be listed below.

 

Name on Deposit Account:

Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. Deposit Account Number:

Further Credit Information/Instructions:

 

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Restricted Account Disbursements

 

Restricted Account Disbursement Authorizers :  Administrative Agent is authorized to accept one or more Disbursement Requests from any of the individuals named below (each, a “ Restricted Account Disbursement Authorizer ”) to disburse funds from a Restricted Account and to initiate Disbursements in connection therewith (each, a “ Restricted Account Disbursement ”):

 

 

Individual’s Name

Title

1.

 

 

2.

 

 

3.

 

 

 

Describe Restrictions, if any, on the authority of the Restricted Account Disbursement Authorizers (dollar amount limits, wire/deposit destinations, etc.):

 

N/A

 

If there are no restrictions described here, any Restricted Account Disbursement Authorizer may submit a Disbursement Request for all available funds.

 

Permitted Wire Transfers:   Disbursement Requests for Restricted Account Disbursements to be made by wire transfer must specify the amount and applicable Receiving Party.  Each Receiving Party included in any such Disbursement Request must be listed below.  Administrative Agent is authorized to use the wire instructions that have been provided directly to Administrative Agent by the Receiving Party or Borrower and attached as the Restricted Account Disbursement Exhibit. All wire instructions must be in the format specified on the Restricted Account Disbursement Exhibit.

 

 

Names of Receiving Parties for Restricted Account Disbursements (may include as many parties as needed; wire instructions for each Receiving Party must be attached as the Restricted Account Disbursement Exhibit)

1.

 

 

2.

 

 

3.

 

 

 

Direct Deposit:   Disbursement Requests for Restricted Account Disbursements to be deposited into an account at Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. must specify the amount and applicable account.  Each account included in any such Disbursement Request must be listed below.

 

Name on Deposit Account:

Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. Deposit Account Number:

Further Credit Information/Instructions:

 

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Borrower acknowledges that all of the information in this Agreement is correct and agrees to the terms and conditions set forth herein and in the Additional Terms and Conditions on the following page.

 

 

BORROWER:

 

 

 

STAG INDUSTRIAL OPERATING PARTNERSHIP, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership

 

 

 

By:

STAG Industrial GP, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, its General Partner

 

 

 

By:

 

 

Name:

Stephen C. Mecke

 

Title:

Authorized Officer

 

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Additional Terms and Conditions to the Disbursement Instruction Agreement

 

Definitions.   The following capitalized terms shall have the meanings set forth below:

 

“Authorized Representative” means any or all of the Closing Disbursement Authorizers, Subsequent Disbursement Authorizers and Restricted Account Disbursement Authorizers, as applicable.

 

“Receiving Bank” means the financial institution where a Receiving Party maintains its account.

 

“Receiving Party” means the ultimate recipient of funds pursuant to a Disbursement Request.

 

“Restricted Account” means an account at Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. associated with the Loan to which Borrower’s access is restricted.

 

Capitalized terms used in these Additional Terms and Conditions to Disbursement Instruction Agreement and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings given to such terms in the body of the Agreement.

 

Disbursement Requests. Except as expressly provided in the Credit Agreement, Administrative Agent must receive Disbursement Requests in writing.    Disbursement Requests will only be accepted from the applicable Authorized Representatives designated in the Disbursement Instruction Agreement. Disbursement Requests will be processed subject to satisfactory completion of Administrative Agent’s customer verification procedures. Administrative Agent is only responsible for making a good faith effort to execute each Disbursement Request and may use agents of its choice to execute Disbursement Requests.  Funds disbursed pursuant to a Disbursement Request may be transmitted directly to the Receiving Bank, or indirectly to the Receiving Bank through another bank, government agency, or other third party that Administrative Agent considers to be reasonable.  Administrative Agent will, in its sole discretion, determine the funds transfer system and the means by which each Disbursement will be made provided such funds transfer system complies with the requirements of the Credit Agreement.  Administrative Agent may delay or refuse to accept a Disbursement Request if the Disbursement would: (i) violate the terms of this Agreement; (ii) require use of a bank prohibited by government authority or Administrative Agent or any Lender’s policies or requirements; (iii) cause Administrative Agent or Lenders to violate any Federal Reserve or other regulatory risk control program or guideline; or (iv) otherwise cause Administrative Agent or Lenders to violate any applicable law or regulation.

 

Limitation of Liability. Administrative Agent, L/C Issuer, Swing Line Lender and Lenders shall not be liable to Borrower or any other parties for: (i) errors, acts or failures to act of others, including other entities, banks, communications carriers or clearinghouses, through which Borrower’s requested Disbursements may be made or information received or transmitted, and no such entity shall be deemed an agent of the Administrative Agent, L/C Issuer, Swing Line Lender or any Lender; (ii) any loss, liability or delay caused by fires, earthquakes, wars, civil disturbances, power surges or failures, acts of government, labor disputes, failures in communications networks, legal constraints or other events beyond Administrative Agent, L/C Issuer, Swing Line Lender or any Lender’s control; or (iii) any special, consequential, indirect or punitive damages, whether or not (A) any claim for these damages is based on tort or contract or (B) Administrative Agent, L/C Issuer, Swing Line Lender , any Lender or Borrower knew or should have known the likelihood of these damages in any situation.  Neither Administrative Agent, L/C Issuer, Swing Line Lender , nor any Lender makes any representations or warranties other than those expressly made in this Agreement.  IN NO EVENT WILL ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT, L/C ISSUER, SWING LINE LENDER OR ANY LENDER BE LIABLE FOR DAMAGES ARISING DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY IF A DISBURSEMENT REQUEST IS EXECUTED BY ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT IN GOOD FAITH AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE TERMS OF THIS AGREEMENT AND THE CREDIT AGREEMENT, EXCEPT TO THE EXTENT EXPRESSLY SET FORTH IN SECTION 11.04(E)  OF THE CREDIT AGREEMENT.

 

Reliance on Information Provided. Administrative Agent is authorized to rely on the information provided by Borrower or any Authorized Representative in or in accordance with this Agreement when executing a Disbursement Request until Administrative Agent has received a new Agreement signed by Borrower.  Borrower agrees to be bound by any Disbursement Request: (i) authorized or transmitted by Borrower; or (ii) made in Borrower’s name and accepted by Administrative Agent in good faith and in compliance with this Agreement, even if not properly authorized by Borrower.  Administrative Agent may rely solely (i) on the account number of the Receiving Party, rather than the Receiving Party’s name, and (ii) on the bank routing number of the Receiving Bank, rather than the Receiving Bank’s name, in executing a Disbursement Request.  Administrative Agent is not obligated or required in any way to take any actions to detect errors in information provided by Borrower or an Authorized Representative.  If Administrative Agent takes any actions in an attempt to detect errors in the transmission or content of transfers or requests or takes any actions in an attempt to detect unauthorized Disbursement Requests, Borrower agrees that, no matter how many times Administrative Agent takes these actions, Administrative Agent will not in any situation be liable for failing to take or correctly perform these actions in the future, and such actions shall not become any part of the Disbursement procedures authorized herein, in the Loan Documents, or in any agreement between Administrative Agent and Borrower.

 

International Disbursements. A Disbursement Request expressed in US Dollars will be sent in US Dollars, even if the Receiving Party or Receiving Bank is located outside the United States. Administrative Agent will not execute Disbursement Requests expressed in foreign currency unless permitted by the Credit Agreement.

 

Errors. Borrower agrees to notify Administrative Agent of any errors in the Disbursement of any funds or of any unauthorized or improperly authorized Disbursement Requests within fourteen (14) days after Administrative Agent’s confirmation to Borrower of such Disbursement.

 

Finality of Disbursement Requests. Disbursement Requests will be final and will not be subject to stop payment or recall; provided that Administrative Agent may, at Borrower’s request, make an effort to effect a stop payment or recall but will incur no liability whatsoever for its failure or inability to do so.

 

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CLOSING EXHIBIT

WIRE INSTRUCTIONS

 

All wire instructions must contain the following information:

 

Transfer/Deposit Funds to (Receiving Party Account Name)

 

Receiving Party Deposit Account Number

 

Receiving Bank Name, City and State

 

Receiving Bank Routing (ABA) Number

 

Further identifying information, if applicable (title escrow number, borrower name, loan number, etc.)

 

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SUBSEQUENT DISBURSEMENT EXHIBIT

WIRE INSTRUCTIONS

 

All wire instructions must contain the following information:

 

Transfer/Deposit Funds to (Receiving Party Account Name)

 

Receiving Party Deposit Account Number

 

Receiving Bank Name, City and State

 

Receiving Bank Routing (ABA) Number

 

Further identifying information, if applicable (title escrow number, borrower name, loan number, etc.)

 

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RESTRICTED ACCOUNT DISBURSEMENT EXHIBIT

WIRE INSTRUCTIONS

 

All wire instructions must contain the following information:

 

Transfer/Deposit Funds to (Receiving Party Account Name)

 

Receiving Party Deposit Account Number

 

Receiving Bank Name, City and State

 

Receiving Bank Routing (ABA) Number

 

Further identifying information, if applicable (title escrow number, borrower name, loan number, etc.)

 

E - 9



 

EXHIBIT F-1

 

FORM OF PARENT GUARANTY

 

EXECUTION VERSION

 

PARENT GUARANTY AGREEMENT

 

THIS PARENT GUARANTY AGREEMENT (this “ Guaranty ”) is executed as of July 26, 2018, by STAG INDUSTRIAL, INC., a Maryland corporation, (“ Guarantor ”), for the benefit of the Credit Parties (defined below).

 

RECITALS:

 

A.                                     STAG Industrial Operating Partnership, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (“ Borrower ”) may, from time to time, be indebted to the Credit Parties pursuant to that certain Credit Agreement dated of even date herewith (as amended, modified, supplemented, or restated from time to time, the “ Credit Agreement ”), among the Borrower, the Guarantor, the Lenders now or hereafter party to the Credit Agreement (the “ Lenders ”), and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Lenders (“ Administrative Agent ”), as L/C Issuer, (“ L/C Issuer ”) and as Swing Line Lender (“ Swing Line Lender ”) (Administrative Agent, L/C Issuer, Swing Line Lender and the Lenders, together with their respective successors and assigns, are each a “ Credit Party ,” and collectively the “ Credit Parties ”).  Capitalized terms used herein shall, unless otherwise indicated, have the respective meanings set forth in the Credit Agreement .

 

B.                                     The Guarantor is a limited partner of, and holds Equity Interests in, the Borrower and will benefit from the Credit Parties’ extension of credit to the Borrower.

 

C.                                     This Guaranty is integral to the transactions contemplated by the Loan Documents, and the execution and delivery hereof is a condition precedent to the Credit Parties’ obligations to extend credit to the Borrower under the Loan Documents.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, as an inducement to the Credit Parties to enter into the Credit Agreement and to make Loans and issue Letters of Credit to the Borrower thereunder, and to extend such credit to the Borrower as the Credit Parties may from time to time agree to extend, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and legal sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Guarantor hereby guarantees payment of the Guaranteed Obligations (hereinafter defined) and hereby agrees as follows:

 

Section 1.                                           NATURE OF GUARANTY.   The Guarantor hereby absolutely and unconditionally guarantees, as a guarantee of payment and not merely as a guarantee of collection, prompt payment when due, whether at stated maturity, upon acceleration or otherwise, and at all times thereafter, of any and all existing and future Obligations including, without limitation, all indebtedness and liabilities of every kind, nature and character, direct or indirect, absolute or contingent, liquidated or unliquidated, voluntary or involuntary, of the Borrower to the Credit Parties arising under the Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents (including, without limitation, all renewals, extensions, modifications, amendments, and restatements thereof and all costs, attorneys’ fees and expenses incurred by any Credit Party in connection with the collection or enforcement thereof) including, without limitation, any and all environmental indemnifications contained in the Loan Documents (collectively, the “ Guaranteed Obligations ”).  The Administrative Agent’s books and records showing the amount of the Guaranteed Obligations shall be admissible in evidence in any action or proceeding, and shall be binding upon the Guarantor and conclusive for the purpose of establishing the amount of the Guaranteed Obligations.  This Guaranty shall not be affected by the genuineness, validity, regularity, or enforceability of the Guaranteed Obligations or any instrument or agreement evidencing any Guaranteed Obligations, or by any fact or circumstance relating to the Guaranteed Obligations which might otherwise constitute a defense to the obligations of the Guarantor under this Guaranty.

 

Section 2.                                           NO SETOFF OR DEDUCTIONS; TAXES. The Guarantor represents and warrants that it is incorporated and resident in the United States of America. All payments by the Guarantor

 

F-1 - 1



 

hereunder shall be paid in full, without setoff or counterclaim or any deduction or withholding whatsoever, including, without limitation, for any and all present and future taxes. If the Guarantor must make a payment under this Guaranty, then the Guarantor represents and warrants that it will make the payment from its offices located in the United States of America to the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Credit Parties, so that no withholding tax is imposed on such payment.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Guarantor makes a payment under this Guaranty to which withholding tax applies, or any taxes (other than Excluded Taxes) are at any time imposed on any payments under or in respect of this Guaranty including, but not limited to, payments made pursuant to this Section 2 , then the Guarantor shall pay all such taxes to the relevant authority in accordance with applicable law such that each Credit Party, as applicable, receives the sum it would have received had no such deduction or withholding been made and shall also pay to the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Credit Parties, on demand, all additional amounts which the Administrative Agent specifies as necessary to preserve the after-tax yield the Credit Parties would have received if such taxes had not been imposed.  The Guarantor shall promptly provide the Administrative Agent with an original receipt or certified copy issued by the relevant authority evidencing the payment of any such amount required to be deducted or withheld.

 

Section 3.                                           NO TERMINATION.   This Guaranty is a continuing and irrevocable guaranty of all Guaranteed Obligations now or hereafter existing and shall remain in full force and effect until all Guaranteed Obligations and any other amounts payable under this Guaranty are indefeasibly paid and performed in full and any commitments of the Credit Parties or facilities provided by the Credit Parties with respect to the Guaranteed Obligations are terminated.  All payments under this Guaranty shall be made at the Administrative Agent’s Office in Dollars.

 

Section 4.                                           WAIVER OF NOTICES.   The Guarantor waives notice of the acceptance of this Guaranty and of the extension or continuation of the Guaranteed Obligations or any part thereof. The Guarantor further waives presentment, protest, notice, dishonor or default, demand for payment, notice of intent to accelerate, notice of acceleration, and any other notices to which the Guarantor might otherwise be entitled.

 

Section 5.                                           NO SUBROGRATION.   The Guarantor shall not exercise any right of subrogation, contribution, or similar rights with respect to any payments it makes under this Guaranty until all of the Guaranteed Obligations and any amounts payable under this Guaranty are indefeasibly paid and performed in full and any commitments of the Credit Parties or facilities provided by the Credit Parties with respect to the Guaranteed Obligations are terminated.  If any amounts are paid to the Guarantor in violation of the foregoing limitation, then such amounts shall be held in trust for the benefit of the Credit Parties and shall forthwith be paid to the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Credit Parties, to reduce the amount of the Guaranteed Obligations, whether matured or unmatured.

 

Section 6.                                           WAIVER OF SURETYSHIP DEFENSES.   The Guarantor agrees that the Credit Parties may, at any time and from time to time, and without notice to the Guarantor, make any agreement with the Borrower or with any other person or entity liable on any of the Guaranteed Obligations, for the extension, renewal, payment, compromise, discharge, or release of the Guaranteed Obligations, or for any modification or amendment of the terms thereof or of any instrument or agreement evidencing the Guaranteed Obligations, all without in any way impairing, releasing, discharging, or otherwise affecting the obligations of the Guarantor under this Guaranty.  The Guarantor waives any defense arising by reason of any disability or other defense of the Borrower or any other guarantor, or the cessation from any cause whatsoever of the liability of the Borrower, or any claim that the Guarantor’s obligations exceed or are more burdensome than those of the Borrower and waives the benefit of any statute of limitations affecting the liability of the Guarantor hereunder.  The Guarantor waives any right to enforce any remedy which the Guarantor now has or may hereafter have against the Borrower and waives any benefit of and any right to participate in any security now or hereafter held by the Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Credit Parties.  Further, the Guarantor consents to the taking of, or failure to take, any action which

 

F-1 - 2



 

might in any manner or to any extent vary the risks of the Guarantor under this Guaranty or which, but for this provision, might operate as a discharge of the Guarantor.

 

Section 7.                                           EXHAUSTION OF OTHER REMEDIES NOT REQUIRED.   The obligations of the Guarantor hereunder are those of primary obligor, and not merely as surety, and are independent of the Guaranteed Obligations. The Guarantor waives diligence by any of the Credit Parties and action on delinquency in respect of the Guaranteed Obligations or any part thereof, including, without limitation any provisions of law requiring any Credit Party to exhaust any right or remedy or to take any action against the Borrower, any other guarantor, or any other person, entity, or property before enforcing this Guaranty against the Guarantor.

 

Section 8.                                           REINSTATEMENT.   Notwithstanding anything in this Guaranty to the contrary, this Guaranty shall continue to be effective or be reinstated, as the case may be, if at any time any payment of any portion of the Guaranteed Obligations is revoked, terminated, rescinded, or reduced or must otherwise be restored or returned upon the insolvency, bankruptcy, or reorganization of the Borrower or any other person or entity or otherwise, as if such payment had not been made and whether or not the Administrative Agent is in possession of or has released this Guaranty and regardless of any prior revocation, rescission, termination or reduction.

 

Section 9.                                           SUBORDINATION.   The Guarantor hereby expressly subordinates the payment of all obligations and indebtedness of the Borrower owing to the Guarantor, whether now existing or hereafter arising and whether those obligations are (a) direct, indirect, fixed, contingent, liquidated, unliquidated, joint, several, or joint and several, (b) due or to become due to the Guarantor, (c) held by or are to be held by the Guarantor, (d) created directly or acquired by assignment or otherwise, or (e) evidenced in writing (the “ Subordinated Debt ”) to the indefeasible payment in full of all Guaranteed Obligations. The Guarantor agrees not to accept any payment of such Subordinated Debt from the Borrower if a Default exists.  If the Guarantor receives any payment of any Subordinated Debt in violation of the foregoing, then the Guarantor shall hold that payment in trust for the Credit Parties and promptly turn it over to the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Credit Parties, in the form received (with any necessary endorsements), to be applied in accordance with the Credit Agreement, but without reducing or affecting in any manner the liability of the Guarantor under this Guaranty.

 

Section 10.                                    STAY OF ACCELERATION.   In the event that acceleration of the time for payment of any of the Guaranteed Obligations is stayed, upon the insolvency, bankruptcy, or reorganization of the Borrower or any other person or entity, or otherwise, all such amounts shall nonetheless be payable by the Guarantor immediately upon demand by the Administrative Agent.

 

Section 11.                                    INDEMNIFICATION AND EXPENSES.

 

(a)                                  The Guarantor shall indemnify each Credit Party and each Related Party of any of the Credit Parties (each such Person being called an “ Indemnitee ”) against, and hold each Indemnitee harmless from, any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities, and related expenses (including, without limitation, the fees, charges, and disbursements of any counsel for any Indemnitee), and shall indemnify and hold harmless each Indemnitee from all fees and time charges and disbursements for attorneys who may be employees of any Indemnitee, incurred by any Indemnitee or asserted against any Indemnitee by any third party or any Loan Party arising out of, in connection with, or as a result of (i) the execution or delivery or enforcement of this Guaranty or any agreement or instrument contemplated hereby, the performance by the parties hereto of their respective obligations hereunder, the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, or, in the case of the Administrative Agent and its Related Parties only, the administration of this Guaranty; or (ii) any actual or prospective claim, litigation, investigation, or proceeding relating to any of the foregoing, whether based on contract, tort, or any other theory, whether brought by a third party or by any Loan Party, and regardless of whether any Indemnitee is a party

 

F-1 - 3



 

thereto, provided that such indemnity shall not, as to any Indemnitee and its Related Parties, be available to the extent that such losses, claims, damages, liabilities, or related expenses are determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by final and nonappealable judgment to have resulted from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Indemnitee or its Related Parties.

 

(b)                                  The Guarantor shall pay to the Administrative Agent upon demand the amount of any and all reasonable out-of-pocket costs and expenses, including the reasonable fees and expenses of its counsel and of any experts and agents, that the Administrative Agent may incur in connection with the administration of this Guaranty, including, without limitation, any such costs and expenses incurred in the preservation, protection, or enforcement of any rights of any Credit Party in any case commenced by or against the Guarantor under the Bankruptcy Code (Title 11, United States Code) or any similar or successor statute.  The obligations of the Guarantor under the preceding sentence shall survive termination of this Guaranty.

 

Section 12.                                    AMENDMENTS.   No amendment, modification, termination, or waiver of any provision of this Guaranty, and no consent to any departure by the Guarantor from the terms and conditions hereof, shall in any event be effective unless the same shall be in writing and signed by the Administrative Agent and the Guarantor.  Any such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the specific purpose for which it was given.

 

Section 13.                                    NOTICES .  Any notice or other communication herein required or permitted to be given shall be in writing and shall be in accordance with the provisions of Section 11.02 of the Credit Agreement.  All notices or other communications hereunder shall be made to the applicable address, as follows: (i) if addressed to the Borrower or Guarantor then to the address as follows: c/o STAG Industrial, Inc. One Federal Street, 23 rd  Floor, Boston, Massachusetts 02110 Attention: Jeffrey M. Sullivan, Esq. Telephone No: 617-936-1343, Telecopier No.: 617-574-0052, with a copy to DLA Piper LLP (US) 33 Arch Street, 26 th  Floor Boston, Massachusetts, 02110, Attention: William Crooker, Chief Financial Officer, Telephone No: 617-406-6000  (ii) if addressed to the Administrative Agent, the Swing Line Lender or an L/C Issuer, then to the address as follows: Wells Fargo Bank, National Association Commercial Real Estate Loans, 600 South 4th Street, 9th Floor, Minneapolis, MN 55413, MAC N9303-110, Attention: Matt Bohling, Telephone No: 612-316-0116. Any party to this Guaranty may change its address, telecopier or telephone number for notices and other communications in accordance with the terms and provisions set forth in Section 11.02(d) of the Credit Agreement.

 

Section 14.                                    NO WAIVER; ENFORCEABILITY.   No failure by any Credit Party to exercise, and no delay in exercising, any right, remedy or power hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any right, remedy or power hereunder preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right.  The remedies herein provided are cumulative and not exclusive of any remedies provided by law or in equity.  The unenforceability or invalidity of any provision of this Guaranty shall not affect the enforceability or validity of any other provision herein.

 

Section 15.                                    ASSIGNMENT.   This Guaranty shall: (a) bind the Guarantor and its successors and assigns, provided that the Guarantor may not assign its rights or obligations under this Guaranty without the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent (and any attempted assignment without such consent shall be void); and (b) inure to the benefit of each of the Credit Parties and their respective successors and assigns and the Credit Parties may, without notice to the Guarantor and without affecting the Guarantor’s obligations hereunder, assign or sell participations in the Guaranteed Obligations and this Guaranty, in whole or in part. The Guarantor agrees that the Credit Parties may disclose to any prospective purchaser and any purchaser of all or part of the Guaranteed Obligations any and all information in the Credit Parties’ possession concerning the Guarantor, this Guaranty, and any security for this Guaranty to the extent permitted under, and in compliance with, the terms of the Credit Agreement.

 

F-1 - 4



 

Section 16.                                    CONDITION OF THE BORROWER.   The Guarantor acknowledges and agrees that it has the sole responsibility for, and has adequate means of, obtaining from the Borrower such information concerning the financial condition, business, and operations of the Borrower as the Guarantor requires, and that no Credit Party shall have any duty, and the Guarantor is not relying on any Credit Party at any time, to disclose to the Guarantor any information relating to the business, operations, or financial condition of the Borrower.

 

Section 17.                                    RIGHTS OF SETOFF.   If and to the extent any payment is not made when due hereunder, then the Administrative Agent and each other Credit Party (with the prior consent of the Administrative Agent) may setoff and charge from time to time any amount so due against any or all of the Guarantor’s accounts or deposits with the Administrative Agent or such other Credit Party.

 

Section 18.                                    OTHER GUARANTEES.   Unless otherwise agreed by the Administrative Agent, the applicable Credit Party and the Guarantor in writing, this Guaranty is not intended to supersede or otherwise affect any other guaranty now or hereafter given by the Guarantor for the benefit of the Credit Parties or any term or provision thereof.

 

Section 19.                                    GOVERNING LAW; JURISDICTION; ETC.

 

(a)                                  GOVERNING LAW.   THIS GUARANTY SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

 

(b)                                  SUBMISSION TO JURISDICTION .  THE GUARANTOR IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY SUBMITS, FOR ITSELF AND ITS PROPERTY, TO THE NONEXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF THE COURTS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK SITTING IN NEW YORK COUNTY AND OF THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT OF THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK, AND ANY APPELLATE COURT FROM ANY THEREOF, IN ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS GUARANTY OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT, OR FOR RECOGNITION OR ENFORCEMENT OF ANY JUDGMENT, AND EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY AGREES THAT ALL CLAIMS IN RESPECT OF ANY SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING MAY BE HEARD AND DETERMINED IN SUCH NEW YORK STATE COURT OR, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, IN SUCH FEDERAL COURT.  EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO AGREES THAT A FINAL JUDGMENT IN ANY SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING SHALL BE CONCLUSIVE AND MAY BE ENFORCED IN OTHER JURISDICTIONS BY SUIT ON THE JUDGMENT OR IN ANY OTHER MANNER PROVIDED BY LAW.  NOTHING IN THIS GUARANTY OR IN ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT SHALL AFFECT ANY RIGHT THAT ANY CREDIT PARTY MAY OTHERWISE HAVE TO BRING ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING RELATING TO THIS GUARANTY OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT AGAINST THE GUARANTOR OR ITS PROPERTIES IN THE COURTS OF ANY JURISDICTION.

 

(c)                                   WAIVER OF VENUE . THE GUARANTOR IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY OBJECTION THAT IT MAY NOW OR HEREAFTER HAVE TO THE LAYING OF VENUE OF ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS GUARANTY OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT IN ANY COURT REFERRED TO IN SECTION 19(b) .  EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, THE DEFENSE OF AN INCONVENIENT FORUM TO THE MAINTENANCE OF SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING IN ANY SUCH COURT.

 

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(d)                                  SERVICE OF PROCESS .  EACH PARTY HERETO IRREVOCABLY CONSENTS TO SERVICE OF PROCESS IN THE MANNER PROVIDED FOR NOTICES IN SECTION 11.02 OF THE CREDIT AGREEMENT PROVIDED THAT, IN THE CASE OF SERVICE ON THE GUARANTOR A COPY IS ALSO DELIVERED TO JEFFREY M. SULLIVAN, SECRETARY FOR GUARANTOR (WHOSE CONTACT INFORMATION IS NOTED IN SECTION 13 ABOVE).  NOTHING IN THIS GUARANTY WILL AFFECT THE RIGHT OF ANY PARTY HERETO TO SERVE PROCESS IN ANY OTHER MANNER PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW.

 

(e)                                   WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL .  EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS GUARANTY OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR THEREBY (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT OR ANY OTHER THEORY).  EACH PARTY HERETO (A) CERTIFIES THAT NO REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF ANY OTHER PERSON HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PERSON WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER; AND (B) ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT AND THE OTHER PARTIES HERETO HAVE BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS GUARANTY AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION 19 .

 

Section 20.                                    COUNTERPARTS .  This Guaranty may be executed in counterparts (and by different parties hereto in different counterparts), each of which shall constitute an original, but all of which when taken together shall constitute a single contract.

 

Section 21.                                    FINAL AGREEMENT .  THIS GUARANTY AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS CONSTITUTE THE ENTIRE CONTRACT AMONG THE PARTIES RELATING TO THE SUBJECT MATTER HEREOF AND SUPERSEDE ANY AND ALL PREVIOUS AGREEMENTS AND UNDERSTANDINGS, ORAL OR WRITTEN, RELATING TO THE SUBJECT MATTER HEREOF.  THERE ARE NO UNWRITTEN ORAL AGREEMENTS BETWEEN THE PARTIES.

 

[Remainder of Page Intentionally Left Blank;

Signature Page Follows ]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Guarantor has caused this Guaranty to be duly executed and delivered as of the date first written above.

 

 

PARENT:

 

 

 

STAG INDUSTRIAL, INC. ,

 

a Maryland corporation

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

 

Signature Page to

Parent Guaranty Agreement

(STAG 2018 Credit Agreement)

 



 

EXHIBIT F-2

 

FORM OF SUBSIDIARY GUARANTY

 

EXECUTED VERSION

 

SUBSIDIARY GUARANTY AGREEMENT

 

THIS SUBSIDIARY GUARANTY AGREEMENT (this “ Guaranty ”) is executed as of July 26, 2018, by EACH OF THE SUBSIDIARIES OF STAG INDUSTRIAL OPERATING PARTNERSHIP, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (“ Borrower ”), LISTED ON SCHEDULE 1 ATTACHED HERETO or who become a party hereto pursuant to Section 21 below (each a “ Guarantor ” and collectively, “ Guarantors ”), for the benefit of the Credit Parties (defined below).

 

RECITALS:

 

A.                                     The Borrower may, from time to time, be indebted to the Credit Parties pursuant to that certain Credit Agreement dated of even date herewith (as amended, modified, supplemented, or restated from time to time, the “ Credit Agreement ”), among the Borrower, STAG Industrial, Inc., a Maryland corporation, the sole member of the sole general partner of the Borrower (“ Parent ”), the Lenders now or hereafter party to the Credit Agreement (the “ Lenders ”), and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as the Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Lenders (“ Administrative Agent ”), as L/C Issuer (“ L/C Issuer ”) and as Swing Line Lender (“ Swing Line Lender ”) (Administrative Agent, L/C Issuer, Swing Line Lender and the Lenders, together with their respective successors and assigns, are each a “ Credit Party ,” and collectively the “ Credit Parties ”) Capitalized terms used herein shall, unless otherwise indicated, have the respective meanings set forth in the Credit Agreement .

 

B.                                     Each Guarantor is a Subsidiary of the Borrower and will, directly or indirectly, benefit from the Credit Parties’ extension of credit to the Borrower.

 

C.                                     This Guaranty is integral to the transactions contemplated by the Loan Documents, and the execution and delivery hereof is a condition precedent to the Credit Parties’ obligations to extend credit to Borrower under the Loan Documents.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, as an inducement to the Credit Parties to enter into the Credit Agreement and to make Loans and issue Letters of Credit to the Borrower thereunder, and to extend such credit to the Borrower as the Credit Parties may from time to time agree to extend, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and legal sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Guarantors hereby jointly and severally guarantee payment of the Guaranteed Obligations (hereinafter defined) and hereby agree as follows:

 

Section 1.                                           NATURE OF GUARANTY.   Each Guarantor hereby absolutely and unconditionally guarantees, jointly and severally, as a guarantee of payment and not merely as a guarantee of collection, prompt payment when due, whether at stated maturity, upon acceleration or otherwise, and at all times thereafter, of any and all existing and future Obligations (other than Excluded Swap Obligations) including, without limitation, all indebtedness and liabilities of every kind, nature and character, direct or indirect, absolute or contingent, liquidated or unliquidated, voluntary or involuntary, of the Borrower to the Credit Parties arising under the Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents (including, without limitation, all renewals, extensions, modifications, amendments, and restatements thereof and all costs, attorneys’ fees and expenses incurred by any Credit Party in connection with the collection or enforcement thereof) including, without limitation, any and all environmental indemnifications contained in the Loan Documents (collectively, the “ Guaranteed Obligations ”). The Administrative Agent’s books and records showing the amount of the Guaranteed Obligations shall be admissible in evidence in any action or proceeding, and shall be binding upon each Guarantor and conclusive for the purpose of establishing the amount of the Guaranteed Obligations.  This Guaranty shall not be affected by the genuineness, validity, regularity, or enforceability of the Guaranteed Obligations or any instrument or agreement evidencing any Guaranteed Obligations, or by any fact or circumstance relating to the

 

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Guaranteed Obligations which might otherwise constitute a defense to the obligations of any Guarantor under this Guaranty.

 

Section 2.                                           NO SETOFF OR DEDUCTIONS; TAXES. Each Guarantor represents and warrants that it is formed and resident in the United States of America. All payments by any Guarantor hereunder shall be paid in full, without setoff or counterclaim or any deduction or withholding whatsoever, including, without limitation, for any and all present and future taxes. If any Guarantor must make a payment under this Guaranty, then such Guarantor represents and warrants that it will make the payment from its offices located in the United States of America to the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Credit Parties, so that no withholding tax is imposed on such payment.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, if any Guarantor makes a payment under this Guaranty to which withholding tax applies, or any taxes (other than Excluded Taxes) are at any time imposed on any payments under or in respect of this Guaranty including, but not limited to, payments made pursuant to this Section 2 , then such Guarantor shall pay all such taxes to the relevant authority in accordance with applicable law such that each Credit Party receives the sum it would have received had no such deduction or withholding been made and shall also pay to the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Credit Parties, on demand, all additional amounts which the Administrative Agent specifies as necessary to preserve the after-tax yield the Credit Parties would have received if such taxes had not been imposed. The Guarantors shall promptly provide the Administrative Agent with an original receipt or certified copy issued by the relevant authority evidencing the payment of any such amount required to be deducted or withheld.

 

Section 3.                                           NO TERMINATION.   This Guaranty is a continuing and irrevocable guaranty of all Guaranteed Obligations now or hereafter existing and shall remain in full force and effect until all Guaranteed Obligations and any other amounts payable under this Guaranty are indefeasibly paid and performed in full and any commitments of the Credit Parties or facilities provided by the Credit Parties with respect to the Guaranteed Obligations are terminated.  All payments under this Guaranty shall be made at the Administrative Agent’s Office in Dollars.

 

Section 4.                                           WAIVER OF NOTICES.   Each Guarantor waives notice of the acceptance of this Guaranty and of the extension or continuation of the Guaranteed Obligations or any part thereof. Each Guarantor further waives presentment, protest, notice, dishonor or default, demand for payment, notice of intent to accelerate, notice of acceleration, and any other notices to which any Guarantor might otherwise be entitled.

 

Section 5.                                           NO SUBROGRATION.   No Guarantor shall exercise any right of subrogation, contribution, or similar rights with respect to any payments it makes under this Guaranty until all of the Guaranteed Obligations and any amounts payable under this Guaranty are indefeasibly paid and performed in full and any commitments of the Credit Parties or facilities provided by the Credit Parties with respect to the Guaranteed Obligations are terminated.  If any amounts are paid to any Guarantor in violation of the foregoing limitation, then such amounts shall be held in trust for the benefit of the Credit Parties and shall forthwith be paid to the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Credit Parties, to reduce the amount of the Guaranteed Obligations, whether matured or unmatured.

 

Section 6.                                           WAIVER OF SURETYSHIP DEFENSES.   Each Guarantor agrees that the Credit Parties may, at any time and from time to time, and without notice to the Guarantors, make any agreement with the Borrower or with any other person or entity liable on any of the Guaranteed Obligations, for the extension, renewal, payment, compromise, discharge, or release of the Guaranteed Obligations, or for any modification or amendment of the terms thereof or of any instrument or agreement evidencing the Guaranteed Obligations, all without in any way impairing, releasing, discharging, or otherwise affecting the obligations of any Guarantor under this Guaranty.  Each Guarantor waives any defense arising by reason of any disability or other defense of the Borrower or any other guarantor, or the cessation from any cause whatsoever of the liability of the Borrower, or any claim that any Guarantor’s obligations exceed or

 

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are more burdensome than those of the Borrower and waives the benefit of any statute of limitations affecting the liability of any Guarantor hereunder.  Each Guarantor waives any right to enforce any remedy which such Guarantor now has or may hereafter have against the Borrower and waives any benefit of and any right to participate in any security now or hereafter held by the Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Credit Parties.  Further, each Guarantor consents to the taking of, or failure to take, any action which might in any manner or to any extent vary the risks of such Guarantor under this Guaranty or which, but for this provision, might operate as a discharge of such Guarantor.

 

Section 7.                                           EXHAUSTION OF OTHER REMEDIES NOT REQUIRED.   The obligations of each Guarantor hereunder are those of primary obligor, and not merely as surety, and are independent of the Guaranteed Obligations.  Each Guarantor waives diligence by any of the Credit Parties and action on delinquency in respect of the Guaranteed Obligations or any part thereof, including, without limitation any provisions of law requiring any Credit Party to exhaust any right or remedy or to take any action against the Borrower, any other guarantor, or any other person, entity, or property before enforcing this Guaranty against any Guarantor.

 

Section 8.                                           REINSTATEMENT.   Notwithstanding anything in this Guaranty to the contrary, this Guaranty shall continue to be effective or be reinstated, as the case may be, if at any time any payment of any portion of the Guaranteed Obligations is revoked, terminated, rescinded, or reduced or must otherwise be restored or returned upon the insolvency, bankruptcy, or reorganization of the Borrower or any other person or entity or otherwise, as if such payment had not been made and whether or not the the Administrative Agent is in possession of or has released this Guaranty and regardless of any prior revocation, rescission, termination or reduction.

 

Section 9.                                           SUBORDINATION.   Each Guarantor hereby expressly subordinates the payment of all obligations and indebtedness of the Borrower owing to such Guarantor, whether now existing or hereafter arising and whether those obligations are (a) direct, indirect, fixed, contingent, liquidated, unliquidated, joint, several, or joint and several, (b) due or to become due to such Guarantor, (c) held by or are to be held by such Guarantor, (d) created directly or acquired by assignment or otherwise, or (e) evidenced in writing (the “ Subordinated Debt ”) to the indefeasible payment in full of all Guaranteed Obligations.  Each Guarantor agrees not to accept any payment of such Subordinated Debt from the Borrower if a Default exists.  If any Guarantor receives any payment of any Subordinated Debt in violation of the foregoing, then such Guarantor shall hold that payment in trust for the Credit Parties and promptly turn it over to the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Credit Parties, in the form received (with any necessary endorsements), to be applied in accordance with the Credit Agreement, but without reducing or affecting in any manner the liability of any Guarantor under this Guaranty.

 

Section 10.                                    INFORMATION.   Each Guarantor agrees to furnish promptly to the Administrative Agent any and all financial or other information regarding such Guarantor or its property as the Administrative Agent may reasonably request in writing.

 

Section 11.                                    STAY OF ACCELERATION.   In the event that acceleration of the time for payment of any of the Guaranteed Obligations is stayed, upon the insolvency, bankruptcy, or reorganization of the Borrower or any other person or entity, or otherwise, all such amounts shall nonetheless be payable by the Guarantors immediately upon demand by the Administrative Agent.

 

Section 12.                                    INDEMNIFICATION AND EXPENSES.

 

(a)                                  Each Guarantor shall indemnify each Credit Party and each Related Party of any of the Credit Parties (each such Person being called an “ Indemnitee ”) against, and hold each Indemnitee harmless from, any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities, and related expenses (including, without limitation, the fees, charges, and disbursements of any counsel for any Indemnitee), and shall indemnify

 

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and hold harmless each Indemnitee from all fees and time charges and disbursements for attorneys who may be employees of any Indemnitee , incurred by any Indemnitee or asserted against any Indemnitee by any third party or any Loan Party arising out of, in connection with, or as a result of (i) the execution or delivery or enforcement of this Guaranty or any agreement or instrument contemplated hereby, the performance by the parties hereto of their respective obligations hereunder, the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, or, in the case of the Administrative Agent and its Related Parties only, the administration of this Guaranty; or (ii) any actual or prospective claim, litigation, investigation, or proceeding relating to any of the foregoing, whether based on contract, tort, or any other theory, whether brought by a third party or by any Loan Party, and regardless of whether any Indemnitee is a party thereto, provided that such indemnity shall not, as to any Indemnitee and its Related Parties, be available to the extent that such losses, claims, damages, liabilities, or related expenses are determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by final and nonappealable judgment to have resulted from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Indemnitee or its Related Parties.

 

(b)                                  Each Guarantor shall pay to the Administrative Agent upon demand the amount of any and all reasonable out-of-pocket costs and expenses, including the reasonable fees and expenses of its counsel and of any experts and agents, that the Administrative Agent may incur in connection with the administration of this Guaranty, including, without limitation, any such costs and expenses incurred in the preservation, protection, or enforcement of any rights of any Credit Party in any case commenced by or against any Guarantor under the Bankruptcy Code (Title 11, United States Code) or any similar or successor statute. The obligations of the Guarantors under the preceding sentence shall survive termination of this Guaranty.

 

Section 13.                                    AMENDMENTS.   No amendment, modification, termination, or waiver of any provision of this Guaranty, and no consent to any departure by any Guarantor from the terms and conditions hereof, shall in any event be effective unless the same shall be in writing and signed by the Administrative Agent and each Guarantor.  Any such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the specific purpose for which it was given.

 

Section 14.                                    NOTICES .  Any notice or other communication herein required or permitted to be given shall be in writing and shall be in accordance with the provisions of Section 11.02 of the Credit Agreement.  All notices or other communications hereunder shall be made to the applicable address, as follows: (i) if addressed to the Borrower or any Guarantor then to the address as follows: c/o STAG Industrial, Inc. One Federal Street, 23 rd  Floor, Boston, Massachusetts 02110 Attention: William Crooker, Chief Financial Officer, Telephone No: 617-936-1343, Telecopier No.: 617-574-0052, with a copy to DLA Piper LLP (US) 33 Arch Street, 26 th  Floor Boston, Massachusetts, 02110, Attention: John Sullivan, Esq., Telephone No: 617-406-6000 (ii) if addressed to the Administrative Agent, the Swing Line Lender or an L/C Issuer, then to the address as follows: Wells Fargo Bank, National Association Commercial Real Estate Loans, 600 South 4th Street, 9th Floor, Minneapolis, MN 55413, MAC N9303-110, Attention: Matt Bohling, Telephone No: 612-316-0116. Any party to this Guaranty may change its address, telecopier or telephone number for notices and other communications in accordance with the terms and provisions set forth in Section 11.02(d) of the Credit Agreement.

 

Section 15.                                    NO WAIVER; ENFORCEABILITY.   No failure by any Credit Party to exercise, and no delay in exercising, any right, remedy or power hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any right, remedy or power hereunder preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right.  The remedies herein provided are cumulative and not exclusive of any remedies provided by law or in equity. The unenforceability or invalidity of any provision of this Guaranty shall not affect the enforceability or validity of any other provision herein.

 

Section 16.                                    ASSIGNMENT.   This Guaranty shall: (a) bind each Guarantor and its successors and assigns, provided that no Guarantor may assign its rights or obligations under this Guaranty without the

 

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prior written consent of the Administrative Agent (and any attempted assignment without such consent shall be void); and (b) inure to the benefit of each of the Credit Parties and their respective successors and assigns and the Credit Parties may, without notice to any Guarantor and without affecting any Guarantor’s obligations hereunder, assign or sell participations in the Guaranteed Obligations and this Guaranty, in whole or in part.  Each Guarantor agrees that the Credit Parties may disclose to any prospective purchaser and any purchaser of all or part of the Guaranteed Obligations any and all information in the Credit Parties’ possession concerning any Guarantor, this Guaranty, and any security for this Guaranty to the extent permitted under, and in compliance with, the terms of the Credit Agreement.

 

Section 17.                                    CONDITION OF BORROWER.   Each Guarantor acknowledges and agrees that it has the sole responsibility for, and has adequate means of, obtaining from the Borrower such information concerning the financial condition, business, and operations of the Borrower as Guarantors require, and that no Credit Party shall have any duty, and the Guarantors are not relying on any Credit Party at any time, to disclose to the Guarantors any information relating to the business, operations, or financial condition of the Borrower.

 

Section 18.                                    RIGHTS OF SETOFF.   If and to the extent any payment is not made when due hereunder, then the Administrative Agent and each other Credit Party (with the prior consent of the Administrative Agent) may setoff and charge from time to time any amount so due against any or all of the Guarantors’ accounts or deposits with the Administrative Agent or such other Credit Party.

 

Section 19.                                    OTHER GUARANTEES.   Unless otherwise agreed by the Administrative Agent, the applicable Credit Party and the Guarantors in writing, this Guaranty is not intended to supersede or otherwise affect any other guaranty now or hereafter given by the Guarantors for the benefit of the Credit Parties or any term or provision thereof.

 

Section 20.                                    REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES; LOAN DOCUMENTS .  By execution hereof, each Guarantor covenants and agrees that certain representations, warranties, terms, covenants, and conditions set forth in the Loan Documents are applicable by their terms to such Guarantor and shall be imposed upon such Guarantor, and each Guarantor reaffirms that each such representation and warranty is true and correct and covenants and agrees to promptly and properly perform, observe, and comply with each such term, covenant, or condition.  Moreover, each Guarantor acknowledges and agrees that this Guaranty is subject to the setoff provisions as noted in Section 18 above in favor of the Credit Parties.  In the event the Credit Agreement or any other Loan Document shall cease to remain in effect for any reason whatsoever during any period when any part of the Guaranteed Obligations remains unpaid, such terms, covenants, and agreements of the Credit Agreement or such other Loan Document incorporated herein by this reference and which are, by their terms, made applicable to any Guarantors shall nevertheless continue in full force and effect as obligations of each Guarantor under this Guaranty.

 

Section 21.                                    ADDITIONAL GUARANTORS.   The initial Guarantors hereunder shall be each of the Subsidiary Guarantors of the Borrower that are signatories hereto and that are listed on Schedule 1 attached hereto.  From time to time subsequent to the time hereof, additional Subsidiary Guarantors of the Borrower may become parties hereto as additional Guarantors (each an “ Additional Guarantor ”) by executing a counterpart of this Guaranty in the form of Exhibit A attached hereto.  Upon delivery of any such counterpart to the Administrative Agent, notice of which is hereby waived by the Guarantors, each such Additional Guarantor shall be a Guarantor and shall be a party hereto as if such Additional Guarantor were an original signatory hereof.  Each Guarantor expressly agrees that its obligations arising hereunder shall not be affected or diminished by the addition or release of any other Guarantor hereunder, or by any election by the Administrative Agent not to cause any Subsidiary Guarantor of the Borrower to become an Additional Guarantor hereunder.  This Guaranty shall be fully effective as to any Guarantor that is or becomes a party hereto regardless of whether any such person becomes or fails to become or ceases to be a Guarantor hereunder.

 

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Section 22.                                    RELEASE OF GUARANTORS.   Subject to the provisions of the Credit Agreement, a Guarantor may be released from its obligations under this Guaranty by the Administrative Agent’s execution of a Release of Guaranty in the form of Exhibit B attached hereto. Each Guarantor expressly agrees that its obligations arising hereunder shall not be affected or diminished by the release of any other Guarantor hereunder.

 

Section 23.                                    GOVERNING LAW; JURISDICTION; ETC.

 

(a)                                  GOVERNING LAW.  THIS GUARANTY SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

 

(b)                                  SUBMISSION TO JURISDICTION .  EACH GUARANTOR IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY SUBMITS, FOR ITSELF AND ITS PROPERTY, TO THE NONEXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF THE COURTS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK SITTING IN NEW YORK COUNTY AND OF THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT OF THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK, AND ANY APPELLATE COURT FROM ANY THEREOF, IN ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS GUARANTY OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT, OR FOR RECOGNITION OR ENFORCEMENT OF ANY JUDGMENT, AND EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY AGREES THAT ALL CLAIMS IN RESPECT OF ANY SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING MAY BE HEARD AND DETERMINED IN SUCH NEW YORK STATE COURT OR, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, IN SUCH FEDERAL COURT.  EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO AGREES THAT A FINAL JUDGMENT IN ANY SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING SHALL BE CONCLUSIVE AND MAY BE ENFORCED IN OTHER JURISDICTIONS BY SUIT ON THE JUDGMENT OR IN ANY OTHER MANNER PROVIDED BY LAW.  NOTHING IN THIS GUARANTY OR IN ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT SHALL AFFECT ANY RIGHT THAT ANY CREDIT PARTY MAY OTHERWISE HAVE TO BRING ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING RELATING TO THIS GUARANTY OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT AGAINST ANY GUARANTOR OR ITS PROPERTIES IN THE COURTS OF ANY JURISDICTION.

 

(c)                                   WAIVER OF VENUE .  EACH GUARANTOR IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY OBJECTION THAT IT MAY NOW OR HEREAFTER HAVE TO THE LAYING OF VENUE OF ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS GUARANTY OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT IN ANY COURT REFERRED TO IN SECTION 23(b) .  EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, THE DEFENSE OF AN INCONVENIENT FORUM TO THE MAINTENANCE OF SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING IN ANY SUCH COURT.

 

(d)                                  SERVICE OF PROCESS .  EACH PARTY HERETO IRREVOCABLY CONSENTS TO SERVICE OF PROCESS IN THE MANNER PROVIDED FOR NOTICES IN SECTION 11.02 OF THE CREDIT AGREEMENT PROVIDED THAT, IN THE CASE OF SERVICE ON ANY GUARANTOR A COPY IS ALSO DELIVERED TO KATHRYN ARNONE, GENERAL COUNSEL FOR THE BORROWER AND PARENT (WHOSE CONTACT INFORMATION IS NOTED IN SECTION 14 ABOVE).  NOTHING IN THIS GUARANTY WILL AFFECT THE RIGHT OF ANY PARTY HERETO TO SERVE PROCESS IN ANY OTHER MANNER PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW.

 

(e)                                   WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL .  EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY

 

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ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS GUARANTY OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR THEREBY (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT OR ANY OTHER THEORY).  EACH PARTY HERETO (A) CERTIFIES THAT NO REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF ANY OTHER PERSON HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PERSON WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER; AND (B) ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT AND THE OTHER PARTIES HERETO HAVE BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS GUARANTY AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION 23 .

 

Section 24.                                    COUNTERPARTS .  This Guaranty may be executed in counterparts (and by different parties hereto in different counterparts), each of which shall constitute an original, but all of which when taken together shall constitute a single contract.

 

Section 25.                                    ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF BENEFITS; CONTRIBUTION; EFFECT OF AVOIDANCE PROVISIONS.

 

(a) Each Guarantor acknowledges that it has received, or will receive, significant financial and other benefits, either directly or indirectly, from the proceeds of the Loans made by the Lenders to the Borrower pursuant to the Credit Agreement; that the benefits received by such Guarantor are reasonably equivalent consideration for such Guarantor’s execution of this Guaranty; and that such benefits include, without limitation, the access to capital afforded to the Borrower pursuant to the Credit Agreement from which the activities of such Guarantor will be supported, the refinancing of certain existing indebtedness of the Borrower and such Guarantor from the proceeds of the Loans, and the ability to refinance that indebtedness at a lower interest rate and otherwise on more favorable terms than would be available to it if the Borrowing Base Properties owned by such Guarantor’s were being financed on a stand-alone basis. Each Guarantor is executing this Agreement and the other Loan Documents in consideration of those benefits received by it.

 

(b)                                  Each Guarantor hereby agrees as among themselves that, in connection with payments made hereunder, each Guarantor shall have a right of contribution from each other Guarantor in accordance with applicable Law.  Such contribution rights shall be subordinate and subject in right of payment to the Guaranteed Obligations until such time as the Guaranteed Obligations have been indefeasibly and irrevocably paid in full, and none of the Guarantors shall exercise any such contribution rights until the Guaranteed Obligations have been indefeasibly and irrevocably paid in full.

 

(c)                                   It is the intent of each Guarantor, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders that in any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Laws, such Guarantor’s maximum obligation hereunder shall equal, but not exceed, the maximum amount which would not otherwise cause the obligations of such Guarantor hereunder (or any other obligations of such Guarantor to the Administrative Agent and the other Lenders under the Loan Documents) to be avoidable or unenforceable against such Guarantor in such proceeding as a result of applicable Laws, including, without limitation, (i) Section 548 of the Bankruptcy Code of the United States and (ii) any state fraudulent transfer or fraudulent conveyance act or statute applied in such proceeding, whether by virtue of Section 544 of the Bankruptcy Code of the United States or otherwise. The Laws under which the possible avoidance or unenforceability of the obligations of such Guarantor hereunder (or any other obligations of such Guarantor to the Administrative Agent and the other Lenders under the Loan Documents) shall be determined in any such proceeding are referred to herein as “ Avoidance Provisions ”. Accordingly, to the extent that the obligations of a Guarantor hereunder would otherwise be subject to avoidance under the Avoidance Provisions, the maximum Guaranteed Obligations for which such Guarantor shall be liable hereunder shall be reduced to the greater of (A) the amount which, as of the time any of the Guaranteed Obligations are deemed to have been incurred by such Guarantor under the Avoidance Provisions, would not cause the obligations of such

 

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Guarantor hereunder (or any other obligations of such Gurantor to the Administrative Agent and the other Lenders under the Loan Documents), to be subject to avoidance under the Avoidance Provisions or (B) the amount which, as of the time demand is made hereunder upon such Guarantor for payment on account of the Guaranteed Obligations, would not cause the obligations of such Guarantor hereunder (or any other obligations of such Guarantor to the Administrative Agent and the Lender under the Loan Documents), to be subject to avoidance under the Avoidance Provisions. The provisions under this Section are intended solely to preserve the rights of the Administrative Agent and the Lender hereunder to the maximum extent that would not cause the obligations of any Guarantor hereunder to be subject to avoidance under the Avoidance Provisions, and no Guarantor or any other Person shall have any right or claim under this Section as against the Administrative Agent and the Lenders that would not otherwise be available to such Person under the Avoidance Provisions.

 

Section 26.                                    FINAL AGREEMENT .  THIS GUARANTY AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS CONSTITUTE THE ENTIRE CONTRACT AMONG THE PARTIES RELATING TO THE SUBJECT MATTER HEREOF AND SUPERSEDE ANY AND ALL PREVIOUS AGREEMENTS AND UNDERSTANDINGS, ORAL OR WRITTEN, RELATING TO THE SUBJECT MATTER HEREOF.  THERE ARE NO UNWRITTEN ORAL AGREEMENTS BETWEEN THE PARTIES.

 

Section 27.                                    KEEPWELL .  Each Qualified ECP Guarantor hereby jointly and severally absolutely, unconditionally and irrevocably undertakes to provide such funds or other support as may be needed from time to time by each other Loan Party to honor all of its obligations under this Guaranty in respect of any Swap Obligation (provided, however, that each Qualified ECP Guarantor shall only be liable under this Section for the maximum amount of such liability that can be hereby incurred without rendering its obligations under this Section, or otherwise under this Guaranty, voidable under applicable law relating to fraudulent conveyance or fraudulent transfer, and not for any greater amount).  The obligations of each Qualified ECP Guarantor under this Section shall remain in full force and effect until termination of this Guaranty in accordance with Section 3 hereof.  Each Qualified ECP Guarantor intends that this Section constitute, and this Section shall be deemed to constitute, a “keepwell, support, or other agreement” for the benefit of each other Loan Party for all purposes of Section 1a(18)(A)(v)(II) of the Commodity Exchange Act.  “ Qualified ECP Guarantor ” means, in respect of any Swap Obligation, each Loan Party (including the Borrower) that has total assets exceeding $10,000,000 at the time the relevant Guarantee or grant of the relevant security interest becomes effective with respect to such Swap Obligation or such other person as constitutes an “eligible contract participant” under the Commodity Exchange Act or any regulations promulgated thereunder and can cause another person to qualify as an “eligible contract participant” at such time by entering into a keepwell under Section 1a(18)(A)(v)(II) of the Commodity Exchange Act.  “ Swap Obligation ” means, with respect to any Guarantor, 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.

 

[Remainder of Page Intentionally Left Blank;

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each Guarantor has caused this Guaranty to be duly executed and delivered as of the date first written above.

 

SUBSIDIARY GUARANTORS :

 

STAG Investments Holdings III, LLC

STAG III Albion, LLC

STAG III Boardman, LLC

STAG III Chesterfield, LLC

STAG III Daytona Beach, LLC

STAG III Elkhart, LLC

STAG III Farmington, LLC

STAG III Lewiston, LLC

STAG III Malden, LLC

STAG III Mason, LLC

STAG III Mayville, LLC

STAG III Newark, LLC

STAG III Pensacola, LLC

STAG III Rapid City, LLC

STAG III Twinsburg, LLC

STAG III Youngstown, LLC

STAG Investments Holdings IV, LLC

STAG IV Alexandria, LLC

STAG IV Belfast, LLC

STAG IV Cheektowaga, LLC

STAG IV Danville, LLC

STAG IV Seville, LLC

STAG IV Sun Prairie, LLC

STIR Investments GP IV, LLC

STAG GI Investments Holdings, LLC

STAG GI New Jersey, LLC

STAG GI O’Fallon, LLC

STAG GI Goshen, LLC

STAG GI Madison, LLC

STAG GI Vonore, LLC

STAG GI Rogers, LLC

STAG GI Salem, LLC

STAG GI Walker, LLC

STAG GI Streetsboro, LLC

STAG GI Mooresville, LLC

STAG GI Cleveland, LLC

STAG Lansing, LLC

STAG Industrial Holdings, LLC

STAG TX GP 2, LLC

STAG Avon, LLC

STAG Buffalo, LLC

 

Signature Pages to

Subsidiary Guaranty Agreement

(STAG 2018 Credit Agreement)

 



 

STAG Chippewa Falls, LLC

STAG Edgefield, LLC

STAG Lansing 2, LLC

STAG Orlando, LLC

STAG Pineville, LLC

STAG Portland 2, LLC

STAG Reading, LLC

STAG Rogers 2, LLC

STAG South Bend, LLC

STAG Spartanburg, LLC

STAG Jackson, LLC

STAG Portage, LLC

STAG Simpsonville, LLC

STAG Dallas, LLC

STAG De Pere, LLC

STAG Duncan, LLC

STAG Buena Vista, LLC

STAG Gurnee, LLC

STAG Chicopee, LLC

STAG Montgomery, LLC

STAG Smyrna, LLC

STAG Statham, LLC

STAG Harrisonburg, LLC

STAG Toledo, LLC

STAG Woodstock, LLC

STAG Columbia, LLC

STAG Golden, LLC

STAG DeKalb, LLC

STAG Ocala, LLC

STAG Marion 2, LLC

STAG Londonderry, LLC

STAG Idaho Falls, LLC

STAG Williamsport, LLC

STAG Kentwood, LLC

STAG Marshall, LLC

STAG Belvidere I, LLC

STAG Belvidere II, LLC

STAG Belvidere III, LLC

STAG Belvidere IV, LLC

STAG Belvidere V, LLC

STAG Belvidere VI, LLC

STAG Belvidere VII, LLC

STAG Belvidere VIII, LLC

STAG Belvidere IX, LLC

STAG Nashville, LLC

STAG New Berlin, LLC

STAG Hampstead, LLC

 

Signature Pages to

Subsidiary Guaranty Agreement

(STAG 2018 Credit Agreement)

 



 

STAG New Hope, LLC

STAG Orlando 2, LLC

STAG North Jackson 2, LLC

STAG Shannon, LLC

STAG Lansing 4, LLC

STAG Harvard, LLC

STAG Sauk Village, LLC

STAG South Holland, LLC

STAG Mascot, LLC

STAG Janesville, LLC

STAG Allentown, LLC

STAG Nashua, LLC

STAG Strongsville, LLC

STAG Columbus, LLC

STAG Savannah, LLC

STAG West Chester, LLC

STAG Calhoun, LLC

STAG Hebron, LLC

STAG East Troy, LLC

STAG Savage, LLC

STAG Chester, LLC

STAG Mechanicsburg 1, LLC

STAG Mechanicsburg 2, LLC

STAG Mechanicsburg 3, LLC

STAG Mason 3, LLC

STAG Lenexa, LLC

STAG Reno, LLC

STAG Fort Wayne, LLC

STAG Murfreesboro, LLC

STAG Gurnee 2, LLC

STAG Germantown, LLC

STAG Elizabethtown, LLC

STAG CA GP, LLC

STAG Spartanburg 3, LLC

STAG Burlington, LLC

STAG Greenville, LLC

STAG North Haven, LLC

STAG Plymouth 2, LLC

STAG Oakwood Village, LLC

STAG Stoughton 1, LLC

STAG Stoughton 2, LLC

STAG 5101 South Council Road, LLC

STAG Knoxville 2, LLC

STAG Clinton, LLC

STAG Fairborn, LLC

STAG Phoenix, LLC

STAG Machesney Park, LLC

 

Signature Pages to

Subsidiary Guaranty Agreement

(STAG 2018 Credit Agreement)

 



 

STAG Macedonia, LLC

STAG Novi 2, LLC

STAG Grand Junction, LLC

STAG Tulsa, LLC

STAG Chattanooga 1, LLC

STAG Chattanooga 2, LLC

STAG Libertyville 1, LLC

STAG Libertyville 2, LLC

STAG Greer, LLC

STAG Piedmont 1, LLC

STAG Piedmont 2, LLC

STAG Piedmont 3, LLC

STAG Belvidere 10, LLC

STAG Shreveport, LLC

STAG Dayton 2, LLC

STAG West Allis, LLC

STAG Loudon, LLC

STAG Laurens, LLC

STAG Lancaster, LLC

STAG Grand Rapids, LLC

STAG Burlington 2, LLC

STAG Biddeford, LLC

STAG Fairfield 3, LLC

STAG Mascot 2, LLC

STAG Erlanger, LLC

STAG Gahanna, LLC

STAG Norton, LLC

STAG NC GP, LLC

STAG Sparks 2, LLC

STAG Hazelwood, LLC

STAG York, LLC

STAG NC GP 2, LLC

STAG TX GP, LLC

STAG Louisville, LLC

STAG North Jackson, LLC

STAG Portland, LLC

STAG East Windsor, LLC

STAG Yorkville, LLC

STAG Lebanon, LLC

STAG West Columbia 3, LLC

STAG McHenry 2, LLC

STAG Romulus 2, LLC

STAG South Saint Paul, LLC

 

Signature Pages to

Subsidiary Guaranty Agreement

(STAG 2018 Credit Agreement)

 



 

STAG Knoxville 3, LLC

 

each a Delaware limited liability company

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

 

 

 

(Signatures continue on the next page)

 

Signature Pages to

Subsidiary Guaranty Agreement

(STAG 2018 Credit Agreement)

 



 

STAG III Arlington, LP

 

a Delaware limited partnership

 

 

 

By:

STIR Investments GP III, LLC,

 

 

a Delaware limited liability company,

 

 

its General Partner

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

 

 

 

 

STAG IV Waco, L.P.,

 

a Delaware limited partnership

 

 

 

By:

STIR Investments GP IV, LLC,

 

 

a Delaware limited liability company,

 

 

its General Partner

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

 

 

 

(Signatures continue on the next page)

 

Signature Pages to

Subsidiary Guaranty Agreement

(STAG 2018 Credit Agreement)

 



 

STAG Arlington 2, L.P.

STAG Houston 2, L.P.

STAG Garland, LP

STAG Houston 3, LP

STAG El Paso 1, LP

STAG El Paso 2, LP

STAG El Paso 3, LP

STAG El Paso 4, LP

STAG Houston 4, LP

STAG El Paso 5, LP

STAG Garland 2, LP

STAG TX Holdings, LP

STAG Rockwall, L.P.

STAG IND Stafford, LP

STAG IND El Paso 6, LP

STAG IND Houston 9, LP

STAG IND Houston 11, LP

 

each a Delaware limited partnership

 

 

 

By:

STAG TX GP 2, LLC

 

 

a Delaware limited liability company,

 

 

their General Partner

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

 

 

 

STAG Camarillo 1, LP

STAG Camarillo 2, LP

STAG Visalia, LP

 

each, a Delaware limited partnership

 

 

 

By:

STAG CA GP, LLC

 

 

a Delaware limited liability company,

 

 

their General Partner

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

 

 

 

(Signatures continue on the next page)

 

Signature Pages to

Subsidiary Guaranty Agreement

(STAG 2018 Credit Agreement)

 



 

STAG NC Holdings, LP

 

a Delaware limited partnership

 

 

 

By:

STAG NC GP, LLC,

 

 

a Delaware limited liability company,

 

 

their General Partner

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

 

 

 

 

STAG Fort Worth, LP

 

a Delaware limited partnership

 

 

 

By:

STAG TX GP, LLC,

 

 

a Delaware limited liability company,

 

 

its General Partner

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

 

 

 

 

STAG Mooresville 2, LP

 

a Delaware limited partnership

 

 

 

By:

STAG NC GP 2, LLC,

 

 

a Delaware limited liability company,

 

 

its General Partner

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

 

 

 

Signature Pages to

Subsidiary Guaranty Agreement

(STAG 2018 Credit Agreement)

 



 

STAG El Paso, LP

 

a Delaware limited partnership

 

 

 

By:

STIR Investments GP, LLC

 

 

a Delaware limited liability company,

 

 

its General Partner

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

 

 

 

Signature Pages to

Subsidiary Guaranty Agreement

(STAG 2018 Credit Agreement)

 



 

SCHEDULE 1

INITIAL GUARANTORS

 

1.                    STAG Investments Holdings III, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

2.                    STAG III Albion, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

3.                    STAG III Arlington, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership

 

4.                    STAG III Boardman, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

5.                    STAG III Chesterfield, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

6.                    STAG III Daytona Beach, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

7.                    STAG III Elkhart, LLC , a Delaware limited liability company

 

8.                    STAG III Farmington, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

9.                    STAG III Lewiston, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

10.             STAG III Malden, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

11.             STAG III Mason, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

12.             STAG III Mayville, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

13.             STAG III Newark, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

14.             STAG III Rapid City, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

15.             STIR Investments GP III, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

16.             STAG III Twinsburg, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

17.             STAG III Youngstown, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

18.             STAG Investments Holdings IV, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

19.             STAG IV Alexandria, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

20.             STAG IV Belfast, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

21.             STAG IV Cheektowaga, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

22.             STAG IV Danville, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

23.             STAG IV Seville, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

24.             STAG IV Sun Prairie, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

25.             STAG IV Waco, L.P. , a Delaware limited partnership

 

26.             STIR Investments GP IV, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 



 

27.             STAG GI Investments Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

28.             STAG GI New Jersey, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

29.             STAG Industrial Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

30.             STAG Arlington 2, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership

 

31.             STAG TX GP 2, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

32.             STAG Avon, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

33.             STAG Buffalo, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

34.             STAG Chippewa Falls, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

35.             STAG Edgefield, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

36.             STAG Lansing 2, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

37.             STAG Orlando, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

38.             STAG Pineville, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

39.             STAG Portland 2, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

40.             STAG Reading, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

41.             STAG Rogers 2, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

42.             STAG South Bend, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

43.             STAG Spartanburg, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

44.             STAG Portage, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

45.             STAG Jackson, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

46.             STAG El Paso, LP, a Delaware limited partnership

 

47.             STIR Investments GP, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

48.             STAG Simpsonville, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

49.             STAG Dallas, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

50.             STAG De Pere, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

51.             STAG Duncan, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

52.             STAG Buena Vista, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

53.             STAG Gurnee, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

54.             STAG Chicopee, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 



 

55.             STAG Montgomery, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

56.             STAG Smyrna, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

57.             STAG Statham, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

58.             STAG Harrisonburg, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

59.             STAG Toledo, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

60.             STAG Woodstock, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

61.             STAG Columbia, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

62.             STAG Golden, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

63.             STAG DeKalb, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

64.             STAG Ocala, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

65.             STAG Marion 2, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

66.             STAG Londonderry, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

67.             STAG Houston 2, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership

 

68.             STAG Idaho Falls, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

69.             STAG Williamsport, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

70.             STAG Kentwood, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

71.             STAG Marshall, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

72.             STAG Belvidere I, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

73.             STAG Belvidere II, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

74.             STAG Belvidere III, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

75.             STAG Belvidere IV, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

76.             STAG Belvidere V, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

77.             STAG Belvidere VI, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

78.             STAG Belvidere VII, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

79.             STAG Belvidere VIII, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

80.             STAG Belvidere IX, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

81.             STAG Nashville, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

82.             STAG New Berlin, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 



 

83.             STAG Hampstead, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

84.             STAG New Hope, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

85.             STAG Orlando 2, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

86.             STAG North Jackson 2, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

87.             STAG Shannon, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

88.             STAG Lansing 4, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

89.             STAG Harvard, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

90.             STAG Sauk Village, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

91.             STAG South Holland, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

92.             STAG Mascot, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

93.             STAG Janesville, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

94.             STAG Allentown, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

95.             STAG Nashua, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

96.             STAG Strongsville, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

97.             STAG Columbus, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

98.             STAG Savannah, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

99.             STAG Garland, LP, a Delaware limited partnership

 

100.      STAG West Chester, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

101.      STAG Calhoun, LLC, a , a Delaware limited liability company

 

102.      STAG Hebron, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

103.      STAG Houston 3, LP, a Delaware limited partnership

 

104.      STAG East Troy, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

105.      STAG Savage, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

106.      STAG El Paso 1, LP, a Delaware limited partnership

 

107.      STAG El Paso 2, LP, a Delaware limited partnership

 

108.      STAG El Paso 3, LP, a Delaware limited partnership

 

109.      STAG El Paso 4, LP, a Delaware limited partnership

 

110.      STAG Chester, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 



 

111.      STAG Mechanicsburg 1, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

112.      STAG Mechanicsburg 2, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

113.      STAG Mechanicsburg 3, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

114.      STAG Mason 3, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

115.      STAG Lenexa, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

116.      STAG Reno, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

117.      STAG Fort Wayne, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

118.      STAG Murfreesboro, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

119.      STAG Gurnee 2, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

120.      STAG Germantown, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

121.      STAG Elizabethtown, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

122.      STAG Camarillo 1, LP, a Delaware limited partnership

 

123.      STAG Camarillo 2, LP, a Delaware limited partnership

 

124.      STAG CA GP, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

125.      STAG Spartanburg 3, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

126.      STAG Houston 4, LP, a Delaware limited partnership

 

127.      STAG Burlington, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

128.      STAG Greenville, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

129.      STAG North Haven, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

130.      STAG Plymouth 2, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

131.      STAG Oakwood Village, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

132.      STAG Stoughton 1, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

133.      STAG Stoughton 2, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

134.      STAG 5101 South Council Road, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

135.      STAG Knoxville 2, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

136.      STAG Clinton, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

137.      STAG Fairborn, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

138.      STAG El Paso 5, LP, a Delaware limited partnership

 



 

139.      STAG Phoenix, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

140.      STAG Machesney Park, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

141.      STAG Macedonia, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

142.      STAG Novi 2, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

143.      STAG Grand Junction, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

144.      STAG Tulsa, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

145.      STAG Chattanooga 1, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

146.      STAG Chattanooga 2, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

147.      STAG Libertyville 1, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

148.      STAG Libertyville 2, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

149.      STAG Greer, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

150.      STAG Piedmont 1, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

151.      STAG Piedmont 2, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

152.      STAG Piedmont 3, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

153.      STAG Belvidere 10, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

154.      STAG Shreveport, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

155.      STAG Dayton 2, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

156.      STAG West Allis, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

157.      STAG Loudon, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

158.      STAG Garland 2, LP, a Delaware limited partnership

 

159.      STAG Laurens, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

160.      STAG Lancaster, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

161.      STAG Grand Rapids, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

162.      STAG Burlington 2, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

163.      STAG Biddeford, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

164.      STAG Fairfield 3, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

165.      STAG Mascot 2, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

166.      STAG Erlanger, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 



 

167.      STAG Gahanna, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

168.      STAG Norton, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

169.      STAG Visalia, LP, a Delaware limited partnership

 

170.      STAG TX Holdings, LP, a Delaware limited partnership

 

171.      STAG NC GP, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

172.      STAG NC Holdings, LP, a Delaware limited partnership

 

173.      STAG Sparks 2, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

174.      STAG Hazelwood, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

175.      STAG Portland, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

176.      STAG East Windsor, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

177.      STAG Yorkville, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

178.      STAG Rockwall, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership

 

179.      STAG Lebanon, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

180.      STAG York, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

181.      STAG Mooresville 2, LP, a Delaware limited partnership

 

182.      STAG GI O’Fallon, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

183.      STAG GI Vonore, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

184.      STAG GI Streetsboro, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

185.      STAG GI Salem, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

186.      STAG GI Goshen, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

187.      STAG GI Madison, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

188.      STAG GI Mooresville, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

189.      STAG GI Walker, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

190.      STAG Lansing, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

191.      STAG Louisville, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

192.      STAG North Jackson, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

193.      STAG Fort Worth, LP, a Delaware limited partnership

 

194.      STAG TX GP, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 



 

195.      STAG NC GP 2, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

196.      STAG GI Cleveland, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

197.      STAG GI Rogers, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

198.      STAG West Columbia 3, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

199.      STAG IND Stafford, LP, a Delaware limited partnership

 

200.      STAG IND El Paso 6, LP, a Delaware limited partnership

 

201.      STAG IND Houston 9, LP, a Delaware limited partnership

 

202.      STAG McHenry 2, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

203.      STAG Romulus 2, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

204.      STAG South Saint Paul, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

205.      STAG IND Houston 11, LP, a Delaware limited partnership

 

206.      STAG Knoxville 3, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

207.      STAG III Pensacola, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 



 

EXHIBIT A

 

COUNTERPART TO SUBSIDIARY GUARANTY AGREEMENT

 

Reference is hereby made to that certain Subsidiary Guaranty Agreement (hereinafter the “ Subsidiary Guaranty ”) dated as of July 26, 2018, executed and delivered by the parties listed on SCHEDULE 1 ATTACHED HERETO pursuant to that certain Credit Agreement dated as of July 26, 2018 (as from time to time may be amended, modified, or restated, the “ Credit Agreement ”), by and among STAG Industrial Operating Partnership, L.P. as Borrower, STAG Industrial, Inc., a Maryland corporation, as Parent of Borrower, Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as the Administrative Agent and each lender, including the Administrative Agent, from time to time party to the Credit Agreement.  Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings set forth in the Subsidiary Guaranty.

 

In witness whereof, the undersigned Additional Guarantor has caused this Subsidiary Guaranty Agreement to be executed and delivered by its officer thereunto duly authorized as of        , 20  .

 

 

 

 

[NAME OF ADDITIONAL GUARANTOR]

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

 

 

Title:

 

 



 

SCHEDULE 1

EXISTING SUBSIDIARY GUARANTORS

 

1.                    STAG Investments Holdings III, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

2.                    STAG III Albion, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

3.                    STAG III Arlington, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership

 

4.                    STAG III Boardman, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

5.                    STAG III Chesterfield, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

6.                    STAG III Daytona Beach, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

7.                    STAG III Elkhart, LLC , a Delaware limited liability company

 

8.                    STAG III Farmington, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

9.                    STAG III Lewiston, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

10.             STAG III Malden, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

11.             STAG III Mason, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

12.             STAG III Mayville, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

13.             STAG III Newark, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

14.             STAG III Rapid City, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

15.             STIR Investments GP III, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

16.             STAG III Twinsburg, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

17.             STAG III Youngstown, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

18.             STAG Investments Holdings IV, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

19.             STAG IV Alexandria, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

20.             STAG IV Belfast, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

21.             STAG IV Cheektowaga, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

22.             STAG IV Danville, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

23.             STAG IV Seville, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

24.             STAG IV Sun Prairie, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

25.             STAG IV Waco, L.P. , a Delaware limited partnership

 

26.             STIR Investments GP IV, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 



 

27.             STAG GI Investments Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

28.             STAG GI New Jersey, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

29.             STAG Industrial Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

30.             STAG Arlington 2, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership

 

31.             STAG TX GP 2, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

32.             STAG Avon, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

33.             STAG Buffalo, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

34.             STAG Chippewa Falls, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

35.             STAG Edgefield, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

36.             STAG Lansing 2, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

37.             STAG Orlando, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

38.             STAG Pineville, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

39.             STAG Portland 2, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

40.             STAG Reading, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

41.             STAG Rogers 2, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

42.             STAG South Bend, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

43.             STAG Spartanburg, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

44.             STAG Portage, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

45.             STAG Jackson, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

46.             STAG El Paso, LP, a Delaware limited partnership

 

47.             STIR Investments GP, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

48.             STAG Simpsonville, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

49.             STAG Dallas, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

50.             STAG De Pere, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

51.             STAG Duncan, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

52.             STAG Buena Vista, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

53.             STAG Gurnee, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

54.             STAG Chicopee, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 



 

55.             STAG Montgomery, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

56.             STAG Smyrna, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

57.             STAG Statham, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

58.             STAG Harrisonburg, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

59.             STAG Toledo, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

60.             STAG Woodstock, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

61.             STAG Columbia, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

62.             STAG Golden, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

63.             STAG DeKalb, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

64.             STAG Ocala, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

65.             STAG Marion 2, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

66.             STAG Londonderry, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

67.             STAG Houston 2, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership

 

68.             STAG Idaho Falls, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

69.             STAG Williamsport, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

70.             STAG Kentwood, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

71.             STAG Marshall, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

72.             STAG Belvidere I, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

73.             STAG Belvidere II, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

74.             STAG Belvidere III, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

75.             STAG Belvidere IV, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

76.             STAG Belvidere V, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

77.             STAG Belvidere VI, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

78.             STAG Belvidere VII, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

79.             STAG Belvidere VIII, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

80.             STAG Belvidere IX, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

81.             STAG Nashville, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

82.             STAG New Berlin, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 



 

83.             STAG Hampstead, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

84.             STAG New Hope, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

85.             STAG Orlando 2, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

86.             STAG North Jackson 2, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

87.             STAG Shannon, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

88.             STAG Lansing 4, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

89.             STAG Harvard, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

90.             STAG Sauk Village, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

91.             STAG South Holland, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

92.             STAG Mascot, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

93.             STAG Janesville, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

94.             STAG Allentown, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

95.             STAG Nashua, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

96.             STAG Strongsville, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

97.             STAG Columbus, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

98.             STAG Savannah, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

99.             STAG Garland, LP, a Delaware limited partnership

 

100.      STAG West Chester, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

101.      STAG Calhoun, LLC, a , a Delaware limited liability company

 

102.      STAG Hebron, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

103.      STAG Houston 3, LP, a Delaware limited partnership

 

104.      STAG East Troy, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

105.      STAG Savage, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

106.      STAG El Paso 1, LP, a Delaware limited partnership

 

107.      STAG El Paso 2, LP, a Delaware limited partnership

 

108.      STAG El Paso 3, LP, a Delaware limited partnership

 

109.      STAG El Paso 4, LP, a Delaware limited partnership

 

110.      STAG Chester, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 



 

111.      STAG Mechanicsburg 1, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

112.      STAG Mechanicsburg 2, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

113.      STAG Mechanicsburg 3, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

114.      STAG Mason 3, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

115.      STAG Lenexa, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

116.      STAG Reno, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

117.      STAG Fort Wayne, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

118.      STAG Murfreesboro, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

119.      STAG Gurnee 2, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

120.      STAG Germantown, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

121.      STAG Elizabethtown, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

122.      STAG Camarillo 1, LP, a Delaware limited partnership

 

123.      STAG Camarillo 2, LP, a Delaware limited partnership

 

124.      STAG CA GP, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

125.      STAG Spartanburg 3, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

126.      STAG Houston 4, LP, a Delaware limited partnership

 

127.      STAG Burlington, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

128.      STAG Greenville, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

129.      STAG North Haven, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

130.      STAG Plymouth 2, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

131.      STAG Oakwood Village, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

132.      STAG Stoughton 1, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

133.      STAG Stoughton 2, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

134.      STAG 5101 South Council Road, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

135.      STAG Knoxville 2, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

136.      STAG Clinton, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

137.      STAG Fairborn, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

138.      STAG El Paso 5, LP, a Delaware limited partnership

 



 

139.      STAG Phoenix, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

140.      STAG Machesney Park, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

141.      STAG Macedonia, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

142.      STAG Novi 2, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

143.      STAG Grand Junction, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

144.      STAG Tulsa, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

145.      STAG Chattanooga 1, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

146.      STAG Chattanooga 2, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

147.      STAG Libertyville 1, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

148.      STAG Libertyville 2, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

149.      STAG Greer, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

150.      STAG Piedmont 1, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

151.      STAG Piedmont 2, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

152.      STAG Piedmont 3, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

153.      STAG Belvidere 10, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

154.      STAG Shreveport, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

155.      STAG Dayton 2, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

156.      STAG West Allis, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

157.      STAG Loudon, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

158.      STAG Garland 2, LP, a Delaware limited partnership

 

159.      STAG Laurens, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

160.      STAG Lancaster, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

161.      STAG Grand Rapids, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

162.      STAG Burlington 2, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

163.      STAG Biddeford, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

164.      STAG Fairfield 3, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

165.      STAG Mascot 2, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

166.      STAG Erlanger, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 



 

167.      STAG Gahanna, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

168.      STAG Norton, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

169.      STAG Visalia, LP, a Delaware limited partnership

 

170.      STAG TX Holdings, LP, a Delaware limited partnership

 

171.      STAG NC GP, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

172.      STAG NC Holdings, LP, a Delaware limited partnership

 

173.      STAG Sparks 2, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

174.      STAG Hazelwood, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

175.      STAG Portland, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

176.      STAG East Windsor, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

177.      STAG Yorkville, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

178.      STAG Rockwall, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership

 

179.      STAG Lebanon, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

180.      STAG York, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

181.      STAG Mooresville 2, LP, a Delaware limited partnership

 

182.      STAG GI O’Fallon, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

183.      STAG GI Vonore, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

184.      STAG GI Streetsboro, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

185.      STAG GI Salem, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

186.      STAG GI Goshen, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

187.      STAG GI Madison, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

188.      STAG GI Mooresville, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

189.      STAG GI Walker, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

190.      STAG Lansing, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

191.      STAG Louisville, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

192.      STAG North Jackson, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

193.      STAG Fort Worth, LP, a Delaware limited partnership

 

194.      STAG TX GP, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 



 

195.      STAG NC GP 2, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

196.      STAG GI Cleveland, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

197.      STAG GI Rogers, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

198.      STAG West Columbia 3, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

199.      STAG IND Stafford, LP, a Delaware limited partnership

 

200.      STAG IND El Paso 6, LP, a Delaware limited partnership

 

201.      STAG IND Houston 9, LP, a Delaware limited partnership

 

202.      STAG McHenry 2, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

203.      STAG Romulus 2, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

204.      STAG South Saint Paul, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

205.      STAG IND Houston 11, LP, a Delaware limited partnership

 

206.      STAG Knoxville 3, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

207.      STAG III Pensacola, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 



 

EXHIBIT B

 

FORM OF RELEASE OF GUARANTOR

 

In witness whereof, the undersigned Administrative Agent, on behalf of the Credit Parties, hereby releases and discharges                      from any and all obligations and liabilities of                      to the Credit Parties under that certain Subsidiary Guaranty Agreement dated as of July 26, 2018 executed by the Subsidiary Guarantors of STAG Industrial Operating Partnership, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership, described therein in favor of the Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Credit Parties.

 

WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
as Administrative Agent

 

By:

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

 

Title:

 

 

 



 

EXHIBIT H-1

 

FORM OF
U.S. TAX COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE

 

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

 

Reference is hereby made to the Credit Agreement dated as of July 26, 2018 (as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “ Credit Agreement ”), among STAG INDUSTRIAL OPERATING PARTNERSHIP, L.P. as the Borrower (the “ Borrower ”), STAG Industrial, Inc., a Maryland corporation and the sole member of the sole general partner of the Borrower, the Lenders from time to time party thereto, and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as the Administrative Agent, the Swing Line Lender and an L/C Issuer.

 

Pursuant to the provisions of Section 3.01(e)  of the Credit Agreement, the undersigned hereby certifies that (i) it is the sole record and beneficial owner of the Loan(s) (as well as any Note(s) evidencing such Loan(s)) in respect of which it is providing this certificate, (ii) it is not a bank within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(A)  of the Code, (iii) it is not a ten percent shareholder of the Borrower within the meaning of Section 871(h)(3)(B)  of the Code and (iv) it is not a controlled foreign corporation related to the Borrower as described in Section 881(c)(3)(C)  of the Code.

 

The undersigned has furnished the Administrative Agent and the Borrower with a certificate of its non-U.S. Person status on IRS Form W-8BEN or IRS Form W-8BEN-E.  By executing this certificate, the undersigned agrees that (1) if the information provided on this certificate changes, the undersigned shall promptly so inform the Borrower and the Administrative Agent, and (2) the undersigned shall have at all times furnished the Borrower and the Administrative Agent with a properly completed and currently effective certificate in either the calendar year in which each payment is to be made to the undersigned, or in either of the two calendar years preceding such payments.

 

Unless otherwise defined herein, terms defined in the Credit Agreement and used herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Credit Agreement.

 

[NAME OF LENDER]

 

By:

 

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

 

 

Date:            , 20[  ]

 

 

H- 1



 

EXHIBIT H-2

 

FORM OF
U.S. TAX COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE

 

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

 

Reference is hereby made to the Credit Agreement dated as of July 26, 2018 (as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “ Credit Agreement ”), among STAG INDUSTRIAL OPERATING PARTNERSHIP, L.P. as the Borrower (the “ Borrower ”), STAG Industrial, Inc., a Maryland corporation and the sole member of the sole general partner of the Borrower, the Lenders from time to time party thereto, and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as the Administrative Agent, the Swing Line Lender and an L/C Issuer.

 

Pursuant to the provisions of Section 3.01(e)  of the Credit Agreement, the undersigned hereby certifies that (i) it is the sole record and beneficial owner of the participation in respect of which it is providing this certificate, (ii) it is not a bank within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(A)  of the Code, (iii) it is not a ten percent shareholder of the Borrower within the meaning of Section 871(h)(3)(B)  of the Code, and (iv) it is not a controlled foreign corporation related to the Borrower as described in Section 881(c)(3)(C)  of the Code.

 

The undersigned has furnished its participating Lender with a certificate of its non-U.S. Person status on IRS Form W-8BEN or IRS Form W-8BEN-E.  By executing this certificate, the undersigned agrees that (1) if the information provided on this certificate changes, the undersigned shall promptly so inform such Lender in writing, and (2) the undersigned shall have at all times furnished such Lender with a properly completed and currently effective certificate in either the calendar year in which each payment is to be made to the undersigned, or in either of the two calendar years preceding such payments.

 

Unless otherwise defined herein, terms defined in the Credit Agreement and used herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Credit Agreement.

 

[NAME OF PARTICIPANT]

 

By:

 

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

 

 

Date:            , 20[  ]

 

 

H- 2



 

EXHIBIT H-3

 

FORM OF
U.S. TAX COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE

 

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

 

Reference is hereby made to the Credit Agreement dated as of July 26, 2018 (as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “ Credit Agreement ”), among STAG INDUSTRIAL OPERATING PARTNERSHIP, L.P. as the Borrower (the “ Borrower ”), STAG Industrial, Inc., a Maryland corporation and the sole member of the sole general partner of the Borrower, the Lenders from time to time party thereto, and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as the Administrative Agent, the Swing Line Lender and an L/C Issuer.

 

Pursuant to the provisions of Section 3.01(e)  of the Credit Agreement, the undersigned hereby certifies that (i) it is the sole record owner of the participation in respect of which it is providing this certificate, (ii) its direct or indirect partners/members are the sole beneficial owners of such participation, (iii) with respect such participation, neither the undersigned nor any of its direct or indirect partners/members is a bank extending credit pursuant to a loan agreement entered into in the ordinary course of its trade or business within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(A)  of the Code, (iv) none of its direct or indirect partners/members is a ten percent shareholder of the Borrower within the meaning of Section 871(h)(3)(B)  of the Code and (v) none of its direct or indirect partners/members is a controlled foreign corporation related to the Borrower as described in Section 881(c)(3)(C)  of the Code.

 

The undersigned has furnished its participating Lender with IRS Form W-8IMY accompanied by one of the following forms from each of its partners/members that is claiming the portfolio interest exemption: (i) an IRS Form W-8BEN or IRS Form W-8BEN-E or (ii) an IRS Form W-8IMY accompanied by an IRS Form W-8BEN or IRS Form W-8BEN-E from each of such partner’s/member’s beneficial owners that is claiming the portfolio interest exemption.  By executing this certificate, the undersigned agrees that (1) if the information provided on this certificate changes, the undersigned shall promptly so inform such Lender and (2) the undersigned shall have at all times furnished such Lender with a properly completed and currently effective certificate in either the calendar year in which each payment is to be made to the undersigned, or in either of the two calendar years preceding such payments.

 

Unless otherwise defined herein, terms defined in the Credit Agreement and used herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Credit Agreement.

 

[NAME OF PARTICIPANT]

 

By:

 

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

 

 

Date:            , 20[  ]

 

 

H- 3



 

EXHIBIT H-4

 

FORM OF
U.S. TAX COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE

 

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

 

Reference is hereby made to the Credit Agreement dated as of July 26, 2018 (as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “ Credit Agreement ”) among STAG INDUSTRIAL OPERATING PARTNERSHIP, L.P. as the Borrower (the “ Borrower ”), STAG Industrial, Inc., a Maryland corporation and the sole member of the sole general partner of the Borrower, the Lenders from time to time party thereto, and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as the Administrative Agent, the Swing Line Lender and an L/C Issuer.

 

Pursuant to the provisions of Section 3.01(e)  of the Credit Agreement, the undersigned hereby certifies that (i) it is the sole record owner of the Loan(s) (as well as any Note(s) evidencing such Loan(s)) in respect of which it is providing this certificate, (ii) its direct or indirect partners/members are the sole beneficial owners of such Loan(s) (as well as any Note(s) evidencing such Loan(s)), (iii) with respect to the extension of credit pursuant to this Credit Agreement or any other Loan Document, neither the undersigned nor any of its direct or indirect partners/members is a bank extending credit pursuant to a loan agreement entered into in the ordinary course of its trade or business within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(A)  of the Code, (iv) none of its direct or indirect partners/members is a ten percent shareholder of the Borrower within the meaning of Section 871(h)(3)(B)  of the Code and (v) none of its direct or indirect partners/members is a controlled foreign corporation related to the Borrower as described in Section 881(c)(3)(C)  of the Code.

 

The undersigned has furnished the Administrative Agent and the Borrower with IRS Form W-8IMY accompanied by one of the following forms from each of its partners/members that is claiming the portfolio interest exemption: (i) an IRS Form W-8BEN or IRS Form W-8BEN-E or (ii) an IRS Form W-8IMY accompanied by an IRS Form W-8BEN or IRS Form W-8BEN-E from each of such partner’s/member’s beneficial owners that is claiming the portfolio interest exemption.  By executing this certificate, the undersigned agrees that (1) if the information provided on this certificate changes, the undersigned shall promptly so inform the Borrower and the Administrative Agent, and (2) the undersigned shall have at all times furnished the Borrower and the Administrative Agent with a properly completed and currently effective certificate in either the calendar year in which each payment is to be made to the undersigned, or in either of the two calendar years preceding such payments.

 

Unless otherwise defined herein, terms defined in the Credit Agreement and used herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Credit Agreement.

 

[NAME OF LENDER]

 

By:

 

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

 

 

Date:            , 20[  ]

 

 


EXHIBIT 10.2

 

EXECUTION VERSION

 

TERM LOAN AGREEMENT

 

Dated as of July 26, 2018

 

among

 

STAG INDUSTRIAL OPERATING PARTNERSHIP, L.P. ,
as the Borrower,

 

STAG INDUSTRIAL, INC. ,
as a Guarantor,

 

WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION ,
as the Administrative Agent

 

and

 

THE FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS NOW OR HEREAFTER SIGNATORIES HERETO AND
THEIR ASSIGNEES PURSUANT TO SECTION 11.06
,
as Lenders

 

and

 

WELLS FARGO SECURITIES, LLC
and
MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER AND SMITH INCORPORATED
as the Joint Bookrunners

 

BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.,

as Syndication Agent

 

and

 

CAPITAL ONE, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, PNC BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
REGIONS BANK, and TD BANK, N.A.

as Co-Documentation Agents

 

and

 

WELLS FARGO SECURITIES, LLC, MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER AND SMITH
INCORPORATED, CAPITAL ONE, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, PNC CAPITAL MARKETS,
LLC, REGIONS CAPITAL MARKETS and TD SECURITIES (USA) LLC

as the Joint Lead Arrangers

 

WFB LOAN NO. 1018335

 



 

Loan No.  1018335

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

Section

 

Page

 

 

 

Article I. Definitions and Accounting Terms

1

 

 

 

1.01

Defined Terms

1

 

1.02

Other Interpretive Provisions

29

 

1.03

Accounting Terms

30

 

1.04

Rounding

30

 

1.05

Times of Day

31

 

1.06

Rates

31

 

 

 

 

Article II. The Commitments and Credit Extensions

31

 

 

 

2.01

Committed Loans

31

 

2.02

Borrowings, Conversions and Continuations of Committed Loans

32

 

2.03

Reserved

33

 

2.04

Voluntary Reduction of Commitments

33

 

2.05

Prepayments

33

 

2.06

Incremental Term Loans

33

 

2.07

Repayment of Loans

35

 

2.08

Interest

35

 

2.09

Fees

36

 

2.10

Computation of Interest and Fees; Retroactive Adjustments of Applicable Rate

36

 

2.11

Evidence of Debt

37

 

2.12

Payments Generally; The Administrative Agent’s Clawback

37

 

2.13

Sharing of Payments by the Lenders

39

 

2.14

Reserved

39

 

2.15

Reserved

39

 

2.16

Defaulting Lenders

39

 

2.17

Guaranties

41

 

 

 

 

Article III. Taxes, Yield Protection and Illegality

42

 

 

 

3.01

Taxes

42

 

3.02

Illegality

46

 

3.03

Changed Circumstances

47

 

3.04

Increased Costs; Reserves on LIBOR Loans

48

 

3.05

Compensation for Losses

49

 

3.06

Mitigation Obligations; Replacement of the Lenders

50

 

3.07

Survival

50

 

 

 

 

Article IV. Unencumbered Properties

50

 

 

 

4.01

Initial Unencumbered Properties

50

 

4.02

Reserved

50

 

4.03

Notices of Qualification as an Unencumbered Property

50

 

4.04

Eligibility

50

 

4.05

Reserved

50

 

4.06

Guaranty

50

 

4.07

Admission of New Unencumbered Properties

51

 

4.08

Reserved

51

 

4.09

Reserved

51

 



 

Section

 

Page

 

 

 

 

4.10

Exclusion Events

51

 

 

 

 

Article V. Conditions Precedent to Credit Extensions

52

 

 

 

5.01

Conditions of Initial Credit Extension

52

 

5.02

Conditions to all Credit Extensions

54

 

 

 

 

Article VI. Representations and Warranties

55

 

 

 

6.01

Existence, Qualification and Power; Compliance with Laws

55

 

6.02

Authorization; No Contravention

55

 

6.03

Governmental Authorization; Other Consents

55

 

6.04

Binding Effect

55

 

6.05

Financial Statements; No Material Adverse Effect

55

 

6.06

Litigation

56

 

6.07

No Default

56

 

6.08

Ownership of Property; Liens; Equity Interests

56

 

6.09

Environmental Compliance

56

 

6.10

Insurance

57

 

6.11

Taxes

57

 

6.12

ERISA Compliance

57

 

6.13

Subsidiaries; Equity Interests

58

 

6.14

Margin Regulations; Investment Company Act

58

 

6.15

Disclosure

59

 

6.16

Compliance with Laws

59

 

6.17

Taxpayer Identification Number

59

 

6.18

Intellectual Property; Licenses, Etc.

59

 

6.19

Reserved

59

 

6.20

Solvency

59

 

6.21

REIT Status of the Parent

60

 

6.22

Labor Matters

60

 

6.23

Ground Lease Representation

60

 

6.24

Unencumbered Properties

60

 

6.25

OFAC

61

 

6.26

EEA Financial Institutions. No Loan Party is an EEA Financial Institution

61

 

 

 

 

Article VII. Affirmative Covenants

61

 

 

 

7.01

Financial Statements

61

 

7.02

Certificates; Other Information

62

 

7.03

Notices

64

 

7.04

Payment of Obligations

64

 

7.05

Preservation of Existence, Etc.

65

 

7.06

Maintenance of Properties

65

 

7.07

Maintenance of Insurance

65

 

7.08

Compliance with Laws; Beneficial Ownership Regulations

65

 

7.09

Books and Records

65

 

7.10

Inspection Rights

66

 

7.11

Use of Proceeds

66

 

7.12

Environmental Matters

66

 

7.13

Ground Leases

68

 

7.14

Unencumbered Properties

68

 

ii



 

Section

 

Page

 

 

 

Article VIII. Negative Covenants

69

 

 

 

8.01

Liens

69

 

8.02

Indebtedness

70

 

8.03

Investments

71

 

8.04

Fundamental Changes

72

 

8.05

Dispositions

72

 

8.06

Restricted Payments

73

 

8.07

Change in Nature of Business

73

 

8.08

Transactions with Affiliates

73

 

8.09

Burdensome Agreements

73

 

8.10

Use of Proceeds

73

 

8.11

Unencumbered Properties; Ground Leases

74

 

8.12

Environmental Matters

74

 

8.13

Negative Pledge; Indebtedness

75

 

8.14

Financial Covenants

75

 

 

 

 

Article IX. Events of Default and Remedies

76

 

 

 

9.01

Events of Default

76

 

9.02

Remedies Upon Event of Default

78

 

9.03

Application of Funds

79

 

 

 

 

Article X. The Administrative Agent

79

 

 

 

10.01

Appointment and Authority

79

 

10.02

Rights as a Lender

80

 

10.03

Exculpatory Provisions

80

 

10.04

Reliance by the Administrative Agent

81

 

10.05

Delegation of Duties

81

 

10.06

Resignation of the Administrative Agent

81

 

10.07

Non-Reliance on the Administrative Agent and Other Lenders

82

 

10.08

No Other Duties, Etc.

82

 

10.09

The Administrative Agent May File Proofs of Claim

83

 

10.10

Guaranty Matters

83

 

 

 

 

Article XI. Miscellaneous

83

 

 

 

11.01

Amendments, Etc.

83

 

11.02

Notices; Effectiveness; Electronic Communication

85

 

11.03

No Waiver; Cumulative Remedies; Enforcement

86

 

11.04

Expenses; Indemnity; Damage Waiver

87

 

11.05

Payments Set Aside

89

 

11.06

Successors and Assigns

89

 

11.07

Treatment of Certain Information; Confidentiality

93

 

11.08

Right of Setoff

94

 

11.09

Interest Rate Limitation

94

 

11.10

Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness

95

 

11.11

Survival of Representations and Warranties

95

 

11.12

Severability

95

 

11.13

Replacement of the Lenders

95

 

11.14

Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Etc.

96

 

11.15

No Advisory or Fiduciary Responsibility

97

 

11.16

Electronic Execution of Assignments and Certain Other Documents

98

 

iii



 

Section

 

Page

 

 

 

 

 

11.17

USA PATRIOT ACT

98

 

11.18

ENTIRE AGREEMENT

98

 

11.19

Acknowledgment and Consent to Bail-In of EEA Financial Institutions

99

 

11.20

Certain ERISA Matters

99

 

 

 

 

SCHEDULES

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2.01

Commitments and Applicable Percentages

 

 

4.01

Initial Unencumbered Properties

 

 

6.06

Litigation

 

 

6.09

Environmental Matters

 

 

6.13

Subsidiaries and Other Equity Investments and Equity Interests in the Borrower and Each Subsidiary Guarantor

 

 

6.18

Intellectual Property Matters

 

 

8.01

Existing Liens

 

 

8.13

Indebtedness

 

 

11.02

The Administrative Agent’s Office; Certain Addresses for Notices

 

 

RO

Responsible Officers

 

 

 

 

 

EXHIBITS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A

Committed Loan Notice

 

 

B

Form of Note

 

 

C

Compliance Certificate

 

 

D-1

Assignment and Assumption

 

 

D-2

Administrative Questionnaire

 

 

E

Form of Disbursement Instruction Agreement

 

 

F-1

Form of Parent Guaranty

 

 

F-2

Form of Subsidiary Guaranty

 

 

G

Reserved

 

 

H-1

U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate

 

 

H-2

U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate

 

 

H-3

U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate

 

 

H-4

U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate

 

 

iv



 

TERM LOAN AGREEMENT

 

This TERM LOAN AGREEMENT (the “ Agreement ”) is entered into as of July 26, 2018, among STAG INDUSTRIAL OPERATING PARTNERSHIP, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (the “ Borrower ”), STAG INDUSTRIAL, INC., a Maryland corporation and the sole member of the sole general partner of the Borrower (the “ Parent ”), each lender from time to time party hereto (collectively, the “ Lenders ” and individually, a “ Lender ”), and WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as the Administrative Agent.

 

The Borrower has requested that the Lenders provide a term credit facility, and the Lenders are willing to do so on the terms and conditions set forth herein.

 

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:

 

Acceptable Ground Lease ” means a ground lease with respect to an Acceptable Property executed by a Subsidiary Guarantor, as lessee, that (a) has a remaining lease term (including extension or renewal rights) of at least twenty-five (25) years, calculated as of the date such Acceptable Property is deemed an Unencumbered Property, and that the Administrative Agent determines, in its sole discretion, is a financeable ground lease and is otherwise acceptable or (b) has a bargain purchase option (as defined in accordance with GAAP).

 

Acceptable Property ” means a Property (a) that is approved by the Administrative Agent and the Required Lenders, or (b) that meets the following requirements:

 

(i)            such Property is wholly-owned by, or ground leased pursuant to an Acceptable Ground Lease to, the Borrower or a Subsidiary Guarantor free and clear of any Liens (other than Liens permitted by Section 8.01 );

 

(ii)           such Property is an industrial, manufacturing, warehouse/distribution and/or office property located within the United States;

 

(iii)          if such Property is owned by a Subsidiary Guarantor, or is ground leased pursuant to an Acceptable Ground Lease to a Subsidiary Guarantor, then the Equity Interests of such Subsidiary Guarantor are owned, directly or indirectly by the Borrower, free and clear of any Liens other than Liens permitted by Section 8.01 ; and

 

(iv)          such Property is free of all structural defects or major architectural deficiencies, title defects, environmental conditions or other adverse matters except for defects, deficiencies, conditions or other matters which, individually or collectively, are not material to the profitable operation of such Property.

 

Additional Permitted Indebtedness ” means unsecured Indebtedness permitted to be incurred pursuant to Section 8.02(f) .

 



 

Additional Term Loans ” has the meaning specified in Section 2.06(b)(i) .

 

Adjusted NOI ” means, with respect to any Property for the Current Reporting Quarter, annualized, an amount equal to (a) the aggregate gross revenues (excluding non-cash revenues) from the operations of such Property during such period, minus (b) the sum of (i) all expenses and other proper charges incurred in connection with the operation of such Property during such period (including real estate taxes, but excluding any property and asset management fees, debt service charges, income taxes, depreciation, amortization and other non-cash expenses and excluding capital expenditures), (ii) a management fee equal to the greater of (A) two percent (2%) of the aggregate gross base rental revenues (excluding non-cash revenues) from the operations of such Property during such period and (B) actual property management fees paid, and (iii) a replacement reserve of $0.10 per square foot (excluding any Property acquired during the Current Reporting Quarter).  Adjusted NOI shall exclude the amount of any revenues and expenses from any Dark Property.  Adjusted NOI shall be increased, without duplication, by (i) annualized rental revenues (excluding non-cash revenues), net of associated expenses, from any new lease which went into effect with the tenant taking occupancy (or any lease with respect to any Property acquired during the Current Reporting Quarter) and the Borrower is recognizing revenue from such tenant in accordance with GAAP during such Current Reporting Quarter, and (ii) annualized gross base rental revenues (excluding non-cash revenues) for the first monthly gross base rental payment for any lease in a free rent period and the Borrower is recognizing revenue from the applicable tenant in accordance with GAAP during such Current Reporting Quarter.

 

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

 

Administrative Agent’s Office ” means the Administrative Agent’s address and, as appropriate, account as set forth on Schedule 11.02 , or such other address or account as the Administrative Agent may from time to time notify the Borrower and the Lenders.

 

Administrative Questionnaire ” means an Administrative Questionnaire in substantially the form of Exhibit D-2 or any other form approved by the Administrative Agent.

 

Affiliate ” means, with respect to any 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; provided in no event shall Agent or any Lender be deemed to be an Affiliate of the Borrower.

 

Aggregate Commitments ” means the Commitments of all the Lenders as adjusted from time to time in accordance with the terms hereof.  The initial amount of the Aggregate Commitments in effect on the Closing Date is ONE HUNDRED SEVENTY-FIVE MILLION DOLLARS ($175,000,000.00).

 

Agreement ” means this Term Loan Agreement.

 

Anti-Corruption Laws ” means all laws, rules, and regulations of any jurisdiction applicable to the Borrower or its Subsidiaries from time to time concerning or relating to bribery, corruption or money laundering.

 

Applicable Percentage ” means, with respect to any Lender at any time, the percentage (carried out to the ninth decimal place) of the Aggregate Commitments represented by such Lender’s Commitment at such time.  If the commitment of each Lender to make Loans has been terminated pursuant to Section 2.01(b)  or 9.02 or if the Aggregate Commitments have expired, then the Applicable Percentage of each Lender shall be determined based on the percentage (carried out to the ninth decimal place) of the Total Outstandings represented by such Lender’s Loans at such time.  The initial Applicable

 

2



 

Percentage of each Lender is set forth opposite the name of such Lender on Schedule 2.01 or in the Assignment and Assumption pursuant to which such Lender becomes a party hereto, as applicable.

 

Applicable Rate ” means the following:

 

A. Unless and until the Rating Conditions have been satisfied, with respect to any Loan, the following percentages per annum determined according to the Consolidated Leverage Ratio as set forth in the most recent Compliance Certificate received by the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 7.02(a) :

 

Leveraged-Based Pricing Grid :

 

Applicable Rate

 

Pricing 
Level

 

Consolidated 
Leverage Ratio

 

Base Rate 
Applicable 
Margin

 

LIBOR 
Loan 
Applicable 
Margin

 

1

 

< 35%

 

0.20

%

1.20

%

2

 

> 35% but < 40%

 

0.25

%

1.25

%

3

 

> 40% but < 45%

 

0.35

%

1.35

%

4

 

> 45% but < 50%

 

0.40

%

1.40

%

5

 

> 50% but < 55%

 

0.50

%

1.50

%

6

 

> 55%

 

0.70

%

1.70

%

 

Any increase or decrease in the Applicable Rate resulting from a change in the Consolidated Leverage Ratio shall become effective as of the first (1 st ) Business Day immediately following the date a Compliance Certificate is delivered pursuant to Section 7.02(a)  provided 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 6 shall apply as of the first (1 st ) Business Day after the date on which such Compliance Certificate was required to have been delivered, provided that if such request is not delivered within thirty (30) days of the date such Compliance Certificate was due, Pricing Level 5 shall apply as of the date of delivery of such request, and shall remain in effect until the date on which such Compliance Certificate is delivered.  The Applicable Rate in effect from the Closing Date until adjusted as set forth above shall be set at Pricing Level 1.

 

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this definition, the determination of the Applicable Rate for any period shall be subject to the provisions of Section 2.10(b) .

 

or

 

B.            If and when the Rating Conditions have been satisfied, the following percentages per annum, based upon the Debt Rating as set forth below (determined in accordance with the Performance-Based Pricing Grid set forth below).

 

3



 

Performance-Based Pricing Grid :

 

Applicable Rate

 

Pricing 
Level

 

Debt Rating

 

Base Rate 
Applicable 
Margin

 

LIBOR 
Loan 
Applicable 
Margin

 

1

 

> A-/A3

 

0.00

%

0.85

%

2

 

BBB+/Baa1

 

0.00

%

0.90

%

3

 

BBB/Baa2

 

0.00

%

1.00

%

4

 

BBB-/Baa3

 

0.25

%

1.25

%

5

 

< BBB-/Baa3

 

0.65

%

1.65

%

 

Each change in the Applicable Rate resulting from a publicly announced change in the Debt Rating shall be effective, in the case of an upgrade, during the period commencing on the date of delivery by the Borrower to the Administrative Agent of notice thereof pursuant to Section  7.03(e)  and ending on the date immediately preceding the effective date of the next such change and, in the case of a downgrade, during the period commencing on the date of the public announcement thereof and ending on the date immediately preceding the effective date of the next such change.

 

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.

 

Assignee Group ” means two (2) or more Eligible Assignees that are Affiliates of one another or two (2) or more Approved Funds managed by the same investment advisor.

 

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 D-1 or any other form (including electronic documentation generated by MarkitClear or other electronic platform) approved by the Administrative Agent.

 

Attributable Indebtedness ” means, on any date in respect of any Capital 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.

 

Audited Financial Statements ” means the audited financial statements of the Parent for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017 and, from and after the delivery of the financial statements of the Parent required pursuant to Section 7.01(a)  for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2018, the most-recent financial statements furnished pursuant to Section 7.01(a) .

 

Award ” means any compensation paid by any Governmental Authority in connection with a Condemnation in respect of all or any part of any Unencumbered Property.

 

Bail-In Action ” means the exercise of any Write-Down and Conversion Powers by the applicable EEA Resolution Authority in respect of any liability of an EEA Financial Institution.

 

Bail-In Legislation ” means, with respect to any EEA Member Country implementing Article 55 of Directive 2014/59/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of the European Union, the

 

4



 

implementing law for such EEA Member Country from time to time which is described in the EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule.

 

Balloon Payments ” shall mean with respect to any loan constituting Indebtedness, any required principal payment of such loan which is payable at the maturity of such Indebtedness, provided, however, that the final payment of a fully amortized loan shall not constitute a Balloon Payment.

 

Base Rate ” means, at any time, the highest of (a) the Prime Rate, (b) the Federal Funds Rate plus 0.50% and (c) the LIBOR Market Index Rate plus 1%; each change in the Base Rate shall take effect simultaneously with the corresponding change or changes in the Prime Rate, the Federal Funds Rate or the LIBOR Market Index Rate (provided that clause (c) shall not be applicable during any period in which LIBOR is unavailable or unascertainable).

 

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

 

Beneficial Ownership Certification ” means a certification regarding beneficial ownership as required by the Beneficial Ownership Regulation.

 

Beneficial Ownership Regulation ” means 31 C.F.R. § 1010.230.

 

Book Value ” means all land, building, improvements, leasing commissions and deferred leasing intangibles less accumulated depreciation and amortization.

 

Borrower ” has the meaning specified in the introductory paragraph hereto.

 

Borrower Materials ” has the meaning specified in Section 7.02 .

 

Borrowing ” means a Committed Borrowing.

 

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 or the State of New York, and, if such day relates to any LIBOR Loan, means any such day that is also a London Banking Day.

 

Capital Lease ” means, with respect to any Person, the obligations of such Person to pay rent or other amounts under any lease of (or other arrangement conveying the right to use) real or personal property, or a combination thereof, which obligations are required to be classified and accounted for as capital leases on a balance sheet of such Person under GAAP.

 

Capital Lease Obligations ” means, with respect to any Person for any period, the capitalized amount of obligations under Capital Leases for such Person for such period as determined in accordance with GAAP.

 

Capitalization Rate ” means seven percent (7.0%).

 

Cash Equivalents ” means any of the following types of Investments, to the extent owned by Guarantor, the Borrower or any of their Subsidiaries free and clear of all Liens (other than Liens permitted hereunder):

 

(a)           readily marketable obligations issued or directly and fully guaranteed or insured by the United States of America or any agency or instrumentality thereof having maturities of not more than 360

 

5



 

days from the date of acquisition thereof; provided that the full faith and credit of the United States of America is pledged in support thereof;

 

(b)           demand or time deposits with, or insured certificates of deposit or bankers’ acceptances of, any commercial bank that (A) is a Lender or (B) (i) is organized under the laws of the United States of America, 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 of America, 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 $1,000,000,000, in each case with maturities of not more than 90 days from the date of acquisition thereof;

 

(c)           commercial paper in an aggregate amount of no more than $5,000,000 per issuer outstanding at any time issued by any Person organized under the laws of any state of the United States of America 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 180 days from the date of acquisition thereof;

 

(d)           Investments, classified in accordance with GAAP as current assets of the Parent 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) and (c) of this definition; and

 

(e)           Other liquid or readily marketable investments in an amount not to exceed five percent (5%) of Total Asset Value.

 

Casualty ” means, with respect to any Unencumbered Property, if such Unencumbered Property has been damaged or destroyed, in whole or in part, by fire or other casualty.

 

Change in Law ” means the occurrence, after the date of this Agreement, of any of the following: (a) the adoption or taking effect of any Law, rule, regulation or treaty; (b) any change in any Law, rule, regulation or treaty or in the administration, interpretation, implementation or application thereof by any Governmental Authority; or (c) the making or issuance of any request, rule, guideline or directive (whether or not having the force of law) by any Governmental Authority; provided that notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, (x) the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and all requests, rules, guidelines or directives thereunder or issued in connection therewith or in implementation thereof and (y) all requests, rules, guidelines or directives promulgated by the Bank for International Settlements, the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (or any successor or similar authority) or the United States or foreign regulatory authorities, in each case pursuant to Basel III, shall in each case be deemed to be a “Change in Law”, regardless of the date enacted, adopted, issued or implemented.

 

Change of Control ” means an event or series of events by which:

 

(a)           any “ person ” or “ group ” (as such terms are used in Sections 13(d)  and 14(d)  of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, but excluding any employee benefit plan of such person or its Subsidiaries, and any person or entity acting in its capacity as trustee, agent or other fiduciary or administrator of any such plan) becomes the “ beneficial owner ” (as defined in Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, except that a person or group shall be deemed to have “beneficial ownership” of all Equity Interests that such person or group has the right to

 

6



 

acquire, whether such right is exercisable immediately or only after the passage of time (such right, an “ option right ”)), directly or indirectly, of thirty-five percent (35%) or more of the Equity Interests of the Parent entitled to vote for members of the board of directors or equivalent governing body of the Parent on a fully-diluted basis (and taking into account all such Equity Interests that such person or group has the right to acquire pursuant to any option right);

 

(b)           during any period of twelve (12) consecutive months, a majority of the members of the board of directors or other equivalent governing body of the Parent cease to be composed of individuals (i) who were members of that board or equivalent governing body on the first day of such period, (ii) whose election or nomination to that board or equivalent governing body was approved by individuals referred to in clause (i) above constituting at the time of such election or nomination at least a majority of that board or equivalent governing body or (iii) whose election or nomination to that board or other equivalent governing body was approved by individuals referred to in clauses (i) and (ii) above constituting at the time of such election or nomination at least a majority of that board or equivalent governing body; or

 

(c)           the Parent shall cease to (i) either be the sole general partner of, or wholly own and control the general partner of, the Borrower or (ii) own, directly or indirectly, greater than fifty percent (50%) of the Equity Interests of the Borrower.

 

Closing Date ” means the first date all the conditions precedent in Section 5.01 are satisfied or waived in accordance with Section 11.01 .

 

Code ” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 .

 

Commitment ” means, as to each Lender, its obligation to make Committed Loans to the Borrower pursuant to Section 2.01 , in an aggregate principal amount at any one time outstanding not to exceed the amount set forth opposite such Lender’s name on Schedule 2.01 or in the Assignment and Assumption pursuant to which such Lender becomes a party hereto, as applicable, as such amount may be adjusted from time to time in accordance with this Agreement.

 

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

 

Committed Loan ” has the meaning specified in Section 2.01(a) .

 

Committed Loan Notice” means a notice of (a) a Committed Borrowing, (b) a conversion of Committed Loans from one Type to the other, or (c) a continuation of LIBOR Loans, pursuant to Section 2.02(a) , which, if in writing, shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit A .

 

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.

 

Companies ” means, without duplication, the Parent and its Consolidated Subsidiaries (including the Borrower), and “Company” means any one of the Companies.

 

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

 

Condemnation ” means a temporary or permanent taking by any Governmental Authority as the result, in lieu, or in anticipation, of the exercise of the right of condemnation or eminent domain of all or

 

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any part of any Unencumbered Property, or any interest therein or right accruing thereto, including any right of access thereto or any change of grade affecting any Unencumbered Property or any part thereof.

 

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 EBITDA ” means, for any Person for any period, an amount equal to (a) Consolidated Net Income, plus (b) the sum of the following (without duplication and to the extent reflected as a charge in the statement of such Consolidated Net Income for such period): (i) income tax expense; (ii) interest expense, amortization or write-off of debt discount and debt issuance costs and commissions, discounts and other fees and charges associated with Indebtedness; (iii) depreciation and amortization expense; (iv) amortization of intangibles (including goodwill) and organization costs; (v) any extraordinary, unusual or non-recurring expenses or losses (including, whether or not otherwise includable as a separate item in the statement of such Consolidated Net Income for such period, losses on sales of assets outside of the ordinary course of business), including property acquisition costs; (vi) any other non-cash charges, and (vii) all commissions, guaranty fees, discounts and other fees and charges owed by such Person with respect to letters of credit and bankers’ acceptance financing and net costs of such Person under Swap Contracts in respect of interest rates to the extent such net costs are allocable to such period in accordance with GAAP; minus (c) the sum of the following (to the extent included in the statement of such Consolidated Net Income for such period): (i) interest income (except to the extent deducted in determining such Consolidated Net Income); (ii) any extraordinary, unusual or non-recurring income or gains (including, whether or not otherwise includable as a separate item in the statement of such Consolidated Net Income for such period, gains on the sales of assets outside of the ordinary course of business); and (iii) any other non-cash income.

 

Consolidated Fixed Charges ” means, on a consolidated basis, for any Person for any period, the sum (without duplication) of (a) Consolidated Interest Expense, (b) provision for cash income taxes made by such Person on a consolidated basis in respect of such period, (c) scheduled principal amortization payments due during such period on account of Indebtedness of such Person (excluding Balloon Payments), and (d) Restricted Payments paid in cash with respect to preferred Equity Interests of such Person during such period (other than any repayments of principal with respect to preferred Equity Interests).

 

Consolidated Interest Expense ” means, for any Person for any period, the total interest expense (including that attributable to Capital Lease Obligations) of such Person for such period with respect to all outstanding Total Funded Debt (including all commissions, discounts and other fees and charges owed by such Person with respect to letters of credit and bankers’ acceptance financing and net costs of such Person under Swap Contracts in respect of interest rates to the extent such net costs are allocable to such period in accordance with GAAP).  Consolidated Interest Expenses shall exclude non-cash charges, interest rate hedge termination payments or receipts, loan prepayment costs, and upfront loan fees, interest expense covered by an interest reserve established under a loan facility and any interest expense under any construction loan or construction activity that under GAAP is required to be capitalized.

 

Consolidated Leverage Ratio ” means, as of any date of determination, the quotient (expressed as a percentage) of (a) Consolidated Total Debt, divided by (b) Total Asset Value.

 

Consolidated Net Income ” means, for any Person for any period, the consolidated net income (or loss) of such Person for such period, determined on a consolidated basis; provided that in calculating Consolidated Net Income of the Parent for any period, there shall be excluded (a) the income (or deficit) of any Person accrued prior to the date it becomes a Subsidiary or is merged into or consolidated with the Parent or any of its Subsidiaries, (b) the income (or deficit) of any Person (other than a Company) in

 

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which any Company has an ownership interest, except to the extent that any such income is actually received by such Company in the form of dividends or similar distributions, and (c) the undistributed earnings of any Subsidiary of any Company to the extent that the declaration or payment of dividends or similar distributions by such Subsidiary is not at the time permitted by the terms of any Contractual Obligation (other than under any Loan Document) or requirement of Law applicable to such Subsidiary.

 

Consolidated Subsidiary ” means any Person in which the Parent or the Borrower has a direct or indirect ownership interest and whose financial results would be consolidated under GAAP with the financial results of the Parent on the consolidated financial statements of the Parent.

 

Consolidated Total Debt ” means, as of any date of determination, the aggregate principal amount of all Indebtedness of the Parent on such date, determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP which would be required to be included on the liabilities side of the balance sheet of the Parent in accordance with GAAP, and including the Companies’ Share of the principal amount of all Indebtedness of Unconsolidated Affiliates, but, in each case, excluding the net obligations of the Parent on a consolidated basis under any Swap Contract.

 

Construction in Progress ” means (a) a Property with new ground up construction, (b) a Property under renovation in which (i) greater than thirty percent (30%) of the square footage of such Property is unavailable for occupancy due to renovation and (ii) no rents are being paid on such square footage or (c) a building expansion.  The classification of “Construction in Progress” will cease on the earlier to occur of (A) the time that such Property has an Occupancy Rate of greater than eighty percent (80%), and (B) one hundred eighty (180) days after completion of construction, renovation or expansion of such Property, as applicable.

 

Contamination ” means the presence of Hazardous Materials in amounts exceeding regulatory action levels.

 

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.  The terms “ Controlling ” and “ Controlled ” have meanings correlative thereto.

 

Credit Agreements ” means (a) the Revolving Credit Agreement (b) that certain Term Loan Agreement, dated as of July 28, 2017, among the Borrower, the Parent, Bank of America, N.A., as administrative agent, and the other lenders party thereto (c) that certain Amended and Restated Term Loan Agreement, dated as of December 20, 2016, among the Borrower, the Parent, Wells Fargo, as administrative agent, and the other lenders party thereto, (d) that certain Second Amended and Restated Term Loan Agreement, dated as of December 20, 2016, among the Borrower, the Parent, Wells Fargo, as administrative agent, and the other lenders party thereto and (e) that certain Term Loan Agreement, dated as of September 29, 2015, among the Borrower, the Parent, Wells Fargo, as administrative agent, and the other lenders party thereto, in each case, as amended from time to time.

 

Credit Extension ” means a Borrowing.

 

Current Reporting Quarter ” means the most recent fiscal quarter for which quarterly financial statements have been delivered to the Lenders pursuant to Section 7.01 .

 

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Customary Recourse Exceptions ” means, with respect to any Indebtedness, personal recourse that is limited to fraud, misrepresentation, misapplication of cash, waste, environmental claims and liabilities, prohibited transfers, violations of single purposes entity covenants, and other circumstances customarily excluded by institutional lenders from exculpation provisions and/or included in separate guaranty or indemnification agreements in non-recourse financing of Real Property.

 

Dark Property ” means any Property as to which, as of the last day of the Current Reporting Quarter, (a) all leases have terminated, (b) the Borrower is not recognizing revenue from any tenants in accordance with GAAP or (c) the Adjusted NOI for such Property is negative.

 

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 and affecting the rights of creditors generally.

 

Debt Rating ” means, as of any date of determination, the rating as determined by a minimum of two of S&P,  Moody’s or Fitch (collectively, the “ Debt Ratings ”) of the Borrower’s non-credit-enhanced, senior unsecured long-term debt; provided that (a) if the respective Debt Ratings issued by the foregoing rating agencies differ by one level, then the Pricing Level for the higher of such Debt Ratings shall apply (with the Debt Rating for Pricing Level 1 being the highest and the Debt Rating for Pricing Level 5 being the lowest); (b) if there is a split in Debt Ratings of more than one level, then the Pricing Level that is one level lower than the Pricing Level of the higher Debt Rating shall apply; (c) if the Borrower has only one Debt Rating, the Pricing Level that is one level lower than that of such Debt Rating shall apply; and (d) if, after satisfying the Rating Condition, the Borrower does not have any Debt Rating, Pricing Level 5 shall apply.

 

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 an interest rate equal to (i) the Base Rate plus (ii) the Applicable Rate, if any, applicable to Base Rate Loans plus (iii) two percent (2%) per annum; provided that with respect to a LIBOR Loan, the Default Rate shall be an interest rate equal to the interest rate (including any Applicable Rate) otherwise applicable to such Loan plus two percent (2%) per annum.

 

“Defaulting Lender” means, subject to Section 2.16(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 Borrower in writing that such failure is the result of such Lender’s determination that one or more conditions precedent to funding (each of which conditions precedent, together with any applicable default, shall be specifically identified in such writing) has not been satisfied, or (ii) pay to the Administrative Agent or any other Lender any other amount required to be paid by it hereunder within two (2) Business Days of the date when due, (b) has notified the Borrower and the Administrative Agent 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 Borrower, to confirm in writing to the Administrative Agent and the Borrower that it will comply with its prospective funding obligations hereunder (provided that such Lender shall cease to be a Defaulting Lender pursuant to this clause (c) upon receipt of such written confirmation by the Administrative Agent and the Borrower), or (d) has, or has a direct or indirect parent

 

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company which controls such Lender that has, (i) become the subject of a proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law, (ii) had appointed for it a receiver, custodian, conservator, trustee, administrator, assignee for the benefit of creditors or similar Person charged with reorganization or liquidation of its business or assets, including the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other state or federal regulatory authority acting in such a capacity or (iii) become the subject of a Bail-In Action; provided that a Lender shall not be a Defaulting Lender solely by virtue of the ownership or acquisition of any 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 of the effective date of such status, shall be conclusive and binding absent manifest error, and such Lender shall be deemed to be a Defaulting Lender (subject to Section 2.16(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 Borrower and each Lender promptly following such determination.

 

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

 

Disbursement Instruction Agreement ” means an agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit E to be executed and delivered by the Borrower pursuant to Section 5.01(a) , as the same may be amended, restated or modified from time to time with the prior written approval of the Administrative Agent.

 

Disposition ” or “ Dispose ” means the sale, transfer, license, lease (other than a real estate lease entered into in the ordinary course of business as part of Property leasing operations) or other disposition (including any sale and leaseback transaction) of any property by any Person, 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 arrangement constituting a Lien.

 

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

 

EEA Financial Institution ” means (a) any institution established in any EEA Member Country which is subject to the supervision of an EEA Resolution Authority, (b) any entity established in an EEA Member Country which is a parent of an institution described in clause (a) of this definition, or (c) any institution established in an EEA Member Country which is a subsidiary of an institution described in clauses (a) or (b) of this definition and is subject to consolidated supervision with its parent. “ EEA Member Country ” means any of the member states of the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway.

 

EEA Resolution Authority ” means any public administrative authority or any Person entrusted with public administrative authority of any EEA Member Country (including any delegee) having responsibility for the resolution of any EEA Financial Institution.

 

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

 

Environmental Assessment ” has the meaning specified in Section 7.12(b) .

 

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Environmental Claim ” means any investigative, enforcement, cleanup, removal, containment, remedial, or other private or governmental or regulatory action at any time instituted or completed pursuant to any applicable Environmental Requirement against any Company or against or with respect to any Real Property or any condition, use, or activity on any Real Property (including any such action against the Administrative Agent or any Lender), and any claim at any time made by any Person against any Company or against or with respect to any Real Property or any condition, use, or activity on any Real Property (including any such claim against the Administrative Agent or any Lender), relating to damage, contribution, cost recovery, compensation, loss, or injury resulting from or in any way arising in connection with any Hazardous Material or any Environmental Requirement.

 

Environmental Damages ” means all liabilities (including strict liability), losses, damages (excluding consequential, special, exemplary or punitive damages except to the extent such damages were imposed upon an Indemnitee as a result of any claims made against such Indemnitee by a governmental entity or any other third party), judgments, penalties, fines, costs and expenses (including fees, costs and expenses of attorneys, consultants, contractors, experts and laboratories), of any and every kind or character, at law or in equity, contingent or otherwise, matured or unmatured, foreseeable or unforeseeable, made, incurred, suffered, brought, or imposed at any time and from time to time, whether before or after the Release Date and arising in whole or in part from:

 

(a)           the presence of any Hazardous Material on any Unencumbered Property, or any escape, seepage, leakage, spillage, emission, release, discharge or disposal of any Hazardous Material on or from any Unencumbered Property, or the migration or release or threatened migration or release of any Hazardous Material to, from or through any Unencumbered Property, on or before the Release Date; or

 

(b)           any act, omission, event or circumstance existing or occurring in connection with the handling, treatment, containment, removal, storage, decontamination, clean up, transport or disposal of any Hazardous Material which is at any time on or before the Release Date present on any Unencumbered Property; or

 

(c)           the breach of any representation, warranty, covenant or agreement contained in this Agreement relating to the presence of any Hazardous Material on any Unencumbered Property because of any event or condition occurring or existing on or before the Release Date; or

 

(d)           any violation on or before the Release Date, of any Environmental Requirement in connection with any Unencumbered Property in effect on or before the Release Date, regardless of whether any act, omission, event or circumstance giving rise to the violation constituted a violation at the time of the occurrence or inception of such act, omission, event or circumstance; or

 

(e)           any Environmental Claim, or the filing or imposition of any environmental Lien against any Unencumbered Property, because of, resulting from, in connection with, or arising out of any of the matters referred to in subparagraphs (a)  through (d)  preceding;

 

and regardless of whether any of the foregoing was caused by the Borrower, any other Loan Party or their respective tenant or subtenant, or a prior owner of an Unencumbered Property or its tenant or subtenant, or any third party including (i) injury or damage to any person, property or natural resource occurring on or off of an Unencumbered Property including the cost of demolition and rebuilding of any improvements on any Real Property; (ii) the investigation or remediation of any such Hazardous Material or violation of Environmental Requirement including the preparation of any feasibility studies or reports and the performance of any cleanup, remediation, removal, response, abatement, containment, closure,

 

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restoration, monitoring or similar work required by any Environmental Requirement or necessary to have full use and benefit of Unencumbered Properties as contemplated by the Loan Documents (including any of the same in connection with any foreclosure action or transfer in lieu thereof); (iii) all liability to pay or indemnify any Person or Governmental Authority for costs expended in connection with any of the foregoing; (iv) the investigation and defense of any claim, whether or not such claim is ultimately withdrawn or defeated; and (v) the settlement of any claim or judgment.  “ Costs ” as used in this definition shall also include any diminution in the value of the security afforded by the Unencumbered Property or any future reduction of the sales price of any Unencumbered Property by reason of any matter set forth in Section 7.12 or 8.12 .

 

Environmental Laws ” means any and all applicable 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 Requirement ” means any Environmental Law, agreement or restriction, as the same now exists or may be changed or amended or come into effect in the future, which pertains to any Hazardous Material or the environment including ground or air or water or noise pollution or contamination, and underground or aboveground tanks.

 

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.

 

Equity Issuance ” means the issuance or sale by any Person of any of its Equity Interests or any capital contribution to such Person by the holders of its Equity Interests.

 

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 the 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 the Parent 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 the Parent 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(a)(1) or (2)  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 notification that a Multiemployer Plan is in endangered or critical status

 

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within the meaning of Sections 430 , 431 and 432 of the Code or Sections 303 , 304 and 305 of ERISA; or (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 the Parent or any ERISA Affiliate.

 

“EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule” means the EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule published by the Loan Market Association (or any successor Person), as in effect from time to time.

 

Event of Default ” has the meaning specified in Section 9.01 .

 

Excluded Party ” shall mean any REIT, any parent company of or Person who Controls any REIT in each instance engaged primarily in owning and operating Real Property, and any other Person whom the Borrower has reasonably identified in writing to the Administrative Agent as a competitor or potential competitor of the Borrower.

 

Excluded Swap Obligation ” means, with respect to any Loan Party, any Swap Contract if, and to the extent that, all or a portion of the liability of such Loan Party for or the Guarantee of such Loan Party of, or the grant by such Loan Party of a Lien to secure, such Swap Contract (or any liability or guarantee thereof) is or becomes illegal under the Commodity Exchange Act or any rule, regulation or order of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (or the application or official interpretation of any thereof) by virtue of such Loan Party’s failure for any reason to constitute an “eligible contract participant” as defined in the Commodity Exchange Act and the regulations thereunder at the time the liability for or the Guarantee of such Loan Party or the grant of such Lien becomes effective with respect to such Swap Contract (such determination being made after giving effect to any applicable keepwell, support or other agreement for the benefit of the applicable Loan Party, including under Section 27 of the Subsidiary Guaranty).  If a Swap Contract arises under a master agreement governing more than one swap, such exclusion shall apply only to the portion of such Swap Contract that is attributable to swaps for which such Guarantee or Lien is or becomes illegal for the reasons identified in the immediately preceding sentence of this definition.

 

Excluded Taxes means any of the following Taxes imposed on or with respect to 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 the 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)(ii)  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.

 

“Exclusion Event” has the meaning specified in Section 4.10 .

 

“Exclusion Notice” has the meaning specified in Section 4.10.

 

FASB ASC ” means the Accounting Standards Codification of the Financial Accounting Standards Board.

 

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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 agreement 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 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, then 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, (b) if no such rate is so published on such next succeeding Business Day, then 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 Wells Fargo on such day on such transactions as determined by the Administrative Agent and (c) if the Federal Funds Rate should be less than zero, such rate shall be deemed to be zero for purposes of this Agreement.

 

Fee Letters ” means the letter agreements, dated as of (a) June 21, 2018 among the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC and (b) the Closing Date among the Borrower, Bank of America, N.A. and Merrill, Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated.

 

FIRREA ” means the Financial Institution Recovery, Reform and Enforcement Act of 1989, as amended.

 

Fitch ” means Fitch, Inc., and any successor thereto.

 

Fixed Charge Ratio ” means, as of any date of determination, the quotient (expressed as a percentage) of (a) Consolidated EBITDA, divided by (b) Consolidated Fixed Charges.

 

Foreign Lender ” means (a) if the Borrower is a U.S. Person, a Lender that is not a U.S. Person, and (b) if the 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 the 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.

 

FRB ” means the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System of the United States.

 

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.

 

Funds from Operations ” means, for any Person for any period, the sum of (a) Consolidated Net Income plus (b) depreciation and amortization expense determined in accordance with GAAP excluding amortization expense attributable to capitalized debt costs; provided that there shall not be included in such calculation (i) any proceeds of any insurance policy other than rental or business interruption insurance received by such Person, (ii) any gain or loss which is classified as “extraordinary” in accordance with GAAP, (iii) any capital gains and taxes on capital gains, (iv) income (or loss) associated with third-party ownership of non-controlling Equity Interests, and (v) gains or losses on the sale of discontinued operations as detailed in the most-recent financial statements delivered pursuant to Section 7.01(a)  or (b) , as applicable.

 

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GAAP ” means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States set forth in the opinions and pronouncements of the Accounting Principles Board and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and statements and pronouncements of the Financial Accounting Standards Board or such other principles as may be approved by a significant segment of the accounting profession in the United States, that are applicable to the circumstances as of the date of determination, consistently applied.

 

Governmental Authority ” means the government of the United States or any other nation, or of any political subdivision thereof, whether state or local, and any agency, authority, instrumentality, regulatory body, court, central bank or other entity exercising executive, legislative, judicial, taxing, regulatory or administrative powers or functions of or pertaining to government (including any supra-national bodies such as the European Union or the European Central Bank).

 

Guarantee ” means, as to any Person, (a) any obligation, contingent or otherwise, of such Person guaranteeing or having the economic effect of guaranteeing any Indebtedness 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 or other obligation of any other Person, whether or not such Indebtedness or other obligation is assumed by such Person (or any right, contingent or otherwise, of any holder of such Indebtedness 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.

 

Guaranties ” means the Parent Guaranty and the Subsidiary Guaranties, and “ Guaranty ” means any one of the Guaranties.

 

Guarantors ” means, collectively, the Parent and each Subsidiary Guarantor, and “ Guarantor ” means any one of the Guarantors.

 

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

 

“Immaterial Subsidiary ” means any Subsidiary whose assets constitute less than one percent (1%) of Total Asset Value; provided that if at any time the aggregate Total Asset Value of the “Immaterial Subsidiaries” which are not Guarantors exceeds ten percent (10%) of Total Asset Value, then the Borrower shall designate certain “Immaterial Subsidiaries” as Guarantors such that the aggregate Total Asset Value of the “Immaterial Subsidiaries” which are not Guarantors does not exceed ten percent (10%) of Total Asset Value.

 

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Improvements ” means any Subsidiary Guarantor’s interest in and to all on site improvements to the Unencumbered Properties, together with all fixtures, tenant improvements, and appurtenances now or later to be located on the Unencumbered Properties and/or in such improvements.

 

Increase Effective Date ” has the meaning specified in Section 2.06(b)(ii) .

 

“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)           all direct or contingent obligations of such Person arising under letters of credit (including standby and commercial), bankers’ acceptances, bank guaranties, surety bonds and similar instruments;

 

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

 

(d)           all 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 and, in each case, either (i) not past due for more than one hundred and eighty (180) days or (ii) being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted);

 

(e)           Capital Lease Obligations;

 

(f)            all obligations of such Person to purchase, redeem, retire, defease or otherwise make any payment in respect of any ownership interest (excluding perpetual preferred ownership interests) in such Person or any other Person, valued, in the case of a redeemable preferred interest, at the greater of its voluntary or involuntary liquidation preference plus (without duplication and only to the extent required to be paid) accrued and unpaid dividends;

 

(g)           all Guarantees of such Person in respect of any of the foregoing (except for guaranties of customary exceptions for fraud, misapplication of funds, environmental indemnities, voluntary bankruptcy, collusive involuntary bankruptcy and other similar customary exceptions to non-recourse liability); and

 

(h)           all obligations of the kind referred to in clauses (a) through (g) above secured by (or for which the holder of such obligation has an existing right, contingent or otherwise, to be secured by) any lien on Property (including accounts and contract rights) owned by such Person, whether or not such Person has assumed or become liable for the payment of such obligation, but limited to the lesser of (i) the fair market value of the property subject to such lien and (ii) the aggregate amount of the obligations so secured.

 

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; provided that, solely for purposes of calculating the financial covenants set forth in Sections 8.14(a), (b) and (c) , Indebtedness shall exclude the net obligations of the Parent on a consolidated basis under Swap Contracts entered into to hedge or mitigate any interest rate risk in respect of borrowed money for which the Parent,

 

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the Borrower or any Subsidiary has actual exposure. The amount of any Capital Lease Obligations as of any date shall be deemed to be the amount of Attributable Indebtedness in respect 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 (a), Other Taxes.

 

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

 

Information ” has the meaning specified in Section 11.07.

 

Initial Unencumbered Properties ” means the Acceptable Properties listed on Schedule 4.01 , and “ Initial Unencumbered Property ” means any one of the Initial Unencumbered Properties.

 

Interest Payment Date ” means (a) as to any Loan other than a Base Rate Loan, the last day of each Interest Period applicable to such Loan and the Maturity Date applicable to such Loan; provided that if any Interest Period for a LIBOR Loan exceeds three (3) months, then 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, the last Business Day of each March, June, September, and December and the Maturity Date applicable to such Loan.

 

Interest Period ” means as to each LIBOR Loan, the period commencing on the date such LIBOR Loan is disbursed or converted to or continued as a LIBOR Loan and ending on the date one (1), two (2), three (3) or six (6) months (if available to all Lenders) thereafter, as selected by the Borrower in its Loan Notice; provided that :

 

(i)            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, in the case of a LIBOR Loan, such Business Day falls in another calendar month, in which case such Interest Period shall end on the next preceding Business Day;

 

(ii)           any Interest Period pertaining to a LIBOR Loan 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

 

(iii)          no Interest Period for a subject Loan shall extend beyond the Maturity Date applicable to such Loan.

 

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 equity participation or interest in, another Person, including any partnership or joint venture interest in such other Person and any arrangement pursuant to which the investor Guarantees 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 that constitute a business unit.  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.

 

IP Rights ” has the meaning specified in Section 6.18 .

 

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IRS ” means the United States Internal Revenue Service.

 

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.

 

Lead Arrangers ” means Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, Capital One, National Association, PNC Capital Markets, LLC, Regions Capital Markets and TD Securities (USA) LLC in their capacities as joint lead arrangers.

 

Lease ” means each existing or future lease, sublease (to the extent of any Subsidiary Guarantor’s rights thereunder), license, or other agreement (other than an Acceptable Ground Lease) under the terms of which any Person has or acquires any right to occupy or use any Property, or any part thereof, or interest therein, and each existing or future guaranty of payment or performance thereunder.

 

Lender ” has the meaning specified in the introductory paragraph hereto.

 

Lending Office ” means, as to any Lender, the office or offices of such Lender described as such in such Lender’s Administrative Questionnaire, or such other office or offices as a Lender may from time to time notify the Borrower and the Administrative Agent.

 

LIBOR ” means, subject to the implementation of a Replacement Rate in accordance with Section 3.03(b) ,with respect to any LIBOR borrowings for any interest period, the rate of interest obtained by dividing (i) the rate of interest per annum determined on the basis of the rate for deposits in U.S. dollars for a period equal to the applicable interest period as published by the ICE Benchmark Administration Limited, a United Kingdom company, or a comparable or successor quoting service approved by the Administrative Agent, at approximately 11:00 a.m. (London time) two business days prior to the first day of the applicable interest period by (ii) a percentage equal to 1 minus the stated maximum rate (stated as a decimal) of all reserves, if any, required to be maintained with respect to Eurocurrency funding (currently referred to as “Eurocurrency liabilities”) as specified in Regulation D of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (or against any other category of liabilities which includes deposits by reference to which the interest rate on LIBOR Loans is determined or any applicable category of extensions of credit or other assets which includes loans by an office of any Lender outside of the United States of America); provided that if such determined rate shall be less than zero, such rate shall be deemed to be zero for each LIBOR Loan that has not been identified by the Borrower in accordance with the terms of this Agreement as being subject to a Specified Swap Contract that provides a hedge against interest rate risk.  If, for any reason, such rate is not so published then “LIBOR” shall be determined by the Administrative Agent to be the arithmetic average of the rate per annum at which deposits in U.S. dollars would be offered by first class banks in the London interbank market to the Administrative Agent at approximately 11:00 a.m. (London time) two business days prior to the first day of the applicable interest period for a period equal to such interest period; provided that if such determined rate shall be less than zero, such rate shall be deemed to be zero for each LIBOR Loan that has not been identified by the Borrower in accordance with the terms of this Agreement as being subject to a Specified Swap Contract that provides a hedge against interest rate risk.  Any change in the maximum rate or reserves described in the preceding clause (ii) shall result in a change in LIBOR on the date on which such change in such maximum rate becomes effective.

 

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

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, unless otherwise specified in any amendment to this Agreement entered into in accordance with Section 3.03(b) , in the event that a Replacement Rate with respect to LIBOR is implemented then all references herein to LIBOR shall be deemed references to such Replacement Rate.

 

LIBOR Loan ” means a Committed Loan that bears interest at a rate based on LIBOR.

 

LIBOR Market Index Rate ” means, for any day, LIBOR as of that day that would be applicable for a LIBOR borrowing having a one-month interest period determined at approximately 10:00 a.m. Central time for such day (rather than 11:00 a.m. (London time) two business days prior to the first day of such interest period as otherwise provided in the definition of “LIBOR”), or if such day is not a business day, the immediately preceding business day.  The LIBOR Market Index Rate shall be determined on a daily basis.

 

Lien ” means any mortgage, pledge, hypothecation, assignment, deposit arrangement, encumbrance, lien (statutory or other), charge or other security interest or any preference, priority or other security agreement or preferential arrangement 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 Capital Lease having substantially the same economic effect as any of the foregoing).

 

Loan ” means an extension of credit by a Lender to the Borrower under Article II in the form of a Committed Loan.

 

Loan Documents ” means this Agreement, each Note, the Fee Letters, and the Guaranties.

 

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 LIBOR Loans, pursuant to Section 2.02(a) , which, if in writing, shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit A .

 

Loan Parties ” means, collectively, the Borrower and each Guarantor and “ Loan Party ” means any one of the Loan Parties.

 

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

 

Material Acquisition ” means any acquisition (or series of related acquisitions) or investments (or series of related investments) permitted by this Agreement and consummated in accordance with the terms of this Agreement for which the aggregate consideration paid in respect of such acquisition or investment (including any Indebtedness assumed in connection therewith) exceeds 10% of Total Asset Value for the Current Reporting Quarter, without giving pro forma effect to such acquisition.

 

Material Adverse Effect ” means: (a) a material adverse change in, or a material adverse effect upon, the business, assets, operations, or financial condition of the Companies, taken as a whole; (b) a material impairment of the ability of the Loan Parties, taken as a whole, to perform their obligations under the Loan Documents; or (c) a material adverse effect upon the legality, validity, binding effect, or enforceability against the Loan Parties, taken as a whole, of the Loan Documents to which they are parties.

 

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Material Environmental Event ” means, with respect to any Unencumbered Property, (a) a violation of any Environmental Law with respect to such Unencumbered Property, or (b) the presence of any Hazardous Materials on, about, or under such Unencumbered Property that, under or pursuant to any Environmental Law, would require remediation, if in the case of either (a) or (b), such event or circumstance could reasonably be expected to have a Material Property Event.

 

Material Property Event ” means, with respect to any Unencumbered Property, the occurrence of any event or circumstance occurring or arising after the date of this Agreement that resulted in a (a) material adverse effect with respect to the financial condition or the operations of such Unencumbered Property, (b) material adverse effect on the value of such Unencumbered Property, or (c) material adverse effect on the ownership of such Unencumbered Property.

 

Material Title Defects ” means, with respect to any Unencumbered Property, defects, Liens (other than Liens for local real estate taxes and similar local governmental charges), and other encumbrances in the nature of easements, servitudes, restrictions, and rights-of-way that would customarily be deemed unacceptable title exceptions for a prudent lender (i.e., a prudent lender would reasonably determine that such exceptions, individually or in the aggregate, materially impair the value or operations of such Unencumbered Property, would prevent such Unencumbered Property from being used in the manner in which it is currently being used, or would result in a violation of any Law which would have a material and adverse effect on such Unencumbered Property); provided that Material Title Defects shall not include any Liens or other encumbrances (i) that existed as of the date of the title insurance policies issued in connection with the Prior Credit Agreement for the Initial Unencumbered Properties, (ii) that existed as of the date of this Agreement and that are listed on Schedule 8.01 or (iii) with respect to any Unencumbered Properties added following the date of this Agreement, Liens and other encumbrances similar in type and extent to those contemplated by clauses (i) and (ii) above.

 

Material Subsidiary ” means each Subsidiary of the Borrower other than a Non-Guarantor Subsidiary.

 

Maturity Date ” means January 15, 2024; provided that if such date is not a Business Day, then the Maturity Date shall be the next preceding Business Day.

 

Minimum Distributions ” means (a) for the Parent for any fiscal year of the Parent, Restricted Payments in an amount not less than the aggregate amount of distributions required to be paid by the Parent in order for the Parent to qualify as a REIT, and (b) for the Borrower for any fiscal year of the Borrower, Restricted Payments in an amount not less than the aggregate amount of distributions required to be paid by the Borrower to the Parent in order for the Parent to qualify as a REIT.

 

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 the Parent 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 (2) or more contributing sponsors (including the Parent or any ERISA Affiliate) at least two (2) of whom are not under common control, as such a plan is described in Section 4064 of ERISA.

 

Non-Guarantor Subsidiary ” means any Subsidiary (whether direct or indirect) of the Borrower, other than any Subsidiary which owns an Unencumbered Property or any Subsidiary which owns any of

 

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the Equity Interests of any such Subsidiary, which (a) is (i) formed for or converted to the specific purpose of holding title to Real Property assets which are collateral for Indebtedness owing or to be owed by such Subsidiary, provided that such Indebtedness must be incurred or assumed within ninety (90) days, such ninety (90) day period to be extended for an additional sixty (60) days if the Borrower provides an executed term sheet or commitment letter for the financing of such Real Property to the Administrative Agent (or, in either instance, for such longer period as the Administrative Agent may agree in writing) of such formation or conversion or such Subsidiary shall cease to qualify as a Non Guarantor Subsidiary, and (ii) expressly prohibited in writing from guaranteeing Indebtedness of any other person or entity pursuant to (A) a provision in any document, instrument or agreement evidencing such Indebtedness of such Subsidiary or (B) a provision of such Subsidiary’s Organization Documents, in each case, which provision was included in such Organization Document or such other document, instrument or agreement at the request of the applicable third party creditor and as an express condition to the extension or assumption of such Indebtedness; provided that a Subsidiary meeting the requirements set forth in this clause (a) shall only remain a “Non-Guarantor Subsidiary” for so long as (1) each of the foregoing requirements set forth in this clause (a) are satisfied, (2) such Subsidiary does not guarantee any other Indebtedness, and (3) the Indebtedness with respect to which the restrictions noted in clause (a) (ii) are imposed remains outstanding; (b)(i) becomes a Subsidiary following the Closing Date, (ii) is not a Wholly Owned Subsidiary of the Borrower, and (iii) with respect to which the Borrower and its Affiliates, as applicable, do not have sufficient voting power to cause such Subsidiary to become a Guarantor hereunder; (c) is an Immaterial Subsidiary; (d) is a Subsidiary which has been released from its Obligations under a Subsidiary Guaranty pursuant to Section 2.17(b)  below, or (e) is not a domestic Subsidiary. For the avoidance of doubt, STAG Industrial Management, LLC, the Subsidiary that employs the Parent Guarantor’s employees, shall be deemed to be a Non-Guarantor Subsidiary.

 

Non-Recourse Indebtedness ” means, for any Person, any Indebtedness of such Person for the repayment of which neither the Parent or the Borrower has any personal liability (other than for Customary Recourse Exceptions) or, if such Person is the Parent or the Borrower, in which recourse of the applicable holder of such Indebtedness for non-payment is limited to such holder’s Liens on a particular asset or group of assets (other than for Customary Recourse Exceptions).  For the avoidance of doubt, if any Indebtedness is partially guaranteed by the Parent or the Borrower, then the portion of such Indebtedness that is not so guaranteed shall still be Non-Recourse Indebtedness if it otherwise satisfies the requirements in this definition.

 

Note ” means a promissory note made by the Borrower in favor of each Lender requesting the same evidencing Loans made by such Lender, substantially in the form of Exhibit B .

 

Note Purchase Agreements ” means (i) that certain Note Purchase Agreement, dated as of April 16, 2014 among the Parent, the Borrower, and the purchasers party thereto, (ii) that certain Note Purchase Agreement, dated as of December 18, 2014 among the Parent, the Borrower, and the purchasers party thereto, and (iii) that certain Note Purchase Agreement, dated as of June 13, 2018, among the Parent, the Borrower, and the purchasers party thereto, in each case as amended from time to time.

 

Obligations ” means 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, 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; including, without limitation of the foregoing, all present and future indebtedness, liabilities, and obligations now or hereafter owed to the Administrative Agent, any Lender, or any Affiliate of the Administrative Agent or any Lender (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any Specified Derivatives

 

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Providers) arising from, by virtue of, or pursuant to any Swap Contract, other than any Excluded Swap Obligation, that relates solely to the Obligations.

 

Occupancy Rate ” means, for any Property, the percentage of the rentable area of such Property occupied by bona fide tenants of such Property or leased by tenants pursuant to bona fide tenant Leases, in each case, which tenants are not more than 60 days past due in the payment of all rent or other similar payments due under such Leases and paying rent.

 

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, and (c) with respect to any partnership, joint venture, trust or other form of business entity, the partnership, joint venture or other applicable agreement of formation or organization and any agreement, instrument, filing or notice with respect thereto filed in connection with its formation or organization with the applicable Governmental Authority in the jurisdiction of its formation or organization and, if applicable, any certificate or articles of formation or organization of such entity.

 

Other Connection Taxes ” means, with respect to any Recipient, Taxes imposed as a result of a present or former connection between such Recipient and the jurisdiction imposing such Tax (other than connections arising from such Recipient having executed, delivered, become a party to, performed its obligations under, received payments under, received or perfected a security interest under, engaged in any other transaction pursuant to or enforced any Loan Document, or sold or assigned an interest in any Loan or Loan Document).

 

Other Taxes ” means all present or future stamp, court 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 with respect to Committed Loans on any date, the aggregate outstanding principal amount thereof after giving effect to any borrowings and prepayments or repayments of Loans occurring on such date.

 

Parent ” has the meaning specified in the introductory paragraph hereto.

 

Parent Guaranty ” means the Guaranty Agreement executed by the Parent in favor of the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Lenders and any Specified Derivatives Providers, in form and substance acceptable to the Administrative Agent.

 

Parent Share ” means a share of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Parent.

 

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

 

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

 

PBGC ” means the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation.

 

Pension Act ” means the Pension Protection Act of 2006.

 

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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, Sections 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 the 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.

 

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 the Parent or any ERISA Affiliate or any such Plan to which the Parent or any ERISA Affiliate is required to contribute on behalf of any of its employees.

 

Platform ” has the meaning specified in Section 7.02 .

 

Prime Rate ” means, at any time, the rate of interest per annum publicly announced from time to time by the Administrative Agent as its prime rate.  Each change in the Prime Rate shall be effective as of the opening of business on the day such change in such prime rate occurs.  The parties acknowledge that the rate announced publicly by the Administrative Agent as its prime rate is an index or base rate and shall not necessarily be its lowest or best rate charged to its customers or other banks.

 

Prior Credit Agreement ” means that certain Credit Agreement dated as of April 20, 2011 among the Borrower, Bank of America, N.A., as agent, and a syndicate of lenders.

 

Property ” means any Real Property which is owned or ground leased, directly or indirectly, by any Company.

 

PTE ” means a prohibited transaction class exemption issued by the U.S. Department of Labor, as any such exemption may be amended from time to time.

 

Public Lender ” has the meaning specified in Section 7.02 .

 

Qualified ECP Guarantor ” means, in respect of any Swap Contract, each Loan Party that has total assets exceeding $10,000,000 at the time the relevant Guarantee or grant of the relevant security interest becomes effective with respect to such Swap Contract or such other person as constitutes an “eligible contract participant” under the Commodity Exchange Act or any regulations promulgated thereunder and can cause another person to qualify as an “eligible contract participant” at such time by entering into a keepwell under Section 1a(18)(A)(v)(II)  of the Commodity Exchange Act.

 

Rating Condition ” means the achievement by the Borrower of a Debt Rating.

 

Real Property ” of any Person means all of the right, title, and interest of such Person in and to land, improvements, and fixtures.

 

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Recipient ” means the Administrative Agent, any Lender, or any other recipient of any payment to be made by or on account of any obligation of any Loan Party hereunder.

 

Recourse Indebtedness ” means Indebtedness that is not Non-Recourse Indebtedness; provided that personal recourse for Customary Recourse Exceptions shall not, by itself, cause such Indebtedness to be characterized as Recourse Indebtedness.

 

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

 

REIT ” means a “real estate investment trust” in accordance with Section 856 of the Code.

 

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.

 

Replacement Rate ” has the meaning assigned thereto in Section 3.03(b) .

 

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 with respect to a Borrowing, conversion or continuation of Committed Loans, a Committed Loan Notice.

 

Required Lenders ” means, at any time, the Lenders having Commitments representing more than 50% of the Aggregate Commitments of all Lenders or, if the commitment of each Lender to make Loans has been terminated pursuant to Section 2.01(b)  or 9.02 , the Lenders holding in the aggregate more than fifty percent (50%) of the Total Outstandings.  The Commitment and Loans of any Defaulting Lender shall be disregarded in determining the Required Lenders at any time.  At all times when two or more Lenders (excluding Defaulting Lenders) are party to this Agreement, the term “Required Lenders” shall in no event mean fewer than two Lenders.

 

Required Notice ” has the meaning supplied in Section 2.01(b) .

 

Responsible Officer ” means the chief executive officer, president, chief financial officer, chief operating officer, chief accounting officer, treasurer, assistant treasurer, or controller of a Loan Party, and solely for purposes of the delivery of incumbency certificates pursuant to Section 5.01 , the secretary or any assistant 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.  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.  Each initial Responsible Officer is listed on Schedule RO .

 

Restricted Payment ” means any dividend or other distribution (whether in cash, Equity Interests or other property) with respect to any capital stock or other Equity Interest of any Company or Subsidiary, or any payment (whether in cash, Equity Interests or other property), including any sinking fund or similar deposit, on account of the purchase, redemption, retirement, acquisition, cancellation or termination of any such capital stock or other Equity Interests, or on account of any return of capital to such Company’s or Subsidiary’s stockholders, partners or members (or the equivalent Person thereof).

 

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Revolving Credit Agreement ” means that certain Credit Agreement, dated as of July 26, 2018, among the Borrower, the Parent, Wells Fargo, as administrative agent, and the other lenders party thereto, as amended.

 

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

 

Sanction(s) ” means any international economic sanction administered or enforced by OFAC, the United Nations Security Council, the European Union, Her Majesty’s Treasury or other relevant sanctions authority.

 

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

 

Secured Indebtedness ” means (without duplication), with respect to a Person as of any given date, the aggregate principal amount of all Indebtedness of such Person or its subsidiaries outstanding at such date and that is secured by a Lien, and including the Companies’ Share of all Indebtedness of Unconsolidated Affiliates that is secured by a Lien, but excluding for the avoidance of doubt, any net obligations under any Swap Contract that is secured by a Lien, all Unsecured Indebtedness and all Indebtedness hereunder, and provided further that the obligations under any revolving credit agreement (including the Revolving Credit Agreement or any amendment or replacement thereof) shall not constitute Secured Indebtedness due to the existence of cash collateral security requirements in connection with customary defaulting lender provisions.

 

Secured Leverage Ratio ” means, as of any date of determination, the quotient (expressed as a percentage) of (a) Secured Indebtedness of Parent and its Subsidiaries, divided by (b) Total Asset Value.

 

Share ” means the Borrower’s and the Parent’s direct or indirect share of a Consolidated Subsidiary or an Unconsolidated Affiliate as reasonably determined by the Borrower based upon the Borrower’s and the Parent’s economic interest (whether direct or indirect) in such Consolidated Subsidiary or Unconsolidated Affiliate, as of the date of such determination.

 

Specified Derivatives Provider ” shall have the meaning provided in Section 9.03.

 

Specified Swap Contract ” means any Swap Contract that is made or entered into at any time, or in effect at any time now or hereafter, whether as a result of an assignment or transfer or otherwise, in each case with respect to the Loans, between the Borrower and a Specified Swap Contract Provider.

 

Specified Swap Contract Provider ” means any Lender, or Affiliate of a Lender, that is party to a Swap Contract at the time such Swap Contract is entered into.

 

Subsequent Loan Advances ” shall have the meaning provided in Section 2.01(b) .

 

Subsequent Loans ” shall have the meaning provided in Section 2.01(b) .

 

Subsidiary ” of a Person means a corporation, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company or other business entity of which a majority of the Equity Interests having ordinary voting power for the election of directors or other governing body (other than Equity Interests having such power only by reason of the happening of a contingency) are at the time beneficially owned, or the management of which is otherwise controlled, directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, or both, by

 

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such Person.  Unless otherwise specified, all references herein to a “ Subsidiary ” or to “ Subsidiaries ” shall refer to a Subsidiary or Subsidiaries of the Borrower.

 

Subsidiary Guarantors ” means, as of any date, each domestic Subsidiary which owns an Unencumbered Property, all domestic Subsidiaries of the Borrower owning a direct or indirect interest in an Unencumbered Property, each other domestic Material Subsidiary, and the general partner of each Subsidiary Guarantor that is a limited partnership and “ Subsidiary Guarantor ” means any one of the Subsidiary Guarantors; provided, however, that (a) STAG Industrial Management, LLC and (b) STAG Industrial TRS, LLC and its Subsidiaries shall in no event be deemed or required to be a Subsidiary Guarantor.

 

Subsidiary Guaranty ” means the Guaranty Agreement executed by each Subsidiary Guarantor in favor of the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Lenders and any Specified Derivatives Providers, in form and substance acceptable to the Administrative Agent.

 

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, (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, and (c) 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).

 

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.

 

Threshold Amount ” means (a) $40,000,000 with respect to Recourse Indebtedness, (b) $75,000,000 with respect to all Non-Recourse Indebtedness, and (c) $40,000,000 with respect to all other amounts.

 

Total Asset Value ” means, for the Companies, on a consolidated basis, as on any date, the sum of (a) an amount equal to (i) aggregate Adjusted NOI with respect to all Properties (without duplication from the assets in clauses (b) through (g) below) for the Current Reporting Quarter, annualized divided by

 

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(ii) the Capitalization Rate, plus (b) 75% of the Book Value of any Dark Property (provided that no Dark Property shall be included in the calculation of Total Asset Value for a period greater than 12 months), plus (c) the acquisition cost of Construction in Progress and the costs of improvements thereon and renovations thereof, plus (d) cash and cash equivalents (including restricted cash) on such date, plus (e) the Companies’ Share of the foregoing items and components attributable to Unconsolidated Affiliates, plus (f) an amount equal to the book value (adjusted in accordance with GAAP to reflect any default or other impairment of such loan) of mortgage loans, construction loans, capital improvement loans, and other loans, in each case owned by a Company, plus (g) fifty percent (50%) of the book value of any undeveloped land.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, for purposes of determining Total Asset Value, to the extent the amount of Total Asset Value attributable to (a) the amount under clause (b) above would exceed 10% of Total Asset Value, such excess shall be excluded, (b) the amount under clause (c) and (g) above would exceed 15% of Total Asset Value, such excess shall be excluded, (c) the amount under clause (e) above would exceed 30% of Total Asset Value, such excess shall be excluded, (d) the amount under clause (f) above would exceed 15% of Total Asset Value, such excess shall be excluded, and (e) the amount under clauses (b), (c), (e), (f) and (g) above would exceed 30% of Total Asset Value, such excess shall be excluded.

 

Total Funded Debt ” means, as of any date, Consolidated Total Debt excluding intercompany Indebtedness, deferred income taxes, security deposits, accounts payable and accrued liabilities, and any prepaid rents, in each case determined in accordance with GAAP.

 

Total Outstandings ” means as of any date of determination, the aggregate Outstanding Amount of all Loans.

 

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

 

Unconsolidated Affiliate ” means any Person in which a Company has an Equity Interest and whose financial results would not be consolidated under GAAP with the financial results of the Parent on the consolidated financial statements of the Parent.

 

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

 

Unencumbered Adjusted NOI ” means, for any period, the aggregate Adjusted NOI of all Unencumbered Properties excluding any Dark Property for such period.

 

Unencumbered Asset Value ” means without duplication, the sum of for each Unencumbered Property owned or ground leased for the Current Reporting Quarter, (i) an amount equal to (x) the Unencumbered Adjusted NOI attributable to such Unencumbered Property for such Current Reporting Quarter, annualized, divided by (ii) the Capitalization Rate.

 

Unencumbered Leverage Ratio ” means, as of any date of determination, the quotient (expressed as a percentage) of (a) Unsecured Indebtedness of Parent and its Subsidiaries, divided by (b) Unencumbered Asset Value.

 

Unencumbered Properties ” means each Acceptable Property that either (a) is an Initial Unencumbered Property or (b) becomes an Unencumbered Property pursuant to Section 4.03 , and “ Unencumbered Property ” means any one of the Unencumbered Properties.

 

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Unsecured Indebtedness ” means Indebtedness which is not Secured Indebtedness.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, all Indebtedness which is secured by a pledge of equity interests only and is recourse to the Borrower or the Parent shall be deemed to be Unsecured Indebtedness.

 

Unsecured Interest Coverage Ratio ” means, as of any date of determination, the quotient (expressed as a percentage) of (a) Unencumbered Adjusted NOI to (b) Unsecured Interest Expense.

 

Unsecured Interest Expense ” means, with respect to any period, Consolidated Interest Expense of the Parent and its Subsidiaries for such period attributable to Unsecured Indebtedness of the Parent and its Subsidiaries.

 

Unused Fee ” has the meaning provided in Section 2.09(c) .

 

Unused Rate ” means 0.15%.

 

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)(III) .

 

Wells Fargo ” means Wells Fargo Bank, National Association and its successors.

 

WFS ” means Wells Fargo Securities, LLC and its successors and assigns.

 

Write-Down and Conversion Powers ” means, with respect to any EEA Resolution Authority, the write-down and conversion powers of such EEA Resolution Authority from time to time under the Bail-In Legislation for the applicable EEA Member Country, which write-down and conversion powers are described in the EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule.

 

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 any Organization Document) shall be construed as referring to such agreement, instrument or other document as from time to time amended, supplemented, or otherwise modified (subject to any restrictions on such amendments, supplements or modifications set forth herein 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, Exhibits and Schedules shall be construed to refer to Articles and Sections of, and Exhibits and Schedules to, the Loan Document in which such references appear, (v) any reference to any law shall include all statutory and regulatory 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 or supplemented from time to time, and (vi) the

 

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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, Equity Interests, accounts and contract rights.

 

(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 Borrower and its Subsidiaries shall be deemed to be carried at 100% of the outstanding principal amount thereof, and the effects of FASB ASC 825 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 Borrower or the Required Lenders shall so request, the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the Borrower shall negotiate in good faith to amend such ratio or requirement to preserve the original intent thereof in light of such change in GAAP (subject to the approval of the Required Lenders); provided that until so amended, (i) such ratio or requirement shall continue to be computed in accordance with GAAP prior to such change therein and (ii) the Borrower shall provide to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders financial statements and other documents required under this Agreement or as reasonably requested hereunder setting forth a reconciliation between calculations of such ratio or requirement made before and after giving effect to such change in GAAP.  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 addressing such changes, as provided for above.

 

(c)                                   Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities.   All references herein to consolidated financial statements of the Companies or to the determination of any amount for the Companies on a consolidated basis or any similar reference shall, in each case, be deemed to include each variable interest entity that the Parent is required to consolidate pursuant to FASB ASC 810 as if such variable interest entity were a Subsidiary as defined herein, provided further that for all purposes in calculating consolidated covenants hereunder the Parent shall be deemed to own one hundred percent (100%) of the equity interests in the Borrower.

 

1.04                         Rounding .  Any financial ratios required to be maintained by the Borrower pursuant to this Agreement shall be calculated by dividing the appropriate component by the other component,

 

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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                         Rates. 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 “LIBOR” or with respect to any comparable or successor rate thereto.

 

Article II.
The Commitments and Credit Extensions

 

2.01                         Committed Loans .  Each Lender severally agrees to make a Committed Loan to the Borrower from time to time, on any Business Day, subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein and the limitations set forth in Section 2.01( c ):

 

(a)                                  Committed Loans .  Each Lender severally agrees to make a loan (each such loan, a “ Committed Loan ”) in an aggregate amount not to exceed at any time outstanding the amount of such Lender’s Commitment.

 

(b)                                  Loans .  Subject to the Borrower’s compliance with the terms and conditions set forth in Section 2.01(c) , each Lender severally agrees to make its portion of advances of the Loan (the “ Subsequent Loans ”) up to a maximum of six (6) advances, in minimum amounts of $25,000,000 each, or, if less, the remaining unfunded amount of the Aggregate Commitments (the “ Subsequent Loan Advances ”), to the Borrower in aggregate amounts not to exceed each Lender’s unadvanced Commitment.  Once advanced, each Subsequent Loan shall be aggregated with all prior Subsequent Loans and all such term loans shall be referred to as Committed Loans.  Provided there exists no Default, upon notice to the Administrative Agent (which shall promptly notify the Lenders), the Parent and the Borrower may elect to borrow the Subsequent Loan; subject to the Borrower’s delivery to the Administrative Agent of notice of such requested Subsequent Loan Advance, each of which notice must be delivered not later than July 25, 2019 in order to be effective (each such notice, a “ Required Notice ”).  In the event that a Required Notice(s) is/are not received by the Administrative Agent on or prior to July 25, 2019 such that the initial Aggregate Commitments have not been fully funded by July 25, 2019, the Commitment of the Lenders to advance the Subsequent Loans shall be deemed cancelled.

 

(c)                                   Committed Loan Limitations Notwithstanding the provisions of Section s 2.01(a)  and (b) , after giving effect to any Committed Borrowing, (i) the Total Outstandings shall not exceed the Aggregate Commitments, as in effect on the Closing Date, and (ii) the aggregate Loans advanced by any Lender shall not exceed such Lender’s Commitment, as in effect on the Closing Date.  With respect to Committed Loans, within the limits of each Lender’s Commitment and the Aggregate Commitments, and subject to the other terms and conditions hereof, the Borrower may borrow under this Section 2.01 , and prepay under Section 2.05 . Amounts repaid on the Committed Loans may not be reborrowed.  Committed Loans may be Base Rate Loans or LIBOR Loans, as further provided herein.

 

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2.02                         Borrowings, Conversions and Continuations of Committed Loans.

 

(a)                                  Each Committed Borrowing (including each request for a Subsequent Loan), each conversion of Committed Loans from one Type to the other, and each continuation of LIBOR Loans shall be made upon the Borrower’s irrevocable notice to the Administrative Agent, which may be given by telephone.  Each such notice must be received by the Administrative Agent not later than 10:00 a.m. (i) three (3) Business Days prior to the requested date of any Borrowing of, conversion to or continuation of LIBOR Loans or of any conversion of LIBOR Loans to Base Rate Committed Loans, and (ii) on the requested date of any Borrowing of Base Rate Committed Loans.  Each telephonic notice by the Borrower pursuant to this Section 2.02(a)  must be confirmed promptly by delivery to the Administrative Agent of a written Committed Loan Notice, appropriately completed and signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower.  Each Borrowing of, conversion to or continuation of LIBOR Loans shall be in a principal amount of $500,000 or a whole multiple of $500,000 in excess thereof.  Each conversion to Base Rate Committed Loans shall be in a principal amount of $250,000 or a whole multiple of $50,000 in excess thereof.  Each Committed Loan Notice (whether telephonic or written) shall specify (i) whether the Borrower is requesting a Committed Borrowing, a conversion of Committed Loans from one Type to the other, or a continuation of LIBOR Loans, (ii) the requested date of the Committed Borrowing, conversion or continuation, as the case may be (which shall be a Business Day), (iii) the principal amount of Committed Loans to be borrowed, converted or continued, (iv) the Type of Committed Loans to be borrowed or to which existing Committed Loans are to be converted, and (v) if applicable, the duration of the Interest Period with respect thereto.  If the Borrower fails to specify a Type of Committed Loan in a Committed Loan Notice or if the Borrower fails to give a timely notice requesting a conversion or continuation, then (I) so long as no Event of Default exists, the applicable Committed Loans shall be made as, or continued to, a LIBOR Loan of the same Type and with an Interest Period of one (1) month and (II) if an Event of Default exists, then the applicable Committed 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 LIBOR Loans.  If the Borrower requests a Committed Borrowing of, conversion to, or continuation of LIBOR Loans in any such Committed Loan Notice, but fails to specify an Interest Period, then it will be deemed to have specified an Interest Period of one (1) month.

 

(b)                                  Following receipt of a Committed Loan Notice, the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each Lender of the amount of its Applicable Percentage of the applicable Committed Loans, and if no timely notice of a conversion or continuation is provided by the Borrower, the Administrative Agent shall notify each Lender of the details of any automatic continuation or conversion to Base Rate Loans described in the preceding subsection.  In the case of a Committed Borrowing, each Lender shall make the amount of its Committed Loan available to the Administrative Agent in immediately available funds at the Administrative Agent’s Office not later than 12:00 noon on the Business Day specified in the applicable Committed Loan Notice.  Upon satisfaction of the applicable conditions set forth in Section 5.02 (and, if such Committed Borrowing is the initial Credit Extension, Section 5.01 ), the Administrative Agent shall make all funds so received available to the Borrower by 3:00 p.m. in like funds as received by the Administrative Agent either by (i) crediting the account of the Borrower on the books of Wells Fargo 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 Borrower.

 

(c)                                   Except as otherwise provided herein, a LIBOR Loan may be continued or converted only on the last day of an Interest Period for such LIBOR Loan.  During the existence of an Event of Default, no Loans may be requested as, converted to or continued as LIBOR Loans without the consent of the Required Lenders.

 

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

 

(e)                                   After giving effect to all Committed Borrowings, all conversions of Committed Loans from one Type to the other, and all continuations of Committed Loans as the same Type, there shall not be more than eight (8) Interest Periods in effect with respect to Committed Loans.

 

2.03                         Reserved .

 

2.04                         Voluntary Reduction of Commitments.

 

The Borrower may, upon notice to the Administrative Agent, terminate the Aggregate Commitments, or from time to time permanently reduce the Aggregate Commitments; provided that (i) any such notice shall be received by the Administrative Agent not later than 11:00 a.m. three (3) Business Days (or such shorter period agreed to by the Administrative Agent in writing) prior to the date of termination or reduction and (ii) any such partial reduction shall be in an aggregate amount of $1,000,000 or any whole multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof.

 

2.05                         Prepayments.

 

T he Borrower may, upon notice to the Administrative Agent, at any time or from time to time voluntarily prepay Committed Loans in whole or in part; provided that (i) such notice must be received by the Administrative Agent not later than 11:00 a.m. (A) three (3) Business Days prior to any date of prepayment of LIBOR Loans and (B) on the date of prepayment of Base Rate Committed Loans; (ii) any prepayment of LIBOR Loans shall be in a principal amount of $1,000,000 or a whole multiple of $100,000 in excess thereof; and (iii) any prepayment of Base Rate Committed Loans shall be in a principal amount of $100,000 or a whole multiple of $25,000 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 Committed Loans to be prepaid and, if LIBOR 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 Applicable Percentage of such prepayment.  If such notice is given by the Borrower, then the Borrower 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 a LIBOR Loan 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 2.16 , each such prepayment shall be applied to the Committed Loans of the Lenders in accordance with their respective Applicable Percentages.

 

2.06                         Incremental Term Loans.

 

(a)                                  Reserved .

 

(b)                                  Incremental Term Loans .

 

(i)                                      Election .  Provided there exists no Default, and provided that no Subsequent Loans remain available to be advanced to the Borrower pursuant to Section 2.01(b) , upon notice to the Administrative Agent (which shall promptly notify the

 

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Lenders), the Parent and the Borrower may from time to time, elect to enter into one or more tranches of term loans (“ Additional Term Loans ”) in an aggregate amount not exceeding $175,000,000 either by designating another bank or financial institution not theretofore a Lender to become a Lender (such designation to be effective only with the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent, which consent will not be unreasonably withheld) and/or by agreeing with an existing Lender or Lenders, in such Lender or Lenders’ absolute discretion, that such Lender shall make Additional Term Loans; provided that (i) any such election for Additional Term Loans shall be in a minimum amount of $10,000,000, and (ii) the Parent and the Borrower may make a maximum of three (3) such requests.  Upon execution and delivery by the Borrower and such Lender or other bank or financial institution of an instrument in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent to effect such Additional Term Loans, including, as required, a new or amended Note, such existing Lender shall have a Commitment as therein set forth or such bank or financial institution shall become a Lender with a Commitment as therein set forth and all the rights and obligations of a Lender with such a Commitment hereunder.

 

(ii)                                   Effective Date .  If Additional Term Loans are made in accordance with this Section 2.06(b) , then the Administrative Agent, the Parent, and the Borrower shall determine the effective date (the “ Increase Effective Date ”) that such Additional Term Loans shall be made.  The Administrative Agent shall promptly notify the Parent, the Borrower, and the Lenders of the Increase Effective Date.

 

(iii)                                Conditions to Effectiveness of Additional Term Loans .

 

(1)                                  As a condition precedent to such Additional Term Loans, the Parent and the Borrower shall deliver to the Administrative Agent a certificate dated as of the Increase Effective Date (in sufficient copies for each Lender) signed by a Responsible Officer of the Parent or the Borrower (on behalf of each Loan Party) (i) certifying and attaching the resolutions adopted by such Parent and the Borrower (on behalf of each Loan Party) approving or consenting to such Additional Term Loans, and (ii) certifying that, before and after giving effect to such Additional Term Loans, (A) the representations and warranties contained in Article VI and the other Loan Documents are true and correct in all material respects (except in the case of a representation or warranty qualified by materiality or Material Adverse Effect, in which case such representation or warranty shall be true and correct in all respects) on and as of the Increase Effective Date, except to the extent that such representations and warranties specifically refer to an earlier date, in which case they are true and correct in all material respects (except in the case of a representation or warranty qualified by materiality or Material Adverse Effect, in which case such representation or warranty shall be true and correct in all respects) as of such earlier date, and except that for purposes of this Section 2.06 , the representations and warranties contained in Section   6.05(b)  shall be deemed to refer to the most-recent statements furnished pursuant to Section 7.01(b) , and (B) no Default exists.

 

(2)                                  The Borrower shall execute and provide new Notes to such Lenders as may request herewith.

 

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

 

(c)                                   General .  The Administrative Agent will promptly notify the Lenders of any notice of Additional Term Loans.  Each Additional Term Loan shall be a Committed Loan hereunder.

 

2.07                         Repayment of Loans .  The Borrower shall repay to the Lenders on the Maturity Date the aggregate principal amount of Loans outstanding on such date.

 

2.08                         Interest.

 

(a)                                  Subject to the provisions of subsection (b)  below, (i) each LIBOR Loan shall bear interest on the outstanding principal amount thereof for each Interest Period at a rate per annum equal to LIBOR for such Interest Period plus the Applicable Rate; (ii) each Base Rate Committed 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.

 

(b)

 

(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, then 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 Borrower 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 (other than as set forth in clauses (b)(i) and (b)(ii) above), the Borrower shall pay interest on the principal amount of all outstanding Obligations hereunder 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 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.

 

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2.09                         Fees .

 

(a)                                  The Borrower shall pay to the Lead Arrangers and the Administrative Agent, for their own respective accounts, fees in the amounts and at the times specified in the Fee Letters (without duplication of fees otherwise referenced herein).  Such fees shall be fully earned when paid and shall not be refundable for any reason whatsoever.

 

(b)                                  The Borrower shall pay to the Lenders such fees as shall have been separately agreed upon in writing in the amounts and at the times so specified.  Such fees shall be fully earned when paid and shall not be refundable for any reason whatsoever.

 

(c)                                   Unused Fees .  The Borrower shall, beginning ninety (90) days after the Closing Date, for each day until the earliest of (i) the date that initial Aggregate Commitments of $175,000,000 have been fully advanced, (ii) July 26, 2019 and (iii) the date the Aggregate Commitments have been reduced to zero pursuant to Section 2.04 , pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of each Lender (in accordance with its Applicable Percentage), an unused fee (the “ Unused Fee ”) at a rate per annum equal to the Unused Rate times the actual daily amount of the unadvanced Aggregate Commitments.  The Unused Fee shall be due and payable monthly in arrears on the 10 th  Business Day after the end of each calendar month, commencing with the first such date to occur after the Closing Date, and ending on the earlier of the dates set forth above.  The Unused Fee shall be calculated monthly in arrears based on the applicable daily Unused Rate during each day of such month.

 

2.10                         Computation of Interest and Fees; Retroactive Adjustments of Applicable Rate .

 

(a)                                  All computations of interest for Base Rate Loans (including Base Rate Loans determined by reference to LIBOR) 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)                                  If, as a result of any restatement of or other adjustment to the financial statements of the Parent or for any other reason, then the Parent, the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, or the Lenders determine that (i) the Consolidated Leverage Ratio as calculated by the Parent and the Borrower 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, then the Borrower shall immediately and retroactively be obligated to pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of the applicable Lenders, within three (3) Business Days after demand by the Administrative Agent (or, after the occurrence of an actual or deemed entry of an order for relief with respect to any Loan Party under the Bankruptcy Code of the United States, automatically and without further action by the Administrative Agent or any Lender), 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 or any Lender, under Section 2.08(b)  or under Article IX .

 

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2.11                         Evidence of Debt.

 

(a)                                  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 Borrower and the interest and payments thereon.  Any failure to so record or any error in doing so shall not, however, limit or otherwise affect the obligation of the Borrower hereunder to pay any amount owing with respect to the Obligations.  In the event of any conflict between the accounts and records maintained by any Lender and the accounts and records of the Administrative Agent in respect of such matters, the accounts and records of the Administrative Agent shall control in the absence of manifest error.  Upon the request of any Lender made through the Administrative Agent, the Borrower shall execute and deliver to such Lender (through the Administrative Agent) a Note, which shall evidence such Lender’s Loans in addition to such accounts or records.  Each such Note shall be in the form of Exhibit B (a “ Note ”).  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.

 

2.12                         Payments Generally; The Administrative Agent’s Clawback.

 

(a)                                  General .  All payments to be made by the Borrower shall be made without condition or deduction for any counterclaim, defense, recoupment or setoff.  Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, all payments by the Borrower 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 1:00 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.  If and to the extent the Administrative Agent shall not make such payments to a Lender when due as set forth in the preceding sentence, then such unpaid amounts shall accrue interest, payable by the Administrative Agent, at the Federal Funds Rate from the due date until (but not including) the date on which the Administrative Agent makes such payments to such Lender.  All payments received by the Administrative Agent after 1:00 p.m. shall be deemed received on the next succeeding Business Day and any applicable interest or fee shall continue to accrue.  If any payment to be made by the Borrower 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)                                  Clawback .

 

(i)                                      Funding by the Lenders; Presumption by the Administrative Agent .  Unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from a Lender prior to the proposed date of any Committed Borrowing of LIBOR Loans (or, in the case of any Committed Borrowing of Base Rate Loans, prior to 1:00 p.m. on the date of such Borrowing) that such Lender will not make available to the Administrative Agent such Lender’s share of such Committed 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 Committed 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 Borrower a corresponding amount.  In such event, if a Lender has not in fact made its share of the applicable Committed Borrowing available to the Administrative Agent, then the applicable Lender and the Borrower severally agree to pay to the Administrative Agent

 

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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 Borrower to but excluding the date of payment to the Administrative Agent, at (A) in the case of a payment to be made by such Lender, the 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 Borrower, the interest rate applicable to Base Rate Loans.  If the Borrower and such Lender shall pay such interest to the Administrative Agent for the same or an overlapping period, then the Administrative Agent shall promptly remit to the Borrower the amount of such interest paid by the Borrower for such period.  If such Lender pays its share of the applicable Committed Borrowing to the Administrative Agent, then the amount so paid shall constitute such Lender’s Committed Loan included in such Committed Borrowing.  Any payment by the Borrower shall be without prejudice to any claim the Borrower may have against a Lender that shall have failed to make such payment to the Administrative Agent.

 

(ii)                                   Payments by the Borrower; Presumptions by the Administrative Agent .  Unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from the Borrower prior to the date on which any payment is due to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Lenders hereunder that the Borrower will not make such payment, the Administrative Agent may assume that the Borrower has made such payment on such date in accordance herewith and may, in reliance upon such assumption, distribute to the Lenders the amount due.  In such event, if the Borrower has not in fact made such payment, then each of the Lenders severally agrees to repay to the Administrative Agent forthwith on demand the amount so distributed to such Lender, 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 , within one (1) Business Day.  If and to the extent the Administrative Agent shall not return such funds to a Lender when due as set forth in the preceding sentence, then such unpaid amounts shall accrue interest, payable by the Administrative Agent, at the Federal Funds Rate from the due date until (but not including) the date on which the Administrative Agent returns such funds to such Lender.

 

A notice of the Administrative Agent to any Lender or the Borrower 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 Borrower by the Administrative Agent because the conditions to the applicable Credit Extension set forth in Article V are not satisfied or waived in accordance with the terms hereof, then the Administrative Agent shall return such funds (in like funds as received from such Lender) to such Lender, without interest.

 

(d)                                  Obligations of the Lenders Several .  The obligations of the Lenders hereunder to make Committed Loans and to make payments pursuant to Section 11.04(d)  are several and not joint.  The failure of any Lender to make any Committed Loan or to make any payment under Section 11.04(d on any date required hereunder shall not relieve any other Lender of its

 

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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 Committed Loan or to make its payment under Section 11.04(d ) .

 

(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)                                    Funds Transfer .  The Administrative Agent will, in its sole discretion, determine the funds transfer system and the means by which each transfer will be made.  The Administrative Agent may delay or refuse to accept a funds transfer request if the transfer would: (i) violate the terms of this authorization, (ii) require use of a bank unacceptable to the Administrative Agent or any Lender, in its reasonable discretion, or prohibited by any Governmental Authority, (iii) cause the Administrative Agent or any Lender to violate any Federal Reserve or other regulatory risk control program or guideline or (iv) otherwise cause the Administrative Agent or any Lender to violate any applicable Law or regulation.  The Borrower hereby authorizes the Administrative Agent to disburse the proceeds of any Loan made by the Lenders or any of their Affiliates pursuant to the Loan Documents as requested by an authorized representative of the Borrower to any of the accounts designated in the Disbursement Instruction Agreement.

 

2.13                         Sharing of Payments by the Lenders .  If any Lender shall, by exercising any right of setoff or counterclaim or otherwise, obtain payment in respect of any principal of or interest on any of the Committed Loans made by it, resulting in such Lender’s receiving payment of a proportion of the aggregate amount of such Committed Loans and accrued interest thereon greater than its pro rata share thereof as provided herein, then the Lender receiving such greater proportion shall (a) notify the Administrative Agent of such fact, and (b)  make such adjustments as shall be equitable, so that the benefit of all such payments shall be shared by the Lenders ratably in accordance with the aggregate amount of principal of and accrued interest on their respective Committed Loans and other amounts owing them, provided that the provisions of this Section shall not be construed to apply to any payment obtained by a Lender as consideration for the assignment of or sale of a participation in any of its Committed Loans to any assignee or participant, other than an assignment to the Borrower 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                         Reserved .

 

2.15                         Reserved.

 

2.16                         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:

 

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(i)                                      Waivers and Amendments .  That 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 in 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 IX 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 reasonably 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 , as the Borrower 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; third , if so determined by the Administrative Agent and the Borrower, to be held in an interest bearing deposit account and released pro rata in order to satisfy such Defaulting Lender’s potential future funding obligations with respect to Loans under this Agreement; four th , to the payment of any amounts owing to the Lenders as a result of any judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction obtained by any Lender against such Defaulting Lender as a result of such Defaulting Lender’s breach of its obligations under this Agreement; fifth , so long as no Event of Default exists, to the payment of any amounts owing to the Borrower as a result of any judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction obtained by the Borrower against such Defaulting Lender as a result of such Defaulting Lender’s breach of its obligations under this Agreement; and sixth , to such Defaulting Lender or as otherwise directed by a court of competent jurisdiction; provided that if such payment is a payment of the principal amount of any Loans in respect of which such Defaulting Lender has not fully funded its appropriate share, such payment shall be applied solely to pay the Loans of all Non-Defaulting Lenders on a pro rata basis prior to being applied to the payment of any Loans of such Defaulting Lender until such time as all Loans and funded hereunder without giving effect to Section 2.16(a)(iv) . Any payments, prepayments or other amounts paid or payable to a Defaulting Lender that are applied (or held) to pay amounts owed by a Defaulting Lender shall be deemed paid to and redirected by such Defaulting Lender, and each Lender irrevocably consents hereto.

 

(iii)                                Certain Fees .  No Defaulting Lender shall be entitled to receive any fee pursuant to Section 2.09 for any period during which that Lender is a Defaulting Lender (and the Borrower shall not be required to pay any such fee that otherwise would have been required to have been paid to that Defaulting Lender pursuant to Section 2.09 for any period during which that Lender is a Defaulting Lender), and the Borrower shall not be required to pay the remaining amount of such fee that otherwise would have been required to have been paid to that Defaulting Lender.

 

(b)                                  Defaulting Lender Cure .  If the Borrower and the Administrative Agent agree in writing in their sole discretion that a Defaulting Lender should no longer be deemed to be 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, 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 Committed Loans to be held on a pro rata basis by the Lenders in accordance with their Applicable Percentages, whereupon that Lender will cease to be a Defaulting Lender; provided that no adjustments will be made retroactively with respect to fees

 

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accrued or payments made by or on behalf of the Borrower while that Lender was a Defaulting Lender; and provided , further , that , except to the extent otherwise expressly agreed by the affected parties, no change hereunder from Defaulting Lender to Lender will constitute a waiver or release of any claim of any party hereunder arising from that Lender’s having been a Defaulting Lender.

 

2.17                         Guaranties .  Pursuant to the Parent Guaranty, the Parent shall unconditionally Guarantee in favor of the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and any Specified Derivatives Providers the full payment and performance of the Obligations. Pursuant to the Subsidiary Guaranty or an addendum thereto in the form attached to the Subsidiary Guaranty, the Parent and the Borrower shall cause each Subsidiary Guarantor to execute a Subsidiary Guaranty unconditionally guarantying in favor of the Administrative Agent , the Lenders and any Specified Derivatives Providers the full payment and performance of the Obligations; provided, however, that such Subsidiary Guaranty may be released and reinstated in accordance with its terms.

 

(a)                                  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement or any other Loan Document, (x) concurrently with the delivery of each Compliance Certificate, with respect to any Person that became a Subsidiary of the Parent owning a direct or indirect interest in the Borrower since the date of the most recent Compliance Certificate or (y) substantially concurrently with any Subsidiary of the Parent (other than the Borrower) entering into any Guarantee of Indebtedness of the Parent, the Borrower or any Subsidiary of the Borrower owning directly or indirectly any Unencumbered Property, the Parent, the Borrower and such Subsidiary shall deliver to the Administrative Agent each of the following: (i) a joinder to the Subsidiary Guaranty executed by such Subsidiary, (ii) concurrently with the delivery of each Compliance Certificate a comprehensive list of all Guarantors, which identifies the joining and departing entities, and (iii) the items that would have been delivered under subsections (iii)  and (v)  of Section  5.01(a)  if such Subsidiary had been a Subsidiary Guarantor on the Closing Date, in form and substance substantially consistent with such items delivered on the Closing Date or otherwise reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

 

(b)                                  The Borrower may request in writing that the Administrative Agent release, and upon receipt of such request the Administrative Agent shall release, a Subsidiary Guarantor from the Guaranty so long as: (i) such Subsidiary Guarantor is not otherwise required to be a party to the Guaranty under the immediately preceding subsection (a)  (after giving effect to clause (ii) hereof); (ii) such Subsidiary Guarantor no longer Guarantees (or which Guarantee is being substantially concurrently released) any other Indebtedness of the Parent, the Borrower or any Subsidiary of the Borrower owning directly or indirectly any Unencumbered Property, (iii) no Default or Event of Default shall then be in existence or would occur as a result of such release, including without limitation, a Default or Event of Default resulting from a violation of any of the covenants contained in Section  8.14 ; and (iv) the Administrative Agent shall have received such written request at least five (5) Business Days (or such shorter period as may be acceptable to the Administrative Agent) prior to the requested date of release.  Delivery by the Borrower to the Administrative Agent of any such request shall constitute a representation by the Parent and the Borrower that the conditions set forth in the preceding sentence are or will be satisfied as of the requested date of release.

 

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Article III.
Taxes, Yield Protection and Illegality

 

3.01                         Taxes.

 

(a)                                  Payments Free of Taxes; Obligation to Withhold; Payments on Account of Taxes .

 

(i)                                      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 the Administrative Agent) require the deduction or withholding of any Tax from any such payment by the Administrative Agent or a Loan Party, then the Administrative Agent or such Loan Party shall be entitled to make such deduction or withholding, upon the basis of the information and documentation to be delivered pursuant to subsection (e)  below.

 

(ii)                                   If any Loan Party or the Administrative Agent shall be required by the Code to withhold or deduct any Taxes, including both United States Federal backup withholding and withholding taxes, from any payment, then (A) the Administrative Agent shall withhold or make such deductions as are determined by the Administrative Agent to be required based upon the information and documentation it has received pursuant to subsection (e)  below, (B) the Administrative Agent shall timely pay the full amount withheld or deducted to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with the Code, and (C) 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 any required withholding or the making of all required deductions (including deductions 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 withholding or deduction been made.

 

(iii)                                If any Loan Party or the Administrative Agent shall be required by any applicable Laws other than the Code to withhold or deduct any Taxes from any payment, then (A) such Loan Party or the Administrative Agent, as required by such Laws, shall withhold or make such deductions as are determined by it to be required based upon the information and documentation it has received pursuant to subsection (e)  below, (B) such Loan Party or the Administrative Agent, to the extent required by such Laws, shall timely pay the full amount withheld or deducted to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with such Laws, and (C) 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 any required withholding or the making of all required deductions (including deductions 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 withholding or deduction been made.

 

(b)                                  Payment of Other Taxes by the Borrower .  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 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 reasonable expenses arising therefrom or with respect thereto, whether or

 

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not such Indemnified Taxes were correctly or legally imposed or asserted by the relevant Governmental Authority.  A certificate as to the amount of such payment or liability delivered to the Borrower by a Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), or by the Administrative Agent on its own behalf or on behalf of a Lender, shall be conclusive absent manifest error.  Each of the Loan Parties shall, and does hereby, jointly and severally indemnify the Administrative Agent, and shall make payment in respect thereof within 10 days after demand therefor, for any amount which a Lender for any reason fails to pay indefeasibly to the Administrative Agent as required pursuant to Section 3.01(c)(ii)  below.

 

(ii)                                   Each Lender shall, and does hereby, severally indemnify, and shall make payment in respect thereof within 10 days after demand therefor, ( x ) the Administrative Agent against any Indemnified Taxes attributable to such Lender (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), ( y ) 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 1 1 .06(d)  relating to the maintenance of a Participant Register and ( z ) the Administrative Agent and the Loan Parties, as applicable, against any Excluded Taxes attributable to such Lender, 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 hereby authorizes the Administrative Agent to set off and apply any and all amounts at any time owing to such Lender, under this Agreement or any other Loan Document against any amount due to the Administrative Agent under this clause (ii) .

 

(d)                                  Evidence of Payments .  Upon request by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, as the case may be, after any payment of Taxes by the Borrower or by the Administrative Agent to a Governmental Authority as provided in this Section 3.01 , the Borrower shall deliver to the Administrative Agent or the Administrative Agent shall deliver to the Borrower, as the case may be, the original or a certified copy of a receipt issued by such Governmental Authority evidencing such payment, a copy of any return required by Laws to report such payment or other evidence of such payment reasonably satisfactory to the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, as the case may be.

 

(e)                                   Status of the 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 Borrower and the Administrative Agent, at the time or times reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, such properly completed and executed documentation reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent as will permit such payments to be made without withholding or at a reduced rate of withholding.  In addition, any Lender, if reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, shall deliver such other documentation prescribed by applicable law or reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent as will enable the Borrower or the Administrative Agent to determine whether or not such Lender is subject to backup withholding or information reporting requirements.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the preceding two sentences, the completion, execution and

 

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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 the Borrower is a U.S. Person,

 

(A)                                any Lender that is a U.S. Person shall deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent on or prior to the date on which such Lender becomes a Lender under this Agreement (and from time to time thereafter upon the reasonable request of the Borrower or the Administrative Agent), executed originals 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 Borrower and the Administrative Agent (in such number of copies as shall be requested by the recipient) on or prior to the date on which such Foreign Lender becomes a Lender under this Agreement (and from time to time thereafter upon the reasonable request of the Borrower or the Administrative Agent), whichever of the following is applicable:

 

(1)                                  in the case of a Foreign Lender claiming the benefits of an income tax treaty to which the United States is a party (x) with respect to payments of interest under any Loan Document, executed originals of IRS Form W-8BEN or IRS Form W-8BEN-E 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 or IRS Form W-8BEN-E 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 H-1 to the effect that such Foreign Lender is not a “bank” within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(A)  of the Code, a “10 percent shareholder” of the Borrower within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(B)  of the Code, or a “controlled foreign corporation” described in Section 881(c)(3)(C)  of the Code (a “ U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate ”) and (y) executed originals of IRS Form W-8BEN or IRS Form W-8BEN-E; or

 

(4)                                  to the extent a Foreign Lender is not the beneficial owner, executed originals of IRS Form W-8IMY, accompanied by IRS Form W-8ECI, IRS Form W-8BEN, IRS Form W-8BEN-E, a U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit H-2 or Exhibit H-3 , IRS Form W-9, and/or other certification documents from

 

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each beneficial owner, as applicable; provided that if the Foreign Lender is a partnership and one or more direct or indirect partners of such Foreign Lender are claiming the portfolio interest exemption, such Foreign Lender may provide a U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit H-4 on behalf of each such direct and indirect partner;

 

(C)                                any Foreign Lender shall, to the extent it is legally entitled to do so, deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent (in such number of copies as shall be requested by the recipient) on or prior to the date on which such Foreign Lender becomes a Lender under this Agreement (and from time to time thereafter upon the reasonable request of the Borrower or the Administrative Agent), executed originals 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 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 Borrower and the Administrative Agent at the time or times prescribed by law and at such time or times reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent such documentation prescribed by applicable law (including as prescribed by Section 1471(b)(3)(C)(i)  of the Code) and such additional documentation reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent as may be necessary for the Borrower and the Administrative Agent to comply with their obligations under FATCA and to determine that such Lender has complied with such Lender’s obligations under FATCA or to determine the amount to deduct and withhold from such payment.  Solely for purposes of this clause (D), “FATCA” shall include any amendments made to FATCA after the date of this Agreement.

 

(iii)                                Each Lender agrees that if any form or certification it previously delivered expires or becomes obsolete or inaccurate in any respect, it shall update such form or certification or promptly notify the Borrower and the Administrative Agent in writing of its legal inability to do so.  Each Lender shall promptly (A) notify the Borrower and the Administrative Agent of any change in circumstances which would modify or render invalid any claimed exemption or reduction, and (B) take such steps as shall not be materially disadvantageous to it, in the reasonable judgment of such Lender, and as may be reasonably necessary (including the re-designation of its Lending Office) to avoid any requirement of applicable Laws of any jurisdiction that the Borrower or the Administrative Agent make any withholding or deduction for taxes from amounts payable to such Lender.

 

(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 have any obligation to pay to any Lender, any refund of Taxes withheld or deducted from funds paid for the account of such Lender.  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

 

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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 the Loan Party an amount equal to such refund (but only to the extent of indemnity payments made, or additional amounts paid, by a 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, and without interest (other than any interest paid by the relevant Governmental Authority with respect to such refund), provided that the Loan Party, upon the request of the Recipient, agrees to repay the amount paid over to the 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 the 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 indemnification payments or additional amounts giving rise to such refund 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)                                   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, the termination of the Commitments and the repayment, satisfaction and discharge of all other Obligations.

 

3.02                         Illegality .  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 applicable Lending Office to make, maintain or fund Loans whose interest is determined by reference to LIBOR, or to determine or charge interest rates based upon LIBOR, 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 Borrower through the Administrative Agent, (i) any obligation of such Lender to make or continue LIBOR Loans or to convert Base Rate Committed Loans to LIBOR Loans shall be suspended, and (ii) 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 LIBOR 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 LIBOR component of the Base Rate, in each case until such Lender notifies the Administrative Agent and the Borrower that the circumstances giving rise to such determination no longer exist.  Upon receipt of such notice, (x) the Borrower shall, upon demand from such Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), prepay or, if applicable, convert all LIBOR 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 LIBOR component of the Base Rate), either on the last day of the Interest Period therefor, if such Lender may lawfully continue to maintain such LIBOR Loans to such day, or immediately, if such Lender may not lawfully continue to maintain such LIBOR Loans and (y) if such notice asserts the illegality of such Lender determining or charging interest rates based upon LIBOR, the Administrative Agent shall during the period of such suspension compute the Base Rate applicable to such Lender without reference to the LIBOR 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 LIBOR.  Upon any such prepayment or conversion, the Borrower shall also pay accrued interest on the amount so prepaid or converted.

 

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3.03                         Changed Circumstances .

 

(a)                Circumstances Affecting LIBOR Rate Availability .  Unless and until a Replacement Rate is implemented in accordance with clause (b) below, in connection with any request for a LIBOR Loan or a conversion to or continuation thereof or otherwise, if for any reason (i) the Administrative Agent shall determine (which determination shall be conclusive and binding absent manifest error) that Dollar deposits are not being offered to banks in the London interbank Eurodollar market for the applicable amount and Interest Period of such Loan, (ii) the Administrative Agent shall determine (which determination shall be conclusive and binding absent manifest error) that reasonable and adequate means do not exist for ascertaining LIBOR for such Interest Period with respect to a proposed LIBOR Loan or (iii) the Required Lenders shall determine (which determination shall be conclusive and binding absent manifest error) that the LIBOR does not adequately and fairly reflect the cost to such Lenders of making or maintaining such Loans during such Interest Period, then the Administrative Agent shall promptly give notice thereof to the Borrower.  Thereafter, until the Administrative Agent notifies the Borrower that such circumstances no longer exist, the obligation of the Lenders to make LIBOR Loans and the right of the Borrower to convert any Loan to or continue any Loan as a LIBOR Loan shall be suspended, and the Borrower shall either (A) repay in full (or cause to be repaid in full) the then outstanding principal amount of each such LIBOR Loan together with accrued interest thereon (subject to Section  11.09 ) , on the last day of the then current Interest Period applicable to such LIBOR Loan; or (B) convert the then outstanding principal amount of each such LIBOR Loan to a Base Rate Loan as of the last day of such Interest Period.

 

(b)                Alternative Rate of Interest .  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Section  3.03(a)  above, if the Administrative Agent has made the determination (such determination to be conclusive absent manifest error) that (i) the circumstances described in Section  3.03(a)(i)  or (a)(ii)  have arisen and that such circumstances are unlikely to be temporary, (ii) any applicable interest rate specified herein is no longer a widely recognized benchmark rate for newly originated loans in the syndicated loan market in the applicable currency or (iii) the applicable supervisor or administrator (if any) of any applicable interest rate specified herein or any Governmental Authority having, or purporting to have, jurisdiction over the Administrative Agent has made a public statement identifying a specific date after which any applicable interest rate specified herein shall no longer be used for determining interest rates for loans in the syndicated loan market in the applicable currency, then the Administrative Agent may, to the extent practicable (in consultation with the Borrower and as determined by the Administrative Agent to be generally in accordance with similar situations in other transactions in which it is serving as administrative agent or otherwise consistent with market practice generally), establish a replacement interest rate (the “ Replacement Rate ”), in which case, the Replacement Rate shall, subject to the next two sentences, replace such applicable interest rate for all purposes under the Loan Documents unless and until (A) an event described in Section  3.03(a)(i) , (a)(ii) , (b)(i) , ( b )(ii)  or (c)(iii)  occurs with respect to the Replacement Rate or (B) the Required Lenders (directly, or through the Administrative Agent) notify the Borrower that the Replacement Rate does not adequately and fairly reflect the cost to the Lenders of funding the Loans bearing interest at the Replacement Rate; provided that if such determined rate shall be less than zero, such rate shall be deemed to be zero for each Loan bearing interest at the Replacement Rate that has not been identified by the Borrower in accordance with the terms of this Agreement as being subject to a Specified Swap Contract that provides a hedge against interest rate risk.  In connection with the establishment and application of the Replacement Rate, this Agreement and the other Loan Documents shall be amended solely with the consent of the Administrative Agent and the Borrower, as may be necessary or appropriate, in the opinion of the Administrative Agent, to effect the provisions of this Section  3.03(b) .  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement or the other Loan Documents (including, without limitation, Section  11 . 01 ), such amendment shall become effective without any further action or consent of any other party to this Agreement so long as the Administrative Agent shall not have received, within five (5) Business Days of the delivery of such amendment to the Lenders, written notices from such Lenders that in the aggregate constitute Required Lenders, with each such notice stating that such

 

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Lender objects to such amendment.  To the extent the Replacement Rate is approved by the Administrative Agent in connection with this clause (b), the Replacement Rate shall be applied in a manner consistent with market practice; provided that, in each case, to the extent such market practice is not administratively feasible for the Administrative Agent, such Replacement Rate shall be applied as otherwise reasonably determined by the Administrative Agent (it being understood that any such modification by the Administrative Agent shall not require the consent of, or consultation with, any of the Lenders).

 

3.04                         Increased Costs; Reserves on LIBOR Loans.

 

(a)                                  Increased Costs Generally .  If any Change in Law shall:

 

(i)                                      impose, modify or deem applicable any reserve, special deposit, liquidity, compulsory loan, insurance charge or similar assessment or requirement against assets of, deposits with or for the account of, or credit extended or participated in by, the Administrative Agent or any Lender (except any reserve requirement contemplated by Section 3.04(e) );

 

(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 the Administrative Agent or any Lender or the London interbank market any other condition, cost or expense affecting this Agreement or LIBOR Loans made by such Lender;

 

and the result of any of the foregoing shall be to increase the cost to the Administrative Agent or such Lender, as applicable, of making, converting, continuing or maintaining any Loan (or of maintaining its obligation to make any such Loan), then the Borrower will pay to the Administrative Agent or such Lender, as applicable, such additional amount or amounts as will compensate the Administrative Agent or such Lender, as applicable, for such additional costs incurred or reduction suffered.

 

(b)                                  Capital Requirements .  If any Lender determines that any Change in Law affecting such Lender or any Lending Office of such Lender or such Lender’s holding company, if any, regarding capital or liquidity ratios or requirements has or would have the effect of reducing the rate of return on such Lender’s capital or on the capital of such Lender’s holding company, if any, as a consequence of this Agreement, the Commitments of such Lender or the Loans made by such Lender, to a level below that which such Lender or such Lender’s holding company could have achieved but for such Change in Law (taking into consideration such Lender’s policies and the policies of such Lender’s holding company with respect to capital adequacy and liquidity), then from time to time the Borrower will pay to such Lender such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender or such Lender’s holding company for any such reduction suffered.

 

(c)                                   Certificates for Reimbursement .  A certificate of a Lender setting forth the amount or amounts necessary to compensate such Lender or its holding company, as the case may be, as specified in subsection (a)  or ( b )  of this Section and delivered to the Borrower shall be conclusive absent manifest error.  The Borrower shall pay such Lender the amount shown as due on any such certificate within fifteen (15) days after receipt thereof.

 

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(d)                                  Delay in Requests .  Failure or delay on the part of any Lender to demand compensation pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this Section shall not constitute a waiver of such Lender’s right to demand such compensation, provided that the Borrower shall not be required to compensate a Lender 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 notifies the Borrower of the Change in Law giving rise to such increased costs or reductions and of such Lender’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).

 

(e)                                   Reserves on LIBOR Loans .  The Borrower 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 LIBOR 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), which shall be due and payable on each date on which interest is payable on such Loan, provided that the Borrower shall have received at least ten (10) days’ prior notice (with a copy to the Administrative Agent) of such additional interest 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.

 

3.05                         Compensation for Losses .  Upon demand of any Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent) from time to time, the Borrower 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 the Borrower (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 the Borrower; or

 

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

 

excluding any loss of anticipated profits and 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 Borrower shall also pay any customary administrative fees charged by such Lender in connection with the foregoing.

 

For purposes of calculating amounts payable by the Borrower to the Lenders under this Section 3.05 , each Lender shall be deemed to have funded each LIBOR Loan made by it at LIBOR for such Loan by a matching deposit or other borrowing in the London interbank eurodollar market for a comparable amount and for a comparable period, whether or not such LIBOR Loan was in fact so funded.

 

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3.06                         Mitigation Obligations; Replacement of the Lenders.

 

(a)                                  Designation of a Different Lending Office .  If any Lender requests compensation under Section 3.04 , or the Borrower is required to pay any Indemnified Taxes or additional amount to any Lender, or any Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender pursuant to Section 3.01 , or if any Lender gives a notice pursuant to Section 3.02 , then at the request of the Borrower such Lender 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 reasonable judgment of such Lender, 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 to any material unreimbursed cost or expense and would not otherwise be materially disadvantageous to such Lender.  The Borrower hereby agrees to pay all reasonable costs and expenses incurred by any Lender in connection with any such designation or assignment.

 

(b)                                  Replacement of the Lenders .  If any Lender requests compensation under Section 3.04 , or if the Borrower is required to pay any Indemnified Taxes or additional amounts to any Lender or any Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender pursuant to Section 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 Borrower may replace such Lender in accordance with Section 11.13 .

 

3.07                         Survival .  All of the Borrower’s obligations under this Article III shall survive termination of the Aggregate Commitments, repayment of all other Obligations hereunder, and resignation of the Administrative Agent.

 

Article IV.
Unencumbered Properties

 

4.01                         Initial Unencumbered Properties .  As of the Closing Date, the Initial Unencumbered Properties shall consist of the Properties set forth on Schedule 4.01 .

 

4.02                         Reserved .

 

4.03                         Notices of Qualification as an Unencumbered Property .  The Borrower shall provide the Administrative Agent with a written notice of an Acceptable Property to be deemed an Unencumbered Property.

 

4.04                         Eligibility .  In order for an Acceptable Property to be eligible for inclusion as an Unencumbered Property, such Acceptable Property shall satisfy the following requirements unless otherwise approved by the Required Lenders:

 

(a)                                  no Material Title Defect with respect to such Acceptable Property shall exist;

 

(b)                                  such Acceptable Property shall have reasonable access to public utilities; and

 

(c)                                   such Acceptable Property shall not have any material defects.

 

4.05                         Reserved .

 

4.06                         Guaranty . An Acceptable Property shall not be deemed an Unencumbered Property until the applicable Subsidiary Guarantor shall have executed and delivered (or caused to be executed and

 

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delivered) to the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Lenders and any Specified Derivatives Providers, the Subsidiary Guaranty .

 

4.07                         Admission of New Unencumbered Properties .  If, after the date of this Agreement, the Borrower has submitted to the Administrative Agent the notice contemplated by Section 4.03 , then such Acceptable Property shall be deemed to be an Unencumbered Property.

 

4.08                         Reserved.

 

4.09                         Reserved.

 

4.10                         Exclusion Events .  Each of the following events shall be an “ Exclusion Event ” with respect to an Unencumbered Property:

 

(a)                                  such Unencumbered Property suffers a Material Environmental Event or a Material Title Defect after the date of this Agreement which the Administrative Agent determines, acting reasonably and in good faith, materially impairs the Unencumbered Asset Value or marketability of such Unencumbered Property;

 

(b)                                  the Administrative Agent determines that such Unencumbered Property has suffered a Material Property Event after the date such Property was deemed an Unencumbered Property (or in the case of an uninsured Casualty, in respect of such Unencumbered Property, is reasonably likely to become a Material Property Event) which the Administrative Agent determines, acting reasonably and in good faith, materially impairs the Unencumbered Asset Value or marketability of such Unencumbered Property;

 

(c)                                   a Lien for the performance of work or the supply of materials which is established against such Unencumbered Property, or any stop notice served on the owner of such Unencumbered Property, the Administrative Agent or a Lender, remains unsatisfied or unbonded for a period of thirty (30) days after the date of filing or service and such Lien has priority over any Loan previously or thereafter made under this Agreement;

 

(d)                                  (i) any default by any Subsidiary Guarantor, as tenant under any applicable Acceptable Ground Lease, in the observance or performance of any material term, covenant, or condition of any applicable Acceptable Ground Lease on the part of such Subsidiary Guarantor to be observed or performed and said default is not cured following the expiration of any applicable grace and notice periods therein provided, or (ii)  the leasehold estate created by any applicable Acceptable Ground Lease shall be surrendered or (iii)  any applicable Acceptable Ground Lease shall cease to be in full force and effect or (iv) any applicable Acceptable Ground Lease shall be terminated or canceled for any reason or under any circumstances whatsoever, or any of the material terms, covenants or conditions of any applicable Acceptable Ground Lease shall be modified, changed, supplemented, altered, or amended in any manner not otherwise permitted hereunder without the consent of the Administrative Agent; and

 

(e)                                   the Borrower shall cease to own, directly or indirectly, one hundred percent (100%) of the Equity Interests of any Subsidiary Guarantor that owns an Unencumbered Property free and clear of any Liens (other than Liens in favor of the Administrative Agent).

 

After the occurrence of any Exclusion Event, the Administrative Agent, at the direction of the Required Lenders in their sole discretion, shall have the right at any time and from time to time to notify the Borrower (the “ Exclusion Notice ”) that, effective ten (10) Business Days after the giving of such notice

 

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and for so long as such Exclusion Event exists, such Property shall no longer be considered an Unencumbered Property.

 

If the Administrative Agent delivers an Exclusion Notice and such Exclusion Event no longer exists, then the Borrower may give the Administrative Agent written notice thereof (together with reasonably detailed evidence of the cure of such condition) and such Unencumbered Property shall be considered an Unencumbered Property as long as such Unencumbered Property meets all the requirements to be deemed an Unencumbered Property set forth in this Article IV.  Any Property that is excluded from the Unencumbered Properties pursuant to this Section 4.10 may subsequently be reinstated as an Unencumbered Property, even if an Exclusion Event exists, upon such terms and conditions as the Required Lenders may approve.

 

Upon the occurrence of an Default under Section 8.11(a) , the Borrower shall have the right to elect, upon written notice to the Administrative Agent, that the Lenders designate one or more Unencumbered Properties to be excluded as Unencumbered Properties in order to effect compliance with Section 8.11(a) , with the Borrower thereafter having the right to elect to have any such Unencumbered Property thereafter deemed an Unencumbered Property, provided no Exclusion Event shall exist at such time with respect to such Unencumbered Property.

 

Article V.
Conditions Precedent to Credit Extensions

 

5.01                         Conditions of Initial Credit Extension .  The obligation of each Lender to make its initial Credit Extension hereunder is subject to satisfaction of the following conditions precedent:

 

(a)                                  The Administrative Agent’s receipt of the following, each of which shall be originals or telecopies (followed promptly by originals) unless otherwise specified, each properly executed by a Responsible Officer of the signing Loan Party, each dated the Closing Date (or, in the case of certificates of governmental officials, a recent date before the Closing Date) and each in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and each of the Lenders:

 

(i)             executed counterparts of this Agreement and the Guaranties sufficient in number for distribution to the Administrative Agent, each Lender, and the Borrower for each Initial Unencumbered Property;

 

(ii)            a Note executed by the Borrower in favor of each Lender requesting a Note;

 

(iii)           copies of the Organization Documents of each Loan Party certified to be true and complete as of a recent date by the appropriate Governmental Authority of the state or other jurisdiction of its incorporation or organization, where applicable, and certified by a Responsible Officer of such Loan Party to be true and correct as of the Closing Date;

 

(iv)                               such certificates of resolutions or other action, incumbency certificates and/or other certificates of Responsible Officers of each Loan Party as the Administrative Agent may require evidencing the identity, authority and capacity of each Responsible Officer thereof authorized to act as a Responsible Officer in connection with this Agreement and the other Loan Documents to which such Loan Party is a party;

 

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(v)                                  such documents and certifications as the Administrative Agent may reasonably require to evidence that each Loan Party is duly organized or formed, and that each Loan Party is validly existing, in good standing and qualified to engage in business in each jurisdiction where its ownership, lease or operation of properties or the conduct of its business requires such qualification, except to the extent that failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;

 

(vi)                               a favorable opinion of DLA Piper LLP (US), counsel to the Loan Parties, addressed to the Administrative Agent and each Lender, as to the matters set forth in Exhibit G and such other matters concerning the Loan Parties and the Loan Documents as the Required Lenders may reasonably request;

 

(vii)                            a certificate of a Responsible Officer of each Loan Party either (A) attaching copies of all consents, licenses and approvals required in connection with the execution, delivery and performance by such Loan Party and the validity against such Loan Party of the Loan Documents to which it is a party, and such consents, licenses and approvals shall be in full force and effect, or (B) stating that no such consents, licenses or approvals are so required;

 

(viii)                         a certificate signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower certifying (A) that the conditions specified in Sections 5.02(a)  and (b)  have been satisfied, and (B) that there has been no event or circumstance since the date of the Audited Financial Statements that has had or could be reasonably expected to have, either individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect;

 

(ix)                               a duly completed Compliance Certificate as of the Closing Date, signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower;

 

(x)                                  evidence that all insurance required to be maintained pursuant to the Loan Documents has been obtained and is in effect;

 

(xi)                               a Disbursement Instruction Agreement effective as of the Agreement Date;

 

(xii)                            the Borrower shall have provided to the Administrative Agent and each Lender the documentation and other information requested by the Administrative Agent or such Lender in connection with applicable “know your customer” and anti-money-laundering rules and regulations, including the PATRIOT Act, in each case at least five (5) Business Days prior to the Closing Date;

 

(xiii)                         at least five days prior to the Closing Date, each Loan Party that qualifies as a “legal entity customer” under the Beneficial Ownership Regulation shall have delivered to the Administrative Agent, and any Lender requesting the same, a Beneficial Ownership Certification in relation to such Loan Party or such Subsidiary, in each case at least five (5) Business Days prior to the Closing Date; and

 

(xiv)                        such other assurances, certificates, documents, consents or opinions as the Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders reasonably may require.

 

(b)                                  Any fees required to be paid on or before the Closing Date shall have been paid.

 

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(c)                                   Unless waived by the Administrative Agent, the Borrower shall have paid all fees, charges and disbursements of counsel to the Administrative Agent (directly to such counsel if requested by the Administrative Agent) to the extent invoiced prior to the Closing Date, plus such additional amounts of such fees, charges and disbursements as shall constitute its reasonable estimate of such fees, charges and disbursements incurred or to be incurred by it through the closing proceedings ( provided that such estimate shall not thereafter preclude a final settling of accounts between the Borrower and the Administrative Agent).

 

Without limiting the generality of the provisions of the last paragraph of Section 10.03 , for purposes of determining compliance with the conditions specified in this Section 5.01 , 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.

 

5.02                         Conditions to all Credit Extensions .  The obligation of each Lender to honor any Request for Credit Extension (other than a Committed Loan Notice requesting only a conversion of Committed Loans to the other Type, or a continuation of LIBOR Loans) is subject to the following conditions precedent:

 

(a)                                  The representations and warranties of the Borrower and each other Loan Party contained in Article VI or any other Loan Document, or which are contained in any document furnished at any time under or in connection herewith or therewith, shall be true and correct in all material respects (except in the case of a representation or warranty qualified by materiality or Material Adverse Effect, in which case such representation or warranty shall be true and correct in all respects) on and as of the date of such Credit Extension, except to the extent that such representations and warranties specifically refer to an earlier date, in which case they shall be true and correct in all material respects (except in the case of a representation or warranty qualified by materiality or Material Adverse Effect, in which case such representation or warranty shall be true and correct in all respects) as of such earlier date, and except that for purposes of this Section   5.02 , the representations and warranties contained in Section 6.05(b)  shall be deemed to refer to the most-recent statements furnished pursuant to Section 7.01(b) .

 

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

 

(c)                                   The Administrative Agent shall have received a Request for Credit Extension in accordance with the requirements hereof.

 

(d)                                  After giving effect to such proposed Credit Extension, the Borrower shall be in compliance with Section 2.01( c ) .

 

Each Request for Credit Extension (other than a Committed Loan Notice requesting only a conversion of Committed Loans to the other Type or a continuation of LIBOR Loans) submitted by the Borrower shall be deemed to be a representation and warranty that the conditions specified in Sections   5.02(a) , (b) , and (d)  have been satisfied on and as of the date of the applicable Credit Extension.

 

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Article VI.
Representations and Warranties

 

Each of the Parent and the Borrower represents and warrants to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders that:

 

6.01                         Existence, Qualification and Power; Compliance with Laws .  The Parent, the Borrower and each Subsidiary Guarantor (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) in the case of the Loan Parties, 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 (b)(i)  or (c)  to the extent that failure to do so would not have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

6.02                         Authorization; No Contravention .  The execution, delivery and performance by each Loan Party of each Loan Document to which such Person is 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 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.

 

6.03                         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 the execution, delivery or performance by, or enforcement against, any Loan Party of this Agreement or any other Loan Document except for those that have been obtained, taken or made, as the case may be, and those specified herein.

 

6.04                         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, except as enforcement may be limited by Debtor Relief Laws or general equitable principles relating to or limiting creditors’ rights generally.

 

6.05                         Financial Statements; No Material Adverse Effect.

 

(a)                                  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 the financial condition of the Parent as of the date thereof and their results of operations for each period covered thereby in accordance with GAAP consistently applied throughout the each period covered thereby, except as otherwise expressly noted therein; and (iii) show all material indebtedness and other liabilities, direct or contingent, of the Parent as of the date thereof, including liabilities for taxes, material commitments and Indebtedness required by GAAP to be reflected therein.

 

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(b)                                  The most recent unaudited consolidated balance sheet of the Parent delivered pursuant to Section 7.01(b) , 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 the financial condition of the Parent as of the date thereof and its results of operations 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)                                   From and after the date of the Audited Financial Statements, and thereafter, from and after the date of the most recent financial statements delivered pursuant to Section 7.01(a)  or 7.01(b), there has been no event or circumstance, either individually or in the aggregate, that has had or would have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

6.06                         Litigation .  There are no actions, suits, proceedings, claims or disputes pending or, to the knowledge of any Company, threatened or contemplated, at law, in equity, in arbitration or before any Governmental Authority, by or against any Company 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) except as specifically disclosed in Schedule 6.06 , either individually or in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, and there has been no adverse change in the status, or financial effect on any Company, of the matters described on Schedule  6.06 , which change could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

6.07                         No Default .  No Company is in default under or with respect 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.

 

6.08                         Ownership of Property; Liens; Equity Interests .  Each Subsidiary Guarantor has good record and marketable title in fee simple to, or valid leasehold interests in, all Unencumbered Properties 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.  Each applicable Subsidiary Guarantor has good record and marketable fee simple title (or, in the case of Acceptable Ground Leases, a valid leasehold) to the Unencumbered Property owned by such Subsidiary Guarantor, subject only to Liens permitted by Section 8.01 .  All of the outstanding Equity Interests in each Subsidiary Guarantor have been validly issued, are fully paid and non-assessable and are owned by the applicable holders free and clear of all Liens (other than Liens permitted by Section 8.01 ).

 

6.09                         Environmental Compliance.

 

(a)                                  The Companies conduct in the ordinary course of business a review of 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 Parent and the Borrower have reasonably concluded that, except as specifically disclosed in Schedule 6.09 , such Environmental Laws and claims could not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(b)                                  After due inquiry in accordance with good commercial or customary practices to determine whether Contamination is present on any Property, without regard to whether the Administrative Agent or any Lender has or hereafter obtains any knowledge or report of the environmental condition of such Property, except as may be indicated in environmental reports delivered to the Administrative Agent and except to the extent the same could not reasonably be

 

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expected to have a Material Adverse Effect: (i) such Property has not been used (A) for landfilling, dumping, or other waste or Hazardous Material disposal activities or operations, or (B) for generation, storage, use, sale, treatment, processing, or recycling of any Hazardous Material, or for any other use that has resulted in Contamination, and in each case, to each Company’s knowledge, no such use on any adjacent property occurred at any time prior to the date hereof; (ii) there is no Hazardous Material, storage tank (or similar vessel) whether underground or otherwise, sump or well currently on any Property; (iii) no Company has received any notice of, or has knowledge of, any Environmental Claim or any completed, pending, proposed or threatened investigation or inquiry concerning the presence or release of any Hazardous Material on any Property or any adjacent property or concerning whether any condition, use or activity on any Property or any adjacent property is in violation of any Environmental Requirement; (iv) the present conditions, uses, and activities on each Property do not violate any Environmental Requirement and the use of any Property which any Company (and each tenant and subtenant) makes and intends to make of any Property complies and will comply with all applicable Environmental Requirements; (v) no Property appears on the National Priorities List, any federal or state “superfund” or “superlien” list, or any other list or database of properties maintained by any local, state, or federal agency or department showing properties which are known to contain or which are suspected of containing a Hazardous Material; (vi) no Company has ever applied for and been denied environmental impairment liability insurance coverage relating to any Property; (vii) no Company has, nor, to any Company’s knowledge, have any tenants or subtenants, obtained any permit or authorization to construct, occupy, operate, use, or conduct any activity on any Property by reason of any Environmental Requirement; and (viii) to any Company’s knowledge, there are no underground or aboveground storage tanks on such Property.

 

6.10                         Insurance .  The properties of the Loan Parties are insured with financially sound and reputable insurance companies not Affiliates of any Loan Party, 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 Loan Parties operate.

 

6.11                         Taxes .  The Companies have filed all material Federal, state and other tax returns and reports required to be filed, and have paid all material Federal, state and other 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 or which would not result in a Material Adverse Effect.  There is no proposed tax assessment against any Company that would, if made, have a Material Adverse Effect. Neither any Loan Party nor any Subsidiary thereof is party to any tax sharing agreement.

 

6.12                         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.  Each Pension Plan that is intended to be a qualified plan under Section 401(a)  of the Code has received a favorable determination letter from the Internal Revenue Service 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 Internal Revenue Service 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 Internal Revenue Service.  To the best knowledge of the Parent and the Borrower, nothing has occurred that would prevent or cause the loss of such tax-qualified status.  The Parent and each ERISA Affiliate have made all required contributions to each Plan subject to Section 412 of the Code, and no application for a funding

 

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waiver or an extension of any amortization period pursuant to Section 412 of the Code has been made with respect to any Plan.

 

(b)                                  There are no pending or, to the best knowledge of the Parent and the Borrower, threatened claims, actions or lawsuits, or action by any Governmental Authority, with respect to any Plan that would have a Material Adverse Effect.  There has been no prohibited transaction or violation of the fiduciary responsibility rules with respect to any Plan that has resulted or would have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(c)                                   (i) No ERISA Event has occurred, and neither the Parent nor any ERISA Affiliate is aware of any fact, event or circumstance that would constitute or result in an ERISA Event with respect to any Pension Plan; (ii) the Parent and each ERISA Affiliate has met all applicable requirements under the Pension Funding Rules in respect of each Pension Plan, and no waiver of the minimum funding standards under the Pension Funding Rules has been applied for or obtained; (iii) as of the most-recent valuation date for any Pension Plan, the funding target attainment percentage (as defined in Section 430(d)(2)  of the Code) is 60% or higher and neither the Parent nor any ERISA Affiliate knows of any facts or circumstances that would cause the funding target attainment percentage for any such plan to drop below 60% as of the most-recent valuation date; (iv) neither the Parent nor any ERISA Affiliate has incurred any liability to the PBGC other than for the payment of premiums, and there are no premium payments which have become due that are unpaid; (v) neither the Parent nor any ERISA Affiliate has engaged in a transaction that could be subject to Section 4069 or Section 4212(c)  of ERISA; and (vi) no Pension Plan has been terminated by the plan administrator thereof nor by the PBGC, and no event or circumstance has occurred or exists that would cause the PBGC to institute proceedings under Title IV of ERISA to terminate any Pension Plan, in each case, that would result in a liability, individually, or in the aggregate, in excess of the Threshold Amount.

 

(d)                                  As of the Closing Date the Borrower is not nor will be using “plan assets” (within the meaning of 29 CFR § 2510.3-101, as modified by Section 3(42) of ERISA) of one or more Benefit Plans in connection with the Loans or the Commitments.

 

6.13                         Subsidiaries; Equity Interests .  As of the Closing Date, the Parent and the Borrower have no Subsidiaries other than those specifically disclosed in Part (a) of Schedule 6.13 , and all of the outstanding Equity Interests in such Subsidiaries have been validly issued, are fully paid and non-assessable and are owned by a Company in the amounts specified on Part (a) of Schedule   6.13 free and clear of all Liens.  As of the Closing Date, neither the Parent nor the Borrower has any direct or indirect Equity Interests in any other Person other than those specifically disclosed in Part (b) of Schedule   6.13 .  All of the outstanding Equity Interests in each Subsidiary Guarantor have been validly issued, are fully paid and non-assessable and are owned by the applicable holders in the amounts specified on Part (c) of Schedule   6.13 free and clear of all Liens.

 

6.14                         Margin Regulations; Investment Company Act .

 

(a)                                  Neither the Parent nor the Borrower is 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.

 

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

 

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6.15                         Disclosure .

 

(a)                                  The Parent and the Borrower have disclosed to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders all agreements, instruments and corporate or other restrictions to which any Company is subject, and all other matters known to them, that, individually or in the aggregate, would have a Material Adverse Effect.  The reports, financial statements, certificates or other information furnished (whether in writing or orally) by or on behalf of any Company 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), taken as a whole, do not contain any material misstatement of fact or fail to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided that (a) with respect to projected financial information, the Parent and the Borrower represent only that such information was prepared in good faith based upon assumptions believed to be reasonable at the time made, and (b) with respect to any lease abstracts provided by the Borrower, to the best of the Borrower’s knowledge, same will not contain any material misstatement of fact or fail to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

 

(b)                                  As of the Closing Date, the information included in the Beneficial Ownership Certification is true and correct in all respects.

 

6.16                         Compliance with Laws .  Each Company is in compliance in all material respects 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, would have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

6.17                         Taxpayer Identification Number .  As of the date hereof, each Loan Party’s true and correct U.S. taxpayer identification number is set forth on Schedule 11.02 .

 

6.18                         Intellectual Property; Licenses, Etc.   Each Loan Party owns, or possesses the right to use, all of the trademarks, service marks, trade names, copyrights, patents, patent rights, franchises, licenses and other intellectual property rights (collectively, “ IP Rights ”) that are reasonably necessary for the operation of their respective businesses, without conflict with the rights of any other Person except, in each case, where the failure to do so would have a Material Adverse Effect.  To the best knowledge of each Loan Party, 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 infringes upon any rights held by any other Person except where such infringement would not have a Material Adverse Effect.  Except as specifically disclosed in Schedule 6.18 , no claim or litigation regarding any of the foregoing is pending or, to the best knowledge of each Loan Party, threatened, which, either individually or in the aggregate, would have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

6.19                         Reserved .

 

6.20                         Solvency .  No Loan Party (a) has entered into the transaction or executed this Agreement or any other Loan Document with the actual intent to hinder, delay or defraud any creditor and (b) has not received reasonably equivalent value in exchange for its obligations under the Loan Documents.  After giving effect to any Loan, the fair saleable value of the Loan Parties’ assets, taken as a whole, exceeds and will, immediately following the making of any such Loan, exceed the Loan Parties’ total liabilities, including subordinated, unliquidated, disputed and contingent liabilities.  The Loan Parties’ assets, taken

 

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as a whole, do not constitute unreasonably small capital to carry out their business as conducted or as proposed to be conducted, nor will their assets constitute unreasonably small capital immediately following the making of any Loan.  The Loan Parties do not intend to incur debt and liabilities (including contingent liabilities and other commitments) beyond their ability to pay such debt and liabilities as they mature (taking into account the timing and amounts of cash to be received by the Loan Parties and the amounts to be payable on or in respect of obligations of the Loan Parties).  No petition under any Debtor Relief Laws has been filed against any Loan Party in the last seven (7) years, and neither the Borrower nor any other Loan Party in the last seven (7) years has ever made an assignment for the benefit of creditors or taken advantage of any insolvency act for the benefit of debtors.  No Loan Party is contemplating either the filing of a petition by it under any Debtor Relief Laws or the liquidation of all or a major portion of its assets or property (except for dispositions permitted hereunder), and no Loan Party has knowledge of any Person contemplating the filing of any such petition against it or any other Loan Party.

 

6.21                         REIT Status of the Parent .  The Parent qualified as a REIT commencing with its taxable year ending December 31, 2014 and will remain qualified in each taxable year thereafter.

 

6.22                         Labor Matters .  There is (a) no significant unfair labor practice complaint pending against any Company or, to the best of each Company’s knowledge, threatened against any Company, before the National Labor Relations Board, and no significant grievance or significant arbitration proceeding arising out of or under any collective bargaining agreement is pending on the date hereof against any Company or, to best of any Company’s knowledge, threatened against any Company which, in either case, would result in a Material Adverse Effect, and (b) no significant strike, labor dispute, slowdown or stoppage is pending against any Company or, to the best of any Company’s knowledge, threatened against any Company which would result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

6.23                         Ground Lease Representation.

 

(a)                                  The applicable Subsidiary Guarantor has delivered to the Administrative Agent true and correct copies of each Acceptable Ground Lease to the extent requested by the Administrative Agent.

 

(b)                                  Each Acceptable Ground Lease is in full force and effect.

 

6.24                         Unencumbered Properties .  To the Borrower’s knowledge and except where the failure of any of the following to be true and correct would not have a Material Adverse Effect:

 

(a)                                  Each Unencumbered Property complies with all Laws, including all subdivision and platting requirements, without reliance on any adjoining or neighboring property.  No Loan Party has received any notice or claim from any Person that an Unencumbered Property, or any use, activity, operation, or maintenance thereof or thereon, is not in compliance with any Law, and has no knowledge of any such noncompliance except as disclosed in writing to the Administrative Agent;

 

(b)                                  The Loan Parties have not directly or indirectly conveyed, assigned, or otherwise disposed of, or transferred (or agreed to do so) any development rights, air rights, or other similar rights, privileges, or attributes with respect to an Unencumbered Property, including those arising under any zoning or property use ordinance or other Laws;

 

(c)                                   All utility services necessary for the use of each Unencumbered Property and the operation thereof for their intended purpose are available at each Unencumbered Property;

 

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(d)                                  The current use of each Unencumbered Property complies in all material respects with all applicable zoning ordinances, regulations, and restrictive covenants affecting such Unencumbered Property, all use restrictions of any Governmental Authority having jurisdiction have been satisfied; and

 

(e)                                   No Unencumbered Property is the subject of any pending or, to any Loan Party’s knowledge, threatened Condemnation or material adverse zoning proceeding for which the Administrative Agent has not been notified in accordance with Section 7.03(f) .

 

6.25                         OFAC .   No Loan Party, nor, to the knowledge of any Loan Party, any Related Party, (i) is currently the subject of any Sanctions, (ii) is located, organized or residing in any Designated Jurisdiction, or (iii) is or has been (within the previous five (5) years) engaged in any transaction with any Person who is now or was then the subject of Sanctions or who is located, organized or residing in any Designated Jurisdiction.  No Loan, nor the proceeds from any Loan, has been used, directly or indirectly, to lend, contribute, provide or has otherwise made available to fund any activity or business in any Designated Jurisdiction or to fund any activity or business of any Person located, organized or residing in any Designated Jurisdiction or who is the subject of any Sanctions, or in any other manner that will result in any violation by any Person (including any Lender, the Lead Arrangers or the Administrative Agent) of Sanctions.  Each Loan Party, their respective officers and, to the knowledge of the Parent and the Borrower, its respective directors, employees and agents and any Related Party, are in compliance with Anti-Corruption Laws and applicable Sanctions in all material respects. No Credit Extension, use of the proceeds of any Credit Extension, or other transactions contemplated hereby will violate Anti-Corruption Laws or applicable Sanctions.  Neither the making of the Credit Extensions hereunder nor the use of the proceeds thereof will violate the Patriot Act, the Trading with the Enemy Act, as amended, or any of the foreign assets control regulations of the United States Treasury Department (31 C.F.R., Subtitle B, Chapter V, as amended) or any enabling legislation or executive order relating thereto or successor statute thereto. Each Loan Party is in compliance in all material respects with the Patriot Act.

 

6.26                         EEA Financial Institutions. No Loan Party is an EEA Financial Institution.

 

Article VII.
Affirmative Covenants

 

So long as any Lender shall have any Commitment hereunder, any Loan or other Obligation hereunder (excluding contingent indemnification obligations to the extent no unsatisfied claim giving rise thereto has been asserted) shall remain unpaid or unsatisfied:

 

7.01                         Financial Statements .  Each of the Parent and the Borrower shall deliver to the Administrative Agent and each Lender, in form and detail reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the Required Lenders:

 

(a)                                  as soon as available, but in any event within one hundred five (105) days after the end of each fiscal year of the Parent (or, if earlier, fifteen (15) days after the date required to be filed with the SEC without giving effect to any extension permitted by the SEC) (commencing with the fiscal year ending December 31, 2018, a consolidated balance sheet of the Parent 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, all in reasonable detail and prepared in accordance with GAAP, such consolidated statements to be audited and accompanied by a report and opinion of an independent certified public accountant of nationally recognized standing reasonably acceptable to the Required Lenders, which report and opinion shall be prepared in

 

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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; and

 

(b)                                  as soon as available, but in any event within sixty (60) days after the end of each of the first three (3) fiscal quarters of each fiscal year of the Parent (or, if earlier, five (5) days after the date required to be filed with the SEC) (commencing with the fiscal quarter ending June 30, 2018), a consolidated balance sheet of the Parent, the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as at the end of such fiscal quarter, the related consolidated statements of income or operations for such fiscal quarter and for the portion of the Parent’s fiscal year then ended, and the related consolidated statements of changes in shareholders’ equity, and cash flows for the portion of the Parent’s fiscal year then ended, in each case setting forth in comparative form, as applicable, the figures for the corresponding fiscal quarter of the previous fiscal year and the corresponding portion of the previous fiscal year, all in reasonable detail, such consolidated statements to be certified by the chief executive officer, chief financial officer, treasurer or controller of the Parent as fairly presenting the financial condition, results of operations, shareholders’ equity and cash flows of the Parent in accordance with GAAP, subject only to normal year-end audit adjustments and the absence of footnotes

 

As to any information contained in materials furnished pursuant to Section 7.02 , the Parent and the Borrower shall not be separately required to furnish such information under clause (a)  or (b)  above, but the foregoing shall not be in derogation of the obligation of the Parent and the Borrower to furnish the information and materials described in clauses (a)  and (b)  above at the times specified therein.

 

7.02                         Certificates; Other Information.

 

Each of the Parent and the Borrower shall deliver to the Administrative Agent and each Lender, in form and detail reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the Required Lenders:

 

(a)                                  concurrently with the delivery of the financial statements referred to in Sections 7.01(a) and (b), a duly completed Compliance Certificate signed by the chief executive officer, chief financial officer, chief accounting officer, treasurer or controller of the Borrower (which delivery may, unless the Administrative Agent or a Lender requests executed originals, be by electronic communication including fax or email and shall be deemed to be an original authentic counterpart thereof for all purposes);

 

(b)                                  promptly after any request by the Administrative Agent, copies of any detailed audit opinions or review reports submitted to the board of directors (or the audit committee of the board of directors) of the Parent by independent accountants in connection with the accounts or books of the Parent;

 

(c)                                   promptly after the same are available, copies of each annual report, proxy or financial statement or other report or communication sent to the stockholders of the Parent, and copies of all annual, regular, periodic and special reports and registration statements which the Borrower may file or be required to file with the SEC under Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and not otherwise required to be delivered to the Administrative Agent pursuant hereto;

 

(d)                                  promptly after the furnishing thereof, copies of any statement or report furnished to any holder of publicly-held debt securities of the Parent or the Borrower pursuant to the terms

 

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of any indenture, loan or credit or similar agreement and not otherwise required to be furnished to the Lenders pursuant to Section 7.01 or any other clause of this Section 7.02;

 

(e)                                   promptly, and in any event within five (5) Business Days after receipt thereof by the Parent or the Borrower, copies of each notice or other correspondence received from the SEC (or comparable agency in any applicable non-U.S. jurisdiction) concerning any material investigation or other material inquiry by such agency regarding financial or other operational results of any Company unless restricted from doing so by such agency; and

 

(f)                                    promptly, such additional information regarding the business, financial or corporate affairs of the Parent or the Borrower or any Unencumbered Property, 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 7.01(a) or (b) or Section 7.02(c) (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 (i) on which the Parent or the Borrower (A) files any such document with the Securities and Exchange Commission’s EDGAR system (or any successor thereto) in a manner accessible to the public at large or (B) posts such documents, or provides a link thereto on the Parent and the Borrower’s website on the Internet at the website address listed on Schedule 11.02; or (ii) on which such documents are posted on the Parent and the Borrower’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). 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 and the Borrower 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.

 

The Parent and the Borrower hereby acknowledge that (a) the Administrative Agent and/or the Lead Arranger s will make available to the Lenders materials and/or information provided by or on behalf of the Parent and the Borrower hereunder (collectively, the “Borrower Materials”) by posting the Borrower Materials on IntraLinks, SyndTrak or another similar electronic system (the “Platform”) and (b) certain of the Lenders (each, a “Public Lender”) may have personnel who do not wish to receive material non-public information with respect to the Parent, the Borrower or their Affiliates, or the respective Equity Interests of any of the foregoing, and who may be engaged in investment and other market-related activities with respect to such Persons’ Equity Interests. The Parent and the Borrower hereby agree that (w) all the Borrower Materials that are to be made available to the Public Lenders shall be clearly and conspicuously marked “PUBLIC” which, at a minimum, shall mean that the word “PUBLIC” shall appear prominently on the first page thereof; (x) by marking the Borrower Materials “PUBLIC,” the Parent and the Borrower shall be deemed to have authorized the Administrative Agent, the Lead Arrangers and the Lenders to treat such Borrower Materials as not containing any material non-public information with respect to the Parent and the Borrower or their Equity Interests for purposes of United States Federal and state securities laws (provided that to the extent such Borrower Materials constitute Information, they shall be treated as set forth in Section 11.07 ); (y) all the Borrower Materials marked “PUBLIC” are permitted to be made available through a portion of the Platform designated “Public Side Information;” and (z) the Administrative Agent and the Lead Arrangers shall be entitled to treat any the Borrower Materials that are not marked “PUBLIC” as being suitable only for posting on a portion of the Platform not designated “Public Side Information.”

 

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7.03                         Notices .  Each of the Parent and the Borrower shall, upon becoming aware of same, promptly notify the Administrative Agent who shall notify each Lender:

 

(a)                                  of the occurrence of any Default;

 

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

 

(c)                                   of the occurrence of any ERISA Event which has resulted or would result in liabilities of any Company in an aggregate amount in excess of the Threshold Amount;

 

(d)                                  of any material litigation, arbitration or governmental investigation or proceeding instituted or threatened in writing against any Unencumbered Property, and any material development therein;

 

(e)                                   of any announcement by Moody’s, Fitch or S&P of any change in a Debt Rating or in its “outlook” with respect to a Debt Rating;

 

(f)                                    of any actual or threatened in writing Condemnation or zoning proceeding of any portion of any Unencumbered Property, any negotiations with respect to any such taking, or any material loss of or substantial damage to any Unencumbered Property, in each case, except to the extent that the same could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;

 

(g)                                   of any Casualty with respect to any Unencumbered Property except to the extent that the same could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;

 

(h)                                  of any material permit, license, certificate or approval required with respect to any Unencumbered Property that lapses or ceases to be in full force and effect or any claim from any person that any Unencumbered Property, or any use, activity, operation or maintenance thereof or thereon, is not in compliance with any Law, in each case, except to the extent that the same could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;

 

(i)                                      of any material change in accounting policies or financial reporting practices by any Company, including any determination by the Borrower referred to in Section 2.10(b); and

 

(j)                                     of any labor controversy pending or threatened against any Company, and any material development in any labor controversy except to the extent that the same could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

Each notice pursuant to this Section 7.03 shall be accompanied by a statement of a Responsible Officer of the Parent and the Borrower setting forth details of the occurrence referred to therein and stating what action the Parent and/or the Borrower has taken and proposes to take with respect thereto.  Each notice pursuant to Section 7.03(a)  shall describe with particularity any and all provisions of this Agreement and any other Loan Document that have been breached.

 

7.04                         Payment of Obligations .  Each of the Parent and the Borrower shall, and shall cause each other Loan Party to, pay and discharge as the same shall become due and payable, all its obligations and liabilities, including: (a) all tax liabilities, assessments and governmental charges or levies upon a Loan Party or its properties or assets, unless the same are being contested in good faith by appropriate

 

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proceedings diligently conducted and adequate reserves in accordance with GAAP are being maintained by such Loan Party; (b) all lawful claims which, if unpaid, would by law become a Lien upon its property other than Liens of the type permitted under Sections 8.01(a)  through (g) ; and (c) all Indebtedness, as and when due and payable except, in each case, where the failure to do so would not result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

7.05                         Preservation of Existence, Etc.   Each of the Parent and the Borrower shall, and shall cause each other Loan Party to (a) preserve, renew and maintain in full force and effect its legal existence and good standing under the Laws of the jurisdiction of its organization except in a transaction permitted by Section  8.04 ; (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 would not have a Material Adverse Effect; and (c) preserve or renew all of its IP Rights, the non-preservation of which would have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

7.06                         Maintenance of Properties .  Each of the Parent and the Borrower shall, and shall cause each other Company to (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 except to the extent the failure to do so would not result in a Material Adverse Effect; (b) make all necessary repairs thereto and renewals and replacements thereof except where the failure to do so would not have a Material Adverse Effect; (c) use the standard of care typical in the industry in the operation and maintenance of its (i) Unencumbered Properties, and, (ii) as to its other Properties except where the failure to do so would not have a Material Adverse Effect; and (d) keep the Unencumbered Properties in good order, repair, operating condition, and appearance, causing all necessary repairs, renewals, replacements, additions, and improvements to be promptly made, and not allow any of the Unencumbered Properties to be misused, abused or wasted or to deteriorate (ordinary wear and tear excepted) except where the failure to do so would not have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

7.07                         Maintenance of Insurance .  Each of the Parent and the Borrower shall, and shall cause each other Company to, maintain with financially sound and reputable insurance companies not Affiliates of any Company, insurance (including flood insurance if available or required) 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.

 

7.08                         Compliance with Laws; Beneficial Ownership Regulations .  Each of the Parent and the Borrower shall, and shall cause each other Subsidiary Guarantor to, (a) comply in all material respects with the requirements of all Laws (including without limitation Anti-Corruption Laws and applicable Sanctions) and all orders, writs, injunctions and decrees applicable to it or to its business or property, except in such instances in which (i) such requirement of Law or order, writ, injunction or decree is being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted; or (ii) the failure to comply therewith would not have a Material Adverse Effect, (b) notify the Administrative Agent and each Lender that previously received a Beneficial Ownership Certification of any change in the information provided in the Beneficial Ownership Certification that would result in a change to the list of beneficial owners identified therein and (c) promptly upon the reasonable request of the Administrative Agent or any Lender, provide the Administrative Agent or such Lender, as the case may be, any information or documentation requested by it for purposes of complying with the Beneficial Ownership Regulation.

 

7.09                         Books and Records .  Each of the Parent and the Borrower shall, and shall cause each other Company to: (a) 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 each Company, as the case may be; and (b) maintain such books of

 

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record and account in material conformity with all applicable requirements of any Governmental Authority having regulatory jurisdiction over any Company, as the case may be.

 

7.10                         Inspection Rights .  Subject to the rights of tenants, each of the Parent and the Borrower shall, and shall cause each other Loan Party to, permit representatives and independent contractors of the Administrative Agent and each Lender, at the expense of the Administrative Agent or such Lender, to visit and inspect and photograph any Unencumbered Property and any of its other properties, to examine its corporate, financial and operating records, and all recorded data of any kind or nature, regardless of the medium of recording including all software, writings, plans, specifications and schematics, and make copies thereof or abstracts therefrom, and to discuss its affairs, finances and accounts with its officers all at the expense of the Borrower and at such reasonable times during normal business hours, upon reasonable advance notice to the applicable Loan Party and no more often than once in any period of twelve (12) consecutive months unless an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing; provided that when an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing 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 Borrower at any time during normal business hours and without advance notice, subject to the rights of tenants.  Any inspection or audit of the Unencumbered Properties or the books and records, including recorded data of any kind or nature, regardless of the medium of recording including software, writings, plans, specifications and schematics of any Loan Party, or the procuring of documents and financial and other information, by the Administrative Agent on behalf of itself or on behalf of the Lenders shall be for the Administrative Agent’s and the Lenders’ protection only, and shall not constitute any assumption of responsibility to any Loan Party or anyone else with regard to the condition, construction, maintenance or operation of the Unencumbered Properties nor the Administrative Agent’s approval of any certification given to the Administrative Agent nor relieve any Loan Party of the Borrower’s or any other Loan Party’s obligations.

 

7.11                         Use of Proceeds .  Each of the Parent and the Borrower shall, and shall cause each other Company to, use the proceeds of the Credit Extensions (a) to finance the acquisition of Properties, (b) to pay operating and leasing expenses with respect to its Properties, and (c) for general corporate purposes, in each case, not in contravention of any Law or of any Loan Document.

 

7.12                         Environmental Matters .  Each of the Parent and the Borrower shall, and shall cause each other Loan Party to:

 

(a)                                  Violations; Notice to the Administrative Agent .  Use reasonable efforts to:

 

(i)                                      Keep the Unencumbered Properties free of Contamination, except to the extent that any failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;

 

(ii)                                   Promptly deliver to the Administrative Agent a copy of each report pertaining to any Property or to any Loan Party prepared by or on behalf of such Loan Party pursuant to a material violation of any Environmental Requirement to the extent that the same could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; and

 

(iii)                                As soon as practicable advise the Administrative Agent in writing of any Environmental Claim or of the discovery of any Contamination on any Unencumbered Property that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, as soon as any Loan Party first obtains knowledge thereof, including a description of the nature and extent of the Environmental Claim and/or Hazardous Material and all relevant circumstances.

 

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(b)                                  Site Assessments and Information .  If the Parent or the Borrower fails to comply with Section 7.12(a)  or if any other Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, then if requested by the Administrative Agent, at the Borrower’s expense, deliver to the Administrative Agent from time to time, but no more frequently than once per calendar year unless an Event of Default exists, in each case within seventy five (75) days after the Administrative Agent’s request, an Environmental Assessment (hereinafter defined) made after the date of the Administrative Agent’s request.  As used in this Agreement, the term “ Environmental Assessment ” means a report of an environmental assessment of any or all Unencumbered Properties and of such scope so as to be compliant with the guidelines established by the ASTM (including the taking of soil borings and air and groundwater samples and other above and below ground testing) as the Administrative Agent may reasonably request to be performed by a licensed environmental consulting firm reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent.  Each applicable Loan Party shall cooperate with each consulting firm making any such Environmental Assessment and shall supply to the consulting firm all information available to such Loan Party to facilitate the completion of the Environmental Assessment.  If any Loan Party fails to furnish the Administrative Agent within thirty (30) days after the Administrative Agent’s request with a copy of an agreement with an acceptable environmental consulting firm to provide such Environmental Assessment, or if any Loan Party fails to furnish to the Administrative Agent such Environmental Assessment within seventy five (75) days after the Administrative Agent’s request, upon written notice to the Parent and the Borrower, the Administrative Agent may cause any such Environmental Assessment to be made at the Borrower’s expense and risk.  Subject to the rights of tenant, the Administrative Agent and its designees are hereby granted access to the Unencumbered Properties upon written notice, and a license which is coupled with an interest and irrevocable, to make or cause to be made such Environmental Assessments.  The Administrative Agent may disclose to any Governmental Authority, to the extent required by Applicable Law, any information the Administrative Agent ever has about the environmental condition or compliance of the Unencumbered Properties, but shall be under no duty to disclose any such information except as may be required by Law.  The Administrative Agent shall be under no duty to make any Environmental Assessment of the Unencumbered Properties, and in no event shall any such Environmental Assessment by the Administrative Agent be or give rise to a representation that any Hazardous Material is or is not present on the Unencumbered Properties, or that there has been or shall be compliance with any Environmental Requirement, nor shall any Company or any other Person be entitled to rely on any Environmental Assessment made by the Administrative Agent or at the Administrative Agent’s request but the Administrative Agent shall deliver a copy of such report to the Parent and the Borrower.  Neither the Administrative Agent nor any Lender owes any duty of care to protect any Company or any other Person against, or to inform them of, any Hazardous Material or other adverse condition affecting the Unencumbered Properties.

 

(c)                                   Remedial Actions .  If any Contamination which could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect is discovered on any Unencumbered Property at any time and regardless of the cause, (i) promptly at the applicable Loan Parties’ sole expense, remove, treat, and dispose of the Hazardous Material in compliance with all applicable Environmental Requirements in addition to taking such other action as is necessary to have the full use and benefit of such Unencumbered Property as contemplated by the Loan Documents, and provide the Administrative Agent with satisfactory evidence thereof; and (ii) if reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent, provide to the Administrative Agent within thirty (30) days of the Administrative Agent’s request a bond, letter of credit, or other financial assurance, including self-assurance, evidencing to the Administrative Agent’s satisfaction that all necessary funds are readily available to pay the costs and expenses of the actions required by the preceding clause (i) and to discharge any assessments or liens established against such Unencumbered Property as a

 

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result of the presence of the Hazardous Material on the Unencumbered Property. After completion of such remedial actions, the applicable Loan Party shall promptly request regulatory approval, take all reasonable measures to expedite issuance of such approval and upon receipt thereof deliver to the Administrative Agent a letter indicating that no further action is required with respect to the applicable Unencumbered Property or similar confirmation by the applicable regulator that all required remedial action as stated above has been taken and successfully completed to the satisfaction of the applicable regulator.  The Loan Parties shall not be deemed to have satisfied their remedial obligations under this provision until they have provided the Administrative Agent such confirmation.

 

7.13                         Ground Leases Solely with respect to Unencumbered Property, each of the Parent and the Borrower shall, and shall cause each other Loan Party to:

 

(a)                                  Diligently perform and observe in all material respects all of the terms, covenants, and conditions of any Acceptable Ground Lease as tenant under such Acceptable Ground Lease; and

 

(b)                                  Promptly notify the Administrative Agent of (i) the giving to the applicable Subsidiary Guarantor of any notice of any default by such Subsidiary Guarantor under any Acceptable Ground Lease and deliver to the Administrative Agent a true copy of each such notice within five (5) Business Days of such Subsidiary Guarantor’s receipt thereof, and (ii) any bankruptcy, reorganization, or insolvency of the landlord under any Acceptable Ground Lease or of any notice thereof, and deliver to the Administrative Agent a true copy of such notice within five (5) Business Days of the applicable Subsidiary Guarantor’s receipt.

 

(c)                                   Exercise any individual option to extend or renew the term of an Acceptable Ground Lease upon demand by the Administrative Agent made at any time within thirty (30) days prior to the last day upon which any such option may be exercised, and each applicable Subsidiary Guarantor hereby expressly authorizes and appoints the Administrative Agent as its attorney-in-fact to exercise any such option in the name of and upon behalf of such Subsidiary Guarantor, which power of attorney shall be irrevocable and shall be deemed to be coupled with an interest.

 

If the applicable Subsidiary Guarantor shall default in the performance or observance of any term, covenant, or condition of any Acceptable Ground Lease on the part of such Subsidiary Guarantor and shall fail to cure the same prior to the expiration of any applicable cure period provided thereunder, then the Administrative Agent shall have the right, but shall be under no obligation, to pay any sums and to perform any act or take any action as may be appropriate to cause all of the terms, covenants, and conditions of such Acceptable Ground Lease on the part of such Subsidiary Guarantor to be performed or observed on behalf of such Subsidiary Guarantor, to the end that the rights of such Subsidiary Guarantor in, to, and under such Acceptable Ground Lease shall be kept unimpaired and free from default.  If the landlord under any Acceptable Ground Lease shall deliver to the Administrative Agent a copy of any notice of default under such Acceptable Ground Lease, then such notice shall constitute full protection to the Administrative Agent for any action taken or omitted to be taken by the Administrative Agent, in good faith, in reliance thereon.

 

7.14                         Unencumbered Properties.

 

(a)                                  Except where the failure to comply with any of the following would not have a Material Adverse Effect, each of the Parent and the Borrower shall, and shall use commercially reasonable efforts to cause each other Loan Party or the applicable tenant, to:

 

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(i)                                      Pay all real estate and personal property taxes, assessments, water rates or sewer rents, ground rents, maintenance charges, impositions, and any other charges, including vault charges and license fees for the use of vaults, chutes and similar areas adjoining any Unencumbered Property, now or hereafter levied or assessed or imposed against any Unencumbered Property or any part thereof (except those which are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted);

 

(ii)                                   Promptly pay (or cause to be paid) when due all bills and costs for labor, materials, and specifically fabricated materials incurred in connection with any Unencumbered Property (except those which are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted), and in any event never permit to be created or exist in respect of any Unencumbered Property or any part thereof any other or additional Lien or security interest other than Liens permitted by Section 8.01 ; and

 

(iii)                                Operate the Unencumbered Properties in a good and workmanlike manner and in all material respects in accordance with all Laws in accordance with such Loan Party’s prudent business judgment.

 

(b)                                  Except where the failure would not have a material and adverse effect on the value of the Unencumbered Properties, taken as whole, each of the Parent and the Borrower shall, and shall cause each other Loan Party to, to the extent owned and controlled by a Loan Party, preserve, protect, renew, extend and retain all material rights and privileges granted for or applicable to each Unencumbered Property.

 

Article VIII.
Negative Covenants

 

So long as any Lender shall have any Commitment hereunder, any Loan or other Obligation hereunder (excluding contingent indemnification obligations to the extent no unsatisfied claim giving rise thereto has been asserted) shall remain unpaid or unsatisfied:

 

8.01                         Liens .  Each of the Parent and the Borrower shall not, nor shall it permit any other Loan Party to, directly or indirectly, create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Lien upon any Unencumbered Property, other than the following:

 

(a)                                  Liens pursuant to any Loan Document;

 

(b)                                  Liens existing on the date hereof and listed on Schedule 8.01 ;

 

(c)                                   Liens for taxes not yet due and payable 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;

 

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(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)                                    easements, rights-of-way, restrictions, restrictive covenants, encroachments, protrusions and other similar encumbrances affecting real property which, in the aggregate, are not substantial in amount, and which do not in any case materially detract from the value of the property subject thereto or materially interfere with the ordinary conduct of the business of the applicable Person;

 

(g)                                   Liens securing judgments for the payment of money not constituting an Event of Default under Section 9.01(i) ;

 

(h)                                  the rights of tenants under leases or subleases not interfering with the ordinary conduct of business of such Person;

 

(i)                                      Liens securing obligations in the nature of personal property financing leases for furniture, furnishings or similar assets, Capital Leases Obligations and other purchase money obligations for fixed or capital assets; provided that (i) such Liens do not at any time encumber any property other than the property financed by such Indebtedness, (ii) the obligations secured thereby does not exceed the cost or fair market value, whichever is lower, of the property being acquired on the date of acquisition, and (iii) with respect to Capital Leases, such Liens do not at any time extend to or cover any assets other than the assets subject to such Capital Leases;

 

(j)                                     Liens securing obligations in the nature of the performance of bids, trade contracts and leases (other than Indebtedness), statutory obligations, surety bonds (other than bonds related to judgments or litigation), performance bonds and other obligations of a like nature incurred in the ordinary course of business;

 

(k)                                  all Liens, encumbrances and other matters disclosed in any owner’s title insurance policies or other title reports and updated thereof accepted by the Administrative Agent; and

 

(l)                                      such other title and survey exceptions as the Administrative Agent has approved in writing in the Administrative Agent’s reasonable discretion.

 

8.02                         Indebtedness .  Each of the Parent and the Borrower shall not, nor shall it permit any other Loan Party to, 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 8.02 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;

 

(c)                                   Guarantees of (i) the Borrower or the Parent in respect of Indebtedness otherwise permitted hereunder of the Borrower or any other Guarantor, (ii) the Parent or the Borrower, in respect of Indebtedness otherwise permitted hereunder of any Non-Guarantor Subsidiary if, in the

 

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case of any Guarantee pursuant to this clause (ii), (x) no Default shall exist immediately before or immediately after the making of such Guarantee, and (y) there exists no violation of the financial covenants set forth in Section 8.14 hereunder on a pro forma basis after the making of such Guarantee, and (iii) Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries made in the ordinary course of business;

 

(d)                                  obligations (contingent or otherwise) of the Borrower or any Subsidiary existing or arising under any Swap Contract, provided that such obligations are (or were) entered into by such Person in the ordinary course of business for the purpose of directly mitigating risks associated with liabilities, commitments, investments, assets, or property held or reasonably anticipated by such Person, or changes in the value of securities issued by such Person, and not for purposes of speculation or taking a “market view”;

 

(e)                                   Indebtedness in respect of Capital Leases and purchase money obligations for fixed or capital assets within the limitations set forth in Section 8.01(i) , and unsecured Indebtedness in the form of trade payables incurred in the ordinary course of business; and

 

(f)                                    Indebtedness of the Borrower or the Parent incurred or assumed after the date hereof that is either unsecured or is secured by Liens on assets of the Parent or the Borrower (other than any Unencumbered Property or the Equity Interests in any Loan Party); provided, such Indebtedness shall be permitted under this Section 8.02(f)  only if: (i) no Default shall exist immediately before or immediately after the incurrence or assumption of such Indebtedness, and (ii) there exists no violation of the financial covenants set forth in Section 8.14 hereunder on a pro forma basis after the incurrence or assumption of such Indebtedness.

 

8.03                         Investments .  Neither the Parent nor the Borrower shall have and shall not permit the Companies’ to have any Investments other than:

 

(a)                                  Investments in the form of cash or Cash Equivalents;

 

(b)                                  Investments existing on the date hereof and set forth on Schedule 6.13 ;

 

(c)                                   advances to officers, directors and employees of the Borrower and Subsidiaries for travel, entertainment, relocation and analogous ordinary business purposes;

 

(d)                                  Investments of the Guarantor and the Borrower in the form of Equity Interests and investments of the Borrower in any wholly-owned Subsidiary, and Investments of the Borrower directly in, or of any wholly-owned Subsidiary in another wholly-owned Subsidiary which owns, real property assets which are functional industrial, manufacturing, warehouse/distribution and/or office properties located within the United States, provided in each case the Investments held by the Borrower or Subsidiary are in accordance with the provisions of this Section 8.03 other than this Section 8.03(d) ;

 

(e)                                   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;

 

(f)                                    Investments in non-wholly owned Subsidiaries and Unconsolidated Affiliates;

 

(g)                                   Investments in mortgages and mezzanine loans;

 

(h)                                  Investments in unimproved land holdings and Construction in Progress;

 

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(i)                                      Investments by the Parent for the redemption, conversion, exchange, retirement, sinking fund or similar payment, purchase or other acquisition for value, direct or indirect, of any Equity Interests of the Parent or the Borrower now or hereafter outstanding to the extent permitted under Section 8.06 below; and

 

(j)                                     Other Investments not to exceed at any time ten percent (10%) of Total Asset Value.

 

8.04                         Fundamental Changes .  Each of the Parent and the Borrower shall not, nor shall it permit any other Loan Party to, directly or indirectly, merge, dissolve, liquidate, consolidate with or into another Person, or Dispose of (whether in one transaction or in a series of transactions) all or substantially all of its assets (whether now owned or hereafter acquired) to or in favor of any Person, except that, so long as no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or would result therefrom:

 

(a)                                  any Loan Party (other than the Parent or the Borrower) may merge with (i) the Parent or the Borrower, provided that the Parent or the Borrower, as applicable, shall be the continuing or surviving Person, or (ii) any other Loan Party, or (iii) any other Person, provided that if it owns an Unencumbered Property and is not the surviving entity, then such Property shall cease to be an Unencumbered Property;

 

(b)                                  any Loan Party (other than the Parent or the Borrower) may Dispose of all or substantially all of its assets (upon voluntary liquidation or otherwise) to another Loan Party;

 

(c)                                   any Loan Party may Dispose of a Property owned by such Loan Party in the ordinary course of business and for fair value; and

 

(d)                                  the Parent or the Borrower may merge or consolidate with another Person so long as either the Parent or the Borrower, as the case may be, is the surviving entity, shall remain in pro forma compliance with the covenants set forth in Section 8.14 below after giving effect to such transaction, and the Borrower shall have given the Administrative Agent at least fifteen (15) Business Days’ prior written notice of such merger or consolidation, such notice to include a certification as to the pro forma compliance referenced above, with the Borrower agreeing to provide such other financial information as the Administrative Agent shall reasonably request in order to verify such pro forma compliance.

 

Nothing in this Section shall be deemed to prohibit the sale or leasing of Property or portions of Property in the ordinary course of business.

 

8.05                         Dispositions .  Each of the Parent, the Borrower or any Loan Party shall not make any Disposition or enter into any agreement to make any Disposition, except:

 

(a)                                  Dispositions of obsolete or worn out property, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, in the ordinary course of business;

 

(b)                                  Dispositions of inventory in the ordinary course of business;

 

(c)                                   Any other Dispositions of Properties or other assets in an arm’s length transaction; provided that the Borrower and the Parent will remain in pro forma compliance with the covenants set forth in Section 8.14 after giving effect to such transaction.

 

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8.06                         Restricted Payments .  Each of the Parent and the Borrower shall not, nor shall it permit any other Company to, directly or indirectly, declare or make, directly or indirectly, any Restricted Payment other than (a) Minimum Distributions, (b) Restricted Payments made by any Company to the Borrower or the Parent, or (c)  provided no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing at the time of such payment or would result therefrom, other Restricted Payments.

 

8.07                         Change in Nature of Business .  Except for Investments permitted under Section 8.03 , each of the Parent and the Borrower shall not, nor shall it permit any other Loan Party to, directly or indirectly, engage in any material line of business substantially different from those lines of business conducted by the Companies on the date hereof or any business substantially related or incidental thereto.

 

8.08                         Transactions with Affiliates .  Each of the Parent and the Borrower shall not, nor shall it permit any other Loan Party to, directly or indirectly, enter into any transaction of any kind with any Affiliate of a Company, whether or not in the ordinary course of business, other than on fair and reasonable terms substantially as favorable to such Loan Party as would be obtainable by such Company at the time in a comparable arm’s length transaction with a Person other than an Affiliate.

 

8.09                         Burdensome Agreements .  Each of the Parent and the Borrower shall not, nor shall it permit any other Loan Party to, directly or indirectly enter into any Contractual Obligation (other than this Agreement or any other Loan Document) that directly or indirectly prohibits any Company from (a) creating or incurring any Lien on any Unencumbered Property unless simultaneously therewith such Unencumbered Property ceases to be an Unencumbered Property, other than restrictions or conditions set forth in the Note Purchase Agreements, the Credit Agreements and, to the extent such restrictions or conditions are customary for such Indebtedness, any other agreements governing Indebtedness permitted under Section 8.02 , in each case, which restrictions are no more restrictive, taken as a whole than the comparable restrictions and conditions set forth in this Agreement as determined in the good faith judgment of the Borrower, (b) other than restrictions or conditions set forth in the Note Purchase Agreements, the Credit Agreements and, to the extent such restrictions or conditions are customary for such Indebtedness, any other agreements governing Indebtedness permitted under Section 8.02 , in each case, which restrictions are no more restrictive, taken as a whole than the comparable restrictions and conditions set forth in this Agreement as determined in the good faith judgment of the Borrower, limiting the ability (i) of any Subsidiary to make Restricted Payments to the Borrower or any Guarantor or to otherwise transfer property to the Borrower or any Guarantor, (ii) of any Subsidiary to Guarantee the Indebtedness of the Borrower or (iii) of the Borrower or any Subsidiary to create, incur, assume or suffer to exist Liens on property of such Person; provided, however, that this clause (iii) shall not prohibit any negative pledge incurred or provided in favor of any holder of Indebtedness permitted under Section 8.0 3(e)  solely to the extent any such negative pledge relates to the property financed by or the subject of such Indebtedness; or (c) requiring the grant of a Lien to secure an obligation of such Person if a Lien is granted to secure another obligation of such Person.

 

8.10                         Use of Proceeds .  Each of the Parent and the Borrower shall not, nor shall it permit any other Company to, directly or indirectly, use the proceeds of any Credit Extension, whether directly or indirectly, and whether immediately, incidentally or ultimately, to purchase or carry margin stock (within the meaning of Regulation U of the FRB) or to extend credit to others for the purpose of purchasing or carrying margin stock or to refund indebtedness originally incurred for such purpose.  The Borrower shall not request any Credit Extension, shall not use, and shall ensure that its Subsidiaries and its or their respective directors, officers, employees and agents do not use the proceeds of any Credit Extension (i) in furtherance of an offer, payment, promise to pay, or authorization of the payment or giving of money, or anything else of value, to any Person in violation of any Anti-Corruption Laws or (ii) in any manner that would result in the violation of any applicable Sanctions.

 

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8.11                         Unencumbered Properties; Ground Leases .  Each of the Parent and the Borrower shall not, nor shall it permit any other Loan Party to, directly or indirectly:

 

(a)                                  Use or occupy or conduct any activity on, or knowingly permit the use or occupancy of or the conduct of any activity on any Unencumbered Properties by any tenant, in any manner which violates any Law or which constitutes a public or private nuisance in any manner which would have a Material Adverse Effect or which makes void, voidable, or cancelable any insurance then in force with respect thereto or makes the maintenance of insurance in accordance with Section 7.07 commercially unreasonable (including by way of increased premium);

 

(b)                                  [Reserved];

 

(c)                                   Without the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed), (i) impose any material easement, restrictive covenant, or encumbrance upon any Unencumbered Property, (ii) execute or file any subdivision plat or condominium declaration affecting any Unencumbered Property, or (iii) consent to the annexation of any Unencumbered Property to any municipality;

 

(d)                                        Do any act, or suffer to be done any act by any Company or any of its Affiliates, which would reasonably be expected to materially decrease the value of any Unencumbered Property (including by way of negligent act);

 

(e)                                         [Reserved];

 

(f)                                          Allow there to be fewer than twenty-five (25) Unencumbered Properties as of any date of determination;

 

(g)                                         Allow the Total Asset Value of the Unencumbered Properties to be less than One Hundred Fifty Million Dollars ($150,000,000.00);

 

(h)                                        Without the prior consent of the Lenders (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed), surrender the leasehold estate created by any Acceptable Ground Lease or terminate or cancel any Acceptable Ground Lease or materially modify, change, supplement, alter, or amend any Acceptable Ground Lease, either orally or in writing, in each case, to the extent such event would reasonably be expected to be materially adverse to the interests of the Lenders; and

 

(i)                                            Enter into any Contractual Obligations related to any Unencumbered Property providing for the payment a management fee (or any other similar fee) to anyone other than a Company if, with respect thereto, the Administrative Agent has reasonably required that such fee be subordinated to the Obligations in a manner satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, and an acceptable subordination agreement has not yet been obtained.

 

8.12                         Environmental Matters .  Each of the Parent and the Borrower shall not knowingly directly or indirectly:

 

(a)                                  Cause, commit, permit, or allow to continue (i) any violation of any Environmental Requirement by or with respect to any Unencumbered Property or

 

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any use of or condition or activity on any Unencumbered Property, or (ii) the attachment of any environmental Liens on any Unencumbered Property, in each case, that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;

 

(b)                                  Place, install, dispose of, or release, or cause, permit, or allow the placing, installation, disposal, spilling, leaking, dumping, or release of, any Hazardous Material on any Unencumbered Property in any manner that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; and

 

(c)                                   Use any Hazardous Material on any Unencumbered Property except in such a manner which could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

8.13                         Negative Pledge; Indebtedness .  Each of the Parent and the Borrower shall not permit:

 

(a)                                  The Equity Interests of the Borrower held by the Parent to be subject to any Lien.

 

(b)                                  Any Person (other than the Parent or the Borrower) that directly or indirectly owns Equity Interests in any Subsidiary Guarantor to (i) incur any Indebtedness (whether Recourse Indebtedness or Non-Recourse Indebtedness) (other than Indebtedness listed on Schedule 8.13 and Additional Permitted Indebtedness), (ii) provide Guarantees to support Indebtedness (other than Indebtedness listed on Schedule 8.13 and Additional Permitted Indebtedness), or (iii) have its Equity Interests subject to any Lien or other encumbrance (other than in favor of the Administrative Agent).

 

(c)                                   Any Subsidiary Guarantor that owns an Unencumbered Property to (i) incur any Indebtedness (whether Recourse Indebtedness or Non-Recourse Indebtedness) (other than the Obligations, Indebtedness listed on Schedule 8.13 and Additional Permitted Indebtedness) or (ii) provide Guarantees to support Indebtedness (other than the Obligations, Indebtedness listed on Schedule 8.13 and Additional Permitted Indebtedness).

 

8.14                         Financial Covenants .  The Parent shall not, directly or indirectly, permit:

 

(a)                                  Maximum Consolidated Leverage Ratio . As of the last day of any fiscal quarter, the Consolidated Leverage Ratio to exceed sixty percent (60%); provided that, if any Material Acquisition shall occur and the Consolidated Leverage Ratio shall have been less than sixty percent (60%) for at least one full fiscal quarter immediately preceding the proposed Consolidated Leverage Ratio Covenant Holiday, then, at the election of the Borrower upon delivery of prior written notice to the Administrative Agent, concurrently with or prior to the delivery of a Compliance Certificate pursuant to Section 7.02(a) , and provided that no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, the maximum Consolidated Leverage Ratio covenant level shall be increased to sixty-five (65%) for the fiscal quarter in which such Material Acquisition is consummated and the three (3) fiscal quarters immediately following the fiscal quarter in which such Material Acquisition is consummated (any such increase a “ Consolidated Leverage Ratio Covenant Holiday ”); provided further that not more than two (2) Consolidated Leverage Ratio Covenant Holidays may be elected by the Borrower during the term of this Agreement;

 

(b)                                  Maximum Secured Leverage Ratio . As of the last day of any fiscal quarter, the Secured Leverage Ratio to exceed forty percent (40%);

 

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(c)                                   Maximum Unencumbered Leverage Ratio .  As of the last day of any fiscal quarter, the Unencumbered Leverage Ratio to exceed sixty percent (60%); provided that, if any Material Acquisition shall occur and the Unencumbered Leverage Ratio shall have been less than sixty percent (60%) for at least one full fiscal quarter immediately preceding the proposed Unencumbered Leverage Ratio Covenant Holiday, then, at the election of the Borrower upon delivery of prior written notice to the Administrative Agent, concurrently with or prior to the delivery of a Compliance Certificate pursuant to Section 7.02(a) , and provided that no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, the maximum Unencumbered Leverage Ratio covenant level shall be increased to sixty-five (65%) for the fiscal quarter in which such Material Acquisition is consummated and the three (3) fiscal quarters immediately following the fiscal quarter in which such Material Acquisition is consummated (any such increase an “ Unencumbered Leverage Ratio Covenant Holiday ”); provided further that not more than two (2) Unencumbered Leverage Ratio Covenant Holidays may be elected by the Borrower during the term of this Agreement;

 

(d)                                  [Reserved] ;

 

(e)                                   Minimum Fixed Charge Ratio .  As of the last day of any fiscal quarter, the Fixed Charge Ratio for the Parent, on a consolidated basis, for the fiscal quarter then ended, annualized, to be less than or equal to 1.5 to 1.0; and

 

(f)                                    Minimum Unsecured Interest Coverage Ratio . As of the last day of any fiscal quarter, the Unsecured Interest Coverage Ratio for the Parent, on a consolidated basis, for the fiscal quarter then ended, annualized, to be less than or equal to 1.75 to 1.00.

 

Article IX.
Events of Default and Remedies

 

9.01                         Events of Default .  Any of the following shall constitute an Event of Default:

 

(a)                                  Non-Payment .  The Borrower or any other Loan Party fails to pay (i) when and as required to be paid herein, any amount of principal of any Loan, or (ii) within five (5) days after the same becomes due, any interest on any Loan due hereunder, except that there shall be no grace period for interest due on any applicable Maturity Date, or (iii) within ten (10) days after notice from the Administrative Agent, any other amount payable to the Administrative Agent or any Lender hereunder or under any other Loan Document except that there shall be no grace period for any amount due on any Maturity Date; or

 

(b)                                  Specific Covenants .  Any Loan Party fails to perform or observe any term, covenant or agreement contained in any of Section 7.11 or Article VIII (other than Section s 8.11 (a) and (c), or 8.13 ) or the Parent fails to perform or observe any term, covenant or agreement contained in the Parent Guaranty or any Subsidiary Guarantor fails to perform or observe any term, covenant or agreement contained in the Subsidiary Guaranty; or

 

(c)                                   Performance .  Any Loan Party fails to perform or observe any term, covenant or agreement contained in any of Section 7.01 , 7.02 , or 7.03 , and such failure continues unremedied for ten (10) Business Days after such failure has occurred; or

 

(d)                                  Other Defaults .  Any Loan Party fails to perform or observe any other covenant or agreement (not specified in subsection (a) , (b) , or (c)  above) contained in any Loan Document on its part to be performed or observed and such failure continues unremedied for thirty (30) days

 

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after the earlier of notice from the Administrative Agent or the actual knowledge of the Loan Party, and in the case of a default that cannot be cured within such thirty (30) day period despite the Borrower’s diligent efforts but is susceptible of being cured within ninety (90) days of the Borrower’s receipt of the Administrative Agent’s original notice, then the Borrower shall have such additional time as is reasonably necessary to effect such cure, but in no event in excess of ninety (90) days from the Borrower’s receipt of the Administrative Agent’s original notice, subject in each instance to the Borrower’s remedial rights under Section 7.12(c) ; or

 

(e)                                   Representations and Warranties .  Any representation, warranty, certification or statement of fact made or deemed made by or on behalf of the Borrower or any other Loan Party herein, in any other Loan Document, or in any document delivered in connection herewith or therewith shall be incorrect or misleading when made or deemed made and shall not be cured or remedied so that such representation, warranty, certification or statement of fact is no longer incorrect or misleading within ten (10) days after the earlier of notice from the Administrative Agent or the actual knowledge of any Loan Party thereof; or

 

(f)                                    Cross-Default .  (i) Any Company (A) fails to make any payment when due (whether by scheduled maturity, required prepayment, acceleration, demand, or otherwise), after the expiration of any applicable grace periods, in respect of any Indebtedness or Guarantee (other than (x) Indebtedness hereunder, and (y) Indebtedness under Swap Contracts) having an aggregate principal amount (including amounts owing to all creditors under any combined or syndicated credit arrangement) of more than the Threshold Amount, or (B) fails to observe or perform any other agreement or condition relating to any such Indebtedness or Guarantee or contained in any instrument or agreement evidencing, securing or relating thereto, or any other event occurs, the effect of which default or other event is to cause, or to permit the holder or holders of such Indebtedness or the beneficiary or beneficiaries of such Guarantee (or a trustee or agent on behalf of such holder or holders or beneficiary or beneficiaries) to cause, with the giving of notice if required, such Indebtedness or more than the Threshold Amount to be demanded or to become due or to be repurchased, prepaid, defeased or redeemed (automatically or otherwise), or an offer to repurchase, prepay, defease or redeem such Indebtedness to be made, prior to its stated maturity, or such Guarantee to become payable or cash collateral in respect thereof to be demanded; or (ii) there occurs under any Swap Contract an Early Termination Date (as defined in such Swap Contract) resulting from (A) any event of default under such Swap Contract as to which any Company is the Defaulting Party (as defined in such Swap Contract) or (B) any Termination Event (as so defined) under such Swap Contract as to which any Company is an Affected Party (as so defined) and, in either event, the Swap Termination Value owed by such Company as a result thereof is greater than the Threshold Amount; or

 

(g)                                   Insolvency Proceedings, Etc.   Any Loan Party institutes or consents to the institution of any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law, or makes an assignment for the benefit of creditors; or applies for or consents to the appointment of any receiver, trustee, custodian, conservator, liquidator, rehabilitator or similar officer for it or for all or any material part of its property; or any receiver, trustee, custodian, conservator, liquidator, rehabilitator or similar officer is appointed without the application or consent of such Person and the appointment continues undischarged or unstayed for sixty (60) calendar days; or any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law relating to any such Person or to all or any material part of its property is instituted without the consent of such Person and continues undismissed or unstayed for sixty (60) calendar days, or an order for relief is entered in any such proceeding; or

 

(h)                                  Inability to Pay Debts; Attachment .  (i) the Parent or the Borrower becomes unable to pay its debts as they become due, or any Loan Party admits in writing its inability or

 

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fails generally to pay its debts as they become due, or (ii) any writ or warrant of attachment or execution or similar process is issued or levied against all or any material part of the property of any such Loan Party and is not released, vacated or fully bonded within thirty (30) days after its issue or levy; or

 

(i)                                      Judgments .  There is entered against any Loan Party (i) one or more final judgments or orders for the payment of money in an aggregate amount (as to all such judgments or orders) exceeding the Threshold Amount (to the extent not covered by independent third-party insurance as to which the insurer does not dispute coverage), or (ii) any one or more non-monetary final judgments that have, or would have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect and, in either case, (A) enforcement proceedings are commenced by any creditor upon such judgment or order, or (B) there is a period of ten (10) consecutive days during which a stay of enforcement of such judgment, by reason of a pending appeal or otherwise, is not in effect; or

 

(j)                                     ERISA .  (i) An ERISA Event occurs with respect to a Pension Plan or Multiemployer Plan which has resulted or would result in liability of any Company under Title IV of ERISA to the Pension Plan, Multiemployer Plan or the PBGC in an aggregate amount in excess of the Threshold Amount, or (ii) the Parent or any ERISA Affiliate fails to pay when due, after the expiration of any applicable grace period, any installment payment with respect to its withdrawal liability under Section 4201 of ERISA under a Multiemployer Plan in an aggregate amount in excess of the Threshold Amount; or

 

(k)                                  Invalidity of Loan Documents .  Any Loan Document at any time after its execution and delivery and for any reason other than as expressly permitted hereunder or thereunder or satisfaction in full of all the Obligations, ceases to be in full force and effect in all material respects; or any Loan Party or any other Person contests in any manner the validity or enforceability of any Loan Document; or any Loan Party denies that it has any or further liability or obligation under any Loan Document, or purports to revoke, terminate or rescind any Loan Document, except as expressly permitted hereunder; or

 

(l)                                      REIT Status of the Parent .  The Parent ceases to be treated as a REIT or the Parent Shares shall fail to be listed and traded on the New York Stock Exchange; or

 

(m)                              Change of Control .  There occurs any Change of Control.

 

9.02                         Remedies Upon Event of Default .  If any Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Administrative Agent shall, at the request of, or may, with the consent of, the Required Lenders, take any or all of the following actions:

 

(a)                                  declare the commitment of each Lender to make Loans to be terminated, whereupon such commitments and obligation shall be terminated;

 

(b)                                  declare the unpaid principal amount of all outstanding Loans, all interest accrued and unpaid thereon, and all other amounts owing or payable hereunder or under any other Loan Document to be immediately due and payable without presentment, demand, protest or other notice of any kind, all of which are hereby expressly waived by the Borrower; and

 

(c)                                   exercise on behalf of itself and the Lenders all rights and remedies available to it and the Lenders under the Loan Documents;

 

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provided that upon the occurrence of an actual or deemed entry of an order for relief with respect to the Borrower under the Bankruptcy Code of the United States, the obligation of each Lender to make Loans shall automatically terminate, the unpaid principal amount of all outstanding Loans and all interest and other amounts as aforesaid shall automatically become due and payable, in each case without further act of the Administrative Agent or any Lender.

 

9.03                         Application of Funds .  After the exercise of remedies provided for in Section 9.02 (or after the Loans have automatically become immediately due and payable), any amounts received on account of the Obligations shall, subject to the provisions of Section 2.16 , be applied by the Administrative Agent in the following order:

 

First , to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting fees, indemnities, expenses and other amounts (including fees, charges and disbursements of counsel to the Administrative Agent and amounts payable under Article III ) payable to the Administrative Agent in its capacity as such;

 

Second , to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting fees, indemnities and other amounts (other than principal and interest) payable to the Lenders (including fees, charges and disbursements of counsel to the respective Lenders and amounts payable under Article III ), ratably among them in proportion to the respective amounts described in this clause   Second payable to them;

 

Third , to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting accrued and unpaid interest on the Loans, and other Obligations, ratably among the Lenders, in proportion to the respective amounts described in this clause   Third payable to them;

 

Fourth , to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting (x) unpaid principal of the Loans and (y) payment obligations then owing to the Administrative Agent, any Lender, or any Affiliate of the Administrative Agent or any Lender (“ Specified Derivatives Providers ”) arising from, by virtue of, or pursuant to any Swap Contract, other than any Excluded Swap Obligation, that relates solely to the Obligations, ratably among the Lenders and the Specified Derivatives Providers in proportion to the respective amounts described in this clause Fourth payable to them; and

 

Last , the balance, if any, after all of the Obligations have been paid in full, to the Borrower or as otherwise required by Law.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, Obligations owing to Specified Derivatives Providers shall be excluded from the application described above if the Administrative Agent has not received written notice thereof, together with such supporting documentation as the Administrative Agent may request, from the applicable Specified Derivatives Provider.  Each Specified Derivatives Provider not a party to this Agreement that has given the notice contemplated by the preceding sentence shall, by such notice, be deemed to have acknowledged and accepted the appointment of the Administrative Agent pursuant to the terms of Article X for itself and its Affiliates as if a “Lender” party hereto.

 

Article X.
The Administrative Agent

 

10.01                  Appointment and Authority .  Each of the Lenders hereby irrevocably appoints Wells Fargo to act on its behalf as the Administrative Agent hereunder and under the other Loan Documents and authorizes the Administrative Agent to take such actions on its behalf and to exercise such powers as are delegated to the Administrative Agent by the terms hereof or thereof, together with such actions and powers as are reasonably incidental thereto.  The provisions of this Article are solely for the benefit of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders, neither the Borrower nor any other Loan Party shall have rights as

 

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a third party beneficiary of any of such provisions.  It is understood and agreed that the use of the term “agent” (or any other similar term ) herein or in any other Loan Documents with reference to the Administrative Agent is not intended to connote any fiduciary or other implied (or express) obligations arising under agency doctrine of any applicable Law. Instead such term is used as a matter of market custom, and is intended to create or reflect only an administrative relationship between contracting parties.

 

10.02                  Rights as a Lender .  The Person serving as the Administrative Agent hereunder shall have the same rights and powers in its capacity as a Lender as any other Lender and may exercise the same as though it were not the Administrative Agent and the term “Lender” or “Lenders” shall, unless otherwise expressly indicated or unless the context otherwise requires, include the Person serving as the Administrative Agent hereunder in its individual capacity.  Such Person and its Affiliates may accept deposits from, lend money to, own securities of, act as the financial advisor or in any other advisory capacity for and generally engage in any kind of business with the Borrower or any Subsidiary or other Affiliate thereof as if such Person were not the Administrative Agent hereunder and without any duty to account therefor to the Lenders.

 

10.03                  Exculpatory Provisions .  The Administrative Agent shall not have any duties or obligations except those expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents, and its duties hereunder shall be administrative in nature.  Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Administrative Agent:

 

(a)                                  shall not be subject to any fiduciary or other implied duties, regardless of whether a Default has occurred and is continuing;

 

(b)                                  shall not have any duty to take any discretionary action or exercise any discretionary powers, except discretionary rights and powers expressly contemplated hereby or by the other Loan Documents that the Administrative Agent is required to exercise as directed in writing by the Required Lenders (or such other number or percentage of the Lenders as shall be expressly provided for herein or in the other Loan Documents), provided that the Administrative Agent shall not be required to take any action that, in its opinion or the opinion of its counsel, may expose the Administrative Agent to liability or that is contrary to any Loan Document or applicable law, including for the avoidance of doubt any action that may be in violation of the automatic stay under any Debtor Relief Law or that may effect a forfeiture, modification or termination of property of a Defaulting Lender in violation of any Debtor Relief Law; and

 

(c)                                   shall not, except as expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents, have any duty to disclose, and shall not be liable for the failure to disclose, any information relating to the Borrower or any of its Affiliates that is communicated to or obtained by the Person serving as the Administrative Agent or any of its Affiliates in any capacity.

 

The Administrative Agent shall not be liable for any action taken or not taken by it (i) with the consent or at the request of the Required Lenders (or such other number or percentage of the Lenders as shall be necessary, or as the Administrative Agent shall believe in good faith shall be necessary, under the circumstances as provided in Sections 11.01 and 9.02 ) or (ii) in the absence of its own gross negligence or willful misconduct as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by final and nonappealable judgment.  The Administrative Agent shall be deemed not to have knowledge of any Default unless and until notice describing such Default is given in writing to the Administrative Agent by the Borrower or a Lender.

 

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The Administrative Agent shall not be responsible for or have any duty to ascertain or inquire into (i) any statement, warranty or representation made in or in connection with this Agreement or any other Loan Document, (ii) the contents of any certificate, report or other document delivered hereunder or thereunder or in connection herewith or therewith, (iii) the performance or observance of any of the covenants, agreements or other terms or conditions set forth herein or therein or the occurrence of any Default, (iv) the validity, enforceability, effectiveness or genuineness of this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any other agreement, instrument or document or (v) the satisfaction of any condition set forth in Article IV or elsewhere herein, other than to confirm receipt of items expressly required to be delivered to the Administrative Agent.

 

10.04                  Reliance by the Administrative Agent .  The Administrative Agent shall be entitled to rely upon, and shall not incur any liability for relying upon, any notice, request, certificate, consent, statement, instrument, document or other writing (including any electronic message, Internet or intranet website posting or other distribution) believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed, sent or otherwise authenticated by the proper Person.  The Administrative Agent also may rely upon any statement made to it orally or by telephone and believed by it to have been made by the proper Person, and shall not incur any liability for relying thereon.  In determining compliance with any condition hereunder to the making of a Loan, by its terms must be fulfilled to the satisfaction of a Lender, the Administrative Agent may presume that such condition is satisfactory to such Lender unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice to the contrary from such Lender prior to the making of such Loan.  The Administrative Agent may consult with legal counsel (who may be counsel for the Borrower), independent accountants and other experts selected by it, and shall not be liable for any action taken or not taken by it in accordance with the advice of any such counsel, accountants or experts.

 

10.05                  Delegation of Duties .  The Administrative Agent may perform any and all of its duties and exercise its rights and powers hereunder or under any other Loan Document by or through any one or more sub-agents appointed by the Administrative Agent.  The Administrative Agent and any such sub-agent may perform any and all of its duties and exercise its rights and powers by or through their respective Related Parties.  The exculpatory provisions of this Article shall apply to any such sub-agent and to the Related Parties of the Administrative Agent and any such sub-agent, and shall apply to their respective activities in connection with the syndication of the credit facilities provided for herein as well as activities as the Administrative Agent.  The Administrative Agent shall not be responsible for the negligence or misconduct of any sub-agents except to the extent that a court of competent jurisdiction determines in a final and non-appealable judgment that the Administrative Agent acted with gross negligence or willful misconduct in the selection of such sub-agents.

 

10.06                  Resignation of the Administrative Agent.

 

(a)                                  The Administrative Agent may at any time give notice of its resignation to the Lenders and the Borrower.  Upon receipt of any such notice of resignation, the Required Lenders shall have the right, subject to the reasonable approval of the Borrower (with any Lender or affiliate of a Lender being deemed approved, unless such Lender is a Defaulting Lender, and which approval shall not be required if an Event Default shall be in existence), to appoint a successor, which shall be a bank with an office in the United States, or an Affiliate of any such bank with an office in the United States.  If no such successor shall have been so appointed by the Required Lenders and shall have accepted such appointment within 30 days after the retiring Administrative Agent gives notice of its resignation (or such earlier day as shall be agreed by the Required Lenders) (the “ Resignation Effective Date ”), then the retiring Administrative Agent may (but shall not be obligated to) on behalf of the Lenders, appoint a successor Administrative Agent meeting the qualifications set forth above.  Whether or not a successor has been appointed,

 

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such resignation shall become effective in accordance with such notice on the Resignation Effective Date.

 

(b)                                  If the Person serving as the Administrative Agent is a Defaulting Lender pursuant to clause (d)  of the definition thereof, the Required Lenders may, to the extent permitted by applicable law, by notice in writing to the Borrower and such Person remove such Person as the Administrative Agent and, in consultation with the Borrower, appoint a successor. If no such successor shall have been so appointed by the Required Lenders and shall have accepted such appointment within 30 days (or such earlier day as shall be agreed by the Required Lenders) (the “Removal Effective Date”), then such removal shall nonetheless become effective in accordance with such notice on the Removal Effective Date.

 

(c)                                   With effect from the Resignation Effective Date or the Removal Effective Date (as applicable) (1) the retiring or removed Administrative Agent shall be discharged from its duties and obligations hereunder and under the other Loan Documents (except that in the case of any pledge security held by the Administrative Agent on behalf of the Lenders under any of the Loan Documents, the retiring or removed Administrative Agent shall continue to hold such collateral security until such time as a successor Administrative Agent is appointed) and (2) except for any indemnity payments or other amounts then owed to the retiring or removed Administrative Agent, all payments, communications and determinations provided to be made by, to or through the Administrative Agent shall instead be made by or to each Lender directly, until such time, if any, as the Required Lenders appoint a successor Administrative Agent as provided for above.  Upon the acceptance of a successor’s appointment as the Administrative Agent hereunder, such successor shall succeed to and become vested with all of the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring (or removed) the Administrative Agent (other than any rights to indemnity payments or other amounts owed to the retiring or removed Administrative Agent as of the Resignation Effective Date or the Removal Effective Date, as applicable), and the retiring or removed Administrative Agent shall be discharged from all of its duties and obligations hereunder or under the other Loan Documents (if not already discharged therefrom as provided above in this Section).  The fees payable by the Borrower to a successor Administrative Agent shall be the same as those payable to its predecessor unless otherwise agreed between the Borrower and such successor.  After the retiring or removed Administrative Agent’s resignation or removal hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, the provisions of this Article and Section 1 0 .04 shall continue in effect for the benefit of such retiring or removed Administrative Agent, its sub-agents and their respective Related Parties in respect of any actions taken or omitted to be taken by any of them while the retiring or removed Administrative Agent was acting as the Administrative Agent.

 

10.07                  Non-Reliance on the Administrative Agent and Other Lenders .  Each Lender acknowledges that it has, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent or any other Lender or any of their Related Parties and based on such documents and information as it has deemed appropriate, made its own credit analysis and decision to enter into this Agreement.  Each Lender also acknowledges that it will, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent or any other Lender or any of their Related Parties and based on such documents and information as it shall from time to time deem appropriate, continue to make its own decisions in taking or not taking action under or based upon this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any related agreement or any document furnished hereunder or thereunder.

 

10.08                  No Other Duties, Etc.   Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, none of the Lead Arrangers, Bookrunners or co-Syndication Agents listed on the cover page hereof shall have any

 

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powers, duties or responsibilities under this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents, except in its capacity, as applicable, as the Administrative Agent, a Lender hereunder.

 

10.09                  The Administrative Agent May File Proofs of Claim .  In case of the pendency of any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law or any other judicial proceeding relative to any Loan Party, the Administrative Agent (irrespective of whether the principal of any Loan shall then be due and payable as herein expressed or by declaration or otherwise and irrespective of whether the Administrative Agent shall have made any demand on the Borrower) shall be entitled and empowered, by intervention in such proceeding or otherwise:

 

(a)                                  to file and prove a claim for the whole amount of the principal and interest owing and unpaid in respect of the Loans and all other Obligations that are owing and unpaid and to file such other documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Lenders and the Administrative Agent (including any claim for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Lenders and the Administrative Agent and their respective agents and counsel and all other amounts due the Lenders and the Administrative Agent under Sections 2.09 and 1 1 .04 ) allowed in such judicial proceeding; and

 

(b)                                  to collect and receive any monies or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims and to distribute the same;

 

and any custodian, receiver, assignee, trustee, liquidator, sequestrator or other similar official in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Lender to make such payments to the Administrative Agent and, in the event that the Administrative Agent shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Lenders, to pay to the Administrative Agent any amount due for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Administrative Agent and its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Administrative Agent under Sections 2.09 and 11.04 . Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to authorize the Administrative Agent to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Lender any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Obligations or the rights of any Lender to authorize the Administrative Agent to vote in respect of the claim of any Lender in any such proceeding.

 

10.10                  Guaranty Matters .  Upon request by the Administrative Agent at any time, the Required Lenders will confirm in writing the Administrative Agent’s authority to release any Guarantor from its obligations under a Guaranty pursuant to the terms of this Agreement.

 

Article XI.
Miscellaneous

 

11.01                  Amendments, Etc.   No amendment or waiver of any provision of this Agreement or any other Loan Document, and no consent to any departure by the Borrower or any other Loan Party therefrom, shall be effective unless in writing signed by the Required Lenders and the Borrower or the applicable Loan Party, as the case may be, and acknowledged by the Administrative Agent, and each such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the specific purpose for which given; provided that no such amendment, waiver or consent shall:

 

(a)                                  waive any condition set forth in Section 5.01(a)  without the written consent of each Lender;

 

(b)                                  extend or increase the Commitment of any Lender (or reinstate any Commitment terminated pursuant to Section 2.01(b)  or  9.02 ) without the written consent of such Lender;

 

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(c)                                   postpone any date fixed by this Agreement or any other Loan Document for any payment or mandatory prepayment of principal, interest, fees or other amounts due to a Lender or any scheduled or mandatory reduction of the Aggregate Commitments hereunder or under any other Loan Document without the written consent of each Lender directly affected thereby;

 

(d)                                  reduce or forgive the principal of, or the rate of interest specified herein on, any Loan, or (subject to clause   (iii)  of the second proviso to this Section 11.01 ) any fees or other amounts payable hereunder or under any other Loan Document, without the written consent of each Lender directly affected thereby; provided that only the consent of the Required Lenders shall be necessary to amend the definition of “ Default Rate ,” waive any obligation of the Borrower to pay interest at the Default Rate, or change the manner of computation of any financial ratio (including any change in any applicable defined term) used in determining the Applicable Rate that would result in a reduction of any interest rate on any Loan or any fee payable hereunder;

 

(e)                                   change Section 9.03 in a manner that would alter the pro rata sharing of payments required thereby without the written consent of each Lender;

 

(f)                                    change any provision of this Section or the definition of “ Required Lenders ” or any other provision hereof specifying the number or percentage of the Lenders required to amend, waive or otherwise modify any rights hereunder or make any determination or grant any consent hereunder, without the written consent of each Lender;

 

(g)                                   release all or substantially all of the value of the Guaranties without the written consent of each Lender;

 

and, provided, further , that (i) no amendment, waiver or consent shall, unless in writing and signed by the Administrative Agent in addition to the Lenders required above, affect the rights or duties of the Administrative Agent under this Agreement or any other Loan Document; and (ii) the Fee Letters may be amended, or rights or privileges thereunder waived, in a writing executed only by the parties thereto.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, no Defaulting Lender shall have any right to approve or disapprove any amendment, waiver or consent hereunder (and any amendment, waiver or consent which by its terms requires the consent of all Lenders or each affected Lender may be effected with the consent of the applicable Lenders other than Defaulting Lenders), except that (x) the Commitment of any Defaulting Lender may not be increased or extended without the consent of such Lender and (y) any waiver, amendment or modification requiring the consent of all Lenders or each affected Lender that by its terms affects any Defaulting Lender more adversely than other affected Lenders shall require the consent of such Defaulting Lender.  All communications from the Administrative Agent to any Lender requesting such Lender’s determination, consent, approval or disapproval (a) shall be given in the form of a written notice to such Lender, (b) shall be accompanied by a description of the matter or issue as to which such determination, approval, consent or disapproval is requested, or shall advise such Lender where information, if any, regarding such matter or issue may be inspected, or shall otherwise describe the matter or issue to be resolved, (c) shall include, if reasonably requested by such Lender and to the extent not previously provided to such Lender, written materials and, as appropriate, a brief summary of all oral information provided to the Administrative Agent by the Borrower in respect of the matter or issue to be resolved, and (d) shall include the Administrative Agent’s recommended course of action or determination in respect thereof.

 

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11.02                  Notices; Effectiveness; Electronic Communication.

 

(a)                                  Notices Generally .  Except in the case of notices and other communications expressly permitted to be given by telephone (and except as provided in subsection (b)  below), all notices and other communications provided for herein shall be in writing and shall be delivered by hand or overnight courier service, mailed by certified or registered mail or sent by telecopier as follows, and all notices and other communications expressly permitted hereunder to be given by telephone shall be made to the applicable telephone number, as follows:

 

(i)                                      if to the Borrower or the Administrative Agent to the address, telecopier number, electronic mail address or telephone number specified for such Person on Schedule 11.02 ; and

 

(ii)                                   if to any other Lender, to the address, telecopier number, electronic mail address or telephone number specified in its Administrative Questionnaire (including, as appropriate, notices delivered solely to the Person designated by a Lender on its Administrative Questionnaire then in effect for the delivery of notices that may contain material non-public information relating to the Borrower).

 

Notices and other communications sent by hand or overnight courier service, or mailed by certified or registered mail, shall be deemed to have been given when received; notices and other communications sent by telecopier shall be deemed to have been given when sent (except that, if not given during normal business hours for the recipient, shall be deemed to have been given at the opening of business on the next business day for the recipient).  Notices and other communications delivered through electronic communications to the extent provided in subsection (b)  below, shall be effective as provided in such subsection (b) .

 

(b)                                  Electronic Communications .  Notices and other communications to the Lenders hereunder may be delivered or furnished by electronic communication (including e-mail and Internet or intranet websites) pursuant to procedures approved by the Administrative Agent, provided that the foregoing shall not apply to notices to any Lender pursuant to Article II if such Lender has notified the Administrative Agent that it is incapable of receiving notices under such Article by electronic communication.  The Administrative Agent or the Borrower may each, in its discretion, agree to accept notices and other communications to it hereunder by electronic communications pursuant to procedures approved by it; provided that approval of such procedures may be limited to particular notices or communications.

 

Unless the Administrative Agent otherwise prescribes, (i) notices and other communications sent to an e-mail address shall be deemed received upon the sender’s receipt of an acknowledgement from the intended recipient (such as by the “return receipt requested” function, as available, return e-mail or other written acknowledgement), and (ii) notices or communications posted to an Internet or intranet website shall be deemed received upon the deemed receipt by the intended recipient at its e-mail address as described in the foregoing clause (i)  of notification that such notice or communication is available and identifying the website address therefor; provided that , for both clauses (i)  and (ii) , if such notice, email or other communication is not sent during the normal business hours of the recipient, such notice, email or communication shall be deemed to have been sent at the opening of business on the next business day for the recipient.

 

(c)                                   The Platform .  THE PLATFORM IS PROVIDED “AS IS” AND “AS AVAILABLE.”  THE AGENT PARTIES (AS DEFINED BELOW) DO NOT WARRANT THE ACCURACY OR COMPLETENESS OF THE BORROWER MATERIALS OR THE ADEQUACY OF THE PLATFORM, AND EXPRESSLY DISCLAIM LIABILITY FOR ERRORS IN OR OMISSIONS FROM THE BORROWER MATERIALS.  NO WARRANTY

 

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OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS, IMPLIED OR STATUTORY, INCLUDING ANY WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, NON-INFRINGEMENT OF THIRD PARTY RIGHTS OR FREEDOM FROM VIRUSES OR OTHER CODE DEFECTS, IS MADE BY ANY AGENT PARTY IN CONNECTION WITH THE BORROWER MATERIALS OR THE PLATFORM.  In no event shall the Administrative Agent or any of its Related Parties (collectively, the “ Agent Parties ”) have any liability to the Borrower, any Lender or any other Person for losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses of any kind (whether in tort, contract or otherwise) arising out of the Borrower’s or the Administrative Agent’s transmission of the Borrower Materials through the Internet, except to the extent that such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses are determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by a final and nonappealable judgment to have resulted from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Agent Party; provided that in no event shall any Agent Party have any liability to the Borrower, any Lender or any other Person for indirect, special, incidental, consequential or punitive damages (as opposed to direct or actual damages) resulting therefrom.

 

(d)                                  Change of Address, Etc .  Each of the Borrower and the Administrative Agent may change its address, telecopier or telephone number for notices and other communications hereunder by notice to the other parties hereto.  Each other Lender may change its address, telecopier or telephone number for notices and other communications hereunder by notice to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent.  In addition, each Lender agrees to notify the Administrative Agent from time to time to ensure that the Administrative Agent has on record (i) an effective address, contact name, telephone number, telecopier number and electronic mail address to which notices and other communications may be sent and (ii) accurate wire instructions for such Lender.  Furthermore, each Public Lender agrees to cause at least one (1) individual at or on behalf of such Public Lender to at all times have selected the “Private Side Information” or similar designation on the content declaration screen of the Platform in order to enable such Public Lender or its delegate, in accordance with such Public Lender’s compliance procedures and applicable Law, including United States Federal and state securities Laws, to make reference to the Borrower Materials that are not made available through the “Public Side Information” portion of the Platform and that may contain material non-public information with respect to the Borrower or its Equity Interests for purposes of United States Federal or state securities laws.

 

(e)                                   Reliance by the Administrative Agent and the Lenders .  The Administrative Agent and the Lenders shall be entitled to rely and act upon any notices (including telephonic Committed Loan Notices) purportedly given by or on behalf of the Borrower even if (i) such notices were not made in a manner specified herein, were incomplete or were not preceded or followed by any other form of notice specified herein, or (ii) the terms thereof, as understood by the recipient, varied from any confirmation thereof.  The Borrower shall indemnify the Administrative Agent, each Lender and the Related Parties of each of them from all losses, costs, expenses and liabilities resulting from the reliance by such Person on each notice purportedly given by or on behalf of the Borrower.  All telephonic notices to and other telephonic communications with the Administrative Agent may be recorded by the Administrative Agent, and each of the parties hereto hereby consents to such recording.

 

11.03                  No Waiver; Cumulative Remedies; Enforcement .  No failure by any Lender or the Administrative Agent to exercise, and no delay by any such Person in exercising, any right, remedy, power or privilege hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof; nor shall any single or partial exercise of any right, remedy, power or privilege hereunder preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, remedy, power or privilege.  The rights, remedies, powers and privileges

 

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herein provided and provided under each other Loan Document are cumulative and not exclusive of any rights, remedies, powers and privileges provided by Law.

 

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein or in any other Loan Document, the authority to enforce rights and remedies hereunder and under the other Loan Documents against the Loan Parties or any of them shall be vested exclusively in, and all actions and proceedings at law in connection with such enforcement shall be instituted and maintained exclusively by, the Administrative Agent in accordance with Section 9.02 for the benefit of all the Lenders; provided that the foregoing shall not prohibit (a) the Administrative Agent from exercising on its own behalf the rights and remedies that inure to its benefit (solely in its capacity as the Administrative Agent) hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, (b) any Lender from exercising setoff rights in accordance with Section 11.08 (subject to the terms of Section 2.13 ), or (c) any Lender from filing proofs of claim or appearing and filing pleadings on its own behalf during the pendency of a proceeding relative to any Loan Party under any Debtor Relief Law; and provided , further , that if at any time there is no Person acting as the Administrative Agent hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, then (i) the Required Lenders shall have the rights otherwise ascribed to the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 9.02 and (ii) in addition to the matters set forth in clauses (b) , (c)  and (d)  of the preceding proviso and subject to Section 2.13 , any Lender may, with the consent of the Required Lenders, enforce any rights and remedies available to it and as authorized by the Required Lenders.

 

11.04                  Expenses; Indemnity; Damage Waiver.

 

(a)                                  Costs and Expenses .  Each Loan Party shall jointly and severally pay (i) all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent and its Affiliates (including (a) the reasonable fees, charges and disbursements of counsel for the Administrative Agent; (b) fees and charges of each consultant, inspector, and engineer; (c) uniform commercial code searches; (d) judgment and tax lien searches for the Borrower and each Guarantor; (e) escrow fees; and (f) documentary taxes, in connection with the initial syndication of the credit facilities provided for herein, the preparation, negotiation, execution, delivery and administration of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents or any amendments, modifications or waivers of the provisions hereof or thereof (whether or not the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby shall be consummated), (ii)  all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent or any Lender (including the reasonable fees, charges and disbursements of any counsel for the Administrative Agent or any Lender (only if a Default shall be in existence)), in connection with the enforcement or protection of its rights (A) in connection with this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, including its rights under this Section, or (B) in connection with the Loans made hereunder, including all such out-of-pocket expenses incurred during any workout, restructuring or negotiations in respect of such Loans; provided, however that the Borrower shall not be required to pay the expenses of more than one law firm acting as counsel for the Lenders (in addition to expenses for any appropriate local or special counsel) in connection with such workout or enforcement to the extent the Lenders reasonably determine that joint representation is appropriate under the circumstances.

 

(b)                                  Indemnification .  The Parent and the Borrower shall jointly and severally indemnify the Administrative Agent (and any sub-agent thereof), each Lender, and each Related Party of any of the foregoing Persons (each such Person being called an “ Indemnitee ”) against, and hold each Indemnitee harmless from, any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities and related expenses (including the reasonable fees, charges and disbursements of any counsel for any Indemnitee), incurred by any Indemnitee or asserted against any Indemnitee by any third party or by the Borrower or any other Loan Party resulting from any action, suit, or proceeding relating to (i) the execution or delivery of this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any agreement or

 

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instrument contemplated hereby or thereby, the performance by the parties hereto of their respective obligations hereunder or thereunder, the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, or, in the case of the Administrative Agent (and any sub-agent thereof) and its Related Parties only, the administration of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents (including in respect of any matters addressed in Section 3.01 ), (ii) any Loan or the use or proposed use of the proceeds therefrom, (iii) any actual or alleged presence or release of Hazardous Materials on or from any property owned or operated by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, or any Environmental Damages related in any way to the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, or (iv) any actual or prospective claim, litigation, investigation or proceeding relating to any of the foregoing, whether based on contract, tort or any other theory, whether brought by a third party or by the Borrower or any other Loan Party, and regardless of whether any Indemnitee is a party thereto; provided that such indemnity shall not, as to any Indemnitee, be available to the extent that such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or related expenses (w) are determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by final and nonappealable judgment to have resulted from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Indemnitee or any Related Party of such Indemnitee , (x) result from a claim brought by the Borrower or any other Loan Party against an Indemnitee for breach in bad faith of such Indemnitee’s obligations hereunder or under any other Loan Document, if the Borrower or such other Loan Party has obtained a final and nonappealable judgment in its favor on such claim as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction, (y) for which an Indemnitee has been compensated pursuant to the terms of this Agreement or the Fee Letters, or (z) to the extent based upon contractual obligations of such Indemnitee owing by such Indemnitee to any third party which are not expressly set forth in this Agreement.

 

(c)                                   Reserved .

 

(d)                                  Reimbursement by the Lenders .  To the extent that the Loan Parties for any reason fail to indefeasibly pay any amount required under subsection (a)  or (b)  of this Section to be paid by the Loan Parties to the Administrative Agent (or any sub-agent thereof), or any Related Party of any of the foregoing (and without limiting their obligation to do so), each Lender severally agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent (or any such sub-agent) or such Related Party, as the case may be, such Lender’s pro rata share (determined as of the time that the applicable unreimbursed expense or indemnity payment is sought based on each Lender’s Applicable Percentage) of such unpaid amount (including any such unpaid amount in respect of a claim asserted by such Lender), such payment to be made severally among them based on such Lenders’ Applicable Percentage (determined as of the time that the applicable unreimbursed expense or indemnity payment is sought) of such unpaid amount, provided that the unreimbursed expense or indemnified loss, claim, damage, liability or related expense, as the case may be, was incurred by or asserted against the Administrative Agent (or any such sub-agent), or against any Related Party of any of the foregoing acting for the Administrative Agent (or any such sub-agent), in connection with such capacity.  The obligations of the Lenders under this subsection ( c )  are subject to the provisions of Section 2.12(d) .

 

(e)                                   Waiver of Consequential Damages, Etc.   To the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law, no Loan Party shall assert, and each Loan Party hereby waives and acknowledges that no other Person shall have, any claim against any Indemnitee, on any theory of liability, for special, indirect, consequential or punitive damages (as opposed to direct or actual damages) arising out of, in connection with, or as a result of, this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any agreement or instrument contemplated hereby, the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, any Loan or the use of the proceeds thereof.  No Indemnitee referred to in subsection (b)  above shall be liable for any damages arising from the use by unintended recipients of any

 

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information or other materials distributed to such unintended recipients by such Indemnitee through telecommunications, electronic or other information transmission systems in connection with this Agreement or the other Loan Documents or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby other than for direct or actual damages resulting from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Indemnitee as determined by a final and nonappealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction.

 

(f)                                    Payments .  All amounts due under this Section  shall be payable not later than ten (10) Business Days after demand therefor.

 

(g)                                   Survival .  The agreements in this Section and the indemnity provisions of Section 11.02(e)  shall survive the resignation of the Administrative Agent, the replacement of any Lender, the termination of the Aggregate Commitments, and the repayment, satisfaction or discharge of all the other Obligations.

 

11.05                  Payments Set Aside .  To the extent that any payment by or on behalf of the Borrower is made to the Administrative Agent or any Lender, or the Administrative Agent or any Lender exercises its right of setoff, and such payment or the proceeds of such setoff or any part thereof is subsequently invalidated, declared to be fraudulent or preferential, set aside or required (including pursuant to any settlement entered into by the Administrative Agent or such Lender in its discretion) to be repaid to a trustee, receiver or any other party, in connection with any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law or otherwise, then (a) to the extent of such recovery, the obligation or part thereof originally intended to be satisfied shall be revived and continued in full force and effect as if such payment had not been made or such setoff had not occurred, and (b) each Lender severally agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent upon demand its applicable share (without duplication) of any amount so recovered from or repaid by the Administrative Agent (without relieving the Borrower of its obligation to make any such payment so required), plus interest thereon from the date of such demand to the date such payment is made at a rate per annum equal to the Federal Funds Rate from time to time in effect.  The obligations of the Lenders under clause (b)  of the preceding sentence shall survive the payment in full of the Obligations and the termination of this Agreement.

 

11.06                  Successors and Assigns.

 

(a)                                  Successors and Assigns Generally .  The provisions of this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby, except that neither the Borrower nor any other Loan Party may assign or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent and each Lender and no Lender may assign or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations hereunder except (i) to an assignee in accordance with the provisions of subsection (b)  of this Section, (ii) by way of participation in accordance with the provisions of subsection  (d)  of this Section, or (iii) by way of pledge or assignment of a security interest subject to the restrictions of subsection (e)  of this Section (and any other attempted assignment or transfer by any party hereto shall be null and void).  Nothing in this Agreement, expressed or implied, shall be construed to confer upon any Person (other than the parties hereto, their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby, Participants to the extent provided in subsection  (d)  of this Section and, to the extent expressly contemplated hereby, the Related Parties of each of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders) any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or by reason of this Agreement.

 

(b)                                  Assignments by the Lenders .  Any Lender may, at no cost or expense to any Loan Party (except as provided in Section 11.13 ), at any time assign to one or more assignees all

 

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or a portion of its rights and obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Commitment and the Loans at the time owing to it); provided that any such assignment shall be subject to the following conditions:

 

(i)                                      Minimum Amounts .

 

(A)                                in the case of an assignment of the entire remaining amount of the assigning Lender’s Commitment and/or the Loans at the time owing to it or contemporaneous assignments to related Approved Funds that equal at least the amount specified in paragraph (b)(i)(B) of this Section in the aggregate or in the case of an assignment to a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund, no minimum amount need be assigned (but any such assignment shall be of a pro rata interest in each of the Loans; and

 

(B)                                in any case not described in subsection (b)(i)(A)  of this Section, the aggregate amount of the Commitment (which for this purpose includes Loans outstanding thereunder) or, if the Commitment is not then in effect, the principal outstanding balance of the Loans of the assigning Lender subject to each such assignment, determined as of the date the Assignment and Assumption with respect to such assignment is delivered to the Administrative Agent or, if “Trade Date” is specified in the Assignment and Assumption, as of the Trade Date, shall not be less than $5,000,000 and shall be an assignment of a pro rata interest in each of the Loans, and the amount assigned to the Eligible Assignee shall not be less than $5,000,000, unless each of the Administrative Agent and, so long as no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Borrower otherwise consents (each such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed); provided that concurrent assignments to members of an Assignee Group and concurrent assignments from members of an Assignee Group to a single Eligible Assignee (or to an Eligible Assignee and members of its Assignee Group) will be treated as a single assignment for purposes of determining whether such minimum amount has been met.

 

(ii)                                   Proportionate Amounts .  Each partial assignment shall be made as an assignment of a proportionate part of all the assigning Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement with respect to the Loans or the Commitment assigned;

 

(iii)                                Required Consents .  No consent shall be required for any assignment except to the extent required by subsection (b)(i)(B)  of this Section and, in addition:

 

(A)                                the consent of the Borrower (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) shall be required unless (1) an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing at the time of such assignment or (2) such assignment is to a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender, an Approved Fund or to any Federal Reserve Bank or other central bank authority or comparable agency having jurisdiction over such Lender; provided that the Borrower shall be deemed to have consented to any such assignment unless it shall object thereto by written notice to the Administrative Agent within ten (10) Business Days after having received notice thereof; and

 

(B)                                the consent of the Administrative Agent (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) shall be required if such assignment is to a

 

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Person that is not a Lender, an Affiliate of such Lender or an Approved Fund with respect to such Lender.

 

(iv)                               Assignment and Assumption .  The parties to each assignment shall execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent an Assignment and Assumption, together with a processing and recordation fee in the amount of $3,500; provided that the Administrative Agent may, in its sole discretion, elect to waive such processing and recordation fee in the case of any assignment.  The assignee, if it is not a Lender, shall deliver to the Administrative Agent an Administrative Questionnaire.

 

(v)                                  No Assignment to Certain Persons .  No such assignment shall be made (A) to the Parent or the Borrower or any of their Affiliates or Subsidiaries, or (B) without the consent of the Administrative Agent and the Borrower, to any Defaulting Lender or any of its Subsidiaries, or any Person who, upon becoming a Lender hereunder, would constitute any of the foregoing Persons described in this clause (B) , (C) to a natural person, or (D) without the consent of the Borrower, to any Excluded Party.

 

(vi)                               Certain Additional Payments .  In connection with any assignment of rights and obligations of any Defaulting Lender hereunder, no such assignment shall be effective unless and until, in addition to the other conditions thereto set forth herein, the parties to the assignment shall make such additional payments to the Administrative Agent in an aggregate amount sufficient, upon distribution thereof as appropriate (which may be outright payment, purchases by the assignee of participations or sub-participations, or other compensating actions, including funding, with the consent of the Borrower and the Administrative Agent, the applicable pro rata share of Loans previously requested but not funded by the Defaulting Lender, to each of which the applicable assignee and assignor hereby irrevocably consent), to (x) pay and satisfy in full all payment liabilities then owed by such Defaulting Lender to the Administrative Agent or any Lender hereunder (and interest accrued thereon) and (y) acquire (and fund as appropriate) its full pro rata share of all Loans in accordance with its Applicable Percentage.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that any assignment of rights and obligations of any Defaulting Lender hereunder shall become effective under applicable Law without compliance with the provisions of this paragraph, then the assignee of such interest shall be deemed to be a Defaulting Lender for all purposes of this Agreement until such compliance occurs.

 

Subject to acceptance and recording thereof by the Administrative Agent pursuant to subsection (c)  of this Section, from and after the effective date specified in each Assignment and Assumption, the assignee thereunder shall be a party to this Agreement and, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Assumption, have the rights and obligations of a Lender under this Agreement, and the assigning Lender thereunder shall, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Assumption, be released from its obligations under this Agreement (and, in the case of an Assignment and Assumption covering all of the assigning Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement, such Lender shall cease to be a party hereto) but shall continue to be entitled to the benefits of Sections 3.01, 3.04 , 3.05 , and 11.04 with respect to facts and circumstances occurring prior to the effective date of such assignment, provided, that except to the extent otherwise expressly agreed by the affected parties, no assignment by a Defaulting Lender will constitute a waiver or release of any claim of any party hereunder arising from that Lender’s having been a Defaulting Lender.  Upon request, the Borrower (at its expense) shall execute and deliver a Note to the assignee Lender.  Any assignment or transfer by a Lender of rights or obligations under this Agreement that does not

 

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comply with this subsection shall be treated for purposes of this Agreement as a sale by such Lender of a participation in such rights and obligations in accordance with subsection (d)  of this Section.

 

(c)                                   Register .  The Administrative Agent, acting solely for this purpose as a non-fiduciary agent of the Borrower (and such agency being solely for tax purposes), shall maintain at the Administrative Agent’s Office a copy of each Assignment and Assumption delivered to it (or the equivalent thereof in electronic form) and a register for the recordation of the names and addresses of the Lenders, and the Commitments of, and principal amounts (and stated interest) of the Loans owing to, each Lender pursuant to the terms hereof from time to time (the “ Register ”).  The entries in the Register shall be conclusive absent manifest error, and the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders may treat each Person whose name is recorded in the Register pursuant to the terms hereof as a Lender hereunder for all purposes of this Agreement .   The Register shall be available for inspection by the Borrower and any Lender, at any reasonable time and from time to time upon reasonable prior notice.

 

(d)                                  Participations . Any Lender may at any time, without the consent of, or notice to, the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, sell participations to any Person (other than a natural person, an Excluded Party, a Defaulting Lender or the Parent or the Borrower or any of their Affiliates or Subsidiaries) (each, a “ Participant ”) in all or a portion of such Lender’s rights and/or obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Commitment and/or the Loans owing to it); provided that (i) such Lender’s obligations under this Agreement shall remain unchanged, (ii) such Lender shall remain solely responsible to the other parties hereto for the performance of such obligations and (iii) the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the Lenders shall continue to deal solely and directly with such Lender in connection with such Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement.  For the avoidance of doubt, each Lender shall be responsible for the indemnity under Section 11.04(d)  without regard to the existence of any participation.

 

Any agreement or instrument pursuant to which a Lender sells such a participation shall provide that such Lender shall retain the sole right to enforce this Agreement and to approve any amendment, modification or waiver of any provision of this Agreement; provided that such agreement or instrument may provide that such Lender will not, without the consent of the Participant, agree to any amendment, waiver or other modification described in the first proviso to Section 11.01 that affects such Participant.  The Borrower agrees that each Participant shall be entitled to the benefits of Sections 3.01 , 3.04 and 3.05 to the same extent as if it were a Lender and had acquired its interest by assignment pursuant to subsection (b) of this Section (it being understood that the documentation required under Section 3.01(e)  shall be delivered to the Lender who sells the participation); provided that such Participant (A) agrees to be subject to the provisions of Section s 3.06 and 11.13 as if it were an assignee under paragraph (b) of this Section and (B) shall not be entitled to receive any greater payment under Sections 3.01 or 3.04 , with respect to any participation than the Lender from whom it acquired the applicable participation would have been entitled to receive, except to the extent such entitlement to receive a greater payment results from a Change in Law that occurs after the Participant acquired the applicable participation.  Each Lender that sells a participation agrees, at the Borrower’s request and expense, to use reasonable efforts to cooperate with the Borrower to effectuate the provisions of Section 3.06 with respect to any Participant.  To the extent permitted by law, each Participant also shall be entitled to the benefits of Section  11.08 as though it were a Lender; provided that such Participant agrees to be subject to Section 2.13 as though it were a Lender. Each Lender that sells a participation shall, acting solely for this purpose as a non-fiduciary agent of the Borrower, maintain a register on which it enters the name and address of each Participant and the principal

 

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amounts (and stated interest) of each Participant’s interest in the Loans or other obligations under the Loan Documents (the “ Participant Register ”); provided that no Lender shall have any obligation to disclose all or any portion of the Participant Register (including the identity of any Participant or any information relating to a Participant’s interest in any commitments, loans, letters of credit or its other obligations under any Loan Document) to any Person except to the extent that such disclosure is necessary to establish that such commitment, loan, letter of credit or other obligation is in registered form under Section 5f.103-1(c)  of the United States Treasury Regulations.  The entries in the Participant Register shall be conclusive absent manifest error, and such Lender shall treat each Person whose name is recorded in the Participant Register as the owner of such participation for all purposes of this Agreement notwithstanding any notice to the contrary.  For the avoidance of doubt, the Administrative Agent (in its capacity as the Administrative Agent) shall have no responsibility for maintaining a Participant Register.

 

(e)                                   Certain Pledges .  Any Lender may at any time pledge or assign a security interest in all or any portion of its rights under this Agreement (including under its Note, if any) to secure obligations of such Lender, including any pledge or assignment to secure obligations to a Federal Reserve Bank or other central bank authority or comparable agency having jurisdiction over such Lender; provided that no such pledge or assignment shall release such Lender from any of its obligations hereunder or substitute any such pledgee or assignee for such Lender as a party hereto.

 

(f)                                    Reserved .

 

(g)                                   USA Patriot Act Notice; Compliance .  In order for the Administrative Agent to comply with “know your customer” and anti-money laundering rules and regulations, including without limitation, the Patriot Act, prior to any Lender that is organized under the laws of a jurisdiction outside of the United States of America becoming a party hereto, the Administrative Agent may request, and such Lender shall provide to the Administrative Agent, its name, address, tax identification number and/or such other identification information as shall be necessary for the Administrative Agent to comply with federal law.

 

11.07                  Treatment of Certain Information; Confidentiality .  Each of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders agrees to maintain the confidentiality of the Information (as defined below), except that Information may be disclosed (a) to its Affiliates and to its Related Parties (it being understood that the Persons to whom such disclosure is made will be informed of the confidential nature of such Information and instructed to keep such Information confidential), (b) to the extent required or requested by any regulatory authority purporting to have jurisdiction over such Person or its Related Parties (including any self-regulatory authority, such as the National Association of Insurance Commissioners), (c) to the extent required by applicable Laws or regulations or by any subpoena or similar legal process so long as the Administrative Agent and any Lender, as the case may be, requests confidential treatment of such Information to the extent permitted by Law (provided that the requesting Administrative Agent or Lender shall not be responsible for the failure by any such party to keep the Information confidential), (d) to any other party hereto, (e) in connection with the exercise of any remedies hereunder or under any other Loan Document or any action or proceeding relating to this Agreement or any other Loan Document or the enforcement of rights hereunder or thereunder, (f) subject to an agreement containing provisions substantially the same as those of this Section, to (i) any assignee of or Participant in, or any prospective assignee of or Participant in, any of its rights and obligations under this Agreement or any Eligible Assignee invited to be a Lender pursuant to Section  3.06 (c), Section 11. 13 or (ii) any actual or prospective party (or its Related Parties) to any swap, derivative or other transaction under which payments are to be made by reference to the Borrower and its obligations, this Agreement or payments hereunder, (g) on a confidential basis to (i)  any rating agency in connection with rating the Borrower or

 

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its Subsidiaries or the credit facilities provided hereunder or (ii) the CUSIP Service Bureau or any similar agency in connection with the issuance and monitoring of CUSIP numbers or other market identifiers with respect to the credit facilities provided hereunder, (h) with the consent of the Borrower or (i) to the extent such Information (x) becomes publicly available other than as a result of a breach of this Section or (y) becomes available to the Administrative Agent, any Lender or any of their respective Affiliates on a non -confidential basis from a source other than the Borrower provided that the source of such information was not at the time known to be bound by a confidentiality agreement or other legal or contractual obligation of confidentiality with respect to such Information.  For purposes of this Section, “Information” means all information received from the Borrower or any Subsidiary relating to the Borrower or any Subsidiary or any of their respective businesses, other than any such information that is available to the Administrative Agent or any Lender on a non-confidential basis prior to disclosure by the Borrower or any Subsidiary, provided that, in the case of information received from the Borrower or any Subsidiary after the date hereof, such information is clearly identified at the time of delivery as confidential.  Any Person required to maintain the confidentiality of Information as provided in this Section shall be considered to have complied with its obligation to do so if such Person has exercised the same degree of care to maintain the confidentiality of such Information as such Person would accord to its own confidential information.

 

Each of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders acknowledges that (a) the Information may include material non-public information concerning the Borrower or a Subsidiary, as the case may be, (b) it has developed compliance procedures regarding the use of material non-public information and (c) it will handle such material non-public information in accordance with applicable Law, including United States Federal and state securities Laws.

 

11.08                  Right of Setoff .   If an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing and the Administrative Agent and the Required Lenders shall have consented in writing thereto, each Lender and each of their respective Affiliates (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any Specified Derivatives Providers) is hereby authorized at any time and from time to time, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, to set off and apply any and all deposits (general or special, time or demand, provisional or final, in whatever currency) at any time held and other obligations (in whatever currency) at any time owing by such Lender or any such Affiliate to or for the credit or the account of the Borrower or any other Loan Party against any and all of the obligations of the Borrower or such Loan Party now or hereafter existing under this Agreement or any other Loan Document to such Lender or their respective Affiliates, irrespective of whether or not such Lender or Affiliate shall have made any demand under this Agreement or any other Loan Document and although such obligations of the Borrower or such Loan Party may be contingent or unmatured or are owed to a branch, office or Affiliate of such Lender different from the branch, office or Affiliate holding such deposit or obligated on such indebtedness; provided, that in the event that any Defaulting Lender shall exercise any such right of setoff, (x) all amounts so set off shall be paid over immediately to the Administrative Agent for further application in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.17 and, pending such payment, shall be segregated by such Defaulting Lender from its other funds and deemed held in trust for the benefit of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders, and (y) the Defaulting Lender shall provide promptly to the Administrative Agent a statement describing in reasonable detail the Obligations owing to such Defaulting Lender as to which it exercised such right of setoff. The rights of each Lender and their respective Affiliates under this Section are in addition to other rights and remedies (including other rights of setoff) that such Lender or their respective Affiliates may have. Each Lender agrees to notify the Borrower and the Administrative Agent promptly after any such setoff and application, provided that the failure to give such notice shall not affect the validity of such setoff and application.

 

11.09                  Interest Rate Limitation .  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in any Loan Document, the interest paid or agreed to be paid under the Loan Documents shall not exceed the

 

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maximum rate of non-usurious interest permitted by applicable Law (the “ Maximum Rate ”).  If the Administrative Agent or any Lender shall receive interest in an amount that exceeds the Maximum Rate, the excess interest shall be applied to the principal of the Loans or, if it exceeds such unpaid principal, refunded to the Borrower.  In determining whether the interest contracted for, charged, or received by the Administrative Agent or a Lender exceeds the Maximum Rate, such Person may, to the extent permitted by applicable Law, (a) characterize any payment that is not principal as an expense, fee, or premium rather than interest, (b) exclude voluntary prepayments and the effects thereof, and (c) amortize, prorate, allocate, and spread in equal or unequal parts the total amount of interest throughout the contemplated term of the Obligations hereunder.

 

11.10                  Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness .  This Agreement may be executed in counterparts (and by different parties hereto in different counterparts), each of which shall constitute an original, but all of which when taken together shall constitute a single contract.  This Agreement and the other Loan Documents , and any separate letter agreements with respect to fees payable to the Administrative Agent constitute the entire contract among the parties relating to the subject matter hereof and supersede any and all previous agreements and understandings, oral or written, relating to the subject matter hereof.  Except as provided in Section 5.01 , this Agreement shall become effective when it shall have been executed by the Administrative Agent and when the Administrative Agent shall have received counterparts hereof that, when taken together, bear the signatures of each of the other parties hereto.  Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page of this Agreement by telecopy, by email with a pdf copy attached, or other electronic imaging means shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Agreement.

 

11.11                  Survival of Representations and Warranties .  All representations and warranties made hereunder and in any other Loan Document or other document delivered pursuant hereto or thereto or in connection herewith or therewith shall survive the execution and delivery hereof and thereof.  Such representations and warranties have been or will be relied upon by the Administrative Agent and each Lender, regardless of any investigation made by the Administrative Agent or any Lender or on their behalf and notwithstanding that the Administrative Agent or any Lender may have had notice or knowledge of any Default at the time of any Credit Extension, and shall continue in full force and effect as long as any Loan or any other Obligation hereunder shall remain unpaid or unsatisfied.

 

11.12                  Severability .  If any provision of this Agreement or the other Loan Documents is held to be illegal, invalid or unenforceable, (a) the legality, validity and enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents shall not be affected or impaired thereby and (b) the parties shall endeavor in good faith negotiations to replace the illegal, invalid or unenforceable provisions with valid provisions the economic effect of which comes as close as possible to that of the illegal, invalid or unenforceable provisions.  The invalidity of a provision in a particular jurisdiction shall not invalidate or render unenforceable such provision in any other jurisdiction.  Without limiting the foregoing provisions of this Section 11.12 , if and to the extent that the enforceability of any provisions in this Agreement relating to Defaulting Lenders shall be limited by Debtor Relief Laws, as determined in good faith by the Administrative Agent then such provisions shall be deemed to be in effect only to the extent not so limited.

 

11.13                  Replacement of the Lenders .  If the Borrower is entitled to replace a Lender pursuant to the provisions of Section 3.06 , or if any Lender is a Defaulting Lender or if any other circumstance exists hereunder that gives the Borrower the right to replace a Lender as a party hereto, then the Borrower may, at its sole expense and effort, upon notice to such Lender and the Administrative Agent, require such Lender to assign and delegate, without recourse (in accordance with and subject to the restrictions contained in, and consents required by, Section 11.06 ), all of its interests, rights (other than its existing rights to payments pursuant to Sections 3.01 , 3.04 and 3.05 ) and obligations under this Agreement and

 

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the related Loan Documents to an Eligible Assignee that shall assume such obligations (which assignee may be another Lender, if a Lender accepts such assignment), provided that:

 

(a)                                  the Borrower shall have paid to the Administrative Agent the assignment fee (if any) specified in Section 1 1 .06(b) ;

 

(b)                                  such Lender shall have received payment of an amount equal to the outstanding principal of its Loans, accrued interest thereon, accrued fees and all other amounts payable to it hereunder and under the other Loan Documents (including any amounts under Section 3.05 ) from the assignee (to the extent of such outstanding principal and accrued interest and fees) or the Borrower (in the case of all other amounts);

 

(c)                                   in the case of any such assignment resulting from a claim for compensation under Section 3.04 or payments required to be made pursuant to Section 3.01 , such assignment will result in a reduction in such compensation or payments thereafter; and

 

(d)                                  such assignment does not conflict with applicable Laws.

 

(e)                                   A Lender shall not be required to make any such assignment or delegation if, prior thereto, as a result of a waiver by such Lender or otherwise, the circumstances entitling the Borrower to require such assignment and delegation cease to apply.

 

11.14                  Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Etc.

 

(a)                                  GOVERNING LAW .  THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS AND ANY CLAIMS, CONTROVERSY, DISPUTE OR CAUSE OF ACTION (WHETHER IN CONTRACT OR TORT OR OTHERWISE) BASED UPON, ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT (EXCEPT, AS TO ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT, AS EXPRESSLY SET FORTH THEREIN) AND THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY AND THEREBY SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

 

(b)                                  SUBMISSION TO JURISDICTION .  THE BORROWER AND EACH OTHER LOAN PARTY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY AGREES THAT IT WILL NOT COMMENCE ANY ACTION, LITIGATION OR PROCEEDING OF ANY KIND OR DESCRIPTION, WHETHER IN LAW OR EQUITY, WHETHER IN CONTRACT OR IN TORT OR OTHERWISE, AGAINST THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT, ANY LENDER OR ANY RELATED PARTY OF THE FOREGOING IN ANY WAY RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS RELATING HERETO OR THERETO, IN ANY FORUM OTHER THAN THE COURTS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK COUNTY AND OF THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT OF THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK, AND ANY APPELLATE COURT FROM ANY THEREOF, AND EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY SUBMITS TO THE JURISDICTION OF SUCH COURTS AND AGREES THAT ALL CLAIMS IN RESPECT OF ANY SUCH ACTION, LITIGATION OR PROCEEDING MAY BE HEARD AND DETERMINED IN SUCH NEW YORK STATE COURT OR, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, IN SUCH FEDERAL COURT.  EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO AGREES THAT A FINAL JUDGMENT IN ANY SUCH ACTION, LITIGATION OR PROCEEDING SHALL BE CONCLUSIVE AND MAY BE ENFORCED IN OTHER JURISDICTIONS BY SUIT ON THE

 

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JUDGMENT OR IN ANY OTHER MANNER PROVIDED BY LAW.  NOTHING IN THIS AGREEMENT OR IN ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT SHALL AFFECT ANY RIGHT THAT THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT OR ANY LENDER MAY OTHERWISE HAVE TO BRING ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT AGAINST THE BORROWER OR ANY OTHER LOAN PARTY OR ITS PROPERTIES IN THE COURTS OF ANY JURISDICTION.

 

(c)                                   WAIVER OF VENUE .  EACH OF THE PARENT, THE BORROWER AND EACH OTHER LOAN PARTY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY OBJECTION THAT IT MAY NOW OR HEREAFTER HAVE TO THE LAYING OF VENUE OF ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT IN ANY COURT REFERRED TO IN PARAGRAPH (b) OF THIS SECTION.  EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, THE DEFENSE OF AN INCONVENIENT FORUM TO THE MAINTENANCE OF SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING IN ANY SUCH COURT.

 

(d)                                  SERVICE OF PROCESS .  EACH PARTY HERETO IRREVOCABLY CONSENTS TO SERVICE OF PROCESS IN THE MANNER PROVIDED FOR NOTICES IN SECTION 11.02 PROVIDED THAT, IN THE CASE OF SERVICE ON ANY LOAN PARTY A COPY IS ALSO DELIVERED TO JEFFREY SULLIVAN, GENERAL COUNSEL FOR PARENT AND BORROWER.  NOTHING IN THIS AGREEMENT WILL AFFECT THE RIGHT OF ANY PARTY HERETO TO SERVE PROCESS IN ANY OTHER MANNER PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW.

 

(e)                                   WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL .  EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR THEREBY (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT OR ANY OTHER THEORY).  EACH PARTY HERETO (A) CERTIFIES THAT NO REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF ANY OTHER PERSON HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PERSON WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER AND (B) ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT AND THE OTHER PARTIES HERETO HAVE BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION.

 

11.15                  No Advisory or Fiduciary Responsibility .  In connection with all aspects of each transaction contemplated hereby (including in connection with any amendment, waiver or other modification hereof or of any other Loan Document), the Parent, the Borrower, and each other Loan Party acknowledges and agrees, and acknowledges its Affiliates’ understanding, that: (i)(A) the arranging and other services regarding this Agreement provided by the Administrative Agent and the Lead Arrangers are arm’s-length commercial transactions between the Parent, the Borrower, each other Loan Party and their respective Affiliates, on the one hand, and the Administrative Agent and the Lead Arrangers, on the other hand, (B) each of the Parent, the Borrower, and the other Loan Parties has consulted its own legal, accounting, regulatory and tax advisors to the extent it has deemed appropriate, and (C) the Borrower and each other Loan Party is capable of evaluating, and understands and accepts, the terms, risks and

 

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conditions of the transactions contemplated hereby and by the other Loan Documents; (ii)(A)  each of the Administrative Agent, the Lead Arrangers and the Lenders is and has been acting solely as a principal and, except as expressly agreed in writing by the relevant parties, has not been, is not, and will not be acting as an advisor, agent or fiduciary for the Parent, the Borrower, any other Loan Party, or any of their respective Affiliates, or any other Person and (B) the Administrative Agent, the Lead Arrangers and the Lender have no obligation to the Parent, the Borrower, any other Loan Party, or any of their respective Affiliates with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby except those obligations expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents; and (iii) the Administrative Agent, the Lead Arrangers and the Lenders and their respective Affiliates may be engaged in a broad range of transactions that involve interests that differ from those of the Parent, the Borrower, the other Loan Parties, and their respective Affiliates, and the Administrative Agent, the Lead Arrangers and the Lenders have no obligation to disclose any of such interests to the Parent, the Borrower, any other Loan Party, or any of their respective Affiliates.  To the fullest extent permitted by Law, each of the Parent, the Borrower, and the other Loan Parties hereby waives and releases any claims that it may have against the Administrative Agent and the Lead Arrangers with respect to any breach or alleged breach of agency or fiduciary duty in connection with any aspect of any transaction contemplated hereby.

 

11.16                  Electronic Execution of Assignments and Certain Other Documents .  The words “execution,” “signed,” “signature,” and words of like import in any Assignment and Assumption or in any amendment or other modification hereof (including waivers and consents) shall be deemed to include electronic signatures , the electronic matching or assignment terms and contract formations on electronic platforms approved by the Administrative Agent or the keeping of records in electronic form, each of which shall be of the same legal effect, validity or enforceability as a manually executed signature or the use of a paper-based recordkeeping system, as the case may be, to the extent and as provided for in any applicable Law, including the Federal Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act, the New York State Electronic Signatures and Records Act, or any other similar state laws based on the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act.

 

11.17                  USA PATRIOT ACT .  Each Lender that is subject to the Patriot Act (as hereinafter defined) and the Administrative Agent (for itself and not on behalf of any Lender) hereby notifies the Borrower that pursuant to the requirements of The Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001 (Title III of Pub. L. No. 107-56 (signed into law October 26, 2001)) (the “ Patriot Act ”), it is required to obtain, verify and record certain information that identifies individuals or business entities which open an “account” with such financial institution, which information includes the name, address, and tax identification number of the Borrower and such other identification information that will allow such Lender or the Administrative Agent, as applicable, to identify the Borrower in accordance with the Patriot Act and comply with federal law.  An “account” for this purpose may include, without limitation, a deposit account, cash management service, a transaction or asset account, a credit account, a loan or other extension of credit, and/or other financial services product. the Borrower shall, promptly following a request by the Administrative Agent or any Lender, provide all documentation and other information that the Administrative Agent or such Lender requests in order to comply with its ongoing obligations under applicable “know your customer” and anti-money laundering rules and regulations, including the Patriot Act.

 

11.18                  ENTIRE AGREEMENT .  THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS REPRESENT THE FINAL AGREEMENT AMONG THE PARTIES AND MAY NOT BE CONTRADICTED BY EVIDENCE OF PRIOR, CONTEMPORANEOUS, OR SUBSEQUENT ORAL AGREEMENTS OF THE PARTIES.  THERE ARE NO UNWRITTEN ORAL AGREEMENTS AMONG THE PARTIES.

 

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11.19                  Acknowledgment and Consent to Bail-In of EEA Financial Institutions.

 

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in any Loan Document or in any other agreement, arrangement or understanding among any such parties, each party hereto acknowledges that any liability of any EEA Financial Institution arising under any Loan Document may be subject to the Write-Down and Conversion Powers of an EEA Resolution Authority and agrees and consents to, and acknowledges and agrees to be bound by:

 

(a)                                  the application of any Write-Down and Conversion Powers by an EEA Resolution Authority to any such liabilities arising hereunder which may be payable to it by any party hereto that is an EEA Financial Institution; and

 

(b)                                  the effects of any Bail-In Action on any such liability, including, if applicable:

 

(i)                                      a reduction in full or in part or cancellation of any such liability;

 

(ii)                                   a conversion of all, or a portion of, such liability into shares or other instruments of ownership in such EEA Financial Institution, its parent entity, or a bridge institution that may be issued to it or otherwise conferred on it, and that such shares or other instruments of ownership will be accepted by it in lieu of any rights with respect to any such liability under this Agreement or any other Loan Document; or

 

(iii)                                the variation of the terms of such liability in connection with the exercise of the Write-Down and Conversion Powers of any EEA Resolution Authority.

 

11.20                  Certain ERISA Matters.

 

(a) Each Lender (x) represents and warrants, as of the date such Person became a Lender party hereto, to, and (y) covenants, from the date such Person became a Lender party hereto to the date such Person ceases being a Lender party hereto, for the benefit of, the Administrative Agent, each Lead Arranger and their respective Affiliates, and not, for the avoidance of doubt, to or for the benefit of the Borrower or any other Loan Party, that at least one of the following is and will be true:

 

(i)                                      such Lender is not using “plan assets” (within the meaning of 29 CFR § 2510.3-101, as modified by Section 3(42) of ERISA) of one or more Benefit Plans in connection with the Loans or the Commitments;

 

(ii)                                   the transaction exemption set forth in one or more PTEs, such as PTE 84-14 (a class exemption for certain transactions determined by independent qualified professional asset managers), PTE 95-60 (a class exemption for certain transactions involving insurance company general accounts), PTE 90-1 (a class exemption for certain transactions involving insurance company pooled separate accounts), PTE 91-38 (a class exemption for certain transactions involving bank collective investment funds) or PTE 96-23 (a class exemption for certain transactions determined by in-house asset managers), is applicable with respect to such Lender’s entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Commitments and this Agreement;

 

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(iii)                                (A) such Lender is an investment fund managed by a “Qualified Professional Asset Manager” (within the meaning of Part VI of PTE 84-14), (B) such Qualified Professional Asset Manager made the investment decision on behalf of such Lender to enter into, participate in, administer and perform the Loans, the Commitments and this Agreement, (C) the entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Commitments and this Agreement satisfies the requirements of sub-sections (b) through (g) of Part I of PTE 84-14 and (D) to the best knowledge of such Lender, the requirements of subsection (a) of Part I of PTE 84-14 are satisfied with respect to such Lender’s entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Commitments and this Agreement; or

 

(iv)                               such other representation, warranty and covenant as may be agreed in writing between the Administrative Agent, in its sole discretion, and such Lender.

 

(b)                                  In addition, unless sub-clause (i) in the immediately preceding clause (a) is true with respect to a Lender or such Lender has not provided another representation, warranty and covenant as provided in sub-clause (iv) in the immediately preceding clause (a), such Lender further (x) represents and warrants, as of the date such Person became a Lender party hereto, to, and (y) covenants, from the date such Person became a Lender party hereto to the date such Person ceases being a Lender party hereto, for the benefit of, the Administrative Agent, each Lead Arranger and their respective Affiliates, and not, for the avoidance of doubt, to or for the benefit of the Borrower or any other Credit Party, that:

 

(i)                                      none of the Administrative Agent, any Lead Arranger nor any of their respective Affiliates is a fiduciary with respect to the assets of such Lender (including in connection with the reservation or exercise of any rights by the Administrative Agent under this Agreement, any Loan Document or any documents related to hereto or thereto);

 

(ii)                                   the Person making the investment decision on behalf of such Lender with respect to the entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Commitments and this Agreement is independent (within the meaning of 29 CFR § 2510.3-21) and is a bank, an insurance carrier, an investment adviser, a broker- dealer or other person that holds, or has under management or control, total assets of at least $50 million, in each case as described in 29 CFR § 2510.3-21(c)(1)(i)(A)-(E),

 

(iii)                                the Person making the investment decision on behalf of such Lender with respect to the entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Commitments and this Agreement is capable of evaluating investment risks independently, both in general and with regard to particular transactions and investment strategies (including in respect of the Secured Obligations);

 

(iv)                               the Person making the investment decision on behalf of such Lender with respect to the entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Commitments and this Agreement is a fiduciary under ERISA or the Code, or both, with respect to the Loans, the Commitments and this Agreement and is responsible for exercising independent judgment in evaluating the transactions hereunder, and

 

(v)                                  no fee or other compensation is being paid directly to the Administrative Agent, each Lead Arranger or their respective Affiliates for investment advice (as

 

100



 

opposed to other services) in connection with the Loans, the Commitments or this Agreement.

 

(c)                                   The Administrative Agent and each Lead Arranger hereby informs the Lenders that each such Person is not undertaking to provide impartial investment advice, or to give advice in a fiduciary capacity, in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby, and that such Person has a financial interest in the transactions contemplated hereby in that such Person or an Affiliate thereof (i) may receive interest or other payments with respect to the Loans, the Commitments and this Agreement, (ii) may recognize a gain if it extended the Loans or the Commitments for an amount less than the amount being paid for an interest in the Loans or the Commitments by such Lender or (iii) may receive fees or other payments in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby, the Loan Documents or otherwise, including structuring fees, commitment fees, arrangement fees, facility fees, upfront fees, underwriting fees, ticking fees, agency fees, administrative agent or collateral agent fees, utilization fees, minimum usage fees, letter of credit fees, fronting fees, deal-away or alternate transaction fees, amendment fees, processing fees, term out premiums, banker’s acceptance fees, breakage or other early termination fees or fees similar to the foregoing.

 

101



 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF , the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed as of the date first above written.

 

 

BORROWER :

 

 

 

STAG INDUSTRIAL OPERATING PARTNERSHIP, L.P. ,

 

a Delaware limited partnership

 

 

 

By:

STAG Industrial GP, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, its General Partner

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ William R. Crooker

 

Name:

William R. Crooker

 

Title:

Authorized Officer

 

 

 

 

PARENT :

 

 

 

STAG INDUSTRIAL, INC. ,

 

a Maryland corporation

 

 

 

By:

/s/ William R. Crooker

 

Name:

William R. Crooker

 

Title:

Authorized Officer

 

STAG 2018 Term Loan Agreement

 



 

 

WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION ,

 

as the Administrative Agent and a Lender

 

 

 

By:

/s/ D. Bryan Gregory

 

Name:

D. Bryan Gregory

 

Title:

Managing Director

 

STAG 2018 Term Loan Agreement

 



 

 

BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.,

 

as a Lender

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Kelsey O’Neil

 

Name:

Kelsey O’Neil

 

Title:

VP, Portfolio Manager

 

STAG 2018 Term Loan Agreement

 



 

 

CAPITAL ONE, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION ,

 

as a Lender

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Peter Ilovic

 

Name:

Peter Ilovic

 

Title:

Vice President

 

STAG 2018 Term Loan Agreement

 



 

 

PNC BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION ,

 

as a Lender

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ John R. Roach, Jr.

 

Name:

John R. Roach, Jr.

 

Title:

Senior Vice President

 

STAG 2018 Term Loan Agreement

 



 

 

REGIONS BANK ,

 

as a Lender

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Paul E. Burgan

 

Name:

Paul E. Burgan

 

Title:

Vice President

 

STAG 2018 Term Loan Agreement

 



 

 

TD BANK, N.A. ,

 

as a Lender

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Brian Welch

 

Name:

Brian Welch

 

Title:

SVP Team Lead

 

STAG 2018 Term Loan Agreement

 



 

 

RAYMOND JAMES BANK, N.A. ,

 

as a Lender

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ James Armstrong

 

Name:

James Armstrong

 

Title:

CRE Lending Manager / SVP

 

STAG 2018 Term Loan Agreement

 



 

 

ROYAL BANK OF CANADA ,

 

as a Lender

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Sheena Lee

 

Name:

Sheena Lee

 

Title:

Authorized Signatory

 

STAG 2018 Term Loan Agreement

 



 

 

U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION ,

 

as a Lender

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ David Heller

 

Name:

David Heller

 

Title:

SVP

 

STAG 2018 Term Loan Agreement

 



 

 

BRANCH BANKING & TRUST COMPANY ,

 

as a Lender

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Mark Edwards

 

Name:

Mark Edwards

 

Title:

Senior Vice President

 

STAG 2018 Term Loan Agreement

 



 

 

BMO HARRIS BANK N.A. ,

 

as a Lender

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Kevin Fennell

 

Name:

Kevin Fennell

 

Title:

Director

 

STAG 2018 Term Loan Agreement

 



 

SCHEDULE 2.01

COMMITMENTS AND APPLICABLE PERCENTAGES

 

Lender

 

Commitment

 

Applicable Percentage

 

Wells Fargo Bank, National Association

 

$

20,500,000

 

11.714285715

%

Bank of America, N.A.

 

$

20,500,000

 

11.714285715

%

Capital One, National Association

 

$

17,500,000

 

10.000000000

%

PNC Bank, National Association

 

$

17,500,000

 

10.000000000

%

Regions Bank

 

$

17,500,000

 

10.000000000

%

TD Bank, N.A.

 

$

17,500,000

 

10.000000000

%

Raymond James Bank, N.A.

 

$

15,000,000

 

8.571428571

%

Royal Bank of Canada

 

$

15,000,000

 

8.571428571

%

U.S. Bank National Association

 

$

15,000,000

 

8.571428571

%

Branch Banking and Trust Company

 

$

10,000,000

 

5.714285714

%

BMO Harris Bank N.A.

 

$

9,000,000

 

5.142857143

%

Total

 

$

175,000,000

 

100

%

 



 

EXECUTION VERSION

 

EXHIBIT A

 

FORM OF COMMITTED LOAN NOTICE

 

Date:               ,    

 

To:                              Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as the Administrative Agent

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

Reference is made to that certain Term Loan Agreement, dated as of July 26, 2018 (as amended, restated, extended, supplemented, or otherwise modified in writing from time to time, the “ Agreement ;” the terms defined therein being used herein as therein defined), among STAG Industrial Operating Partnership, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (the “ Borrower ”), STAG Industrial, Inc., a Maryland corporation, the Lenders from time to time party thereto, and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as the Administrative Agent.

 

The undersigned hereby requests (select one):
o                                     A Committed Borrowing of Committed Loans
o                                     A conversion or continuation of Committed Loans

 

1.                                       On                              (a Business Day).

 

2.                                       In the amount of $                    .

 

3.                                       Comprised of                                 .

 

[Type of Loan requested]

 

4.                                       For LIBOR Loans:  with an Interest Period of [one (1)][two (2)][three (3)][six (6)] month(s).

 

The Borrowing, if any, requested herein complies with the applicable provisions of Section 2.01 of the Agreement.

 

 

BORROWER:

 

 

 

STAG INDUSTRIAL OPERATING PARTNERSHIP, L.P.,
a Delaware limited partnership

 

 

 

By:

STAG Industrial GP, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, its General Partner

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

Name:

Stephen C. Mecke

 

Title:

Authorized Officer

 

A - 1



 

EXHIBIT B

 

FORM OF NOTE

 

FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned (the “ Borrower ”), hereby promises to pay to                       or its registered assigns (the “ Lender ”), in accordance with the provisions of the Agreement (as hereinafter defined), the principal amount of each Committed Loan from time to time made by the Lender to the Borrower under that certain Term Loan Agreement, dated as of July 26, 2018 (as amended, restated, extended, supplemented, or otherwise modified in writing from time to time, the “ Agreement ;” the terms defined therein being used herein as therein defined), among the Borrower, STAG Industrial, Inc., a Maryland corporation and the sole member of the sole general partner of the Borrower, the Lenders from time to time party thereto, and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as the Administrative Agent.

 

The Borrower promises to pay interest on the unpaid principal amount of each Committed Loan from the date of such Committed Loan until such principal amount is paid in full, at such interest rates and at such times as provided in the Agreement.  All payments of principal and interest shall be made to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Lender in Dollars in immediately available funds at the Administrative Agent’s Office.  If any amount is not paid in full when due hereunder, such unpaid amount shall bear interest, to be paid upon demand, from the due date thereof until the date of actual payment (and before as well as after judgment) computed at the per annum rate set forth in the Agreement.

 

This Note is one of the Notes referred to in the Agreement, is entitled to the benefits thereof and may be prepaid in whole or in part subject to the terms and conditions provided therein.  This Note is also entitled to the benefits of the Guaranties.  Upon the occurrence and continuation of one or more of the Events of Default specified in the Agreement, all amounts then remaining unpaid on this Note shall become, or may be declared to be, immediately due and payable all as provided in the Agreement.  Committed Loans made by the Lender shall be evidenced by one or more loan accounts or records maintained by the Lender in the ordinary course of business. The Lender may also attach schedules to this Note and endorse thereon the date, amount and maturity of its Committed Loans and payments with respect thereto.

 

The Borrower, for itself, its successors and assigns, hereby waives diligence, presentment, protest and demand and notice of protest, demand, dishonor and non-payment of this Note.

 

THIS NOTE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

 

*******

 

B - 1



 

 

BORROWER:

 

 

 

STAG INDUSTRIAL OPERATING PARTNERSHIP, L.P.,
a Delaware limited partnership

 

 

 

By:

STAG Industrial GP, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, its General Partner

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

Name:

Stephen C. Mecke

 

Title:

Authorized Officer

 

Signature Page

to Note

 

B - 2



 

COMMITTED LOANS AND PAYMENTS WITH RESPECT THERETO

 

Date

 

Type of
Loan Made

 

Amount of
Loan Made

 

End of
Interest
Period

 

Amount of
Principal or
Interest
Paid This
Date

 

Outstanding
Principal
Balance
This Date

 

Notation
Made By

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

B - 3



 

EXHIBIT C

 

FORM OF COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE

 

Financial Statement Date:        ,    

 

To:                              Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as the Administrative Agent

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

Reference is made to that certain Term Loan Agreement, dated as of July 26, 2018 (as amended, restated, extended, supplemented, or otherwise modified in writing from time to time, the “ Agreement ;” the terms defined therein being used herein as therein defined), among STAG Industrial Operating Partnership, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (the “ Borrower ”), STAG Industrial, Inc., a Maryland corporation and the sole general partner of the Borrower (the “ Parent ”), the Lenders from time to time party thereto, and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as the Administrative Agent.

 

The undersigned Responsible Officer hereby certifies as of the date hereof that he/she is the                                                 of the Parent, and that, as such, he/she is authorized to execute and deliver this Certificate to the Administrative Agent on the behalf of the Parent, for itself and as general partner of the Borrower, and that:

 

[Use the following paragraph 1 for fiscal year-end financial statements]

 

1.                                       The Parent has delivered the year-end audited financial statements required by Section 7.01(a)  of the Agreement for the fiscal year of the Parent ended as of the above date, together with the report and opinion of an independent certified public accountant required by such section.

 

[Use the following paragraph 1 for fiscal quarter-end financial statements]

 

1.                                       The Parent has delivered the unaudited financial statements required by Section 7.01(b)  of the Agreement for the fiscal quarter of the Parent ended as of the above date.  Such financial statements fairly present the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the Companies in accordance with GAAP as at such date and for such period, subject only to normal year-end audit adjustments and the absence of footnotes.

 

2.                                       The undersigned has reviewed and is familiar with the terms of the Agreement and has made, or has caused to be made under his/her supervision, a detailed review of the transactions and condition (financial or otherwise) of the Companies during the accounting period covered by such financial statements.

 

3.                                       A review of the activities of the Companies during such fiscal period has been made under the supervision of the undersigned with a view to determining whether during such fiscal period the Companies performed and observed all of their Obligations under the Loan Documents, and

 

[select one:]

 

[during such fiscal period each Company has performed and observed each covenant and condition of the Loan Documents applicable to it, and no Default has occurred and is continuing.]

 

C - 1



 

—or—

 

[during such fiscal period the following covenants or conditions have not been performed or observed and the following is a list of each such Default and its nature and status:]

 

4.                                       The representations and warranties of the Parent and the Borrower contained in Article VI of the Agreement, and any representations and warranties of any Loan Party that are contained in any document furnished at any time under or in connection with the Loan Documents, are true and correct on and as of the date hereof, except to the extent that such representations and warranties specifically refer to an earlier date, in which case they are true and correct as of such earlier date, and except that for purposes of this Compliance Certificate, the representations and warranties contained in Section 6.05(b)  shall be deemed to refer to the most-recent statements furnished pursuant to Section 7.01(b)  of the Agreement, in each case, including the statements delivered in connection with this Compliance Certificate.

 

5.                                       The financial covenant analyses and information set forth on Schedules 1 and 2 attached hereto are true and accurate on and as of the date of this Certificate.

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF , the undersigned has executed this Certificate as of                           , 20        .

 

 

BORROWER:

 

 

 

STAG INDUSTRIAL OPERATING PARTNERSHIP, L.P.,
a Delaware limited partnership

 

 

 

By:

STAG Industrial GP, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, its General Partner

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

Name:

Stephen C. Mecke

 

Title:

Authorized Officer

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PARENT:

 

 

 

STAG INDUSTRIAL, INC. ,

 

a Maryland corporation

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

Name:

Stephen C. Mecke

 

Title:

Authorized Officer

 

C - 2



 

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

 

SCHEDULE 1
to the Compliance Certificate
($ in 000’s)

 

I.                                         Section 8.14(a)  — Maximum Consolidated Leverage Ratio.

 

A.                       Consolidated Total Debt as of the Statement Date:

$

B.                       Total Asset Value as of the Statement Date (See Schedule 2 ):

$

C.                       Consolidated Leverage Ratio (Line I.A divided by Line I.B):

                    %

Maximum permitted :

60%

 

 

II.                                    Section 8.14(b)  — Maximum Secured Leverage Ratio.

 

A.                       Secured Indebtedness as of the Statement Date:

$

B.                       Total Asset Value as of the Statement Date (See Schedule 2 ):

$

C.                       Secured Leverage Ratio (Line II.A divided by Line II.B):

                    %

Maximum permitted :

40%

 

 

III.                               Section 8.14(c)  — Maximum Unencumbered Leverage Ratio.

 

A.                       Unsecured Indebtedness as of the Statement Date:

$

B.                       Unencumbered Asset Value as of the Statement Date (See Schedule 2 ):

$

C.                       Unencumbered Leverage Ratio (Line III.A divided by Line III.B):

                    %

Maximum permitted :

60%

Maximum permitted :

7.5%

 

 

IV.                                Section 8.14(e)  — Minimum Fixed Charge Ratio.

 

A.                       Consolidated EBITDA for the four (4) fiscal quarters ending on the Statement Date (the “ Subject Period ”) (See Schedule 2 ):

$

B.                       Consolidated Fixed Charges for the Subject Period (See Schedule 2 ):

$

C.                       Fixed Charge Ratio (Line IV.A. divided by Line IV.B):

                to 1

Minimum required :

1.5 to 1.0

 

 

V.                                     Section 8.14(f)  — Minimum Unsecured Interest Coverage Ratio.

 

A.                       Unencumbered Adjusted NOI (See Schedule 2 ):

$

B.                       Unsecured Interest Expense (See Schedule 2 ):

$

C.                       Unsecured Interest Coverage Ratio (Line V.A divided by Line V.B):

$

Minimum required :

1.75 to 1.00

 

C - 3



 

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

 

SCHEDULE 2
to the Compliance Certificate
($ in 000’s)

 

CALCULATION OF TOTAL ASSET VALUE, UNENCUMBERED ASSET VALUE, CONSOLIDATED EBITDA, CONSOLIDATED FIXED CHARGES, UNENCUMBERED ADJUSTED NOI, UNSECURED INTEREST EXPENSE, ETC.

(all in accordance with the definition for such term
as set forth in the Agreement)

 

[Provide Various Calculations]

 

C - 4



 

EXHIBIT D-1

 

ASSIGNMENT AND ASSUMPTION

 

This Assignment and Assumption (this “ Assignment and Assumption ”) is dated as of the Effective Date set forth below and is entered into by and between [the][each](1) Assignor identified in item 1 below ([the][each, an] “ Assignor ”) and [the][each](2) Assignee identified in item 2 below ([the][each, an] “ Assignee ”).  [It is understood and agreed that the rights and obligations of [the Assignors][the Assignees](3) hereunder are several and not joint.](4)  Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Term Loan Agreement defined below, receipt of a copy of which is hereby acknowledged by the Assignee.  The Standard Terms and Conditions set forth in Annex 1 attached hereto are hereby agreed to and incorporated herein by reference and made a part of this Assignment and Assumption as if set forth herein in full.

 

For an agreed consideration, [the][each] Assignor hereby irrevocably sells and assigns to [the Assignee][the respective Assignees], and [the][each] Assignee hereby irrevocably purchases and assumes from [the Assignor][the respective Assignors], subject to and in accordance with the Standard Terms and Conditions and the Term Loan Agreement, as of the Effective Date inserted by the Administrative Agent as contemplated below (i) all of [the Assignor’s][the respective Assignors’] rights and obligations in [its capacity as a Lender][their respective capacities as Lenders] under the Term Loan Agreement and any other documents or instruments delivered pursuant thereto to the extent related to the amount and percentage interest identified below of all such outstanding rights and obligations of [the Assignor][the respective Assignors] with respect to the Loans described below and (ii) to the extent permitted to be assigned under applicable law, all claims, suits, causes of action and any other right of [the Assignor (in its capacity as a Lender)][the respective Assignors (in their respective capacities as Lenders)] against any Person, whether known or unknown, arising under or in connection with the Term Loan Agreement, any other documents or instruments delivered pursuant thereto or the loan transactions governed thereby or in any way based on or related to any of the foregoing, including, but not limited to, contract claims, tort claims, malpractice claims, statutory claims and all other claims at law or in equity related to the rights and obligations sold and assigned pursuant to clause (i)  above (the rights and obligations sold and assigned by [the][any] Assignor to [the][any] Assignee pursuant to clauses (i)  and (ii)  above being referred to herein collectively as [the][an] “ Assigned Interest ”).  Each such sale and assignment is without recourse to [the][any] Assignor and, except as expressly provided in this Assignment and Assumption, without representation or warranty by [the][any] Assignor.

 

1.

Assignor[s]:

 

 

 

 

 

 

2.

Assignee[s]:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


(1)                                  For bracketed language here and elsewhere in this form relating to the Assignor(s), if the assignment is from a single Assignor, choose the first bracketed language.  If the assignment is from multiple Assignors, choose the second bracketed language.

(2)                                  For bracketed language here and elsewhere in this form relating to the Assignee(s), if the assignment is to a single Assignee, choose the first bracketed language.  If the assignment is to multiple Assignees, choose the second bracketed language.

(3)                                  Select as appropriate.

(4)                                  Include bracketed language if there are either multiple Assignors or multiple Assignees.

 

D-1 - 1



 

[for each Assignee, indicate [Affiliate][Approved Fund] of [ identify Lender ]]

 

3.                                       Borrower:                                           STAG Industrial Operating Partnership, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership

 

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

 

5.                                       Term Loan Agreement:  Term Loan Agreement, dated as of July 26, 2018 (as amended, restated, extended, supplemented, or otherwise modified in writing from time to time, the “ Term Loan Agreement ”), among the Borrower, STAG Industrial, Inc., Maryland corporation (the “ Parent ”), the Lenders from time to time party thereto, and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as the Administrative Agent

 

6.                                       Assigned Interest[s]:

 

Assignor[s](5)

 

Assignee[s](6)

 

Aggregate
Amount of
Loans
for all
Lenders(7)

 

Amount of
Loans
Assigned

 

Percentage
Assigned of
Loans(8)

 

CUSIP
Number

 

 

 

 

 

$

      

 

$

            

 

 

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

      

 

$

            

 

 

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

      

 

$

            

 

 

%

 

 

 

[7.                                   Trade Date:                                                  ](9)

 

Effective Date:                   , 20   [TO BE INSERTED BY THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT AND WHICH SHALL BE THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF RECORDATION OF TRANSFER IN THE REGISTER THEREFOR.]

 

The terms set forth in this Assignment and Assumption are hereby agreed to:

 


(5)                                  List each Assignor, as appropriate.

(6)                                  List each Assignee, as appropriate.

(7)                                  Amounts in this column and in the column immediately to the right to be adjusted by the counterparties to take into account any payments or prepayments made between the Trade Date and the Effective Date.

(8)                                  Set forth, to at least 9 decimals, as a percentage of the Loans of all Lenders thereunder.

(9)                                  To be completed if the Assignor and the Assignee intend that the minimum assignment amount is to be determined as of the Trade Date.

 

D-1 - 2



 

 

ASSIGNOR

 

 

 

[NAME OF ASSIGNOR]

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

 

 

ASSIGNEE

 

 

 

[NAME OF ASSIGNEE]

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

 

D-1 - 3



 

[Consented to and](10) Accepted :

 

 

 

WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION ,

 

as the Administrative Agent

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

 

 


(10)                           To be added only if the consent of the Administrative Agent is required by the terms of the Term Loan Agreement.

 

D-1 - 4



 

[Consented to:] (11)

 

 

 

BORROWER:

 

 

 

STAG INDUSTRIAL OPERATING PARTNERSHIP, L.P. ,

 

a Delaware limited partnership

 

 

 

By:

STAG Industrial GP, LLC, a Delaware limited liability

 

 

company, its General Partner

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

Authorized Officer

 

 


(11)                           To be added only if the consent of Borrower and/or other parties is required by the terms of the Term Loan Agreement.

 

D-1 - 5



 

ANNEX 1 TO ASSIGNMENT AND ASSUMPTION

 

STANDARD TERMS AND CONDITIONS FOR

 

ASSIGNMENT AND ASSUMPTION

 

1.                                       Representations and Warranties.

 

1.1.                             Assignor .  [The][Each] Assignor (a) represents and warrants that (i) it is the legal and beneficial owner of [the][[the relevant] Assigned Interest, (ii) [the][such] Assigned Interest is free and clear of any lien, encumbrance or other adverse claim and (iii) it has full power and authority, and has taken all action necessary, to execute and deliver this Assignment and Assumption and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby; and (b) assumes no responsibility with respect to (i) any statements, warranties or representations made in or in connection with the Term Loan Agreement or any other Loan Document, (ii) the execution, legality, validity, enforceability, genuineness, sufficiency or value of the Loan Documents or any collateral thereunder, (iii) the financial condition of the Borrower, any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates or any other Person obligated in respect of any Loan Document or (iv) the performance or observance by the Borrower, any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates or any other Person of any of their respective obligations under any Loan Document.

 

1.2.                             Assignee .  [The][Each] Assignee (a) represents and warrants that (i) it has full power and authority, and has taken all action necessary, to execute and deliver this Assignment and Assumption and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and to become a Lender under the Term Loan Agreement, (ii) it meets all the requirements to be an assignee under Section 11.06(b)(iii)  and (v)  of the Term Loan Agreement (subject to such consents, if any, as may be required under Section 11.06(b)(iii)  of the Term Loan Agreement), (iii) from and after the Effective Date, it shall be bound by the provisions of the Term Loan Agreement as a Lender thereunder and, to the extent of [the][the relevant] Assigned Interest, shall have the obligations of a Lender thereunder, (iv) it is sophisticated with respect to decisions to acquire assets of the type represented by [the][such] Assigned Interest and either it, or the Person exercising discretion in making its decision to acquire [the][such] Assigned Interest, is experienced in acquiring assets of such type, (v) it has received a copy of the Term Loan Agreement, and has received or has been accorded the opportunity to receive copies of the most-recent financial statements delivered pursuant to Sections 7.01(a)  and (b)  thereof, as applicable, and such other documents and information as it deems appropriate to make its own credit analysis and decision to enter into this Assignment and Assumption and to purchase [the][such] Assigned Interest, (vi) it has, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent or any other Lender and based on such documents and information as it has deemed appropriate, made its own credit analysis and decision to enter into this Assignment and Assumption and to purchase [the][such] Assigned Interest, and (vii) if it is a Foreign Lender, attached hereto is any documentation required to be delivered by it pursuant to the terms of the Term Loan Agreement, duly completed and executed by [the][such] Assignee; and (b) agrees that (i) it will, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent, [the][any] Assignor or any other Lender, and based on such documents and information as it shall deem appropriate at the time, continue to make its own credit decisions in taking or not taking action under the Loan Documents, and (ii) it will perform in accordance with their terms all of the obligations which by the terms of the Loan Documents are required to be performed by it as a Lender.

 

2.                                       Payments .  From and after the Effective Date, the Administrative Agent shall make all payments in respect of [the][each] Assigned Interest (including payments of principal, interest, fees and other amounts) to [the][the relevant] Assignor for amounts which have accrued to but excluding the Effective Date and to [the][the relevant] Assignee for amounts which have accrued from and after the Effective Date.

 

D-1 - 6



 

3.                                       General Provisions .  This Assignment and Assumption shall be binding upon, and inure to the benefit of, the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns.  This Assignment and Assumption may be executed in any number of counterparts, which together shall constitute one instrument.  Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page of this Assignment and Assumption by telecopy shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Assignment and Assumption.  This Assignment and Assumption shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the law of the State of New York.

 

D-1 - 7



 

EXHIBIT D-2

 

FORM OF ADMINISTRATIVE QUESTIONNAIRE

 

(see attached)

 

D-2 - 1



 

Administrative Details Questionnaire

 

Borrower: STAG Industrial Operating Partnership, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership

 

Agent Address:

Wells Fargo Bank, National Association

Return form to:

 

 

Loan Service Operations

Telephone:

 

 

 

Facsimile:

 

 

 

E-mail:

 

 

Attn:

Email Cc:

 

 

It is very important that all of the requested information be completed accurately and that this questionnaire be returned promptly. If your institution is sub-allocating its allocation, please fill out an administrative questionnaire for each legal entity.

 

Legal Name of Lender to appear in Documentation:

 

 

Signature Block Information:

 

 

o

Signing Term Loan Agreement:

o

Yes

o

No

o

Coming in via Assignment:

o

Yes

o

No

 

Type of Lender:

(Bank, Asset Manager, Broker/Dealer, CLO/CDO, Finance Company, Hedge Fund, Insurance, Mutual Fund, Pension Fund, Other Regulated Investment Fund, Special Purpose Vehicle or Other, please specify)

 

Taxpayer ID Number:

 

Foreign Entity:

Yes    o    No    o

 

Country of Origin                

 

(If yes, please complete and return appropriate FOREIGN IRS Form [usually Form W-8BEN or W-ECI])

 

D-2 - 2



 

Contacts/Notification Methods: Borrowings, Paydowns, Interest, Fees, etc.

 

 

Primary Credit Contact

 

Secondary Credit Contact

Name:

 

 

 

Title:

 

 

 

Address:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Telephone:

 

 

 

Facsimile:

 

 

 

E-Mail Address:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

 

Title:

 

 

 

Address:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Telephone:

 

 

 

Facsimile:

 

 

 

E-Mail Address:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Primary Operations Contact

 

Secondary Operations Contact

Name:

 

 

 

Title:

 

 

 

Address:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Telephone:

 

 

 

Facsimile:

 

 

 

E-Mail Address:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

 

Title:

 

 

 

Address:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Telephone:

 

 

 

Facsimile:

 

 

 

E-Mail Address:

 

 

 

 

D-2 - 3



 

PLEASE COMPLETE FOR ANY ELECTRONIC DISTRIBUTION CONTACTS (In addition to contacts listed above).

 

Name:

 

 

 

Working Title:

 

 

 

Address:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Telephone:

 

 

 

E-Mail Address:

 

 

 

Access Level

 

 

 

Operational or

Credit:

 

 

 

 

D-2 - 4



 

Lender’s Domestic Wire Instructions

 

Bank Name:

 

City and State:

 

ABA/Routing No.:

 

Account Name:

 

Account No.:

 

FFC Account Name:

 

FFC Account No.:

 

Attention:

 

Reference:

 

 

Lender’s Foreign Wire Instructions (please include wiring instructions for EACH currency as applicable)

 

Bank Name:

 

ABA/Routing No.:

 

Account Name:

 

Account No.:

 

FFC Account Name:

 

FFC Account No.:

 

Attention:

 

Reference:

 

SWIFT:

 

Country of Origin:

 

 

, hereby authorizes Wells Fargo Bank to rely on the payment instructions contained in this Administrative Details Form.

 

By:

 

 

 

 

 

Its:

 

 

 

D-2 - 5



 

Agent’s Wire Instructions

 

Bank Name:

Wells Fargo Bank

City and State:

Minneapolis, MN

ABA/Routing No.:

121000248

Account Name:

Agency CRE Clearing Account

Account No.:

02057751628807

FFC Account Name:

 

FFC Account No.:

 

Attention:

DA — See page 1 for Loan Service Operations Contact

Reference:

BORROWER NAME

 

D-2 - 6



 

TAX REPORTING INFORMATION (PLEASE REVIEW THE INFORMATION BELOW AND SUBMIT THE APPROPRIATE IRS TAX FORM ALONG WITH THIS COMPLETED ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS QUESTIONNAIRE).

 

TAX DOCUMENTS

 

U.S. DOMESTIC INSTITUTIONS:

 

If your institution is incorporated or organized within the United States, you must complete and return Form W-9 (Request for Taxpayer Identification Number and Certification) . Please be advised that we request that you submit an original Form W-9 .

 

o             Attach Form W-9 for current Tax Year

 

o             Confirm Tax ID Number:

 

FOREIGN INSTITUTIONS:

 

I. Corporations:

 

If your institution is incorporated outside of the United States for U.S. federal income tax purposes, and is the beneficial owner of the interest and other income it receives, you must complete one of the following three tax forms, as applicable to your institution:

 

a.) Form W8BEN (Certificate of Foreign Status of Beneficial Owner),

 

b.) Form W-8ECI (Income Effectively Connected to a U.S. Trade or Business),

 

c.) Form W-8EXP (Certificate of Foreign Government or Governmental Agency).

 

A U.S. taxpayer identification number is required for any institution submitting Form W-8ECI. It is also required on Form W-8BEN for certain institutions claiming the benefits of a tax treaty with the U.S. Please be advised that U.S. tax regulations do not permit the acceptance of faxed forms. An original tax form must be submitted .

 

o             Attach Form W-8 for current Tax Year

 

o             Confirm Tax ID Number:

 

II. Flow-Through Entities :

 

If your institution is organized outside the U.S., and is classified for U.S. federal income tax purposes as either a Partnership, Trust, Qualified or Non-Qualified Intermediary, or other non U.S. flow-through entity, an original Form W-8IMY (Certificate of Foreign Intermediary, Foreign Flow-Through Entity, or Certain U.S. Branches for United States Tax Withholding) must be completed by the intermediary together with a withholding statement. Flow-through entities other than Qualified Intermediaries are required to include tax forms for each of the underlying beneficial owners. Please be advised that U.S. tax regulations do not permit the acceptance of faxed forms. Original tax form(s) must be submitted .

 

o             Attach Form W-8 for current Tax Year

 

o             Confirm Tax ID Number:

 

Pursuant to the language contained in the tax section of the Term Loan Agreement, the applicable tax form for your institution must be completed and returned prior to the first payment of income. Failure to provide the proper tax form when requested may subject your institution to U.S. tax withholding.

 

D-2 - 7



 

EXHIBIT E

 

FORM OF DISBURSEMENT INSTRUCTION AGREEMENT

 

Borrower:  STAG Industrial Operating Partnership, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership

 

Administrative Agent:  Wells Fargo Bank, National Association

 

Loan:   Loan number 1018335  made pursuant to that certain Term Loan Agreement dated as of July 26, 2018 among the Borrower, STAG Industrial, Inc., a Maryland corporation and the sole general partner of the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, and the Lenders from time to time party thereto, as amended from time to time

 

Effective Date:   July 26, 2018

 

Check applicable box:

 

o             New — This is the first Disbursement Instruction Agreement submitted in connection with the Loan.

o             Replace Previous Agreement — This is a replacement Disbursement Instruction Agreement.  All prior instructions submitted in connection with this Loan are cancelled as of the Effective Date set forth above.

 

This Agreement must be signed by the Borrower and is used for the following purposes:

 

(1)          to designate an individual or individuals with authority to request disbursements of Loan proceeds, whether at the time of Loan closing/origination or thereafter;

 

(2)          to designate an individual or individuals with authority to request disbursements of funds from Restricted Accounts (as defined in the Terms and Conditions attached to this Agreement), if applicable; and

 

(3)          to provide Administrative Agent with specific instructions for wiring or transferring funds on Borrower’s behalf.

 

Any of the disbursements, wires or transfers described above are referred to herein as a “ Disbursement .”

 

Specific dollar amounts for Disbursements must be provided to Administrative Agent at the time of the applicable Disbursement in the form of a signed closing statement or an email instruction or other written communication, or telephonic request pursuant to Section 2.02(a)  of the Term Loan Agreement (each, a “ Disbursement Request ”) from an applicable Authorized Representative (as defined in the Terms and Conditions attached to this Agreement).

 

A new Disbursement Instruction Agreement must be completed and signed by the Borrower if (i) all or any portion of a Disbursement is to be transferred to an account or an entity not described in this Agreement or (ii) Borrower wishes to add or remove any Authorized Representatives.

 

See the Additional Terms and Conditions attached hereto for additional information and for definitions of certain capitalized terms used in this Agreement.

 

E - 1



 

Disbursement of Loan Proceeds at Origination/Closing

 

Closing Disbursement Authorizers :  Administrative Agent is authorized to accept one or more Disbursement Requests from any of the individuals named below (each, a “ Closing Disbursement Authorizer ”) to disburse Loan proceeds on or about the date of the Loan origination/closing and to initiate Disbursements in connection therewith (each, a “ Closing Disbursement ”):

 

 

Individual’s Name

Title

1.

 

 

2.

 

 

3.

 

 

 

Describe Restrictions, if any, on the authority of the Closing Disbursement Authorizers (dollar amount limits, wire/deposit destinations, etc.):

 

N/A

 

If there are no restrictions described here, any Closing Disbursement Authorizer may submit a Disbursement Request for all available Loan proceeds.

 

Permitted Wire Transfers:   Disbursement Requests for the Closing Disbursement(s) to be made by wire transfer must specify the amount and applicable Receiving Party.  Each Receiving Party included in any such Disbursement Request must be listed below.  Administrative Agent is authorized to use the wire instructions that have been provided directly to Administrative Agent by the Receiving Party or Borrower and attached as the Closing Exhibit.  All wire instructions must be in the format specified on the Closing Exhibit.

 

 

Names of Receiving Parties for the Closing Disbursement(s) (may include as many parties as needed; wire instructions for each Receiving Party must be attached as the Closing Exhibit)

1.

 

 

2.

 

 

3.

 

 

 

Direct Deposit:   Disbursement Requests for the Closing Disbursement(s) to be deposited into an account at Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. must specify the amount and applicable account.  Each account included in any such Disbursement Request must be listed below.

 

Name on Deposit Account:

Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. Deposit Account Number:

Further Credit Information/Instructions:

 

E - 2



 

Disbursements of Loan Proceeds Subsequent to Loan Closing/Origination

 

Subsequent Disbursement Authorizers :  Administrative Agent is authorized to accept one or more Disbursement Requests from any of the individuals named below (each, a “ Subsequent Disbursement Authorizer ”) to disburse Loan proceeds after the date of the Loan origination/closing and to initiate Disbursements in connection therewith (each, a “ Subsequent Disbursement ”):

 

 

Individual’s Name

Title

1.

 

 

2.

 

 

3.

 

 

 

Describe Restrictions, if any, on the authority of the Subsequent Disbursement Authorizers (dollar amount limits, wire/deposit destinations, etc.):

 

N/A

 

If there are no restrictions described here, any Subsequent Disbursement Authorizer may submit a Disbursement Request for all available Loan proceeds.

 

Permitted Wire Transfers:   Disbursement Requests for Subsequent Disbursements to be made by wire transfer must specify the amount and applicable Receiving Party.  Each Receiving Party included in any such Disbursement Request must be listed below.  Administrative Agent is authorized to use the wire instructions that have been provided directly to Administrative Agent by the Receiving Party or Borrower and attached as the Subsequent Disbursement Exhibit. All wire instructions must be in the format specified on the Subsequent Disbursement Exhibit.

 

 

Names of Receiving Parties for Subsequent Disbursements (may include as many parties as needed; wire instructions for each Receiving Party must be attached as the Subsequent Disbursement Exhibit)

1.

 

 

2.

 

 

3.

 

 

 

Direct Deposit:   Disbursement Requests for Subsequent Disbursements to be deposited into an account at Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. must specify the amount and applicable account.  Each account included in any such Disbursement Request must be listed below.

 

Name on Deposit Account:

Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. Deposit Account Number:

Further Credit Information/Instructions:

 

E - 3



 

Restricted Account Disbursements

 

Restricted Account Disbursement Authorizers :  Administrative Agent is authorized to accept one or more Disbursement Requests from any of the individuals named below (each, a “ Restricted Account Disbursement Authorizer ”) to disburse funds from a Restricted Account and to initiate Disbursements in connection therewith (each, a “ Restricted Account Disbursement ”):

 

 

Individual’s Name

Title

1.

 

 

2.

 

 

3.

 

 

 

Describe Restrictions, if any, on the authority of the Restricted Account Disbursement Authorizers (dollar amount limits, wire/deposit destinations, etc.):

 

N/A

 

If there are no restrictions described here, any Restricted Account Disbursement Authorizer may submit a Disbursement Request for all available funds.

 

Permitted Wire Transfers:   Disbursement Requests for Restricted Account Disbursements to be made by wire transfer must specify the amount and applicable Receiving Party.  Each Receiving Party included in any such Disbursement Request must be listed below.  Administrative Agent is authorized to use the wire instructions that have been provided directly to Administrative Agent by the Receiving Party or Borrower and attached as the Restricted Account Disbursement Exhibit. All wire instructions must be in the format specified on the Restricted Account Disbursement Exhibit.

 

 

Names of Receiving Parties for Restricted Account Disbursements (may include as many parties as needed; wire instructions for each Receiving Party must be attached as the Restricted Account Disbursement Exhibit)

1.

 

 

2.

 

 

3.

 

 

 

Direct Deposit:   Disbursement Requests for Restricted Account Disbursements to be deposited into an account at Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. must specify the amount and applicable account.  Each account included in any such Disbursement Request must be listed below.

 

Name on Deposit Account:

Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. Deposit Account Number:

Further Credit Information/Instructions:

 

E - 4



 

Borrower acknowledges that all of the information in this Agreement is correct and agrees to the terms and conditions set forth herein and in the Additional Terms and Conditions on the following page.

 

 

BORROWER:

 

 

 

STAG INDUSTRIAL OPERATING PARTNERSHIP, L.P.,
a Delaware limited partnership

 

 

 

By:

STAG Industrial GP, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, its General Partner

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

Name:

Stephen C. Mecke

 

Title:

Authorized Officer

 

E - 5



 

Additional Terms and Conditions to the Disbursement Instruction Agreement

 

Definitions.   The following capitalized terms shall have the meanings set forth below:

 

“Authorized Representative” means any or all of the Closing Disbursement Authorizers, Subsequent Disbursement Authorizers and Restricted Account Disbursement Authorizers, as applicable.

 

“Receiving Bank” means the financial institution where a Receiving Party maintains its account.

 

“Receiving Party” means the ultimate recipient of funds pursuant to a Disbursement Request.

 

“Restricted Account” means an account at Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. associated with the Loan to which Borrower’s access is restricted.

 

Capitalized terms used in these Additional Terms and Conditions to Disbursement Instruction Agreement and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings given to such terms in the body of the Agreement.

 

Disbursement Requests. Except as expressly provided in the Term Loan Agreement, Administrative Agent must receive Disbursement Requests in writing.    Disbursement Requests will only be accepted from the applicable Authorized Representatives designated in the Disbursement Instruction Agreement. Disbursement Requests will be processed subject to satisfactory completion of Administrative Agent’s customer verification procedures. Administrative Agent is only responsible for making a good faith effort to execute each Disbursement Request and may use agents of its choice to execute Disbursement Requests.  Funds disbursed pursuant to a Disbursement Request may be transmitted directly to the Receiving Bank, or indirectly to the Receiving Bank through another bank, government agency, or other third party that Administrative Agent considers to be reasonable.  Administrative Agent will, in its sole discretion, determine the funds transfer system and the means by which each Disbursement will be made provided such funds transfer system complies with the requirements of the Term Loan Agreement.  Administrative Agent may delay or refuse to accept a Disbursement Request if the Disbursement would: (i) violate the terms of this Agreement; (ii) require use of a bank prohibited by government authority or Administrative Agent or any Lender’s policies or requirements; (iii) cause Administrative Agent or Lenders to violate any Federal Reserve or other regulatory risk control program or guideline; or (iv) otherwise cause Administrative Agent or Lenders to violate any applicable law or regulation.

 

Limitation of Liability. Administrative Agent and Lenders shall not be liable to Borrower or any other parties for: (i) errors, acts or failures to act of others, including other entities, banks, communications carriers or clearinghouses, through which Borrower’s requested Disbursements may be made or information received or transmitted, and no such entity shall be deemed an agent of the Administrative Agent or any Lender; (ii) any loss, liability or delay caused by fires, earthquakes, wars, civil disturbances, power surges or failures, acts of government, labor disputes, failures in communications networks, legal constraints or other events beyond Administrative Agent or any Lender’s control; or (iii) any special, consequential, indirect or punitive damages, whether or not (A) any claim for these damages is based on tort or contract or (B) Administrative Agent, any Lender or Borrower knew or should have known the likelihood of these damages in any situation.  Neither Administrative Agent nor any Lender makes any representations or warranties other than those expressly made in this Agreement.  IN NO EVENT WILL ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT OR ANY LENDER BE LIABLE FOR DAMAGES ARISING DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY IF A DISBURSEMENT REQUEST IS EXECUTED BY ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT IN GOOD FAITH AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE TERMS OF THIS AGREEMENT AND THE TERM LOAN AGREEMENT, EXCEPT TO THE EXTENT EXPRESSLY SET FORTH IN SECTION 11.04(E)  OF THE TERM LOAN AGREEMENT.

 

Reliance on Information Provided. Administrative Agent is authorized to rely on the information provided by Borrower or any Authorized Representative in or in accordance with this Agreement when executing a Disbursement Request until Administrative Agent has received a new Agreement signed by Borrower.  Borrower agrees to be bound by any Disbursement Request: (i) authorized or transmitted by Borrower; or (ii) made in Borrower’s name and accepted by Administrative Agent in good faith and in compliance with this Agreement, even if not properly authorized by Borrower.  Administrative Agent may rely solely (i) on the account number of the Receiving Party, rather than the Receiving Party’s name, and (ii) on the bank routing number of the Receiving Bank, rather than the Receiving Bank’s name, in executing a Disbursement Request.  Administrative Agent is not obligated or required in any way to take any actions to detect errors in information provided by Borrower or an Authorized Representative.  If Administrative Agent takes any actions in an attempt to detect errors in the transmission or content of transfers or requests or takes any actions in an attempt to detect unauthorized Disbursement Requests, Borrower agrees that, no matter how many times Administrative Agent takes these actions, Administrative Agent will not in any situation be liable for failing to take or correctly perform these actions in the future, and such actions shall not become any part of the Disbursement procedures authorized herein, in the Loan Documents, or in any agreement between Administrative Agent and Borrower.

 

International Disbursements. A Disbursement Request expressed in US Dollars will be sent in US Dollars, even if the Receiving Party or Receiving Bank is located outside the United States. Administrative Agent will not execute Disbursement Requests expressed in foreign currency unless permitted by the Term Loan Agreement.

 

Errors. Borrower agrees to notify Administrative Agent of any errors in the Disbursement of any funds or of any unauthorized or improperly authorized Disbursement Requests within fourteen (14) days after Administrative Agent’s confirmation to Borrower of such Disbursement.

 

Finality of Disbursement Requests. Disbursement Requests will be final and will not be subject to stop payment or recall; provided that Administrative Agent may, at Borrower’s request, make an effort to effect a stop payment or recall but will incur no liability whatsoever for its failure or inability to do so.

 

E - 6



 

CLOSING EXHIBIT

WIRE INSTRUCTIONS

 

All wire instructions must contain the following information:

 

Transfer/Deposit Funds to (Receiving Party Account Name)

 

Receiving Party Deposit Account Number

 

Receiving Bank Name, City and State

 

Receiving Bank Routing (ABA) Number

 

Further identifying information, if applicable (title escrow number, borrower name, loan number, etc.)

 

E - 7



 

SUBSEQUENT DISBURSEMENT EXHIBIT

WIRE INSTRUCTIONS

 

All wire instructions must contain the following information:

 

Transfer/Deposit Funds to (Receiving Party Account Name)

 

Receiving Party Deposit Account Number

 

Receiving Bank Name, City and State

 

Receiving Bank Routing (ABA) Number

 

Further identifying information, if applicable (title escrow number, borrower name, loan number, etc.)

 

E - 8



 

RESTRICTED ACCOUNT DISBURSEMENT EXHIBIT

WIRE INSTRUCTIONS

 

All wire instructions must contain the following information:

 

Transfer/Deposit Funds to (Receiving Party Account Name)

 

Receiving Party Deposit Account Number

 

Receiving Bank Name, City and State

 

Receiving Bank Routing (ABA) Number

 

Further identifying information, if applicable (title escrow number, borrower name, loan number, etc.)

 

E - 9


 


 

EXHIBIT F-1

 

FORM OF PARENT GUARANTY

 

EXECUTED VERSION

 

PARENT GUARANTY AGREEMENT

 

THIS PARENT GUARANTY AGREEMENT (this “ Guaranty ”) is executed as of July 26, 2018, by STAG INDUSTRIAL, INC., a Maryland corporation, (“ Guarantor ”), for the benefit of the Credit Parties (defined below).

 

RECITALS:

 

A.                                     STAG Industrial Operating Partnership, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (“ Borrower ”) may, from time to time, be indebted to the Credit Parties pursuant to that certain Term Loan Agreement dated of even date herewith (as amended, modified, supplemented, or restated from time to time, the “ Credit Agreement ”), among the Borrower, the Guarantor, the Lenders now or hereafter party to the Credit Agreement (the “ Lenders ”), and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Lenders (“ Administrative Agent ”) (Administrative Agent and the Lenders, together with their respective successors and assigns, are each a “ Credit Party ,” and collectively the “ Credit Parties ”).  Capitalized terms used herein shall, unless otherwise indicated, have the respective meanings set forth in the Credit Agreement .

 

B.                                     The Guarantor is a limited partner of, and holds Equity Interests in, the Borrower and will benefit from the Credit Parties’ extension of credit to the Borrower.

 

C.                                     This Guaranty is integral to the transactions contemplated by the Loan Documents, and the execution and delivery hereof is a condition precedent to the Credit Parties’ obligations to extend credit to the Borrower under the Loan Documents.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, as an inducement to the Credit Parties to enter into the Credit Agreement and to make Loans to the Borrower thereunder, and to extend such credit to the Borrower as the Credit Parties may from time to time agree to extend, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and legal sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Guarantor hereby guarantees payment of the Guaranteed Obligations (hereinafter defined) and hereby agrees as follows:

 

Section 1.                                           NATURE OF GUARANTY.   The Guarantor hereby absolutely and unconditionally guarantees, as a guarantee of payment and not merely as a guarantee of collection, prompt payment when due, whether at stated maturity, upon acceleration or otherwise, and at all times thereafter, of any and all existing and future Obligations including, without limitation, all indebtedness and liabilities of every kind, nature and character, direct or indirect, absolute or contingent, liquidated or unliquidated, voluntary or involuntary, of the Borrower to the Credit Parties arising under the Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents (including, without limitation, all renewals, extensions, modifications, amendments, and restatements thereof and all costs, attorneys’ fees and expenses incurred by any Credit Party in connection with the collection or enforcement thereof) including, without limitation, any and all environmental indemnifications contained in the Loan Documents (collectively, the “ Guaranteed Obligations ”).  The Administrative Agent’s books and records showing the amount of the Guaranteed Obligations shall be admissible in evidence in any action or proceeding, and shall be binding upon the Guarantor and conclusive for the purpose of establishing the amount of the Guaranteed Obligations.  This Guaranty shall not be affected by the genuineness, validity, regularity, or enforceability of the Guaranteed Obligations or any instrument or agreement evidencing any Guaranteed Obligations, or by any fact or circumstance relating to the Guaranteed Obligations which might otherwise constitute a defense to the obligations of the Guarantor under this Guaranty.

 

Section 2.                                           NO SETOFF OR DEDUCTIONS; TAXES. The Guarantor represents and warrants that it is incorporated and resident in the United States of America. All payments by the Guarantor hereunder shall be paid in full, without setoff or counterclaim or any deduction or withholding

 

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whatsoever, including, without limitation, for any and all present and future taxes. If the Guarantor must make a payment under this Guaranty, then the Guarantor represents and warrants that it will make the payment from its offices located in the United States of America to the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Credit Parties, so that no withholding tax is imposed on such payment.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Guarantor makes a payment under this Guaranty to which withholding tax applies, or any taxes (other than Excluded Taxes) are at any time imposed on any payments under or in respect of this Guaranty including, but not limited to, payments made pursuant to this Section 2 , then the Guarantor shall pay all such taxes to the relevant authority in accordance with applicable law such that each Credit Party, as applicable, receives the sum it would have received had no such deduction or withholding been made and shall also pay to the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Credit Parties, on demand, all additional amounts which the Administrative Agent specifies as necessary to preserve the after-tax yield the Credit Parties would have received if such taxes had not been imposed.  The Guarantor shall promptly provide the Administrative Agent with an original receipt or certified copy issued by the relevant authority evidencing the payment of any such amount required to be deducted or withheld.

 

Section 3.                                           NO TERMINATION.   This Guaranty is a continuing and irrevocable guaranty of all Guaranteed Obligations now or hereafter existing and shall remain in full force and effect until all Guaranteed Obligations and any other amounts payable under this Guaranty are indefeasibly paid and performed in full and any commitments of the Credit Parties or facilities provided by the Credit Parties with respect to the Guaranteed Obligations are terminated.  All payments under this Guaranty shall be made at the Administrative Agent’s Office in Dollars.

 

Section 4.                                           WAIVER OF NOTICES.   The Guarantor waives notice of the acceptance of this Guaranty and of the extension or continuation of the Guaranteed Obligations or any part thereof. The Guarantor further waives presentment, protest, notice, dishonor or default, demand for payment, notice of intent to accelerate, notice of acceleration, and any other notices to which the Guarantor might otherwise be entitled.

 

Section 5.                                           NO SUBROGRATION.   The Guarantor shall not exercise any right of subrogation, contribution, or similar rights with respect to any payments it makes under this Guaranty until all of the Guaranteed Obligations and any amounts payable under this Guaranty are indefeasibly paid and performed in full and any commitments of the Credit Parties or facilities provided by the Credit Parties with respect to the Guaranteed Obligations are terminated.  If any amounts are paid to the Guarantor in violation of the foregoing limitation, then such amounts shall be held in trust for the benefit of the Credit Parties and shall forthwith be paid to the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Credit Parties, to reduce the amount of the Guaranteed Obligations, whether matured or unmatured.

 

Section 6.                                           WAIVER OF SURETYSHIP DEFENSES.   The Guarantor agrees that the Credit Parties may, at any time and from time to time, and without notice to the Guarantor, make any agreement with the Borrower or with any other person or entity liable on any of the Guaranteed Obligations, for the extension, renewal, payment, compromise, discharge, or release of the Guaranteed Obligations, or for any modification or amendment of the terms thereof or of any instrument or agreement evidencing the Guaranteed Obligations, all without in any way impairing, releasing, discharging, or otherwise affecting the obligations of the Guarantor under this Guaranty.  The Guarantor waives any defense arising by reason of any disability or other defense of the Borrower or any other guarantor, or the cessation from any cause whatsoever of the liability of the Borrower, or any claim that the Guarantor’s obligations exceed or are more burdensome than those of the Borrower and waives the benefit of any statute of limitations affecting the liability of the Guarantor hereunder.  The Guarantor waives any right to enforce any remedy which the Guarantor now has or may hereafter have against the Borrower and waives any benefit of and any right to participate in any security now or hereafter held by the Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Credit Parties.  Further, the Guarantor consents to the taking of, or failure to take, any action which

 

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might in any manner or to any extent vary the risks of the Guarantor under this Guaranty or which, but for this provision, might operate as a discharge of the Guarantor.

 

Section 7.                                           EXHAUSTION OF OTHER REMEDIES NOT REQUIRED.   The obligations of the Guarantor hereunder are those of primary obligor, and not merely as surety, and are independent of the Guaranteed Obligations. The Guarantor waives diligence by any of the Credit Parties and action on delinquency in respect of the Guaranteed Obligations or any part thereof, including, without limitation any provisions of law requiring any Credit Party to exhaust any right or remedy or to take any action against the Borrower, any other guarantor, or any other person, entity, or property before enforcing this Guaranty against the Guarantor.

 

Section 8.                                           REINSTATEMENT.   Notwithstanding anything in this Guaranty to the contrary, this Guaranty shall continue to be effective or be reinstated, as the case may be, if at any time any payment of any portion of the Guaranteed Obligations is revoked, terminated, rescinded, or reduced or must otherwise be restored or returned upon the insolvency, bankruptcy, or reorganization of the Borrower or any other person or entity or otherwise, as if such payment had not been made and whether or not the Administrative Agent is in possession of or has released this Guaranty and regardless of any prior revocation, rescission, termination or reduction.

 

Section 9.                                           SUBORDINATION.   The Guarantor hereby expressly subordinates the payment of all obligations and indebtedness of the Borrower owing to the Guarantor, whether now existing or hereafter arising and whether those obligations are (a) direct, indirect, fixed, contingent, liquidated, unliquidated, joint, several, or joint and several, (b) due or to become due to the Guarantor, (c) held by or are to be held by the Guarantor, (d) created directly or acquired by assignment or otherwise, or (e) evidenced in writing (the “ Subordinated Debt ”) to the indefeasible payment in full of all Guaranteed Obligations. The Guarantor agrees not to accept any payment of such Subordinated Debt from the Borrower if a Default exists.  If the Guarantor receives any payment of any Subordinated Debt in violation of the foregoing, then the Guarantor shall hold that payment in trust for the Credit Parties and promptly turn it over to the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Credit Parties, in the form received (with any necessary endorsements), to be applied in accordance with the Credit Agreement, but without reducing or affecting in any manner the liability of the Guarantor under this Guaranty.

 

Section 10.                                    STAY OF ACCELERATION.   In the event that acceleration of the time for payment of any of the Guaranteed Obligations is stayed, upon the insolvency, bankruptcy, or reorganization of the Borrower or any other person or entity, or otherwise, all such amounts shall nonetheless be payable by the Guarantor immediately upon demand by the Administrative Agent.

 

Section 11.                                    INDEMNIFICATION AND EXPENSES.

 

(a)                                  The Guarantor shall indemnify each Credit Party and each Related Party of any of the Credit Parties (each such Person being called an “ Indemnitee ”) against, and hold each Indemnitee harmless from, any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities, and related expenses (including, without limitation, the fees, charges, and disbursements of any counsel for any Indemnitee), and shall indemnify and hold harmless each Indemnitee from all fees and time charges and disbursements for attorneys who may be employees of any Indemnitee, incurred by any Indemnitee or asserted against any Indemnitee by any third party or any Loan Party arising out of, in connection with, or as a result of (i) the execution or delivery or enforcement of this Guaranty or any agreement or instrument contemplated hereby, the performance by the parties hereto of their respective obligations hereunder, the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, or, in the case of the Administrative Agent and its Related Parties only, the administration of this Guaranty; or (ii) any actual or prospective claim, litigation, investigation, or proceeding relating to any of the foregoing, whether based on contract, tort, or any other theory, whether brought by a third party or by any Loan Party, and regardless of whether any Indemnitee is a party

 

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thereto, provided that such indemnity shall not, as to any Indemnitee and its Related Parties, be available to the extent that such losses, claims, damages, liabilities, or related expenses are determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by final and nonappealable judgment to have resulted from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Indemnitee or its Related Parties.

 

(b)                                  The Guarantor shall pay to the Administrative Agent upon demand the amount of any and all reasonable out-of-pocket costs and expenses, including the reasonable fees and expenses of its counsel and of any experts and agents, that the Administrative Agent may incur in connection with the administration of this Guaranty, including, without limitation, any such costs and expenses incurred in the preservation, protection, or enforcement of any rights of any Credit Party in any case commenced by or against the Guarantor under the Bankruptcy Code (Title 11, United States Code) or any similar or successor statute.  The obligations of the Guarantor under the preceding sentence shall survive termination of this Guaranty.

 

Section 12.                                    AMENDMENTS.   No amendment, modification, termination, or waiver of any provision of this Guaranty, and no consent to any departure by the Guarantor from the terms and conditions hereof, shall in any event be effective unless the same shall be in writing and signed by the Administrative Agent and the Guarantor.  Any such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the specific purpose for which it was given.

 

Section 13.                                    NOTICES .  Any notice or other communication herein required or permitted to be given shall be in writing and shall be in accordance with the provisions of Section 11.02 of the Credit Agreement.  All notices or other communications hereunder shall be made to the applicable address, as follows: (i) if addressed to the Borrower or Guarantor then to the address as follows: c/o STAG Industrial, Inc. One Federal Street, 23 rd  Floor, Boston, Massachusetts 02110 Attention: Jeffrey M. Sullivan, Esq. Telephone No: 617-936-1343, Telecopier No.: 617-574-0052, with a copy to DLA Piper LLP (US) 33 Arch Street, 26 th  Floor Boston, Massachusetts, 02110, Attention: William Crooker, Chief Financial Officer, Telephone No: 617-406-6000  (ii) if addressed to the Administrative Agent, the Swing Line Lender or an L/C Issuer, then to the address as follows: Wells Fargo Bank, National Association Commercial Real Estate Loans, 600 South 4th Street, 9th Floor, Minneapolis, MN 55413, MAC N9303-110, Attention: Matt Bohling, Telephone No: 612-316-0116. Any party to this Guaranty may change its address, telecopier or telephone number for notices and other communications in accordance with the terms and provisions set forth in Section 11.02(d) of the Credit Agreement.

 

Section 14.                                    NO WAIVER; ENFORCEABILITY.   No failure by any Credit Party to exercise, and no delay in exercising, any right, remedy or power hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any right, remedy or power hereunder preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right.  The remedies herein provided are cumulative and not exclusive of any remedies provided by law or in equity.  The unenforceability or invalidity of any provision of this Guaranty shall not affect the enforceability or validity of any other provision herein.

 

Section 15.                                    ASSIGNMENT.   This Guaranty shall: (a) bind the Guarantor and its successors and assigns, provided that the Guarantor may not assign its rights or obligations under this Guaranty without the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent (and any attempted assignment without such consent shall be void); and (b) inure to the benefit of each of the Credit Parties and their respective successors and assigns and the Credit Parties may, without notice to the Guarantor and without affecting the Guarantor’s obligations hereunder, assign or sell participations in the Guaranteed Obligations and this Guaranty, in whole or in part. The Guarantor agrees that the Credit Parties may disclose to any prospective purchaser and any purchaser of all or part of the Guaranteed Obligations any and all information in the Credit Parties’ possession concerning the Guarantor, this Guaranty, and any security for this Guaranty to the extent permitted under, and in compliance with, the terms of the Credit Agreement.

 

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Section 16.                                    CONDITION OF THE BORROWER.   The Guarantor acknowledges and agrees that it has the sole responsibility for, and has adequate means of, obtaining from the Borrower such information concerning the financial condition, business, and operations of the Borrower as the Guarantor requires, and that no Credit Party shall have any duty, and the Guarantor is not relying on any Credit Party at any time, to disclose to the Guarantor any information relating to the business, operations, or financial condition of the Borrower.

 

Section 17.                                    RIGHTS OF SETOFF.   If and to the extent any payment is not made when due hereunder, then the Administrative Agent and each other Credit Party (with the prior consent of the Administrative Agent) may setoff and charge from time to time any amount so due against any or all of the Guarantor’s accounts or deposits with the Administrative Agent or such other Credit Party.

 

Section 18.                                    OTHER GUARANTEES.   Unless otherwise agreed by the Administrative Agent, the applicable Credit Party and the Guarantor in writing, this Guaranty is not intended to supersede or otherwise affect any other guaranty now or hereafter given by the Guarantor for the benefit of the Credit Parties or any term or provision thereof.

 

Section 19.                                    GOVERNING LAW; JURISDICTION; ETC.

 

(a)                                  GOVERNING LAW.   THIS GUARANTY SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

 

(b)                                  SUBMISSION TO JURISDICTION .  THE GUARANTOR IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY SUBMITS, FOR ITSELF AND ITS PROPERTY, TO THE NONEXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF THE COURTS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK SITTING IN NEW YORK COUNTY AND OF THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT OF THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK, AND ANY APPELLATE COURT FROM ANY THEREOF, IN ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS GUARANTY OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT, OR FOR RECOGNITION OR ENFORCEMENT OF ANY JUDGMENT, AND EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY AGREES THAT ALL CLAIMS IN RESPECT OF ANY SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING MAY BE HEARD AND DETERMINED IN SUCH NEW YORK STATE COURT OR, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, IN SUCH FEDERAL COURT.  EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO AGREES THAT A FINAL JUDGMENT IN ANY SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING SHALL BE CONCLUSIVE AND MAY BE ENFORCED IN OTHER JURISDICTIONS BY SUIT ON THE JUDGMENT OR IN ANY OTHER MANNER PROVIDED BY LAW.  NOTHING IN THIS GUARANTY OR IN ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT SHALL AFFECT ANY RIGHT THAT ANY CREDIT PARTY MAY OTHERWISE HAVE TO BRING ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING RELATING TO THIS GUARANTY OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT AGAINST THE GUARANTOR OR ITS PROPERTIES IN THE COURTS OF ANY JURISDICTION.

 

(c)                                   WAIVER OF VENUE . THE GUARANTOR IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY OBJECTION THAT IT MAY NOW OR HEREAFTER HAVE TO THE LAYING OF VENUE OF ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS GUARANTY OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT IN ANY COURT REFERRED TO IN SECTION 19(b) .  EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, THE DEFENSE OF AN INCONVENIENT FORUM TO THE MAINTENANCE OF SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING IN ANY SUCH COURT.

 

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(d)                                  SERVICE OF PROCESS .  EACH PARTY HERETO IRREVOCABLY CONSENTS TO SERVICE OF PROCESS IN THE MANNER PROVIDED FOR NOTICES IN SECTION 11.02 OF THE CREDIT AGREEMENT PROVIDED THAT, IN THE CASE OF SERVICE ON THE GUARANTOR A COPY IS ALSO DELIVERED TO JEFFREY M. SULLIVAN, SECRETARY FOR GUARANTOR (WHOSE CONTACT INFORMATION IS NOTED IN SECTION 13 ABOVE).  NOTHING IN THIS GUARANTY WILL AFFECT THE RIGHT OF ANY PARTY HERETO TO SERVE PROCESS IN ANY OTHER MANNER PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW.

 

(e)                                   WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL .  EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS GUARANTY OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR THEREBY (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT OR ANY OTHER THEORY).  EACH PARTY HERETO (A) CERTIFIES THAT NO REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF ANY OTHER PERSON HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PERSON WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER; AND (B) ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT AND THE OTHER PARTIES HERETO HAVE BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS GUARANTY AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION 19 .

 

Section 20.                                    COUNTERPARTS .  This Guaranty may be executed in counterparts (and by different parties hereto in different counterparts), each of which shall constitute an original, but all of which when taken together shall constitute a single contract.

 

Section 21.                                    FINAL AGREEMENT .  THIS GUARANTY AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS CONSTITUTE THE ENTIRE CONTRACT AMONG THE PARTIES RELATING TO THE SUBJECT MATTER HEREOF AND SUPERSEDE ANY AND ALL PREVIOUS AGREEMENTS AND UNDERSTANDINGS, ORAL OR WRITTEN, RELATING TO THE SUBJECT MATTER HEREOF.  THERE ARE NO UNWRITTEN ORAL AGREEMENTS BETWEEN THE PARTIES.

 

[Remainder of Page Intentionally Left Blank;

Signature Page Follows ]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Guarantor has caused this Guaranty to be duly executed and delivered as of the date first written above.

 

 

PARENT:

 

 

 

STAG INDUSTRIAL, INC. ,

 

a Maryland corporation

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

Name:

Stephen C. Mecke

 

 

Title:

Authorized Officer

 

Signature Page to

Parent Guaranty Agreement

 



 

EXHIBIT F-2

 

FORM OF SUBSIDIARY GUARANTY

 

EXECUTED VERSION

 

SUBSIDIARY GUARANTY AGREEMENT

 

THIS SUBSIDIARY GUARANTY AGREEMENT (this “ Guaranty ”) is executed as of July 26, 2018, by EACH OF THE SUBSIDIARIES OF STAG INDUSTRIAL OPERATING PARTNERSHIP, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (“ Borrower ”), LISTED ON SCHEDULE 1 ATTACHED HERETO or who become a party hereto pursuant to Section 21 below (each a “ Guarantor ” and collectively, “ Guarantors ”), for the benefit of the Credit Parties (defined below).

 

RECITALS:

 

A.            The Borrower may, from time to time, be indebted to the Credit Parties pursuant to that certain Term Loan Agreement dated of even date herewith (as amended, modified, supplemented, or restated from time to time, the “ Credit Agreement ”), among the Borrower, STAG Industrial, Inc., a Maryland corporation, the sole member of the sole general partner of the Borrower (“ Parent ”), the Lenders now or hereafter party to the Credit Agreement (the “ Lenders ”), and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as the Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Lenders (“ Administrative Agent ”) (Administrative Agent and the Lenders, together with their respective successors and assigns, are each a “ Credit Party ,” and collectively the “ Credit Parties ”) Capitalized terms used herein shall, unless otherwise indicated, have the respective meanings set forth in the Credit Agreement .

 

B.            Each Guarantor is a Subsidiary of the Borrower and will, directly or indirectly, benefit from the Credit Parties’ extension of credit to the Borrower.

 

C.            This Guaranty is integral to the transactions contemplated by the Loan Documents, and the execution and delivery hereof is a condition precedent to the Credit Parties’ obligations to extend credit to Borrower under the Loan Documents.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, as an inducement to the Credit Parties to enter into the Credit Agreement and to make Loans to the Borrower thereunder, and to extend such credit to the Borrower as the Credit Parties may from time to time agree to extend, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and legal sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Guarantors hereby jointly and severally guarantee payment of the Guaranteed Obligations (hereinafter defined) and hereby agree as follows:

 

Section 1.               NATURE OF GUARANTY.   Each Guarantor hereby absolutely and unconditionally guarantees, jointly and severally, as a guarantee of payment and not merely as a guarantee of collection, prompt payment when due, whether at stated maturity, upon acceleration or otherwise, and at all times thereafter, of any and all existing and future Obligations (other than Excluded Swap Obligations) including, without limitation, all indebtedness and liabilities of every kind, nature and character, direct or indirect, absolute or contingent, liquidated or unliquidated, voluntary or involuntary, of the Borrower to the Credit Parties arising under the Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents (including, without limitation, all renewals, extensions, modifications, amendments, and restatements thereof and all costs, attorneys’ fees and expenses incurred by any Credit Party in connection with the collection or enforcement thereof) including, without limitation, any and all environmental indemnifications contained in the Loan Documents (collectively, the “ Guaranteed Obligations ”). The Administrative Agent’s books and records showing the amount of the Guaranteed Obligations shall be admissible in evidence in any action or proceeding, and shall be binding upon each Guarantor and conclusive for the purpose of establishing the amount of the Guaranteed Obligations.  This Guaranty shall not be affected by the genuineness, validity, regularity, or enforceability of the Guaranteed Obligations or any instrument or agreement evidencing any Guaranteed Obligations, or by any fact or circumstance relating to the Guaranteed Obligations which might otherwise constitute a defense to the obligations of any Guarantor under this Guaranty.

 

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Section 2.               NO SETOFF OR DEDUCTIONS; TAXES. Each Guarantor represents and warrants that it is formed and resident in the United States of America. All payments by any Guarantor hereunder shall be paid in full, without setoff or counterclaim or any deduction or withholding whatsoever, including, without limitation, for any and all present and future taxes. If any Guarantor must make a payment under this Guaranty, then such Guarantor represents and warrants that it will make the payment from its offices located in the United States of America to the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Credit Parties, so that no withholding tax is imposed on such payment.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, if any Guarantor makes a payment under this Guaranty to which withholding tax applies, or any taxes (other than Excluded Taxes) are at any time imposed on any payments under or in respect of this Guaranty including, but not limited to, payments made pursuant to this Section 2 , then such Guarantor shall pay all such taxes to the relevant authority in accordance with applicable law such that each Credit Party receives the sum it would have received had no such deduction or withholding been made and shall also pay to the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Credit Parties, on demand, all additional amounts which the Administrative Agent specifies as necessary to preserve the after-tax yield the Credit Parties would have received if such taxes had not been imposed. The Guarantors shall promptly provide the Administrative Agent with an original receipt or certified copy issued by the relevant authority evidencing the payment of any such amount required to be deducted or withheld.

 

Section 3.               NO TERMINATION.   This Guaranty is a continuing and irrevocable guaranty of all Guaranteed Obligations now or hereafter existing and shall remain in full force and effect until all Guaranteed Obligations and any other amounts payable under this Guaranty are indefeasibly paid and performed in full and any commitments of the Credit Parties or facilities provided by the Credit Parties with respect to the Guaranteed Obligations are terminated.  All payments under this Guaranty shall be made at the Administrative Agent’s Office in Dollars.

 

Section 4.               WAIVER OF NOTICES.   Each Guarantor waives notice of the acceptance of this Guaranty and of the extension or continuation of the Guaranteed Obligations or any part thereof. Each Guarantor further waives presentment, protest, notice, dishonor or default, demand for payment, notice of intent to accelerate, notice of acceleration, and any other notices to which any Guarantor might otherwise be entitled.

 

Section 5.               NO SUBROGRATION.   No Guarantor shall exercise any right of subrogation, contribution, or similar rights with respect to any payments it makes under this Guaranty until all of the Guaranteed Obligations and any amounts payable under this Guaranty are indefeasibly paid and performed in full and any commitments of the Credit Parties or facilities provided by the Credit Parties with respect to the Guaranteed Obligations are terminated.  If any amounts are paid to any Guarantor in violation of the foregoing limitation, then such amounts shall be held in trust for the benefit of the Credit Parties and shall forthwith be paid to the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Credit Parties, to reduce the amount of the Guaranteed Obligations, whether matured or unmatured.

 

Section 6.               WAIVER OF SURETYSHIP DEFENSES.   Each Guarantor agrees that the Credit Parties may, at any time and from time to time, and without notice to the Guarantors, make any agreement with the Borrower or with any other person or entity liable on any of the Guaranteed Obligations, for the extension, renewal, payment, compromise, discharge, or release of the Guaranteed Obligations, or for any modification or amendment of the terms thereof or of any instrument or agreement evidencing the Guaranteed Obligations, all without in any way impairing, releasing, discharging, or otherwise affecting the obligations of any Guarantor under this Guaranty.  Each Guarantor waives any defense arising by reason of any disability or other defense of the Borrower or any other guarantor, or the cessation from any cause whatsoever of the liability of the Borrower, or any claim that any Guarantor’s obligations exceed or are more burdensome than those of the Borrower and waives the benefit of any statute of limitations affecting the liability of any Guarantor hereunder.  Each Guarantor waives any right to enforce any remedy which such Guarantor now has or may hereafter have against the Borrower and waives any

 

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benefit of and any right to participate in any security now or hereafter held by the Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Credit Parties.  Further, each Guarantor consents to the taking of, or failure to take, any action which might in any manner or to any extent vary the risks of such Guarantor under this Guaranty or which, but for this provision, might operate as a discharge of such Guarantor.

 

Section 7.               EXHAUSTION OF OTHER REMEDIES NOT REQUIRED.   The obligations of each Guarantor hereunder are those of primary obligor, and not merely as surety, and are independent of the Guaranteed Obligations.  Each Guarantor waives diligence by any of the Credit Parties and action on delinquency in respect of the Guaranteed Obligations or any part thereof, including, without limitation any provisions of law requiring any Credit Party to exhaust any right or remedy or to take any action against the Borrower, any other guarantor, or any other person, entity, or property before enforcing this Guaranty against any Guarantor.

 

Section 8.               REINSTATEMENT.   Notwithstanding anything in this Guaranty to the contrary, this Guaranty shall continue to be effective or be reinstated, as the case may be, if at any time any payment of any portion of the Guaranteed Obligations is revoked, terminated, rescinded, or reduced or must otherwise be restored or returned upon the insolvency, bankruptcy, or reorganization of the Borrower or any other person or entity or otherwise, as if such payment had not been made and whether or not the the Administrative Agent is in possession of or has released this Guaranty and regardless of any prior revocation, rescission, termination or reduction.

 

Section 9.               SUBORDINATION.   Each Guarantor hereby expressly subordinates the payment of all obligations and indebtedness of the Borrower owing to such Guarantor, whether now existing or hereafter arising and whether those obligations are (a) direct, indirect, fixed, contingent, liquidated, unliquidated, joint, several, or joint and several, (b) due or to become due to such Guarantor, (c) held by or are to be held by such Guarantor, (d) created directly or acquired by assignment or otherwise, or (e) evidenced in writing (the “ Subordinated Debt ”) to the indefeasible payment in full of all Guaranteed Obligations.  Each Guarantor agrees not to accept any payment of such Subordinated Debt from the Borrower if a Default exists.  If any Guarantor receives any payment of any Subordinated Debt in violation of the foregoing, then such Guarantor shall hold that payment in trust for the Credit Parties and promptly turn it over to the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Credit Parties, in the form received (with any necessary endorsements), to be applied in accordance with the Credit Agreement, but without reducing or affecting in any manner the liability of any Guarantor under this Guaranty.

 

Section 10.             INFORMATION.   Each Guarantor agrees to furnish promptly to the Administrative Agent any and all financial or other information regarding such Guarantor or its property as the Administrative Agent may reasonably request in writing.

 

Section 11.             STAY OF ACCELERATION.   In the event that acceleration of the time for payment of any of the Guaranteed Obligations is stayed, upon the insolvency, bankruptcy, or reorganization of the Borrower or any other person or entity, or otherwise, all such amounts shall nonetheless be payable by the Guarantors immediately upon demand by the Administrative Agent.

 

Section 12.             INDEMNIFICATION AND EXPENSES.

 

(a)           Each Guarantor shall indemnify each Credit Party and each Related Party of any of the Credit Parties (each such Person being called an “ Indemnitee ”) against, and hold each Indemnitee harmless from, any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities, and related expenses (including, without limitation, the fees, charges, and disbursements of any counsel for any Indemnitee), and shall indemnify and hold harmless each Indemnitee from all fees and time charges and disbursements for attorneys who may be employees of any Indemnitee, incurred by any Indemnitee or asserted against any Indemnitee by any third party or any Loan Party arising out of, in connection with, or as a result of (i) the execution or

 

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delivery or enforcement of this Guaranty or any agreement or instrument contemplated hereby, the performance by the parties hereto of their respective obligations hereunder, the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, or, in the case of the Administrative Agent and its Related Parties only, the administration of this Guaranty; or (ii) any actual or prospective claim, litigation, investigation, or proceeding relating to any of the foregoing, whether based on contract, tort, or any other theory, whether brought by a third party or by any Loan Party, and regardless of whether any Indemnitee is a party thereto, provided that such indemnity shall not, as to any Indemnitee and its Related Parties, be available to the extent that such losses, claims, damages, liabilities, or related expenses are determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by final and nonappealable judgment to have resulted from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Indemnitee or its Related Parties.

 

(b)           Each Guarantor shall pay to the Administrative Agent upon demand the amount of any and all reasonable out-of-pocket costs and expenses, including the reasonable fees and expenses of its counsel and of any experts and agents, that the Administrative Agent may incur in connection with the administration of this Guaranty, including, without limitation, any such costs and expenses incurred in the preservation, protection, or enforcement of any rights of any Credit Party in any case commenced by or against any Guarantor under the Bankruptcy Code (Title 11, United States Code) or any similar or successor statute. The obligations of the Guarantors under the preceding sentence shall survive termination of this Guaranty.

 

Section 13.             AMENDMENTS.   No amendment, modification, termination, or waiver of any provision of this Guaranty, and no consent to any departure by any Guarantor from the terms and conditions hereof, shall in any event be effective unless the same shall be in writing and signed by the Administrative Agent and each Guarantor.  Any such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the specific purpose for which it was given.

 

Section 14.             NOTICES .  Any notice or other communication herein required or permitted to be given shall be in writing and shall be in accordance with the provisions of Section 11.02 of the Credit Agreement.  All notices or other communications hereunder shall be made to the applicable address, as follows: (i) if addressed to the Borrower or any Guarantor then to the address as follows: c/o STAG Industrial, Inc. One Federal Street, 23 rd  Floor, Boston, Massachusetts 02110 Attention: Jeffrey M. Sullivan, Esq. Telephone No: 617-936-1343, Telecopier No.: 617-574-0052, with a copy to DLA Piper LLP (US) 33 Arch Street, 26 th  Floor Boston, Massachusetts, 02110, Attention: William Crooker, Chief Financial Officer, Telephone No: 617-406-6000  (ii) if addressed to the Administrative Agent, the Swing Line Lender or an L/C Issuer, then to the address as follows: Wells Fargo Bank, National Association Commercial Real Estate Loans, 600 South 4th Street, 9th Floor, Minneapolis, MN 55413, MAC N9303-110, Attention: Matt Bohling, Telephone No: 612-316-0116. Any party to this Guaranty may change its address, telecopier or telephone number for notices and other communications in accordance with the terms and provisions set forth in Section 11.02(d)  of the Credit Agreement.

 

Section 15.             NO WAIVER; ENFORCEABILITY.   No failure by any Credit Party to exercise, and no delay in exercising, any right, remedy or power hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any right, remedy or power hereunder preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right.  The remedies herein provided are cumulative and not exclusive of any remedies provided by law or in equity. The unenforceability or invalidity of any provision of this Guaranty shall not affect the enforceability or validity of any other provision herein.

 

Section 16.             ASSIGNMENT.   This Guaranty shall: (a) bind each Guarantor and its successors and assigns, provided that no Guarantor may assign its rights or obligations under this Guaranty without the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent (and any attempted assignment without such consent shall be void); and (b) inure to the benefit of each of the Credit Parties and their respective successors and assigns and the Credit Parties may, without notice to any Guarantor and without affecting any Guarantor’s

 

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obligations hereunder, assign or sell participations in the Guaranteed Obligations and this Guaranty, in whole or in part.  Each Guarantor agrees that the Credit Parties may disclose to any prospective purchaser and any purchaser of all or part of the Guaranteed Obligations any and all information in the Credit Parties’ possession concerning any Guarantor, this Guaranty, and any security for this Guaranty to the extent permitted under, and in compliance with, the terms of the Credit Agreement.

 

Section 17.             CONDITION OF BORROWER.   Each Guarantor acknowledges and agrees that it has the sole responsibility for, and has adequate means of, obtaining from the Borrower such information concerning the financial condition, business, and operations of the Borrower as Guarantors require, and that no Credit Party shall have any duty, and the Guarantors are not relying on any Credit Party at any time, to disclose to the Guarantors any information relating to the business, operations, or financial condition of the Borrower.

 

Section 18.             RIGHTS OF SETOFF.   If and to the extent any payment is not made when due hereunder, then the Administrative Agent and each other Credit Party (with the prior consent of the Administrative Agent) may setoff and charge from time to time any amount so due against any or all of the Guarantors’ accounts or deposits with the Administrative Agent or such other Credit Party.

 

Section 19.             OTHER GUARANTEES.   Unless otherwise agreed by the Administrative Agent, the applicable Credit Party and the Guarantors in writing, this Guaranty is not intended to supersede or otherwise affect any other guaranty now or hereafter given by the Guarantors for the benefit of the Credit Parties or any term or provision thereof.

 

Section 20.             REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES; LOAN DOCUMENTS .  By execution hereof, each Guarantor covenants and agrees that certain representations, warranties, terms, covenants, and conditions set forth in the Loan Documents are applicable by their terms to such Guarantor and shall be imposed upon such Guarantor, and each Guarantor reaffirms that each such representation and warranty is true and correct and covenants and agrees to promptly and properly perform, observe, and comply with each such term, covenant, or condition.  Moreover, each Guarantor acknowledges and agrees that this Guaranty is subject to the setoff provisions as noted in Section 18 above in favor of the Credit Parties.  In the event the Credit Agreement or any other Loan Document shall cease to remain in effect for any reason whatsoever during any period when any part of the Guaranteed Obligations remains unpaid, such terms, covenants, and agreements of the Credit Agreement or such other Loan Document incorporated herein by this reference and which are, by their terms, made applicable to any Guarantors shall nevertheless continue in full force and effect as obligations of each Guarantor under this Guaranty.

 

Section 21.             ADDITIONAL GUARANTORS.   The initial Guarantors hereunder shall be each of the Subsidiary Guarantors of the Borrower that are signatories hereto and that are listed on Schedule 1 attached hereto.  From time to time subsequent to the time hereof, additional Subsidiary Guarantors of the Borrower may become parties hereto as additional Guarantors (each an “ Additional Guarantor ”) by executing a counterpart of this Guaranty in the form of Exhibit A attached hereto.  Upon delivery of any such counterpart to the Administrative Agent, notice of which is hereby waived by the Guarantors, each such Additional Guarantor shall be a Guarantor and shall be a party hereto as if such Additional Guarantor were an original signatory hereof.  Each Guarantor expressly agrees that its obligations arising hereunder shall not be affected or diminished by the addition or release of any other Guarantor hereunder, or by any election by the Administrative Agent not to cause any Subsidiary Guarantor of the Borrower to become an Additional Guarantor hereunder.  This Guaranty shall be fully effective as to any Guarantor that is or becomes a party hereto regardless of whether any such person becomes or fails to become or ceases to be a Guarantor hereunder.

 

Section 22.             RELEASE OF GUARANTORS.   Subject to the provisions of the Credit Agreement, a Guarantor may be released from its obligations under this Guaranty by the Administrative Agent’s

 

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execution of a Release of Guaranty in the form of Exhibit B attached hereto. Each Guarantor expressly agrees that its obligations arising hereunder shall not be affected or diminished by the release of any other Guarantor hereunder.

 

Section 23.             GOVERNING LAW; JURISDICTION; ETC.

 

(a)           GOVERNING LAW.          THIS GUARANTY SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

 

(b)           SUBMISSION TO JURISDICTION .  EACH GUARANTOR IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY SUBMITS, FOR ITSELF AND ITS PROPERTY, TO THE NONEXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF THE COURTS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK SITTING IN NEW YORK COUNTY AND OF THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT OF THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK, AND ANY APPELLATE COURT FROM ANY THEREOF, IN ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS GUARANTY OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT, OR FOR RECOGNITION OR ENFORCEMENT OF ANY JUDGMENT, AND EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY AGREES THAT ALL CLAIMS IN RESPECT OF ANY SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING MAY BE HEARD AND DETERMINED IN SUCH NEW YORK STATE COURT OR, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, IN SUCH FEDERAL COURT.  EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO AGREES THAT A FINAL JUDGMENT IN ANY SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING SHALL BE CONCLUSIVE AND MAY BE ENFORCED IN OTHER JURISDICTIONS BY SUIT ON THE JUDGMENT OR IN ANY OTHER MANNER PROVIDED BY LAW.  NOTHING IN THIS GUARANTY OR IN ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT SHALL AFFECT ANY RIGHT THAT ANY CREDIT PARTY MAY OTHERWISE HAVE TO BRING ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING RELATING TO THIS GUARANTY OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT AGAINST ANY GUARANTOR OR ITS PROPERTIES IN THE COURTS OF ANY JURISDICTION.

 

(c)           WAIVER OF VENUE .  EACH GUARANTOR IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY OBJECTION THAT IT MAY NOW OR HEREAFTER HAVE TO THE LAYING OF VENUE OF ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS GUARANTY OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT IN ANY COURT REFERRED TO IN SECTION 23(b) .  EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, THE DEFENSE OF AN INCONVENIENT FORUM TO THE MAINTENANCE OF SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING IN ANY SUCH COURT.

 

(d)           SERVICE OF PROCESS .  EACH PARTY HERETO IRREVOCABLY CONSENTS TO SERVICE OF PROCESS IN THE MANNER PROVIDED FOR NOTICES IN SECTION 11.02 OF THE CREDIT AGREEMENT PROVIDED THAT, IN THE CASE OF SERVICE ON ANY GUARANTOR A COPY IS ALSO DELIVERED TO KATHRYN ARNONE, GENERAL COUNSEL FOR THE BORROWER AND PARENT (WHOSE CONTACT INFORMATION IS NOTED IN SECTION 14 ABOVE).  NOTHING IN THIS GUARANTY WILL AFFECT THE RIGHT OF ANY PARTY HERETO TO SERVE PROCESS IN ANY OTHER MANNER PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW.

 

(e)           WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL .  EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS GUARANTY OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR THEREBY (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT OR ANY OTHER THEORY).  EACH PARTY HERETO (A) CERTIFIES THAT

 

F-2 - 6



 

NO REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF ANY OTHER PERSON HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PERSON WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER; AND (B) ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT AND THE OTHER PARTIES HERETO HAVE BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS GUARANTY AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION 23 .

 

Section 24.             COUNTERPARTS .  This Guaranty may be executed in counterparts (and by different parties hereto in different counterparts), each of which shall constitute an original, but all of which when taken together shall constitute a single contract.

 

Section 25.             ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF BENEFITS; CONTRIBUTION; EFFECT OF AVOIDANCE PROVISIONS.

 

(a)           Each Guarantor acknowledges that it has received, or will receive, significant financial and other benefits, either directly or indirectly, from the proceeds of the Loans made by the Lenders to the Borrower pursuant to the Credit Agreement; that the benefits received by such Guarantor are reasonably equivalent consideration for such Guarantor’s execution of this Guaranty; and that such benefits include, without limitation, the access to capital afforded to the Borrower pursuant to the Credit Agreement from which the activities of such Guarantor will be supported, the refinancing of certain existing indebtedness of the Borrower and such Guarantor from the proceeds of the Loans, and the ability to refinance that indebtedness at a lower interest rate and otherwise on more favorable terms than would be available to it if the Borrowing Base Properties owned by such Guarantor’s were  being financed on a stand-alone basis. Each Guarantor is executing this Agreement and the other Loan Documents in consideration of those benefits received by it.

 

(b)           Each Guarantor hereby agrees as among themselves that, in connection with payments made hereunder, each Guarantor shall have a right of contribution from each other Guarantor in accordance with applicable Law.  Such contribution rights shall be subordinate and subject in right of payment to the Guaranteed Obligations until such time as the Guaranteed Obligations have been indefeasibly and irrevocably paid in full, and none of the Guarantors shall exercise any such contribution rights until the Guaranteed Obligations have been indefeasibly and irrevocably paid in full.

 

(c)           It is the intent of each Guarantor, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders that in any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Laws, such Guarantor’s maximum obligation hereunder shall equal, but not exceed, the maximum amount which would not otherwise cause the obligations of such Guarantor hereunder (or any other obligations of such Guarantor to the Administrative Agent and the other Lenders under the Loan Documents) to be avoidable or unenforceable against such Guarantor in such proceeding as a result of applicable Laws, including, without limitation, (i) Section 548 of the Bankruptcy Code of the United States and (ii) any state fraudulent transfer or fraudulent conveyance act or statute applied in such proceeding, whether by virtue of Section 544 of the Bankruptcy Code of the United States or otherwise. The Laws under which the possible avoidance or unenforceability of the obligations of such Guarantor hereunder (or any other obligations of such Guarantor to the Administrative Agent and the other Lenders under the Loan Documents) shall be determined in any such proceeding are referred to herein as “ Avoidance Provisions ”. Accordingly, to the extent that the obligations of a Guarantor hereunder would otherwise be subject to avoidance under the Avoidance Provisions, the maximum Guaranteed Obligations for which such Guarantor shall be liable hereunder shall be reduced to the greater of (A) the amount which, as of the time any of the Guaranteed Obligations are deemed to have been incurred by such Guarantor under the Avoidance Provisions, would not cause the obligations of such Guarantor hereunder (or any other obligations of such Gurantor to the Administrative Agent and the other Lenders under the Loan Documents), to be subject to avoidance under the Avoidance Provisions or (B) the amount which, as of the time demand is made hereunder upon such Guarantor for payment on account

 

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of the Guaranteed Obligations, would not cause the obligations of such Guarantor hereunder (or any other obligations of such Guarantor to the Administrative Agent and the Lender under the Loan Documents), to be subject to avoidance under the Avoidance Provisions. The provisions under this Section are intended solely to preserve the rights of the Administrative Agent and the Lender hereunder to the maximum extent that would not cause the obligations of any Guarantor hereunder to be subject to avoidance under the Avoidance Provisions, and no Guarantor or any other Person shall have any right or claim under this Section as against the Administrative Agent and the Lenders that would not otherwise be available to such Person under the Avoidance Provisions.

 

Section 26.             FINAL AGREEMENT .  THIS GUARANTY AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS CONSTITUTE THE ENTIRE CONTRACT AMONG THE PARTIES RELATING TO THE SUBJECT MATTER HEREOF AND SUPERSEDE ANY AND ALL PREVIOUS AGREEMENTS AND UNDERSTANDINGS, ORAL OR WRITTEN, RELATING TO THE SUBJECT MATTER HEREOF.  THERE ARE NO UNWRITTEN ORAL AGREEMENTS BETWEEN THE PARTIES.

 

Section 27.             KEEPWELL .  Each Qualified ECP Guarantor hereby jointly and severally absolutely, unconditionally and irrevocably undertakes to provide such funds or other support as may be needed from time to time by each other Loan Party to honor all of its obligations under this Guaranty in respect of any Swap Obligation (provided, however, that each Qualified ECP Guarantor shall only be liable under this Section for the maximum amount of such liability that can be hereby incurred without rendering its obligations under this Section, or otherwise under this Guaranty, voidable under applicable law relating to fraudulent conveyance or fraudulent transfer, and not for any greater amount).  The obligations of each Qualified ECP Guarantor under this Section shall remain in full force and effect until termination of this Guaranty in accordance with Section 3 hereof.  Each Qualified ECP Guarantor intends that this Section constitute, and this Section shall be deemed to constitute, a “keepwell, support, or other agreement” for the benefit of each other Loan Party for all purposes of Section 1a(18)(A)(v)(II) of the Commodity Exchange Act.  “ Qualified ECP Guarantor ” means, in respect of any Swap Obligation, each Loan Party (including the Borrower) that has total assets exceeding $10,000,000 at the time the relevant Guarantee or grant of the relevant security interest becomes effective with respect to such Swap Obligation or such other person as constitutes an “eligible contract participant” under the Commodity Exchange Act or any regulations promulgated thereunder and can cause another person to qualify as an “eligible contract participant” at such time by entering into a keepwell under Section 1a(18)(A)(v)(II) of the Commodity Exchange Act.  “ Swap Obligation ” means, with respect to any Guarantor, 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.

 

[Remainder of Page Intentionally Left Blank;

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each Guarantor has caused this Guaranty to be duly executed and delivered as of the date first written above.

 

STAG Investments Holdings III, LLC

STAG III Albion, LLC

STAG III Boardman, LLC

STAG III Chesterfield, LLC

STAG III Daytona Beach, LLC

STAG III Elkhart, LLC

STAG III Farmington, LLC

STAG III Lewiston, LLC

STAG III Malden, LLC

STAG III Mason, LLC

STAG III Mayville, LLC

STAG III Newark, LLC

STAG III Pensacola, LLC

STAG III Rapid City, LLC

STAG III Twinsburg, LLC

STAG III Youngstown, LLC

STAG Investments Holdings IV, LLC

STAG IV Alexandria, LLC

STAG IV Belfast, LLC

STAG IV Cheektowaga, LLC

STAG IV Danville, LLC

STAG IV Seville, LLC

STAG IV Sun Prairie, LLC

STIR Investments GP IV, LLC

STAG GI Investments Holdings, LLC

STAG GI New Jersey, LLC

STAG GI O’Fallon, LLC

STAG GI Goshen, LLC

STAG GI Madison, LLC

STAG GI Vonore, LLC

STAG GI Rogers, LLC

STAG GI Salem, LLC

STAG GI Walker, LLC

STAG GI Streetsboro, LLC

STAG GI Mooresville, LLC

STAG GI Cleveland, LLC

STAG Lansing, LLC

STAG Industrial Holdings, LLC

STAG TX GP 2, LLC

STAG Avon, LLC

STAG Buffalo, LLC

STAG Chippewa Falls, LLC

STAG Edgefield, LLC

STAG Lansing 2, LLC

 

Signature Page to

Subsidiary Guaranty Agreement

 



 

STAG Orlando, LLC

STAG Pineville, LLC

STAG Portland 2, LLC

STAG Reading, LLC

STAG Rogers 2, LLC

STAG South Bend, LLC

STAG Spartanburg, LLC

STAG Jackson, LLC

STAG Portage, LLC

STAG Simpsonville, LLC

STAG Dallas, LLC

STAG De Pere, LLC

STAG Duncan, LLC

STAG Buena Vista, LLC

STAG Gurnee, LLC

STAG Chicopee, LLC

STAG Montgomery, LLC

STAG Smyrna, LLC

STAG Statham, LLC

STAG Harrisonburg, LLC

STAG Toledo, LLC

STAG Woodstock, LLC

STAG Columbia, LLC

STAG Golden, LLC

STAG DeKalb, LLC

STAG Ocala, LLC

STAG Marion 2, LLC

STAG Londonderry, LLC

STAG Idaho Falls, LLC

STAG Williamsport, LLC

STAG Kentwood, LLC

STAG Marshall, LLC

STAG Belvidere I, LLC

STAG Belvidere II, LLC

STAG Belvidere III, LLC

STAG Belvidere IV, LLC

STAG Belvidere V, LLC

STAG Belvidere VI, LLC

STAG Belvidere VII, LLC

STAG Belvidere VIII, LLC

STAG Belvidere IX, LLC

STAG Nashville, LLC

STAG New Berlin, LLC

STAG Hampstead, LLC

STAG New Hope, LLC

STAG Orlando 2, LLC

 

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STAG North Jackson 2, LLC

STAG Shannon, LLC

STAG Lansing 4, LLC

STAG Harvard, LLC

STAG Sauk Village, LLC

STAG South Holland, LLC

STAG Mascot, LLC

STAG Janesville, LLC

STAG Allentown, LLC

STAG Nashua, LLC

STAG Strongsville, LLC

STAG Columbus, LLC

STAG Savannah, LLC

STAG West Chester, LLC

STAG Calhoun, LLC

STAG Hebron, LLC

STAG East Troy, LLC

STAG Savage, LLC

STAG Chester, LLC

STAG Mechanicsburg 1, LLC

STAG Mechanicsburg 2, LLC

STAG Mechanicsburg 3, LLC

STAG Mason 3, LLC

STAG Lenexa, LLC

STAG Reno, LLC

STAG Fort Wayne, LLC

STAG Murfreesboro, LLC

STAG Gurnee 2, LLC

STAG Germantown, LLC

STAG Elizabethtown, LLC

STAG CA GP, LLC

STAG Spartanburg 3, LLC

STAG Burlington, LLC

STAG Greenville, LLC

STAG North Haven, LLC

STAG Plymouth 2, LLC

STAG Oakwood Village, LLC

STAG Stoughton 1, LLC

STAG Stoughton 2, LLC

STAG 5101 South Council Road, LLC

STAG Knoxville 2, LLC

STAG Clinton, LLC

STAG Fairborn, LLC

STAG Phoenix, LLC

STAG Machesney Park, LLC

STAG Macedonia, LLC

 

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STAG Novi 2, LLC

STAG Grand Junction, LLC

STAG Tulsa, LLC

STAG Chattanooga 1, LLC

STAG Chattanooga 2, LLC

STAG Libertyville 1, LLC

STAG Libertyville 2, LLC

STAG Greer, LLC

STAG Piedmont 1, LLC

STAG Piedmont 2, LLC

STAG Piedmont 3, LLC

STAG Belvidere 10, LLC

STAG Shreveport, LLC

STAG Dayton 2, LLC

STAG West Allis, LLC

STAG Loudon, LLC

STAG Laurens, LLC

STAG Lancaster, LLC

STAG Grand Rapids, LLC

STAG Burlington 2, LLC

STAG Biddeford, LLC

STAG Fairfield 3, LLC

STAG Mascot 2, LLC

STAG Erlanger, LLC

STAG Gahanna, LLC

STAG Norton, LLC

STAG NC GP, LLC

STAG Sparks 2, LLC

STAG Hazelwood, LLC

STAG York, LLC

STAG NC GP 2, LLC

STAG TX GP, LLC

STAG Louisville, LLC

STAG North Jackson, LLC

STAG Portland, LLC

STAG East Windsor, LLC

STAG Yorkville, LLC

STAG Lebanon, LLC

STAG West Columbia 3, LLC

STAG McHenry 2, LLC

STAG Romulus 2, LLC

STAG South Saint Paul, LLC

 

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STAG Knoxville 3, LLC

 

each a Delaware limited liability company

 

 

By:

 

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

 

 

 

(Signatures continue on the next page)

 

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STAG III Arlington, LP

a Delaware limited partnership

 

By:

STIR Investments GP III, LLC,

 

 

a Delaware limited liability company,

 

 

its General Partner

 

 

 

By:

 

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

 

 

 

 

STAG IV Waco, L.P.,

a Delaware limited partnership

 

By:

STIR Investments GP IV, LLC,

 

 

a Delaware limited liability company,

 

 

its General Partner

 

 

 

By:

 

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

 

 

 

(Signatures continue on the next page)

 

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STAG Arlington 2, L.P.

STAG Houston 2, L.P.

STAG Garland, LP

STAG Houston 3, LP

STAG El Paso 1, LP

STAG El Paso 2, LP

STAG El Paso 3, LP

STAG El Paso 4, LP

STAG Houston 4, LP

STAG El Paso 5, LP

STAG Garland 2, LP

STAG TX Holdings, LP

STAG Rockwall, L.P.

STAG IND Stafford, LP

STAG IND El Paso 6, LP

STAG IND Houston 9, LP

STAG IND Houston 11, LP

 

each a Delaware limited partnership

 

By:

STAG TX GP 2, LLC

 

 

a Delaware limited liability company,

 

 

their General Partner

 

 

 

By:

 

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

 

 

 

 

STAG Camarillo 1, LP

STAG Camarillo 2, LP

STAG Visalia, LP

 

each, a Delaware limited partnership

 

By:

STAG CA GP, LLC

 

 

a Delaware limited liability company,

 

 

their General Partner

 

 

 

By:

 

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

 

 

 

(Signatures continue on the next page)

 

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STAG NC Holdings, LP

a Delaware limited partnership

 

By:

STAG NC GP, LLC,

 

 

a Delaware limited liability company,

 

 

their General Partner

 

 

 

By:

 

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

 

 

 

 

STAG Fort Worth, LP

a Delaware limited partnership

 

By:

STAG TX GP, LLC,

 

 

a Delaware limited liability company,

 

 

its General Partner

 

 

 

By:

 

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

 

 

 

STAG Mooresville 2, LP

a Delaware limited partnership

 

By:

STAG NC GP 2, LLC,

 

 

a Delaware limited liability company,

 

 

its General Partner

 

 

 

By:

 

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

 

 

 

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Subsidiary Guaranty Agreement

 



 

STAG El Paso, LP

a Delaware limited partnership

 

By:

STIR Investments GP, LLC

 

 

a Delaware limited liability company,

 

 

its General Partner

 

 

 

By:

 

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

 

 

 

Signature Page to

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SCHEDULE 1

INITIAL GUARANTORS

 

1.               STAG Investments Holdings III, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

2.               STAG III Albion, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

3.               STAG III Arlington, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership

 

4.               STAG III Boardman, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

5.               STAG III Chesterfield, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

6.               STAG III Daytona Beach, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

7.               STAG III Elkhart, LLC , a Delaware limited liability company

 

8.               STAG III Farmington, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

9.               STAG III Lewiston, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

10.        STAG III Malden, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

11.        STAG III Mason, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

12.        STAG III Mayville, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

13.        STAG III Newark, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

14.        STAG III Rapid City, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

15.        STIR Investments GP III, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

16.        STAG III Twinsburg, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

17.        STAG III Youngstown, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

18.        STAG Investments Holdings IV, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

19.        STAG IV Alexandria, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

20.        STAG IV Belfast, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

21.        STAG IV Cheektowaga, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

22.        STAG IV Danville, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

23.        STAG IV Seville, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

24.        STAG IV Sun Prairie, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

25.        STAG IV Waco, L.P. , a Delaware limited partnership

 



 

26.        STIR Investments GP IV, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

27.        STAG GI Investments Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

28.        STAG GI New Jersey, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

29.        STAG Industrial Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

30.        STAG Arlington 2, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership

 

31.        STAG TX GP 2, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

32.        STAG Avon, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

33.        STAG Buffalo, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

34.        STAG Chippewa Falls, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

35.        STAG Edgefield, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

36.        STAG Lansing 2, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

37.        STAG Orlando, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

38.        STAG Pineville, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

39.        STAG Portland 2, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

40.        STAG Reading, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

41.        STAG Rogers 2, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

42.        STAG South Bend, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

43.        STAG Spartanburg, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

44.        STAG Portage, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

45.        STAG Jackson, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

46.        STAG El Paso, LP, a Delaware limited partnership

 

47.        STIR Investments GP, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

48.        STAG Simpsonville, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

49.        STAG Dallas, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

50.        STAG De Pere, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

51.        STAG Duncan, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

52.        STAG Buena Vista, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 



 

53.        STAG Gurnee, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

54.        STAG Chicopee, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

55.        STAG Montgomery, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

56.        STAG Smyrna, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

57.        STAG Statham, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

58.        STAG Harrisonburg, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

59.        STAG Toledo, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

60.        STAG Woodstock, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

61.        STAG Columbia, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

62.        STAG Golden, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

63.        STAG DeKalb, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

64.        STAG Ocala, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

65.        STAG Marion 2, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

66.        STAG Londonderry, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

67.        STAG Houston 2, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership

 

68.        STAG Idaho Falls, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

69.        STAG Williamsport, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

70.        STAG Kentwood, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

71.        STAG Marshall, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

72.        STAG Belvidere I, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

73.        STAG Belvidere II, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

74.        STAG Belvidere III, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

75.        STAG Belvidere IV, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

76.        STAG Belvidere V, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

77.        STAG Belvidere VI, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

78.        STAG Belvidere VII, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

79.        STAG Belvidere VIII, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 



 

80.        STAG Belvidere IX, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

81.        STAG Nashville, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

82.        STAG New Berlin, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

83.        STAG Hampstead, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

84.        STAG New Hope, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

85.        STAG Orlando 2, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

86.        STAG North Jackson 2, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

87.        STAG Shannon, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

88.        STAG Lansing 4, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

89.        STAG Harvard, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

90.        STAG Sauk Village, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

91.        STAG South Holland, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

92.        STAG Mascot, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

93.        STAG Janesville, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

94.        STAG Allentown, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

95.        STAG Nashua, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

96.        STAG Strongsville, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

97.        STAG Columbus, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

98.        STAG Savannah, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

99.        STAG Garland, LP, a Delaware limited partnership

 

100.                         STAG West Chester, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

101.                         STAG Calhoun, LLC, a , a Delaware limited liability company

 

102.                         STAG Hebron, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

103.                         STAG Houston 3, LP, a Delaware limited partnership

 

104.                         STAG East Troy, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

105.                         STAG Savage, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

106.                         STAG El Paso 1, LP, a Delaware limited partnership

 



 

107.                         STAG El Paso 2, LP, a Delaware limited partnership

 

108.                         STAG El Paso 3, LP, a Delaware limited partnership

 

109.                         STAG El Paso 4, LP, a Delaware limited partnership

 

110.                         STAG Chester, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

111.                         STAG Mechanicsburg 1, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

112.                         STAG Mechanicsburg 2, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

113.                         STAG Mechanicsburg 3, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

114.                         STAG Mason 3, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

115.                         STAG Lenexa, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

116.                         STAG Reno, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

117.                         STAG Fort Wayne, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

118.                         STAG Murfreesboro, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

119.                         STAG Gurnee 2, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

120.                         STAG Germantown, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

121.                         STAG Elizabethtown, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

122.                         STAG Camarillo 1, LP, a Delaware limited partnership

 

123.                         STAG Camarillo 2, LP, a Delaware limited partnership

 

124.                         STAG CA GP, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

125.                         STAG Spartanburg 3, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

126.                         STAG Houston 4, LP, a Delaware limited partnership

 

127.                         STAG Burlington, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

128.                         STAG Greenville, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

129.                         STAG North Haven, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

130.                         STAG Plymouth 2, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

131.                         STAG Oakwood Village, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

132.                         STAG Stoughton 1, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

133.                         STAG Stoughton 2, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 



 

134.                         STAG 5101 South Council Road, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

135.                         STAG Knoxville 2, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

136.                         STAG Clinton, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

137.                         STAG Fairborn, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

138.                         STAG El Paso 5, LP, a Delaware limited partnership

 

139.                         STAG Phoenix, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

140.                         STAG Machesney Park, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

141.                         STAG Macedonia, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

142.                         STAG Novi 2, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

143.                         STAG Grand Junction, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

144.                         STAG Tulsa, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

145.                         STAG Chattanooga 1, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

146.                         STAG Chattanooga 2, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

147.                         STAG Libertyville 1, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

148.                         STAG Libertyville 2, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

149.                         STAG Greer, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

150.                         STAG Piedmont 1, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

151.                         STAG Piedmont 2, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

152.                         STAG Piedmont 3, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

153.                         STAG Belvidere 10, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

154.                         STAG Shreveport, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

155.                         STAG Dayton 2, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

156.                         STAG West Allis, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

157.                         STAG Loudon, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

158.                         STAG Garland 2, LP, a Delaware limited partnership

 

159.                         STAG Laurens, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

160.                         STAG Lancaster, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 



 

161.                         STAG Grand Rapids, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

162.                         STAG Burlington 2, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

163.                         STAG Biddeford, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

164.                         STAG Fairfield 3, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

165.                         STAG Mascot 2, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

166.                         STAG Erlanger, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

167.                         STAG Gahanna, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

168.                         STAG Norton, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

169.                         STAG Visalia, LP, a Delaware limited partnership

 

170.                         STAG TX Holdings, LP, a Delaware limited partnership

 

171.                         STAG NC GP, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

172.                         STAG NC Holdings, LP, a Delaware limited partnership

 

173.                         STAG Sparks 2, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

174.                         STAG Hazelwood, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

175.                         STAG Portland, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

176.                         STAG East Windsor, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

177.                         STAG Yorkville, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

178.                         STAG Rockwall, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership

 

179.                         STAG Lebanon, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

180.                         STAG York, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

181.                         STAG Mooresville 2, LP, a Delaware limited partnership

 

182.                         STAG GI O’Fallon, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

183.                         STAG GI Vonore, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

184.                         STAG GI Streetsboro, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

185.                         STAG GI Salem, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

186.                         STAG GI Goshen, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

187.                         STAG GI Madison, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 



 

188.                         STAG GI Mooresville, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

189.                         STAG GI Walker, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

190.                         STAG Lansing, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

191.                         STAG Louisville, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

192.                         STAG North Jackson, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

193.                         STAG Fort Worth, LP, a Delaware limited partnership

 

194.                         STAG TX GP, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

195.                         STAG NC GP 2, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

196.                         STAG GI Cleveland, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

197.                         STAG GI Rogers, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

198.                         STAG West Columbia 3, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

199.                         STAG IND Stafford, LP, a Delaware limited partnership

 

200.                         STAG IND El Paso 6, LP, a Delaware limited partnership

 

201.                         STAG IND Houston 9, LP, a Delaware limited partnership

 

202.                         STAG McHenry 2, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

203.                         STAG Romulus 2, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

204.                         STAG South Saint Paul, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

205.                         STAG IND Houston 11, LP, a Delaware limited partnership

 

206.                         STAG Knoxville 3, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

207.                         STAG III Pensacola, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 



 

EXHIBIT A

 

COUNTERPART TO SUBSIDIARY GUARANTY AGREEMENT

 

Reference is hereby made to that certain Subsidiary Guaranty Agreement (hereinafter the “ Subsidiary Guaranty ”) dated as of July 26, 2018, executed and delivered by the parties listed on SCHEDULE 1 ATTACHED HERETO pursuant to that certain Term Loan Agreement dated as of July 26, 2018 (as from time to time may be amended, modified, or restated, the “ Credit Agreement ”), by and among STAG Industrial Operating Partnership, L.P. as Borrower, STAG Industrial, Inc., a Maryland corporation, as Parent of Borrower, Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as the Administrative Agent and each lender, including the Administrative Agent, from time to time party to the Credit Agreement.  Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings set forth in the Subsidiary Guaranty.

 

In witness whereof, the undersigned Additional Guarantor has caused this Subsidiary Guaranty Agreement to be executed and delivered by its officer thereunto duly authorized as of               , 20   .

 

 

 

 

[NAME OF ADDITIONAL GUARANTOR]

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

 

Title:

 

 



 

SCHEDULE 1

EXISTING SUBSIDIARY GUARANTORS

 

1.               STAG Investments Holdings III, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

2.               STAG III Albion, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

3.               STAG III Arlington, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership

 

4.               STAG III Boardman, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

5.               STAG III Chesterfield, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

6.               STAG III Daytona Beach, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

7.               STAG III Elkhart, LLC , a Delaware limited liability company

 

8.               STAG III Farmington, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

9.               STAG III Lewiston, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

10.        STAG III Malden, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

11.        STAG III Mason, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

12.        STAG III Mayville, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

13.        STAG III Newark, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

14.        STAG III Rapid City, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

15.        STIR Investments GP III, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

16.        STAG III Twinsburg, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

17.        STAG III Youngstown, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

18.        STAG Investments Holdings IV, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

19.        STAG IV Alexandria, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

20.        STAG IV Belfast, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

21.        STAG IV Cheektowaga, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

22.        STAG IV Danville, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

23.        STAG IV Seville, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

24.        STAG IV Sun Prairie, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

25.        STAG IV Waco, L.P. , a Delaware limited partnership

 



 

26.        STIR Investments GP IV, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

27.        STAG GI Investments Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

28.        STAG GI New Jersey, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

29.        STAG Industrial Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

30.        STAG Arlington 2, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership

 

31.        STAG TX GP 2, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

32.        STAG Avon, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

33.        STAG Buffalo, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

34.        STAG Chippewa Falls, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

35.        STAG Edgefield, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

36.        STAG Lansing 2, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

37.        STAG Orlando, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

38.        STAG Pineville, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

39.        STAG Portland 2, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

40.        STAG Reading, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

41.        STAG Rogers 2, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

42.        STAG South Bend, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

43.        STAG Spartanburg, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

44.        STAG Portage, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

45.        STAG Jackson, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

46.        STAG El Paso, LP, a Delaware limited partnership

 

47.        STIR Investments GP, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

48.        STAG Simpsonville, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

49.        STAG Dallas, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

50.        STAG De Pere, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

51.        STAG Duncan, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

52.        STAG Buena Vista, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 



 

53.        STAG Gurnee, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

54.        STAG Chicopee, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

55.        STAG Montgomery, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

56.        STAG Smyrna, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

57.        STAG Statham, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

58.        STAG Harrisonburg, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

59.        STAG Toledo, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

60.        STAG Woodstock, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

61.        STAG Columbia, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

62.        STAG Golden, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

63.        STAG DeKalb, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

64.        STAG Ocala, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

65.        STAG Marion 2, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

66.        STAG Londonderry, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

67.        STAG Houston 2, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership

 

68.        STAG Idaho Falls, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

69.        STAG Williamsport, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

70.        STAG Kentwood, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

71.        STAG Marshall, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

72.        STAG Belvidere I, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

73.        STAG Belvidere II, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

74.        STAG Belvidere III, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

75.        STAG Belvidere IV, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

76.        STAG Belvidere V, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

77.        STAG Belvidere VI, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

78.        STAG Belvidere VII, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

79.        STAG Belvidere VIII, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 



 

80.        STAG Belvidere IX, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

81.        STAG Nashville, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

82.        STAG New Berlin, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

83.        STAG Hampstead, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

84.        STAG New Hope, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

85.        STAG Orlando 2, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

86.        STAG North Jackson 2, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

87.        STAG Shannon, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

88.        STAG Lansing 4, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

89.        STAG Harvard, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

90.        STAG Sauk Village, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

91.        STAG South Holland, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

92.        STAG Mascot, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

93.        STAG Janesville, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

94.        STAG Allentown, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

95.        STAG Nashua, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

96.        STAG Strongsville, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

97.        STAG Columbus, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

98.        STAG Savannah, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

99.        STAG Garland, LP, a Delaware limited partnership

 

100.                         STAG West Chester, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

101.                         STAG Calhoun, LLC, a , a Delaware limited liability company

 

102.                         STAG Hebron, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

103.                         STAG Houston 3, LP, a Delaware limited partnership

 

104.                         STAG East Troy, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

105.                         STAG Savage, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

106.                         STAG El Paso 1, LP, a Delaware limited partnership

 



 

107.                         STAG El Paso 2, LP, a Delaware limited partnership

 

108.                         STAG El Paso 3, LP, a Delaware limited partnership

 

109.                         STAG El Paso 4, LP, a Delaware limited partnership

 

110.                         STAG Chester, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

111.                         STAG Mechanicsburg 1, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

112.                         STAG Mechanicsburg 2, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

113.                         STAG Mechanicsburg 3, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

114.                         STAG Mason 3, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

115.                         STAG Lenexa, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

116.                         STAG Reno, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

117.                         STAG Fort Wayne, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

118.                         STAG Murfreesboro, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

119.                         STAG Gurnee 2, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

120.                         STAG Germantown, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

121.                         STAG Elizabethtown, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

122.                         STAG Camarillo 1, LP, a Delaware limited partnership

 

123.                         STAG Camarillo 2, LP, a Delaware limited partnership

 

124.                         STAG CA GP, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

125.                         STAG Spartanburg 3, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

126.                         STAG Houston 4, LP, a Delaware limited partnership

 

127.                         STAG Burlington, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

128.                         STAG Greenville, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

129.                         STAG North Haven, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

130.                         STAG Plymouth 2, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

131.                         STAG Oakwood Village, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

132.                         STAG Stoughton 1, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

133.                         STAG Stoughton 2, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 



 

134.                         STAG 5101 South Council Road, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

135.                         STAG Knoxville 2, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

136.                         STAG Clinton, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

137.                         STAG Fairborn, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

138.                         STAG El Paso 5, LP, a Delaware limited partnership

 

139.                         STAG Phoenix, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

140.                         STAG Machesney Park, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

141.                         STAG Macedonia, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

142.                         STAG Novi 2, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

143.                         STAG Grand Junction, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

144.                         STAG Tulsa, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

145.                         STAG Chattanooga 1, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

146.                         STAG Chattanooga 2, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

147.                         STAG Libertyville 1, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

148.                         STAG Libertyville 2, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

149.                         STAG Greer, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

150.                         STAG Piedmont 1, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

151.                         STAG Piedmont 2, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

152.                         STAG Piedmont 3, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

153.                         STAG Belvidere 10, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

154.                         STAG Shreveport, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

155.                         STAG Dayton 2, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

156.                         STAG West Allis, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

157.                         STAG Loudon, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

158.                         STAG Garland 2, LP, a Delaware limited partnership

 

159.                         STAG Laurens, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

160.                         STAG Lancaster, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 



 

161.                         STAG Grand Rapids, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

162.                         STAG Burlington 2, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

163.                         STAG Biddeford, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

164.                         STAG Fairfield 3, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

165.                         STAG Mascot 2, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

166.                         STAG Erlanger, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

167.                         STAG Gahanna, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

168.                         STAG Norton, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

169.                         STAG Visalia, LP, a Delaware limited partnership

 

170.                         STAG TX Holdings, LP, a Delaware limited partnership

 

171.                         STAG NC GP, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

172.                         STAG NC Holdings, LP, a Delaware limited partnership

 

173.                         STAG Sparks 2, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

174.                         STAG Hazelwood, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

175.                         STAG Portland, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

176.                         STAG East Windsor, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

177.                         STAG Yorkville, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

178.                         STAG Rockwall, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership

 

179.                         STAG Lebanon, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

180.                         STAG York, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

181.                         STAG Mooresville 2, LP, a Delaware limited partnership

 

182.                         STAG GI O’Fallon, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

183.                         STAG GI Vonore, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

184.                         STAG GI Streetsboro, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

185.                         STAG GI Salem, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

186.                         STAG GI Goshen, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

187.                         STAG GI Madison, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 



 

188.                         STAG GI Mooresville, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

189.                         STAG GI Walker, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

190.                         STAG Lansing, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

191.                         STAG Louisville, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

192.                         STAG North Jackson, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

193.                         STAG Fort Worth, LP, a Delaware limited partnership

 

194.                         STAG TX GP, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

195.                         STAG NC GP 2, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

196.                         STAG GI Cleveland, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

197.                         STAG GI Rogers, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

198.                         STAG West Columbia 3, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

199.                         STAG IND Stafford, LP, a Delaware limited partnership

 

200.                         STAG IND El Paso 6, LP, a Delaware limited partnership

 

201.                         STAG IND Houston 9, LP, a Delaware limited partnership

 

202.                         STAG McHenry 2, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

203.                         STAG Romulus 2, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

204.                         STAG South Saint Paul, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

205.                         STAG IND Houston 11, LP, a Delaware limited partnership

 

206.                         STAG Knoxville 3, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

207.                         STAG III Pensacola, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 



 

EXHIBIT B

 

FORM OF RELEASE OF GUARANTOR

 

In witness whereof, the undersigned Administrative Agent, on behalf of the Credit Parties, hereby releases and discharges                      from any and all obligations and liabilities of                      to the Credit Parties under that certain Subsidiary Guaranty Agreement dated as of July 26, 2018 executed by the Subsidiary Guarantors of STAG Industrial Operating Partnership, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership, described therein in favor of the Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Credit Parties.

 

WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,

 

as Administrative Agent

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

 

Title:

 

 

 



 

EXHIBIT H-1

 

FORM OF
U.S. TAX COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE

 

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

 

Reference is hereby made to the Term Loan Agreement dated as of July 26, 2018 (as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “ Term Loan Agreement ”), among STAG INDUSTRIAL OPERATING PARTNERSHIP, L.P. as the Borrower (the “ Borrower ”), STAG Industrial, Inc., a Maryland corporation and the sole member of the sole general partner of the Borrower, the Lenders from time to time party thereto, and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as the Administrative Agent.

 

Pursuant to the provisions of Section 3.01(e)  of the Term Loan Agreement, the undersigned hereby certifies that (i) it is the sole record and beneficial owner of the Loan(s) (as well as any Note(s) evidencing such Loan(s)) in respect of which it is providing this certificate, (ii) it is not a bank within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(A)  of the Code, (iii) it is not a ten percent shareholder of the Borrower within the meaning of Section 871(h)(3)(B)  of the Code and (iv) it is not a controlled foreign corporation related to the Borrower as described in Section 881(c)(3)(C)  of the Code.

 

The undersigned has furnished the Administrative Agent and the Borrower with a certificate of its non-U.S. Person status on IRS Form W-8BEN or IRS Form W-8BEN-E.  By executing this certificate, the undersigned agrees that (1) if the information provided on this certificate changes, the undersigned shall promptly so inform the Borrower and the Administrative Agent, and (2) the undersigned shall have at all times furnished the Borrower and the Administrative Agent with a properly completed and currently effective certificate in either the calendar year in which each payment is to be made to the undersigned, or in either of the two calendar years preceding such payments.

 

Unless otherwise defined herein, terms defined in the Term Loan Agreement and used herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Term Loan Agreement.

 

[NAME OF LENDER]

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

 

 

 

Title:

 

 

 

 

Date:            , 20[  ]

 

 

H- 1



 

EXHIBIT H-2

 

FORM OF
U.S. TAX COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE

 

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

 

Reference is hereby made to the Term Loan Agreement dated as of July 26, 2018 (as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “ Term Loan Agreement ”), among STAG INDUSTRIAL OPERATING PARTNERSHIP, L.P. as the Borrower (the “ Borrower ”), STAG Industrial, Inc., a Maryland corporation and the sole member of the sole general partner of the Borrower, the Lenders from time to time party thereto, and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as the Administrative Agent.

 

Pursuant to the provisions of Section 3.01(e)  of the Term Loan Agreement, the undersigned hereby certifies that (i) it is the sole record and beneficial owner of the participation in respect of which it is providing this certificate, (ii) it is not a bank within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(A)  of the Code, (iii) it is not a ten percent shareholder of the Borrower within the meaning of Section 871(h)(3)(B)  of the Code, and (iv) it is not a controlled foreign corporation related to the Borrower as described in Section 881(c)(3)(C)  of the Code.

 

The undersigned has furnished its participating Lender with a certificate of its non-U.S. Person status on IRS Form W-8BEN or IRS Form W-8BEN-E.  By executing this certificate, the undersigned agrees that (1) if the information provided on this certificate changes, the undersigned shall promptly so inform such Lender in writing, and (2) the undersigned shall have at all times furnished such Lender with a properly completed and currently effective certificate in either the calendar year in which each payment is to be made to the undersigned, or in either of the two calendar years preceding such payments.

 

Unless otherwise defined herein, terms defined in the Term Loan Agreement and used herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Term Loan Agreement.

 

[NAME OF PARTICIPANT]

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

 

 

 

Title:

 

 

 

 

Date:            , 20[  ]

 

 

H- 2



 

EXHIBIT H-3

 

FORM OF
U.S. TAX COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE

 

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

 

Reference is hereby made to the Term Loan Agreement dated as of July 26, 2018 (as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “ Term Loan Agreement ”), among STAG INDUSTRIAL OPERATING PARTNERSHIP, L.P. as the Borrower (the “ Borrower ”), STAG Industrial, Inc., a Maryland corporation and the sole member of the sole general partner of the Borrower, the Lenders from time to time party thereto, and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as the Administrative Agent.

 

Pursuant to the provisions of Section 3.01(e)  of the Term Loan Agreement, the undersigned hereby certifies that (i) it is the sole record owner of the participation in respect of which it is providing this certificate, (ii) its direct or indirect partners/members are the sole beneficial owners of such participation, (iii) with respect such participation, neither the undersigned nor any of its direct or indirect partners/members is a bank extending credit pursuant to a loan agreement entered into in the ordinary course of its trade or business within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(A)  of the Code, (iv) none of its direct or indirect partners/members is a ten percent shareholder of the Borrower within the meaning of Section 871(h)(3)(B)  of the Code and (v) none of its direct or indirect partners/members is a controlled foreign corporation related to the Borrower as described in Section 881(c)(3)(C)  of the Code.

 

The undersigned has furnished its participating Lender with IRS Form W-8IMY accompanied by one of the following forms from each of its partners/members that is claiming the portfolio interest exemption: (i) an IRS Form W-8BEN or IRS Form W-8BEN-E or (ii) an IRS Form W-8IMY accompanied by an IRS Form W-8BEN or IRS Form W-8BEN-E from each of such partner’s/member’s beneficial owners that is claiming the portfolio interest exemption.  By executing this certificate, the undersigned agrees that (1) if the information provided on this certificate changes, the undersigned shall promptly so inform such Lender and (2) the undersigned shall have at all times furnished such Lender with a properly completed and currently effective certificate in either the calendar year in which each payment is to be made to the undersigned, or in either of the two calendar years preceding such payments.

 

Unless otherwise defined herein, terms defined in the Term Loan Agreement and used herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Term Loan Agreement.

 

[NAME OF PARTICIPANT]

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

 

 

 

Title:

 

 

 

 

Date:            , 20[  ]

 

 

H- 3



 

EXHIBIT H-4

 

FORM OF
U.S. TAX COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE

 

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

 

Reference is hereby made to the Term Loan Agreement dated as of July 26, 2018 (as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “ Term Loan Agreement ”) among STAG INDUSTRIAL OPERATING PARTNERSHIP, L.P. as the Borrower (the “ Borrower ”), STAG Industrial, Inc., a Maryland corporation and the sole member of the sole general partner of the Borrower, the Lenders from time to time party thereto, and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as the Administrative Agent.

 

Pursuant to the provisions of Section 3.01(e)  of the Term Loan Agreement, the undersigned hereby certifies that (i) it is the sole record owner of the Loan(s) (as well as any Note(s) evidencing such Loan(s)) in respect of which it is providing this certificate, (ii) its direct or indirect partners/members are the sole beneficial owners of such Loan(s) (as well as any Note(s) evidencing such Loan(s)), (iii) with respect to the extension of credit pursuant to this Term Loan Agreement or any other Loan Document, neither the undersigned nor any of its direct or indirect partners/members is a bank extending credit pursuant to a loan agreement entered into in the ordinary course of its trade or business within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(A)  of the Code, (iv) none of its direct or indirect partners/members is a ten percent shareholder of the Borrower within the meaning of Section 871(h)(3)(B)  of the Code and (v) none of its direct or indirect partners/members is a controlled foreign corporation related to the Borrower as described in Section 881(c)(3)(C)  of the Code.

 

The undersigned has furnished the Administrative Agent and the Borrower with IRS Form W-8IMY accompanied by one of the following forms from each of its partners/members that is claiming the portfolio interest exemption: (i) an IRS Form W-8BEN or IRS Form W-8BEN-E or (ii) an IRS Form W-8IMY accompanied by an IRS Form W-8BEN or IRS Form W-8BEN-E from each of such partner’s/member’s beneficial owners that is claiming the portfolio interest exemption.  By executing this certificate, the undersigned agrees that (1) if the information provided on this certificate changes, the undersigned shall promptly so inform the Borrower and the Administrative Agent, and (2) the undersigned shall have at all times furnished the Borrower and the Administrative Agent with a properly completed and currently effective certificate in either the calendar year in which each payment is to be made to the undersigned, or in either of the two calendar years preceding such payments.

 

Unless otherwise defined herein, terms defined in the Term Loan Agreement and used herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Term Loan Agreement.

 

[NAME OF LENDER]

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

 

 

 

Title:

 

 

 

 

Date:            , 20[  ]

 

 

H- 4


EXHIBIT 10.3

 

SECOND AMENDMENT TO AMENDED AND RESTATED

 

TERM LOAN AGREEMENT

 

This SECOND AMENDMENT TO AMENDED AND RESTATED TERM LOAN AGREEMENT (this “ Second Amendment ”) is made and entered into as of July 26, 2018 by and among STAG INDUSTRIAL OPERATING PARTNERSHIP, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (together with its successors and assigns, the “ Borrower ”), STAG INDUSTRIAL INC., a Maryland corporation and the sole member of the sole general partner of the Borrower (the “ Parent ”), each of the financial institutions initially a signatory to the Loan Agreement (as defined below) together with their successors and assigns under Section 11.06 of the Loan Agreement (the “ Lenders ”), and WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as the Administrative Agent (in such capacity, the “ Administrative Agent ”).

 

WITNESSETH:

 

WHEREAS, the Borrower, the Parent, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders are parties to that certain Amended and Restated Term Loan Agreement dated as of December 20, 2016 (as amended by the First Amendment to Amended and Restated Term Loan Agreement dated as of July 28, 2017, the “ Loan Agreement ”);

 

WHEREAS, the Borrower has requested that the Administrative Agent and the Lenders amend certain terms and conditions of the Loan Agreement as described herein; and

 

WHEREAS, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders party to this Second Amendment have agreed to so amend certain terms and conditions of the Loan Agreement, all on the terms and conditions set forth below in this Second Amendment.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, for good and valuable consideration, the receipt and adequacy of which is hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:

 

1.                                       Definitions . All capitalized undefined terms used in this Second Amendment shall have the meanings ascribed thereto in the Loan Agreement, as amended hereby.

 

2.                                       Amendments to Loan Agreement .  Effective as set forth in Section 3 below, the Loan Agreement is hereby amended to delete the stricken text (indicated in the same manner as the following example: stricken text ) and to add the double-underlined text (indicated in the same manner as the following example:  double-underlined text ) as set forth on Exhibit A hereto (the “ Amended Loan Agreement ”).  Exhibit B attached hereto sets forth a clean copy of the Amended Loan Agreement after giving effect to such amendments.

 

3.                                       Conditions to Effectiveness .     This Second Amendment shall not be effective until the Administrative Agent shall have received (a) counterparts of (i) this Second Amendment duly executed and delivered by the Borrower, the Parent, the Administrative Agent, and the Required Lenders and (ii) duly executed copies of a Reaffirmation of Subsidiary Guaranty in the form of Exhibit C attached hereto from each of the Subsidiary Guarantors identified thereon; and (b) all the fees and expenses required to be paid on or before the effectiveness of this Second Amendment.

 

4.                                       Representations and Warranties .  The Borrower hereby represents and warrants that the representations and warranties of the Borrower and each other Loan Party contained in Article VI

 



 

of the Loan Agreement or any other Loan Document, or which are contained in any document furnished at any time under or in connection therewith, shall be true and correct in all material respects (or in all respects in the case of any representation or warranty qualified by materiality or Material Adverse Effect) on and as of the date hereof, except to the extent that such representations and warranties specifically refer to an earlier date, in which case they shall be true and correct in all material respects (or in all respects in the case of any representation or warranty qualified by materiality or Material Adverse Effect)  as of such earlier date.

 

5.                                       Limited Amendment; Ratification of Loan Documents .  Except as specifically amended or modified hereby, the terms and conditions of the Loan Agreement and the other Loan Documents shall remain in full force and effect, and are hereby ratified and affirmed in all respects.  This Second Amendment shall not be deemed a waiver of, or consent to, or a modification or amendment of, any other term or condition of the Loan Agreement or any other Loan Document, except as expressly set forth herein.

 

6.                                       Governing Law . This Second Amendment shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the law of the State of New York.

 

7.                                       Miscellaneous . This Second Amendment may be executed in any number of counterparts, which shall together constitute an entire original agreement, and shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns.  This Second Amendment expresses the entire understanding of the parties with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby.  No prior negotiations or discussions shall limit, modify, or otherwise affect the provisions hereof.  Any determination that any provision of this Second Amendment or any application hereof is invalid, illegal, or unenforceable in any respect and in any instance shall not affect the validity, legality, or enforceability of such provision in any other instance, or the validity, legality, or enforceability of any other provisions of this Second Amendment.  Each of the Borrower and the Parent represents and warrants that it has consulted with independent legal counsel of its selection in connection herewith and is not relying on any representations or warranties of the Administrative Agent or the Lenders or their counsel in entering into this Second Amendment. This Second Amendment shall constitute a Loan Document.

 

***

 

2



 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Second Amendment to be duly executed as of the date first above written.

 

 

 

 

 

BORROWER:

 

 

 

STAG INDUSTRIAL OPERATING PARTNERSHIP, L.P. ,

 

a Delaware limited partnership

 

 

 

 

By:

STAG Industrial GP, LLC

 

Its:

General Partner

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ William R. Crooker

 

Name:

William R. Crooker

 

Title:

Authorized Officer

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PARENT:

 

 

 

STAG INDUSTRIAL, INC. ,

 

a Maryland corporation

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ William R. Crooker

 

Name:

William R. Crooker

 

Title:

Authorize Officer

 

Signature Page to Second Amendment to

2016 Amended and Restated Term Loan Agreement

 



 

 

WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION ,

 

as the Administrative Agent and a Lender

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ D. Bryan Gregory

 

Name:

D. Bryan Gregory

 

Title:

Managing Director

 

Signature Page to Second Amendment to

2016 Amended and Restated Term Loan Agreement

 



 

 

CAPITAL ONE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION , as a Lender

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Peter Ilovic

 

Name:

Peter Ilovic

 

Title:

Vice President

 

Signature Page to Second Amendment to

2016 Amended and Restated Term Loan Agreement

 



 

 

RAYMOND JAMES BANK, N.A. , as a Lender

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ James Armstrong

 

Name:

James Armstrong

 

Title:

CRE Lending Manager / SVP

 

Signature Page to Second Amendment to

2016 Amended and Restated Term Loan Agreement

 



 

 

REGIONS BANK , as a Lender

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Paul E. Burgan

 

Name:

Paul E. Burgan

 

Title:

Vice President

 

Signature Page to Second Amendment to

2016 Amended and Restated Term Loan Agreement

 



 

 

TD BANK, N.A. , as a Lender

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Brian Welch

 

Name:

Brian Welch

 

Title:

SVP Team Lead

 

Signature Page to Second Amendment to

2016 Amended and Restated Term Loan Agreement

 



 

EXHIBIT A

 

AMENDED LOAN AGREEMENT (REDLINE)

 

[Attached]

 



 

EXHIBIT B to Second Amendment to Amended and Restated Term Loan Agreement

CONFORMED COPY

through Amendment No. 1 dated July 28, 2017

 

Published CUSIP Number: 85253UAA6

 

AMENDED AND RESTATED TERM LOAN AGREEMENT

Dated as of December 20, 2016

 

among

 

STAG INDUSTRIAL OPERATING PARTNERSHIP, L.P. ,
as the Borrower,

 

STAG INDUSTRIAL, INC. ,
as a Guarantor,

 

WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION ,
as the Administrative Agent

 

and

 

The Other Lenders Party Hereto

 

WELLS FARGO SECURITIES, LLC ,
as the Lead Arranger and Bookrunner

 

and

 

TD BANK, N.A. ,

as Syndication Agent,

 

and

 

CAPITAL ONE, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

 

and

 

REGIONS BANK ,

as Co-Documentation Agents

 

and

 

THE FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS NOW OR HEREAFTER SIGNATORIES HERETO AND THEIR ASSIGNEES PURSUANT TO SECTION 11.06 ,
as Lenders

 

WFB LOAN NO. 1008988-1

 



 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

Section

 

Page

 

 

Article I. Definitions and Accounting Terms

1

 

 

1.01

Defined Terms

1

1.02

Other Interpretive Provisions

34

1.03

Accounting Terms

34

1.04

Rounding

35

1.05

Times of Day

35

1.06

Amendment and Restatement of the Existing Term Loan Agreement

35

1.07

Rates

36

 

 

 

Article II. The Committed Loans and Credit Extensions

36

 

 

2.01

Committed Loans

36

2.02

Borrowings, Conversions and Continuations of Committed Loans

36

2.03

Reserved

38

2.04

Reserved

38

2.05

Prepayments

38

2.06

Incremental Term Loans

39

2.07

Repayment of Loans

40

2.08

Interest

40

2.09

Fees

41

2.10

Computation of Interest and Fees; Retroactive Adjustments of Applicable Rate

41

2.11

Evidence of Debt

42

2.12

Payments Generally; The Administrative Agent’s Clawback

42

2.13

Sharing of Payments by the Lenders

44

2.14

Reserved

45

2.15

Reserved

45

2.16

Defaulting Lenders

45

2.17

Guaranties

46

 

 

 

Article III. Taxes, Yield Protection and Illegality

47

 

 

3.01

Taxes

47

3.02

Illegality

53

3.03

Inability to Determine Rates

53

3.04

Increased Costs; Reserves on LIBOR Loans

55

3.05

Compensation for Losses

56

3.06

Mitigation Obligations; Replacement of the Lenders

57

3.07

Survival

58

 

 

 

Article IV. Unencumbered Properties

58

 

 

4.01

Initial Unencumbered Properties

58

4.02

Reserved

58

4.03

Notices of Qualification as an Unencumbered Property

58

4.04

Eligibility

58

 



 

Section

 

Page

 

 

 

4.05

Reserved

58

4.06

Guaranty

58

4.07

Admission of New Unencumbered Properties

58

4.08

Reserved

58

4.09

Reserved

58

4.10

Exclusion Events

58

4.11

Reserved

60

 

 

 

Article V. Conditions Precedent to Credit Extensions

60

 

 

5.01

Conditions of Initial Credit Extension

60

5.02

Conditions to all Credit Extensions

62

 

 

 

Article VI. Representations and Warranties

63

 

 

6.01

Existence, Qualification and Power; Compliance with Laws

63

6.02

Authorization; No Contravention

63

6.03

Governmental Authorization; Other Consents

63

6.04

Binding Effect

63

6.05

Financial Statements; No Material Adverse Effect

63

6.06

Litigation

64

6.07

No Default

64

6.08

Ownership of Property; Liens; Equity Interests

64

6.09

Environmental Compliance

65

6.10

Insurance

65

6.11

Taxes

66

6.12

ERISA Compliance

66

6.13

Subsidiaries; Equity Interests

67

6.14

Margin Regulations; Investment Company Act

67

6.15

Disclosure

67

6.16

Compliance with Laws

68

6.17

Taxpayer Identification Number

68

6.18

Intellectual Property; Licenses, Etc.

68

6.19

Reserved

68

6.20

Solvency

68

6.21

REIT Status of the Parent

69

6.22

Labor Matters

69

6.23

Ground Lease Representation

69

6.24

Unencumbered Properties

69

6.25

OFAC

70

6.26

EEA Financial Institutions

70

 

 

 

Article VII. Affirmative Covenants

70

 

 

7.01

Financial Statements

70

7.02

Certificates; Other Information

71

7.03

Notices

73

7.04

Payment of Obligations

74

7.05

Preservation of Existence, Etc.

74

7.06

Maintenance of Properties

74

 

ii



 

Section

 

Page

 

 

 

7.07

Maintenance of Insurance

75

7.08

Compliance with Laws

75

7.09

Books and Records

75

7.10

Inspection Rights

75

7.11

Use of Proceeds

76

7.12

Environmental Matters

76

7.13

Ground Leases

78

7.14

Unencumbered Properties

79

 

 

 

Article VIII. Negative Covenants

80

 

 

8.01

Liens

80

8.02

Indebtedness

81

8.03

Investments

82

8.04

Fundamental Changes

83

8.05

Dispositions

83

8.06

Restricted Payments

83

8.07

Change in Nature of Business

84

8.08

Transactions with Affiliates

84

8.09

Burdensome Agreements

84

8.10

Use of Proceeds

84

8.11

Unencumbered Properties; Ground Leases

85

8.12

Environmental Matters

86

8.13

Negative Pledge; Indebtedness

86

8.14

Financial Covenants

86

 

 

 

Article IX. Events of Default and Remedies

88

 

 

9.01

Events of Default

88

9.02

Remedies Upon Event of Default

90

9.03

Application of Funds

91

 

 

 

Article X. The Administrative Agent

92

 

 

10.01

Appointment and Authority

92

10.02

Rights as a Lender

92

10.03

Exculpatory Provisions

92

10.04

Reliance by the Administrative Agent

93

10.05

Delegation of Duties

93

10.06

Resignation of the Administrative Agent

94

10.07

Non-Reliance on the Administrative Agent and Other Lenders

95

10.08

No Other Duties, Etc.

95

10.09

The Administrative Agent May File Proofs of Claim

95

10.10

Guaranty Matters

96

 

 

 

Article XI. Miscellaneous

96

 

 

11.01

Amendments, Etc.

96

11.02

Notices; Effectiveness; Electronic Communication

97

11.03

No Waiver; Cumulative Remedies; Enforcement

100

11.04

Expenses; Indemnity; Damage Waiver

100

 

iii



 

Section

 

Page

 

 

 

11.05

Payments Set Aside

102

11.06

Successors and Assigns

103

11.07

Treatment of Certain Information; Confidentiality

107

11.08

Right of Setoff

108

11.09

Interest Rate Limitation

109

11.10

Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness

109

11.11

Survival of Representations and Warranties

109

11.12

Severability

110

11.13

Replacement of the Lenders

110

11.14

Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Etc.

111

11.15

No Advisory or Fiduciary Responsibility

112

11.16

Electronic Execution of Assignments and Certain Other Documents

113

11.17

USA PATRIOT ACT

113

11.18

ENTIRE AGREEMENT

113

11.19

Acknowledgment and Consent to Bail-In of EEA Financial Institutions

114

11.20

Certain ERISA Matters

114

 

SCHEDULES

 

2.01

Committed Loans and Applicable Percentages

4.01

Initial Unencumbered Properties

6.06

Litigation

6.09

Environmental Matters

6.13

Subsidiaries and Other Equity Investments and Equity Interests in the Borrower and Each Subsidiary Guarantor

6.18

Intellectual Property Matters

8.01

Existing Liens

8.13

Indebtedness

11.02

The Administrative Agent’s Office; Certain Addresses for Notices

RO

Responsible Officers

 

EXHIBITS

 

Form of

 

 

 

A

Committed Loan Notice

B

Form of Note

C

Compliance Certificate

D-1

Assignment and Assumption

D-2

Administrative Questionnaire

E

Form of Disbursement Instruction Agreement

F-1

Form of Parent Guaranty

F-2

Form of Subsidiary Guaranty

G

Reserved

H-1

U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate

H-2

U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate

 

iv



 

Section

 

Page

 

H-3

U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate

H-4

U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate

 

v



 

AMENDED AND RESTATED TERM LOAN AGREEMENT

 

This AMENDED AND RESTATED TERM LOAN AGREEMENT (the “ Agreement ”) is entered into as of December 20, 2016, among STAG INDUSTRIAL OPERATING PARTNERSHIP, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (the “ Borrower ”), STAG INDUSTRIAL, INC., a Maryland corporation and the sole member of the sole general partner of the Borrower (the “ Parent ”), each lender from time to time party hereto (collectively, the “ Lenders ” and individually, a “ Lender ”), and WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as the Administrative Agent.

 

The Borrower has requested that the Lenders provide a term credit facility, and the Lenders are willing to do so on the terms and conditions set forth herein.

 

The Borrower, the Lenders party thereto, and the Administrative Agent are currently party to that certain Term Loan Agreement, dated as of December 18, 2014, as amended or otherwise modified prior to the date hereof, among the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and a syndicate of Lenders (the “ Existing Term Loan Agreement ”).

 

The Borrower, the Lenders and the Administrative Agent have agreed to enter into this Agreement in order to (i) amend and restate the Existing Term Loan Agreement in its entirety; (ii) re-evidence the “Obligations” under, and as defined in, the Existing Term Loan Agreement, which shall be repayable in accordance with the terms of this Agreement; and (iii) set forth the terms and conditions under which the Lenders will, from time to time, make loans to or for the benefit of the Borrower.

 

The parties hereto intend that this Agreement not constitute a novation of the obligations and liabilities, if any, of the parties under the Existing Term Loan Agreement or be deemed to evidence or constitute full repayment of such obligations and liabilities, if any, but that this Agreement amend and restate in its entirety the Existing Term Loan Agreement and re-evidence the obligations and liabilities, if any, of the Borrower outstanding thereunder, which shall be payable in accordance with the terms hereof.

 

The Borrower confirms that all obligations under the applicable “Loan Documents” (as referred to and defined in the Existing Term Loan Agreement) shall continue in full force and effect as modified or restated by the Loan Documents (as referred to and defined herein) and that, from and after the Closing Date, all references to the “Agreement” contained in any such existing “Loan Documents” shall be deemed to refer to this Agreement.

 

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

 

8.                                      
Definitions and Accounting Terms

 

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

 

1



 

Acceptable Ground Lease ” means a ground lease with respect to an Acceptable Property executed by a Subsidiary Guarantor, as lessee, that (a) has a remaining lease term (including extension or renewal rights) of at least twenty-five (25) years, calculated as of the date such Acceptable Property is deemed an Unencumbered Property, and that the Administrative Agent determines, in its sole discretion, is a financeable ground lease and is otherwise acceptable or (b) has a bargain purchase option (as defined in accordance with GAAP).

 

Acceptable Property ” means a Property (a) that is approved by the Administrative Agent and the Required Lenders, or (b) that meets the following requirements:

 

(i)                                      such Property is wholly-owned by, or ground leased pursuant to an Acceptable Ground Lease to, the Borrower or a Subsidiary Guarantor free and clear of any Liens (other than Liens permitted by Section 8.01 );

 

(ii)                                   such Property is an industrial, manufacturing, warehouse/distribution and/or office property located within the United States;

 

(iii)                                if such Property is owned by a Subsidiary Guarantor, or is ground leased pursuant to an Acceptable Ground Lease to a Subsidiary Guarantor, then the Equity Interests of such Subsidiary Guarantor are owned, directly or indirectly by the Borrower, free and clear of any Liens other than Liens permitted by Section 8.01 ; and

 

(iv)                               such Property is free of all structural defects or major architectural deficiencies, title defects, environmental conditions or other adverse matters except for defects, deficiencies, conditions or other matters which, individually or collectively, are not material to the profitable operation of such Property.

 

Additional Permitted Indebtedness ” means unsecured Indebtedness permitted to be incurred pursuant to Section 8.02(f) .

 

Additional Term Loans ” has the meaning specified in Section 2.06(b)(i) .

 

Adjusted NOI ” means, with respect to any Property for the Current Reporting Quarter, annualized, an amount equal to (a) the aggregate gross revenues (excluding non-cash revenues) from the operations of such Property during such period, minus (b) the sum of (i) all expenses and other proper charges incurred in connection with the operation of such Property during such period (including real estate taxes, but excluding any property and asset management fees, debt service charges, income taxes, depreciation, amortization and other non-cash expenses and excluding capital expenditures), (ii) a management fee equal to the greater of (A) two percent (2%) of the aggregate gross base rental revenues (excluding non-cash revenues) from the operations of such Property during such period and (B) actual property management fees paid, and (iii) a replacement reserve of $0.10 per square foot (excluding any Property acquired during the Current Reporting Quarter).  Adjusted NOI shall exclude the amount of any revenues and expenses from any Dark Property.  Adjusted NOI shall be increased, without duplication, by (i) annualized rental revenues (excluding non-cash revenues), net of associated expenses, from any new lease which went into effect with the tenant taking occupancy (or any lease with respect to any Property acquired during the Current Reporting Quarter) and the Borrower is recognizing revenue from such tenant in accordance with GAAP during such Current Reporting Quarter, and

 

2



 

(ii) annualized gross base rental revenues (excluding non-cash revenues) for the first monthly gross base rental payment for any lease in a free rent period and the Borrower is recognizing revenue from the applicable tenant in accordance with GAAP during such Current Reporting Quarter.

 

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

 

Administrative Agent’s Office ” means the Administrative Agent’s address and, as appropriate, account as set forth on Schedule 11.02 , or such other address or account as the Administrative Agent may from time to time notify the Borrower and the Lenders.

 

Administrative Questionnaire ” means an Administrative Questionnaire in substantially the form of Exhibit D-2 or any other form approved by the Administrative Agent.

 

Affiliate ” means, with respect to any 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; provided in no event shall Agent or any Lender be deemed to be an Affiliate of the Borrower.

 

Agreement ” means this Amended and Restated Term Loan Agreement.

 

Anti-Corruption Laws ” means all laws, rules, and regulations of any jurisdiction applicable to the Borrower or its Subsidiaries from time to time concerning or relating to bribery, corruption or money laundering.

 

Applicable Percentage ” means, with respect to any Lender at any time, the percentage (carried out to the ninth decimal place) of the Total Outstandings represented by such Lender’s Loans at such time.  The initial Applicable Percentage of each Lender is set forth opposite the name of such Lender on Schedule 2.01 or in the Assignment and Assumption pursuant to which such Lender becomes a party hereto, as applicable.

 

Applicable Rate ” means the following:

 

A. Unless and until the Rating Conditions have been satisfied, with respect to any Loan, the following percentages per annum determined according to the Consolidated Leverage Ratio as set forth in the most recent Compliance Certificate received by the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 7.02(a) :

 

3



 

Leveraged-Based Pricing Grid :

 

Applicable Rate

 

Pricing
Level

 

Consolidated
Leverage Ratio

 

Base Rate
Applicable
Margin

 

LIBOR
Loan
Applicable
Margin

 

1

 

< 40%

 

0.30

%

1.30

%

2

 

> 40% but < 45%

 

0.35

%

1.35

%

3

 

> 45% but < 50%

 

0.45

%

1.45

%

4

 

> 50% but < 55%

 

0.60

%

1.60

%

5

 

> 55%

 

0.90

%

1.90

%

 

Any increase or decrease in the Applicable Rate resulting from a change in the Consolidated Leverage Ratio shall become effective as of the first (1 st ) Business Day immediately following the date a Compliance Certificate is delivered pursuant to Section 7.02(a)  provided 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 5 shall apply as of the first (1 st ) Business Day after the date on which such Compliance Certificate was required to have been delivered, provided that if such request is not delivered within thirty (30) days of the date such Compliance Certificate was due, Pricing Level 5 shall apply as of the date of delivery of such request, and shall remain in effect until the date on which such Compliance Certificate is delivered.  The Applicable Rate in effect from the Closing Date until adjusted as set forth above shall be set at Pricing Level 1.

 

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this definition, the determination of the Applicable Rate for any period shall be subject to the provisions of Section 2.10(b) .

 

or

 

B.                                     If and when the Rating Conditions have been satisfied, the following percentages per annum, based upon the Debt Rating as set forth below (determined in accordance with the Performance-Based Pricing Grid set forth below).

 

Performance-Based Pricing Grid :

 

Applicable Rate

 

Debt Rating

 

Pricing
Level

 

Base Rate
Applicable
Margin

 

LIBOR
Loan
Applicable
Margin

 

> A-/A3

 

1

 

0.00

%

0.90 0.85

%

BBB+/Baa1

 

2

 

0.00

%

0.95 0.90

%

BBB/Baa2

 

3

 

0.10 0.00

%

1.10 1.00

%

BBB-/Baa3

 

4

 

0.35 0.25

%

1.35 1.25

%

<BBB-/Baa3

 

5

 

0.75 0.65

%

1.75 1.65

%

 

4



 

Each change in the Applicable Rate resulting from a publicly announced change in the Debt Rating shall be effective, in the case of an upgrade, during the period commencing on the date of delivery by the Borrower to the Administrative Agent of notice thereof pursuant to Section  7.03(e)  and ending on the date immediately preceding the effective date of the next such change and, in the case of a downgrade, during the period commencing on the date of the public announcement thereof and ending on the date immediately preceding the effective date of the next such change.

 

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.

 

Assignee Group ” means two (2) or more Eligible Assignees that are Affiliates of one another or two (2) or more Approved Funds managed by the same investment advisor.

 

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 D-1 or any other form (including electronic documentation generated by MarkitClear or other electronic platform) approved by the Administrative Agent.

 

Attributable Indebtedness ” means, on any date in respect of any Capital 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.

 

Audited Financial Statements ” means the audited financial statements of the Parent for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2015 and, from and after the delivery of the financial statements of the Parent required pursuant to Section 7.01(a)  for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2016, the most-recent financial statements furnished pursuant to Section 7.01(a) .

 

Award ” means any compensation paid by any Governmental Authority in connection with a Condemnation in respect of all or any part of any Unencumbered Property.

 

Bail-In Action ” means the exercise of any Write-Down and Conversion Powers by the applicable EEA Resolution Authority in respect of any liability of an EEA Financial Institution.

 

Bail-In Legislation ” means, with respect to any EEA Member Country implementing Article 55 of Directive 2014/59/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of the European Union, the implementing law for such EEA Member Country from time to time which is described in the EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule.

 

Balloon Payments ” shall mean with respect to any loan constituting Indebtedness, any required principal payment of such loan which is payable at the maturity of such Indebtedness, provided, however, that the final payment of a fully amortized loan shall not constitute a Balloon Payment.

 

Base Rate ” means, at any time, the highest of (a) the Prime Rate, (b) the Federal Funds Rate plus 0.50% and (c) the LIBOR Market Index Rate plus 1%; each change in the Base Rate

 

5



 

shall take effect simultaneously with the corresponding change or changes in the Prime Rate, the Federal Funds Rate or the LIBOR Market Index Rate (provided that clause (c) shall not be applicable during any period in which LIBOR is unavailable or unascertainable).

 

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

 

Beneficial Ownership Certification ” means a certification regarding beneficial ownership as required by the Beneficial Ownership Regulation.

 

Beneficial Ownership Regulation ” means 31 C.F.R. § 101.230.

 

Book Value ” means all land, building, improvements, leasing commissions and deferred leasing intangibles less accumulated depreciation and amortization.

 

Borrower ” has the meaning specified in the introductory paragraph hereto.

 

Borrower Materials ” has the meaning specified in Section 7.02 .

 

Borrowing ” means a Committed Borrowing.

 

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 or the State of New York, and, if such day relates to any LIBOR Loan, means any such day that is also a London Banking Day.

 

Capital Lease ” means, with respect to any Person, the obligations of such Person to pay rent or other amounts under any lease of (or other arrangement conveying the right to use) real or personal property, or a combination thereof, which obligations are required to be classified and accounted for as capital leases on a balance sheet of such Person under GAAP.

 

Capital Lease Obligations ” means, with respect to any Person for any period, the capitalized amount of obligations under Capital Leases for such Person for such period as determined in accordance with GAAP.

 

Capitalization Rate ” means seven and one half percent ( 7.5 7.0 %).

 

Cash Equivalents ” means any of the following types of Investments, to the extent owned by Guarantor, the Borrower or any of their Subsidiaries free and clear of all Liens (other than Liens permitted hereunder):

 

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

 

(b)                                  demand or time deposits with, or insured certificates of deposit or bankers’ acceptances of, any commercial bank that (A) is a Lender or (B) (i) is organized under the laws of the United States of America, any state thereof or the District of Columbia or is the principal

 

6



 

banking subsidiary of a bank holding company organized under the laws of the United States of America, 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 $1,000,000,000, in each case with maturities of not more than 90 days from the date of acquisition thereof;

 

(c)                                   commercial paper in an aggregate amount of no more than $5,000,000 per issuer outstanding at any time issued by any Person organized under the laws of any state of the United States of America 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 180 days from the date of acquisition thereof;

 

(d)                                  Investments, classified in accordance with GAAP as current assets of the Parent 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) and (c) of this definition; and

 

(e)                                   Other liquid or readily marketable investments in an amount not to exceed five percent (5%) of Total Asset Value.

 

Casualty ” means, with respect to any Unencumbered Property, if such Unencumbered Property has been damaged or destroyed, in whole or in part, by fire or other casualty.

 

Change in Law ” means the occurrence, after the date of this Agreement, of any of the following: (a) the adoption or taking effect of any Law, rule, regulation or treaty; (b) any change in any Law, rule, regulation or treaty or in the administration, interpretation, implementation or application thereof by any Governmental Authority; or (c) the making or issuance of any request, rule, guideline or directive (whether or not having the force of law) by any Governmental Authority; provided that notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, (x) the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and all requests, rules, guidelines or directives thereunder or issued in connection therewith or in implementation thereof and (y) all requests, rules, guidelines or directives promulgated by the Bank for International Settlements, the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (or any successor or similar authority) or the United States or foreign regulatory authorities, in each case pursuant to Basel III, shall in each case be deemed to be a “Change in Law”, regardless of the date enacted, adopted, issued or implemented.

 

Change of Control ” means an event or series of events by which:

 

(a)                                  any “ person ” or “ group ” (as such terms are used in Sections 13(d)  and 14(d)  of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, but excluding any employee benefit plan of such person or its Subsidiaries, and any person or entity acting in its capacity as trustee, agent or other fiduciary or administrator of any such plan) becomes the “ beneficial owner ” (as defined in Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, except that a person or group shall be deemed to have “beneficial ownership” of all Equity Interests that such person or group has the right to acquire,

 

7



 

whether such right is exercisable immediately or only after the passage of time (such right, an “ option right ”)), directly or indirectly, of thirty-five percent (35%) or more of the Equity Interests of the Parent entitled to vote for members of the board of directors or equivalent governing body of the Parent on a fully-diluted basis (and taking into account all such Equity Interests that such person or group has the right to acquire pursuant to any option right);

 

(b)                                  during any period of twelve (12) consecutive months, a majority of the members of the board of directors or other equivalent governing body of the Parent cease to be composed of individuals (i) who were members of that board or equivalent governing body on the first day of such period, (ii) whose election or nomination to that board or equivalent governing body was approved by individuals referred to in clause (i) above constituting at the time of such election or nomination at least a majority of that board or equivalent governing body or (iii) whose election or nomination to that board or other equivalent governing body was approved by individuals referred to in clauses (i) and (ii) above constituting at the time of such election or nomination at least a majority of that board or equivalent governing body; or

 

(c)                                   the Parent shall cease to (i) either be the sole general partner of, or wholly own and control the general partner of, the Borrower or (ii) own, directly or indirectly, greater than fifty percent (50%) of the Equity Interests of the Borrower.

 

Closing Date ” means the first date all the conditions precedent in Section 5.01 are satisfied or waived in accordance with Section 11.01 .

 

Code ” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 .

 

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

 

Committed Loan ” has the meaning specified in Section 2.01(a) .

 

Committed Loan Notice” means a notice of (a) a Committed Borrowing, (b) a conversion of Committed Loans from one Type to the other, or (c) a continuation of LIBOR Loans, pursuant to Section 2.02(a) , which, if in writing, shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit A .

 

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.

 

Companies ” means, without duplication, the Parent and its Consolidated Subsidiaries (including the Borrower), and “Company” means any one of the Companies.

 

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

 

Condemnation ” means a temporary or permanent taking by any Governmental Authority as the result, in lieu, or in anticipation, of the exercise of the right of condemnation or

 

8



 

eminent domain of all or any part of any Unencumbered Property, or any interest therein or right accruing thereto, including any right of access thereto or any change of grade affecting any Unencumbered Property or any part thereof.

 

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 EBITDA ” means, for any Person for any period, an amount equal to (a) Consolidated Net Income, plus (b) the sum of the following (without duplication and to the extent reflected as a charge in the statement of such Consolidated Net Income for such period): (i) income tax expense; (ii) interest expense, amortization or write-off of debt discount and debt issuance costs and commissions, discounts and other fees and charges associated with Indebtedness; (iii) depreciation and amortization expense; (iv) amortization of intangibles (including goodwill) and organization costs; (v) any extraordinary, unusual or non-recurring expenses or losses (including, whether or not otherwise includable as a separate item in the statement of such Consolidated Net Income for such period, losses on sales of assets outside of the ordinary course of business), including property acquisition costs; (vi) any other non-cash charges, and (vii) all commissions, guaranty fees, discounts and other fees and charges owed by such Person with respect to letters of credit and bankers’ acceptance financing and net costs of such Person under Swap Contracts in respect of interest rates to the extent such net costs are allocable to such period in accordance with GAAP; minus (c) the sum of the following (to the extent included in the statement of such Consolidated Net Income for such period): (i) interest income (except to the extent deducted in determining such Consolidated Net Income); (ii) any extraordinary, unusual or non-recurring income or gains (including, whether or not otherwise includable as a separate item in the statement of such Consolidated Net Income for such period, gains on the sales of assets outside of the ordinary course of business); and (iii) any other non-cash income.

 

Consolidated Fixed Charges ” means, on a consolidated basis, for any Person for any period, the sum (without duplication) of (a) Consolidated Interest Expense, (b) provision for cash income taxes made by such Person on a consolidated basis in respect of such period, (c) scheduled principal amortization payments due during such period on account of Indebtedness of such Person (excluding Balloon Payments), and (d) Restricted Payments paid in cash with respect to preferred Equity Interests of such Person during such period (other than any repayments of principal with respect to preferred Equity Interests).

 

Consolidated Interest Expense ” means, for any Person for any period, the total interest expense (including that attributable to Capital Lease Obligations) of such Person for such period with respect to all outstanding Total Funded Debt (including all commissions, discounts and other fees and charges owed by such Person with respect to letters of credit and bankers’ acceptance financing and net costs of such Person under Swap Contracts in respect of interest rates to the extent such net costs are allocable to such period in accordance with GAAP).  Consolidated Interest Expenses shall exclude non-cash charges, interest rate hedge termination payments or receipts, loan prepayment costs, and upfront loan fees, interest expense covered by an interest reserve established under a loan facility and any interest expense under any construction loan or construction activity that under GAAP is required to be capitalized.

 

9



 

Consolidated Leverage Ratio ” means, as of any date of determination, the quotient (expressed as a percentage) of (a) Consolidated Total Debt, divided by (b) Total Asset Value.

 

Consolidated Net Income ” means, for any Person for any period, the consolidated net income (or loss) of such Person for such period, determined on a consolidated basis; provided that in calculating Consolidated Net Income of the Parent for any period, there shall be excluded (a) the income (or deficit) of any Person accrued prior to the date it becomes a Subsidiary or is merged into or consolidated with the Parent or any of its Subsidiaries, (b) the income (or deficit) of any Person (other than a Company) in which any Company has an ownership interest, except to the extent that any such income is actually received by such Company in the form of dividends or similar distributions, and (c) the undistributed earnings of any Subsidiary of any Company to the extent that the declaration or payment of dividends or similar distributions by such Subsidiary is not at the time permitted by the terms of any Contractual Obligation (other than under any Loan Document) or requirement of Law applicable to such Subsidiary.

 

Consolidated Subsidiary ” means any Person in which the Parent or the Borrower has a direct or indirect ownership interest and whose financial results would be consolidated under GAAP with the financial results of the Parent on the consolidated financial statements of the Parent.

 

Consolidated Total Debt ” means, as of any date of determination, the aggregate principal amount of all Indebtedness of the Parent on such date, determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP which would be required to be included on the liabilities side of the balance sheet of the Parent in accordance with GAAP, and including the Companies’ Share of the principal amount of all Indebtedness of Unconsolidated Affiliates, but, in each case, excluding the net obligations of the Parent on a consolidated basis under any Swap Contract.

 

Construction in Progress ” means (a) a Property with new ground up construction, (b) a Property under renovation in which (i) greater than thirty percent (30%) of the square footage of such Property is unavailable for occupancy due to renovation and (ii) no rents are being paid on such square footage or (c) a building expansion.  The classification of “Construction in Progress” will cease on the earlier to occur of (A) the time that such Property has an Occupancy Rate of greater than eighty percent (80%), and (B) one hundred eighty (180) days after completion of construction, renovation or expansion of such Property, as applicable.

 

Contamination ” means the presence of Hazardous Materials in amounts exceeding regulatory action levels.

 

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.  The terms “ Controlling ” and “ Controlled ” have meanings correlative thereto.

 

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Credit Agreements ” means (a) the Revolving Credit Agreement, (b) that certain Term Loan Agreement, dated as of September 29, 2015, among the Borrower, the Parent, Wells Fargo, as administrative agent, and the other lenders party thereto, (c) that certain Term Loan Agreement, dated as of July 28, 2017, among the Borrower, the Parent, Bank of America, N.A., as administrative agent, and the other lenders party thereto and (d) that certain Second Amended and Restated Term Loan Agreement, dated as of December 20, 2016, among the Borrower, the Parent, Wells Fargo, as administrative agent, and the other lenders party thereto, and (e) that certain Term Loan Agreement, dated as of July 26, 2018, among the Borrower, the Parent, Wells Fargo, as administrative agent, and the other lenders party thereto, in each case, as amended from time to time.

 

Credit Extension ” means a Borrowing.

 

Current Reporting Quarter ” means the most recent fiscal quarter for which quarterly financial statements have been delivered to the Lenders pursuant to Section 7.01 .

 

Customary Recourse Exceptions ” means, with respect to any Indebtedness, personal recourse that is limited to fraud, misrepresentation, misapplication of cash, waste, environmental claims and liabilities, prohibited transfers, violations of single purposes entity covenants, and other circumstances customarily excluded by institutional lenders from exculpation provisions and/or included in separate guaranty or indemnification agreements in non-recourse financing of Real Property.

 

Dark Property ” means any Property as to which, as of the last day of the Current Reporting Quarter, (a) all leases have terminated, (b) the Borrower is not recognizing revenue from any tenants in accordance with GAAP or (c) the Adjusted NOI for such Property is negative.

 

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 and affecting the rights of creditors generally.

 

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Debt Rating ” means, as of any date of determination, the rating as determined by a minimum of two of S&P,  Moody’s or Fitch (collectively, the “ Debt Ratings ”) of the Borrower’s non-credit-enhanced, senior unsecured long-term debt; provided that (a) if the respective Debt Ratings issued by the foregoing rating agencies differ by one level, then the Pricing Level for the higher of such Debt Ratings shall apply (with the Debt Rating for Pricing Level 1 being the highest and the Debt Rating for Pricing Level 5 being the lowest); (b) if there is a split in Debt Ratings of more than one level, then the Pricing Level that is one level lower than the Pricing Level of the higher Debt Rating shall apply; (c) if the Borrower has only one Debt Rating, the Pricing Level that is one level lower than that of such Debt Rating shall apply; and (d) if, after satisfying the Rating Condition, the Borrower does not have any Debt Rating, Pricing Level 5 shall apply.

 

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 an interest rate equal to (i) the Base Rate plus (ii) the Applicable Rate, if any, applicable to Base Rate Loans plus (iii) two percent (2%) per annum; provided that with respect to a LIBOR Loan, the Default Rate shall be an interest rate equal to the interest rate (including any Applicable Rate) otherwise applicable to such Loan plus two percent (2%) per annum.

 

Defaulting Lender ” means, subject to Section 2.16(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 Borrower in writing that such failure is the result of such Lender’s determination that one or more conditions precedent to funding (each of which conditions precedent, together with any applicable default, shall be specifically identified in such writing) has not been satisfied, or (ii) pay to the Administrative Agent or any other Lender any other amount required to be paid by it hereunder within two (2) Business Days of the date when due, (b) has notified the Borrower and the Administrative Agent 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 Borrower, to confirm in writing to the Administrative Agent and the Borrower that it will comply with its prospective funding obligations hereunder (provided that such Lender shall cease to be a Defaulting Lender pursuant to this clause (c) upon receipt of such written confirmation by the Administrative Agent and the Borrower), or (d) has, or has a direct or indirect parent company which controls such Lender that has, (i) become the subject of a proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law, (ii) had appointed for it a receiver, custodian, conservator, trustee, administrator, assignee for the benefit of creditors or similar Person charged with reorganization or liquidation of its business or assets, including the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other state or federal regulatory authority acting in such a capacity or (iii) become the subject of a Bail-In Action; provided that a Lender shall not be a Defaulting Lender solely by virtue of the ownership or acquisition of any Equity Interest in that Lender or any direct or indirect parent company thereof by a Governmental Authority so long as

 

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such ownership interest does not result in or provide such Lender with immunity from the jurisdiction of courts within the United States or from the enforcement of judgments or writs of attachment on its assets or permit such Lender (or such Governmental Authority) to reject, repudiate, disavow or disaffirm any contracts or agreements made with such Lender.  Any determination by the Administrative Agent that a Lender is a Defaulting Lender under any one or more of clauses (a) through (d) above, and of the effective date of such status, shall be conclusive and binding absent manifest error, and such Lender shall be deemed to be a Defaulting Lender (subject to Section 2.16(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 Borrower and each Lender promptly following such determination.

 

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

 

Disbursement Instruction Agreement ” means an agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit E to be executed and delivered by the Borrower pursuant to Section 5.01(a) , as the same may be amended, restated or modified from time to time with the prior written approval of the Administrative Agent.

 

Disposition ” or “ Dispose ” means the sale, transfer, license, lease (other than a real estate lease entered into in the ordinary course of business as part of Property leasing operations) or other disposition (including any sale and leaseback transaction) of any property by any Person, 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 arrangement constituting a Lien.

 

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

 

EEA Financial Institution ” means (a) any institution established in any EEA Member Country which is subject to the supervision of an EEA Resolution Authority, (b) any entity established in an EEA Member Country which is a parent of an institution described in clause (a) of this definition, or (c) any institution established in an EEA Member Country which is a subsidiary of an institution described in clauses (a) or (b) of this definition and is subject to consolidated supervision with its parent.

 

EEA Member Country ” means any of the member states of the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway.

 

EEA Resolution Authority ” means any public administrative authority or any Person entrusted with public administrative authority of any EEA Member Country (including any delegee) having responsibility for the resolution of any EEA Financial Institution.

 

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

 

Environmental Assessment ” has the meaning specified in Section 7.12(b) .

 

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Environmental Claim ” means any investigative, enforcement, cleanup, removal, containment, remedial, or other private or governmental or regulatory action at any time instituted or completed pursuant to any applicable Environmental Requirement against any Company or against or with respect to any Real Property or any condition, use, or activity on any Real Property (including any such action against the Administrative Agent or any Lender), and any claim at any time made by any Person against any Company or against or with respect to any Real Property or any condition, use, or activity on any Real Property (including any such claim against the Administrative Agent or any Lender), relating to damage, contribution, cost recovery, compensation, loss, or injury resulting from or in any way arising in connection with any Hazardous Material or any Environmental Requirement.

 

Environmental Damages ” means all liabilities (including strict liability), losses, damages (excluding consequential, special, exemplary or punitive damages except to the extent such damages were imposed upon an Indemnitee as a result of any claims made against such Indemnitee by a governmental entity or any other third party), judgments, penalties, fines, costs and expenses (including fees, costs and expenses of attorneys, consultants, contractors, experts and laboratories), of any and every kind or character, at law or in equity, contingent or otherwise, matured or unmatured, foreseeable or unforeseeable, made, incurred, suffered, brought, or imposed at any time and from time to time, whether before or after the Release Date and arising in whole or in part from:

 

(a)                                  the presence of any Hazardous Material on any Unencumbered Property, or any escape, seepage, leakage, spillage, emission, release, discharge or disposal of any Hazardous Material on or from any Unencumbered Property, or the migration or release or threatened migration or release of any Hazardous Material to, from or through any Unencumbered Property, on or before the Release Date; or

 

(b)                                  any act, omission, event or circumstance existing or occurring in connection with the handling, treatment, containment, removal, storage, decontamination, clean up, transport or disposal of any Hazardous Material which is at any time on or before the Release Date present on any Unencumbered Property; or

 

(c)                                   the breach of any representation, warranty, covenant or agreement contained in this Agreement relating to the presence of any Hazardous Material on any Unencumbered Property because of any event or condition occurring or existing on or before the Release Date; or

 

(d)                                  any violation on or before the Release Date, of any Environmental Requirement in connection with any Unencumbered Property in effect on or before the Release Date, regardless of whether any act, omission, event or circumstance giving rise to the violation constituted a violation at the time of the occurrence or inception of such act, omission, event or circumstance; or

 

(e)                                   any Environmental Claim, or the filing or imposition of any environmental Lien against any Unencumbered Property, because of, resulting from, in connection with, or arising out of any of the matters referred to in subparagraphs (a)  through (d)  preceding;

 

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and regardless of whether any of the foregoing was caused by the Borrower, any other Loan Party or their respective tenant or subtenant, or a prior owner of an Unencumbered Property or its tenant or subtenant, or any third party including (i) injury or damage to any person, property or natural resource occurring on or off of an Unencumbered Property including the cost of demolition and rebuilding of any improvements on any Real Property; (ii) the investigation or remediation of any such Hazardous Material or violation of Environmental Requirement including the preparation of any feasibility studies or reports and the performance of any cleanup, remediation, removal, response, abatement, containment, closure, restoration, monitoring or similar work required by any Environmental Requirement or necessary to have full use and benefit of Unencumbered Properties as contemplated by the Loan Documents (including any of the same in connection with any foreclosure action or transfer in lieu thereof); (iii) all liability to pay or indemnify any Person or Governmental Authority for costs expended in connection with any of the foregoing; (iv) the investigation and defense of any claim, whether or not such claim is ultimately withdrawn or defeated; and (v) the settlement of any claim or judgment.  “ Costs ” as used in this definition shall also include any diminution in the value of the security afforded by the Unencumbered Property or any future reduction of the sales price of any Unencumbered Property by reason of any matter set forth in Section 7.12 or 8.12 .

 

Environmental Laws ” means any and all applicable 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 Requirement ” means any Environmental Law, agreement or restriction, as the same now exists or may be changed or amended or come into effect in the future, which pertains to any Hazardous Material or the environment including ground or air or water or noise pollution or contamination, and underground or aboveground tanks.

 

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.

 

Equity Issuance ” means the issuance or sale by any Person of any of its Equity Interests or any capital contribution to such Person by the holders of its Equity Interests.

 

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 the Borrower within the meaning of Section 414(b)  or (c)  of the Code (and

 

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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 the Parent 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 the Parent 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(a)(1) or (2)  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 notification that a Multiemployer Plan is 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; or (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 the Parent or any ERISA Affiliate.

 

EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule ” means the EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule published by the Loan Market Association (or any successor Person), as in effect from time to time.

 

Event of Default ” has the meaning specified in Section 9.01 .

 

Excluded Party ” shall mean any REIT, any parent company of or Person who Controls any REIT in each instance engaged primarily in owning and operating Real Property, and any other Person whom the Borrower has reasonably identified in writing to the Administrative Agent as a competitor or potential competitor of the Borrower.

 

Excluded Swap Obligation ” means, with respect to any Loan Party, any Swap Contract if, and to the extent that, all or a portion of the liability of such Loan Party for or the Guarantee of such Loan Party of, or the grant by such Loan Party of a Lien to secure, such Swap Contract (or any liability or guarantee thereof) is or becomes illegal under the Commodity Exchange Act or any rule, regulation or order of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (or the application or official interpretation of any thereof) by virtue of such Loan Party’s failure for any reason to constitute an “eligible contract participant” as defined in the Commodity Exchange Act and the regulations thereunder at the time the liability for or the Guarantee of such Loan Party or the grant of such Lien becomes effective with respect to such Swap Contract (such determination being made after giving effect to any applicable keepwell, support or other agreement for the benefit of the applicable Loan Party, including under Section 27 of the Subsidiary Guaranty).  If a Swap Contract arises under a master agreement governing more than one swap, such exclusion shall apply only to the portion of such Swap Contract that is attributable to swaps for which such Guarantee or Lien is or becomes illegal for the reasons identified in the immediately preceding sentence of this definition.

 

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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 pursuant to a law in effect on the date on which (i) such Lender acquires such interest in the Loan (other than pursuant to an assignment request by the 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)(ii)  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.

 

“Exclusion Event” has the meaning specified in Section 4.10 .

 

“Exclusion Notice” has the meaning specified in Section 4.10.

 

“Existing Loans” has the meaning specified in Section 2.01(a).

 

“Existing Term Loan Agreement has the meaning specified in the introductory paragraph hereto.

 

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 agreement 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 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, then 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, (b) if no such rate is so published on such next succeeding Business Day, then 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 Wells Fargo on such day on such transactions as determined by the Administrative Agent and (c) if the Federal Funds Rate should be less than zero, such rate shall be deemed to be zero for purposes of this Agreement.

 

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Fee Letter ” means, collectively, (i) the letter agreement, dated as of November 5, 2014 among the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC and (ii) the letter agreement, dated November 15, 2016, among the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC.

 

FIRREA ” means the Financial Institution Recovery, Reform and Enforcement Act of 1989, as amended.

 

Fitch ” means Fitch, Inc., and any successor thereto.

 

Fixed Charge Ratio ” means, as of any date of determination, the quotient (expressed as a percentage) of (a) Consolidated EBITDA, divided by (b) Consolidated Fixed Charges.

 

Foreign Lender ” means (a) if the Borrower is a U.S. Person, a Lender that is not a U.S. Person, and (b) if the 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 the 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.

 

FRB ” means the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System of the United States.

 

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.

 

Funds from Operations ” means, for any Person for any period, the sum of (a) Consolidated Net Income plus (b) depreciation and amortization expense determined in accordance with GAAP excluding amortization expense attributable to capitalized debt costs; provided that there shall not be included in such calculation (i) any proceeds of any insurance policy other than rental or business interruption insurance received by such Person, (ii) any gain or loss which is classified as “extraordinary” in accordance with GAAP, (iii) any capital gains and taxes on capital gains, (iv) income (or loss) associated with third-party ownership of non-controlling Equity Interests, and (v) gains or losses on the sale of discontinued operations as detailed in the most-recent financial statements delivered pursuant to Section 7.01(a)  or (b) , as applicable.

 

GAAP ” means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States set forth in the opinions and pronouncements of the Accounting Principles Board and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and statements and pronouncements of the Financial Accounting Standards Board or such other principles as may be approved by a significant segment of the accounting profession in the United States, that are applicable to the circumstances as of the date of determination, consistently applied.

 

Governmental Authority ” means the government of the United States 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

 

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government (including any supra-national bodies such as the European Union or the European Central Bank).

 

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 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 or other obligation of any other Person, whether or not such Indebtedness or other obligation is assumed by such Person (or any right, contingent or otherwise, of any holder of such Indebtedness 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.

 

Guaranties ” means the Parent Guaranty and the Subsidiary Guaranties, and “ Guaranty ” means any one of the Guaranties.

 

Guarantors ” means, collectively, the Parent and each Subsidiary Guarantor, and “ Guarantor ” means any one of the Guarantors.

 

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

 

“Immaterial Subsidiary ” means any Subsidiary whose assets constitute less than one percent (1%) of Total Asset Value; provided that if at any time the aggregate Total Asset Value of the “Immaterial Subsidiaries” which are not Guarantors exceeds ten percent (10%) of Total Asset Value, then the Borrower shall designate certain “Immaterial Subsidiaries” as Guarantors such that the aggregate Total Asset Value of the “Immaterial Subsidiaries” which are not Guarantors does not exceed ten percent (10%) of Total Asset Value.

 

Improvements ” means any Subsidiary Guarantor’s interest in and to all on site improvements to the Unencumbered Properties, together with all fixtures, tenant improvements,

 

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and appurtenances now or later to be located on the Unencumbered Properties and/or in such improvements.

 

Increase Effective Date ” has the meaning specified in Section 2.06(b)(ii) .

 

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)                                  all direct or contingent obligations of such Person arising under letters of credit (including standby and commercial), bankers’ acceptances, bank guaranties, surety bonds and similar instruments;

 

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

 

(d)                                  all 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 and, in each case, either (i) not past due for more than one hundred and eighty (180) days or (ii) being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted);

 

(e)                                   Capital Lease Obligations;

 

(f)                                    all obligations of such Person to purchase, redeem, retire, defease or otherwise make any payment in respect of any ownership interest (excluding perpetual preferred ownership interests) in such Person or any other Person, valued, in the case of a redeemable preferred interest, at the greater of its voluntary or involuntary liquidation preference plus (without duplication and only to the extent required to be paid) accrued and unpaid dividends;

 

(g)                                   all Guarantees of such Person in respect of any of the foregoing (except for guaranties of customary exceptions for fraud, misapplication of funds, environmental indemnities, voluntary bankruptcy, collusive involuntary bankruptcy and other similar customary exceptions to non-recourse liability); and

 

(h)                                  all obligations of the kind referred to in clauses (a) through (g) above secured by (or for which the holder of such obligation has an existing right, contingent or otherwise, to be secured by) any lien on Property (including accounts and contract rights) owned by such Person, whether or not such Person has assumed or become liable for the payment of such obligation, but limited to the lesser of (i) the fair market value of the property subject to such lien and (ii) the aggregate amount of the obligations so secured.

 

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; provided that, solely for purposes of calculating the financial covenants set forth

 

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in Sections 8.14(a), (b) , and (c)  and (d) , Indebtedness shall exclude the net obligations of the Parent on a consolidated basis under Swap Contracts entered into to hedge or mitigate any interest rate risk in respect of borrowed money for which the Parent, the Borrower or any Subsidiary has actual exposure.  The amount of any Capital Lease Obligations as of any date shall be deemed to be the amount of Attributable Indebtedness in respect 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 (a), Other Taxes.

 

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

 

Information ” has the meaning specified in Section 11.07.

 

Initial Unencumbered Properties ” means the Acceptable Properties listed on Schedule 4.01 , and “ Initial Unencumbered Property ” means any one of the Initial Unencumbered Properties.

 

Interest Payment Date ” means (a) as to any Loan other than a Base Rate Loan, the last day of each Interest Period applicable to such Loan and the Maturity Date applicable to such Loan; provided that if any Interest Period for a LIBOR Loan exceeds three (3) months, then 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, the last Business Day of each March, June, September, and December and the Maturity Date applicable to such Loan.

 

Interest Period ” means as to each LIBOR Loan, the period commencing on the date such LIBOR Loan is disbursed or converted to or continued as a LIBOR Loan and ending on the date one (1), two (2), three (3) or six (6) months (if available to all Lenders) thereafter, as selected by the Borrower in its Loan Notice; provided that :

 

(i)                                      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, in the case of a LIBOR Loan, such Business Day falls in another calendar month, in which case such Interest Period shall end on the next preceding Business Day;

 

(ii)                                   any Interest Period pertaining to a LIBOR Loan 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

 

(iii)                                no Interest Period for a subject Loan shall extend beyond the Maturity Date applicable to such Loan.

 

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 equity participation or interest in, another Person, including any partnership or joint venture interest in such other Person and any

 

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arrangement pursuant to which the investor Guarantees 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 that constitute a business unit.  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.

 

IP Rights ” has the meaning specified in Section 6.18 .

 

IRS ” means the United States Internal Revenue Service.

 

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.

 

Lead Arranger ” means Wells Fargo Securities, LLC in its capacity as lead arranger and bookrunner.

 

Lease ” means each existing or future lease, sublease (to the extent of any Subsidiary Guarantor’s rights thereunder), license, or other agreement (other than an Acceptable Ground Lease) under the terms of which any Person has or acquires any right to occupy or use any Property, or any part thereof, or interest therein, and each existing or future guaranty of payment or performance thereunder.

 

Lender ” has the meaning specified in the introductory paragraph hereto.

 

Lending Office ” means, as to any Lender, the office or offices of such Lender described as such in such Lender’s Administrative Questionnaire, or such other office or offices as a Lender may from time to time notify the Borrower and the Administrative Agent.

 

LIBOR ” means, subject to the implementation of a Replacement Rate in accordance with Section 3.03(b) , with respect to any LIBOR borrowings for any interest period, the rate of interest obtained by dividing (i) the rate of interest per annum determined on the basis of the rate for deposits in U.S. dollars for a period equal to the applicable interest period which appears on Reuters Screen LIBOR01 Page (or any applicable successor page) as published by the ICE Benchmark Administration Limited, a United Kingdom company, or a comparable or successor quoting service approved by the Administrative Agent, at approximately 11:00 a.m. (London time) two business days prior to the first day of the applicable interest period by (ii) a percentage equal to 1 minus the stated maximum rate (stated as a decimal) of all reserves, if any, required to be maintained with respect to Eurocurrency funding (currently referred to as “Eurocurrency liabilities”) as specified in Regulation D of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (or against any other category of liabilities which includes deposits by reference to which the interest rate on LIBOR Loans is determined or any applicable category of extensions of credit or other assets which includes loans by an office of any Lender outside of the United States of America); provided that if such determined rate shall be less than zero, such rate shall

 

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be deemed to be zero for each LIBOR Loan that has not been identified by the Borrower in accordance with the terms of this Agreement as being subject to a Specified Swap Contract that provides a hedge against interest rate risk.  If, for any reason, the such rate referred to in the preceding clause (i) does not appear on Reuters Screen LIBOR01 Page (or any applicable successor page), then the rate to be used for such clause (i) is not so published then “LIBOR” shall be determined by the Administrative Agent to be the arithmetic average of the rate per annum at which deposits in U.S. dollars would be offered by first class banks in the London interbank market to the Administrative Agent at approximately 11:00 a.m. (London time) two business days prior to the first day of the applicable interest period for a period equal to such interest period; provided that if such determined rate shall be less than zero, such rate shall be deemed to be zero for each LIBOR Loan that has not been identified by the Borrower in accordance with the terms of this Agreement as being subject to a Specified Swap Contract that provides a hedge against interest rate risk.  Any change in the maximum rate or reserves described in the preceding clause (ii) shall result in a change in LIBOR on the date on which such change in such maximum rate becomes effective.

 

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

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, unless otherwise specified in any amendment to this Agreement entered into in accordance with Section 3.03(b) , in the event that a Replacement Rate with respect to LIBOR is implemented then all references herein to LIBOR shall be deemed references to such Replacement Rate.

 

LIBOR Loan ” means a Committed Loan that bears interest at a rate based on LIBOR.

 

LIBOR Market Index Rate ” means, for any day, LIBOR as of that day that would be applicable for a LIBOR borrowing having a one-month interest period determined at approximately 10:00 a.m. Central time for such day (rather than 11:00 a.m. (London time) two business days prior to the first day of such interest period as otherwise provided in the definition of “LIBOR”), or if such day is not a business day, the immediately preceding business day.  The LIBOR Market Index Rate shall be determined on a daily basis.

 

Lien ” means any mortgage, pledge, hypothecation, assignment, deposit arrangement, encumbrance, lien (statutory or other), charge or other security interest or any preference, priority or other security agreement or preferential arrangement 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 Capital Lease having substantially the same economic effect as any of the foregoing).

 

Loan ” means an extension of credit by a Lender to the Borrower under Article II in the form of a Committed Loan.

 

Loan Documents ” means this Agreement, each Note, the Fee Letter, and the Guaranties.

 

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 LIBOR Loans, pursuant to Section 2.02(a) , which, if in writing, shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit A .

 

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Loan Parties ” means, collectively, the Borrower and each Guarantor and “ Loan Party ” means any one of the Loan Parties.

 

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

 

“Material Acquisition ” means any acquisition (or series of related acquisitions) or investments (or series of related investments) permitted by this Agreement and consummated in accordance with the terms of this Agreement for which the aggregate consideration paid in respect of such acquisition or investment (including any Indebtedness assumed in connection therewith) exceeds 10% of Total Asset Value for the Current Reporting Quarter, without giving pro forma effect to such acquisition.

 

Material Adverse Effect ” means: (a) a material adverse change in, or a material adverse effect upon, the business, assets, operations, or financial condition of the Companies, taken as a whole; (b) a material impairment of the ability of the Loan Parties, taken as a whole, to perform their obligations under the Loan Documents; or (c) a material adverse effect upon the legality, validity, binding effect, or enforceability against the Loan Parties, taken as a whole, of the Loan Documents to which they are parties.

 

Material Environmental Event ” means, with respect to any Unencumbered Property, (a) a violation of any Environmental Law with respect to such Unencumbered Property, or (b) the presence of any Hazardous Materials on, about, or under such Unencumbered Property that, under or pursuant to any Environmental Law, would require remediation, if in the case of either (a) or (b), such event or circumstance could reasonably be expected to have a Material Property Event.

 

Material Property Event ” means, with respect to any Unencumbered Property, the occurrence of any event or circumstance occurring or arising after the date of this Agreement that resulted in a (a) material adverse effect with respect to the financial condition or the operations of such Unencumbered Property, (b) material adverse effect on the value of such Unencumbered Property, or (c) material adverse effect on the ownership of such Unencumbered Property.

 

Material Title Defects ” means, with respect to any Unencumbered Property, defects, Liens (other than Liens for local real estate taxes and similar local governmental charges), and other encumbrances in the nature of easements, servitudes, restrictions, and rights-of-way that would customarily be deemed unacceptable title exceptions for a prudent lender (i.e., a prudent lender would reasonably determine that such exceptions, individually or in the aggregate, materially impair the value or operations of such Unencumbered Property, would prevent such Unencumbered Property from being used in the manner in which it is currently being used, or would result in a violation of any Law which would have a material and adverse effect on such Unencumbered Property); provided that Material Title Defects shall not include any Liens or other encumbrances (i) that existed as of the date of the title insurance policies issued in connection with the Prior Credit Agreement for the Initial Unencumbered Properties, (ii) that existed as of the date of this Agreement and that are listed on Schedule 8.01 or (iii) with respect

 

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to any Unencumbered Properties added following the date of this Agreement, Liens and other encumbrances similar in type and extent to those contemplated by clauses (i) and (ii) above.

 

Material Subsidiary ” means each Subsidiary of the Borrower other than a Non-Guarantor Subsidiary.

 

Maturity Date ” means March 31, 2022; provided that if such date is not a Business Day, then the Maturity Date shall be the next preceding Business Day.

 

Minimum Distributions ” means (a) for the Parent for any fiscal year of the Parent, Restricted Payments in an amount not less than the aggregate amount of distributions required to be paid by the Parent in order for the Parent to qualify as a REIT, and (b) for the Borrower for any fiscal year of the Borrower, Restricted Payments in an amount not less than the aggregate amount of distributions required to be paid by the Borrower to the Parent in order for the Parent to qualify as a REIT.

 

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 the Parent 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 (2) or more contributing sponsors (including the Parent or any ERISA Affiliate) at least two (2) of whom are not under common control, as such a plan is described in Section 4064 of ERISA.

 

“Non-Guarantor Subsidiary ” means any Subsidiary (whether direct or indirect) of the Borrower, other than any Subsidiary which owns an Unencumbered Property or any Subsidiary which owns any of the Equity Interests of any such Subsidiary, which (a) is (i) formed for or converted to the specific purpose of holding title to Real Property assets which are collateral for Indebtedness owing or to be owed by such Subsidiary, provided that such Indebtedness must be incurred or assumed within ninety (90) days, such ninety (90) day period to be extended for an additional sixty (60) days if the Borrower provides an executed term sheet or commitment letter for the financing of such Real Property to the Administrative Agent (or, in either instance, for such longer period as the Administrative Agent may agree in writing) of such formation or conversion or such Subsidiary shall cease to qualify as a Non Guarantor Subsidiary, and (ii) expressly prohibited in writing from guaranteeing Indebtedness of any other person or entity pursuant to (A) a provision in any document, instrument or agreement evidencing such Indebtedness of such Subsidiary or (B) a provision of such Subsidiary’s Organization Documents, in each case, which provision was included in such Organization Document or such other document, instrument or agreement at the request of the applicable third party creditor and as an express condition to the extension or assumption of such Indebtedness; provided that a Subsidiary meeting the requirements set forth in this clause (a) shall only remain a “Non-Guarantor Subsidiary” for so long as (1) each of the foregoing requirements set forth in this clause (a) are satisfied, (2) such Subsidiary does not guarantee any other Indebtedness, and (3) the Indebtedness with respect to which the restrictions noted in clause (a) (ii) are imposed

 

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remains outstanding; (b)(i) becomes a Subsidiary following the Closing Date, (ii) is not a Wholly Owned Subsidiary of the Borrower, and (iii) with respect to which the Borrower and its Affiliates, as applicable, do not have sufficient voting power to cause such Subsidiary to become a Guarantor hereunder; (c) is an Immaterial Subsidiary; (d) is a Subsidiary which has been released from its Obligations under a Subsidiary Guaranty pursuant to Section 2.17(b)  below, or (e) is not a domestic Subsidiary. For the avoidance of doubt, STAG Industrial Management, LLC, the Subsidiary that employs the Parent Guarantor’s employees, shall be deemed to be a Non-Guarantor Subsidiary.

 

Non-Recourse Indebtedness ” means, for any Person, any Indebtedness of such Person for the repayment of which neither the Parent or the Borrower has any personal liability (other than for Customary Recourse Exceptions) or, if such Person is the Parent or the Borrower, in which recourse of the applicable holder of such Indebtedness for non-payment is limited to such holder’s Liens on a particular asset or group of assets (other than for Customary Recourse Exceptions).  For the avoidance of doubt, if any Indebtedness is partially guaranteed by the Parent or the Borrower, then the portion of such Indebtedness that is not so guaranteed shall still be Non-Recourse Indebtedness if it otherwise satisfies the requirements in this definition.

 

Note ” means a promissory note made by the Borrower in favor of each Lender requesting the same evidencing Loans made by such Lender, substantially in the form of Exhibit B .

 

Note Purchase Agreements ” means (i) that certain Note Purchase Agreement, dated as of April 16, 2014 among the Parent, the Borrower, and the purchasers party thereto and , (ii) that certain Note Purchase Agreement, dated as of December 18, 2014 among the Parent, the Borrower, and the purchasers party thereto, and (iii) that certain Note Purchase Agreement, dated as of June 13, 2018, among the Parent, the Borrower, and the purchasers party thereto, in each case as amended from time to time.

 

Obligations ” means 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, 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; including, without limitation of the foregoing, all present and future indebtedness, liabilities, and obligations now or hereafter owed to the Administrative Agent, any Lender, or any Affiliate of the Administrative Agent or any Lender (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any Specified Derivatives Providers) arising from, by virtue of, or pursuant to any Swap Contract, other than any Excluded Swap Obligation, that relates solely to the Obligations.

 

Occupancy Rate ” means, for any Property, the percentage of the rentable area of such Property occupied by bona fide tenants of such Property or leased by tenants pursuant to bona

 

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fide tenant Leases, in each case, which tenants are not more than 60 days past due in the payment of all rent or other similar payments due under such Leases and paying rent.

 

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, and (c) with respect to any partnership, joint venture, trust or other form of business entity, the partnership, joint venture or other applicable agreement of formation or organization and any agreement, instrument, filing or notice with respect thereto filed in connection with its formation or organization with the applicable Governmental Authority in the jurisdiction of its formation or organization and, if applicable, any certificate or articles of formation or organization of such entity.

 

Other Connection Taxes ” means, with respect to any Recipient, Taxes imposed as a result of a present or former connection between such Recipient and the jurisdiction imposing such Tax (other than connections arising from such Recipient having executed, delivered, become a party to, performed its obligations under, received payments under, received or perfected a security interest under, engaged in any other transaction pursuant to or enforced any Loan Document, or sold or assigned an interest in any Loan or Loan Document).

 

Other Taxes ” means all present or future stamp, court 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 with respect to Committed Loans on any date, the aggregate outstanding principal amount thereof after giving effect to any borrowings and prepayments or repayments of Loans occurring on such date.

 

Parent ” has the meaning specified in the introductory paragraph hereto.

 

Parent Guaranty ” means the Guaranty Agreement executed by the Parent in favor of the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Lenders and any Specified Derivatives Providers, in form and substance acceptable to the Administrative Agent.

 

Parent Share ” means a share of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Parent.

 

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

 

“Participant Register ” has the meaning specified in Section  10.06 11.06 (d) .

 

PBGC ” means the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation.

 

Pension Act ” means the Pension Protection Act of 2006.

 

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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, Sections 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 the 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.

 

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 the Parent or any ERISA Affiliate or any such Plan to which the Parent or any ERISA Affiliate is required to contribute on behalf of any of its employees.

 

Platform ” has the meaning specified in Section 7.02 .

 

Prime Rate ” means, at any time, the rate of interest per annum publicly announced from time to time by the Administrative Agent as its prime rate.  Each change in the Prime Rate shall be effective as of the opening of business on the day such change in such prime rate occurs.  The parties acknowledge that the rate announced publicly by the Administrative Agent as its prime rate is an index or base rate and shall not necessarily be its lowest or best rate charged to its customers or other banks.

 

Prior Credit Agreement ” means that certain Credit Agreement dated as of April 20, 2011 among the Borrower, Bank of America, N.A., as agent, and a syndicate of lenders.

 

Property ” means any Real Property which is owned or ground leased, directly or indirectly, by any Company.

 

PTE ” means a prohibited transaction class exemption issued by the U.S. Department of Labor, as any such exemption may be amended from time to time.

 

Public Lender ” has the meaning specified in Section 7.02 .

 

Qualified ECP Guarantor ” means, in respect of any Swap Contract, each Loan Party that has total assets exceeding $10,000,000 at the time the relevant Guarantee or grant of the relevant security interest becomes effective with respect to such Swap Contract or such other person as constitutes an “eligible contract participant” under the Commodity Exchange Act or any regulations promulgated thereunder and can cause another person to qualify as an “eligible contract participant” at such time by entering into a keepwell under Section 1a(18)(A)(v)(II)  of the Commodity Exchange Act.

 

Rating Condition ” means the achievement by the Borrower of a Debt Rating.

 

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Real Property ” of any Person means all of the right, title, and interest of such Person in and to land, improvements, and fixtures.

 

Recipient ” means the Administrative Agent, any Lender, or any other recipient of any payment to be made by or on account of any obligation of any Loan Party hereunder.

 

Recourse Indebtedness ” means Indebtedness that is not Non-Recourse Indebtedness; provided that personal recourse for Customary Recourse Exceptions shall not, by itself, cause such Indebtedness to be characterized as Recourse Indebtedness.

 

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

 

REIT ” means a “real estate investment trust” in accordance with Section 856 of the Code.

 

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.

 

Replacement Rate ” has the meaning assigned thereto in Section 3.03(b) .

 

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 with respect to a Borrowing, conversion or continuation of Committed Loans, a Committed Loan Notice.

 

Required Lenders ” means, at any time, the Lenders holding in the aggregate more than fifty percent (50%) of the Total Outstandings.  The Loans of any Defaulting Lender shall be disregarded in determining the Required Lenders at any time.  At all times when two or more Lenders (excluding Defaulting Lenders) are party to this Agreement, the term “Required Lenders” shall in no event mean fewer than two Lenders.

 

Responsible Officer ” means the chief executive officer, president, chief financial officer, chief operating officer, chief accounting officer, treasurer, assistant treasurer, or controller of a Loan Party, and solely for purposes of the delivery of incumbency certificates pursuant to Section 5.01 , the secretary or any assistant 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.  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.  Each initial Responsible Officer is listed on Schedule RO .

 

Restricted Payment ” means any dividend or other distribution (whether in cash, Equity Interests or other property) with respect to any capital stock or other Equity Interest of any Company or Subsidiary, or any payment (whether in cash, Equity Interests or other property),

 

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including any sinking fund or similar deposit, on account of the purchase, redemption, retirement, acquisition, cancellation or termination of any such capital stock or other Equity Interests, or on account of any return of capital to such Company’s or Subsidiary’s stockholders, partners or members (or the equivalent Person thereof).

 

Revolving Credit Agreement ” means that certain Credit Agreement, dated as of December 18 July 26 , 2014 2018 , among the Borrower, the Parent, Wells Fargo, as administrative agent, and the other lenders party thereto, as amended.

 

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

 

Sanction(s) ” means any international economic sanction administered or enforced by OFAC, the United Nations Security Council, the European Union, Her Majesty’s Treasury or other relevant sanctions authority.

 

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

 

Second Amendment Effective Date ” means July 26, 2018.

 

Secured Indebtedness ” means (without duplication), with respect to a Person as of any given date, the aggregate principal amount of all Indebtedness of such Person or its subsidiaries outstanding at such date and that is secured by a Lien, and including the Companies’ Share of all Indebtedness of Unconsolidated Affiliates that is secured by a Lien, but excluding for the avoidance of doubt, any net obligations under any Swap Contract that is secured by a Lien, all Unsecured Indebtedness and all Indebtedness hereunder, and provided further that the obligations under any revolving credit agreement (including the Revolving Credit Agreement or any amendment or replacement thereof) shall not constitute Secured Indebtedness due to the existence of cash collateral security requirements in connection with customary defaulting lender provisions.

 

Secured Leverage Ratio ” means, as of any date of determination, the quotient (expressed as a percentage) of (a) Secured Indebtedness of Parent and its Subsidiaries, divided by (b) Total Asset Value.

 

Secured Recourse Debt Ratio ” means, as of any date of determination, the quotient (expressed as a percentage) of (a) Secured Indebtedness which is Recourse Indebtedness with respect to the Borrower, divided by (b) Total Asset Value.

 

Share ” means the Borrower’s and the Parent’s direct or indirect share of a Consolidated Subsidiary or an Unconsolidated Affiliate as reasonably determined by the Borrower based upon the Borrower’s and the Parent’s economic interest (whether direct or indirect) in such Consolidated Subsidiary or Unconsolidated Affiliate, as of the date of such determination.

 

Specified Derivatives Provider ” shall have the meaning provided in Section 9.03 .

 

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Specified Swap Contract ” means any Swap Contract that is made or entered into at any time, or in effect at any time now or hereafter, whether as a result of an assignment or transfer or otherwise, in each case with respect to the Loans, between the Borrower and a Specified Swap Contract Provider.

 

Specified Swap Contract Provider ” means any Lender, or Affiliate of a Lender, that is party to a Swap Contract at the time such Swap Contract is entered into.

 

Subsidiary ” of a Person means a corporation, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company or other business entity of which a majority of the Equity Interests having ordinary voting power for the election of directors or other governing body (other than Equity Interests having such power only by reason of the happening of a contingency) are 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 Borrower.

 

Subsidiary Guarantors ” means, as of any date, each domestic Subsidiary which owns an Unencumbered Property, all domestic Subsidiaries of the Borrower owning a direct or indirect interest in an Unencumbered Property, each other domestic Material Subsidiary, and the general partner of each Subsidiary Guarantor that is a limited partnership and “ Subsidiary Guarantor ” means any one of the Subsidiary Guarantors; provided, however, that (a) STAG Industrial Management, LLC and (b) STAG Industrial TRS, LLC and its Subsidiaries shall in no event be deemed or required to be a Subsidiary Guarantor.

 

Subsidiary Guaranty ” means the Guaranty Agreement executed by each Subsidiary Guarantor in favor of the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Lenders and any Specified Derivatives Providers, in form and substance acceptable to the Administrative Agent.

 

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, (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, and (c) 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.

 

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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).

 

Tangible Net Worth ” means, as of any date, (a) Total Asset Value minus (b) the sum of (i) Consolidated Total Debt and (ii) to the extent included in the calculation of Total Asset Value, goodwill and other intangible assets (other than deferred leasing intangibles).

 

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.

 

Threshold Amount ” means (a) $40,000,000 with respect to Recourse Indebtedness, (b) $75,000,000 with respect to all Non-Recourse Indebtedness, and (c) $40,000,000 with respect to all other amounts.

 

Total Asset Value ” means, for the Companies, on a consolidated basis, as on any date, the sum of (a) an amount equal to (i) aggregate Adjusted NOI with respect to all Properties (without duplication from the assets in clauses (b) through (g) below) for the Current Reporting Quarter, annualized divided by (ii) the Capitalization Rate, plus (b) 75% of the Book Value of any Dark Property (provided that no Dark Property shall be included in the calculation of Total Asset Value for a period greater than 12 months), plus (c) the acquisition cost of Construction in Progress and the costs of improvements thereon and renovations thereof, plus (d) cash and cash equivalents (including restricted cash) on such date, plus (e) the Companies’ Share of the foregoing items and components attributable to Unconsolidated Affiliates, plus (f) an amount equal to the book value (adjusted in accordance with GAAP to reflect any default or other impairment of such loan) of mortgage loans, construction loans, capital improvement loans, and other loans, in each case owned by a Company, plus (g) fifty percent (50%) of the book value of any undeveloped land.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, for purposes of determining Total Asset Value, to the extent the amount of Total Asset Value attributable to (a) the amount under clause (b) above would exceed 10% of Total Asset Value, such excess shall be excluded, (b) the amount under clause (c) and (g) above would exceed 15% of Total Asset Value, such excess shall be excluded, (c) the amount under clause (e) above would exceed 30% of Total Asset Value, such excess shall be excluded, (d) the amount under clause (f) above would exceed 15% of Total Asset Value, such excess shall be excluded, and (e) the amount under clauses (b), (c), (e), (f) and (g) above would exceed 30% of Total Asset Value, such excess shall be excluded.

 

Total Funded Debt ” means, as of any date, Consolidated Total Debt excluding intercompany Indebtedness, deferred income taxes, security deposits, accounts payable and accrued liabilities, and any prepaid rents, in each case determined in accordance with GAAP.

 

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Total Outstandings ” means as of any date of determination, the aggregate Outstanding Amount of all Loans.

 

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

 

Unconsolidated Affiliate ” means any Person in which a Company has an Equity Interest and whose financial results would not be consolidated under GAAP with the financial results of the Parent on the consolidated financial statements of the Parent.

 

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

 

Unencumbered Adjusted NOI ” means, for any period, the aggregate Adjusted NOI of all Unencumbered Properties excluding any Dark Property for such period.

 

Unencumbered Asset Value ” means without duplication, the sum of for each Unencumbered Property owned or ground leased for the Current Reporting Quarter, (i) an amount equal to (x) the Unencumbered Adjusted NOI attributable to such Unencumbered Property for such Current Reporting Quarter, annualized, divided by (ii) the Capitalization Rate.

 

Unencumbered Leverage Ratio ” means, as of any date of determination, the quotient (expressed as a percentage) of (a) Unsecured Indebtedness of Parent and its Subsidiaries, divided by (b) Unencumbered Asset Value.

 

Unencumbered Properties ” means each Acceptable Property that either (a) is an Initial Unencumbered Property or (b) becomes an Unencumbered Property pursuant to Section 4.03 , and “ Unencumbered Property ” means any one of the Unencumbered Properties.

 

Unsecured Indebtedness ” means Indebtedness which is not Secured Indebtedness.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, all Indebtedness which is secured by a pledge of equity interests only and is recourse to the Borrower or the Parent shall be deemed to be Unsecured Indebtedness.

 

Unsecured Interest Coverage Ratio ” means, as of any date of determination, the quotient (expressed as a percentage) of (a) Unencumbered Adjusted NOI to (b) Unsecured Interest Expense.

 

Unsecured Interest Expense ” means, with respect to any period, Consolidated Interest Expense of the Parent and its Subsidiaries for such period attributable to Unsecured Indebtedness of the Parent and its Subsidiaries.

 

U.S. Person ” means any Person that is a “United States Person 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)(III) .

 

Wells Fargo ” means Wells Fargo Bank, National Association and its successors.

 

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WFS ” means Wells Fargo Securities, LLC and its successors and assigns.

 

Write-Down and Conversion Powers ” means, with respect to any EEA Resolution Authority, the write-down and conversion powers of such EEA Resolution Authority from time to time under the Bail-In Legislation for the applicable EEA Member Country, which write-down and conversion powers are described in the EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule.

 

b.                                       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 any Organization Document) shall be construed as referring to such agreement, instrument or other document as from time to time amended, supplemented, or otherwise modified (subject to any restrictions on such amendments, supplements or modifications set forth herein 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, Exhibits and Schedules shall be construed to refer to Articles and Sections of, and Exhibits and Schedules to, the Loan Document in which such references appear, (v) any reference to any law shall include all statutory and regulatory 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 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, Equity Interests, accounts and contract rights.

 

(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.

 

c.                                        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

 

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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 Borrower and its Subsidiaries shall be deemed to be carried at 100% of the outstanding principal amount thereof, and the effects of FASB ASC 825 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 Borrower or the Required Lenders shall so request, the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the Borrower shall negotiate in good faith to amend such ratio or requirement to preserve the original intent thereof in light of such change in GAAP (subject to the approval of the Required Lenders); provided that until so amended, (i) such ratio or requirement shall continue to be computed in accordance with GAAP prior to such change therein and (ii) the Borrower shall provide to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders financial statements and other documents required under this Agreement or as reasonably requested hereunder setting forth a reconciliation between calculations of such ratio or requirement made before and after giving effect to such change in GAAP.  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 addressing such changes, as provided for above.

 

(c)                                   Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities.   All references herein to consolidated financial statements of the Companies or to the determination of any amount for the Companies on a consolidated basis or any similar reference shall, in each case, be deemed to include each variable interest entity that the Parent is required to consolidate pursuant to FASB ASC 810 as if such variable interest entity were a Subsidiary as defined herein, provided further that for all purposes in calculating consolidated covenants hereunder the Parent shall be deemed to own one hundred percent (100%) of the equity interests in the Borrower.

 

d.                                       Rounding.  Any financial ratios required to be maintained by the Borrower 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).

 

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

 

f.                                         Amendment and Restatement of the Existing Term Loan Agreement.  The parties to this Agreement agree that, upon (i) the execution and delivery by each of the parties hereto of

 

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this Agreement and (ii) satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 5.01 , the terms and provisions of the Existing Term Loan Agreement shall be and hereby are amended, superseded and restated in their entirety by the terms and provisions of this Agreement.  This Agreement is not intended to and shall not constitute a novation, payment and reborrowing or termination of the “Obligations” (as defined in the Existing Term Loan Agreement).  All “Loans” made and “Obligations” incurred under the Existing Term Loan Agreement which are outstanding on the Closing Date, if any, shall continue as Obligations under (and shall be governed by the terms of) this Agreement and the other Loan Documents.  Without limiting the foregoing, upon the effectiveness hereof: (a) all references in the “Loan Documents” (as defined in the Existing Term Loan Agreement) to the “Administrative Agent”, the “Agreement” and the “Loan Documents” shall be deemed to refer to the Administrative Agent, this Agreement and the Loan Documents and (b) all obligations constituting “Obligations” with any Lender or any Affiliate of any Lender which are outstanding on the Closing Date, if any, shall continue as Obligations under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents.

 

g.                                        Rates. 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 “LIBOR” or with respect to any comparable or successor rate thereto.

 

9.                                      
The Committed Loans and Credit Extensions

 

a.                                       Committed Loans.

 

(a)                                  On the “Closing Date” (as defined in the Existing Term Loan Agreement) certain term loans were made to the Borrower under the Existing Term Loan Agreement that remain outstanding as of the Closing Date (such outstanding loans being herein referred to as the Existing Loans ) in an aggregate principal amount equal to $150,000,000.  Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, the Borrower and each Lender agree that on the Closing Date, (a) the Existing Loans shall be reevidenced as loans under this Agreement (the Committed Loans ) and (b) the terms of the Existing Loans shall be restated in their entirety and shall be evidenced by this Agreement.  The amount of each Lender’s Committed Loan as of the Closing Date is set forth on Schedule 2.01 .

 

(b)                                  Committed Loan Limitations Amounts repaid on the Committed Loans may not be reborrowed.  Committed Loans may be Base Rate Loans or LIBOR Loans, as further provided herein.

 

b.                                       Borrowings, Conversions and Continuations of Committed Loans.

 

(a)                                  Each Committed Borrowing, each conversion of Committed Loans from one Type to the other, and each continuation of LIBOR Loans shall be made upon the Borrower’s irrevocable notice to the Administrative Agent, which may be given by telephone.  Each such notice must be received by the Administrative Agent not later than 10:00 a.m. (i) three (3) Business Days prior to the requested date of any Borrowing of,

 

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conversion to or continuation of LIBOR Loans or of any conversion of LIBOR Loans to Base Rate Committed Loans, and (ii) on the requested date of any Borrowing of Base Rate Committed Loans.  Each telephonic notice by the Borrower pursuant to this Section 2.02(a)  must be confirmed promptly by delivery to the Administrative Agent of a written Committed Loan Notice, appropriately completed and signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower.  Each Borrowing of, conversion to or continuation of LIBOR Loans shall be in a principal amount of $500,000 or a whole multiple of $500,000 in excess thereof.  Each conversion to Base Rate Committed Loans shall be in a principal amount of $250,000 or a whole multiple of $50,000 in excess thereof.  Each Committed Loan Notice (whether telephonic or written) shall specify (i) whether the Borrower is requesting a Committed Borrowing, a conversion of Committed Loans from one Type to the other, or a continuation of LIBOR Loans, (ii) the requested date of the Committed Borrowing, conversion or continuation, as the case may be (which shall be a Business Day), (iii) the principal amount of Committed Loans to be borrowed, converted or continued, (iv) the Type of Committed Loans to be borrowed or to which existing Committed Loans are to be converted, and (v) if applicable, the duration of the Interest Period with respect thereto.  If the Borrower fails to specify a Type of Committed Loan in a Committed Loan Notice or if the Borrower fails to give a timely notice requesting a conversion or continuation, then (I) so long as no Event of Default exists, the applicable Committed Loans shall be made as, or continued to, a LIBOR Loan of the same Type and with an Interest Period of one (1) month and (II) if an Event of Default exists, then the applicable Committed 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 LIBOR Loans.  If the Borrower requests a Committed Borrowing of, conversion to, or continuation of LIBOR Loans in any such Committed Loan Notice, but fails to specify an Interest Period, then it will be deemed to have specified an Interest Period of one (1) month.

 

(b)                                  Following receipt of a Committed Loan Notice, the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each Lender of the amount of its Applicable Percentage of the applicable Committed Loans, and if no timely notice of a conversion or continuation is provided by the Borrower, the Administrative Agent shall notify each Lender of the details of any automatic continuation or conversion to Base Rate Loans described in the preceding subsection.  In the case of a Committed Borrowing, each Lender shall make the amount of its Committed Loan available to the Administrative Agent in immediately available funds at the Administrative Agent’s Office not later than 12:00 noon on the Business Day specified in the applicable Committed Loan Notice.  Upon satisfaction of the applicable conditions set forth in Section 5.02 (and, if such Committed Borrowing is the initial Credit Extension, Section 5.01 ), the Administrative Agent shall make all funds so received available to the Borrower by 3:00 p.m. in like funds as received by the Administrative Agent either by (i) crediting the account of the Borrower on the books of Wells Fargo 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 Borrower.

 

(c)                                   Except as otherwise provided herein, a LIBOR Loan may be continued or converted only on the last day of an Interest Period for such LIBOR Loan.  During the

 

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existence of an Event of Default, no Loans may be requested as, converted to or continued as LIBOR Loans without the consent of the Required Lenders.

 

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

 

(e)                                   After giving effect to all Committed Borrowings, all conversions of Committed Loans from one Type to the other, and all continuations of Committed Loans as the same Type, there shall not be more than eight (8) Interest Periods in effect with respect to Committed Loans.

 

c.                                        Reserved.

 

d.                                       Reserved.

 

e.                                        Prepayments.

 

The Borrower may, upon notice to the Administrative Agent, at any time or from time to time voluntarily prepay Committed Loans in whole or in part; provided that (i) such notice must be received by the Administrative Agent not later than 11:00 a.m. (A) three (3) Business Days prior to any date of prepayment of LIBOR Loans and (B) on the date of prepayment of Base Rate Committed Loans; (ii) any prepayment of LIBOR Loans shall be in a principal amount of $1,000,000 or a whole multiple of $100,000 in excess thereof; and (iii) any prepayment of Base Rate Committed Loans shall be in a principal amount of $100,000 or a whole multiple of $25,000 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 Committed Loans to be prepaid and, if LIBOR 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 Applicable Percentage of such prepayment.  If such notice is given by the Borrower, then the Borrower 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 a LIBOR Loan 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 2.16 , each such prepayment shall be applied to the Committed Loans of the Lenders in accordance with their respective Applicable Percentages.

 

f.                                         Incremental Term Loans.

 

(a)                                  Reserved .

 

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(b)                                  Incremental Term Loans .

 

(i)                                      Election .  Provided there exists no Default, upon notice to the Administrative Agent (which shall promptly notify the Lenders), the Parent and the Borrower may from time to time, elect to enter into one or more tranches of term loans (“ Additional Term Loans ”) in an aggregate amount not exceeding $50,000,000 either by designating another bank or financial institution not theretofore a Lender to become a Lender (such designation to be effective only with the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent, which consent will not be unreasonably withheld) and/or by agreeing with an existing Lender or Lenders, in such Lender or Lenders’ absolute discretion, that such Lender shall make Additional Term Loans; provided that (i) any such election for Additional Term Loans shall be in a minimum amount of $10,000,000, and (ii) the Parent and the Borrower may make a maximum of three (3) such requests.  Upon execution and delivery by the Borrower and such Lender or other bank or financial institution of an instrument in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent to effect such Additional Term Loans, including, as required, a new or amended Note, such existing Lender shall have a commitment to make Committed Loans as therein set forth or such bank or financial institution shall become a Lender with a commitment to make Committed Loans as therein set forth and all the rights and obligations of a Lender hereunder.

 

(ii)                                   Effective Date .  If Additional Term Loans are made in accordance with this Section 2.06(b) , then the Administrative Agent, the Parent, and the Borrower shall determine the effective date (the “ Increase Effective Date ”) that such Additional Term Loans shall be made.  The Administrative Agent shall promptly notify the Parent, the Borrower, and the Lenders of the Increase Effective Date.

 

(iii)                                Conditions to Effectiveness of Additional Term Loans .

 

(a)                                  As a condition precedent to such Additional Term Loans, the Parent and the Borrower shall deliver to the Administrative Agent a certificate dated as of the Increase Effective Date (in sufficient copies for each Lender) signed by a Responsible Officer of the Parent or the Borrower (on behalf of each Loan Party) (i) certifying and attaching the resolutions adopted by such Parent and the Borrower (on behalf of each Loan Party) approving or consenting to such Additional Term Loans, and (ii) certifying that, before and after giving effect to such Additional Term Loans, (A) the representations and warranties contained in Article VI and the other Loan Documents are true and correct in all material respects (except in the case of a representation or warranty qualified by materiality or Material Adverse Effect, in which case such representation or warranty shall be true and correct in all respects) on and as of the Increase Effective Date, except to the extent that such representations and warranties specifically refer to an earlier date, in which case they are true and correct in all material respects (except in the case of a

 

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representation or warranty qualified by materiality or Material Adverse Effect, in which case such representation or warranty shall be true and correct in all respects) as of such earlier date, and except that for purposes of this Section 2.06 , the representations and warranties contained in Section   6.05(b)  shall be deemed to refer to the most-recent statements furnished pursuant to Section 7.01(b) , and (B) no Default exists.

 

(b)                                  The Borrower shall execute and provide new Notes to such Lenders as may request herewith.

 

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

 

(c)                                   General .  The Administrative Agent will promptly notify the Lenders of any notice of Additional Term Loans.  Each Additional Term Loan shall be a Committed Loan hereunder.

 

g.                                        Repayment of Loans.  The Borrower shall repay to the Lenders on the Maturity Date the aggregate principal amount of Loans outstanding on such date.

 

h.                                       Interest.

 

(a)                                  Subject to the provisions of subsection (b)  below, (i) each LIBOR Loan shall bear interest on the outstanding principal amount thereof for each Interest Period at a rate per annum equal to LIBOR for such Interest Period plus the Applicable Rate; (ii) each Base Rate Committed 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.

 

(b)

 

(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, then 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 Borrower 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 (other than as set forth in clauses (b)(i) and (b)(ii) above), the Borrower shall pay interest on the principal amount of all outstanding Obligations

 

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hereunder 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 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.

 

i.                                           Fees.

 

(a)                                  The Borrower shall pay to WFS and the Administrative Agent, for their own respective accounts, fees in the amounts and at the times specified in the Fee Letter (without duplication of fees otherwise referenced herein).  Such fees shall be fully earned when paid and shall not be refundable for any reason whatsoever.

 

(b)                                  The Borrower shall pay to the Lenders such fees as shall have been separately agreed upon in writing in the amounts and at the times so specified.  Such fees shall be fully earned when paid and shall not be refundable for any reason whatsoever.

 

j.                                          Computation of Interest and Fees; Retroactive Adjustments of Applicable Rate.

 

(a)                                  All computations of interest for Base Rate Loans (including Base Rate Loans determined by reference to LIBOR) 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)                                  If, as a result of any restatement of or other adjustment to the financial statements of the Parent or for any other reason, then the Parent, the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, or the Lenders determine that (i) the Consolidated Leverage Ratio as calculated by the Parent and the Borrower 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, then the Borrower shall immediately and retroactively be obligated to pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of the applicable Lenders, within three (3) Business Days after demand by the Administrative Agent (or, after the occurrence of an actual or deemed entry of an order for relief with respect to any Loan Party under the Bankruptcy Code of the United States, automatically and without further action by the Administrative Agent or any Lender), an amount equal to the excess of the

 

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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 or any Lender, under Section 2.08(b)  or under Article IX .

 

k.                                       Evidence of Debt.

 

(a)                                  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 Borrower and the interest and payments thereon.  Any failure to so record or any error in doing so shall not, however, limit or otherwise affect the obligation of the Borrower hereunder to pay any amount owing with respect to the Obligations.  In the event of any conflict between the accounts and records maintained by any Lender and the accounts and records of the Administrative Agent in respect of such matters, the accounts and records of the Administrative Agent shall control in the absence of manifest error.  Upon the request of any Lender made through the Administrative Agent, the Borrower shall execute and deliver to such Lender (through the Administrative Agent) a Note, which shall evidence such Lender’s Loans in addition to such accounts or records.  Each such Note shall be in the form of Exhibit B (a “ Note ”).  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.

 

l.                                           Payments Generally; The Administrative Agent’s Clawback.

 

(a)                                  General .  All payments to be made by the Borrower shall be made without condition or deduction for any counterclaim, defense, recoupment or setoff.  Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, all payments by the Borrower 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 1:00 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.  If and to the extent the Administrative Agent shall not make such payments to a Lender when due as set forth in the preceding sentence, then such unpaid amounts shall accrue interest, payable by the Administrative Agent, at the Federal Funds Rate from the due date until (but not including) the date on which the Administrative Agent makes such payments to such Lender.  All payments received by the Administrative Agent after 1:00 p.m. shall be deemed received on the next succeeding Business Day and any applicable interest or fee shall continue to accrue.  If any payment to be made by the Borrower 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.

 

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(b)                                  Clawback .

 

(i)                                      Funding by the Lenders; Presumption by the Administrative Agent .  Unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from a Lender prior to the proposed date of any Committed Borrowing of LIBOR Loans (or, in the case of any Committed Borrowing of Base Rate Loans, prior to 1:00 p.m. on the date of such Borrowing) that such Lender will not make available to the Administrative Agent such Lender’s share of such Committed 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 Committed 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 Borrower a corresponding amount.  In such event, if a Lender has not in fact made its share of the applicable Committed Borrowing available to the Administrative Agent, then the applicable Lender and the Borrower 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 Borrower to but excluding the date of payment to the Administrative Agent, at (A) in the case of a payment to be made by such Lender, the 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 Borrower, the interest rate applicable to Base Rate Loans.  If the Borrower and such Lender shall pay such interest to the Administrative Agent for the same or an overlapping period, then the Administrative Agent shall promptly remit to the Borrower the amount of such interest paid by the Borrower for such period.  If such Lender pays its share of the applicable Committed Borrowing to the Administrative Agent, then the amount so paid shall constitute such Lender’s Committed Loan included in such Committed Borrowing.  Any payment by the Borrower shall be without prejudice to any claim the Borrower may have against a Lender that shall have failed to make such payment to the Administrative Agent.

 

(ii)                                   Payments by the Borrower; Presumptions by the Administrative Agent .  Unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from the Borrower prior to the date on which any payment is due to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Lenders hereunder that the Borrower will not make such payment, the Administrative Agent may assume that the Borrower has made such payment on such date in accordance herewith and may, in reliance upon such assumption, distribute to the Lenders the amount due.  In such event, if the Borrower has not in fact made such payment, then each of the Lenders severally agrees to repay to the Administrative Agent forthwith on demand the amount so distributed to such Lender, 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

 

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compensation , within one (1) Business Day.  If and to the extent the Administrative Agent shall not return such funds to a Lender when due as set forth in the preceding sentence, then such unpaid amounts shall accrue interest, payable by the Administrative Agent, at the Federal Funds Rate from the due date until (but not including) the date on which the Administrative Agent returns such funds to such Lender.

 

A notice of the Administrative Agent to any Lender or the Borrower 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 Borrower by the Administrative Agent because the conditions to the applicable Credit Extension set forth in Article V are not satisfied or waived in accordance with the terms hereof, then the Administrative Agent shall return such funds (in like funds as received from such Lender) to such Lender, without interest.

 

(d)                                  Obligations of the Lenders Several .  The obligations of the Lenders hereunder to make Committed Loans and to make payments pursuant to Section11.04(d)  are several and not joint.  The failure of any Lender to make any Committed Loan or to make any payment under Section 11.04(d)  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 Committed Loan or to make its payment under Section 11.04(d) .

 

(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)                                    Funds Transfer .  The Administrative Agent will, in its sole discretion, determine the funds transfer system and the means by which each transfer will be made.  The Administrative Agent may delay or refuse to accept a funds transfer request if the transfer would: (i) violate the terms of this authorization, (ii) require use of a bank unacceptable to the Administrative Agent or any Lender, in its reasonable discretion, or prohibited by any Governmental Authority, (iii) cause the Administrative Agent or any Lender to violate any Federal Reserve or other regulatory risk control program or guideline or (iv) otherwise cause the Administrative Agent or any Lender to violate any applicable Law or regulation.  The Borrower hereby authorizes the Administrative Agent to disburse the proceeds of any Loan made by the Lenders or any of their Affiliates pursuant to the Loan Documents as requested by an authorized representative of the Borrower to any of the accounts designated in the Disbursement Instruction Agreement.

 

m.                                   Sharing of Payments by the Lenders.  If any Lender shall, by exercising any right of setoff or counterclaim or otherwise, obtain payment in respect of any principal of or interest on any of the Committed Loans made by it, resulting in such Lender’s receiving payment of a

 

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proportion of the aggregate amount of such Committed Loans and accrued interest thereon greater than its pro rata share thereof as provided herein, then the Lender receiving such greater proportion shall (a) notify the Administrative Agent of such fact, and (b)  make such adjustments as shall be equitable, so that the benefit of all such payments shall be shared by the Lenders ratably in accordance with the aggregate amount of principal of and accrued interest on their respective Committed Loans and other amounts owing them, provided that the provisions of this Section shall not be construed to apply to any payment obtained by a Lender as consideration for the assignment of or sale of a participation in any of its Committed Loans to any assignee or participant, other than an assignment to the Borrower 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.

 

n.                                       Reserved.

 

o.                                       Reserved.

 

p.                                       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 .  That 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 in 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 IX 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 reasonably 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 , as the Borrower 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; third , if so determined by the Administrative Agent and the Borrower, to be held in an interest bearing deposit account and released pro rata in order to satisfy such Defaulting Lender’s potential future funding obligations with respect to Loans under this Agreement; fourth , to the payment of any amounts owing to the Lenders as a result of any judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction obtained by any Lender against such Defaulting Lender as a result of such Defaulting

 

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Lender’s breach of its obligations under this Agreement; fifth , so long as no Event of Default exists, to the payment of any amounts owing to the Borrower as a result of any judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction obtained by the Borrower against such Defaulting Lender as a result of such Defaulting Lender’s breach of its obligations under this Agreement; and sixth , to such Defaulting Lender or as otherwise directed by a court of competent jurisdiction; provided that if such payment is a payment of the principal amount of any Loans in respect of which such Defaulting Lender has not fully funded its appropriate share, such payment shall be applied solely to pay the Loans of all Non-Defaulting Lenders on a pro rata basis prior to being applied to the payment of any Loans of such Defaulting Lender until such time as all Loans and funded hereunder without giving effect to Section 2.16(a)(iv) . Any payments, prepayments or other amounts paid or payable to a Defaulting Lender that are applied (or held) to pay amounts owed by a Defaulting Lender shall be deemed paid to and redirected by such Defaulting Lender, and each Lender irrevocably consents hereto.

 

(iii)                                Certain Fees .  No Defaulting Lender shall be entitled to receive any fee pursuant to Section 2.09 for any period during which that Lender is a Defaulting Lender (and the Borrower shall not be required to pay any such fee that otherwise would have been required to have been paid to that Defaulting Lender pursuant to Section 2.09 for any period during which that Lender is a Defaulting Lender), and the Borrower shall not be required to pay the remaining amount of such fee that otherwise would have been required to have been paid to that Defaulting Lender.

 

(b)                                  Defaulting Lender Cure .  If the Borrower and the Administrative Agent agree in writing in their sole discretion that a Defaulting Lender should no longer be deemed to be 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, 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 Committed Loans to be held on a pro rata basis by the Lenders in accordance with their Applicable Percentages, whereupon that Lender will cease to be a Defaulting Lender; provided that no adjustments will be made retroactively with respect to fees accrued or payments made by or on behalf of the Borrower while that Lender was a Defaulting Lender; and provided , further , that , except to the extent otherwise expressly agreed by the affected parties, no change hereunder from Defaulting Lender to Lender will constitute a waiver or release of any claim of any party hereunder arising from that Lender’s having been a Defaulting Lender.

 

q.                                       Guaranties.  Pursuant to the Parent Guaranty, the Parent shall unconditionally Guarantee in favor of the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and any Specified Derivatives Providers the full payment and performance of the Obligations. Pursuant to the Subsidiary Guaranty or an addendum thereto in the form attached to the Subsidiary Guaranty, the Parent and the Borrower shall cause each Subsidiary Guarantor to execute a Subsidiary Guaranty unconditionally guarantying in favor of the Administrative Agent , the Lenders and any Specified

 

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Derivatives Providers the full payment and performance of the Obligations; provided, however , that such Subsidiary Guaranty may be released and reinstated in accordance with its terms.

 

(a)                                  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement or any other Loan Document, (x) concurrently with the delivery of each Compliance Certificate, with respect to any Person that became a Subsidiary of the Parent owning a direct or indirect interest in the Borrower since the date of the most recent Compliance Certificate or (y) substantially concurrently with any Subsidiary of the Parent (other than the Borrower) entering into any Guarantee of Indebtedness of the Parent, the Borrower or any Subsidiary of the Borrower owning directly or indirectly any Unencumbered Property, the Parent, the Borrower and such Subsidiary shall deliver to the Administrative Agent each of the following: (i) a joinder to the Subsidiary Guaranty executed by such Subsidiary, (ii) concurrently with the delivery of each Compliance Certificate a comprehensive list of all Guarantors, which identifies the joining and departing entities, and (iii) the items that would have been delivered under subsections (iii) and (v) of Section 5.01(a)  if such Subsidiary had been a Subsidiary Guarantor on the Closing Date, in form and substance substantially consistent with such items delivered on the Closing Date or otherwise reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

 

(b)                                  The Borrower may request in writing that the Administrative Agent release, and upon receipt of such request the Administrative Agent shall release, a Subsidiary Guarantor from the Guaranty so long as: (i) such Subsidiary Guarantor is not otherwise required to be a party to the Guaranty under the immediately preceding subsection (a)  (after giving effect to clause (ii) hereof); (ii) such Subsidiary Guarantor no longer Guarantees (or which Guarantee is being substantially concurrently released) any other Indebtedness of the Parent, the Borrower or any Subsidiary of the Borrower owning directly or indirectly any Unencumbered Property, (iii) no Default or Event of Default shall then be in existence or would occur as a result of such release, including without limitation, a Default or Event of Default resulting from a violation of any of the covenants contained in Section 8.14 ; and (iv) the Administrative Agent shall have received such written request at least five (5) Business Days (or such shorter period as may be acceptable to the Administrative Agent) prior to the requested date of release.  Delivery by the Borrower to the Administrative Agent of any such request shall constitute a representation by the Parent and the Borrower that the conditions set forth in the preceding sentence are or will be satisfied as of the requested date of release.

 

10.
Taxes, Yield Protection and Illegality

 

a.                                       Taxes.

 

(a)                                  Payments Free of Taxes; Obligation to Withhold; Payments on Account of Taxes .

 

(i)                                      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

 

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applicable Laws (as determined in the good faith discretion of the Administrative Agent) require the deduction or withholding of any Tax from any such payment by the Administrative Agent or a Loan Party, then the Administrative Agent or such Loan Party shall be entitled to make such deduction or withholding, upon the basis of the information and documentation to be delivered pursuant to subsection (e)  below.

 

(ii)                                   If any Loan Party or the Administrative Agent shall be required by the Code to withhold or deduct any Taxes, including both United States Federal backup withholding and withholding taxes, from any payment, then (A) the Administrative Agent shall withhold or make such deductions as are determined by the Administrative Agent to be required based upon the information and documentation it has received pursuant to subsection (e)  below, (B) the Administrative Agent shall timely pay the full amount withheld or deducted to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with the Code, and (C) 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 any required withholding or the making of all required deductions (including deductions 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 withholding or deduction been made.

 

(iii)                                If any Loan Party or the Administrative Agent shall be required by any applicable Laws other than the Code to withhold or deduct any Taxes from any payment, then (A) such Loan Party or the Administrative Agent, as required by such Laws, shall withhold or make such deductions as are determined by it to be required based upon the information and documentation it has received pursuant to subsection (e)  below, (B) such Loan Party or the Administrative Agent, to the extent required by such Laws, shall timely pay the full amount withheld or deducted to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with such Laws, and (C) 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 any required withholding or the making of all required deductions (including deductions 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 withholding or deduction been made.

 

(b)                                  Payment of Other Taxes by the Borrower .  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 10 days after demand therefor, for the full amount of any Indemnified Taxes (including Indemnified Taxes imposed or asserted on or attributable

 

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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 reasonable expenses arising therefrom or with respect thereto, whether or not such Indemnified Taxes were correctly or legally imposed or asserted by the relevant Governmental Authority.  A certificate as to the amount of such payment or liability delivered to the Borrower by a Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), or by the Administrative Agent on its own behalf or on behalf of a Lender, shall be conclusive absent manifest error.  Each of the Loan Parties shall, and does hereby, jointly and severally indemnify the Administrative Agent, and shall make payment in respect thereof within 10 days after demand therefor, for any amount which a Lender for any reason fails to pay indefeasibly to the Administrative Agent as required pursuant to Section 3.01(c)(ii)  below.

 

(ii)                                   Each Lender shall, and does hereby, severally indemnify, and shall make payment in respect thereof within 10 days after demand therefor, ( x ) the Administrative Agent against any Indemnified Taxes attributable to such Lender (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), ( y ) 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  10.06 11.06 (d)  relating to the maintenance of a Participant Register and ( z ) the Administrative Agent and the Loan Parties, as applicable, against any Excluded Taxes attributable to such Lender, 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 hereby authorizes the Administrative Agent to set off and apply any and all amounts at any time owing to such Lender, under this Agreement or any other Loan Document against any amount due to the Administrative Agent under this clause (ii) .

 

(d)                                  Evidence of Payments .  Upon request by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, as the case may be, after any payment of Taxes by the Borrower or by the Administrative Agent to a Governmental Authority as provided in this Section 3.01 , the Borrower shall deliver to the Administrative Agent or the Administrative Agent shall deliver to the Borrower, as the case may be, the original or a certified copy of a receipt issued by such Governmental Authority evidencing such payment, a copy of any return required by Laws to report such payment or other evidence of such payment reasonably satisfactory to the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, as the case may be.

 

(e)                                   Status of the 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

 

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deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent, at the time or times reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, such properly completed and executed documentation reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent as will permit such payments to be made without withholding or at a reduced rate of withholding.  In addition, any Lender, if reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, shall deliver such other documentation prescribed by applicable law or reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent as will enable the Borrower or the Administrative Agent to determine whether or not such Lender is subject to backup withholding or information reporting requirements.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the preceding two sentences, the completion, execution and submission of such documentation (other than such documentation set forth in Section 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 the Borrower is a U.S. Person,

 

i)                                          any Lender that is a U.S. Person shall deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent on or prior to the date on which such Lender becomes a Lender under this Agreement (and from time to time thereafter upon the reasonable request of the Borrower or the Administrative Agent), executed originals of IRS Form W-9 certifying that such Lender is exempt from U.S. federal backup withholding tax;

 

ii)                                       any Foreign Lender shall, to the extent it is legally entitled to do so, deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent (in such number of copies as shall be requested by the recipient) on or prior to the date on which such Foreign Lender becomes a Lender under this Agreement (and from time to time thereafter upon the reasonable request of the Borrower or the Administrative Agent), whichever of the following is applicable:

 

(c)                                   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 originals of IRS Form W-8BEN or IRS Form W-8BEN-E 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 or IRS Form W-8BEN-E 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;

 

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(d)                                  executed originals of IRS Form W-8ECI;

 

(e)                                   in the case of a Foreign Lender claiming the benefits of the exemption for portfolio interest under Section 881(c)  of the Code, (x) a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit H-1 to the effect that such Foreign Lender is not a “bank” within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(A)  of the Code, a “10 percent shareholder” of the Borrower within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(B)  of the Code, or a “controlled foreign corporation” described in Section 881(c)(3)(C)  of the Code (a “ U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate ”) and (y) executed originals of IRS Form W-8BEN or IRS Form W-8BEN-E; or

 

(f)                                    to the extent a Foreign Lender is not the beneficial owner, executed originals of IRS Form W-8IMY, accompanied by IRS Form W-8ECI, IRS Form W-8BEN, IRS Form W-8BEN-E, a U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit H-2 or Exhibit H-3 , IRS Form W-9, and/or other certification documents from each beneficial owner, as applicable; provided that if the Foreign Lender is a partnership and one or more direct or indirect partners of such Foreign Lender are claiming the portfolio interest exemption, such Foreign Lender may provide a U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit H-4 on behalf of each such direct and indirect partner;

 

iii)                                    any Foreign Lender shall, to the extent it is legally entitled to do so, deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent (in such number of copies as shall be requested by the recipient) on or prior to the date on which such Foreign Lender becomes a Lender under this Agreement (and from time to time thereafter upon the reasonable request of the Borrower or the Administrative Agent), executed originals 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 Borrower or the Administrative Agent to determine the withholding or deduction required to be made; and

 

iv)                                   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 Borrower and the Administrative Agent at the time or times prescribed by law and at such time or times reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent such documentation prescribed by applicable law (including as prescribed by Section 1471(b)(3)(C)(i) of the Code) and such

 

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additional documentation reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent as may be necessary for the Borrower and the Administrative Agent to comply with their obligations under FATCA and to determine that such Lender has complied with such Lender’s obligations under FATCA or to determine the amount to deduct and withhold from such payment.  Solely for purposes of this clause (D), “FATCA” shall include any amendments made to FATCA after the date of this Agreement.

 

(iii)                                Each Lender agrees that if any form or certification it previously delivered expires or becomes obsolete or inaccurate in any respect, it shall update such form or certification or promptly notify the Borrower and the Administrative Agent in writing of its legal inability to do so.  Each Lender shall promptly (A) notify the Borrower and the Administrative Agent of any change in circumstances which would modify or render invalid any claimed exemption or reduction, and (B) take such steps as shall not be materially disadvantageous to it, in the reasonable judgment of such Lender, and as may be reasonably necessary (including the re-designation of its Lending Office) to avoid any requirement of applicable Laws of any jurisdiction that the Borrower or the Administrative Agent make any withholding or deduction for taxes from amounts payable to such Lender.

 

(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 have any obligation to pay to any Lender, any refund of Taxes withheld or deducted from funds paid for the account of such Lender.  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 the Loan Party an amount equal to such refund (but only to the extent of indemnity payments made, or additional amounts paid, by a 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, and without interest (other than any interest paid by the relevant Governmental Authority with respect to such refund), provided that the Loan Party, upon the request of the Recipient, agrees to repay the amount paid over to the 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 the 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 indemnification payments or additional amounts giving rise to such refund 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.

 

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(g)                                   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 and the repayment, satisfaction and discharge of all other Obligations.

 

b.                                       Illegality.  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 applicable Lending Office to make, maintain or fund Loans whose interest is determined by reference to LIBOR, or to determine or charge interest rates based upon LIBOR, 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 Borrower through the Administrative Agent, (i) any obligation of such Lender to make or continue LIBOR Loans or to convert Base Rate Committed Loans to LIBOR Loans shall be suspended, and (ii) 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 LIBOR 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 LIBOR component of the Base Rate, in each case until such Lender notifies the Administrative Agent and the Borrower that the circumstances giving rise to such determination no longer exist.  Upon receipt of such notice, (x) the Borrower shall, upon demand from such Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), prepay or, if applicable, convert all LIBOR 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 LIBOR component of the Base Rate), either on the last day of the Interest Period therefor, if such Lender may lawfully continue to maintain such LIBOR Loans to such day, or immediately, if such Lender may not lawfully continue to maintain such LIBOR Loans and (y) if such notice asserts the illegality of such Lender determining or charging interest rates based upon LIBOR, the Administrative Agent shall during the period of such suspension compute the Base Rate applicable to such Lender without reference to the LIBOR 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 LIBOR.  Upon any such prepayment or conversion, the Borrower shall also pay accrued interest on the amount so prepaid or converted.

 

10.03                  Changed Circumstances .

 

(a)                                  3.03 Inability to Determine Rates .  If the Required Lenders determine that for any reason in Circumstances Affecting LIBOR Rate Availability.  Unless and until a Replacement Rate is implemented in accordance with clause (b) below, in connection with any request for a LIBOR Loan or a conversion to or continuation thereof that (a)  or otherwise, if for any reason (i) the Administrative Agent shall determine (which determination shall be conclusive and binding absent manifest error) that Dollar deposits are not being offered to banks in the London interbank eurodollar Eurodollar market for the applicable amount and Interest Period of such LIBOR Loan, ( b) adequate and ii) the Administrative Agent shall determine (which determination shall be conclusive and binding absent manifest error) that reasonable and adequate means do not exist for determining ascertaining LIBOR for any requested such Interest Period with respect to a proposed LIBOR Loan or in connection with an existing or proposed

 

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Base Rate Loan, or (c)  LIBOR for any requested Interest Period with respect to a proposed LIBOR Loan (iii) the Required Lenders shall determine (which determination shall be conclusive and binding absent manifest error) that the LIBOR does not adequately and fairly reflect the cost to such Lenders of funding making or maintaining such Loan Loans during such Interest Period , then the Administrative Agent will shall promptly so notify give notice thereof to the Borrower and each Lender .  Thereafter, (x) the until the Administrative Agent notifies the Borrower that such circumstances no longer exist, the obligation of the Lenders to make or maintain LIBOR Loans and the right of the Borrower to convert any Loan to or continue any Loan as a LIBOR Loan shall be suspended, and (y) in the event of a determination described in the preceding sentence with respect to the LIBOR component of the Base Rate, the utilization of the LIBOR component in determining the Base Rate shall be suspended, in each case until the Administrative Agent (upon the instruction of the Required Lenders) revokes such notice.  Upon receipt of such notice, the Borrower may revoke any pending request for a Borrowing of, conversion to or continuation of LIBOR Loans or, failing that, will be deemed to have converted such request into a request for a Committed Borrowing of Base Rate Loans in the amount specified therein. the Borrower shall either (A) repay in full (or cause to be repaid in full) the then outstanding principal amount of each such LIBOR Loan together with accrued interest thereon (subject to Section 11.09) , on the last day of the then current Interest Period applicable to such LIBOR Loan; or (B) convert the then outstanding principal amount of each such LIBOR Loan to a Base Rate Loan as of the last day of such Interest Period.

 

(b)                                  Alternative Rate of Interest.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Section 3.03(a)  above, if the Administrative Agent has made the determination (such determination to be conclusive absent manifest error) that (i) the circumstances described in Section 3.03(a)(i)  or (a)(ii)  have arisen and that such circumstances are unlikely to be temporary, (ii) any applicable interest rate specified herein is no longer a widely recognized benchmark rate for newly originated loans in the syndicated loan market in the applicable currency or (iii) the applicable supervisor or administrator (if any) of any applicable interest rate specified herein or any Governmental Authority having, or purporting to have, jurisdiction over the Administrative Agent has made a public statement identifying a specific date after which any applicable interest rate specified herein shall no longer be used for determining interest rates for loans in the syndicated loan market in the applicable currency, then the Administrative Agent may, to the extent practicable (in consultation with the Borrower and as determined by the Administrative Agent to be generally in accordance with similar situations in other transactions in which it is serving as administrative agent or otherwise consistent with market practice generally), establish a replacement interest rate (the “Replacement Rate”), in which case, the Replacement Rate shall, subject to the next two sentences, replace such applicable interest rate for all purposes under the Loan Documents unless and until (A) an event described in Section 3.03(a)(i) , (a)(ii) , (b)(i) , (b)(ii)  or (c)(iii)  occurs with respect to the Replacement Rate or (B) the Required Lenders (directly, or through the Administrative Agent) notify the Borrower that the Replacement Rate does not adequately and fairly reflect the cost to the Lenders of funding the Loans bearing interest at the Replacement Rate; provided that if such determined rate shall be less than zero, such rate shall be deemed to be zero for each Loan bearing interest at the Replacement Rate that has not been identified by the Borrower in accordance with the terms of this Agreement as being subject to a Specified Swap Contract that provides a hedge against interest rate risk.  In

 

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connection with the establishment and application of the Replacement Rate, this Agreement and the other Loan Documents shall be amended solely with the consent of the Administrative Agent and the Borrower, as may be necessary or appropriate, in the opinion of the Administrative Agent, to effect the provisions of this Section 3.03(b) .  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement or the other Loan Documents (including, without limitation, Section 11.01 ), such amendment shall become effective without any further action or consent of any other party to this Agreement so long as the Administrative Agent shall not have received, within five (5) Business Days of the delivery of such amendment to the Lenders, written notices from such Lenders that in the aggregate constitute Required Lenders, with each such notice stating that such Lender objects to such amendment.  To the extent the Replacement Rate is approved by the Administrative Agent in connection with this clause (b), the Replacement Rate shall be applied in a manner consistent with market practice; provided that, in each case, to the extent such market practice is not administratively feasible for the Administrative Agent, such Replacement Rate shall be applied as otherwise reasonably determined by the Administrative Agent (it being understood that any such modification by the Administrative Agent shall not require the consent of, or consultation with, any of the Lenders).

 

d.                                       Increased Costs; Reserves on LIBOR Loans.

 

(a)                                  Increased Costs Generally .  If any Change in Law shall:

 

(i)          impose, modify or deem applicable any reserve, special deposit, liquidity, compulsory loan, insurance charge or similar assessment or requirement against assets of, deposits with or for the account of, or credit extended or participated in by, the Administrative Agent or any Lender (except any reserve requirement contemplated by Section 3.04(e) ) ;

 

(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 the Administrative Agent or any Lender or the London interbank market any other condition, cost or expense affecting this Agreement or LIBOR Loans made by such Lender;

 

and the result of any of the foregoing shall be to increase the cost to the Administrative Agent or such Lender, as applicable, of making, converting, continuing or maintaining any Loan (or of maintaining its obligation to make any such Loan), then the Borrower will pay to the Administrative Agent or such Lender, as applicable, such additional amount or amounts as will compensate the Administrative Agent or such Lender, as applicable, for such additional costs incurred or reduction suffered.

 

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(b)                                  Capital Requirements .  If any Lender determines that any Change in Law affecting such Lender or any Lending Office of such Lender or such Lender’s holding company, if any, regarding capital or liquidity ratios or requirements has or would have the effect of reducing the rate of return on such Lender’s capital or on the capital of such Lender’s holding company, if any, as a consequence of this Agreement, the Loans made by such Lender, to a level below that which such Lender or such Lender’s holding company could have achieved but for such Change in Law (taking into consideration such Lender’s policies and the policies of such Lender’s holding company with respect to capital adequacy and liquidity ), then from time to time the Borrower will pay to such Lender such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender or such Lender’s holding company for any such reduction suffered.

 

(c)                                   Certificates for Reimbursement .  A certificate of a Lender setting forth the amount or amounts necessary to compensate such Lender or its holding company, as the case may be, as specified in subsection (a)  or (b)  of this Section and delivered to the Borrower shall be conclusive absent manifest error.  The Borrower shall pay such Lender the amount shown as due on any such certificate within fifteen (15) days after receipt thereof.

 

(d)                                  Delay in Requests .  Failure or delay on the part of any Lender to demand compensation pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this Section shall not constitute a waiver of such Lender’s right to demand such compensation, provided that the Borrower shall not be required to compensate a Lender 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 notifies the Borrower of the Change in Law giving rise to such increased costs or reductions and of such Lender’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).

 

(e)                                   Reserves on LIBOR Loans .  The Borrower 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 LIBOR 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), which shall be due and payable on each date on which interest is payable on such Loan, provided that the Borrower shall have received at least ten (10) days’ prior notice (with a copy to the Administrative Agent) of such additional interest 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.                                        Compensation for Losses.  Upon demand of any Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent) from time to time, the Borrower shall promptly compensate such Lender for and hold such Lender harmless from any loss, cost or expense incurred by it as a result of:

 

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(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 the Borrower (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 the Borrower; or

 

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

 

excluding any loss of anticipated profits and 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 Borrower shall also pay any customary administrative fees charged by such Lender in connection with the foregoing.

 

For purposes of calculating amounts payable by the Borrower to the Lenders under this Section 3.05 , each Lender shall be deemed to have funded each LIBOR Loan made by it at LIBOR for such Loan by a matching deposit or other borrowing in the London interbank eurodollar market for a comparable amount and for a comparable period, whether or not such LIBOR Loan was in fact so funded.

 

f.                                         Mitigation Obligations; Replacement of the Lenders.

 

(a)                                  Designation of a Different Lending Office .  If any Lender requests compensation under Section 3.04 , or the Borrower is required to pay any Indemnified Taxes or additional amount to any Lender, or any Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender pursuant to Section 3.01 , or if any Lender gives a notice pursuant to Section 3.02 , then at the request of the Borrower such Lender 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 reasonable judgment of such Lender, 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 to any material unreimbursed cost or expense and would not otherwise be materially disadvantageous to such Lender.  The Borrower hereby agrees to pay all reasonable costs and expenses incurred by any Lender in connection with any such designation or assignment.

 

(b)                                  Replacement of the Lenders .  If any Lender requests compensation under Section 3.04 , or if the Borrower is required to pay any Indemnified Taxes or additional amounts to any Lender or any Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender pursuant to Section 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 Borrower may replace such Lender in accordance with Section 11.13 .

 

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g.                                        Survival.  All of the Borrower’s obligations under this Article III shall survive repayment of all other Obligations hereunder, and resignation of the Administrative Agent.

 

11.
Unencumbered Properties

 

a.                                       Initial Unencumbered Properties.  As of the Closing Date, the Initial Unencumbered Properties shall consist of the Properties set forth on Schedule 4.01 .

 

b.                                       Reserved.

 

c.                                        Notices of Qualification as an Unencumbered Property.  The Borrower shall provide the Administrative Agent with a written notice of an Acceptable Property to be deemed an Unencumbered Property.

 

d.                                       Eligibility.  In order for an Acceptable Property to be eligible for inclusion as an Unencumbered Property, such Acceptable Property shall satisfy the following requirements unless otherwise approved by the Required Lenders:

 

(a)                                  no Material Title Defect with respect to such Acceptable Property shall exist;

 

(b)                                  such Acceptable Property shall have reasonable access to public utilities; and

 

(c)                                   such Acceptable Property shall not have any material defects.

 

e.                                        Reserved.

 

f.                                         Guaranty.  An Acceptable Property shall not be deemed an Unencumbered Property until the applicable Subsidiary Guarantor shall have executed and delivered (or caused to be executed and delivered) to the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Lenders and any Specified Derivatives Providers, the Subsidiary Guaranty.

 

g.                                        Admission of New Unencumbered Properties.  If, after the date of this Agreement, the Borrower has submitted to the Administrative Agent the notice contemplated by Section 4.03 , then such Acceptable Property shall be deemed to be an Unencumbered Property.

 

h.                                       Reserved.

 

i.                                           Reserved.

 

j.                                          Exclusion Events.  Each of the following events shall be an “ Exclusion Event ” with respect to an Unencumbered Property:

 

(a)                                  such Unencumbered Property suffers a Material Environmental Event or a Material Title Defect after the date of this Agreement which the Administrative Agent

 

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determines, acting reasonably and in good faith, materially impairs the Unencumbered Asset Value or marketability of such Unencumbered Property;

 

(b)                                  the Administrative Agent determines that such Unencumbered Property has suffered a Material Property Event after the date such Property was deemed an Unencumbered Property (or in the case of an uninsured Casualty, in respect of such Unencumbered Property, is reasonably likely to become a Material Property Event) which the Administrative Agent determines, acting reasonably and in good faith, materially impairs the Unencumbered Asset Value or marketability of such Unencumbered Property;

 

(c)                                   a Lien for the performance of work or the supply of materials which is established against such Unencumbered Property, or any stop notice served on the owner of such Unencumbered Property, the Administrative Agent or a Lender, remains unsatisfied or unbonded for a period of thirty (30) days after the date of filing or service and such Lien has priority over any Loan previously or thereafter made under this Agreement;

 

(d)                                  (i) any default by any Subsidiary Guarantor, as tenant under any applicable Acceptable Ground Lease, in the observance or performance of any material term, covenant, or condition of any applicable Acceptable Ground Lease on the part of such Subsidiary Guarantor to be observed or performed and said default is not cured following the expiration of any applicable grace and notice periods therein provided, or (ii)  the leasehold estate created by any applicable Acceptable Ground Lease shall be surrendered or (iii)  any applicable Acceptable Ground Lease shall cease to be in full force and effect or (iv) any applicable Acceptable Ground Lease shall be terminated or canceled for any reason or under any circumstances whatsoever, or any of the material terms, covenants or conditions of any applicable Acceptable Ground Lease shall be modified, changed, supplemented, altered, or amended in any manner not otherwise permitted hereunder without the consent of the Administrative Agent; and

 

(e)                                   the Borrower shall cease to own, directly or indirectly, one hundred percent (100%) of the Equity Interests of any Subsidiary Guarantor that owns an Unencumbered Property free and clear of any Liens (other than Liens in favor of the Administrative Agent).

 

After the occurrence of any Exclusion Event, the Administrative Agent, at the direction of the Required Lenders in their sole discretion, shall have the right at any time and from time to time to notify the Borrower (the “ Exclusion Notice ”) that, effective ten (10) Business Days after the giving of such notice and for so long as such Exclusion Event exists, such Property shall no longer be considered an Unencumbered Property.

 

If the Administrative Agent delivers an Exclusion Notice and such Exclusion Event no longer exists, then the Borrower may give the Administrative Agent written notice thereof (together with reasonably detailed evidence of the cure of such condition) and such Unencumbered Property shall be considered an Unencumbered Property as long as such Unencumbered Property meets all the requirements to be deemed an Unencumbered Property set forth in this Article IV.  Any

 

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Property that is excluded from the Unencumbered Properties pursuant to this Section 4.10 may subsequently be reinstated as an Unencumbered Property, even if an Exclusion Event exists, upon such terms and conditions as the Required Lenders may approve.

 

Upon the occurrence of an Default under Section 8.11(a) , the Borrower shall have the right to elect, upon written notice to the Administrative Agent, that the Lenders designate one or more Unencumbered Properties to be excluded as Unencumbered Properties in order to effect compliance with Section 8.11(a) , with the Borrower thereafter having the right to elect to have any such Unencumbered Property thereafter deemed an Unencumbered Property, provided no Exclusion Event shall exist at such time with respect to such Unencumbered Property.

 

4.11 Reserved .

 

12.
Conditions Precedent to Credit Extensions

 

a.                                       Conditions of Initial Credit Extension.  The obligation of each Lender to make its initial Credit Extension hereunder is subject to satisfaction of the following conditions precedent:

 

(a)                                  The Administrative Agent’s receipt of the following, each of which shall be originals or telecopies (followed promptly by originals) unless otherwise specified, each properly executed by a Responsible Officer of the signing Loan Party, each dated the Closing Date (or, in the case of certificates of governmental officials, a recent date before the Closing Date) and each in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and each of the Lenders:

 

(i)                                      executed counterparts of this Agreement and reaffirmations to the Guaranties sufficient in number for distribution to the Administrative Agent, each Lender, and the Borrower for each Initial Unencumbered Property;

 

(ii)                                   a Note executed by the Borrower in favor of each Lender requesting a Note;

 

(iii)                                copies of the Organization Documents of each Loan Party certified to be true and complete by the appropriate Governmental Authority of the state or other jurisdiction of its incorporation or organization, where applicable, and certified by a Responsible Officer of such Loan Party to be true and correct as of the Closing Date;

 

(iv)                               such certificates of resolutions or other action, incumbency certificates and/or other certificates of Responsible Officers of each Loan Party as the Administrative Agent may require evidencing the identity, authority and capacity of each Responsible Officer thereof authorized to act as a Responsible Officer in connection with this Agreement and the other Loan Documents to which such Loan Party is a party;

 

(v)                                  such documents and certifications as the Administrative Agent may reasonably require to evidence that each of the Borrower, the Parent and

 

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STAG Industrial GP, LLC are duly organized or formed, and that the Borrower, the Parent and STAG Industrial GP, LLC are validly existing, in good standing and qualified to engage in business in each jurisdiction where its ownership, lease or operation of properties or the conduct of its business requires such qualification, except to the extent that failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;

 

(vi)                               a favorable opinion of DLA Piper LLP (US), counsel to the Loan Parties, addressed to the Administrative Agent and each Lender, as to the matters set forth in Exhibit G and such other matters concerning the Borrower, the Parent and STAG Industrial GP, LLC and the Loan Documents as the Required Lenders may reasonably request;

 

(vii)                            a certificate of a Responsible Officer of each Loan Party either (A) attaching copies of all consents, licenses and approvals required in connection with the execution, delivery and performance by such Loan Party and the validity against such Loan Party of the Loan Documents to which it is a party, and such consents, licenses and approvals shall be in full force and effect, or (B) stating that no such consents, licenses or approvals are so required;

 

(viii)                         a certificate signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower certifying (A) that the conditions specified in Sections 5.02(a)  and (b)  have been satisfied, and (B) that there has been no event or circumstance since the date of the Audited Financial Statements that has had or could be reasonably expected to have, either individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect;

 

(ix)                               a duly completed Compliance Certificate as of the Closing Date, signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower;

 

(x)                                  evidence that all insurance required to be maintained pursuant to the Loan Documents has been obtained and is in effect;

 

(xi)                               a Disbursement Instruction Agreement effective as of the Agreement Date; and

 

(xii)                            such other assurances, certificates, documents, consents or opinions as the Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders reasonably may require.

 

(b)                                  Any fees required to be paid on or before the Closing Date shall have been paid.

 

(c)                                   Unless waived by the Administrative Agent, the Borrower shall have paid all fees, charges and disbursements of counsel to the Administrative Agent (directly to such counsel if requested by the Administrative Agent) to the extent invoiced prior to the Closing Date, plus such additional amounts of such fees, charges and disbursements as shall constitute its reasonable estimate of such fees, charges and disbursements incurred or to be incurred by it through the closing proceedings ( provided that such estimate shall

 

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not thereafter preclude a final settling of accounts between the Borrower and the Administrative Agent).

 

Without limiting the generality of the provisions of the last paragraph of Section 10.03 , for purposes of determining compliance with the conditions specified in this Section 5.01 , 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.

 

b.                                       Conditions to all Credit Extensions.  The obligation of each Lender to honor any Request for Credit Extension (other than a Committed Loan Notice requesting only a conversion of Committed Loans to the other Type, or a continuation of LIBOR Loans) is subject to the following conditions precedent:

 

(a)                                  The representations and warranties of the Borrower and each other Loan Party contained in Article VI or any other Loan Document, or which are contained in any document furnished at any time under or in connection herewith or therewith, shall be true and correct in all material respects (except in the case of a representation or warranty qualified by materiality or Material Adverse Effect, in which case such representation or warranty shall be true and correct in all respects) on and as of the date of such Credit Extension, except to the extent that such representations and warranties specifically refer to an earlier date, in which case they shall be true and correct in all material respects (except in the case of a representation or warranty qualified by materiality or Material Adverse Effect, in which case such representation or warranty shall be true and correct in all respects) as of such earlier date, and except that for purposes of this Section   5.02 , the representations and warranties contained in Section 6.05(b)  shall be deemed to refer to the most-recent statements furnished pursuant to Section 7.01(b) .

 

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

 

(c)                                   The Administrative Agent shall have received a Request for Credit Extension in accordance with the requirements hereof.

 

(d)                                  After giving effect to such proposed Credit Extension, the Borrower shall be in compliance with Section 2.01(c) .

 

Each Request for Credit Extension (other than a Committed Loan Notice requesting only a conversion of Committed Loans to the other Type or a continuation of LIBOR Loans) submitted by the Borrower shall be deemed to be a representation and warranty that the conditions specified in Sections   5.02(a) , (b) , and (d)  have been satisfied on and as of the date of the applicable Credit Extension.

 

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13.
Representations and Warranties

 

Each of the Parent and the Borrower represents and warrants to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders that:

 

a.                                       Existence, Qualification and Power; Compliance with Laws.  The Parent, the Borrower and each Subsidiary Guarantor (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) in the case of the Loan Parties, 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 (b)(i)  or (c)  to the extent that failure to do so would not have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

b.                                       Authorization; No Contravention.  The execution, delivery and performance by each Loan Party of each Loan Document to which such Person is 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 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.

 

c.                                        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 the execution, delivery or performance by, or enforcement against, any Loan Party of this Agreement or any other Loan Document except for those that have been obtained, taken or made, as the case may be, and those specified herein.

 

d.                                       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, except as enforcement may be limited by Debtor Relief Laws or general equitable principles relating to or limiting creditors’ rights generally.

 

e.                                        Financial Statements; No Material Adverse Effect.

 

(a)                                  The Audited Financial Statements (i) were prepared in accordance with GAAP consistently applied throughout the period covered thereby, except as otherwise

 

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expressly noted therein; (ii) fairly present the financial condition of the Parent as of the date thereof and their results of operations for each period covered thereby in accordance with GAAP consistently applied throughout the each period covered thereby, except as otherwise expressly noted therein; and (iii) show all material indebtedness and other liabilities, direct or contingent, of the Parent as of the date thereof, including liabilities for taxes, material commitments and Indebtedness required by GAAP to be reflected therein.

 

(b)                                  The most recent unaudited consolidated balance sheet of the Parent delivered pursuant to Section 7.01(b) , 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 the financial condition of the Parent as of the date thereof and its results of operations 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)                                   From and after the date of the Audited Financial Statements, and thereafter, from and after the date of the most recent financial statements delivered pursuant to Section 7.01(a)  or 7.01(b), there has been no event or circumstance, either individually or in the aggregate, that has had or would have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

f.                                         Litigation.  There are no actions, suits, proceedings, claims or disputes pending or, to the knowledge of any Company, threatened or contemplated, at law, in equity, in arbitration or before any Governmental Authority, by or against any Company 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) except as specifically disclosed in Schedule 6.06 , either individually or in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, and there has been no adverse change in the status, or financial effect on any Company, of the matters described on Schedule 6.06 , which change could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

g.                                        No Default.  No Company is in default under or with respect 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.

 

h.                                       Ownership of Property; Liens; Equity Interests.  Each Subsidiary Guarantor has good record and marketable title in fee simple to, or valid leasehold interests in, all Unencumbered Properties 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.  Each applicable Subsidiary Guarantor has good record and marketable fee simple title (or, in the case of Acceptable Ground Leases, a valid leasehold) to the Unencumbered Property owned by such Subsidiary Guarantor, subject only to Liens permitted by Section 8.01 .  All of the outstanding Equity Interests in each Subsidiary Guarantor have been validly issued, are fully paid and non-assessable and are owned by the applicable holders free and clear of all Liens (other than Liens permitted by Section 8.01 ).

 

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i.                                           Environmental Compliance.

 

(a)                                  The Companies conduct in the ordinary course of business a review of 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 Parent and the Borrower have reasonably concluded that, except as specifically disclosed in Schedule 6.09 , such Environmental Laws and claims could not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(b)                                  After due inquiry in accordance with good commercial or customary practices to determine whether Contamination is present on any Property, without regard to whether the Administrative Agent or any Lender has or hereafter obtains any knowledge or report of the environmental condition of such Property, except as may be indicated in environmental reports delivered to the Administrative Agent and except to the extent the same could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect: (i) such Property has not been used (A) for landfilling, dumping, or other waste or Hazardous Material disposal activities or operations, or (B) for generation, storage, use, sale, treatment, processing, or recycling of any Hazardous Material, or for any other use that has resulted in Contamination, and in each case, to each Company’s knowledge, no such use on any adjacent property occurred at any time prior to the date hereof; (ii) there is no Hazardous Material, storage tank (or similar vessel) whether underground or otherwise, sump or well currently on any Property; (iii) no Company has received any notice of, or has knowledge of, any Environmental Claim or any completed, pending, proposed or threatened investigation or inquiry concerning the presence or release of any Hazardous Material on any Property or any adjacent property or concerning whether any condition, use or activity on any Property or any adjacent property is in violation of any Environmental Requirement; (iv) the present conditions, uses, and activities on each Property do not violate any Environmental Requirement and the use of any Property which any Company (and each tenant and subtenant) makes and intends to make of any Property complies and will comply with all applicable Environmental Requirements; (v) no Property appears on the National Priorities List, any federal or state “superfund” or “superlien” list, or any other list or database of properties maintained by any local, state, or federal agency or department showing properties which are known to contain or which are suspected of containing a Hazardous Material; (vi) no Company has ever applied for and been denied environmental impairment liability insurance coverage relating to any Property; (vii) no Company has, nor, to any Company’s knowledge, have any tenants or subtenants, obtained any permit or authorization to construct, occupy, operate, use, or conduct any activity on any Property by reason of any Environmental Requirement; and (viii) to any Company’s knowledge, there are no underground or aboveground storage tanks on such Property.

 

j.                                          Insurance.  The properties of the Loan Parties are insured with financially sound and reputable insurance companies not Affiliates of any Loan Party, 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 Loan Parties operate.

 

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k.                                       Taxes.  The Companies have filed all material Federal, state and other tax returns and reports required to be filed, and have paid all material Federal, state and other 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 or which would not result in a Material Adverse Effect.  There is no proposed tax assessment against any Company that would, if made, have a Material Adverse Effect. Neither any Loan Party nor any Subsidiary thereof is party to any tax sharing agreement.

 

l.                                           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.  Each Pension Plan that is intended to be a qualified plan under Section 401(a)  of the Code has received a favorable determination letter from the Internal Revenue Service 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 Internal Revenue Service 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 Internal Revenue Service.  To the best knowledge of the Parent and the Borrower, nothing has occurred that would prevent or cause the loss of such tax-qualified status.  The Parent and each ERISA Affiliate have made all required contributions to each Plan subject to Section 412 of the Code, and no application for a funding waiver or an extension of any amortization period pursuant to Section 412 of the Code has been made with respect to any Plan.

 

(b)                                  There are no pending or, to the best knowledge of the Parent and the Borrower, threatened claims, actions or lawsuits, or action by any Governmental Authority, with respect to any Plan that would have a Material Adverse Effect.  There has been no prohibited transaction or violation of the fiduciary responsibility rules with respect to any Plan that has resulted or would have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(c)                                   (i) No ERISA Event has occurred, and neither the Parent nor any ERISA Affiliate is aware of any fact, event or circumstance that would constitute or result in an ERISA Event with respect to any Pension Plan; (ii) the Parent and each ERISA Affiliate has met all applicable requirements under the Pension Funding Rules in respect of each Pension Plan, and no waiver of the minimum funding standards under the Pension Funding Rules has been applied for or obtained; (iii) as of the most-recent valuation date for any Pension Plan, the funding target attainment percentage (as defined in Section 430(d)(2)  of the Code) is 60% or higher and neither the Parent nor any ERISA Affiliate knows of any facts or circumstances that would cause the funding target attainment percentage for any such plan to drop below 60% as of the most-recent valuation date; (iv) neither the Parent nor any ERISA Affiliate has incurred any liability to the PBGC other than for the payment of premiums, and there are no premium payments which have become due that are unpaid; (v) neither the Parent nor any ERISA Affiliate has engaged in a transaction that could be subject to Section 4069 or Section 4212(c)  of ERISA; and (vi) no Pension Plan has been terminated by the plan

 

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administrator thereof nor by the PBGC, and no event or circumstance has occurred or exists that would cause the PBGC to institute proceedings under Title IV of ERISA to terminate any Pension Plan, in each case, that would result in a liability, individually, or in the aggregate, in excess of the Threshold Amount.

 

(d)                                  As of the Second Amendment Effective Date, the Borrower is not, nor will be using “plan assets” (within the meaning of 29 CFR § 2510.3-101, as modified by Section 3(42) of ERISA) of one or more Benefit Plans in connection with the Loans or the Commitments.

 

m.                                   Subsidiaries; Equity Interests.  As of the Closing Date, the Parent and the Borrower have no Subsidiaries other than those specifically disclosed in Part (a) of Schedule 6.13 , and all of the outstanding Equity Interests in such Subsidiaries have been validly issued, are fully paid and non-assessable and are owned by a Company in the amounts specified on Part (a) of Schedule   6.13 free and clear of all Liens.  As of the Closing Date, neither the Parent nor the Borrower has any direct or indirect Equity Interests in any other Person other than those specifically disclosed in Part (b) of Schedule   6.13 .  All of the outstanding Equity Interests in each Subsidiary Guarantor have been validly issued, are fully paid and non-assessable and are owned by the applicable holders in the amounts specified on Part (c) of Schedule   6.13 free and clear of all Liens.

 

n.                                       Margin Regulations; Investment Company Act.

 

(a)                                  Neither the Parent nor the Borrower is 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.

 

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

 

o.                                       Disclosure.

 

(a)                                  The Parent and the Borrower have disclosed to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders all agreements, instruments and corporate or other restrictions to which any Company is subject, and all other matters known to them, that, individually or in the aggregate, would have a Material Adverse Effect.  The reports, financial statements, certificates or other information furnished (whether in writing or orally) by or on behalf of any Company 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), taken as a whole, do not contain any material misstatement of fact or fail to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided that (a) with respect to projected financial information, the Parent and the Borrower represent only that such information was prepared in good faith based upon

 

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assumptions believed to be reasonable at the time made, and (b) with respect to any lease abstracts provided by the Borrower, to the best of the Borrower’s knowledge, same will not contain any material misstatement of fact or fail to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

 

(b)                                  As of the Second Amendment Effective Date, the information included in the Beneficial Ownership Certification is true and correct in all respects.

 

p.                                       Compliance with Laws.  Each Company is in compliance in all material respects 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, would have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

q.                                       Taxpayer Identification Number.  As of the date hereof, each Loan Party’s true and correct U.S. taxpayer identification number is set forth on Schedule 11.02 .

 

r.                                          Intellectual Property; Licenses, Etc.  Each Loan Party owns, or possesses the right to use, all of the trademarks, service marks, trade names, copyrights, patents, patent rights, franchises, licenses and other intellectual property rights (collectively, “ IP Rights ”) that are reasonably necessary for the operation of their respective businesses, without conflict with the rights of any other Person except, in each case, where the failure to do so would have a Material Adverse Effect.  To the best knowledge of each Loan Party, 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 infringes upon any rights held by any other Person except where such infringement would not have a Material Adverse Effect.  Except as specifically disclosed in Schedule 6.18 , no claim or litigation regarding any of the foregoing is pending or, to the best knowledge of each Loan Party, threatened, which, either individually or in the aggregate, would have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

s.                                         Reserved .

 

t.                                          Solvency.  No Loan Party (a) has entered into the transaction or executed this Agreement or any other Loan Document with the actual intent to hinder, delay or defraud any creditor and (b) has not received reasonably equivalent value in exchange for its obligations under the Loan Documents.  After giving effect to any Loan, the fair saleable value of the Loan Parties’ assets, taken as a whole, exceeds and will, immediately following the making of any such Loan, exceed the Loan Parties’ total liabilities, including subordinated, unliquidated, disputed and contingent liabilities.  The Loan Parties’ assets, taken as a whole, do not constitute unreasonably small capital to carry out their business as conducted or as proposed to be conducted, nor will their assets constitute unreasonably small capital immediately following the making of any Loan.  The Loan Parties do not intend to incur debt and liabilities (including contingent liabilities and other commitments) beyond their ability to pay such debt and liabilities as they mature (taking into account the timing and amounts of cash to be received by the Loan Parties and the amounts to be payable on or in respect of obligations of the Loan Parties).  No

 

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petition under any Debtor Relief Laws has been filed against any Loan Party in the last seven (7) years, and neither the Borrower nor any other Loan Party in the last seven (7) years has ever made an assignment for the benefit of creditors or taken advantage of any insolvency act for the benefit of debtors.  No Loan Party is contemplating either the filing of a petition by it under any Debtor Relief Laws or the liquidation of all or a major portion of its assets or property (except for dispositions permitted hereunder), and no Loan Party has knowledge of any Person contemplating the filing of any such petition against it or any other Loan Party.

 

u.                                       REIT Status of the Parent.  The Parent qualified as a REIT commencing with its taxable year ending December 31, 2013 and will remain qualified in each taxable year thereafter.

 

v.                                       Labor Matters.  There is (a) no significant unfair labor practice complaint pending against any Company or, to the best of each Company’s knowledge, threatened against any Company, before the National Labor Relations Board, and no significant grievance or significant arbitration proceeding arising out of or under any collective bargaining agreement is pending on the date hereof against any Company or, to best of any Company’s knowledge, threatened against any Company which, in either case, would result in a Material Adverse Effect, and (b) no significant strike, labor dispute, slowdown or stoppage is pending against any Company or, to the best of any Company’s knowledge, threatened against any Company which would result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

w.                                     Ground Lease Representation.

 

(a)                                  The applicable Subsidiary Guarantor has delivered to the Administrative Agent true and correct copies of each Acceptable Ground Lease to the extent requested by the Administrative Agent.

 

(b)                                  Each Acceptable Ground Lease is in full force and effect.

 

x.                                       Unencumbered Properties .  To the Borrower’s knowledge and except where the failure of any of the following to be true and correct would not have a Material Adverse Effect:

 

(a)                                  Each Unencumbered Property complies with all Laws, including all subdivision and platting requirements, without reliance on any adjoining or neighboring property.  No Loan Party has received any notice or claim from any Person that an Unencumbered Property, or any use, activity, operation, or maintenance thereof or thereon, is not in compliance with any Law, and has no knowledge of any such noncompliance except as disclosed in writing to the Administrative Agent;

 

(b)                                  The Loan Parties have not directly or indirectly conveyed, assigned, or otherwise disposed of, or transferred (or agreed to do so) any development rights, air rights, or other similar rights, privileges, or attributes with respect to an Unencumbered Property, including those arising under any zoning or property use ordinance or other Laws;

 

(c)                                   All utility services necessary for the use of each Unencumbered Property and the operation thereof for their intended purpose are available at each Unencumbered Property;

 

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(d)                                  The current use of each Unencumbered Property complies in all material respects with all applicable zoning ordinances, regulations, and restrictive covenants affecting such Unencumbered Property, all use restrictions of any Governmental Authority having jurisdiction have been satisfied; and

 

(e)                                   No Unencumbered Property is the subject of any pending or, to any Loan Party’s knowledge, threatened Condemnation or material adverse zoning proceeding for which the Administrative Agent has not been notified in accordance with Section 7.03(f) .

 

y.                                       OFAC.   No Loan Party, nor, to the knowledge of any Loan Party, any Related Party, (i) is currently the subject of any Sanctions, (ii) is located, organized or residing in any Designated Jurisdiction, or (iii) is or has been (within the previous five (5) years) engaged in any transaction with any Person who is now or was then the subject of Sanctions or who is located, organized or residing in any Designated Jurisdiction.  No Loan, nor the proceeds from any Loan, has been used, directly or indirectly, to lend, contribute, provide or has otherwise made available to fund any activity or business in any Designated Jurisdiction or to fund any activity or business of any Person located, organized or residing in any Designated Jurisdiction or who is the subject of any Sanctions, or in any other manner that will result in any violation by any Person (including any Lender, the Lead Arranger or the Administrative Agent) of Sanctions.  Each Loan Party, their respective officers and, to the knowledge of the Parent and the Borrower, its respective directors, employees and agents and any Related Party, are in compliance with Anti-Corruption Laws and applicable Sanctions in all material respects. No Credit Extension, use of the proceeds of any Credit Extension, or other transactions contemplated hereby will violate Anti-Corruption Laws or applicable Sanctions.  Neither the making of the Credit Extensions hereunder nor the use of the proceeds thereof will violate the Patriot Act, the Trading with the Enemy Act, as amended, or any of the foreign assets control regulations of the United States Treasury Department (31 C.F.R., Subtitle B, Chapter V, as amended) or any enabling legislation or executive order relating thereto or successor statute thereto. Each Loan Party is in compliance in all material respects with the Patriot Act.

 

z.                                        EEA Financial Institutions.     No Loan Party is an EEA Financial Institution.

 

14.
Affirmative Covenants

 

So long as any Loan or other Obligation hereunder (excluding contingent indemnification obligations to the extent no unsatisfied claim giving rise thereto has been asserted) shall remain unpaid or unsatisfied:

 

a.                                       Financial Statements.  Each of the Parent and the Borrower shall deliver to the Administrative Agent and each Lender, in form and detail reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the Required Lenders:

 

(a)                                  as soon as available, but in any event within one hundred five (105) days after the end of each fiscal year of the Parent (or, if earlier, fifteen (15) days after the date required to be filed with the SEC without giving effect to any extension permitted by the SEC) (commencing with the fiscal year ending December 31, 2016, a consolidated

 

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balance sheet of the Parent 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, all in reasonable detail and prepared in accordance with GAAP, such consolidated statements to be audited and accompanied by a report and opinion of an independent certified public accountant of nationally recognized standing reasonably acceptable to the Required Lenders, 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; and

 

(b)                                  as soon as available, but in any event within sixty (60) days after the end of each of the first three (3) fiscal quarters of each fiscal year of the Parent (or, if earlier, five (5) days after the date required to be filed with the SEC) (commencing with the fiscal quarter ending March 31, 2017), a consolidated balance sheet of the Parent, the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as at the end of such fiscal quarter, the related consolidated statements of income or operations for such fiscal quarter and for the portion of the Parent’s fiscal year then ended, and the related consolidated statements of changes in shareholders’ equity, and cash flows for the portion of the Parent’s fiscal year then ended, in each case setting forth in comparative form, as applicable, the figures for the corresponding fiscal quarter of the previous fiscal year and the corresponding portion of the previous fiscal year, all in reasonable detail, such consolidated statements to be certified by the chief executive officer, chief financial officer, treasurer or controller of the Parent as fairly presenting the financial condition, results of operations, shareholders’ equity and cash flows of the Parent in accordance with GAAP, subject only to normal year-end audit adjustments and the absence of footnotes

 

As to any information contained in materials furnished pursuant to Section 7.02 , the Parent and the Borrower shall not be separately required to furnish such information under clause (a)  or (b)  above, but the foregoing shall not be in derogation of the obligation of the Parent and the Borrower to furnish the information and materials described in clauses (a)  and (b)  above at the times specified therein.

 

b.                                       Certificates; Other Information.  Each of the Parent and the Borrower shall deliver to the Administrative Agent and each Lender, in form and detail reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the Required Lenders:

 

(a)                                  concurrently with the delivery of the financial statements referred to in Sections 7.01(a)  and (b) , a duly completed Compliance Certificate signed by the chief executive officer, chief financial officer, chief accounting officer, treasurer or controller of the Borrower (which delivery may, unless the Administrative Agent or a Lender requests executed originals, be by electronic communication including fax or email and shall be deemed to be an original authentic counterpart thereof for all purposes);

 

(b)                                  promptly after any request by the Administrative Agent, copies of any detailed audit opinions or review reports submitted to the board of directors (or the audit

 

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committee of the board of directors) of the Parent by independent accountants in connection with the accounts or books of the Parent;

 

(c)                                   promptly after the same are available, copies of each annual report, proxy or financial statement or other report or communication sent to the stockholders of the Parent, and copies of all annual, regular, periodic and special reports and registration statements which the Borrower may file or be required to file with the SEC under Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and not otherwise required to be delivered to the Administrative Agent pursuant hereto;

 

(d)                                     promptly after the furnishing thereof, copies of any statement or report furnished to any holder of publicly-held debt securities of the Parent or the Borrower 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 7.01 or any other clause of this Section 7.02 ;

 

(e)                                   promptly, and in any event within five (5) Business Days after receipt thereof by the Parent or the Borrower, copies of each notice or other correspondence received from the SEC (or comparable agency in any applicable non-U.S. jurisdiction) concerning any material investigation or other material inquiry by such agency regarding financial or other operational results of any Company unless restricted from doing so by such agency; and

 

(f)                                    promptly, such additional information regarding the business, financial or corporate affairs of the Parent or the Borrower or any Unencumbered Property, 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 7.01(a)  or (b)  or Section 7.02(c)  (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 (i) on which the Parent or the Borrower (A) files any such document with the Securities and Exchange Commission’s EDGAR system (or any successor thereto) in a manner accessible to the public at large or (B) posts such documents, or provides a link thereto on the Parent and the Borrower’s website on the Internet at the website address listed on Schedule 11.02 ; or (ii) on which such documents are posted on the Parent and the Borrower’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). 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 and the Borrower 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.

 

The Parent and the Borrower hereby acknowledge that (a) the Administrative Agent and/or the Lead Arranger will make available to the Lenders materials and/or information provided by or on behalf of the Parent and the Borrower hereunder (collectively, the “Borrower

 

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Materials”) by posting the Borrower Materials on IntraLinks, SyndTrak or another similar electronic system (the “Platform”) and (b) certain of the Lenders (each, a “Public Lender”) may have personnel who do not wish to receive material non-public information with respect to the Parent, the Borrower or their Affiliates, or the respective Equity Interests of any of the foregoing, and who may be engaged in investment and other market-related activities with respect to such Persons’ Equity Interests. The Parent and the Borrower hereby agree that (w) all the Borrower Materials that are to be made available to the Public Lenders shall be clearly and conspicuously marked “PUBLIC” which, at a minimum, shall mean that the word “PUBLIC” shall appear prominently on the first page thereof; (x) by marking the Borrower Materials “PUBLIC,” the Parent and the Borrower shall be deemed to have authorized the Administrative Agent, the Lead Arranger and the Lenders to treat such Borrower Materials as not containing any material non-public information with respect to the Parent and the Borrower or their Equity Interests for purposes of United States Federal and state securities laws (provided that to the extent such Borrower Materials constitute Information, they shall be treated as set forth in Section 11.07 ); (y) all the Borrower Materials marked “PUBLIC” are permitted to be made available through a portion of the Platform designated “Public Side Information;” and (z) the Administrative Agent and the Lead Arranger shall be entitled to treat any the Borrower Materials that are not marked “PUBLIC” as being suitable only for posting on a portion of the Platform not designated “Public Side Information.”

 

c.                                        Notices.  Each of the Parent and the Borrower shall, upon becoming aware of same, promptly notify the Administrative Agent who shall notify each Lender:

 

(a)                                  of the occurrence of any Default;

 

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

 

(c)                                   of the occurrence of any ERISA Event which has resulted or would result in liabilities of any Company in an aggregate amount in excess of the Threshold Amount;

 

(d)                                  of any material litigation, arbitration or governmental investigation or proceeding instituted or threatened in writing against any Unencumbered Property, and any material development therein;

 

(e)                                   of any announcement by Moody’s, Fitch or S&P of any change in a Debt Rating or in its “outlook” with respect to a Debt Rating;

 

(f)                                    of any actual or threatened in writing Condemnation or zoning proceeding of any portion of any Unencumbered Property, any negotiations with respect to any such taking, or any material loss of or substantial damage to any Unencumbered Property, in each case, except to the extent that the same could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;

 

(g)                                   of any Casualty with respect to any Unencumbered Property except to the extent that the same could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;

 

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(h)                                  of any material permit, license, certificate or approval required with respect to any Unencumbered Property that lapses or ceases to be in full force and effect or any claim from any person that any Unencumbered Property, or any use, activity, operation or maintenance thereof or thereon, is not in compliance with any Law, in each case, except to the extent that the same could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;

 

(i)                                      of any material change in accounting policies or financial reporting practices by any Company, including any determination by the Borrower referred to in Section 2.10(b) ; and

 

(j)                                     of any labor controversy pending or threatened against any Company, and any material development in any labor controversy except to the extent that the same could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

Each notice pursuant to this Section 7.03 shall be accompanied by a statement of a Responsible Officer of the Parent and the Borrower setting forth details of the occurrence referred to therein and stating what action the Parent and/or the Borrower has taken and proposes to take with respect thereto.  Each notice pursuant to Section 7.03(a)  shall describe with particularity any and all provisions of this Agreement and any other Loan Document that have been breached.

 

d.                                       Payment of Obligations.  Each of the Parent and the Borrower shall, and shall cause each other Loan Party to, pay and discharge as the same shall become due and payable, all its obligations and liabilities, including: (a) all tax liabilities, assessments and governmental charges or levies upon a Loan Party or its properties or assets, 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 such Loan Party; (b) all lawful claims which, if unpaid, would by law become a Lien upon its property other than Liens of the type permitted under Sections 8.01(a)  through (g) ; and (c) all Indebtedness, as and when due and payable except, in each case, where the failure to do so would not result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

e.                                        Preservation of Existence, Etc.  Each of the Parent and the Borrower shall, and shall cause each other Loan Party to (a) preserve, renew and maintain in full force and effect its legal existence and good standing under the Laws of the jurisdiction of its organization except in a transaction permitted by Section 8.04 ; (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 would not have a Material Adverse Effect; and (c) preserve or renew all of its IP Rights, the non-preservation of which would have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

f.                                         Maintenance of Properties.  Each of the Parent and the Borrower shall, and shall cause each other Company to (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 except to the extent the failure to do so would not result in a Material Adverse Effect; (b) make all necessary repairs thereto and renewals and replacements thereof except where the failure to do so would not have a Material Adverse Effect; (c) use the standard of care typical in the industry in

 

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the operation and maintenance of its (i) Unencumbered Properties, and, (ii) as to its other Properties except where the failure to do so would not have a Material Adverse Effect; and (d) keep the Unencumbered Properties in good order, repair, operating condition, and appearance, causing all necessary repairs, renewals, replacements, additions, and improvements to be promptly made, and not allow any of the Unencumbered Properties to be misused, abused or wasted or to deteriorate (ordinary wear and tear excepted) except where the failure to do so would not have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

g.                                        Maintenance of Insurance.  Each of the Parent and the Borrower shall, and shall cause each other Company to, maintain with financially sound and reputable insurance companies not Affiliates of any Company, insurance (including flood insurance if available or required) 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.

 

h.                                       Compliance with Laws ; Beneficial Ownership Regulations  Each of the Parent and the Borrower shall, and shall cause each other Subsidiary Guarantor to, (a)  comply in all material respects with the requirements of all Laws (including without limitation Anti-Corruption Laws and applicable Sanctions) and all orders, writs, injunctions and decrees applicable to it or to its business or property, except in such instances in which ( a i ) such requirement of Law or order, writ, injunction or decree is being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted; or ( b ii ) the failure to comply therewith would not have a Material Adverse Effect . , (b) notify the Administrative Agent and each Lender that previously received a Beneficial Ownership Certification of any change in the information provided in the Beneficial Ownership Certification that would result in a change to the list of beneficial owners identified therein, and (c) promptly upon the reasonably request of the Administrative Agent or any Lender, provide the Administrative Agent or such Lender, as the case may be, any information or documentation requested by it for purposes of complying with the Beneficial Ownership Regulation.

 

i.                                           Books and Records.  Each of the Parent and the Borrower shall, and shall cause each other Company to: (a) 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 each Company, as the case may be; and (b) maintain such books of record and account in material conformity with all applicable requirements of any Governmental Authority having regulatory jurisdiction over any Company, as the case may be.

 

j.                                          Inspection Rights.  Subject to the rights of tenants, each of the Parent and the Borrower shall, and shall cause each other Loan Party to, permit representatives and independent contractors of the Administrative Agent and each Lender, at the expense of the Administrative Agent or such Lender, to visit and inspect and photograph any Unencumbered Property and any of its other properties, to examine its corporate, financial and operating records, and all recorded data of any kind or nature, regardless of the medium of recording including all software, writings, plans, specifications and schematics, and make copies thereof or abstracts therefrom, and to discuss its affairs, finances and accounts with its officers all at the expense of the

 

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Borrower and at such reasonable times during normal business hours, upon reasonable advance notice to the applicable Loan Party and no more often than once in any period of twelve (12) consecutive months unless an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing; provided that when an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing 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 Borrower at any time during normal business hours and without advance notice, subject to the rights of tenants.  Any inspection or audit of the Unencumbered Properties or the books and records, including recorded data of any kind or nature, regardless of the medium of recording including software, writings, plans, specifications and schematics of any Loan Party, or the procuring of documents and financial and other information, by the Administrative Agent on behalf of itself or on behalf of the Lenders shall be for the Administrative Agent’s and the Lenders’ protection only, and shall not constitute any assumption of responsibility to any Loan Party or anyone else with regard to the condition, construction, maintenance or operation of the Unencumbered Properties nor the Administrative Agent’s approval of any certification given to the Administrative Agent nor relieve any Loan Party of the Borrower’s or any other Loan Party’s obligations.

 

k.                                       Use of Proceeds.  Each of the Parent and the Borrower shall, and shall cause each other Company to, use the proceeds of the Credit Extensions (a) to refinance the obligations of the Companies under existing facilities, (b) to finance the acquisition of Properties, (c) to pay operating and leasing expenses with respect to its Properties, and (d) for general corporate purposes, in each case, not in contravention of any Law or of any Loan Document.

 

l.                                           Environmental Matters.  Each of the Parent and the Borrower shall, and shall cause each other Loan Party to:

 

(a)                                  Violations; Notice to the Administrative Agent .  Use reasonable efforts to:

 

(i)                                      Keep the Unencumbered Properties free of Contamination, except to the extent that any failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;

 

(ii)                                   Promptly deliver to the Administrative Agent a copy of each report pertaining to any Property or to any Loan Party prepared by or on behalf of such Loan Party pursuant to a material violation of any Environmental Requirement to the extent that the same could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; and

 

(iii)                                As soon as practicable advise the Administrative Agent in writing of any Environmental Claim or of the discovery of any Contamination on any Unencumbered Property that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, as soon as any Loan Party first obtains knowledge thereof, including a description of the nature and extent of the Environmental Claim and/or Hazardous Material and all relevant circumstances.

 

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(b)                                  Site Assessments and Information .  If the Parent or the Borrower fails to comply with Section 7.12(a)  or if any other Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, then if requested by the Administrative Agent, at the Borrower’s expense, deliver to the Administrative Agent from time to time, but no more frequently than once per calendar year unless an Event of Default exists, in each case within seventy five (75) days after the Administrative Agent’s request, an Environmental Assessment (hereinafter defined) made after the date of the Administrative Agent’s request.  As used in this Agreement, the term “ Environmental Assessment ” means a report of an environmental assessment of any or all Unencumbered Properties and of such scope so as to be compliant with the guidelines established by the ASTM (including the taking of soil borings and air and groundwater samples and other above and below ground testing) as the Administrative Agent may reasonably request to be performed by a licensed environmental consulting firm reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent.  Each applicable Loan Party shall cooperate with each consulting firm making any such Environmental Assessment and shall supply to the consulting firm all information available to such Loan Party to facilitate the completion of the Environmental Assessment.  If any Loan Party fails to furnish the Administrative Agent within thirty (30) days after the Administrative Agent’s request with a copy of an agreement with an acceptable environmental consulting firm to provide such Environmental Assessment, or if any Loan Party fails to furnish to the Administrative Agent such Environmental Assessment within seventy five (75) days after the Administrative Agent’s request, upon written notice to the Parent and the Borrower, the Administrative Agent may cause any such Environmental Assessment to be made at the Borrower’s expense and risk.  Subject to the rights of tenant, the Administrative Agent and its designees are hereby granted access to the Unencumbered Properties upon written notice, and a license which is coupled with an interest and irrevocable, to make or cause to be made such Environmental Assessments.  The Administrative Agent may disclose to any Governmental Authority, to the extent required by Applicable Law, any information the Administrative Agent ever has about the environmental condition or compliance of the Unencumbered Properties, but shall be under no duty to disclose any such information except as may be required by Law.  The Administrative Agent shall be under no duty to make any Environmental Assessment of the Unencumbered Properties, and in no event shall any such Environmental Assessment by the Administrative Agent be or give rise to a representation that any Hazardous Material is or is not present on the Unencumbered Properties, or that there has been or shall be compliance with any Environmental Requirement, nor shall any Company or any other Person be entitled to rely on any Environmental Assessment made by the Administrative Agent or at the Administrative Agent’s request but the Administrative Agent shall deliver a copy of such report to the Parent and the Borrower.  Neither the Administrative Agent nor any Lender owes any duty of care to protect any Company or any other Person against, or to inform them of, any Hazardous Material or other adverse condition affecting the Unencumbered Properties.

 

(c)                                   Remedial Actions .  If any Contamination which could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect is discovered on any Unencumbered Property at any time and regardless of the cause, (i) promptly at the applicable Loan Parties’ sole expense, remove, treat, and dispose of the Hazardous Material in compliance with all

 

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applicable Environmental Requirements in addition to taking such other action as is necessary to have the full use and benefit of such Unencumbered Property as contemplated by the Loan Documents, and provide the Administrative Agent with satisfactory evidence thereof; and (ii) if reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent, provide to the Administrative Agent within thirty (30) days of the Administrative Agent’s request a bond, letter of credit, or other financial assurance, including self-assurance, evidencing to the Administrative Agent’s satisfaction that all necessary funds are readily available to pay the costs and expenses of the actions required by the preceding clause (i) and to discharge any assessments or liens established against such Unencumbered Property as a result of the presence of the Hazardous Material on the Unencumbered Property. After completion of such remedial actions, the applicable Loan Party shall promptly request regulatory approval, take all reasonable measures to expedite issuance of such approval and upon receipt thereof deliver to the Administrative Agent a letter indicating that no further action is required with respect to the applicable Unencumbered Property or similar confirmation by the applicable regulator that all required remedial action as stated above has been taken and successfully completed to the satisfaction of the applicable regulator.  The Loan Parties shall not be deemed to have satisfied their remedial obligations under this provision until they have provided the Administrative Agent such confirmation.

 

m.                                   Ground Leases Solely with respect to Unencumbered Property, each of the Parent and the Borrower shall, and shall cause each other Loan Party to:

 

(a)                                  Diligently perform and observe in all material respects all of the terms, covenants, and conditions of any Acceptable Ground Lease as tenant under such Acceptable Ground Lease; and

 

(b)                                  Promptly notify the Administrative Agent of (i) the giving to the applicable Subsidiary Guarantor of any notice of any default by such Subsidiary Guarantor under any Acceptable Ground Lease and deliver to the Administrative Agent a true copy of each such notice within five (5) Business Days of such Subsidiary Guarantor’s receipt thereof, and (ii) any bankruptcy, reorganization, or insolvency of the landlord under any Acceptable Ground Lease or of any notice thereof, and deliver to the Administrative Agent a true copy of such notice within five (5) Business Days of the applicable Subsidiary Guarantor’s receipt.

 

(c)                                   Exercise any individual option to extend or renew the term of an Acceptable Ground Lease upon demand by the Administrative Agent made at any time within thirty (30) days prior to the last day upon which any such option may be exercised, and each applicable Subsidiary Guarantor hereby expressly authorizes and appoints the Administrative Agent as its attorney-in-fact to exercise any such option in the name of and upon behalf of such Subsidiary Guarantor, which power of attorney shall be irrevocable and shall be deemed to be coupled with an interest.

 

If the applicable Subsidiary Guarantor shall default in the performance or observance of any term, covenant, or condition of any Acceptable Ground Lease on the part of such Subsidiary Guarantor and shall fail to cure the same prior to the expiration of any applicable cure period

 

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provided thereunder, then the Administrative Agent shall have the right, but shall be under no obligation, to pay any sums and to perform any act or take any action as may be appropriate to cause all of the terms, covenants, and conditions of such Acceptable Ground Lease on the part of such Subsidiary Guarantor to be performed or observed on behalf of such Subsidiary Guarantor, to the end that the rights of such Subsidiary Guarantor in, to, and under such Acceptable Ground Lease shall be kept unimpaired and free from default.  If the landlord under any Acceptable Ground Lease shall deliver to the Administrative Agent a copy of any notice of default under such Acceptable Ground Lease, then such notice shall constitute full protection to the Administrative Agent for any action taken or omitted to be taken by the Administrative Agent, in good faith, in reliance thereon.

 

n.                                       Unencumbered Properties.

 

(a)                                  Except where the failure to comply with any of the following would not have a Material Adverse Effect, each of the Parent and the Borrower shall, and shall use commercially reasonable efforts to cause each other Loan Party or the applicable tenant, to:

 

(i)                                      Pay all real estate and personal property taxes, assessments, water rates or sewer rents, ground rents, maintenance charges, impositions, and any other charges, including vault charges and license fees for the use of vaults, chutes and similar areas adjoining any Unencumbered Property, now or hereafter levied or assessed or imposed against any Unencumbered Property or any part thereof (except those which are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted);

 

(ii)                                   Promptly pay (or cause to be paid) when due all bills and costs for labor, materials, and specifically fabricated materials incurred in connection with any Unencumbered Property (except those which are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted), and in any event never permit to be created or exist in respect of any Unencumbered Property or any part thereof any other or additional Lien or security interest other than Liens permitted by Section 8.01 ; and

 

(iii)                                Operate the Unencumbered Properties in a good and workmanlike manner and in all material respects in accordance with all Laws in accordance with such Loan Party’s prudent business judgment.

 

(b)                                  Except where the failure would not have a material and adverse effect on the value of the Unencumbered Properties, taken as whole, each of the Parent and the Borrower shall, and shall cause each other Loan Party to, to the extent owned and controlled by a Loan Party, preserve, protect, renew, extend and retain all material rights and privileges granted for or applicable to each Unencumbered Property.

 

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15.
Negative Covenants

 

So long as any Loan or other Obligation hereunder (excluding contingent indemnification obligations to the extent no unsatisfied claim giving rise thereto has been asserted) shall remain unpaid or unsatisfied:

 

a.                                       Liens.  Each of the Parent and the Borrower shall not, nor shall it permit any other Loan Party to, directly or indirectly, create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Lien upon any Unencumbered Property, other than the following:

 

(a)                                  Liens pursuant to any Loan Document;

 

(b)                                  Liens existing on the date hereof and listed on Schedule 8.01 ;

 

(c)                                   Liens for taxes not yet due and payable 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)                                    easements, rights-of-way, restrictions, restrictive covenants, encroachments, protrusions and other similar encumbrances affecting real property which, in the aggregate, are not substantial in amount, and which do not in any case materially detract from the value of the property subject thereto or materially interfere with the ordinary conduct of the business of the applicable Person;

 

(g)                                   Liens securing judgments for the payment of money not constituting an Event of Default under Section 9.01(i) ;

 

(h)                                  the rights of tenants under leases or subleases not interfering with the ordinary conduct of business of such Person;

 

(i)                                      Liens securing obligations in the nature of personal property financing leases for furniture, furnishings or similar assets, Capital Leases Obligations and other purchase money obligations for fixed or capital assets; provided that (i) such Liens do not at any time encumber any property other than the property financed by such Indebtedness, (ii) the obligations secured thereby does not exceed the cost or fair market value, whichever is lower, of the property being acquired on the date of acquisition, and

 

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(iii) with respect to Capital Leases, such Liens do not at any time extend to or cover any assets other than the assets subject to such Capital Leases;

 

(j)                                     Liens securing obligations in the nature of the performance of bids, trade contracts and leases (other than Indebtedness), statutory obligations, surety bonds (other than bonds related to judgments or litigation), performance bonds and other obligations of a like nature incurred in the ordinary course of business;

 

(k)                                  all Liens, encumbrances and other matters disclosed in any owner’s title insurance policies or other title reports and updated thereof accepted by the Administrative Agent; and

 

(l)                                      such other title and survey exceptions as the Administrative Agent has approved in writing in the Administrative Agent’s reasonable discretion.

 

b.                                       Indebtedness.  Each of the Parent and the Borrower shall not, nor shall it permit any other Loan Party to, 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 8.02 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;

 

(c)                                   Guarantees of (i) the Borrower or the Parent in respect of Indebtedness otherwise permitted hereunder of the Borrower or any other Guarantor, (ii) the Parent or the Borrower, in respect of Indebtedness otherwise permitted hereunder of any Non-Guarantor Subsidiary if, in the case of any Guarantee pursuant to this clause (ii), (x) no Default shall exist immediately before or immediately after the making of such Guarantee, and (y) there exists no violation of the financial covenants set forth in Section 8.14 hereunder on a pro forma basis after the making of such Guarantee, and (iii) Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries made in the ordinary course of business;

 

(d)                                  obligations (contingent or otherwise) of the Borrower or any Subsidiary existing or arising under any Swap Contract, provided that such obligations are (or were) entered into by such Person in the ordinary course of business for the purpose of directly mitigating risks associated with liabilities, commitments, investments, assets, or property held or reasonably anticipated by such Person, or changes in the value of securities issued by such Person, and not for purposes of speculation or taking a “market view”;

 

(e)                                   Indebtedness in respect of Capital Leases and purchase money obligations for fixed or capital assets within the limitations set forth in Section 8.01(i) , and unsecured Indebtedness in the form of trade payables incurred in the ordinary course of business; and

 

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(f)                                    Indebtedness of the Borrower or the Parent incurred or assumed after the date hereof that is either unsecured or is secured by Liens on assets of the Parent or the Borrower (other than any Unencumbered Property or the Equity Interests in any Loan Party); provided, such Indebtedness shall be permitted under this Section 8.02(f)  only if: (i) no Default shall exist immediately before or immediately after the incurrence or assumption of such Indebtedness, and (ii) there exists no violation of the financial covenants set forth in Section 8.14 hereunder on a pro forma basis after the incurrence or assumption of such Indebtedness.

 

c.                                        Investments.  Neither the Parent nor the Borrower shall have and shall not permit the Companies’ to have any Investments other than:

 

(a)                                  Investments in the form of cash or Cash Equivalents;

 

(b)                                  Investments existing on the date hereof and set forth on Schedule 6.13 ;

 

(c)                                   advances to officers, directors and employees of the Borrower and Subsidiaries for travel, entertainment, relocation and analogous ordinary business purposes;

 

(d)                                  Investments of the Guarantor and the Borrower in the form of Equity Interests and investments of the Borrower in any wholly-owned Subsidiary, and Investments of the Borrower directly in, or of any wholly-owned Subsidiary in another wholly-owned Subsidiary which owns, real property assets which are functional industrial, manufacturing, warehouse/distribution and/or office properties located within the United States, provided in each case the Investments held by the Borrower or Subsidiary are in accordance with the provisions of this Section 8.03 other than this Section 8.03(d) ;

 

(e)                                   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;

 

(f)                                    Investments in non-wholly owned Subsidiaries and Unconsolidated Affiliates;

 

(g)                                   Investments in mortgages and mezzanine loans;

 

(h)                                  Investments in unimproved land holdings and Construction in Progress;

 

(i)                                      Investments by the Parent for the redemption, conversion, exchange, retirement, sinking fund or similar payment, purchase or other acquisition for value, direct or indirect, of any Equity Interests of the Parent or the Borrower now or hereafter outstanding to the extent permitted under Section 8.06 below; and

 

(j)                                     Other Investments not to exceed at any time ten percent (10%) of Total Asset Value.

 

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d.                                       Fundamental Changes.  Each of the Parent and the Borrower shall not, nor shall it permit any other Loan Party to, directly or indirectly, merge, dissolve, liquidate, consolidate with or into another Person, or Dispose of (whether in one transaction or in a series of transactions) all or substantially all of its assets (whether now owned or hereafter acquired) to or in favor of any Person, except that, so long as no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or would result therefrom:

 

(a)                                  any Loan Party (other than the Parent or the Borrower) may merge with (i) the Parent or the Borrower, provided that the Parent or the Borrower, as applicable, shall be the continuing or surviving Person, or (ii) any other Loan Party, or (iii) any other Person, provided that if it owns an Unencumbered Property and is not the surviving entity, then such Property shall cease to be an Unencumbered Property;

 

(b)                                  any Loan Party (other than the Parent or the Borrower) may Dispose of all or substantially all of its assets (upon voluntary liquidation or otherwise) to another Loan Party;

 

(c)                                   any Loan Party may Dispose of a Property owned by such Loan Party in the ordinary course of business and for fair value; and

 

(d)                                  the Parent or the Borrower may merge or consolidate with another Person so long as either the Parent or the Borrower, as the case may be, is the surviving entity, shall remain in pro forma compliance with the covenants set forth in Section 8.14 below after giving effect to such transaction, and the Borrower shall have given the Administrative Agent at least fifteen (15) Business Days’ prior written notice of such merger or consolidation, such notice to include a certification as to the pro forma compliance referenced above, with the Borrower agreeing to provide such other financial information as the Administrative Agent shall reasonably request in order to verify such pro forma compliance.

 

Nothing in this Section shall be deemed to prohibit the sale or leasing of Property or portions of Property in the ordinary course of business.

 

e.                                        Dispositions.  Each of the Parent, the Borrower or any Loan Party shall not make any Disposition or enter into any agreement to make any Disposition, except:

 

(a)                                  Dispositions of obsolete or worn out property, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, in the ordinary course of business;

 

(b)                                  Dispositions of inventory in the ordinary course of business;

 

(c)                                   Any other Dispositions of Properties or other assets in an arm’s length transaction; provided that the Borrower and the Parent will remain in pro forma compliance with the covenants set forth in Section 8.14 after giving effect to such transaction.

 

f.                                         Restricted Payments.  Each of the Parent and the Borrower shall not, nor shall it permit any other Company to, directly or indirectly, declare or make, directly or indirectly, any

 

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Restricted Payment other than (a) Minimum Distributions, (b) Restricted Payments made by any Company to the Borrower or the Parent, or (c)  provided no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing at the time of such payment or would result therefrom, other Restricted Payments.

 

g.                                        Change in Nature of Business.  Except for Investments permitted under Section 8.03 , each of the Parent and the Borrower shall not, nor shall it permit any other Loan Party to, directly or indirectly, engage in any material line of business substantially different from those lines of business conducted by the Companies on the date hereof or any business substantially related or incidental thereto.

 

h.                                       Transactions with Affiliates.  Each of the Parent and the Borrower shall not, nor shall it permit any other Loan Party to, directly or indirectly, enter into any transaction of any kind with any Affiliate of a Company, whether or not in the ordinary course of business, other than on fair and reasonable terms substantially as favorable to such Loan Party as would be obtainable by such Company at the time in a comparable arm’s length transaction with a Person other than an Affiliate.

 

i.                                           Burdensome Agreements.  Each of the Parent and the Borrower shall not, nor shall it permit any other Loan Party to, directly or indirectly enter into any Contractual Obligation (other than this Agreement or any other Loan Document) that directly or indirectly prohibits any Company from (a) creating or incurring any Lien on any Unencumbered Property unless simultaneously therewith such Unencumbered Property ceases to be an Unencumbered Property, other than restrictions or conditions set forth in the Note Purchase Agreements, the Credit Agreements and, to the extent such restrictions or conditions are customary for such Indebtedness, any other agreements governing Indebtedness permitted under Section 8.02 , in each case, which restrictions are no more restrictive, taken as a whole than the comparable restrictions and conditions set forth in this Agreement as determined in the good faith judgment of the Borrower, (b) other than restrictions or conditions set forth in the Note Purchase Agreements, the Credit Agreements and, to the extent such restrictions or conditions are customary for such Indebtedness, any other agreements governing Indebtedness permitted under Section 8.02 , in each case, which restrictions are no more restrictive, taken as a whole than the comparable restrictions and conditions set forth in this Agreement as determined in the good faith judgment of the Borrower, limiting the ability (i) of any Subsidiary to make Restricted Payments to the Borrower or any Guarantor or to otherwise transfer property to the Borrower or any Guarantor, (ii) of any Subsidiary to Guarantee the Indebtedness of the Borrower or (iii) of the Borrower or any Subsidiary to create, incur, assume or suffer to exist Liens on property of such Person; provided, however, that this clause (iii) shall not prohibit any negative pledge incurred or provided in favor of any holder of Indebtedness permitted under Section 8.03(e)  solely to the extent any such negative pledge relates to the property financed by or the subject of such Indebtedness; or (c) requiring the grant of a Lien to secure an obligation of such Person if a Lien is granted to secure another obligation of such Person.

 

j.                                          Use of Proceeds.  Each of the Parent and the Borrower shall not, nor shall it permit any other Company to, directly or indirectly, use the proceeds of any Credit Extension, whether directly or indirectly, and whether immediately, incidentally or ultimately, to purchase or carry margin stock (within the meaning of Regulation U of the FRB) or to extend credit to

 

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others for the purpose of purchasing or carrying margin stock or to refund indebtedness originally incurred for such purpose.  The Borrower shall not request any Credit Extension, shall not use, and shall ensure that its Subsidiaries and its or their respective directors, officers, employees and agents do not use the proceeds of any Credit Extension (i) in furtherance of an offer, payment, promise to pay, or authorization of the payment or giving of money, or anything else of value, to any Person in violation of any Anti-Corruption Laws or (ii) in any manner that would result in the violation of any applicable Sanctions.

 

k.                                       Unencumbered Properties; Ground Leases.    Each of the Parent and the Borrower shall not, nor shall it permit any other Loan Party to, directly or indirectly:

 

(a)                                  Use or occupy or conduct any activity on, or knowingly permit the use or occupancy of or the conduct of any activity on any Unencumbered Properties by any tenant, in any manner which violates any Law or which constitutes a public or private nuisance in any manner which would have a Material Adverse Effect or which makes void, voidable, or cancelable any insurance then in force with respect thereto or makes the maintenance of insurance in accordance with Section 7.07 commercially unreasonable (including by way of increased premium);

 

(b)                                  [Reserved];

 

(c)                                   Without the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed), (i) impose any material easement, restrictive covenant, or encumbrance upon any Unencumbered Property, (ii) execute or file any subdivision plat or condominium declaration affecting any Unencumbered Property, or (iii) consent to the annexation of any Unencumbered Property to any municipality;

 

(d)                                  Do any act, or suffer to be done any act by any Company or any of its Affiliates, which would reasonably be expected to materially decrease the value of any Unencumbered Property (including by way of negligent act);

 

(e)                                   [Reserved];

 

(f)                                    Allow there to be fewer than twenty-five (25) Unencumbered Properties as of any date of determination;

 

(g)                                   Allow the Total Asset Value of the Unencumbered Properties to be less than One Hundred Fifty Million Dollars ($150,000,000.00);

 

(h)                                  Without the prior consent of the Lenders (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed), surrender the leasehold estate created by any Acceptable Ground Lease or terminate or cancel any Acceptable Ground Lease or materially modify, change, supplement, alter, or amend any Acceptable Ground Lease, either orally or in writing, in each case, to the extent such event would reasonably be expected to be materially adverse to the interests of the Lenders; and

 

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(i)                                      Enter into any Contractual Obligations related to any Unencumbered Property providing for the payment a management fee (or any other similar fee) to anyone other than a Company if, with respect thereto, the Administrative Agent has reasonably required that such fee be subordinated to the Obligations in a manner satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, and an acceptable subordination agreement has not yet been obtained.

 

l.                                           Environmental Matters.  Each of the Parent and the Borrower shall not knowingly directly or indirectly:

 

(a)                                  Cause, commit, permit, or allow to continue (i) any violation of any Environmental Requirement by or with respect to any Unencumbered Property or any use of or condition or activity on any Unencumbered Property, or (ii) the attachment of any environmental Liens on any Unencumbered Property, in each case, that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;

 

(b)                                  Place, install, dispose of, or release, or cause, permit, or allow the placing, installation, disposal, spilling, leaking, dumping, or release of, any Hazardous Material on any Unencumbered Property in any manner that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; and

 

(c)                                   Use any Hazardous Material on any Unencumbered Property except in such a manner which could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

m.                                   Negative Pledge; Indebtedness.  Each of the Parent and the Borrower shall not permit:

 

(a)                                  The Equity Interests of the Borrower held by the Parent to be subject to any Lien.

 

(b)                                  Any Person (other than the Parent or the Borrower) that directly or indirectly owns Equity Interests in any Subsidiary Guarantor to (i) incur any Indebtedness (whether Recourse Indebtedness or Non-Recourse Indebtedness) (other than Indebtedness listed on Schedule 8.13 and Additional Permitted Indebtedness), (ii) provide Guarantees to support Indebtedness (other than Indebtedness listed on Schedule 8.13 and Additional Permitted Indebtedness), or (iii) have its Equity Interests subject to any Lien or other encumbrance (other than in favor of the Administrative Agent).

 

(c)                                   Any Subsidiary Guarantor that owns an Unencumbered Property to (i) incur any Indebtedness (whether Recourse Indebtedness or Non-Recourse Indebtedness) (other than the Obligations, Indebtedness listed on Schedule 8.13 and Additional Permitted Indebtedness) or (ii) provide Guarantees to support Indebtedness (other than the Obligations, Indebtedness listed on Schedule 8.13 and Additional Permitted Indebtedness).

 

n.                                       Financial Covenants.  The Parent shall not, directly or indirectly, permit:

 

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(a)                                  Maximum Consolidated Leverage Ratio .  As of the last day of any fiscal quarter, the Consolidated Leverage Ratio to exceed sixty percent (60%); provided that, if any Material Acquisition shall occur and the Consolidated Leverage Ratio shall have been less than sixty percent (60%) for at least one full fiscal quarter immediately preceding the proposed Consolidated Leverage Ratio Covenant Holiday, then, at the election of the Borrower upon delivery of prior written notice to the Administrative Agent, concurrently with or prior to the delivery of a Compliance Certificate pursuant to Section 7.02(a) , and provided that no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, the maximum Consolidated Leverage Ratio covenant level shall be increased to sixty-five (65%) for the fiscal quarter in which such Material Acquisition is consummated and the three (3) fiscal quarters immediately following the fiscal quarter in which such Material Acquisition is consummated (any such increase a “ Consolidated Leverage Ratio Covenant Holiday ”); provided further that not more than two (2) Consolidated Leverage Ratio Covenant Holidays may be elected by the Borrower during the term of this Agreement;

 

(b)                                  Maximum Secured Leverage Ratio . As of the last day of any fiscal quarter, the Secured Leverage Ratio to exceed forty percent (40%);

 

(c)                                   Maximum Unencumbered Leverage Ratio .  As of the last day of any fiscal quarter, the Unencumbered Leverage Ratio to exceed sixty percent (60%); provided that, if any Material Acquisition shall occur and the Unencumbered Leverage Ratio shall have been less than sixty percent (60%) for at least one full fiscal quarter immediately preceding the proposed Unencumbered Leverage Ratio Covenant Holiday, then, at the election of the Borrower upon delivery of prior written notice to the Administrative Agent, concurrently with or prior to the delivery of a Compliance Certificate pursuant to Section 7.02(a) , and provided that no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, the maximum Unencumbered Leverage Ratio covenant level shall be increased to sixty-five (65%) for the fiscal quarter in which such Material Acquisition is consummated and the three (3) fiscal quarters immediately following the fiscal quarter in which such Material Acquisition is consummated (any such increase an “ Unencumbered Leverage Ratio Covenant Holiday ”); provided further that not more than two (2) Unencumbered Leverage Ratio Covenant Holidays may be elected by the Borrower during the term of this Agreement;

 

(d)                                  Maximum Secured Recourse Debt .  As of the last day of any fiscal quarter, the Secured Recourse Debt Ratio to exceed seven-and-one-half percent (7.5%) [Reserved] ;

 

(e)                                   Minimum Fixed Charge Ratio .  As of the last day of any fiscal quarter, the Fixed Charge Ratio for the Parent, on a consolidated basis, for the fiscal quarter then ended, annualized, to be less than or equal to 1.5 to 1.0; and

 

(f)                                    Minimum Unsecured Interest Coverage Ratio . As of the last day of any fiscal quarter, the Unsecured Interest Coverage Ratio for the Parent, on a consolidated basis, for the fiscal quarter then ended, annualized, to be less than or equal to 1.75 to 1.00 ; and .

 

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(g)  Minimum Tangible Net Worth .  As of the last day of any fiscal quarter, the Tangible Net Worth of the Parent, on a consolidated basis, to be less than the sum of (i) $996,305,000, plus (ii) seventy-five percent (75%) of net proceeds of any Equity Issuances received by the Parent or the Borrower after December 18, 2014 (other than proceeds received within ninety (90) days after the redemption, retirement or repurchase of ownership or equity interests in the Borrower or the Parent, up to the amount paid by the Borrower or the Parent in connection with such redemption, retirement or repurchase, where, for the avoidance of doubt, the net effect is that neither the Borrower nor the Parent shall have increased its Net Worth as a result of any such proceeds).

 

16.
Events of Default and Remedies

 

a.                                       Events of Default.  Any of the following shall constitute an Event of Default:

 

(a)                                  Non-Payment .  The Borrower or any other Loan Party fails to pay (i) when and as required to be paid herein, any amount of principal of any Loan, or (ii) within five (5) days after the same becomes due, any interest on any Loan due hereunder, except that there shall be no grace period for interest due on any applicable Maturity Date, or (iii) within ten (10) days after notice from the Administrative Agent, any other amount payable to the Administrative Agent or any Lender hereunder or under any other Loan Document except that there shall be no grace period for any amount due on any Maturity Date; or

 

(b)                                  Specific Covenants .  Any Loan Party fails to perform or observe any term, covenant or agreement contained in any of Section 7.11 or Article VIII (other than Sections 8.11 (a)  and (c), or 8.13 ) or the Parent fails to perform or observe any term, covenant or agreement contained in the Parent Guaranty or any Subsidiary Guarantor fails to perform or observe any term, covenant or agreement contained in the Subsidiary Guaranty; or

 

(c)                                   Performance .  Any Loan Party fails to perform or observe any term, covenant or agreement contained in any of Section 7.01 , 7.02 , or 7.03 , and such failure continues unremedied for ten (10) Business Days after such failure has occurred; or

 

(d)                                  Other Defaults .  Any Loan Party fails to perform or observe any other covenant or agreement (not specified in subsection (a) , (b) , or (c)  above) contained in any Loan Document on its part to be performed or observed and such failure continues unremedied for thirty (30) days after the earlier of notice from the Administrative Agent or the actual knowledge of the Loan Party, and in the case of a default that cannot be cured within such thirty (30) day period despite the Borrower’s diligent efforts but is susceptible of being cured within ninety (90) days of the Borrower’s receipt of the Administrative Agent’s original notice, then the Borrower shall have such additional time as is reasonably necessary to effect such cure, but in no event in excess of ninety (90) days from the Borrower’s receipt of the Administrative Agent’s original notice, subject in each instance to the Borrower’s remedial rights under Section 7.12(c) ; or

 

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(e)                                   Representations and Warranties .  Any representation, warranty, certification or statement of fact made or deemed made by or on behalf of the Borrower or any other Loan Party herein, in any other Loan Document, or in any document delivered in connection herewith or therewith shall be incorrect or misleading when made or deemed made and shall not be cured or remedied so that such representation, warranty, certification or statement of fact is no longer incorrect or misleading within ten (10) days after the earlier of notice from the Administrative Agent or the actual knowledge of any Loan Party thereof; or

 

(f)                                    Cross-Default .  (i) Any Company (A) fails to make any payment when due (whether by scheduled maturity, required prepayment, acceleration, demand, or otherwise), after the expiration of any applicable grace periods, in respect of any Indebtedness or Guarantee (other than (x) Indebtedness hereunder, and (y) Indebtedness under Swap Contracts) having an aggregate principal amount (including amounts owing to all creditors under any combined or syndicated credit arrangement) of more than the Threshold Amount, or (B) fails to observe or perform any other agreement or condition relating to any such Indebtedness or Guarantee or contained in any instrument or agreement evidencing, securing or relating thereto, or any other event occurs, the effect of which default or other event is to cause, or to permit the holder or holders of such Indebtedness or the beneficiary or beneficiaries of such Guarantee (or a trustee or agent on behalf of such holder or holders or beneficiary or beneficiaries) to cause, with the giving of notice if required, such Indebtedness or more than the Threshold Amount to be demanded or to become due or to be repurchased, prepaid, defeased or redeemed (automatically or otherwise), or an offer to repurchase, prepay, defease or redeem such Indebtedness to be made, prior to its stated maturity, or such Guarantee to become payable or cash collateral in respect thereof to be demanded; or (ii) there occurs under any Swap Contract an Early Termination Date (as defined in such Swap Contract) resulting from (A) any event of default under such Swap Contract as to which any Company is the Defaulting Party (as defined in such Swap Contract) or (B) any Termination Event (as so defined) under such Swap Contract as to which any Company is an Affected Party (as so defined) and, in either event, the Swap Termination Value owed by such Company as a result thereof is greater than the Threshold Amount; or

 

(g)                                   Insolvency Proceedings, Etc.   Any Loan Party institutes or consents to the institution of any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law, or makes an assignment for the benefit of creditors; or applies for or consents to the appointment of any receiver, trustee, custodian, conservator, liquidator, rehabilitator or similar officer for it or for all or any material part of its property; or any receiver, trustee, custodian, conservator, liquidator, rehabilitator or similar officer is appointed without the application or consent of such Person and the appointment continues undischarged or unstayed for sixty (60) calendar days; or any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law relating to any such Person or to all or any material part of its property is instituted without the consent of such Person and continues undismissed or unstayed for sixty (60) calendar days, or an order for relief is entered in any such proceeding; or

 

(h)                                  Inability to Pay Debts; Attachment .  (i) the Parent or the Borrower becomes unable to pay its debts as they become due, or any Loan Party admits in writing

 

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its inability or fails generally to pay its debts as they become due, or (ii) any writ or warrant of attachment or execution or similar process is issued or levied against all or any material part of the property of any such Loan Party and is not released, vacated or fully bonded within thirty (30) days after its issue or levy; or

 

(i)                                      Judgments .  There is entered against any Loan Party (i) one or more final judgments or orders for the payment of money in an aggregate amount (as to all such judgments or orders) exceeding the Threshold Amount (to the extent not covered by independent third-party insurance as to which the insurer does not dispute coverage), or (ii) any one or more non-monetary final judgments that have, or would have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect and, in either case, (A) enforcement proceedings are commenced by any creditor upon such judgment or order, or (B) there is a period of ten (10) consecutive days during which a stay of enforcement of such judgment, by reason of a pending appeal or otherwise, is not in effect; or

 

(j)                                     ERISA .  (i) An ERISA Event occurs with respect to a Pension Plan or Multiemployer Plan which has resulted or would result in liability of any Company under Title IV of ERISA to the Pension Plan, Multiemployer Plan or the PBGC in an aggregate amount in excess of the Threshold Amount, or (ii) the Parent or any ERISA Affiliate fails to pay when due, after the expiration of any applicable grace period, any installment payment with respect to its withdrawal liability under Section 4201 of ERISA under a Multiemployer Plan in an aggregate amount in excess of the Threshold Amount; or

 

(k)                                  Invalidity of Loan Documents .  Any Loan Document at any time after its execution and delivery and for any reason other than as expressly permitted hereunder or thereunder or satisfaction in full of all the Obligations, ceases to be in full force and effect in all material respects; or any Loan Party or any other Person contests in any manner the validity or enforceability of any Loan Document; or any Loan Party denies that it has any or further liability or obligation under any Loan Document, or purports to revoke, terminate or rescind any Loan Document, except as expressly permitted hereunder; or

 

(l)                                      REIT Status of the Parent .  The Parent ceases to be treated as a REIT or the Parent Shares shall fail to be listed and traded on the New York Stock Exchange; or

 

(m)                              Change of Control .  There occurs any Change of Control.

 

b.                                       Remedies Upon Event of Default.  If any Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Administrative Agent shall, at the request of, or may, with the consent of, the Required Lenders, take any or all of the following actions:

 

(a)                                  declare the commitment of each Lender to make Loans to be terminated, whereupon such commitments and obligation shall be terminated;

 

(b)                                  declare the unpaid principal amount of all outstanding Loans, all interest accrued and unpaid thereon, and all other amounts owing or payable hereunder or under any other Loan Document to be immediately due and payable, without presentment,

 

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demand, protest or other notice of any kind, all of which are hereby expressly waived by the Borrower; and

 

(c)                                   exercise on behalf of itself and the Lenders all rights and remedies available to it and the Lenders under the Loan Documents;

 

provided that upon the occurrence of an actual or deemed entry of an order for relief with respect to the Borrower under the Bankruptcy Code of the United States, the obligation of each Lender to make Loans shall automatically terminate, the unpaid principal amount of all outstanding Loans and all interest and other amounts as aforesaid shall automatically become due and payable, in each case without further act of the Administrative Agent or any Lender.

 

c.                                        Application of Funds.  After the exercise of remedies provided for in Section 9.02 (or after the Loans have automatically become immediately due and payable), any amounts received on account of the Obligations shall, subject to the provisions of Section 2.16 , be applied by the Administrative Agent in the following order:

 

First , to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting fees, indemnities, expenses and other amounts (including fees, charges and disbursements of counsel to the Administrative Agent and amounts payable under Article III ) payable to the Administrative Agent in its capacity as such;

 

Second , to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting fees, indemnities and other amounts (other than principal and interest) payable to the Lenders (including fees, charges and disbursements of counsel to the respective Lenders and amounts payable under Article III ), ratably among them in proportion to the respective amounts described in this clause   Second payable to them;

 

Third , to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting accrued and unpaid interest on the Loans, and other Obligations, ratably among the Lenders, in proportion to the respective amounts described in this clause   Third payable to them;

 

Fourth , to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting (x) unpaid principal of the Loans and (y) payment obligations then owing to the Administrative Agent, any Lender, or any Affiliate of the Administrative Agent or any Lender (“ Specified Derivatives Providers ”) arising from, by virtue of, or pursuant to any Swap Contract, other than any Excluded Swap Obligation, that relates solely to the Obligations (“ Specified Derivatives Providers ”) , ratably among the Lenders and the Specified Derivatives Providers in proportion to the respective amounts described in this clause Fourth payable to them; and

 

Last , the balance, if any, after all of the Obligations have been paid in full, to the Borrower or as otherwise required by Law.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, Obligations owing to Specified Derivatives Providers shall be excluded from the application described above if the Administrative Agent has not received written notice thereof, together with such supporting documentation as the Administrative Agent may request, from the applicable Specified Derivatives Provider.  Each

 

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Specified Derivatives Provider not a party to this Agreement that has given the notice contemplated by the preceding sentence shall, by such notice, be deemed to have acknowledged and accepted the appointment of the Administrative Agent pursuant to the terms of Article X for itself and its Affiliates as if a “Lender” party hereto.

 

17.                               
The Administrative Agent

 

a.                                       Appointment and Authority.  Each of the Lenders hereby irrevocably appoints Wells Fargo to act on its behalf as the Administrative Agent hereunder and under the other Loan Documents and authorizes the Administrative Agent to take such actions on its behalf and to exercise such powers as are delegated to the Administrative Agent by the terms hereof or thereof, together with such actions and powers as are reasonably incidental thereto.  The provisions of this Article are solely for the benefit of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders, neither the Borrower nor any other Loan Party shall have rights as a third party beneficiary of any of such provisions.  It is understood and agreed that the use of the term “agent” (or any other similar term) herein or in any other Loan Documents with reference to the Administrative Agent is not intended to connote any fiduciary or other implied (or express) obligations arising under agency doctrine of any applicable Law. Instead such term is used as a matter of market custom, and is intended to create or reflect only an administrative relationship between contracting parties.

 

b.                                       Rights as a Lender.  The Person serving as the Administrative Agent hereunder shall have the same rights and powers in its capacity as a Lender as any other Lender and may exercise the same as though it were not the Administrative Agent and the term “Lender” or “Lenders” shall, unless otherwise expressly indicated or unless the context otherwise requires, include the Person serving as the Administrative Agent hereunder in its individual capacity.  Such Person and its Affiliates may accept deposits from, lend money to, own securities of, act as the financial advisor or in any other advisory capacity for and generally engage in any kind of business with the Borrower or any Subsidiary or other Affiliate thereof as if such Person were not the Administrative Agent hereunder and without any duty to account therefor to the Lenders.

 

c.                                        Exculpatory Provisions.  The Administrative Agent shall not have any duties or obligations except those expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents, and its duties hereunder shall be administrative in nature.  Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Administrative Agent:

 

(a)                                  shall not be subject to any fiduciary or other implied duties, regardless of whether a Default has occurred and is continuing;

 

(b)                                  shall not have any duty to take any discretionary action or exercise any discretionary powers, except discretionary rights and powers expressly contemplated hereby or by the other Loan Documents that the Administrative Agent is required to exercise as directed in writing by the Required Lenders (or such other number or percentage of the Lenders as shall be expressly provided for herein or in the other Loan Documents), provided that the Administrative Agent shall not be required to take any action that, in its opinion or the opinion of its counsel, may expose the Administrative Agent to liability or that is contrary to any Loan Document or applicable law, including for the avoidance of doubt any action that may be in violation of the

 

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automatic stay under any Debtor Relief Law or that may effect a forfeiture, modification or termination of property of a Defaulting Lender in violation of any Debtor Relief Law; and

 

(c)                                   shall not, except as expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents, have any duty to disclose, and shall not be liable for the failure to disclose, any information relating to the Borrower or any of its Affiliates that is communicated to or obtained by the Person serving as the Administrative Agent or any of its Affiliates in any capacity.

 

The Administrative Agent shall not be liable for any action taken or not taken by it (i) with the consent or at the request of the Required Lenders (or such other number or percentage of the Lenders as shall be necessary, or as the Administrative Agent shall believe in good faith shall be necessary, under the circumstances as provided in Sections 11.01 and 9.02 ) or (ii) in the absence of its own gross negligence or willful misconduct as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by final and nonappealable judgment.  The Administrative Agent shall be deemed not to have knowledge of any Default unless and until notice describing such Default is given in writing to the Administrative Agent by the Borrower or a Lender.

 

The Administrative Agent shall not be responsible for or have any duty to ascertain or inquire into (i) any statement, warranty or representation made in or in connection with this Agreement or any other Loan Document, (ii) the contents of any certificate, report or other document delivered hereunder or thereunder or in connection herewith or therewith, (iii) the performance or observance of any of the covenants, agreements or other terms or conditions set forth herein or therein or the occurrence of any Default, (iv) the validity, enforceability, effectiveness or genuineness of this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any other agreement, instrument or document or (v) the satisfaction of any condition set forth in Article IV or elsewhere herein, other than to confirm receipt of items expressly required to be delivered to the Administrative Agent.

 

d.                                       Reliance by the Administrative Agent.  The Administrative Agent shall be entitled to rely upon, and shall not incur any liability for relying upon, any notice, request, certificate, consent, statement, instrument, document or other writing (including any electronic message, Internet or intranet website posting or other distribution) believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed, sent or otherwise authenticated by the proper Person.  The Administrative Agent also may rely upon any statement made to it orally or by telephone and believed by it to have been made by the proper Person, and shall not incur any liability for relying thereon.  In determining compliance with any condition hereunder to the making of a Loan, by its terms must be fulfilled to the satisfaction of a Lender, the Administrative Agent may presume that such condition is satisfactory to such Lender unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice to the contrary from such Lender prior to the making of such Loan.  The Administrative Agent may consult with legal counsel (who may be counsel for the Borrower), independent accountants and other experts selected by it, and shall not be liable for any action taken or not taken by it in accordance with the advice of any such counsel, accountants or experts.

 

e.                                        Delegation of Duties.  The Administrative Agent may perform any and all of its duties and exercise its rights and powers hereunder or under any other Loan Document by or through any one or more sub-agents appointed by the Administrative Agent.  The Administrative Agent and any such sub-agent may perform any and all of its duties and exercise its rights and powers by or through their respective Related Parties.  The exculpatory provisions of this Article shall apply to any such sub-agent and to the Related Parties of the Administrative Agent and any such sub-agent, and shall apply to their respective activities in connection with the syndication of

 

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the credit facilities provided for herein as well as activities as the Administrative Agent.  The Administrative Agent shall not be responsible for the negligence or misconduct of any sub-agents except to the extent that a court of competent jurisdiction determines in a final and non-appealable judgment that the Administrative Agent acted with gross negligence or willful misconduct in the selection of such sub-agents.

 

f.                                         Resignation of the Administrative Agent.

 

(a)                                  The Administrative Agent may at any time give notice of its resignation to the Lenders and the Borrower.  Upon receipt of any such notice of resignation, the Required Lenders shall have the right, subject to the reasonable approval of the Borrower (with any Lender or affiliate of a Lender being deemed approved, unless such Lender is a Defaulting Lender, and which approval shall not be required if an Event Default shall be in existence), to appoint a successor, which shall be a bank with an office in the United States, or an Affiliate of any such bank with an office in the United States.  If no such successor shall have been so appointed by the Required Lenders and shall have accepted such appointment within 30 days after the retiring Administrative Agent gives notice of its resignation (or such earlier day as shall be agreed by the Required Lenders) (the “ Resignation Effective Date ”), then the retiring Administrative Agent may (but shall not be obligated to) on behalf of the Lenders, appoint a successor Administrative Agent meeting the qualifications set forth above.  Whether or not a successor has been appointed, such resignation shall become effective in accordance with such notice on the Resignation Effective Date.

 

(b)                                  If the Person serving as the Administrative Agent is a Defaulting Lender pursuant to clause (d)  of the definition thereof, the Required Lenders may, to the extent permitted by applicable law, by notice in writing to the Borrower and such Person remove such Person as the Administrative Agent and, in consultation with the Borrower, appoint a successor. If no such successor shall have been so appointed by the Required Lenders and shall have accepted such appointment within 30 days (or such earlier day as shall be agreed by the Required Lenders) (the “Removal Effective Date”), then such removal shall nonetheless become effective in accordance with such notice on the Removal Effective Date.

 

(c)                                   With effect from the Resignation Effective Date or the Removal Effective Date (as applicable) (1) the retiring or removed Administrative Agent shall be discharged from its duties and obligations hereunder and under the other Loan Documents (except that in the case of any pledge security held by the Administrative Agent on behalf of the Lenders under any of the Loan Documents, the retiring or removed Administrative Agent shall continue to hold such collateral security until such time as a successor Administrative Agent is appointed) and (2) except for any indemnity payments or other amounts then owed to the retiring or removed Administrative Agent, all payments, communications and determinations provided to be made by, to or through the Administrative Agent shall instead be made by or to each Lender directly, until such time, if any, as the Required Lenders appoint a successor Administrative Agent as provided for above.  Upon the acceptance of a successor’s appointment as the Administrative Agent hereunder, such successor shall succeed to and become vested with

 

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all of the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring (or removed) the Administrative Agent (other than as provided in Section 3.01(g)  and other than any rights to indemnity payments or other amounts owed to the retiring or removed Administrative Agent as of the Resignation Effective Date or the Removal Effective Date, as applicable), and the retiring or removed Administrative Agent shall be discharged from all of its duties and obligations hereunder or under the other Loan Documents (if not already discharged therefrom as provided above in this Section).  The fees payable by the Borrower to a successor Administrative Agent shall be the same as those payable to its predecessor unless otherwise agreed between the Borrower and such successor.  After the retiring or removed Administrative Agent’s resignation or removal hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, the provisions of this Article and Section 10.04 shall continue in effect for the benefit of such retiring or removed Administrative Agent, its sub-agents and their respective Related Parties in respect of any actions taken or omitted to be taken by any of them while the retiring or removed Administrative Agent was acting as the Administrative Agent.

 

g.                                        Non-Reliance on the Administrative Agent and Other Lenders.  Each Lender acknowledges that it has, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent or any other Lender or any of their Related Parties and based on such documents and information as it has deemed appropriate, made its own credit analysis and decision to enter into this Agreement.  Each Lender also acknowledges that it will, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent or any other Lender or any of their Related Parties and based on such documents and information as it shall from time to time deem appropriate, continue to make its own decisions in taking or not taking action under or based upon this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any related agreement or any document furnished hereunder or thereunder.

 

h.                                       No Other Duties, Etc.  Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, none of the Lead Arranger, Bookrunner, Syndication Agent or co-Documentation Agents listed on the cover page hereof shall have any powers, duties or responsibilities under this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents, except in its capacity, as applicable, as the Administrative Agent, a Lender hereunder.

 

i.                                           The Administrative Agent May File Proofs of Claim.  In case of the pendency of any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law or any other judicial proceeding relative to any Loan Party, the Administrative Agent (irrespective of whether the principal of any Loan shall then be due and payable as herein expressed or by declaration or otherwise and irrespective of whether the Administrative Agent shall have made any demand on the Borrower) shall be entitled and empowered, by intervention in such proceeding or otherwise:

 

(a)                                  to file and prove a claim for the whole amount of the principal and interest owing and unpaid in respect of the Loans and all other Obligations that are owing and unpaid and to file such other documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Lenders and the Administrative Agent (including any claim for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Lenders and the Administrative Agent and their respective agents and counsel and all other amounts due the Lenders and the Administrative Agent under Sections 2.09 and 11.04 ) allowed in such judicial proceeding; and

 

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(b)                                  to collect and receive any monies or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims and to distribute the same;

 

and any custodian, receiver, assignee, trustee, liquidator, sequestrator or other similar official in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Lender to make such payments to the Administrative Agent and, in the event that the Administrative Agent shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Lenders, to pay to the Administrative Agent any amount due for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Administrative Agent and its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Administrative Agent under Sections 2.09 and 11.04 . Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to authorize the Administrative Agent to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Lender any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Obligations or the rights of any Lender to authorize the Administrative Agent to vote in respect of the claim of any Lender in any such proceeding.

 

j.                                          Guaranty Matters.  Upon request by the Administrative Agent at any time, the Required Lenders will confirm in writing the Administrative Agent’s authority to release any Guarantor from its obligations under a Guaranty pursuant to the terms of this Agreement.

 

18.                               
Miscellaneous

 

a.                                       Amendments, Etc.  No amendment or waiver of any provision of this Agreement or any other Loan Document, and no consent to any departure by the Borrower or any other Loan Party therefrom, shall be effective unless in writing signed by the Required Lenders and the Borrower or the applicable Loan Party, as the case may be, and acknowledged by the Administrative Agent, and each such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the specific purpose for which given; provided that no such amendment, waiver or consent shall:

 

(a)                                  waive any condition set forth in Section 5.01(a)  without the written consent of each Lender;

 

(b)                                  establish any commitment of any Lender to make Committed Loans hereunder without the written consent of such Lender;

 

(c)                                   postpone any date fixed by this Agreement or any other Loan Document for any payment or mandatory prepayment of principal, interest, fees or other amounts due to a Lender without the written consent of each Lender directly affected thereby;

 

(d)                                  reduce or forgive the principal of, or the rate of interest specified herein on, any Loan, or (subject to clause   (iii)  of the second proviso to this Section 11.01 ) any fees or other amounts payable hereunder or under any other Loan Document, without the written consent of each Lender directly affected thereby; provided that only the consent of the Required Lenders shall be necessary to amend the definition of “ Default Rate ,” waive any obligation of the Borrower to pay interest at the Default Rate, or change the manner of computation of any financial ratio (including any change in any applicable

 

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defined term) used in determining the Applicable Rate that would result in a reduction of any interest rate on any Loan or any fee payable hereunder;

 

(e)                                   change Section 9.03 in a manner that would alter the pro rata sharing of payments required thereby without the written consent of each Lender;

 

(f)                                    change any provision of this Section or the definition of “ Required Lenders ” or any other provision hereof specifying the number or percentage of the Lenders required to amend, waive or otherwise modify any rights hereunder or make any determination or grant any consent hereunder, without the written consent of each Lender;

 

(g)                                   release all or substantially all of the value of the Guaranties without the written consent of each Lender;

 

and, provided, further , that (i) no amendment, waiver or consent shall, unless in writing and signed by the Administrative Agent in addition to the Lenders required above, affect the rights or duties of the Administrative Agent under this Agreement or any other Loan Document; and (ii) the Fee Letter may be amended, or rights or privileges thereunder waived, in a writing executed only by the parties thereto.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, no Defaulting Lender shall have any right to approve or disapprove any amendment, waiver or consent hereunder (and any amendment, waiver or consent which by its terms requires the consent of all Lenders or each affected Lender may be effected with the consent of the applicable Lenders other than Defaulting Lenders), except that any waiver, amendment or modification requiring the consent of all Lenders or each affected Lender that by its terms affects any Defaulting Lender more adversely than other affected Lenders shall require the consent of such Defaulting Lender.  All communications from the Administrative Agent to any Lender requesting such Lender’s determination, consent, approval or disapproval (a) shall be given in the form of a written notice to such Lender, (b) shall be accompanied by a description of the matter or issue as to which such determination, approval, consent or disapproval is requested, or shall advise such Lender where information, if any, regarding such matter or issue may be inspected, or shall otherwise describe the matter or issue to be resolved, (c) shall include, if reasonably requested by such Lender and to the extent not previously provided to such Lender, written materials and, as appropriate, a brief summary of all oral information provided to the Administrative Agent by the Borrower in respect of the matter or issue to be resolved, and (d) shall include the Administrative Agent’s recommended course of action or determination in respect thereof.

 

b.                                       Notices; Effectiveness; Electronic Communication.

 

(a)                                  Notices Generally .  Except in the case of notices and other communications expressly permitted to be given by telephone (and except as provided in subsection (b)  below), all notices and other communications provided for herein shall be in writing and shall be delivered by hand or overnight courier service, mailed by certified or registered mail or sent by telecopier as follows, and all notices and other communications expressly permitted hereunder to be given by telephone shall be made to the applicable telephone number, as follows:

 

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(i)                                      if to the Borrower or the Administrative Agent to the address, telecopier number, electronic mail address or telephone number specified for such Person on Schedule 11.02 ; and

 

(ii)                                   if to any other Lender, to the address, telecopier number, electronic mail address or telephone number specified in its Administrative Questionnaire (including, as appropriate, notices delivered solely to the Person designated by a Lender on its Administrative Questionnaire then in effect for the delivery of notices that may contain material non-public information relating to the Borrower).

 

Notices and other communications sent by hand or overnight courier service, or mailed by certified or registered mail, shall be deemed to have been given when received; notices and other communications sent by telecopier shall be deemed to have been given when sent (except that, if not given during normal business hours for the recipient, shall be deemed to have been given at the opening of business on the next business day for the recipient).  Notices and other communications delivered through electronic communications to the extent provided in subsection (b)  below, shall be effective as provided in such subsection (b) .

 

(b)                                  Electronic Communications .  Notices and other communications to the Lenders hereunder may be delivered or furnished by electronic communication (including e-mail and Internet or intranet websites) pursuant to procedures approved by the Administrative Agent, provided that the foregoing shall not apply to notices to any Lender pursuant to Article II if such Lender has notified the Administrative Agent that it is incapable of receiving notices under such Article by electronic communication.  The Administrative Agent or the Borrower may each, in its discretion, agree to accept notices and other communications to it hereunder by electronic communications pursuant to procedures approved by it; provided that approval of such procedures may be limited to particular notices or communications.

 

Unless the Administrative Agent otherwise prescribes, (i) notices and other communications sent to an e-mail address shall be deemed received upon the sender’s receipt of an acknowledgement from the intended recipient (such as by the “return receipt requested” function, as available, return e-mail or other written acknowledgement), and (ii) notices or communications posted to an Internet or intranet website shall be deemed received upon the deemed receipt by the intended recipient at its e-mail address as described in the foregoing clause (i)  of notification that such notice or communication is available and identifying the website address therefor; provided that , for both clauses (i)  and (ii) , if such notice, email or other communication is not sent during the normal business hours of the recipient, such notice, email or communication shall be deemed to have been sent at the opening of business on the next business day for the recipient.

 

(c)                                   The Platform .  THE PLATFORM IS PROVIDED “AS IS” AND “AS AVAILABLE.”  THE AGENT PARTIES (AS DEFINED BELOW) DO NOT WARRANT THE ACCURACY OR COMPLETENESS OF THE BORROWER MATERIALS OR THE ADEQUACY OF THE PLATFORM, AND EXPRESSLY DISCLAIM LIABILITY FOR ERRORS IN OR OMISSIONS FROM THE

 

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BORROWER MATERIALS.  NO WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS, IMPLIED OR STATUTORY, INCLUDING ANY WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, NON-INFRINGEMENT OF THIRD PARTY RIGHTS OR FREEDOM FROM VIRUSES OR OTHER CODE DEFECTS, IS MADE BY ANY AGENT PARTY IN CONNECTION WITH THE BORROWER MATERIALS OR THE PLATFORM.  In no event shall the Administrative Agent or any of its Related Parties (collectively, the “ Agent Parties ”) have any liability to the Borrower, any Lender or any other Person for losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses of any kind (whether in tort, contract or otherwise) arising out of the Borrower’s or the Administrative Agent’s transmission of the Borrower Materials through the Internet, except to the extent that such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses are determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by a final and nonappealable judgment to have resulted from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Agent Party; provided that in no event shall any Agent Party have any liability to the Borrower, any Lender or any other Person for indirect, special, incidental, consequential or punitive damages (as opposed to direct or actual damages) resulting therefrom.

 

(d)                                  Change of Address, Etc .  Each of the Borrower and the Administrative Agent may change its address, telecopier or telephone number for notices and other communications hereunder by notice to the other parties hereto.  Each other Lender may change its address, telecopier or telephone number for notices and other communications hereunder by notice to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent.  In addition, each Lender agrees to notify the Administrative Agent from time to time to ensure that the Administrative Agent has on record (i) an effective address, contact name, telephone number, telecopier number and electronic mail address to which notices and other communications may be sent and (ii) accurate wire instructions for such Lender.  Furthermore, each Public Lender agrees to cause at least one (1) individual at or on behalf of such Public Lender to at all times have selected the “Private Side Information” or similar designation on the content declaration screen of the Platform in order to enable such Public Lender or its delegate, in accordance with such Public Lender’s compliance procedures and applicable Law, including United States Federal and state securities Laws, to make reference to the Borrower Materials that are not made available through the “Public Side Information” portion of the Platform and that may contain material non-public information with respect to the Borrower or its Equity Interests for purposes of United States Federal or state securities laws.

 

(e)                                   Reliance by the Administrative Agent and the Lenders .  The Administrative Agent and the Lenders shall be entitled to rely and act upon any notices (including telephonic Committed Loan Notices) purportedly given by or on behalf of the Borrower even if (i) such notices were not made in a manner specified herein, were incomplete or were not preceded or followed by any other form of notice specified herein, or (ii) the terms thereof, as understood by the recipient, varied from any confirmation thereof.  The Borrower shall indemnify the Administrative Agent, each Lender and the Related Parties of each of them from all losses, costs, expenses and liabilities resulting from the reliance by such Person on each notice purportedly given by or on behalf of the Borrower.  All telephonic notices to and other telephonic

 

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communications with the Administrative Agent may be recorded by the Administrative Agent, and each of the parties hereto hereby consents to such recording.

 

c.                                        No Waiver; Cumulative Remedies; Enforcement.  No failure by any Lender or the Administrative Agent to exercise, and no delay by any such Person in exercising, any right, remedy, power or privilege hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof; nor shall any single or partial exercise of any right, remedy, power or privilege hereunder preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, remedy, power or privilege.  The rights, remedies, powers and privileges herein provided and provided under each other Loan Document are cumulative and not exclusive of any rights, remedies, powers and privileges provided by Law.

 

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein or in any other Loan Document, the authority to enforce rights and remedies hereunder and under the other Loan Documents against the Loan Parties or any of them shall be vested exclusively in, and all actions and proceedings at law in connection with such enforcement shall be instituted and maintained exclusively by, the Administrative Agent in accordance with Section 9.02 for the benefit of all the Lenders; provided that the foregoing shall not prohibit (a) the Administrative Agent from exercising on its own behalf the rights and remedies that inure to its benefit (solely in its capacity as the Administrative Agent) hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, (b) any Lender from exercising setoff rights in accordance with Section 11.08 (subject to the terms of Section 2.13 ), or (c) any Lender from filing proofs of claim or appearing and filing pleadings on its own behalf during the pendency of a proceeding relative to any Loan Party under any Debtor Relief Law; and provided , further , that if at any time there is no Person acting as the Administrative Agent hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, then (i) the Required Lenders shall have the rights otherwise ascribed to the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 9.02 and (ii) in addition to the matters set forth in clauses (b) , (c)  and (d)  of the preceding proviso and subject to Section 2.13 , any Lender may, with the consent of the Required Lenders, enforce any rights and remedies available to it and as authorized by the Required Lenders.

 

d.                                       Expenses; Indemnity; Damage Waiver.

 

(a)                                  Costs and Expenses .  Each Loan Party shall jointly and severally pay (i) all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent and its Affiliates (including (a) the reasonable fees, charges and disbursements of counsel for the Administrative Agent; (b) fees and charges of each consultant, inspector, and engineer; (c) uniform commercial code searches; (d) judgment and tax lien searches for the Borrower and each Guarantor; (e) escrow fees; and (f) documentary taxes, in connection with the initial syndication of the credit facilities provided for herein, the preparation, negotiation, execution, delivery and administration of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents or any amendments, modifications or waivers of the provisions hereof or thereof (whether or not the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby shall be consummated), (ii)  all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent or any Lender (including the reasonable fees, charges and disbursements of any counsel for the Administrative Agent or any Lender (only if a Default shall be in existence)), in connection with the enforcement or protection of its rights (A) in connection with this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, including its rights under

 

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this Section, or (B) in connection with the Loans made hereunder, including all such out-of-pocket expenses incurred during any workout, restructuring or negotiations in respect of such Loans; provided, however that the Borrower shall not be required to pay the expenses of more than one law firm acting as counsel for the Lenders (in addition to expenses for any appropriate local or special counsel) in connection with such workout or enforcement to the extent the Lenders reasonably determine that joint representation is appropriate under the circumstances.

 

(b)                                  Indemnification .  The Parent and the Borrower shall jointly and severally indemnify the Administrative Agent (and any sub-agent thereof), each Lender, and each Related Party of any of the foregoing Persons (each such Person being called an “ Indemnitee ”) against, and hold each Indemnitee harmless from, any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities and related expenses (including the reasonable fees, charges and disbursements of any counsel for any Indemnitee), incurred by any Indemnitee or asserted against any Indemnitee by any third party or by the Borrower or any other Loan Party resulting from any action, suit, or proceeding relating to (i) the execution or delivery of this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any agreement or instrument contemplated hereby or thereby, the performance by the parties hereto of their respective obligations hereunder or thereunder, the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, or, in the case of the Administrative Agent (and any sub-agent thereof) and its Related Parties only, the administration of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents (including in respect of any matters addressed in Section 3.01 ), (ii) any Loan or the use or proposed use of the proceeds therefrom, (iii) any actual or alleged presence or release of Hazardous Materials on or from any property owned or operated by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, or any Environmental Damages related in any way to the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, or (iv) any actual or prospective claim, litigation, investigation or proceeding relating to any of the foregoing, whether based on contract, tort or any other theory, whether brought by a third party or by the Borrower or any other Loan Party, and regardless of whether any Indemnitee is a party thereto; provided that such indemnity shall not, as to any Indemnitee, be available to the extent that such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or related expenses (w) are determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by final and nonappealable judgment to have resulted from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Indemnitee or any Related Party of such Indemnitee, (x) result from a claim brought by the Borrower or any other Loan Party against an Indemnitee for breach in bad faith of such Indemnitee’s obligations hereunder or under any other Loan Document, if the Borrower or such other Loan Party has obtained a final and nonappealable judgment in its favor on such claim as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction, (y) for which an Indemnitee has been compensated pursuant to the terms of this Agreement or the Fee Letter, or (z) to the extent based upon contractual obligations of such Indemnitee owing by such Indemnitee to any third party which are not expressly set forth in this Agreement.

 

(c)                                   Reserved .

 

(d)                                  Reimbursement by the Lenders .  To the extent that the Loan Parties for any reason fail to indefeasibly pay any amount required under subsection (a)  or (b)  of this Section to be paid by the Loan Parties to the Administrative Agent (or any sub-agent

 

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thereof), or any Related Party of any of the foregoing (and without limiting their obligation to do so), each Lender severally agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent (or any such sub-agent) or such Related Party, as the case may be, such Lender’s pro rata share (determined as of the time that the applicable unreimbursed expense or indemnity payment is sought based on each Lender’s Applicable Percentage) of such unpaid amount (including any such unpaid amount in respect of a claim asserted by such Lender), such payment to be made severally among them based on such Lenders’ Applicable Percentage (determined as of the time that the applicable unreimbursed expense or indemnity payment is sought) of such unpaid amount, provided that the unreimbursed expense or indemnified loss, claim, damage, liability or related expense, as the case may be, was incurred by or asserted against the Administrative Agent (or any such sub-agent), or against any Related Party of any of the foregoing acting for the Administrative Agent (or any such sub-agent), in connection with such capacity.  The obligations of the Lenders under this subsection (c)  are subject to the provisions of Section 2.12(d) .

 

(e)                                   Waiver of Consequential Damages, Etc.   To the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law, no Loan Party shall assert, and each Loan Party hereby waives and acknowledges that no other Person shall have, any claim against any Indemnitee, on any theory of liability, for special, indirect, consequential or punitive damages (as opposed to direct or actual damages) arising out of, in connection with, or as a result of, this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any agreement or instrument contemplated hereby, the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, any Loan or the use of the proceeds thereof.  No Indemnitee referred to in subsection (b)  above shall be liable for any damages arising from the use by unintended recipients of any information or other materials distributed to such unintended recipients by such Indemnitee through telecommunications, electronic or other information transmission systems in connection with this Agreement or the other Loan Documents or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby other than for direct or actual damages resulting from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Indemnitee as determined by a final and nonappealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction.

 

(f)                                    Payments .  All amounts due under this Section shall be payable not later than ten (10) Business Days after demand therefor.

 

(g)                                   Survival .  The agreements in this Section and the indemnity provisions of Section 11.02(e)  shall survive the resignation of the Administrative Agent, the replacement of any Lender and the repayment, satisfaction or discharge of all the other Obligations.

 

e.                                        Payments Set Aside.  To the extent that any payment by or on behalf of the Borrower is made to the Administrative Agent or any Lender, or the Administrative Agent or any Lender exercises its right of setoff, and such payment or the proceeds of such setoff or any part thereof is subsequently invalidated, declared to be fraudulent or preferential, set aside or required (including pursuant to any settlement entered into by the Administrative Agent or such Lender in its discretion) to be repaid to a trustee, receiver or any other party, in connection with any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law or otherwise, then (a) to the extent of such recovery, the obligation or part thereof originally intended to be satisfied shall be revived and continued in

 

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full force and effect as if such payment had not been made or such setoff had not occurred, and (b) each Lender severally agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent upon demand its applicable share (without duplication) of any amount so recovered from or repaid by the Administrative Agent (without relieving the Borrower of its obligation to make any such payment so required), plus interest thereon from the date of such demand to the date such payment is made at a rate per annum equal to the Federal Funds Rate from time to time in effect.  The obligations of the Lenders under clause (b)  of the preceding sentence shall survive the payment in full of the Obligations and the termination of this Agreement.

 

f.                                         Successors and Assigns.

 

(a)                                  Successors and Assigns Generally .  The provisions of this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby, except that neither the Borrower nor any other Loan Party may assign or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent and each Lender and no Lender may assign or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations hereunder except (i) to an assignee in accordance with the provisions of subsection (b)  of this Section, (ii) by way of participation in accordance with the provisions of subsection (d)  of this Section, or (iii) by way of pledge or assignment of a security interest subject to the restrictions of subsection (e)  of this Section (and any other attempted assignment or transfer by any party hereto shall be null and void).  Nothing in this Agreement, expressed or implied, shall be construed to confer upon any Person (other than the parties hereto, their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby, Participants to the extent provided in subsection (d)  of this Section and, to the extent expressly contemplated hereby, the Related Parties of each of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders) any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or by reason of this Agreement.

 

(b)                                  Assignments by the Lenders .  Any Lender may, at no cost or expense to any Loan Party (except as provided in Section 11.13 ), at any time assign to one or more assignees all or a portion of its rights and obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of the Loans at the time owing to it); provided that any such assignment shall be subject to the following conditions:

 

(i)                                      Minimum Amounts .

 

i)                                          in the case of an assignment of the entire remaining amount of the assigning Lender’s Loans at the time owing to it or contemporaneous assignments to related Approved Funds that equal at least the amount specified in paragraph (b)(i)(B) of this Section in the aggregate or in the case of an assignment to a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund, no minimum amount need be assigned (but any such assignment shall be of a pro rata interest in each of the Loans; and

 

ii)                                       in any case not described in subsection (b)(i)(A)  of this Section, the principal outstanding balance of the Loans of the assigning

 

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Lender subject to each such assignment, determined as of the date the Assignment and Assumption with respect to such assignment is delivered to the Administrative Agent or, if “Trade Date” is specified in the Assignment and Assumption, as of the Trade Date, shall not be less than $5,000,000 and shall be an assignment of a pro rata interest in each of the Loans, and the amount assigned to the Eligible Assignee shall not be less than $5,000,000, unless each of the Administrative Agent and, so long as no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Borrower otherwise consents (each such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed); provided that concurrent assignments to members of an Assignee Group and concurrent assignments from members of an Assignee Group to a single Eligible Assignee (or to an Eligible Assignee and members of its Assignee Group) will be treated as a single assignment for purposes of determining whether such minimum amount has been met.

 

(ii)                                   Proportionate Amounts .  Each partial assignment shall be made as an assignment of a proportionate part of all the assigning Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement with respect to the Loans assigned;

 

(iii)                                Required Consents .  No consent shall be required for any assignment except to the extent required by subsection (b)(i)(B)  of this Section and, in addition:

 

i)                                          the consent of the Borrower (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) shall be required unless (1) an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing at the time of such assignment or (2) such assignment is to a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender, an Approved Fund or to any Federal Reserve Bank or other central bank authority or comparable agency having jurisdiction over such Lender; provided that the Borrower shall be deemed to have consented to any such assignment unless it shall object thereto by written notice to the Administrative Agent within ten (10) Business Days after having received notice thereof; and

 

ii)                                       the consent of the Administrative Agent (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) shall be required if such assignment is to a Person that is not a Lender, an Affiliate of such Lender or an Approved Fund with respect to such Lender.

 

(iv)                               Assignment and Assumption .  The parties to each assignment shall execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent an Assignment and Assumption, together with a processing and recordation fee in the amount of $3,500; provided that the Administrative Agent may, in its sole discretion, elect to waive such processing and recordation fee in the case of any assignment.  The assignee, if it is not a Lender, shall deliver to the Administrative Agent an Administrative Questionnaire.

 

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(v)                                  No Assignment to Certain Persons .  No such assignment shall be made (A) to the Parent or the Borrower or any of their Affiliates or Subsidiaries, or (B) without the consent of the Administrative Agent and the Borrower, to any Defaulting Lender or any of its Subsidiaries, or any Person who, upon becoming a Lender hereunder, would constitute any of the foregoing Persons described in this clause (B) , (C) to a natural person, or (D) without the consent of the Borrower, to any Excluded Party.

 

(vi)                               Certain Additional Payments .  In connection with any assignment of rights and obligations of any Defaulting Lender hereunder, no such assignment shall be effective unless and until, in addition to the other conditions thereto set forth herein, the parties to the assignment shall make such additional payments to the Administrative Agent in an aggregate amount sufficient, upon distribution thereof as appropriate (which may be outright payment, purchases by the assignee of participations or sub-participations, or other compensating actions, including funding, with the consent of the Borrower and the Administrative Agent, the applicable pro rata share of Loans previously requested but not funded by the Defaulting Lender, to each of which the applicable assignee and assignor hereby irrevocably consent), to (x) pay and satisfy in full all payment liabilities then owed by such Defaulting Lender to the Administrative Agent or any Lender hereunder (and interest accrued thereon) and (y) acquire (and fund as appropriate) its full pro rata share of all Loans in accordance with its Applicable Percentage.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that any assignment of rights and obligations of any Defaulting Lender hereunder shall become effective under applicable Law without compliance with the provisions of this paragraph, then the assignee of such interest shall be deemed to be a Defaulting Lender for all purposes of this Agreement until such compliance occurs.

 

Subject to acceptance and recording thereof by the Administrative Agent pursuant to subsection (c)  of this Section, from and after the effective date specified in each Assignment and Assumption, the assignee thereunder shall be a party to this Agreement and, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Assumption, have the rights and obligations of a Lender under this Agreement, and the assigning Lender thereunder shall, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Assumption, be released from its obligations under this Agreement (and, in the case of an Assignment and Assumption covering all of the assigning Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement, such Lender shall cease to be a party hereto) but shall continue to be entitled to the benefits of Sections 3.01, 3.04 , 3.05 , and 11.04 with respect to facts and circumstances occurring prior to the effective date of such assignment, provided, that except to the extent otherwise expressly agreed by the affected parties, no assignment by a Defaulting Lender will constitute a waiver or release of any claim of any party hereunder arising from that Lender’s having been a Defaulting Lender.  Upon request, the Borrower (at its expense) shall execute and deliver a Note to the assignee Lender.  Any assignment or transfer by a Lender of rights or obligations under this Agreement that does not comply with this subsection shall be treated for purposes of this Agreement as a sale by such Lender of a participation in such rights and obligations in accordance with subsection (d)  of this Section.

 

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(c)                                   Register .  The Administrative Agent, acting solely for this purpose as an a non-fiduciary agent of the Borrower (and such agency being solely for tax purposes), shall maintain at the Administrative Agent’s Office a copy of each Assignment and Assumption delivered to it (or the equivalent thereof in electronic form) and a register for the recordation of the names and addresses of the Lenders and principal amounts (and stated interest) of the Loans owing to, each Lender pursuant to the terms hereof from time to time (the “ Register ”).  The entries in the Register shall be conclusive absent manifest error, and the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders may treat each Person whose name is recorded in the Register pursuant to the terms hereof as a Lender hereunder for all purposes of this Agreement .   The Register shall be available for inspection by the Borrower and any Lender, at any reasonable time and from time to time upon reasonable prior notice.

 

(d)                                  Participations .  Any Lender may at any time, without the consent of, or notice to, the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, sell participations to any Person (other than a natural person, an Excluded Party, a Defaulting Lender or the Parent or the Borrower or any of their Affiliates or Subsidiaries) (each, a “ Participant ”) in all or a portion of such Lender’s rights and/or obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of the Loans owing to it); provided that (i) such Lender’s obligations under this Agreement shall remain unchanged, (ii) such Lender shall remain solely responsible to the other parties hereto for the performance of such obligations and (iii) the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the Lenders shall continue to deal solely and directly with such Lender in connection with such Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement.  For the avoidance of doubt, each Lender shall be responsible for the indemnity under Section 11.04(d)  without regard to the existence of any participation.

 

Any agreement or instrument pursuant to which a Lender sells such a participation shall provide that such Lender shall retain the sole right to enforce this Agreement and to approve any amendment, modification or waiver of any provision of this Agreement; provided that such agreement or instrument may provide that such Lender will not, without the consent of the Participant, agree to any amendment, waiver or other modification described in the first proviso to Section 11.01 that affects such Participant.  The Borrower agrees that each Participant shall be entitled to the benefits of Sections 3.01 , 3.04 and 3.05 to the same extent as if it were a Lender and had acquired its interest by assignment pursuant to subsection (b) of this Section (it being understood that the documentation required under Section 3.01(e)  shall be delivered to the Lender who sells the participation); provided that such Participant (A) agrees to be subject to the provisions of Section s 3.06 and 11.13 as if it were an assignee under paragraph (b) of this Section and (B) shall not be entitled to receive any greater payment under Sections 3.01 or 3.04 , with respect to any participation than the Lender from whom it acquired the applicable participation would have been entitled to receive, except to the extent such entitlement to receive a greater payment results from a Change in Law that occurs after the Participant acquired the applicable participation.  Each Lender that sells a participation agrees, at the Borrower’s request and expense, to use reasonable efforts to cooperate with the Borrower to effectuate the provisions of Section 3.06 with respect to any Participant.  To the extent permitted by law, each Participant also shall be entitled to the benefits of Section  11.08 as though it were a Lender; provided that such Participant agrees to be subject to Section 2.13 as though it were a Lender.  Each Lender that sells a participation shall, acting solely for this purpose as a nonfiduciary non-

 

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fiduciary agent of the Borrower, maintain a register on which it enters the name and address of each Participant and the principal amounts (and stated interest) of each Participant’s interest in the Loans or other obligations under the Loan Documents (the “Participant Register”); provided that no Lender shall have any obligation to disclose all or any portion of the Participant Register (including the identity of any Participant or any information relating to a Participant’s interest in any commitments, loans, letters of credit or its other obligations under any Loan Document) to any Person except to the extent that such disclosure is necessary to establish that such commitment, loan, letter of credit or other obligation is in registered form under Section 5f.103-1(c)  of the United States Treasury Regulations.  The entries in the Participant Register shall be conclusive absent manifest error, and such Lender shall treat each Person whose name is recorded in the Participant Register as the owner of such participation for all purposes of this Agreement notwithstanding any notice to the contrary.  For the avoidance of doubt, the Administrative Agent (in its capacity as the Administrative Agent) shall have no responsibility for maintaining a Participant Register.

 

(e)                                   Certain Pledges .  Any Lender may at any time pledge or assign a security interest in all or any portion of its rights under this Agreement (including under its Note, if any) to secure obligations of such Lender, including any pledge or assignment to secure obligations to a Federal Reserve Bank or other central bank authority or comparable agency having jurisdiction over such Lender ; provided that no such pledge or assignment shall release such Lender from any of its obligations hereunder or substitute any such pledgee or assignee for such Lender as a party hereto.

 

(f)                                    Reserved .

 

(g)                                   USA Patriot Act Notice; Compliance .  In order for the Administrative Agent to comply with “know your customer” and anti-money laundering rules and regulations, including without limitation, the Patriot Act, prior to any Lender that is organized under the laws of a jurisdiction outside of the United States of America becoming a party hereto, the Administrative Agent may request, and such Lender shall provide to the Administrative Agent, its name, address, tax identification number and/or such other identification information as shall be necessary for the Administrative Agent to comply with federal law.

 

g.                                        Treatment of Certain Information; Confidentiality.  Each of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders agrees to maintain the confidentiality of the Information (as defined below), except that Information may be disclosed (a) to its Affiliates and to its Related Parties (it being understood that the Persons to whom such disclosure is made will be informed of the confidential nature of such Information and instructed to keep such Information confidential), (b) to the extent required or requested by any regulatory authority purporting to have jurisdiction over such Person or its Related Parties (including any self-regulatory authority, such as the National Association of Insurance Commissioners), (c) to the extent required by applicable Laws or regulations or by any subpoena or similar legal process so long as the Administrative Agent and any Lender, as the case may be, requests confidential treatment of such Information to the extent permitted by Law (provided that the requesting Administrative Agent or Lender shall not be responsible for the failure by any such party to keep the Information confidential), (d) to any other party hereto, (e) in connection with the exercise of any remedies hereunder or under any

 

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other Loan Document or any action or proceeding relating to this Agreement or any other Loan Document or the enforcement of rights hereunder or thereunder, (f) subject to an agreement containing provisions substantially the same as those of this Section, to (i) any assignee of or Participant in, or any prospective assignee of or Participant in, any of its rights and obligations under this Agreement or any Eligible Assignee invited to be a Lender pursuant to Section 3.06(c), Section 11.13 or (ii) any actual or prospective party (or its Related Parties) to any swap, derivative or other transaction under which payments are to be made by reference to the Borrower and its obligations, this Agreement or payments hereunder, (g) on a confidential basis to (i)  any rating agency in connection with rating the Borrower or its Subsidiaries or the credit facilities provided hereunder or (ii) the CUSIP Service Bureau or any similar agency in connection with the issuance and monitoring of CUSIP numbers or other market identifiers with respect to the credit facilities provided hereunder, (h) with the consent of the Borrower or (i) to the extent such Information (x) becomes publicly available other than as a result of a breach of this Section or (y) becomes available to the Administrative Agent, any Lender or any of their respective Affiliates on a non-confidential basis from a source other than the Borrower provided that the source of such information was not at the time known to be bound by a confidentiality agreement or other legal or contractual obligation of confidentiality with respect to such Information.  For purposes of this Section, “Information” means all information received from the Borrower or any Subsidiary relating to the Borrower or any Subsidiary or any of their respective businesses, other than any such information that is available to the Administrative Agent or any Lender on a non-confidential basis prior to disclosure by the Borrower or any Subsidiary, provided that, in the case of information received from the Borrower or any Subsidiary after the date hereof, such information is clearly identified at the time of delivery as confidential.  Any Person required to maintain the confidentiality of Information as provided in this Section shall be considered to have complied with its obligation to do so if such Person has exercised the same degree of care to maintain the confidentiality of such Information as such Person would accord to its own confidential information.

 

Each of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders acknowledges that (a) the Information may include material non-public information concerning the Borrower or a Subsidiary, as the case may be, (b) it has developed compliance procedures regarding the use of material non-public information and (c) it will handle such material non-public information in accordance with applicable Law, including United States Federal and state securities Laws.

 

h.                                       Right of Setoff .  If an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing and the Administrative Agent and the Required Lenders shall have consented in writing thereto, each Lender and each of their respective Affiliates (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any Specified Derivatives Providers) is hereby authorized at any time and from time to time, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, to set off and apply any and all deposits (general or special, time or demand, provisional or final, in whatever currency) at any time held and other obligations (in whatever currency) at any time owing by such Lender or any such Affiliate to or for the credit or the account of the Borrower or any other Loan Party against any and all of the obligations of the Borrower or such Loan Party now or hereafter existing under this Agreement or any other Loan Document to such Lender or their respective Affiliates, irrespective of whether or not such Lender or Affiliate shall have made any demand under this Agreement or any other Loan Document and although such obligations of the Borrower or such Loan Party may be contingent or unmatured or are owed to a branch, office or Affiliate of such Lender different from the branch,

 

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office or Affiliate holding such deposit or obligated on such indebtedness; provided, that in the event that any Defaulting Lender shall exercise any such right of setoff, (x) all amounts so set off shall be paid over immediately to the Administrative Agent for further application in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.17 and, pending such payment, shall be segregated by such Defaulting Lender from its other funds and deemed held in trust for the benefit of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders, and (y) the Defaulting Lender shall provide promptly to the Administrative Agent a statement describing in reasonable detail the Obligations owing to such Defaulting Lender as to which it exercised such right of setoff. The rights of each Lender and their respective Affiliates under this Section are in addition to other rights and remedies (including other rights of setoff) that such Lender or their respective Affiliates may have. Each Lender agrees to notify the Borrower and the Administrative Agent promptly after any such setoff and application, provided that the failure to give such notice shall not affect the validity of such setoff and application.

 

i.              Interest Rate Limitation.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in any Loan Document, the interest paid or agreed to be paid under the Loan Documents shall not exceed the maximum rate of non-usurious interest permitted by applicable Law (the “ Maximum Rate ”).  If the Administrative Agent or any Lender shall receive interest in an amount that exceeds the Maximum Rate, the excess interest shall be applied to the principal of the Loans or, if it exceeds such unpaid principal, refunded to the Borrower.  In determining whether the interest contracted for, charged, or received by the Administrative Agent or a Lender exceeds the Maximum Rate, such Person may, to the extent permitted by applicable Law, (a) characterize any payment that is not principal as an expense, fee, or premium rather than interest, (b) exclude voluntary prepayments and the effects thereof, and (c) amortize, prorate, allocate, and spread in equal or unequal parts the total amount of interest throughout the contemplated term of the Obligations hereunder.

 

j.              Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness.  This Agreement may be executed in counterparts (and by different parties hereto in different counterparts), each of which shall constitute an original, but all of which when taken together shall constitute a single contract.  This Agreement and the other Loan Documents , and any separate letter agreements with respect to fees payable to the Administrative Agent constitute the entire contract among the parties relating to the subject matter hereof and supersede any and all previous agreements and understandings, oral or written, relating to the subject matter hereof.  Except as provided in Section 5.01 , this Agreement shall become effective when it shall have been executed by the Administrative Agent and when the Administrative Agent shall have received counterparts hereof that, when taken together, bear the signatures of each of the other parties hereto.  Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page of this Agreement by telecopy, by email with a pdf copy attached, or other electronic imaging means shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Agreement.

 

k.             Survival of Representations and Warranties.  All representations and warranties made hereunder and in any other Loan Document or other document delivered pursuant hereto or thereto or in connection herewith or therewith shall survive the execution and delivery hereof and thereof.  Such representations and warranties have been or will be relied upon by the Administrative Agent and each Lender, regardless of any investigation made by the Administrative Agent or any Lender or on their behalf and notwithstanding that the

 

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Administrative Agent or any Lender may have had notice or knowledge of any Default at the time of any Credit Extension, and shall continue in full force and effect as long as any Loan or any other Obligation hereunder shall remain unpaid or unsatisfied.

 

l.              Severability.  If any provision of this Agreement or the other Loan Documents is held to be illegal, invalid or unenforceable, (a) the legality, validity and enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents shall not be affected or impaired thereby and (b) the parties shall endeavor in good faith negotiations to replace the illegal, invalid or unenforceable provisions with valid provisions the economic effect of which comes as close as possible to that of the illegal, invalid or unenforceable provisions.  The invalidity of a provision in a particular jurisdiction shall not invalidate or render unenforceable such provision in any other jurisdiction.  Without limiting the foregoing provisions of this Section 11.12 , if and to the extent that the enforceability of any provisions in this Agreement relating to Defaulting Lenders shall be limited by Debtor Relief Laws, as determined in good faith by the Administrative Agent then such provisions shall be deemed to be in effect only to the extent not so limited.

 

m.           Replacement of the Lenders.  If the Borrower is entitled to replace a Lender pursuant to the provisions of Section 3.06 , or if any Lender is a Defaulting Lender or if any other circumstance exists hereunder that gives the Borrower the right to replace a Lender as a party hereto, then the Borrower may, at its sole expense and effort, upon notice to such Lender and the Administrative Agent, require such Lender to assign and delegate, without recourse (in accordance with and subject to the restrictions contained in, and consents required by, Section 11.06 ), all of its interests, rights (other than its existing rights to payments pursuant to Sections 3.01, 3.04 and 3.05 ) and obligations under this Agreement and the related Loan Documents to an Eligible Assignee that shall assume such obligations (which assignee may be another Lender, if a Lender accepts such assignment), provided that:

 

(a)           the Borrower shall have paid to the Administrative Agent the assignment fee (if any) specified in Section 11.06(b) ;

 

(b)           such Lender shall have received payment of an amount equal to the outstanding principal of its Loans, accrued interest thereon, accrued fees and all other amounts payable to it hereunder and under the other Loan Documents (including any amounts under Section 3.05 ) from the assignee (to the extent of such outstanding principal and accrued interest and fees) or the Borrower (in the case of all other amounts);

 

(c)           in the case of any such assignment resulting from a claim for compensation under Section 3.04 or payments required to be made pursuant to Section 3.01 , such assignment will result in a reduction in such compensation or payments thereafter; and

 

(d)           such assignment does not conflict with applicable Laws.

 

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(e)           A Lender shall not be required to make any such assignment or delegation if, prior thereto, as a result of a waiver by such Lender or otherwise, the circumstances entitling the Borrower to require such assignment and delegation cease to apply.

 

n.             Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Etc.

 

(a)           GOVERNING LAW .  THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS AND ANY CLAIMS, CONTROVERSY, DISPUTE OR CAUSE OF ACTION (WHETHER IN CONTRACT OR TORT OR OTHERWISE) BASED UPON, ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT (EXCEPT, AS TO ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT, AS EXPRESSLY SET FORTH THEREIN) AND THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY AND THEREBY SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

 

(b)           SUBMISSION TO JURISDICTION .  THE BORROWER AND EACH OTHER LOAN PARTY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY AGREES THAT IT WILL NOT COMMENCE ANY ACTION, LITIGATION OR PROCEEDING OF ANY KIND OR DESCRIPTION, WHETHER IN LAW OR EQUITY, WHETHER IN CONTRACT OR IN TORT OR OTHERWISE, AGAINST THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT, ANY LENDER OR ANY RELATED PARTY OF THE FOREGOING IN ANY WAY RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS RELATING HERETO OR THERETO, IN ANY FORUM OTHER THAN THE COURTS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK COUNTY AND OF THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT OF THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK, AND ANY APPELLATE COURT FROM ANY THEREOF, AND EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY SUBMITS TO THE JURISDICTION OF SUCH COURTS AND AGREES THAT ALL CLAIMS IN RESPECT OF ANY SUCH ACTION, LITIGATION OR PROCEEDING MAY BE HEARD AND DETERMINED IN SUCH NEW YORK STATE COURT OR, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, IN SUCH FEDERAL COURT.  EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO AGREES THAT A FINAL JUDGMENT IN ANY SUCH ACTION, LITIGATION OR PROCEEDING SHALL BE CONCLUSIVE AND MAY BE ENFORCED IN OTHER JURISDICTIONS BY SUIT ON THE JUDGMENT OR IN ANY OTHER MANNER PROVIDED BY LAW.  NOTHING IN THIS AGREEMENT OR IN ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT SHALL AFFECT ANY RIGHT THAT THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT OR ANY LENDER MAY OTHERWISE HAVE TO BRING ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT AGAINST THE BORROWER OR ANY OTHER LOAN PARTY OR ITS PROPERTIES IN THE COURTS OF ANY JURISDICTION.

 

(c)           WAIVER OF VENUE .  EACH OF THE PARENT, THE BORROWER AND EACH OTHER LOAN PARTY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY OBJECTION THAT IT MAY NOW OR HEREAFTER HAVE TO THE LAYING OF VENUE OF ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING

 

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TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT IN ANY COURT REFERRED TO IN PARAGRAPH (b) OF THIS SECTION.  EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, THE DEFENSE OF AN INCONVENIENT FORUM TO THE MAINTENANCE OF SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING IN ANY SUCH COURT.

 

(d)           SERVICE OF PROCESS .  EACH PARTY HERETO IRREVOCABLY CONSENTS TO SERVICE OF PROCESS IN THE MANNER PROVIDED FOR NOTICES IN SECTION 11.02 PROVIDED THAT, IN THE CASE OF SERVICE ON ANY LOAN PARTY A COPY IS ALSO DELIVERED TO JEFFREY SULLIVAN, GENERAL COUNSEL FOR PARENT AND BORROWER.  NOTHING IN THIS AGREEMENT WILL AFFECT THE RIGHT OF ANY PARTY HERETO TO SERVE PROCESS IN ANY OTHER MANNER PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW.

 

(e)           WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL .  EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR THEREBY (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT OR ANY OTHER THEORY).  EACH PARTY HERETO (A) CERTIFIES THAT NO REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF ANY OTHER PERSON HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PERSON WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER AND (B) ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT AND THE OTHER PARTIES HERETO HAVE BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION.

 

o.             No Advisory or Fiduciary Responsibility.  In connection with all aspects of each transaction contemplated hereby (including in connection with any amendment, waiver or other modification hereof or of any other Loan Document), the Parent, the Borrower, and each other Loan Party acknowledges and agrees, and acknowledges its Affiliates’ understanding, that: (i)(A) the arranging and other services regarding this Agreement provided by the Administrative Agent and the Lead Arranger are arm’s-length commercial transactions between the Parent, the Borrower, each other Loan Party and their respective Affiliates, on the one hand, and the Administrative Agent and the Lead Arranger, on the other hand, (B) each of the Parent, the Borrower, and the other Loan Parties has consulted its own legal, accounting, regulatory and tax advisors to the extent it has deemed appropriate, and (C) the Borrower and each other Loan Party is capable of evaluating, and understands and accepts, the terms, risks and conditions of the transactions contemplated hereby and by the other Loan Documents; (ii)(A) each of the Administrative Agent, the Lead Arranger and the Lenders is and has been acting solely as a principal and, except as expressly agreed in writing by the relevant parties, has not been, is not, and will not be acting as an advisor, agent or fiduciary for the Parent, the Borrower, any other Loan Party, or any of their respective Affiliates, or any other Person and (B) the Administrative Agent, the Lead Arranger and the Lender have no obligation to the Parent, the Borrower, any

 

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other Loan Party, or any of their respective Affiliates with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby except those obligations expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents; and (iii) the Administrative Agent, the Lead Arranger and the Lenders and their respective Affiliates may be engaged in a broad range of transactions that involve interests that differ from those of the Parent, the Borrower, the other Loan Parties, and their respective Affiliates, and the Administrative Agent, the Lead Arranger and the Lenders have no obligation to disclose any of such interests to the Parent, the Borrower, any other Loan Party, or any of their respective Affiliates.  To the fullest extent permitted by Law, each of the Parent, the Borrower, and the other Loan Parties hereby waives and releases any claims that it may have against the Administrative Agent and the Lead Arranger with respect to any breach or alleged breach of agency or fiduciary duty in connection with any aspect of any transaction contemplated hereby.

 

p.             Electronic Execution of Assignments and Certain Other Documents.  The words “execution,” “signed,” “signature,” and words of like import in any Assignment and Assumption or in any amendment or other modification hereof (including waivers and consents) shall be deemed to include electronic signatures , the electronic matching or assignment terms and contract formations on electronic platforms approved by the Administrative Agent or the keeping of records in electronic form, each of which shall be of the same legal effect, validity or enforceability as a manually executed signature or the use of a paper-based recordkeeping system, as the case may be, to the extent and as provided for in any applicable Law, including the Federal Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act, the New York State Electronic Signatures and Records Act, or any other similar state laws based on the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act.

 

q.             USA PATRIOT ACT.  Each Lender that is subject to the Patriot Act (as hereinafter defined) and the Administrative Agent (for itself and not on behalf of any Lender) hereby notifies the Borrower that pursuant to the requirements of The Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001 (Title III of Pub. L. No. 107-56 (signed into law October 26, 2001)) (the “ Patriot Act ”), it is required to obtain, verify and record certain information that identifies individuals or business entities which open an “account” with such financial institution, which information includes the name, address, and tax identification number of the Borrower and such other identification information that will allow such Lender or the Administrative Agent, as applicable, to identify the Borrower in accordance with the Patriot Act and comply with federal law.  An “account” for this purpose may include, without limitation, a deposit account, cash management service, a transaction or asset account, a credit account, a loan or other extension of credit, and/or other financial services product. the Borrower shall, promptly following a request by the Administrative Agent or any Lender, provide all documentation and other information that the Administrative Agent or such Lender requests in order to comply with its ongoing obligations under applicable “know your customer” and anti-money laundering rules and regulations, including the Patriot Act.

 

r.              ENTIRE AGREEMENT.  THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS REPRESENT THE FINAL AGREEMENT AMONG THE PARTIES AND MAY NOT BE CONTRADICTED BY EVIDENCE OF PRIOR, CONTEMPORANEOUS, OR SUBSEQUENT ORAL AGREEMENTS OF THE PARTIES.  THERE ARE NO UNWRITTEN ORAL AGREEMENTS AMONG THE PARTIES.

 

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s.             Acknowledgment and Consent to Bail-In of EEA Financial Institutions.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in any Loan Document or in any other agreement, arrangement or understanding among any such parties, each party hereto acknowledges that any liability of any EEA Financial Institution arising under any Loan Document may be subject to the Write-Down and Conversion Powers of an EEA Resolution Authority and agrees and consents to, and acknowledges and agrees to be bound by:

 

(a)           the application of any Write-Down and Conversion Powers by an EEA Resolution Authority to any such liabilities arising hereunder which may be payable to it by any party hereto that is an EEA Financial Institution; and

 

(b)           the effects of any Bail-In Action on any such liability, including, if applicable:

 

(i)            a reduction in full or in part or cancellation of any such liability;

 

(ii)           a conversion of all, or a portion of, such liability into shares or other instruments of ownership in such EEA Financial Institution, its parent entity, or a bridge institution that may be issued to it or otherwise conferred on it, and that such shares or other instruments of ownership will be accepted by it in lieu of any rights with respect to any such liability under this Agreement or any other Loan Document; or

 

(iii)          the variation of the terms of such liability in connection with the exercise of the Write-Down and Conversion Powers of any EEA Resolution Authority.

 

18.20                  Certain ERISA Matters.

 

(a)                                  Each Lender (x) represents and warrants, as of the date such Person became a Lender party hereto, to, and (y) covenants, from the date such Person became a Lender party hereto to the date such Person ceases being a Lender party hereto, for the benefit of, the Administrative Agent, each Lead Arranger and their respective Affiliates, and not, for the avoidance of doubt, to or for the benefit of the Borrower or any other Loan Party, that at least one of the following is and will be true:

 

(i)                                      such Lender is not using “plan assets” (within the meaning of 29 CFR § 2510.3-101, as modified by Section 3(42) of ERISA) of one or more Benefit Plans in connection with the Loans or the Commitments;

 

(ii)                                   the transaction exemption set forth in one or more PTEs, such as PTE 84-14 (a class exemption for certain transactions determined by independent qualified professional asset managers), PTE 95-60 (a class exemption for certain transactions involving insurance company general accounts), PTE 90-1 (a class exemption for certain transactions involving insurance company pooled separate accounts), PTE 91-38 (a class exemption for certain transactions involving bank collective investment funds) or PTE 96-23 (a class exemption for certain transactions determined by in-house asset managers), is applicable with respect to

 

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such Lender’s entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Commitments and this Agreement;

 

(iii)                                (A) such Lender is an investment fund managed by a “Qualified Professional Asset Manager” (within the meaning of Part VI of PTE 84-14), (B) such Qualified Professional Asset Manager made the investment decision on behalf of such Lender to enter into, participate in, administer and perform the Loans, the Commitments and this Agreement, (C) the entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Commitments and this Agreement satisfies the requirements of sub-sections (b) through (g) of Part I of PTE 84-14 and (D) to the best knowledge of such Lender, the requirements of subsection (a) of Part I of PTE 84-14 are satisfied with respect to such Lender’s entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Commitments and this Agreement; or

 

(iv)                               such other representation, warranty and covenant as may be agreed in writing between the Administrative Agent, in its sole discretion, and such Lender.

 

(b)                                  In addition, unless sub-clause (i) in the immediately preceding clause (a) is true with respect to a Lender or such Lender has not provided another representation, warranty and covenant as provided in sub-clause (iv) in the immediately preceding clause (a), such Lender further (x) represents and warrants, as of the date such Person became a Lender party hereto, to, and (y) covenants, from the date such Person became a Lender party hereto to the date such Person ceases being a Lender party hereto, for the benefit of, the Administrative Agent, each Lead Arranger and their respective Affiliates, and not, for the avoidance of doubt, to or for the benefit of the Borrower or any other Credit Party, that:

 

(i)                                      none of the Administrative Agent, any Lead Arranger nor any of their respective Affiliates is a fiduciary with respect to the assets of such Lender (including in connection with the reservation or exercise of any rights by the Administrative Agent under this Agreement, any Loan Document or any documents related to hereto or thereto);

 

(ii)                                   the Person making the investment decision on behalf of such Lender with respect to the entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Commitments and this Agreement is independent (within the meaning of 29 CFR § 2510.3-21) and is a bank, an insurance carrier, an investment adviser, a broker-dealer or other person that holds, or has under management or control, total assets of at least $50 million, in each case as described in 29 CFR § 2510.3-21(c)(1)(i)(A)-(E),

 

(iii)                                the Person making the investment decision on behalf of such Lender with respect to the entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Commitments and this Agreement is capable of evaluating investment risks independently, both in general and with regard to

 

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particular transactions and investment strategies (including in respect of the Secured Obligations);

 

(iv)                               the Person making the investment decision on behalf of such Lender with respect to the entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Commitments and this Agreement is a fiduciary under ERISA or the Code, or both, with respect to the Loans, the Commitments and this Agreement and is responsible for exercising independent judgment in evaluating the transactions hereunder, and

 

(v)                                  no fee or other compensation is being paid directly to the Administrative Agent, each Lead Arranger or their respective Affiliates for investment advice (as opposed to other services) in connection with the Loans, the Commitments or this Agreement.

 

(c)            The Administrative Agent and each Lead Arranger hereby informs the Lenders that each such Person is not undertaking to provide impartial investment advice, or to give advice in a fiduciary capacity, in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby, and that such Person has a financial interest in the transactions contemplated hereby in that such Person or an Affiliate thereof (i) may receive interest or other payments with respect to the Loans, the Commitments and this Agreement, (ii) may recognize a gain if it extended the Loans or the Commitments for an amount less than the amount being paid for an interest in the Loans or the Commitments by such Lender or (iii) may receive fees or other payments in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby, the Loan Documents or otherwise, including structuring fees, commitment fees, arrangement fees, facility fees, upfront fees, underwriting fees, ticking fees, agency fees, administrative agent or collateral agent fees, utilization fees, minimum usage fees, letter of credit fees, fronting fees, deal-away or alternate transaction fees, amendment fees, processing fees, term out premiums, banker’s acceptance fees, breakage or other early termination fees or fees similar to the foregoing.

 

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EXHIBIT B

 

AMENDED LOAN AGREEMENT (CLEAN)

 

[Attached]

 



 

EXHIBIT B to Second Amendment to Amended and Restated Term Loan Agreement

 

 

 

Published CUSIP Number: 85253UAA6

 

AMENDED AND RESTATED TERM LOAN AGREEMENT

Dated as of December 20, 2016

 

among

 

STAG INDUSTRIAL OPERATING PARTNERSHIP, L.P. ,
as the Borrower,

 

STAG INDUSTRIAL, INC. ,
as a Guarantor,

 

WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION ,
as the Administrative Agent

 

and

 

The Other Lenders Party Hereto

 

WELLS FARGO SECURITIES, LLC ,
as the Lead Arranger and Bookrunner

 

and

 

TD BANK, N.A. ,

as Syndication Agent,

 

and

 

CAPITAL ONE, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

 

and

 

REGIONS BANK ,

as Co-Documentation Agents

 

and

 

THE FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS NOW OR HEREAFTER SIGNATORIES HERETO AND THEIR ASSIGNEES PURSUANT TO SECTION 11.06 ,
as Lenders

 

WFB LOAN NO. 1008988-1

 

 

 

 



 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

Section

 

Page

 

 

 

Article I. Definitions and Accounting Terms

1

1.01

Defined Terms

1

1.02

Other Interpretive Provisions

33

1.03

Accounting Terms

34

1.04

Rounding

35

1.05

Times of Day

35

1.06

Amendment and Restatement of the Existing Term Loan Agreement

35

1.07

Rates

36

Article II. The Committed Loans and Credit Extensions

36

2.01

Committed Loans

36

2.02

Borrowings, Conversions and Continuations of Committed Loans

36

2.03

Reserved

38

2.04

Reserved

38

2.05

Prepayments

38

2.06

Incremental Term Loans

38

2.07

Repayment of Loans

40

2.08

Interest

40

2.09

Fees

41

2.10

Computation of Interest and Fees; Retroactive Adjustments of Applicable Rate

41

2.11

Evidence of Debt

41

2.12

Payments Generally; The Administrative Agent’s Clawback

42

2.13

Sharing of Payments by the Lenders

44

2.14

Reserved

45

2.15

Reserved

45

2.16

Defaulting Lenders

45

2.17

Guaranties

46

Article III. Taxes, Yield Protection and Illegality

47

3.01

Taxes

47

3.02

Illegality

52

3.03

Inability to Determine Rates

53

3.04

Increased Costs; Reserves on LIBOR Loans

55

3.05

Compensation for Losses

56

3.06

Mitigation Obligations; Replacement of the Lenders

57

3.07

Survival

57

Article IV. Unencumbered Properties

57

4.01

Initial Unencumbered Properties

57

4.02

Reserved

57

4.03

Notices of Qualification as an Unencumbered Property

57

4.04

Eligibility

57

4.05

Reserved

58

4.06

Guaranty

58

4.07

Admission of New Unencumbered Properties

58

4.08

Reserved

58

 



 

4.09

Reserved

58

4.10

Exclusion Events

58

4.11

Reserved

58

Article V. Conditions Precedent to Credit Extensions

59

5.01

Conditions of Initial Credit Extension

59

5.02

Conditions to all Credit Extensions

61

Article VI. Representations and Warranties

62

6.01

Existence, Qualification and Power; Compliance with Laws

62

6.02

Authorization; No Contravention

62

6.03

Governmental Authorization; Other Consents

63

6.04

Binding Effect

63

6.05

Financial Statements; No Material Adverse Effect

63

6.06

Litigation

63

6.07

No Default

64

6.08

Ownership of Property; Liens; Equity Interests

64

6.09

Environmental Compliance

64

6.10

Insurance

65

6.11

Taxes

65

6.12

ERISA Compliance

65

6.13

Subsidiaries; Equity Interests

66

6.14

Margin Regulations; Investment Company Act

66

6.15

Disclosure

67

6.16

Compliance with Laws

67

6.17

Taxpayer Identification Number

67

6.18

Intellectual Property; Licenses, Etc.

67

6.19

Reserved

68

6.20

Solvency

68

6.21

REIT Status of the Parent

68

6.22

Labor Matters

68

6.23

Ground Lease Representation

68

6.24

Unencumbered Properties

69

6.25

OFAC

69

6.26

EEA Financial Institutions

70

Article VII. Affirmative Covenants

70

7.01

Financial Statements

70

7.02

Certificates; Other Information

71

7.03

Notices

72

7.04

Payment of Obligations

73

7.05

Preservation of Existence, Etc.

74

7.06

Maintenance of Properties

74

7.07

Maintenance of Insurance

74

7.08

Compliance with Laws

74

7.09

Books and Records

75

7.10

Inspection Rights

75

7.11

Use of Proceeds

75

7.12

Environmental Matters

75

 

ii



 

7.13

Ground Leases

77

7.14

Unencumbered Properties

78

Article VIII. Negative Covenants

79

8.01

Liens

79

8.02

Indebtedness

80

8.03

Investments

81

8.04

Fundamental Changes

82

8.05

Dispositions

83

8.06

Restricted Payments

83

8.07

Change in Nature of Business

83

8.08

Transactions with Affiliates

83

8.09

Burdensome Agreements

83

8.10

Use of Proceeds

84

8.11

Unencumbered Properties; Ground Leases

84

8.12

Environmental Matters

85

8.13

Negative Pledge; Indebtedness

85

8.14

Financial Covenants

86

Article IX. Events of Default and Remedies

87

9.01

Events of Default

87

9.02

Remedies Upon Event of Default

90

9.03

Application of Funds

90

Article X. The Administrative Agent

91

10.01

Appointment and Authority

91

10.02

Rights as a Lender

91

10.03

Exculpatory Provisions

91

10.04

Reliance by the Administrative Agent

92

10.05

Delegation of Duties

93

10.06

Resignation of the Administrative Agent

93

10.07

Non-Reliance on the Administrative Agent and Other Lenders

94

10.08

No Other Duties, Etc.

94

10.09

The Administrative Agent May File Proofs of Claim

94

10.10

Guaranty Matters

95

Article XI. Miscellaneous

95

11.01

Amendments, Etc.

95

11.02

Notices; Effectiveness; Electronic Communication

96

11.03

No Waiver; Cumulative Remedies; Enforcement

99

11.04

Expenses; Indemnity; Damage Waiver

99

11.05

Payments Set Aside

102

11.06

Successors and Assigns

102

11.07

Treatment of Certain Information; Confidentiality

106

11.08

Right of Setoff

107

11.09

Interest Rate Limitation

108

11.10

Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness

108

11.11

Survival of Representations and Warranties

109

11.12

Severability

109

11.13

Replacement of the Lenders

109

 

iii



 

11.14

Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Etc.

110

11.15

No Advisory or Fiduciary Responsibility

111

11.16

Electronic Execution of Assignments and Certain Other Documents

112

11.17

USA PATRIOT ACT

112

11.18

ENTIRE AGREEMENT

113

11.19

Acknowledgment and Consent to Bail-In of EEA Financial Institutions

113

11.20

Certain ERISA Matters

113

 

SCHEDULES

 

2.01                         Committed Loans and Applicable Percentages
4.01                         Initial Unencumbered Properties
6.06                         Litigation
6.09                         Environmental Matters
6.13                         Subsidiaries and Other Equity Investments and Equity Interests in the Borrower and Each Subsidiary Guarantor
6.18                         Intellectual Property Matters
8.01                         Existing Liens
8.13                         Indebtedness
11.02                  The Administrative Agent’s Office; Certain Addresses for Notices
RO                               Responsible Officers

 

EXHIBITS

 

Form of

 

A                                        Committed Loan Notice
B                                        Form of Note
C                                        Compliance Certificate
D-1                             Assignment and Assumption
D-2                             Administrative Questionnaire
E                                         Form of Disbursement Instruction Agreement
F-1                               Form of Parent Guaranty
F-2                               Form of Subsidiary Guaranty
G                                        Reserved
H-1                            U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate
H-2                            U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate
H-3                            U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate
H-4                            U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate

 

iv



 

AMENDED AND RESTATED TERM LOAN AGREEMENT

 

This AMENDED AND RESTATED TERM LOAN AGREEMENT (the “ Agreement ”) is entered into as of December 20, 2016, among STAG INDUSTRIAL OPERATING PARTNERSHIP, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (the “ Borrower ”), STAG INDUSTRIAL, INC., a Maryland corporation and the sole member of the sole general partner of the Borrower (the “ Parent ”), each lender from time to time party hereto (collectively, the “ Lenders ” and individually, a “ Lender ”), and WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as the Administrative Agent.

 

The Borrower has requested that the Lenders provide a term credit facility, and the Lenders are willing to do so on the terms and conditions set forth herein.

 

The Borrower, the Lenders party thereto, and the Administrative Agent are currently party to that certain Term Loan Agreement, dated as of December 18, 2014, as amended or otherwise modified prior to the date hereof, among the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and a syndicate of Lenders (the “ Existing Term Loan Agreement ”).

 

The Borrower, the Lenders and the Administrative Agent have agreed to enter into this Agreement in order to (i) amend and restate the Existing Term Loan Agreement in its entirety; (ii) re-evidence the “Obligations” under, and as defined in, the Existing Term Loan Agreement, which shall be repayable in accordance with the terms of this Agreement; and (iii) set forth the terms and conditions under which the Lenders will, from time to time, make loans to or for the benefit of the Borrower.

 

The parties hereto intend that this Agreement not constitute a novation of the obligations and liabilities, if any, of the parties under the Existing Term Loan Agreement or be deemed to evidence or constitute full repayment of such obligations and liabilities, if any, but that this Agreement amend and restate in its entirety the Existing Term Loan Agreement and re-evidence the obligations and liabilities, if any, of the Borrower outstanding thereunder, which shall be payable in accordance with the terms hereof.

 

The Borrower confirms that all obligations under the applicable “Loan Documents” (as referred to and defined in the Existing Term Loan Agreement) shall continue in full force and effect as modified or restated by the Loan Documents (as referred to and defined herein) and that, from and after the Closing Date, all references to the “Agreement” contained in any such existing “Loan Documents” shall be deemed to refer to this Agreement.

 

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

 

19.                               
Definitions and Accounting Terms

 

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

 

1



 

Acceptable Ground Lease ” means a ground lease with respect to an Acceptable Property executed by a Subsidiary Guarantor, as lessee, that (a) has a remaining lease term (including extension or renewal rights) of at least twenty-five (25) years, calculated as of the date such Acceptable Property is deemed an Unencumbered Property, and that the Administrative Agent determines, in its sole discretion, is a financeable ground lease and is otherwise acceptable or (b) has a bargain purchase option (as defined in accordance with GAAP).

 

Acceptable Property ” means a Property (a) that is approved by the Administrative Agent and the Required Lenders, or (b) that meets the following requirements:

 

(i)                                      such Property is wholly-owned by, or ground leased pursuant to an Acceptable Ground Lease to, the Borrower or a Subsidiary Guarantor free and clear of any Liens (other than Liens permitted by Section 8.01 );

 

(ii)                                   such Property is an industrial, manufacturing, warehouse/distribution and/or office property located within the United States;

 

(iii)                                if such Property is owned by a Subsidiary Guarantor, or is ground leased pursuant to an Acceptable Ground Lease to a Subsidiary Guarantor, then the Equity Interests of such Subsidiary Guarantor are owned, directly or indirectly by the Borrower, free and clear of any Liens other than Liens permitted by Section 8.01 ; and

 

(iv)                               such Property is free of all structural defects or major architectural deficiencies, title defects, environmental conditions or other adverse matters except for defects, deficiencies, conditions or other matters which, individually or collectively, are not material to the profitable operation of such Property.

 

Additional Permitted Indebtedness ” means unsecured Indebtedness permitted to be incurred pursuant to Section 8.02(f) .

 

Additional Term Loans ” has the meaning specified in Section 2.06(b)(i) .

 

Adjusted NOI ” means, with respect to any Property for the Current Reporting Quarter, annualized, an amount equal to (a) the aggregate gross revenues (excluding non-cash revenues) from the operations of such Property during such period, minus (b) the sum of (i) all expenses and other proper charges incurred in connection with the operation of such Property during such period (including real estate taxes, but excluding any property and asset management fees, debt service charges, income taxes, depreciation, amortization and other non-cash expenses and excluding capital expenditures), (ii) a management fee equal to the greater of (A) two percent (2%) of the aggregate gross base rental revenues (excluding non-cash revenues) from the operations of such Property during such period and (B) actual property management fees paid, and (iii) a replacement reserve of $0.10 per square foot (excluding any Property acquired during the Current Reporting Quarter).  Adjusted NOI shall exclude the amount of any revenues and expenses from any Dark Property.  Adjusted NOI shall be increased, without duplication, by (i) annualized rental revenues (excluding non-cash revenues), net of associated expenses, from any new lease which went into effect with the tenant taking occupancy (or any lease with respect to any Property acquired during the Current Reporting Quarter) and the Borrower is recognizing revenue from such tenant in accordance with GAAP during such Current Reporting Quarter, and

 

2



 

(ii) annualized gross base rental revenues (excluding non-cash revenues) for the first monthly gross base rental payment for any lease in a free rent period and the Borrower is recognizing revenue from the applicable tenant in accordance with GAAP during such Current Reporting Quarter.

 

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

 

Administrative Agent’s Office ” means the Administrative Agent’s address and, as appropriate, account as set forth on Schedule 11.02 , or such other address or account as the Administrative Agent may from time to time notify the Borrower and the Lenders.

 

Administrative Questionnaire ” means an Administrative Questionnaire in substantially the form of Exhibit D-2 or any other form approved by the Administrative Agent.

 

Affiliate ” means, with respect to any 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; provided in no event shall Agent or any Lender be deemed to be an Affiliate of the Borrower.

 

Agreement ” means this Amended and Restated Term Loan Agreement.

 

Anti-Corruption Laws ” means all laws, rules, and regulations of any jurisdiction applicable to the Borrower or its Subsidiaries from time to time concerning or relating to bribery, corruption or money laundering.

 

Applicable Percentage ” means, with respect to any Lender at any time, the percentage (carried out to the ninth decimal place) of the Total Outstandings represented by such Lender’s Loans at such time.  The initial Applicable Percentage of each Lender is set forth opposite the name of such Lender on Schedule 2.01 or in the Assignment and Assumption pursuant to which such Lender becomes a party hereto, as applicable.

 

Applicable Rate ” means the following:

 

A. Unless and until the Rating Conditions have been satisfied, with respect to any Loan, the following percentages per annum determined according to the Consolidated Leverage Ratio as set forth in the most recent Compliance Certificate received by the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 7.02(a) :

 

3



 

Leveraged-Based Pricing Grid :

 

Applicable Rate

 

Pricing
Level

 

Consolidated
Leverage Ratio

 

Base Rate
Applicable
Margin

 

LIBOR
Loan
Applicable
Margin

 

1

 

< 40%

 

0.30

%

1.30

%

2

 

> 40% but < 45%

 

 

0.35

%

1.35

%

3

 

> 45% but < 50%

 

0.45

%

1.45

%

4

 

> 50% but < 55%

 

0.60

%

1.60

%

5

 

> 55%

 

0.90

%

1.90

%

 

Any increase or decrease in the Applicable Rate resulting from a change in the Consolidated Leverage Ratio shall become effective as of the first (1 st ) Business Day immediately following the date a Compliance Certificate is delivered pursuant to Section 7.02(a)  provided 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 5 shall apply as of the first (1 st ) Business Day after the date on which such Compliance Certificate was required to have been delivered, provided that if such request is not delivered within thirty (30) days of the date such Compliance Certificate was due, Pricing Level 5 shall apply as of the date of delivery of such request, and shall remain in effect until the date on which such Compliance Certificate is delivered.  The Applicable Rate in effect from the Closing Date until adjusted as set forth above shall be set at Pricing Level 1.

 

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this definition, the determination of the Applicable Rate for any period shall be subject to the provisions of Section 2.10(b) .

 

or

 

B.                                     If and when the Rating Conditions have been satisfied, the following percentages per annum, based upon the Debt Rating as set forth below (determined in accordance with the Performance-Based Pricing Grid set forth below).

 

Performance-Based Pricing Grid :

 

Applicable Rate

 

Debt Rating

 

Pricing
Level

 

Base Rate
Applicable
Margin

 

LIBOR
Loan
Applicable
Margin

 

> A-/A3

 

1

 

0.00

%

0.85

%

BBB+/Baa1

 

2

 

0.00

%

0.90

%

BBB/Baa2

 

3

 

0.00

%

1.00

%

BBB-/Baa3

 

4

 

0.25

%

1.25

%

<BBB-/Baa3

 

5

 

0.65

%

1.65

%

 

4



 

Each change in the Applicable Rate resulting from a publicly announced change in the Debt Rating shall be effective, in the case of an upgrade, during the period commencing on the date of delivery by the Borrower to the Administrative Agent of notice thereof pursuant to Section  7.03(e)  and ending on the date immediately preceding the effective date of the next such change and, in the case of a downgrade, during the period commencing on the date of the public announcement thereof and ending on the date immediately preceding the effective date of the next such change.

 

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.

 

Assignee Group ” means two (2) or more Eligible Assignees that are Affiliates of one another or two (2) or more Approved Funds managed by the same investment advisor.

 

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 D-1 or any other form (including electronic documentation generated by MarkitClear or other electronic platform) approved by the Administrative Agent.

 

Attributable Indebtedness ” means, on any date in respect of any Capital 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.

 

Audited Financial Statements ” means the audited financial statements of the Parent for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2015 and, from and after the delivery of the financial statements of the Parent required pursuant to Section 7.01(a)  for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2016, the most-recent financial statements furnished pursuant to Section 7.01(a) .

 

Award ” means any compensation paid by any Governmental Authority in connection with a Condemnation in respect of all or any part of any Unencumbered Property.

 

Bail-In Action ” means the exercise of any Write-Down and Conversion Powers by the applicable EEA Resolution Authority in respect of any liability of an EEA Financial Institution.

 

Bail-In Legislation ” means, with respect to any EEA Member Country implementing Article 55 of Directive 2014/59/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of the European Union, the implementing law for such EEA Member Country from time to time which is described in the EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule.

 

Balloon Payments ” shall mean with respect to any loan constituting Indebtedness, any required principal payment of such loan which is payable at the maturity of such Indebtedness, provided, however, that the final payment of a fully amortized loan shall not constitute a Balloon Payment.

 

Base Rate ” means, at any time, the highest of (a) the Prime Rate, (b) the Federal Funds Rate plus 0.50% and (c) the LIBOR Market Index Rate plus 1%; each change in the Base Rate

 

5



 

shall take effect simultaneously with the corresponding change or changes in the Prime Rate, the Federal Funds Rate or the LIBOR Market Index Rate (provided that clause (c) shall not be applicable during any period in which LIBOR is unavailable or unascertainable).

 

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

 

Beneficial Ownership Certification ” means a certification regarding beneficial ownership as required by the Beneficial Ownership Regulation.

 

Beneficial Ownership Regulation ” means 31 C.F.R. § 101.230.

 

Book Value ” means all land, building, improvements, leasing commissions and deferred leasing intangibles less accumulated depreciation and amortization.

 

Borrower ” has the meaning specified in the introductory paragraph hereto.

 

Borrower Materials ” has the meaning specified in Section 7.02 .

 

Borrowing ” means a Committed Borrowing.

 

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 or the State of New York, and, if such day relates to any LIBOR Loan, means any such day that is also a London Banking Day.

 

Capital Lease ” means, with respect to any Person, the obligations of such Person to pay rent or other amounts under any lease of (or other arrangement conveying the right to use) real or personal property, or a combination thereof, which obligations are required to be classified and accounted for as capital leases on a balance sheet of such Person under GAAP.

 

Capital Lease Obligations ” means, with respect to any Person for any period, the capitalized amount of obligations under Capital Leases for such Person for such period as determined in accordance with GAAP.

 

Capitalization Rate ” means seven percent (7.0%).

 

Cash Equivalents ” means any of the following types of Investments, to the extent owned by Guarantor, the Borrower or any of their Subsidiaries free and clear of all Liens (other than Liens permitted hereunder):

 

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

 

(b)                                  demand or time deposits with, or insured certificates of deposit or bankers’ acceptances of, any commercial bank that (A) is a Lender or (B) (i) is organized under the laws of the United States of America, any state thereof or the District of Columbia or is the principal

 

6



 

banking subsidiary of a bank holding company organized under the laws of the United States of America, 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 $1,000,000,000, in each case with maturities of not more than 90 days from the date of acquisition thereof;

 

(c)                                   commercial paper in an aggregate amount of no more than $5,000,000 per issuer outstanding at any time issued by any Person organized under the laws of any state of the United States of America 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 180 days from the date of acquisition thereof;

 

(d)                                  Investments, classified in accordance with GAAP as current assets of the Parent 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) and (c) of this definition; and

 

(e)                                   Other liquid or readily marketable investments in an amount not to exceed five percent (5%) of Total Asset Value.

 

Casualty ” means, with respect to any Unencumbered Property, if such Unencumbered Property has been damaged or destroyed, in whole or in part, by fire or other casualty.

 

Change in Law ” means the occurrence, after the date of this Agreement, of any of the following: (a) the adoption or taking effect of any Law, rule, regulation or treaty; (b) any change in any Law, rule, regulation or treaty or in the administration, interpretation, implementation or application thereof by any Governmental Authority; or (c) the making or issuance of any request, rule, guideline or directive (whether or not having the force of law) by any Governmental Authority; provided that notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, (x) the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and all requests, rules, guidelines or directives thereunder or issued in connection therewith or in implementation thereof and (y) all requests, rules, guidelines or directives promulgated by the Bank for International Settlements, the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (or any successor or similar authority) or the United States or foreign regulatory authorities, in each case pursuant to Basel III, shall in each case be deemed to be a “Change in Law”, regardless of the date enacted, adopted, issued or implemented.

 

Change of Control ” means an event or series of events by which:

 

(a)                                  any “ person ” or “ group ” (as such terms are used in Sections 13(d)  and 14(d)  of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, but excluding any employee benefit plan of such person or its Subsidiaries, and any person or entity acting in its capacity as trustee, agent or other fiduciary or administrator of any such plan) becomes the “ beneficial owner ” (as defined in Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, except that a person or group shall be deemed to have “beneficial ownership” of all Equity Interests that such person or group has the right to acquire,

 

7



 

whether such right is exercisable immediately or only after the passage of time (such right, an “ option right ”)), directly or indirectly, of thirty-five percent (35%) or more of the Equity Interests of the Parent entitled to vote for members of the board of directors or equivalent governing body of the Parent on a fully-diluted basis (and taking into account all such Equity Interests that such person or group has the right to acquire pursuant to any option right);

 

(b)                                  during any period of twelve (12) consecutive months, a majority of the members of the board of directors or other equivalent governing body of the Parent cease to be composed of individuals (i) who were members of that board or equivalent governing body on the first day of such period, (ii) whose election or nomination to that board or equivalent governing body was approved by individuals referred to in clause (i) above constituting at the time of such election or nomination at least a majority of that board or equivalent governing body or (iii) whose election or nomination to that board or other equivalent governing body was approved by individuals referred to in clauses (i) and (ii) above constituting at the time of such election or nomination at least a majority of that board or equivalent governing body; or

 

(c)                                   the Parent shall cease to (i) either be the sole general partner of, or wholly own and control the general partner of, the Borrower or (ii) own, directly or indirectly, greater than fifty percent (50%) of the Equity Interests of the Borrower.

 

Closing Date ” means the first date all the conditions precedent in Section 5.01 are satisfied or waived in accordance with Section 11.01 .

 

Code ” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 .

 

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

 

Committed Loan ” has the meaning specified in Section 2.01(a) .

 

Committed Loan Notice” means a notice of (a) a Committed Borrowing, (b) a conversion of Committed Loans from one Type to the other, or (c) a continuation of LIBOR Loans, pursuant to Section 2.02(a) , which, if in writing, shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit A .

 

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.

 

Companies ” means, without duplication, the Parent and its Consolidated Subsidiaries (including the Borrower), and “Company” means any one of the Companies.

 

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

 

Condemnation ” means a temporary or permanent taking by any Governmental Authority as the result, in lieu, or in anticipation, of the exercise of the right of condemnation or

 

8



 

eminent domain of all or any part of any Unencumbered Property, or any interest therein or right accruing thereto, including any right of access thereto or any change of grade affecting any Unencumbered Property or any part thereof.

 

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 EBITDA ” means, for any Person for any period, an amount equal to (a) Consolidated Net Income, plus (b) the sum of the following (without duplication and to the extent reflected as a charge in the statement of such Consolidated Net Income for such period): (i) income tax expense; (ii) interest expense, amortization or write-off of debt discount and debt issuance costs and commissions, discounts and other fees and charges associated with Indebtedness; (iii) depreciation and amortization expense; (iv) amortization of intangibles (including goodwill) and organization costs; (v) any extraordinary, unusual or non-recurring expenses or losses (including, whether or not otherwise includable as a separate item in the statement of such Consolidated Net Income for such period, losses on sales of assets outside of the ordinary course of business), including property acquisition costs; (vi) any other non-cash charges, and (vii) all commissions, guaranty fees, discounts and other fees and charges owed by such Person with respect to letters of credit and bankers’ acceptance financing and net costs of such Person under Swap Contracts in respect of interest rates to the extent such net costs are allocable to such period in accordance with GAAP; minus (c) the sum of the following (to the extent included in the statement of such Consolidated Net Income for such period): (i) interest income (except to the extent deducted in determining such Consolidated Net Income); (ii) any extraordinary, unusual or non-recurring income or gains (including, whether or not otherwise includable as a separate item in the statement of such Consolidated Net Income for such period, gains on the sales of assets outside of the ordinary course of business); and (iii) any other non-cash income.

 

Consolidated Fixed Charges ” means, on a consolidated basis, for any Person for any period, the sum (without duplication) of (a) Consolidated Interest Expense, (b) provision for cash income taxes made by such Person on a consolidated basis in respect of such period, (c) scheduled principal amortization payments due during such period on account of Indebtedness of such Person (excluding Balloon Payments), and (d) Restricted Payments paid in cash with respect to preferred Equity Interests of such Person during such period (other than any repayments of principal with respect to preferred Equity Interests).

 

Consolidated Interest Expense ” means, for any Person for any period, the total interest expense (including that attributable to Capital Lease Obligations) of such Person for such period with respect to all outstanding Total Funded Debt (including all commissions, discounts and other fees and charges owed by such Person with respect to letters of credit and bankers’ acceptance financing and net costs of such Person under Swap Contracts in respect of interest rates to the extent such net costs are allocable to such period in accordance with GAAP).  Consolidated Interest Expenses shall exclude non-cash charges, interest rate hedge termination payments or receipts, loan prepayment costs, and upfront loan fees, interest expense covered by an interest reserve established under a loan facility and any interest expense under any construction loan or construction activity that under GAAP is required to be capitalized.

 

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Consolidated Leverage Ratio ” means, as of any date of determination, the quotient (expressed as a percentage) of (a) Consolidated Total Debt, divided by (b) Total Asset Value.

 

Consolidated Net Income ” means, for any Person for any period, the consolidated net income (or loss) of such Person for such period, determined on a consolidated basis; provided that in calculating Consolidated Net Income of the Parent for any period, there shall be excluded (a) the income (or deficit) of any Person accrued prior to the date it becomes a Subsidiary or is merged into or consolidated with the Parent or any of its Subsidiaries, (b) the income (or deficit) of any Person (other than a Company) in which any Company has an ownership interest, except to the extent that any such income is actually received by such Company in the form of dividends or similar distributions, and (c) the undistributed earnings of any Subsidiary of any Company to the extent that the declaration or payment of dividends or similar distributions by such Subsidiary is not at the time permitted by the terms of any Contractual Obligation (other than under any Loan Document) or requirement of Law applicable to such Subsidiary.

 

Consolidated Subsidiary ” means any Person in which the Parent or the Borrower has a direct or indirect ownership interest and whose financial results would be consolidated under GAAP with the financial results of the Parent on the consolidated financial statements of the Parent.

 

Consolidated Total Debt ” means, as of any date of determination, the aggregate principal amount of all Indebtedness of the Parent on such date, determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP which would be required to be included on the liabilities side of the balance sheet of the Parent in accordance with GAAP, and including the Companies’ Share of the principal amount of all Indebtedness of Unconsolidated Affiliates, but, in each case, excluding the net obligations of the Parent on a consolidated basis under any Swap Contract.

 

Construction in Progress ” means (a) a Property with new ground up construction, (b) a Property under renovation in which (i) greater than thirty percent (30%) of the square footage of such Property is unavailable for occupancy due to renovation and (ii) no rents are being paid on such square footage or (c) a building expansion.  The classification of “Construction in Progress” will cease on the earlier to occur of (A) the time that such Property has an Occupancy Rate of greater than eighty percent (80%), and (B) one hundred eighty (180) days after completion of construction, renovation or expansion of such Property, as applicable.

 

Contamination ” means the presence of Hazardous Materials in amounts exceeding regulatory action levels.

 

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.  The terms “ Controlling ” and “ Controlled ” have meanings correlative thereto.

 

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Credit Agreements ” means (a) the Revolving Credit Agreement, (b) that certain Term Loan Agreement, dated as of September 29, 2015, among the Borrower, the Parent, Wells Fargo, as administrative agent, and the other lenders party thereto, (c) that certain Term Loan Agreement, dated as of July 28, 2017, among the Borrower, the Parent, Bank of America, N.A., as administrative agent, and the other lenders party thereto and (d) that certain Second Amended and Restated Term Loan Agreement, dated as of December 20, 2016, among the Borrower, the Parent, Wells Fargo, as administrative agent, and the other lenders party thereto, and (e) that certain Term Loan Agreement, dated as of July 26, 2018, among the Borrower, the Parent, Wells Fargo, as administrative agent, and the other lenders party thereto, in each case, as amended from time to time.

 

Credit Extension ” means a Borrowing.

 

Current Reporting Quarter ” means the most recent fiscal quarter for which quarterly financial statements have been delivered to the Lenders pursuant to Section 7.01 .

 

Customary Recourse Exceptions ” means, with respect to any Indebtedness, personal recourse that is limited to fraud, misrepresentation, misapplication of cash, waste, environmental claims and liabilities, prohibited transfers, violations of single purposes entity covenants, and other circumstances customarily excluded by institutional lenders from exculpation provisions and/or included in separate guaranty or indemnification agreements in non-recourse financing of Real Property.

 

Dark Property ” means any Property as to which, as of the last day of the Current Reporting Quarter, (a) all leases have terminated, (b) the Borrower is not recognizing revenue from any tenants in accordance with GAAP or (c) the Adjusted NOI for such Property is negative.

 

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 and affecting the rights of creditors generally.

 

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Debt Rating ” means, as of any date of determination, the rating as determined by a minimum of two of S&P,  Moody’s or Fitch (collectively, the “ Debt Ratings ”) of the Borrower’s non-credit-enhanced, senior unsecured long-term debt; provided that (a) if the respective Debt Ratings issued by the foregoing rating agencies differ by one level, then the Pricing Level for the higher of such Debt Ratings shall apply (with the Debt Rating for Pricing Level 1 being the highest and the Debt Rating for Pricing Level 5 being the lowest); (b) if there is a split in Debt Ratings of more than one level, then the Pricing Level that is one level lower than the Pricing Level of the higher Debt Rating shall apply; (c) if the Borrower has only one Debt Rating, the Pricing Level that is one level lower than that of such Debt Rating shall apply; and (d) if, after satisfying the Rating Condition, the Borrower does not have any Debt Rating, Pricing Level 5 shall apply.

 

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 an interest rate equal to (i) the Base Rate plus (ii) the Applicable Rate, if any, applicable to Base Rate Loans plus (iii) two percent (2%) per annum; provided that with respect to a LIBOR Loan, the Default Rate shall be an interest rate equal to the interest rate (including any Applicable Rate) otherwise applicable to such Loan plus two percent (2%) per annum.

 

Defaulting Lender ” means, subject to Section 2.16(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 Borrower in writing that such failure is the result of such Lender’s determination that one or more conditions precedent to funding (each of which conditions precedent, together with any applicable default, shall be specifically identified in such writing) has not been satisfied, or (ii) pay to the Administrative Agent or any other Lender any other amount required to be paid by it hereunder within two (2) Business Days of the date when due, (b) has notified the Borrower and the Administrative Agent 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 Borrower, to confirm in writing to the Administrative Agent and the Borrower that it will comply with its prospective funding obligations hereunder (provided that such Lender shall cease to be a Defaulting Lender pursuant to this clause (c) upon receipt of such written confirmation by the Administrative Agent and the Borrower), or (d) has, or has a direct or indirect parent company which controls such Lender that has, (i) become the subject of a proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law, (ii) had appointed for it a receiver, custodian, conservator, trustee, administrator, assignee for the benefit of creditors or similar Person charged with reorganization or liquidation of its business or assets, including the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other state or federal regulatory authority acting in such a capacity or (iii) become the subject of a Bail-In Action; provided that a Lender shall not be a Defaulting Lender solely by virtue of the ownership or acquisition of any Equity Interest in that Lender or any direct or indirect parent company thereof by a Governmental Authority so long as

 

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such ownership interest does not result in or provide such Lender with immunity from the jurisdiction of courts within the United States or from the enforcement of judgments or writs of attachment on its assets or permit such Lender (or such Governmental Authority) to reject, repudiate, disavow or disaffirm any contracts or agreements made with such Lender.  Any determination by the Administrative Agent that a Lender is a Defaulting Lender under any one or more of clauses (a) through (d) above, and of the effective date of such status, shall be conclusive and binding absent manifest error, and such Lender shall be deemed to be a Defaulting Lender (subject to Section 2.16(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 Borrower and each Lender promptly following such determination.

 

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

 

Disbursement Instruction Agreement ” means an agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit E to be executed and delivered by the Borrower pursuant to Section 5.01(a) , as the same may be amended, restated or modified from time to time with the prior written approval of the Administrative Agent.

 

Disposition ” or “ Dispose ” means the sale, transfer, license, lease (other than a real estate lease entered into in the ordinary course of business as part of Property leasing operations) or other disposition (including any sale and leaseback transaction) of any property by any Person, 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 arrangement constituting a Lien.

 

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

 

EEA Financial Institution ” means (a) any institution established in any EEA Member Country which is subject to the supervision of an EEA Resolution Authority, (b) any entity established in an EEA Member Country which is a parent of an institution described in clause (a) of this definition, or (c) any institution established in an EEA Member Country which is a subsidiary of an institution described in clauses (a) or (b) of this definition and is subject to consolidated supervision with its parent.

 

EEA Member Country ” means any of the member states of the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway.

 

EEA Resolution Authority ” means any public administrative authority or any Person entrusted with public administrative authority of any EEA Member Country (including any delegee) having responsibility for the resolution of any EEA Financial Institution.

 

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

 

Environmental Assessment ” has the meaning specified in Section 7.12(b) .

 

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Environmental Claim ” means any investigative, enforcement, cleanup, removal, containment, remedial, or other private or governmental or regulatory action at any time instituted or completed pursuant to any applicable Environmental Requirement against any Company or against or with respect to any Real Property or any condition, use, or activity on any Real Property (including any such action against the Administrative Agent or any Lender), and any claim at any time made by any Person against any Company or against or with respect to any Real Property or any condition, use, or activity on any Real Property (including any such claim against the Administrative Agent or any Lender), relating to damage, contribution, cost recovery, compensation, loss, or injury resulting from or in any way arising in connection with any Hazardous Material or any Environmental Requirement.

 

Environmental Damages ” means all liabilities (including strict liability), losses, damages (excluding consequential, special, exemplary or punitive damages except to the extent such damages were imposed upon an Indemnitee as a result of any claims made against such Indemnitee by a governmental entity or any other third party), judgments, penalties, fines, costs and expenses (including fees, costs and expenses of attorneys, consultants, contractors, experts and laboratories), of any and every kind or character, at law or in equity, contingent or otherwise, matured or unmatured, foreseeable or unforeseeable, made, incurred, suffered, brought, or imposed at any time and from time to time, whether before or after the Release Date and arising in whole or in part from:

 

(a)                                  the presence of any Hazardous Material on any Unencumbered Property, or any escape, seepage, leakage, spillage, emission, release, discharge or disposal of any Hazardous Material on or from any Unencumbered Property, or the migration or release or threatened migration or release of any Hazardous Material to, from or through any Unencumbered Property, on or before the Release Date; or

 

(b)                                  any act, omission, event or circumstance existing or occurring in connection with the handling, treatment, containment, removal, storage, decontamination, clean up, transport or disposal of any Hazardous Material which is at any time on or before the Release Date present on any Unencumbered Property; or

 

(c)                                   the breach of any representation, warranty, covenant or agreement contained in this Agreement relating to the presence of any Hazardous Material on any Unencumbered Property because of any event or condition occurring or existing on or before the Release Date; or

 

(d)                                  any violation on or before the Release Date, of any Environmental Requirement in connection with any Unencumbered Property in effect on or before the Release Date, regardless of whether any act, omission, event or circumstance giving rise to the violation constituted a violation at the time of the occurrence or inception of such act, omission, event or circumstance; or

 

(e)                                   any Environmental Claim, or the filing or imposition of any environmental Lien against any Unencumbered Property, because of, resulting from, in connection with, or arising out of any of the matters referred to in subparagraphs (a)  through (d)  preceding;

 

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and regardless of whether any of the foregoing was caused by the Borrower, any other Loan Party or their respective tenant or subtenant, or a prior owner of an Unencumbered Property or its tenant or subtenant, or any third party including (i) injury or damage to any person, property or natural resource occurring on or off of an Unencumbered Property including the cost of demolition and rebuilding of any improvements on any Real Property; (ii) the investigation or remediation of any such Hazardous Material or violation of Environmental Requirement including the preparation of any feasibility studies or reports and the performance of any cleanup, remediation, removal, response, abatement, containment, closure, restoration, monitoring or similar work required by any Environmental Requirement or necessary to have full use and benefit of Unencumbered Properties as contemplated by the Loan Documents (including any of the same in connection with any foreclosure action or transfer in lieu thereof); (iii) all liability to pay or indemnify any Person or Governmental Authority for costs expended in connection with any of the foregoing; (iv) the investigation and defense of any claim, whether or not such claim is ultimately withdrawn or defeated; and (v) the settlement of any claim or judgment.  “ Costs ” as used in this definition shall also include any diminution in the value of the security afforded by the Unencumbered Property or any future reduction of the sales price of any Unencumbered Property by reason of any matter set forth in Section 7.12 or 8.12 .

 

Environmental Laws ” means any and all applicable 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 Requirement ” means any Environmental Law, agreement or restriction, as the same now exists or may be changed or amended or come into effect in the future, which pertains to any Hazardous Material or the environment including ground or air or water or noise pollution or contamination, and underground or aboveground tanks.

 

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.

 

Equity Issuance ” means the issuance or sale by any Person of any of its Equity Interests or any capital contribution to such Person by the holders of its Equity Interests.

 

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 the Borrower within the meaning of Section 414(b)  or (c)  of the Code (and

 

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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 the Parent 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 the Parent 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(a)(1) or (2)  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 notification that a Multiemployer Plan is 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; or (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 the Parent or any ERISA Affiliate.

 

EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule ” means the EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule published by the Loan Market Association (or any successor Person), as in effect from time to time.

 

Event of Default ” has the meaning specified in Section 9.01 .

 

Excluded Party ” shall mean any REIT, any parent company of or Person who Controls any REIT in each instance engaged primarily in owning and operating Real Property, and any other Person whom the Borrower has reasonably identified in writing to the Administrative Agent as a competitor or potential competitor of the Borrower.

 

Excluded Swap Obligation ” means, with respect to any Loan Party, any Swap Contract if, and to the extent that, all or a portion of the liability of such Loan Party for or the Guarantee of such Loan Party of, or the grant by such Loan Party of a Lien to secure, such Swap Contract (or any liability or guarantee thereof) is or becomes illegal under the Commodity Exchange Act or any rule, regulation or order of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (or the application or official interpretation of any thereof) by virtue of such Loan Party’s failure for any reason to constitute an “eligible contract participant” as defined in the Commodity Exchange Act and the regulations thereunder at the time the liability for or the Guarantee of such Loan Party or the grant of such Lien becomes effective with respect to such Swap Contract (such determination being made after giving effect to any applicable keepwell, support or other agreement for the benefit of the applicable Loan Party, including under Section 27 of the Subsidiary Guaranty).  If a Swap Contract arises under a master agreement governing more than one swap, such exclusion shall apply only to the portion of such Swap Contract that is attributable to swaps for which such Guarantee or Lien is or becomes illegal for the reasons identified in the immediately preceding sentence of this definition.

 

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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 pursuant to a law in effect on the date on which (i) such Lender acquires such interest in the Loan (other than pursuant to an assignment request by the 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)(ii)  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.

 

“Exclusion Event” has the meaning specified in Section 4.10 .

 

“Exclusion Notice” has the meaning specified in Section 4.10.

 

“Existing Loans” has the meaning specified in Section 2.01(a).

 

“Existing Term Loan Agreement has the meaning specified in the introductory paragraph hereto.

 

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 agreement 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 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, then 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, (b) if no such rate is so published on such next succeeding Business Day, then 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 Wells Fargo on such day on such transactions as determined by the Administrative Agent and (c) if the Federal Funds Rate should be less than zero, such rate shall be deemed to be zero for purposes of this Agreement.

 

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Fee Letter ” means, collectively, (i) the letter agreement, dated as of November 5, 2014 among the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC and (ii) the letter agreement, dated November 15, 2016, among the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC.

 

FIRREA ” means the Financial Institution Recovery, Reform and Enforcement Act of 1989, as amended.

 

Fitch ” means Fitch, Inc., and any successor thereto.

 

Fixed Charge Ratio ” means, as of any date of determination, the quotient (expressed as a percentage) of (a) Consolidated EBITDA, divided by (b) Consolidated Fixed Charges.

 

Foreign Lender ” means (a) if the Borrower is a U.S. Person, a Lender that is not a U.S. Person, and (b) if the 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 the 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.

 

FRB ” means the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System of the United States.

 

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.

 

Funds from Operations ” means, for any Person for any period, the sum of (a) Consolidated Net Income plus (b) depreciation and amortization expense determined in accordance with GAAP excluding amortization expense attributable to capitalized debt costs; provided that there shall not be included in such calculation (i) any proceeds of any insurance policy other than rental or business interruption insurance received by such Person, (ii) any gain or loss which is classified as “extraordinary” in accordance with GAAP, (iii) any capital gains and taxes on capital gains, (iv) income (or loss) associated with third-party ownership of non-controlling Equity Interests, and (v) gains or losses on the sale of discontinued operations as detailed in the most-recent financial statements delivered pursuant to Section 7.01(a)  or (b) , as applicable.

 

GAAP ” means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States set forth in the opinions and pronouncements of the Accounting Principles Board and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and statements and pronouncements of the Financial Accounting Standards Board or such other principles as may be approved by a significant segment of the accounting profession in the United States, that are applicable to the circumstances as of the date of determination, consistently applied.

 

Governmental Authority ” means the government of the United States 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

 

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government (including any supra-national bodies such as the European Union or the European Central Bank).

 

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 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 or other obligation of any other Person, whether or not such Indebtedness or other obligation is assumed by such Person (or any right, contingent or otherwise, of any holder of such Indebtedness 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.

 

Guaranties ” means the Parent Guaranty and the Subsidiary Guaranties, and “ Guaranty ” means any one of the Guaranties.

 

Guarantors ” means, collectively, the Parent and each Subsidiary Guarantor, and “ Guarantor ” means any one of the Guarantors.

 

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

 

“Immaterial Subsidiary ” means any Subsidiary whose assets constitute less than one percent (1%) of Total Asset Value; provided that if at any time the aggregate Total Asset Value of the “Immaterial Subsidiaries” which are not Guarantors exceeds ten percent (10%) of Total Asset Value, then the Borrower shall designate certain “Immaterial Subsidiaries” as Guarantors such that the aggregate Total Asset Value of the “Immaterial Subsidiaries” which are not Guarantors does not exceed ten percent (10%) of Total Asset Value.

 

Improvements ” means any Subsidiary Guarantor’s interest in and to all on site improvements to the Unencumbered Properties, together with all fixtures, tenant improvements,

 

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and appurtenances now or later to be located on the Unencumbered Properties and/or in such improvements.

 

Increase Effective Date ” has the meaning specified in Section 2.06(b)(ii) .

 

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)                                  all direct or contingent obligations of such Person arising under letters of credit (including standby and commercial), bankers’ acceptances, bank guaranties, surety bonds and similar instruments;

 

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

 

(d)                                  all 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 and, in each case, either (i) not past due for more than one hundred and eighty (180) days or (ii) being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted);

 

(e)                                   Capital Lease Obligations;

 

(f)                                    all obligations of such Person to purchase, redeem, retire, defease or otherwise make any payment in respect of any ownership interest (excluding perpetual preferred ownership interests) in such Person or any other Person, valued, in the case of a redeemable preferred interest, at the greater of its voluntary or involuntary liquidation preference plus (without duplication and only to the extent required to be paid) accrued and unpaid dividends;

 

(g)                                   all Guarantees of such Person in respect of any of the foregoing (except for guaranties of customary exceptions for fraud, misapplication of funds, environmental indemnities, voluntary bankruptcy, collusive involuntary bankruptcy and other similar customary exceptions to non-recourse liability); and

 

(h)                                  all obligations of the kind referred to in clauses (a) through (g) above secured by (or for which the holder of such obligation has an existing right, contingent or otherwise, to be secured by) any lien on Property (including accounts and contract rights) owned by such Person, whether or not such Person has assumed or become liable for the payment of such obligation, but limited to the lesser of (i) the fair market value of the property subject to such lien and (ii) the aggregate amount of the obligations so secured.

 

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; provided that, solely for purposes of calculating the financial covenants set forth

 

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in Sections 8.14(a), (b)  and (c) , Indebtedness shall exclude the net obligations of the Parent on a consolidated basis under Swap Contracts entered into to hedge or mitigate any interest rate risk in respect of borrowed money for which the Parent, the Borrower or any Subsidiary has actual exposure.  The amount of any Capital Lease Obligations as of any date shall be deemed to be the amount of Attributable Indebtedness in respect 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 (a), Other Taxes.

 

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

 

Information ” has the meaning specified in Section 11.07.

 

Initial Unencumbered Properties ” means the Acceptable Properties listed on Schedule 4.01 , and “ Initial Unencumbered Property ” means any one of the Initial Unencumbered Properties.

 

Interest Payment Date ” means (a) as to any Loan other than a Base Rate Loan, the last day of each Interest Period applicable to such Loan and the Maturity Date applicable to such Loan; provided that if any Interest Period for a LIBOR Loan exceeds three (3) months, then 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, the last Business Day of each March, June, September, and December and the Maturity Date applicable to such Loan.

 

Interest Period ” means as to each LIBOR Loan, the period commencing on the date such LIBOR Loan is disbursed or converted to or continued as a LIBOR Loan and ending on the date one (1), two (2), three (3) or six (6) months (if available to all Lenders) thereafter, as selected by the Borrower in its Loan Notice; provided that :

 

(i)                                      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, in the case of a LIBOR Loan, such Business Day falls in another calendar month, in which case such Interest Period shall end on the next preceding Business Day;

 

(ii)                                   any Interest Period pertaining to a LIBOR Loan 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

 

(iii)                                no Interest Period for a subject Loan shall extend beyond the Maturity Date applicable to such Loan.

 

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 equity participation or interest in, another Person, including any partnership or joint venture interest in such other Person and any

 

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arrangement pursuant to which the investor Guarantees 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 that constitute a business unit.  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.

 

IP Rights ” has the meaning specified in Section 6.18 .

 

IRS ” means the United States Internal Revenue Service.

 

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.

 

Lead Arranger ” means Wells Fargo Securities, LLC in its capacity as lead arranger and bookrunner.

 

Lease ” means each existing or future lease, sublease (to the extent of any Subsidiary Guarantor’s rights thereunder), license, or other agreement (other than an Acceptable Ground Lease) under the terms of which any Person has or acquires any right to occupy or use any Property, or any part thereof, or interest therein, and each existing or future guaranty of payment or performance thereunder.

 

Lender ” has the meaning specified in the introductory paragraph hereto.

 

Lending Office ” means, as to any Lender, the office or offices of such Lender described as such in such Lender’s Administrative Questionnaire, or such other office or offices as a Lender may from time to time notify the Borrower and the Administrative Agent.

 

LIBOR ” means, subject to the implementation of a Replacement Rate in accordance with Section 3.03(b) ,with respect to any LIBOR borrowings for any interest period, the rate of interest obtained by dividing (i) the rate of interest per annum determined on the basis of the rate for deposits in U.S. dollars for a period equal to the applicable interest period as published by the ICE Benchmark Administration Limited, a United Kingdom company, or a comparable or successor quoting service approved by the Administrative Agent, at approximately 11:00 a.m. (London time) two business days prior to the first day of the applicable interest period by (ii) a percentage equal to 1 minus the stated maximum rate (stated as a decimal) of all reserves, if any, required to be maintained with respect to Eurocurrency funding (currently referred to as “Eurocurrency liabilities”) as specified in Regulation D of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (or against any other category of liabilities which includes deposits by reference to which the interest rate on LIBOR Loans is determined or any applicable category of extensions of credit or other assets which includes loans by an office of any Lender outside of the United States of America); provided that if such determined rate shall be less than zero, such rate shall be deemed to be zero for each LIBOR Loan that has not been identified by the

 

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Borrower in accordance with the terms of this Agreement as being subject to a Specified Swap Contract that provides a hedge against interest rate risk.  If, for any reason, such rate is not so published then “LIBOR” shall be determined by the Administrative Agent to be the arithmetic average of the rate per annum at which deposits in U.S. dollars would be offered by first class banks in the London interbank market to the Administrative Agent at approximately 11:00 a.m. (London time) two business days prior to the first day of the applicable interest period for a period equal to such interest period; provided that if such determined rate shall be less than zero, such rate shall be deemed to be zero for each LIBOR Loan that has not been identified by the Borrower in accordance with the terms of this Agreement as being subject to a Specified Swap Contract that provides a hedge against interest rate risk.  Any change in the maximum rate or reserves described in the preceding clause (ii) shall result in a change in LIBOR on the date on which such change in such maximum rate becomes effective.

 

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

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, unless otherwise specified in any amendment to this Agreement entered into in accordance with Section 3.03(b) , in the event that a Replacement Rate with respect to LIBOR is implemented then all references herein to LIBOR shall be deemed references to such Replacement Rate.

 

LIBOR Loan ” means a Committed Loan that bears interest at a rate based on LIBOR.

 

LIBOR Market Index Rate ” means, for any day, LIBOR as of that day that would be applicable for a LIBOR borrowing having a one-month interest period determined at approximately 10:00 a.m. Central time for such day (rather than 11:00 a.m. (London time) two business days prior to the first day of such interest period as otherwise provided in the definition of “LIBOR”), or if such day is not a business day, the immediately preceding business day.  The LIBOR Market Index Rate shall be determined on a daily basis.

 

Lien ” means any mortgage, pledge, hypothecation, assignment, deposit arrangement, encumbrance, lien (statutory or other), charge or other security interest or any preference, priority or other security agreement or preferential arrangement 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 Capital Lease having substantially the same economic effect as any of the foregoing).

 

Loan ” means an extension of credit by a Lender to the Borrower under Article II in the form of a Committed Loan.

 

Loan Documents ” means this Agreement, each Note, the Fee Letter, and the Guaranties.

 

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 LIBOR Loans, pursuant to Section 2.02(a) , which, if in writing, shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit A .

 

Loan Parties ” means, collectively, the Borrower and each Guarantor and “ Loan Party ” means any one of the Loan Parties.

 

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

 

“Material Acquisition ” means any acquisition (or series of related acquisitions) or investments (or series of related investments) permitted by this Agreement and consummated in accordance with the terms of this Agreement for which the aggregate consideration paid in respect of such acquisition or investment (including any Indebtedness assumed in connection therewith) exceeds 10% of Total Asset Value for the Current Reporting Quarter, without giving pro forma effect to such acquisition.

 

Material Adverse Effect ” means: (a) a material adverse change in, or a material adverse effect upon, the business, assets, operations, or financial condition of the Companies, taken as a whole; (b) a material impairment of the ability of the Loan Parties, taken as a whole, to perform their obligations under the Loan Documents; or (c) a material adverse effect upon the legality, validity, binding effect, or enforceability against the Loan Parties, taken as a whole, of the Loan Documents to which they are parties.

 

Material Environmental Event ” means, with respect to any Unencumbered Property, (a) a violation of any Environmental Law with respect to such Unencumbered Property, or (b) the presence of any Hazardous Materials on, about, or under such Unencumbered Property that, under or pursuant to any Environmental Law, would require remediation, if in the case of either (a) or (b), such event or circumstance could reasonably be expected to have a Material Property Event.

 

Material Property Event ” means, with respect to any Unencumbered Property, the occurrence of any event or circumstance occurring or arising after the date of this Agreement that resulted in a (a) material adverse effect with respect to the financial condition or the operations of such Unencumbered Property, (b) material adverse effect on the value of such Unencumbered Property, or (c) material adverse effect on the ownership of such Unencumbered Property.

 

Material Title Defects ” means, with respect to any Unencumbered Property, defects, Liens (other than Liens for local real estate taxes and similar local governmental charges), and other encumbrances in the nature of easements, servitudes, restrictions, and rights-of-way that would customarily be deemed unacceptable title exceptions for a prudent lender (i.e., a prudent lender would reasonably determine that such exceptions, individually or in the aggregate, materially impair the value or operations of such Unencumbered Property, would prevent such Unencumbered Property from being used in the manner in which it is currently being used, or would result in a violation of any Law which would have a material and adverse effect on such Unencumbered Property); provided that Material Title Defects shall not include any Liens or other encumbrances (i) that existed as of the date of the title insurance policies issued in connection with the Prior Credit Agreement for the Initial Unencumbered Properties, (ii) that existed as of the date of this Agreement and that are listed on Schedule 8.01 or (iii) with respect to any Unencumbered Properties added following the date of this Agreement, Liens and other encumbrances similar in type and extent to those contemplated by clauses (i) and (ii) above.

 

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Material Subsidiary ” means each Subsidiary of the Borrower other than a Non-Guarantor Subsidiary.

 

Maturity Date ” means March 31, 2022; provided that if such date is not a Business Day, then the Maturity Date shall be the next preceding Business Day.

 

Minimum Distributions ” means (a) for the Parent for any fiscal year of the Parent, Restricted Payments in an amount not less than the aggregate amount of distributions required to be paid by the Parent in order for the Parent to qualify as a REIT, and (b) for the Borrower for any fiscal year of the Borrower, Restricted Payments in an amount not less than the aggregate amount of distributions required to be paid by the Borrower to the Parent in order for the Parent to qualify as a REIT.

 

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 the Parent 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 (2) or more contributing sponsors (including the Parent or any ERISA Affiliate) at least two (2) of whom are not under common control, as such a plan is described in Section 4064 of ERISA.

 

“Non-Guarantor Subsidiary ” means any Subsidiary (whether direct or indirect) of the Borrower, other than any Subsidiary which owns an Unencumbered Property or any Subsidiary which owns any of the Equity Interests of any such Subsidiary, which (a) is (i) formed for or converted to the specific purpose of holding title to Real Property assets which are collateral for Indebtedness owing or to be owed by such Subsidiary, provided that such Indebtedness must be incurred or assumed within ninety (90) days, such ninety (90) day period to be extended for an additional sixty (60) days if the Borrower provides an executed term sheet or commitment letter for the financing of such Real Property to the Administrative Agent (or, in either instance, for such longer period as the Administrative Agent may agree in writing) of such formation or conversion or such Subsidiary shall cease to qualify as a Non Guarantor Subsidiary, and (ii) expressly prohibited in writing from guaranteeing Indebtedness of any other person or entity pursuant to (A) a provision in any document, instrument or agreement evidencing such Indebtedness of such Subsidiary or (B) a provision of such Subsidiary’s Organization Documents, in each case, which provision was included in such Organization Document or such other document, instrument or agreement at the request of the applicable third party creditor and as an express condition to the extension or assumption of such Indebtedness; provided that a Subsidiary meeting the requirements set forth in this clause (a) shall only remain a “Non-Guarantor Subsidiary” for so long as (1) each of the foregoing requirements set forth in this clause (a) are satisfied, (2) such Subsidiary does not guarantee any other Indebtedness, and (3) the Indebtedness with respect to which the restrictions noted in clause (a) (ii) are imposed remains outstanding; (b)(i) becomes a Subsidiary following the Closing Date, (ii) is not a Wholly Owned Subsidiary of the Borrower, and (iii) with respect to which the Borrower and its Affiliates, as applicable, do not have sufficient voting power to cause such Subsidiary to become

 

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a Guarantor hereunder; (c) is an Immaterial Subsidiary; (d) is a Subsidiary which has been released from its Obligations under a Subsidiary Guaranty pursuant to Section 2.17(b)  below, or (e) is not a domestic Subsidiary. For the avoidance of doubt, STAG Industrial Management, LLC, the Subsidiary that employs the Parent Guarantor’s employees, shall be deemed to be a Non-Guarantor Subsidiary.

 

Non-Recourse Indebtedness ” means, for any Person, any Indebtedness of such Person for the repayment of which neither the Parent or the Borrower has any personal liability (other than for Customary Recourse Exceptions) or, if such Person is the Parent or the Borrower, in which recourse of the applicable holder of such Indebtedness for non-payment is limited to such holder’s Liens on a particular asset or group of assets (other than for Customary Recourse Exceptions).  For the avoidance of doubt, if any Indebtedness is partially guaranteed by the Parent or the Borrower, then the portion of such Indebtedness that is not so guaranteed shall still be Non-Recourse Indebtedness if it otherwise satisfies the requirements in this definition.

 

Note ” means a promissory note made by the Borrower in favor of each Lender requesting the same evidencing Loans made by such Lender, substantially in the form of Exhibit B .

 

Note Purchase Agreements ” means (i) that certain Note Purchase Agreement, dated as of April 16, 2014 among the Parent, the Borrower, and the purchasers party thereto, (ii) that certain Note Purchase Agreement, dated as of December 18, 2014 among the Parent, the Borrower, and the purchasers party thereto, and (iii) that certain Note Purchase Agreement, dated as of June 13, 2018, among the Parent, the Borrower, and the purchasers party thereto, in each case as amended from time to time.

 

Obligations ” means 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, 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; including, without limitation of the foregoing, all present and future indebtedness, liabilities, and obligations now or hereafter owed to the Administrative Agent, any Lender, or any Affiliate of the Administrative Agent or any Lender (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any Specified Derivatives Providers) arising from, by virtue of, or pursuant to any Swap Contract, other than any Excluded Swap Obligation, that relates solely to the Obligations.

 

Occupancy Rate ” means, for any Property, the percentage of the rentable area of such Property occupied by bona fide tenants of such Property or leased by tenants pursuant to bona fide tenant Leases, in each case, which tenants are not more than 60 days past due in the payment of all rent or other similar payments due under such Leases and paying rent.

 

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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, and (c) with respect to any partnership, joint venture, trust or other form of business entity, the partnership, joint venture or other applicable agreement of formation or organization and any agreement, instrument, filing or notice with respect thereto filed in connection with its formation or organization with the applicable Governmental Authority in the jurisdiction of its formation or organization and, if applicable, any certificate or articles of formation or organization of such entity.

 

Other Connection Taxes ” means, with respect to any Recipient, Taxes imposed as a result of a present or former connection between such Recipient and the jurisdiction imposing such Tax (other than connections arising from such Recipient having executed, delivered, become a party to, performed its obligations under, received payments under, received or perfected a security interest under, engaged in any other transaction pursuant to or enforced any Loan Document, or sold or assigned an interest in any Loan or Loan Document).

 

Other Taxes ” means all present or future stamp, court 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 with respect to Committed Loans on any date, the aggregate outstanding principal amount thereof after giving effect to any borrowings and prepayments or repayments of Loans occurring on such date.

 

Parent ” has the meaning specified in the introductory paragraph hereto.

 

Parent Guaranty ” means the Guaranty Agreement executed by the Parent in favor of the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Lenders and any Specified Derivatives Providers, in form and substance acceptable to the Administrative Agent.

 

Parent Share ” means a share of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Parent.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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the Code and Section 302 of ERISA, each as in effect prior to the Pension Act and, thereafter, Sections 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 the 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.

 

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 the Parent or any ERISA Affiliate or any such Plan to which the Parent or any ERISA Affiliate is required to contribute on behalf of any of its employees.

 

Platform ” has the meaning specified in Section 7.02 .

 

Prime Rate ” means, at any time, the rate of interest per annum publicly announced from time to time by the Administrative Agent as its prime rate.  Each change in the Prime Rate shall be effective as of the opening of business on the day such change in such prime rate occurs.  The parties acknowledge that the rate announced publicly by the Administrative Agent as its prime rate is an index or base rate and shall not necessarily be its lowest or best rate charged to its customers or other banks.

 

Prior Credit Agreement ” means that certain Credit Agreement dated as of April 20, 2011 among the Borrower, Bank of America, N.A., as agent, and a syndicate of lenders.

 

Property ” means any Real Property which is owned or ground leased, directly or indirectly, by any Company.

 

PTE ” means a prohibited transaction class exemption issued by the U.S. Department of Labor, as any such exemption may be amended from time to time.

 

Public Lender ” has the meaning specified in Section 7.02 .

 

Qualified ECP Guarantor ” means, in respect of any Swap Contract, each Loan Party that has total assets exceeding $10,000,000 at the time the relevant Guarantee or grant of the relevant security interest becomes effective with respect to such Swap Contract or such other person as constitutes an “eligible contract participant” under the Commodity Exchange Act or any regulations promulgated thereunder and can cause another person to qualify as an “eligible contract participant” at such time by entering into a keepwell under Section 1a(18)(A)(v)(II)  of the Commodity Exchange Act.

 

Rating Condition ” means the achievement by the Borrower of a Debt Rating.

 

Real Property ” of any Person means all of the right, title, and interest of such Person in and to land, improvements, and fixtures.

 

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Recipient ” means the Administrative Agent, any Lender, or any other recipient of any payment to be made by or on account of any obligation of any Loan Party hereunder.

 

Recourse Indebtedness ” means Indebtedness that is not Non-Recourse Indebtedness; provided that personal recourse for Customary Recourse Exceptions shall not, by itself, cause such Indebtedness to be characterized as Recourse Indebtedness.

 

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

 

REIT ” means a “real estate investment trust” in accordance with Section 856 of the Code.

 

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.

 

Replacement Rate ” has the meaning assigned thereto in Section 3.03(b) .

 

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 with respect to a Borrowing, conversion or continuation of Committed Loans, a Committed Loan Notice.

 

Required Lenders ” means, at any time, the Lenders holding in the aggregate more than fifty percent (50%) of the Total Outstandings.  The Loans of any Defaulting Lender shall be disregarded in determining the Required Lenders at any time.  At all times when two or more Lenders (excluding Defaulting Lenders) are party to this Agreement, the term “Required Lenders” shall in no event mean fewer than two Lenders.

 

Responsible Officer ” means the chief executive officer, president, chief financial officer, chief operating officer, chief accounting officer, treasurer, assistant treasurer, or controller of a Loan Party, and solely for purposes of the delivery of incumbency certificates pursuant to Section 5.01 , the secretary or any assistant 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.  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.  Each initial Responsible Officer is listed on Schedule RO .

 

Restricted Payment ” means any dividend or other distribution (whether in cash, Equity Interests or other property) with respect to any capital stock or other Equity Interest of any Company or Subsidiary, or any payment (whether in cash, Equity Interests or other property), including any sinking fund or similar deposit, on account of the purchase, redemption, retirement, acquisition, cancellation or termination of any such capital stock or other Equity

 

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Interests, or on account of any return of capital to such Company’s or Subsidiary’s stockholders, partners or members (or the equivalent Person thereof).

 

Revolving Credit Agreement ” means that certain Credit Agreement, dated as of July 26, 2018, among the Borrower, the Parent, Wells Fargo, as administrative agent, and the other lenders party thereto, as amended.

 

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

 

Sanction(s) ” means any international economic sanction administered or enforced by OFAC, the United Nations Security Council, the European Union, Her Majesty’s Treasury or other relevant sanctions authority.

 

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

 

Second Amendment Effective Date ” means July 26, 2018.

 

Secured Indebtedness ” means (without duplication), with respect to a Person as of any given date, the aggregate principal amount of all Indebtedness of such Person or its subsidiaries outstanding at such date and that is secured by a Lien, and including the Companies’ Share of all Indebtedness of Unconsolidated Affiliates that is secured by a Lien, but excluding for the avoidance of doubt, any net obligations under any Swap Contract that is secured by a Lien, all Unsecured Indebtedness and all Indebtedness hereunder, and provided further that the obligations under any revolving credit agreement (including the Revolving Credit Agreement or any amendment or replacement thereof) shall not constitute Secured Indebtedness due to the existence of cash collateral security requirements in connection with customary defaulting lender provisions.

 

Secured Leverage Ratio ” means, as of any date of determination, the quotient (expressed as a percentage) of (a) Secured Indebtedness of Parent and its Subsidiaries, divided by (b) Total Asset Value.

 

Share ” means the Borrower’s and the Parent’s direct or indirect share of a Consolidated Subsidiary or an Unconsolidated Affiliate as reasonably determined by the Borrower based upon the Borrower’s and the Parent’s economic interest (whether direct or indirect) in such Consolidated Subsidiary or Unconsolidated Affiliate, as of the date of such determination.

 

Specified Derivatives Provider ” shall have the meaning provided in Section 9.03 .

 

Specified Swap Contract ” means any Swap Contract that is made or entered into at any time, or in effect at any time now or hereafter, whether as a result of an assignment or transfer or otherwise, in each case with respect to the Loans, between the Borrower and a Specified Swap Contract Provider.

 

Specified Swap Contract Provider ” means any Lender, or Affiliate of a Lender, that is party to a Swap Contract at the time such Swap Contract is entered into.

 

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Subsidiary ” of a Person means a corporation, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company or other business entity of which a majority of the Equity Interests having ordinary voting power for the election of directors or other governing body (other than Equity Interests having such power only by reason of the happening of a contingency) are 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 Borrower.

 

Subsidiary Guarantors ” means, as of any date, each domestic Subsidiary which owns an Unencumbered Property, all domestic Subsidiaries of the Borrower owning a direct or indirect interest in an Unencumbered Property, each other domestic Material Subsidiary, and the general partner of each Subsidiary Guarantor that is a limited partnership and “ Subsidiary Guarantor ” means any one of the Subsidiary Guarantors; provided, however, that (a) STAG Industrial Management, LLC and (b) STAG Industrial TRS, LLC and its Subsidiaries shall in no event be deemed or required to be a Subsidiary Guarantor.

 

Subsidiary Guaranty ” means the Guaranty Agreement executed by each Subsidiary Guarantor in favor of the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Lenders and any Specified Derivatives Providers, in form and substance acceptable to the Administrative Agent.

 

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, (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, and (c) 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).

 

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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.

 

Threshold Amount ” means (a) $40,000,000 with respect to Recourse Indebtedness, (b) $75,000,000 with respect to all Non-Recourse Indebtedness, and (c) $40,000,000 with respect to all other amounts.

 

Total Asset Value ” means, for the Companies, on a consolidated basis, as on any date, the sum of (a) an amount equal to (i) aggregate Adjusted NOI with respect to all Properties (without duplication from the assets in clauses (b) through (g) below) for the Current Reporting Quarter, annualized divided by (ii) the Capitalization Rate, plus (b) 75% of the Book Value of any Dark Property (provided that no Dark Property shall be included in the calculation of Total Asset Value for a period greater than 12 months), plus (c) the acquisition cost of Construction in Progress and the costs of improvements thereon and renovations thereof, plus (d) cash and cash equivalents (including restricted cash) on such date, plus (e) the Companies’ Share of the foregoing items and components attributable to Unconsolidated Affiliates, plus (f) an amount equal to the book value (adjusted in accordance with GAAP to reflect any default or other impairment of such loan) of mortgage loans, construction loans, capital improvement loans, and other loans, in each case owned by a Company, plus (g) fifty percent (50%) of the book value of any undeveloped land.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, for purposes of determining Total Asset Value, to the extent the amount of Total Asset Value attributable to (a) the amount under clause (b) above would exceed 10% of Total Asset Value, such excess shall be excluded, (b) the amount under clause (c) and (g) above would exceed 15% of Total Asset Value, such excess shall be excluded, (c) the amount under clause (e) above would exceed 30% of Total Asset Value, such excess shall be excluded, (d) the amount under clause (f) above would exceed 15% of Total Asset Value, such excess shall be excluded, and (e) the amount under clauses (b), (c), (e), (f) and (g) above would exceed 30% of Total Asset Value, such excess shall be excluded.

 

Total Funded Debt ” means, as of any date, Consolidated Total Debt excluding intercompany Indebtedness, deferred income taxes, security deposits, accounts payable and accrued liabilities, and any prepaid rents, in each case determined in accordance with GAAP.

 

Total Outstandings ” means as of any date of determination, the aggregate Outstanding Amount of all Loans.

 

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

 

Unconsolidated Affiliate ” means any Person in which a Company has an Equity Interest and whose financial results would not be consolidated under GAAP with the financial results of the Parent on the consolidated financial statements of the Parent.

 

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

 

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Unencumbered Adjusted NOI ” means, for any period, the aggregate Adjusted NOI of all Unencumbered Properties excluding any Dark Property for such period.

 

Unencumbered Asset Value ” means without duplication, the sum of for each Unencumbered Property owned or ground leased for the Current Reporting Quarter, (i) an amount equal to (x) the Unencumbered Adjusted NOI attributable to such Unencumbered Property for such Current Reporting Quarter, annualized, divided by (ii) the Capitalization Rate.

 

Unencumbered Leverage Ratio ” means, as of any date of determination, the quotient (expressed as a percentage) of (a) Unsecured Indebtedness of Parent and its Subsidiaries, divided by (b) Unencumbered Asset Value.

 

Unencumbered Properties ” means each Acceptable Property that either (a) is an Initial Unencumbered Property or (b) becomes an Unencumbered Property pursuant to Section 4.03 , and “ Unencumbered Property ” means any one of the Unencumbered Properties.

 

Unsecured Indebtedness ” means Indebtedness which is not Secured Indebtedness.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, all Indebtedness which is secured by a pledge of equity interests only and is recourse to the Borrower or the Parent shall be deemed to be Unsecured Indebtedness.

 

Unsecured Interest Coverage Ratio ” means, as of any date of determination, the quotient (expressed as a percentage) of (a) Unencumbered Adjusted NOI to (b) Unsecured Interest Expense.

 

Unsecured Interest Expense ” means, with respect to any period, Consolidated Interest Expense of the Parent and its Subsidiaries for such period attributable to Unsecured Indebtedness of the Parent and its Subsidiaries.

 

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)(III) .

 

Wells Fargo ” means Wells Fargo Bank, National Association and its successors.

 

WFS ” means Wells Fargo Securities, LLC and its successors and assigns.

 

Write-Down and Conversion Powers ” means, with respect to any EEA Resolution Authority, the write-down and conversion powers of such EEA Resolution Authority from time to time under the Bail-In Legislation for the applicable EEA Member Country, which write-down and conversion powers are described in the EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule.

 

b.                                       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

 

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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 any Organization Document) shall be construed as referring to such agreement, instrument or other document as from time to time amended, supplemented, or otherwise modified (subject to any restrictions on such amendments, supplements or modifications set forth herein 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, Exhibits and Schedules shall be construed to refer to Articles and Sections of, and Exhibits and Schedules to, the Loan Document in which such references appear, (v) any reference to any law shall include all statutory and regulatory 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 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, Equity Interests, accounts and contract rights.

 

(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.

 

c.                                        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 Borrower and its Subsidiaries shall be deemed to be carried at 100% of the outstanding principal amount thereof, and the effects of FASB ASC 825 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

 

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either the Borrower or the Required Lenders shall so request, the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the Borrower shall negotiate in good faith to amend such ratio or requirement to preserve the original intent thereof in light of such change in GAAP (subject to the approval of the Required Lenders); provided that until so amended, (i) such ratio or requirement shall continue to be computed in accordance with GAAP prior to such change therein and (ii) the Borrower shall provide to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders financial statements and other documents required under this Agreement or as reasonably requested hereunder setting forth a reconciliation between calculations of such ratio or requirement made before and after giving effect to such change in GAAP.  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 addressing such changes, as provided for above.

 

(c)                                   Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities.   All references herein to consolidated financial statements of the Companies or to the determination of any amount for the Companies on a consolidated basis or any similar reference shall, in each case, be deemed to include each variable interest entity that the Parent is required to consolidate pursuant to FASB ASC 810 as if such variable interest entity were a Subsidiary as defined herein, provided further that for all purposes in calculating consolidated covenants hereunder the Parent shall be deemed to own one hundred percent (100%) of the equity interests in the Borrower.

 

d.                                       Rounding.  Any financial ratios required to be maintained by the Borrower 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).

 

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

 

f.                                         Amendment and Restatement of the Existing Term Loan Agreement.  The parties to this Agreement agree that, upon (i) the execution and delivery by each of the parties hereto of this Agreement and (ii) satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 5.01 , the terms and provisions of the Existing Term Loan Agreement shall be and hereby are amended, superseded and restated in their entirety by the terms and provisions of this Agreement.  This Agreement is not intended to and shall not constitute a novation, payment and reborrowing or termination of the “Obligations” (as defined in the Existing Term Loan Agreement).  All “Loans” made and “Obligations” incurred under the Existing Term Loan Agreement which are outstanding on the Closing Date, if any, shall continue as Obligations under (and shall be governed by the terms of) this Agreement and the other Loan Documents.  Without limiting the foregoing, upon the effectiveness hereof: (a) all references in the “Loan Documents” (as defined in the Existing Term Loan Agreement) to the “Administrative Agent”, the “Agreement” and the “Loan Documents” shall be deemed to refer to the Administrative Agent, this Agreement and the Loan Documents and (b) all obligations constituting “Obligations” with any Lender or any Affiliate of any Lender

 

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which are outstanding on the Closing Date, if any, shall continue as Obligations under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents.

 

g.                                        Rates. 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 “LIBOR” or with respect to any comparable or successor rate thereto.

 

20.                               
THE COMMITTED LOANS AND CREDIT EXTENSIONS

 

a.                                       Committed Loans.

 

(a)                                  On the “Closing Date” (as defined in the Existing Term Loan Agreement) certain term loans were made to the Borrower under the Existing Term Loan Agreement that remain outstanding as of the Closing Date (such outstanding loans being herein referred to as the Existing Loans ) in an aggregate principal amount equal to $150,000,000.  Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, the Borrower and each Lender agree that on the Closing Date, (a) the Existing Loans shall be reevidenced as loans under this Agreement (the Committed Loans ) and (b) the terms of the Existing Loans shall be restated in their entirety and shall be evidenced by this Agreement.  The amount of each Lender’s Committed Loan as of the Closing Date is set forth on Schedule 2.01 .

 

(b)                                  Committed Loan Limitations Amounts repaid on the Committed Loans may not be reborrowed.  Committed Loans may be Base Rate Loans or LIBOR Loans, as further provided herein.

 

b.                                       Borrowings, Conversions and Continuations of Committed Loans.

 

(a)                                  Each Committed Borrowing, each conversion of Committed Loans from one Type to the other, and each continuation of LIBOR Loans shall be made upon the Borrower’s irrevocable notice to the Administrative Agent, which may be given by telephone.  Each such notice must be received by the Administrative Agent not later than 10:00 a.m. (i) three (3) Business Days prior to the requested date of any Borrowing of, conversion to or continuation of LIBOR Loans or of any conversion of LIBOR Loans to Base Rate Committed Loans, and (ii) on the requested date of any Borrowing of Base Rate Committed Loans.  Each telephonic notice by the Borrower pursuant to this Section 2.02(a)  must be confirmed promptly by delivery to the Administrative Agent of a written Committed Loan Notice, appropriately completed and signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower.  Each Borrowing of, conversion to or continuation of LIBOR Loans shall be in a principal amount of $500,000 or a whole multiple of $500,000 in excess thereof.  Each conversion to Base Rate Committed Loans shall be in a principal amount of $250,000 or a whole multiple of $50,000 in excess thereof.  Each Committed Loan Notice (whether telephonic or written) shall specify (i) whether the Borrower is requesting a Committed Borrowing, a conversion of Committed Loans from one Type to the other, or a continuation of LIBOR Loans, (ii) the requested date of the Committed

 

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Borrowing, conversion or continuation, as the case may be (which shall be a Business Day), (iii) the principal amount of Committed Loans to be borrowed, converted or continued, (iv) the Type of Committed Loans to be borrowed or to which existing Committed Loans are to be converted, and (v) if applicable, the duration of the Interest Period with respect thereto.  If the Borrower fails to specify a Type of Committed Loan in a Committed Loan Notice or if the Borrower fails to give a timely notice requesting a conversion or continuation, then (I) so long as no Event of Default exists, the applicable Committed Loans shall be made as, or continued to, a LIBOR Loan of the same Type and with an Interest Period of one (1) month and (II) if an Event of Default exists, then the applicable Committed 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 LIBOR Loans.  If the Borrower requests a Committed Borrowing of, conversion to, or continuation of LIBOR Loans in any such Committed Loan Notice, but fails to specify an Interest Period, then it will be deemed to have specified an Interest Period of one (1) month.

 

(b)                                  Following receipt of a Committed Loan Notice, the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each Lender of the amount of its Applicable Percentage of the applicable Committed Loans, and if no timely notice of a conversion or continuation is provided by the Borrower, the Administrative Agent shall notify each Lender of the details of any automatic continuation or conversion to Base Rate Loans described in the preceding subsection.  In the case of a Committed Borrowing, each Lender shall make the amount of its Committed Loan available to the Administrative Agent in immediately available funds at the Administrative Agent’s Office not later than 12:00 noon on the Business Day specified in the applicable Committed Loan Notice.  Upon satisfaction of the applicable conditions set forth in Section 5.02 (and, if such Committed Borrowing is the initial Credit Extension, Section 5.01 ), the Administrative Agent shall make all funds so received available to the Borrower by 3:00 p.m. in like funds as received by the Administrative Agent either by (i) crediting the account of the Borrower on the books of Wells Fargo 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 Borrower.

 

(c)                                   Except as otherwise provided herein, a LIBOR Loan may be continued or converted only on the last day of an Interest Period for such LIBOR Loan.  During the existence of an Event of Default, no Loans may be requested as, converted to or continued as LIBOR Loans without the consent of the Required Lenders.

 

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

 

(e)                                   After giving effect to all Committed Borrowings, all conversions of Committed Loans from one Type to the other, and all continuations of Committed Loans

 

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as the same Type, there shall not be more than eight (8) Interest Periods in effect with respect to Committed Loans.

 

c.                                        Reserved .

 

d.                                       Reserved.

 

e.                                        Prepayments.

 

The Borrower may, upon notice to the Administrative Agent, at any time or from time to time voluntarily prepay Committed Loans in whole or in part; provided that (i) such notice must be received by the Administrative Agent not later than 11:00 a.m. (A) three (3) Business Days prior to any date of prepayment of LIBOR Loans and (B) on the date of prepayment of Base Rate Committed Loans; (ii) any prepayment of LIBOR Loans shall be in a principal amount of $1,000,000 or a whole multiple of $100,000 in excess thereof; and (iii) any prepayment of Base Rate Committed Loans shall be in a principal amount of $100,000 or a whole multiple of $25,000 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 Committed Loans to be prepaid and, if LIBOR 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 Applicable Percentage of such prepayment.  If such notice is given by the Borrower, then the Borrower 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 a LIBOR Loan 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 2.16 , each such prepayment shall be applied to the Committed Loans of the Lenders in accordance with their respective Applicable Percentages.

 

f.                                         Incremental Term Loans.

 

(a)                                  Reserved .

 

(b)                                  Incremental Term Loans .

 

(i)                                      Election .  Provided there exists no Default, upon notice to the Administrative Agent (which shall promptly notify the Lenders), the Parent and the Borrower may from time to time, elect to enter into one or more tranches of term loans (“ Additional Term Loans ”) in an aggregate amount not exceeding $50,000,000 either by designating another bank or financial institution not theretofore a Lender to become a Lender (such designation to be effective only with the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent, which consent will not be unreasonably withheld) and/or by agreeing with an existing Lender or Lenders, in such Lender or Lenders’ absolute discretion, that such Lender shall make Additional Term Loans; provided that (i) any such election for Additional Term Loans shall be in a minimum amount of $10,000,000, and (ii) the Parent and the Borrower may make a maximum of three (3) such requests.  Upon execution and

 

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delivery by the Borrower and such Lender or other bank or financial institution of an instrument in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent to effect such Additional Term Loans, including, as required, a new or amended Note, such existing Lender shall have a commitment to make Committed Loans as therein set forth or such bank or financial institution shall become a Lender with a commitment to make Committed Loans as therein set forth and all the rights and obligations of a Lender hereunder.

 

(ii)                                   Effective Date .  If Additional Term Loans are made in accordance with this Section 2.06(b) , then the Administrative Agent, the Parent, and the Borrower shall determine the effective date (the “ Increase Effective Date ”) that such Additional Term Loans shall be made.  The Administrative Agent shall promptly notify the Parent, the Borrower, and the Lenders of the Increase Effective Date.

 

(iii)                                Conditions to Effectiveness of Additional Term Loans .

 

(g)                                   As a condition precedent to such Additional Term Loans, the Parent and the Borrower shall deliver to the Administrative Agent a certificate dated as of the Increase Effective Date (in sufficient copies for each Lender) signed by a Responsible Officer of the Parent or the Borrower (on behalf of each Loan Party) (i) certifying and attaching the resolutions adopted by such Parent and the Borrower (on behalf of each Loan Party) approving or consenting to such Additional Term Loans, and (ii) certifying that, before and after giving effect to such Additional Term Loans, (A) the representations and warranties contained in Article VI and the other Loan Documents are true and correct in all material respects (except in the case of a representation or warranty qualified by materiality or Material Adverse Effect, in which case such representation or warranty shall be true and correct in all respects) on and as of the Increase Effective Date, except to the extent that such representations and warranties specifically refer to an earlier date, in which case they are true and correct in all material respects (except in the case of a representation or warranty qualified by materiality or Material Adverse Effect, in which case such representation or warranty shall be true and correct in all respects) as of such earlier date, and except that for purposes of this Section 2.06 , the representations and warranties contained in Section   6.05(b)  shall be deemed to refer to the most-recent statements furnished pursuant to Section 7.01(b) , and (B) no Default exists.

 

(h)                                  The Borrower shall execute and provide new Notes to such Lenders as may request herewith.

 

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

 

(c)                                   General .  The Administrative Agent will promptly notify the Lenders of any notice of Additional Term Loans.  Each Additional Term Loan shall be a Committed Loan hereunder.

 

g.                                        Repayment of Loans .   The Borrower shall repay to the Lenders on the Maturity Date the aggregate principal amount of Loans outstanding on such date.

 

h.                                       Interest.

 

(a)                                  Subject to the provisions of subsection (b)  below, (i) each LIBOR Loan shall bear interest on the outstanding principal amount thereof for each Interest Period at a rate per annum equal to LIBOR for such Interest Period plus the Applicable Rate; (ii) each Base Rate Committed 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.

 

(b)

 

(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, then 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 Borrower 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 (other than as set forth in clauses (b)(i) and (b)(ii) above), the Borrower shall pay interest on the principal amount of all outstanding Obligations hereunder 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 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.

 

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i.                                           Fees.

 

(a)                                  The Borrower shall pay to WFS and the Administrative Agent, for their own respective accounts, fees in the amounts and at the times specified in the Fee Letter (without duplication of fees otherwise referenced herein).  Such fees shall be fully earned when paid and shall not be refundable for any reason whatsoever.

 

(b)                                  The Borrower shall pay to the Lenders such fees as shall have been separately agreed upon in writing in the amounts and at the times so specified.  Such fees shall be fully earned when paid and shall not be refundable for any reason whatsoever.

 

j.                                          Computation of Interest and Fees; Retroactive Adjustments of Applicable Rate .

 

(a)                                  All computations of interest for Base Rate Loans (including Base Rate Loans determined by reference to LIBOR) 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)                                  If, as a result of any restatement of or other adjustment to the financial statements of the Parent or for any other reason, then the Parent, the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, or the Lenders determine that (i) the Consolidated Leverage Ratio as calculated by the Parent and the Borrower 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, then the Borrower shall immediately and retroactively be obligated to pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of the applicable Lenders, within three (3) Business Days after demand by the Administrative Agent (or, after the occurrence of an actual or deemed entry of an order for relief with respect to any Loan Party under the Bankruptcy Code of the United States, automatically and without further action by the Administrative Agent or any Lender), 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 or any Lender, under Section 2.08(b)  or under Article IX .

 

k.                                       Evidence of Debt.

 

(a)                                  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 Borrower and the interest

 

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and payments thereon.  Any failure to so record or any error in doing so shall not, however, limit or otherwise affect the obligation of the Borrower hereunder to pay any amount owing with respect to the Obligations.  In the event of any conflict between the accounts and records maintained by any Lender and the accounts and records of the Administrative Agent in respect of such matters, the accounts and records of the Administrative Agent shall control in the absence of manifest error.  Upon the request of any Lender made through the Administrative Agent, the Borrower shall execute and deliver to such Lender (through the Administrative Agent) a Note, which shall evidence such Lender’s Loans in addition to such accounts or records.  Each such Note shall be in the form of Exhibit B (a “ Note ”).  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.

 

l.                                           Payments Generally; The Administrative Agent’s Clawback.

 

(a)                                  General .  All payments to be made by the Borrower shall be made without condition or deduction for any counterclaim, defense, recoupment or setoff.  Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, all payments by the Borrower 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 1:00 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.  If and to the extent the Administrative Agent shall not make such payments to a Lender when due as set forth in the preceding sentence, then such unpaid amounts shall accrue interest, payable by the Administrative Agent, at the Federal Funds Rate from the due date until (but not including) the date on which the Administrative Agent makes such payments to such Lender.  All payments received by the Administrative Agent after 1:00 p.m. shall be deemed received on the next succeeding Business Day and any applicable interest or fee shall continue to accrue.  If any payment to be made by the Borrower 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)                                  Clawback .

 

(i)                                      Funding by the Lenders; Presumption by the Administrative Agent .  Unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from a Lender prior to the proposed date of any Committed Borrowing of LIBOR Loans (or, in the case of any Committed Borrowing of Base Rate Loans, prior to 1:00 p.m. on the date of such Borrowing) that such Lender will not make available to the Administrative Agent such Lender’s share of such Committed 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 Committed 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 Borrower a corresponding

 

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amount.  In such event, if a Lender has not in fact made its share of the applicable Committed Borrowing available to the Administrative Agent, then the applicable Lender and the Borrower 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 Borrower to but excluding the date of payment to the Administrative Agent, at (A) in the case of a payment to be made by such Lender, the 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 Borrower, the interest rate applicable to Base Rate Loans.  If the Borrower and such Lender shall pay such interest to the Administrative Agent for the same or an overlapping period, then the Administrative Agent shall promptly remit to the Borrower the amount of such interest paid by the Borrower for such period.  If such Lender pays its share of the applicable Committed Borrowing to the Administrative Agent, then the amount so paid shall constitute such Lender’s Committed Loan included in such Committed Borrowing.  Any payment by the Borrower shall be without prejudice to any claim the Borrower may have against a Lender that shall have failed to make such payment to the Administrative Agent.

 

(ii)                                   Payments by the Borrower; Presumptions by the Administrative Agent .  Unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from the Borrower prior to the date on which any payment is due to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Lenders hereunder that the Borrower will not make such payment, the Administrative Agent may assume that the Borrower has made such payment on such date in accordance herewith and may, in reliance upon such assumption, distribute to the Lenders the amount due.  In such event, if the Borrower has not in fact made such payment, then each of the Lenders severally agrees to repay to the Administrative Agent forthwith on demand the amount so distributed to such Lender, 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 , within one (1) Business Day.  If and to the extent the Administrative Agent shall not return such funds to a Lender when due as set forth in the preceding sentence, then such unpaid amounts shall accrue interest, payable by the Administrative Agent, at the Federal Funds Rate from the due date until (but not including) the date on which the Administrative Agent returns such funds to such Lender.

 

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

 

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(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 Borrower by the Administrative Agent because the conditions to the applicable Credit Extension set forth in Article V are not satisfied or waived in accordance with the terms hereof, then the Administrative Agent shall return such funds (in like funds as received from such Lender) to such Lender, without interest.

 

(d)                                  Obligations of the Lenders Several .  The obligations of the Lenders hereunder to make Committed Loans and to make payments pursuant to Section11.04(d)  are several and not joint.  The failure of any Lender to make any Committed Loan or to make any payment under Section 11.04(d)  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 Committed Loan or to make its payment under Section 11.04(d) .

 

(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)                                    Funds Transfer .  The Administrative Agent will, in its sole discretion, determine the funds transfer system and the means by which each transfer will be made.  The Administrative Agent may delay or refuse to accept a funds transfer request if the transfer would: (i) violate the terms of this authorization, (ii) require use of a bank unacceptable to the Administrative Agent or any Lender, in its reasonable discretion, or prohibited by any Governmental Authority, (iii) cause the Administrative Agent or any Lender to violate any Federal Reserve or other regulatory risk control program or guideline or (iv) otherwise cause the Administrative Agent or any Lender to violate any applicable Law or regulation.  The Borrower hereby authorizes the Administrative Agent to disburse the proceeds of any Loan made by the Lenders or any of their Affiliates pursuant to the Loan Documents as requested by an authorized representative of the Borrower to any of the accounts designated in the Disbursement Instruction Agreement.

 

m.                                   Sharing of Payments by the Lenders.  If any Lender shall, by exercising any right of setoff or counterclaim or otherwise, obtain payment in respect of any principal of or interest on any of the Committed Loans made by it, resulting in such Lender’s receiving payment of a proportion of the aggregate amount of such Committed Loans and accrued interest thereon greater than its pro rata share thereof as provided herein, then the Lender receiving such greater proportion shall (a) notify the Administrative Agent of such fact, and (b)  make such adjustments as shall be equitable, so that the benefit of all such payments shall be shared by the Lenders ratably in accordance with the aggregate amount of principal of and accrued interest on their respective Committed Loans and other amounts owing them, provided that the provisions of this Section shall not be construed to apply to any payment obtained by a Lender as consideration for the assignment of or sale of a participation in any of its Committed Loans to any assignee or participant, other than an assignment to the Borrower or any Affiliate thereof (as to which the provisions of this Section shall apply).  Each Loan Party consents to the foregoing and agrees, to

 

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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.

 

n.                                       Reserved .

 

o.                                       Reserved.

 

p.                                       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 .  That 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 in 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 IX 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 reasonably 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 , as the Borrower 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; third , if so determined by the Administrative Agent and the Borrower, to be held in an interest bearing deposit account and released pro rata in order to satisfy such Defaulting Lender’s potential future funding obligations with respect to Loans under this Agreement; fourth , to the payment of any amounts owing to the Lenders as a result of any judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction obtained by any Lender against such Defaulting Lender as a result of such Defaulting Lender’s breach of its obligations under this Agreement; fifth , so long as no Event of Default exists, to the payment of any amounts owing to the Borrower as a result of any judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction obtained by the Borrower against such Defaulting Lender as a result of such Defaulting Lender’s breach of its obligations under this Agreement; and sixth , to such Defaulting Lender or as otherwise directed by a court of competent jurisdiction; provided that if such payment is a payment of the principal amount of any Loans in respect of which such Defaulting Lender has not fully funded its appropriate share, such payment shall be applied solely to pay the Loans of all Non-Defaulting Lenders on a pro rata basis prior to being applied to the payment of any Loans of such

 

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Defaulting Lender until such time as all Loans and funded hereunder without giving effect to Section 2.16(a)(iv) . Any payments, prepayments or other amounts paid or payable to a Defaulting Lender that are applied (or held) to pay amounts owed by a Defaulting Lender shall be deemed paid to and redirected by such Defaulting Lender, and each Lender irrevocably consents hereto.

 

(iii)                                Certain Fees .  No Defaulting Lender shall be entitled to receive any fee pursuant to Section 2.09 for any period during which that Lender is a Defaulting Lender (and the Borrower shall not be required to pay any such fee that otherwise would have been required to have been paid to that Defaulting Lender pursuant to Section 2.09 for any period during which that Lender is a Defaulting Lender), and the Borrower shall not be required to pay the remaining amount of such fee that otherwise would have been required to have been paid to that Defaulting Lender.

 

(b)                                  Defaulting Lender Cure .  If the Borrower and the Administrative Agent agree in writing in their sole discretion that a Defaulting Lender should no longer be deemed to be 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, 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 Committed Loans to be held on a pro rata basis by the Lenders in accordance with their Applicable Percentages, whereupon that Lender will cease to be a Defaulting Lender; provided that no adjustments will be made retroactively with respect to fees accrued or payments made by or on behalf of the Borrower while that Lender was a Defaulting Lender; and provided , further , that , except to the extent otherwise expressly agreed by the affected parties, no change hereunder from Defaulting Lender to Lender will constitute a waiver or release of any claim of any party hereunder arising from that Lender’s having been a Defaulting Lender.

 

q.                                       Guaranties.  Pursuant to the Parent Guaranty, the Parent shall unconditionally Guarantee in favor of the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and any Specified Derivatives Providers the full payment and performance of the Obligations. Pursuant to the Subsidiary Guaranty or an addendum thereto in the form attached to the Subsidiary Guaranty, the Parent and the Borrower shall cause each Subsidiary Guarantor to execute a Subsidiary Guaranty unconditionally guarantying in favor of the Administrative Agent , the Lenders and any Specified Derivatives Providers the full payment and performance of the Obligations; provided, however , that such Subsidiary Guaranty may be released and reinstated in accordance with its terms.

 

(a)                                  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement or any other Loan Document, (x) concurrently with the delivery of each Compliance Certificate, with respect to any Person that became a Subsidiary of the Parent owning a direct or indirect interest in the Borrower since the date of the most recent Compliance Certificate or (y) substantially concurrently with any Subsidiary of the Parent (other than the Borrower) entering into any Guarantee of Indebtedness of the Parent, the Borrower or any Subsidiary of the Borrower owning directly or indirectly any Unencumbered Property,

 

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the Parent, the Borrower and such Subsidiary shall deliver to the Administrative Agent each of the following: (i) a joinder to the Subsidiary Guaranty executed by such Subsidiary, (ii) concurrently with the delivery of each Compliance Certificate a comprehensive list of all Guarantors, which identifies the joining and departing entities, and (iii) the items that would have been delivered under subsections (iii) and (v) of Section 5.01(a)  if such Subsidiary had been a Subsidiary Guarantor on the Closing Date, in form and substance substantially consistent with such items delivered on the Closing Date or otherwise reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

 

(b)                                  The Borrower may request in writing that the Administrative Agent release, and upon receipt of such request the Administrative Agent shall release, a Subsidiary Guarantor from the Guaranty so long as: (i) such Subsidiary Guarantor is not otherwise required to be a party to the Guaranty under the immediately preceding subsection (a)  (after giving effect to clause (ii) hereof); (ii) such Subsidiary Guarantor no longer Guarantees (or which Guarantee is being substantially concurrently released) any other Indebtedness of the Parent, the Borrower or any Subsidiary of the Borrower owning directly or indirectly any Unencumbered Property, (iii) no Default or Event of Default shall then be in existence or would occur as a result of such release, including without limitation, a Default or Event of Default resulting from a violation of any of the covenants contained in Section 8.14 ; and (iv) the Administrative Agent shall have received such written request at least five (5) Business Days (or such shorter period as may be acceptable to the Administrative Agent) prior to the requested date of release.  Delivery by the Borrower to the Administrative Agent of any such request shall constitute a representation by the Parent and the Borrower that the conditions set forth in the preceding sentence are or will be satisfied as of the requested date of release.

 

21.                               
TAXES, YIELD PROTECTION AND ILLEGALITY

 

a.                                       Taxes.

 

(a)                                  Payments Free of Taxes; Obligation to Withhold; Payments on Account of Taxes .

 

(i)                                      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 the Administrative Agent) require the deduction or withholding of any Tax from any such payment by the Administrative Agent or a Loan Party, then the Administrative Agent or such Loan Party shall be entitled to make such deduction or withholding, upon the basis of the information and documentation to be delivered pursuant to subsection (e)  below.

 

(ii)                                   If any Loan Party or the Administrative Agent shall be required by the Code to withhold or deduct any Taxes, including both United States Federal backup withholding and withholding taxes, from any payment, then (A) the

 

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Administrative Agent shall withhold or make such deductions as are determined by the Administrative Agent to be required based upon the information and documentation it has received pursuant to subsection (e)  below, (B) the Administrative Agent shall timely pay the full amount withheld or deducted to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with the Code, and (C) 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 any required withholding or the making of all required deductions (including deductions 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 withholding or deduction been made.

 

(iii)                                If any Loan Party or the Administrative Agent shall be required by any applicable Laws other than the Code to withhold or deduct any Taxes from any payment, then (A) such Loan Party or the Administrative Agent, as required by such Laws, shall withhold or make such deductions as are determined by it to be required based upon the information and documentation it has received pursuant to subsection (e)  below, (B) such Loan Party or the Administrative Agent, to the extent required by such Laws, shall timely pay the full amount withheld or deducted to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with such Laws, and (C) 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 any required withholding or the making of all required deductions (including deductions 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 withholding or deduction been made.

 

(b)                                  Payment of Other Taxes by the Borrower .  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 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 reasonable expenses arising therefrom or with respect thereto, whether or not such Indemnified Taxes were correctly or legally imposed or asserted by the relevant Governmental Authority.  A certificate as to the amount of such payment or liability delivered to the Borrower by a Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), or by the Administrative Agent on its own behalf or on behalf of a Lender, shall be conclusive absent manifest error.  Each of the Loan Parties shall, and does hereby, jointly and severally indemnify the Administrative Agent, and shall make payment in respect thereof within 10 days after demand therefor, for any amount which a Lender for any reason fails

 

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to pay indefeasibly to the Administrative Agent as required pursuant to Section 3.01(c)(ii)  below.

 

(ii)                                   Each Lender shall, and does hereby, severally indemnify, and shall make payment in respect thereof within 10 days after demand therefor, ( x ) the Administrative Agent against any Indemnified Taxes attributable to such Lender (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), ( y ) 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 ( z ) the Administrative Agent and the Loan Parties, as applicable, against any Excluded Taxes attributable to such Lender, 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 hereby authorizes the Administrative Agent to set off and apply any and all amounts at any time owing to such Lender, under this Agreement or any other Loan Document against any amount due to the Administrative Agent under this clause (ii) .

 

(d)                                  Evidence of Payments .  Upon request by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, as the case may be, after any payment of Taxes by the Borrower or by the Administrative Agent to a Governmental Authority as provided in this Section 3.01 , the Borrower shall deliver to the Administrative Agent or the Administrative Agent shall deliver to the Borrower, as the case may be, the original or a certified copy of a receipt issued by such Governmental Authority evidencing such payment, a copy of any return required by Laws to report such payment or other evidence of such payment reasonably satisfactory to the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, as the case may be.

 

(e)                                   Status of the 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 Borrower and the Administrative Agent, at the time or times reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, such properly completed and executed documentation reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent as will permit such payments to be made without withholding or at a reduced rate of withholding.  In addition, any Lender, if reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, shall deliver such other documentation prescribed by applicable law or reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent as will enable the Borrower or the Administrative Agent to determine whether or not such Lender is subject to backup withholding or information reporting requirements.  Notwithstanding

 

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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 the Borrower is a U.S. Person,

 

i)                                          any Lender that is a U.S. Person shall deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent on or prior to the date on which such Lender becomes a Lender under this Agreement (and from time to time thereafter upon the reasonable request of the Borrower or the Administrative Agent), executed originals of IRS Form W-9 certifying that such Lender is exempt from U.S. federal backup withholding tax;

 

ii)                                       any Foreign Lender shall, to the extent it is legally entitled to do so, deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent (in such number of copies as shall be requested by the recipient) on or prior to the date on which such Foreign Lender becomes a Lender under this Agreement (and from time to time thereafter upon the reasonable request of the Borrower or the Administrative Agent), whichever of the following is applicable:

 

(i)                                      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 originals of IRS Form W-8BEN or IRS Form W-8BEN-E 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 or IRS Form W-8BEN-E 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;

 

(j)                                     executed originals of IRS Form W-8ECI;

 

(k)                                  in the case of a Foreign Lender claiming the benefits of the exemption for portfolio interest under Section 881(c)  of the Code, (x) a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit H-1 to the effect that such Foreign Lender is not a “bank” within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(A)  of the Code, a “10 percent shareholder” of the Borrower within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(B)  of the Code, or a “controlled foreign corporation” described in Section 881(c)(3)(C)  of the Code (a

 

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U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate ”) and (y) executed originals of IRS Form W-8BEN or IRS Form W-8BEN-E; or

 

(l)                                      to the extent a Foreign Lender is not the beneficial owner, executed originals of IRS Form W-8IMY, accompanied by IRS Form W-8ECI, IRS Form W-8BEN, IRS Form W-8BEN-E, a U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit H-2 or Exhibit H-3 , IRS Form W-9, and/or other certification documents from each beneficial owner, as applicable; provided that if the Foreign Lender is a partnership and one or more direct or indirect partners of such Foreign Lender are claiming the portfolio interest exemption, such Foreign Lender may provide a U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit H-4 on behalf of each such direct and indirect partner;

 

iii)                                    any Foreign Lender shall, to the extent it is legally entitled to do so, deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent (in such number of copies as shall be requested by the recipient) on or prior to the date on which such Foreign Lender becomes a Lender under this Agreement (and from time to time thereafter upon the reasonable request of the Borrower or the Administrative Agent), executed originals 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 Borrower or the Administrative Agent to determine the withholding or deduction required to be made; and

 

iv)                                   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 Borrower and the Administrative Agent at the time or times prescribed by law and at such time or times reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent such documentation prescribed by applicable law (including as prescribed by Section 1471(b)(3)(C)(i)  of the Code) and such additional documentation reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent as may be necessary for the Borrower and the Administrative Agent to comply with their obligations under FATCA and to determine that such Lender has complied with such Lender’s obligations under FATCA or to determine the amount to deduct and withhold from such payment.  Solely for purposes of this clause (D), “FATCA” shall include any amendments made to FATCA after the date of this Agreement.

 

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(iii)                                Each Lender agrees that if any form or certification it previously delivered expires or becomes obsolete or inaccurate in any respect, it shall update such form or certification or promptly notify the Borrower and the Administrative Agent in writing of its legal inability to do so.  Each Lender shall promptly (A) notify the Borrower and the Administrative Agent of any change in circumstances which would modify or render invalid any claimed exemption or reduction, and (B) take such steps as shall not be materially disadvantageous to it, in the reasonable judgment of such Lender, and as may be reasonably necessary (including the re-designation of its Lending Office) to avoid any requirement of applicable Laws of any jurisdiction that the Borrower or the Administrative Agent make any withholding or deduction for taxes from amounts payable to such Lender.

 

(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 have any obligation to pay to any Lender, any refund of Taxes withheld or deducted from funds paid for the account of such Lender.  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 the Loan Party an amount equal to such refund (but only to the extent of indemnity payments made, or additional amounts paid, by a 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, and without interest (other than any interest paid by the relevant Governmental Authority with respect to such refund), provided that the Loan Party, upon the request of the Recipient, agrees to repay the amount paid over to the 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 the 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 indemnification payments or additional amounts giving rise to such refund 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)                                   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 and the repayment, satisfaction and discharge of all other Obligations.

 

b.                                       Illegality.  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 applicable Lending Office to make, maintain or fund Loans whose interest is determined by reference to LIBOR, or to determine or charge interest rates based upon LIBOR, or any Governmental Authority has imposed material restrictions on the authority of such Lender to purchase or sell,

 

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or to take deposits of, Dollars in the London interbank market, then, on notice thereof by such Lender to the Borrower through the Administrative Agent, (i) any obligation of such Lender to make or continue LIBOR Loans or to convert Base Rate Committed Loans to LIBOR Loans shall be suspended, and (ii) 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 LIBOR 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 LIBOR component of the Base Rate, in each case until such Lender notifies the Administrative Agent and the Borrower that the circumstances giving rise to such determination no longer exist.  Upon receipt of such notice, (x) the Borrower shall, upon demand from such Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), prepay or, if applicable, convert all LIBOR 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 LIBOR component of the Base Rate), either on the last day of the Interest Period therefor, if such Lender may lawfully continue to maintain such LIBOR Loans to such day, or immediately, if such Lender may not lawfully continue to maintain such LIBOR Loans and (y) if such notice asserts the illegality of such Lender determining or charging interest rates based upon LIBOR, the Administrative Agent shall during the period of such suspension compute the Base Rate applicable to such Lender without reference to the LIBOR 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 LIBOR.  Upon any such prepayment or conversion, the Borrower shall also pay accrued interest on the amount so prepaid or converted.

 

c.                                        Changed Circumstances.

 

(a)                                  Circumstances Affecting LIBOR Rate Availability .  Unless and until a Replacement Rate is implemented in accordance with clause (b) below, in connection with any request for a LIBOR Loan or a conversion to or continuation thereof or otherwise, if for any reason (i) the Administrative Agent shall determine (which determination shall be conclusive and binding absent manifest error) that Dollar deposits are not being offered to banks in the London interbank Eurodollar market for the applicable amount and Interest Period of such Loan, (ii) the Administrative Agent shall determine (which determination shall be conclusive and binding absent manifest error) that reasonable and adequate means do not exist for ascertaining LIBOR for such Interest Period with respect to a proposed LIBOR Loan or (iii) the Required Lenders shall determine (which determination shall be conclusive and binding absent manifest error) that the LIBOR does not adequately and fairly reflect the cost to such Lenders of making or maintaining such Loans during such Interest Period, then the Administrative Agent shall promptly give notice thereof to the Borrower.  Thereafter, until the Administrative Agent notifies the Borrower that such circumstances no longer exist, the obligation of the Lenders to make LIBOR Loans and the right of the Borrower to convert any Loan to or continue any Loan as a LIBOR Loan shall be suspended, and the Borrower shall either (A) repay in full (or cause to be repaid in full) the then outstanding principal amount of each such LIBOR Loan together with accrued interest thereon (subject to Section 11.09) , on the last day of the then current Interest Period applicable to such LIBOR Loan; or (B) 

 

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convert the then outstanding principal amount of each such LIBOR Loan to a Base Rate Loan as of the last day of such Interest Period.

 

(b)                                  Alternative Rate of Interest .  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Section 3.03(a)  above, if the Administrative Agent has made the determination (such determination to be conclusive absent manifest error) that (i) the circumstances described in Section 3.03(a)(i)  or (a)(ii)  have arisen and that such circumstances are unlikely to be temporary, (ii) any applicable interest rate specified herein is no longer a widely recognized benchmark rate for newly originated loans in the syndicated loan market in the applicable currency or (iii) the applicable supervisor or administrator (if any) of any applicable interest rate specified herein or any Governmental Authority having, or purporting to have, jurisdiction over the Administrative Agent has made a public statement identifying a specific date after which any applicable interest rate specified herein shall no longer be used for determining interest rates for loans in the syndicated loan market in the applicable currency, then the Administrative Agent may, to the extent practicable (in consultation with the Borrower and as determined by the Administrative Agent to be generally in accordance with similar situations in other transactions in which it is serving as administrative agent or otherwise consistent with market practice generally), establish a replacement interest rate (the “ Replacement Rate ”), in which case, the Replacement Rate shall, subject to the next two sentences, replace such applicable interest rate for all purposes under the Loan Documents unless and until (A) an event described in Section 3.03(a)(i) , (a)(ii) , (b)(i) , (b)(ii)  or (c)(iii)  occurs with respect to the Replacement Rate or (B) the Required Lenders (directly, or through the Administrative Agent) notify the Borrower that the Replacement Rate does not adequately and fairly reflect the cost to the Lenders of funding the Loans bearing interest at the Replacement Rate; provided that if such determined rate shall be less than zero, such rate shall be deemed to be zero for each Loan bearing interest at the Replacement Rate that has not been identified by the Borrower in accordance with the terms of this Agreement as being subject to a Specified Swap Contract that provides a hedge against interest rate risk.  In connection with the establishment and application of the Replacement Rate, this Agreement and the other Loan Documents shall be amended solely with the consent of the Administrative Agent and the Borrower, as may be necessary or appropriate, in the opinion of the Administrative Agent, to effect the provisions of this Section 3.03(b) .  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement or the other Loan Documents (including, without limitation, Section 11.01 ), such amendment shall become effective without any further action or consent of any other party to this Agreement so long as the Administrative Agent shall not have received, within five (5) Business Days of the delivery of such amendment to the Lenders, written notices from such Lenders that in the aggregate constitute Required Lenders, with each such notice stating that such Lender objects to such amendment.  To the extent the Replacement Rate is approved by the Administrative Agent in connection with this clause (b), the Replacement Rate shall be applied in a manner consistent with market practice; provided that, in each case, to the extent such market practice is not administratively feasible for the Administrative Agent, such Replacement Rate shall be applied as otherwise reasonably determined by the Administrative Agent (it being understood that any such modification by the Administrative Agent shall not require the consent of, or consultation with, any of the Lenders).

 

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d.                                       Increased Costs; Reserves on LIBOR Loans.

 

(a)                                  Increased Costs Generally .  If any Change in Law shall:

 

(i)                                impose, modify or deem applicable any reserve, special deposit, liquidity, compulsory loan, insurance charge or similar assessment or requirement against assets of, deposits with or for the account of, or credit extended or participated in by, the Administrative Agent or any Lender (except any reserve requirement contemplated by Section 3.04(e) ) ;

 

(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 the Administrative Agent or any Lender or the London interbank market any other condition, cost or expense affecting this Agreement or LIBOR Loans made by such Lender;

 

and the result of any of the foregoing shall be to increase the cost to the Administrative Agent or such Lender, as applicable, of making, converting, continuing or maintaining any Loan (or of maintaining its obligation to make any such Loan), then the Borrower will pay to the Administrative Agent or such Lender, as applicable, such additional amount or amounts as will compensate the Administrative Agent or such Lender, as applicable, for such additional costs incurred or reduction suffered.

 

(b)                                  Capital Requirements .  If any Lender determines that any Change in Law affecting such Lender or any Lending Office of such Lender or such Lender’s holding company, if any, regarding capital or liquidity ratios or requirements has or would have the effect of reducing the rate of return on such Lender’s capital or on the capital of such Lender’s holding company, if any, as a consequence of this Agreement, the Loans made by such Lender, to a level below that which such Lender or such Lender’s holding company could have achieved but for such Change in Law (taking into consideration such Lender’s policies and the policies of such Lender’s holding company with respect to capital adequacy and liquidity), then from time to time the Borrower will pay to such Lender such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender or such Lender’s holding company for any such reduction suffered.

 

(c)                                   Certificates for Reimbursement .  A certificate of a Lender setting forth the amount or amounts necessary to compensate such Lender or its holding company, as the case may be, as specified in subsection (a)  or (b)  of this Section and delivered to the Borrower shall be conclusive absent manifest error.  The Borrower shall pay such Lender the amount shown as due on any such certificate within fifteen (15) days after receipt thereof.

 

(d)                                  Delay in Requests .  Failure or delay on the part of any Lender to demand compensation pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this Section shall not constitute a

 

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waiver of such Lender’s right to demand such compensation, provided that the Borrower shall not be required to compensate a Lender 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 notifies the Borrower of the Change in Law giving rise to such increased costs or reductions and of such Lender’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).

 

(e)                                   Reserves on LIBOR Loans .  The Borrower 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 LIBOR 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), which shall be due and payable on each date on which interest is payable on such Loan, provided that the Borrower shall have received at least ten (10) days’ prior notice (with a copy to the Administrative Agent) of such additional interest 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.                                        Compensation for Losses.  Upon demand of any Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent) from time to time, the Borrower 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 the Borrower (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 the Borrower; or

 

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

 

excluding any loss of anticipated profits and 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 Borrower shall also pay any customary administrative fees charged by such Lender in connection with the foregoing.

 

For purposes of calculating amounts payable by the Borrower to the Lenders under this Section 3.05 , each Lender shall be deemed to have funded each LIBOR Loan made by it at LIBOR for such Loan by a matching deposit or other borrowing in the London interbank eurodollar market for a comparable amount and for a comparable period, whether or not such LIBOR Loan was in fact so funded.

 

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f.                                         Mitigation Obligations; Replacement of the Lenders.

 

(a)                                  Designation of a Different Lending Office .  If any Lender requests compensation under Section 3.04 , or the Borrower is required to pay any Indemnified Taxes or additional amount to any Lender, or any Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender pursuant to Section 3.01 , or if any Lender gives a notice pursuant to Section 3.02 , then at the request of the Borrower such Lender 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 reasonable judgment of such Lender, 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 to any material unreimbursed cost or expense and would not otherwise be materially disadvantageous to such Lender.  The Borrower hereby agrees to pay all reasonable costs and expenses incurred by any Lender in connection with any such designation or assignment.

 

(b)                                  Replacement of the Lenders .  If any Lender requests compensation under Section 3.04 , or if the Borrower is required to pay any Indemnified Taxes or additional amounts to any Lender or any Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender pursuant to Section 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 Borrower may replace such Lender in accordance with Section 11.13 .

 

g.                                        Survival.  All of the Borrower’s obligations under this Article III shall survive repayment of all other Obligations hereunder, and resignation of the Administrative Agent.

 

22.                               
UNENCUMBERED PROPERTIES

 

a.                                       Initial Unencumbered Properties.  As of the Closing Date, the Initial Unencumbered Properties shall consist of the Properties set forth on Schedule 4.01 .

 

b.                                       Reserved.

 

c.                                        Notices of Qualification as an Unencumbered Property.  The Borrower shall provide the Administrative Agent with a written notice of an Acceptable Property to be deemed an Unencumbered Property.

 

d.                                       Eligibility.  In order for an Acceptable Property to be eligible for inclusion as an Unencumbered Property, such Acceptable Property shall satisfy the following requirements unless otherwise approved by the Required Lenders:

 

(a)                                  no Material Title Defect with respect to such Acceptable Property shall exist;

 

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(b)                                  such Acceptable Property shall have reasonable access to public utilities; and

 

(c)                                   such Acceptable Property shall not have any material defects.

 

e.                                        Reserved.

 

f.                                         Guaranty.  An Acceptable Property shall not be deemed an Unencumbered Property until the applicable Subsidiary Guarantor shall have executed and delivered (or caused to be executed and delivered) to the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Lenders and any Specified Derivatives Providers, the Subsidiary Guaranty.

 

g.                                        Admission of New Unencumbered Properties.  If, after the date of this Agreement, the Borrower has submitted to the Administrative Agent the notice contemplated by Section 4.03 , then such Acceptable Property shall be deemed to be an Unencumbered Property.

 

h.                                       Reserved.

 

i.                                           Reserved.

 

j.                                          Exclusion Events.  Each of the following events shall be an “ Exclusion Event ” with respect to an Unencumbered Property:

 

(a)                                  such Unencumbered Property suffers a Material Environmental Event or a Material Title Defect after the date of this Agreement which the Administrative Agent determines, acting reasonably and in good faith, materially impairs the Unencumbered Asset Value or marketability of such Unencumbered Property;

 

(b)                                  the Administrative Agent determines that such Unencumbered Property has suffered a Material Property Event after the date such Property was deemed an Unencumbered Property (or in the case of an uninsured Casualty, in respect of such Unencumbered Property, is reasonably likely to become a Material Property Event) which the Administrative Agent determines, acting reasonably and in good faith, materially impairs the Unencumbered Asset Value or marketability of such Unencumbered Property;

 

(c)                                   a Lien for the performance of work or the supply of materials which is established against such Unencumbered Property, or any stop notice served on the owner of such Unencumbered Property, the Administrative Agent or a Lender, remains unsatisfied or unbonded for a period of thirty (30) days after the date of filing or service and such Lien has priority over any Loan previously or thereafter made under this Agreement;

 

(d)                                  (i) any default by any Subsidiary Guarantor, as tenant under any applicable Acceptable Ground Lease, in the observance or performance of any material term, covenant, or condition of any applicable Acceptable Ground Lease on the part of such Subsidiary Guarantor to be observed or performed and said default is not cured following the expiration of any applicable grace and notice periods therein provided, or

 

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(ii)  the leasehold estate created by any applicable Acceptable Ground Lease shall be surrendered or (iii)  any applicable Acceptable Ground Lease shall cease to be in full force and effect or (iv) any applicable Acceptable Ground Lease shall be terminated or canceled for any reason or under any circumstances whatsoever, or any of the material terms, covenants or conditions of any applicable Acceptable Ground Lease shall be modified, changed, supplemented, altered, or amended in any manner not otherwise permitted hereunder without the consent of the Administrative Agent; and

 

(e)                                   the Borrower shall cease to own, directly or indirectly, one hundred percent (100%) of the Equity Interests of any Subsidiary Guarantor that owns an Unencumbered Property free and clear of any Liens (other than Liens in favor of the Administrative Agent).

 

After the occurrence of any Exclusion Event, the Administrative Agent, at the direction of the Required Lenders in their sole discretion, shall have the right at any time and from time to time to notify the Borrower (the “ Exclusion Notice ”) that, effective ten (10) Business Days after the giving of such notice and for so long as such Exclusion Event exists, such Property shall no longer be considered an Unencumbered Property.

 

If the Administrative Agent delivers an Exclusion Notice and such Exclusion Event no longer exists, then the Borrower may give the Administrative Agent written notice thereof (together with reasonably detailed evidence of the cure of such condition) and such Unencumbered Property shall be considered an Unencumbered Property as long as such Unencumbered Property meets all the requirements to be deemed an Unencumbered Property set forth in this Article IV.  Any Property that is excluded from the Unencumbered Properties pursuant to this Section 4.10 may subsequently be reinstated as an Unencumbered Property, even if an Exclusion Event exists, upon such terms and conditions as the Required Lenders may approve.

 

Upon the occurrence of an Default under Section 8.11(a) , the Borrower shall have the right to elect, upon written notice to the Administrative Agent, that the Lenders designate one or more Unencumbered Properties to be excluded as Unencumbered Properties in order to effect compliance with Section 8.11(a) , with the Borrower thereafter having the right to elect to have any such Unencumbered Property thereafter deemed an Unencumbered Property, provided no Exclusion Event shall exist at such time with respect to such Unencumbered Property.

 

23.
CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO CREDIT EXTENSIONS

 

a.                                       Conditions of Initial Credit Extension.  The obligation of each Lender to make its initial Credit Extension hereunder is subject to satisfaction of the following conditions precedent:

 

(a)                                  The Administrative Agent’s receipt of the following, each of which shall be originals or telecopies (followed promptly by originals) unless otherwise specified, each properly executed by a Responsible Officer of the signing Loan Party, each dated the Closing Date (or, in the case of certificates of governmental officials, a recent date before the Closing Date) and each in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and each of the Lenders:

 

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(i)                                      executed counterparts of this Agreement and reaffirmations to the Guaranties sufficient in number for distribution to the Administrative Agent, each Lender, and the Borrower for each Initial Unencumbered Property;

 

(ii)                                   a Note executed by the Borrower in favor of each Lender requesting a Note;

 

(iii)                                copies of the Organization Documents of each Loan Party certified to be true and complete by the appropriate Governmental Authority of the state or other jurisdiction of its incorporation or organization, where applicable, and certified by a Responsible Officer of such Loan Party to be true and correct as of the Closing Date;

 

(iv)                               such certificates of resolutions or other action, incumbency certificates and/or other certificates of Responsible Officers of each Loan Party as the Administrative Agent may require evidencing the identity, authority and capacity of each Responsible Officer thereof authorized to act as a Responsible Officer in connection with this Agreement and the other Loan Documents to which such Loan Party is a party;

 

(v)                                  such documents and certifications as the Administrative Agent may reasonably require to evidence that each of the Borrower, the Parent and STAG Industrial GP, LLC are duly organized or formed, and that the Borrower, the Parent and STAG Industrial GP, LLC are validly existing, in good standing and qualified to engage in business in each jurisdiction where its ownership, lease or operation of properties or the conduct of its business requires such qualification, except to the extent that failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;

 

(vi)                               a favorable opinion of DLA Piper LLP (US), counsel to the Loan Parties, addressed to the Administrative Agent and each Lender, as to the matters set forth in Exhibit G and such other matters concerning the Borrower, the Parent and STAG Industrial GP, LLC and the Loan Documents as the Required Lenders may reasonably request;

 

(vii)                            a certificate of a Responsible Officer of each Loan Party either (A) attaching copies of all consents, licenses and approvals required in connection with the execution, delivery and performance by such Loan Party and the validity against such Loan Party of the Loan Documents to which it is a party, and such consents, licenses and approvals shall be in full force and effect, or (B) stating that no such consents, licenses or approvals are so required;

 

(viii)                         a certificate signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower certifying (A) that the conditions specified in Sections 5.02(a)  and (b)  have been satisfied, and (B) that there has been no event or circumstance since the date of the Audited Financial Statements that has had or could be reasonably expected to have, either individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect;

 

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(ix)                               a duly completed Compliance Certificate as of the Closing Date, signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower;

 

(x)                                  evidence that all insurance required to be maintained pursuant to the Loan Documents has been obtained and is in effect;

 

(xi)                               a Disbursement Instruction Agreement effective as of the Agreement Date; and

 

(xii)                            such other assurances, certificates, documents, consents or opinions as the Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders reasonably may require.

 

(b)                                  Any fees required to be paid on or before the Closing Date shall have been paid.

 

(c)                                   Unless waived by the Administrative Agent, the Borrower shall have paid all fees, charges and disbursements of counsel to the Administrative Agent (directly to such counsel if requested by the Administrative Agent) to the extent invoiced prior to the Closing Date, plus such additional amounts of such fees, charges and disbursements as shall constitute its reasonable estimate of such fees, charges and disbursements incurred or to be incurred by it through the closing proceedings ( provided that such estimate shall not thereafter preclude a final settling of accounts between the Borrower and the Administrative Agent).

 

Without limiting the generality of the provisions of the last paragraph of Section 10.03 , for purposes of determining compliance with the conditions specified in this Section 5.01 , 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.

 

b.                                       Conditions to all Credit Extensions.  The obligation of each Lender to honor any Request for Credit Extension (other than a Committed Loan Notice requesting only a conversion of Committed Loans to the other Type, or a continuation of LIBOR Loans) is subject to the following conditions precedent:

 

(a)                                  The representations and warranties of the Borrower and each other Loan Party contained in Article VI or any other Loan Document, or which are contained in any document furnished at any time under or in connection herewith or therewith, shall be true and correct in all material respects (except in the case of a representation or warranty qualified by materiality or Material Adverse Effect, in which case such representation or warranty shall be true and correct in all respects) on and as of the date of such Credit Extension, except to the extent that such representations and warranties specifically refer to an earlier date, in which case they shall be true and correct in all material respects (except in the case of a representation or warranty qualified by materiality or Material Adverse Effect, in which case such representation or warranty shall be true and correct in

 

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all respects) as of such earlier date, and except that for purposes of this Section   5.02 , the representations and warranties contained in Section 6.05(b)  shall be deemed to refer to the most-recent statements furnished pursuant to Section 7.01(b) .

 

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

 

(c)                                   The Administrative Agent shall have received a Request for Credit Extension in accordance with the requirements hereof.

 

(d)                                  After giving effect to such proposed Credit Extension, the Borrower shall be in compliance with Section 2.01(c) .

 

Each Request for Credit Extension (other than a Committed Loan Notice requesting only a conversion of Committed Loans to the other Type or a continuation of LIBOR Loans) submitted by the Borrower shall be deemed to be a representation and warranty that the conditions specified in Sections   5.02(a) , (b) , and (d)  have been satisfied on and as of the date of the applicable Credit Extension.

 

24.
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

 

Each of the Parent and the Borrower represents and warrants to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders that:

 

a.                                       Existence, Qualification and Power; Compliance with Laws.  The Parent, the Borrower and each Subsidiary Guarantor (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) in the case of the Loan Parties, 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 (b)(i)  or (c)  to the extent that failure to do so would not have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

b.                                       Authorization; No Contravention.  The execution, delivery and performance by each Loan Party of each Loan Document to which such Person is 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 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.

 

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c.                                        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 the execution, delivery or performance by, or enforcement against, any Loan Party of this Agreement or any other Loan Document except for those that have been obtained, taken or made, as the case may be, and those specified herein.

 

d.                                       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, except as enforcement may be limited by Debtor Relief Laws or general equitable principles relating to or limiting creditors’ rights generally.

 

e.                                        Financial Statements; No Material Adverse Effect.

 

(a)                                  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 the financial condition of the Parent as of the date thereof and their results of operations for each period covered thereby in accordance with GAAP consistently applied throughout the each period covered thereby, except as otherwise expressly noted therein; and (iii) show all material indebtedness and other liabilities, direct or contingent, of the Parent as of the date thereof, including liabilities for taxes, material commitments and Indebtedness required by GAAP to be reflected therein.

 

(b)                                  The most recent unaudited consolidated balance sheet of the Parent delivered pursuant to Section 7.01(b) , 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 the financial condition of the Parent as of the date thereof and its results of operations 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)                                   From and after the date of the Audited Financial Statements, and thereafter, from and after the date of the most recent financial statements delivered pursuant to Section 7.01(a)  or 7.01(b), there has been no event or circumstance, either individually or in the aggregate, that has had or would have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

f.                                         Litigation.  There are no actions, suits, proceedings, claims or disputes pending or, to the knowledge of any Company, threatened or contemplated, at law, in equity, in arbitration or before any Governmental Authority, by or against any Company 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) except as specifically disclosed in Schedule 6.06 , either individually or in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, and there has been no adverse change in the status, or

 

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financial effect on any Company, of the matters described on Schedule  6.06 , which change could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

g.                                        No Default.  No Company is in default under or with respect 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.

 

h.                                       Ownership of Property; Liens; Equity Interests.  Each Subsidiary Guarantor has good record and marketable title in fee simple to, or valid leasehold interests in, all Unencumbered Properties 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.  Each applicable Subsidiary Guarantor has good record and marketable fee simple title (or, in the case of Acceptable Ground Leases, a valid leasehold) to the Unencumbered Property owned by such Subsidiary Guarantor, subject only to Liens permitted by Section 8.01 .  All of the outstanding Equity Interests in each Subsidiary Guarantor have been validly issued, are fully paid and non-assessable and are owned by the applicable holders free and clear of all Liens (other than Liens permitted by Section 8.01 ).

 

i.                                           Environmental Compliance.

 

(a)                                  The Companies conduct in the ordinary course of business a review of 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 Parent and the Borrower have reasonably concluded that, except as specifically disclosed in Schedule 6.09 , such Environmental Laws and claims could not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(b)                                  After due inquiry in accordance with good commercial or customary practices to determine whether Contamination is present on any Property, without regard to whether the Administrative Agent or any Lender has or hereafter obtains any knowledge or report of the environmental condition of such Property, except as may be indicated in environmental reports delivered to the Administrative Agent and except to the extent the same could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect: (i) such Property has not been used (A) for landfilling, dumping, or other waste or Hazardous Material disposal activities or operations, or (B) for generation, storage, use, sale, treatment, processing, or recycling of any Hazardous Material, or for any other use that has resulted in Contamination, and in each case, to each Company’s knowledge, no such use on any adjacent property occurred at any time prior to the date hereof; (ii) there is no Hazardous Material, storage tank (or similar vessel) whether underground or otherwise, sump or well currently on any Property; (iii) no Company has received any notice of, or has knowledge of, any Environmental Claim or any completed, pending, proposed or threatened investigation or inquiry concerning the presence or release of any Hazardous Material on any Property or any adjacent property or concerning whether any condition, use or activity on any Property or any adjacent property is in violation of any Environmental Requirement; (iv) the present conditions, uses, and activities on each

 

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Property do not violate any Environmental Requirement and the use of any Property which any Company (and each tenant and subtenant) makes and intends to make of any Property complies and will comply with all applicable Environmental Requirements; (v) no Property appears on the National Priorities List, any federal or state “superfund” or “superlien” list, or any other list or database of properties maintained by any local, state, or federal agency or department showing properties which are known to contain or which are suspected of containing a Hazardous Material; (vi) no Company has ever applied for and been denied environmental impairment liability insurance coverage relating to any Property; (vii) no Company has, nor, to any Company’s knowledge, have any tenants or subtenants, obtained any permit or authorization to construct, occupy, operate, use, or conduct any activity on any Property by reason of any Environmental Requirement; and (viii) to any Company’s knowledge, there are no underground or aboveground storage tanks on such Property.

 

j.                                          Insurance.  The properties of the Loan Parties are insured with financially sound and reputable insurance companies not Affiliates of any Loan Party, 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 Loan Parties operate.

 

k.                                       Taxes.  The Companies have filed all material Federal, state and other tax returns and reports required to be filed, and have paid all material Federal, state and other 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 or which would not result in a Material Adverse Effect.  There is no proposed tax assessment against any Company that would, if made, have a Material Adverse Effect. Neither any Loan Party nor any Subsidiary thereof is party to any tax sharing agreement.

 

l.                                           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.  Each Pension Plan that is intended to be a qualified plan under Section 401(a)  of the Code has received a favorable determination letter from the Internal Revenue Service 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 Internal Revenue Service 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 Internal Revenue Service.  To the best knowledge of the Parent and the Borrower, nothing has occurred that would prevent or cause the loss of such tax-qualified status.  The Parent and each ERISA Affiliate have made all required contributions to each Plan subject to Section 412 of the Code, and no application for a funding waiver or an extension of any amortization period pursuant to Section 412 of the Code has been made with respect to any Plan.

 

(b)                                  There are no pending or, to the best knowledge of the Parent and the Borrower, threatened claims, actions or lawsuits, or action by any Governmental

 

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Authority, with respect to any Plan that would have a Material Adverse Effect.  There has been no prohibited transaction or violation of the fiduciary responsibility rules with respect to any Plan that has resulted or would have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(c)                                   (i) No ERISA Event has occurred, and neither the Parent nor any ERISA Affiliate is aware of any fact, event or circumstance that would constitute or result in an ERISA Event with respect to any Pension Plan; (ii) the Parent and each ERISA Affiliate has met all applicable requirements under the Pension Funding Rules in respect of each Pension Plan, and no waiver of the minimum funding standards under the Pension Funding Rules has been applied for or obtained; (iii) as of the most-recent valuation date for any Pension Plan, the funding target attainment percentage (as defined in Section 430(d)(2)  of the Code) is 60% or higher and neither the Parent nor any ERISA Affiliate knows of any facts or circumstances that would cause the funding target attainment percentage for any such plan to drop below 60% as of the most-recent valuation date; (iv) neither the Parent nor any ERISA Affiliate has incurred any liability to the PBGC other than for the payment of premiums, and there are no premium payments which have become due that are unpaid; (v) neither the Parent nor any ERISA Affiliate has engaged in a transaction that could be subject to Section 4069 or Section 4212(c)  of ERISA; and (vi) no Pension Plan has been terminated by the plan administrator thereof nor by the PBGC, and no event or circumstance has occurred or exists that would cause the PBGC to institute proceedings under Title IV of ERISA to terminate any Pension Plan, in each case, that would result in a liability, individually, or in the aggregate, in excess of the Threshold Amount.

 

(d)                                  As of the Second Amendment Effective Date, the Borrower is not, nor will be using “plan assets” (within the meaning of 29 CFR § 2510.3-101, as modified by Section 3(42) of ERISA) of one or more Benefit Plans in connection with the Loans or the Commitments.

 

m.                                   Subsidiaries; Equity Interests.  As of the Closing Date, the Parent and the Borrower have no Subsidiaries other than those specifically disclosed in Part (a) of Schedule 6.13 , and all of the outstanding Equity Interests in such Subsidiaries have been validly issued, are fully paid and non-assessable and are owned by a Company in the amounts specified on Part (a) of Schedule   6.13 free and clear of all Liens.  As of the Closing Date, neither the Parent nor the Borrower has any direct or indirect Equity Interests in any other Person other than those specifically disclosed in Part (b) of Schedule   6.13 .  All of the outstanding Equity Interests in each Subsidiary Guarantor have been validly issued, are fully paid and non-assessable and are owned by the applicable holders in the amounts specified on Part (c) of Schedule   6.13 free and clear of all Liens.

 

n.                                       Margin Regulations; Investment Company Act .

 

(a)                                  Neither the Parent nor the Borrower is 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.

 

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

 

o.                                       Disclosure.

 

(a)                                  The Parent and the Borrower have disclosed to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders all agreements, instruments and corporate or other restrictions to which any Company is subject, and all other matters known to them, that, individually or in the aggregate, would have a Material Adverse Effect.  The reports, financial statements, certificates or other information furnished (whether in writing or orally) by or on behalf of any Company 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), taken as a whole, do not contain any material misstatement of fact or fail to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided that (a) with respect to projected financial information, the Parent and the Borrower represent only that such information was prepared in good faith based upon assumptions believed to be reasonable at the time made, and (b) with respect to any lease abstracts provided by the Borrower, to the best of the Borrower’s knowledge, same will not contain any material misstatement of fact or fail to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

 

(b)                                  As of the Second Amendment Effective Date, the information included in the Beneficial Ownership Certification is true and correct in all respects.

 

p.                                       Compliance with Laws.  Each Company is in compliance in all material respects 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, would have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

q.                                       Taxpayer Identification Number.  As of the date hereof, each Loan Party’s true and correct U.S. taxpayer identification number is set forth on Schedule 11.02 .

 

r.                                          Intellectual Property; Licenses, Etc.  Each Loan Party owns, or possesses the right to use, all of the trademarks, service marks, trade names, copyrights, patents, patent rights, franchises, licenses and other intellectual property rights (collectively, “ IP Rights ”) that are reasonably necessary for the operation of their respective businesses, without conflict with the rights of any other Person except, in each case, where the failure to do so would have a Material Adverse Effect.  To the best knowledge of each Loan Party, 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 infringes upon any rights held by any other Person except where such infringement would not have a Material Adverse Effect.  Except as

 

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specifically disclosed in Schedule 6.18 , no claim or litigation regarding any of the foregoing is pending or, to the best knowledge of each Loan Party, threatened, which, either individually or in the aggregate, would have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

s.                                         Reserved .

 

t.                                          Solvency.  No Loan Party (a) has entered into the transaction or executed this Agreement or any other Loan Document with the actual intent to hinder, delay or defraud any creditor and (b) has not received reasonably equivalent value in exchange for its obligations under the Loan Documents.  After giving effect to any Loan, the fair saleable value of the Loan Parties’ assets, taken as a whole, exceeds and will, immediately following the making of any such Loan, exceed the Loan Parties’ total liabilities, including subordinated, unliquidated, disputed and contingent liabilities.  The Loan Parties’ assets, taken as a whole, do not constitute unreasonably small capital to carry out their business as conducted or as proposed to be conducted, nor will their assets constitute unreasonably small capital immediately following the making of any Loan.  The Loan Parties do not intend to incur debt and liabilities (including contingent liabilities and other commitments) beyond their ability to pay such debt and liabilities as they mature (taking into account the timing and amounts of cash to be received by the Loan Parties and the amounts to be payable on or in respect of obligations of the Loan Parties).  No petition under any Debtor Relief Laws has been filed against any Loan Party in the last seven (7) years, and neither the Borrower nor any other Loan Party in the last seven (7) years has ever made an assignment for the benefit of creditors or taken advantage of any insolvency act for the benefit of debtors.  No Loan Party is contemplating either the filing of a petition by it under any Debtor Relief Laws or the liquidation of all or a major portion of its assets or property (except for dispositions permitted hereunder), and no Loan Party has knowledge of any Person contemplating the filing of any such petition against it or any other Loan Party.

 

u.                                       REIT Status of the Parent.  The Parent qualified as a REIT commencing with its taxable year ending December 31, 2013 and will remain qualified in each taxable year thereafter.

 

v.                                       Labor Matters.  There is (a) no significant unfair labor practice complaint pending against any Company or, to the best of each Company’s knowledge, threatened against any Company, before the National Labor Relations Board, and no significant grievance or significant arbitration proceeding arising out of or under any collective bargaining agreement is pending on the date hereof against any Company or, to best of any Company’s knowledge, threatened against any Company which, in either case, would result in a Material Adverse Effect, and (b) no significant strike, labor dispute, slowdown or stoppage is pending against any Company or, to the best of any Company’s knowledge, threatened against any Company which would result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

w.                                     Ground Lease Representation.

 

(a)                                  The applicable Subsidiary Guarantor has delivered to the Administrative Agent true and correct copies of each Acceptable Ground Lease to the extent requested by the Administrative Agent.

 

(b)                                  Each Acceptable Ground Lease is in full force and effect.

 

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x.                                       Unencumbered Properties .  To the Borrower’s knowledge and except where the failure of any of the following to be true and correct would not have a Material Adverse Effect:

 

(a)                                  Each Unencumbered Property complies with all Laws, including all subdivision and platting requirements, without reliance on any adjoining or neighboring property.  No Loan Party has received any notice or claim from any Person that an Unencumbered Property, or any use, activity, operation, or maintenance thereof or thereon, is not in compliance with any Law, and has no knowledge of any such noncompliance except as disclosed in writing to the Administrative Agent;

 

(b)                                  The Loan Parties have not directly or indirectly conveyed, assigned, or otherwise disposed of, or transferred (or agreed to do so) any development rights, air rights, or other similar rights, privileges, or attributes with respect to an Unencumbered Property, including those arising under any zoning or property use ordinance or other Laws;

 

(c)                                   All utility services necessary for the use of each Unencumbered Property and the operation thereof for their intended purpose are available at each Unencumbered Property;

 

(d)                                  The current use of each Unencumbered Property complies in all material respects with all applicable zoning ordinances, regulations, and restrictive covenants affecting such Unencumbered Property, all use restrictions of any Governmental Authority having jurisdiction have been satisfied; and

 

(e)                                   No Unencumbered Property is the subject of any pending or, to any Loan Party’s knowledge, threatened Condemnation or material adverse zoning proceeding for which the Administrative Agent has not been notified in accordance with Section 7.03(f) .

 

y.                                       OFAC.   No Loan Party, nor, to the knowledge of any Loan Party, any Related Party, (i) is currently the subject of any Sanctions, (ii) is located, organized or residing in any Designated Jurisdiction, or (iii) is or has been (within the previous five (5) years) engaged in any transaction with any Person who is now or was then the subject of Sanctions or who is located, organized or residing in any Designated Jurisdiction.  No Loan, nor the proceeds from any Loan, has been used, directly or indirectly, to lend, contribute, provide or has otherwise made available to fund any activity or business in any Designated Jurisdiction or to fund any activity or business of any Person located, organized or residing in any Designated Jurisdiction or who is the subject of any Sanctions, or in any other manner that will result in any violation by any Person (including any Lender, the Lead Arranger or the Administrative Agent) of Sanctions.  Each Loan Party, their respective officers and, to the knowledge of the Parent and the Borrower, its respective directors, employees and agents and any Related Party, are in compliance with Anti-Corruption Laws and applicable Sanctions in all material respects. No Credit Extension, use of the proceeds of any Credit Extension, or other transactions contemplated hereby will violate Anti-Corruption Laws or applicable Sanctions.  Neither the making of the Credit Extensions hereunder nor the use of the proceeds thereof will violate the Patriot Act, the Trading with the Enemy Act, as amended, or any of the foreign assets control regulations of the United States Treasury Department (31 C.F.R., Subtitle B, Chapter V, as amended) or any enabling legislation

 

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or executive order relating thereto or successor statute thereto. Each Loan Party is in compliance in all material respects with the Patriot Act.

 

z.                                        EEA Financial Institutions.    No Loan Party is an EEA Financial Institution.

 

25.
AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS

 

So long as any Loan or other Obligation hereunder (excluding contingent indemnification obligations to the extent no unsatisfied claim giving rise thereto has been asserted) shall remain unpaid or unsatisfied:

 

a.                                       Financial Statements.  Each of the Parent and the Borrower shall deliver to the Administrative Agent and each Lender, in form and detail reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the Required Lenders:

 

(a)                                  as soon as available, but in any event within one hundred five (105) days after the end of each fiscal year of the Parent (or, if earlier, fifteen (15) days after the date required to be filed with the SEC without giving effect to any extension permitted by the SEC) (commencing with the fiscal year ending December 31, 2016, a consolidated balance sheet of the Parent 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, all in reasonable detail and prepared in accordance with GAAP, such consolidated statements to be audited and accompanied by a report and opinion of an independent certified public accountant of nationally recognized standing reasonably acceptable to the Required Lenders, 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; and

 

(b)                                  as soon as available, but in any event within sixty (60) days after the end of each of the first three (3) fiscal quarters of each fiscal year of the Parent (or, if earlier, five (5) days after the date required to be filed with the SEC) (commencing with the fiscal quarter ending March 31, 2017), a consolidated balance sheet of the Parent, the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as at the end of such fiscal quarter, the related consolidated statements of income or operations for such fiscal quarter and for the portion of the Parent’s fiscal year then ended, and the related consolidated statements of changes in shareholders’ equity, and cash flows for the portion of the Parent’s fiscal year then ended, in each case setting forth in comparative form, as applicable, the figures for the corresponding fiscal quarter of the previous fiscal year and the corresponding portion of the previous fiscal year, all in reasonable detail, such consolidated statements to be certified by the chief executive officer, chief financial officer, treasurer or controller of the Parent as fairly presenting the financial condition, results of operations, shareholders’ equity and cash flows of the Parent in accordance with GAAP, subject only to normal year-end audit adjustments and the absence of footnotes

 

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As to any information contained in materials furnished pursuant to Section 7.02 , the Parent and the Borrower shall not be separately required to furnish such information under clause (a)  or (b)  above, but the foregoing shall not be in derogation of the obligation of the Parent and the Borrower to furnish the information and materials described in clauses (a)  and (b)  above at the times specified therein.

 

b.                                       Certificates; Other Information.  Each of the Parent and the Borrower shall deliver to the Administrative Agent and each Lender, in form and detail reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the Required Lenders:

 

(a)                                  concurrently with the delivery of the financial statements referred to in Sections 7.01(a)  and (b) , a duly completed Compliance Certificate signed by the chief executive officer, chief financial officer, chief accounting officer, treasurer or controller of the Borrower (which delivery may, unless the Administrative Agent or a Lender requests executed originals, be by electronic communication including fax or email and shall be deemed to be an original authentic counterpart thereof for all purposes);

 

(b)                                  promptly after any request by the Administrative Agent, copies of any detailed audit opinions or review reports submitted to the board of directors (or the audit committee of the board of directors) of the Parent by independent accountants in connection with the accounts or books of the Parent;

 

(c)                                   promptly after the same are available, copies of each annual report, proxy or financial statement or other report or communication sent to the stockholders of the Parent, and copies of all annual, regular, periodic and special reports and registration statements which the Borrower may file or be required to file with the SEC under Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and not otherwise required to be delivered to the Administrative Agent pursuant hereto;

 

(d)                                     promptly after the furnishing thereof, copies of any statement or report furnished to any holder of publicly-held debt securities of the Parent or the Borrower 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 7.01 or any other clause of this Section 7.02 ;

 

(e)                                   promptly, and in any event within five (5) Business Days after receipt thereof by the Parent or the Borrower, copies of each notice or other correspondence received from the SEC (or comparable agency in any applicable non-U.S. jurisdiction) concerning any material investigation or other material inquiry by such agency regarding financial or other operational results of any Company unless restricted from doing so by such agency; and

 

(f)                                    promptly, such additional information regarding the business, financial or corporate affairs of the Parent or the Borrower or any Unencumbered

 

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Property, 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 7.01(a)  or (b)  or Section 7.02(c)  (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 (i) on which the Parent or the Borrower (A) files any such document with the Securities and Exchange Commission’s EDGAR system (or any successor thereto) in a manner accessible to the public at large or (B) posts such documents, or provides a link thereto on the Parent and the Borrower’s website on the Internet at the website address listed on Schedule 11.02 ; or (ii) on which such documents are posted on the Parent and the Borrower’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). 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 and the Borrower 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.

 

The Parent and the Borrower hereby acknowledge that (a) the Administrative Agent and/or the Lead Arranger will make available to the Lenders materials and/or information provided by or on behalf of the Parent and the Borrower hereunder (collectively, the “Borrower Materials”) by posting the Borrower Materials on IntraLinks, SyndTrak or another similar electronic system (the “Platform”) and (b) certain of the Lenders (each, a “Public Lender”) may have personnel who do not wish to receive material non-public information with respect to the Parent, the Borrower or their Affiliates, or the respective Equity Interests of any of the foregoing, and who may be engaged in investment and other market-related activities with respect to such Persons’ Equity Interests. The Parent and the Borrower hereby agree that (w) all the Borrower Materials that are to be made available to the Public Lenders shall be clearly and conspicuously marked “PUBLIC” which, at a minimum, shall mean that the word “PUBLIC” shall appear prominently on the first page thereof; (x) by marking the Borrower Materials “PUBLIC,” the Parent and the Borrower shall be deemed to have authorized the Administrative Agent, the Lead Arranger and the Lenders to treat such Borrower Materials as not containing any material non-public information with respect to the Parent and the Borrower or their Equity Interests for purposes of United States Federal and state securities laws (provided that to the extent such Borrower Materials constitute Information, they shall be treated as set forth in Section 11.07 ); (y) all the Borrower Materials marked “PUBLIC” are permitted to be made available through a portion of the Platform designated “Public Side Information;” and (z) the Administrative Agent and the Lead Arranger shall be entitled to treat any the Borrower Materials that are not marked “PUBLIC” as being suitable only for posting on a portion of the Platform not designated “Public Side Information.”

 

c.                                        Notices.  Each of the Parent and the Borrower shall, upon becoming aware of same, promptly notify the Administrative Agent who shall notify each Lender:

 

(a)                                  of the occurrence of any Default;

 

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

 

(c)                                   of the occurrence of any ERISA Event which has resulted or would result in liabilities of any Company in an aggregate amount in excess of the Threshold Amount;

 

(d)                                  of any material litigation, arbitration or governmental investigation or proceeding instituted or threatened in writing against any Unencumbered Property, and any material development therein;

 

(e)                                   of any announcement by Moody’s, Fitch or S&P of any change in a Debt Rating or in its “outlook” with respect to a Debt Rating;

 

(f)                                    of any actual or threatened in writing Condemnation or zoning proceeding of any portion of any Unencumbered Property, any negotiations with respect to any such taking, or any material loss of or substantial damage to any Unencumbered Property, in each case, except to the extent that the same could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;

 

(g)                                   of any Casualty with respect to any Unencumbered Property except to the extent that the same could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;

 

(h)                                  of any material permit, license, certificate or approval required with respect to any Unencumbered Property that lapses or ceases to be in full force and effect or any claim from any person that any Unencumbered Property, or any use, activity, operation or maintenance thereof or thereon, is not in compliance with any Law, in each case, except to the extent that the same could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;

 

(i)                                      of any material change in accounting policies or financial reporting practices by any Company, including any determination by the Borrower referred to in Section 2.10(b) ; and

 

(j)                                     of any labor controversy pending or threatened against any Company, and any material development in any labor controversy except to the extent that the same could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

Each notice pursuant to this Section  7.03 shall be accompanied by a statement of a Responsible Officer of the Parent and the Borrower setting forth details of the occurrence referred to therein and stating what action the Parent and/or the Borrower has taken and proposes to take with respect thereto.  Each notice pursuant to Section  7.03(a)  shall describe with particularity any and all provisions of this Agreement and any other Loan Document that have been breached.

 

d.                                       Payment of Obligations.  Each of the Parent and the Borrower shall, and shall cause each other Loan Party to, pay and discharge as the same shall become due and payable, all its obligations and liabilities, including: (a) all tax liabilities, assessments and governmental charges or levies upon a Loan Party or its properties or assets, unless the same are being

 

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contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted and adequate reserves in accordance with GAAP are being maintained by such Loan Party; (b) all lawful claims which, if unpaid, would by law become a Lien upon its property other than Liens of the type permitted under Sections 8.01(a)  through (g) ; and (c) all Indebtedness, as and when due and payable except, in each case, where the failure to do so would not result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

e.                                        Preservation of Existence, Etc.  Each of the Parent and the Borrower shall, and shall cause each other Loan Party to (a) preserve, renew and maintain in full force and effect its legal existence and good standing under the Laws of the jurisdiction of its organization except in a transaction permitted by Section  8.04 ; (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 would not have a Material Adverse Effect; and (c) preserve or renew all of its IP Rights, the non-preservation of which would have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

f.                                         Maintenance of Properties.  Each of the Parent and the Borrower shall, and shall cause each other Company to (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 except to the extent the failure to do so would not result in a Material Adverse Effect; (b) make all necessary repairs thereto and renewals and replacements thereof except where the failure to do so would not have a Material Adverse Effect; (c) use the standard of care typical in the industry in the operation and maintenance of its (i) Unencumbered Properties, and, (ii) as to its other Properties except where the failure to do so would not have a Material Adverse Effect; and (d) keep the Unencumbered Properties in good order, repair, operating condition, and appearance, causing all necessary repairs, renewals, replacements, additions, and improvements to be promptly made, and not allow any of the Unencumbered Properties to be misused, abused or wasted or to deteriorate (ordinary wear and tear excepted) except where the failure to do so would not have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

g.                                        Maintenance of Insurance.  Each of the Parent and the Borrower shall, and shall cause each other Company to, maintain with financially sound and reputable insurance companies not Affiliates of any Company, insurance (including flood insurance if available or required) 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.

 

h.                                       Compliance with Laws; Beneficial Ownership Regulations Each of the Parent and the Borrower shall, and shall cause each other Subsidiary Guarantor to, (a) comply in all material respects with the requirements of all Laws (including without limitation Anti-Corruption Laws and applicable Sanctions) and all orders, writs, injunctions and decrees applicable to it or to its business or property, except in such instances in which (i) such requirement of Law or order, writ, injunction or decree is being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted; or (ii) the failure to comply therewith would not have a Material Adverse Effect, (b) notify the Administrative Agent and each Lender that previously received a Beneficial Ownership Certification of any change in the information provided in the Beneficial Ownership Certification that would result in a change to the list of beneficial owners identified therein, and

 

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(c) promptly upon the reasonably request of the Administrative Agent or any Lender, provide the Administrative Agent or such Lender, as the case may be, any information or documentation requested by it for purposes of complying with the Beneficial Ownership Regulation .

 

i.                                           Books and Records.  Each of the Parent and the Borrower shall, and shall cause each other Company to: (a) 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 each Company, as the case may be; and (b) maintain such books of record and account in material conformity with all applicable requirements of any Governmental Authority having regulatory jurisdiction over any Company, as the case may be.

 

j.                                          Inspection Rights.  Subject to the rights of tenants, each of the Parent and the Borrower shall, and shall cause each other Loan Party to, permit representatives and independent contractors of the Administrative Agent and each Lender, at the expense of the Administrative Agent or such Lender, to visit and inspect and photograph any Unencumbered Property and any of its other properties, to examine its corporate, financial and operating records, and all recorded data of any kind or nature, regardless of the medium of recording including all software, writings, plans, specifications and schematics, and make copies thereof or abstracts therefrom, and to discuss its affairs, finances and accounts with its officers all at the expense of the Borrower and at such reasonable times during normal business hours, upon reasonable advance notice to the applicable Loan Party and no more often than once in any period of twelve (12) consecutive months unless an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing; provided that when an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing 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 Borrower at any time during normal business hours and without advance notice, subject to the rights of tenants.  Any inspection or audit of the Unencumbered Properties or the books and records, including recorded data of any kind or nature, regardless of the medium of recording including software, writings, plans, specifications and schematics of any Loan Party, or the procuring of documents and financial and other information, by the Administrative Agent on behalf of itself or on behalf of the Lenders shall be for the Administrative Agent’s and the Lenders’ protection only, and shall not constitute any assumption of responsibility to any Loan Party or anyone else with regard to the condition, construction, maintenance or operation of the Unencumbered Properties nor the Administrative Agent’s approval of any certification given to the Administrative Agent nor relieve any Loan Party of the Borrower’s or any other Loan Party’s obligations.

 

k.                                       Use of Proceeds.  Each of the Parent and the Borrower shall, and shall cause each other Company to, use the proceeds of the Credit Extensions (a) to refinance the obligations of the Companies under existing facilities, (b) to finance the acquisition of Properties, (c) to pay operating and leasing expenses with respect to its Properties, and (d) for general corporate purposes, in each case, not in contravention of any Law or of any Loan Document.

 

l.                                           Environmental Matters.  Each of the Parent and the Borrower shall, and shall cause each other Loan Party to:

 

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(a)                                  Violations; Notice to the Administrative Agent .  Use reasonable efforts to:

 

(i)                                      Keep the Unencumbered Properties free of Contamination, except to the extent that any failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;

 

(ii)                                   Promptly deliver to the Administrative Agent a copy of each report pertaining to any Property or to any Loan Party prepared by or on behalf of such Loan Party pursuant to a material violation of any Environmental Requirement to the extent that the same could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; and

 

(iii)                                As soon as practicable advise the Administrative Agent in writing of any Environmental Claim or of the discovery of any Contamination on any Unencumbered Property that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, as soon as any Loan Party first obtains knowledge thereof, including a description of the nature and extent of the Environmental Claim and/or Hazardous Material and all relevant circumstances.

 

(b)                                  Site Assessments and Information .  If the Parent or the Borrower fails to comply with Section 7.12(a)  or if any other Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, then if requested by the Administrative Agent, at the Borrower’s expense, deliver to the Administrative Agent from time to time, but no more frequently than once per calendar year unless an Event of Default exists, in each case within seventy five (75) days after the Administrative Agent’s request, an Environmental Assessment (hereinafter defined) made after the date of the Administrative Agent’s request.  As used in this Agreement, the term “ Environmental Assessment ” means a report of an environmental assessment of any or all Unencumbered Properties and of such scope so as to be compliant with the guidelines established by the ASTM (including the taking of soil borings and air and groundwater samples and other above and below ground testing) as the Administrative Agent may reasonably request to be performed by a licensed environmental consulting firm reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent.  Each applicable Loan Party shall cooperate with each consulting firm making any such Environmental Assessment and shall supply to the consulting firm all information available to such Loan Party to facilitate the completion of the Environmental Assessment.  If any Loan Party fails to furnish the Administrative Agent within thirty (30) days after the Administrative Agent’s request with a copy of an agreement with an acceptable environmental consulting firm to provide such Environmental Assessment, or if any Loan Party fails to furnish to the Administrative Agent such Environmental Assessment within seventy five (75) days after the Administrative Agent’s request, upon written notice to the Parent and the Borrower, the Administrative Agent may cause any such Environmental Assessment to be made at the Borrower’s expense and risk.  Subject to the rights of tenant, the Administrative Agent and its designees are hereby granted access to the Unencumbered Properties upon written notice, and a license which is coupled with an interest and irrevocable, to make or cause to be made such Environmental Assessments.  The Administrative Agent may disclose to any

 

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Governmental Authority, to the extent required by Applicable Law, any information the Administrative Agent ever has about the environmental condition or compliance of the Unencumbered Properties, but shall be under no duty to disclose any such information except as may be required by Law.  The Administrative Agent shall be under no duty to make any Environmental Assessment of the Unencumbered Properties, and in no event shall any such Environmental Assessment by the Administrative Agent be or give rise to a representation that any Hazardous Material is or is not present on the Unencumbered Properties, or that there has been or shall be compliance with any Environmental Requirement, nor shall any Company or any other Person be entitled to rely on any Environmental Assessment made by the Administrative Agent or at the Administrative Agent’s request but the Administrative Agent shall deliver a copy of such report to the Parent and the Borrower.  Neither the Administrative Agent nor any Lender owes any duty of care to protect any Company or any other Person against, or to inform them of, any Hazardous Material or other adverse condition affecting the Unencumbered Properties.

 

(c)                                   Remedial Actions .  If any Contamination which could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect is discovered on any Unencumbered Property at any time and regardless of the cause, (i) promptly at the applicable Loan Parties’ sole expense, remove, treat, and dispose of the Hazardous Material in compliance with all applicable Environmental Requirements in addition to taking such other action as is necessary to have the full use and benefit of such Unencumbered Property as contemplated by the Loan Documents, and provide the Administrative Agent with satisfactory evidence thereof; and (ii) if reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent, provide to the Administrative Agent within thirty (30) days of the Administrative Agent’s request a bond, letter of credit, or other financial assurance, including self-assurance,  evidencing to the Administrative Agent’s satisfaction that all necessary funds are readily available to pay the costs and expenses of the actions required by the preceding clause (i) and to discharge any assessments or liens established against such Unencumbered Property as a result of the presence of the Hazardous Material on the Unencumbered Property. After completion of such remedial actions, the applicable Loan Party shall promptly request regulatory approval, take all reasonable measures to expedite issuance of such approval and upon receipt thereof deliver to the Administrative Agent a letter indicating that no further action is required with respect to the applicable Unencumbered Property or similar confirmation by the applicable regulator that all required remedial action as stated above has been taken and successfully completed to the satisfaction of the applicable regulator.  The Loan Parties shall not be deemed to have satisfied their remedial obligations under this provision until they have provided the Administrative Agent such confirmation.

 

m.                                   Ground Leases Solely with respect to Unencumbered Property, each of the Parent and the Borrower shall, and shall cause each other Loan Party to:

 

(a)                                  Diligently perform and observe in all material respects all of the terms, covenants, and conditions of any Acceptable Ground Lease as tenant under such Acceptable Ground Lease; and

 

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(b)                                  Promptly notify the Administrative Agent of (i) the giving to the applicable Subsidiary Guarantor of any notice of any default by such Subsidiary Guarantor under any Acceptable Ground Lease and deliver to the Administrative Agent a true copy of each such notice within five (5) Business Days of such Subsidiary Guarantor’s receipt thereof, and (ii) any bankruptcy, reorganization, or insolvency of the landlord under any Acceptable Ground Lease or of any notice thereof, and deliver to the Administrative Agent a true copy of such notice within five (5) Business Days of the applicable Subsidiary Guarantor’s receipt.

 

(c)                                   Exercise any individual option to extend or renew the term of an Acceptable Ground Lease upon demand by the Administrative Agent made at any time within thirty (30) days prior to the last day upon which any such option may be exercised, and each applicable Subsidiary Guarantor hereby expressly authorizes and appoints the Administrative Agent as its attorney-in-fact to exercise any such option in the name of and upon behalf of such Subsidiary Guarantor, which power of attorney shall be irrevocable and shall be deemed to be coupled with an interest.

 

If the applicable Subsidiary Guarantor shall default in the performance or observance of any term, covenant, or condition of any Acceptable Ground Lease on the part of such Subsidiary Guarantor and shall fail to cure the same prior to the expiration of any applicable cure period provided thereunder, then the Administrative Agent shall have the right, but shall be under no obligation, to pay any sums and to perform any act or take any action as may be appropriate to cause all of the terms, covenants, and conditions of such Acceptable Ground Lease on the part of such Subsidiary Guarantor to be performed or observed on behalf of such Subsidiary Guarantor, to the end that the rights of such Subsidiary Guarantor in, to, and under such Acceptable Ground Lease shall be kept unimpaired and free from default.  If the landlord under any Acceptable Ground Lease shall deliver to the Administrative Agent a copy of any notice of default under such Acceptable Ground Lease, then such notice shall constitute full protection to the Administrative Agent for any action taken or omitted to be taken by the Administrative Agent, in good faith, in reliance thereon.

 

n.                                       Unencumbered Properties.

 

(a)                                  Except where the failure to comply with any of the following would not have a Material Adverse Effect, each of the Parent and the Borrower shall, and shall use commercially reasonable efforts to cause each other Loan Party or the applicable tenant, to:

 

(i)                                      Pay all real estate and personal property taxes, assessments, water rates or sewer rents, ground rents, maintenance charges, impositions, and any other charges, including vault charges and license fees for the use of vaults, chutes and similar areas adjoining any Unencumbered Property, now or hereafter levied or assessed or imposed against any Unencumbered Property or any part thereof (except those which are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted);

 

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(ii)                                   Promptly pay (or cause to be paid) when due all bills and costs for labor, materials, and specifically fabricated materials incurred in connection with any Unencumbered Property (except those which are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted), and in any event never permit to be created or exist in respect of any Unencumbered Property or any part thereof any other or additional Lien or security interest other than Liens permitted by Section 8.01 ; and

 

(iii)                                Operate the Unencumbered Properties in a good and workmanlike manner and in all material respects in accordance with all Laws in accordance with such Loan Party’s prudent business judgment.

 

(b)                                  Except where the failure would not have a material and adverse effect on the value of the Unencumbered Properties, taken as whole, each of the Parent and the Borrower shall, and shall cause each other Loan Party to, to the extent owned and controlled by a Loan Party, preserve, protect, renew, extend and retain all material rights and privileges granted for or applicable to each Unencumbered Property.

 

26.
NEGATIVE COVENANTS

 

So long as any Loan or other Obligation hereunder (excluding contingent indemnification obligations to the extent no unsatisfied claim giving rise thereto has been asserted) shall remain unpaid or unsatisfied:

 

a.                                       Liens.  Each of the Parent and the Borrower shall not, nor shall it permit any other Loan Party to, directly or indirectly, create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Lien upon any Unencumbered Property, other than the following:

 

(a)                                  Liens pursuant to any Loan Document;

 

(b)                                  Liens existing on the date hereof and listed on Schedule 8.01 ;

 

(c)                                   Liens for taxes not yet due and payable 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;

 

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(f)                                    easements, rights-of-way, restrictions, restrictive covenants, encroachments, protrusions and other similar encumbrances affecting real property which, in the aggregate, are not substantial in amount, and which do not in any case materially detract from the value of the property subject thereto or materially interfere with the ordinary conduct of the business of the applicable Person;

 

(g)                                   Liens securing judgments for the payment of money not constituting an Event of Default under Section 9.01(i) ;

 

(h)                                  the rights of tenants under leases or subleases not interfering with the ordinary conduct of business of such Person;

 

(i)                                      Liens securing obligations in the nature of personal property financing leases for furniture, furnishings or similar assets, Capital Leases Obligations and other purchase money obligations for fixed or capital assets; provided that (i) such Liens do not at any time encumber any property other than the property financed by such Indebtedness, (ii) the obligations secured thereby does not exceed the cost or fair market value, whichever is lower, of the property being acquired on the date of acquisition, and (iii) with respect to Capital Leases, such Liens do not at any time extend to or cover any assets other than the assets subject to such Capital Leases;

 

(j)                                     Liens securing obligations in the nature of the performance of bids, trade contracts and leases (other than Indebtedness), statutory obligations, surety bonds (other than bonds related to judgments or litigation), performance bonds and other obligations of a like nature incurred in the ordinary course of business;

 

(k)                                  all Liens, encumbrances and other matters disclosed in any owner’s title insurance policies or other title reports and updated thereof accepted by the Administrative Agent; and

 

(l)                                      such other title and survey exceptions as the Administrative Agent has approved in writing in the Administrative Agent’s reasonable discretion.

 

b.                                       Indebtedness.  Each of the Parent and the Borrower shall not, nor shall it permit any other Loan Party to, 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 8.02 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;

 

(c)                                   Guarantees of (i) the Borrower or the Parent in respect of Indebtedness otherwise permitted hereunder of the Borrower or any other Guarantor, (ii) the Parent or

 

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the Borrower, in respect of Indebtedness otherwise permitted hereunder of any Non-Guarantor Subsidiary if, in the case of any Guarantee pursuant to this clause (ii), (x) no Default shall exist immediately before or immediately after the making of such Guarantee, and (y) there exists no violation of the financial covenants set forth in Section 8.14 hereunder on a pro forma basis after the making of such Guarantee, and (iii) Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries made in the ordinary course of business;

 

(d)                                  obligations (contingent or otherwise) of the Borrower or any Subsidiary existing or arising under any Swap Contract, provided that such obligations are (or were) entered into by such Person in the ordinary course of business for the purpose of directly mitigating risks associated with liabilities, commitments, investments, assets, or property held or reasonably anticipated by such Person, or changes in the value of securities issued by such Person, and not for purposes of speculation or taking a “market view”;

 

(e)                                   Indebtedness in respect of Capital Leases and purchase money obligations for fixed or capital assets within the limitations set forth in Section 8.01(i) , and unsecured Indebtedness in the form of trade payables incurred in the ordinary course of business; and

 

(f)                                    Indebtedness of the Borrower or the Parent incurred or assumed after the date hereof that is either unsecured or is secured by Liens on assets of the Parent or the Borrower (other than any Unencumbered Property or the Equity Interests in any Loan Party); provided, such Indebtedness shall be permitted under this Section 8.02(f)  only if: (i) no Default shall exist immediately before or immediately after the incurrence or assumption of such Indebtedness, and (ii) there exists no violation of the financial covenants set forth in Section 8.14 hereunder on a pro forma basis after the incurrence or assumption of such Indebtedness.

 

c.                                        Investments.  Neither the Parent nor the Borrower shall have and shall not permit the Companies’ to have any Investments other than:

 

(a)                                  Investments in the form of cash or Cash Equivalents;

 

(b)                                  Investments existing on the date hereof and set forth on Schedule 6.13 ;

 

(c)                                   advances to officers, directors and employees of the Borrower and Subsidiaries for travel, entertainment, relocation and analogous ordinary business purposes;

 

(d)                                  Investments of the Guarantor and the Borrower in the form of Equity Interests and investments of the Borrower in any wholly-owned Subsidiary, and Investments of the Borrower directly in, or of any wholly-owned Subsidiary in another wholly-owned Subsidiary which owns, real property assets which are functional industrial, manufacturing, warehouse/distribution and/or office properties located within the United States, provided in each case the Investments held by the Borrower or Subsidiary are in accordance with the provisions of this Section 8.03 other than this Section 8.03(d) ;

 

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(e)                                   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;

 

(f)                                    Investments in non-wholly owned Subsidiaries and Unconsolidated Affiliates;

 

(g)                                   Investments in mortgages and mezzanine loans;

 

(h)                                  Investments in unimproved land holdings and Construction in Progress;

 

(i)                                      Investments by the Parent for the redemption, conversion, exchange, retirement, sinking fund or similar payment, purchase or other acquisition for value, direct or indirect, of any Equity Interests of the Parent or the Borrower now or hereafter outstanding to the extent permitted under Section 8.06 below; and

 

(j)                                     Other Investments not to exceed at any time ten percent (10%) of Total Asset Value.

 

d.                                       Fundamental Changes.  Each of the Parent and the Borrower shall not, nor shall it permit any other Loan Party to, directly or indirectly, merge, dissolve, liquidate, consolidate with or into another Person, or Dispose of (whether in one transaction or in a series of transactions) all or substantially all of its assets (whether now owned or hereafter acquired) to or in favor of any Person, except that, so long as no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or would result therefrom:

 

(a)                                  any Loan Party (other than the Parent or the Borrower) may merge with (i) the Parent or the Borrower, provided that the Parent or the Borrower, as applicable, shall be the continuing or surviving Person, or (ii) any other Loan Party, or (iii) any other Person, provided that if it owns an Unencumbered Property and is not the surviving entity, then such Property shall cease to be an Unencumbered Property;

 

(b)                                  any Loan Party (other than the Parent or the Borrower) may Dispose of all or substantially all of its assets (upon voluntary liquidation or otherwise) to another Loan Party;

 

(c)                                   any Loan Party may Dispose of a Property owned by such Loan Party in the ordinary course of business and for fair value; and

 

(d)                                  the Parent or the Borrower may merge or consolidate with another Person so long as either the Parent or the Borrower, as the case may be, is the surviving entity, shall remain in pro forma compliance with the covenants set forth in Section 8.14 below after giving effect to such transaction, and the Borrower shall have given the Administrative Agent at least fifteen (15) Business Days’ prior written notice of such merger or consolidation, such notice to include a certification as to the pro forma compliance referenced above, with the Borrower agreeing to provide such other financial information as the Administrative Agent shall reasonably request in order to verify such pro forma compliance.

 

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Nothing in this Section shall be deemed to prohibit the sale or leasing of Property or portions of Property in the ordinary course of business.

 

e.                                        Dispositions.  Each of the Parent, the Borrower or any Loan Party shall not make any Disposition or enter into any agreement to make any Disposition, except:

 

(a)                                  Dispositions of obsolete or worn out property, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, in the ordinary course of business;

 

(b)                                  Dispositions of inventory in the ordinary course of business;

 

(c)                                   Any other Dispositions of Properties or other assets in an arm’s length transaction; provided that the Borrower and the Parent will remain in pro forma compliance with the covenants set forth in Section 8.14 after giving effect to such transaction.

 

f.                                         Restricted Payments.  Each of the Parent and the Borrower shall not, nor shall it permit any other Company to, directly or indirectly, declare or make, directly or indirectly, any Restricted Payment other than (a) Minimum Distributions, (b) Restricted Payments made by any Company to the Borrower or the Parent, or (c)  provided no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing at the time of such payment or would result therefrom, other Restricted Payments.

 

g.                                        Change in Nature of Business.  Except for Investments permitted under Section 8.03 , each of the Parent and the Borrower shall not, nor shall it permit any other Loan Party to, directly or indirectly, engage in any material line of business substantially different from those lines of business conducted by the Companies on the date hereof or any business substantially related or incidental thereto.

 

h.                                       Transactions with Affiliates.  Each of the Parent and the Borrower shall not, nor shall it permit any other Loan Party to, directly or indirectly, enter into any transaction of any kind with any Affiliate of a Company, whether or not in the ordinary course of business, other than on fair and reasonable terms substantially as favorable to such Loan Party as would be obtainable by such Company at the time in a comparable arm’s length transaction with a Person other than an Affiliate.

 

i.                                           Burdensome Agreements.  Each of the Parent and the Borrower shall not, nor shall it permit any other Loan Party to, directly or indirectly enter into any Contractual Obligation (other than this Agreement or any other Loan Document) that directly or indirectly prohibits any Company from (a) creating or incurring any Lien on any Unencumbered Property unless simultaneously therewith such Unencumbered Property ceases to be an Unencumbered Property, other than restrictions or conditions set forth in the Note Purchase Agreements, the Credit Agreements and, to the extent such restrictions or conditions are customary for such Indebtedness, any other agreements governing Indebtedness permitted under Section 8.02 , in each case, which restrictions are no more restrictive, taken as a whole than the comparable restrictions and conditions set forth in this Agreement as determined in the good faith judgment of the Borrower, (b) other than restrictions or conditions set forth in the Note Purchase Agreements, the Credit Agreements and, to the extent such restrictions or conditions are

 

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customary for such Indebtedness, any other agreements governing Indebtedness permitted under Section 8.02 , in each case , which restrictions are no more restrictive, taken as a whole than the comparable restrictions and conditions set forth in this Agreement as determined in the good faith judgment of the Borrower,  limiting the ability (i) of any Subsidiary to make Restricted Payments to the Borrower or any Guarantor or to otherwise transfer property to the Borrower or any Guarantor, (ii) of any Subsidiary to Guarantee the Indebtedness of the Borrower or (iii) of the Borrower or any Subsidiary to create, incur, assume or suffer to exist Liens on property of such Person; provided, however, that this clause (iii) shall not prohibit any negative pledge incurred or provided in favor of any holder of Indebtedness permitted under Section 8.0 3(e)  solely to the extent any such negative pledge relates to the property financed by or the subject of such Indebtedness; or (c) requiring the grant of a Lien to secure an obligation of such Person if a Lien is granted to secure another obligation of such Person.

 

j.                                          Use of Proceeds.  Each of the Parent and the Borrower shall not, nor shall it permit any other Company to, directly or indirectly, use the proceeds of any Credit Extension, whether directly or indirectly, and whether immediately, incidentally or ultimately, to purchase or carry margin stock (within the meaning of Regulation U of the FRB) or to extend credit to others for the purpose of purchasing or carrying margin stock or to refund indebtedness originally incurred for such purpose.  The Borrower shall not request any Credit Extension, shall not use, and shall ensure that its Subsidiaries and its or their respective directors, officers, employees and agents do not use the proceeds of any Credit Extension (i) in furtherance of an offer, payment, promise to pay, or authorization of the payment or giving of money, or anything else of value, to any Person in violation of any Anti-Corruption Laws or (ii) in any manner that would result in the violation of any applicable Sanctions.

 

k.                                       Unencumbered Properties; Ground Leases.    Each of the Parent and the Borrower shall not, nor shall it permit any other Loan Party to, directly or indirectly:

 

(a)                                  Use or occupy or conduct any activity on, or knowingly permit the use or occupancy of or the conduct of any activity on any Unencumbered Properties by any tenant, in any manner which violates any Law or which constitutes a public or private nuisance in any manner which would have a Material Adverse Effect or which makes void, voidable, or cancelable any insurance then in force with respect thereto or makes the maintenance of insurance in accordance with Section 7.07 commercially unreasonable (including by way of increased premium);

 

(b)                                  [Reserved];

 

(c)                                   Without the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed), (i) impose any material easement, restrictive covenant, or encumbrance upon any Unencumbered Property, (ii) execute or file any subdivision plat or condominium declaration affecting any Unencumbered Property, or (iii) consent to the annexation of any Unencumbered Property to any municipality;

 

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(d)                                  Do any act, or suffer to be done any act by any Company or any of its Affiliates, which would reasonably be expected to materially decrease the value of any Unencumbered Property (including by way of negligent act);

 

(e)                                   [Reserved];

 

(f)                                    Allow there to be fewer than twenty-five (25) Unencumbered Properties as of any date of determination;

 

(g)                                   Allow the Total Asset Value of the Unencumbered Properties to be less than One Hundred Fifty Million Dollars ($150,000,000.00);

 

(h)                                  Without the prior consent of the Lenders (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed), surrender the leasehold estate created by any Acceptable Ground Lease or terminate or cancel any Acceptable Ground Lease or materially modify, change, supplement, alter, or amend any Acceptable Ground Lease, either orally or in writing, in each case, to the extent such event would reasonably be expected to be materially adverse to the interests of the Lenders; and

 

(i)                                      Enter into any Contractual Obligations related to any Unencumbered Property providing for the payment a management fee (or any other similar fee) to anyone other than a Company if, with respect thereto, the Administrative Agent has reasonably required that such fee be subordinated to the Obligations in a manner satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, and an acceptable subordination agreement has not yet been obtained.

 

l.                                           Environmental Matters.  Each of the Parent and the Borrower shall not knowingly directly or indirectly:

 

(a)                                  Cause, commit, permit, or allow to continue (i) any violation of any Environmental Requirement by or with respect to any Unencumbered Property or any use of or condition or activity on any Unencumbered Property, or (ii) the attachment of any environmental Liens on any Unencumbered Property, in each case, that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;

 

(b)                                  Place, install, dispose of, or release, or cause, permit, or allow the placing, installation, disposal, spilling, leaking, dumping, or release of, any Hazardous Material on any Unencumbered Property in any manner that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; and

 

(c)                                   Use any Hazardous Material on any Unencumbered Property except in such a manner which could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

m.                                   Negative Pledge; Indebtedness.  Each of the Parent and the Borrower shall not permit:

 

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(a)                                  The Equity Interests of the Borrower held by the Parent to be subject to any Lien.

 

(b)                                  Any Person (other than the Parent or the Borrower) that directly or indirectly owns Equity Interests in any Subsidiary Guarantor to (i) incur any Indebtedness (whether Recourse Indebtedness or Non-Recourse Indebtedness) (other than Indebtedness listed on Schedule 8.13 and Additional Permitted Indebtedness), (ii) provide Guarantees to support Indebtedness (other than Indebtedness listed on Schedule 8.13 and Additional Permitted Indebtedness), or (iii) have its Equity Interests subject to any Lien or other encumbrance (other than in favor of the Administrative Agent).

 

(c)                                   Any Subsidiary Guarantor that owns an Unencumbered Property to (i) incur any Indebtedness (whether Recourse Indebtedness or Non-Recourse Indebtedness) (other than the Obligations, Indebtedness listed on Schedule 8.13 and Additional Permitted Indebtedness) or (ii) provide Guarantees to support Indebtedness (other than the Obligations, Indebtedness listed on Schedule 8.13 and Additional Permitted Indebtedness).

 

n.                                       Financial Covenants.  The Parent shall not, directly or indirectly, permit:

 

(a)                                  Maximum Consolidated Leverage Ratio .  As of the last day of any fiscal quarter, the Consolidated Leverage Ratio to exceed sixty percent (60%); provided that, if any Material Acquisition shall occur and the Consolidated Leverage Ratio shall have been less than sixty percent (60%) for at least one full fiscal quarter immediately preceding the proposed Consolidated Leverage Ratio Covenant Holiday, then, at the election of the Borrower upon delivery of prior written notice to the Administrative Agent, concurrently with or prior to the delivery of a Compliance Certificate pursuant to Section 7.02(a) , and provided that no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, the maximum Consolidated Leverage Ratio covenant level shall be increased to sixty-five (65%) for the fiscal quarter in which such Material Acquisition is consummated and the three (3) fiscal quarters immediately following the fiscal quarter in which such Material Acquisition is consummated (any such increase a “ Consolidated Leverage Ratio Covenant Holiday ”); provided further that not more than two (2) Consolidated Leverage Ratio Covenant Holidays may be elected by the Borrower during the term of this Agreement;

 

(b)                                  Maximum Secured Leverage Ratio . As of the last day of any fiscal quarter, the Secured Leverage Ratio to exceed forty percent (40%);

 

(c)                                   Maximum Unencumbered Leverage Ratio .  As of the last day of any fiscal quarter, the Unencumbered Leverage Ratio to exceed sixty percent (60%); provided that, if any Material Acquisition shall occur and the Unencumbered Leverage Ratio shall have been less than sixty percent (60%) for at least one full fiscal quarter immediately preceding the proposed Unencumbered Leverage Ratio Covenant Holiday, then, at the election of the Borrower upon delivery of prior written notice to the Administrative Agent, concurrently with or prior to the delivery of a Compliance Certificate pursuant to Section 7.02(a) , and provided that no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, the maximum Unencumbered Leverage Ratio covenant level shall be

 

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increased to sixty-five (65%) for the fiscal quarter in which such Material Acquisition is consummated and the three (3) fiscal quarters immediately following the fiscal quarter in which such Material Acquisition is consummated (any such increase an “ Unencumbered Leverage Ratio Covenant Holiday ”); provided further that not more than two (2) Unencumbered Leverage Ratio Covenant Holidays may be elected by the Borrower during the term of this Agreement;

 

(d)                                  [Reserved];

 

(e)                                   Minimum Fixed Charge Ratio .  As of the last day of any fiscal quarter, the Fixed Charge Ratio for the Parent, on a consolidated basis, for the fiscal quarter then ended, annualized, to be less than or equal to 1.5 to 1.0; and

 

(f)                                    Minimum Unsecured Interest Coverage Ratio . As of the last day of any fiscal quarter, the Unsecured Interest Coverage Ratio for the Parent, on a consolidated basis, for the fiscal quarter then ended, annualized, to be less than or equal to 1.75 to 1.00.

 

27.
EVENTS OF DEFAULT AND REMEDIES

 

a.                                       Events of Default.  Any of the following shall constitute an Event of Default:

 

(a)                                  Non-Payment .  The Borrower or any other Loan Party fails to pay (i) when and as required to be paid herein, any amount of principal of any Loan, or (ii) within five (5) days after the same becomes due, any interest on any Loan due hereunder, except that there shall be no grace period for interest due on any applicable Maturity Date, or (iii) within ten (10) days after notice from the Administrative Agent, any other amount payable to the Administrative Agent or any Lender hereunder or under any other Loan Document except that there shall be no grace period for any amount due on any Maturity Date; or

 

(b)                                  Specific Covenants .  Any Loan Party fails to perform or observe any term, covenant or agreement contained in any of Section 7.11 or Article VIII (other than Sections 8.11 (a)  and (c), or 8.13 ) or the Parent fails to perform or observe any term, covenant or agreement contained in the Parent Guaranty or any Subsidiary Guarantor fails to perform or observe any term, covenant or agreement contained in the Subsidiary Guaranty; or

 

(c)                                   Performance .  Any Loan Party fails to perform or observe any term, covenant or agreement contained in any of Section 7.01 , 7.02 , or 7.03 , and such failure continues unremedied for ten (10) Business Days after such failure has occurred; or

 

(d)                                  Other Defaults .  Any Loan Party fails to perform or observe any other covenant or agreement (not specified in subsection (a) , (b) , or (c)  above) contained in any Loan Document on its part to be performed or observed and such failure continues unremedied for thirty (30) days after the earlier of notice from the Administrative Agent or the actual knowledge of the Loan Party, and in the case of a default that cannot be

 

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cured within such thirty (30) day period despite the Borrower’s diligent efforts but is susceptible of being cured within ninety (90) days of the Borrower’s receipt of the Administrative Agent’s original notice, then the Borrower shall have such additional time as is reasonably necessary to effect such cure, but in no event in excess of ninety (90) days from the Borrower’s receipt of the Administrative Agent’s original notice, subject in each instance to the Borrower’s remedial rights under Section 7.12(c) ; or

 

(e)                                   Representations and Warranties .  Any representation, warranty, certification or statement of fact made or deemed made by or on behalf of the Borrower or any other Loan Party herein, in any other Loan Document, or in any document delivered in connection herewith or therewith shall be incorrect or misleading when made or deemed made and shall not be cured or remedied so that such representation, warranty, certification or statement of fact is no longer incorrect or misleading within ten (10) days after the earlier of notice from the Administrative Agent or the actual knowledge of any Loan Party thereof; or

 

(f)                                    Cross-Default .  (i) Any Company (A) fails to make any payment when due (whether by scheduled maturity, required prepayment, acceleration, demand, or otherwise), after the expiration of any applicable grace periods, in respect of any Indebtedness or Guarantee (other than (x) Indebtedness hereunder, and (y) Indebtedness under Swap Contracts) having an aggregate principal amount (including amounts owing to all creditors under any combined or syndicated credit arrangement) of more than the Threshold Amount, or (B) fails to observe or perform any other agreement or condition relating to any such Indebtedness or Guarantee or contained in any instrument or agreement evidencing, securing or relating thereto, or any other event occurs, the effect of which default or other event is to cause, or to permit the holder or holders of such Indebtedness or the beneficiary or beneficiaries of such Guarantee (or a trustee or agent on behalf of such holder or holders or beneficiary or beneficiaries) to cause, with the giving of notice if required, such Indebtedness or more than the Threshold Amount to be demanded or to become due or to be repurchased, prepaid, defeased or redeemed (automatically or otherwise), or an offer to repurchase, prepay, defease or redeem such Indebtedness to be made, prior to its stated maturity, or such Guarantee to become payable or cash collateral in respect thereof to be demanded; or (ii) there occurs under any Swap Contract an Early Termination Date (as defined in such Swap Contract) resulting from (A) any event of default under such Swap Contract as to which any Company is the Defaulting Party (as defined in such Swap Contract) or (B) any Termination Event (as so defined) under such Swap Contract as to which any Company is an Affected Party (as so defined) and, in either event, the Swap Termination Value owed by such Company as a result thereof is greater than the Threshold Amount; or

 

(g)                                   Insolvency Proceedings, Etc.   Any Loan Party institutes or consents to the institution of any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law, or makes an assignment for the benefit of creditors; or applies for or consents to the appointment of any receiver, trustee, custodian, conservator, liquidator, rehabilitator or similar officer for it or for all or any material part of its property; or any receiver, trustee, custodian, conservator, liquidator, rehabilitator or similar officer is appointed without the application or consent of such Person and the appointment continues undischarged or unstayed for sixty (60)

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calendar days; or any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law relating to any such Person or to all or any material part of its property is instituted without the consent of such Person and continues undismissed or unstayed for sixty (60) calendar days, or an order for relief is entered in any such proceeding; or

 

(h)                                  Inability to Pay Debts; Attachment .  (i) the Parent or the Borrower becomes unable to pay its debts as they become due, or any Loan Party admits in writing its inability or fails generally to pay its debts as they become due, or (ii) any writ or warrant of attachment or execution or similar process is issued or levied against all or any material part of the property of any such Loan Party and is not released, vacated or fully bonded within thirty (30) days after its issue or levy; or

 

(i)                                      Judgments .  There is entered against any Loan Party (i) one or more final judgments or orders for the payment of money in an aggregate amount (as to all such judgments or orders) exceeding the Threshold Amount (to the extent not covered by independent third-party insurance as to which the insurer does not dispute coverage), or (ii) any one or more non-monetary final judgments that have, or would have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect and, in either case, (A) enforcement proceedings are commenced by any creditor upon such judgment or order, or (B) there is a period of ten (10) consecutive days during which a stay of enforcement of such judgment, by reason of a pending appeal or otherwise, is not in effect; or

 

(j)                                     ERISA .  (i) An ERISA Event occurs with respect to a Pension Plan or Multiemployer Plan which has resulted or would result in liability of any Company under Title IV of ERISA to the Pension Plan, Multiemployer Plan or the PBGC in an aggregate amount in excess of the Threshold Amount, or (ii) the Parent or any ERISA Affiliate fails to pay when due, after the expiration of any applicable grace period, any installment payment with respect to its withdrawal liability under Section 4201 of ERISA under a Multiemployer Plan in an aggregate amount in excess of the Threshold Amount; or

 

(k)                                  Invalidity of Loan Documents .  Any Loan Document at any time after its execution and delivery and for any reason other than as expressly permitted hereunder or thereunder or satisfaction in full of all the Obligations, ceases to be in full force and effect in all material respects; or any Loan Party or any other Person contests in any manner the validity or enforceability of any Loan Document; or any Loan Party denies that it has any or further liability or obligation under any Loan Document, or purports to revoke, terminate or rescind any Loan Document, except as expressly permitted hereunder; or

 

(l)                                      REIT Status of the Parent .  The Parent ceases to be treated as a REIT or the Parent Shares shall fail to be listed and traded on the New York Stock Exchange; or

 

(m)                              Change of Control .  There occurs any Change of Control.

 

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b.                                       Remedies Upon Event of Default.  If any Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Administrative Agent shall, at the request of, or may, with the consent of, the Required Lenders, take any or all of the following actions:

 

(a)                                  declare the commitment of each Lender to make Loans to be terminated, whereupon such commitments and obligation shall be terminated;

 

(b)                                  declare the unpaid principal amount of all outstanding Loans, all interest accrued and unpaid thereon, and all other amounts owing or payable hereunder or under any other Loan Document to be immediately due and payable, without presentment, demand, protest or other notice of any kind, all of which are hereby expressly waived by the Borrower; and

 

(c)                                   exercise on behalf of itself and the Lenders all rights and remedies available to it and the Lenders under the Loan Documents;

 

provided that upon the occurrence of an actual or deemed entry of an order for relief with respect to the Borrower under the Bankruptcy Code of the United States, the obligation of each Lender to make Loans shall automatically terminate, the unpaid principal amount of all outstanding Loans and all interest and other amounts as aforesaid shall automatically become due and payable, in each case without further act of the Administrative Agent or any Lender.

 

c.                                        Application of Funds.  After the exercise of remedies provided for in Section 9. 0 2 (or after the Loans have automatically become immediately due and payable), any amounts received on account of the Obligations shall, subject to the provisions of Section 2.16 , be applied by the Administrative Agent in the following order:

 

First , to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting fees, indemnities, expenses and other amounts (including fees, charges and disbursements of counsel to the Administrative Agent and amounts payable under Article III ) payable to the Administrative Agent in its capacity as such;

 

Second , to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting fees, indemnities and other amounts (other than principal and interest) payable to the Lenders (including fees, charges and disbursements of counsel to the respective Lenders and amounts payable under Article III ), ratably among them in proportion to the respective amounts described in this clause   Second payable to them;

 

Third , to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting accrued and unpaid interest on the Loans, and other Obligations, ratably among the Lenders, in proportion to the respective amounts described in this clause   Third payable to them;

 

Fourth , to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting (x) unpaid principal of the Loans and (y) payment obligations then owing to the Administrative Agent, any Lender, or any Affiliate of the Administrative Agent or any Lender (“ Specified Derivatives Providers ”) arising from, by virtue of, or pursuant to any Swap Contract, other than any Excluded Swap Obligation, that relates solely to the Obligations, ratably among the Lenders and the Specified

 

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Derivatives Providers in proportion to the respective amounts described in this clause Fourth payable to them; and

 

Last , the balance, if any, after all of the Obligations have been paid in full, to the Borrower or as otherwise required by Law.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, Obligations owing to Specified Derivatives Providers shall be excluded from the application described above if the Administrative Agent has not received written notice thereof, together with such supporting documentation as the Administrative Agent may request, from the applicable Specified Derivatives Provider.  Each Specified Derivatives Provider not a party to this Agreement that has given the notice contemplated by the preceding sentence shall, by such notice, be deemed to have acknowledged and accepted the appointment of the Administrative Agent pursuant to the terms of Article X for itself and its Affiliates as if a “Lender” party hereto.

 

28.                               
THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT

 

a.                                       Appointment and Authority.  Each of the Lenders hereby irrevocably appoints Wells Fargo to act on its behalf as the Administrative Agent hereunder and under the other Loan Documents and authorizes the Administrative Agent to take such actions on its behalf and to exercise such powers as are delegated to the Administrative Agent by the terms hereof or thereof, together with such actions and powers as are reasonably incidental thereto.  The provisions of this Article are solely for the benefit of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders, neither the Borrower nor any other Loan Party shall have rights as a third party beneficiary of any of such provisions.  It is understood and agreed that the use of the term “agent” (or any other similar term) herein or in any other Loan Documents with reference to the Administrative Agent is not intended to connote any fiduciary or other implied (or express) obligations arising under agency doctrine of any applicable Law. Instead such term is used as a matter of market custom, and is intended to create or reflect only an administrative relationship between contracting parties.

 

b.                                       Rights as a Lender.  The Person serving as the Administrative Agent hereunder shall have the same rights and powers in its capacity as a Lender as any other Lender and may exercise the same as though it were not the Administrative Agent and the term “Lender” or “Lenders” shall, unless otherwise expressly indicated or unless the context otherwise requires, include the Person serving as the Administrative Agent hereunder in its individual capacity.  Such Person and its Affiliates may accept deposits from, lend money to, own securities of, act as the financial advisor or in any other advisory capacity for and generally engage in any kind of business with the Borrower or any Subsidiary or other Affiliate thereof as if such Person were not the Administrative Agent hereunder and without any duty to account therefor to the Lenders.

 

c.                                        Exculpatory Provisions.  The Administrative Agent shall not have any duties or obligations except those expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents, and its duties hereunder shall be administrative in nature.  Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Administrative Agent:

 

(a)                                  shall not be subject to any fiduciary or other implied duties, regardless of whether a Default has occurred and is continuing;

 

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(b)                                  shall not have any duty to take any discretionary action or exercise any discretionary powers, except discretionary rights and powers expressly contemplated hereby or by the other Loan Documents that the Administrative Agent is required to exercise as directed in writing by the Required Lenders (or such other number or percentage of the Lenders as shall be expressly provided for herein or in the other Loan Documents), provided that the Administrative Agent shall not be required to take any action that, in its opinion or the opinion of its counsel, may expose the Administrative Agent to liability or that is contrary to any Loan Document or applicable law, including for the avoidance of doubt any action that may be in violation of the automatic stay under any Debtor Relief Law or that may effect a forfeiture, modification or termination of property of a Defaulting Lender in violation of any Debtor Relief Law; and

 

(c)                                   shall not, except as expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents, have any duty to disclose, and shall not be liable for the failure to disclose, any information relating to the Borrower or any of its Affiliates that is communicated to or obtained by the Person serving as the Administrative Agent or any of its Affiliates in any capacity.

 

The Administrative Agent shall not be liable for any action taken or not taken by it (i) with the consent or at the request of the Required Lenders (or such other number or percentage of the Lenders as shall be necessary, or as the Administrative Agent shall believe in good faith shall be necessary, under the circumstances as provided in Sections 11.01 and 9.02 ) or (ii) in the absence of its own gross negligence or willful misconduct as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by final and nonappealable judgment.  The Administrative Agent shall be deemed not to have knowledge of any Default unless and until notice describing such Default is given in writing to the Administrative Agent by the Borrower or a Lender.

 

The Administrative Agent shall not be responsible for or have any duty to ascertain or inquire into (i) any statement, warranty or representation made in or in connection with this Agreement or any other Loan Document, (ii) the contents of any certificate, report or other document delivered hereunder or thereunder or in connection herewith or therewith, (iii) the performance or observance of any of the covenants, agreements or other terms or conditions set forth herein or therein or the occurrence of any Default, (iv) the validity, enforceability, effectiveness or genuineness of this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any other agreement, instrument or document or (v) the satisfaction of any condition set forth in Article IV or elsewhere herein, other than to confirm receipt of items expressly required to be delivered to the Administrative Agent.

 

d.                                       Reliance by the Administrative Agent.  The Administrative Agent shall be entitled to rely upon, and shall not incur any liability for relying upon, any notice, request, certificate, consent, statement, instrument, document or other writing (including any electronic message, Internet or intranet website posting or other distribution) believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed, sent or otherwise authenticated by the proper Person.  The Administrative Agent also may rely upon any statement made to it orally or by telephone and believed by it to have been made by the proper Person, and shall not incur any liability for relying thereon.  In determining compliance with any condition hereunder to the making of a Loan, by its terms must be fulfilled to the satisfaction of a Lender, the Administrative Agent may presume that such condition is satisfactory to such Lender unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice to the contrary from such Lender prior to the making of such Loan.  The Administrative Agent may consult with legal counsel (who may be counsel for the Borrower), independent accountants and other experts selected by it, and shall not be liable for any action taken or not taken by it in accordance with the advice of any such counsel, accountants or experts.

 

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e.                                        Delegation of Duties.  The Administrative Agent may perform any and all of its duties and exercise its rights and powers hereunder or under any other Loan Document by or through any one or more sub-agents appointed by the Administrative Agent.  The Administrative Agent and any such sub-agent may perform any and all of its duties and exercise its rights and powers by or through their respective Related Parties.  The exculpatory provisions of this Article shall apply to any such sub-agent and to the Related Parties of the Administrative Agent and any such sub-agent, and shall apply to their respective activities in connection with the syndication of the credit facilities provided for herein as well as activities as the Administrative Agent.  The Administrative Agent shall not be responsible for the negligence or misconduct of any sub-agents except to the extent that a court of competent jurisdiction determines in a final and non-appealable judgment that the Administrative Agent acted with gross negligence or willful misconduct in the selection of such sub-agents.

 

f.                                         Resignation of the Administrative Agent.

 

(a)                                  The Administrative Agent may at any time give notice of its resignation to the Lenders and the Borrower.  Upon receipt of any such notice of resignation, the Required Lenders shall have the right, subject to the reasonable approval of the Borrower (with any Lender or affiliate of a Lender being deemed approved, unless such Lender is a Defaulting Lender, and which approval shall not be required if an Event Default shall be in existence), to appoint a successor, which shall be a bank with an office in the United States, or an Affiliate of any such bank with an office in the United States.  If no such successor shall have been so appointed by the Required Lenders and shall have accepted such appointment within 30 days after the retiring Administrative Agent gives notice of its resignation (or such earlier day as shall be agreed by the Required Lenders) (the “ Resignation Effective Date ”), then the retiring Administrative Agent may (but shall not be obligated to) on behalf of the Lenders, appoint a successor Administrative Agent meeting the qualifications set forth above.  Whether or not a successor has been appointed, such resignation shall become effective in accordance with such notice on the Resignation Effective Date.

 

(b)                                  If the Person serving as the Administrative Agent is a Defaulting Lender pursuant to clause (d)  of the definition thereof, the Required Lenders may, to the extent permitted by applicable law, by notice in writing to the Borrower and such Person remove such Person as the Administrative Agent and, in consultation with the Borrower, appoint a successor. If no such successor shall have been so appointed by the Required Lenders and shall have accepted such appointment within 30 days (or such earlier day as shall be agreed by the Required Lenders) (the “Removal Effective Date”), then such removal shall nonetheless become effective in accordance with such notice on the Removal Effective Date.

 

(c)                                   With effect from the Resignation Effective Date or the Removal Effective Date (as applicable) (1) the retiring or removed Administrative Agent shall be discharged from its duties and obligations hereunder and under the other Loan Documents (except that in the case of any pledge security held by the Administrative Agent on behalf of the Lenders under any of the Loan Documents, the retiring or removed Administrative Agent shall continue to hold such collateral security until such time as a successor

 

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Administrative Agent is appointed) and (2) except for any indemnity payments or other amounts then owed to the retiring or removed Administrative Agent, all payments, communications and determinations provided to be made by, to or through the Administrative Agent shall instead be made by or to each Lender directly, until such time, if any, as the Required Lenders appoint a successor Administrative Agent as provided for above.  Upon the acceptance of a successor’s appointment as the Administrative Agent hereunder, such successor shall succeed to and become vested with all of the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring (or removed) the Administrative Agent (other than any rights to indemnity payments or other amounts owed to the retiring or removed Administrative Agent as of the Resignation Effective Date or the Removal Effective Date, as applicable), and the retiring or removed Administrative Agent shall be discharged from all of its duties and obligations hereunder or under the other Loan Documents (if not already discharged therefrom as provided above in this Section).  The fees payable by the Borrower to a successor Administrative Agent shall be the same as those payable to its predecessor unless otherwise agreed between the Borrower and such successor.  After the retiring or removed Administrative Agent’s resignation or removal hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, the provisions of this Article and Section 10.04 shall continue in effect for the benefit of such retiring or removed Administrative Agent, its sub-agents and their respective Related Parties in respect of any actions taken or omitted to be taken by any of them while the retiring or removed Administrative Agent was acting as the Administrative Agent.

 

g.                                        Non-Reliance on the Administrative Agent and Other Lenders.  Each Lender acknowledges that it has, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent or any other Lender or any of their Related Parties and based on such documents and information as it has deemed appropriate, made its own credit analysis and decision to enter into this Agreement.  Each Lender also acknowledges that it will, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent or any other Lender or any of their Related Parties and based on such documents and information as it shall from time to time deem appropriate, continue to make its own decisions in taking or not taking action under or based upon this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any related agreement or any document furnished hereunder or thereunder.

 

h.                                       No Other Duties, Etc.  Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, none of the Lead Arranger, Bookrunner, Syndication Agent or co-Documentation Agents listed on the cover page hereof shall have any powers, duties or responsibilities under this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents, except in its capacity, as applicable, as the Administrative Agent, a Lender hereunder.

 

i.                                           The Administrative Agent May File Proofs of Claim.  In case of the pendency of any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law or any other judicial proceeding relative to any Loan Party, the Administrative Agent (irrespective of whether the principal of any Loan shall then be due and payable as herein expressed or by declaration or otherwise and irrespective of whether the Administrative Agent shall have made any demand on the Borrower) shall be entitled and empowered, by intervention in such proceeding or otherwise:

 

(a)                                  to file and prove a claim for the whole amount of the principal and interest owing and unpaid in respect of the Loans and all other Obligations that are owing and

 

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unpaid and to file such other documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Lenders and the Administrative Agent (including any claim for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Lenders and the Administrative Agent and their respective agents and counsel and all other amounts due the Lenders and the Administrative Agent under Sections 2.09 and 11.04 ) allowed in such judicial proceeding; and

 

(b)                                  to collect and receive any monies or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims and to distribute the same;

 

and any custodian, receiver, assignee, trustee, liquidator, sequestrator or other similar official in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Lender to make such payments to the Administrative Agent and, in the event that the Administrative Agent shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Lenders, to pay to the Administrative Agent any amount due for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Administrative Agent and its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Administrative Agent under Sections 2.09 and 11.04 . Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to authorize the Administrative Agent to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Lender any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Obligations or the rights of any Lender to authorize the Administrative Agent to vote in respect of the claim of any Lender in any such proceeding.

 

j.                                          Guaranty Matters.  Upon request by the Administrative Agent at any time, the Required Lenders will confirm in writing the Administrative Agent’s authority to release any Guarantor from its obligations under a Guaranty pursuant to the terms of this Agreement.

 

29.                               
MISCELLANEOUS

 

a.                                       Amendments, Etc.  No amendment or waiver of any provision of this Agreement or any other Loan Document, and no consent to any departure by the Borrower or any other Loan Party therefrom, shall be effective unless in writing signed by the Required Lenders and the Borrower or the applicable Loan Party, as the case may be, and acknowledged by the Administrative Agent, and each such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the specific purpose for which given; provided that no such amendment, waiver or consent shall:

 

(a)                                  waive any condition set forth in Section 5.01(a)  without the written consent of each Lender;

 

(b)                                  establish any commitment of any Lender to make Committed Loans hereunder without the written consent of such Lender;

 

(c)                                   postpone any date fixed by this Agreement or any other Loan Document for any payment or mandatory prepayment of principal, interest, fees or other amounts due to a Lender without the written consent of each Lender directly affected thereby;

 

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(d)                                  reduce or forgive the principal of, or the rate of interest specified herein on, any Loan, or (subject to clause   (iii)  of the second proviso to this Section 11.01 ) any fees or other amounts payable hereunder or under any other Loan Document, without the written consent of each Lender directly affected thereby; provided that only the consent of the Required Lenders shall be necessary to amend the definition of “ Default Rate ,” waive any obligation of the Borrower to pay interest at the Default Rate, or change the manner of computation of any financial ratio (including any change in any applicable defined term) used in determining the Applicable Rate that would result in a reduction of any interest rate on any Loan or any fee payable hereunder;

 

(e)                                   change Section 9.03 in a manner that would alter the pro rata sharing of payments required thereby without the written consent of each Lender;

 

(f)                                    change any provision of this Section or the definition of “ Required Lenders ” or any other provision hereof specifying the number or percentage of the Lenders required to amend, waive or otherwise modify any rights hereunder or make any determination or grant any consent hereunder, without the written consent of each Lender;

 

(g)                                   release all or substantially all of the value of the Guaranties without the written consent of each Lender;

 

and, provided, further , that (i) no amendment, waiver or consent shall, unless in writing and signed by the Administrative Agent in addition to the Lenders required above, affect the rights or duties of the Administrative Agent under this Agreement or any other Loan Document; and (ii) the Fee Letter may be amended, or rights or privileges thereunder waived, in a writing executed only by the parties thereto.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, no Defaulting Lender shall have any right to approve or disapprove any amendment, waiver or consent hereunder (and any amendment, waiver or consent which by its terms requires the consent of all Lenders or each affected Lender may be effected with the consent of the applicable Lenders other than Defaulting Lenders), except that any waiver, amendment or modification requiring the consent of all Lenders or each affected Lender that by its terms affects any Defaulting Lender more adversely than other affected Lenders shall require the consent of such Defaulting Lender.  All communications from the Administrative Agent to any Lender requesting such Lender’s determination, consent, approval or disapproval (a) shall be given in the form of a written notice to such Lender, (b) shall be accompanied by a description of the matter or issue as to which such determination, approval, consent or disapproval is requested, or shall advise such Lender where information, if any, regarding such matter or issue may be inspected, or shall otherwise describe the matter or issue to be resolved, (c) shall include, if reasonably requested by such Lender and to the extent not previously provided to such Lender, written materials and, as appropriate, a brief summary of all oral information provided to the Administrative Agent by the Borrower in respect of the matter or issue to be resolved, and (d) shall include the Administrative Agent’s recommended course of action or determination in respect thereof.

 

b.                                       Notices; Effectiveness; Electronic Communication.

 

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(a)                                  Notices Generally .  Except in the case of notices and other communications expressly permitted to be given by telephone (and except as provided in subsection (b)  below), all notices and other communications provided for herein shall be in writing and shall be delivered by hand or overnight courier service, mailed by certified or registered mail or sent by telecopier as follows, and all notices and other communications expressly permitted hereunder to be given by telephone shall be made to the applicable telephone number, as follows:

 

(i)                                      if to the Borrower or the Administrative Agent to the address, telecopier number, electronic mail address or telephone number specified for such Person on Schedule 11.02 ; and

 

(ii)                                   if to any other Lender, to the address, telecopier number, electronic mail address or telephone number specified in its Administrative Questionnaire (including, as appropriate, notices delivered solely to the Person designated by a Lender on its Administrative Questionnaire then in effect for the delivery of notices that may contain material non-public information relating to the Borrower).

 

Notices and other communications sent by hand or overnight courier service, or mailed by certified or registered mail, shall be deemed to have been given when received; notices and other communications sent by telecopier shall be deemed to have been given when sent (except that, if not given during normal business hours for the recipient, shall be deemed to have been given at the opening of business on the next business day for the recipient).  Notices and other communications delivered through electronic communications to the extent provided in subsection (b)  below, shall be effective as provided in such subsection (b) .

 

(b)                                  Electronic Communications .  Notices and other communications to the Lenders hereunder may be delivered or furnished by electronic communication (including e-mail and Internet or intranet websites) pursuant to procedures approved by the Administrative Agent, provided that the foregoing shall not apply to notices to any Lender pursuant to Article II if such Lender has notified the Administrative Agent that it is incapable of receiving notices under such Article by electronic communication.  The Administrative Agent or the Borrower may each, in its discretion, agree to accept notices and other communications to it hereunder by electronic communications pursuant to procedures approved by it; provided that approval of such procedures may be limited to particular notices or communications.

 

Unless the Administrative Agent otherwise prescribes, (i) notices and other communications sent to an e-mail address shall be deemed received upon the sender’s receipt of an acknowledgement from the intended recipient (such as by the “return receipt requested” function, as available, return e-mail or other written acknowledgement), and (ii) notices or communications posted to an Internet or intranet website shall be deemed received upon the deemed receipt by the intended recipient at its e-mail address as described in the foregoing clause (i)  of notification that such notice or communication is available and identifying the website address therefor; provided that , for both clauses (i)  and (ii) , if such notice, email or other communication is not sent during the normal business hours of the recipient, such notice, email

 

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or communication shall be deemed to have been sent at the opening of business on the next business day for the recipient.

 

(c)                                   The Platform .  THE PLATFORM IS PROVIDED “AS IS” AND “AS AVAILABLE.”  THE AGENT PARTIES (AS DEFINED BELOW) DO NOT WARRANT THE ACCURACY OR COMPLETENESS OF THE BORROWER MATERIALS OR THE ADEQUACY OF THE PLATFORM, AND EXPRESSLY DISCLAIM LIABILITY FOR ERRORS IN OR OMISSIONS FROM THE BORROWER MATERIALS.  NO WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS, IMPLIED OR STATUTORY, INCLUDING ANY WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, NON-INFRINGEMENT OF THIRD PARTY RIGHTS OR FREEDOM FROM VIRUSES OR OTHER CODE DEFECTS, IS MADE BY ANY AGENT PARTY IN CONNECTION WITH THE BORROWER MATERIALS OR THE PLATFORM.  In no event shall the Administrative Agent or any of its Related Parties (collectively, the “ Agent Parties ”) have any liability to the Borrower, any Lender or any other Person for losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses of any kind (whether in tort, contract or otherwise) arising out of the Borrower’s or the Administrative Agent’s transmission of the Borrower Materials through the Internet, except to the extent that such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses are determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by a final and nonappealable judgment to have resulted from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Agent Party; provided that in no event shall any Agent Party have any liability to the Borrower, any Lender or any other Person for indirect, special, incidental, consequential or punitive damages (as opposed to direct or actual damages) resulting therefrom.

 

(d)                                  Change of Address, Etc .  Each of the Borrower and the Administrative Agent may change its address, telecopier or telephone number for notices and other communications hereunder by notice to the other parties hereto.  Each other Lender may change its address, telecopier or telephone number for notices and other communications hereunder by notice to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent.  In addition, each Lender agrees to notify the Administrative Agent from time to time to ensure that the Administrative Agent has on record (i) an effective address, contact name, telephone number, telecopier number and electronic mail address to which notices and other communications may be sent and (ii) accurate wire instructions for such Lender.  Furthermore, each Public Lender agrees to cause at least one (1) individual at or on behalf of such Public Lender to at all times have selected the “Private Side Information” or similar designation on the content declaration screen of the Platform in order to enable such Public Lender or its delegate, in accordance with such Public Lender’s compliance procedures and applicable Law, including United States Federal and state securities Laws, to make reference to the Borrower Materials that are not made available through the “Public Side Information” portion of the Platform and that may contain material non-public information with respect to the Borrower or its Equity Interests for purposes of United States Federal or state securities laws.

 

(e)                                   Reliance by the Administrative Agent and the Lenders .  The Administrative Agent and the Lenders shall be entitled to rely and act upon any notices

 

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(including telephonic Committed Loan Notices) purportedly given by or on behalf of the Borrower even if (i) such notices were not made in a manner specified herein, were incomplete or were not preceded or followed by any other form of notice specified herein, or (ii) the terms thereof, as understood by the recipient, varied from any confirmation thereof.  The Borrower shall indemnify the Administrative Agent, each Lender and the Related Parties of each of them from all losses, costs, expenses and liabilities resulting from the reliance by such Person on each notice purportedly given by or on behalf of the Borrower.  All telephonic notices to and other telephonic communications with the Administrative Agent may be recorded by the Administrative Agent, and each of the parties hereto hereby consents to such recording.

 

c.                                        No Waiver; Cumulative Remedies; Enforcement.  No failure by any Lender or the Administrative Agent to exercise, and no delay by any such Person in exercising, any right, remedy, power or privilege hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof; nor shall any single or partial exercise of any right, remedy, power or privilege hereunder preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, remedy, power or privilege.  The rights, remedies, powers and privileges herein provided and provided under each other Loan Document are cumulative and not exclusive of any rights, remedies, powers and privileges provided by Law.

 

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein or in any other Loan Document, the authority to enforce rights and remedies hereunder and under the other Loan Documents against the Loan Parties or any of them shall be vested exclusively in, and all actions and proceedings at law in connection with such enforcement shall be instituted and maintained exclusively by, the Administrative Agent in accordance with Section 9.02 for the benefit of all the Lenders; provided that the foregoing shall not prohibit (a) the Administrative Agent from exercising on its own behalf the rights and remedies that inure to its benefit (solely in its capacity as the Administrative Agent) hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, (b) any Lender from exercising setoff rights in accordance with Section 11.08 (subject to the terms of Section 2.13 ), or (c) any Lender from filing proofs of claim or appearing and filing pleadings on its own behalf during the pendency of a proceeding relative to any Loan Party under any Debtor Relief Law; and provided , further , that if at any time there is no Person acting as the Administrative Agent hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, then (i) the Required Lenders shall have the rights otherwise ascribed to the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 9.02 and (ii) in addition to the matters set forth in clauses (b) , (c)  and (d)  of the preceding proviso and subject to Section 2.13 , any Lender may, with the consent of the Required Lenders, enforce any rights and remedies available to it and as authorized by the Required Lenders.

 

d.                                       Expenses; Indemnity; Damage Waiver.

 

(a)                                  Costs and Expenses .  Each Loan Party shall jointly and severally pay (i) all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent and its Affiliates (including (a) the reasonable fees, charges and disbursements of counsel for the Administrative Agent; (b) fees and charges of each consultant, inspector, and engineer; (c) uniform commercial code searches; (d) judgment and tax lien searches for the Borrower and each Guarantor; (e) escrow fees; and (f) documentary taxes, in connection with the initial syndication of the credit facilities provided for herein, the preparation,

 

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negotiation, execution, delivery and administration of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents or any amendments, modifications or waivers of the provisions hereof or thereof (whether or not the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby shall be consummated), (ii)  all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent or any Lender (including the reasonable fees, charges and disbursements of any counsel for the Administrative Agent or any Lender (only if a Default shall be in existence)), in connection with the enforcement or protection of its rights (A) in connection with this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, including its rights under this Section, or (B) in connection with the Loans made hereunder, including all such out-of-pocket expenses incurred during any workout, restructuring or negotiations in respect of such Loans; provided, however that the Borrower shall not be required to pay the expenses of more than one law firm acting as counsel for the Lenders (in addition to expenses for any appropriate local or special counsel) in connection with such workout or enforcement to the extent the Lenders reasonably determine that joint representation is appropriate under the circumstances.

 

(b)                                  Indemnification .  The Parent and the Borrower shall jointly and severally indemnify the Administrative Agent (and any sub-agent thereof), each Lender, and each Related Party of any of the foregoing Persons (each such Person being called an “ Indemnitee ”) against, and hold each Indemnitee harmless from, any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities and related expenses (including the reasonable fees, charges and disbursements of any counsel for any Indemnitee), incurred by any Indemnitee or asserted against any Indemnitee by any third party or by the Borrower or any other Loan Party resulting from any action, suit, or proceeding relating to (i) the execution or delivery of this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any agreement or instrument contemplated hereby or thereby, the performance by the parties hereto of their respective obligations hereunder or thereunder, the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, or, in the case of the Administrative Agent (and any sub-agent thereof) and its Related Parties only, the administration of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents (including in respect of any matters addressed in Section 3.01 ), (ii) any Loan or the use or proposed use of the proceeds therefrom, (iii) any actual or alleged presence or release of Hazardous Materials on or from any property owned or operated by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, or any Environmental Damages related in any way to the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, or (iv) any actual or prospective claim, litigation, investigation or proceeding relating to any of the foregoing, whether based on contract, tort or any other theory, whether brought by a third party or by the Borrower or any other Loan Party, and regardless of whether any Indemnitee is a party thereto; provided that such indemnity shall not, as to any Indemnitee, be available to the extent that such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or related expenses (w) are determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by final and nonappealable judgment to have resulted from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Indemnitee or any Related Party of such Indemnitee, (x) result from a claim brought by the Borrower or any other Loan Party against an Indemnitee for breach in bad faith of such Indemnitee’s obligations hereunder or under any other Loan Document, if the Borrower or such other Loan Party has obtained a final and nonappealable judgment in its favor on such claim as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction, (y) for which an Indemnitee has been compensated pursuant to the terms of this Agreement or the Fee Letter, or (z) to the extent based upon

 

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contractual obligations of such Indemnitee owing by such Indemnitee to any third party which are not expressly set forth in this Agreement.

 

(c)                                   Reserved .

 

(d)                                  Reimbursement by the Lenders .  To the extent that the Loan Parties for any reason fail to indefeasibly pay any amount required under subsection (a)  or (b)  of this Section to be paid by the Loan Parties to the Administrative Agent (or any sub-agent thereof), or any Related Party of any of the foregoing (and without limiting their obligation to do so), each Lender severally agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent (or any such sub-agent) or such Related Party, as the case may be, such Lender’s pro rata share (determined as of the time that the applicable unreimbursed expense or indemnity payment is sought based on each Lender’s Applicable Percentage) of such unpaid amount (including any such unpaid amount in respect of a claim asserted by such Lender), such payment to be made severally among them based on such Lenders’ Applicable Percentage (determined as of the time that the applicable unreimbursed expense or indemnity payment is sought) of such unpaid amount, provided that the unreimbursed expense or indemnified loss, claim, damage, liability or related expense, as the case may be, was incurred by or asserted against the Administrative Agent (or any such sub-agent), or against any Related Party of any of the foregoing acting for the Administrative Agent (or any such sub-agent), in connection with such capacity.  The obligations of the Lenders under this subsection (c)  are subject to the provisions of Section 2.12(d) .

 

(e)                                   Waiver of Consequential Damages, Etc.   To the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law, no Loan Party shall assert, and each Loan Party hereby waives and acknowledges that no other Person shall have, any claim against any Indemnitee, on any theory of liability, for special, indirect, consequential or punitive damages (as opposed to direct or actual damages) arising out of, in connection with, or as a result of, this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any agreement or instrument contemplated hereby, the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, any Loan or the use of the proceeds thereof.  No Indemnitee referred to in subsection (b)  above shall be liable for any damages arising from the use by unintended recipients of any information or other materials distributed to such unintended recipients by such Indemnitee through telecommunications, electronic or other information transmission systems in connection with this Agreement or the other Loan Documents or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby other than for direct or actual damages resulting from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Indemnitee as determined by a final and nonappealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction.

 

(f)                                    Payments .  All amounts due under this Section shall be payable not later than ten (10) Business Days after demand therefor.

 

(g)                                   Survival .  The agreements in this Section and the indemnity provisions of Section 11.02(e)  shall survive the resignation of the Administrative Agent, the replacement of any Lender and the repayment, satisfaction or discharge of all the other Obligations.

 

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e.                                        Payments Set Aside.  To the extent that any payment by or on behalf of the Borrower is made to the Administrative Agent or any Lender, or the Administrative Agent or any Lender exercises its right of setoff, and such payment or the proceeds of such setoff or any part thereof is subsequently invalidated, declared to be fraudulent or preferential, set aside or required (including pursuant to any settlement entered into by the Administrative Agent or such Lender in its discretion) to be repaid to a trustee, receiver or any other party, in connection with any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law or otherwise, then (a) to the extent of such recovery, the obligation or part thereof originally intended to be satisfied shall be revived and continued in full force and effect as if such payment had not been made or such setoff had not occurred, and (b) each Lender severally agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent upon demand its applicable share (without duplication) of any amount so recovered from or repaid by the Administrative Agent (without relieving the Borrower of its obligation to make any such payment so required), plus interest thereon from the date of such demand to the date such payment is made at a rate per annum equal to the Federal Funds Rate from time to time in effect.  The obligations of the Lenders under clause (b)  of the preceding sentence shall survive the payment in full of the Obligations and the termination of this Agreement.

 

f.                                         Successors and Assigns.

 

(a)                                  Successors and Assigns Generally .  The provisions of this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby, except that neither the Borrower nor any other Loan Party may assign or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent and each Lender and no Lender may assign or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations hereunder except (i) to an assignee in accordance with the provisions of subsection (b)  of this Section, (ii) by way of participation in accordance with the provisions of subsection (d)  of this Section, or (iii) by way of pledge or assignment of a security interest subject to the restrictions of subsection (e)  of this Section (and any other attempted assignment or transfer by any party hereto shall be null and void).  Nothing in this Agreement, expressed or implied, shall be construed to confer upon any Person (other than the parties hereto, their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby, Participants to the extent provided in subsection (d)  of this Section and, to the extent expressly contemplated hereby, the Related Parties of each of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders) any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or by reason of this Agreement.

 

(b)                                  Assignments by the Lenders .  Any Lender may, at no cost or expense to any Loan Party (except as provided in Section 11.13 ), at any time assign to one or more assignees all or a portion of its rights and obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of the Loans at the time owing to it); provided that any such assignment shall be subject to the following conditions:

 

(i)                                      Minimum Amounts .

 

i)                                          in the case of an assignment of the entire remaining amount of the assigning Lender’s Loans at the time owing to it or contemporaneous assignments to related Approved Funds that equal at

 

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least the amount specified in paragraph (b)(i)(B) of this Section in the aggregate or in the case of an assignment to a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund, no minimum amount need be assigned (but any such assignment shall be of a pro rata interest in each of the Loans; and

 

ii)                                       in any case not described in subsection (b)(i)(A)  of this Section, the principal outstanding balance of the Loans of the assigning Lender subject to each such assignment, determined as of the date the Assignment and Assumption with respect to such assignment is delivered to the Administrative Agent or, if “Trade Date” is specified in the Assignment and Assumption, as of the Trade Date, shall not be less than $5,000,000 and shall be an assignment of a pro rata interest in each of the Loans, and the amount assigned to the Eligible Assignee shall not be less than $5,000,000, unless each of the Administrative Agent and, so long as no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Borrower otherwise consents (each such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed); provided that concurrent assignments to members of an Assignee Group and concurrent assignments from members of an Assignee Group to a single Eligible Assignee (or to an Eligible Assignee and members of its Assignee Group) will be treated as a single assignment for purposes of determining whether such minimum amount has been met.

 

(ii)                                   Proportionate Amounts .  Each partial assignment shall be made as an assignment of a proportionate part of all the assigning Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement with respect to the Loans assigned;

 

(iii)                                Required Consents .  No consent shall be required for any assignment except to the extent required by subsection (b)(i)(B)  of this Section and, in addition:

 

i)                                          the consent of the Borrower (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) shall be required unless (1) an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing at the time of such assignment or (2) such assignment is to a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender, an Approved Fund or to any Federal Reserve Bank or other central bank authority or comparable agency having jurisdiction over such Lender; provided that the Borrower shall be deemed to have consented to any such assignment unless it shall object thereto by written notice to the Administrative Agent within ten (10) Business Days after having received notice thereof; and

 

ii)                                       the consent of the Administrative Agent (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) shall be required if such assignment is to a Person that is not a Lender, an Affiliate of such Lender or an Approved Fund with respect to such Lender.

 

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(iv)                               Assignment and Assumption .  The parties to each assignment shall execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent an Assignment and Assumption, together with a processing and recordation fee in the amount of $3,500; provided that the Administrative Agent may, in its sole discretion, elect to waive such processing and recordation fee in the case of any assignment.  The assignee, if it is not a Lender, shall deliver to the Administrative Agent an Administrative Questionnaire.

 

(v)                                  No Assignment to Certain Persons .  No such assignment shall be made (A) to the Parent or the Borrower or any of their Affiliates or Subsidiaries, or (B) without the consent of the Administrative Agent and the Borrower, to any Defaulting Lender or any of its Subsidiaries, or any Person who, upon becoming a Lender hereunder, would constitute any of the foregoing Persons described in this clause (B) , (C) to a natural person, or (D) without the consent of the Borrower, to any Excluded Party.

 

(vi)                               Certain Additional Payments .  In connection with any assignment of rights and obligations of any Defaulting Lender hereunder, no such assignment shall be effective unless and until, in addition to the other conditions thereto set forth herein, the parties to the assignment shall make such additional payments to the Administrative Agent in an aggregate amount sufficient, upon distribution thereof as appropriate (which may be outright payment, purchases by the assignee of participations or sub-participations, or other compensating actions, including funding, with the consent of the Borrower and the Administrative Agent, the applicable pro rata share of Loans previously requested but not funded by the Defaulting Lender, to each of which the applicable assignee and assignor hereby irrevocably consent), to (x) pay and satisfy in full all payment liabilities then owed by such Defaulting Lender to the Administrative Agent or any Lender hereunder (and interest accrued thereon) and (y) acquire (and fund as appropriate) its full pro rata share of all Loans in accordance with its Applicable Percentage.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that any assignment of rights and obligations of any Defaulting Lender hereunder shall become effective under applicable Law without compliance with the provisions of this paragraph, then the assignee of such interest shall be deemed to be a Defaulting Lender for all purposes of this Agreement until such compliance occurs.

 

Subject to acceptance and recording thereof by the Administrative Agent pursuant to subsection (c)  of this Section, from and after the effective date specified in each Assignment and Assumption, the assignee thereunder shall be a party to this Agreement and, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Assumption, have the rights and obligations of a Lender under this Agreement, and the assigning Lender thereunder shall, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Assumption, be released from its obligations under this Agreement (and, in the case of an Assignment and Assumption covering all of the assigning Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement, such Lender shall cease to be a party hereto) but shall continue to be entitled to the benefits of Sections 3.01, 3.04 , 3.05 , and 11.04 with respect to facts and circumstances occurring prior to the effective date of such assignment, provided, that

 

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except to the extent otherwise expressly agreed by the affected parties, no assignment by a Defaulting Lender will constitute a waiver or release of any claim of any party hereunder arising from that Lender’s having been a Defaulting Lender.  Upon request, the Borrower (at its expense) shall execute and deliver a Note to the assignee Lender.  Any assignment or transfer by a Lender of rights or obligations under this Agreement that does not comply with this subsection shall be treated for purposes of this Agreement as a sale by such Lender of a participation in such rights and obligations in accordance with subsection (d)  of this Section.

 

(c)                                   Register .  The Administrative Agent, acting solely for this purpose as a non-fiduciary agent of the Borrower (and such agency being solely for tax purposes), shall maintain at the Administrative Agent’s Office a copy of each Assignment and Assumption delivered to it (or the equivalent thereof in electronic form) and a register for the recordation of the names and addresses of the Lenders and principal amounts (and stated interest) of the Loans owing to, each Lender pursuant to the terms hereof from time to time (the “ Register ”).  The entries in the Register shall be conclusive absent manifest error, and the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders may treat each Person whose name is recorded in the Register pursuant to the terms hereof as a Lender hereunder for all purposes of this Agreement .   The Register shall be available for inspection by the Borrower and any Lender, at any reasonable time and from time to time upon reasonable prior notice.

 

(d)                                  Participations .  Any Lender may at any time, without the consent of, or notice to, the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, sell participations to any Person (other than a natural person, an Excluded Party, a Defaulting Lender or the Parent or the Borrower or any of their Affiliates or Subsidiaries) (each, a “ Participant ”) in all or a portion of such Lender’s rights and/or obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of the Loans owing to it); provided that (i) such Lender’s obligations under this Agreement shall remain unchanged, (ii) such Lender shall remain solely responsible to the other parties hereto for the performance of such obligations and (iii) the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the Lenders shall continue to deal solely and directly with such Lender in connection with such Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement.  For the avoidance of doubt, each Lender shall be responsible for the indemnity under Section 11.04(d)  without regard to the existence of any participation.

 

Any agreement or instrument pursuant to which a Lender sells such a participation shall provide that such Lender shall retain the sole right to enforce this Agreement and to approve any amendment, modification or waiver of any provision of this Agreement; provided that such agreement or instrument may provide that such Lender will not, without the consent of the Participant, agree to any amendment, waiver or other modification described in the first proviso to Section 11.01 that affects such Participant.  The Borrower agrees that each Participant shall be entitled to the benefits of Sections 3.01 , 3.04 and 3.05 to the same extent as if it were a Lender and had acquired its interest by assignment pursuant to subsection (b) of this Section (it being understood that the documentation required under Section 3.01(e)  shall be delivered to the Lender who sells the participation); provided that such Participant (A) agrees to be subject to the provisions of Section s 3.06 and 11.13 as if it were an assignee under paragraph (b) of this Section and (B) shall not be entitled to receive any greater payment under Sections 3.01 or 3.04 ,

 

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with respect to any participation than the Lender from whom it acquired the applicable participation would have been entitled to receive, except to the extent such entitlement to receive a greater payment results from a Change in Law that occurs after the Participant acquired the applicable participation.  Each Lender that sells a participation agrees, at the Borrower’s request and expense, to use reasonable efforts to cooperate with the Borrower to effectuate the provisions of Section 3.06 with respect to any Participant.  To the extent permitted by law, each Participant also shall be entitled to the benefits of Section  11.08 as though it were a Lender; provided that such Participant agrees to be subject to Section 2.13 as though it were a Lender.  Each Lender that sells a participation shall, acting solely for this purpose as a non-fiduciary agent of the Borrower, maintain a register on which it enters the name and address of each Participant and the principal amounts (and stated interest) of each Participant’s interest in the Loans or other obligations under the Loan Documents (the “Participant Register”); provided that no Lender shall have any obligation to disclose all or any portion of the Participant Register (including the identity of any Participant or any information relating to a Participant’s interest in any commitments, loans, letters of credit or its other obligations under any Loan Document) to any Person except to the extent that such disclosure is necessary to establish that such commitment, loan, letter of credit or other obligation is in registered form under Section 5f.103-1(c)  of the United States Treasury Regulations.  The entries in the Participant Register shall be conclusive absent manifest error, and such Lender shall treat each Person whose name is recorded in the Participant Register as the owner of such participation for all purposes of this Agreement notwithstanding any notice to the contrary.  For the avoidance of doubt, the Administrative Agent (in its capacity as the Administrative Agent) shall have no responsibility for maintaining a Participant Register.

 

(e)                                   Certain Pledges .  Any Lender may at any time pledge or assign a security interest in all or any portion of its rights under this Agreement (including under its Note, if any) to secure obligations of such Lender, including any pledge or assignment to secure obligations to a Federal Reserve Bank or other central bank authority or comparable agency having jurisdiction over such Lender; provided that no such pledge or assignment shall release such Lender from any of its obligations hereunder or substitute any such pledgee or assignee for such Lender as a party hereto.

 

(f)                                    Reserved .

 

(g)                                   USA Patriot Act Notice; Compliance .  In order for the Administrative Agent to comply with “know your customer” and anti-money laundering rules and regulations, including without limitation, the Patriot Act, prior to any Lender that is organized under the laws of a jurisdiction outside of the United States of America becoming a party hereto, the Administrative Agent may request, and such Lender shall provide to the Administrative Agent, its name, address, tax identification number and/or such other identification information as shall be necessary for the Administrative Agent to comply with federal law.

 

g.                                        Treatment of Certain Information; Confidentiality.  Each of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders agrees to maintain the confidentiality of the Information (as defined below), except that Information may be disclosed (a) to its Affiliates and to its Related Parties (it being understood that the Persons to whom such disclosure is made will be informed of the

 

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confidential nature of such Information and instructed to keep such Information confidential), (b) to the extent required or requested by any regulatory authority purporting to have jurisdiction over such Person or its Related Parties (including any self-regulatory authority, such as the National Association of Insurance Commissioners), (c) to the extent required by applicable Laws or regulations or by any subpoena or similar legal process so long as the Administrative Agent and any Lender, as the case may be, requests confidential treatment of such Information to the extent permitted by Law (provided that the requesting Administrative Agent or Lender shall not be responsible for the failure by any such party to keep the Information confidential), (d) to any other party hereto, (e) in connection with the exercise of any remedies hereunder or under any other Loan Document or any action or proceeding relating to this Agreement or any other Loan Document or the enforcement of rights hereunder or thereunder, (f) subject to an agreement containing provisions substantially the same as those of this Section, to (i) any assignee of or Participant in, or any prospective assignee of or Participant in, any of its rights and obligations under this Agreement or any Eligible Assignee invited to be a Lender pursuant to Section  3.06 (c), Section 11. 13 or (ii) any actual or prospective party (or its Related Parties) to any swap, derivative or other transaction under which payments are to be made by reference to the Borrower and its obligations, this Agreement or payments hereunder, (g) on a confidential basis to (i)  any rating agency in connection with rating the Borrower or its Subsidiaries or the credit facilities provided hereunder or (ii) the CUSIP Service Bureau or any similar agency in connection with the issuance and monitoring of CUSIP numbers or other market identifiers with respect to the credit facilities provided hereunder, (h) with the consent of the Borrower or (i) to the extent such Information (x) becomes publicly available other than as a result of a breach of this Section or (y) becomes available to the Administrative Agent, any Lender or any of their respective Affiliates on a non-confidential basis from a source other than the Borrower provided that the source of such information was not at the time known to be bound by a confidentiality agreement or other legal or contractual obligation of confidentiality with respect to such Information.  For purposes of this Section, “Information” means all information received from the Borrower or any Subsidiary relating to the Borrower or any Subsidiary or any of their respective businesses, other than any such information that is available to the Administrative Agent or any Lender on a non-confidential basis prior to disclosure by the Borrower or any Subsidiary, provided that, in the case of information received from the Borrower or any Subsidiary after the date hereof, such information is clearly identified at the time of delivery as confidential.  Any Person required to maintain the confidentiality of Information as provided in this Section shall be considered to have complied with its obligation to do so if such Person has exercised the same degree of care to maintain the confidentiality of such Information as such Person would accord to its own confidential information.

 

Each of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders acknowledges that (a) the Information may include material non-public information concerning the Borrower or a Subsidiary, as the case may be, (b) it has developed compliance procedures regarding the use of material non-public information and (c) it will handle such material non-public information in accordance with applicable Law, including United States Federal and state securities Laws.

 

h.                                       Right of Setoff .  If an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing and the Administrative Agent and the Required Lenders shall have consented in writing thereto, each Lender and each of their respective Affiliates (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any Specified Derivatives Providers) is hereby authorized at any time and from time to time, to the fullest extent

 

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permitted by applicable law, to set off and apply any and all deposits (general or special, time or demand, provisional or final, in whatever currency) at any time held and other obligations (in whatever currency) at any time owing by such Lender or any such Affiliate to or for the credit or the account of the Borrower or any other Loan Party against any and all of the obligations of the Borrower or such Loan Party now or hereafter existing under this Agreement or any other Loan Document to such Lender or their respective Affiliates, irrespective of whether or not such Lender or Affiliate shall have made any demand under this Agreement or any other Loan Document and although such obligations of the Borrower or such Loan Party may be contingent or unmatured or are owed to a branch, office or Affiliate of such Lender different from the branch, office or Affiliate holding such deposit or obligated on such indebtedness; provided, that in the event that any Defaulting Lender shall exercise any such right of setoff, (x) all amounts so set off shall be paid over immediately to the Administrative Agent for further application in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.17 and, pending such payment, shall be segregated by such Defaulting Lender from its other funds and deemed held in trust for the benefit of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders, and (y) the Defaulting Lender shall provide promptly to the Administrative Agent a statement describing in reasonable detail the Obligations owing to such Defaulting Lender as to which it exercised such right of setoff. The rights of each Lender and their respective Affiliates under this Section are in addition to other rights and remedies (including other rights of setoff) that such Lender or their respective Affiliates may have. Each Lender agrees to notify the Borrower and the Administrative Agent promptly after any such setoff and application, provided that the failure to give such notice shall not affect the validity of such setoff and application.

 

i.                                           Interest Rate Limitation.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in any Loan Document, the interest paid or agreed to be paid under the Loan Documents shall not exceed the maximum rate of non-usurious interest permitted by applicable Law (the “ Maximum Rate ”).  If the Administrative Agent or any Lender shall receive interest in an amount that exceeds the Maximum Rate, the excess interest shall be applied to the principal of the Loans or, if it exceeds such unpaid principal, refunded to the Borrower.  In determining whether the interest contracted for, charged, or received by the Administrative Agent or a Lender exceeds the Maximum Rate, such Person may, to the extent permitted by applicable Law, (a) characterize any payment that is not principal as an expense, fee, or premium rather than interest, (b) exclude voluntary prepayments and the effects thereof, and (c) amortize, prorate, allocate, and spread in equal or unequal parts the total amount of interest throughout the contemplated term of the Obligations hereunder.

 

j.                                          Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness.  This Agreement may be executed in counterparts (and by different parties hereto in different counterparts), each of which shall constitute an original, but all of which when taken together shall constitute a single contract.  This Agreement and the other Loan Documents , and any separate letter agreements with respect to fees payable to the Administrative Agent constitute the entire contract among the parties relating to the subject matter hereof and supersede any and all previous agreements and understandings, oral or written, relating to the subject matter hereof.  Except as provided in Section 5.01 , this Agreement shall become effective when it shall have been executed by the Administrative Agent and when the Administrative Agent shall have received counterparts hereof that, when taken together, bear the signatures of each of the other parties hereto.  Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page of this Agreement by telecopy, by email with a

 

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pdf copy attached, or other electronic imaging means shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Agreement.

 

k.                                       Survival of Representations and Warranties.  All representations and warranties made hereunder and in any other Loan Document or other document delivered pursuant hereto or thereto or in connection herewith or therewith shall survive the execution and delivery hereof and thereof.  Such representations and warranties have been or will be relied upon by the Administrative Agent and each Lender, regardless of any investigation made by the Administrative Agent or any Lender or on their behalf and notwithstanding that the Administrative Agent or any Lender may have had notice or knowledge of any Default at the time of any Credit Extension, and shall continue in full force and effect as long as any Loan or any other Obligation hereunder shall remain unpaid or unsatisfied.

 

l.                                           Severability.  If any provision of this Agreement or the other Loan Documents is held to be illegal, invalid or unenforceable, (a) the legality, validity and enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents shall not be affected or impaired thereby and (b) the parties shall endeavor in good faith negotiations to replace the illegal, invalid or unenforceable provisions with valid provisions the economic effect of which comes as close as possible to that of the illegal, invalid or unenforceable provisions.  The invalidity of a provision in a particular jurisdiction shall not invalidate or render unenforceable such provision in any other jurisdiction.  Without limiting the foregoing provisions of this Section 11.12 , if and to the extent that the enforceability of any provisions in this Agreement relating to Defaulting Lenders shall be limited by Debtor Relief Laws, as determined in good faith by the Administrative Agent then such provisions shall be deemed to be in effect only to the extent not so limited.

 

m.                                   Replacement of the Lenders.  If the Borrower is entitled to replace a Lender pursuant to the provisions of Section 3.06 , or if any Lender is a Defaulting Lender or if any other circumstance exists hereunder that gives the Borrower the right to replace a Lender as a party hereto, then the Borrower may, at its sole expense and effort, upon notice to such Lender and the Administrative Agent, require such Lender to assign and delegate, without recourse (in accordance with and subject to the restrictions contained in, and consents required by, Section 11.06 ), all of its interests, rights (other than its existing rights to payments pursuant to Sections 3.01 , 3.04 and 3.05 ) and obligations under this Agreement and the related Loan Documents to an Eligible Assignee that shall assume such obligations (which assignee may be another Lender, if a Lender accepts such assignment), provided that:

 

(a)                                  the Borrower shall have paid to the Administrative Agent the assignment fee (if any) specified in Section 11.06(b) ;

 

(b)                                  such Lender shall have received payment of an amount equal to the outstanding principal of its Loans, accrued interest thereon, accrued fees and all other amounts payable to it hereunder and under the other Loan Documents (including any amounts under Section 3.05 ) from the assignee (to the extent of such outstanding principal and accrued interest and fees) or the Borrower (in the case of all other amounts);

 

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(c)                                   in the case of any such assignment resulting from a claim for compensation under Section 3.04 or payments required to be made pursuant to Section 3.01 , such assignment will result in a reduction in such compensation or payments thereafter; and

 

(d)                                  such assignment does not conflict with applicable Laws.

 

(e)                                   A Lender shall not be required to make any such assignment or delegation if, prior thereto, as a result of a waiver by such Lender or otherwise, the circumstances entitling the Borrower to require such assignment and delegation cease to apply.

 

n.                                       Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Etc.

 

(a)                                  GOVERNING LAW .  THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS AND ANY CLAIMS, CONTROVERSY, DISPUTE OR CAUSE OF ACTION (WHETHER IN CONTRACT OR TORT OR OTHERWISE) BASED UPON, ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT (EXCEPT, AS TO ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT, AS EXPRESSLY SET FORTH THEREIN) AND THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY AND THEREBY SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

 

(b)                                  SUBMISSION TO JURISDICTION .  THE BORROWER AND EACH OTHER LOAN PARTY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY AGREES THAT IT WILL NOT COMMENCE ANY ACTION, LITIGATION OR PROCEEDING OF ANY KIND OR DESCRIPTION, WHETHER IN LAW OR EQUITY, WHETHER IN CONTRACT OR IN TORT OR OTHERWISE, AGAINST THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT, ANY LENDER OR ANY RELATED PARTY OF THE FOREGOING IN ANY WAY RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS RELATING HERETO OR THERETO, IN ANY FORUM OTHER THAN THE COURTS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK COUNTY AND OF THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT OF THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK, AND ANY APPELLATE COURT FROM ANY THEREOF, AND EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY SUBMITS TO THE JURISDICTION OF SUCH COURTS AND AGREES THAT ALL CLAIMS IN RESPECT OF ANY SUCH ACTION, LITIGATION OR PROCEEDING MAY BE HEARD AND DETERMINED IN SUCH NEW YORK STATE COURT OR, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, IN SUCH FEDERAL COURT.  EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO AGREES THAT A FINAL JUDGMENT IN ANY SUCH ACTION, LITIGATION OR PROCEEDING SHALL BE CONCLUSIVE AND MAY BE ENFORCED IN OTHER JURISDICTIONS BY SUIT ON THE JUDGMENT OR IN ANY OTHER MANNER PROVIDED BY LAW.  NOTHING IN THIS AGREEMENT OR IN ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT SHALL AFFECT ANY RIGHT THAT THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT OR ANY LENDER MAY OTHERWISE HAVE TO BRING ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR

 

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ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT AGAINST THE BORROWER OR ANY OTHER LOAN PARTY OR ITS PROPERTIES IN THE COURTS OF ANY JURISDICTION.

 

(c)                                   WAIVER OF VENUE .  EACH OF THE PARENT, THE BORROWER AND EACH OTHER LOAN PARTY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY OBJECTION THAT IT MAY NOW OR HEREAFTER HAVE TO THE LAYING OF VENUE OF ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT IN ANY COURT REFERRED TO IN PARAGRAPH (b) OF THIS SECTION.  EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, THE DEFENSE OF AN INCONVENIENT FORUM TO THE MAINTENANCE OF SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING IN ANY SUCH COURT.

 

(d)                                  SERVICE OF PROCESS .  EACH PARTY HERETO IRREVOCABLY CONSENTS TO SERVICE OF PROCESS IN THE MANNER PROVIDED FOR NOTICES IN SECTION 11.02 PROVIDED THAT, IN THE CASE OF SERVICE ON ANY LOAN PARTY A COPY IS ALSO DELIVERED TO JEFFREY SULLIVAN, GENERAL COUNSEL FOR PARENT AND BORROWER.  NOTHING IN THIS AGREEMENT WILL AFFECT THE RIGHT OF ANY PARTY HERETO TO SERVE PROCESS IN ANY OTHER MANNER PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW.

 

(e)                                   WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL .  EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR THEREBY (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT OR ANY OTHER THEORY).  EACH PARTY HERETO (A) CERTIFIES THAT NO REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF ANY OTHER PERSON HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PERSON WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER AND (B) ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT AND THE OTHER PARTIES HERETO HAVE BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION.

 

o.                                       No Advisory or Fiduciary Responsibility.  In connection with all aspects of each transaction contemplated hereby (including in connection with any amendment, waiver or other modification hereof or of any other Loan Document), the Parent, the Borrower, and each other Loan Party acknowledges and agrees, and acknowledges its Affiliates’ understanding, that: (i)(A) the arranging and other services regarding this Agreement provided by the Administrative Agent and the Lead Arranger are arm’s-length commercial transactions between the Parent, the Borrower, each other Loan Party and their respective Affiliates, on the one hand, and the Administrative Agent and the Lead Arranger, on the other hand, (B) each of the Parent, the Borrower, and the other Loan Parties has consulted its own legal, accounting, regulatory and tax

 

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advisors to the extent it has deemed appropriate, and (C) the Borrower and each other Loan Party is capable of evaluating, and understands and accepts, the terms, risks and conditions of the transactions contemplated hereby and by the other Loan Documents; (ii)(A)  each of the Administrative Agent, the Lead Arranger and the Lenders is and has been acting solely as a principal and, except as expressly agreed in writing by the relevant parties, has not been, is not, and will not be acting as an advisor, agent or fiduciary for the Parent, the Borrower, any other Loan Party, or any of their respective Affiliates, or any other Person and (B) the Administrative Agent, the Lead Arranger and the Lender have no obligation to the Parent, the Borrower, any other Loan Party, or any of their respective Affiliates with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby except those obligations expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents; and (iii) the Administrative Agent, the Lead Arranger and the Lenders and their respective Affiliates may be engaged in a broad range of transactions that involve interests that differ from those of the Parent, the Borrower, the other Loan Parties, and their respective Affiliates, and the Administrative Agent, the Lead Arranger and the Lenders have no obligation to disclose any of such interests to the Parent, the Borrower, any other Loan Party, or any of their respective Affiliates.  To the fullest extent permitted by Law, each of the Parent, the Borrower, and the other Loan Parties hereby waives and releases any claims that it may have against the Administrative Agent and the Lead Arranger with respect to any breach or alleged breach of agency or fiduciary duty in connection with any aspect of any transaction contemplated hereby.

 

p.                                       Electronic Execution of Assignments and Certain Other Documents.  The words “execution,” “signed,” “signature,” and words of like import in any Assignment and Assumption or in any amendment or other modification hereof (including waivers and consents) shall be deemed to include electronic signatures , the electronic matching or assignment terms and contract formations on electronic platforms approved by the Administrative Agent or the keeping of records in electronic form, each of which shall be of the same legal effect, validity or enforceability as a manually executed signature or the use of a paper-based recordkeeping system, as the case may be, to the extent and as provided for in any applicable Law, including the Federal Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act, the New York State Electronic Signatures and Records Act, or any other similar state laws based on the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act.

 

q.                                       USA PATRIOT ACT.  Each Lender that is subject to the Patriot Act (as hereinafter defined) and the Administrative Agent (for itself and not on behalf of any Lender) hereby notifies the Borrower that pursuant to the requirements of The Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001 (Title III of Pub. L. No. 107-56 (signed into law October 26, 2001)) (the “ Patriot Act ”), it is required to obtain, verify and record certain information that identifies individuals or business entities which open an “account” with such financial institution, which information includes the name, address, and tax identification number of the Borrower and such other identification information that will allow such Lender or the Administrative Agent, as applicable, to identify the Borrower in accordance with the Patriot Act and comply with federal law.  An “account” for this purpose may include, without limitation, a deposit account, cash management service, a transaction or asset account, a credit account, a loan or other extension of credit, and/or other financial services product. the Borrower shall, promptly following a request by the Administrative Agent or any Lender, provide all documentation and other information that the Administrative Agent or such Lender requests in order to comply with its ongoing obligations

 

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under applicable “know your customer” and anti-money laundering rules and regulations, including the Patriot Act.

 

r.                                          ENTIRE AGREEMENT.  THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS REPRESENT THE FINAL AGREEMENT AMONG THE PARTIES AND MAY NOT BE CONTRADICTED BY EVIDENCE OF PRIOR, CONTEMPORANEOUS, OR SUBSEQUENT ORAL AGREEMENTS OF THE PARTIES.  THERE ARE NO UNWRITTEN ORAL AGREEMENTS AMONG THE PARTIES.

 

s.                                         Acknowledgment and Consent to Bail-In of EEA Financial Institutions.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in any Loan Document or in any other agreement, arrangement or understanding among any such parties, each party hereto acknowledges that any liability of any EEA Financial Institution arising under any Loan Document may be subject to the Write-Down and Conversion Powers of an EEA Resolution Authority and agrees and consents to, and acknowledges and agrees to be bound by:

 

(a)                                  the application of any Write-Down and Conversion Powers by an EEA Resolution Authority to any such liabilities arising hereunder which may be payable to it by any party hereto that is an EEA Financial Institution; and

 

(b)                                  the effects of any Bail-In Action on any such liability, including, if applicable:

 

(i)                                      a reduction in full or in part or cancellation of any such liability;

 

(ii)                                   a conversion of all, or a portion of, such liability into shares or other instruments of ownership in such EEA Financial Institution, its parent entity, or a bridge institution that may be issued to it or otherwise conferred on it, and that such shares or other instruments of ownership will be accepted by it in lieu of any rights with respect to any such liability under this Agreement or any other Loan Document; or

 

(iii)                                the variation of the terms of such liability in connection with the exercise of the Write-Down and Conversion Powers of any EEA Resolution Authority.

 

t.                                          Certain ERISA Matters .

 

(a)                                  Each Lender (x) represents and warrants, as of the date such Person became a Lender party hereto, to, and (y) covenants, from the date such Person became a Lender party hereto to the date such Person ceases being a Lender party hereto, for the benefit of, the Administrative Agent, each Lead Arranger and their respective Affiliates, and not, for the avoidance of doubt, to or for the benefit of the Borrower or any other Loan Party, that at least one of the following is and will be true:

 

(i)                                      such Lender is not using “plan assets” (within the meaning of 29 CFR § 2510.3-101, as modified by Section 3(42) of ERISA) of one or more Benefit Plans in connection with the Loans or the Commitments;

 

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(ii)                                   the transaction exemption set forth in one or more PTEs, such as PTE 84-14 (a class exemption for certain transactions determined by independent qualified professional asset managers), PTE 95-60 (a class exemption for certain transactions involving insurance company general accounts), PTE 90-1 (a class exemption for certain transactions involving insurance company pooled separate accounts), PTE 91-38 (a class exemption for certain transactions involving bank collective investment funds) or PTE 96-23 (a class exemption for certain transactions determined by in-house asset managers), is applicable with respect to such Lender’s entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Commitments and this Agreement;

 

(iii)                                (A) such Lender is an investment fund managed by a “Qualified Professional Asset Manager” (within the meaning of Part VI of PTE 84-14), (B) such Qualified Professional Asset Manager made the investment decision on behalf of such Lender to enter into, participate in, administer and perform the Loans, the Commitments and this Agreement, (C) the entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Commitments and this Agreement satisfies the requirements of sub-sections (b) through (g) of Part I of PTE 84-14 and (D) to the best knowledge of such Lender, the requirements of subsection (a) of Part I of PTE 84-14 are satisfied with respect to such Lender’s entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Commitments and this Agreement; or

 

(iv)                               such other representation, warranty and covenant as may be agreed in writing between the Administrative Agent, in its sole discretion, and such Lender.

 

(b)                                  In addition, unless sub-clause (i) in the immediately preceding clause (a) is true with respect to a Lender or such Lender has not provided another representation, warranty and covenant as provided in sub-clause (iv) in the immediately preceding clause (a), such Lender further (x) represents and warrants, as of the date such Person became a Lender party hereto, to, and (y) covenants, from the date such Person became a Lender party hereto to the date such Person ceases being a Lender party hereto, for the benefit of, the Administrative Agent, each Lead Arranger and their respective Affiliates, and not, for the avoidance of doubt, to or for the benefit of the Borrower or any other Credit Party, that:

 

(i)                                      none of the Administrative Agent, any Lead Arranger nor any of their respective Affiliates is a fiduciary with respect to the assets of such Lender (including in connection with the reservation or exercise of any rights by the Administrative Agent under this Agreement, any Loan Document or any documents related to hereto or thereto);

 

(ii)                                   the Person making the investment decision on behalf of such Lender with respect to the entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Commitments and this Agreement is independent (within the meaning of 29 CFR § 2510.3-21) and is a bank, an insurance carrier,

 

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an investment adviser, a broker-dealer or other person that holds, or has under management or control, total assets of at least $50 million, in each case as described in 29 CFR § 2510.3-21(c)(1)(i)(A)-(E),

 

(iii)                                the Person making the investment decision on behalf of such Lender with respect to the entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Commitments and this Agreement is capable of evaluating investment risks independently, both in general and with regard to particular transactions and investment strategies (including in respect of the Secured Obligations);

 

(iv)                               the Person making the investment decision on behalf of such Lender with respect to the entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Commitments and this Agreement is a fiduciary under ERISA or the Code, or both, with respect to the Loans, the Commitments and this Agreement and is responsible for exercising independent judgment in evaluating the transactions hereunder, and

 

(v)                                  no fee or other compensation is being paid directly to the Administrative Agent, each Lead Arranger or their respective Affiliates for investment advice (as opposed to other services) in connection with the Loans, the Commitments or this Agreement.

 

(c)                                   The Administrative Agent and each Lead Arranger hereby informs the Lenders that each such Person is not undertaking to provide impartial investment advice, or to give advice in a fiduciary capacity, in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby, and that such Person has a financial interest in the transactions contemplated hereby in that such Person or an Affiliate thereof (i) may receive interest or other payments with respect to the Loans, the Commitments and this Agreement, (ii) may recognize a gain if it extended the Loans or the Commitments for an amount less than the amount being paid for an interest in the Loans or the Commitments by such Lender or (iii) may receive fees or other payments in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby, the Loan Documents or otherwise, including structuring fees, commitment fees, arrangement fees, facility fees, upfront fees, underwriting fees, ticking fees, agency fees, administrative agent or collateral agent fees, utilization fees, minimum usage fees, letter of credit fees, fronting fees, deal-away or alternate transaction fees, amendment fees, processing fees, term out premiums, banker’s acceptance fees, breakage or other early termination fees or fees similar to the foregoing.

 

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EXHIBIT C

 

REAFFIRMATION OF SUBSIDIARY GUARANTY

July 26 , 2018

 

Each of the undersigned Subsidiary Guarantors hereby acknowledges receipt of a copy of the foregoing Second Amendment to Amended and Restated Term Loan Agreement with respect to that certain Amended and Restated Term Loan Agreement dated as of December 20, 2016 by and among STAG INDUSTRIAL OPERATING PARTNERSHIP, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (together with its successors and assigns, the “ Borrower ”), STAG INDUSTRIAL INC., a Maryland corporation and the sole member of the sole general partner of the Borrower (the “ Parent ”), each of the financial institutions initially a signatory to the Loan Agreement (as defined below) together with their successors and assigns under Section 11.06 of the Loan Agreement (the “ Lenders ”), and WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as the Administrative Agent (in such capacity, the “ Administrative Agent ”) (as amended and as the same may be amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “ Loan Agreement ”), which Second Amendment to Amended and Restated Term Loan Agreement is dated as of the date hereof (the “ Amendment ”).  Capitalized terms used in this Reaffirmation and not defined herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Loan Agreement.   Without in any way establishing a course of dealing by the Administrative Agent or any Lender, each of the undersigned Subsidiary Guarantors reaffirms the terms and conditions of the Subsidiary Guaranty (as reaffirmed from time to time) and any other Loan Document executed by it and acknowledges and agrees that such agreement and each and every such Loan Document executed by the undersigned Subsidiary Guarantors in connection with the Loan Agreement remains in full force and effect and is hereby reaffirmed, ratified and confirmed.  All references to the Loan Agreement contained in the above-referenced documents shall be a reference to the Loan Agreement as so modified by the Amendment and as the same may from time to time hereafter be amended, modified or restated.

 

***

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each Subsidiary Guarantor has caused this Reaffirmation of Subsidiary Guaranty to be duly executed and delivered as of the date first written above.

 

SUBSIDIARY GUARANTORS:

 

STAG Investments Holdings III, LLC

STAG III Albion, LLC

STAG III Boardman, LLC

STAG III Chesterfield, LLC

STAG III Daytona Beach, LLC

STAG III Elkhart, LLC

STAG III Farmington, LLC

STAG III Lewiston, LLC

STAG III Malden, LLC

STAG III Mason, LLC

STAG III Mayville, LLC

STAG III Newark, LLC

STAG III Pensacola, LLC

STAG III Rapid City, LLC

STAG III Twinsburg, LLC

STAG III Youngstown, LLC

STAG Investments Holdings IV, LLC

STAG IV Alexandria, LLC

STAG IV Belfast, LLC

STAG IV Cheektowaga, LLC

STAG IV Danville, LLC

STAG IV Seville, LLC

STAG IV Sun Prairie, LLC

STIR Investments GP IV, LLC

STAG GI Investments Holdings, LLC

STAG GI New Jersey, LLC

STAG GI O’Fallon, LLC

STAG GI Goshen, LLC

STAG GI Madison, LLC

STAG GI Vonore, LLC

STAG GI Rogers, LLC

STAG GI Salem, LLC

STAG GI Walker, LLC

STAG GI Streetsboro, LLC

STAG GI Mooresville, LLC

STAG GI Cleveland, LLC

STAG Lansing, LLC

STAG Industrial Holdings, LLC

STAG TX GP 2, LLC

STAG Avon, LLC

 

Signature Page to Reaffirmation of Subsidiary Guaranty
Second Amendment to Amended and Restated Term Loan Agreement

 



 

STAG Buffalo, LLC

STAG Chippewa Falls, LLC

STAG Edgefield, LLC

STAG Lansing 2, LLC

STAG Orlando, LLC

STAG Pineville, LLC

STAG Portland 2, LLC

STAG Reading, LLC

STAG Rogers 2, LLC

STAG South Bend, LLC

STAG Spartanburg, LLC

STAG Jackson, LLC

STAG Portage, LLC

STAG Simpsonville, LLC

STAG Dallas, LLC

STAG De Pere, LLC

STAG Duncan, LLC

STAG Buena Vista, LLC

STAG Gurnee, LLC

STAG Chicopee, LLC

STAG Montgomery, LLC

STAG Smyrna, LLC

STAG Statham, LLC

STAG Harrisonburg, LLC

STAG Toledo, LLC

STAG Woodstock, LLC

STAG Columbia, LLC

STAG Golden, LLC

STAG DeKalb, LLC

STAG Ocala, LLC

STAG Marion 2, LLC

STAG Londonderry, LLC

STAG Idaho Falls, LLC

STAG Williamsport, LLC

STAG Kentwood, LLC

STAG Marshall, LLC

STAG Belvidere I, LLC

STAG Belvidere II, LLC

STAG Belvidere III, LLC

STAG Belvidere IV, LLC

STAG Belvidere V, LLC

STAG Belvidere VI, LLC

STAG Belvidere VII, LLC

STAG Belvidere VIII, LLC

STAG Belvidere IX, LLC

 

Signature Page to Reaffirmation of Subsidiary Guaranty
Second Amendment to Amended and Restated Term Loan Agreement

 



 

STAG Nashville, LLC

STAG New Berlin, LLC

STAG Hampstead, LLC

STAG New Hope, LLC

STAG Orlando 2, LLC

STAG North Jackson 2, LLC

STAG Shannon, LLC

STAG Lansing 4, LLC

STAG Harvard, LLC

STAG Sauk Village, LLC

STAG South Holland, LLC

STAG Mascot, LLC

STAG Janesville, LLC

STAG Allentown, LLC

STAG Nashua, LLC

STAG Strongsville, LLC

STAG Columbus, LLC

STAG Savannah, LLC

STAG West Chester, LLC

STAG Calhoun, LLC

STAG Hebron, LLC

STAG East Troy, LLC

STAG Savage, LLC

STAG Chester, LLC

STAG Mechanicsburg 1, LLC

STAG Mechanicsburg 2, LLC

STAG Mechanicsburg 3, LLC

STAG Mason 3, LLC

STAG Lenexa, LLC

STAG Reno, LLC

STAG Fort Wayne, LLC

STAG Murfreesboro, LLC

STAG Gurnee 2, LLC

STAG Germantown, LLC

STAG Elizabethtown, LLC

STAG CA GP, LLC

STAG Spartanburg 3, LLC

STAG Burlington, LLC

STAG Greenville, LLC

STAG North Haven, LLC

STAG Plymouth 2, LLC

STAG Oakwood Village, LLC

STAG Stoughton 1, LLC

STAG Stoughton 2, LLC

STAG 5101 South Council Road, LLC

 

Signature Page to Reaffirmation of Subsidiary Guaranty
Second Amendment to Amended and Restated Term Loan Agreement

 



 

STAG Knoxville 2, LLC

STAG Clinton, LLC

STAG Fairborn, LLC

STAG Phoenix, LLC

STAG Machesney Park, LLC

STAG Macedonia, LLC

STAG Novi 2, LLC

STAG Grand Junction, LLC

STAG Tulsa, LLC

STAG Chattanooga 1, LLC

STAG Chattanooga 2, LLC

STAG Libertyville 1, LLC

STAG Libertyville 2, LLC

STAG Greer, LLC

STAG Piedmont 1, LLC

STAG Piedmont 2, LLC

STAG Piedmont 3, LLC

STAG Belvidere 10, LLC

STAG Shreveport, LLC

STAG Dayton 2, LLC

STAG West Allis, LLC

STAG Loudon, LLC

STAG Laurens, LLC

STAG Lancaster, LLC

STAG Grand Rapids, LLC

STAG Burlington 2, LLC

STAG Biddeford, LLC

STAG Fairfield 3, LLC

STAG Mascot 2, LLC

STAG Erlanger, LLC

STAG Gahanna, LLC

STAG Norton, LLC

STAG NC GP, LLC

STAG Sparks 2, LLC

STAG Hazelwood, LLC

STAG York, LLC

STAG NC GP 2, LLC

STAG TX GP, LLC

STAG Louisville, LLC

STAG North Jackson, LLC

STAG Portland, LLC

STAG East Windsor, LLC

STAG Yorkville, LLC

STAG Lebanon, LLC

STAG West Columbia 3, LLC

 

Signature Page to Reaffirmation of Subsidiary Guaranty
Second Amendment to Amended and Restated Term Loan Agreement

 



 

STAG McHenry 2, LLC

STAG Romulus 2, LLC

STAG South Saint Paul, LLC

STAG Knoxville 3, LLC

 

each a Delaware limited liability company

 

By:

 

 

Name:

 

Title:

 

 

(Signatures continue on the next page)

 

Signature Page to Reaffirmation of Subsidiary Guaranty
Second Amendment to Amended and Restated Term Loan Agreement

 



 

STAG III Arlington, LP

a Delaware limited partnership

 

By:                             STIR Investments GP III, LLC,

a Delaware limited liability company,

its General Partner

 

By:

 

 

Name:

 

Title:

 

 

STAG IV Waco, L.P.,

a Delaware limited partnership

 

By:                             STIR Investments GP IV, LLC,

a Delaware limited liability company,

its General Partner

 

By:

 

 

Name:

 

Title:

 

 

(Signatures continue on the next page)

 

Signature Page to Reaffirmation of Subsidiary Guaranty
Second Amendment to Amended and Restated Term Loan Agreement

 



 

STAG Arlington 2, L.P.

STAG Houston 2, L.P.

STAG Garland, LP

STAG Houston 3, LP

STAG El Paso 1, LP

STAG El Paso 2, LP

STAG El Paso 3, LP

STAG El Paso 4, LP

STAG Houston 4, LP

STAG El Paso 5, LP

STAG Garland 2, LP

STAG TX Holdings, LP

STAG Rockwall, L.P.

STAG IND Stafford, LP

STAG IND El Paso 6, LP

STAG IND Houston 9, LP

STAG IND Houston 11, LP

 

each a Delaware limited partnership

 

By:                             STAG TX GP 2, LLC

a Delaware limited liability company,

their General Partner

 

By:

 

 

Name:

 

Title:

 

 

STAG Camarillo 1, LP

STAG Camarillo 2, LP

STAG Visalia, LP

 

each, a Delaware limited partnership

 

By:                             STAG CA GP, LLC

a Delaware limited liability company,

their General Partner

 

By:

 

 

Name:

 

Title:

 

 

Signature Page to Reaffirmation of Subsidiary Guaranty
Second Amendment to Amended and Restated Term Loan Agreement

 



 

(Signatures continue on the next page)

 

STAG NC Holdings, LP

a Delaware limited partnership

 

By:                             STAG NC GP, LLC,

a Delaware limited liability company,

their General Partner

 

By:

 

 

Name:

 

Title:

 

 

STAG Fort Worth, LP

a Delaware limited partnership

 

By:                             STAG TX GP, LLC,

a Delaware limited liability company,

its General Partner

 

By:

 

 

Name:

 

Title:

 

 

STAG Mooresville 2, LP

a Delaware limited partnership

 

By:                             STAG NC GP 2, LLC,

a Delaware limited liability company,

its General Partner

 

By:

 

 

Name:

 

Title:

 

 

Signature Page to Reaffirmation of Subsidiary Guaranty
Second Amendment to Amended and Restated Term Loan Agreement

 



 

STAG El Paso, LP

a Delaware limited partnership

 

By:                             STIR Investments GP, LLC

a Delaware limited liability company,

its General Partner

 

By:

 

 

Name:

 

Title:

 

 

Signature Page to Reaffirmation of Subsidiary Guaranty
Second Amendment to Amended and Restated Term Loan Agreement

 


EXHIBIT 10.4

 

SECOND AMENDMENT TO SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED

 

TERM LOAN AGREEMENT

 

This SECOND AMENDMENT TO SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED TERM LOAN AGREEMENT (this “ Second Amendment ”) is made and entered into as of July 26, 2018 by and among STAG INDUSTRIAL OPERATING PARTNERSHIP, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (together with its successors and assigns, the “ Borrower ”), STAG INDUSTRIAL INC., a Maryland corporation and the sole member of the sole general partner of the Borrower (the “ Parent ”), each of the financial institutions initially a signatory to the Loan Agreement (as defined below) together with their successors and assigns under Section 11.06 of the Loan Agreement (the “ Lenders ”), and WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as the Administrative Agent (in such capacity, the “ Administrative Agent ”).

 

WITNESSETH:

 

WHEREAS, the Borrower, the Parent, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders are parties to that certain Second Amended and Restated Term Loan Agreement dated as of December 20, 2016 (as amended by the First Amendment To Second Amended and Restated Term Loan Agreement dated as of July 28, 2017, the “ Loan Agreement ”);

 

WHEREAS, the Borrower has requested that the Administrative Agent and the Lenders amend certain terms and conditions of the Loan Agreement as described herein; and

 

WHEREAS, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders party to this Second Amendment have agreed to so amend certain terms and conditions of the Loan Agreement, all on the terms and conditions set forth below in this Second Amendment.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, for good and valuable consideration, the receipt and adequacy of which is hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:

 

1.                                       Definitions . All capitalized undefined terms used in this Second Amendment shall have the meanings ascribed thereto in the Loan Agreement, as amended hereby.

 

2.                                       Amendments to Loan Agreement .  Effective as set forth in Section 3 below, the Loan Agreement is hereby amended to delete the stricken text (indicated in the same manner as the following example: stricken text ) and to add the double-underlined text (indicated in the same manner as the following example:  double-underlined text ) as set forth on Exhibit A hereto (the “ Amended Loan Agreement ”).  Exhibit B attached hereto sets forth a clean copy of the Amended Loan Agreement after giving effect to such amendments.

 

3.                                       Conditions to Effectiveness .                                         This Second Amendment shall not be effective until the Administrative Agent shall have received (a) counterparts of (i) this Second Amendment duly executed and delivered by the Borrower, the Parent, the Administrative Agent, and the Required Lenders and (ii) duly executed copies of a Reaffirmation of Subsidiary Guaranty in the form of Exhibit C attached hereto from each of the Subsidiary Guarantors identified thereon; and (b) all the fees and expenses required to be paid on or before the effectiveness of this Second Amendment.

 

4.                                       Representations and Warranties .  The Borrower hereby represents and warrants that the representations and warranties of the Borrower and each other Loan Party contained in Article VI

 



 

of the Loan Agreement or any other Loan Document, or which are contained in any document furnished at any time under or in connection therewith, shall be true and correct in all material respects (or in all respects in the case of any representation or warranty qualified by materiality or Material Adverse Effect) on and as of the date hereof, except to the extent that such representations and warranties specifically refer to an earlier date, in which case they shall be true and correct in all material respects (or in all respects in the case of any representation or warranty qualified by materiality or Material Adverse Effect) as of such earlier date.

 

5.                                       Limited Amendment; Ratification of Loan Documents .  Except as specifically amended or modified hereby, the terms and conditions of the Loan Agreement and the other Loan Documents shall remain in full force and effect, and are hereby ratified and affirmed in all respects.  This Second Amendment shall not be deemed a waiver of, or consent to, or a modification or amendment of, any other term or condition of the Loan Agreement or any other Loan Document, except as expressly set forth herein.

 

6.                                       Governing Law . This Second Amendment shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the law of the State of New York.

 

7.                                       Miscellaneous . This Second Amendment may be executed in any number of counterparts, which shall together constitute an entire original agreement, and shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns.  This Second Amendment expresses the entire understanding of the parties with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby.  No prior negotiations or discussions shall limit, modify, or otherwise affect the provisions hereof.  Any determination that any provision of this Second Amendment or any application hereof is invalid, illegal, or unenforceable in any respect and in any instance shall not affect the validity, legality, or enforceability of such provision in any other instance, or the validity, legality, or enforceability of any other provisions of this Second Amendment.  Each of the Borrower and the Parent represents and warrants that it has consulted with independent legal counsel of its selection in connection herewith and is not relying on any representations or warranties of the Administrative Agent or the Lenders or their counsel in entering into this Second Amendment. This Second Amendment shall constitute a Loan Document.

 

***

 

2



 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Second Amendment to be duly executed as of the date first above written.

 

 

BORROWER:

 

 

 

 

STAG INDUSTRIAL OPERATING PARTNERSHIP, L.P. ,

 

a Delaware limited partnership

 

 

 

 

By:

STAG Industrial GP, LLC

 

Its:

General Partner

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ William R. Crooker

 

Name:

William R. Crooker

 

Title:

Authorized Officer

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PARENT:

 

 

 

 

STAG INDUSTRIAL, INC. ,

 

a Maryland corporation

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ William R. Crooker

 

Name:

William R. Crooker

 

Title:

Authorized Officer

 

Signature Page to Second Amendment to

2016 Second Amended and Restated Term Loan Agreement

 



 

 

WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION ,

 

as the Administrative Agent and a Lender

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ D. Bryan Gregory

 

Name:

D. Bryan Gregory

 

Title:

Managing Director

 

Signature Page to Second Amendment to

2016 Second Amended and Restated Term Loan Agreement

 



 

 

CAPITAL ONE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION , as a Lender

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Peter Ilovic

 

Name:

Peter Ilovic

 

Title:

Vice President

 

Signature Page to Second Amendment to

2016 Second Amended and Restated Term Loan Agreement

 



 

 

REGIONS BANK , as a Lender

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Paul E. Burgan

 

Name:

Paul E. Burgan

 

Title:

Vice President

 

Signature Page to Second Amendment to

2016 Second Amended and Restated Term Loan Agreement

 



 

 

TD BANK, N.A. , as a Lender

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Brian Welch

 

Name:

Brian Welch

 

Title:

SVP Team Lead

 

Signature Page to Second Amendment to

2016 Second Amended and Restated Term Loan Agreement

 



 

EXHIBIT A

 

AMENDED LOAN AGREEMENT (REDLINE)

 

[Attached]

 



 

EXHIBIT B to Second Amendment to Second Amended and Restated Term Loan Agreement

CONFORMED COPY

through Amendment No.1 dated July 28, 2017

 

 

Published CUSIP Number: 85253UAC2

 

SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED TERM LOAN AGREEMENT

Dated as of December 20, 2016

 

among

 

STAG INDUSTRIAL OPERATING PARTNERSHIP, L.P. ,
as the Borrower,

 

STAG INDUSTRIAL, INC. ,
as a Guarantor,

 

WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION ,
as the Administrative Agent

 

and

 

The Other Lenders Party Hereto

 

WELLS FARGO SECURITIES, LLC ,
 
as the Lead Arranger and Bookrunner

 

and

 

THE FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS NOW OR HEREAFTER SIGNATORIES HERETO AND THEIR ASSIGNEES PURSUANT TO SECTION 11.06 ,
as Lenders

 

WFB LOAN NO. 1011583

 

 



 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

Section

 

Page

 

 

Article I. Definitions and Accounting Terms

1

 

 

1.01

Defined Terms

1

1.02

Other Interpretive Provisions

34

1.03

Accounting Terms

29 35

1.04

Rounding

30 35

1.05

Times of Day

30 36

1.06

Amendment and Restatement of the Existing Term Loan Agreement

30 36

1.07

Rates

36

 

 

 

Article II. The Committed Loans and Credit Extensions

36

 

 

2.01

Committed Loans

36

2.02

Borrowings, Conversions and Continuations of Committed Loans

31 37

2.03

Reserved

32 38

2.04

Reserved

32 38

2.05

Prepayments

32 38

2.06

Incremental Term Loans

39

2.07

Repayment of Loans

34 40

2.08

Interest

34 40

2.09

Fees

41

2.10

Computation of Interest and Fees; Retroactive Adjustments of Applicable Rate

35 41

2.11

Evidence of Debt

42

2.12

Payments Generally; The Administrative Agent’s Clawback

42

2.13

Sharing of Payments by the Lenders

38 45

2.14

Reserved

38 45

2.15

Reserved

38 45

2.16

Defaulting Lenders

38 45

2.17

Guaranties

46

 

 

 

Article III. Taxes, Yield Protection and Illegality

48

 

 

3.01

Taxes

48

3.02

Illegality

45 53

3.03

Inability to Determine Rates Changed Circumstances

53

3.04

Increased Costs; Reserves on LIBOR Loans

46 55

3.05

Compensation for Losses

47 57

3.06

Mitigation Obligations; Replacement of the Lenders

48 57

3.07

Survival

48 58

 

 

 

Article IV. Unencumbered Properties

48 58

 

 

4.01

Initial Unencumbered Properties

48 58

4.02

Reserved

48 58

4.03

Notices of Qualification as an Unencumbered Property

48 58

 



 

Section

 

Page

 

 

 

4.04

Eligibility

48 58

4.05

Reserved

49 58

4.06

Guaranty

49 58

4.07

Admission of New Unencumbered Properties

49 58

4.08

Reserved

49 58

4.09

Reserved

49 58

4.10

Exclusion Events

49 58

4.11

Reserved

60

 

 

 

Article V. Conditions Precedent to Credit Extensions

50 60

 

 

5.01

Conditions of Initial Credit Extension

50 60

5.02

Conditions to all Credit Extensions

52 62

 

 

 

Article VI. Representations and Warranties

52 63

 

 

6.01

Existence, Qualification and Power; Compliance with Laws

52 63

6.02

Authorization; No Contravention

53 63

6.03

Governmental Authorization; Other Consents

53 63

6.04

Binding Effect

53 63

6.05

Financial Statements; No Material Adverse Effect

53 63

6.06

Litigation

54 64

6.07

No Default

54 64

6.08

Ownership of Property; Liens; Equity Interests

54 64

6.09

Environmental Compliance

54 65

6.10

Insurance

55 65

6.11

Taxes

55 66

6.12

ERISA Compliance

55 66

6.13

Subsidiaries; Equity Interests

56 67

6.14

Margin Regulations; Investment Company Act

56 67

6.15

Disclosure

56 67

6.16

Compliance with Laws

57 68

6.17

Taxpayer Identification Number

57 68

6.18

Intellectual Property; Licenses, Etc.

57 68

6.19

Reserved

57 68

6.20

Solvency

57 68

6.21

REIT Status of the Parent

57 69

6.22

Labor Matters

57 69

6.23

Ground Lease Representation

58 69

6.24

Unencumbered Properties

58 69

6.25

OFAC

58 70

6.26

EEA Financial Institutions

59 70

 

 

 

Article VII. Affirmative Covenants

59 70

 

 

7.01

Financial Statements

59 70

7.02

Certificates; Other Information

60 71

7.03

Notices

61 73

7.04

Payment of Obligations

62 74

 

ii



 

Section

 

Page

 

 

 

7.05

Preservation of Existence, Etc.

62 74

7.06

Maintenance of Properties

62 74

7.07

Maintenance of Insurance

63 75

7.08

Compliance with Laws 63 ; Beneficial Ownership Regulations

75

7.09

Books and Records

63 75

7.10

Inspection Rights

63 75

7.11

Use of Proceeds

63 76

7.12

Environmental Matters

64 76

7.13

Ground Leases

65 78

7.14

Unencumbered Properties

66 79

 

 

 

Article VIII. Negative Covenants

67 80

 

 

8.01

Liens

67 80

8.02

Indebtedness

68 81

8.03

Investments

68 82

8.04

Fundamental Changes

69 83

8.05

Dispositions

70 83

8.06

Restricted Payments

70 83

8.07

Change in Nature of Business

70 84

8.08

Transactions with Affiliates

70 84

8.09

Burdensome Agreements

70 84

8.10

Use of Proceeds

71 84

8.11

Unencumbered Properties; Ground Leases

71 85

8.12

Environmental Matters

72 86

8.13

Negative Pledge; Indebtedness

72 86

8.14

Financial Covenants

73 86

 

 

 

Article IX. Events of Default and Remedies

74 88

 

 

9.01

Events of Default

74 88

9.02

Remedies Upon Event of Default

76 90

9.03

Application of Funds

76 91

 

 

 

Article X. The Administrative Agent

77 92

 

 

10.01

Appointment and Authority

77 92

10.02

Rights as a Lender

77 92

10.03

Exculpatory Provisions

77 92

10.04

Reliance by the Administrative Agent

78 93

10.05

Delegation of Duties

79 93

10.06

Resignation of the Administrative Agent

79 94

10.07

Non-Reliance on the Administrative Agent and Other Lenders

80 95

10.08

No Other Duties, Etc.

80 95

10.09

The Administrative Agent May File Proofs of Claim

80 95

10.10

Guaranty Matters

81 96

 

 

 

Article XI. Miscellaneous

81 96

 

 

11.01

Amendments, Etc.

81 96

11.02

Notices; Effectiveness; Electronic Communication

82 97

 

iii



 

Section

 

Page

 

 

 

11.03

No Waiver; Cumulative Remedies; Enforcement

84 100

11.04

Expenses; Indemnity; Damage Waiver

84 100

11.05

Payments Set Aside

86 102

11.06

Successors and Assigns

87 103

11.07

Treatment of Certain Information; Confidentiality

91 107

11.08

Right of Setoff

91 108

11.09

Interest Rate Limitation

92 109

11.10

Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness

92 109

11.11

Survival of Representations and Warranties

92 109

11.12

Severability

93 110

11.13

Replacement of the Lenders

93 110

11.14

Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Etc.

93 111

11.15

No Advisory or Fiduciary Responsibility

95 112

11.16

Electronic Execution of Assignments and Certain Other Documents

95 113

11.17

USA PATRIOT ACT

96 113

11.18

ENTIRE AGREEMENT

96 113

11.19

Acknowledgment and Consent to Bail-In of EEA Financial Institutions

96 114

11.20

Certain ERISA Matters

114

 

 

 

SCHEDULES

 

 

 

 

 

2.01

Committed Loans and Applicable Percentages

 

4.01

Initial Unencumbered Properties

 

6.06

Litigation

 

6.09

Environmental Matters

 

6.13

Subsidiaries and Other Equity Investments and Equity Interests in the Borrower and Each Subsidiary Guarantor

 

6.18

Intellectual Property Matters

 

8.01

Existing Liens

 

8.13

Indebtedness

 

11.02

The Administrative Agent’s Office; Certain Addresses for Notices

 

RO

Responsible Officers

 

 

 

 

EXHIBITS

 

 

 

 

 

Form of

 

 

 

 

 

A

Committed Loan Notice

 

B

Form of Note

 

C

Compliance Certificate

 

D-1

Assignment and Assumption

 

D-2

Administrative Questionnaire

 

E

Form of Disbursement Instruction Agreement

 

F-1

Form of Parent Guaranty

 

F-2

Form of Subsidiary Guaranty

 

G

Reserved

 

H-1

U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate

 

 

iv



 

Section

 

Page

 

 

 

H-2

U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate

 

H-3

U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate

 

H-4

U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate

 

 

v



 

SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED TERM LOAN AGREEMENT

 

This SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED TERM LOAN AGREEMENT (the “ Agreement ”) is entered into as of December 20, 2016, among STAG INDUSTRIAL OPERATING PARTNERSHIP, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (the “ Borrower ”), STAG INDUSTRIAL, INC., a Maryland corporation and the sole member of the sole general partner of the Borrower (the “ Parent ”), each lender from time to time party hereto (collectively, the “ Lenders ” and individually, a “ Lender ”), and WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as the Administrative Agent.

 

The Borrower has requested that the Lenders provide a term credit facility, and the Lenders are willing to do so on the terms and conditions set forth herein.

 

The Borrower, the Lenders party thereto, and the Administrative Agent are currently party to that certain Amended and Restated Term Loan Agreement, dated as of December 18, 2014, as amended or otherwise modified prior to the date hereof, among the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and a syndicate of Lenders (the “ Existing Term Loan Agreement ”).

 

The Borrower, the Lenders and the Administrative Agent have agreed to enter into this Agreement in order to (i) amend and restate the Existing Term Loan Agreement in its entirety; (ii) re-evidence the “Obligations” under, and as defined in, the Existing Term Loan Agreement, which shall be repayable in accordance with the terms of this Agreement; and (iii) set forth the terms and conditions under which the Lenders will, from time to time, make loans to or for the benefit of the Borrower.

 

The parties hereto intend that this Agreement not constitute a novation of the obligations and liabilities, if any, of the parties under the Existing Term Loan Agreement or be deemed to evidence or constitute full repayment of such obligations and liabilities, if any, but that this Agreement amend and restate in its entirety the Existing Term Loan Agreement and re-evidence the obligations and liabilities, if any, of the Borrower outstanding thereunder, which shall be payable in accordance with the terms hereof.

 

The Borrower confirms that all obligations under the applicable “Loan Documents” (as referred to and defined in the Existing Term Loan Agreement) shall continue in full force and effect as modified or restated by the Loan Documents (as referred to and defined herein) and that, from and after the Closing Date, all references to the “Agreement” contained in any such existing “Loan Documents” shall be deemed to refer to this Agreement.

 

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

 

8.

Definitions and Accounting Terms

 

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

 

1



 

“Acceptable Ground Lease ” means a ground lease with respect to an Acceptable Property executed by a Subsidiary Guarantor, as lessee, that (a) has a remaining lease term (including extension or renewal rights) of at least twenty-five (25) years, calculated as of the date such Acceptable Property is deemed an Unencumbered Property, and that the Administrative Agent determines, in its sole discretion, is a financeable ground lease and is otherwise acceptable or (b) has a bargain purchase option (as defined in accordance with GAAP).

 

Acceptable Property ” means a Property (a) that is approved by the Administrative Agent and the Required Lenders, or (b) that meets the following requirements:

 

(i)                                      such Property is wholly-owned by, or ground leased pursuant to an Acceptable Ground Lease to, the Borrower or a Subsidiary Guarantor free and clear of any Liens (other than Liens permitted by Section 8.01 );

 

(ii)                                   such Property is an industrial, manufacturing, warehouse/distribution and/or office property located within the United States;

 

(iii)                                if such Property is owned by a Subsidiary Guarantor, or is ground leased pursuant to an Acceptable Ground Lease to a Subsidiary Guarantor, then the Equity Interests of such Subsidiary Guarantor are owned, directly or indirectly by the Borrower, free and clear of any Liens other than Liens permitted by Section 8.01 ; and

 

(iv)                               such Property is free of all structural defects or major architectural deficiencies, title defects, environmental conditions or other adverse matters except for defects, deficiencies, conditions or other matters which, individually or collectively, are not material to the profitable operation of such Property.

 

Additional Permitted Indebtedness ” means unsecured Indebtedness permitted to be incurred pursuant to Section 8.02(f) .

 

Additional Term Loans ” has the meaning specified in Section 2.06(b)(i) .

 

Adjusted NOI ” means, with respect to any Property for the Current Reporting Quarter, annualized, an amount equal to (a) the aggregate gross revenues (excluding non-cash revenues) from the operations of such Property during such period, minus (b) the sum of (i) all expenses and other proper charges incurred in connection with the operation of such Property during such period (including real estate taxes, but excluding any property and asset management fees, debt service charges, income taxes, depreciation, amortization and other non-cash expenses and excluding capital expenditures), (ii) a management fee equal to the greater of (A) two percent (2%) of the aggregate gross base rental revenues (excluding non-cash revenues) from the operations of such Property during such period and (B) actual property management fees paid, and (iii) a replacement reserve of $0.10 per square foot (excluding any Property acquired during the Current Reporting Quarter).  Adjusted NOI shall exclude the amount of any revenues and expenses from any Dark Property.  Adjusted NOI shall be increased, without duplication, by (i) annualized rental revenues (excluding non-cash revenues), net of associated expenses, from any new lease which went into effect with the tenant taking occupancy (or any lease with respect to any Property acquired during the Current Reporting Quarter) and the Borrower is recognizing revenue from such tenant in accordance with GAAP during such Current Reporting Quarter, and

 

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(ii) annualized gross base rental revenues (excluding non-cash revenues) for the first monthly gross base rental payment for any lease in a free rent period and the Borrower is recognizing revenue from the applicable tenant in accordance with GAAP during such Current Reporting Quarter.

 

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

 

Administrative Agent’s Office ” means the Administrative Agent’s address and, as appropriate, account as set forth on Schedule 11.02 , or such other address or account as the Administrative Agent may from time to time notify the Borrower and the Lenders.

 

Administrative Questionnaire ” means an Administrative Questionnaire in substantially the form of Exhibit D-2 or any other form approved by the Administrative Agent.

 

Affiliate ” means, with respect to any 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; provided in no event shall Agent or any Lender be deemed to be an Affiliate of the Borrower.

 

Agreement ” means this Amended and Restated Term Loan Agreement.

 

Anti-Corruption Laws ” means all laws, rules, and regulations of any jurisdiction applicable to the Borrower or its Subsidiaries from time to time concerning or relating to bribery, corruption or money laundering.

 

Applicable Percentage ” means, with respect to any Lender at any time, the percentage (carried out to the ninth decimal place) of the Total Outstandings represented by such Lender’s Loans at such time.  The initial Applicable Percentage of each Lender is set forth opposite the name of such Lender on Schedule 2.01 or in the Assignment and Assumption pursuant to which such Lender becomes a party hereto, as applicable.

 

Applicable Rate ” means the following:

 

A. Unless and until the Rating Conditions have been satisfied, with respect to any Loan, the following percentages per annum determined according to the Consolidated Leverage Ratio as set forth in the most recent Compliance Certificate received by the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section  Error! Reference source not found. :

 

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Leveraged-Based Pricing Grid :

 

Applicable Rate

 

Pricing
Level

 

Consolidated
Leverage Ratio

 

Base Rate
Applicable
Margin

 

LIBOR
Loan
Applicable
Margin

 

1

 

< 40%

 

0.30

%

1.30

%

2

 

> 40% but < 45%

 

0.35

%

1.35

%

3

 

> 45% but < 50%

 

0.45

%

1.45

%

4

 

> 50% but < 55%

 

0.60

%

1.60

%

5

 

> 55%

 

0.90

%

1.90

%

 

Any increase or decrease in the Applicable Rate resulting from a change in the Consolidated Leverage Ratio shall become effective as of the first (1 st ) Business Day immediately following the date a Compliance Certificate is delivered pursuant to Section  Error! Reference source not found. provided 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 5 shall apply as of the first (1 st ) Business Day after the date on which such Compliance Certificate was required to have been delivered, provided that if such request is not delivered within thirty (30) days of the date such Compliance Certificate was due, Pricing Level 5 shall apply as of the date of delivery of such request, and shall remain in effect until the date on which such Compliance Certificate is delivered.  The Applicable Rate in effect from the Closing Date until adjusted as set forth above shall be set at Pricing Level 1.

 

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this definition, the determination of the Applicable Rate for any period shall be subject to the provisions of Section 2.10(b) .

 

or

 

B.                                     If and when the Rating Conditions have been satisfied, the following percentages per annum, based upon the Debt Rating as set forth below (determined in accordance with the Performance-Based Pricing Grid set forth below).

 

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Performance-Based Pricing Grid :

 

Applicable Rate

 

Debt Rating

 

Pricing
Level

 

Base Rate
Applicable
Margin

 

LIBOR
Loan
Applicable
Margin

 

> A-/A3

 

1

 

0.0 0.00

%

0.900 0.85

%

BBB+/Baa1

 

2

 

0.0 0.00

%

0.950 0.90

%

BBB/Baa2

 

3

 

0.100 0.00

%

1.100 1.00

%

BBB-/Baa3

 

4

 

0.350 0.25

%

1.350 1.25

%

<BBB-/Baa3

 

5

 

0.750 0.650

%

1.750 1.65

%

 

Each change in the Applicable Rate resulting from a publicly announced change in the Debt Rating shall be effective, in the case of an upgrade, during the period commencing on the date of delivery by the Borrower to the Administrative Agent of notice thereof pursuant to Section  7.03(e)  and ending on the date immediately preceding the effective date of the next such change and, in the case of a downgrade, during the period commencing on the date of the public announcement thereof and ending on the date immediately preceding the effective date of the next such change.

 

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.

 

Assignee Group ” means two (2) or more Eligible Assignees that are Affiliates of one another or two (2) or more Approved Funds managed by the same investment advisor.

 

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 D-1 or any other form (including electronic documentation generated by MarkitClear or other electronic platform) approved by the Administrative Agent.

 

Attributable Indebtedness ” means, on any date in respect of any Capital 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.

 

Audited Financial Statements ” means the audited financial statements of the Parent for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2015 and, from and after the delivery of the financial statements of the Parent required pursuant to Section 7.01(a)  for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2016, the most-recent financial statements furnished pursuant to Section 7.01(a) .

 

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Award ” means any compensation paid by any Governmental Authority in connection with a Condemnation in respect of all or any part of any Unencumbered Property.

 

Bail-In Action ” means the exercise of any Write-Down and Conversion Powers by the applicable EEA Resolution Authority in respect of any liability of an EEA Financial Institution.

 

Bail-In Legislation ” means, with respect to any EEA Member Country implementing Article 55 of Directive 2014/59/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of the European Union, the implementing law for such EEA Member Country from time to time which is described in the EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule.

 

Balloon Payments ” shall mean with respect to any loan constituting Indebtedness, any required principal payment of such loan which is payable at the maturity of such Indebtedness, provided, however, that the final payment of a fully amortized loan shall not constitute a Balloon Payment.

 

Base Rate ” means, at any time, the highest of (a) the Prime Rate, (b) the Federal Funds Rate plus 0.50% and (c) the LIBOR Market Index Rate plus 1%; each change in the Base Rate shall take effect simultaneously with the corresponding change or changes in the Prime Rate, the Federal Funds Rate or the LIBOR Market Index Rate (provided that clause (c) shall not be applicable during any period in which LIBOR is unavailable or unascertainable).

 

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

 

Beneficial Ownership Certification ” means a certification regarding beneficial ownership as required by the Beneficial Ownership Regulation.

 

Beneficial Ownership Regulation ” means 31 C.F.R. § 1010.230.

 

Book Value ” means all land, building, improvements, leasing commissions and deferred leasing intangibles less accumulated depreciation and amortization.

 

Borrower ” has the meaning specified in the introductory paragraph hereto.

 

Borrower Materials ” has the meaning specified in Section 7.02 .

 

Borrowing ” means a Committed Borrowing.

 

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 or the State of New York, and, if such day relates to any LIBOR Loan, means any such day that is also a London Banking Day.

 

Capital Lease ” means, with respect to any Person, the obligations of such Person to pay rent or other amounts under any lease of (or other arrangement conveying the right to use) real or personal property, or a combination thereof, which obligations are required to be classified and accounted for as capital leases on a balance sheet of such Person under GAAP.

 

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Capital Lease Obligations ” means, with respect to any Person for any period, the capitalized amount of obligations under Capital Leases for such Person for such period as determined in accordance with GAAP.

 

Capitalization Rate ” means seven and one half percent ( 7.5 7.0 %).

 

Cash Equivalents ” means any of the following types of Investments, to the extent owned by Guarantor, the Borrower or any of their Subsidiaries free and clear of all Liens (other than Liens permitted hereunder):

 

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

 

(b)                                  demand or time deposits with, or insured certificates of deposit or bankers’ acceptances of, any commercial bank that (A) is a Lender or (B) (i) is organized under the laws of the United States of America, 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 of America, 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 $1,000,000,000, in each case with maturities of not more than 90 days from the date of acquisition thereof;

 

(c)                                   commercial paper in an aggregate amount of no more than $5,000,000 per issuer outstanding at any time issued by any Person organized under the laws of any state of the United States of America 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 180 days from the date of acquisition thereof;

 

(d)                                  Investments, classified in accordance with GAAP as current assets of the Parent 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) and (c) of this definition; and

 

(e)                                   Other liquid or readily marketable investments in an amount not to exceed five percent (5%) of Total Asset Value.

 

Casualty ” means, with respect to any Unencumbered Property, if such Unencumbered Property has been damaged or destroyed, in whole or in part, by fire or other casualty.

 

Change in Law ” means the occurrence, after the date of this Agreement, of any of the following: (a) the adoption or taking effect of any Law, rule, regulation or treaty; (b) any change in any Law, rule, regulation or treaty or in the administration, interpretation, implementation or application thereof by any Governmental Authority; or (c) the making or issuance of any request,

 

7



 

rule, guideline or directive (whether or not having the force of law) by any Governmental Authority; provided that notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, (x) the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and all requests, rules, guidelines or directives thereunder or issued in connection therewith or in implementation thereof and (y) all requests, rules, guidelines or directives promulgated by the Bank for International Settlements, the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (or any successor or similar authority) or the United States or foreign regulatory authorities, in each case pursuant to Basel III, shall in each case be deemed to be a “Change in Law”, regardless of the date enacted, adopted, issued or implemented.

 

Change of Control ” means an event or series of events by which:

 

(a)                                  any “ person ” or “ group ” (as such terms are used in Sections 13(d)  and 14(d)  of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, but excluding any employee benefit plan of such person or its Subsidiaries, and any person or entity acting in its capacity as trustee, agent or other fiduciary or administrator of any such plan) becomes the “ beneficial owner ” (as defined in Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, except that a person or group shall be deemed to have “beneficial ownership” of all Equity Interests that such person or group has the right to acquire, whether such right is exercisable immediately or only after the passage of time (such right, an “ option right ”)), directly or indirectly, of thirty-five percent (35%) or more of the Equity Interests of the Parent entitled to vote for members of the board of directors or equivalent governing body of the Parent on a fully-diluted basis (and taking into account all such Equity Interests that such person or group has the right to acquire pursuant to any option right);

 

(b)                                  during any period of twelve (12) consecutive months, a majority of the members of the board of directors or other equivalent governing body of the Parent cease to be composed of individuals (i) who were members of that board or equivalent governing body on the first day of such period, (ii) whose election or nomination to that board or equivalent governing body was approved by individuals referred to in clause (i) above constituting at the time of such election or nomination at least a majority of that board or equivalent governing body or (iii) whose election or nomination to that board or other equivalent governing body was approved by individuals referred to in clauses (i) and (ii) above constituting at the time of such election or nomination at least a majority of that board or equivalent governing body; or

 

(c)                                   the Parent shall cease to (i) either be the sole general partner of, or wholly own and control the general partner of, the Borrower or (ii) own, directly or indirectly, greater than fifty percent (50%) of the Equity Interests of the Borrower.

 

Closing Date ” means the first date all the conditions precedent in Section 5.01 are satisfied or waived in accordance with Section 11.01 .

 

Code ” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 .

 

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

 

Committed Loan ” has the meaning specified in Section 2.01(a) .

 

Committed Loan Notice” means a notice of (a) a Committed Borrowing, (b) a conversion of Committed Loans from one Type to the other, or (c) a continuation of LIBOR Loans, pursuant to Section 2.02(a) , which, if in writing, shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit A .

 

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.

 

Companies ” means, without duplication, the Parent and its Consolidated Subsidiaries (including the Borrower), and “Company” means any one of the Companies.

 

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

 

Condemnation ” means a temporary or permanent taking by any Governmental Authority as the result, in lieu, or in anticipation, of the exercise of the right of condemnation or eminent domain of all or any part of any Unencumbered Property, or any interest therein or right accruing thereto, including any right of access thereto or any change of grade affecting any Unencumbered Property or any part thereof.

 

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 EBITDA ” means, for any Person for any period, an amount equal to (a) Consolidated Net Income, plus (b) the sum of the following (without duplication and to the extent reflected as a charge in the statement of such Consolidated Net Income for such period): (i) income tax expense; (ii) interest expense, amortization or write-off of debt discount and debt issuance costs and commissions, discounts and other fees and charges associated with Indebtedness; (iii) depreciation and amortization expense; (iv) amortization of intangibles (including goodwill) and organization costs; (v) any extraordinary, unusual or non-recurring expenses or losses (including, whether or not otherwise includable as a separate item in the statement of such Consolidated Net Income for such period, losses on sales of assets outside of the ordinary course of business), including property acquisition costs; (vi) any other non-cash charges, and (vii) all commissions, guaranty fees, discounts and other fees and charges owed by such Person with respect to letters of credit and bankers’ acceptance financing and net costs of such Person under Swap Contracts in respect of interest rates to the extent such net costs are allocable to such period in accordance with GAAP; minus (c) the sum of the following (to the extent included in the statement of such Consolidated Net Income for such period): (i) interest income (except to the extent deducted in determining such Consolidated Net Income); (ii) any extraordinary, unusual or non-recurring income or gains (including, whether or not otherwise includable as a separate item in the statement of such Consolidated Net Income for such period,

 

9



 

gains on the sales of assets outside of the ordinary course of business); and (iii) any other non-cash income.

 

Consolidated Fixed Charges ” means, on a consolidated basis, for any Person for any period, the sum (without duplication) of (a) Consolidated Interest Expense, (b) provision for cash income taxes made by such Person on a consolidated basis in respect of such period, (c) scheduled principal amortization payments due during such period on account of Indebtedness of such Person (excluding Balloon Payments), and (d) Restricted Payments paid in cash with respect to preferred Equity Interests of such Person during such period (other than any repayments of principal with respect to preferred Equity Interests).

 

Consolidated Interest Expense ” means, for any Person for any period, the total interest expense (including that attributable to Capital Lease Obligations) of such Person for such period with respect to all outstanding Total Funded Debt (including all commissions, discounts and other fees and charges owed by such Person with respect to letters of credit and bankers’ acceptance financing and net costs of such Person under Swap Contracts in respect of interest rates to the extent such net costs are allocable to such period in accordance with GAAP).  Consolidated Interest Expenses shall exclude non-cash charges, interest rate hedge termination payments or receipts, loan prepayment costs, and upfront loan fees, interest expense covered by an interest reserve established under a loan facility and any interest expense under any construction loan or construction activity that under GAAP is required to be capitalized.

 

Consolidated Leverage Ratio ” means, as of any date of determination, the quotient (expressed as a percentage) of (a) Consolidated Total Debt, divided by (b) Total Asset Value.

 

Consolidated Net Income ” means, for any Person for any period, the consolidated net income (or loss) of such Person for such period, determined on a consolidated basis; provided that in calculating Consolidated Net Income of the Parent for any period, there shall be excluded (a) the income (or deficit) of any Person accrued prior to the date it becomes a Subsidiary or is merged into or consolidated with the Parent or any of its Subsidiaries, (b) the income (or deficit) of any Person (other than a Company) in which any Company has an ownership interest, except to the extent that any such income is actually received by such Company in the form of dividends or similar distributions, and (c) the undistributed earnings of any Subsidiary of any Company to the extent that the declaration or payment of dividends or similar distributions by such Subsidiary is not at the time permitted by the terms of any Contractual Obligation (other than under any Loan Document) or requirement of Law applicable to such Subsidiary.

 

Consolidated Subsidiary ” means any Person in which the Parent or the Borrower has a direct or indirect ownership interest and whose financial results would be consolidated under GAAP with the financial results of the Parent on the consolidated financial statements of the Parent.

 

Consolidated Total Debt ” means, as of any date of determination, the aggregate principal amount of all Indebtedness of the Parent on such date, determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP which would be required to be included on the liabilities side of the balance sheet of the Parent in accordance with GAAP, and including the Companies’ Share

 

10



 

of the principal amount of all Indebtedness of Unconsolidated Affiliates, but, in each case, excluding the net obligations of the Parent on a consolidated basis under any Swap Contract.

 

Construction in Progress ” means (a) a Property with new ground up construction, (b) a Property under renovation in which (i) greater than thirty percent (30%) of the square footage of such Property is unavailable for occupancy due to renovation and (ii) no rents are being paid on such square footage or (c) a building expansion.  The classification of “Construction in Progress” will cease on the earlier to occur of (A) the time that such Property has an Occupancy Rate of greater than eighty percent (80%), and (B) one hundred eighty (180) days after completion of construction, renovation or expansion of such Property, as applicable.

 

Contamination ” means the presence of Hazardous Materials in amounts exceeding regulatory action levels.

 

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.  The terms “ Controlling ” and “ Controlled ” have meanings correlative thereto.

 

Credit Agreements” means (a) the Revolving Credit Agreement, (b) that certain Term Loan Agreement, dated as of September 29, 2015, among the Borrower, the Parent, Wells Fargo, as administrative agent, and the other lenders party thereto, (c) that certain Term Loan Agreement, dated as of July 28, 2017, among the Borrower, the Parent, Bank of America, N.A., as administrative agent, and the other lenders party thereto and , (d) that certain Amended and Restated Term Loan Agreement, dated as of December 20, 2016, among the Borrower, the Parent, Wells Fargo, as administrative agent, and the other lenders party thereto, and (e) that certain Term Loan Agreement, dated as of July 26, 2018, among the Borrower, the Parent, Wells Fargo, as Administrative Agent and the other lenders party thereto, in each case, as amended from time to time.

 

Credit Extension ” means a Borrowing.

 

Current Reporting Quarter ” means the most recent fiscal quarter for which quarterly financial statements have been delivered to the Lenders pursuant to Section 7.01 .

 

Customary Recourse Exceptions ” means, with respect to any Indebtedness, personal recourse that is limited to fraud, misrepresentation, misapplication of cash, waste, environmental claims and liabilities, prohibited transfers, violations of single purposes entity covenants, and other circumstances customarily excluded by institutional lenders from exculpation provisions and/or included in separate guaranty or indemnification agreements in non-recourse financing of Real Property.

 

Dark Property ” means any Property as to which, as of the last day of the Current Reporting Quarter, (a) all leases have terminated, (b) the Borrower is not recognizing revenue

 

11



 

from any tenants in accordance with GAAP or (c) the Adjusted NOI for such Property is negative.

 

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 and affecting the rights of creditors generally.

 

Debt Rating ” means, as of any date of determination, the rating as determined by a minimum of two of S&P, Moody’s or Fitch (collectively, the “ Debt Ratings ”) of the Borrower’s non-credit-enhanced, senior unsecured long-term debt; provided that (a) if the respective Debt Ratings issued by the foregoing rating agencies differ by one level, then the Pricing Level for the higher of such Debt Ratings shall apply (with the Debt Rating for Pricing Level 1 being the highest and the Debt Rating for Pricing Level 5 being the lowest); (b) if there is a split in Debt Ratings of more than one level, then the Pricing Level that is one level lower than the Pricing Level of the higher Debt Rating shall apply; (c) if the Borrower has only one Debt Rating, the Pricing Level that is one level lower than that of such Debt Rating shall apply; and (d) if, after satisfying the Rating Condition, the Borrower does not have any Debt Rating, Pricing Level 5 shall apply.

 

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 an interest rate equal to (i) the Base Rate plus (ii) the Applicable Rate, if any, applicable to Base Rate Loans plus (iii) two percent (2%) per annum; provided that with respect to a LIBOR Loan, the Default Rate shall be an interest rate equal to the interest rate (including any Applicable Rate) otherwise applicable to such Loan plus two percent (2%) per annum.

 

Defaulting Lender ” means, subject to Section 2.16(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 Borrower in writing that such failure is the result of such Lender’s determination that one or more conditions precedent to funding (each of which conditions precedent, together with any applicable default, shall be specifically identified in such writing) has not been satisfied, or (ii) pay to the Administrative Agent or any other Lender any other amount required to be paid by it hereunder within two (2) Business Days of the date when due, (b) has notified the Borrower and the Administrative Agent 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 Borrower, to confirm in writing to the Administrative Agent and the Borrower that it will comply with its prospective funding obligations hereunder (provided that such Lender shall cease to be a Defaulting Lender pursuant to this clause (c) upon

 

12



 

receipt of such written confirmation by the Administrative Agent and the Borrower), or (d) has, or has a direct or indirect parent company which controls such Lender that has, (i) become the subject of a proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law, (ii) had appointed for it a receiver, custodian, conservator, trustee, administrator, assignee for the benefit of creditors or similar Person charged with reorganization or liquidation of its business or assets, including the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other state or federal regulatory authority acting in such a capacity or (iii) become the subject of a Bail-In Action; provided that a Lender shall not be a Defaulting Lender solely by virtue of the ownership or acquisition of any 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 of the effective date of such status, shall be conclusive and binding absent manifest error, and such Lender shall be deemed to be a Defaulting Lender (subject to Section 2.16(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 Borrower and each Lender promptly following such determination.

 

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

 

Disbursement Instruction Agreement ” means an agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit E to be executed and delivered by the Borrower pursuant to Section 5.01(a) , as the same may be amended, restated or modified from time to time with the prior written approval of the Administrative Agent.

 

Disposition ” or “ Dispose ” means the sale, transfer, license, lease (other than a real estate lease entered into in the ordinary course of business as part of Property leasing operations) or other disposition (including any sale and leaseback transaction) of any property by any Person, 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 arrangement constituting a Lien.

 

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

 

EEA Financial Institution ” means (a) any institution established in any EEA Member Country which is subject to the supervision of an EEA Resolution Authority, (b) any entity established in an EEA Member Country which is a parent of an institution described in clause (a) of this definition, or (c) any institution established in an EEA Member Country which is a subsidiary of an institution described in clauses (a) or (b) of this definition and is subject to consolidated supervision with its parent.

 

EEA Member Country ” means any of the member states of the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway.

 

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EEA Resolution Authority ” means any public administrative authority or any Person entrusted with public administrative authority of any EEA Member Country (including any delegee) having responsibility for the resolution of any EEA Financial Institution.

 

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

 

Environmental Assessment ” has the meaning specified in Section 7.12(b) .

 

Environmental Claim ” means any investigative, enforcement, cleanup, removal, containment, remedial, or other private or governmental or regulatory action at any time instituted or completed pursuant to any applicable Environmental Requirement against any Company or against or with respect to any Real Property or any condition, use, or activity on any Real Property (including any such action against the Administrative Agent or any Lender), and any claim at any time made by any Person against any Company or against or with respect to any Real Property or any condition, use, or activity on any Real Property (including any such claim against the Administrative Agent or any Lender), relating to damage, contribution, cost recovery, compensation, loss, or injury resulting from or in any way arising in connection with any Hazardous Material or any Environmental Requirement.

 

Environmental Damages ” means all liabilities (including strict liability), losses, damages (excluding consequential, special, exemplary or punitive damages except to the extent such damages were imposed upon an Indemnitee as a result of any claims made against such Indemnitee by a governmental entity or any other third party), judgments, penalties, fines, costs and expenses (including fees, costs and expenses of attorneys, consultants, contractors, experts and laboratories), of any and every kind or character, at law or in equity, contingent or otherwise, matured or unmatured, foreseeable or unforeseeable, made, incurred, suffered, brought, or imposed at any time and from time to time, whether before or after the Release Date and arising in whole or in part from:

 

(a)                                  the presence of any Hazardous Material on any Unencumbered Property, or any escape, seepage, leakage, spillage, emission, release, discharge or disposal of any Hazardous Material on or from any Unencumbered Property, or the migration or release or threatened migration or release of any Hazardous Material to, from or through any Unencumbered Property, on or before the Release Date; or

 

(b)                                  any act, omission, event or circumstance existing or occurring in connection with the handling, treatment, containment, removal, storage, decontamination, clean up, transport or disposal of any Hazardous Material which is at any time on or before the Release Date present on any Unencumbered Property; or

 

(c)                                   the breach of any representation, warranty, covenant or agreement contained in this Agreement relating to the presence of any Hazardous Material on any Unencumbered Property because of any event or condition occurring or existing on or before the Release Date; or

 

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(d)                                  any violation on or before the Release Date, of any Environmental Requirement in connection with any Unencumbered Property in effect on or before the Release Date, regardless of whether any act, omission, event or circumstance giving rise to the violation constituted a violation at the time of the occurrence or inception of such act, omission, event or circumstance; or

 

(e)                                   any Environmental Claim, or the filing or imposition of any environmental Lien against any Unencumbered Property, because of, resulting from, in connection with, or arising out of any of the matters referred to in subparagraphs (a)  through (d)  preceding;

 

and regardless of whether any of the foregoing was caused by the Borrower, any other Loan Party or their respective tenant or subtenant, or a prior owner of an Unencumbered Property or its tenant or subtenant, or any third party including (i) injury or damage to any person, property or natural resource occurring on or off of an Unencumbered Property including the cost of demolition and rebuilding of any improvements on any Real Property; (ii) the investigation or remediation of any such Hazardous Material or violation of Environmental Requirement including the preparation of any feasibility studies or reports and the performance of any cleanup, remediation, removal, response, abatement, containment, closure, restoration, monitoring or similar work required by any Environmental Requirement or necessary to have full use and benefit of Unencumbered Properties as contemplated by the Loan Documents (including any of the same in connection with any foreclosure action or transfer in lieu thereof); (iii) all liability to pay or indemnify any Person or Governmental Authority for costs expended in connection with any of the foregoing; (iv) the investigation and defense of any claim, whether or not such claim is ultimately withdrawn or defeated; and (v) the settlement of any claim or judgment.  “ Costs ” as used in this definition shall also include any diminution in the value of the security afforded by the Unencumbered Property or any future reduction of the sales price of any Unencumbered Property by reason of any matter set forth in Section 7.12 or 8.12 .

 

Environmental Laws ” means any and all applicable 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 Requirement ” means any Environmental Law, agreement or restriction, as the same now exists or may be changed or amended or come into effect in the future, which pertains to any Hazardous Material or the environment including ground or air or water or noise pollution or contamination, and underground or aboveground tanks.

 

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),

 

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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.

 

Equity Issuance ” means the issuance or sale by any Person of any of its Equity Interests or any capital contribution to such Person by the holders of its Equity Interests.

 

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 the 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 the Parent 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 the Parent 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(a)(1) or (2)  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 notification that a Multiemployer Plan is 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; or (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 the Parent or any ERISA Affiliate.

 

EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule ” means the EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule published by the Loan Market Association (or any successor Person), as in effect from time to time.

 

Event of Default ” has the meaning specified in Section 9.01 .

 

Excluded Party ” shall mean any REIT, any parent company of or Person who Controls any REIT in each instance engaged primarily in owning and operating Real Property, and any other Person whom the Borrower has reasonably identified in writing to the Administrative Agent as a competitor or potential competitor of the Borrower.

 

Excluded Swap Obligation ” means, with respect to any Loan Party, any Swap Contract if, and to the extent that, all or a portion of the liability of such Loan Party for or the Guarantee of such Loan Party of, or the grant by such Loan Party of a Lien to secure, such Swap Contract (or any liability or guarantee thereof) is or becomes illegal under the Commodity Exchange Act or any rule, regulation or order of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (or the application or official interpretation of any thereof) by virtue of such Loan Party’s failure for any reason to constitute an “eligible contract participant” as defined in the Commodity Exchange Act

 

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and the regulations thereunder at the time the liability for or the Guarantee of such Loan Party or the grant of such Lien becomes effective with respect to such Swap Contract (such determination being made after giving effect to any applicable keepwell, support or other agreement for the benefit of the applicable Loan Party, including under Section 27 of the Subsidiary Guaranty).  If a Swap Contract arises under a master agreement governing more than one swap, such exclusion shall apply only to the portion of such Swap Contract that is attributable to swaps for which such Guarantee or Lien is or becomes illegal for the reasons identified in the immediately preceding sentence of this definition.

 

Excluded Taxes means any of the following Taxes imposed on or with respect to 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 pursuant to a law in effect on the date on which (i) such Lender acquires such interest in the Loan (other than pursuant to an assignment request by the 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)(ii)  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.

 

“Exclusion Event” has the meaning specified in Section 4.10 .

 

“Exclusion Notice” has the meaning specified in Section 4.10.

 

“Existing Loans” has the meaning specified in Section 2.01(a).

 

“Existing Term Loan Agreement” has the meaning specified in the introductory paragraph hereto.

 

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 agreement 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 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, then

 

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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, (b) if no such rate is so published on such next succeeding Business Day, then 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 Wells Fargo on such day on such transactions as determined by the Administrative Agent and (c) if the Federal Funds Rate should be less than zero, such rate shall be deemed to be zero for purposes of this Agreement.

 

Fee Letter ” means, collectively, (i) the letter agreement, dated as of November 5, 2014 among the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC and (ii) the letter agreement, dated November 15, 2016, among the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC.

 

FIRREA ” means the Financial Institution Recovery, Reform and Enforcement Act of 1989, as amended.

 

Fitch ” means Fitch, Inc., and any successor thereto.

 

Fixed Charge Ratio ” means, as of any date of determination, the quotient (expressed as a percentage) of (a) Consolidated EBITDA, divided by (b) Consolidated Fixed Charges.

 

Foreign Lender ” means (a) if the Borrower is a U.S. Person, a Lender that is not a U.S. Person, and (b) if the 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 the 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.

 

FRB ” means the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System of the United States.

 

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.

 

Funds from Operations ” means, for any Person for any period, the sum of (a) Consolidated Net Income plus (b) depreciation and amortization expense determined in accordance with GAAP excluding amortization expense attributable to capitalized debt costs; provided that there shall not be included in such calculation (i) any proceeds of any insurance policy other than rental or business interruption insurance received by such Person, (ii) any gain or loss which is classified as “extraordinary” in accordance with GAAP, (iii) any capital gains and taxes on capital gains, (iv) income (or loss) associated with third-party ownership of non-controlling Equity Interests, and (v) gains or losses on the sale of discontinued operations as detailed in the most-recent financial statements delivered pursuant to Section 7.01(a)  or (b) , as applicable.

 

GAAP ” means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States set forth in the opinions and pronouncements of the Accounting Principles Board and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and statements and pronouncements of the Financial Accounting

 

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Standards Board or such other principles as may be approved by a significant segment of the accounting profession in the United States, that are applicable to the circumstances as of the date of determination, consistently applied.

 

Governmental Authority ” means the government of the United States or any other nation, or of any political subdivision thereof, whether state or local, and any agency, authority, instrumentality, regulatory body, court, central bank or other entity exercising executive, legislative, judicial, taxing, regulatory or administrative powers or functions of or pertaining to government (including any supra-national bodies such as the European Union or the European Central Bank).

 

Guarantee ” means, as to any Person, (a) any obligation, contingent or otherwise, of such Person guaranteeing or having the economic effect of guaranteeing any Indebtedness 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 or other obligation of any other Person, whether or not such Indebtedness or other obligation is assumed by such Person (or any right, contingent or otherwise, of any holder of such Indebtedness 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.

 

Guaranties ” means the Parent Guaranty and the Subsidiary Guaranties, and “ Guaranty ” means any one of the Guaranties.

 

Guarantors ” means, collectively, the Parent and each Subsidiary Guarantor, and “ Guarantor ” means any one of the Guarantors.

 

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

 

“Immaterial Subsidiary ” means any Subsidiary whose assets constitute less than one percent (1%) of Total Asset Value; provided that if at any time the aggregate Total Asset Value

 

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of the “Immaterial Subsidiaries” which are not Guarantors exceeds ten percent (10%) of Total Asset Value, then the Borrower shall designate certain “Immaterial Subsidiaries” as Guarantors such that the aggregate Total Asset Value of the “Immaterial Subsidiaries” which are not Guarantors does not exceed ten percent (10%) of Total Asset Value.

 

Improvements ” means any Subsidiary Guarantor’s interest in and to all on site improvements to the Unencumbered Properties, together with all fixtures, tenant improvements, and appurtenances now or later to be located on the Unencumbered Properties and/or in such improvements.

 

Increase Effective Date ” has the meaning specified in Section 2.06(b)(ii) .

 

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)                                  all direct or contingent obligations of such Person arising under letters of credit (including standby and commercial), bankers’ acceptances, bank guaranties, surety bonds and similar instruments;

 

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

 

(d)                                  all 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 and, in each case, either (i) not past due for more than one hundred and eighty (180) days or (ii) being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted);

 

(e)                                   Capital Lease Obligations;

 

(f)                                    all obligations of such Person to purchase, redeem, retire, defease or otherwise make any payment in respect of any ownership interest (excluding perpetual preferred ownership interests) in such Person or any other Person, valued, in the case of a redeemable preferred interest, at the greater of its voluntary or involuntary liquidation preference plus (without duplication and only to the extent required to be paid) accrued and unpaid dividends;

 

(g)                                   all Guarantees of such Person in respect of any of the foregoing (except for guaranties of customary exceptions for fraud, misapplication of funds, environmental indemnities, voluntary bankruptcy, collusive involuntary bankruptcy and other similar customary exceptions to non-recourse liability); and

 

(h)                                  all obligations of the kind referred to in clauses (a) through (g) above secured by (or for which the holder of such obligation has an existing right, contingent or otherwise, to be secured by) any lien on Property (including accounts and contract rights) owned by such Person, whether or not such Person has assumed or become liable for the payment of such obligation, but limited to the lesser of (i) the fair market value of the property subject to such lien and (ii) the aggregate amount of the obligations so secured.

 

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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; provided that, solely for purposes of calculating the financial covenants set forth in Sections 8.14(a), (b) , and (c)  and (d) , Indebtedness shall exclude the net obligations of the Parent on a consolidated basis under Swap Contracts entered into to hedge or mitigate any interest rate risk in respect of borrowed money for which the Parent, the Borrower or any Subsidiary has actual exposure. The amount of any Capital Lease Obligations as of any date shall be deemed to be the amount of Attributable Indebtedness in respect 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 (a), Other Taxes.

 

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

 

Information ” has the meaning specified in Section 11.07.

 

Initial Unencumbered Properties ” means the Acceptable Properties listed on Schedule 4.01 , and “ Initial Unencumbered Property ” means any one of the Initial Unencumbered Properties.

 

Interest Payment Date ” means (a) as to any Loan other than a Base Rate Loan, the last day of each Interest Period applicable to such Loan and the Maturity Date applicable to such Loan; provided that if any Interest Period for a LIBOR Loan exceeds three (3) months, then 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, the last Business Day of each March, June, September, and December and the Maturity Date applicable to such Loan.

 

Interest Period ” means as to each LIBOR Loan, the period commencing on the date such LIBOR Loan is disbursed or converted to or continued as a LIBOR Loan and ending on the date one (1), two (2), three (3) or six (6) months (if available to all Lenders) thereafter, as selected by the Borrower in its Loan Notice; provided that :

 

(i)                                      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, in the case of a LIBOR Loan, such Business Day falls in another calendar month, in which case such Interest Period shall end on the next preceding Business Day;

 

(ii)                                   any Interest Period pertaining to a LIBOR Loan 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

 

(iii)                                no Interest Period for a subject Loan shall extend beyond the Maturity Date applicable to such Loan.

 

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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 equity participation or interest in, another Person, including any partnership or joint venture interest in such other Person and any arrangement pursuant to which the investor Guarantees 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 that constitute a business unit.  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.

 

IP Rights ” has the meaning specified in Section 6.18 .

 

IRS ” means the United States Internal Revenue Service.

 

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.

 

Lead Arranger ” means Wells Fargo Securities, LLC in its capacity as lead arranger and bookrunner.

 

Lease ” means each existing or future lease, sublease (to the extent of any Subsidiary Guarantor’s rights thereunder), license, or other agreement (other than an Acceptable Ground Lease) under the terms of which any Person has or acquires any right to occupy or use any Property, or any part thereof, or interest therein, and each existing or future guaranty of payment or performance thereunder.

 

Lender ” has the meaning specified in the introductory paragraph hereto.

 

Lending Office ” means, as to any Lender, the office or offices of such Lender described as such in such Lender’s Administrative Questionnaire, or such other office or offices as a Lender may from time to time notify the Borrower and the Administrative Agent.

 

LIBOR ” means, subject to the implementation of a Replacement Rate in accordance with Section 3.03(b) , with respect to any LIBOR borrowings for any interest period, the rate of interest obtained by dividing (i) the rate of interest per annum determined on the basis of the rate for deposits in U.S. dollars for a period equal to the applicable interest period which appears on Reuters Screen LIBOR01 Page (or any applicable successor page) as published by the ICE Benchmark Administration Limited, a United Kingdom company, or a comparable or successor quoting service approved by the Administrative Agent, at approximately 11:00 a.m. (London time) two business days prior to the first day of the applicable interest period by (ii) a percentage equal to 1 minus the stated maximum rate (stated as a decimal) of all reserves, if any, required to be maintained with respect to Eurocurrency funding (currently referred to as “Eurocurrency

 

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liabilities”) as specified in Regulation D of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (or against any other category of liabilities which includes deposits by reference to which the interest rate on LIBOR Loans is determined or any applicable category of extensions of credit or other assets which includes loans by an office of any Lender outside of the United States of America); provided that if such determined rate shall be less than zero, such rate shall be deemed to be zero for each LIBOR Loan that has not been identified by the Borrower in accordance with the terms of this Agreement as being subject to a Specified Swap Contract that provides a hedge against interest rate risk.  If, for any reason, the such rate referred to in the preceding clause (i) does not appear on Reuters Screen LIBOR01 Page (or any applicable successor page), then the rate to be used for such clause (i) is not so published then “LIBOR” shall be determined by the Administrative Agent to be the arithmetic average of the rate per annum at which deposits in U.S. dollars would be offered by first class banks in the London interbank market to the Administrative Agent at approximately 11:00 a.m. (London time) two business days prior to the first day of the applicable interest period for a period equal to such interest period; provided that if such determined rate shall be less than zero, such rate shall be deemed to be zero for each LIBOR Loan that has not been identified by the Borrower in accordance with the terms of this Agreement as being subject to a Specified Swap Contract that provides a hedge against interest rate risk.  Any change in the maximum rate or reserves described in the preceding clause (ii) shall result in a change in LIBOR on the date on which such change in such maximum rate becomes effective.

 

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

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, unless otherwise specified in any amendment to this Agreement entered into in accordance with Section 3.03(b) , in the event that a Replacement Rate with respect to LIBOR is implemented then all references herein to LIBOR shall be deemed references to such Replacement Rate.

 

LIBOR Loan ” means a Committed Loan that bears interest at a rate based on LIBOR.

 

LIBOR Market Index Rate ” means, for any day, LIBOR as of that day that would be applicable for a LIBOR borrowing having a one-month interest period determined at approximately 10:00 a.m. Central time for such day (rather than 11:00 a.m. (London time) two business days prior to the first day of such interest period as otherwise provided in the definition of “LIBOR”), or if such day is not a business day, the immediately preceding business day.  The LIBOR Market Index Rate shall be determined on a daily basis.

 

Lien ” means any mortgage, pledge, hypothecation, assignment, deposit arrangement, encumbrance, lien (statutory or other), charge or other security interest or any preference, priority or other security agreement or preferential arrangement 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 Capital Lease having substantially the same economic effect as any of the foregoing).

 

Loan ” means an extension of credit by a Lender to the Borrower under Article II in the form of a Committed Loan.

 

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Loan Documents ” means this Agreement, each Note, the Fee Letter, and the Guaranties.

 

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 LIBOR Loans, pursuant to Section 2.02(a) , which, if in writing, shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit A .

 

Loan Parties ” means, collectively, the Borrower and each Guarantor and “ Loan Party ” means any one of the Loan Parties.

 

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

 

“Material Acquisition ” means any acquisition (or series of related acquisitions) or investments (or series of related investments) permitted by this Agreement and consummated in accordance with the terms of this Agreement for which the aggregate consideration paid in respect of such acquisition or investment (including any Indebtedness assumed in connection therewith) exceeds 10% of Total Asset Value for the Current Reporting Quarter, without giving pro forma effect to such acquisition.

 

Material Adverse Effect ” means: (a) a material adverse change in, or a material adverse effect upon, the business, assets, operations, or financial condition of the Companies, taken as a whole; (b) a material impairment of the ability of the Loan Parties, taken as a whole, to perform their obligations under the Loan Documents; or (c) a material adverse effect upon the legality, validity, binding effect, or enforceability against the Loan Parties, taken as a whole, of the Loan Documents to which they are parties.

 

Material Environmental Event ” means, with respect to any Unencumbered Property, (a) a violation of any Environmental Law with respect to such Unencumbered Property, or (b) the presence of any Hazardous Materials on, about, or under such Unencumbered Property that, under or pursuant to any Environmental Law, would require remediation, if in the case of either (a) or (b), such event or circumstance could reasonably be expected to have a Material Property Event.

 

Material Property Event ” means, with respect to any Unencumbered Property, the occurrence of any event or circumstance occurring or arising after the date of this Agreement that resulted in a (a) material adverse effect with respect to the financial condition or the operations of such Unencumbered Property, (b) material adverse effect on the value of such Unencumbered Property, or (c) material adverse effect on the ownership of such Unencumbered Property.

 

Material Title Defects ” means, with respect to any Unencumbered Property, defects, Liens (other than Liens for local real estate taxes and similar local governmental charges), and other encumbrances in the nature of easements, servitudes, restrictions, and rights-of-way that would customarily be deemed unacceptable title exceptions for a prudent lender (i.e., a prudent lender would reasonably determine that such exceptions, individually or in the aggregate, materially impair the value or operations of such Unencumbered Property, would prevent such Unencumbered Property from being used in the manner in which it is currently being used, or would result in a violation of any Law which would have a material and adverse effect on such

 

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Unencumbered Property); provided that Material Title Defects shall not include any Liens or other encumbrances (i) that existed as of the date of the title insurance policies issued in connection with the Prior Credit Agreement for the Initial Unencumbered Properties, (ii) that existed as of the date of this Agreement and that are listed on Schedule 8.01 or (iii) with respect to any Unencumbered Properties added following the date of this Agreement, Liens and other encumbrances similar in type and extent to those contemplated by clauses (i) and (ii) above.

 

Material Subsidiary ” means each Subsidiary of the Borrower other than a Non-Guarantor Subsidiary.

 

Maturity Date ” means March 21, 2021; provided that if such date is not a Business Day, then the Maturity Date shall be the next preceding Business Day.

 

Minimum Distributions ” means (a) for the Parent for any fiscal year of the Parent, Restricted Payments in an amount not less than the aggregate amount of distributions required to be paid by the Parent in order for the Parent to qualify as a REIT, and (b) for the Borrower for any fiscal year of the Borrower, Restricted Payments in an amount not less than the aggregate amount of distributions required to be paid by the Borrower to the Parent in order for the Parent to qualify as a REIT.

 

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 the Parent 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 (2) or more contributing sponsors (including the Parent or any ERISA Affiliate) at least two (2) of whom are not under common control, as such a plan is described in Section 4064 of ERISA.

 

Non-Guarantor Subsidiary ” means any Subsidiary (whether direct or indirect) of the Borrower, other than any Subsidiary which owns an Unencumbered Property or any Subsidiary which owns any of the Equity Interests of any such Subsidiary, which (a) is (i) formed for or converted to the specific purpose of holding title to Real Property assets which are collateral for Indebtedness owing or to be owed by such Subsidiary, provided that such Indebtedness must be incurred or assumed within ninety (90) days, such ninety (90) day period to be extended for an additional sixty (60) days if the Borrower provides an executed term sheet or commitment letter for the financing of such Real Property to the Administrative Agent (or, in either instance, for such longer period as the Administrative Agent may agree in writing) of such formation or conversion or such Subsidiary shall cease to qualify as a Non Guarantor Subsidiary, and (ii) expressly prohibited in writing from guaranteeing Indebtedness of any other person or entity pursuant to (A) a provision in any document, instrument or agreement evidencing such Indebtedness of such Subsidiary or (B) a provision of such Subsidiary’s Organization Documents, in each case, which provision was included in such Organization Document or such other document, instrument or agreement at the request of the applicable third party creditor and as an express condition to the extension or assumption of such Indebtedness; provided that a

 

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Subsidiary meeting the requirements set forth in this clause (a) shall only remain a “Non-Guarantor Subsidiary” for so long as (1) each of the foregoing requirements set forth in this clause (a) are satisfied, (2) such Subsidiary does not guarantee any other Indebtedness, and (3) the Indebtedness with respect to which the restrictions noted in clause (a) (ii) are imposed remains outstanding; (b)(i) becomes a Subsidiary following the Closing Date, (ii) is not a Wholly Owned Subsidiary of the Borrower, and (iii) with respect to which the Borrower and its Affiliates, as applicable, do not have sufficient voting power to cause such Subsidiary to become a Guarantor hereunder; (c) is an Immaterial Subsidiary; (d) is a Subsidiary which has been released from its Obligations under a Subsidiary Guaranty pursuant to Section 2.17(b)  below, or (e) is not a domestic Subsidiary. For the avoidance of doubt, STAG Industrial Management, LLC, the Subsidiary that employs the Parent Guarantor’s employees, shall be deemed to be a Non-Guarantor Subsidiary.

 

Non-Recourse Indebtedness ” means, for any Person, any Indebtedness of such Person for the repayment of which neither the Parent or the Borrower has any personal liability (other than for Customary Recourse Exceptions) or, if such Person is the Parent or the Borrower, in which recourse of the applicable holder of such Indebtedness for non-payment is limited to such holder’s Liens on a particular asset or group of assets (other than for Customary Recourse Exceptions).  For the avoidance of doubt, if any Indebtedness is partially guaranteed by the Parent or the Borrower, then the portion of such Indebtedness that is not so guaranteed shall still be Non-Recourse Indebtedness if it otherwise satisfies the requirements in this definition.

 

Note ” means a promissory note made by the Borrower in favor of each Lender requesting the same evidencing Loans made by such Lender, substantially in the form of Exhibit B .

 

Note Purchase Agreements ” means (i) that certain Note Purchase Agreement, dated as of April 16, 2014 among the Parent, the Borrower, and the purchasers party thereto and , (ii) that certain Note Purchase Agreement, dated as of December 18, 2014 among the Parent, the Borrower, and the purchasers party thereto, and (iii) that certain Note Purchase Agreement, dated as of June 13, 2018, among the Parent, the Borrower, and the purchasers party thereto, in each case as amended from time to time.

 

Obligations ” means 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, 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; including, without limitation of the foregoing, all present and future indebtedness, liabilities, and obligations now or hereafter owed to the Administrative Agent, any Lender, or any Affiliate of the Administrative Agent or any Lender (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any Specified Derivatives Providers) arising from, by virtue of, or pursuant to any Swap Contract, other than any Excluded Swap Obligation, that relates solely to the Obligations.

 

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Occupancy Rate ” means, for any Property, the percentage of the rentable area of such Property occupied by bona fide tenants of such Property or leased by tenants pursuant to bona fide tenant Leases, in each case, which tenants are not more than 60 days past due in the payment of all rent or other similar payments due under such Leases and paying rent.

 

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, and (c) with respect to any partnership, joint venture, trust or other form of business entity, the partnership, joint venture or other applicable agreement of formation or organization and any agreement, instrument, filing or notice with respect thereto filed in connection with its formation or organization with the applicable Governmental Authority in the jurisdiction of its formation or organization and, if applicable, any certificate or articles of formation or organization of such entity.

 

Other Connection Taxes ” means, with respect to any Recipient, Taxes imposed as a result of a present or former connection between such Recipient and the jurisdiction imposing such Tax (other than connections arising from such Recipient having executed, delivered, become a party to, performed its obligations under, received payments under, received or perfected a security interest under, engaged in any other transaction pursuant to or enforced any Loan Document, or sold or assigned an interest in any Loan or Loan Document).

 

Other Taxes ” means all present or future stamp, court 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 with respect to Committed Loans on any date, the aggregate outstanding principal amount thereof after giving effect to any borrowings and prepayments or repayments of Loans occurring on such date.

 

Parent ” has the meaning specified in the introductory paragraph hereto.

 

Parent Guaranty ” means the Guaranty Agreement executed by the Parent in favor of the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Lenders and any Specified Derivatives Providers, in form and substance acceptable to the Administrative Agent.

 

Parent Share ” means a share of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Parent.

 

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

 

“Participant Register ” has the meaning specified in Section  10.06 11.06 (d) .

 

PBGC ” means the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation.

 

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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, Sections 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 the 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.

 

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 the Parent or any ERISA Affiliate or any such Plan to which the Parent or any ERISA Affiliate is required to contribute on behalf of any of its employees.

 

Platform ” has the meaning specified in Section 7.02 .

 

Prime Rate ” means, at any time, the rate of interest per annum publicly announced from time to time by the Administrative Agent as its prime rate.  Each change in the Prime Rate shall be effective as of the opening of business on the day such change in such prime rate occurs.  The parties acknowledge that the rate announced publicly by the Administrative Agent as its prime rate is an index or base rate and shall not necessarily be its lowest or best rate charged to its customers or other banks.

 

Prior Credit Agreement ” means that certain Credit Agreement dated as of April 20, 2011 among the Borrower, Bank of America, N.A., as agent, and a syndicate of lenders.

 

Property ” means any Real Property which is owned or ground leased, directly or indirectly, by any Company.

 

PTE ” means a prohibited transaction class exemption issued by the U.S. Department of Labor as any such exemption may be amended from time to time.

 

Public Lender ” has the meaning specified in Section 7.02 .

 

Qualified ECP Guarantor ” means, in respect of any Swap Contract, each Loan Party that has total assets exceeding $10,000,000 at the time the relevant Guarantee or grant of the relevant security interest becomes effective with respect to such Swap Contract or such other person as constitutes an “eligible contract participant” under the Commodity Exchange Act or any regulations promulgated thereunder and can cause another person to qualify as an “eligible contract participant” at such time by entering into a keepwell under Section 1a(18)(A)(v)(II)  of the Commodity Exchange Act.

 

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Rating Condition ” means the achievement by the Borrower of a Debt Rating.

 

Real Property ” of any Person means all of the right, title, and interest of such Person in and to land, improvements, and fixtures.

 

Recipient ” means the Administrative Agent, any Lender, or any other recipient of any payment to be made by or on account of any obligation of any Loan Party hereunder.

 

Recourse Indebtedness ” means Indebtedness that is not Non-Recourse Indebtedness; provided that personal recourse for Customary Recourse Exceptions shall not, by itself, cause such Indebtedness to be characterized as Recourse Indebtedness.

 

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

 

REIT ” means a “real estate investment trust” in accordance with Section 856 of the Code.

 

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.

 

Replacement Rate ” has the meaning assigned thereto in Section  3.03(b) .

 

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 with respect to a Borrowing, conversion or continuation of Committed Loans, a Committed Loan Notice.

 

Required Lenders ” means, at any time, the Lenders holding in the aggregate more than fifty percent (50%) of the Total Outstandings.  The Loans of any Defaulting Lender shall be disregarded in determining the Required Lenders at any time.  At all times when two or more Lenders (excluding Defaulting Lenders) are party to this Agreement, the term “Required Lenders” shall in no event mean fewer than two Lenders.

 

Responsible Officer ” means the chief executive officer, president, chief financial officer, chief operating officer, chief accounting officer, treasurer, assistant treasurer, or controller of a Loan Party, and solely for purposes of the delivery of incumbency certificates pursuant to Section 5.01 , the secretary or any assistant 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.  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.  Each initial Responsible Officer is listed on Schedule RO .

 

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Restricted Payment ” means any dividend or other distribution (whether in cash, Equity Interests or other property) with respect to any capital stock or other Equity Interest of any Company or Subsidiary, or any payment (whether in cash, Equity Interests or other property), including any sinking fund or similar deposit, on account of the purchase, redemption, retirement, acquisition, cancellation or termination of any such capital stock or other Equity Interests, or on account of any return of capital to such Company’s or Subsidiary’s stockholders, partners or members (or the equivalent Person thereof).

 

Revolving Credit Agreement ” means that certain Credit Agreement, dated as of December 18 July 26 , 2014 2018 , among the Borrower, the Parent, Wells Fargo, as administrative agent, and the other lenders party thereto, as amended.

 

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

 

Sanction(s) ” means any international economic sanction administered or enforced by OFAC, the United Nations Security Council, the European Union, Her Majesty’s Treasury or other relevant sanctions authority.

 

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

 

Second Amendment Effective Date ” means July 26, 2018.

 

Secured Indebtedness ” means (without duplication), with respect to a Person as of any given date, the aggregate principal amount of all Indebtedness of such Person or its subsidiaries outstanding at such date and that is secured by a Lien, and including the Companies’ Share of all Indebtedness of Unconsolidated Affiliates that is secured by a Lien, but excluding for the avoidance of doubt, any net obligations under any Swap Contract that is secured by a Lien, all Unsecured Indebtedness and all Indebtedness hereunder, and provided further that the obligations under any revolving credit agreement (including the Revolving Credit Agreement or any amendment or replacement thereof) shall not constitute Secured Indebtedness due to the existence of cash collateral security requirements in connection with customary defaulting lender provisions.

 

Secured Leverage Ratio ” means, as of any date of determination, the quotient (expressed as a percentage) of (a) Secured Indebtedness of Parent and its Subsidiaries, divided by (b) Total Asset Value.

 

Secured Recourse Debt Ratio ” means, as of any date of determination, the quotient (expressed as a percentage) of (a) Secured Indebtedness which is Recourse Indebtedness with respect to the Borrower, divided by (b) Total Asset Value.

 

Share ” means the Borrower’s and the Parent’s direct or indirect share of a Consolidated Subsidiary or an Unconsolidated Affiliate as reasonably determined by the Borrower based upon the Borrower’s and the Parent’s economic interest (whether direct or indirect) in such Consolidated Subsidiary or Unconsolidated Affiliate, as of the date of such determination.

 

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Specified Derivatives Provider ” shall have the meaning provided in Section 9.03.

 

Specified Swap Contract ” means any Swap Contract that is made or entered into at any time, or in effect at any time now or hereafter, whether as a result of an assignment or transfer or otherwise, in each case with respect to the Loans, between the Borrower and a Specified Swap Contract Provider.

 

Specified Swap Contract Provider ” means any Lender, or Affiliate of a Lender, that is party to a Swap Contract at the time such Swap Contract is entered into.

 

Subsidiary ” of a Person means a corporation, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company or other business entity of which a majority of the Equity Interests having ordinary voting power for the election of directors or other governing body (other than Equity Interests having such power only by reason of the happening of a contingency) are 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 Borrower.

 

Subsidiary Guarantors ” means, as of any date, each domestic Subsidiary which owns an Unencumbered Property, all domestic Subsidiaries of the Borrower owning a direct or indirect interest in an Unencumbered Property, each other domestic Material Subsidiary, and the general partner of each Subsidiary Guarantor that is a limited partnership and “ Subsidiary Guarantor ” means any one of the Subsidiary Guarantors; provided, however, that (a) STAG Industrial Management, LLC and (b) STAG Industrial TRS, LLC and its Subsidiaries shall in no event be deemed or required to be a Subsidiary Guarantor.

 

Subsidiary Guaranty ” means the Guaranty Agreement executed by each Subsidiary Guarantor in favor of the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Lenders and any Specified Derivatives Providers, in form and substance acceptable to the Administrative Agent.

 

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, (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, and (c) any obligation to pay or perform under any agreement, contract or

 

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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).

 

Tangible Net Worth ” means, as of any date, (a) Total Asset Value minus (b) the sum of (i) Consolidated Total Debt and (ii) to the extent included in the calculation of Total Asset Value, goodwill and other intangible assets (other than deferred leasing intangibles).

 

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.

 

Threshold Amount ” means (a) $40,000,000 with respect to Recourse Indebtedness, (b) $75,000,000 with respect to all Non-Recourse Indebtedness, and (c) $40,000,000 with respect to all other amounts.

 

Total Asset Value ” means, for the Companies, on a consolidated basis, as on any date, the sum of (a) an amount equal to (i) aggregate Adjusted NOI with respect to all Properties (without duplication from the assets in clauses (b) through (g) below) for the Current Reporting Quarter, annualized divided by (ii) the Capitalization Rate, plus (b) 75% of the Book Value of any Dark Property (provided that no Dark Property shall be included in the calculation of Total Asset Value for a period greater than 12 months), plus (c) the acquisition cost of Construction in Progress and the costs of improvements thereon and renovations thereof, plus (d) cash and cash equivalents (including restricted cash) on such date, plus (e) the Companies’ Share of the foregoing items and components attributable to Unconsolidated Affiliates, plus (f) an amount equal to the book value (adjusted in accordance with GAAP to reflect any default or other impairment of such loan) of mortgage loans, construction loans, capital improvement loans, and other loans, in each case owned by a Company, plus (g) fifty percent (50%) of the book value of any undeveloped land.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, for purposes of determining Total Asset Value, to the extent the amount of Total Asset Value attributable to (a) the amount under clause (b) above would exceed 10% of Total Asset Value, such excess shall be excluded, (b) the amount under clause (c) and (g) above would exceed 15% of Total Asset Value, such excess shall be excluded, (c) the amount under clause (e) above would exceed 30% of Total Asset Value, such excess shall be excluded, (d) the amount under clause (f) above would exceed 15% of Total Asset Value, such excess shall be excluded, and (e) the amount under clauses (b), (c), (e), (f) and (g) above would exceed 30% of Total Asset Value, such excess shall be excluded.

 

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Total Funded Debt ” means, as of any date, Consolidated Total Debt excluding intercompany Indebtedness, deferred income taxes, security deposits, accounts payable and accrued liabilities, and any prepaid rents, in each case determined in accordance with GAAP.

 

Total Outstandings ” means as of any date of determination, the aggregate Outstanding Amount of all Loans.

 

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

 

Unconsolidated Affiliate ” means any Person in which a Company has an Equity Interest and whose financial results would not be consolidated under GAAP with the financial results of the Parent on the consolidated financial statements of the Parent.

 

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

 

Unencumbered Adjusted NOI ” means, for any period, the aggregate Adjusted NOI of all Unencumbered Properties excluding any Dark Property for such period.

 

Unencumbered Asset Value ” means without duplication, the sum of for each Unencumbered Property owned or ground leased for the Current Reporting Quarter, (i) an amount equal to (x) the Unencumbered Adjusted NOI attributable to such Unencumbered Property for such Current Reporting Quarter, annualized, divided by (ii) the Capitalization Rate.

 

Unencumbered Leverage Ratio ” means, as of any date of determination, the quotient (expressed as a percentage) of (a) Unsecured Indebtedness of Parent and its Subsidiaries, divided by (b) Unencumbered Asset Value.

 

Unencumbered Properties ” means each Acceptable Property that either (a) is an Initial Unencumbered Property or (b) becomes an Unencumbered Property pursuant to Section 4.03 , and “ Unencumbered Property ” means any one of the Unencumbered Properties.

 

Unsecured Indebtedness ” means Indebtedness which is not Secured Indebtedness.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, all Indebtedness which is secured by a pledge of equity interests only and is recourse to the Borrower or the Parent shall be deemed to be Unsecured Indebtedness.

 

Unsecured Interest Coverage Ratio ” means, as of any date of determination, the quotient (expressed as a percentage) of (a) Unencumbered Adjusted NOI to (b) Unsecured Interest Expense.

 

Unsecured Interest Expense ” means, with respect to any period, Consolidated Interest Expense of the Parent and its Subsidiaries for such period attributable to Unsecured Indebtedness of the Parent and its Subsidiaries.

 

U.S. Person ” means any Person that is a “United States Person person ” as defined in Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code.

 

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“U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate ” has the meaning specified in Section 3.01(e)(ii)(B)(III) .

 

Wells Fargo ” means Wells Fargo Bank, National Association and its successors.

 

WFS ” means Wells Fargo Securities, LLC and its successors and assigns.

 

Write-Down and Conversion Powers ” means, with respect to any EEA Resolution Authority, the write-down and conversion powers of such EEA Resolution Authority from time to time under the Bail-In Legislation for the applicable EEA Member Country, which write-down and conversion powers are described in the EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule.

 

b.                                       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 any Organization Document) shall be construed as referring to such agreement, instrument or other document as from time to time amended, supplemented, or otherwise modified (subject to any restrictions on such amendments, supplements or modifications set forth herein 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, Exhibits and Schedules shall be construed to refer to Articles and Sections of, and Exhibits and Schedules to, the Loan Document in which such references appear, (v) any reference to any law shall include all statutory and regulatory 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 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, Equity Interests, accounts and contract rights.

 

(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.

 

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c.                                        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 Borrower and its Subsidiaries shall be deemed to be carried at 100% of the outstanding principal amount thereof, and the effects of FASB ASC 825 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 Borrower or the Required Lenders shall so request, the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the Borrower shall negotiate in good faith to amend such ratio or requirement to preserve the original intent thereof in light of such change in GAAP (subject to the approval of the Required Lenders); provided that until so amended, (i) such ratio or requirement shall continue to be computed in accordance with GAAP prior to such change therein and (ii) the Borrower shall provide to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders financial statements and other documents required under this Agreement or as reasonably requested hereunder setting forth a reconciliation between calculations of such ratio or requirement made before and after giving effect to such change in GAAP.  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 addressing such changes, as provided for above.

 

(c)                                   Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities.   All references herein to consolidated financial statements of the Companies or to the determination of any amount for the Companies on a consolidated basis or any similar reference shall, in each case, be deemed to include each variable interest entity that the Parent is required to consolidate pursuant to FASB ASC 810 as if such variable interest entity were a Subsidiary as defined herein, provided further that for all purposes in calculating consolidated covenants hereunder the Parent shall be deemed to own one hundred percent (100%) of the equity interests in the Borrower.

 

d.                                       Rounding.  Any financial ratios required to be maintained by the Borrower 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).

 

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

 

f.                                         Amendment and Restatement of the Existing Term Loan Agreement.  The parties to this Agreement agree that, upon (i) the execution and delivery by each of the parties hereto of this Agreement and (ii) satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 5.01 , the terms and provisions of the Existing Term Loan Agreement shall be and hereby are amended, superseded and restated in their entirety by the terms and provisions of this Agreement.  This Agreement is not intended to and shall not constitute a novation, payment and reborrowing or termination of the “Obligations” (as defined in the Existing Term Loan Agreement).  All “Loans” made and “Obligations” incurred under the Existing Term Loan Agreement which are outstanding on the Closing Date, if any, shall continue as Obligations under (and shall be governed by the terms of) this Agreement and the other Loan Documents.  Without limiting the foregoing, upon the effectiveness hereof: (a) all references in the “Loan Documents” (as defined in the Existing Term Loan Agreement) to the “Administrative Agent”, the “Agreement” and the “Loan Documents” shall be deemed to refer to the Administrative Agent, this Agreement and the Loan Documents and (b) all obligations constituting “Obligations” with any Lender or any Affiliate of any Lender which are outstanding on the Closing Date, if any, shall continue as Obligations under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents.

 

g.                                        Rates. 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 “LIBOR” or with respect to any comparable or successor rate thereto.

 

9.

The Committed Loans and Credit Extensions

 

a.                                       Committed Loans.

 

(a)                                  On the “Closing Date” (as defined in the Existing Term Loan Agreement) certain term loans were made to the Borrower under the Existing Term Loan Agreement that remain outstanding as of the Closing Date (such outstanding loans being herein referred to as the “ Existing Loans ”) in an aggregate principal amount equal to $150,000,000.  Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, the Borrower and each Lender agree that on the Closing Date, (a) the Existing Loans shall be reevidenced as loans under this Agreement (the “ Committed Loans ”) and (b) the terms of the Existing Loans shall be restated in their entirety and shall be evidenced by this Agreement.  The amount of each Lender’s Committed Loan as of the Closing Date is set forth on Schedule 2.01 .

 

(b)                                  Committed Loan Limitations Amounts repaid on the Committed Loans may not be reborrowed.  Committed Loans may be Base Rate Loans or LIBOR Loans, as further provided herein.

 

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b.                                       Borrowings, Conversions and Continuations of Committed Loans.

 

(a)                                  Each Committed Borrowing, each conversion of Committed Loans from one Type to the other, and each continuation of LIBOR Loans shall be made upon the Borrower’s irrevocable notice to the Administrative Agent, which may be given by telephone.  Each such notice must be received by the Administrative Agent not later than 10:00 a.m. (i) three (3) Business Days prior to the requested date of any Borrowing of, conversion to or continuation of LIBOR Loans or of any conversion of LIBOR Loans to Base Rate Committed Loans, and (ii) on the requested date of any Borrowing of Base Rate Committed Loans.  Each telephonic notice by the Borrower pursuant to this Section 2.02(a)  must be confirmed promptly by delivery to the Administrative Agent of a written Committed Loan Notice, appropriately completed and signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower.  Each Borrowing of, conversion to or continuation of LIBOR Loans shall be in a principal amount of $500,000 or a whole multiple of $500,000 in excess thereof.  Each conversion to Base Rate Committed Loans shall be in a principal amount of $250,000 or a whole multiple of $50,000 in excess thereof.  Each Committed Loan Notice (whether telephonic or written) shall specify (i) whether the Borrower is requesting a Committed Borrowing, a conversion of Committed Loans from one Type to the other, or a continuation of LIBOR Loans, (ii) the requested date of the Committed Borrowing, conversion or continuation, as the case may be (which shall be a Business Day), (iii) the principal amount of Committed Loans to be borrowed, converted or continued, (iv) the Type of Committed Loans to be borrowed or to which existing Committed Loans are to be converted, and (v) if applicable, the duration of the Interest Period with respect thereto.  If the Borrower fails to specify a Type of Committed Loan in a Committed Loan Notice or if the Borrower fails to give a timely notice requesting a conversion or continuation, then (I) so long as no Event of Default exists, the applicable Committed Loans shall be made as, or continued to, a LIBOR Loan of the same Type and with an Interest Period of one (1) month and (II) if an Event of Default exists, then the applicable Committed 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 LIBOR Loans.  If the Borrower requests a Committed Borrowing of, conversion to, or continuation of LIBOR Loans in any such Committed Loan Notice, but fails to specify an Interest Period, then it will be deemed to have specified an Interest Period of one (1) month.

 

(b)                                  Following receipt of a Committed Loan Notice, the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each Lender of the amount of its Applicable Percentage of the applicable Committed Loans, and if no timely notice of a conversion or continuation is provided by the Borrower, the Administrative Agent shall notify each Lender of the details of any automatic continuation or conversion to Base Rate Loans described in the preceding subsection.  In the case of a Committed Borrowing, each Lender shall make the amount of its Committed Loan available to the Administrative Agent in immediately available funds at the Administrative Agent’s Office not later than 12:00 noon on the Business Day specified in the applicable Committed Loan Notice.  Upon satisfaction of the applicable conditions set forth in Section 5.02 (and, if such Committed Borrowing is the initial Credit Extension, Section 5.01 ), the Administrative Agent shall make all funds so received available to the Borrower by 3:00 p.m. in like funds as received by the Administrative Agent either by (i) crediting the account of the Borrower on the books of Wells Fargo with the amount of such funds or (ii) wire transfer of such funds, in each

 

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case in accordance with instructions provided to (and reasonably acceptable to) the Administrative Agent by the Borrower.

 

(c)                                   Except as otherwise provided herein, a LIBOR Loan may be continued or converted only on the last day of an Interest Period for such LIBOR Loan.  During the existence of an Event of Default, no Loans may be requested as, converted to or continued as LIBOR Loans without the consent of the Required Lenders.

 

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

 

(e)                                   After giving effect to all Committed Borrowings, all conversions of Committed Loans from one Type to the other, and all continuations of Committed Loans as the same Type, there shall not be more than eight (8) Interest Periods in effect with respect to Committed Loans.

 

c.                                        Reserved.

 

d.                                       Reserved.

 

e.                                        Prepayments.

 

(a)                                  The Borrower may, upon notice to the Administrative Agent, at any time or from time to time voluntarily prepay Committed Loans in whole or in part; provided that (i) such notice must be received by the Administrative Agent not later than 11:00 a.m. (A) three (3) Business Days prior to any date of prepayment of LIBOR Loans and (B) on the date of prepayment of Base Rate Committed Loans; (ii) any prepayment of LIBOR Loans shall be in a principal amount of $1,000,000 or a whole multiple of $100,000 in excess thereof; and (iii) any prepayment of Base Rate Committed Loans shall be in a principal amount of $100,000 or a whole multiple of $25,000 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 Committed Loans to be prepaid and, if LIBOR 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 Applicable Percentage of such prepayment.  If such notice is given by the Borrower, then the Borrower 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 a LIBOR Loan 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 2.16 , each such prepayment shall be applied to the Committed Loans of the Lenders in accordance with their respective Applicable Percentages.

 

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f.                                         Incremental Term Loans.

 

(a)                                  Reserved .

 

(b)                                  Incremental Term Loans .

 

(i)                                      Election .  Provided there exists no Default, upon notice to the Administrative Agent (which shall promptly notify the Lenders), the Parent and the Borrower may from time to time, elect to enter into one or more tranches of term loans (“ Additional Term Loans ”) in an aggregate amount not exceeding $50,000,000 either by designating another bank or financial institution not theretofore a Lender to become a Lender (such designation to be effective only with the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent, which consent will not be unreasonably withheld) and/or by agreeing with an existing Lender or Lenders, in such Lender or Lenders’ absolute discretion, that such Lender shall make Additional Term Loans; provided that (i) any such election for Additional Term Loans shall be in a minimum amount of $10,000,000, and (ii) the Parent and the Borrower may make a maximum of three (3) such requests.  Upon execution and delivery by the Borrower and such Lender or other bank or financial institution of an instrument in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent to effect such Additional Term Loans, including, as required, a new or amended Note, such existing Lender shall have a commitment to make Committed Loans as therein set forth or such bank or financial institution shall become a Lender with a commitment to make Committed Loans as therein set forth and all the rights and obligations of a Lender hereunder.

 

(ii)                                   Effective Date .  If Additional Term Loans are made in accordance with this Section 2.06(b) , then the Administrative Agent, the Parent, and the Borrower shall determine the effective date (the “ Increase Effective Date ”) that such Additional Term Loans shall be made.  The Administrative Agent shall promptly notify the Parent, the Borrower, and the Lenders of the Increase Effective Date.

 

(iii)                                Conditions to Effectiveness of Additional Term Loans .

 

(a)                                  As a condition precedent to such Additional Term Loans, the Parent and the Borrower shall deliver to the Administrative Agent a certificate dated as of the Increase Effective Date (in sufficient copies for each Lender) signed by a Responsible Officer of the Parent or the Borrower (on behalf of each Loan Party) (i) certifying and attaching the resolutions adopted by such Parent and the Borrower (on behalf of each Loan Party) approving or consenting to such Additional Term Loans, and (ii) certifying that, before and after giving effect to such Additional Term Loans, (A) the representations and warranties contained in Article VI and the other Loan Documents are true and correct in all material respects (except in the case of a representation or warranty qualified by materiality or Material Adverse Effect, in which case such representation or warranty shall be true and

 

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correct in all respects) on and as of the Increase Effective Date, except to the extent that such representations and warranties specifically refer to an earlier date, in which case they are true and correct in all material respects (except in the case of a representation or warranty qualified by materiality or Material Adverse Effect, in which case such representation or warranty shall be true and correct in all respects) as of such earlier date, and except that for purposes of this Section 2.06 , the representations and warranties contained in Section   6.05(b)  shall be deemed to refer to the most-recent statements furnished pursuant to Section 7.01(b) , and (B) no Default exists.

 

(b)                                  The Borrower shall execute and provide new Notes to such Lenders as may request herewith.

 

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

 

(c)                                   General .  The Administrative Agent will promptly notify the Lenders of any notice of Additional Term Loans.  Each Additional Term Loan shall be a Committed Loan hereunder.

 

g.                                        Repayment of Loans.  The Borrower shall repay to the Lenders on the Maturity Date the aggregate principal amount of Loans outstanding on such date.

 

h.                                       Interest.

 

(a)                                  Subject to the provisions of subsection (b)  below, (i) each LIBOR Loan shall bear interest on the outstanding principal amount thereof for each Interest Period at a rate per annum equal to LIBOR for such Interest Period plus the Applicable Rate; (ii) each Base Rate Committed 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.

 

(b)

 

(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, then 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 Borrower 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.

 

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(iii)                                Upon the request of the Required Lenders, while any Event of Default exists (other than as set forth in clauses (b)(i) and (b)(ii) above), the Borrower shall pay interest on the principal amount of all outstanding Obligations hereunder 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 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.

 

i.                                           Fees.

 

(a)                                  The Borrower shall pay to WFS and the Administrative Agent, for their own respective accounts, fees in the amounts and at the times specified in the Fee Letter (without duplication of fees otherwise referenced herein).  Such fees shall be fully earned when paid and shall not be refundable for any reason whatsoever.

 

(b)                                  The Borrower shall pay to the Lenders such fees as shall have been separately agreed upon in writing in the amounts and at the times so specified.  Such fees shall be fully earned when paid and shall not be refundable for any reason whatsoever.

 

j.                                          Computation of Interest and Fees; Retroactive Adjustments of Applicable Rate.

 

(a)                                  All computations of interest for Base Rate Loans (including Base Rate Loans determined by reference to LIBOR) 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)                                  If, as a result of any restatement of or other adjustment to the financial statements of the Parent or for any other reason, then the Parent, the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, or the Lenders determine that (i) the Consolidated Leverage Ratio as calculated by the Parent and the Borrower 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, then the Borrower shall immediately and retroactively be obligated to pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of the applicable Lenders, within three (3) Business Days after demand by the Administrative Agent (or, after the

 

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occurrence of an actual or deemed entry of an order for relief with respect to any Loan Party under the Bankruptcy Code of the United States, automatically and without further action by the Administrative Agent or any Lender), 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 or any Lender, under Section 2.08(b)  or under (f) .

 

k.                                       Evidence of Debt.

 

(a)                                  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 Borrower and the interest and payments thereon.  Any failure to so record or any error in doing so shall not, however, limit or otherwise affect the obligation of the Borrower hereunder to pay any amount owing with respect to the Obligations.  In the event of any conflict between the accounts and records maintained by any Lender and the accounts and records of the Administrative Agent in respect of such matters, the accounts and records of the Administrative Agent shall control in the absence of manifest error.  Upon the request of any Lender made through the Administrative Agent, the Borrower shall execute and deliver to such Lender (through the Administrative Agent) a Note, which shall evidence such Lender’s Loans in addition to such accounts or records.  Each such Note shall be in the form of Exhibit B (a “ Note ”).  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.

 

l.                                           Payments Generally; The Administrative Agent’s Clawback.

 

(a)                                  General .  All payments to be made by the Borrower shall be made without condition or deduction for any counterclaim, defense, recoupment or setoff.  Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, all payments by the Borrower 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 1:00 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.  If and to the extent the Administrative Agent shall not make such payments to a Lender when due as set forth in the preceding sentence, then such unpaid amounts shall accrue interest, payable by the Administrative Agent, at the Federal Funds Rate from the due date until (but not including) the date on which the Administrative Agent makes such payments to such Lender.  All payments received by the Administrative Agent after 1:00 p.m. shall be deemed received on the next succeeding Business Day and any applicable interest or fee shall continue to accrue.  If any payment to be made by the Borrower 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.

 

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(b)                                  Clawback .

 

(i)                                      Funding by the Lenders; Presumption by the Administrative Agent .  Unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from a Lender prior to the proposed date of any Committed Borrowing of LIBOR Loans (or, in the case of any Committed Borrowing of Base Rate Loans, prior to 1:00 p.m. on the date of such Borrowing) that such Lender will not make available to the Administrative Agent such Lender’s share of such Committed 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 Committed 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 Borrower a corresponding amount.  In such event, if a Lender has not in fact made its share of the applicable Committed Borrowing available to the Administrative Agent, then the applicable Lender and the Borrower 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 Borrower to but excluding the date of payment to the Administrative Agent, at (A) in the case of a payment to be made by such Lender, the 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 Borrower, the interest rate applicable to Base Rate Loans.  If the Borrower and such Lender shall pay such interest to the Administrative Agent for the same or an overlapping period, then the Administrative Agent shall promptly remit to the Borrower the amount of such interest paid by the Borrower for such period.  If such Lender pays its share of the applicable Committed Borrowing to the Administrative Agent, then the amount so paid shall constitute such Lender’s Committed Loan included in such Committed Borrowing.  Any payment by the Borrower shall be without prejudice to any claim the Borrower may have against a Lender that shall have failed to make such payment to the Administrative Agent.

 

(ii)                                   Payments by the Borrower; Presumptions by the Administrative Agent .  Unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from the Borrower prior to the date on which any payment is due to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Lenders hereunder that the Borrower will not make such payment, the Administrative Agent may assume that the Borrower has made such payment on such date in accordance herewith and may, in reliance upon such assumption, distribute to the Lenders the amount due.  In such event, if the Borrower has not in fact made such payment, then each of the Lenders severally agrees to repay to the Administrative Agent forthwith on demand the amount so distributed to such Lender, 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,

 

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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 , within one (1) Business Day.  If and to the extent the Administrative Agent shall not return such funds to a Lender when due as set forth in the preceding sentence, then such unpaid amounts shall accrue interest, payable by the Administrative Agent, at the Federal Funds Rate from the due date until (but not including) the date on which the Administrative Agent returns such funds to such Lender.

 

A notice of the Administrative Agent to any Lender or the Borrower 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 Borrower by the Administrative Agent because the conditions to the applicable Credit Extension set forth in Article V are not satisfied or waived in accordance with the terms hereof, then the Administrative Agent shall return such funds (in like funds as received from such Lender) to such Lender, without interest.

 

(d)                                  Obligations of the Lenders Several .  The obligations of the Lenders hereunder to make Committed Loans and to make payments pursuant to Section11.04(d)  are several and not joint.  The failure of any Lender to make any Committed Loan or to make any payment under Section 11.04(d)  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 Committed Loan or to make its payment under Section 11.04(d) .

 

(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)                                    Funds Transfer .  The Administrative Agent will, in its sole discretion, determine the funds transfer system and the means by which each transfer will be made.  The Administrative Agent may delay or refuse to accept a funds transfer request if the transfer would: (i) violate the terms of this authorization, (ii) require use of a bank unacceptable to the Administrative Agent or any Lender, in its reasonable discretion, or prohibited by any Governmental Authority, (iii) cause the Administrative Agent or any Lender to violate any Federal Reserve or other regulatory risk control program or guideline or (iv) otherwise cause the Administrative Agent or any Lender to violate any applicable Law or regulation.  The Borrower hereby authorizes the Administrative Agent to disburse the proceeds of any Loan made by the Lenders or any of their Affiliates pursuant to the Loan Documents as requested by an authorized representative of the Borrower to any of the accounts designated in the Disbursement Instruction Agreement.

 

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m.                                   Sharing of Payments by the Lenders.  If any Lender shall, by exercising any right of setoff or counterclaim or otherwise, obtain payment in respect of any principal of or interest on any of the Committed Loans made by it, resulting in such Lender’s receiving payment of a proportion of the aggregate amount of such Committed Loans and accrued interest thereon greater than its pro rata share thereof as provided herein, then the Lender receiving such greater proportion shall (a) notify the Administrative Agent of such fact, and (b)  make such adjustments as shall be equitable, so that the benefit of all such payments shall be shared by the Lenders ratably in accordance with the aggregate amount of principal of and accrued interest on their respective Committed Loans and other amounts owing them, provided that the provisions of this Section shall not be construed to apply to any payment obtained by a Lender as consideration for the assignment of or sale of a participation in any of its Committed Loans to any assignee or participant, other than an assignment to the Borrower 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.

 

n.                                       Reserved.

 

o.                                       Reserved.

 

p.                                       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 .  That 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 in 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 IX 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 reasonably 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 , as the Borrower 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; third , if so determined by the Administrative Agent and the Borrower, to be held in an interest bearing deposit account and released pro rata in order to satisfy such Defaulting Lender’s potential future funding obligations with respect to Loans

 

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under this Agreement; fourth , to the payment of any amounts owing to the Lenders as a result of any judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction obtained by any Lender against such Defaulting Lender as a result of such Defaulting Lender’s breach of its obligations under this Agreement; fifth , so long as no Event of Default exists, to the payment of any amounts owing to the Borrower as a result of any judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction obtained by the Borrower against such Defaulting Lender as a result of such Defaulting Lender’s breach of its obligations under this Agreement; and sixth , to such Defaulting Lender or as otherwise directed by a court of competent jurisdiction; provided that if such payment is a payment of the principal amount of any Loans in respect of which such Defaulting Lender has not fully funded its appropriate share, such payment shall be applied solely to pay the Loans of all Non-Defaulting Lenders on a pro rata basis prior to being applied to the payment of any Loans of such Defaulting Lender until such time as all Loans and funded hereunder without giving effect to Section 2.16(a)(iv) . Any payments, prepayments or other amounts paid or payable to a Defaulting Lender that are applied (or held) to pay amounts owed by a Defaulting Lender shall be deemed paid to and redirected by such Defaulting Lender, and each Lender irrevocably consents hereto.

 

(iii)                                Certain Fees .  No Defaulting Lender shall be entitled to receive any fee pursuant to Section 2.09 for any period during which that Lender is a Defaulting Lender (and the Borrower shall not be required to pay any such fee that otherwise would have been required to have been paid to that Defaulting Lender pursuant to Section 2.09 for any period during which that Lender is a Defaulting Lender), and the Borrower shall not be required to pay the remaining amount of such fee that otherwise would have been required to have been paid to that Defaulting Lender.

 

(b)                                  Defaulting Lender Cure .  If the Borrower and the Administrative Agent agree in writing in their sole discretion that a Defaulting Lender should no longer be deemed to be 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, 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 Committed Loans to be held on a pro rata basis by the Lenders in accordance with their Applicable Percentages, whereupon that Lender will cease to be a Defaulting Lender; provided that no adjustments will be made retroactively with respect to fees accrued or payments made by or on behalf of the Borrower while that Lender was a Defaulting Lender; and provided , further , that , except to the extent otherwise expressly agreed by the affected parties, no change hereunder from Defaulting Lender to Lender will constitute a waiver or release of any claim of any party hereunder arising from that Lender’s having been a Defaulting Lender.

 

q.                                       Guaranties.  Pursuant to the Parent Guaranty, the Parent shall unconditionally Guarantee in favor of the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and any Specified Derivatives Providers the full payment and performance of the Obligations. Pursuant to the Subsidiary

 

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Guaranty or an addendum thereto in the form attached to the Subsidiary Guaranty, the Parent and the Borrower shall cause each Subsidiary Guarantor to execute a Subsidiary Guaranty unconditionally guarantying in favor of the Administrative Agent , the Lenders and any Specified Derivatives Providers the full payment and performance of the Obligations; provided, however , that such Subsidiary Guaranty may be released and reinstated in accordance with its terms.

 

(a)                                  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement or any other Loan Document, (x) concurrently with the delivery of each Compliance Certificate, with respect to any Person that became a Subsidiary of the Parent owning a direct or indirect interest in the Borrower since the date of the most recent Compliance Certificate or (y) substantially concurrently with any Subsidiary of the Parent (other than the Borrower) entering into any Guarantee of Indebtedness of the Parent, the Borrower or any Subsidiary of the Borrower owning directly or indirectly any Unencumbered Property, the Parent, the Borrower and such Subsidiary shall deliver to the Administrative Agent each of the following: (i) a joinder to the Subsidiary Guaranty executed by such Subsidiary, (ii) concurrently with the delivery of each Compliance Certificate a comprehensive list of all Guarantors, which identifies the joining and departing entities, and (iii) the items that would have been delivered under subsections (iii) and (v) of Section 5.01(a)  if such Subsidiary had been a Subsidiary Guarantor on the Closing Date, in form and substance substantially consistent with such items delivered on the Closing Date or otherwise reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

 

(b)                                  The Borrower may request in writing that the Administrative Agent release, and upon receipt of such request the Administrative Agent shall release, a Subsidiary Guarantor from the Guaranty so long as: (i) such Subsidiary Guarantor is not otherwise required to be a party to the Guaranty under the immediately preceding subsection (a)  (after giving effect to clause (ii) hereof); (ii) such Subsidiary Guarantor no longer Guarantees (or which Guarantee is being substantially concurrently released) any other Indebtedness of the Parent, the Borrower or any Subsidiary of the Borrower owning directly or indirectly any Unencumbered Property, (iii) no Default or Event of Default shall then be in existence or would occur as a result of such release, including without limitation, a Default or Event of Default resulting from a violation of any of the covenants contained in Section 8.14 ; and (iv) the Administrative Agent shall have received such written request at least five (5) Business Days (or such shorter period as may be acceptable to the Administrative Agent) prior to the requested date of release.  Delivery by the Borrower to the Administrative Agent of any such request shall constitute a representation by the Parent and the Borrower that the conditions set forth in the preceding sentence are or will be satisfied as of the requested date of release.

 

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10.

Taxes, Yield Protection and Illegality

 

a.                                       Taxes.

 

(a)                                  Payments Free of Taxes; Obligation to Withhold; Payments on Account of Taxes .

 

(i)                                      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 the Administrative Agent) require the deduction or withholding of any Tax from any such payment by the Administrative Agent or a Loan Party, then the Administrative Agent or such Loan Party shall be entitled to make such deduction or withholding, upon the basis of the information and documentation to be delivered pursuant to subsection (e)  below.

 

(ii)                                   If any Loan Party or the Administrative Agent shall be required by the Code to withhold or deduct any Taxes, including both United States Federal backup withholding and withholding taxes, from any payment, then (A) the Administrative Agent shall withhold or make such deductions as are determined by the Administrative Agent to be required based upon the information and documentation it has received pursuant to subsection (e)  below, (B) the Administrative Agent shall timely pay the full amount withheld or deducted to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with the Code, and (C) 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 any required withholding or the making of all required deductions (including deductions 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 withholding or deduction been made.

 

(iii)                                If any Loan Party or the Administrative Agent shall be required by any applicable Laws other than the Code to withhold or deduct any Taxes from any payment, then (A) such Loan Party or the Administrative Agent, as required by such Laws, shall withhold or make such deductions as are determined by it to be required based upon the information and documentation it has received pursuant to subsection (e)  below, (B) such Loan Party or the Administrative Agent, to the extent required by such Laws, shall timely pay the full amount withheld or deducted to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with such Laws, and (C) 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 any required withholding or the making of all required deductions

(including deductions 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 withholding or deduction been made.

 

(b)                                  Payment of Other Taxes by the Borrower .  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.

 

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(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 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 reasonable expenses arising therefrom or with respect thereto, whether or not such Indemnified Taxes were correctly or legally imposed or asserted by the relevant Governmental Authority.  A certificate as to the amount of such payment or liability delivered to the Borrower by a Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), or by the Administrative Agent on its own behalf or on behalf of a Lender, shall be conclusive absent manifest error.  Each of the Loan Parties shall, and does hereby, jointly and severally indemnify the Administrative Agent, and shall make payment in respect thereof within 10 days after demand therefor, for any amount which a Lender for any reason fails to pay indefeasibly to the Administrative Agent as required pursuant to Section 3.01(c)(ii)  below.

 

(ii)                                   Each Lender shall, and does hereby, severally indemnify, and shall make payment in respect thereof within 10 days after demand therefor, ( x ) the Administrative Agent against any Indemnified Taxes attributable to such Lender (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), ( y ) 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  10.06 11.06 (d)  relating to the maintenance of a Participant Register and ( z ) the Administrative Agent and the Loan Parties, as applicable, against any Excluded Taxes attributable to such Lender, 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 hereby authorizes the Administrative Agent to set off and apply any and all amounts at any time owing to such Lender, under this Agreement or any other Loan Document against any amount due to the Administrative Agent under this clause (ii) .

 

(d)                                  Evidence of Payments .  Upon request by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, as the case may be, after any payment of Taxes by the Borrower or by the Administrative Agent to a Governmental Authority as provided in this Section 3.01 , the Borrower shall deliver to the Administrative Agent or the Administrative Agent shall deliver to the Borrower, as the case may be, the original or a certified copy of a receipt issued by such Governmental Authority evidencing such payment, a copy of any return required by Laws to report such payment or other evidence of such payment reasonably satisfactory to the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, as the case may be.

 

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(e)           Status of the 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 Borrower and the Administrative Agent, at the time or times reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, such properly completed and executed documentation reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent as will permit such payments to be made without withholding or at a reduced rate of withholding.  In addition, any Lender, if reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, shall deliver such other documentation prescribed by applicable law or reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent as will enable the Borrower or the Administrative Agent to determine whether or not such Lender is subject to backup withholding or information reporting requirements.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the preceding two sentences, the completion, execution and submission of such documentation (other than such documentation set forth in Section 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 the Borrower is a U.S. Person,

 

i)              any Lender that is a U.S. Person shall deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent on or prior to the date on which such Lender becomes a Lender under this Agreement (and from time to time thereafter upon the reasonable request of the Borrower or the Administrative Agent), executed originals of IRS Form W-9 certifying that such Lender is exempt from U.S. federal backup withholding tax;

 

ii)             any Foreign Lender shall, to the extent it is legally entitled to do so, deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent (in such number of copies as shall be requested by the recipient) on or prior to the date on which such Foreign Lender becomes a Lender under this Agreement (and from time to time thereafter upon the reasonable request of the Borrower or the Administrative Agent), whichever of the following is applicable:

 

(c)           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 originals of IRS Form W-8BEN or IRS Form W-8BEN-E 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-

 

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8BEN or IRS Form W-8BEN-E 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;

 

(d)           executed originals of IRS Form W-8ECI;

 

(e)           in the case of a Foreign Lender claiming the benefits of the exemption for portfolio interest under Section 881(c)  of the Code, (x) a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit H-1 to the effect that such Foreign Lender is not a “bank” within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(A)  of the Code, a “10 percent shareholder” of the Borrower within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(B)  of the Code, or a “controlled foreign corporation” described in Section 881(c)(3)(C)  of the Code (a “ U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate ”) and (y) executed originals of IRS Form W-8BEN or IRS Form W-8BEN-E; or

 

(f)            to the extent a Foreign Lender is not the beneficial owner, executed originals of IRS Form W-8IMY, accompanied by IRS Form W-8ECI, IRS Form W-8BEN, IRS Form W-8BEN-E, a U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit H-2 or Exhibit H-3 , IRS Form W-9, and/or other certification documents from each beneficial owner, as applicable; provided that if the Foreign Lender is a partnership and one or more direct or indirect partners of such Foreign Lender are claiming the portfolio interest exemption, such Foreign Lender may provide a U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit H-4 on behalf of each such direct and indirect partner;

 

iii)            any Foreign Lender shall, to the extent it is legally entitled to do so, deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent (in such number of copies as shall be requested by the recipient) on or prior to the date on which such Foreign Lender becomes a Lender under this Agreement (and from time to time thereafter upon the reasonable request of the Borrower or the Administrative Agent), executed originals 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 Borrower or the Administrative Agent to determine the withholding or deduction required to be made; and

 

iv)           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

 

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Borrower and the Administrative Agent at the time or times prescribed by law and at such time or times reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent such documentation prescribed by applicable law (including as prescribed by Section 1471(b)(3)(C)(i)  of the Code) and such additional documentation reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent as may be necessary for the Borrower and the Administrative Agent to comply with their obligations under FATCA and to determine that such Lender has complied with such Lender’s obligations under FATCA or to determine the amount to deduct and withhold from such payment.  Solely for purposes of this clause (D), “FATCA” shall include any amendments made to FATCA after the date of this Agreement.

 

(iii)          Each Lender agrees that if any form or certification it previously delivered expires or becomes obsolete or inaccurate in any respect, it shall update such form or certification or promptly notify the Borrower and the Administrative Agent in writing of its legal inability to do so.  Each Lender shall promptly (A) notify the Borrower and the Administrative Agent of any change in circumstances which would modify or render invalid any claimed exemption or reduction, and (B) take such steps as shall not be materially disadvantageous to it, in the reasonable judgment of such Lender, and as may be reasonably necessary (including the re-designation of its Lending Office) to avoid any requirement of applicable Laws of any jurisdiction that the Borrower or the Administrative Agent make any withholding or deduction for taxes from amounts payable to such Lender.

 

(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 have any obligation to pay to any Lender, any refund of Taxes withheld or deducted from funds paid for the account of such Lender.  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 the Loan Party an amount equal to such refund (but only to the extent of indemnity payments made, or additional amounts paid, by a 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, and without interest (other than any interest paid by the relevant Governmental Authority with respect to such refund), provided that the Loan Party, upon the request of the Recipient, agrees to repay the amount paid over to the 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 the 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 indemnification payments or additional amounts giving rise to such refund had never been paid.  This subsection shall not be construed to

 

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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)           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 and the repayment, satisfaction and discharge of all other Obligations.

 

b.             Illegality.  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 applicable Lending Office to make, maintain or fund Loans whose interest is determined by reference to LIBOR, or to determine or charge interest rates based upon LIBOR, 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 Borrower through the Administrative Agent, (i) any obligation of such Lender to make or continue LIBOR Loans or to convert Base Rate Committed Loans to LIBOR Loans shall be suspended, and (ii) 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 LIBOR 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 LIBOR component of the Base Rate, in each case until such Lender notifies the Administrative Agent and the Borrower that the circumstances giving rise to such determination no longer exist.  Upon receipt of such notice, (x) the Borrower shall, upon demand from such Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), prepay or, if applicable, convert all LIBOR 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 LIBOR component of the Base Rate), either on the last day of the Interest Period therefor, if such Lender may lawfully continue to maintain such LIBOR Loans to such day, or immediately, if such Lender may not lawfully continue to maintain such LIBOR Loans and (y) if such notice asserts the illegality of such Lender determining or charging interest rates based upon LIBOR, the Administrative Agent shall during the period of such suspension compute the Base Rate applicable to such Lender without reference to the LIBOR 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 LIBOR.  Upon any such prepayment or conversion, the Borrower shall also pay accrued interest on the amount so prepaid or converted.

 

10.03                  Changed Circumstances .

 

(a)            3.03 Inability to Determine Rates .  If the Required Lenders determine that for any reason in Circumstances Affecting LIBOR Rate Availability.  Unless and until a Replacement Rate is implemented in accordance with clause (b) below, in connection with any request for a LIBOR Loan or a conversion to or continuation thereof that (a)  or otherwise, if for any reason (i) the Administrative Agent shall determine (which determination shall be conclusive and binding absent manifest error) that Dollar deposits are not being offered to banks in the London interbank eurodollar Eurodollar market for the applicable amount and Interest Period of such LIBOR Loan, ( b) adequate and ii) the Administrative Agent shall determine (which

 

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determination shall be conclusive and binding absent manifest error) that reasonable and adequate means do not exist for determining ascertaining LIBOR for any requested such Interest Period with respect to a proposed LIBOR Loan or in connection with an existing or proposed Base Rate Loan, or (c)  LIBOR for any requested Interest Period with respect to a proposed LIBOR Loan (iii) the Required Lenders shall determine (which determination shall be conclusive and binding absent manifest error) that the LIBOR does not adequately and fairly reflect the cost to such Lenders of funding making or maintaining such Loan Loans during such Interest Period , then the Administrative Agent will shall promptly so notify give notice thereof to the Borrower and each Lender .  Thereafter, (x) the until the Administrative Agent notifies the Borrower that such circumstances no longer exist, the obligation of the Lenders to make or maintain LIBOR Loans and the right of the Borrower to convert any Loan to or continue any Loan as a LIBOR Loan shall be suspended, and (y) in the event of a determination described in the preceding sentence with respect to the LIBOR component of the Base Rate, the utilization of the LIBOR component in determining the Base Rate shall be suspended, in each case until the Administrative Agent (upon the instruction of the Required Lenders) revokes such notice.  Upon receipt of such notice, the Borrower may revoke any pending request for a Borrowing of, conversion to or continuation of LIBOR Loans or, failing that, will be deemed to have converted such request into a request for a Committed Borrowing of Base Rate Loans in the amount specified therein. the Borrower shall either (A) repay in full (or cause to be repaid in full) the then outstanding principal amount of each such LIBOR Loan together with accrued interest thereon (subject to Section 11.09) , on the last day of the then current Interest Period applicable to such LIBOR Loan; or (B) convert the then outstanding principal amount of each such LIBOR Loan to a Base Rate Loan as of the last day of such Interest Period.

 

(b)                                  Alternative Rate of Interest.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Section 3.03(a)  above, if the Administrative Agent has made the determination (such determination to be conclusive absent manifest error) that (i) the circumstances described in Section 3.03(a)(i)  or (a)(ii)  have arisen and that such circumstances are unlikely to be temporary, (ii) any applicable interest rate specified herein is no longer a widely recognized benchmark rate for newly originated loans in the syndicated loan market in the applicable currency or (iii) the applicable supervisor or administrator (if any) of any applicable interest rate specified herein or any Governmental Authority having, or purporting to have, jurisdiction over the Administrative Agent has made a public statement identifying a specific date after which any applicable interest rate specified herein shall no longer be used for determining interest rates for loans in the syndicated loan market in the applicable currency, then the Administrative Agent may, to the extent practicable (in consultation with the Borrower and as determined by the Administrative Agent to be generally in accordance with similar situations in other transactions in which it is serving as administrative agent or otherwise consistent with market practice generally), establish a replacement interest rate (the “Replacement Rate”), in which case, the Replacement Rate shall, subject to the next two sentences, replace such applicable interest rate for all purposes under the Loan Documents unless and until (A) an event described in Section 3.03(a)(i) , (a)(ii) , (b)(i) , (b)(ii)  or (c)(iii)  occurs with respect to the Replacement Rate or (B) the Required Lenders (directly, or through the Administrative Agent) notify the Borrower that the Replacement Rate does not adequately and fairly reflect the cost to the Lenders of funding the Loans bearing interest at the Replacement Rate; provided that if such determined rate shall be less than zero, such rate shall be

 

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deemed to be zero for each Loan bearing interest at the Replacement Rate that has not been identified by the Borrower in accordance with the terms of this Agreement as being subject to a Specified Swap Contract that provides a hedge against interest rate risk.  In connection with the establishment and application of the Replacement Rate, this Agreement and the other Loan Documents shall be amended solely with the consent of the Administrative Agent and the Borrower, as may be necessary or appropriate, in the opinion of the Administrative Agent, to effect the provisions of this Section 3.03(b) .  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement or the other Loan Documents (including, without limitation, Section 11.01 ), such amendment shall become effective without any further action or consent of any other party to this Agreement so long as the Administrative Agent shall not have received, within five (5) Business Days of the delivery of such amendment to the Lenders, written notices from such Lenders that in the aggregate constitute Required Lenders, with each such notice stating that such Lender objects to such amendment.  To the extent the Replacement Rate is approved by the Administrative Agent in connection with this clause (b), the Replacement Rate shall be applied in a manner consistent with market practice; provided that, in each case, to the extent such market practice is not administratively feasible for the Administrative Agent, such Replacement Rate shall be applied as otherwise reasonably determined by the Administrative Agent (it being understood that any such modification by the Administrative Agent shall not require the consent of, or consultation with, any of the Lenders).

 

d.             Increased Costs; Reserves on LIBOR Loans.

 

(a)            Increased Costs Generally If any Change in Law shall:

 

(ii)            impose, modify or deem applicable any reserve, special deposit, liquidity, compulsory loan, insurance charge or similar assessment or requirement against assets of, deposits with or for the account of, or credit extended or participated in by, the Administrative Agent or any Lender (except any reserve requirement contemplated by Section 3.04(e) );

 

(iii)          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

 

(iv)           impose on the Administrative Agent or any Lender or the London interbank market any other condition, cost or expense affecting this Agreement or LIBOR Loans made by such Lender;

 

and the result of any of the foregoing shall be to increase the cost to the Administrative Agent or such Lender, as applicable, of making, converting, continuing or maintaining any Loan (or of maintaining its obligation to make any such Loan), then the Borrower will pay to the Administrative Agent or such Lender, as applicable, such additional

 

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amount or amounts as will compensate the Administrative Agent or such Lender, as applicable, for such additional costs incurred or reduction suffered.

 

(b)           Capital Requirements. If any Lender determines that any Change in Law affecting such Lender or any Lending Office of such Lender or such Lender’s holding company, if any, regarding capital or liquidity ratios or requirements has or would have the effect of reducing the rate of return on such Lender’s capital or on the capital of such Lender’s holding company, if any, as a consequence of this Agreement, the Loans made by such Lender, to a level below that which such Lender or such Lender’s holding company could have achieved but for such Change in Law (taking into consideration such Lender’s policies and the policies of such Lender’s holding company with respect to capital adequacy and liquidity ), then from time to time the Borrower will pay to such Lender such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender or such Lender’s holding company for any such reduction suffered.

 

(c)           Certificates for Reimbursement .  A certificate of a Lender setting forth the amount or amounts necessary to compensate such Lender or its holding company, as the case may be, as specified in subsection (a)  or (b)  of this Section and delivered to the Borrower shall be conclusive absent manifest error.  The Borrower shall pay such Lender the amount shown as due on any such certificate within fifteen (15) days after receipt thereof.

 

(d)           Delay in Requests .  Failure or delay on the part of any Lender to demand compensation pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this Section shall not constitute a waiver of such Lender’s right to demand such compensation, provided that the Borrower shall not be required to compensate a Lender 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 notifies the Borrower of the Change in Law giving rise to such increased costs or reductions and of such Lender’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).

 

(e)           Reserves on LIBOR Loans .  The Borrower 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 LIBOR 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), which shall be due and payable on each date on which interest is payable on such Loan, provided that the Borrower shall have received at least ten (10) days’ prior notice (with a copy to the Administrative Agent) of such additional interest 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.

 

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e.             Compensation for Losses.  Upon demand of any Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent) from time to time, the Borrower 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 the Borrower (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 the Borrower; or

 

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

 

excluding any loss of anticipated profits and 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 Borrower shall also pay any customary administrative fees charged by such Lender in connection with the foregoing.

 

For purposes of calculating amounts payable by the Borrower to the Lenders under this Section 3.05 , each Lender shall be deemed to have funded each LIBOR Loan made by it at LIBOR for such Loan by a matching deposit or other borrowing in the London interbank eurodollar market for a comparable amount and for a comparable period, whether or not such LIBOR Loan was in fact so funded.

 

f.             Mitigation Obligations; Replacement of the Lenders.

 

(a)           Designation of a Different Lending Office .  If any Lender requests compensation under Section 3.04 , or the Borrower is required to pay any Indemnified Taxes or additional amount to any Lender, or any Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender pursuant to Section 3.01 , or if any Lender gives a notice pursuant to Section 3.02 , then at the request of the Borrower such Lender 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 reasonable judgment of such Lender, 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 to any material unreimbursed cost or expense and would not otherwise be materially disadvantageous to such Lender.  The Borrower hereby agrees to pay all reasonable costs and expenses incurred by any Lender in connection with any such designation or assignment.

 

(b)           Replacement of the Lenders .  If any Lender requests compensation under Section 3.04 , or if the Borrower is required to pay any Indemnified Taxes or additional amounts to any Lender or any Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender pursuant to Section 3.01 and, in each case, such Lender has declined or is unable

 

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to designate a different lending office in accordance with Section 3.06(a) , the Borrower may replace such Lender in accordance with Section 11.13 .

 

g.             Survival.  All of the Borrower’s obligations under this Article III shall survive repayment of all other Obligations hereunder, and resignation of the Administrative Agent.

 

11.         
Unencumbered Properties

 

a.             Initial Unencumbered Properties.  As of the Closing Date, the Initial Unencumbered Properties shall consist of the Properties set forth on Schedule 4.01 .

 

b.             Reserved.

 

c.             Notices of Qualification as an Unencumbered Property.  The Borrower shall provide the Administrative Agent with a written notice of an Acceptable Property to be deemed an Unencumbered Property.

 

d.             Eligibility.  In order for an Acceptable Property to be eligible for inclusion as an Unencumbered Property, such Acceptable Property shall satisfy the following requirements unless otherwise approved by the Required Lenders:

 

(a)           no Material Title Defect with respect to such Acceptable Property shall exist;

 

(b)           such Acceptable Property shall have reasonable access to public utilities; and

 

(c)           such Acceptable Property shall not have any material defects.

 

e.             Reserved.

 

f.             Guaranty.  An Acceptable Property shall not be deemed an Unencumbered Property until the applicable Subsidiary Guarantor shall have executed and delivered (or caused to be executed and delivered) to the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Lenders and any Specified Derivatives Providers, the Subsidiary Guaranty.

 

g.             Admission of New Unencumbered Properties.  If, after the date of this Agreement, the Borrower has submitted to the Administrative Agent the notice contemplated by Section 4.03 , then such Acceptable Property shall be deemed to be an Unencumbered Property.

 

h .             Reserved.

 

i.              Reserved.

 

j.              Exclusion Events.  Each of the following events shall be an “ Exclusion Event ” with respect to an Unencumbered Property:

 

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(a)           such Unencumbered Property suffers a Material Environmental Event or a Material Title Defect after the date of this Agreement which the Administrative Agent determines, acting reasonably and in good faith, materially impairs the Unencumbered Asset Value or marketability of such Unencumbered Property;

 

(b)           the Administrative Agent determines that such Unencumbered Property has suffered a Material Property Event after the date such Property was deemed an Unencumbered Property (or in the case of an uninsured Casualty, in respect of such Unencumbered Property, is reasonably likely to become a Material Property Event) which the Administrative Agent determines, acting reasonably and in good faith, materially impairs the Unencumbered Asset Value or marketability of such Unencumbered Property;

 

(c)           a Lien for the performance of work or the supply of materials which is established against such Unencumbered Property, or any stop notice served on the owner of such Unencumbered Property, the Administrative Agent or a Lender, remains unsatisfied or unbonded for a period of thirty (30) days after the date of filing or service and such Lien has priority over any Loan previously or thereafter made under this Agreement;

 

(d)           (i) any default by any Subsidiary Guarantor, as tenant under any applicable Acceptable Ground Lease, in the observance or performance of any material term, covenant, or condition of any applicable Acceptable Ground Lease on the part of such Subsidiary Guarantor to be observed or performed and said default is not cured following the expiration of any applicable grace and notice periods therein provided, or (ii)  the leasehold estate created by any applicable Acceptable Ground Lease shall be surrendered or (iii)  any applicable Acceptable Ground Lease shall cease to be in full force and effect or (iv) any applicable Acceptable Ground Lease shall be terminated or canceled for any reason or under any circumstances whatsoever, or any of the material terms, covenants or conditions of any applicable Acceptable Ground Lease shall be modified, changed, supplemented, altered, or amended in any manner not otherwise permitted hereunder without the consent of the Administrative Agent; and

 

(e)           the Borrower shall cease to own, directly or indirectly, one hundred percent (100%) of the Equity Interests of any Subsidiary Guarantor that owns an Unencumbered Property free and clear of any Liens (other than Liens in favor of the Administrative Agent).

 

After the occurrence of any Exclusion Event, the Administrative Agent, at the direction of the Required Lenders in their sole discretion, shall have the right at any time and from time to time to notify the Borrower (the “ Exclusion Notice ”) that, effective ten (10) Business Days after the giving of such notice and for so long as such Exclusion Event exists, such Property shall no longer be considered an Unencumbered Property.

 

If the Administrative Agent delivers an Exclusion Notice and such Exclusion Event no longer exists, then the Borrower may give the Administrative Agent written notice thereof (together with reasonably detailed evidence of the cure of such condition) and such Unencumbered

 

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Property shall be considered an Unencumbered Property as long as such Unencumbered Property meets all the requirements to be deemed an Unencumbered Property set forth in this Article IV.  Any Property that is excluded from the Unencumbered Properties pursuant to this Section 4.10 may subsequently be reinstated as an Unencumbered Property, even if an Exclusion Event exists, upon such terms and conditions as the Required Lenders may approve.

 

Upon the occurrence of an Default under Section 8.11(a) , the Borrower shall have the right to elect, upon written notice to the Administrative Agent, that the Lenders designate one or more Unencumbered Properties to be excluded as Unencumbered Properties in order to effect compliance with Section 8.11(a) , with the Borrower thereafter having the right to elect to have any such Unencumbered Property thereafter deemed an Unencumbered Property, provided no Exclusion Event shall exist at such time with respect to such Unencumbered Property.

 

4.11 Reserved .

 

12.         
Conditions Precedent to Credit Extensions

 

a.             Conditions of Initial Credit Extension.  The obligation of each Lender to make its initial Credit Extension hereunder is subject to satisfaction of the following conditions precedent:

 

(a)           The Administrative Agent’s receipt of the following, each of which shall be originals or telecopies (followed promptly by originals) unless otherwise specified, each properly executed by a Responsible Officer of the signing Loan Party, each dated the Closing Date (or, in the case of certificates of governmental officials, a recent date before the Closing Date) and each in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and each of the Lenders:

 

(i)            executed counterparts of this Agreement and reaffirmations to the Guaranties sufficient in number for distribution to the Administrative Agent, each Lender, and the Borrower for each Initial Unencumbered Property;

 

(ii)           a Note executed by the Borrower in favor of each Lender requesting a Note;

 

(iii)          copies of the Organization Documents of each Loan Party certified to be true and complete by the appropriate Governmental Authority of the state or other jurisdiction of its incorporation or organization, where applicable, and certified by a Responsible Officer of such Loan Party to be true and correct as of the Closing Date;

 

(iv)          such certificates of resolutions or other action, incumbency certificates and/or other certificates of Responsible Officers of each Loan Party as the Administrative Agent may require evidencing the identity, authority and capacity of each Responsible Officer thereof authorized to act as a Responsible Officer in connection with this Agreement and the other Loan Documents to which such Loan Party is a party;

 

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(v)           such documents and certifications as the Administrative Agent may reasonably require to evidence that each of the Borrower, the Parent and STAG Industrial GP, LLC are duly organized or formed, and that the Borrower, the Parent and STAG Industrial GP, LLC are validly existing, in good standing and qualified to engage in business in each jurisdiction where its ownership, lease or operation of properties or the conduct of its business requires such qualification, except to the extent that failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;

 

(vi)          a favorable opinion of DLA Piper LLP (US), counsel to the Loan Parties, addressed to the Administrative Agent and each Lender, as to the matters set forth in Exhibit G and such other matters concerning the Borrower, the Parent and STAG Industrial GP, LLC and the Loan Documents as the Required Lenders may reasonably request;

 

(vii)         a certificate of a Responsible Officer of each Loan Party either (A) attaching copies of all consents, licenses and approvals required in connection with the execution, delivery and performance by such Loan Party and the validity against such Loan Party of the Loan Documents to which it is a party, and such consents, licenses and approvals shall be in full force and effect, or (B) stating that no such consents, licenses or approvals are so required;

 

(viii)        a certificate signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower certifying (A) that the conditions specified in Sections 5.02(a)  and (b)  have been satisfied, and (B) that there has been no event or circumstance since the date of the Audited Financial Statements that has had or could be reasonably expected to have, either individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect;

 

(ix)          a duly completed Compliance Certificate as of the Closing Date, signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower;

 

(x)           evidence that all insurance required to be maintained pursuant to the Loan Documents has been obtained and is in effect;

 

(xi)          a Disbursement Instruction Agreement effective as of the Agreement Date; and

 

(xii)         such other assurances, certificates, documents, consents or opinions as the Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders reasonably may require.

 

(b)           Any fees required to be paid on or before the Closing Date shall have been paid.

 

(c)           Unless waived by the Administrative Agent, the Borrower shall have paid all fees, charges and disbursements of counsel to the Administrative Agent (directly to such counsel if requested by the Administrative Agent) to the extent invoiced prior to the Closing Date, plus such additional amounts of such fees, charges and disbursements as

 

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shall constitute its reasonable estimate of such fees, charges and disbursements incurred or to be incurred by it through the closing proceedings ( provided that such estimate shall not thereafter preclude a final settling of accounts between the Borrower and the Administrative Agent).

 

Without limiting the generality of the provisions of the last paragraph of Section 10.03 , for purposes of determining compliance with the conditions specified in this Section 5.01 , 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.

 

b.             Conditions to all Credit Extensions.  The obligation of each Lender to honor any Request for Credit Extension (other than a Committed Loan Notice requesting only a conversion of Committed Loans to the other Type, or a continuation of LIBOR Loans) is subject to the following conditions precedent:

 

(a)           The representations and warranties of the Borrower and each other Loan Party contained in Article VI or any other Loan Document, or which are contained in any document furnished at any time under or in connection herewith or therewith, shall be true and correct in all material respects (except in the case of a representation or warranty qualified by materiality or Material Adverse Effect, in which case such representation or warranty shall be true and correct in all respects) on and as of the date of such Credit Extension, except to the extent that such representations and warranties specifically refer to an earlier date, in which case they shall be true and correct in all material respects (except in the case of a representation or warranty qualified by materiality or Material Adverse Effect, in which case such representation or warranty shall be true and correct in all respects) as of such earlier date, and except that for purposes of this Section   5.02 , the representations and warranties contained in Section 6.05(b)  shall be deemed to refer to the most-recent statements furnished pursuant to Section 7.01(b) .

 

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

 

(c)           The Administrative Agent shall have received a Request for Credit Extension in accordance with the requirements hereof.

 

(d)           After giving effect to such proposed Credit Extension, the Borrower shall be in compliance with Section 2.01(c) .

 

Each Request for Credit Extension (other than a Committed Loan Notice requesting only a conversion of Committed Loans to the other Type or a continuation of LIBOR Loans) submitted by the Borrower shall be deemed to be a representation and warranty that the conditions specified in Sections   5.02(a) , (b) , and (d)  have been satisfied on and as of the date of the applicable Credit Extension.

 

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13.         
Representations and Warranties

 

Each of the Parent and the Borrower represents and warrants to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders that:

 

a.             Existence, Qualification and Power; Compliance with Laws.  The Parent, the Borrower and each Subsidiary Guarantor (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) in the case of the Loan Parties, 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 (b)(i)  or (c)  to the extent that failure to do so would not have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

b.             Authorization; No Contravention.  The execution, delivery and performance by each Loan Party of each Loan Document to which such Person is 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 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.

 

c.             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 the execution, delivery or performance by, or enforcement against, any Loan Party of this Agreement or any other Loan Document except for those that have been obtained, taken or made, as the case may be, and those specified herein.

 

d.             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, except as enforcement may be limited by Debtor Relief Laws or general equitable principles relating to or limiting creditors’ rights generally.

 

e.             Financial Statements; No Material Adverse Effect.

 

(a)           The Audited Financial Statements (i) were prepared in accordance with GAAP consistently applied throughout the period covered thereby, except as otherwise

 

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expressly noted therein; (ii) fairly present the financial condition of the Parent as of the date thereof and their results of operations for each period covered thereby in accordance with GAAP consistently applied throughout the each period covered thereby, except as otherwise expressly noted therein; and (iii) show all material indebtedness and other liabilities, direct or contingent, of the Parent as of the date thereof, including liabilities for taxes, material commitments and Indebtedness required by GAAP to be reflected therein.

 

(b)           The most recent unaudited consolidated balance sheet of the Parent delivered pursuant to Section 7.01(b) , 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 the financial condition of the Parent as of the date thereof and its results of operations 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)           From and after the date of the Audited Financial Statements, and thereafter, from and after the date of the most recent financial statements delivered pursuant to Section 7.01(a)  or 7.01(b), there has been no event or circumstance, either individually or in the aggregate, that has had or would have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

f.             Litigation.  There are no actions, suits, proceedings, claims or disputes pending or, to the knowledge of any Company, threatened or contemplated, at law, in equity, in arbitration or before any Governmental Authority, by or against any Company 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) except as specifically disclosed in Schedule 6.06 , either individually or in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, and there has been no adverse change in the status, or financial effect on any Company, of the matters described on Schedule 6.06 , which change could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

g.             No Default.  No Company is in default under or with respect 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.

 

h.             Ownership of Property; Liens; Equity Interests.  Each Subsidiary Guarantor has good record and marketable title in fee simple to, or valid leasehold interests in, all Unencumbered Properties 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.  Each applicable Subsidiary Guarantor has good record and marketable fee simple title (or, in the case of Acceptable Ground Leases, a valid leasehold) to the Unencumbered Property owned by such Subsidiary Guarantor, subject only to Liens permitted by Section 8.01 .  All of the outstanding Equity Interests in each Subsidiary Guarantor have been validly issued, are fully paid and non-assessable and are owned by the applicable holders free and clear of all Liens (other than Liens permitted by Section 8.01 ).

 

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i.              Environmental Compliance.

 

(a)           The Companies conduct in the ordinary course of business a review of 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 Parent and the Borrower have reasonably concluded that, except as specifically disclosed in Schedule 6.09 , such Environmental Laws and claims could not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(b)           After due inquiry in accordance with good commercial or customary practices to determine whether Contamination is present on any Property, without regard to whether the Administrative Agent or any Lender has or hereafter obtains any knowledge or report of the environmental condition of such Property, except as may be indicated in environmental reports delivered to the Administrative Agent and except to the extent the same could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect: (i) such Property has not been used (A) for landfilling, dumping, or other waste or Hazardous Material disposal activities or operations, or (B) for generation, storage, use, sale, treatment, processing, or recycling of any Hazardous Material, or for any other use that has resulted in Contamination, and in each case, to each Company’s knowledge, no such use on any adjacent property occurred at any time prior to the date hereof; (ii) there is no Hazardous Material, storage tank (or similar vessel) whether underground or otherwise, sump or well currently on any Property; (iii) no Company has received any notice of, or has knowledge of, any Environmental Claim or any completed, pending, proposed or threatened investigation or inquiry concerning the presence or release of any Hazardous Material on any Property or any adjacent property or concerning whether any condition, use or activity on any Property or any adjacent property is in violation of any Environmental Requirement; (iv) the present conditions, uses, and activities on each Property do not violate any Environmental Requirement and the use of any Property which any Company (and each tenant and subtenant) makes and intends to make of any Property complies and will comply with all applicable Environmental Requirements; (v) no Property appears on the National Priorities List, any federal or state “superfund” or “superlien” list, or any other list or database of properties maintained by any local, state, or federal agency or department showing properties which are known to contain or which are suspected of containing a Hazardous Material; (vi) no Company has ever applied for and been denied environmental impairment liability insurance coverage relating to any Property; (vii) no Company has, nor, to any Company’s knowledge, have any tenants or subtenants, obtained any permit or authorization to construct, occupy, operate, use, or conduct any activity on any Property by reason of any Environmental Requirement; and (viii) to any Company’s knowledge, there are no underground or aboveground storage tanks on such Property.

 

j.              Insurance.  The properties of the Loan Parties are insured with financially sound and reputable insurance companies not Affiliates of any Loan Party, 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 Loan Parties operate.

 

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k.             Taxes.  The Companies have filed all material Federal, state and other tax returns and reports required to be filed, and have paid all material Federal, state and other 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 or which would not result in a Material Adverse Effect.  There is no proposed tax assessment against any Company that would, if made, have a Material Adverse Effect. Neither any Loan Party nor any Subsidiary thereof is party to any tax sharing agreement.

 

l.              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.  Each Pension Plan that is intended to be a qualified plan under Section 401(a)  of the Code has received a favorable determination letter from the Internal Revenue Service 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 Internal Revenue Service 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 Internal Revenue Service.  To the best knowledge of the Parent and the Borrower, nothing has occurred that would prevent or cause the loss of such tax-qualified status.  The Parent and each ERISA Affiliate have made all required contributions to each Plan subject to Section 412 of the Code, and no application for a funding waiver or an extension of any amortization period pursuant to Section 412 of the Code has been made with respect to any Plan.

 

(b)           There are no pending or, to the best knowledge of the Parent and the Borrower, threatened claims, actions or lawsuits, or action by any Governmental Authority, with respect to any Plan that would have a Material Adverse Effect.  There has been no prohibited transaction or violation of the fiduciary responsibility rules with respect to any Plan that has resulted or would have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(c)           (i) No ERISA Event has occurred, and neither the Parent nor any ERISA Affiliate is aware of any fact, event or circumstance that would constitute or result in an ERISA Event with respect to any Pension Plan; (ii) the Parent and each ERISA Affiliate has met all applicable requirements under the Pension Funding Rules in respect of each Pension Plan, and no waiver of the minimum funding standards under the Pension Funding Rules has been applied for or obtained; (iii) as of the most-recent valuation date for any Pension Plan, the funding target attainment percentage (as defined in Section 430(d)(2)  of the Code) is 60% or higher and neither the Parent nor any ERISA Affiliate knows of any facts or circumstances that would cause the funding target attainment percentage for any such plan to drop below 60% as of the most-recent valuation date; (iv) neither the Parent nor any ERISA Affiliate has incurred any liability to the PBGC other than for the payment of premiums, and there are no premium payments which have become due that are unpaid; (v) neither the Parent nor any ERISA Affiliate has engaged in a transaction that could be subject to Section 4069 or Section 4212(c)  of ERISA; and (vi) no Pension Plan has been terminated by the plan

 

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administrator thereof nor by the PBGC, and no event or circumstance has occurred or exists that would cause the PBGC to institute proceedings under Title IV of ERISA to terminate any Pension Plan, in each case, that would result in a liability, individually, or in the aggregate, in excess of the Threshold Amount.

 

(d)                                  As of the Second Amendment Effective Date the Borrower is not nor will be using “plan assets” (within the meaning of 29 CFR § 2510.3-101, as modified by Section 3(42) of ERISA) of one or more Benefit Plans in connection with the Loans or the Commitments.

 

m.           Subsidiaries; Equity Interests.  As of the Closing Date, the Parent and the Borrower have no Subsidiaries other than those specifically disclosed in Part (a) of Schedule 6.13 , and all of the outstanding Equity Interests in such Subsidiaries have been validly issued, are fully paid and non-assessable and are owned by a Company in the amounts specified on Part (a) of Schedule   6.13 free and clear of all Liens.  As of the Closing Date, neither the Parent nor the Borrower has any direct or indirect Equity Interests in any other Person other than those specifically disclosed in Part (b) of Schedule   6.13 .  All of the outstanding Equity Interests in each Subsidiary Guarantor have been validly issued, are fully paid and non-assessable and are owned by the applicable holders in the amounts specified on Part (c) of Schedule   6.13 free and clear of all Liens.

 

n.             Margin Regulations; Investment Company Act.

 

(a)           Neither the Parent nor the Borrower is 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.

 

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

 

o.             Disclosure.

 

(a)            The Parent and the Borrower have disclosed to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders all agreements, instruments and corporate or other restrictions to which any Company is subject, and all other matters known to them, that, individually or in the aggregate, would have a Material Adverse Effect.  The reports, financial statements, certificates or other information furnished (whether in writing or orally) by or on behalf of any Company 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), taken as a whole, do not contain any material misstatement of fact or fail to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided that (a) with respect to projected financial information, the Parent and the Borrower represent only that such information was prepared in good faith based upon

 

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assumptions believed to be reasonable at the time made, and (b) with respect to any lease abstracts provided by the Borrower, to the best of the Borrower’s knowledge, same will not contain any material misstatement of fact or fail to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

 

(b)            As of Second Amendment Effective Date, the information included in the Beneficial Ownership Certification is true and correct in all respects.

 

p.             Compliance with Laws.  Each Company is in compliance in all material respects 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, would have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

q.             Taxpayer Identification Number.  As of the date hereof, each Loan Party’s true and correct U.S. taxpayer identification number is set forth on Schedule 11.02 .

 

r.              Intellectual Property; Licenses, Etc.  Each Loan Party owns, or possesses the right to use, all of the trademarks, service marks, trade names, copyrights, patents, patent rights, franchises, licenses and other intellectual property rights (collectively, “ IP Rights ”) that are reasonably necessary for the operation of their respective businesses, without conflict with the rights of any other Person except, in each case, where the failure to do so would have a Material Adverse Effect.  To the best knowledge of each Loan Party, 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 infringes upon any rights held by any other Person except where such infringement would not have a Material Adverse Effect.  Except as specifically disclosed in Schedule 6.18 , no claim or litigation regarding any of the foregoing is pending or, to the best knowledge of each Loan Party, threatened, which, either individually or in the aggregate, would have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

s.             Reserved .

 

t.              Solvency.  No Loan Party (a) has entered into the transaction or executed this Agreement or any other Loan Document with the actual intent to hinder, delay or defraud any creditor and (b) has not received reasonably equivalent value in exchange for its obligations under the Loan Documents.  After giving effect to any Loan, the fair saleable value of the Loan Parties’ assets, taken as a whole, exceeds and will, immediately following the making of any such Loan, exceed the Loan Parties’ total liabilities, including subordinated, unliquidated, disputed and contingent liabilities.  The Loan Parties’ assets, taken as a whole, do not constitute unreasonably small capital to carry out their business as conducted or as proposed to be conducted, nor will their assets constitute unreasonably small capital immediately following the making of any Loan.  The Loan Parties do not intend to incur debt and liabilities (including contingent liabilities and other commitments) beyond their ability to pay such debt and liabilities as they mature (taking into account the timing and amounts of cash to be received by the Loan Parties and the amounts to be payable on or in respect of obligations of the Loan Parties).  No

 

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petition under any Debtor Relief Laws has been filed against any Loan Party in the last seven (7) years, and neither the Borrower nor any other Loan Party in the last seven (7) years has ever made an assignment for the benefit of creditors or taken advantage of any insolvency act for the benefit of debtors.  No Loan Party is contemplating either the filing of a petition by it under any Debtor Relief Laws or the liquidation of all or a major portion of its assets or property (except for dispositions permitted hereunder), and no Loan Party has knowledge of any Person contemplating the filing of any such petition against it or any other Loan Party.

 

u.             REIT Status of the Parent.  The Parent qualified as a REIT commencing with its taxable year ending December 31, 2013 and will remain qualified in each taxable year thereafter.

 

v.             Labor Matters.  There is (a) no significant unfair labor practice complaint pending against any Company or, to the best of each Company’s knowledge, threatened against any Company, before the National Labor Relations Board, and no significant grievance or significant arbitration proceeding arising out of or under any collective bargaining agreement is pending on the date hereof against any Company or, to best of any Company’s knowledge, threatened against any Company which, in either case, would result in a Material Adverse Effect, and (b) no significant strike, labor dispute, slowdown or stoppage is pending against any Company or, to the best of any Company’s knowledge, threatened against any Company which would result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

w.            Ground Lease Representation.

 

(a)           The applicable Subsidiary Guarantor has delivered to the Administrative Agent true and correct copies of each Acceptable Ground Lease to the extent requested by the Administrative Agent.

 

(b)           Each Acceptable Ground Lease is in full force and effect.

 

x.             Unencumbered Properties .  To the Borrower’s knowledge and except where the failure of any of the following to be true and correct would not have a Material Adverse Effect:

 

(a)           Each Unencumbered Property complies with all Laws, including all subdivision and platting requirements, without reliance on any adjoining or neighboring property.  No Loan Party has received any notice or claim from any Person that an Unencumbered Property, or any use, activity, operation, or maintenance thereof or thereon, is not in compliance with any Law, and has no knowledge of any such noncompliance except as disclosed in writing to the Administrative Agent;

 

(b)           The Loan Parties have not directly or indirectly conveyed, assigned, or otherwise disposed of, or transferred (or agreed to do so) any development rights, air rights, or other similar rights, privileges, or attributes with respect to an Unencumbered Property, including those arising under any zoning or property use ordinance or other Laws;

 

(c)           All utility services necessary for the use of each Unencumbered Property and the operation thereof for their intended purpose are available at each Unencumbered Property;

 

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(d)           The current use of each Unencumbered Property complies in all material respects with all applicable zoning ordinances, regulations, and restrictive covenants affecting such Unencumbered Property, all use restrictions of any Governmental Authority having jurisdiction have been satisfied; and

 

(e)           No Unencumbered Property is the subject of any pending or, to any Loan Party’s knowledge, threatened Condemnation or material adverse zoning proceeding for which the Administrative Agent has not been notified in accordance with Section 7.03(f) .

 

y.             OFAC.   No Loan Party, nor, to the knowledge of any Loan Party, any Related Party, (i) is currently the subject of any Sanctions, (ii) is located, organized or residing in any Designated Jurisdiction, or (iii) is or has been (within the previous five (5) years) engaged in any transaction with any Person who is now or was then the subject of Sanctions or who is located, organized or residing in any Designated Jurisdiction.  No Loan, nor the proceeds from any Loan, has been used, directly or indirectly, to lend, contribute, provide or has otherwise made available to fund any activity or business in any Designated Jurisdiction or to fund any activity or business of any Person located, organized or residing in any Designated Jurisdiction or who is the subject of any Sanctions, or in any other manner that will result in any violation by any Person (including any Lender, the Lead Arranger or the Administrative Agent) of Sanctions.  Each Loan Party, their respective officers and, to the knowledge of the Parent and the Borrower, its respective directors, employees and agents and any Related Party, are in compliance with Anti-Corruption Laws and applicable Sanctions in all material respects. No Credit Extension, use of the proceeds of any Credit Extension, or other transactions contemplated hereby will violate Anti-Corruption Laws or applicable Sanctions.  Neither the making of the Credit Extensions hereunder nor the use of the proceeds thereof will violate the Patriot Act, the Trading with the Enemy Act, as amended, or any of the foreign assets control regulations of the United States Treasury Department (31 C.F.R., Subtitle B, Chapter V, as amended) or any enabling legislation or executive order relating thereto or successor statute thereto. Each Loan Party is in compliance in all material respects with the Patriot Act.

 

z.             EEA Financial Institutions.                No Loan Party is an EEA Financial Institution.

 

14.         
Affirmative Covenants

 

So long as any Loan or other Obligation hereunder (excluding contingent indemnification obligations to the extent no unsatisfied claim giving rise thereto has been asserted) shall remain unpaid or unsatisfied:

 

a.             Financial Statements.  Each of the Parent and the Borrower shall deliver to the Administrative Agent and each Lender, in form and detail reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the Required Lenders:

 

(a)           as soon as available, but in any event within one hundred five (105) days after the end of each fiscal year of the Parent (or, if earlier, fifteen (15) days after the date required to be filed with the SEC without giving effect to any extension permitted by the SEC) (commencing with the fiscal year ending December 31, 2016, a consolidated

 

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balance sheet of the Parent 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, all in reasonable detail and prepared in accordance with GAAP, such consolidated statements to be audited and accompanied by a report and opinion of an independent certified public accountant of nationally recognized standing reasonably acceptable to the Required Lenders, 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; and

 

(b)                                  as soon as available, but in any event within sixty (60) days after the end of each of the first three (3) fiscal quarters of each fiscal year of the Parent (or, if earlier, five (5) days after the date required to be filed with the SEC) (commencing with the fiscal quarter ending March 31, 2017), a consolidated balance sheet of the Parent, the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as at the end of such fiscal quarter, the related consolidated statements of income or operations for such fiscal quarter and for the portion of the Parent’s fiscal year then ended, and the related consolidated statements of changes in shareholders’ equity, and cash flows for the portion of the Parent’s fiscal year then ended, in each case setting forth in comparative form, as applicable, the figures for the corresponding fiscal quarter of the previous fiscal year and the corresponding portion of the previous fiscal year, all in reasonable detail, such consolidated statements to be certified by the chief executive officer, chief financial officer, treasurer or controller of the Parent as fairly presenting the financial condition, results of operations, shareholders’ equity and cash flows of the Parent in accordance with GAAP, subject only to normal year-end audit adjustments and the absence of footnotes

 

As to any information contained in materials furnished pursuant to Section 7.02 , the Parent and the Borrower shall not be separately required to furnish such information under clause (a)  or (b)  above, but the foregoing shall not be in derogation of the obligation of the Parent and the Borrower to furnish the information and materials described in clauses (a)  and (b)  above at the times specified therein.

 

b.                                       Certificates; Other Information.  Each of the Parent and the Borrower shall deliver to the Administrative Agent and each Lender, in form and detail reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the Required Lenders:

 

(a)                                  concurrently with the delivery of the financial statements referred to in Sections 7.01(a)  and (b) , a duly completed Compliance Certificate signed by the chief executive officer, chief financial officer, chief accounting officer, treasurer or controller of the Borrower (which delivery may, unless the Administrative Agent or a Lender requests executed originals, be by electronic communication including fax or email and shall be deemed to be an original authentic counterpart thereof for all purposes);

 

(b)                                  promptly after any request by the Administrative Agent, copies of any detailed audit opinions or review reports submitted to the board of directors (or the audit

 

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committee of the board of directors) of the Parent by independent accountants in connection with the accounts or books of the Parent;

 

(c)                                   promptly after the same are available, copies of each annual report, proxy or financial statement or other report or communication sent to the stockholders of the Parent, and copies of all annual, regular, periodic and special reports and registration statements which the Borrower may file or be required to file with the SEC under Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and not otherwise required to be delivered to the Administrative Agent pursuant hereto;

 

(d)                                  promptly after the furnishing thereof, copies of any statement or report furnished to any holder of publicly-held debt securities of the Parent or the Borrower 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 7.01 or any other clause of this Section 7.02 ;

 

(e)                                   promptly, and in any event within five (5) Business Days after receipt thereof by the Parent or the Borrower, copies of each notice or other correspondence received from the SEC (or comparable agency in any applicable non-U.S. jurisdiction) concerning any material investigation or other material inquiry by such agency regarding financial or other operational results of any Company unless restricted from doing so by such agency; and

 

(f)                                    promptly, such additional information regarding the business, financial or corporate affairs of the Parent or the Borrower or any Unencumbered Property, 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 7.01(a)  or (b)  or Section 7.02(c)  (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 (i) on which the Parent or the Borrower (A) files any such document with the Securities and Exchange Commission’s EDGAR system (or any successor thereto) in a manner accessible to the public at large or (B) posts such documents, or provides a link thereto on the Parent and the Borrower’s website on the Internet at the website address listed on Schedule 11.02 ; or (ii) on which such documents are posted on the Parent and the Borrower’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). 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 and the Borrower 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.

 

The Parent and the Borrower hereby acknowledge that (a) the Administrative Agent and/or the Lead Arranger will make available to the Lenders materials and/or information provided by or on behalf of the Parent and the Borrower hereunder (collectively, the “ Borrower

 

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Materials ”) by posting the Borrower Materials on IntraLinks, SyndTrak or another similar electronic system (the “ Platform ”) and (b) certain of the Lenders (each, a “ Public Lender ”) may have personnel who do not wish to receive material non-public information with respect to the Parent, the Borrower or their Affiliates, or the respective Equity Interests of any of the foregoing, and who may be engaged in investment and other market-related activities with respect to such Persons’ Equity Interests. The Parent and the Borrower hereby agree that (w) all the Borrower Materials that are to be made available to the Public Lenders shall be clearly and conspicuously marked “PUBLIC” which, at a minimum, shall mean that the word “PUBLIC” shall appear prominently on the first page thereof; (x) by marking the Borrower Materials “PUBLIC,” the Parent and the Borrower shall be deemed to have authorized the Administrative Agent, the Lead Arranger and the Lenders to treat such Borrower Materials as not containing any material non-public information with respect to the Parent and the Borrower or their Equity Interests for purposes of United States Federal and state securities laws (provided that to the extent such Borrower Materials constitute Information, they shall be treated as set forth in Section 11.07 ); (y) all the Borrower Materials marked “PUBLIC” are permitted to be made available through a portion of the Platform designated “Public Side Information;” and (z) the Administrative Agent and the Lead Arranger shall be entitled to treat any the Borrower Materials that are not marked “PUBLIC” as being suitable only for posting on a portion of the Platform not designated “Public Side Information.”

 

c.                                        Notices.  Each of the Parent and the Borrower shall, upon becoming aware of same, promptly notify the Administrative Agent who shall notify each Lender:

 

(a)                                  of the occurrence of any Default;

 

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

 

(c)                                   of the occurrence of any ERISA Event which has resulted or would result in liabilities of any Company in an aggregate amount in excess of the Threshold Amount;

 

(d)                                  of any material litigation, arbitration or governmental investigation or proceeding instituted or threatened in writing against any Unencumbered Property, and any material development therein;

 

(e)                                   of any announcement by Moody’s, Fitch or S&P of any change in a Debt Rating or in its “outlook” with respect to a Debt Rating;

 

(f)                                    of any actual or threatened in writing Condemnation or zoning proceeding of any portion of any Unencumbered Property, any negotiations with respect to any such taking, or any material loss of or substantial damage to any Unencumbered Property, in each case, except to the extent that the same could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;

 

(g)                                   of any Casualty with respect to any Unencumbered Property except to the extent that the same could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;

 

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(h)                                  of any material permit, license, certificate or approval required with respect to any Unencumbered Property that lapses or ceases to be in full force and effect or any claim from any person that any Unencumbered Property, or any use, activity, operation or maintenance thereof or thereon, is not in compliance with any Law, in each case, except to the extent that the same could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;

 

(i)                                      of any material change in accounting policies or financial reporting practices by any Company, including any determination by the Borrower referred to in Section 2.10(b) ; and

 

(j)                                     of any labor controversy pending or threatened against any Company, and any material development in any labor controversy except to the extent that the same could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

Each notice pursuant to this Section 7.03   shall be accompanied by a statement of a Responsible Officer of the Parent and the Borrower setting forth details of the occurrence referred to therein and stating what action the Parent and/or the Borrower has taken and proposes to take with respect thereto.  Each notice pursuant to Section 7.03(a)  shall describe with particularity any and all provisions of this Agreement and any other Loan Document that have been breached.

 

d.                                       Payment of Obligations.  Each of the Parent and the Borrower shall, and shall cause each other Loan Party to, pay and discharge as the same shall become due and payable, all its obligations and liabilities, including: (a) all tax liabilities, assessments and governmental charges or levies upon a Loan Party or its properties or assets, 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 such Loan Party; (b) all lawful claims which, if unpaid, would by law become a Lien upon its property other than Liens of the type permitted under Sections 8.01(a)  through (g) ; and (c) all Indebtedness, as and when due and payable except, in each case, where the failure to do so would not result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

e.                                        Preservation of Existence, Etc.  Each of the Parent and the Borrower shall, and shall cause each other Loan Party to (a) preserve, renew and maintain in full force and effect its legal existence and good standing under the Laws of the jurisdiction of its organization except in a transaction permitted by Section 8.04 ; (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 would not have a Material Adverse Effect; and (c) preserve or renew all of its IP Rights, the non-preservation of which would have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

f.                                         Maintenance of Properties.  Each of the Parent and the Borrower shall, and shall cause each other Company to (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 except to the extent the failure to do so would not result in a Material Adverse Effect; (b) make all necessary repairs thereto and renewals and replacements thereof except where the failure to do so would not have a Material Adverse Effect; (c) use the standard of care typical in the industry in

 

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the operation and maintenance of its (i) Unencumbered Properties, and, (ii) as to its other Properties except where the failure to do so would not have a Material Adverse Effect; and (d) keep the Unencumbered Properties in good order, repair, operating condition, and appearance, causing all necessary repairs, renewals, replacements, additions, and improvements to be promptly made, and not allow any of the Unencumbered Properties to be misused, abused or wasted or to deteriorate (ordinary wear and tear excepted) except where the failure to do so would not have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

g.                                        Maintenance of Insurance.  Each of the Parent and the Borrower shall, and shall cause each other Company to, maintain with financially sound and reputable insurance companies not Affiliates of any Company, insurance (including flood insurance if available or required) 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.

 

h.                                       Compliance with Laws ; Beneficial Ownership Regulations .  Each of the Parent and the Borrower shall, and shall cause each other Subsidiary Guarantor to, (a)  comply in all material respects with the requirements of all Laws (including without limitation Anti-Corruption Laws and applicable Sanctions) and all orders, writs, injunctions and decrees applicable to it or to its business or property, except in such instances in which ( a i ) such requirement of Law or order, writ, injunction or decree is being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted; or ( b ii ) the failure to comply therewith would not have a Material Adverse Effect . , (b) notify the Administrative Agent and each Lender that previously received a Beneficial Ownership Certification of any change in the information provided in the Beneficial Ownership Certification that would result in a change to the list of beneficial owners identified therein and (c) promptly upon the reasonable request of the Administrative Agent or any Lender, provide the Administrative Agent or such Lender, as the case may be, any information or documentation requested by it for purposes of complying with the Beneficial Ownership Regulation.

 

i.                                           Books and Records.  Each of the Parent and the Borrower shall, and shall cause each other Company to: (a) 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 each Company, as the case may be; and (b) maintain such books of record and account in material conformity with all applicable requirements of any Governmental Authority having regulatory jurisdiction over any Company, as the case may be.

 

j.                                          Inspection Rights.  Subject to the rights of tenants, each of the Parent and the Borrower shall, and shall cause each other Loan Party to, permit representatives and independent contractors of the Administrative Agent and each Lender, at the expense of the Administrative Agent or such Lender, to visit and inspect and photograph any Unencumbered Property and any of its other properties, to examine its corporate, financial and operating records, and all recorded data of any kind or nature, regardless of the medium of recording including all software, writings, plans, specifications and schematics, and make copies thereof or abstracts therefrom, and to discuss its affairs, finances and accounts with its officers all at the expense of the

 

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Borrower and at such reasonable times during normal business hours, upon reasonable advance notice to the applicable Loan Party and no more often than once in any period of twelve (12) consecutive months unless an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing; provided that when an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing 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 Borrower at any time during normal business hours and without advance notice, subject to the rights of tenants.  Any inspection or audit of the Unencumbered Properties or the books and records, including recorded data of any kind or nature, regardless of the medium of recording including software, writings, plans, specifications and schematics of any Loan Party, or the procuring of documents and financial and other information, by the Administrative Agent on behalf of itself or on behalf of the Lenders shall be for the Administrative Agent’s and the Lenders’ protection only, and shall not constitute any assumption of responsibility to any Loan Party or anyone else with regard to the condition, construction, maintenance or operation of the Unencumbered Properties nor the Administrative Agent’s approval of any certification given to the Administrative Agent nor relieve any Loan Party of the Borrower’s or any other Loan Party’s obligations.

 

k.                                       Use of Proceeds.  Each of the Parent and the Borrower shall, and shall cause each other Company to, use the proceeds of the Credit Extensions (a) to refinance the obligations of the Companies under existing facilities, (b) to finance the acquisition of Properties, (c) to pay operating and leasing expenses with respect to its Properties, and (d) for general corporate purposes, in each case, not in contravention of any Law or of any Loan Document.

 

l.                                           Environmental Matters.  Each of the Parent and the Borrower shall, and shall cause each other Loan Party to:

 

(a)                                  Violations; Notice to the Administrative Agent .  Use reasonable efforts to:

 

(i)                                      Keep the Unencumbered Properties free of Contamination, except to the extent that any failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;

 

(ii)                                   Promptly deliver to the Administrative Agent a copy of each report pertaining to any Property or to any Loan Party prepared by or on behalf of such Loan Party pursuant to a material violation of any Environmental Requirement to the extent that the same could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; and

 

(iii)                                As soon as practicable advise the Administrative Agent in writing of any Environmental Claim or of the discovery of any Contamination on any Unencumbered Property that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, as soon as any Loan Party first obtains knowledge thereof, including a description of the nature and extent of the Environmental Claim and/or Hazardous Material and all relevant circumstances.

 

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(b)                                  Site Assessments and Information .  If the Parent or the Borrower fails to comply with Section 7.12(a)  or if any other Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, then if requested by the Administrative Agent, at the Borrower’s expense, deliver to the Administrative Agent from time to time, but no more frequently than once per calendar year unless an Event of Default exists, in each case within seventy five (75) days after the Administrative Agent’s request, an Environmental Assessment (hereinafter defined) made after the date of the Administrative Agent’s request.  As used in this Agreement, the term “ Environmental Assessment ” means a report of an environmental assessment of any or all Unencumbered Properties and of such scope so as to be compliant with the guidelines established by the ASTM (including the taking of soil borings and air and groundwater samples and other above and below ground testing) as the Administrative Agent may reasonably request to be performed by a licensed environmental consulting firm reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent.  Each applicable Loan Party shall cooperate with each consulting firm making any such Environmental Assessment and shall supply to the consulting firm all information available to such Loan Party to facilitate the completion of the Environmental Assessment.  If any Loan Party fails to furnish the Administrative Agent within thirty (30) days after the Administrative Agent’s request with a copy of an agreement with an acceptable environmental consulting firm to provide such Environmental Assessment, or if any Loan Party fails to furnish to the Administrative Agent such Environmental Assessment within seventy five (75) days after the Administrative Agent’s request, upon written notice to the Parent and the Borrower, the Administrative Agent may cause any such Environmental Assessment to be made at the Borrower’s expense and risk.  Subject to the rights of tenant, the Administrative Agent and its designees are hereby granted access to the Unencumbered Properties upon written notice, and a license which is coupled with an interest and irrevocable, to make or cause to be made such Environmental Assessments.  The Administrative Agent may disclose to any Governmental Authority, to the extent required by Applicable Law, any information the Administrative Agent ever has about the environmental condition or compliance of the Unencumbered Properties, but shall be under no duty to disclose any such information except as may be required by Law.  The Administrative Agent shall be under no duty to make any Environmental Assessment of the Unencumbered Properties, and in no event shall any such Environmental Assessment by the Administrative Agent be or give rise to a representation that any Hazardous Material is or is not present on the Unencumbered Properties, or that there has been or shall be compliance with any Environmental Requirement, nor shall any Company or any other Person be entitled to rely on any Environmental Assessment made by the Administrative Agent or at the Administrative Agent’s request but the Administrative Agent shall deliver a copy of such report to the Parent and the Borrower.  Neither the Administrative Agent nor any Lender owes any duty of care to protect any Company or any other Person against, or to inform them of, any Hazardous Material or other adverse condition affecting the Unencumbered Properties.

 

(c)                                   Remedial Actions .  If any Contamination which could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect is discovered on any Unencumbered Property at any time and regardless of the cause, (i) promptly at the applicable Loan Parties’ sole expense, remove, treat, and dispose of the Hazardous Material in compliance with all

 

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applicable Environmental Requirements in addition to taking such other action as is necessary to have the full use and benefit of such Unencumbered Property as contemplated by the Loan Documents, and provide the Administrative Agent with satisfactory evidence thereof; and (ii) if reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent, provide to the Administrative Agent within thirty (30) days of the Administrative Agent’s request a bond, letter of credit, or other financial assurance, including self-assurance, evidencing to the Administrative Agent’s satisfaction that all necessary funds are readily available to pay the costs and expenses of the actions required by the preceding clause (i) and to discharge any assessments or liens established against such Unencumbered Property as a result of the presence of the Hazardous Material on the Unencumbered Property. After completion of such remedial actions, the applicable Loan Party shall promptly request regulatory approval, take all reasonable measures to expedite issuance of such approval and upon receipt thereof deliver to the Administrative Agent a letter indicating that no further action is required with respect to the applicable Unencumbered Property or similar confirmation by the applicable regulator that all required remedial action as stated above has been taken and successfully completed to the satisfaction of the applicable regulator.  The Loan Parties shall not be deemed to have satisfied their remedial obligations under this provision until they have provided the Administrative Agent such confirmation.

 

m.                                   Ground Leases Solely with respect to Unencumbered Property, each of the Parent and the Borrower shall, and shall cause each other Loan Party to:

 

(a)                                  Diligently perform and observe in all material respects all of the terms, covenants, and conditions of any Acceptable Ground Lease as tenant under such Acceptable Ground Lease; and

 

(b)                                  Promptly notify the Administrative Agent of (i) the giving to the applicable Subsidiary Guarantor of any notice of any default by such Subsidiary Guarantor under any Acceptable Ground Lease and deliver to the Administrative Agent a true copy of each such notice within five (5) Business Days of such Subsidiary Guarantor’s receipt thereof, and (ii) any bankruptcy, reorganization, or insolvency of the landlord under any Acceptable Ground Lease or of any notice thereof, and deliver to the Administrative Agent a true copy of such notice within five (5) Business Days of the applicable Subsidiary Guarantor’s receipt.

 

(c)                                   Exercise any individual option to extend or renew the term of an Acceptable Ground Lease upon demand by the Administrative Agent made at any time within thirty (30) days prior to the last day upon which any such option may be exercised, and each applicable Subsidiary Guarantor hereby expressly authorizes and appoints the Administrative Agent as its attorney-in-fact to exercise any such option in the name of and upon behalf of such Subsidiary Guarantor, which power of attorney shall be irrevocable and shall be deemed to be coupled with an interest.

 

If the applicable Subsidiary Guarantor shall default in the performance or observance of any term, covenant, or condition of any Acceptable Ground Lease on the part of such Subsidiary Guarantor and shall fail to cure the same prior to the expiration of any applicable cure period

 

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provided thereunder, then the Administrative Agent shall have the right, but shall be under no obligation, to pay any sums and to perform any act or take any action as may be appropriate to cause all of the terms, covenants, and conditions of such Acceptable Ground Lease on the part of such Subsidiary Guarantor to be performed or observed on behalf of such Subsidiary Guarantor, to the end that the rights of such Subsidiary Guarantor in, to, and under such Acceptable Ground Lease shall be kept unimpaired and free from default.  If the landlord under any Acceptable Ground Lease shall deliver to the Administrative Agent a copy of any notice of default under such Acceptable Ground Lease, then such notice shall constitute full protection to the Administrative Agent for any action taken or omitted to be taken by the Administrative Agent, in good faith, in reliance thereon.

 

n.                                       Unencumbered Properties.

 

(a)                                  Except where the failure to comply with any of the following would not have a Material Adverse Effect, each of the Parent and the Borrower shall, and shall use commercially reasonable efforts to cause each other Loan Party or the applicable tenant, to:

 

(i)                                      Pay all real estate and personal property taxes, assessments, water rates or sewer rents, ground rents, maintenance charges, impositions, and any other charges, including vault charges and license fees for the use of vaults, chutes and similar areas adjoining any Unencumbered Property, now or hereafter levied or assessed or imposed against any Unencumbered Property or any part thereof (except those which are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted);

 

(ii)                                   Promptly pay (or cause to be paid) when due all bills and costs for labor, materials, and specifically fabricated materials incurred in connection with any Unencumbered Property (except those which are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted), and in any event never permit to be created or exist in respect of any Unencumbered Property or any part thereof any other or additional Lien or security interest other than Liens permitted by Section 8.01 ; and

 

(iii)                                Operate the Unencumbered Properties in a good and workmanlike manner and in all material respects in accordance with all Laws in accordance with such Loan Party’s prudent business judgment.

 

(b)                                  Except where the failure would not have a material and adverse effect on the value of the Unencumbered Properties, taken as whole, each of the Parent and the Borrower shall, and shall cause each other Loan Party to, to the extent owned and controlled by a Loan Party, preserve, protect, renew, extend and retain all material rights and privileges granted for or applicable to each Unencumbered Property.

 

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15.
Negative Covenants

 

So long as any Loan or other Obligation hereunder (excluding contingent indemnification obligations to the extent no unsatisfied claim giving rise thereto has been asserted) shall remain unpaid or unsatisfied:

 

a.                                       Liens.  Each of the Parent and the Borrower shall not, nor shall it permit any other Loan Party to, directly or indirectly, create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Lien upon any Unencumbered Property, other than the following:

 

(a)                                  Liens pursuant to any Loan Document;

 

(b)                                  Liens existing on the date hereof and listed on Schedule 8.01 ;

 

(c)                                   Liens for taxes not yet due and payable 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)                                    easements, rights-of-way, restrictions, restrictive covenants, encroachments, protrusions and other similar encumbrances affecting real property which, in the aggregate, are not substantial in amount, and which do not in any case materially detract from the value of the property subject thereto or materially interfere with the ordinary conduct of the business of the applicable Person;

 

(g)                                   Liens securing judgments for the payment of money not constituting an Event of Default under Section 9.01(i) ;

 

(h)                                  the rights of tenants under leases or subleases not interfering with the ordinary conduct of business of such Person;

 

(i)                                      Liens securing obligations in the nature of personal property financing leases for furniture, furnishings or similar assets, Capital Leases Obligations and other purchase money obligations for fixed or capital assets; provided that (i) such Liens do not at any time encumber any property other than the property financed by such Indebtedness, (ii) the obligations secured thereby does not exceed the cost or fair market value, whichever is lower, of the property being acquired on the date of acquisition, and

 

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(iii) with respect to Capital Leases, such Liens do not at any time extend to or cover any assets other than the assets subject to such Capital Leases;

 

(j)                                     Liens securing obligations in the nature of the performance of bids, trade contracts and leases (other than Indebtedness), statutory obligations, surety bonds (other than bonds related to judgments or litigation), performance bonds and other obligations of a like nature incurred in the ordinary course of business;

 

(k)                                  all Liens, encumbrances and other matters disclosed in any owner’s title insurance policies or other title reports and updated thereof accepted by the Administrative Agent; and

 

(l)                                      such other title and survey exceptions as the Administrative Agent has approved in writing in the Administrative Agent’s reasonable discretion.

 

b.                                       Indebtedness.  Each of the Parent and the Borrower shall not, nor shall it permit any other Loan Party to, 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 8.02 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;

 

(c)                                   Guarantees of (i) the Borrower or the Parent in respect of Indebtedness otherwise permitted hereunder of the Borrower or any other Guarantor, (ii) the Parent or the Borrower, in respect of Indebtedness otherwise permitted hereunder of any Non-Guarantor Subsidiary if, in the case of any Guarantee pursuant to this clause (ii), (x) no Default shall exist immediately before or immediately after the making of such Guarantee, and (y) there exists no violation of the financial covenants set forth in Section 8.14 hereunder on a pro forma basis after the making of such Guarantee, and (iii) Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries made in the ordinary course of business;

 

(d)                                  obligations (contingent or otherwise) of the Borrower or any Subsidiary existing or arising under any Swap Contract, provided that such obligations are (or were) entered into by such Person in the ordinary course of business for the purpose of directly mitigating risks associated with liabilities, commitments, investments, assets, or property held or reasonably anticipated by such Person, or changes in the value of securities issued by such Person, and not for purposes of speculation or taking a “market view”;

 

(e)                                   Indebtedness in respect of Capital Leases and purchase money obligations for fixed or capital assets within the limitations set forth in Section 8.01(i) , and unsecured Indebtedness in the form of trade payables incurred in the ordinary course of business; and

 

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(f)                                    Indebtedness of the Borrower or the Parent incurred or assumed after the date hereof that is either unsecured or is secured by Liens on assets of the Parent or the Borrower (other than any Unencumbered Property or the Equity Interests in any Loan Party); provided, such Indebtedness shall be permitted under this Section 8.02(f)  only if: (i) no Default shall exist immediately before or immediately after the incurrence or assumption of such Indebtedness, and (ii) there exists no violation of the financial covenants set forth in Section 8.14 hereunder on a pro forma basis after the incurrence or assumption of such Indebtedness.

 

c.                                        Investments.  Neither the Parent nor the Borrower shall have and shall not permit the Companies’ to have any Investments other than:

 

(a)                                  Investments in the form of cash or Cash Equivalents;

 

(b)                                  Investments existing on the date hereof and set forth on Schedule 6.13 ;

 

(c)                                   advances to officers, directors and employees of the Borrower and Subsidiaries for travel, entertainment, relocation and analogous ordinary business purposes;

 

(d)                                  Investments of the Guarantor and the Borrower in the form of Equity Interests and investments of the Borrower in any wholly-owned Subsidiary, and Investments of the Borrower directly in, or of any wholly-owned Subsidiary in another wholly-owned Subsidiary which owns, real property assets which are functional industrial, manufacturing, warehouse/distribution and/or office properties located within the United States, provided in each case the Investments held by the Borrower or Subsidiary are in accordance with the provisions of this Section 8.03 other than this Section 8.03(d) ;

 

(e)                                   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;

 

(f)                                    Investments in non-wholly owned Subsidiaries and Unconsolidated Affiliates;

 

(g)                                   Investments in mortgages and mezzanine loans;

 

(h)                                  Investments in unimproved land holdings and Construction in Progress;

 

(i)                                      Investments by the Parent for the redemption, conversion, exchange, retirement, sinking fund or similar payment, purchase or other acquisition for value, direct or indirect, of any Equity Interests of the Parent or the Borrower now or hereafter outstanding to the extent permitted under Section 8.06 below; and

 

(j)                                     Other Investments not to exceed at any time ten percent (10%) of Total Asset Value.

 

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d.                                       Fundamental Changes.  Each of the Parent and the Borrower shall not, nor shall it permit any other Loan Party to, directly or indirectly, merge, dissolve, liquidate, consolidate with or into another Person, or Dispose of (whether in one transaction or in a series of transactions) all or substantially all of its assets (whether now owned or hereafter acquired) to or in favor of any Person, except that, so long as no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or would result therefrom:

 

(a)                                  any Loan Party (other than the Parent or the Borrower) may merge with (i) the Parent or the Borrower, provided that the Parent or the Borrower, as applicable, shall be the continuing or surviving Person, or (ii) any other Loan Party, or (iii) any other Person, provided that if it owns an Unencumbered Property and is not the surviving entity, then such Property shall cease to be an Unencumbered Property;

 

(b)                                  any Loan Party (other than the Parent or the Borrower) may Dispose of all or substantially all of its assets (upon voluntary liquidation or otherwise) to another Loan Party;

 

(c)                                   any Loan Party may Dispose of a Property owned by such Loan Party in the ordinary course of business and for fair value; and

 

(d)                                  the Parent or the Borrower may merge or consolidate with another Person so long as either the Parent or the Borrower, as the case may be, is the surviving entity, shall remain in pro forma compliance with the covenants set forth in Section 8.14 below after giving effect to such transaction, and the Borrower shall have given the Administrative Agent at least fifteen (15) Business Days’ prior written notice of such merger or consolidation, such notice to include a certification as to the pro forma compliance referenced above, with the Borrower agreeing to provide such other financial information as the Administrative Agent shall reasonably request in order to verify such pro forma compliance.

 

Nothing in this Section shall be deemed to prohibit the sale or leasing of Property or portions of Property in the ordinary course of business.

 

e.                                        Dispositions.  Each of the Parent, the Borrower or any Loan Party shall not make any Disposition or enter into any agreement to make any Disposition, except:

 

(a)                                  Dispositions of obsolete or worn out property, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, in the ordinary course of business;

 

(b)                                  Dispositions of inventory in the ordinary course of business;

 

(c)                                   Any other Dispositions of Properties or other assets in an arm’s length transaction; provided that the Borrower and the Parent will remain in pro forma compliance with the covenants set forth in Section 8.14 after giving effect to such transaction.

 

f.                                         Restricted Payments.  Each of the Parent and the Borrower shall not, nor shall it permit any other Company to, directly or indirectly, declare or make, directly or indirectly, any

 

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Restricted Payment other than (a) Minimum Distributions, (b) Restricted Payments made by any Company to the Borrower or the Parent, or (c)  provided no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing at the time of such payment or would result therefrom, other Restricted Payments.

 

g.                                        Change in Nature of Business.  Except for Investments permitted under Section 8.03 , each of the Parent and the Borrower shall not, nor shall it permit any other Loan Party to, directly or indirectly, engage in any material line of business substantially different from those lines of business conducted by the Companies on the date hereof or any business substantially related or incidental thereto.

 

h.                                       Transactions with Affiliates.  Each of the Parent and the Borrower shall not, nor shall it permit any other Loan Party to, directly or indirectly, enter into any transaction of any kind with any Affiliate of a Company, whether or not in the ordinary course of business, other than on fair and reasonable terms substantially as favorable to such Loan Party as would be obtainable by such Company at the time in a comparable arm’s length transaction with a Person other than an Affiliate.

 

i.                                           Burdensome Agreements.  Each of the Parent and the Borrower shall not, nor shall it permit any other Loan Party to, directly or indirectly enter into any Contractual Obligation (other than this Agreement or any other Loan Document) that directly or indirectly prohibits any Company from (a) creating or incurring any Lien on any Unencumbered Property unless simultaneously therewith such Unencumbered Property ceases to be an Unencumbered Property, other than restrictions or conditions set forth in the Note Purchase Agreements, the Credit Agreements and, to the extent such restrictions or conditions are customary for such Indebtedness, any other agreements governing Indebtedness permitted under Section 8.02 , in each case, which restrictions are no more restrictive, taken as a whole than the comparable restrictions and conditions set forth in this Agreement as determined in the good faith judgment of the Borrower, (b) other than restrictions or conditions set forth in the Note Purchase Agreements, the Credit Agreements and, to the extent such restrictions or conditions are customary for such Indebtedness, any other agreements governing Indebtedness permitted under Section 8.02 , in each case, which restrictions are no more restrictive, taken as a whole than the comparable restrictions and conditions set forth in this Agreement as determined in the good faith judgment of the Borrower, limiting the ability (i) of any Subsidiary to make Restricted Payments to the Borrower or any Guarantor or to otherwise transfer property to the Borrower or any Guarantor, (ii) of any Subsidiary to Guarantee the Indebtedness of the Borrower or (iii) of the Borrower or any Subsidiary to create, incur, assume or suffer to exist Liens on property of such Person; provided, however, that this clause (iii) shall not prohibit any negative pledge incurred or provided in favor of any holder of Indebtedness permitted under Section 8.03(e)  solely to the extent any such negative pledge relates to the property financed by or the subject of such Indebtedness; or (c) requiring the grant of a Lien to secure an obligation of such Person if a Lien is granted to secure another obligation of such Person.

 

j.                                          Use of Proceeds.  Each of the Parent and the Borrower shall not, nor shall it permit any other Company to, directly or indirectly, use the proceeds of any Credit Extension, whether directly or indirectly, and whether immediately, incidentally or ultimately, to purchase or carry margin stock (within the meaning of Regulation U of the FRB) or to extend credit to

 

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others for the purpose of purchasing or carrying margin stock or to refund indebtedness originally incurred for such purpose.  The Borrower shall not request any Credit Extension, shall not use, and shall ensure that its Subsidiaries and its or their respective directors, officers, employees and agents do not use the proceeds of any Credit Extension (i) in furtherance of an offer, payment, promise to pay, or authorization of the payment or giving of money, or anything else of value, to any Person in violation of any Anti-Corruption Laws or (ii) in any manner that would result in the violation of any applicable Sanctions.

 

k.                                       Unencumbered Properties; Ground Leases Each of the Parent and the Borrower shall not, nor shall it permit any other Loan Party to, directly or indirectly:

 

(a)                                  Use or occupy or conduct any activity on, or knowingly permit the use or occupancy of or the conduct of any activity on any Unencumbered Properties by any tenant, in any manner which violates any Law or which constitutes a public or private nuisance in any manner which would have a Material Adverse Effect or which makes void, voidable, or cancelable any insurance then in force with respect thereto or makes the maintenance of insurance in accordance with Section 7.07 commercially unreasonable (including by way of increased premium);

 

(b)                                  [Reserved];

 

(c)                                   Without the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed), (i) impose any material easement, restrictive covenant, or encumbrance upon any Unencumbered Property, (ii) execute or file any subdivision plat or condominium declaration affecting any Unencumbered Property, or (iii) consent to the annexation of any Unencumbered Property to any municipality;

 

(d)                                  Do any act, or suffer to be done any act by any Company or any of its Affiliates, which would reasonably be expected to materially decrease the value of any Unencumbered Property (including by way of negligent act);

 

(e)                                   [Reserved];

 

(f)                                    Allow there to be fewer than twenty-five (25) Unencumbered Properties as of any date of determination;

 

(g)                                   Allow the Total Asset Value of the Unencumbered Properties to be less than One Hundred Fifty Million Dollars ($150,000,000.00);

 

(h)                                  Without the prior consent of the Lenders (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed), surrender the leasehold estate created by any Acceptable Ground Lease or terminate or cancel any Acceptable Ground Lease or materially modify, change, supplement, alter, or amend any Acceptable Ground Lease, either orally or in writing, in each case, to the extent such event would reasonably be expected to be materially adverse to the interests of the Lenders; and

 

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(i)                                      Enter into any Contractual Obligations related to any Unencumbered Property providing for the payment a management fee (or any other similar fee) to anyone other than a Company if, with respect thereto, the Administrative Agent has reasonably required that such fee be subordinated to the Obligations in a manner satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, and an acceptable subordination agreement has not yet been obtained.

 

l.                                           Environmental Matters.  Each of the Parent and the Borrower shall not knowingly directly or indirectly:

 

(a)                                  Cause, commit, permit, or allow to continue (i) any violation of any Environmental Requirement by or with respect to any Unencumbered Property or any use of or condition or activity on any Unencumbered Property, or (ii) the attachment of any environmental Liens on any Unencumbered Property, in each case, that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;

 

(b)                                  Place, install, dispose of, or release, or cause, permit, or allow the placing, installation, disposal, spilling, leaking, dumping, or release of, any Hazardous Material on any Unencumbered Property in any manner that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; and

 

(c)                                   Use any Hazardous Material on any Unencumbered Property except in such a manner which could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

m.                                   Negative Pledge; Indebtedness.  Each of the Parent and the Borrower shall not permit:

 

(a)                                  The Equity Interests of the Borrower held by the Parent to be subject to any Lien.

 

(b)                                  Any Person (other than the Parent or the Borrower) that directly or indirectly owns Equity Interests in any Subsidiary Guarantor to (i) incur any Indebtedness (whether Recourse Indebtedness or Non-Recourse Indebtedness) (other than Indebtedness listed on Schedule 8.13 and Additional Permitted Indebtedness), (ii) provide Guarantees to support Indebtedness (other than Indebtedness listed on Schedule 8.13 and Additional Permitted Indebtedness), or (iii) have its Equity Interests subject to any Lien or other encumbrance (other than in favor of the Administrative Agent).

 

(c)                                   Any Subsidiary Guarantor that owns an Unencumbered Property to (i) incur any Indebtedness (whether Recourse Indebtedness or Non-Recourse Indebtedness) (other than the Obligations, Indebtedness listed on Schedule 8.13 and Additional Permitted Indebtedness) or (ii) provide Guarantees to support Indebtedness (other than the Obligations, Indebtedness listed on Schedule 8.13 and Additional Permitted Indebtedness).

 

n.                                       Financial Covenants.  The Parent shall not, directly or indirectly, permit:

 

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(a)                                  Maximum Consolidated Leverage Ratio .  As of the last day of any fiscal quarter, the Consolidated Leverage Ratio to exceed sixty percent (60%); provided that, if any Material Acquisition shall occur and the Consolidated Leverage Ratio shall have been less than sixty percent (60%) for at least one full fiscal quarter immediately preceding the proposed Consolidated Leverage Ratio Covenant Holiday, then, at the election of the Borrower upon delivery of prior written notice to the Administrative Agent, concurrently with or prior to the delivery of a Compliance Certificate pursuant to Section 7.02(a) , and provided that no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, the maximum Consolidated Leverage Ratio covenant level shall be increased to sixty-five (65%) for the fiscal quarter in which such Material Acquisition is consummated and the three (3) fiscal quarters immediately following the fiscal quarter in which such Material Acquisition is consummated (any such increase a “ Consolidated Leverage Ratio Covenant Holiday ”); provided further that not more than two (2) Consolidated Leverage Ratio Covenant Holidays may be elected by the Borrower during the term of this Agreement;

 

(b)                                  Maximum Secured Leverage Ratio . As of the last day of any fiscal quarter, the Secured Leverage Ratio to exceed forty percent (40%);

 

(c)                                   Maximum Unencumbered Leverage Ratio . As of the last day of any fiscal quarter, the Unencumbered Leverage Ratio to exceed sixty percent (60%); provided that, if any Material Acquisition shall occur and the Unencumbered Leverage Ratio shall have been less than sixty percent (60%) for at least one full fiscal quarter immediately preceding the proposed Unencumbered Leverage Ratio Covenant Holiday, then, at the election of the Borrower upon delivery of prior written notice to the Administrative Agent, concurrently with or prior to the delivery of a Compliance Certificate pursuant to Section 7.02(a) , and provided that no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, the maximum Unencumbered Leverage Ratio covenant level shall be increased to sixty-five (65%) for the fiscal quarter in which such Material Acquisition is consummated and the three (3) fiscal quarters immediately following the fiscal quarter in which such Material Acquisition is consummated (any such increase an “ Unencumbered Leverage Ratio Covenant Holiday ”); provided further that not more than two (2) Unencumbered Leverage Ratio Covenant Holidays may be elected by the Borrower during the term of this Agreement;

 

(d)                                  Maximum Secured Recourse Debt .  As of the last day of any fiscal quarter, the Secured Recourse Debt Ratio to exceed seven-and-one-half percent (7.5%) [Reserved] ;

 

(e)                                   Minimum Fixed Charge Ratio .  As of the last day of any fiscal quarter, the Fixed Charge Ratio for the Parent, on a consolidated basis, for the fiscal quarter then ended, annualized, to be less than or equal to 1.5 to 1.0; and

 

(f)                                    Minimum Unsecured Interest Coverage Ratio . As of the last day of any fiscal quarter, the Unsecured Interest Coverage Ratio for the Parent, on a consolidated basis, for the fiscal quarter then ended, annualized, to be less than or equal to 1.75 to 1.00 ; and

 

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(g)  Minimum Tangible Net Worth .  As of the last day of any fiscal quarter, the Tangible Net Worth of the Parent, on a consolidated basis, to be less than the sum of (i) $996,305,000, plus (ii) seventy-five percent (75%) of net proceeds of any Equity Issuances received by the Parent or the Borrower after December 18, 2014 (other than proceeds received within ninety (90) days after the redemption, retirement or repurchase of ownership or equity interests in the Borrower or the Parent, up to the amount paid by the Borrower or the Parent in connection with such redemption, retirement or repurchase, where, for the avoidance of doubt, the net effect is that neither the Borrower nor the Parent shall have increased its Net Worth as a result of any such proceeds).

 

16.
Events of Default and Remedies

 

a.                                       Events of Default.  Any of the following shall constitute an Event of Default:

 

(a)                                  Non-Payment .  The Borrower or any other Loan Party fails to pay (i) when and as required to be paid herein, any amount of principal of any Loan, or (ii) within five (5) days after the same becomes due, any interest on any Loan due hereunder, except that there shall be no grace period for interest due on any applicable Maturity Date, or (iii) within ten (10) days after notice from the Administrative Agent, any other amount payable to the Administrative Agent or any Lender hereunder or under any other Loan Document except that there shall be no grace period for any amount due on any Maturity Date; or

 

(b)                                  Specific Covenants .  .  Any Loan Party fails to perform or observe any term, covenant or agreement contained in any of Sections 7.11 or Article VIII (other than Section 8.11 (a)  and (c), or 8.13 ) or the Parent fails to perform or observe any term, covenant or agreement contained in the Parent Guaranty or any Subsidiary Guarantor fails to perform or observe any term, covenant or agreement contained in the Subsidiary Guaranty; or

 

(c)                                   Performance .  Any Loan Party fails to perform or observe any term, covenant or agreement contained in any of Section 7.01 , 7.02 , or 7.03 , and such failure continues unremedied for ten (10) Business Days after such failure has occurred; or

 

(d)                                  Other Defaults .  Any Loan Party fails to perform or observe any other covenant or agreement (not specified in subsection (a) , (b) , or (c)  above) contained in any Loan Document on its part to be performed or observed and such failure continues unremedied for thirty (30) days after the earlier of notice from the Administrative Agent or the actual knowledge of the Loan Party, and in the case of a default that cannot be cured within such thirty (30) day period despite the Borrower’s diligent efforts but is susceptible of being cured within ninety (90) days of the Borrower’s receipt of the Administrative Agent’s original notice, then the Borrower shall have such additional time as is reasonably necessary to effect such cure, but in no event in excess of ninety (90) days from the Borrower’s receipt of the Administrative Agent’s original notice, subject in each instance to the Borrower’s remedial rights under Section 7.12(c) ; or

 

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(e)                                   Representations and Warranties .  Any representation, warranty, certification or statement of fact made or deemed made by or on behalf of the Borrower or any other Loan Party herein, in any other Loan Document, or in any document delivered in connection herewith or therewith shall be incorrect or misleading when made or deemed made and shall not be cured or remedied so that such representation, warranty, certification or statement of fact is no longer incorrect or misleading within ten (10) days after the earlier of notice from the Administrative Agent or the actual knowledge of any Loan Party thereof; or

 

(f)                                    Cross-Default .  (i) Any Company (A) fails to make any payment when due (whether by scheduled maturity, required prepayment, acceleration, demand, or otherwise), after the expiration of any applicable grace periods, in respect of any Indebtedness or Guarantee (other than (x) Indebtedness hereunder, and (y) Indebtedness under Swap Contracts) having an aggregate principal amount (including amounts owing to all creditors under any combined or syndicated credit arrangement) of more than the Threshold Amount, or (B) fails to observe or perform any other agreement or condition relating to any such Indebtedness or Guarantee or contained in any instrument or agreement evidencing, securing or relating thereto, or any other event occurs, the effect of which default or other event is to cause, or to permit the holder or holders of such Indebtedness or the beneficiary or beneficiaries of such Guarantee (or a trustee or agent on behalf of such holder or holders or beneficiary or beneficiaries) to cause, with the giving of notice if required, such Indebtedness or more than the Threshold Amount to be demanded or to become due or to be repurchased, prepaid, defeased or redeemed (automatically or otherwise), or an offer to repurchase, prepay, defease or redeem such Indebtedness to be made, prior to its stated maturity, or such Guarantee to become payable or cash collateral in respect thereof to be demanded; or (ii) there occurs under any Swap Contract an Early Termination Date (as defined in such Swap Contract) resulting from (A) any event of default under such Swap Contract as to which any Company is the Defaulting Party (as defined in such Swap Contract) or (B) any Termination Event (as so defined) under such Swap Contract as to which any Company is an Affected Party (as so defined) and, in either event, the Swap Termination Value owed by such Company as a result thereof is greater than the Threshold Amount; or

 

(g)                                   Insolvency Proceedings, Etc.   Any Loan Party institutes or consents to the institution of any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law, or makes an assignment for the benefit of creditors; or applies for or consents to the appointment of any receiver, trustee, custodian, conservator, liquidator, rehabilitator or similar officer for it or for all or any material part of its property; or any receiver, trustee, custodian, conservator, liquidator, rehabilitator or similar officer is appointed without the application or consent of such Person and the appointment continues undischarged or unstayed for sixty (60) calendar days; or any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law relating to any such Person or to all or any material part of its property is instituted without the consent of such Person and continues undismissed or unstayed for sixty (60) calendar days, or an order for relief is entered in any such proceeding; or

 

(h)                                  Inability to Pay Debts; Attachment .  (i) the Parent or the Borrower becomes unable to pay its debts as they become due, or any Loan Party admits in writing

 

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its inability or fails generally to pay its debts as they become due, or (ii) any writ or warrant of attachment or execution or similar process is issued or levied against all or any material part of the property of any such Loan Party and is not released, vacated or fully bonded within thirty (30) days after its issue or levy; or

 

(i)                                      Judgments .  There is entered against any Loan Party (i) one or more final judgments or orders for the payment of money in an aggregate amount (as to all such judgments or orders) exceeding the Threshold Amount (to the extent not covered by independent third-party insurance as to which the insurer does not dispute coverage), or (ii) any one or more non-monetary final judgments that have, or would have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect and, in either case, (A) enforcement proceedings are commenced by any creditor upon such judgment or order, or (B) there is a period of ten (10) consecutive days during which a stay of enforcement of such judgment, by reason of a pending appeal or otherwise, is not in effect; or

 

(j)                                     ERISA .  (i) An ERISA Event occurs with respect to a Pension Plan or Multiemployer Plan which has resulted or would result in liability of any Company under Title IV of ERISA to the Pension Plan, Multiemployer Plan or the PBGC in an aggregate amount in excess of the Threshold Amount, or (ii) the Parent or any ERISA Affiliate fails to pay when due, after the expiration of any applicable grace period, any installment payment with respect to its withdrawal liability under Section 4201 of ERISA under a Multiemployer Plan in an aggregate amount in excess of the Threshold Amount; or

 

(k)                                  Invalidity of Loan Documents .  Any Loan Document at any time after its execution and delivery and for any reason other than as expressly permitted hereunder or thereunder or satisfaction in full of all the Obligations, ceases to be in full force and effect in all material respects; or any Loan Party or any other Person contests in any manner the validity or enforceability of any Loan Document; or any Loan Party denies that it has any or further liability or obligation under any Loan Document, or purports to revoke, terminate or rescind any Loan Document, except as expressly permitted hereunder; or

 

(l)                                      REIT Status of the Parent .  The Parent ceases to be treated as a REIT or the Parent Shares shall fail to be listed and traded on the New York Stock Exchange; or

 

(m)                              Change of Control .  There occurs any Change of Control.

 

b.                                       Remedies Upon Event of Default.  If any Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Administrative Agent shall, at the request of, or may, with the consent of, the Required Lenders, take any or all of the following actions:

 

(a)                                  declare the commitment of each Lender to make Loans to be terminated, whereupon such commitments and obligation shall be terminated;

 

(b)                                  declare the unpaid principal amount of all outstanding Loans, all interest accrued and unpaid thereon, and all other amounts owing or payable hereunder or under any other Loan Document to be immediately due and payable, without presentment,

 

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demand, protest or other notice of any kind, all of which are hereby expressly waived by the Borrower; and

 

(c)                                   exercise on behalf of itself and the Lenders all rights and remedies available to it and the Lenders under the Loan Documents;

 

provided that upon the occurrence of an actual or deemed entry of an order for relief with respect to the Borrower under the Bankruptcy Code of the United States, the obligation of each Lender to make Loans shall automatically terminate, the unpaid principal amount of all outstanding Loans and all interest and other amounts as aforesaid shall automatically become due and payable, in each case without further act of the Administrative Agent or any Lender.

 

c.                                        Application of Funds.  After the exercise of remedies provided for in Section 9.02 (or after the Loans have automatically become immediately due and payable), any amounts received on account of the Obligations shall, subject to the provisions of Section 2.16 , be applied by the Administrative Agent in the following order:

 

First , to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting fees, indemnities, expenses and other amounts (including fees, charges and disbursements of counsel to the Administrative Agent and amounts payable under Article III ) payable to the Administrative Agent in its capacity as such;

 

Second , to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting fees, indemnities and other amounts (other than principal and interest) payable to the Lenders (including fees, charges and disbursements of counsel to the respective Lenders and amounts payable under Article III ), ratably among them in proportion to the respective amounts described in this clause   Second payable to them;

 

Third , to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting accrued and unpaid interest on the Loans, and other Obligations, ratably among the Lenders, in proportion to the respective amounts described in this clause   Third payable to them;

 

Fourth , to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting (x) unpaid principal of the Loans and (y) payment obligations then owing to the Administrative Agent, any Lender, or any Affiliate of the Administrative Agent or any Lender (“ Specified Derivatives Providers ”) arising from, by virtue of, or pursuant to any Swap Contract, other than any Excluded Swap Obligation, that relates solely to the Obligations (“ Specified Derivatives Providers ”) , ratably among the Lenders and the Specified Derivatives Providers in proportion to the respective amounts described in this clause   Fourth payable to them; and

 

Last , the balance, if any, after all of the Obligations have been paid in full, to the Borrower or as otherwise required by Law.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, Obligations owing to Specified Derivatives Providers shall be excluded from the application described above if the Administrative Agent has not received written notice thereof, together with such supporting documentation as the Administrative Agent may request, from the applicable Specified Derivatives Provider.  Each

 

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Specified Derivatives Provider not a party to this Agreement that has given the notice contemplated by the preceding sentence shall, by such notice, be deemed to have acknowledged and accepted the appointment of the Administrative Agent pursuant to the terms of Article X for itself and its Affiliates as if a “Lender” party hereto.

 

17.                               
The Administrative Agent

 

a.                                       Appointment and Authority.  Each of the Lenders hereby irrevocably appoints Wells Fargo to act on its behalf as the Administrative Agent hereunder and under the other Loan Documents and authorizes the Administrative Agent to take such actions on its behalf and to exercise such powers as are delegated to the Administrative Agent by the terms hereof or thereof, together with such actions and powers as are reasonably incidental thereto.  The provisions of this Article are solely for the benefit of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders, neither the Borrower nor any other Loan Party shall have rights as a third party beneficiary of any of such provisions.  It is understood and agreed that the use of the term “agent” (or any other similar term) herein or in any other Loan Documents with reference to the Administrative Agent is not intended to connote any fiduciary or other implied (or express) obligations arising under agency doctrine of any applicable Law. Instead such term is used as a matter of market custom, and is intended to create or reflect only an administrative relationship between contracting parties.

 

b.                                       Rights as a Lender.  The Person serving as the Administrative Agent hereunder shall have the same rights and powers in its capacity as a Lender as any other Lender and may exercise the same as though it were not the Administrative Agent and the term “Lender” or “Lenders” shall, unless otherwise expressly indicated or unless the context otherwise requires, include the Person serving as the Administrative Agent hereunder in its individual capacity.  Such Person and its Affiliates may accept deposits from, lend money to, own securities of, act as the financial advisor or in any other advisory capacity for and generally engage in any kind of business with the Borrower or any Subsidiary or other Affiliate thereof as if such Person were not the Administrative Agent hereunder and without any duty to account therefor to the Lenders.

 

c.                                        Exculpatory Provisions.  The Administrative Agent shall not have any duties or obligations except those expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents, and its duties hereunder shall be administrative in nature.  Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Administrative Agent:

 

(a)                                  shall not be subject to any fiduciary or other implied duties, regardless of whether a Default has occurred and is continuing;

 

(b)                                  shall not have any duty to take any discretionary action or exercise any discretionary powers, except discretionary rights and powers expressly contemplated hereby or by the other Loan Documents that the Administrative Agent is required to exercise as directed in writing by the Required Lenders (or such other number or percentage of the Lenders as shall be expressly provided for herein or in the other Loan Documents), provided that the Administrative Agent shall not be required to take any action that, in its opinion or the opinion of its counsel, may expose the Administrative Agent to liability or that is contrary to any Loan Document or applicable law, including for the avoidance of doubt any action that may be in violation of the

 

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automatic stay under any Debtor Relief Law or that may effect a forfeiture, modification or termination of property of a Defaulting Lender in violation of any Debtor Relief Law; and

 

(c)                                   shall not, except as expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents, have any duty to disclose, and shall not be liable for the failure to disclose, any information relating to the Borrower or any of its Affiliates that is communicated to or obtained by the Person serving as the Administrative Agent or any of its Affiliates in any capacity.

 

The Administrative Agent shall not be liable for any action taken or not taken by it (i) with the consent or at the request of the Required Lenders (or such other number or percentage of the Lenders as shall be necessary, or as the Administrative Agent shall believe in good faith shall be necessary, under the circumstances as provided in Sections 11.01 and 9.02 ) or (ii) in the absence of its own gross negligence or willful misconduct as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by final and nonappealable judgment.  The Administrative Agent shall be deemed not to have knowledge of any Default unless and until notice describing such Default is given in writing to the Administrative Agent by the Borrower or a Lender.

 

The Administrative Agent shall not be responsible for or have any duty to ascertain or inquire into (i) any statement, warranty or representation made in or in connection with this Agreement or any other Loan Document, (ii) the contents of any certificate, report or other document delivered hereunder or thereunder or in connection herewith or therewith, (iii) the performance or observance of any of the covenants, agreements or other terms or conditions set forth herein or therein or the occurrence of any Default, (iv) the validity, enforceability, effectiveness or genuineness of this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any other agreement, instrument or document or (v) the satisfaction of any condition set forth in Article IV or elsewhere herein, other than to confirm receipt of items expressly required to be delivered to the Administrative Agent.

 

d.                                       Reliance by the Administrative Agent.  The Administrative Agent shall be entitled to rely upon, and shall not incur any liability for relying upon, any notice, request, certificate, consent, statement, instrument, document or other writing (including any electronic message, Internet or intranet website posting or other distribution) believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed, sent or otherwise authenticated by the proper Person.  The Administrative Agent also may rely upon any statement made to it orally or by telephone and believed by it to have been made by the proper Person, and shall not incur any liability for relying thereon.  In determining compliance with any condition hereunder to the making of a Loan, by its terms must be fulfilled to the satisfaction of a Lender, the Administrative Agent may presume that such condition is satisfactory to such Lender unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice to the contrary from such Lender prior to the making of such Loan.  The Administrative Agent may consult with legal counsel (who may be counsel for the Borrower), independent accountants and other experts selected by it, and shall not be liable for any action taken or not taken by it in accordance with the advice of any such counsel, accountants or experts.

 

e.                                        Delegation of Duties.  The Administrative Agent may perform any and all of its duties and exercise its rights and powers hereunder or under any other Loan Document by or through any one or more sub-agents appointed by the Administrative Agent.  The Administrative Agent and any such sub-agent may perform any and all of its duties and exercise its rights and powers by or through their respective Related Parties.  The exculpatory provisions of this Article shall apply to any such sub-agent and to the Related Parties of the Administrative Agent and any such sub-agent, and shall apply to their respective activities in connection with the syndication of

 

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the credit facilities provided for herein as well as activities as the Administrative Agent.  The Administrative Agent shall not be responsible for the negligence or misconduct of any sub-agents except to the extent that a court of competent jurisdiction determines in a final and non-appealable judgment that the Administrative Agent acted with gross negligence or willful misconduct in the selection of such sub-agents.

 

f.                                         Resignation of the Administrative Agent.

 

(a)                                  The Administrative Agent may at any time give notice of its resignation to the Lenders and the Borrower.  Upon receipt of any such notice of resignation, the Required Lenders shall have the right, subject to the reasonable approval of the Borrower (with any Lender or affiliate of a Lender being deemed approved, unless such Lender is a Defaulting Lender, and which approval shall not be required if an Event Default shall be in existence), to appoint a successor, which shall be a bank with an office in the United States, or an Affiliate of any such bank with an office in the United States.  If no such successor shall have been so appointed by the Required Lenders and shall have accepted such appointment within 30 days after the retiring Administrative Agent gives notice of its resignation (or such earlier day as shall be agreed by the Required Lenders) (the “ Resignation Effective Date ”), then the retiring Administrative Agent may (but shall not be obligated to) on behalf of the Lenders, appoint a successor Administrative Agent meeting the qualifications set forth above.  Whether or not a successor has been appointed, such resignation shall become effective in accordance with such notice on the Resignation Effective Date.

 

(b)                                  If the Person serving as the Administrative Agent is a Defaulting Lender pursuant to clause (d)  of the definition thereof, the Required Lenders may, to the extent permitted by applicable law, by notice in writing to the Borrower and such Person remove such Person as the Administrative Agent and, in consultation with the Borrower, appoint a successor. If no such successor shall have been so appointed by the Required Lenders and shall have accepted such appointment within 30 days (or such earlier day as shall be agreed by the Required Lenders) (the “Removal Effective Date”), then such removal shall nonetheless become effective in accordance with such notice on the Removal Effective Date.

 

(c)                                   With effect from the Resignation Effective Date or the Removal Effective Date (as applicable) (1) the retiring or removed Administrative Agent shall be discharged from its duties and obligations hereunder and under the other Loan Documents (except that in the case of any pledge security held by the Administrative Agent on behalf of the Lenders under any of the Loan Documents, the retiring or removed Administrative Agent shall continue to hold such collateral security until such time as a successor Administrative Agent is appointed) and (2) except for any indemnity payments or other amounts then owed to the retiring or removed Administrative Agent, all payments, communications and determinations provided to be made by, to or through the Administrative Agent shall instead be made by or to each Lender directly, until such time, if any, as the Required Lenders appoint a successor Administrative Agent as provided for above.  Upon the acceptance of a successor’s appointment as the Administrative Agent hereunder, such successor shall succeed to and become vested with

 

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all of the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring (or removed) the Administrative Agent (other than as provided in Section 3.01(g)  and other than any rights to indemnity payments or other amounts owed to the retiring or removed Administrative Agent as of the Resignation Effective Date or the Removal Effective Date, as applicable), and the retiring or removed Administrative Agent shall be discharged from all of its duties and obligations hereunder or under the other Loan Documents (if not already discharged therefrom as provided above in this Section).  The fees payable by the Borrower to a successor Administrative Agent shall be the same as those payable to its predecessor unless otherwise agreed between the Borrower and such successor.  After the retiring or removed Administrative Agent’s resignation or removal hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, the provisions of this Article and Section 10.04 shall continue in effect for the benefit of such retiring or removed Administrative Agent, its sub-agents and their respective Related Parties in respect of any actions taken or omitted to be taken by any of them while the retiring or removed Administrative Agent was acting as the Administrative Agent.

 

g.                                        Non-Reliance on the Administrative Agent and Other Lenders.  Each Lender acknowledges that it has, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent or any other Lender or any of their Related Parties and based on such documents and information as it has deemed appropriate, made its own credit analysis and decision to enter into this Agreement.  Each Lender also acknowledges that it will, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent or any other Lender or any of their Related Parties and based on such documents and information as it shall from time to time deem appropriate, continue to make its own decisions in taking or not taking action under or based upon this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any related agreement or any document furnished hereunder or thereunder.

 

h.                                       No Other Duties, Etc.  Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, none of the Lead Arranger, Bookrunner, Syndication Agent or co-Documentation Agents listed on the cover page hereof shall have any powers, duties or responsibilities under this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents, except in its capacity, as applicable, as the Administrative Agent, a Lender hereunder.

 

i.                                           The Administrative Agent May File Proofs of Claim.  In case of the pendency of any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law or any other judicial proceeding relative to any Loan Party, the Administrative Agent (irrespective of whether the principal of any Loan shall then be due and payable as herein expressed or by declaration or otherwise and irrespective of whether the Administrative Agent shall have made any demand on the Borrower) shall be entitled and empowered, by intervention in such proceeding or otherwise:

 

(a)                                  to file and prove a claim for the whole amount of the principal and interest owing and unpaid in respect of the Loans and all other Obligations that are owing and unpaid and to file such other documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Lenders and the Administrative Agent (including any claim for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Lenders and the Administrative Agent and their respective agents and counsel and all other amounts due the Lenders and the Administrative Agent under Sections 2.09 and 11.04 ) allowed in such judicial proceeding; and

 

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(b)                                  to collect and receive any monies or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims and to distribute the same;

 

and any custodian, receiver, assignee, trustee, liquidator, sequestrator or other similar official in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Lender to make such payments to the Administrative Agent and, in the event that the Administrative Agent shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Lenders, to pay to the Administrative Agent any amount due for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Administrative Agent and its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Administrative Agent under Sections 2.09 and 11.04 . Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to authorize the Administrative Agent to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Lender any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Obligations or the rights of any Lender to authorize the Administrative Agent to vote in respect of the claim of any Lender in any such proceeding.

 

j.                                          Guaranty Matters.  Upon request by the Administrative Agent at any time, the Required Lenders will confirm in writing the Administrative Agent’s authority to release any Guarantor from its obligations under a Guaranty pursuant to the terms of this Agreement.

 

18.
Miscellaneous

 

a.                                       Amendments, Etc.  No amendment or waiver of any provision of this Agreement or any other Loan Document, and no consent to any departure by the Borrower or any other Loan Party therefrom, shall be effective unless in writing signed by the Required Lenders and the Borrower or the applicable Loan Party, as the case may be, and acknowledged by the Administrative Agent, and each such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the specific purpose for which given; provided that no such amendment, waiver or consent shall:

 

(a)                                  waive any condition set forth in Section 5.01(a)  without the written consent of each Lender;

 

(b)                                  establish any commitment of any Lender to make Committed Loans hereunder without the written consent of such Lender;

 

(c)                                   postpone any date fixed by this Agreement or any other Loan Document for any payment or mandatory prepayment of principal, interest, fees or other amounts due to a Lender without the written consent of each Lender directly affected thereby;

 

(d)                                  reduce or forgive the principal of, or the rate of interest specified herein on, any Loan, or (subject to clause   (iii)  of the second proviso to this Section 11.01 ) any fees or other amounts payable hereunder or under any other Loan Document, without the written consent of each Lender directly affected thereby; provided that only the consent of the Required Lenders shall be necessary to amend the definition of “ Default Rate ,” waive any obligation of the Borrower to pay interest at the Default Rate, or change the manner of computation of any financial ratio (including any change in any applicable

 

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defined term) used in determining the Applicable Rate that would result in a reduction of any interest rate on any Loan or any fee payable hereunder;

 

(e)                                   change Section 9.03 in a manner that would alter the pro rata sharing of payments required thereby without the written consent of each Lender;

 

(f)                                    change any provision of this Section or the definition of “ Required Lenders ” or any other provision hereof specifying the number or percentage of the Lenders required to amend, waive or otherwise modify any rights hereunder or make any determination or grant any consent hereunder, without the written consent of each Lender;

 

(g)                                   release all or substantially all of the value of the Guaranties without the written consent of each Lender;

 

and, provided, further , that (i) no amendment, waiver or consent shall, unless in writing and signed by the Administrative Agent in addition to the Lenders required above, affect the rights or duties of the Administrative Agent under this Agreement or any other Loan Document; and (ii) the Fee Letter may be amended, or rights or privileges thereunder waived, in a writing executed only by the parties thereto.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, no Defaulting Lender shall have any right to approve or disapprove any amendment, waiver or consent hereunder (and any amendment, waiver or consent which by its terms requires the consent of all Lenders or each affected Lender may be effected with the consent of the applicable Lenders other than Defaulting Lenders), except that any waiver, amendment or modification requiring the consent of all Lenders or each affected Lender that by its terms affects any Defaulting Lender more adversely than other affected Lenders shall require the consent of such Defaulting Lender.  All communications from the Administrative Agent to any Lender requesting such Lender’s determination, consent, approval or disapproval (a) shall be given in the form of a written notice to such Lender, (b) shall be accompanied by a description of the matter or issue as to which such determination, approval, consent or disapproval is requested, or shall advise such Lender where information, if any, regarding such matter or issue may be inspected, or shall otherwise describe the matter or issue to be resolved, (c) shall include, if reasonably requested by such Lender and to the extent not previously provided to such Lender, written materials and, as appropriate, a brief summary of all oral information provided to the Administrative Agent by the Borrower in respect of the matter or issue to be resolved, and (d) shall include the Administrative Agent’s recommended course of action or determination in respect thereof.

 

b.                                       Notices; Effectiveness; Electronic Communication.

 

(a)                                  Notices Generally .  Except in the case of notices and other communications expressly permitted to be given by telephone (and except as provided in subsection (b)  below), all notices and other communications provided for herein shall be in writing and shall be delivered by hand or overnight courier service, mailed by certified or registered mail or sent by telecopier as follows, and all notices and other communications expressly permitted hereunder to be given by telephone shall be made to the applicable telephone number, as follows:

 

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(i)                                      if to the Borrower or the Administrative Agent to the address, telecopier number, electronic mail address or telephone number specified for such Person on Schedule 11.02 ; and

 

(ii)                                   if to any other Lender, to the address, telecopier number, electronic mail address or telephone number specified in its Administrative Questionnaire (including, as appropriate, notices delivered solely to the Person designated by a Lender on its Administrative Questionnaire then in effect for the delivery of notices that may contain material non-public information relating to the Borrower).

 

Notices and other communications sent by hand or overnight courier service, or mailed by certified or registered mail, shall be deemed to have been given when received; notices and other communications sent by telecopier shall be deemed to have been given when sent (except that, if not given during normal business hours for the recipient, shall be deemed to have been given at the opening of business on the next business day for the recipient).  Notices and other communications delivered through electronic communications to the extent provided in subsection (b)  below, shall be effective as provided in such subsection (b) .

 

(b)                                  Electronic Communications .  Notices and other communications to the Lenders hereunder may be delivered or furnished by electronic communication (including e-mail and Internet or intranet websites) pursuant to procedures approved by the Administrative Agent, provided that the foregoing shall not apply to notices to any Lender pursuant to Article II if such Lender has notified the Administrative Agent that it is incapable of receiving notices under such Article by electronic communication.  The Administrative Agent or the Borrower may each, in its discretion, agree to accept notices and other communications to it hereunder by electronic communications pursuant to procedures approved by it; provided that approval of such procedures may be limited to particular notices or communications.

 

Unless the Administrative Agent otherwise prescribes, (i) notices and other communications sent to an e-mail address shall be deemed received upon the sender’s receipt of an acknowledgement from the intended recipient (such as by the “return receipt requested” function, as available, return e-mail or other written acknowledgement), and (ii) notices or communications posted to an Internet or intranet website shall be deemed received upon the deemed receipt by the intended recipient at its e-mail address as described in the foregoing clause (i)  of notification that such notice or communication is available and identifying the website address therefor; provided that , for both clauses (i)  and (ii) , if such notice, email or other communication is not sent during the normal business hours of the recipient, such notice, email or communication shall be deemed to have been sent at the opening of business on the next business day for the recipient.

 

(c)                                   The Platform .  THE PLATFORM IS PROVIDED “AS IS” AND “AS AVAILABLE.”  THE AGENT PARTIES (AS DEFINED BELOW) DO NOT WARRANT THE ACCURACY OR COMPLETENESS OF THE BORROWER MATERIALS OR THE ADEQUACY OF THE PLATFORM, AND EXPRESSLY DISCLAIM LIABILITY FOR ERRORS IN OR OMISSIONS FROM THE

 

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BORROWER MATERIALS.  NO WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS, IMPLIED OR STATUTORY, INCLUDING ANY WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, NON-INFRINGEMENT OF THIRD PARTY RIGHTS OR FREEDOM FROM VIRUSES OR OTHER CODE DEFECTS, IS MADE BY ANY AGENT PARTY IN CONNECTION WITH THE BORROWER MATERIALS OR THE PLATFORM.  In no event shall the Administrative Agent or any of its Related Parties (collectively, the “ Agent Parties ”) have any liability to the Borrower, any Lender or any other Person for losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses of any kind (whether in tort, contract or otherwise) arising out of the Borrower’s or the Administrative Agent’s transmission of the Borrower Materials through the Internet, except to the extent that such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses are determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by a final and nonappealable judgment to have resulted from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Agent Party; provided that in no event shall any Agent Party have any liability to the Borrower, any Lender or any other Person for indirect, special, incidental, consequential or punitive damages (as opposed to direct or actual damages) resulting therefrom.

 

(d)                                  Change of Address, Etc .  Each of the Borrower and the Administrative Agent may change its address, telecopier or telephone number for notices and other communications hereunder by notice to the other parties hereto.  Each other Lender may change its address, telecopier or telephone number for notices and other communications hereunder by notice to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent.  In addition, each Lender agrees to notify the Administrative Agent from time to time to ensure that the Administrative Agent has on record (i) an effective address, contact name, telephone number, telecopier number and electronic mail address to which notices and other communications may be sent and (ii) accurate wire instructions for such Lender.  Furthermore, each Public Lender agrees to cause at least one (1) individual at or on behalf of such Public Lender to at all times have selected the “Private Side Information” or similar designation on the content declaration screen of the Platform in order to enable such Public Lender or its delegate, in accordance with such Public Lender’s compliance procedures and applicable Law, including United States Federal and state securities Laws, to make reference to the Borrower Materials that are not made available through the “Public Side Information” portion of the Platform and that may contain material non-public information with respect to the Borrower or its Equity Interests for purposes of United States Federal or state securities laws.

 

(e)                                   Reliance by the Administrative Agent and the Lenders .  The Administrative Agent and the Lenders shall be entitled to rely and act upon any notices (including telephonic Committed Loan Notices) purportedly given by or on behalf of the Borrower even if (i) such notices were not made in a manner specified herein, were incomplete or were not preceded or followed by any other form of notice specified herein, or (ii) the terms thereof, as understood by the recipient, varied from any confirmation thereof.  The Borrower shall indemnify the Administrative Agent, each Lender and the Related Parties of each of them from all losses, costs, expenses and liabilities resulting from the reliance by such Person on each notice purportedly given by or on behalf of the Borrower.  All telephonic notices to and other telephonic

 

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communications with the Administrative Agent may be recorded by the Administrative Agent, and each of the parties hereto hereby consents to such recording.

 

c.                                        No Waiver; Cumulative Remedies; Enforcement.  No failure by any Lender or the Administrative Agent to exercise, and no delay by any such Person in exercising, any right, remedy, power or privilege hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof; nor shall any single or partial exercise of any right, remedy, power or privilege hereunder preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, remedy, power or privilege.  The rights, remedies, powers and privileges herein provided and provided under each other Loan Document are cumulative and not exclusive of any rights, remedies, powers and privileges provided by Law.

 

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein or in any other Loan Document, the authority to enforce rights and remedies hereunder and under the other Loan Documents against the Loan Parties or any of them shall be vested exclusively in, and all actions and proceedings at law in connection with such enforcement shall be instituted and maintained exclusively by, the Administrative Agent in accordance with Section 9.02 for the benefit of all the Lenders; provided that the foregoing shall not prohibit (a) the Administrative Agent from exercising on its own behalf the rights and remedies that inure to its benefit (solely in its capacity as the Administrative Agent) hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, (b) any Lender from exercising setoff rights in accordance with Section 11.08 (subject to the terms of Section 2.13 ), or (c) any Lender from filing proofs of claim or appearing and filing pleadings on its own behalf during the pendency of a proceeding relative to any Loan Party under any Debtor Relief Law; and provided , further , that if at any time there is no Person acting as the Administrative Agent hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, then (i) the Required Lenders shall have the rights otherwise ascribed to the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 9.02 and (ii) in addition to the matters set forth in clauses (b) , (c)  and (d)  of the preceding proviso and subject to Section 2.13 , any Lender may, with the consent of the Required Lenders, enforce any rights and remedies available to it and as authorized by the Required Lenders.

 

d.                                       Expenses; Indemnity; Damage Waiver.

 

(a)                                  Costs and Expenses .  Each Loan Party shall jointly and severally pay (i) all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent and its Affiliates (including (a) the reasonable fees, charges and disbursements of counsel for the Administrative Agent; (b) fees and charges of each consultant, inspector, and engineer; (c) uniform commercial code searches; (d) judgment and tax lien searches for the Borrower and each Guarantor; (e) escrow fees; and (f) documentary taxes, in connection with the initial syndication of the credit facilities provided for herein, the preparation, negotiation, execution, delivery and administration of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents or any amendments, modifications or waivers of the provisions hereof or thereof (whether or not the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby shall be consummated), (ii)  all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent or any Lender (including the reasonable fees, charges and disbursements of any counsel for the Administrative Agent or any Lender (only if a Default shall be in existence)), in connection with the enforcement or protection of its rights (A) in connection with this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, including its rights under

 

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this Section, or (B) in connection with the Loans made hereunder, including all such out-of-pocket expenses incurred during any workout, restructuring or negotiations in respect of such Loans; provided, however that the Borrower shall not be required to pay the expenses of more than one law firm acting as counsel for the Lenders (in addition to expenses for any appropriate local or special counsel) in connection with such workout or enforcement to the extent the Lenders reasonably determine that joint representation is appropriate under the circumstances.

 

(b)                                  Indemnification .  The Parent and the Borrower shall jointly and severally indemnify the Administrative Agent (and any sub-agent thereof), each Lender, and each Related Party of any of the foregoing Persons (each such Person being called an “ Indemnitee ”) against, and hold each Indemnitee harmless from, any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities and related expenses (including the reasonable fees, charges and disbursements of any counsel for any Indemnitee), incurred by any Indemnitee or asserted against any Indemnitee by any third party or by the Borrower or any other Loan Party resulting from any action, suit, or proceeding relating to (i) the execution or delivery of this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any agreement or instrument contemplated hereby or thereby, the performance by the parties hereto of their respective obligations hereunder or thereunder, the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, or, in the case of the Administrative Agent (and any sub-agent thereof) and its Related Parties only, the administration of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents (including in respect of any matters addressed in Section 3.01 ), (ii) any Loan or the use or proposed use of the proceeds therefrom, (iii) any actual or alleged presence or release of Hazardous Materials on or from any property owned or operated by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, or any Environmental Damages related in any way to the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, or (iv) any actual or prospective claim, litigation, investigation or proceeding relating to any of the foregoing, whether based on contract, tort or any other theory, whether brought by a third party or by the Borrower or any other Loan Party, and regardless of whether any Indemnitee is a party thereto; provided that such indemnity shall not, as to any Indemnitee, be available to the extent that such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or related expenses (w) are determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by final and nonappealable judgment to have resulted from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Indemnitee or any Related Party of such Indemnitee, (x) result from a claim brought by the Borrower or any other Loan Party against an Indemnitee for breach in bad faith of such Indemnitee’s obligations hereunder or under any other Loan Document, if the Borrower or such other Loan Party has obtained a final and nonappealable judgment in its favor on such claim as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction, (y) for which an Indemnitee has been compensated pursuant to the terms of this Agreement or the Fee Letter, or (z) to the extent based upon contractual obligations of such Indemnitee owing by such Indemnitee to any third party which are not expressly set forth in this Agreement.

 

(c)                                   Reserved .

 

(d)                                  Reimbursement by the Lenders .  To the extent that the Loan Parties for any reason fail to indefeasibly pay any amount required under subsection (a)  or (b)  of this Section to be paid by the Loan Parties to the Administrative Agent (or any sub-agent

 

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thereof), or any Related Party of any of the foregoing (and without limiting their obligation to do so), each Lender severally agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent (or any such sub-agent) or such Related Party, as the case may be, such Lender’s pro rata share (determined as of the time that the applicable unreimbursed expense or indemnity payment is sought based on each Lender’s Applicable Percentage) of such unpaid amount (including any such unpaid amount in respect of a claim asserted by such Lender), such payment to be made severally among them based on such Lenders’ Applicable Percentage (determined as of the time that the applicable unreimbursed expense or indemnity payment is sought) of such unpaid amount, provided that the unreimbursed expense or indemnified loss, claim, damage, liability or related expense, as the case may be, was incurred by or asserted against the Administrative Agent (or any such sub-agent), or against any Related Party of any of the foregoing acting for the Administrative Agent (or any such sub-agent), in connection with such capacity.  The obligations of the Lenders under this subsection (c)  are subject to the provisions of Section 2.12(d) .

 

(e)                                   Waiver of Consequential Damages, Etc.   To the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law, no Loan Party shall assert, and each Loan Party hereby waives and acknowledges that no other Person shall have, any claim against any Indemnitee, on any theory of liability, for special, indirect, consequential or punitive damages (as opposed to direct or actual damages) arising out of, in connection with, or as a result of, this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any agreement or instrument contemplated hereby, the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, any Loan or the use of the proceeds thereof.  No Indemnitee referred to in subsection (b)  above shall be liable for any damages arising from the use by unintended recipients of any information or other materials distributed to such unintended recipients by such Indemnitee through telecommunications, electronic or other information transmission systems in connection with this Agreement or the other Loan Documents or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby other than for direct or actual damages resulting from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Indemnitee as determined by a final and nonappealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction.

 

(f)                                    Payments .  All amounts due under this Section shall be payable not later than ten (10) Business Days after demand therefor.

 

(g)                                   Survival .  The agreements in this Section and the indemnity provisions of Section 11.02(e)  shall survive the resignation of the Administrative Agent, the replacement of any Lender and the repayment, satisfaction or discharge of all the other Obligations.

 

e.                                        Payments Set Aside.  To the extent that any payment by or on behalf of the Borrower is made to the Administrative Agent or any Lender, or the Administrative Agent or any Lender exercises its right of setoff, and such payment or the proceeds of such setoff or any part thereof is subsequently invalidated, declared to be fraudulent or preferential, set aside or required (including pursuant to any settlement entered into by the Administrative Agent or such Lender in its discretion) to be repaid to a trustee, receiver or any other party, in connection with any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law or otherwise, then (a) to the extent of such recovery, the obligation or part thereof originally intended to be satisfied shall be revived and continued in

 

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full force and effect as if such payment had not been made or such setoff had not occurred, and (b) each Lender severally agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent upon demand its applicable share (without duplication) of any amount so recovered from or repaid by the Administrative Agent (without relieving the Borrower of its obligation to make any such payment so required), plus interest thereon from the date of such demand to the date such payment is made at a rate per annum equal to the Federal Funds Rate from time to time in effect.  The obligations of the Lenders under clause (b)  of the preceding sentence shall survive the payment in full of the Obligations and the termination of this Agreement.

 

f.                                         Successors and Assigns.

 

(a)                                  Successors and Assigns Generally .  The provisions of this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby, except that neither the Borrower nor any other Loan Party may assign or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent and each Lender and no Lender may assign or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations hereunder except (i) to an assignee in accordance with the provisions of subsection (b)  of this Section, (ii) by way of participation in accordance with the provisions of subsection (d)  of this Section, or (iii) by way of pledge or assignment of a security interest subject to the restrictions of subsection (e)  of this Section (and any other attempted assignment or transfer by any party hereto shall be null and void).  Nothing in this Agreement, expressed or implied, shall be construed to confer upon any Person (other than the parties hereto, their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby, Participants to the extent provided in subsection (d)  of this Section and, to the extent expressly contemplated hereby, the Related Parties of each of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders) any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or by reason of this Agreement.

 

(b)                                  Assignments by the Lenders .  Any Lender may, at no cost or expense to any Loan Party (except as provided in Section 11.13 ), at any time assign to one or more assignees all or a portion of its rights and obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of the Loans at the time owing to it); provided that any such assignment shall be subject to the following conditions:

 

(i)                                      Minimum Amounts .

 

i)                                          in the case of an assignment of the entire remaining amount of the assigning Lender’s Loans at the time owing to it or contemporaneous assignments to related Approved Funds that equal at least the amount specified in paragraph (b)(i)(B) of this Section in the aggregate or in the case of an assignment to a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund, no minimum amount need be assigned (but any such assignment shall be of a pro rata interest in each of the Loans; and

 

ii)                                       in any case not described in subsection (b)(i)(A)  of this Section, the principal outstanding balance of the Loans of the assigning

 

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Lender subject to each such assignment, determined as of the date the Assignment and Assumption with respect to such assignment is delivered to the Administrative Agent or, if “Trade Date” is specified in the Assignment and Assumption, as of the Trade Date, shall not be less than $5,000,000 and shall be an assignment of a pro rata interest in each of the Loans, and the amount assigned to the Eligible Assignee shall not be less than $5,000,000, unless each of the Administrative Agent and, so long as no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Borrower otherwise consents (each such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed); provided that concurrent assignments to members of an Assignee Group and concurrent assignments from members of an Assignee Group to a single Eligible Assignee (or to an Eligible Assignee and members of its Assignee Group) will be treated as a single assignment for purposes of determining whether such minimum amount has been met.

 

(ii)                                   Proportionate Amounts .  Each partial assignment shall be made as an assignment of a proportionate part of all the assigning Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement with respect to the Loans assigned;

 

(iii)                                Required Consents .  No consent shall be required for any assignment except to the extent required by subsection (b)(i)(B)  of this Section and, in addition:

 

i)                                          the consent of the Borrower (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) shall be required unless (1) an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing at the time of such assignment or (2) such assignment is to a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender, an Approved Fund or to any Federal Reserve Bank or other central bank authority or comparable agency having jurisdiction over such Lender; provided that the Borrower shall be deemed to have consented to any such assignment unless it shall object thereto by written notice to the Administrative Agent within ten (10) Business Days after having received notice thereof; and

 

ii)                                       the consent of the Administrative Agent (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) shall be required if such assignment is to a Person that is not a Lender, an Affiliate of such Lender or an Approved Fund with respect to such Lender.

 

(iv)                               Assignment and Assumption .  The parties to each assignment shall execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent an Assignment and Assumption, together with a processing and recordation fee in the amount of $3,500; provided that the Administrative Agent may, in its sole discretion, elect to waive such processing and recordation fee in the case of any assignment.  The assignee, if it is not a Lender, shall deliver to the Administrative Agent an Administrative Questionnaire.

 

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(v)                                  No Assignment to Certain Persons .  No such assignment shall be made (A) to the Parent or the Borrower or any of their Affiliates or Subsidiaries, or (B) without the consent of the Administrative Agent and the Borrower, to any Defaulting Lender or any of its Subsidiaries, or any Person who, upon becoming a Lender hereunder, would constitute any of the foregoing Persons described in this clause (B) , (C) to a natural person, or (D) without the consent of the Borrower, to any Excluded Party.

 

(vi)                               Certain Additional Payments .  In connection with any assignment of rights and obligations of any Defaulting Lender hereunder, no such assignment shall be effective unless and until, in addition to the other conditions thereto set forth herein, the parties to the assignment shall make such additional payments to the Administrative Agent in an aggregate amount sufficient, upon distribution thereof as appropriate (which may be outright payment, purchases by the assignee of participations or sub-participations, or other compensating actions, including funding, with the consent of the Borrower and the Administrative Agent, the applicable pro rata share of Loans previously requested but not funded by the Defaulting Lender, to each of which the applicable assignee and assignor hereby irrevocably consent), to (x) pay and satisfy in full all payment liabilities then owed by such Defaulting Lender to the Administrative Agent or any Lender hereunder (and interest accrued thereon) and (y) acquire (and fund as appropriate) its full pro rata share of all Loans in accordance with its Applicable Percentage.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that any assignment of rights and obligations of any Defaulting Lender hereunder shall become effective under applicable Law without compliance with the provisions of this paragraph, then the assignee of such interest shall be deemed to be a Defaulting Lender for all purposes of this Agreement until such compliance occurs.

 

Subject to acceptance and recording thereof by the Administrative Agent pursuant to subsection (c)  of this Section, from and after the effective date specified in each Assignment and Assumption, the assignee thereunder shall be a party to this Agreement and, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Assumption, have the rights and obligations of a Lender under this Agreement, and the assigning Lender thereunder shall, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Assumption, be released from its obligations under this Agreement (and, in the case of an Assignment and Assumption covering all of the assigning Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement, such Lender shall cease to be a party hereto) but shall continue to be entitled to the benefits of Sections 3.01, 3.04 , 3.05 , and 11.04 with respect to facts and circumstances occurring prior to the effective date of such assignment, provided, that except to the extent otherwise expressly agreed by the affected parties, no assignment by a Defaulting Lender will constitute a waiver or release of any claim of any party hereunder arising from that Lender’s having been a Defaulting Lender.  Upon request, the Borrower (at its expense) shall execute and deliver a Note to the assignee Lender.  Any assignment or transfer by a Lender of rights or obligations under this Agreement that does not comply with this subsection shall be treated for purposes of this Agreement as a sale by such Lender of a participation in such rights and obligations in accordance with subsection (d)  of this Section.

 

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(c)                                   Register .  The Administrative Agent, acting solely for this purpose as an a non-fiduciary agent of the Borrower (and such agency being solely for tax purposes), shall maintain at the Administrative Agent’s Office a copy of each Assignment and Assumption delivered to it (or the equivalent thereof in electronic form) and a register for the recordation of the names and addresses of the Lenders and principal amounts (and stated interest) of the Loans owing to, each Lender pursuant to the terms hereof from time to time (the “ Register ”).  The entries in the Register shall be conclusive absent manifest error, and the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders may treat each Person whose name is recorded in the Register pursuant to the terms hereof as a Lender hereunder for all purposes of this Agreement .   The Register shall be available for inspection by the Borrower and any Lender, at any reasonable time and from time to time upon reasonable prior notice.

 

(d)                                  Participations .  Any Lender may at any time, without the consent of, or notice to, the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, sell participations to any Person (other than a natural person, an Excluded Party, a Defaulting Lender or the Parent or the Borrower or any of their Affiliates or Subsidiaries) (each, a “ Participant ”) in all or a portion of such Lender’s rights and/or obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of the Loans owing to it); provided that (i) such Lender’s obligations under this Agreement shall remain unchanged, (ii) such Lender shall remain solely responsible to the other parties hereto for the performance of such obligations and (iii) the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the Lenders shall continue to deal solely and directly with such Lender in connection with such Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement.  For the avoidance of doubt, each Lender shall be responsible for the indemnity under Section 11.04(d)  without regard to the existence of any participation.

 

Any agreement or instrument pursuant to which a Lender sells such a participation shall provide that such Lender shall retain the sole right to enforce this Agreement and to approve any amendment, modification or waiver of any provision of this Agreement; provided that such agreement or instrument may provide that such Lender will not, without the consent of the Participant, agree to any amendment, waiver or other modification described in the first proviso to Section 11.01 that affects such Participant.  The Borrower agrees that each Participant shall be entitled to the benefits of Sections 3.01 , 3.04 and 3.05 to the same extent as if it were a Lender and had acquired its interest by assignment pursuant to subsection (b) of this Section (it being understood that the documentation required under Section 3.01(e)  shall be delivered to the Lender who sells the participation); provided that such Participant (A) agrees to be subject to the provisions of Section s 3.06 and 11.13 as if it were an assignee under paragraph (b) of this Section and (B) shall not be entitled to receive any greater payment under Sections 3.01 or 3.04 , with respect to any participation than the Lender from whom it acquired the applicable participation would have been entitled to receive, except to the extent such entitlement to receive a greater payment results from a Change in Law that occurs after the Participant acquired the applicable participation.  Each Lender that sells a participation agrees, at the Borrower’s request and expense, to use reasonable efforts to cooperate with the Borrower to effectuate the provisions of Section 3.06 with respect to any Participant.  To the extent permitted by law, each Participant also shall be entitled to the benefits of Section  11.08 as though it were a Lender; provided that such Participant agrees to be subject to Section 2.13 as though it were a Lender.  Each Lender that sells a participation shall, acting solely for this purpose as a nonfiduciary non-

 

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fiduciary agent of the Borrower, maintain a register on which it enters the name and address of each Participant and the principal amounts (and stated interest) of each Participant’s interest in the Loans or other obligations under the Loan Documents (the “Participant Register”); provided that no Lender shall have any obligation to disclose all or any portion of the Participant Register (including the identity of any Participant or any information relating to a Participant’s interest in any commitments, loans, letters of credit or its other obligations under any Loan Document) to any Person except to the extent that such disclosure is necessary to establish that such commitment, loan, letter of credit or other obligation is in registered form under Section 5f.103-1(c)  of the United States Treasury Regulations.  The entries in the Participant Register shall be conclusive absent manifest error, and such Lender shall treat each Person whose name is recorded in the Participant Register as the owner of such participation for all purposes of this Agreement notwithstanding any notice to the contrary.  For the avoidance of doubt, the Administrative Agent (in its capacity as the Administrative Agent) shall have no responsibility for maintaining a Participant Register.

 

(e)                                   Certain Pledges .  Any Lender may at any time pledge or assign a security interest in all or any portion of its rights under this Agreement (including under its Note, if any) to secure obligations of such Lender, including any pledge or assignment to secure obligations to a Federal Reserve Bank or other central bank authority or comparable agency having jurisdiction over such Lender ; provided that no such pledge or assignment shall release such Lender from any of its obligations hereunder or substitute any such pledgee or assignee for such Lender as a party hereto.

 

(f)                                    Reserved .

 

(g)                                   USA Patriot Act Notice; Compliance .  In order for the Administrative Agent to comply with “know your customer” and anti-money laundering rules and regulations, including without limitation, the Patriot Act, prior to any Lender that is organized under the laws of a jurisdiction outside of the United States of America becoming a party hereto, the Administrative Agent may request, and such Lender shall provide to the Administrative Agent, its name, address, tax identification number and/or such other identification information as shall be necessary for the Administrative Agent to comply with federal law.

 

g.                                        Treatment of Certain Information; Confidentiality.  Each of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders agrees to maintain the confidentiality of the Information (as defined below), except that Information may be disclosed (a) to its Affiliates and to its Related Parties (it being understood that the Persons to whom such disclosure is made will be informed of the confidential nature of such Information and instructed to keep such Information confidential), (b) to the extent required or requested by any regulatory authority purporting to have jurisdiction over such Person or its Related Parties (including any self-regulatory authority, such as the National Association of Insurance Commissioners), (c) to the extent required by applicable Laws or regulations or by any subpoena or similar legal process so long as the Administrative Agent and any Lender, as the case may be, requests confidential treatment of such Information to the extent permitted by Law (provided that the requesting Administrative Agent or Lender shall not be responsible for the failure by any such party to keep the Information confidential), (d) to any other party hereto, (e) in connection with the exercise of any remedies hereunder or under any

 

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other Loan Document or any action or proceeding relating to this Agreement or any other Loan Document or the enforcement of rights hereunder or thereunder, (f) subject to an agreement containing provisions substantially the same as those of this Section, to (i) any assignee of or Participant in, or any prospective assignee of or Participant in, any of its rights and obligations under this Agreement or any Eligible Assignee invited to be a Lender pursuant to Section 3.06(c), Section 11.13 or (ii) any actual or prospective party (or its Related Parties) to any swap, derivative or other transaction under which payments are to be made by reference to the Borrower and its obligations, this Agreement or payments hereunder, (g) on a confidential basis to (i)  any rating agency in connection with rating the Borrower or its Subsidiaries or the credit facilities provided hereunder or (ii) the CUSIP Service Bureau or any similar agency in connection with the issuance and monitoring of CUSIP numbers or other market identifiers with respect to the credit facilities provided hereunder, (h) with the consent of the Borrower or (i) to the extent such Information (x) becomes publicly available other than as a result of a breach of this Section or (y) becomes available to the Administrative Agent, any Lender or any of their respective Affiliates on a non-confidential basis from a source other than the Borrower provided that the source of such information was not at the time known to be bound by a confidentiality agreement or other legal or contractual obligation of confidentiality with respect to such Information.  For purposes of this Section, “Information” means all information received from the Borrower or any Subsidiary relating to the Borrower or any Subsidiary or any of their respective businesses, other than any such information that is available to the Administrative Agent or any Lender on a non-confidential basis prior to disclosure by the Borrower or any Subsidiary, provided that, in the case of information received from the Borrower or any Subsidiary after the date hereof, such information is clearly identified at the time of delivery as confidential.  Any Person required to maintain the confidentiality of Information as provided in this Section shall be considered to have complied with its obligation to do so if such Person has exercised the same degree of care to maintain the confidentiality of such Information as such Person would accord to its own confidential information.

 

Each of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders acknowledges that (a) the Information may include material non-public information concerning the Borrower or a Subsidiary, as the case may be, (b) it has developed compliance procedures regarding the use of material non-public information and (c) it will handle such material non-public information in accordance with applicable Law, including United States Federal and state securities Laws.

 

h.                                       Right of Setoff .  If an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing and the Administrative Agent and the Required Lenders shall have consented in writing thereto, each Lender and each of their respective Affiliates (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any Specified Derivatives Providers) is hereby authorized at any time and from time to time, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, to set off and apply any and all deposits (general or special, time or demand, provisional or final, in whatever currency) at any time held and other obligations (in whatever currency) at any time owing by such Lender or any such Affiliate to or for the credit or the account of the Borrower or any other Loan Party against any and all of the obligations of the Borrower or such Loan Party now or hereafter existing under this Agreement or any other Loan Document to such Lender or their respective Affiliates, irrespective of whether or not such Lender or Affiliate shall have made any demand under this Agreement or any other Loan Document and although such obligations of the Borrower or such Loan Party may be contingent or unmatured or are owed to a branch, office or Affiliate of such Lender different from the branch,

 

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office or Affiliate holding such deposit or obligated on such indebtedness; provided, that in the event that any Defaulting Lender shall exercise any such right of setoff, (x) all amounts so set off shall be paid over immediately to the Administrative Agent for further application in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.17 and, pending such payment, shall be segregated by such Defaulting Lender from its other funds and deemed held in trust for the benefit of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders, and (y) the Defaulting Lender shall provide promptly to the Administrative Agent a statement describing in reasonable detail the Obligations owing to such Defaulting Lender as to which it exercised such right of setoff. The rights of each Lender and their respective Affiliates under this Section are in addition to other rights and remedies (including other rights of setoff) that such Lender or their respective Affiliates may have. Each Lender agrees to notify the Borrower and the Administrative Agent promptly after any such setoff and application, provided that the failure to give such notice shall not affect the validity of such setoff and application

 

i.                                           Interest Rate Limitation.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in any Loan Document, the interest paid or agreed to be paid under the Loan Documents shall not exceed the maximum rate of non-usurious interest permitted by applicable Law (the “ Maximum Rate ”).  If the Administrative Agent or any Lender shall receive interest in an amount that exceeds the Maximum Rate, the excess interest shall be applied to the principal of the Loans or, if it exceeds such unpaid principal, refunded to the Borrower.  In determining whether the interest contracted for, charged, or received by the Administrative Agent or a Lender exceeds the Maximum Rate, such Person may, to the extent permitted by applicable Law, (a) characterize any payment that is not principal as an expense, fee, or premium rather than interest, (b) exclude voluntary prepayments and the effects thereof, and (c) amortize, prorate, allocate, and spread in equal or unequal parts the total amount of interest throughout the contemplated term of the Obligations hereunder.

 

j.                                          Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness.  This Agreement may be executed in counterparts (and by different parties hereto in different counterparts), each of which shall constitute an original, but all of which when taken together shall constitute a single contract.  This Agreement and the other Loan Documents , and any separate letter agreements with respect to fees payable to the Administrative Agent constitute the entire contract among the parties relating to the subject matter hereof and supersede any and all previous agreements and understandings, oral or written, relating to the subject matter hereof.  Except as provided in Section 5.01 , this Agreement shall become effective when it shall have been executed by the Administrative Agent and when the Administrative Agent shall have received counterparts hereof that, when taken together, bear the signatures of each of the other parties hereto.  Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page of this Agreement by telecopy, by email with a pdf copy attached, or other electronic imaging means shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Agreement.

 

k.                                       Survival of Representations and Warranties.  All representations and warranties made hereunder and in any other Loan Document or other document delivered pursuant hereto or thereto or in connection herewith or therewith shall survive the execution and delivery hereof and thereof.  Such representations and warranties have been or will be relied upon by the Administrative Agent and each Lender, regardless of any investigation made by the Administrative Agent or any Lender or on their behalf and notwithstanding that the

 

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Administrative Agent or any Lender may have had notice or knowledge of any Default at the time of any Credit Extension, and shall continue in full force and effect as long as any Loan or any other Obligation hereunder shall remain unpaid or unsatisfied.

 

l.                                           Severability.  If any provision of this Agreement or the other Loan Documents is held to be illegal, invalid or unenforceable, (a) the legality, validity and enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents shall not be affected or impaired thereby and (b) the parties shall endeavor in good faith negotiations to replace the illegal, invalid or unenforceable provisions with valid provisions the economic effect of which comes as close as possible to that of the illegal, invalid or unenforceable provisions.  The invalidity of a provision in a particular jurisdiction shall not invalidate or render unenforceable such provision in any other jurisdiction.  Without limiting the foregoing provisions of this Section 11.12 , if and to the extent that the enforceability of any provisions in this Agreement relating to Defaulting Lenders shall be limited by Debtor Relief Laws, as determined in good faith by the Administrative Agent then such provisions shall be deemed to be in effect only to the extent not so limited.

 

m.                                   Replacement of the Lenders.  If the Borrower is entitled to replace a Lender pursuant to the provisions of Section 3.06 , or if any Lender is a Defaulting Lender or if any other circumstance exists hereunder that gives the Borrower the right to replace a Lender as a party hereto, then the Borrower may, at its sole expense and effort, upon notice to such Lender and the Administrative Agent, require such Lender to assign and delegate, without recourse (in accordance with and subject to the restrictions contained in, and consents required by, Section 11.06 ), all of its interests, rights (other than its existing rights to payments pursuant to Sections 3.01, 3.04 and 3.05 ) and obligations under this Agreement and the related Loan Documents to an Eligible Assignee that shall assume such obligations (which assignee may be another Lender, if a Lender accepts such assignment), provided that:

 

(a)                                  the Borrower shall have paid to the Administrative Agent the assignment fee (if any) specified in Section 11.06(b) ;

 

(b)                                  such Lender shall have received payment of an amount equal to the outstanding principal of its Loans, accrued interest thereon, accrued fees and all other amounts payable to it hereunder and under the other Loan Documents (including any amounts under Section 3.05 ) from the assignee (to the extent of such outstanding principal and accrued interest and fees) or the Borrower (in the case of all other amounts);

 

(c)                                   in the case of any such assignment resulting from a claim for compensation under Section 3.04 or payments required to be made pursuant to Section 3.01 , such assignment will result in a reduction in such compensation or payments thereafter; and

 

(d)                                  such assignment does not conflict with applicable Laws.

 

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(e)                                   A Lender shall not be required to make any such assignment or delegation if, prior thereto, as a result of a waiver by such Lender or otherwise, the circumstances entitling the Borrower to require such assignment and delegation cease to apply.

 

n.                                       Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Etc.

 

(a)                                  GOVERNING LAW .  THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS AND ANY CLAIMS, CONTROVERSY, DISPUTE OR CAUSE OF ACTION (WHETHER IN CONTRACT OR TORT OR OTHERWISE) BASED UPON, ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT (EXCEPT, AS TO ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT, AS EXPRESSLY SET FORTH THEREIN) AND THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY AND THEREBY SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

 

(b)                                  SUBMISSION TO JURISDICTION .  THE BORROWER AND EACH OTHER LOAN PARTY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY AGREES THAT IT WILL NOT COMMENCE ANY ACTION, LITIGATION OR PROCEEDING OF ANY KIND OR DESCRIPTION, WHETHER IN LAW OR EQUITY, WHETHER IN CONTRACT OR IN TORT OR OTHERWISE, AGAINST THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT, ANY LENDER OR ANY RELATED PARTY OF THE FOREGOING IN ANY WAY RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS RELATING HERETO OR THERETO, IN ANY FORUM OTHER THAN THE COURTS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK COUNTY AND OF THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT OF THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK, AND ANY APPELLATE COURT FROM ANY THEREOF, AND EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY SUBMITS TO THE JURISDICTION OF SUCH COURTS AND AGREES THAT ALL CLAIMS IN RESPECT OF ANY SUCH ACTION, LITIGATION OR PROCEEDING MAY BE HEARD AND DETERMINED IN SUCH NEW YORK STATE COURT OR, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, IN SUCH FEDERAL COURT.  EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO AGREES THAT A FINAL JUDGMENT IN ANY SUCH ACTION, LITIGATION OR PROCEEDING SHALL BE CONCLUSIVE AND MAY BE ENFORCED IN OTHER JURISDICTIONS BY SUIT ON THE JUDGMENT OR IN ANY OTHER MANNER PROVIDED BY LAW.  NOTHING IN THIS AGREEMENT OR IN ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT SHALL AFFECT ANY RIGHT THAT THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT OR ANY LENDER MAY OTHERWISE HAVE TO BRING ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT AGAINST THE BORROWER OR ANY OTHER LOAN PARTY OR ITS PROPERTIES IN THE COURTS OF ANY JURISDICTION.

 

(c)                                   WAIVER OF VENUE .  EACH OF THE PARENT, THE BORROWER AND EACH OTHER LOAN PARTY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY OBJECTION THAT IT MAY NOW OR HEREAFTER HAVE TO THE LAYING OF VENUE OF ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING

 

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TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT IN ANY COURT REFERRED TO IN PARAGRAPH (b) OF THIS SECTION.  EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, THE DEFENSE OF AN INCONVENIENT FORUM TO THE MAINTENANCE OF SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING IN ANY SUCH COURT.

 

(d)                                  SERVICE OF PROCESS .  EACH PARTY HERETO IRREVOCABLY CONSENTS TO SERVICE OF PROCESS IN THE MANNER PROVIDED FOR NOTICES IN SECTION 11.02 PROVIDED THAT, IN THE CASE OF SERVICE ON ANY LOAN PARTY A COPY IS ALSO DELIVERED TO JEFFREY SULLIVAN, GENERAL COUNSEL FOR PARENT AND BORROWER.  NOTHING IN THIS AGREEMENT WILL AFFECT THE RIGHT OF ANY PARTY HERETO TO SERVE PROCESS IN ANY OTHER MANNER PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW.

 

(e)                                   WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL .  EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR THEREBY (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT OR ANY OTHER THEORY).  EACH PARTY HERETO (A) CERTIFIES THAT NO REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF ANY OTHER PERSON HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PERSON WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER AND (B) ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT AND THE OTHER PARTIES HERETO HAVE BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION.

 

o.                                       No Advisory or Fiduciary Responsibility.  In connection with all aspects of each transaction contemplated hereby (including in connection with any amendment, waiver or other modification hereof or of any other Loan Document), the Parent, the Borrower, and each other Loan Party acknowledges and agrees, and acknowledges its Affiliates’ understanding, that: (i)(A) the arranging and other services regarding this Agreement provided by the Administrative Agent and the Lead Arranger are arm’s-length commercial transactions between the Parent, the Borrower, each other Loan Party and their respective Affiliates, on the one hand, and the Administrative Agent and the Lead Arranger, on the other hand, (B) each of the Parent, the Borrower, and the other Loan Parties has consulted its own legal, accounting, regulatory and tax advisors to the extent it has deemed appropriate, and (C) the Borrower and each other Loan Party is capable of evaluating, and understands and accepts, the terms, risks and conditions of the transactions contemplated hereby and by the other Loan Documents; (ii)(A) each of the Administrative Agent, the Lead Arranger and the Lenders is and has been acting solely as a principal and, except as expressly agreed in writing by the relevant parties, has not been, is not, and will not be acting as an advisor, agent or fiduciary for the Parent, the Borrower, any other Loan Party, or any of their respective Affiliates, or any other Person and (B) the Administrative Agent, the Lead Arranger and the Lender have no obligation to the Parent, the Borrower, any

 

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other Loan Party, or any of their respective Affiliates with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby except those obligations expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents; and (iii) the Administrative Agent, the Lead Arranger and the Lenders and their respective Affiliates may be engaged in a broad range of transactions that involve interests that differ from those of the Parent, the Borrower, the other Loan Parties, and their respective Affiliates, and the Administrative Agent, the Lead Arranger and the Lenders have no obligation to disclose any of such interests to the Parent, the Borrower, any other Loan Party, or any of their respective Affiliates.  To the fullest extent permitted by Law, each of the Parent, the Borrower, and the other Loan Parties hereby waives and releases any claims that it may have against the Administrative Agent and the Lead Arranger with respect to any breach or alleged breach of agency or fiduciary duty in connection with any aspect of any transaction contemplated hereby.

 

p.                                       Electronic Execution of Assignments and Certain Other Documents.  The words “execution,” “signed,” “signature,” and words of like import in any Assignment and Assumption or in any amendment or other modification hereof (including waivers and consents) shall be deemed to include electronic signatures , the electronic matching or assignment terms and contract formations on electronic platforms approved by the Administrative Agent or the keeping of records in electronic form, each of which shall be of the same legal effect, validity or enforceability as a manually executed signature or the use of a paper-based recordkeeping system, as the case may be, to the extent and as provided for in any applicable Law, including the Federal Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act, the New York State Electronic Signatures and Records Act, or any other similar state laws based on the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act.

 

q.                                       USA PATRIOT ACT.  Each Lender that is subject to the Patriot Act (as hereinafter defined) and the Administrative Agent (for itself and not on behalf of any Lender) hereby notifies the Borrower that pursuant to the requirements of The Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001 (Title III of Pub. L. No. 107-56 (signed into law October 26, 2001)) (the “ Patriot Act ”), it is required to obtain, verify and record certain information that identifies individuals or business entities which open an “account” with such financial institution, which information includes the name, address, and tax identification number of the Borrower and such other identification information that will allow such Lender or the Administrative Agent, as applicable, to identify the Borrower in accordance with the Patriot Act and comply with federal law.  An “account” for this purpose may include, without limitation, a deposit account, cash management service, a transaction or asset account, a credit account, a loan or other extension of credit, and/or other financial services product. the Borrower shall, promptly following a request by the Administrative Agent or any Lender, provide all documentation and other information that the Administrative Agent or such Lender requests in order to comply with its ongoing obligations under applicable “know your customer” and anti-money laundering rules and regulations, including the Patriot Act.

 

r.                                          ENTIRE AGREEMENT.  THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS REPRESENT THE FINAL AGREEMENT AMONG THE PARTIES AND MAY NOT BE CONTRADICTED BY EVIDENCE OF PRIOR, CONTEMPORANEOUS, OR SUBSEQUENT ORAL AGREEMENTS OF THE PARTIES.  THERE ARE NO UNWRITTEN ORAL AGREEMENTS AMONG THE PARTIES.

 

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s.                                         Acknowledgment and Consent to Bail-In of EEA Financial Institutions.

 

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in any Loan Document or in any other agreement, arrangement or understanding among any such parties, each party hereto acknowledges that any liability of any EEA Financial Institution arising under any Loan Document may be subject to the Write-Down and Conversion Powers of an EEA Resolution Authority and agrees and consents to, and acknowledges and agrees to be bound by:

 

(a)                                  the application of any Write-Down and Conversion Powers by an EEA Resolution Authority to any such liabilities arising hereunder which may be payable to it by any party hereto that is an EEA Financial Institution; and

 

(b)                                  the effects of any Bail-In Action on any such liability, including, if applicable:

 

(i)                                      a reduction in full or in part or cancellation of any such liability;

 

(ii)                                   a conversion of all, or a portion of, such liability into shares or other instruments of ownership in such EEA Financial Institution, its parent entity, or a bridge institution that may be issued to it or otherwise conferred on it, and that such shares or other instruments of ownership will be accepted by it in lieu of any rights with respect to any such liability under this Agreement or any other Loan Document; or

 

(iii)                                the variation of the terms of such liability in connection with the exercise of the Write-Down and Conversion Powers of any EEA Resolution Authority.

 

18.20                  Certain ERISA Matters.

 

(a)                                  Each Lender (x) represents and warrants, as of the date such Person became a Lender party hereto, to, and (y) covenants, from the date such Person became a Lender party hereto to the date such Person ceases being a Lender party hereto, for the benefit of, the Administrative Agent, each Lead Arranger and their respective Affiliates, and not, for the avoidance of doubt, to or for the benefit of the Borrower or any other Loan Party, that at least one of the following is and will be true:

 

(i)                                      such Lender is not using “plan assets” (within the meaning of 29 CFR § 2510.3-101, as modified by Section 3(42) of ERISA) of one or more Benefit Plans in connection with the Loans or the Commitments;

 

(ii)                                   the transaction exemption set forth in one or more PTEs, such as PTE 84-14 (a class exemption for certain transactions determined by independent qualified professional asset managers), PTE 95-60 (a class exemption for certain transactions involving insurance company general accounts), PTE 90-1 (a class exemption for certain transactions involving insurance company pooled separate accounts), PTE 91-38 (a class exemption for certain transactions involving bank collective investment funds) or PTE 96-23 (a class exemption for certain transactions determined by in-house asset managers), is applicable with respect to

 

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such Lender’s entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Commitments and this Agreement;

 

(iii)                                (A) such Lender is an investment fund managed by a “Qualified Professional Asset Manager” (within the meaning of Part VI of PTE 84-14), (B) such Qualified Professional Asset Manager made the investment decision on behalf of such Lender to enter into, participate in, administer and perform the Loans, the Commitments and this Agreement, (C) the entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Commitments and this Agreement satisfies the requirements of sub-sections (b) through (g) of Part I of PTE 84-14 and (D) to the best knowledge of such Lender, the requirements of subsection (a) of Part I of PTE 84-14 are satisfied with respect to such Lender’s entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Commitments and this Agreement; or

 

(iv)                               such other representation, warranty and covenant as may be agreed in writing between the Administrative Agent, in its sole discretion, and such Lender.

 

(b)                                  In addition, unless sub-clause (i) in the immediately preceding clause (a) is true with respect to a Lender or such Lender has not provided another representation, warranty and covenant as provided in sub-clause (iv) in the immediately preceding clause (a), such Lender further (x) represents and warrants, as of the date such Person became a Lender party hereto, to, and (y) covenants, from the date such Person became a Lender party hereto to the date such Person ceases being a Lender party hereto, for the benefit of, the Administrative Agent, each Lead Arranger and their respective Affiliates, and not, for the avoidance of doubt, to or for the benefit of the Borrower or any other Credit Party, that:

 

(i)                                      none of the Administrative Agent, any Lead Arranger nor any of their respective Affiliates is a fiduciary with respect to the assets of such Lender (including in connection with the reservation or exercise of any rights by the Administrative Agent under this Agreement, any Loan Document or any documents related to hereto or thereto);

 

(ii)                                   the Person making the investment decision on behalf of such Lender with respect to the entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Commitments and this Agreement is independent (within the meaning of 29 CFR § 2510.3-21) and is a bank, an insurance carrier, an investment adviser, a broker-dealer or other person that holds, or has under management or control, total assets of at least $50 million, in each case as described in 29 CFR § 2510.3-21(c)(1)(i)(A)-(E),

 

(iii)                                the Person making the investment decision on behalf of such Lender with respect to the entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Commitments and this Agreement is capable of evaluating investment risks independently, both in general and with regard to

 

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particular transactions and investment strategies (including in respect of the Secured Obligations);

 

(iv)                               the Person making the investment decision on behalf of such Lender with respect to the entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Commitments and this Agreement is a fiduciary under ERISA or the Code, or both, with respect to the Loans, the Commitments and this Agreement and is responsible for exercising independent judgment in evaluating the transactions hereunder, and

 

(v)                                  no fee or other compensation is being paid directly to the Administrative Agent, each Lead Arranger or their respective Affiliates for investment advice (as opposed to other services) in connection with the Loans, the Commitments or this Agreement.

 

(c)                                   The Administrative Agent and each Lead Arranger hereby informs the Lenders that each such Person is not undertaking to provide impartial investment advice, or to give advice in a fiduciary capacity, in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby, and that such Person has a financial interest in the transactions contemplated hereby in that such Person or an Affiliate thereof (i) may receive interest or other payments with respect to the Loans, the Commitments and this Agreement, (ii) may recognize a gain if it extended the Loans or the Commitments for an amount less than the amount being paid for an interest in the Loans or the Commitments by such Lender or (iii) may receive fees or other payments in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby, the Loan Documents or otherwise, including structuring fees, commitment fees, arrangement fees, facility fees, upfront fees, underwriting fees, ticking fees, agency fees, administrative agent or collateral agent fees, utilization fees, minimum usage fees, letter of credit fees, fronting fees, deal-away or alternate transaction fees, amendment fees, processing fees, term out premiums, banker’s acceptance fees, breakage or other early termination fees or fees similar to the foregoing.

 

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EXHIBIT B

 

AMENDED LOAN AGREEMENT (CLEAN)

 

[Attached]

 



 

EXHIBIT B to Second Amendment to Second Amended and Restated Term Loan
Agreement

 

Published CUSIP Number: 85253UAC2

 

SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED TERM LOAN AGREEMENT

Dated as of December 20, 2016

 

among

 

STAG INDUSTRIAL OPERATING PARTNERSHIP, L.P. ,

as the Borrower,

 

STAG INDUSTRIAL, INC. ,

as a Guarantor,

 

WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION ,

as the Administrative Agent

 

and

 

The Other Lenders Party Hereto

 

WELLS FARGO SECURITIES, LLC ,

  as the Lead Arranger and Bookrunner

 

and

 

THE FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS NOW OR HEREAFTER SIGNATORIES HERETO AND THEIR ASSIGNEES PURSUANT TO SECTION 11.06 ,

as Lenders

 

WFB LOAN NO. 1011583

 



 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

Section

 

Page

 

 

Article I. Definitions and Accounting Terms

1

1.01 Defined Terms

1

1.02 Other Interpretive Provisions

33

1.03 Accounting Terms

34

1.04 Rounding

35

1.05 Times of Day

35

1.06 Amendment and Restatement of the Existing Term Loan Agreement

35

1.07 Rates

36

 

 

Article II. The Committed Loans and Credit Extensions

36

2.01 Committed Loans

36

2.02 Borrowings, Conversions and Continuations of Committed Loans

36

2.03 Reserved

38

2.04 Reserved

38

2.05 Prepayments

38

2.06 Incremental Term Loans

38

2.07 Repayment of Loans

40

2.08 Interest

40

2.09 Fees

41

2.10 Computation of Interest and Fees; Retroactive Adjustments of Applicable Rate

41

2.11 Evidence of Debt

41

2.12 Payments Generally; The Administrative Agent’s Clawback

42

2.13 Sharing of Payments by the Lenders

44

2.14 Reserved

45

2.15 Reserved

45

2.16 Defaulting Lenders

45

2.17 Guaranties

46

 

 

Article III. Taxes, Yield Protection and Illegality

47

3.01 Taxes

47

3.02 Illegality

52

3.03 Changed Circumstances

53

3.04 Increased Costs; Reserves on LIBOR Loans

55

3.05 Compensation for Losses

56

3.06 Mitigation Obligations; Replacement of the Lenders

57

3.07 Survival

57

 

 

Article IV. Unencumbered Properties

57

4.01 Initial Unencumbered Properties

57

4.02 Reserved

57

4.03 Notices of Qualification as an Unencumbered Property

57

4.04 Eligibility

57

4.05 Reserved

58

4.06 Guaranty

58

4.07 Admission of New Unencumbered Properties

58

4.08 Reserved

58

 



 

4.09 Reserved

58

4.10 Exclusion Events

58

 

 

Article V. Conditions Precedent to Credit Extensions

59

5.01 Conditions of Initial Credit Extension

59

5.02 Conditions to all Credit Extensions

61

 

 

Article VI. Representations and Warranties

62

6.01 Existence, Qualification and Power; Compliance with Laws

62

6.02 Authorization; No Contravention

62

6.03 Governmental Authorization; Other Consents

63

6.04 Binding Effect

63

6.05 Financial Statements; No Material Adverse Effect

63

6.06 Litigation

63

6.07 No Default

64

6.08 Ownership of Property; Liens; Equity Interests

64

6.09 Environmental Compliance

64

6.10 Insurance

65

6.11 Taxes

65

6.12 ERISA Compliance

65

6.13 Subsidiaries; Equity Interests

66

6.14 Margin Regulations; Investment Company Act

66

6.15 Disclosure

67

6.16 Compliance with Laws

67

6.17 Taxpayer Identification Number

67

6.18 Intellectual Property; Licenses, Etc.

67

6.19 Reserved

68

6.20 Solvency

68

6.21 REIT Status of the Parent

68

6.22 Labor Matters

68

6.23 Ground Lease Representation

68

6.24 Unencumbered Properties

69

6.25 OFAC

69

6.26 EEA Financial Institutions

70

 

 

Article VII. Affirmative Covenants

70

7.01 Financial Statements

70

7.02 Certificates; Other Information

71

7.03 Notices

72

7.04 Payment of Obligations

73

7.05 Preservation of Existence, Etc.

74

7.06 Maintenance of Properties

74

7.07 Maintenance of Insurance

74

7.08 Compliance with Laws; Beneficial Ownership Regulations

74

7.09 Books and Records

75

7.10 Inspection Rights

75

7.11 Use of Proceeds

75

7.12 Environmental Matters

75

7.13 Ground Leases

77

 

ii



 

7.14 Unencumbered Properties

78

 

 

Article VIII. Negative Covenants

79

8.01 Liens

79

8.02 Indebtedness

80

8.03 Investments

81

8.04 Fundamental Changes

82

8.05 Dispositions

83

8.06 Restricted Payments

83

8.07 Change in Nature of Business

83

8.08 Transactions with Affiliates

83

8.09 Burdensome Agreements

83

8.10 Use of Proceeds

84

8.11 Unencumbered Properties; Ground Leases

84

8.12 Environmental Matters

85

8.13 Negative Pledge; Indebtedness

85

8.14 Financial Covenants

86

 

 

Article IX. Events of Default and Remedies

87

9.01 Events of Default

87

9.02 Remedies Upon Event of Default

89

9.03 Application of Funds

90

 

 

Article X. The Administrative Agent

91

10.01 Appointment and Authority

91

10.02 Rights as a Lender

91

10.03 Exculpatory Provisions

91

10.04 Reliance by the Administrative Agent

92

10.05 Delegation of Duties

92

10.06 Resignation of the Administrative Agent

93

10.07 Non-Reliance on the Administrative Agent and Other Lenders

94

10.08 No Other Duties, Etc.

94

10.09 The Administrative Agent May File Proofs of Claim

94

10.10 Guaranty Matters

95

 

 

Article XI. Miscellaneous

95

11.01 Amendments, Etc.

95

11.02 Notices; Effectiveness; Electronic Communication

96

11.03 No Waiver; Cumulative Remedies; Enforcement

99

11.04 Expenses; Indemnity; Damage Waiver

99

11.05 Payments Set Aside

101

11.06 Successors and Assigns

102

11.07 Treatment of Certain Information; Confidentiality

106

11.08 Right of Setoff

107

11.09 Interest Rate Limitation

108

11.10 Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness

108

11.11 Survival of Representations and Warranties

108

11.12 Severability

109

11.13 Replacement of the Lenders

109

11.14 Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Etc.

110

 

iii



 

11.15 No Advisory or Fiduciary Responsibility

111

11.16 Electronic Execution of Assignments and Certain Other Documents

112

11.17 USA PATRIOT ACT

112

11.18 ENTIRE AGREEMENT

112

11.19 Acknowledgment and Consent to Bail-In of EEA Financial Institutions

113

11.20 Certain ERISA Matters

113

 

SCHEDULES

 

2.01

Committed Loans and Applicable Percentages

4.01

Initial Unencumbered Properties

6.06

Litigation

6.09

Environmental Matters

6.13

Subsidiaries and Other Equity Investments and Equity Interests in the Borrower and Each Subsidiary Guarantor

6.18

Intellectual Property Matters

8.01

Existing Liens

8.13

Indebtedness

11.02

The Administrative Agent’s Office; Certain Addresses for Notices

RO

Responsible Officers

 

EXHIBITS

 

Form of

 

A

Committed Loan Notice

B

Form of Note

C

Compliance Certificate

D-1

Assignment and Assumption

D-2

Administrative Questionnaire

E

Form of Disbursement Instruction Agreement

F-1

Form of Parent Guaranty

F-2

Form of Subsidiary Guaranty

G

Reserved

H-1

U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate

H-2

U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate

H-3

U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate

H-4

U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate

 

iv



 

SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED TERM LOAN AGREEMENT

 

This SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED TERM LOAN AGREEMENT (the “ Agreement ”) is entered into as of December 20, 2016, among STAG INDUSTRIAL OPERATING PARTNERSHIP, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (the “ Borrower ”), STAG INDUSTRIAL, INC., a Maryland corporation and the sole member of the sole general partner of the Borrower (the “ Parent ”), each lender from time to time party hereto (collectively, the “ Lenders ” and individually, a “ Lender ”), and WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as the Administrative Agent.

 

The Borrower has requested that the Lenders provide a term credit facility, and the Lenders are willing to do so on the terms and conditions set forth herein.

 

The Borrower, the Lenders party thereto, and the Administrative Agent are currently party to that certain Amended and Restated Term Loan Agreement, dated as of December 18, 2014, as amended or otherwise modified prior to the date hereof, among the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and a syndicate of Lenders (the “ Existing Term Loan Agreement ”).

 

The Borrower, the Lenders and the Administrative Agent have agreed to enter into this Agreement in order to (i) amend and restate the Existing Term Loan Agreement in its entirety; (ii) re-evidence the “Obligations” under, and as defined in, the Existing Term Loan Agreement, which shall be repayable in accordance with the terms of this Agreement; and (iii) set forth the terms and conditions under which the Lenders will, from time to time, make loans to or for the benefit of the Borrower.

 

The parties hereto intend that this Agreement not constitute a novation of the obligations and liabilities, if any, of the parties under the Existing Term Loan Agreement or be deemed to evidence or constitute full repayment of such obligations and liabilities, if any, but that this Agreement amend and restate in its entirety the Existing Term Loan Agreement and re-evidence the obligations and liabilities, if any, of the Borrower outstanding thereunder, which shall be payable in accordance with the terms hereof.

 

The Borrower confirms that all obligations under the applicable “Loan Documents” (as referred to and defined in the Existing Term Loan Agreement) shall continue in full force and effect as modified or restated by the Loan Documents (as referred to and defined herein) and that, from and after the Closing Date, all references to the “Agreement” contained in any such existing “Loan Documents” shall be deemed to refer to this Agreement.

 

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

 

19.

Definitions and Accounting Terms

 

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

 

1



 

“Acceptable Ground Lease ” means a ground lease with respect to an Acceptable Property executed by a Subsidiary Guarantor, as lessee, that (a) has a remaining lease term (including extension or renewal rights) of at least twenty-five (25) years, calculated as of the date such Acceptable Property is deemed an Unencumbered Property, and that the Administrative Agent determines, in its sole discretion, is a financeable ground lease and is otherwise acceptable or (b) has a bargain purchase option (as defined in accordance with GAAP).

 

Acceptable Property ” means a Property (a) that is approved by the Administrative Agent and the Required Lenders, or (b) that meets the following requirements:

 

(i)                                      such Property is wholly-owned by, or ground leased pursuant to an Acceptable Ground Lease to, the Borrower or a Subsidiary Guarantor free and clear of any Liens (other than Liens permitted by Section 8.01 );

 

(ii)                                   such Property is an industrial, manufacturing, warehouse/distribution and/or office property located within the United States;

 

(iii)                                if such Property is owned by a Subsidiary Guarantor, or is ground leased pursuant to an Acceptable Ground Lease to a Subsidiary Guarantor, then the Equity Interests of such Subsidiary Guarantor are owned, directly or indirectly by the Borrower, free and clear of any Liens other than Liens permitted by Section 8.01 ; and

 

(iv)                               such Property is free of all structural defects or major architectural deficiencies, title defects, environmental conditions or other adverse matters except for defects, deficiencies, conditions or other matters which, individually or collectively, are not material to the profitable operation of such Property.

 

Additional Permitted Indebtedness ” means unsecured Indebtedness permitted to be incurred pursuant to Section 8.02(f) .

 

Additional Term Loans ” has the meaning specified in Section 2.06(b)(i) .

 

Adjusted NOI ” means, with respect to any Property for the Current Reporting Quarter, annualized, an amount equal to (a) the aggregate gross revenues (excluding non-cash revenues) from the operations of such Property during such period, minus (b) the sum of (i) all expenses and other proper charges incurred in connection with the operation of such Property during such period (including real estate taxes, but excluding any property and asset management fees, debt service charges, income taxes, depreciation, amortization and other non-cash expenses and excluding capital expenditures), (ii) a management fee equal to the greater of (A) two percent (2%) of the aggregate gross base rental revenues (excluding non-cash revenues) from the operations of such Property during such period and (B) actual property management fees paid, and (iii) a replacement reserve of $0.10 per square foot (excluding any Property acquired during the Current Reporting Quarter).  Adjusted NOI shall exclude the amount of any revenues and expenses from any Dark Property.  Adjusted NOI shall be increased, without duplication, by (i) annualized rental revenues (excluding non-cash revenues), net of associated expenses, from any new lease which went into effect with the tenant taking occupancy (or any lease with respect to any Property acquired during the Current Reporting Quarter) and the Borrower is recognizing revenue from such tenant in accordance with GAAP during such Current Reporting Quarter, and

 

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(ii) annualized gross base rental revenues (excluding non-cash revenues) for the first monthly gross base rental payment for any lease in a free rent period and the Borrower is recognizing revenue from the applicable tenant in accordance with GAAP during such Current Reporting Quarter.

 

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

 

Administrative Agent’s Office ” means the Administrative Agent’s address and, as appropriate, account as set forth on Schedule 11.02 , or such other address or account as the Administrative Agent may from time to time notify the Borrower and the Lenders.

 

Administrative Questionnaire ” means an Administrative Questionnaire in substantially the form of Exhibit D-2 or any other form approved by the Administrative Agent.

 

Affiliate ” means, with respect to any 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; provided in no event shall Agent or any Lender be deemed to be an Affiliate of the Borrower.

 

Agreement ” means this Amended and Restated Term Loan Agreement.

 

Anti-Corruption Laws ” means all laws, rules, and regulations of any jurisdiction applicable to the Borrower or its Subsidiaries from time to time concerning or relating to bribery, corruption or money laundering.

 

Applicable Percentage ” means, with respect to any Lender at any time, the percentage (carried out to the ninth decimal place) of the Total Outstandings represented by such Lender’s Loans at such time.  The initial Applicable Percentage of each Lender is set forth opposite the name of such Lender on Schedule 2.01 or in the Assignment and Assumption pursuant to which such Lender becomes a party hereto, as applicable.

 

Applicable Rate ” means the following:

 

A. Unless and until the Rating Conditions have been satisfied, with respect to any Loan, the following percentages per annum determined according to the Consolidated Leverage Ratio as set forth in the most recent Compliance Certificate received by the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section  Error! Reference source not found. :

 

Leveraged-Based Pricing Grid :

 

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Applicable Rate

 

Pricing
Level

 

Consolidated
Leverage Ratio

 

Base Rate
Applicable
Margin

 

LIBOR
Loan
Applicable
Margin

 

1

 

< 40%

 

0.30

%

1.30

%

2

 

> 40% but < 45%

 

0.35

%

1.35

%

3

 

> 45% but < 50%

 

0.45

%

1.45

%

4

 

> 50% but < 55%

 

0.60

%

1.60

%

5

 

> 55%

 

0.90

%

1.90

%

 

Any increase or decrease in the Applicable Rate resulting from a change in the Consolidated Leverage Ratio shall become effective as of the first (1 st ) Business Day immediately following the date a Compliance Certificate is delivered pursuant to Section  Error! Reference source not found. provided 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 5 shall apply as of the first (1 st ) Business Day after the date on which such Compliance Certificate was required to have been delivered, provided that if such request is not delivered within thirty (30) days of the date such Compliance Certificate was due, Pricing Level 5 shall apply as of the date of delivery of such request, and shall remain in effect until the date on which such Compliance Certificate is delivered.  The Applicable Rate in effect from the Closing Date until adjusted as set forth above shall be set at Pricing Level 1.

 

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this definition, the determination of the Applicable Rate for any period shall be subject to the provisions of Section 2.10(b) .

 

or

 

B.                                     If and when the Rating Conditions have been satisfied, the following percentages per annum, based upon the Debt Rating as set forth below (determined in accordance with the Performance-Based Pricing Grid set forth below).

 

Performance-Based Pricing Grid :

 

Applicable Rate

 

Debt Rating

 

Pricing
Level

 

Base Rate
Applicable
Margin

 

LIBOR
Loan
Applicable
Margin

 

> A-/A3

 

1

 

0.00

%

0.85

%

BBB+/Baa1

 

2

 

0.00

%

0.90

%

BBB/Baa2

 

3

 

0.00

%

1.00

%

BBB-/Baa3

 

4

 

0.25

%

1.25

%

<BBB-/Baa3

 

5

 

0.650

%

1.65

%

 

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Each change in the Applicable Rate resulting from a publicly announced change in the Debt Rating shall be effective, in the case of an upgrade, during the period commencing on the date of delivery by the Borrower to the Administrative Agent of notice thereof pursuant to Section  7.03(e)  and ending on the date immediately preceding the effective date of the next such change and, in the case of a downgrade, during the period commencing on the date of the public announcement thereof and ending on the date immediately preceding the effective date of the next such change.

 

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.

 

Assignee Group ” means two (2) or more Eligible Assignees that are Affiliates of one another or two (2) or more Approved Funds managed by the same investment advisor.

 

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 D-1 or any other form (including electronic documentation generated by MarkitClear or other electronic platform) approved by the Administrative Agent.

 

Attributable Indebtedness ” means, on any date in respect of any Capital 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.

 

Audited Financial Statements ” means the audited financial statements of the Parent for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2015 and, from and after the delivery of the financial statements of the Parent required pursuant to Section 7.01(a)  for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2016, the most-recent financial statements furnished pursuant to Section 7.01(a) .

 

Award ” means any compensation paid by any Governmental Authority in connection with a Condemnation in respect of all or any part of any Unencumbered Property.

 

Bail-In Action ” means the exercise of any Write-Down and Conversion Powers by the applicable EEA Resolution Authority in respect of any liability of an EEA Financial Institution.

 

Bail-In Legislation ” means, with respect to any EEA Member Country implementing Article 55 of Directive 2014/59/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of the European Union, the implementing law for such EEA Member Country from time to time which is described in the EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule.

 

Balloon Payments ” shall mean with respect to any loan constituting Indebtedness, any required principal payment of such loan which is payable at the maturity of such Indebtedness, provided, however, that the final payment of a fully amortized loan shall not constitute a Balloon Payment.

 

Base Rate ” means, at any time, the highest of (a) the Prime Rate, (b) the Federal Funds Rate plus 0.50% and (c) the LIBOR Market Index Rate plus 1%; each change in the Base Rate

 

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shall take effect simultaneously with the corresponding change or changes in the Prime Rate, the Federal Funds Rate or the LIBOR Market Index Rate (provided that clause (c) shall not be applicable during any period in which LIBOR is unavailable or unascertainable).

 

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

 

Beneficial Ownership Certification ” means a certification regarding beneficial ownership as required by the Beneficial Ownership Regulation.

 

Beneficial Ownership Regulation ” means 31 C.F.R. § 1010.230.

 

Book Value ” means all land, building, improvements, leasing commissions and deferred leasing intangibles less accumulated depreciation and amortization.

 

Borrower ” has the meaning specified in the introductory paragraph hereto.

 

Borrower Materials ” has the meaning specified in Section 7.02 .

 

Borrowing ” means a Committed Borrowing.

 

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 or the State of New York, and, if such day relates to any LIBOR Loan, means any such day that is also a London Banking Day.

 

Capital Lease ” means, with respect to any Person, the obligations of such Person to pay rent or other amounts under any lease of (or other arrangement conveying the right to use) real or personal property, or a combination thereof, which obligations are required to be classified and accounted for as capital leases on a balance sheet of such Person under GAAP.

 

Capital Lease Obligations ” means, with respect to any Person for any period, the capitalized amount of obligations under Capital Leases for such Person for such period as determined in accordance with GAAP.

 

Capitalization Rate ” means seven percent (7.0%).

 

Cash Equivalents ” means any of the following types of Investments, to the extent owned by Guarantor, the Borrower or any of their Subsidiaries free and clear of all Liens (other than Liens permitted hereunder):

 

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

 

(b)                                  demand or time deposits with, or insured certificates of deposit or bankers’ acceptances of, any commercial bank that (A) is a Lender or (B) (i) is organized under the laws of the United States of America, any state thereof or the District of Columbia or is the principal

 

6



 

banking subsidiary of a bank holding company organized under the laws of the United States of America, 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 $1,000,000,000, in each case with maturities of not more than 90 days from the date of acquisition thereof;

 

(c)                                   commercial paper in an aggregate amount of no more than $5,000,000 per issuer outstanding at any time issued by any Person organized under the laws of any state of the United States of America 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 180 days from the date of acquisition thereof;

 

(d)                                  Investments, classified in accordance with GAAP as current assets of the Parent 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) and (c) of this definition; and

 

(e)                                   Other liquid or readily marketable investments in an amount not to exceed five percent (5%) of Total Asset Value.

 

Casualty ” means, with respect to any Unencumbered Property, if such Unencumbered Property has been damaged or destroyed, in whole or in part, by fire or other casualty.

 

Change in Law ” means the occurrence, after the date of this Agreement, of any of the following: (a) the adoption or taking effect of any Law, rule, regulation or treaty; (b) any change in any Law, rule, regulation or treaty or in the administration, interpretation, implementation or application thereof by any Governmental Authority; or (c) the making or issuance of any request, rule, guideline or directive (whether or not having the force of law) by any Governmental Authority; provided that notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, (x) the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and all requests, rules, guidelines or directives thereunder or issued in connection therewith or in implementation thereof and (y) all requests, rules, guidelines or directives promulgated by the Bank for International Settlements, the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (or any successor or similar authority) or the United States or foreign regulatory authorities, in each case pursuant to Basel III, shall in each case be deemed to be a “Change in Law”, regardless of the date enacted, adopted, issued or implemented.

 

Change of Control ” means an event or series of events by which:

 

(a)                                  any “ person ” or “ group ” (as such terms are used in Sections 13(d)  and 14(d)  of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, but excluding any employee benefit plan of such person or its Subsidiaries, and any person or entity acting in its capacity as trustee, agent or other fiduciary or administrator of any such plan) becomes the “ beneficial owner ” (as defined in Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, except that a person or group shall be deemed to have “beneficial ownership” of all Equity Interests that such person or group has the right to acquire,

 

7



 

whether such right is exercisable immediately or only after the passage of time (such right, an “ option right ”)), directly or indirectly, of thirty-five percent (35%) or more of the Equity Interests of the Parent entitled to vote for members of the board of directors or equivalent governing body of the Parent on a fully-diluted basis (and taking into account all such Equity Interests that such person or group has the right to acquire pursuant to any option right);

 

(b)                                  during any period of twelve (12) consecutive months, a majority of the members of the board of directors or other equivalent governing body of the Parent cease to be composed of individuals (i) who were members of that board or equivalent governing body on the first day of such period, (ii) whose election or nomination to that board or equivalent governing body was approved by individuals referred to in clause (i) above constituting at the time of such election or nomination at least a majority of that board or equivalent governing body or (iii) whose election or nomination to that board or other equivalent governing body was approved by individuals referred to in clauses (i) and (ii) above constituting at the time of such election or nomination at least a majority of that board or equivalent governing body; or

 

(c)                                   the Parent shall cease to (i) either be the sole general partner of, or wholly own and control the general partner of, the Borrower or (ii) own, directly or indirectly, greater than fifty percent (50%) of the Equity Interests of the Borrower.

 

Closing Date ” means the first date all the conditions precedent in Section 5.01 are satisfied or waived in accordance with Section 11.01 .

 

Code ” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 .

 

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

 

Committed Loan ” has the meaning specified in Section 2.01(a) .

 

Committed Loan Notice” means a notice of (a) a Committed Borrowing, (b) a conversion of Committed Loans from one Type to the other, or (c) a continuation of LIBOR Loans, pursuant to Section 2.02(a) , which, if in writing, shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit A .

 

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.

 

Companies ” means, without duplication, the Parent and its Consolidated Subsidiaries (including the Borrower), and “Company” means any one of the Companies.

 

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

 

Condemnation ” means a temporary or permanent taking by any Governmental Authority as the result, in lieu, or in anticipation, of the exercise of the right of condemnation or

 

8



 

eminent domain of all or any part of any Unencumbered Property, or any interest therein or right accruing thereto, including any right of access thereto or any change of grade affecting any Unencumbered Property or any part thereof.

 

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 EBITDA ” means, for any Person for any period, an amount equal to (a) Consolidated Net Income, plus (b) the sum of the following (without duplication and to the extent reflected as a charge in the statement of such Consolidated Net Income for such period): (i) income tax expense; (ii) interest expense, amortization or write-off of debt discount and debt issuance costs and commissions, discounts and other fees and charges associated with Indebtedness; (iii) depreciation and amortization expense; (iv) amortization of intangibles (including goodwill) and organization costs; (v) any extraordinary, unusual or non-recurring expenses or losses (including, whether or not otherwise includable as a separate item in the statement of such Consolidated Net Income for such period, losses on sales of assets outside of the ordinary course of business), including property acquisition costs; (vi) any other non-cash charges, and (vii) all commissions, guaranty fees, discounts and other fees and charges owed by such Person with respect to letters of credit and bankers’ acceptance financing and net costs of such Person under Swap Contracts in respect of interest rates to the extent such net costs are allocable to such period in accordance with GAAP; minus (c) the sum of the following (to the extent included in the statement of such Consolidated Net Income for such period): (i) interest income (except to the extent deducted in determining such Consolidated Net Income); (ii) any extraordinary, unusual or non-recurring income or gains (including, whether or not otherwise includable as a separate item in the statement of such Consolidated Net Income for such period, gains on the sales of assets outside of the ordinary course of business); and (iii) any other non-cash income.

 

Consolidated Fixed Charges ” means, on a consolidated basis, for any Person for any period, the sum (without duplication) of (a) Consolidated Interest Expense, (b) provision for cash income taxes made by such Person on a consolidated basis in respect of such period, (c) scheduled principal amortization payments due during such period on account of Indebtedness of such Person (excluding Balloon Payments), and (d) Restricted Payments paid in cash with respect to preferred Equity Interests of such Person during such period (other than any repayments of principal with respect to preferred Equity Interests).

 

Consolidated Interest Expense ” means, for any Person for any period, the total interest expense (including that attributable to Capital Lease Obligations) of such Person for such period with respect to all outstanding Total Funded Debt (including all commissions, discounts and other fees and charges owed by such Person with respect to letters of credit and bankers’ acceptance financing and net costs of such Person under Swap Contracts in respect of interest rates to the extent such net costs are allocable to such period in accordance with GAAP).  Consolidated Interest Expenses shall exclude non-cash charges, interest rate hedge termination payments or receipts, loan prepayment costs, and upfront loan fees, interest expense covered by an interest reserve established under a loan facility and any interest expense under any construction loan or construction activity that under GAAP is required to be capitalized.

 

9



 

Consolidated Leverage Ratio ” means, as of any date of determination, the quotient (expressed as a percentage) of (a) Consolidated Total Debt, divided by (b) Total Asset Value.

 

Consolidated Net Income ” means, for any Person for any period, the consolidated net income (or loss) of such Person for such period, determined on a consolidated basis; provided that in calculating Consolidated Net Income of the Parent for any period, there shall be excluded (a) the income (or deficit) of any Person accrued prior to the date it becomes a Subsidiary or is merged into or consolidated with the Parent or any of its Subsidiaries, (b) the income (or deficit) of any Person (other than a Company) in which any Company has an ownership interest, except to the extent that any such income is actually received by such Company in the form of dividends or similar distributions, and (c) the undistributed earnings of any Subsidiary of any Company to the extent that the declaration or payment of dividends or similar distributions by such Subsidiary is not at the time permitted by the terms of any Contractual Obligation (other than under any Loan Document) or requirement of Law applicable to such Subsidiary.

 

Consolidated Subsidiary ” means any Person in which the Parent or the Borrower has a direct or indirect ownership interest and whose financial results would be consolidated under GAAP with the financial results of the Parent on the consolidated financial statements of the Parent.

 

Consolidated Total Debt ” means, as of any date of determination, the aggregate principal amount of all Indebtedness of the Parent on such date, determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP which would be required to be included on the liabilities side of the balance sheet of the Parent in accordance with GAAP, and including the Companies’ Share of the principal amount of all Indebtedness of Unconsolidated Affiliates, but, in each case, excluding the net obligations of the Parent on a consolidated basis under any Swap Contract.

 

Construction in Progress ” means (a) a Property with new ground up construction, (b) a Property under renovation in which (i) greater than thirty percent (30%) of the square footage of such Property is unavailable for occupancy due to renovation and (ii) no rents are being paid on such square footage or (c) a building expansion.  The classification of “Construction in Progress” will cease on the earlier to occur of (A) the time that such Property has an Occupancy Rate of greater than eighty percent (80%), and (B) one hundred eighty (180) days after completion of construction, renovation or expansion of such Property, as applicable.

 

Contamination ” means the presence of Hazardous Materials in amounts exceeding regulatory action levels.

 

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.  The terms “ Controlling ” and “ Controlled ” have meanings correlative thereto.

 

10



 

Credit Agreements” means (a) the Revolving Credit Agreement, (b) that certain Term Loan Agreement, dated as of September 29, 2015, among the Borrower, the Parent, Wells Fargo, as administrative agent, and the other lenders party thereto, (c) that certain Term Loan Agreement, dated as of July 28, 2017, among the Borrower, the Parent, Bank of America, N.A., as administrative agent, and the other lenders party thereto, (d) that certain Amended and Restated Term Loan Agreement, dated as of December 20, 2016, among the Borrower, the Parent, Wells Fargo, as administrative agent, and the other lenders party thereto, and (e) that certain Term Loan Agreement, dated as of July 26, 2018, among the Borrower, the Parent, Wells Fargo, as Administrative Agent and the other lenders party thereto, in each case, as amended from time to time.

 

Credit Extension ” means a Borrowing.

 

Current Reporting Quarter ” means the most recent fiscal quarter for which quarterly financial statements have been delivered to the Lenders pursuant to Section 7.01 .

 

Customary Recourse Exceptions ” means, with respect to any Indebtedness, personal recourse that is limited to fraud, misrepresentation, misapplication of cash, waste, environmental claims and liabilities, prohibited transfers, violations of single purposes entity covenants, and other circumstances customarily excluded by institutional lenders from exculpation provisions and/or included in separate guaranty or indemnification agreements in non-recourse financing of Real Property.

 

Dark Property ” means any Property as to which, as of the last day of the Current Reporting Quarter, (a) all leases have terminated, (b) the Borrower is not recognizing revenue from any tenants in accordance with GAAP or (c) the Adjusted NOI for such Property is negative.

 

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 and affecting the rights of creditors generally.

 

11



 

Debt Rating ” means, as of any date of determination, the rating as determined by a minimum of two of S&P, Moody’s or Fitch (collectively, the “ Debt Ratings ”) of the Borrower’s non-credit-enhanced, senior unsecured long-term debt; provided that (a) if the respective Debt Ratings issued by the foregoing rating agencies differ by one level, then the Pricing Level for the higher of such Debt Ratings shall apply (with the Debt Rating for Pricing Level 1 being the highest and the Debt Rating for Pricing Level 5 being the lowest); (b) if there is a split in Debt Ratings of more than one level, then the Pricing Level that is one level lower than the Pricing Level of the higher Debt Rating shall apply; (c) if the Borrower has only one Debt Rating, the Pricing Level that is one level lower than that of such Debt Rating shall apply; and (d) if, after satisfying the Rating Condition, the Borrower does not have any Debt Rating, Pricing Level 5 shall apply.

 

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 an interest rate equal to (i) the Base Rate plus (ii) the Applicable Rate, if any, applicable to Base Rate Loans plus (iii) two percent (2%) per annum; provided that with respect to a LIBOR Loan, the Default Rate shall be an interest rate equal to the interest rate (including any Applicable Rate) otherwise applicable to such Loan plus two percent (2%) per annum.

 

Defaulting Lender ” means, subject to Section 2.16(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 Borrower in writing that such failure is the result of such Lender’s determination that one or more conditions precedent to funding (each of which conditions precedent, together with any applicable default, shall be specifically identified in such writing) has not been satisfied, or (ii) pay to the Administrative Agent or any other Lender any other amount required to be paid by it hereunder within two (2) Business Days of the date when due, (b) has notified the Borrower and the Administrative Agent 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 Borrower, to confirm in writing to the Administrative Agent and the Borrower that it will comply with its prospective funding obligations hereunder (provided that such Lender shall cease to be a Defaulting Lender pursuant to this clause (c) upon receipt of such written confirmation by the Administrative Agent and the Borrower), or (d) has, or has a direct or indirect parent company which controls such Lender that has, (i) become the subject of a proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law, (ii) had appointed for it a receiver, custodian, conservator, trustee, administrator, assignee for the benefit of creditors or similar Person charged with reorganization or liquidation of its business or assets, including the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other state or federal regulatory authority acting in such a capacity or (iii) become the subject of a Bail-In Action; provided that a Lender shall not be a Defaulting Lender solely by virtue of the ownership or acquisition of any Equity Interest in that Lender or any direct or indirect parent company thereof by a Governmental Authority so long as

 

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such ownership interest does not result in or provide such Lender with immunity from the jurisdiction of courts within the United States or from the enforcement of judgments or writs of attachment on its assets or permit such Lender (or such Governmental Authority) to reject, repudiate, disavow or disaffirm any contracts or agreements made with such Lender.  Any determination by the Administrative Agent that a Lender is a Defaulting Lender under any one or more of clauses (a) through (d) above, and of the effective date of such status, shall be conclusive and binding absent manifest error, and such Lender shall be deemed to be a Defaulting Lender (subject to Section 2.16(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 Borrower and each Lender promptly following such determination.

 

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

 

Disbursement Instruction Agreement ” means an agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit E to be executed and delivered by the Borrower pursuant to Section 5.01(a) , as the same may be amended, restated or modified from time to time with the prior written approval of the Administrative Agent.

 

Disposition ” or “ Dispose ” means the sale, transfer, license, lease (other than a real estate lease entered into in the ordinary course of business as part of Property leasing operations) or other disposition (including any sale and leaseback transaction) of any property by any Person, 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 arrangement constituting a Lien.

 

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

 

EEA Financial Institution ” means (a) any institution established in any EEA Member Country which is subject to the supervision of an EEA Resolution Authority, (b) any entity established in an EEA Member Country which is a parent of an institution described in clause (a) of this definition, or (c) any institution established in an EEA Member Country which is a subsidiary of an institution described in clauses (a) or (b) of this definition and is subject to consolidated supervision with its parent.

 

EEA Member Country ” means any of the member states of the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway.

 

EEA Resolution Authority ” means any public administrative authority or any Person entrusted with public administrative authority of any EEA Member Country (including any delegee) having responsibility for the resolution of any EEA Financial Institution.

 

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

 

Environmental Assessment ” has the meaning specified in Section 7.12(b) .

 

Environmental Claim ” means any investigative, enforcement, cleanup, removal, containment, remedial, or other private or governmental or regulatory action at any time

 

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instituted or completed pursuant to any applicable Environmental Requirement against any Company or against or with respect to any Real Property or any condition, use, or activity on any Real Property (including any such action against the Administrative Agent or any Lender), and any claim at any time made by any Person against any Company or against or with respect to any Real Property or any condition, use, or activity on any Real Property (including any such claim against the Administrative Agent or any Lender), relating to damage, contribution, cost recovery, compensation, loss, or injury resulting from or in any way arising in connection with any Hazardous Material or any Environmental Requirement.

 

Environmental Damages ” means all liabilities (including strict liability), losses, damages (excluding consequential, special, exemplary or punitive damages except to the extent such damages were imposed upon an Indemnitee as a result of any claims made against such Indemnitee by a governmental entity or any other third party), judgments, penalties, fines, costs and expenses (including fees, costs and expenses of attorneys, consultants, contractors, experts and laboratories), of any and every kind or character, at law or in equity, contingent or otherwise, matured or unmatured, foreseeable or unforeseeable, made, incurred, suffered, brought, or imposed at any time and from time to time, whether before or after the Release Date and arising in whole or in part from:

 

(a)                                  the presence of any Hazardous Material on any Unencumbered Property, or any escape, seepage, leakage, spillage, emission, release, discharge or disposal of any Hazardous Material on or from any Unencumbered Property, or the migration or release or threatened migration or release of any Hazardous Material to, from or through any Unencumbered Property, on or before the Release Date; or

 

(b)                                  any act, omission, event or circumstance existing or occurring in connection with the handling, treatment, containment, removal, storage, decontamination, clean up, transport or disposal of any Hazardous Material which is at any time on or before the Release Date present on any Unencumbered Property; or

 

(c)                                   the breach of any representation, warranty, covenant or agreement contained in this Agreement relating to the presence of any Hazardous Material on any Unencumbered Property because of any event or condition occurring or existing on or before the Release Date; or

 

(d)                                  any violation on or before the Release Date, of any Environmental Requirement in connection with any Unencumbered Property in effect on or before the Release Date, regardless of whether any act, omission, event or circumstance giving rise to the violation constituted a violation at the time of the occurrence or inception of such act, omission, event or circumstance; or

 

(e)                                   any Environmental Claim, or the filing or imposition of any environmental Lien against any Unencumbered Property, because of, resulting from, in connection with, or arising out of any of the matters referred to in subparagraphs (a)  through (d)  preceding;

 

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and regardless of whether any of the foregoing was caused by the Borrower, any other Loan Party or their respective tenant or subtenant, or a prior owner of an Unencumbered Property or its tenant or subtenant, or any third party including (i) injury or damage to any person, property or natural resource occurring on or off of an Unencumbered Property including the cost of demolition and rebuilding of any improvements on any Real Property; (ii) the investigation or remediation of any such Hazardous Material or violation of Environmental Requirement including the preparation of any feasibility studies or reports and the performance of any cleanup, remediation, removal, response, abatement, containment, closure, restoration, monitoring or similar work required by any Environmental Requirement or necessary to have full use and benefit of Unencumbered Properties as contemplated by the Loan Documents (including any of the same in connection with any foreclosure action or transfer in lieu thereof); (iii) all liability to pay or indemnify any Person or Governmental Authority for costs expended in connection with any of the foregoing; (iv) the investigation and defense of any claim, whether or not such claim is ultimately withdrawn or defeated; and (v) the settlement of any claim or judgment.  “ Costs ” as used in this definition shall also include any diminution in the value of the security afforded by the Unencumbered Property or any future reduction of the sales price of any Unencumbered Property by reason of any matter set forth in Section 7.12 or 8.12 .

 

Environmental Laws ” means any and all applicable 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 Requirement ” means any Environmental Law, agreement or restriction, as the same now exists or may be changed or amended or come into effect in the future, which pertains to any Hazardous Material or the environment including ground or air or water or noise pollution or contamination, and underground or aboveground tanks.

 

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.

 

Equity Issuance ” means the issuance or sale by any Person of any of its Equity Interests or any capital contribution to such Person by the holders of its Equity Interests.

 

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 the Borrower within the meaning of Section 414(b)  or (c)  of the Code (and

 

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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 the Parent 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 the Parent 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(a)(1) or (2)  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 notification that a Multiemployer Plan is 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; or (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 the Parent or any ERISA Affiliate.

 

EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule ” means the EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule published by the Loan Market Association (or any successor Person), as in effect from time to time.

 

Event of Default ” has the meaning specified in Section 9.01 .

 

Excluded Party ” shall mean any REIT, any parent company of or Person who Controls any REIT in each instance engaged primarily in owning and operating Real Property, and any other Person whom the Borrower has reasonably identified in writing to the Administrative Agent as a competitor or potential competitor of the Borrower.

 

Excluded Swap Obligation ” means, with respect to any Loan Party, any Swap Contract if, and to the extent that, all or a portion of the liability of such Loan Party for or the Guarantee of such Loan Party of, or the grant by such Loan Party of a Lien to secure, such Swap Contract (or any liability or guarantee thereof) is or becomes illegal under the Commodity Exchange Act or any rule, regulation or order of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (or the application or official interpretation of any thereof) by virtue of such Loan Party’s failure for any reason to constitute an “eligible contract participant” as defined in the Commodity Exchange Act and the regulations thereunder at the time the liability for or the Guarantee of such Loan Party or the grant of such Lien becomes effective with respect to such Swap Contract (such determination being made after giving effect to any applicable keepwell, support or other agreement for the benefit of the applicable Loan Party, including under Section 27 of the Subsidiary Guaranty).  If a Swap Contract arises under a master agreement governing more than one swap, such exclusion shall apply only to the portion of such Swap Contract that is attributable to swaps for which such Guarantee or Lien is or becomes illegal for the reasons identified in the immediately preceding sentence of this definition.

 

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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 pursuant to a law in effect on the date on which (i) such Lender acquires such interest in the Loan (other than pursuant to an assignment request by the 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)(ii)  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.

 

“Exclusion Event” has the meaning specified in Section 4.10 .

 

“Exclusion Notice” has the meaning specified in Section 4.10.

 

“Existing Loans” has the meaning specified in Section 2.01(a).

 

“Existing Term Loan Agreement” has the meaning specified in the introductory paragraph hereto.

 

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 agreement 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 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, then 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, (b) if no such rate is so published on such next succeeding Business Day, then 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 Wells Fargo on such day on such transactions as determined by the Administrative Agent and (c) if the Federal Funds Rate should be less than zero, such rate shall be deemed to be zero for purposes of this Agreement.

 

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Fee Letter ” means, collectively, (i) the letter agreement, dated as of November 5, 2014 among the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC and (ii) the letter agreement, dated November 15, 2016, among the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC.

 

FIRREA ” means the Financial Institution Recovery, Reform and Enforcement Act of 1989, as amended.

 

Fitch ” means Fitch, Inc., and any successor thereto.

 

Fixed Charge Ratio ” means, as of any date of determination, the quotient (expressed as a percentage) of (a) Consolidated EBITDA, divided by (b) Consolidated Fixed Charges.

 

Foreign Lender ” means (a) if the Borrower is a U.S. Person, a Lender that is not a U.S. Person, and (b) if the 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 the 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.

 

FRB ” means the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System of the United States.

 

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.

 

Funds from Operations ” means, for any Person for any period, the sum of (a) Consolidated Net Income plus (b) depreciation and amortization expense determined in accordance with GAAP excluding amortization expense attributable to capitalized debt costs; provided that there shall not be included in such calculation (i) any proceeds of any insurance policy other than rental or business interruption insurance received by such Person, (ii) any gain or loss which is classified as “extraordinary” in accordance with GAAP, (iii) any capital gains and taxes on capital gains, (iv) income (or loss) associated with third-party ownership of non-controlling Equity Interests, and (v) gains or losses on the sale of discontinued operations as detailed in the most-recent financial statements delivered pursuant to Section 7.01(a)  or (b) , as applicable.

 

GAAP ” means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States set forth in the opinions and pronouncements of the Accounting Principles Board and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and statements and pronouncements of the Financial Accounting Standards Board or such other principles as may be approved by a significant segment of the accounting profession in the United States, that are applicable to the circumstances as of the date of determination, consistently applied.

 

Governmental Authority ” means the government of the United States 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

 

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government (including any supra-national bodies such as the European Union or the European Central Bank).

 

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 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 or other obligation of any other Person, whether or not such Indebtedness or other obligation is assumed by such Person (or any right, contingent or otherwise, of any holder of such Indebtedness 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.

 

Guaranties ” means the Parent Guaranty and the Subsidiary Guaranties, and “ Guaranty ” means any one of the Guaranties.

 

Guarantors ” means, collectively, the Parent and each Subsidiary Guarantor, and “ Guarantor ” means any one of the Guarantors.

 

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

 

“Immaterial Subsidiary ” means any Subsidiary whose assets constitute less than one percent (1%) of Total Asset Value; provided that if at any time the aggregate Total Asset Value of the “Immaterial Subsidiaries” which are not Guarantors exceeds ten percent (10%) of Total Asset Value, then the Borrower shall designate certain “Immaterial Subsidiaries” as Guarantors such that the aggregate Total Asset Value of the “Immaterial Subsidiaries” which are not Guarantors does not exceed ten percent (10%) of Total Asset Value.

 

Improvements ” means any Subsidiary Guarantor’s interest in and to all on site improvements to the Unencumbered Properties, together with all fixtures, tenant improvements,

 

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and appurtenances now or later to be located on the Unencumbered Properties and/or in such improvements.

 

Increase Effective Date ” has the meaning specified in Section 2.06(b)(ii) .

 

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)                                  all direct or contingent obligations of such Person arising under letters of credit (including standby and commercial), bankers’ acceptances, bank guaranties, surety bonds and similar instruments;

 

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

 

(d)                                  all 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 and, in each case, either (i) not past due for more than one hundred and eighty (180) days or (ii) being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted);

 

(e)                                   Capital Lease Obligations;

 

(f)                                    all obligations of such Person to purchase, redeem, retire, defease or otherwise make any payment in respect of any ownership interest (excluding perpetual preferred ownership interests) in such Person or any other Person, valued, in the case of a redeemable preferred interest, at the greater of its voluntary or involuntary liquidation preference plus (without duplication and only to the extent required to be paid) accrued and unpaid dividends;

 

(g)                                   all Guarantees of such Person in respect of any of the foregoing (except for guaranties of customary exceptions for fraud, misapplication of funds, environmental indemnities, voluntary bankruptcy, collusive involuntary bankruptcy and other similar customary exceptions to non-recourse liability); and

 

(h)                                  all obligations of the kind referred to in clauses (a) through (g) above secured by (or for which the holder of such obligation has an existing right, contingent or otherwise, to be secured by) any lien on Property (including accounts and contract rights) owned by such Person, whether or not such Person has assumed or become liable for the payment of such obligation, but limited to the lesser of (i) the fair market value of the property subject to such lien and (ii) the aggregate amount of the obligations so secured.

 

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; provided that, solely for purposes of calculating the financial covenants set forth

 

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in Sections 8.14(a), (b) and (c), Indebtedness shall exclude the net obligations of the Parent on a consolidated basis under Swap Contracts entered into to hedge or mitigate any interest rate risk in respect of borrowed money for which the Parent, the Borrower or any Subsidiary has actual exposure. The amount of any Capital Lease Obligations as of any date shall be deemed to be the amount of Attributable Indebtedness in respect 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 (a), Other Taxes.

 

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

 

Information ” has the meaning specified in Section 11.07.

 

Initial Unencumbered Properties ” means the Acceptable Properties listed on Schedule 4.01 , and “ Initial Unencumbered Property ” means any one of the Initial Unencumbered Properties.

 

Interest Payment Date ” means (a) as to any Loan other than a Base Rate Loan, the last day of each Interest Period applicable to such Loan and the Maturity Date applicable to such Loan; provided that if any Interest Period for a LIBOR Loan exceeds three (3) months, then 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, the last Business Day of each March, June, September, and December and the Maturity Date applicable to such Loan.

 

Interest Period ” means as to each LIBOR Loan, the period commencing on the date such LIBOR Loan is disbursed or converted to or continued as a LIBOR Loan and ending on the date one (1), two (2), three (3) or six (6) months (if available to all Lenders) thereafter, as selected by the Borrower in its Loan Notice; provided that :

 

(i)                                      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, in the case of a LIBOR Loan, such Business Day falls in another calendar month, in which case such Interest Period shall end on the next preceding Business Day;

 

(ii)                                   any Interest Period pertaining to a LIBOR Loan 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

 

(iii)                                no Interest Period for a subject Loan shall extend beyond the Maturity Date applicable to such Loan.

 

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 equity participation or interest in, another Person, including any partnership or joint venture interest in such other Person and any

 

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arrangement pursuant to which the investor Guarantees 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 that constitute a business unit.  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.

 

IP Rights ” has the meaning specified in Section 6.18 .

 

IRS ” means the United States Internal Revenue Service.

 

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.

 

Lead Arranger ” means Wells Fargo Securities, LLC in its capacity as lead arranger and bookrunner.

 

Lease ” means each existing or future lease, sublease (to the extent of any Subsidiary Guarantor’s rights thereunder), license, or other agreement (other than an Acceptable Ground Lease) under the terms of which any Person has or acquires any right to occupy or use any Property, or any part thereof, or interest therein, and each existing or future guaranty of payment or performance thereunder.

 

Lender ” has the meaning specified in the introductory paragraph hereto.

 

Lending Office ” means, as to any Lender, the office or offices of such Lender described as such in such Lender’s Administrative Questionnaire, or such other office or offices as a Lender may from time to time notify the Borrower and the Administrative Agent.

 

LIBOR ” means, subject to the implementation of a Replacement Rate in accordance with Section 3.03(b) ,with respect to any LIBOR borrowings for any interest period, the rate of interest obtained by dividing (i) the rate of interest per annum determined on the basis of the rate for deposits in U.S. dollars for a period equal to the applicable interest period as published by the ICE Benchmark Administration Limited, a United Kingdom company, or a comparable or successor quoting service approved by the Administrative Agent, at approximately 11:00 a.m. (London time) two business days prior to the first day of the applicable interest period by (ii) a percentage equal to 1 minus the stated maximum rate (stated as a decimal) of all reserves, if any, required to be maintained with respect to Eurocurrency funding (currently referred to as “Eurocurrency liabilities”) as specified in Regulation D of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (or against any other category of liabilities which includes deposits by reference to which the interest rate on LIBOR Loans is determined or any applicable category of extensions of credit or other assets which includes loans by an office of any Lender outside of the United States of America); provided that if such determined rate shall be less than zero, such rate shall be deemed to be zero for each LIBOR Loan that has not been identified by the

 

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Borrower in accordance with the terms of this Agreement as being subject to a Specified Swap Contract that provides a hedge against interest rate risk.  If, for any reason, such rate is not so published then “LIBOR” shall be determined by the Administrative Agent to be the arithmetic average of the rate per annum at which deposits in U.S. dollars would be offered by first class banks in the London interbank market to the Administrative Agent at approximately 11:00 a.m. (London time) two business days prior to the first day of the applicable interest period for a period equal to such interest period; provided that if such determined rate shall be less than zero, such rate shall be deemed to be zero for each LIBOR Loan that has not been identified by the Borrower in accordance with the terms of this Agreement as being subject to a Specified Swap Contract that provides a hedge against interest rate risk.  Any change in the maximum rate or reserves described in the preceding clause (ii) shall result in a change in LIBOR on the date on which such change in such maximum rate becomes effective.

 

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

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, unless otherwise specified in any amendment to this Agreement entered into in accordance with Section 3.03(b) , in the event that a Replacement Rate with respect to LIBOR is implemented then all references herein to LIBOR shall be deemed references to such Replacement Rate.

 

LIBOR Loan ” means a Committed Loan that bears interest at a rate based on LIBOR.

 

LIBOR Market Index Rate ” means, for any day, LIBOR as of that day that would be applicable for a LIBOR borrowing having a one-month interest period determined at approximately 10:00 a.m. Central time for such day (rather than 11:00 a.m. (London time) two business days prior to the first day of such interest period as otherwise provided in the definition of “LIBOR”), or if such day is not a business day, the immediately preceding business day.  The LIBOR Market Index Rate shall be determined on a daily basis.

 

Lien ” means any mortgage, pledge, hypothecation, assignment, deposit arrangement, encumbrance, lien (statutory or other), charge or other security interest or any preference, priority or other security agreement or preferential arrangement 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 Capital Lease having substantially the same economic effect as any of the foregoing).

 

Loan ” means an extension of credit by a Lender to the Borrower under Article II in the form of a Committed Loan.

 

Loan Documents ” means this Agreement, each Note, the Fee Letter, and the Guaranties.

 

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 LIBOR Loans, pursuant to Section 2.02(a) , which, if in writing, shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit A .

 

Loan Parties ” means, collectively, the Borrower and each Guarantor and “ Loan Party ” means any one of the Loan Parties.

 

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

 

“Material Acquisition ” means any acquisition (or series of related acquisitions) or investments (or series of related investments) permitted by this Agreement and consummated in accordance with the terms of this Agreement for which the aggregate consideration paid in respect of such acquisition or investment (including any Indebtedness assumed in connection therewith) exceeds 10% of Total Asset Value for the Current Reporting Quarter, without giving pro forma effect to such acquisition.

 

Material Adverse Effect ” means: (a) a material adverse change in, or a material adverse effect upon, the business, assets, operations, or financial condition of the Companies, taken as a whole; (b) a material impairment of the ability of the Loan Parties, taken as a whole, to perform their obligations under the Loan Documents; or (c) a material adverse effect upon the legality, validity, binding effect, or enforceability against the Loan Parties, taken as a whole, of the Loan Documents to which they are parties.

 

Material Environmental Event ” means, with respect to any Unencumbered Property, (a) a violation of any Environmental Law with respect to such Unencumbered Property, or (b) the presence of any Hazardous Materials on, about, or under such Unencumbered Property that, under or pursuant to any Environmental Law, would require remediation, if in the case of either (a) or (b), such event or circumstance could reasonably be expected to have a Material Property Event.

 

Material Property Event ” means, with respect to any Unencumbered Property, the occurrence of any event or circumstance occurring or arising after the date of this Agreement that resulted in a (a) material adverse effect with respect to the financial condition or the operations of such Unencumbered Property, (b) material adverse effect on the value of such Unencumbered Property, or (c) material adverse effect on the ownership of such Unencumbered Property.

 

Material Title Defects ” means, with respect to any Unencumbered Property, defects, Liens (other than Liens for local real estate taxes and similar local governmental charges), and other encumbrances in the nature of easements, servitudes, restrictions, and rights-of-way that would customarily be deemed unacceptable title exceptions for a prudent lender (i.e., a prudent lender would reasonably determine that such exceptions, individually or in the aggregate, materially impair the value or operations of such Unencumbered Property, would prevent such Unencumbered Property from being used in the manner in which it is currently being used, or would result in a violation of any Law which would have a material and adverse effect on such Unencumbered Property); provided that Material Title Defects shall not include any Liens or other encumbrances (i) that existed as of the date of the title insurance policies issued in connection with the Prior Credit Agreement for the Initial Unencumbered Properties, (ii) that existed as of the date of this Agreement and that are listed on Schedule 8.01 or (iii) with respect to any Unencumbered Properties added following the date of this Agreement, Liens and other encumbrances similar in type and extent to those contemplated by clauses (i) and (ii) above.

 

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Material Subsidiary ” means each Subsidiary of the Borrower other than a Non-Guarantor Subsidiary.

 

Maturity Date ” means March 21, 2021; provided that if such date is not a Business Day, then the Maturity Date shall be the next preceding Business Day.

 

Minimum Distributions ” means (a) for the Parent for any fiscal year of the Parent, Restricted Payments in an amount not less than the aggregate amount of distributions required to be paid by the Parent in order for the Parent to qualify as a REIT, and (b) for the Borrower for any fiscal year of the Borrower, Restricted Payments in an amount not less than the aggregate amount of distributions required to be paid by the Borrower to the Parent in order for the Parent to qualify as a REIT.

 

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 the Parent 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 (2) or more contributing sponsors (including the Parent or any ERISA Affiliate) at least two (2) of whom are not under common control, as such a plan is described in Section 4064 of ERISA.

 

Non-Guarantor Subsidiary ” means any Subsidiary (whether direct or indirect) of the Borrower, other than any Subsidiary which owns an Unencumbered Property or any Subsidiary which owns any of the Equity Interests of any such Subsidiary, which (a) is (i) formed for or converted to the specific purpose of holding title to Real Property assets which are collateral for Indebtedness owing or to be owed by such Subsidiary, provided that such Indebtedness must be incurred or assumed within ninety (90) days, such ninety (90) day period to be extended for an additional sixty (60) days if the Borrower provides an executed term sheet or commitment letter for the financing of such Real Property to the Administrative Agent (or, in either instance, for such longer period as the Administrative Agent may agree in writing) of such formation or conversion or such Subsidiary shall cease to qualify as a Non Guarantor Subsidiary, and (ii) expressly prohibited in writing from guaranteeing Indebtedness of any other person or entity pursuant to (A) a provision in any document, instrument or agreement evidencing such Indebtedness of such Subsidiary or (B) a provision of such Subsidiary’s Organization Documents, in each case, which provision was included in such Organization Document or such other document, instrument or agreement at the request of the applicable third party creditor and as an express condition to the extension or assumption of such Indebtedness; provided that a Subsidiary meeting the requirements set forth in this clause (a) shall only remain a “Non-Guarantor Subsidiary” for so long as (1) each of the foregoing requirements set forth in this clause (a) are satisfied, (2) such Subsidiary does not guarantee any other Indebtedness, and (3) the Indebtedness with respect to which the restrictions noted in clause (a) (ii) are imposed remains outstanding; (b)(i) becomes a Subsidiary following the Closing Date, (ii) is not a Wholly Owned Subsidiary of the Borrower, and (iii) with respect to which the Borrower and its Affiliates, as applicable, do not have sufficient voting power to cause such Subsidiary to become

 

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a Guarantor hereunder; (c) is an Immaterial Subsidiary; (d) is a Subsidiary which has been released from its Obligations under a Subsidiary Guaranty pursuant to Section 2.17(b)  below, or (e) is not a domestic Subsidiary. For the avoidance of doubt, STAG Industrial Management, LLC, the Subsidiary that employs the Parent Guarantor’s employees, shall be deemed to be a Non-Guarantor Subsidiary.

 

Non-Recourse Indebtedness ” means, for any Person, any Indebtedness of such Person for the repayment of which neither the Parent or the Borrower has any personal liability (other than for Customary Recourse Exceptions) or, if such Person is the Parent or the Borrower, in which recourse of the applicable holder of such Indebtedness for non-payment is limited to such holder’s Liens on a particular asset or group of assets (other than for Customary Recourse Exceptions).  For the avoidance of doubt, if any Indebtedness is partially guaranteed by the Parent or the Borrower, then the portion of such Indebtedness that is not so guaranteed shall still be Non-Recourse Indebtedness if it otherwise satisfies the requirements in this definition.

 

Note ” means a promissory note made by the Borrower in favor of each Lender requesting the same evidencing Loans made by such Lender, substantially in the form of Exhibit B .

 

Note Purchase Agreements ” means (i) that certain Note Purchase Agreement, dated as of April 16, 2014 among the Parent, the Borrower, and the purchasers party thereto, (ii) that certain Note Purchase Agreement, dated as of December 18, 2014 among the Parent, the Borrower, and the purchasers party thereto, and (iii) that certain Note Purchase Agreement, dated as of June 13, 2018, among the Parent, the Borrower, and the purchasers party thereto, in each case as amended from time to time.

 

Obligations ” means 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, 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; including, without limitation of the foregoing, all present and future indebtedness, liabilities, and obligations now or hereafter owed to the Administrative Agent, any Lender, or any Affiliate of the Administrative Agent or any Lender (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any Specified Derivatives Providers) arising from, by virtue of, or pursuant to any Swap Contract, other than any Excluded Swap Obligation, that relates solely to the Obligations.

 

Occupancy Rate ” means, for any Property, the percentage of the rentable area of such Property occupied by bona fide tenants of such Property or leased by tenants pursuant to bona fide tenant Leases, in each case, which tenants are not more than 60 days past due in the payment of all rent or other similar payments due under such Leases and paying rent.

 

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

 

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certificate or articles of formation or organization and operating agreement, and (c) with respect to any partnership, joint venture, trust or other form of business entity, the partnership, joint venture or other applicable agreement of formation or organization and any agreement, instrument, filing or notice with respect thereto filed in connection with its formation or organization with the applicable Governmental Authority in the jurisdiction of its formation or organization and, if applicable, any certificate or articles of formation or organization of such entity.

 

Other Connection Taxes ” means, with respect to any Recipient, Taxes imposed as a result of a present or former connection between such Recipient and the jurisdiction imposing such Tax (other than connections arising from such Recipient having executed, delivered, become a party to, performed its obligations under, received payments under, received or perfected a security interest under, engaged in any other transaction pursuant to or enforced any Loan Document, or sold or assigned an interest in any Loan or Loan Document).

 

Other Taxes ” means all present or future stamp, court 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 with respect to Committed Loans on any date, the aggregate outstanding principal amount thereof after giving effect to any borrowings and prepayments or repayments of Loans occurring on such date.

 

Parent ” has the meaning specified in the introductory paragraph hereto.

 

Parent Guaranty ” means the Guaranty Agreement executed by the Parent in favor of the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Lenders and any Specified Derivatives Providers, in form and substance acceptable to the Administrative Agent.

 

Parent Share ” means a share of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Parent.

 

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

 

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

 

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, Sections 412 , 430 , 431 , 432 and 436 of the Code and Sections 302 , 303 , 304 and 305 of ERISA.

 

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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 the 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.

 

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 the Parent or any ERISA Affiliate or any such Plan to which the Parent or any ERISA Affiliate is required to contribute on behalf of any of its employees.

 

Platform ” has the meaning specified in Section 7.02 .

 

Prime Rate ” means, at any time, the rate of interest per annum publicly announced from time to time by the Administrative Agent as its prime rate.  Each change in the Prime Rate shall be effective as of the opening of business on the day such change in such prime rate occurs.  The parties acknowledge that the rate announced publicly by the Administrative Agent as its prime rate is an index or base rate and shall not necessarily be its lowest or best rate charged to its customers or other banks.

 

Prior Credit Agreement ” means that certain Credit Agreement dated as of April 20, 2011 among the Borrower, Bank of America, N.A., as agent, and a syndicate of lenders.

 

Property ” means any Real Property which is owned or ground leased, directly or indirectly, by any Company.

 

PTE ” means a prohibited transaction class exemption issued by the U.S. Department of Labor as any such exemption may be amended from time to time.

 

Public Lender ” has the meaning specified in Section 7.02 .

 

Qualified ECP Guarantor ” means, in respect of any Swap Contract, each Loan Party that has total assets exceeding $10,000,000 at the time the relevant Guarantee or grant of the relevant security interest becomes effective with respect to such Swap Contract or such other person as constitutes an “eligible contract participant” under the Commodity Exchange Act or any regulations promulgated thereunder and can cause another person to qualify as an “eligible contract participant” at such time by entering into a keepwell under Section 1a(18)(A)(v)(II)  of the Commodity Exchange Act.

 

Rating Condition ” means the achievement by the Borrower of a Debt Rating.

 

Real Property ” of any Person means all of the right, title, and interest of such Person in and to land, improvements, and fixtures.

 

Recipient ” means the Administrative Agent, any Lender, or any other recipient of any payment to be made by or on account of any obligation of any Loan Party hereunder.

 

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Recourse Indebtedness ” means Indebtedness that is not Non-Recourse Indebtedness; provided that personal recourse for Customary Recourse Exceptions shall not, by itself, cause such Indebtedness to be characterized as Recourse Indebtedness.

 

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

 

REIT ” means a “real estate investment trust” in accordance with Section 856 of the Code.

 

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.

 

Replacement Rate ” has the meaning assigned thereto in Section  3.03(b) .

 

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 with respect to a Borrowing, conversion or continuation of Committed Loans, a Committed Loan Notice.

 

Required Lenders ” means, at any time, the Lenders holding in the aggregate more than fifty percent (50%) of the Total Outstandings.  The Loans of any Defaulting Lender shall be disregarded in determining the Required Lenders at any time.  At all times when two or more Lenders (excluding Defaulting Lenders) are party to this Agreement, the term “Required Lenders” shall in no event mean fewer than two Lenders.

 

Responsible Officer ” means the chief executive officer, president, chief financial officer, chief operating officer, chief accounting officer, treasurer, assistant treasurer, or controller of a Loan Party, and solely for purposes of the delivery of incumbency certificates pursuant to Section 5.01 , the secretary or any assistant 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.  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.  Each initial Responsible Officer is listed on Schedule RO .

 

Restricted Payment ” means any dividend or other distribution (whether in cash, Equity Interests or other property) with respect to any capital stock or other Equity Interest of any Company or Subsidiary, or any payment (whether in cash, Equity Interests or other property), including any sinking fund or similar deposit, on account of the purchase, redemption, retirement, acquisition, cancellation or termination of any such capital stock or other Equity Interests, or on account of any return of capital to such Company’s or Subsidiary’s stockholders, partners or members (or the equivalent Person thereof).

 

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Revolving Credit Agreement ” means that certain Credit Agreement, dated as of July 26, 2018, among the Borrower, the Parent, Wells Fargo, as administrative agent, and the other lenders party thereto, as amended.

 

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

 

Sanction(s) ” means any international economic sanction administered or enforced by OFAC, the United Nations Security Council, the European Union, Her Majesty’s Treasury or other relevant sanctions authority.

 

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

 

Second Amendment Effective Date ” means July 26, 2018.

 

Secured Indebtedness ” means (without duplication), with respect to a Person as of any given date, the aggregate principal amount of all Indebtedness of such Person or its subsidiaries outstanding at such date and that is secured by a Lien, and including the Companies’ Share of all Indebtedness of Unconsolidated Affiliates that is secured by a Lien, but excluding for the avoidance of doubt, any net obligations under any Swap Contract that is secured by a Lien, all Unsecured Indebtedness and all Indebtedness hereunder, and provided further that the obligations under any revolving credit agreement (including the Revolving Credit Agreement or any amendment or replacement thereof) shall not constitute Secured Indebtedness due to the existence of cash collateral security requirements in connection with customary defaulting lender provisions.

 

Secured Leverage Ratio ” means, as of any date of determination, the quotient (expressed as a percentage) of (a) Secured Indebtedness of Parent and its Subsidiaries, divided by (b) Total Asset Value.

 

Share ” means the Borrower’s and the Parent’s direct or indirect share of a Consolidated Subsidiary or an Unconsolidated Affiliate as reasonably determined by the Borrower based upon the Borrower’s and the Parent’s economic interest (whether direct or indirect) in such Consolidated Subsidiary or Unconsolidated Affiliate, as of the date of such determination.

 

Specified Derivatives Provider ” shall have the meaning provided in Section 9.03.

 

Specified Swap Contract ” means any Swap Contract that is made or entered into at any time, or in effect at any time now or hereafter, whether as a result of an assignment or transfer or otherwise, in each case with respect to the Loans, between the Borrower and a Specified Swap Contract Provider.

 

Specified Swap Contract Provider ” means any Lender, or Affiliate of a Lender, that is party to a Swap Contract at the time such Swap Contract is entered into.

 

Subsidiary ” of a Person means a corporation, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company or other business entity of which a majority of the Equity Interests having ordinary

 

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voting power for the election of directors or other governing body (other than Equity Interests having such power only by reason of the happening of a contingency) are 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 Borrower.

 

Subsidiary Guarantors ” means, as of any date, each domestic Subsidiary which owns an Unencumbered Property, all domestic Subsidiaries of the Borrower owning a direct or indirect interest in an Unencumbered Property, each other domestic Material Subsidiary, and the general partner of each Subsidiary Guarantor that is a limited partnership and “ Subsidiary Guarantor ” means any one of the Subsidiary Guarantors; provided, however, that (a) STAG Industrial Management, LLC and (b) STAG Industrial TRS, LLC and its Subsidiaries shall in no event be deemed or required to be a Subsidiary Guarantor.

 

Subsidiary Guaranty ” means the Guaranty Agreement executed by each Subsidiary Guarantor in favor of the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Lenders and any Specified Derivatives Providers, in form and substance acceptable to the Administrative Agent.

 

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, (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, and (c) 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).

 

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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.

 

Threshold Amount ” means (a) $40,000,000 with respect to Recourse Indebtedness, (b) $75,000,000 with respect to all Non-Recourse Indebtedness, and (c) $40,000,000 with respect to all other amounts.

 

Total Asset Value ” means, for the Companies, on a consolidated basis, as on any date, the sum of (a) an amount equal to (i) aggregate Adjusted NOI with respect to all Properties (without duplication from the assets in clauses (b) through (g) below) for the Current Reporting Quarter, annualized divided by (ii) the Capitalization Rate, plus (b) 75% of the Book Value of any Dark Property (provided that no Dark Property shall be included in the calculation of Total Asset Value for a period greater than 12 months), plus (c) the acquisition cost of Construction in Progress and the costs of improvements thereon and renovations thereof, plus (d) cash and cash equivalents (including restricted cash) on such date, plus (e) the Companies’ Share of the foregoing items and components attributable to Unconsolidated Affiliates, plus (f) an amount equal to the book value (adjusted in accordance with GAAP to reflect any default or other impairment of such loan) of mortgage loans, construction loans, capital improvement loans, and other loans, in each case owned by a Company, plus (g) fifty percent (50%) of the book value of any undeveloped land.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, for purposes of determining Total Asset Value, to the extent the amount of Total Asset Value attributable to (a) the amount under clause (b) above would exceed 10% of Total Asset Value, such excess shall be excluded, (b) the amount under clause (c) and (g) above would exceed 15% of Total Asset Value, such excess shall be excluded, (c) the amount under clause (e) above would exceed 30% of Total Asset Value, such excess shall be excluded, (d) the amount under clause (f) above would exceed 15% of Total Asset Value, such excess shall be excluded, and (e) the amount under clauses (b), (c), (e), (f) and (g) above would exceed 30% of Total Asset Value, such excess shall be excluded.

 

Total Funded Debt ” means, as of any date, Consolidated Total Debt excluding intercompany Indebtedness, deferred income taxes, security deposits, accounts payable and accrued liabilities, and any prepaid rents, in each case determined in accordance with GAAP.

 

Total Outstandings ” means as of any date of determination, the aggregate Outstanding Amount of all Loans.

 

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

 

Unconsolidated Affiliate ” means any Person in which a Company has an Equity Interest and whose financial results would not be consolidated under GAAP with the financial results of the Parent on the consolidated financial statements of the Parent.

 

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

 

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Unencumbered Adjusted NOI ” means, for any period, the aggregate Adjusted NOI of all Unencumbered Properties excluding any Dark Property for such period.

 

Unencumbered Asset Value ” means without duplication, the sum of for each Unencumbered Property owned or ground leased for the Current Reporting Quarter, (i) an amount equal to (x) the Unencumbered Adjusted NOI attributable to such Unencumbered Property for such Current Reporting Quarter, annualized, divided by (ii) the Capitalization Rate.

 

Unencumbered Leverage Ratio ” means, as of any date of determination, the quotient (expressed as a percentage) of (a) Unsecured Indebtedness of Parent and its Subsidiaries, divided by (b) Unencumbered Asset Value.

 

Unencumbered Properties ” means each Acceptable Property that either (a) is an Initial Unencumbered Property or (b) becomes an Unencumbered Property pursuant to Section 4.03 , and “ Unencumbered Property ” means any one of the Unencumbered Properties.

 

Unsecured Indebtedness ” means Indebtedness which is not Secured Indebtedness.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, all Indebtedness which is secured by a pledge of equity interests only and is recourse to the Borrower or the Parent shall be deemed to be Unsecured Indebtedness.

 

Unsecured Interest Coverage Ratio ” means, as of any date of determination, the quotient (expressed as a percentage) of (a) Unencumbered Adjusted NOI to (b) Unsecured Interest Expense.

 

Unsecured Interest Expense ” means, with respect to any period, Consolidated Interest Expense of the Parent and its Subsidiaries for such period attributable to Unsecured Indebtedness of the Parent and its Subsidiaries.

 

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)(III) .

 

Wells Fargo ” means Wells Fargo Bank, National Association and its successors.

 

WFS ” means Wells Fargo Securities, LLC and its successors and assigns.

 

Write-Down and Conversion Powers ” means, with respect to any EEA Resolution Authority, the write-down and conversion powers of such EEA Resolution Authority from time to time under the Bail-In Legislation for the applicable EEA Member Country, which write-down and conversion powers are described in the EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule.

 

b.                                       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

 

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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 any Organization Document) shall be construed as referring to such agreement, instrument or other document as from time to time amended, supplemented, or otherwise modified (subject to any restrictions on such amendments, supplements or modifications set forth herein 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, Exhibits and Schedules shall be construed to refer to Articles and Sections of, and Exhibits and Schedules to, the Loan Document in which such references appear, (v) any reference to any law shall include all statutory and regulatory 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 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, Equity Interests, accounts and contract rights.

 

(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.

 

c.                                        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 Borrower and its Subsidiaries shall be deemed to be carried at 100% of the outstanding principal amount thereof, and the effects of FASB ASC 825 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

 

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either the Borrower or the Required Lenders shall so request, the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the Borrower shall negotiate in good faith to amend such ratio or requirement to preserve the original intent thereof in light of such change in GAAP (subject to the approval of the Required Lenders); provided that until so amended, (i) such ratio or requirement shall continue to be computed in accordance with GAAP prior to such change therein and (ii) the Borrower shall provide to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders financial statements and other documents required under this Agreement or as reasonably requested hereunder setting forth a reconciliation between calculations of such ratio or requirement made before and after giving effect to such change in GAAP.  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 addressing such changes, as provided for above.

 

(c)                                   Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities.   All references herein to consolidated financial statements of the Companies or to the determination of any amount for the Companies on a consolidated basis or any similar reference shall, in each case, be deemed to include each variable interest entity that the Parent is required to consolidate pursuant to FASB ASC 810 as if such variable interest entity were a Subsidiary as defined herein, provided further that for all purposes in calculating consolidated covenants hereunder the Parent shall be deemed to own one hundred percent (100%) of the equity interests in the Borrower.

 

d.                                       Rounding.  Any financial ratios required to be maintained by the Borrower 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).

 

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

 

f.                                         Amendment and Restatement of the Existing Term Loan Agreement.  The parties to this Agreement agree that, upon (i) the execution and delivery by each of the parties hereto of this Agreement and (ii) satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 5.01 , the terms and provisions of the Existing Term Loan Agreement shall be and hereby are amended, superseded and restated in their entirety by the terms and provisions of this Agreement.  This Agreement is not intended to and shall not constitute a novation, payment and reborrowing or termination of the “Obligations” (as defined in the Existing Term Loan Agreement).  All “Loans” made and “Obligations” incurred under the Existing Term Loan Agreement which are outstanding on the Closing Date, if any, shall continue as Obligations under (and shall be governed by the terms of) this Agreement and the other Loan Documents.  Without limiting the foregoing, upon the effectiveness hereof: (a) all references in the “Loan Documents” (as defined in the Existing Term Loan Agreement) to the “Administrative Agent”, the “Agreement” and the “Loan Documents” shall be deemed to refer to the Administrative Agent, this Agreement and the Loan Documents and (b) all obligations constituting “Obligations” with any Lender or any Affiliate of any Lender

 

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which are outstanding on the Closing Date, if any, shall continue as Obligations under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents.

 

g.                                        Rates. 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 “LIBOR” or with respect to any comparable or successor rate thereto.

 

20.                               
THE COMMITTED LOANS AND CREDIT EXTENSIONS

 

a.                                       Committed Loans.

 

(a)                                  On the “Closing Date” (as defined in the Existing Term Loan Agreement) certain term loans were made to the Borrower under the Existing Term Loan Agreement that remain outstanding as of the Closing Date (such outstanding loans being herein referred to as the “ Existing Loans ”) in an aggregate principal amount equal to $150,000,000.  Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, the Borrower and each Lender agree that on the Closing Date, (a) the Existing Loans shall be reevidenced as loans under this Agreement (the “ Committed Loans ”) and (b) the terms of the Existing Loans shall be restated in their entirety and shall be evidenced by this Agreement.  The amount of each Lender’s Committed Loan as of the Closing Date is set forth on Schedule 2.01 .

 

(b)                                  Committed Loan Limitations Amounts repaid on the Committed Loans may not be reborrowed.  Committed Loans may be Base Rate Loans or LIBOR Loans, as further provided herein.

 

b.                                       Borrowings, Conversions and Continuations of Committed Loans.

 

(a)                                  Each Committed Borrowing, each conversion of Committed Loans from one Type to the other, and each continuation of LIBOR Loans shall be made upon the Borrower’s irrevocable notice to the Administrative Agent, which may be given by telephone.  Each such notice must be received by the Administrative Agent not later than 10:00 a.m. (i) three (3) Business Days prior to the requested date of any Borrowing of, conversion to or continuation of LIBOR Loans or of any conversion of LIBOR Loans to Base Rate Committed Loans, and (ii) on the requested date of any Borrowing of Base Rate Committed Loans.  Each telephonic notice by the Borrower pursuant to this Section 2.02(a)  must be confirmed promptly by delivery to the Administrative Agent of a written Committed Loan Notice, appropriately completed and signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower.  Each Borrowing of, conversion to or continuation of LIBOR Loans shall be in a principal amount of $500,000 or a whole multiple of $500,000 in excess thereof.  Each conversion to Base Rate Committed Loans shall be in a principal amount of $250,000 or a whole multiple of $50,000 in excess thereof.  Each Committed Loan Notice (whether telephonic or written) shall specify (i) whether the Borrower is requesting a Committed Borrowing, a conversion of Committed Loans from one Type to the other, or a continuation of LIBOR Loans, (ii) the requested date of the Committed

 

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Borrowing, conversion or continuation, as the case may be (which shall be a Business Day), (iii) the principal amount of Committed Loans to be borrowed, converted or continued, (iv) the Type of Committed Loans to be borrowed or to which existing Committed Loans are to be converted, and (v) if applicable, the duration of the Interest Period with respect thereto.  If the Borrower fails to specify a Type of Committed Loan in a Committed Loan Notice or if the Borrower fails to give a timely notice requesting a conversion or continuation, then (I) so long as no Event of Default exists, the applicable Committed Loans shall be made as, or continued to, a LIBOR Loan of the same Type and with an Interest Period of one (1) month and (II) if an Event of Default exists, then the applicable Committed 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 LIBOR Loans.  If the Borrower requests a Committed Borrowing of, conversion to, or continuation of LIBOR Loans in any such Committed Loan Notice, but fails to specify an Interest Period, then it will be deemed to have specified an Interest Period of one (1) month.

 

(b)                                  Following receipt of a Committed Loan Notice, the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each Lender of the amount of its Applicable Percentage of the applicable Committed Loans, and if no timely notice of a conversion or continuation is provided by the Borrower, the Administrative Agent shall notify each Lender of the details of any automatic continuation or conversion to Base Rate Loans described in the preceding subsection.  In the case of a Committed Borrowing, each Lender shall make the amount of its Committed Loan available to the Administrative Agent in immediately available funds at the Administrative Agent’s Office not later than 12:00 noon on the Business Day specified in the applicable Committed Loan Notice.  Upon satisfaction of the applicable conditions set forth in Section 5.02 (and, if such Committed Borrowing is the initial Credit Extension, Section 5.01 ), the Administrative Agent shall make all funds so received available to the Borrower by 3:00 p.m. in like funds as received by the Administrative Agent either by (i) crediting the account of the Borrower on the books of Wells Fargo 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 Borrower.

 

(c)                                   Except as otherwise provided herein, a LIBOR Loan may be continued or converted only on the last day of an Interest Period for such LIBOR Loan.  During the existence of an Event of Default, no Loans may be requested as, converted to or continued as LIBOR Loans without the consent of the Required Lenders.

 

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

 

(e)                                   After giving effect to all Committed Borrowings, all conversions of Committed Loans from one Type to the other, and all continuations of Committed Loans

 

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as the same Type, there shall not be more than eight (8) Interest Periods in effect with respect to Committed Loans.

 

c.                                        Reserved .

 

d.                                       Reserved.

 

e.                                        Prepayments.

 

(a)                                  The Borrower may, upon notice to the Administrative Agent, at any time or from time to time voluntarily prepay Committed Loans in whole or in part; provided that (i) such notice must be received by the Administrative Agent not later than 11:00 a.m. (A) three (3) Business Days prior to any date of prepayment of LIBOR Loans and (B) on the date of prepayment of Base Rate Committed Loans; (ii) any prepayment of LIBOR Loans shall be in a principal amount of $1,000,000 or a whole multiple of $100,000 in excess thereof; and (iii) any prepayment of Base Rate Committed Loans shall be in a principal amount of $100,000 or a whole multiple of $25,000 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 Committed Loans to be prepaid and, if LIBOR 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 Applicable Percentage of such prepayment.  If such notice is given by the Borrower, then the Borrower 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 a LIBOR Loan 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 2.16 , each such prepayment shall be applied to the Committed Loans of the Lenders in accordance with their respective Applicable Percentages.

 

f.                                         Incremental Term Loans.

 

(a)                                  Reserved .

 

(b)                                  Incremental Term Loans .

 

(i)                                      Election .  Provided there exists no Default, upon notice to the Administrative Agent (which shall promptly notify the Lenders), the Parent and the Borrower may from time to time, elect to enter into one or more tranches of term loans (“ Additional Term Loans ”) in an aggregate amount not exceeding $50,000,000 either by designating another bank or financial institution not theretofore a Lender to become a Lender (such designation to be effective only with the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent, which consent will not be unreasonably withheld) and/or by agreeing with an existing Lender or Lenders, in such Lender or Lenders’ absolute discretion, that such Lender shall make Additional Term Loans; provided that (i) any such election for Additional Term Loans shall be in a minimum amount of $10,000,000, and (ii) the Parent and the Borrower may make a maximum of three (3) such requests.  Upon execution and

 

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delivery by the Borrower and such Lender or other bank or financial institution of an instrument in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent to effect such Additional Term Loans, including, as required, a new or amended Note, such existing Lender shall have a commitment to make Committed Loans as therein set forth or such bank or financial institution shall become a Lender with a commitment to make Committed Loans as therein set forth and all the rights and obligations of a Lender hereunder.

 

(ii)                                   Effective Date .  If Additional Term Loans are made in accordance with this Section 2.06(b) , then the Administrative Agent, the Parent, and the Borrower shall determine the effective date (the “ Increase Effective Date ”) that such Additional Term Loans shall be made.  The Administrative Agent shall promptly notify the Parent, the Borrower, and the Lenders of the Increase Effective Date.

 

(iii)                                Conditions to Effectiveness of Additional Term Loans .

 

(a)                                  As a condition precedent to such Additional Term Loans, the Parent and the Borrower shall deliver to the Administrative Agent a certificate dated as of the Increase Effective Date (in sufficient copies for each Lender) signed by a Responsible Officer of the Parent or the Borrower (on behalf of each Loan Party) (i) certifying and attaching the resolutions adopted by such Parent and the Borrower (on behalf of each Loan Party) approving or consenting to such Additional Term Loans, and (ii) certifying that, before and after giving effect to such Additional Term Loans, (A) the representations and warranties contained in Article VI and the other Loan Documents are true and correct in all material respects (except in the case of a representation or warranty qualified by materiality or Material Adverse Effect, in which case such representation or warranty shall be true and correct in all respects) on and as of the Increase Effective Date, except to the extent that such representations and warranties specifically refer to an earlier date, in which case they are true and correct in all material respects (except in the case of a representation or warranty qualified by materiality or Material Adverse Effect, in which case such representation or warranty shall be true and correct in all respects) as of such earlier date, and except that for purposes of this Section 2.06 , the representations and warranties contained in Section   6.05(b)  shall be deemed to refer to the most-recent statements furnished pursuant to Section 7.01(b) , and (B) no Default exists.

 

(b)                                  The Borrower shall execute and provide new Notes to such Lenders as may request herewith.

 

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

 

(c)                                   General .  The Administrative Agent will promptly notify the Lenders of any notice of Additional Term Loans.  Each Additional Term Loan shall be a Committed Loan hereunder.

 

g.                                        Repayment of Loans .   The Borrower shall repay to the Lenders on the Maturity Date the aggregate principal amount of Loans outstanding on such date.

 

h.                                       Interest.

 

(a)                                  Subject to the provisions of subsection (b)  below, (i) each LIBOR Loan shall bear interest on the outstanding principal amount thereof for each Interest Period at a rate per annum equal to LIBOR for such Interest Period plus the Applicable Rate; (ii) each Base Rate Committed 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.

 

(b)

 

(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, then 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 Borrower 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 (other than as set forth in clauses (b)(i) and (b)(ii) above), the Borrower shall pay interest on the principal amount of all outstanding Obligations hereunder 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 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.

 

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i.                                           Fees.

 

(a)                                  The Borrower shall pay to WFS and the Administrative Agent, for their own respective accounts, fees in the amounts and at the times specified in the Fee Letter (without duplication of fees otherwise referenced herein).  Such fees shall be fully earned when paid and shall not be refundable for any reason whatsoever.

 

(b)                                  The Borrower shall pay to the Lenders such fees as shall have been separately agreed upon in writing in the amounts and at the times so specified.  Such fees shall be fully earned when paid and shall not be refundable for any reason whatsoever.

 

j.                                          Computation of Interest and Fees; Retroactive Adjustments of Applicable Rate .

 

(a)                                  All computations of interest for Base Rate Loans (including Base Rate Loans determined by reference to LIBOR) 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)                                  If, as a result of any restatement of or other adjustment to the financial statements of the Parent or for any other reason, then the Parent, the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, or the Lenders determine that (i) the Consolidated Leverage Ratio as calculated by the Parent and the Borrower 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, then the Borrower shall immediately and retroactively be obligated to pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of the applicable Lenders, within three (3) Business Days after demand by the Administrative Agent (or, after the occurrence of an actual or deemed entry of an order for relief with respect to any Loan Party under the Bankruptcy Code of the United States, automatically and without further action by the Administrative Agent or any Lender), 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 or any Lender, under Section 2.08(b)  or under (f) .

 

k.                                       Evidence of Debt.

 

(a)                                  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 Borrower and the interest

 

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and payments thereon.  Any failure to so record or any error in doing so shall not, however, limit or otherwise affect the obligation of the Borrower hereunder to pay any amount owing with respect to the Obligations.  In the event of any conflict between the accounts and records maintained by any Lender and the accounts and records of the Administrative Agent in respect of such matters, the accounts and records of the Administrative Agent shall control in the absence of manifest error.  Upon the request of any Lender made through the Administrative Agent, the Borrower shall execute and deliver to such Lender (through the Administrative Agent) a Note, which shall evidence such Lender’s Loans in addition to such accounts or records.  Each such Note shall be in the form of Exhibit B (a “ Note ”).  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.

 

l.                                           Payments Generally; The Administrative Agent’s Clawback.

 

(a)                                  General .  All payments to be made by the Borrower shall be made without condition or deduction for any counterclaim, defense, recoupment or setoff.  Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, all payments by the Borrower 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 1:00 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.  If and to the extent the Administrative Agent shall not make such payments to a Lender when due as set forth in the preceding sentence, then such unpaid amounts shall accrue interest, payable by the Administrative Agent, at the Federal Funds Rate from the due date until (but not including) the date on which the Administrative Agent makes such payments to such Lender.  All payments received by the Administrative Agent after 1:00 p.m. shall be deemed received on the next succeeding Business Day and any applicable interest or fee shall continue to accrue.  If any payment to be made by the Borrower 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)                                  Clawback .

 

(i)                                      Funding by the Lenders; Presumption by the Administrative Agent .  Unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from a Lender prior to the proposed date of any Committed Borrowing of LIBOR Loans (or, in the case of any Committed Borrowing of Base Rate Loans, prior to 1:00 p.m. on the date of such Borrowing) that such Lender will not make available to the Administrative Agent such Lender’s share of such Committed 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 Committed 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 Borrower a corresponding

 

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amount.  In such event, if a Lender has not in fact made its share of the applicable Committed Borrowing available to the Administrative Agent, then the applicable Lender and the Borrower 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 Borrower to but excluding the date of payment to the Administrative Agent, at (A) in the case of a payment to be made by such Lender, the 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 Borrower, the interest rate applicable to Base Rate Loans.  If the Borrower and such Lender shall pay such interest to the Administrative Agent for the same or an overlapping period, then the Administrative Agent shall promptly remit to the Borrower the amount of such interest paid by the Borrower for such period.  If such Lender pays its share of the applicable Committed Borrowing to the Administrative Agent, then the amount so paid shall constitute such Lender’s Committed Loan included in such Committed Borrowing.  Any payment by the Borrower shall be without prejudice to any claim the Borrower may have against a Lender that shall have failed to make such payment to the Administrative Agent.

 

(ii)                                   Payments by the Borrower; Presumptions by the Administrative Agent .  Unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from the Borrower prior to the date on which any payment is due to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Lenders hereunder that the Borrower will not make such payment, the Administrative Agent may assume that the Borrower has made such payment on such date in accordance herewith and may, in reliance upon such assumption, distribute to the Lenders the amount due.  In such event, if the Borrower has not in fact made such payment, then each of the Lenders severally agrees to repay to the Administrative Agent forthwith on demand the amount so distributed to such Lender, 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 , within one (1) Business Day.  If and to the extent the Administrative Agent shall not return such funds to a Lender when due as set forth in the preceding sentence, then such unpaid amounts shall accrue interest, payable by the Administrative Agent, at the Federal Funds Rate from the due date until (but not including) the date on which the Administrative Agent returns such funds to such Lender.

 

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

 

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(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 Borrower by the Administrative Agent because the conditions to the applicable Credit Extension set forth in Article V are not satisfied or waived in accordance with the terms hereof, then the Administrative Agent shall return such funds (in like funds as received from such Lender) to such Lender, without interest.

 

(d)                                  Obligations of the Lenders Several .  The obligations of the Lenders hereunder to make Committed Loans and to make payments pursuant to Section11.04(d)  are several and not joint.  The failure of any Lender to make any Committed Loan or to make any payment under Section 11.04(d)  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 Committed Loan or to make its payment under Section 11.04(d) .

 

(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)                                    Funds Transfer .  The Administrative Agent will, in its sole discretion, determine the funds transfer system and the means by which each transfer will be made.  The Administrative Agent may delay or refuse to accept a funds transfer request if the transfer would: (i) violate the terms of this authorization, (ii) require use of a bank unacceptable to the Administrative Agent or any Lender, in its reasonable discretion, or prohibited by any Governmental Authority, (iii) cause the Administrative Agent or any Lender to violate any Federal Reserve or other regulatory risk control program or guideline or (iv) otherwise cause the Administrative Agent or any Lender to violate any applicable Law or regulation.  The Borrower hereby authorizes the Administrative Agent to disburse the proceeds of any Loan made by the Lenders or any of their Affiliates pursuant to the Loan Documents as requested by an authorized representative of the Borrower to any of the accounts designated in the Disbursement Instruction Agreement.

 

m.                                   Sharing of Payments by the Lenders.  If any Lender shall, by exercising any right of setoff or counterclaim or otherwise, obtain payment in respect of any principal of or interest on any of the Committed Loans made by it, resulting in such Lender’s receiving payment of a proportion of the aggregate amount of such Committed Loans and accrued interest thereon greater than its pro rata share thereof as provided herein, then the Lender receiving such greater proportion shall (a) notify the Administrative Agent of such fact, and (b)  make such adjustments as shall be equitable, so that the benefit of all such payments shall be shared by the Lenders ratably in accordance with the aggregate amount of principal of and accrued interest on their respective Committed Loans and other amounts owing them, provided that the provisions of this Section shall not be construed to apply to any payment obtained by a Lender as consideration for the assignment of or sale of a participation in any of its Committed Loans to any assignee or participant, other than an assignment to the Borrower or any Affiliate thereof (as to which the provisions of this Section shall apply).  Each Loan Party consents to the foregoing and agrees, to

 

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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.

 

n.                                       Reserved .

 

o.                                       Reserved.

 

p.                                       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 .  That 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 in 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 IX 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 reasonably 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 , as the Borrower 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; third , if so determined by the Administrative Agent and the Borrower, to be held in an interest bearing deposit account and released pro rata in order to satisfy such Defaulting Lender’s potential future funding obligations with respect to Loans under this Agreement; fourth , to the payment of any amounts owing to the Lenders as a result of any judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction obtained by any Lender against such Defaulting Lender as a result of such Defaulting Lender’s breach of its obligations under this Agreement; fifth , so long as no Event of Default exists, to the payment of any amounts owing to the Borrower as a result of any judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction obtained by the Borrower against such Defaulting Lender as a result of such Defaulting Lender’s breach of its obligations under this Agreement; and sixth , to such Defaulting Lender or as otherwise directed by a court of competent jurisdiction; provided that if such payment is a payment of the principal amount of any Loans in respect of which such Defaulting Lender has not fully funded its appropriate share, such payment shall be applied solely to pay the Loans of all Non-Defaulting Lenders on a pro rata basis prior to being applied to the payment of any Loans of such

 

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Defaulting Lender until such time as all Loans and funded hereunder without giving effect to Section 2.16(a)(iv) . Any payments, prepayments or other amounts paid or payable to a Defaulting Lender that are applied (or held) to pay amounts owed by a Defaulting Lender shall be deemed paid to and redirected by such Defaulting Lender, and each Lender irrevocably consents hereto.

 

(iii)                                Certain Fees .  No Defaulting Lender shall be entitled to receive any fee pursuant to Section 2.09 for any period during which that Lender is a Defaulting Lender (and the Borrower shall not be required to pay any such fee that otherwise would have been required to have been paid to that Defaulting Lender pursuant to Section 2.09 for any period during which that Lender is a Defaulting Lender), and the Borrower shall not be required to pay the remaining amount of such fee that otherwise would have been required to have been paid to that Defaulting Lender.

 

(b)                                  Defaulting Lender Cure .  If the Borrower and the Administrative Agent agree in writing in their sole discretion that a Defaulting Lender should no longer be deemed to be 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, 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 Committed Loans to be held on a pro rata basis by the Lenders in accordance with their Applicable Percentages, whereupon that Lender will cease to be a Defaulting Lender; provided that no adjustments will be made retroactively with respect to fees accrued or payments made by or on behalf of the Borrower while that Lender was a Defaulting Lender; and provided , further , that , except to the extent otherwise expressly agreed by the affected parties, no change hereunder from Defaulting Lender to Lender will constitute a waiver or release of any claim of any party hereunder arising from that Lender’s having been a Defaulting Lender.

 

q.                                       Guaranties.  Pursuant to the Parent Guaranty, the Parent shall unconditionally Guarantee in favor of the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and any Specified Derivatives Providers the full payment and performance of the Obligations. Pursuant to the Subsidiary Guaranty or an addendum thereto in the form attached to the Subsidiary Guaranty, the Parent and the Borrower shall cause each Subsidiary Guarantor to execute a Subsidiary Guaranty unconditionally guarantying in favor of the Administrative Agent , the Lenders and any Specified Derivatives Providers the full payment and performance of the Obligations; provided, however , that such Subsidiary Guaranty may be released and reinstated in accordance with its terms.

 

(a)                                  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement or any other Loan Document, (x) concurrently with the delivery of each Compliance Certificate, with respect to any Person that became a Subsidiary of the Parent owning a direct or indirect interest in the Borrower since the date of the most recent Compliance Certificate or (y) substantially concurrently with any Subsidiary of the Parent (other than the Borrower) entering into any Guarantee of Indebtedness of the Parent, the Borrower or any Subsidiary of the Borrower owning directly or indirectly any Unencumbered Property,

 

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the Parent, the Borrower and such Subsidiary shall deliver to the Administrative Agent each of the following: (i) a joinder to the Subsidiary Guaranty executed by such Subsidiary, (ii) concurrently with the delivery of each Compliance Certificate a comprehensive list of all Guarantors, which identifies the joining and departing entities, and (iii) the items that would have been delivered under subsections (iii) and (v) of Section 5.01(a)  if such Subsidiary had been a Subsidiary Guarantor on the Closing Date, in form and substance substantially consistent with such items delivered on the Closing Date or otherwise reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

 

(b)                                  The Borrower may request in writing that the Administrative Agent release, and upon receipt of such request the Administrative Agent shall release, a Subsidiary Guarantor from the Guaranty so long as: (i) such Subsidiary Guarantor is not otherwise required to be a party to the Guaranty under the immediately preceding subsection (a)  (after giving effect to clause (ii) hereof); (ii) such Subsidiary Guarantor no longer Guarantees (or which Guarantee is being substantially concurrently released) any other Indebtedness of the Parent, the Borrower or any Subsidiary of the Borrower owning directly or indirectly any Unencumbered Property, (iii) no Default or Event of Default shall then be in existence or would occur as a result of such release, including without limitation, a Default or Event of Default resulting from a violation of any of the covenants contained in Section 8.14 ; and (iv) the Administrative Agent shall have received such written request at least five (5) Business Days (or such shorter period as may be acceptable to the Administrative Agent) prior to the requested date of release.  Delivery by the Borrower to the Administrative Agent of any such request shall constitute a representation by the Parent and the Borrower that the conditions set forth in the preceding sentence are or will be satisfied as of the requested date of release.

 

21.                               
TAXES, YIELD PROTECTION AND ILLEGALITY

 

a.                                       Taxes.

 

(a)                                  Payments Free of Taxes; Obligation to Withhold; Payments on Account of Taxes .

 

(i)                                      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 the Administrative Agent) require the deduction or withholding of any Tax from any such payment by the Administrative Agent or a Loan Party, then the Administrative Agent or such Loan Party shall be entitled to make such deduction or withholding, upon the basis of the information and documentation to be delivered pursuant to subsection (e)  below.

 

(ii)                                   If any Loan Party or the Administrative Agent shall be required by the Code to withhold or deduct any Taxes, including both United States Federal backup withholding and withholding taxes, from any payment, then (A) the

 

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Administrative Agent shall withhold or make such deductions as are determined by the Administrative Agent to be required based upon the information and documentation it has received pursuant to subsection (e)  below, (B) the Administrative Agent shall timely pay the full amount withheld or deducted to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with the Code, and (C) 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 any required withholding or the making of all required deductions (including deductions 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 withholding or deduction been made.

 

(iii)                                If any Loan Party or the Administrative Agent shall be required by any applicable Laws other than the Code to withhold or deduct any Taxes from any payment, then (A) such Loan Party or the Administrative Agent, as required by such Laws, shall withhold or make such deductions as are determined by it to be required based upon the information and documentation it has received pursuant to subsection (e)  below, (B) such Loan Party or the Administrative Agent, to the extent required by such Laws, shall timely pay the full amount withheld or deducted to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with such Laws, and (C) 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 any required withholding or the making of all required deductions (including deductions 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 withholding or deduction been made.

 

(b)                                  Payment of Other Taxes by the Borrower .  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 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 reasonable expenses arising therefrom or with respect thereto, whether or not such Indemnified Taxes were correctly or legally imposed or asserted by the relevant Governmental Authority.  A certificate as to the amount of such payment or liability delivered to the Borrower by a Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), or by the Administrative Agent on its own behalf or on behalf of a Lender, shall be conclusive absent manifest error.  Each of the Loan Parties shall, and does hereby, jointly and severally indemnify the Administrative Agent, and shall make payment in respect thereof within 10 days after demand therefor, for any amount which a Lender for any reason fails

 

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to pay indefeasibly to the Administrative Agent as required pursuant to Section 3.01(c)(ii)  below.

 

(ii)                                   Each Lender shall, and does hereby, severally indemnify, and shall make payment in respect thereof within 10 days after demand therefor, ( x ) the Administrative Agent against any Indemnified Taxes attributable to such Lender (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), ( y ) 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 ( z ) the Administrative Agent and the Loan Parties, as applicable, against any Excluded Taxes attributable to such Lender, 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 hereby authorizes the Administrative Agent to set off and apply any and all amounts at any time owing to such Lender, under this Agreement or any other Loan Document against any amount due to the Administrative Agent under this clause (ii) .

 

(d)                                  Evidence of Payments .  Upon request by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, as the case may be, after any payment of Taxes by the Borrower or by the Administrative Agent to a Governmental Authority as provided in this Section 3.01 , the Borrower shall deliver to the Administrative Agent or the Administrative Agent shall deliver to the Borrower, as the case may be, the original or a certified copy of a receipt issued by such Governmental Authority evidencing such payment, a copy of any return required by Laws to report such payment or other evidence of such payment reasonably satisfactory to the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, as the case may be.

 

(e)                                   Status of the 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 Borrower and the Administrative Agent, at the time or times reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, such properly completed and executed documentation reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent as will permit such payments to be made without withholding or at a reduced rate of withholding.  In addition, any Lender, if reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, shall deliver such other documentation prescribed by applicable law or reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent as will enable the Borrower or the Administrative Agent to determine whether or not such Lender is subject to backup withholding or information reporting requirements.  Notwithstanding

 

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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 the Borrower is a U.S. Person,

 

i)                                          any Lender that is a U.S. Person shall deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent on or prior to the date on which such Lender becomes a Lender under this Agreement (and from time to time thereafter upon the reasonable request of the Borrower or the Administrative Agent), executed originals of IRS Form W-9 certifying that such Lender is exempt from U.S. federal backup withholding tax;

 

ii)                                       any Foreign Lender shall, to the extent it is legally entitled to do so, deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent (in such number of copies as shall be requested by the recipient) on or prior to the date on which such Foreign Lender becomes a Lender under this Agreement (and from time to time thereafter upon the reasonable request of the Borrower or the Administrative Agent), whichever of the following is applicable:

 

(i)                                      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 originals of IRS Form W-8BEN or IRS Form W-8BEN-E 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 or IRS Form W-8BEN-E 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;

 

(j)                                     executed originals of IRS Form W-8ECI;

 

(k)                                  in the case of a Foreign Lender claiming the benefits of the exemption for portfolio interest under Section 881(c)  of the Code, (x) a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit H-1 to the effect that such Foreign Lender is not a “bank” within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(A)  of the Code, a “10 percent shareholder” of the Borrower within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(B)  of the Code, or a “controlled foreign corporation” described in Section 881(c)(3)(C)  of the Code (a

 

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U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate ”) and (y) executed originals of IRS Form W-8BEN or IRS Form W-8BEN-E; or

 

(l)                                      to the extent a Foreign Lender is not the beneficial owner, executed originals of IRS Form W-8IMY, accompanied by IRS Form W-8ECI, IRS Form W-8BEN, IRS Form W-8BEN-E, a U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit H-2 or Exhibit H-3 , IRS Form W-9, and/or other certification documents from each beneficial owner, as applicable; provided that if the Foreign Lender is a partnership and one or more direct or indirect partners of such Foreign Lender are claiming the portfolio interest exemption, such Foreign Lender may provide a U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit H-4 on behalf of each such direct and indirect partner;

 

iii)                                    any Foreign Lender shall, to the extent it is legally entitled to do so, deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent (in such number of copies as shall be requested by the recipient) on or prior to the date on which such Foreign Lender becomes a Lender under this Agreement (and from time to time thereafter upon the reasonable request of the Borrower or the Administrative Agent), executed originals 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 Borrower or the Administrative Agent to determine the withholding or deduction required to be made; and

 

iv)                                   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 Borrower and the Administrative Agent at the time or times prescribed by law and at such time or times reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent such documentation prescribed by applicable law (including as prescribed by Section 1471(b)(3)(C)(i)  of the Code) and such additional documentation reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent as may be necessary for the Borrower and the Administrative Agent to comply with their obligations under FATCA and to determine that such Lender has complied with such Lender’s obligations under FATCA or to determine the amount to deduct and withhold from such payment.  Solely for purposes of this clause (D), “FATCA” shall include any amendments made to FATCA after the date of this Agreement.

 

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(iii)                                Each Lender agrees that if any form or certification it previously delivered expires or becomes obsolete or inaccurate in any respect, it shall update such form or certification or promptly notify the Borrower and the Administrative Agent in writing of its legal inability to do so.  Each Lender shall promptly (A) notify the Borrower and the Administrative Agent of any change in circumstances which would modify or render invalid any claimed exemption or reduction, and (B) take such steps as shall not be materially disadvantageous to it, in the reasonable judgment of such Lender, and as may be reasonably necessary (including the re-designation of its Lending Office) to avoid any requirement of applicable Laws of any jurisdiction that the Borrower or the Administrative Agent make any withholding or deduction for taxes from amounts payable to such Lender.

 

(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 have any obligation to pay to any Lender, any refund of Taxes withheld or deducted from funds paid for the account of such Lender.  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 the Loan Party an amount equal to such refund (but only to the extent of indemnity payments made, or additional amounts paid, by a 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, and without interest (other than any interest paid by the relevant Governmental Authority with respect to such refund), provided that the Loan Party, upon the request of the Recipient, agrees to repay the amount paid over to the 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 the 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 indemnification payments or additional amounts giving rise to such refund 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)                                   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 and the repayment, satisfaction and discharge of all other Obligations.

 

b.                                       Illegality.  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 applicable Lending Office to make, maintain or fund Loans whose interest is determined by reference to LIBOR, or to determine or charge interest rates based upon LIBOR, or any Governmental Authority has imposed material restrictions on the authority of such Lender to purchase or sell,

 

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or to take deposits of, Dollars in the London interbank market, then, on notice thereof by such Lender to the Borrower through the Administrative Agent, (i) any obligation of such Lender to make or continue LIBOR Loans or to convert Base Rate Committed Loans to LIBOR Loans shall be suspended, and (ii) 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 LIBOR 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 LIBOR component of the Base Rate, in each case until such Lender notifies the Administrative Agent and the Borrower that the circumstances giving rise to such determination no longer exist.  Upon receipt of such notice, (x) the Borrower shall, upon demand from such Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), prepay or, if applicable, convert all LIBOR 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 LIBOR component of the Base Rate), either on the last day of the Interest Period therefor, if such Lender may lawfully continue to maintain such LIBOR Loans to such day, or immediately, if such Lender may not lawfully continue to maintain such LIBOR Loans and (y) if such notice asserts the illegality of such Lender determining or charging interest rates based upon LIBOR, the Administrative Agent shall during the period of such suspension compute the Base Rate applicable to such Lender without reference to the LIBOR 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 LIBOR.  Upon any such prepayment or conversion, the Borrower shall also pay accrued interest on the amount so prepaid or converted.

 

c.                                        Changed Circumstances.

 

(a)                                  Circumstances Affecting LIBOR Rate Availability .  Unless and until a Replacement Rate is implemented in accordance with clause (b) below, in connection with any request for a LIBOR Loan or a conversion to or continuation thereof or otherwise, if for any reason (i) the Administrative Agent shall determine (which determination shall be conclusive and binding absent manifest error) that Dollar deposits are not being offered to banks in the London interbank Eurodollar market for the applicable amount and Interest Period of such Loan, (ii) the Administrative Agent shall determine (which determination shall be conclusive and binding absent manifest error) that reasonable and adequate means do not exist for ascertaining LIBOR for such Interest Period with respect to a proposed LIBOR Loan or (iii) the Required Lenders shall determine (which determination shall be conclusive and binding absent manifest error) that the LIBOR does not adequately and fairly reflect the cost to such Lenders of making or maintaining such Loans during such Interest Period, then the Administrative Agent shall promptly give notice thereof to the Borrower.  Thereafter, until the Administrative Agent notifies the Borrower that such circumstances no longer exist, the obligation of the Lenders to make LIBOR Loans and the right of the Borrower to convert any Loan to or continue any Loan as a LIBOR Loan shall be suspended, and the Borrower shall either (A) repay in full (or cause to be repaid in full) the then outstanding principal amount of each such LIBOR Loan together with accrued interest thereon (subject to Section 11.09) , on the last day of the then current Interest Period applicable to such LIBOR Loan; or (B)

 

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convert the then outstanding principal amount of each such LIBOR Loan to a Base Rate Loan as of the last day of such Interest Period.

 

(b)                                  Alternative Rate of Interest .  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Section 3.03(a)  above, if the Administrative Agent has made the determination (such determination to be conclusive absent manifest error) that (i) the circumstances described in Section 3.03(a)(i)  or (a)(ii)  have arisen and that such circumstances are unlikely to be temporary, (ii) any applicable interest rate specified herein is no longer a widely recognized benchmark rate for newly originated loans in the syndicated loan market in the applicable currency or (iii) the applicable supervisor or administrator (if any) of any applicable interest rate specified herein or any Governmental Authority having, or purporting to have, jurisdiction over the Administrative Agent has made a public statement identifying a specific date after which any applicable interest rate specified herein shall no longer be used for determining interest rates for loans in the syndicated loan market in the applicable currency, then the Administrative Agent may, to the extent practicable (in consultation with the Borrower and as determined by the Administrative Agent to be generally in accordance with similar situations in other transactions in which it is serving as administrative agent or otherwise consistent with market practice generally), establish a replacement interest rate (the “ Replacement Rate ”), in which case, the Replacement Rate shall, subject to the next two sentences, replace such applicable interest rate for all purposes under the Loan Documents unless and until (A) an event described in Section 3.03(a)(i) , (a)(ii) , (b)(i) , (b)(ii)  or (c)(iii)  occurs with respect to the Replacement Rate or (B) the Required Lenders (directly, or through the Administrative Agent) notify the Borrower that the Replacement Rate does not adequately and fairly reflect the cost to the Lenders of funding the Loans bearing interest at the Replacement Rate; provided that if such determined rate shall be less than zero, such rate shall be deemed to be zero for each Loan bearing interest at the Replacement Rate that has not been identified by the Borrower in accordance with the terms of this Agreement as being subject to a Specified Swap Contract that provides a hedge against interest rate risk.  In connection with the establishment and application of the Replacement Rate, this Agreement and the other Loan Documents shall be amended solely with the consent of the Administrative Agent and the Borrower, as may be necessary or appropriate, in the opinion of the Administrative Agent, to effect the provisions of this Section 3.03(b) .  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement or the other Loan Documents (including, without limitation, Section 11.01 ), such amendment shall become effective without any further action or consent of any other party to this Agreement so long as the Administrative Agent shall not have received, within five (5) Business Days of the delivery of such amendment to the Lenders, written notices from such Lenders that in the aggregate constitute Required Lenders, with each such notice stating that such Lender objects to such amendment.  To the extent the Replacement Rate is approved by the Administrative Agent in connection with this clause (b), the Replacement Rate shall be applied in a manner consistent with market practice; provided that, in each case, to the extent such market practice is not administratively feasible for the Administrative Agent, such Replacement Rate shall be applied as otherwise reasonably determined by the Administrative Agent (it being understood that any such modification by the Administrative Agent shall not require the consent of, or consultation with, any of the Lenders).

 

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d.                                       Increased Costs; Reserves on LIBOR Loans.

 

(a)                                  Increased Costs Generally If any Change in Law shall:

 

(v)                                  impose, modify or deem applicable any reserve, special deposit, liquidity, compulsory loan, insurance charge or similar assessment or requirement against assets of, deposits with or for the account of, or credit extended or participated in by, the Administrative Agent or any Lender (except any reserve requirement contemplated by Section 3.04(e) );

 

(vi)                              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

 

(vii)                          impose on the Administrative Agent or any Lender or the London interbank market any other condition, cost or expense affecting this Agreement or LIBOR Loans made by such Lender;

 

and the result of any of the foregoing shall be to increase the cost to the Administrative Agent or such Lender, as applicable, of making, converting, continuing or maintaining any Loan (or of maintaining its obligation to make any such Loan), then the Borrower will pay to the Administrative Agent or such Lender, as applicable, such additional amount or amounts as will compensate the Administrative Agent or such Lender, as applicable, for such additional costs incurred or reduction suffered.

 

(b)                                  Capital Requirements. If any Lender determines that any Change in Law affecting such Lender or any Lending Office of such Lender or such Lender’s holding company, if any, regarding capital or liquidity ratios or requirements has or would have the effect of reducing the rate of return on such Lender’s capital or on the capital of such Lender’s holding company, if any, as a consequence of this Agreement, the Loans made by such Lender, to a level below that which such Lender or such Lender’s holding company could have achieved but for such Change in Law (taking into consideration such Lender’s policies and the policies of such Lender’s holding company with respect to capital adequacy and liquidity), then from time to time the Borrower will pay to such Lender such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender or such Lender’s holding company for any such reduction suffered.

 

(c)                                   Certificates for Reimbursement .  A certificate of a Lender setting forth the amount or amounts necessary to compensate such Lender or its holding company, as the case may be, as specified in subsection (a)  or (b)  of this Section and delivered to the Borrower shall be conclusive absent manifest error.  The Borrower shall pay such Lender the amount shown as due on any such certificate within fifteen (15) days after receipt thereof.

 

(d)                                  Delay in Requests .  Failure or delay on the part of any Lender to demand compensation pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this Section shall not constitute a

 

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waiver of such Lender’s right to demand such compensation, provided that the Borrower shall not be required to compensate a Lender 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 notifies the Borrower of the Change in Law giving rise to such increased costs or reductions and of such Lender’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).

 

(e)                                   Reserves on LIBOR Loans .  The Borrower 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 LIBOR 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), which shall be due and payable on each date on which interest is payable on such Loan, provided that the Borrower shall have received at least ten (10) days’ prior notice (with a copy to the Administrative Agent) of such additional interest 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.                                        Compensation for Losses.  Upon demand of any Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent) from time to time, the Borrower 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 the Borrower (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 the Borrower; or

 

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

 

excluding any loss of anticipated profits and 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 Borrower shall also pay any customary administrative fees charged by such Lender in connection with the foregoing.

 

For purposes of calculating amounts payable by the Borrower to the Lenders under this Section 3.05 , each Lender shall be deemed to have funded each LIBOR Loan made by it at LIBOR for such Loan by a matching deposit or other borrowing in the London interbank eurodollar market for a comparable amount and for a comparable period, whether or not such LIBOR Loan was in fact so funded.

 

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f.                                         Mitigation Obligations; Replacement of the Lenders.

 

(a)                                  Designation of a Different Lending Office .  If any Lender requests compensation under Section 3.04 , or the Borrower is required to pay any Indemnified Taxes or additional amount to any Lender, or any Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender pursuant to Section 3.01 , or if any Lender gives a notice pursuant to Section 3.02 , then at the request of the Borrower such Lender 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 reasonable judgment of such Lender, 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 to any material unreimbursed cost or expense and would not otherwise be materially disadvantageous to such Lender.  The Borrower hereby agrees to pay all reasonable costs and expenses incurred by any Lender in connection with any such designation or assignment.

 

(b)                                  Replacement of the Lenders .  If any Lender requests compensation under Section 3.04 , or if the Borrower is required to pay any Indemnified Taxes or additional amounts to any Lender or any Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender pursuant to Section 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 Borrower may replace such Lender in accordance with Section 11.13 .

 

g.                                        Survival.  All of the Borrower’s obligations under this Article III shall survive repayment of all other Obligations hereunder, and resignation of the Administrative Agent.

 

22.
UNENCUMBERED PROPERTIES

 

a.                                       Initial Unencumbered Properties.  As of the Closing Date, the Initial Unencumbered Properties shall consist of the Properties set forth on Schedule 4.01 .

 

b.                                       Reserved.

 

c.                                        Notices of Qualification as an Unencumbered Property.  The Borrower shall provide the Administrative Agent with a written notice of an Acceptable Property to be deemed an Unencumbered Property.

 

d.                                       Eligibility.  In order for an Acceptable Property to be eligible for inclusion as an Unencumbered Property, such Acceptable Property shall satisfy the following requirements unless otherwise approved by the Required Lenders:

 

(a)                                  no Material Title Defect with respect to such Acceptable Property shall exist;

 

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(b)                                  such Acceptable Property shall have reasonable access to public utilities; and

 

(c)                                   such Acceptable Property shall not have any material defects.

 

e.                                        Reserved.

 

f.                                         Guaranty.  An Acceptable Property shall not be deemed an Unencumbered Property until the applicable Subsidiary Guarantor shall have executed and delivered (or caused to be executed and delivered) to the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Lenders and any Specified Derivatives Providers, the Subsidiary Guaranty.

 

g.                                        Admission of New Unencumbered Properties.  If, after the date of this Agreement, the Borrower has submitted to the Administrative Agent the notice contemplated by Section 4.03 , then such Acceptable Property shall be deemed to be an Unencumbered Property.

 

h.                                       Reserved.

 

i.                                           Reserved.

 

j.                                          Exclusion Events.  Each of the following events shall be an “ Exclusion Event ” with respect to an Unencumbered Property:

 

(a)                                  such Unencumbered Property suffers a Material Environmental Event or a Material Title Defect after the date of this Agreement which the Administrative Agent determines, acting reasonably and in good faith, materially impairs the Unencumbered Asset Value or marketability of such Unencumbered Property;

 

(b)                                  the Administrative Agent determines that such Unencumbered Property has suffered a Material Property Event after the date such Property was deemed an Unencumbered Property (or in the case of an uninsured Casualty, in respect of such Unencumbered Property, is reasonably likely to become a Material Property Event) which the Administrative Agent determines, acting reasonably and in good faith, materially impairs the Unencumbered Asset Value or marketability of such Unencumbered Property;

 

(c)                                   a Lien for the performance of work or the supply of materials which is established against such Unencumbered Property, or any stop notice served on the owner of such Unencumbered Property, the Administrative Agent or a Lender, remains unsatisfied or unbonded for a period of thirty (30) days after the date of filing or service and such Lien has priority over any Loan previously or thereafter made under this Agreement;

 

(d)                                  (i) any default by any Subsidiary Guarantor, as tenant under any applicable Acceptable Ground Lease, in the observance or performance of any material term, covenant, or condition of any applicable Acceptable Ground Lease on the part of such Subsidiary Guarantor to be observed or performed and said default is not cured following the expiration of any applicable grace and notice periods therein provided, or

 

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(ii)  the leasehold estate created by any applicable Acceptable Ground Lease shall be surrendered or (iii)  any applicable Acceptable Ground Lease shall cease to be in full force and effect or (iv) any applicable Acceptable Ground Lease shall be terminated or canceled for any reason or under any circumstances whatsoever, or any of the material terms, covenants or conditions of any applicable Acceptable Ground Lease shall be modified, changed, supplemented, altered, or amended in any manner not otherwise permitted hereunder without the consent of the Administrative Agent; and

 

(e)                                   the Borrower shall cease to own, directly or indirectly, one hundred percent (100%) of the Equity Interests of any Subsidiary Guarantor that owns an Unencumbered Property free and clear of any Liens (other than Liens in favor of the Administrative Agent).

 

After the occurrence of any Exclusion Event, the Administrative Agent, at the direction of the Required Lenders in their sole discretion, shall have the right at any time and from time to time to notify the Borrower (the “ Exclusion Notice ”) that, effective ten (10) Business Days after the giving of such notice and for so long as such Exclusion Event exists, such Property shall no longer be considered an Unencumbered Property.

 

If the Administrative Agent delivers an Exclusion Notice and such Exclusion Event no longer exists, then the Borrower may give the Administrative Agent written notice thereof (together with reasonably detailed evidence of the cure of such condition) and such Unencumbered Property shall be considered an Unencumbered Property as long as such Unencumbered Property meets all the requirements to be deemed an Unencumbered Property set forth in this Article IV.  Any Property that is excluded from the Unencumbered Properties pursuant to this Section 4.10 may subsequently be reinstated as an Unencumbered Property, even if an Exclusion Event exists, upon such terms and conditions as the Required Lenders may approve.

 

Upon the occurrence of an Default under Section 8.11(a) , the Borrower shall have the right to elect, upon written notice to the Administrative Agent, that the Lenders designate one or more Unencumbered Properties to be excluded as Unencumbered Properties in order to effect compliance with Section 8.11(a) , with the Borrower thereafter having the right to elect to have any such Unencumbered Property thereafter deemed an Unencumbered Property, provided no Exclusion Event shall exist at such time with respect to such Unencumbered Property.

 

23.
CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO CREDIT EXTENSIONS

 

a.                                       Conditions of Initial Credit Extension.  The obligation of each Lender to make its initial Credit Extension hereunder is subject to satisfaction of the following conditions precedent:

 

(a)                                  The Administrative Agent’s receipt of the following, each of which shall be originals or telecopies (followed promptly by originals) unless otherwise specified, each properly executed by a Responsible Officer of the signing Loan Party, each dated the Closing Date (or, in the case of certificates of governmental officials, a recent date before the Closing Date) and each in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and each of the Lenders:

 

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(i)                                      executed counterparts of this Agreement and reaffirmations to the Guaranties sufficient in number for distribution to the Administrative Agent, each Lender, and the Borrower for each Initial Unencumbered Property;

 

(ii)                                   a Note executed by the Borrower in favor of each Lender requesting a Note;

 

(iii)                                copies of the Organization Documents of each Loan Party certified to be true and complete by the appropriate Governmental Authority of the state or other jurisdiction of its incorporation or organization, where applicable, and certified by a Responsible Officer of such Loan Party to be true and correct as of the Closing Date;

 

(iv)                               such certificates of resolutions or other action, incumbency certificates and/or other certificates of Responsible Officers of each Loan Party as the Administrative Agent may require evidencing the identity, authority and capacity of each Responsible Officer thereof authorized to act as a Responsible Officer in connection with this Agreement and the other Loan Documents to which such Loan Party is a party;

 

(v)                                  such documents and certifications as the Administrative Agent may reasonably require to evidence that each of the Borrower, the Parent and STAG Industrial GP, LLC are duly organized or formed, and that the Borrower, the Parent and STAG Industrial GP, LLC are validly existing, in good standing and qualified to engage in business in each jurisdiction where its ownership, lease or operation of properties or the conduct of its business requires such qualification, except to the extent that failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;

 

(vi)                               a favorable opinion of DLA Piper LLP (US), counsel to the Loan Parties, addressed to the Administrative Agent and each Lender, as to the matters set forth in Exhibit G and such other matters concerning the Borrower, the Parent and STAG Industrial GP, LLC and the Loan Documents as the Required Lenders may reasonably request;

 

(vii)                            a certificate of a Responsible Officer of each Loan Party either (A) attaching copies of all consents, licenses and approvals required in connection with the execution, delivery and performance by such Loan Party and the validity against such Loan Party of the Loan Documents to which it is a party, and such consents, licenses and approvals shall be in full force and effect, or (B) stating that no such consents, licenses or approvals are so required;

 

(viii)                         a certificate signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower certifying (A) that the conditions specified in Sections 5.02(a)  and (b)  have been satisfied, and (B) that there has been no event or circumstance since the date of the Audited Financial Statements that has had or could be reasonably expected to have, either individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect;

 

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(ix)                               a duly completed Compliance Certificate as of the Closing Date, signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower;

 

(x)                                  evidence that all insurance required to be maintained pursuant to the Loan Documents has been obtained and is in effect;

 

(xi)                               a Disbursement Instruction Agreement effective as of the Agreement Date; and

 

(xii)                            such other assurances, certificates, documents, consents or opinions as the Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders reasonably may require.

 

(b)                                  Any fees required to be paid on or before the Closing Date shall have been paid.

 

(c)                                   Unless waived by the Administrative Agent, the Borrower shall have paid all fees, charges and disbursements of counsel to the Administrative Agent (directly to such counsel if requested by the Administrative Agent) to the extent invoiced prior to the Closing Date, plus such additional amounts of such fees, charges and disbursements as shall constitute its reasonable estimate of such fees, charges and disbursements incurred or to be incurred by it through the closing proceedings ( provided that such estimate shall not thereafter preclude a final settling of accounts between the Borrower and the Administrative Agent).

 

Without limiting the generality of the provisions of the last paragraph of Section 10.03 , for purposes of determining compliance with the conditions specified in this Section 5.01 , 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.

 

b.                                       Conditions to all Credit Extensions.  The obligation of each Lender to honor any Request for Credit Extension (other than a Committed Loan Notice requesting only a conversion of Committed Loans to the other Type, or a continuation of LIBOR Loans) is subject to the following conditions precedent:

 

(a)                                  The representations and warranties of the Borrower and each other Loan Party contained in Article VI or any other Loan Document, or which are contained in any document furnished at any time under or in connection herewith or therewith, shall be true and correct in all material respects (except in the case of a representation or warranty qualified by materiality or Material Adverse Effect, in which case such representation or warranty shall be true and correct in all respects) on and as of the date of such Credit Extension, except to the extent that such representations and warranties specifically refer to an earlier date, in which case they shall be true and correct in all material respects (except in the case of a representation or warranty qualified by materiality or Material Adverse Effect, in which case such representation or warranty shall be true and correct in

 

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all respects) as of such earlier date, and except that for purposes of this Section   5.02 , the representations and warranties contained in Section 6.05(b)  shall be deemed to refer to the most-recent statements furnished pursuant to Section 7.01(b) .

 

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

 

(c)                                   The Administrative Agent shall have received a Request for Credit Extension in accordance with the requirements hereof.

 

(d)                                  After giving effect to such proposed Credit Extension, the Borrower shall be in compliance with Section 2.01(c) .

 

Each Request for Credit Extension (other than a Committed Loan Notice requesting only a conversion of Committed Loans to the other Type or a continuation of LIBOR Loans) submitted by the Borrower shall be deemed to be a representation and warranty that the conditions specified in Sections   5.02(a) , (b) , and (d)  have been satisfied on and as of the date of the applicable Credit Extension.

 

24.
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

 

Each of the Parent and the Borrower represents and warrants to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders that:

 

a.                                       Existence, Qualification and Power; Compliance with Laws.  The Parent, the Borrower and each Subsidiary Guarantor (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) in the case of the Loan Parties, 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 (b)(i)  or (c)  to the extent that failure to do so would not have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

b.                                       Authorization; No Contravention.  The execution, delivery and performance by each Loan Party of each Loan Document to which such Person is 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 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.

 

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c.                                        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 the execution, delivery or performance by, or enforcement against, any Loan Party of this Agreement or any other Loan Document except for those that have been obtained, taken or made, as the case may be, and those specified herein.

 

d.                                       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, except as enforcement may be limited by Debtor Relief Laws or general equitable principles relating to or limiting creditors’ rights generally.

 

e.                                        Financial Statements; No Material Adverse Effect.

 

(a)                                  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 the financial condition of the Parent as of the date thereof and their results of operations for each period covered thereby in accordance with GAAP consistently applied throughout the each period covered thereby, except as otherwise expressly noted therein; and (iii) show all material indebtedness and other liabilities, direct or contingent, of the Parent as of the date thereof, including liabilities for taxes, material commitments and Indebtedness required by GAAP to be reflected therein.

 

(b)                                  The most recent unaudited consolidated balance sheet of the Parent delivered pursuant to Section 7.01(b) , 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 the financial condition of the Parent as of the date thereof and its results of operations 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)                                   From and after the date of the Audited Financial Statements, and thereafter, from and after the date of the most recent financial statements delivered pursuant to Section 7.01(a)  or 7.01(b), there has been no event or circumstance, either individually or in the aggregate, that has had or would have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

f.                                         Litigation.  There are no actions, suits, proceedings, claims or disputes pending or, to the knowledge of any Company, threatened or contemplated, at law, in equity, in arbitration or before any Governmental Authority, by or against any Company 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) except as specifically disclosed in Schedule 6.06 , either individually or in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, and there has been no adverse change in the status, or

 

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financial effect on any Company, of the matters described on Schedule  6.06 , which change could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

g.                                        No Default.  No Company is in default under or with respect 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.

 

h.                                       Ownership of Property; Liens; Equity Interests.  Each Subsidiary Guarantor has good record and marketable title in fee simple to, or valid leasehold interests in, all Unencumbered Properties 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.  Each applicable Subsidiary Guarantor has good record and marketable fee simple title (or, in the case of Acceptable Ground Leases, a valid leasehold) to the Unencumbered Property owned by such Subsidiary Guarantor, subject only to Liens permitted by Section 8.01 .  All of the outstanding Equity Interests in each Subsidiary Guarantor have been validly issued, are fully paid and non-assessable and are owned by the applicable holders free and clear of all Liens (other than Liens permitted by Section 8.01 ).

 

i.                                           Environmental Compliance.

 

(a)                                  The Companies conduct in the ordinary course of business a review of 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 Parent and the Borrower have reasonably concluded that, except as specifically disclosed in Schedule 6.09 , such Environmental Laws and claims could not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(b)                                  After due inquiry in accordance with good commercial or customary practices to determine whether Contamination is present on any Property, without regard to whether the Administrative Agent or any Lender has or hereafter obtains any knowledge or report of the environmental condition of such Property, except as may be indicated in environmental reports delivered to the Administrative Agent and except to the extent the same could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect: (i) such Property has not been used (A) for landfilling, dumping, or other waste or Hazardous Material disposal activities or operations, or (B) for generation, storage, use, sale, treatment, processing, or recycling of any Hazardous Material, or for any other use that has resulted in Contamination, and in each case, to each Company’s knowledge, no such use on any adjacent property occurred at any time prior to the date hereof; (ii) there is no Hazardous Material, storage tank (or similar vessel) whether underground or otherwise, sump or well currently on any Property; (iii) no Company has received any notice of, or has knowledge of, any Environmental Claim or any completed, pending, proposed or threatened investigation or inquiry concerning the presence or release of any Hazardous Material on any Property or any adjacent property or concerning whether any condition, use or activity on any Property or any adjacent property is in violation of any Environmental Requirement; (iv) the present conditions, uses, and activities on each

 

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Property do not violate any Environmental Requirement and the use of any Property which any Company (and each tenant and subtenant) makes and intends to make of any Property complies and will comply with all applicable Environmental Requirements; (v) no Property appears on the National Priorities List, any federal or state “superfund” or “superlien” list, or any other list or database of properties maintained by any local, state, or federal agency or department showing properties which are known to contain or which are suspected of containing a Hazardous Material; (vi) no Company has ever applied for and been denied environmental impairment liability insurance coverage relating to any Property; (vii) no Company has, nor, to any Company’s knowledge, have any tenants or subtenants, obtained any permit or authorization to construct, occupy, operate, use, or conduct any activity on any Property by reason of any Environmental Requirement; and (viii) to any Company’s knowledge, there are no underground or aboveground storage tanks on such Property.

 

j.                                          Insurance.  The properties of the Loan Parties are insured with financially sound and reputable insurance companies not Affiliates of any Loan Party, 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 Loan Parties operate.

 

k.                                       Taxes.  The Companies have filed all material Federal, state and other tax returns and reports required to be filed, and have paid all material Federal, state and other 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 or which would not result in a Material Adverse Effect.  There is no proposed tax assessment against any Company that would, if made, have a Material Adverse Effect. Neither any Loan Party nor any Subsidiary thereof is party to any tax sharing agreement.

 

l.                                           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.  Each Pension Plan that is intended to be a qualified plan under Section 401(a)  of the Code has received a favorable determination letter from the Internal Revenue Service 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 Internal Revenue Service 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 Internal Revenue Service.  To the best knowledge of the Parent and the Borrower, nothing has occurred that would prevent or cause the loss of such tax-qualified status.  The Parent and each ERISA Affiliate have made all required contributions to each Plan subject to Section 412 of the Code, and no application for a funding waiver or an extension of any amortization period pursuant to Section 412 of the Code has been made with respect to any Plan.

 

(b)                                  There are no pending or, to the best knowledge of the Parent and the Borrower, threatened claims, actions or lawsuits, or action by any Governmental

 

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Authority, with respect to any Plan that would have a Material Adverse Effect.  There has been no prohibited transaction or violation of the fiduciary responsibility rules with respect to any Plan that has resulted or would have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(c)                                   (i) No ERISA Event has occurred, and neither the Parent nor any ERISA Affiliate is aware of any fact, event or circumstance that would constitute or result in an ERISA Event with respect to any Pension Plan; (ii) the Parent and each ERISA Affiliate has met all applicable requirements under the Pension Funding Rules in respect of each Pension Plan, and no waiver of the minimum funding standards under the Pension Funding Rules has been applied for or obtained; (iii) as of the most-recent valuation date for any Pension Plan, the funding target attainment percentage (as defined in Section 430(d)(2)  of the Code) is 60% or higher and neither the Parent nor any ERISA Affiliate knows of any facts or circumstances that would cause the funding target attainment percentage for any such plan to drop below 60% as of the most-recent valuation date; (iv) neither the Parent nor any ERISA Affiliate has incurred any liability to the PBGC other than for the payment of premiums, and there are no premium payments which have become due that are unpaid; (v) neither the Parent nor any ERISA Affiliate has engaged in a transaction that could be subject to Section 4069 or Section 4212(c)  of ERISA; and (vi) no Pension Plan has been terminated by the plan administrator thereof nor by the PBGC, and no event or circumstance has occurred or exists that would cause the PBGC to institute proceedings under Title IV of ERISA to terminate any Pension Plan, in each case, that would result in a liability, individually, or in the aggregate, in excess of the Threshold Amount.

 

(d)                                  As of the Second Amendment Effective Date the Borrower is not nor will be using “plan assets” (within the meaning of 29 CFR § 2510.3-101, as modified by Section 3(42) of ERISA) of one or more Benefit Plans in connection with the Loans or the Commitments.

 

m.                                   Subsidiaries; Equity Interests.  As of the Closing Date, the Parent and the Borrower have no Subsidiaries other than those specifically disclosed in Part (a) of Schedule 6.13 , and all of the outstanding Equity Interests in such Subsidiaries have been validly issued, are fully paid and non-assessable and are owned by a Company in the amounts specified on Part (a) of Schedule   6.13 free and clear of all Liens.  As of the Closing Date, neither the Parent nor the Borrower has any direct or indirect Equity Interests in any other Person other than those specifically disclosed in Part (b) of Schedule   6.13 .  All of the outstanding Equity Interests in each Subsidiary Guarantor have been validly issued, are fully paid and non-assessable and are owned by the applicable holders in the amounts specified on Part (c) of Schedule   6.13 free and clear of all Liens.

 

n.                                       Margin Regulations; Investment Company Act .

 

(a)                                  Neither the Parent nor the Borrower is 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.

 

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

 

o.                                       Disclosure.

 

(a)                                  The Parent and the Borrower have disclosed to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders all agreements, instruments and corporate or other restrictions to which any Company is subject, and all other matters known to them, that, individually or in the aggregate, would have a Material Adverse Effect.  The reports, financial statements, certificates or other information furnished (whether in writing or orally) by or on behalf of any Company 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), taken as a whole, do not contain any material misstatement of fact or fail to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided that (a) with respect to projected financial information, the Parent and the Borrower represent only that such information was prepared in good faith based upon assumptions believed to be reasonable at the time made, and (b) with respect to any lease abstracts provided by the Borrower, to the best of the Borrower’s knowledge, same will not contain any material misstatement of fact or fail to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

 

(b)                                  As of Second Amendment Effective Date, the information included in the Beneficial Ownership Certification is true and correct in all respects.

 

p.                                       Compliance with Laws.  Each Company is in compliance in all material respects 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, would have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

q.                                       Taxpayer Identification Number.  As of the date hereof, each Loan Party’s true and correct U.S. taxpayer identification number is set forth on Schedule 11.02 .

 

r.                                          Intellectual Property; Licenses, Etc.  Each Loan Party owns, or possesses the right to use, all of the trademarks, service marks, trade names, copyrights, patents, patent rights, franchises, licenses and other intellectual property rights (collectively, “ IP Rights ”) that are reasonably necessary for the operation of their respective businesses, without conflict with the rights of any other Person except, in each case, where the failure to do so would have a Material Adverse Effect.  To the best knowledge of each Loan Party, 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 infringes upon any rights held by any other Person except where such infringement would not have a Material Adverse Effect.  Except as

 

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specifically disclosed in Schedule 6.18 , no claim or litigation regarding any of the foregoing is pending or, to the best knowledge of each Loan Party, threatened, which, either individually or in the aggregate, would have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

s.                                         Reserved .

 

t.                                          Solvency.  No Loan Party (a) has entered into the transaction or executed this Agreement or any other Loan Document with the actual intent to hinder, delay or defraud any creditor and (b) has not received reasonably equivalent value in exchange for its obligations under the Loan Documents.  After giving effect to any Loan, the fair saleable value of the Loan Parties’ assets, taken as a whole, exceeds and will, immediately following the making of any such Loan, exceed the Loan Parties’ total liabilities, including subordinated, unliquidated, disputed and contingent liabilities.  The Loan Parties’ assets, taken as a whole, do not constitute unreasonably small capital to carry out their business as conducted or as proposed to be conducted, nor will their assets constitute unreasonably small capital immediately following the making of any Loan.  The Loan Parties do not intend to incur debt and liabilities (including contingent liabilities and other commitments) beyond their ability to pay such debt and liabilities as they mature (taking into account the timing and amounts of cash to be received by the Loan Parties and the amounts to be payable on or in respect of obligations of the Loan Parties).  No petition under any Debtor Relief Laws has been filed against any Loan Party in the last seven (7) years, and neither the Borrower nor any other Loan Party in the last seven (7) years has ever made an assignment for the benefit of creditors or taken advantage of any insolvency act for the benefit of debtors.  No Loan Party is contemplating either the filing of a petition by it under any Debtor Relief Laws or the liquidation of all or a major portion of its assets or property (except for dispositions permitted hereunder), and no Loan Party has knowledge of any Person contemplating the filing of any such petition against it or any other Loan Party.

 

u.                                       REIT Status of the Parent.  The Parent qualified as a REIT commencing with its taxable year ending December 31, 2013 and will remain qualified in each taxable year thereafter.

 

v.                                       Labor Matters.  There is (a) no significant unfair labor practice complaint pending against any Company or, to the best of each Company’s knowledge, threatened against any Company, before the National Labor Relations Board, and no significant grievance or significant arbitration proceeding arising out of or under any collective bargaining agreement is pending on the date hereof against any Company or, to best of any Company’s knowledge, threatened against any Company which, in either case, would result in a Material Adverse Effect, and (b) no significant strike, labor dispute, slowdown or stoppage is pending against any Company or, to the best of any Company’s knowledge, threatened against any Company which would result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

w.                                     Ground Lease Representation.

 

(a)                                  The applicable Subsidiary Guarantor has delivered to the Administrative Agent true and correct copies of each Acceptable Ground Lease to the extent requested by the Administrative Agent.

 

(b)                                  Each Acceptable Ground Lease is in full force and effect.

 

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x.                                       Unencumbered Properties .  To the Borrower’s knowledge and except where the failure of any of the following to be true and correct would not have a Material Adverse Effect:

 

(a)                                  Each Unencumbered Property complies with all Laws, including all subdivision and platting requirements, without reliance on any adjoining or neighboring property.  No Loan Party has received any notice or claim from any Person that an Unencumbered Property, or any use, activity, operation, or maintenance thereof or thereon, is not in compliance with any Law, and has no knowledge of any such noncompliance except as disclosed in writing to the Administrative Agent;

 

(b)                                  The Loan Parties have not directly or indirectly conveyed, assigned, or otherwise disposed of, or transferred (or agreed to do so) any development rights, air rights, or other similar rights, privileges, or attributes with respect to an Unencumbered Property, including those arising under any zoning or property use ordinance or other Laws;

 

(c)                                   All utility services necessary for the use of each Unencumbered Property and the operation thereof for their intended purpose are available at each Unencumbered Property;

 

(d)                                  The current use of each Unencumbered Property complies in all material respects with all applicable zoning ordinances, regulations, and restrictive covenants affecting such Unencumbered Property, all use restrictions of any Governmental Authority having jurisdiction have been satisfied; and

 

(e)                                   No Unencumbered Property is the subject of any pending or, to any Loan Party’s knowledge, threatened Condemnation or material adverse zoning proceeding for which the Administrative Agent has not been notified in accordance with Section 7.03(f) .

 

y.                                       OFAC.   No Loan Party, nor, to the knowledge of any Loan Party, any Related Party, (i) is currently the subject of any Sanctions, (ii) is located, organized or residing in any Designated Jurisdiction, or (iii) is or has been (within the previous five (5) years) engaged in any transaction with any Person who is now or was then the subject of Sanctions or who is located, organized or residing in any Designated Jurisdiction.  No Loan, nor the proceeds from any Loan, has been used, directly or indirectly, to lend, contribute, provide or has otherwise made available to fund any activity or business in any Designated Jurisdiction or to fund any activity or business of any Person located, organized or residing in any Designated Jurisdiction or who is the subject of any Sanctions, or in any other manner that will result in any violation by any Person (including any Lender, the Lead Arranger or the Administrative Agent) of Sanctions.  Each Loan Party, their respective officers and, to the knowledge of the Parent and the Borrower, its respective directors, employees and agents and any Related Party, are in compliance with Anti-Corruption Laws and applicable Sanctions in all material respects. No Credit Extension, use of the proceeds of any Credit Extension, or other transactions contemplated hereby will violate Anti-Corruption Laws or applicable Sanctions.  Neither the making of the Credit Extensions hereunder nor the use of the proceeds thereof will violate the Patriot Act, the Trading with the Enemy Act, as amended, or any of the foreign assets control regulations of the United States Treasury Department (31 C.F.R., Subtitle B, Chapter V, as amended) or any enabling legislation

 

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or executive order relating thereto or successor statute thereto. Each Loan Party is in compliance in all material respects with the Patriot Act.

 

z.                                        EEA Financial Institutions.   No Loan Party is an EEA Financial Institution.

 

25.
AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS

 

So long as any Loan or other Obligation hereunder (excluding contingent indemnification obligations to the extent no unsatisfied claim giving rise thereto has been asserted) shall remain unpaid or unsatisfied:

 

a.                                       Financial Statements.  Each of the Parent and the Borrower shall deliver to the Administrative Agent and each Lender, in form and detail reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the Required Lenders:

 

(a)                                  as soon as available, but in any event within one hundred five (105) days after the end of each fiscal year of the Parent (or, if earlier, fifteen (15) days after the date required to be filed with the SEC without giving effect to any extension permitted by the SEC) (commencing with the fiscal year ending December 31, 2016, a consolidated balance sheet of the Parent 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, all in reasonable detail and prepared in accordance with GAAP, such consolidated statements to be audited and accompanied by a report and opinion of an independent certified public accountant of nationally recognized standing reasonably acceptable to the Required Lenders, 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; and

 

(b)                                  as soon as available, but in any event within sixty (60) days after the end of each of the first three (3) fiscal quarters of each fiscal year of the Parent (or, if earlier, five (5) days after the date required to be filed with the SEC) (commencing with the fiscal quarter ending March 31, 2017), a consolidated balance sheet of the Parent, the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as at the end of such fiscal quarter, the related consolidated statements of income or operations for such fiscal quarter and for the portion of the Parent’s fiscal year then ended, and the related consolidated statements of changes in shareholders’ equity, and cash flows for the portion of the Parent’s fiscal year then ended, in each case setting forth in comparative form, as applicable, the figures for the corresponding fiscal quarter of the previous fiscal year and the corresponding portion of the previous fiscal year, all in reasonable detail, such consolidated statements to be certified by the chief executive officer, chief financial officer, treasurer or controller of the Parent as fairly presenting the financial condition, results of operations, shareholders’ equity and cash flows of the Parent in accordance with GAAP, subject only to normal year-end audit adjustments and the absence of footnotes

 

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As to any information contained in materials furnished pursuant to Section 7.02 , the Parent and the Borrower shall not be separately required to furnish such information under clause (a)  or (b)  above, but the foregoing shall not be in derogation of the obligation of the Parent and the Borrower to furnish the information and materials described in clauses (a)  and (b)  above at the times specified therein.

 

b.                                       Certificates; Other Information.  Each of the Parent and the Borrower shall deliver to the Administrative Agent and each Lender, in form and detail reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the Required Lenders:

 

(a)                                  concurrently with the delivery of the financial statements referred to in Sections 7.01(a)  and (b) , a duly completed Compliance Certificate signed by the chief executive officer, chief financial officer, chief accounting officer, treasurer or controller of the Borrower (which delivery may, unless the Administrative Agent or a Lender requests executed originals, be by electronic communication including fax or email and shall be deemed to be an original authentic counterpart thereof for all purposes);

 

(b)                                  promptly after any request by the Administrative Agent, copies of any detailed audit opinions or review reports submitted to the board of directors (or the audit committee of the board of directors) of the Parent by independent accountants in connection with the accounts or books of the Parent;

 

(c)                                   promptly after the same are available, copies of each annual report, proxy or financial statement or other report or communication sent to the stockholders of the Parent, and copies of all annual, regular, periodic and special reports and registration statements which the Borrower may file or be required to file with the SEC under Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and not otherwise required to be delivered to the Administrative Agent pursuant hereto;

 

(d)                                  promptly after the furnishing thereof, copies of any statement or report furnished to any holder of publicly-held debt securities of the Parent or the Borrower 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 7.01 or any other clause of this Section 7.02 ;

 

(e)                                   promptly, and in any event within five (5) Business Days after receipt thereof by the Parent or the Borrower, copies of each notice or other correspondence received from the SEC (or comparable agency in any applicable non-U.S. jurisdiction) concerning any material investigation or other material inquiry by such agency regarding financial or other operational results of any Company unless restricted from doing so by such agency; and

 

(f)                                    promptly, such additional information regarding the business, financial or corporate affairs of the Parent or the Borrower or any Unencumbered Property, or compliance with the terms of the Loan Documents, as the Administrative Agent or any Lender may from time to time reasonably request.

 

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Documents required to be delivered pursuant to Section 7.01(a)  or (b)  or Section 7.02(c)  (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 (i) on which the Parent or the Borrower (A) files any such document with the Securities and Exchange Commission’s EDGAR system (or any successor thereto) in a manner accessible to the public at large or (B) posts such documents, or provides a link thereto on the Parent and the Borrower’s website on the Internet at the website address listed on Schedule 11.02 ; or (ii) on which such documents are posted on the Parent and the Borrower’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). 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 and the Borrower 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.

 

The Parent and the Borrower hereby acknowledge that (a) the Administrative Agent and/or the Lead Arranger will make available to the Lenders materials and/or information provided by or on behalf of the Parent and the Borrower hereunder (collectively, the “ Borrower Materials ”) by posting the Borrower Materials on IntraLinks, SyndTrak or another similar electronic system (the “ Platform ”) and (b) certain of the Lenders (each, a “ Public Lender ”) may have personnel who do not wish to receive material non-public information with respect to the Parent, the Borrower or their Affiliates, or the respective Equity Interests of any of the foregoing, and who may be engaged in investment and other market-related activities with respect to such Persons’ Equity Interests. The Parent and the Borrower hereby agree that (w) all the Borrower Materials that are to be made available to the Public Lenders shall be clearly and conspicuously marked “PUBLIC” which, at a minimum, shall mean that the word “PUBLIC” shall appear prominently on the first page thereof; (x) by marking the Borrower Materials “PUBLIC,” the Parent and the Borrower shall be deemed to have authorized the Administrative Agent, the Lead Arranger and the Lenders to treat such Borrower Materials as not containing any material non-public information with respect to the Parent and the Borrower or their Equity Interests for purposes of United States Federal and state securities laws (provided that to the extent such Borrower Materials constitute Information, they shall be treated as set forth in Section 11.07 ); (y) all the Borrower Materials marked “PUBLIC” are permitted to be made available through a portion of the Platform designated “Public Side Information;” and (z) the Administrative Agent and the Lead Arranger shall be entitled to treat any the Borrower Materials that are not marked “PUBLIC” as being suitable only for posting on a portion of the Platform not designated “Public Side Information.”

 

c.                                        Notices.  Each of the Parent and the Borrower shall, upon becoming aware of same, promptly notify the Administrative Agent who shall notify each Lender:

 

(a)                                  of the occurrence of any Default;

 

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

 

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(c)                                   of the occurrence of any ERISA Event which has resulted or would result in liabilities of any Company in an aggregate amount in excess of the Threshold Amount;

 

(d)                                  of any material litigation, arbitration or governmental investigation or proceeding instituted or threatened in writing against any Unencumbered Property, and any material development therein;

 

(e)                                   of any announcement by Moody’s, Fitch or S&P of any change in a Debt Rating or in its “outlook” with respect to a Debt Rating;

 

(f)                                    of any actual or threatened in writing Condemnation or zoning proceeding of any portion of any Unencumbered Property, any negotiations with respect to any such taking, or any material loss of or substantial damage to any Unencumbered Property, in each case, except to the extent that the same could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;

 

(g)                                   of any Casualty with respect to any Unencumbered Property except to the extent that the same could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;

 

(h)                                  of any material permit, license, certificate or approval required with respect to any Unencumbered Property that lapses or ceases to be in full force and effect or any claim from any person that any Unencumbered Property, or any use, activity, operation or maintenance thereof or thereon, is not in compliance with any Law, in each case, except to the extent that the same could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;

 

(i)                                      of any material change in accounting policies or financial reporting practices by any Company, including any determination by the Borrower referred to in Section 2.10(b) ; and

 

(j)                                     of any labor controversy pending or threatened against any Company, and any material development in any labor controversy except to the extent that the same could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

Each notice pursuant to this Section  7.03   shall be accompanied by a statement of a Responsible Officer of the Parent and the Borrower setting forth details of the occurrence referred to therein and stating what action the Parent and/or the Borrower has taken and proposes to take with respect thereto.  Each notice pursuant to Section  7.03(a)  shall describe with particularity any and all provisions of this Agreement and any other Loan Document that have been breached.

 

d.                                       Payment of Obligations.  Each of the Parent and the Borrower shall, and shall cause each other Loan Party to, pay and discharge as the same shall become due and payable, all its obligations and liabilities, including: (a) all tax liabilities, assessments and governmental charges or levies upon a Loan Party or its properties or assets, 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 such Loan Party; (b) all lawful claims which, if unpaid, would by law become a Lien upon its property other than Liens of the type permitted

 

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under Sections 8.01(a)  through (g) ; and (c) all Indebtedness, as and when due and payable except, in each case, where the failure to do so would not result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

e.                                        Preservation of Existence, Etc.  Each of the Parent and the Borrower shall, and shall cause each other Loan Party to (a) preserve, renew and maintain in full force and effect its legal existence and good standing under the Laws of the jurisdiction of its organization except in a transaction permitted by Section  8.04 ; (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 would not have a Material Adverse Effect; and (c) preserve or renew all of its IP Rights, the non-preservation of which would have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

f.                                         Maintenance of Properties.  Each of the Parent and the Borrower shall, and shall cause each other Company to (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 except to the extent the failure to do so would not result in a Material Adverse Effect; (b) make all necessary repairs thereto and renewals and replacements thereof except where the failure to do so would not have a Material Adverse Effect; (c) use the standard of care typical in the industry in the operation and maintenance of its (i) Unencumbered Properties, and, (ii) as to its other Properties except where the failure to do so would not have a Material Adverse Effect; and (d) keep the Unencumbered Properties in good order, repair, operating condition, and appearance, causing all necessary repairs, renewals, replacements, additions, and improvements to be promptly made, and not allow any of the Unencumbered Properties to be misused, abused or wasted or to deteriorate (ordinary wear and tear excepted) except where the failure to do so would not have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

g.                                        Maintenance of Insurance.  Each of the Parent and the Borrower shall, and shall cause each other Company to, maintain with financially sound and reputable insurance companies not Affiliates of any Company, insurance (including flood insurance if available or required) 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.

 

h.                                       Compliance with Laws; Beneficial Ownership Regulations.  Each of the Parent and the Borrower shall, and shall cause each other Subsidiary Guarantor to, (a) comply in all material respects with the requirements of all Laws (including without limitation Anti-Corruption Laws and applicable Sanctions) and all orders, writs, injunctions and decrees applicable to it or to its business or property, except in such instances in which (i) such requirement of Law or order, writ, injunction or decree is being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted; or (ii) the failure to comply therewith would not have a Material Adverse Effect, (b) notify the Administrative Agent and each Lender that previously received a Beneficial Ownership Certification of any change in the information provided in the Beneficial Ownership Certification that would result in a change to the list of beneficial owners identified therein and (c) promptly upon the reasonable request of the Administrative Agent or any Lender, provide the Administrative Agent or such Lender, as the

 

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case may be, any information or documentation requested by it for purposes of complying with the Beneficial Ownership Regulation.

 

i.                                           Books and Records.  Each of the Parent and the Borrower shall, and shall cause each other Company to: (a) 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 each Company, as the case may be; and (b) maintain such books of record and account in material conformity with all applicable requirements of any Governmental Authority having regulatory jurisdiction over any Company, as the case may be.

 

j.                                          Inspection Rights.  Subject to the rights of tenants, each of the Parent and the Borrower shall, and shall cause each other Loan Party to, permit representatives and independent contractors of the Administrative Agent and each Lender, at the expense of the Administrative Agent or such Lender, to visit and inspect and photograph any Unencumbered Property and any of its other properties, to examine its corporate, financial and operating records, and all recorded data of any kind or nature, regardless of the medium of recording including all software, writings, plans, specifications and schematics, and make copies thereof or abstracts therefrom, and to discuss its affairs, finances and accounts with its officers all at the expense of the Borrower and at such reasonable times during normal business hours, upon reasonable advance notice to the applicable Loan Party and no more often than once in any period of twelve (12) consecutive months unless an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing; provided that when an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing 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 Borrower at any time during normal business hours and without advance notice, subject to the rights of tenants.  Any inspection or audit of the Unencumbered Properties or the books and records, including recorded data of any kind or nature, regardless of the medium of recording including software, writings, plans, specifications and schematics of any Loan Party, or the procuring of documents and financial and other information, by the Administrative Agent on behalf of itself or on behalf of the Lenders shall be for the Administrative Agent’s and the Lenders’ protection only, and shall not constitute any assumption of responsibility to any Loan Party or anyone else with regard to the condition, construction, maintenance or operation of the Unencumbered Properties nor the Administrative Agent’s approval of any certification given to the Administrative Agent nor relieve any Loan Party of the Borrower’s or any other Loan Party’s obligations.

 

k.                                       Use of Proceeds.  Each of the Parent and the Borrower shall, and shall cause each other Company to, use the proceeds of the Credit Extensions (a) to refinance the obligations of the Companies under existing facilities, (b) to finance the acquisition of Properties, (c) to pay operating and leasing expenses with respect to its Properties, and (d) for general corporate purposes, in each case, not in contravention of any Law or of any Loan Document.

 

l.                                           Environmental Matters.  Each of the Parent and the Borrower shall, and shall cause each other Loan Party to:

 

(a)                                  Violations; Notice to the Administrative Agent .  Use reasonable efforts to:

 

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(i)                                      Keep the Unencumbered Properties free of Contamination, except to the extent that any failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;

 

(ii)                                   Promptly deliver to the Administrative Agent a copy of each report pertaining to any Property or to any Loan Party prepared by or on behalf of such Loan Party pursuant to a material violation of any Environmental Requirement to the extent that the same could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; and

 

(iii)                                As soon as practicable advise the Administrative Agent in writing of any Environmental Claim or of the discovery of any Contamination on any Unencumbered Property that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, as soon as any Loan Party first obtains knowledge thereof, including a description of the nature and extent of the Environmental Claim and/or Hazardous Material and all relevant circumstances.

 

(b)                                  Site Assessments and Information .  If the Parent or the Borrower fails to comply with Section 7.12(a)  or if any other Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, then if requested by the Administrative Agent, at the Borrower’s expense, deliver to the Administrative Agent from time to time, but no more frequently than once per calendar year unless an Event of Default exists, in each case within seventy five (75) days after the Administrative Agent’s request, an Environmental Assessment (hereinafter defined) made after the date of the Administrative Agent’s request.  As used in this Agreement, the term “ Environmental Assessment ” means a report of an environmental assessment of any or all Unencumbered Properties and of such scope so as to be compliant with the guidelines established by the ASTM (including the taking of soil borings and air and groundwater samples and other above and below ground testing) as the Administrative Agent may reasonably request to be performed by a licensed environmental consulting firm reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent.  Each applicable Loan Party shall cooperate with each consulting firm making any such Environmental Assessment and shall supply to the consulting firm all information available to such Loan Party to facilitate the completion of the Environmental Assessment.  If any Loan Party fails to furnish the Administrative Agent within thirty (30) days after the Administrative Agent’s request with a copy of an agreement with an acceptable environmental consulting firm to provide such Environmental Assessment, or if any Loan Party fails to furnish to the Administrative Agent such Environmental Assessment within seventy five (75) days after the Administrative Agent’s request, upon written notice to the Parent and the Borrower, the Administrative Agent may cause any such Environmental Assessment to be made at the Borrower’s expense and risk.  Subject to the rights of tenant, the Administrative Agent and its designees are hereby granted access to the Unencumbered Properties upon written notice, and a license which is coupled with an interest and irrevocable, to make or cause to be made such Environmental Assessments.  The Administrative Agent may disclose to any Governmental Authority, to the extent required by Applicable Law, any information the Administrative Agent ever has about the environmental condition or compliance of the Unencumbered Properties, but shall be under no duty to disclose any such information

 

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except as may be required by Law.  The Administrative Agent shall be under no duty to make any Environmental Assessment of the Unencumbered Properties, and in no event shall any such Environmental Assessment by the Administrative Agent be or give rise to a representation that any Hazardous Material is or is not present on the Unencumbered Properties, or that there has been or shall be compliance with any Environmental Requirement, nor shall any Company or any other Person be entitled to rely on any Environmental Assessment made by the Administrative Agent or at the Administrative Agent’s request but the Administrative Agent shall deliver a copy of such report to the Parent and the Borrower.  Neither the Administrative Agent nor any Lender owes any duty of care to protect any Company or any other Person against, or to inform them of, any Hazardous Material or other adverse condition affecting the Unencumbered Properties.

 

(c)                                   Remedial Actions .  If any Contamination which could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect is discovered on any Unencumbered Property at any time and regardless of the cause, (i) promptly at the applicable Loan Parties’ sole expense, remove, treat, and dispose of the Hazardous Material in compliance with all applicable Environmental Requirements in addition to taking such other action as is necessary to have the full use and benefit of such Unencumbered Property as contemplated by the Loan Documents, and provide the Administrative Agent with satisfactory evidence thereof; and (ii) if reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent, provide to the Administrative Agent within thirty (30) days of the Administrative Agent’s request a bond, letter of credit, or other financial assurance, including self-assurance, evidencing to the Administrative Agent’s satisfaction that all necessary funds are readily available to pay the costs and expenses of the actions required by the preceding clause (i) and to discharge any assessments or liens established against such Unencumbered Property as a result of the presence of the Hazardous Material on the Unencumbered Property. After completion of such remedial actions, the applicable Loan Party shall promptly request regulatory approval, take all reasonable measures to expedite issuance of such approval and upon receipt thereof deliver to the Administrative Agent a letter indicating that no further action is required with respect to the applicable Unencumbered Property or similar confirmation by the applicable regulator that all required remedial action as stated above has been taken and successfully completed to the satisfaction of the applicable regulator.  The Loan Parties shall not be deemed to have satisfied their remedial obligations under this provision until they have provided the Administrative Agent such confirmation.

 

m.                                   Ground Leases Solely with respect to Unencumbered Property, each of the Parent and the Borrower shall, and shall cause each other Loan Party to:

 

(a)                                  Diligently perform and observe in all material respects all of the terms, covenants, and conditions of any Acceptable Ground Lease as tenant under such Acceptable Ground Lease; and

 

(b)                                  Promptly notify the Administrative Agent of (i) the giving to the applicable Subsidiary Guarantor of any notice of any default by such Subsidiary Guarantor under any Acceptable Ground Lease and deliver to the Administrative Agent a

 

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true copy of each such notice within five (5) Business Days of such Subsidiary Guarantor’s receipt thereof, and (ii) any bankruptcy, reorganization, or insolvency of the landlord under any Acceptable Ground Lease or of any notice thereof, and deliver to the Administrative Agent a true copy of such notice within five (5) Business Days of the applicable Subsidiary Guarantor’s receipt.

 

(c)                                   Exercise any individual option to extend or renew the term of an Acceptable Ground Lease upon demand by the Administrative Agent made at any time within thirty (30) days prior to the last day upon which any such option may be exercised, and each applicable Subsidiary Guarantor hereby expressly authorizes and appoints the Administrative Agent as its attorney-in-fact to exercise any such option in the name of and upon behalf of such Subsidiary Guarantor, which power of attorney shall be irrevocable and shall be deemed to be coupled with an interest.

 

If the applicable Subsidiary Guarantor shall default in the performance or observance of any term, covenant, or condition of any Acceptable Ground Lease on the part of such Subsidiary Guarantor and shall fail to cure the same prior to the expiration of any applicable cure period provided thereunder, then the Administrative Agent shall have the right, but shall be under no obligation, to pay any sums and to perform any act or take any action as may be appropriate to cause all of the terms, covenants, and conditions of such Acceptable Ground Lease on the part of such Subsidiary Guarantor to be performed or observed on behalf of such Subsidiary Guarantor, to the end that the rights of such Subsidiary Guarantor in, to, and under such Acceptable Ground Lease shall be kept unimpaired and free from default.  If the landlord under any Acceptable Ground Lease shall deliver to the Administrative Agent a copy of any notice of default under such Acceptable Ground Lease, then such notice shall constitute full protection to the Administrative Agent for any action taken or omitted to be taken by the Administrative Agent, in good faith, in reliance thereon.

 

n.                                       Unencumbered Properties.

 

(a)                                  Except where the failure to comply with any of the following would not have a Material Adverse Effect, each of the Parent and the Borrower shall, and shall use commercially reasonable efforts to cause each other Loan Party or the applicable tenant, to:

 

(i)                                      Pay all real estate and personal property taxes, assessments, water rates or sewer rents, ground rents, maintenance charges, impositions, and any other charges, including vault charges and license fees for the use of vaults, chutes and similar areas adjoining any Unencumbered Property, now or hereafter levied or assessed or imposed against any Unencumbered Property or any part thereof (except those which are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted);

 

(ii)                                   Promptly pay (or cause to be paid) when due all bills and costs for labor, materials, and specifically fabricated materials incurred in connection with any Unencumbered Property (except those which are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted), and in any event never

 

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permit to be created or exist in respect of any Unencumbered Property or any part thereof any other or additional Lien or security interest other than Liens permitted by Section 8.01 ; and

 

(iii)                                Operate the Unencumbered Properties in a good and workmanlike manner and in all material respects in accordance with all Laws in accordance with such Loan Party’s prudent business judgment.

 

(b)                                  Except where the failure would not have a material and adverse effect on the value of the Unencumbered Properties, taken as whole, each of the Parent and the Borrower shall, and shall cause each other Loan Party to, to the extent owned and controlled by a Loan Party, preserve, protect, renew, extend and retain all material rights and privileges granted for or applicable to each Unencumbered Property.

 

26.
NEGATIVE COVENANTS

 

So long as any Loan or other Obligation hereunder (excluding contingent indemnification obligations to the extent no unsatisfied claim giving rise thereto has been asserted) shall remain unpaid or unsatisfied:

 

a.                                       Liens.  Each of the Parent and the Borrower shall not, nor shall it permit any other Loan Party to, directly or indirectly, create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Lien upon any Unencumbered Property, other than the following:

 

(a)                                  Liens pursuant to any Loan Document;

 

(b)                                  Liens existing on the date hereof and listed on Schedule 8.01 ;

 

(c)                                   Liens for taxes not yet due and payable 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)                                    easements, rights-of-way, restrictions, restrictive covenants, encroachments, protrusions and other similar encumbrances affecting real property which, in the aggregate, are not substantial in amount, and which do not in any case

 

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materially detract from the value of the property subject thereto or materially interfere with the ordinary conduct of the business of the applicable Person;

 

(g)                                   Liens securing judgments for the payment of money not constituting an Event of Default under Section 9.01(i) ;

 

(h)                                  the rights of tenants under leases or subleases not interfering with the ordinary conduct of business of such Person;

 

(i)                                      Liens securing obligations in the nature of personal property financing leases for furniture, furnishings or similar assets, Capital Leases Obligations and other purchase money obligations for fixed or capital assets; provided that (i) such Liens do not at any time encumber any property other than the property financed by such Indebtedness, (ii) the obligations secured thereby does not exceed the cost or fair market value, whichever is lower, of the property being acquired on the date of acquisition, and (iii) with respect to Capital Leases, such Liens do not at any time extend to or cover any assets other than the assets subject to such Capital Leases;

 

(j)                                     Liens securing obligations in the nature of the performance of bids, trade contracts and leases (other than Indebtedness), statutory obligations, surety bonds (other than bonds related to judgments or litigation), performance bonds and other obligations of a like nature incurred in the ordinary course of business;

 

(k)                                  all Liens, encumbrances and other matters disclosed in any owner’s title insurance policies or other title reports and updated thereof accepted by the Administrative Agent; and

 

(l)                                      such other title and survey exceptions as the Administrative Agent has approved in writing in the Administrative Agent’s reasonable discretion.

 

b.                                       Indebtedness.  Each of the Parent and the Borrower shall not, nor shall it permit any other Loan Party to, 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 8.02 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;

 

(c)                                   Guarantees of (i) the Borrower or the Parent in respect of Indebtedness otherwise permitted hereunder of the Borrower or any other Guarantor, (ii) the Parent or the Borrower, in respect of Indebtedness otherwise permitted hereunder of any Non-Guarantor Subsidiary if, in the case of any Guarantee pursuant to this clause (ii), (x) no Default shall exist immediately before or immediately after the making of such

 

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Guarantee, and (y) there exists no violation of the financial covenants set forth in Section 8.14 hereunder on a pro forma basis after the making of such Guarantee, and (iii) Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries made in the ordinary course of business;

 

(d)                                  obligations (contingent or otherwise) of the Borrower or any Subsidiary existing or arising under any Swap Contract, provided that such obligations are (or were) entered into by such Person in the ordinary course of business for the purpose of directly mitigating risks associated with liabilities, commitments, investments, assets, or property held or reasonably anticipated by such Person, or changes in the value of securities issued by such Person, and not for purposes of speculation or taking a “market view”;

 

(e)                                   Indebtedness in respect of Capital Leases and purchase money obligations for fixed or capital assets within the limitations set forth in Section 8.01(i) , and unsecured Indebtedness in the form of trade payables incurred in the ordinary course of business; and

 

(f)                                    Indebtedness of the Borrower or the Parent incurred or assumed after the date hereof that is either unsecured or is secured by Liens on assets of the Parent or the Borrower (other than any Unencumbered Property or the Equity Interests in any Loan Party); provided, such Indebtedness shall be permitted under this Section 8.02(f)  only if: (i) no Default shall exist immediately before or immediately after the incurrence or assumption of such Indebtedness, and (ii) there exists no violation of the financial covenants set forth in Section 8.14 hereunder on a pro forma basis after the incurrence or assumption of such Indebtedness.

 

c.                                        Investments.  Neither the Parent nor the Borrower shall have and shall not permit the Companies’ to have any Investments other than:

 

(a)                                  Investments in the form of cash or Cash Equivalents;

 

(b)                                  Investments existing on the date hereof and set forth on Schedule 6.13 ;

 

(c)                                   advances to officers, directors and employees of the Borrower and Subsidiaries for travel, entertainment, relocation and analogous ordinary business purposes;

 

(d)                                  Investments of the Guarantor and the Borrower in the form of Equity Interests and investments of the Borrower in any wholly-owned Subsidiary, and Investments of the Borrower directly in, or of any wholly-owned Subsidiary in another wholly-owned Subsidiary which owns, real property assets which are functional industrial, manufacturing, warehouse/distribution and/or office properties located within the United States, provided in each case the Investments held by the Borrower or Subsidiary are in accordance with the provisions of this Section 8.03 other than this Section 8.03(d) ;

 

(e)                                   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;

 

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(f)                                    Investments in non-wholly owned Subsidiaries and Unconsolidated Affiliates;

 

(g)                                   Investments in mortgages and mezzanine loans;

 

(h)                                  Investments in unimproved land holdings and Construction in Progress;

 

(i)                                      Investments by the Parent for the redemption, conversion, exchange, retirement, sinking fund or similar payment, purchase or other acquisition for value, direct or indirect, of any Equity Interests of the Parent or the Borrower now or hereafter outstanding to the extent permitted under Section 8.06 below; and

 

(j)                                     Other Investments not to exceed at any time ten percent (10%) of Total Asset Value.

 

d.                                       Fundamental Changes.  Each of the Parent and the Borrower shall not, nor shall it permit any other Loan Party to, directly or indirectly, merge, dissolve, liquidate, consolidate with or into another Person, or Dispose of (whether in one transaction or in a series of transactions) all or substantially all of its assets (whether now owned or hereafter acquired) to or in favor of any Person, except that, so long as no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or would result therefrom:

 

(a)                                  any Loan Party (other than the Parent or the Borrower) may merge with (i) the Parent or the Borrower, provided that the Parent or the Borrower, as applicable, shall be the continuing or surviving Person, or (ii) any other Loan Party, or (iii) any other Person, provided that if it owns an Unencumbered Property and is not the surviving entity, then such Property shall cease to be an Unencumbered Property;

 

(b)                                  any Loan Party (other than the Parent or the Borrower) may Dispose of all or substantially all of its assets (upon voluntary liquidation or otherwise) to another Loan Party;

 

(c)                                   any Loan Party may Dispose of a Property owned by such Loan Party in the ordinary course of business and for fair value; and

 

(d)                                  the Parent or the Borrower may merge or consolidate with another Person so long as either the Parent or the Borrower, as the case may be, is the surviving entity, shall remain in pro forma compliance with the covenants set forth in Section 8.14 below after giving effect to such transaction, and the Borrower shall have given the Administrative Agent at least fifteen (15) Business Days’ prior written notice of such merger or consolidation, such notice to include a certification as to the pro forma compliance referenced above, with the Borrower agreeing to provide such other financial information as the Administrative Agent shall reasonably request in order to verify such pro forma compliance.

 

Nothing in this Section shall be deemed to prohibit the sale or leasing of Property or portions of Property in the ordinary course of business.

 

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e.                                        Dispositions.  Each of the Parent, the Borrower or any Loan Party shall not make any Disposition or enter into any agreement to make any Disposition, except:

 

(a)                                  Dispositions of obsolete or worn out property, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, in the ordinary course of business;

 

(b)                                  Dispositions of inventory in the ordinary course of business;

 

(c)                                   Any other Dispositions of Properties or other assets in an arm’s length transaction; provided that the Borrower and the Parent will remain in pro forma compliance with the covenants set forth in Section 8.14 after giving effect to such transaction.

 

f.                                         Restricted Payments.  Each of the Parent and the Borrower shall not, nor shall it permit any other Company to, directly or indirectly, declare or make, directly or indirectly, any Restricted Payment other than (a) Minimum Distributions, (b) Restricted Payments made by any Company to the Borrower or the Parent, or (c)  provided no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing at the time of such payment or would result therefrom, other Restricted Payments.

 

g.                                        Change in Nature of Business.  Except for Investments permitted under Section 8.03 , each of the Parent and the Borrower shall not, nor shall it permit any other Loan Party to, directly or indirectly, engage in any material line of business substantially different from those lines of business conducted by the Companies on the date hereof or any business substantially related or incidental thereto.

 

h.                                       Transactions with Affiliates.  Each of the Parent and the Borrower shall not, nor shall it permit any other Loan Party to, directly or indirectly, enter into any transaction of any kind with any Affiliate of a Company, whether or not in the ordinary course of business, other than on fair and reasonable terms substantially as favorable to such Loan Party as would be obtainable by such Company at the time in a comparable arm’s length transaction with a Person other than an Affiliate.

 

i.                                           Burdensome Agreements.  Each of the Parent and the Borrower shall not, nor shall it permit any other Loan Party to, directly or indirectly enter into any Contractual Obligation (other than this Agreement or any other Loan Document) that directly or indirectly prohibits any Company from (a) creating or incurring any Lien on any Unencumbered Property unless simultaneously therewith such Unencumbered Property ceases to be an Unencumbered Property, other than restrictions or conditions set forth in the Note Purchase Agreements, the Credit Agreements and, to the extent such restrictions or conditions are customary for such Indebtedness, any other agreements governing Indebtedness permitted under Section 8.02 , in each case, which restrictions are no more restrictive, taken as a whole than the comparable restrictions and conditions set forth in this Agreement as determined in the good faith judgment of the Borrower, (b) other than restrictions or conditions set forth in the Note Purchase Agreements, the Credit Agreements and, to the extent such restrictions or conditions are customary for such Indebtedness, any other agreements governing Indebtedness permitted under Section 8.02 , in each case, which restrictions are no more restrictive, taken as a whole than the

 

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comparable restrictions and conditions set forth in this Agreement as determined in the good faith judgment of the Borrower, limiting the ability (i) of any Subsidiary to make Restricted Payments to the Borrower or any Guarantor or to otherwise transfer property to the Borrower or any Guarantor, (ii) of any Subsidiary to Guarantee the Indebtedness of the Borrower or (iii) of the Borrower or any Subsidiary to create, incur, assume or suffer to exist Liens on property of such Person; provided, however, that this clause (iii) shall not prohibit any negative pledge incurred or provided in favor of any holder of Indebtedness permitted under Section 8.0 3(e)  solely to the extent any such negative pledge relates to the property financed by or the subject of such Indebtedness; or (c) requiring the grant of a Lien to secure an obligation of such Person if a Lien is granted to secure another obligation of such Person.

 

j.                                          Use of Proceeds.  Each of the Parent and the Borrower shall not, nor shall it permit any other Company to, directly or indirectly, use the proceeds of any Credit Extension, whether directly or indirectly, and whether immediately, incidentally or ultimately, to purchase or carry margin stock (within the meaning of Regulation U of the FRB) or to extend credit to others for the purpose of purchasing or carrying margin stock or to refund indebtedness originally incurred for such purpose.  The Borrower shall not request any Credit Extension, shall not use, and shall ensure that its Subsidiaries and its or their respective directors, officers, employees and agents do not use the proceeds of any Credit Extension (i) in furtherance of an offer, payment, promise to pay, or authorization of the payment or giving of money, or anything else of value, to any Person in violation of any Anti-Corruption Laws or (ii) in any manner that would result in the violation of any applicable Sanctions.

 

k.                                       Unencumbered Properties; Ground Leases Each of the Parent and the Borrower shall not, nor shall it permit any other Loan Party to, directly or indirectly:

 

(a)                                  Use or occupy or conduct any activity on, or knowingly permit the use or occupancy of or the conduct of any activity on any Unencumbered Properties by any tenant, in any manner which violates any Law or which constitutes a public or private nuisance in any manner which would have a Material Adverse Effect or which makes void, voidable, or cancelable any insurance then in force with respect thereto or makes the maintenance of insurance in accordance with Section 7.07 commercially unreasonable (including by way of increased premium);

 

(b)                                  [Reserved];

 

(c)                                   Without the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed), (i) impose any material easement, restrictive covenant, or encumbrance upon any Unencumbered Property, (ii) execute or file any subdivision plat or condominium declaration affecting any Unencumbered Property, or (iii) consent to the annexation of any Unencumbered Property to any municipality;

 

(d)                                  Do any act, or suffer to be done any act by any Company or any of its Affiliates, which would reasonably be expected to materially decrease the value of any Unencumbered Property (including by way of negligent act);

 

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(e)                                   [Reserved];

 

(f)                                    Allow there to be fewer than twenty-five (25) Unencumbered Properties as of any date of determination;

 

(g)                                   Allow the Total Asset Value of the Unencumbered Properties to be less than One Hundred Fifty Million Dollars ($150,000,000.00);

 

(h)                                  Without the prior consent of the Lenders (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed), surrender the leasehold estate created by any Acceptable Ground Lease or terminate or cancel any Acceptable Ground Lease or materially modify, change, supplement, alter, or amend any Acceptable Ground Lease, either orally or in writing, in each case, to the extent such event would reasonably be expected to be materially adverse to the interests of the Lenders; and

 

(i)                                      Enter into any Contractual Obligations related to any Unencumbered Property providing for the payment a management fee (or any other similar fee) to anyone other than a Company if, with respect thereto, the Administrative Agent has reasonably required that such fee be subordinated to the Obligations in a manner satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, and an acceptable subordination agreement has not yet been obtained.

 

l.                                           Environmental Matters.  Each of the Parent and the Borrower shall not knowingly directly or indirectly:

 

(a)                                  Cause, commit, permit, or allow to continue (i) any violation of any Environmental Requirement by or with respect to any Unencumbered Property or any use of or condition or activity on any Unencumbered Property, or (ii) the attachment of any environmental Liens on any Unencumbered Property, in each case, that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;

 

(b)                                  Place, install, dispose of, or release, or cause, permit, or allow the placing, installation, disposal, spilling, leaking, dumping, or release of, any Hazardous Material on any Unencumbered Property in any manner that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; and

 

(c)                                   Use any Hazardous Material on any Unencumbered Property except in such a manner which could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

m.                                   Negative Pledge; Indebtedness.  Each of the Parent and the Borrower shall not permit:

 

(a)                                  The Equity Interests of the Borrower held by the Parent to be subject to any Lien.

 

(b)                                  Any Person (other than the Parent or the Borrower) that directly or indirectly owns Equity Interests in any Subsidiary Guarantor to (i) incur any Indebtedness

 

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(whether Recourse Indebtedness or Non-Recourse Indebtedness) (other than Indebtedness listed on Schedule 8.13 and Additional Permitted Indebtedness), (ii) provide Guarantees to support Indebtedness (other than Indebtedness listed on Schedule 8.13 and Additional Permitted Indebtedness), or (iii) have its Equity Interests subject to any Lien or other encumbrance (other than in favor of the Administrative Agent).

 

(c)                                   Any Subsidiary Guarantor that owns an Unencumbered Property to (i) incur any Indebtedness (whether Recourse Indebtedness or Non-Recourse Indebtedness) (other than the Obligations, Indebtedness listed on Schedule 8.13 and Additional Permitted Indebtedness) or (ii) provide Guarantees to support Indebtedness (other than the Obligations, Indebtedness listed on Schedule 8.13 and Additional Permitted Indebtedness).

 

n.                                       Financial Covenants.  The Parent shall not, directly or indirectly, permit:

 

(a)                                  Maximum Consolidated Leverage Ratio .  As of the last day of any fiscal quarter, the Consolidated Leverage Ratio to exceed sixty percent (60%); provided that, if any Material Acquisition shall occur and the Consolidated Leverage Ratio shall have been less than sixty percent (60%) for at least one full fiscal quarter immediately preceding the proposed Consolidated Leverage Ratio Covenant Holiday, then, at the election of the Borrower upon delivery of prior written notice to the Administrative Agent, concurrently with or prior to the delivery of a Compliance Certificate pursuant to Section 7.02(a) , and provided that no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, the maximum Consolidated Leverage Ratio covenant level shall be increased to sixty-five (65%) for the fiscal quarter in which such Material Acquisition is consummated and the three (3) fiscal quarters immediately following the fiscal quarter in which such Material Acquisition is consummated (any such increase a “ Consolidated Leverage Ratio Covenant Holiday ”); provided further that not more than two (2) Consolidated Leverage Ratio Covenant Holidays may be elected by the Borrower during the term of this Agreement;

 

(b)                                  Maximum Secured Leverage Ratio . As of the last day of any fiscal quarter, the Secured Leverage Ratio to exceed forty percent (40%);

 

(c)                                   Maximum Unencumbered Leverage Ratio . As of the last day of any fiscal quarter, the Unencumbered Leverage Ratio to exceed sixty percent (60%); provided that, if any Material Acquisition shall occur and the Unencumbered Leverage Ratio shall have been less than sixty percent (60%) for at least one full fiscal quarter immediately preceding the proposed Unencumbered Leverage Ratio Covenant Holiday, then, at the election of the Borrower upon delivery of prior written notice to the Administrative Agent, concurrently with or prior to the delivery of a Compliance Certificate pursuant to Section 7.02(a) , and provided that no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, the maximum Unencumbered Leverage Ratio covenant level shall be increased to sixty-five (65%) for the fiscal quarter in which such Material Acquisition is consummated and the three (3) fiscal quarters immediately following the fiscal quarter in which such Material Acquisition is consummated (any such increase an “ Unencumbered Leverage Ratio Covenant Holiday ”); provided further that not more than two (2)

 

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Unencumbered Leverage Ratio Covenant Holidays may be elected by the Borrower during the term of this Agreement;

 

(d)                                  [Reserved] ;

 

(e)                                   Minimum Fixed Charge Ratio .  As of the last day of any fiscal quarter, the Fixed Charge Ratio for the Parent, on a consolidated basis, for the fiscal quarter then ended, annualized, to be less than or equal to 1.5 to 1.0; and

 

(f)                                    Minimum Unsecured Interest Coverage Ratio . As of the last day of any fiscal quarter, the Unsecured Interest Coverage Ratio for the Parent, on a consolidated basis, for the fiscal quarter then ended, annualized, to be less than or equal to 1.75 to 1.00

 

27.                               
EVENTS OF DEFAULT AND REMEDIES

 

a.                                       Events of Default.  Any of the following shall constitute an Event of Default:

 

(a)                                  Non-Payment .  The Borrower or any other Loan Party fails to pay (i) when and as required to be paid herein, any amount of principal of any Loan, or (ii) within five (5) days after the same becomes due, any interest on any Loan due hereunder, except that there shall be no grace period for interest due on any applicable Maturity Date, or (iii) within ten (10) days after notice from the Administrative Agent, any other amount payable to the Administrative Agent or any Lender hereunder or under any other Loan Document except that there shall be no grace period for any amount due on any Maturity Date; or

 

(b)                                  Specific Covenants .  .  Any Loan Party fails to perform or observe any term, covenant or agreement contained in any of Sections 7.11 or Article VIII (other than Section 8.11 (a)  and (c), or 8.13 ) or the Parent fails to perform or observe any term, covenant or agreement contained in the Parent Guaranty or any Subsidiary Guarantor fails to perform or observe any term, covenant or agreement contained in the Subsidiary Guaranty; or

 

(c)                                   Performance .  Any Loan Party fails to perform or observe any term, covenant or agreement contained in any of Section 7.01 , 7.02 , or 7.03 , and such failure continues unremedied for ten (10) Business Days after such failure has occurred; or

 

(d)                                  Other Defaults .  Any Loan Party fails to perform or observe any other covenant or agreement (not specified in subsection (a) , (b) , or (c)  above) contained in any Loan Document on its part to be performed or observed and such failure continues unremedied for thirty (30) days after the earlier of notice from the Administrative Agent or the actual knowledge of the Loan Party, and in the case of a default that cannot be cured within such thirty (30) day period despite the Borrower’s diligent efforts but is susceptible of being cured within ninety (90) days of the Borrower’s receipt of the Administrative Agent’s original notice, then the Borrower shall have such additional time as is reasonably necessary to effect such cure, but in no event in excess of ninety (90)

 

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days from the Borrower’s receipt of the Administrative Agent’s original notice, subject in each instance to the Borrower’s remedial rights under Section 7.12(c) ; or

 

(e)                                   Representations and Warranties .  Any representation, warranty, certification or statement of fact made or deemed made by or on behalf of the Borrower or any other Loan Party herein, in any other Loan Document, or in any document delivered in connection herewith or therewith shall be incorrect or misleading when made or deemed made and shall not be cured or remedied so that such representation, warranty, certification or statement of fact is no longer incorrect or misleading within ten (10) days after the earlier of notice from the Administrative Agent or the actual knowledge of any Loan Party thereof; or

 

(f)                                    Cross-Default .  (i) Any Company (A) fails to make any payment when due (whether by scheduled maturity, required prepayment, acceleration, demand, or otherwise), after the expiration of any applicable grace periods, in respect of any Indebtedness or Guarantee (other than (x) Indebtedness hereunder, and (y) Indebtedness under Swap Contracts) having an aggregate principal amount (including amounts owing to all creditors under any combined or syndicated credit arrangement) of more than the Threshold Amount, or (B) fails to observe or perform any other agreement or condition relating to any such Indebtedness or Guarantee or contained in any instrument or agreement evidencing, securing or relating thereto, or any other event occurs, the effect of which default or other event is to cause, or to permit the holder or holders of such Indebtedness or the beneficiary or beneficiaries of such Guarantee (or a trustee or agent on behalf of such holder or holders or beneficiary or beneficiaries) to cause, with the giving of notice if required, such Indebtedness or more than the Threshold Amount to be demanded or to become due or to be repurchased, prepaid, defeased or redeemed (automatically or otherwise), or an offer to repurchase, prepay, defease or redeem such Indebtedness to be made, prior to its stated maturity, or such Guarantee to become payable or cash collateral in respect thereof to be demanded; or (ii) there occurs under any Swap Contract an Early Termination Date (as defined in such Swap Contract) resulting from (A) any event of default under such Swap Contract as to which any Company is the Defaulting Party (as defined in such Swap Contract) or (B) any Termination Event (as so defined) under such Swap Contract as to which any Company is an Affected Party (as so defined) and, in either event, the Swap Termination Value owed by such Company as a result thereof is greater than the Threshold Amount; or

 

(g)                                   Insolvency Proceedings, Etc.   Any Loan Party institutes or consents to the institution of any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law, or makes an assignment for the benefit of creditors; or applies for or consents to the appointment of any receiver, trustee, custodian, conservator, liquidator, rehabilitator or similar officer for it or for all or any material part of its property; or any receiver, trustee, custodian, conservator, liquidator, rehabilitator or similar officer is appointed without the application or consent of such Person and the appointment continues undischarged or unstayed for sixty (60) calendar days; or any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law relating to any such Person or to all or any material part of its property is instituted without the consent of such Person and continues undismissed or unstayed for sixty (60) calendar days, or an order for relief is entered in any such proceeding; or

 

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(h)                                  Inability to Pay Debts; Attachment .  (i) the Parent or the Borrower becomes unable to pay its debts as they become due, or any Loan Party admits in writing its inability or fails generally to pay its debts as they become due, or (ii) any writ or warrant of attachment or execution or similar process is issued or levied against all or any material part of the property of any such Loan Party and is not released, vacated or fully bonded within thirty (30) days after its issue or levy; or

 

(i)                                      Judgments .  There is entered against any Loan Party (i) one or more final judgments or orders for the payment of money in an aggregate amount (as to all such judgments or orders) exceeding the Threshold Amount (to the extent not covered by independent third-party insurance as to which the insurer does not dispute coverage), or (ii) any one or more non-monetary final judgments that have, or would have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect and, in either case, (A) enforcement proceedings are commenced by any creditor upon such judgment or order, or (B) there is a period of ten (10) consecutive days during which a stay of enforcement of such judgment, by reason of a pending appeal or otherwise, is not in effect; or

 

(j)                                     ERISA .  (i) An ERISA Event occurs with respect to a Pension Plan or Multiemployer Plan which has resulted or would result in liability of any Company under Title IV of ERISA to the Pension Plan, Multiemployer Plan or the PBGC in an aggregate amount in excess of the Threshold Amount, or (ii) the Parent or any ERISA Affiliate fails to pay when due, after the expiration of any applicable grace period, any installment payment with respect to its withdrawal liability under Section 4201 of ERISA under a Multiemployer Plan in an aggregate amount in excess of the Threshold Amount; or

 

(k)                                  Invalidity of Loan Documents .  Any Loan Document at any time after its execution and delivery and for any reason other than as expressly permitted hereunder or thereunder or satisfaction in full of all the Obligations, ceases to be in full force and effect in all material respects; or any Loan Party or any other Person contests in any manner the validity or enforceability of any Loan Document; or any Loan Party denies that it has any or further liability or obligation under any Loan Document, or purports to revoke, terminate or rescind any Loan Document, except as expressly permitted hereunder; or

 

(l)                                      REIT Status of the Parent .  The Parent ceases to be treated as a REIT or the Parent Shares shall fail to be listed and traded on the New York Stock Exchange; or

 

(m)                              Change of Control .  There occurs any Change of Control.

 

b.                                       Remedies Upon Event of Default.  If any Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Administrative Agent shall, at the request of, or may, with the consent of, the Required Lenders, take any or all of the following actions:

 

(a)                                  declare the commitment of each Lender to make Loans to be terminated, whereupon such commitments and obligation shall be terminated;

 

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(b)                                  declare the unpaid principal amount of all outstanding Loans, all interest accrued and unpaid thereon, and all other amounts owing or payable hereunder or under any other Loan Document to be immediately due and payable, without presentment, demand, protest or other notice of any kind, all of which are hereby expressly waived by the Borrower; and

 

(c)                                   exercise on behalf of itself and the Lenders all rights and remedies available to it and the Lenders under the Loan Documents;

 

provided that upon the occurrence of an actual or deemed entry of an order for relief with respect to the Borrower under the Bankruptcy Code of the United States, the obligation of each Lender to make Loans shall automatically terminate, the unpaid principal amount of all outstanding Loans and all interest and other amounts as aforesaid shall automatically become due and payable, in each case without further act of the Administrative Agent or any Lender.

 

c.                                        Application of Funds.  After the exercise of remedies provided for in Section 9.02 (or after the Loans have automatically become immediately due and payable), any amounts received on account of the Obligations shall, subject to the provisions of Section 2.16 , be applied by the Administrative Agent in the following order:

 

First , to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting fees, indemnities, expenses and other amounts (including fees, charges and disbursements of counsel to the Administrative Agent and amounts payable under Article III ) payable to the Administrative Agent in its capacity as such;

 

Second , to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting fees, indemnities and other amounts (other than principal and interest) payable to the Lenders (including fees, charges and disbursements of counsel to the respective Lenders and amounts payable under Article III ), ratably among them in proportion to the respective amounts described in this clause   Second payable to them;

 

Third , to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting accrued and unpaid interest on the Loans, and other Obligations, ratably among the Lenders, in proportion to the respective amounts described in this clause   Third payable to them;

 

Fourth , to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting (x) unpaid principal of the Loans and (y) payment obligations then owing to the Administrative Agent, any Lender, or any Affiliate of the Administrative Agent or any Lender (“ Specified Derivatives Providers ”) arising from, by virtue of, or pursuant to any Swap Contract, other than any Excluded Swap Obligation, that relates solely to the Obligations, ratably among the Lenders and the Specified Derivatives Providers in proportion to the respective amounts described in this clause   Fourth payable to them; and

 

Last , the balance, if any, after all of the Obligations have been paid in full, to the Borrower or as otherwise required by Law.

 

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Notwithstanding the foregoing, Obligations owing to Specified Derivatives Providers shall be excluded from the application described above if the Administrative Agent has not received written notice thereof, together with such supporting documentation as the Administrative Agent may request, from the applicable Specified Derivatives Provider.  Each Specified Derivatives Provider not a party to this Agreement that has given the notice contemplated by the preceding sentence shall, by such notice, be deemed to have acknowledged and accepted the appointment of the Administrative Agent pursuant to the terms of Article X for itself and its Affiliates as if a “Lender” party hereto.

 

28.                               
THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT

 

a.                                       Appointment and Authority.  Each of the Lenders hereby irrevocably appoints Wells Fargo to act on its behalf as the Administrative Agent hereunder and under the other Loan Documents and authorizes the Administrative Agent to take such actions on its behalf and to exercise such powers as are delegated to the Administrative Agent by the terms hereof or thereof, together with such actions and powers as are reasonably incidental thereto.  The provisions of this Article are solely for the benefit of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders, neither the Borrower nor any other Loan Party shall have rights as a third party beneficiary of any of such provisions.  It is understood and agreed that the use of the term “agent” (or any other similar term) herein or in any other Loan Documents with reference to the Administrative Agent is not intended to connote any fiduciary or other implied (or express) obligations arising under agency doctrine of any applicable Law. Instead such term is used as a matter of market custom, and is intended to create or reflect only an administrative relationship between contracting parties.

 

b.                                       Rights as a Lender.  The Person serving as the Administrative Agent hereunder shall have the same rights and powers in its capacity as a Lender as any other Lender and may exercise the same as though it were not the Administrative Agent and the term “Lender” or “Lenders” shall, unless otherwise expressly indicated or unless the context otherwise requires, include the Person serving as the Administrative Agent hereunder in its individual capacity.  Such Person and its Affiliates may accept deposits from, lend money to, own securities of, act as the financial advisor or in any other advisory capacity for and generally engage in any kind of business with the Borrower or any Subsidiary or other Affiliate thereof as if such Person were not the Administrative Agent hereunder and without any duty to account therefor to the Lenders.

 

c.                                        Exculpatory Provisions.  The Administrative Agent shall not have any duties or obligations except those expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents, and its duties hereunder shall be administrative in nature.  Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Administrative Agent:

 

(a)                                  shall not be subject to any fiduciary or other implied duties, regardless of whether a Default has occurred and is continuing;

 

(b)                                  shall not have any duty to take any discretionary action or exercise any discretionary powers, except discretionary rights and powers expressly contemplated hereby or by the other Loan Documents that the Administrative Agent is required to exercise as directed in writing by the Required Lenders (or such other number or percentage of the Lenders as shall be expressly provided for herein or in the other Loan Documents), provided that the Administrative

 

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Agent shall not be required to take any action that, in its opinion or the opinion of its counsel, may expose the Administrative Agent to liability or that is contrary to any Loan Document or applicable law, including for the avoidance of doubt any action that may be in violation of the automatic stay under any Debtor Relief Law or that may effect a forfeiture, modification or termination of property of a Defaulting Lender in violation of any Debtor Relief Law; and

 

(c)                                   shall not, except as expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents, have any duty to disclose, and shall not be liable for the failure to disclose, any information relating to the Borrower or any of its Affiliates that is communicated to or obtained by the Person serving as the Administrative Agent or any of its Affiliates in any capacity.

 

The Administrative Agent shall not be liable for any action taken or not taken by it (i) with the consent or at the request of the Required Lenders (or such other number or percentage of the Lenders as shall be necessary, or as the Administrative Agent shall believe in good faith shall be necessary, under the circumstances as provided in Sections 11.01 and 9.02 ) or (ii) in the absence of its own gross negligence or willful misconduct as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by final and nonappealable judgment.  The Administrative Agent shall be deemed not to have knowledge of any Default unless and until notice describing such Default is given in writing to the Administrative Agent by the Borrower or a Lender.

 

The Administrative Agent shall not be responsible for or have any duty to ascertain or inquire into (i) any statement, warranty or representation made in or in connection with this Agreement or any other Loan Document, (ii) the contents of any certificate, report or other document delivered hereunder or thereunder or in connection herewith or therewith, (iii) the performance or observance of any of the covenants, agreements or other terms or conditions set forth herein or therein or the occurrence of any Default, (iv) the validity, enforceability, effectiveness or genuineness of this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any other agreement, instrument or document or (v) the satisfaction of any condition set forth in Article IV or elsewhere herein, other than to confirm receipt of items expressly required to be delivered to the Administrative Agent.

 

d.                                       Reliance by the Administrative Agent.  The Administrative Agent shall be entitled to rely upon, and shall not incur any liability for relying upon, any notice, request, certificate, consent, statement, instrument, document or other writing (including any electronic message, Internet or intranet website posting or other distribution) believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed, sent or otherwise authenticated by the proper Person.  The Administrative Agent also may rely upon any statement made to it orally or by telephone and believed by it to have been made by the proper Person, and shall not incur any liability for relying thereon.  In determining compliance with any condition hereunder to the making of a Loan, by its terms must be fulfilled to the satisfaction of a Lender, the Administrative Agent may presume that such condition is satisfactory to such Lender unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice to the contrary from such Lender prior to the making of such Loan.  The Administrative Agent may consult with legal counsel (who may be counsel for the Borrower), independent accountants and other experts selected by it, and shall not be liable for any action taken or not taken by it in accordance with the advice of any such counsel, accountants or experts.

 

e.                                        Delegation of Duties.  The Administrative Agent may perform any and all of its duties and exercise its rights and powers hereunder or under any other Loan Document by or through any one or more sub-agents appointed by the Administrative Agent.  The Administrative Agent and any such sub-agent may perform any and all of its duties and exercise its rights and

 

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powers by or through their respective Related Parties.  The exculpatory provisions of this Article shall apply to any such sub-agent and to the Related Parties of the Administrative Agent and any such sub-agent, and shall apply to their respective activities in connection with the syndication of the credit facilities provided for herein as well as activities as the Administrative Agent.  The Administrative Agent shall not be responsible for the negligence or misconduct of any sub-agents except to the extent that a court of competent jurisdiction determines in a final and non -appealable judgment that the Administrative Agent acted with gross negligence or willful misconduct in the selection of such sub-agents.

 

f.                                         Resignation of the Administrative Agent.

 

(a)                                  The Administrative Agent may at any time give notice of its resignation to the Lenders and the Borrower.  Upon receipt of any such notice of resignation, the Required Lenders shall have the right, subject to the reasonable approval of the Borrower (with any Lender or affiliate of a Lender being deemed approved, unless such Lender is a Defaulting Lender, and which approval shall not be required if an Event Default shall be in existence), to appoint a successor, which shall be a bank with an office in the United States, or an Affiliate of any such bank with an office in the United States.  If no such successor shall have been so appointed by the Required Lenders and shall have accepted such appointment within 30 days after the retiring Administrative Agent gives notice of its resignation (or such earlier day as shall be agreed by the Required Lenders) (the “ Resignation Effective Date ”), then the retiring Administrative Agent may (but shall not be obligated to) on behalf of the Lenders, appoint a successor Administrative Agent meeting the qualifications set forth above.  Whether or not a successor has been appointed, such resignation shall become effective in accordance with such notice on the Resignation Effective Date.

 

(b)                                  If the Person serving as the Administrative Agent is a Defaulting Lender pursuant to clause (d)  of the definition thereof, the Required Lenders may, to the extent permitted by applicable law, by notice in writing to the Borrower and such Person remove such Person as the Administrative Agent and, in consultation with the Borrower, appoint a successor. If no such successor shall have been so appointed by the Required Lenders and shall have accepted such appointment within 30 days (or such earlier day as shall be agreed by the Required Lenders) (the “Removal Effective Date”), then such removal shall nonetheless become effective in accordance with such notice on the Removal Effective Date.

 

(c)                                   With effect from the Resignation Effective Date or the Removal Effective Date (as applicable) (1) the retiring or removed Administrative Agent shall be discharged from its duties and obligations hereunder and under the other Loan Documents (except that in the case of any pledge security held by the Administrative Agent on behalf of the Lenders under any of the Loan Documents, the retiring or removed Administrative Agent shall continue to hold such collateral security until such time as a successor Administrative Agent is appointed) and (2) except for any indemnity payments or other amounts then owed to the retiring or removed Administrative Agent, all payments, communications and determinations provided to be made by, to or through the Administrative Agent shall instead be made by or to each Lender directly, until such

 

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time, if any, as the Required Lenders appoint a successor Administrative Agent as provided for above.  Upon the acceptance of a successor’s appointment as the Administrative Agent hereunder, such successor shall succeed to and become vested with all of the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring (or removed) the Administrative Agent (other than any rights to indemnity payments or other amounts owed to the retiring or removed Administrative Agent as of the Resignation Effective Date or the Removal Effective Date, as applicable), and the retiring or removed Administrative Agent shall be discharged from all of its duties and obligations hereunder or under the other Loan Documents (if not already discharged therefrom as provided above in this Section).  The fees payable by the Borrower to a successor Administrative Agent shall be the same as those payable to its predecessor unless otherwise agreed between the Borrower and such successor.  After the retiring or removed Administrative Agent’s resignation or removal hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, the provisions of this Article and Section 10.04 shall continue in effect for the benefit of such retiring or removed Administrative Agent, its sub-agents and their respective Related Parties in respect of any actions taken or omitted to be taken by any of them while the retiring or removed Administrative Agent was acting as the Administrative Agent.

 

g.                                        Non-Reliance on the Administrative Agent and Other Lenders.  Each Lender acknowledges that it has, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent or any other Lender or any of their Related Parties and based on such documents and information as it has deemed appropriate, made its own credit analysis and decision to enter into this Agreement.  Each Lender also acknowledges that it will, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent or any other Lender or any of their Related Parties and based on such documents and information as it shall from time to time deem appropriate, continue to make its own decisions in taking or not taking action under or based upon this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any related agreement or any document furnished hereunder or thereunder.

 

h.                                       No Other Duties, Etc.  Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, none of the Lead Arranger, Bookrunner, Syndication Agent or co-Documentation Agents listed on the cover page hereof shall have any powers, duties or responsibilities under this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents, except in its capacity, as applicable, as the Administrative Agent, a Lender hereunder.

 

i.                                           The Administrative Agent May File Proofs of Claim.  In case of the pendency of any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law or any other judicial proceeding relative to any Loan Party, the Administrative Agent (irrespective of whether the principal of any Loan shall then be due and payable as herein expressed or by declaration or otherwise and irrespective of whether the Administrative Agent shall have made any demand on the Borrower) shall be entitled and empowered, by intervention in such proceeding or otherwise:

 

(a)                                  to file and prove a claim for the whole amount of the principal and interest owing and unpaid in respect of the Loans and all other Obligations that are owing and unpaid and to file such other documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Lenders and the Administrative Agent (including any claim for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Lenders and the Administrative Agent and their respective agents and counsel and all other amounts due

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the Lenders and the Administrative Agent under Sections 2.09 and 11.04 ) allowed in such judicial proceeding; and

 

(b)                                  to collect and receive any monies or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims and to distribute the same;

 

and any custodian, receiver, assignee, trustee, liquidator, sequestrator or other similar official in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Lender to make such payments to the Administrative Agent and, in the event that the Administrative Agent shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Lenders, to pay to the Administrative Agent any amount due for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Administrative Agent and its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Administrative Agent under Sections 2.09 and 11.04 . Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to authorize the Administrative Agent to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Lender any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Obligations or the rights of any Lender to authorize the Administrative Agent to vote in respect of the claim of any Lender in any such proceeding.

 

j.                                          Guaranty Matters.  Upon request by the Administrative Agent at any time, the Required Lenders will confirm in writing the Administrative Agent’s authority to release any Guarantor from its obligations under a Guaranty pursuant to the terms of this Agreement.

 

29.                               
MISCELLANEOUS

 

a.                                       Amendments, Etc.  No amendment or waiver of any provision of this Agreement or any other Loan Document, and no consent to any departure by the Borrower or any other Loan Party therefrom, shall be effective unless in writing signed by the Required Lenders and the Borrower or the applicable Loan Party, as the case may be, and acknowledged by the Administrative Agent, and each such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the specific purpose for which given; provided that no such amendment, waiver or consent shall:

 

(a)                                  waive any condition set forth in Section 5.01(a)  without the written consent of each Lender;

 

(b)                                  establish any commitment of any Lender to make Committed Loans hereunder without the written consent of such Lender;

 

(c)                                   postpone any date fixed by this Agreement or any other Loan Document for any payment or mandatory prepayment of principal, interest, fees or other amounts due to a Lender without the written consent of each Lender directly affected thereby;

 

(d)                                  reduce or forgive the principal of, or the rate of interest specified herein on, any Loan, or (subject to clause   (iii)  of the second proviso to this Section 11.01 ) any fees or other amounts payable hereunder or under any other Loan Document, without the written consent of each Lender directly affected thereby; provided that only the consent of the Required Lenders shall be necessary to amend the definition of “ Default Rate ,”

 

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waive any obligation of the Borrower to pay interest at the Default Rate, or change the manner of computation of any financial ratio (including any change in any applicable defined term) used in determining the Applicable Rate that would result in a reduction of any interest rate on any Loan or any fee payable hereunder;

 

(e)                                   change Section 9.03 in a manner that would alter the pro rata sharing of payments required thereby without the written consent of each Lender;

 

(f)                                    change any provision of this Section or the definition of “ Required Lenders ” or any other provision hereof specifying the number or percentage of the Lenders required to amend, waive or otherwise modify any rights hereunder or make any determination or grant any consent hereunder, without the written consent of each Lender;

 

(g)                                   release all or substantially all of the value of the Guaranties without the written consent of each Lender;

 

and, provided, further , that (i) no amendment, waiver or consent shall, unless in writing and signed by the Administrative Agent in addition to the Lenders required above, affect the rights or duties of the Administrative Agent under this Agreement or any other Loan Document; and (ii) the Fee Letter may be amended, or rights or privileges thereunder waived, in a writing executed only by the parties thereto.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, no Defaulting Lender shall have any right to approve or disapprove any amendment, waiver or consent hereunder (and any amendment, waiver or consent which by its terms requires the consent of all Lenders or each affected Lender may be effected with the consent of the applicable Lenders other than Defaulting Lenders), except that any waiver, amendment or modification requiring the consent of all Lenders or each affected Lender that by its terms affects any Defaulting Lender more adversely than other affected Lenders shall require the consent of such Defaulting Lender.  All communications from the Administrative Agent to any Lender requesting such Lender’s determination, consent, approval or disapproval (a) shall be given in the form of a written notice to such Lender, (b) shall be accompanied by a description of the matter or issue as to which such determination, approval, consent or disapproval is requested, or shall advise such Lender where information, if any, regarding such matter or issue may be inspected, or shall otherwise describe the matter or issue to be resolved, (c) shall include, if reasonably requested by such Lender and to the extent not previously provided to such Lender, written materials and, as appropriate, a brief summary of all oral information provided to the Administrative Agent by the Borrower in respect of the matter or issue to be resolved, and (d) shall include the Administrative Agent’s recommended course of action or determination in respect thereof.

 

b.                                       Notices; Effectiveness; Electronic Communication.

 

(a)                                  Notices Generally .  Except in the case of notices and other communications expressly permitted to be given by telephone (and except as provided in subsection (b)  below), all notices and other communications provided for herein shall be in writing and shall be delivered by hand or overnight courier service, mailed by certified or registered mail or sent by telecopier as follows, and all notices and other

 

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communications expressly permitted hereunder to be given by telephone shall be made to the applicable telephone number, as follows:

 

(i)                                      if to the Borrower or the Administrative Agent to the address, telecopier number, electronic mail address or telephone number specified for such Person on Schedule 11.02 ; and

 

(ii)                                   if to any other Lender, to the address, telecopier number, electronic mail address or telephone number specified in its Administrative Questionnaire (including, as appropriate, notices delivered solely to the Person designated by a Lender on its Administrative Questionnaire then in effect for the delivery of notices that may contain material non-public information relating to the Borrower).

 

Notices and other communications sent by hand or overnight courier service, or mailed by certified or registered mail, shall be deemed to have been given when received; notices and other communications sent by telecopier shall be deemed to have been given when sent (except that, if not given during normal business hours for the recipient, shall be deemed to have been given at the opening of business on the next business day for the recipient).  Notices and other communications delivered through electronic communications to the extent provided in subsection (b)  below, shall be effective as provided in such subsection (b) .

 

(b)                                  Electronic Communications .  Notices and other communications to the Lenders hereunder may be delivered or furnished by electronic communication (including e-mail and Internet or intranet websites) pursuant to procedures approved by the Administrative Agent, provided that the foregoing shall not apply to notices to any Lender pursuant to Article II if such Lender has notified the Administrative Agent that it is incapable of receiving notices under such Article by electronic communication.  The Administrative Agent or the Borrower may each, in its discretion, agree to accept notices and other communications to it hereunder by electronic communications pursuant to procedures approved by it; provided that approval of such procedures may be limited to particular notices or communications.

 

Unless the Administrative Agent otherwise prescribes, (i) notices and other communications sent to an e-mail address shall be deemed received upon the sender’s receipt of an acknowledgement from the intended recipient (such as by the “return receipt requested” function, as available, return e-mail or other written acknowledgement), and (ii) notices or communications posted to an Internet or intranet website shall be deemed received upon the deemed receipt by the intended recipient at its e-mail address as described in the foregoing clause (i)  of notification that such notice or communication is available and identifying the website address therefor; provided that , for both clauses (i)  and (ii) , if such notice, email or other communication is not sent during the normal business hours of the recipient, such notice, email or communication shall be deemed to have been sent at the opening of business on the next business day for the recipient.

 

(c)                                   The Platform .  THE PLATFORM IS PROVIDED “AS IS” AND “AS AVAILABLE.”  THE AGENT PARTIES (AS DEFINED BELOW) DO NOT

 

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WARRANT THE ACCURACY OR COMPLETENESS OF THE BORROWER MATERIALS OR THE ADEQUACY OF THE PLATFORM, AND EXPRESSLY DISCLAIM LIABILITY FOR ERRORS IN OR OMISSIONS FROM THE BORROWER MATERIALS.  NO WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS, IMPLIED OR STATUTORY, INCLUDING ANY WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, NON-INFRINGEMENT OF THIRD PARTY RIGHTS OR FREEDOM FROM VIRUSES OR OTHER CODE DEFECTS, IS MADE BY ANY AGENT PARTY IN CONNECTION WITH THE BORROWER MATERIALS OR THE PLATFORM.  In no event shall the Administrative Agent or any of its Related Parties (collectively, the “ Agent Parties ”) have any liability to the Borrower, any Lender or any other Person for losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses of any kind (whether in tort, contract or otherwise) arising out of the Borrower’s or the Administrative Agent’s transmission of the Borrower Materials through the Internet, except to the extent that such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses are determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by a final and nonappealable judgment to have resulted from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Agent Party; provided that in no event shall any Agent Party have any liability to the Borrower, any Lender or any other Person for indirect, special, incidental, consequential or punitive damages (as opposed to direct or actual damages) resulting therefrom.

 

(d)                                  Change of Address, Etc .  Each of the Borrower and the Administrative Agent may change its address, telecopier or telephone number for notices and other communications hereunder by notice to the other parties hereto.  Each other Lender may change its address, telecopier or telephone number for notices and other communications hereunder by notice to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent.  In addition, each Lender agrees to notify the Administrative Agent from time to time to ensure that the Administrative Agent has on record (i) an effective address, contact name, telephone number, telecopier number and electronic mail address to which notices and other communications may be sent and (ii) accurate wire instructions for such Lender.  Furthermore, each Public Lender agrees to cause at least one (1) individual at or on behalf of such Public Lender to at all times have selected the “Private Side Information” or similar designation on the content declaration screen of the Platform in order to enable such Public Lender or its delegate, in accordance with such Public Lender’s compliance procedures and applicable Law, including United States Federal and state securities Laws, to make reference to the Borrower Materials that are not made available through the “Public Side Information” portion of the Platform and that may contain material non-public information with respect to the Borrower or its Equity Interests for purposes of United States Federal or state securities laws.

 

(e)                                   Reliance by the Administrative Agent and the Lenders .  The Administrative Agent and the Lenders shall be entitled to rely and act upon any notices (including telephonic Committed Loan Notices) purportedly given by or on behalf of the Borrower even if (i) such notices were not made in a manner specified herein, were incomplete or were not preceded or followed by any other form of notice specified herein, or (ii) the terms thereof, as understood by the recipient, varied from any confirmation thereof.  The Borrower shall indemnify the Administrative Agent, each

 

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Lender and the Related Parties of each of them from all losses, costs, expenses and liabilities resulting from the reliance by such Person on each notice purportedly given by or on behalf of the Borrower.  All telephonic notices to and other telephonic communications with the Administrative Agent may be recorded by the Administrative Agent, and each of the parties hereto hereby consents to such recording.

 

c.                                        No Waiver; Cumulative Remedies; Enforcement.  No failure by any Lender or the Administrative Agent to exercise, and no delay by any such Person in exercising, any right, remedy, power or privilege hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof; nor shall any single or partial exercise of any right, remedy, power or privilege hereunder preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, remedy, power or privilege.  The rights, remedies, powers and privileges herein provided and provided under each other Loan Document are cumulative and not exclusive of any rights, remedies, powers and privileges provided by Law.

 

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein or in any other Loan Document, the authority to enforce rights and remedies hereunder and under the other Loan Documents against the Loan Parties or any of them shall be vested exclusively in, and all actions and proceedings at law in connection with such enforcement shall be instituted and maintained exclusively by, the Administrative Agent in accordance with Section 9.02 for the benefit of all the Lenders; provided that the foregoing shall not prohibit (a) the Administrative Agent from exercising on its own behalf the rights and remedies that inure to its benefit (solely in its capacity as the Administrative Agent) hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, (b) any Lender from exercising setoff rights in accordance with Section 11.08 (subject to the terms of Section 2.13 ), or (c) any Lender from filing proofs of claim or appearing and filing pleadings on its own behalf during the pendency of a proceeding relative to any Loan Party under any Debtor Relief Law; and provided , further , that if at any time there is no Person acting as the Administrative Agent hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, then (i) the Required Lenders shall have the rights otherwise ascribed to the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 9.02 and (ii) in addition to the matters set forth in clauses (b) , (c)  and (d)  of the preceding proviso and subject to Section 2.13 , any Lender may, with the consent of the Required Lenders, enforce any rights and remedies available to it and as authorized by the Required Lenders.

 

d.                                       Expenses; Indemnity; Damage Waiver.

 

(a)                                  Costs and Expenses .  Each Loan Party shall jointly and severally pay (i) all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent and its Affiliates (including (a) the reasonable fees, charges and disbursements of counsel for the Administrative Agent; (b) fees and charges of each consultant, inspector, and engineer; (c) uniform commercial code searches; (d) judgment and tax lien searches for the Borrower and each Guarantor; (e) escrow fees; and (f) documentary taxes, in connection with the initial syndication of the credit facilities provided for herein, the preparation, negotiation, execution, delivery and administration of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents or any amendments, modifications or waivers of the provisions hereof or thereof (whether or not the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby shall be consummated), (ii)  all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent or any Lender (including the reasonable fees, charges and disbursements of any

 

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counsel for the Administrative Agent or any Lender (only if a Default shall be in existence)), in connection with the enforcement or protection of its rights (A) in connection with this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, including its rights under this Section, or (B) in connection with the Loans made hereunder, including all such out-of-pocket expenses incurred during any workout, restructuring or negotiations in respect of such Loans; provided, however that the Borrower shall not be required to pay the expenses of more than one law firm acting as counsel for the Lenders (in addition to expenses for any appropriate local or special counsel) in connection with such workout or enforcement to the extent the Lenders reasonably determine that joint representation is appropriate under the circumstances.

 

(b)                                  Indemnification .  The Parent and the Borrower shall jointly and severally indemnify the Administrative Agent (and any sub-agent thereof), each Lender, and each Related Party of any of the foregoing Persons (each such Person being called an “ Indemnitee ”) against, and hold each Indemnitee harmless from, any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities and related expenses (including the reasonable fees, charges and disbursements of any counsel for any Indemnitee), incurred by any Indemnitee or asserted against any Indemnitee by any third party or by the Borrower or any other Loan Party resulting from any action, suit, or proceeding relating to (i) the execution or delivery of this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any agreement or instrument contemplated hereby or thereby, the performance by the parties hereto of their respective obligations hereunder or thereunder, the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, or, in the case of the Administrative Agent (and any sub-agent thereof) and its Related Parties only, the administration of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents (including in respect of any matters addressed in Section 3.01 ), (ii) any Loan or the use or proposed use of the proceeds therefrom, (iii) any actual or alleged presence or release of Hazardous Materials on or from any property owned or operated by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, or any Environmental Damages related in any way to the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, or (iv) any actual or prospective claim, litigation, investigation or proceeding relating to any of the foregoing, whether based on contract, tort or any other theory, whether brought by a third party or by the Borrower or any other Loan Party, and regardless of whether any Indemnitee is a party thereto; provided that such indemnity shall not, as to any Indemnitee, be available to the extent that such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or related expenses (w) are determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by final and nonappealable judgment to have resulted from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Indemnitee or any Related Party of such Indemnitee, (x) result from a claim brought by the Borrower or any other Loan Party against an Indemnitee for breach in bad faith of such Indemnitee’s obligations hereunder or under any other Loan Document, if the Borrower or such other Loan Party has obtained a final and nonappealable judgment in its favor on such claim as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction, (y) for which an Indemnitee has been compensated pursuant to the terms of this Agreement or the Fee Letter, or (z) to the extent based upon contractual obligations of such Indemnitee owing by such Indemnitee to any third party which are not expressly set forth in this Agreement.

 

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(c)                                   Reserved .

 

(d)                                  Reimbursement by the Lenders .  To the extent that the Loan Parties for any reason fail to indefeasibly pay any amount required under subsection (a)  or (b)  of this Section to be paid by the Loan Parties to the Administrative Agent (or any sub-agent thereof), or any Related Party of any of the foregoing (and without limiting their obligation to do so), each Lender severally agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent (or any such sub-agent) or such Related Party, as the case may be, such Lender’s pro rata share (determined as of the time that the applicable unreimbursed expense or indemnity payment is sought based on each Lender’s Applicable Percentage) of such unpaid amount (including any such unpaid amount in respect of a claim asserted by such Lender), such payment to be made severally among them based on such Lenders’ Applicable Percentage (determined as of the time that the applicable unreimbursed expense or indemnity payment is sought) of such unpaid amount, provided that the unreimbursed expense or indemnified loss, claim, damage, liability or related expense, as the case may be, was incurred by or asserted against the Administrative Agent (or any such sub-agent), or against any Related Party of any of the foregoing acting for the Administrative Agent (or any such sub-agent), in connection with such capacity.  The obligations of the Lenders under this subsection (c)  are subject to the provisions of Section 2.12(d) .

 

(e)                                   Waiver of Consequential Damages, Etc.   To the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law, no Loan Party shall assert, and each Loan Party hereby waives and acknowledges that no other Person shall have, any claim against any Indemnitee, on any theory of liability, for special, indirect, consequential or punitive damages (as opposed to direct or actual damages) arising out of, in connection with, or as a result of, this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any agreement or instrument contemplated hereby, the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, any Loan or the use of the proceeds thereof.  No Indemnitee referred to in subsection (b)  above shall be liable for any damages arising from the use by unintended recipients of any information or other materials distributed to such unintended recipients by such Indemnitee through telecommunications, electronic or other information transmission systems in connection with this Agreement or the other Loan Documents or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby other than for direct or actual damages resulting from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Indemnitee as determined by a final and nonappealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction.

 

(f)                                    Payments .  All amounts due under this Section shall be payable not later than ten (10) Business Days after demand therefor.

 

(g)                                   Survival .  The agreements in this Section and the indemnity provisions of Section 11.02(e)  shall survive the resignation of the Administrative Agent, the replacement of any Lender and the repayment, satisfaction or discharge of all the other Obligations.

 

e.                                        Payments Set Aside.  To the extent that any payment by or on behalf of the Borrower is made to the Administrative Agent or any Lender, or the Administrative Agent or any Lender exercises its right of setoff, and such payment or the proceeds of such setoff or any part thereof is subsequently invalidated, declared to be fraudulent or preferential, set aside or required (including pursuant to any settlement entered into by the Administrative Agent or such Lender in

 

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its discretion) to be repaid to a trustee, receiver or any other party, in connection with any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law or otherwise, then (a) to the extent of such recovery, the obligation or part thereof originally intended to be satisfied shall be revived and continued in full force and effect as if such payment had not been made or such setoff had not occurred, and (b) each Lender severally agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent upon demand its applicable share (without duplication) of any amount so recovered from or repaid by the Administrative Agent (without relieving the Borrower of its obligation to make any such payment so required), plus interest thereon from the date of such demand to the date such payment is made at a rate per annum equal to the Federal Funds Rate from time to time in effect.  The obligations of the Lenders under clause (b)  of the preceding sentence shall survive the payment in full of the Obligations and the termination of this Agreement.

 

f.                                         Successors and Assigns.

 

(a)                                  Successors and Assigns Generally .  The provisions of this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby, except that neither the Borrower nor any other Loan Party may assign or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent and each Lender and no Lender may assign or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations hereunder except (i) to an assignee in accordance with the provisions of subsection (b)  of this Section, (ii) by way of participation in accordance with the provisions of subsection (d)  of this Section, or (iii) by way of pledge or assignment of a security interest subject to the restrictions of subsection (e)  of this Section (and any other attempted assignment or transfer by any party hereto shall be null and void).  Nothing in this Agreement, expressed or implied, shall be construed to confer upon any Person (other than the parties hereto, their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby, Participants to the extent provided in subsection (d)  of this Section and, to the extent expressly contemplated hereby, the Related Parties of each of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders) any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or by reason of this Agreement.

 

(b)                                  Assignments by the Lenders .  Any Lender may, at no cost or expense to any Loan Party (except as provided in Section 11.13 ), at any time assign to one or more assignees all or a portion of its rights and obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of the Loans at the time owing to it); provided that any such assignment shall be subject to the following conditions:

 

(i)                                      Minimum Amounts .

 

i)                                          in the case of an assignment of the entire remaining amount of the assigning Lender’s Loans at the time owing to it or contemporaneous assignments to related Approved Funds that equal at least the amount specified in paragraph (b)(i)(B) of this Section in the aggregate or in the case of an assignment to a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund, no minimum amount need be assigned (but any such assignment shall be of a pro rata interest in each of the Loans; and

 

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ii)                                       in any case not described in subsection (b)(i)(A)  of this Section, the principal outstanding balance of the Loans of the assigning Lender subject to each such assignment, determined as of the date the Assignment and Assumption with respect to such assignment is delivered to the Administrative Agent or, if “Trade Date” is specified in the Assignment and Assumption, as of the Trade Date, shall not be less than $5,000,000 and shall be an assignment of a pro rata interest in each of the Loans, and the amount assigned to the Eligible Assignee shall not be less than $5,000,000, unless each of the Administrative Agent and, so long as no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Borrower otherwise consents (each such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed); provided that concurrent assignments to members of an Assignee Group and concurrent assignments from members of an Assignee Group to a single Eligible Assignee (or to an Eligible Assignee and members of its Assignee Group) will be treated as a single assignment for purposes of determining whether such minimum amount has been met.

 

(ii)                                   Proportionate Amounts .  Each partial assignment shall be made as an assignment of a proportionate part of all the assigning Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement with respect to the Loans assigned;

 

(iii)                                Required Consents .  No consent shall be required for any assignment except to the extent required by subsection (b)(i)(B)  of this Section and, in addition:

 

i)                                          the consent of the Borrower (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) shall be required unless (1) an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing at the time of such assignment or (2) such assignment is to a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender, an Approved Fund or to any Federal Reserve Bank or other central bank authority or comparable agency having jurisdiction over such Lender; provided that the Borrower shall be deemed to have consented to any such assignment unless it shall object thereto by written notice to the Administrative Agent within ten (10) Business Days after having received notice thereof; and

 

ii)                                       the consent of the Administrative Agent (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) shall be required if such assignment is to a Person that is not a Lender, an Affiliate of such Lender or an Approved Fund with respect to such Lender.

 

(iv)                               Assignment and Assumption .  The parties to each assignment shall execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent an Assignment and Assumption, together with a processing and recordation fee in the amount of $3,500; provided that the Administrative Agent may, in its sole discretion, elect to waive such processing and recordation fee in the case of any assignment.  The assignee, if it is not a Lender, shall deliver to the Administrative Agent an Administrative Questionnaire.

 

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(v)                                  No Assignment to Certain Persons .  No such assignment shall be made (A) to the Parent or the Borrower or any of their Affiliates or Subsidiaries, or (B) without the consent of the Administrative Agent and the Borrower, to any Defaulting Lender or any of its Subsidiaries, or any Person who, upon becoming a Lender hereunder, would constitute any of the foregoing Persons described in this clause (B) , (C) to a natural person, or (D) without the consent of the Borrower, to any Excluded Party.

 

(vi)                               Certain Additional Payments .  In connection with any assignment of rights and obligations of any Defaulting Lender hereunder, no such assignment shall be effective unless and until, in addition to the other conditions thereto set forth herein, the parties to the assignment shall make such additional payments to the Administrative Agent in an aggregate amount sufficient, upon distribution thereof as appropriate (which may be outright payment, purchases by the assignee of participations or sub-participations, or other compensating actions, including funding, with the consent of the Borrower and the Administrative Agent, the applicable pro rata share of Loans previously requested but not funded by the Defaulting Lender, to each of which the applicable assignee and assignor hereby irrevocably consent), to (x) pay and satisfy in full all payment liabilities then owed by such Defaulting Lender to the Administrative Agent or any Lender hereunder (and interest accrued thereon) and (y) acquire (and fund as appropriate) its full pro rata share of all Loans in accordance with its Applicable Percentage.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that any assignment of rights and obligations of any Defaulting Lender hereunder shall become effective under applicable Law without compliance with the provisions of this paragraph, then the assignee of such interest shall be deemed to be a Defaulting Lender for all purposes of this Agreement until such compliance occurs.

 

Subject to acceptance and recording thereof by the Administrative Agent pursuant to subsection (c)  of this Section, from and after the effective date specified in each Assignment and Assumption, the assignee thereunder shall be a party to this Agreement and, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Assumption, have the rights and obligations of a Lender under this Agreement, and the assigning Lender thereunder shall, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Assumption, be released from its obligations under this Agreement (and, in the case of an Assignment and Assumption covering all of the assigning Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement, such Lender shall cease to be a party hereto) but shall continue to be entitled to the benefits of Sections 3.01, 3.04 , 3.05 , and 11.04 with respect to facts and circumstances occurring prior to the effective date of such assignment, provided, that except to the extent otherwise expressly agreed by the affected parties, no assignment by a Defaulting Lender will constitute a waiver or release of any claim of any party hereunder arising from that Lender’s having been a Defaulting Lender.  Upon request, the Borrower (at its expense) shall execute and deliver a Note to the assignee Lender.  Any assignment or transfer by a Lender of rights or obligations under this Agreement that does not comply with this subsection shall be treated for purposes of this Agreement as a sale by such Lender of a participation in such rights and obligations in accordance with subsection (d)  of this Section.

 

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(c)                                   Register .  The Administrative Agent, acting solely for this purpose as a non-fiduciary agent of the Borrower (and such agency being solely for tax purposes), shall maintain at the Administrative Agent’s Office a copy of each Assignment and Assumption delivered to it (or the equivalent thereof in electronic form) and a register for the recordation of the names and addresses of the Lenders and principal amounts (and stated interest) of the Loans owing to, each Lender pursuant to the terms hereof from time to time (the “ Register ”).  The entries in the Register shall be conclusive absent manifest error, and the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders may treat each Person whose name is recorded in the Register pursuant to the terms hereof as a Lender hereunder for all purposes of this Agreement .   The Register shall be available for inspection by the Borrower and any Lender, at any reasonable time and from time to time upon reasonable prior notice.

 

(d)                                  Participations .  Any Lender may at any time, without the consent of, or notice to, the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, sell participations to any Person (other than a natural person, an Excluded Party, a Defaulting Lender or the Parent or the Borrower or any of their Affiliates or Subsidiaries) (each, a “ Participant ”) in all or a portion of such Lender’s rights and/or obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of the Loans owing to it); provided that (i) such Lender’s obligations under this Agreement shall remain unchanged, (ii) such Lender shall remain solely responsible to the other parties hereto for the performance of such obligations and (iii) the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the Lenders shall continue to deal solely and directly with such Lender in connection with such Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement.  For the avoidance of doubt, each Lender shall be responsible for the indemnity under Section 11.04(d)  without regard to the existence of any participation.

 

Any agreement or instrument pursuant to which a Lender sells such a participation shall provide that such Lender shall retain the sole right to enforce this Agreement and to approve any amendment, modification or waiver of any provision of this Agreement; provided that such agreement or instrument may provide that such Lender will not, without the consent of the Participant, agree to any amendment, waiver or other modification described in the first proviso to Section 11.01 that affects such Participant.  The Borrower agrees that each Participant shall be entitled to the benefits of Sections 3.01 , 3.04 and 3.05 to the same extent as if it were a Lender and had acquired its interest by assignment pursuant to subsection (b) of this Section (it being understood that the documentation required under Section 3.01(e)  shall be delivered to the Lender who sells the participation); provided that such Participant (A) agrees to be subject to the provisions of Section s 3.06 and 11.13 as if it were an assignee under paragraph (b) of this Section and (B) shall not be entitled to receive any greater payment under Sections 3.01 or 3.04 , with respect to any participation than the Lender from whom it acquired the applicable participation would have been entitled to receive, except to the extent such entitlement to receive a greater payment results from a Change in Law that occurs after the Participant acquired the applicable participation.  Each Lender that sells a participation agrees, at the Borrower’s request and expense, to use reasonable efforts to cooperate with the Borrower to effectuate the provisions of Section 3.06 with respect to any Participant.  To the extent permitted by law, each Participant also shall be entitled to the benefits of Section  11.08 as though it were a Lender; provided that such Participant agrees to be subject to Section 2.13 as though it were a Lender.  Each Lender that sells a participation shall, acting solely for this purpose as a non-fiduciary agent

 

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of the Borrower, maintain a register on which it enters the name and address of each Participant and the principal amounts (and stated interest) of each Participant’s interest in the Loans or other obligations under the Loan Documents (the “Participant Register”); provided that no Lender shall have any obligation to disclose all or any portion of the Participant Register (including the identity of any Participant or any information relating to a Participant’s interest in any commitments, loans, letters of credit or its other obligations under any Loan Document) to any Person except to the extent that such disclosure is necessary to establish that such commitment, loan, letter of credit or other obligation is in registered form under Section 5f.103-1(c)  of the United States Treasury Regulations.  The entries in the Participant Register shall be conclusive absent manifest error, and such Lender shall treat each Person whose name is recorded in the Participant Register as the owner of such participation for all purposes of this Agreement notwithstanding any notice to the contrary.  For the avoidance of doubt, the Administrative Agent (in its capacity as the Administrative Agent) shall have no responsibility for maintaining a Participant Register.

 

(e)                                   Certain Pledges .  Any Lender may at any time pledge or assign a security interest in all or any portion of its rights under this Agreement (including under its Note, if any) to secure obligations of such Lender, including any pledge or assignment to secure obligations to a Federal Reserve Bank or other central bank authority or comparable agency having jurisdiction over such Lender; provided that no such pledge or assignment shall release such Lender from any of its obligations hereunder or substitute any such pledgee or assignee for such Lender as a party hereto.

 

(f)                                    Reserved .

 

(g)                                   USA Patriot Act Notice; Compliance .  In order for the Administrative Agent to comply with “know your customer” and anti-money laundering rules and regulations, including without limitation, the Patriot Act, prior to any Lender that is organized under the laws of a jurisdiction outside of the United States of America becoming a party hereto, the Administrative Agent may request, and such Lender shall provide to the Administrative Agent, its name, address, tax identification number and/or such other identification information as shall be necessary for the Administrative Agent to comply with federal law.

 

g.                                        Treatment of Certain Information; Confidentiality.  Each of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders agrees to maintain the confidentiality of the Information (as defined below), except that Information may be disclosed (a) to its Affiliates and to its Related Parties (it being understood that the Persons to whom such disclosure is made will be informed of the confidential nature of such Information and instructed to keep such Information confidential), (b) to the extent required or requested by any regulatory authority purporting to have jurisdiction over such Person or its Related Parties (including any self-regulatory authority, such as the National Association of Insurance Commissioners), (c) to the extent required by applicable Laws or regulations or by any subpoena or similar legal process so long as the Administrative Agent and any Lender, as the case may be, requests confidential treatment of such Information to the extent permitted by Law (provided that the requesting Administrative Agent or Lender shall not be responsible for the failure by any such party to keep the Information confidential), (d) to any other party hereto, (e) in connection with the exercise of any remedies hereunder or under any

 

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other Loan Document or any action or proceeding relating to this Agreement or any other Loan Document or the enforcement of rights hereunder or thereunder, (f) subject to an agreement containing provisions substantially the same as those of this Section, to (i) any assignee of or Participant in, or any prospective assignee of or Participant in, any of its rights and obligations under this Agreement or any Eligible Assignee invited to be a Lender pursuant to Section  3.06 (c), Section 11. 13 or (ii) any actual or prospective party (or its Related Parties) to any swap, derivative or other transaction under which payments are to be made by reference to the Borrower and its obligations, this Agreement or payments hereunder, (g) on a confidential basis to (i)  any rating agency in connection with rating the Borrower or its Subsidiaries or the credit facilities provided hereunder or (ii) the CUSIP Service Bureau or any similar agency in connection with the issuance and monitoring of CUSIP numbers or other market identifiers with respect to the credit facilities provided hereunder, (h) with the consent of the Borrower or (i) to the extent such Information (x) becomes publicly available other than as a result of a breach of this Section or (y) becomes available to the Administrative Agent, any Lender or any of their respective Affiliates on a non-confidential basis from a source other than the Borrower provided that the source of such information was not at the time known to be bound by a confidentiality agreement or other legal or contractual obligation of confidentiality with respect to such Information.  For purposes of this Section, “Information” means all information received from the Borrower or any Subsidiary relating to the Borrower or any Subsidiary or any of their respective businesses, other than any such information that is available to the Administrative Agent or any Lender on a non-confidential basis prior to disclosure by the Borrower or any Subsidiary, provided that, in the case of information received from the Borrower or any Subsidiary after the date hereof, such information is clearly identified at the time of delivery as confidential.  Any Person required to maintain the confidentiality of Information as provided in this Section shall be considered to have complied with its obligation to do so if such Person has exercised the same degree of care to maintain the confidentiality of such Information as such Person would accord to its own confidential information.

 

Each of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders acknowledges that (a) the Information may include material non-public information concerning the Borrower or a Subsidiary, as the case may be, (b) it has developed compliance procedures regarding the use of material non-public information and (c) it will handle such material non-public information in accordance with applicable Law, including United States Federal and state securities Laws.

 

h.                                       Right of Setoff .  If an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing and the Administrative Agent and the Required Lenders shall have consented in writing thereto, each Lender and each of their respective Affiliates (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any Specified Derivatives Providers) is hereby authorized at any time and from time to time, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, to set off and apply any and all deposits (general or special, time or demand, provisional or final, in whatever currency) at any time held and other obligations (in whatever currency) at any time owing by such Lender or any such Affiliate to or for the credit or the account of the Borrower or any other Loan Party against any and all of the obligations of the Borrower or such Loan Party now or hereafter existing under this Agreement or any other Loan Document to such Lender or their respective Affiliates, irrespective of whether or not such Lender or Affiliate shall have made any demand under this Agreement or any other Loan Document and although such obligations of the Borrower or such Loan Party may be contingent or unmatured or are owed to a branch, office or Affiliate of such Lender different from the branch,

 

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office or Affiliate holding such deposit or obligated on such indebtedness; provided, that in the event that any Defaulting Lender shall exercise any such right of setoff, (x) all amounts so set off shall be paid over immediately to the Administrative Agent for further application in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.17 and, pending such payment, shall be segregated by such Defaulting Lender from its other funds and deemed held in trust for the benefit of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders, and (y) the Defaulting Lender shall provide promptly to the Administrative Agent a statement describing in reasonable detail the Obligations owing to such Defaulting Lender as to which it exercised such right of setoff. The rights of each Lender and their respective Affiliates under this Section are in addition to other rights and remedies (including other rights of setoff) that such Lender or their respective Affiliates may have. Each Lender agrees to notify the Borrower and the Administrative Agent promptly after any such setoff and application, provided that the failure to give such notice shall not affect the validity of such setoff and application

 

i.                                           Interest Rate Limitation.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in any Loan Document, the interest paid or agreed to be paid under the Loan Documents shall not exceed the maximum rate of non-usurious interest permitted by applicable Law (the “ Maximum Rate ”).  If the Administrative Agent or any Lender shall receive interest in an amount that exceeds the Maximum Rate, the excess interest shall be applied to the principal of the Loans or, if it exceeds such unpaid principal, refunded to the Borrower.  In determining whether the interest contracted for, charged, or received by the Administrative Agent or a Lender exceeds the Maximum Rate, such Person may, to the extent permitted by applicable Law, (a) characterize any payment that is not principal as an expense, fee, or premium rather than interest, (b) exclude voluntary prepayments and the effects thereof, and (c) amortize, prorate, allocate, and spread in equal or unequal parts the total amount of interest throughout the contemplated term of the Obligations hereunder.

 

j.                                          Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness.  This Agreement may be executed in counterparts (and by different parties hereto in different counterparts), each of which shall constitute an original, but all of which when taken together shall constitute a single contract.  This Agreement and the other Loan Documents , and any separate letter agreements with respect to fees payable to the Administrative Agent constitute the entire contract among the parties relating to the subject matter hereof and supersede any and all previous agreements and understandings, oral or written, relating to the subject matter hereof.  Except as provided in Section 5.01 , this Agreement shall become effective when it shall have been executed by the Administrative Agent and when the Administrative Agent shall have received counterparts hereof that, when taken together, bear the signatures of each of the other parties hereto.  Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page of this Agreement by telecopy, by email with a pdf copy attached, or other electronic imaging means shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Agreement.

 

k.                                       Survival of Representations and Warranties.  All representations and warranties made hereunder and in any other Loan Document or other document delivered pursuant hereto or thereto or in connection herewith or therewith shall survive the execution and delivery hereof and thereof.  Such representations and warranties have been or will be relied upon by the Administrative Agent and each Lender, regardless of any investigation made by the Administrative Agent or any Lender or on their behalf and notwithstanding that the

 

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Administrative Agent or any Lender may have had notice or knowledge of any Default at the time of any Credit Extension, and shall continue in full force and effect as long as any Loan or any other Obligation hereunder shall remain unpaid or unsatisfied.

 

l.                                           Severability.  If any provision of this Agreement or the other Loan Documents is held to be illegal, invalid or unenforceable, (a) the legality, validity and enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents shall not be affected or impaired thereby and (b) the parties shall endeavor in good faith negotiations to replace the illegal, invalid or unenforceable provisions with valid provisions the economic effect of which comes as close as possible to that of the illegal, invalid or unenforceable provisions.  The invalidity of a provision in a particular jurisdiction shall not invalidate or render unenforceable such provision in any other jurisdiction.  Without limiting the foregoing provisions of this Section 11.12 , if and to the extent that the enforceability of any provisions in this Agreement relating to Defaulting Lenders shall be limited by Debtor Relief Laws, as determined in good faith by the Administrative Agent then such provisions shall be deemed to be in effect only to the extent not so limited.

 

m.                                   Replacement of the Lenders.  If the Borrower is entitled to replace a Lender pursuant to the provisions of Section 3.06 , or if any Lender is a Defaulting Lender or if any other circumstance exists hereunder that gives the Borrower the right to replace a Lender as a party hereto, then the Borrower may, at its sole expense and effort, upon notice to such Lender and the Administrative Agent, require such Lender to assign and delegate, without recourse (in accordance with and subject to the restrictions contained in, and consents required by, Section 11.06 ), all of its interests, rights (other than its existing rights to payments pursuant to Sections 3.01 , 3.04 and 3.05 ) and obligations under this Agreement and the related Loan Documents to an Eligible Assignee that shall assume such obligations (which assignee may be another Lender, if a Lender accepts such assignment), provided that:

 

(a)                                  the Borrower shall have paid to the Administrative Agent the assignment fee (if any) specified in Section 11.06(b) ;

 

(b)                                  such Lender shall have received payment of an amount equal to the outstanding principal of its Loans, accrued interest thereon, accrued fees and all other amounts payable to it hereunder and under the other Loan Documents (including any amounts under Section 3.05 ) from the assignee (to the extent of such outstanding principal and accrued interest and fees) or the Borrower (in the case of all other amounts);

 

(c)                                   in the case of any such assignment resulting from a claim for compensation under Section 3.04 or payments required to be made pursuant to Section 3.01 , such assignment will result in a reduction in such compensation or payments thereafter; and

 

(d)                                  such assignment does not conflict with applicable Laws.

 

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(e)                                   A Lender shall not be required to make any such assignment or delegation if, prior thereto, as a result of a waiver by such Lender or otherwise, the circumstances entitling the Borrower to require such assignment and delegation cease to apply.

 

n.                                       Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Etc.

 

(a)                                  GOVERNING LAW .  THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS AND ANY CLAIMS, CONTROVERSY, DISPUTE OR CAUSE OF ACTION (WHETHER IN CONTRACT OR TORT OR OTHERWISE) BASED UPON, ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT (EXCEPT, AS TO ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT, AS EXPRESSLY SET FORTH THEREIN) AND THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY AND THEREBY SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

 

(b)                                  SUBMISSION TO JURISDICTION .  THE BORROWER AND EACH OTHER LOAN PARTY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY AGREES THAT IT WILL NOT COMMENCE ANY ACTION, LITIGATION OR PROCEEDING OF ANY KIND OR DESCRIPTION, WHETHER IN LAW OR EQUITY, WHETHER IN CONTRACT OR IN TORT OR OTHERWISE, AGAINST THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT, ANY LENDER OR ANY RELATED PARTY OF THE FOREGOING IN ANY WAY RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS RELATING HERETO OR THERETO, IN ANY FORUM OTHER THAN THE COURTS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK COUNTY AND OF THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT OF THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK, AND ANY APPELLATE COURT FROM ANY THEREOF, AND EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY SUBMITS TO THE JURISDICTION OF SUCH COURTS AND AGREES THAT ALL CLAIMS IN RESPECT OF ANY SUCH ACTION, LITIGATION OR PROCEEDING MAY BE HEARD AND DETERMINED IN SUCH NEW YORK STATE COURT OR, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, IN SUCH FEDERAL COURT.  EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO AGREES THAT A FINAL JUDGMENT IN ANY SUCH ACTION, LITIGATION OR PROCEEDING SHALL BE CONCLUSIVE AND MAY BE ENFORCED IN OTHER JURISDICTIONS BY SUIT ON THE JUDGMENT OR IN ANY OTHER MANNER PROVIDED BY LAW.  NOTHING IN THIS AGREEMENT OR IN ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT SHALL AFFECT ANY RIGHT THAT THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT OR ANY LENDER MAY OTHERWISE HAVE TO BRING ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT AGAINST THE BORROWER OR ANY OTHER LOAN PARTY OR ITS PROPERTIES IN THE COURTS OF ANY JURISDICTION.

 

(c)                                   WAIVER OF VENUE .  EACH OF THE PARENT, THE BORROWER AND EACH OTHER LOAN PARTY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY OBJECTION THAT IT MAY NOW OR HEREAFTER HAVE TO THE LAYING OF VENUE OF ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING

 

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TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT IN ANY COURT REFERRED TO IN PARAGRAPH (b) OF THIS SECTION.  EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, THE DEFENSE OF AN INCONVENIENT FORUM TO THE MAINTENANCE OF SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING IN ANY SUCH COURT.

 

(d)                                  SERVICE OF PROCESS .  EACH PARTY HERETO IRREVOCABLY CONSENTS TO SERVICE OF PROCESS IN THE MANNER PROVIDED FOR NOTICES IN SECTION 11.02 PROVIDED THAT, IN THE CASE OF SERVICE ON ANY LOAN PARTY A COPY IS ALSO DELIVERED TO JEFFREY SULLIVAN, GENERAL COUNSEL FOR PARENT AND BORROWER.  NOTHING IN THIS AGREEMENT WILL AFFECT THE RIGHT OF ANY PARTY HERETO TO SERVE PROCESS IN ANY OTHER MANNER PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW.

 

(e)                                   WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL .  EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR THEREBY (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT OR ANY OTHER THEORY).  EACH PARTY HERETO (A) CERTIFIES THAT NO REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF ANY OTHER PERSON HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PERSON WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER AND (B) ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT AND THE OTHER PARTIES HERETO HAVE BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION.

 

o.                                       No Advisory or Fiduciary Responsibility.  In connection with all aspects of each transaction contemplated hereby (including in connection with any amendment, waiver or other modification hereof or of any other Loan Document), the Parent, the Borrower, and each other Loan Party acknowledges and agrees, and acknowledges its Affiliates’ understanding, that: (i)(A) the arranging and other services regarding this Agreement provided by the Administrative Agent and the Lead Arranger are arm’s-length commercial transactions between the Parent, the Borrower, each other Loan Party and their respective Affiliates, on the one hand, and the Administrative Agent and the Lead Arranger, on the other hand, (B) each of the Parent, the Borrower, and the other Loan Parties has consulted its own legal, accounting, regulatory and tax advisors to the extent it has deemed appropriate, and (C) the Borrower and each other Loan Party is capable of evaluating, and understands and accepts, the terms, risks and conditions of the transactions contemplated hereby and by the other Loan Documents; (ii)(A) each of the Administrative Agent, the Lead Arranger and the Lenders is and has been acting solely as a principal and, except as expressly agreed in writing by the relevant parties, has not been, is not, and will not be acting as an advisor, agent or fiduciary for the Parent, the Borrower, any other Loan Party, or any of their respective Affiliates, or any other Person and (B) the Administrative Agent, the Lead Arranger and the Lender have no obligation to the Parent, the Borrower, any

 

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other Loan Party, or any of their respective Affiliates with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby except those obligations expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents; and (iii) the Administrative Agent, the Lead Arranger and the Lenders and their respective Affiliates may be engaged in a broad range of transactions that involve interests that differ from those of the Parent, the Borrower, the other Loan Parties, and their respective Affiliates, and the Administrative Agent, the Lead Arranger and the Lenders have no obligation to disclose any of such interests to the Parent, the Borrower, any other Loan Party, or any of their respective Affiliates.  To the fullest extent permitted by Law, each of the Parent, the Borrower, and the other Loan Parties hereby waives and releases any claims that it may have against the Administrative Agent and the Lead Arranger with respect to any breach or alleged breach of agency or fiduciary duty in connection with any aspect of any transaction contemplated hereby.

 

p.                                       Electronic Execution of Assignments and Certain Other Documents.  The words “execution,” “signed,” “signature,” and words of like import in any Assignment and Assumption or in any amendment or other modification hereof (including waivers and consents) shall be deemed to include electronic signatures , the electronic matching or assignment terms and contract formations on electronic platforms approved by the Administrative Agent or the keeping of records in electronic form, each of which shall be of the same legal effect, validity or enforceability as a manually executed signature or the use of a paper-based recordkeeping system, as the case may be, to the extent and as provided for in any applicable Law, including the Federal Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act, the New York State Electronic Signatures and Records Act, or any other similar state laws based on the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act.

 

q.                                       USA PATRIOT ACT.  Each Lender that is subject to the Patriot Act (as hereinafter defined) and the Administrative Agent (for itself and not on behalf of any Lender) hereby notifies the Borrower that pursuant to the requirements of The Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001 (Title III of Pub. L. No. 107-56 (signed into law October 26, 2001)) (the “ Patriot Act ”), it is required to obtain, verify and record certain information that identifies individuals or business entities which open an “account” with such financial institution, which information includes the name, address, and tax identification number of the Borrower and such other identification information that will allow such Lender or the Administrative Agent, as applicable, to identify the Borrower in accordance with the Patriot Act and comply with federal law.  An “account” for this purpose may include, without limitation, a deposit account, cash management service, a transaction or asset account, a credit account, a loan or other extension of credit, and/or other financial services product. the Borrower shall, promptly following a request by the Administrative Agent or any Lender, provide all documentation and other information that the Administrative Agent or such Lender requests in order to comply with its ongoing obligations under applicable “know your customer” and anti-money laundering rules and regulations, including the Patriot Act.

 

r.                                          ENTIRE AGREEMENT.  THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS REPRESENT THE FINAL AGREEMENT AMONG THE PARTIES AND MAY NOT BE CONTRADICTED BY EVIDENCE OF PRIOR, CONTEMPORANEOUS, OR SUBSEQUENT ORAL AGREEMENTS OF THE PARTIES.  THERE ARE NO UNWRITTEN ORAL AGREEMENTS AMONG THE PARTIES.

 

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s.             Acknowledgment and Consent to Bail -In of EEA Financial Institutions.

 

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in any Loan Document or in any other agreement, arrangement or understanding among any such parties, each party hereto acknowledges that any liability of any EEA Financial Institution arising under any Loan Document may be subject to the Write-Down and Conversion Powers of an EEA Resolution Authority and agrees and consents to, and acknowledges and agrees to be bound by:

 

(a)           the application of any Write-Down and Conversion Powers by an EEA Resolution Authority to any such liabilities arising hereunder which may be payable to it by any party hereto that is an EEA Financial Institution; and

 

(b)           the effects of any Bail-In Action on any such liability, including, if applicable:

 

(i)            a reduction in full or in part or cancellation of any such liability;

 

(ii)           a conversion of all, or a portion of, such liability into shares or other instruments of ownership in such EEA Financial Institution, its parent entity, or a bridge institution that may be issued to it or otherwise conferred on it, and that such shares or other instruments of ownership will be accepted by it in lieu of any rights with respect to any such liability under this Agreement or any other Loan Document; or

 

(iii)          the variation of the terms of such liability in connection with the exercise of the Write-Down and Conversion Powers of any EEA Resolution Authority.

 

t.                                      Certain ERISA Matters .

 

(a)           Each Lender (x) represents and warrants, as of the date such Person became a Lender party hereto, to, and (y) covenants, from the date such Person became a Lender party hereto to the date such Person ceases being a Lender party hereto, for the benefit of, the Administrative Agent, each Lead Arranger and their respective Affiliates, and not, for the avoidance of doubt, to or for the benefit of the Borrower or any other Loan Party, that at least one of the following is and will be true:

 

(i)            such Lender is not using “plan assets” (within the meaning of 29 CFR § 2510.3-101, as modified by Section 3(42) of ERISA) of one or more Benefit Plans in connection with the Loans or the Commitments;

 

(ii)           the transaction exemption set forth in one or more PTEs, such as PTE 84-14 (a class exemption for certain transactions determined by independent qualified professional asset managers), PTE 95-60 (a class exemption for certain transactions involving insurance company general accounts), PTE 90-1 (a class exemption for certain transactions involving insurance company pooled separate accounts), PTE 91-38 (a class exemption for certain transactions involving bank collective investment funds) or PTE 96-23 (a class exemption for certain transactions determined by in-house asset managers), is applicable with respect to

 

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such Lender’s entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Commitments and this Agreement;

 

(iii)          (A) such Lender is an investment fund managed by a “Qualified Professional Asset Manager” (within the meaning of Part VI of PTE 84-14), (B) such Qualified Professional Asset Manager made the investment decision on behalf of such Lender to enter into, participate in, administer and perform the Loans, the Commitments and this Agreement, (C) the entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Commitments and this Agreement satisfies the requirements of sub-sections (b) through (g) of Part I of PTE 84-14 and (D) to the best knowledge of such Lender, the requirements of subsection (a) of Part I of PTE 84-14 are satisfied with respect to such Lender’s entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Commitments and this Agreement; or

 

(iv)          such other representation, warranty and covenant as may be agreed in writing between the Administrative Agent, in its sole discretion, and such Lender.

 

(b)           In addition, unless sub-clause (i) in the immediately preceding clause (a) is true with respect to a Lender or such Lender has not provided another representation, warranty and covenant as provided in sub-clause (iv) in the immediately preceding clause (a), such Lender further (x) represents and warrants, as of the date such Person became a Lender party hereto, to, and (y) covenants, from the date such Person became a Lender party hereto to the date such Person ceases being a Lender party hereto, for the benefit of, the Administrative Agent, each Lead Arranger and their respective Affiliates, and not, for the avoidance of doubt, to or for the benefit of the Borrower or any other Credit Party, that:

 

(i)            none of the Administrative Agent, any Lead Arranger nor any of their respective Affiliates is a fiduciary with respect to the assets of such Lender (including in connection with the reservation or exercise of any rights by the Administrative Agent under this Agreement, any Loan Document or any documents related to hereto or thereto);

 

(ii)           the Person making the investment decision on behalf of such Lender with respect to the entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Commitments and this Agreement is independent (within the meaning of 29 CFR § 2510.3-21) and is a bank, an insurance carrier, an investment adviser, a broker-dealer or other person that holds, or has under management or control, total assets of at least $50 million, in each case as described in 29 CFR § 2510.3-21(c)(1)(i)(A)-(E),

 

(iii)          the Person making the investment decision on behalf of such Lender with respect to the entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Commitments and this Agreement is capable of evaluating investment risks independently, both in general and with regard to

 

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particular transactions and investment strategies (including in respect of the Secured Obligations);

 

(iv)          the Person making the investment decision on behalf of such Lender with respect to the entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Commitments and this Agreement is a fiduciary under ERISA or the Code, or both, with respect to the Loans, the Commitments and this Agreement and is responsible for exercising independent judgment in evaluating the transactions hereunder, and

 

(v)           no fee or other compensation is being paid directly to the Administrative Agent, each Lead Arranger or their respective Affiliates for investment advice (as opposed to other services) in connection with the Loans, the Commitments or this Agreement.

 

(c)           The Administrative Agent and each Lead Arranger hereby informs the Lenders that each such Person is not undertaking to provide impartial investment advice, or to give advice in a fiduciary capacity, in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby, and that such Person has a financial interest in the transactions contemplated hereby in that such Person or an Affiliate thereof (i) may receive interest or other payments with respect to the Loans, the Commitments and this Agreement, (ii) may recognize a gain if it extended the Loans or the Commitments for an amount less than the amount being paid for an interest in the Loans or the Commitments by such Lender or (iii) may receive fees or other payments in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby, the Loan Documents or otherwise, including structuring fees, commitment fees, arrangement fees, facility fees, upfront fees, underwriting fees, ticking fees, agency fees, administrative agent or collateral agent fees, utilization fees, minimum usage fees, letter of credit fees, fronting fees, deal-away or alternate transaction fees, amendment fees, processing fees, term out premiums, banker’s acceptance fees, breakage or other early termination fees or fees similar to the foregoing.

 

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EXHIBIT C

 

REAFFIRMATION OF SUBSIDIARY GUARANTY

July 26, 2018

 

Each of the undersigned Subsidiary Guarantors hereby acknowledges receipt of a copy of the foregoing Second Amendment to Second Amended and Restated Term Loan Agreement with respect to that certain Second Amended and Restated Term Loan Agreement dated as of December 20, 2016 by and among STAG INDUSTRIAL OPERATING PARTNERSHIP, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (together with its successors and assigns, the “ Borrower ”), STAG INDUSTRIAL INC., a Maryland corporation and the sole member of the sole general partner of the Borrower (the “ Parent ”), each of the financial institutions initially a signatory to the Loan Agreement (as defined below) together with their successors and assigns under Section 11.06 of the Loan Agreement (the “ Lenders ”), and WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as the Administrative Agent (in such capacity, the “ Administrative Agent ”) (as amended and as the same may be amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “ Loan Agreement ”), which Second Amendment to Second Amended and Restated Term Loan Agreement is dated as of the date hereof (the “ Amendment ”).  Capitalized terms used in this Reaffirmation and not defined herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Loan Agreement.  Without in any way establishing a course of dealing by the Administrative Agent or any Lender, each of the undersigned Subsidiary Guarantors reaffirms the terms and conditions of the Subsidiary Guaranty (as reaffirmed from time to time) and any other Loan Document executed by it and acknowledges and agrees that such agreement and each and every such Loan Document executed by the undersigned Subsidiary Guarantors in connection with the Loan Agreement remains in full force and effect and is hereby reaffirmed, ratified and confirmed.  All references to the Loan Agreement contained in the above-referenced documents shall be a reference to the Loan Agreement as so modified by the Amendment and as the same may from time to time hereafter be amended, modified or restated.

 

***

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each Subsidiary Guarantor has caused this Reaffirmation of Subsidiary Guaranty to be duly executed and delivered as of the date first written above.

 

SUBSIDIARY GUARANTORS:

 

STAG Investments Holdings III, LLC

STAG III Albion, LLC

STAG III Boardman, LLC

STAG III Chesterfield, LLC

STAG III Daytona Beach, LLC

STAG III Elkhart, LLC

STAG III Farmington, LLC

STAG III Lewiston, LLC

STAG III Malden, LLC

STAG III Mason, LLC

STAG III Mayville, LLC

STAG III Newark, LLC

STAG III Pensacola, LLC

STAG III Rapid City, LLC

STAG III Twinsburg, LLC

STAG III Youngstown, LLC

STAG Investments Holdings IV, LLC

STAG IV Alexandria, LLC

STAG IV Belfast, LLC

STAG IV Cheektowaga, LLC

STAG IV Danville, LLC

STAG IV Seville, LLC

STAG IV Sun Prairie, LLC

STIR Investments GP IV, LLC

STAG GI Investments Holdings, LLC

STAG GI New Jersey, LLC

STAG GI O’Fallon, LLC

STAG GI Goshen, LLC

STAG GI Madison, LLC

STAG GI Vonore, LLC

STAG GI Rogers, LLC

STAG GI Salem, LLC

STAG GI Walker, LLC

STAG GI Streetsboro, LLC

STAG GI Mooresville, LLC

STAG GI Cleveland, LLC

STAG Lansing, LLC

STAG Industrial Holdings, LLC

STAG TX GP 2, LLC

STAG Avon, LLC

 

Signature Page to Reaffirmation of Subsidiary Guaranty
Second Amendment to Second Amended and Restated Term Loan Agreement

 



 

STAG Buffalo, LLC

STAG Chippewa Falls, LLC

STAG Edgefield, LLC

STAG Lansing 2, LLC

STAG Orlando, LLC

STAG Pineville, LLC

STAG Portland 2, LLC

STAG Reading, LLC

STAG Rogers 2, LLC

STAG South Bend, LLC

STAG Spartanburg, LLC

STAG Jackson, LLC

STAG Portage, LLC

STAG Simpsonville, LLC

STAG Dallas, LLC

STAG De Pere, LLC

STAG Duncan, LLC

STAG Buena Vista, LLC

STAG Gurnee, LLC

STAG Chicopee, LLC

STAG Montgomery, LLC

STAG Smyrna, LLC

STAG Statham, LLC

STAG Harrisonburg, LLC

STAG Toledo, LLC

STAG Woodstock, LLC

STAG Columbia, LLC

STAG Golden, LLC

STAG DeKalb, LLC

STAG Ocala, LLC

STAG Marion 2, LLC

STAG Londonderry, LLC

STAG Idaho Falls, LLC

STAG Williamsport, LLC

STAG Kentwood, LLC

STAG Marshall, LLC

STAG Belvidere I, LLC

STAG Belvidere II, LLC

STAG Belvidere III, LLC

STAG Belvidere IV, LLC

STAG Belvidere V, LLC

STAG Belvidere VI, LLC

STAG Belvidere VII, LLC

STAG Belvidere VIII, LLC

STAG Belvidere IX, LLC

 

Signature Page to Reaffirmation of Subsidiary Guaranty
Second Amendment to Second Amended and Restated Term Loan Agreement

 



 

STAG Nashville, LLC

STAG New Berlin, LLC

STAG Hampstead, LLC

STAG New Hope, LLC

STAG Orlando 2, LLC

STAG North Jackson 2, LLC

STAG Shannon, LLC

STAG Lansing 4, LLC

STAG Harvard, LLC

STAG Sauk Village, LLC

STAG South Holland, LLC

STAG Mascot, LLC

STAG Janesville, LLC

STAG Allentown, LLC

STAG Nashua, LLC

STAG Strongsville, LLC

STAG Columbus, LLC

STAG Savannah, LLC

STAG West Chester, LLC

STAG Calhoun, LLC

STAG Hebron, LLC

STAG East Troy, LLC

STAG Savage, LLC

STAG Chester, LLC

STAG Mechanicsburg 1, LLC

STAG Mechanicsburg 2, LLC

STAG Mechanicsburg 3, LLC

STAG Mason 3, LLC

STAG Lenexa, LLC

STAG Reno, LLC

STAG Fort Wayne, LLC

STAG Murfreesboro, LLC

STAG Gurnee 2, LLC

STAG Germantown, LLC

STAG Elizabethtown, LLC

STAG CA GP, LLC

STAG Spartanburg 3, LLC

STAG Burlington, LLC

STAG Greenville, LLC

STAG North Haven, LLC

STAG Plymouth 2, LLC

STAG Oakwood Village, LLC

STAG Stoughton 1, LLC

STAG Stoughton 2, LLC

STAG 5101 South Council Road, LLC

 

Signature Page to Reaffirmation of Subsidiary Guaranty
Second Amendment to Second Amended and Restated Term Loan Agreement

 



 

STAG Knoxville 2, LLC

STAG Clinton, LLC

STAG Fairborn, LLC

STAG Phoenix, LLC

STAG Machesney Park, LLC

STAG Macedonia, LLC

STAG Novi 2, LLC

STAG Grand Junction, LLC

STAG Tulsa, LLC

STAG Chattanooga 1, LLC

STAG Chattanooga 2, LLC

STAG Libertyville 1, LLC

STAG Libertyville 2, LLC

STAG Greer, LLC

STAG Piedmont 1, LLC

STAG Piedmont 2, LLC

STAG Piedmont 3, LLC

STAG Belvidere 10, LLC

STAG Shreveport, LLC

STAG Dayton 2, LLC

STAG West Allis, LLC

STAG Loudon, LLC

STAG Laurens, LLC

STAG Lancaster, LLC

STAG Grand Rapids, LLC

STAG Burlington 2, LLC

STAG Biddeford, LLC

STAG Fairfield 3, LLC

STAG Mascot 2, LLC

STAG Erlanger, LLC

STAG Gahanna, LLC

STAG Norton, LLC

STAG NC GP, LLC

STAG Sparks 2, LLC

STAG Hazelwood, LLC

STAG York, LLC

STAG NC GP 2, LLC

STAG TX GP, LLC

STAG Louisville, LLC

STAG North Jackson, LLC

STAG Portland, LLC

STAG East Windsor, LLC

STAG Yorkville, LLC

STAG Lebanon, LLC

STAG West Columbia 3, LLC

STAG McHenry 2, LLC

 

Signature Page to Reaffirmation of Subsidiary Guaranty
Second Amendment to Second Amended and Restated Term Loan Agreement

 



 

STAG Romulus 2, LLC

STAG South Saint Paul, LLC

STAG Knoxville 3, LLC

 

each a Delaware limited liability company

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

 

 

 

(Signatures continue on the next page)

 

Signature Page to Reaffirmation of Subsidiary Guaranty
Second Amendment to Second Amended and Restated Term Loan Agreement

 



 

STAG III Arlington, LP

 

a Delaware limited partnership

 

 

 

 

By:

STIR Investments GP III, LLC,

 

 

a Delaware limited liability company,

 

 

its General Partner

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

Name:

 

Title:

 

 

 

STAG IV Waco, L.P.,

 

a Delaware limited partnership

 

 

 

By:

STIR Investments GP IV, LLC,

 

 

a Delaware limited liability company,

 

 

its General Partner

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

 

 

 

(Signatures continue on the next page)

 

Signature Page to Reaffirmation of Subsidiary Guaranty
Second Amendment to Second Amended and Restated Term Loan Agreement

 



 

STAG Arlington 2, L.P.

STAG Houston 2, L.P.

STAG Garland, LP

STAG Houston 3, LP

STAG El Paso 1, LP

STAG El Paso 2, LP

STAG El Paso 3, LP

STAG El Paso 4, LP

STAG Houston 4, LP

STAG El Paso 5, LP

STAG Garland 2, LP

STAG TX Holdings, LP

STAG Rockwall, L.P.

STAG IND Stafford, LP

STAG IND El Paso 6, LP

STAG IND Houston 9, LP

STAG IND Houston 11, LP

 

each a Delaware limited partnership

 

 

 

 

By:

STAG TX GP 2, LLC

 

 

a Delaware limited liability company,

 

 

their General Partner

 

 

 

By:

 

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

 

 

 

 

STAG Camarillo 1, LP

 

STAG Camarillo 2, LP

 

STAG Visalia, LP

 

 

 

each, a Delaware limited partnership

 

 

 

By:

STAG CA GP, LLC

 

 

a Delaware limited liability company,

 

 

their General Partner

 

 

 

By:

 

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

 

 

 

(Signatures continue on the next page)

 

Signature Page to Reaffirmation of Subsidiary Guaranty
Second Amendment to Second Amended and Restated Term Loan Agreement

 



 

STAG NC Holdings, LP

 

a Delaware limited partnership

 

 

 

 

By:

STAG NC GP, LLC,

 

 

a Delaware limited liability company,

 

 

their General Partner

 

 

 

By:

 

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

 

 

 

 

STAG Fort Worth, LP

 

a Delaware limited partnership

 

 

 

By:

STAG TX GP, LLC,

 

 

a Delaware limited liability company,

 

 

its General Partner

 

 

 

By:

 

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

 

 

 

 

STAG Mooresville 2, LP

 

a Delaware limited partnership

 

 

 

 

By:

STAG NC GP 2, LLC,

 

 

a Delaware limited liability company,

 

 

its General Partner

 

 

 

By:

 

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

 

 

 

Signature Page to Reaffirmation of Subsidiary Guaranty
Second Amendment to Second Amended and Restated Term Loan Agreement

 



 

STAG El Paso, LP

 

a Delaware limited partnership

 

 

 

By:

STIR Investments GP, LLC

 

 

a Delaware limited liability company,

 

 

its General Partner

 

 

 

By:

 

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

 

 

 

Signature Page to Reaffirmation of Subsidiary Guaranty
Second Amendment to Second Amended and Restated Term Loan Agreement

 


EXHIBIT 10.5

 

THIRD AMENDMENT TO TERM LOAN AGREEMENT

 

This THIRD AMENDMENT TO TERM LOAN AGREEMENT (this “ Third Amendment ”) is made and entered into as of July 26, 2018 by and among STAG INDUSTRIAL OPERATING PARTNERSHIP, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (together with its successors and assigns, the “ Borrower ”), STAG INDUSTRIAL INC., a Maryland corporation and the sole member of the sole general partner of the Borrower (the “ Parent ”), each of the financial institutions initially a signatory to the Loan Agreement (as defined below) together with their successors and assigns under Section 11.06 of the Loan Agreement (the “ Lenders ”), and WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as the Administrative Agent (in such capacity, the “ Administrative Agent ”).

 

WITNESSETH:

 

WHEREAS, the Borrower, the Parent, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders are parties to that certain Term Loan Agreement dated as of September 29, 2015 (as amended by the First Amendment To Term Loan Agreement dated as of May 27, 2016; as amended by the Second Amendment To Term Loan Agreement dated as of July 28, 2017, the “ Loan Agreement ”);

 

WHEREAS, the Borrower has requested that the Administrative Agent and the Lenders amend certain terms and conditions of the Loan Agreement as described herein; and

 

WHEREAS, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders party to this Third Amendment have agreed to so amend certain terms and conditions of the Loan Agreement, all on the terms and conditions set forth below in this Third Amendment.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, for good and valuable consideration, the receipt and adequacy of which is hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:

 

1.                                       Definitions . All capitalized undefined terms used in this Third Amendment shall have the meanings ascribed thereto in the Loan Agreement, as amended hereby.

 

2.                                       Amendments to Loan Agreement .  Effective as set forth in Section 3 below, the Loan Agreement is hereby amended to delete the stricken text (indicated in the same manner as the following example: stricken text ) and to add the double-underlined text (indicated in the same manner as the following example:  double-underlined text ) as set forth on Exhibit A hereto (the “ Amended Loan Agreement ”).  Exhibit B attached hereto sets forth a clean copy of the Amended Loan Agreement after giving effect to such amendments.

 

3.                                       Conditions to Effectiveness .             This Third Amendment shall not be effective until the Administrative Agent shall have received (a) counterparts of (i) this Third Amendment duly executed and delivered by the Borrower, the Parent, the Administrative Agent, and the Required Lenders  and (ii) duly executed copies of a Reaffirmation of Subsidiary Guaranty in the form of Exhibit C attached hereto from each of the Subsidiary Guarantors identified thereon; and (b) all the fees and expenses required to be paid on or before the effectiveness of this Third Amendment.

 

4.                                       Representations and Warranties .  The  Borrower hereby represents and warrants that the representations and warranties of the Borrower and each other Loan Party contained in Article VI of the Loan  Agreement or any other Loan Document, or which are contained in any document furnished at any time under or in connection therewith, shall be true and correct in all material respects (or in all respects in the case of any representation or warranty qualified by materiality or Material Adverse Effect) on and as of the date hereof, except to the extent that such

 



 

representations and warranties specifically refer to an earlier date, in which case they shall be true and correct in all material respects (or in all respects in the case of any representation or warranty qualified by materiality or Material Adverse Effect)  as of such earlier date.

 

5.                                       Limited Amendment; Ratification of Loan Documents .  Except as specifically amended or modified hereby, the terms and conditions of the Loan Agreement and the other Loan Documents shall remain in full force and effect, and are hereby ratified and affirmed in all respects.  This Third Amendment shall not be deemed a waiver of, or consent to, or a modification or amendment of, any other term or condition of the Loan Agreement or any other Loan Document, except as expressly set forth herein.

 

6.                                       Governing Law . This Third Amendment shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the law of the State of New York.

 

7.                                       Miscellaneous . This Third Amendment may be executed in any number of counterparts, which shall together constitute an entire original agreement, and shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns.  This Third Amendment expresses the entire understanding of the parties with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby.  No prior negotiations or discussions shall limit, modify, or otherwise affect the provisions hereof.  Any determination that any provision of this Third Amendment or any application hereof is invalid, illegal, or unenforceable in any respect and in any instance shall not affect the validity, legality, or enforceability of such provision in any other instance, or the validity, legality, or enforceability of any other provisions of this Third Amendment.  Each of the Borrower and the Parent represents and warrants that it has consulted with independent legal counsel of its selection in connection herewith and is not relying on any representations or warranties of the Administrative Agent or the Lenders or their counsel in entering into this Third Amendment. This Third Amendment shall constitute a Loan Document.

 

***

 

2



 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Third Amendment to be duly executed as of the date first above written.

 

 

 

BORROWER:

 

 

 

STAG INDUSTRIAL OPERATING PARTNERSHIP, L.P. ,

 

a Delaware limited partnership

 

 

 

 

By:

STAG Industrial GP, LLC

 

Its:

General Partner

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ William R. Crooker

 

Name:

William R. Crooker

 

Title:

Authorized Officer

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PARENT:

 

 

 

STAG INDUSTRIAL, INC. ,

 

a Maryland corporation

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ William R. Crooker

 

Name:

William R. Crooker

 

Title:

Authorized Officer

 

Signature Page to Third Amendment to

2015 Term Loan Agreement

 



 

 

WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION ,

 

as the Administrative Agent and a Lender

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ D. Bryan Gregory

 

Name:

D. Bryan Gregory

 

Title:

Managing Director

 

Signature Page to Third Amendment to

2015 Term Loan Agreement

 



 

 

BANK OF AMERICA, N.A. , as a Lender

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Kelsey O’ Neil

 

Name:

Kelsey O’ Neil

 

Title:

VP, Portfolio Manaager

 

Signature Page to Third Amendment to

2015 Term Loan Agreement

 



 

 

BRANCH BANKING AND TRUST COMPANY , as a Lender

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Mark Edwards

 

Name:

Mark Edwards

 

Title:

Senior Vice President

 

Signature Page to Third Amendment to

2015 Term Loan Agreement

 



 

 

CAPITAL ONE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION , as a Lender

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Peter Ilovic

 

Name:

Peter Ilovic

 

Title:

Vie President

 

Signature Page to Third Amendment to

2015 Term Loan Agreement

 



 

 

CITIBANK, N.A. , as a Lender

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Christopher J. Albano

 

Name:

Christopher J. Albano

 

Title:

Authorized Signatory

 

Signature Page to Third Amendment to

2015 Term Loan Agreement

 



 

 

MORGAN STANLEY BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION , as a Lender

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Emmanuel Ma

 

Name:

Emmanuel Ma

 

Title:

Authorized Signatory

 

Signature Page to Third Amendment to

2015 Term Loan Agreement

 



 

 

PNC BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION , as a Lender

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ John R. Roach, Jr.

 

Name:

John R. Roach, Jr.

 

Title:

Senior Vice President

 

Signature Page to Third Amendment to

2015 Term Loan Agreement

 



 

 

RAYMOND JAMES BANK, N.A. , as a Lender

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ James Armstrong

 

Name:

James Armstrong

 

Title:

CRE Lending Manager / SVP

 

Signature Page to Third Amendment to

2015 Term Loan Agreement

 



 

 

REGIONS BANK , as a Lender

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Paul E. Burgan

 

Name:

Paul E. Burgan

 

Title:

Vice President

 

Signature Page to Third Amendment to

2015 Term Loan Agreement

 



 

 

TD BANK, N.A. , as a Lender

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Brian Welch

 

Name:

Brian Welch

 

Title:

SVP Team Lead

 

Signature Page to Third Amendment to

2015 Term Loan Agreement

 



 

 

US BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION , as a Lender

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ David Heller

 

Name:

David Heller

 

Title :

SVP

 



 

EXHIBIT A

 

AMENDED LOAN AGREEMENT (REDLINE)

 

[Attached]

 



 

CONFORMED COPY

EXHIBIT B to Third Amendment to Term Loan Agreement

through Amendment No. 1 dated

May 27, 2016 and Amendment No. 2  dated July 28, 2017

 

Published CUSIP Number:                               

 

TERM LOAN AGREEMENT

Dated as of September 29, 2015

 

among

 

STAG INDUSTRIAL OPERATING PARTNERSHIP, L.P. ,
as the Borrower,

 

STAG INDUSTRIAL, INC. ,
as a Guarantor,

 

WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION ,
as the Administrative Agent

 

and

 

The Other Lenders Party Hereto

 

WELLS FARGO SECURITIES, LLC ,
as the Lead Arranger and Bookrunner

 

and

 

CAPITAL ONE, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION ,

 

REGIONS BANK

 

and

 

PNC BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION ,

as Co-Syndication Agents, Joint Lead Arrangers and Bookrunners

 

and

 

THE FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS NOW OR HEREAFTER SIGNATORIES HERETO AND THEIR ASSIGNEES PURSUANT TO SECTION 11.06 ,
as Lenders

 



 

Loan No.               

 

WFB LOAN NO. 1015070

 



 

Loan No. 1015070

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

Section

 

Page

 

 

 

Article I. Definitions and Accounting Terms

1

 

 

 

1.01

Defined Terms

1

1.02

Other Interpretive Provisions

1 30

1.03

Accounting Terms

1 31

1.04

Rounding

1 32

1.05

Times of Day

1 32

1.06

Rates

1 32

 

 

 

Article II. The Commitments and Credit Extensions

1 32

 

 

 

2.01

Committed Loans

1 32

2.02

Borrowings, Conversions and Continuations of Committed Loans

1 33

2.03

Reserved

1 34

2.04

Reserved

1 34

2.05

Prepayments

1 34

2.06

Incremental Term Loans

1 35

2.07

Repayment of Loans

1 36

2.08

Interest

1 36

2.09

Fees

1 37

2.10

Computation of Interest and Fees; Retroactive Adjustments of Applicable Rate

1 38

2.11

Evidence of Debt

1 38

2.12

Payments Generally; The Administrative Agent’s Clawback

1 38

2.13

Sharing of Payments by the Lenders

1 41

2.14

Reserved

1 41

2.15

Reserved

1 41

2.16

Defaulting Lenders

1 41

2.17

Guaranties

1 42

 

 

 

Article III. Taxes, Yield Protection and Illegality

1 43

 

 

 

3.01

Taxes

1 43

3.02

Illegality

1 48

3.03

Inability to Determine Rates 1 Changed Circumstances

49

3.04

Increased Costs; Reserves on LIBOR Loans

1 50

3.05

Compensation for Losses

1 51

3.06

Mitigation Obligations; Replacement of the Lenders

1 52

3.07

Survival

1 52

 

 

 

Article IV. Unencumbered Properties

1 52

 

 

 

4.01

Initial Unencumbered Properties

1 52

4.02

Reserved

1 52

4.03

Notices of Qualification as an Unencumbered Property

1 53

4.04

Eligibility

1 53

 



 

Section

 

Page

 

 

 

4.05

Reserved

1 53

4.06

Guaranty

1 53

4.07

Admission of New Unencumbered Properties

1 53

4.08

Reserved

1 53

4.09

Reserved

1 53

4.10

Exclusion Events

1 53

4.11

Reserved

1

 

 

 

Article V. Conditions Precedent to Credit Extensions

1 54

 

 

 

5.01

Conditions of Initial Credit Extension

1 54

5.02

Conditions to all Credit Extensions

1 56

 

 

 

Article VI. Representations and Warranties

1 57

 

 

 

6.01

Existence, Qualification and Power; Compliance with Laws

1 57

6.02

Authorization; No Contravention

1 57

6.03

Governmental Authorization; Other Consents

1 57

6.04

Binding Effect

1 58

6.05

Financial Statements; No Material Adverse Effect

1 58

6.06

Litigation

1 58

6.07

No Default

1 58

6.08

Ownership of Property; Liens; Equity Interests

1 58

6.09

Environmental Compliance

1 59

6.10

Insurance

1 59

6.11

Taxes

1 60

6.12

ERISA Compliance

1 60

6.13

Subsidiaries; Equity Interests

1 61

6.14

Margin Regulations; Investment Company Act

1 61

6.15

Disclosure

1 61

6.16

Compliance with Laws

1 62

6.17

Taxpayer Identification Number

1 62

6.18

Intellectual Property; Licenses, Etc.

1 62

6.19

Reserved

1 62

6.20

Solvency

1 62

6.21

REIT Status of the Parent

1 62

6.22

Labor Matters

1 63

6.23

Ground Lease Representation

1 63

6.24

Unencumbered Properties

1 63

6.25

OFAC

1 63

6.26

EEA Financial Institutions. No Loan Party is an EEA Financial Institution

1 64

 

 

 

Article VII. Affirmative Covenants

1 64

 

 

 

7.01

Financial Statements

1 64

7.02

Certificates; Other Information

1 65

7.03

Notices

1 66

7.04

Payment of Obligations

1 67

7.05

Preservation of Existence, Etc.

1 68

 

ii

 



 

Section

 

Page

 

 

 

7.06

Maintenance of Properties

1 68

7.07

Maintenance of Insurance

1 68

7.08

Compliance with Laws 1 ; Beneficial Ownership Regulations

68

7.09

Books and Records

1 68

7.10

Inspection Rights

1 69

7.11

Use of Proceeds

1 69

7.12

Environmental Matters

1 69

7.13

Ground Leases

1 71

7.14

Unencumbered Properties

1 71

 

 

 

Article VIII. Negative Covenants

1 72

 

 

 

8.01

Liens

1 72

8.02

Indebtedness

1 73

8.03

Investments

1 74

8.04

Fundamental Changes

1 75

8.05

Dispositions

1 76

8.06

Restricted Payments

1 76

8.07

Change in Nature of Business

1 76

8.08

Transactions with Affiliates

1 76

8.09

Burdensome Agreements

1 76

8.10

Use of Proceeds

1 77

8.11

Unencumbered Properties; Ground Leases

1 77

8.12

Environmental Matters

1 78

8.13

Negative Pledge; Indebtedness

1 78

8.14

Financial Covenants

1 79

 

 

 

Article IX. Events of Default and Remedies

1 80

 

 

 

9.01

Events of Default

1 80

9.02

Remedies Upon Event of Default

1 82

9.03

Application of Funds

1 82

 

 

 

Article X. The Administrative Agent

1 83

 

 

 

10.01

Appointment and Authority

1 83

10.02

Rights as a Lender

1 83

10.03

Exculpatory Provisions

1 84

10.04

Reliance by the Administrative Agent

1 84

10.05

Delegation of Duties

1 85

10.06

Resignation of the Administrative Agent

1 85

10.07

Non-Reliance on the Administrative Agent and Other Lenders

1 86

10.08

No Other Duties, Etc.

1 86

10.09

The Administrative Agent May File Proofs of Claim

1 86

10.10

Guaranty Matters

1 87

 

 

 

Article XI. Miscellaneous

1 87

 

 

 

11.01

Amendments, Etc.

1 87

11.02

Notices; Effectiveness; Electronic Communication

1 88

11.03

No Waiver; Cumulative Remedies; Enforcement

1 90

 

iii

 



 

Section

 

Page

 

 

 

11.04

Expenses; Indemnity; Damage Waiver

1 91

11.05

Payments Set Aside

1 93

11.06

Successors and Assigns

1 93

11.07

Treatment of Certain Information; Confidentiality

1 98

11.08

Right of Setoff

1 98

11.09

Interest Rate Limitation

1 99

11.10

Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness

1 99

11.11

Survival of Representations and Warranties

1 99

11.12

Severability

1 100

11.13

Replacement of the Lenders

1 100

11.14

Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Etc.

1 100

11.15

No Advisory or Fiduciary Responsibility

1 102

11.16

Electronic Execution of Assignments and Certain Other Documents

1 103

11.17

USA PATRIOT ACT

1 103

11.18

ENTIRE AGREEMENT

1 103

11.19

Certain ERISA Matters

104

 

SCHEDULES

 

 

 

 

 

2.01

Commitments and Applicable Percentages

 

4.01

Initial Unencumbered Properties

 

6.06

Litigation

 

6.09

Environmental Matters

 

6.13

Subsidiaries and Other Equity Investments and Equity Interests in the Borrower and Each Subsidiary Guarantor

 

6.18

Intellectual Property Matters

 

8.01

Existing Liens

 

8.13

Indebtedness

 

11.02

The Administrative Agent’s Office; Certain Addresses for Notices

 

RO

Responsible Officers

 

 

 

 

EXHIBITS

 

 

 

 

 

A

Committed Loan Notice

 

B

Form of Note

 

C

Compliance Certificate

 

D-1

Assignment and Assumption

 

D-2

Administrative Questionnaire

 

E

Form of Disbursement Instruction Agreement

 

F-1

Form of Parent Guaranty

 

F-2

Form of Subsidiary Guaranty

 

G

Reserved

 

H-1

U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate

 

H-2

U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate

 

H-3

U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate

 

H-4

U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate

 

 

iv

 



 

TERM LOAN AGREEMENT

 

This TERM LOAN AGREEMENT (the “ Agreement ”) is entered into as of September 29, 2015, among STAG INDUSTRIAL OPERATING PARTNERSHIP, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (the “ Borrower ”), STAG INDUSTRIAL, INC., a Maryland corporation and the sole member of the sole general partner of the Borrower (the “ Parent ”), each lender from time to time party hereto (collectively, the “ Lenders ” and individually, a “ Lender ”), and WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as the Administrative Agent.

 

The Borrower has requested that the Lenders provide a term credit facility, and the Lenders are willing to do so on the terms and conditions set forth herein.

 

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

 

8.
Definitions and Accounting Terms

 

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

 

Acceptable Ground Lease ” means a ground lease with respect to an Acceptable Property executed by a Subsidiary Guarantor, as lessee, that (a) has a remaining lease term (including extension or renewal rights) of at least twenty-five (25) years, calculated as of the date such Acceptable Property is deemed an Unencumbered Property, and that the Administrative Agent determines, in its sole discretion, is a financeable ground lease and is otherwise acceptable or (b) has a bargain purchase option (as defined in accordance with GAAP).

 

Acceptable Property ” means a Property (a) that is approved by the Administrative Agent and the Required Lenders, or (b) that meets the following requirements:

 

(i)                                      such Property is wholly-owned by, or ground leased pursuant to an Acceptable Ground Lease to, the Borrower or a Subsidiary Guarantor free and clear of any Liens (other than Liens permitted by Section 8.01 );

 

(ii)                                   such Property is an industrial, manufacturing, warehouse/distribution and/or office property located within the United States;

 

(iii)                                if such Property is owned by a Subsidiary Guarantor, or is ground leased pursuant to an Acceptable Ground Lease to a Subsidiary Guarantor, then the Equity Interests of such Subsidiary Guarantor are owned, directly or indirectly by the Borrower, free and clear of any Liens other than Liens permitted by Section 8.01 ; and

 

(iv)                               such Property is free of all structural defects or major architectural deficiencies, title defects, environmental conditions or other adverse matters except for defects, deficiencies, conditions or other matters which, individually or collectively, are not  material to the profitable operation of such Property.

 

1



 

Additional Permitted Indebtedness ” means unsecured Indebtedness permitted to be incurred pursuant to Section 8.02(f) .

 

Additional Term Loans ” has the meaning specified in Section 2.06(b)(i) .

 

Adjusted NOI ” means, with respect to any Property for the Current Reporting Quarter, annualized, an amount equal to (a) the aggregate gross revenues (excluding non-cash revenues) from the operations of such Property during such period, minus (b) the sum of (i) all expenses and other proper charges incurred in connection with the operation of such Property during such period (including real estate taxes, but excluding any property and asset management fees, debt service charges, income taxes, depreciation, amortization and other non-cash expenses and excluding capital expenditures), (ii) a management fee equal to the greater of (A) two percent (2%) of the aggregate gross base rental revenues (excluding non-cash revenues) from the operations of such Property during such period and (B) actual property management fees paid, and (iii) a replacement reserve of $0.10 per square foot (excluding any Property acquired during the Current Reporting Quarter).  Adjusted NOI shall exclude the amount of any revenues and expenses from any Dark Property.  Adjusted NOI shall be increased, without duplication, by (i) annualized rental revenues (excluding non-cash revenues), net of associated expenses, from any new lease which went into effect with the tenant taking occupancy (or any lease with respect to any Property acquired during the Current Reporting Quarter) and the Borrower is recognizing revenue from such tenant in accordance with GAAP during such Current Reporting Quarter, and (ii) annualized gross base rental revenues (excluding non-cash revenues) for the first monthly gross base rental payment for any lease in a free rent period and the Borrower is recognizing revenue from the applicable tenant in accordance with GAAP during such Current Reporting Quarter.

 

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

 

Administrative Agent’s Office ” means the Administrative Agent’s address and, as appropriate, account as set forth on Schedule 11.02 , or such other address or account as the Administrative Agent may from time to time notify the Borrower and the Lenders.

 

Administrative Questionnaire ” means an Administrative Questionnaire in substantially the form of Exhibit D-2 or any other form approved by the Administrative Agent.

 

Affiliate ” means, with respect to any 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; provided in no event shall Agent or any Lender be deemed to be an Affiliate of the Borrower.

 

Aggregate Commitments ” means the Commitments of all the Lenders as adjusted from time to time in accordance with the terms hereof.  The initial amount of the Aggregate Commitments in effect on the Closing Date is ONE HUNDRED FIFTY MILLION DOLLARS ($150,000,000.00).

 

Agreement ” means this Term Loan Agreement.

 

2



 

Anti-Corruption Laws ” means all laws, rules, and regulations of any jurisdiction applicable to the Borrower or its Subsidiaries from time to time concerning or relating to bribery, corruption or money laundering.

 

Applicable Percentage ” means, with respect to any Lender at any time, the percentage (carried out to the ninth decimal place) of the Aggregate Commitments represented by such Lender’s Commitment at such time.  If the commitment of each Lender to make Loans has been terminated pursuant to Section 2.01(b)  or 9.02 or if the Aggregate Commitments have expired, then the Applicable Percentage of each Lender shall be determined based on the percentage (carried out to the ninth decimal place) of the Total Outstandings represented by such Lender’s Loans at such time.  The initial Applicable Percentage of each Lender is set forth opposite the name of such Lender on Schedule 2.01 or in the Assignment and Assumption pursuant to which such Lender becomes a party hereto, as applicable.

 

Applicable Rate ” means the following:

 

A. Unless and until the Rating Conditions have been satisfied, with respect to any Loan, the following percentages per annum determined according to the Consolidated Leverage Ratio as set forth in the most recent Compliance Certificate received by the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 7.02(a) :

 

Leveraged-Based Pricing Grid :

 

Applicable Rate

 

Pricing
Level

 

Consolidated
Leverage Ratio

 

Base Rate
Applicable
Margin

 

LIBOR
Loan
Applicable
Margin

 

1

 

< 40%

 

0.30

%

1.30

%

2

 

> 40% but < 45%

 

0.35

%

1.35

%

3

 

> 45% but < 50%

 

0.45

%

1.45

%

4

 

> 50% but < 55%

 

0.60

%

1.60

%

5

 

> 55%

 

0.90

%

1.90

%

 

Any increase or decrease in the Applicable Rate resulting from a change in the Consolidated Leverage Ratio shall become effective as of the first (1 st ) Business Day immediately following the date a Compliance Certificate is delivered pursuant to Section 7.02(a)  provided 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 5 shall apply as of the first (1 st ) Business Day after the date on which such Compliance Certificate was required to have been delivered, provided that if such request is not delivered within thirty (30) days of the date such Compliance Certificate was due, Pricing Level 5 shall apply as of the date of delivery of such request, and shall remain in effect until the date on which such Compliance Certificate is delivered.  The Applicable Rate in effect from the Closing Date until adjusted as set forth above shall be set at Pricing Level 1.

 

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Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this definition, the determination of the Applicable Rate for any period shall be subject to the provisions of Section 2.10(b) .

 

or

 

B.                                     If and when the Rating Conditions have been satisfied, the following percentages per annum, based upon the Debt Rating as set forth below (determined in accordance with the Performance-Based Pricing Grid set forth below).

 

Performance-Based Pricing Grid :

 

Applicable Rate

 

Pricing
Level

 

Debt Rating

 

Base Rate
Applicable
Margin

 

LIBOR
Loan
Applicable
Margin

 

1

 

> A-/A3

 

0.00

%

0.90 0.85

%

2

 

BBB+/Baa1

 

0.00

%

0.95 0.90

%

3

 

BBB/Baa2

 

0.10 0.00

%

1.10 1.00

%

4

 

BBB-/Baa3

 

0.35 0.25

%

1.35 1.25

%

5

 

< BBB-/Baa3

 

0.75 0.65

%

1.75 1.65

%

 

Each change in the Applicable Rate resulting from a publicly announced change in the Debt Rating shall be effective, in the case of an upgrade, during the period commencing on the date of delivery by the Borrower to the Administrative Agent of notice thereof pursuant to Section  7.03(e)  and ending on the date immediately preceding the effective date of the next such change and, in the case of a downgrade, during the period commencing on the date of the public announcement thereof and ending on the date immediately preceding the effective date of the next such change.

 

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.

 

Assignee Group ” means two (2) or more Eligible Assignees that are Affiliates of one another or two (2) or more Approved Funds managed by the same investment advisor.

 

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 D-1 or any other form (including electronic documentation generated by MarkitClear or other electronic platform) approved by the Administrative Agent.

 

Attributable Indebtedness ” means, on any date in respect of any Capital 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.

 

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Audited Financial Statements ” means the audited financial statements of the Parent for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2014 and, from and after the delivery of the financial statements of the Parent required pursuant to Section 7.01(a)  for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2015, the most-recent financial statements furnished pursuant to Section 7.01(a) .

 

Award ” means any compensation paid by any Governmental Authority in connection with a Condemnation in respect of all or any part of any Unencumbered Property.

 

Bail-In Action ” means the exercise of any Write-Down and Conversion Powers by the applicable EEA Resolution Authority in respect of any liability of an EEA Financial Institution.

 

Bail-In Legislation ” means, with respect to any EEA Member Country implementing Article 55 of Directive 2014/59/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of the European Union, the implementing law for such EEA Member Country from time to time which is described in the EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule.

 

Balloon Payments ” shall mean with respect to any loan constituting Indebtedness, any required principal payment of such loan which is payable at the maturity of such Indebtedness, provided, however, that the final payment of a fully amortized loan shall not constitute a Balloon Payment.

 

Base Rate ” means, at any time, the highest of (a) the Prime Rate, (b) the Federal Funds Rate plus 0.50% and (c) the LIBOR Market Index Rate plus 1%; each change in the Base Rate shall take effect simultaneously with the corresponding change or changes in the Prime Rate, the Federal Funds Rate or the LIBOR Market Index Rate (provided that clause (c) shall not be applicable during any period in which LIBOR is unavailable or unascertainable).

 

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

 

Beneficial Ownership Certification ” means a certification regarding beneficial ownership as required by the Beneficial Ownership Regulation.

 

Beneficial Ownership Regulation ” means 31 C.F.R. § 1010.230.

 

Book Value ” means all land, building, improvements, leasing commissions and deferred leasing intangibles less accumulated depreciation and amortization.

 

Borrower ” has the meaning specified in the introductory paragraph hereto.

 

Borrower Materials ” has the meaning specified in Section 7.02 .

 

Borrowing ” means a Committed Borrowing.

 

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 or the State of New York, and, if such day relates to any LIBOR Loan, means any such day that is also a London Banking Day.

 

5



 

Capital Lease ” means, with respect to any Person, the obligations of such Person to pay rent or other amounts under any lease of (or other arrangement conveying the right to use) real or personal property, or a combination thereof, which obligations are required to be classified and accounted for as capital leases on a balance sheet of such Person under GAAP.

 

Capital Lease Obligations ” means, with respect to any Person for any period, the capitalized amount of obligations under Capital Leases for such Person for such period as determined in accordance with GAAP.

 

Capitalization Rate ” means seven and one half percent ( 7.5 7.0 %).

 

Cash Equivalents ” means any of the following types of Investments, to the extent owned by Guarantor, the Borrower or any of their Subsidiaries free and clear of all Liens (other than Liens permitted hereunder):

 

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

 

(b)                                  demand or time deposits with, or insured certificates of deposit or bankers’ acceptances of, any commercial bank that (A) is a Lender or (B) (i) is organized under the laws of the United States of America, 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 of America, 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 $1,000,000,000, in each case with maturities of not more than 90 days from the date of acquisition thereof;

 

(c)                                   commercial paper in an aggregate amount of no more than $5,000,000 per issuer outstanding at any time issued by any Person organized under the laws of any state of the United States of America 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 180 days from the date of acquisition thereof;

 

(d)                                  Investments, classified in accordance with GAAP as current assets of the Parent 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) and (c) of this definition; and

 

(e)                                   Other liquid or readily marketable investments in an amount not to exceed five percent (5%) of Total Asset Value.

 

Casualty ” means, with respect to any Unencumbered Property, if such Unencumbered Property has been damaged or destroyed, in whole or in part, by fire or other casualty.

 

6



 

Change in Law ” means the occurrence, after the date of this Agreement, of any of the following: (a) the adoption or taking effect of any Law, rule, regulation or treaty; (b) any change in any Law, rule, regulation or treaty or in the administration, interpretation, implementation or application thereof by any Governmental Authority; or (c) the making or issuance of any request, rule, guideline or directive (whether or not having the force of law) by any Governmental Authority; provided that notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, (x) the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and all requests, rules, guidelines or directives thereunder or issued in connection therewith or in implementation thereof and (y) all requests, rules, guidelines or directives promulgated by the Bank for International Settlements, the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (or any successor or similar authority) or the United States or foreign regulatory authorities, in each case pursuant to Basel III, shall in each case be deemed to be a “Change in Law”, regardless of the date enacted, adopted, issued or implemented.

 

Change of Control ” means an event or series of events by which:

 

(a)                                  any “ person ” or “ group ” (as such terms are used in Sections 13(d)  and 14(d)  of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, but excluding any employee benefit plan of such person or its Subsidiaries, and any person or entity acting in its capacity as trustee, agent or other fiduciary or administrator of any such plan) becomes the “ beneficial owner ” (as defined in Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, except that a person or group shall be deemed to have “beneficial ownership” of all Equity Interests that such person or group has the right to acquire, whether such right is exercisable immediately or only after the passage of time (such right, an “ option right ”)), directly or indirectly, of thirty-five percent (35%) or more of the Equity Interests of the Parent entitled to vote for members of the board of directors or equivalent governing body of the Parent on a fully-diluted basis (and taking into account all such Equity Interests that such person or group has the right to acquire pursuant to any option right);

 

(b)                                  during any period of twelve (12) consecutive months, a majority of the members of the board of directors or other equivalent governing body of the Parent cease to be composed of individuals (i) who were members of that board or equivalent governing body on the first day of such period, (ii) whose election or nomination to that board or equivalent governing body was approved by individuals referred to in clause (i) above constituting at the time of such election or nomination at least a majority of that board or equivalent governing body or (iii) whose election or nomination to that board or other equivalent governing body was approved by individuals referred to in clauses (i) and (ii) above constituting at the time of such election or nomination at least a majority of that board or equivalent governing body; or

 

(c)                                   the Parent shall cease to (i) either be the sole general partner of, or wholly own and control the general partner of, the Borrower or (ii) own, directly or indirectly, greater than fifty percent (50%) of the Equity Interests of the Borrower.

 

Closing Date ” means the first date all the conditions precedent in Section 5.01 are satisfied or waived in accordance with Section 11.01 .

 

7



 

Code ” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 .

 

Commitment ” means, as to each Lender, its obligation to make Committed Loans to the Borrower pursuant to Section 2.01 , in an aggregate principal amount at any one time outstanding not to exceed the amount set forth opposite such Lender’s name on Schedule 2.01 or in the Assignment and Assumption pursuant to which such Lender becomes a party hereto, as applicable, as such amount may be adjusted from time to time in accordance with this Agreement.

 

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

 

Committed Loan ” has the meaning specified in Section 2.01(a) .

 

Committed Loan Notice” means a notice of (a) a Committed Borrowing, (b) a conversion of Committed Loans from one Type to the other, or (c) a continuation of LIBOR Loans, pursuant to Section 2.02(a) , which, if in writing, shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit A .

 

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.

 

Companies ” means, without duplication, the Parent and its Consolidated Subsidiaries (including the Borrower), and “Company” means any one of the Companies.

 

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

 

Condemnation ” means a temporary or permanent taking by any Governmental Authority as the result, in lieu, or in anticipation, of the exercise of the right of condemnation or eminent domain of all or any part of any Unencumbered Property, or any interest therein or right accruing thereto, including any right of access thereto or any change of grade affecting any Unencumbered Property or any part thereof.

 

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 EBITDA ” means, for any Person for any period, an amount equal to (a) Consolidated Net Income, plus (b) the sum of the following (without duplication and to the extent reflected as a charge in the statement of such Consolidated Net Income for such period): (i) income tax expense; (ii) interest expense, amortization or write-off of debt discount and debt issuance costs and commissions, discounts and other fees and charges associated with Indebtedness; (iii) depreciation and amortization expense; (iv) amortization of intangibles (including goodwill) and organization costs; (v) any extraordinary, unusual or non-recurring expenses or losses (including, whether or not otherwise includable as a separate item in the statement of such Consolidated Net Income for such period, losses on sales of assets outside of the ordinary course of business), including property acquisition costs; (vi) any other non-cash

 

8



 

charges, and (vii) all commissions, guaranty fees, discounts and other fees and charges owed by such Person with respect to letters of credit and bankers’ acceptance financing and net costs of such Person under Swap Contracts in respect of interest rates to the extent such net costs are allocable to such period in accordance with GAAP; minus (c) the sum of the following (to the extent included in the statement of such Consolidated Net Income for such period): (i) interest income (except to the extent deducted in determining such Consolidated Net Income); (ii) any extraordinary, unusual or non-recurring income or gains (including, whether or not otherwise includable as a separate item in the statement of such Consolidated Net Income for such period, gains on the sales of assets outside of the ordinary course of business); and (iii) any other non-cash income.

 

Consolidated Fixed Charges ” means, on a consolidated basis, for any Person for any period, the sum (without duplication) of (a) Consolidated Interest Expense, (b) provision for cash income taxes made by such Person on a consolidated basis in respect of such period, (c) scheduled principal amortization payments due during such period on account of Indebtedness of such Person (excluding Balloon Payments), and (d) Restricted Payments paid in cash with respect to preferred Equity Interests of such Person during such period (other than any repayments of principal with respect to preferred Equity Interests).

 

Consolidated Interest Expense ” means, for any Person for any period, the total interest expense (including that attributable to Capital Lease Obligations) of such Person for such period with respect to all outstanding Total Funded Debt (including all commissions, discounts and other fees and charges owed by such Person with respect to letters of credit and bankers’ acceptance financing and net costs of such Person under Swap Contracts in respect of interest rates to the extent such net costs are allocable to such period in accordance with GAAP).  Consolidated Interest Expenses shall exclude non-cash charges, interest rate hedge termination payments or receipts, loan prepayment costs, and upfront loan fees, interest expense covered by an interest reserve established under a loan facility and any interest expense under any construction loan or construction activity that under GAAP is required to be capitalized.

 

Consolidated Leverage Ratio ” means, as of any date of determination, the quotient (expressed as a percentage) of (a) Consolidated Total Debt, divided by (b) Total Asset Value.

 

Consolidated Net Income ” means, for any Person for any period, the consolidated net income (or loss) of such Person for such period, determined on a consolidated basis; provided that in calculating Consolidated Net Income of the Parent for any period, there shall be excluded (a) the income (or deficit) of any Person accrued prior to the date it becomes a Subsidiary or is merged into or consolidated with the Parent or any of its Subsidiaries, (b) the income (or deficit) of any Person (other than a Company) in which any Company has an ownership interest, except to the extent that any such income is actually received by such Company in the form of dividends or similar distributions, and (c) the undistributed earnings of any Subsidiary of any Company to the extent that the declaration or payment of dividends or similar distributions by such Subsidiary is not at the time permitted by the terms of any Contractual Obligation (other than under any Loan Document) or requirement of Law applicable to such Subsidiary.

 

9



 

Consolidated Subsidiary ” means any Person in which the Parent or the Borrower has a direct or indirect ownership interest and whose financial results would be consolidated under GAAP with the financial results of the Parent on the consolidated financial statements of the Parent.

 

Consolidated Total Debt ” means, as of any date of determination, the aggregate principal amount of all Indebtedness of the Parent on such date, determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP which would be required to be included on the liabilities side of the balance sheet of the Parent in accordance with GAAP, and including the Companies’ Share of the principal amount of all Indebtedness of Unconsolidated Affiliates, but, in each case, excluding the net obligations of the Parent on a consolidated basis under any Swap Contract.

 

Construction in Progress ” means (a) a Property with new ground up construction, (b) a Property under renovation in which (i) greater than thirty percent (30%) of the square footage of such Property is unavailable for occupancy due to renovation and (ii) no rents are being paid on such square footage or (c) a building expansion.  The classification of “Construction in Progress” will cease on the earlier to occur of (A) the time that such Property has an Occupancy Rate of greater than eighty percent (80%), and (B) one hundred eighty (180) days after completion of construction, renovation or expansion of such Property, as applicable.

 

Contamination ” means the presence of Hazardous Materials in amounts exceeding regulatory action levels.

 

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.  The terms “ Controlling ” and “ Controlled ” have meanings correlative thereto.

 

Credit Agreements ” means (a) the Revolving Credit Agreement (b) that certain Term Loan Agreement, dated as of July 28, 2017, among the Borrower, the Parent, Bank of America, N.A., as administrative agent, and the other lenders party thereto (c) that certain Amended and Restated Term Loan Agreement, dated as of December 20, 2016, among the Borrower, the Parent, Wells Fargo, as administrative agent, and the other lenders party thereto and , (d) that certain Second Amended and Restated Term Loan Agreement, dated as of December 20, 2016, among the Borrower, the Parent, Wells Fargo, as administrative agent, and the other lenders party thereto and (e) that certain Term Loan Agreement, dated as of July 26, 2018, among the Borrower, the Parent, Wells Fargo, as administrative agent, and the other lenders party thereto , in each case, as amended from time to time.

 

Credit Extension ” means a Borrowing.

 

Current Reporting Quarter ” means the most recent fiscal quarter for which quarterly financial statements have been delivered to the Lenders pursuant to Section 7.01 .

 

10



 

Customary Recourse Exceptions ” means, with respect to any Indebtedness, personal recourse that is limited to fraud, misrepresentation, misapplication of cash, waste, environmental claims and liabilities, prohibited transfers, violations of single purposes entity covenants, and other circumstances customarily excluded by institutional lenders from exculpation provisions and/or included in separate guaranty or indemnification agreements in non-recourse financing of Real Property.

 

Dark Property ” means any Property as to which, as of the last day of the Current Reporting Quarter, (a) all leases have terminated, (b) the Borrower is not recognizing revenue from any tenants in accordance with GAAP or (c) the Adjusted NOI for such Property is negative.

 

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 and affecting the rights of creditors generally.

 

Debt Rating ” means, as of any date of determination, the rating as determined by a minimum of two of S&P,  Moody’s or Fitch (collectively, the “ Debt Ratings ”) of the Borrower’s non-credit-enhanced, senior unsecured long-term debt; provided that (a) if the respective Debt Ratings issued by the foregoing rating agencies differ by one level, then the Pricing Level for the higher of such Debt Ratings shall apply (with the Debt Rating for Pricing Level 1 being the highest and the Debt Rating for Pricing Level 5 being the lowest); (b) if there is a split in Debt Ratings of more than one level, then the Pricing Level that is one level lower than the Pricing Level of the higher Debt Rating shall apply; (c) if the Borrower has only one Debt Rating, the Pricing Level that is one level lower than that of such Debt Rating shall apply; and (d) if, after satisfying the Rating Condition, the Borrower does not have any Debt Rating, Pricing Level 5 shall apply.

 

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 an interest rate equal to (i) the Base Rate plus (ii) the Applicable Rate, if any, applicable to Base Rate Loans plus (iii) two percent (2%) per annum; provided that with respect to a LIBOR Loan, the Default Rate shall be an interest rate equal to the interest rate (including any Applicable Rate) otherwise applicable to such Loan plus two percent (2%) per annum.

 

“Defaulting Lender” means, subject to Section 2.16(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 Borrower in writing that such failure is the result of such Lender’s determination that one or more conditions precedent to funding (each of which conditions precedent, together with any applicable default, shall be specifically identified in such writing) has not been satisfied, or (ii) pay to the Administrative Agent or any other Lender any other amount required to be paid by it hereunder within two (2) Business Days of the date when due, (b) has notified the Borrower and

 

11



 

the Administrative Agent 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 Borrower, to confirm in writing to the Administrative Agent and the Borrower that it will comply with its prospective funding obligations hereunder (provided that such Lender shall cease to be a Defaulting Lender pursuant to this clause (c) upon receipt of such written confirmation by the Administrative Agent and the Borrower), or (d) has, or has a direct or indirect parent company which controls such Lender that has, (i) become the subject of a proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law, (ii) had appointed for it a receiver, custodian, conservator, trustee, administrator, assignee for the benefit of creditors or similar Person charged with reorganization or liquidation of its business or assets, including the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other state or federal regulatory authority acting in such a capacity or (iii) become the subject of a Bail-In Action; provided that a Lender shall not be a Defaulting Lender solely by virtue of the ownership or acquisition of any 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 of the effective date of such status, shall be conclusive and binding absent manifest error, and such Lender shall be deemed to be a Defaulting Lender (subject to Section 2.16(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 Borrower and each Lender promptly following such determination.

 

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

 

Disbursement Instruction Agreement ” means an agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit E to be executed and delivered by the Borrower pursuant to Section 5.01(a) , as the same may be amended, restated or modified from time to time with the prior written approval of the Administrative Agent.

 

Disposition ” or “ Dispose ” means the sale, transfer, license, lease (other than a real estate lease entered into in the ordinary course of business as part of Property leasing operations) or other disposition (including any sale and leaseback transaction) of any property by any Person, 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 arrangement constituting a Lien.

 

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

 

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EEA Financial Institution ” means (a) any institution established in any EEA Member Country which is subject to the supervision of an EEA Resolution Authority, (b) any entity established in an EEA Member Country which is a parent of an institution described in clause (a) of this definition, or (c) any institution established in an EEA Member Country which is a subsidiary of an institution described in clauses (a) or (b) of this definition and is subject to consolidated supervision with its parent. “ EEA Member Country ” means any of the member states of the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway.

 

EEA Resolution Authority ” means any public administrative authority or any Person entrusted with public administrative authority of any EEA Member Country (including any delegee) having responsibility for the resolution of any EEA Financial Institution.

 

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

 

Environmental Assessment ” has the meaning specified in Section 7.12(b) .

 

Environmental Claim ” means any investigative, enforcement, cleanup, removal, containment, remedial, or other private or governmental or regulatory action at any time instituted or completed pursuant to any applicable Environmental Requirement against any Company or against or with respect to any Real Property or any condition, use, or activity on any Real Property (including any such action against the Administrative Agent or any Lender), and any claim at any time made by any Person against any Company or against or with respect to any Real Property or any condition, use, or activity on any Real Property (including any such claim against the Administrative Agent or any Lender), relating to damage, contribution, cost recovery, compensation, loss, or injury resulting from or in any way arising in connection with any Hazardous Material or any Environmental Requirement.

 

Environmental Damages ” means all liabilities (including strict liability), losses, damages (excluding consequential, special, exemplary or punitive damages except to the extent such damages were imposed upon an Indemnitee as a result of any claims made against such Indemnitee by a governmental entity or any other third party), judgments, penalties, fines, costs and expenses (including fees, costs and expenses of attorneys, consultants, contractors, experts and laboratories), of any and every kind or character, at law or in equity, contingent or otherwise, matured or unmatured, foreseeable or unforeseeable, made, incurred, suffered, brought, or imposed at any time and from time to time, whether before or after the Release Date and arising in whole or in part from:

 

(a)                                  the presence of any Hazardous Material on any Unencumbered Property, or any escape, seepage, leakage, spillage, emission, release, discharge or disposal of any Hazardous Material on or from any Unencumbered Property, or the migration or release or threatened migration or release of any Hazardous Material to, from or through any Unencumbered Property, on or before the Release Date; or

 

(b)                                  any act, omission, event or circumstance existing or occurring in connection with the handling, treatment, containment, removal, storage, decontamination,

 

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clean up, transport or disposal of any Hazardous Material which is at any time on or before the Release Date present on any Unencumbered Property; or

 

(c)                                   the breach of any representation, warranty, covenant or agreement contained in this Agreement  relating to the presence of any Hazardous Material on any Unencumbered Property because of any event or condition occurring or existing on or before the Release Date; or

 

(d)                                  any violation on or before the Release Date, of any Environmental Requirement in connection with any Unencumbered Property in effect on or before the Release Date, regardless of whether any act, omission, event or circumstance giving rise to the violation constituted a violation at the time of the occurrence or inception of such act, omission, event or circumstance; or

 

(e)                                   any Environmental Claim, or the filing or imposition of any environmental Lien against any Unencumbered Property, because of, resulting from, in connection with, or arising out of any of the matters referred to in subparagraphs (a)  through (d)  preceding;

 

and regardless of whether any of the foregoing was caused by the Borrower, any other Loan Party or their respective tenant or subtenant, or a prior owner of an Unencumbered Property or its tenant or subtenant, or any third party including (i) injury or damage to any person, property or natural resource occurring on or off of an Unencumbered Property including the cost of demolition and rebuilding of any improvements on any Real Property; (ii) the investigation or remediation of any such Hazardous Material or violation of Environmental Requirement including the preparation of any feasibility studies or reports and the performance of any cleanup, remediation, removal, response, abatement, containment, closure, restoration, monitoring or similar work required by any Environmental Requirement or necessary to have full use and benefit of Unencumbered Properties as contemplated by the Loan Documents (including any of the same in connection with any foreclosure action or transfer in lieu thereof); (iii) all liability to pay or indemnify any Person or Governmental Authority for costs expended in connection with any of the foregoing; (iv) the investigation and defense of any claim, whether or not such claim is ultimately withdrawn or defeated; and (v) the settlement of any claim or judgment.  “ Costs ” as used in this definition shall also include any diminution in the value of the security afforded by the Unencumbered Property or any future reduction of the sales price of any Unencumbered Property by reason of any matter set forth in Section 7.12 or 8.12 .

 

Environmental Laws ” means any and all applicable 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 Requirement ” means any Environmental Law, agreement or restriction, as the same now exists or may be changed or amended or come into effect in the future, which

 

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pertains to any Hazardous Material or the environment including ground or air or water or noise pollution or contamination, and underground or aboveground tanks.

 

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.

 

Equity Issuance ” means the issuance or sale by any Person of any of its Equity Interests or any capital contribution to such Person by the holders of its Equity Interests.

 

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 the 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 the Parent 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 the Parent 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(a)(1) or (2)  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 notification that a Multiemployer Plan is 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; or (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  the Parent or any ERISA Affiliate.

 

“EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule” means the EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule published by the Loan Market Association (or any successor Person), as in effect from time to time.

 

Event of Default ” has the meaning specified in Section 9.01 .

 

Excluded Party ” shall mean any REIT, any parent company of or Person who Controls any REIT in each instance engaged primarily in owning and operating Real Property, and any

 

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other Person whom the Borrower has reasonably identified in writing to the Administrative Agent as a competitor or potential competitor of the Borrower.

 

Excluded Swap Obligation ” means, with respect to any Loan Party, any Swap Contract if, and to the extent that, all or a portion of the liability of such Loan Party for or the Guarantee of such Loan Party of, or the grant by such Loan Party of a Lien to secure, such Swap Contract (or any liability or guarantee thereof) is or becomes illegal under the Commodity Exchange Act or any rule, regulation or order of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (or the application or official interpretation of any thereof) by virtue of such Loan Party’s failure for any reason to constitute an “eligible contract participant” as defined in the Commodity Exchange Act and the regulations thereunder at the time the liability for or the Guarantee of such Loan Party or the grant of such Lien becomes effective with respect to such Swap Contract (such determination being made after giving effect to any applicable keepwell, support or other agreement for the benefit of the applicable Loan Party, including under Section 27 of the Subsidiary Guaranty).  If a Swap Contract arises under a master agreement governing more than one swap, such exclusion shall apply only to the portion of such Swap Contract that is attributable to swaps for which such Guarantee or Lien is or becomes illegal for the reasons identified in the immediately preceding sentence of this definition.

 

Excluded Taxes means any of the following Taxes imposed on or with respect to 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 the 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)(ii)  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.

 

“Exclusion Event” has the meaning specified in Section 4.10 .

 

“Exclusion Notice” has the meaning specified in Section 4.10.

 

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

 

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interpretations thereof and any agreement 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 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, then 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, (b) if no such rate is so published on such next succeeding Business Day, then 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 Wells Fargo on such day on such transactions as determined by the Administrative Agent and (c) if the Federal Funds Rate should be less than zero, such rate shall be deemed to be zero for purposes of this Agreement.

 

Fee Letter ” means the letter agreement, dated August 26, 2015, among the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC.

 

FIRREA ” means the Financial Institution Recovery, Reform and Enforcement Act of 1989, as amended.

 

Fitch ” means Fitch, Inc., and any successor thereto.

 

Fixed Charge Ratio ” means, as of any date of determination, the quotient (expressed as a percentage) of (a) Consolidated EBITDA, divided by (b) Consolidated Fixed Charges.

 

Foreign Lender ” means (a) if the Borrower is a U.S. Person, a Lender that is not a U.S. Person, and (b) if the 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 the 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.

 

FRB ” means the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System of the United States.

 

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.

 

Funds from Operations ” means, for any Person for any period, the sum of (a) Consolidated Net Income plus (b) depreciation and amortization expense determined in accordance with GAAP excluding amortization expense attributable to capitalized debt costs; provided that there shall not be included in such calculation (i) any proceeds of any insurance policy other than rental or business interruption insurance received by such Person, (ii) any gain or loss which is classified as “extraordinary” in accordance with GAAP, (iii) any capital gains and taxes on capital gains, (iv) income (or loss) associated with third-party ownership of non-controlling Equity Interests, and (v) gains or losses on the sale of discontinued operations as

 

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detailed in the most-recent financial statements delivered pursuant to Section 7.01(a)  or (b) , as applicable.

 

GAAP ” means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States set forth in the opinions and pronouncements of the Accounting Principles Board and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and statements and pronouncements of the Financial Accounting Standards Board or such other principles as may be approved by a significant segment of the accounting profession in the United States, that are applicable to the circumstances as of the date of determination, consistently applied.

 

Governmental Authority ” means the government of the United States or any other nation, or of any political subdivision thereof, whether state or local, and any agency, authority, instrumentality, regulatory body, court, central bank or other entity exercising executive, legislative, judicial, taxing, regulatory or administrative powers or functions of or pertaining to government (including any supra-national bodies such as the European Union or the European Central Bank).

 

Guarantee ” means, as to any Person, (a) any obligation, contingent or otherwise, of such Person guaranteeing or having the economic effect of guaranteeing any Indebtedness 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 or other obligation of any other Person, whether or not such Indebtedness or other obligation is assumed by such Person (or any right, contingent or otherwise, of any holder of such Indebtedness 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.

 

Guaranties ” means the Parent Guaranty and the Subsidiary Guaranties, and “ Guaranty ” means any one of the Guaranties.

 

Guarantors ” means, collectively, the Parent and each Subsidiary Guarantor, and “ Guarantor ” means any one of the Guarantors.

 

Hazardous Materials ” means all explosive or radioactive substances or wastes and all hazardous or toxic substances, wastes or other pollutants regulated pursuant to any

 

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Environmental Law, including petroleum or petroleum distillates, asbestos or asbestos-containing materials, polychlorinated biphenyls, radon gas, infectious or medical wastes and all other substances or wastes of any nature regulated pursuant to any Environmental Law.

 

“Immaterial Subsidiary ” means any Subsidiary whose assets constitute less than one percent (1%) of Total Asset Value; provided that if at any time the aggregate Total Asset Value of the “Immaterial Subsidiaries” which are not Guarantors exceeds ten percent (10%) of Total Asset Value, then the Borrower shall designate certain “Immaterial Subsidiaries” as Guarantors such that the aggregate Total Asset Value of the “Immaterial Subsidiaries” which are not Guarantors does not exceed ten percent (10%) of Total Asset Value.

 

Improvements ” means any Subsidiary Guarantor’s interest in and to all on site improvements to the Unencumbered Properties, together with all fixtures, tenant improvements, and appurtenances now or later to be located on the Unencumbered Properties and/or in such improvements.

 

Increase Effective Date ” has the meaning specified in Section 2.06(b)(ii) .

 

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)                                  all direct or contingent obligations of such Person arising under letters of credit (including standby and commercial), bankers’ acceptances, bank guaranties, surety bonds and similar instruments;

 

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

 

(d)                                  all 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 and, in each case, either (i) not past due for more than one hundred and eighty (180) days or (ii) being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted);

 

(e)                                   Capital Lease Obligations;

 

(f)                                    all obligations of such Person to purchase, redeem, retire, defease or otherwise make any payment in respect of any ownership interest (excluding perpetual preferred ownership interests) in such Person or any other Person, valued, in the case of a redeemable preferred interest, at the greater of its voluntary or involuntary liquidation preference plus (without duplication and only to the extent required to be paid) accrued and unpaid dividends;

 

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(g)                                   all Guarantees of such Person in respect of any of the foregoing (except for guaranties of customary exceptions for fraud, misapplication of funds, environmental indemnities, voluntary bankruptcy, collusive involuntary bankruptcy and other similar customary exceptions to non-recourse liability); and

 

(h)                                  all obligations of the kind referred to in clauses (a) through (g) above secured by (or for which the holder of such obligation has an existing right, contingent or otherwise, to be secured by) any lien on Property (including accounts and contract rights) owned by such Person, whether or not such Person has assumed or become liable for the payment of such obligation, but limited to the lesser of (i) the fair market value of the property subject to such lien and (ii) the aggregate amount of the obligations so secured.

 

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; provided that, solely for  purposes of calculating the financial covenants set forth in Sections 8.14(a), (b) , and (c)  and (d) , Indebtedness shall exclude the net obligations of the Parent on a consolidated basis under Swap Contracts entered into to hedge or mitigate any interest rate risk in respect of borrowed money for which the Parent, the Borrower or any Subsidiary has actual exposure. The amount of any Capital Lease Obligations as of any date shall be deemed to be the amount of Attributable Indebtedness in respect 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 (a), Other Taxes.

 

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

 

Information ” has the meaning specified in Section 11.07.

 

Initial Unencumbered Properties ” means the Acceptable Properties listed on Schedule 4.01 , and “ Initial Unencumbered Property ” means any one of the Initial Unencumbered Properties.

 

Interest Payment Date ” means (a) as to any Loan other than a Base Rate Loan, the last day of each Interest Period applicable to such Loan and the Maturity Date applicable to such Loan; provided that if any Interest Period for a LIBOR Loan exceeds three (3) months, then 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, the last Business Day of each March, June, September, and December and the Maturity Date applicable to such Loan.

 

Interest Period ” means as to each LIBOR Loan, the period commencing on the date such LIBOR Loan is disbursed or converted to or continued as a LIBOR Loan and ending on the date one (1), two (2), three (3) or six (6) months (if available to all Lenders) thereafter, as selected by the Borrower in its Loan Notice; provided that :

 

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(i)                                      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, in the case of a LIBOR Loan, such Business Day falls in another calendar month, in which case such Interest Period shall end on the next preceding Business Day;

 

(ii)                                   any Interest Period pertaining to a LIBOR Loan 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

 

(iii)                                no Interest Period for a subject Loan shall extend beyond the Maturity Date applicable to such Loan.

 

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 equity participation or interest in, another Person, including any partnership or joint venture interest in such other Person and any arrangement pursuant to which the investor Guarantees 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 that constitute a business unit.  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.

 

IP Rights ” has the meaning specified in Section 6.18 .

 

IRS ” means the United States Internal Revenue Service.

 

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.

 

Lead Arrangers ” means Wells Fargo Securities, LLC in its capacity as lead arranger and bookrunner and Capital One, National Association, Regions Bank and PNC Bank, National Association in their capacities as joint lead arrangers and bookrunners.

 

Lease ” means each existing or future lease, sublease (to the extent of any Subsidiary Guarantor’s rights thereunder), license, or other agreement (other than an Acceptable Ground Lease) under the terms of which any Person has or acquires any right to occupy or use any Property, or any part thereof, or interest therein, and each existing or future guaranty of payment or performance thereunder.

 

Lender ” has the meaning specified in the introductory paragraph hereto.

 

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Lending Office ” means, as to any Lender, the office or offices of such Lender described as such in such Lender’s Administrative Questionnaire, or such other office or offices as a Lender may from time to time notify the Borrower and the Administrative Agent.

 

LIBOR ” means, subject to the implementation of a Replacement Rate in accordance with Section 3.03(b) , with respect to any LIBOR borrowings for any interest period, the rate of interest obtained by dividing (i) the rate of interest per annum determined on the basis of the rate for deposits in U.S. dollars for a period equal to the applicable interest period which appears on Reuters Screen LIBOR01 Page (or any applicable successor page) as published by the ICE Benchmark Administration Limited, a United Kingdom company, or a comparable or successor quoting service approved by the Administrative Agent, at approximately 11:00 a.m. (London time) two business days prior to the first day of the applicable interest period by (ii) a percentage equal to 1 minus the stated maximum rate (stated as a decimal) of all reserves, if any, required to be maintained with respect to Eurocurrency funding (currently referred to as “Eurocurrency liabilities”) as specified in Regulation D of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (or against any other category of liabilities which includes deposits by reference to which the interest rate on LIBOR Loans is determined or any applicable category of extensions of credit or other assets which includes loans by an office of any Lender outside of the United States of America); provided that if such determined rate shall be less than zero, such rate shall be deemed to be zero for each LIBOR Loan that has not been identified by the Borrower in accordance with the terms of this Agreement as being subject to a Specified Swap Contract that provides a hedge against interest rate risk.  If, for any reason, the such rate referred to in the preceding clause (i) does not appear on Reuters Screen LIBOR01 Page (or any applicable successor page), then the rate to be used for such clause (i) is not so published then “LIBOR” shall be determined by the Administrative Agent to be the arithmetic average of the rate per annum at which deposits in U.S. dollars would be offered by first class banks in the London interbank market to the Administrative Agent at approximately 11:00 a.m. (London time) two business days prior to the first day of the applicable interest period for a period equal to such interest period; provided that if such determined rate shall be less than zero, such rate shall be deemed to be zero for each LIBOR Loan that has not been identified by the Borrower in accordance with the terms of this Agreement as being subject to a Specified Swap Contract that provides a hedge against interest rate risk.  Any change in the maximum rate or reserves described in the preceding clause (ii) shall result in a change in LIBOR on the date on which such change in such maximum rate becomes effective.

 

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

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, unless otherwise specified in any amendment to this Agreement entered into in accordance with Section 3.03(b) , in the event that a Replacement Rate with respect to LIBOR is implemented then all references herein to LIBOR shall be deemed references to such Replacement Rate.

 

LIBOR Loan ” means a Committed Loan that bears interest at a rate based on LIBOR.

 

LIBOR Market Index Rate ” means, for any day, LIBOR as of that day that would be applicable for a LIBOR borrowing having a one-month interest period determined at

 

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approximately 10:00 a.m. Central time for such day (rather than 11:00 a.m. (London time) two business days prior to the first day of such interest period as otherwise provided in the definition of “LIBOR”), or if such day is not a business day, the immediately preceding business day.  The LIBOR Market Index Rate shall be determined on a daily basis.

 

Lien ” means any mortgage, pledge, hypothecation, assignment, deposit arrangement, encumbrance, lien (statutory or other), charge or other security interest or any preference, priority or other security agreement or preferential arrangement 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 Capital Lease having substantially the same economic effect as any of the foregoing).

 

Loan ” means an extension of credit by a Lender to the Borrower under Article II in the form of a Committed Loan.

 

Loan Documents ” means this Agreement, each Note, the Fee Letter, and the Guaranties.

 

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 LIBOR Loans, pursuant to Section 2.02(a) , which, if in writing, shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit A .

 

Loan Parties ” means, collectively, the Borrower and each Guarantor and “ Loan Party ” means any one of the Loan Parties.

 

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

 

Material Acquisition ” means any acquisition (or series of related acquisitions) or investments (or series of related investments) permitted by this Agreement and consummated in accordance with the terms of this Agreement for which the aggregate consideration paid in respect of such acquisition or investment (including any Indebtedness assumed in connection therewith) exceeds 10% of Total Asset Value for the Current Reporting Quarter, without giving pro forma effect to such acquisition.

 

Material Adverse Effect ” means: (a) a material adverse change in, or a material adverse effect upon, the business, assets, operations, or financial condition of the Companies, taken as a whole; (b) a material impairment of the ability of the Loan Parties, taken as a whole, to perform their obligations under the Loan Documents; or (c) a material adverse effect upon the legality, validity, binding effect, or enforceability against the Loan Parties, taken as a whole, of the Loan Documents to which they are parties.

 

Material Environmental Event ” means, with respect to any Unencumbered Property, (a) a violation of any Environmental Law with respect to such Unencumbered Property, or (b) the presence of any Hazardous Materials on, about, or under such Unencumbered Property that, under or pursuant to any Environmental Law, would require remediation, if in the case of either (a) or (b), such event or circumstance could reasonably be expected to have a Material Property Event.

 

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Material Property Event ” means, with respect to any Unencumbered Property, the occurrence of any event or circumstance occurring or arising after the date of this Agreement that resulted in a (a) material adverse effect with respect to the financial condition or the operations of such Unencumbered Property, (b) material adverse effect on the value of such Unencumbered Property, or (c) material adverse effect on the ownership of such Unencumbered Property.

 

Material Title Defects ” means, with respect to any Unencumbered Property, defects, Liens (other than Liens for local real estate taxes and similar local governmental charges), and other encumbrances in the nature of easements, servitudes, restrictions, and rights-of-way that would customarily be deemed unacceptable title exceptions for a prudent lender (i.e., a prudent lender would reasonably determine that such exceptions, individually or in the aggregate, materially impair the value or operations of such Unencumbered Property, would prevent such Unencumbered Property from being used in the manner in which it is currently being used, or would result in a violation of any Law which would have a material and adverse effect on such Unencumbered Property); provided that Material Title Defects shall not include any Liens or other encumbrances (i) that existed as of the date of the title insurance policies issued in connection with the Prior Credit Agreement for the Initial Unencumbered Properties, (ii) that existed as of the date of this Agreement and that are listed on Schedule 8.01 or (iii) with respect to any Unencumbered Properties added following the date of this Agreement, Liens and other encumbrances similar in type and extent to those contemplated by clauses (i) and (ii) above.

 

Material Subsidiary ” means each Subsidiary of the Borrower other than a Non-Guarantor Subsidiary.

 

Maturity Date ” means September 29, 2020; provided that if such date is not a Business Day, then the Maturity Date shall be the next preceding Business Day.

 

Minimum Distributions ” means (a) for the Parent for any fiscal year of the Parent, Restricted Payments in an amount not less than the aggregate amount of distributions required to be paid by the Parent in order for the Parent to qualify as a REIT, and (b) for the Borrower for any fiscal year of the Borrower, Restricted Payments in an amount not less than the aggregate amount of distributions required to be paid by the Borrower to the Parent in order for the Parent to qualify as a REIT.

 

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 the Parent 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 (2) or more contributing sponsors (including the Parent or any ERISA Affiliate) at least two (2) of whom are not under common control, as such a plan is described in Section 4064 of ERISA.

 

Non-Guarantor Subsidiary ” means any Subsidiary (whether direct or indirect) of the Borrower, other than any Subsidiary which owns an Unencumbered Property or any Subsidiary

 

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which owns any of the Equity Interests of any such Subsidiary, which (a) is (i) formed for or converted to the specific purpose of holding title to Real Property assets which are collateral for Indebtedness owing or to be owed by such Subsidiary, provided that such Indebtedness must be incurred or assumed within ninety (90) days, such ninety (90) day period to be extended for an additional sixty (60) days if the Borrower provides an executed term sheet or commitment letter for the financing of such Real Property to the Administrative Agent (or, in either instance, for such longer period as the Administrative Agent may agree in writing) of such formation or conversion or such Subsidiary shall cease to qualify as a Non Guarantor Subsidiary, and (ii) expressly prohibited in writing from guaranteeing Indebtedness of any other person or entity pursuant to (A) a provision in any document, instrument or agreement evidencing such Indebtedness of such Subsidiary or (B) a provision of such Subsidiary’s Organization Documents, in each case, which provision was included in such Organization Document or such other document, instrument or agreement at the request of the applicable third party creditor and as an express condition to the extension or assumption of such Indebtedness; provided that a Subsidiary meeting the requirements set forth in this clause (a) shall only remain a “Non-Guarantor Subsidiary” for so long as (1) each of the foregoing requirements set forth in this clause (a) are satisfied, (2) such Subsidiary does not guarantee any other Indebtedness, and (3) the Indebtedness with respect to which the restrictions noted in clause (a) (ii) are imposed remains outstanding; (b)(i) becomes a Subsidiary following the Closing Date, (ii) is not a Wholly Owned Subsidiary of the Borrower, and (iii) with respect to which the Borrower and its Affiliates, as applicable, do not have sufficient voting power to cause such Subsidiary to become a Guarantor hereunder; (c) is an Immaterial Subsidiary; (d) is a Subsidiary which has been released from its Obligations under a Subsidiary Guaranty pursuant to Section 2.17(b)  below, or (e) is not a domestic Subsidiary. For the avoidance of doubt, STAG Industrial Management, LLC, the Subsidiary that employs the Parent Guarantor’s employees, shall be deemed to be a Non-Guarantor Subsidiary.

 

Non-Recourse Indebtedness ” means, for any Person, any Indebtedness of such Person for the repayment of which neither the Parent or the Borrower has any personal liability (other than for Customary Recourse Exceptions) or, if such Person is the Parent or the Borrower, in which recourse of the applicable holder of such Indebtedness for non-payment is limited to such holder’s Liens on a particular asset or group of assets (other than for Customary Recourse Exceptions).  For the avoidance of doubt, if any Indebtedness is partially guaranteed by the Parent or the Borrower, then the portion of such Indebtedness that is not so guaranteed shall still be Non-Recourse Indebtedness if it otherwise satisfies the requirements in this definition.

 

Note ” means a promissory note made by the Borrower in favor of each Lender requesting the same evidencing Loans made by such Lender, substantially in the form of Exhibit B .

 

Note Purchase Agreements ” means (i) that certain Note Purchase Agreement, dated as of April 16, 2014 among the Parent, the Borrower, and the purchasers party thereto and , (ii) that certain Note Purchase Agreement, dated as of December 18, 2014 among the Parent, the Borrower, and the purchasers party thereto and (iii) that certain Note Purchase Agreement, dated as of June 13, 2018, among the Parent, the Borrower, and the other purchasers party thereto , in each case as amended from time to time.

 

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Obligations ” means 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, 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; including, without limitation of the foregoing, all present and future indebtedness, liabilities, and obligations now or hereafter owed to the  Administrative  Agent, any Lender, or any Affiliate of the Administrative Agent or any Lender (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any Specified Derivatives Providers) arising from, by virtue of, or pursuant to any Swap Contract, other than any Excluded Swap Obligation, that relates solely to the Obligations.

 

Occupancy Rate ” means, for any Property, the percentage of the rentable area of such Property occupied by bona fide tenants of such Property or leased by tenants pursuant to bona fide tenant Leases, in each case, which tenants are not more than 60 days past due in the payment of all rent or other similar payments due under such Leases and paying rent.

 

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, and (c) with respect to any partnership, joint venture, trust or other form of business entity, the partnership, joint venture or other applicable agreement of formation or organization and any agreement, instrument, filing or notice with respect thereto filed in connection with its formation or organization with the applicable Governmental Authority in the jurisdiction of its formation or organization and, if applicable, any certificate or articles of formation or organization of such entity.

 

Other Connection Taxes ” means, with respect to any Recipient, Taxes imposed as a result of a present or former connection between such Recipient and the jurisdiction imposing such Tax (other than connections arising from such Recipient having executed, delivered, become a party to, performed its obligations under, received payments under, received or perfected a security interest under, engaged in any other transaction pursuant to or enforced any Loan Document, or sold or assigned an interest in any Loan or Loan Document).

 

Other Taxes ” means all present or future stamp, court 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 with respect to Committed Loans on any date, the aggregate outstanding principal amount thereof after giving effect to any borrowings and prepayments or repayments of Loans occurring on such date.

 

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Parent ” has the meaning specified in the introductory paragraph hereto.

 

Parent Guaranty ” means the Guaranty Agreement executed by the Parent in favor of the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Lenders and any Specified Derivatives Providers, in form and substance acceptable to the Administrative Agent.

 

Parent Share ” means a share of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Parent.

 

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

 

“Participant Register ” has the meaning specified in Section  10.06 11.06 (d) .

 

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, Sections 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 the 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.

 

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 the Parent or any ERISA Affiliate or any such Plan to which the Parent or any ERISA Affiliate is required to contribute on behalf of any of its employees.

 

Platform ” has the meaning specified in Section 7.02 .

 

Prime Rate ” means, at any time, the rate of interest per annum publicly announced from time to time by the Administrative Agent as its prime rate.  Each change in the Prime Rate shall be effective as of the opening of business on the day such change in such prime rate occurs.  The parties acknowledge that the rate announced publicly by the Administrative Agent as its prime rate is an index or base rate and shall not necessarily be its lowest or best rate charged to its customers or other banks.

 

Prior Credit Agreement ” means that certain Credit Agreement dated as of April 20, 2011 among the Borrower, Bank of America, N.A., as agent, and a syndicate of lenders.

 

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Property ” means any Real Property which is owned or ground leased, directly or indirectly, by any Company.

 

PTE ” means a prohibited transaction class exemption secured by the U.S. Department of Labor as any such exemption may be amended from time to time.

 

Public Lender ” has the meaning specified in Section 7.02 .

 

Qualified ECP Guarantor ” means, in respect of any Swap Contract, each Loan Party that has total assets exceeding $10,000,000 at the time the relevant Guarantee or grant of the relevant security interest becomes effective with respect to such Swap Contract or such other person as constitutes an “eligible contract participant” under the Commodity Exchange Act or any regulations promulgated thereunder and can cause another person to qualify as an “eligible contract participant” at such time by entering into a keepwell under Section 1a(18)(A)(v)(II)  of the Commodity Exchange Act.

 

Rating Condition ” means the achievement by the Borrower of a Debt Rating.

 

Real Property ” of any Person means all of the right, title, and interest of such Person in and to land, improvements, and fixtures.

 

Recipient ” means the Administrative Agent, any Lender, or any other recipient of any payment to be made by or on account of any obligation of any Loan Party hereunder.

 

Recourse Indebtedness ” means Indebtedness that is not Non-Recourse Indebtedness; provided that personal recourse for Customary Recourse Exceptions shall not, by itself, cause such Indebtedness to be characterized as Recourse Indebtedness.

 

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

 

REIT ” means a “real estate investment trust” in accordance with Section 856 of the Code.

 

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.

 

Replacement Rate ” has the meaning assigned thereto in Section 3.03(b) .

 

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 with respect to a Borrowing, conversion or continuation of Committed Loans, a Committed Loan Notice.

 

Required Lenders ” means, at any time, the Lenders having Commitments representing more than 50% of the Aggregate Commitments of all Lenders or, if the commitment of each Lender to make Loans has been terminated pursuant to Section 2.01(b)  or 9.02 , the Lenders holding in the aggregate more than fifty percent (50%) of the Total Outstandings.  The Commitment and Loans of any Defaulting Lender shall be disregarded in determining the

 

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Required Lenders at any time.  At all times when two or more Lenders (excluding Defaulting Lenders) are party to this Agreement, the term “Required Lenders” shall in no event mean fewer than two Lenders.

 

Required Notice ” has the meaning supplied in Section 2.01(b) .

 

Responsible Officer ” means the chief executive officer, president, chief financial officer, chief operating officer, chief accounting officer, treasurer, assistant treasurer, or controller of a Loan Party, and solely for purposes of the delivery of incumbency certificates pursuant to Section 5.01 , the secretary or any assistant 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.  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.  Each initial Responsible Officer is listed on Schedule RO .

 

Restricted Payment ” means any dividend or other distribution (whether in cash, Equity Interests or other property) with respect to any capital stock or other Equity Interest of any Company or Subsidiary, or any payment (whether in cash, Equity Interests or other property), including any sinking fund or similar deposit, on account of the purchase, redemption, retirement, acquisition, cancellation or termination of any such capital stock or other Equity Interests, or on account of any return of capital to such Company’s or Subsidiary’s stockholders, partners or members (or the equivalent Person thereof).

 

Revolving Credit Agreement ” means that certain Credit Agreement, dated as of December 18 July 26 , 2014 2018 , among the Borrower, the Parent, Wells Fargo, as administrative agent, and the other lenders party thereto, as amended.

 

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

 

Sanction(s) ” means any international economic sanction administered or enforced by OFAC, the United Nations Security Council, the European Union, Her Majesty’s Treasury or other relevant sanctions authority.

 

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

 

Secured Indebtedness ” means (without duplication), with respect to a Person as of any given date, the aggregate principal amount of all Indebtedness of such Person or its subsidiaries outstanding at such date and that is secured by a Lien, and including the Companies’ Share of all Indebtedness of Unconsolidated Affiliates that is secured by a Lien, but excluding for the avoidance of doubt, any net obligations under any Swap Contract that is secured by a Lien, all Unsecured Indebtedness and all Indebtedness hereunder, and provided further that the obligations under any revolving credit agreement (including the Revolving Credit Agreement or any amendment or replacement thereof) shall not constitute Secured Indebtedness due to the

 

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existence  of cash collateral security requirements in connection with customary defaulting lender provisions.

 

Secured Leverage Ratio ” means, as of any date of determination, the quotient (expressed as a percentage) of (a) Secured Indebtedness of Parent and its Subsidiaries, divided by (b) Total Asset Value.

 

Secured Recourse Debt Ratio ” means, as of any date of determination, the quotient (expressed as a percentage) of (a) Secured Indebtedness which is Recourse Indebtedness with respect to the Borrower, divided by (b) Total Asset Value.

 

Share ” means the Borrower’s and the Parent’s direct or indirect share of a Consolidated Subsidiary or an Unconsolidated Affiliate as reasonably determined by the Borrower based upon the Borrower’s and the Parent’s economic interest (whether direct or indirect) in such Consolidated Subsidiary or Unconsolidated Affiliate, as of the date of such determination.

 

Specified Derivatives Provider ” shall have the meaning provided in Section 9.03.

 

Specified Swap Contract ” means any Swap Contract that is made or entered into at any time, or in effect at any time now or hereafter, whether as a result of an assignment or transfer or otherwise, in each case with respect to the Loans, between the Borrower and a Specified Swap Contract Provider.

 

Specified Swap Contract Provider ” means any Lender, or Affiliate of a Lender, that is party to a Swap Contract at the time such Swap Contract is entered into.

 

Subsequent Loan Advances ” shall have the meaning provided in Section 2.01(b) .

 

Subsequent Loans ” shall have the meaning provided in Section 2.01(b) .

 

Subsidiary ” of a Person means a corporation, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company or other business entity of which a majority of the Equity Interests having ordinary voting power for the election of directors or other governing body (other than Equity Interests having such power only by reason of the happening of a contingency) are 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 Borrower.

 

Subsidiary Guarantors ” means, as of any date, each domestic Subsidiary which owns an Unencumbered Property, all domestic Subsidiaries of the Borrower owning a direct or indirect interest in an Unencumbered Property, each other domestic Material Subsidiary, and the general partner of each Subsidiary Guarantor that is a limited partnership and “ Subsidiary Guarantor ” means any one of the Subsidiary Guarantors; provided, however, that (a) STAG Industrial Management, LLC and (b) STAG Industrial TRS, LLC and its Subsidiaries shall in no event be deemed or required to be a Subsidiary Guarantor.

 

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Subsidiary Guaranty ” means the Guaranty Agreement executed by each Subsidiary Guarantor  in favor  of  the Administrative Agent,  for  the benefit  of the Lenders  and any Specified Derivatives Providers, in form and substance acceptable to the Administrative Agent.

 

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, (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, and (c) 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).

 

Tangible Net Worth ” means, as of any date, (a) Total Asset Value minus (b) the sum of (i) Consolidated Total Debt and (ii) to the extent included in the calculation of Total Asset Value, goodwill and other intangible assets (other than deferred leasing intangibles).

 

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 Amendment Effective Date ” means July 26, 2018.

 

Threshold Amount ” means (a) $40,000,000 with respect to Recourse Indebtedness, (b) $75,000,000 with respect to all Non-Recourse Indebtedness, and (c) $40,000,000 with respect to all other amounts.

 

Total Asset Value ” means, for the Companies, on a consolidated basis, as on any date, the sum of (a) an amount equal to (i) aggregate Adjusted NOI with respect to all Properties

 

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(without duplication from the assets in clauses (b) through (g) below) for the Current Reporting Quarter, annualized divided by (ii) the Capitalization Rate, plus (b) 75% of the Book Value of any Dark Property (provided that no Dark Property shall be included in the calculation of Total Asset Value for a period greater than 12 months), plus (c) the acquisition cost of Construction in Progress and the costs of improvements thereon and renovations thereof, plus (d) cash and cash equivalents (including restricted cash) on such date, plus (e) the Companies’ Share of the foregoing items and components attributable to Unconsolidated Affiliates, plus (f) an amount equal to the book value (adjusted in accordance with GAAP to reflect any default or other impairment of such loan) of mortgage loans, construction loans, capital improvement loans, and other loans, in each case owned by a Company, plus (g) fifty percent (50%) of the book value of any undeveloped land.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, for purposes of determining Total Asset Value, to the extent the amount of Total Asset Value attributable to (a) the amount under clause (b) above would exceed 10% of Total Asset Value, such excess shall be excluded, (b) the amount under clause (c) and (g) above would exceed 15% of Total Asset Value, such excess shall be excluded, (c) the amount under clause (e) above would exceed 30% of Total Asset Value, such excess shall be excluded, (d) the amount under clause (f) above would exceed 15% of Total Asset Value, such excess shall be excluded, and (e) the amount under clauses (b), (c), (e), (f) and (g) above would exceed 30% of Total Asset Value, such excess shall be excluded.

 

Total Funded Debt ” means, as of any date, Consolidated Total Debt excluding intercompany Indebtedness, deferred income taxes, security deposits, accounts payable and accrued liabilities, and any prepaid rents, in each case determined in accordance with GAAP.

 

Total Outstandings ” means as of any date of determination, the aggregate Outstanding Amount of all Loans.

 

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

 

Unconsolidated Affiliate ” means any Person in which a Company has an Equity Interest and whose financial results would not be consolidated under GAAP with the financial results of the Parent on the consolidated financial statements of the Parent.

 

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

 

Unencumbered Adjusted NOI ” means, for any period, the aggregate Adjusted NOI of all Unencumbered Properties excluding any Dark Property for such period.

 

Unencumbered Asset Value ” means without duplication, the sum of for each Unencumbered Property owned or ground leased for the Current Reporting Quarter, (i) an amount equal to (x) the Unencumbered Adjusted NOI attributable to such Unencumbered Property for such Current Reporting Quarter, annualized, divided by (ii) the Capitalization Rate.

 

Unencumbered Leverage Ratio ” means, as of any date of determination, the quotient (expressed as a percentage) of (a) Unsecured Indebtedness of Parent and its Subsidiaries, divided by (b) Unencumbered Asset Value.

 

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Unencumbered Properties ” means each Acceptable Property that either (a) is an Initial Unencumbered Property or (b) becomes an Unencumbered Property pursuant to Section 4.03 , and “ Unencumbered Property ” means any one of the Unencumbered Properties.

 

Unsecured Indebtedness ” means Indebtedness which is not Secured Indebtedness.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, all Indebtedness which is secured by a pledge of equity interests only and is recourse to the Borrower or the Parent shall be deemed to be Unsecured Indebtedness.

 

Unsecured Interest Coverage Ratio ” means, as of any date of determination, the quotient (expressed as a percentage) of (a) Unencumbered Adjusted NOI to (b) Unsecured Interest Expense.

 

Unsecured Interest Expense ” means, with respect to any period, Consolidated Interest Expense of the Parent and its Subsidiaries for such period attributable to Unsecured Indebtedness of the Parent and its Subsidiaries.

 

Unused Fee ” has the meaning provided in Section 2.09(c) .

 

Unused Rate ” means 0.175%.

 

U.S. Person ” means any Person that is a “United States Person 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)(III) .

 

Wells Fargo ” means Wells Fargo Bank, National Association and its successors.

 

WFS ” means Wells Fargo Securities, LLC and its successors and assigns.

 

Write-Down and Conversion Powers ” means, with respect to any EEA Resolution Authority, the write-down and conversion powers of such EEA Resolution Authority from time to time under the Bail-In Legislation for the applicable EEA Member Country, which write-down and conversion powers are described in the EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule.

 

b.                                       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 any Organization Document) shall be construed as referring to such agreement, instrument or other document as from time to time amended, supplemented, or otherwise modified (subject to any restrictions on such amendments, supplements or modifications set forth herein or in any other Loan

 

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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, Exhibits and Schedules shall be construed to refer to Articles and Sections of, and Exhibits and Schedules to, the Loan Document in which such references appear, (v) any reference to any law shall include all statutory and regulatory 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 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, Equity Interests, accounts and contract rights.

 

(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.

 

c.                                        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 Borrower and its Subsidiaries shall be deemed to be carried at 100% of the outstanding principal amount thereof, and the effects of FASB ASC 825 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 Borrower or the Required Lenders shall so request, the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the Borrower shall negotiate in good faith to amend such ratio or requirement to preserve the original intent thereof in light of such change in GAAP (subject to the approval of the Required Lenders); provided that until so amended, (i) such ratio or requirement shall continue to be computed in accordance with GAAP prior to such change therein and (ii) the Borrower shall provide to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders financial statements and other documents required under this Agreement or as reasonably requested hereunder setting forth a reconciliation between

 

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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 addressing such changes, as provided for above.

 

(c)                                   Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities.   All references herein to consolidated financial statements of the Companies or to the determination of any amount for the Companies on a consolidated basis or any similar reference shall, in each case, be deemed to include each variable interest entity that the Parent is required to consolidate pursuant to FASB ASC 810 as if such variable interest entity were a Subsidiary as defined herein, provided further that for all purposes in calculating consolidated covenants hereunder the Parent shall be deemed to own one hundred percent (100%) of the equity interests in the Borrower.

 

d.                                       Rounding.  Any financial ratios required to be maintained by the Borrower 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).

 

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

 

f.                                         Rates. 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 “LIBOR” or with respect to any comparable or successor rate thereto.

 

9.
The Commitments and Credit Extensions

 

a.                                       Committed Loans.  Each Lender severally agrees to make a Committed Loan to the Borrower from time to time, on any Business Day, subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein and the limitations set forth in Section 2.01(c ):

 

(a)                                  Committed Loans .  Each Lender severally agrees to make a loan (each such loan, a “ Committed Loan ”) in an aggregate amount not to exceed at any time outstanding the amount of such Lender’s Commitment.

 

(b)                                  Loans .  Subject to the Borrower’s compliance with the terms and conditions set forth in Section 2.01(c) , each Lender severally agrees to make its portion of advances of the Loan (the “ Subsequent Loans ”) up to a maximum of six (6) advances, in minimum amounts of $25,000,000 each, or, if less, the remaining unfunded amount of the Aggregate Commitments (the “ Subsequent Loan Advances ”), to the Borrower in aggregate amounts not to exceed each Lender’s unadvanced Commitment.  Once advanced, each Subsequent Loan shall be aggregated with all prior Subsequent Loans and

 

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all such term loans shall be referred to as Committed Loans.  Provided there exists no Default, upon notice to the Administrative Agent (which shall promptly notify the Lenders), the Parent and the Borrower may elect to borrow the Subsequent Loan; subject to the Borrower’s delivery to the Administrative Agent of notice of such requested Subsequent Loan Advance, each of which notice must be delivered not later than December 29, 2016 in order to be effective (each such notice, a “ Required Notice ”).  In the event that a Required Notice(s) is/are not received by the Administrative Agent on or prior to December 29, 2016 such that the initial Aggregate Commitments have not been fully funded by December 29, 2016, the Commitment of the Lenders to advance the Subsequent Loans shall be deemed cancelled.  Upon such cancelation the Borrower shall pay to the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Lenders, a commitment termination fee in an amount equal to 0.50% multiplied by the Commitments which have been cancelled.

 

(c)                                   Committed Loan Limitations Notwithstanding the provisions of Sections 2.01(a)  and (b) , after giving effect to any Committed Borrowing,  (i) the Total Outstandings shall not exceed the Aggregate Commitments, as in effect on the Closing Date, and (ii) the aggregate Loans advanced by any Lender shall not exceed such Lender’s Commitment, as in effect on the Closing Date.  With respect to Committed Loans, within the limits of each Lender’s Commitment and the Aggregate Commitments, and subject to the other terms and conditions hereof, the Borrower may borrow under this Section 2.01 , and prepay under Section 2.05 . Amounts repaid on the Committed Loans may not be reborrowed.  Committed Loans may be Base Rate Loans or LIBOR Loans, as further provided herein.

 

b.                                       Borrowings, Conversions and Continuations of Committed Loans.

 

(a)                                  Each Committed Borrowing (including each request for a Subsequent Loan), each conversion of Committed Loans from one Type to the other, and each continuation of LIBOR Loans shall be made upon the Borrower’s irrevocable notice to the Administrative Agent, which may be given by telephone.  Each such notice must be received by the Administrative Agent not later than 10:00 a.m. (i) three (3) Business Days prior to the requested date of any Borrowing of, conversion to or continuation of LIBOR Loans or of any conversion of LIBOR Loans to Base Rate Committed Loans, and (ii) on the requested date of any Borrowing of Base Rate Committed Loans.  Each telephonic notice by the Borrower pursuant to this Section 2.02(a)  must be confirmed promptly by delivery to the Administrative Agent of a written  Committed Loan Notice, appropriately completed and signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower.  Each Borrowing of, conversion to or continuation of LIBOR Loans shall be in a principal amount of $500,000 or a whole multiple of $500,000 in excess thereof.  Each conversion to Base Rate Committed Loans shall be in a principal amount of $250,000 or a whole multiple of $50,000 in excess thereof.  Each Committed Loan Notice (whether telephonic or written) shall specify (i) whether the Borrower is requesting a Committed Borrowing, a conversion of Committed Loans from one Type to the other, or a continuation of LIBOR Loans, (ii) the requested date of the Committed Borrowing, conversion or continuation, as the case may be (which shall be a Business Day), (iii) the principal amount of Committed Loans to be borrowed, converted or continued, (iv) the Type of

 

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Committed Loans to be borrowed or to which existing Committed Loans are to be converted, and (v) if applicable, the duration of the Interest Period with respect thereto.  If the Borrower fails to specify a Type of Committed Loan in a Committed Loan Notice or if the Borrower fails to give a timely notice requesting a conversion or continuation, then (I) so long as no Event of Default exists, the applicable Committed Loans shall be made as, or continued to, a LIBOR Loan of the same Type and with an Interest Period of one (1) month and (II) if an Event of Default exists, then the applicable Committed 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 LIBOR Loans.  If the Borrower requests a Committed Borrowing of, conversion to, or continuation of LIBOR Loans in any such Committed Loan Notice, but fails to specify an Interest Period, then it will be deemed to have specified an Interest Period of one (1) month.

 

(b)                                  Following receipt of a Committed Loan Notice, the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each Lender of the amount of its Applicable Percentage of the applicable Committed Loans, and if no timely notice of a conversion or continuation is provided by the Borrower, the Administrative Agent shall notify each Lender of the details of any automatic continuation or conversion to Base Rate Loans described in the preceding subsection.  In the case of a Committed Borrowing, each Lender shall make the amount of its Committed Loan available to the Administrative Agent in immediately available funds at the Administrative Agent’s Office not later than 12:00 noon on the Business Day specified in the applicable Committed Loan Notice.  Upon satisfaction of the applicable conditions set forth in Section 5.02 (and, if such Committed Borrowing is the initial Credit Extension, Section 5.01 ), the Administrative Agent shall make all funds so received available to the Borrower by 3:00 p.m. in like funds as received by the Administrative Agent either by (i) crediting the account of the Borrower on the books of Wells Fargo 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 Borrower.

 

(c)                                   Except as otherwise provided herein, a LIBOR Loan may be continued or converted only on the last day of an Interest Period for such LIBOR Loan.  During the existence of an Event of Default, no Loans may be requested as, converted to or continued as LIBOR Loans without the consent of the Required Lenders.

 

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

 

(e)                                   After giving effect to all Committed Borrowings, all conversions of Committed Loans from one Type to the other, and all continuations of Committed Loans as the same Type, there shall not be more than eight (8) Interest Periods in effect with respect to Committed Loans.

 

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c.                                        Reserved.

 

d.                                       Reserved.

 

e.                                        Prepayments.

 

The Borrower may, upon notice to the Administrative Agent, at any time or from time to time voluntarily prepay Committed Loans in whole or in part; provided that (i) such notice must be received by the Administrative Agent not later than 11:00 a.m. (A) three (3) Business Days prior to any date of prepayment of LIBOR Loans and (B) on the date of prepayment of Base Rate Committed Loans; (ii) any prepayment of LIBOR Loans shall be in a principal amount of $1,000,000 or a whole multiple of $100,000 in excess thereof; and (iii) any prepayment of Base Rate Committed Loans shall be in a principal amount of $100,000 or a whole multiple of $25,000 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 Committed Loans to be prepaid and, if LIBOR 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 Applicable Percentage of such prepayment.  If such notice is given by the Borrower, then the Borrower 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 a LIBOR Loan 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 2.16 , each such prepayment shall be applied to the Committed Loans of the Lenders in accordance with their respective Applicable Percentages.

 

f.                                         Incremental Term Loans.

 

(a)                                  Reserved .

 

(b)                                  Incremental Term Loans .

 

(i)                                      Election .  Provided there exists no Default, and provided that no Subsequent Loans remain available to be advanced to the Borrower pursuant to Section 2.01(b) , upon notice to the Administrative Agent (which shall promptly notify the Lenders), the Parent and the Borrower may from time to time, elect to enter into one or more tranches of term loans (“ Additional Term Loans ”) in an aggregate amount not exceeding $100,000,000 either by designating another bank or financial institution not theretofore a Lender to become a Lender (such designation to be effective only with the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent, which consent will not be unreasonably withheld) and/or by agreeing with an existing Lender or Lenders, in such Lender or Lenders’ absolute discretion, that such Lender shall make Additional Term Loans; provided that (i) any such election for Additional Term Loans shall be in a minimum amount of $10,000,000, and (ii) the Parent and the Borrower may make a maximum of three (3) such requests.  Upon execution and delivery by the

 

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Borrower and such Lender or other bank or financial institution of an instrument in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent to effect such Additional Term Loans, including, as required, a new or amended Note, such existing Lender shall have a Commitment as therein set forth or such bank or financial institution shall become a Lender with a Commitment as therein set forth and all the rights and obligations of a Lender with such a Commitment hereunder.

 

(ii)                                   Effective Date .  If Additional Term Loans are made in accordance with this Section 2.06(b) , then the Administrative Agent, the Parent, and the Borrower shall determine the effective date (the “ Increase Effective Date ”) that such Additional Term Loans shall be made.  The Administrative Agent shall promptly notify the Parent, the Borrower, and the Lenders of the Increase Effective Date.

 

(iii)                                Conditions to Effectiveness of Additional Term Loans .

 

(a)                                  As a condition precedent to such Additional Term Loans, the Parent and the Borrower shall deliver to the Administrative Agent a certificate dated as of the Increase Effective Date (in sufficient copies for each Lender) signed by a Responsible Officer of the Parent or the Borrower (on behalf of each Loan Party) (i) certifying and attaching the resolutions adopted by such Parent and the Borrower (on behalf of each Loan Party) approving or consenting to such Additional Term Loans, and (ii) certifying that, before and after giving effect to such Additional Term Loans, (A) the representations and warranties contained in Article VI and the other Loan Documents are true and correct in all material respects (except in the case of a representation or warranty qualified by materiality or Material Adverse Effect, in which case such representation or warranty shall be true and correct in all respects) on and as of the Increase Effective Date, except to the extent that such representations and warranties specifically refer to an earlier date, in which case they are true and correct in all material respects (except in the case of a representation or warranty qualified by materiality or Material Adverse Effect, in which case such representation or warranty shall be true and correct in all respects) as of such earlier date, and except that for purposes of this Section 2.06 , the representations and warranties contained in Section   6.05(b)  shall be deemed to refer to the most-recent statements furnished pursuant to Section 7.01(b) , and (B) no Default exists.

 

(b)                                  The Borrower shall execute and provide new Notes to such Lenders as may request herewith.

 

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

 

(c)                                   General .  The Administrative Agent will promptly notify the Lenders of any notice of Additional Term Loans.  Each Additional Term Loan shall be a Committed Loan hereunder.

 

g.                                        Repayment of Loans.  The Borrower shall repay to the Lenders on the Maturity Date the aggregate principal amount of Loans outstanding on such date.

 

h.                                       Interest.

 

(a)                                  Subject to the provisions of subsection (b)  below, (i) each LIBOR Loan shall bear interest on the outstanding principal amount thereof for each Interest Period at a rate per annum equal to LIBOR for such Interest Period plus the Applicable Rate; (ii) each Base Rate Committed 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.

 

(b)

 

(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, then 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 Borrower 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 (other than as set forth in clauses (b)(i) and (b)(ii) above), the Borrower shall pay interest on the principal amount of all outstanding Obligations hereunder 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 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.

 

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i.                                           Fees.

 

(a)                                  The Borrower shall pay to WFS and the Administrative Agent, for their own respective accounts, fees in the amounts and at the times specified in the Fee Letter (without duplication of fees otherwise referenced herein).  Such fees shall be fully earned when paid and shall not be refundable for any reason whatsoever.

 

(b)                                  The Borrower shall pay to the Lenders such fees as shall have been separately agreed upon in writing in the amounts and at the times so specified.  Such fees shall be fully earned when paid and shall not be refundable for any reason whatsoever.

 

(c)                                   Unused Fees .  The Borrower shall, beginning 60 days after the Closing Date, for each day until the earlier of (i) the date that initial Aggregate Commitments of $150,000,000 have been fully advanced, or (ii) December 29, 2016, pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of each Lender (in accordance with its Applicable Percentage), an unused fee (the “ Unused Fee ”) at a rate per annum equal to the Unused Rate times the actual daily amount of the unadvanced Aggregate Commitments.  The Unused Fee shall be due and payable monthly in arrears on the 10 th  Business Day after the end of each calendar month, commencing with the first such date to occur after the Closing Date, and ending on the earlier of the dates set forth above.  The Unused Fee shall be calculated monthly in arrears based on the applicable daily Unused Rate during each day of such month.

 

j.                                          Computation of Interest and Fees; Retroactive Adjustments of Applicable Rate.

 

(a)                                  All computations of interest for Base Rate Loans (including Base Rate Loans determined by reference to LIBOR) 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)                                  If, as a result of any restatement of or other adjustment to the financial statements of the Parent or for any other reason, then the Parent, the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, or the Lenders determine that (i) the Consolidated Leverage Ratio as calculated by the Parent and the Borrower 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, then the Borrower shall immediately and retroactively be obligated to pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of the applicable Lenders, within three (3) Business Days after demand by the Administrative Agent (or, after the occurrence of an actual or deemed entry of an order for relief with respect to any Loan Party under the Bankruptcy Code of the United States, automatically and without further

 

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action by the Administrative Agent or any Lender), 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 or any Lender, under Section 2.08(b)  or under Article IX .

 

k.                                       Evidence of Debt.

 

(a)                                  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 Borrower and the interest and payments thereon.  Any failure to so record or any error in doing so shall not, however, limit or otherwise affect the obligation of the Borrower hereunder to pay any amount owing with respect to the Obligations.  In the event of any conflict between the accounts and records maintained by any Lender and the accounts and records of the Administrative Agent in respect of such matters, the accounts and records of the Administrative Agent shall control in the absence of manifest error.  Upon the request of any Lender made through the Administrative Agent, the Borrower shall execute and deliver to such Lender (through the Administrative Agent) a Note, which shall evidence such Lender’s Loans in addition to such accounts or records.  Each such Note shall be in the form of Exhibit B (a “ Note ”).  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.

 

l.                                           Payments Generally; The Administrative Agent’s Clawback.

 

(a)                                  General .  All payments to be made by the Borrower shall be made without condition or deduction for any counterclaim, defense, recoupment or setoff.  Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, all payments by the Borrower 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 1:00 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.  If and to the extent the Administrative Agent shall not make such payments to a Lender when due as set forth in the preceding sentence, then such unpaid amounts shall accrue interest, payable by the Administrative Agent, at the Federal Funds Rate from the due date until (but not including) the date on which the Administrative Agent makes such payments to such Lender.  All payments received by the Administrative Agent after 1:00 p.m. shall be deemed received on the next succeeding Business Day and any applicable interest or fee shall continue to accrue.  If any payment to be made by the Borrower 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.

 

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(b)                                  Clawback .

 

(i)                                      Funding by the Lenders; Presumption by the Administrative Agent .  Unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from a Lender prior to the proposed date of any Committed Borrowing of LIBOR Loans (or, in the case of any Committed Borrowing of Base Rate Loans, prior to 1:00 p.m. on the date of such Borrowing) that such Lender will not make available to the Administrative Agent such Lender’s share of such Committed 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 Committed 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 Borrower a corresponding amount.  In such event, if a Lender has not in fact made its share of the applicable Committed Borrowing available to the Administrative Agent, then the applicable Lender and the Borrower 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 Borrower to but excluding the date of payment to the Administrative Agent, at (A) in the case of a payment to be made by such Lender, the 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 Borrower, the interest rate applicable to Base Rate Loans.  If the Borrower and such Lender shall pay such interest to the Administrative Agent for the same or an overlapping period, then the Administrative Agent shall promptly remit to the Borrower the amount of such interest paid by the Borrower for such period.  If such Lender pays its share of the applicable Committed Borrowing to the Administrative Agent, then the amount so paid shall constitute such Lender’s Committed Loan included in such Committed Borrowing.  Any payment by the Borrower shall be without prejudice to any claim the Borrower may have against a Lender that shall have failed to make such payment to the Administrative Agent.

 

(ii)                                   Payments by the Borrower; Presumptions by the Administrative Agent .  Unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from the Borrower prior to the date on which any payment is due to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Lenders hereunder that the Borrower will not make such payment, the Administrative Agent may assume that the Borrower has made such payment on such date in accordance herewith and may, in reliance upon such assumption, distribute to the Lenders the amount due.  In such event, if the Borrower has not in fact made such payment, then each of the Lenders severally agrees to repay to the Administrative Agent forthwith on demand the amount so distributed to such Lender, 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

 

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compensation , within one (1) Business Day.  If and to the extent the Administrative Agent shall not return such funds to a Lender when due as set forth in the preceding sentence, then such unpaid amounts shall accrue interest, payable by the Administrative Agent, at the Federal Funds Rate from the due date until (but not including) the date on which the Administrative Agent returns such funds to such Lender.

 

A notice of the Administrative Agent to any Lender or the Borrower 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 Borrower by the Administrative Agent because the conditions to the applicable Credit Extension set forth in Article V are not satisfied or waived in accordance with the terms hereof, then the Administrative Agent shall return such funds (in like funds as received from such Lender) to such Lender, without interest.

 

(d)                                  Obligations of the Lenders Several .  The obligations of the Lenders hereunder to make Committed Loans and to make payments pursuant to Section11.04(d)  are several and not joint.  The failure of any Lender to make any Committed Loan or to make any payment under Section 11.04(d)  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 Committed Loan or to make its payment under Section 11.04(d) .

 

(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)                                    Funds Transfer .  The Administrative Agent will, in its sole discretion, determine the funds transfer system and the means by which each transfer will be made.  The Administrative Agent may delay or refuse to accept a funds transfer request if the transfer would: (i) violate the terms of this authorization, (ii) require use of a bank unacceptable to the Administrative Agent or any Lender, in its reasonable discretion, or prohibited by any Governmental Authority, (iii) cause the Administrative Agent or any Lender to violate any Federal Reserve or other regulatory risk control program or guideline or (iv) otherwise cause the Administrative Agent or any Lender to violate any applicable Law or regulation.  The Borrower hereby authorizes the Administrative Agent to disburse the proceeds of any Loan made by the Lenders or any of their Affiliates pursuant to the Loan Documents as requested by an authorized representative of the Borrower to any of the accounts designated in the Disbursement Instruction Agreement.

 

m.                                   Sharing of Payments by the Lenders.  If any Lender shall, by exercising any right of setoff or counterclaim or otherwise, obtain payment in respect of any principal of or interest on any of the Committed Loans made by it, resulting in such Lender’s receiving payment of a

 

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proportion of the aggregate amount of such Committed Loans and accrued interest thereon greater than its pro rata share thereof as provided herein, then the Lender receiving such greater proportion shall (a) notify the Administrative Agent of such fact, and (b)  make such adjustments as shall be equitable, so that the benefit of all such payments shall be shared by the Lenders ratably in accordance with the aggregate amount of principal of and accrued interest on their respective Committed Loans and other amounts owing them, provided that the provisions of this Section shall not be construed to apply to any payment obtained by a Lender as consideration for the assignment of or sale of a participation in any of its Committed Loans to any assignee or participant, other than an assignment to the Borrower 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.

 

n.                                       Reserved.

 

o.                                       Reserved.

 

p.                                       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 .  That 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 in 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 IX 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 reasonably 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 , as the Borrower 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; third , if so determined by the Administrative Agent and the Borrower, to be held in an interest bearing deposit account and released pro rata in order to satisfy such Defaulting Lender’s potential future funding obligations with respect to Loans under this Agreement; fourth , to the payment of any amounts owing to the Lenders as a result of any judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction obtained by any Lender against such Defaulting Lender as a result of such Defaulting

 

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Lender’s breach of its obligations under this Agreement; fifth , so long as no Event of Default exists, to the payment of any amounts owing to the Borrower as a result of any judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction obtained by the Borrower against such Defaulting Lender as a result of such Defaulting Lender’s breach of its obligations under this Agreement; and sixth , to such Defaulting Lender or as otherwise directed by a court of competent jurisdiction; provided that if such payment is a payment of the principal amount of any Loans in respect of which such Defaulting Lender has not fully funded its appropriate share, such payment shall be applied solely to pay the Loans of all Non-Defaulting Lenders on a pro rata basis prior to being applied to the payment of any Loans of such Defaulting Lender until such time as all Loans and funded hereunder without giving effect to Section 2.16(a)(iv) . Any payments, prepayments or other amounts paid or payable to a Defaulting Lender that are applied (or held) to pay amounts owed by a Defaulting Lender shall be deemed paid to and redirected by such Defaulting Lender, and each Lender irrevocably consents hereto.

 

(iii)                                Certain Fees .  No Defaulting Lender shall be entitled to receive any fee pursuant to Section 2.09 for any period during which that Lender is a Defaulting Lender (and the Borrower shall not be required to pay any such fee that otherwise would have been required to have been paid to that Defaulting Lender pursuant to Section 2.09 for any period during which that Lender is a Defaulting Lender), and the Borrower shall not be required to pay the remaining amount of such fee that otherwise would have been required to have been paid to that Defaulting Lender.

 

(b)                                  Defaulting Lender Cure .  If the Borrower and the Administrative Agent agree in writing in their sole discretion that a Defaulting Lender should no longer be deemed to be 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, 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 Committed Loans to be held on a pro rata basis by the Lenders in accordance with their Applicable Percentages, whereupon that Lender will cease to be a Defaulting Lender; provided that no adjustments will be made retroactively with respect to fees accrued or payments made by or on behalf of the Borrower while that Lender was a Defaulting Lender; and provided , further , that , except to the extent otherwise expressly agreed by the affected parties, no change hereunder from Defaulting Lender to Lender will constitute a waiver or release of any claim of any party hereunder arising from that Lender’s having been a Defaulting Lender.

 

q.                                       Guaranties.  Pursuant to the Parent Guaranty, the Parent shall unconditionally Guarantee in favor of the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and any Specified Derivatives Providers the full payment and performance of the Obligations. Pursuant to the Subsidiary Guaranty or an addendum thereto in the form attached to the Subsidiary Guaranty, the Parent and the Borrower shall cause each Subsidiary Guarantor to execute a Subsidiary Guaranty unconditionally guarantying in favor of the Administrative Agent , the Lenders and any Specified

 

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Derivatives Providers the full payment and performance of the Obligations; provided, however, that such Subsidiary Guaranty may be released and reinstated in accordance with its terms.

 

(a)                                  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement or any other Loan Document, (x) concurrently with the delivery of each Compliance Certificate, with respect to any Person that became a Subsidiary of the Parent owning a direct or indirect interest in the Borrower since the date of the most recent Compliance Certificate or (y) substantially concurrently with any Subsidiary of the Parent (other than the Borrower) entering into any Guarantee of Indebtedness of the Parent, the Borrower or any Subsidiary of the Borrower owning directly or indirectly any Unencumbered Property, the Parent, the Borrower and such Subsidiary shall deliver to the Administrative Agent each of the following: (i) a joinder to the Subsidiary Guaranty executed by such Subsidiary, (ii) concurrently with the delivery of each Compliance Certificate a comprehensive list of all Guarantors, which identifies the joining and departing entities, and (iii) the items that would have been delivered under subsections (iii)  and (v)  of Section 5.01(a)  if such Subsidiary had been a Subsidiary Guarantor on the Closing Date, in form and substance substantially consistent with such items delivered on the Closing Date or otherwise reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

 

(b)                                  The Borrower may request in writing that the Administrative Agent release, and upon receipt of such request the Administrative Agent shall release, a Subsidiary Guarantor from the Guaranty so long as: (i) such Subsidiary Guarantor is not otherwise required to be a party to the Guaranty under the immediately preceding subsection (a)  (after giving effect to clause (ii) hereof); (ii) such Subsidiary Guarantor no longer Guarantees (or which Guarantee is being substantially concurrently released) any other Indebtedness of the Parent, the Borrower or any Subsidiary of the Borrower owning directly or indirectly any Unencumbered Property, (iii) no Default or Event of Default shall then be in existence or would occur as a result of such release, including without limitation, a Default or Event of Default resulting from a violation of any of the covenants contained in Section 8.14 ; and (iv) the Administrative Agent shall have received such written request at least five (5) Business Days (or such shorter period as may be acceptable to the Administrative Agent) prior to the requested date of release.  Delivery by the Borrower to the Administrative Agent of any such request shall constitute a representation by the Parent and the Borrower that the conditions set forth in the preceding sentence are or will be satisfied as of the requested date of release.

 

10.
Taxes, Yield Protection and Illegality

 

a.                                       Taxes.

 

(a)                                  Payments Free of Taxes; Obligation to Withhold; Payments on Account of Taxes .

 

(i)                                      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

 

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applicable Laws (as determined in the good faith discretion of the Administrative Agent) require the deduction or withholding of any Tax from any such payment by the Administrative Agent or a Loan Party, then the Administrative Agent or such Loan Party shall be entitled to make such deduction or withholding, upon the basis of the information and documentation to be delivered pursuant to subsection (e)  below.

 

(ii)                                   If any Loan Party or the Administrative Agent shall be required by the Code to withhold or deduct any Taxes, including both United States Federal backup withholding and withholding taxes, from any payment, then (A) the Administrative Agent shall withhold or make such deductions as are determined by the Administrative Agent to be required based upon the information and documentation it has received pursuant to subsection (e)  below, (B) the Administrative Agent shall timely pay the full amount withheld or deducted to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with the Code, and (C) 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 any required withholding or the making of all required deductions (including deductions 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 withholding or deduction been made.

 

(iii)                                If any Loan Party or the Administrative Agent shall be required by any applicable Laws other than the Code to withhold or deduct any Taxes from any payment, then (A) such Loan Party or the Administrative Agent, as required by such Laws, shall withhold or make such deductions as are determined by it to be required based upon the information and documentation it has received pursuant to subsection (e)  below, (B) such Loan Party or the Administrative Agent, to the extent required by such Laws, shall timely pay the full amount withheld or deducted to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with such Laws, and (C) 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 any required withholding or the making of all required deductions (including deductions 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 withholding or deduction been made.

 

(b)                                  Payment of Other Taxes by the Borrower .  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 10 days after demand therefor, for the full amount of any Indemnified Taxes (including Indemnified Taxes imposed or asserted on or attributable

 

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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 reasonable expenses arising therefrom or with respect thereto, whether or not such Indemnified Taxes were correctly or legally imposed or asserted by the relevant Governmental Authority.  A certificate as to the amount of such payment or liability delivered to the Borrower by a Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), or by the Administrative Agent on its own behalf or on behalf of a Lender, shall be conclusive absent manifest error.  Each of the Loan Parties shall, and does hereby, jointly and severally indemnify the Administrative Agent, and shall make payment in respect thereof within 10 days after demand therefor, for any amount which a Lender for any reason fails to pay indefeasibly to the Administrative Agent as required pursuant to Section 3.01(c)(ii)  below.

 

(ii)                                   Each Lender shall, and does hereby, severally indemnify, and shall make payment in respect thereof within 10 days after demand therefor, ( x ) the Administrative Agent against any Indemnified Taxes attributable to such Lender (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), ( y ) 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  10.06 11.06 (d)  relating to the maintenance of a Participant Register and ( z ) the Administrative Agent and the Loan Parties, as applicable, against any Excluded Taxes attributable to such Lender, 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 hereby authorizes the Administrative Agent to set off and apply any and all amounts at any time owing to such Lender, under this Agreement or any other Loan Document against any amount due to the Administrative Agent under this clause (ii) .

 

(d)                                  Evidence of Payments .  Upon request by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, as the case may be, after any payment of Taxes by the Borrower or by the Administrative Agent to a Governmental Authority as provided in this Section 3.01 , the Borrower shall deliver to the Administrative Agent or the Administrative Agent shall deliver to the Borrower, as the case may be, the original or a certified copy of a receipt issued by such Governmental Authority evidencing such payment, a copy of any return required by Laws to report such payment or other evidence of such payment reasonably satisfactory to the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, as the case may be.

 

(e)                                   Status of the 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

 

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deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent, at the time or times reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, such properly completed and executed documentation reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent as will permit such payments to be made without withholding or at a reduced rate of withholding.  In addition, any Lender, if reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, shall deliver such other documentation prescribed by applicable law or reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent as will enable the Borrower or the Administrative Agent to determine whether or not such Lender is subject to backup withholding or information reporting requirements.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the preceding two sentences, the completion, execution and submission of such documentation (other than such documentation set forth in Section 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 the Borrower is a U.S. Person,

 

i)                                          any Lender that is a U.S. Person shall deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent on or prior to the date on which such Lender becomes a Lender under this Agreement (and from time to time thereafter upon the reasonable request of the Borrower or the Administrative Agent), executed originals of IRS Form W-9 certifying that such Lender is exempt from U.S. federal backup withholding tax;

 

ii)                                       any Foreign Lender shall, to the extent it is legally entitled to do so, deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent (in such number of copies as shall be requested by the recipient) on or prior to the date on which such Foreign Lender becomes a Lender under this Agreement (and from time to time thereafter upon the reasonable request of the Borrower or the Administrative Agent), whichever of the following is applicable:

 

(c)                                   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 originals of IRS Form W-8BEN or IRS Form W-8BEN-E 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 or IRS Form W-8BEN-E 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;

 

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(d)                                  executed originals of IRS Form W-8ECI;

 

(e)                                   in the case of a Foreign Lender claiming the benefits of the exemption for portfolio interest under Section 881(c)  of the Code, (x) a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit H-1 to the effect that such Foreign Lender is not a “bank” within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(A)  of the Code, a “10 percent shareholder” of the Borrower within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(B)  of the Code, or a “controlled foreign corporation” described in Section 881(c)(3)(C)  of the Code (a “ U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate ”) and (y) executed originals of IRS Form W-8BEN or IRS Form W-8BEN-E; or

 

(f)                                    to the extent a Foreign Lender is not the beneficial owner, executed originals of IRS Form W-8IMY, accompanied by IRS Form W-8ECI, IRS Form W-8BEN, IRS Form W-8BEN-E, a U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit H-2 or Exhibit H-3 , IRS Form W-9, and/or other certification documents from each beneficial owner, as applicable; provided that if the Foreign Lender is a partnership and one or more direct or indirect partners of such Foreign Lender are claiming the portfolio interest exemption, such Foreign Lender may provide a U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit H-4 on behalf of each such direct and indirect partner;

 

iii)                                    any Foreign Lender shall, to the extent it is legally entitled to do so, deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent (in such number of copies as shall be requested by the recipient) on or prior to the date on which such Foreign Lender becomes a Lender under this Agreement (and from time to time thereafter upon the reasonable request of the Borrower or the Administrative Agent), executed originals 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 Borrower or the Administrative Agent to determine the withholding or deduction required to be made; and

 

iv)                                   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 Borrower and the Administrative Agent at the time or times prescribed by law and at such time or times reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent such documentation prescribed by applicable law (including as prescribed by Section 1471(b)(3)(C)(i)  of the Code) and such

 

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additional documentation reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent as may be necessary for the Borrower and the Administrative Agent to comply with their obligations under FATCA and to determine that such Lender has complied with such Lender’s obligations under FATCA or to determine the amount to deduct and withhold from such payment.  Solely for purposes of this clause (D), “FATCA” shall include any amendments made to FATCA after the date of this Agreement.

 

(iii)                                Each Lender agrees that if any form or certification it previously delivered expires or becomes obsolete or inaccurate in any respect, it shall update such form or certification or promptly notify the Borrower and the Administrative Agent in writing of its legal inability to do so.  Each Lender shall promptly (A) notify the Borrower and the Administrative Agent of any change in circumstances which would modify or render invalid any claimed exemption or reduction, and (B) take such steps as shall not be materially disadvantageous to it, in the reasonable judgment of such Lender, and as may be reasonably necessary (including the re-designation of its Lending Office) to avoid any requirement of applicable Laws of any jurisdiction that the Borrower or the Administrative Agent make any withholding or deduction for taxes from amounts payable to such Lender.

 

(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 have any obligation to pay to any Lender, any refund of Taxes withheld or deducted from funds paid for the account of such Lender.  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 the Loan Party an amount equal to such refund (but only to the extent of indemnity payments made, or additional amounts paid, by a 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, and without interest (other than any interest paid by the relevant Governmental Authority with respect to such refund), provided that the Loan Party, upon the request of the Recipient, agrees to repay the amount paid over to the 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 the 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 indemnification payments or additional amounts giving rise to such refund 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.

 

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(g)                                   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, the termination of the Commitments and the repayment, satisfaction and discharge of all other Obligations.

 

(h)                                  Certain FATCA Matters .  For purposes of determining withholding Taxes imposed under FATCA, from and after the effective date of the Agreement, the Borrower and the Administrative Agent shall treat (and the Lenders hereby authorize the Administrative Agent to treat) the Loans as not qualifying as a “grandfathered obligation” within the meaning of Treasury Regulation Section 1.1471-2(b)(2)(i) .

 

b.                                       Illegality.  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 applicable Lending Office to make, maintain or fund Loans whose interest is determined by reference to LIBOR, or to determine or charge interest rates based upon LIBOR, 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 Borrower through the Administrative Agent, (i) any obligation of such Lender to make or continue LIBOR Loans or to convert Base Rate Committed Loans to LIBOR Loans shall be suspended, and (ii) 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 LIBOR 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 LIBOR component of the Base Rate, in each case until such Lender notifies the Administrative Agent and the Borrower that the circumstances giving rise to such determination no longer exist.  Upon receipt of such notice, (x) the Borrower shall, upon demand from such Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), prepay or, if applicable, convert all LIBOR 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 LIBOR component of the Base Rate), either on the last day of the Interest Period therefor, if such Lender may lawfully continue to maintain such LIBOR Loans to such day, or immediately, if such Lender may not lawfully continue to maintain such LIBOR Loans and (y) if such notice asserts the illegality of such Lender determining or charging interest rates based upon LIBOR, the Administrative Agent shall during the period of such suspension compute the Base Rate applicable to such Lender without reference to the LIBOR 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 LIBOR.  Upon any such prepayment or conversion, the Borrower shall also pay accrued interest on the amount so prepaid or converted.

 

10.03                  Changed Circumstances .

 

(a)                                  3.03 Inability to Determine Rates .  If the Required Lenders determine that for any reason in Circumstances Affecting LIBOR Rate Availability.  Unless and until a Replacement Rate is implemented in accordance with clause (b) below, in connection with any request for a LIBOR Loan or a conversion to or continuation thereof that (a)  or otherwise, if for any reason (i) the Administrative Agent shall determine (which determination shall be conclusive

 

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and binding absent manifest error) that Dollar deposits are not being offered to banks in the London interbank eurodollar Eurodollar market for the applicable amount and Interest Period of such LIBOR Loan, ( b) adequate and ii) the Administrative Agent shall determine (which determination shall be conclusive and binding absent manifest error) that reasonable and adequate means do not exist for determining ascertaining LIBOR for any requested such Interest Period with respect to a proposed LIBOR Loan or in connection with an existing or proposed Base Rate Loan, or (c)  LIBOR for any requested Interest Period with respect to a proposed LIBOR Loan (iii) the Required Lenders shall determine (which determination shall be conclusive and binding absent manifest error) that the LIBOR does not adequately and fairly reflect the cost to such Lenders of funding making or maintaining such Loan Loans during such Interest Period , then the Administrative Agent will shall promptly so notify give notice thereof to the Borrower and each Lender .  Thereafter, (x) the until the Administrative Agent notifies the Borrower that such circumstances no longer exist, the obligation of the Lenders to make or maintain LIBOR Loans and the right of the Borrower to convert any Loan to or continue any Loan as a LIBOR Loan shall be suspended, and (y) in the event of a determination described in the preceding sentence with respect to the LIBOR component of the Base Rate, the utilization of the LIBOR component in determining the Base Rate shall be suspended, in each case until the Administrative Agent (upon the instruction of the Required Lenders) revokes such notice.  Upon receipt of such notice, the Borrower may revoke any pending request for a Borrowing of, conversion to or continuation of LIBOR Loans or, failing that, will be deemed to have converted such request into a request for a Committed Borrowing of Base Rate Loans in the amount specified therein. the Borrower shall either (A) repay in full (or cause to be repaid in full) the then outstanding principal amount of each such LIBOR Loan together with accrued interest thereon (subject to Section 11.09) , on the last day of the then current Interest Period applicable to such LIBOR Loan; or (B) convert the then outstanding principal amount of each such LIBOR Loan to a Base Rate Loan as of the last day of such Interest Period.

 

(b)                                  Alternative Rate of Interest.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Section 3.03(a)  above, if the Administrative Agent has made the determination (such determination to be conclusive absent manifest error) that (i) the circumstances described in Section 3.03(a)(i)  or (a)(ii)  have arisen and that such circumstances are unlikely to be temporary, (ii) any applicable interest rate specified herein is no longer a widely recognized benchmark rate for newly originated loans in the syndicated loan market in the applicable currency or (iii) the applicable supervisor or administrator (if any) of any applicable interest rate specified herein or any Governmental Authority having, or purporting to have, jurisdiction over the Administrative Agent has made a public statement identifying a specific date after which any applicable interest rate specified herein shall no longer be used for determining interest rates for loans in the syndicated loan market in the applicable currency, then the Administrative Agent may, to the extent practicable (in consultation with the Borrower and as determined by the Administrative Agent to be generally in accordance with similar situations in other transactions in which it is serving as administrative agent or otherwise consistent with market practice generally), establish a replacement interest rate (the “Replacement Rate”), in which case, the Replacement Rate shall, subject to the next two sentences, replace such applicable interest rate for all purposes under the Loan Documents unless and until (A) an event described in Section 3.03(a)(i) , (a)(ii) , (b)(i) , (b)(ii)  or (c)(iii)  occurs with respect to the Replacement Rate or (B) the Required Lenders (directly, or through the Administrative

 

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Agent) notify the Borrower that the Replacement Rate does not adequately and fairly reflect the cost to the Lenders of funding the Loans bearing interest at the Replacement Rate; provided that if such determined rate shall be less than zero, such rate shall be deemed to be zero for each Loan bearing interest at the Replacement Rate that has not been identified by the Borrower in accordance with the terms of this Agreement as being subject to a Specified Swap Contract that provides a hedge against interest rate risk.  In connection with the establishment and application of the Replacement Rate, this Agreement and the other Loan Documents shall be amended solely with the consent of the Administrative Agent and the Borrower, as may be necessary or appropriate, in the opinion of the Administrative Agent, to effect the provisions of this Section 3.03(b) .  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement or the other Loan Documents (including, without limitation, Section 11.01 ), such amendment shall become effective without any further action or consent of any other party to this Agreement so long as the Administrative Agent shall not have received, within five (5) Business Days of the delivery of such amendment to the Lenders, written notices from such Lenders that in the aggregate constitute Required Lenders, with each such notice stating that such Lender objects to such amendment.  To the extent the Replacement Rate is approved by the Administrative Agent in connection with this clause (b), the Replacement Rate shall be applied in a manner consistent with market practice; provided that, in each case, to the extent such market practice is not administratively feasible for the Administrative Agent, such Replacement Rate shall be applied as otherwise reasonably determined by the Administrative Agent (it being understood that any such modification by the Administrative Agent shall not require the consent of, or consultation with, any of the Lenders).

 

d.                                       Increased Costs; Reserves on LIBOR Loans.

 

(a)                                  Increased Costs Generally .  If any Change in Law shall:

 

(i)                                      impose, modify or deem applicable any reserve, special deposit, liquidity, compulsory loan, insurance charge or similar assessment or requirement against assets of, deposits with or for the account of, or credit extended or participated in by, the Administrative Agent or any Lender (except any reserve requirement contemplated by Section 3.04(e) );

 

(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 the Administrative Agent or any Lender or the London interbank market any other condition, cost or expense affecting this Agreement or LIBOR Loans made by such Lender;

 

and the result of any of the foregoing shall be to increase the cost to the Administrative Agent or such Lender, as applicable, of making, converting, continuing or

 

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maintaining any Loan (or of maintaining its obligation to make any such Loan), then the Borrower will pay to the Administrative Agent or such Lender, as applicable, such additional amount or amounts as will compensate the Administrative Agent or such Lender, as applicable, for such additional costs incurred or reduction suffered.

 

(b)                                  Capital Requirements .  If any Lender  determines  that  any  Change  in  Law affecting such Lender or any Lending Office of such Lender or such Lender’s holding company, if any, regarding capital or liquidity ratios or requirements has or  would have  the effect of reducing the rate of return on such Lender’s capital or on the capital of such Lender’s holding company, if any, as a consequence of this Agreement, the Commitments  of such Lender or the Loans made by such Lender, to a level below that which such Lender or such Lender’s holding company could have achieved but for such Change in Law (taking into consideration such Lender’s policies and the policies of such Lender’s holding company with respect to capital adequacy and liquidity ), then from time to time the Borrower will pay  to such Lender such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender or such Lender’s holding company for any such reduction suffered.

 

(c)                                   Certificates for Reimbursement .  A certificate of a Lender setting forth the amount or amounts necessary to compensate such Lender or its holding company, as the case may be, as specified in subsection (a)  or (b)  of this Section and delivered to the Borrower shall be conclusive absent manifest error.  The Borrower shall pay such Lender the amount shown as due on any such certificate within fifteen (15) days after receipt thereof.

 

(d)                                  Delay in Requests .  Failure or delay on the part of any Lender to demand compensation pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this Section shall not constitute a waiver of such Lender’s right to demand such compensation, provided that the Borrower shall not be required to compensate a Lender 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 notifies the Borrower of the Change in Law giving rise to such increased costs or reductions and of such Lender’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).

 

(e)                                   Reserves on LIBOR Loans .  The Borrower 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 LIBOR 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), which shall be due and payable on each date on which interest is payable on such Loan, provided that   the Borrower shall have received at least ten (10) days’ prior notice (with a copy to the Administrative Agent) of such additional interest 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.

 

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e.                                        Compensation for Losses.  Upon demand of any Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent) from time to time, the Borrower 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 the Borrower (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 the Borrower; or

 

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

 

excluding any loss of anticipated profits and 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 Borrower shall also pay any customary administrative fees charged by such Lender in connection with the foregoing.

 

For purposes of calculating amounts payable by the Borrower to the Lenders under this Section 3.05 , each Lender shall be deemed to have funded each LIBOR Loan made by it at LIBOR for such Loan by a matching deposit or other borrowing in the London interbank eurodollar market for a comparable amount and for a comparable period, whether or not such LIBOR Loan was in fact so funded.

 

f.                                         Mitigation Obligations; Replacement of the Lenders.

 

(a)                                  Designation of a Different Lending Office .  If any Lender requests compensation under Section 3.04 , or the Borrower is required to pay any Indemnified Taxes or additional amount to any Lender, or any Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender pursuant to Section 3.01 , or if any Lender gives a notice pursuant to Section 3.02 , then at the request of the Borrower such Lender 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 reasonable judgment of such Lender, 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 to any material unreimbursed cost or expense and would not otherwise be materially disadvantageous to such Lender.  The Borrower hereby agrees to pay all reasonable costs and expenses incurred by any Lender in connection with any such designation or assignment.

 

(b)                                  Replacement of the Lenders .  If any Lender requests compensation under Section 3.04 , or if the Borrower is required to pay any Indemnified Taxes or additional amounts to any Lender or any Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender pursuant to Section 3.01 and, in each case, such Lender has declined or is unable

 

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to designate a different lending office in accordance with Section 3.06(a) , the Borrower may replace such Lender in accordance with Section 11.13 .

 

g.                                        Survival.  All of the Borrower’s obligations under this Article III shall survive termination of the Aggregate Commitments, repayment of all other Obligations hereunder, and resignation of the Administrative Agent.

 

11.
Unencumbered Properties

 

a.                                       Initial Unencumbered Properties.  As of the Closing Date, the Initial Unencumbered Properties shall consist of the Properties set forth on Schedule 4.01 .

 

b.                                       Reserved.

 

c.                                        Notices of Qualification as an Unencumbered Property.  The Borrower shall provide the Administrative Agent with a written notice of an Acceptable Property to be deemed an Unencumbered Property.

 

d.                                       Eligibility.  In order for an Acceptable Property to be eligible for inclusion as an Unencumbered Property, such Acceptable Property shall satisfy the following requirements unless otherwise approved by the Required Lenders:

 

(a)                                  no Material Title Defect with respect to such Acceptable Property shall exist;

 

(b)                                  such Acceptable Property shall have reasonable access to public utilities; and

 

(c)                                   such Acceptable Property shall not have any material defects.

 

e.                                        Reserved.

 

f.                                         Guaranty. An Acceptable Property shall not  be  deemed  an  Unencumbered Property until the applicable Subsidiary Guarantor shall have executed and delivered (or caused to be executed and delivered) to the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Lenders and any Specified Derivatives Providers, the Subsidiary Guaranty.

 

g.                                        Admission of New Unencumbered Properties.  If, after the date of this Agreement, the Borrower has submitted to the Administrative Agent the notice contemplated by Section 4.03 , then such Acceptable Property shall be deemed to be an Unencumbered Property.

 

h.                                       Reserved.

 

i.                                           Reserved.

 

j.                                          Exclusion Events.  Each of the following events shall be an “ Exclusion Event ” with respect to an Unencumbered Property:

 

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(a)                                  such Unencumbered Property suffers a Material Environmental Event or a Material Title Defect after the date of this Agreement which the Administrative Agent determines, acting reasonably and in good faith, materially impairs the Unencumbered Asset Value or marketability of such Unencumbered Property;

 

(b)                                  the Administrative Agent determines that such Unencumbered Property has suffered a Material Property Event after the date such Property was deemed an Unencumbered Property (or in the case of an uninsured Casualty, in respect of such Unencumbered Property, is reasonably likely to become a Material Property Event) which the Administrative Agent determines, acting reasonably and in good faith, materially impairs the Unencumbered Asset Value or marketability of such Unencumbered Property;

 

(c)                                   a Lien for the performance of work or the supply of materials which is established against such Unencumbered Property, or any stop notice served on the owner of such Unencumbered Property, the Administrative Agent or a Lender, remains unsatisfied or unbonded for a period of thirty (30) days after the date of filing or service and such Lien has priority over any Loan previously or thereafter made under this Agreement;

 

(d)                                  (i) any default by any Subsidiary Guarantor, as tenant under any applicable Acceptable Ground Lease, in the observance or performance of any material term, covenant, or condition of any applicable Acceptable Ground Lease on the part of such Subsidiary Guarantor to be observed or performed and said default is not cured following the expiration of any applicable grace and notice periods therein provided, or (ii)  the leasehold estate created by any applicable Acceptable Ground Lease shall be surrendered or (iii)  any applicable Acceptable Ground Lease shall cease to be in full force and effect or (iv) any applicable Acceptable Ground Lease shall be terminated or canceled for any reason or under any circumstances whatsoever, or any of the material terms, covenants or conditions of any applicable Acceptable Ground Lease shall be modified, changed, supplemented, altered, or amended in any manner not otherwise permitted hereunder without the consent of the Administrative Agent; and

 

(e)                                   the Borrower shall cease to own, directly or indirectly, one hundred percent (100%) of the Equity Interests of any Subsidiary Guarantor that owns an Unencumbered Property free and clear of any Liens (other than Liens in favor of the Administrative Agent).

 

After the occurrence of any Exclusion Event, the Administrative Agent, at the direction of the Required Lenders in their sole discretion, shall have the right at any time and from time to time to notify the Borrower (the “ Exclusion Notice ”) that, effective ten (10) Business Days after the giving of such notice and for so long as such Exclusion Event exists, such Property shall no longer be considered an Unencumbered Property.  

 

If the Administrative Agent delivers an Exclusion Notice and such Exclusion Event no longer exists, then the Borrower may give the Administrative Agent written notice thereof (together with reasonably detailed evidence of the cure of such condition) and such Unencumbered

 

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Property shall be considered an Unencumbered Property as long as such Unencumbered Property meets all the requirements to be deemed an Unencumbered Property set forth in this Article IV.  Any Property that is excluded from the Unencumbered Properties pursuant to this Section 4.10 may subsequently be reinstated as an Unencumbered Property, even if an Exclusion Event exists, upon such terms and conditions as the Required Lenders may approve.

 

Upon the occurrence of an Default under Section 8.11(a) , the Borrower shall have the right to elect, upon written notice to the Administrative Agent, that the Lenders designate one or more Unencumbered Properties to be excluded as Unencumbered Properties in order to effect compliance with Section 8.11(a) , with the Borrower thereafter having the right to elect to have any such Unencumbered Property thereafter deemed an Unencumbered Property, provided no Exclusion Event shall exist at such time with respect to such Unencumbered Property.

 

4.11 Reserved .

 

12.
Conditions Precedent to Credit Extensions

 

a.                                       Conditions of Initial Credit Extension.  The obligation of each Lender to make its initial Credit Extension hereunder is subject to satisfaction of the following conditions precedent:

 

(a)                                  The Administrative Agent’s receipt of the following, each of which shall be originals or telecopies (followed promptly by originals) unless otherwise specified, each properly executed by a Responsible Officer of the signing Loan Party, each dated the Closing Date (or, in the case of certificates of governmental officials, a recent date before the Closing Date) and each in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and each of the Lenders:

 

(i)                                      executed counterparts of this Agreement and the Guaranties sufficient in number for distribution to the Administrative Agent, each Lender, and the Borrower for each Initial Unencumbered Property;

 

(ii)                                   a Note executed by the Borrower in favor of each Lender requesting a Note;

 

(iii)                                copies of the Organization Documents of each Loan Party certified to be true and complete as of a recent date by the appropriate Governmental Authority of the state or other jurisdiction of its incorporation or organization, where applicable, and certified by a Responsible Officer of such Loan Party to be true and correct as of the Closing Date;

 

(iv)                               such certificates of resolutions or other action, incumbency certificates and/or other certificates of Responsible Officers of each Loan Party as the Administrative Agent may require evidencing the identity, authority and capacity of each Responsible Officer thereof authorized to act as a Responsible Officer in connection with this Agreement and the other Loan Documents to which such Loan Party is a party;

 

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(v)                                  such documents and certifications as the Administrative Agent may reasonably require to evidence that each Loan Party is duly organized or formed, and that each Loan Party is validly existing, in good standing and qualified to engage in business in each jurisdiction where its ownership, lease or operation of properties or the conduct of its business requires such qualification, except to the extent that failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;

 

(vi)                               a favorable opinion of DLA Piper LLP (US), counsel to the Loan Parties, addressed to the Administrative Agent and each Lender, as to the matters set forth in Exhibit G and such other matters concerning the Loan Parties and the Loan Documents as the Required Lenders may reasonably request;

 

(vii)                            a certificate of a Responsible Officer of each Loan Party either (A) attaching copies of all consents, licenses and approvals required in connection with the execution, delivery and performance by such Loan Party and the validity against such Loan Party of the Loan Documents to which it is a party, and such consents, licenses and approvals shall be in full force and effect, or (B) stating that no such consents, licenses or approvals are so required;

 

(viii)                         a certificate signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower certifying (A) that the conditions specified in Sections 5.02(a)  and (b)  have been satisfied, and (B) that there has been no event or circumstance since the date of the Audited Financial Statements that has had or could be reasonably expected to have, either individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect;

 

(ix)                               a duly completed Compliance Certificate as of the Closing Date, signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower;

 

(x)                                  evidence that all insurance required to be maintained pursuant to the Loan Documents has been obtained and is in effect;

 

(xi)                               a Disbursement Instruction Agreement effective as of the Agreement Date; and

 

(xii)                            such other assurances, certificates, documents, consents or opinions as the Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders reasonably may require.

 

(b)                                  Any fees required to be paid on or before the Closing Date shall have been paid.

 

(c)                                   Unless waived by the Administrative Agent, the Borrower shall have paid all fees, charges and disbursements of counsel to the Administrative Agent (directly to such counsel if requested by the Administrative Agent) to the extent invoiced prior to the Closing Date, plus such additional amounts of such fees, charges and disbursements as shall constitute its reasonable estimate of such fees, charges and disbursements incurred or to be incurred by it through the closing proceedings ( provided that such estimate shall

 

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not thereafter preclude a final settling of accounts between the Borrower and the Administrative Agent).

 

Without limiting the generality of the provisions of the last paragraph of Section 10.03 , for purposes of determining compliance with the conditions specified in this Section 5.01 , 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.

 

b.                                       Conditions to all Credit Extensions.  The obligation of each Lender to honor any Request for Credit Extension (other than a Committed Loan Notice requesting only a conversion of Committed Loans to the other Type, or a continuation of LIBOR Loans) is subject to the following conditions precedent:

 

(a)                                  The representations and warranties of the Borrower and each other Loan Party contained in Article VI or any other Loan Document, or which are contained in any document furnished at any time under or in connection herewith or therewith, shall be true and correct in all material respects (except in the case of a representation or warranty qualified by materiality or Material Adverse Effect, in which case such representation or warranty shall be true and correct in all respects) on and as of the date of such Credit Extension, except to the extent that such representations and warranties specifically refer to an earlier date, in which case they shall be true and correct in all material respects (except in the case of a representation or warranty qualified by materiality or Material Adverse Effect, in which case such representation or warranty shall be true and correct in all respects) as of such earlier date, and except that for purposes of this Section   5.02 , the representations and warranties contained in Section 6.05(b)  shall be deemed to refer to the most-recent statements furnished pursuant to Section 7.01(b) .

 

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

 

(c)                                   The Administrative Agent shall have received a Request for Credit Extension in accordance with the requirements hereof.

 

(d)                                  After giving effect to such proposed Credit Extension, the Borrower shall be in compliance with Section 2.01(c) .

 

Each Request for Credit Extension (other than a Committed Loan Notice requesting only a conversion of Committed Loans to the other Type or a continuation of LIBOR Loans) submitted by the Borrower shall be deemed to be a representation and warranty that the conditions specified in Sections   5.02(a) , (b) , and (d)  have been satisfied on and as of the date of the applicable Credit Extension.

 

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13.
Representations and Warranties

 

Each of the Parent and the Borrower represents and warrants to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders that:

 

a.                                       Existence, Qualification and Power; Compliance with Laws.  The Parent, the Borrower and each Subsidiary Guarantor (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) in the case of the Loan Parties, 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 (b)(i)  or (c)  to the extent that failure to do so would not have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

b.                                       Authorization; No Contravention.  The execution, delivery and performance by each Loan Party of each Loan Document to which such Person is 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 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.

 

c.                                        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 the execution, delivery or performance by, or enforcement against, any Loan Party of this Agreement or any other Loan Document except for those that have been obtained, taken or made, as the case may be, and those specified herein.

 

d.                                       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, except as enforcement may be limited by Debtor Relief Laws or general equitable principles relating to or limiting creditors’ rights generally.

 

e.                                        Financial Statements; No Material Adverse Effect.

 

(a)                                  The Audited Financial Statements (i) were prepared in accordance with GAAP consistently applied throughout the period covered thereby, except as otherwise

 

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expressly noted therein; (ii) fairly present the financial condition of the Parent as of the date thereof and their results of operations for each period covered thereby in accordance with GAAP consistently applied throughout the each period covered thereby, except as otherwise expressly noted therein; and (iii) show all material indebtedness and other liabilities, direct or contingent, of the Parent as of the date thereof, including liabilities for taxes, material commitments and Indebtedness required by GAAP to be reflected therein.

 

(b)                                  The most recent unaudited consolidated balance sheet of the Parent delivered pursuant to Section 7.01(b) , 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 the financial condition of the Parent as of the date thereof and its results of operations 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)                                   From and after the date of the Audited Financial Statements, and thereafter, from and after the date of the most recent financial statements delivered pursuant to Section 7.01(a)  or 7.01(b), there has been no event or circumstance, either individually or in the aggregate, that has had or would have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

f.                                         Litigation.  There are no actions, suits, proceedings, claims or disputes pending or, to the knowledge of any Company, threatened or contemplated, at law, in equity, in arbitration or before any Governmental Authority, by or against any Company 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) except as specifically disclosed in Schedule 6.06 , either individually or in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, and there has been no adverse change in the status, or financial effect on any Company, of the matters described on Schedule 6.06 , which change could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

g.                                        No Default.  No Company is in default under or with respect 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.

 

h.                                       Ownership of Property; Liens; Equity Interests.  Each Subsidiary Guarantor has good record and marketable title in fee simple to, or valid leasehold interests in, all Unencumbered Properties 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.  Each applicable Subsidiary Guarantor has good record and marketable fee simple title (or, in the case of Acceptable Ground Leases, a valid leasehold) to the Unencumbered Property owned by such Subsidiary Guarantor, subject only to Liens permitted by Section 8.01 .  All of the outstanding Equity Interests in each Subsidiary Guarantor have been validly issued, are fully paid and non-assessable and are owned by the applicable holders free and clear of all Liens (other than Liens permitted by Section 8.01 ).

 

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i.                                           Environmental Compliance.

 

(a)                                  The Companies conduct in the ordinary course of business a review of 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 Parent and the Borrower have reasonably concluded that, except as specifically disclosed in Schedule 6.09 , such Environmental Laws and claims could not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(b)                                  After due inquiry in accordance with good commercial or customary practices to determine whether Contamination is present on any Property, without regard to whether the Administrative Agent or any Lender has or hereafter obtains any knowledge or report of the environmental condition of such Property, except as may be indicated in environmental reports delivered to the Administrative Agent and except to the extent the same could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect: (i) such Property has not been used (A) for landfilling, dumping, or other waste or Hazardous Material disposal activities or operations, or (B) for generation, storage, use, sale, treatment, processing, or recycling of any Hazardous Material, or for any other use that has resulted in Contamination, and in each case, to each Company’s knowledge, no such use on any adjacent property occurred at any time prior to the date hereof; (ii) there is no Hazardous Material, storage tank (or similar vessel) whether underground or otherwise, sump or well currently on any Property; (iii) no Company has received any notice of, or has knowledge of, any Environmental Claim or any completed, pending, proposed or threatened investigation or inquiry concerning the presence or release of any Hazardous Material on any Property or any adjacent property or concerning whether any condition, use or activity on any Property or any adjacent property is in violation of any Environmental Requirement; (iv) the present conditions, uses, and activities on each Property do not violate any Environmental Requirement and the use of any Property which any Company (and each tenant and subtenant) makes and intends to make of any Property complies and will comply with all applicable Environmental Requirements; (v) no Property appears on the National Priorities List, any federal or state “superfund” or “superlien” list, or any other list or database of properties maintained by any local, state, or federal agency or department showing properties which are known to contain or which are suspected of containing a Hazardous Material; (vi) no Company has ever applied for and been denied environmental impairment liability insurance coverage relating to any Property; (vii) no Company has, nor, to any Company’s knowledge, have any tenants or subtenants, obtained any permit or authorization to construct, occupy, operate, use, or conduct any activity on any Property by reason of any Environmental Requirement; and (viii) to any Company’s knowledge, there are no underground or aboveground storage tanks on such Property.

 

j.                                          Insurance.  The properties of the Loan Parties are insured with financially sound and reputable insurance companies not Affiliates of any Loan Party, 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 Loan Parties operate.

 

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k.                                       Taxes.  The Companies have filed all material Federal, state and other tax returns and reports required to be filed, and have paid all material Federal, state and other 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 or which would not result in a Material Adverse Effect.  There is no proposed tax assessment against any Company that would, if made, have a Material Adverse Effect. Neither any Loan Party nor any Subsidiary thereof is party to any tax sharing agreement.

 

l.                                           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.  Each Pension Plan that is intended to be a qualified plan under Section 401(a)  of the Code has received a favorable determination letter from the Internal Revenue Service 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 Internal Revenue Service 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 Internal Revenue Service.  To the best knowledge of the Parent and the Borrower, nothing has occurred that would prevent or cause the loss of such tax-qualified status.  The Parent and each ERISA Affiliate have made all required contributions to each Plan subject to Section 412 of the Code, and no application for a funding waiver or an extension of any amortization period pursuant to Section 412 of the Code has been made with respect to any Plan.

 

(b)                                  There are no pending or, to the best knowledge of the Parent and the Borrower, threatened claims, actions or  lawsuits, or action by any Governmental Authority, with respect to any Plan that would have a Material Adverse Effect.  There has been no prohibited transaction or violation of the fiduciary responsibility rules with respect to any Plan that has resulted or would  have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(c)                                   (i) No ERISA Event has occurred, and neither the Parent nor any ERISA Affiliate is aware of any fact, event or circumstance that would constitute or result in an ERISA Event with respect to any Pension Plan; (ii) the Parent and each ERISA Affiliate has met all applicable requirements under the Pension Funding Rules in respect of each Pension Plan, and no waiver of the minimum funding standards under the Pension Funding Rules has been applied for or obtained; (iii) as of the most-recent valuation date for any Pension Plan, the funding target attainment percentage (as defined in Section 430(d)(2)  of the Code) is 60% or higher and neither the Parent nor any ERISA Affiliate knows of any facts or circumstances that would cause the funding target attainment percentage for any such plan to drop below 60% as of the most-recent valuation date; (iv) neither the Parent nor any ERISA Affiliate has incurred any liability to the PBGC other than for the payment of premiums, and there are no premium payments which have become due that are unpaid; (v) neither the Parent nor any ERISA Affiliate has engaged in a transaction that could be subject to Section 4069 or Section 4212(c)  of ERISA; and (vi) no Pension Plan has been terminated by the plan

 

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administrator thereof nor by the PBGC, and no event or circumstance has occurred or exists that would  cause the PBGC to institute proceedings under Title IV of ERISA to terminate any Pension Plan, in each case, that would result in a liability, individually, or in the aggregate, in excess of the Threshold Amount.

 

(d)                                  As of the Third Amendment Effective Date the Borrower is not nor will be using “plan assets” (within the meaning of 29 CFR § 2510.3-101, as modified by Section 3(42) of ERISA) of one or more Benefit Plans in connection with the Loans or the Commitments.

 

m.                                   Subsidiaries; Equity Interests.  As of the Closing Date, the Parent and the Borrower have no Subsidiaries other than those specifically disclosed in Part (a) of Schedule 6.13 , and all of the outstanding Equity Interests in such Subsidiaries have been validly issued, are fully paid and non-assessable and are owned by a Company in the amounts specified on Part (a) of Schedule   6.13 free and clear of all Liens.  As of the Closing Date, neither the Parent nor the Borrower has any direct or indirect Equity Interests in any other Person other than those specifically disclosed in Part (b) of Schedule   6.13 .  All of the outstanding Equity Interests in each Subsidiary Guarantor have been validly issued, are fully paid and non-assessable and are owned by the applicable holders in the amounts specified on Part (c) of Schedule   6.13 free and clear of all Liens.

 

n.                                       Margin Regulations; Investment Company Act.

 

(a)                                  Neither the Parent nor the Borrower is 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.

 

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

 

o.                                       Disclosure.

 

(a)                                  The Parent and the Borrower have disclosed to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders all agreements, instruments and corporate or other restrictions to which any Company is subject, and all other matters known to them, that, individually or in the aggregate, would have a Material Adverse Effect.  The reports, financial statements, certificates or other information furnished (whether in writing or orally) by or on behalf of any Company 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), taken as a whole, do not contain any material misstatement of fact or fail to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided that (a) with respect to projected financial information, the Parent and the Borrower represent only that such information was prepared in good faith based upon

 

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assumptions believed to be reasonable at the time made, and (b) with respect to any lease abstracts provided by the Borrower, to the best of the Borrower’s knowledge, same will not contain any material misstatement of fact or fail to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

 

(b)                                  As of the Third Amendment Effective Date, the information included in the Beneficial Ownership Certification is true and correct in all respects.

 

p.                                       Compliance with Laws.  Each Company is in compliance in all material respects 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, would have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

q.                                       Taxpayer Identification Number.  As of the date hereof, each Loan Party’s true and correct U.S. taxpayer identification number is set forth on Schedule 11.02 .

 

r.                                          Intellectual Property; Licenses, Etc.  Each Loan Party owns, or possesses the right to use, all of the trademarks, service marks, trade names, copyrights, patents, patent rights, franchises, licenses and other intellectual property rights (collectively, “ IP Rights ”) that are reasonably necessary for the operation of their respective businesses, without conflict with the rights of any other Person except, in each case, where the failure to do so would have a Material Adverse Effect.  To the best knowledge of each Loan Party, 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 infringes upon any rights held by any other Person except where such infringement would not have a Material Adverse Effect.  Except as specifically disclosed in Schedule 6.18 , no claim or litigation regarding any of the foregoing is pending or, to the best knowledge of each Loan Party, threatened, which, either individually or in the aggregate, would have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

s.                                         Reserved .

 

t.                                          Solvency.  No Loan Party (a) has entered into the transaction or executed this Agreement or any other Loan Document with the actual intent to hinder, delay or defraud any creditor and (b) has not received reasonably equivalent value in exchange for its obligations under the Loan Documents.  After giving effect to any Loan, the fair saleable value of the Loan Parties’ assets, taken as a whole, exceeds and will, immediately following the making of any such Loan, exceed the Loan Parties’ total liabilities, including subordinated, unliquidated, disputed and contingent liabilities.  The Loan Parties’ assets, taken as a whole, do not constitute unreasonably small capital to carry out their business as conducted or as proposed to be conducted, nor will their assets constitute unreasonably small capital immediately following the making of any Loan.  The Loan Parties do not intend to incur debt and liabilities (including contingent liabilities and other commitments) beyond their ability to pay such debt and liabilities as they mature (taking into account the timing and amounts of cash to be received by the Loan Parties and the amounts to be payable on or in respect of obligations of the Loan Parties).  No

 

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petition under any Debtor Relief Laws has been filed against any Loan Party in the last seven (7) years, and neither the Borrower nor any other Loan Party in the last seven (7) years has ever made an assignment for the benefit of creditors or taken advantage of any insolvency act for the benefit of debtors.  No Loan Party is contemplating either the filing of a petition by it under any Debtor Relief Laws or the liquidation of all or a major portion of its assets or property (except for dispositions permitted hereunder), and no Loan Party has knowledge of any Person contemplating the filing of any such petition against it or any other Loan Party.

 

u.                                       REIT Status of the Parent.  The Parent qualified as a REIT commencing with its taxable year ending December 31, 2014 and will remain qualified in each taxable year thereafter.

 

v.                                       Labor Matters.  There is (a) no significant unfair labor practice complaint pending against any Company or, to the best of each Company’s knowledge, threatened against any Company, before the National Labor Relations Board, and no significant grievance or significant arbitration proceeding arising out of or under any collective bargaining agreement is pending on the date hereof against any Company or, to best of any Company’s knowledge, threatened against any Company which, in either case, would result in a Material Adverse Effect, and (b) no significant strike, labor dispute, slowdown or stoppage is pending against any Company or, to the best of any Company’s knowledge, threatened against any Company which would result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

w.                                     Ground Lease Representation.

 

(a)                                  The applicable Subsidiary Guarantor has delivered to the Administrative Agent true and correct copies of each Acceptable Ground Lease to the extent requested by the Administrative Agent.

 

(b)                                  Each Acceptable Ground Lease is in full force and effect.

 

x.                                       Unencumbered Properties .  To the Borrower’s knowledge and except where the failure of any of the following to be true and correct would not have a Material Adverse Effect:

 

(a)                                  Each Unencumbered Property complies with all Laws, including all subdivision and platting requirements, without reliance on any adjoining or neighboring property.  No Loan Party has received any notice or claim from any Person that an Unencumbered Property, or any use, activity, operation, or maintenance thereof or thereon, is not in compliance with any Law, and has no knowledge of any such noncompliance except as disclosed in writing to the Administrative Agent;

 

(b)                                  The Loan Parties have not directly or indirectly conveyed, assigned, or otherwise disposed of, or transferred (or agreed to do so) any development rights, air rights, or other similar rights, privileges, or attributes with respect to an Unencumbered Property, including those arising under any zoning or property use ordinance or other Laws;

 

(c)                                   All utility services necessary for the use of each Unencumbered Property and the operation thereof for their intended purpose are available at each Unencumbered Property;

 

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(d)                                  The current use of each Unencumbered Property complies in all material respects with all applicable zoning ordinances, regulations, and restrictive covenants affecting such Unencumbered Property, all use restrictions of any Governmental Authority having jurisdiction have been satisfied; and

 

(e)                                   No Unencumbered Property is the subject of any pending or, to any Loan Party’s knowledge, threatened Condemnation or material adverse zoning proceeding for which the Administrative Agent has not been notified in accordance with Section 7.03(f) .

 

y.                                       OFAC.   No Loan Party, nor, to the knowledge of any Loan Party, any Related Party, (i) is currently the subject of any Sanctions, (ii) is located, organized or residing in any Designated Jurisdiction, or (iii) is or has been (within the previous five (5) years) engaged in any transaction with any Person who is now or was then the subject of Sanctions or who is located, organized or residing in any Designated Jurisdiction.  No Loan, nor the proceeds from any Loan, has been used, directly or indirectly, to lend, contribute, provide or has otherwise made available to fund any activity or business in any Designated Jurisdiction or to fund any activity or business of any Person located, organized or residing in any Designated Jurisdiction or who is the subject of any Sanctions, or in any other manner that will result in any violation by any Person (including any Lender, the Lead Arrangers or the Administrative Agent) of Sanctions.  Each Loan Party, their respective officers and, to the knowledge of the Parent and the Borrower, its respective directors, employees and agents and any Related Party, are in compliance with Anti-Corruption Laws and applicable Sanctions in all material respects. No Credit Extension, use of the proceeds of any Credit Extension, or other transactions contemplated hereby will violate Anti-Corruption Laws or applicable Sanctions.  Neither the making of the Credit Extensions hereunder nor the use of the proceeds thereof will violate the Patriot Act, the Trading with the Enemy Act, as amended, or any of the foreign assets control regulations of the United States Treasury Department (31 C.F.R., Subtitle B, Chapter V, as amended) or any enabling legislation or executive order relating thereto or successor statute thereto. Each Loan Party is in compliance in all material respects with the Patriot Act.

 

z.                                        EEA Financial Institutions. No Loan Party is an EEA Financial Institution.

 

14.
Affirmative Covenants

 

So long as any Lender shall have any Commitment hereunder, any Loan or other Obligation hereunder (excluding contingent indemnification obligations to the extent no unsatisfied claim giving rise thereto has been asserted) shall remain unpaid or unsatisfied:

 

a.                                       Financial Statements.  Each of the Parent and the Borrower shall deliver to the Administrative Agent and each Lender, in form and detail reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the Required Lenders:

 

(a)                                  as soon as available, but in any event within one hundred five (105) days after the end of each fiscal year of the Parent (or, if earlier, fifteen (15) days after the date required to be filed with the SEC without giving effect to any extension permitted by the SEC) (commencing with the fiscal year ending December 31, 2015, a consolidated

 

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balance sheet of the Parent 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, all in reasonable detail and prepared in accordance with GAAP, such consolidated statements to be audited and accompanied by a report and opinion of an independent certified public accountant of nationally recognized standing reasonably acceptable to the Required Lenders, 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; and

 

(b)                                  as soon as available, but in any event within sixty (60) days after the end of each of the first three (3) fiscal quarters of each fiscal year of the Parent (or, if earlier, five (5) days after the date required to be filed with the SEC) (commencing with the fiscal quarter ending September 30, 2015), a consolidated balance sheet of the Parent, the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as at the end of such fiscal quarter, the related consolidated statements of income or operations for such fiscal quarter and for the portion of the Parent’s fiscal year then ended, and the related consolidated statements of changes in shareholders’ equity, and cash flows for the portion of the Parent’s fiscal year then ended, in each case setting forth in comparative form, as applicable, the figures for the corresponding fiscal quarter of the previous fiscal year and the corresponding portion of the previous fiscal year, all in reasonable detail, such consolidated statements to be certified by the chief executive officer, chief financial officer, treasurer or controller of the Parent as fairly presenting the financial condition, results of operations, shareholders’ equity and cash flows of the Parent in accordance with GAAP, subject only to normal year-end audit adjustments and the absence of footnotes

 

As to any information contained in materials furnished pursuant to Section 7.02 , the Parent and the Borrower shall not be separately required to furnish such information under clause (a)  or (b)  above, but the foregoing shall not be in derogation of the obligation of the Parent and the Borrower to furnish the information and materials described in clauses (a)  and (b)  above at the times specified therein.

 

b.                                       Certificates; Other Information.  Each of the Parent and the Borrower shall deliver to the Administrative Agent and each Lender, in form and detail reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the Required Lenders:

 

(a)                                  concurrently with the delivery of the financial statements referred to in Sections 7.01(a) and (b), a duly completed Compliance Certificate signed by the chief executive officer, chief financial officer, chief accounting officer, treasurer or controller of the Borrower (which delivery may, unless the Administrative Agent or a Lender requests executed originals, be by electronic communication including fax or email and shall be deemed to be an original authentic counterpart thereof for all purposes);

 

(b)                                  promptly after any request by the Administrative Agent, copies of any detailed audit opinions or review reports submitted to the board of directors (or the audit

 

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committee of the board of directors) of the Parent by independent accountants in connection with the accounts or books of the Parent;

 

(c)                                   promptly after the same are available, copies of each annual report, proxy or financial statement or other report or communication sent to the stockholders of the Parent, and copies of all annual, regular, periodic and special reports and registration statements which the Borrower may file or be required to file with the SEC under Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and not otherwise required to be delivered to the Administrative Agent pursuant hereto;

 

(d)                                  promptly after the furnishing thereof, copies of any statement or report furnished to any holder of publicly-held debt securities of the Parent or the Borrower 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 7.01 or any other clause of this Section 7.02;

 

(e)                                   promptly, and in any event within five (5) Business Days after receipt thereof by the Parent or the Borrower, copies of each notice or other correspondence received from the SEC (or comparable agency in any applicable non-U.S. jurisdiction) concerning any material investigation or other material inquiry by such agency regarding financial or other operational results of any Company unless restricted from doing so by such agency; and

 

(f)                                    promptly, such additional information regarding the business, financial or corporate affairs of the Parent or the Borrower or any Unencumbered Property, 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 7.01(a) or (b) or Section 7.02(c) (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 (i) on which the Parent or the Borrower (A) files any such document with the Securities and Exchange Commission’s EDGAR system (or any successor thereto) in a manner accessible to the public at large or (B) posts such documents, or provides a link thereto on the Parent and the Borrower’s website on the Internet at the website address listed on Schedule 11.02; or (ii) on which such documents are posted on the Parent and the Borrower’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). 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 and the Borrower 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.

 

The Parent and the Borrower hereby acknowledge that (a) the Administrative Agent and/or the Lead Arranger will make available to the Lenders materials and/or information provided by or on behalf of the Parent and the Borrower hereunder (collectively, the “Borrower Materials”) by

 

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posting the Borrower Materials on IntraLinks, SyndTrak or another similar electronic system (the “Platform”) and (b) certain of the Lenders (each, a “Public Lender”) may have personnel who do not wish to receive material non-public information with respect to the Parent, the Borrower or their Affiliates, or the respective Equity Interests of any of the foregoing, and who may be engaged in investment and other market-related activities with respect to such Persons’ Equity Interests. The Parent and the Borrower hereby agree that (w) all the Borrower Materials that are to be made available to the Public Lenders shall be clearly and conspicuously marked “PUBLIC” which, at a minimum, shall mean that the word “PUBLIC” shall appear prominently on the first page thereof; (x) by marking the Borrower Materials “PUBLIC,” the Parent and the Borrower shall be deemed to have authorized the Administrative Agent, the Lead Arranger and the Lenders to treat such Borrower Materials as not containing any material non-public information with respect to the Parent and the Borrower or their Equity Interests for purposes of United States Federal and state securities laws (provided that to the extent such Borrower Materials constitute Information, they shall be treated as set forth in Section 11.07 ); (y) all the Borrower Materials marked “PUBLIC” are permitted to be made available through a portion of the Platform designated “Public Side Information;” and (z) the Administrative Agent and the Lead Arranger shall be entitled to treat any the Borrower Materials that are not marked “PUBLIC” as being suitable only for posting on a portion of the Platform not designated “Public Side Information.”

 

c.                                        Notices.  Each of the Parent and the Borrower shall, upon becoming aware of same, promptly notify the Administrative Agent who shall notify each Lender:

 

(a)                                  of the occurrence of any Default;

 

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

 

(c)                                   of the occurrence of any ERISA Event which has resulted or would result in liabilities of any Company in an aggregate amount in excess of the Threshold Amount;

 

(d)                                  of any material litigation, arbitration or governmental investigation or proceeding instituted or threatened in writing against any Unencumbered Property, and any material development therein;

 

(e)                                   of any announcement by Moody’s, Fitch or S&P of any change in a Debt Rating or in its “outlook” with respect to a Debt Rating;

 

(f)                                    of any actual or threatened in writing Condemnation or zoning proceeding of any portion of any Unencumbered Property, any negotiations with respect to any such taking, or any material loss of or substantial damage to any Unencumbered Property, in each case, except to the extent that the same could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;

 

(g)                                   of any Casualty with respect to any Unencumbered Property except to the extent that the same could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;

 

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(h)                                  of any material permit, license, certificate or approval required with respect to any Unencumbered Property that lapses or ceases to be in full force and effect or any claim from any person that any Unencumbered Property, or any use, activity, operation or maintenance thereof or thereon, is not in compliance with any Law, in each case, except to the extent that the same could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;

 

(i)                                      of any material change in accounting policies or financial reporting practices by any Company, including any determination by the Borrower referred to in Section 2.10(b); and

 

(j)                                     of any labor controversy pending or threatened against any Company, and any material development in any labor controversy except to the extent that the same could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

Each notice pursuant to this Section 7.03 shall be accompanied by a statement of a Responsible Officer of the Parent and the Borrower setting forth details of the occurrence referred to therein and stating what action the Parent and/or the Borrower has taken and proposes to take with respect thereto.  Each notice pursuant to Section 7.03(a)  shall describe with particularity any and all provisions of this Agreement and any other Loan Document that have been breached.

 

d.                                       Payment of Obligations.  Each of the Parent and the Borrower shall, and shall cause each other Loan Party to, pay and discharge as the same shall become due and payable, all its obligations and liabilities, including: (a) all tax liabilities, assessments and governmental charges or levies upon a Loan Party or its properties or assets, 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 such Loan Party; (b) all lawful claims which, if unpaid, would by law become a Lien upon its property other than Liens of the type permitted under Sections 8.01(a)  through (g) ; and (c) all Indebtedness, as and when due and payable except, in each case, where the failure to do so would not result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

e.                                        Preservation of Existence, Etc.  Each of the Parent and the Borrower shall, and shall cause each other Loan Party to (a) preserve, renew and maintain in full force and effect its legal existence and good standing under the Laws of the jurisdiction of its organization except in a transaction permitted by Section 8.04 ; (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 would not have a Material Adverse Effect; and (c) preserve or renew all of its IP Rights, the non-preservation of which would have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

f.                                         Maintenance of Properties.  Each of the Parent and the Borrower shall, and shall cause each other Company to (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 except to the extent the failure to do so would not result in a Material Adverse Effect; (b) make all

 

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necessary repairs thereto and renewals and replacements thereof except where the failure to do so would not have a Material Adverse Effect; (c) use the standard of care typical in the industry in the operation and maintenance of its (i) Unencumbered Properties, and, (ii) as to its other Properties except where the failure to do so would not have a Material Adverse Effect; and (d) keep the Unencumbered Properties in good order, repair, operating condition, and appearance, causing all necessary repairs, renewals, replacements, additions, and improvements to be promptly made, and not allow any of the Unencumbered Properties to be misused, abused or wasted or to deteriorate (ordinary wear and tear excepted) except where the failure to do so would not have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

g.                                        Maintenance of Insurance.  Each of the Parent and the Borrower shall, and shall cause each other Company to, maintain with financially sound and reputable insurance companies not Affiliates of any Company, insurance (including flood insurance if available or required) 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.

 

h.                                       Compliance with Laws ; Beneficial Ownership Regulations .  Each of the Parent and the Borrower shall, and shall cause each other Subsidiary Guarantor to, (a)  comply in all material respects with the requirements of all Laws (including without limitation Anti-Corruption Laws and applicable Sanctions) and all orders, writs, injunctions and decrees applicable to it or to its business or property, except in such instances in which ( a i ) such requirement of Law or order, writ, injunction or decree is being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted; or ( b ii ) the failure to comply therewith would not have a Material Adverse Effect . , (b) notify the Administrative Agent and each Lender that previously received a Beneficial Ownership Certification of any change in the information provided in the Beneficial Ownership Certification that would result in a change to the list of beneficial owners identified therein and (c) promptly upon the reasonable request of the Administrative Agent or any Lender, provide the Administrative Agent or such Lender, as the case may be, any information or documentation requested by it for purposes of complying with the Beneficial Ownership Regulation.

 

i.                                           Books and Records.  Each of the Parent and the Borrower shall, and shall cause each other Company to: (a) 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 each Company, as the case may be; and (b) maintain such books of record and account in material conformity with all applicable requirements of any Governmental Authority having regulatory jurisdiction over any Company, as the case may be.

 

j.                                          Inspection Rights.  Subject to the rights of tenants, each of the Parent and the Borrower shall, and shall cause each other Loan Party to, permit representatives and independent contractors of the Administrative Agent and each Lender, at the expense of the Administrative Agent or such Lender, to visit and inspect and photograph any Unencumbered Property and any of its other properties, to examine its corporate, financial and operating records, and all recorded data of any kind or nature, regardless of the medium of recording including all software,

 

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writings, plans, specifications and schematics, and make copies thereof or abstracts therefrom, and to discuss its affairs, finances and accounts with its officers all at the expense of the Borrower and at such reasonable times during normal business hours, upon reasonable advance notice to the applicable Loan Party and no more often than once in any period of twelve (12) consecutive months unless an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing; provided that when an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing 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 Borrower at any time during normal business hours and without advance notice, subject to the rights of tenants.  Any inspection or audit of the Unencumbered Properties or the books and records, including recorded data of any kind or nature, regardless of the medium of recording including software, writings, plans, specifications and schematics of any Loan Party, or the procuring of documents and financial and other information, by the Administrative Agent on behalf of itself or on behalf of the Lenders shall be for the Administrative Agent’s and the Lenders’ protection only, and shall not constitute any assumption of responsibility to any Loan Party or anyone else with regard to the condition, construction, maintenance or operation of the Unencumbered Properties nor the Administrative Agent’s approval of any certification given to the Administrative Agent nor relieve any Loan Party of the Borrower’s or any other Loan Party’s obligations.

 

k.                                       Use of Proceeds.  Each of the Parent and the Borrower shall, and shall cause each other Company to, use the proceeds of the Credit Extensions (a) to finance the acquisition of Properties, (b) to pay operating and leasing expenses with respect to its Properties, and (c) for general corporate purposes, in each case, not in contravention of any Law or of any Loan Document.

 

l.                                           Environmental Matters.  Each of the Parent and the Borrower shall, and shall cause each other Loan Party to:

 

(a)                                  Violations; Notice to the Administrative Agent .  Use reasonable efforts to:

 

(i)                                Keep the Unencumbered Properties free of Contamination, except to the extent that any failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;

 

(ii)                                   Promptly deliver to the Administrative Agent a copy of each report pertaining to any Property or to any Loan Party prepared by or on behalf of such Loan Party pursuant to a material violation of any Environmental Requirement to the extent that the same could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; and

 

(iii)                                As soon as practicable advise the Administrative Agent in writing of any Environmental Claim or of the discovery of any Contamination on any Unencumbered Property that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, as soon as any Loan Party first obtains knowledge thereof, including a description of the nature and extent of the Environmental Claim and/or Hazardous Material and all relevant circumstances.

 

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(b)                                  Site Assessments and Information .  If the Parent or the Borrower fails to comply with Section 7.12(a)  or if any other Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, then if requested by the Administrative Agent, at the Borrower’s expense, deliver to the Administrative Agent from time to time, but no more frequently than once per calendar year unless an Event of Default exists, in each case within seventy five (75) days after the Administrative Agent’s request, an Environmental Assessment (hereinafter defined) made after the date of the Administrative Agent’s request.  As used in this Agreement, the term “ Environmental Assessment ” means a report of an environmental assessment of any or all Unencumbered Properties and of such scope so as to be compliant with the guidelines established by the ASTM (including the taking of soil borings and air and groundwater samples and other above and below ground testing) as the Administrative Agent may reasonably request to be performed by a licensed environmental consulting firm reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent.  Each applicable Loan Party shall cooperate with each consulting firm making any such Environmental Assessment and shall supply to the consulting firm all information available to such Loan Party to facilitate the completion of the Environmental Assessment.  If any Loan Party fails to furnish the Administrative Agent within thirty (30) days after the Administrative Agent’s request with a copy of an agreement with an acceptable environmental consulting firm to provide such Environmental Assessment, or if any Loan Party fails to furnish to the Administrative Agent such Environmental Assessment within seventy five (75) days after the Administrative Agent’s request, upon written notice to the Parent and the Borrower, the Administrative Agent may cause any such Environmental Assessment to be made at the Borrower’s expense and risk.  Subject to the rights of tenant, the Administrative Agent and its designees are hereby granted access to the Unencumbered Properties upon written notice, and a license which is coupled with an interest and irrevocable, to make or cause to be made such Environmental Assessments.  The Administrative Agent may disclose to any Governmental Authority, to the extent required by Applicable Law, any information the Administrative Agent ever has about the environmental condition or compliance of the Unencumbered Properties, but shall be under no duty to disclose any such information except as may be required by Law.  The Administrative Agent shall be under no duty to make any Environmental Assessment of the Unencumbered Properties, and in no event shall any such Environmental Assessment by the Administrative Agent be or give rise to a representation that any Hazardous Material is or is not present on the Unencumbered Properties, or that there has been or shall be compliance with any Environmental Requirement, nor shall any Company or any other Person be entitled to rely on any Environmental Assessment made by the Administrative Agent or at the Administrative Agent’s request but the Administrative Agent shall deliver a copy of such report to the Parent and the Borrower.  Neither the Administrative Agent nor any Lender owes any duty of care to protect any Company or any other Person against, or to inform them of, any Hazardous Material or other adverse condition affecting the Unencumbered Properties.

 

(c)                                   Remedial Actions .  If any Contamination which could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect is discovered on any Unencumbered Property at any time and regardless of the cause, (i) promptly at the applicable Loan Parties’ sole expense, remove, treat, and dispose of the Hazardous Material in compliance with all

 

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applicable Environmental Requirements in addition to taking such other action as is necessary to have the full use and benefit of such Unencumbered Property as contemplated by the Loan Documents, and provide the Administrative Agent with satisfactory evidence thereof; and (ii) if reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent, provide to the Administrative Agent within thirty (30) days of the Administrative Agent’s request a bond, letter of credit, or other financial assurance, including self-assurance,  evidencing to the Administrative Agent’s satisfaction that all necessary funds are readily available to pay the costs and expenses of the actions required by the preceding clause (i) and to discharge any assessments or liens established against such Unencumbered Property as a result of the presence of the Hazardous Material on the Unencumbered Property. After completion of such remedial actions, the applicable Loan Party shall promptly request regulatory approval, take all reasonable measures to expedite issuance of such approval and upon receipt thereof deliver to the Administrative Agent a letter indicating that no further action is required with respect to the applicable Unencumbered Property or similar confirmation by the applicable regulator that all required remedial action as stated above has been taken and successfully completed to the satisfaction of the applicable regulator.  The Loan Parties shall not be deemed to have satisfied their remedial obligations under this provision until they have provided the Administrative Agent such confirmation.

 

m.                                   Ground Leases Solely with respect to Unencumbered Property, each of the Parent and the Borrower shall, and shall cause each other Loan Party to:

 

(a)                                  Diligently perform and observe in all material respects all of the terms, covenants, and conditions of any Acceptable Ground Lease as tenant under such Acceptable Ground Lease; and

 

(b)                                  Promptly notify the Administrative Agent of (i) the giving to the applicable Subsidiary Guarantor of any notice of any default by such Subsidiary Guarantor under any Acceptable Ground Lease and deliver to the Administrative Agent a true copy of each such notice within five (5) Business Days of such Subsidiary Guarantor’s receipt thereof, and (ii) any bankruptcy, reorganization, or insolvency of the landlord under any Acceptable Ground Lease or of any notice thereof, and deliver to the Administrative Agent a true copy of such notice within five (5) Business Days of the applicable Subsidiary Guarantor’s receipt.

 

(c)                                   Exercise any individual option to extend or renew the term of an Acceptable Ground Lease upon demand by the Administrative Agent made at any time within thirty (30) days prior to the last day upon which any such option may be exercised, and each applicable Subsidiary Guarantor hereby expressly authorizes and appoints the Administrative Agent as its attorney-in-fact to exercise any such option in the name of and upon behalf of such Subsidiary Guarantor, which power of attorney shall be irrevocable and shall be deemed to be coupled with an interest.

 

If the applicable Subsidiary Guarantor shall default in the performance or observance of any term, covenant, or condition of any Acceptable Ground Lease on the part of such Subsidiary Guarantor and shall fail to cure the same prior to the expiration of any applicable cure period

 

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provided thereunder, then the Administrative Agent shall have the right, but shall be under no obligation, to pay any sums and to perform any act or take any action as may be appropriate to cause all of the terms, covenants, and conditions of such Acceptable Ground Lease on the part of such Subsidiary Guarantor to be performed or observed on behalf of such Subsidiary Guarantor, to the end that the rights of such Subsidiary Guarantor in, to, and under such Acceptable Ground Lease shall be kept unimpaired and free from default.  If the landlord under any Acceptable Ground Lease shall deliver to the Administrative Agent a copy of any notice of default under such Acceptable Ground Lease, then such notice shall constitute full protection to the Administrative Agent for any action taken or omitted to be taken by the Administrative Agent, in good faith, in reliance thereon.

 

n.                                       Unencumbered Properties.

 

(a)                                  Except where the failure to comply with any of the following would not have a Material Adverse Effect, each of the Parent and the Borrower shall, and shall use commercially reasonable efforts to cause each other Loan Party or the applicable tenant, to:

 

(i)                                      Pay all real estate and personal property taxes, assessments, water rates or sewer rents, ground rents, maintenance charges, impositions, and any other charges, including vault charges and license fees for the use of vaults, chutes and similar areas adjoining any Unencumbered Property, now or hereafter levied or assessed or imposed against any Unencumbered Property or any part thereof (except those which are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted);

 

(ii)                                   Promptly pay (or cause to be paid) when due all bills and costs for labor, materials, and specifically fabricated materials incurred in connection with any Unencumbered Property (except those which are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted), and in any event never permit to be created or exist in respect of any Unencumbered Property or any part thereof any other or additional Lien or security interest other than Liens permitted by Section 8.01 ; and

 

(iii)                                Operate the Unencumbered Properties in a good and workmanlike manner and in all material respects in accordance with all Laws in accordance with such Loan Party’s prudent business judgment.

 

(b)                                  Except where the failure would not have a material and adverse effect on the value of the Unencumbered Properties, taken as whole, each of the Parent and the Borrower shall, and shall cause each other Loan Party to, to the extent owned and controlled by a Loan Party, preserve, protect, renew, extend and retain all material rights and privileges granted for or applicable to each Unencumbered Property.

 

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15.
Negative Covenants

 

So long as any Lender shall have any Commitment hereunder, any Loan or other Obligation hereunder (excluding contingent indemnification obligations to the extent no unsatisfied claim giving rise thereto has been asserted) shall remain unpaid or unsatisfied:

 

a.                                       Liens.  Each of the Parent and the Borrower shall not, nor shall it permit any other Loan Party to, directly or indirectly, create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Lien upon any Unencumbered Property, other than the following:

 

(a)                                  Liens pursuant to any Loan Document;

 

(b)                                  Liens existing on the date hereof and listed on Schedule 8.01 ;

 

(c)                                   Liens for taxes not yet due and payable 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)                                    easements, rights-of-way, restrictions, restrictive covenants, encroachments, protrusions and other similar encumbrances affecting real property which, in the aggregate, are not substantial in amount, and which do not in any case materially detract from the value of the property subject thereto or materially interfere with the ordinary conduct of the business of the applicable Person;

 

(g)                                   Liens securing judgments for the payment of money not constituting an Event of Default under Section 9.01(i) ;

 

(h)                                  the rights of tenants under leases or subleases not interfering with the ordinary conduct of business of such Person;

 

(i)                                      Liens securing obligations in the nature of personal property financing leases for furniture, furnishings or similar assets, Capital Leases Obligations and other purchase money obligations for fixed or capital assets; provided that (i) such Liens do not at any time encumber any property other than the property financed by such Indebtedness, (ii) the obligations secured thereby does not exceed the cost or fair market value, whichever is lower, of the property being acquired on the date of acquisition, and

 

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(iii) with respect to Capital Leases, such Liens do not at any time extend to or cover any assets other than the assets subject to such Capital Leases;

 

(j)                                     Liens securing obligations in the nature of the performance of bids, trade contracts and leases (other than Indebtedness), statutory obligations, surety bonds (other than bonds related to judgments or litigation), performance bonds and other obligations of a like nature incurred in the ordinary course of business;

 

(k)                                  all Liens, encumbrances and other matters disclosed in any owner’s title insurance policies or other title reports and updated thereof accepted by the Administrative Agent; and

 

(l)                                      such other title and survey exceptions as the Administrative Agent has approved in writing in the Administrative Agent’s reasonable discretion.

 

b.                                       Indebtedness.  Each of the Parent and the Borrower shall not, nor shall it permit any other Loan Party to, 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 8.02 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;

 

(c)                                   Guarantees of (i) the Borrower or the Parent in respect of Indebtedness otherwise permitted hereunder of the Borrower or any other Guarantor, (ii) the Parent or the Borrower, in respect of Indebtedness otherwise permitted hereunder of any Non-Guarantor Subsidiary if, in the case of any Guarantee pursuant to this clause (ii), (x) no Default shall exist immediately before or immediately after the making of such Guarantee, and (y) there exists no violation of the financial covenants set forth in Section 8.14 hereunder on a pro forma basis after the making of such Guarantee, and (iii) Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries made in the ordinary course of business;

 

(d)                                  obligations (contingent or otherwise) of the Borrower or any Subsidiary existing or arising under any Swap Contract, provided that such obligations are (or were) entered into by such Person in the ordinary course of business for the purpose of directly mitigating risks associated with liabilities, commitments, investments, assets, or property held or reasonably anticipated by such Person, or changes in the value of securities issued by such Person, and not for purposes of speculation or taking a “market view”;

 

(e)                                   Indebtedness in respect of Capital Leases and purchase money obligations for fixed or capital assets within the limitations set forth in Section 8.01(i) , and unsecured Indebtedness in the form of trade payables incurred in the ordinary course of business; and

 

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(f)                                    Indebtedness of the Borrower or the Parent incurred or assumed after the date hereof that is either unsecured or is secured by Liens on assets of the Parent or the Borrower (other than any Unencumbered Property or the Equity Interests in any Loan Party); provided, such Indebtedness shall be permitted under this Section 8.02(f)  only if: (i) no Default shall exist immediately before or immediately after the incurrence or assumption of such Indebtedness, and (ii) there exists no violation of the financial covenants set forth in Section 8.14 hereunder on a pro forma basis after the incurrence or assumption of such Indebtedness.

 

c.                                        Investments.  Neither the Parent nor the Borrower shall have and shall not permit the Companies’ to have any Investments other than:

 

(a)                                  Investments in the form of cash or Cash Equivalents;

 

(b)                                  Investments existing on the date hereof and set forth on Schedule 6.13 ;

 

(c)                                   advances to officers, directors and employees of the Borrower and Subsidiaries for travel, entertainment, relocation and analogous ordinary business purposes;

 

(d)                                  Investments of the Guarantor and the Borrower in the form of Equity Interests and investments of the Borrower in any wholly-owned Subsidiary, and Investments of the Borrower directly in, or of any wholly-owned Subsidiary in another wholly-owned Subsidiary which owns, real property assets which are functional industrial, manufacturing, warehouse/distribution and/or office properties located within the United States, provided in each case the Investments held by the Borrower or Subsidiary are in accordance with the provisions of this Section 8.03 other than this Section 8.03(d) ;

 

(e)                                   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;

 

(f)                                    Investments in non-wholly owned Subsidiaries and Unconsolidated Affiliates;

 

(g)                                   Investments in mortgages and mezzanine loans;

 

(h)                                  Investments in unimproved land holdings and Construction in Progress;

 

(i)                                      Investments by the Parent for the redemption, conversion, exchange, retirement, sinking fund or similar payment, purchase or other acquisition for value, direct or indirect, of any Equity Interests of the Parent or the Borrower now or hereafter outstanding to the extent permitted under Section 8.06 below; and

 

(j)                                     Other Investments not to exceed at any time ten percent (10%) of Total Asset Value.

 

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d.                                       Fundamental Changes.  Each of the Parent and the Borrower shall not, nor shall it permit any other Loan Party to, directly or indirectly, merge, dissolve, liquidate, consolidate with or into another Person, or Dispose of (whether in one transaction or in a series of transactions) all or substantially all of its assets (whether now owned or hereafter acquired) to or in favor of any Person, except that, so long as no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or would result therefrom:

 

(a)                                  any Loan Party (other than the Parent or the Borrower) may merge with (i) the Parent or the Borrower, provided that the Parent or the Borrower, as applicable, shall be the continuing or surviving Person, or (ii) any other Loan Party, or (iii) any other Person, provided that if it owns an Unencumbered Property and is not the surviving entity, then such Property shall cease to be an Unencumbered Property;

 

(b)                                  any Loan Party (other than the Parent or the Borrower) may Dispose of all or substantially all of its assets (upon voluntary liquidation or otherwise) to another Loan Party;

 

(c)                                   any Loan Party may Dispose of a Property owned by such Loan Party in the ordinary course of business and for fair value; and

 

(d)                                  the Parent or the Borrower may merge or consolidate with another Person so long as either the Parent or the Borrower, as the case may be, is the surviving entity, shall remain in pro forma compliance with the covenants set forth in Section 8.14 below after giving effect to such transaction, and the Borrower shall have given the Administrative Agent at least fifteen (15) Business Days’ prior written notice of such merger or consolidation, such notice to include a certification as to the pro forma compliance referenced above, with the Borrower agreeing to provide such other financial information as the Administrative Agent shall reasonably request in order to verify such pro forma compliance.

 

Nothing in this Section shall be deemed to prohibit the sale or leasing of Property or portions of Property in the ordinary course of business.

 

e.                                        Dispositions.  Each of the Parent, the Borrower or any Loan Party shall not make any Disposition or enter into any agreement to make any Disposition, except:

 

(a)                                  Dispositions of obsolete or worn out property, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, in the ordinary course of business;

 

(b)                                  Dispositions of inventory in the ordinary course of business;

 

(c)                                   Any other Dispositions of Properties or other assets in an arm’s length transaction; provided that the Borrower and the Parent will remain in pro forma compliance with the covenants set forth in Section 8.14 after giving effect to such transaction.

 

f.                                         Restricted Payments.  Each of the Parent and the Borrower shall not, nor shall it permit any other Company to, directly or indirectly, declare or make, directly or indirectly, any

 

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Restricted Payment other than (a) Minimum Distributions, (b) Restricted Payments made by any Company to the Borrower or the Parent, or (c)  provided no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing at the time of such payment or would result therefrom, other Restricted Payments.

 

g.                                        Change in Nature of Business.  Except for Investments permitted under Section 8.03 , each of the Parent and the Borrower shall not, nor shall it permit any other Loan Party to, directly or indirectly, engage in any material line of business substantially different from those lines of business conducted by the Companies on the date hereof or any business substantially related or incidental thereto.

 

h.                                       Transactions with Affiliates.  Each of the Parent and the Borrower shall not, nor shall it permit any other Loan Party to, directly or indirectly, enter into any transaction of any kind with any Affiliate of a Company, whether or not in the ordinary course of business, other than on fair and reasonable terms substantially as favorable to such Loan Party as would be obtainable by such Company at the time in a comparable arm’s length transaction with a Person other than an Affiliate.

 

i.                                           Burdensome Agreements.  Each of the Parent and the Borrower shall not, nor shall it permit any other Loan Party to, directly or indirectly enter into any Contractual Obligation (other than this Agreement or any other Loan Document) that directly or indirectly prohibits any Company from (a) creating or incurring any Lien on any Unencumbered Property unless simultaneously therewith such Unencumbered Property ceases to be an Unencumbered Property, other than restrictions or conditions set forth in the Note Purchase Agreements, the Credit Agreements and, to the extent such restrictions or conditions are customary for such Indebtedness, any other agreements governing Indebtedness permitted under Section 8.02 , in each case, which restrictions are no more restrictive, taken as a whole than the comparable restrictions and conditions set forth in this Agreement as determined in the good faith judgment of the Borrower, (b) other than restrictions or conditions set forth in the Note Purchase Agreements, the Credit Agreements and, to the extent such restrictions or conditions are customary for such Indebtedness, any other agreements governing Indebtedness permitted under Section 8.02 , in each case, which restrictions are no more restrictive, taken as a whole than the comparable restrictions and conditions set forth in this Agreement as determined in the good faith judgment of the Borrower,  limiting the ability (i) of any Subsidiary to make Restricted Payments to the Borrower or any Guarantor or to otherwise transfer property to the Borrower or any Guarantor, (ii) of any Subsidiary to Guarantee the Indebtedness of the Borrower or (iii) of the Borrower or any Subsidiary to create, incur, assume or suffer to exist Liens on property of such Person; provided, however, that this clause (iii) shall not prohibit any negative pledge incurred or provided in favor of any holder of Indebtedness permitted under Section 8.03(e)  solely to the extent any such negative pledge relates to the property financed by or the subject of such Indebtedness; or (c) requiring the grant of a Lien to secure an obligation of such Person if a Lien is granted to secure another obligation of such Person.

 

j.                                          Use of Proceeds.  Each of the Parent and the Borrower shall not, nor shall it permit any other Company to, directly or indirectly, use the proceeds of any Credit Extension, whether directly or indirectly, and whether immediately, incidentally or ultimately, to purchase or carry margin stock (within the meaning of Regulation U of the FRB) or to extend credit to

 

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others for the purpose of purchasing or carrying margin stock or to refund indebtedness originally incurred for such purpose.  The Borrower shall not request any Credit Extension, shall not use, and shall ensure that its Subsidiaries and its or their respective directors, officers, employees and agents do not use the proceeds of any Credit Extension (i) in furtherance of an offer, payment, promise to pay, or authorization of the payment or giving of money, or anything else of value, to any Person in violation of any Anti-Corruption Laws or (ii) in any manner that would result in the violation of any applicable Sanctions.

 

k.                                       Unencumbered Properties; Ground Leases.  Each of the Parent and the Borrower shall not, nor shall it permit any other Loan Party to, directly or indirectly:

 

(a)                                  Use or occupy or conduct any activity on, or knowingly permit the use or occupancy of or the conduct of any activity on any Unencumbered Properties by any tenant, in any manner which violates any Law or which constitutes a public or private nuisance in any manner which would have a Material Adverse Effect or which makes void, voidable, or cancelable any insurance then in force with respect thereto or makes the maintenance of insurance in accordance with Section 7.07 commercially unreasonable (including by way of increased premium);

 

(b)                                  [Reserved];

 

(c)                                   Without the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed), (i) impose any material easement, restrictive covenant, or encumbrance upon any Unencumbered Property, (ii) execute or file any subdivision plat or condominium declaration affecting any Unencumbered Property, or (iii) consent to the annexation of any Unencumbered Property to any municipality;

 

(d)                                        Do any act, or suffer to be done any act by any Company or any of its Affiliates, which would reasonably be expected to materially decrease the value of any Unencumbered Property (including by way of negligent act);

 

(e)                                         [Reserved];

 

(f)                                          Allow there to be fewer than twenty-five (25) Unencumbered Properties as of any date of determination;

 

(g)                                         Allow the Total Asset Value of the Unencumbered Properties to be less than One Hundred Fifty Million Dollars ($150,000,000.00);

 

(h)                                        Without the prior consent of the Lenders (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed), surrender the leasehold estate created by any Acceptable Ground Lease or terminate or cancel any Acceptable Ground Lease or materially modify, change, supplement, alter, or amend any Acceptable Ground Lease, either orally or in writing, in each case, to the extent such event would reasonably be expected to be materially adverse to the interests of the Lenders; and

 

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(i)                                            Enter into any Contractual Obligations related to any Unencumbered Property providing for the payment a management fee (or any other similar fee) to anyone other than a Company if, with respect thereto, the Administrative Agent has reasonably required that such fee be subordinated to the Obligations in a manner satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, and an acceptable subordination agreement has not yet been obtained.

 

l.                                           Environmental Matters.  Each of the Parent and the Borrower shall not knowingly directly or indirectly:

 

(a)                                  Cause, commit, permit, or allow to continue (i) any violation of any Environmental Requirement by or with respect to any Unencumbered Property or any use of or condition or activity on any Unencumbered Property, or (ii) the attachment of any environmental Liens on any Unencumbered Property, in each case, that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;

 

(b)                                  Place, install, dispose of, or release, or cause, permit, or allow the placing, installation, disposal, spilling, leaking, dumping, or release of, any Hazardous Material on any Unencumbered Property in any manner that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; and

 

(c)                                   Use any Hazardous Material on any Unencumbered Property except in such a manner which could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

m.                                   Negative Pledge; Indebtedness.  Each of the Parent and the Borrower shall not permit:

 

(a)                                  The Equity Interests of the Borrower held by the Parent to be subject to any Lien.

 

(b)                                  Any Person (other than the Parent or the Borrower) that directly or indirectly owns Equity Interests in any Subsidiary Guarantor to (i) incur any Indebtedness (whether Recourse Indebtedness or Non-Recourse Indebtedness) (other than Indebtedness listed on Schedule 8.13 and Additional Permitted Indebtedness), (ii) provide Guarantees to support Indebtedness (other than Indebtedness listed on Schedule 8.13 and Additional Permitted Indebtedness), or (iii) have its Equity Interests subject to any Lien or other encumbrance (other than in favor of the Administrative Agent).

 

(c)                                   Any Subsidiary Guarantor that owns an Unencumbered Property to (i) incur any Indebtedness (whether Recourse Indebtedness or Non-Recourse Indebtedness) (other than the Obligations, Indebtedness listed on Schedule 8.13 and Additional Permitted Indebtedness) or (ii) provide Guarantees to support Indebtedness (other than the Obligations, Indebtedness listed on Schedule 8.13 and Additional Permitted Indebtedness).

 

n.                                       Financial Covenants.  The Parent shall not, directly or indirectly, permit:

 

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(a)                                  Maximum Consolidated Leverage Ratio . As of the last day of any fiscal quarter, the Consolidated Leverage Ratio to exceed sixty percent (60%); provided that, if any Material Acquisition shall occur and the Consolidated Leverage Ratio shall have been less than sixty percent (60%) for at least one full fiscal quarter immediately preceding the proposed Consolidated Leverage Ratio Covenant Holiday, then, at the election of the Borrower upon delivery of prior written notice to the Administrative Agent, concurrently with or prior to the delivery of a Compliance Certificate pursuant to Section 7.02(a) , and provided that no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, the maximum Consolidated Leverage Ratio covenant level shall be increased to sixty-five (65%) for the fiscal quarter in which such Material Acquisition is consummated and the three (3) fiscal quarters immediately following the fiscal quarter in which such Material Acquisition is consummated (any such increase a “ Consolidated Leverage Ratio Covenant Holiday ”); provided further that not more than two (2) Consolidated Leverage Ratio Covenant Holidays may be elected by the Borrower during the term of this Agreement;

 

(b)                                  Maximum Secured Leverage Ratio . As of the last day of any fiscal quarter, the Secured Leverage Ratio to exceed forty percent (40%);

 

(c)                                   Maximum Unencumbered Leverage Ratio .  As of the last day of any fiscal quarter, the Unencumbered Leverage Ratio to exceed sixty percent (60%); provided that, if any Material Acquisition shall occur and the Unencumbered Leverage Ratio shall have been less than sixty percent (60%) for at least one full fiscal quarter immediately preceding the proposed Unencumbered Leverage Ratio Covenant Holiday, then, at the election of the Borrower upon delivery of prior written notice to the Administrative Agent, concurrently with or prior to the delivery of a Compliance Certificate pursuant to Section 7.02(a) , and provided that no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, the maximum Unencumbered Leverage Ratio covenant level shall be increased to sixty-five (65%) for the fiscal quarter in which such Material Acquisition is consummated and the three (3) fiscal quarters immediately following the fiscal quarter in which such Material Acquisition is consummated (any such increase an “ Unencumbered Leverage Ratio Covenant Holiday ”); provided further that not more than two (2) Unencumbered Leverage Ratio Covenant Holidays may be elected by the Borrower during the term of this Agreement;

 

(d)                                  Maximum Secured Recourse Debt .  As of the last day of any fiscal quarter, the Secured Recourse Debt Ratio to exceed seven-and-one-half percent (7.5%) [Reserved] ;

 

(e)                                   Minimum Fixed Charge Ratio .  As of the last day of any fiscal quarter, the Fixed Charge Ratio for the Parent, on a consolidated basis, for the fiscal quarter then ended, annualized, to be less than or equal to 1.5 to 1.0; and

 

(f)                                    Minimum Unsecured Interest Coverage Ratio . As of the last day of any fiscal quarter, the Unsecured Interest Coverage Ratio for the Parent, on a consolidated basis, for the fiscal quarter then ended, annualized, to be less than or equal to 1.75 to 1.00 ; and .

 

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(g)  Minimum Tangible Net Worth .  As of the last day of any fiscal quarter, the Tangible Net Worth of the Parent, on a consolidated basis, to be less than the sum of (i) $996,305,000, plus (ii) seventy-five percent (75%) of net proceeds of any Equity Issuances received by the Parent or the Borrower after the Closing Date (other than proceeds received within ninety (90) days after the redemption, retirement or repurchase of ownership or equity interests in the Borrower or the Parent, up to the amount paid by the Borrower or the Parent in connection with such redemption, retirement or repurchase, where, for the avoidance of doubt, the net effect is that neither the Borrower nor the Parent shall have increased its Net Worth as a result of any such proceeds).

 

16.
Events of Default and Remedies

 

a.                                       Events of Default.  Any of the following shall constitute an Event of Default:

 

(a)                                  Non-Payment .  The Borrower or any other Loan Party fails to pay (i) when and as required to be paid herein, any amount of principal of any Loan, or (ii) within five (5) days after the same becomes due, any interest on any Loan due hereunder, except that there shall be no grace period for interest due on any applicable Maturity Date, or (iii) within ten (10) days after notice from the Administrative Agent, any other amount payable to the Administrative Agent or any Lender hereunder or under any other Loan Document except that there shall be no grace period for any amount due on any Maturity Date; or

 

(b)                                  Specific Covenants .  Any Loan Party fails to perform or observe any term, covenant or agreement contained in any of Section 7.11 or Article VIII (other than Sections 8.11 (a) and (c), or 8.13 ) or the Parent fails to perform or observe any term, covenant or agreement contained in the Parent Guaranty or any Subsidiary Guarantor fails to perform or observe any term, covenant or agreement contained in the Subsidiary Guaranty; or

 

(c)                                   Performance .  Any Loan Party fails to perform or observe any term, covenant or agreement contained in any of Section 7.01 , 7.02 , or 7.03 , and such failure continues unremedied for ten (10) Business Days after such failure has occurred; or

 

(d)                                  Other Defaults .  Any Loan Party fails to perform or observe any other covenant or agreement (not specified in subsection (a) , (b) , or (c)  above) contained in any Loan Document on its part to be performed or observed and such failure continues unremedied for thirty (30) days after the earlier of notice from the Administrative Agent or the actual knowledge of the Loan Party, and in the case of a default that cannot be cured within such thirty (30) day period despite the Borrower’s diligent efforts but is susceptible of being cured within ninety (90) days of the Borrower’s receipt of the Administrative Agent’s original notice, then the Borrower shall have such additional time as is reasonably necessary to effect such cure, but in no event in excess of ninety (90) days from the Borrower’s receipt of the Administrative Agent’s original notice, subject in each instance to the Borrower’s remedial rights under Section 7.12(c) ; or

 

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(e)                                   Representations and Warranties .  Any representation, warranty, certification or statement of fact made or deemed made by or on behalf of the Borrower or any other Loan Party herein, in any other Loan Document, or in any document delivered in connection herewith or therewith shall be incorrect or misleading when made or deemed made and shall not be cured or remedied so that such representation, warranty, certification or statement of fact is no longer incorrect or misleading within ten (10) days after the earlier of notice from the Administrative Agent or the actual knowledge of any Loan Party thereof; or

 

(f)                                    Cross-Default .  (i) Any Company (A) fails to make any payment when due (whether by scheduled maturity, required prepayment, acceleration, demand, or otherwise), after the expiration of any applicable grace periods, in respect of any Indebtedness or Guarantee (other than (x) Indebtedness hereunder, and (y) Indebtedness under Swap Contracts) having an aggregate principal amount (including amounts owing to all creditors under any combined or syndicated credit arrangement) of more than the Threshold Amount, or (B) fails to observe or perform any other agreement or condition relating to any such Indebtedness or Guarantee or contained in any instrument or agreement evidencing, securing or relating thereto, or any other event occurs, the effect of which default or other event is to cause, or to permit the holder or holders of such Indebtedness or the beneficiary or beneficiaries of such Guarantee (or a trustee or agent on behalf of such holder or holders or beneficiary or beneficiaries) to cause, with the giving of notice if required, such Indebtedness or more than the Threshold Amount to be demanded or to become due or to be repurchased, prepaid, defeased or redeemed (automatically or otherwise), or an offer to repurchase, prepay, defease or redeem such Indebtedness to be made, prior to its stated maturity, or such Guarantee to become payable or cash collateral in respect thereof to be demanded; or (ii) there occurs under any Swap Contract an Early Termination Date (as defined in such Swap Contract) resulting from (A) any event of default under such Swap Contract as to which any Company is the Defaulting Party (as defined in such Swap Contract) or (B) any Termination Event (as so defined) under such Swap Contract as to which any Company is an Affected Party (as so defined) and, in either event, the Swap Termination Value owed by such Company as a result thereof is greater than the Threshold Amount; or

 

(g)                                   Insolvency Proceedings, Etc.   Any Loan Party institutes or consents to the institution of any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law, or makes an assignment for the benefit of creditors; or applies for or consents to the appointment of any receiver, trustee, custodian, conservator, liquidator, rehabilitator or similar officer for it or for all or any material part of its property; or any receiver, trustee, custodian, conservator, liquidator, rehabilitator or similar officer is appointed without the application or consent of such Person and the appointment continues undischarged or unstayed for sixty (60) calendar days; or any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law relating to any such Person or to all or any material part of its property is instituted without the consent of such Person and continues undismissed or unstayed for sixty (60) calendar days, or an order for relief is entered in any such proceeding; or

 

(h)                                  Inability to Pay Debts; Attachment .  (i) the Parent or the Borrower becomes unable to pay its debts as they become due, or any Loan Party admits in writing

 

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its inability or fails generally to pay its debts as they become due, or (ii) any writ or warrant of attachment or execution or similar process is issued or levied against all or any material part of the property of any such Loan Party and is not released, vacated or fully bonded within thirty (30) days after its issue or levy; or

 

(i)                                      Judgments .  There is entered against any Loan Party (i) one or more final judgments or orders for the payment of money in an aggregate amount (as to all such judgments or orders) exceeding the Threshold Amount (to the extent not covered by independent third-party insurance as to which the insurer does not dispute coverage), or (ii) any one or more non-monetary final judgments that have, or would have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect and, in either case, (A) enforcement proceedings are commenced by any creditor upon such judgment or order, or (B) there is a period of ten (10) consecutive days during which a stay of enforcement of such judgment, by reason of a pending appeal or otherwise, is not in effect; or

 

(j)                                     ERISA .  (i) An ERISA Event occurs with respect to a Pension Plan or Multiemployer Plan which has resulted or would result in liability of any Company  under Title IV of ERISA to the Pension Plan, Multiemployer Plan or the PBGC in an aggregate amount in excess of the Threshold Amount, or (ii) the Parent or any ERISA Affiliate fails to pay when due, after the expiration of any applicable grace period, any installment payment with respect to its withdrawal liability under Section 4201 of ERISA under a Multiemployer Plan in an aggregate amount in excess of the Threshold Amount; or

 

(k)                                  Invalidity of Loan Documents .  Any Loan Document at any time after its execution and delivery and for any reason other than as expressly permitted hereunder or thereunder or satisfaction in full of all the Obligations, ceases to be in full force and effect in all material respects; or any Loan Party or any other Person contests in any manner the validity or enforceability of any Loan Document; or any Loan Party denies that it has any or further liability or obligation under any Loan Document, or purports to revoke, terminate or rescind any  Loan Document, except as expressly permitted hereunder; or

 

(l)                                      REIT Status of the Parent .  The Parent ceases to be treated as a REIT or the Parent Shares shall fail to be listed and traded on the New York Stock Exchange; or

 

(m)                              Change of Control .  There occurs any Change of Control.

 

b.                                       Remedies Upon Event of Default.  If any Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Administrative Agent shall, at the request of, or may, with the consent of, the Required Lenders, take any or all of the following actions:

 

(a)                                  declare the commitment of each Lender to make Loans to be terminated, whereupon such commitments and obligation shall be terminated;

 

(b)                                  declare the unpaid principal amount of all outstanding Loans, all interest accrued and unpaid thereon, and all other amounts owing or payable hereunder or under any other Loan Document to be immediately due and payable without presentment,

 

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demand, protest or other notice of any kind, all of which are hereby expressly waived by the Borrower; and

 

(c)                                   exercise on behalf of itself and the Lenders all rights and remedies available to it and the Lenders under the Loan Documents;

 

provided that upon the occurrence of an actual or deemed entry of an order for relief with respect to the Borrower under the Bankruptcy Code of the United States, the obligation of each Lender to make Loans shall automatically terminate, the unpaid principal amount of all outstanding Loans and all interest and other amounts as aforesaid shall automatically become due and payable, in each case without further act of the Administrative Agent or any Lender.

 

c.                                        Application of Funds.  After the exercise of remedies provided for in Section 9.02 (or after the Loans have automatically become immediately due and payable), any amounts received on account of the Obligations shall, subject to the provisions of Section 2.16 , be applied by the Administrative Agent in the following order:

 

First , to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting fees, indemnities, expenses and other amounts (including fees, charges and disbursements of counsel to the Administrative Agent and amounts payable under Article III ) payable to the Administrative Agent in its capacity as such;

 

Second , to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting fees, indemnities and other amounts (other than principal and interest) payable to the Lenders (including fees, charges and disbursements of counsel to the respective Lenders and amounts payable under Article III ), ratably among them in proportion to the respective amounts described in this clause   Second payable to them;

 

Third , to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting accrued and unpaid interest on the Loans, and other Obligations, ratably among the Lenders, in proportion to the respective amounts described in this clause   Third payable to them;

 

Fourth , to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting (x) unpaid principal of the Loans and (y) payment obligations then owing to the Administrative Agent, any Lender, or any Affiliate of the Administrative Agent or any Lender (“ Specified Derivatives Providers ”) arising from, by virtue of, or pursuant to any Swap Contract, other than any Excluded Swap Obligation, that relates solely to the Obligations (“ Specified Derivatives Providers ”) , ratably among the Lenders and the Specified Derivatives Providers in proportion to the respective amounts described in this clause Fourth payable to them; and

 

Last , the balance, if any, after all of the Obligations have been paid in full, to the Borrower or as otherwise required by Law.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, Obligations owing to Specified Derivatives Providers shall be excluded from the application described above if the Administrative Agent has not received written notice thereof, together with such supporting documentation as the Administrative Agent may request, from the applicable Specified Derivatives Provider.  Each

 

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Specified Derivatives Provider not a party to this Agreement that has given the notice contemplated by the preceding sentence shall, by such notice, be deemed to have acknowledged and accepted the appointment of the Administrative Agent pursuant to the terms of Article X for itself and its Affiliates as if a “Lender” party hereto.

 

17.
The Administrative Agent

 

a.                                       Appointment and Authority.  Each of the Lenders hereby irrevocably appoints Wells Fargo to act on its behalf as the Administrative Agent hereunder and under the other Loan Documents and authorizes the Administrative Agent to take such actions on its behalf and to exercise such powers as are delegated to the Administrative Agent by the terms hereof or thereof, together with such actions and powers as are reasonably incidental thereto.  The provisions of this Article are solely for the benefit of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders, neither the Borrower nor any other Loan Party shall have rights as a third party beneficiary of any of such provisions.  It is understood and agreed that the use of the term “agent” (or any other similar term) herein or in any other Loan Documents with reference to the Administrative Agent is not intended to connote any fiduciary or other implied (or express) obligations arising under agency doctrine of any applicable Law. Instead such term is used as a matter of market custom, and is intended to create or reflect only an administrative relationship between contracting parties.

 

b.                                       Rights as a Lender.  The Person serving as the Administrative Agent hereunder shall have the same rights and powers in its capacity as a Lender as any other Lender and may exercise the same as though it were not the Administrative Agent and the term “Lender” or “Lenders” shall, unless otherwise expressly indicated or unless the context otherwise requires, include the Person serving as the Administrative Agent hereunder in its individual capacity.  Such Person and its Affiliates may accept deposits from, lend money to, own securities of, act as the financial advisor or in any other advisory capacity for and generally engage in any kind of business with the Borrower or any Subsidiary or other Affiliate thereof as if such Person were not the Administrative Agent hereunder and without any duty to account therefor to the Lenders.

 

c.                                        Exculpatory Provisions.  The Administrative Agent shall not have any duties or obligations except those expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents, and its duties hereunder shall be administrative in nature.  Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Administrative Agent:

 

(a)                                  shall not be subject to any fiduciary or other implied duties, regardless of whether a Default has occurred and is continuing;

 

(b)                                  shall not have any duty to take any discretionary action or exercise any discretionary powers, except discretionary rights and powers expressly contemplated hereby or by the other Loan Documents that the Administrative Agent is required to exercise as directed in writing by the Required Lenders (or such other number or percentage of the Lenders as shall be expressly provided for herein or in the other Loan Documents), provided that the Administrative Agent shall not be required to take any action that, in its opinion or the opinion of its counsel, may expose the Administrative Agent to liability or that is contrary to any Loan Document or applicable law, including for the avoidance of doubt any action that may be in violation of the

 

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automatic stay under any Debtor Relief Law or that may effect a forfeiture, modification or termination of property of a Defaulting Lender in violation of any Debtor Relief Law; and

 

(c)                                   shall not, except as expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents, have any duty to disclose, and shall not be liable for the failure to disclose, any information relating to the Borrower or any of its Affiliates that is communicated to or obtained by the Person serving as the Administrative Agent or any of its Affiliates in any capacity.

 

The Administrative Agent shall not be liable for any action taken or not taken by it (i) with the consent or at the request of the Required Lenders (or such other number or percentage of the Lenders as shall be necessary, or as the Administrative Agent shall believe in good faith shall be necessary, under the circumstances as provided in Sections 11.01 and 9.02 ) or (ii) in the absence of its own gross negligence or willful misconduct as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by final and nonappealable judgment.  The Administrative Agent shall be deemed not to have knowledge of any Default unless and until notice describing such Default is given in writing to the Administrative Agent by the Borrower or a Lender.

 

The Administrative Agent shall not be responsible for or have any duty to ascertain or inquire into (i) any statement, warranty or representation made in or in connection with this Agreement or any other Loan Document, (ii) the contents of any certificate, report or other document delivered hereunder or thereunder or in connection herewith or therewith, (iii) the performance or observance of any of the covenants, agreements or other terms or conditions set forth herein or therein or the occurrence of any Default, (iv) the validity, enforceability, effectiveness or genuineness of this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any other agreement, instrument or document or (v) the satisfaction of any condition set forth in Article IV or elsewhere herein, other than to confirm receipt of items expressly required to be delivered to the Administrative Agent.

 

d.                                       Reliance by the Administrative Agent.  The Administrative Agent shall be entitled to rely upon, and shall not incur any liability for relying upon, any notice, request, certificate, consent, statement, instrument, document or other writing (including any electronic message, Internet or intranet website posting or other distribution) believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed, sent or otherwise authenticated by the proper Person.  The Administrative Agent also may rely upon any statement made to it orally or by telephone and believed by it to have been made by the proper Person, and shall not incur any liability for relying thereon.  In determining compliance with any condition hereunder to the making of a Loan, by its terms must be fulfilled to the satisfaction of a Lender, the Administrative Agent may presume that such condition is satisfactory to such Lender unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice to the contrary from such Lender prior to the making of such Loan.  The Administrative Agent may consult with legal counsel (who may be counsel for the Borrower), independent accountants and other experts selected by it, and shall not be liable for any action taken or not taken by it in accordance with the advice of any such counsel, accountants or experts.

 

e.                                        Delegation of Duties.  The Administrative Agent may perform any and all of its duties and exercise its rights and powers hereunder or under any other Loan Document by or through any one or more sub-agents appointed by the Administrative Agent.  The Administrative Agent and any such sub-agent may perform any and all of its duties and exercise its rights and powers by or through their respective Related Parties.  The exculpatory provisions of this Article shall apply to any such sub-agent and to the Related Parties of the Administrative Agent and any such sub-agent, and shall apply to their respective activities in connection with the syndication of

 

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the credit facilities provided for herein as well as activities as the Administrative Agent.  The Administrative Agent shall not be responsible for the negligence or misconduct of any sub-agents except to the extent that a court of competent jurisdiction determines in a final and non-appealable judgment that the Administrative Agent acted with gross negligence or willful misconduct in the selection of such sub-agents.

 

f.                                         Resignation of the Administrative Agent.

 

(a)                                  The Administrative Agent may at any time give notice of its resignation to the Lenders and the Borrower.  Upon receipt of any such notice of resignation, the Required Lenders shall have the right, subject to the reasonable approval of the Borrower (with any Lender or affiliate of a Lender being deemed approved, unless such Lender is a Defaulting Lender, and which approval shall not be required if an Event Default shall be in existence), to appoint a successor, which shall be a bank with an office in the United States, or an Affiliate of any such bank with an office in the United States.  If no such successor shall have been so appointed by the Required Lenders and shall have accepted such appointment within 30 days after the retiring Administrative Agent gives notice of its resignation (or such earlier day as shall be agreed by the Required Lenders) (the “ Resignation Effective Date ”), then the retiring Administrative Agent may (but shall not be obligated to) on behalf of the Lenders, appoint a successor Administrative Agent meeting the qualifications set forth above.  Whether or not a successor has been appointed, such resignation shall become effective in accordance with such notice on the Resignation Effective Date.

 

(b)                                  If the Person serving as the Administrative Agent is a Defaulting Lender pursuant to clause (d)  of the definition thereof, the Required Lenders may, to the extent permitted by applicable law, by notice in writing to the Borrower and such Person remove such Person as the Administrative Agent and, in consultation with the Borrower, appoint a successor. If no such successor shall have been so appointed by the Required Lenders and shall have accepted such appointment within 30 days (or such earlier day as shall be agreed by the Required Lenders) (the “Removal Effective Date”), then such removal shall nonetheless become effective in accordance with such notice on the Removal Effective Date.

 

(c)                                   With effect from the Resignation Effective Date or the Removal Effective Date (as applicable) (1) the retiring or removed Administrative Agent shall be discharged from its duties and obligations hereunder and under the other Loan Documents (except that in the case of any pledge security held by the Administrative Agent on behalf of the Lenders under any of the Loan Documents, the retiring or removed Administrative Agent shall continue to hold such collateral security until such time as a successor Administrative Agent is appointed) and (2) except for any indemnity payments or other amounts then owed to the retiring or removed Administrative Agent, all payments, communications and determinations provided to be made by, to or through the Administrative Agent shall instead be made by or to each Lender directly, until such time, if any, as the Required Lenders appoint a successor Administrative Agent as provided for above.  Upon the acceptance of a successor’s appointment as the Administrative Agent hereunder, such successor shall succeed to and become vested with

 

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all of the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring (or removed) the Administrative Agent (other than as provided in Section 3.01(g)  and other than any rights to indemnity payments or other amounts owed to the retiring or removed Administrative Agent as of the Resignation Effective Date or the Removal Effective Date, as applicable), and the retiring or removed Administrative Agent shall be discharged from all of its duties and obligations hereunder or under the other Loan Documents (if not already discharged therefrom as provided above in this Section).  The fees payable by the Borrower to a successor Administrative Agent shall be the same as those payable to its predecessor unless otherwise agreed between the Borrower and such successor.  After the retiring or removed Administrative Agent’s resignation or removal hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, the provisions of this Article and Section 10.04 shall continue in effect for the benefit of such retiring or removed Administrative Agent, its sub-agents and their respective Related Parties in respect of any actions taken or omitted to be taken by any of them while the retiring or removed Administrative Agent was acting as the Administrative Agent.

 

g.                                        Non-Reliance on the Administrative Agent and Other Lenders.  Each Lender acknowledges that it has, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent or any other Lender or any of their Related Parties and based on such documents and information as it has deemed appropriate, made its own credit analysis and decision to enter into this Agreement.  Each Lender also acknowledges that it will, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent or any other Lender or any of their Related Parties and based on such documents and information as it shall from time to time deem appropriate, continue to make its own decisions in taking or not taking action under or based upon this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any related agreement or any document furnished hereunder or thereunder.

 

h.                                       No Other Duties, Etc.  Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, none of the Lead Arrangers, Bookrunners or co-Syndication Agents listed on the cover page hereof shall have any powers, duties or responsibilities under this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents, except in its capacity, as applicable, as the Administrative Agent, a Lender hereunder.

 

i.                                           The Administrative Agent May File Proofs of Claim.  In case of the pendency of any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law or any other judicial proceeding relative to any Loan Party, the Administrative Agent (irrespective of whether the principal of any Loan shall then be due and payable as herein expressed or by declaration or otherwise and irrespective of whether the Administrative Agent shall have made any demand on the Borrower) shall be entitled and empowered, by intervention in such proceeding or otherwise:

 

(a)                                  to file and prove a claim for the whole amount of the principal and interest owing and unpaid in respect of the Loans and all other Obligations that are owing and unpaid and to file such other documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Lenders and the Administrative Agent (including any claim for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Lenders and the Administrative Agent and their respective agents and counsel and all other amounts due the Lenders and the Administrative Agent under Sections 2.09 and 11.04 ) allowed in such judicial proceeding; and

 

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(b)                                  to collect and receive any monies or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims and to distribute the same;

 

and any custodian, receiver, assignee, trustee, liquidator, sequestrator or other similar official in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Lender to make such payments to the Administrative Agent and, in the event that the Administrative Agent shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Lenders, to pay to the Administrative Agent any amount due for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Administrative Agent and its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Administrative Agent under Sections 2.09 and 11.04 . Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to authorize the Administrative Agent to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Lender any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Obligations or the rights of any Lender to authorize the Administrative Agent to vote in respect of the claim of any Lender in any such proceeding.

 

j.                                          Guaranty Matters.  Upon request by the Administrative Agent at any time, the Required Lenders will confirm in writing the Administrative Agent’s authority to release any Guarantor from its obligations under a Guaranty pursuant to the terms of this Agreement.

 

18.
Miscellaneous

 

a.                                       Amendments, Etc.  No amendment or waiver of any provision of this Agreement or any other Loan Document, and no consent to any departure by the Borrower or any other Loan Party therefrom, shall be effective unless in writing signed by the Required Lenders and the Borrower or the applicable Loan Party, as the case may be, and acknowledged by the Administrative Agent, and each such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the specific purpose for which given; provided that no such amendment, waiver or consent shall:

 

(a)                                  waive any condition set forth in Section 5.01(a)  without the written consent of each Lender;

 

(b)                                  extend or increase the Commitment of any Lender (or reinstate any Commitment terminated pursuant to Section 2.01(b)  or  9.02 ) without the written consent of such Lender;

 

(c)                                   postpone any date fixed by this Agreement or any other Loan Document for any payment or mandatory prepayment of principal, interest, fees or other amounts due to a Lender or any scheduled or mandatory reduction of the Aggregate Commitments hereunder or under any other Loan Document without the written consent of each Lender directly affected thereby;

 

(d)                                  reduce or forgive the principal of, or the rate of interest specified herein on, any Loan, or (subject to clause   (iii)  of the second proviso to this Section 11.01 ) any fees or other amounts payable hereunder or under any other Loan Document, without the written consent of each Lender directly affected thereby; provided that only the consent

 

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of the Required Lenders shall be necessary  to amend the definition of “ Default Rate ,” waive any obligation of the Borrower to pay interest at the Default Rate, or change the manner of computation of any financial ratio (including any change in any applicable defined term) used in determining the Applicable Rate that would result in a reduction of any interest rate on any Loan or any fee payable hereunder;

 

(e)                                   change Section 9.03 in a manner that would alter the pro rata sharing of payments required thereby without the written consent of each Lender;

 

(f)                                    change any provision of this Section or the definition of “ Required Lenders ” or any other provision hereof specifying the number or percentage of the Lenders required to amend, waive or otherwise modify any rights hereunder or make any determination or grant any consent hereunder, without the written consent of each Lender;

 

(g)                                   release all or substantially all of the value of the Guaranties without the written consent of each Lender;

 

and, provided, further , that (i) no amendment, waiver or consent shall, unless in writing and signed by the Administrative Agent in addition to the Lenders required above, affect the rights or duties of the Administrative Agent under this Agreement or any other Loan Document; and (ii) the Fee Letter may be amended, or rights or privileges thereunder waived, in a writing executed only by the parties thereto.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, no Defaulting Lender shall have any right to approve or disapprove any amendment, waiver or consent hereunder (and any amendment, waiver or consent which by its terms requires the consent of all Lenders or each affected Lender may be effected with the consent of the applicable Lenders other than Defaulting Lenders), except that (x) the Commitment of any Defaulting Lender may not be increased or extended without the consent of such Lender and (y) any waiver, amendment or modification requiring the consent of all Lenders or each affected Lender that by its terms affects any Defaulting Lender more adversely than other affected Lenders shall require the consent of such Defaulting Lender.  All communications from the Administrative Agent to any Lender requesting such Lender’s determination, consent, approval or disapproval (a) shall be given in the form of a written notice to such Lender, (b) shall be accompanied by a description of the matter or issue as to which such determination, approval, consent or disapproval is requested, or shall advise such Lender where information, if any, regarding such matter or issue may be inspected, or shall otherwise describe the matter or issue to be resolved, (c) shall include, if reasonably requested by such Lender and to the extent not previously provided to such Lender, written materials and, as appropriate, a brief summary of all oral information provided to the Administrative Agent by the Borrower in respect of the matter or issue to be resolved, and (d) shall include the Administrative Agent’s recommended course of action or determination in respect thereof.

 

b.                                       Notices; Effectiveness; Electronic Communication.

 

(a)                                  Notices Generally .  Except in the case of notices and other communications expressly permitted to be given by telephone (and except as provided in subsection (b)  below), all notices and other communications provided for herein shall be

 

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in writing and shall be delivered by hand or overnight courier service, mailed by certified or registered mail or sent by telecopier as follows, and all notices and other communications expressly permitted hereunder to be given by telephone shall be made to the applicable telephone number, as follows:

 

(i)                                      if to the Borrower or the Administrative Agent to the address, telecopier number, electronic mail address or telephone number specified for such Person on Schedule 11.02 ; and

 

(ii)                                   if to any other Lender, to the address, telecopier number, electronic mail address or telephone number specified in its Administrative Questionnaire (including, as appropriate, notices delivered solely to the Person designated by a Lender on its Administrative Questionnaire then in effect for the delivery of notices that may contain material non-public information relating to the Borrower).

 

Notices and other communications sent by hand or overnight courier service, or mailed by certified or registered mail, shall be deemed to have been given when received; notices and other communications sent by telecopier shall be deemed to have been given when sent (except that, if not given during normal business hours for the recipient, shall be deemed to have been given at the opening of business on the next business day for the recipient).  Notices and other communications delivered through electronic communications to the extent provided in subsection (b)  below, shall be effective as provided in such subsection (b) .

 

(b)                                  Electronic Communications .  Notices and other communications to the Lenders hereunder may be delivered or furnished by electronic communication (including e-mail and Internet or intranet websites) pursuant to procedures approved by the Administrative Agent, provided that the foregoing shall not apply to notices to any Lender pursuant to Article II if such Lender has notified the Administrative Agent that it is incapable of receiving notices under such Article by electronic communication.  The Administrative Agent or the Borrower may each, in its discretion, agree to accept notices and other communications to it hereunder by electronic communications pursuant to procedures approved by it; provided that approval of such procedures may be limited to particular notices or communications.

 

Unless the Administrative Agent otherwise prescribes, (i) notices and other communications sent to an e-mail address shall be deemed received upon the sender’s receipt of an acknowledgement from the intended recipient (such as by the “return receipt requested” function, as available, return e-mail or other written acknowledgement), and (ii) notices or communications posted to an Internet or intranet website shall be deemed received upon the deemed receipt by the intended recipient at its e-mail address as described in the foregoing clause (i)  of notification that such notice or communication is available and identifying the website address therefor; provided that , for both clauses (i)  and (ii) , if such notice, email or other communication is not sent during the normal business hours of the recipient, such notice, email or communication shall be deemed to have been sent at the opening of business on the next business day for the recipient.

 

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(c)                                   The Platform .  THE PLATFORM IS PROVIDED “AS IS” AND “AS AVAILABLE.”  THE AGENT PARTIES (AS DEFINED BELOW) DO NOT WARRANT THE ACCURACY OR COMPLETENESS OF THE BORROWER MATERIALS OR THE ADEQUACY OF THE PLATFORM, AND EXPRESSLY DISCLAIM LIABILITY FOR ERRORS IN OR OMISSIONS FROM THE BORROWER MATERIALS.  NO WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS, IMPLIED OR STATUTORY, INCLUDING ANY WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, NON-INFRINGEMENT OF THIRD PARTY RIGHTS OR FREEDOM FROM VIRUSES OR OTHER CODE DEFECTS, IS MADE BY ANY AGENT PARTY IN CONNECTION WITH THE BORROWER MATERIALS OR THE PLATFORM.  In no event shall the Administrative Agent or any of its Related Parties (collectively, the “ Agent Parties ”) have any liability to the Borrower, any Lender or any other Person for losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses of any kind (whether in tort, contract or otherwise) arising out of the Borrower’s or the Administrative Agent’s transmission of the Borrower Materials through the Internet, except to the extent that such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses are determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by a final and nonappealable judgment to have resulted from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Agent Party; provided that in no event shall any Agent Party have any liability to the Borrower, any Lender or any other Person for indirect, special, incidental, consequential or punitive damages (as opposed to direct or actual damages) resulting therefrom.

 

(d)                                  Change of Address, Etc .  Each of the Borrower and the Administrative Agent may change its address, telecopier or telephone number for notices and other communications hereunder by notice to the other parties hereto.  Each other Lender may change its address, telecopier or telephone number for notices and other communications hereunder by notice to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent.  In addition, each Lender agrees to notify the Administrative Agent from time to time to ensure that the Administrative Agent has on record (i) an effective address, contact name, telephone number, telecopier number and electronic mail address to which notices and other communications may be sent and (ii) accurate wire instructions for such Lender.  Furthermore, each Public Lender agrees to cause at least one (1) individual at or on behalf of such Public Lender to at all times have selected the “Private Side Information” or similar designation on the content declaration screen of the Platform in order to enable such Public Lender or its delegate, in accordance with such Public Lender’s compliance procedures and applicable Law, including United States Federal and state securities Laws, to make reference to the Borrower Materials that are not made available through the “Public Side Information” portion of the Platform and that may contain material non-public information with respect to the Borrower or its Equity Interests for purposes of United States Federal or state securities laws.

 

(e)                                   Reliance by the Administrative Agent and the Lenders .  The Administrative Agent and the Lenders shall be entitled to rely and act upon any notices (including telephonic Committed Loan Notices) purportedly given by or on behalf of the Borrower even if (i) such notices were not made in a manner specified herein, were incomplete or were not preceded or followed by any other form of notice specified

 

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herein, or (ii) the terms thereof, as understood by the recipient, varied from any confirmation thereof.  The Borrower shall indemnify the Administrative Agent, each Lender and the Related Parties of each of them from all losses, costs, expenses and liabilities resulting from the reliance by such Person on each notice purportedly given by or on behalf of the Borrower.  All telephonic notices to and other telephonic communications with the Administrative Agent may be recorded by the Administrative Agent, and each of the parties hereto hereby consents to such recording.

 

c.                                        No Waiver; Cumulative Remedies; Enforcement.  No failure by any Lender or the Administrative Agent to exercise, and no delay by any such Person in exercising, any right, remedy, power or privilege hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof; nor shall any single or partial exercise of any right, remedy, power or privilege hereunder preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, remedy, power or privilege.  The rights, remedies, powers and privileges herein provided and provided under each other Loan Document are cumulative and not exclusive of any rights, remedies, powers and privileges provided by Law.

 

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein or in any other Loan Document, the authority to enforce rights and remedies hereunder and under the other Loan Documents against the Loan Parties or any of them shall be vested exclusively in, and all actions and proceedings at law in connection with such enforcement shall be instituted and maintained exclusively by, the Administrative Agent in accordance with Section 9.02 for the benefit of all the Lenders; provided that the foregoing shall not prohibit (a) the Administrative Agent from exercising on its own behalf the rights and remedies that inure to its benefit (solely in its capacity as the Administrative Agent) hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, (b) any Lender from exercising setoff rights in accordance with Section 11.08 (subject to the terms of Section 2.13 ), or (c) any Lender from filing proofs of claim or appearing and filing pleadings on its own behalf during the pendency of a proceeding relative to any Loan Party under any Debtor Relief Law; and provided , further , that if at any time there is no Person acting as the Administrative Agent hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, then (i) the Required Lenders shall have the rights otherwise ascribed to the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 9.02 and (ii) in addition to the matters set forth in clauses (b) , (c)  and (d)  of the preceding proviso and subject to Section 2.13 , any Lender may, with the consent of the Required Lenders, enforce any rights and remedies available to it and as authorized by the Required Lenders.

 

d.                                       Expenses; Indemnity; Damage Waiver.

 

(a)                                  Costs and Expenses .  Each Loan Party shall jointly and severally pay (i) all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent and its Affiliates (including (a) the reasonable fees, charges and disbursements of counsel for the Administrative Agent; (b) fees and charges of each consultant, inspector, and engineer; (c) uniform commercial code searches; (d) judgment and tax lien searches for the Borrower and each Guarantor; (e) escrow fees; and (f) documentary taxes, in connection with the initial syndication of the credit facilities provided for herein, the preparation, negotiation, execution, delivery and administration of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents or any amendments, modifications or waivers of the provisions hereof or thereof (whether or not the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby shall be

 

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consummated), (ii)  all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent or any Lender (including the reasonable fees, charges and disbursements of any counsel for the Administrative Agent or any Lender (only if a Default shall be in existence)), in connection with the enforcement or protection of its rights (A) in connection with this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, including its rights under this Section, or (B) in connection with the Loans made hereunder, including all such out-of-pocket expenses incurred during any workout, restructuring or negotiations in respect of such Loans; provided, however that the Borrower shall not be required to pay the expenses of more than one law firm acting as counsel for the Lenders (in addition to expenses for any appropriate local or special counsel) in connection with such workout or enforcement to the extent the Lenders reasonably determine that joint representation is appropriate under the circumstances.

 

(b)                                  Indemnification .  The Parent and the Borrower shall jointly and severally indemnify the Administrative Agent (and any sub-agent thereof), each Lender, and each Related Party of any of the foregoing Persons (each such Person being called an “ Indemnitee ”) against, and hold each Indemnitee harmless from, any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities and related expenses (including the reasonable fees, charges and disbursements of any counsel for any Indemnitee), incurred by any Indemnitee or asserted against any Indemnitee by any third party or by the Borrower or any other Loan Party resulting from any action, suit, or proceeding relating to (i) the execution or delivery of this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any agreement or instrument contemplated hereby or thereby, the performance by the parties hereto of their respective obligations hereunder or thereunder, the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, or, in the case of the Administrative Agent (and any sub-agent thereof) and its Related Parties only, the administration of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents (including in respect of any matters addressed in Section 3.01 ), (ii) any Loan or the use or proposed use of the proceeds therefrom, (iii) any actual or alleged presence or release of Hazardous Materials on or from any property owned or operated by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, or any Environmental Damages related in any way to the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, or (iv) any actual or prospective claim, litigation, investigation or proceeding relating to any of the foregoing, whether based on contract, tort or any other theory, whether brought by a third party or by the Borrower or any other Loan Party, and regardless of whether any Indemnitee is a party thereto; provided that such indemnity shall not, as to any Indemnitee, be available to the extent that such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or related expenses (w) are determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by final and nonappealable judgment to have resulted from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Indemnitee or any Related Party of such Indemnitee, (x) result from a claim brought by the Borrower or any other Loan Party against an Indemnitee for breach in bad faith of such Indemnitee’s obligations hereunder or under any other Loan Document, if the Borrower or such other Loan Party has obtained a final and nonappealable judgment in its favor on such claim as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction, (y) for which an Indemnitee has been compensated pursuant to the terms of this Agreement or the Fee Letter, or (z) to the extent based upon contractual obligations of such Indemnitee owing by such Indemnitee to any third party which are not expressly set forth in this Agreement.

 

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(c)                                   Reserved .

 

(d)                                  Reimbursement by the Lenders .  To the extent that the Loan Parties for any reason fail to indefeasibly pay any amount required under subsection (a)  or (b)  of this Section to be paid by the Loan Parties to the Administrative Agent (or any sub-agent thereof), or any Related Party of any of the foregoing (and without limiting their obligation to do so), each Lender severally agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent (or any such sub-agent) or such Related Party, as the case may be, such Lender’s pro rata share (determined as of the time that the applicable unreimbursed expense or indemnity payment is sought based on each Lender’s Applicable Percentage) of such unpaid amount (including any such unpaid amount in respect of a claim asserted by such Lender), such payment to be made severally among them based on such Lenders’ Applicable Percentage (determined as of the time that the applicable unreimbursed expense or indemnity payment is sought) of such unpaid amount, provided that the unreimbursed expense or indemnified loss, claim, damage, liability or related expense, as the case may be, was incurred by or asserted against the Administrative Agent (or any such sub-agent), or against any Related Party of any of the foregoing acting for the Administrative Agent (or any such sub-agent), in connection with such capacity.  The obligations of the Lenders under this subsection (c)  are subject to the provisions of Section 2.12(d) .

 

(e)                                   Waiver of Consequential Damages, Etc.   To the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law, no Loan Party shall assert, and each Loan Party hereby waives and acknowledges that no other Person shall have, any claim against any Indemnitee, on any theory of liability, for special, indirect, consequential or punitive damages (as opposed to direct or actual damages) arising out of, in connection with, or as a result of, this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any agreement or instrument contemplated hereby, the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, any Loan or the use of the proceeds thereof.  No Indemnitee referred to in subsection (b)  above shall be liable for any damages arising from the use by unintended recipients of any information or other materials distributed to such unintended recipients by such Indemnitee through telecommunications, electronic or other information transmission systems in connection with this Agreement or the other Loan Documents or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby other than for direct or actual damages resulting from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Indemnitee as determined by a final and nonappealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction.

 

(f)                                    Payments .  All amounts due under this Section  shall be payable not later than ten (10) Business Days after demand therefor.

 

(g)                                   Survival .  The agreements in this Section and the indemnity provisions of Section 11.02(e)  shall survive the resignation of the Administrative Agent, the replacement of any Lender, the termination of the Aggregate Commitments, and the repayment, satisfaction or discharge of all the other Obligations.

 

e.                                        Payments Set Aside.  To the extent that any payment by or on behalf of the Borrower is made to the Administrative Agent or any Lender, or the Administrative Agent or any Lender exercises its right of setoff, and such payment or the proceeds of such setoff or any part

 

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thereof is subsequently invalidated, declared to be fraudulent or preferential, set aside or required (including pursuant to any settlement entered into by the Administrative Agent or such Lender in its discretion) to be repaid to a trustee, receiver or any other party, in connection with any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law or otherwise, then (a) to the extent of such recovery, the obligation or part thereof originally intended to be satisfied shall be revived and continued in full force and effect as if such payment had not been made or such setoff had not occurred, and (b) each Lender severally agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent upon demand its applicable share (without duplication) of any amount so recovered from or repaid by the Administrative Agent (without relieving the Borrower of its obligation to make any such payment so required), plus interest thereon from the date of such demand to the date such payment is made at a rate per annum equal to the Federal Funds Rate from time to time in effect.  The obligations of the Lenders under clause (b)  of the preceding sentence shall survive the payment in full of the Obligations and the termination of this Agreement.

 

f.                                         Successors and Assigns.

 

(a)                                  Successors and Assigns Generally .  The provisions of this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby, except that neither the Borrower nor any other Loan Party may assign or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent and each Lender and no Lender may assign or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations hereunder except (i) to an assignee in accordance with the provisions of subsection (b)  of this Section, (ii) by way of participation in accordance with the provisions of subsection (d)  of this Section, or (iii) by way of pledge or assignment of a security interest subject to the restrictions of subsection (e)  of this Section (and any other attempted assignment or transfer by any party hereto shall be null and void).  Nothing in this Agreement, expressed or implied, shall be construed to confer upon any Person (other than the parties hereto, their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby, Participants to the extent provided in subsection (d)  of this Section and, to the extent expressly contemplated hereby, the Related Parties of each of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders) any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or by reason of this Agreement.

 

(b)                                  Assignments by the Lenders .  Any Lender may, at no cost or expense to any Loan Party (except as provided in Section 11.13 ), at any time assign to one or more assignees all or a portion of its rights and obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Commitment and the Loans at the time owing to it); provided that any such assignment shall be subject to the following conditions:

 

(i)                                      Minimum Amounts .

 

i)                                          in the case of an assignment of the entire remaining amount of the assigning Lender’s Commitment and/or the Loans at the time owing to it or contemporaneous assignments to related Approved Funds that equal at least the amount specified in paragraph (b)(i)(B) of this Section in the aggregate or in the case of an assignment to a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund, no minimum amount need be assigned (but

 

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any such assignment shall be of a pro rata interest in each of the Loans; and

 

ii)                                       in any case not described in subsection (b)(i)(A)  of this Section, the aggregate amount of the Commitment (which for this purpose includes Loans outstanding thereunder) or, if the Commitment is not then in effect, the principal outstanding balance of the Loans of the assigning Lender subject to each such assignment, determined as of the date the Assignment and Assumption with respect to such assignment is delivered to the Administrative Agent or, if “Trade Date” is specified in the Assignment and Assumption, as of the Trade Date, shall not be less than $5,000,000 and shall be an assignment of a pro rata interest in each of the Loans, and the amount assigned to the Eligible Assignee shall not be less than $5,000,000, unless each of the Administrative Agent and, so long as no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Borrower otherwise consents (each such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed); provided that concurrent assignments to members of an Assignee Group and concurrent assignments from members of an Assignee Group to a single Eligible Assignee (or to an Eligible Assignee and members of its Assignee Group) will be treated as a single assignment for purposes of determining whether such minimum amount has been met.

 

(ii)                                   Proportionate Amounts .  Each partial assignment shall be made as an assignment of a proportionate part of all the assigning Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement with respect to the Loans or the Commitment assigned;

 

(iii)                                Required Consents .  No consent shall be required for any assignment except to the extent required by subsection (b)(i)(B)  of this Section and, in addition:

 

i)                                          the consent of the Borrower (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) shall be required unless (1) an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing at the time of such assignment or (2) such assignment is to a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender, an Approved Fund or to any Federal Reserve Bank or other central bank authority or comparable agency having jurisdiction over such Lender; provided that the Borrower shall be deemed to have consented to any such assignment unless it shall object thereto by written notice to the Administrative Agent within ten (10) Business Days after having received notice thereof; and

 

ii)                                       the consent of the Administrative Agent (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) shall be required if such assignment is to a Person that is not a Lender, an Affiliate of such Lender or an Approved Fund with respect to such Lender.

 

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(iv)                               Assignment and Assumption .  The parties to each assignment shall execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent an Assignment and Assumption, together with a processing and recordation fee in the amount of $3,500; provided that the Administrative Agent may, in its sole discretion, elect to waive such processing and recordation fee in the case of any assignment.  The assignee, if it is not a Lender, shall deliver to the Administrative Agent an Administrative Questionnaire.

 

(v)                                  No Assignment to Certain Persons .  No such assignment shall be made (A) to the Parent or the Borrower or any of their Affiliates or Subsidiaries, or (B) without the consent of the Administrative Agent and the Borrower, to any Defaulting Lender or any of its Subsidiaries, or any Person who, upon becoming a Lender hereunder, would constitute any of the foregoing Persons described in this clause (B) , (C) to a natural person, or (D) without the consent of the Borrower, to any Excluded Party.

 

(vi)                               Certain Additional Payments .  In connection with any assignment of rights and obligations of any Defaulting Lender hereunder, no such assignment shall be effective unless and until, in addition to the other conditions thereto set forth herein, the parties to the assignment shall make such additional payments to the Administrative Agent in an aggregate amount sufficient, upon distribution thereof as appropriate (which may be outright payment, purchases by the assignee of participations or sub-participations, or other compensating actions, including funding, with the consent of the Borrower and the Administrative Agent, the applicable pro rata share of Loans previously requested but not funded by the Defaulting Lender, to each of which the applicable assignee and assignor hereby irrevocably consent), to (x) pay and satisfy in full all payment liabilities then owed by such Defaulting Lender to the Administrative Agent or any Lender hereunder (and interest accrued thereon) and (y) acquire (and fund as appropriate) its full pro rata share of all Loans in accordance with its Applicable Percentage.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that any assignment of rights and obligations of any Defaulting Lender hereunder shall become effective under applicable Law without compliance with the provisions of this paragraph, then the assignee of such interest shall be deemed to be a Defaulting Lender for all purposes of this Agreement until such compliance occurs.

 

Subject to acceptance and recording thereof by the Administrative Agent pursuant to subsection (c)  of this Section, from and after the effective date specified in each Assignment and Assumption, the assignee thereunder shall be a party to this Agreement and, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Assumption, have the rights and obligations of a Lender under this Agreement, and the assigning Lender thereunder shall, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Assumption, be released from its obligations under this Agreement (and, in the case of an Assignment and Assumption covering all of the assigning Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement, such Lender shall cease to be a party hereto) but shall continue to be entitled to the benefits of Sections 3.01, 3.04 , 3.05 , and 11.04 with respect to facts and circumstances occurring prior to the effective date of such assignment, provided, that

 

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except to the extent otherwise expressly agreed by the affected parties, no assignment by a Defaulting Lender will constitute a waiver or release of any claim of any party hereunder arising from that Lender’s having been a Defaulting Lender.  Upon request, the Borrower (at its expense) shall execute and deliver a Note to the assignee Lender.  Any assignment or transfer by a Lender of rights or obligations under this Agreement that does not comply with this subsection shall be treated for purposes of this Agreement as a sale by such Lender of a participation in such rights and obligations in accordance with subsection (d)  of this Section.

 

(c)                                   Register .  The Administrative Agent, acting solely for this purpose as an a non-fiduciary agent of the Borrower (and such agency being solely for tax purposes), shall maintain at the Administrative Agent’s Office a copy of each Assignment and Assumption delivered to it (or the equivalent thereof in electronic form) and a register for the recordation of the names and addresses of the Lenders, and the Commitments of, and principal amounts (and stated interest) of the Loans owing to, each Lender pursuant to the terms hereof from time to time (the “ Register ”).  The entries in the Register shall be conclusive absent manifest error, and the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders may treat each Person whose name is recorded in the Register pursuant to the terms hereof as a Lender hereunder for all purposes of this Agreement .   The Register shall be available for inspection by the Borrower and any Lender, at any reasonable time and from time to time upon reasonable prior notice.

 

(d)                                  Participations . Any Lender may at any time, without the consent of, or notice to, the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, sell participations to any Person (other than a natural person, an Excluded Party, a Defaulting Lender or the Parent or the Borrower or any of their Affiliates or Subsidiaries) (each, a “ Participant ”) in all or a portion of such Lender’s rights and/or obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Commitment and/or the Loans owing to it); provided that (i) such Lender’s obligations under this Agreement shall remain unchanged, (ii) such Lender shall remain solely responsible to the other parties hereto for the performance of such obligations and (iii) the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the Lenders shall continue to deal solely and directly with such Lender in connection with such Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement.  For the avoidance of doubt, each Lender shall be responsible for the indemnity under Section 11.04(d)  without regard to the existence of any participation.

 

Any agreement or instrument pursuant to which a Lender sells such a participation shall provide that such Lender shall retain the sole right to enforce this Agreement and to approve any amendment, modification or waiver of any  provision of this Agreement; provided that such agreement or instrument may provide that such Lender will not, without the consent of the Participant, agree to any amendment, waiver or other modification described in the first proviso to Section 11.01 that affects such Participant.  The Borrower agrees that each Participant shall be entitled to the benefits of Sections 3.01 , 3.04 and 3.05 to the same extent as if it were a Lender and had acquired its interest by assignment pursuant to subsection (b) of this Section (it being understood that the documentation required under Section 3.01(e)  shall be delivered to the Lender who sells the participation); provided that such Participant (A) agrees to be subject to the

 

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provisions of Section s 3.06 and 11.13 as if it were an assignee under paragraph (b) of this Section and (B) shall not be entitled to receive any greater payment under Sections 3.01 or 3.04 , with respect to any participation than the Lender from whom it acquired the applicable participation would have been entitled to receive, except to the extent such entitlement to receive a greater payment results from a Change in Law that occurs after the Participant acquired the applicable participation.  Each Lender that sells a participation agrees, at the Borrower’s request and expense, to use reasonable efforts to cooperate with the Borrower to effectuate the provisions of Section 3.06 with respect to any Participant.  To the extent permitted by law, each Participant also shall be entitled to the benefits of Section  11.08 as though it were a Lender; provided that such Participant agrees to be subject to Section 2.13 as though it were a Lender. Each Lender that sells a participation shall, acting solely for this purpose as a nonfiduciary non-fiduciary agent of the Borrower, maintain a register on which it enters the name and address of each Participant and the principal amounts (and stated interest) of each Participant’s interest in the Loans or other obligations under the Loan Documents (the “ Participant Register ”); provided that no Lender shall have any obligation to disclose all or any portion of the Participant Register (including the identity of any Participant or any information relating to a Participant’s interest in any commitments, loans, letters of credit or its other obligations under any Loan Document) to any Person except to the extent that such disclosure is necessary to establish that such commitment, loan, letter of credit or other obligation is in registered form under Section 5f.103-1(c)  of the United States Treasury Regulations.  The entries in the Participant Register shall be conclusive absent manifest error, and such Lender shall treat each Person whose name is recorded in the Participant Register as the owner of such participation for all purposes of this Agreement notwithstanding any notice to the contrary.  For the avoidance of doubt, the Administrative Agent (in its capacity as the Administrative Agent) shall have no responsibility for maintaining a Participant Register.

 

(e)                                   Certain Pledges .  Any Lender may at any time pledge or assign a security interest in all or any portion of its rights under this Agreement (including under its Note, if any) to secure obligations of such Lender, including any pledge or assignment to secure obligations to a Federal Reserve Bank or other central bank authority or comparable agency having jurisdiction over such lender ; provided that no such pledge or assignment shall release such Lender from any of its obligations hereunder or substitute any such pledgee or assignee for such Lender as a party hereto.

 

(f)                                    Reserved .

 

(g)                                   USA Patriot Act Notice; Compliance .  In order for the Administrative Agent to comply with “know your customer” and anti-money laundering rules and regulations, including without limitation, the Patriot Act, prior to any Lender that is organized under the laws of a jurisdiction outside of the United States of America becoming a party hereto, the Administrative Agent may request, and such Lender shall provide to the Administrative Agent, its name, address, tax identification number and/or such other identification information as shall be necessary for the Administrative Agent to comply with federal law.

 

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g.                                        Treatment of Certain Information; Confidentiality.  Each of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders agrees to maintain the confidentiality of the Information (as defined below), except that Information may be disclosed (a) to its Affiliates and to its Related Parties (it being understood that the Persons to whom such disclosure is made will be informed of the confidential nature of such Information and instructed to keep such Information confidential), (b) to the extent required or requested by any regulatory authority purporting to have jurisdiction over such Person or its Related Parties (including any self-regulatory authority, such as the National Association of Insurance Commissioners), (c) to the extent required by applicable Laws or regulations or by any subpoena or similar legal process so long as the Administrative Agent and any Lender, as the case may be, requests confidential treatment of such Information to the extent permitted by Law (provided that the requesting Administrative Agent or Lender shall not be responsible for the failure by any such party to keep the Information confidential), (d) to any other party hereto, (e) in connection with the exercise of any remedies hereunder or under any other Loan Document or any action or proceeding relating to this Agreement or any other Loan Document or the enforcement of rights hereunder or thereunder, (f) subject to an agreement containing provisions substantially the same as those of this Section, to (i) any assignee of or Participant in, or any prospective assignee of or Participant in, any of its rights and obligations under this Agreement or any Eligible Assignee invited to be a Lender pursuant to Section 3.06(c), Section 11.13 or (ii) any actual or prospective party (or its Related Parties) to any swap, derivative or other transaction under which payments are to be made by reference to the Borrower and its obligations, this Agreement or payments hereunder, (g) on a confidential basis to (i)  any rating agency in connection with rating the Borrower or its Subsidiaries or the credit facilities provided hereunder or (ii) the CUSIP Service Bureau or any similar agency in connection with the issuance and monitoring of CUSIP numbers or other market identifiers with respect to the credit facilities provided hereunder, (h) with the consent of the Borrower or (i) to the extent such Information (x) becomes publicly available other than as a result of a breach of this Section or (y) becomes available to the Administrative Agent, any Lender or any of their respective Affiliates on a non-confidential basis from a source other than the Borrower provided that the source of such information was not at the time known to be bound by a confidentiality agreement or other legal or contractual obligation of confidentiality with respect to such Information.  For purposes of this Section, “Information” means all information received from the Borrower or any Subsidiary relating to the Borrower or any Subsidiary or any of their respective businesses, other than any such information that is available to the Administrative Agent or any Lender on a non-confidential basis prior to disclosure by the Borrower or any Subsidiary, provided that, in the case of information received from the Borrower or any Subsidiary after the date hereof, such information is clearly identified at the time of delivery as confidential.  Any Person required to maintain the confidentiality of Information as provided in this Section shall be considered to have complied with its obligation to do so if such Person has exercised the same degree of care to maintain the confidentiality of such Information as such Person would accord to its own confidential information.

 

Each of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders acknowledges that (a) the Information may include material non-public information concerning the Borrower or a Subsidiary, as the case may be, (b) it has developed compliance procedures regarding the use of material non-public information and (c) it will handle such material non-public information in accordance with applicable Law, including United States Federal and state securities Laws.

 

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h.                                       Right of Setoff .  .    If  an  Event  of  Default  shall  have  occurred and be continuing and the Administrative Agent and the Required Lenders shall have consented in writing thereto, each Lender and each of their respective Affiliates (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any Specified Derivatives Providers) is hereby authorized at any time and from time to time, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, to set off and apply any and all deposits (general or special, time or demand, provisional or final, in whatever currency) at any time held and other obligations (in whatever currency) at any time owing by such Lender or any such Affiliate to or for the credit or the account of the Borrower or any other Loan Party against any and all of the obligations of the Borrower or such Loan Party now or hereafter existing under this Agreement or any other Loan Document to such Lender or their respective Affiliates, irrespective of whether or not such Lender or Affiliate shall have made any demand under this Agreement or any other Loan Document and although such obligations of the Borrower or such Loan Party may be  contingent or unmatured or are owed to a branch, office or Affiliate of such Lender different from the branch, office or Affiliate holding such deposit or obligated on such indebtedness; provided, that in the event that any Defaulting Lender shall exercise any such right of setoff, (x) all amounts so set off shall be paid over immediately to the Administrative Agent for further application in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.17 and, pending such payment, shall be segregated by such Defaulting Lender from its other funds and deemed held in trust for the benefit of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders, and (y) the Defaulting Lender shall provide promptly to the Administrative Agent a statement describing in reasonable detail the Obligations owing to such Defaulting Lender as to which it  exercised  such right of setoff. The rights of each Lender and their respective Affiliates under this Section are in addition to other rights and remedies (including other rights of setoff) that such Lender or their respective Affiliates may have. Each Lender agrees to notify the Borrower and the Administrative Agent promptly after any such setoff and application, provided that the failure to give such notice shall not affect the validity of such setoff and application.

 

i.                                           Interest Rate Limitation.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in any Loan Document, the interest paid or agreed to be paid under the Loan Documents shall not exceed the maximum rate of non-usurious interest permitted by applicable Law (the “ Maximum Rate ”).  If the Administrative Agent or any Lender shall receive interest in an amount that exceeds the Maximum Rate, the excess interest shall be applied to the principal of the Loans or, if it exceeds such unpaid principal, refunded to the Borrower.  In determining whether the interest contracted for, charged, or received by the Administrative Agent or a Lender exceeds the Maximum Rate, such Person may, to the extent permitted by applicable Law, (a) characterize any payment that is not principal as an expense, fee, or premium rather than interest, (b) exclude voluntary prepayments and the effects thereof, and (c) amortize, prorate, allocate, and spread in equal or unequal parts the total amount of interest throughout the contemplated term of the Obligations hereunder.

 

j.                                          Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness.  This Agreement may be executed in counterparts (and by different parties hereto in different counterparts), each of which shall constitute an original, but all of which when taken together shall constitute a single contract.  This Agreement and the other Loan Documents , and any separate letter agreements with respect to fees payable to the Administrative Agent constitute the entire contract among the parties relating to the subject matter hereof and supersede any and all previous agreements and understandings, oral or written, relating to the subject matter hereof.  Except as provided in

 

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Section 5.01 , this Agreement shall become effective when it shall have been executed by the Administrative Agent and when the Administrative Agent shall have received counterparts hereof that, when taken together, bear the signatures of each of the other parties hereto.  Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page of this Agreement by telecopy, by email with a pdf copy attached, or other electronic imaging means shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Agreement.

 

k.             Survival of Representations and Warranties.  All representations and warranties made hereunder and in any other Loan Document or other document delivered pursuant hereto or thereto or in connection herewith or therewith shall survive the execution and delivery hereof and thereof.  Such representations and warranties have been or will be relied upon by the Administrative Agent and each Lender, regardless of any investigation made by the Administrative Agent or any Lender or on their behalf and notwithstanding that the Administrative Agent or any Lender may have had notice or knowledge of any Default at the time of any Credit Extension, and shall continue in full force and effect as long as any Loan or any other Obligation hereunder shall remain unpaid or unsatisfied.

 

l.              Severability.  If any provision of this Agreement or the other Loan Documents is held to be illegal, invalid or unenforceable, (a) the legality, validity and enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents shall not be affected or impaired thereby and (b) the parties shall endeavor in good faith negotiations to replace the illegal, invalid or unenforceable provisions with valid provisions the economic effect of which comes as close as possible to that of the illegal, invalid or unenforceable provisions.  The invalidity of a provision in a particular jurisdiction shall not invalidate or render unenforceable such provision in any other jurisdiction.  Without limiting the foregoing provisions of this Section 11.12 , if and to the extent that the enforceability of any provisions in this Agreement relating to Defaulting Lenders shall be limited by Debtor Relief Laws, as determined in good faith by the Administrative Agent then such provisions shall be deemed to be in effect only to the extent not so limited.

 

m.           Replacement of the Lenders.  If the Borrower is entitled to replace a Lender pursuant to the provisions of Section 3.06 , or if any Lender is a Defaulting Lender or if any other circumstance exists hereunder that gives the Borrower the right to replace a Lender as a party hereto, then the Borrower may, at its sole expense and effort, upon notice to such Lender and the Administrative Agent, require such Lender to assign and delegate, without recourse (in accordance with and subject to the restrictions contained in, and consents required by, Section 11.06 ), all of its interests, rights (other than its existing rights to payments pursuant to Sections 3.01, 3.04 and 3.05 ) and obligations under this Agreement and the related Loan Documents to an Eligible Assignee that shall assume such obligations (which assignee may be another Lender, if a Lender accepts such assignment), provided that:

 

(a)           the Borrower shall have paid to the Administrative Agent the assignment fee (if any) specified in Section 11.06(b) ;

 

(b)           such Lender shall have received payment of an amount equal to the outstanding principal of its Loans, accrued interest thereon, accrued fees and all other amounts payable to it hereunder and under the other Loan Documents (including any

 

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amounts under Section 3.05 ) from the assignee (to the extent of such outstanding principal and accrued interest and fees) or the Borrower (in the case of all other amounts);

 

(c)           in the case of any such assignment resulting from a claim for compensation under Section 3.04 or payments required to be made pursuant to Section 3.01 , such assignment will result in a reduction in such compensation or payments thereafter; and

 

(d)           such assignment does not conflict with applicable Laws.

 

(e)           A Lender shall not be required to make any such assignment or delegation if, prior thereto, as a result of a waiver by such Lender or otherwise, the circumstances entitling the Borrower to require such assignment and delegation cease to apply.

 

n.             Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Etc.

 

(a)           GOVERNING LAW .  THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS AND ANY CLAIMS, CONTROVERSY, DISPUTE OR CAUSE OF ACTION (WHETHER IN CONTRACT OR TORT OR OTHERWISE) BASED UPON, ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT (EXCEPT, AS TO ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT, AS EXPRESSLY SET FORTH THEREIN) AND THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY AND THEREBY SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

 

(b)           SUBMISSION TO JURISDICTION .  THE BORROWER AND EACH OTHER LOAN PARTY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY AGREES THAT IT WILL NOT COMMENCE ANY ACTION, LITIGATION OR PROCEEDING OF ANY KIND OR DESCRIPTION, WHETHER IN LAW OR EQUITY, WHETHER IN CONTRACT OR IN TORT OR OTHERWISE, AGAINST THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT, ANY LENDER OR ANY RELATED PARTY OF THE FOREGOING IN ANY WAY RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS RELATING HERETO OR THERETO, IN ANY FORUM OTHER THAN THE COURTS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK COUNTY AND OF THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT OF THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK, AND ANY APPELLATE COURT FROM ANY THEREOF, AND EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY SUBMITS TO THE JURISDICTION OF SUCH COURTS  AND AGREES THAT ALL CLAIMS IN RESPECT OF ANY SUCH ACTION, LITIGATION OR PROCEEDING MAY BE HEARD AND DETERMINED IN SUCH NEW YORK STATE COURT OR, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, IN SUCH FEDERAL COURT.  EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO AGREES THAT A FINAL JUDGMENT IN ANY SUCH ACTION, LITIGATION OR PROCEEDING SHALL BE CONCLUSIVE AND MAY BE ENFORCED IN OTHER JURISDICTIONS BY SUIT ON THE JUDGMENT OR IN ANY OTHER MANNER PROVIDED BY LAW.  NOTHING IN THIS AGREEMENT

 

111



 

OR IN ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT SHALL AFFECT ANY RIGHT THAT THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT OR ANY LENDER MAY OTHERWISE HAVE TO BRING ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT AGAINST THE BORROWER OR ANY OTHER LOAN PARTY OR ITS PROPERTIES IN THE COURTS OF ANY JURISDICTION.

 

(c)           WAIVER OF VENUE .  EACH OF THE PARENT, THE BORROWER AND EACH OTHER LOAN PARTY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY OBJECTION THAT IT MAY NOW OR HEREAFTER HAVE TO THE LAYING OF VENUE OF ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT IN ANY COURT REFERRED TO IN PARAGRAPH (b) OF THIS SECTION.  EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, THE DEFENSE OF AN INCONVENIENT FORUM TO THE MAINTENANCE OF SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING IN ANY SUCH COURT.

 

(d)           SERVICE OF PROCESS .  EACH PARTY HERETO IRREVOCABLY CONSENTS TO SERVICE OF PROCESS IN THE MANNER PROVIDED FOR NOTICES IN SECTION 11.02 PROVIDED THAT, IN THE CASE OF SERVICE ON ANY LOAN PARTY A COPY IS ALSO DELIVERED TO JEFFREY SULLIVAN, GENERAL COUNSEL FOR PARENT AND BORROWER.  NOTHING IN THIS AGREEMENT WILL AFFECT THE RIGHT OF ANY PARTY HERETO TO SERVE PROCESS IN ANY OTHER MANNER PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW.

 

(e)           WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL .  EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR THEREBY (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT OR ANY OTHER THEORY).  EACH PARTY HERETO (A) CERTIFIES THAT NO REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF ANY OTHER PERSON HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PERSON WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER AND (B) ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT AND THE OTHER PARTIES HERETO HAVE BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION.

 

o.             No Advisory or Fiduciary Responsibility.  In connection with all aspects of each transaction contemplated hereby (including in connection with any amendment, waiver or other modification hereof or of any other Loan Document), the Parent, the Borrower, and each other Loan Party acknowledges and agrees, and acknowledges its Affiliates’ understanding, that: (i)(A) the arranging and other services regarding this Agreement provided by the Administrative Agent and the Lead Arrangers are arm’s-length commercial transactions between the Parent, the

 

112



 

Borrower, each other Loan Party and their respective Affiliates, on the one hand, and the Administrative Agent and the Lead Arrangers, on the other hand, (B) each of the Parent, the Borrower, and the other Loan Parties has consulted its own legal, accounting, regulatory and tax advisors to the extent it has deemed appropriate, and (C) the Borrower and each other Loan Party is capable of evaluating, and understands and accepts, the terms, risks and conditions of the transactions contemplated hereby and by the other Loan Documents; (ii)(A) each of the Administrative Agent, the Lead Arrangers and the Lenders is and has been acting solely as a principal and, except as expressly agreed in writing by the relevant parties, has not been, is not, and will not be acting as an advisor, agent or fiduciary for the Parent, the Borrower, any other Loan Party, or any of their respective Affiliates, or any other Person and (B) the Administrative Agent, the Lead Arrangers and the Lender have no obligation to the Parent, the Borrower, any other Loan Party, or any of their respective Affiliates with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby except those obligations expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents; and (iii) the Administrative Agent, the Lead Arrangers and the Lenders and their respective Affiliates may be engaged in a broad range of transactions that involve interests that differ from those of the Parent, the Borrower, the other Loan Parties, and their respective Affiliates, and the Administrative Agent, the Lead Arrangers and the Lenders have no obligation to disclose any of such interests to the Parent, the Borrower, any other Loan Party, or any of their respective Affiliates.  To the fullest extent permitted by Law, each of the Parent, the Borrower, and the other Loan Parties hereby waives and releases any claims that it may have against the Administrative Agent and the Lead Arrangers with respect to any breach or alleged breach of agency or fiduciary duty in connection with any aspect of any transaction contemplated hereby.

 

p.             Electronic Execution of Assignments and Certain Other Documents.  The words “execution,” “signed,” “signature,” and words of like import in any Assignment and Assumption or in any amendment or other modification hereof (including waivers and consents) shall be deemed to include electronic signatures , the electronic matching or assignment terms and contract formations on electronic platforms approved by the Administrative Agent or the keeping of records in electronic form, each of which shall be of the same legal effect, validity or enforceability as a manually executed signature or the use of a paper-based recordkeeping system, as the case may be, to the extent and as provided for in any applicable Law, including the Federal Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act, the New York State Electronic Signatures and Records Act, or any other similar state laws based on the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act.

 

q.             USA PATRIOT ACT.  Each Lender that is subject to the Patriot Act (as hereinafter defined) and the Administrative Agent (for itself and not on behalf of any Lender) hereby notifies the Borrower that pursuant to the requirements of The Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001 (Title III of Pub. L. No. 107-56 (signed into law October 26, 2001)) (the “ Patriot Act ”), it is required to obtain, verify and record certain information that identifies individuals or business entities which open an “account” with such financial institution, which information includes the name, address, and tax identification number of the Borrower and such other identification information that will allow such Lender or the Administrative Agent, as applicable, to identify the Borrower in accordance with the Patriot Act and comply with federal law.  An “account” for this purpose may include, without limitation, a deposit account, cash management service, a transaction or asset account, a credit account, a loan or other extension of credit, and/or other

 

113



 

financial services product. the Borrower shall, promptly following a request by the Administrative Agent or any Lender, provide all documentation and other information that the Administrative Agent or such Lender requests in order to comply with its ongoing obligations under applicable “know your customer” and anti-money laundering rules and regulations, including the Patriot Act.

 

r.              ENTIRE AGREEMENT.  THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS REPRESENT THE FINAL AGREEMENT AMONG THE PARTIES AND MAY NOT BE CONTRADICTED BY EVIDENCE OF PRIOR, CONTEMPORANEOUS, OR SUBSEQUENT ORAL AGREEMENTS OF THE PARTIES.  THERE ARE NO UNWRITTEN ORAL AGREEMENTS AMONG THE PARTIES.

 

11.19 Acknowledgment and Consent to Bail-In of EEA Financial Institutions.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in any Loan Document or in any other agreement, arrangement or understanding among any such parties, each party hereto acknowledges that any liability of any EEA Financial Institution arising under any Loan Document may be subject to the Write-Down and Conversion Powers of an EEA Resolution Authority and agrees and consents to, and acknowledges and agrees to be bound by:

 

(a)           the application of any Write-Down and Conversion Powers by an EEA Resolution Authority to any such liabilities arising hereunder which may be payable to it by any party hereto that is an EEA Financial Institution; and

 

(b)           the effects of any Bail-In Action on any such liability, including, if applicable:

 

(i)            a reduction in full or in part or cancellation of any such liability;

 

(ii)           a conversion of all, or a portion of, such liability into shares or other instruments of ownership in such EEA Financial Institution, its parent entity, or a bridge institution that may be issued to it or otherwise conferred on it, and that such shares or other instruments of ownership will be accepted by it in lieu of any rights with respect to any such liability under this Agreement or any other Loan Document; or

 

(iii)          the variation of the terms of such liability in connection with the exercise of the Write-Down and Conversion Powers of any EEA Resolution Authority.

 

18.19                  Certain ERISA Matters.

 

(a) Each Lender (x) represents and warrants, as of the date such Person became a Lender party hereto, to, and (y) covenants, from the date such Person became a Lender party hereto to the date such Person ceases being a Lender party hereto, for the benefit of, the Administrative Agent, each Lead Arranger and their respective Affiliates, and not, for the avoidance of doubt, to or for the benefit of the Borrower or any other Loan Party, that at least one of the following is and will be true:

 

114



 

(i)             such Lender is not using “plan assets” (within the meaning of 29 CFR § 2510.3-101, as modified by Section 3(42) of ERISA) of one or more Benefit Plans in connection with the Loans or the Commitments;

 

115



 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF , the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed as of the date first above written.

 

(ii)            the transaction exemption set forth in one or more PTEs, such as PTE 84-14 (a class exemption for certain transactions determined by independent qualified professional asset managers), PTE 95-60 (a class exemption for certain transactions involving insurance company general accounts), PTE 90-1 (a class exemption for certain transactions involving insurance company pooled separate accounts), PTE 91-38 (a class exemption for certain transactions involving bank collective investment funds) or PTE 96-23 (a class exemption for certain transactions determined by in-house asset managers), is applicable with respect to such Lender’s entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Commitments and this Agreement;

 

BORROWER :

 

(iii)           (A) such Lender is an investment fund managed by a “Qualified Professional Asset Manager” (within the meaning of Part VI of PTE 84-14), (B) such Qualified Professional Asset Manager made the investment decision on behalf of such Lender to enter into, participate in, administer and perform the Loans, the Commitments and this Agreement, (C) the entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Commitments and this Agreement satisfies the requirements of sub-sections (b) through (g) of Part I of PTE 84-14 and (D) to the best knowledge of such Lender, the requirements of subsection (a) of Part I of PTE 84-14 are satisfied with respect to such Lender’s entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Commitments and this Agreement; or

 

(iv)           such other representation, warranty and covenant as may be agreed in writing between the Administrative Agent, in its sole discretion, and such Lender.

 

 

STAG INDUSTRIAL OPERATING PARTNERSHIP, L.P. ,

 

a Delaware limited partnership

 

 

 

By:

STAG Industrial GP, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, its General Partner

 

(b)            In addition, unless sub-clause (i) in the immediately preceding clause (a) is true with respect to a Lender or such Lender has not provided another representation, warranty and covenant as provided in sub-clause (iv) in the immediately preceding clause (a), such Lender further (x) represents and warrants, as of the date such Person became a Lender party hereto, to, and (y) covenants, from the date such Person became a Lender party hereto to the date such Person ceases being a Lender party hereto, for the benefit of, the Administrative Agent, each Lead Arranger and their respective Affiliates, and not, for

 

1



 

the avoidance of doubt, to or for the benefit of the Borrower or any other Credit Party, that:

 

(i)             none of the Administrative Agent, any Lead Arranger nor any of their respective Affiliates is a fiduciary with respect to the assets of such Lender (including in connection with the reservation or exercise of any rights by the Administrative Agent under this Agreement, any Loan Document or any documents related to hereto or thereto);

 

(ii)            the Person making the investment decision on behalf of such Lender with respect to the entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Commitments and this Agreement is independent (within the meaning of 29 CFR § 2510.3-21) and is a bank, an insurance carrier, an investment adviser, a broker-dealer or other person that holds, or has under management or control, total assets of at least $50 million, in each case as described in 29 CFR § 2510.3-21(c)(1)(i)(A)-(E),

 

(iii)           the Person making the investment decision on behalf of such Lender with respect to the entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Commitments and this Agreement is capable of evaluating investment risks independently, both in general and with regard to particular transactions and investment strategies (including in respect of the Secured Obligations);

 

 

By:

 

 

Name:

Stephen C. Mecke

 

Title:

Authorized Officer

 

(iv)          the Person making the investment decision on behalf of such Lender with respect to the entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Commitments and this Agreement is a fiduciary under ERISA or the Code, or both, with respect to the Loans, the Commitments and this Agreement and is responsible for exercising independent judgment in evaluating the transactions hereunder, and

 

(v) no fee or other compensation is being paid directly to the Administrative Agent, each Lead Arranger or their respective Affiliates for investment advice (as opposed to other services) in connection with the Loans, the Commitments or this Agreement.

 

PARENT :

 

(c)            The Administrative Agent and each Lead Arranger hereby informs the Lenders that each such Person is not undertaking to provide impartial investment advice, or to give advice in a fiduciary capacity, in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby, and that such Person has a financial interest in the transactions contemplated hereby in that such Person or an Affiliate thereof (i) may receive interest or other payments with respect to the Loans, the

 

2



 

Commitments and this Agreement, (ii) may recognize a gain if it extended the Loans or the Commitments for an amount less than the amount being paid for an interest in the Loans or the Commitments by such Lender or (iii) may receive fees or other payments in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby, the Loan Documents or otherwise, including structuring fees, commitment fees, arrangement fees, facility fees, upfront fees, underwriting fees, ticking fees, agency fees, administrative agent or collateral agent fees, utilization fees, minimum usage fees, letter of credit fees, fronting fees, deal-away or alternate transaction fees, amendment fees, processing fees, term out premiums, banker’s acceptance fees, breakage or other early termination fees or fees similar to the foregoing.

 

3



 

EXHIBIT B

 

AMENDED LOAN AGREEMENT (CLEAN)

 

[Attached]

 



 

EXHIBIT B to Third Amendment to Term Loan Agreement

 

Published CUSIP Number:                                       

 

TERM LOAN AGREEMENT

Dated as of September 29, 2015

 

among

 

STAG INDUSTRIAL OPERATING PARTNERSHIP, L.P. ,
as the Borrower,

 

STAG INDUSTRIAL, INC. ,
as a Guarantor,

 

WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION ,
as the Administrative Agent

 

and

 

The Other Lenders Party Hereto

 

WELLS FARGO SECURITIES, LLC ,
as the Lead Arranger and Bookrunner

 

and

 

CAPITAL ONE, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION ,

 

REGIONS BANK

 

and

 

PNC BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION ,

as Co-Syndication Agents, Joint Lead Arrangers and Bookrunners

 

and

 

THE FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS NOW OR HEREAFTER SIGNATORIES HERETO AND THEIR ASSIGNEES PURSUANT TO SECTION 11.06 ,
as Lenders

 

WFB LOAN NO. 1015070

 



 

Loan No.

 



 

Loan No. 1015070

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

Section

 

Page

 

 

Article I. Definitions and Accounting Terms

1

1.01

Defined Terms

1

1.02

Other Interpretive Provisions

32

1.03

Accounting Terms

33

1.04

Rounding

34

1.05

Times of Day

34

1.06

Rates

34

Article II. The Commitments and Credit Extensions

34

2.01

Committed Loans

34

2.02

Borrowings, Conversions and Continuations of Committed Loans

35

2.03

Reserved

37

2.04

Reserved

37

2.05

Prepayments

37

2.06

Incremental Term Loans

37

2.07

Repayment of Loans

39

2.08

Interest

39

2.09

Fees

40

2.10

Computation of Interest and Fees; Retroactive Adjustments of Applicable Rate

40

2.11

Evidence of Debt

41

2.12

Payments Generally; The Administrative Agent’s Clawback

41

2.13

Sharing of Payments by the Lenders

43

2.14

Reserved

44

2.15

Reserved

44

2.16

Defaulting Lenders

44

2.17

Guaranties

45

Article III. Taxes, Yield Protection and Illegality

46

3.01

Taxes

46

3.02

Illegality

52

3.03

Changed Circumstances

52

3.04

Increased Costs; Reserves on LIBOR Loans

54

3.05

Compensation for Losses

55

3.06

Mitigation Obligations; Replacement of the Lenders

56

3.07

Survival

56

Article IV. Unencumbered Properties

56

4.01

Initial Unencumbered Properties

56

4.02

Reserved

56

4.03

Notices of Qualification as an Unencumbered Property

56

4.04

Eligibility

56

4.05

Reserved

57

4.06

Guaranty

57

4.07

Admission of New Unencumbered Properties

57

4.08

Reserved

57

4.09

Reserved

57

 



 

4.10

Exclusion Events

57

Article V. Conditions Precedent to Credit Extensions

58

5.01

Conditions of Initial Credit Extension

58

5.02

Conditions to all Credit Extensions

60

Article VI. Representations and Warranties

61

6.01

Existence, Qualification and Power; Compliance with Laws

61

6.02

Authorization; No Contravention

61

6.03

Governmental Authorization; Other Consents

61

6.04

Binding Effect

62

6.05

Financial Statements; No Material Adverse Effect

62

6.06

Litigation

62

6.07

No Default

63

6.08

Ownership of Property; Liens; Equity Interests

63

6.09

Environmental Compliance

63

6.10

Insurance

64

6.11

Taxes

64

6.12

ERISA Compliance

64

6.13

Subsidiaries; Equity Interests

65

6.14

Margin Regulations; Investment Company Act

65

6.15

Disclosure

65

6.16

Compliance with Laws

66

6.17

Taxpayer Identification Number

66

6.18

Intellectual Property; Licenses, Etc.

66

6.19

Reserved

66

6.20

Solvency

67

6.21

REIT Status of the Parent

67

6.22

Labor Matters

67

6.23

Ground Lease Representation

67

6.24

Unencumbered Properties

67

6.25

OFAC

68

6.26

EEA Financial Institutions. No Loan Party is an EEA Financial Institution

68

Article VII. Affirmative Covenants

69

7.01

Financial Statements

69

7.02

Certificates; Other Information

70

7.03

Notices

71

7.04

Payment of Obligations

72

7.05

Preservation of Existence, Etc.

72

7.06

Maintenance of Properties

73

7.07

Maintenance of Insurance

73

7.08

Compliance with Laws; Beneficial Ownership Regulations

73

7.09

Books and Records

73

7.10

Inspection Rights

74

7.11

Use of Proceeds

74

7.12

Environmental Matters

74

7.13

Ground Leases

76

7.14

Unencumbered Properties

77

 

ii



 

Article VIII. Negative Covenants

78

8.01

Liens

78

8.02

Indebtedness

79

8.03

Investments

80

8.04

Fundamental Changes

81

8.05

Dispositions

81

8.06

Restricted Payments

82

8.07

Change in Nature of Business

82

8.08

Transactions with Affiliates

82

8.09

Burdensome Agreements

82

8.10

Use of Proceeds

82

8.11

Unencumbered Properties; Ground Leases

83

8.12

Environmental Matters

84

8.13

Negative Pledge; Indebtedness

84

8.14

Financial Covenants

84

Article IX. Events of Default and Remedies

86

9.01

Events of Default

86

9.02

Remedies Upon Event of Default

88

9.03

Application of Funds

89

Article X. The Administrative Agent

89

10.01

Appointment and Authority

89

10.02

Rights as a Lender

90

10.03

Exculpatory Provisions

90

10.04

Reliance by the Administrative Agent

91

10.05

Delegation of Duties

91

10.06

Resignation of the Administrative Agent

91

10.07

Non-Reliance on the Administrative Agent and Other Lenders

92

10.08

No Other Duties, Etc.

93

10.09

The Administrative Agent May File Proofs of Claim

93

10.10

Guaranty Matters

93

Article XI. Miscellaneous

94

11.01

Amendments, Etc.

94

11.02

Notices; Effectiveness; Electronic Communication

95

11.03

No Waiver; Cumulative Remedies; Enforcement

97

11.04

Expenses; Indemnity; Damage Waiver

98

11.05

Payments Set Aside

100

11.06

Successors and Assigns

100

11.07

Treatment of Certain Information; Confidentiality

105

11.08

Right of Setoff

106

11.09

Interest Rate Limitation

107

11.10

Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness

107

11.11

Survival of Representations and Warranties

107

11.12

Severability

107

11.13

Replacement of the Lenders

108

11.14

Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Etc.

108

11.15

No Advisory or Fiduciary Responsibility

110

 

iii



 

11.16

Electronic Execution of Assignments and Certain Other Documents

110

11.17

USA PATRIOT ACT

111

11.18

ENTIRE AGREEMENT

111

11.19

Certain ERISA Matters

112

 

SCHEDULES

 

2.01                         Commitments and Applicable Percentages
4.01                         Initial Unencumbered Properties
6.06                         Litigation
6.09                         Environmental Matters
6.13                         Subsidiaries and Other Equity Investments and Equity Interests in the Borrower and Each Subsidiary Guarantor 6.18                         Intellectual Property Matters
8.01                         Existing Liens
8.13                         Indebtedness
11.02                  The Administrative Agent’s Office; Certain Addresses for Notices
RO                               Responsible Officers

 

EXHIBITS

 

A                                        Committed Loan Notice
B                                        Form of Note
C                                        Compliance Certificate
D-1                             Assignment and Assumption
D-2                             Administrative Questionnaire
E                                         Form of Disbursement Instruction Agreement
F-1                               Form of Parent Guaranty
F-2                               Form of Subsidiary Guaranty
G                                        Reserved
H-1                            U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate
H-2                            U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate
H-3                            U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate
H-4                            U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate

 

iv



 

TERM LOAN AGREEMENT

 

This TERM LOAN AGREEMENT (the “ Agreement ”) is entered into as of September 29, 2015, among STAG INDUSTRIAL OPERATING PARTNERSHIP, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (the “ Borrower ”), STAG INDUSTRIAL, INC., a Maryland corporation and the sole member of the sole general partner of the Borrower (the “ Parent ”), each lender from time to time party hereto (collectively, the “ Lenders ” and individually, a “ Lender ”), and WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as the Administrative Agent.

 

The Borrower has requested that the Lenders provide a term credit facility, and the Lenders are willing to do so on the terms and conditions set forth herein.

 

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

 

19.

Definitions and Accounting Terms

 

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

 

Acceptable Ground Lease ” means a ground lease with respect to an Acceptable Property executed by a Subsidiary Guarantor, as lessee, that (a) has a remaining lease term (including extension or renewal rights) of at least twenty-five (25) years, calculated as of the date such Acceptable Property is deemed an Unencumbered Property, and that the Administrative Agent determines, in its sole discretion, is a financeable ground lease and is otherwise acceptable or (b) has a bargain purchase option (as defined in accordance with GAAP).

 

Acceptable Property ” means a Property (a) that is approved by the Administrative Agent and the Required Lenders, or (b) that meets the following requirements:

 

(i)                                      such Property is wholly-owned by, or ground leased pursuant to an Acceptable Ground Lease to, the Borrower or a Subsidiary Guarantor free and clear of any Liens (other than Liens permitted by Section 8.01 );

 

(ii)                                   such Property is an industrial, manufacturing, warehouse/distribution and/or office property located within the United States;

 

(iii)                                if such Property is owned by a Subsidiary Guarantor, or is ground leased pursuant to an Acceptable Ground Lease to a Subsidiary Guarantor, then the Equity Interests of such Subsidiary Guarantor are owned, directly or indirectly by the Borrower, free and clear of any Liens other than Liens permitted by Section 8.01 ; and

 

(iv)                               such Property is free of all structural defects or major architectural deficiencies, title defects, environmental conditions or other adverse matters except for defects, deficiencies, conditions or other matters which, individually or collectively, are not  material to the profitable operation of such Property.

 

1



 

Additional Permitted Indebtedness ” means unsecured Indebtedness permitted to be incurred pursuant to Section 8.02(f) .

 

Additional Term Loans ” has the meaning specified in Section 2.06(b)(i) .

 

Adjusted NOI ” means, with respect to any Property for the Current Reporting Quarter, annualized, an amount equal to (a) the aggregate gross revenues (excluding non-cash revenues) from the operations of such Property during such period, minus (b) the sum of (i) all expenses and other proper charges incurred in connection with the operation of such Property during such period (including real estate taxes, but excluding any property and asset management fees, debt service charges, income taxes, depreciation, amortization and other non-cash expenses and excluding capital expenditures), (ii) a management fee equal to the greater of (A) two percent (2%) of the aggregate gross base rental revenues (excluding non-cash revenues) from the operations of such Property during such period and (B) actual property management fees paid, and (iii) a replacement reserve of $0.10 per square foot (excluding any Property acquired during the Current Reporting Quarter).  Adjusted NOI shall exclude the amount of any revenues and expenses from any Dark Property.  Adjusted NOI shall be increased, without duplication, by (i) annualized rental revenues (excluding non-cash revenues), net of associated expenses, from any new lease which went into effect with the tenant taking occupancy (or any lease with respect to any Property acquired during the Current Reporting Quarter) and the Borrower is recognizing revenue from such tenant in accordance with GAAP during such Current Reporting Quarter, and (ii) annualized gross base rental revenues (excluding non-cash revenues) for the first monthly gross base rental payment for any lease in a free rent period and the Borrower is recognizing revenue from the applicable tenant in accordance with GAAP during such Current Reporting Quarter.

 

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

 

Administrative Agent’s Office ” means the Administrative Agent’s address and, as appropriate, account as set forth on Schedule 11.02 , or such other address or account as the Administrative Agent may from time to time notify the Borrower and the Lenders.

 

Administrative Questionnaire ” means an Administrative Questionnaire in substantially the form of Exhibit D-2 or any other form approved by the Administrative Agent.

 

Affiliate ” means, with respect to any 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; provided in no event shall Agent or any Lender be deemed to be an Affiliate of the Borrower.

 

Aggregate Commitments ” means the Commitments of all the Lenders as adjusted from time to time in accordance with the terms hereof.  The initial amount of the Aggregate Commitments in effect on the Closing Date is ONE HUNDRED FIFTY MILLION DOLLARS ($150,000,000.00).

 

Agreement ” means this Term Loan Agreement.

 

2



 

Anti-Corruption Laws ” means all laws, rules, and regulations of any jurisdiction applicable to the Borrower or its Subsidiaries from time to time concerning or relating to bribery, corruption or money laundering.

 

Applicable Percentage ” means, with respect to any Lender at any time, the percentage (carried out to the ninth decimal place) of the Aggregate Commitments represented by such Lender’s Commitment at such time.  If the commitment of each Lender to make Loans has been terminated pursuant to Section 2.01(b)  or 9.02 or if the Aggregate Commitments have expired, then the Applicable Percentage of each Lender shall be determined based on the percentage (carried out to the ninth decimal place) of the Total Outstandings represented by such Lender’s Loans at such time.  The initial Applicable Percentage of each Lender is set forth opposite the name of such Lender on Schedule 2.01 or in the Assignment and Assumption pursuant to which such Lender becomes a party hereto, as applicable.

 

Applicable Rate ” means the following:

 

A. Unless and until the Rating Conditions have been satisfied, with respect to any Loan, the following percentages per annum determined according to the Consolidated Leverage Ratio as set forth in the most recent Compliance Certificate received by the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 7.02(a) :

 

Leveraged-Based Pricing Grid :

 

Applicable Rate

 

Pricing
Level

 

Consolidated
Leverage Ratio

 

Base Rate
Applicable
Margin

 

LIBOR
Loan
Applicable
Margin

 

1

 

< 40%

 

0.30

%

1.30

%

2

 

> 40% but < 45%

 

0.35

%

1.35

%

3

 

> 45% but < 50%

 

0.45

%

1.45

%

4

 

> 50% but < 55%

 

0.60

%

1.60

%

5

 

> 55%

 

0.90

%

1.90

%

 

Any increase or decrease in the Applicable Rate resulting from a change in the Consolidated Leverage Ratio shall become effective as of the first (1 st ) Business Day immediately following the date a Compliance Certificate is delivered pursuant to Section 7.02(a)  provided 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 5 shall apply as of the first (1 st ) Business Day after the date on which such Compliance Certificate was required to have been delivered, provided that if such request is not delivered within thirty (30) days of the date such Compliance Certificate was due, Pricing Level 5 shall apply as of the date of delivery of such request, and shall remain in effect until the date on which such Compliance Certificate is delivered.  The Applicable Rate in effect from the Closing Date until adjusted as set forth above shall be set at Pricing Level 1.

 

3



 

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this definition, the determination of the Applicable Rate for any period shall be subject to the provisions of Section 2.10(b) .

 

or

 

B.                                     If and when the Rating Conditions have been satisfied, the following percentages per annum, based upon the Debt Rating as set forth below (determined in accordance with the Performance-Based Pricing Grid set forth below).

 

Performance-Based Pricing Grid :

 

Applicable Rate

 

Pricing
Level

 

Debt Rating

 

Base Rate
Applicable
Margin

 

LIBOR
Loan
Applicable
Margin

 

1

 

> A-/A3

 

0.00

%

0.85

%

2

 

BBB+/Baa1

 

0.00

%

0.90

%

3

 

BBB/Baa2

 

0.00

%

1.00

%

4

 

BBB-/Baa3

 

0.25

%

1.25

%

5

 

< BBB-/Baa3

 

0.65

%

1.65

%

 

Each change in the Applicable Rate resulting from a publicly announced change in the Debt Rating shall be effective, in the case of an upgrade, during the period commencing on the date of delivery by the Borrower to the Administrative Agent of notice thereof pursuant to Section  7.03(e)  and ending on the date immediately preceding the effective date of the next such change and, in the case of a downgrade, during the period commencing on the date of the public announcement thereof and ending on the date immediately preceding the effective date of the next such change.

 

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.

 

Assignee Group ” means two (2) or more Eligible Assignees that are Affiliates of one another or two (2) or more Approved Funds managed by the same investment advisor.

 

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 D-1 or any other form (including electronic documentation generated by MarkitClear or other electronic platform) approved by the Administrative Agent.

 

Attributable Indebtedness ” means, on any date in respect of any Capital 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.

 

4



 

Audited Financial Statements ” means the audited financial statements of the Parent for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2014 and, from and after the delivery of the financial statements of the Parent required pursuant to Section 7.01(a)  for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2015, the most-recent financial statements furnished pursuant to Section 7.01(a) .

 

Award ” means any compensation paid by any Governmental Authority in connection with a Condemnation in respect of all or any part of any Unencumbered Property.

 

Bail-In Action ” means the exercise of any Write-Down and Conversion Powers by the applicable EEA Resolution Authority in respect of any liability of an EEA Financial Institution.

 

Bail-In Legislation ” means, with respect to any EEA Member Country implementing Article 55 of Directive 2014/59/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of the European Union, the implementing law for such EEA Member Country from time to time which is described in the EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule.

 

Balloon Payments ” shall mean with respect to any loan constituting Indebtedness, any required principal payment of such loan which is payable at the maturity of such Indebtedness, provided, however, that the final payment of a fully amortized loan shall not constitute a Balloon Payment.

 

Base Rate ” means, at any time, the highest of (a) the Prime Rate, (b) the Federal Funds Rate plus 0.50% and (c) the LIBOR Market Index Rate plus 1%; each change in the Base Rate shall take effect simultaneously with the corresponding change or changes in the Prime Rate, the Federal Funds Rate or the LIBOR Market Index Rate (provided that clause (c) shall not be applicable during any period in which LIBOR is unavailable or unascertainable).

 

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

 

Beneficial Ownership Certification ” means a certification regarding beneficial ownership as required by the Beneficial Ownership Regulation.

 

Beneficial Ownership Regulation ” means 31 C.F.R. § 1010.230.

 

Book Value ” means all land, building, improvements, leasing commissions and deferred leasing intangibles less accumulated depreciation and amortization.

 

Borrower ” has the meaning specified in the introductory paragraph hereto.

 

Borrower Materials ” has the meaning specified in Section 7.02 .

 

Borrowing ” means a Committed Borrowing.

 

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 or the State of New York, and, if such day relates to any LIBOR Loan, means any such day that is also a London Banking Day.

 

5



 

Capital Lease ” means, with respect to any Person, the obligations of such Person to pay rent or other amounts under any lease of (or other arrangement conveying the right to use) real or personal property, or a combination thereof, which obligations are required to be classified and accounted for as capital leases on a balance sheet of such Person under GAAP.

 

Capital Lease Obligations ” means, with respect to any Person for any period, the capitalized amount of obligations under Capital Leases for such Person for such period as determined in accordance with GAAP.

 

Capitalization Rate ” means seven percent (7.0%).

 

Cash Equivalents ” means any of the following types of Investments, to the extent owned by Guarantor, the Borrower or any of their Subsidiaries free and clear of all Liens (other than Liens permitted hereunder):

 

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

 

(b)                                  demand or time deposits with, or insured certificates of deposit or bankers’ acceptances of, any commercial bank that (A) is a Lender or (B) (i) is organized under the laws of the United States of America, 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 of America, 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 $1,000,000,000, in each case with maturities of not more than 90 days from the date of acquisition thereof;

 

(c)                                   commercial paper in an aggregate amount of no more than $5,000,000 per issuer outstanding at any time issued by any Person organized under the laws of any state of the United States of America 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 180 days from the date of acquisition thereof;

 

(d)                                  Investments, classified in accordance with GAAP as current assets of the Parent 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) and (c) of this definition; and

 

(e)                                   Other liquid or readily marketable investments in an amount not to exceed five percent (5%) of Total Asset Value.

 

Casualty ” means, with respect to any Unencumbered Property, if such Unencumbered Property has been damaged or destroyed, in whole or in part, by fire or other casualty.

 

6



 

Change in Law ” means the occurrence, after the date of this Agreement, of any of the following: (a) the adoption or taking effect of any Law, rule, regulation or treaty; (b) any change in any Law, rule, regulation or treaty or in the administration, interpretation, implementation or application thereof by any Governmental Authority; or (c) the making or issuance of any request, rule, guideline or directive (whether or not having the force of law) by any Governmental Authority; provided that notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, (x) the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and all requests, rules, guidelines or directives thereunder or issued in connection therewith or in implementation thereof and (y) all requests, rules, guidelines or directives promulgated by the Bank for International Settlements, the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (or any successor or similar authority) or the United States or foreign regulatory authorities, in each case pursuant to Basel III, shall in each case be deemed to be a “Change in Law”, regardless of the date enacted, adopted, issued or implemented.

 

Change of Control ” means an event or series of events by which:

 

(a)                                  any “ person ” or “ group ” (as such terms are used in Sections 13(d)  and 14(d)  of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, but excluding any employee benefit plan of such person or its Subsidiaries, and any person or entity acting in its capacity as trustee, agent or other fiduciary or administrator of any such plan) becomes the “ beneficial owner ” (as defined in Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, except that a person or group shall be deemed to have “beneficial ownership” of all Equity Interests that such person or group has the right to acquire, whether such right is exercisable immediately or only after the passage of time (such right, an “ option right ”)), directly or indirectly, of thirty-five percent (35%) or more of the Equity Interests of the Parent entitled to vote for members of the board of directors or equivalent governing body of the Parent on a fully-diluted basis (and taking into account all such Equity Interests that such person or group has the right to acquire pursuant to any option right);

 

(b)                                  during any period of twelve (12) consecutive months, a majority of the members of the board of directors or other equivalent governing body of the Parent cease to be composed of individuals (i) who were members of that board or equivalent governing body on the first day of such period, (ii) whose election or nomination to that board or equivalent governing body was approved by individuals referred to in clause (i) above constituting at the time of such election or nomination at least a majority of that board or equivalent governing body or (iii) whose election or nomination to that board or other equivalent governing body was approved by individuals referred to in clauses (i) and (ii) above constituting at the time of such election or nomination at least a majority of that board or equivalent governing body; or

 

(c)                                   the Parent shall cease to (i) either be the sole general partner of, or wholly own and control the general partner of, the Borrower or (ii) own, directly or indirectly, greater than fifty percent (50%) of the Equity Interests of the Borrower.

 

Closing Date ” means the first date all the conditions precedent in Section 5.01 are satisfied or waived in accordance with Section 11.01 .

 

7



 

Code ” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 .

 

Commitment ” means, as to each Lender, its obligation to make Committed Loans to the Borrower pursuant to Section 2.01 , in an aggregate principal amount at any one time outstanding not to exceed the amount set forth opposite such Lender’s name on Schedule 2.01 or in the Assignment and Assumption pursuant to which such Lender becomes a party hereto, as applicable, as such amount may be adjusted from time to time in accordance with this Agreement.

 

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

 

Committed Loan ” has the meaning specified in Section 2.01(a) .

 

Committed Loan Notice” means a notice of (a) a Committed Borrowing, (b) a conversion of Committed Loans from one Type to the other, or (c) a continuation of LIBOR Loans, pursuant to Section 2.02(a) , which, if in writing, shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit A .

 

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.

 

Companies ” means, without duplication, the Parent and its Consolidated Subsidiaries (including the Borrower), and “Company” means any one of the Companies.

 

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

 

Condemnation ” means a temporary or permanent taking by any Governmental Authority as the result, in lieu, or in anticipation, of the exercise of the right of condemnation or eminent domain of all or any part of any Unencumbered Property, or any interest therein or right accruing thereto, including any right of access thereto or any change of grade affecting any Unencumbered Property or any part thereof.

 

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 EBITDA ” means, for any Person for any period, an amount equal to (a) Consolidated Net Income, plus (b) the sum of the following (without duplication and to the extent reflected as a charge in the statement of such Consolidated Net Income for such period): (i) income tax expense; (ii) interest expense, amortization or write-off of debt discount and debt issuance costs and commissions, discounts and other fees and charges associated with Indebtedness; (iii) depreciation and amortization expense; (iv) amortization of intangibles (including goodwill) and organization costs; (v) any extraordinary, unusual or non-recurring expenses or losses (including, whether or not otherwise includable as a separate item in the statement of such Consolidated Net Income for such period, losses on sales of assets outside of the ordinary course of business), including property acquisition costs; (vi) any other non-cash

 

8



 

charges, and (vii) all commissions, guaranty fees, discounts and other fees and charges owed by such Person with respect to letters of credit and bankers’ acceptance financing and net costs of such Person under Swap Contracts in respect of interest rates to the extent such net costs are allocable to such period in accordance with GAAP; minus (c) the sum of the following (to the extent included in the statement of such Consolidated Net Income for such period): (i) interest income (except to the extent deducted in determining such Consolidated Net Income); (ii) any extraordinary, unusual or non-recurring income or gains (including, whether or not otherwise includable as a separate item in the statement of such Consolidated Net Income for such period, gains on the sales of assets outside of the ordinary course of business); and (iii) any other non-cash income.

 

Consolidated Fixed Charges ” means, on a consolidated basis, for any Person for any period, the sum (without duplication) of (a) Consolidated Interest Expense, (b) provision for cash income taxes made by such Person on a consolidated basis in respect of such period, (c) scheduled principal amortization payments due during such period on account of Indebtedness of such Person (excluding Balloon Payments), and (d) Restricted Payments paid in cash with respect to preferred Equity Interests of such Person during such period (other than any repayments of principal with respect to preferred Equity Interests).

 

Consolidated Interest Expense ” means, for any Person for any period, the total interest expense (including that attributable to Capital Lease Obligations) of such Person for such period with respect to all outstanding Total Funded Debt (including all commissions, discounts and other fees and charges owed by such Person with respect to letters of credit and bankers’ acceptance financing and net costs of such Person under Swap Contracts in respect of interest rates to the extent such net costs are allocable to such period in accordance with GAAP).  Consolidated Interest Expenses shall exclude non-cash charges, interest rate hedge termination payments or receipts, loan prepayment costs, and upfront loan fees, interest expense covered by an interest reserve established under a loan facility and any interest expense under any construction loan or construction activity that under GAAP is required to be capitalized.

 

Consolidated Leverage Ratio ” means, as of any date of determination, the quotient (expressed as a percentage) of (a) Consolidated Total Debt, divided by (b) Total Asset Value.

 

Consolidated Net Income ” means, for any Person for any period, the consolidated net income (or loss) of such Person for such period, determined on a consolidated basis; provided that in calculating Consolidated Net Income of the Parent for any period, there shall be excluded (a) the income (or deficit) of any Person accrued prior to the date it becomes a Subsidiary or is merged into or consolidated with the Parent or any of its Subsidiaries, (b) the income (or deficit) of any Person (other than a Company) in which any Company has an ownership interest, except to the extent that any such income is actually received by such Company in the form of dividends or similar distributions, and (c) the undistributed earnings of any Subsidiary of any Company to the extent that the declaration or payment of dividends or similar distributions by such Subsidiary is not at the time permitted by the terms of any Contractual Obligation (other than under any Loan Document) or requirement of Law applicable to such Subsidiary.

 

9



 

Consolidated Subsidiary ” means any Person in which the Parent or the Borrower has a direct or indirect ownership interest and whose financial results would be consolidated under GAAP with the financial results of the Parent on the consolidated financial statements of the Parent.

 

Consolidated Total Debt ” means, as of any date of determination, the aggregate principal amount of all Indebtedness of the Parent on such date, determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP which would be required to be included on the liabilities side of the balance sheet of the Parent in accordance with GAAP, and including the Companies’ Share of the principal amount of all Indebtedness of Unconsolidated Affiliates, but, in each case, excluding the net obligations of the Parent on a consolidated basis under any Swap Contract.

 

Construction in Progress ” means (a) a Property with new ground up construction, (b) a Property under renovation in which (i) greater than thirty percent (30%) of the square footage of such Property is unavailable for occupancy due to renovation and (ii) no rents are being paid on such square footage or (c) a building expansion.  The classification of “Construction in Progress” will cease on the earlier to occur of (A) the time that such Property has an Occupancy Rate of greater than eighty percent (80%), and (B) one hundred eighty (180) days after completion of construction, renovation or expansion of such Property, as applicable.

 

Contamination ” means the presence of Hazardous Materials in amounts exceeding regulatory action levels.

 

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.  The terms “ Controlling ” and “ Controlled ” have meanings correlative thereto.

 

Credit Agreements ” means (a) the Revolving Credit Agreement (b) that certain Term Loan Agreement, dated as of July 28, 2017, among the Borrower, the Parent, Bank of America, N.A., as administrative agent, and the other lenders party thereto (c) that certain Amended and Restated Term Loan Agreement, dated as of December 20, 2016, among the Borrower, the Parent, Wells Fargo, as administrative agent, and the other lenders party thereto, (d) that certain Second Amended and Restated Term Loan Agreement, dated as of December 20, 2016, among the Borrower, the Parent, Wells Fargo, as administrative agent, and the other lenders party thereto and (e) that certain Term Loan Agreement, dated as of July 26, 2018, among the Borrower, the Parent, Wells Fargo, as administrative agent, and the other lenders party thereto, in each case, as amended from time to time.

 

Credit Extension ” means a Borrowing.

 

Current Reporting Quarter ” means the most recent fiscal quarter for which quarterly financial statements have been delivered to the Lenders pursuant to Section 7.01 .

 

10



 

Customary Recourse Exceptions ” means, with respect to any Indebtedness, personal recourse that is limited to fraud, misrepresentation, misapplication of cash, waste, environmental claims and liabilities, prohibited transfers, violations of single purposes entity covenants, and other circumstances customarily excluded by institutional lenders from exculpation provisions and/or included in separate guaranty or indemnification agreements in non-recourse financing of Real Property.

 

Dark Property ” means any Property as to which, as of the last day of the Current Reporting Quarter, (a) all leases have terminated, (b) the Borrower is not recognizing revenue from any tenants in accordance with GAAP or (c) the Adjusted NOI for such Property is negative.

 

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 and affecting the rights of creditors generally.

 

Debt Rating ” means, as of any date of determination, the rating as determined by a minimum of two of S&P,  Moody’s or Fitch (collectively, the “ Debt Ratings ”) of the Borrower’s non-credit-enhanced, senior unsecured long-term debt; provided that (a) if the respective Debt Ratings issued by the foregoing rating agencies differ by one level, then the Pricing Level for the higher of such Debt Ratings shall apply (with the Debt Rating for Pricing Level 1 being the highest and the Debt Rating for Pricing Level 5 being the lowest); (b) if there is a split in Debt Ratings of more than one level, then the Pricing Level that is one level lower than the Pricing Level of the higher Debt Rating shall apply; (c) if the Borrower has only one Debt Rating, the Pricing Level that is one level lower than that of such Debt Rating shall apply; and (d) if, after satisfying the Rating Condition, the Borrower does not have any Debt Rating, Pricing Level 5 shall apply.

 

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 an interest rate equal to (i) the Base Rate plus (ii) the Applicable Rate, if any, applicable to Base Rate Loans plus (iii) two percent (2%) per annum; provided that with respect to a LIBOR Loan, the Default Rate shall be an interest rate equal to the interest rate (including any Applicable Rate) otherwise applicable to such Loan plus two percent (2%) per annum.

 

“Defaulting Lender” means, subject to Section 2.16(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 Borrower in writing that such failure is the result of such Lender’s determination that one or more conditions precedent to funding (each of which conditions precedent, together with any applicable default, shall be specifically identified in such writing) has not been satisfied, or (ii) pay to the Administrative Agent or any other Lender any other amount required to be paid by it hereunder within two (2) Business Days of the date when due, (b) has notified the Borrower and

 

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the Administrative Agent 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 Borrower, to confirm in writing to the Administrative Agent and the Borrower that it will comply with its prospective funding obligations hereunder (provided that such Lender shall cease to be a Defaulting Lender pursuant to this clause (c) upon receipt of such written confirmation by the Administrative Agent and the Borrower), or (d) has, or has a direct or indirect parent company which controls such Lender that has, (i) become the subject of a proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law, (ii) had appointed for it a receiver, custodian, conservator, trustee, administrator, assignee for the benefit of creditors or similar Person charged with reorganization or liquidation of its business or assets, including the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other state or federal regulatory authority acting in such a capacity or (iii) become the subject of a Bail-In Action; provided that a Lender shall not be a Defaulting Lender solely by virtue of the ownership or acquisition of any 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 of the effective date of such status, shall be conclusive and binding absent manifest error, and such Lender shall be deemed to be a Defaulting Lender (subject to Section 2.16(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 Borrower and each Lender promptly following such determination.

 

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

 

Disbursement Instruction Agreement ” means an agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit E to be executed and delivered by the Borrower pursuant to Section 5.01(a) , as the same may be amended, restated or modified from time to time with the prior written approval of the Administrative Agent.

 

Disposition ” or “ Dispose ” means the sale, transfer, license, lease (other than a real estate lease entered into in the ordinary course of business as part of Property leasing operations) or other disposition (including any sale and leaseback transaction) of any property by any Person, 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 arrangement constituting a Lien.

 

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

 

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EEA Financial Institution ” means (a) any institution established in any EEA Member Country which is subject to the supervision of an EEA Resolution Authority, (b) any entity established in an EEA Member Country which is a parent of an institution described in clause (a) of this definition, or (c) any institution established in an EEA Member Country which is a subsidiary of an institution described in clauses (a) or (b) of this definition and is subject to consolidated supervision with its parent. “ EEA Member Country ” means any of the member states of the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway.

 

EEA Resolution Authority ” means any public administrative authority or any Person entrusted with public administrative authority of any EEA Member Country (including any delegee) having responsibility for the resolution of any EEA Financial Institution.

 

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

 

Environmental Assessment ” has the meaning specified in Section 7.12(b) .

 

Environmental Claim ” means any investigative, enforcement, cleanup, removal, containment, remedial, or other private or governmental or regulatory action at any time instituted or completed pursuant to any applicable Environmental Requirement against any Company or against or with respect to any Real Property or any condition, use, or activity on any Real Property (including any such action against the Administrative Agent or any Lender), and any claim at any time made by any Person against any Company or against or with respect to any Real Property or any condition, use, or activity on any Real Property (including any such claim against the Administrative Agent or any Lender), relating to damage, contribution, cost recovery, compensation, loss, or injury resulting from or in any way arising in connection with any Hazardous Material or any Environmental Requirement.

 

Environmental Damages ” means all liabilities (including strict liability), losses, damages (excluding consequential, special, exemplary or punitive damages except to the extent such damages were imposed upon an Indemnitee as a result of any claims made against such Indemnitee by a governmental entity or any other third party), judgments, penalties, fines, costs and expenses (including fees, costs and expenses of attorneys, consultants, contractors, experts and laboratories), of any and every kind or character, at law or in equity, contingent or otherwise, matured or unmatured, foreseeable or unforeseeable, made, incurred, suffered, brought, or imposed at any time and from time to time, whether before or after the Release Date and arising in whole or in part from:

 

(a)                                  the presence of any Hazardous Material on any Unencumbered Property, or any escape, seepage, leakage, spillage, emission, release, discharge or disposal of any Hazardous Material on or from any Unencumbered Property, or the migration or release or threatened migration or release of any Hazardous Material to, from or through any Unencumbered Property, on or before the Release Date; or

 

(b)                                  any act, omission, event or circumstance existing or occurring in connection with the handling, treatment, containment, removal, storage, decontamination,

 

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clean up, transport or disposal of any Hazardous Material which is at any time on or before the Release Date present on any Unencumbered Property; or

 

(c)                                   the breach of any representation, warranty, covenant or agreement contained in this Agreement  relating to the presence of any Hazardous Material on any Unencumbered Property because of any event or condition occurring or existing on or before the Release Date; or

 

(d)                                  any violation on or before the Release Date, of any Environmental Requirement in connection with any Unencumbered Property in effect on or before the Release Date, regardless of whether any act, omission, event or circumstance giving rise to the violation constituted a violation at the time of the occurrence or inception of such act, omission, event or circumstance; or

 

(e)                                   any Environmental Claim, or the filing or imposition of any environmental Lien against any Unencumbered Property, because of, resulting from, in connection with, or arising out of any of the matters referred to in subparagraphs (a)  through (d)  preceding;

 

and regardless of whether any of the foregoing was caused by the Borrower, any other Loan Party or their respective tenant or subtenant, or a prior owner of an Unencumbered Property or its tenant or subtenant, or any third party including (i) injury or damage to any person, property or natural resource occurring on or off of an Unencumbered Property including the cost of demolition and rebuilding of any improvements on any Real Property; (ii) the investigation or remediation of any such Hazardous Material or violation of Environmental Requirement including the preparation of any feasibility studies or reports and the performance of any cleanup, remediation, removal, response, abatement, containment, closure, restoration, monitoring or similar work required by any Environmental Requirement or necessary to have full use and benefit of Unencumbered Properties as contemplated by the Loan Documents (including any of the same in connection with any foreclosure action or transfer in lieu thereof); (iii) all liability to pay or indemnify any Person or Governmental Authority for costs expended in connection with any of the foregoing; (iv) the investigation and defense of any claim, whether or not such claim is ultimately withdrawn or defeated; and (v) the settlement of any claim or judgment.  “ Costs ” as used in this definition shall also include any diminution in the value of the security afforded by the Unencumbered Property or any future reduction of the sales price of any Unencumbered Property by reason of any matter set forth in Section 7.12 or 8.12 .

 

Environmental Laws ” means any and all applicable 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 Requirement ” means any Environmental Law, agreement or restriction, as the same now exists or may be changed or amended or come into effect in the future, which

 

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pertains to any Hazardous Material or the environment including ground or air or water or noise pollution or contamination, and underground or aboveground tanks.

 

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.

 

Equity Issuance ” means the issuance or sale by any Person of any of its Equity Interests or any capital contribution to such Person by the holders of its Equity Interests.

 

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 the 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 the Parent 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 the Parent 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(a)(1) or (2)  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 notification that a Multiemployer Plan is 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; or (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  the Parent or any ERISA Affiliate.

 

“EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule” means the EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule published by the Loan Market Association (or any successor Person), as in effect from time to time.

 

Event of Default ” has the meaning specified in Section 9.01 .

 

Excluded Party ” shall mean any REIT, any parent company of or Person who Controls any REIT in each instance engaged primarily in owning and operating Real Property, and any

 

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other Person whom the Borrower has reasonably identified in writing to the Administrative Agent as a competitor or potential competitor of the Borrower.

 

Excluded Swap Obligation ” means, with respect to any Loan Party, any Swap Contract if, and to the extent that, all or a portion of the liability of such Loan Party for or the Guarantee of such Loan Party of, or the grant by such Loan Party of a Lien to secure, such Swap Contract (or any liability or guarantee thereof) is or becomes illegal under the Commodity Exchange Act or any rule, regulation or order of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (or the application or official interpretation of any thereof) by virtue of such Loan Party’s failure for any reason to constitute an “eligible contract participant” as defined in the Commodity Exchange Act and the regulations thereunder at the time the liability for or the Guarantee of such Loan Party or the grant of such Lien becomes effective with respect to such Swap Contract (such determination being made after giving effect to any applicable keepwell, support or other agreement for the benefit of the applicable Loan Party, including under Section 27 of the Subsidiary Guaranty).  If a Swap Contract arises under a master agreement governing more than one swap, such exclusion shall apply only to the portion of such Swap Contract that is attributable to swaps for which such Guarantee or Lien is or becomes illegal for the reasons identified in the immediately preceding sentence of this definition.

 

Excluded Taxes means any of the following Taxes imposed on or with respect to 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 the 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)(ii)  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.

 

“Exclusion Event” has the meaning specified in Section 4.10 .

 

“Exclusion Notice” has the meaning specified in Section 4.10.

 

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

 

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interpretations thereof and any agreement 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 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, then 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, (b) if no such rate is so published on such next succeeding Business Day, then 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 Wells Fargo on such day on such transactions as determined by the Administrative Agent and (c) if the Federal Funds Rate should be less than zero, such rate shall be deemed to be zero for purposes of this Agreement.

 

Fee Letter ” means the letter agreement, dated August 26, 2015, among the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC.

 

FIRREA ” means the Financial Institution Recovery, Reform and Enforcement Act of 1989, as amended.

 

Fitch ” means Fitch, Inc., and any successor thereto.

 

Fixed Charge Ratio ” means, as of any date of determination, the quotient (expressed as a percentage) of (a) Consolidated EBITDA, divided by (b) Consolidated Fixed Charges.

 

Foreign Lender ” means (a) if the Borrower is a U.S. Person, a Lender that is not a U.S. Person, and (b) if the 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 the 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.

 

FRB ” means the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System of the United States.

 

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.

 

Funds from Operations ” means, for any Person for any period, the sum of (a) Consolidated Net Income plus (b) depreciation and amortization expense determined in accordance with GAAP excluding amortization expense attributable to capitalized debt costs; provided that there shall not be included in such calculation (i) any proceeds of any insurance policy other than rental or business interruption insurance received by such Person, (ii) any gain or loss which is classified as “extraordinary” in accordance with GAAP, (iii) any capital gains and taxes on capital gains, (iv) income (or loss) associated with third-party ownership of non-controlling Equity Interests, and (v) gains or losses on the sale of discontinued operations as

 

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detailed in the most-recent financial statements delivered pursuant to Section 7.01(a)  or (b) , as applicable.

 

GAAP ” means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States set forth in the opinions and pronouncements of the Accounting Principles Board and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and statements and pronouncements of the Financial Accounting Standards Board or such other principles as may be approved by a significant segment of the accounting profession in the United States, that are applicable to the circumstances as of the date of determination, consistently applied.

 

Governmental Authority ” means the government of the United States or any other nation, or of any political subdivision thereof, whether state or local, and any agency, authority, instrumentality, regulatory body, court, central bank or other entity exercising executive, legislative, judicial, taxing, regulatory or administrative powers or functions of or pertaining to government (including any supra-national bodies such as the European Union or the European Central Bank).

 

Guarantee ” means, as to any Person, (a) any obligation, contingent or otherwise, of such Person guaranteeing or having the economic effect of guaranteeing any Indebtedness 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 or other obligation of any other Person, whether or not such Indebtedness or other obligation is assumed by such Person (or any right, contingent or otherwise, of any holder of such Indebtedness 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.

 

Guaranties ” means the Parent Guaranty and the Subsidiary Guaranties, and “ Guaranty ” means any one of the Guaranties.

 

Guarantors ” means, collectively, the Parent and each Subsidiary Guarantor, and “ Guarantor ” means any one of the Guarantors.

 

Hazardous Materials ” means all explosive or radioactive substances or wastes and all hazardous or toxic substances, wastes or other pollutants regulated pursuant to any

 

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Environmental Law, including petroleum or petroleum distillates, asbestos or asbestos-containing materials, polychlorinated biphenyls, radon gas, infectious or medical wastes and all other substances or wastes of any nature regulated pursuant to any Environmental Law.

 

“Immaterial Subsidiary ” means any Subsidiary whose assets constitute less than one percent (1%) of Total Asset Value; provided that if at any time the aggregate Total Asset Value of the “Immaterial Subsidiaries” which are not Guarantors exceeds ten percent (10%) of Total Asset Value, then the Borrower shall designate certain “Immaterial Subsidiaries” as Guarantors such that the aggregate Total Asset Value of the “Immaterial Subsidiaries” which are not Guarantors does not exceed ten percent (10%) of Total Asset Value.

 

Improvements ” means any Subsidiary Guarantor’s interest in and to all on site improvements to the Unencumbered Properties, together with all fixtures, tenant improvements, and appurtenances now or later to be located on the Unencumbered Properties and/or in such improvements.

 

Increase Effective Date ” has the meaning specified in Section 2.06(b)(ii) .

 

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)                                  all direct or contingent obligations of such Person arising under letters of credit (including standby and commercial), bankers’ acceptances, bank guaranties, surety bonds and similar instruments;

 

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

 

(d)                                  all 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 and, in each case, either (i) not past due for more than one hundred and eighty (180) days or (ii) being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted);

 

(e)                                   Capital Lease Obligations;

 

(f)                                    all obligations of such Person to purchase, redeem, retire, defease or otherwise make any payment in respect of any ownership interest (excluding perpetual preferred ownership interests) in such Person or any other Person, valued, in the case of a redeemable preferred interest, at the greater of its voluntary or involuntary liquidation preference plus (without duplication and only to the extent required to be paid) accrued and unpaid dividends;

 

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(g)                                   all Guarantees of such Person in respect of any of the foregoing (except for guaranties of customary exceptions for fraud, misapplication of funds, environmental indemnities, voluntary bankruptcy, collusive involuntary bankruptcy and other similar customary exceptions to non-recourse liability); and

 

(h)                                  all obligations of the kind referred to in clauses (a) through (g) above secured by (or for which the holder of such obligation has an existing right, contingent or otherwise, to be secured by) any lien on Property (including accounts and contract rights) owned by such Person, whether or not such Person has assumed or become liable for the payment of such obligation, but limited to the lesser of (i) the fair market value of the property subject to such lien and (ii) the aggregate amount of the obligations so secured.

 

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; provided that, solely for  purposes of calculating the financial covenants set forth in Sections 8.14(a), (b) and (c) , Indebtedness shall exclude the net obligations of the Parent on a consolidated basis under Swap Contracts entered into to hedge or mitigate any interest rate risk in respect of borrowed money for which the Parent, the Borrower or any Subsidiary has actual exposure. The amount of any Capital Lease Obligations as of any date shall be deemed to be the amount of Attributable Indebtedness in respect 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 (a), Other Taxes.

 

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

 

Information ” has the meaning specified in Section 11.07.

 

Initial Unencumbered Properties ” means the Acceptable Properties listed on Schedule 4.01 , and “ Initial Unencumbered Property ” means any one of the Initial Unencumbered Properties.

 

Interest Payment Date ” means (a) as to any Loan other than a Base Rate Loan, the last day of each Interest Period applicable to such Loan and the Maturity Date applicable to such Loan; provided that if any Interest Period for a LIBOR Loan exceeds three (3) months, then 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, the last Business Day of each March, June, September, and December and the Maturity Date applicable to such Loan.

 

Interest Period ” means as to each LIBOR Loan, the period commencing on the date such LIBOR Loan is disbursed or converted to or continued as a LIBOR Loan and ending on the date one (1), two (2), three (3) or six (6) months (if available to all Lenders) thereafter, as selected by the Borrower in its Loan Notice; provided that :

 

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(i)                                      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, in the case of a LIBOR Loan, such Business Day falls in another calendar month, in which case such Interest Period shall end on the next preceding Business Day;

 

(ii)                                   any Interest Period pertaining to a LIBOR Loan 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

 

(iii)                                no Interest Period for a subject Loan shall extend beyond the Maturity Date applicable to such Loan.

 

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 equity participation or interest in, another Person, including any partnership or joint venture interest in such other Person and any arrangement pursuant to which the investor Guarantees 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 that constitute a business unit.  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.

 

IP Rights ” has the meaning specified in Section 6.18 .

 

IRS ” means the United States Internal Revenue Service.

 

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.

 

Lead Arrangers ” means Wells Fargo Securities, LLC in its capacity as lead arranger and bookrunner and Capital One, National Association, Regions Bank and PNC Bank, National Association in their capacities as joint lead arrangers and bookrunners.

 

Lease ” means each existing or future lease, sublease (to the extent of any Subsidiary Guarantor’s rights thereunder), license, or other agreement (other than an Acceptable Ground Lease) under the terms of which any Person has or acquires any right to occupy or use any Property, or any part thereof, or interest therein, and each existing or future guaranty of payment or performance thereunder.

 

Lender ” has the meaning specified in the introductory paragraph hereto.

 

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Lending Office ” means, as to any Lender, the office or offices of such Lender described as such in such Lender’s Administrative Questionnaire, or such other office or offices as a Lender may from time to time notify the Borrower and the Administrative Agent.

 

LIBOR ” means, subject to the implementation of a Replacement Rate in accordance with Section 3.03(b) ,with respect to any LIBOR borrowings for any interest period, the rate of interest obtained by dividing (i) the rate of interest per annum determined on the basis of the rate for deposits in U.S. dollars for a period equal to the applicable interest period as published by the ICE Benchmark Administration Limited, a United Kingdom company, or a comparable or successor quoting service approved by the Administrative Agent, at approximately 11:00 a.m. (London time) two business days prior to the first day of the applicable interest period by (ii) a percentage equal to 1 minus the stated maximum rate (stated as a decimal) of all reserves, if any, required to be maintained with respect to Eurocurrency funding (currently referred to as “Eurocurrency liabilities”) as specified in Regulation D of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (or against any other category of liabilities which includes deposits by reference to which the interest rate on LIBOR Loans is determined or any applicable category of extensions of credit or other assets which includes loans by an office of any Lender outside of the United States of America); provided that if such determined rate shall be less than zero, such rate shall be deemed to be zero for each LIBOR Loan that has not been identified by the Borrower in accordance with the terms of this Agreement as being subject to a Specified Swap Contract that provides a hedge against interest rate risk.  If, for any reason, such rate is not so published then “LIBOR” shall be determined by the Administrative Agent to be the arithmetic average of the rate per annum at which deposits in U.S. dollars would be offered by first class banks in the London interbank market to the Administrative Agent at approximately 11:00 a.m. (London time) two business days prior to the first day of the applicable interest period for a period equal to such interest period; provided that if such determined rate shall be less than zero, such rate shall be deemed to be zero for each LIBOR Loan that has not been identified by the Borrower in accordance with the terms of this Agreement as being subject to a Specified Swap Contract that provides a hedge against interest rate risk.  Any change in the maximum rate or reserves described in the preceding clause (ii) shall result in a change in LIBOR on the date on which such change in such maximum rate becomes effective.

 

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

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, unless otherwise specified in any amendment to this Agreement entered into in accordance with Section 3.03(b) , in the event that a Replacement Rate with respect to LIBOR is implemented then all references herein to LIBOR shall be deemed references to such Replacement Rate.

 

LIBOR Loan ” means a Committed Loan that bears interest at a rate based on LIBOR.

 

LIBOR Market Index Rate ” means, for any day, LIBOR as of that day that would be applicable for a LIBOR borrowing having a one-month interest period determined at approximately 10:00 a.m. Central time for such day (rather than 11:00 a.m. (London time) two business days prior to the first day of such interest period as otherwise provided in the definition

 

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of “LIBOR”), or if such day is not a business day, the immediately preceding business day.  The LIBOR Market Index Rate shall be determined on a daily basis.

 

Lien ” means any mortgage, pledge, hypothecation, assignment, deposit arrangement, encumbrance, lien (statutory or other), charge or other security interest or any preference, priority or other security agreement or preferential arrangement 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 Capital Lease having substantially the same economic effect as any of the foregoing).

 

Loan ” means an extension of credit by a Lender to the Borrower under Article II in the form of a Committed Loan.

 

Loan Documents ” means this Agreement, each Note, the Fee Letter, and the Guaranties.

 

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 LIBOR Loans, pursuant to Section 2.02(a) , which, if in writing, shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit A .

 

Loan Parties ” means, collectively, the Borrower and each Guarantor and “ Loan Party ” means any one of the Loan Parties.

 

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

 

Material Acquisition ” means any acquisition (or series of related acquisitions) or investments (or series of related investments) permitted by this Agreement and consummated in accordance with the terms of this Agreement for which the aggregate consideration paid in respect of such acquisition or investment (including any Indebtedness assumed in connection therewith) exceeds 10% of Total Asset Value for the Current Reporting Quarter, without giving pro forma effect to such acquisition.

 

Material Adverse Effect ” means: (a) a material adverse change in, or a material adverse effect upon, the business, assets, operations, or financial condition of the Companies, taken as a whole; (b) a material impairment of the ability of the Loan Parties, taken as a whole, to perform their obligations under the Loan Documents; or (c) a material adverse effect upon the legality, validity, binding effect, or enforceability against the Loan Parties, taken as a whole, of the Loan Documents to which they are parties.

 

Material Environmental Event ” means, with respect to any Unencumbered Property, (a) a violation of any Environmental Law with respect to such Unencumbered Property, or (b) the presence of any Hazardous Materials on, about, or under such Unencumbered Property that, under or pursuant to any Environmental Law, would require remediation, if in the case of either (a) or (b), such event or circumstance could reasonably be expected to have a Material Property Event.

 

Material Property Event ” means, with respect to any Unencumbered Property, the occurrence of any event or circumstance occurring or arising after the date of this Agreement

 

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that resulted in a (a) material adverse effect with respect to the financial condition or the operations of such Unencumbered Property, (b) material adverse effect on the value of such Unencumbered Property, or (c) material adverse effect on the ownership of such Unencumbered Property.

 

Material Title Defects ” means, with respect to any Unencumbered Property, defects, Liens (other than Liens for local real estate taxes and similar local governmental charges), and other encumbrances in the nature of easements, servitudes, restrictions, and rights-of-way that would customarily be deemed unacceptable title exceptions for a prudent lender (i.e., a prudent lender would reasonably determine that such exceptions, individually or in the aggregate, materially impair the value or operations of such Unencumbered Property, would prevent such Unencumbered Property from being used in the manner in which it is currently being used, or would result in a violation of any Law which would have a material and adverse effect on such Unencumbered Property); provided that Material Title Defects shall not include any Liens or other encumbrances (i) that existed as of the date of the title insurance policies issued in connection with the Prior Credit Agreement for the Initial Unencumbered Properties, (ii) that existed as of the date of this Agreement and that are listed on Schedule 8.01 or (iii) with respect to any Unencumbered Properties added following the date of this Agreement, Liens and other encumbrances similar in type and extent to those contemplated by clauses (i) and (ii) above.

 

Material Subsidiary ” means each Subsidiary of the Borrower other than a Non-Guarantor Subsidiary.

 

Maturity Date ” means September 29, 2020; provided that if such date is not a Business Day, then the Maturity Date shall be the next preceding Business Day.

 

Minimum Distributions ” means (a) for the Parent for any fiscal year of the Parent, Restricted Payments in an amount not less than the aggregate amount of distributions required to be paid by the Parent in order for the Parent to qualify as a REIT, and (b) for the Borrower for any fiscal year of the Borrower, Restricted Payments in an amount not less than the aggregate amount of distributions required to be paid by the Borrower to the Parent in order for the Parent to qualify as a REIT.

 

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 the Parent 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 (2) or more contributing sponsors (including the Parent or any ERISA Affiliate) at least two (2) of whom are not under common control, as such a plan is described in Section 4064 of ERISA.

 

Non-Guarantor Subsidiary ” means any Subsidiary (whether direct or indirect) of the Borrower, other than any Subsidiary which owns an Unencumbered Property or any Subsidiary which owns any of the Equity Interests of any such Subsidiary, which (a) is (i) formed for or converted to the specific purpose of holding title to Real Property assets which are collateral for

 

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Indebtedness owing or to be owed by such Subsidiary, provided that such Indebtedness must be incurred or assumed within ninety (90) days, such ninety (90) day period to be extended for an additional sixty (60) days if the Borrower provides an executed term sheet or commitment letter for the financing of such Real Property to the Administrative Agent (or, in either instance, for such longer period as the Administrative Agent may agree in writing) of such formation or conversion or such Subsidiary shall cease to qualify as a Non Guarantor Subsidiary, and (ii) expressly prohibited in writing from guaranteeing Indebtedness of any other person or entity pursuant to (A) a provision in any document, instrument or agreement evidencing such Indebtedness of such Subsidiary or (B) a provision of such Subsidiary’s Organization Documents, in each case, which provision was included in such Organization Document or such other document, instrument or agreement at the request of the applicable third party creditor and as an express condition to the extension or assumption of such Indebtedness; provided that a Subsidiary meeting the requirements set forth in this clause (a) shall only remain a “Non-Guarantor Subsidiary” for so long as (1) each of the foregoing requirements set forth in this clause (a) are satisfied, (2) such Subsidiary does not guarantee any other Indebtedness, and (3) the Indebtedness with respect to which the restrictions noted in clause (a) (ii) are imposed remains outstanding; (b)(i) becomes a Subsidiary following the Closing Date, (ii) is not a Wholly Owned Subsidiary of the Borrower, and (iii) with respect to which the Borrower and its Affiliates, as applicable, do not have sufficient voting power to cause such Subsidiary to become a Guarantor hereunder; (c) is an Immaterial Subsidiary; (d) is a Subsidiary which has been released from its Obligations under a Subsidiary Guaranty pursuant to Section 2.17(b)  below, or (e) is not a domestic Subsidiary. For the avoidance of doubt, STAG Industrial Management, LLC, the Subsidiary that employs the Parent Guarantor’s employees, shall be deemed to be a Non-Guarantor Subsidiary.

 

Non-Recourse Indebtedness ” means, for any Person, any Indebtedness of such Person for the repayment of which neither the Parent or the Borrower has any personal liability (other than for Customary Recourse Exceptions) or, if such Person is the Parent or the Borrower, in which recourse of the applicable holder of such Indebtedness for non-payment is limited to such holder’s Liens on a particular asset or group of assets (other than for Customary Recourse Exceptions).  For the avoidance of doubt, if any Indebtedness is partially guaranteed by the Parent or the Borrower, then the portion of such Indebtedness that is not so guaranteed shall still be Non-Recourse Indebtedness if it otherwise satisfies the requirements in this definition.

 

Note ” means a promissory note made by the Borrower in favor of each Lender requesting the same evidencing Loans made by such Lender, substantially in the form of Exhibit B .

 

Note Purchase Agreements ” means (i) that certain Note Purchase Agreement, dated as of April 16, 2014 among the Parent, the Borrower, and the purchasers party thereto, (ii) that certain Note Purchase Agreement, dated as of December 18, 2014 among the Parent, the Borrower, and the purchasers party thereto and (iii) that certain Note Purchase Agreement, dated as of June 13, 2018, among the Parent, the Borrower, and the other purchasers party thereto, in each case as amended from time to time.

 

Obligations ” means 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,

 

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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; including, without limitation of the foregoing, all present and future indebtedness, liabilities, and obligations now or hereafter owed to the  Administrative  Agent, any Lender, or any Affiliate of the Administrative Agent or any Lender (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any Specified Derivatives Providers) arising from, by virtue of, or pursuant to any Swap Contract, other than any Excluded Swap Obligation, that relates solely to the Obligations.

 

Occupancy Rate ” means, for any Property, the percentage of the rentable area of such Property occupied by bona fide tenants of such Property or leased by tenants pursuant to bona fide tenant Leases, in each case, which tenants are not more than 60 days past due in the payment of all rent or other similar payments due under such Leases and paying rent.

 

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, and (c) with respect to any partnership, joint venture, trust or other form of business entity, the partnership, joint venture or other applicable agreement of formation or organization and any agreement, instrument, filing or notice with respect thereto filed in connection with its formation or organization with the applicable Governmental Authority in the jurisdiction of its formation or organization and, if applicable, any certificate or articles of formation or organization of such entity.

 

Other Connection Taxes ” means, with respect to any Recipient, Taxes imposed as a result of a present or former connection between such Recipient and the jurisdiction imposing such Tax (other than connections arising from such Recipient having executed, delivered, become a party to, performed its obligations under, received payments under, received or perfected a security interest under, engaged in any other transaction pursuant to or enforced any Loan Document, or sold or assigned an interest in any Loan or Loan Document).

 

Other Taxes ” means all present or future stamp, court 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 with respect to Committed Loans on any date, the aggregate outstanding principal amount thereof after giving effect to any borrowings and prepayments or repayments of Loans occurring on such date.

 

Parent ” has the meaning specified in the introductory paragraph hereto.

 

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Parent Guaranty ” means the Guaranty Agreement executed by the Parent in favor of the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Lenders and any Specified Derivatives Providers, in form and substance acceptable to the Administrative Agent.

 

Parent Share ” means a share of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Parent.

 

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

 

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

 

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, Sections 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 the 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.

 

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 the Parent or any ERISA Affiliate or any such Plan to which the Parent or any ERISA Affiliate is required to contribute on behalf of any of its employees.

 

Platform ” has the meaning specified in Section 7.02 .

 

Prime Rate ” means, at any time, the rate of interest per annum publicly announced from time to time by the Administrative Agent as its prime rate.  Each change in the Prime Rate shall be effective as of the opening of business on the day such change in such prime rate occurs.  The parties acknowledge that the rate announced publicly by the Administrative Agent as its prime rate is an index or base rate and shall not necessarily be its lowest or best rate charged to its customers or other banks.

 

Prior Credit Agreement ” means that certain Credit Agreement dated as of April 20, 2011 among the Borrower, Bank of America, N.A., as agent, and a syndicate of lenders.

 

Property ” means any Real Property which is owned or ground leased, directly or indirectly, by any Company.

 

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PTE ” means a prohibited transaction class exemption secured by the U.S. Department of Labor as any such exemption may be amended from time to time.

 

Public Lender ” has the meaning specified in Section 7.02 .

 

Qualified ECP Guarantor ” means, in respect of any Swap Contract, each Loan Party that has total assets exceeding $10,000,000 at the time the relevant Guarantee or grant of the relevant security interest becomes effective with respect to such Swap Contract or such other person as constitutes an “eligible contract participant” under the Commodity Exchange Act or any regulations promulgated thereunder and can cause another person to qualify as an “eligible contract participant” at such time by entering into a keepwell under Section 1a(18)(A)(v)(II)  of the Commodity Exchange Act.

 

Rating Condition ” means the achievement by the Borrower of a Debt Rating.

 

Real Property ” of any Person means all of the right, title, and interest of such Person in and to land, improvements, and fixtures.

 

Recipient ” means the Administrative Agent, any Lender, or any other recipient of any payment to be made by or on account of any obligation of any Loan Party hereunder.

 

Recourse Indebtedness ” means Indebtedness that is not Non-Recourse Indebtedness; provided that personal recourse for Customary Recourse Exceptions shall not, by itself, cause such Indebtedness to be characterized as Recourse Indebtedness.

 

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

 

REIT ” means a “real estate investment trust” in accordance with Section 856 of the Code.

 

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.

 

Replacement Rate ” has the meaning assigned thereto in Section 3.03(b) .

 

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 with respect to a Borrowing, conversion or continuation of Committed Loans, a Committed Loan Notice.

 

Required Lenders ” means, at any time, the Lenders having Commitments representing more than 50% of the Aggregate Commitments of all Lenders or, if the commitment of each Lender to make Loans has been terminated pursuant to Section 2.01(b)  or 9.02 , the Lenders holding in the aggregate more than fifty percent (50%) of the Total Outstandings.  The Commitment and Loans of any Defaulting Lender shall be disregarded in determining the Required Lenders at any time.  At all times when two or more Lenders (excluding Defaulting Lenders) are party to this Agreement, the term “Required Lenders” shall in no event mean fewer than two Lenders.

 

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Required Notice ” has the meaning supplied in Section 2.01(b) .

 

Responsible Officer ” means the chief executive officer, president, chief financial officer, chief operating officer, chief accounting officer, treasurer, assistant treasurer, or controller of a Loan Party, and solely for purposes of the delivery of incumbency certificates pursuant to Section 5.01 , the secretary or any assistant 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.  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.  Each initial Responsible Officer is listed on Schedule RO .

 

Restricted Payment ” means any dividend or other distribution (whether in cash, Equity Interests or other property) with respect to any capital stock or other Equity Interest of any Company or Subsidiary, or any payment (whether in cash, Equity Interests or other property), including any sinking fund or similar deposit, on account of the purchase, redemption, retirement, acquisition, cancellation or termination of any such capital stock or other Equity Interests, or on account of any return of capital to such Company’s or Subsidiary’s stockholders, partners or members (or the equivalent Person thereof).

 

Revolving Credit Agreement ” means that certain Credit Agreement, dated as of July 26, 2018, among the Borrower, the Parent, Wells Fargo, as administrative agent, and the other lenders party thereto, as amended.

 

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

 

Sanction(s) ” means any international economic sanction administered or enforced by OFAC, the United Nations Security Council, the European Union, Her Majesty’s Treasury or other relevant sanctions authority.

 

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

 

Secured Indebtedness ” means (without duplication), with respect to a Person as of any given date, the aggregate principal amount of all Indebtedness of such Person or its subsidiaries outstanding at such date and that is secured by a Lien, and including the Companies’ Share of all Indebtedness of Unconsolidated Affiliates that is secured by a Lien, but excluding for the avoidance of doubt, any net obligations under any Swap Contract that is secured by a Lien, all Unsecured Indebtedness and all Indebtedness hereunder, and provided further that the obligations under any revolving credit agreement (including the Revolving Credit Agreement or any amendment or replacement thereof) shall not constitute Secured Indebtedness due to the existence  of cash collateral security requirements in connection with customary defaulting lender provisions.

 

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Secured Leverage Ratio ” means, as of any date of determination, the quotient (expressed as a percentage) of (a) Secured Indebtedness of Parent and its Subsidiaries, divided by (b) Total Asset Value.

 

Share ” means the Borrower’s and the Parent’s direct or indirect share of a Consolidated Subsidiary or an Unconsolidated Affiliate as reasonably determined by the Borrower based upon the Borrower’s and the Parent’s economic interest (whether direct or indirect) in such Consolidated Subsidiary or Unconsolidated Affiliate, as of the date of such determination.

 

Specified Derivatives Provider ” shall have the meaning provided in Section 9.03.

 

Specified Swap Contract ” means any Swap Contract that is made or entered into at any time, or in effect at any time now or hereafter, whether as a result of an assignment or transfer or otherwise, in each case with respect to the Loans, between the Borrower and a Specified Swap Contract Provider.

 

Specified Swap Contract Provider ” means any Lender, or Affiliate of a Lender, that is party to a Swap Contract at the time such Swap Contract is entered into.

 

Subsequent Loan Advances ” shall have the meaning provided in Section 2.01(b) .

 

Subsequent Loans ” shall have the meaning provided in Section 2.01(b) .

 

Subsidiary ” of a Person means a corporation, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company or other business entity of which a majority of the Equity Interests having ordinary voting power for the election of directors or other governing body (other than Equity Interests having such power only by reason of the happening of a contingency) are 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 Borrower.

 

Subsidiary Guarantors ” means, as of any date, each domestic Subsidiary which owns an Unencumbered Property, all domestic Subsidiaries of the Borrower owning a direct or indirect interest in an Unencumbered Property, each other domestic Material Subsidiary, and the general partner of each Subsidiary Guarantor that is a limited partnership and “ Subsidiary Guarantor ” means any one of the Subsidiary Guarantors; provided, however, that (a) STAG Industrial Management, LLC and (b) STAG Industrial TRS, LLC and its Subsidiaries shall in no event be deemed or required to be a Subsidiary Guarantor.

 

Subsidiary Guaranty ” means the Guaranty Agreement executed by each Subsidiary Guarantor  in favor  of  the Administrative Agent,  for  the benefit  of the Lenders  and any Specified Derivatives Providers, in form and substance acceptable to the Administrative Agent.

 

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

 

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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, (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, and (c) 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).

 

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 Amendment Effective Date ” means July 26, 2018.

 

Threshold Amount ” means (a) $40,000,000 with respect to Recourse Indebtedness, (b) $75,000,000 with respect to all Non-Recourse Indebtedness, and (c) $40,000,000 with respect to all other amounts.

 

Total Asset Value ” means, for the Companies, on a consolidated basis, as on any date, the sum of (a) an amount equal to (i) aggregate Adjusted NOI with respect to all Properties (without duplication from the assets in clauses (b) through (g) below) for the Current Reporting Quarter, annualized divided by (ii) the Capitalization Rate, plus (b) 75% of the Book Value of any Dark Property (provided that no Dark Property shall be included in the calculation of Total Asset Value for a period greater than 12 months), plus (c) the acquisition cost of Construction in Progress and the costs of improvements thereon and renovations thereof, plus (d) cash and cash equivalents (including restricted cash) on such date, plus (e) the Companies’ Share of the foregoing items and components attributable to Unconsolidated Affiliates, plus (f) an amount equal to the book value (adjusted in accordance with GAAP to reflect any default or other impairment of such loan) of mortgage loans, construction loans, capital improvement loans, and other loans, in each case owned by a Company, plus (g) fifty percent (50%) of the book value of any undeveloped land.

 

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Notwithstanding the foregoing, for purposes of determining Total Asset Value, to the extent the amount of Total Asset Value attributable to (a) the amount under clause (b) above would exceed 10% of Total Asset Value, such excess shall be excluded, (b) the amount under clause (c) and (g) above would exceed 15% of Total Asset Value, such excess shall be excluded, (c) the amount under clause (e) above would exceed 30% of Total Asset Value, such excess shall be excluded, (d) the amount under clause (f) above would exceed 15% of Total Asset Value, such excess shall be excluded, and (e) the amount under clauses (b), (c), (e), (f) and (g) above would exceed 30% of Total Asset Value, such excess shall be excluded.

 

Total Funded Debt ” means, as of any date, Consolidated Total Debt excluding intercompany Indebtedness, deferred income taxes, security deposits, accounts payable and accrued liabilities, and any prepaid rents, in each case determined in accordance with GAAP.

 

Total Outstandings ” means as of any date of determination, the aggregate Outstanding Amount of all Loans.

 

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

 

Unconsolidated Affiliate ” means any Person in which a Company has an Equity Interest and whose financial results would not be consolidated under GAAP with the financial results of the Parent on the consolidated financial statements of the Parent.

 

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

 

Unencumbered Adjusted NOI ” means, for any period, the aggregate Adjusted NOI of all Unencumbered Properties excluding any Dark Property for such period.

 

Unencumbered Asset Value ” means without duplication, the sum of for each Unencumbered Property owned or ground leased for the Current Reporting Quarter, (i) an amount equal to (x) the Unencumbered Adjusted NOI attributable to such Unencumbered Property for such Current Reporting Quarter, annualized, divided by (ii) the Capitalization Rate.

 

Unencumbered Leverage Ratio ” means, as of any date of determination, the quotient (expressed as a percentage) of (a) Unsecured Indebtedness of Parent and its Subsidiaries, divided by (b) Unencumbered Asset Value.

 

Unencumbered Properties ” means each Acceptable Property that either (a) is an Initial Unencumbered Property or (b) becomes an Unencumbered Property pursuant to Section 4.03 , and “ Unencumbered Property ” means any one of the Unencumbered Properties.

 

Unsecured Indebtedness ” means Indebtedness which is not Secured Indebtedness.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, all Indebtedness which is secured by a pledge of equity interests only and is recourse to the Borrower or the Parent shall be deemed to be Unsecured Indebtedness.

 

Unsecured Interest Coverage Ratio ” means, as of any date of determination, the quotient (expressed as a percentage) of (a) Unencumbered Adjusted NOI to (b) Unsecured Interest Expense.

 

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Unsecured Interest Expense ” means, with respect to any period, Consolidated Interest Expense of the Parent and its Subsidiaries for such period attributable to Unsecured Indebtedness of the Parent and its Subsidiaries.

 

Unused Fee ” has the meaning provided in Section 2.09(c) .

 

Unused Rate ” means 0.175%.

 

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)(III) .

 

Wells Fargo ” means Wells Fargo Bank, National Association and its successors.

 

WFS ” means Wells Fargo Securities, LLC and its successors and assigns.

 

Write-Down and Conversion Powers ” means, with respect to any EEA Resolution Authority, the write-down and conversion powers of such EEA Resolution Authority from time to time under the Bail-In Legislation for the applicable EEA Member Country, which write-down and conversion powers are described in the EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule.

 

b.                                       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 any Organization Document) shall be construed as referring to such agreement, instrument or other document as from time to time amended, supplemented, or otherwise modified (subject to any restrictions on such amendments, supplements or modifications set forth herein 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, Exhibits and Schedules shall be construed to refer to Articles and Sections of, and Exhibits and Schedules to, the Loan Document in which such references appear, (v) any reference to any law shall include all statutory and regulatory 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 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

 

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intangible assets and properties, including cash, Equity Interests, accounts and contract rights.

 

(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.

 

c.                                        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 Borrower and its Subsidiaries shall be deemed to be carried at 100% of the outstanding principal amount thereof, and the effects of FASB ASC 825 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 Borrower or the Required Lenders shall so request, the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the Borrower shall negotiate in good faith to amend such ratio or requirement to preserve the original intent thereof in light of such change in GAAP (subject to the approval of the Required Lenders); provided that until so amended, (i) such ratio or requirement shall continue to be computed in accordance with GAAP prior to such change therein and (ii) the Borrower shall provide to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders financial statements and other documents required under this Agreement or as reasonably requested hereunder setting forth a reconciliation between calculations of such ratio or requirement made before and after giving effect to such change in GAAP.  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 addressing such changes, as provided for above.

 

(c)                                   Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities.   All references herein to consolidated financial statements of the Companies or to the determination of any amount for the Companies on a consolidated basis or any similar reference shall, in each case, be deemed to include each variable interest entity that the Parent is required to consolidate pursuant to FASB ASC 810 as if such variable interest entity were a Subsidiary as

 

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defined herein, provided further that for all purposes in calculating consolidated covenants hereunder the Parent shall be deemed to own one hundred percent (100%) of the equity interests in the Borrower.

 

d.                                       Rounding.  Any financial ratios required to be maintained by the Borrower 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).

 

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

 

f.                                         Rates. 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 “LIBOR” or with respect to any comparable or successor rate thereto.

 

20.
The Commitments and Credit Extensions

 

a.                                       Committed Loans.  Each Lender severally agrees to make a Committed Loan to the Borrower from time to time, on any Business Day, subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein and the limitations set forth in Section 2.01( c ):

 

(a)                                  Committed Loans .  Each Lender severally agrees to make a loan (each such loan, a “ Committed Loan ”) in an aggregate amount not to exceed at any time outstanding the amount of such Lender’s Commitment.

 

(b)                                  Loans .  Subject to the Borrower’s compliance with the terms and conditions set forth in Section 2.01(c) , each Lender severally agrees to make its portion of advances of the Loan (the “ Subsequent Loans ”) up to a maximum of six (6) advances, in minimum amounts of $25,000,000 each, or, if less, the remaining unfunded amount of the Aggregate Commitments (the “ Subsequent Loan Advances ”), to the Borrower in aggregate amounts not to exceed each Lender’s unadvanced Commitment.  Once advanced, each Subsequent Loan shall be aggregated with all prior Subsequent Loans and all such term loans shall be referred to as Committed Loans.  Provided there exists no Default, upon notice to the Administrative Agent (which shall promptly notify the Lenders), the Parent and the Borrower may elect to borrow the Subsequent Loan; subject to the Borrower’s delivery to the Administrative Agent of notice of such requested Subsequent Loan Advance, each of which notice must be delivered not later than December 29, 2016 in order to be effective (each such notice, a “ Required Notice ”).  In the event that a Required Notice(s) is/are not received by the Administrative Agent on or prior to December 29, 2016 such that the initial Aggregate Commitments have not been fully funded by December 29, 2016, the Commitment of the Lenders to advance the Subsequent Loans shall be deemed cancelled.  Upon such cancelation the Borrower shall pay to the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Lenders, a commitment

 

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termination fee in an amount equal to 0.50% multiplied by the Commitments which have been cancelled.

 

(c)                                   Committed Loan Limitations Notwithstanding the provisions of Sections 2.01(a)  and (b) , after giving effect to any Committed Borrowing,  (i) the Total Outstandings shall not exceed the Aggregate Commitments, as in effect on the Closing Date, and (ii) the aggregate Loans advanced by any Lender shall not exceed such Lender’s Commitment, as in effect on the Closing Date.  With respect to Committed Loans, within the limits of each Lender’s Commitment and the Aggregate Commitments, and subject to the other terms and conditions hereof, the Borrower may borrow under this Section 2.01 , and prepay under Section 2.05 . Amounts repaid on the Committed Loans may not be reborrowed.  Committed Loans may be Base Rate Loans or LIBOR Loans, as further provided herein.

 

b.                                       Borrowings, Conversions and Continuations of Committed Loans.

 

(a)                                  Each Committed Borrowing (including each request for a Subsequent Loan), each conversion of Committed Loans from one Type to the other, and each continuation of LIBOR Loans shall be made upon the Borrower’s irrevocable notice to the Administrative Agent, which may be given by telephone.  Each such notice must be received by the Administrative Agent not later than 10:00 a.m. (i) three (3) Business Days prior to the requested date of any Borrowing of, conversion to or continuation of LIBOR Loans or of any conversion of LIBOR Loans to Base Rate Committed Loans, and (ii) on the requested date of any Borrowing of Base Rate Committed Loans.  Each telephonic notice by the Borrower pursuant to this Section 2.02(a)  must be confirmed promptly by delivery to the Administrative Agent of a written  Committed Loan Notice, appropriately completed and signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower.  Each Borrowing of, conversion to or continuation of LIBOR Loans shall be in a principal amount of $500,000 or a whole multiple of $500,000 in excess thereof.  Each conversion to Base Rate Committed Loans shall be in a principal amount of $250,000 or a whole multiple of $50,000 in excess thereof.  Each Committed Loan Notice (whether telephonic or written) shall specify (i) whether the Borrower is requesting a Committed Borrowing, a conversion of Committed Loans from one Type to the other, or a continuation of LIBOR Loans, (ii) the requested date of the Committed Borrowing, conversion or continuation, as the case may be (which shall be a Business Day), (iii) the principal amount of Committed Loans to be borrowed, converted or continued, (iv) the Type of Committed Loans to be borrowed or to which existing Committed Loans are to be converted, and (v) if applicable, the duration of the Interest Period with respect thereto.  If the Borrower fails to specify a Type of Committed Loan in a Committed Loan Notice or if the Borrower fails to give a timely notice requesting a conversion or continuation, then (I) so long as no Event of Default exists, the applicable Committed Loans shall be made as, or continued to, a LIBOR Loan of the same Type and with an Interest Period of one (1) month and (II) if an Event of Default exists, then the applicable Committed 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 LIBOR Loans.  If the Borrower requests a Committed Borrowing of, conversion to, or continuation of LIBOR Loans in any such Committed

 

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Loan Notice, but fails to specify an Interest Period, then it will be deemed to have specified an Interest Period of one (1) month.

 

(b)                                  Following receipt of a Committed Loan Notice, the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each Lender of the amount of its Applicable Percentage of the applicable Committed Loans, and if no timely notice of a conversion or continuation is provided by the Borrower, the Administrative Agent shall notify each Lender of the details of any automatic continuation or conversion to Base Rate Loans described in the preceding subsection.  In the case of a Committed Borrowing, each Lender shall make the amount of its Committed Loan available to the Administrative Agent in immediately available funds at the Administrative Agent’s Office not later than 12:00 noon on the Business Day specified in the applicable Committed Loan Notice.  Upon satisfaction of the applicable conditions set forth in Section 5.02 (and, if such Committed Borrowing is the initial Credit Extension, Section 5.01 ), the Administrative Agent shall make all funds so received available to the Borrower by 3:00 p.m. in like funds as received by the Administrative Agent either by (i) crediting the account of the Borrower on the books of Wells Fargo 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 Borrower.

 

(c)                                   Except as otherwise provided herein, a LIBOR Loan may be continued or converted only on the last day of an Interest Period for such LIBOR Loan.  During the existence of an Event of Default, no Loans may be requested as, converted to or continued as LIBOR Loans without the consent of the Required Lenders.

 

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

 

(e)                                   After giving effect to all Committed Borrowings, all conversions of Committed Loans from one Type to the other, and all continuations of Committed Loans as the same Type, there shall not be more than eight (8) Interest Periods in effect with respect to Committed Loans.

 

c.                                        Reserved.

 

d.                                       Reserved.

 

e.                                        Prepayments.

 

The Borrower may, upon notice to the Administrative Agent, at any time or from time to time voluntarily prepay Committed Loans in whole or in part; provided that (i) such notice must be received by the Administrative Agent not later than 11:00 a.m. (A) three (3) Business Days prior to any date of prepayment of LIBOR Loans and (B) on the date of prepayment of Base Rate Committed Loans; (ii) any prepayment of LIBOR

 

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Loans shall be in a principal amount of $1,000,000 or a whole multiple of $100,000 in excess thereof; and (iii) any prepayment of Base Rate Committed Loans shall be in a principal amount of $100,000 or a whole multiple of $25,000 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 Committed Loans to be prepaid and, if LIBOR 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 Applicable Percentage of such prepayment.  If such notice is given by the Borrower, then the Borrower 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 a LIBOR Loan 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 2.16 , each such prepayment shall be applied to the Committed Loans of the Lenders in accordance with their respective Applicable Percentages.

 

f.                                         Incremental Term Loans.

 

(a)                                  Reserved .

 

(b)                                  Incremental Term Loans .

 

(i)                                      Election .  Provided there exists no Default, and provided that no Subsequent Loans remain available to be advanced to the Borrower pursuant to Section 2.01(b) , upon notice to the Administrative Agent (which shall promptly notify the Lenders), the Parent and the Borrower may from time to time, elect to enter into one or more tranches of term loans (“ Additional Term Loans ”) in an aggregate amount not exceeding $100,000,000 either by designating another bank or financial institution not theretofore a Lender to become a Lender (such designation to be effective only with the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent, which consent will not be unreasonably withheld) and/or by agreeing with an existing Lender or Lenders, in such Lender or Lenders’ absolute discretion, that such Lender shall make Additional Term Loans; provided that (i) any such election for Additional Term Loans shall be in a minimum amount of $10,000,000, and (ii) the Parent and the Borrower may make a maximum of three (3) such requests.  Upon execution and delivery by the Borrower and such Lender or other bank or financial institution of an instrument in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent to effect such Additional Term Loans, including, as required, a new or amended Note, such existing Lender shall have a Commitment as therein set forth or such bank or financial institution shall become a Lender with a Commitment as therein set forth and all the rights and obligations of a Lender with such a Commitment hereunder.

 

(ii)                                   Effective Date .  If Additional Term Loans are made in accordance with this Section 2.06(b) , then the Administrative Agent, the Parent, and the Borrower shall determine the effective date (the “ Increase Effective Date ”) that

 

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such Additional Term Loans shall be made.  The Administrative Agent shall promptly notify the Parent, the Borrower, and the Lenders of the Increase Effective Date.

 

(iii)                                Conditions to Effectiveness of Additional Term Loans .

 

(g)                                   As a condition precedent to such Additional Term Loans, the Parent and the Borrower shall deliver to the Administrative Agent a certificate dated as of the Increase Effective Date (in sufficient copies for each Lender) signed by a Responsible Officer of the Parent or the Borrower (on behalf of each Loan Party) (i) certifying and attaching the resolutions adopted by such Parent and the Borrower (on behalf of each Loan Party) approving or consenting to such Additional Term Loans, and (ii) certifying that, before and after giving effect to such Additional Term Loans, (A) the representations and warranties contained in Article VI and the other Loan Documents are true and correct in all material respects (except in the case of a representation or warranty qualified by materiality or Material Adverse Effect, in which case such representation or warranty shall be true and correct in all respects) on and as of the Increase Effective Date, except to the extent that such representations and warranties specifically refer to an earlier date, in which case they are true and correct in all material respects (except in the case of a representation or warranty qualified by materiality or Material Adverse Effect, in which case such representation or warranty shall be true and correct in all respects) as of such earlier date, and except that for purposes of this Section 2.06 , the representations and warranties contained in Section   6.05(b)  shall be deemed to refer to the most-recent statements furnished pursuant to Section 7.01(b) , and (B) no Default exists.

 

(h)                                  The Borrower shall execute and provide new Notes to such Lenders as may request herewith.

 

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

 

(c)                                   General .  The Administrative Agent will promptly notify the Lenders of any notice of Additional Term Loans.  Each Additional Term Loan shall be a Committed Loan hereunder.

 

g.                                        Repayment of Loans.  The Borrower shall repay to the Lenders on the Maturity Date the aggregate principal amount of Loans outstanding on such date.

 

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h.                                       Interest.

 

(a)                                  Subject to the provisions of subsection (b)  below, (i) each LIBOR Loan shall bear interest on the outstanding principal amount thereof for each Interest Period at a rate per annum equal to LIBOR for such Interest Period plus the Applicable Rate; (ii) each Base Rate Committed 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.

 

(b)

 

(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, then 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 Borrower 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 (other than as set forth in clauses (b)(i) and (b)(ii) above), the Borrower shall pay interest on the principal amount of all outstanding Obligations hereunder 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 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.

 

i.                                           Fees.

 

(a)                                  The Borrower shall pay to WFS and the Administrative Agent, for their own respective accounts, fees in the amounts and at the times specified in the Fee Letter (without duplication of fees otherwise referenced herein).  Such fees shall be fully earned when paid and shall not be refundable for any reason whatsoever.

 

(b)                                  The Borrower shall pay to the Lenders such fees as shall have been separately agreed upon in writing in the amounts and at the times so specified.  Such fees shall be fully earned when paid and shall not be refundable for any reason whatsoever.

 

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(c)                                   Unused Fees .  The Borrower shall, beginning 60 days after the Closing Date, for each day until the earlier of (i) the date that initial Aggregate Commitments of $150,000,000 have been fully advanced, or (ii) December 29, 2016, pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of each Lender (in accordance with its Applicable Percentage), an unused fee (the “ Unused Fee ”) at a rate per annum equal to the Unused Rate times the actual daily amount of the unadvanced Aggregate Commitments.  The Unused Fee shall be due and payable monthly in arrears on the 10 th  Business Day after the end of each calendar month, commencing with the first such date to occur after the Closing Date, and ending on the earlier of the dates set forth above.  The Unused Fee shall be calculated monthly in arrears based on the applicable daily Unused Rate during each day of such month.

 

j.                                          Computation of Interest and Fees; Retroactive Adjustments of Applicable Rate.

 

(a)                                  All computations of interest for Base Rate Loans (including Base Rate Loans determined by reference to LIBOR) 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)                                  If, as a result of any restatement of or other adjustment to the financial statements of the Parent or for any other reason, then the Parent, the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, or the Lenders determine that (i) the Consolidated Leverage Ratio as calculated by the Parent and the Borrower 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, then the Borrower shall immediately and retroactively be obligated to pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of the applicable Lenders, within three (3) Business Days after demand by the Administrative Agent (or, after the occurrence of an actual or deemed entry of an order for relief with respect to any Loan Party under the Bankruptcy Code of the United States, automatically and without further action by the Administrative Agent or any Lender), 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 or any Lender, under Section 2.08(b)  or under Article IX .

 

k.                                       Evidence of Debt.

 

(a)                                  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

 

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amount of the Credit Extensions made by the Lenders to the Borrower and the interest and payments thereon.  Any failure to so record or any error in doing so shall not, however, limit or otherwise affect the obligation of the Borrower hereunder to pay any amount owing with respect to the Obligations.  In the event of any conflict between the accounts and records maintained by any Lender and the accounts and records of the Administrative Agent in respect of such matters, the accounts and records of the Administrative Agent shall control in the absence of manifest error.  Upon the request of any Lender made through the Administrative Agent, the Borrower shall execute and deliver to such Lender (through the Administrative Agent) a Note, which shall evidence such Lender’s Loans in addition to such accounts or records.  Each such Note shall be in the form of Exhibit B (a “ Note ”).  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.

 

l.                                           Payments Generally; The Administrative Agent’s Clawback.

 

(a)                                  General .  All payments to be made by the Borrower shall be made without condition or deduction for any counterclaim, defense, recoupment or setoff.  Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, all payments by the Borrower 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 1:00 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.  If and to the extent the Administrative Agent shall not make such payments to a Lender when due as set forth in the preceding sentence, then such unpaid amounts shall accrue interest, payable by the Administrative Agent, at the Federal Funds Rate from the due date until (but not including) the date on which the Administrative Agent makes such payments to such Lender.  All payments received by the Administrative Agent after 1:00 p.m. shall be deemed received on the next succeeding Business Day and any applicable interest or fee shall continue to accrue.  If any payment to be made by the Borrower 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)                                  Clawback .

 

(i)                                      Funding by the Lenders; Presumption by the Administrative Agent .  Unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from a Lender prior to the proposed date of any Committed Borrowing of LIBOR Loans (or, in the case of any Committed Borrowing of Base Rate Loans, prior to 1:00 p.m. on the date of such Borrowing) that such Lender will not make available to the Administrative Agent such Lender’s share of such Committed 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 Committed 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

 

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reliance upon such assumption, make available to the Borrower a corresponding amount.  In such event, if a Lender has not in fact made its share of the applicable Committed Borrowing available to the Administrative Agent, then the applicable Lender and the Borrower 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 Borrower to but excluding the date of payment to the Administrative Agent, at (A) in the case of a payment to be made by such Lender, the 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 Borrower, the interest rate applicable to Base Rate Loans.  If the Borrower and such Lender shall pay such interest to the Administrative Agent for the same or an overlapping period, then the Administrative Agent shall promptly remit to the Borrower the amount of such interest paid by the Borrower for such period.  If such Lender pays its share of the applicable Committed Borrowing to the Administrative Agent, then the amount so paid shall constitute such Lender’s Committed Loan included in such Committed Borrowing.  Any payment by the Borrower shall be without prejudice to any claim the Borrower may have against a Lender that shall have failed to make such payment to the Administrative Agent.

 

(ii)                                   Payments by the Borrower; Presumptions by the Administrative Agent .  Unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from the Borrower prior to the date on which any payment is due to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Lenders hereunder that the Borrower will not make such payment, the Administrative Agent may assume that the Borrower has made such payment on such date in accordance herewith and may, in reliance upon such assumption, distribute to the Lenders the amount due.  In such event, if the Borrower has not in fact made such payment, then each of the Lenders severally agrees to repay to the Administrative Agent forthwith on demand the amount so distributed to such Lender, 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 , within one (1) Business Day.  If and to the extent the Administrative Agent shall not return such funds to a Lender when due as set forth in the preceding sentence, then such unpaid amounts shall accrue interest, payable by the Administrative Agent, at the Federal Funds Rate from the due date until (but not including) the date on which the Administrative Agent returns such funds to such Lender.

 

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

 

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(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 Borrower by the Administrative Agent because the conditions to the applicable Credit Extension set forth in Article V are not satisfied or waived in accordance with the terms hereof, then the Administrative Agent shall return such funds (in like funds as received from such Lender) to such Lender, without interest.

 

(d)                                  Obligations of the Lenders Several .  The obligations of the Lenders hereunder to make Committed Loans and to make payments pursuant to Section11.04(d)  are several and not joint.  The failure of any Lender to make any Committed Loan or to make any payment under Section 11.04(d)  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 Committed Loan or to make its payment under Section 11.04(d) .

 

(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)                                    Funds Transfer .  The Administrative Agent will, in its sole discretion, determine the funds transfer system and the means by which each transfer will be made.  The Administrative Agent may delay or refuse to accept a funds transfer request if the transfer would: (i) violate the terms of this authorization, (ii) require use of a bank unacceptable to the Administrative Agent or any Lender, in its reasonable discretion, or prohibited by any Governmental Authority, (iii) cause the Administrative Agent or any Lender to violate any Federal Reserve or other regulatory risk control program or guideline or (iv) otherwise cause the Administrative Agent or any Lender to violate any applicable Law or regulation.  The Borrower hereby authorizes the Administrative Agent to disburse the proceeds of any Loan made by the Lenders or any of their Affiliates pursuant to the Loan Documents as requested by an authorized representative of the Borrower to any of the accounts designated in the Disbursement Instruction Agreement.

 

m.                                   Sharing of Payments by the Lenders.  If any Lender shall, by exercising any right of setoff or counterclaim or otherwise, obtain payment in respect of any principal of or interest on any of the Committed Loans made by it, resulting in such Lender’s receiving payment of a proportion of the aggregate amount of such Committed Loans and accrued interest thereon greater than its pro rata share thereof as provided herein, then the Lender receiving such greater proportion shall (a) notify the Administrative Agent of such fact, and (b)  make such adjustments as shall be equitable, so that the benefit of all such payments shall be shared by the Lenders ratably in accordance with the aggregate amount of principal of and accrued interest on their respective Committed Loans and other amounts owing them, provided that the provisions of this Section shall not be construed to apply to any payment obtained by a Lender as consideration for the assignment of or sale of a participation in any of its Committed Loans to any assignee or participant, other than an assignment to the Borrower or any Affiliate thereof (as to which the provisions of this Section shall apply).  Each Loan Party consents to the foregoing and agrees, to

 

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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.

 

n.                                       Reserved.

 

o.                                       Reserved.

 

p.                                       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 .  That 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 in 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 IX 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 reasonably 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 , as the Borrower 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; third , if so determined by the Administrative Agent and the Borrower, to be held in an interest bearing deposit account and released pro rata in order to satisfy such Defaulting Lender’s potential future funding obligations with respect to Loans under this Agreement; fourth , to the payment of any amounts owing to the Lenders as a result of any judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction obtained by any Lender against such Defaulting Lender as a result of such Defaulting Lender’s breach of its obligations under this Agreement; fifth , so long as no Event of Default exists, to the payment of any amounts owing to the Borrower as a result of any judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction obtained by the Borrower against such Defaulting Lender as a result of such Defaulting Lender’s breach of its obligations under this Agreement; and sixth , to such Defaulting Lender or as otherwise directed by a court of competent jurisdiction; provided that if such payment is a payment of the principal amount of any Loans in respect of which such Defaulting Lender has not fully funded its appropriate share, such payment shall be applied solely to pay the Loans of all Non-Defaulting Lenders on a pro rata basis prior to being applied to the payment of any Loans of such

 

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Defaulting Lender until such time as all Loans and funded hereunder without giving effect to Section 2.16(a)(iv) . Any payments, prepayments or other amounts paid or payable to a Defaulting Lender that are applied (or held) to pay amounts owed by a Defaulting Lender shall be deemed paid to and redirected by such Defaulting Lender, and each Lender irrevocably consents hereto.

 

(iii)                                Certain Fees .  No Defaulting Lender shall be entitled to receive any fee pursuant to Section 2.09 for any period during which that Lender is a Defaulting Lender (and the Borrower shall not be required to pay any such fee that otherwise would have been required to have been paid to that Defaulting Lender pursuant to Section 2.09 for any period during which that Lender is a Defaulting Lender), and the Borrower shall not be required to pay the remaining amount of such fee that otherwise would have been required to have been paid to that Defaulting Lender.

 

(b)                                  Defaulting Lender Cure .  If the Borrower and the Administrative Agent agree in writing in their sole discretion that a Defaulting Lender should no longer be deemed to be 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, 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 Committed Loans to be held on a pro rata basis by the Lenders in accordance with their Applicable Percentages, whereupon that Lender will cease to be a Defaulting Lender; provided that no adjustments will be made retroactively with respect to fees accrued or payments made by or on behalf of the Borrower while that Lender was a Defaulting Lender; and provided , further , that , except to the extent otherwise expressly agreed by the affected parties, no change hereunder from Defaulting Lender to Lender will constitute a waiver or release of any claim of any party hereunder arising from that Lender’s having been a Defaulting Lender.

 

q.                                       Guaranties.  Pursuant to the Parent Guaranty, the Parent shall unconditionally Guarantee in favor of the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and any Specified Derivatives Providers the full payment and performance of the Obligations. Pursuant to the Subsidiary Guaranty or an addendum thereto in the form attached to the Subsidiary Guaranty, the Parent and the Borrower shall cause each Subsidiary Guarantor to execute a Subsidiary Guaranty unconditionally guarantying in favor of the Administrative Agent , the Lenders and any Specified Derivatives Providers the full payment and performance of the Obligations; provided, however, that such Subsidiary Guaranty may be released and reinstated in accordance with its terms.

 

(a)                                  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement or any other Loan Document, (x) concurrently with the delivery of each Compliance Certificate, with respect to any Person that became a Subsidiary of the Parent owning a direct or indirect interest in the Borrower since the date of the most recent Compliance Certificate or (y) substantially concurrently with any Subsidiary of the Parent (other than the Borrower) entering into any Guarantee of Indebtedness of the Parent, the Borrower or any Subsidiary of the Borrower owning directly or indirectly any Unencumbered Property,

 

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the Parent, the Borrower and such Subsidiary shall deliver to the Administrative Agent each of the following: (i) a joinder to the Subsidiary Guaranty executed by such Subsidiary, (ii) concurrently with the delivery of each Compliance Certificate a comprehensive list of all Guarantors, which identifies the joining and departing entities, and (iii) the items that would have been delivered under subsections (iii)  and (v)  of Section 5.01(a)  if such Subsidiary had been a Subsidiary Guarantor on the Closing Date, in form and substance substantially consistent with such items delivered on the Closing Date or otherwise reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

 

(b)                                  The Borrower may request in writing that the Administrative Agent release, and upon receipt of such request the Administrative Agent shall release, a Subsidiary Guarantor from the Guaranty so long as: (i) such Subsidiary Guarantor is not otherwise required to be a party to the Guaranty under the immediately preceding subsection (a)  (after giving effect to clause (ii) hereof); (ii) such Subsidiary Guarantor no longer Guarantees (or which Guarantee is being substantially concurrently released) any other Indebtedness of the Parent, the Borrower or any Subsidiary of the Borrower owning directly or indirectly any Unencumbered Property, (iii) no Default or Event of Default shall then be in existence or would occur as a result of such release, including without limitation, a Default or Event of Default resulting from a violation of any of the covenants contained in Section 8.14 ; and (iv) the Administrative Agent shall have received such written request at least five (5) Business Days (or such shorter period as may be acceptable to the Administrative Agent) prior to the requested date of release.  Delivery by the Borrower to the Administrative Agent of any such request shall constitute a representation by the Parent and the Borrower that the conditions set forth in the preceding sentence are or will be satisfied as of the requested date of release.

 

21.
Taxes, Yield Protection and Illegality

 

a.                                       Taxes.

 

(a)                                  Payments Free of Taxes; Obligation to Withhold; Payments on Account of Taxes .

 

(i)                                      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 the Administrative Agent) require the deduction or withholding of any Tax from any such payment by the Administrative Agent or a Loan Party, then the Administrative Agent or such Loan Party shall be entitled to make such deduction or withholding, upon the basis of the information and documentation to be delivered pursuant to subsection (e)  below.

 

(ii)                                   If any Loan Party or the Administrative Agent shall be required by the Code to withhold or deduct any Taxes, including both United States Federal backup withholding and withholding taxes, from any payment, then (A) the

 

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Administrative Agent shall withhold or make such deductions as are determined by the Administrative Agent to be required based upon the information and documentation it has received pursuant to subsection (e)  below, (B) the Administrative Agent shall timely pay the full amount withheld or deducted to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with the Code, and (C) 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 any required withholding or the making of all required deductions (including deductions 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 withholding or deduction been made.

 

(iii)                                If any Loan Party or the Administrative Agent shall be required by any applicable Laws other than the Code to withhold or deduct any Taxes from any payment, then (A) such Loan Party or the Administrative Agent, as required by such Laws, shall withhold or make such deductions as are determined by it to be required based upon the information and documentation it has received pursuant to subsection (e)  below, (B) such Loan Party or the Administrative Agent, to the extent required by such Laws, shall timely pay the full amount withheld or deducted to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with such Laws, and (C) 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 any required withholding or the making of all required deductions (including deductions 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 withholding or deduction been made.

 

(b)                                  Payment of Other Taxes by the Borrower .  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 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 reasonable expenses arising therefrom or with respect thereto, whether or not such Indemnified Taxes were correctly or legally imposed or asserted by the relevant Governmental Authority.  A certificate as to the amount of such payment or liability delivered to the Borrower by a Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), or by the Administrative Agent on its own behalf or on behalf of a Lender, shall be conclusive absent manifest error.  Each of the Loan Parties shall, and does hereby, jointly and severally indemnify the Administrative Agent, and shall make payment in respect thereof within 10 days after demand therefor, for any amount which a Lender for any reason fails

 

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to pay indefeasibly to the Administrative Agent as required pursuant to Section 3.01(c)(ii)  below.

 

(ii)                                   Each Lender shall, and does hereby, severally indemnify, and shall make payment in respect thereof within 10 days after demand therefor, ( x ) the Administrative Agent against any Indemnified Taxes attributable to such Lender (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), ( y ) 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 ( z ) the Administrative Agent and the Loan Parties, as applicable, against any Excluded Taxes attributable to such Lender, 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 hereby authorizes the Administrative Agent to set off and apply any and all amounts at any time owing to such Lender, under this Agreement or any other Loan Document against any amount due to the Administrative Agent under this clause (ii) .

 

(d)                                  Evidence of Payments .  Upon request by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, as the case may be, after any payment of Taxes by the Borrower or by the Administrative Agent to a Governmental Authority as provided in this Section 3.01 , the Borrower shall deliver to the Administrative Agent or the Administrative Agent shall deliver to the Borrower, as the case may be, the original or a certified copy of a receipt issued by such Governmental Authority evidencing such payment, a copy of any return required by Laws to report such payment or other evidence of such payment reasonably satisfactory to the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, as the case may be.

 

(e)                                   Status of the 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 Borrower and the Administrative Agent, at the time or times reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, such properly completed and executed documentation reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent as will permit such payments to be made without withholding or at a reduced rate of withholding.  In addition, any Lender, if reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, shall deliver such other documentation prescribed by applicable law or reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent as will enable the Borrower or the Administrative Agent to determine whether or not such Lender is subject to backup withholding or information reporting requirements.  Notwithstanding

 

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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 the Borrower is a U.S. Person,

 

i)                                          any Lender that is a U.S. Person shall deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent on or prior to the date on which such Lender becomes a Lender under this Agreement (and from time to time thereafter upon the reasonable request of the Borrower or the Administrative Agent), executed originals of IRS Form W-9 certifying that such Lender is exempt from U.S. federal backup withholding tax;

 

ii)                                       any Foreign Lender shall, to the extent it is legally entitled to do so, deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent (in such number of copies as shall be requested by the recipient) on or prior to the date on which such Foreign Lender becomes a Lender under this Agreement (and from time to time thereafter upon the reasonable request of the Borrower or the Administrative Agent), whichever of the following is applicable:

 

(i)                                      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 originals of IRS Form W-8BEN or IRS Form W-8BEN-E 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 or IRS Form W-8BEN-E 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;

 

(j)                                     executed originals of IRS Form W-8ECI;

 

(k)                                  in the case of a Foreign Lender claiming the benefits of the exemption for portfolio interest under Section 881(c)  of the Code, (x) a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit H-1 to the effect that such Foreign Lender is not a “bank” within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(A)  of the Code, a “10 percent shareholder” of the Borrower within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(B)  of the Code, or a “controlled foreign corporation” described in Section 881(c)(3)(C)  of the Code (a

 

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U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate ”) and (y) executed originals of IRS Form W-8BEN or IRS Form W-8BEN-E; or

 

(l)                                      to the extent a Foreign Lender is not the beneficial owner, executed originals of IRS Form W-8IMY, accompanied by IRS Form W-8ECI, IRS Form W-8BEN, IRS Form W-8BEN-E, a U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit H-2 or Exhibit H-3 , IRS Form W-9, and/or other certification documents from each beneficial owner, as applicable; provided that if the Foreign Lender is a partnership and one or more direct or indirect partners of such Foreign Lender are claiming the portfolio interest exemption, such Foreign Lender may provide a U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit H-4 on behalf of each such direct and indirect partner;

 

iii)                                    any Foreign Lender shall, to the extent it is legally entitled to do so, deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent (in such number of copies as shall be requested by the recipient) on or prior to the date on which such Foreign Lender becomes a Lender under this Agreement (and from time to time thereafter upon the reasonable request of the Borrower or the Administrative Agent), executed originals 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 Borrower or the Administrative Agent to determine the withholding or deduction required to be made; and

 

iv)                                   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 Borrower and the Administrative Agent at the time or times prescribed by law and at such time or times reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent such documentation prescribed by applicable law (including as prescribed by Section 1471(b)(3)(C)(i)  of the Code) and such additional documentation reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent as may be necessary for the Borrower and the Administrative Agent to comply with their obligations under FATCA and to determine that such Lender has complied with such Lender’s obligations under FATCA or to determine the amount to deduct and withhold from such payment.  Solely for purposes of this clause (D), “FATCA” shall include any amendments made to FATCA after the date of this Agreement.

 

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(iii)                                Each Lender agrees that if any form or certification it previously delivered expires or becomes obsolete or inaccurate in any respect, it shall update such form or certification or promptly notify the Borrower and the Administrative Agent in writing of its legal inability to do so.  Each Lender shall promptly (A) notify the Borrower and the Administrative Agent of any change in circumstances which would modify or render invalid any claimed exemption or reduction, and (B) take such steps as shall not be materially disadvantageous to it, in the reasonable judgment of such Lender, and as may be reasonably necessary (including the re-designation of its Lending Office) to avoid any requirement of applicable Laws of any jurisdiction that the Borrower or the Administrative Agent make any withholding or deduction for taxes from amounts payable to such Lender.

 

(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 have any obligation to pay to any Lender, any refund of Taxes withheld or deducted from funds paid for the account of such Lender.  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 the Loan Party an amount equal to such refund (but only to the extent of indemnity payments made, or additional amounts paid, by a 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, and without interest (other than any interest paid by the relevant Governmental Authority with respect to such refund), provided that the Loan Party, upon the request of the Recipient, agrees to repay the amount paid over to the 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 the 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 indemnification payments or additional amounts giving rise to such refund 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)                                   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, the termination of the Commitments and the repayment, satisfaction and discharge of all other Obligations.

 

(h)                                  Certain FATCA Matters .  For purposes of determining withholding Taxes imposed under FATCA, from and after the effective date of the Agreement, the Borrower and the Administrative Agent shall treat (and the Lenders hereby authorize the Administrative Agent to treat) the Loans as not qualifying as a “grandfathered obligation” within the meaning of Treasury Regulation Section 1.1471-2(b)(2)(i) .

 

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b.                                       Illegality.  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 applicable Lending Office to make, maintain or fund Loans whose interest is determined by reference to LIBOR, or to determine or charge interest rates based upon LIBOR, 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 Borrower through the Administrative Agent, (i) any obligation of such Lender to make or continue LIBOR Loans or to convert Base Rate Committed Loans to LIBOR Loans shall be suspended, and (ii) 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 LIBOR 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 LIBOR component of the Base Rate, in each case until such Lender notifies the Administrative Agent and the Borrower that the circumstances giving rise to such determination no longer exist.  Upon receipt of such notice, (x) the Borrower shall, upon demand from such Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), prepay or, if applicable, convert all LIBOR 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 LIBOR component of the Base Rate), either on the last day of the Interest Period therefor, if such Lender may lawfully continue to maintain such LIBOR Loans to such day, or immediately, if such Lender may not lawfully continue to maintain such LIBOR Loans and (y) if such notice asserts the illegality of such Lender determining or charging interest rates based upon LIBOR, the Administrative Agent shall during the period of such suspension compute the Base Rate applicable to such Lender without reference to the LIBOR 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 LIBOR.  Upon any such prepayment or conversion, the Borrower shall also pay accrued interest on the amount so prepaid or converted.

 

c.                                        Changed Circumstances.

 

(a)                                  Circumstances Affecting LIBOR Rate Availability .  Unless and until a Replacement Rate is implemented in accordance with clause (b) below, in connection with any request for a LIBOR Loan or a conversion to or continuation thereof or otherwise, if for any reason (i) the Administrative Agent shall determine (which determination shall be conclusive and binding absent manifest error) that Dollar deposits are not being offered to banks in the London interbank Eurodollar market for the applicable amount and Interest Period of such Loan, (ii) the Administrative Agent shall determine (which determination shall be conclusive and binding absent manifest error) that reasonable and adequate means do not exist for ascertaining LIBOR for such Interest Period with respect to a proposed LIBOR Loan or (iii) the Required Lenders shall determine (which determination shall be conclusive and binding absent manifest error) that the LIBOR does not adequately and fairly reflect the cost to such Lenders of making or maintaining such Loans during such Interest Period, then the Administrative Agent shall promptly give notice thereof to the Borrower.  Thereafter, until the Administrative Agent notifies the Borrower that such circumstances no longer exist, the obligation of the Lenders to make LIBOR Loans and the right of the Borrower to convert any Loan to or

 

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continue any Loan as a LIBOR Loan shall be suspended, and the Borrower shall either (A) repay in full (or cause to be repaid in full) the then outstanding principal amount of each such LIBOR Loan together with accrued interest thereon (subject to Section 11.09) , on the last day of the then current Interest Period applicable to such LIBOR Loan; or (B) convert the then outstanding principal amount of each such LIBOR Loan to a Base Rate Loan as of the last day of such Interest Period.

 

(b)                                  Alternative Rate of Interest .  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Section 3.03(a)  above, if the Administrative Agent has made the determination (such determination to be conclusive absent manifest error) that (i) the circumstances described in Section 3.03(a)(i)  or (a)(ii)  have arisen and that such circumstances are unlikely to be temporary, (ii) any applicable interest rate specified herein is no longer a widely recognized benchmark rate for newly originated loans in the syndicated loan market in the applicable currency or (iii) the applicable supervisor or administrator (if any) of any applicable interest rate specified herein or any Governmental Authority having, or purporting to have, jurisdiction over the Administrative Agent has made a public statement identifying a specific date after which any applicable interest rate specified herein shall no longer be used for determining interest rates for loans in the syndicated loan market in the applicable currency, then the Administrative Agent may, to the extent practicable (in consultation with the Borrower and as determined by the Administrative Agent to be generally in accordance with similar situations in other transactions in which it is serving as administrative agent or otherwise consistent with market practice generally), establish a replacement interest rate (the “ Replacement Rate ”), in which case, the Replacement Rate shall, subject to the next two sentences, replace such applicable interest rate for all purposes under the Loan Documents unless and until (A) an event described in Section 3.03(a)(i) , (a)(ii) , (b)(i) , (b)(ii)  or (c)(iii)  occurs with respect to the Replacement Rate or (B) the Required Lenders (directly, or through the Administrative Agent) notify the Borrower that the Replacement Rate does not adequately and fairly reflect the cost to the Lenders of funding the Loans bearing interest at the Replacement Rate; provided that if such determined rate shall be less than zero, such rate shall be deemed to be zero for each Loan bearing interest at the Replacement Rate that has not been identified by the Borrower in accordance with the terms of this Agreement as being subject to a Specified Swap Contract that provides a hedge against interest rate risk.  In connection with the establishment and application of the Replacement Rate, this Agreement and the other Loan Documents shall be amended solely with the consent of the Administrative Agent and the Borrower, as may be necessary or appropriate, in the opinion of the Administrative Agent, to effect the provisions of this Section 3.03(b) .  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement or the other Loan Documents (including, without limitation, Section 11.01 ), such amendment shall become effective without any further action or consent of any other party to this Agreement so long as the Administrative Agent shall not have received, within five (5) Business Days of the delivery of such amendment to the Lenders, written notices from such Lenders that in the aggregate constitute Required Lenders, with each such notice stating that such Lender objects to such amendment.  To the extent the Replacement Rate is approved by the Administrative Agent in connection with this clause (b), the Replacement Rate shall be applied in a manner consistent with market practice; provided that, in each case, to the extent such market practice is not administratively feasible for the Administrative Agent,

 

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such Replacement Rate shall be applied as otherwise reasonably determined by the Administrative Agent (it being understood that any such modification by the Administrative Agent shall not require the consent of, or consultation with, any of the Lenders).

 

d.             Increased Costs; Reserves on LIBOR Loans.

 

(a)           Increased Costs Generally .  If any Change in Law shall:

 

(i)            impose, modify or deem applicable any reserve, special deposit, liquidity, compulsory loan, insurance charge or similar assessment or requirement against assets of, deposits with or for the account of, or credit extended or participated in by, the Administrative Agent or any Lender (except any reserve requirement contemplated by Section 3.04(e) );

 

(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 the Administrative Agent or any Lender or the London interbank market any other condition, cost or expense affecting this Agreement or LIBOR Loans made by such Lender;

 

and the result of any of the foregoing shall be to increase the cost to the Administrative Agent or such Lender, as applicable, of making, converting, continuing or maintaining any Loan (or of maintaining its obligation to make any such Loan), then the Borrower will pay to the Administrative Agent or such Lender, as applicable, such additional amount or amounts as will compensate the Administrative Agent or such Lender, as applicable, for such additional costs incurred or reduction suffered.

 

(b)           Capital Requirements .  If any Lender  determines  that  any  Change  in  Law affecting such Lender or any Lending Office of such Lender or such Lender’s holding company, if any, regarding capital or liquidity ratios or requirements has or  would have  the effect of reducing the rate of return on such Lender’s capital or on the capital of such Lender’s holding company, if any, as a consequence of this Agreement, the Commitments  of such Lender or the Loans made by such Lender, to a level below that which such Lender or such Lender’s holding company could have achieved but for such Change in Law (taking into consideration such Lender’s policies and the policies of such Lender’s holding company with respect to capital adequacy and liquidity), then from time to time the Borrower will pay  to such Lender such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender or such Lender’s holding company for any such reduction suffered.

 

(c)           Certificates for Reimbursement .  A certificate of a Lender setting forth the amount or amounts necessary to compensate such Lender or its holding company, as the case may be, as specified in subsection (a)  or (b)  of this Section and delivered to the Borrower shall be conclusive absent manifest error.  The Borrower shall pay such Lender

 

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the amount shown as due on any such certificate within fifteen (15) days after receipt thereof.

 

(d)           Delay in Requests .  Failure or delay on the part of any Lender to demand compensation pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this Section shall not constitute a waiver of such Lender’s right to demand such compensation, provided that the Borrower shall not be required to compensate a Lender 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 notifies the Borrower of the Change in Law giving rise to such increased costs or reductions and of such Lender’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).

 

(e)           Reserves on LIBOR Loans .  The Borrower 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 LIBOR 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), which shall be due and payable on each date on which interest is payable on such Loan, provided that   the Borrower shall have received at least ten (10) days’ prior notice (with a copy to the Administrative Agent) of such additional interest 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.             Compensation for Losses .  Upon demand of any Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent) from time to time, the Borrower 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 the Borrower (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 the Borrower; or

 

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

 

excluding any loss of anticipated profits and 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 Borrower shall also pay any customary administrative fees charged by such Lender in connection with the foregoing.

 

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For purposes of calculating amounts payable by the Borrower to the Lenders under this Section 3.05 , each Lender shall be deemed to have funded each LIBOR Loan made by it at LIBOR for such Loan by a matching deposit or other borrowing in the London interbank eurodollar market for a comparable amount and for a comparable period, whether or not such LIBOR Loan was in fact so funded.

 

f.             Mitigation Obligations; Replacement of the Lenders.

 

(a)           Designation of a Different Lending Office .  If any Lender requests compensation under Section 3.04 , or the Borrower is required to pay any Indemnified Taxes or additional amount to any Lender, or any Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender pursuant to Section 3.01 , or if any Lender gives a notice pursuant to Section 3.02 , then at the request of the Borrower such Lender 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 reasonable judgment of such Lender, 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 to any material unreimbursed cost or expense and would not otherwise be materially disadvantageous to such Lender.  The Borrower hereby agrees to pay all reasonable costs and expenses incurred by any Lender in connection with any such designation or assignment.

 

(b)           Replacement of the Lenders .  If any Lender requests compensation under Section 3.04 , or if the Borrower is required to pay any Indemnified Taxes or additional amounts to any Lender or any Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender pursuant to Section 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 Borrower may replace such Lender in accordance with Section 11.13 .

 

g.             Survival .  All of the Borrower’s obligations under this Article III shall survive termination of the Aggregate Commitments, repayment of all other Obligations hereunder, and resignation of the Administrative Agent.

 

22.
Unencumbered Properties

 

a.             Initial Unencumbered Properties .  As of the Closing Date, the Initial Unencumbered Properties shall consist of the Properties set forth on Schedule 4.01 .

 

b.             Reserved .

 

c.             Notices of Qualification as an Unencumbered Property .  The Borrower shall provide the Administrative Agent with a written notice of an Acceptable Property to be deemed an Unencumbered Property.

 

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d.             Eligibility .  In order for an Acceptable Property to be eligible for inclusion as an Unencumbered Property, such Acceptable Property shall satisfy the following requirements unless otherwise approved by the Required Lenders:

 

(a)           no Material Title Defect with respect to such Acceptable Property shall exist;

 

(b)           such Acceptable Property shall have reasonable access to public utilities; and

 

(c)           such Acceptable Property shall not have any material defects.

 

e.             Reserved .

 

f.             Guaranty . An Acceptable Property shall not  be  deemed  an  Unencumbered Property until the applicable Subsidiary Guarantor shall have executed and delivered (or caused to be executed and delivered) to the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Lenders and any Specified Derivatives Providers, the Subsidiary Guaranty.

 

g.             Admission of New Unencumbered Properties .  If, after the date of this Agreement, the Borrower has submitted to the Administrative Agent the notice contemplated by Section 4.03 , then such Acceptable Property shall be deemed to be an Unencumbered Property.

 

h.             Reserved.

 

i.              Reserved.

 

j.              Exclusion Events .  Each of the following events shall be an “ Exclusion Event ” with respect to an Unencumbered Property:

 

(a)           such Unencumbered Property suffers a Material Environmental Event or a Material Title Defect after the date of this Agreement which the Administrative Agent determines, acting reasonably and in good faith, materially impairs the Unencumbered Asset Value or marketability of such Unencumbered Property;

 

(b)           the Administrative Agent determines that such Unencumbered Property has suffered a Material Property Event after the date such Property was deemed an Unencumbered Property (or in the case of an uninsured Casualty, in respect of such Unencumbered Property, is reasonably likely to become a Material Property Event) which the Administrative Agent determines, acting reasonably and in good faith, materially impairs the Unencumbered Asset Value or marketability of such Unencumbered Property;

 

(c)           a Lien for the performance of work or the supply of materials which is established against such Unencumbered Property, or any stop notice served on the owner of such Unencumbered Property, the Administrative Agent or a Lender, remains unsatisfied or unbonded for a period of thirty (30) days after the date of filing or service

 

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and such Lien has priority over any Loan previously or thereafter made under this Agreement;

 

(d)           (i) any default by any Subsidiary Guarantor, as tenant under any applicable Acceptable Ground Lease, in the observance or performance of any material term, covenant, or condition of any applicable Acceptable Ground Lease on the part of such Subsidiary Guarantor to be observed or performed and said default is not cured following the expiration of any applicable grace and notice periods therein provided, or (ii)  the leasehold estate created by any applicable Acceptable Ground Lease shall be surrendered or (iii)  any applicable Acceptable Ground Lease shall cease to be in full force and effect or (iv) any applicable Acceptable Ground Lease shall be terminated or canceled for any reason or under any circumstances whatsoever, or any of the material terms, covenants or conditions of any applicable Acceptable Ground Lease shall be modified, changed, supplemented, altered, or amended in any manner not otherwise permitted hereunder without the consent of the Administrative Agent; and

 

(e)           the Borrower shall cease to own, directly or indirectly, one hundred percent (100%) of the Equity Interests of any Subsidiary Guarantor that owns an Unencumbered Property free and clear of any Liens (other than Liens in favor of the Administrative Agent).

 

After the occurrence of any Exclusion Event, the Administrative Agent, at the direction of the Required Lenders in their sole discretion, shall have the right at any time and from time to time to notify the Borrower (the “ Exclusion Notice ”) that, effective ten (10) Business Days after the giving of such notice and for so long as such Exclusion Event exists, such Property shall no longer be considered an Unencumbered Property.

 

If the Administrative Agent delivers an Exclusion Notice and such Exclusion Event no longer exists, then the Borrower may give the Administrative Agent written notice thereof (together with reasonably detailed evidence of the cure of such condition) and such Unencumbered Property shall be considered an Unencumbered Property as long as such Unencumbered Property meets all the requirements to be deemed an Unencumbered Property set forth in this Article IV.  Any Property that is excluded from the Unencumbered Properties pursuant to this Section 4.10 may subsequently be reinstated as an Unencumbered Property, even if an Exclusion Event exists, upon such terms and conditions as the Required Lenders may approve.

 

Upon the occurrence of an Default under Section 8.11(a) , the Borrower shall have the right to elect, upon written notice to the Administrative Agent, that the Lenders designate one or more Unencumbered Properties to be excluded as Unencumbered Properties in order to effect compliance with Section 8.11(a) , with the Borrower thereafter having the right to elect to have any such Unencumbered Property thereafter deemed an Unencumbered Property, provided no Exclusion Event shall exist at such time with respect to such Unencumbered Property.

 

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23.
Conditions Precedent to Credit Extensions

 

a.             Conditions of Initial Credit Extension .  The obligation of each Lender to make its initial Credit Extension hereunder is subject to satisfaction of the following conditions precedent:

 

(a)           The Administrative Agent’s receipt of the following, each of which shall be originals or telecopies (followed promptly by originals) unless otherwise specified, each properly executed by a Responsible Officer of the signing Loan Party, each dated the Closing Date (or, in the case of certificates of governmental officials, a recent date before the Closing Date) and each in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and each of the Lenders:

 

(i)            executed counterparts of this Agreement and the Guaranties sufficient in number for distribution to the Administrative Agent, each Lender, and the Borrower for each Initial Unencumbered Property;

 

(ii)           a Note executed by the Borrower in favor of each Lender requesting a Note;

 

(iii)          copies of the Organization Documents of each Loan Party certified to be true and complete as of a recent date by the appropriate Governmental Authority of the state or other jurisdiction of its incorporation or organization, where applicable, and certified by a Responsible Officer of such Loan Party to be true and correct as of the Closing Date;

 

(iv)          such certificates of resolutions or other action, incumbency certificates and/or other certificates of Responsible Officers of each Loan Party as the Administrative Agent may require evidencing the identity, authority and capacity of each Responsible Officer thereof authorized to act as a Responsible Officer in connection with this Agreement and the other Loan Documents to which such Loan Party is a party;

 

(v)           such documents and certifications as the Administrative Agent may reasonably require to evidence that each Loan Party is duly organized or formed, and that each Loan Party is validly existing, in good standing and qualified to engage in business in each jurisdiction where its ownership, lease or operation of properties or the conduct of its business requires such qualification, except to the extent that failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;

 

(vi)          a favorable opinion of DLA Piper LLP (US), counsel to the Loan Parties, addressed to the Administrative Agent and each Lender, as to the matters set forth in Exhibit G and such other matters concerning the Loan Parties and the Loan Documents as the Required Lenders may reasonably request;

 

(vii)         a certificate of a Responsible Officer of each Loan Party either (A) attaching copies of all consents, licenses and approvals required in connection

 

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with the execution, delivery and performance by such Loan Party and the validity against such Loan Party of the Loan Documents to which it is a party, and such consents, licenses and approvals shall be in full force and effect, or (B) stating that no such consents, licenses or approvals are so required;

 

(viii)        a certificate signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower certifying (A) that the conditions specified in Sections 5.02(a)  and (b)  have been satisfied, and (B) that there has been no event or circumstance since the date of the Audited Financial Statements that has had or could be reasonably expected to have, either individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect;

 

(ix)          a duly completed Compliance Certificate as of the Closing Date, signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower;

 

(x)           evidence that all insurance required to be maintained pursuant to the Loan Documents has been obtained and is in effect;

 

(xi)          a Disbursement Instruction Agreement effective as of the Agreement Date; and

 

(xii)         such other assurances, certificates, documents, consents or opinions as the Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders reasonably may require.

 

(b)           Any fees required to be paid on or before the Closing Date shall have been paid.

 

(c)           Unless waived by the Administrative Agent, the Borrower shall have paid all fees, charges and disbursements of counsel to the Administrative Agent (directly to such counsel if requested by the Administrative Agent) to the extent invoiced prior to the Closing Date, plus such additional amounts of such fees, charges and disbursements as shall constitute its reasonable estimate of such fees, charges and disbursements incurred or to be incurred by it through the closing proceedings ( provided that such estimate shall not thereafter preclude a final settling of accounts between the Borrower and the Administrative Agent).

 

Without limiting the generality of the provisions of the last paragraph of Section 10.03 , for purposes of determining compliance with the conditions specified in this Section 5.01 , 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.

 

b.             Conditions to all Credit Extensions .  The obligation of each Lender to honor any Request for Credit Extension (other than a Committed Loan Notice requesting only a conversion of Committed Loans to the other Type, or a continuation of LIBOR Loans) is subject to the following conditions precedent:

 

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(a)           The representations and warranties of the Borrower and each other Loan Party contained in Article VI or any other Loan Document, or which are contained in any document furnished at any time under or in connection herewith or therewith, shall be true and correct in all material respects (except in the case of a representation or warranty qualified by materiality or Material Adverse Effect, in which case such representation or warranty shall be true and correct in all respects) on and as of the date of such Credit Extension, except to the extent that such representations and warranties specifically refer to an earlier date, in which case they shall be true and correct in all material respects (except in the case of a representation or warranty qualified by materiality or Material Adverse Effect, in which case such representation or warranty shall be true and correct in all respects) as of such earlier date, and except that for purposes of this Section   5.02 , the representations and warranties contained in Section 6.05(b)  shall be deemed to refer to the most-recent statements furnished pursuant to Section 7.01(b) .

 

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

 

(c)           The Administrative Agent shall have received a Request for Credit Extension in accordance with the requirements hereof.

 

(d)           After giving effect to such proposed Credit Extension, the Borrower shall be in compliance with Section 2.01(c) .

 

Each Request for Credit Extension (other than a Committed Loan Notice requesting only a conversion of Committed Loans to the other Type or a continuation of LIBOR Loans) submitted by the Borrower shall be deemed to be a representation and warranty that the conditions specified in Sections   5.02(a) , (b) , and (d)  have been satisfied on and as of the date of the applicable Credit Extension.

 

24.
Representations and Warranties

 

Each of the Parent and the Borrower represents and warrants to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders that:

 

a.             Existence, Qualification and Power; Compliance with Laws .  The Parent, the Borrower and each Subsidiary Guarantor (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) in the case of the Loan Parties, 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 (b)(i)  or (c)  to the extent that failure to do so would not have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

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b.             Authorization; No Contravention .  The execution, delivery and performance by each Loan Party of each Loan Document to which such Person is 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 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.

 

c.             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 the execution, delivery or performance by, or enforcement against, any Loan Party of this Agreement or any other Loan Document except for those that have been obtained, taken or made, as the case may be, and those specified herein.

 

d.             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, except as enforcement may be limited by Debtor Relief Laws or general equitable principles relating to or limiting creditors’ rights generally.

 

e.             Financial Statements; No Material Adverse Effect.

 

(a)           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 the financial condition of the Parent as of the date thereof and their results of operations for each period covered thereby in accordance with GAAP consistently applied throughout the each period covered thereby, except as otherwise expressly noted therein; and (iii) show all material indebtedness and other liabilities, direct or contingent, of the Parent as of the date thereof, including liabilities for taxes, material commitments and Indebtedness required by GAAP to be reflected therein.

 

(b)           The most recent unaudited consolidated balance sheet of the Parent delivered pursuant to Section 7.01(b) , 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 the financial condition of the Parent as of the date thereof and its results of operations 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)           From and after the date of the Audited Financial Statements, and thereafter, from and after the date of the most recent financial statements delivered

 

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pursuant to Section 7.01(a)  or 7.01(b), there has been no event or circumstance, either individually or in the aggregate, that has had or would have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

f.             Litigation .  There are no actions, suits, proceedings, claims or disputes pending or, to the knowledge of any Company, threatened or contemplated, at law, in equity, in arbitration or before any Governmental Authority, by or against any Company 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) except as specifically disclosed in Schedule 6.06 , either individually or in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, and there has been no adverse change in the status, or financial effect on any Company, of the matters described on Schedule  6.06 , which change could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

g.             No Default .  No Company is in default under or with respect 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.

 

h.             Ownership of Property; Liens; Equity Interests .  Each Subsidiary Guarantor has good record and marketable title in fee simple to, or valid leasehold interests in, all Unencumbered Properties 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.  Each applicable Subsidiary Guarantor has good record and marketable fee simple title (or, in the case of Acceptable Ground Leases, a valid leasehold) to the Unencumbered Property owned by such Subsidiary Guarantor, subject only to Liens permitted by Section 8.01 .  All of the outstanding Equity Interests in each Subsidiary Guarantor have been validly issued, are fully paid and non-assessable and are owned by the applicable holders free and clear of all Liens (other than Liens permitted by Section 8.01 ).

 

i.              Environmental Compliance.

 

(a)           The Companies conduct in the ordinary course of business a review of 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 Parent and the Borrower have reasonably concluded that, except as specifically disclosed in Schedule 6.09 , such Environmental Laws and claims could not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(b)           After due inquiry in accordance with good commercial or customary practices to determine whether Contamination is present on any Property, without regard to whether the Administrative Agent or any Lender has or hereafter obtains any knowledge or report of the environmental condition of such Property, except as may be indicated in environmental reports delivered to the Administrative Agent and except to the extent the same could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect: (i) such Property has not been used (A) for landfilling, dumping, or other waste or Hazardous Material disposal activities or operations, or (B) for generation, storage, use,

 

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sale, treatment, processing, or recycling of any Hazardous Material, or for any other use that has resulted in Contamination, and in each case, to each Company’s knowledge, no such use on any adjacent property occurred at any time prior to the date hereof; (ii) there is no Hazardous Material, storage tank (or similar vessel) whether underground or otherwise, sump or well currently on any Property; (iii) no Company has received any notice of, or has knowledge of, any Environmental Claim or any completed, pending, proposed or threatened investigation or inquiry concerning the presence or release of any Hazardous Material on any Property or any adjacent property or concerning whether any condition, use or activity on any Property or any adjacent property is in violation of any Environmental Requirement; (iv) the present conditions, uses, and activities on each Property do not violate any Environmental Requirement and the use of any Property which any Company (and each tenant and subtenant) makes and intends to make of any Property complies and will comply with all applicable Environmental Requirements; (v) no Property appears on the National Priorities List, any federal or state “superfund” or “superlien” list, or any other list or database of properties maintained by any local, state, or federal agency or department showing properties which are known to contain or which are suspected of containing a Hazardous Material; (vi) no Company has ever applied for and been denied environmental impairment liability insurance coverage relating to any Property; (vii) no Company has, nor, to any Company’s knowledge, have any tenants or subtenants, obtained any permit or authorization to construct, occupy, operate, use, or conduct any activity on any Property by reason of any Environmental Requirement; and (viii) to any Company’s knowledge, there are no underground or aboveground storage tanks on such Property.

 

j.              Insurance .  The properties of the Loan Parties are insured with financially sound and reputable insurance companies not Affiliates of any Loan Party, 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 Loan Parties operate.

 

k.             Taxes .  The Companies have filed all material Federal, state and other tax returns and reports required to be filed, and have paid all material Federal, state and other 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 or which would not result in a Material Adverse Effect.  There is no proposed tax assessment against any Company that would, if made, have a Material Adverse Effect. Neither any Loan Party nor any Subsidiary thereof is party to any tax sharing agreement.

 

l.              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.  Each Pension Plan that is intended to be a qualified plan under Section 401(a)  of the Code has received a favorable determination letter from the Internal Revenue Service 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 Internal Revenue Service to be exempt from federal income tax under

 

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Section 501(a)  of the Code, or an application for such a letter is currently being processed by the Internal Revenue Service.  To the best knowledge of the Parent and the Borrower, nothing has occurred that would prevent or cause the loss of such tax-qualified status.  The Parent and each ERISA Affiliate have made all required contributions to each Plan subject to Section 412 of the Code, and no application for a funding waiver or an extension of any amortization period pursuant to Section 412 of the Code has been made with respect to any Plan.

 

(b)           There are no pending or, to the best knowledge of the Parent and the Borrower, threatened claims, actions or  lawsuits, or action by any Governmental Authority, with respect to any Plan that would have a Material Adverse Effect.  There has been no prohibited transaction or violation of the fiduciary responsibility rules with respect to any Plan that has resulted or would  have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(c)           (i) No ERISA Event has occurred, and neither the Parent nor any ERISA Affiliate is aware of any fact, event or circumstance that would constitute or result in an ERISA Event with respect to any Pension Plan; (ii) the Parent and each ERISA Affiliate has met all applicable requirements under the Pension Funding Rules in respect of each Pension Plan, and no waiver of the minimum funding standards under the Pension Funding Rules has been applied for or obtained; (iii) as of the most-recent valuation date for any Pension Plan, the funding target attainment percentage (as defined in Section 430(d)(2)  of the Code) is 60% or higher and neither the Parent nor any ERISA Affiliate knows of any facts or circumstances that would cause the funding target attainment percentage for any such plan to drop below 60% as of the most-recent valuation date; (iv) neither the Parent nor any ERISA Affiliate has incurred any liability to the PBGC other than for the payment of premiums, and there are no premium payments which have become due that are unpaid; (v) neither the Parent nor any ERISA Affiliate has engaged in a transaction that could be subject to Section 4069 or Section 4212(c)  of ERISA; and (vi) no Pension Plan has been terminated by the plan administrator thereof nor by the PBGC, and no event or circumstance has occurred or exists that would  cause the PBGC to institute proceedings under Title IV of ERISA to terminate any Pension Plan, in each case, that would result in a liability, individually, or in the aggregate, in excess of the Threshold Amount.

 

(d)           As of the Third Amendment Effective Date the Borrower is not nor will be using “plan assets” (within the meaning of 29 CFR § 2510.3-101, as modified by Section 3(42) of ERISA) of one or more Benefit Plans in connection with the Loans or the Commitments.

 

m.           Subsidiaries; Equity Interests .  As of the Closing Date, the Parent and the Borrower have no Subsidiaries other than those specifically disclosed in Part (a) of Schedule 6.13 , and all of the outstanding Equity Interests in such Subsidiaries have been validly issued, are fully paid and non-assessable and are owned by a Company in the amounts specified on Part (a) of Schedule   6.13 free and clear of all Liens.  As of the Closing Date, neither the Parent nor the Borrower has any direct or indirect Equity Interests in any other Person other than those specifically disclosed in Part (b) of Schedule   6.13 .  All of the outstanding Equity Interests in each Subsidiary Guarantor have been validly issued, are fully paid and non-assessable and are

 

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owned by the applicable holders in the amounts specified on Part (c) of Schedule   6.13 free and clear of all Liens.

 

n.             Margin Regulations; Investment Company Act.

 

(a)           Neither the Parent nor the Borrower is 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.

 

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

 

o.             Disclosure .

 

(a)           The Parent and the Borrower have disclosed to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders all agreements, instruments and corporate or other restrictions to which any Company is subject, and all other matters known to them, that, individually or in the aggregate, would have a Material Adverse Effect.  The reports, financial statements, certificates or other information furnished (whether in writing or orally) by or on behalf of any Company 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), taken as a whole, do not contain any material misstatement of fact or fail to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided that (a) with respect to projected financial information, the Parent and the Borrower represent only that such information was prepared in good faith based upon assumptions believed to be reasonable at the time made, and (b) with respect to any lease abstracts provided by the Borrower, to the best of the Borrower’s knowledge, same will not contain any material misstatement of fact or fail to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

 

(b)           As of the Third Amendment Effective Date, the information included in the Beneficial Ownership Certification is true and correct in all respects.

 

p.             Compliance with Laws .  Each Company is in compliance in all material respects 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, would have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

q.             Taxpayer Identification Number .  As of the date hereof, each Loan Party’s true and correct U.S. taxpayer identification number is set forth on Schedule 11.02 .

 

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r.              Intellectual Property; Licenses, Etc.   Each Loan Party owns, or possesses the right to use, all of the trademarks, service marks, trade names, copyrights, patents, patent rights, franchises, licenses and other intellectual property rights (collectively, “ IP Rights ”) that are reasonably necessary for the operation of their respective businesses, without conflict with the rights of any other Person except, in each case, where the failure to do so would have a Material Adverse Effect.  To the best knowledge of each Loan Party, 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 infringes upon any rights held by any other Person except where such infringement would not have a Material Adverse Effect.  Except as specifically disclosed in Schedule 6.18 , no claim or litigation regarding any of the foregoing is pending or, to the best knowledge of each Loan Party, threatened, which, either individually or in the aggregate, would have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

s.             Reserved .

 

t.              Solvency .  No Loan Party (a) has entered into the transaction or executed this Agreement or any other Loan Document with the actual intent to hinder, delay or defraud any creditor and (b) has not received reasonably equivalent value in exchange for its obligations under the Loan Documents.  After giving effect to any Loan, the fair saleable value of the Loan Parties’ assets, taken as a whole, exceeds and will, immediately following the making of any such Loan, exceed the Loan Parties’ total liabilities, including subordinated, unliquidated, disputed and contingent liabilities.  The Loan Parties’ assets, taken as a whole, do not constitute unreasonably small capital to carry out their business as conducted or as proposed to be conducted, nor will their assets constitute unreasonably small capital immediately following the making of any Loan.  The Loan Parties do not intend to incur debt and liabilities (including contingent liabilities and other commitments) beyond their ability to pay such debt and liabilities as they mature (taking into account the timing and amounts of cash to be received by the Loan Parties and the amounts to be payable on or in respect of obligations of the Loan Parties).  No petition under any Debtor Relief Laws has been filed against any Loan Party in the last seven (7) years, and neither the Borrower nor any other Loan Party in the last seven (7) years has ever made an assignment for the benefit of creditors or taken advantage of any insolvency act for the benefit of debtors.  No Loan Party is contemplating either the filing of a petition by it under any Debtor Relief Laws or the liquidation of all or a major portion of its assets or property (except for dispositions permitted hereunder), and no Loan Party has knowledge of any Person contemplating the filing of any such petition against it or any other Loan Party.

 

u.             REIT Status of the Parent .  The Parent qualified as a REIT commencing with its taxable year ending December 31, 2014 and will remain qualified in each taxable year thereafter.

 

v.             Labor Matters .  There is (a) no significant unfair labor practice complaint pending against any Company or, to the best of each Company’s knowledge, threatened against any Company, before the National Labor Relations Board, and no significant grievance or significant arbitration proceeding arising out of or under any collective bargaining agreement is pending on the date hereof against any Company or, to best of any Company’s knowledge, threatened against any Company which, in either case, would result in a Material Adverse Effect, and (b) no significant strike, labor dispute, slowdown or stoppage is pending against any Company or, to

 

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the best of any Company’s knowledge, threatened against any Company which would result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

w.            Ground Lease Representation.

 

(a)           The applicable Subsidiary Guarantor has delivered to the Administrative Agent true and correct copies of each Acceptable Ground Lease to the extent requested by the Administrative Agent.

 

(b)           Each Acceptable Ground Lease is in full force and effect.

 

x.             Unencumbered Properties .  To the Borrower’s knowledge and except where the failure of any of the following to be true and correct would not have a Material Adverse Effect:

 

(a)           Each Unencumbered Property complies with all Laws, including all subdivision and platting requirements, without reliance on any adjoining or neighboring property.  No Loan Party has received any notice or claim from any Person that an Unencumbered Property, or any use, activity, operation, or maintenance thereof or thereon, is not in compliance with any Law, and has no knowledge of any such noncompliance except as disclosed in writing to the Administrative Agent;

 

(b)           The Loan Parties have not directly or indirectly conveyed, assigned, or otherwise disposed of, or transferred (or agreed to do so) any development rights, air rights, or other similar rights, privileges, or attributes with respect to an Unencumbered Property, including those arising under any zoning or property use ordinance or other Laws;

 

(c)           All utility services necessary for the use of each Unencumbered Property and the operation thereof for their intended purpose are available at each Unencumbered Property;

 

(d)           The current use of each Unencumbered Property complies in all material respects with all applicable zoning ordinances, regulations, and restrictive covenants affecting such Unencumbered Property, all use restrictions of any Governmental Authority having jurisdiction have been satisfied; and

 

(e)           No Unencumbered Property is the subject of any pending or, to any Loan Party’s knowledge, threatened Condemnation or material adverse zoning proceeding for which the Administrative Agent has not been notified in accordance with Section 7.03(f) .

 

y.             OFAC .   No Loan Party, nor, to the knowledge of any Loan Party, any Related Party, (i) is currently the subject of any Sanctions, (ii) is located, organized or residing in any Designated Jurisdiction, or (iii) is or has been (within the previous five (5) years) engaged in any transaction with any Person who is now or was then the subject of Sanctions or who is located, organized or residing in any Designated Jurisdiction.  No Loan, nor the proceeds from any Loan, has been used, directly or indirectly, to lend, contribute, provide or has otherwise made available to fund any activity or business in any Designated Jurisdiction or to fund any activity or business of any Person located, organized or residing in any Designated Jurisdiction or who is the subject

 

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of any Sanctions, or in any other manner that will result in any violation by any Person (including any Lender, the Lead Arrangers or the Administrative Agent) of Sanctions.  Each Loan Party, their respective officers and, to the knowledge of the Parent and the Borrower, its respective directors, employees and agents and any Related Party, are in compliance with Anti-Corruption Laws and applicable Sanctions in all material respects. No Credit Extension, use of the proceeds of any Credit Extension, or other transactions contemplated hereby will violate Anti-Corruption Laws or applicable Sanctions.  Neither the making of the Credit Extensions hereunder nor the use of the proceeds thereof will violate the Patriot Act, the Trading with the Enemy Act, as amended, or any of the foreign assets control regulations of the United States Treasury Department (31 C.F.R., Subtitle B, Chapter V, as amended) or any enabling legislation or executive order relating thereto or successor statute thereto. Each Loan Party is in compliance in all material respects with the Patriot Act.

 

z.             EEA Financial Institutions. No Loan Party is an EEA Financial Institution.

 

25.
Affirmative Covenants

 

So long as any Lender shall have any Commitment hereunder, any Loan or other Obligation hereunder (excluding contingent indemnification obligations to the extent no unsatisfied claim giving rise thereto has been asserted) shall remain unpaid or unsatisfied:

 

a.             Financial Statements .  Each of the Parent and the Borrower shall deliver to the Administrative Agent and each Lender, in form and detail reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the Required Lenders:

 

(a)           as soon as available, but in any event within one hundred five (105) days after the end of each fiscal year of the Parent (or, if earlier, fifteen (15) days after the date required to be filed with the SEC without giving effect to any extension permitted by the SEC) (commencing with the fiscal year ending December 31, 2015, a consolidated balance sheet of the Parent 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, all in reasonable detail and prepared in accordance with GAAP, such consolidated statements to be audited and accompanied by a report and opinion of an independent certified public accountant of nationally recognized standing reasonably acceptable to the Required Lenders, 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; and

 

(b)           as soon as available, but in any event within sixty (60) days after the end of each of the first three (3) fiscal quarters of each fiscal year of the Parent (or, if earlier, five (5) days after the date required to be filed with the SEC) (commencing with the fiscal quarter ending September 30, 2015), a consolidated balance sheet of the Parent, the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as at the end of such fiscal quarter, the related consolidated statements of income or operations for such fiscal quarter and for the portion of the

 

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Parent’s fiscal year then ended, and the related consolidated statements of changes in shareholders’ equity, and cash flows for the portion of the Parent’s fiscal year then ended, in each case setting forth in comparative form, as applicable, the figures for the corresponding fiscal quarter of the previous fiscal year and the corresponding portion of the previous fiscal year, all in reasonable detail, such consolidated statements to be certified by the chief executive officer, chief financial officer, treasurer or controller of the Parent as fairly presenting the financial condition, results of operations, shareholders’ equity and cash flows of the Parent in accordance with GAAP, subject only to normal year-end audit adjustments and the absence of footnotes

 

As to any information contained in materials furnished pursuant to Section 7.02 , the Parent and the Borrower shall not be separately required to furnish such information under clause (a)  or (b)  above, but the foregoing shall not be in derogation of the obligation of the Parent and the Borrower to furnish the information and materials described in clauses (a)  and (b)  above at the times specified therein.

 

b.             Certificates; Other Information.  Each of the Parent and the Borrower shall deliver to the Administrative Agent and each Lender, in form and detail reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the Required Lenders:

 

(a)           concurrently with the delivery of the financial statements referred to in Sections 7.01(a) and (b), a duly completed Compliance Certificate signed by the chief executive officer, chief financial officer, chief accounting officer, treasurer or controller of the Borrower (which delivery may, unless the Administrative Agent or a Lender requests executed originals, be by electronic communication including fax or email and shall be deemed to be an original authentic counterpart thereof for all purposes);

 

(b)           promptly after any request by the Administrative Agent, copies of any detailed audit opinions or review reports submitted to the board of directors (or the audit committee of the board of directors) of the Parent by independent accountants in connection with the accounts or books of the Parent;

 

(c)           promptly after the same are available, copies of each annual report, proxy or financial statement or other report or communication sent to the stockholders of the Parent, and copies of all annual, regular, periodic and special reports and registration statements which the Borrower may file or be required to file with the SEC under Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and not otherwise required to be delivered to the Administrative Agent pursuant hereto;

 

(d)           promptly after the furnishing thereof, copies of any statement or report furnished to any holder of publicly-held debt securities of the Parent or the Borrower 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 7.01 or any other clause of this Section 7.02;

 

(e)           promptly, and in any event within five (5) Business Days after receipt thereof by the Parent or the Borrower, copies of each notice or other correspondence

 

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received from the SEC (or comparable agency in any applicable non-U.S. jurisdiction) concerning any material investigation or other material inquiry by such agency regarding financial or other operational results of any Company unless restricted from doing so by such agency; and

 

(f)            promptly, such additional information regarding the business, financial or corporate affairs of the Parent or the Borrower or any Unencumbered Property, 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 7.01(a) or (b) or Section 7.02(c) (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 (i) on which the Parent or the Borrower (A) files any such document with the Securities and Exchange Commission’s EDGAR system (or any successor thereto) in a manner accessible to the public at large or (B) posts such documents, or provides a link thereto on the Parent and the Borrower’s website on the Internet at the website address listed on Schedule 11.02; or (ii) on which such documents are posted on the Parent and the Borrower’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). 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 and the Borrower 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.

 

The Parent and the Borrower hereby acknowledge that (a) the Administrative Agent and/or the Lead Arranger will make available to the Lenders materials and/or information provided by or on behalf of the Parent and the Borrower hereunder (collectively, the “Borrower Materials”) by posting the Borrower Materials on IntraLinks, SyndTrak or another similar electronic system (the “Platform”) and (b) certain of the Lenders (each, a “Public Lender”) may have personnel who do not wish to receive material non-public information with respect to the Parent, the Borrower or their Affiliates, or the respective Equity Interests of any of the foregoing, and who may be engaged in investment and other market-related activities with respect to such Persons’ Equity Interests. The Parent and the Borrower hereby agree that (w) all the Borrower Materials that are to be made available to the Public Lenders shall be clearly and conspicuously marked “PUBLIC” which, at a minimum, shall mean that the word “PUBLIC” shall appear prominently on the first page thereof; (x) by marking the Borrower Materials “PUBLIC,” the Parent and the Borrower shall be deemed to have authorized the Administrative Agent, the Lead Arranger and the Lenders to treat such Borrower Materials as not containing any material non-public information with respect to the Parent and the Borrower or their Equity Interests for purposes of United States Federal and state securities laws (provided that to the extent such Borrower Materials constitute Information, they shall be treated as set forth in Section 11.07 ); (y) all the Borrower Materials marked “PUBLIC” are permitted to be made available through a portion of the Platform designated “Public Side Information;” and (z) the Administrative Agent and the Lead Arranger shall be entitled to treat any the Borrower Materials that are not marked

 

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“PUBLIC” as being suitable only for posting on a portion of the Platform not designated “Public Side Information.

 

c.             Notices .  Each of the Parent and the Borrower shall, upon becoming aware of same, promptly notify the Administrative Agent who shall notify each Lender:

 

(a)           of the occurrence of any Default;

 

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

 

(c)           of the occurrence of any ERISA Event which has resulted or would result in liabilities of any Company in an aggregate amount in excess of the Threshold Amount;

 

(d)           of any material litigation, arbitration or governmental investigation or proceeding instituted or threatened in writing against any Unencumbered Property, and any material development therein;

 

(e)           of any announcement by Moody’s, Fitch or S&P of any change in a Debt Rating or in its “outlook” with respect to a Debt Rating;

 

(f)            of any actual or threatened in writing Condemnation or zoning proceeding of any portion of any Unencumbered Property, any negotiations with respect to any such taking, or any material loss of or substantial damage to any Unencumbered Property, in each case, except to the extent that the same could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;

 

(g)           of any Casualty with respect to any Unencumbered Property except to the extent that the same could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;

 

(h)           of any material permit, license, certificate or approval required with respect to any Unencumbered Property that lapses or ceases to be in full force and effect or any claim from any person that any Unencumbered Property, or any use, activity, operation or maintenance thereof or thereon, is not in compliance with any Law, in each case, except to the extent that the same could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;

 

(i)            of any material change in accounting policies or financial reporting practices by any Company, including any determination by the Borrower referred to in Section 2.10(b); and

 

(j)            of any labor controversy pending or threatened against any Company, and any material development in any labor controversy except to the extent that the same could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

Each notice pursuant to this Section 7.03 shall be accompanied by a statement of a Responsible Officer of the Parent and the Borrower setting forth details of the occurrence referred to therein and stating what action the Parent and/or the Borrower has taken and proposes

 

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to take with respect thereto.  Each notice pursuant to Section 7.03(a)  shall describe with particularity any and all provisions of this Agreement and any other Loan Document that have been breached.

 

d.             Payment of Obligations .  Each of the Parent and the Borrower shall, and shall cause each other Loan Party to, pay and discharge as the same shall become due and payable, all its obligations and liabilities, including: (a) all tax liabilities, assessments and governmental charges or levies upon a Loan Party or its properties or assets, 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 such Loan Party; (b) all lawful claims which, if unpaid, would by law become a Lien upon its property other than Liens of the type permitted under Sections 8.01(a)  through (g) ; and (c) all Indebtedness, as and when due and payable except, in each case, where the failure to do so would not result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

e.             Preservation of Existence, Etc.   Each of the Parent and the Borrower shall, and shall cause each other Loan Party to (a) preserve, renew and maintain in full force and effect its legal existence and good standing under the Laws of the jurisdiction of its organization except in a transaction permitted by Section  8.04 ; (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 would not have a Material Adverse Effect; and (c) preserve or renew all of its IP Rights, the non-preservation of which would have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

f.             Maintenance of Properties .  Each of the Parent and the Borrower shall, and shall cause each other Company to (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 except to the extent the failure to do so would not result in a Material Adverse Effect; (b) make all necessary repairs thereto and renewals and replacements thereof except where the failure to do so would not have a Material Adverse Effect; (c) use the standard of care typical in the industry in the operation and maintenance of its (i) Unencumbered Properties, and, (ii) as to its other Properties except where the failure to do so would not have a Material Adverse Effect; and (d) keep the Unencumbered Properties in good order, repair, operating condition, and appearance, causing all necessary repairs, renewals, replacements, additions, and improvements to be promptly made, and not allow any of the Unencumbered Properties to be misused, abused or wasted or to deteriorate (ordinary wear and tear excepted) except where the failure to do so would not have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

g.             Maintenance of Insurance .  Each of the Parent and the Borrower shall, and shall cause each other Company to, maintain with financially sound and reputable insurance companies not Affiliates of any Company, insurance (including flood insurance if available or required) 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.

 

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h.             Compliance with Laws; Beneficial Ownership Regulations .  Each of the Parent and the Borrower shall, and shall cause each other Subsidiary Guarantor to, (a) comply in all material respects with the requirements of all Laws (including without limitation Anti-Corruption Laws and applicable Sanctions) and all orders, writs, injunctions and decrees applicable to it or to its business or property, except in such instances in which (i) such requirement of Law or order, writ, injunction or decree is being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted; or (ii) the failure to comply therewith would not have a Material Adverse Effect, (b) notify the Administrative Agent and each Lender that previously received a Beneficial Ownership Certification of any change in the information provided in the Beneficial Ownership Certification that would result in a change to the list of beneficial owners identified therein and (c) promptly upon the reasonable request of the Administrative Agent or any Lender, provide the Administrative Agent or such Lender, as the case may be, any information or documentation requested by it for purposes of complying with the Beneficial Ownership Regulation.

 

i.              Books and Records .  Each of the Parent and the Borrower shall, and shall cause each other Company to: (a) 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 each Company, as the case may be; and (b) maintain such books of record and account in material conformity with all applicable requirements of any Governmental Authority having regulatory jurisdiction over any Company, as the case may be.

 

j.              Inspection Rights .  Subject to the rights of tenants, each of the Parent and the Borrower shall, and shall cause each other Loan Party to, permit representatives and independent contractors of the Administrative Agent and each Lender, at the expense of the Administrative Agent or such Lender, to visit and inspect and photograph any Unencumbered Property and any of its other properties, to examine its corporate, financial and operating records, and all recorded data of any kind or nature, regardless of the medium of recording including all software, writings, plans, specifications and schematics, and make copies thereof or abstracts therefrom, and to discuss its affairs, finances and accounts with its officers all at the expense of the Borrower and at such reasonable times during normal business hours, upon reasonable advance notice to the applicable Loan Party and no more often than once in any period of twelve (12) consecutive months unless an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing; provided that when an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing 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 Borrower at any time during normal business hours and without advance notice, subject to the rights of tenants.  Any inspection or audit of the Unencumbered Properties or the books and records, including recorded data of any kind or nature, regardless of the medium of recording including software, writings, plans, specifications and schematics of any Loan Party, or the procuring of documents and financial and other information, by the Administrative Agent on behalf of itself or on behalf of the Lenders shall be for the Administrative Agent’s and the Lenders’ protection only, and shall not constitute any assumption of responsibility to any Loan Party or anyone else with regard to the condition, construction, maintenance or operation of the Unencumbered Properties nor the Administrative Agent’s approval of any certification given to the Administrative Agent nor relieve any Loan Party of the Borrower’s or any other Loan Party’s obligations.

 

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k.             Use of Proceeds .  Each of the Parent and the Borrower shall, and shall cause each other Company to, use the proceeds of the Credit Extensions (a) to finance the acquisition of Properties, (b) to pay operating and leasing expenses with respect to its Properties, and (c) for general corporate purposes, in each case, not in contravention of any Law or of any Loan Document.

 

l.              Environmental Matters .  Each of the Parent and the Borrower shall, and shall cause each other Loan Party to:

 

(a)           Violations; Notice to the Administrative Agent .  Use reasonable efforts to:

 

(i)          Keep the Unencumbered Properties free of Contamination, except to the extent that any failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;

 

(ii)           Promptly deliver to the Administrative Agent a copy of each report pertaining to any Property or to any Loan Party prepared by or on behalf of such Loan Party pursuant to a material violation of any Environmental Requirement to the extent that the same could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; and

 

(iii)          As soon as practicable advise the Administrative Agent in writing of any Environmental Claim or of the discovery of any Contamination on any Unencumbered Property that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, as soon as any Loan Party first obtains knowledge thereof, including a description of the nature and extent of the Environmental Claim and/or Hazardous Material and all relevant circumstances.

 

(b)           Site Assessments and Information .  If the Parent or the Borrower fails to comply with Section 7.12(a)  or if any other Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, then if requested by the Administrative Agent, at the Borrower’s expense, deliver to the Administrative Agent from time to time, but no more frequently than once per calendar year unless an Event of Default exists, in each case within seventy five (75) days after the Administrative Agent’s request, an Environmental Assessment (hereinafter defined) made after the date of the Administrative Agent’s request.  As used in this Agreement, the term “ Environmental Assessment ” means a report of an environmental assessment of any or all Unencumbered Properties and of such scope so as to be compliant with the guidelines established by the ASTM (including the taking of soil borings and air and groundwater samples and other above and below ground testing) as the Administrative Agent may reasonably request to be performed by a licensed environmental consulting firm reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent.  Each applicable Loan Party shall cooperate with each consulting firm making any such Environmental Assessment and shall supply to the consulting firm all information available to such Loan Party to facilitate the completion of the Environmental Assessment.  If any Loan Party fails to furnish the Administrative Agent within thirty (30) days after the Administrative Agent’s request with a copy of an agreement with an

 

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acceptable environmental consulting firm to provide such Environmental Assessment, or if any Loan Party fails to furnish to the Administrative Agent such Environmental Assessment within seventy five (75) days after the Administrative Agent’s request, upon written notice to the Parent and the Borrower, the Administrative Agent may cause any such Environmental Assessment to be made at the Borrower’s expense and risk.  Subject to the rights of tenant, the Administrative Agent and its designees are hereby granted access to the Unencumbered Properties upon written notice, and a license which is coupled with an interest and irrevocable, to make or cause to be made such Environmental Assessments.  The Administrative Agent may disclose to any Governmental Authority, to the extent required by Applicable Law, any information the Administrative Agent ever has about the environmental condition or compliance of the Unencumbered Properties, but shall be under no duty to disclose any such information except as may be required by Law.  The Administrative Agent shall be under no duty to make any Environmental Assessment of the Unencumbered Properties, and in no event shall any such Environmental Assessment by the Administrative Agent be or give rise to a representation that any Hazardous Material is or is not present on the Unencumbered Properties, or that there has been or shall be compliance with any Environmental Requirement, nor shall any Company or any other Person be entitled to rely on any Environmental Assessment made by the Administrative Agent or at the Administrative Agent’s request but the Administrative Agent shall deliver a copy of such report to the Parent and the Borrower.  Neither the Administrative Agent nor any Lender owes any duty of care to protect any Company or any other Person against, or to inform them of, any Hazardous Material or other adverse condition affecting the Unencumbered Properties.

 

(c)           Remedial Actions .  If any Contamination which could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect is discovered on any Unencumbered Property at any time and regardless of the cause, (i) promptly at the applicable Loan Parties’ sole expense, remove, treat, and dispose of the Hazardous Material in compliance with all applicable Environmental Requirements in addition to taking such other action as is necessary to have the full use and benefit of such Unencumbered Property as contemplated by the Loan Documents, and provide the Administrative Agent with satisfactory evidence thereof; and (ii) if reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent, provide to the Administrative Agent within thirty (30) days of the Administrative Agent’s request a bond, letter of credit, or other financial assurance, including self-assurance,  evidencing to the Administrative Agent’s satisfaction that all necessary funds are readily available to pay the costs and expenses of the actions required by the preceding clause (i) and to discharge any assessments or liens established against such Unencumbered Property as a result of the presence of the Hazardous Material on the Unencumbered Property. After completion of such remedial actions, the applicable Loan Party shall promptly request regulatory approval, take all reasonable measures to expedite issuance of such approval and upon receipt thereof deliver to the Administrative Agent a letter indicating that no further action is required with respect to the applicable Unencumbered Property or similar confirmation by the applicable regulator that all required remedial action as stated above has been taken and successfully completed to the satisfaction of the applicable regulator.  The Loan Parties shall not be deemed to have

 

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satisfied their remedial obligations under this provision until they have provided the Administrative Agent such confirmation.

 

m.           Ground Leases Solely with respect to Unencumbered Property, each of the Parent and the Borrower shall, and shall cause each other Loan Party to:

 

(a)           Diligently perform and observe in all material respects all of the terms, covenants, and conditions of any Acceptable Ground Lease as tenant under such Acceptable Ground Lease; and

 

(b)           Promptly notify the Administrative Agent of (i) the giving to the applicable Subsidiary Guarantor of any notice of any default by such Subsidiary Guarantor under any Acceptable Ground Lease and deliver to the Administrative Agent a true copy of each such notice within five (5) Business Days of such Subsidiary Guarantor’s receipt thereof, and (ii) any bankruptcy, reorganization, or insolvency of the landlord under any Acceptable Ground Lease or of any notice thereof, and deliver to the Administrative Agent a true copy of such notice within five (5) Business Days of the applicable Subsidiary Guarantor’s receipt.

 

(c)           Exercise any individual option to extend or renew the term of an Acceptable Ground Lease upon demand by the Administrative Agent made at any time within thirty (30) days prior to the last day upon which any such option may be exercised, and each applicable Subsidiary Guarantor hereby expressly authorizes and appoints the Administrative Agent as its attorney-in-fact to exercise any such option in the name of and upon behalf of such Subsidiary Guarantor, which power of attorney shall be irrevocable and shall be deemed to be coupled with an interest.

 

If the applicable Subsidiary Guarantor shall default in the performance or observance of any term, covenant, or condition of any Acceptable Ground Lease on the part of such Subsidiary Guarantor and shall fail to cure the same prior to the expiration of any applicable cure period provided thereunder, then the Administrative Agent shall have the right, but shall be under no obligation, to pay any sums and to perform any act or take any action as may be appropriate to cause all of the terms, covenants, and conditions of such Acceptable Ground Lease on the part of such Subsidiary Guarantor to be performed or observed on behalf of such Subsidiary Guarantor, to the end that the rights of such Subsidiary Guarantor in, to, and under such Acceptable Ground Lease shall be kept unimpaired and free from default.  If the landlord under any Acceptable Ground Lease shall deliver to the Administrative Agent a copy of any notice of default under such Acceptable Ground Lease, then such notice shall constitute full protection to the Administrative Agent for any action taken or omitted to be taken by the Administrative Agent, in good faith, in reliance thereon.

 

n.             Unencumbered Properties.

 

(a)           Except where the failure to comply with any of the following would not have a Material Adverse Effect, each of the Parent and the Borrower shall, and shall use commercially reasonable efforts to cause each other Loan Party or the applicable tenant, to:

 

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(i)            Pay all real estate and personal property taxes, assessments, water rates or sewer rents, ground rents, maintenance charges, impositions, and any other charges, including vault charges and license fees for the use of vaults, chutes and similar areas adjoining any Unencumbered Property, now or hereafter levied or assessed or imposed against any Unencumbered Property or any part thereof (except those which are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted);

 

(ii)           Promptly pay (or cause to be paid) when due all bills and costs for labor, materials, and specifically fabricated materials incurred in connection with any Unencumbered Property (except those which are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted), and in any event never permit to be created or exist in respect of any Unencumbered Property or any part thereof any other or additional Lien or security interest other than Liens permitted by Section 8.01 ; and

 

(iii)          Operate the Unencumbered Properties in a good and workmanlike manner and in all material respects in accordance with all Laws in accordance with such Loan Party’s prudent business judgment.

 

(b)           Except where the failure would not have a material and adverse effect on the value of the Unencumbered Properties, taken as whole, each of the Parent and the Borrower shall, and shall cause each other Loan Party to, to the extent owned and controlled by a Loan Party, preserve, protect, renew, extend and retain all material rights and privileges granted for or applicable to each Unencumbered Property.

 

26.
Negative Covenants

 

So long as any Lender shall have any Commitment hereunder, any Loan or other Obligation hereunder (excluding contingent indemnification obligations to the extent no unsatisfied claim giving rise thereto has been asserted) shall remain unpaid or unsatisfied:

 

a.             Liens .  Each of the Parent and the Borrower shall not, nor shall it permit any other Loan Party to, directly or indirectly, create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Lien upon any Unencumbered Property, other than the following:

 

(a)           Liens pursuant to any Loan Document;

 

(b)           Liens existing on the date hereof and listed on Schedule 8.01 ;

 

(c)           Liens for taxes not yet due and payable 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

 

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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)            easements, rights-of-way, restrictions, restrictive covenants, encroachments, protrusions and other similar encumbrances affecting real property which, in the aggregate, are not substantial in amount, and which do not in any case materially detract from the value of the property subject thereto or materially interfere with the ordinary conduct of the business of the applicable Person;

 

(g)           Liens securing judgments for the payment of money not constituting an Event of Default under Section 9.01(i) ;

 

(h)           the rights of tenants under leases or subleases not interfering with the ordinary conduct of business of such Person;

 

(i)            Liens securing obligations in the nature of personal property financing leases for furniture, furnishings or similar assets, Capital Leases Obligations and other purchase money obligations for fixed or capital assets; provided that (i) such Liens do not at any time encumber any property other than the property financed by such Indebtedness, (ii) the obligations secured thereby does not exceed the cost or fair market value, whichever is lower, of the property being acquired on the date of acquisition, and (iii) with respect to Capital Leases, such Liens do not at any time extend to or cover any assets other than the assets subject to such Capital Leases;

 

(j)            Liens securing obligations in the nature of the performance of bids, trade contracts and leases (other than Indebtedness), statutory obligations, surety bonds (other than bonds related to judgments or litigation), performance bonds and other obligations of a like nature incurred in the ordinary course of business;

 

(k)           all Liens, encumbrances and other matters disclosed in any owner’s title insurance policies or other title reports and updated thereof accepted by the Administrative Agent; and

 

(l)            such other title and survey exceptions as the Administrative Agent has approved in writing in the Administrative Agent’s reasonable discretion.

 

b.             Indebtedness .  Each of the Parent and the Borrower shall not, nor shall it permit any other Loan Party to, 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 8.02 and any refinancings, refundings, renewals or extensions thereof; provided that the

 

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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;

 

(c)           Guarantees of (i) the Borrower or the Parent in respect of Indebtedness otherwise permitted hereunder of the Borrower or any other Guarantor, (ii) the Parent or the Borrower, in respect of Indebtedness otherwise permitted hereunder of any Non-Guarantor Subsidiary if, in the case of any Guarantee pursuant to this clause (ii), (x) no Default shall exist immediately before or immediately after the making of such Guarantee, and (y) there exists no violation of the financial covenants set forth in Section 8.14 hereunder on a pro forma basis after the making of such Guarantee, and (iii) Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries made in the ordinary course of business;

 

(d)           obligations (contingent or otherwise) of the Borrower or any Subsidiary existing or arising under any Swap Contract, provided that such obligations are (or were) entered into by such Person in the ordinary course of business for the purpose of directly mitigating risks associated with liabilities, commitments, investments, assets, or property held or reasonably anticipated by such Person, or changes in the value of securities issued by such Person, and not for purposes of speculation or taking a “market view”;

 

(e)           Indebtedness in respect of Capital Leases and purchase money obligations for fixed or capital assets within the limitations set forth in Section 8.01(i) , and unsecured Indebtedness in the form of trade payables incurred in the ordinary course of business; and

 

(f)            Indebtedness of the Borrower or the Parent incurred or assumed after the date hereof that is either unsecured or is secured by Liens on assets of the Parent or the Borrower (other than any Unencumbered Property or the Equity Interests in any Loan Party); provided, such Indebtedness shall be permitted under this Section 8.02(f)  only if: (i) no Default shall exist immediately before or immediately after the incurrence or assumption of such Indebtedness, and (ii) there exists no violation of the financial covenants set forth in Section 8.14 hereunder on a pro forma basis after the incurrence or assumption of such Indebtedness.

 

c.             Investments .  Neither the Parent nor the Borrower shall have and shall not permit the Companies’ to have any Investments other than:

 

(a)           Investments in the form of cash or Cash Equivalents;

 

(b)           Investments existing on the date hereof and set forth on Schedule 6.13 ;

 

(c)           advances to officers, directors and employees of the Borrower and Subsidiaries for travel, entertainment, relocation and analogous ordinary business purposes;

 

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(d)           Investments of the Guarantor and the Borrower in the form of Equity Interests and investments of the Borrower in any wholly-owned Subsidiary, and Investments of the Borrower directly in, or of any wholly-owned Subsidiary in another wholly-owned Subsidiary which owns, real property assets which are functional industrial, manufacturing, warehouse/distribution and/or office properties located within the United States, provided in each case the Investments held by the Borrower or Subsidiary are in accordance with the provisions of this Section 8.03 other than this Section 8.03(d) ;

 

(e)           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;

 

(f)            Investments in non-wholly owned Subsidiaries and Unconsolidated Affiliates;

 

(g)           Investments in mortgages and mezzanine loans;

 

(h)           Investments in unimproved land holdings and Construction in Progress;

 

(i)            Investments by the Parent for the redemption, conversion, exchange, retirement, sinking fund or similar payment, purchase or other acquisition for value, direct or indirect, of any Equity Interests of the Parent or the Borrower now or hereafter outstanding to the extent permitted under Section 8.06 below; and

 

(j)            Other Investments not to exceed at any time ten percent (10%) of Total Asset Value.

 

d.             Fundamental Changes .  Each of the Parent and the Borrower shall not, nor shall it permit any other Loan Party to, directly or indirectly, merge, dissolve, liquidate, consolidate with or into another Person, or Dispose of (whether in one transaction or in a series of transactions) all or substantially all of its assets (whether now owned or hereafter acquired) to or in favor of any Person, except that, so long as no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or would result therefrom:

 

(a)           any Loan Party (other than the Parent or the Borrower) may merge with (i) the Parent or the Borrower, provided that the Parent or the Borrower, as applicable, shall be the continuing or surviving Person, or (ii) any other Loan Party, or (iii) any other Person, provided that if it owns an Unencumbered Property and is not the surviving entity, then such Property shall cease to be an Unencumbered Property;

 

(b)           any Loan Party (other than the Parent or the Borrower) may Dispose of all or substantially all of its assets (upon voluntary liquidation or otherwise) to another Loan Party;

 

(c)           any Loan Party may Dispose of a Property owned by such Loan Party in the ordinary course of business and for fair value; and

 

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(d)           the Parent or the Borrower may merge or consolidate with another Person so long as either the Parent or the Borrower, as the case may be, is the surviving entity, shall remain in pro forma compliance with the covenants set forth in Section 8.14 below after giving effect to such transaction, and the Borrower shall have given the Administrative Agent at least fifteen (15) Business Days’ prior written notice of such merger or consolidation, such notice to include a certification as to the pro forma compliance referenced above, with the Borrower agreeing to provide such other financial information as the Administrative Agent shall reasonably request in order to verify such pro forma compliance.

 

Nothing in this Section shall be deemed to prohibit the sale or leasing of Property or portions of Property in the ordinary course of business.

 

e.             Dispositions .  Each of the Parent, the Borrower or any Loan Party shall not make any Disposition or enter into any agreement to make any Disposition, except:

 

(a)           Dispositions of obsolete or worn out property, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, in the ordinary course of business;

 

(b)           Dispositions of inventory in the ordinary course of business;

 

(c)           Any other Dispositions of Properties or other assets in an arm’s length transaction; provided that the Borrower and the Parent will remain in pro forma compliance with the covenants set forth in Section 8.14 after giving effect to such transaction.

 

f.             Restricted Payments .  Each of the Parent and the Borrower shall not, nor shall it permit any other Company to, directly or indirectly, declare or make, directly or indirectly, any Restricted Payment other than (a) Minimum Distributions, (b) Restricted Payments made by any Company to the Borrower or the Parent, or (c)  provided no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing at the time of such payment or would result therefrom, other Restricted Payments.

 

g.             Change in Nature of Business .  Except for Investments permitted under Section 8.03 , each of the Parent and the Borrower shall not, nor shall it permit any other Loan Party to, directly or indirectly, engage in any material line of business substantially different from those lines of business conducted by the Companies on the date hereof or any business substantially related or incidental thereto.

 

h.             Transactions with Affiliates .  Each of the Parent and the Borrower shall not, nor shall it permit any other Loan Party to, directly or indirectly, enter into any transaction of any kind with any Affiliate of a Company, whether or not in the ordinary course of business, other than on fair and reasonable terms substantially as favorable to such Loan Party as would be obtainable by such Company at the time in a comparable arm’s length transaction with a Person other than an Affiliate.

 

i.              Burdensome Agreements .  Each of the Parent and the Borrower shall not, nor shall it permit any other Loan Party to, directly or indirectly enter into any Contractual

 

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Obligation (other than this Agreement or any other Loan Document) that directly or indirectly prohibits any Company from (a) creating or incurring any Lien on any Unencumbered Property unless simultaneously therewith such Unencumbered Property ceases to be an Unencumbered Property, other than restrictions or conditions set forth in the Note Purchase Agreements, the Credit Agreements and, to the extent such restrictions or conditions are customary for such Indebtedness, any other agreements governing Indebtedness permitted under Section 8.02 , in each case, which restrictions are no more restrictive, taken as a whole than the comparable restrictions and conditions set forth in this Agreement as determined in the good faith judgment of the Borrower, (b) other than restrictions or conditions set forth in the Note Purchase Agreements, the Credit Agreements and, to the extent such restrictions or conditions are customary for such Indebtedness, any other agreements governing Indebtedness permitted under Section 8.02 , in each case, which restrictions are no more restrictive, taken as a whole than the comparable restrictions and conditions set forth in this Agreement as determined in the good faith judgment of the Borrower,  limiting the ability (i) of any Subsidiary to make Restricted Payments to the Borrower or any Guarantor or to otherwise transfer property to the Borrower or any Guarantor, (ii) of any Subsidiary to Guarantee the Indebtedness of the Borrower or (iii) of the Borrower or any Subsidiary to create, incur, assume or suffer to exist Liens on property of such Person; provided, however, that this clause (iii) shall not prohibit any negative pledge incurred or provided in favor of any holder of Indebtedness permitted under Section 8.0 3(e)  solely to the extent any such negative pledge relates to the property financed by or the subject of such Indebtedness; or (c) requiring the grant of a Lien to secure an obligation of such Person if a Lien is granted to secure another obligation of such Person.

 

j.              Use of Proceeds .  Each of the Parent and the Borrower shall not, nor shall it permit any other Company to, directly or indirectly, use the proceeds of any Credit Extension, whether directly or indirectly, and whether immediately, incidentally or ultimately, to purchase or carry margin stock (within the meaning of Regulation U of the FRB) or to extend credit to others for the purpose of purchasing or carrying margin stock or to refund indebtedness originally incurred for such purpose.  The Borrower shall not request any Credit Extension, shall not use, and shall ensure that its Subsidiaries and its or their respective directors, officers, employees and agents do not use the proceeds of any Credit Extension (i) in furtherance of an offer, payment, promise to pay, or authorization of the payment or giving of money, or anything else of value, to any Person in violation of any Anti-Corruption Laws or (ii) in any manner that would result in the violation of any applicable Sanctions.

 

k.             Unencumbered Properties; Ground Leases .  Each of the Parent and the Borrower shall not, nor shall it permit any other Loan Party to, directly or indirectly:

 

(a)           Use or occupy or conduct any activity on, or knowingly permit the use or occupancy of or the conduct of any activity on any Unencumbered Properties by any tenant, in any manner which violates any Law or which constitutes a public or private nuisance in any manner which would have a Material Adverse Effect or which makes void, voidable, or cancelable any insurance then in force with respect thereto or makes the maintenance of insurance in accordance with Section 7.07 commercially unreasonable (including by way of increased premium);

 

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(b)           [Reserved];

 

(c)           Without the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed), (i) impose any material easement, restrictive covenant, or encumbrance upon any Unencumbered Property, (ii) execute or file any subdivision plat or condominium declaration affecting any Unencumbered Property, or (iii) consent to the annexation of any Unencumbered Property to any municipality;

 

(d)             Do any act, or suffer to be done any act by any Company or any of its Affiliates, which would reasonably be expected to materially decrease the value of any Unencumbered Property (including by way of negligent act);

 

(e)             [Reserved];

 

(f)              Allow there to be fewer than twenty-five (25) Unencumbered Properties as of any date of determination;

 

(g)             Allow the Total Asset Value of the Unencumbered Properties to be less than One Hundred Fifty Million Dollars ($150,000,000.00);

 

(h)             Without the prior consent of the Lenders (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed), surrender the leasehold estate created by any Acceptable Ground Lease or terminate or cancel any Acceptable Ground Lease or materially modify, change, supplement, alter, or amend any Acceptable Ground Lease, either orally or in writing, in each case, to the extent such event would reasonably be expected to be materially adverse to the interests of the Lenders; and

 

(i)              Enter into any Contractual Obligations related to any Unencumbered Property providing for the payment a management fee (or any other similar fee) to anyone other than a Company if, with respect thereto, the Administrative Agent has reasonably required that such fee be subordinated to the Obligations in a manner satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, and an acceptable subordination agreement has not yet been obtained.

 

l.              Environmental Matters .  Each of the Parent and the Borrower shall not knowingly directly or indirectly:

 

(a)           Cause, commit, permit, or allow to continue (i) any violation of any Environmental Requirement by or with respect to any Unencumbered Property or any use of or condition or activity on any Unencumbered Property, or (ii) the attachment of any environmental Liens on any Unencumbered Property, in each case, that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;

 

(b)           Place, install, dispose of, or release, or cause, permit, or allow the placing, installation, disposal, spilling, leaking, dumping, or release of,

 

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any Hazardous Material on any Unencumbered Property in any manner that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; and

 

(c)           Use any Hazardous Material on any Unencumbered Property except in such a manner which could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

m.           Negative Pledge; Indebtedness .  Each of the Parent and the Borrower shall not permit:

 

(a)           The Equity Interests of the Borrower held by the Parent to be subject to any Lien.

 

(b)           Any Person (other than the Parent or the Borrower) that directly or indirectly owns Equity Interests in any Subsidiary Guarantor to (i) incur any Indebtedness (whether Recourse Indebtedness or Non-Recourse Indebtedness) (other than Indebtedness listed on Schedule 8.13 and Additional Permitted Indebtedness), (ii) provide Guarantees to support Indebtedness (other than Indebtedness listed on Schedule 8.13 and Additional Permitted Indebtedness), or (iii) have its Equity Interests subject to any Lien or other encumbrance (other than in favor of the Administrative Agent).

 

(c)           Any Subsidiary Guarantor that owns an Unencumbered Property to (i) incur any Indebtedness (whether Recourse Indebtedness or Non-Recourse Indebtedness) (other than the Obligations, Indebtedness listed on Schedule 8.13 and Additional Permitted Indebtedness) or (ii) provide Guarantees to support Indebtedness (other than the Obligations, Indebtedness listed on Schedule 8.13 and Additional Permitted Indebtedness).

 

n.             Financial Covenants .  The Parent shall not, directly or indirectly, permit:

 

(a)           Maximum Consolidated Leverage Ratio . As of the last day of any fiscal quarter, the Consolidated Leverage Ratio to exceed sixty percent (60%); provided that, if any Material Acquisition shall occur and the Consolidated Leverage Ratio shall have been less than sixty percent (60%) for at least one full fiscal quarter immediately preceding the proposed Consolidated Leverage Ratio Covenant Holiday, then, at the election of the Borrower upon delivery of prior written notice to the Administrative Agent, concurrently with or prior to the delivery of a Compliance Certificate pursuant to Section 7.02(a) , and provided that no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, the maximum Consolidated Leverage Ratio covenant level shall be increased to sixty-five (65%) for the fiscal quarter in which such Material Acquisition is consummated and the three (3) fiscal quarters immediately following the fiscal quarter in which such Material Acquisition is consummated (any such increase a “ Consolidated Leverage Ratio Covenant Holiday ”); provided further that not more than two (2) Consolidated Leverage Ratio Covenant Holidays may be elected by the Borrower during the term of this Agreement;

 

(b)           Maximum Secured Leverage Ratio . As of the last day of any fiscal quarter, the Secured Leverage Ratio to exceed forty percent (40%);

 

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(c)           Maximum Unencumbered Leverage Ratio .  As of the last day of any fiscal quarter, the Unencumbered Leverage Ratio to exceed sixty percent (60%); provided that, if any Material Acquisition shall occur and the Unencumbered Leverage Ratio shall have been less than sixty percent (60%) for at least one full fiscal quarter immediately preceding the proposed Unencumbered Leverage Ratio Covenant Holiday, then, at the election of the Borrower upon delivery of prior written notice to the Administrative Agent, concurrently with or prior to the delivery of a Compliance Certificate pursuant to Section 7.02(a) , and provided that no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, the maximum Unencumbered Leverage Ratio covenant level shall be increased to sixty-five (65%) for the fiscal quarter in which such Material Acquisition is consummated and the three (3) fiscal quarters immediately following the fiscal quarter in which such Material Acquisition is consummated (any such increase an “ Unencumbered Leverage Ratio Covenant Holiday ”); provided further that not more than two (2) Unencumbered Leverage Ratio Covenant Holidays may be elected by the Borrower during the term of this Agreement;

 

(d)           [Reserved];

 

(e)           Minimum Fixed Charge Ratio .  As of the last day of any fiscal quarter, the Fixed Charge Ratio for the Parent, on a consolidated basis, for the fiscal quarter then ended, annualized, to be less than or equal to 1.5 to 1.0; and

 

(f)            Minimum Unsecured Interest Coverage Ratio . As of the last day of any fiscal quarter, the Unsecured Interest Coverage Ratio for the Parent, on a consolidated basis, for the fiscal quarter then ended, annualized, to be less than or equal to 1.75 to 1.00.

 

27.
Events of Default and Remedies

 

a.             Events of Default .  Any of the following shall constitute an Event of Default:

 

(a)           Non-Payment .  The Borrower or any other Loan Party fails to pay (i) when and as required to be paid herein, any amount of principal of any Loan, or (ii) within five (5) days after the same becomes due, any interest on any Loan due hereunder, except that there shall be no grace period for interest due on any applicable Maturity Date, or (iii) within ten (10) days after notice from the Administrative Agent, any other amount payable to the Administrative Agent or any Lender hereunder or under any other Loan Document except that there shall be no grace period for any amount due on any Maturity Date; or

 

(b)           Specific Covenants .  Any Loan Party fails to perform or observe any term, covenant or agreement contained in any of Section 7.11 or Article VIII (other than Sections 8.11 (a) and (c), or 8.13 ) or the Parent fails to perform or observe any term, covenant or agreement contained in the Parent Guaranty or any Subsidiary Guarantor fails to perform or observe any term, covenant or agreement contained in the Subsidiary Guaranty; or

 

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(c)           Performance .  Any Loan Party fails to perform or observe any term, covenant or agreement contained in any of Section 7.01 , 7.02 , or 7.03 , and such failure continues unremedied for ten (10) Business Days after such failure has occurred; or

 

(d)           Other Defaults .  Any Loan Party fails to perform or observe any other covenant or agreement (not specified in subsection (a) , (b) , or (c)  above) contained in any Loan Document on its part to be performed or observed and such failure continues unremedied for thirty (30) days after the earlier of notice from the Administrative Agent or the actual knowledge of the Loan Party, and in the case of a default that cannot be cured within such thirty (30) day period despite the Borrower’s diligent efforts but is susceptible of being cured within ninety (90) days of the Borrower’s receipt of the Administrative Agent’s original notice, then the Borrower shall have such additional time as is reasonably necessary to effect such cure, but in no event in excess of ninety (90) days from the Borrower’s receipt of the Administrative Agent’s original notice, subject in each instance to the Borrower’s remedial rights under Section 7.12(c) ; or

 

(e)           Representations and Warranties .  Any representation, warranty, certification or statement of fact made or deemed made by or on behalf of the Borrower or any other Loan Party herein, in any other Loan Document, or in any document delivered in connection herewith or therewith shall be incorrect or misleading when made or deemed made and shall not be cured or remedied so that such representation, warranty, certification or statement of fact is no longer incorrect or misleading within ten (10) days after the earlier of notice from the Administrative Agent or the actual knowledge of any Loan Party thereof; or

 

(f)            Cross-Default .  (i) Any Company (A) fails to make any payment when due (whether by scheduled maturity, required prepayment, acceleration, demand, or otherwise), after the expiration of any applicable grace periods, in respect of any Indebtedness or Guarantee (other than (x) Indebtedness hereunder, and (y) Indebtedness under Swap Contracts) having an aggregate principal amount (including amounts owing to all creditors under any combined or syndicated credit arrangement) of more than the Threshold Amount, or (B) fails to observe or perform any other agreement or condition relating to any such Indebtedness or Guarantee or contained in any instrument or agreement evidencing, securing or relating thereto, or any other event occurs, the effect of which default or other event is to cause, or to permit the holder or holders of such Indebtedness or the beneficiary or beneficiaries of such Guarantee (or a trustee or agent on behalf of such holder or holders or beneficiary or beneficiaries) to cause, with the giving of notice if required, such Indebtedness or more than the Threshold Amount to be demanded or to become due or to be repurchased, prepaid, defeased or redeemed (automatically or otherwise), or an offer to repurchase, prepay, defease or redeem such Indebtedness to be made, prior to its stated maturity, or such Guarantee to become payable or cash collateral in respect thereof to be demanded; or (ii) there occurs under any Swap Contract an Early Termination Date (as defined in such Swap Contract) resulting from (A) any event of default under such Swap Contract as to which any Company is the Defaulting Party (as defined in such Swap Contract) or (B) any Termination Event (as so defined) under such Swap Contract as to which any Company is

 

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an Affected Party (as so defined) and, in either event, the Swap Termination Value owed by such Company as a result thereof is greater than the Threshold Amount; or

 

(g)           Insolvency Proceedings, Etc.   Any Loan Party institutes or consents to the institution of any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law, or makes an assignment for the benefit of creditors; or applies for or consents to the appointment of any receiver, trustee, custodian, conservator, liquidator, rehabilitator or similar officer for it or for all or any material part of its property; or any receiver, trustee, custodian, conservator, liquidator, rehabilitator or similar officer is appointed without the application or consent of such Person and the appointment continues undischarged or unstayed for sixty (60) calendar days; or any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law relating to any such Person or to all or any material part of its property is instituted without the consent of such Person and continues undismissed or unstayed for sixty (60) calendar days, or an order for relief is entered in any such proceeding; or

 

(h)           Inability to Pay Debts; Attachment .  (i) the Parent or the Borrower becomes unable to pay its debts as they become due, or any Loan Party admits in writing its inability or fails generally to pay its debts as they become due, or (ii) any writ or warrant of attachment or execution or similar process is issued or levied against all or any material part of the property of any such Loan Party and is not released, vacated or fully bonded within thirty (30) days after its issue or levy; or

 

(i)            Judgments .  There is entered against any Loan Party (i) one or more final judgments or orders for the payment of money in an aggregate amount (as to all such judgments or orders) exceeding the Threshold Amount (to the extent not covered by independent third-party insurance as to which the insurer does not dispute coverage), or (ii) any one or more non-monetary final judgments that have, or would have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect and, in either case, (A) enforcement proceedings are commenced by any creditor upon such judgment or order, or (B) there is a period of ten (10) consecutive days during which a stay of enforcement of such judgment, by reason of a pending appeal or otherwise, is not in effect; or

 

(j)            ERISA .  (i) An ERISA Event occurs with respect to a Pension Plan or Multiemployer Plan which has resulted or would result in liability of any Company  under Title IV of ERISA to the Pension Plan, Multiemployer Plan or the PBGC in an aggregate amount in excess of the Threshold Amount, or (ii) the Parent or any ERISA Affiliate fails to pay when due, after the expiration of any applicable grace period, any installment payment with respect to its withdrawal liability under Section 4201 of ERISA under a Multiemployer Plan in an aggregate amount in excess of the Threshold Amount; or

 

(k)           Invalidity of Loan Documents .  Any Loan Document at any time after its execution and delivery and for any reason other than as expressly permitted hereunder or thereunder or satisfaction in full of all the Obligations, ceases to be in full force and effect in all material respects; or any Loan Party or any other Person contests in any manner the validity or enforceability of any Loan Document; or any Loan Party denies that it has any or further liability or obligation under any Loan Document, or purports to

 

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revoke, terminate or rescind any  Loan Document, except as expressly permitted hereunder; or

 

(l)            REIT Status of the Parent .  The Parent ceases to be treated as a REIT or the Parent Shares shall fail to be listed and traded on the New York Stock Exchange; or

 

(m)          Change of Control .  There occurs any Change of Control.

 

b.             Remedies Upon Event of Default .  If any Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Administrative Agent shall, at the request of, or may, with the consent of, the Required Lenders, take any or all of the following actions:

 

(a)           declare the commitment of each Lender to make Loans to be terminated, whereupon such commitments and obligation shall be terminated;

 

(b)           declare the unpaid principal amount of all outstanding Loans, all interest accrued and unpaid thereon, and all other amounts owing or payable hereunder or under any other Loan Document to be immediately due and payable without presentment, demand, protest or other notice of any kind, all of which are hereby expressly waived by the Borrower; and

 

(c)           exercise on behalf of itself and the Lenders all rights and remedies available to it and the Lenders under the Loan Documents;

 

provided that upon the occurrence of an actual or deemed entry of an order for relief with respect to the Borrower under the Bankruptcy Code of the United States, the obligation of each Lender to make Loans shall automatically terminate, the unpaid principal amount of all outstanding Loans and all interest and other amounts as aforesaid shall automatically become due and payable, in each case without further act of the Administrative Agent or any Lender.

 

c.             Application of Funds .  After the exercise of remedies provided for in Section 9.02 (or after the Loans have automatically become immediately due and payable), any amounts received on account of the Obligations shall, subject to the provisions of Section 2.16 , be applied by the Administrative Agent in the following order:

 

First , to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting fees, indemnities, expenses and other amounts (including fees, charges and disbursements of counsel to the Administrative Agent and amounts payable under Article III ) payable to the Administrative Agent in its capacity as such;

 

Second , to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting fees, indemnities and other amounts (other than principal and interest) payable to the Lenders (including fees, charges and disbursements of counsel to the respective Lenders and amounts payable under Article III ), ratably among them in proportion to the respective amounts described in this clause   Second payable to them;

 

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Third , to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting accrued and unpaid interest on the Loans, and other Obligations, ratably among the Lenders, in proportion to the respective amounts described in this clause   Third payable to them;

 

Fourth , to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting (x) unpaid principal of the Loans and (y) payment obligations then owing to the Administrative Agent, any Lender, or any Affiliate of the Administrative Agent or any Lender (“ Specified Derivatives Providers ”) arising from, by virtue of, or pursuant to any Swap Contract, other than any Excluded Swap Obligation, that relates solely to the Obligations, ratably among the Lenders and the Specified Derivatives Providers in proportion to the respective amounts described in this clause Fourth payable to them; and

 

Last , the balance, if any, after all of the Obligations have been paid in full, to the Borrower or as otherwise required by Law.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, Obligations owing to Specified Derivatives Providers shall be excluded from the application described above if the Administrative Agent has not received written notice thereof, together with such supporting documentation as the Administrative Agent may request, from the applicable Specified Derivatives Provider.  Each Specified Derivatives Provider not a party to this Agreement that has given the notice contemplated by the preceding sentence shall, by such notice, be deemed to have acknowledged and accepted the appointment of the Administrative Agent pursuant to the terms of Article X for itself and its Affiliates as if a “Lender” party hereto.

 

28.
The Administrative Agent

 

a.             Appointment and Authority .  Each of the Lenders hereby irrevocably appoints Wells Fargo to act on its behalf as the Administrative Agent hereunder and under the other Loan Documents and authorizes the Administrative Agent to take such actions on its behalf and to exercise such powers as are delegated to the Administrative Agent by the terms hereof or thereof, together with such actions and powers as are reasonably incidental thereto.  The provisions of this Article are solely for the benefit of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders, neither the Borrower nor any other Loan Party shall have rights as a third party beneficiary of any of such provisions.  It is understood and agreed that the use of the term “agent” (or any other similar term) herein or in any other Loan Documents with reference to the Administrative Agent is not intended to connote any fiduciary or other implied (or express) obligations arising under agency doctrine of any applicable Law. Instead such term is used as a matter of market custom, and is intended to create or reflect only an administrative relationship between contracting parties.

 

b.             Rights as a Lender .  The Person serving as the Administrative Agent hereunder shall have the same rights and powers in its capacity as a Lender as any other Lender and may exercise the same as though it were not the Administrative Agent and the term “Lender” or “Lenders” shall, unless otherwise expressly indicated or unless the context otherwise requires, include the Person serving as the Administrative Agent hereunder in its individual capacity.  Such Person and its Affiliates may accept deposits from, lend money to, own securities of, act as the financial advisor or in any other advisory capacity for and generally engage in any kind of

 

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business with the Borrower or any Subsidiary or other Affiliate thereof as if such Person were not the Administrative Agent hereunder and without any duty to account therefor to the Lenders.

 

c.             Exculpatory Provisions .  The Administrative Agent shall not have any duties or obligations except those expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents, and its duties hereunder shall be administrative in nature.  Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Administrative Agent:

 

(a)           shall not be subject to any fiduciary or other implied duties, regardless of whether a Default has occurred and is continuing;

 

(b)           shall not have any duty to take any discretionary action or exercise any discretionary powers, except discretionary rights and powers expressly contemplated hereby or by the other Loan Documents that the Administrative Agent is required to exercise as directed in writing by the Required Lenders (or such other number or percentage of the Lenders as shall be expressly provided for herein or in the other Loan Documents), provided that the Administrative Agent shall not be required to take any action that, in its opinion or the opinion of its counsel, may expose the Administrative Agent to liability or that is contrary to any Loan Document or applicable law, including for the avoidance of doubt any action that may be in violation of the automatic stay under any Debtor Relief Law or that may effect a forfeiture, modification or termination of property of a Defaulting Lender in violation of any Debtor Relief Law; and

 

(c)           shall not, except as expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents, have any duty to disclose, and shall not be liable for the failure to disclose, any information relating to the Borrower or any of its Affiliates that is communicated to or obtained by the Person serving as the Administrative Agent or any of its Affiliates in any capacity.

 

The Administrative Agent shall not be liable for any action taken or not taken by it (i) with the consent or at the request of the Required Lenders (or such other number or percentage of the Lenders as shall be necessary, or as the Administrative Agent shall believe in good faith shall be necessary, under the circumstances as provided in Sections 11.01 and 9.02 ) or (ii) in the absence of its own gross negligence or willful misconduct as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by final and nonappealable judgment.  The Administrative Agent shall be deemed not to have knowledge of any Default unless and until notice describing such Default is given in writing to the Administrative Agent by the Borrower or a Lender.

 

The Administrative Agent shall not be responsible for or have any duty to ascertain or inquire into (i) any statement, warranty or representation made in or in connection with this Agreement or any other Loan Document, (ii) the contents of any certificate, report or other document delivered hereunder or thereunder or in connection herewith or therewith, (iii) the performance or observance of any of the covenants, agreements or other terms or conditions set forth herein or therein or the occurrence of any Default, (iv) the validity, enforceability, effectiveness or genuineness of this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any other agreement, instrument or document or (v) the satisfaction of any condition set forth in Article IV or elsewhere herein, other than to confirm receipt of items expressly required to be delivered to the Administrative Agent.

 

d.             Reliance by the Administrative Agent .  The Administrative Agent shall be entitled to rely upon, and shall not incur any liability for relying upon, any notice, request, certificate, consent, statement, instrument, document or other writing (including any electronic message, Internet or intranet website posting or other distribution) believed by it to be genuine and to have

 

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been signed, sent or otherwise authenticated by the proper Person.  The Administrative Agent also may rely upon any statement made to it orally or by telephone and believed by it to have been made by the proper Person, and shall not incur any liability for relying thereon.  In determining compliance with any condition hereunder to the making of a Loan, by its terms must be fulfilled to the satisfaction of a Lender, the Administrative Agent may presume that such condition is satisfactory to such Lender unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice to the contrary from such Lender prior to the making of such Loan.  The Administrative Agent may consult with legal counsel (who may be counsel for the Borrower), independent accountants and other experts selected by it, and shall not be liable for any action taken or not taken by it in accordance with the advice of any such counsel, accountants or experts.

 

e.             Delegation of Duties .  The Administrative Agent may perform any and all of its duties and exercise its rights and powers hereunder or under any other Loan Document by or through any one or more sub-agents appointed by the Administrative Agent.  The Administrative Agent and any such sub-agent may perform any and all of its duties and exercise its rights and powers by or through their respective Related Parties.  The exculpatory provisions of this Article shall apply to any such sub-agent and to the Related Parties of the Administrative Agent and any such sub-agent, and shall apply to their respective activities in connection with the syndication of the credit facilities provided for herein as well as activities as the Administrative Agent.  The Administrative Agent shall not be responsible for the negligence or misconduct of any sub-agents except to the extent that a court of competent jurisdiction determines in a final and non-appealable judgment that the Administrative Agent acted with gross negligence or willful misconduct in the selection of such sub-agents.

 

f.             Resignation of the Administrative Agent.

 

(a)           The Administrative Agent may at any time give notice of its resignation to the Lenders and the Borrower.  Upon receipt of any such notice of resignation, the Required Lenders shall have the right, subject to the reasonable approval of the Borrower (with any Lender or affiliate of a Lender being deemed approved, unless such Lender is a Defaulting Lender, and which approval shall not be required if an Event Default shall be in existence), to appoint a successor, which shall be a bank with an office in the United States, or an Affiliate of any such bank with an office in the United States.  If no such successor shall have been so appointed by the Required Lenders and shall have accepted such appointment within 30 days after the retiring Administrative Agent gives notice of its resignation (or such earlier day as shall be agreed by the Required Lenders) (the “ Resignation Effective Date ”), then the retiring Administrative Agent may (but shall not be obligated to) on behalf of the Lenders, appoint a successor Administrative Agent meeting the qualifications set forth above.  Whether or not a successor has been appointed, such resignation shall become effective in accordance with such notice on the Resignation Effective Date.

 

(b)           If the Person serving as the Administrative Agent is a Defaulting Lender pursuant to clause (d)  of the definition thereof, the Required Lenders may, to the extent permitted by applicable law, by notice in writing to the Borrower and such Person remove such Person as the Administrative Agent and, in consultation with the Borrower, appoint a successor. If no such successor shall have been so appointed by the Required

 

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Lenders and shall have accepted such appointment within 30 days (or such earlier day as shall be agreed by the Required Lenders) (the “Removal Effective Date”), then such removal shall nonetheless become effective in accordance with such notice on the Removal Effective Date.

 

(c)            With effect from the Resignation Effective Date or the Removal Effective Date (as applicable) (1) the retiring or removed Administrative Agent shall be discharged from its duties and obligations hereunder and under the other Loan Documents (except that in the case of any pledge security held by the Administrative Agent on behalf of the Lenders under any of the Loan Documents, the retiring or removed Administrative Agent shall continue to hold such collateral security until such time as a successor Administrative Agent is appointed) and (2) except for any indemnity payments or other amounts then owed to the retiring or removed Administrative Agent, all payments, communications and determinations provided to be made by, to or through the Administrative Agent shall instead be made by or to each Lender directly, until such time, if any, as the Required Lenders appoint a successor Administrative Agent as provided for above.  Upon the acceptance of a successor’s appointment as the Administrative Agent hereunder, such successor shall succeed to and become vested with all of the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring (or removed) the Administrative Agent (other than as provided in Section 3.01(g)  and other than any rights to indemnity payments or other amounts owed to the retiring or removed Administrative Agent as of the Resignation Effective Date or the Removal Effective Date, as applicable), and the retiring or removed Administrative Agent shall be discharged from all of its duties and obligations hereunder or under the other Loan Documents (if not already discharged therefrom as provided above in this Section).  The fees payable by the Borrower to a successor Administrative Agent shall be the same as those payable to its predecessor unless otherwise agreed between the Borrower and such successor.  After the retiring or removed Administrative Agent’s resignation or removal hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, the provisions of this Article and Section 10.04 shall continue in effect for the benefit of such retiring or removed Administrative Agent, its sub-agents and their respective Related Parties in respect of any actions taken or omitted to be taken by any of them while the retiring or removed Administrative Agent was acting as the Administrative Agent.

 

g.             Non-Reliance on the Administrative Agent and Other Lenders .  Each Lender acknowledges that it has, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent or any other Lender or any of their Related Parties and based on such documents and information as it has deemed appropriate, made its own credit analysis and decision to enter into this Agreement.  Each Lender also acknowledges that it will, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent or any other Lender or any of their Related Parties and based on such documents and information as it shall from time to time deem appropriate, continue to make its own decisions in taking or not taking action under or based upon this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any related agreement or any document furnished hereunder or thereunder.

 

h.             No Other Duties, Etc.   Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, none of the Lead Arrangers, Bookrunners or co-Syndication Agents listed on the cover page hereof shall have any powers, duties or responsibilities under this Agreement or any of the other Loan

 

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Documents, except in its capacity, as applicable, as the Administrative Agent, a Lender hereunder.

 

i.              The Administrative Agent May File Proofs of Claim .  In case of the pendency of any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law or any other judicial proceeding relative to any Loan Party, the Administrative Agent (irrespective of whether the principal of any Loan shall then be due and payable as herein expressed or by declaration or otherwise and irrespective of whether the Administrative Agent shall have made any demand on the Borrower) shall be entitled and empowered, by intervention in such proceeding or otherwise:

 

(a)           to file and prove a claim for the whole amount of the principal and interest owing and unpaid in respect of the Loans and all other Obligations that are owing and unpaid and to file such other documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Lenders and the Administrative Agent (including any claim for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Lenders and the Administrative Agent and their respective agents and counsel and all other amounts due the Lenders and the Administrative Agent under Sections 2.09 and 11.04 ) allowed in such judicial proceeding; and

 

(b)           to collect and receive any monies or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims and to distribute the same;

 

and any custodian, receiver, assignee, trustee, liquidator, sequestrator or other similar official in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Lender to make such payments to the Administrative Agent and, in the event that the Administrative Agent shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Lenders, to pay to the Administrative Agent any amount due for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Administrative Agent and its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Administrative Agent under Sections 2.09 and 11.04 . Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to authorize the Administrative Agent to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Lender any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Obligations or the rights of any Lender to authorize the Administrative Agent to vote in respect of the claim of any Lender in any such proceeding.

 

j.              Guaranty Matters .  Upon request by the Administrative Agent at any time, the Required Lenders will confirm in writing the Administrative Agent’s authority to release any Guarantor from its obligations under a Guaranty pursuant to the terms of this Agreement.

 

29.         
Miscellaneous

 

a.             Amendments, Etc.   No amendment or waiver of any provision of this Agreement or any other Loan Document, and no consent to any departure by the Borrower or any other Loan Party therefrom, shall be effective unless in writing signed by the Required Lenders and the Borrower or the applicable Loan Party, as the case may be, and acknowledged by the Administrative Agent, and each such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific

 

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instance and for the specific purpose for which given; provided that no such amendment, waiver or consent shall:

 

(a)           waive any condition set forth in Section 5.01(a)  without the written consent of each Lender;

 

(b)           extend or increase the Commitment of any Lender (or reinstate any Commitment terminated pursuant to Section 2.01(b)  or  9.02 ) without the written consent of such Lender;

 

(c)           postpone any date fixed by this Agreement or any other Loan Document for any payment or mandatory prepayment of principal, interest, fees or other amounts due to a Lender or any scheduled or mandatory reduction of the Aggregate Commitments hereunder or under any other Loan Document without the written consent of each Lender directly affected thereby;

 

(d)           reduce or forgive the principal of, or the rate of interest specified herein on, any Loan, or (subject to clause   (iii)  of the second proviso to this Section 11.01 ) any fees or other amounts payable hereunder or under any other Loan Document, without the written consent of each Lender directly affected thereby; provided that only the consent of the Required Lenders shall be necessary  to amend the definition of “ Default Rate ,” waive any obligation of the Borrower to pay interest at the Default Rate, or change the manner of computation of any financial ratio (including any change in any applicable defined term) used in determining the Applicable Rate that would result in a reduction of any interest rate on any Loan or any fee payable hereunder;

 

(e)           change Section 9.03 in a manner that would alter the pro rata sharing of payments required thereby without the written consent of each Lender;

 

(f)            change any provision of this Section or the definition of “ Required Lenders ” or any other provision hereof specifying the number or percentage of the Lenders required to amend, waive or otherwise modify any rights hereunder or make any determination or grant any consent hereunder, without the written consent of each Lender;

 

(g)           release all or substantially all of the value of the Guaranties without the written consent of each Lender;

 

and, provided, further , that (i) no amendment, waiver or consent shall, unless in writing and signed by the Administrative Agent in addition to the Lenders required above, affect the rights or duties of the Administrative Agent under this Agreement or any other Loan Document; and (ii) the Fee Letter may be amended, or rights or privileges thereunder waived, in a writing executed only by the parties thereto.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, no Defaulting Lender shall have any right to approve or disapprove any amendment, waiver or consent hereunder (and any amendment, waiver or consent which by its terms requires the consent of all Lenders or each affected Lender may be effected with the consent of the applicable Lenders other than Defaulting Lenders), except that (x) the Commitment of any Defaulting Lender may not be increased or extended without the consent of such Lender and (y) any waiver, amendment

 

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or modification requiring the consent of all Lenders or each affected Lender that by its terms affects any Defaulting Lender more adversely than other affected Lenders shall require the consent of such Defaulting Lender.  All communications from the Administrative Agent to any Lender requesting such Lender’s determination, consent, approval or disapproval (a) shall be given in the form of a written notice to such Lender, (b) shall be accompanied by a description of the matter or issue as to which such determination, approval, consent or disapproval is requested, or shall advise such Lender where information, if any, regarding such matter or issue may be inspected, or shall otherwise describe the matter or issue to be resolved, (c) shall include, if reasonably requested by such Lender and to the extent not previously provided to such Lender, written materials and, as appropriate, a brief summary of all oral information provided to the Administrative Agent by the Borrower in respect of the matter or issue to be resolved, and (d) shall include the Administrative Agent’s recommended course of action or determination in respect thereof.

 

b.             Notices; Effectiveness; Electronic Communication.

 

(a)           Notices Generally .  Except in the case of notices and other communications expressly permitted to be given by telephone (and except as provided in subsection (b)  below), all notices and other communications provided for herein shall be in writing and shall be delivered by hand or overnight courier service, mailed by certified or registered mail or sent by telecopier as follows, and all notices and other communications expressly permitted hereunder to be given by telephone shall be made to the applicable telephone number, as follows:

 

(i)            if to the Borrower or the Administrative Agent to the address, telecopier number, electronic mail address or telephone number specified for such Person on Schedule 11.02 ; and

 

(ii)           if to any other Lender, to the address, telecopier number, electronic mail address or telephone number specified in its Administrative Questionnaire (including, as appropriate, notices delivered solely to the Person designated by a Lender on its Administrative Questionnaire then in effect for the delivery of notices that may contain material non-public information relating to the Borrower).

 

Notices and other communications sent by hand or overnight courier service, or mailed by certified or registered mail, shall be deemed to have been given when received; notices and other communications sent by telecopier shall be deemed to have been given when sent (except that, if not given during normal business hours for the recipient, shall be deemed to have been given at the opening of business on the next business day for the recipient).  Notices and other communications delivered through electronic communications to the extent provided in subsection (b)  below, shall be effective as provided in such subsection (b) .

 

(b)           Electronic Communications .  Notices and other communications to the Lenders hereunder may be delivered or furnished by electronic communication (including e-mail and Internet or intranet websites) pursuant to procedures approved by the Administrative Agent, provided that the foregoing shall not apply to notices to any

 

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Lender pursuant to Article II if such Lender has notified the Administrative Agent that it is incapable of receiving notices under such Article by electronic communication.  The Administrative Agent or the Borrower may each, in its discretion, agree to accept notices and other communications to it hereunder by electronic communications pursuant to procedures approved by it; provided that approval of such procedures may be limited to particular notices or communications.

 

Unless the Administrative Agent otherwise prescribes, (i) notices and other communications sent to an e-mail address shall be deemed received upon the sender’s receipt of an acknowledgement from the intended recipient (such as by the “return receipt requested” function, as available, return e-mail or other written acknowledgement), and (ii) notices or communications posted to an Internet or intranet website shall be deemed received upon the deemed receipt by the intended recipient at its e-mail address as described in the foregoing clause (i)  of notification that such notice or communication is available and identifying the website address therefor; provided that , for both clauses (i)  and (ii) , if such notice, email or other communication is not sent during the normal business hours of the recipient, such notice, email or communication shall be deemed to have been sent at the opening of business on the next business day for the recipient.

 

(c)           The Platform .  THE PLATFORM IS PROVIDED “AS IS” AND “AS AVAILABLE.”  THE AGENT PARTIES (AS DEFINED BELOW) DO NOT WARRANT THE ACCURACY OR COMPLETENESS OF THE BORROWER MATERIALS OR THE ADEQUACY OF THE PLATFORM, AND EXPRESSLY DISCLAIM LIABILITY FOR ERRORS IN OR OMISSIONS FROM THE BORROWER MATERIALS.  NO WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS, IMPLIED OR STATUTORY, INCLUDING ANY WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, NON-INFRINGEMENT OF THIRD PARTY RIGHTS OR FREEDOM FROM VIRUSES OR OTHER CODE DEFECTS, IS MADE BY ANY AGENT PARTY IN CONNECTION WITH THE BORROWER MATERIALS OR THE PLATFORM.  In no event shall the Administrative Agent or any of its Related Parties (collectively, the “ Agent Parties ”) have any liability to the Borrower, any Lender or any other Person for losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses of any kind (whether in tort, contract or otherwise) arising out of the Borrower’s or the Administrative Agent’s transmission of the Borrower Materials through the Internet, except to the extent that such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses are determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by a final and nonappealable judgment to have resulted from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Agent Party; provided that in no event shall any Agent Party have any liability to the Borrower, any Lender or any other Person for indirect, special, incidental, consequential or punitive damages (as opposed to direct or actual damages) resulting therefrom.

 

(d)           Change of Address, Etc .  Each of the Borrower and the Administrative Agent may change its address, telecopier or telephone number for notices and other communications hereunder by notice to the other parties hereto.  Each other Lender may change its address, telecopier or telephone number for notices and other communications hereunder by notice to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent.  In addition, each

 

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Lender agrees to notify the Administrative Agent from time to time to ensure that the Administrative Agent has on record (i) an effective address, contact name, telephone number, telecopier number and electronic mail address to which notices and other communications may be sent and (ii) accurate wire instructions for such Lender.  Furthermore, each Public Lender agrees to cause at least one (1) individual at or on behalf of such Public Lender to at all times have selected the “Private Side Information” or similar designation on the content declaration screen of the Platform in order to enable such Public Lender or its delegate, in accordance with such Public Lender’s compliance procedures and applicable Law, including United States Federal and state securities Laws, to make reference to the Borrower Materials that are not made available through the “Public Side Information” portion of the Platform and that may contain material non-public information with respect to the Borrower or its Equity Interests for purposes of United States Federal or state securities laws.

 

(e)           Reliance by the Administrative Agent and the Lenders .  The Administrative Agent and the Lenders shall be entitled to rely and act upon any notices (including telephonic Committed Loan Notices) purportedly given by or on behalf of the Borrower even if (i) such notices were not made in a manner specified herein, were incomplete or were not preceded or followed by any other form of notice specified herein, or (ii) the terms thereof, as understood by the recipient, varied from any confirmation thereof.  The Borrower shall indemnify the Administrative Agent, each Lender and the Related Parties of each of them from all losses, costs, expenses and liabilities resulting from the reliance by such Person on each notice purportedly given by or on behalf of the Borrower.  All telephonic notices to and other telephonic communications with the Administrative Agent may be recorded by the Administrative Agent, and each of the parties hereto hereby consents to such recording.

 

c.             No Waiver; Cumulative Remedies; Enforcement .  No failure by any Lender or the Administrative Agent to exercise, and no delay by any such Person in exercising, any right, remedy, power or privilege hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof; nor shall any single or partial exercise of any right, remedy, power or privilege hereunder preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, remedy, power or privilege.  The rights, remedies, powers and privileges herein provided and provided under each other Loan Document are cumulative and not exclusive of any rights, remedies, powers and privileges provided by Law.

 

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein or in any other Loan Document, the authority to enforce rights and remedies hereunder and under the other Loan Documents against the Loan Parties or any of them shall be vested exclusively in, and all actions and proceedings at law in connection with such enforcement shall be instituted and maintained exclusively by, the Administrative Agent in accordance with Section 9.02 for the benefit of all the Lenders; provided that the foregoing shall not prohibit (a) the Administrative Agent from exercising on its own behalf the rights and remedies that inure to its benefit (solely in its capacity as the Administrative Agent) hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, (b) any Lender from exercising setoff rights in accordance with Section 11.08 (subject to the terms of Section 2.13 ), or (c) any Lender from filing proofs of claim or appearing and filing pleadings on its own behalf during the pendency of a proceeding relative to any Loan Party under any Debtor Relief

 

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Law; and provided , further , that if at any time there is no Person acting as the Administrative Agent hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, then (i) the Required Lenders shall have the rights otherwise ascribed to the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 9.02 and (ii) in addition to the matters set forth in clauses (b) , (c)  and (d)  of the preceding proviso and subject to Section 2.13 , any Lender may, with the consent of the Required Lenders, enforce any rights and remedies available to it and as authorized by the Required Lenders.

 

d.             Expenses; Indemnity; Damage Waiver.

 

(a)           Costs and Expenses .  Each Loan Party shall jointly and severally pay (i) all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent and its Affiliates (including (a) the reasonable fees, charges and disbursements of counsel for the Administrative Agent; (b) fees and charges of each consultant, inspector, and engineer; (c) uniform commercial code searches; (d) judgment and tax lien searches for the Borrower and each Guarantor; (e) escrow fees; and (f) documentary taxes, in connection with the initial syndication of the credit facilities provided for herein, the preparation, negotiation, execution, delivery and administration of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents or any amendments, modifications or waivers of the provisions hereof or thereof (whether or not the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby shall be consummated), (ii)  all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent or any Lender (including the reasonable fees, charges and disbursements of any counsel for the Administrative Agent or any Lender (only if a Default shall be in existence)), in connection with the enforcement or protection of its rights (A) in connection with this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, including its rights under this Section, or (B) in connection with the Loans made hereunder, including all such out-of-pocket expenses incurred during any workout, restructuring or negotiations in respect of such Loans; provided, however that the Borrower shall not be required to pay the expenses of more than one law firm acting as counsel for the Lenders (in addition to expenses for any appropriate local or special counsel) in connection with such workout or enforcement to the extent the Lenders reasonably determine that joint representation is appropriate under the circumstances.

 

(b)           Indemnification .  The Parent and the Borrower shall jointly and severally indemnify the Administrative Agent (and any sub-agent thereof), each Lender, and each Related Party of any of the foregoing Persons (each such Person being called an “ Indemnitee ”) against, and hold each Indemnitee harmless from, any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities and related expenses (including the reasonable fees, charges and disbursements of any counsel for any Indemnitee), incurred by any Indemnitee or asserted against any Indemnitee by any third party or by the Borrower or any other Loan Party resulting from any action, suit, or proceeding relating to (i) the execution or delivery of this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any agreement or instrument contemplated hereby or thereby, the performance by the parties hereto of their respective obligations hereunder or thereunder, the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, or, in the case of the Administrative Agent (and any sub-agent thereof) and its Related Parties only, the administration of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents (including in respect of any matters addressed in Section 3.01 ), (ii) any Loan or the use or proposed use of the proceeds therefrom, (iii) any actual or alleged presence

 

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or release of Hazardous Materials on or from any property owned or operated by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, or any Environmental Damages related in any way to the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, or (iv) any actual or prospective claim, litigation, investigation or proceeding relating to any of the foregoing, whether based on contract, tort or any other theory, whether brought by a third party or by the Borrower or any other Loan Party, and regardless of whether any Indemnitee is a party thereto; provided that such indemnity shall not, as to any Indemnitee, be available to the extent that such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or related expenses (w) are determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by final and nonappealable judgment to have resulted from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Indemnitee or any Related Party of such Indemnitee, (x) result from a claim brought by the Borrower or any other Loan Party against an Indemnitee for breach in bad faith of such Indemnitee’s obligations hereunder or under any other Loan Document, if the Borrower or such other Loan Party has obtained a final and nonappealable judgment in its favor on such claim as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction, (y) for which an Indemnitee has been compensated pursuant to the terms of this Agreement or the Fee Letter, or (z) to the extent based upon contractual obligations of such Indemnitee owing by such Indemnitee to any third party which are not expressly set forth in this Agreement.

 

(c)            Reserved .

 

(d)           Reimbursement by the Lenders .  To the extent that the Loan Parties for any reason fail to indefeasibly pay any amount required under subsection (a)  or (b)  of this Section to be paid by the Loan Parties to the Administrative Agent (or any sub-agent thereof), or any Related Party of any of the foregoing (and without limiting their obligation to do so), each Lender severally agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent (or any such sub-agent) or such Related Party, as the case may be, such Lender’s pro rata share (determined as of the time that the applicable unreimbursed expense or indemnity payment is sought based on each Lender’s Applicable Percentage) of such unpaid amount (including any such unpaid amount in respect of a claim asserted by such Lender), such payment to be made severally among them based on such Lenders’ Applicable Percentage (determined as of the time that the applicable unreimbursed expense or indemnity payment is sought) of such unpaid amount, provided that the unreimbursed expense or indemnified loss, claim, damage, liability or related expense, as the case may be, was incurred by or asserted against the Administrative Agent (or any such sub-agent), or against any Related Party of any of the foregoing acting for the Administrative Agent (or any such sub-agent), in connection with such capacity.  The obligations of the Lenders under this subsection (c)  are subject to the provisions of Section 2.12(d) .

 

(e)           Waiver of Consequential Damages, Etc.   To the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law, no Loan Party shall assert, and each Loan Party hereby waives and acknowledges that no other Person shall have, any claim against any Indemnitee, on any theory of liability, for special, indirect, consequential or punitive damages (as opposed to direct or actual damages) arising out of, in connection with, or as a result of, this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any agreement or instrument contemplated hereby, the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, any Loan or the use of the proceeds thereof.  No Indemnitee referred to in subsection (b)  above shall be liable for

 

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any damages arising from the use by unintended recipients of any information or other materials distributed to such unintended recipients by such Indemnitee through telecommunications, electronic or other information transmission systems in connection with this Agreement or the other Loan Documents or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby other than for direct or actual damages resulting from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Indemnitee as determined by a final and nonappealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction.

 

(f)            Payments .  All amounts due under this Section  shall be payable not later than ten (10) Business Days after demand therefor.

 

(g)           Survival .  The agreements in this Section and the indemnity provisions of Section 11.02(e)  shall survive the resignation of the Administrative Agent, the replacement of any Lender, the termination of the Aggregate Commitments, and the repayment, satisfaction or discharge of all the other Obligations.

 

e.             Payments Set Aside .  To the extent that any payment by or on behalf of the Borrower is made to the Administrative Agent or any Lender, or the Administrative Agent or any Lender exercises its right of setoff, and such payment or the proceeds of such setoff or any part thereof is subsequently invalidated, declared to be fraudulent or preferential, set aside or required (including pursuant to any settlement entered into by the Administrative Agent or such Lender in its discretion) to be repaid to a trustee, receiver or any other party, in connection with any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law or otherwise, then (a) to the extent of such recovery, the obligation or part thereof originally intended to be satisfied shall be revived and continued in full force and effect as if such payment had not been made or such setoff had not occurred, and (b) each Lender severally agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent upon demand its applicable share (without duplication) of any amount so recovered from or repaid by the Administrative Agent (without relieving the Borrower of its obligation to make any such payment so required), plus interest thereon from the date of such demand to the date such payment is made at a rate per annum equal to the Federal Funds Rate from time to time in effect.  The obligations of the Lenders under clause (b)  of the preceding sentence shall survive the payment in full of the Obligations and the termination of this Agreement.

 

f.             Successors and Assigns.

 

(a)           Successors and Assigns Generally .  The provisions of this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby, except that neither the Borrower nor any other Loan Party may assign or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent and each Lender and no Lender may assign or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations hereunder except (i) to an assignee in accordance with the provisions of subsection (b)  of this Section, (ii) by way of participation in accordance with the provisions of subsection (d)  of this Section, or (iii) by way of pledge or assignment of a security interest subject to the restrictions of subsection (e)  of this Section (and any other attempted assignment or transfer by any party hereto shall be null and void).  Nothing in this Agreement, expressed or implied, shall be construed to confer upon any Person (other than the parties

 

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hereto, their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby, Participants to the extent provided in subsection (d)  of this Section and, to the extent expressly contemplated hereby, the Related Parties of each of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders) any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or by reason of this Agreement.

 

(b)           Assignments by the Lenders .  Any Lender may, at no cost or expense to any Loan Party (except as provided in Section 11.13 ), at any time assign to one or more assignees all or a portion of its rights and obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Commitment and the Loans at the time owing to it); provided that any such assignment shall be subject to the following conditions:

 

(i)            Minimum Amounts .

 

i)              in the case of an assignment of the entire remaining amount of the assigning Lender’s Commitment and/or the Loans at the time owing to it or contemporaneous assignments to related Approved Funds that equal at least the amount specified in paragraph (b)(i)(B) of this Section in the aggregate or in the case of an assignment to a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund, no minimum amount need be assigned (but any such assignment shall be of a pro rata interest in each of the Loans; and

 

ii)             in any case not described in subsection (b)(i)(A)  of this Section, the aggregate amount of the Commitment (which for this purpose includes Loans outstanding thereunder) or, if the Commitment is not then in effect, the principal outstanding balance of the Loans of the assigning Lender subject to each such assignment, determined as of the date the Assignment and Assumption with respect to such assignment is delivered to the Administrative Agent or, if “Trade Date” is specified in the Assignment and Assumption, as of the Trade Date, shall not be less than $5,000,000 and shall be an assignment of a pro rata interest in each of the Loans, and the amount assigned to the Eligible Assignee shall not be less than $5,000,000, unless each of the Administrative Agent and, so long as no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Borrower otherwise consents (each such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed); provided that concurrent assignments to members of an Assignee Group and concurrent assignments from members of an Assignee Group to a single Eligible Assignee (or to an Eligible Assignee and members of its Assignee Group) will be treated as a single assignment for purposes of determining whether such minimum amount has been met.

 

(ii)           Proportionate Amounts .  Each partial assignment shall be made as an assignment of a proportionate part of all the assigning Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement with respect to the Loans or the Commitment assigned;

 

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(iii)          Required Consents .  No consent shall be required for any assignment except to the extent required by subsection (b)(i)(B)  of this Section and, in addition:

 

i)              the consent of the Borrower (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) shall be required unless (1) an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing at the time of such assignment or (2) such assignment is to a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender, an Approved Fund or to any Federal Reserve Bank or other central bank authority or comparable agency having jurisdiction over such Lender; provided that the Borrower shall be deemed to have consented to any such assignment unless it shall object thereto by written notice to the Administrative Agent within ten (10) Business Days after having received notice thereof; and

 

ii)             the consent of the Administrative Agent (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) shall be required if such assignment is to a Person that is not a Lender, an Affiliate of such Lender or an Approved Fund with respect to such Lender.

 

(iv)          Assignment and Assumption .  The parties to each assignment shall execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent an Assignment and Assumption, together with a processing and recordation fee in the amount of $3,500; provided that the Administrative Agent may, in its sole discretion, elect to waive such processing and recordation fee in the case of any assignment.  The assignee, if it is not a Lender, shall deliver to the Administrative Agent an Administrative Questionnaire.

 

(v)           No Assignment to Certain Persons .  No such assignment shall be made (A) to the Parent or the Borrower or any of their Affiliates or Subsidiaries, or (B) without the consent of the Administrative Agent and the Borrower, to any Defaulting Lender or any of its Subsidiaries, or any Person who, upon becoming a Lender hereunder, would constitute any of the foregoing Persons described in this clause (B) , (C) to a natural person, or (D) without the consent of the Borrower, to any Excluded Party.

 

(vi)          Certain Additional Payments .  In connection with any assignment of rights and obligations of any Defaulting Lender hereunder, no such assignment shall be effective unless and until, in addition to the other conditions thereto set forth herein, the parties to the assignment shall make such additional payments to the Administrative Agent in an aggregate amount sufficient, upon distribution thereof as appropriate (which may be outright payment, purchases by the assignee of participations or sub-participations, or other compensating actions, including funding, with the consent of the Borrower and the Administrative Agent, the applicable pro rata share of Loans previously requested but not funded by the Defaulting Lender, to each of which the applicable assignee and assignor hereby irrevocably consent), to (x) pay and satisfy in full all payment liabilities then owed by such Defaulting Lender to the Administrative Agent or any Lender

 

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hereunder (and interest accrued thereon) and (y) acquire (and fund as appropriate) its full pro rata share of all Loans in accordance with its Applicable Percentage.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that any assignment of rights and obligations of any Defaulting Lender hereunder shall become effective under applicable Law without compliance with the provisions of this paragraph, then the assignee of such interest shall be deemed to be a Defaulting Lender for all purposes of this Agreement until such compliance occurs.

 

Subject to acceptance and recording thereof by the Administrative Agent pursuant to subsection (c)  of this Section, from and after the effective date specified in each Assignment and Assumption, the assignee thereunder shall be a party to this Agreement and, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Assumption, have the rights and obligations of a Lender under this Agreement, and the assigning Lender thereunder shall, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Assumption, be released from its obligations under this Agreement (and, in the case of an Assignment and Assumption covering all of the assigning Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement, such Lender shall cease to be a party hereto) but shall continue to be entitled to the benefits of Sections 3.01, 3.04 , 3.05 , and 11.04 with respect to facts and circumstances occurring prior to the effective date of such assignment, provided, that except to the extent otherwise expressly agreed by the affected parties, no assignment by a Defaulting Lender will constitute a waiver or release of any claim of any party hereunder arising from that Lender’s having been a Defaulting Lender.  Upon request, the Borrower (at its expense) shall execute and deliver a Note to the assignee Lender.  Any assignment or transfer by a Lender of rights or obligations under this Agreement that does not comply with this subsection shall be treated for purposes of this Agreement as a sale by such Lender of a participation in such rights and obligations in accordance with subsection (d)  of this Section.

 

(c)                                   Register .  The Administrative Agent, acting solely for this purpose as a non-fiduciary agent of the Borrower (and such agency being solely for tax purposes), shall maintain at the Administrative Agent’s Office a copy of each Assignment and Assumption delivered to it (or the equivalent thereof in electronic form) and a register for the recordation of the names and addresses of the Lenders, and the Commitments of, and principal amounts (and stated interest) of the Loans owing to, each Lender pursuant to the terms hereof from time to time (the “ Register ”).  The entries in the Register shall be conclusive absent manifest error, and the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders may treat each Person whose name is recorded in the Register pursuant to the terms hereof as a Lender hereunder for all purposes of this Agreement .   The Register shall be available for inspection by the Borrower and any Lender, at any reasonable time and from time to time upon reasonable prior notice.

 

(d)                                  Participations . Any Lender may at any time, without the consent of, or notice to, the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, sell participations to any Person (other than a natural person, an Excluded Party, a Defaulting Lender or the Parent or the Borrower or any of their Affiliates or Subsidiaries) (each, a “ Participant ”) in all or a portion of such Lender’s rights and/or obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Commitment and/or the Loans owing to it); provided that (i) such

 

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Lender’s obligations under this Agreement shall remain unchanged, (ii) such Lender shall remain solely responsible to the other parties hereto for the performance of such obligations and (iii) the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the Lenders shall continue to deal solely and directly with such Lender in connection with such Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement.  For the avoidance of doubt, each Lender shall be responsible for the indemnity under Section 11.04(d)  without regard to the existence of any participation.

 

Any agreement or instrument pursuant to which a Lender sells such a participation shall provide that such Lender shall retain the sole right to enforce this Agreement and to approve any amendment, modification or waiver of any  provision of this Agreement; provided that such agreement or instrument may provide that such Lender will not, without the consent of the Participant, agree to any amendment, waiver or other modification described in the first proviso to Section 11.01 that affects such Participant.  The Borrower agrees that each Participant shall be entitled to the benefits of Sections 3.01 , 3.04 and 3.05 to the same extent as if it were a Lender and had acquired its interest by assignment pursuant to subsection (b) of this Section (it being understood that the documentation required under Section 3.01(e)  shall be delivered to the Lender who sells the participation); provided that such Participant (A) agrees to be subject to the provisions of Section s 3.06 and 11.13 as if it were an assignee under paragraph (b) of this Section and (B) shall not be entitled to receive any greater payment under Sections 3.01 or 3.04 , with respect to any participation than the Lender from whom it acquired the applicable participation would have been entitled to receive, except to the extent such entitlement to receive a greater payment results from a Change in Law that occurs after the Participant acquired the applicable participation.  Each Lender that sells a participation agrees, at the Borrower’s request and expense, to use reasonable efforts to cooperate with the Borrower to effectuate the provisions of Section 3.06 with respect to any Participant.  To the extent permitted by law, each Participant also shall be entitled to the benefits of Section  11.08 as though it were a Lender; provided that such Participant agrees to be subject to Section 2.13 as though it were a Lender. Each Lender that sells a participation shall, acting solely for this purpose as a non-fiduciary agent of the Borrower, maintain a register on which it enters the name and address of each Participant and the principal amounts (and stated interest) of each Participant’s interest in the Loans or other obligations under the Loan Documents (the “ Participant Register ”); provided that no Lender shall have any obligation to disclose all or any portion of the Participant Register (including the identity of any Participant or any information relating to a Participant’s interest in any commitments, loans, letters of credit or its other obligations under any Loan Document) to any Person except to the extent that such disclosure is necessary to establish that such commitment, loan, letter of credit or other obligation is in registered form under Section 5f.103-1(c)  of the United States Treasury Regulations.  The entries in the Participant Register shall be conclusive absent manifest error, and such Lender shall treat each Person whose name is recorded in the Participant Register as the owner of such participation for all purposes of this Agreement notwithstanding any notice to the contrary.  For the avoidance of doubt, the Administrative Agent (in its capacity as the Administrative Agent) shall have no responsibility for maintaining a Participant Register.

 

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(e)                                   Certain Pledges .  Any Lender may at any time pledge or assign a security interest in all or any portion of its rights under this Agreement (including under its Note, if any) to secure obligations of such Lender, including any pledge or assignment to secure obligations to a Federal Reserve Bank or other central bank authority or comparable agency having jurisdiction over such lender; provided that no such pledge or assignment shall release such Lender from any of its obligations hereunder or substitute any such pledgee or assignee for such Lender as a party hereto.

 

(f)                                    Reserved .

 

(g)                                   USA Patriot Act Notice; Compliance .  In order for the Administrative Agent to comply with “know your customer” and anti-money laundering rules and regulations, including without limitation, the Patriot Act, prior to any Lender that is organized under the laws of a jurisdiction outside of the United States of America becoming a party hereto, the Administrative Agent may request, and such Lender shall provide to the Administrative Agent, its name, address, tax identification number and/or such other identification information as shall be necessary for the Administrative Agent to comply with federal law.

 

g.                                        Treatment of Certain Information; Confidentiality.  Each of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders agrees to maintain the confidentiality of the Information (as defined below), except that Information may be disclosed (a) to its Affiliates and to its Related Parties (it being understood that the Persons to whom such disclosure is made will be informed of the confidential nature of such Information and instructed to keep such Information confidential), (b) to the extent required or requested by any regulatory authority purporting to have jurisdiction over such Person or its Related Parties (including any self-regulatory authority, such as the National Association of Insurance Commissioners), (c) to the extent required by applicable Laws or regulations or by any subpoena or similar legal process so long as the Administrative Agent and any Lender, as the case may be, requests confidential treatment of such Information to the extent permitted by Law (provided that the requesting Administrative Agent or Lender shall not be responsible for the failure by any such party to keep the Information confidential), (d) to any other party hereto, (e) in connection with the exercise of any remedies hereunder or under any other Loan Document or any action or proceeding relating to this Agreement or any other Loan Document or the enforcement of rights hereunder or thereunder, (f) subject to an agreement containing provisions substantially the same as those of this Section, to (i) any assignee of or Participant in, or any prospective assignee of or Participant in, any of its rights and obligations under this Agreement or any Eligible Assignee invited to be a Lender pursuant to Section  3.06 (c), Section 11. 13 or (ii) any actual or prospective party (or its Related Parties) to any swap, derivative or other transaction under which payments are to be made by reference to the Borrower and its obligations, this Agreement or payments hereunder, (g) on a confidential basis to (i)  any rating agency in connection with rating the Borrower or its Subsidiaries or the credit facilities provided hereunder or (ii) the CUSIP Service Bureau or any similar agency in connection with the issuance and monitoring of CUSIP numbers or other market identifiers with respect to the credit facilities provided hereunder, (h) with the consent of the Borrower or (i) to the extent such Information (x) becomes publicly available other than as a result of a breach of this Section or (y) becomes available to the Administrative Agent, any Lender or any of their respective Affiliates on a non-confidential basis from a source other than the Borrower provided

 

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that the source of such information was not at the time known to be bound by a confidentiality agreement or other legal or contractual obligation of confidentiality with respect to such Information.  For purposes of this Section, “Information” means all information received from the Borrower or any Subsidiary relating to the Borrower or any Subsidiary or any of their respective businesses, other than any such information that is available to the Administrative Agent or any Lender on a non-confidential basis prior to disclosure by the Borrower or any Subsidiary, provided that, in the case of information received from the Borrower or any Subsidiary after the date hereof, such information is clearly identified at the time of delivery as confidential.  Any Person required to maintain the confidentiality of Information as provided in this Section shall be considered to have complied with its obligation to do so if such Person has exercised the same degree of care to maintain the confidentiality of such Information as such Person would accord to its own confidential information.

 

Each of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders acknowledges that (a) the Information may include material non-public information concerning the Borrower or a Subsidiary, as the case may be, (b) it has developed compliance procedures regarding the use of material non-public information and (c) it will handle such material non-public information in accordance with applicable Law, including United States Federal and state securities Laws.

 

h.                                       Right of Setoff .  .    If  an  Event  of  Default  shall  have  occurred and be continuing and the Administrative Agent and the Required Lenders shall have consented in writing thereto, each Lender and each of their respective Affiliates (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any Specified Derivatives Providers) is hereby authorized at any time and from time to time, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, to set off and apply any and all deposits (general or special, time or demand, provisional or final, in whatever currency) at any time held and other obligations (in whatever currency) at any time owing by such Lender or any such Affiliate to or for the credit or the account of the Borrower or any other Loan Party against any and all of the obligations of the Borrower or such Loan Party now or hereafter existing under this Agreement or any other Loan Document to such Lender or their respective Affiliates, irrespective of whether or not such Lender or Affiliate shall have made any demand under this Agreement or any other Loan Document and although such obligations of the Borrower or such Loan Party may be  contingent or unmatured or are owed to a branch, office or Affiliate of such Lender different from the branch, office or Affiliate holding such deposit or obligated on such indebtedness; provided, that in the event that any Defaulting Lender shall exercise any such right of setoff, (x) all amounts so set off shall be paid over immediately to the Administrative Agent for further application in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.17 and, pending such payment, shall be segregated by such Defaulting Lender from its other funds and deemed held in trust for the benefit of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders, and (y) the Defaulting Lender shall provide promptly to the Administrative Agent a statement describing in reasonable detail the Obligations owing to such Defaulting Lender as to which it  exercised  such right of setoff. The rights of each Lender and their respective Affiliates under this Section are in addition to other rights and remedies (including other rights of setoff) that such Lender or their respective Affiliates may have. Each Lender agrees to notify the Borrower and the Administrative Agent promptly after any such setoff and application, provided that the failure to give such notice shall not affect the validity of such setoff and application.

 

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i.                                           Interest Rate Limitation.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in any Loan Document, the interest paid or agreed to be paid under the Loan Documents shall not exceed the maximum rate of non-usurious interest permitted by applicable Law (the “ Maximum Rate ”).  If the Administrative Agent or any Lender shall receive interest in an amount that exceeds the Maximum Rate, the excess interest shall be applied to the principal of the Loans or, if it exceeds such unpaid principal, refunded to the Borrower.  In determining whether the interest contracted for, charged, or received by the Administrative Agent or a Lender exceeds the Maximum Rate, such Person may, to the extent permitted by applicable Law, (a) characterize any payment that is not principal as an expense, fee, or premium rather than interest, (b) exclude voluntary prepayments and the effects thereof, and (c) amortize, prorate, allocate, and spread in equal or unequal parts the total amount of interest throughout the contemplated term of the Obligations hereunder.

 

j.                                          Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness.  This Agreement may be executed in counterparts (and by different parties hereto in different counterparts), each of which shall constitute an original, but all of which when taken together shall constitute a single contract.  This Agreement and the other Loan Documents , and any separate letter agreements with respect to fees payable to the Administrative Agent constitute the entire contract among the parties relating to the subject matter hereof and supersede any and all previous agreements and understandings, oral or written, relating to the subject matter hereof.  Except as provided in Section 5.01 , this Agreement shall become effective when it shall have been executed by the Administrative Agent and when the Administrative Agent shall have received counterparts hereof that, when taken together, bear the signatures of each of the other parties hereto.  Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page of this Agreement by telecopy, by email with a pdf copy attached, or other electronic imaging means shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Agreement.

 

k.                                       Survival of Representations and Warranties.  All representations and warranties made hereunder and in any other Loan Document or other document delivered pursuant hereto or thereto or in connection herewith or therewith shall survive the execution and delivery hereof and thereof.  Such representations and warranties have been or will be relied upon by the Administrative Agent and each Lender, regardless of any investigation made by the Administrative Agent or any Lender or on their behalf and notwithstanding that the Administrative Agent or any Lender may have had notice or knowledge of any Default at the time of any Credit Extension, and shall continue in full force and effect as long as any Loan or any other Obligation hereunder shall remain unpaid or unsatisfied.

 

l.                                           Severability.  If any provision of this Agreement or the other Loan Documents is held to be illegal, invalid or unenforceable, (a) the legality, validity and enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents shall not be affected or impaired thereby and (b) the parties shall endeavor in good faith negotiations to replace the illegal, invalid or unenforceable provisions with valid provisions the economic effect of which comes as close as possible to that of the illegal, invalid or unenforceable provisions.  The invalidity of a provision in a particular jurisdiction shall not invalidate or render unenforceable such provision in any other jurisdiction.  Without limiting the foregoing provisions of this Section 11.12 , if and to the extent that the enforceability of any provisions in this Agreement relating to Defaulting Lenders shall be limited by Debtor Relief Laws, as determined in good

 

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faith by the Administrative Agent then such provisions shall be deemed to be in effect only to the extent not so limited.

 

m.                                   Replacement of the Lenders.  If the Borrower is entitled to replace a Lender pursuant to the provisions of Section 3.06 , or if any Lender is a Defaulting Lender or if any other circumstance exists hereunder that gives the Borrower the right to replace a Lender as a party hereto, then the Borrower may, at its sole expense and effort, upon notice to such Lender and the Administrative Agent, require such Lender to assign and delegate, without recourse (in accordance with and subject to the restrictions contained in, and consents required by, Section 11.06 ), all of its interests, rights (other than its existing rights to payments pursuant to Sections 3.01 , 3.04 and 3.05 ) and obligations under this Agreement and the related Loan Documents to an Eligible Assignee that shall assume such obligations (which assignee may be another Lender, if a Lender accepts such assignment), provided that:

 

(a)                                  the Borrower shall have paid to the Administrative Agent the assignment fee (if any) specified in Section 11.06(b) ;

 

(b)                                  such Lender shall have received payment of an amount equal to the outstanding principal of its Loans, accrued interest thereon, accrued fees and all other amounts payable to it hereunder and under the other Loan Documents (including any amounts under Section 3.05 ) from the assignee (to the extent of such outstanding principal and accrued interest and fees) or the Borrower (in the case of all other amounts);

 

(c)                                   in the case of any such assignment resulting from a claim for compensation under Section 3.04 or payments required to be made pursuant to Section 3.01 , such assignment will result in a reduction in such compensation or payments thereafter; and

 

(d)                                  such assignment does not conflict with applicable Laws.

 

(e)                                   A Lender shall not be required to make any such assignment or delegation if, prior thereto, as a result of a waiver by such Lender or otherwise, the circumstances entitling the Borrower to require such assignment and delegation cease to apply.

 

n.                                       Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Etc.

 

(a)                                  GOVERNING LAW .  THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS AND ANY CLAIMS, CONTROVERSY, DISPUTE OR CAUSE OF ACTION (WHETHER IN CONTRACT OR TORT OR OTHERWISE) BASED UPON, ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT (EXCEPT, AS TO ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT, AS EXPRESSLY SET FORTH THEREIN) AND THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY AND THEREBY SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

 

(b)                                  SUBMISSION TO JURISDICTION .  THE BORROWER AND EACH OTHER LOAN PARTY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY AGREES

 

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THAT IT WILL NOT COMMENCE ANY ACTION, LITIGATION OR PROCEEDING OF ANY KIND OR DESCRIPTION, WHETHER IN LAW OR EQUITY, WHETHER IN CONTRACT OR IN TORT OR OTHERWISE, AGAINST THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT, ANY LENDER OR ANY RELATED PARTY OF THE FOREGOING IN ANY WAY RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS RELATING HERETO OR THERETO, IN ANY FORUM OTHER THAN THE COURTS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK COUNTY AND OF THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT OF THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK, AND ANY APPELLATE COURT FROM ANY THEREOF, AND EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY SUBMITS TO THE JURISDICTION OF SUCH COURTS  AND AGREES THAT ALL CLAIMS IN RESPECT OF ANY SUCH ACTION, LITIGATION OR PROCEEDING MAY BE HEARD AND DETERMINED IN SUCH NEW YORK STATE COURT OR, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, IN SUCH FEDERAL COURT.  EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO AGREES THAT A FINAL JUDGMENT IN ANY SUCH ACTION, LITIGATION OR PROCEEDING SHALL BE CONCLUSIVE AND MAY BE ENFORCED IN OTHER JURISDICTIONS BY SUIT ON THE JUDGMENT OR IN ANY OTHER MANNER PROVIDED BY LAW.  NOTHING IN THIS AGREEMENT OR IN ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT SHALL AFFECT ANY RIGHT THAT THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT OR ANY LENDER MAY OTHERWISE HAVE TO BRING ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT AGAINST THE BORROWER OR ANY OTHER LOAN PARTY OR ITS PROPERTIES IN THE COURTS OF ANY JURISDICTION.

 

(c)                                   WAIVER OF VENUE .  EACH OF THE PARENT, THE BORROWER AND EACH OTHER LOAN PARTY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY OBJECTION THAT IT MAY NOW OR HEREAFTER HAVE TO THE LAYING OF VENUE OF ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT IN ANY COURT REFERRED TO IN PARAGRAPH (b) OF THIS SECTION.  EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, THE DEFENSE OF AN INCONVENIENT FORUM TO THE MAINTENANCE OF SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING IN ANY SUCH COURT.

 

(d)                                  SERVICE OF PROCESS .  EACH PARTY HERETO IRREVOCABLY CONSENTS TO SERVICE OF PROCESS IN THE MANNER PROVIDED FOR NOTICES IN SECTION 11.02 PROVIDED THAT, IN THE CASE OF SERVICE ON ANY LOAN PARTY A COPY IS ALSO DELIVERED TO JEFFREY SULLIVAN, GENERAL COUNSEL FOR PARENT AND BORROWER.  NOTHING IN THIS AGREEMENT WILL AFFECT THE RIGHT OF ANY PARTY HERETO TO SERVE PROCESS IN ANY OTHER MANNER PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW.

 

(e)                                   WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL .  EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY

 

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APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR THEREBY (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT OR ANY OTHER THEORY).  EACH PARTY HERETO (A) CERTIFIES THAT NO REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF ANY OTHER PERSON HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PERSON WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER AND (B) ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT AND THE OTHER PARTIES HERETO HAVE BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION.

 

o.                                       No Advisory or Fiduciary Responsibility.  In connection with all aspects of each transaction contemplated hereby (including in connection with any amendment, waiver or other modification hereof or of any other Loan Document), the Parent, the Borrower, and each other Loan Party acknowledges and agrees, and acknowledges its Affiliates’ understanding, that: (i)(A) the arranging and other services regarding this Agreement provided by the Administrative Agent and the Lead Arrangers are arm’s-length commercial transactions between the Parent, the Borrower, each other Loan Party and their respective Affiliates, on the one hand, and the Administrative Agent and the Lead Arrangers, on the other hand, (B) each of the Parent, the Borrower, and the other Loan Parties has consulted its own legal, accounting, regulatory and tax advisors to the extent it has deemed appropriate, and (C) the Borrower and each other Loan Party is capable of evaluating, and understands and accepts, the terms, risks and conditions of the transactions contemplated hereby and by the other Loan Documents; (ii)(A) each of the Administrative Agent, the Lead Arrangers and the Lenders is and has been acting solely as a principal and, except as expressly agreed in writing by the relevant parties, has not been, is not, and will not be acting as an advisor, agent or fiduciary for the Parent, the Borrower, any other Loan Party, or any of their respective Affiliates, or any other Person and (B) the Administrative Agent, the Lead Arrangers and the Lender have no obligation to the Parent, the Borrower, any other Loan Party, or any of their respective Affiliates with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby except those obligations expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents; and (iii) the Administrative Agent, the Lead Arrangers and the Lenders and their respective Affiliates may be engaged in a broad range of transactions that involve interests that differ from those of the Parent, the Borrower, the other Loan Parties, and their respective Affiliates, and the Administrative Agent, the Lead Arrangers and the Lenders have no obligation to disclose any of such interests to the Parent, the Borrower, any other Loan Party, or any of their respective Affiliates.  To the fullest extent permitted by Law, each of the Parent, the Borrower, and the other Loan Parties hereby waives and releases any claims that it may have against the Administrative Agent and the Lead Arrangers with respect to any breach or alleged breach of agency or fiduciary duty in connection with any aspect of any transaction contemplated hereby.

 

p.                                       Electronic Execution of Assignments and Certain Other Documents.  The words “execution,” “signed,” “signature,” and words of like import in any Assignment and Assumption or in any amendment or other modification hereof (including waivers and consents) shall be deemed to include electronic signatures , the electronic matching or assignment terms and contract formations on electronic platforms approved by the Administrative Agent or the keeping

 

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of records in electronic form, each of which shall be of the same legal effect, validity or enforceability as a manually executed signature or the use of a paper-based recordkeeping system, as the case may be, to the extent and as provided for in any applicable Law, including the Federal Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act, the New York State Electronic Signatures and Records Act, or any other similar state laws based on the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act.

 

q.                                       USA PATRIOT ACT.  Each Lender that is subject to the Patriot Act (as hereinafter defined) and the Administrative Agent (for itself and not on behalf of any Lender) hereby notifies the Borrower that pursuant to the requirements of The Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001 (Title III of Pub. L. No. 107-56 (signed into law October 26, 2001)) (the “ Patriot Act ”), it is required to obtain, verify and record certain information that identifies individuals or business entities which open an “account” with such financial institution, which information includes the name, address, and tax identification number of the Borrower and such other identification information that will allow such Lender or the Administrative Agent, as applicable, to identify the Borrower in accordance with the Patriot Act and comply with federal law.  An “account” for this purpose may include, without limitation, a deposit account, cash management service, a transaction or asset account, a credit account, a loan or other extension of credit, and/or other financial services product. the Borrower shall, promptly following a request by the Administrative Agent or any Lender, provide all documentation and other information that the Administrative Agent or such Lender requests in order to comply with its ongoing obligations under applicable “know your customer” and anti-money laundering rules and regulations, including the Patriot Act.

 

r.                                          ENTIRE AGREEMENT.  THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS REPRESENT THE FINAL AGREEMENT AMONG THE PARTIES AND MAY NOT BE CONTRADICTED BY EVIDENCE OF PRIOR, CONTEMPORANEOUS, OR SUBSEQUENT ORAL AGREEMENTS OF THE PARTIES.  THERE ARE NO UNWRITTEN ORAL AGREEMENTS AMONG THE PARTIES.

 

11.19 Acknowledgment and Consent to Bail-In of EEA Financial Institutions.   Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in any Loan Document or in any other agreement, arrangement or understanding among any such parties, each party hereto acknowledges that any liability of any EEA Financial Institution arising under any Loan Document may be subject to the Write-Down and Conversion Powers of an EEA Resolution Authority and agrees and consents to, and acknowledges and agrees to be bound by:

 

(a)                                  the application of any Write-Down and Conversion Powers by an EEA Resolution Authority to any such liabilities arising hereunder which may be payable to it by any party hereto that is an EEA Financial Institution; and

 

(b)                                  the effects of any Bail-In Action on any such liability, including, if applicable:

 

(i)                                      a reduction in full or in part or cancellation of any such liability;

 

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(ii)                                   a conversion of all, or a portion of, such liability into shares or other instruments of ownership in such EEA Financial Institution, its parent entity, or a bridge institution that may be issued to it or otherwise conferred on it, and that such shares or other instruments of ownership will be accepted by it in lieu of any rights with respect to any such liability under this Agreement or any other Loan Document; or

 

(iii)                                the variation of the terms of such liability in connection with the exercise of the Write-Down and Conversion Powers of any EEA Resolution Authority.

 

s.                                                                                                                 Certain ERISA Matters.

 

(a) Each Lender (x) represents and warrants, as of the date such Person became a Lender party hereto, to, and (y) covenants, from the date such Person became a Lender party hereto to the date such Person ceases being a Lender party hereto, for the benefit of, the Administrative Agent, each Lead Arranger and their respective Affiliates, and not, for the avoidance of doubt, to or for the benefit of the Borrower or any other Loan Party, that at least one of the following is and will be true:

 

(i)                                      such Lender is not using “plan assets” (within the meaning of 29 CFR § 2510.3-101, as modified by Section 3(42) of ERISA) of one or more Benefit Plans in connection with the Loans or the Commitments;

 

(ii)                                   the transaction exemption set forth in one or more PTEs, such as PTE 84-14 (a class exemption for certain transactions determined by independent qualified professional asset managers), PTE 95-60 (a class exemption for certain transactions involving insurance company general accounts), PTE 90-1 (a class exemption for certain transactions involving insurance company pooled separate accounts), PTE 91-38 (a class exemption for certain transactions involving bank collective investment funds) or PTE 96-23 (a class exemption for certain transactions determined by in-house asset managers), is applicable with respect to such Lender’s entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Commitments and this Agreement;

 

(iii)                                (A) such Lender is an investment fund managed by a “Qualified Professional Asset Manager” (within the meaning of Part VI of PTE 84-14), (B) such Qualified Professional Asset Manager made the investment decision on behalf of such Lender to enter into, participate in, administer and perform the Loans, the Commitments and this Agreement, (C) the entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Commitments and this Agreement satisfies the requirements of sub-sections (b) through (g) of Part I of PTE 84-14 and (D) to the best knowledge of such Lender, the requirements of subsection (a) of Part I of PTE 84-14 are satisfied with respect to such Lender’s entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Commitments and this Agreement; or

 

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(iv)                               such other representation, warranty and covenant as may be agreed in writing between the Administrative Agent, in its sole discretion, and such Lender.

 

(b)                                  In addition, unless sub-clause (i) in the immediately preceding clause (a) is true with respect to a Lender or such Lender has not provided another representation, warranty and covenant as provided in sub-clause (iv) in the immediately preceding clause (a), such Lender further (x) represents and warrants, as of the date such Person became a Lender party hereto, to, and (y) covenants, from the date such Person became a Lender party hereto to the date such Person ceases being a Lender party hereto, for the benefit of, the Administrative Agent, each Lead Arranger and their respective Affiliates, and not, for the avoidance of doubt, to or for the benefit of the Borrower or any other Credit Party, that:

 

(i)                                      none of the Administrative Agent, any Lead Arranger nor any of their respective Affiliates is a fiduciary with respect to the assets of such Lender (including in connection with the reservation or exercise of any rights by the Administrative Agent under this Agreement, any Loan Document or any documents related to hereto or thereto);

 

(ii)                                   the Person making the investment decision on behalf of such Lender with respect to the entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Commitments and this Agreement is independent (within the meaning of 29 CFR § 2510.3-21) and is a bank, an insurance carrier, an investment adviser, a broker-dealer or other person that holds, or has under management or control, total assets of at least $50 million, in each case as described in 29 CFR § 2510.3-21(c)(1)(i)(A)-(E),

 

(iii)                                the Person making the investment decision on behalf of such Lender with respect to the entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Commitments and this Agreement is capable of evaluating investment risks independently, both in general and with regard to particular transactions and investment strategies (including in respect of the Secured Obligations);

 

(iv)                               the Person making the investment decision on behalf of such Lender with respect to the entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Commitments and this Agreement is a fiduciary under ERISA or the Code, or both, with respect to the Loans, the Commitments and this Agreement and is responsible for exercising independent judgment in evaluating the transactions hereunder, and

 

(v)                                  no fee or other compensation is being paid directly to the Administrative Agent, each Lead Arranger or their respective Affiliates for investment advice (as opposed to other services) in connection with the Loans, the Commitments or this Agreement.

 

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(c)                                   The Administrative Agent and each Lead Arranger hereby informs the Lenders that each such Person is not undertaking to provide impartial investment advice, or to give advice in a fiduciary capacity, in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby, and that such Person has a financial interest in the transactions contemplated hereby in that such Person or an Affiliate thereof (i) may receive interest or other payments with respect to the Loans, the Commitments and this Agreement, (ii) may recognize a gain if it extended the Loans or the Commitments for an amount less than the amount being paid for an interest in the Loans or the Commitments by such Lender or (iii) may receive fees or other payments in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby, the Loan Documents or otherwise, including structuring fees, commitment fees, arrangement fees, facility fees, upfront fees, underwriting fees, ticking fees, agency fees, administrative agent or collateral agent fees, utilization fees, minimum usage fees, letter of credit fees, fronting fees, deal-away or alternate transaction fees, amendment fees, processing fees, term out premiums, banker’s acceptance fees, breakage or other early termination fees or fees similar to the foregoing.

 

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EXHIBIT C

 

REAFFIRMATION OF SUBSIDIARY GUARANTY

July 26 , 2018

 

Each of the undersigned Subsidiary Guarantors hereby acknowledges receipt of a copy of the foregoing Third Amendment to Term Loan Agreement with respect to that certain Term Loan Agreement dated as of September 29, 2015 by and among STAG INDUSTRIAL OPERATING PARTNERSHIP, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (together with its successors and assigns, the “ Borrower ”), STAG INDUSTRIAL INC., a Maryland corporation and the sole member of the sole general partner of the Borrower (the “ Parent ”), each of the financial institutions initially a signatory to the Loan Agreement (as defined below) together with their successors and assigns under Section 11.06 of the Loan Agreement (the “ Lenders ”), and WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as the Administrative Agent (in such capacity, the “ Administrative Agent ”) (as amended and as the same may be amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “ Loan Agreement ”), which Third Amendment to Term Loan Agreement is dated as of the date hereof (the “ Amendment ”).  Capitalized terms used in this Reaffirmation and not defined herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Loan Agreement.  Without in any way establishing a course of dealing by the Administrative Agent or any Lender, each of the undersigned Subsidiary Guarantors reaffirms the terms and conditions of the Subsidiary Guaranty (as reaffirmed from time to time) and any other Loan Document executed by it and acknowledges and agrees that such agreement and each and every such Loan Document executed by the undersigned Subsidiary Guarantors in connection with the Loan Agreement remains in full force and effect and is hereby reaffirmed, ratified and confirmed.  All references to the Loan Agreement contained in the above-referenced documents shall be a reference to the Loan Agreement as so modified by the Amendment and as the same may from time to time hereafter be amended, modified or restated.

 

***

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each Subsidiary Guarantor has caused this Reaffirmation of Subsidiary Guaranty to be duly executed and delivered as of the date first written above.

 

SUBSIDIARY GUARANTORS:

 

STAG Investments Holdings III, LLC

STAG III Albion, LLC

STAG III Boardman, LLC

STAG III Chesterfield, LLC

STAG III Daytona Beach, LLC

STAG III Elkhart, LLC

STAG III Farmington, LLC

STAG III Lewiston, LLC

STAG III Malden, LLC

STAG III Mason, LLC

STAG III Mayville, LLC

STAG III Newark, LLC

STAG III Pensacola, LLC

STAG III Rapid City, LLC

STAG III Twinsburg, LLC

STAG III Youngstown, LLC

STAG Investments Holdings IV, LLC

STAG IV Alexandria, LLC

STAG IV Belfast, LLC

STAG IV Cheektowaga, LLC

STAG IV Danville, LLC

STAG IV Seville, LLC

STAG IV Sun Prairie, LLC

STIR Investments GP IV, LLC

STAG GI Investments Holdings, LLC

STAG GI New Jersey, LLC

STAG GI O’Fallon, LLC

STAG GI Goshen, LLC

STAG GI Madison, LLC

STAG GI Vonore, LLC

STAG GI Rogers, LLC

STAG GI Salem, LLC

STAG GI Walker, LLC

STAG GI Streetsboro, LLC

STAG GI Mooresville, LLC

STAG GI Cleveland, LLC

STAG Lansing, LLC

STAG Industrial Holdings, LLC

STAG TX GP 2, LLC

STAG Avon, LLC

STAG Buffalo, LLC

 

Signature Page to Reaffirmation of Subsidiary Guaranty
Third Amendment to 2015 Term Loan Agreement

 



 

STAG Chippewa Falls, LLC

STAG Edgefield, LLC

STAG Lansing 2, LLC

STAG Orlando, LLC

STAG Pineville, LLC

STAG Portland 2, LLC

STAG Reading, LLC

STAG Rogers 2, LLC

STAG South Bend, LLC

STAG Spartanburg, LLC

STAG Jackson, LLC

STAG Portage, LLC

STAG Simpsonville, LLC

STAG Dallas, LLC

STAG De Pere, LLC

STAG Duncan, LLC

STAG Buena Vista, LLC

STAG Gurnee, LLC

STAG Chicopee, LLC

STAG Montgomery, LLC

STAG Smyrna, LLC

STAG Statham, LLC

STAG Harrisonburg, LLC

STAG Toledo, LLC

STAG Woodstock, LLC

STAG Columbia, LLC

STAG Golden, LLC

STAG DeKalb, LLC

STAG Ocala, LLC

STAG Marion 2, LLC

STAG Londonderry, LLC

STAG Idaho Falls, LLC

STAG Williamsport, LLC

STAG Kentwood, LLC

STAG Marshall, LLC

STAG Belvidere I, LLC

STAG Belvidere II, LLC

STAG Belvidere III, LLC

STAG Belvidere IV, LLC

STAG Belvidere V, LLC

STAG Belvidere VI, LLC

STAG Belvidere VII, LLC

STAG Belvidere VIII, LLC

STAG Belvidere IX, LLC

STAG Nashville, LLC

STAG New Berlin, LLC

 

Signature Page to Reaffirmation of Subsidiary Guaranty
Third Amendment to 2015 Term Loan Agreement

 



 

STAG Hampstead, LLC

STAG New Hope, LLC

STAG Orlando 2, LLC

STAG North Jackson 2, LLC

STAG Shannon, LLC

STAG Lansing 4, LLC

STAG Harvard, LLC

STAG Sauk Village, LLC

STAG South Holland, LLC

STAG Mascot, LLC

STAG Janesville, LLC

STAG Allentown, LLC

STAG Nashua, LLC

STAG Strongsville, LLC

STAG Columbus, LLC

STAG Savannah, LLC

STAG West Chester, LLC

STAG Calhoun, LLC

STAG Hebron, LLC

STAG East Troy, LLC

STAG Savage, LLC

STAG Chester, LLC

STAG Mechanicsburg 1, LLC

STAG Mechanicsburg 2, LLC

STAG Mechanicsburg 3, LLC

STAG Mason 3, LLC

STAG Lenexa, LLC

STAG Reno, LLC

STAG Fort Wayne, LLC

STAG Murfreesboro, LLC

STAG Gurnee 2, LLC

STAG Germantown, LLC

STAG Elizabethtown, LLC

STAG CA GP, LLC

STAG Spartanburg 3, LLC

STAG Burlington, LLC

STAG Greenville, LLC

STAG North Haven, LLC

STAG Plymouth 2, LLC

STAG Oakwood Village, LLC

STAG Stoughton 1, LLC

STAG Stoughton 2, LLC

STAG 5101 South Council Road, LLC

STAG Knoxville 2, LLC

STAG Clinton, LLC

STAG Fairborn, LLC

 

Signature Page to Reaffirmation of Subsidiary Guaranty
Third Amendment to 2015 Term Loan Agreement

 



 

STAG Phoenix, LLC

STAG Machesney Park, LLC

STAG Macedonia, LLC

STAG Novi 2, LLC

STAG Grand Junction, LLC

STAG Tulsa, LLC

STAG Chattanooga 1, LLC

STAG Chattanooga 2, LLC

STAG Libertyville 1, LLC

STAG Libertyville 2, LLC

STAG Greer, LLC

STAG Piedmont 1, LLC

STAG Piedmont 2, LLC

STAG Piedmont 3, LLC

STAG Belvidere 10, LLC

STAG Shreveport, LLC

STAG Dayton 2, LLC

STAG West Allis, LLC

STAG Loudon, LLC

STAG Laurens, LLC

STAG Lancaster, LLC

STAG Grand Rapids, LLC

STAG Burlington 2, LLC

STAG Biddeford, LLC

STAG Fairfield 3, LLC

STAG Mascot 2, LLC

STAG Erlanger, LLC

STAG Gahanna, LLC

STAG Norton, LLC

STAG NC GP, LLC

STAG Sparks 2, LLC

STAG Hazelwood, LLC

STAG York, LLC

STAG NC GP 2, LLC

STAG TX GP, LLC

STAG Louisville, LLC

STAG North Jackson, LLC

STAG Portland, LLC

STAG East Windsor, LLC

STAG Yorkville, LLC

STAG Lebanon, LLC

STAG West Columbia 3, LLC

STAG McHenry 2, LLC

STAG Romulus 2, LLC

STAG South Saint Paul, LLC

STAG Knoxville 3, LLC

 

Signature Page to Reaffirmation of Subsidiary Guaranty
Third Amendment to 2015 Term Loan Agreement

 



 

each a Delaware limited liability company

 

 

 

 

 

 

 By:

 

 

 Name:

 

 Title:

 

 

(Signatures continue on the next page)

 

Signature Page to Reaffirmation of Subsidiary Guaranty
Third Amendment to 2015 Term Loan Agreement

 



 

STAG III Arlington, LP

 

a Delaware limited partnership

 

 

 

By:

STIR Investments GP III, LLC,

 

 

a Delaware limited liability company,

 

 

its General Partner

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

Name:

 

Title:

 

 

 

 

 

STAG IV Waco, L.P.,

 

a Delaware limited partnership

 

 

 

By:

STIR Investments GP IV, LLC,

 

 

a Delaware limited liability company,

 

 

its General Partner

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

Name:

 

Title:

 

 

(Signatures continue on the next page)

 

Signature Page to Reaffirmation of Subsidiary Guaranty
Third Amendment to 2015 Term Loan Agreement

 



 

STAG Arlington 2, L.P.

STAG Houston 2, L.P.

STAG Garland, LP

STAG Houston 3, LP

STAG El Paso 1, LP

STAG El Paso 2, LP

STAG El Paso 3, LP

STAG El Paso 4, LP

STAG Houston 4, LP

STAG El Paso 5, LP

STAG Garland 2, LP

STAG TX Holdings, LP

STAG Rockwall, L.P.

STAG IND Stafford, LP

STAG IND El Paso 6, LP

STAG IND Houston 9, LP

STAG IND Houston 11, LP

 

each a Delaware limited partnership

 

 

 

By:

STAG TX GP 2, LLC

 

 

a Delaware limited liability company,

 

 

their General Partner

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

Name:

 

Title:

 

 

 

 

 

STAG Camarillo 1, LP

 

STAG Camarillo 2, LP

 

STAG Visalia, LP

 

 

 

each, a Delaware limited partnership

 

 

 

By:

STAG CA GP, LLC

 

 

a Delaware limited liability company,

 

 

their General Partner

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

Name:

 

Title:

 

 

(Signatures continue on the next page)

 

Signature Page to Reaffirmation of Subsidiary Guaranty
Third Amendment to 2015 Term Loan Agreement

 



 

STAG NC Holdings, LP

 

a Delaware limited partnership

 

 

 

By:

STAG NC GP, LLC,

 

 

a Delaware limited liability company,

 

 

their General Partner

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

Name:

 

Title:

 

 

 

 

 

STAG Fort Worth, LP

 

a Delaware limited partnership

 

 

 

By:

STAG TX GP, LLC,

 

 

a Delaware limited liability company,

 

 

its General Partner

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

Name:

 

Title:

 

 

 

STAG Mooresville 2, LP

 

a Delaware limited partnership

 

 

 

By:

STAG NC GP 2, LLC,

 

 

a Delaware limited liability company,

 

 

its General Partner

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

Name:

 

Title:

 

 

Signature Page to Reaffirmation of Subsidiary Guaranty
Third Amendment to 2015 Term Loan Agreement

 



 

STAG El Paso, LP

 

a Delaware limited partnership

 

 

 

By:

STIR Investments GP, LLC

 

 

a Delaware limited liability company,

 

 

its General Partner

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

Name:

 

Title:

 

 

Signature Page to Reaffirmation of Subsidiary Guaranty
Third Amendment to 2015 Term Loan Agreement

 


EXHIBIT 10.6

 

FIRST AMENDMENT TO TERM LOAN AGREEMENT

 

This FIRST AMENDMENT TO TERM LOAN AGREEMENT (this “ First Amendment ”) is made and entered into as of July 26, 2018 by and among STAG INDUSTRIAL OPERATING PARTNERSHIP, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (together with its successors and assigns, the “ Borrower ”), STAG INDUSTRIAL INC., a Maryland corporation and the sole member of the sole general partner of the Borrower (the “ Parent ”), each of the financial institutions initially a signatory to the Loan Agreement (as defined below) together with their successors and assigns under Section 11.06 of the Loan Agreement (the “ Lenders ”), and BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., as the Administrative Agent (in such capacity, the “ Administrative Agent ”).

 

WITNESSETH:

 

WHEREAS, the Borrower, the Parent, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders are parties to that certain Term Loan Agreement dated as of July 28, 2017, the “ Loan Agreement ”;

 

WHEREAS, the Borrower has requested that the Administrative Agent and the Lenders amend certain terms and conditions of the Loan Agreement as described herein; and

 

WHEREAS, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders party to this First Amendment have agreed to so amend certain terms and conditions of the Loan Agreement, all on the terms and conditions set forth below in this First Amendment.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, for good and valuable consideration, the receipt and adequacy of which is hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:

 

1.                                       Definitions . All capitalized undefined terms used in this First Amendment shall have the meanings ascribed thereto in the Loan Agreement, as amended hereby.

 

2.                                       Amendments to Loan Agreement .  Effective as set forth in Section 3 below, the Loan Agreement is hereby amended to delete the stricken text (indicated in the same manner as the following example: stricken text ) and to add the double-underlined text (indicated in the same manner as the following example:  double-underlined text ) as set forth on Exhibit A hereto (the “ Amended Loan Agreement ”).  Exhibit B attached hereto sets forth a clean copy of the Amended Loan Agreement after giving effect to such amendments

 

3.                                       Conditions to Effectiveness .  This First Amendment shall not be effective until the Administrative Agent shall have received (a) counterparts of (i) this First Amendment duly executed and delivered by the Borrower, the Parent, the Administrative Agent, and the Required Lenders and (ii) duly executed copies of a Reaffirmation of Subsidiary Guaranty in the form of Exhibit C attached hereto from each of the Subsidiary Guarantors identified thereon; and (b) all the fees and expenses required to be paid on or before the effectiveness of this First Amendment.

 

4.                                       Representations and Warranties .  The  Borrower hereby represents and warrants that the representations and warranties of the Borrower and each other Loan Party contained in Article VI of the Loan  Agreement or any other Loan Document, or which are contained in any document furnished at any time under or in connection therewith, shall be true and correct in all material respects (or in all respects in the case of any representation or warranty qualified by materiality or Material Adverse Effect) on and as of the date hereof, except to the extent that such representations and warranties specifically refer to an earlier date, in which case they shall be true

 



 

and correct in all material respects (or in all respects in the case of any representation or warranty qualified by materiality or Material Adverse Effect)  as of such earlier date.

 

5.                                       Limited Amendment; Ratification of Loan Documents .  Except as specifically amended or modified hereby, the terms and conditions of the Loan Agreement and the other Loan Documents shall remain in full force and effect, and are hereby ratified and affirmed in all respects.  This First Amendment shall not be deemed a waiver of, or consent to, or a modification or amendment of, any other term or condition of the Loan Agreement or any other Loan Document, except as expressly set forth herein.

 

6.                                       Governing Law . This First Amendment shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the law of the State of New York.

 

7.                                       Miscellaneous . This First Amendment may be executed in any number of counterparts, which shall together constitute an entire original agreement, and shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns.  This First Amendment expresses the entire understanding of the parties with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby.  No prior negotiations or discussions shall limit, modify, or otherwise affect the provisions hereof.  Any determination that any provision of this First Amendment or any application hereof is invalid, illegal, or unenforceable in any respect and in any instance shall not affect the validity, legality, or enforceability of such provision in any other instance, or the validity, legality, or enforceability of any other provisions of this First Amendment.  Each of the Borrower and the Parent represents and warrants that it has consulted with independent legal counsel of its selection in connection herewith and is not relying on any representations or warranties of the Administrative Agent or the Lenders or their counsel in entering into this First Amendment. This First Amendment shall constitute a Loan Document.

 

***

 

2



 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this First Amendment to be duly executed as of the date first above written.

 

 

 

BORROWER:

 

 

 

STAG INDUSTRIAL OPERATING PARTNERSHIP, L.P. ,

 

a Delaware limited partnership

 

 

 

By:

STAG Industrial GP, LLC

 

Its:

General Partner

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ William R. Crooker

 

Name:

William R. Crooker

 

Title:

Authorized Officer

 

 

 

 

 

PARENT:

 

 

 

STAG INDUSTRIAL, INC. ,

 

a Maryland corporation

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ William R. Crooker

 

Name:

William R. Crooker

 

Title:

Authorized Officer

 

 

Signature Page to

First Amendment to Term Loan Agreement

 



 

 

BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.,

 

as the Administrative Agent and a Lender

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Kelsey O’ Neil

 

Name:

Kelsey O’ Neil

 

Title:

VP, Portfolio Manager

 

 

Signature Page to

First Amendment to Term Loan Agreement

 



 

 

BRANCH BANKING AND TRUST COMPANY, as a Lender

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Mark Edwards

 

Name:

Mark Edwards

 

Title:

Senior Vice President

 

 

Signature Page to

First Amendment to Term Loan Agreement

 



 

 

CAPITAL ONE, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as a Lender

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Peter Ilovic

 

Name:

Peter Ilovic

 

Title:

Vice President

 

 

Signature Page to

First Amendment to Term Loan Agreement

 



 

 

CITIBANK, N.A., as a Lender

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Christopher J. Albano

 

Name:

Christopher J. Albano

 

Title:

Authorized Signatory

 

 

Signature Page to

First Amendment to Term Loan Agreement

 



 

 

PNC BANK NA, as a Lender

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ John R. Roach, Jr.

 

Name:

John R. Roach, Jr.

 

Title:

Senior Vice President

 

 

Signature Page to

First Amendment to Term Loan Agreement

 



 

 

RAYMOND JAMES BANK, N.A., as a Lender

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ James Armstrong

 

Name:

James Armstrong

 

Title:

CRE Lending Manager / SVP

 

 

Signature Page to

First Amendment to Term Loan Agreement

 



 

 

REGIONS BANK, as a Lender

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Paul E. Burgan

 

Name:

Paul E. Burgan

 

Title:

Vice President

 

 

Signature Page to

First Amendment to Term Loan Agreement

 



 

 

ROYAL BANK OF CANDA NEW YORK BRANCH, as a Lender

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Sheena Lee

 

Name:

Sheena Lee

 

Title:

Authorized Signatory

 

 

Signature Page to

First Amendment to Term Loan Agreement

 



 

 

TD BANK NA, as a Lender

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Brian Welch

 

Name:

Brian Welch

 

Title:

SVP Team Lead

 

 

Signature Page to

First Amendment to Term Loan Agreement

 



 

 

US BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as a Lender

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ David Heller

 

Name:

David Heller

 

Title:

SVP

 

 

Signature Page to

First Amendment to Term Loan Agreement

 



 

 

WELLS FARGO BANK, N.A., as a Lender

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ D. Bryan Gregory

 

Name:

D. Bryan Gregory

 

Title:

Managing Director

 

 

Signature Page to

First Amendment to Term Loan Agreement

 



 

EXHIBIT A

 

AMENDED LOAN AGREEMENT (REDLINE)

 

[Attached]

 



 

EXHIBIT B to First Amendment to Term Loan Agreement

 

EXECUTION VERSION

 

Published CUSIP Number: 85253UAJ7

 

TERM LOAN AGREEMENT

Dated as of July 28, 2017

 

among

 

STAG INDUSTRIAL OPERATING PARTNERSHIP, L.P. ,
as the Borrower,

 

STAG INDUSTRIAL, INC. ,
as a Guarantor,

 

BANK OF AMERICA, N.A. ,
as the Administrative Agent,

 

CAPITAL ONE, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION , PNC BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION ,
ROYAL BANK OF CANADA
and WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION ,
as Co-Syndication Agents,

 

and

 

THE FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS NOW OR HEREAFTER SIGNATORIES HERETO AND THEIR ASSIGNEES PURSUANT TO SECTION 11.06 ,
as Lenders

 


 

MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER & SMITH INCORPORATED ,
as the Sole Bookrunner and Joint Lead Arranger

 

and

 

CAPITAL ONE, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION , PNC CAPITAL MARKETS LLC ,
ROYAL BANK OF CANADA
and WELLS FARGO SECURITIES, LLC ,
as Joint Lead Arrangers

 



 

Loan No.

 



 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

Section

 

Page

 

 

 

Article I. Definitions and Accounting Terms

1

 

 

 

1.01

Defined Terms

1

1.02

Other Interpretive Provisions

29

1.03

Accounting Terms

29 30

1.04

Rounding

30 31

1.05

Times of Day

30 31

1.06

Rates

30 31

 

 

 

Article II. The Commitments and Credit Extensions

31

 

 

 

2.01

Committed Loans

31

2.02

Borrowings, Conversions and Continuations of Committed Loans

31 32

2.03

Reserved

33

2.04

Voluntary Reduction of Commitments

33

2.05

Prepayments

33

2.06

Incremental Term Loans

33 34

2.07

Repayment of Loans

34 35

2.08

Interest

34 35

2.09

Fees

35 36

2.10

Computation of Interest and Fees; Retroactive Adjustments of Applicable Rate

36

2.11

Evidence of Debt

36 37

2.12

Payments Generally; The Administrative Agent’s Clawback

37

2.13

Sharing of Payments by the Lenders

39

2.14

Reserved

39 40

2.15

Reserved

39 40

2.16

Defaulting Lenders

39 40

2.17

Guaranties

40 41

 

 

 

Article III. Taxes, Yield Protection and Illegality

41 42

 

 

 

3.01

Taxes

41 42

3.02

Illegality

46

3.03

Inability to Determine Rates 46 Change of Circumstances

47

3.04

Increased Costs; Reserves on LIBOR Loans

47 48

3.05

Compensation for Losses

48 49

3.06

Mitigation Obligations; Replacement of the Lenders

48 49

3.07

Survival

49 50

 

 

 

Article IV. Unencumbered Properties

49 50

 

 

 

4.01

Initial Unencumbered Properties

49 50

4.02

Reserved

49 50

4.03

Notices of Qualification as an Unencumbered Property

49 50

4.04

Eligibility

49 50

4.05

Reserved

49 50

 



 

Section

 

Page

 

 

 

4.06

Guaranty

49 50

4.07

Admission of New Unencumbered Properties

49 51

4.08

Reserved

49 51

4.09

Reserved

50 51

4.10

Exclusion Events

50 51

 

 

 

Article V. Conditions Precedent to Credit Extensions

51 52

 

 

 

5.01

Conditions of Initial Credit Extension

51 52

5.02

Conditions to all Credit Extensions

52 54

 

 

 

Article VI. Representations and Warranties

53 54

 

 

 

6.01

Existence, Qualification and Power; Compliance with Laws

53 54

6.02

Authorization; No Contravention

53 55

6.03

Governmental Authorization; Other Consents

53 55

6.04

Binding Effect

54 55

6.05

Financial Statements; No Material Adverse Effect

54 55

6.06

Litigation

54 55

6.07

No Default

54 56

6.08

Ownership of Property; Liens; Equity Interests

54 56

6.09

Environmental Compliance

55 56

6.10

Insurance

55 57

6.11

Taxes

56 57

6.12

ERISA Compliance

56 57

6.13

Subsidiaries; Equity Interests

56 58

6.14

Margin Regulations; Investment Company Act

57 58

6.15

Disclosure

57 58

6.16

Compliance with Laws

57 59

6.17

Taxpayer Identification Number

57 59

6.18

Intellectual Property; Licenses, Etc.

57 59

6.19

Reserved

58 59

6.20

Solvency

58 59

6.21

REIT Status of the Parent

58 59

6.22

Labor Matters

58 60

6.23

Ground Lease Representation

58 60

6.24

Unencumbered Properties

58 60

6.25

OFAC

59 60

6.26

EEA Financial Institutions. No Loan Party is an EEA Financial Institution

59 61

 

 

 

Article VII. Affirmative Covenants

59 61

 

 

 

7.01

Financial Statements

60 61

7.02

Certificates; Other Information

60 62

7.03

Notices

62 63

7.04

Payment of Obligations

63 64

7.05

Preservation of Existence, Etc.

63 64

7.06

Maintenance of Properties

63 64

7.07

Maintenance of Insurance

63 65

7.08

Compliance with Laws 63 ; Beneficial Ownership Regulations

65

 

ii



 

Section

 

Page

 

 

 

7.09

Books and Records

64 65

7.10

Inspection Rights

64 65

7.11

Use of Proceeds

64 66

7.12

Environmental Matters

64 66

7.13

Ground Leases

66 67

7.14

Unencumbered Properties

67 68

 

 

 

Article VIII. Negative Covenants

67 69

 

 

 

8.01

Liens

67 69

8.02

Indebtedness

68 70

8.03

Investments

69 71

8.04

Fundamental Changes

70 71

8.05

Dispositions

70 72

8.06

Restricted Payments

71 72

8.07

Change in Nature of Business

71 72

8.08

Transactions with Affiliates

71 72

8.09

Burdensome Agreements

71 73

8.10

Use of Proceeds

71 73

8.11

Unencumbered Properties; Ground Leases

72 73

8.12

Environmental Matters

72 74

8.13

Negative Pledge; Indebtedness

73 74

8.14

Financial Covenants

73 75

 

 

 

Article IX. Events of Default and Remedies

74 76

 

 

 

9.01

Events of Default

74 76

9.02

Remedies Upon Event of Default

76 78

9.03

Application of Funds

77 78

 

 

 

Article X. The Administrative Agent

78 79

 

 

 

10.01

Appointment and Authority

78 79

10.02

Rights as a Lender

78 79

10.03

Exculpatory Provisions

78 80

10.04

Reliance by the Administrative Agent

79 80

10.05

Delegation of Duties

79 81

10.06

Resignation of the Administrative Agent

79 81

10.07

Non-Reliance on the Administrative Agent and Other Lenders

81 82

10.08

No Other Duties, Etc.

81 82

10.09

The Administrative Agent May File Proofs of Claim

81 82

10.10

Guaranty Matters

81 83

 

 

 

Article XI. Miscellaneous

82 83

 

 

 

11.01

Amendments, Etc.

82 83

11.02

Notices; Effectiveness; Electronic Communication

83 84

11.03

No Waiver; Cumulative Remedies; Enforcement

85 86

11.04

Expenses; Indemnity; Damage Waiver

85 87

11.05

Payments Set Aside

87 88

11.06

Successors and Assigns

87 89

 

iii



 

Section

 

Page

 

 

 

11.07

Treatment of Certain Information; Confidentiality

91 93

11.08

Right of Setoff

92 94

11.09

Interest Rate Limitation

93 94

11.10

Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness

93 94

11.11

Survival of Representations and Warranties

93 95

11.12

Severability

93 95

11.13

Replacement of the Lenders

94 95

11.14

Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Etc.

94 95

11.15

No Advisory or Fiduciary Responsibility

96 97

11.16

Electronic Execution of Assignments and Certain Other Documents

96 97

11.17

USA PATRIOT ACT

96 98

11.18

ENTIRE AGREEMENT

97 98

11.19

Acknowledgment and Consent to Bail-In of EEA Financial Institutions

97 98

11.20

Certain ERISA Matters

99

 

 

 

SCHEDULES

 

 

 

 

2.01

Commitments and Applicable Percentages

 

4.01

Initial Unencumbered Properties

 

6.06

Litigation

 

6.09

Environmental Matters

 

6.13

Subsidiaries and Other Equity Investments and Equity Interests in the Borrower and Each Subsidiary Guarantor

6.18

Intellectual Property Matters

 

8.01

Existing Liens

 

8.13

Indebtedness

 

11.02

The Administrative Agent’s Office; Certain Addresses for Notices

 

RO

Responsible Officers

 

 

 

 

EXHIBITS

 

 

 

 

 

A

Form of Draw Request

 

B

Form of Note

 

C

Compliance Certificate

 

D-1

Assignment and Assumption

 

D-2

Administrative Questionnaire

 

E

Form of Borrower Remittance Instruction

 

F-1

Form of Parent Guaranty

 

F-2

Form of Subsidiary Guaranty

 

G

Reserved

 

H-1

U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate

 

H-2

U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate

 

H-3

U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate

 

H-4

U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate

 

I

Form of Borrower’s Instruction Certificate

 

 

iv



 

TERM LOAN AGREEMENT

 

This TERM LOAN AGREEMENT (the “ Agreement ”) is entered into as of July 28, 2017, among STAG INDUSTRIAL OPERATING PARTNERSHIP, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (the “ Borrower ”), STAG INDUSTRIAL, INC., a Maryland corporation and the sole member of the sole general partner of the Borrower (the “ Parent ”), each lender from time to time party hereto (collectively, the “ Lenders ” and individually, a “ Lender ”), CAPITAL ONE, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, PNC BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, ROYAL BANK OF CANADA and WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Co-Syndication Agents, and BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., as the Administrative Agent.

 

The Borrower has requested that the Lenders provide a term credit facility, and the Lenders are willing to do so on the terms and conditions set forth herein.

 

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

 

8.
Definitions and Accounting Terms

 

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

 

Acceptable Ground Lease ” means a ground lease with respect to an Acceptable Property executed by a Subsidiary Guarantor, as lessee, that (a) has a remaining lease term (including extension or renewal rights) of at least twenty-five (25) years, calculated as of the date such Acceptable Property is deemed an Unencumbered Property, and that the Administrative Agent determines, in its sole discretion, is a financeable ground lease and is otherwise acceptable or (b) has a bargain purchase option (as defined in accordance with GAAP).

 

Acceptable Property ” means a Property (a) that is approved by the Administrative Agent and the Required Lenders, or (b) that meets the following requirements:

 

(i)                                      such Property is wholly-owned by, or ground leased pursuant to an Acceptable Ground Lease to, the Borrower or a Subsidiary Guarantor free and clear of any Liens (other than Liens permitted by Section 8.01 );

 

(ii)                                   such Property is an industrial, manufacturing, warehouse/distribution and/or office property located within the United States;

 

(iii)                                if such Property is owned by a Subsidiary Guarantor, or is ground leased pursuant to an Acceptable Ground Lease to a Subsidiary Guarantor, then the Equity Interests of such Subsidiary Guarantor are owned, directly or indirectly by the Borrower, free and clear of any Liens other than Liens permitted by Section 8.01 ; and

 

(iv)                               such Property is free of all structural defects or major architectural deficiencies, title defects, environmental conditions or other adverse matters except for defects, deficiencies,

 

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conditions or other matters which, individually or collectively, are not material to the profitable operation of such Property.

 

Additional Permitted Indebtedness ” means unsecured Indebtedness permitted to be incurred pursuant to Section 8.02(f) .

 

Additional Term Loans ” has the meaning specified in Section 2.06(b)(i) .

 

Adjusted NOI ” means, with respect to any Property for the Current Reporting Quarter, annualized, an amount equal to (a) the aggregate gross revenues (excluding non-cash revenues) from the operations of such Property during such period, minus (b) the sum of (i) all expenses and other proper charges incurred in connection with the operation of such Property during such period (including real estate taxes, but excluding any property and asset management fees, debt service charges, income taxes, depreciation, amortization and other non-cash expenses and excluding capital expenditures), (ii) a management fee equal to the greater of (A) two percent (2%) of the aggregate gross base rental revenues (excluding non-cash revenues) from the operations of such Property during such period and (B) actual property management fees paid, and (iii) a replacement reserve of $0.10 per square foot (excluding any Property acquired during the Current Reporting Quarter).  Adjusted NOI shall exclude the amount of any revenues and expenses from any Dark Property.  Adjusted NOI shall be increased, without duplication, by (i) annualized rental revenues (excluding non-cash revenues), net of associated expenses, from any new lease which went into effect with the tenant taking occupancy (or any lease with respect to any Property acquired during the Current Reporting Quarter) and the Borrower is recognizing revenue from such tenant in accordance with GAAP during such Current Reporting Quarter, and (ii) annualized gross base rental revenues (excluding non-cash revenues) for the first monthly gross base rental payment for any lease in a free rent period and the Borrower is recognizing revenue from the applicable tenant in accordance with GAAP during such Current Reporting Quarter.

 

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

 

Administrative Agent’s Office ” means the Administrative Agent’s address and, as appropriate, account as set forth on Schedule 11.02 , or such other address or account as the Administrative Agent may from time to time notify the Borrower and the Lenders.

 

Administrative Questionnaire ” means an Administrative Questionnaire in substantially the form of Exhibit D-2 or any other form approved by the Administrative Agent.

 

Affiliate ” means, with respect to any 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; provided in no event shall Agent or any Lender be deemed to be an Affiliate of the Borrower.

 

Aggregate Commitments ” means the Commitments of all the Lenders as adjusted from time to time in accordance with the terms hereof.  The initial amount of the Aggregate Commitments in effect on the Closing Date is ONE HUNDRED FIFTY MILLION DOLLARS ($150,000,000.00).

 

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Agreement ” means this Term Loan Agreement.

 

Anti-Corruption Laws ” means all laws, rules, and regulations of any jurisdiction applicable to the Borrower or its Subsidiaries from time to time concerning or relating to bribery, corruption or money laundering.

 

Applicable Percentage ” means, with respect to any Lender at any time, the percentage (carried out to the ninth decimal place) of the Aggregate Commitments represented by such Lender’s Commitment at such time.  If the commitment of each Lender to make Loans has been terminated pursuant to Section 2.01(b)  or 9.02 or if the Aggregate Commitments have expired, then the Applicable Percentage of each Lender shall be determined based on the percentage (carried out to the ninth decimal place) of the Total Outstandings represented by such Lender’s Loans at such time.  The initial Applicable Percentage of each Lender is set forth opposite the name of such Lender on Schedule 2.01 or in the Assignment and Assumption pursuant to which such Lender becomes a party hereto, as applicable.

 

Applicable Rate ” means the following:

 

A. Unless and until the Rating Conditions have been satisfied, with respect to any Loan, the following percentages per annum determined according to the Consolidated Leverage Ratio as set forth in the most recent Compliance Certificate received by the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 7.02(a) :

 

Leveraged-Based Pricing Grid :

 

Applicable Rate

 

Pricing
Level

 

Consolidated
Leverage Ratio

 

Base Rate
Applicable
Margin

 

LIBOR
Loan
Applicable
Margin

 

1

 

< 40%

 

0.30

%

1.30

%

2

 

> 40% and < 45%

 

0.35

%

1.35

%

3

 

> 45% and < 50%

 

0.45

%

1.45

%

4

 

> 50% and < 55%

 

0.60

%

1.60

%

5

 

> 55%

 

0.90

%

1.90

%

 

Any increase or decrease in the Applicable Rate resulting from a change in the Consolidated Leverage Ratio shall become effective as of the first (1 st ) Business Day immediately following the date a Compliance Certificate is delivered pursuant to Section 7.02(a)  provided 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 5 shall apply as of the first (1 st ) Business Day after the date on which such Compliance Certificate was required to have been delivered, provided that if such request is not delivered within thirty (30) days of the date such Compliance Certificate was due, Pricing Level 5 shall apply as of the date of delivery of such request, and shall remain in effect until the date on which such Compliance Certificate is

 

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delivered.  The Applicable Rate in effect from the Closing Date until adjusted as set forth above shall be set at Pricing Level 1.

 

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this definition, the determination of the Applicable Rate for any period shall be subject to the provisions of Section 2.10(b) .

 

or

 

B.                                     If and when the Rating Conditions have been satisfied, the following percentages per annum, based upon the Debt Rating as set forth below (determined in accordance with the Performance-Based Pricing Grid set forth below).

 

Performance-Based Pricing Grid :

 

Applicable Rate

 

Pricing
Level

 

Debt Rating

 

Base Rate
Applicable
Margin

 

LIBOR
Loan
Applicable
Margin

 

1

 

> A-/A3

 

0.00

%

0.90 0.85

%

2

 

BBB+/Baa1

 

0.00

%

0.95 0.90

%

3

 

BBB/Baa2

 

0.10 0.00

%

1.10 1.00

%

4

 

BBB-/Baa3

 

0.35 0.25

%

1.35 1.25

%

5

 

< BBB-/Baa3

 

0.75 0.65

%

1.75 1.65

%

 

Each change in the Applicable Rate resulting from a publicly announced change in the Debt Rating shall be effective, in the case of an upgrade, during the period commencing on the date of delivery by the Borrower to the Administrative Agent of notice thereof pursuant to Section  7.03(e)  and ending on the date immediately preceding the effective date of the next such change and, in the case of a downgrade, during the period commencing on the date of the public announcement thereof and ending on the date immediately preceding the effective date of the next such change.

 

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.

 

Assignee Group ” means two (2) or more Eligible Assignees that are Affiliates of one another or two (2) or more Approved Funds managed by the same investment advisor.

 

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 D-1 or any other form (including electronic documentation generated by MarkitClear or other electronic platform) approved by the Administrative Agent.

 

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Attributable Indebtedness ” means, on any date in respect of any Capital 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.

 

Audited Financial Statements ” means the audited financial statements of the Parent for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016 and, from and after the delivery of the financial statements of the Parent required pursuant to Section 7.01(a)  for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2017, the most-recent financial statements furnished pursuant to Section 7.01(a) .

 

Award ” means any compensation paid by any Governmental Authority in connection with a Condemnation in respect of all or any part of any Unencumbered Property.

 

Bail-In Action ” means the exercise of any Write-Down and Conversion Powers by the applicable EEA Resolution Authority in respect of any liability of an EEA Financial Institution.

 

Bail-In Legislation ” means, with respect to any EEA Member Country implementing Article 55 of Directive 2014/59/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of the European Union, the implementing law for such EEA Member Country from time to time which is described in the EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule.

 

Balloon Payments ” shall mean with respect to any loan constituting Indebtedness, any required principal payment of such loan which is payable at the maturity of such Indebtedness, provided, however, that the final payment of a fully amortized loan shall not constitute a Balloon Payment.

 

BANA ” means Bank of America, N.A.

 

Base Rate ” means, at any time, a fluctuating rate per annum equal to the highest of (a) the rate of interest in effect for such day as publicly announced from time to time by BANA as its “prime rate,” (b) the Federal Funds Rate plus 0.50% and (c) the LIBOR Market Index Rate plus 1%.  The “prime rate” is a rate set by BANA based upon various factors including BANA’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 BANA shall take effect at the opening of business on the day specified in the public announcement of such change.

 

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

 

Beneficial Ownership Certification ” means a certification regarding beneficial ownership as required by the Beneficial Ownership Regulation.

 

Beneficial Ownership Regulation ” means 31 C.F.R. § 101.230.

 

Book Value ” means all land, building, improvements, leasing commissions and deferred leasing intangibles less accumulated depreciation and amortization.

 

Borrower ” has the meaning specified in the introductory paragraph hereto.

 

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Borrower’s Instruction Certificate ” means a completed form substantially in the form of Exhibit I to be executed and delivered by the Borrower pursuant to Section 5.01(a) , as the same may be amended, restated or modified from time to time with the prior written approval of the Administrative Agent.

 

Borrower Materials ” has the meaning specified in Section 7.02 .

 

Borrower Remittance Instruction ” means a completed form substantially in the form of Exhibit E to be executed and delivered by the Borrower pursuant to Section 5.01(a) , as the same may be amended, restated or modified from time to time with the prior written approval of the Administrative Agent.

 

Borrowing ” means a Committed Borrowing.

 

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 or the State of New York, and, if such day relates to any LIBOR Loan, means any such day that is also a London Banking Day.

 

Capital Lease ” means, with respect to any Person, the obligations of such Person to pay rent or other amounts under any lease of (or other arrangement conveying the right to use) real or personal property, or a combination thereof, which obligations are required to be classified and accounted for as capital leases on a balance sheet of such Person under GAAP.

 

Capital Lease Obligations ” means, with respect to any Person for any period, the capitalized amount of obligations under Capital Leases for such Person for such period as determined in accordance with GAAP.

 

Capitalization Rate ” means seven and one half percent ( 7.5 7.0 %).

 

Cash Equivalents ” means any of the following types of Investments, to the extent owned by Guarantor, the Borrower or any of their Subsidiaries free and clear of all Liens (other than Liens permitted hereunder):

 

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

 

(b)                                  demand or time deposits with, or insured certificates of deposit or bankers’ acceptances of, any commercial bank that (A) is a Lender or (B) (i) is organized under the laws of the United States of America, 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 of America, 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 $1,000,000,000, in each case with maturities of not more than 90 days from the date of acquisition thereof;

 

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(c)                                   commercial paper in an aggregate amount of no more than $5,000,000 per issuer outstanding at any time issued by any Person organized under the laws of any state of the United States of America 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 180 days from the date of acquisition thereof;

 

(d)                                  Investments, classified in accordance with GAAP as current assets of the Parent 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) and (c) of this definition; and

 

(e)                                   Other liquid or readily marketable investments in an amount not to exceed five percent (5%) of Total Asset Value.

 

Casualty ” means, with respect to any Unencumbered Property, if such Unencumbered Property has been damaged or destroyed, in whole or in part, by fire or other casualty.

 

Change in Law ” means the occurrence, after the date of this Agreement, of any of the following: (a) the adoption or taking effect of any Law, rule, regulation or treaty; (b) any change in any Law, rule, regulation or treaty or in the administration, interpretation, implementation or application thereof by any Governmental Authority; or (c) the making or issuance of any request, rule, guideline or directive (whether or not having the force of law) by any Governmental Authority; provided that notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, (x) the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and all requests, rules, guidelines or directives thereunder or issued in connection therewith or in implementation thereof and (y) all requests, rules, guidelines or directives promulgated by the Bank for International Settlements, the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (or any successor or similar authority) or the United States or foreign regulatory authorities, in each case pursuant to Basel III, shall in each case be deemed to be a “Change in Law”, regardless of the date enacted, adopted, issued or implemented.

 

Change of Control ” means an event or series of events by which:

 

(a)                                  any “ person ” or “ group ” (as such terms are used in Sections 13(d)  and 14(d)  of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, but excluding any employee benefit plan of such person or its Subsidiaries, and any person or entity acting in its capacity as trustee, agent or other fiduciary or administrator of any such plan) becomes the “ beneficial owner ” (as defined in Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, except that a person or group shall be deemed to have “beneficial ownership” of all Equity Interests that such person or group has the right to acquire, whether such right is exercisable immediately or only after the passage of time (such right, an “ option right ”)), directly or indirectly, of thirty-five percent (35%) or more of the Equity Interests of the Parent entitled to vote for members of the board of directors or equivalent governing body of the Parent on a fully-diluted basis (and taking into account all such Equity Interests that such person or group has the right to acquire pursuant to any option right);

 

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(b)                                  during any period of twelve (12) consecutive months, a majority of the members of the board of directors or other equivalent governing body of the Parent cease to be composed of individuals (i) who were members of that board or equivalent governing body on the first day of such period, (ii) whose election or nomination to that board or equivalent governing body was approved by individuals referred to in clause (i) above constituting at the time of such election or nomination at least a majority of that board or equivalent governing body or (iii) whose election or nomination to that board or other equivalent governing body was approved by individuals referred to in clauses (i) and (ii) above constituting at the time of such election or nomination at least a majority of that board or equivalent governing body; or

 

(c)                                   the Parent shall cease to (i) either be the sole general partner of, or wholly own and control the general partner of, the Borrower or (ii) own, directly or indirectly, greater than fifty percent (50%) of the Equity Interests of the Borrower.

 

Closing Date ” means the first date all the conditions precedent in Section 5.01 are satisfied or waived in accordance with Section 11.01 .

 

Code ” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 .

 

Commitment ” means, as to each Lender, its obligation to make Committed Loans to the Borrower pursuant to Section 2.01 , in an aggregate principal amount at any one time outstanding not to exceed the amount set forth opposite such Lender’s name on Schedule 2.01 or in the Assignment and Assumption pursuant to which such Lender becomes a party hereto, as applicable, as such amount may be adjusted from time to time in accordance with this Agreement.

 

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

 

Committed Loan ” has the meaning specified in Section 2.01(a) .

 

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.

 

Companies ” means, without duplication, the Parent and its Consolidated Subsidiaries (including the Borrower), and “Company” means any one of the Companies.

 

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

 

Condemnation ” means a temporary or permanent taking by any Governmental Authority as the result, in lieu, or in anticipation, of the exercise of the right of condemnation or eminent domain of all or any part of any Unencumbered Property, or any interest therein or right accruing thereto, including any right of access thereto or any change of grade affecting any Unencumbered Property or any part thereof.

 

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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 EBITDA ” means, for any Person for any period, an amount equal to (a) Consolidated Net Income, plus (b) the sum of the following (without duplication and to the extent reflected as a charge in the statement of such Consolidated Net Income for such period): (i) income tax expense; (ii) interest expense, amortization or write-off of debt discount and debt issuance costs and commissions, discounts and other fees and charges associated with Indebtedness; (iii) depreciation and amortization expense; (iv) amortization of intangibles (including goodwill) and organization costs; (v) any extraordinary, unusual or non-recurring expenses or losses (including, whether or not otherwise includable as a separate item in the statement of such Consolidated Net Income for such period, losses on sales of assets outside of the ordinary course of business), including property acquisition costs; (vi) any other non-cash charges, and (vii) all commissions, guaranty fees, discounts and other fees and charges owed by such Person with respect to letters of credit and bankers’ acceptance financing and net costs of such Person under Swap Contracts in respect of interest rates to the extent such net costs are allocable to such period in accordance with GAAP; minus (c) the sum of the following (to the extent included in the statement of such Consolidated Net Income for such period): (i) interest income (except to the extent deducted in determining such Consolidated Net Income); (ii) any extraordinary, unusual or non-recurring income or gains (including, whether or not otherwise includable as a separate item in the statement of such Consolidated Net Income for such period, gains on the sales of assets outside of the ordinary course of business); and (iii) any other non-cash income.

 

Consolidated Fixed Charges ” means, on a consolidated basis, for any Person for any period, the sum (without duplication) of (a) Consolidated Interest Expense, (b) provision for cash income taxes made by such Person on a consolidated basis in respect of such period, (c) scheduled principal amortization payments due during such period on account of Indebtedness of such Person (excluding Balloon Payments), and (d) Restricted Payments paid in cash with respect to preferred Equity Interests of such Person during such period (other than any repayments of principal with respect to preferred Equity Interests).

 

Consolidated Interest Expense ” means, for any Person for any period, the total interest expense (including that attributable to Capital Lease Obligations) of such Person for such period with respect to all outstanding Total Funded Debt (including all commissions, discounts and other fees and charges owed by such Person with respect to letters of credit and bankers’ acceptance financing and net costs of such Person under Swap Contracts in respect of interest rates to the extent such net costs are allocable to such period in accordance with GAAP).  Consolidated Interest Expenses shall exclude non-cash charges, interest rate hedge termination payments or receipts, loan prepayment costs, and upfront loan fees, interest expense covered by an interest reserve established under a loan facility and any interest expense under any construction loan or construction activity that under GAAP is required to be capitalized.

 

Consolidated Leverage Ratio ” means, as of any date of determination, the quotient (expressed as a percentage) of (a) Consolidated Total Debt, divided by (b) Total Asset Value.

 

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Consolidated Net Income ” means, for any Person for any period, the consolidated net income (or loss) of such Person for such period, determined on a consolidated basis; provided that in calculating Consolidated Net Income of the Parent for any period, there shall be excluded (a) the income (or deficit) of any Person accrued prior to the date it becomes a Subsidiary or is merged into or consolidated with the Parent or any of its Subsidiaries, (b) the income (or deficit) of any Person (other than a Company) in which any Company has an ownership interest, except to the extent that any such income is actually received by such Company in the form of dividends or similar distributions, and (c) the undistributed earnings of any Subsidiary of any Company to the extent that the declaration or payment of dividends or similar distributions by such Subsidiary is not at the time permitted by the terms of any Contractual Obligation (other than under any Loan Document) or requirement of Law applicable to such Subsidiary.

 

Consolidated Subsidiary ” means any Person in which the Parent or the Borrower has a direct or indirect ownership interest and whose financial results would be consolidated under GAAP with the financial results of the Parent on the consolidated financial statements of the Parent.

 

Consolidated Total Debt ” means, as of any date of determination, the aggregate principal amount of all Indebtedness of the Parent on such date, determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP which would be required to be included on the liabilities side of the balance sheet of the Parent in accordance with GAAP, and including the Companies’ Share of the principal amount of all Indebtedness of Unconsolidated Affiliates, but, in each case, excluding the net obligations of the Parent on a consolidated basis under any Swap Contract.

 

Construction in Progress ” means (a) a Property with new ground up construction, (b) a Property under renovation in which (i) greater than thirty percent (30%) of the square footage of such Property is unavailable for occupancy due to renovation and (ii) no rents are being paid on such square footage or (c) a building expansion.  The classification of “Construction in Progress” will cease on the earlier to occur of (A) the time that such Property has an Occupancy Rate of greater than eighty percent (80%), and (B) one hundred eighty (180) days after completion of construction, renovation or expansion of such Property, as applicable.

 

Contamination ” means the presence of Hazardous Materials in amounts exceeding regulatory action levels.

 

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.  The terms “ Controlling ” and “ Controlled ” have meanings correlative thereto.

 

Co-Syndication Agent ” means each of Capital One, National Association, PNC Bank, National Association, Royal Bank of Canada and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association in its capacity as a co-syndication agent for the term loan facility evidenced by this Agreement.

 

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Credit Agreements ” means (a) the Revolving Credit Agreement, (b) that certain Term Loan Agreement, dated as of September 29, 2015, among the Borrower, the Parent, Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as administrative agent, and the other lenders party thereto, (c) that certain Amended and Restated Term Loan Agreement, dated as of December 20, 2016, among the Borrower, the Parent, Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as administrative agent, and the other lenders party thereto and (d) that certain Second Amended and Restated Term Loan Agreement, dated as of December 20, 2016, among the Borrower, the Parent, Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as administrative agent, and the other lenders party thereto . , and (e) that certain Term Loan Agreement, dated as of July 26, 2018, among the Borrower, the Parent, Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as administrative agent, and the other lenders party thereto, in each case, as amended from time to time.

 

Credit Extension ” means a Borrowing.

 

Current Reporting Quarter ” means the most recent fiscal quarter for which quarterly financial statements have been delivered to the Lenders pursuant to Section 7.01 .

 

Customary Recourse Exceptions ” means, with respect to any Indebtedness, personal recourse that is limited to fraud, misrepresentation, misapplication of cash, waste, environmental claims and liabilities, prohibited transfers, violations of single purposes entity covenants, and other circumstances customarily excluded by institutional lenders from exculpation provisions and/or included in separate guaranty or indemnification agreements in non-recourse financing of Real Property.

 

Dark Property ” means any Property as to which, as of the last day of the Current Reporting Quarter, (a) all leases have terminated, (b) the Borrower is not recognizing revenue from any tenants in accordance with GAAP or (c) the Adjusted NOI for such Property is negative.

 

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 and affecting the rights of creditors generally.

 

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Debt Rating ” means, as of any date of determination, the rating as determined by a minimum of two of S&P,  Moody’s or Fitch (collectively, the “ Debt Ratings ”) of the Borrower’s non-credit-enhanced, senior unsecured long-term debt; provided that (a) if the respective Debt Ratings issued by the foregoing rating agencies differ by one level, then the Pricing Level for the higher of such Debt Ratings shall apply (with the Debt Rating for Pricing Level 1 being the highest and the Debt Rating for Pricing Level 5 being the lowest); (b) if there is a split in Debt Ratings of more than one level, then the Pricing Level that is one level lower than the Pricing Level of the higher Debt Rating shall apply; (c) if the Borrower has only one Debt Rating, the Pricing Level that is one level lower than that of such Debt Rating shall apply; and (d) if, after satisfying the Rating Condition, the Borrower does not have any Debt Rating, Pricing Level 5 shall apply.

 

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 an interest rate equal to (i) the Base Rate plus (ii) the Applicable Rate, if any, applicable to Base Rate Loans plus (iii) two percent (2%) per annum; provided that with respect to a LIBOR Loan, the Default Rate shall be an interest rate equal to the interest rate (including any Applicable Rate) otherwise applicable to such Loan plus two percent (2%) per annum.

 

Defaulting Lender ” means, subject to Section 2.16(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 Borrower in writing that such failure is the result of such Lender’s determination that one or more conditions precedent to funding (each of which conditions precedent, together with any applicable default, shall be specifically identified in such writing) has not been satisfied, or (ii) pay to the Administrative Agent or any other Lender any other amount required to be paid by it hereunder within two (2) Business Days of the date when due, (b) has notified the Borrower and the Administrative Agent 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 Borrower, to confirm in writing to the Administrative Agent and the Borrower that it will comply with its prospective funding obligations hereunder ( provided that such Lender shall cease to be a Defaulting Lender pursuant to this clause (c)  upon receipt of such written confirmation by the Administrative Agent and the Borrower), or (d) has, or has a direct or indirect parent company which controls such Lender that has, (i) become the subject of a proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law, (ii) had appointed for it a receiver, custodian, conservator, trustee, administrator, assignee for the benefit of creditors or similar Person charged with reorganization or liquidation of its business or assets, including the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other state or federal regulatory authority acting in such a capacity or (iii) become the subject of a Bail-In Action; provided that a Lender shall not be a Defaulting Lender solely by virtue of the ownership or acquisition of any Equity Interest in that Lender or any direct or indirect parent company thereof by a Governmental Authority so long as

 

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such ownership interest does not result in or provide such Lender with immunity from the jurisdiction of courts within the United States or from the enforcement of judgments or writs of attachment on its assets or permit such Lender (or such Governmental Authority) to reject, repudiate, disavow or disaffirm any contracts or agreements made with such Lender.  Any determination by the Administrative Agent that a Lender is a Defaulting Lender under any one or more of clauses (a)  through (d)  above, and of the effective date of such status, shall be conclusive and binding absent manifest error, and such Lender shall be deemed to be a Defaulting Lender (subject to Section 2.16(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 Borrower and each Lender promptly following such determination.

 

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

 

Disposition ” or “ Dispose ” means the sale, transfer, license, lease (other than a real estate lease entered into in the ordinary course of business as part of Property leasing operations) or other disposition (including any sale and leaseback transaction) of any property by any Person, 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 arrangement constituting a Lien.

 

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

 

Draw Request ” means a notice of (a) a Committed Borrowing, (b) a conversion of Committed Loans from one Type to the other, or (c) a continuation of LIBOR Loans, pursuant to Section 2.02(a) , which, if in writing, shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit A

 

EEA Financial Institution ” means (a) any institution established in any EEA Member Country which is subject to the supervision of an EEA Resolution Authority, (b) any entity established in an EEA Member Country which is a parent of an institution described in clause (a) of this definition, or (c) any institution established in an EEA Member Country which is a subsidiary of an institution described in clauses (a) or (b) of this definition and is subject to consolidated supervision with its parent.

 

EEA Member Country ” means any of the member states of the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway.

 

EEA Resolution Authority ” means any public administrative authority or any Person entrusted with public administrative authority of any EEA Member Country (including any delegee) having responsibility for the resolution of any EEA Financial Institution.

 

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

 

Environmental Assessment ” has the meaning specified in Section 7.12(b) .

 

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Environmental Claim ” means any investigative, enforcement, cleanup, removal, containment, remedial, or other private or governmental or regulatory action at any time instituted or completed pursuant to any applicable Environmental Requirement against any Company or against or with respect to any Real Property or any condition, use, or activity on any Real Property (including any such action against the Administrative Agent or any Lender), and any claim at any time made by any Person against any Company or against or with respect to any Real Property or any condition, use, or activity on any Real Property (including any such claim against the Administrative Agent or any Lender), relating to damage, contribution, cost recovery, compensation, loss, or injury resulting from or in any way arising in connection with any Hazardous Material or any Environmental Requirement.

 

Environmental Damages ” means all liabilities (including strict liability), losses, damages (excluding consequential, special, exemplary or punitive damages except to the extent such damages were imposed upon an Indemnitee as a result of any claims made against such Indemnitee by a governmental entity or any other third party), judgments, penalties, fines, costs and expenses (including fees, costs and expenses of attorneys, consultants, contractors, experts and laboratories), of any and every kind or character, at law or in equity, contingent or otherwise, matured or unmatured, foreseeable or unforeseeable, made, incurred, suffered, brought, or imposed at any time and from time to time, whether before or after the Release Date and arising in whole or in part from:

 

(a)                                  the presence of any Hazardous Material on any Unencumbered Property, or any escape, seepage, leakage, spillage, emission, release, discharge or disposal of any Hazardous Material on or from any Unencumbered Property, or the migration or release or threatened migration or release of any Hazardous Material to, from or through any Unencumbered Property, on or before the Release Date; or

 

(b)                                  any act, omission, event or circumstance existing or occurring in connection with the handling, treatment, containment, removal, storage, decontamination, clean up, transport or disposal of any Hazardous Material which is at any time on or before the Release Date present on any Unencumbered Property; or

 

(c)                                   the breach of any representation, warranty, covenant or agreement contained in this Agreement  relating to the presence of any Hazardous Material on any Unencumbered Property because of any event or condition occurring or existing on or before the Release Date; or

 

(d)                                  any violation on or before the Release Date, of any Environmental Requirement in connection with any Unencumbered Property in effect on or before the Release Date, regardless of whether any act, omission, event or circumstance giving rise to the violation constituted a violation at the time of the occurrence or inception of such act, omission, event or circumstance; or

 

(e)                                   any Environmental Claim, or the filing or imposition of any environmental Lien against any Unencumbered Property, because of, resulting from, in connection with, or arising out of any of the matters referred to in subparagraphs (a)  through (d)  preceding;

 

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and regardless of whether any of the foregoing was caused by the Borrower, any other Loan Party or their respective tenant or subtenant, or a prior owner of an Unencumbered Property or its tenant or subtenant, or any third party including (i) injury or damage to any person, property or natural resource occurring on or off of an Unencumbered Property including the cost of demolition and rebuilding of any improvements on any Real Property; (ii) the investigation or remediation of any such Hazardous Material or violation of Environmental Requirement including the preparation of any feasibility studies or reports and the performance of any cleanup, remediation, removal, response, abatement, containment, closure, restoration, monitoring or similar work required by any Environmental Requirement or necessary to have full use and benefit of Unencumbered Properties as contemplated by the Loan Documents (including any of the same in connection with any foreclosure action or transfer in lieu thereof); (iii) all liability to pay or indemnify any Person or Governmental Authority for costs expended in connection with any of the foregoing; (iv) the investigation and defense of any claim, whether or not such claim is ultimately withdrawn or defeated; and (v) the settlement of any claim or judgment.  “ Costs ” as used in this definition shall also include any diminution in the value of the security afforded by the Unencumbered Property or any future reduction of the sales price of any Unencumbered Property by reason of any matter set forth in Section 7.12 or 8.12 .

 

Environmental Laws ” means any and all applicable 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 Requirement ” means any Environmental Law, agreement or restriction, as the same now exists or may be changed or amended or come into effect in the future, which pertains to any Hazardous Material or the environment including ground or air or water or noise pollution or contamination, and underground or aboveground tanks.

 

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.

 

Equity Issuance ” means the issuance or sale by any Person of any of its Equity Interests or any capital contribution to such Person by the holders of its Equity Interests.

 

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 the Borrower within the meaning of Section 414(b)  or (c)  of the Code (and

 

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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 the Parent 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 the Parent 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(a)(1) or (2)  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 notification that a Multiemployer Plan is 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; or (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  the Parent or any ERISA Affiliate.

 

EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule ” means the EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule published by the Loan Market Association (or any successor Person), as in effect from time to time.

 

Event of Default ” has the meaning specified in Section 9.01 .

 

Excluded Party ” shall mean any REIT, any parent company of or Person who Controls any REIT in each instance engaged primarily in owning and operating Real Property, and any other Person whom the Borrower has reasonably identified in writing to the Administrative Agent as a competitor or potential competitor of the Borrower.

 

Excluded Swap Obligation ” means, with respect to any Loan Party, any Swap Contract if, and to the extent that, all or a portion of the liability of such Loan Party for or the Guarantee of such Loan Party of, or the grant by such Loan Party of a Lien to secure, such Swap Contract (or any liability or guarantee thereof) is or becomes illegal under the Commodity Exchange Act or any rule, regulation or order of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (or the application or official interpretation of any thereof) by virtue of such Loan Party’s failure for any reason to constitute an “eligible contract participant” as defined in the Commodity Exchange Act and the regulations thereunder at the time the liability for or the Guarantee of such Loan Party or the grant of such Lien becomes effective with respect to such Swap Contract (such determination being made after giving effect to any applicable keepwell, support or other agreement for the benefit of the applicable Loan Party, including under Section 27 of the Subsidiary Guaranty).  If a Swap Contract arises under a master agreement governing more than one swap, such exclusion shall apply only to the portion of such Swap Contract that is attributable to swaps for which such Guarantee or Lien is or becomes illegal for the reasons identified in the immediately preceding sentence of this definition.

 

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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 the 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)(ii)  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.

 

“Exclusion Event” has the meaning specified in Section 4.10 .

 

“Exclusion Notice” has the meaning specified in Section 4.10.

 

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 agreement 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 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, then 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, (b) if no such rate is so published on such next succeeding Business Day, then 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 BANA on such day on such transactions as determined by the Administrative Agent and (c) if the Federal Funds Rate should be less than zero, such rate shall be deemed to be zero for purposes of this Agreement.

 

Fee Letter ” means the letter agreement, dated June 28, 2017, among the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated.

 

FIRREA ” means the Financial Institution Recovery, Reform and Enforcement Act of 1989, as amended.

 

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First Amendment Effective Date ” means July 26, 2018.

 

Fitch ” means Fitch, Inc., and any successor thereto.

 

Fixed Charge Ratio ” means, as of any date of determination, the quotient (expressed as a percentage) of (a) Consolidated EBITDA, divided by (b) Consolidated Fixed Charges.

 

Foreign Lender ” means (a) if the Borrower is a U.S. Person, a Lender that is not a U.S. Person, and (b) if the 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 the 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.

 

FRB ” means the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System of the United States.

 

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.

 

Funds from Operations ” means, for any Person for any period, the sum of (a) Consolidated Net Income plus (b) depreciation and amortization expense determined in accordance with GAAP excluding amortization expense attributable to capitalized debt costs; provided that there shall not be included in such calculation (i) any proceeds of any insurance policy other than rental or business interruption insurance received by such Person, (ii) any gain or loss which is classified as “extraordinary” in accordance with GAAP, (iii) any capital gains and taxes on capital gains, (iv) income (or loss) associated with third-party ownership of non-controlling Equity Interests, and (v) gains or losses on the sale of discontinued operations as detailed in the most-recent financial statements delivered pursuant to Section 7.01(a)  or (b) , as applicable.

 

GAAP ” means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States set forth in the opinions and pronouncements of the Accounting Principles Board and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and statements and pronouncements of the Financial Accounting Standards Board or such other principles as may be approved by a significant segment of the accounting profession in the United States, that are applicable to the circumstances as of the date of determination, consistently applied.

 

Governmental Authority ” means the government of the United States or any other nation, or of any political subdivision thereof, whether state or local, and any agency, authority, instrumentality, regulatory body, court, central bank or other entity exercising executive, legislative, judicial, taxing, regulatory or administrative powers or functions of or pertaining to government (including any supra-national bodies such as the European Union or the European Central Bank).

 

Guarantee ” means, as to any Person, (a) any obligation, contingent or otherwise, of such Person guaranteeing or having the economic effect of guaranteeing any Indebtedness or other obligation payable or performable by another Person (the “primary obligor”) in any

 

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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 or other obligation of any other Person, whether or not such Indebtedness or other obligation is assumed by such Person (or any right, contingent or otherwise, of any holder of such Indebtedness 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.

 

Guaranties ” means the Parent Guaranty and the Subsidiary Guaranties, and “ Guaranty ” means any one of the Guaranties.

 

Guarantors ” means, collectively, the Parent and each Subsidiary Guarantor, and “ Guarantor ” means any one of the Guarantors.

 

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

 

“Immaterial Subsidiary ” means any Subsidiary whose assets constitute less than one percent (1%) of Total Asset Value; provided that if at any time the aggregate Total Asset Value of the “Immaterial Subsidiaries” which are not Guarantors exceeds ten percent (10%) of Total Asset Value, then the Borrower shall designate certain “Immaterial Subsidiaries” as Guarantors such that the aggregate Total Asset Value of the “Immaterial Subsidiaries” which are not Guarantors does not exceed ten percent (10%) of Total Asset Value.

 

Improvements ” means any Subsidiary Guarantor’s interest in and to all on site improvements to the Unencumbered Properties, together with all fixtures, tenant improvements, and appurtenances now or later to be located on the Unencumbered Properties and/or in such improvements.

 

Increase Effective Date ” has the meaning specified in Section 2.06(b)(ii) .

 

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:

 

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(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)                                  all direct or contingent obligations of such Person arising under letters of credit (including standby and commercial), bankers’ acceptances, bank guaranties, surety bonds and similar instruments;

 

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

 

(d)                                  all 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 and, in each case, either (i) not past due for more than one hundred and eighty (180) days or (ii) being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted);

 

(e)                                   Capital Lease Obligations;

 

(f)                                    all obligations of such Person to purchase, redeem, retire, defease or otherwise make any payment in respect of any ownership interest (excluding perpetual preferred ownership interests) in such Person or any other Person, valued, in the case of a redeemable preferred interest, at the greater of its voluntary or involuntary liquidation preference plus (without duplication and only to the extent required to be paid) accrued and unpaid dividends;

 

(g)                                   all Guarantees of such Person in respect of any of the foregoing (except for guaranties of customary exceptions for fraud, misapplication of funds, environmental indemnities, voluntary bankruptcy, collusive involuntary bankruptcy and other similar customary exceptions to non-recourse liability); and

 

(h)                                  all obligations of the kind referred to in clauses (a) through (g) above secured by (or for which the holder of such obligation has an existing right, contingent or otherwise, to be secured by) any lien on Property (including accounts and contract rights) owned by such Person, whether or not such Person has assumed or become liable for the payment of such obligation, but limited to the lesser of (i) the fair market value of the property subject to such lien and (ii) the aggregate amount of the obligations so secured.

 

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; provided that, solely for purposes of calculating the financial covenants set forth in Sections 8.14(a), (b) , and (c)  and (d) , Indebtedness shall exclude the net obligations of the Parent on a consolidated basis under Swap Contracts entered into to hedge or mitigate any interest rate risk in respect of borrowed money for which the Parent, the Borrower or any Subsidiary has actual exposure.  The amount of any Capital Lease Obligations as of any date shall be deemed to be the amount of Attributable Indebtedness in respect thereof as of such date.

 

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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 (a), Other Taxes.

 

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

 

Information ” has the meaning specified in Section 11.07.

 

Initial Unencumbered Properties ” means the Acceptable Properties listed on Schedule 4.01 , and “ Initial Unencumbered Property ” means any one of the Initial Unencumbered Properties.

 

Interest Payment Date ” means (a) as to any Loan other than a Base Rate Loan, the last day of each Interest Period applicable to such Loan and the Maturity Date applicable to such Loan; provided that if any Interest Period for a LIBOR Loan exceeds three (3) months, then 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, the last Business Day of each March, June, September, and December and the Maturity Date applicable to such Loan.

 

Interest Period ” means as to each LIBOR Loan, the period commencing on the date such LIBOR Loan is disbursed or converted to or continued as a LIBOR Loan and ending on the date one (1), two (2), three (3) or six (6) months (if available to all Lenders) thereafter, as selected by the Borrower in its Loan Notice; provided that :

 

(i)                                      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, in the case of a LIBOR Loan, such Business Day falls in another calendar month, in which case such Interest Period shall end on the next preceding Business Day;

 

(ii)                                   any Interest Period pertaining to a LIBOR Loan 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

 

(iii)                                no Interest Period for a subject Loan shall extend beyond the Maturity Date applicable to such Loan.

 

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 equity participation or interest in, another Person, including any partnership or joint venture interest in such other Person and any arrangement pursuant to which the investor Guarantees 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 that constitute a business unit.  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.

 

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IP Rights ” has the meaning specified in Section 6.18 .

 

IRS ” means the United States Internal Revenue Service.

 

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.

 

Lead Arrangers ” means (a) Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, together with any affiliates it deems appropriate to provide the services contemplated herein, in its capacity as sole bookrunner and joint lead arranger for the term loan facility evidenced by this Agreement, and (b) each of Capital One, National Association, PNC Capital Markets LLC, Royal Bank of Canada and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, in its capacity as joint lead arranger for the term loan facility evidenced by this Agreement.

 

Lease ” means each existing or future lease, sublease (to the extent of any Subsidiary Guarantor’s rights thereunder), license, or other agreement (other than an Acceptable Ground Lease) under the terms of which any Person has or acquires any right to occupy or use any Property, or any part thereof, or interest therein, and each existing or future guaranty of payment or performance thereunder.

 

Lender ” has the meaning specified in the introductory paragraph hereto.

 

Lending Office ” means, as to any Lender, the office or offices of such Lender described as such in such Lender’s Administrative Questionnaire, or such other office or offices as a Lender may from time to time notify the Borrower and the Administrative Agent.

 

LIBOR ” means:

 

(a) for any Interest Period with respect to a LIBOR Loan (including any Loan that bears interest by reference to the LIBOR Market Index Rate), the rate per annum equal to the London Interbank Offered Rate (the “ LIBO Rate ”) or a comparable or successor rate, which comparable or successor 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 approximately 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 LIBO Rate, at or about 11:00 a.m., London time determined two (2) Business Days prior to such date for U.S. Dollar deposits with a term of one month commencing that day; and

 

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(c) if the LIBO Rate shall be less than zero, such rate shall be deemed zero for each LIBOR Loan that has not been identified by the Borrower in accordance with the terms of this Agreement as being subject to a Specified Swap Contract that provides a hedge against interest rate risk;

 

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.

 

LIBOR Loan ” means a Committed Loan that bears interest at a rate based on LIBOR.

 

LIBOR Market Index Rate ” means, with respect to any day, the rate of interest per annum determined by Administrative Agent equal to LIBOR based on Dollar deposits in minimum amounts of at least $5,000,000 for a period equal to one month (commencing on the date of determination of such interest rate) as published by Bloomberg (or any applicable successor page, or, if not available, another commercially available source providing such quotations as designated by Administrative Agent from time to time) at approximately 11:00 a.m. (London time) two (2) Business Days prior to the date in question, or, if such date is not a Business Day, then the immediately preceding Business Day (rounded upward, if necessary, to the nearest whole 1/100 of 1%); provided that if the LIBOR Market Index Rate shall be less than zero, such rate shall be deemed to be zero for all purposes of this Agreement.

 

LIBOR Screen Rate ” means the LIBOR quote on the applicable screen page the Administrative Agent designates to determine LIBOR (or such other commercially available source providing such quotations as may be designated by the Administrative Agent from time to time).

 

LIBOR Successor Rate Conforming Changes ” means, with respect to any proposed LIBOR Successor Rate, any conforming changes to the definition of Base Rate, Interest Period, timing and frequency of determining rates and making payments of interest and other administrative matters as may be appropriate, in the discretion of the Administrative Agent, to reflect the adoption of such LIBOR Successor Rate and to permit the administration thereof by the Administrative Agent in a manner substantially consistent with market practice (or, if the Administrative Agent determines that adoption of any portion of such market practice is not administratively feasible or that no market practice for the administration of such LIBOR Successor Rate exists, in such other manner of administration as the Administrative Agent determines in consultation with the Borrower).

 

Lien ” means any mortgage, pledge, hypothecation, assignment, deposit arrangement, encumbrance, lien (statutory or other), charge or other security interest or any preference, priority or other security agreement or preferential arrangement 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 Capital Lease having substantially the same economic effect as any of the foregoing).

 

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Loan ” means an extension of credit by a Lender to the Borrower under Article II in the form of a Committed Loan.

 

Loan Documents ” means this Agreement, each Note, the Fee Letter, and the Guaranties.

 

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 LIBOR Loans, pursuant to Section 2.02(a) , which, if in writing, shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit A .

 

Loan Parties ” means, collectively, the Borrower and each Guarantor and “ Loan Party ” means any one of the Loan Parties.

 

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

 

Material Acquisition ” means any acquisition (or series of related acquisitions) or investments (or series of related investments) permitted by this Agreement and consummated in accordance with the terms of this Agreement for which the aggregate consideration paid in respect of such acquisition or investment (including any Indebtedness assumed in connection therewith) exceeds 10% of Total Asset Value for the Current Reporting Quarter, without giving pro forma effect to such acquisition.

 

Material Adverse Effect ” means: (a) a material adverse change in, or a material adverse effect upon, the business, assets, operations, or financial condition of the Companies, taken as a whole; (b) a material impairment of the ability of the Loan Parties, taken as a whole, to perform their obligations under the Loan Documents; or (c) a material adverse effect upon the legality, validity, binding effect, or enforceability against the Loan Parties, taken as a whole, of the Loan Documents to which they are parties.

 

Material Environmental Event ” means, with respect to any Unencumbered Property, (a) a violation of any Environmental Law with respect to such Unencumbered Property, or (b) the presence of any Hazardous Materials on, about, or under such Unencumbered Property that, under or pursuant to any Environmental Law, would require remediation, if in the case of either (a) or (b), such event or circumstance could reasonably be expected to have a Material Property Event.

 

Material Property Event ” means, with respect to any Unencumbered Property, the occurrence of any event or circumstance occurring or arising after the date of this Agreement that resulted in a (a) material adverse effect with respect to the financial condition or the operations of such Unencumbered Property, (b) material adverse effect on the value of such Unencumbered Property, or (c) material adverse effect on the ownership of such Unencumbered Property.

 

Material Title Defects ” means, with respect to any Unencumbered Property, defects, Liens (other than Liens for local real estate taxes and similar local governmental charges), and other encumbrances in the nature of easements, servitudes, restrictions, and rights-of-way that would customarily be deemed unacceptable title exceptions for a prudent lender (i.e., a prudent lender would reasonably determine that such exceptions, individually or in the aggregate,

 

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materially impair the value or operations of such Unencumbered Property, would prevent such Unencumbered Property from being used in the manner in which it is currently being used, or would result in a violation of any Law which would have a material and adverse effect on such Unencumbered Property); provided that Material Title Defects shall not include any Liens or other encumbrances (i) that existed as of the date of the title insurance policies issued in connection with the Prior Credit Agreement for the Initial Unencumbered Properties, (ii) that existed as of the date of this Agreement and that are listed on Schedule 8.01 or (iii) with respect to any Unencumbered Properties added following the date of this Agreement, Liens and other encumbrances similar in type and extent to those contemplated by clauses (i) and (ii) above.

 

Material Subsidiary ” means each Subsidiary of the Borrower other than a Non-Guarantor Subsidiary.

 

Maturity Date ” means January 4, 2023; provided that if such date is not a Business Day, then the Maturity Date shall be the next preceding Business Day.

 

Minimum Distributions ” means (a) for the Parent for any fiscal year of the Parent, Restricted Payments in an amount not less than the aggregate amount of distributions required to be paid by the Parent in order for the Parent to qualify as a REIT, and (b) for the Borrower for any fiscal year of the Borrower, Restricted Payments in an amount not less than the aggregate amount of distributions required to be paid by the Borrower to the Parent in order for the Parent to qualify as a REIT.

 

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 the Parent 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 (2) or more contributing sponsors (including the Parent or any ERISA Affiliate) at least two (2) of whom are not under common control, as such a plan is described in Section 4064 of ERISA.

 

Non-Guarantor Subsidiary ” means any Subsidiary (whether direct or indirect) of the Borrower, other than any Subsidiary which owns an Unencumbered Property or any Subsidiary which owns any of the Equity Interests of any such Subsidiary, which (a) is (i) formed for or converted to the specific purpose of holding title to Real Property assets which are collateral for Indebtedness owing or to be owed by such Subsidiary, provided that such Indebtedness must be incurred or assumed within ninety (90) days, such ninety (90) day period to be extended for an additional sixty (60) days if the Borrower provides an executed term sheet or commitment letter for the financing of such Real Property to the Administrative Agent (or, in either instance, for such longer period as the Administrative Agent may agree in writing) of such formation or conversion or such Subsidiary shall cease to qualify as a Non Guarantor Subsidiary, and (ii) expressly prohibited in writing from guaranteeing Indebtedness of any other person or entity pursuant to (A) a provision in any document, instrument or agreement evidencing such Indebtedness of such Subsidiary or (B) a provision of such Subsidiary’s Organization

 

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Documents, in each case, which provision was included in such Organization Document or such other document, instrument or agreement at the request of the applicable third party creditor and as an express condition to the extension or assumption of such Indebtedness; provided that a Subsidiary meeting the requirements set forth in this clause (a) shall only remain a “Non-Guarantor Subsidiary” for so long as (1) each of the foregoing requirements set forth in this clause (a) are satisfied, (2) such Subsidiary does not guarantee any other Indebtedness, and (3) the Indebtedness with respect to which the restrictions noted in clause (a) (ii) are imposed remains outstanding; (b)(i) becomes a Subsidiary following the Closing Date, (ii) is not a Wholly Owned Subsidiary of the Borrower, and (iii) with respect to which the Borrower and its Affiliates, as applicable, do not have sufficient voting power to cause such Subsidiary to become a Guarantor hereunder; (c) is an Immaterial Subsidiary; (d) is a Subsidiary which has been released from its Obligations under a Subsidiary Guaranty pursuant to Section 2.17(b)  below, or (e) is not a domestic Subsidiary.  For the avoidance of doubt, STAG Industrial Management, LLC, the Subsidiary that employs the Parent Guarantor’s employees, shall be deemed to be a Non-Guarantor Subsidiary.

 

Non-Recourse Indebtedness ” means, for any Person, any Indebtedness of such Person for the repayment of which neither the Parent or the Borrower has any personal liability (other than for Customary Recourse Exceptions) or, if such Person is the Parent or the Borrower, in which recourse of the applicable holder of such Indebtedness for non-payment is limited to such holder’s Liens on a particular asset or group of assets (other than for Customary Recourse Exceptions).  For the avoidance of doubt, if any Indebtedness is partially guaranteed by the Parent or the Borrower, then the portion of such Indebtedness that is not so guaranteed shall still be Non-Recourse Indebtedness if it otherwise satisfies the requirements in this definition.

 

Note ” means a promissory note made by the Borrower in favor of each Lender requesting the same evidencing Loans made by such Lender, substantially in the form of Exhibit B .

 

Note Purchase Agreements ” means (i) that certain Note Purchase Agreement, dated as of April 16, 2014 among the Parent, the Borrower, and the purchasers party thereto and , (ii) that certain Note Purchase Agreement, dated as of December 18, 2014 among the Parent, the Borrower, and the purchasers party thereto, and (iii) that certain Note Purchase Agreement, dated as of June 13, 2018, among the Parent, the Borrower, and the purchasers party thereto, in each case as amended from time to time.

 

Obligations ” means 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, 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; including, without limitation of the foregoing, all present and future indebtedness, liabilities, and obligations now or hereafter owed to the Administrative Agent, any Lender, or any Affiliate of the Administrative Agent or any Lender (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any Specified

 

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Derivatives Providers) arising from, by virtue of, or pursuant to any Swap Contract, other than any Excluded Swap Obligation, that relates solely to the Obligations.

 

Occupancy Rate ” means, for any Property, the percentage of the rentable area of such Property occupied by bona fide tenants of such Property or leased by tenants pursuant to bona fide tenant Leases, in each case, which tenants are not more than 60 days past due in the payment of all rent or other similar payments due under such Leases and paying rent.

 

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, and (c) with respect to any partnership, joint venture, trust or other form of business entity, the partnership, joint venture or other applicable agreement of formation or organization and any agreement, instrument, filing or notice with respect thereto filed in connection with its formation or organization with the applicable Governmental Authority in the jurisdiction of its formation or organization and, if applicable, any certificate or articles of formation or organization of such entity.

 

Other Connection Taxes ” means, with respect to any Recipient, Taxes imposed as a result of a present or former connection between such Recipient and the jurisdiction imposing such Tax (other than connections arising from such Recipient having executed, delivered, become a party to, performed its obligations under, received payments under, received or perfected a security interest under, engaged in any other transaction pursuant to or enforced any Loan Document, or sold or assigned an interest in any Loan or Loan Document).

 

Other Taxes ” means all present or future stamp, court 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 with respect to Committed Loans on any date, the aggregate outstanding principal amount thereof after giving effect to any borrowings and prepayments or repayments of Loans occurring on such date.

 

Parent ” has the meaning specified in the introductory paragraph hereto.

 

Parent Guaranty ” means the Guaranty Agreement executed by the Parent in favor of the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Lenders and any Specified Derivatives Providers, in form and substance acceptable to the Administrative Agent.

 

Parent Share ” means a share of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Parent.

 

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

 

“Participant Register ” has the meaning specified in Section  10.06 11.06 (d) .

 

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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, Sections 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 the 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.

 

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 the Parent or any ERISA Affiliate or any such Plan to which the Parent or any ERISA Affiliate is required to contribute on behalf of any of its employees.

 

Platform ” has the meaning specified in Section 7.02 .

 

Prior Credit Agreement ” means that certain Credit Agreement dated as of April 20, 2011 among the Borrower, BANA, as agent, and a syndicate of lenders.

 

Property ” means any Real Property which is owned or ground leased, directly or indirectly, by any Company.

 

PTE ” means a prohibited transaction class exemption issued by the U.S. Department of Labor, as any such exemption may be amended from time to time.

 

Public Lender ” has the meaning specified in Section 7.02 .

 

Qualified ECP Guarantor ” means, in respect of any Swap Contract, each Loan Party that has total assets exceeding $10,000,000 at the time the relevant Guarantee or grant of the relevant security interest becomes effective with respect to such Swap Contract or such other person as constitutes an “eligible contract participant” under the Commodity Exchange Act or any regulations promulgated thereunder and can cause another person to qualify as an “eligible contract participant” at such time by entering into a keepwell under Section 1a(18)(A)(v)(II)  of the Commodity Exchange Act.

 

Rating Condition ” means the achievement by the Borrower of a Debt Rating.

 

Real Property ” of any Person means all of the right, title, and interest of such Person in and to land, improvements, and fixtures.

 

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Recipient ” means the Administrative Agent, any Lender, or any other recipient of any payment to be made by or on account of any obligation of any Loan Party hereunder.

 

Recourse Indebtedness ” means Indebtedness that is not Non-Recourse Indebtedness; provided that personal recourse for Customary Recourse Exceptions shall not, by itself, cause such Indebtedness to be characterized as Recourse Indebtedness.

 

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

 

REIT ” means a “real estate investment trust” in accordance with Section 856 of the Code.

 

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 with respect to a Borrowing, conversion or continuation of Committed Loans, a Draw Request.

 

Required Lenders ” means, at any time, the Lenders having Commitments representing more than 50% of the Aggregate Commitments of all Lenders or, if the commitment of each Lender to make Loans has been terminated pursuant to Section 2.01(b)  or 9.02 , the Lenders holding in the aggregate more than fifty percent (50%) of the Total Outstandings.  The Commitment and Loans of any Defaulting Lender shall be disregarded in determining the Required Lenders at any time.  At all times when two or more Lenders (excluding Defaulting Lenders) are party to this Agreement, the term “Required Lenders” shall in no event mean fewer than two Lenders.

 

Required Notice ” has the meaning supplied in Section 2.01(b) .

 

Responsible Officer ” means the chief executive officer, president, chief financial officer, chief operating officer, chief accounting officer, treasurer, assistant treasurer, or controller of a Loan Party, and solely for purposes of the delivery of incumbency certificates pursuant to Section 5.01 , the secretary or any assistant 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.  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.  Each initial Responsible Officer is listed on Schedule RO .

 

Restricted Payment ” means any dividend or other distribution (whether in cash, Equity Interests or other property) with respect to any capital stock or other Equity Interest of any Company or Subsidiary, or any payment (whether in cash, Equity Interests or other property),

 

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including any sinking fund or similar deposit, on account of the purchase, redemption, retirement, acquisition, cancellation or termination of any such capital stock or other Equity Interests, or on account of any return of capital to such Company’s or Subsidiary’s stockholders, partners or members (or the equivalent Person thereof).

 

Revolving Credit Agreement ” means that certain Credit Agreement, dated as of December 18 July 26 , 2014 2018 , among the Borrower, the Parent, Wells Fargo Bank, National Association , as administrative agent, and the other lenders party thereto, as amended.

 

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

 

Sanction(s) ” means any international economic sanction administered or enforced by OFAC, the United Nations Security Council, the European Union, Her Majesty’s Treasury or other relevant sanctions authority.

 

Scheduled Unavailability Date ” has the meaning provided in Section 3.3(ii) .

 

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

 

Secured Indebtedness ” means (without duplication), with respect to a Person as of any given date, the aggregate principal amount of all Indebtedness of such Person or its subsidiaries outstanding at such date and that is secured by a Lien, and including the Companies’ Share of all Indebtedness of Unconsolidated Affiliates that is secured by a Lien, but excluding for the avoidance of doubt, any net obligations under any Swap Contract that is secured by a Lien, all Unsecured Indebtedness and all Indebtedness hereunder, and provided further that the obligations under any revolving credit agreement (including the Revolving Credit Agreement or any amendment or replacement thereof) shall not constitute Secured Indebtedness due to the existence  of cash collateral security requirements in connection with customary defaulting lender provisions.

 

Secured Leverage Ratio ” means, as of any date of determination, the quotient (expressed as a percentage) of (a) Secured Indebtedness of Parent and its Subsidiaries, divided by (b) Total Asset Value.

 

Secured Recourse Debt Ratio ” means, as of any date of determination, the quotient (expressed as a percentage) of (a) Secured Indebtedness which is Recourse Indebtedness with respect to the Borrower, divided by (b) Total Asset Value.

 

Share ” means the Borrower’s and the Parent’s direct or indirect share of a Consolidated Subsidiary or an Unconsolidated Affiliate as reasonably determined by the Borrower based upon the Borrower’s and the Parent’s economic interest (whether direct or indirect) in such Consolidated Subsidiary or Unconsolidated Affiliate, as of the date of such determination.

 

Specified Derivatives Provider ” shall have the meaning provided in Section 9.03 .

 

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Specified Swap Contract ” means any Swap Contract that is made or entered into at any time, or in effect at any time now or hereafter, whether as a result of an assignment or transfer or otherwise, in each case with respect to the Loans, between the Borrower and a Specified Swap Contract Provider.

 

Specified Swap Contract Provider ” means any Lender, or Affiliate of a Lender, that is party to a Swap Contract at the time such Swap Contract is entered into.

 

Subsequent Loan Advances ” shall have the meaning provided in Section 2.01(b) .

 

Subsequent Loans ” shall have the meaning provided in Section 2.01(b) .

 

Subsidiary ” of a Person means a corporation, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company or other business entity of which a majority of the Equity Interests having ordinary voting power for the election of directors or other governing body (other than Equity Interests having such power only by reason of the happening of a contingency) are 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 Borrower.

 

Subsidiary Guarantors ” means, as of any date, each domestic Subsidiary which owns an Unencumbered Property, all domestic Subsidiaries of the Borrower owning a direct or indirect interest in an Unencumbered Property, each other domestic Material Subsidiary, and the general partner of each Subsidiary Guarantor that is a limited partnership and “ Subsidiary Guarantor ” means any one of the Subsidiary Guarantors; provided, however, that (a) STAG Industrial Management, LLC and (b) STAG Industrial TRS, LLC and its Subsidiaries shall in no event be deemed or required to be a Subsidiary Guarantor.

 

Subsidiary Guaranty ” means the Guaranty Agreement executed by each Subsidiary Guarantor in favor of the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Lenders and any Specified Derivatives Providers, in form and substance acceptable to the Administrative Agent.

 

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, (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

 

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Agreement, and (c) 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).

 

Tangible Net Worth ” means, as of any date, (a) Total Asset Value minus (b) the sum of (i) Consolidated Total Debt and (ii) to the extent included in the calculation of Total Asset Value, goodwill and other intangible assets (other than deferred leasing intangibles).

 

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.

 

Threshold Amount ” means (a) $40,000,000 with respect to Recourse Indebtedness, (b) $75,000,000 with respect to all Non-Recourse Indebtedness, and (c) $40,000,000 with respect to all other amounts.

 

Total Asset Value ” means, for the Companies, on a consolidated basis, as on any date, the sum of (a) an amount equal to (i) aggregate Adjusted NOI with respect to all Properties (without duplication from the assets in clauses (b) through (g) below) for the Current Reporting Quarter, annualized divided by (ii) the Capitalization Rate, plus (b) 75% of the Book Value of any Dark Property (provided that no Dark Property shall be included in the calculation of Total Asset Value for a period greater than 12 months), plus (c) the acquisition cost of Construction in Progress and the costs of improvements thereon and renovations thereof, plus (d) cash and cash equivalents (including restricted cash) on such date, plus (e) the Companies’ Share of the foregoing items and components attributable to Unconsolidated Affiliates, plus (f) an amount equal to the book value (adjusted in accordance with GAAP to reflect any default or other impairment of such loan) of mortgage loans, construction loans, capital improvement loans, and other loans, in each case owned by a Company, plus (g) fifty percent (50%) of the book value of any undeveloped land.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, for purposes of determining Total Asset Value, to the extent the amount of Total Asset Value attributable to (a) the amount under clause (b) above would exceed 10% of Total Asset Value, such excess shall be excluded, (b) the amount under clause (c) and (g) above would exceed 15% of Total Asset Value, such excess shall be excluded, (c) the amount under clause (e) above would exceed 30% of Total Asset Value, such excess shall be excluded, (d) the amount under clause (f) above would exceed 15% of Total Asset Value, such excess shall be excluded, and (e) the amount under clauses (b), (c), (e), (f) and (g) above would exceed 30% of Total Asset Value, such excess shall be excluded.

 

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Total Funded Debt ” means, as of any date, Consolidated Total Debt excluding intercompany Indebtedness, deferred income taxes, security deposits, accounts payable and accrued liabilities, and any prepaid rents, in each case determined in accordance with GAAP.

 

Total Outstandings ” means as of any date of determination, the aggregate Outstanding Amount of all Loans.

 

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

 

Unconsolidated Affiliate ” means any Person in which a Company has an Equity Interest and whose financial results would not be consolidated under GAAP with the financial results of the Parent on the consolidated financial statements of the Parent.

 

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

 

Unencumbered Adjusted NOI ” means, for any period, the aggregate Adjusted NOI of all Unencumbered Properties excluding any Dark Property for such period.

 

Unencumbered Asset Value ” means without duplication, the sum of for each Unencumbered Property owned or ground leased for the Current Reporting Quarter, (i) an amount equal to (x) the Unencumbered Adjusted NOI attributable to such Unencumbered Property for such Current Reporting Quarter, annualized, divided by (ii) the Capitalization Rate.

 

Unencumbered Leverage Ratio ” means, as of any date of determination, the quotient (expressed as a percentage) of (a) Unsecured Indebtedness of Parent and its Subsidiaries, divided by (b) Unencumbered Asset Value.

 

Unencumbered Properties ” means each Acceptable Property that either (a) is an Initial Unencumbered Property or (b) becomes an Unencumbered Property pursuant to Section 4.03 , and “ Unencumbered Property ” means any one of the Unencumbered Properties.

 

Unsecured Indebtedness ” means Indebtedness which is not Secured Indebtedness.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, all Indebtedness which is secured by a pledge of equity interests only and is recourse to the Borrower or the Parent shall be deemed to be Unsecured Indebtedness.

 

Unsecured Interest Coverage Ratio ” means, as of any date of determination, the quotient (expressed as a percentage) of (a) Unencumbered Adjusted NOI to (b) Unsecured Interest Expense.

 

Unsecured Interest Expense ” means, with respect to any period, Consolidated Interest Expense of the Parent and its Subsidiaries for such period attributable to Unsecured Indebtedness of the Parent and its Subsidiaries.

 

Unused Fee ” has the meaning provided in Section 2.09(c) .

 

Unused Rate ” means 0.15%.

 

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U.S. Person ” means any Person that is a “United States Person 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)(III) .

 

Write-Down and Conversion Powers ” means, with respect to any EEA Resolution Authority, the write-down and conversion powers of such EEA Resolution Authority from time to time under the Bail-In Legislation for the applicable EEA Member Country, which write-down and conversion powers are described in the EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule.

 

b.                                       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 any Organization Document) shall be construed as referring to such agreement, instrument or other document as from time to time amended, supplemented, or otherwise modified (subject to any restrictions on such amendments, supplements or modifications set forth herein 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, Exhibits and Schedules shall be construed to refer to Articles and Sections of, and Exhibits and Schedules to, the Loan Document in which such references appear, (v) any reference to any law shall include all statutory and regulatory 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 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, Equity Interests, accounts and contract rights.

 

(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.

 

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c.                                        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 Borrower and its Subsidiaries shall be deemed to be carried at 100% of the outstanding principal amount thereof, and the effects of FASB ASC 825 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 Borrower or the Required Lenders shall so request, the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the Borrower shall negotiate in good faith to amend such ratio or requirement to preserve the original intent thereof in light of such change in GAAP (subject to the approval of the Required Lenders); provided that until so amended, (i) such ratio or requirement shall continue to be computed in accordance with GAAP prior to such change therein and (ii) the Borrower shall provide to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders financial statements and other documents required under this Agreement or as reasonably requested hereunder setting forth a reconciliation between calculations of such ratio or requirement made before and after giving effect to such change in GAAP.  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 addressing such changes, as provided for above.

 

(c)                                   Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities.   All references herein to consolidated financial statements of the Companies or to the determination of any amount for the Companies on a consolidated basis or any similar reference shall, in each case, be deemed to include each variable interest entity that the Parent is required to consolidate pursuant to FASB ASC 810 as if such variable interest entity were a Subsidiary as defined herein, provided further that for all purposes in calculating consolidated covenants hereunder the Parent shall be deemed to own one hundred percent (100%) of the equity interests in the Borrower.

 

d.                                       Rounding.  Any financial ratios required to be maintained by the Borrower 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).

 

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

 

f.                                         Rates.  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 “LIBOR” or with respect to any comparable or successor rate thereto.

 

9.
The Commitments and Credit Extensions

 

a.                                       Committed Loans.  Each Lender severally agrees to make a Committed Loan to the Borrower from time to time, on any Business Day, subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein and the limitations set forth in Section 2.01(c ):

 

(a)                                  Committed Loans .  Each Lender severally agrees to make a loan (each such loan, a “ Committed Loan ”) in an aggregate amount not to exceed at any time outstanding the amount of such Lender’s Commitment.

 

(b)                                  Loans .  Subject to the Borrower’s compliance with the terms and conditions set forth in Section 2.01(c) , each Lender severally agrees to make its portion of advances of the Loan (the “ Subsequent Loans ”) up to a maximum of six (6) advances, in minimum amounts of $25,000,000 each, or, if less, the remaining unfunded amount of the Aggregate Commitments (the “ Subsequent Loan Advances ”), to the Borrower in aggregate amounts not to exceed each Lender’s unadvanced Commitment.  Once advanced, each Subsequent Loan shall be aggregated with all prior Subsequent Loans and all such term loans shall be referred to as Committed Loans.  Provided there exists no Default, upon notice to the Administrative Agent (which shall promptly notify the Lenders), the Parent and the Borrower may elect to borrow the Subsequent Loan; subject to the Borrower’s delivery to the Administrative Agent of notice of such requested Subsequent Loan Advance, each of which notice must be delivered not later than July 27, 2018 in order to be effective (each such notice, a “ Required Notice ”).  In the event that a Required Notice(s) is/are not received by the Administrative Agent on or prior to July 27, 2018 such that the initial Aggregate Commitments have not been fully funded by July 27, 2018, the Commitment of the Lenders to advance the Subsequent Loans shall be deemed cancelled.

 

(c)                                   Committed Loan Limitations Notwithstanding the provisions of Sections 2.01(a)  and (b) , after giving effect to any Committed Borrowing,  (i) the Total Outstandings shall not exceed the Aggregate Commitments, as in effect on the Closing Date, and (ii) the aggregate Loans advanced by any Lender shall not exceed such Lender’s Commitment, as in effect on the Closing Date.  With respect to Committed Loans, within the limits of each Lender’s Commitment and the Aggregate Commitments, and subject to the other terms and conditions hereof, the Borrower may borrow under this Section 2.01 , and prepay under Section 2.05 . Amounts repaid on the Committed Loans may not be reborrowed.  Committed Loans may be Base Rate Loans or LIBOR Loans, as further provided herein.

 

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b.                                       Borrowings, Conversions and Continuations of Committed Loans.

 

(a)                                  Each Committed Borrowing (including each request for a Subsequent Loan), each conversion of Committed Loans from one Type to the other, and each continuation of LIBOR Loans shall be made upon the Borrower’s irrevocable notice to the Administrative Agent, which may be given by telephone.  Each such notice must be received by the Administrative Agent not later than 10:00 a.m. (i) three (3) Business Days prior to the requested date of any Borrowing of, conversion to or continuation of LIBOR Loans or of any conversion of LIBOR Loans to Base Rate Committed Loans, and (ii) on the requested date of any Borrowing of Base Rate Committed Loans.  Each telephonic notice by the Borrower pursuant to this Section 2.02(a)  must be confirmed promptly by delivery to the Administrative Agent of a written  Draw Request, appropriately completed and signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower.  Each Borrowing of, conversion to or continuation of LIBOR Loans shall be in a principal amount of $500,000 or a whole multiple of $500,000 in excess thereof.  Each conversion to Base Rate Committed Loans shall be in a principal amount of $250,000 or a whole multiple of $50,000 in excess thereof.  Each Draw Request (whether telephonic or written) shall specify (i) whether the Borrower is requesting a Committed Borrowing, a conversion of Committed Loans from one Type to the other, or a continuation of LIBOR Loans, (ii) the requested date of the Committed Borrowing, conversion or continuation, as the case may be (which shall be a Business Day), (iii) the principal amount of Committed Loans to be borrowed, converted or continued, (iv) the Type of Committed Loans to be borrowed or to which existing Committed Loans are to be converted, and (v) if applicable, the duration of the Interest Period with respect thereto.  If the Borrower fails to specify a Type of Committed Loan in a Draw Request or if the Borrower fails to give a timely notice requesting a conversion or continuation, then (I) so long as no Event of Default exists, the applicable Committed Loans shall be made as, or continued to, a LIBOR Loan of the same Type and with an Interest Period of one (1) month and (II) if an Event of Default exists, then the applicable Committed 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 LIBOR Loans.  If the Borrower requests a Committed Borrowing of, conversion to, or continuation of LIBOR Loans in any such Draw Request, but fails to specify an Interest Period, then it will be deemed to have specified an Interest Period of one (1) month.

 

(b)                                  Following receipt of a Draw Request, the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each Lender of the amount of its Applicable Percentage of the applicable Committed Loans, and if no timely notice of a conversion or continuation is provided by the Borrower, the Administrative Agent shall notify each Lender of the details of any automatic continuation or conversion to Base Rate Loans described in the preceding subsection.  In the case of a Committed Borrowing, each Lender shall make the amount of its Committed Loan available to the Administrative Agent in immediately available funds at the Administrative Agent’s Office not later than 12:00 noon on the Business Day specified in the applicable Draw Request.  Upon satisfaction of the applicable conditions set forth in Section 5.02 (and, if such Committed Borrowing is the initial Credit Extension, Section 5.01 ), the Administrative Agent shall make all funds so received

 

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available to the Borrower by 3:00 p.m. in like funds as received by the Administrative Agent either by (i) crediting the account of the Borrower on the books of BANA 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 Borrower.

 

(c)                                   Except as otherwise provided herein, a LIBOR Loan may be continued or converted only on the last day of an Interest Period for such LIBOR Loan.  During the existence of an Event of Default, no Loans may be requested as, converted to or continued as LIBOR Loans without the consent of the Required Lenders.

 

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

 

(e)                                   After giving effect to all Committed Borrowings, all conversions of Committed Loans from one Type to the other, and all continuations of Committed Loans as the same Type, there shall not be more than eight (8) Interest Periods in effect with respect to Committed Loans.

 

c.                                        Reserved.

 

d.                                       Voluntary Reduction of Commitments.

 

The Borrower may, upon notice to the Administrative Agent, terminate the Aggregate Commitments, or from time to time permanently reduce the Aggregate Commitments; provided that (i) any such notice shall be received by the Administrative Agent not later than 11:00 a.m. three (3) Business Days (or such shorter period agreed to by the Administrative Agent in writing) prior to the date of termination or reduction and (ii) any such partial reduction shall be in an aggregate amount of $1,000,000 or any whole multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof.

 

e.                                        Prepayments.

 

The Borrower may, upon notice to the Administrative Agent, at any time or from time to time voluntarily prepay Committed Loans in whole or in part; provided that (i) such notice must be received by the Administrative Agent not later than 11:00 a.m. (A) three (3) Business Days prior to any date of prepayment of LIBOR Loans and (B) on the date of prepayment of Base Rate Committed Loans; (ii) any prepayment of LIBOR Loans shall be in a principal amount of $1,000,000 or a whole multiple of $100,000 in excess thereof; and (iii) any prepayment of Base Rate Committed Loans shall be in a principal amount of $100,000 or a whole multiple of $25,000 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 Committed Loans to be prepaid and, if LIBOR Loans are to be prepaid, the Interest Period(s) of such Loans. 

 

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The Administrative Agent will promptly notify each Lender of its receipt of each such notice, and of the amount of such Lender’s Applicable Percentage of such prepayment.  If such notice is given by the Borrower, then the Borrower 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 a LIBOR Loan 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 2.16 , each such prepayment shall be applied to the Committed Loans of the Lenders in accordance with their respective Applicable Percentages.

 

f.                                         Incremental Term Loans.

 

(a)                                  Reserved .

 

(b)                                  Incremental Term Loans .

 

(i)                                      Election .  Provided there exists no Default, and provided that no Subsequent Loans remain available to be advanced to the Borrower pursuant to Section 2.01(b) , upon notice to the Administrative Agent (which shall promptly notify the Lenders), the Parent and the Borrower may from time to time, elect to enter into one or more tranches of term loans (“ Additional Term Loans ”) in an aggregate amount not exceeding $100,000,000 either by designating another bank or financial institution not theretofore a Lender to become a Lender (such designation to be effective only with the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent, which consent will not be unreasonably withheld) and/or by agreeing with an existing Lender or Lenders, in such Lender or Lenders’ absolute discretion, that such Lender shall make Additional Term Loans; provided that (i) any such election for Additional Term Loans shall be in a minimum amount of $10,000,000, and (ii) the Parent and the Borrower may make a maximum of three (3) such requests.  Upon execution and delivery by the Borrower and such Lender or other bank or financial institution of an instrument in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent to effect such Additional Term Loans, including, as required, a new or amended Note, such existing Lender shall have a Commitment as therein set forth or such bank or financial institution shall become a Lender with a Commitment as therein set forth and all the rights and obligations of a Lender with such a Commitment hereunder.

 

(ii)                                   Effective Date .  If Additional Term Loans are made in accordance with this Section 2.06(b) , then the Administrative Agent, the Parent, and the Borrower shall determine the effective date (the “ Increase Effective Date ”) that such Additional Term Loans shall be made.  The Administrative Agent shall promptly notify the Parent, the Borrower, and the Lenders of the Increase Effective Date.

 

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(iii)                                Conditions to Effectiveness of Additional Term Loans .

 

(a)                                  As a condition precedent to such Additional Term Loans, the Parent and the Borrower shall deliver to the Administrative Agent a certificate dated as of the Increase Effective Date (in sufficient copies for each Lender) signed by a Responsible Officer of the Parent or the Borrower (on behalf of each Loan Party) (i) certifying and attaching the resolutions adopted by such Parent and the Borrower (on behalf of each Loan Party) approving or consenting to such Additional Term Loans, and (ii) certifying that, before and after giving effect to such Additional Term Loans, (A) the representations and warranties contained in Article VI and the other Loan Documents are true and correct in all material respects (except in the case of a representation or warranty qualified by materiality or Material Adverse Effect, in which case such representation or warranty shall be true and correct in all respects) on and as of the Increase Effective Date, except to the extent that such representations and warranties specifically refer to an earlier date, in which case they are true and correct in all material respects (except in the case of a representation or warranty qualified by materiality or Material Adverse Effect, in which case such representation or warranty shall be true and correct in all respects) as of such earlier date, and except that for purposes of this Section 2.06 , the representations and warranties contained in Section   6.05(b)  shall be deemed to refer to the most-recent statements furnished pursuant to Section 7.01(b) , and (B) no Default exists.

 

(b)                                  The Borrower shall execute and provide new Notes to such Lenders as may request herewith.

 

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

 

(c)                                   General .  The Administrative Agent will promptly notify the Lenders of any notice of Additional Term Loans.  Each Additional Term Loan shall be a Committed Loan hereunder.

 

g.                                        Repayment of Loans.  The Borrower shall repay to the Lenders on the Maturity Date the aggregate principal amount of Loans outstanding on such date.

 

h.                                       Interest.

 

(a)                                  Subject to the provisions of subsection (b)  below, (i) each LIBOR Loan shall bear interest on the outstanding principal amount thereof for each Interest Period at a rate per annum equal to LIBOR for such Interest Period plus the Applicable Rate; (ii) each Base Rate Committed 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.

 

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(b)

 

(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, then 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 Borrower 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 (other than as set forth in clauses (b)(i) and (b)(ii) above), the Borrower shall pay interest on the principal amount of all outstanding Obligations hereunder 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 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.

 

i.                                           Fees.

 

(a)                                  The Borrower shall pay to the Lead Arrangers and the Administrative Agent, for their own respective accounts, fees in the amounts and at the times specified in the Fee Letter (without duplication of fees otherwise referenced herein).  Such fees shall be fully earned when paid and shall not be refundable for any reason whatsoever.

 

(b)                                  The Borrower shall pay to the Lenders such fees as shall have been separately agreed upon in writing in the amounts and at the times so specified.  Such fees shall be fully earned when paid and shall not be refundable for any reason whatsoever.

 

(c)                                   Unused Fees .  The Borrower shall, beginning ninety (90) days after the Closing Date, for each day until the earliest of (i) the date that initial Aggregate Commitments of $150,000,000 have been fully advanced,  (ii) July 27, 2018 and (iii) the date the Aggregate Commitments have been reduced to zero pursuant to Section 2.04 , pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of each Lender (in accordance with its Applicable Percentage), an unused fee (the “ Unused Fee ”) at a rate per annum equal to the Unused Rate times the actual daily amount of the unadvanced Aggregate

 

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Commitments.  The Unused Fee shall be due and payable monthly in arrears on the 10 th  Business Day after the end of each calendar month, commencing with the first such date to occur after the Closing Date, and ending on the earlier of the dates set forth above.  The Unused Fee shall be calculated monthly in arrears based on the applicable daily Unused Rate during each day of such month.

 

j.                                          Computation of Interest and Fees; Retroactive Adjustments of Applicable Rate.

 

(a)                                  All computations of interest for Base Rate Loans (including Base Rate Loans determined by reference to LIBOR) 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)                                  If, as a result of any restatement of or other adjustment to the financial statements of the Parent or for any other reason, then the Parent, the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, or the Lenders determine that (i) the Consolidated Leverage Ratio as calculated by the Parent and the Borrower 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, then the Borrower shall immediately and retroactively be obligated to pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of the applicable Lenders, within three (3) Business Days after demand by the Administrative Agent (or, after the occurrence of an actual or deemed entry of an order for relief with respect to any Loan Party under the Bankruptcy Code of the United States, automatically and without further action by the Administrative Agent or any Lender), 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 or any Lender, under Section 2.08(b)  or under Article IX .

 

k.                                       Evidence of Debt.

 

(a)                                  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 Borrower and the interest and payments thereon.  Any failure to so record or any error in doing so shall not, however, limit or otherwise affect the obligation of the Borrower hereunder to pay any amount owing with respect to the Obligations.  In the event of any conflict between the accounts and records maintained by any Lender and the accounts and records of the

 

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Administrative Agent in respect of such matters, the accounts and records of the Administrative Agent shall control in the absence of manifest error.  Upon the request of any Lender made through the Administrative Agent, the Borrower shall execute and deliver to such Lender (through the Administrative Agent) a Note, which shall evidence such Lender’s Loans in addition to such accounts or records.  Each such Note shall be in the form of Exhibit B (a “ Note ”).  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.

 

l.                                           Payments Generally; The Administrative Agent’s Clawback.

 

(a)                                  General .  All payments to be made by the Borrower shall be made without condition or deduction for any counterclaim, defense, recoupment or setoff.  Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, all payments by the Borrower 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 1:00 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.  If and to the extent the Administrative Agent shall not make such payments to a Lender when due as set forth in the preceding sentence, then such unpaid amounts shall accrue interest, payable by the Administrative Agent, at the Federal Funds Rate from the due date until (but not including) the date on which the Administrative Agent makes such payments to such Lender.  All payments received by the Administrative Agent after 1:00 p.m. shall be deemed received on the next succeeding Business Day and any applicable interest or fee shall continue to accrue.  If any payment to be made by the Borrower 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)                                  Clawback .

 

(i)                                      Funding by the Lenders; Presumption by the Administrative Agent .  Unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from a Lender prior to the proposed date of any Committed Borrowing of LIBOR Loans (or, in the case of any Committed Borrowing of Base Rate Loans, prior to 1:00 p.m. on the date of such Borrowing) that such Lender will not make available to the Administrative Agent such Lender’s share of such Committed 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 Committed 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 Borrower a corresponding amount.  In such event, if a Lender has not in fact made its share of the applicable Committed Borrowing available to the Administrative Agent, then the applicable Lender and the Borrower 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

 

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made available to the Borrower to but excluding the date of payment to the Administrative Agent, at (A) in the case of a payment to be made by such Lender, the 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 Borrower, the interest rate applicable to Base Rate Loans.  If the Borrower and such Lender shall pay such interest to the Administrative Agent for the same or an overlapping period, then the Administrative Agent shall promptly remit to the Borrower the amount of such interest paid by the Borrower for such period.  If such Lender pays its share of the applicable Committed Borrowing to the Administrative Agent, then the amount so paid shall constitute such Lender’s Committed Loan included in such Committed Borrowing.  Any payment by the Borrower shall be without prejudice to any claim the Borrower may have against a Lender that shall have failed to make such payment to the Administrative Agent.

 

(ii)                                   Payments by the Borrower; Presumptions by the Administrative Agent .  Unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from the Borrower prior to the date on which any payment is due to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Lenders hereunder that the Borrower will not make such payment, the Administrative Agent may assume that the Borrower has made such payment on such date in accordance herewith and may, in reliance upon such assumption, distribute to the Lenders the amount due.  In such event, if the Borrower has not in fact made such payment, then each of the Lenders severally agrees to repay to the Administrative Agent forthwith on demand the amount so distributed to such Lender, 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 , within one (1) Business Day.  If and to the extent the Administrative Agent shall not return such funds to a Lender when due as set forth in the preceding sentence, then such unpaid amounts shall accrue interest, payable by the Administrative Agent, at the Federal Funds Rate from the due date until (but not including) the date on which the Administrative Agent returns such funds to such Lender.

 

A notice of the Administrative Agent to any Lender or the Borrower 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 Borrower by the Administrative Agent because the conditions to the applicable Credit Extension set forth in Article V are not satisfied or waived in accordance with the terms hereof,

 

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then the Administrative Agent shall return such funds (in like funds as received from such Lender) to such Lender, without interest.

 

(d)                                  Obligations of the Lenders Several .  The obligations of the Lenders hereunder to make Committed Loans and to make payments pursuant to Section11.04(d)  are several and not joint.  The failure of any Lender to make any Committed Loan or to make any payment under Section 11.04(d)  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 Committed Loan or to make its payment under Section 11.04(d) .

 

(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)                                    Funds Transfer .  The Administrative Agent will, in its sole discretion, determine the funds transfer system and the means by which each transfer will be made.  The Administrative Agent may delay or refuse to accept a funds transfer request if the transfer would: (i) violate the terms of this authorization, (ii) require use of a bank unacceptable to the Administrative Agent or any Lender, in its reasonable discretion, or prohibited by any Governmental Authority, (iii) cause the Administrative Agent or any Lender to violate any Federal Reserve or other regulatory risk control program or guideline or (iv) otherwise cause the Administrative Agent or any Lender to violate any applicable Law or regulation.  The Borrower hereby authorizes the Administrative Agent to disburse the proceeds of any Loan made by the Lenders or any of their Affiliates pursuant to the Loan Documents as requested by an authorized representative of the Borrower to any of the accounts designated in the Borrower Remittance Instructions.

 

m.                                   Sharing of Payments by the Lenders.  If any Lender shall, by exercising any right of setoff or counterclaim or otherwise, obtain payment in respect of any principal of or interest on any of the Committed Loans made by it, resulting in such Lender’s receiving payment of a proportion of the aggregate amount of such Committed Loans and accrued interest thereon greater than its pro rata share thereof as provided herein, then the Lender receiving such greater proportion shall (a) notify the Administrative Agent of such fact, and (b)  make such adjustments as shall be equitable, so that the benefit of all such payments shall be shared by the Lenders ratably in accordance with the aggregate amount of principal of and accrued interest on their respective Committed Loans and other amounts owing them, provided that the provisions of this Section shall not be construed to apply to any payment obtained by a Lender as consideration for the assignment of or sale of a participation in any of its Committed Loans to any assignee or participant, other than an assignment to the Borrower 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.

 

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n.                                       Reserved.

 

o.                                       Reserved.

 

p.                                       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 .  That 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 in 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 IX 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 reasonably 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 , as the Borrower 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; third , if so determined by the Administrative Agent and the Borrower, to be held in an interest bearing deposit account and released pro rata in order to satisfy such Defaulting Lender’s potential future funding obligations with respect to Loans under this Agreement; fourth , to the payment of any amounts owing to the Lenders as a result of any judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction obtained by any Lender against such Defaulting Lender as a result of such Defaulting Lender’s breach of its obligations under this Agreement; fifth , so long as no Event of Default exists, to the payment of any amounts owing to the Borrower as a result of any judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction obtained by the Borrower against such Defaulting Lender as a result of such Defaulting Lender’s breach of its obligations under this Agreement; and sixth , to such Defaulting Lender or as otherwise directed by a court of competent jurisdiction; provided that if such payment is a payment of the principal amount of any Loans in respect of which such Defaulting Lender has not fully funded its appropriate share, such payment shall be applied solely to pay the Loans of all Non-Defaulting Lenders on a pro rata basis prior to being applied to the payment of any Loans of such Defaulting Lender until such time as all Loans and funded hereunder without giving effect to Section 2.16(a)(iv) . Any payments, prepayments or other amounts paid or payable to a Defaulting Lender that are applied (or held) to pay amounts owed by a Defaulting Lender shall be deemed paid to and redirected by such Defaulting Lender, and each Lender irrevocably consents hereto.

 

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(iii)                                Certain Fees .  No Defaulting Lender shall be entitled to receive any fee pursuant to Section 2.09 for any period during which that Lender is a Defaulting Lender (and the Borrower shall not be required to pay any such fee that otherwise would have been required to have been paid to that Defaulting Lender pursuant to Section 2.09 for any period during which that Lender is a Defaulting Lender), and the Borrower shall not be required to pay the remaining amount of such fee that otherwise would have been required to have been paid to that Defaulting Lender.

 

(b)                                  Defaulting Lender Cure .  If the Borrower and the Administrative Agent agree in writing in their sole discretion that a Defaulting Lender should no longer be deemed to be 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, 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 Committed Loans to be held on a pro rata basis by the Lenders in accordance with their Applicable Percentages, whereupon that Lender will cease to be a Defaulting Lender; provided that no adjustments will be made retroactively with respect to fees accrued or payments made by or on behalf of the Borrower while that Lender was a Defaulting Lender; and provided , further , that , except to the extent otherwise expressly agreed by the affected parties, no change hereunder from Defaulting Lender to Lender will constitute a waiver or release of any claim of any party hereunder arising from that Lender’s having been a Defaulting Lender.

 

q.                                       Guaranties.  Pursuant to the Parent Guaranty, the Parent shall unconditionally Guarantee in favor of the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and any Specified Derivatives Providers the full payment and performance of the Obligations.  Pursuant to the Subsidiary Guaranty or an addendum thereto in the form attached to the Subsidiary Guaranty, the Parent and the Borrower shall cause each Subsidiary Guarantor to execute a Subsidiary Guaranty unconditionally guarantying in favor of the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and any Specified Derivatives Providers the full payment and performance of the Obligations; provided, however , that such Subsidiary Guaranty may be released and reinstated in accordance with its terms.

 

(a)                                  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement or any other Loan Document, (x) concurrently with the delivery of each Compliance Certificate, with respect to any Person that became a Subsidiary of the Parent owning a direct or indirect interest in the Borrower since the date of the most recent Compliance Certificate or (y) substantially concurrently with any Subsidiary of the Parent (other than the Borrower) entering into any Guarantee of Indebtedness of the Parent, the Borrower or any Subsidiary of the Borrower owning directly or indirectly any Unencumbered Property, the Parent, the Borrower and such Subsidiary shall deliver to the Administrative Agent each of the following: (i) a joinder to the Subsidiary Guaranty executed by such Subsidiary, (ii) concurrently with the delivery of each Compliance Certificate a comprehensive list of all Guarantors, which identifies the joining and departing entities, and (iii) the items that would have been delivered under subsections (iii)  and (v)  of Section 5.01(a)  if such Subsidiary had been a Subsidiary Guarantor on the Closing Date,

 

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in form and substance substantially consistent with such items delivered on the Closing Date or otherwise reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

 

(b)                                  The Borrower may request in writing that the Administrative Agent release, and upon receipt of such request the Administrative Agent shall release, a Subsidiary Guarantor from the Guaranty so long as: (i) such Subsidiary Guarantor is not otherwise required to be a party to the Guaranty under the immediately preceding subsection (a)  (after giving effect to clause (ii) hereof); (ii) such Subsidiary Guarantor no longer Guarantees (or which Guarantee is being substantially concurrently released) any other Indebtedness of the Parent, the Borrower or any Subsidiary of the Borrower owning directly or indirectly any Unencumbered Property, (iii) no Default or Event of Default shall then be in existence or would occur as a result of such release, including without limitation, a Default or Event of Default resulting from a violation of any of the covenants contained in Section 8.14 ; and (iv) the Administrative Agent shall have received such written request at least five (5) Business Days (or such shorter period as may be acceptable to the Administrative Agent) prior to the requested date of release.  Delivery by the Borrower to the Administrative Agent of any such request shall constitute a representation by the Parent and the Borrower that the conditions set forth in the preceding sentence are or will be satisfied as of the requested date of release.

 

10.
Taxes, Yield Protection and Illegality

 

a.                                       Taxes.

 

(a)                                  Payments Free of Taxes; Obligation to Withhold; Payments on Account of Taxes .

 

(i)                                      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 the Administrative Agent) require the deduction or withholding of any Tax from any such payment by the Administrative Agent or a Loan Party, then the Administrative Agent or such Loan Party shall be entitled to make such deduction or withholding, upon the basis of the information and documentation to be delivered pursuant to subsection (e)  below.

 

(ii)                                   If any Loan Party or the Administrative Agent shall be required by the Code to withhold or deduct any Taxes, including both United States Federal backup withholding and withholding taxes, from any payment, then (A) the Administrative Agent shall withhold or make such deductions as are determined by the Administrative Agent to be required based upon the information and documentation it has received pursuant to subsection (e)  below, (B) the Administrative Agent shall timely pay the full amount withheld or deducted to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with the Code, and (C) to the extent that the withholding or deduction is made on account of Indemnified

 

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Taxes, the sum payable by the applicable Loan Party shall be increased as necessary so that after any required withholding or the making of all required deductions (including deductions 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 withholding or deduction been made.

 

(iii)                                If any Loan Party or the Administrative Agent shall be required by any applicable Laws other than the Code to withhold or deduct any Taxes from any payment, then (A) such Loan Party or the Administrative Agent, as required by such Laws, shall withhold or make such deductions as are determined by it to be required based upon the information and documentation it has received pursuant to subsection (e)  below, (B) such Loan Party or the Administrative Agent, to the extent required by such Laws, shall timely pay the full amount withheld or deducted to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with such Laws, and (C) 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 any required withholding or the making of all required deductions (including deductions 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 withholding or deduction been made.

 

(b)                                  Payment of Other Taxes by the Borrower .  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 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 reasonable expenses arising therefrom or with respect thereto, whether or not such Indemnified Taxes were correctly or legally imposed or asserted by the relevant Governmental Authority.  A certificate as to the amount of such payment or liability delivered to the Borrower by a Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), or by the Administrative Agent on its own behalf or on behalf of a Lender, shall be conclusive absent manifest error.  Each of the Loan Parties shall, and does hereby, jointly and severally indemnify the Administrative Agent, and shall make payment in respect thereof within 10 days after demand therefor, for any amount which a Lender for any reason fails to pay indefeasibly to the Administrative Agent as required pursuant to Section 3.01(c)(ii)  below.

 

(ii)                                   Each Lender shall, and does hereby, severally indemnify, and shall make payment in respect thereof within 10 days after demand therefor, ( x ) the Administrative Agent against any Indemnified Taxes attributable to such Lender

 

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(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), ( y ) 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  10.06 11.06 (d)  relating to the maintenance of a Participant Register and ( z ) the Administrative Agent and the Loan Parties, as applicable, against any Excluded Taxes attributable to such Lender, 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 hereby authorizes the Administrative Agent to set off and apply any and all amounts at any time owing to such Lender, under this Agreement or any other Loan Document against any amount due to the Administrative Agent under this clause (ii) .

 

(d)                                  Evidence of Payments .  Upon request by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, as the case may be, after any payment of Taxes by the Borrower or by the Administrative Agent to a Governmental Authority as provided in this Section 3.01 , the Borrower shall deliver to the Administrative Agent or the Administrative Agent shall deliver to the Borrower, as the case may be, the original or a certified copy of a receipt issued by such Governmental Authority evidencing such payment, a copy of any return required by Laws to report such payment or other evidence of such payment reasonably satisfactory to the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, as the case may be.

 

(e)                                   Status of the 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 Borrower and the Administrative Agent, at the time or times reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, such properly completed and executed documentation reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent as will permit such payments to be made without withholding or at a reduced rate of withholding.  In addition, any Lender, if reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, shall deliver such other documentation prescribed by applicable law or reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent as will enable the Borrower or the Administrative Agent to determine whether or not such Lender is subject to backup withholding or information reporting requirements.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the preceding two sentences, the completion, execution and submission of such documentation (other than such documentation set forth in Section 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.

 

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(ii)                                   Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, in the event that the Borrower is a U.S. Person,

 

i)                                          any Lender that is a U.S. Person shall deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent on or prior to the date on which such Lender becomes a Lender under this Agreement (and from time to time thereafter upon the reasonable request of the Borrower or the Administrative Agent), executed originals of IRS Form W-9 certifying that such Lender is exempt from U.S. federal backup withholding tax;

 

ii)                                       any Foreign Lender shall, to the extent it is legally entitled to do so, deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent (in such number of copies as shall be requested by the recipient) on or prior to the date on which such Foreign Lender becomes a Lender under this Agreement (and from time to time thereafter upon the reasonable request of the Borrower or the Administrative Agent), whichever of the following is applicable:

 

(c)                                   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 originals of IRS Form W-8BEN or IRS Form W-8BEN-E 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 or IRS Form W-8BEN-E 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;

 

(d)                                  executed originals of IRS Form W-8ECI;

 

(e)                                   in the case of a Foreign Lender claiming the benefits of the exemption for portfolio interest under Section 881(c)  of the Code, (x) a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit H-1 to the effect that such Foreign Lender is not a “bank” within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(A)  of the Code, a “10 percent shareholder” of the Borrower within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(B)  of the Code, or a “controlled foreign corporation” described in Section 881(c)(3)(C)  of the Code (a “ U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate ”) and (y) executed originals of IRS Form W-8BEN or IRS Form W-8BEN-E; or

 

(f)                                    to the extent a Foreign Lender is not the beneficial owner, executed originals of IRS Form W-8IMY, accompanied by IRS Form W-8ECI, IRS Form W-8BEN, IRS Form W-8BEN-E, a U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate substantially in the form of

 

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Exhibit H-2 or Exhibit H-3 , IRS Form W-9, and/or other certification documents from each beneficial owner, as applicable; provided that if the Foreign Lender is a partnership and one or more direct or indirect partners of such Foreign Lender are claiming the portfolio interest exemption, such Foreign Lender may provide a U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit H-4 on behalf of each such direct and indirect partner;

 

iii)                                    any Foreign Lender shall, to the extent it is legally entitled to do so, deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent (in such number of copies as shall be requested by the recipient) on or prior to the date on which such Foreign Lender becomes a Lender under this Agreement (and from time to time thereafter upon the reasonable request of the Borrower or the Administrative Agent), executed originals 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 Borrower or the Administrative Agent to determine the withholding or deduction required to be made; and

 

iv)                                   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 Borrower and the Administrative Agent at the time or times prescribed by law and at such time or times reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent such documentation prescribed by applicable law (including as prescribed by Section 1471(b)(3)(C)(i)  of the Code) and such additional documentation reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent as may be necessary for the Borrower and the Administrative Agent to comply with their obligations under FATCA and to determine that such Lender has complied with such Lender’s obligations under FATCA or to determine the amount to deduct and withhold from such payment.  Solely for purposes of this clause (D), “FATCA” shall include any amendments made to FATCA after the date of this Agreement.

 

(iii)                                Each Lender agrees that if any form or certification it previously delivered expires or becomes obsolete or inaccurate in any respect, it shall update such form or certification or promptly notify the Borrower and the Administrative Agent in writing of its legal inability to do so.  Each Lender shall promptly (A) notify the Borrower and the Administrative Agent of any change in circumstances which would modify or render invalid any claimed exemption or reduction, and (B) take such steps as shall not be materially disadvantageous to it, in the reasonable judgment of such Lender, and as may be reasonably necessary

 

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(including the re-designation of its Lending Office) to avoid any requirement of applicable Laws of any jurisdiction that the Borrower or the Administrative Agent make any withholding or deduction for taxes from amounts payable to such Lender.

 

(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 have any obligation to pay to any Lender, any refund of Taxes withheld or deducted from funds paid for the account of such Lender.  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 the Loan Party an amount equal to such refund (but only to the extent of indemnity payments made, or additional amounts paid, by a 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, and without interest (other than any interest paid by the relevant Governmental Authority with respect to such refund), provided that the Loan Party, upon the request of the Recipient, agrees to repay the amount paid over to the 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 the 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 indemnification payments or additional amounts giving rise to such refund 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)                                   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, the termination of the Commitments and the repayment, satisfaction and discharge of all other Obligations.

 

b.                                       Illegality.  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 applicable Lending Office to make, maintain or fund Loans whose interest is determined by reference to LIBOR, or to determine or charge interest rates based upon LIBOR, 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 Borrower through the Administrative Agent, (i) any obligation of such Lender to make or continue LIBOR Loans or to convert Base Rate Committed Loans to LIBOR Loans shall be suspended, and (ii) 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 LIBOR 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 LIBOR component of the Base Rate, in each case until such Lender notifies the

 

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Administrative Agent and the Borrower that the circumstances giving rise to such determination no longer exist.  Upon receipt of such notice, (x) the Borrower shall, upon demand from such Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), prepay or, if applicable, convert all LIBOR 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 LIBOR component of the Base Rate), either on the last day of the Interest Period therefor, if such Lender may lawfully continue to maintain such LIBOR Loans to such day, or immediately, if such Lender may not lawfully continue to maintain such LIBOR Loans and (y) if such notice asserts the illegality of such Lender determining or charging interest rates based upon LIBOR, the Administrative Agent shall during the period of such suspension compute the Base Rate applicable to such Lender without reference to the LIBOR 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 LIBOR.  Upon any such prepayment or conversion, the Borrower shall also pay accrued interest on the amount so prepaid or converted.

 

10.03                  Change of Circumstances.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement or any other Loan Documents, if the Administrative Agent determines (which determination shall be conclusive absent manifest error), or the Borrower or Required Lenders notify the Administrative Agent (with, in the case of the Required Lenders, a copy to Borrower) that the Borrower or Required Lenders (as applicable) have determined, that:

 

(i)             3.03 Inability to Determine Rates .  If the Required Lenders determine that for any reason in connection with any request for a LIBOR Loan or a conversion to or continuation thereof 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 LIBOR Loan, (b)  adequate and reasonable means do not exist for determining LIBOR ascertaining the LIBO Rate for any requested Interest Period with respect to a proposed LIBOR Loan or in connection with an existing or proposed Base Rate Loan, or (c)  LIBOR for any requested Interest Period with respect to a proposed LIBOR Loan does not adequately and fairly reflect the cost to such Lenders of funding such Loan , including, without limitation, because the LIBOR Screen Rate is not available or published on a current basis and such circumstances are unlikely to be temporary; or

 

(ii)  the administrator of the LIBOR Screen Rate or a Governmental Authority having jurisdiction over the Administrative Agent has made a public statement identifying a specific date after which LIBOR or the LIBOR Screen Rate shall no longer be made available, or used for determining the interest rate of loans (such specific date, the “ Scheduled Unavailability Date ”), or

 

(iii)  syndicated loans currently being executed, or that include language similar to that contained in this Section, are being executed or amended (as applicable) to incorporate or adopt a new benchmark interest rate to replace the LIBO Rate,

 

then, reasonably promptly after such determination by the Administrative Agent or receipt by the Administrative Agent of such notice , as applicable,  the Administrative Agent and the Borrower

 

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may amend this Agreement to replace the LIBO Rate with an alternate benchmark rate (including any mathematical or other adjustments to the benchmark (if any) incorporated therein) (any such proposed rate, a “ LIBOR Successor Rate ”), together with any proposed LIBOR Successor Rate Conforming Changes (as defined below) and any such amendment shall become effective at 5:00 p.m. (New York time) on the fifth Business Day after the Administrative Agent shall have posted such proposed amendment to all Lenders and the Borrower unless, prior to such time, Lenders comprising the Required Lenders have delivered to the Administrative Agent written notice that such Required Lenders do not accept such amendment.

 

, then If no LIBOR Successor Rate has been determined and the circumstances under clause (i) above exist or the Scheduled Unavailability Date has occurred (as applicable),  the Administrative Agent will promptly so notify the Borrower and each Lender.  Thereafter, (x) the obligation of the Lenders to make or maintain LIBOR Loans shall be suspended, and (y) in the event of a determination described in the preceding sentence with respect to (to the extent of the affected LIBOR Loans or Interest Periods), and (y)  the LIBOR component of the Base Rate, the utilization of the LIBOR component shall no longer be utilized in determining the Base Rate shall be suspended, in each case until the Administrative Agent (upon the instruction of the Required Lenders) revokes such notice .  Upon receipt of such notice, the Borrower may revoke any pending request for a Borrowing of, conversion to or continuation of LIBOR Loans (to the extent of the affected LIBOR Loans or Interest Periods) or, failing that, will be deemed to have converted such request into a request for a Committed Borrowing of Base Rate Loans (subject to the foregoing clause (y)) in the amount specified therein.

 

d.                                       Increased Costs; Reserves on LIBOR Loans.

 

(a)                                  Increased Costs Generally .  If any Change in Law shall:

 

(i)                                      impose, modify or deem applicable any reserve, special deposit, liquidity, compulsory loan, insurance charge or similar assessment or requirement against assets of, deposits with or for the account of, or credit extended or participated in by, the Administrative Agent or any Lender (except any reserve requirement contemplated by Section 3.04(e) );

 

(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 the Administrative Agent or any Lender or the London interbank market any other condition, cost or expense affecting this Agreement or LIBOR Loans made by such Lender;

 

and the result of any of the foregoing shall be to increase the cost to the Administrative Agent or such Lender, as applicable, of making, converting, continuing or maintaining any Loan (or of maintaining its obligation to make any such Loan), then the Borrower will pay to the Administrative Agent or such Lender, as applicable, such additional

 

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amount or amounts as will compensate the Administrative Agent or such Lender, as applicable, for such additional costs incurred or reduction suffered.

 

(b)                                  Capital Requirements .  If any Lender determines that any Change in Law affecting such Lender or any Lending Office of such Lender or such Lender’s holding company, if any, regarding capital or liquidity ratios or requirements has or would have the effect of reducing the rate of return on such Lender’s capital or on the capital of such Lender’s holding company, if any, as a consequence of this Agreement, the Commitments of such Lender or the Loans made by such Lender, to a level below that which such Lender or such Lender’s holding company could have achieved but for such Change in Law (taking into consideration such Lender’s policies and the policies of such Lender’s holding company with respect to capital adequacy and liquidity ), then from time to time the Borrower will pay to such Lender such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender or such Lender’s holding company for any such reduction suffered.

 

(c)                                   Certificates for Reimbursement .  A certificate of a Lender setting forth the amount or amounts necessary to compensate such Lender or its holding company, as the case may be, as specified in subsection (a)  or (b)  of this Section and delivered to the Borrower shall be conclusive absent manifest error.  The Borrower shall pay such Lender the amount shown as due on any such certificate within fifteen (15) days after receipt thereof.

 

(d)                                  Delay in Requests .  Failure or delay on the part of any Lender to demand compensation pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this Section shall not constitute a waiver of such Lender’s right to demand such compensation, provided that the Borrower shall not be required to compensate a Lender 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 notifies the Borrower of the Change in Law giving rise to such increased costs or reductions and of such Lender’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).

 

(e)                                   Reserves on LIBOR Loans .  The Borrower 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 LIBOR 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), which shall be due and payable on each date on which interest is payable on such Loan, provided that   the Borrower shall have received at least ten (10) days’ prior notice (with a copy to the Administrative Agent) of such additional interest 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.

 

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e.                                        Compensation for Losses.  Upon demand of any Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent) from time to time, the Borrower 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 the Borrower (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 the Borrower; or

 

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

 

excluding any loss of anticipated profits and 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 Borrower shall also pay any customary administrative fees charged by such Lender in connection with the foregoing.

 

For purposes of calculating amounts payable by the Borrower to the Lenders under this Section 3.05 , each Lender shall be deemed to have funded each LIBOR Loan made by it at LIBOR for such Loan by a matching deposit or other borrowing in the London interbank eurodollar market for a comparable amount and for a comparable period, whether or not such LIBOR Loan was in fact so funded.

 

f.                                         Mitigation Obligations; Replacement of the Lenders.

 

(a)                                  Designation of a Different Lending Office .  If any Lender requests compensation under Section 3.04 , or the Borrower is required to pay any Indemnified Taxes or additional amount to any Lender, or any Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender pursuant to Section 3.01 , or if any Lender gives a notice pursuant to Section 3.02 , then at the request of the Borrower such Lender 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 reasonable judgment of such Lender, 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 to any material unreimbursed cost or expense and would not otherwise be materially disadvantageous to such Lender.  The Borrower hereby agrees to pay all reasonable costs and expenses incurred by any Lender in connection with any such designation or assignment.

 

(b)                                  Replacement of the Lenders .  If any Lender requests compensation under Section 3.04 , or if the Borrower is required to pay any Indemnified Taxes or additional amounts to any Lender or any Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender pursuant to Section 3.01 and, in each case, such Lender has declined or is unable

 

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to designate a different lending office in accordance with Section 3.06(a) , the Borrower may replace such Lender in accordance with Section 11.13 .

 

g.                                        Survival.  All of the Borrower’s obligations under this Article III shall survive termination of the Aggregate Commitments, repayment of all other Obligations hereunder, and resignation of the Administrative Agent.

 

11.
Unencumbered Properties

 

a.                                       Initial Unencumbered Properties.  As of the Closing Date, the Initial Unencumbered Properties shall consist of the Properties set forth on Schedule 4.01 .

 

b.                                       Reserved.

 

c.                                        Notices of Qualification as an Unencumbered Property.  The Borrower shall provide the Administrative Agent with a written notice of an Acceptable Property to be deemed an Unencumbered Property.

 

d.                                       Eligibility.  In order for an Acceptable Property to be eligible for inclusion as an Unencumbered Property, such Acceptable Property shall satisfy the following requirements unless otherwise approved by the Required Lenders:

 

(a)                                  no Material Title Defect with respect to such Acceptable Property shall exist;

 

(b)                                  such Acceptable Property shall have reasonable access to public utilities; and

 

(c)                                   such Acceptable Property shall not have any material defects.

 

e.                                        Reserved.

 

f.                                         Guaranty.  An Acceptable Property shall not be deemed an Unencumbered Property until the applicable Subsidiary Guarantor shall have executed and delivered (or caused to be executed and delivered) to the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Lenders and any Specified Derivatives Providers, the Subsidiary Guaranty.

 

g.                                        Admission of New Unencumbered Properties.  If, after the date of this Agreement, the Borrower has submitted to the Administrative Agent the notice contemplated by Section 4.03 , then such Acceptable Property shall be deemed to be an Unencumbered Property.

 

h.                                       Reserved.

 

i.                                           Reserved.

 

j.                                          Exclusion Events.  Each of the following events shall be an “ Exclusion Event ” with respect to an Unencumbered Property:

 

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(a)                                  such Unencumbered Property suffers a Material Environmental Event or a Material Title Defect after the date of this Agreement which the Administrative Agent determines, acting reasonably and in good faith, materially impairs the Unencumbered Asset Value or marketability of such Unencumbered Property;

 

(b)                                  the Administrative Agent determines that such Unencumbered Property has suffered a Material Property Event after the date such Property was deemed an Unencumbered Property (or in the case of an uninsured Casualty, in respect of such Unencumbered Property, is reasonably likely to become a Material Property Event) which the Administrative Agent determines, acting reasonably and in good faith, materially impairs the Unencumbered Asset Value or marketability of such Unencumbered Property;

 

(c)                                   a Lien for the performance of work or the supply of materials which is established against such Unencumbered Property, or any stop notice served on the owner of such Unencumbered Property, the Administrative Agent or a Lender, remains unsatisfied or unbonded for a period of thirty (30) days after the date of filing or service and such Lien has priority over any Loan previously or thereafter made under this Agreement;

 

(d)                                  (i) any default by any Subsidiary Guarantor, as tenant under any applicable Acceptable Ground Lease, in the observance or performance of any material term, covenant, or condition of any applicable Acceptable Ground Lease on the part of such Subsidiary Guarantor to be observed or performed and said default is not cured following the expiration of any applicable grace and notice periods therein provided, or (ii)  the leasehold estate created by any applicable Acceptable Ground Lease shall be surrendered or (iii)  any applicable Acceptable Ground Lease shall cease to be in full force and effect or (iv) any applicable Acceptable Ground Lease shall be terminated or canceled for any reason or under any circumstances whatsoever, or any of the material terms, covenants or conditions of any applicable Acceptable Ground Lease shall be modified, changed, supplemented, altered, or amended in any manner not otherwise permitted hereunder without the consent of the Administrative Agent; and

 

(e)                                   the Borrower shall cease to own, directly or indirectly, one hundred percent (100%) of the Equity Interests of any Subsidiary Guarantor that owns an Unencumbered Property free and clear of any Liens (other than Liens in favor of the Administrative Agent).

 

After the occurrence of any Exclusion Event, the Administrative Agent, at the direction of the Required Lenders in their sole discretion, shall have the right at any time and from time to time to notify the Borrower (the “ Exclusion Notice ”) that, effective ten (10) Business Days after the giving of such notice and for so long as such Exclusion Event exists, such Property shall no longer be considered an Unencumbered Property.

 

If the Administrative Agent delivers an Exclusion Notice and such Exclusion Event no longer exists, then the Borrower may give the Administrative Agent written notice thereof (together with reasonably detailed evidence of the cure of such condition) and such Unencumbered

 

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Property shall be considered an Unencumbered Property as long as such Unencumbered Property meets all the requirements to be deemed an Unencumbered Property set forth in this Article IV.  Any Property that is excluded from the Unencumbered Properties pursuant to this Section 4.10 may subsequently be reinstated as an Unencumbered Property, even if an Exclusion Event exists, upon such terms and conditions as the Required Lenders may approve.

 

Upon the occurrence of an Default under Section 8.11(a) , the Borrower shall have the right to elect, upon written notice to the Administrative Agent, that the Lenders designate one or more Unencumbered Properties to be excluded as Unencumbered Properties in order to effect compliance with Section 8.11(a) , with the Borrower thereafter having the right to elect to have any such Unencumbered Property thereafter deemed an Unencumbered Property, provided no Exclusion Event shall exist at such time with respect to such Unencumbered Property.

 

12.
Conditions Precedent to Credit Extensions

 

a.                                       Conditions of Initial Credit Extension.  The obligation of each Lender to make its initial Credit Extension hereunder is subject to satisfaction of the following conditions precedent:

 

(a)                                  The Administrative Agent’s receipt of the following, each of which shall be originals or telecopies (followed promptly by originals) unless otherwise specified, each properly executed by a Responsible Officer of the signing Loan Party, each dated the Closing Date (or, in the case of certificates of governmental officials, a recent date before the Closing Date) and each in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and each of the Lenders:

 

(i)                                      executed counterparts of this Agreement and the Guaranties sufficient in number for distribution to the Administrative Agent, each Lender, and the Borrower for each Initial Unencumbered Property;

 

(ii)                                   a Note executed by the Borrower in favor of each Lender requesting a Note;

 

(iii)                                copies of the Organization Documents of each Loan Party certified to be true and complete as of a recent date by the appropriate Governmental Authority of the state or other jurisdiction of its incorporation or organization, where applicable, and certified by a Responsible Officer of such Loan Party to be true and correct as of the Closing Date;

 

(iv)                               such certificates of resolutions or other action, incumbency certificates and/or other certificates of Responsible Officers of each Loan Party as the Administrative Agent may require (including, but not limited to, the Borrower’s Instruction Certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit I hereto)  evidencing the identity, authority and capacity of each Responsible Officer thereof authorized to act as a Responsible Officer in connection with this Agreement and the other Loan Documents to which such Loan Party is a party;

 

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(v)                                  such documents and certifications as the Administrative Agent may reasonably require to evidence that each of the Borrower, the Parent and STAG Industrial GP, LLC is duly organized or formed, and that each of the Borrower, the Parent and STAG Industrial GP, LLC is validly existing, in good standing and qualified to engage in business in each jurisdiction where its ownership, lease or operation of properties or the conduct of its business requires such qualification, except to the extent that failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;

 

(vi)                               a favorable opinion of DLA Piper LLP (US), counsel to the Loan Parties, addressed to the Administrative Agent and each Lender, as to the matters set forth in Exhibit G and such other matters concerning the Borrower, the Parent and STAG Industrial GP, LLC and the Loan Documents as the Required Lenders may reasonably request;

 

(vii)                            a certificate of a Responsible Officer of each Loan Party either (A) attaching copies of all consents, licenses and approvals required in connection with the execution, delivery and performance by such Loan Party and the validity against such Loan Party of the Loan Documents to which it is a party, and such consents, licenses and approvals shall be in full force and effect, or (B) stating that no such consents, licenses or approvals are so required;

 

(viii)                         a certificate signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower certifying (A) that the conditions specified in Sections 5.02(a)  and (b)  have been satisfied, and (B) that there has been no event or circumstance since the date of the Audited Financial Statements that has had or could be reasonably expected to have, either individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect;

 

(ix)                               a duly completed Compliance Certificate as of the Closing Date, signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower;

 

(x)                                  evidence that all insurance required to be maintained pursuant to the Loan Documents has been obtained and is in effect;

 

(xi)                               completed Borrower Remittance Instructions effective as of the Agreement Date; and

 

(xii)                            such other assurances, certificates, documents, consents or opinions as the Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders reasonably may require.

 

(b)                                  Any fees required to be paid on or before the Closing Date shall have been paid.

 

(c)                                   Unless waived by the Administrative Agent, the Borrower shall have paid all fees, charges and disbursements of counsel to the Administrative Agent (directly to such counsel if requested by the Administrative Agent) to the extent invoiced prior to the Closing Date, plus such additional amounts of such fees, charges and disbursements as

 

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shall constitute its reasonable estimate of such fees, charges and disbursements incurred or to be incurred by it through the closing proceedings ( provided that such estimate shall not thereafter preclude a final settling of accounts between the Borrower and the Administrative Agent).

 

Without limiting the generality of the provisions of the last paragraph of Section 10.03 , for purposes of determining compliance with the conditions specified in this Section 5.01 , 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.

 

b.                                       Conditions to all Credit Extensions.  The obligation of each Lender to honor any Request for Credit Extension (other than a Draw Request requesting only a conversion of Committed Loans to the other Type, or a continuation of LIBOR Loans) is subject to the following conditions precedent:

 

(a)                                  The representations and warranties of the Borrower and each other Loan Party contained in Article VI or any other Loan Document, or which are contained in any document furnished at any time under or in connection herewith or therewith, shall be true and correct in all material respects (except in the case of a representation or warranty qualified by materiality or Material Adverse Effect, in which case such representation or warranty shall be true and correct in all respects) on and as of the date of such Credit Extension, except to the extent that such representations and warranties specifically refer to an earlier date, in which case they shall be true and correct in all material respects (except in the case of a representation or warranty qualified by materiality or Material Adverse Effect, in which case such representation or warranty shall be true and correct in all respects) as of such earlier date, and except that for purposes of this Section   5.02 , the representations and warranties contained in Section 6.05(b)  shall be deemed to refer to the most-recent statements furnished pursuant to Section 7.01(b) .

 

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

 

(c)                                   The Administrative Agent shall have received a Request for Credit Extension in accordance with the requirements hereof.

 

(d)                                  After giving effect to such proposed Credit Extension, the Borrower shall be in compliance with Section 2.01(c) .

 

Each Request for Credit Extension (other than a Draw Request requesting only a conversion of Committed Loans to the other Type or a continuation of LIBOR Loans) submitted by the Borrower shall be deemed to be a representation and warranty that the conditions specified in Sections   5.02(a) , (b) , and (d)  have been satisfied on and as of the date of the applicable Credit Extension.

 

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13.
Representations and Warranties

 

Each of the Parent and the Borrower represents and warrants to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders that:

 

a.                                       Existence, Qualification and Power; Compliance with Laws.  The Parent, the Borrower and each Subsidiary Guarantor (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) in the case of the Loan Parties, 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 (b)(i)  or (c)  to the extent that failure to do so would not have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

b.                                       Authorization; No Contravention.  The execution, delivery and performance by each Loan Party of each Loan Document to which such Person is 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 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.

 

c.                                        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 the execution, delivery or performance by, or enforcement against, any Loan Party of this Agreement or any other Loan Document except for those that have been obtained, taken or made, as the case may be, and those specified herein.

 

d.                                       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, except as enforcement may be limited by Debtor Relief Laws or general equitable principles relating to or limiting creditors’ rights generally.

 

e.                                        Financial Statements; No Material Adverse Effect.

 

(a)                                  The Audited Financial Statements (i) were prepared in accordance with GAAP consistently applied throughout the period covered thereby, except as otherwise

 

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expressly noted therein; (ii) fairly present the financial condition of the Parent as of the date thereof and their results of operations for each period covered thereby in accordance with GAAP consistently applied throughout the each period covered thereby, except as otherwise expressly noted therein; and (iii) show all material indebtedness and other liabilities, direct or contingent, of the Parent as of the date thereof, including liabilities for taxes, material commitments and Indebtedness required by GAAP to be reflected therein.

 

(b)                                  The most recent unaudited consolidated balance sheet of the Parent delivered pursuant to Section 7.01(b) , 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 the financial condition of the Parent as of the date thereof and its results of operations 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)                                   From and after the date of the Audited Financial Statements, and thereafter, from and after the date of the most recent financial statements delivered pursuant to Section 7.01(a)  or 7.01(b), there has been no event or circumstance, either individually or in the aggregate, that has had or would have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

f.                                         Litigation.  There are no actions, suits, proceedings, claims or disputes pending or, to the knowledge of any Company, threatened or contemplated, at law, in equity, in arbitration or before any Governmental Authority, by or against any Company 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) except as specifically disclosed in Schedule 6.06 , either individually or in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, and there has been no adverse change in the status, or financial effect on any Company, of the matters described on Schedule 6.06 , which change could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

g.                                        No Default.  No Company is in default under or with respect 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.

 

h.                                       Ownership of Property; Liens; Equity Interests.  Each Subsidiary Guarantor has good record and marketable title in fee simple to, or valid leasehold interests in, all Unencumbered Properties 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.  Each applicable Subsidiary Guarantor has good record and marketable fee simple title (or, in the case of Acceptable Ground Leases, a valid leasehold) to the Unencumbered Property owned by such Subsidiary Guarantor, subject only to Liens permitted by Section 8.01 .  All of the outstanding Equity Interests in each Subsidiary Guarantor have been validly issued, are fully paid and non-assessable and are owned by the applicable holders free and clear of all Liens (other than Liens permitted by Section 8.01 ).

 

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i.                                           Environmental Compliance.

 

(a)                                  The Companies conduct in the ordinary course of business a review of 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 Parent and the Borrower have reasonably concluded that, except as specifically disclosed in Schedule 6.09 , such Environmental Laws and claims could not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(b)                                  After due inquiry in accordance with good commercial or customary practices to determine whether Contamination is present on any Property, without regard to whether the Administrative Agent or any Lender has or hereafter obtains any knowledge or report of the environmental condition of such Property, except as may be indicated in environmental reports delivered to the Administrative Agent and except to the extent the same could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect: (i) such Property has not been used (A) for landfilling, dumping, or other waste or Hazardous Material disposal activities or operations, or (B) for generation, storage, use, sale, treatment, processing, or recycling of any Hazardous Material, or for any other use that has resulted in Contamination, and in each case, to each Company’s knowledge, no such use on any adjacent property occurred at any time prior to the date hereof; (ii) there is no Hazardous Material, storage tank (or similar vessel) whether underground or otherwise, sump or well currently on any Property; (iii) no Company has received any notice of, or has knowledge of, any Environmental Claim or any completed, pending, proposed or threatened investigation or inquiry concerning the presence or release of any Hazardous Material on any Property or any adjacent property or concerning whether any condition, use or activity on any Property or any adjacent property is in violation of any Environmental Requirement; (iv) the present conditions, uses, and activities on each Property do not violate any Environmental Requirement and the use of any Property which any Company (and each tenant and subtenant) makes and intends to make of any Property complies and will comply with all applicable Environmental Requirements; (v) no Property appears on the National Priorities List, any federal or state “superfund” or “superlien” list, or any other list or database of properties maintained by any local, state, or federal agency or department showing properties which are known to contain or which are suspected of containing a Hazardous Material; (vi) no Company has ever applied for and been denied environmental impairment liability insurance coverage relating to any Property; (vii) no Company has, nor, to any Company’s knowledge, have any tenants or subtenants, obtained any permit or authorization to construct, occupy, operate, use, or conduct any activity on any Property by reason of any Environmental Requirement; and (viii) to any Company’s knowledge, there are no underground or aboveground storage tanks on such Property.

 

j.                                          Insurance.  The properties of the Loan Parties are insured with financially sound and reputable insurance companies not Affiliates of any Loan Party, 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 Loan Parties operate.

 

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k.                                       Taxes.  The Companies have filed all material Federal, state and other tax returns and reports required to be filed, and have paid all material Federal, state and other 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 or which would not result in a Material Adverse Effect.  There is no proposed tax assessment against any Company that would, if made, have a Material Adverse Effect. Neither any Loan Party nor any Subsidiary thereof is party to any tax sharing agreement.

 

l.                                           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.  Each Pension Plan that is intended to be a qualified plan under Section 401(a)  of the Code has received a favorable determination letter from the Internal Revenue Service 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 Internal Revenue Service 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 Internal Revenue Service.  To the best knowledge of the Parent and the Borrower, nothing has occurred that would prevent or cause the loss of such tax-qualified status.  The Parent and each ERISA Affiliate have made all required contributions to each Plan subject to Section 412 of the Code, and no application for a funding waiver or an extension of any amortization period pursuant to Section 412 of the Code has been made with respect to any Plan.

 

(b)                                  There are no pending or, to the best knowledge of the Parent and the Borrower, threatened claims, actions or  lawsuits, or action by any Governmental Authority, with respect to any Plan that would have a Material Adverse Effect.  There has been no prohibited transaction or violation of the fiduciary responsibility rules with respect to any Plan that has resulted or would  have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(c)                                   (i) No ERISA Event has occurred, and neither the Parent nor any ERISA Affiliate is aware of any fact, event or circumstance that would constitute or result in an ERISA Event with respect to any Pension Plan; (ii) the Parent and each ERISA Affiliate has met all applicable requirements under the Pension Funding Rules in respect of each Pension Plan, and no waiver of the minimum funding standards under the Pension Funding Rules has been applied for or obtained; (iii) as of the most-recent valuation date for any Pension Plan, the funding target attainment percentage (as defined in Section 430(d)(2)  of the Code) is 60% or higher and neither the Parent nor any ERISA Affiliate knows of any facts or circumstances that would cause the funding target attainment percentage for any such plan to drop below 60% as of the most-recent valuation date; (iv) neither the Parent nor any ERISA Affiliate has incurred any liability to the PBGC other than for the payment of premiums, and there are no premium payments which have become due that are unpaid; (v) neither the Parent nor any ERISA Affiliate has engaged in a transaction that could be subject to Section 4069 or Section 4212(c)  of ERISA; and (vi) no Pension Plan has been terminated by the plan

 

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administrator thereof nor by the PBGC, and no event or circumstance has occurred or exists that would  cause the PBGC to institute proceedings under Title IV of ERISA to terminate any Pension Plan, in each case, that would result in a liability, individually, or in the aggregate, in excess of the Threshold Amount.

 

(d)                                  As of the First Amendment Effective Date, the Borrower is not, nor will be using “plan assets” (within the meaning of 29 CFR § 2510.3-101, as modified by Section 3(42) of ERISA) of one or more Benefit Plans in connection with the Loans or the Commitments.

 

m.                                   Subsidiaries; Equity Interests.  As of the Closing Date, the Parent and the Borrower have no Subsidiaries other than those specifically disclosed in Part (a) of Schedule 6.13 , and all of the outstanding Equity Interests in such Subsidiaries have been validly issued, are fully paid and non-assessable and are owned by a Company in the amounts specified on Part (a) of Schedule   6.13 free and clear of all Liens.  As of the Closing Date, neither the Parent nor the Borrower has any direct or indirect Equity Interests in any other Person other than those specifically disclosed in Part (b) of Schedule   6.13 .  All of the outstanding Equity Interests in each Subsidiary Guarantor have been validly issued, are fully paid and non-assessable and are owned by the applicable holders in the amounts specified on Part (c) of Schedule   6.13 free and clear of all Liens.

 

n.                                       Margin Regulations; Investment Company Act.

 

(a)                                  Neither the Parent nor the Borrower is 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.

 

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

 

o.                                       Disclosure.

 

(a)                                  The Parent and the Borrower have disclosed to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders all agreements, instruments and corporate or other restrictions to which any Company is subject, and all other matters known to them, that, individually or in the aggregate, would have a Material Adverse Effect.  The reports, financial statements, certificates or other information furnished (whether in writing or orally) by or on behalf of any Company 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), taken as a whole, do not contain any material misstatement of fact or fail to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided that (a) with respect to projected financial information, the Parent and the Borrower represent only that such information was prepared in good faith based upon

 

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assumptions believed to be reasonable at the time made, and (b) with respect to any lease abstracts provided by the Borrower, to the best of the Borrower’s knowledge, same will not contain any material misstatement of fact or fail to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

 

(b)                                  As of the First Amendment Effective Date, the information included in the Beneficial Ownership Certification is true and correct in all respects.

 

p.                                       Compliance with Laws.  Each Company is in compliance in all material respects 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, would have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

q.                                       Taxpayer Identification Number.  As of the date hereof, each Loan Party’s true and correct U.S. taxpayer identification number is set forth on Schedule 11.02 .

 

r.                                          Intellectual Property; Licenses, Etc.  Each Loan Party owns, or possesses the right to use, all of the trademarks, service marks, trade names, copyrights, patents, patent rights, franchises, licenses and other intellectual property rights (collectively, “ IP Rights ”) that are reasonably necessary for the operation of their respective businesses, without conflict with the rights of any other Person except, in each case, where the failure to do so would have a Material Adverse Effect.  To the best knowledge of each Loan Party, 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 infringes upon any rights held by any other Person except where such infringement would not have a Material Adverse Effect.  Except as specifically disclosed in Schedule 6.18 , no claim or litigation regarding any of the foregoing is pending or, to the best knowledge of each Loan Party, threatened, which, either individually or in the aggregate, would have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

s.                                         Reserved .

 

t.                                          Solvency.  No Loan Party (a) has entered into the transaction or executed this Agreement or any other Loan Document with the actual intent to hinder, delay or defraud any creditor and (b) has not received reasonably equivalent value in exchange for its obligations under the Loan Documents.  After giving effect to any Loan, the fair saleable value of the Loan Parties’ assets, taken as a whole, exceeds and will, immediately following the making of any such Loan, exceed the Loan Parties’ total liabilities, including subordinated, unliquidated, disputed and contingent liabilities.  The Loan Parties’ assets, taken as a whole, do not constitute unreasonably small capital to carry out their business as conducted or as proposed to be conducted, nor will their assets constitute unreasonably small capital immediately following the making of any Loan.  The Loan Parties do not intend to incur debt and liabilities (including contingent liabilities and other commitments) beyond their ability to pay such debt and liabilities as they mature (taking into account the timing and amounts of cash to be received by the Loan Parties and the amounts to be payable on or in respect of obligations of the Loan Parties).  No

 

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petition under any Debtor Relief Laws has been filed against any Loan Party in the last seven (7) years, and neither the Borrower nor any other Loan Party in the last seven (7) years has ever made an assignment for the benefit of creditors or taken advantage of any insolvency act for the benefit of debtors.  No Loan Party is contemplating either the filing of a petition by it under any Debtor Relief Laws or the liquidation of all or a major portion of its assets or property (except for dispositions permitted hereunder), and no Loan Party has knowledge of any Person contemplating the filing of any such petition against it or any other Loan Party.

 

u.                                       REIT Status of the Parent.  The Parent qualified as a REIT commencing with its taxable year ending December 31, 2013 and will remain qualified in each taxable year thereafter.

 

v.                                       Labor Matters.  There is (a) no significant unfair labor practice complaint pending against any Company or, to the best of each Company’s knowledge, threatened against any Company, before the National Labor Relations Board, and no significant grievance or significant arbitration proceeding arising out of or under any collective bargaining agreement is pending on the date hereof against any Company or, to best of any Company’s knowledge, threatened against any Company which, in either case, would result in a Material Adverse Effect, and (b) no significant strike, labor dispute, slowdown or stoppage is pending against any Company or, to the best of any Company’s knowledge, threatened against any Company which would result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

w.                                     Ground Lease Representation.

 

(a)                                  The applicable Subsidiary Guarantor has delivered to the Administrative Agent true and correct copies of each Acceptable Ground Lease to the extent requested by the Administrative Agent.

 

(b)                                  Each Acceptable Ground Lease is in full force and effect.

 

x.                                       Unencumbered Properties .  To the Borrower’s knowledge and except where the failure of any of the following to be true and correct would not have a Material Adverse Effect:

 

(a)                                  Each Unencumbered Property complies with all Laws, including all subdivision and platting requirements, without reliance on any adjoining or neighboring property.  No Loan Party has received any notice or claim from any Person that an Unencumbered Property, or any use, activity, operation, or maintenance thereof or thereon, is not in compliance with any Law, and has no knowledge of any such noncompliance except as disclosed in writing to the Administrative Agent;

 

(b)                                  The Loan Parties have not directly or indirectly conveyed, assigned, or otherwise disposed of, or transferred (or agreed to do so) any development rights, air rights, or other similar rights, privileges, or attributes with respect to an Unencumbered Property, including those arising under any zoning or property use ordinance or other Laws;

 

(c)                                   All utility services necessary for the use of each Unencumbered Property and the operation thereof for their intended purpose are available at each Unencumbered Property;

 

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(d)                                  The current use of each Unencumbered Property complies in all material respects with all applicable zoning ordinances, regulations, and restrictive covenants affecting such Unencumbered Property, all use restrictions of any Governmental Authority having jurisdiction have been satisfied; and

 

(e)                                   No Unencumbered Property is the subject of any pending or, to any Loan Party’s knowledge, threatened Condemnation or material adverse zoning proceeding for which the Administrative Agent has not been notified in accordance with Section 7.03(f) .

 

y.                                       OFAC.   No Loan Party, nor, to the knowledge of any Loan Party, any Related Party, (i) is currently the subject of any Sanctions, (ii) is located, organized or residing in any Designated Jurisdiction, or (iii) is or has been (within the previous five (5) years) engaged in any transaction with any Person who is now or was then the subject of Sanctions or who is located, organized or residing in any Designated Jurisdiction.  No Loan, nor the proceeds from any Loan, has been used, directly or indirectly, to lend, contribute, provide or has otherwise made available to fund any activity or business in any Designated Jurisdiction or to fund any activity or business of any Person located, organized or residing in any Designated Jurisdiction or who is the subject of any Sanctions, or in any other manner that will result in any violation by any Person (including any Lender, the Lead Arrangers or the Administrative Agent) of Sanctions.  Each Loan Party, their respective officers and, to the knowledge of the Parent and the Borrower, its respective directors, employees and agents and any Related Party, are in compliance with Anti-Corruption Laws and applicable Sanctions in all material respects. No Credit Extension, use of the proceeds of any Credit Extension, or other transactions contemplated hereby will violate Anti-Corruption Laws or applicable Sanctions.  Neither the making of the Credit Extensions hereunder nor the use of the proceeds thereof will violate the Patriot Act, the Trading with the Enemy Act, as amended, or any of the foreign assets control regulations of the United States Treasury Department (31 C.F.R., Subtitle B, Chapter V, as amended) or any enabling legislation or executive order relating thereto or successor statute thereto. Each Loan Party is in compliance in all material respects with the Patriot Act.

 

z.                                        EEA Financial Institutions.  No Loan Party is an EEA Financial Institution.

 

14.
Affirmative Covenants

 

So long as any Lender shall have any Commitment hereunder, any Loan or other Obligation hereunder (excluding contingent indemnification obligations to the extent no unsatisfied claim giving rise thereto has been asserted) shall remain unpaid or unsatisfied:

 

a.                                       Financial Statements.  Each of the Parent and the Borrower shall deliver to the Administrative Agent and each Lender, in form and detail reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the Required Lenders:

 

(a)                                  as soon as available, but in any event within one hundred five (105) days after the end of each fiscal year of the Parent (or, if earlier, fifteen (15) days after the date required to be filed with the SEC without giving effect to any extension permitted by the SEC) (commencing with the fiscal year ending December 31, 2017), a consolidated

 

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balance sheet of the Parent 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, all in reasonable detail and prepared in accordance with GAAP, such consolidated statements to be audited and accompanied by a report and opinion of an independent certified public accountant of nationally recognized standing reasonably acceptable to the Required Lenders, 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; and

 

(b)                                  as soon as available, but in any event within sixty (60) days after the end of each of the first three (3) fiscal quarters of each fiscal year of the Parent (or, if earlier, five (5) days after the date required to be filed with the SEC) (commencing with the fiscal quarter ended June 30, 2017), a consolidated balance sheet of the Parent, the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as at the end of such fiscal quarter, the related consolidated statements of income or operations for such fiscal quarter and for the portion of the Parent’s fiscal year then ended, and the related consolidated statements of changes in shareholders’ equity, and cash flows for the portion of the Parent’s fiscal year then ended, in each case setting forth in comparative form, as applicable, the figures for the corresponding fiscal quarter of the previous fiscal year and the corresponding portion of the previous fiscal year, all in reasonable detail, such consolidated statements to be certified by the chief executive officer, chief financial officer, treasurer or controller of the Parent as fairly presenting the financial condition, results of operations, shareholders’ equity and cash flows of the Parent in accordance with GAAP, subject only to normal year-end audit adjustments and the absence of footnotes

 

As to any information contained in materials furnished pursuant to Section 7.02 , the Parent and the Borrower shall not be separately required to furnish such information under clause (a)  or (b)  above, but the foregoing shall not be in derogation of the obligation of the Parent and the Borrower to furnish the information and materials described in clauses (a)  and (b)  above at the times specified therein.

 

b.                                       Certificates; Other Information.  Each of the Parent and the Borrower shall deliver to the Administrative Agent and each Lender, in form and detail reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the Required Lenders:

 

(a)                                  concurrently with the delivery of the financial statements referred to in Sections 7.01(a)  and (b) , a duly completed Compliance Certificate signed by the chief executive officer, chief financial officer, chief accounting officer, treasurer or controller of the Borrower (which delivery may, unless the Administrative Agent or a Lender requests executed originals, be by electronic communication including fax or email and shall be deemed to be an original authentic counterpart thereof for all purposes);

 

(b)                                  promptly after any request by the Administrative Agent, copies of any detailed audit opinions or review reports submitted to the board of directors (or the audit

 

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committee of the board of directors) of the Parent by independent accountants in connection with the accounts or books of the Parent;

 

(c)                                   promptly after the same are available, copies of each annual report, proxy or financial statement or other report or communication sent to the stockholders of the Parent, and copies of all annual, regular, periodic and special reports and registration statements which the Borrower may file or be required to file with the SEC under Section 13 or 15(d)  of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and not otherwise required to be delivered to the Administrative Agent pursuant hereto;

 

(d)                                  promptly after the furnishing thereof, copies of any statement or report furnished to any holder of publicly-held debt securities of the Parent or the Borrower 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 7.01 or any other clause of this Section 7.02 ;

 

(e)                                   promptly, and in any event within five (5) Business Days after receipt thereof by the Parent or the Borrower, copies of each notice or other correspondence received from the SEC (or comparable agency in any applicable non-U.S. jurisdiction) concerning any material investigation or other material inquiry by such agency regarding financial or other operational results of any Company unless restricted from doing so by such agency; and

 

(f)                                    promptly, such additional information regarding the business, financial or corporate affairs of the Parent or the Borrower or any Unencumbered Property, 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 7.01(a)  or (b)  or Section 7.02(c)  (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 (i) on which the Parent or the Borrower (A) files any such document with the Securities and Exchange Commission’s EDGAR system (or any successor thereto) in a manner accessible to the public at large or (B) posts such documents, or provides a link thereto on the Parent and the Borrower’s website on the Internet at the website address listed on Schedule 11.02 ; or (ii) on which such documents are posted on the Parent and the Borrower’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).  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 and the Borrower 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.

 

The Parent and the Borrower hereby acknowledge that (a) the Administrative Agent and/or the Lead Arrangers will make available to the Lenders materials and/or information provided by or on behalf of the Parent and the Borrower hereunder (collectively, the “ Borrower

 

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Materials ”) by posting the Borrower Materials on IntraLinks, SyndTrak or another similar electronic system (the “ Platform ”) and (b) certain of the Lenders (each, a “ Public Lender ”) may have personnel who do not wish to receive material non-public information with respect to the Parent, the Borrower or their Affiliates, or the respective Equity Interests of any of the foregoing, and who may be engaged in investment and other market-related activities with respect to such Persons’ Equity Interests.  The Parent and the Borrower hereby agree that (w) all the Borrower Materials that are to be made available to the Public Lenders shall be clearly and conspicuously marked “PUBLIC” which, at a minimum, shall mean that the word “PUBLIC” shall appear prominently on the first page thereof; (x) by marking the Borrower Materials “PUBLIC,” the Parent and the Borrower shall be deemed to have authorized the Administrative Agent, the Lead Arrangers and the Lenders to treat such Borrower Materials as not containing any material non-public information with respect to the Parent and the Borrower or their Equity Interests for purposes of United States Federal and state securities laws ( provided that to the extent such Borrower Materials constitute Information, they shall be treated as set forth in Section 11.07 ); (y) all the Borrower Materials marked “PUBLIC” are permitted to be made available through a portion of the Platform designated “Public Side Information;” and (z) the Administrative Agent and the Lead Arrangers shall be entitled to treat any the Borrower Materials that are not marked “PUBLIC” as being suitable only for posting on a portion of the Platform not designated “Public Side Information.”

 

c.                                        Notices.  Each of the Parent and the Borrower shall, upon becoming aware of same, promptly notify the Administrative Agent who shall notify each Lender:

 

(a)                                  of the occurrence of any Default;

 

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

 

(c)                                   of the occurrence of any ERISA Event which has resulted or would result in liabilities of any Company in an aggregate amount in excess of the Threshold Amount;

 

(d)                                  of any material litigation, arbitration or governmental investigation or proceeding instituted or threatened in writing against any Unencumbered Property, and any material development therein;

 

(e)                                   of any announcement by Moody’s, Fitch or S&P of any change in a Debt Rating or in its “outlook” with respect to a Debt Rating;

 

(f)                                    of any actual or threatened in writing Condemnation or zoning proceeding of any portion of any Unencumbered Property, any negotiations with respect to any such taking, or any material loss of or substantial damage to any Unencumbered Property, in each case, except to the extent that the same could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;

 

(g)                                   of any Casualty with respect to any Unencumbered Property except to the extent that the same could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;

 

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(h)                                  of any material permit, license, certificate or approval required with respect to any Unencumbered Property that lapses or ceases to be in full force and effect or any claim from any person that any Unencumbered Property, or any use, activity, operation or maintenance thereof or thereon, is not in compliance with any Law, in each case, except to the extent that the same could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;

 

(i)                                      of any material change in accounting policies or financial reporting practices by any Company, including any determination by the Borrower referred to in Section 2.10(b) ; and

 

(j)                                     of any labor controversy pending or threatened against any Company, and any material development in any labor controversy except to the extent that the same could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

Each notice pursuant to this Section 7.03 shall be accompanied by a statement of a Responsible Officer of the Parent and the Borrower setting forth details of the occurrence referred to therein and stating what action the Parent and/or the Borrower has taken and proposes to take with respect thereto.  Each notice pursuant to Section 7.03(a)  shall describe with particularity any and all provisions of this Agreement and any other Loan Document that have been breached.

 

d.                                       Payment of Obligations.  Each of the Parent and the Borrower shall, and shall cause each other Loan Party to, pay and discharge as the same shall become due and payable, all its obligations and liabilities, including: (a) all tax liabilities, assessments and governmental charges or levies upon a Loan Party or its properties or assets, 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 such Loan Party; (b) all lawful claims which, if unpaid, would by law become a Lien upon its property other than Liens of the type permitted under Sections 8.01(a)  through (g) ; and (c) all Indebtedness, as and when due and payable except, in each case, where the failure to do so would not result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

e.                                        Preservation of Existence, Etc.  Each of the Parent and the Borrower shall, and shall cause each other Loan Party to (a) preserve, renew and maintain in full force and effect its legal existence and good standing under the Laws of the jurisdiction of its organization except in a transaction permitted by Section 8.04 ; (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 would not have a Material Adverse Effect; and (c) preserve or renew all of its IP Rights, the non-preservation of which would have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

f.                                         Maintenance of Properties.  Each of the Parent and the Borrower shall, and shall cause each other Company to (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 except to the extent the failure to do so would not result in a Material Adverse Effect; (b) make all necessary repairs thereto and renewals and replacements thereof except where the failure to do so would not have a Material Adverse Effect; (c) use the standard of care typical in the industry in

 

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the operation and maintenance of its (i) Unencumbered Properties, and, (ii) as to its other Properties except where the failure to do so would not have a Material Adverse Effect; and (d) keep the Unencumbered Properties in good order, repair, operating condition, and appearance, causing all necessary repairs, renewals, replacements, additions, and improvements to be promptly made, and not allow any of the Unencumbered Properties to be misused, abused or wasted or to deteriorate (ordinary wear and tear excepted) except where the failure to do so would not have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

g.                                        Maintenance of Insurance.  Each of the Parent and the Borrower shall, and shall cause each other Company to, maintain with financially sound and reputable insurance companies not Affiliates of any Company, insurance (including flood insurance if available or required) 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.

 

h.                                       Compliance with Laws ; Beneficial Ownership Regulations  Each of the Parent and the Borrower shall, and shall cause each other Subsidiary Guarantor to, (a)  comply in all material respects with the requirements of all Laws (including without limitation Anti-Corruption Laws and applicable Sanctions) and all orders, writs, injunctions and decrees applicable to it or to its business or property, except in such instances in which ( a i ) such requirement of Law or order, writ, injunction or decree is being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted; or ( b ii ) the failure to comply therewith would not have a Material Adverse Effect . , (b) notify the Administrative Agent and each Lender that previously received a Beneficial Ownership Certification of any change in the information provided in the Beneficial Ownership Certification that would result in a change to the list of beneficial owners identified therein, and (c) promptly upon the reasonably request of the Administrative Agent or any Lender, provide the Administrative Agent or such Lender, as the case may be, any information or documentation requested by it for purposes of complying with the Beneficial Ownership Regulation.

 

i.                                           Books and Records.  Each of the Parent and the Borrower shall, and shall cause each other Company to: (a) 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 each Company, as the case may be; and (b) maintain such books of record and account in material conformity with all applicable requirements of any Governmental Authority having regulatory jurisdiction over any Company, as the case may be.

 

j.                                          Inspection Rights.  Subject to the rights of tenants, each of the Parent and the Borrower shall, and shall cause each other Loan Party to, permit representatives and independent contractors of the Administrative Agent and each Lender, at the expense of the Administrative Agent or such Lender, to visit and inspect and photograph any Unencumbered Property and any of its other properties, to examine its corporate, financial and operating records, and all recorded data of any kind or nature, regardless of the medium of recording including all software, writings, plans, specifications and schematics, and make copies thereof or abstracts therefrom, and to discuss its affairs, finances and accounts with its officers all at the expense of the

 

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Borrower and at such reasonable times during normal business hours, upon reasonable advance notice to the applicable Loan Party and no more often than once in any period of twelve (12) consecutive months unless an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing; provided that when an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing 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 Borrower at any time during normal business hours and without advance notice, subject to the rights of tenants.  Any inspection or audit of the Unencumbered Properties or the books and records, including recorded data of any kind or nature, regardless of the medium of recording including software, writings, plans, specifications and schematics of any Loan Party, or the procuring of documents and financial and other information, by the Administrative Agent on behalf of itself or on behalf of the Lenders shall be for the Administrative Agent’s and the Lenders’ protection only, and shall not constitute any assumption of responsibility to any Loan Party or anyone else with regard to the condition, construction, maintenance or operation of the Unencumbered Properties nor the Administrative Agent’s approval of any certification given to the Administrative Agent nor relieve any Loan Party of the Borrower’s or any other Loan Party’s obligations.

 

k.                                       Use of Proceeds.  Each of the Parent and the Borrower shall, and shall cause each other Company to, use the proceeds of the Credit Extensions (a) to refinance the obligations of the Companies under existing facilities, (b) to finance the acquisition of Properties, (c) to pay operating and leasing expenses with respect to its Properties, and (d) for general corporate purposes, in each case, not in contravention of any Law or of any Loan Document.

 

l.                                           Environmental Matters.  Each of the Parent and the Borrower shall, and shall cause each other Loan Party to:

 

(a)                                  Violations; Notice to the Administrative Agent .  Use reasonable efforts to:

 

(i)                                      Keep the Unencumbered Properties free of Contamination, except to the extent that any failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;

 

(ii)                                   Promptly deliver to the Administrative Agent a copy of each report pertaining to any Property or to any Loan Party prepared by or on behalf of such Loan Party pursuant to a material violation of any Environmental Requirement to the extent that the same could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; and

 

(iii)                                As soon as practicable advise the Administrative Agent in writing of any Environmental Claim or of the discovery of any Contamination on any Unencumbered Property that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, as soon as any Loan Party first obtains knowledge thereof, including a description of the nature and extent of the Environmental Claim and/or Hazardous Material and all relevant circumstances.

 

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(b)                                  Site Assessments and Information .  If the Parent or the Borrower fails to comply with Section 7.12(a)  or if any other Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, then if requested by the Administrative Agent, at the Borrower’s expense, deliver to the Administrative Agent from time to time, but no more frequently than once per calendar year unless an Event of Default exists, in each case within seventy five (75) days after the Administrative Agent’s request, an Environmental Assessment (hereinafter defined) made after the date of the Administrative Agent’s request.  As used in this Agreement, the term “ Environmental Assessment ” means a report of an environmental assessment of any or all Unencumbered Properties and of such scope so as to be compliant with the guidelines established by the ASTM (including the taking of soil borings and air and groundwater samples and other above and below ground testing) as the Administrative Agent may reasonably request to be performed by a licensed environmental consulting firm reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent.  Each applicable Loan Party shall cooperate with each consulting firm making any such Environmental Assessment and shall supply to the consulting firm all information available to such Loan Party to facilitate the completion of the Environmental Assessment.  If any Loan Party fails to furnish the Administrative Agent within thirty (30) days after the Administrative Agent’s request with a copy of an agreement with an acceptable environmental consulting firm to provide such Environmental Assessment, or if any Loan Party fails to furnish to the Administrative Agent such Environmental Assessment within seventy five (75) days after the Administrative Agent’s request, upon written notice to the Parent and the Borrower, the Administrative Agent may cause any such Environmental Assessment to be made at the Borrower’s expense and risk.  Subject to the rights of tenant, the Administrative Agent and its designees are hereby granted access to the Unencumbered Properties upon written notice, and a license which is coupled with an interest and irrevocable, to make or cause to be made such Environmental Assessments.  The Administrative Agent may disclose to any Governmental Authority, to the extent required by Applicable Law, any information the Administrative Agent ever has about the environmental condition or compliance of the Unencumbered Properties, but shall be under no duty to disclose any such information except as may be required by Law.  The Administrative Agent shall be under no duty to make any Environmental Assessment of the Unencumbered Properties, and in no event shall any such Environmental Assessment by the Administrative Agent be or give rise to a representation that any Hazardous Material is or is not present on the Unencumbered Properties, or that there has been or shall be compliance with any Environmental Requirement, nor shall any Company or any other Person be entitled to rely on any Environmental Assessment made by the Administrative Agent or at the Administrative Agent’s request but the Administrative Agent shall deliver a copy of such report to the Parent and the Borrower.  Neither the Administrative Agent nor any Lender owes any duty of care to protect any Company or any other Person against, or to inform them of, any Hazardous Material or other adverse condition affecting the Unencumbered Properties.

 

(c)                                   Remedial Actions .  If any Contamination which could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect is discovered on any Unencumbered Property at any time and regardless of the cause, (i) promptly at the applicable Loan Parties’ sole expense, remove, treat, and dispose of the Hazardous Material in compliance with all

 

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applicable Environmental Requirements in addition to taking such other action as is necessary to have the full use and benefit of such Unencumbered Property as contemplated by the Loan Documents, and provide the Administrative Agent with satisfactory evidence thereof; and (ii) if reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent, provide to the Administrative Agent within thirty (30) days of the Administrative Agent’s request a bond, letter of credit, or other financial assurance, including self-assurance,  evidencing to the Administrative Agent’s satisfaction that all necessary funds are readily available to pay the costs and expenses of the actions required by the preceding clause (i)  and to discharge any assessments or liens established against such Unencumbered Property as a result of the presence of the Hazardous Material on the Unencumbered Property. After completion of such remedial actions, the applicable Loan Party shall promptly request regulatory approval, take all reasonable measures to expedite issuance of such approval and upon receipt thereof deliver to the Administrative Agent a letter indicating that no further action is required with respect to the applicable Unencumbered Property or similar confirmation by the applicable regulator that all required remedial action as stated above has been taken and successfully completed to the satisfaction of the applicable regulator.  The Loan Parties shall not be deemed to have satisfied their remedial obligations under this provision until they have provided the Administrative Agent such confirmation.

 

m.                                   Ground Leases Solely with respect to Unencumbered Property, each of the Parent and the Borrower shall, and shall cause each other Loan Party to:

 

(a)                                  Diligently perform and observe in all material respects all of the terms, covenants, and conditions of any Acceptable Ground Lease as tenant under such Acceptable Ground Lease; and

 

(b)                                  Promptly notify the Administrative Agent of (i) the giving to the applicable Subsidiary Guarantor of any notice of any default by such Subsidiary Guarantor under any Acceptable Ground Lease and deliver to the Administrative Agent a true copy of each such notice within five (5) Business Days of such Subsidiary Guarantor’s receipt thereof, and (ii) any bankruptcy, reorganization, or insolvency of the landlord under any Acceptable Ground Lease or of any notice thereof, and deliver to the Administrative Agent a true copy of such notice within five (5) Business Days of the applicable Subsidiary Guarantor’s receipt.

 

(c)                                   Exercise any individual option to extend or renew the term of an Acceptable Ground Lease upon demand by the Administrative Agent made at any time within thirty (30) days prior to the last day upon which any such option may be exercised, and each applicable Subsidiary Guarantor hereby expressly authorizes and appoints the Administrative Agent as its attorney-in-fact to exercise any such option in the name of and upon behalf of such Subsidiary Guarantor, which power of attorney shall be irrevocable and shall be deemed to be coupled with an interest.

 

If the applicable Subsidiary Guarantor shall default in the performance or observance of any term, covenant, or condition of any Acceptable Ground Lease on the part of such Subsidiary Guarantor and shall fail to cure the same prior to the expiration of any applicable cure period

 

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provided thereunder, then the Administrative Agent shall have the right, but shall be under no obligation, to pay any sums and to perform any act or take any action as may be appropriate to cause all of the terms, covenants, and conditions of such Acceptable Ground Lease on the part of such Subsidiary Guarantor to be performed or observed on behalf of such Subsidiary Guarantor, to the end that the rights of such Subsidiary Guarantor in, to, and under such Acceptable Ground Lease shall be kept unimpaired and free from default.  If the landlord under any Acceptable Ground Lease shall deliver to the Administrative Agent a copy of any notice of default under such Acceptable Ground Lease, then such notice shall constitute full protection to the Administrative Agent for any action taken or omitted to be taken by the Administrative Agent, in good faith, in reliance thereon.

 

n.                                       Unencumbered Properties.

 

(a)                                  Except where the failure to comply with any of the following would not have a Material Adverse Effect, each of the Parent and the Borrower shall, and shall use commercially reasonable efforts to cause each other Loan Party or the applicable tenant, to:

 

(i)                                      Pay all real estate and personal property taxes, assessments, water rates or sewer rents, ground rents, maintenance charges, impositions, and any other charges, including vault charges and license fees for the use of vaults, chutes and similar areas adjoining any Unencumbered Property, now or hereafter levied or assessed or imposed against any Unencumbered Property or any part thereof (except those which are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted);

 

(ii)                                   Promptly pay (or cause to be paid) when due all bills and costs for labor, materials, and specifically fabricated materials incurred in connection with any Unencumbered Property (except those which are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted), and in any event never permit to be created or exist in respect of any Unencumbered Property or any part thereof any other or additional Lien or security interest other than Liens permitted by Section 8.01 ; and

 

(iii)                                Operate the Unencumbered Properties in a good and workmanlike manner and in all material respects in accordance with all Laws in accordance with such Loan Party’s prudent business judgment.

 

(b)                                  Except where the failure would not have a material and adverse effect on the value of the Unencumbered Properties, taken as whole, each of the Parent and the Borrower shall, and shall cause each other Loan Party to, to the extent owned and controlled by a Loan Party, preserve, protect, renew, extend and retain all material rights and privileges granted for or applicable to each Unencumbered Property.

 

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15.
Negative Covenants

 

So long as any Lender shall have any Commitment hereunder or any Loan or other Obligation hereunder (excluding contingent indemnification obligations to the extent no unsatisfied claim giving rise thereto has been asserted) shall remain unpaid or unsatisfied:

 

a.                                       Liens.  Each of the Parent and the Borrower shall not, nor shall it permit any other Loan Party to, directly or indirectly, create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Lien upon any Unencumbered Property, other than the following:

 

(a)                                  Liens pursuant to any Loan Document;

 

(b)                                  Liens existing on the date hereof and listed on Schedule 8.01 ;

 

(c)                                   Liens for taxes not yet due and payable 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)                                    easements, rights-of-way, restrictions, restrictive covenants, encroachments, protrusions and other similar encumbrances affecting real property which, in the aggregate, are not substantial in amount, and which do not in any case materially detract from the value of the property subject thereto or materially interfere with the ordinary conduct of the business of the applicable Person;

 

(g)                                   Liens securing judgments for the payment of money not constituting an Event of Default under Section 9.01(i) ;

 

(h)                                  the rights of tenants under leases or subleases not interfering with the ordinary conduct of business of such Person;

 

(i)                                      Liens securing obligations in the nature of personal property financing leases for furniture, furnishings or similar assets, Capital Leases Obligations and other purchase money obligations for fixed or capital assets; provided that (i) such Liens do not at any time encumber any property other than the property financed by such Indebtedness, (ii) the obligations secured thereby does not exceed the cost or fair market value, whichever is lower, of the property being acquired on the date of acquisition, and

 

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(iii) with respect to Capital Leases, such Liens do not at any time extend to or cover any assets other than the assets subject to such Capital Leases;

 

(j)                                     Liens securing obligations in the nature of the performance of bids, trade contracts and leases (other than Indebtedness), statutory obligations, surety bonds (other than bonds related to judgments or litigation), performance bonds and other obligations of a like nature incurred in the ordinary course of business;

 

(k)                                  all Liens, encumbrances and other matters disclosed in any owner’s title insurance policies or other title reports and updated thereof accepted by the Administrative Agent; and

 

(l)                                      such other title and survey exceptions as the Administrative Agent has approved in writing in the Administrative Agent’s reasonable discretion.

 

b.                                       Indebtedness.  Each of the Parent and the Borrower shall not, nor shall it permit any other Loan Party to, 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 8.02 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;

 

(c)                                   Guarantees of (i) the Borrower or the Parent in respect of Indebtedness otherwise permitted hereunder of the Borrower or any other Guarantor, (ii) the Parent or the Borrower, in respect of Indebtedness otherwise permitted hereunder of any Non-Guarantor Subsidiary if, in the case of any Guarantee pursuant to this clause (ii), (x) no Default shall exist immediately before or immediately after the making of such Guarantee, and (y) there exists no violation of the financial covenants set forth in Section 8.14 hereunder on a pro forma basis after the making of such Guarantee, and (iii) Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries made in the ordinary course of business;

 

(d)                                  obligations (contingent or otherwise) of the Borrower or any Subsidiary existing or arising under any Swap Contract, provided that such obligations are (or were) entered into by such Person in the ordinary course of business for the purpose of directly mitigating risks associated with liabilities, commitments, investments, assets, or property held or reasonably anticipated by such Person, or changes in the value of securities issued by such Person, and not for purposes of speculation or taking a “market view”;

 

(e)                                   Indebtedness in respect of Capital Leases and purchase money obligations for fixed or capital assets within the limitations set forth in Section 8.01(i) , and unsecured Indebtedness in the form of trade payables incurred in the ordinary course of business; and

 

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(f)                                    Indebtedness of the Borrower or the Parent incurred or assumed after the date hereof that is either unsecured or is secured by Liens on assets of the Parent or the Borrower (other than any Unencumbered Property or the Equity Interests in any Loan Party); provided, such Indebtedness shall be permitted under this Section 8.02(f)  only if: (i) no Default shall exist immediately before or immediately after the incurrence or assumption of such Indebtedness, and (ii) there exists no violation of the financial covenants set forth in Section 8.14 hereunder on a pro forma basis after the incurrence or assumption of such Indebtedness.

 

c.                                        Investments.  Neither the Parent nor the Borrower shall have and shall not permit the Companies’ to have any Investments other than:

 

(a)                                  Investments in the form of cash or Cash Equivalents;

 

(b)                                  Investments existing on the date hereof and set forth on Schedule 6.13 ;

 

(c)                                   advances to officers, directors and employees of the Borrower and Subsidiaries for travel, entertainment, relocation and analogous ordinary business purposes;

 

(d)                                  Investments of the Guarantor and the Borrower in the form of Equity Interests and investments of the Borrower in any wholly-owned Subsidiary, and Investments of the Borrower directly in, or of any wholly-owned Subsidiary in another wholly-owned Subsidiary which owns, real property assets which are functional industrial, manufacturing, warehouse/distribution and/or office properties located within the United States, provided in each case the Investments held by the Borrower or Subsidiary are in accordance with the provisions of this Section 8.03 other than this Section 8.03(d) ;

 

(e)                                   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;

 

(f)                                    Investments in non-wholly owned Subsidiaries and Unconsolidated Affiliates;

 

(g)                                   Investments in mortgages and mezzanine loans;

 

(h)                                  Investments in unimproved land holdings and Construction in Progress;

 

(i)                                      Investments by the Parent for the redemption, conversion, exchange, retirement, sinking fund or similar payment, purchase or other acquisition for value, direct or indirect, of any Equity Interests of the Parent or the Borrower now or hereafter outstanding to the extent permitted under Section 8.06 below; and

 

(j)                                     Other Investments not to exceed at any time ten percent (10%) of Total Asset Value.

 

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d.                                       Fundamental Changes.  Each of the Parent and the Borrower shall not, nor shall it permit any other Loan Party to, directly or indirectly, merge, dissolve, liquidate, consolidate with or into another Person, or Dispose of (whether in one transaction or in a series of transactions) all or substantially all of its assets (whether now owned or hereafter acquired) to or in favor of any Person, except that, so long as no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or would result therefrom:

 

(a)                                  any Loan Party (other than the Parent or the Borrower) may merge with (i) the Parent or the Borrower, provided that the Parent or the Borrower, as applicable, shall be the continuing or surviving Person, or (ii) any other Loan Party, or (iii) any other Person, provided that if it owns an Unencumbered Property and is not the surviving entity, then such Property shall cease to be an Unencumbered Property;

 

(b)                                  any Loan Party (other than the Parent or the Borrower) may Dispose of all or substantially all of its assets (upon voluntary liquidation or otherwise) to another Loan Party;

 

(c)                                   any Loan Party may Dispose of a Property owned by such Loan Party in the ordinary course of business and for fair value; and

 

(d)                                  the Parent or the Borrower may merge or consolidate with another Person so long as either the Parent or the Borrower, as the case may be, is the surviving entity, shall remain in pro forma compliance with the covenants set forth in Section 8.14 below after giving effect to such transaction, and the Borrower shall have given the Administrative Agent at least fifteen (15) Business Days’ prior written notice of such merger or consolidation, such notice to include a certification as to the pro forma compliance referenced above, with the Borrower agreeing to provide such other financial information as the Administrative Agent shall reasonably request in order to verify such pro forma compliance.

 

Nothing in this Section shall be deemed to prohibit the sale or leasing of Property or portions of Property in the ordinary course of business.

 

e.                                        Dispositions.  Each of the Parent, the Borrower or any Loan Party shall not make any Disposition or enter into any agreement to make any Disposition, except:

 

(a)                                  Dispositions of obsolete or worn out property, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, in the ordinary course of business;

 

(b)                                  Dispositions of inventory in the ordinary course of business;

 

(c)                                   Any other Dispositions of Properties or other assets in an arm’s length transaction; provided that the Borrower and the Parent will remain in pro forma compliance with the covenants set forth in Section 8.14 after giving effect to such transaction.

 

f.                                         Restricted Payments.  Each of the Parent and the Borrower shall not, nor shall it permit any other Company to, directly or indirectly, declare or make, directly or indirectly, any

 

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Restricted Payment other than (a) Minimum Distributions, (b) Restricted Payments made by any Company to the Borrower or the Parent, or (c)  provided no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing at the time of such payment or would result therefrom, other Restricted Payments.

 

g.                                        Change in Nature of Business.  Except for Investments permitted under Section 8.03 , each of the Parent and the Borrower shall not, nor shall it permit any other Loan Party to, directly or indirectly, engage in any material line of business substantially different from those lines of business conducted by the Companies on the date hereof or any business substantially related or incidental thereto.

 

h.                                       Transactions with Affiliates.  Each of the Parent and the Borrower shall not, nor shall it permit any other Loan Party to, directly or indirectly, enter into any transaction of any kind with any Affiliate of a Company, whether or not in the ordinary course of business, other than on fair and reasonable terms substantially as favorable to such Loan Party as would be obtainable by such Company at the time in a comparable arm’s length transaction with a Person other than an Affiliate.

 

i.                                           Burdensome Agreements.  Each of the Parent and the Borrower shall not, nor shall it permit any other Loan Party to, directly or indirectly enter into any Contractual Obligation (other than this Agreement or any other Loan Document) that directly or indirectly prohibits any Company from (a) creating or incurring any Lien on any Unencumbered Property unless simultaneously therewith such Unencumbered Property ceases to be an Unencumbered Property, other than restrictions or conditions set forth in the Note Purchase Agreements, the Credit Agreements and, to the extent such restrictions or conditions are customary for such Indebtedness, any other agreements governing Indebtedness permitted under Section 8.02 , in each case, which restrictions are no more restrictive, taken as a whole than the comparable restrictions and conditions set forth in this Agreement as determined in the good faith judgment of the Borrower, (b) other than restrictions or conditions set forth in the Note Purchase Agreements, the Credit Agreements and, to the extent such restrictions or conditions are customary for such Indebtedness, any other agreements governing Indebtedness permitted under Section 8.02 , in each case, which restrictions are no more restrictive, taken as a whole than the comparable restrictions and conditions set forth in this Agreement as determined in the good faith judgment of the Borrower,  limiting the ability (i) of any Subsidiary to make Restricted Payments to the Borrower or any Guarantor or to otherwise transfer property to the Borrower or any Guarantor, (ii) of any Subsidiary to Guarantee the Indebtedness of the Borrower or (iii) of the Borrower or any Subsidiary to create, incur, assume or suffer to exist Liens on property of such Person; provided, however, that this clause (iii) shall not prohibit any negative pledge incurred or provided in favor of any holder of Indebtedness permitted under Section 8.03(e)  solely to the extent any such negative pledge relates to the property financed by or the subject of such Indebtedness; or (c) requiring the grant of a Lien to secure an obligation of such Person if a Lien is granted to secure another obligation of such Person.

 

j.                                          Use of Proceeds.  Each of the Parent and the Borrower shall not, nor shall it permit any other Company to, directly or indirectly, use the proceeds of any Credit Extension, whether directly or indirectly, and whether immediately, incidentally or ultimately, to purchase or carry margin stock (within the meaning of Regulation U of the FRB) or to extend credit to

 

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others for the purpose of purchasing or carrying margin stock or to refund indebtedness originally incurred for such purpose.  The Borrower shall not request any Credit Extension, shall not use, and shall ensure that its Subsidiaries and its or their respective directors, officers, employees and agents do not use the proceeds of any Credit Extension (i) in furtherance of an offer, payment, promise to pay, or authorization of the payment or giving of money, or anything else of value, to any Person in violation of any Anti-Corruption Laws or (ii) in any manner that would result in the violation of any applicable Sanctions.

 

k.                                       Unencumbered Properties; Ground Leases.  Each of the Parent and the Borrower shall not, nor shall it permit any other Loan Party to, directly or indirectly:

 

(a)                                  Use or occupy or conduct any activity on, or knowingly permit the use or occupancy of or the conduct of any activity on any Unencumbered Properties by any tenant, in any manner which violates any Law or which constitutes a public or private nuisance in any manner which would have a Material Adverse Effect or which makes void, voidable, or cancelable any insurance then in force with respect thereto or makes the maintenance of insurance in accordance with Section 7.07 commercially unreasonable (including by way of increased premium);

 

(b)                                  [Reserved];

 

(c)                                   Without the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed), (i) impose any material easement, restrictive covenant, or encumbrance upon any Unencumbered Property, (ii) execute or file any subdivision plat or condominium declaration affecting any Unencumbered Property, or (iii) consent to the annexation of any Unencumbered Property to any municipality;

 

(d)                                  Do any act, or suffer to be done any act by any Company or any of its Affiliates, which would reasonably be expected to materially decrease the value of any Unencumbered Property (including by way of negligent act);

 

(e)                                   [Reserved];

 

(f)                                    Allow there to be fewer than twenty-five (25) Unencumbered Properties as of any date of determination;

 

(g)                                   Allow the Total Asset Value of the Unencumbered Properties to be less than One Hundred Fifty Million Dollars ($150,000,000.00);

 

(h)                                  Without the prior consent of the Lenders (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed), surrender the leasehold estate created by any Acceptable Ground Lease or terminate or cancel any Acceptable Ground Lease or materially modify, change, supplement, alter, or amend any Acceptable Ground Lease, either orally or in writing, in each case, to the extent such event would reasonably be expected to be materially adverse to the interests of the Lenders; and

 

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(i)                                      Enter into any Contractual Obligations related to any Unencumbered Property providing for the payment a management fee (or any other similar fee) to anyone other than a Company if, with respect thereto, the Administrative Agent has reasonably required that such fee be subordinated to the Obligations in a manner satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, and an acceptable subordination agreement has not yet been obtained.

 

l.                                           Environmental Matters.  Each of the Parent and the Borrower shall not knowingly directly or indirectly:

 

(a)                                  Cause, commit, permit, or allow to continue (i) any violation of any Environmental Requirement by or with respect to any Unencumbered Property or any use of or condition or activity on any Unencumbered Property, or (ii) the attachment of any environmental Liens on any Unencumbered Property, in each case, that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; and

 

(b)                                  Place, install, dispose of, or release, or cause, permit, or allow the placing, installation, disposal, spilling, leaking, dumping, or release of, any Hazardous Material on any Unencumbered Property in any manner that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(c)                                   Use any Hazardous Material on any Unencumbered Property except in such a manner which could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

m.                                   Negative Pledge; Indebtedness.  Each of the Parent and the Borrower shall not permit:

 

(a)                                  The Equity Interests of the Borrower held by the Parent to be subject to any Lien.

 

(b)                                  Any Person (other than the Parent or the Borrower) that directly or indirectly owns Equity Interests in any Subsidiary Guarantor to (i) incur any Indebtedness (whether Recourse Indebtedness or Non-Recourse Indebtedness) (other than Indebtedness listed on Schedule 8.13 and Additional Permitted Indebtedness), (ii) provide Guarantees to support Indebtedness (other than Indebtedness listed on Schedule 8.13 and Additional Permitted Indebtedness), or (iii) have its Equity Interests subject to any Lien or other encumbrance (other than in favor of the Administrative Agent).

 

(c)                                   Any Subsidiary Guarantor that owns an Unencumbered Property to (i) incur any Indebtedness (whether Recourse Indebtedness or Non-Recourse Indebtedness) (other than the Obligations, Indebtedness listed on Schedule 8.13 and Additional Permitted Indebtedness) or (ii) provide Guarantees to support Indebtedness (other than the Obligations, Indebtedness listed on Schedule 8.13 and Additional Permitted Indebtedness).

 

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n.                                       Financial Covenants.  The Parent shall not, directly or indirectly, permit:

 

(a)                                  Maximum Consolidated Leverage Ratio .  As of the last day of any fiscal quarter, the Consolidated Leverage Ratio to exceed sixty percent (60%); provided that, if any Material Acquisition shall occur and the Consolidated Leverage Ratio shall have been less than sixty percent (60%) for at least one full fiscal quarter immediately preceding the proposed Consolidated Leverage Ratio Covenant Holiday, then, at the election of the Borrower upon delivery of prior written notice to the Administrative Agent, concurrently with or prior to the delivery of a Compliance Certificate pursuant to Section 7.02(a), and provided that no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, the maximum Consolidated Leverage Ratio covenant level shall be increased to sixty-five (65%) for the fiscal quarter in which such Material Acquisition is consummated and the three (3) fiscal quarters immediately following the fiscal quarter in which such Material Acquisition is consummated (any such increase a “ Consolidated Leverage Ratio Covenant Holiday ”); provided further that not more than two (2) Consolidated Leverage Ratio Covenant Holidays may be elected by the Borrower during the term of this Agreement;

 

(b)                                  Maximum Secured Leverage Ratio . As of the last day of any fiscal quarter, the Secured Leverage Ratio to exceed forty percent (40%);

 

(c)                                   Maximum Unencumbered Leverage Ratio.  As of the last day of any fiscal quarter, the Unencumbered Leverage Ratio to exceed sixty percent (60%); provided that, if any Material Acquisition shall occur and the Unencumbered Leverage Ratio shall have been less than sixty percent (60%) for at least one full fiscal quarter immediately preceding the proposed Unencumbered Leverage Ratio Covenant Holiday, then, at the election of the Borrower upon delivery of prior written notice to the Administrative Agent, concurrently with or prior to the delivery of a Compliance Certificate pursuant to Section 7.02(a), and provided that no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, the maximum Unencumbered Leverage Ratio covenant level shall be increased to sixty-five (65%) for the fiscal quarter in which such Material Acquisition is consummated and the three (3) fiscal quarters immediately following the fiscal quarter in which such Material Acquisition is consummated (any such increase an “ Unencumbered Leverage Ratio Covenant Holiday ”); provided further that not more than two (2) Unencumbered Leverage Ratio Covenant Holidays may be elected by the Borrower during the term of this Agreement;

 

(d)                                  Maximum Secured Recourse Debt .  As of the last day of any fiscal quarter, the Secured Recourse Debt Ratio to exceed seven-and-one-half percent (7.5%) [Reserved] ;

 

(e)                                   Minimum Fixed Charge Ratio .  As of the last day of any fiscal quarter, the Fixed Charge Ratio for the Parent, on a consolidated basis, for the fiscal quarter then ended, annualized, to be less than or equal to 1.5 to 1.0; and

 

(f)                                    Minimum Unsecured Interest Coverage Ratio . As of the last day of any fiscal quarter, the Unsecured Interest Coverage Ratio for the Parent, on a consolidated basis, for the fiscal quarter then ended, annualized, to be less than or equal to 1.75 to 1.00 ; and .

 

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(g)  Minimum Tangible Net Worth .  As of the last day of any fiscal quarter, the Tangible Net Worth of the Parent, on a consolidated basis, to be less than the sum of (i) $996,305,000, plus (ii) seventy-five percent (75%) of net proceeds of any Equity Issuances received by the Parent or the Borrower after December 18, 2014 (other than proceeds received within ninety (90) days after the redemption, retirement or repurchase of ownership or equity interests in the Borrower or the Parent, up to the amount paid by the Borrower or the Parent in connection with such redemption, retirement or repurchase, where, for the avoidance of doubt, the net effect is that neither the Borrower nor the Parent shall have increased its Net Worth as a result of any such proceeds).

 

16.
Events of Default and Remedies

 

a.                                       Events of Default.  Any of the following shall constitute an Event of Default:

 

(a)                                  Non-Payment .  The Borrower or any other Loan Party fails to pay (i) when and as required to be paid herein, any amount of principal of any Loan, or (ii) within five (5) days after the same becomes due, any interest on any Loan due hereunder, except that there shall be no grace period for interest due on any applicable Maturity Date, or (iii) within ten (10) days after notice from the Administrative Agent, any other amount payable to the Administrative Agent or any Lender hereunder or under any other Loan Document except that there shall be no grace period for any amount due on any Maturity Date; or

 

(b)                                  Specific Covenants .  Any Loan Party fails to perform or observe any term, covenant or agreement contained in any of Section 7.11 or Article VIII (other than Sections   8.11(a)  and (c) , or 8.13 ) or the Parent fails to perform or observe any term, covenant or agreement contained in the Parent Guaranty or any Subsidiary Guarantor fails to perform or observe any term, covenant or agreement contained in the Subsidiary Guaranty; or

 

(c)                                   Performance .  Any Loan Party fails to perform or observe any term, covenant or agreement contained in any of Section 7.01 , 7.02 , or 7.03 , and such failure continues unremedied for ten (10) Business Days after such failure has occurred; or

 

(d)                                  Other Defaults .  Any Loan Party fails to perform or observe any other covenant or agreement (not specified in subsection (a) , (b) , or (c)  above) contained in any Loan Document on its part to be performed or observed and such failure continues unremedied for thirty (30) days after the earlier of notice from the Administrative Agent or the actual knowledge of the Loan Party, and in the case of a default that cannot be cured within such thirty (30) day period despite the Borrower’s diligent efforts but is susceptible of being cured within ninety (90) days of the Borrower’s receipt of the Administrative Agent’s original notice, then the Borrower shall have such additional time as is reasonably necessary to effect such cure, but in no event in excess of ninety (90) days from the Borrower’s receipt of the Administrative Agent’s original notice, subject in each instance to the Borrower’s remedial rights under Section 7.12(c) ; or

 

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(e)                                   Representations and Warranties .  Any representation, warranty, certification or statement of fact made or deemed made by or on behalf of the Borrower or any other Loan Party herein, in any other Loan Document, or in any document delivered in connection herewith or therewith shall be incorrect or misleading when made or deemed made and shall not be cured or remedied so that such representation, warranty, certification or statement of fact is no longer incorrect or misleading within ten (10) days after the earlier of notice from the Administrative Agent or the actual knowledge of any Loan Party thereof; or

 

(f)                                    Cross-Default .  (i) Any Company (A) fails to make any payment when due (whether by scheduled maturity, required prepayment, acceleration, demand, or otherwise), after the expiration of any applicable grace periods, in respect of any Indebtedness or Guarantee (other than (x) Indebtedness hereunder, and (y) Indebtedness under Swap Contracts) having an aggregate principal amount (including amounts owing to all creditors under any combined or syndicated credit arrangement) of more than the Threshold Amount, or (B) fails to observe or perform any other agreement or condition relating to any such Indebtedness or Guarantee or contained in any instrument or agreement evidencing, securing or relating thereto, or any other event occurs, the effect of which default or other event is to cause, or to permit the holder or holders of such Indebtedness or the beneficiary or beneficiaries of such Guarantee (or a trustee or agent on behalf of such holder or holders or beneficiary or beneficiaries) to cause, with the giving of notice if required, such Indebtedness or more than the Threshold Amount to be demanded or to become due or to be repurchased, prepaid, defeased or redeemed (automatically or otherwise), or an offer to repurchase, prepay, defease or redeem such Indebtedness to be made, prior to its stated maturity, or such Guarantee to become payable or cash collateral in respect thereof to be demanded; or (ii) there occurs under any Swap Contract an Early Termination Date (as defined in such Swap Contract) resulting from (A) any event of default under such Swap Contract as to which any Company is the Defaulting Party (as defined in such Swap Contract) or (B) any Termination Event (as so defined) under such Swap Contract as to which any Company is an Affected Party (as so defined) and, in either event, the Swap Termination Value owed by such Company as a result thereof is greater than the Threshold Amount; or

 

(g)                                   Insolvency Proceedings, Etc.   Any Loan Party institutes or consents to the institution of any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law, or makes an assignment for the benefit of creditors; or applies for or consents to the appointment of any receiver, trustee, custodian, conservator, liquidator, rehabilitator or similar officer for it or for all or any material part of its property; or any receiver, trustee, custodian, conservator, liquidator, rehabilitator or similar officer is appointed without the application or consent of such Person and the appointment continues undischarged or unstayed for sixty (60) calendar days; or any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law relating to any such Person or to all or any material part of its property is instituted without the consent of such Person and continues undismissed or unstayed for sixty (60) calendar days, or an order for relief is entered in any such proceeding; or

 

(h)                                  Inability to Pay Debts; Attachment .  (i) the Parent or the Borrower becomes unable to pay its debts as they become due, or any Loan Party admits in writing

 

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its inability or fails generally to pay its debts as they become due, or (ii) any writ or warrant of attachment or execution or similar process is issued or levied against all or any material part of the property of any such Loan Party and is not released, vacated or fully bonded within thirty (30) days after its issue or levy; or

 

(i)                                      Judgments .  There is entered against any Loan Party (i) one or more final judgments or orders for the payment of money in an aggregate amount (as to all such judgments or orders) exceeding the Threshold Amount (to the extent not covered by independent third-party insurance as to which the insurer does not dispute coverage), or (ii) any one or more non-monetary final judgments that have, or would have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect and, in either case, (A) enforcement proceedings are commenced by any creditor upon such judgment or order, or (B) there is a period of ten (10) consecutive days during which a stay of enforcement of such judgment, by reason of a pending appeal or otherwise, is not in effect; or

 

(j)                                     ERISA .  (i) An ERISA Event occurs with respect to a Pension Plan or Multiemployer Plan which has resulted or would result in liability of any Company  under Title IV of ERISA to the Pension Plan, Multiemployer Plan or the PBGC in an aggregate amount in excess of the Threshold Amount, or (ii) the Parent or any ERISA Affiliate fails to pay when due, after the expiration of any applicable grace period, any installment payment with respect to its withdrawal liability under Section 4201 of ERISA under a Multiemployer Plan in an aggregate amount in excess of the Threshold Amount; or

 

(k)                                  Invalidity of Loan Documents .  Any Loan Document at any time after its execution and delivery and for any reason other than as expressly permitted hereunder or thereunder or satisfaction in full of all the Obligations, ceases to be in full force and effect in all material respects; or any Loan Party or any other Person contests in any manner the validity or enforceability of any Loan Document; or any Loan Party denies that it has any or further liability or obligation under any Loan Document, or purports to revoke, terminate or rescind any  Loan Document, except as expressly permitted hereunder; or

 

(l)                                      REIT Status of the Parent .  The Parent ceases to be treated as a REIT or the Parent Shares shall fail to be listed and traded on the New York Stock Exchange; or

 

(m)                              Change of Control .  There occurs any Change of Control.

 

b.                                       Remedies Upon Event of Default.  If any Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Administrative Agent shall, at the request of, or may, with the consent of, the Required Lenders, take any or all of the following actions:

 

(a)                                  declare the commitment of each Lender to make Loans to be terminated, whereupon such commitments and obligation shall be terminated;

 

(b)                                  declare the unpaid principal amount of all outstanding Loans, all interest accrued and unpaid thereon, and all other amounts owing or payable hereunder or under any other Loan Document to be immediately due and payable, without presentment,

 

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demand, protest or other notice of any kind, all of which are hereby expressly waived by the Borrower; and

 

(c)                                   exercise on behalf of itself and the Lenders all rights and remedies available to it and the Lenders under the Loan Documents;

 

provided that upon the occurrence of an actual or deemed entry of an order for relief with respect to the Borrower under the Bankruptcy Code of the United States, the obligation of each Lender to make Loans shall automatically terminate, the unpaid principal amount of all outstanding Loans and all interest and other amounts as aforesaid shall automatically become due and payable, in each case without further act of the Administrative Agent or any Lender.

 

c.                                        Application of Funds.  After the exercise of remedies provided for in Section 9.02 (or after the Loans have automatically become immediately due and payable), any amounts received on account of the Obligations shall, subject to the provisions of Section 2.16 , be applied by the Administrative Agent in the following order:

 

First , to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting fees, indemnities, expenses and other amounts (including fees, charges and disbursements of counsel to the Administrative Agent and amounts payable under Article III ) payable to the Administrative Agent in its capacity as such;

 

Second , to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting fees, indemnities and other amounts (other than principal and interest) payable to the Lenders (including fees, charges and disbursements of counsel to the respective Lenders and amounts payable under Article III ), ratably among them in proportion to the respective amounts described in this clause   Second payable to them;

 

Third , to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting accrued and unpaid interest on the Loans, and other Obligations, ratably among the Lenders, in proportion to the respective amounts described in this clause   Third payable to them;

 

Fourth , to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting (x) unpaid principal of the Loans and (y) payment obligations then owing to the Administrative Agent, any Lender, or any Affiliate of the Administrative Agent or any Lender arising from, by virtue of, or pursuant to any Swap Contract, other than any Excluded Swap Obligation, that relates solely to the Obligations (“ Specified Derivatives Providers ”), ratably among the Lenders and the Specified Derivatives Providers in proportion to the respective amounts described in this clause Fourth payable to them; and

 

Last , the balance, if any, after all of the Obligations have been paid in full, to the Borrower or as otherwise required by Law.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, Obligations owing to Specified Derivatives Providers shall be excluded from the application described above if the Administrative Agent has not received written notice thereof, together with such supporting documentation as the Administrative Agent may request, from the applicable Specified Derivatives Provider.  Each

 

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Specified Derivatives Provider not a party to this Agreement that has given the notice contemplated by the preceding sentence shall, by such notice, be deemed to have acknowledged and accepted the appointment of the Administrative Agent pursuant to the terms of Article X for itself and its Affiliates as if a “Lender” party hereto.

 

17.
The Administrative Agent

 

a.                                       Appointment and Authority.  Each of the Lenders hereby irrevocably appoints BANA to act on its behalf as the Administrative Agent hereunder and under the other Loan Documents and authorizes the Administrative Agent to take such actions on its behalf and to exercise such powers as are delegated to the Administrative Agent by the terms hereof or thereof, together with such actions and powers as are reasonably incidental thereto.  The provisions of this Article are solely for the benefit of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders, neither the Borrower nor any other Loan Party shall have rights as a third party beneficiary of any of such provisions.  It is understood and agreed that the use of the term “agent” (or any other similar term) herein or in any other Loan Documents with reference to the Administrative Agent is not intended to connote any fiduciary or other implied (or express) obligations arising under agency doctrine of any applicable Law. Instead such term is used as a matter of market custom, and is intended to create or reflect only an administrative relationship between contracting parties.

 

b.                                       Rights as a Lender.  The Person serving as the Administrative Agent hereunder shall have the same rights and powers in its capacity as a Lender as any other Lender and may exercise the same as though it were not the Administrative Agent and the term “Lender” or “Lenders” shall, unless otherwise expressly indicated or unless the context otherwise requires, include the Person serving as the Administrative Agent hereunder in its individual capacity.  Such Person and its Affiliates may accept deposits from, lend money to, own securities of, act as the financial advisor or in any other advisory capacity for and generally engage in any kind of business with the Borrower or any Subsidiary or other Affiliate thereof as if such Person were not the Administrative Agent hereunder and without any duty to account therefor to the Lenders.

 

c.                                        Exculpatory Provisions.  The Administrative Agent shall not have any duties or obligations except those expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents, and its duties hereunder shall be administrative in nature.  Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Administrative Agent:

 

(a)                                  shall not be subject to any fiduciary or other implied duties, regardless of whether a Default has occurred and is continuing;

 

(b)                                  shall not have any duty to take any discretionary action or exercise any discretionary powers, except discretionary rights and powers expressly contemplated hereby or by the other Loan Documents that the Administrative Agent is required to exercise as directed in writing by the Required Lenders (or such other number or percentage of the Lenders as shall be expressly provided for herein or in the other Loan Documents), provided that the Administrative Agent shall not be required to take any action that, in its opinion or the opinion of its counsel, may expose the Administrative Agent to liability or that is contrary to any Loan Document or applicable law, including for the avoidance of doubt any action that may be in violation of the

 

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automatic stay under any Debtor Relief Law or that may effect a forfeiture, modification or termination of property of a Defaulting Lender in violation of any Debtor Relief Law; and

 

(c)                                   shall not, except as expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents, have any duty to disclose, and shall not be liable for the failure to disclose, any information relating to the Borrower or any of its Affiliates that is communicated to or obtained by the Person serving as the Administrative Agent or any of its Affiliates in any capacity.

 

The Administrative Agent shall not be liable for any action taken or not taken by it (i) with the consent or at the request of the Required Lenders (or such other number or percentage of the Lenders as shall be necessary, or as the Administrative Agent shall believe in good faith shall be necessary, under the circumstances as provided in Sections 11.01 and 9.02 ) or (ii) in the absence of its own gross negligence or willful misconduct as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by final and nonappealable judgment.  The Administrative Agent shall be deemed not to have knowledge of any Default unless and until notice describing such Default is given in writing to the Administrative Agent by the Borrower or a Lender.

 

The Administrative Agent shall not be responsible for or have any duty to ascertain or inquire into (i) any statement, warranty or representation made in or in connection with this Agreement or any other Loan Document, (ii) the contents of any certificate, report or other document delivered hereunder or thereunder or in connection herewith or therewith, (iii) the performance or observance of any of the covenants, agreements or other terms or conditions set forth herein or therein or the occurrence of any Default, (iv) the validity, enforceability, effectiveness or genuineness of this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any other agreement, instrument or document or (v) the satisfaction of any condition set forth in Article IV or elsewhere herein, other than to confirm receipt of items expressly required to be delivered to the Administrative Agent.

 

d.                                       Reliance by the Administrative Agent.  The Administrative Agent shall be entitled to rely upon, and shall not incur any liability for relying upon, any notice, request, certificate, consent, statement, instrument, document or other writing (including any electronic message, Internet or intranet website posting or other distribution) believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed, sent or otherwise authenticated by the proper Person.  The Administrative Agent also may rely upon any statement made to it orally or by telephone and believed by it to have been made by the proper Person, and shall not incur any liability for relying thereon.  In determining compliance with any condition hereunder to the making of a Loan, by its terms must be fulfilled to the satisfaction of a Lender, the Administrative Agent may presume that such condition is satisfactory to such Lender unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice to the contrary from such Lender prior to the making of such Loan.  The Administrative Agent may consult with legal counsel (who may be counsel for the Borrower), independent accountants and other experts selected by it, and shall not be liable for any action taken or not taken by it in accordance with the advice of any such counsel, accountants or experts.

 

e.                                        Delegation of Duties.  The Administrative Agent may perform any and all of its duties and exercise its rights and powers hereunder or under any other Loan Document by or through any one or more sub-agents appointed by the Administrative Agent.  The Administrative Agent and any such sub-agent may perform any and all of its duties and exercise its rights and powers by or through their respective Related Parties.  The exculpatory provisions of this Article shall apply to any such sub-agent and to the Related Parties of the Administrative Agent and any such sub-agent, and shall apply to their respective activities in connection with the syndication of

 

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the credit facilities provided for herein as well as activities as the Administrative Agent.  The Administrative Agent shall not be responsible for the negligence or misconduct of any sub-agents except to the extent that a court of competent jurisdiction determines in a final and non-appealable judgment that the Administrative Agent acted with gross negligence or willful misconduct in the selection of such sub-agents.

 

f.                                         Resignation of the Administrative Agent.

 

(a)                                  The Administrative Agent may at any time give notice of its resignation to the Lenders and the Borrower.  Upon receipt of any such notice of resignation, the Required Lenders shall have the right, subject to the reasonable approval of the Borrower (with any Lender or affiliate of a Lender being deemed approved, unless such Lender is a Defaulting Lender, and which approval shall not be required if an Event Default shall be in existence), to appoint a successor, which shall be a bank with an office in the United States, or an Affiliate of any such bank with an office in the United States.  If no such successor shall have been so appointed by the Required Lenders and shall have accepted such appointment within 30 days after the retiring Administrative Agent gives notice of its resignation (or such earlier day as shall be agreed by the Required Lenders) (the “ Resignation Effective Date ”), then the retiring Administrative Agent may (but shall not be obligated to) on behalf of the Lenders, appoint a successor Administrative Agent meeting the qualifications set forth above.  Whether or not a successor has been appointed, such resignation shall become effective in accordance with such notice on the Resignation Effective Date.

 

(b)                                  If the Person serving as the Administrative Agent is a Defaulting Lender pursuant to clause (d)  of the definition thereof, the Required Lenders may, to the extent permitted by applicable law, by notice in writing to the Borrower and such Person remove such Person as the Administrative Agent and, in consultation with the Borrower, appoint a successor. If no such successor shall have been so appointed by the Required Lenders and shall have accepted such appointment within 30 days (or such earlier day as shall be agreed by the Required Lenders) (the “Removal Effective Date”), then such removal shall nonetheless become effective in accordance with such notice on the Removal Effective Date.

 

(c)                                   With effect from the Resignation Effective Date or the Removal Effective Date (as applicable) (1) the retiring or removed Administrative Agent shall be discharged from its duties and obligations hereunder and under the other Loan Documents (except that in the case of any pledge security held by the Administrative Agent on behalf of the Lenders under any of the Loan Documents, the retiring or removed Administrative Agent shall continue to hold such collateral security until such time as a successor Administrative Agent is appointed) and (2) except for any indemnity payments or other amounts then owed to the retiring or removed Administrative Agent, all payments, communications and determinations provided to be made by, to or through the Administrative Agent shall instead be made by or to each Lender directly, until such time, if any, as the Required Lenders appoint a successor Administrative Agent as provided for above.  Upon the acceptance of a successor’s appointment as the Administrative Agent hereunder, such successor shall succeed to and become vested with

 

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all of the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring (or removed) the Administrative Agent (other than as provided in Section 3.01(g)  and other than any rights to indemnity payments or other amounts owed to the retiring or removed Administrative Agent as of the Resignation Effective Date or the Removal Effective Date, as applicable), and the retiring or removed Administrative Agent shall be discharged from all of its duties and obligations hereunder or under the other Loan Documents (if not already discharged therefrom as provided above in this Section).  The fees payable by the Borrower to a successor Administrative Agent shall be the same as those payable to its predecessor unless otherwise agreed between the Borrower and such successor.  After the retiring or removed Administrative Agent’s resignation or removal hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, the provisions of this Article and Section 10.04 shall continue in effect for the benefit of such retiring or removed Administrative Agent, its sub-agents and their respective Related Parties in respect of any actions taken or omitted to be taken by any of them while the retiring or removed Administrative Agent was acting as the Administrative Agent.

 

g.                                        Non-Reliance on the Administrative Agent and Other Lenders.  Each Lender acknowledges that it has, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent or any other Lender or any of their Related Parties and based on such documents and information as it has deemed appropriate, made its own credit analysis and decision to enter into this Agreement.  Each Lender also acknowledges that it will, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent or any other Lender or any of their Related Parties and based on such documents and information as it shall from time to time deem appropriate, continue to make its own decisions in taking or not taking action under or based upon this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any related agreement or any document furnished hereunder or thereunder.

 

h.                                       No Other Duties, Etc.  Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, the Lead Arrangers and Co-Syndication Agents listed on the cover page hereof shall not have any powers, duties or responsibilities under this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents, except in its capacity, as applicable, as the Administrative Agent, a Lender hereunder.

 

i.                                           The Administrative Agent May File Proofs of Claim.  In case of the pendency of any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law or any other judicial proceeding relative to any Loan Party, the Administrative Agent (irrespective of whether the principal of any Loan shall then be due and payable as herein expressed or by declaration or otherwise and irrespective of whether the Administrative Agent shall have made any demand on the Borrower) shall be entitled and empowered, by intervention in such proceeding or otherwise:

 

(a)                                  to file and prove a claim for the whole amount of the principal and interest owing and unpaid in respect of the Loans and all other Obligations that are owing and unpaid and to file such other documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Lenders and the Administrative Agent (including any claim for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Lenders and the Administrative Agent and their respective agents and counsel and all other amounts due the Lenders and the Administrative Agent under Sections 2.09 and 11.04 ) allowed in such judicial proceeding; and

 

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(b)                                  to collect and receive any monies or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims and to distribute the same;

 

and any custodian, receiver, assignee, trustee, liquidator, sequestrator or other similar official in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Lender to make such payments to the Administrative Agent and, in the event that the Administrative Agent shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Lenders, to pay to the Administrative Agent any amount due for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Administrative Agent and its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Administrative Agent under Sections 2.09 and 11.04 . Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to authorize the Administrative Agent to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Lender any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Obligations or the rights of any Lender to authorize the Administrative Agent to vote in respect of the claim of any Lender in any such proceeding.

 

j.                                          Guaranty Matters.  Upon request by the Administrative Agent at any time, the Required Lenders will confirm in writing the Administrative Agent’s authority to release any Guarantor from its obligations under a Guaranty pursuant to the terms of this Agreement.

 

18.
Miscellaneous

 

a.                                       Amendments, Etc.  No amendment or waiver of any provision of this Agreement or any other Loan Document, and no consent to any departure by the Borrower or any other Loan Party therefrom, shall be effective unless in writing signed by the Required Lenders and the Borrower or the applicable Loan Party, as the case may be, and acknowledged by the Administrative Agent, and each such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the specific purpose for which given; provided that no such amendment, waiver or consent shall:

 

(a)                                  waive any condition set forth in Section 5.01(a)  without the written consent of each Lender;

 

(b)                                  extend or increase the Commitment of any Lender (or reinstate any Commitment terminated pursuant to Section 2.01(b)  or  9.02 ) without the written consent of such Lender;

 

(c)                                   postpone any date fixed by this Agreement or any other Loan Document for any payment or mandatory prepayment of principal, interest, fees or other amounts due to a Lender or any scheduled or mandatory reduction of the Aggregate Commitments hereunder or under any other Loan Document without the written consent of each Lender directly affected thereby;

 

(d)                                  reduce or forgive the principal of, or the rate of interest specified herein on, any Loan, or (subject to clause   (iii)  of the second proviso to this Section 11.01 ) any fees or other amounts payable hereunder or under any other Loan Document, without the written consent of each Lender directly affected thereby; provided that only the consent

 

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of the Required Lenders shall be necessary  to amend the definition of “ Default Rate ,” waive any obligation of the Borrower to pay interest at the Default Rate, or change the manner of computation of any financial ratio (including any change in any applicable defined term) used in determining the Applicable Rate that would result in a reduction of any interest rate on any Loan or any fee payable hereunder;

 

(e)                                   change Section 9.03 in a manner that would alter the pro rata sharing of payments required thereby without the written consent of each Lender;

 

(f)                                    change any provision of this Section or the definition of “ Required Lenders ” or any other provision hereof specifying the number or percentage of the Lenders required to amend, waive or otherwise modify any rights hereunder or make any determination or grant any consent hereunder, without the written consent of each Lender;

 

(g)                                   release all or substantially all of the value of the Guaranties without the written consent of each Lender;

 

and, provided, further , that (i) no amendment, waiver or consent shall, unless in writing and signed by the Administrative Agent in addition to the Lenders required above, affect the rights or duties of the Administrative Agent under this Agreement or any other Loan Document; and (ii) the Fee Letter may be amended, or rights or privileges thereunder waived, in a writing executed only by the parties thereto.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, no Defaulting Lender shall have any right to approve or disapprove any amendment, waiver or consent hereunder (and any amendment, waiver or consent which by its terms requires the consent of all Lenders or each affected Lender may be effected with the consent of the applicable Lenders other than Defaulting Lenders), except that (x) the Commitment of any Defaulting Lender may not be increased or extended without the consent of such Lender and (y) any waiver, amendment or modification requiring the consent of all Lenders or each affected Lender that by its terms affects any Defaulting Lender more adversely than other affected Lenders shall require the consent of such Defaulting Lender.  All communications from the Administrative Agent to any Lender requesting such Lender’s determination, consent, approval or disapproval (a) shall be given in the form of a written notice to such Lender, (b) shall be accompanied by a description of the matter or issue as to which such determination, approval, consent or disapproval is requested, or shall advise such Lender where information, if any, regarding such matter or issue may be inspected, or shall otherwise describe the matter or issue to be resolved, (c) shall include, if reasonably requested by such Lender and to the extent not previously provided to such Lender, written materials and, as appropriate, a brief summary of all oral information provided to the Administrative Agent by the Borrower in respect of the matter or issue to be resolved, and (d) shall include the Administrative Agent’s recommended course of action or determination in respect thereof.

 

b.                                       Notices; Effectiveness; Electronic Communication.

 

(a)                                  Notices Generally .  Except in the case of notices and other communications expressly permitted to be given by telephone (and except as provided in subsection (b)  below), all notices and other communications provided for herein shall be

 

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in writing and shall be delivered by hand or overnight courier service, mailed by certified or registered mail or sent by telecopier as follows, and all notices and other communications expressly permitted hereunder to be given by telephone shall be made to the applicable telephone number, as follows:

 

(i)                                      if to the Borrower or the Administrative Agent to the address, telecopier number, electronic mail address or telephone number specified for such Person on Schedule 11.02 ; and

 

(ii)                                   if to any other Lender, to the address, telecopier number, electronic mail address or telephone number specified in its Administrative Questionnaire (including, as appropriate, notices delivered solely to the Person designated by a Lender on its Administrative Questionnaire then in effect for the delivery of notices that may contain material non-public information relating to the Borrower).

 

Notices and other communications sent by hand or overnight courier service, or mailed by certified or registered mail, shall be deemed to have been given when received; notices and other communications sent by telecopier shall be deemed to have been given when sent (except that, if not given during normal business hours for the recipient, shall be deemed to have been given at the opening of business on the next business day for the recipient).  Notices and other communications delivered through electronic communications to the extent provided in subsection (b)  below, shall be effective as provided in such subsection (b) .

 

(b)                                  Electronic Communications .  Notices and other communications to the Lenders hereunder may be delivered or furnished by electronic communication (including e-mail and Internet or intranet websites) pursuant to procedures approved by the Administrative Agent, provided that the foregoing shall not apply to notices to any Lender pursuant to Article II if such Lender has notified the Administrative Agent that it is incapable of receiving notices under such Article by electronic communication.  The Administrative Agent or the Borrower may each, in its discretion, agree to accept notices and other communications to it hereunder by electronic communications pursuant to procedures approved by it; provided that approval of such procedures may be limited to particular notices or communications.

 

Unless the Administrative Agent otherwise prescribes, (i) notices and other communications sent to an e-mail address shall be deemed received upon the sender’s receipt of an acknowledgement from the intended recipient (such as by the “return receipt requested” function, as available, return e-mail or other written acknowledgement), and (ii) notices or communications posted to an Internet or intranet website shall be deemed received upon the deemed receipt by the intended recipient at its e-mail address as described in the foregoing clause (i)  of notification that such notice or communication is available and identifying the website address therefor; provided that , for both clauses (i)  and (ii) , if such notice, email or other communication is not sent during the normal business hours of the recipient, such notice, email or communication shall be deemed to have been sent at the opening of business on the next business day for the recipient.

 

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(c)                                   The Platform .  THE PLATFORM IS PROVIDED “AS IS” AND “AS AVAILABLE.”  THE AGENT PARTIES (AS DEFINED BELOW) DO NOT WARRANT THE ACCURACY OR COMPLETENESS OF THE BORROWER MATERIALS OR THE ADEQUACY OF THE PLATFORM, AND EXPRESSLY DISCLAIM LIABILITY FOR ERRORS IN OR OMISSIONS FROM THE BORROWER MATERIALS.  NO WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS, IMPLIED OR STATUTORY, INCLUDING ANY WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, NON-INFRINGEMENT OF THIRD PARTY RIGHTS OR FREEDOM FROM VIRUSES OR OTHER CODE DEFECTS, IS MADE BY ANY AGENT PARTY IN CONNECTION WITH THE BORROWER MATERIALS OR THE PLATFORM.  In no event shall the Administrative Agent or any of its Related Parties (collectively, the “ Agent Parties ”) have any liability to the Borrower, any Lender or any other Person for losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses of any kind (whether in tort, contract or otherwise) arising out of the Borrower’s or the Administrative Agent’s transmission of the Borrower Materials through the Internet, except to the extent that such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses are determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by a final and nonappealable judgment to have resulted from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Agent Party; provided that in no event shall any Agent Party have any liability to the Borrower, any Lender or any other Person for indirect, special, incidental, consequential or punitive damages (as opposed to direct or actual damages) resulting therefrom.

 

(d)                                  Change of Address, Etc .  Each of the Borrower and the Administrative Agent may change its address, telecopier or telephone number for notices and other communications hereunder by notice to the other parties hereto.  Each other Lender may change its address, telecopier or telephone number for notices and other communications hereunder by notice to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent.  In addition, each Lender agrees to notify the Administrative Agent from time to time to ensure that the Administrative Agent has on record (i) an effective address, contact name, telephone number, telecopier number and electronic mail address to which notices and other communications may be sent and (ii) accurate wire instructions for such Lender.  Furthermore, each Public Lender agrees to cause at least one (1) individual at or on behalf of such Public Lender to at all times have selected the “Private Side Information” or similar designation on the content declaration screen of the Platform in order to enable such Public Lender or its delegate, in accordance with such Public Lender’s compliance procedures and applicable Law, including United States Federal and state securities Laws, to make reference to the Borrower Materials that are not made available through the “Public Side Information” portion of the Platform and that may contain material non-public information with respect to the Borrower or its Equity Interests for purposes of United States Federal or state securities laws.

 

(e)                                   Reliance by the Administrative Agent and the Lenders .  The Administrative Agent and the Lenders shall be entitled to rely and act upon any notices (including telephonic Draw Requests) purportedly given by or on behalf of the Borrower even if (i) such notices were not made in a manner specified herein, were incomplete or were not preceded or followed by any other form of notice specified herein, or (ii) the

 

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terms thereof, as understood by the recipient, varied from any confirmation thereof.  The Borrower shall indemnify the Administrative Agent, each Lender and the Related Parties of each of them from all losses, costs, expenses and liabilities resulting from the reliance by such Person on each notice purportedly given by or on behalf of the Borrower.  All telephonic notices to and other telephonic communications with the Administrative Agent may be recorded by the Administrative Agent, and each of the parties hereto hereby consents to such recording.

 

c.                                        No Waiver; Cumulative Remedies; Enforcement.  No failure by any Lender or the Administrative Agent to exercise, and no delay by any such Person in exercising, any right, remedy, power or privilege hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof; nor shall any single or partial exercise of any right, remedy, power or privilege hereunder preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, remedy, power or privilege.  The rights, remedies, powers and privileges herein provided and provided under each other Loan Document are cumulative and not exclusive of any rights, remedies, powers and privileges provided by Law.

 

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein or in any other Loan Document, the authority to enforce rights and remedies hereunder and under the other Loan Documents against the Loan Parties or any of them shall be vested exclusively in, and all actions and proceedings at law in connection with such enforcement shall be instituted and maintained exclusively by, the Administrative Agent in accordance with Section 9.02 for the benefit of all the Lenders; provided that the foregoing shall not prohibit (a) the Administrative Agent from exercising on its own behalf the rights and remedies that inure to its benefit (solely in its capacity as the Administrative Agent) hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, (b) any Lender from exercising setoff rights in accordance with Section 11.08 (subject to the terms of Section 2.13 ), or (c) any Lender from filing proofs of claim or appearing and filing pleadings on its own behalf during the pendency of a proceeding relative to any Loan Party under any Debtor Relief Law; and provided , further , that if at any time there is no Person acting as the Administrative Agent hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, then (i) the Required Lenders shall have the rights otherwise ascribed to the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 9.02 and (ii) in addition to the matters set forth in clauses (b) , (c)  and (d)  of the preceding proviso and subject to Section 2.13 , any Lender may, with the consent of the Required Lenders, enforce any rights and remedies available to it and as authorized by the Required Lenders.

 

d.                                       Expenses; Indemnity; Damage Waiver.

 

(a)                                  Costs and Expenses .  Each Loan Party shall jointly and severally pay (i) all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent and its Affiliates (including (a) the reasonable fees, charges and disbursements of counsel for the Administrative Agent; (b) fees and charges of each consultant, inspector, and engineer; (c) uniform commercial code searches; (d) judgment and tax lien searches for the Borrower and each Guarantor; (e) escrow fees; and (f) documentary taxes, in connection with the initial syndication of the credit facilities provided for herein, the preparation, negotiation, execution, delivery and administration of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents or any amendments, modifications or waivers of the provisions hereof or thereof (whether or not the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby shall be

 

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consummated), (ii)  all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent or any Lender (including the reasonable fees, charges and disbursements of any counsel for the Administrative Agent or any Lender (only if a Default shall be in existence)), in connection with the enforcement or protection of its rights (A) in connection with this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, including its rights under this Section, or (B) in connection with the Loans made hereunder, including all such out-of-pocket expenses incurred during any workout, restructuring or negotiations in respect of such Loans; provided, however that the Borrower shall not be required to pay the expenses of more than one law firm acting as counsel for the Lenders (in addition to expenses for any appropriate local or special counsel) in connection with such workout or enforcement to the extent the Lenders reasonably determine that joint representation is appropriate under the circumstances.

 

(b)                                  Indemnification .  The Parent and the Borrower shall jointly and severally indemnify the Administrative Agent (and any sub-agent thereof), each Lender, and each Related Party of any of the foregoing Persons (each such Person being called an “ Indemnitee ”) against, and hold each Indemnitee harmless from, any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities and related expenses (including the reasonable fees, charges and disbursements of any counsel for any Indemnitee), incurred by any Indemnitee or asserted against any Indemnitee by any third party or by the Borrower or any other Loan Party resulting from any action, suit, or proceeding relating to (i) the execution or delivery of this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any agreement or instrument contemplated hereby or thereby, the performance by the parties hereto of their respective obligations hereunder or thereunder, the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, or, in the case of the Administrative Agent (and any sub-agent thereof) and its Related Parties only, the administration of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents (including in respect of any matters addressed in Section 3.01 ), (ii) any Loan or the use or proposed use of the proceeds therefrom, (iii) any actual or alleged presence or release of Hazardous Materials on or from any property owned or operated by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, or any Environmental Damages related in any way to the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, or (iv) any actual or prospective claim, litigation, investigation or proceeding relating to any of the foregoing, whether based on contract, tort or any other theory, whether brought by a third party or by the Borrower or any other Loan Party, and regardless of whether any Indemnitee is a party thereto; provided that such indemnity shall not, as to any Indemnitee, be available to the extent that such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or related expenses (w) are determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by final and nonappealable judgment to have resulted from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Indemnitee or any Related Party of such Indemnitee, (x) result from a claim brought by the Borrower or any other Loan Party against an Indemnitee for breach in bad faith of such Indemnitee’s obligations hereunder or under any other Loan Document, if the Borrower or such other Loan Party has obtained a final and nonappealable judgment in its favor on such claim as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction, (y) for which an Indemnitee has been compensated pursuant to the terms of this Agreement or the Fee Letter, or (z) to the extent based upon contractual obligations of such Indemnitee owing by such Indemnitee to any third party which are not expressly set forth in this Agreement.

 

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(c)                                   Reserved .

 

(d)                                  Reimbursement by the Lenders .  To the extent that the Loan Parties for any reason fail to indefeasibly pay any amount required under subsection (a)  or (b)  of this Section to be paid by the Loan Parties to the Administrative Agent (or any sub-agent thereof), or any Related Party of any of the foregoing (and without limiting their obligation to do so), each Lender severally agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent (or any such sub-agent) or such Related Party, as the case may be, such Lender’s pro rata share (determined as of the time that the applicable unreimbursed expense or indemnity payment is sought based on each Lender’s Applicable Percentage) of such unpaid amount (including any such unpaid amount in respect of a claim asserted by such Lender), such payment to be made severally among them based on such Lenders’ Applicable Percentage (determined as of the time that the applicable unreimbursed expense or indemnity payment is sought) of such unpaid amount, provided that the unreimbursed expense or indemnified loss, claim, damage, liability or related expense, as the case may be, was incurred by or asserted against the Administrative Agent (or any such sub-agent), or against any Related Party of any of the foregoing acting for the Administrative Agent (or any such sub-agent), in connection with such capacity.  The obligations of the Lenders under this subsection (c)  are subject to the provisions of Section 2.12(d) .

 

(e)                                   Waiver of Consequential Damages, Etc.   To the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law, no Loan Party shall assert, and each Loan Party hereby waives and acknowledges that no other Person shall have, any claim against any Indemnitee, on any theory of liability, for special, indirect, consequential or punitive damages (as opposed to direct or actual damages) arising out of, in connection with, or as a result of, this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any agreement or instrument contemplated hereby, the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, any Loan or the use of the proceeds thereof.  No Indemnitee referred to in subsection (b)  above shall be liable for any damages arising from the use by unintended recipients of any information or other materials distributed to such unintended recipients by such Indemnitee through telecommunications, electronic or other information transmission systems in connection with this Agreement or the other Loan Documents or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby other than for direct or actual damages resulting from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Indemnitee as determined by a final and nonappealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction.

 

(f)                                    Payments .  All amounts due under this Section shall be payable not later than ten (10) Business Days after demand therefor.

 

(g)                                   Survival .  The agreements in this Section and the indemnity provisions of Section 11.02(e)  shall survive the resignation of the Administrative Agent, the replacement of any Lender, the termination of the Aggregate Commitments, and the repayment, satisfaction or discharge of all the other Obligations.

 

e.                                        Payments Set Aside.  To the extent that any payment by or on behalf of the Borrower is made to the Administrative Agent or any Lender, or the Administrative Agent or any Lender exercises its right of setoff, and such payment or the proceeds of such setoff or any part

 

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thereof is subsequently invalidated, declared to be fraudulent or preferential, set aside or required (including pursuant to any settlement entered into by the Administrative Agent or such Lender in its discretion) to be repaid to a trustee, receiver or any other party, in connection with any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law or otherwise, then (a) to the extent of such recovery, the obligation or part thereof originally intended to be satisfied shall be revived and continued in full force and effect as if such payment had not been made or such setoff had not occurred, and (b) each Lender severally agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent upon demand its applicable share (without duplication) of any amount so recovered from or repaid by the Administrative Agent (without relieving the Borrower of its obligation to make any such payment so required), plus interest thereon from the date of such demand to the date such payment is made at a rate per annum equal to the Federal Funds Rate from time to time in effect.  The obligations of the Lenders under clause (b)  of the preceding sentence shall survive the payment in full of the Obligations and the termination of this Agreement.

 

f.                                         Successors and Assigns.

 

(a)                                  Successors and Assigns Generally .  The provisions of this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby, except that neither the Borrower nor any other Loan Party may assign or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent and each Lender and no Lender may assign or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations hereunder except (i) to an assignee in accordance with the provisions of subsection (b)  of this Section, (ii) by way of participation in accordance with the provisions of subsection (d)  of this Section, or (iii) by way of pledge or assignment of a security interest subject to the restrictions of subsection (e)  of this Section (and any other attempted assignment or transfer by any party hereto shall be null and void).  Nothing in this Agreement, expressed or implied, shall be construed to confer upon any Person (other than the parties hereto, their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby, Participants to the extent provided in subsection (d)  of this Section and, to the extent expressly contemplated hereby, the Related Parties of each of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders) any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or by reason of this Agreement.

 

(b)                                  Assignments by the Lenders .  Any Lender may, at no cost or expense to any Loan Party (except as provided in Section 11.13 ), at any time assign to one or more assignees all or a portion of its rights and obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Commitment and the Loans at the time owing to it); provided that any such assignment shall be subject to the following conditions:

 

(i)                                      Minimum Amounts .

 

i)                                          in the case of an assignment of the entire remaining amount of the assigning Lender’s Commitment and/or the Loans at the time owing to it or contemporaneous assignments to related Approved Funds that equal at least the amount specified in paragraph (b)(i)(B) of this Section in the aggregate or in the case of an assignment to a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund, no minimum amount need be assigned (but

 

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any such assignment shall be of a pro rata interest in each of the Loans; and

 

ii)                                       in any case not described in subsection (b)(i)(A)  of this Section, the aggregate amount of the Commitment (which for this purpose includes Loans outstanding thereunder) or, if the Commitment is not then in effect, the principal outstanding balance of the Loans of the assigning Lender subject to each such assignment, determined as of the date the Assignment and Assumption with respect to such assignment is delivered to the Administrative Agent or, if “Trade Date” is specified in the Assignment and Assumption, as of the Trade Date, shall not be less than $5,000,000 and shall be an assignment of a pro rata interest in each of the Loans, and the amount assigned to the Eligible Assignee shall not be less than $5,000,000, unless each of the Administrative Agent and, so long as no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Borrower otherwise consents (each such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed); provided that concurrent assignments to members of an Assignee Group and concurrent assignments from members of an Assignee Group to a single Eligible Assignee (or to an Eligible Assignee and members of its Assignee Group) will be treated as a single assignment for purposes of determining whether such minimum amount has been met.

 

(ii)                                   Proportionate Amounts .  Each partial assignment shall be made as an assignment of a proportionate part of all the assigning Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement with respect to the Loans or the Commitment assigned;

 

(iii)                                Required Consents .  No consent shall be required for any assignment except to the extent required by subsection (b)(i)(B)  of this Section and, in addition:

 

i)                                          the consent of the Borrower (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) shall be required unless (1) an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing at the time of such assignment or (2) such assignment is to a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender, an Approved Fund or to any Federal Reserve Bank or other central bank authority or comparable agency having jurisdiction over such Lender; provided that the Borrower shall be deemed to have consented to any such assignment unless it shall object thereto by written notice to the Administrative Agent within ten (10) Business Days after having received notice thereof; and

 

ii)                                       the consent of the Administrative Agent (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) shall be required if such assignment is to a Person that is not a Lender, an Affiliate of such Lender or an Approved Fund with respect to such Lender.

 

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(iv)                               Assignment and Assumption .  The parties to each assignment shall execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent an Assignment and Assumption, together with a processing and recordation fee in the amount of $3,500; provided that the Administrative Agent may, in its sole discretion, elect to waive such processing and recordation fee in the case of any assignment.  The assignee, if it is not a Lender, shall deliver to the Administrative Agent an Administrative Questionnaire.

 

(v)                                  No Assignment to Certain Persons .  No such assignment shall be made (A) to the Parent or the Borrower or any of their Affiliates or Subsidiaries, or (B) without the consent of the Administrative Agent and the Borrower, to any Defaulting Lender or any of its Subsidiaries, or any Person who, upon becoming a Lender hereunder, would constitute any of the foregoing Persons described in this clause (B) , (C) to a natural person, or (D) without the consent of the Borrower, to any Excluded Party.

 

(vi)                               Certain Additional Payments .  In connection with any assignment of rights and obligations of any Defaulting Lender hereunder, no such assignment shall be effective unless and until, in addition to the other conditions thereto set forth herein, the parties to the assignment shall make such additional payments to the Administrative Agent in an aggregate amount sufficient, upon distribution thereof as appropriate (which may be outright payment, purchases by the assignee of participations or sub-participations, or other compensating actions, including funding, with the consent of the Borrower and the Administrative Agent, the applicable pro rata share of Loans previously requested but not funded by the Defaulting Lender, to each of which the applicable assignee and assignor hereby irrevocably consent), to (x) pay and satisfy in full all payment liabilities then owed by such Defaulting Lender to the Administrative Agent or any Lender hereunder (and interest accrued thereon) and (y) acquire (and fund as appropriate) its full pro rata share of all Loans in accordance with its Applicable Percentage.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that any assignment of rights and obligations of any Defaulting Lender hereunder shall become effective under applicable Law without compliance with the provisions of this paragraph, then the assignee of such interest shall be deemed to be a Defaulting Lender for all purposes of this Agreement until such compliance occurs.

 

Subject to acceptance and recording thereof by the Administrative Agent pursuant to subsection (c)  of this Section, from and after the effective date specified in each Assignment and Assumption, the assignee thereunder shall be a party to this Agreement and, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Assumption, have the rights and obligations of a Lender under this Agreement, and the assigning Lender thereunder shall, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Assumption, be released from its obligations under this Agreement (and, in the case of an Assignment and Assumption covering all of the assigning Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement, such Lender shall cease to be a party hereto) but shall continue to be entitled to the benefits of Sections 3.01, 3.04 , 3.05 , and 11.04 with respect to facts and circumstances occurring prior to the effective date of such assignment, provided, that

 

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except to the extent otherwise expressly agreed by the affected parties, no assignment by a Defaulting Lender will constitute a waiver or release of any claim of any party hereunder arising from that Lender’s having been a Defaulting Lender.  Upon request, the Borrower (at its expense) shall execute and deliver a Note to the assignee Lender.  Any assignment or transfer by a Lender of rights or obligations under this Agreement that does not comply with this subsection shall be treated for purposes of this Agreement as a sale by such Lender of a participation in such rights and obligations in accordance with subsection (d)  of this Section.

 

(c)                                   Register .  The Administrative Agent, acting solely for this purpose as an a non-fiduciary agent of the Borrower (and such agency being solely for tax purposes), shall maintain at the Administrative Agent’s Office a copy of each Assignment and Assumption delivered to it (or the equivalent thereof in electronic form) and a register for the recordation of the names and addresses of the Lenders, and the Commitments of, and principal amounts (and stated interest) of the Loans owing to, each Lender pursuant to the terms hereof from time to time (the “ Register ”).  The entries in the Register shall be conclusive absent manifest error, and the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders may treat each Person whose name is recorded in the Register pursuant to the terms hereof as a Lender hereunder for all purposes of this Agreement .   The Register shall be available for inspection by the Borrower and any Lender, at any reasonable time and from time to time upon reasonable prior notice.

 

(d)                                  Participations .  Any Lender may at any time, without the consent of, or notice to, the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, sell participations to any Person (other than a natural person, an Excluded Party, a Defaulting Lender or the Parent or the Borrower or any of their Affiliates or Subsidiaries) (each, a “ Participant ”) in all or a portion of such Lender’s rights and/or obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Commitment and/or the Loans owing to it); provided that (i) such Lender’s obligations under this Agreement shall remain unchanged, (ii) such Lender shall remain solely responsible to the other parties hereto for the performance of such obligations and (iii) the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the Lenders shall continue to deal solely and directly with such Lender in connection with such Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement.  For the avoidance of doubt, each Lender shall be responsible for the indemnity under Section 11.04(d)  without regard to the existence of any participation.

 

Any agreement or instrument pursuant to which a Lender sells such a participation shall provide that such Lender shall retain the sole right to enforce this Agreement and to approve any amendment, modification or waiver of any  provision of this Agreement; provided that such agreement or instrument may provide that such Lender will not, without the consent of the Participant, agree to any amendment, waiver or other modification described in the first proviso to Section 11.01 that affects such Participant.  The Borrower agrees that each Participant shall be entitled to the benefits of Sections 3.01 , 3.04 and 3.05 to the same extent as if it were a Lender and had acquired its interest by assignment pursuant to subsection (b) of this Section (it being understood that the documentation required under Section 3.01(e)  shall be delivered to the Lender who sells the participation); provided that such Participant (A) agrees to be subject to the provisions of Section s 3.06 and 11.13 as if it were an assignee under paragraph (b) of this

 

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Section and (B) shall not be entitled to receive any greater payment under Sections 3.01 or 3.04 , with respect to any participation than the Lender from whom it acquired the applicable participation would have been entitled to receive, except to the extent such entitlement to receive a greater payment results from a Change in Law that occurs after the Participant acquired the applicable participation.  Each Lender that sells a participation agrees, at the Borrower’s request and expense, to use reasonable efforts to cooperate with the Borrower to effectuate the provisions of Section 3.06 with respect to any Participant.  To the extent permitted by law, each Participant also shall be entitled to the benefits of Section  11.08 as though it were a Lender; provided that such Participant agrees to be subject to Section 2.13 as though it were a Lender.  Each Lender that sells a participation shall, acting solely for this purpose as a nonfiduciary non-fiduciary agent of the Borrower, maintain a register on which it enters the name and address of each Participant and the principal amounts (and stated interest) of each Participant’s interest in the Loans or other obligations under the Loan Documents (the “ Participant Register ”); provided that no Lender shall have any obligation to disclose all or any portion of the Participant Register (including the identity of any Participant or any information relating to a Participant’s interest in any commitments, loans, letters of credit or its other obligations under any Loan Document) to any Person except to the extent that such disclosure is necessary to establish that such commitment, loan, letter of credit or other obligation is in registered form under Section 5f.103-1(c)  of the United States Treasury Regulations.  The entries in the Participant Register shall be conclusive absent manifest error, and such Lender shall treat each Person whose name is recorded in the Participant Register as the owner of such participation for all purposes of this Agreement notwithstanding any notice to the contrary.  For the avoidance of doubt, the Administrative Agent (in its capacity as the Administrative Agent) shall have no responsibility for maintaining a Participant Register.

 

(e)                                   Certain Pledges .  Any Lender may at any time pledge or assign a security interest in all or any portion of its rights under this Agreement (including under its Note, if any) to secure obligations of such Lender, including any pledge or assignment to secure obligations to a Federal Reserve Bank or other central bank authority or comparable agency having jurisdiction over such Lender ; provided that no such pledge or assignment shall release such Lender from any of its obligations hereunder or substitute any such pledgee or assignee for such Lender as a party hereto.

 

(f)                                    Reserved .

 

(g)                                   USA Patriot Act Notice; Compliance .  In order for the Administrative Agent to comply with “know your customer” and anti-money laundering rules and regulations, including without limitation, the Patriot Act, prior to any Lender that is organized under the laws of a jurisdiction outside of the United States of America becoming a party hereto, the Administrative Agent may request, and such Lender shall provide to the Administrative Agent, its name, address, tax identification number and/or such other identification information as shall be necessary for the Administrative Agent to comply with federal law.

 

g.                                        Treatment of Certain Information; Confidentiality.  Each of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders agrees to maintain the confidentiality of the Information (as defined below), except that Information may be disclosed (a) to its Affiliates and to its Related Parties (it

 

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being understood that the Persons to whom such disclosure is made will be informed of the confidential nature of such Information and instructed to keep such Information confidential), (b) to the extent required or requested by any regulatory authority purporting to have jurisdiction over such Person or its Related Parties (including any self-regulatory authority, such as the National Association of Insurance Commissioners), (c) to the extent required by applicable Laws or regulations or by any subpoena or similar legal process so long as the Administrative Agent and any Lender, as the case may be, requests confidential treatment of such Information to the extent permitted by Law (provided that the requesting Administrative Agent or Lender shall not be responsible for the failure by any such party to keep the Information confidential), (d) to any other party hereto, (e) in connection with the exercise of any remedies hereunder or under any other Loan Document or any action or proceeding relating to this Agreement or any other Loan Document or the enforcement of rights hereunder or thereunder, (f) subject to an agreement containing provisions substantially the same as those of this Section, to (i) any assignee of or Participant in, or any prospective assignee of or Participant in, any of its rights and obligations under this Agreement or any Eligible Assignee invited to be a Lender pursuant to Section 3.06(c), Section 11.13 or (ii) any actual or prospective party (or its Related Parties) to any swap, derivative or other transaction under which payments are to be made by reference to the Borrower and its obligations, this Agreement or payments hereunder, (g) on a confidential basis to (i)  any rating agency in connection with rating the Borrower or its Subsidiaries or the credit facilities provided hereunder or (ii) the CUSIP Service Bureau or any similar agency in connection with the issuance and monitoring of CUSIP numbers or other market identifiers with respect to the credit facilities provided hereunder, (h) with the consent of the Borrower or (i) to the extent such Information (x) becomes publicly available other than as a result of a breach of this Section or (y) becomes available to the Administrative Agent, any Lender or any of their respective Affiliates on a non-confidential basis from a source other than the Borrower provided that the source of such information was not at the time known to be bound by a confidentiality agreement or other legal or contractual obligation of confidentiality with respect to such Information.  For purposes of this Section, “Information” means all information received from the Borrower or any Subsidiary relating to the Borrower or any Subsidiary or any of their respective businesses, other than any such information that is available to the Administrative Agent or any Lender on a non-confidential basis prior to disclosure by the Borrower or any Subsidiary, provided that, in the case of information received from the Borrower or any Subsidiary after the date hereof, such information is clearly identified at the time of delivery as confidential.  Any Person required to maintain the confidentiality of Information as provided in this Section shall be considered to have complied with its obligation to do so if such Person has exercised the same degree of care to maintain the confidentiality of such Information as such Person would accord to its own confidential information.

 

Each of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders acknowledges that (a) the Information may include material non-public information concerning the Borrower or a Subsidiary, as the case may be, (b) it has developed compliance procedures regarding the use of material non-public information and (c) it will handle such material non-public information in accordance with applicable Law, including United States Federal and state securities Laws.

 

h.                                       Right of Setoff .  If an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing and the Administrative Agent and the Required Lenders shall have consented in writing thereto, each Lender and each of their respective Affiliates (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any

 

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Specified Derivatives Providers) is hereby authorized at any time and from time to time, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, to set off and apply any and all deposits (general or special, time or demand, provisional or final, in whatever currency) at any time held and other obligations (in whatever currency) at any time owing by such Lender or any such Affiliate to or for the credit or the account of the Borrower or any other Loan Party against any and all of the obligations of the Borrower or such Loan Party now or hereafter existing under this Agreement or any other Loan Document to such Lender or their respective Affiliates, irrespective of whether or not such Lender or Affiliate shall have made any demand under this Agreement or any other Loan Document and although such obligations of the Borrower or such Loan Party may be contingent or unmatured or are owed to a branch, office or Affiliate of such Lender different from the branch, office or Affiliate holding such deposit or obligated on such indebtedness; provided, that in the event that any Defaulting Lender shall exercise any such right of setoff, (x) all amounts so set off shall be paid over immediately to the Administrative Agent for further application in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.17 and, pending such payment, shall be segregated by such Defaulting Lender from its other funds and deemed held in trust for the benefit of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders, and (y) the Defaulting Lender shall provide promptly to the Administrative Agent a statement describing in reasonable detail the Obligations owing to such Defaulting Lender as to which it exercised such right of setoff.  The rights of each Lender and their respective Affiliates under this Section are in addition to other rights and remedies (including other rights of setoff) that such Lender or their respective Affiliates may have.  Each Lender agrees to notify the Borrower and the Administrative Agent promptly after any such setoff and application, provided that the failure to give such notice shall not affect the validity of such setoff and application.

 

i.                                           Interest Rate Limitation.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in any Loan Document, the interest paid or agreed to be paid under the Loan Documents shall not exceed the maximum rate of non-usurious interest permitted by applicable Law (the “ Maximum Rate ”).  If the Administrative Agent or any Lender shall receive interest in an amount that exceeds the Maximum Rate, the excess interest shall be applied to the principal of the Loans or, if it exceeds such unpaid principal, refunded to the Borrower.  In determining whether the interest contracted for, charged, or received by the Administrative Agent or a Lender exceeds the Maximum Rate, such Person may, to the extent permitted by applicable Law, (a) characterize any payment that is not principal as an expense, fee, or premium rather than interest, (b) exclude voluntary prepayments and the effects thereof, and (c) amortize, prorate, allocate, and spread in equal or unequal parts the total amount of interest throughout the contemplated term of the Obligations hereunder.

 

j.                                          Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness.  This Agreement may be executed in counterparts (and by different parties hereto in different counterparts), each of which shall constitute an original, but all of which when taken together shall constitute a single contract.  This Agreement and the other Loan Documents , and any separate letter agreements with respect to fees payable to the Administrative Agent constitute the entire contract among the parties relating to the subject matter hereof and supersede any and all previous agreements and understandings, oral or written, relating to the subject matter hereof.  Except as provided in Section 5.01 , this Agreement shall become effective when it shall have been executed by the Administrative Agent and when the Administrative Agent shall have received counterparts hereof that, when taken together, bear the signatures of each of the other parties hereto.  Delivery

 

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of an executed counterpart of a signature page of this Agreement by telecopy, by email with a pdf copy attached, or other electronic imaging means shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Agreement.

 

k.                                       Survival of Representations and Warranties.  All representations and warranties made hereunder and in any other Loan Document or other document delivered pursuant hereto or thereto or in connection herewith or therewith shall survive the execution and delivery hereof and thereof.  Such representations and warranties have been or will be relied upon by the Administrative Agent and each Lender, regardless of any investigation made by the Administrative Agent or any Lender or on their behalf and notwithstanding that the Administrative Agent or any Lender may have had notice or knowledge of any Default at the time of any Credit Extension, and shall continue in full force and effect as long as any Loan or any other Obligation hereunder shall remain unpaid or unsatisfied.

 

l.                                           Severability.  If any provision of this Agreement or the other Loan Documents is held to be illegal, invalid or unenforceable, (a) the legality, validity and enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents shall not be affected or impaired thereby and (b) the parties shall endeavor in good faith negotiations to replace the illegal, invalid or unenforceable provisions with valid provisions the economic effect of which comes as close as possible to that of the illegal, invalid or unenforceable provisions.  The invalidity of a provision in a particular jurisdiction shall not invalidate or render unenforceable such provision in any other jurisdiction.  Without limiting the foregoing provisions of this Section 11.12 , if and to the extent that the enforceability of any provisions in this Agreement relating to Defaulting Lenders shall be limited by Debtor Relief Laws, as determined in good faith by the Administrative Agent then such provisions shall be deemed to be in effect only to the extent not so limited.

 

m.                                   Replacement of the Lenders.  If the Borrower is entitled to replace a Lender pursuant to the provisions of Section 3.06 , or if any Lender is a Defaulting Lender or if any other circumstance exists hereunder that gives the Borrower the right to replace a Lender as a party hereto, then the Borrower may, at its sole expense and effort, upon notice to such Lender and the Administrative Agent, require such Lender to assign and delegate, without recourse (in accordance with and subject to the restrictions contained in, and consents required by, Section 11.06 ), all of its interests, rights (other than its existing rights to payments pursuant to Sections 3.01, 3.04 and 3.05 ) and obligations under this Agreement and the related Loan Documents to an Eligible Assignee that shall assume such obligations (which assignee may be another Lender, if a Lender accepts such assignment), provided that:

 

(a)                                  the Borrower shall have paid to the Administrative Agent the assignment fee (if any) specified in Section 11.06(b) ;

 

(b)                                  such Lender shall have received payment of an amount equal to the outstanding principal of its Loans, accrued interest thereon, accrued fees and all other amounts payable to it hereunder and under the other Loan Documents (including any amounts under Section 3.05 ) from the assignee (to the extent of such outstanding principal and accrued interest and fees) or the Borrower (in the case of all other amounts);

 

110



 

(c)                                   in the case of any such assignment resulting from a claim for compensation under Section 3.04 or payments required to be made pursuant to Section 3.01 , such assignment will result in a reduction in such compensation or payments thereafter; and

 

(d)                                  such assignment does not conflict with applicable Laws.

 

(e)                                   A Lender shall not be required to make any such assignment or delegation if, prior thereto, as a result of a waiver by such Lender or otherwise, the circumstances entitling the Borrower to require such assignment and delegation cease to apply.

 

n.                                       Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Etc.

 

(a)                                  GOVERNING LAW .  THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS AND ANY CLAIMS, CONTROVERSY, DISPUTE OR CAUSE OF ACTION (WHETHER IN CONTRACT OR TORT OR OTHERWISE) BASED UPON, ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT (EXCEPT, AS TO ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT, AS EXPRESSLY SET FORTH THEREIN) AND THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY AND THEREBY SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

 

(b)                                  SUBMISSION TO JURISDICTION .  THE BORROWER AND EACH OTHER LOAN PARTY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY AGREES THAT IT WILL NOT COMMENCE ANY ACTION, LITIGATION OR PROCEEDING OF ANY KIND OR DESCRIPTION, WHETHER IN LAW OR EQUITY, WHETHER IN CONTRACT OR IN TORT OR OTHERWISE, AGAINST THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT, ANY LENDER OR ANY RELATED PARTY OF THE FOREGOING IN ANY WAY RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS RELATING HERETO OR THERETO, IN ANY FORUM OTHER THAN THE COURTS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK COUNTY AND OF THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT OF THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK, AND ANY APPELLATE COURT FROM ANY THEREOF, AND EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY SUBMITS TO THE JURISDICTION OF SUCH COURTS  AND AGREES THAT ALL CLAIMS IN RESPECT OF ANY SUCH ACTION, LITIGATION OR PROCEEDING MAY BE HEARD AND DETERMINED IN SUCH NEW YORK STATE COURT OR, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, IN SUCH FEDERAL COURT.  EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO AGREES THAT A FINAL JUDGMENT IN ANY SUCH ACTION, LITIGATION OR PROCEEDING SHALL BE CONCLUSIVE AND MAY BE ENFORCED IN OTHER JURISDICTIONS BY SUIT ON THE JUDGMENT OR IN ANY OTHER MANNER PROVIDED BY LAW.  NOTHING IN THIS AGREEMENT OR IN ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT SHALL AFFECT ANY RIGHT THAT THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT OR ANY LENDER MAY OTHERWISE HAVE TO BRING ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR

 

111



 

ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT AGAINST THE BORROWER OR ANY OTHER LOAN PARTY OR ITS PROPERTIES IN THE COURTS OF ANY JURISDICTION.

 

(c)                                   WAIVER OF VENUE .  EACH OF THE PARENT, THE BORROWER AND EACH OTHER LOAN PARTY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY OBJECTION THAT IT MAY NOW OR HEREAFTER HAVE TO THE LAYING OF VENUE OF ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT IN ANY COURT REFERRED TO IN PARAGRAPH (b) OF THIS SECTION.  EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, THE DEFENSE OF AN INCONVENIENT FORUM TO THE MAINTENANCE OF SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING IN ANY SUCH COURT.

 

(d)                                  SERVICE OF PROCESS .  EACH PARTY HERETO IRREVOCABLY CONSENTS TO SERVICE OF PROCESS IN THE MANNER PROVIDED FOR NOTICES IN SECTION 11.02 PROVIDED THAT, IN THE CASE OF SERVICE ON ANY LOAN PARTY A COPY IS ALSO DELIVERED TO JEFFREY SULLIVAN, GENERAL COUNSEL FOR PARENT AND BORROWER.  NOTHING IN THIS AGREEMENT WILL AFFECT THE RIGHT OF ANY PARTY HERETO TO SERVE PROCESS IN ANY OTHER MANNER PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW.

 

(e)                                   WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL .  EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR THEREBY (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT OR ANY OTHER THEORY).  EACH PARTY HERETO (A) CERTIFIES THAT NO REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF ANY OTHER PERSON HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PERSON WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER AND (B) ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT AND THE OTHER PARTIES HERETO HAVE BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION.

 

o.                                       No Advisory or Fiduciary Responsibility.  In connection with all aspects of each transaction contemplated hereby (including in connection with any amendment, waiver or other modification hereof or of any other Loan Document), the Parent, the Borrower, and each other Loan Party acknowledges and agrees, and acknowledges its Affiliates’ understanding, that: (i)(A) the arranging and other services regarding this Agreement provided by the Administrative Agent and the Lead Arrangers are arm’s-length commercial transactions between the Parent, the Borrower, each other Loan Party and their respective Affiliates, on the one hand, and the Administrative Agent and the Lead Arrangers, on the other hand, (B) each of the Parent, the Borrower, and the other Loan Parties has consulted its own legal, accounting, regulatory and tax

 

112



 

advisors to the extent it has deemed appropriate, and (C) the Borrower and each other Loan Party is capable of evaluating, and understands and accepts, the terms, risks and conditions of the transactions contemplated hereby and by the other Loan Documents; (ii)(A) each of the Administrative Agent, the Lead Arrangers and the Lenders is and has been acting solely as a principal and, except as expressly agreed in writing by the relevant parties, has not been, is not, and will not be acting as an advisor, agent or fiduciary for the Parent, the Borrower, any other Loan Party, or any of their respective Affiliates, or any other Person and (B) the Administrative Agent, the Lead Arrangers and the Lender have no obligation to the Parent, the Borrower, any other Loan Party, or any of their respective Affiliates with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby except those obligations expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents; and (iii) the Administrative Agent, the Lead Arrangers and the Lenders and their respective Affiliates may be engaged in a broad range of transactions that involve interests that differ from those of the Parent, the Borrower, the other Loan Parties, and their respective Affiliates, and the Administrative Agent, the Lead Arrangers and the Lenders have no obligation to disclose any of such interests to the Parent, the Borrower, any other Loan Party, or any of their respective Affiliates.  To the fullest extent permitted by Law, each of the Parent, the Borrower, and the other Loan Parties hereby waives and releases any claims that it may have against the Administrative Agent and the Lead Arrangers with respect to any breach or alleged breach of agency or fiduciary duty in connection with any aspect of any transaction contemplated hereby.

 

p.                                       Electronic Execution of Assignments and Certain Other Documents.  The words “execution,” “signed,” “signature,” and words of like import in any Assignment and Assumption or in any amendment or other modification hereof (including waivers and consents) shall be deemed to include electronic signatures , the electronic matching or assignment terms and contract formations on electronic platforms approved by the Administrative Agent or the keeping of records in electronic form, each of which shall be of the same legal effect, validity or enforceability as a manually executed signature or the use of a paper-based recordkeeping system, as the case may be, to the extent and as provided for in any applicable Law, including the Federal Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act, the New York State Electronic Signatures and Records Act, or any other similar state laws based on the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act.

 

q.                                       USA PATRIOT ACT.  Each Lender that is subject to the Patriot Act (as hereinafter defined) and the Administrative Agent (for itself and not on behalf of any Lender) hereby notifies the Borrower that pursuant to the requirements of The Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001 (Title III of Pub. L. No. 107-56 (signed into law October 26, 2001)) (the “ Patriot Act ”), it is required to obtain, verify and record certain information that identifies individuals or business entities which open an “account” with such financial institution, which information includes the name, address, and tax identification number of the Borrower and such other identification information that will allow such Lender or the Administrative Agent, as applicable, to identify the Borrower in accordance with the Patriot Act and comply with federal law.  An “account” for this purpose may include, without limitation, a deposit account, cash management service, a transaction or asset account, a credit account, a loan or other extension of credit, and/or other financial services product. the Borrower shall, promptly following a request by the Administrative Agent or any Lender, provide all documentation and other information that the Administrative Agent or such Lender requests in order to comply with its ongoing obligations

 

113



 

under applicable “know your customer” and anti-money laundering rules and regulations, including the Patriot Act.

 

r.                                          ENTIRE AGREEMENT.  THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS REPRESENT THE FINAL AGREEMENT AMONG THE PARTIES AND MAY NOT BE CONTRADICTED BY EVIDENCE OF PRIOR, CONTEMPORANEOUS, OR SUBSEQUENT ORAL AGREEMENTS OF THE PARTIES.  THERE ARE NO UNWRITTEN ORAL AGREEMENTS AMONG THE PARTIES.

 

s.                                         Acknowledgment and Consent to Bail-In of EEA Financial Institutions.

 

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in any Loan Document or in any other agreement, arrangement or understanding among any such parties, each party hereto acknowledges that any liability of any EEA Financial Institution arising under any Loan Document may be subject to the Write-Down and Conversion Powers of an EEA Resolution Authority and agrees and consents to, and acknowledges and agrees to be bound by:

 

(a)                                  the application of any Write-Down and Conversion Powers by an EEA Resolution Authority to any such liabilities arising hereunder which may be payable to it by any party hereto that is an EEA Financial Institution; and

 

(b)                                  the effects of any Bail-In Action on any such liability, including, if applicable:

 

(i)                                      a reduction in full or in part or cancellation of any such liability;

 

(ii)                                   a conversion of all, or a portion of, such liability into shares or other instruments of ownership in such EEA Financial Institution, its parent entity, or a bridge institution that may be issued to it or otherwise conferred on it, and that such shares or other instruments of ownership will be accepted by it in lieu of any rights with respect to any such liability under this Agreement or any other Loan Document; or

 

(iii)                                the variation of the terms of such liability in connection with the exercise of the Write-Down and Conversion Powers of any EEA Resolution Authority.

 

18.20                  Certain ERISA Matters.

 

(a)                                  Each Lender (x) represents and warrants, as of the date such Person became a Lender party hereto, to, and (y) covenants, from the date such Person became a Lender party hereto to the date such Person ceases being a Lender party hereto, for the benefit of, the Administrative Agent, each Lead Arranger and their respective Affiliates, and not, for the avoidance of doubt, to or for the benefit of the Borrower or any other Loan Party, that at least one of the following is and will be true:

 

114



 

(i)                                      such Lender is not using “plan assets” (within the meaning of 29 CFR § 2510.3-101, as modified by Section 3(42) of ERISA) of one or more Benefit Plans in connection with the Loans or the Commitments;

 

(ii)                                   the transaction exemption set forth in one or more PTEs, such as PTE 84-14 (a class exemption for certain transactions determined by independent qualified professional asset managers), PTE 95-60 (a class exemption for certain transactions involving insurance company general accounts), PTE 90-1 (a class exemption for certain transactions involving insurance company pooled separate accounts), PTE 91-38 (a class exemption for certain transactions involving bank collective investment funds) or PTE 96-23 (a class exemption for certain transactions determined by in-house asset managers), is applicable with respect to such Lender’s entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Commitments and this Agreement;

 

(iii)                                (A) such Lender is an investment fund managed by a “Qualified Professional Asset Manager” (within the meaning of Part VI of PTE 84-14), (B) such Qualified Professional Asset Manager made the investment decision on behalf of such Lender to enter into, participate in, administer and perform the Loans, the Commitments and this Agreement, (C) the entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Commitments and this Agreement satisfies the requirements of sub-sections (b) through (g) of Part I of PTE 84-14 and (D) to the best knowledge of such Lender, the requirements of subsection (a) of Part I of PTE 84-14 are satisfied with respect to such Lender’s entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Commitments and this Agreement; or

 

(iv)                               such other representation, warranty and covenant as may be agreed in writing between the Administrative Agent, in its sole discretion, and such Lender.

 

(b)                                  In addition, unless sub-clause (i) in the immediately preceding clause (a) is true with respect to a Lender or such Lender has not provided another representation, warranty and covenant as provided in sub-clause (iv) in the immediately preceding clause (a), such Lender further (x) represents and warrants, as of the date such Person became a Lender party hereto, to, and (y) covenants, from the date such Person became a Lender party hereto to the date such Person ceases being a Lender party hereto, for the benefit of, the Administrative Agent, each Lead Arranger and their respective Affiliates, and not, for the avoidance of doubt, to or for the benefit of the Borrower or any other Credit Party, that:

 

(i)                                      none of the Administrative Agent, any Lead Arranger nor any of their respective Affiliates is a fiduciary with respect to the assets of such Lender (including in connection with the reservation or exercise of any rights by the Administrative Agent under this Agreement, any Loan Document or any documents related to hereto or thereto);

 

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(ii)                                   the Person making the investment decision on behalf of such Lender with respect to the entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Commitments and this Agreement is independent (within the meaning of 29 CFR § 2510.3-21) and is a bank, an insurance carrier, an investment adviser, a broker-dealer or other person that holds, or has under management or control, total assets of at least $50 million, in each case as described in 29 CFR § 2510.3-21(c)(1)(i)(A)-(E),

 

(iii)                                the Person making the investment decision on behalf of such Lender with respect to the entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Commitments and this Agreement is capable of evaluating investment risks independently, both in general and with regard to particular transactions and investment strategies (including in respect of the Secured Obligations);

 

(iv)                               the Person making the investment decision on behalf of such Lender with respect to the entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Commitments and this Agreement is a fiduciary under ERISA or the Code, or both, with respect to the Loans, the Commitments and this Agreement and is responsible for exercising independent judgment in evaluating the transactions hereunder, and

 

(v)                                  no fee or other compensation is being paid directly to the Administrative Agent, each Lead Arranger or their respective Affiliates for investment advice (as opposed to other services) in connection with the Loans, the Commitments or this Agreement.

 

(c)                                   The Administrative Agent and each Lead Arranger hereby informs the Lenders that each such Person is not undertaking to provide impartial investment advice, or to give advice in a fiduciary capacity, in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby, and that such Person has a financial interest in the transactions contemplated hereby in that such Person or an Affiliate thereof (i) may receive interest or other payments with respect to the Loans, the Commitments and this Agreement, (ii) may recognize a gain if it extended the Loans or the Commitments for an amount less than the amount being paid for an interest in the Loans or the Commitments by such Lender or (iii) may receive fees or other payments in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby, the Loan Documents or otherwise, including structuring fees, commitment fees, arrangement fees, facility fees, upfront fees, underwriting fees, ticking fees, agency fees, administrative agent or collateral agent fees, utilization fees, minimum usage fees, letter of credit fees, fronting fees, deal-away or alternate transaction fees, amendment fees, processing fees, term out premiums, banker’s acceptance fees, breakage or other early termination fees or fees similar to the foregoing.

 

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EXHIBIT B

 

AMENDED LOAN AGREEMENT (CLEAN)

 

[Attached]

 



 

EXHIBIT B to First Amendment to Term Loan Agreement

 

Published CUSIP Number: 85253UAJ7

 

TERM LOAN AGREEMENT

Dated as of July 28, 2017

 

among

 

STAG INDUSTRIAL OPERATING PARTNERSHIP, L.P. ,
as the Borrower,

 

STAG INDUSTRIAL, INC. ,
as a Guarantor,

 

BANK OF AMERICA, N.A. ,
as the Administrative Agent,

 

CAPITAL ONE, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION , PNC BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION ,
ROYAL BANK OF CANADA
and WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION ,
as Co-Syndication Agents,

 

and

 

THE FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS NOW OR HEREAFTER SIGNATORIES HERETO AND THEIR ASSIGNEES PURSUANT TO SECTION 11.06 ,
as Lenders

 


 

MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER & SMITH INCORPORATED ,
as the Sole Bookrunner and Joint Lead Arranger

 

and

 

CAPITAL ONE, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION , PNC CAPITAL MARKETS LLC ,
ROYAL BANK OF CANADA
and WELLS FARGO SECURITIES, LLC ,
as Joint Lead Arrangers

 



 

Loan No.

 



 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

Section

 

Page

 

 

 

Article I. Definitions and Accounting Terms

 

1

1.01 Defined Terms

 

1

1.02 Other Interpretive Provisions

 

34

1.03 Accounting Terms

 

34

1.04 Rounding

 

35

1.05 Times of Day

 

35

1.06 Rates

 

35

Article II. The Commitments and Credit Extensions

 

36

2.01 Committed Loans

 

36

2.02 Borrowings, Conversions and Continuations of Committed Loans

 

36

2.03 Reserved

 

38

2.04 Voluntary Reduction of Commitments

 

38

2.05 Prepayments

 

38

2.06 Incremental Term Loans

 

39

2.07 Repayment of Loans

 

40

2.08 Interest

 

40

2.09 Fees

 

41

2.10 Computation of Interest and Fees; Retroactive Adjustments of Applicable Rate

 

42

2.11 Evidence of Debt

 

42

2.12 Payments Generally; The Administrative Agent’s Clawback

 

43

2.13 Sharing of Payments by the Lenders

 

45

2.14 Reserved

 

45

2.15 Reserved

 

45

2.16 Defaulting Lenders

 

45

2.17 Guaranties

 

47

Article III. Taxes, Yield Protection and Illegality

 

48

3.01 Taxes

 

48

3.02 Illegality

 

53

3.03 Change of Circumstances

 

54

3.04 Increased Costs; Reserves on LIBOR Loans

 

55

3.05 Compensation for Losses

 

56

3.06 Mitigation Obligations; Replacement of the Lenders

 

57

3.07 Survival

 

57

Article IV. Unencumbered Properties

 

57

4.01 Initial Unencumbered Properties

 

57

4.02 Reserved

 

57

4.03 Notices of Qualification as an Unencumbered Property

 

58

4.04 Eligibility

 

58

4.05 Reserved

 

58

4.06 Guaranty

 

58

4.07 Admission of New Unencumbered Properties

 

58

4.08 Reserved

 

58

4.09 Reserved

 

58

 



 

Section

 

Page

 

 

 

4.10 Exclusion Events

 

58

Article V. Conditions Precedent to Credit Extensions

 

60

5.01 Conditions of Initial Credit Extension

 

60

5.02 Conditions to all Credit Extensions

 

61

Article VI. Representations and Warranties

 

62

6.01 Existence, Qualification and Power; Compliance with Laws

 

62

6.02 Authorization; No Contravention

 

63

6.03 Governmental Authorization; Other Consents

 

63

6.04 Binding Effect

 

63

6.05 Financial Statements; No Material Adverse Effect

 

63

6.06 Litigation

 

64

6.07 No Default

 

64

6.08 Ownership of Property; Liens; Equity Interests

 

64

6.09 Environmental Compliance

 

64

6.10 Insurance

 

65

6.11 Taxes

 

65

6.12 ERISA Compliance

 

65

6.13 Subsidiaries; Equity Interests

 

66

6.14 Margin Regulations; Investment Company Act

 

67

6.15 Disclosure

 

67

6.16 Compliance with Laws

 

67

6.17 Taxpayer Identification Number

 

68

6.18 Intellectual Property; Licenses, Etc.

 

68

6.19 Reserved

 

68

6.20 Solvency

 

68

6.21 REIT Status of the Parent

 

68

6.22 Labor Matters

 

68

6.23 Ground Lease Representation

 

69

6.24 Unencumbered Properties

 

69

6.25 OFAC

 

69

6.26 EEA Financial Institutions. No Loan Party is an EEA Financial Institution

 

70

Article VII. Affirmative Covenants

 

70

7.01 Financial Statements

 

70

7.02 Certificates; Other Information

 

71

7.03 Notices

 

73

7.04 Payment of Obligations

 

74

7.05 Preservation of Existence, Etc.

 

74

7.06 Maintenance of Properties

 

74

7.07 Maintenance of Insurance

 

74

7.08 Compliance with Laws; Beneficial Ownership Regulations

 

75

7.09 Books and Records

 

75

7.10 Inspection Rights

 

75

7.11 Use of Proceeds

 

76

7.12 Environmental Matters

 

76

7.13 Ground Leases

 

78

7.14 Unencumbered Properties

 

78

 

ii



 

Section

 

Page

 

 

 

Article VIII. Negative Covenants

 

79

8.01 Liens

 

79

8.02 Indebtedness

 

80

8.03 Investments

 

81

8.04 Fundamental Changes

 

82

8.05 Dispositions

 

83

8.06 Restricted Payments

 

83

8.07 Change in Nature of Business

 

83

8.08 Transactions with Affiliates

 

83

8.09 Burdensome Agreements

 

83

8.10 Use of Proceeds

 

84

8.11 Unencumbered Properties; Ground Leases

 

84

8.12 Environmental Matters

 

85

8.13 Negative Pledge; Indebtedness

 

86

8.14 Financial Covenants

 

86

Article IX. Events of Default and Remedies

 

87

9.01 Events of Default

 

87

9.02 Remedies Upon Event of Default

 

90

9.03 Application of Funds

 

90

Article X. The Administrative Agent

 

91

10.01 Appointment and Authority

 

91

10.02 Rights as a Lender

 

91

10.03 Exculpatory Provisions

 

92

10.04 Reliance by the Administrative Agent

 

92

10.05 Delegation of Duties

 

93

10.06 Resignation of the Administrative Agent

 

93

10.07 Non-Reliance on the Administrative Agent and Other Lenders

 

94

10.08 No Other Duties, Etc.

 

94

10.09 The Administrative Agent May File Proofs of Claim

 

95

10.10 Guaranty Matters

 

95

Article XI. Miscellaneous

 

95

11.01 Amendments, Etc.

 

95

11.02 Notices; Effectiveness; Electronic Communication

 

97

11.03 No Waiver; Cumulative Remedies; Enforcement

 

99

11.04 Expenses; Indemnity; Damage Waiver

 

100

11.05 Payments Set Aside

 

102

11.06 Successors and Assigns

 

102

11.07 Treatment of Certain Information; Confidentiality

 

107

11.08 Right of Setoff

 

108

11.09 Interest Rate Limitation

 

108

11.10 Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness

 

109

11.11 Survival of Representations and Warranties

 

109

11.12 Severability

 

109

11.13 Replacement of the Lenders

 

109

11.14 Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Etc.

 

110

11.15 No Advisory or Fiduciary Responsibility

 

112

 

iii



 

Section

 

Page

 

 

 

11.16 Electronic Execution of Assignments and Certain Other Documents

 

112

11.17 USA PATRIOT ACT

 

112

11.18 ENTIRE AGREEMENT

 

113

11.19 Acknowledgment and Consent to Bail-In of EEA Financial Institutions

 

113

11.20 Certain ERISA Matters

 

114

 

SCHEDULES

 

2.01                         Commitments and Applicable Percentages

4.01                         Initial Unencumbered Properties

6.06                         Litigation

6.09                         Environmental Matters

6.13                         Subsidiaries and Other Equity Investments and Equity Interests in the Borrower and

                                                Each Subsidiary Guarantor

6.18                         Intellectual Property Matters

8.01                         Existing Liens

8.13                         Indebtedness

11.02                  The Administrative Agent’s Office; Certain Addresses for Notices

RO                               Responsible Officers

 

EXHIBITS

 

A                                        Form of Draw Request

B                                        Form of Note

C                                        Compliance Certificate

D-1                             Assignment and Assumption

D-2                             Administrative Questionnaire

E                                         Form of Borrower Remittance Instruction

F-1                               Form of Parent Guaranty

F-2                               Form of Subsidiary Guaranty

G                                        Reserved

H-1                            U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate

H-2                            U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate

H-3                            U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate

H-4                            U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate

I                                            Form of Borrower’s Instruction Certificate

 

iv



 

TERM LOAN AGREEMENT

 

This TERM LOAN AGREEMENT (the “ Agreement ”) is entered into as of July 28, 2017, among STAG INDUSTRIAL OPERATING PARTNERSHIP, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (the “ Borrower ”), STAG INDUSTRIAL, INC., a Maryland corporation and the sole member of the sole general partner of the Borrower (the “ Parent ”), each lender from time to time party hereto (collectively, the “ Lenders ” and individually, a “ Lender ”), CAPITAL ONE, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, PNC BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, ROYAL BANK OF CANADA and WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Co-Syndication Agents, and BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., as the Administrative Agent.

 

The Borrower has requested that the Lenders provide a term credit facility, and the Lenders are willing to do so on the terms and conditions set forth herein.

 

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

 

19.

Definitions and Accounting Terms

 

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

 

Acceptable Ground Lease ” means a ground lease with respect to an Acceptable Property executed by a Subsidiary Guarantor, as lessee, that (a) has a remaining lease term (including extension or renewal rights) of at least twenty-five (25) years, calculated as of the date such Acceptable Property is deemed an Unencumbered Property, and that the Administrative Agent determines, in its sole discretion, is a financeable ground lease and is otherwise acceptable or (b) has a bargain purchase option (as defined in accordance with GAAP).

 

Acceptable Property ” means a Property (a) that is approved by the Administrative Agent and the Required Lenders, or (b) that meets the following requirements:

 

(i)                                      such Property is wholly-owned by, or ground leased pursuant to an Acceptable Ground Lease to, the Borrower or a Subsidiary Guarantor free and clear of any Liens (other than Liens permitted by Section 8.01 );

 

(ii)                                   such Property is an industrial, manufacturing, warehouse/distribution and/or office property located within the United States;

 

(iii)                                if such Property is owned by a Subsidiary Guarantor, or is ground leased pursuant to an Acceptable Ground Lease to a Subsidiary Guarantor, then the Equity Interests of such Subsidiary Guarantor are owned, directly or indirectly by the Borrower, free and clear of any Liens other than Liens permitted by Section 8.01 ; and

 

(iv)                               such Property is free of all structural defects or major architectural deficiencies, title defects, environmental conditions or other adverse matters except for defects, deficiencies,

 

1



 

conditions or other matters which, individually or collectively, are not material to the profitable operation of such Property.

 

Additional Permitted Indebtedness ” means unsecured Indebtedness permitted to be incurred pursuant to Section 8.02(f) .

 

Additional Term Loans ” has the meaning specified in Section 2.06(b)(i) .

 

Adjusted NOI ” means, with respect to any Property for the Current Reporting Quarter, annualized, an amount equal to (a) the aggregate gross revenues (excluding non-cash revenues) from the operations of such Property during such period, minus (b) the sum of (i) all expenses and other proper charges incurred in connection with the operation of such Property during such period (including real estate taxes, but excluding any property and asset management fees, debt service charges, income taxes, depreciation, amortization and other non-cash expenses and excluding capital expenditures), (ii) a management fee equal to the greater of (A) two percent (2%) of the aggregate gross base rental revenues (excluding non-cash revenues) from the operations of such Property during such period and (B) actual property management fees paid, and (iii) a replacement reserve of $0.10 per square foot (excluding any Property acquired during the Current Reporting Quarter).  Adjusted NOI shall exclude the amount of any revenues and expenses from any Dark Property.  Adjusted NOI shall be increased, without duplication, by (i) annualized rental revenues (excluding non-cash revenues), net of associated expenses, from any new lease which went into effect with the tenant taking occupancy (or any lease with respect to any Property acquired during the Current Reporting Quarter) and the Borrower is recognizing revenue from such tenant in accordance with GAAP during such Current Reporting Quarter, and (ii) annualized gross base rental revenues (excluding non-cash revenues) for the first monthly gross base rental payment for any lease in a free rent period and the Borrower is recognizing revenue from the applicable tenant in accordance with GAAP during such Current Reporting Quarter.

 

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

 

Administrative Agent’s Office ” means the Administrative Agent’s address and, as appropriate, account as set forth on Schedule 11.02 , or such other address or account as the Administrative Agent may from time to time notify the Borrower and the Lenders.

 

Administrative Questionnaire ” means an Administrative Questionnaire in substantially the form of Exhibit D-2 or any other form approved by the Administrative Agent.

 

Affiliate ” means, with respect to any 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; provided in no event shall Agent or any Lender be deemed to be an Affiliate of the Borrower.

 

Aggregate Commitments ” means the Commitments of all the Lenders as adjusted from time to time in accordance with the terms hereof.  The initial amount of the Aggregate Commitments in effect on the Closing Date is ONE HUNDRED FIFTY MILLION DOLLARS ($150,000,000.00).

 

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Agreement ” means this Term Loan Agreement.

 

Anti-Corruption Laws ” means all laws, rules, and regulations of any jurisdiction applicable to the Borrower or its Subsidiaries from time to time concerning or relating to bribery, corruption or money laundering.

 

Applicable Percentage ” means, with respect to any Lender at any time, the percentage (carried out to the ninth decimal place) of the Aggregate Commitments represented by such Lender’s Commitment at such time.  If the commitment of each Lender to make Loans has been terminated pursuant to Section 2.01(b)  or 9.02 or if the Aggregate Commitments have expired, then the Applicable Percentage of each Lender shall be determined based on the percentage (carried out to the ninth decimal place) of the Total Outstandings represented by such Lender’s Loans at such time.  The initial Applicable Percentage of each Lender is set forth opposite the name of such Lender on Schedule 2.01 or in the Assignment and Assumption pursuant to which such Lender becomes a party hereto, as applicable.

 

Applicable Rate ” means the following:

 

A. Unless and until the Rating Conditions have been satisfied, with respect to any Loan, the following percentages per annum determined according to the Consolidated Leverage Ratio as set forth in the most recent Compliance Certificate received by the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 7.02(a) :

 

Leveraged-Based Pricing Grid :

 

Applicable Rate

 

Pricing
Level

 

Consolidated
Leverage Ratio

 

Base Rate
Applicable
Margin

 

LIBOR
Loan
Applicable
Margin

 

1

 

< 40%

 

0.30

%

1.30

%

2

 

> 40% and < 45%

 

0.35

%

1.35

%

3

 

> 45% and < 50%

 

0.45

%

1.45

%

4

 

> 50% and < 55%

 

0.60

%

1.60

%

5

 

> 55%

 

0.90

%

1.90

%

 

Any increase or decrease in the Applicable Rate resulting from a change in the Consolidated Leverage Ratio shall become effective as of the first (1 st ) Business Day immediately following the date a Compliance Certificate is delivered pursuant to Section 7.02(a)  provided 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 5 shall apply as of the first (1 st ) Business Day after the date on which such Compliance Certificate was required to have been delivered, provided that if such request is not delivered within thirty (30) days of the date such Compliance Certificate was due, Pricing Level 5 shall apply as of the date of delivery of such request, and shall remain in effect until the date on which such Compliance Certificate is

 

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delivered.  The Applicable Rate in effect from the Closing Date until adjusted as set forth above shall be set at Pricing Level 1.

 

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this definition, the determination of the Applicable Rate for any period shall be subject to the provisions of Section 2.10(b) .

 

or

 

B.                                     If and when the Rating Conditions have been satisfied, the following percentages per annum, based upon the Debt Rating as set forth below (determined in accordance with the Performance-Based Pricing Grid set forth below).

 

Performance-Based Pricing Grid :

 

Applicable Rate

 

Pricing
Level

 

Debt Rating

 

Base Rate
Applicable
Margin

 

LIBOR
Loan
Applicable
Margin

 

1

 

> A-/A3

 

0.00

%

0.85

%

2

 

BBB+/Baa1

 

0.00

%

0.90

%

3

 

BBB/Baa2

 

0.00

%

1.00

%

4

 

BBB-/Baa3

 

0.25

%

1.25

%

5

 

< BBB-/Baa3

 

0.65

%

1.65

%

 

Each change in the Applicable Rate resulting from a publicly announced change in the Debt Rating shall be effective, in the case of an upgrade, during the period commencing on the date of delivery by the Borrower to the Administrative Agent of notice thereof pursuant to Section  7.03(e)  and ending on the date immediately preceding the effective date of the next such change and, in the case of a downgrade, during the period commencing on the date of the public announcement thereof and ending on the date immediately preceding the effective date of the next such change.

 

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.

 

Assignee Group ” means two (2) or more Eligible Assignees that are Affiliates of one another or two (2) or more Approved Funds managed by the same investment advisor.

 

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 D-1 or any other form (including electronic documentation generated by MarkitClear or other electronic platform) approved by the Administrative Agent.

 

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Attributable Indebtedness ” means, on any date in respect of any Capital 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.

 

Audited Financial Statements ” means the audited financial statements of the Parent for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016 and, from and after the delivery of the financial statements of the Parent required pursuant to Section 7.01(a)  for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2017, the most-recent financial statements furnished pursuant to Section 7.01(a) .

 

Award ” means any compensation paid by any Governmental Authority in connection with a Condemnation in respect of all or any part of any Unencumbered Property.

 

Bail-In Action ” means the exercise of any Write-Down and Conversion Powers by the applicable EEA Resolution Authority in respect of any liability of an EEA Financial Institution.

 

Bail-In Legislation ” means, with respect to any EEA Member Country implementing Article 55 of Directive 2014/59/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of the European Union, the implementing law for such EEA Member Country from time to time which is described in the EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule.

 

Balloon Payments ” shall mean with respect to any loan constituting Indebtedness, any required principal payment of such loan which is payable at the maturity of such Indebtedness, provided, however, that the final payment of a fully amortized loan shall not constitute a Balloon Payment.

 

BANA ” means Bank of America, N.A.

 

Base Rate ” means, at any time, a fluctuating rate per annum equal to the highest of (a) the rate of interest in effect for such day as publicly announced from time to time by BANA as its “prime rate,” (b) the Federal Funds Rate plus 0.50% and (c) the LIBOR Market Index Rate plus 1%.  The “prime rate” is a rate set by BANA based upon various factors including BANA’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 BANA shall take effect at the opening of business on the day specified in the public announcement of such change.

 

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

 

Beneficial Ownership Certification ” means a certification regarding beneficial ownership as required by the Beneficial Ownership Regulation.

 

Beneficial Ownership Regulation ” means 31 C.F.R. § 101.230.

 

Book Value ” means all land, building, improvements, leasing commissions and deferred leasing intangibles less accumulated depreciation and amortization.

 

Borrower ” has the meaning specified in the introductory paragraph hereto.

 

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Borrower’s Instruction Certificate ” means a completed form substantially in the form of Exhibit I to be executed and delivered by the Borrower pursuant to Section 5.01(a) , as the same may be amended, restated or modified from time to time with the prior written approval of the Administrative Agent.

 

Borrower Materials ” has the meaning specified in Section 7.02 .

 

Borrower Remittance Instruction ” means a completed form substantially in the form of Exhibit E to be executed and delivered by the Borrower pursuant to Section 5.01(a) , as the same may be amended, restated or modified from time to time with the prior written approval of the Administrative Agent.

 

Borrowing ” means a Committed Borrowing.

 

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 or the State of New York, and, if such day relates to any LIBOR Loan, means any such day that is also a London Banking Day.

 

Capital Lease ” means, with respect to any Person, the obligations of such Person to pay rent or other amounts under any lease of (or other arrangement conveying the right to use) real or personal property, or a combination thereof, which obligations are required to be classified and accounted for as capital leases on a balance sheet of such Person under GAAP.

 

Capital Lease Obligations ” means, with respect to any Person for any period, the capitalized amount of obligations under Capital Leases for such Person for such period as determined in accordance with GAAP.

 

Capitalization Rate ” means seven percent (7.0%).

 

Cash Equivalents ” means any of the following types of Investments, to the extent owned by Guarantor, the Borrower or any of their Subsidiaries free and clear of all Liens (other than Liens permitted hereunder):

 

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

 

(b)                                  demand or time deposits with, or insured certificates of deposit or bankers’ acceptances of, any commercial bank that (A) is a Lender or (B) (i) is organized under the laws of the United States of America, 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 of America, 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 $1,000,000,000, in each case with maturities of not more than 90 days from the date of acquisition thereof;

 

6



 

(c)                                   commercial paper in an aggregate amount of no more than $5,000,000 per issuer outstanding at any time issued by any Person organized under the laws of any state of the United States of America 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 180 days from the date of acquisition thereof;

 

(d)                                  Investments, classified in accordance with GAAP as current assets of the Parent 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) and (c) of this definition; and

 

(e)                                   Other liquid or readily marketable investments in an amount not to exceed five percent (5%) of Total Asset Value.

 

Casualty ” means, with respect to any Unencumbered Property, if such Unencumbered Property has been damaged or destroyed, in whole or in part, by fire or other casualty.

 

Change in Law ” means the occurrence, after the date of this Agreement, of any of the following: (a) the adoption or taking effect of any Law, rule, regulation or treaty; (b) any change in any Law, rule, regulation or treaty or in the administration, interpretation, implementation or application thereof by any Governmental Authority; or (c) the making or issuance of any request, rule, guideline or directive (whether or not having the force of law) by any Governmental Authority; provided that notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, (x) the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and all requests, rules, guidelines or directives thereunder or issued in connection therewith or in implementation thereof and (y) all requests, rules, guidelines or directives promulgated by the Bank for International Settlements, the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (or any successor or similar authority) or the United States or foreign regulatory authorities, in each case pursuant to Basel III, shall in each case be deemed to be a “Change in Law”, regardless of the date enacted, adopted, issued or implemented.

 

Change of Control ” means an event or series of events by which:

 

(a)                                  any “ person ” or “ group ” (as such terms are used in Sections 13(d)  and 14(d)  of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, but excluding any employee benefit plan of such person or its Subsidiaries, and any person or entity acting in its capacity as trustee, agent or other fiduciary or administrator of any such plan) becomes the “ beneficial owner ” (as defined in Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, except that a person or group shall be deemed to have “beneficial ownership” of all Equity Interests that such person or group has the right to acquire, whether such right is exercisable immediately or only after the passage of time (such right, an “ option right ”)), directly or indirectly, of thirty-five percent (35%) or more of the Equity Interests of the Parent entitled to vote for members of the board of directors or equivalent governing body of the Parent on a fully-diluted basis (and taking into account all such Equity Interests that such person or group has the right to acquire pursuant to any option right);

 

7



 

(b)                                  during any period of twelve (12) consecutive months, a majority of the members of the board of directors or other equivalent governing body of the Parent cease to be composed of individuals (i) who were members of that board or equivalent governing body on the first day of such period, (ii) whose election or nomination to that board or equivalent governing body was approved by individuals referred to in clause (i) above constituting at the time of such election or nomination at least a majority of that board or equivalent governing body or (iii) whose election or nomination to that board or other equivalent governing body was approved by individuals referred to in clauses (i) and (ii) above constituting at the time of such election or nomination at least a majority of that board or equivalent governing body; or

 

(c)                                   the Parent shall cease to (i) either be the sole general partner of, or wholly own and control the general partner of, the Borrower or (ii) own, directly or indirectly, greater than fifty percent (50%) of the Equity Interests of the Borrower.

 

Closing Date ” means the first date all the conditions precedent in Section 5.01 are satisfied or waived in accordance with Section 11.01 .

 

Code ” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 .

 

Commitment ” means, as to each Lender, its obligation to make Committed Loans to the Borrower pursuant to Section 2.01 , in an aggregate principal amount at any one time outstanding not to exceed the amount set forth opposite such Lender’s name on Schedule 2.01 or in the Assignment and Assumption pursuant to which such Lender becomes a party hereto, as applicable, as such amount may be adjusted from time to time in accordance with this Agreement.

 

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

 

Committed Loan ” has the meaning specified in Section 2.01(a) .

 

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.

 

Companies ” means, without duplication, the Parent and its Consolidated Subsidiaries (including the Borrower), and “Company” means any one of the Companies.

 

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

 

Condemnation ” means a temporary or permanent taking by any Governmental Authority as the result, in lieu, or in anticipation, of the exercise of the right of condemnation or eminent domain of all or any part of any Unencumbered Property, or any interest therein or right accruing thereto, including any right of access thereto or any change of grade affecting any Unencumbered Property or any part thereof.

 

8



 

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 EBITDA ” means, for any Person for any period, an amount equal to (a) Consolidated Net Income, plus (b) the sum of the following (without duplication and to the extent reflected as a charge in the statement of such Consolidated Net Income for such period): (i) income tax expense; (ii) interest expense, amortization or write-off of debt discount and debt issuance costs and commissions, discounts and other fees and charges associated with Indebtedness; (iii) depreciation and amortization expense; (iv) amortization of intangibles (including goodwill) and organization costs; (v) any extraordinary, unusual or non-recurring expenses or losses (including, whether or not otherwise includable as a separate item in the statement of such Consolidated Net Income for such period, losses on sales of assets outside of the ordinary course of business), including property acquisition costs; (vi) any other non-cash charges, and (vii) all commissions, guaranty fees, discounts and other fees and charges owed by such Person with respect to letters of credit and bankers’ acceptance financing and net costs of such Person under Swap Contracts in respect of interest rates to the extent such net costs are allocable to such period in accordance with GAAP; minus (c) the sum of the following (to the extent included in the statement of such Consolidated Net Income for such period): (i) interest income (except to the extent deducted in determining such Consolidated Net Income); (ii) any extraordinary, unusual or non-recurring income or gains (including, whether or not otherwise includable as a separate item in the statement of such Consolidated Net Income for such period, gains on the sales of assets outside of the ordinary course of business); and (iii) any other non-cash income.

 

Consolidated Fixed Charges ” means, on a consolidated basis, for any Person for any period, the sum (without duplication) of (a) Consolidated Interest Expense, (b) provision for cash income taxes made by such Person on a consolidated basis in respect of such period, (c) scheduled principal amortization payments due during such period on account of Indebtedness of such Person (excluding Balloon Payments), and (d) Restricted Payments paid in cash with respect to preferred Equity Interests of such Person during such period (other than any repayments of principal with respect to preferred Equity Interests).

 

Consolidated Interest Expense ” means, for any Person for any period, the total interest expense (including that attributable to Capital Lease Obligations) of such Person for such period with respect to all outstanding Total Funded Debt (including all commissions, discounts and other fees and charges owed by such Person with respect to letters of credit and bankers’ acceptance financing and net costs of such Person under Swap Contracts in respect of interest rates to the extent such net costs are allocable to such period in accordance with GAAP).  Consolidated Interest Expenses shall exclude non-cash charges, interest rate hedge termination payments or receipts, loan prepayment costs, and upfront loan fees, interest expense covered by an interest reserve established under a loan facility and any interest expense under any construction loan or construction activity that under GAAP is required to be capitalized.

 

Consolidated Leverage Ratio ” means, as of any date of determination, the quotient (expressed as a percentage) of (a) Consolidated Total Debt, divided by (b) Total Asset Value.

 

9



 

Consolidated Net Income ” means, for any Person for any period, the consolidated net income (or loss) of such Person for such period, determined on a consolidated basis; provided that in calculating Consolidated Net Income of the Parent for any period, there shall be excluded (a) the income (or deficit) of any Person accrued prior to the date it becomes a Subsidiary or is merged into or consolidated with the Parent or any of its Subsidiaries, (b) the income (or deficit) of any Person (other than a Company) in which any Company has an ownership interest, except to the extent that any such income is actually received by such Company in the form of dividends or similar distributions, and (c) the undistributed earnings of any Subsidiary of any Company to the extent that the declaration or payment of dividends or similar distributions by such Subsidiary is not at the time permitted by the terms of any Contractual Obligation (other than under any Loan Document) or requirement of Law applicable to such Subsidiary.

 

Consolidated Subsidiary ” means any Person in which the Parent or the Borrower has a direct or indirect ownership interest and whose financial results would be consolidated under GAAP with the financial results of the Parent on the consolidated financial statements of the Parent.

 

Consolidated Total Debt ” means, as of any date of determination, the aggregate principal amount of all Indebtedness of the Parent on such date, determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP which would be required to be included on the liabilities side of the balance sheet of the Parent in accordance with GAAP, and including the Companies’ Share of the principal amount of all Indebtedness of Unconsolidated Affiliates, but, in each case, excluding the net obligations of the Parent on a consolidated basis under any Swap Contract.

 

Construction in Progress ” means (a) a Property with new ground up construction, (b) a Property under renovation in which (i) greater than thirty percent (30%) of the square footage of such Property is unavailable for occupancy due to renovation and (ii) no rents are being paid on such square footage or (c) a building expansion.  The classification of “Construction in Progress” will cease on the earlier to occur of (A) the time that such Property has an Occupancy Rate of greater than eighty percent (80%), and (B) one hundred eighty (180) days after completion of construction, renovation or expansion of such Property, as applicable.

 

Contamination ” means the presence of Hazardous Materials in amounts exceeding regulatory action levels.

 

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.  The terms “ Controlling ” and “ Controlled ” have meanings correlative thereto.

 

Co-Syndication Agent ” means each of Capital One, National Association, PNC Bank, National Association, Royal Bank of Canada and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association in its capacity as a co-syndication agent for the term loan facility evidenced by this Agreement.

 

10



 

Credit Agreements ” means (a) the Revolving Credit Agreement, (b) that certain Term Loan Agreement, dated as of September 29, 2015, among the Borrower, the Parent, Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as administrative agent, and the other lenders party thereto, (c) that certain Amended and Restated Term Loan Agreement, dated as of December 20, 2016, among the Borrower, the Parent, Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as administrative agent, and the other lenders party thereto and (d) that certain Second Amended and Restated Term Loan Agreement, dated as of December 20, 2016, among the Borrower, the Parent, Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as administrative agent, and the other lenders party thereto, and (e) that certain Term Loan Agreement, dated as of July 26, 2018, among the Borrower, the Parent, Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as administrative agent, and the other lenders party thereto, in each case, as amended from time to time.

 

Credit Extension ” means a Borrowing.

 

Current Reporting Quarter ” means the most recent fiscal quarter for which quarterly financial statements have been delivered to the Lenders pursuant to Section 7.01 .

 

Customary Recourse Exceptions ” means, with respect to any Indebtedness, personal recourse that is limited to fraud, misrepresentation, misapplication of cash, waste, environmental claims and liabilities, prohibited transfers, violations of single purposes entity covenants, and other circumstances customarily excluded by institutional lenders from exculpation provisions and/or included in separate guaranty or indemnification agreements in non-recourse financing of Real Property.

 

Dark Property ” means any Property as to which, as of the last day of the Current Reporting Quarter, (a) all leases have terminated, (b) the Borrower is not recognizing revenue from any tenants in accordance with GAAP or (c) the Adjusted NOI for such Property is negative.

 

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 and affecting the rights of creditors generally.

 

11



 

Debt Rating ” means, as of any date of determination, the rating as determined by a minimum of two of S&P,  Moody’s or Fitch (collectively, the “ Debt Ratings ”) of the Borrower’s non-credit-enhanced, senior unsecured long-term debt; provided that (a) if the respective Debt Ratings issued by the foregoing rating agencies differ by one level, then the Pricing Level for the higher of such Debt Ratings shall apply (with the Debt Rating for Pricing Level 1 being the highest and the Debt Rating for Pricing Level 5 being the lowest); (b) if there is a split in Debt Ratings of more than one level, then the Pricing Level that is one level lower than the Pricing Level of the higher Debt Rating shall apply; (c) if the Borrower has only one Debt Rating, the Pricing Level that is one level lower than that of such Debt Rating shall apply; and (d) if, after satisfying the Rating Condition, the Borrower does not have any Debt Rating, Pricing Level 5 shall apply.

 

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 an interest rate equal to (i) the Base Rate plus (ii) the Applicable Rate, if any, applicable to Base Rate Loans plus (iii) two percent (2%) per annum; provided that with respect to a LIBOR Loan, the Default Rate shall be an interest rate equal to the interest rate (including any Applicable Rate) otherwise applicable to such Loan plus two percent (2%) per annum.

 

Defaulting Lender ” means, subject to Section 2.16(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 Borrower in writing that such failure is the result of such Lender’s determination that one or more conditions precedent to funding (each of which conditions precedent, together with any applicable default, shall be specifically identified in such writing) has not been satisfied, or (ii) pay to the Administrative Agent or any other Lender any other amount required to be paid by it hereunder within two (2) Business Days of the date when due, (b) has notified the Borrower and the Administrative Agent 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 Borrower, to confirm in writing to the Administrative Agent and the Borrower that it will comply with its prospective funding obligations hereunder ( provided that such Lender shall cease to be a Defaulting Lender pursuant to this clause (c)  upon receipt of such written confirmation by the Administrative Agent and the Borrower), or (d) has, or has a direct or indirect parent company which controls such Lender that has, (i) become the subject of a proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law, (ii) had appointed for it a receiver, custodian, conservator, trustee, administrator, assignee for the benefit of creditors or similar Person charged with reorganization or liquidation of its business or assets, including the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other state or federal regulatory authority acting in such a capacity or (iii) become the subject of a Bail-In Action; provided that a Lender shall not be a Defaulting Lender solely by virtue of the ownership or acquisition of any Equity Interest in that Lender or any direct or indirect parent company thereof by a Governmental Authority so long as

 

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such ownership interest does not result in or provide such Lender with immunity from the jurisdiction of courts within the United States or from the enforcement of judgments or writs of attachment on its assets or permit such Lender (or such Governmental Authority) to reject, repudiate, disavow or disaffirm any contracts or agreements made with such Lender.  Any determination by the Administrative Agent that a Lender is a Defaulting Lender under any one or more of clauses (a)  through (d)  above, and of the effective date of such status, shall be conclusive and binding absent manifest error, and such Lender shall be deemed to be a Defaulting Lender (subject to Section 2.16(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 Borrower and each Lender promptly following such determination.

 

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

 

Disposition ” or “ Dispose ” means the sale, transfer, license, lease (other than a real estate lease entered into in the ordinary course of business as part of Property leasing operations) or other disposition (including any sale and leaseback transaction) of any property by any Person, 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 arrangement constituting a Lien.

 

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

 

Draw Request ” means a notice of (a) a Committed Borrowing, (b) a conversion of Committed Loans from one Type to the other, or (c) a continuation of LIBOR Loans, pursuant to Section 2.02(a) , which, if in writing, shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit A

 

EEA Financial Institution ” means (a) any institution established in any EEA Member Country which is subject to the supervision of an EEA Resolution Authority, (b) any entity established in an EEA Member Country which is a parent of an institution described in clause (a) of this definition, or (c) any institution established in an EEA Member Country which is a subsidiary of an institution described in clauses (a) or (b) of this definition and is subject to consolidated supervision with its parent.

 

EEA Member Country ” means any of the member states of the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway.

 

EEA Resolution Authority ” means any public administrative authority or any Person entrusted with public administrative authority of any EEA Member Country (including any delegee) having responsibility for the resolution of any EEA Financial Institution.

 

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

 

Environmental Assessment ” has the meaning specified in Section 7.12(b) .

 

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Environmental Claim ” means any investigative, enforcement, cleanup, removal, containment, remedial, or other private or governmental or regulatory action at any time instituted or completed pursuant to any applicable Environmental Requirement against any Company or against or with respect to any Real Property or any condition, use, or activity on any Real Property (including any such action against the Administrative Agent or any Lender), and any claim at any time made by any Person against any Company or against or with respect to any Real Property or any condition, use, or activity on any Real Property (including any such claim against the Administrative Agent or any Lender), relating to damage, contribution, cost recovery, compensation, loss, or injury resulting from or in any way arising in connection with any Hazardous Material or any Environmental Requirement.

 

Environmental Damages ” means all liabilities (including strict liability), losses, damages (excluding consequential, special, exemplary or punitive damages except to the extent such damages were imposed upon an Indemnitee as a result of any claims made against such Indemnitee by a governmental entity or any other third party), judgments, penalties, fines, costs and expenses (including fees, costs and expenses of attorneys, consultants, contractors, experts and laboratories), of any and every kind or character, at law or in equity, contingent or otherwise, matured or unmatured, foreseeable or unforeseeable, made, incurred, suffered, brought, or imposed at any time and from time to time, whether before or after the Release Date and arising in whole or in part from:

 

(a)                                  the presence of any Hazardous Material on any Unencumbered Property, or any escape, seepage, leakage, spillage, emission, release, discharge or disposal of any Hazardous Material on or from any Unencumbered Property, or the migration or release or threatened migration or release of any Hazardous Material to, from or through any Unencumbered Property, on or before the Release Date; or

 

(b)                                  any act, omission, event or circumstance existing or occurring in connection with the handling, treatment, containment, removal, storage, decontamination, clean up, transport or disposal of any Hazardous Material which is at any time on or before the Release Date present on any Unencumbered Property; or

 

(c)                                   the breach of any representation, warranty, covenant or agreement contained in this Agreement  relating to the presence of any Hazardous Material on any Unencumbered Property because of any event or condition occurring or existing on or before the Release Date; or

 

(d)                                  any violation on or before the Release Date, of any Environmental Requirement in connection with any Unencumbered Property in effect on or before the Release Date, regardless of whether any act, omission, event or circumstance giving rise to the violation constituted a violation at the time of the occurrence or inception of such act, omission, event or circumstance; or

 

(e)                                   any Environmental Claim, or the filing or imposition of any environmental Lien against any Unencumbered Property, because of, resulting from, in connection with, or arising out of any of the matters referred to in subparagraphs (a)  through (d)  preceding;

 

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and regardless of whether any of the foregoing was caused by the Borrower, any other Loan Party or their respective tenant or subtenant, or a prior owner of an Unencumbered Property or its tenant or subtenant, or any third party including (i) injury or damage to any person, property or natural resource occurring on or off of an Unencumbered Property including the cost of demolition and rebuilding of any improvements on any Real Property; (ii) the investigation or remediation of any such Hazardous Material or violation of Environmental Requirement including the preparation of any feasibility studies or reports and the performance of any cleanup, remediation, removal, response, abatement, containment, closure, restoration, monitoring or similar work required by any Environmental Requirement or necessary to have full use and benefit of Unencumbered Properties as contemplated by the Loan Documents (including any of the same in connection with any foreclosure action or transfer in lieu thereof); (iii) all liability to pay or indemnify any Person or Governmental Authority for costs expended in connection with any of the foregoing; (iv) the investigation and defense of any claim, whether or not such claim is ultimately withdrawn or defeated; and (v) the settlement of any claim or judgment.  “ Costs ” as used in this definition shall also include any diminution in the value of the security afforded by the Unencumbered Property or any future reduction of the sales price of any Unencumbered Property by reason of any matter set forth in Section 7.12 or 8.12 .

 

Environmental Laws ” means any and all applicable 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 Requirement ” means any Environmental Law, agreement or restriction, as the same now exists or may be changed or amended or come into effect in the future, which pertains to any Hazardous Material or the environment including ground or air or water or noise pollution or contamination, and underground or aboveground tanks.

 

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.

 

Equity Issuance ” means the issuance or sale by any Person of any of its Equity Interests or any capital contribution to such Person by the holders of its Equity Interests.

 

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 the Borrower within the meaning of Section 414(b)  or (c)  of the Code (and

 

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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 the Parent 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 the Parent 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(a)(1) or (2)  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 notification that a Multiemployer Plan is 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; or (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  the Parent or any ERISA Affiliate.

 

EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule ” means the EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule published by the Loan Market Association (or any successor Person), as in effect from time to time.

 

Event of Default ” has the meaning specified in Section 9.01 .

 

Excluded Party ” shall mean any REIT, any parent company of or Person who Controls any REIT in each instance engaged primarily in owning and operating Real Property, and any other Person whom the Borrower has reasonably identified in writing to the Administrative Agent as a competitor or potential competitor of the Borrower.

 

Excluded Swap Obligation ” means, with respect to any Loan Party, any Swap Contract if, and to the extent that, all or a portion of the liability of such Loan Party for or the Guarantee of such Loan Party of, or the grant by such Loan Party of a Lien to secure, such Swap Contract (or any liability or guarantee thereof) is or becomes illegal under the Commodity Exchange Act or any rule, regulation or order of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (or the application or official interpretation of any thereof) by virtue of such Loan Party’s failure for any reason to constitute an “eligible contract participant” as defined in the Commodity Exchange Act and the regulations thereunder at the time the liability for or the Guarantee of such Loan Party or the grant of such Lien becomes effective with respect to such Swap Contract (such determination being made after giving effect to any applicable keepwell, support or other agreement for the benefit of the applicable Loan Party, including under Section 27 of the Subsidiary Guaranty).  If a Swap Contract arises under a master agreement governing more than one swap, such exclusion shall apply only to the portion of such Swap Contract that is attributable to swaps for which such Guarantee or Lien is or becomes illegal for the reasons identified in the immediately preceding sentence of this definition.

 

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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 the 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)(ii)  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.

 

“Exclusion Event” has the meaning specified in Section 4.10 .

 

“Exclusion Notice” has the meaning specified in Section 4.10.

 

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 agreement 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 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, then 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, (b) if no such rate is so published on such next succeeding Business Day, then 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 BANA on such day on such transactions as determined by the Administrative Agent and (c) if the Federal Funds Rate should be less than zero, such rate shall be deemed to be zero for purposes of this Agreement.

 

Fee Letter ” means the letter agreement, dated June 28, 2017, among the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated.

 

FIRREA ” means the Financial Institution Recovery, Reform and Enforcement Act of 1989, as amended.

 

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First Amendment Effective Date ” means July 26, 2018.

 

Fitch ” means Fitch, Inc., and any successor thereto.

 

Fixed Charge Ratio ” means, as of any date of determination, the quotient (expressed as a percentage) of (a) Consolidated EBITDA, divided by (b) Consolidated Fixed Charges.

 

Foreign Lender ” means (a) if the Borrower is a U.S. Person, a Lender that is not a U.S. Person, and (b) if the 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 the 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.

 

FRB ” means the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System of the United States.

 

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.

 

Funds from Operations ” means, for any Person for any period, the sum of (a) Consolidated Net Income plus (b) depreciation and amortization expense determined in accordance with GAAP excluding amortization expense attributable to capitalized debt costs; provided that there shall not be included in such calculation (i) any proceeds of any insurance policy other than rental or business interruption insurance received by such Person, (ii) any gain or loss which is classified as “extraordinary” in accordance with GAAP, (iii) any capital gains and taxes on capital gains, (iv) income (or loss) associated with third-party ownership of non-controlling Equity Interests, and (v) gains or losses on the sale of discontinued operations as detailed in the most-recent financial statements delivered pursuant to Section 7.01(a)  or (b) , as applicable.

 

GAAP ” means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States set forth in the opinions and pronouncements of the Accounting Principles Board and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and statements and pronouncements of the Financial Accounting Standards Board or such other principles as may be approved by a significant segment of the accounting profession in the United States, that are applicable to the circumstances as of the date of determination, consistently applied.

 

Governmental Authority ” means the government of the United States or any other nation, or of any political subdivision thereof, whether state or local, and any agency, authority, instrumentality, regulatory body, court, central bank or other entity exercising executive, legislative, judicial, taxing, regulatory or administrative powers or functions of or pertaining to government (including any supra-national bodies such as the European Union or the European Central Bank).

 

Guarantee ” means, as to any Person, (a) any obligation, contingent or otherwise, of such Person guaranteeing or having the economic effect of guaranteeing any Indebtedness or other obligation payable or performable by another Person (the “primary obligor”) in any

 

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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 or other obligation of any other Person, whether or not such Indebtedness or other obligation is assumed by such Person (or any right, contingent or otherwise, of any holder of such Indebtedness 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.

 

Guaranties ” means the Parent Guaranty and the Subsidiary Guaranties, and “ Guaranty ” means any one of the Guaranties.

 

Guarantors ” means, collectively, the Parent and each Subsidiary Guarantor, and “ Guarantor ” means any one of the Guarantors.

 

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

 

“Immaterial Subsidiary ” means any Subsidiary whose assets constitute less than one percent (1%) of Total Asset Value; provided that if at any time the aggregate Total Asset Value of the “Immaterial Subsidiaries” which are not Guarantors exceeds ten percent (10%) of Total Asset Value, then the Borrower shall designate certain “Immaterial Subsidiaries” as Guarantors such that the aggregate Total Asset Value of the “Immaterial Subsidiaries” which are not Guarantors does not exceed ten percent (10%) of Total Asset Value.

 

Improvements ” means any Subsidiary Guarantor’s interest in and to all on site improvements to the Unencumbered Properties, together with all fixtures, tenant improvements, and appurtenances now or later to be located on the Unencumbered Properties and/or in such improvements.

 

Increase Effective Date ” has the meaning specified in Section 2.06(b)(ii) .

 

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:

 

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(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)                                  all direct or contingent obligations of such Person arising under letters of credit (including standby and commercial), bankers’ acceptances, bank guaranties, surety bonds and similar instruments;

 

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

 

(d)                                  all 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 and, in each case, either (i) not past due for more than one hundred and eighty (180) days or (ii) being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted);

 

(e)                                   Capital Lease Obligations;

 

(f)                                    all obligations of such Person to purchase, redeem, retire, defease or otherwise make any payment in respect of any ownership interest (excluding perpetual preferred ownership interests) in such Person or any other Person, valued, in the case of a redeemable preferred interest, at the greater of its voluntary or involuntary liquidation preference plus (without duplication and only to the extent required to be paid) accrued and unpaid dividends;

 

(g)                                   all Guarantees of such Person in respect of any of the foregoing (except for guaranties of customary exceptions for fraud, misapplication of funds, environmental indemnities, voluntary bankruptcy, collusive involuntary bankruptcy and other similar customary exceptions to non-recourse liability); and

 

(h)                                  all obligations of the kind referred to in clauses (a) through (g) above secured by (or for which the holder of such obligation has an existing right, contingent or otherwise, to be secured by) any lien on Property (including accounts and contract rights) owned by such Person, whether or not such Person has assumed or become liable for the payment of such obligation, but limited to the lesser of (i) the fair market value of the property subject to such lien and (ii) the aggregate amount of the obligations so secured.

 

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; provided that, solely for purposes of calculating the financial covenants set forth in Sections 8.14(a), (b) and (c), Indebtedness shall exclude the net obligations of the Parent on a consolidated basis under Swap Contracts entered into to hedge or mitigate any interest rate risk in respect of borrowed money for which the Parent, the Borrower or any Subsidiary has actual exposure.  The amount of any Capital Lease Obligations as of any date shall be deemed to be the amount of Attributable Indebtedness in respect thereof as of such date.

 

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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 (a), Other Taxes.

 

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

 

Information ” has the meaning specified in Section 11.07.

 

Initial Unencumbered Properties ” means the Acceptable Properties listed on Schedule 4.01 , and “ Initial Unencumbered Property ” means any one of the Initial Unencumbered Properties.

 

Interest Payment Date ” means (a) as to any Loan other than a Base Rate Loan, the last day of each Interest Period applicable to such Loan and the Maturity Date applicable to such Loan; provided that if any Interest Period for a LIBOR Loan exceeds three (3) months, then 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, the last Business Day of each March, June, September, and December and the Maturity Date applicable to such Loan.

 

Interest Period ” means as to each LIBOR Loan, the period commencing on the date such LIBOR Loan is disbursed or converted to or continued as a LIBOR Loan and ending on the date one (1), two (2), three (3) or six (6) months (if available to all Lenders) thereafter, as selected by the Borrower in its Loan Notice; provided that :

 

(i)                                      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, in the case of a LIBOR Loan, such Business Day falls in another calendar month, in which case such Interest Period shall end on the next preceding Business Day;

 

(ii)                                   any Interest Period pertaining to a LIBOR Loan 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

 

(iii)                                no Interest Period for a subject Loan shall extend beyond the Maturity Date applicable to such Loan.

 

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 equity participation or interest in, another Person, including any partnership or joint venture interest in such other Person and any arrangement pursuant to which the investor Guarantees 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 that constitute a business unit.  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.

 

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IP Rights ” has the meaning specified in Section 6.18 .

 

IRS ” means the United States Internal Revenue Service.

 

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.

 

Lead Arrangers ” means (a) Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, together with any affiliates it deems appropriate to provide the services contemplated herein, in its capacity as sole bookrunner and joint lead arranger for the term loan facility evidenced by this Agreement, and (b) each of Capital One, National Association, PNC Capital Markets LLC, Royal Bank of Canada and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, in its capacity as joint lead arranger for the term loan facility evidenced by this Agreement.

 

Lease ” means each existing or future lease, sublease (to the extent of any Subsidiary Guarantor’s rights thereunder), license, or other agreement (other than an Acceptable Ground Lease) under the terms of which any Person has or acquires any right to occupy or use any Property, or any part thereof, or interest therein, and each existing or future guaranty of payment or performance thereunder.

 

Lender ” has the meaning specified in the introductory paragraph hereto.

 

Lending Office ” means, as to any Lender, the office or offices of such Lender described as such in such Lender’s Administrative Questionnaire, or such other office or offices as a Lender may from time to time notify the Borrower and the Administrative Agent.

 

LIBOR ” means:

 

(a) for any Interest Period with respect to a LIBOR Loan (including any Loan that bears interest by reference to the LIBOR Market Index Rate), the rate per annum equal to the London Interbank Offered Rate (the “ LIBO Rate ”) or a comparable or successor rate, which comparable or successor 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 approximately 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 LIBO Rate, at or about 11:00 a.m., London time determined two (2) Business Days prior to such date for U.S. Dollar deposits with a term of one month commencing that day; and

 

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(c) if the LIBO Rate shall be less than zero, such rate shall be deemed zero for each LIBOR Loan that has not been identified by the Borrower in accordance with the terms of this Agreement as being subject to a Specified Swap Contract that provides a hedge against interest rate risk;

 

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.

 

LIBOR Loan ” means a Committed Loan that bears interest at a rate based on LIBOR.

 

LIBOR Market Index Rate ” means, with respect to any day, the rate of interest per annum determined by Administrative Agent equal to LIBOR based on Dollar deposits in minimum amounts of at least $5,000,000 for a period equal to one month (commencing on the date of determination of such interest rate) as published by Bloomberg (or any applicable successor page, or, if not available, another commercially available source providing such quotations as designated by Administrative Agent from time to time) at approximately 11:00 a.m. (London time) two (2) Business Days prior to the date in question, or, if such date is not a Business Day, then the immediately preceding Business Day (rounded upward, if necessary, to the nearest whole 1/100 of 1%); provided that if the LIBOR Market Index Rate shall be less than zero, such rate shall be deemed to be zero for all purposes of this Agreement.

 

LIBOR Screen Rate ” means the LIBOR quote on the applicable screen page the Administrative Agent designates to determine LIBOR (or such other commercially available source providing such quotations as may be designated by the Administrative Agent from time to time).

 

LIBOR Successor Rate Conforming Changes ” means, with respect to any proposed LIBOR Successor Rate, any conforming changes to the definition of Base Rate, Interest Period, timing and frequency of determining rates and making payments of interest and other administrative matters as may be appropriate, in the discretion of the Administrative Agent, to reflect the adoption of such LIBOR Successor Rate and to permit the administration thereof by the Administrative Agent in a manner substantially consistent with market practice (or, if the Administrative Agent determines that adoption of any portion of such market practice is not administratively feasible or that no market practice for the administration of such LIBOR Successor Rate exists, in such other manner of administration as the Administrative Agent determines in consultation with the Borrower).

 

Lien ” means any mortgage, pledge, hypothecation, assignment, deposit arrangement, encumbrance, lien (statutory or other), charge or other security interest or any preference, priority or other security agreement or preferential arrangement 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 Capital Lease having substantially the same economic effect as any of the foregoing).

 

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Loan ” means an extension of credit by a Lender to the Borrower under Article II in the form of a Committed Loan.

 

Loan Documents ” means this Agreement, each Note, the Fee Letter, and the Guaranties.

 

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 LIBOR Loans, pursuant to Section 2.02(a) , which, if in writing, shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit A .

 

Loan Parties ” means, collectively, the Borrower and each Guarantor and “ Loan Party ” means any one of the Loan Parties.

 

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

 

Material Acquisition ” means any acquisition (or series of related acquisitions) or investments (or series of related investments) permitted by this Agreement and consummated in accordance with the terms of this Agreement for which the aggregate consideration paid in respect of such acquisition or investment (including any Indebtedness assumed in connection therewith) exceeds 10% of Total Asset Value for the Current Reporting Quarter, without giving pro forma effect to such acquisition.

 

Material Adverse Effect ” means: (a) a material adverse change in, or a material adverse effect upon, the business, assets, operations, or financial condition of the Companies, taken as a whole; (b) a material impairment of the ability of the Loan Parties, taken as a whole, to perform their obligations under the Loan Documents; or (c) a material adverse effect upon the legality, validity, binding effect, or enforceability against the Loan Parties, taken as a whole, of the Loan Documents to which they are parties.

 

Material Environmental Event ” means, with respect to any Unencumbered Property, (a) a violation of any Environmental Law with respect to such Unencumbered Property, or (b) the presence of any Hazardous Materials on, about, or under such Unencumbered Property that, under or pursuant to any Environmental Law, would require remediation, if in the case of either (a) or (b), such event or circumstance could reasonably be expected to have a Material Property Event.

 

Material Property Event ” means, with respect to any Unencumbered Property, the occurrence of any event or circumstance occurring or arising after the date of this Agreement that resulted in a (a) material adverse effect with respect to the financial condition or the operations of such Unencumbered Property, (b) material adverse effect on the value of such Unencumbered Property, or (c) material adverse effect on the ownership of such Unencumbered Property.

 

Material Title Defects ” means, with respect to any Unencumbered Property, defects, Liens (other than Liens for local real estate taxes and similar local governmental charges), and other encumbrances in the nature of easements, servitudes, restrictions, and rights-of-way that would customarily be deemed unacceptable title exceptions for a prudent lender (i.e., a prudent lender would reasonably determine that such exceptions, individually or in the aggregate,

 

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materially impair the value or operations of such Unencumbered Property, would prevent such Unencumbered Property from being used in the manner in which it is currently being used, or would result in a violation of any Law which would have a material and adverse effect on such Unencumbered Property); provided that Material Title Defects shall not include any Liens or other encumbrances (i) that existed as of the date of the title insurance policies issued in connection with the Prior Credit Agreement for the Initial Unencumbered Properties, (ii) that existed as of the date of this Agreement and that are listed on Schedule 8.01 or (iii) with respect to any Unencumbered Properties added following the date of this Agreement, Liens and other encumbrances similar in type and extent to those contemplated by clauses (i) and (ii) above.

 

Material Subsidiary ” means each Subsidiary of the Borrower other than a Non-Guarantor Subsidiary.

 

Maturity Date ” means January 4, 2023; provided that if such date is not a Business Day, then the Maturity Date shall be the next preceding Business Day.

 

Minimum Distributions ” means (a) for the Parent for any fiscal year of the Parent, Restricted Payments in an amount not less than the aggregate amount of distributions required to be paid by the Parent in order for the Parent to qualify as a REIT, and (b) for the Borrower for any fiscal year of the Borrower, Restricted Payments in an amount not less than the aggregate amount of distributions required to be paid by the Borrower to the Parent in order for the Parent to qualify as a REIT.

 

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 the Parent 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 (2) or more contributing sponsors (including the Parent or any ERISA Affiliate) at least two (2) of whom are not under common control, as such a plan is described in Section 4064 of ERISA.

 

Non-Guarantor Subsidiary ” means any Subsidiary (whether direct or indirect) of the Borrower, other than any Subsidiary which owns an Unencumbered Property or any Subsidiary which owns any of the Equity Interests of any such Subsidiary, which (a) is (i) formed for or converted to the specific purpose of holding title to Real Property assets which are collateral for Indebtedness owing or to be owed by such Subsidiary, provided that such Indebtedness must be incurred or assumed within ninety (90) days, such ninety (90) day period to be extended for an additional sixty (60) days if the Borrower provides an executed term sheet or commitment letter for the financing of such Real Property to the Administrative Agent (or, in either instance, for such longer period as the Administrative Agent may agree in writing) of such formation or conversion or such Subsidiary shall cease to qualify as a Non Guarantor Subsidiary, and (ii) expressly prohibited in writing from guaranteeing Indebtedness of any other person or entity pursuant to (A) a provision in any document, instrument or agreement evidencing such Indebtedness of such Subsidiary or (B) a provision of such Subsidiary’s Organization

 

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Documents, in each case, which provision was included in such Organization Document or such other document, instrument or agreement at the request of the applicable third party creditor and as an express condition to the extension or assumption of such Indebtedness; provided that a Subsidiary meeting the requirements set forth in this clause (a) shall only remain a “Non-Guarantor Subsidiary” for so long as (1) each of the foregoing requirements set forth in this clause (a) are satisfied, (2) such Subsidiary does not guarantee any other Indebtedness, and (3) the Indebtedness with respect to which the restrictions noted in clause (a) (ii) are imposed remains outstanding; (b)(i) becomes a Subsidiary following the Closing Date, (ii) is not a Wholly Owned Subsidiary of the Borrower, and (iii) with respect to which the Borrower and its Affiliates, as applicable, do not have sufficient voting power to cause such Subsidiary to become a Guarantor hereunder; (c) is an Immaterial Subsidiary; (d) is a Subsidiary which has been released from its Obligations under a Subsidiary Guaranty pursuant to Section 2.17(b)  below, or (e) is not a domestic Subsidiary.  For the avoidance of doubt, STAG Industrial Management, LLC, the Subsidiary that employs the Parent Guarantor’s employees, shall be deemed to be a Non-Guarantor Subsidiary.

 

Non-Recourse Indebtedness ” means, for any Person, any Indebtedness of such Person for the repayment of which neither the Parent or the Borrower has any personal liability (other than for Customary Recourse Exceptions) or, if such Person is the Parent or the Borrower, in which recourse of the applicable holder of such Indebtedness for non-payment is limited to such holder’s Liens on a particular asset or group of assets (other than for Customary Recourse Exceptions).  For the avoidance of doubt, if any Indebtedness is partially guaranteed by the Parent or the Borrower, then the portion of such Indebtedness that is not so guaranteed shall still be Non-Recourse Indebtedness if it otherwise satisfies the requirements in this definition.

 

Note ” means a promissory note made by the Borrower in favor of each Lender requesting the same evidencing Loans made by such Lender, substantially in the form of Exhibit B .

 

Note Purchase Agreements ” means (i) that certain Note Purchase Agreement, dated as of April 16, 2014 among the Parent, the Borrower, and the purchasers party thereto, (ii) that certain Note Purchase Agreement, dated as of December 18, 2014 among the Parent, the Borrower, and the purchasers party thereto, and (iii) that certain Note Purchase Agreement, dated as of June 13, 2018, among the Parent, the Borrower, and the purchasers party thereto, in each case as amended from time to time.

 

Obligations ” means 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, 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; including, without limitation of the foregoing, all present and future indebtedness, liabilities, and obligations now or hereafter owed to the Administrative Agent, any Lender, or any Affiliate of the Administrative Agent or any Lender (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any Specified

 

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Derivatives Providers) arising from, by virtue of, or pursuant to any Swap Contract, other than any Excluded Swap Obligation, that relates solely to the Obligations.

 

Occupancy Rate ” means, for any Property, the percentage of the rentable area of such Property occupied by bona fide tenants of such Property or leased by tenants pursuant to bona fide tenant Leases, in each case, which tenants are not more than 60 days past due in the payment of all rent or other similar payments due under such Leases and paying rent.

 

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, and (c) with respect to any partnership, joint venture, trust or other form of business entity, the partnership, joint venture or other applicable agreement of formation or organization and any agreement, instrument, filing or notice with respect thereto filed in connection with its formation or organization with the applicable Governmental Authority in the jurisdiction of its formation or organization and, if applicable, any certificate or articles of formation or organization of such entity.

 

Other Connection Taxes ” means, with respect to any Recipient, Taxes imposed as a result of a present or former connection between such Recipient and the jurisdiction imposing such Tax (other than connections arising from such Recipient having executed, delivered, become a party to, performed its obligations under, received payments under, received or perfected a security interest under, engaged in any other transaction pursuant to or enforced any Loan Document, or sold or assigned an interest in any Loan or Loan Document).

 

Other Taxes ” means all present or future stamp, court 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 with respect to Committed Loans on any date, the aggregate outstanding principal amount thereof after giving effect to any borrowings and prepayments or repayments of Loans occurring on such date.

 

Parent ” has the meaning specified in the introductory paragraph hereto.

 

Parent Guaranty ” means the Guaranty Agreement executed by the Parent in favor of the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Lenders and any Specified Derivatives Providers, in form and substance acceptable to the Administrative Agent.

 

Parent Share ” means a share of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Parent.

 

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

 

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

 

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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, Sections 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 the 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.

 

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 the Parent or any ERISA Affiliate or any such Plan to which the Parent or any ERISA Affiliate is required to contribute on behalf of any of its employees.

 

Platform ” has the meaning specified in Section 7.02 .

 

Prior Credit Agreement ” means that certain Credit Agreement dated as of April 20, 2011 among the Borrower, BANA, as agent, and a syndicate of lenders.

 

Property ” means any Real Property which is owned or ground leased, directly or indirectly, by any Company.

 

PTE ” means a prohibited transaction class exemption issued by the U.S. Department of Labor, as any such exemption may be amended from time to time.

 

Public Lender ” has the meaning specified in Section 7.02 .

 

Qualified ECP Guarantor ” means, in respect of any Swap Contract, each Loan Party that has total assets exceeding $10,000,000 at the time the relevant Guarantee or grant of the relevant security interest becomes effective with respect to such Swap Contract or such other person as constitutes an “eligible contract participant” under the Commodity Exchange Act or any regulations promulgated thereunder and can cause another person to qualify as an “eligible contract participant” at such time by entering into a keepwell under Section 1a(18)(A)(v)(II)  of the Commodity Exchange Act.

 

Rating Condition ” means the achievement by the Borrower of a Debt Rating.

 

Real Property ” of any Person means all of the right, title, and interest of such Person in and to land, improvements, and fixtures.

 

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Recipient ” means the Administrative Agent, any Lender, or any other recipient of any payment to be made by or on account of any obligation of any Loan Party hereunder.

 

Recourse Indebtedness ” means Indebtedness that is not Non-Recourse Indebtedness; provided that personal recourse for Customary Recourse Exceptions shall not, by itself, cause such Indebtedness to be characterized as Recourse Indebtedness.

 

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

 

REIT ” means a “real estate investment trust” in accordance with Section 856 of the Code.

 

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 with respect to a Borrowing, conversion or continuation of Committed Loans, a Draw Request.

 

Required Lenders ” means, at any time, the Lenders having Commitments representing more than 50% of the Aggregate Commitments of all Lenders or, if the commitment of each Lender to make Loans has been terminated pursuant to Section 2.01(b)  or 9.02 , the Lenders holding in the aggregate more than fifty percent (50%) of the Total Outstandings.  The Commitment and Loans of any Defaulting Lender shall be disregarded in determining the Required Lenders at any time.  At all times when two or more Lenders (excluding Defaulting Lenders) are party to this Agreement, the term “Required Lenders” shall in no event mean fewer than two Lenders.

 

Required Notice ” has the meaning supplied in Section 2.01(b) .

 

Responsible Officer ” means the chief executive officer, president, chief financial officer, chief operating officer, chief accounting officer, treasurer, assistant treasurer, or controller of a Loan Party, and solely for purposes of the delivery of incumbency certificates pursuant to Section 5.01 , the secretary or any assistant 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.  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.  Each initial Responsible Officer is listed on Schedule RO .

 

Restricted Payment ” means any dividend or other distribution (whether in cash, Equity Interests or other property) with respect to any capital stock or other Equity Interest of any Company or Subsidiary, or any payment (whether in cash, Equity Interests or other property),

 

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including any sinking fund or similar deposit, on account of the purchase, redemption, retirement, acquisition, cancellation or termination of any such capital stock or other Equity Interests, or on account of any return of capital to such Company’s or Subsidiary’s stockholders, partners or members (or the equivalent Person thereof).

 

Revolving Credit Agreement ” means that certain Credit Agreement, dated as of July 26, 2018, among the Borrower, the Parent, Wells Fargo, as administrative agent, and the other lenders party thereto, as amended.

 

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

 

Sanction(s) ” means any international economic sanction administered or enforced by OFAC, the United Nations Security Council, the European Union, Her Majesty’s Treasury or other relevant sanctions authority.

 

Scheduled Unavailability Date ” has the meaning provided in Section 3.3(ii) .

 

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

 

Secured Indebtedness ” means (without duplication), with respect to a Person as of any given date, the aggregate principal amount of all Indebtedness of such Person or its subsidiaries outstanding at such date and that is secured by a Lien, and including the Companies’ Share of all Indebtedness of Unconsolidated Affiliates that is secured by a Lien, but excluding for the avoidance of doubt, any net obligations under any Swap Contract that is secured by a Lien, all Unsecured Indebtedness and all Indebtedness hereunder, and provided further that the obligations under any revolving credit agreement (including the Revolving Credit Agreement or any amendment or replacement thereof) shall not constitute Secured Indebtedness due to the existence  of cash collateral security requirements in connection with customary defaulting lender provisions.

 

Secured Leverage Ratio ” means, as of any date of determination, the quotient (expressed as a percentage) of (a) Secured Indebtedness of Parent and its Subsidiaries, divided by (b) Total Asset Value.

 

Share ” means the Borrower’s and the Parent’s direct or indirect share of a Consolidated Subsidiary or an Unconsolidated Affiliate as reasonably determined by the Borrower based upon the Borrower’s and the Parent’s economic interest (whether direct or indirect) in such Consolidated Subsidiary or Unconsolidated Affiliate, as of the date of such determination.

 

Specified Derivatives Provider ” shall have the meaning provided in Section 9.03 .

 

Specified Swap Contract ” means any Swap Contract that is made or entered into at any time, or in effect at any time now or hereafter, whether as a result of an assignment or transfer or otherwise, in each case with respect to the Loans, between the Borrower and a Specified Swap Contract Provider.

 

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Specified Swap Contract Provider ” means any Lender, or Affiliate of a Lender, that is party to a Swap Contract at the time such Swap Contract is entered into.

 

Subsequent Loan Advances ” shall have the meaning provided in Section 2.01(b) .

 

Subsequent Loans ” shall have the meaning provided in Section 2.01(b) .

 

Subsidiary ” of a Person means a corporation, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company or other business entity of which a majority of the Equity Interests having ordinary voting power for the election of directors or other governing body (other than Equity Interests having such power only by reason of the happening of a contingency) are 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 Borrower.

 

Subsidiary Guarantors ” means, as of any date, each domestic Subsidiary which owns an Unencumbered Property, all domestic Subsidiaries of the Borrower owning a direct or indirect interest in an Unencumbered Property, each other domestic Material Subsidiary, and the general partner of each Subsidiary Guarantor that is a limited partnership and “ Subsidiary Guarantor ” means any one of the Subsidiary Guarantors; provided, however, that (a) STAG Industrial Management, LLC and (b) STAG Industrial TRS, LLC and its Subsidiaries shall in no event be deemed or required to be a Subsidiary Guarantor.

 

Subsidiary Guaranty ” means the Guaranty Agreement executed by each Subsidiary Guarantor in favor of the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Lenders and any Specified Derivatives Providers, in form and substance acceptable to the Administrative Agent.

 

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, (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, and (c) 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.

 

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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).

 

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.

 

Threshold Amount ” means (a) $40,000,000 with respect to Recourse Indebtedness, (b) $75,000,000 with respect to all Non-Recourse Indebtedness, and (c) $40,000,000 with respect to all other amounts.

 

Total Asset Value ” means, for the Companies, on a consolidated basis, as on any date, the sum of (a) an amount equal to (i) aggregate Adjusted NOI with respect to all Properties (without duplication from the assets in clauses (b) through (g) below) for the Current Reporting Quarter, annualized divided by (ii) the Capitalization Rate, plus (b) 75% of the Book Value of any Dark Property (provided that no Dark Property shall be included in the calculation of Total Asset Value for a period greater than 12 months), plus (c) the acquisition cost of Construction in Progress and the costs of improvements thereon and renovations thereof, plus (d) cash and cash equivalents (including restricted cash) on such date, plus (e) the Companies’ Share of the foregoing items and components attributable to Unconsolidated Affiliates, plus (f) an amount equal to the book value (adjusted in accordance with GAAP to reflect any default or other impairment of such loan) of mortgage loans, construction loans, capital improvement loans, and other loans, in each case owned by a Company, plus (g) fifty percent (50%) of the book value of any undeveloped land.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, for purposes of determining Total Asset Value, to the extent the amount of Total Asset Value attributable to (a) the amount under clause (b) above would exceed 10% of Total Asset Value, such excess shall be excluded, (b) the amount under clause (c) and (g) above would exceed 15% of Total Asset Value, such excess shall be excluded, (c) the amount under clause (e) above would exceed 30% of Total Asset Value, such excess shall be excluded, (d) the amount under clause (f) above would exceed 15% of Total Asset Value, such excess shall be excluded, and (e) the amount under clauses (b), (c), (e), (f) and (g) above would exceed 30% of Total Asset Value, such excess shall be excluded.

 

Total Funded Debt ” means, as of any date, Consolidated Total Debt excluding intercompany Indebtedness, deferred income taxes, security deposits, accounts payable and accrued liabilities, and any prepaid rents, in each case determined in accordance with GAAP.

 

Total Outstandings ” means as of any date of determination, the aggregate Outstanding Amount of all Loans.

 

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

 

Unconsolidated Affiliate ” means any Person in which a Company has an Equity Interest and whose financial results would not be consolidated under GAAP with the financial results of the Parent on the consolidated financial statements of the Parent.

 

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

 

Unencumbered Adjusted NOI ” means, for any period, the aggregate Adjusted NOI of all Unencumbered Properties excluding any Dark Property for such period.

 

Unencumbered Asset Value ” means without duplication, the sum of for each Unencumbered Property owned or ground leased for the Current Reporting Quarter, (i) an amount equal to (x) the Unencumbered Adjusted NOI attributable to such Unencumbered Property for such Current Reporting Quarter, annualized, divided by (ii) the Capitalization Rate.

 

Unencumbered Leverage Ratio ” means, as of any date of determination, the quotient (expressed as a percentage) of (a) Unsecured Indebtedness of Parent and its Subsidiaries, divided by (b) Unencumbered Asset Value.

 

Unencumbered Properties ” means each Acceptable Property that either (a) is an Initial Unencumbered Property or (b) becomes an Unencumbered Property pursuant to Section 4.03 , and “ Unencumbered Property ” means any one of the Unencumbered Properties.

 

Unsecured Indebtedness ” means Indebtedness which is not Secured Indebtedness.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, all Indebtedness which is secured by a pledge of equity interests only and is recourse to the Borrower or the Parent shall be deemed to be Unsecured Indebtedness.

 

Unsecured Interest Coverage Ratio ” means, as of any date of determination, the quotient (expressed as a percentage) of (a) Unencumbered Adjusted NOI to (b) Unsecured Interest Expense.

 

Unsecured Interest Expense ” means, with respect to any period, Consolidated Interest Expense of the Parent and its Subsidiaries for such period attributable to Unsecured Indebtedness of the Parent and its Subsidiaries.

 

Unused Fee ” has the meaning provided in Section 2.09(c) .

 

Unused Rate ” means 0.15%.

 

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)(III) .

 

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Write-Down and Conversion Powers ” means, with respect to any EEA Resolution Authority, the write-down and conversion powers of such EEA Resolution Authority from time to time under the Bail-In Legislation for the applicable EEA Member Country, which write-down and conversion powers are described in the EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule.

 

b.                                       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 any Organization Document) shall be construed as referring to such agreement, instrument or other document as from time to time amended, supplemented, or otherwise modified (subject to any restrictions on such amendments, supplements or modifications set forth herein 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, Exhibits and Schedules shall be construed to refer to Articles and Sections of, and Exhibits and Schedules to, the Loan Document in which such references appear, (v) any reference to any law shall include all statutory and regulatory 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 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, Equity Interests, accounts and contract rights.

 

(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.

 

c.                                        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

 

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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 Borrower and its Subsidiaries shall be deemed to be carried at 100% of the outstanding principal amount thereof, and the effects of FASB ASC 825 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 Borrower or the Required Lenders shall so request, the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the Borrower shall negotiate in good faith to amend such ratio or requirement to preserve the original intent thereof in light of such change in GAAP (subject to the approval of the Required Lenders); provided that until so amended, (i) such ratio or requirement shall continue to be computed in accordance with GAAP prior to such change therein and (ii) the Borrower shall provide to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders financial statements and other documents required under this Agreement or as reasonably requested hereunder setting forth a reconciliation between calculations of such ratio or requirement made before and after giving effect to such change in GAAP.  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 addressing such changes, as provided for above.

 

(c)                                   Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities.   All references herein to consolidated financial statements of the Companies or to the determination of any amount for the Companies on a consolidated basis or any similar reference shall, in each case, be deemed to include each variable interest entity that the Parent is required to consolidate pursuant to FASB ASC 810 as if such variable interest entity were a Subsidiary as defined herein, provided further that for all purposes in calculating consolidated covenants hereunder the Parent shall be deemed to own one hundred percent (100%) of the equity interests in the Borrower.

 

d.                                       Rounding.  Any financial ratios required to be maintained by the Borrower 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).

 

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

 

f.                                         Rates.  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 “LIBOR” or with respect to any comparable or successor rate thereto.

 

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20.
THE COMMITMENTS AND CREDIT EXTENSIONS

 

a.                                       Committed Loans.  Each Lender severally agrees to make a Committed Loan to the Borrower from time to time, on any Business Day, subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein and the limitations set forth in Section 2.01( c ):

 

(a)                                  Committed Loans .  Each Lender severally agrees to make a loan (each such loan, a “ Committed Loan ”) in an aggregate amount not to exceed at any time outstanding the amount of such Lender’s Commitment.

 

(b)                                  Loans .  Subject to the Borrower’s compliance with the terms and conditions set forth in Section 2.01(c) , each Lender severally agrees to make its portion of advances of the Loan (the “ Subsequent Loans ”) up to a maximum of six (6) advances, in minimum amounts of $25,000,000 each, or, if less, the remaining unfunded amount of the Aggregate Commitments (the “ Subsequent Loan Advances ”), to the Borrower in aggregate amounts not to exceed each Lender’s unadvanced Commitment.  Once advanced, each Subsequent Loan shall be aggregated with all prior Subsequent Loans and all such term loans shall be referred to as Committed Loans.  Provided there exists no Default, upon notice to the Administrative Agent (which shall promptly notify the Lenders), the Parent and the Borrower may elect to borrow the Subsequent Loan; subject to the Borrower’s delivery to the Administrative Agent of notice of such requested Subsequent Loan Advance, each of which notice must be delivered not later than July 27, 2018 in order to be effective (each such notice, a “ Required Notice ”).  In the event that a Required Notice(s) is/are not received by the Administrative Agent on or prior to July 27, 2018 such that the initial Aggregate Commitments have not been fully funded by July 27, 2018, the Commitment of the Lenders to advance the Subsequent Loans shall be deemed cancelled.

 

(c)                                   Committed Loan Limitations Notwithstanding the provisions of Sections 2.01(a)  and (b) , after giving effect to any Committed Borrowing,  (i) the Total Outstandings shall not exceed the Aggregate Commitments, as in effect on the Closing Date, and (ii) the aggregate Loans advanced by any Lender shall not exceed such Lender’s Commitment, as in effect on the Closing Date.  With respect to Committed Loans, within the limits of each Lender’s Commitment and the Aggregate Commitments, and subject to the other terms and conditions hereof, the Borrower may borrow under this Section 2.01 , and prepay under Section 2.05 . Amounts repaid on the Committed Loans may not be reborrowed.  Committed Loans may be Base Rate Loans or LIBOR Loans, as further provided herein.

 

b.                                       Borrowings, Conversions and Continuations of Committed Loans.

 

(a)                                  Each Committed Borrowing (including each request for a Subsequent Loan), each conversion of Committed Loans from one Type to the other, and each continuation of LIBOR Loans shall be made upon the Borrower’s irrevocable notice to the Administrative Agent, which may be given by telephone.  Each such notice must be received by the Administrative Agent not later than 10:00 a.m. (i) three (3) Business

 

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Days prior to the requested date of any Borrowing of, conversion to or continuation of LIBOR Loans or of any conversion of LIBOR Loans to Base Rate Committed Loans, and (ii) on the requested date of any Borrowing of Base Rate Committed Loans.  Each telephonic notice by the Borrower pursuant to this Section 2.02(a)  must be confirmed promptly by delivery to the Administrative Agent of a written  Draw Request, appropriately completed and signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower.  Each Borrowing of, conversion to or continuation of LIBOR Loans shall be in a principal amount of $500,000 or a whole multiple of $500,000 in excess thereof.  Each conversion to Base Rate Committed Loans shall be in a principal amount of $250,000 or a whole multiple of $50,000 in excess thereof.  Each Draw Request (whether telephonic or written) shall specify (i) whether the Borrower is requesting a Committed Borrowing, a conversion of Committed Loans from one Type to the other, or a continuation of LIBOR Loans, (ii) the requested date of the Committed Borrowing, conversion or continuation, as the case may be (which shall be a Business Day), (iii) the principal amount of Committed Loans to be borrowed, converted or continued, (iv) the Type of Committed Loans to be borrowed or to which existing Committed Loans are to be converted, and (v) if applicable, the duration of the Interest Period with respect thereto.  If the Borrower fails to specify a Type of Committed Loan in a Draw Request or if the Borrower fails to give a timely notice requesting a conversion or continuation, then (I) so long as no Event of Default exists, the applicable Committed Loans shall be made as, or continued to, a LIBOR Loan of the same Type and with an Interest Period of one (1) month and (II) if an Event of Default exists, then the applicable Committed 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 LIBOR Loans.  If the Borrower requests a Committed Borrowing of, conversion to, or continuation of LIBOR Loans in any such Draw Request, but fails to specify an Interest Period, then it will be deemed to have specified an Interest Period of one (1) month.

 

(b)                                  Following receipt of a Draw Request, the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each Lender of the amount of its Applicable Percentage of the applicable Committed Loans, and if no timely notice of a conversion or continuation is provided by the Borrower, the Administrative Agent shall notify each Lender of the details of any automatic continuation or conversion to Base Rate Loans described in the preceding subsection.  In the case of a Committed Borrowing, each Lender shall make the amount of its Committed Loan available to the Administrative Agent in immediately available funds at the Administrative Agent’s Office not later than 12:00 noon on the Business Day specified in the applicable Draw Request.  Upon satisfaction of the applicable conditions set forth in Section 5.02 (and, if such Committed Borrowing is the initial Credit Extension, Section 5.01 ), the Administrative Agent shall make all funds so received available to the Borrower by 3:00 p.m. in like funds as received by the Administrative Agent either by (i) crediting the account of the Borrower on the books of BANA 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 Borrower.

 

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(c)                                   Except as otherwise provided herein, a LIBOR Loan may be continued or converted only on the last day of an Interest Period for such LIBOR Loan.  During the existence of an Event of Default, no Loans may be requested as, converted to or continued as LIBOR Loans without the consent of the Required Lenders.

 

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

 

(e)                                   After giving effect to all Committed Borrowings, all conversions of Committed Loans from one Type to the other, and all continuations of Committed Loans as the same Type, there shall not be more than eight (8) Interest Periods in effect with respect to Committed Loans.

 

c.                                        Reserved .

 

d.                                       Voluntary Reduction of Commitments.

 

The Borrower may, upon notice to the Administrative Agent, terminate the Aggregate Commitments, or from time to time permanently reduce the Aggregate Commitments; provided that (i) any such notice shall be received by the Administrative Agent not later than 11:00 a.m. three (3) Business Days (or such shorter period agreed to by the Administrative Agent in writing) prior to the date of termination or reduction and (ii) any such partial reduction shall be in an aggregate amount of $1,000,000 or any whole multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof.

 

e.                                        Prepayments.

 

The Borrower may, upon notice to the Administrative Agent, at any time or from time to time voluntarily prepay Committed Loans in whole or in part; provided that (i) such notice must be received by the Administrative Agent not later than 11:00 a.m. (A) three (3) Business Days prior to any date of prepayment of LIBOR Loans and (B) on the date of prepayment of Base Rate Committed Loans; (ii) any prepayment of LIBOR Loans shall be in a principal amount of $1,000,000 or a whole multiple of $100,000 in excess thereof; and (iii) any prepayment of Base Rate Committed Loans shall be in a principal amount of $100,000 or a whole multiple of $25,000 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 Committed Loans to be prepaid and, if LIBOR 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 Applicable Percentage of such prepayment.  If such notice is given by the Borrower, then the Borrower 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 a LIBOR Loan shall be accompanied by all

 

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accrued interest on the amount prepaid, together with any additional amounts required pursuant to Section 3.05 .  Subject to Section 2.16 , each such prepayment shall be applied to the Committed Loans of the Lenders in accordance with their respective Applicable Percentages.

 

f.                                         Incremental Term Loans.

 

(a)                                  Reserved .

 

(b)                                  Incremental Term Loans .

 

(i)                                      Election .  Provided there exists no Default, and provided that no Subsequent Loans remain available to be advanced to the Borrower pursuant to Section 2.01(b) , upon notice to the Administrative Agent (which shall promptly notify the Lenders), the Parent and the Borrower may from time to time, elect to enter into one or more tranches of term loans (“ Additional Term Loans ”) in an aggregate amount not exceeding $100,000,000 either by designating another bank or financial institution not theretofore a Lender to become a Lender (such designation to be effective only with the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent, which consent will not be unreasonably withheld) and/or by agreeing with an existing Lender or Lenders, in such Lender or Lenders’ absolute discretion, that such Lender shall make Additional Term Loans; provided that (i) any such election for Additional Term Loans shall be in a minimum amount of $10,000,000, and (ii) the Parent and the Borrower may make a maximum of three (3) such requests.  Upon execution and delivery by the Borrower and such Lender or other bank or financial institution of an instrument in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent to effect such Additional Term Loans, including, as required, a new or amended Note, such existing Lender shall have a Commitment as therein set forth or such bank or financial institution shall become a Lender with a Commitment as therein set forth and all the rights and obligations of a Lender with such a Commitment hereunder.

 

(ii)                                   Effective Date .  If Additional Term Loans are made in accordance with this Section 2.06(b) , then the Administrative Agent, the Parent, and the Borrower shall determine the effective date (the “ Increase Effective Date ”) that such Additional Term Loans shall be made.  The Administrative Agent shall promptly notify the Parent, the Borrower, and the Lenders of the Increase Effective Date.

 

(iii)                                Conditions to Effectiveness of Additional Term Loans .

 

(g)                                   As a condition precedent to such Additional Term Loans, the Parent and the Borrower shall deliver to the Administrative Agent a certificate dated as of the Increase Effective Date (in sufficient copies for each Lender) signed by a Responsible Officer of the Parent or the Borrower (on behalf of

 

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each Loan Party) (i) certifying and attaching the resolutions adopted by such Parent and the Borrower (on behalf of each Loan Party) approving or consenting to such Additional Term Loans, and (ii) certifying that, before and after giving effect to such Additional Term Loans, (A) the representations and warranties contained in Article VI and the other Loan Documents are true and correct in all material respects (except in the case of a representation or warranty qualified by materiality or Material Adverse Effect, in which case such representation or warranty shall be true and correct in all respects) on and as of the Increase Effective Date, except to the extent that such representations and warranties specifically refer to an earlier date, in which case they are true and correct in all material respects (except in the case of a representation or warranty qualified by materiality or Material Adverse Effect, in which case such representation or warranty shall be true and correct in all respects) as of such earlier date, and except that for purposes of this Section 2.06 , the representations and warranties contained in Section   6.05(b)  shall be deemed to refer to the most-recent statements furnished pursuant to Section 7.01(b) , and (B) no Default exists.

 

(h)                                  The Borrower shall execute and provide new Notes to such Lenders as may request herewith.

 

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

 

(c)                                   General .  The Administrative Agent will promptly notify the Lenders of any notice of Additional Term Loans.  Each Additional Term Loan shall be a Committed Loan hereunder.

 

g.                                        Repayment of Loans .   The Borrower shall repay to the Lenders on the Maturity Date the aggregate principal amount of Loans outstanding on such date.

 

h.                                       Interest.

 

(a)                                  Subject to the provisions of subsection (b)  below, (i) each LIBOR Loan shall bear interest on the outstanding principal amount thereof for each Interest Period at a rate per annum equal to LIBOR for such Interest Period plus the Applicable Rate; (ii) each Base Rate Committed 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.

 

(b)

 

(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, then such amount shall thereafter bear interest at a

 

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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 Borrower 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 (other than as set forth in clauses (b)(i) and (b)(ii) above), the Borrower shall pay interest on the principal amount of all outstanding Obligations hereunder 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 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.

 

i.                                           Fees.

 

(a)                                  The Borrower shall pay to the Lead Arrangers and the Administrative Agent, for their own respective accounts, fees in the amounts and at the times specified in the Fee Letter (without duplication of fees otherwise referenced herein).  Such fees shall be fully earned when paid and shall not be refundable for any reason whatsoever.

 

(b)                                  The Borrower shall pay to the Lenders such fees as shall have been separately agreed upon in writing in the amounts and at the times so specified.  Such fees shall be fully earned when paid and shall not be refundable for any reason whatsoever.

 

(c)                                   Unused Fees .  The Borrower shall, beginning ninety (90) days after the Closing Date, for each day until the earliest of (i) the date that initial Aggregate Commitments of $150,000,000 have been fully advanced,  (ii) July 27, 2018 and (iii) the date the Aggregate Commitments have been reduced to zero pursuant to Section 2.04 , pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of each Lender (in accordance with its Applicable Percentage), an unused fee (the “ Unused Fee ”) at a rate per annum equal to the Unused Rate times the actual daily amount of the unadvanced Aggregate Commitments.  The Unused Fee shall be due and payable monthly in arrears on the 10 th  Business Day after the end of each calendar month, commencing with the first such date to occur after the Closing Date, and ending on the earlier of the dates set forth above.  The Unused Fee shall be calculated monthly in arrears based on the applicable daily Unused Rate during each day of such month.

 

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j.                                          Computation of Interest and Fees; Retroactive Adjustments of Applicable Rate .

 

(a)                                  All computations of interest for Base Rate Loans (including Base Rate Loans determined by reference to LIBOR) 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)                                  If, as a result of any restatement of or other adjustment to the financial statements of the Parent or for any other reason, then the Parent, the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, or the Lenders determine that (i) the Consolidated Leverage Ratio as calculated by the Parent and the Borrower 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, then the Borrower shall immediately and retroactively be obligated to pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of the applicable Lenders, within three (3) Business Days after demand by the Administrative Agent (or, after the occurrence of an actual or deemed entry of an order for relief with respect to any Loan Party under the Bankruptcy Code of the United States, automatically and without further action by the Administrative Agent or any Lender), 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 or any Lender, under Section 2.08(b)  or under Article IX .

 

k.                                       Evidence of Debt.

 

(a)                                  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 Borrower and the interest and payments thereon.  Any failure to so record or any error in doing so shall not, however, limit or otherwise affect the obligation of the Borrower hereunder to pay any amount owing with respect to the Obligations.  In the event of any conflict between the accounts and records maintained by any Lender and the accounts and records of the Administrative Agent in respect of such matters, the accounts and records of the Administrative Agent shall control in the absence of manifest error.  Upon the request of any Lender made through the Administrative Agent, the Borrower shall execute and deliver to such Lender (through the Administrative Agent) a Note, which shall evidence such Lender’s Loans in addition to such accounts or records.  Each such Note shall be in the form of Exhibit B (a “ Note ”).  Each Lender may attach schedules to its Note and

 

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endorse thereon the date, Type (if applicable), amount and maturity of its Loans and payments with respect thereto.

 

l.                                           Payments Generally; The Administrative Agent’s Clawback.

 

(a)                                  General .  All payments to be made by the Borrower shall be made without condition or deduction for any counterclaim, defense, recoupment or setoff.  Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, all payments by the Borrower 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 1:00 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.  If and to the extent the Administrative Agent shall not make such payments to a Lender when due as set forth in the preceding sentence, then such unpaid amounts shall accrue interest, payable by the Administrative Agent, at the Federal Funds Rate from the due date until (but not including) the date on which the Administrative Agent makes such payments to such Lender.  All payments received by the Administrative Agent after 1:00 p.m. shall be deemed received on the next succeeding Business Day and any applicable interest or fee shall continue to accrue.  If any payment to be made by the Borrower 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)                                  Clawback .

 

(i)                                      Funding by the Lenders; Presumption by the Administrative Agent .  Unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from a Lender prior to the proposed date of any Committed Borrowing of LIBOR Loans (or, in the case of any Committed Borrowing of Base Rate Loans, prior to 1:00 p.m. on the date of such Borrowing) that such Lender will not make available to the Administrative Agent such Lender’s share of such Committed 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 Committed 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 Borrower a corresponding amount.  In such event, if a Lender has not in fact made its share of the applicable Committed Borrowing available to the Administrative Agent, then the applicable Lender and the Borrower 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 Borrower to but excluding the date of payment to the Administrative Agent, at (A) in the case of a payment to be made by such Lender, the 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

 

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Administrative Agent in connection with the foregoing, and (B) in the case of a payment to be made by the Borrower, the interest rate applicable to Base Rate Loans.  If the Borrower and such Lender shall pay such interest to the Administrative Agent for the same or an overlapping period, then the Administrative Agent shall promptly remit to the Borrower the amount of such interest paid by the Borrower for such period.  If such Lender pays its share of the applicable Committed Borrowing to the Administrative Agent, then the amount so paid shall constitute such Lender’s Committed Loan included in such Committed Borrowing.  Any payment by the Borrower shall be without prejudice to any claim the Borrower may have against a Lender that shall have failed to make such payment to the Administrative Agent.

 

(ii)                                   Payments by the Borrower; Presumptions by the Administrative Agent .  Unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from the Borrower prior to the date on which any payment is due to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Lenders hereunder that the Borrower will not make such payment, the Administrative Agent may assume that the Borrower has made such payment on such date in accordance herewith and may, in reliance upon such assumption, distribute to the Lenders the amount due.  In such event, if the Borrower has not in fact made such payment, then each of the Lenders severally agrees to repay to the Administrative Agent forthwith on demand the amount so distributed to such Lender, 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 , within one (1) Business Day.  If and to the extent the Administrative Agent shall not return such funds to a Lender when due as set forth in the preceding sentence, then such unpaid amounts shall accrue interest, payable by the Administrative Agent, at the Federal Funds Rate from the due date until (but not including) the date on which the Administrative Agent returns such funds to such Lender.

 

A notice of the Administrative Agent to any Lender or the Borrower 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 Borrower by the Administrative Agent because the conditions to the applicable Credit Extension set forth in Article V are not satisfied or waived in accordance with the terms hereof, then the Administrative Agent shall return such funds (in like funds as received from such Lender) to such Lender, without interest.

 

(d)                                  Obligations of the Lenders Several .  The obligations of the Lenders hereunder to make Committed Loans and to make payments pursuant to Section11.04(d)  are several and not joint.  The failure of any Lender to make any Committed Loan or to

 

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make any payment under Section 11.04(d)  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 Committed Loan or to make its payment under Section 11.04(d) .

 

(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)                                    Funds Transfer .  The Administrative Agent will, in its sole discretion, determine the funds transfer system and the means by which each transfer will be made.  The Administrative Agent may delay or refuse to accept a funds transfer request if the transfer would: (i) violate the terms of this authorization, (ii) require use of a bank unacceptable to the Administrative Agent or any Lender, in its reasonable discretion, or prohibited by any Governmental Authority, (iii) cause the Administrative Agent or any Lender to violate any Federal Reserve or other regulatory risk control program or guideline or (iv) otherwise cause the Administrative Agent or any Lender to violate any applicable Law or regulation.  The Borrower hereby authorizes the Administrative Agent to disburse the proceeds of any Loan made by the Lenders or any of their Affiliates pursuant to the Loan Documents as requested by an authorized representative of the Borrower to any of the accounts designated in the Borrower Remittance Instructions.

 

m.                                   Sharing of Payments by the Lenders.  If any Lender shall, by exercising any right of setoff or counterclaim or otherwise, obtain payment in respect of any principal of or interest on any of the Committed Loans made by it, resulting in such Lender’s receiving payment of a proportion of the aggregate amount of such Committed Loans and accrued interest thereon greater than its pro rata share thereof as provided herein, then the Lender receiving such greater proportion shall (a) notify the Administrative Agent of such fact, and (b)  make such adjustments as shall be equitable, so that the benefit of all such payments shall be shared by the Lenders ratably in accordance with the aggregate amount of principal of and accrued interest on their respective Committed Loans and other amounts owing them, provided that the provisions of this Section shall not be construed to apply to any payment obtained by a Lender as consideration for the assignment of or sale of a participation in any of its Committed Loans to any assignee or participant, other than an assignment to the Borrower 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.

 

n.                                       Reserved .

 

o.                                       Reserved.

 

p.                                       Defaulting Lenders.

 

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(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 .  That 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 in 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 IX 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 reasonably 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 , as the Borrower 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; third , if so determined by the Administrative Agent and the Borrower, to be held in an interest bearing deposit account and released pro rata in order to satisfy such Defaulting Lender’s potential future funding obligations with respect to Loans under this Agreement; fourth , to the payment of any amounts owing to the Lenders as a result of any judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction obtained by any Lender against such Defaulting Lender as a result of such Defaulting Lender’s breach of its obligations under this Agreement; fifth , so long as no Event of Default exists, to the payment of any amounts owing to the Borrower as a result of any judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction obtained by the Borrower against such Defaulting Lender as a result of such Defaulting Lender’s breach of its obligations under this Agreement; and sixth , to such Defaulting Lender or as otherwise directed by a court of competent jurisdiction; provided that if such payment is a payment of the principal amount of any Loans in respect of which such Defaulting Lender has not fully funded its appropriate share, such payment shall be applied solely to pay the Loans of all Non-Defaulting Lenders on a pro rata basis prior to being applied to the payment of any Loans of such Defaulting Lender until such time as all Loans and funded hereunder without giving effect to Section 2.16(a)(iv) . Any payments, prepayments or other amounts paid or payable to a Defaulting Lender that are applied (or held) to pay amounts owed by a Defaulting Lender shall be deemed paid to and redirected by such Defaulting Lender, and each Lender irrevocably consents hereto.

 

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

 

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Defaulting Lender), and the Borrower shall not be required to pay the remaining amount of such fee that otherwise would have been required to have been paid to that Defaulting Lender.

 

(b)                                  Defaulting Lender Cure .  If the Borrower and the Administrative Agent agree in writing in their sole discretion that a Defaulting Lender should no longer be deemed to be 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, 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 Committed Loans to be held on a pro rata basis by the Lenders in accordance with their Applicable Percentages, whereupon that Lender will cease to be a Defaulting Lender; provided that no adjustments will be made retroactively with respect to fees accrued or payments made by or on behalf of the Borrower while that Lender was a Defaulting Lender; and provided , further , that , except to the extent otherwise expressly agreed by the affected parties, no change hereunder from Defaulting Lender to Lender will constitute a waiver or release of any claim of any party hereunder arising from that Lender’s having been a Defaulting Lender.

 

q.                                       Guaranties.  Pursuant to the Parent Guaranty, the Parent shall unconditionally Guarantee in favor of the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and any Specified Derivatives Providers the full payment and performance of the Obligations.  Pursuant to the Subsidiary Guaranty or an addendum thereto in the form attached to the Subsidiary Guaranty, the Parent and the Borrower shall cause each Subsidiary Guarantor to execute a Subsidiary Guaranty unconditionally guarantying in favor of the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and any Specified Derivatives Providers the full payment and performance of the Obligations; provided, however , that such Subsidiary Guaranty may be released and reinstated in accordance with its terms.

 

(a)                                  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement or any other Loan Document, (x) concurrently with the delivery of each Compliance Certificate, with respect to any Person that became a Subsidiary of the Parent owning a direct or indirect interest in the Borrower since the date of the most recent Compliance Certificate or (y) substantially concurrently with any Subsidiary of the Parent (other than the Borrower) entering into any Guarantee of Indebtedness of the Parent, the Borrower or any Subsidiary of the Borrower owning directly or indirectly any Unencumbered Property, the Parent, the Borrower and such Subsidiary shall deliver to the Administrative Agent each of the following: (i) a joinder to the Subsidiary Guaranty executed by such Subsidiary, (ii) concurrently with the delivery of each Compliance Certificate a comprehensive list of all Guarantors, which identifies the joining and departing entities, and (iii) the items that would have been delivered under subsections (iii)  and (v)  of Section 5.01(a)  if such Subsidiary had been a Subsidiary Guarantor on the Closing Date, in form and substance substantially consistent with such items delivered on the Closing Date or otherwise reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

 

(b)                                  The Borrower may request in writing that the Administrative Agent release, and upon receipt of such request the Administrative Agent shall release, a

 

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Subsidiary Guarantor from the Guaranty so long as: (i) such Subsidiary Guarantor is not otherwise required to be a party to the Guaranty under the immediately preceding subsection (a) (after giving effect to clause (ii) hereof); (ii) such Subsidiary Guarantor no longer Guarantees (or which Guarantee is being substantially concurrently released) any other Indebtedness of the Parent, the Borrower or any Subsidiary of the Borrower owning directly or indirectly any Unencumbered Property, (iii) no Default or Event of Default shall then be in existence or would occur as a result of such release, including without limitation, a Default or Event of Default resulting from a violation of any of the covenants contained in Section 8.14 ; and (iv) the Administrative Agent shall have received such written request at least five (5) Business Days (or such shorter period as may be acceptable to the Administrative Agent) prior to the requested date of release.  Delivery by the Borrower to the Administrative Agent of any such request shall constitute a representation by the Parent and the Borrower that the conditions set forth in the preceding sentence are or will be satisfied as of the requested date of release.

 

21.
TAXES, YIELD PROTECTION AND ILLEGALITY

 

a.                                       Taxes.

 

(a)                                  Payments Free of Taxes; Obligation to Withhold; Payments on Account of Taxes .

 

(i)                                      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 the Administrative Agent) require the deduction or withholding of any Tax from any such payment by the Administrative Agent or a Loan Party, then the Administrative Agent or such Loan Party shall be entitled to make such deduction or withholding, upon the basis of the information and documentation to be delivered pursuant to subsection (e)  below.

 

(ii)                                   If any Loan Party or the Administrative Agent shall be required by the Code to withhold or deduct any Taxes, including both United States Federal backup withholding and withholding taxes, from any payment, then (A) the Administrative Agent shall withhold or make such deductions as are determined by the Administrative Agent to be required based upon the information and documentation it has received pursuant to subsection (e)  below, (B) the Administrative Agent shall timely pay the full amount withheld or deducted to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with the Code, and (C) 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 any required withholding or the making of all required deductions (including deductions 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 withholding or deduction been made.

 

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(iii)                                If any Loan Party or the Administrative Agent shall be required by any applicable Laws other than the Code to withhold or deduct any Taxes from any payment, then (A) such Loan Party or the Administrative Agent, as required by such Laws, shall withhold or make such deductions as are determined by it to be required based upon the information and documentation it has received pursuant to subsection (e)  below, (B) such Loan Party or the Administrative Agent, to the extent required by such Laws, shall timely pay the full amount withheld or deducted to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with such Laws, and (C) 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 any required withholding or the making of all required deductions (including deductions 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 withholding or deduction been made.

 

(b)                                  Payment of Other Taxes by the Borrower .  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 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 reasonable expenses arising therefrom or with respect thereto, whether or not such Indemnified Taxes were correctly or legally imposed or asserted by the relevant Governmental Authority.  A certificate as to the amount of such payment or liability delivered to the Borrower by a Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), or by the Administrative Agent on its own behalf or on behalf of a Lender, shall be conclusive absent manifest error.  Each of the Loan Parties shall, and does hereby, jointly and severally indemnify the Administrative Agent, and shall make payment in respect thereof within 10 days after demand therefor, for any amount which a Lender for any reason fails to pay indefeasibly to the Administrative Agent as required pursuant to Section 3.01(c)(ii)  below.

 

(ii)                                   Each Lender shall, and does hereby, severally indemnify, and shall make payment in respect thereof within 10 days after demand therefor, ( x ) the Administrative Agent against any Indemnified Taxes attributable to such Lender (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), ( y ) 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 ( z ) the Administrative Agent and the Loan Parties, as

 

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applicable, against any Excluded Taxes attributable to such Lender, 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 hereby authorizes the Administrative Agent to set off and apply any and all amounts at any time owing to such Lender, under this Agreement or any other Loan Document against any amount due to the Administrative Agent under this clause (ii) .

 

(d)                                  Evidence of Payments .  Upon request by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, as the case may be, after any payment of Taxes by the Borrower or by the Administrative Agent to a Governmental Authority as provided in this Section 3.01 , the Borrower shall deliver to the Administrative Agent or the Administrative Agent shall deliver to the Borrower, as the case may be, the original or a certified copy of a receipt issued by such Governmental Authority evidencing such payment, a copy of any return required by Laws to report such payment or other evidence of such payment reasonably satisfactory to the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, as the case may be.

 

(e)                                   Status of the 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 Borrower and the Administrative Agent, at the time or times reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, such properly completed and executed documentation reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent as will permit such payments to be made without withholding or at a reduced rate of withholding.  In addition, any Lender, if reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, shall deliver such other documentation prescribed by applicable law or reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent as will enable the Borrower or the Administrative Agent to determine whether or not such Lender is subject to backup withholding or information reporting requirements.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the preceding two sentences, the completion, execution and submission of such documentation (other than such documentation set forth in Section 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 the Borrower is a U.S. Person,

 

i)                                          any Lender that is a U.S. Person shall deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent on or prior to the date on which

 

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such Lender becomes a Lender under this Agreement (and from time to time thereafter upon the reasonable request of the Borrower or the Administrative Agent), executed originals of IRS Form W-9 certifying that such Lender is exempt from U.S. federal backup withholding tax;

 

ii)                                       any Foreign Lender shall, to the extent it is legally entitled to do so, deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent (in such number of copies as shall be requested by the recipient) on or prior to the date on which such Foreign Lender becomes a Lender under this Agreement (and from time to time thereafter upon the reasonable request of the Borrower or the Administrative Agent), whichever of the following is applicable:

 

(i)                                      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 originals of IRS Form W-8BEN or IRS Form W-8BEN-E 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 or IRS Form W-8BEN-E 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;

 

(j)                                     executed originals of IRS Form W-8ECI;

 

(k)                                  in the case of a Foreign Lender claiming the benefits of the exemption for portfolio interest under Section 881(c)  of the Code, (x) a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit H-1 to the effect that such Foreign Lender is not a “bank” within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(A)  of the Code, a “10 percent shareholder” of the Borrower within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(B)  of the Code, or a “controlled foreign corporation” described in Section 881(c)(3)(C)  of the Code (a “ U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate ”) and (y) executed originals of IRS Form W-8BEN or IRS Form W-8BEN-E; or

 

(l)                                      to the extent a Foreign Lender is not the beneficial owner, executed originals of IRS Form W-8IMY, accompanied by IRS Form W-8ECI, IRS Form W-8BEN, IRS Form W-8BEN-E, a U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit H-2 or Exhibit H-3 , IRS Form W-9, and/or other certification documents from each beneficial owner, as applicable; provided that if the Foreign Lender is a partnership and one or more direct or indirect partners of such Foreign Lender are claiming the portfolio interest exemption, such Foreign Lender

 

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may provide a U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit H-4 on behalf of each such direct and indirect partner;

 

iii)                                    any Foreign Lender shall, to the extent it is legally entitled to do so, deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent (in such number of copies as shall be requested by the recipient) on or prior to the date on which such Foreign Lender becomes a Lender under this Agreement (and from time to time thereafter upon the reasonable request of the Borrower or the Administrative Agent), executed originals 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 Borrower or the Administrative Agent to determine the withholding or deduction required to be made; and

 

iv)                                   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 Borrower and the Administrative Agent at the time or times prescribed by law and at such time or times reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent such documentation prescribed by applicable law (including as prescribed by Section 1471(b)(3)(C)(i)  of the Code) and such additional documentation reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent as may be necessary for the Borrower and the Administrative Agent to comply with their obligations under FATCA and to determine that such Lender has complied with such Lender’s obligations under FATCA or to determine the amount to deduct and withhold from such payment.  Solely for purposes of this clause (D), “FATCA” shall include any amendments made to FATCA after the date of this Agreement.

 

(iii)                                Each Lender agrees that if any form or certification it previously delivered expires or becomes obsolete or inaccurate in any respect, it shall update such form or certification or promptly notify the Borrower and the Administrative Agent in writing of its legal inability to do so.  Each Lender shall promptly (A) notify the Borrower and the Administrative Agent of any change in circumstances which would modify or render invalid any claimed exemption or reduction, and (B) take such steps as shall not be materially disadvantageous to it, in the reasonable judgment of such Lender, and as may be reasonably necessary (including the re-designation of its Lending Office) to avoid any requirement of applicable Laws of any jurisdiction that the Borrower or the Administrative Agent make any withholding or deduction for taxes from amounts payable to such Lender.

 

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(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 have any obligation to pay to any Lender, any refund of Taxes withheld or deducted from funds paid for the account of such Lender.  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 the Loan Party an amount equal to such refund (but only to the extent of indemnity payments made, or additional amounts paid, by a 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, and without interest (other than any interest paid by the relevant Governmental Authority with respect to such refund), provided that the Loan Party, upon the request of the Recipient, agrees to repay the amount paid over to the 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 the 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 indemnification payments or additional amounts giving rise to such refund 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)                                   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, the termination of the Commitments and the repayment, satisfaction and discharge of all other Obligations.

 

b.                                       Illegality.  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 applicable Lending Office to make, maintain or fund Loans whose interest is determined by reference to LIBOR, or to determine or charge interest rates based upon LIBOR, 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 Borrower through the Administrative Agent, (i) any obligation of such Lender to make or continue LIBOR Loans or to convert Base Rate Committed Loans to LIBOR Loans shall be suspended, and (ii) 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 LIBOR 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 LIBOR component of the Base Rate, in each case until such Lender notifies the Administrative Agent and the Borrower that the circumstances giving rise to such determination no longer exist.  Upon receipt of such notice, (x) the Borrower shall, upon demand from such Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), prepay or, if applicable, convert all LIBOR 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

 

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without reference to the LIBOR component of the Base Rate), either on the last day of the Interest Period therefor, if such Lender may lawfully continue to maintain such LIBOR Loans to such day, or immediately, if such Lender may not lawfully continue to maintain such LIBOR Loans and (y) if such notice asserts the illegality of such Lender determining or charging interest rates based upon LIBOR, the Administrative Agent shall during the period of such suspension compute the Base Rate applicable to such Lender without reference to the LIBOR 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 LIBOR.  Upon any such prepayment or conversion, the Borrower shall also pay accrued interest on the amount so prepaid or converted.

 

c.                                        Change of Circumstances.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement or any other Loan Documents, if the Administrative Agent determines (which determination shall be conclusive absent manifest error), or the Borrower or Required Lenders notify the Administrative Agent (with, in the case of the Required Lenders, a copy to Borrower) that the Borrower or Required Lenders (as applicable) have determined, that:

 

(i)              adequate and reasonable means do not exist for ascertaining the LIBO Rate for any requested Interest Period, including, without limitation, because the LIBOR Screen Rate is not available or published on a current basis and such circumstances are unlikely to be temporary; or

 

(ii)            the administrator of the LIBOR Screen Rate or a Governmental Authority having jurisdiction over the Administrative Agent has made a public statement identifying a specific date after which LIBOR or the LIBOR Screen Rate shall no longer be made available, or used for determining the interest rate of loans (such specific date, the “ Scheduled Unavailability Date ”), or

 

(iii)        syndicated loans currently being executed, or that include language similar to that contained in this Section, are being executed or amended (as applicable) to incorporate or adopt a new benchmark interest rate to replace the LIBO Rate,

 

then, reasonably promptly after such determination by the Administrative Agent or receipt by the Administrative Agent of such notice , as applicable,  the Administrative Agent and the Borrower may amend this Agreement to replace the LIBO Rate with an alternate benchmark rate (including any mathematical or other adjustments to the benchmark (if any) incorporated therein) (any such proposed rate, a “ LIBOR Successor Rate ”), together with any proposed LIBOR Successor Rate Conforming Changes (as defined below) and any such amendment shall become effective at 5:00 p.m. (New York time) on the fifth Business Day after the Administrative Agent shall have posted such proposed amendment to all Lenders and the Borrower unless, prior to such time, Lenders comprising the Required Lenders have delivered to the Administrative Agent written notice that such Required Lenders do not accept such amendment.

 

If no LIBOR Successor Rate has been determined and the circumstances under clause (i) above exist or the Scheduled Unavailability Date has occurred (as applicable),  the Administrative Agent will promptly so notify the Borrower and each Lender.  Thereafter, (x) the obligation of the Lenders to make or maintain LIBOR Loans shall be suspended, (to the extent of

 

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the affected LIBOR Loans or Interest Periods), and (y) the LIBOR component shall no longer be utilized in determining the Base Rate.  Upon receipt of such notice, the Borrower may revoke any pending request for a Borrowing of, conversion to or continuation of LIBOR Loans (to the extent of the affected LIBOR Loans or Interest Periods) or, failing that, will be deemed to have converted such request into a request for a Committed Borrowing of Base Rate Loans (subject to the foregoing clause (y)) in the amount specified therein.

 

d.                                       Increased Costs; Reserves on LIBOR Loans.

 

(a)                                  Increased Costs Generally .  If any Change in Law shall:

 

(i)                                      impose, modify or deem applicable any reserve, special deposit, liquidity, compulsory loan, insurance charge or similar assessment or requirement against assets of, deposits with or for the account of, or credit extended or participated in by, the Administrative Agent or any Lender (except any reserve requirement contemplated by Section 3.04(e) );

 

(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 the Administrative Agent or any Lender or the London interbank market any other condition, cost or expense affecting this Agreement or LIBOR Loans made by such Lender;

 

and the result of any of the foregoing shall be to increase the cost to the Administrative Agent or such Lender, as applicable, of making, converting, continuing or maintaining any Loan (or of maintaining its obligation to make any such Loan), then the Borrower will pay to the Administrative Agent or such Lender, as applicable, such additional amount or amounts as will compensate the Administrative Agent or such Lender, as applicable, for such additional costs incurred or reduction suffered.

 

(b)                                  Capital Requirements .  If any Lender determines that any Change in Law affecting such Lender or any Lending Office of such Lender or such Lender’s holding company, if any, regarding capital or liquidity ratios or requirements has or would have the effect of reducing the rate of return on such Lender’s capital or on the capital of such Lender’s holding company, if any, as a consequence of this Agreement, the Commitments of such Lender or the Loans made by such Lender, to a level below that which such Lender or such Lender’s holding company could have achieved but for such Change in Law (taking into consideration such Lender’s policies and the policies of such Lender’s holding company with respect to capital adequacy and liquidity), then from time to time the Borrower will pay to such Lender such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender or such Lender’s holding company for any such reduction suffered.

 

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(c)                                   Certificates for Reimbursement .  A certificate of a Lender setting forth the amount or amounts necessary to compensate such Lender or its holding company, as the case may be, as specified in subsection (a)  or (b)  of this Section and delivered to the Borrower shall be conclusive absent manifest error.  The Borrower shall pay such Lender the amount shown as due on any such certificate within fifteen (15) days after receipt thereof.

 

(d)                                  Delay in Requests .  Failure or delay on the part of any Lender to demand compensation pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this Section shall not constitute a waiver of such Lender’s right to demand such compensation, provided that the Borrower shall not be required to compensate a Lender 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 notifies the Borrower of the Change in Law giving rise to such increased costs or reductions and of such Lender’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).

 

(e)                                   Reserves on LIBOR Loans .  The Borrower 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 LIBOR 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), which shall be due and payable on each date on which interest is payable on such Loan, provided that   the Borrower shall have received at least ten (10) days’ prior notice (with a copy to the Administrative Agent) of such additional interest 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.                                        Compensation for Losses.  Upon demand of any Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent) from time to time, the Borrower 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 the Borrower (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 the Borrower; or

 

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

 

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excluding any loss of anticipated profits and 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 Borrower shall also pay any customary administrative fees charged by such Lender in connection with the foregoing.

 

For purposes of calculating amounts payable by the Borrower to the Lenders under this Section 3.05 , each Lender shall be deemed to have funded each LIBOR Loan made by it at LIBOR for such Loan by a matching deposit or other borrowing in the London interbank eurodollar market for a comparable amount and for a comparable period, whether or not such LIBOR Loan was in fact so funded.

 

f.                                         Mitigation Obligations; Replacement of the Lenders.

 

(a)                                  Designation of a Different Lending Office .  If any Lender requests compensation under Section 3.04 , or the Borrower is required to pay any Indemnified Taxes or additional amount to any Lender, or any Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender pursuant to Section 3.01 , or if any Lender gives a notice pursuant to Section 3.02 , then at the request of the Borrower such Lender 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 reasonable judgment of such Lender, 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 to any material unreimbursed cost or expense and would not otherwise be materially disadvantageous to such Lender.  The Borrower hereby agrees to pay all reasonable costs and expenses incurred by any Lender in connection with any such designation or assignment.

 

(b)                                  Replacement of the Lenders .  If any Lender requests compensation under Section 3.04 , or if the Borrower is required to pay any Indemnified Taxes or additional amounts to any Lender or any Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender pursuant to Section 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 Borrower may replace such Lender in accordance with Section 11.13 .

 

g.                                        Survival.  All of the Borrower’s obligations under this Article III shall survive termination of the Aggregate Commitments, repayment of all other Obligations hereunder, and resignation of the Administrative Agent.

 

22.
UNENCUMBERED PROPERTIES

 

a.                                       Initial Unencumbered Properties.  As of the Closing Date, the Initial Unencumbered Properties shall consist of the Properties set forth on Schedule 4.01 .

 

b.                                       Reserved.

 

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c.                                        Notices of Qualification as an Unencumbered Property.  The Borrower shall provide the Administrative Agent with a written notice of an Acceptable Property to be deemed an Unencumbered Property.

 

d.                                       Eligibility.  In order for an Acceptable Property to be eligible for inclusion as an Unencumbered Property, such Acceptable Property shall satisfy the following requirements unless otherwise approved by the Required Lenders:

 

(a)                                  no Material Title Defect with respect to such Acceptable Property shall exist;

 

 

(b)                                  such Acceptable Property shall have reasonable access to public utilities; and

 

(c)                                   such Acceptable Property shall not have any material defects.

 

e.                                        Reserved.

 

f.                                         Guaranty.  An Acceptable Property shall not be deemed an Unencumbered Property until the applicable Subsidiary Guarantor shall have executed and delivered (or caused to be executed and delivered) to the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Lenders and any Specified Derivatives Providers, the Subsidiary Guaranty.

 

g.                                        Admission of New Unencumbered Properties.  If, after the date of this Agreement, the Borrower has submitted to the Administrative Agent the notice contemplated by Section 4.03 , then such Acceptable Property shall be deemed to be an Unencumbered Property.

 

h.                                       Reserved.

 

i.                                           Reserved.

 

j.                                          Exclusion Events.  Each of the following events shall be an “ Exclusion Event ” with respect to an Unencumbered Property:

 

(a)                                  such Unencumbered Property suffers a Material Environmental Event or a Material Title Defect after the date of this Agreement which the Administrative Agent determines, acting reasonably and in good faith, materially impairs the Unencumbered Asset Value or marketability of such Unencumbered Property;

 

(b)                                  the Administrative Agent determines that such Unencumbered Property has suffered a Material Property Event after the date such Property was deemed an Unencumbered Property (or in the case of an uninsured Casualty, in respect of such Unencumbered Property, is reasonably likely to become a Material Property Event) which the Administrative Agent determines, acting reasonably and in good faith, materially impairs the Unencumbered Asset Value or marketability of such Unencumbered Property;

 

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(c)                                   a Lien for the performance of work or the supply of materials which is established against such Unencumbered Property, or any stop notice served on the owner of such Unencumbered Property, the Administrative Agent or a Lender, remains unsatisfied or unbonded for a period of thirty (30) days after the date of filing or service and such Lien has priority over any Loan previously or thereafter made under this Agreement;

 

(d)                                  (i) any default by any Subsidiary Guarantor, as tenant under any applicable Acceptable Ground Lease, in the observance or performance of any material term, covenant, or condition of any applicable Acceptable Ground Lease on the part of such Subsidiary Guarantor to be observed or performed and said default is not cured following the expiration of any applicable grace and notice periods therein provided, or (ii)  the leasehold estate created by any applicable Acceptable Ground Lease shall be surrendered or (iii)  any applicable Acceptable Ground Lease shall cease to be in full force and effect or (iv) any applicable Acceptable Ground Lease shall be terminated or canceled for any reason or under any circumstances whatsoever, or any of the material terms, covenants or conditions of any applicable Acceptable Ground Lease shall be modified, changed, supplemented, altered, or amended in any manner not otherwise permitted hereunder without the consent of the Administrative Agent; and

 

(e)                                   the Borrower shall cease to own, directly or indirectly, one hundred percent (100%) of the Equity Interests of any Subsidiary Guarantor that owns an Unencumbered Property free and clear of any Liens (other than Liens in favor of the Administrative Agent).

 

After the occurrence of any Exclusion Event, the Administrative Agent, at the direction of the Required Lenders in their sole discretion, shall have the right at any time and from time to time to notify the Borrower (the “ Exclusion Notice ”) that, effective ten (10) Business Days after the giving of such notice and for so long as such Exclusion Event exists, such Property shall no longer be considered an Unencumbered Property.

 

If the Administrative Agent delivers an Exclusion Notice and such Exclusion Event no longer exists, then the Borrower may give the Administrative Agent written notice thereof (together with reasonably detailed evidence of the cure of such condition) and such Unencumbered Property shall be considered an Unencumbered Property as long as such Unencumbered Property meets all the requirements to be deemed an Unencumbered Property set forth in this Article IV.  Any Property that is excluded from the Unencumbered Properties pursuant to this Section 4.10 may subsequently be reinstated as an Unencumbered Property, even if an Exclusion Event exists, upon such terms and conditions as the Required Lenders may approve.

 

Upon the occurrence of an Default under Section 8.11(a) , the Borrower shall have the right to elect, upon written notice to the Administrative Agent, that the Lenders designate one or more Unencumbered Properties to be excluded as Unencumbered Properties in order to effect compliance with Section 8.11(a) , with the Borrower thereafter having the right to elect to have any such Unencumbered Property thereafter deemed an Unencumbered Property, provided no Exclusion Event shall exist at such time with respect to such Unencumbered Property.

 

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23.
CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO CREDIT EXTENSIONS

 

a.                                       Conditions of Initial Credit Extension.  The obligation of each Lender to make its initial Credit Extension hereunder is subject to satisfaction of the following conditions precedent:

 

(a)                                  The Administrative Agent’s receipt of the following, each of which shall be originals or telecopies (followed promptly by originals) unless otherwise specified, each properly executed by a Responsible Officer of the signing Loan Party, each dated the Closing Date (or, in the case of certificates of governmental officials, a recent date before the Closing Date) and each in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and each of the Lenders:

 

(i)                                      executed counterparts of this Agreement and the Guaranties sufficient in number for distribution to the Administrative Agent, each Lender, and the Borrower for each Initial Unencumbered Property;

 

(ii)                                   a Note executed by the Borrower in favor of each Lender requesting a Note;

 

(iii)                                copies of the Organization Documents of each Loan Party certified to be true and complete as of a recent date by the appropriate Governmental Authority of the state or other jurisdiction of its incorporation or organization, where applicable, and certified by a Responsible Officer of such Loan Party to be true and correct as of the Closing Date;

 

(iv)                               such certificates of resolutions or other action, incumbency certificates and/or other certificates of Responsible Officers of each Loan Party as the Administrative Agent may require (including, but not limited to, the Borrower’s Instruction Certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit I hereto)  evidencing the identity, authority and capacity of each Responsible Officer thereof authorized to act as a Responsible Officer in connection with this Agreement and the other Loan Documents to which such Loan Party is a party;

 

(v)                                  such documents and certifications as the Administrative Agent may reasonably require to evidence that each of the Borrower, the Parent and STAG Industrial GP, LLC is duly organized or formed, and that each of the Borrower, the Parent and STAG Industrial GP, LLC is validly existing, in good standing and qualified to engage in business in each jurisdiction where its ownership, lease or operation of properties or the conduct of its business requires such qualification, except to the extent that failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;

 

(vi)                               a favorable opinion of DLA Piper LLP (US), counsel to the Loan Parties, addressed to the Administrative Agent and each Lender, as to the matters set forth in Exhibit G and such other matters concerning the Borrower, the Parent and STAG Industrial GP, LLC and the Loan Documents as the Required Lenders may reasonably request;

 

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(vii)                            a certificate of a Responsible Officer of each Loan Party either (A) attaching copies of all consents, licenses and approvals required in connection with the execution, delivery and performance by such Loan Party and the validity against such Loan Party of the Loan Documents to which it is a party, and such consents, licenses and approvals shall be in full force and effect, or (B) stating that no such consents, licenses or approvals are so required;

 

(viii)                         a certificate signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower certifying (A) that the conditions specified in Sections 5.02(a)  and (b)  have been satisfied, and (B) that there has been no event or circumstance since the date of the Audited Financial Statements that has had or could be reasonably expected to have, either individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect;

 

(ix)                               a duly completed Compliance Certificate as of the Closing Date, signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower;

 

(x)                                  evidence that all insurance required to be maintained pursuant to the Loan Documents has been obtained and is in effect;

 

(xi)                               completed Borrower Remittance Instructions effective as of the Agreement Date; and

 

(xii)                            such other assurances, certificates, documents, consents or opinions as the Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders reasonably may require.

 

(b)                                  Any fees required to be paid on or before the Closing Date shall have been paid.

 

(c)                                   Unless waived by the Administrative Agent, the Borrower shall have paid all fees, charges and disbursements of counsel to the Administrative Agent (directly to such counsel if requested by the Administrative Agent) to the extent invoiced prior to the Closing Date, plus such additional amounts of such fees, charges and disbursements as shall constitute its reasonable estimate of such fees, charges and disbursements incurred or to be incurred by it through the closing proceedings ( provided that such estimate shall not thereafter preclude a final settling of accounts between the Borrower and the Administrative Agent).

 

Without limiting the generality of the provisions of the last paragraph of Section 10.03 , for purposes of determining compliance with the conditions specified in this Section 5.01 , 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.

 

b.                                       Conditions to all Credit Extensions.  The obligation of each Lender to honor any Request for Credit Extension (other than a Draw Request requesting only a conversion of

 

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Committed Loans to the other Type, or a continuation of LIBOR Loans) is subject to the following conditions precedent:

 

(a)                                  The representations and warranties of the Borrower and each other Loan Party contained in Article VI or any other Loan Document, or which are contained in any document furnished at any time under or in connection herewith or therewith, shall be true and correct in all material respects (except in the case of a representation or warranty qualified by materiality or Material Adverse Effect, in which case such representation or warranty shall be true and correct in all respects) on and as of the date of such Credit Extension, except to the extent that such representations and warranties specifically refer to an earlier date, in which case they shall be true and correct in all material respects (except in the case of a representation or warranty qualified by materiality or Material Adverse Effect, in which case such representation or warranty shall be true and correct in all respects) as of such earlier date, and except that for purposes of this Section   5.02 , the representations and warranties contained in Section 6.05(b)  shall be deemed to refer to the most-recent statements furnished pursuant to Section 7.01(b) .

 

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

 

(c)                                   The Administrative Agent shall have received a Request for Credit Extension in accordance with the requirements hereof.

 

(d)                                  After giving effect to such proposed Credit Extension, the Borrower shall be in compliance with Section 2.01(c) .

 

Each Request for Credit Extension (other than a Draw Request requesting only a conversion of Committed Loans to the other Type or a continuation of LIBOR Loans) submitted by the Borrower shall be deemed to be a representation and warranty that the conditions specified in Sections   5.02(a) , (b) , and (d)  have been satisfied on and as of the date of the applicable Credit Extension.

 

24.
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

 

Each of the Parent and the Borrower represents and warrants to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders that:

 

a.                                       Existence, Qualification and Power; Compliance with Laws.  The Parent, the Borrower and each Subsidiary Guarantor (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) in the case of the Loan Parties, 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

 

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case referred to in clause (b)(i)  or (c)  to the extent that failure to do so would not have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

b.                                       Authorization; No Contravention.  The execution, delivery and performance by each Loan Party of each Loan Document to which such Person is 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 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.

 

c.                                        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 the execution, delivery or performance by, or enforcement against, any Loan Party of this Agreement or any other Loan Document except for those that have been obtained, taken or made, as the case may be, and those specified herein.

 

d.                                       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, except as enforcement may be limited by Debtor Relief Laws or general equitable principles relating to or limiting creditors’ rights generally.

 

e.                                        Financial Statements; No Material Adverse Effect.

 

(a)                                  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 the financial condition of the Parent as of the date thereof and their results of operations for each period covered thereby in accordance with GAAP consistently applied throughout the each period covered thereby, except as otherwise expressly noted therein; and (iii) show all material indebtedness and other liabilities, direct or contingent, of the Parent as of the date thereof, including liabilities for taxes, material commitments and Indebtedness required by GAAP to be reflected therein.

 

(b)                                  The most recent unaudited consolidated balance sheet of the Parent delivered pursuant to Section 7.01(b) , 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 the financial condition of the Parent as of the date thereof and its results of operations 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.

 

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(c)                                   From and after the date of the Audited Financial Statements, and thereafter, from and after the date of the most recent financial statements delivered pursuant to Section 7.01(a)  or 7.01(b), there has been no event or circumstance, either individually or in the aggregate, that has had or would have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

f.                                         Litigation.  There are no actions, suits, proceedings, claims or disputes pending or, to the knowledge of any Company, threatened or contemplated, at law, in equity, in arbitration or before any Governmental Authority, by or against any Company 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) except as specifically disclosed in Schedule 6.06 , either individually or in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, and there has been no adverse change in the status, or financial effect on any Company, of the matters described on Schedule  6.06 , which change could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

g.                                        No Default.  No Company is in default under or with respect 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.

 

h.                                       Ownership of Property; Liens; Equity Interests.  Each Subsidiary Guarantor has good record and marketable title in fee simple to, or valid leasehold interests in, all Unencumbered Properties 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.  Each applicable Subsidiary Guarantor has good record and marketable fee simple title (or, in the case of Acceptable Ground Leases, a valid leasehold) to the Unencumbered Property owned by such Subsidiary Guarantor, subject only to Liens permitted by Section 8.01 .  All of the outstanding Equity Interests in each Subsidiary Guarantor have been validly issued, are fully paid and non-assessable and are owned by the applicable holders free and clear of all Liens (other than Liens permitted by Section 8.01 ).

 

i.                                           Environmental Compliance.

 

(a)                                  The Companies conduct in the ordinary course of business a review of 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 Parent and the Borrower have reasonably concluded that, except as specifically disclosed in Schedule 6.09 , such Environmental Laws and claims could not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(b)                                  After due inquiry in accordance with good commercial or customary practices to determine whether Contamination is present on any Property, without regard to whether the Administrative Agent or any Lender has or hereafter obtains any knowledge or report of the environmental condition of such Property, except as may be indicated in environmental reports delivered to the Administrative Agent and except to the extent the same could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect:

 

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(i) such Property has not been used (A) for landfilling, dumping, or other waste or Hazardous Material disposal activities or operations, or (B) for generation, storage, use, sale, treatment, processing, or recycling of any Hazardous Material, or for any other use that has resulted in Contamination, and in each case, to each Company’s knowledge, no such use on any adjacent property occurred at any time prior to the date hereof; (ii) there is no Hazardous Material, storage tank (or similar vessel) whether underground or otherwise, sump or well currently on any Property; (iii) no Company has received any notice of, or has knowledge of, any Environmental Claim or any completed, pending, proposed or threatened investigation or inquiry concerning the presence or release of any Hazardous Material on any Property or any adjacent property or concerning whether any condition, use or activity on any Property or any adjacent property is in violation of any Environmental Requirement; (iv) the present conditions, uses, and activities on each Property do not violate any Environmental Requirement and the use of any Property which any Company (and each tenant and subtenant) makes and intends to make of any Property complies and will comply with all applicable Environmental Requirements; (v) no Property appears on the National Priorities List, any federal or state “superfund” or “superlien” list, or any other list or database of properties maintained by any local, state, or federal agency or department showing properties which are known to contain or which are suspected of containing a Hazardous Material; (vi) no Company has ever applied for and been denied environmental impairment liability insurance coverage relating to any Property; (vii) no Company has, nor, to any Company’s knowledge, have any tenants or subtenants, obtained any permit or authorization to construct, occupy, operate, use, or conduct any activity on any Property by reason of any Environmental Requirement; and (viii) to any Company’s knowledge, there are no underground or aboveground storage tanks on such Property.

 

j.                                          Insurance.  The properties of the Loan Parties are insured with financially sound and reputable insurance companies not Affiliates of any Loan Party, 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 Loan Parties operate.

 

k.                                       Taxes.  The Companies have filed all material Federal, state and other tax returns and reports required to be filed, and have paid all material Federal, state and other 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 or which would not result in a Material Adverse Effect.  There is no proposed tax assessment against any Company that would, if made, have a Material Adverse Effect. Neither any Loan Party nor any Subsidiary thereof is party to any tax sharing agreement.

 

l.                                           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.  Each Pension Plan that is intended to be a qualified plan under Section 401(a)  of the Code has received a favorable determination letter from the Internal Revenue Service to the effect that the form of such

 

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Plan is qualified under Section 401(a)  of the Code and the trust related thereto has been determined by the Internal Revenue Service 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 Internal Revenue Service.  To the best knowledge of the Parent and the Borrower, nothing has occurred that would prevent or cause the loss of such tax-qualified status.  The Parent and each ERISA Affiliate have made all required contributions to each Plan subject to Section 412 of the Code, and no application for a funding waiver or an extension of any amortization period pursuant to Section 412 of the Code has been made with respect to any Plan.

 

(b)                                  There are no pending or, to the best knowledge of the Parent and the Borrower, threatened claims, actions or  lawsuits, or action by any Governmental Authority, with respect to any Plan that would have a Material Adverse Effect.  There has been no prohibited transaction or violation of the fiduciary responsibility rules with respect to any Plan that has resulted or would  have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(c)                                   (i) No ERISA Event has occurred, and neither the Parent nor any ERISA Affiliate is aware of any fact, event or circumstance that would constitute or result in an ERISA Event with respect to any Pension Plan; (ii) the Parent and each ERISA Affiliate has met all applicable requirements under the Pension Funding Rules in respect of each Pension Plan, and no waiver of the minimum funding standards under the Pension Funding Rules has been applied for or obtained; (iii) as of the most-recent valuation date for any Pension Plan, the funding target attainment percentage (as defined in Section 430(d)(2)  of the Code) is 60% or higher and neither the Parent nor any ERISA Affiliate knows of any facts or circumstances that would cause the funding target attainment percentage for any such plan to drop below 60% as of the most-recent valuation date; (iv) neither the Parent nor any ERISA Affiliate has incurred any liability to the PBGC other than for the payment of premiums, and there are no premium payments which have become due that are unpaid; (v) neither the Parent nor any ERISA Affiliate has engaged in a transaction that could be subject to Section 4069 or Section 4212(c)  of ERISA; and (vi) no Pension Plan has been terminated by the plan administrator thereof nor by the PBGC, and no event or circumstance has occurred or exists that would  cause the PBGC to institute proceedings under Title IV of ERISA to terminate any Pension Plan, in each case, that would result in a liability, individually, or in the aggregate, in excess of the Threshold Amount.

 

(d)                                  As of the First Amendment Effective Date, the Borrower is not, nor will be using “plan assets” (within the meaning of 29 CFR § 2510.3-101, as modified by Section 3(42) of ERISA) of one or more Benefit Plans in connection with the Loans or the Commitments.

 

m.                                   Subsidiaries; Equity Interests.  As of the Closing Date, the Parent and the Borrower have no Subsidiaries other than those specifically disclosed in Part (a) of Schedule 6.13 , and all of the outstanding Equity Interests in such Subsidiaries have been validly issued, are fully paid and non-assessable and are owned by a Company in the amounts specified on Part (a) of Schedule   6.13 free and clear of all Liens.  As of the Closing Date, neither the Parent nor the Borrower has any direct or indirect Equity Interests in any other Person other than

 

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those specifically disclosed in Part (b) of Schedule   6.13 .  All of the outstanding Equity Interests in each Subsidiary Guarantor have been validly issued, are fully paid and non -assessable and are owned by the applicable holders in the amounts specified on Part (c) of Schedule   6.13 free and clear of all Liens.

 

n.                                       Margin Regulations; Investment Company Act .

 

(a)                                  Neither the Parent nor the Borrower is 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.

 

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

 

o.                                       Disclosure.

 

(a)                                  The Parent and the Borrower have disclosed to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders all agreements, instruments and corporate or other restrictions to which any Company is subject, and all other matters known to them, that, individually or in the aggregate, would have a Material Adverse Effect.  The reports, financial statements, certificates or other information furnished (whether in writing or orally) by or on behalf of any Company 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), taken as a whole, do not contain any material misstatement of fact or fail to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided that (a) with respect to projected financial information, the Parent and the Borrower represent only that such information was prepared in good faith based upon assumptions believed to be reasonable at the time made, and (b) with respect to any lease abstracts provided by the Borrower, to the best of the Borrower’s knowledge, same will not contain any material misstatement of fact or fail to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

 

(b)                                  As of the First Amendment Effective Date, the information included in the Beneficial Ownership Certification is true and correct in all respects.

 

p.                                       Compliance with Laws.  Each Company is in compliance in all material respects 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, would have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

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q.                                       Taxpayer Identification Number.  As of the date hereof, each Loan Party’s true and correct U.S. taxpayer identification number is set forth on Schedule 11.02 .

 

r.                                          Intellectual Property; Licenses, Etc.  Each Loan Party owns, or possesses the right to use, all of the trademarks, service marks, trade names, copyrights, patents, patent rights, franchises, licenses and other intellectual property rights (collectively, “ IP Rights ”) that are reasonably necessary for the operation of their respective businesses, without conflict with the rights of any other Person except, in each case, where the failure to do so would have a Material Adverse Effect.  To the best knowledge of each Loan Party, 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 infringes upon any rights held by any other Person except where such infringement would not have a Material Adverse Effect.  Except as specifically disclosed in Schedule 6.18 , no claim or litigation regarding any of the foregoing is pending or, to the best knowledge of each Loan Party, threatened, which, either individually or in the aggregate, would have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

s.                                         Reserved .

 

t.                                          Solvency.  No Loan Party (a) has entered into the transaction or executed this Agreement or any other Loan Document with the actual intent to hinder, delay or defraud any creditor and (b) has not received reasonably equivalent value in exchange for its obligations under the Loan Documents.  After giving effect to any Loan, the fair saleable value of the Loan Parties’ assets, taken as a whole, exceeds and will, immediately following the making of any such Loan, exceed the Loan Parties’ total liabilities, including subordinated, unliquidated, disputed and contingent liabilities.  The Loan Parties’ assets, taken as a whole, do not constitute unreasonably small capital to carry out their business as conducted or as proposed to be conducted, nor will their assets constitute unreasonably small capital immediately following the making of any Loan.  The Loan Parties do not intend to incur debt and liabilities (including contingent liabilities and other commitments) beyond their ability to pay such debt and liabilities as they mature (taking into account the timing and amounts of cash to be received by the Loan Parties and the amounts to be payable on or in respect of obligations of the Loan Parties).  No petition under any Debtor Relief Laws has been filed against any Loan Party in the last seven (7) years, and neither the Borrower nor any other Loan Party in the last seven (7) years has ever made an assignment for the benefit of creditors or taken advantage of any insolvency act for the benefit of debtors.  No Loan Party is contemplating either the filing of a petition by it under any Debtor Relief Laws or the liquidation of all or a major portion of its assets or property (except for dispositions permitted hereunder), and no Loan Party has knowledge of any Person contemplating the filing of any such petition against it or any other Loan Party.

 

u.                                       REIT Status of the Parent.  The Parent qualified as a REIT commencing with its taxable year ending December 31, 2013 and will remain qualified in each taxable year thereafter.

 

v.                                       Labor Matters.  There is (a) no significant unfair labor practice complaint pending against any Company or, to the best of each Company’s knowledge, threatened against any Company, before the National Labor Relations Board, and no significant grievance or significant arbitration proceeding arising out of or under any collective bargaining agreement is pending on the date hereof against any Company or, to best of any Company’s knowledge, threatened

 

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against any Company which, in either case, would result in a Material Adverse Effect, and (b) no significant strike, labor dispute, slowdown or stoppage is pending against any Company or, to the best of any Company’s knowledge, threatened against any Company which would result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

w.                                     Ground Lease Representation.

 

(a)                                  The applicable Subsidiary Guarantor has delivered to the Administrative Agent true and correct copies of each Acceptable Ground Lease to the extent requested by the Administrative Agent.

 

(b)                                  Each Acceptable Ground Lease is in full force and effect.

 

x.                                       Unencumbered Properties .  To the Borrower’s knowledge and except where the failure of any of the following to be true and correct would not have a Material Adverse Effect:

 

(a)                                  Each Unencumbered Property complies with all Laws, including all subdivision and platting requirements, without reliance on any adjoining or neighboring property.  No Loan Party has received any notice or claim from any Person that an Unencumbered Property, or any use, activity, operation, or maintenance thereof or thereon, is not in compliance with any Law, and has no knowledge of any such noncompliance except as disclosed in writing to the Administrative Agent;

 

(b)                                  The Loan Parties have not directly or indirectly conveyed, assigned, or otherwise disposed of, or transferred (or agreed to do so) any development rights, air rights, or other similar rights, privileges, or attributes with respect to an Unencumbered Property, including those arising under any zoning or property use ordinance or other Laws;

 

(c)                                   All utility services necessary for the use of each Unencumbered Property and the operation thereof for their intended purpose are available at each Unencumbered Property;

 

(d)                                  The current use of each Unencumbered Property complies in all material respects with all applicable zoning ordinances, regulations, and restrictive covenants affecting such Unencumbered Property, all use restrictions of any Governmental Authority having jurisdiction have been satisfied; and

 

(e)                                   No Unencumbered Property is the subject of any pending or, to any Loan Party’s knowledge, threatened Condemnation or material adverse zoning proceeding for which the Administrative Agent has not been notified in accordance with Section 7.03(f) .

 

y.                                       OFAC.   No Loan Party, nor, to the knowledge of any Loan Party, any Related Party, (i) is currently the subject of any Sanctions, (ii) is located, organized or residing in any Designated Jurisdiction, or (iii) is or has been (within the previous five (5) years) engaged in any transaction with any Person who is now or was then the subject of Sanctions or who is located, organized or residing in any Designated Jurisdiction.  No Loan, nor the proceeds from any Loan, has been used, directly or indirectly, to lend, contribute, provide or has otherwise made available

 

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to fund any activity or business in any Designated Jurisdiction or to fund any activity or business of any Person located, organized or residing in any Designated Jurisdiction or who is the subject of any Sanctions, or in any other manner that will result in any violation by any Person (including any Lender, the Lead Arrangers or the Administrative Agent) of Sanctions.  Each Loan Party, their respective officers and, to the knowledge of the Parent and the Borrower, its respective directors, employees and agents and any Related Party, are in compliance with Anti-Corruption Laws and applicable Sanctions in all material respects. No Credit Extension, use of the proceeds of any Credit Extension, or other transactions contemplated hereby will violate Anti-Corruption Laws or applicable Sanctions.  Neither the making of the Credit Extensions hereunder nor the use of the proceeds thereof will violate the Patriot Act, the Trading with the Enemy Act, as amended, or any of the foreign assets control regulations of the United States Treasury Department (31 C.F.R., Subtitle B, Chapter V, as amended) or any enabling legislation or executive order relating thereto or successor statute thereto. Each Loan Party is in compliance in all material respects with the Patriot Act.

 

z.                                        EEA Financial Institutions.  No Loan Party is an EEA Financial Institution.

 

25.
AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS

 

So long as any Lender shall have any Commitment hereunder, any Loan or other Obligation hereunder (excluding contingent indemnification obligations to the extent no unsatisfied claim giving rise thereto has been asserted) shall remain unpaid or unsatisfied:

 

a.                                       Financial Statements.  Each of the Parent and the Borrower shall deliver to the Administrative Agent and each Lender, in form and detail reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the Required Lenders:

 

(a)                                  as soon as available, but in any event within one hundred five (105) days after the end of each fiscal year of the Parent (or, if earlier, fifteen (15) days after the date required to be filed with the SEC without giving effect to any extension permitted by the SEC) (commencing with the fiscal year ending December 31, 2017), a consolidated balance sheet of the Parent 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, all in reasonable detail and prepared in accordance with GAAP, such consolidated statements to be audited and accompanied by a report and opinion of an independent certified public accountant of nationally recognized standing reasonably acceptable to the Required Lenders, 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; and

 

(b)                                  as soon as available, but in any event within sixty (60) days after the end of each of the first three (3) fiscal quarters of each fiscal year of the Parent (or, if earlier, five (5) days after the date required to be filed with the SEC) (commencing with the fiscal quarter ended June 30, 2017), a consolidated balance sheet of the Parent, the Borrower

 

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and its Subsidiaries as at the end of such fiscal quarter, the related consolidated statements of income or operations for such fiscal quarter and for the portion of the Parent’s fiscal year then ended, and the related consolidated statements of changes in shareholders’ equity, and cash flows for the portion of the Parent’s fiscal year then ended, in each case setting forth in comparative form, as applicable, the figures for the corresponding fiscal quarter of the previous fiscal year and the corresponding portion of the previous fiscal year, all in reasonable detail, such consolidated statements to be certified by the chief executive officer, chief financial officer, treasurer or controller of the Parent as fairly presenting the financial condition, results of operations, shareholders’ equity and cash flows of the Parent in accordance with GAAP, subject only to normal year-end audit adjustments and the absence of footnotes

 

As to any information contained in materials furnished pursuant to Section 7.02 , the Parent and the Borrower shall not be separately required to furnish such information under clause (a)  or (b)  above, but the foregoing shall not be in derogation of the obligation of the Parent and the Borrower to furnish the information and materials described in clauses (a)  and (b)  above at the times specified therein.

 

b.                                       Certificates; Other Information.  Each of the Parent and the Borrower shall deliver to the Administrative Agent and each Lender, in form and detail reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the Required Lenders:

 

(a)                                  concurrently with the delivery of the financial statements referred to in Sections 7.01(a)  and (b) , a duly completed Compliance Certificate signed by the chief executive officer, chief financial officer, chief accounting officer, treasurer or controller of the Borrower (which delivery may, unless the Administrative Agent or a Lender requests executed originals, be by electronic communication including fax or email and shall be deemed to be an original authentic counterpart thereof for all purposes);

 

(b)                                  promptly after any request by the Administrative Agent, copies of any detailed audit opinions or review reports submitted to the board of directors (or the audit committee of the board of directors) of the Parent by independent accountants in connection with the accounts or books of the Parent;

 

(c)                                   promptly after the same are available, copies of each annual report, proxy or financial statement or other report or communication sent to the stockholders of the Parent, and copies of all annual, regular, periodic and special reports and registration statements which the Borrower may file or be required to file with the SEC under Section 13 or 15(d)  of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and not otherwise required to be delivered to the Administrative Agent pursuant hereto;

 

(d)                                  promptly after the furnishing thereof, copies of any statement or report furnished to any holder of publicly-held debt securities of the Parent or the Borrower 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 7.01 or any other clause of this Section 7.02 ;

 

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(e)                                   promptly, and in any event within five (5) Business Days after receipt thereof by the Parent or the Borrower, copies of each notice or other correspondence received from the SEC (or comparable agency in any applicable non-U.S. jurisdiction) concerning any material investigation or other material inquiry by such agency regarding financial or other operational results of any Company unless restricted from doing so by such agency; and

 

(f)                                    promptly, such additional information regarding the business, financial or corporate affairs of the Parent or the Borrower or any Unencumbered Property, 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 7.01(a)  or (b)  or Section 7.02(c)  (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 (i) on which the Parent or the Borrower (A) files any such document with the Securities and Exchange Commission’s EDGAR system (or any successor thereto) in a manner accessible to the public at large or (B) posts such documents, or provides a link thereto on the Parent and the Borrower’s website on the Internet at the website address listed on Schedule 11.02 ; or (ii) on which such documents are posted on the Parent and the Borrower’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).  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 and the Borrower 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.

 

The Parent and the Borrower hereby acknowledge that (a) the Administrative Agent and/or the Lead Arrangers will make available to the Lenders materials and/or information provided by or on behalf of the Parent and the Borrower hereunder (collectively, the “ Borrower Materials ”) by posting the Borrower Materials on IntraLinks, SyndTrak or another similar electronic system (the “ Platform ”) and (b) certain of the Lenders (each, a “ Public Lender ”) may have personnel who do not wish to receive material non-public information with respect to the Parent, the Borrower or their Affiliates, or the respective Equity Interests of any of the foregoing, and who may be engaged in investment and other market-related activities with respect to such Persons’ Equity Interests.  The Parent and the Borrower hereby agree that (w) all the Borrower Materials that are to be made available to the Public Lenders shall be clearly and conspicuously marked “PUBLIC” which, at a minimum, shall mean that the word “PUBLIC” shall appear prominently on the first page thereof; (x) by marking the Borrower Materials “PUBLIC,” the Parent and the Borrower shall be deemed to have authorized the Administrative Agent, the Lead Arrangers and the Lenders to treat such Borrower Materials as not containing any material non-public information with respect to the Parent and the Borrower or their Equity Interests for purposes of United States Federal and state securities laws ( provided that to the extent such Borrower Materials constitute Information, they shall be treated as set forth in Section 11.07 ); (y) all the Borrower Materials marked “PUBLIC” are permitted to be made available through a portion of the Platform designated “Public Side Information;” and (z) the Administrative Agent

 

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and the Lead Arrangers shall be entitled to treat any the Borrower Materials that are not marked “PUBLIC” as being suitable only for posting on a portion of the Platform not designated “Public Side Information.”

 

c.                                        Notices.  Each of the Parent and the Borrower shall, upon becoming aware of same, promptly notify the Administrative Agent who shall notify each Lender:

 

(a)                                  of the occurrence of any Default;

 

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

 

(c)                                   of the occurrence of any ERISA Event which has resulted or would result in liabilities of any Company in an aggregate amount in excess of the Threshold Amount;

 

(d)                                  of any material litigation, arbitration or governmental investigation or proceeding instituted or threatened in writing against any Unencumbered Property, and any material development therein;

 

(e)                                   of any announcement by Moody’s, Fitch or S&P of any change in a Debt Rating or in its “outlook” with respect to a Debt Rating;

 

(f)                                    of any actual or threatened in writing Condemnation or zoning proceeding of any portion of any Unencumbered Property, any negotiations with respect to any such taking, or any material loss of or substantial damage to any Unencumbered Property, in each case, except to the extent that the same could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;

 

(g)                                   of any Casualty with respect to any Unencumbered Property except to the extent that the same could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;

 

(h)                                  of any material permit, license, certificate or approval required with respect to any Unencumbered Property that lapses or ceases to be in full force and effect or any claim from any person that any Unencumbered Property, or any use, activity, operation or maintenance thereof or thereon, is not in compliance with any Law, in each case, except to the extent that the same could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;

 

(i)                                      of any material change in accounting policies or financial reporting practices by any Company, including any determination by the Borrower referred to in Section 2.10(b) ; and

 

(j)                                     of any labor controversy pending or threatened against any Company, and any material development in any labor controversy except to the extent that the same could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

Each notice pursuant to this Section 7.03 shall be accompanied by a statement of a Responsible Officer of the Parent and the Borrower setting forth details of the occurrence

 

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referred to therein and stating what action the Parent and/or the Borrower has taken and proposes to take with respect thereto.  Each notice pursuant to Section  7.03(a)  shall describe with particularity any and all provisions of this Agreement and any other Loan Document that have been breached.

 

d.                                       Payment of Obligations.  Each of the Parent and the Borrower shall, and shall cause each other Loan Party to, pay and discharge as the same shall become due and payable, all its obligations and liabilities, including: (a) all tax liabilities, assessments and governmental charges or levies upon a Loan Party or its properties or assets, 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 such Loan Party; (b) all lawful claims which, if unpaid, would by law become a Lien upon its property other than Liens of the type permitted under Sections 8.01(a)  through (g) ; and (c) all Indebtedness, as and when due and payable except, in each case, where the failure to do so would not result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

e.                                        Preservation of Existence, Etc.  Each of the Parent and the Borrower shall, and shall cause each other Loan Party to (a) preserve, renew and maintain in full force and effect its legal existence and good standing under the Laws of the jurisdiction of its organization except in a transaction permitted by Section  8.04 ; (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 would not have a Material Adverse Effect; and (c) preserve or renew all of its IP Rights, the non-preservation of which would have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

f.                                         Maintenance of Properties.  Each of the Parent and the Borrower shall, and shall cause each other Company to (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 except to the extent the failure to do so would not result in a Material Adverse Effect; (b) make all necessary repairs thereto and renewals and replacements thereof except where the failure to do so would not have a Material Adverse Effect; (c) use the standard of care typical in the industry in the operation and maintenance of its (i) Unencumbered Properties, and, (ii) as to its other Properties except where the failure to do so would not have a Material Adverse Effect; and (d) keep the Unencumbered Properties in good order, repair, operating condition, and appearance, causing all necessary repairs, renewals, replacements, additions, and improvements to be promptly made, and not allow any of the Unencumbered Properties to be misused, abused or wasted or to deteriorate (ordinary wear and tear excepted) except where the failure to do so would not have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

g.                                        Maintenance of Insurance.  Each of the Parent and the Borrower shall, and shall cause each other Company to, maintain with financially sound and reputable insurance companies not Affiliates of any Company, insurance (including flood insurance if available or required) 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.

 

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h.                                       Compliance with Laws; Beneficial Ownership Regulations Each of the Parent and the Borrower shall, and shall cause each other Subsidiary Guarantor to, (a) comply in all material respects with the requirements of all Laws (including without limitation Anti-Corruption Laws and applicable Sanctions) and all orders, writs, injunctions and decrees applicable to it or to its business or property, except in such instances in which (i) such requirement of Law or order, writ, injunction or decree is being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted; or (ii) the failure to comply therewith would not have a Material Adverse Effect, (b) notify the Administrative Agent and each Lender that previously received a Beneficial Ownership Certification of any change in the information provided in the Beneficial Ownership Certification that would result in a change to the list of beneficial owners identified therein, and (c) promptly upon the reasonably request of the Administrative Agent or any Lender, provide the Administrative Agent or such Lender, as the case may be, any information or documentation requested by it for purposes of complying with the Beneficial Ownership Regulation.

 

i.                                           Books and Records.  Each of the Parent and the Borrower shall, and shall cause each other Company to: (a) 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 each Company, as the case may be; and (b) maintain such books of record and account in material conformity with all applicable requirements of any Governmental Authority having regulatory jurisdiction over any Company, as the case may be.

 

j.                                          Inspection Rights.  Subject to the rights of tenants, each of the Parent and the Borrower shall, and shall cause each other Loan Party to, permit representatives and independent contractors of the Administrative Agent and each Lender, at the expense of the Administrative Agent or such Lender, to visit and inspect and photograph any Unencumbered Property and any of its other properties, to examine its corporate, financial and operating records, and all recorded data of any kind or nature, regardless of the medium of recording including all software, writings, plans, specifications and schematics, and make copies thereof or abstracts therefrom, and to discuss its affairs, finances and accounts with its officers all at the expense of the Borrower and at such reasonable times during normal business hours, upon reasonable advance notice to the applicable Loan Party and no more often than once in any period of twelve (12) consecutive months unless an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing; provided that when an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing 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 Borrower at any time during normal business hours and without advance notice, subject to the rights of tenants.  Any inspection or audit of the Unencumbered Properties or the books and records, including recorded data of any kind or nature, regardless of the medium of recording including software, writings, plans, specifications and schematics of any Loan Party, or the procuring of documents and financial and other information, by the Administrative Agent on behalf of itself or on behalf of the Lenders shall be for the Administrative Agent’s and the Lenders’ protection only, and shall not constitute any assumption of responsibility to any Loan Party or anyone else with regard to the condition, construction, maintenance or operation of the Unencumbered Properties nor the Administrative Agent’s approval of any certification given to the Administrative Agent nor relieve any Loan Party of the Borrower’s or any other Loan Party’s obligations.

 

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k.                                       Use of Proceeds.  Each of the Parent and the Borrower shall, and shall cause each other Company to, use the proceeds of the Credit Extensions (a) to refinance the obligations of the Companies under existing facilities, (b) to finance the acquisition of Properties, (c) to pay operating and leasing expenses with respect to its Properties, and (d) for general corporate purposes, in each case, not in contravention of any Law or of any Loan Document.

 

l.                                           Environmental Matters.  Each of the Parent and the Borrower shall, and shall cause each other Loan Party to:

 

(a)                                  Violations; Notice to the Administrative Agent .  Use reasonable efforts to:

 

(i)                                      Keep the Unencumbered Properties free of Contamination, except to the extent that any failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;

 

(ii)                                   Promptly deliver to the Administrative Agent a copy of each report pertaining to any Property or to any Loan Party prepared by or on behalf of such Loan Party pursuant to a material violation of any Environmental Requirement to the extent that the same could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; and

 

(iii)                                As soon as practicable advise the Administrative Agent in writing of any Environmental Claim or of the discovery of any Contamination on any Unencumbered Property that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, as soon as any Loan Party first obtains knowledge thereof, including a description of the nature and extent of the Environmental Claim and/or Hazardous Material and all relevant circumstances.

 

(b)                                  Site Assessments and Information .  If the Parent or the Borrower fails to comply with Section 7.12(a)  or if any other Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, then if requested by the Administrative Agent, at the Borrower’s expense, deliver to the Administrative Agent from time to time, but no more frequently than once per calendar year unless an Event of Default exists, in each case within seventy five (75) days after the Administrative Agent’s request, an Environmental Assessment (hereinafter defined) made after the date of the Administrative Agent’s request.  As used in this Agreement, the term “ Environmental Assessment ” means a report of an environmental assessment of any or all Unencumbered Properties and of such scope so as to be compliant with the guidelines established by the ASTM (including the taking of soil borings and air and groundwater samples and other above and below ground testing) as the Administrative Agent may reasonably request to be performed by a licensed environmental consulting firm reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent.  Each applicable Loan Party shall cooperate with each consulting firm making any such Environmental Assessment and shall supply to the consulting firm all information available to such Loan Party to facilitate the completion of the Environmental Assessment.  If any Loan Party fails to furnish the Administrative Agent within thirty (30) days after the Administrative Agent’s request with a copy of an agreement with an

 

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acceptable environmental consulting firm to provide such Environmental Assessment, or if any Loan Party fails to furnish to the Administrative Agent such Environmental Assessment within seventy five (75) days after the Administrative Agent’s request, upon written notice to the Parent and the Borrower, the Administrative Agent may cause any such Environmental Assessment to be made at the Borrower’s expense and risk.  Subject to the rights of tenant, the Administrative Agent and its designees are hereby granted access to the Unencumbered Properties upon written notice, and a license which is coupled with an interest and irrevocable, to make or cause to be made such Environmental Assessments.  The Administrative Agent may disclose to any Governmental Authority, to the extent required by Applicable Law, any information the Administrative Agent ever has about the environmental condition or compliance of the Unencumbered Properties, but shall be under no duty to disclose any such information except as may be required by Law.  The Administrative Agent shall be under no duty to make any Environmental Assessment of the Unencumbered Properties, and in no event shall any such Environmental Assessment by the Administrative Agent be or give rise to a representation that any Hazardous Material is or is not present on the Unencumbered Properties, or that there has been or shall be compliance with any Environmental Requirement, nor shall any Company or any other Person be entitled to rely on any Environmental Assessment made by the Administrative Agent or at the Administrative Agent’s request but the Administrative Agent shall deliver a copy of such report to the Parent and the Borrower.  Neither the Administrative Agent nor any Lender owes any duty of care to protect any Company or any other Person against, or to inform them of, any Hazardous Material or other adverse condition affecting the Unencumbered Properties.

 

(c)                                   Remedial Actions .  If any Contamination which could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect is discovered on any Unencumbered Property at any time and regardless of the cause, (i) promptly at the applicable Loan Parties’ sole expense, remove, treat, and dispose of the Hazardous Material in compliance with all applicable Environmental Requirements in addition to taking such other action as is necessary to have the full use and benefit of such Unencumbered Property as contemplated by the Loan Documents, and provide the Administrative Agent with satisfactory evidence thereof; and (ii) if reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent, provide to the Administrative Agent within thirty (30) days of the Administrative Agent’s request a bond, letter of credit, or other financial assurance, including self-assurance,  evidencing to the Administrative Agent’s satisfaction that all necessary funds are readily available to pay the costs and expenses of the actions required by the preceding clause (i)  and to discharge any assessments or liens established against such Unencumbered Property as a result of the presence of the Hazardous Material on the Unencumbered Property. After completion of such remedial actions, the applicable Loan Party shall promptly request regulatory approval, take all reasonable measures to expedite issuance of such approval and upon receipt thereof deliver to the Administrative Agent a letter indicating that no further action is required with respect to the applicable Unencumbered Property or similar confirmation by the applicable regulator that all required remedial action as stated above has been taken and successfully completed to the satisfaction of the applicable regulator.  The Loan Parties shall not be deemed to have

 

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satisfied their remedial obligations under this provision until they have provided the Administrative Agent such confirmation.

 

m.                                   Ground Leases Solely with respect to Unencumbered Property, each of the Parent and the Borrower shall, and shall cause each other Loan Party to:

 

(a)                                  Diligently perform and observe in all material respects all of the terms, covenants, and conditions of any Acceptable Ground Lease as tenant under such Acceptable Ground Lease; and

 

(b)                                  Promptly notify the Administrative Agent of (i) the giving to the applicable Subsidiary Guarantor of any notice of any default by such Subsidiary Guarantor under any Acceptable Ground Lease and deliver to the Administrative Agent a true copy of each such notice within five (5) Business Days of such Subsidiary Guarantor’s receipt thereof, and (ii) any bankruptcy, reorganization, or insolvency of the landlord under any Acceptable Ground Lease or of any notice thereof, and deliver to the Administrative Agent a true copy of such notice within five (5) Business Days of the applicable Subsidiary Guarantor’s receipt.

 

(c)                                   Exercise any individual option to extend or renew the term of an Acceptable Ground Lease upon demand by the Administrative Agent made at any time within thirty (30) days prior to the last day upon which any such option may be exercised, and each applicable Subsidiary Guarantor hereby expressly authorizes and appoints the Administrative Agent as its attorney-in-fact to exercise any such option in the name of and upon behalf of such Subsidiary Guarantor, which power of attorney shall be irrevocable and shall be deemed to be coupled with an interest.

 

If the applicable Subsidiary Guarantor shall default in the performance or observance of any term, covenant, or condition of any Acceptable Ground Lease on the part of such Subsidiary Guarantor and shall fail to cure the same prior to the expiration of any applicable cure period provided thereunder, then the Administrative Agent shall have the right, but shall be under no obligation, to pay any sums and to perform any act or take any action as may be appropriate to cause all of the terms, covenants, and conditions of such Acceptable Ground Lease on the part of such Subsidiary Guarantor to be performed or observed on behalf of such Subsidiary Guarantor, to the end that the rights of such Subsidiary Guarantor in, to, and under such Acceptable Ground Lease shall be kept unimpaired and free from default.  If the landlord under any Acceptable Ground Lease shall deliver to the Administrative Agent a copy of any notice of default under such Acceptable Ground Lease, then such notice shall constitute full protection to the Administrative Agent for any action taken or omitted to be taken by the Administrative Agent, in good faith, in reliance thereon.

 

n.                                       Unencumbered Properties.

 

(a)                                  Except where the failure to comply with any of the following would not have a Material Adverse Effect, each of the Parent and the Borrower shall, and shall use commercially reasonable efforts to cause each other Loan Party or the applicable tenant, to:

 

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(i)                                      Pay all real estate and personal property taxes, assessments, water rates or sewer rents, ground rents, maintenance charges, impositions, and any other charges, including vault charges and license fees for the use of vaults, chutes and similar areas adjoining any Unencumbered Property, now or hereafter levied or assessed or imposed against any Unencumbered Property or any part thereof (except those which are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted);

 

(ii)                                   Promptly pay (or cause to be paid) when due all bills and costs for labor, materials, and specifically fabricated materials incurred in connection with any Unencumbered Property (except those which are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted), and in any event never permit to be created or exist in respect of any Unencumbered Property or any part thereof any other or additional Lien or security interest other than Liens permitted by Section 8.01 ; and

 

(iii)                                Operate the Unencumbered Properties in a good and workmanlike manner and in all material respects in accordance with all Laws in accordance with such Loan Party’s prudent business judgment.

 

(b)                                  Except where the failure would not have a material and adverse effect on the value of the Unencumbered Properties, taken as whole, each of the Parent and the Borrower shall, and shall cause each other Loan Party to, to the extent owned and controlled by a Loan Party, preserve, protect, renew, extend and retain all material rights and privileges granted for or applicable to each Unencumbered Property.

 

26.
NEGATIVE COVENANTS

 

So long as any Lender shall have any Commitment hereunder or any Loan or other Obligation hereunder (excluding contingent indemnification obligations to the extent no unsatisfied claim giving rise thereto has been asserted) shall remain unpaid or unsatisfied:

 

a.                                       Liens.  Each of the Parent and the Borrower shall not, nor shall it permit any other Loan Party to, directly or indirectly, create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Lien upon any Unencumbered Property, other than the following:

 

(a)                                  Liens pursuant to any Loan Document;

 

(b)                                  Liens existing on the date hereof and listed on Schedule 8.01 ;

 

(c)                                   Liens for taxes not yet due and payable 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

 

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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)                                    easements, rights-of-way, restrictions, restrictive covenants, encroachments, protrusions and other similar encumbrances affecting real property which, in the aggregate, are not substantial in amount, and which do not in any case materially detract from the value of the property subject thereto or materially interfere with the ordinary conduct of the business of the applicable Person;

 

(g)                                   Liens securing judgments for the payment of money not constituting an Event of Default under Section 9.01(i) ;

 

(h)                                  the rights of tenants under leases or subleases not interfering with the ordinary conduct of business of such Person;

 

(i)                                      Liens securing obligations in the nature of personal property financing leases for furniture, furnishings or similar assets, Capital Leases Obligations and other purchase money obligations for fixed or capital assets; provided that (i) such Liens do not at any time encumber any property other than the property financed by such Indebtedness, (ii) the obligations secured thereby does not exceed the cost or fair market value, whichever is lower, of the property being acquired on the date of acquisition, and (iii) with respect to Capital Leases, such Liens do not at any time extend to or cover any assets other than the assets subject to such Capital Leases;

 

(j)                                     Liens securing obligations in the nature of the performance of bids, trade contracts and leases (other than Indebtedness), statutory obligations, surety bonds (other than bonds related to judgments or litigation), performance bonds and other obligations of a like nature incurred in the ordinary course of business;

 

(k)                                  all Liens, encumbrances and other matters disclosed in any owner’s title insurance policies or other title reports and updated thereof accepted by the Administrative Agent; and

 

(l)                                      such other title and survey exceptions as the Administrative Agent has approved in writing in the Administrative Agent’s reasonable discretion.

 

b.                                       Indebtedness.  Each of the Parent and the Borrower shall not, nor shall it permit any other Loan Party to, 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 8.02 and any refinancings, refundings, renewals or extensions thereof; provided that the

 

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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;

 

(c)                                   Guarantees of (i) the Borrower or the Parent in respect of Indebtedness otherwise permitted hereunder of the Borrower or any other Guarantor, (ii) the Parent or the Borrower, in respect of Indebtedness otherwise permitted hereunder of any Non-Guarantor Subsidiary if, in the case of any Guarantee pursuant to this clause (ii), (x) no Default shall exist immediately before or immediately after the making of such Guarantee, and (y) there exists no violation of the financial covenants set forth in Section 8.14 hereunder on a pro forma basis after the making of such Guarantee, and (iii) Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries made in the ordinary course of business;

 

(d)                                  obligations (contingent or otherwise) of the Borrower or any Subsidiary existing or arising under any Swap Contract, provided that such obligations are (or were) entered into by such Person in the ordinary course of business for the purpose of directly mitigating risks associated with liabilities, commitments, investments, assets, or property held or reasonably anticipated by such Person, or changes in the value of securities issued by such Person, and not for purposes of speculation or taking a “market view”;

 

(e)                                   Indebtedness in respect of Capital Leases and purchase money obligations for fixed or capital assets within the limitations set forth in Section 8.01(i) , and unsecured Indebtedness in the form of trade payables incurred in the ordinary course of business; and

 

(f)                                    Indebtedness of the Borrower or the Parent incurred or assumed after the date hereof that is either unsecured or is secured by Liens on assets of the Parent or the Borrower (other than any Unencumbered Property or the Equity Interests in any Loan Party); provided, such Indebtedness shall be permitted under this Section 8.02(f)  only if: (i) no Default shall exist immediately before or immediately after the incurrence or assumption of such Indebtedness, and (ii) there exists no violation of the financial covenants set forth in Section 8.14 hereunder on a pro forma basis after the incurrence or assumption of such Indebtedness.

 

c.                                        Investments.  Neither the Parent nor the Borrower shall have and shall not permit the Companies’ to have any Investments other than:

 

(a)                                  Investments in the form of cash or Cash Equivalents;

 

(b)                                  Investments existing on the date hereof and set forth on Schedule 6.13 ;

 

(c)                                   advances to officers, directors and employees of the Borrower and Subsidiaries for travel, entertainment, relocation and analogous ordinary business purposes;

 

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(d)                                  Investments of the Guarantor and the Borrower in the form of Equity Interests and investments of the Borrower in any wholly-owned Subsidiary, and Investments of the Borrower directly in, or of any wholly-owned Subsidiary in another wholly-owned Subsidiary which owns, real property assets which are functional industrial, manufacturing, warehouse/distribution and/or office properties located within the United States, provided in each case the Investments held by the Borrower or Subsidiary are in accordance with the provisions of this Section 8.03 other than this Section 8.03(d) ;

 

(e)                                   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;

 

(f)                                    Investments in non-wholly owned Subsidiaries and Unconsolidated Affiliates;

 

(g)                                   Investments in mortgages and mezzanine loans;

 

(h)                                  Investments in unimproved land holdings and Construction in Progress;

 

(i)                                      Investments by the Parent for the redemption, conversion, exchange, retirement, sinking fund or similar payment, purchase or other acquisition for value, direct or indirect, of any Equity Interests of the Parent or the Borrower now or hereafter outstanding to the extent permitted under Section 8.06 below; and

 

(j)                                     Other Investments not to exceed at any time ten percent (10%) of Total Asset Value.

 

d.                                       Fundamental Changes.  Each of the Parent and the Borrower shall not, nor shall it permit any other Loan Party to, directly or indirectly, merge, dissolve, liquidate, consolidate with or into another Person, or Dispose of (whether in one transaction or in a series of transactions) all or substantially all of its assets (whether now owned or hereafter acquired) to or in favor of any Person, except that, so long as no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or would result therefrom:

 

(a)                                  any Loan Party (other than the Parent or the Borrower) may merge with (i) the Parent or the Borrower, provided that the Parent or the Borrower, as applicable, shall be the continuing or surviving Person, or (ii) any other Loan Party, or (iii) any other Person, provided that if it owns an Unencumbered Property and is not the surviving entity, then such Property shall cease to be an Unencumbered Property;

 

(b)                                  any Loan Party (other than the Parent or the Borrower) may Dispose of all or substantially all of its assets (upon voluntary liquidation or otherwise) to another Loan Party;

 

(c)                                   any Loan Party may Dispose of a Property owned by such Loan Party in the ordinary course of business and for fair value; and

 

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(d)                                  the Parent or the Borrower may merge or consolidate with another Person so long as either the Parent or the Borrower, as the case may be, is the surviving entity, shall remain in pro forma compliance with the covenants set forth in Section 8.14 below after giving effect to such transaction, and the Borrower shall have given the Administrative Agent at least fifteen (15) Business Days’ prior written notice of such merger or consolidation, such notice to include a certification as to the pro forma compliance referenced above, with the Borrower agreeing to provide such other financial information as the Administrative Agent shall reasonably request in order to verify such pro forma compliance.

 

Nothing in this Section shall be deemed to prohibit the sale or leasing of Property or portions of Property in the ordinary course of business.

 

e.                                        Dispositions.  Each of the Parent, the Borrower or any Loan Party shall not make any Disposition or enter into any agreement to make any Disposition, except:

 

(a)                                  Dispositions of obsolete or worn out property, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, in the ordinary course of business;

 

(b)                                  Dispositions of inventory in the ordinary course of business;

 

(c)                                   Any other Dispositions of Properties or other assets in an arm’s length transaction; provided that the Borrower and the Parent will remain in pro forma compliance with the covenants set forth in Section 8.14 after giving effect to such transaction.

 

f.                                         Restricted Payments.  Each of the Parent and the Borrower shall not, nor shall it permit any other Company to, directly or indirectly, declare or make, directly or indirectly, any Restricted Payment other than (a) Minimum Distributions, (b) Restricted Payments made by any Company to the Borrower or the Parent, or (c)  provided no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing at the time of such payment or would result therefrom, other Restricted Payments.

 

g.                                        Change in Nature of Business.  Except for Investments permitted under Section 8.03 , each of the Parent and the Borrower shall not, nor shall it permit any other Loan Party to, directly or indirectly, engage in any material line of business substantially different from those lines of business conducted by the Companies on the date hereof or any business substantially related or incidental thereto.

 

h.                                       Transactions with Affiliates.  Each of the Parent and the Borrower shall not, nor shall it permit any other Loan Party to, directly or indirectly, enter into any transaction of any kind with any Affiliate of a Company, whether or not in the ordinary course of business, other than on fair and reasonable terms substantially as favorable to such Loan Party as would be obtainable by such Company at the time in a comparable arm’s length transaction with a Person other than an Affiliate.

 

i.                                           Burdensome Agreements.  Each of the Parent and the Borrower shall not, nor shall it permit any other Loan Party to, directly or indirectly enter into any Contractual

 

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Obligation (other than this Agreement or any other Loan Document) that directly or indirectly prohibits any Company from (a) creating or incurring any Lien on any Unencumbered Property unless simultaneously therewith such Unencumbered Property ceases to be an Unencumbered Property, other than restrictions or conditions set forth in the Note Purchase Agreements, the Credit Agreements and, to the extent such restrictions or conditions are customary for such Indebtedness, any other agreements governing Indebtedness permitted under Section 8.02 , in each case, which restrictions are no more restrictive, taken as a whole than the comparable restrictions and conditions set forth in this Agreement as determined in the good faith judgment of the Borrower, (b) other than restrictions or conditions set forth in the Note Purchase Agreements, the Credit Agreements and, to the extent such restrictions or conditions are customary for such Indebtedness, any other agreements governing Indebtedness permitted under Section 8.02 , in each case, which restrictions are no more restrictive, taken as a whole than the comparable restrictions and conditions set forth in this Agreement as determined in the good faith judgment of the Borrower,  limiting the ability (i) of any Subsidiary to make Restricted Payments to the Borrower or any Guarantor or to otherwise transfer property to the Borrower or any Guarantor, (ii) of any Subsidiary to Guarantee the Indebtedness of the Borrower or (iii) of the Borrower or any Subsidiary to create, incur, assume or suffer to exist Liens on property of such Person; provided, however, that this clause (iii) shall not prohibit any negative pledge incurred or provided in favor of any holder of Indebtedness permitted under Section 8.0 3(e)  solely to the extent any such negative pledge relates to the property financed by or the subject of such Indebtedness; or (c) requiring the grant of a Lien to secure an obligation of such Person if a Lien is granted to secure another obligation of such Person.

 

j.                                          Use of Proceeds.  Each of the Parent and the Borrower shall not, nor shall it permit any other Company to, directly or indirectly, use the proceeds of any Credit Extension, whether directly or indirectly, and whether immediately, incidentally or ultimately, to purchase or carry margin stock (within the meaning of Regulation U of the FRB) or to extend credit to others for the purpose of purchasing or carrying margin stock or to refund indebtedness originally incurred for such purpose.  The Borrower shall not request any Credit Extension, shall not use, and shall ensure that its Subsidiaries and its or their respective directors, officers, employees and agents do not use the proceeds of any Credit Extension (i) in furtherance of an offer, payment, promise to pay, or authorization of the payment or giving of money, or anything else of value, to any Person in violation of any Anti-Corruption Laws or (ii) in any manner that would result in the violation of any applicable Sanctions.

 

k.                                       Unencumbered Properties; Ground Leases.  Each of the Parent and the Borrower shall not, nor shall it permit any other Loan Party to, directly or indirectly:

 

(a)                                  Use or occupy or conduct any activity on, or knowingly permit the use or occupancy of or the conduct of any activity on any Unencumbered Properties by any tenant, in any manner which violates any Law or which constitutes a public or private nuisance in any manner which would have a Material Adverse Effect or which makes void, voidable, or cancelable any insurance then in force with respect thereto or makes the maintenance of insurance in accordance with Section 7.07 commercially unreasonable (including by way of increased premium);

 

(b)                                  [Reserved];

 

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(c)                                   Without the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed), (i) impose any material easement, restrictive covenant, or encumbrance upon any Unencumbered Property, (ii) execute or file any subdivision plat or condominium declaration affecting any Unencumbered Property, or (iii) consent to the annexation of any Unencumbered Property to any municipality;

 

(d)                                  Do any act, or suffer to be done any act by any Company or any of its Affiliates, which would reasonably be expected to materially decrease the value of any Unencumbered Property (including by way of negligent act);

 

(e)                                   [Reserved];

 

(f)                                    Allow there to be fewer than twenty-five (25) Unencumbered Properties as of any date of determination;

 

(g)                                   Allow the Total Asset Value of the Unencumbered Properties to be less than One Hundred Fifty Million Dollars ($150,000,000.00);

 

(h)                                  Without the prior consent of the Lenders (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed), surrender the leasehold estate created by any Acceptable Ground Lease or terminate or cancel any Acceptable Ground Lease or materially modify, change, supplement, alter, or amend any Acceptable Ground Lease, either orally or in writing, in each case, to the extent such event would reasonably be expected to be materially adverse to the interests of the Lenders; and

 

(i)                                      Enter into any Contractual Obligations related to any Unencumbered Property providing for the payment a management fee (or any other similar fee) to anyone other than a Company if, with respect thereto, the Administrative Agent has reasonably required that such fee be subordinated to the Obligations in a manner satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, and an acceptable subordination agreement has not yet been obtained.

 

l.                                           Environmental Matters.  Each of the Parent and the Borrower shall not knowingly directly or indirectly:

 

(a)                                  Cause, commit, permit, or allow to continue (i) any violation of any Environmental Requirement by or with respect to any Unencumbered Property or any use of or condition or activity on any Unencumbered Property, or (ii) the attachment of any environmental Liens on any Unencumbered Property, in each case, that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; and

 

(b)                                  Place, install, dispose of, or release, or cause, permit, or allow the placing, installation, disposal, spilling, leaking, dumping, or release of, any Hazardous Material on any Unencumbered Property in any manner that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

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(c)                                   Use any Hazardous Material on any Unencumbered Property except in such a manner which could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

m.                                   Negative Pledge; Indebtedness.  Each of the Parent and the Borrower shall not permit:

 

(a)                                  The Equity Interests of the Borrower held by the Parent to be subject to any Lien.

 

(b)                                  Any Person (other than the Parent or the Borrower) that directly or indirectly owns Equity Interests in any Subsidiary Guarantor to (i) incur any Indebtedness (whether Recourse Indebtedness or Non-Recourse Indebtedness) (other than Indebtedness listed on Schedule 8.13 and Additional Permitted Indebtedness), (ii) provide Guarantees to support Indebtedness (other than Indebtedness listed on Schedule 8.13 and Additional Permitted Indebtedness), or (iii) have its Equity Interests subject to any Lien or other encumbrance (other than in favor of the Administrative Agent).

 

(c)                                   Any Subsidiary Guarantor that owns an Unencumbered Property to (i) incur any Indebtedness (whether Recourse Indebtedness or Non-Recourse Indebtedness) (other than the Obligations, Indebtedness listed on Schedule 8.13 and Additional Permitted Indebtedness) or (ii) provide Guarantees to support Indebtedness (other than the Obligations, Indebtedness listed on Schedule 8.13 and Additional Permitted Indebtedness).

 

n.                                       Financial Covenants.  The Parent shall not, directly or indirectly, permit:

 

(a)                                  Maximum Consolidated Leverage Ratio .  As of the last day of any fiscal quarter, the Consolidated Leverage Ratio to exceed sixty percent (60%); provided that, if any Material Acquisition shall occur and the Consolidated Leverage Ratio shall have been less than sixty percent (60%) for at least one full fiscal quarter immediately preceding the proposed Consolidated Leverage Ratio Covenant Holiday, then, at the election of the Borrower upon delivery of prior written notice to the Administrative Agent, concurrently with or prior to the delivery of a Compliance Certificate pursuant to Section 7.02(a), and provided that no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, the maximum Consolidated Leverage Ratio covenant level shall be increased to sixty-five (65%) for the fiscal quarter in which such Material Acquisition is consummated and the three (3) fiscal quarters immediately following the fiscal quarter in which such Material Acquisition is consummated (any such increase a “ Consolidated Leverage Ratio Covenant Holiday ”); provided further that not more than two (2) Consolidated Leverage Ratio Covenant Holidays may be elected by the Borrower during the term of this Agreement;

 

(b)                                  Maximum Secured Leverage Ratio . As of the last day of any fiscal quarter, the Secured Leverage Ratio to exceed forty percent (40%);

 

(c)                                   Maximum Unencumbered Leverage Ratio.  As of the last day of any fiscal quarter, the Unencumbered Leverage Ratio to exceed sixty percent (60%); provided

 

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that, if any Material Acquisition shall occur and the Unencumbered Leverage Ratio shall have been less than sixty percent (60%) for at least one full fiscal quarter immediately preceding the proposed Unencumbered Leverage Ratio Covenant Holiday, then, at the election of the Borrower upon delivery of prior written notice to the Administrative Agent, concurrently with or prior to the delivery of a Compliance Certificate pursuant to Section 7.02(a), and provided that no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, the maximum Unencumbered Leverage Ratio covenant level shall be increased to sixty-five (65%) for the fiscal quarter in which such Material Acquisition is consummated and the three (3) fiscal quarters immediately following the fiscal quarter in which such Material Acquisition is consummated (any such increase an “ Unencumbered Leverage Ratio Covenant Holiday ”); provided further that not more than two (2) Unencumbered Leverage Ratio Covenant Holidays may be elected by the Borrower during the term of this Agreement;

 

(d)                                  [Reserved];

 

(e)                                   Minimum Fixed Charge Ratio .  As of the last day of any fiscal quarter, the Fixed Charge Ratio for the Parent, on a consolidated basis, for the fiscal quarter then ended, annualized, to be less than or equal to 1.5 to 1.0; and

 

(f)                                    Minimum Unsecured Interest Coverage Ratio . As of the last day of any fiscal quarter, the Unsecured Interest Coverage Ratio for the Parent, on a consolidated basis, for the fiscal quarter then ended, annualized, to be less than or equal to 1.75 to 1.00.

 

27.
EVENTS OF DEFAULT AND REMEDIES

 

a.                                       Events of Default.  Any of the following shall constitute an Event of Default:

 

(a)                                  Non-Payment .  The Borrower or any other Loan Party fails to pay (i) when and as required to be paid herein, any amount of principal of any Loan, or (ii) within five (5) days after the same becomes due, any interest on any Loan due hereunder, except that there shall be no grace period for interest due on any applicable Maturity Date, or (iii) within ten (10) days after notice from the Administrative Agent, any other amount payable to the Administrative Agent or any Lender hereunder or under any other Loan Document except that there shall be no grace period for any amount due on any Maturity Date; or

 

(b)                                  Specific Covenants .  Any Loan Party fails to perform or observe any term, covenant or agreement contained in any of Section 7.11 or Article VIII (other than Sections   8.11(a)  and (c) , or 8.13 ) or the Parent fails to perform or observe any term, covenant or agreement contained in the Parent Guaranty or any Subsidiary Guarantor fails to perform or observe any term, covenant or agreement contained in the Subsidiary Guaranty; or

 

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(c)                                   Performance .  Any Loan Party fails to perform or observe any term, covenant or agreement contained in any of Section 7.01 , 7.02 , or 7.03 , and such failure continues unremedied for ten (10) Business Days after such failure has occurred; or

 

(d)                                  Other Defaults .  Any Loan Party fails to perform or observe any other covenant or agreement (not specified in subsection (a) , (b) , or (c)  above) contained in any Loan Document on its part to be performed or observed and such failure continues unremedied for thirty (30) days after the earlier of notice from the Administrative Agent or the actual knowledge of the Loan Party, and in the case of a default that cannot be cured within such thirty (30) day period despite the Borrower’s diligent efforts but is susceptible of being cured within ninety (90) days of the Borrower’s receipt of the Administrative Agent’s original notice, then the Borrower shall have such additional time as is reasonably necessary to effect such cure, but in no event in excess of ninety (90) days from the Borrower’s receipt of the Administrative Agent’s original notice, subject in each instance to the Borrower’s remedial rights under Section 7.12(c) ; or

 

(e)                                   Representations and Warranties .  Any representation, warranty, certification or statement of fact made or deemed made by or on behalf of the Borrower or any other Loan Party herein, in any other Loan Document, or in any document delivered in connection herewith or therewith shall be incorrect or misleading when made or deemed made and shall not be cured or remedied so that such representation, warranty, certification or statement of fact is no longer incorrect or misleading within ten (10) days after the earlier of notice from the Administrative Agent or the actual knowledge of any Loan Party thereof; or

 

(f)                                    Cross-Default .  (i) Any Company (A) fails to make any payment when due (whether by scheduled maturity, required prepayment, acceleration, demand, or otherwise), after the expiration of any applicable grace periods, in respect of any Indebtedness or Guarantee (other than (x) Indebtedness hereunder, and (y) Indebtedness under Swap Contracts) having an aggregate principal amount (including amounts owing to all creditors under any combined or syndicated credit arrangement) of more than the Threshold Amount, or (B) fails to observe or perform any other agreement or condition relating to any such Indebtedness or Guarantee or contained in any instrument or agreement evidencing, securing or relating thereto, or any other event occurs, the effect of which default or other event is to cause, or to permit the holder or holders of such Indebtedness or the beneficiary or beneficiaries of such Guarantee (or a trustee or agent on behalf of such holder or holders or beneficiary or beneficiaries) to cause, with the giving of notice if required, such Indebtedness or more than the Threshold Amount to be demanded or to become due or to be repurchased, prepaid, defeased or redeemed (automatically or otherwise), or an offer to repurchase, prepay, defease or redeem such Indebtedness to be made, prior to its stated maturity, or such Guarantee to become payable or cash collateral in respect thereof to be demanded; or (ii) there occurs under any Swap Contract an Early Termination Date (as defined in such Swap Contract) resulting from (A) any event of default under such Swap Contract as to which any Company is the Defaulting Party (as defined in such Swap Contract) or (B) any Termination Event (as so defined) under such Swap Contract as to which any Company is

 

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an Affected Party (as so defined) and, in either event, the Swap Termination Value owed by such Company as a result thereof is greater than the Threshold Amount; or

 

(g)                                   Insolvency Proceedings, Etc.   Any Loan Party institutes or consents to the institution of any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law, or makes an assignment for the benefit of creditors; or applies for or consents to the appointment of any receiver, trustee, custodian, conservator, liquidator, rehabilitator or similar officer for it or for all or any material part of its property; or any receiver, trustee, custodian, conservator, liquidator, rehabilitator or similar officer is appointed without the application or consent of such Person and the appointment continues undischarged or unstayed for sixty (60) calendar days; or any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law relating to any such Person or to all or any material part of its property is instituted without the consent of such Person and continues undismissed or unstayed for sixty (60) calendar days, or an order for relief is entered in any such proceeding; or

 

(h)                                  Inability to Pay Debts; Attachment .  (i) the Parent or the Borrower becomes unable to pay its debts as they become due, or any Loan Party admits in writing its inability or fails generally to pay its debts as they become due, or (ii) any writ or warrant of attachment or execution or similar process is issued or levied against all or any material part of the property of any such Loan Party and is not released, vacated or fully bonded within thirty (30) days after its issue or levy; or

 

(i)                                      Judgments .  There is entered against any Loan Party (i) one or more final judgments or orders for the payment of money in an aggregate amount (as to all such judgments or orders) exceeding the Threshold Amount (to the extent not covered by independent third-party insurance as to which the insurer does not dispute coverage), or (ii) any one or more non-monetary final judgments that have, or would have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect and, in either case, (A) enforcement proceedings are commenced by any creditor upon such judgment or order, or (B) there is a period of ten (10) consecutive days during which a stay of enforcement of such judgment, by reason of a pending appeal or otherwise, is not in effect; or

 

(j)                                     ERISA .  (i) An ERISA Event occurs with respect to a Pension Plan or Multiemployer Plan which has resulted or would result in liability of any Company  under Title IV of ERISA to the Pension Plan, Multiemployer Plan or the PBGC in an aggregate amount in excess of the Threshold Amount, or (ii) the Parent or any ERISA Affiliate fails to pay when due, after the expiration of any applicable grace period, any installment payment with respect to its withdrawal liability under Section 4201 of ERISA under a Multiemployer Plan in an aggregate amount in excess of the Threshold Amount; or

 

(k)                                  Invalidity of Loan Documents .  Any Loan Document at any time after its execution and delivery and for any reason other than as expressly permitted hereunder or thereunder or satisfaction in full of all the Obligations, ceases to be in full force and effect in all material respects; or any Loan Party or any other Person contests in any manner the validity or enforceability of any Loan Document; or any Loan Party denies that it has any or further liability or obligation under any Loan Document, or purports to

 

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revoke, terminate or rescind any  Loan Document, except as expressly permitted hereunder; or

 

(l)                                      REIT Status of the Parent .  The Parent ceases to be treated as a REIT or the Parent Shares shall fail to be listed and traded on the New York Stock Exchange; or

 

(m)                              Change of Control .  There occurs any Change of Control.

 

b.                                       Remedies Upon Event of Default.  If any Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Administrative Agent shall, at the request of, or may, with the consent of, the Required Lenders, take any or all of the following actions:

 

(a)                                  declare the commitment of each Lender to make Loans to be terminated, whereupon such commitments and obligation shall be terminated;

 

(b)                                  declare the unpaid principal amount of all outstanding Loans, all interest accrued and unpaid thereon, and all other amounts owing or payable hereunder or under any other Loan Document to be immediately due and payable, without presentment, demand, protest or other notice of any kind, all of which are hereby expressly waived by the Borrower; and

 

(c)                                   exercise on behalf of itself and the Lenders all rights and remedies available to it and the Lenders under the Loan Documents;

 

provided that upon the occurrence of an actual or deemed entry of an order for relief with respect to the Borrower under the Bankruptcy Code of the United States, the obligation of each Lender to make Loans shall automatically terminate, the unpaid principal amount of all outstanding Loans and all interest and other amounts as aforesaid shall automatically become due and payable, in each case without further act of the Administrative Agent or any Lender.

 

c.                                        Application of Funds.  After the exercise of remedies provided for in Section 9.02 (or after the Loans have automatically become immediately due and payable), any amounts received on account of the Obligations shall, subject to the provisions of Section 2.16 , be applied by the Administrative Agent in the following order:

 

First , to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting fees, indemnities, expenses and other amounts (including fees, charges and disbursements of counsel to the Administrative Agent and amounts payable under Article III ) payable to the Administrative Agent in its capacity as such;

 

Second , to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting fees, indemnities and other amounts (other than principal and interest) payable to the Lenders (including fees, charges and disbursements of counsel to the respective Lenders and amounts payable under Article III ), ratably among them in proportion to the respective amounts described in this clause   Second payable to them;

 

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Third , to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting accrued and unpaid interest on the Loans, and other Obligations, ratably among the Lenders, in proportion to the respective amounts described in this clause   Third payable to them;

 

Fourth , to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting (x) unpaid principal of the Loans and (y) payment obligations then owing to the Administrative Agent, any Lender, or any Affiliate of the Administrative Agent or any Lender arising from, by virtue of, or pursuant to any Swap Contract, other than any Excluded Swap Obligation, that relates solely to the Obligations (“ Specified Derivatives Providers ”), ratably among the Lenders and the Specified Derivatives Providers in proportion to the respective amounts described in this clause Fourth payable to them; and

 

Last , the balance, if any, after all of the Obligations have been paid in full, to the Borrower or as otherwise required by Law.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, Obligations owing to Specified Derivatives Providers shall be excluded from the application described above if the Administrative Agent has not received written notice thereof, together with such supporting documentation as the Administrative Agent may request, from the applicable Specified Derivatives Provider.  Each Specified Derivatives Provider not a party to this Agreement that has given the notice contemplated by the preceding sentence shall, by such notice, be deemed to have acknowledged and accepted the appointment of the Administrative Agent pursuant to the terms of Article X for itself and its Affiliates as if a “Lender” party hereto.

 

28.
THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT

 

a.                                       Appointment and Authority.  Each of the Lenders hereby irrevocably appoints BANA to act on its behalf as the Administrative Agent hereunder and under the other Loan Documents and authorizes the Administrative Agent to take such actions on its behalf and to exercise such powers as are delegated to the Administrative Agent by the terms hereof or thereof, together with such actions and powers as are reasonably incidental thereto.  The provisions of this Article are solely for the benefit of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders, neither the Borrower nor any other Loan Party shall have rights as a third party beneficiary of any of such provisions.  It is understood and agreed that the use of the term “agent” (or any other similar term) herein or in any other Loan Documents with reference to the Administrative Agent is not intended to connote any fiduciary or other implied (or express) obligations arising under agency doctrine of any applicable Law. Instead such term is used as a matter of market custom, and is intended to create or reflect only an administrative relationship between contracting parties.

 

b.                                       Rights as a Lender.  The Person serving as the Administrative Agent hereunder shall have the same rights and powers in its capacity as a Lender as any other Lender and may exercise the same as though it were not the Administrative Agent and the term “Lender” or “Lenders” shall, unless otherwise expressly indicated or unless the context otherwise requires, include the Person serving as the Administrative Agent hereunder in its individual capacity.  Such Person and its Affiliates may accept deposits from, lend money to, own securities of, act as the financial advisor or in any other advisory capacity for and generally engage in any kind of

 

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business with the Borrower or any Subsidiary or other Affiliate thereof as if such Person were not the Administrative Agent hereunder and without any duty to account therefor to the Lenders.

 

c.                                        Exculpatory Provisions.  The Administrative Agent shall not have any duties or obligations except those expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents, and its duties hereunder shall be administrative in nature.  Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Administrative Agent:

 

(a)                                  shall not be subject to any fiduciary or other implied duties, regardless of whether a Default has occurred and is continuing;

 

(b)                                  shall not have any duty to take any discretionary action or exercise any discretionary powers, except discretionary rights and powers expressly contemplated hereby or by the other Loan Documents that the Administrative Agent is required to exercise as directed in writing by the Required Lenders (or such other number or percentage of the Lenders as shall be expressly provided for herein or in the other Loan Documents), provided that the Administrative Agent shall not be required to take any action that, in its opinion or the opinion of its counsel, may expose the Administrative Agent to liability or that is contrary to any Loan Document or applicable law, including for the avoidance of doubt any action that may be in violation of the automatic stay under any Debtor Relief Law or that may effect a forfeiture, modification or termination of property of a Defaulting Lender in violation of any Debtor Relief Law; and

 

(c)                                   shall not, except as expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents, have any duty to disclose, and shall not be liable for the failure to disclose, any information relating to the Borrower or any of its Affiliates that is communicated to or obtained by the Person serving as the Administrative Agent or any of its Affiliates in any capacity.

 

The Administrative Agent shall not be liable for any action taken or not taken by it (i) with the consent or at the request of the Required Lenders (or such other number or percentage of the Lenders as shall be necessary, or as the Administrative Agent shall believe in good faith shall be necessary, under the circumstances as provided in Sections 11.01 and 9.02 ) or (ii) in the absence of its own gross negligence or willful misconduct as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by final and nonappealable judgment.  The Administrative Agent shall be deemed not to have knowledge of any Default unless and until notice describing such Default is given in writing to the Administrative Agent by the Borrower or a Lender.

 

The Administrative Agent shall not be responsible for or have any duty to ascertain or inquire into (i) any statement, warranty or representation made in or in connection with this Agreement or any other Loan Document, (ii) the contents of any certificate, report or other document delivered hereunder or thereunder or in connection herewith or therewith, (iii) the performance or observance of any of the covenants, agreements or other terms or conditions set forth herein or therein or the occurrence of any Default, (iv) the validity, enforceability, effectiveness or genuineness of this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any other agreement, instrument or document or (v) the satisfaction of any condition set forth in Article IV or elsewhere herein, other than to confirm receipt of items expressly required to be delivered to the Administrative Agent.

 

d.                                       Reliance by the Administrative Agent.  The Administrative Agent shall be entitled to rely upon, and shall not incur any liability for relying upon, any notice, request, certificate, consent, statement, instrument, document or other writing (including any electronic message, Internet or intranet website posting or other distribution) believed by it to be genuine and to have

 

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been signed, sent or otherwise authenticated by the proper Person.  The Administrative Agent also may rely upon any statement made to it orally or by telephone and believed by it to have been made by the proper Person, and shall not incur any liability for relying thereon.  In determining compliance with any condition hereunder to the making of a Loan, by its terms must be fulfilled to the satisfaction of a Lender, the Administrative Agent may presume that such condition is satisfactory to such Lender unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice to the contrary from such Lender prior to the making of such Loan.  The Administrative Agent may consult with legal counsel (who may be counsel for the Borrower), independent accountants and other experts selected by it, and shall not be liable for any action taken or not taken by it in accordance with the advice of any such counsel, accountants or experts.

 

e.                                        Delegation of Duties.  The Administrative Agent may perform any and all of its duties and exercise its rights and powers hereunder or under any other Loan Document by or through any one or more sub-agents appointed by the Administrative Agent.  The Administrative Agent and any such sub-agent may perform any and all of its duties and exercise its rights and powers by or through their respective Related Parties.  The exculpatory provisions of this Article shall apply to any such sub-agent and to the Related Parties of the Administrative Agent and any such sub-agent, and shall apply to their respective activities in connection with the syndication of the credit facilities provided for herein as well as activities as the Administrative Agent.  The Administrative Agent shall not be responsible for the negligence or misconduct of any sub-agents except to the extent that a court of competent jurisdiction determines in a final and non-appealable judgment that the Administrative Agent acted with gross negligence or willful misconduct in the selection of such sub-agents.

 

f.                                         Resignation of the Administrative Agent.

 

(a)                                  The Administrative Agent may at any time give notice of its resignation to the Lenders and the Borrower.  Upon receipt of any such notice of resignation, the Required Lenders shall have the right, subject to the reasonable approval of the Borrower (with any Lender or affiliate of a Lender being deemed approved, unless such Lender is a Defaulting Lender, and which approval shall not be required if an Event Default shall be in existence), to appoint a successor, which shall be a bank with an office in the United States, or an Affiliate of any such bank with an office in the United States.  If no such successor shall have been so appointed by the Required Lenders and shall have accepted such appointment within 30 days after the retiring Administrative Agent gives notice of its resignation (or such earlier day as shall be agreed by the Required Lenders) (the “ Resignation Effective Date ”), then the retiring Administrative Agent may (but shall not be obligated to) on behalf of the Lenders, appoint a successor Administrative Agent meeting the qualifications set forth above.  Whether or not a successor has been appointed, such resignation shall become effective in accordance with such notice on the Resignation Effective Date.

 

(b)                                  If the Person serving as the Administrative Agent is a Defaulting Lender pursuant to clause (d)  of the definition thereof, the Required Lenders may, to the extent permitted by applicable law, by notice in writing to the Borrower and such Person remove such Person as the Administrative Agent and, in consultation with the Borrower, appoint a successor. If no such successor shall have been so appointed by the Required

 

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Lenders and shall have accepted such appointment within 30 days (or such earlier day as shall be agreed by the Required Lenders) (the “Removal Effective Date”), then such removal shall nonetheless become effective in accordance with such notice on the Removal Effective Date.

 

(c)                                   With effect from the Resignation Effective Date or the Removal Effective Date (as applicable) (1) the retiring or removed Administrative Agent shall be discharged from its duties and obligations hereunder and under the other Loan Documents (except that in the case of any pledge security held by the Administrative Agent on behalf of the Lenders under any of the Loan Documents, the retiring or removed Administrative Agent shall continue to hold such collateral security until such time as a successor Administrative Agent is appointed) and (2) except for any indemnity payments or other amounts then owed to the retiring or removed Administrative Agent, all payments, communications and determinations provided to be made by, to or through the Administrative Agent shall instead be made by or to each Lender directly, until such time, if any, as the Required Lenders appoint a successor Administrative Agent as provided for above.  Upon the acceptance of a successor’s appointment as the Administrative Agent hereunder, such successor shall succeed to and become vested with all of the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring (or removed) the Administrative Agent (other than any rights to indemnity payments or other amounts owed to the retiring or removed Administrative Agent as of the Resignation Effective Date or the Removal Effective Date, as applicable), and the retiring or removed Administrative Agent shall be discharged from all of its duties and obligations hereunder or under the other Loan Documents (if not already discharged therefrom as provided above in this Section).  The fees payable by the Borrower to a successor Administrative Agent shall be the same as those payable to its predecessor unless otherwise agreed between the Borrower and such successor.  After the retiring or removed Administrative Agent’s resignation or removal hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, the provisions of this Article and Section 10.04 shall continue in effect for the benefit of such retiring or removed Administrative Agent, its sub-agents and their respective Related Parties in respect of any actions taken or omitted to be taken by any of them while the retiring or removed Administrative Agent was acting as the Administrative Agent.

 

g.                                        Non-Reliance on the Administrative Agent and Other Lenders.  Each Lender acknowledges that it has, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent or any other Lender or any of their Related Parties and based on such documents and information as it has deemed appropriate, made its own credit analysis and decision to enter into this Agreement.  Each Lender also acknowledges that it will, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent or any other Lender or any of their Related Parties and based on such documents and information as it shall from time to time deem appropriate, continue to make its own decisions in taking or not taking action under or based upon this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any related agreement or any document furnished hereunder or thereunder.

 

h.                                       No Other Duties, Etc.  Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, the Lead Arrangers and Co-Syndication Agents listed on the cover page hereof shall not have any powers, duties or responsibilities under this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents, except in its capacity, as applicable, as the Administrative Agent, a Lender hereunder.

 

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i.                                           The Administrative Agent May File Proofs of Claim.  In case of the pendency of any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law or any other judicial proceeding relative to any Loan Party, the Administrative Agent (irrespective of whether the principal of any Loan shall then be due and payable as herein expressed or by declaration or otherwise and irrespective of whether the Administrative Agent shall have made any demand on the Borrower) shall be entitled and empowered, by intervention in such proceeding or otherwise:

 

(a)                                  to file and prove a claim for the whole amount of the principal and interest owing and unpaid in respect of the Loans and all other Obligations that are owing and unpaid and to file such other documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Lenders and the Administrative Agent (including any claim for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Lenders and the Administrative Agent and their respective agents and counsel and all other amounts due the Lenders and the Administrative Agent under Sections 2.09 and 11.04 ) allowed in such judicial proceeding; and

 

(b)                                  to collect and receive any monies or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims and to distribute the same;

 

and any custodian, receiver, assignee, trustee, liquidator, sequestrator or other similar official in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Lender to make such payments to the Administrative Agent and, in the event that the Administrative Agent shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Lenders, to pay to the Administrative Agent any amount due for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Administrative Agent and its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Administrative Agent under Sections 2.09 and 11.04 . Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to authorize the Administrative Agent to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Lender any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Obligations or the rights of any Lender to authorize the Administrative Agent to vote in respect of the claim of any Lender in any such proceeding.

 

j.                                          Guaranty Matters.  Upon request by the Administrative Agent at any time, the Required Lenders will confirm in writing the Administrative Agent’s authority to release any Guarantor from its obligations under a Guaranty pursuant to the terms of this Agreement.

 

29.
MISCELLANEOUS

 

a.                                       Amendments, Etc.  No amendment or waiver of any provision of this Agreement or any other Loan Document, and no consent to any departure by the Borrower or any other Loan Party therefrom, shall be effective unless in writing signed by the Required Lenders and the Borrower or the applicable Loan Party, as the case may be, and acknowledged by the Administrative Agent, and each such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the specific purpose for which given; provided that no such amendment, waiver or consent shall:

 

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(a)                                  waive any condition set forth in Section 5.01(a)  without the written consent of each Lender;

 

(b)                                  extend or increase the Commitment of any Lender (or reinstate any Commitment terminated pursuant to Section 2.01(b)  or  9.02 ) without the written consent of such Lender;

 

(c)                                   postpone any date fixed by this Agreement or any other Loan Document for any payment or mandatory prepayment of principal, interest, fees or other amounts due to a Lender or any scheduled or mandatory reduction of the Aggregate Commitments hereunder or under any other Loan Document without the written consent of each Lender directly affected thereby;

 

(d)                                  reduce or forgive the principal of, or the rate of interest specified herein on, any Loan, or (subject to clause   (iii)  of the second proviso to this Section 11.01 ) any fees or other amounts payable hereunder or under any other Loan Document, without the written consent of each Lender directly affected thereby; provided that only the consent of the Required Lenders shall be necessary  to amend the definition of “ Default Rate ,” waive any obligation of the Borrower to pay interest at the Default Rate, or change the manner of computation of any financial ratio (including any change in any applicable defined term) used in determining the Applicable Rate that would result in a reduction of any interest rate on any Loan or any fee payable hereunder;

 

(e)                                   change Section 9.03 in a manner that would alter the pro rata sharing of payments required thereby without the written consent of each Lender;

 

(f)                                    change any provision of this Section or the definition of “ Required Lenders ” or any other provision hereof specifying the number or percentage of the Lenders required to amend, waive or otherwise modify any rights hereunder or make any determination or grant any consent hereunder, without the written consent of each Lender;

 

(g)                                   release all or substantially all of the value of the Guaranties without the written consent of each Lender;

 

and, provided, further , that (i) no amendment, waiver or consent shall, unless in writing and signed by the Administrative Agent in addition to the Lenders required above, affect the rights or duties of the Administrative Agent under this Agreement or any other Loan Document; and (ii) the Fee Letter may be amended, or rights or privileges thereunder waived, in a writing executed only by the parties thereto.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, no Defaulting Lender shall have any right to approve or disapprove any amendment, waiver or consent hereunder (and any amendment, waiver or consent which by its terms requires the consent of all Lenders or each affected Lender may be effected with the consent of the applicable Lenders other than Defaulting Lenders), except that (x) the Commitment of any Defaulting Lender may not be increased or extended without the consent of such Lender and (y) any waiver, amendment or modification requiring the consent of all Lenders or each affected Lender that by its terms affects any Defaulting Lender more adversely than other affected Lenders shall require the

 

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consent of such Defaulting Lender.  All communications from the Administrative Agent to any Lender requesting such Lender’s determination, consent, approval or disapproval (a) shall be given in the form of a written notice to such Lender, (b) shall be accompanied by a description of the matter or issue as to which such determination, approval, consent or disapproval is requested, or shall advise such Lender where information, if any, regarding such matter or issue may be inspected, or shall otherwise describe the matter or issue to be resolved, (c) shall include, if reasonably requested by such Lender and to the extent not previously provided to such Lender, written materials and, as appropriate, a brief summary of all oral information provided to the Administrative Agent by the Borrower in respect of the matter or issue to be resolved, and (d) shall include the Administrative Agent’s recommended course of action or determination in respect thereof.

 

b.                                       Notices; Effectiveness; Electronic Communication.

 

(a)                                  Notices Generally .  Except in the case of notices and other communications expressly permitted to be given by telephone (and except as provided in subsection (b)  below), all notices and other communications provided for herein shall be in writing and shall be delivered by hand or overnight courier service, mailed by certified or registered mail or sent by telecopier as follows, and all notices and other communications expressly permitted hereunder to be given by telephone shall be made to the applicable telephone number, as follows:

 

(i)                                      if to the Borrower or the Administrative Agent to the address, telecopier number, electronic mail address or telephone number specified for such Person on Schedule 11.02 ; and

 

(ii)                                   if to any other Lender, to the address, telecopier number, electronic mail address or telephone number specified in its Administrative Questionnaire (including, as appropriate, notices delivered solely to the Person designated by a Lender on its Administrative Questionnaire then in effect for the delivery of notices that may contain material non-public information relating to the Borrower).

 

Notices and other communications sent by hand or overnight courier service, or mailed by certified or registered mail, shall be deemed to have been given when received; notices and other communications sent by telecopier shall be deemed to have been given when sent (except that, if not given during normal business hours for the recipient, shall be deemed to have been given at the opening of business on the next business day for the recipient).  Notices and other communications delivered through electronic communications to the extent provided in subsection (b)  below, shall be effective as provided in such subsection (b) .

 

(b)                                  Electronic Communications .  Notices and other communications to the Lenders hereunder may be delivered or furnished by electronic communication (including e-mail and Internet or intranet websites) pursuant to procedures approved by the Administrative Agent, provided that the foregoing shall not apply to notices to any Lender pursuant to Article II if such Lender has notified the Administrative Agent that it is incapable of receiving notices under such Article by electronic communication.  The

 

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Administrative Agent or the Borrower may each, in its discretion, agree to accept notices and other communications to it hereunder by electronic communications pursuant to procedures approved by it; provided that approval of such procedures may be limited to particular notices or communications.

 

Unless the Administrative Agent otherwise prescribes, (i) notices and other communications sent to an e-mail address shall be deemed received upon the sender’s receipt of an acknowledgement from the intended recipient (such as by the “return receipt requested” function, as available, return e-mail or other written acknowledgement), and (ii) notices or communications posted to an Internet or intranet website shall be deemed received upon the deemed receipt by the intended recipient at its e-mail address as described in the foregoing clause (i)  of notification that such notice or communication is available and identifying the website address therefor; provided that , for both clauses (i)  and (ii) , if such notice, email or other communication is not sent during the normal business hours of the recipient, such notice, email or communication shall be deemed to have been sent at the opening of business on the next business day for the recipient.

 

(c)                                   The Platform .  THE PLATFORM IS PROVIDED “AS IS” AND “AS AVAILABLE.”  THE AGENT PARTIES (AS DEFINED BELOW) DO NOT WARRANT THE ACCURACY OR COMPLETENESS OF THE BORROWER MATERIALS OR THE ADEQUACY OF THE PLATFORM, AND EXPRESSLY DISCLAIM LIABILITY FOR ERRORS IN OR OMISSIONS FROM THE BORROWER MATERIALS.  NO WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS, IMPLIED OR STATUTORY, INCLUDING ANY WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, NON-INFRINGEMENT OF THIRD PARTY RIGHTS OR FREEDOM FROM VIRUSES OR OTHER CODE DEFECTS, IS MADE BY ANY AGENT PARTY IN CONNECTION WITH THE BORROWER MATERIALS OR THE PLATFORM.  In no event shall the Administrative Agent or any of its Related Parties (collectively, the “ Agent Parties ”) have any liability to the Borrower, any Lender or any other Person for losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses of any kind (whether in tort, contract or otherwise) arising out of the Borrower’s or the Administrative Agent’s transmission of the Borrower Materials through the Internet, except to the extent that such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses are determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by a final and nonappealable judgment to have resulted from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Agent Party; provided that in no event shall any Agent Party have any liability to the Borrower, any Lender or any other Person for indirect, special, incidental, consequential or punitive damages (as opposed to direct or actual damages) resulting therefrom.

 

(d)                                  Change of Address, Etc .  Each of the Borrower and the Administrative Agent may change its address, telecopier or telephone number for notices and other communications hereunder by notice to the other parties hereto.  Each other Lender may change its address, telecopier or telephone number for notices and other communications hereunder by notice to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent.  In addition, each Lender agrees to notify the Administrative Agent from time to time to ensure that the Administrative Agent has on record (i) an effective address, contact name, telephone

 

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number, telecopier number and electronic mail address to which notices and other communications may be sent and (ii) accurate wire instructions for such Lender.  Furthermore, each Public Lender agrees to cause at least one (1) individual at or on behalf of such Public Lender to at all times have selected the “Private Side Information” or similar designation on the content declaration screen of the Platform in order to enable such Public Lender or its delegate, in accordance with such Public Lender’s compliance procedures and applicable Law, including United States Federal and state securities Laws, to make reference to the Borrower Materials that are not made available through the “Public Side Information” portion of the Platform and that may contain material non-public information with respect to the Borrower or its Equity Interests for purposes of United States Federal or state securities laws.

 

(e)                                   Reliance by the Administrative Agent and the Lenders .  The Administrative Agent and the Lenders shall be entitled to rely and act upon any notices (including telephonic Draw Requests) purportedly given by or on behalf of the Borrower even if (i) such notices were not made in a manner specified herein, were incomplete or were not preceded or followed by any other form of notice specified herein, or (ii) the terms thereof, as understood by the recipient, varied from any confirmation thereof.  The Borrower shall indemnify the Administrative Agent, each Lender and the Related Parties of each of them from all losses, costs, expenses and liabilities resulting from the reliance by such Person on each notice purportedly given by or on behalf of the Borrower.  All telephonic notices to and other telephonic communications with the Administrative Agent may be recorded by the Administrative Agent, and each of the parties hereto hereby consents to such recording.

 

c.                                        No Waiver; Cumulative Remedies; Enforcement.  No failure by any Lender or the Administrative Agent to exercise, and no delay by any such Person in exercising, any right, remedy, power or privilege hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof; nor shall any single or partial exercise of any right, remedy, power or privilege hereunder preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, remedy, power or privilege.  The rights, remedies, powers and privileges herein provided and provided under each other Loan Document are cumulative and not exclusive of any rights, remedies, powers and privileges provided by Law.

 

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein or in any other Loan Document, the authority to enforce rights and remedies hereunder and under the other Loan Documents against the Loan Parties or any of them shall be vested exclusively in, and all actions and proceedings at law in connection with such enforcement shall be instituted and maintained exclusively by, the Administrative Agent in accordance with Section 9.02 for the benefit of all the Lenders; provided that the foregoing shall not prohibit (a) the Administrative Agent from exercising on its own behalf the rights and remedies that inure to its benefit (solely in its capacity as the Administrative Agent) hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, (b) any Lender from exercising setoff rights in accordance with Section 11.08 (subject to the terms of Section 2.13 ), or (c) any Lender from filing proofs of claim or appearing and filing pleadings on its own behalf during the pendency of a proceeding relative to any Loan Party under any Debtor Relief Law; and provided , further , that if at any time there is no Person acting as the Administrative Agent hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, then (i) the Required Lenders shall have

 

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the rights otherwise ascribed to the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 9.02 and (ii) in addition to the matters set forth in clauses (b) , (c)  and (d)  of the preceding proviso and subject to Section 2.13 , any Lender may, with the consent of the Required Lenders, enforce any rights and remedies available to it and as authorized by the Required Lenders.

 

d.                                       Expenses; Indemnity; Damage Waiver.

 

(a)                                  Costs and Expenses .  Each Loan Party shall jointly and severally pay (i) all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent and its Affiliates (including (a) the reasonable fees, charges and disbursements of counsel for the Administrative Agent; (b) fees and charges of each consultant, inspector, and engineer; (c) uniform commercial code searches; (d) judgment and tax lien searches for the Borrower and each Guarantor; (e) escrow fees; and (f) documentary taxes, in connection with the initial syndication of the credit facilities provided for herein, the preparation, negotiation, execution, delivery and administration of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents or any amendments, modifications or waivers of the provisions hereof or thereof (whether or not the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby shall be consummated), (ii)  all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent or any Lender (including the reasonable fees, charges and disbursements of any counsel for the Administrative Agent or any Lender (only if a Default shall be in existence)), in connection with the enforcement or protection of its rights (A) in connection with this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, including its rights under this Section, or (B) in connection with the Loans made hereunder, including all such out-of-pocket expenses incurred during any workout, restructuring or negotiations in respect of such Loans; provided, however that the Borrower shall not be required to pay the expenses of more than one law firm acting as counsel for the Lenders (in addition to expenses for any appropriate local or special counsel) in connection with such workout or enforcement to the extent the Lenders reasonably determine that joint representation is appropriate under the circumstances.

 

(b)                                  Indemnification .  The Parent and the Borrower shall jointly and severally indemnify the Administrative Agent (and any sub-agent thereof), each Lender, and each Related Party of any of the foregoing Persons (each such Person being called an “ Indemnitee ”) against, and hold each Indemnitee harmless from, any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities and related expenses (including the reasonable fees, charges and disbursements of any counsel for any Indemnitee), incurred by any Indemnitee or asserted against any Indemnitee by any third party or by the Borrower or any other Loan Party resulting from any action, suit, or proceeding relating to (i) the execution or delivery of this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any agreement or instrument contemplated hereby or thereby, the performance by the parties hereto of their respective obligations hereunder or thereunder, the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, or, in the case of the Administrative Agent (and any sub-agent thereof) and its Related Parties only, the administration of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents (including in respect of any matters addressed in Section 3.01 ), (ii) any Loan or the use or proposed use of the proceeds therefrom, (iii) any actual or alleged presence or release of Hazardous Materials on or from any property owned or operated by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, or any Environmental Damages related in any way to

 

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the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, or (iv) any actual or prospective claim, litigation, investigation or proceeding relating to any of the foregoing, whether based on contract, tort or any other theory, whether brought by a third party or by the Borrower or any other Loan Party, and regardless of whether any Indemnitee is a party thereto; provided that such indemnity shall not, as to any Indemnitee, be available to the extent that such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or related expenses (w) are determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by final and nonappealable judgment to have resulted from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Indemnitee or any Related Party of such Indemnitee, (x) result from a claim brought by the Borrower or any other Loan Party against an Indemnitee for breach in bad faith of such Indemnitee’s obligations hereunder or under any other Loan Document, if the Borrower or such other Loan Party has obtained a final and nonappealable judgment in its favor on such claim as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction, (y) for which an Indemnitee has been compensated pursuant to the terms of this Agreement or the Fee Letter, or (z) to the extent based upon contractual obligations of such Indemnitee owing by such Indemnitee to any third party which are not expressly set forth in this Agreement.

 

(c)                                   Reserved .

 

(d)                                  Reimbursement by the Lenders .  To the extent that the Loan Parties for any reason fail to indefeasibly pay any amount required under subsection (a)  or (b)  of this Section to be paid by the Loan Parties to the Administrative Agent (or any sub-agent thereof), or any Related Party of any of the foregoing (and without limiting their obligation to do so), each Lender severally agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent (or any such sub-agent) or such Related Party, as the case may be, such Lender’s pro rata share (determined as of the time that the applicable unreimbursed expense or indemnity payment is sought based on each Lender’s Applicable Percentage) of such unpaid amount (including any such unpaid amount in respect of a claim asserted by such Lender), such payment to be made severally among them based on such Lenders’ Applicable Percentage (determined as of the time that the applicable unreimbursed expense or indemnity payment is sought) of such unpaid amount, provided that the unreimbursed expense or indemnified loss, claim, damage, liability or related expense, as the case may be, was incurred by or asserted against the Administrative Agent (or any such sub-agent), or against any Related Party of any of the foregoing acting for the Administrative Agent (or any such sub-agent), in connection with such capacity.  The obligations of the Lenders under this subsection (c)  are subject to the provisions of Section 2.12(d) .

 

(e)                                   Waiver of Consequential Damages, Etc.   To the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law, no Loan Party shall assert, and each Loan Party hereby waives and acknowledges that no other Person shall have, any claim against any Indemnitee, on any theory of liability, for special, indirect, consequential or punitive damages (as opposed to direct or actual damages) arising out of, in connection with, or as a result of, this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any agreement or instrument contemplated hereby, the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, any Loan or the use of the proceeds thereof.  No Indemnitee referred to in subsection (b)  above shall be liable for any damages arising from the use by unintended recipients of any information or other materials distributed to such unintended recipients by such Indemnitee through

 

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telecommunications, electronic or other information transmission systems in connection with this Agreement or the other Loan Documents or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby other than for direct or actual damages resulting from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Indemnitee as determined by a final and nonappealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction.

 

(f)                                    Payments .  All amounts due under this Section shall be payable not later than ten (10) Business Days after demand therefor.

 

(g)                                   Survival .  The agreements in this Section and the indemnity provisions of Section 11.02(e)  shall survive the resignation of the Administrative Agent, the replacement of any Lender, the termination of the Aggregate Commitments, and the repayment, satisfaction or discharge of all the other Obligations.

 

e.                                        Payments Set Aside.  To the extent that any payment by or on behalf of the Borrower is made to the Administrative Agent or any Lender, or the Administrative Agent or any Lender exercises its right of setoff, and such payment or the proceeds of such setoff or any part thereof is subsequently invalidated, declared to be fraudulent or preferential, set aside or required (including pursuant to any settlement entered into by the Administrative Agent or such Lender in its discretion) to be repaid to a trustee, receiver or any other party, in connection with any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law or otherwise, then (a) to the extent of such recovery, the obligation or part thereof originally intended to be satisfied shall be revived and continued in full force and effect as if such payment had not been made or such setoff had not occurred, and (b) each Lender severally agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent upon demand its applicable share (without duplication) of any amount so recovered from or repaid by the Administrative Agent (without relieving the Borrower of its obligation to make any such payment so required), plus interest thereon from the date of such demand to the date such payment is made at a rate per annum equal to the Federal Funds Rate from time to time in effect.  The obligations of the Lenders under clause (b)  of the preceding sentence shall survive the payment in full of the Obligations and the termination of this Agreement.

 

f.                                         Successors and Assigns.

 

(a)                                  Successors and Assigns Generally .  The provisions of this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby, except that neither the Borrower nor any other Loan Party may assign or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent and each Lender and no Lender may assign or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations hereunder except (i) to an assignee in accordance with the provisions of subsection (b)  of this Section, (ii) by way of participation in accordance with the provisions of subsection (d)  of this Section, or (iii) by way of pledge or assignment of a security interest subject to the restrictions of subsection (e)  of this Section (and any other attempted assignment or transfer by any party hereto shall be null and void).  Nothing in this Agreement, expressed or implied, shall be construed to confer upon any Person (other than the parties hereto, their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby, Participants to the extent provided in subsection (d)  of this Section and, to the extent expressly contemplated

 

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hereby, the Related Parties of each of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders) any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or by reason of this Agreement.

 

(b)                                  Assignments by the Lenders .  Any Lender may, at no cost or expense to any Loan Party (except as provided in Section 11.13 ), at any time assign to one or more assignees all or a portion of its rights and obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Commitment and the Loans at the time owing to it); provided that any such assignment shall be subject to the following conditions:

 

(i)                                      Minimum Amounts .

 

i)                                          in the case of an assignment of the entire remaining amount of the assigning Lender’s Commitment and/or the Loans at the time owing to it or contemporaneous assignments to related Approved Funds that equal at least the amount specified in paragraph (b)(i)(B) of this Section in the aggregate or in the case of an assignment to a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund, no minimum amount need be assigned (but any such assignment shall be of a pro rata interest in each of the Loans; and

 

ii)                                       in any case not described in subsection (b)(i)(A)  of this Section, the aggregate amount of the Commitment (which for this purpose includes Loans outstanding thereunder) or, if the Commitment is not then in effect, the principal outstanding balance of the Loans of the assigning Lender subject to each such assignment, determined as of the date the Assignment and Assumption with respect to such assignment is delivered to the Administrative Agent or, if “Trade Date” is specified in the Assignment and Assumption, as of the Trade Date, shall not be less than $5,000,000 and shall be an assignment of a pro rata interest in each of the Loans, and the amount assigned to the Eligible Assignee shall not be less than $5,000,000, unless each of the Administrative Agent and, so long as no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Borrower otherwise consents (each such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed); provided that concurrent assignments to members of an Assignee Group and concurrent assignments from members of an Assignee Group to a single Eligible Assignee (or to an Eligible Assignee and members of its Assignee Group) will be treated as a single assignment for purposes of determining whether such minimum amount has been met.

 

(ii)                                   Proportionate Amounts .  Each partial assignment shall be made as an assignment of a proportionate part of all the assigning Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement with respect to the Loans or the Commitment assigned;

 

(iii)                                Required Consents .  No consent shall be required for any assignment except to the extent required by subsection (b)(i)(B)  of this Section and, in addition:

 

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i)                                          the consent of the Borrower (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) shall be required unless (1) an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing at the time of such assignment or (2) such assignment is to a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender, an Approved Fund or to any Federal Reserve Bank or other central bank authority or comparable agency having jurisdiction over such Lender; provided that the Borrower shall be deemed to have consented to any such assignment unless it shall object thereto by written notice to the Administrative Agent within ten (10) Business Days after having received notice thereof; and

 

ii)                                       the consent of the Administrative Agent (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) shall be required if such assignment is to a Person that is not a Lender, an Affiliate of such Lender or an Approved Fund with respect to such Lender.

 

(iv)                               Assignment and Assumption .  The parties to each assignment shall execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent an Assignment and Assumption, together with a processing and recordation fee in the amount of $3,500; provided that the Administrative Agent may, in its sole discretion, elect to waive such processing and recordation fee in the case of any assignment.  The assignee, if it is not a Lender, shall deliver to the Administrative Agent an Administrative Questionnaire.

 

(v)                                  No Assignment to Certain Persons .  No such assignment shall be made (A) to the Parent or the Borrower or any of their Affiliates or Subsidiaries, or (B) without the consent of the Administrative Agent and the Borrower, to any Defaulting Lender or any of its Subsidiaries, or any Person who, upon becoming a Lender hereunder, would constitute any of the foregoing Persons described in this clause (B) , (C) to a natural person, or (D) without the consent of the Borrower, to any Excluded Party.

 

(vi)                               Certain Additional Payments .  In connection with any assignment of rights and obligations of any Defaulting Lender hereunder, no such assignment shall be effective unless and until, in addition to the other conditions thereto set forth herein, the parties to the assignment shall make such additional payments to the Administrative Agent in an aggregate amount sufficient, upon distribution thereof as appropriate (which may be outright payment, purchases by the assignee of participations or sub-participations, or other compensating actions, including funding, with the consent of the Borrower and the Administrative Agent, the applicable pro rata share of Loans previously requested but not funded by the Defaulting Lender, to each of which the applicable assignee and assignor hereby irrevocably consent), to (x) pay and satisfy in full all payment liabilities then owed by such Defaulting Lender to the Administrative Agent or any Lender hereunder (and interest accrued thereon) and (y) acquire (and fund as appropriate) its full pro rata share of all Loans in accordance with its Applicable Percentage.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that any assignment of rights and obligations of any Defaulting Lender hereunder shall become effective under

 

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applicable Law without compliance with the provisions of this paragraph, then the assignee of such interest shall be deemed to be a Defaulting Lender for all purposes of this Agreement until such compliance occurs.

 

Subject to acceptance and recording thereof by the Administrative Agent pursuant to subsection (c)  of this Section, from and after the effective date specified in each Assignment and Assumption, the assignee thereunder shall be a party to this Agreement and, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Assumption, have the rights and obligations of a Lender under this Agreement, and the assigning Lender thereunder shall, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Assumption, be released from its obligations under this Agreement (and, in the case of an Assignment and Assumption covering all of the assigning Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement, such Lender shall cease to be a party hereto) but shall continue to be entitled to the benefits of Sections 3.01, 3.04 , 3.05 , and 11.04 with respect to facts and circumstances occurring prior to the effective date of such assignment, provided, that except to the extent otherwise expressly agreed by the affected parties, no assignment by a Defaulting Lender will constitute a waiver or release of any claim of any party hereunder arising from that Lender’s having been a Defaulting Lender.  Upon request, the Borrower (at its expense) shall execute and deliver a Note to the assignee Lender.  Any assignment or transfer by a Lender of rights or obligations under this Agreement that does not comply with this subsection shall be treated for purposes of this Agreement as a sale by such Lender of a participation in such rights and obligations in accordance with subsection (d)  of this Section.

 

(c)                                   Register .  The Administrative Agent, acting solely for this purpose as a non-fiduciary agent of the Borrower (and such agency being solely for tax purposes), shall maintain at the Administrative Agent’s Office a copy of each Assignment and Assumption delivered to it (or the equivalent thereof in electronic form) and a register for the recordation of the names and addresses of the Lenders, and the Commitments of, and principal amounts (and stated interest) of the Loans owing to, each Lender pursuant to the terms hereof from time to time (the “ Register ”).  The entries in the Register shall be conclusive absent manifest error, and the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders may treat each Person whose name is recorded in the Register pursuant to the terms hereof as a Lender hereunder for all purposes of this Agreement .   The Register shall be available for inspection by the Borrower and any Lender, at any reasonable time and from time to time upon reasonable prior notice.

 

(d)                                  Participations .  Any Lender may at any time, without the consent of, or notice to, the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, sell participations to any Person (other than a natural person, an Excluded Party, a Defaulting Lender or the Parent or the Borrower or any of their Affiliates or Subsidiaries) (each, a “ Participant ”) in all or a portion of such Lender’s rights and/or obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Commitment and/or the Loans owing to it); provided that (i) such Lender’s obligations under this Agreement shall remain unchanged, (ii) such Lender shall remain solely responsible to the other parties hereto for the performance of such obligations and (iii) the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the Lenders shall continue to deal solely and directly with such Lender in connection with such Lender’s rights and

 

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obligations under this Agreement.  For the avoidance of doubt, each Lender shall be responsible for the indemnity under Section 11.04(d)  without regard to the existence of any participation.

 

Any agreement or instrument pursuant to which a Lender sells such a participation shall provide that such Lender shall retain the sole right to enforce this Agreement and to approve any amendment, modification or waiver of any  provision of this Agreement; provided that such agreement or instrument may provide that such Lender will not, without the consent of the Participant, agree to any amendment, waiver or other modification described in the first proviso to Section 11.01 that affects such Participant.  The Borrower agrees that each Participant shall be entitled to the benefits of Sections 3.01 , 3.04 and 3.05 to the same extent as if it were a Lender and had acquired its interest by assignment pursuant to subsection (b) of this Section (it being understood that the documentation required under Section 3.01(e)  shall be delivered to the Lender who sells the participation); provided that such Participant (A) agrees to be subject to the provisions of Section s 3.06 and 11.13 as if it were an assignee under paragraph (b) of this Section and (B) shall not be entitled to receive any greater payment under Sections 3.01 or 3.04 , with respect to any participation than the Lender from whom it acquired the applicable participation would have been entitled to receive, except to the extent such entitlement to receive a greater payment results from a Change in Law that occurs after the Participant acquired the applicable participation.  Each Lender that sells a participation agrees, at the Borrower’s request and expense, to use reasonable efforts to cooperate with the Borrower to effectuate the provisions of Section 3.06 with respect to any Participant.  To the extent permitted by law, each Participant also shall be entitled to the benefits of Section  11.08 as though it were a Lender; provided that such Participant agrees to be subject to Section 2.13 as though it were a Lender.  Each Lender that sells a participation shall, acting solely for this purpose as a non-fiduciary agent of the Borrower, maintain a register on which it enters the name and address of each Participant and the principal amounts (and stated interest) of each Participant’s interest in the Loans or other obligations under the Loan Documents (the “ Participant Register ”); provided that no Lender shall have any obligation to disclose all or any portion of the Participant Register (including the identity of any Participant or any information relating to a Participant’s interest in any commitments, loans, letters of credit or its other obligations under any Loan Document) to any Person except to the extent that such disclosure is necessary to establish that such commitment, loan, letter of credit or other obligation is in registered form under Section 5f.103-1(c)  of the United States Treasury Regulations.  The entries in the Participant Register shall be conclusive absent manifest error, and such Lender shall treat each Person whose name is recorded in the Participant Register as the owner of such participation for all purposes of this Agreement notwithstanding any notice to the contrary.  For the avoidance of doubt, the Administrative Agent (in its capacity as the Administrative Agent) shall have no responsibility for maintaining a Participant Register.

 

(e)                                   Certain Pledges .  Any Lender may at any time pledge or assign a security interest in all or any portion of its rights under this Agreement (including under its Note, if any) to secure obligations of such Lender, including any pledge or assignment to secure obligations to a Federal Reserve Bank or other central bank authority or comparable agency having jurisdiction over such Lender; provided that no such pledge or assignment shall release such Lender from any of its obligations hereunder or substitute any such pledgee or assignee for such Lender as a party hereto.

 

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(f)                                    Reserved .

 

(g)                                   USA Patriot Act Notice; Compliance .  In order for the Administrative Agent to comply with “know your customer” and anti-money laundering rules and regulations, including without limitation, the Patriot Act, prior to any Lender that is organized under the laws of a jurisdiction outside of the United States of America becoming a party hereto, the Administrative Agent may request, and such Lender shall provide to the Administrative Agent, its name, address, tax identification number and/or such other identification information as shall be necessary for the Administrative Agent to comply with federal law.

 

g.                                        Treatment of Certain Information; Confidentiality.  Each of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders agrees to maintain the confidentiality of the Information (as defined below), except that Information may be disclosed (a) to its Affiliates and to its Related Parties (it being understood that the Persons to whom such disclosure is made will be informed of the confidential nature of such Information and instructed to keep such Information confidential), (b) to the extent required or requested by any regulatory authority purporting to have jurisdiction over such Person or its Related Parties (including any self-regulatory authority, such as the National Association of Insurance Commissioners), (c) to the extent required by applicable Laws or regulations or by any subpoena or similar legal process so long as the Administrative Agent and any Lender, as the case may be, requests confidential treatment of such Information to the extent permitted by Law (provided that the requesting Administrative Agent or Lender shall not be responsible for the failure by any such party to keep the Information confidential), (d) to any other party hereto, (e) in connection with the exercise of any remedies hereunder or under any other Loan Document or any action or proceeding relating to this Agreement or any other Loan Document or the enforcement of rights hereunder or thereunder, (f) subject to an agreement containing provisions substantially the same as those of this Section, to (i) any assignee of or Participant in, or any prospective assignee of or Participant in, any of its rights and obligations under this Agreement or any Eligible Assignee invited to be a Lender pursuant to Section  3.06 (c), Section 11. 13 or (ii) any actual or prospective party (or its Related Parties) to any swap, derivative or other transaction under which payments are to be made by reference to the Borrower and its obligations, this Agreement or payments hereunder, (g) on a confidential basis to (i)  any rating agency in connection with rating the Borrower or its Subsidiaries or the credit facilities provided hereunder or (ii) the CUSIP Service Bureau or any similar agency in connection with the issuance and monitoring of CUSIP numbers or other market identifiers with respect to the credit facilities provided hereunder, (h) with the consent of the Borrower or (i) to the extent such Information (x) becomes publicly available other than as a result of a breach of this Section or (y) becomes available to the Administrative Agent, any Lender or any of their respective Affiliates on a non-confidential basis from a source other than the Borrower provided that the source of such information was not at the time known to be bound by a confidentiality agreement or other legal or contractual obligation of confidentiality with respect to such Information.  For purposes of this Section, “Information” means all information received from the Borrower or any Subsidiary relating to the Borrower or any Subsidiary or any of their respective businesses, other than any such information that is available to the Administrative Agent or any Lender on a non-confidential basis prior to disclosure by the Borrower or any Subsidiary, provided that, in the case of information received from the Borrower or any Subsidiary after the date hereof, such information is clearly identified at the time of delivery as

 

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confidential.  Any Person required to maintain the confidentiality of Information as provided in this Section shall be considered to have complied with its obligation to do so if such Person has exercised the same degree of care to maintain the confidentiality of such Information as such Person would accord to its own confidential information.

 

Each of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders acknowledges that (a) the Information may include material non-public information concerning the Borrower or a Subsidiary, as the case may be, (b) it has developed compliance procedures regarding the use of material non-public information and (c) it will handle such material non-public information in accordance with applicable Law, including United States Federal and state securities Laws.

 

h.                                       Right of Setoff .  If an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing and the Administrative Agent and the Required Lenders shall have consented in writing thereto, each Lender and each of their respective Affiliates (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any Specified Derivatives Providers) is hereby authorized at any time and from time to time, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, to set off and apply any and all deposits (general or special, time or demand, provisional or final, in whatever currency) at any time held and other obligations (in whatever currency) at any time owing by such Lender or any such Affiliate to or for the credit or the account of the Borrower or any other Loan Party against any and all of the obligations of the Borrower or such Loan Party now or hereafter existing under this Agreement or any other Loan Document to such Lender or their respective Affiliates, irrespective of whether or not such Lender or Affiliate shall have made any demand under this Agreement or any other Loan Document and although such obligations of the Borrower or such Loan Party may be contingent or unmatured or are owed to a branch, office or Affiliate of such Lender different from the branch, office or Affiliate holding such deposit or obligated on such indebtedness; provided, that in the event that any Defaulting Lender shall exercise any such right of setoff, (x) all amounts so set off shall be paid over immediately to the Administrative Agent for further application in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.17 and, pending such payment, shall be segregated by such Defaulting Lender from its other funds and deemed held in trust for the benefit of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders, and (y) the Defaulting Lender shall provide promptly to the Administrative Agent a statement describing in reasonable detail the Obligations owing to such Defaulting Lender as to which it exercised such right of setoff.  The rights of each Lender and their respective Affiliates under this Section are in addition to other rights and remedies (including other rights of setoff) that such Lender or their respective Affiliates may have.  Each Lender agrees to notify the Borrower and the Administrative Agent promptly after any such setoff and application, provided that the failure to give such notice shall not affect the validity of such setoff and application.

 

i.                                           Interest Rate Limitation.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in any Loan Document, the interest paid or agreed to be paid under the Loan Documents shall not exceed the maximum rate of non-usurious interest permitted by applicable Law (the “ Maximum Rate ”).  If the Administrative Agent or any Lender shall receive interest in an amount that exceeds the Maximum Rate, the excess interest shall be applied to the principal of the Loans or, if it exceeds such unpaid principal, refunded to the Borrower.  In determining whether the interest contracted for, charged, or received by the Administrative Agent or a Lender exceeds the Maximum Rate, such Person may, to the extent permitted by applicable Law, (a) characterize any payment that is not principal as an expense, fee, or premium rather than interest, (b) exclude

 

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voluntary prepayments and the effects thereof, and (c) amortize, prorate, allocate, and spread in equal or unequal parts the total amount of interest throughout the contemplated term of the Obligations hereunder.

 

j.                                          Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness.  This Agreement may be executed in counterparts (and by different parties hereto in different counterparts), each of which shall constitute an original, but all of which when taken together shall constitute a single contract.  This Agreement and the other Loan Documents , and any separate letter agreements with respect to fees payable to the Administrative Agent constitute the entire contract among the parties relating to the subject matter hereof and supersede any and all previous agreements and understandings, oral or written, relating to the subject matter hereof.  Except as provided in Section 5.01 , this Agreement shall become effective when it shall have been executed by the Administrative Agent and when the Administrative Agent shall have received counterparts hereof that, when taken together, bear the signatures of each of the other parties hereto.  Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page of this Agreement by telecopy, by email with a pdf copy attached, or other electronic imaging means shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Agreement.

 

k.                                       Survival of Representations and Warranties.  All representations and warranties made hereunder and in any other Loan Document or other document delivered pursuant hereto or thereto or in connection herewith or therewith shall survive the execution and delivery hereof and thereof.  Such representations and warranties have been or will be relied upon by the Administrative Agent and each Lender, regardless of any investigation made by the Administrative Agent or any Lender or on their behalf and notwithstanding that the Administrative Agent or any Lender may have had notice or knowledge of any Default at the time of any Credit Extension, and shall continue in full force and effect as long as any Loan or any other Obligation hereunder shall remain unpaid or unsatisfied.

 

l.                                           Severability.  If any provision of this Agreement or the other Loan Documents is held to be illegal, invalid or unenforceable, (a) the legality, validity and enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents shall not be affected or impaired thereby and (b) the parties shall endeavor in good faith negotiations to replace the illegal, invalid or unenforceable provisions with valid provisions the economic effect of which comes as close as possible to that of the illegal, invalid or unenforceable provisions.  The invalidity of a provision in a particular jurisdiction shall not invalidate or render unenforceable such provision in any other jurisdiction.  Without limiting the foregoing provisions of this Section 11.12 , if and to the extent that the enforceability of any provisions in this Agreement relating to Defaulting Lenders shall be limited by Debtor Relief Laws, as determined in good faith by the Administrative Agent then such provisions shall be deemed to be in effect only to the extent not so limited.

 

m.                                   Replacement of the Lenders.  If the Borrower is entitled to replace a Lender pursuant to the provisions of Section 3.06 , or if any Lender is a Defaulting Lender or if any other circumstance exists hereunder that gives the Borrower the right to replace a Lender as a party hereto, then the Borrower may, at its sole expense and effort, upon notice to such Lender and the Administrative Agent, require such Lender to assign and delegate, without recourse (in accordance with and subject to the restrictions contained in, and consents required by, Section

 

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11.06 ), all of its interests, rights (other than its existing rights to payments pursuant to Sections 3.01 , 3.04 and 3.05 ) and obligations under this Agreement and the related Loan Documents to an Eligible Assignee that shall assume such obligations (which assignee may be another Lender, if a Lender accepts such assignment), provided that:

 

(a)                                  the Borrower shall have paid to the Administrative Agent the assignment fee (if any) specified in Section 11.06(b) ;

 

(b)                                  such Lender shall have received payment of an amount equal to the outstanding principal of its Loans, accrued interest thereon, accrued fees and all other amounts payable to it hereunder and under the other Loan Documents (including any amounts under Section 3.05 ) from the assignee (to the extent of such outstanding principal and accrued interest and fees) or the Borrower (in the case of all other amounts);

 

(c)                                   in the case of any such assignment resulting from a claim for compensation under Section 3.04 or payments required to be made pursuant to Section 3.01 , such assignment will result in a reduction in such compensation or payments thereafter; and

 

(d)                                  such assignment does not conflict with applicable Laws.

 

(e)                                   A Lender shall not be required to make any such assignment or delegation if, prior thereto, as a result of a waiver by such Lender or otherwise, the circumstances entitling the Borrower to require such assignment and delegation cease to apply.

 

n.                                       Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Etc.

 

(a)                                  GOVERNING LAW .  THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS AND ANY CLAIMS, CONTROVERSY, DISPUTE OR CAUSE OF ACTION (WHETHER IN CONTRACT OR TORT OR OTHERWISE) BASED UPON, ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT (EXCEPT, AS TO ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT, AS EXPRESSLY SET FORTH THEREIN) AND THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY AND THEREBY SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

 

(b)                                  SUBMISSION TO JURISDICTION .  THE BORROWER AND EACH OTHER LOAN PARTY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY AGREES THAT IT WILL NOT COMMENCE ANY ACTION, LITIGATION OR PROCEEDING OF ANY KIND OR DESCRIPTION, WHETHER IN LAW OR EQUITY, WHETHER IN CONTRACT OR IN TORT OR OTHERWISE, AGAINST THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT, ANY LENDER OR ANY RELATED PARTY OF THE FOREGOING IN ANY WAY RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS RELATING HERETO OR THERETO, IN ANY FORUM OTHER THAN THE COURTS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK COUNTY AND OF THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT OF THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK, AND ANY APPELLATE COURT FROM

 

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ANY THEREOF, AND EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY SUBMITS TO THE JURISDICTION OF SUCH COURTS  AND AGREES THAT ALL CLAIMS IN RESPECT OF ANY SUCH ACTION, LITIGATION OR PROCEEDING MAY BE HEARD AND DETERMINED IN SUCH NEW YORK STATE COURT OR, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, IN SUCH FEDERAL COURT.  EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO AGREES THAT A FINAL JUDGMENT IN ANY SUCH ACTION, LITIGATION OR PROCEEDING SHALL BE CONCLUSIVE AND MAY BE ENFORCED IN OTHER JURISDICTIONS BY SUIT ON THE JUDGMENT OR IN ANY OTHER MANNER PROVIDED BY LAW.  NOTHING IN THIS AGREEMENT OR IN ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT SHALL AFFECT ANY RIGHT THAT THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT OR ANY LENDER MAY OTHERWISE HAVE TO BRING ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT AGAINST THE BORROWER OR ANY OTHER LOAN PARTY OR ITS PROPERTIES IN THE COURTS OF ANY JURISDICTION.

 

(c)                                   WAIVER OF VENUE .  EACH OF THE PARENT, THE BORROWER AND EACH OTHER LOAN PARTY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY OBJECTION THAT IT MAY NOW OR HEREAFTER HAVE TO THE LAYING OF VENUE OF ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT IN ANY COURT REFERRED TO IN PARAGRAPH (b) OF THIS SECTION.  EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, THE DEFENSE OF AN INCONVENIENT FORUM TO THE MAINTENANCE OF SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING IN ANY SUCH COURT.

 

(d)                                  SERVICE OF PROCESS .  EACH PARTY HERETO IRREVOCABLY CONSENTS TO SERVICE OF PROCESS IN THE MANNER PROVIDED FOR NOTICES IN SECTION 11.02 PROVIDED THAT, IN THE CASE OF SERVICE ON ANY LOAN PARTY A COPY IS ALSO DELIVERED TO JEFFREY SULLIVAN, GENERAL COUNSEL FOR PARENT AND BORROWER.  NOTHING IN THIS AGREEMENT WILL AFFECT THE RIGHT OF ANY PARTY HERETO TO SERVE PROCESS IN ANY OTHER MANNER PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW.

 

(e)                                   WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL .  EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR THEREBY (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT OR ANY OTHER THEORY).  EACH PARTY HERETO (A) CERTIFIES THAT NO REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF ANY OTHER PERSON HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PERSON WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER AND (B) ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT

 

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AND THE OTHER PARTIES HERETO HAVE BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION.

 

o.                                       No Advisory or Fiduciary Responsibility.  In connection with all aspects of each transaction contemplated hereby (including in connection with any amendment, waiver or other modification hereof or of any other Loan Document), the Parent, the Borrower, and each other Loan Party acknowledges and agrees, and acknowledges its Affiliates’ understanding, that: (i)(A) the arranging and other services regarding this Agreement provided by the Administrative Agent and the Lead Arrangers are arm’s-length commercial transactions between the Parent, the Borrower, each other Loan Party and their respective Affiliates, on the one hand, and the Administrative Agent and the Lead Arrangers, on the other hand, (B) each of the Parent, the Borrower, and the other Loan Parties has consulted its own legal, accounting, regulatory and tax advisors to the extent it has deemed appropriate, and (C) the Borrower and each other Loan Party is capable of evaluating, and understands and accepts, the terms, risks and conditions of the transactions contemplated hereby and by the other Loan Documents; (ii)(A) each of the Administrative Agent, the Lead Arrangers and the Lenders is and has been acting solely as a principal and, except as expressly agreed in writing by the relevant parties, has not been, is not, and will not be acting as an advisor, agent or fiduciary for the Parent, the Borrower, any other Loan Party, or any of their respective Affiliates, or any other Person and (B) the Administrative Agent, the Lead Arrangers and the Lender have no obligation to the Parent, the Borrower, any other Loan Party, or any of their respective Affiliates with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby except those obligations expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents; and (iii) the Administrative Agent, the Lead Arrangers and the Lenders and their respective Affiliates may be engaged in a broad range of transactions that involve interests that differ from those of the Parent, the Borrower, the other Loan Parties, and their respective Affiliates, and the Administrative Agent, the Lead Arrangers and the Lenders have no obligation to disclose any of such interests to the Parent, the Borrower, any other Loan Party, or any of their respective Affiliates.  To the fullest extent permitted by Law, each of the Parent, the Borrower, and the other Loan Parties hereby waives and releases any claims that it may have against the Administrative Agent and the Lead Arrangers with respect to any breach or alleged breach of agency or fiduciary duty in connection with any aspect of any transaction contemplated hereby.

 

p.                                       Electronic Execution of Assignments and Certain Other Documents.  The words “execution,” “signed,” “signature,” and words of like import in any Assignment and Assumption or in any amendment or other modification hereof (including waivers and consents) shall be deemed to include electronic signatures , the electronic matching or assignment terms and contract formations on electronic platforms approved by the Administrative Agent or the keeping of records in electronic form, each of which shall be of the same legal effect, validity or enforceability as a manually executed signature or the use of a paper-based recordkeeping system, as the case may be, to the extent and as provided for in any applicable Law, including the Federal Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act, the New York State Electronic Signatures and Records Act, or any other similar state laws based on the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act.

 

q.                                       USA PATRIOT ACT.  Each Lender that is subject to the Patriot Act (as hereinafter defined) and the Administrative Agent (for itself and not on behalf of any Lender)

 

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hereby notifies the Borrower that pursuant to the requirements of The Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001 (Title III of Pub. L. No. 107-56 (signed into law October 26, 2001)) (the “ Patriot Act ”), it is required to obtain, verify and record certain information that identifies individuals or business entities which open an “account” with such financial institution, which information includes the name, address, and tax identification number of the Borrower and such other identification information that will allow such Lender or the Administrative Agent, as applicable, to identify the Borrower in accordance with the Patriot Act and comply with federal law.  An “account” for this purpose may include, without limitation, a deposit account, cash management service, a transaction or asset account, a credit account, a loan or other extension of credit, and/or other financial services product. the Borrower shall, promptly following a request by the Administrative Agent or any Lender, provide all documentation and other information that the Administrative Agent or such Lender requests in order to comply with its ongoing obligations under applicable “know your customer” and anti-money laundering rules and regulations, including the Patriot Act.

 

r.                                          ENTIRE AGREEMENT.  THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS REPRESENT THE FINAL AGREEMENT AMONG THE PARTIES AND MAY NOT BE CONTRADICTED BY EVIDENCE OF PRIOR, CONTEMPORANEOUS, OR SUBSEQUENT ORAL AGREEMENTS OF THE PARTIES.  THERE ARE NO UNWRITTEN ORAL AGREEMENTS AMONG THE PARTIES.

 

s.                                         Acknowledgment and Consent to Bail-In of EEA Financial Institutions.

 

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in any Loan Document or in any other agreement, arrangement or understanding among any such parties, each party hereto acknowledges that any liability of any EEA Financial Institution arising under any Loan Document may be subject to the Write-Down and Conversion Powers of an EEA Resolution Authority and agrees and consents to, and acknowledges and agrees to be bound by:

 

(a)                                  the application of any Write-Down and Conversion Powers by an EEA Resolution Authority to any such liabilities arising hereunder which may be payable to it by any party hereto that is an EEA Financial Institution; and

 

(b)                                  the effects of any Bail-In Action on any such liability, including, if applicable:

 

(i)                                      a reduction in full or in part or cancellation of any such liability;

 

(ii)                                   a conversion of all, or a portion of, such liability into shares or other instruments of ownership in such EEA Financial Institution, its parent entity, or a bridge institution that may be issued to it or otherwise conferred on it, and that such shares or other instruments of ownership will be accepted by it in lieu of any rights with respect to any such liability under this Agreement or any other Loan Document; or

 

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(iii)                             the variation of the terms of such liability in connection with the exercise of the Write-Down and Conversion Powers of any EEA Resolution Authority.

 

t.                                          Certain ERISA Matters .

 

(a)                                  Each Lender (x) represents and warrants, as of the date such Person became a Lender party hereto, to, and (y) covenants, from the date such Person became a Lender party hereto to the date such Person ceases being a Lender party hereto, for the benefit of, the Administrative Agent, each Lead Arranger and their respective Affiliates, and not, for the avoidance of doubt, to or for the benefit of the Borrower or any other Loan Party, that at least one of the following is and will be true:

 

(i)                                      such Lender is not using “plan assets” (within the meaning of 29 CFR § 2510.3-101, as modified by Section 3(42) of ERISA) of one or more Benefit Plans in connection with the Loans or the Commitments;

 

(ii)                                   the transaction exemption set forth in one or more PTEs, such as PTE 84-14 (a class exemption for certain transactions determined by independent qualified professional asset managers), PTE 95-60 (a class exemption for certain transactions involving insurance company general accounts), PTE 90-1 (a class exemption for certain transactions involving insurance company pooled separate accounts), PTE 91-38 (a class exemption for certain transactions involving bank collective investment funds) or PTE 96-23 (a class exemption for certain transactions determined by in-house asset managers), is applicable with respect to such Lender’s entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Commitments and this Agreement;

 

(iii)                                (A) such Lender is an investment fund managed by a “Qualified Professional Asset Manager” (within the meaning of Part VI of PTE 84-14), (B) such Qualified Professional Asset Manager made the investment decision on behalf of such Lender to enter into, participate in, administer and perform the Loans, the Commitments and this Agreement, (C) the entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Commitments and this Agreement satisfies the requirements of sub-sections (b) through (g) of Part I of PTE 84-14 and (D) to the best knowledge of such Lender, the requirements of subsection (a) of Part I of PTE 84-14 are satisfied with respect to such Lender’s entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Commitments and this Agreement; or

 

(iv)                               such other representation, warranty and covenant as may be agreed in writing between the Administrative Agent, in its sole discretion, and such Lender.

 

(b)                                  In addition, unless sub-clause (i) in the immediately preceding clause (a) is true with respect to a Lender or such Lender has not provided another representation, warranty and covenant as provided in sub-clause (iv) in the immediately preceding clause

 

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(a), such Lender further (x) represents and warrants, as of the date such Person became a Lender party hereto, to, and (y) covenants, from the date such Person became a Lender party hereto to the date such Person ceases being a Lender party hereto, for the benefit of, the Administrative Agent, each Lead Arranger and their respective Affiliates, and not, for the avoidance of doubt, to or for the benefit of the Borrower or any other Credit Party, that:

 

(i)                                      none of the Administrative Agent, any Lead Arranger nor any of their respective Affiliates is a fiduciary with respect to the assets of such Lender (including in connection with the reservation or exercise of any rights by the Administrative Agent under this Agreement, any Loan Document or any documents related to hereto or thereto);

 

(ii)                                   the Person making the investment decision on behalf of such Lender with respect to the entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Commitments and this Agreement is independent (within the meaning of 29 CFR § 2510.3-21) and is a bank, an insurance carrier, an investment adviser, a broker-dealer or other person that holds, or has under management or control, total assets of at least $50 million, in each case as described in 29 CFR § 2510.3-21(c)(1)(i)(A)-(E),

 

(iii)                                the Person making the investment decision on behalf of such Lender with respect to the entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Commitments and this Agreement is capable of evaluating investment risks independently, both in general and with regard to particular transactions and investment strategies (including in respect of the Secured Obligations);

 

(iv)                               the Person making the investment decision on behalf of such Lender with respect to the entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Commitments and this Agreement is a fiduciary under ERISA or the Code, or both, with respect to the Loans, the Commitments and this Agreement and is responsible for exercising independent judgment in evaluating the transactions hereunder, and

 

(v)                                  no fee or other compensation is being paid directly to the Administrative Agent, each Lead Arranger or their respective Affiliates for investment advice (as opposed to other services) in connection with the Loans, the Commitments or this Agreement.

 

(c)                                   The Administrative Agent and each Lead Arranger hereby informs the Lenders that each such Person is not undertaking to provide impartial investment advice, or to give advice in a fiduciary capacity, in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby, and that such Person has a financial interest in the transactions contemplated hereby in that such Person or an Affiliate thereof (i) may receive interest or other payments with respect to the Loans, the Commitments and this Agreement, (ii) may recognize

 

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a gain if it extended the Loans or the Commitments for an amount less than the amount being paid for an interest in the Loans or the Commitments by such Lender or (iii) may receive fees or other payments in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby, the Loan Documents or otherwise, including structuring fees, commitment fees, arrangement fees, facility fees, upfront fees, underwriting fees, ticking fees, agency fees, administrative agent or collateral agent fees, utilization fees, minimum usage fees, letter of credit fees, fronting fees, deal-away or alternate transaction fees, amendment fees, processing fees, term out premiums, banker’s acceptance fees, breakage or other early termination fees or fees similar to the foregoing.

 

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EXHIBIT C

 

REAFFIRMATION OF SUBSIDIARY GUARANTY

July 26 , 2018

 

Each of the undersigned Subsidiary Guarantors hereby acknowledges receipt of a copy of the foregoing First Amendment to Term Loan Agreement with respect to that certain Term Loan Agreement dated as of July 28, 2017 by and among STAG INDUSTRIAL OPERATING PARTNERSHIP, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (together with its successors and assigns, the “ Borrower ”), STAG INDUSTRIAL INC., a Maryland corporation and the sole member of the sole general partner of the Borrower (the “ Parent ”), each of the financial institutions initially a signatory to the Loan Agreement (as defined below) together with their successors and assigns under Section 11.06 of the Loan Agreement (the “ Lenders ”), and BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., as the Administrative Agent (in such capacity, the “ Administrative Agent ”) (as amended and as the same may be amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “ Loan Agreement ”), which First Amendment to Term Loan Agreement is dated as of the date hereof (the “ Amendment ”).  Capitalized terms used in this Reaffirmation and not defined herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Loan Agreement.  Without in any way establishing a course of dealing by the Administrative Agent or any Lender, each of the undersigned Subsidiary Guarantors reaffirms the terms and conditions of the Subsidiary Guaranty (as reaffirmed from time to time) and any other Loan Document executed by it and acknowledges and agrees that such agreement and each and every such Loan Document executed by the undersigned Subsidiary Guarantors in connection with the Loan Agreement remains in full force and effect and is hereby reaffirmed, ratified and confirmed.  All references to the Loan Agreement contained in the above-referenced documents shall be a reference to the Loan Agreement as so modified by the Amendment and as the same may from time to time hereafter be amended, modified or restated.

 

***

 



 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each Subsidiary Guarantor has caused this Reaffirmation of Subsidiary Guaranty to be duly executed and delivered as of the date first written above.

 

SUBSIDIARY GUARANTORS:

 

STAG Investments Holdings III, LLC

STAG III Albion, LLC

STAG III Boardman, LLC

STAG III Chesterfield, LLC

STAG III Daytona Beach, LLC

STAG III Elkhart, LLC

STAG III Farmington, LLC

STAG III Lewiston, LLC

STAG III Malden, LLC

STAG III Mason, LLC

STAG III Mayville, LLC

STAG III Newark, LLC

STAG III Pensacola, LLC

STAG III Rapid City, LLC

STAG III Twinsburg, LLC

STAG III Youngstown, LLC

STAG Investments Holdings IV, LLC

STAG IV Alexandria, LLC

STAG IV Belfast, LLC

STAG IV Cheektowaga, LLC

STAG IV Danville, LLC

STAG IV Seville, LLC

STAG IV Sun Prairie, LLC

STIR Investments GP IV, LLC

STAG GI Investments Holdings, LLC

STAG GI New Jersey, LLC

STAG GI O’Fallon, LLC

STAG GI Goshen, LLC

STAG GI Madison, LLC

STAG GI Vonore, LLC

STAG GI Rogers, LLC

STAG GI Salem, LLC

STAG GI Walker, LLC

STAG GI Streetsboro, LLC

STAG GI Mooresville, LLC

STAG GI Cleveland, LLC

STAG Lansing, LLC

STAG Industrial Holdings, LLC

STAG TX GP 2, LLC

STAG Avon, LLC

STAG Buffalo, LLC

 

Signature Page to Reaffirmation of Subsidiary Guaranty
First Amendment to Term Loan Agreement

 



 

STAG Chippewa Falls, LLC

STAG Edgefield, LLC

STAG Lansing 2, LLC

STAG Orlando, LLC

STAG Pineville, LLC

STAG Portland 2, LLC

STAG Reading, LLC

STAG Rogers 2, LLC

STAG South Bend, LLC

STAG Spartanburg, LLC

STAG Jackson, LLC

STAG Portage, LLC

STAG Simpsonville, LLC

STAG Dallas, LLC

STAG De Pere, LLC

STAG Duncan, LLC

STAG Buena Vista, LLC

STAG Gurnee, LLC

STAG Chicopee, LLC

STAG Montgomery, LLC

STAG Smyrna, LLC

STAG Statham, LLC

STAG Harrisonburg, LLC

STAG Toledo, LLC

STAG Woodstock, LLC

STAG Columbia, LLC

STAG Golden, LLC

STAG DeKalb, LLC

STAG Ocala, LLC

STAG Marion 2, LLC

STAG Londonderry, LLC

STAG Idaho Falls, LLC

STAG Williamsport, LLC

STAG Kentwood, LLC

STAG Marshall, LLC

STAG Belvidere I, LLC

STAG Belvidere II, LLC

STAG Belvidere III, LLC

STAG Belvidere IV, LLC

STAG Belvidere V, LLC

STAG Belvidere VI, LLC

STAG Belvidere VII, LLC

STAG Belvidere VIII, LLC

STAG Belvidere IX, LLC

STAG Nashville, LLC

STAG New Berlin, LLC

 

Signature Page to Reaffirmation of Subsidiary Guaranty
First Amendment to Term Loan Agreement

 



 

STAG Hampstead, LLC

STAG New Hope, LLC

STAG Orlando 2, LLC

STAG North Jackson 2, LLC

STAG Shannon, LLC

STAG Lansing 4, LLC

STAG Harvard, LLC

STAG Sauk Village, LLC

STAG South Holland, LLC

STAG Mascot, LLC

STAG Janesville, LLC

STAG Allentown, LLC

STAG Nashua, LLC

STAG Strongsville, LLC

STAG Columbus, LLC

STAG Savannah, LLC

STAG West Chester, LLC

STAG Calhoun, LLC

STAG Hebron, LLC

STAG East Troy, LLC

STAG Savage, LLC

STAG Chester, LLC

STAG Mechanicsburg 1, LLC

STAG Mechanicsburg 2, LLC

STAG Mechanicsburg 3, LLC

STAG Mason 3, LLC

STAG Lenexa, LLC

STAG Reno, LLC

STAG Fort Wayne, LLC

STAG Murfreesboro, LLC

STAG Gurnee 2, LLC

STAG Germantown, LLC

STAG Elizabethtown, LLC

STAG CA GP, LLC

STAG Spartanburg 3, LLC

STAG Burlington, LLC

STAG Greenville, LLC

STAG North Haven, LLC

STAG Plymouth 2, LLC

STAG Oakwood Village, LLC

STAG Stoughton 1, LLC

STAG Stoughton 2, LLC

STAG 5101 South Council Road, LLC

STAG Knoxville 2, LLC

STAG Clinton, LLC

STAG Fairborn, LLC

 

Signature Page to Reaffirmation of Subsidiary Guaranty
First Amendment to Term Loan Agreement

 



 

STAG Phoenix, LLC

STAG Machesney Park, LLC

STAG Macedonia, LLC

STAG Novi 2, LLC

STAG Grand Junction, LLC

STAG Tulsa, LLC

STAG Chattanooga 1, LLC

STAG Chattanooga 2, LLC

STAG Libertyville 1, LLC

STAG Libertyville 2, LLC

STAG Greer, LLC

STAG Piedmont 1, LLC

STAG Piedmont 2, LLC

STAG Piedmont 3, LLC

STAG Belvidere 10, LLC

STAG Shreveport, LLC

STAG Dayton 2, LLC

STAG West Allis, LLC

STAG Loudon, LLC

STAG Laurens, LLC

STAG Lancaster, LLC

STAG Grand Rapids, LLC

STAG Burlington 2, LLC

STAG Biddeford, LLC

STAG Fairfield 3, LLC

STAG Mascot 2, LLC

STAG Erlanger, LLC

STAG Gahanna, LLC

STAG Norton, LLC

STAG NC GP, LLC

STAG Sparks 2, LLC

STAG Hazelwood, LLC

STAG York, LLC

STAG NC GP 2, LLC

STAG TX GP, LLC

STAG Louisville, LLC

STAG North Jackson, LLC

STAG Portland, LLC

STAG East Windsor, LLC

STAG Yorkville, LLC

STAG Lebanon, LLC

STAG West Columbia 3, LLC

STAG McHenry 2, LLC

STAG Romulus 2, LLC

STAG South Saint Paul, LLC

 

Signature Page to Reaffirmation of Subsidiary Guaranty
First Amendment to Term Loan Agreement

 



 

STAG Knoxville 3, LLC

 

each a Delaware limited liability company

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

 

 

 

(Signatures continue on the next page)

 

Signature Page to Reaffirmation of Subsidiary Guaranty
First Amendment to Term Loan Agreement

 



 

STAG III Arlington, LP

a Delaware limited partnership

 

By:

STIR Investments GP III, LLC,

 

 

a Delaware limited liability company,

 

 

its General Partner

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

STAG IV Waco, L.P.,

 

a Delaware limited partnership

 

 

 

 

By:

STIR Investments GP IV, LLC,

 

 

a Delaware limited liability company,

 

 

its General Partner

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

 

 

 

(Signatures continue on the next page)

 

Signature Page to Reaffirmation of Subsidiary Guaranty
First Amendment to Term Loan Agreement

 



 

STAG Arlington 2, L.P.

STAG Houston 2, L.P.

STAG Garland, LP

STAG Houston 3, LP

STAG El Paso 1, LP

STAG El Paso 2, LP

STAG El Paso 3, LP

STAG El Paso 4, LP

STAG Houston 4, LP

STAG El Paso 5, LP

STAG Garland 2, LP

STAG TX Holdings, LP

STAG Rockwall, L.P.

STAG IND Stafford, LP

STAG IND El Paso 6, LP

STAG IND Houston 9, LP

STAG IND Houston 11, LP

 

each a Delaware limited partnership

 

By:

STAG TX GP 2, LLC

 

 

a Delaware limited liability company,

 

 

their General Partner

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

 

 

 

 

STAG Camarillo 1, LP

STAG Camarillo 2, LP

STAG Visalia, LP

 

each, a Delaware limited partnership

 

By:

STAG CA GP, LLC

 

 

a Delaware limited liability company,

 

 

their General Partner

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

 

 

 

(Signatures continue on the next page)

 

Signature Page to Reaffirmation of Subsidiary Guaranty
First Amendment to Term Loan Agreement

 



 

STAG NC Holdings, LP

 

a Delaware limited partnership

 

 

 

 

By:

STAG NC GP, LLC,

 

 

a Delaware limited liability company,

 

 

their General Partner

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

STAG Fort Worth, LP

 

a Delaware limited partnership

 

 

 

 

By:

STAG TX GP, LLC,

 

 

a Delaware limited liability company,

 

 

its General Partner

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

 

 

 

 

 

STAG Mooresville 2, LP

 

a Delaware limited partnership

 

 

 

 

By:

STAG NC GP 2, LLC,

 

 

a Delaware limited liability company,

 

 

its General Partner

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

 

 

 

Signature Page to Reaffirmation of Subsidiary Guaranty
First Amendment to Term Loan Agreement

 



 

STAG El Paso, LP

 

a Delaware limited partnership

 

 

 

 

By:

STIR Investments GP, LLC

 

 

a Delaware limited liability company,

 

 

its General Partner

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

 

 

 

Signature Page to Reaffirmation of Subsidiary Guaranty
First Amendment to Term Loan Agreement