0000933036 false RENT A CENTER INC DE 0000933036 2021-02-17 2021-02-17 iso4217:USD xbrli:shares iso4217:USD xbrli:shares

 

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

 

Form 8-K

 

 

 

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the

Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported):

February 17, 2021

 

 

 

Rent-A-Center, Inc.

 

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Delaware 001-38047 45-0491516

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or
organization)

(Commission

File Number)

(IRS Employer

Identification No.)

     

5501 Headquarters Drive

Plano, Texas 75024
(Address of principal executive offices and zip code)
     

(972) 801-1100

(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)
     

N/A

(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:

 

¨ Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425).
¨ Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12).
¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b)).
¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c)).

 

Securities registered or to be registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act.

 

Title of each class Trading Symbol(s) Name of each exchange on which registered
Common Stock, $0.01 Par Value RCII The Nasdaq Stock Market

 

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

 

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

Item 1.01. Entry Into a Material Definitive Agreement.

 

Merger

 

The information reported below under Item 2.01 of this Current Report on Form 8-K relating to the Registration Rights Agreement is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Indenture and Notes Issuance

 

On February 17, 2021, Radiant Funding SPV, LLC (“Radiant”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Rent-A-Center, Inc. (the “Company”) closed its previously announced offering of $450,000,000 aggregate principal amount of 6.375% Senior Notes due 2029 (the “Notes”). The Notes were issued pursuant to an indenture, dated as of February 17, 2021 (the “Indenture”), between Radiant and Truist Bank, as trustee (the “Trustee”). The Notes were offered and sold in the United States only to persons reasonably believed to be qualified institutional buyers (as defined in the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”)) pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act and outside the United States only to non-U.S. persons in accordance with Regulation S under the Securities Act.

 

Substantially concurrently with the acquisition by the Company (the “Acquisition”) of Acima Holdings, LLC, a Utah limited liability company (“Acima”), pursuant to the previously announced Agreement and Plan of Merger (the “Merger Agreement”) by and among the Company, Radalta, LLC, a Utah limited liability company and wholly owned subsidiary of the Company (“Merger Sub”), Acima, and Aaron Allred, solely in his capacity as the Member Representative (“Member Representative”), Radiant was merged into the Company and the Company assumed the obligations of the issuer under the Indenture with respect to the Notes pursuant to a supplemental indenture among the Company, certain subsidiaries of the Company as guarantors and the Trustee.

 

The Notes were issued at an issue price of 100.00% and bear interest at a rate of 6.375% per annum. Interest on the Notes is payable on February 15 and August 15 of each year, beginning on August 15, 2021. The Notes will mature on February 15, 2029.

 

The Company may redeem some or all of the Notes at any time on or after February 15, 2024 for cash at the redemption prices set forth in the Indenture, plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but not including, the redemption date. Prior to February 15, 2024, the Company may redeem up to 40% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes with the proceeds of certain equity offerings at a redemption price of 106.375% plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but not including, the redemption date. In addition, the Company may redeem some or all of the Notes prior to February 15, 2024, at a redemption price of 100% of the principal amount of the Notes plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but not including, the redemption date, plus a “make-whole” premium. If the Company experiences specific kinds of change of control, it will be required to offer to purchase the Notes at a price equal to 101% of the principal amount thereof plus accrued and unpaid interest.

 

The Notes are the Company’s general unsecured senior obligations, and are effectively subordinated to all of the Company’s existing and future secured indebtedness to the extent of the value of the collateral securing such indebtedness, structurally subordinated to all existing and future indebtedness and other liabilities of the Company’s non-guarantor subsidiaries, equal in right of payment to all of the Company’s and Company’s guarantor subsidiaries’ existing and future senior indebtedness and senior in right of payment to all of the Company’s future subordinated indebtedness, if any. The Notes are jointly and severally guaranteed on a senior unsecured basis by certain of the Company’s domestic subsidiaries that have outstanding indebtedness or guarantee other specified indebtedness, including the ABL and Term Loan described below.

 

The Indenture contains covenants that limit, among other things, the Company’s ability and the ability of some of the Company’s restricted subsidiaries to create liens, transfer or sell assets, incur indebtedness or issue certain preferred stock, pay dividends, redeem stock or make other distributions, make other restricted payments or investments, create restrictions on payment of dividends or other amounts to the Company by its restricted subsidiaries, merge or consolidate with other entities, engage in certain transactions with affiliates and designate the Company’s subsidiaries as unrestricted subsidiaries. These covenants are subject to a number of exceptions and qualifications. The covenants limiting restricted payments, restrictions on payment of dividends or other amounts to the Company by its restricted subsidiaries, the ability to incur indebtedness, asset dispositions and transactions with affiliates will be suspended if and while the Notes have investment grade ratings from any two of Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services, Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. and Fitch, Inc.

 

The Indenture also provides for events of default, which, if any of them occurs, would permit or require the principal, premium, if any, and interest on all the then outstanding Notes issued under the Indenture to be due and payable.

 

The foregoing description of the Indenture and the Notes does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Indenture and the form of Notes (included in the Indenture), which is filed as Exhibit 4.1 herewith and incorporated by reference herein.

 

 

 

 

The Notes have not been registered under the Securities Act. The Notes may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act.

 

ABL Credit Facility

 

Also on February 17, 2021, the Company entered into a credit agreement (the “ABL Facility”) among the Company, as borrower, the lenders party thereto and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent (the “Administrative Agent”). The ABL Facility provides for a five-year asset-based revolving credit facility with commitments of $550 million and a letter of credit sublimit of $150 million. The commitments under the ABL Facility may be increased, at the Company’s option and under certain conditions, by up to an additional $125 million in the aggregate.

 

Under the ABL Facility, the Company may borrow only up to the lesser of the level of the then-current borrowing base and the aggregate amount of commitments under the ABL Facility. The borrowing base is tied to the amount of eligible installment sales accounts, inventory and eligible rental contracts, reduced by reserves. Loans under the ABL Facility may be borrowed, repaid and re-borrowed until February 17, 2026, at which time all amounts borrowed must be repaid.

 

The Company drew down $165 million under the ABL Facility in connection with the Acquisition. The initial drawdown was used in part to refinance the outstanding loans under the Company’s existing asset-backed loan facility, dated as of August 5, 2019, among the Company, the lenders party thereto and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent (the “Existing ABL Facility”). The Existing ABL Facility was repaid and terminated in connection with the execution of the ABL Facility. Additional amounts drawn under the ABL Facility will be used for general working capital purposes.

 

Interest is payable on the ABL Facility at a fluctuating rate of interest determined by reference to the eurodollar rate plus an applicable margin of 1.50% to 2.00%. A commitment fee equal to 0.250% to 0.375% of the unused portion of the ABL Facility fluctuates dependent upon average utilization for the prior month as defined by a pricing grid included in the documentation governing the Existing ABL Facility.

 

The obligations under the ABL Facility are guaranteed by the Company and the Company’s material wholly-owned domestic restricted subsidiaries, subject to certain exceptions. The obligations under the ABL Facility and the guarantees thereof are secured on a first-priority basis on all of the Company’s and the subsidiary guarantors’ accounts, inventory, deposit accounts, securities accounts, cash and cash equivalents, rental agreements, general intangibles (other than equity interests in the Company’s subsidiaries), chattel paper, instruments, documents, letter of credit rights, commercial tort claims related to the foregoing and other related assets and all proceeds thereof related to the foregoing, subject to permitted liens and certain exceptions (such assets, collectively, the “ABL Priority Collateral”) and a second-priority basis in substantially all of present and future tangible and intangible personal property of the Company and the subsidiary guarantors, other than the ABL Priority Collateral, of such persons, in each case, subject to certain exceptions.

 

The documentation governing the ABL Facility contains covenants that are usual and customary for similar facilities and transactions and that, among other things, restrict the ability of the Company and its restricted subsidiaries to create certain liens and enter into certain sale and lease-back transactions; create, assume, incur or guarantee certain indebtedness; consolidate or merge with, or convey, transfer or lease all or substantially all of the Company’s and its restricted subsidiaries’ assets, to another person; pay dividends or make other distributions on, or repurchase or redeem, the Company’s capital stock or certain other debt; and make other restricted payments.

 

The ABL Facility also requires the maintenance of a consolidated fixed charge coverage ratio of 1.10 to 1.00 at the end of each fiscal quarter when either (i) certain specified events of default have occurred and are continuing or (ii) availability is less than or equal to the greater of $56.25 million and 15% of the line cap then in effect.

 

These covenants are subject to a number of limitations and exceptions set forth in the documentation governing the ABL Facility.

The documentation governing the ABL Facility provides for customary events of default, including, but not limited to, failure to pay principal and interest, failure to comply with covenants, agreements or conditions, and certain events of bankruptcy or insolvency involving the Company and its significant subsidiaries.

 

The foregoing description of the ABL Facility does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the ABL Facility, which is filed as Exhibit 10.2 herewith and incorporated by reference herein.

 

Term Loan

 

In connection with the Acquisition, the Company also entered into a term loan credit agreement on February 17, 2021 (the “Term Loan”) among the Company, as borrower, the lenders party thereto and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent (the “Administrative Agent”).

 

 

 

 

The Term Loan was fully drawn in the amount of $875 million at closing. The proceeds were used to finance consideration for the Acquisition, the repayment of certain outstanding indebtedness of the Company and its subsidiaries, the repayment of all outstanding indebtedness of Acima and its subsidiaries and fees and expenses in connection with the Acquisition. The Term Loan Facility will amortize in equal quarterly installments in an amount equal to 1.00% per annum of the original aggregate principal amount thereof, with the remaining balance due at final maturity. At the same time, the Company’s existing term loan facility, dated as of August 5, 2019, among the Company, the lenders party thereto and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent (the “Existing Term Loan”), was repaid in full.

 

The Term Loan permits the Company to add one or more incremental term loan facilities to the Term Loan subject to certain restrictions and conditions, including a condition that the aggregate principal amount of incremental term loan facilities permitted at any time do not exceed (i) the greater of (x) $500 million and (y) 100% of consolidated EBITDA for the prior four consecutive fiscal quarters, plus (ii) the principal amount of any voluntary prepayments and certain other prepayments of amounts outstanding under the Term Loan, plus (iii) unlimited amounts of additional secured loans, junior lien loans and/or unsecured loans if certain ratios set forth in the Term Loan are satisfied. In lieu of adding incremental term loan facilities, the Company may utilize incremental capacity at any time by issuing or incurring incremental equivalent term debt, subject to terms and conditions usual and customary for similar facilities and transactions.

 

Interest is payable on the Term Loan at a fluctuating rate of interest determined by reference to the eurodollar rate plus an applicable margin of 4.00%, subject to a 0.75% LIBOR floor.

 

The Term Loan has a term of seven years and is secured by a first-priority security interest in substantially all of present and future tangible and intangible personal property of the Company and the subsidiary guarantors, other than the ABL Priority Collateral, and by a second-priority security interest in the ABL Priority Collateral, subject to certain exceptions. The obligations under the Term Loan are guaranteed by the Company and the Company’s material wholly-owned domestic restricted subsidiaries that also guarantee the ABL Facility.

 

The documentation governing the Term Loan contains covenants that are usual and customary for similar facilities and transactions and that, among other things, restrict the ability of the Company and its restricted subsidiaries to create certain liens and enter into certain sale and lease-back transactions; create, assume, incur or guarantee certain indebtedness; consolidate or merge with, or convey, transfer or lease all or substantially all of the Company’s and its restricted subsidiaries’ assets, to another person; pay dividends or make other distributions on, or repurchase or redeem, the Company’s capital stock or certain other debt; and make other restricted payments. The Term Loan also includes mandatory prepayment requirements related to asset sales (subject to reinvestment), debt incurrence (other than permitted debt) and excess cash flow, subject to certain limitations described therein. Any voluntary prepayment of the Term Loan Facility made using proceeds from a substantially concurrent incurrence of indebtedness and in connection with a repricing transaction in the first six months following the closing date of the Acquisition will be subject to a 1.00% prepayment premium, except that no such prepayment premium will be required in connection with a change of control or a transformative acquisition.

 

These covenants are subject to a number of limitations and exceptions set forth in the documentation governing the Term Loan. The documentation governing the Term Loan provides for customary events of default, including, but not limited to, failure to pay principal and interest, failure to comply with covenants, agreements or conditions, and certain events of bankruptcy or insolvency involving the Company and its significant subsidiaries.

 

The foregoing description of the Term Loan does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Term Loan, which is filed as Exhibit 10.3 herewith and incorporated by reference herein.

 

Item 1.02. Termination of a Material Definitive Agreement.

 

The information reported above under Item 1.01 of this Current Report on Form 8-K relating to the Existing ABL Facility and Existing Term Loan is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 2.01. Completion of Acquisition or Disposition of Assets.

 

On February 17, 2021, the Company completed the Acquisition of Acima, pursuant to the Merger Agreement.

 

Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, the Company paid the Acima equityholders an aggregate of 10,779,923 shares of the Company’s common stock (“Common Stock”) (the “Aggregate Stock Consideration”) and aggregate cash consideration equal to $1,273,262,834, which includes cash paid to extinguish Acima historical debt (such cash consideration, the “Aggregate Cash Consideration”, and together with the Aggregate Stock Consideration, the “Aggregate Consideration”). The Aggregate Cash Consideration is subject to post-closing working capital adjustments.

 

 

 

 

The portion of Aggregate Stock Consideration issued to employee equityholders of Acima is subject to certain vesting conditions over a three year period and the portion of the Aggregate Stock Consideration issued to non-employee equityholders of Acima (together with the employee equityholders of Acima, the “Acima Equityholders”) is subject to the terms of an 18-month lockup agreement, with one-third of the shares covered by the lockup being released after six months and an additional one-third of the shares being released after 12 months.

 

Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, $50 million of the Aggregate Cash Consideration was placed into escrow at closing to cover certain potential tax and regulatory indemnification obligations of the Acima Equityholders under the terms of the Merger Agreement. Although the Company currently believes the escrow holdback amount will be sufficient to cover any such potential tax and regulatory matters, there is no assurance that any actual payments by the Company with respect to such matters will not exceed the escrow holdback amount.

 

Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, the shares of Common Stock issued in connection with the Acquisition were issued without registration under the Securities Act by reason of Section 4(a)(2) and Regulation D thereof. Contemporaneously with the closing, the Company and certain of the Acima Equityholders entered into a Registration Rights Agreement, dated February 17, 2021 (the “Registration Rights Agreement”), pursuant to which the Company has granted the Acima Equityholders certain demand registration rights whereby the Company will register resales of the shares of Common Stock issued in connection with the Acquisition, at such point when such shares are no longer subject to lockup or vesting conditions, and only to the extent that such shares are not able to then be sold without restriction under Rule 144 under the Securities Act.

 

The foregoing descriptions of the Merger Agreement and the Registration Rights Agreement do not purport to be complete and are qualified in their entirety by reference to the full text of the Merger Agreement, which was filed as Exhibit 2.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on December 21, 2020, and of the Registration Rights Agreement, which is filed as Exhibit 10.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K, and are incorporated herein 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 reported above under Item 1.01 of this Current Report on Form 8-K relating to the Indenture and Notes issuance and Term Loan and ABL Facility is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 3.02. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities.

 

The information reported above under Item 2.01 of this Current Report on Form 8-K regarding the Aggregate Stock Consideration is incorporated herein by reference.

 

The Aggregate Stock Consideration was issued pursuant to exemptions from registration under the Securities Act by reason of Section 4(a)(2) and Regulation D thereof.

 

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

 

(a) Financial Statements of Business Acquired.

 

The financial statements required by Item 9.01(a) to be filed with this Current Report on Form 8-K will be filed by amendments to this Form 8-K no later than 71 days after the date this initial Current Report on Form 8-K is required to be filed.

 

(b) Pro Forma Financial Information.

 

The pro forma financial statements required by Item 9.01(b) to be filed with this Current Report on Form 8-K will be filed by amendment to this Form 8-K no later than 71 days after the date this initial Current Report on Form 8-K is required to be filed.

 

(d) Exhibits

 

Exhibit

No.

  Description
   
2.1   Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of December 20, 2020, by and among Rent-A-Center, Inc., Radalta, LLC, Acima Holdings, LLC and Aaron Allred, solely in his capacity as Member Representative (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on December 21, 2020).*
4.1   Indenture, dated as of February 17, 2021, by and between Radiant Funding SPV, LLC and Truist Bank.
10.1   Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of February 17, 2021, by and among Rent-A-Center, Inc. and certain Acima Equityholders party thereto.
10.2   ABL Credit Agreement, dated as of February 17, 2021, among Rent-A-Center, Inc., as borrower, the several lenders from time to time party thereto and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent*
10.3   Term Loan Credit Agreement, dated as of February 17, 2021, among Rent-A-Center, Inc. as Borrower, the several lenders from time to time party thereto and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. as Administrative Agent*
104   Cover page information from Rent-A-Center, Inc.’s Form 8-K filed on February 17, 2021, formatted in iXBRL (Inline Extensible Business Reporting Language) and included as Exhibit 101.

 

 

 

* In accordance with Item 601(a)(5) of Regulation S-K certain schedules and exhibits have not been filed. The Company hereby agrees to furnish supplementally a copy of any omitted schedule or exhibit to the Securities and Exchange Commission upon request.

 

 

 

 

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information

 

This Current Report on Form 8-K contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Such forward-looking statements generally can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "may," "will," "expect," "intend," "could," "estimate," "predict," "continue," "should," "anticipate," "believe," or “confident,” or the negative thereof or variations thereon or similar terminology and include, among others, statements concerning the anticipated benefits of the Acima transaction, the anticipated impact of the transaction on the combined company’s business and future financial and operating results, the Company’s goals, plans and projections with respect to the Company’s operations, financial position and business strategy, future availability under the ABL Credit Agreement and the anticipated sufficiency of the escrow amount under the Merger Agreement to cover certain potential tax and regulatory indemnification obligations of the Acima Equityholders. However, there can be no assurance that such expectations will occur. The Company's actual future performance could differ materially and adversely from such statements. Factors that could cause or contribute to such material and adverse differences include, but are not limited to: (1) risks relating to the Acima transaction, including (i) the failure of the transaction to deliver the estimated value and benefits expected by the Company, (ii) the incurrence of unexpected future costs, liabilities or obligations as a result of the transaction, (iii) the effect of the transaction on the ability of the Company to retain and hire personnel and maintain relationships with retail partners, consumers and others with whom the Company and Acima do business, (iv) the ability of the Company to successfully integrate Acima’s operations, (v) the ability of the Company to successfully implement its plans, forecasts and other expectations with respect to Acima’s business after the closing, (vi) the impact of the additional debt incurred to complete the transaction on the Company’s leverage ratio, interest expense and other business and financial impacts and restrictions due to the additional debt, (vii) the Company’s compliance with the covenants and restrictions under the debt financing agreements and the Company’s ability to access future borrowings under the terms of the ABL Credit Agreement, (viii) the timing and outcome of the tax and regulatory indemnification matters described above and the potential insufficiency of the escrow amount to cover such matters, and (ix) other risks and uncertainties inherent in a transaction of this size, (2) the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and related government and regulatory restrictions issued to combat the pandemic, including adverse changes in such restrictions, and impacts on (i) demand for the Company's lease-to-own products, (ii) the Company's retail partners, (iii) the Company's customers and their willingness and ability to satisfy their lease obligations, (iv) the Company's suppliers' ability to satisfy merchandise needs, (v) the Company's coworkers, (vi) the Company's financial and operational performance, and (vii) the Company's liquidity; and (3) the other risks detailed from time to time in the Company's SEC reports, including but not limited to, its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019 and in its subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this Current Report on Form 8-K. Except as required by law, the Company is not obligated to publicly release any revisions to these forward-looking statements to reflect the events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

 

 

 

 

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.

 

    RENT-A-CENTER, INC.
       
Date:  February 17, 2021 By: /S/ Bryan Pechersky
      Bryan Pechersky
      Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary

 

 

 

 

Exhibit 4.1

 

 

INDENTURE

 

Dated as of February 17, 2021

 

Among

 

RADIANT FUNDING SPV, LLC

(to be merged with and into Rent-a-center, inc.)

 

as Issuer

 

and

 

Truist Bank,

 

as Trustee

 

6.375% SENIOR NOTES DUE 2029

 

 

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

     
  Page
     
ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE 1
Section 1.1. Definitions 1
Section 1.2. Other Definitions 35
Section 1.3. Rules of Construction 35
Section 1.4. Limited Condition Transactions 36
     
ARTICLE II THE NOTES 37
Section 2.1. Form and Dating 37
Section 2.2. Execution and Authentication 39
Section 2.3. Registrar; Paying Agent 39
Section 2.4. Paying Agent to Hold Money in Trust 40
Section 2.5. Holder Lists 40
Section 2.6. Book-Entry Provisions for Global Notes 40
Section 2.7. Replacement Notes 43
Section 2.8. Outstanding Notes 43
Section 2.9. Treasury Notes 43
Section 2.10. Temporary Notes 44
Section 2.11. Cancellation 44
Section 2.12. Defaulted Interest 44
Section 2.13. Computation of Interest 44
Section 2.14. CUSIP and ISIN Numbers 44
Section 2.15. Transfer and Exchange 45
Section 2.16. Issuance of Additional Notes 47
     
ARTICLE III REDEMPTION AND PREPAYMENT 48
Section 3.1. Notices to Trustee 48
Section 3.2. Selection of Notes to Be Redeemed 48
Section 3.3. Notice of Redemption 48
Section 3.4. Effect of Notice of Redemption 49
Section 3.5. Deposit of Redemption Price 50
Section 3.6. Notes Redeemed in Part 50
Section 3.7. Optional Redemption 50
     
ARTICLE IV COVENANTS 52
Section 4.1. Payment of Notes 52
Section 4.2. Maintenance of Office or Agency 52
Section 4.3. Provision of Financial Information 52
Section 4.4. Compliance Certificate 53
Section 4.5. Taxes 53
Section 4.6. Stay, Extension and Usury Laws 53
Section 4.7. Limitation on Restricted Payments 54
Section 4.8. Limitation on Dividend and Other Payment Restrictions Affecting Restricted Subsidiaries 58
Section 4.9. Limitation on Debt 60

 

i

 

 

Section 4.10. Limitation on Asset Dispositions 65
Section 4.11. Limitation on Transactions with Affiliates 68
Section 4.12. Limitation on Liens 71
Section 4.13. Offer to Purchase upon Change of Control 71
Section 4.14. Corporate Existence 72
Section 4.15. Future Guarantees 72
Section 4.16. Designation of Restricted and Unrestricted Subsidiaries 72
Section 4.17. Covenant Suspension 73
Section 4.18. Escrow Merger 74
     
ARTICLE V SUCCESSORS 75
Section 5.1. Consolidation, Merger, Conveyance, Transfer or Lease 75
     
ARTICLE VI DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES 77
Section 6.1. Events of Default 77
Section 6.2. Acceleration 79
Section 6.3. Other Remedies 79
Section 6.4. Waiver of Past Defaults 80
Section 6.5. Control by Majority 80
Section 6.6. Limitation on Suits 80
Section 6.7. Rights of Holders of Notes to Receive Payment 80
Section 6.8. Collection Suit by Trustee 80
Section 6.9. Trustee May File Proofs of Claim 81
Section 6.10. Priorities 81
Section 6.11. Undertaking for Costs 82
Section 6.12. Restoration of Rights and Remedies 82
Section 6.13. Rights and Remedies Cumulative 82
Section 6.14. Delay or Omission Not Waiver 82
     
ARTICLE VII TRUSTEE 82
Section 7.1. Duties of Trustee 82
Section 7.2. Rights of Trustee 83
Section 7.3. Individual Rights of the Trustee 85
Section 7.4. Trustee’s Disclaimer 85
Section 7.5. Notice of Defaults 85
Section 7.6. Compensation and Indemnity 86
Section 7.7. Replacement of Trustee 86
Section 7.8. Successor Trustee by Merger, Etc. 87
Section 7.9. Eligibility; Disqualification 87
     
ARTICLE VIII DEFEASANCE; DISCHARGE OF THIS INDENTURE 87
Section 8.1. Option to Effect Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance 87
Section 8.2. Legal Defeasance 88
Section 8.3. Covenant Defeasance 88
Section 8.4. Conditions to Legal or Covenant Defeasance 89
Section 8.5. Deposited Money and U.S. Government Obligations to Be Held in Trust; Other Miscellaneous Provisions 90
Section 8.6. Repayment to Issuer 91
Section 8.7. Reinstatement 91

 

ii

 

 

Section 8.8. Discharge 91
     
ARTICLE IX AMENDMENT, SUPPLEMENT AND WAIVER 92
Section 9.1. Without Consent of Holders of the Notes 92
Section 9.2. With Consent of Holders of Notes 93
Section 9.3. Revocation and Effect of Consents 94
Section 9.4. Notation on or Exchange of Notes 94
Section 9.5. Trustee to Sign Amendments, Etc. 95
     
ARTICLE X SUBSIDIARY GUARANTEES 95
Section 10.1. Subsidiary Guarantees 95
Section 10.2. Execution and Delivery of Guarantee 97
Section 10.3. Severability 97
Section 10.4. Limitation of Subsidiary Guarantors’ Liability 97
Section 10.5. Releases 97
Section 10.6. Benefits Acknowledged 98
     
ARTICLE XI MISCELLANEOUS 98
Section 11.1. Notices 98
Section 11.2. Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent 100
Section 11.3. Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion 100
Section 11.4. Rules by Trustee and Agents 100
Section 11.5. No Personal Liability of Directors, Officers, Employees and Stockholders 100
Section 11.6. Governing Law; Consent to Jurisdiction; Waiver of Jury Trial 101
Section 11.7. No Adverse Interpretation of Other Agreements 101
Section 11.8. Successors 101
Section 11.9. Severability 101
Section 11.10. Execution in Counterparts 101
Section 11.11. Table of Contents, Headings, Etc. 102
Section 11.12. Acts of Holders 102
Section 11.13. Force Majeure 104
Section 11.14. Legal Holidays 104
Section 11.15. USA PATRIOT Act 104

 

Exhibits

 

Exhibit A   Form of Note
     
Exhibit B-1   Form of Supplemental Indenture to be Delivered upon Consummation of the Escrow Merger
     
Exhibit B-2   Form of Supplemental Indenture to be Delivered by Subsequent Subsidiary Guarantors
     
Exhibit C   Form of Certificate to be Delivered in Connection with Transfers Pursuant to Regulation S
     
Exhibit D   Form of Certificate to be Delivered in Connection with Transfers to IAIs
     

 

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This Indenture, dated as of February 17, 2021, is by and among Radiant Funding SPV, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (to be merged with and into Rent-A-Center, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”)) and Truist Bank, as trustee (the “Trustee”), paying agent and registrar.

 

The Issuer and the Trustee agree as follows for the benefit of each other and for the equal and ratable benefit of the Holders (as defined herein) of (i) the Issuer’s 6.375% Senior Notes due 2029 to be issued in an initial aggregate principal amount of $450.0 million on the date hereof (the “Initial Notes”) and (ii) Additional Notes (as defined herein):

 

ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

 

Section 1.1.       Definitions.

 

ABL Credit Agreement” means the credit agreement with respect to the asset-based revolving credit facility entered into on February 17, 2021 among the Company, the financial institutions named therein and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent, including any notes, mortgages, guarantees, collateral documents, instruments and agreements executed in connection therewith, as amended, restated, supplemented, waived, renewed or otherwise modified from time to time, and (if designated by the Issuer) as replaced (whether or not upon termination, and whether with the original lenders or otherwise), restructured, repaid, refunded, refinanced or otherwise modified from time to time, including (if designated by the Issuer) any agreement or indenture or commercial paper facilities with banks or other institutional lenders or investors extending the maturity thereof, refinancing, replacing or otherwise restructuring all or any portion of the Debt under such agreement or agreements or indenture or indentures or any successor or replacement agreement or agreements or indenture or indentures or increasing the amount loaned or issued thereunder permitted under Section 4.9 or altering the maturity thereof or adding Restricted Subsidiaries as additional borrowers or guarantors thereunder and whether by the same or any other agent, lender or group of lenders.

 

Additional Notes” means Notes (other than the Initial Notes) issued pursuant to Article II and otherwise in compliance with the provisions of this Indenture, whether or not they have the same CUSIP or ISIN number.

 

Affiliate” of any Person means any other Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with such Person. For the purposes of this definition, “control,” when used with respect to any Person means the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of such Person, directly or indirectly, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise; and the terms “controlling” and “controlled” have meanings correlative to the foregoing.

 

Agent” means any Registrar, Paying Agent, co-registrar or other agent appointed pursuant to this Indenture.

 

amend” means to amend, supplement, restate, amend and restate or otherwise modify, including successively, and “amendment” shall have a correlative meaning.

 

 

 

 

Applicable Premium” means, with respect to any Note on any applicable redemption date, the greater of:

 

(1)          1.00% of the then-outstanding principal amount of such Note; and

 

(2)          the excess of:

 

(a)            the present value at such redemption date of the sum of (i) the redemption price of such Note at February 15, 2024 (such redemption price being set forth in the table appearing in Section 3.7(b)) plus (ii) all required interest payments due on such Note through February 15, 2024 (excluding accrued but unpaid interest), such present value to be computed using a discount rate equal to the Treasury Rate as of such redemption date plus 50 basis points; over

 

(b)            the then-outstanding principal amount of such Note.

 

The Issuer shall calculate or cause the calculation of the Applicable Premium, and the Trustee shall have no duty to calculate or verify the Issuer’s calculation thereof.

 

Applicable Reference Period” means as of any date of determination, the most recently ended Reference Period for which financial statements with respect to each fiscal quarter included in such Reference Period have been delivered pursuant to Section 4.3 (or, prior to the delivery of any such financial statements, the Reference Period ended September 30, 2020).

 

asset” means any asset or property, including, without limitation, Capital Stock.

 

Asset Disposition” by any Person means any transfer, conveyance, sale, lease or other disposition (but excluding the creation of any Lien permitted under Section 4.12 or any disposition in connection therewith) in excess of $15.0 million in any single transaction or series of related transactions by such Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (including a consolidation, merger or other sale of any such Restricted Subsidiary with, into or to another Person in a transaction in which such Restricted Subsidiary ceases to be a Restricted Subsidiary, but excluding a disposition by a Restricted Subsidiary of such Person to such Person or a Restricted Subsidiary of such Person or by such Person to a Restricted Subsidiary of such Person) of:

 

(1)          shares of Capital Stock (other than directors’ qualifying shares) or other ownership interests of a Restricted Subsidiary of such Person;

 

(2)          substantially all of the assets of such Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries representing a division or line of business; or

 

(3)          other assets or rights of such Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries outside of the ordinary course of business.

 

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The term “Asset Disposition” shall not include any transfer, conveyance, sale, lease or other disposition:

 

(a)          that consists of a Restricted Payment or Permitted Investment that is made in compliance with Section 4.7;

 

(b)          that constitutes a Change of Control;

 

(c)          that is of cash or Cash Equivalents, or a disposition or termination or surrender of contract rights, including settlement of any hedging obligations, or licensing or sublicensing (or terminations thereof) of intellectual property or general intangibles;

 

(d)          that is of obsolete, damaged, worn-out, surplus or unusable equipment or assets that are not used or useful in the business;

 

(e)          that consists of accounts receivable in connection with the compromise, settlement or collection thereof or any write-off, sale, transfer or other disposition of defaulted receivables for collection;

 

(f)           arising from foreclosures, condemnation, casualty or other insured damage, taking under power of eminent domain or any similar action on assets or the granting of Liens not prohibited by this Indenture;

 

(g)          that is of Capital Stock in, or Debt or other securities of, an Unrestricted Subsidiary;

 

(h)          in compliance with Section 5.1;

 

(i)           arising from any financing transaction with respect to property built or acquired by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary after the Issue Date, including without limitation any sale and leaseback transaction or asset securitization;

 

(j)           (i) leases, subleases, licenses or sublicenses (and terminations thereof) of real or personal property granted by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to others in the ordinary course of business not interfering in any material respect with the business of the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries and (ii) the sale of real property of the Issuer or its Restricted Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business; provided that the proceeds from such sale are used to purchase similar or replacement property within 360 days of such sale;

 

(k)          the sale of inventory or equipment in the ordinary course of business;

 

(l)           any disposition of Investments in joint ventures to the extent required by, or made pursuant to buy/sell arrangements between the joint venture parties set forth in joint venture arrangements and similar binding arrangements;

 

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(m)         dispositions of assets in any transaction or series of related transactions not to exceed, when made, the greater of (x) $41.25 million and (y) 7.5% of Consolidated Total Assets in any fiscal year;

 

(n)          dispositions of assets acquired in connection with any acquisition or investment permitted under this Indenture that are not used or useful in the core business of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries;

 

(o)          the sale of the Mexico Operations for fair market value;

 

(p)          dispositions to or by the Insurance Subsidiary of Debt described in clause (23) under Section 4.9(b) to the Company or any Wholly Owned Subsidiary;

 

(q)          dispositions by the Insurance Subsidiary effected solely for the purpose of liquidating assets in order to permit the Insurance Subsidiary to pay expenses and to make payments on insurance claims of the Company and/or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries with the proceeds of such dispositions;

 

(r)           any sale, issuance, conveyance, transfer, participation, factoring, lease or other disposition of Securitization Assets in connection with a Qualified Securitization Transaction;

 

(s)          dispositions by any Restricted Subsidiary to the Issuer or any Subsidiary Guarantor or dispositions by any Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Subsidiary Guarantor to any Restricted Subsidiary;

 

(t)           the sale or issuance of any Restricted Subsidiary’s Capital Stock to the Issuer or any Subsidiary Guarantor or on a pro rata basis to the owners of its Capital Stock;

 

(u)          dispositions of assets (including as a result of like-kind exchanges) to the extent that (i) such assets are exchanged for credit (on a fair market value basis) against the purchase price of similar or replacement assets or (ii) such asset is disposed of for fair market value and the proceeds of such disposition are promptly applied to the purchase price of similar or replacement assets; or

 

(v)          the abandonment, cancellation, non-renewal or discontinuance of use or maintenance of non-material intellectual property or rights relating thereto that the Issuer determines in its reasonable judgment to be desirable to the conduct of its business and not materially disadvantageous to the interests of the Holders.

 

Average Life” means, as of any date of determination, with respect to any Debt, the quotient obtained by dividing (1) the sum of the products of the number of years from such date of determination to the dates of each successive scheduled principal payments of such Debt by the amount of each such principal payment by (2) the sum of all such principal payments.

 

Bankruptcy Law” means Title 11, U.S. Code or any similar federal, state or foreign law for the relief of debtors, and all other liquidation, conservatorship, bankruptcy, assignment for the benefit of creditors, moratorium, rearrangement, receivership, insolvency, reorganization, winding-up, restructuring, examinership or similar debtor relief laws.

 

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Board of Directors” means, as to any Person, the Board of Directors, or similar governing body, of such Person or any duly authorized committee thereof.

 

Borrowing Base” has the meaning given to such term in the ABL Credit Agreement as in effect on the Merger Closing Date.

 

Business Day” means a day other than a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which banking institutions are authorized or required by law or regulation to close in the State of New York or, with respect to any payments to be made under this Indenture, the place of payment.

 

Capital Stock” of any Person means any and all shares, interests, participations, warrants, options or other rights to acquire or other equivalents of or interests in (however designated) corporate stock or other equity participations, including partnership interests, whether general or limited, of such Person, but in each case excluding any debt security that is convertible or exchangeable for Capital Stock.

 

Cash Contribution Amount” means the aggregate amount of cash contributions made to the capital of the Issuer or any Subsidiary Guarantor and designated as a “Cash Contribution Amount.”

 

Cash Management Agreement” means any agreement to provide cash management services, including treasury, depository, overdraft, credit or debit card (including non-card electronic payables), electronic funds transfer, automated clearing house and other cash management arrangements.

 

Cash Equivalents” means:

 

(1)             marketable direct obligations issued by, or unconditionally guaranteed by, the United States government or issued by any agency thereof and backed by the full faith and credit of the United States, in each case maturing within two years from the date of acquisition;

 

(2)             certificates of deposit, time deposits, eurodollar time deposits or overnight bank deposits having maturities of six months or less from the date of acquisition issued by any lender under the ABL Credit Agreement or the Term Loan Credit Agreement or by any commercial bank organized under the laws of the United States or any state thereof having combined capital and surplus of not less than $250.0 million;

 

(3)             commercial paper of an issuer rated at least A-2 by S&P or P-2 by Moody’s, or carrying an equivalent rating by a nationally recognized rating agency, if both of the two named rating agencies cease publishing ratings of commercial paper issuers generally, and maturing within nine months from the date of acquisition;

 

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(4)             repurchase obligations of any lender under the ABL Credit Agreement or the Term Loan Credit Agreement or of any commercial bank satisfying the requirements of clause (2) of this definition, having a term of not more than 30 days, with respect to securities issued or fully guaranteed or insured by the United States government;

 

(5)             securities with maturities of two years or less from the date of acquisition issued or fully guaranteed by any state, commonwealth or territory of the United States, by any political subdivision or taxing authority of any such state, commonwealth or territory or by any foreign government, the securities of which state, commonwealth, territory, political subdivision, taxing authority or foreign government (as the case may be) are rated at least A by S&P or A by Moody’s;

 

(6)             securities with maturities of six months or less from the date of acquisition backed by standby letters of credit issued by any lender under the ABL Credit Agreement or the Term Loan Credit Agreement or any commercial bank satisfying the requirements of clause (2) of this definition;

 

(7)             money market mutual or similar funds that invest exclusively in assets satisfying the requirements of clauses (1) through (6) of this definition; or

 

(8)             money market funds that (i) comply with the criteria set forth in SEC Rule 2a-7 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, (ii) are rated AAA by S&P and Aaa by Moody’s and (iii) have portfolio assets of at least $1,000.0 million.

 

Change of Control” means the occurrence, following the Escrow Merger, of any of the following events:

 

(1)            the consummation of any transaction as a result of which any Person or any Persons acting together that would constitute a “group” for purposes of Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act, or any successor provision thereto, other than the Issuer, any of its Subsidiaries or any employee benefit plan of the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries, becomes the beneficial owner (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act, or any successor provision thereto) of at least 50% of the aggregate voting power of all classes of Voting Stock of the Issuer, directly or indirectly, other than in a transaction in which the Issuer becomes a Wholly Owned Subsidiary of another Person and in such transaction the Voting Stock of the Issuer outstanding immediately prior to such transaction is converted into or exchanged for Voting Stock of such Person representing more than 50% of the voting power of all classes of Voting Stock of such Person immediately after giving effect to such transaction; or

 

(2)            the sale, assignment, conveyance, transfer, lease or other Disposition, in one or a series of related transactions, of all or substantially all of the assets of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries taken as a whole to any “person” (as such term is used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act) other than a Restricted Subsidiary.

 

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Notwithstanding the foregoing, a transaction effected to create a holding company of the Issuer (a) pursuant to which the Issuer becomes a Wholly Owned Subsidiary of such holding company and (b) as a result of which the holders of Capital Stock of such holding company are substantially the same as the holders of Capital Stock of the Issuer immediately prior to such transaction, shall not be deemed to involve a “Change of Control”; provided that following such a holding company transaction, references in this definition of “Change of Control” to the Issuer shall thereafter be treated as references to such holding company.

 

Consolidated EBITDA” means, for any period, Consolidated Net Income for such period plus, without duplication and to the extent reflected as a charge in the statement of such Consolidated Net Income for such period, the sum of:

 

(1)             provisions for taxes based on income or profits or capital, including state, franchise, excise and similar taxes and foreign withholding taxes paid or accrued, including penalties and interest relating to tax examinations,

 

(2)             interest expense, amortization or writeoff of debt discount and debt issuance costs and commissions, discounts and other fees and charges associated with Debt (including the Notes and the Debt pursuant to the Senior Credit Facilities),

 

(3)             depreciation and amortization expense, including amortization of capitalized expenses for software-as-a-service solutions for accounting,

 

(4)             non-cash charges, losses, expenses, accruals and provisions, including stock-based compensation and sale of assets not in the ordinary course of business (but excluding any such non-cash charge to the extent that it represents an accrual or reserve for cash expenses in any future period),

 

(5)             amortization of intangibles (including, but not limited to, impairment of goodwill) and organization costs,

 

(6)             any extraordinary, unusual or non-recurring charges, expenses or losses, including (i) legal settlement expenses and recoveries, (ii) non-recurring natural disaster related-charges and (iii) infrequent or unusual inventory adjustments,

 

(7)             any fees and expenses incurred during such period in connection with any Investment, Disposition, issuance of Debt or Capital Stock, or amendment or modification of any debt instrument, in each case permitted under this Indenture, including (i) any such transactions undertaken but not completed and any transactions consummated prior to the Issue Date and (ii) any financial advisory fees, accounting fees, legal fees and other similar advisory and consulting fees, in each case paid in cash during such period (collectively, “Advisory Fees”),

 

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(8)             any fees and expenses incurred in connection with the Transactions, including Advisory Fees and (solely for purposes of this clause (8)) cash charges or expenses in respect of strategic market reviews, stay or sign-on bonuses, integration-related bonuses, restructuring, consolidation, severance or discontinuance of any portion of operations, employees and/or management,

 

(9)             the amount of “run-rate” cost savings, operating expense reductions, operating improvements, revenue enhancements, business optimizations and synergies that are reasonably identifiable, factually supportable and projected by the Issuer in good faith to be realized as a result of mergers and other business combinations, acquisitions, divestitures, insourcing initiatives, cost savings initiatives, plant consolidations, openings and closings, product rationalization and other similar initiatives after the Issue Date, in each case to the extent not prohibited by this Indenture (collectively, “Initiatives”) (calculated on a pro forma basis as though such cost savings, operating expense reductions, operating improvements, revenue enhancements, business optimizations and synergies had been realized on the first day of the relevant Reference Period), net of the amount of actual benefits realized in respect thereof; provided that (i) actions in respect of such cost-savings, operating expense reductions, operating improvements, revenue enhancements, business optimizations and synergies have been, or will be, taken within 12 months of the applicable Initiative, (ii) no cost savings, operating expense reductions, operating improvements, revenue enhancements, business optimizations or synergies shall be added pursuant to this clause (9) to the extent duplicative of any expenses or charges otherwise added to (or excluded from) Consolidated EBITDA, whether through a pro forma adjustment or otherwise, for such period, (iii) projected amounts (and not yet realized) may no longer be added in calculating Consolidated EBITDA pursuant to this clause (9) to the extent occurring more than eight fiscal quarters after the applicable Initiative and (iv) with respect to any Reference Period, the aggregate amount added back in the calculation of Consolidated EBITDA for such Reference Period pursuant to this clause (9) and clause (10) below shall not exceed 25% of Consolidated EBITDA (calculated after giving effect to any add-backs pursuant to this clause (9) and clause (10) below),

 

(10)            non-recurring cash expenses or charges recognized for restructuring costs, integration costs and business optimization expenses in connection with any Initiative; provided that with respect to any Reference Period, the aggregate amount added back in the calculation of Consolidated EBITDA for such Reference Period pursuant to this clause (10) and clause (9) above shall not exceed 25% of Consolidated EBITDA (calculated after giving effect to any add-backs pursuant to this clause (10) and clause (9) above),

 

(11)            fees, costs, expenses and charges associated with contract terminations; provided that with respect to any Reference Period, the aggregate amount added back in the calculation of Consolidated EBITDA for such Reference Period pursuant to this clause (11) shall not exceed 5% of Consolidated EBITDA (calculated after giving effect to any add-backs pursuant to this clause (11)),

 

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(12)            losses, charges and expenses related to the early extinguishment of Debt, hedge agreements or other derivative instruments (including deferred financing fees),

 

(13)            losses, charges and expenses attributable to abandoned, closed, Disposed or discontinued operations and losses, charges and expenses related to the abandonment, closure, Disposal or discontinuation thereof,

 

(14)            charges, expenses and other items in connection with the Merger identified in that certain model delivered by the Company to the arrangers under the Term Loan Facility on December 14, 2020, and

 

(15)            legal and professional fees and expenses incurred in connection with the Transactions,

 

minus,

 

(x)            to the extent included in the statement of such Consolidated Net Income for such period, the sum of:

 

(i)             interest 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),

 

(iii)            income tax credits (to the extent not netted from income tax expense),

 

(iv)            any other non-cash income (other than normal accruals in the ordinary course of business for non-cash income that represents an accrual for cash income in a future period),

 

(v)            gains related to the early extinguishment of Debt, hedge agreements or other derivative instruments (including deferred financing fees), and

 

(vi)           gains attributable to abandoned, closed, Disposed or discontinued operations, and

 

(y)           any cash payments made during such period in respect of items described in clause (4) above subsequent to the fiscal quarter in which the relevant non-cash expenses or losses were reflected as a charge in the statement of Consolidated Net Income, all as determined on a consolidated basis.

 

Consolidated Fixed Charges” means for any period the sum (without duplication) of (a) Consolidated Interest Expense for such period, (b) regularly scheduled principal payments (other than payments at maturity) made during such period on account of principal of Debt of the types described in clauses (1), (2) and (3) of the definition of “Permitted Debt” of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary to a third party, (c) Restricted Payments made in cash during such period and (d) Finance Lease Obligation payments and other rent expenses paid in cash during such period, all calculated for the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis and, to the extent applicable, in accordance with GAAP.

 

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Consolidated Fixed Charges shall be adjusted to give effect on a pro forma basis to any Debt that has been Incurred, repaid or redeemed by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary (other than revolving credit borrowings Incurred for working capital purposes unless, in connection with any such repayment, the commitments to lend associated with such revolving credit borrowings are permanently reduced or canceled) since the beginning of such period and to any Debt that is proposed to be Incurred, repaid or redeemed by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary as if in each case such Debt had been Incurred, repaid or redeemed on the first day of such period; provided, however, that in making such computation, the Consolidated Fixed Charges attributable to interest on any proposed Debt bearing a floating interest rate shall be computed on a pro forma basis as if the rate in effect on the date of computation had been the applicable rate for the entire period.

 

Consolidated Interest Expense” means, for any period, (i) total cash interest expense (including imputed interest expense attributable to payments of Finance Lease Obligations) of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period with respect to all outstanding Debt of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries constituting Debt of the types described in clauses (1), (2) and (3) of the definition of “Permitted Debt” (excluding all commissions, discounts and other fees and charges owed with respect to letters of credit and bankers’ acceptance financing and net costs under Swap Agreements in respect of interest rates to the extent such net costs are allocable to such period in accordance with GAAP) plus (ii) commissions, discounts, yield and other fees and charges (including Securitization Fees) incurred in connection with any Qualified Securitization Transaction which are payable to Persons other than the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries.

 

Consolidated Net Income” means, for any period, the consolidated net income (or loss) of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries, determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP; provided that there shall be excluded:

 

(1)             the income (or deficit) of any Person accrued prior to the date it becomes a Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer or is merged into or consolidated with the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries;

 

(2)             the income (or deficit) of any Person (other than a Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer) in which the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries has an ownership interest, except to the extent that any such income is actually received by the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary in the form of dividends or similar distributions;

 

(3)             the undistributed earnings of any Restricted Subsidiary (other than a Securitization Subsidiary) of the Issuer to the extent that the declaration or payment of dividends or similar distributions by such Restricted Subsidiary is prohibited or restricted by applicable law, rule or regulation or by any contractual obligation (other than under any Note Document);

 

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(4)             any income (or loss) for such period attributable to the early extinguishment of Debt or Swap Obligations; and

 

(e)            the cumulative effect of a change in accounting principles and changes as a result of the adoption or modification of accounting policies during such period.

 

Consolidated Total Assets” means, as of any date of determination, the total assets reflected on the most recent internally available annual or quarterly consolidated balance sheet of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries prepared in accordance with GAAP (and, in the case of any determination related to the incurrence of Debt or Liens or any Investment, on a pro forma basis including any property or assets being acquired in connection therewith).

 

Corporate Trust Office” means the offices of the Trustee at which at any time its corporate trust business related to this Indenture shall be principally administered, which office as of the date hereof, is located at 2713 Forest Hills Road, Building 2, Wilson, North Carolina 27893, Attention: Gregory Yanok, or such other address as the Trustee may designate from time to time by notice to the Holders and the Issuer, or the corporate trust office of any successor trustee (or such other address as such successor trustee may designate from time to time by notice to the Holders and the Issuer).

 

Debt” means (without duplication), with respect to any Person, whether recourse is to all or a portion of the assets of such Person and whether or not contingent:

 

(1)             all indebtedness of such Person for borrowed money;

 

(2)             all obligations of such Person for the deferred purchase price of property or services;

 

(3)             all obligations of such Person evidenced by notes, bonds, debentures or other similar instruments;

 

(4)             all indebtedness created or arising under any conditional sale or other title retention agreement with respect to property acquired by such Person (even though the rights and remedies of the seller or lender under such agreement in the event of default are limited to repossession or sale of such property);

 

(5)             all Finance Lease Obligations of such Person;

 

(6)             all obligations of such Person, contingent or otherwise, as an account party or applicant under or in respect of acceptances, letters of credit, surety bonds or similar arrangements;

 

(7)             the liquidation value of all Redeemable Stock of such Person;

 

(8)             all Guarantees of such Person in respect of obligations of the kind referred to in clauses (1) through (7) above;

 

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(9)             all obligations of the kind referred to in clauses (1) through (8) 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 only to the extent of the lesser of (i) the amount of such Debt and (ii) the fair market value of such property); and

 

(10)           solely for purposes of clause (5) under Section 6.1 all obligations of such Person in respect of Swap Agreements.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, “Debt” shall not include (i) trade payable and accrued expenses incurred in the ordinary course of business and not more than 120 days overdue, (ii) ordinary course intercompany liabilities having a term not exceeding 365 days (inclusive of any roll-over or extension of terms) or any other ordinary course intercompany liabilities not constituting Debt of the types described in clauses (1) and (3) above, (iii) prepaid or deferred revenue arising in the ordinary course of business, (iv) purchase price holdbacks arising in the ordinary course of business in respect of a portion of the purchase price of an asset to satisfy unperformed obligations of the seller of such assets, (v) deferred compensation payable to employees, officers and directors and (vi) any earn-out obligation until such obligation becomes a liability on the balance sheet of such Person in accordance with GAAP. The Debt of any Person shall include the Debt of any other entity (including any partnership in which such Person is a general partner) to the extent such Person is liable therefor as a result of such Person’s ownership interest in or other relationship with such entity, except to the extent the terms of such Debt expressly provide that such Person is not liable therefor. Any Debt for which proceeds have been escrowed or otherwise deposited to repay, defease, redeem or satisfy and discharge such Debt shall not be deemed outstanding.

 

Debt Facilities” means one or more credit facilities, debt facilities, securities purchase agreements, indentures, commercial paper facilities or similar agreements (including, without limitation, the Senior Credit Facilities), in each case with banks or other financial institutions or lenders or investors, providing for revolving credit loans, term loans, private placements, debt securities, receivables financings (including through the sale of receivables to such lenders or to special purpose entities formed to borrow from such lenders against such receivables), letters of credit or letter of credit guarantees or other debt financing, including any related notes, guarantees, collateral documents, instruments and agreements executed in connection therewith, in each case, as amended, restated, modified, supplemented, extended, renewed, refunded, replaced or refinanced (including, for the avoidance of doubt, amounts Incurred in reliance on Section 4.9(b)(1)) in whole or in part from time to time.

 

Default” means any of the events described in Section 6.1 which with the passage of time or the giving of notice or any other condition would constitute an Event of Default.

 

Depositary” means with respect to the Notes issuable or issued in whole or in part in global form, the Person specified in Section 2.3 as the Depositary with respect to the Global Notes, and any and all successors thereto appointed as depositary hereunder and having become such pursuant to the applicable provision of this Indenture.

 

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Designated Noncash Consideration” means the Fair Market Value of non-cash consideration received by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in connection with an Asset Disposition that is so designated in good faith by senior management of the Issuer. The aggregate Fair Market Value of the Designated Noncash Consideration, taken together with the Fair Market Value at the time of receipt of all other Designated Noncash Consideration received, shall not exceed, at any one time outstanding, the greater of (x) $25.0 million and (y) 5.0% of Consolidated EBITDA for the most recently ended Reference Period determined at the time of such Asset Disposition (with the Fair Market Value being measured at the time received and without giving effect to subsequent changes in value).

 

Disinterested Director” means, with respect to any transaction or series of related transactions, a member of the Board of Directors of the Issuer who does not have any material direct or indirect financial interest in or with respect to such transaction or series of transactions.

 

Disposition” means with respect to any property, any sale, lease, sale and leaseback, assignment, conveyance, transfer or other disposition (in one transaction or in a series of related transactions) of any property by any Person (including any issuance of Capital Stock by a Subsidiary of such 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. The terms “Dispose” and “Disposed of” shall have correlative meanings.

 

Domestic Subsidiary” means any Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer organized under the laws of any jurisdiction within the United States.

 

DTC” means The Depository Trust Company and any successor.

 

Equity Offering” means an offering of Capital Stock (other than Redeemable Stock) of the Issuer that results in aggregate net cash proceeds to the Issuer, other than (1) public offerings registered on Form S-4 or S-8 or successor form thereto, (2) an issuance to any Subsidiary and (3) any such public or private sale that constitutes an Excluded Contribution.

 

Escrow Issuer” means Radiant Funding SPV, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company.

 

Escrow Merger” means, after the consummation of the Merger, the merger of the Escrow Issuer with and into the Company, with the Company continuing as the surviving entity.

 

Excluded Contributions” means the net cash proceeds and Cash Equivalents, or the Fair Market Value of other assets, received by the Issuer after the Issue Date from (1) contributions to its common equity capital and (2) the sale of Capital Stock (other than Excluded Equity) of the Issuer, in each case designated as Excluded Contributions pursuant to an Officer’s Certificate. Excluded Contributions will be excluded from the calculation set forth in Section 4.7(a)(iii).

 

Excluded Equity” means (i) Redeemable Stock, (ii) any Capital Stock issued or sold to a Restricted Subsidiary or any employee stock ownership plan or trust established by the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries (to the extent such employee stock ownership plan or trust has been funded by the Issuer or any Subsidiary) and (iii) any Capital Stock that has already been used or designated (x) as (or the proceeds of which have been used or designated as) a Cash Contribution Amount or an Excluded Contribution or (y) to increase the amount available under clause (9) of the definition of “Permitted Investments.”

 

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Exchange Act” means the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

 

Fair Market Value” means, with respect to any asset or property, the sale value that would be obtained in an arm’s-length free market transaction between an informed and willing seller under no compulsion to sell and an informed and willing buyer under no compulsion to buy, determined in good faith by senior management or the Board of Directors of the Issuer, whose determination will be conclusive for all purposes under this Indenture.

 

Finance Lease Obligations” means as 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 finance leases on a balance sheet of such Person under GAAP and, for the purposes of this Indenture, the amount of such obligations at any time shall be the capitalized amount thereof at such time determined in accordance with GAAP.

 

Fitch” means Fitch, Inc. and any successor to its rating agency business.

 

Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio” means for any period, the ratio of (1) Consolidated EBITDA for such period to (2) the Consolidated Fixed Charges for such period on a pro forma basis. In the event that the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries Incurs or redeems or repays any Debt subsequent to the commencement of the period for which the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio is being calculated but prior to or simultaneously with the event for which the calculation of the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio is made, then the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio shall be calculated on a pro forma basis; provided that, in the event that the Issuer shall classify Debt Incurred on the date of determination as Incurred in part as Ratio Debt and in part pursuant to one or more clauses of the definition of “Permitted Debt” as provided in Section 4.9(c), any calculation of Consolidated Fixed Charges pursuant to this definition on such date (but not in respect of any future calculation following such date) shall not include any such Debt (and shall not give effect to any repayment, repurchase, redemption, defeasance or other acquisition, retirement or discharge of Debt from the proceeds thereof) to the extent Incurred pursuant to any such other clause of such definition.

 

Foreign Subsidiary” means any Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer that is not a Domestic Subsidiary.

 

GAAP” means accounting principles generally accepted in the United States set forth in the opinions and pronouncements of the Accounting Principles Board of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and statements, and pronouncements of the Financial Accounting Standards Board or in such other statements by such other entity as have been approved by a significant segment of the accounting profession, that are applicable to the circumstances as of the date of determination, consistently applied.

 

Global Note Legend” means the legend identified as such in Exhibit A.

 

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Global Notes” means the Notes that are in the form of Exhibit A issued in global form and registered in the name of the Depositary or its nominee.

 

Guarantee” by any Person means any obligation, contingent or otherwise, of such Person guaranteeing, or having the economic effect of guaranteeing, any Debt of any other Person (the “primary obligor”) in any manner, whether directly or indirectly, and including, without limitation, any obligation of such Person:

 

(1)            to purchase or pay (or advance or supply funds for the purchase or payment of) such Debt or to purchase (or to advance or supply funds for the purchase of) any security for the payment of such Debt;

 

(2)            to purchase property, securities or services for the purpose of assuring the holder of such Debt of the payment of such Debt; or

 

(3)            to maintain working capital, equity capital or other financial statement condition or liquidity of the primary obligor so as to enable the primary obligor to pay such Debt (and “Guaranteed,” “Guaranteeing” and “Guarantor” shall have meanings correlative to the foregoing);

 

provided, however, that the Guarantee by any Person shall not include endorsements by such Person for collection or deposit, in either case, in the ordinary course of business.

 

Holder” means a Person in whose name a Note is registered on the Registrar’s books.

 

IAI” means an investor constituting an “accredited investor” within the meaning of Rule 501(a)(1), (2), (3) or (7) under the Securities Act.

 

Incur” means, with respect to any Debt or other obligation of any Person, to create, issue, incur (by conversion, exchange or otherwise), assume, Guarantee or otherwise become liable in respect of such Debt or other obligation including by acquisition of Subsidiaries or the recording, as required pursuant to GAAP or otherwise, of any such Debt or other obligation on the balance sheet of such Person (and “Incurrence,” “Incurred” and “Incurring” shall have meanings correlative to the foregoing); provided, however, that a change in GAAP that results in an obligation of such Person that exists at such time becoming Debt shall not be deemed an Incurrence of such Debt.

 

Indenture” means this Indenture, as amended or supplemented from time to time.

 

Insurance Subsidiary” means Legacy Insurance Co., Ltd., a Bermuda company and a Wholly Owned Subsidiary of the Company formed for the sole purpose of writing insurance only for the risks of the Company and its Subsidiaries.

 

Interest Rate, Currency or Commodity Price Agreement” of any Person means (i) any forward contract, futures contract, swap, option, credit derivative transactions, forward rate transactions, foreign exchange transactions or other financial agreement or arrangement (including, without limitation, caps, floors, collars spot contracts and similar agreements) relating to, or the value of which is dependent upon, interest rates, currency exchange rates or commodity prices or indices (excluding contracts for the purchase or sale of goods in the ordinary course of business) and (ii) 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.

 

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Investment” by any Person means any direct or indirect loan, advance or other extension of credit or capital contribution (by means of transfers of cash or other property (other than Capital Stock that is neither Redeemable Stock nor Preferred Stock of a Restricted Subsidiary) to others or payments for property or services for the account or use of others, or otherwise) to, or purchase or acquisition of Capital Stock, bonds, notes, debentures or other securities or evidence of Debt issued by, any other Person, including any Guarantee of any obligation of such other Person, but shall not include:

 

(1)            trade accounts receivable in the ordinary course of business;

 

(2)            any Permitted Interest Rate, Currency or Commodity Price Agreement; and

 

(3)            endorsements of negotiable instruments and documents in the ordinary course of business.

 

Investment Grade Rating” means a rating equal to or higher than:

 

(1)            Baa3 (or the equivalent) by Moody’s;

 

(2)            BBB- (or the equivalent) by S&P; or

 

(3)            BBB- (or the equivalent) by Fitch;

 

or, if any such entity ceases to rate the Notes for reasons outside of the Issuer’s control, the equivalent investment grade credit rating from any other Rating Agency.

 

Issue Date” means February 17, 2021.

 

Issuer” means (a) prior to the occurrence of the Escrow Merger, the Escrow Issuer and (b) after the Escrow Merger, the Company by executing a supplemental indenture in substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit B-1.

 

Lien” means, with respect to any property or assets, any mortgage or deed of trust, pledge, hypothecation, assignment, deposit arrangement, security interest, lien (statutory or otherwise), charge, easement (other than any easement not materially impairing usefulness or marketability), encumbrance, preference, priority or other security agreement or preferential arrangement of any kind or nature whatsoever on or with respect to such property or assets (including, without limitation, any sale and leaseback arrangement, conditional sale or other title retention agreement having substantially the same economic effect as any of the foregoing); provided that a “Lien” as defined herein shall not include any license, sublicense or similar right with respect to intellectual property.

 

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Limited Condition Transaction” means (1) any Investment or acquisition (whether by merger, consolidation or otherwise) whose consummation is not conditioned on the availability of, or on obtaining, third-party financing (it being understood that a “marketing period” or similar concept is not a financing condition), (2) any redemption, repurchase, defeasance, satisfaction and discharge or repayment of Debt requiring irrevocable notice in advance of such redemption, repurchase, defeasance, satisfaction and discharge or repayment and (3) any dividends or distributions on, or redemptions of, Capital Stock requiring irrevocable notice in advance thereof.

 

Market Capitalization” means an amount equal to (i) the total number of issued and outstanding shares of common stock of the Company on the date of the declaration of a Restricted Payment multiplied by (ii) the arithmetic mean of the closing prices per share of such common stock on the principal securities exchange on which such common stock is traded for the 20 consecutive trading days immediately preceding the date of declaration of such Restricted Payment.

 

Merger” means the merger of a Wholly Owned Subsidiary of the Company with and into Acima Holdings, LLC, with Acima Holdings, LLC surviving as a Wholly Owned Subsidiary of the Company, pursuant to the Merger Agreement.

 

Merger Agreement” means that certain agreement and plan of merger, including all exhibits and schedules thereto, dated as of December 20, 2020, by and among the Company, the Escrow Issuer, Acima Holdings, LLC and Aaron Allred, as the member representative, and all side letters and other agreements related thereto, in each case, if applicable, as amended up to and including the Merger Closing Date.

 

Merger Closing Date” means the date of the consummation of the Merger.

 

Mexico Operations” means the operations in Mexico of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries.

 

Moody’s” means Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. and any successor to its rating agency business.

 

Net Available Cash Proceeds” from any Asset Disposition by any Person means cash or Cash Equivalents received (including by way of sale or discounting of a note, installment receivable, purchase price adjustment receivable or other receivable) therefrom by such Person, net of:

 

(1)            all legal, title and recording tax expenses, commissions and other fees and expenses Incurred (including, without limitation, attorneys’ fees, accountants’ fees, investment banking fees, auditor fees, printer fees, SEC filing fees, brokerage fees) and all federal, state, foreign and local taxes paid or reasonably estimated to be accrued as a liability as a consequence of such Asset Disposition including (in connection with any Asset Disposition by a Foreign Subsidiary) any taxes paid or reasonably estimated to be payable as a result of the repatriation of such proceeds to the Issuer, any reserve established in accordance with GAAP (provided that upon release of any such reserve, the amount released shall be considered Net Available Cash Proceeds);

 

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(2)            all payments made or required to be applied by such Person or its Restricted Subsidiaries on any Debt which is secured by such assets in accordance with the terms of any Lien upon, or with respect to, such assets or which must by the terms of such Lien, or in order to obtain a necessary consent to such Asset Disposition or by applicable law, be repaid out of the proceeds from such Asset Disposition;

 

(3)             all distributions and other payments made to minority interest holders in Restricted Subsidiaries of such Person or joint ventures as a result of such Asset Disposition; and

 

(4)            appropriate amounts to be provided by such Person or any Restricted Subsidiary thereof, as the case may be, as a reserve in accordance with GAAP against any liabilities associated with such assets and retained by such Person or any Restricted Subsidiary thereof, as the case may be, after such Asset Disposition, including, without limitation, liabilities under any indemnification obligations and severance and other employee termination costs, any payment amount required to be paid by law, rule or regulation upon receipt to a third party related to the transaction (including to labor unions, work councils and environmental trusts), associated with such Asset Disposition, in each case as determined in good faith by senior management of the Issuer.

 

Note Custodian” means the Person appointed as custodian for the Depositary with respect to the Global Notes, or any successor entity thereto.

 

Notes” means the Initial Notes and any Additional Notes. The Initial Notes and the Additional Notes, if any, shall be treated as a single class for all purposes under this Indenture; provided that, for the avoidance of doubt, any Additional Notes that are not fungible with the existing Notes for U.S. federal income tax purposes shall have one or more separate CUSIP and ISIN numbers.

 

Offer to Purchase” means a written offer (the “Offer”) sent by the Issuer by first class mail, postage prepaid, to each Holder at such Holder’s address appearing in the security register or, with respect to Global Notes, given in accordance with DTC procedures (with a copy to the Trustee) on the date of the Offer offering to purchase up to the principal amount of Notes specified in such Offer at the purchase price specified in such Offer (as determined pursuant to this Indenture). Unless otherwise required by applicable law, the Offer shall specify an expiration date (the “Offer Expiration Date”) of the Offer to Purchase which shall be, subject to any contrary requirements of applicable law, not less than ten days or more than 60 days after the date of such Offer and a settlement date (the “Purchase Date”) for purchase of Notes within three Business Days after the Offer Expiration Date. The Offer shall contain a description of the events requiring the Issuer to make the Offer to Purchase and all instructions and materials necessary to enable such Holders to tender Notes pursuant to the Offer to Purchase. The Offer shall also state:

 

(1)            the section of this Indenture pursuant to which the Offer to Purchase is being made;

 

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(2)             the Offer Expiration Date and the Purchase Date and, if such Offer is made in advance of a Change of Control and conditioned upon the occurrence of a Change of Control, that the Offer is conditioned upon the occurrence of a Change of Control;

 

(3)             the aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Notes offered to be purchased by the Issuer pursuant to the Offer to Purchase (including, if less than 100%, the manner by which such amount has been determined pursuant to the section of this Indenture requiring the Offer to Purchase) (the “Purchase Amount”);

 

(4)             the purchase price to be paid by the Issuer for each $1,000 aggregate principal amount of Notes accepted for payment (as specified pursuant to this Indenture) (the “Purchase Price”);

 

(5)             that the Holder may tender all or any portion of the Notes registered in the name of such Holder and that any portion of a Note tendered must be tendered in an integral multiple of $1,000 principal amount;

 

(6)             the place or places where Notes are to be surrendered for tender pursuant to the Offer to Purchase;

 

(7)             that interest on any Note not tendered or tendered but not purchased by the Issuer pursuant to the Offer to Purchase will continue to accrue;

 

(8)             that on the Purchase Date the Purchase Price will become due and payable upon each Note being accepted for payment pursuant to the Offer to Purchase and that interest thereon shall cease to accrue on and after the Purchase Date;

 

(9)             that each Holder electing to tender a Note pursuant to the Offer to Purchase will be required to surrender such Note at the place or places specified in the Offer prior to the close of business on the Offer Expiration Date (such Note being, if the Issuer or the Trustee so requires, duly endorsed by, or accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Issuer and the Trustee duly executed by, the Holder thereof or his attorney duly authorized in writing);

 

(10)           that Holders will be entitled to withdraw all or any portion of Notes tendered if the Issuer (or its Paying Agent) receives, not later than the close of business on the Offer Expiration Date, a telegram, telex, facsimile transmission or letter, or otherwise complies with the procedures of the Depositary, setting forth the name of the Holder, the principal amount of the Note or Notes the Holder tendered, the certificate number or numbers of the Note or Notes the Holder tendered and a statement that such Holder is withdrawing all or a portion of his tender;

 

(11)           that (a) if Notes in an aggregate principal amount less than or equal to the Purchase Amount are duly tendered and not withdrawn pursuant to the Offer to Purchase, the Issuer shall purchase all such Notes and (b) if Notes in an aggregate principal amount in excess of the Purchase Amount are tendered and not withdrawn pursuant to the Offer to Purchase, the Issuer shall purchase Notes having an aggregate principal amount equal to the Purchase Amount on a pro rata basis (with such adjustments as may be deemed appropriate so that only Notes in minimum denominations of $2,000 or integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof shall be purchased); and

 

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(12)           that in the case of any Holder whose Note is purchased only in part, the Issuer shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver to the Holder of such Note without service charge, a new Note or Notes, of any authorized denomination as requested by such Holder, in an aggregate principal amount equal to and in exchange for the unpurchased portion of the Note so tendered.

 

If any of the Notes subject to an Offer to Purchase is in global form, then the Offer shall be modified by the Issuer to the extent necessary to comply with the procedures of the Depositary applicable to repurchases. Any Offer to Purchase shall be governed by and effected in accordance with the Offer for such Offer to Purchase.

 

Offering Memorandum” means the offering memorandum, dated February 4, 2021, relating to the offer and sale of the Initial Notes.

 

Officer” means the Chairman of the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer, the Chief Financial Officer, the President, any Executive Vice President, Senior Vice President or Vice President, the Treasurer, the Controller or the Secretary of the Issuer or of any other Person, as the case may be, or in the event that the Issuer or such Person is a partnership or a limited liability company that has no such officers, a person duly authorized under applicable law by the general partner, managers, members or a similar body to act on behalf of the Issuer or such Person.

 

Officer’s Certificate” means a certificate signed on behalf of the Issuer by an Officer of the Issuer or on behalf of any other Person by an Officer of such Person, as the case may be, that meets the requirements of Section 11.3.

 

Opinion of Counsel” means a written opinion from legal counsel reasonably acceptable to the Trustee. The counsel may be an employee of, or counsel to, the Issuer or any direct or indirect parent thereof or the Trustee.

 

Pari Passu Debt” means Debt of the Issuer or a Subsidiary Guarantor that is pari passu in right of payment with the Notes, in the case of the Issuer, or the Subsidiary Guarantees, in the case of any Subsidiary Guarantor. For the purposes of this definition, no Debt will be considered to be senior by virtue of being secured on a first or junior priority basis.

 

Participant” means, with respect to the Depositary, a Person who has an account with the Depositary.

 

Paying Agent” means any Person authorized by the Issuer to pay the principal of, premium, if any, or interest on any Notes on behalf of the Issuer.

 

Permitted Acquisition Debt” means Debt of the Issuer or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries to the extent that:

 

(1)            such Debt consists of Debt of an acquired Person that was outstanding prior to the date on which such Person became a Restricted Subsidiary as a result of having been acquired, or assets were acquired from such Person, by the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary or assets were acquired from such Person and any Debt Incurred, including by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary, in contemplation of such acquisition; or

 

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(2)            such Debt consists of Debt of a Person that was outstanding prior to the date on which such Person was merged, consolidated or amalgamated with or into the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary and any Debt Incurred, including by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary, in contemplation of such merger, consolidation or amalgamation;

 

provided that on the date such Person became a Restricted Subsidiary or the date such Person was merged, consolidated and amalgamated with or into the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary, as applicable, after giving pro forma effect thereto:

 

(a)            the Issuer would be permitted to Incur at least $1.00 of additional Debt pursuant to Section 4.9(a);

 

(b)            the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio of the Issuer would be equal to or greater than immediately prior to giving effect to such transaction; or

 

(c)            the aggregate outstanding principal amount of such Debt does not exceed, at any one time outstanding, the greater of (x) $25.0 million and (y) 5.0% of Consolidated EBITDA for the most recently ended Reference Period.

 

Permitted Interest Rate, Currency or Commodity Price Agreement” of any Person means any Interest Rate, Currency or Commodity Price Agreement entered into in order to manage existing or anticipated interest rate, exchange rate or commodity price risks and not for speculative purposes.

 

Permitted Investments” means:

 

(1)            any Investment in the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary or a Person or assets that will become or be merged into or consolidated with a Restricted Subsidiary as a result of such Investment, and any Investment held by a Person at the time it is acquired by or merged into the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary;

 

(2)             any Investment in cash and Cash Equivalents, or investments in Permitted Interest Rate, Currency or Commodity Price Agreements;

 

(3)             promissory notes and any other non-cash consideration received in connection with an Asset Disposition (or a disposition excluded from the definition of Asset Disposition) that was made in compliance with Section 4.10;

 

(4)             prepaid expenses advanced to employees, officers or managers in the ordinary course of business or other loans or advances to employees, officers or managers in the ordinary course of business not to exceed $5.0 million in the aggregate at any one time outstanding;

 

(5)             guarantees of Debt made in compliance with Section 4.9;

 

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(6)             any Investment existing on the Issue Date or made pursuant to binding commitments in effect on the Issue Date or an Investment consisting of any extension, modification or renewal of any Investment existing on the Issue Date; provided that the amount of any such Investment may only be increased pursuant to this clause (6) to the extent required by the terms of such Investment as in existence on the Issue Date or as otherwise permitted under this Indenture;

 

(7)             Investments acquired with the net cash proceeds received by the Issuer after the Issue Date from the issuance and sale of Capital Stock (other than Redeemable Stock) or made in exchange for Capital Stock (other than Redeemable Stock or Preferred Stock); provided that the amount of all such net cash proceeds will be excluded from clause (iii)(2) of Section 4.7(a);

 

(8)             any Investment solely in exchange for the issuance of Capital Stock (other than Redeemable Stock) of the Issuer;

 

(9)             deposits made in the ordinary course of business to secure the performance of leases or other obligations as permitted by Section 4.12;

 

(10)           purchases of assets in the ordinary course of business;

 

(11)           receivables owing to the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries or any advances to suppliers, in each case if created, acquired or made in the ordinary course of business and payable or dischargeable in accordance with customary trade terms;

 

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

 

(13)           any other Investment; provided that, immediately before and immediately after giving pro forma effect to the making of any such Investment and any Debt Incurred in connection therewith, (x) no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing and (y) the Total Net Leverage Ratio of the Issuer would not exceed 2.75 to 1.00;

 

(14)           any Investment in an Unrestricted Subsidiary which, together with any other outstanding Investment made pursuant to this clause (14), does not exceed, at any one time outstanding, the greater of (x) $25.0 million and (y) 5.0% of Consolidated EBITDA for the most recently ended Reference Period at the time of such Investment;

 

(15)           any transaction to the extent it constitutes an Investment that is permitted and made in accordance with the provisions of Section 4.11(b) (other than clauses (4), (8) or (11) thereof);

 

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(16)           any other Investment that, when taken together with all other Investments made pursuant to this clause (16) since the Issue Date and outstanding on the date such Investment is made, does not exceed, at any one time outstanding, the greater of (x) $75.0 million and (y) 15.0% of the Consolidated EBITDA for the most recently ended Reference Period at the time of such Investment;

 

(17)           Investments in joint ventures of the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in an aggregate amount, taken together with all other Investments made pursuant to this clause (17) since the Issue Date and outstanding on the date such Investment is made, not to exceed the greater of (x) $75.0 million and (y) 15.0% of Consolidated EBITDA for the most recently ended Reference Period at the time of such Investment;

 

(18)           Investments made to consummate the Transactions;

 

(19)           Investments made to effect the pledges and deposits described in, and permitted under clause (10) of the definition of “Permitted Liens”;

 

(20)           customary Investments by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary in any Securitization Subsidiary in connection with a Qualified Securitization Transaction, including pursuant to Standard Securitization Undertakings;

 

(21)           Investments made in the Insurance Subsidiary (i) to the extent required to meet regulatory capital guidelines, policies or rules in an amount not exceed $35.0 million in the aggregate at any one time outstanding and (ii) in amounts not to exceed, in any fiscal year of the Issuer, the lesser of (x) $75.0 million and (y) the amount that will appear as an expense for self-insurance costs on the Issuer’s consolidated income statement;

 

(22)           Investments in the Insurance Subsidiary consisting of the contribution of common stock of the Issuer and Investments by the Insurance Subsidiary in the common stock of the Issuer;

 

(23)           Investments by the Insurance Subsidiary in Debt of the Issuer and any Restricted Subsidiary permitted by clause (23) of the definition of “Permitted Debt”; and

 

(24)           Investments by the Issuer in the Insurance Subsidiary in connection with the repurchase of the Issuer’s common stock from the Insurance Subsidiary in exchange for the issuance of one or more notes or other forms of Debt owed to the Insurance Subsidiary.

 

Permitted Liens” means, with respect to any Person:

 

(1)            Liens securing Debt under Debt Facilities outstanding or Incurred under clause (1) of the definition of Permitted Debt;

 

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(2)             Liens securing any Debt which became Debt pursuant to a transaction permitted under Section 5.1 or securing Debt which was created prior to (and not created in connection with, or in contemplation of) the Incurrence of such Debt (including any assumption, guarantee or other liability with respect thereto by any Restricted Subsidiary) and which Debt is permitted under the provisions of Section 4.9; provided that the pro forma Secured Net Leverage Ratio of the Issuer would be equal to or less than the greater of (x) 2.00 to 1.00 and (y) the Secured Net Leverage Ratio of the Issuer immediately prior to giving effect to such transaction;

 

(3)             Liens imposed by law, including carriers’, warehousemen’s, landlord’s, materialmen’s, processors’ and mechanics’ Liens, in each case for sums not overdue for a period of more than 60 days or that are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings if a reserve or other appropriate provisions, if any, as shall be required by GAAP shall have been made in respect thereof;

 

(4)             Liens for taxes, assessments or other governmental charges or levies not yet due and payable or which are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings provided appropriate reserves required pursuant to GAAP have been made in respect thereof;

 

(5)             Liens under joint collateral accounts, concentration accounts, deposit accounts or other funds maintained with a depositary institution or bank; provided that such deposit account is not a dedicated cash collateral account and is not subject to restrictions against access by the Issuer in excess of those set forth by regulations issued by the applicable banking regulations;

 

(6)             Liens on assets, property or shares of stock of a Person existing at the time such Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary or is merged with or into or consolidated or amalgamated with the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary; provided, however, that such Liens shall not extend to any other property owned by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary;

 

(7)             encumbrances, ground leases, easements or reservations of, or rights of others for, licenses, rights of way, sewers, electric lines, telegraph and telephone lines and other similar purposes, or zoning, building codes or other restrictions (including, without limitation, minor defects or irregularities in title and similar encumbrances) as to the use of real properties or liens incidental to the conduct of the business of such Person or to the ownership of its properties which do not in the aggregate interfere in any material respect with the ordinary conduct of the business of the Issuer and any of the Restricted Subsidiaries;

 

(8)             leases, licenses, subleases and sublicenses of assets (including, without limitation, real property and intellectual property rights) which do not materially interfere with the ordinary conduct of the business of the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries;

 

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(9)             Liens existing on the Issue Date (other than Liens permitted under clause (1));

 

(10)           pledges or deposits by such Person under workmen’s compensation laws, unemployment insurance laws or similar legislation, or good faith pledges or deposits in connection with bids, tenders, contracts (other than for borrowed money) or leases to which such Person is a party, or deposits to secure public or statutory obligations of such Person or deposits of cash or United States government bonds to secure surety or appeal bonds to which such Person is a party, or deposits as security for contested taxes or import or customs duties or for the payment of rent, and other obligations of a like nature in each case Incurred in the ordinary course of business;

 

(11)           judgment Liens not giving rise to an Event of Default;

 

(12)           any encumbrance or restriction (including put and call arrangements) with respect to Capital Stock of any joint venture or similar arrangement pursuant to any joint venture or similar agreement;

 

(13)           Liens for the purpose of securing the payment of all or a part of the purchase price of, purchase money obligations or other payments Incurred to finance the acquisition, lease, improvement or construction of or repairs or additions to, assets or property acquired or constructed by the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary in the ordinary course of business; provided that (a) the aggregate principal amount of Debt secured by such Liens is otherwise permitted to be Incurred under this Indenture and does not exceed the cost of the assets or property so acquired or constructed, and (b) such Liens are created within 180 days of the later of the acquisition, lease, completion of improvements, construction, repairs or additions or commencement of full operation of the assets or property subject to such Lien and do not encumber any other assets or property of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary other than such assets or property and assets affixed or appurtenant thereto;

 

(14)           any interest or title of a lessor under any Finance Lease Obligation Incurred under clause (8) of the definition of Permitted Debt; provided that such Liens do not extend to any property or assets which is not leased property subject to such Finance Lease Obligation;

 

(15)           Liens upon specific items of inventory or other goods and proceeds of any Person securing such Person’s obligations in respect of bankers’ acceptances issued or created for the account of such Person to facilitate the purchase, shipment or storage of such inventory or other goods;

 

(16)           Liens securing reimbursement or indemnification obligations with respect to commercial letters of credit or bank guarantees which encumber documents and other property relating to such letters of credit and products and proceeds thereof;

 

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(17)           Liens encumbering deposits made to secure obligations arising from statutory, regulatory, contractual or warranty requirements of the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries, including rights of offset and set-off;

 

(18)           Liens securing Permitted Interest Rate, Currency or Commodity Price Agreements;

 

(19)           Liens on assets of any Foreign Subsidiary or Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Subsidiary Guarantor securing Debt of such Foreign Subsidiary or Restricted Subsidiary, in each case, that is permitted to be Incurred under clause (11) of the definition of Permitted Debt;

 

(20)           Liens on cash, cash equivalents or other property arising in connection with the discharge or redemption of Debt;

 

(21)           Liens on any real property constituting exceptions to title as set forth in a mortgage title policy delivered to a secured lender with respect thereto;

 

(22)           Liens on insurance policies and the proceeds thereof securing the financing of premiums with respect thereto; provided that such Liens shall not exceed the amount of such premiums so financed;

 

(23)           Liens in favor of the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary;

 

(24)           Liens arising from filing Uniform Commercial Code financing statements regarding leases or precautionary Uniform Commercial Code financings statements or similar filings;

 

(25)           leases, subleases, licenses or sublicenses to third parties not interfering in any material respect with the business of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary;

 

(26)           Liens to secure Debt permitted under clause (15) of the definition of Permitted Debt; provided that such Liens (i) are limited to securing only the unpaid premiums under the applicable insurance policy and (ii) only encumber the proceeds of the applicable insurance policy;

 

(27)           Liens securing Debt Incurred to refinance Debt (other than Liens permitted under clause (1)) that was previously so secured (or otherwise replacing any such Lien); provided that any such Lien is limited to all or part of the same property or assets (plus improvements, accessions, proceeds or dividends or distributions in respect thereof) that secured (or, under the written arrangements under which the original Lien arose, could secure) the Debt being refinanced or is in respect of property that is the security for a Permitted Lien hereunder;

 

(28)           Liens solely on any cash earnest money deposits made by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary in connection with any letter of intent or purchase agreement relating to a Permitted Acquisition or other third party Investment;

 

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(29)           any option or other agreement to purchase any asset of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary, the purchase, sale or other disposition of which is not prohibited by Section 4.10;

 

(30)           Liens arising out of conditional sale, title retention, consignment or similar arrangements for sale of goods entered into by the Issuer or any other Restricted Subsidiary in the ordinary course of business and permitted by this Indenture;

 

(31)           Liens encumbering reasonable and customary initial deposits and margin deposits and similar Liens attaching to brokerage accounts incurred in the ordinary course of business and not for speculative purposes;

 

(32)           Liens (i) on cash advances in favor of the seller of any property to be acquired in an Investment permitted pursuant to Section 4.7 to be applied against the purchase price for such Investment or (ii) consisting of an agreement to dispose of any property in a Disposition permitted by Section 4.10, in each case, solely to the extent such Investment or Disposition, as the case may be, would have been permitted on the date of the creation of such Lien;

 

(33)           Liens on property purportedly rented to, or leased by, the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries pursuant to a sale and leaseback transaction permitted under this Indenture; provided that (i) such Liens do not encumber any other property of the Issuer or its Restricted Subsidiaries and (ii) such Liens secure only Debt permitted under clause (18) of the definition of “Permitted Debt”;

 

(34)           Liens on Securitization Assets granted or arising in connection with a Qualified Securitization Transaction and Liens on the Capital Stock of any Securitization Subsidiary to secure a Qualified Securitization Transaction; and

 

(35)           Liens not otherwise covered by clauses (1) through (34) securing Debt in the aggregate amount outstanding at any time not to exceed, at any one time outstanding, the greater of (x) $50.0 million and (y) 10.0% of Consolidated EBITDA for the most recently ended Reference Period determined at the time of Incurrence.

 

For purposes of this definition, in the event that a Lien meets the criteria of more than one of the types of Lien described in this definition, the Issuer, in its sole discretion, may divide or classify such Lien on the date of Incurrence (or later classify or reclassify such Lien, in its sole discretion) in any manner permitted under this definition and shall only be required to include the amount and type of such Lien in one of such clauses; provided that all Liens securing Debt outstanding on or prior to the Merger Closing Date under the Term Loan Credit Agreement and the ABL Credit Agreement shall be deemed Incurred under clause (1) of this definition and may not later be reclassified.

 

Permitted Refinancing Debt” means any Debt of the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries issued in exchange for, or the net proceeds of which are used to extend, refinance, renew, replace, defease or refund other Debt of the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries; provided that:

 

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(1)          the principal amount (or accreted value, if applicable) of such Permitted Refinancing Debt does not exceed the principal amount of, plus premium, if any, and accrued and unpaid interest on the Debt so extended, refinanced, renewed, replaced, defeased or refunded (plus the amount of reasonable expenses Incurred in connection therewith);

 

(2)            the Permitted Refinancing Debt has a final maturity date no earlier than the earlier of the final maturity date of the Debt being extended, refinanced, renewed, replaced, deferred or refunded and 91 days after the final maturity date of the Notes;

 

(3)            the Permitted Refinancing Debt has an Average Life at the time such Permitted Refinancing Debt is Incurred that is equal to or greater than the shorter of (A) the Average Life of the Debt being extended, refinanced, renewed, replaced, deferred or refunded and (B) 91 days after the Average Life of the Notes;

 

(4)             if the Debt being extended, refinanced, renewed, replaced, defeased or refunded is subordinated in right of payment to the Notes or a Subsidiary Guarantee, such Permitted Refinancing Debt is subordinated in right of payment to the Notes or such Subsidiary Guarantee on terms at least as favorable, taken as a whole, to the Holders of Notes as those contained in the documentation governing the Debt being extended, refinanced, renewed, replaced, defeased or refunded;

 

(5)            such Debt shall not include Debt of a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Subsidiary Guarantor that refinances Debt of the Issuer or a Subsidiary Guarantor; and

 

(6)             to the extent the Debt being extended, refinanced, renewed, replaced, defeased or refunded is secured, the Liens securing such Permitted Refinancing Debt have a Lien priority equal to or junior to the Liens securing the Debt being extended, refinanced, renewed, replaced, defeased or refunded.

 

Permitted Swap Agreement” of any Person means any Swap Agreement entered into for bona fide hedging purposes and not for speculation.

 

Person” means any individual, corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, association, joint stock company, trust, unincorporated organization, government (or any agency or political subdivision thereof) or any other entity.

 

Preferred Stock” of any Person means Capital Stock of such Person of any class or classes (however designated) that ranks prior, as to the payment of dividends or as to the distribution of assets upon any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of such Person, to shares of Capital Stock of any other class of such Person.

 

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Qualified Securitization Transaction” means any Securitization Transaction of a Securitization Subsidiary that meets the following conditions:

 

(1)          the Issuer shall have determined in good faith that such Securitization Transaction (including financing terms, covenants, termination events and other provisions) is in the aggregate economically fair and reasonable to the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries;

 

(2)            all sales of Securitization Assets to the Securitization Subsidiary are made at Fair Market Value (as determined by the Issuer); and

 

(3)            the financing terms, covenants, termination events and other provisions thereof shall be market terms (as determined by the Issuer) and may include Standard Securitization Undertakings.

 

The grant of a security interest in any accounts receivable of the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (other than a Securitization Subsidiary) to secure any Debt Facility shall not be deemed a Qualified Securitization Transaction.

 

Rating Agency” means each of S&P, Moody’s or Fitch, or if (and only if) S&P, Moody’s, Fitch or any combination thereof shall not make a rating on the Notes publicly available, a nationally recognized statistical rating organization or organizations, as the case may be, selected by the Issuer, which shall be substituted for S&P, Moody’s or Fitch, or any combination thereof, as the case may be.

 

Redeemable Stock” of any Person means any Capital Stock of such Person that by its terms (or by the terms of any security into which it is convertible or for which it is exchangeable) or otherwise (including upon the occurrence of an event) (a) matures or is required to be redeemed, (b) is convertible into or exchangeable for Debt or (c) is redeemable at the option of the holder thereof, in each case, other than in exchange for Capital Stock of such Person that is not Redeemable Stock and cash in lieu of fractional shares of such Capital Stock, in whole or in part, at any time prior to the final Stated Maturity of the Notes. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, (i) any Capital Stock that would constitute Redeemable Stock solely because the holders thereof have the right to require the Issuer to repurchase such Capital Stock upon the occurrence of a change of control, condemnation or an asset sale (or similar event, however denominated) shall not constitute Redeemable Stock if the terms of such Capital Stock provide that the Issuer shall not repurchase or redeem any such Capital Stock pursuant to such provisions unless such repurchase or redemption complies with the covenant described in Section 4.7, (ii) Capital Stock of any Person that is issued to any employee or to any plan for the benefit of employees or by any such plan to such employees shall not constitute Redeemable Stock solely because it may be required to be repurchased by such Person or any of its subsidiaries in order to satisfy applicable statutory or regulatory obligations or as a result of such employee’s termination, death or disability and (iii) only such portion of the Capital Stock that matures, is mandatorily redeemable, or is convertible or exchangeable prior to such date as set forth in clauses (a) through (c) above shall constitute Redeemable Stock.

 

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Reference Period” means each period of four consecutive fiscal quarters of the Issuer for which financial statements have been or are required to have been delivered.

 

Regulation S Legend” means the legend identified as such in Exhibit A.

 

Replacement Assets” means:

 

(1)            properties and assets (other than cash, Cash Equivalents, any Capital Stock or other security) that will be used in the business of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries as conducted on the Issue Date or any business ancillary thereto or supportive thereof; and

 

(2)            Capital Stock of any Person that is engaged in the business of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries as conducted on the Merger Closing Date or any business ancillary thereto or supportive thereof and that will be merged or consolidated with or into the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary or that will become a Restricted Subsidiary.

 

Repurchase Obligation” means any obligation of a seller of Securitization Assets in a Qualified Securitization Transaction to repurchase such Securitization Assets arising as a result of a breach of a representation, warranty or covenant or otherwise, including as a result of a receivable or portion thereof becoming subject to any asserted defense, dispute, off-set or counterclaim of any kind as a result of any action taken by, any failure to take action by or any other event relating to the seller.

 

Responsible Officer” means, when used with respect to the Trustee, any officer within the corporate trust department of the Trustee, including any vice president, assistant vice president, assistant secretary, assistant treasurer, trust officer or any other officer of the Trustee who customarily performs functions similar to those performed by the Persons who at the time shall be such officers, respectively, or to whom any corporate trust matter is referred because of such Person’s knowledge of and familiarity with the particular subject and who, in each case, shall have direct responsibility for the administration of this Indenture.

 

Restricted Notes Legend” means the legend identified as such in Exhibit A.

 

Restricted Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary of the Issuer, whether existing on or after the Issue Date, unless such Subsidiary is an Unrestricted Subsidiary.

 

S&P” means S&P Global Ratings, and any successor to its rating agency business.

 

SEC” means the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

Secured Debt” at any date shall mean the aggregate principal amount of Debt that in each case is then secured by Liens on any property or assets of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary.

 

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Secured Net Leverage Ratio” means, as of any date of determination, the ratio of (1)(a) Secured Debt as of the end of the most recent fiscal quarter for which quarterly or annual financial statements prepared on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP are available (the “secured balance sheet date”) minus (b) the aggregate amount of unrestricted cash and Cash Equivalents held by the Issuer and the Restricted Subsidiaries on the secured balance sheet date to (2) Consolidated EBITDA of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries for the period of the most recently completed four consecutive fiscal quarters ending on the secured balance sheet date. For the avoidance of doubt, the Secured Net Leverage Ratio shall be adjusted on a pro forma basis in a manner consistent with the definition of “Consolidated Fixed Charges.”

 

Securities Act” means the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

Securitization Assets” means accounts receivables, lease receivables or other payment obligations owing to the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary or any interest in any of the foregoing, together in each case with any collections and other proceeds thereof, any collection or deposit account related thereto, and any collateral, guarantees or other property or claims in each case supporting or securing payment by the obligor thereon of, or otherwise related to, or subject to leases giving rise to, any such receivables.

 

Securitization Fee” means distributions or payments made directly or by means of discounts with respect to any accounts receivable, lease receivable or other right to payment or participation interest issued or sold in connection with, and other fees paid to a Person that is not a Restricted Subsidiary in connection with, any Qualified Securitization Transaction.

 

Securitization Subsidiary” means a trust, bankruptcy remote entity or other special purpose entity which is a wholly-owned Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer (or another Person formed for the purposes of engaging in Qualified Securitization Transactions with the Issuer or any Subsidiary of the Issuer in which the Issuer or any Subsidiary of the Issuer makes an Investment and to which the Issuer or any Subsidiary of the Issuer transfers Securitization Assets) and which is formed for the purpose of and engages in no material business other than acting as an issuer or a depositor or borrower in a Securitization Transaction (and, in connection therewith, owning Securitization Assets and pledging or transferring any of the foregoing or interests therein and engaging in any business or activities incidental or related thereto), and:

 

(1)           no portion of the Debt or any other obligations (contingent or otherwise) of which (i) is guaranteed by the Issuer or any other Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer (excluding guarantees of obligations (other than the principal of and interest on, Debt) pursuant to Standard Securitization Undertakings), (ii) is recourse to or obligates the Issuer or any other Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer in any way other than pursuant to Standard Securitization Undertakings, or (iii) subjects any property or asset of the Issuer or any other Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer, directly or indirectly, contingently or otherwise, to the satisfaction thereof, other than pursuant to Standard Securitization Undertakings;

 

(2)            with which neither the Issuer nor any other Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer has any material contract, agreement, arrangement or understanding other than on terms which the Issuer reasonably believes to be no less favorable to the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary than those that might be obtained at the time from Persons that are not Affiliates of the Issuer; and

 

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(3)            to which neither the Issuer nor any other Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer has any obligation to maintain or preserve such entity’s financial condition or cause such entity to achieve certain levels of operating results.

 

Securitization Transaction” means any transaction or series of transactions that may be entered into by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries pursuant to which the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries may sell, discount, assign, factor, convey, participate, contribute to capital, grant a security interest in, pledge or otherwise transfer (including for purposes of facilitating a warehouse facility relating to a Securitization Transaction) to (a) a Securitization Subsidiary (in the case of a transfer by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries) or (b) any other Person (in the case of a transfer by a Securitization Subsidiary) any Securitization Assets.

 

Senior Credit Facilities” means the ABL Credit Agreement and any Term Loan Credit Agreement.

 

Significant Restricted Subsidiary” means, at any date of determination, any Restricted Subsidiary that, together with its Restricted Subsidiaries represents 10% or more of the Issuer’s total consolidated assets at the end of the most recent fiscal quarter for which financial information is available or 10% or more of the Issuer’s consolidated net revenues or consolidated operating income for the most recent four quarters for which financial information is available.

 

Standard Securitization Undertakings” means representations, warranties, covenants, Repurchase Obligations, indemnities and guarantees of performance entered into by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer that are customary in an asset securitization financing, including those relating to the servicing of the assets of a Securitization Subsidiary.

 

Stated Maturity” means, when used with respect to any Debt or any installment of interest on such Debt, the dates specified in such Debt as the fixed date on which the principal of such Debt or such installment of interest, as the case may be, is due and payable.

 

Subordinated Debt” means Debt of the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries that is expressly subordinated or junior in right of payment to the Notes or a Subsidiary Guarantee, as applicable, pursuant to a written agreement to that effect.

 

Subsidiary” means as to any Person, a corporation, partnership, limited liability company or other entity of which shares of stock or other ownership interests having ordinary voting power (other than stock or such other ownership interests having such power only by reason of the happening of a contingency) to elect a majority of the board of directors or other managers of such corporation, partnership or other entity are at the time owned, or the management of which is otherwise controlled, directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, or both, by such Person. Unless otherwise qualified, all references to a “Subsidiary” or to “Subsidiaries” in this Indenture shall refer to a Subsidiary or Subsidiaries of the Issuer.

 

Subsidiary Guarantee” means the Guarantee by any Subsidiary Guarantor of the Issuer’s obligations under this Indenture.

 

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Subsidiary Guarantor” means each Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer on the Merger Closing Date that becomes a party to this Indenture for purposes of providing a Subsidiary Guarantee with respect to the Notes by executing a supplemental indenture substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit B-1, and each other Restricted Subsidiary that is required to, or at the election of the Issuer, does become a Subsidiary Guarantor by the terms of this Indenture after the Merger Closing Date and their respective successors and assigns, in each case, until such Person is released from its Subsidiary Guarantee in accordance with the terms of this Indenture.

 

Swap Agreement” means any agreement with respect to any swap, forward, future or derivative transaction or option or similar agreement involving, or settled by reference to, one or more rates, currencies, commodities, equity or debt instruments or securities, or economic, financial or pricing indices or measures of economic, financial or pricing risk or value or any similar transaction or any combination of these transactions, including any Interest Rate, Currency or Commodity Price Agreement; provided that no phantom stock or similar plan providing for payments only on account of services provided by current or former directors, officers, employees or consultants of the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries shall be a “Swap Agreement.”

 

Swap Obligation” means, with respect to any Person, any obligation to pay or perform under any Swap Agreement.

 

Term Loan Credit Agreement” means the credit agreement with respect to the senior secured term loan credit facility entered into on or prior to the Merger Closing Date among the Company, the financial institutions named therein and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent, including any notes, mortgages, guarantees, collateral documents, instruments and agreements executed in connection therewith, as amended, restated, supplemented, waived, renewed or otherwise modified from time to time, and (if designated by the Issuer) as replaced (whether or not upon termination, and whether with the original lenders or otherwise), restructured, repaid, refunded, refinanced or otherwise modified from time to time, including (if designated by the Issuer) any agreement or indenture or commercial paper facilities with banks or other institutional lenders or investors extending the maturity thereof, refinancing, replacing or otherwise restructuring all or any portion of the Debt under such agreement or agreements or indenture or indentures or any successor or replacement agreement or agreements or indenture or indentures or increasing the amount loaned or issued thereunder permitted under Section 4.9 or altering the maturity thereof or adding Restricted Subsidiaries as additional borrowers, issuers or guarantors thereunder and whether by the same or any other agent, lender or group of lenders, investors or group of investors.

 

Total Net Leverage Ratio” means, as of any date of determination, the ratio of (1)(a) Debt for money borrowed of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries as of the end of the most recent fiscal quarter for which quarterly or annual financial statements prepared on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP are available (the “balance sheet date”) minus (b) the aggregate amount of unrestricted cash and Cash Equivalents held by the Issuer and the Restricted Subsidiaries on the balance sheet date to (2) Consolidated EBITDA of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries for the period of the most recently completed four consecutive fiscal quarters ending on the balance sheet date. For the avoidance of doubt, the Total Net Leverage Ratio shall be adjusted on a pro forma basis in a manner consistent with the definition of “Consolidated Fixed Charges.”

 

Transactions” has the definition set forth in the Offering Memorandum.

 

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Transfer Restricted Notes” means Notes that bear or are required to bear the Restricted Notes Legend.

 

Treasury Rate” means, with respect to any redemption date, the yield to maturity at the time of computation of United States Treasury securities with a constant maturity (as compiled and published in the most recent Federal Reserve Statistical Release H.15 that has become publicly available at least two Business Days prior to such redemption date (or, if such Statistical Release is no longer published, any publicly available source of similar market data)) most nearly equal to the period from such redemption date to February 15, 2024; provided, however, that if the period from such redemption date to February 15, 2024 is less than one year, the weekly average yield on actually traded United States Treasury securities adjusted to a constant maturity of one year shall be used.

 

Trustee” has the meaning set forth in the preamble of this Indenture and any successor thereto.

 

U.S. dollar” or “$” means the lawful money of the United States of America.

 

United States” or “U.S.” means the United States of America.

 

Unrestricted Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary other than a Restricted Subsidiary.

 

Voting Stock” of any Person means Capital Stock of such Person which ordinarily has voting power for the election of directors (or persons performing similar functions) of such Person, whether at all times or only so long as no senior class of securities has such voting power by reason of any contingency.

 

Wholly Owned Subsidiary” of any Person means a Subsidiary of such Person all of the outstanding Capital Stock or other ownership interests of which (other than directors’ qualifying shares) shall at the time be owned by such Person or by one or more Wholly Owned Subsidiaries of such Person or by such Person and one or more Wholly Owned Subsidiaries of such Person.

 

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Section 1.2.        Other Definitions.

 

Term   Defined in Section
“acceleration declaration”     6.2
“Act”     11.12
“Alternate Offer”     4.13
“Authentication Order”     2.2
“Change of Control Offer”     4.13
“Change of Control Purchase Price”     4.13
“Code”     2.6(g)(9)
“Covenant Defeasance”     8.3
“Deposit Trustee”     8.5
“EDGAR”     4.3(a)
“Event of Default”     6.1
“Excess Proceeds”     4.10(c)
“Fixed Amounts”     1.4
“Incurrence Based Amounts”     1.4
“Institutional Accredited Investor Note”     2.1(b)
“LCT Election”     1.4
“LCT Test Date”     1.4
“Legal Defeasance”     8.2
“Mandatory Redemption Event”     3.8
“Note Amount”     4.10(c)(1)
“Offer Expiration Date”     1.1
“Offered Price”     4.10(c)
“Outside Date”     3.8
“Pari Passu Debt Amount”     4.10(c)(2)
“Pari Passu Offer”     4.10(c)(2)
“Permitted Debt”     4.9(b)
“Purchase Date”     1.1
“QIBs”     2.1(b)
“Ratio Debt”     4.9(a)
“Registrar”     2.3
“Regulation S”     2.1(b)
“Regulation S Global Note”     2.1(b)
“Resale Restriction Termination Date”     2.15(a)
“Restricted Payment”     4.7(a)(4)
“Restricted Period”     2.15(b)
“Rule 144A”     2.1(b)
“Rule 144A Global Note”     2.1(b)
“Successor Company”     5.1(a)(1)
“Successor Subsidiary Guarantor”     5.1(b)(1)(A)
“Unrestricted Subsidiary”     4.16(a)

 

Section 1.3.        Rules of Construction. Unless the context otherwise requires:

 

(1)            a term has the meaning assigned to it herein;

 

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(2)            an accounting term not otherwise defined herein has the meaning assigned to it in accordance with GAAP;

 

(3)            “or” is not exclusive;

 

(4)            words in the singular include the plural, and in the plural include the singular;

 

(5)            unless otherwise specified, any reference to Section, Article or Exhibit refers to such Section, Article or Exhibit, as the case may be, of this Indenture;

 

(6)            provisions apply to successive events and transactions;

 

(7)           the words “herein,” “hereof” and “hereunder” and other words of similar import refer to this Indenture as a whole and not any particular Article, Section, clause or other subdivision; and

 

(8)          references to sections of or rules under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act shall be deemed to include substitute, replacement or successor sections or rules adopted by the SEC from time to time.

 

Section 1.4.        Limited Condition Transactions. When calculating the availability under any basket or ratio under this Indenture or compliance with any provision of this Indenture in connection with any Limited Condition Transaction and any actions or transactions related thereto (including acquisitions, Investments, the Incurrence or issuance of Debt and the use of the proceeds thereof, the Incurrence of Liens, repayments, Restricted Payments and Asset Dispositions), in each case, at the option of the Issuer (the Issuer’s election to exercise such option, an “LCT Election”), the date of determination for availability under any such basket or ratio and whether any such action or transaction is permitted (or any requirement or condition therefor is complied with or satisfied (including as to the absence of any Default or Event of Default)) under this Indenture shall be deemed to be the date (the “LCT Test Date”) the definitive agreements for such Limited Condition Transaction are entered into (or, if applicable, the date of delivery of an irrevocable notice, declaration of a dividend or similar event) and if, after giving pro forma effect to the Limited Condition Transaction and any actions or transactions related thereto (including acquisitions, Investments, the Incurrence or issuance of Debt and the use of proceeds thereof, the Incurrence of Liens, repayments, Restricted Payments and Asset Dispositions) and any related pro forma adjustments, the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries would have been permitted to take such actions or consummate such transactions on the relevant LCT Test Date in compliance with such ratio, test or basket (and any related requirements and conditions), such ratio, test or basket (and any related requirements and conditions) shall be deemed to have been complied with (or satisfied) for all purposes; provided that (a) compliance with such ratios, tests or baskets (and any related requirements and conditions) shall not be determined or tested at any time after the applicable LCT Test Date for such Limited Condition Transaction and any actions or transactions related thereto (including acquisitions, Investments, the Incurrence or issuance of Debt and the use of proceeds thereof, the Incurrence of Liens, repayments, Restricted Payments and Asset Dispositions) and (b) Consolidated EBITDA for purposes of the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio, the Total Net Leverage Ratio or the Secured Net Leverage Ratio will be calculated using an assumed interest rate based on the indicative interest margin contained in any financing commitment documentation with respect to such Debt or, if no such indicative interest margin exists, as reasonably determined by the Issuer in good faith.

 

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For the avoidance of doubt, if the Issuer has made an LCT Election, (1) if any of the ratios, tests or baskets for which compliance was determined or tested as of the LCT Test Date would at any time after the LCT Test Date have been exceeded or otherwise failed to have been complied with as a result of fluctuations in any such ratio, test or basket, including due to fluctuations in Consolidated EBITDA of the Issuer, such baskets, tests or ratios will not be deemed to have been exceeded or failed to have been complied with as a result of such fluctuations (and no Default or Event of Default shall be deemed to have occurred due to such failure to comply), and (2) in calculating the availability under any ratio, test or basket in connection with any action or transaction unrelated to such Limited Conditional Transaction following the relevant LCT Test Date and prior to the earlier of the date on which such Limited Condition Transaction is consummated and the date that the definitive agreement or date for redemption, purchase or repayment specified in an irrevocable notice for such Limited Condition Transaction is terminated, expires or passes, as applicable, without consummation of such Limited Condition Transaction, any such ratio, test or basket shall be determined or tested giving pro forma effect to such Limited Condition Transaction.

 

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein with respect to any amounts incurred or transactions entered into (or consummated) in reliance on a provision of this Indenture under a restrictive covenant that does not require compliance with a financial ratio or test (including, without limitation, any Total Net Leverage Ratio test, Secured Net Leverage Ratio test and Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio test) (any such amounts, the “Fixed Amounts”) substantially concurrently with any amounts Incurred or transactions entered into (or consummated) in reliance on a provision of this Indenture that requires compliance with any such financial ratio or test (any such amounts, the “Incurrence Based Amounts”), it is understood and agreed that the Fixed Amounts (and any cash proceeds thereof) shall be disregarded in the calculation of the financial ratio or test applicable to the Incurrence Based Amounts in connection with such substantially concurrent Incurrence.

 

ARTICLE II
THE NOTES

 

Section 2.1.        Form and Dating. The Notes shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit A. The Notes may have notations, legends or endorsements required by law, stock exchange rule or usage. Each Note shall be dated the date of its authentication. The Notes will be issued in registered form, without coupons, and in minimum denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof. The registered Holder will be treated as the owner of such Note for all purposes.

 

The terms and provisions contained in the Notes shall constitute, and are hereby expressly made, a part of this Indenture, and the Issuer and the Trustee, by their execution and delivery of this Indenture, expressly agree to such terms and provisions and to be bound thereby. However, to the extent any provision of any Note conflicts with the express provisions of this Indenture, the provisions of this Indenture shall govern and be controlling.

 

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(a)            The Notes shall be issued initially in the form of one or more Global Notes, which shall be deposited on behalf of the purchasers of the Notes represented thereby with the Note Custodian, and registered in the name of the Depositary or a nominee of the Depositary, duly executed by the Issuer and authenticated by the Trustee as hereinafter provided.

 

Each Global Note shall represent such of the outstanding Notes as shall be specified therein, and each shall provide that it shall represent the aggregate amount of outstanding Notes from time to time endorsed thereon and that the aggregate amount of outstanding Notes represented thereby may from time to time be reduced or increased, as appropriate, to reflect exchanges, redemptions and transfers of interests. Any endorsement of a Global Note to reflect the amount of any increase or decrease in the amount of outstanding Notes represented thereby shall be made by the Trustee or the Note Custodian, at the direction of the Trustee, in accordance with instructions given by the Holder thereof as required by Section 2.6.

 

(b)            The Initial Notes are being issued by the Issuer only (i) to “qualified institutional buyers” (as defined in Rule 144A under the Securities Act (“Rule 144A”)) (“QIBs”) and (ii) in reliance on Regulation S under the Securities Act (“Regulation S”). After such initial issuance, Initial Notes that are Transfer Restricted Notes may be transferred to QIBs in reliance on Rule 144A, outside the United States pursuant to Regulation S, to IAIs or to the Issuer, in accordance with certain transfer restrictions. Initial Notes that are offered in reliance on Rule 144A shall be issued in the form of one or more permanent Global Notes substantially in the form set forth in Exhibit A and bear the Restricted Notes Legend (collectively, the “Rule 144A Global Note”), deposited with the Note Custodian, duly executed by the Issuer and authenticated by the Trustee as hereinafter provided. Initial Notes that are offered in offshore transactions in reliance on Regulation S shall be issued in the form of one or more permanent Global Notes substantially in the form set forth in Exhibit A and bear the Regulation S Legend (collectively, the “Regulation S Global Note”), deposited with the Note Custodian, duly executed by the Issuer and authenticated by the Trustee as hereinafter provided. Initial Notes resold to IAIs in the United States shall be issued in the form of one or more permanent Global Notes substantially in the form set forth in Exhibit A and bear the Restricted Notes Legend (collectively, the “Institutional Accredited Investor Note”), deposited with the Note Custodian, duly executed by the Issuer and authenticated by the Trustee as hereinafter provided. The aggregate principal amount of each Global Note may from time to time be increased or decreased by adjustments made on the records of the Note Custodian, at the direction of the Trustee. Transfers of Notes among QIBs, to or by purchasers pursuant to Regulation S and to or by IAIs shall be represented by appropriate increases and decreases to the respective amounts of the appropriate Global Notes, as more fully provided in Section 2.15.

 

(c)            Section 2.1(b) shall apply only to Global Notes deposited with or on behalf of the Depositary.

 

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The Issuer shall execute and the Trustee shall, in accordance with this Section 2.1 and Section 2.2, authenticate and deliver the Global Notes that (i) shall be registered in the name of the Depositary or the nominee of the Depositary and (ii) shall be delivered by the Trustee to the Depositary or pursuant to the Depositary’s instructions or held by the Note Custodian for the Depositary.

 

Section 2.2.        Execution and Authentication. An Officer shall sign the Notes for the Issuer by manual, facsimile, PDF or other electronic transmission signature.

 

If an Officer whose signature is on a Note no longer holds that office at the time a Note is authenticated, the Note shall nevertheless be valid.

 

A Note shall not be valid until authenticated by the manual signature of an authorized signatory of the Trustee. The signature of the Trustee shall be conclusive evidence that the Note has been authenticated under this Indenture.

 

The Trustee shall, upon receipt of a written order of the Issuer signed by an Officer of the Issuer (an “Authentication Order”) directing the Trustee to authenticate the Notes and, with respect to any Additional Notes, an Officer’s Certificate and Opinion of Counsel stating that all conditions precedent to the issuance of the Notes contained herein have been complied with, authenticate Notes for original issue in the aggregate principal amount stated in such written order.

 

The Trustee may appoint an authenticating agent reasonably acceptable to the Issuer to authenticate Notes. Unless limited by the terms of such appointment, an authenticating agent may authenticate Notes whenever the Trustee may do so. Each reference in this Indenture to authentication by the Trustee includes authentication by such agent or agents. An authenticating agent has the same rights as an Agent to deal with Holders or the Issuer.

 

Section 2.3.        Registrar; Paying Agent. The Issuer shall maintain (i) an office or agency where Notes may be presented for registration of transfer or for exchange (“Registrar”) and (ii) an office or agency where Notes may be presented for payment to a Paying Agent. The Registrar shall keep a register of the Notes and of their transfer and exchange. The Issuer may appoint one or more co-registrars and one or more additional Paying Agents. The term “Registrar” includes any co-registrar, and the term “Paying Agent” includes any additional Paying Agent. The Issuer may change any Paying Agent or Registrar without notice to any Holder. The Issuer and/or any Restricted Subsidiary may act as Paying Agent or Registrar.

 

The Issuer shall notify the Trustee in writing, and the Trustee shall notify the Holders, of the name and address of any Agent not a party to this Indenture. The Issuer shall enter into an appropriate agency agreement with any Agent not a party to this Indenture. If the Issuer fails to appoint or maintain a Registrar or Paying Agent, or fails to give the foregoing notice, the Trustee shall act as such, and shall be entitled to appropriate compensation in accordance with Section 7.6.

 

The Issuer initially appoints the Trustee to act as the Registrar and Paying Agent at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee.

 

The Issuer initially appoints DTC to act as the Depositary with respect to the Global Notes.

 

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Section 2.4.        Paying Agent to Hold Money in Trust. The Issuer shall require each Paying Agent other than the Trustee to agree in writing that the Paying Agent shall hold in trust for the benefit of the Holders or the Trustee all money held by the Paying Agent for the payment of principal, premium or interest on the Notes, and shall notify the Trustee of any Default by the Issuer in making any such payment. While any such Default continues, the Trustee may require a Paying Agent to pay to the Trustee all money held by it in trust for the benefit of the Holders or the Trustee. The Issuer at any time may require a Paying Agent to pay all money held by it in trust for the benefit of the Holders or the Trustee to the Trustee. Upon payment over to the Trustee, the Paying Agent (if other than the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries) shall have no further liability for such money. If the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries acts as Paying Agent, it shall segregate and hold in a separate trust fund for the benefit of the Trustee and the Holders all money held by it as Paying Agent. Upon the occurrence of any of the events specified in Section 6.1, the Trustee shall serve as Paying Agent for the Notes.

 

Section 2.5.        Holder Lists. The Trustee shall preserve in as current a form as is reasonably practicable the most recent list available to it of the names and addresses of all Holders. If the Trustee is not the Registrar, the Issuer shall furnish to the Trustee at least seven Business Days before each interest payment date and at such other times as the Trustee may request in writing, a list in such form and as of such date as the Trustee may reasonably require of the names and addresses of the Holders, including the aggregate principal amount of the Notes held by each Holder thereof.

 

Section 2.6.        Book-Entry Provisions for Global Notes.

 

(a)            Each Global Note shall (i) be registered in the name of the Depositary for such Global Notes or the nominee of such Depositary, (ii) be delivered by the Trustee to the Depositary or pursuant to the Depositary’s instructions or held by the Note Custodian for the Depositary and (iii) bear the Global Note legends as required by Section 2.6(e).

 

Members of, or Participants in, the Depositary shall have no rights under this Indenture with respect to any Global Note held on their behalf by the Depositary, or the Note Custodian, or under such Global Note, and the Depositary may be treated by the Issuer, and the Trustee or any Agent and any of their respective agents, as the absolute owner of such Global Note for all purposes whatsoever. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing herein shall prevent the Issuer, the Trustee or any Agent or their respective agents from giving effect to any written certification, proxy or other authorization furnished by the Depositary or impair, as between the Depositary and its Participants, the operation of customary practices governing the exercise of the rights of an owner of a beneficial interest in any Global Note.

 

Neither the Trustee nor any Agent shall have any responsibility or obligation to any Holder that is a member of (or a Participant in) the Depositary or any other Person with respect to the accuracy of the records of the Depositary (or its nominee) or of any member or Participant thereof, with respect to any ownership interest in the Notes or with respect to the delivery of any notice (including any notice of redemption) or the payment of any amount or delivery of any Notes (or other security or property) under or with respect to the Notes. The Trustee and any Agent may rely (and shall be fully protected in relying) upon information furnished by the Depositary with respect to its members, Participants and any beneficial owners in the Notes.

 

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Neither the Trustee nor any Agent shall have any responsibility for any actions taken or not taken by the Depositary.

 

(b)            Transfers of a Global Note shall be limited to transfers of such Global Note in whole, but not in part, to the Depositary, its successors or their respective nominees. Interests of beneficial owners in a Global Note may be transferred in accordance with Section 2.15 and the rules and procedures of the Depositary. In addition, certificated Notes shall be transferred to beneficial owners in exchange for their beneficial interests only if (i) the Depositary notifies the Issuer that it is unwilling or unable to continue as Depositary for the Global Notes and a successor depositary is not appointed by the Issuer within 90 days of such notice, (ii) the Depositary ceases to be a “clearing agency” registered under the Exchange Act and a successor depositary is not appointed by the Issuer within 90 days of such notice, (iii) an Event of Default of which a Responsible Officer of the Trustee has written notice has occurred and is continuing and the Registrar has received a request from any Holder of a Global Note to issue such certificated Notes or (iv) the Issuer, in its sole discretion, notifies the Trustee in writing that it elects to cause the issuance of certificated Notes.

 

(c)            In connection with the transfer of an entire Global Note to beneficial owners pursuant to Section 2.6(b), such Global Note shall be deemed to be surrendered to the Trustee for cancellation, and the Issuer shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver to each beneficial owner identified by the Depositary in exchange for its beneficial interest in such Global Note an equal aggregate principal amount of certificated Notes of authorized denominations.

 

(d)            The registered Holder of a Global Note may grant proxies and otherwise authorize any Person, including Participants and Persons that may hold interests through Participants, to take any action which a Holder is entitled to take under this Indenture or the Notes.

 

(e)            Each Global Note shall bear the Global Note Legend on the face thereof.

 

(f)             At such time as all beneficial interests in Global Notes have been exchanged for certificated Notes, redeemed, repurchased or cancelled, all Global Notes shall be returned to or retained and cancelled by the Trustee in accordance with Section 2.11. At any time prior to such cancellation, if any beneficial interest in a Global Note is exchanged for certificated Notes, redeemed, repurchased or cancelled, the principal amount of Notes represented by such Global Note shall be reduced accordingly and an endorsement shall be made on such Global Note, by the Trustee or the Note Custodian, at the direction of the Trustee, to reflect such reduction.

 

(g)            General Provisions Relating to Transfers and Exchanges.

 

(1)            To permit registrations of transfers and exchanges, the Issuer shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate Global Notes and certificated Notes upon receipt of an Authentication Order in accordance with Section 2.2 or at the Registrar’s request.

 

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(2)            No service charge shall be made to a Holder for any registration of transfer or exchange, but Holders will be required to pay all stamp or transfer taxes or similar government charge due on such transfer or exchange (other than any such stamp or transfer taxes or similar governmental charge payable upon exchange or transfer pursuant to Section 2.7, 2.10, 3.6, 4.10, 4.13 or 9.4).

 

(3)          All Global Notes and certificated Notes issued upon any registration of transfer or exchange of Global Notes or certificated Notes shall be the valid obligations of the Issuer, evidencing the same debt, and entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture, as the Global Notes (or interests therein) or certificated Notes surrendered upon such registration of transfer or exchange.

 

(4)            The Registrar is not required (A) to issue, to register the transfer of or to exchange Notes during a period beginning at the opening of business 15 days before the day of any selection of Notes under Section 3.2 and ending at the close of business on the day of such selection, (B) to register the transfer of or to exchange any Note so selected for redemption in whole or in part, except the unredeemed portion of any Note being redeemed in part, or (C) to register the transfer of or to exchange a Note between a record date and the next succeeding interest payment date.

 

(5)            Prior to due presentment for the registration of a transfer of any Note, the Trustee, any Agent and the Issuer may deem and treat the Person in whose name any Note is registered as the absolute owner of such Note for the purpose of receiving payment of principal of and interest on such Notes and for all other purposes, and none of the Trustee, any Agent, or the Issuer shall be affected by notice to the contrary.

 

(6)          The Trustee shall authenticate Global Notes and certificated Notes in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.2. Except as provided in Section 2.6(b), neither the Trustee nor the Registrar shall authenticate or deliver any certificated Note in exchange for a Global Note.

 

(7)          Each Holder agrees to indemnify the Issuer and the Trustee against any liability that may result from the transfer, exchange or assignment of such Holder’s Note in violation of any provision of this Indenture and/or applicable United States federal or state securities law.

 

(8)           Neither the Trustee nor any Agent shall have any obligation or duty to monitor, determine or inquire as to compliance with any restrictions on transfer imposed under this Indenture or under applicable law with respect to any transfer of any interest in any Note (including any transfers between or among Participants or beneficial owners of interests in any Global Note) other than to require delivery of such certificates and other documentation or evidence as are expressly required by, and to do so if and when expressly required by the terms of, this Indenture, and to examine the same to determine substantial compliance as to form with the express requirements hereof.

 

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(9)            The transferor of any Note held in certificated form shall provide or cause to be provided to the Trustee all information necessary to allow the Trustee to comply with any applicable tax reporting obligations, including without limitation any cost basis reporting obligations under Section 6045 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”). The Trustee may rely on information provided to it and shall have no responsibility to verify or ensure the accuracy of such information.

 

Section 2.7.        Replacement Notes. If any mutilated Note is surrendered to the Trustee, the Registrar or the Issuer and the Trustee receives evidence to its satisfaction of the ownership and destruction, loss or theft of any Note, the Issuer shall issue and the Trustee, upon receipt of an Authentication Order, shall authenticate a replacement Note if the Trustee’s requirements are met. If required by the Trustee or the Issuer, an indemnity bond must be supplied by the Holder that is sufficient in the judgment of the Trustee and the Issuer to protect the Issuer, the Trustee, any Agent and any authenticating agent from any loss that any of them may suffer if a Note is replaced. The Issuer, the Trustee and the Agents may charge for their expenses in replacing a Note.

 

Every replacement Note is an additional obligation of the Issuer and shall be entitled to all of the benefits of this Indenture equally and proportionately with all other Notes duly issued hereunder.

 

Section 2.8.         Outstanding Notes. The Notes outstanding at any time are all the Notes authenticated by the Trustee except for those cancelled by it, those delivered to it for cancellation, those reductions in the interest in a Global Note effected by the Trustee in accordance with the provisions hereof, and those described in this Section 2.8 as not outstanding. Except as set forth in Section 2.9, a Note does not cease to be outstanding because the Company, the Escrow Issuer, the Subsidiary Guarantors or any of their respective Affiliates holds the Note.

 

If a Note is replaced pursuant to Section 2.7, it ceases to be outstanding unless the Trustee receives proof satisfactory to it that the replaced Note is held by a protected purchaser.

 

If the principal amount of any Note is considered paid under Section 4.1, it ceases to be outstanding and interest on it ceases to accrue.

 

If the Paying Agent (other than the Issuer, a Subsidiary or an Affiliate of any thereof) holds, on the maturity date or date of redemption, money sufficient to pay all amounts under the Notes payable on that date, then on and after that date such Notes shall be deemed to be no longer outstanding and shall cease to accrue interest and will not be deemed to be outstanding.

 

Section 2.9.        Treasury Notes. In determining whether the Holders of the required aggregate principal amount of Notes have concurred in any direction, waiver or consent, Notes owned by the Issuer, the Subsidiary Guarantors or by any of their respective Affiliates shall be considered as though not outstanding, except that for the purposes of determining whether the Trustee shall be protected in relying on any such direction, waiver or consent, only Notes of which a Responsible Officer of the Trustee has written notice as being so owned shall be so disregarded. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Notes that are to be acquired by the Issuer or an Affiliate of the Issuer pursuant to an exchange offer, tender offer or other agreement shall not be deemed to be owned by such entity until legal title to such Notes passes to such entity.

 

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Section 2.10.      Temporary Notes. Until certificated Notes are ready for delivery, the Issuer may prepare and the Trustee, upon receipt of an Authentication Order, shall authenticate temporary Notes. Temporary Notes shall be substantially in the form of certificated Notes but may have variations that the Issuer considers appropriate for temporary Notes. Without unreasonable delay, the Issuer shall prepare and the Trustee shall upon receipt of a written order of the Issuer signed by one Officer, authenticate certificated Notes in certificate form in exchange for temporary Notes.

 

Holders of temporary Notes shall be entitled to all of the benefits of this Indenture.

 

Section 2.11.      Cancellation. The Issuer at any time may deliver to the Trustee for cancellation any Notes previously authenticated and delivered hereunder or which the Issuer may have acquired in any manner whatsoever, and all Notes so delivered shall be promptly cancelled by the Trustee. All Notes surrendered for registration of transfer, exchange or payment, if surrendered to any Person other than the Trustee, shall be delivered to the Trustee. The Trustee and no one else shall cancel all Notes surrendered for registration of transfer, exchange, payment, replacement or cancellation. Subject to Sections 2.7 and 2.16, the Issuer may not issue new Notes to replace Notes that it has redeemed or paid or that have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation. All cancelled Notes held by the Trustee shall be disposed of in accordance with its customary practice.

 

Section 2.12.      Defaulted Interest. If the Issuer defaults in a payment of interest on the Notes, it shall pay the defaulted interest in any lawful manner plus, to the extent lawful, interest payable on the defaulted interest, to the Persons who are Holders on a subsequent special record date, which date shall be the earliest practicable date but in all events at least five Business Days prior to the payment date, in each case at the rate provided in the Notes and in Section 4.1; provided that no special record date shall be required with respect to any defaulted interest that is paid within the applicable grace period. The Issuer shall fix or cause to be fixed each such special record date and payment date and shall promptly thereafter notify the Trustee of any such date. At least 15 days before the special record date, the Issuer (or the Trustee, in the name and at the expense of the Issuer) shall mail or cause to be mailed to Holders a notice that states the special record date, the related payment date and the amount of such interest to be paid. The Trustee will have no duty whatsoever to determine whether any defaulted interest is payable or the amount thereof.

 

Section 2.13.      Computation of Interest. Interest on the Notes shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year comprised of twelve 30-day months.

 

Section 2.14.      CUSIP and ISIN Numbers. The Issuer in issuing the Notes may use “CUSIP” and “ISIN” numbers, and, if it does so, the Trustee shall use the CUSIP and/or ISIN number in notices of redemption or exchange as a convenience to Holders; provided that any such notice may state that no representation is made as to the correctness or accuracy of such numbers printed in the notice or on the Notes and that reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers printed on the Notes, and any such redemption or exchange shall not be affected by any defect in or omission of such numbers. The Issuer shall promptly notify the Trustee in writing of any change in the CUSIP number and ISIN number.

 

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Section 2.15.      Transfer and Exchange.

 

(a)            The following provisions shall apply with respect to any proposed transfer of a Rule 144A Note or an Institutional Accredited Investor Note prior to the date which is one year after the later of the date of its original issue, the original issue date of any Additional Notes and the last date on which the Issuer or any Affiliate of the Issuer was the owner of such securities (or any predecessor thereto) (the “Resale Restriction Termination Date”):

 

(1)            a transfer of a Rule 144A Note or an Institutional Accredited Investor Note or a beneficial interest therein to a QIB shall be made upon the representation of the transferee, in the form of assignment as set forth on the reverse of the Note, that it is purchasing the Note for its own account or an account with respect to which it exercises sole investment discretion and that it and any such account is a QIB, and is aware that the sale to it is being made in reliance on Rule 144A and acknowledges that it has received such information regarding the Issuer as the undersigned has requested pursuant to Rule 144A or has determined not to request such information and that it is aware that the transferor is relying upon its foregoing representations in order to claim the exemption from registration provided by Rule 144A;

 

(2)            a transfer of a Rule 144A Note or an Institutional Accredited Investor Note or a beneficial interest therein to an IAI shall be made upon receipt by the Trustee or its agent of a certificate substantially in the form set forth under Exhibit D from the proposed transferee and, if requested by the Issuer or the Trustee, the receipt by the Trustee or its agent of an Opinion of Counsel, certification and/or other information satisfactory to each of them; and

 

(3)            a transfer of a Rule 144A Note or an Institutional Accredited Investor Note or a beneficial interest therein to a non-U.S. person shall be made upon receipt by the Trustee or its agent of a certificate substantially in the form set forth under Exhibit C from the proposed transferor and, if requested by the Issuer or the Trustee, the delivery of an Opinion of Counsel, certification and/or other information satisfactory to each of them.

 

After the Resale Restriction Termination Date, interests in a Rule 144A Note or an Institutional Accredited Investor Note may be transferred in accordance with applicable law without requiring the certifications set forth under Exhibit C or D or any additional certification.

 

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(b)          The following provisions shall apply with respect to any proposed transfer of a Regulation S Note prior to the date which is 40 days after the later of the Issue Date, the closing date of the issuance of any Additional Notes and when the Notes or any predecessor of the Notes are first offered to Persons other than distributors (as defined in Rule 902 of Regulation S) in reliance on Regulation S (the “Restricted Period”):

 

(1)            a transfer of a Regulation S Note or a beneficial interest therein to a QIB shall be made upon the representation of the transferee, in the form of assignment as set forth on the reverse of the Note, that it is purchasing the Note for its own account or an account with respect to which it exercises sole investment discretion and that it and any such account is a QIB, and is aware that the sale to it is being made in reliance on Rule 144A and acknowledges that it has received such information regarding the Issuer as the undersigned has requested pursuant to Rule 144A or has determined not to request such information and that it is aware that the transferor is relying upon its foregoing representations in order to claim the exemption from registration provided by Rule 144A;

 

(2)            a transfer of a Regulation S Note or a beneficial interest therein to an IAI shall be made upon receipt by the Trustee or its agent of a certificate substantially in the form set forth under Exhibit D from the proposed transferee and, if requested by the Issuer or the Trustee, the delivery of an Opinion of Counsel, certification and/or other information satisfactory to each of them; and

 

(3)            a transfer of a Regulation S Note or a beneficial interest therein to a non-U.S. person shall be made upon receipt by the Trustee or its agent of a certificate substantially in the form set forth under Exhibit C from the proposed transferor and, if requested by the Issuer or the Trustee, receipt by the Trustee or its agent of an Opinion of Counsel, certification and/or other information satisfactory to each of them.

 

After the expiration of the Restricted Period, interests in the Regulation S Note may be transferred in accordance with applicable law without requiring the certifications set forth under Exhibit C or D or any additional certification

 

(c)          In the event that a Global Note is exchanged for Notes in certificated, registered form pursuant to Section 2.6, such Notes may be exchanged only in accordance with such procedures as are substantially consistent with the provisions of Sections 2.15(a) and 2.15(b) (including the certification requirements intended to ensure that such transfers comply with Rule 144A or Regulation S, as the case may be) and such other procedures as may from time to time be adopted by the Issuer and notified to the Trustee in writing.

 

(d)          Restricted Notes Legend. Upon the transfer, exchange or replacement of Notes not bearing the Restricted Notes Legend, the Registrar shall deliver Notes that do not bear the Restricted Notes Legend. Upon the transfer, exchange or replacement of Notes bearing the Restricted Notes Legend, the Registrar shall deliver only Notes that bear the Restricted Notes Legend unless there is delivered to the Registrar an Opinion of Counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Issuer to the effect that neither such legend nor the related restrictions on transfer are required in order to maintain compliance with the provisions of the Securities Act.

 

(e)            Regulation S Legend. Upon the transfer, exchange or replacement of Notes not bearing the Regulation S Legend, the Registrar shall deliver Notes that do not bear the Regulation S Legend. Upon the transfer, exchange or replacement of Notes bearing the Regulation S Legend, the Registrar shall deliver only Notes that bear the Regulation S Legend unless there is delivered to the Registrar an Opinion of Counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Issuer to the effect that neither such legend nor the related restrictions on transfer are required in order to maintain compliance with the provisions of the Securities Act.

 

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(f)           General. By its acceptance of any Note bearing the Restricted Notes Legend or the Regulation S Legend, as applicable, each Holder of such a Note acknowledges the restrictions on transfer of such Note set forth in this Indenture and in the Restricted Notes Legend or the Regulation S Legend, as applicable, and agrees that it shall transfer such Note only as provided in this Indenture. A transfer of a beneficial interest in a Global Note that does not involve an exchange of such interest for a certificated Note or a beneficial interest in another Global Note shall be subject to compliance with applicable law and the applicable procedures of the Depositary but is not subject to any procedure required by this Indenture.

 

In connection with any proposed transfer pursuant to Regulation S or pursuant to any other available exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act (other than pursuant to Rule 144A), the Issuer may require the delivery of an Opinion of Counsel, other certifications or other information satisfactory to the Issuer.

 

The Registrar shall retain copies of all letters, notices and other written communications received pursuant to this Section 2.15, in accordance with its procedures and the record retention requirements of the Exchange Act.

 

Section 2.16.    Issuance of Additional Notes. The Issuer shall be entitled to issue Additional Notes in an unlimited aggregate principal amount under this Indenture that shall have identical terms as the Initial Notes, other than with respect to the date of issuance, issue price, first interest payment date applicable thereto and the first date from which interest will accrue; provided that such issuance is not prohibited by the terms of this Indenture, including Section 4.9, and provided, further, that if any Additional Notes are not fungible with the existing Notes for U.S. federal income tax purposes, such Additional Notes shall have one or more separate CUSIP and ISIN numbers. The Initial Notes and any Additional Notes shall otherwise be treated as a single class for all purposes under this Indenture.

 

With respect to any Additional Notes, the Issuer shall deliver to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate containing the following information:

 

(1)            the aggregate principal amount of such Additional Notes to be authenticated and delivered pursuant to this Indenture;

 

(2)            the issue price, the issue date, the CUSIP and/or ISIN number of such Additional Notes, the first interest payment date and the amount of interest payable on such first interest payment date applicable thereto and the date from which interest shall accrue;

 

(3)            whether such Additional Notes shall be Transfer Restricted Notes; and

 

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(4)            that such issuance is not prohibited by this Indenture.

 

The Trustee shall, upon receipt of the Officer’s Certificate and the documents required by 11.2, authenticate the Additional Notes in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.2 of this Indenture.

 

ARTICLE III
REDEMPTION AND PREPAYMENT

 

Section 3.1.      Notices to Trustee. If the Issuer elects to redeem Notes pursuant to the optional redemption provisions of Section 3.7, it shall furnish to the Trustee, at least five Business Days (or such shorter period as is acceptable to the Trustee) before sending a notice of such redemption, an Officer’s Certificate setting forth the (i) the paragraph of the Notes and/or section of this Indenture pursuant to which the redemption shall occur, (ii) redemption date (which, in the case of a redemption subject to conditions, may be subject to extension until such conditions are satisfied), (iii) principal amount of Notes to be redeemed and (iv) the redemption price or the method for determining the redemption price.

 

Section 3.2.      Selection of Notes to Be Redeemed. In the event that less than all of the Notes are to be redeemed at any time, the Trustee shall select the Notes (or portions of Notes) to be redeemed among the Holders in compliance with the requirements of the principal national securities exchange, if any, on which the Notes are listed or, if the Notes are not then listed on a national securities exchange, by lot or on a pro rata basis (except that any Notes represented by a Global Note will be redeemed by such method the Depositary may require); provided, however, that no Notes of a minimum of $2,000 in original principal amount or less shall be redeemed in part. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary stated herein, to the extent any such Notes are held in the form of Global Notes, the Notes to be redeemed shall be selected in accordance with the applicable procedures and requirements of DTC.

 

Section 3.3.      Notice of Redemption. The Issuer shall mail or cause to be mailed (in each case sent by first class mail) in accordance with Section 11.1 and, in the case of Global Notes given in accordance with DTC procedures, a notice of redemption pursuant to Section 3.7 to each Holder whose Notes are to be redeemed at its registered address (with a copy to the Trustee), at least ten days but not more than 60 days before the expected redemption date (except that notices may be delivered more than 60 days before a redemption date if the notice is issued in accordance with Article VIII) (which, in the case of a redemption subject to conditions, may be subject to extension of not more than three months until such conditions are satisfied).

 

The notice shall identify the Notes to be redeemed (including the name of the Notes, the series, “CUSIP” numbers and corresponding “ISINs,” if applicable, interest rate, maturity date and, if known, certificate numbers) and shall state:

 

(1)            the redemption date (which, in the case of a redemption subject to conditions, may be subject to extension until such conditions are satisfied);

 

(2)           the redemption price (or the method by which it is to be determined);

 

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(3)           if any Note is being redeemed in part, the portion of the principal amount of such Note to be redeemed and that, after the redemption date, upon surrender of such Note, a new Note or Notes in principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion shall be issued upon cancellation of the original Note (or appropriate adjustments to the amount and beneficial interests in a Global Note will be made, as appropriate);

 

(4)           the name and address of the Paying Agent;

 

(5)           that Notes called for redemption must be surrendered to the Paying Agent to collect the redemption price;

 

(6)           that, unless the Issuer defaults in making such redemption payment, interest, if any, on Notes called for redemption ceases to accrue on and after the redemption date;

 

(7)           the paragraph of the Notes and/or Section of this Indenture pursuant to which the Notes called for redemption are being redeemed;

 

(8)           that no representation is made as to the correctness or accuracy of the CUSIP number and ISIN number, if any, listed in such notice or printed on the Notes; and

 

(9)           any conditions precedent to such redemption.

 

At the Issuer’s written request, the Trustee shall give the notice of redemption in the Issuer’s name and at the Issuer’s expense; provided, however, that the Issuer shall have delivered to the Trustee, at least five Business Days prior to the date of the giving of the notice of redemption (or such shorter period as is acceptable to the Trustee), an Officer’s Certificate requesting that the Trustee give such notice and setting forth the information to be stated in the notice as provided in the preceding paragraph. The notice sent in the manner herein provided shall be deemed to have been duly given whether or not the Holder receives such notice. In any case, failure to give such notice or any defect in the notice to the Holder of any Note shall not affect the validity of the proceeding for the redemption of any other Note.

 

Section 3.4.      Effect of Notice of Redemption. Subject to the next paragraph, once notice of redemption is delivered in accordance with Section 3.3, Notes called for redemption become due and payable on the redemption date at the applicable redemption price.

 

Any notice of redemption may, at the Issuer’s discretion, be subject to the satisfaction or waiver of one or more conditions precedent, including completion of an Equity Offering, financing transaction, Change of Control or other corporate transaction. In addition, if such redemption is subject to satisfaction or waiver of one or more conditions precedent, such notice shall state that, in the Issuer’s discretion, the redemption date may be delayed until such time as any or all such conditions shall be satisfied or waived, or such redemption may not occur and such notice may be rescinded in the event that any or all such conditions shall not have been satisfied or waived by the redemption date, or by the redemption date so delayed. The Issuer shall provide written notice of the satisfaction or waiver of such conditions, the delay of such redemption date or the rescission of such notice of redemption to the Trustee and the Holders no later than the Business Day prior to the redemption date, and upon receipt the Trustee shall provide such notice to each Holder in the same manner in which the notice of redemption was given.

 

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Section 3.5.      Deposit of Redemption Price. On or before 1:00 p.m. (New York City time) on the redemption date, the Issuer shall deposit with the Trustee or with the Paying Agent (other than the Issuer or an Affiliate of the Issuer) money sufficient to pay the redemption price, together with accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the applicable redemption date on all Notes to be redeemed on that date. The Trustee or the Paying Agent shall promptly return to the Issuer any money deposited with the Trustee or the Paying Agent by the Issuer in excess of the amounts necessary to pay the redemption price and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the applicable redemption date on all Notes to be redeemed.

 

If the Issuer has deposited with the Trustee or Paying Agent money sufficient to pay the redemption price of, and unpaid and accrued interest, if any, on, all Notes to be redeemed, on and after the redemption, interest shall cease to accrue on the Notes or the portions of Notes called for redemption (regardless of whether certificates for such securities are actually surrendered). If a Note is redeemed on or after an interest record date but on or prior to the related interest payment date, then any accrued and unpaid interest shall be paid to the Person in whose name such Note was registered at the close of business on such record date. If any Note called for redemption shall not be so paid upon surrender for redemption because of the failure of the Issuer to comply with the preceding paragraph, interest shall be paid on the unpaid principal from the redemption date until such principal is paid, and to the extent lawful on any interest not paid on such unpaid principal, in each case, at the rate provided in the Notes and in Section 4.1.

 

Section 3.6.      Notes Redeemed in Part. Upon surrender and cancellation of a Note that is redeemed in part, the Issuer shall issue and, upon the written request of an Officer of the Issuer, the Trustee shall authenticate for the Holder at the expense of the Issuer a new Note equal in principal amount to the unredeemed portion of the Note surrendered and canceled; provided that each such new Note will be in a minimum principal amount of $2,000 or integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof.

 

Section 3.7.      Optional Redemption.

 

(a)          The Notes may be redeemed, in whole or in part, at any time or from time to time prior to February 15, 2024 at the option of the Issuer, at a redemption price equal to 100.0% of the principal amount of the Notes redeemed plus the Applicable Premium as of, and accrued and unpaid interest thereon, if any, to, but excluding, the applicable redemption date (subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date).

 

(b)          At any time or from time to time on or after February 15, 2024, the Issuer, at its option, may redeem the Notes in whole or in part, at the redemption prices (expressed as percentages of principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed) set forth below, together with accrued and unpaid interest thereon, if any, to, but excluding, the applicable redemption date (subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date that is on or prior to the applicable redemption date), if redeemed during the 12-month period beginning on February 15 of the years indicated below:

 

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Year   Redemption Price  
2024     103.188 %
2025     101.594 %
2026 and thereafter     100.000 %

 

(c)          In the event that prior to February 15, 2024, the Issuer receives net cash proceeds from one or more Equity Offerings, the Issuer may use an amount not greater than the amount of such net cash proceeds to redeem up to 40.0% of the original aggregate principal amount of all Notes issued (calculated after giving effect to any issuance of Additional Notes) at a redemption price of 106.375% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but excluding, the applicable redemption date (subject to the rights of Holders of Notes on the relevant regular record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date that is on or prior to the applicable redemption date); provided that:

 

(1)            at least 50.0% of the aggregate principal amount of Notes issued on the Issue Date remains outstanding immediately after giving effect to each such redemption; and

 

(2)            the redemption occurs not more than 120 days after the date of the closing of any such Equity Offering.

 

(d)          If Holders of not less than 90.0% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Notes validly tender and do not withdraw such Notes in connection with any tender offer or other offer to purchase the Notes (including pursuant to a Change of Control Offer, Alternate Offer or an offer to purchase with the proceeds from any Asset Disposition) and the Issuer, or any other Person making such offer in lieu of the Issuer, purchases all of the Notes validly tendered and not validly withdrawn by such Holders, the Issuer will have the right, upon not less than ten nor more than 60 days’ prior notice, to redeem all Notes that remain outstanding following such purchase (and the Holders of such remaining Notes shall be deemed to have consented to surrender their Notes) at a redemption price in cash equal to the applicable price paid to Holders in such purchase, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to but excluding the redemption date (subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on an interest payment date that is on or prior to the date of redemption).

 

(e)            Nothing in this Indenture shall limit the ability of the Issuer or its Affiliates to purchase or acquire Notes in open-market purchases, tender or exchange offers or other negotiated transactions or otherwise.

 

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ARTICLE IV
COVENANTS

 

Section 4.1.        Payment of Notes.

 

(a)            The Issuer shall pay or cause to be paid the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Notes on the dates and in the manner provided in the Notes. Principal, premium, if any, and interest shall be considered paid for all purposes hereunder on the date the Trustee or the Paying Agent (if other than the Issuer or a Subsidiary thereof) holds, as of 1:00 p.m. (New York City time) on the relevant payment date, U.S. dollars deposited by the Issuer in immediately available funds and designated for and sufficient to pay all such principal, premium, if any, and interest then due.

 

(b)            The Issuer shall pay interest (including post-petition interest in any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law) on overdue principal at the rate equal to the then-applicable interest rate on the Notes to the extent lawful; it shall pay interest (including post-petition interest in any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law) on overdue installments of interest (without regard to any applicable grace period), at the same rate to the extent lawful.

 

Section 4.2.        Maintenance of Office or Agency. The Issuer shall maintain an office or agency in the United States where Notes may be surrendered for registration of transfer or for exchange and where notices and demands to or upon the Issuer and the Subsidiary Guarantors in respect of the Notes and this Indenture may be served. The Issuer shall give prompt written notice to the Trustee of the location, and any change in the location, of such office or agency. If at any time the Issuer shall fail to maintain any such required office or agency or shall fail to furnish the Trustee with the address thereof, such presentations, surrenders, notices and demands may be made or served at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee; provided that, no office of the Trustee shall be an office or agency of the Issuer for the purposes of service of legal process on the Issuer or any Subsidiary Guarantor, and the Trustee shall have no duty to cause any such presentations, surrenders, notices or demands to be delivered to the Issuer.

 

The Issuer may also from time to time designate one or more other offices or agencies where the Notes may be presented or surrendered for any or all such purposes and may from time to time rescind such designations; provided that no such designation or rescission shall in any manner relieve the Issuer of its obligation to maintain an office or agency in the United States for such purposes. The Issuer shall give prompt written notice to the Trustee of any such designation or rescission and of any change in the location of any such other office or agency.

 

The Issuer hereby designates the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee as one such office or agency of the Issuer in accordance with Section 2.3.

 

Section 4.3.        Provision of Financial Information.

 

(a)            Whether or not the Issuer is subject to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, or any successor provision thereto, the Issuer shall provide to the Trustee and Holders the annual reports, quarterly reports and other reports which the Issuer would have been required to file with the SEC pursuant to such Section 13(a) or 15(d), or any successor provision thereto if the Issuer were so required, such documents to be provided to the Trustee and Holders on or prior to the respective dates by which the Issuer would have been required to file such documents with the SEC if the Issuer were so required (including any applicable extensions thereto); provided that any such reports and documents filed with the SEC pursuant to its Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval system (“EDGAR”) (or any successor system) or made publicly available on the Issuer’s website shall be deemed to have been delivered to the Trustee and the Holders of Notes for purposes of the foregoing requirements.

 

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(b)           So long as any of the Notes remain outstanding, if at any time the Issuer is not subject to Section 13(a) or 15(d) under the Exchange Act, the Issuer will make available to any prospective purchaser of Notes or beneficial owner of Notes, upon their request, the information required by Rule 144A(d)(4) under the Securities Act, until such time as the Holders of the Notes, other than Holders that are Affiliates of the Issuer, are able to sell all such Notes immediately without restriction pursuant to the provisions of Rule 144 under the Securities Act, or any successor provision thereto.

 

(c)           In the event that any direct or indirect parent company of the Issuer becomes a guarantor of the Notes, the Issuer may satisfy its obligations under this Section 4.3 with respect to financial information relating to the Issuer by furnishing financial information relating to such parent company; provided that, to the extent that, in the reasonable judgment of the Issuer there are material differences between the financial information of the Issuer, on the one hand, and such parent company, on the other hand, the same shall be accompanied by consolidating information that explains in reasonable detail the differences between the information relating to such parent company, on the one hand, and the information relating to the Issuer and its Subsidiaries on a stand-alone basis, on the other hand. The Issuer will be deemed to have furnished the reports referred to in this Section 4.3 if the Issuer or any parent company has filed the corresponding reports containing such information relating to the Issuer or such parent company with the SEC via the EDGAR filing system (or any successor system).

 

(d)           So long as any of the Notes remain outstanding (unless restricted by law, including in connection with any proposed securities offering), the Issuer will:

 

(1)            not later than 15 Business Days after filing or furnishing a copy of each of the reports referred to in this Section 4.3 with the SEC or the Trustee, hold a conference call to discuss the results of operations for the relevant reporting period, with the opportunity to ask questions of management (the Issuer may satisfy the requirements of this clause (1) by holding the required conference call within the time period required by this clause (1) as part of any earnings call of the Issuer or any parent); and

 

(2)            issue a press release or otherwise announce to the Holders prior to the date of the conference call required to be held in accordance with this paragraph, announcing the time and date of such conference call and either including all information necessary to access the call or directing Holders, prospective investors, broker-dealers and securities analysts to contact the appropriate person at the Issuer to obtain such information.

 

(e)           Any and all Defaults or Events of Default arising from a failure to furnish in a timely manner any information required by this Section 4.3 shall be deemed cured and no longer continuing (and the Issuer shall be deemed to be in compliance with this Section 4.3) upon furnishing such information as contemplated by this Section 4.3 (but without regard to the date on which such financial statement or report is so furnished).

 

(f)           Delivery of reports and documents to the Trustee is for informational purposes only and the Trustee’s receipt of such shall not constitute actual or constructive knowledge or notice of any information contained therein or determinable from information contained therein, including the Issuer’s or any Subsidiary Guarantor’s, as the case may be, compliance with any of its covenants under this Indenture (which the Trustee has no duty to monitor and as to which the Trustee is entitled to rely exclusively on Officer’s Certificates of the Issuer, if presented to the Trustee). The Trustee shall have no obligation or responsibility to determine whether the Issuer is required to file any reports or other information with the SEC, whether the Issuer’s information is available on EDGAR (or any successor system) or whether the Issuer has otherwise delivered any notice or report in accordance with the requirements specified in this Section 4.3.

 

Section 4.4.       Compliance Certificate.

 

(a)           The Issuer shall deliver to the Trustee, within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year of the Issuer, beginning with the fiscal year ending December 31, 2021, an Officer’s Certificate stating whether the Officers signing such certificate know of any Event of Default that occurred during such fiscal year.

 

(b)           The Issuer shall, so long as any of the Notes are outstanding, deliver to the Trustee, within 30 days of any executive Officer having knowledge thereof, written notice of any event that is continuing which constitutes a Default, its status and what action the Issuer is taking or proposes to take in respect thereof.

 

Section 4.5.       Taxes. The Issuer shall pay, and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to pay, prior to delinquency all material taxes, assessments and governmental levies, except such as are contested in good faith and by appropriate proceedings and with respect to which appropriate reserves have been taken in accordance with GAAP or where the failure to effect such payment is not adverse in any material respect to the Holders of the Notes.

 

Section 4.6.       Stay, Extension and Usury Laws. The Issuer and each of the Subsidiary Guarantors covenants (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) that it shall not at any time insist upon, plead, or in any manner whatsoever claim or take the benefit or advantage of, any stay, extension or usury law wherever enacted, now or at any time hereafter in force, that may affect the covenants or the performance of this Indenture, and the Issuer and each of the Subsidiary Guarantors (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) hereby expressly waives all benefit or advantage of any such law, and covenants that it shall not, by resort to any such law, hinder, delay or impede the execution of any power herein granted to the Trustee, but shall suffer and permit the execution of every such power as though no such law has been enacted.

 

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Section 4.7.       Limitation on Restricted Payments.

 

(a)           The Issuer shall not, and shall not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to:

 

(1)            directly or indirectly, declare or pay any dividend on, or make any distribution (including any payment in connection with any merger or consolidation derived from assets of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary) in respect of its Capital Stock or to the holders thereof in their capacity as holders of Capital Stock, other than:

 

(i)            any dividends or distributions by the Issuer payable solely in shares of its Capital Stock (other than Redeemable Stock) or in options, warrants or other rights to acquire its Capital Stock (other than Redeemable Stock); and

 

(ii)           in the case of a Restricted Subsidiary, dividends or distributions payable to the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary or, in the case of dividends or distributions made by a Restricted Subsidiary that is not wholly owned, dividends or distributions are made on a pro rata basis (or on a basis more favorable to the Issuer);

 

(2)            purchase, redeem or otherwise acquire or retire for value any Capital Stock of the Issuer, other than in exchange for Capital Stock (other than Redeemable Stock) of the Issuer thereof;

 

(3)            make any Investment in any Person, other than a Permitted Investment; and

 

(4)            redeem, repurchase, defease, prepay or otherwise acquire or retire for value, prior to any scheduled maturity, repayment or sinking fund payment, any Subordinated Debt (other than Debt owed by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary to another Restricted Subsidiary or the Issuer, or any such payment on Debt due within one year of the date of redemption, repurchase, defeasance, prepayment, decrease or other acquisition or retirement)

 

(each of clauses (1) through (4) above being a “Restricted Payment”) unless:

 

(i)             no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or would result from such Restricted Payment;

 

(ii)            after giving pro forma effect to such Restricted Payment as if such Restricted Payment had been made at the beginning of the applicable four fiscal-quarter period, the Issuer could Incur at least $1.00 of additional Debt pursuant to Section 4.9(a); and

 

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(iii)           upon giving effect to such Restricted Payment, the aggregate amount of all Restricted Payments declared or made subsequent to the Merger Closing Date (other than pursuant to clauses (2) and (4) through (17) of Section 4.7(b)) does not exceed the sum of:

 

(1)           an amount (which may not be less than zero) equal to 50% of cumulative Consolidated Net Income (or, in the case Consolidated Net Income shall be negative, less 100% of such deficit) of the Issuer since January 1, 2021 through the last day of the last full fiscal quarter ending immediately preceding the date of such Restricted Payment for which quarterly or annual financial statements are publicly available (taken as a single accounting period); plus

 

(2)           (i) 100% of the aggregate net cash proceeds, and the Fair Market Value of property other than cash, in each case received by the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary after the Merger Closing Date from contributions of capital or the issuance and sale (other than to a Subsidiary of the Issuer and Excluded Contributions) of Capital Stock (other than Redeemable Stock) of the Issuer or any options, warrants or other rights to acquire Capital Stock (other than Redeemable Stock) of the Issuer, or any net payment received by the Issuer in connection with the termination or settlement of options relating to its Capital Stock; provided that any such net proceeds received by the Issuer from an employee stock ownership plan financed by loans from the Issuer or its Subsidiaries shall be included only to the extent such loans have been repaid with cash on or prior to the date of determination, (ii) 100% of the aggregate net cash proceeds received by the Issuer after the Merger Closing Date from the issuance and sale of convertible or exchangeable Debt of the Issuer that has been converted into or exchanged for Capital Stock (other than Redeemable Stock and other than by or from a Subsidiary of the Issuer and Excluded Contributions) of the Issuer; provided that any such net proceeds received by the Issuer from an employee stock ownership plan financed by loans from the Issuer or its Subsidiaries shall be included only to the extent such loans have been repaid with cash on or prior to the date of determination, and (iii) without duplication, any reduction of Debt on the balance sheet of the Issuer to the extent such Debt is converted into or exchanged for Capital Stock of the Issuer (other than Redeemable Stock) after the Merger Closing Date; plus

 

(3)           in the case of a Disposition, liquidation or repayment (including by way of dividends) of Investments by the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries, subsequent to the Merger Closing Date, in any Person subject to clause (3) above, an amount (to the extent not included in Consolidated Net Income) equal to the lesser of the return on capital with respect to such Investment and the initial amount of such Investment, in either case, less the cost of the Disposition of such Investment and net of taxes; plus

 

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(4)            in the case of a designation of an Unrestricted Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary, the Fair Market Value of the Issuer’s interest in such Subsidiary; plus

 

(5)            $50.0 million.

 

(b)           Notwithstanding the foregoing, Section 4.7(a) will not prohibit:

 

(1)            payment of any dividend on Capital Stock of any class within 60 days after the declaration thereof, or redemption of any Subordinated Debt within 30 days after giving notice of redemption thereof, if, on the date when the dividend was declared or such notice of redemption given, the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary could have paid such dividend or redeemed such Subordinated Debt in accordance with this Section 4.7;

 

(2)            repayment or refinancing of any Subordinated Debt with Permitted Refinancing Debt, or any Restricted Payment made in exchange for, by conversion into or out of the net proceeds of the substantially concurrent sale (other than from or to a Subsidiary of the Issuer or from or to an employee stock ownership plan financed by loans from the Issuer or its Subsidiaries) of shares of Capital Stock (other than Redeemable Stock) of the Issuer;

 

(3)            the acquisition of shares of Capital Stock in connection with (x) the exercise of employee or director stock options or stock appreciation rights by way of cashless exercise and the withholding of a portion of such Capital Stock to pay taxes associated therewith, and (y) the purchase of fractional shares of Capital Stock of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary arising out of stock dividends, splits or combinations or business combinations, or in connection with the exercise of warrants, options or other securities convertible or exchangeable for Capital Stock of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary;

 

(4)            the acquisition of shares of the Issuer’s Capital Stock pursuant to equity repurchases from future, present or former directors, officers or employees in an amount of up to $5.0 million per any fiscal year (with unused amounts in any period permitted to be carried over to succeeding periods until used in full; provided that the total amount of such purchases or redemptions under this clause (4) in any fiscal year shall not exceed $10.0 million);

 

(5)            dividends on Redeemable Stock of the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary, or dividends on Preferred Stock of a Restricted Subsidiary, in each case Incurred in compliance with Section 4.9;

 

(6)            the payment of cash in lieu of the issuance of Capital Stock in connection with the exercise of warrants or options, or the conversion, retirement, repurchase or redemption of any series of convertible debt securities of the Issuer or its Restricted Subsidiaries;

 

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(7)            upon the occurrence of a Change of Control, an Alternate Offer or an Asset Disposition and after the completion of the Offer to Purchase under Section 4.10 or 4.13 (including the purchase of all Notes tendered and required to be purchased), any purchase, repurchase, redemption, defeasance, acquisition or other retirement for value of Subordinated Debt, Redeemable Stock or Preferred Stock required under the terms thereof as a result of such Change of Control, Alternate Offer or Asset Disposition at a purchase or redemption price not to exceed 101% (in the case of a Change of Control) or 100% (in the case of an Asset Disposition) of the outstanding principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon, if any; provided that, in the case of an Asset Disposition, such purchase, repurchase, redemption, defeasance, acquisition or other retirement for value of Subordinated Debt, Redeemable Stock or Preferred Stock does not exceed the Net Available Cash Proceeds from such Asset Disposition;

 

(8)            the payment of the deferred purchase price or earn-outs, including holdbacks (and the receipt of any corresponding consideration therefor), or payments with respect to fractional shares, in each case in connection with an acquisition to the extent such payment would have been permitted by this Indenture at the time of such acquisition;

 

(9)            any payment that is intended to prevent any Debt from being treated as an “applicable high yield discount obligation” within the meaning of Section 163(i)(1) of the Code;

 

(10)          so long as no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or would be caused hereby, the declaration and payment of dividends or distributions on Capital Stock of the Issuer in an aggregate amount not to exceed 6.00% of Market Capitalization in any fiscal year;

 

(11)          Restricted Payments that are made with Excluded Contributions;

 

(12)          the Issuer may repurchase shares of its common stock from the Insurance Subsidiary (A) in an amount necessary to (i) pay operating costs and expenses of the Insurance Subsidiary incurred in the ordinary course of business (not to exceed $250,000 per fiscal year of the Issuer) and (ii) permit the Insurance Subsidiary to make payments on insurance claims of the Issuer and/or any of its Subsidiaries with the proceeds of such repurchase and (B) in exchange for the issuance of one or more notes or other forms of Debt owed to the Insurance Subsidiary;

 

(13)          the Insurance Subsidiary may purchase shares of the common stock of the Issuer from the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary;

 

(14)          Restricted Payments in an aggregate amount such that, after giving pro forma effect thereto, the Total Net Leverage Ratio of the Issuer would not exceed 2.75 to 1.00;

 

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(15)            other Restricted Payments in an aggregate amount not to exceed $100.0 million in any fiscal year;

 

(16)            payments to consummate the Transactions and to pay amounts pursuant to the Merger Agreement; and

 

(17)            payments or distributions of Securitization Fees;

 

provided, however, that at the time of, and after giving effect to, any Restricted Payment permitted under clauses (4), (5), (7), (10), (14) and (15), no Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would otherwise occur as a consequence thereof.

 

(c)            For purposes of determining compliance with this Section 4.7, if a Restricted Payment meets the criteria of more than one of the types of Restricted Payments described in clauses (1) through (17) of Section 4.7(b) or pursuant to Section 4.7(a), the Issuer, in its sole discretion, may divide, order and classify, and subsequently reorder and reclassify, such Restricted Payment in any manner in compliance with this Section 4.7 and shall only be required to include the amount in one of such clauses.

 

Section 4.8.        Limitation on Dividend and Other Payment Restrictions Affecting Restricted Subsidiaries.

 

(a)            The Issuer shall not, and shall not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, directly or indirectly, create or permit to exist or become effective any contractual encumbrance or restriction on the ability of any Restricted Subsidiary:

 

(1)            to pay dividends (in cash or otherwise) or make any other distributions in respect of its Capital Stock owned by the Issuer or any other Restricted Subsidiary or pay any Debt or other obligation owed to the Issuer or any other Restricted Subsidiary (it being understood that the priority of any Preferred Stock in receiving dividends, distributions or liquidating distributions prior to dividends, distributions or liquidating distributions being paid on Capital Stock shall not be deemed a restriction on the ability to make distributions on Capital Stock);

 

(2)            to make loans or advances to the Issuer or any other Restricted Subsidiary; or

 

(3)            otherwise to transfer any of its property or assets to the Issuer or any other Restricted Subsidiary.

 

(b)           Notwithstanding the restrictions in Section 4.8(a), the Issuer may, and may permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, suffer to exist any such encumbrance or restriction:

 

(1)            pursuant to any agreement in effect on the Merger Closing Date (including the Senior Credit Facilities and other documents relating to the Senior Credit Facilities);

 

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(2)            pursuant to this Indenture, the Notes and the Subsidiary Guarantees;

 

(3)            pursuant to an agreement relating to any Debt Incurred by or Capital Stock of a Person (other than a Restricted Subsidiary existing on the Merger Closing Date or any Restricted Subsidiary carrying on any of the businesses of any such Restricted Subsidiary) prior to the date on which such Person became a Restricted Subsidiary and outstanding on such date and not Incurred in connection with, or anticipation of, becoming a Restricted Subsidiary; provided that the Incurrence of such Debt was permitted under Section 4.9;

 

(4)            pursuant to an agreement effecting a renewal, refunding, replacement, refinancing or extension of Debt Incurred pursuant to an agreement referred to in clause (1) or (3) of this Section 4.8(b); provided, however, that the provisions contained in such renewal, refunding, replacement, refinancing or extension agreement relating to such encumbrance or restriction are not materially more restrictive, taken as a whole, than the provisions contained in the agreement being renewed, refunded, replaced, refinanced or extended (as conclusively determined by the Issuer in good faith);

 

(5)            in the case of a restriction described in clause (3) of Section 4.8(a), contained in any security agreement securing Debt of a Restricted Subsidiary otherwise permitted under this Indenture, but only to the extent such restrictions restrict the transfer of the assets or property subject to such security agreement; provided that any such encumbrance or restriction is released to the extent the underlying Lien is released or the related Debt repaid;

 

(6)            customary restrictions in leases (including finance leases), subleases, licenses, sublicenses, security agreements or mortgages or other purchase money obligations for property acquired in the ordinary course of business that impose restrictions on the property purchased or leased of the nature described in clause (3) of Section 4.8(a);

 

(7)            Liens permitted to be Incurred pursuant to Section 4.12 that limit the right of the debtor to Dispose of the assets subject to such Liens;

 

(8)            with respect to a Restricted Subsidiary, imposed pursuant to an agreement which has been entered into for the sale or Disposition of all or substantially all of the Capital Stock or assets of such Restricted Subsidiary; provided that such restriction terminates if such transaction is closed or abandoned;

 

(9)            in bona fide contracts for the sale of any property or assets;

 

(10)          any encumbrance or restriction contained in the terms of any Debt or Capital Stock otherwise permitted to be Incurred under this Indenture if the Issuer determines that any such encumbrance or restriction either (i) will not materially affect the Issuer’s ability to make principal or interest payments on the Notes and such restrictions are not materially less favorable to Holders of Notes than is customary in comparable financings or (ii) are not materially more restrictive, taken as a whole, with respect to any Restricted Subsidiary than those in effect on the Merger Closing Date with respect to that Restricted Subsidiary pursuant to agreements in effect on the Merger Closing Date or those contained in this Indenture or the Senior Credit Facilities, in each case as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors or an Officer of the Issuer;

 

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(11)            restrictions applicable to Foreign Subsidiaries in agreements or instruments governing Debt of Foreign Subsidiaries;

 

(12)            if such encumbrance or restriction is the result of applicable laws or regulations;

 

(13)            customary provisions in joint venture agreements and other similar agreements entered into in the ordinary course of business;

 

(14)            restrictions on cash or other deposits imposed by customers under contracts entered into in the ordinary course of business;

 

(15)            customary provisions restricting assignment of any agreement entered into in the ordinary course of business;

 

(16)            consensual arrangements with insurance regulators with respect to the Insurance Subsidiary;

 

(17)            customary net worth provisions contained in real property leases entered into by the Issuer and the Restricted Subsidiaries, so long as the Issuer has determined in good faith that such net worth provisions would not reasonably be expected to impair the ability of the Issuer and the Restricted Subsidiaries to meet their ongoing obligations under this Indenture and the Notes; and

 

(18)            customary prohibitions, conditions and restrictions (as determined by the Issuer in good faith) contained in agreements and documents relating to any Qualified Securitization Transaction.

 

Section 4.9.       Limitation on Debt.

 

(a)           The Issuer shall not, and shall not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, Incur any Debt except that the Issuer and any Restricted Subsidiary may Incur Debt if after giving pro forma effect to the Incurrence of such Debt and the receipt and application of the proceeds thereof the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio of the Issuer would have been 2.00 to 1.00 or greater (“Ratio Debt”); provided that the aggregate principal amount of Debt Incurred by Restricted Subsidiaries that are not Subsidiary Guarantors pursuant to this Section 4.9(a) shall not exceed $50.0 million.

 

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(b)           Notwithstanding Section 4.9(a), the following Debt may be Incurred (collectively, the “Permitted Debt”):

 

(1)              Debt of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary under one or more Debt Facilities in an aggregate principal amount Incurred under this clause (1) at any one time outstanding not to exceed the sum of (i) $875.0 million, plus (ii) the greater of (x) $700.0 million and (y) the Borrowing Base, plus (iii) the greater of (x) $500.0 million and (y) 100% of Consolidated EBITDA for the most recently ended Reference Period determined at the time of Incurrence, plus (iv) an amount such that, after giving pro forma effect thereto, the Secured Net Leverage Ratio (treating all Debt Incurred under this clause (1) as secured by Liens on the assets of the Issuer, including all undrawn amounts under the Issuer’s revolving portion of any Debt Facility) of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries would not exceed 2.00 to 1.00, plus, in the case of any refinancing of any Debt permitted under this clause (1) or any portion thereof, any increase in the amount of such Debt in connection with any refinancing expenses, accrued and unpaid interest, premiums and other costs and expenses incurred in connection therewith;

 

(2)              Debt consisting of the Notes (other than any Additional Notes);

 

(3)              [reserved];

 

(4)              Debt of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary not otherwise referred to in clause (1) or clause (3) of this Section 4.9(b) outstanding (i) on the Issue Date and (ii) to the extent not included in subclause (i) of this clause (4) and solely to the extent permitted to remain outstanding under the terms of the Merger Agreement, on the Merger Closing Date;

 

(5)              Debt owed by the Issuer to any Restricted Subsidiary or Debt owed by a Restricted Subsidiary to the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary; provided, however, that:

 

(A)            any such Debt owing by the Issuer or a Subsidiary Guarantor to a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Subsidiary Guarantor shall be expressly subordinated to the prior payment in full in cash of all obligations with respect to the Notes, and

 

(B)             upon either the transfer or other Disposition by such Restricted Subsidiary or the Issuer of any Debt so permitted to a Person other than the Issuer or another Restricted Subsidiary or the issuance (other than directors’ qualifying shares), sale, lease, transfer or other Disposition of shares of Capital Stock (including by consolidation or merger) of such Restricted Subsidiary to a Person other than the Issuer or another Restricted Subsidiary such that it ceases to be a Restricted Subsidiary, the provisions of this clause (5) shall no longer be applicable to such Debt and such Debt shall be deemed to have been Incurred at the time of such transfer or other Disposition;

 

(6)              [reserved];

 

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(7)              the Subsidiary Guarantees and Guarantees by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary of any obligations of the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary not prohibited under this Indenture;

 

(8)              Debt of the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries represented by Finance Lease Obligations or purchase money obligations Incurred for the purpose of financing all or any part of the purchase price or cost of construction or improvement of property, plant or equipment used in the business of the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary, in an aggregate principal amount, including all Debt Incurred to refund or refinance any Debt Incurred pursuant to this clause (8), not to exceed, at any one time outstanding, the greater of (x) $25.0 million and (y) 5.0% of Consolidated EBITDA determined for the most recently ended Reference Period at the time of Incurrence (it being understood that any Debt Incurred pursuant to this clause (8) shall cease to be deemed Incurred or outstanding for purposes of this clause (8) but shall be deemed Incurred as Ratio Debt from and after the first date on which the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary could have Incurred such Debt as Ratio Debt without reliance on this clause (8));

 

(9)              Debt of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary consisting of or pursuant to (i) Permitted Swap Agreements and (ii) Cash Management Agreements entered into in the ordinary course of business;

 

(10)            Permitted Acquisition Debt;

 

(11)            Debt of Foreign Subsidiaries in an aggregate amount Incurred pursuant to this clause (11) not to exceed, at any one time outstanding, the greater of (x) $25.0 million and (y) 5.0% of Consolidated EBITDA determined for the most recently ended Reference Period (it being understood that any Debt Incurred pursuant to this clause (11) shall cease to be deemed Incurred or outstanding for purposes of this clause (11) but shall be deemed Incurred as Ratio Debt from and after the first date on which such Foreign Subsidiary could have Incurred such Debt as Ratio Debt without reliance on this clause (11));

 

(12)            Permitted Refinancing Debt which is exchanged for or the proceeds of which are used to refinance or refund, or any extension or renewal of Debt Incurred pursuant to Section 4.9(a), clause (2), (4), (7), (8), (10), (11), (18), (21), (22) or (23) of this definition of “Permitted Debt,” subclause (y) of clause (24) of this definition of “Permitted Debt” and this clause (12);

 

(13)            Debt in the form of indemnification, purchase price adjustments (including in respect of working capital), deferred compensation, earn-outs or other similar obligations, in each case, Incurred in connection with any Investment or the acquisition or Disposition of any business, assets or Subsidiaries;

 

(14)            Debt Incurred by the Issuer or its Restricted Subsidiaries under performance, bid, surety, release, appeal and similar bonds and statutory obligations, Debt in respect of workers’ compensation, health, disability or other employee benefits or property, unemployment, casualty or liability insurance, self-insurance obligations, and completion Guarantees (not for borrowed money) provided in the ordinary course of business, pursuant to reimbursement or indemnification obligations, in each case Incurred in the ordinary course of business, and reimbursement obligations in respect of any of the foregoing;

 

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(15)            Debt Incurred in the ordinary course of business in connection with the financing of insurance premiums or self-insurance obligations or take-or-pay obligations contained in supply or similar agreements;

 

(16)            Debt of the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries arising from the honoring by a bank or other financial institution of a check, draft or similar instrument drawn against insufficient funds in the ordinary course of business;

 

(17)            Debt Incurred and applied to repay the Notes;

 

(18)            Debt Incurred pursuant to sale/leaseback transactions that does not exceed the greater of (x) $25.0 million and (y) 5.0% of Consolidated EBITDA for the most recently ended Reference Period determined at the time of Incurrence;

 

(19)            Debt of a joint venture to the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary and to the other holders of Capital Stock of, or participants in, such joint venture, so long as the percentage of the aggregate amount of such Debt of such joint venture owed to such holders of its Capital Stock or participants of such joint venture does not exceed the percentage of the aggregate outstanding amount of the Capital Stock of such joint venture held by such holders or such participant’s participation in such joint venture;

 

(20)            Debt in respect of letters of credit, bank Guarantees or similar instruments issued to support performance obligations and trade letters of credit (other than obligations in respect of other Debt) in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practice or industry practices;

 

(21)            (i) Debt Incurred by any Securitization Subsidiary in connection with any Qualified Securitization Transaction and (ii) Standard Securitization Undertakings Incurred by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary in connection with any Qualified Securitization Transaction;

 

(22)            Guarantees by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary in respect of Debt of franchisees not to exceed, at any one time outstanding the greater of (x) $25.0 million and (y) 5.0% of Consolidated EBITDA for the most recently ended Reference Period determined at the time of Incurrence;

 

(23)            Debt of the Company and any Restricted Subsidiary to the Insurance Subsidiary in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $75.0 million at any time outstanding that cannot be subordinated to the obligations of the Issuer and the Guarantors under the Transaction Documents for regulatory reasons or would cause the carrying value for regulatory valuation purposes to be increased;

 

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(24)            in addition to the items referred to in clauses (1) through (23) above, Debt of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary which, together with any other outstanding Debt Incurred pursuant to this clause (24), and including any renewals, extensions, substitutions, refinancings or replacements of such Debt, has an aggregate principal amount not to exceed, at any one time outstanding, the greater of (x) $250.0 million and (y) 50.0% of Consolidated EBITDA for the most recently ended Reference Period determined at the time of Incurrence; and

 

(25)            Debt representing deferred compensation to employees, officers or directors of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries Incurred in the ordinary course of business.

 

(c)           For purposes of determining compliance with, and the outstanding principal amount of any particular Debt Incurred pursuant to, and in compliance with, this Section 4.9:

 

(1)              in the event that Debt meets the criteria of more than one of the types of Debt described in Section 4.9(a) and 4.9(b), the Issuer, in its sole discretion, may divide or classify such item of Debt on the date of Incurrence (or later classify or reclassify such Debt, in its sole discretion) in any manner permitted by this Section 4.9 and shall only be required to include the amount and type of such Debt in one of such clauses; provided that all Debt outstanding on or prior to the Merger Closing Date (a) under the Term Loan Credit Agreement shall be deemed Incurred under subclause (i) of Section 4.9(b)(1) and may not later be reclassified and (b) under the ABL Credit Agreement shall be deemed Incurred under subclause (ii) of Section 4.9(b)(1) and may not later be reclassified;

 

(2)             Guarantees of, or obligations in respect of letters of credit relating to, Debt which is otherwise included in the determination of a particular amount of Debt shall not be included;

 

(3)             the principal amount of any Redeemable Stock of the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary will be equal to the liquidation preference thereof;

 

(4)              Debt permitted by this Section 4.9 need not be permitted solely by reference to one provision permitting such Debt but may be permitted in part by one such provision and in part by one or more other provisions of this Section 4.9 permitting such Debt; and

 

(5)              the amount of Debt issued at a price that is less than the principal amount thereof will be equal to the amount of the liability in respect thereof determined in accordance with GAAP.

 

(d)           Accrual of interest, accrual of dividends, the accretion of accreted value, the payment of interest in the form of additional Debt and the payment of dividends in the form of additional shares of Preferred Stock or Redeemable Stock will not be deemed to be an Incurrence of Debt for purposes of this Section 4.9.

 

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(e)           For purposes of determining compliance with any U.S. dollar-denominated restriction on the Incurrence of Debt, the U.S. dollar-equivalent principal amount of Debt denominated in a foreign currency shall be calculated based on the relevant currency exchange rate in effect on the date such Debt was Incurred, in the case of term Debt, or first committed, in the case of revolving credit Debt; provided that if such Debt is Incurred to refinance other Debt denominated in a foreign currency, and such refinancing would cause the applicable U.S. dollar-dominated restriction to be exceeded if calculated at the relevant currency exchange rate in effect on the date of such refinancing, such U.S. dollar-dominated restriction shall be deemed not to have been exceeded so long as the principal amount of such refinancing Debt does not exceed the principal amount of such Debt being refinanced. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 4.9, the maximum amount of Debt that the Issuer may Incur pursuant to this Section 4.9 shall not be deemed to be exceeded solely as a result of fluctuations in the exchange rate of currencies.

 

Section 4.10.      Limitation on Asset Dispositions.

 

(a)           The Issuer shall not, and shall not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, make any Asset Disposition unless:

 

(1)              the Issuer or the Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, receives consideration for such Asset Disposition at least equal to the Fair Market Value (measured as of the date of the definitive agreement with respect to such Asset Disposition) for the assets or Capital Stock sold or Disposed of; and

 

(2)              at least 75% of the consideration for such Asset Disposition consists of:

 

(i)               cash or Cash Equivalents;

 

(ii)              the assumption of Debt or other liabilities of the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary (other than Debt that is subordinated to the Notes or such Restricted Subsidiary’s Subsidiary Guarantee) relating to such assets and release from all liability on the Debt assumed;

 

(iii)             Replacement Assets;

 

(iv)            Designated Noncash Consideration; or

 

(v)             any combination of the foregoing;

 

provided that the amount of any consideration received by the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary that is converted into cash or Cash Equivalents within 180 days of the closing of such Asset Disposition shall be deemed to be cash for purposes of this Section 4.10(a) (to the extent of the cash or Cash Equivalents received). The foregoing clauses (1) or (2) of this Section 4.10(a) shall not apply with respect to any condemnation, event of loss or other involuntary Asset Disposition.

 

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(b)           Within 18 months after the receipt of any Net Available Cash Proceeds from an Asset Disposition, the Issuer (or the applicable Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be), may apply such Net Available Cash Proceeds at its option:

 

(1)              to reduce obligations under (x) the Senior Credit Facilities or (y) Debt (other than Subordinated Debt) that is secured by a Lien, which Lien is permitted by this Indenture, and in the case of revolving loans under clauses (x) and (y), to correspondingly reduce commitments with respect thereto;

 

(2)              to reduce obligations under (x) Pari Passu Debt of the Issuer or the Subsidiary Guarantors (provided that if the Issuer or any Subsidiary Guarantor shall so reduce such obligations other than the Notes, the Issuer will (A) equally and ratably reduce obligations under the Notes as provided in Section 3.7 or through open-market purchases (to the extent such purchases are at or above 100.0% of the principal amount thereof) or (B) make an Offer to Purchase (in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Indenture) to all Holders to purchase at a purchase price equal to 100.0% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, the principal amount of Notes that would otherwise be redeemed under subclause (A) above)) or (y) Debt of a Subsidiary that is not a Subsidiary Guarantor, in each case, other than Debt owed to the Issuer or another Restricted Subsidiary (and, in the case of revolving loans, to correspondingly reduce commitments with respect thereto);

 

(3)              to acquire Replacement Assets or make capital expenditures;

 

provided that the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary will be deemed to have complied with its obligations under this Section 4.10(b) if it enters into a binding commitment to acquire Replacement Assets prior to 18 months after the receipt of the applicable Net Available Cash Proceeds and such acquisition of Replacement Assets is consummated prior to 24 months after the date of receipt of the applicable Net Available Cash Proceeds; provided, further, that upon any abandonment or termination of such commitment, the Net Available Cash Proceeds not so applied shall constitute Excess Proceeds and be applied as set in Section 4.10(c); or

 

(4)              any combination of the foregoing.

 

(c)           Any Net Available Cash Proceeds that are not applied or invested as provided in Section 4.10(b) will constitute “Excess Proceeds.” When the aggregate amount of Excess Proceeds exceeds $50.0 million, or earlier, at the Issuer’s election, the Issuer will apply the Excess Proceeds to the repayment of the Notes and any other Pari Passu Debt outstanding with similar provisions requiring the Issuer to make an Offer to Purchase such Debt with the proceeds from any Asset Disposition as follows:

 

(1)              the Issuer will make an Offer to Purchase from all Holders of the Notes in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Indenture in the maximum principal amount (expressed in amounts of $2,000 or integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof) of Notes that may be purchased out of an amount (the “Note Amount”) equal to the product of such Excess Proceeds multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which is the outstanding principal amount of the Notes, and the denominator of which is the sum of the outstanding principal amount of the Notes and such Pari Passu Debt (subject to proration in the event such amount is less than the aggregate Offered Price (as defined below) for all Notes tendered); and

 

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(2)             to the extent required by such Pari Passu Debt, the Issuer will make an offer to purchase or otherwise repurchase or redeem Pari Passu Debt (a “Pari Passu Offer”) in an amount (the “Pari Passu Debt Amount”) equal to the excess of the Excess Proceeds over the Note Amount. However, in no event will the Issuer be required to make a Pari Passu Offer in a Pari Passu Debt Amount exceeding the principal amount of such Pari Passu Debt plus the amount of any premium required to be paid to repurchase such Pari Passu Debt.

 

The offer price for the Notes will be payable in cash in an amount equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Notes plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but excluding, the date such Offer to Purchase is consummated (the “Offered Price”), in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Indenture. To the extent that the aggregate Offered Price of the Notes tendered pursuant to the Offer to Purchase is less than the Note Amount relating to the tendered Notes or the aggregate amount of Pari Passu Debt that is purchased in a Pari Passu Offer is less than the Pari Passu Debt Amount, the Issuer may use any remaining Excess Proceeds for any purpose. If the aggregate principal amount of Notes and Pari Passu Debt surrendered by holders thereof exceeds the amount of Excess Proceeds, the selection of the Notes and Pari Passu Debt to be purchased shall be designated in writing by the Issuer to the Trustee on a pro rata basis to the extent practicable or, if not, by lot or by such other method as is fair and appropriate and as determined by the Issuer in good faith; provided, that, in the case of Global Notes, beneficial interests in such Notes shall be repurchased on a pro rata basis based on amounts tendered only if such proration is consistent with the procedures of the applicable Depositary; otherwise, such beneficial interests shall be selected for repurchase in accordance with such procedures (subject, in each case, to adjustment to maintain the authorized denominations of the Notes). Upon the completion of the purchase of all the Notes tendered pursuant to an Offer to Purchase and the completion of a Pari Passu Offer, the amount of Excess Proceeds, if any, shall be reset at zero.

 

If the Purchase Date is on or after an interest record date and on or before the related interest payment date, any accrued and unpaid interest, if any, will be paid on the relevant interest payment date to the Person in whose name a Note is registered at the close of business on such record date and will not be paid as part of the Offered Price.

 

(d)           If the Issuer becomes obligated to make an Offer to Purchase pursuant to this Section 4.10, the Notes (in minimum principal amounts of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof), and the Pari Passu Debt shall be purchased by the Issuer, at the option of the Holders thereof, in whole or in part, on a date that is not earlier than 30 days and not later than 60 days from the date the notice of the Offer to Purchase is given to Holders, or such later date as may be necessary for the Issuer to comply with the requirements under the Exchange Act.

 

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(e)           The Issuer shall comply with the requirements of Rule 14e-1 under the Exchange Act and any other applicable securities laws and regulations in connection with the purchase of Notes pursuant to an Offer to Purchase. To the extent that the provisions of any applicable securities laws or regulations conflict with this Section 4.10, the Issuer shall comply with the applicable securities laws and regulations and will not be deemed to have breached its obligations under this Section 4.10 by virtue of such compliance.

 

Section 4.11.      Limitation on Transactions with Affiliates.

 

(a)           The Issuer shall not, and shall not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, directly or indirectly, enter into any transaction or series of related transactions having a value in excess of $10.0 million with or for the benefit of an Affiliate of the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary, including any Investment, either directly or indirectly, unless such transaction is on terms not materially less favorable to the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary than those that could be obtained in a comparable arm’s-length transaction with an entity that is not an Affiliate or is otherwise fair to the Issuer from a financial point of view. In the event any such transaction or series of related transactions involves aggregate value in excess of $35.0 million, such transaction or series of related transactions shall be approved by either (x) a majority of the Disinterested Directors of the Board of Directors of the Issuer, if any, or in the event there is only one Disinterested Director, by such Disinterested Director, or (y) the audit committee of the Board of Directors of the Issuer (with any Director on such committee that is not a Disinterested Director recusing himself or herself).

 

(b)           The preceding requirements shall not apply to:

 

(1)              any transaction pursuant to agreements in effect on the Issue Date, as such agreements may be amended, modified, supplemented, extended or renewed from time to time, so long as any such amendment, modification, supplement, extension or renewal is not more disadvantageous to the Holders in any material respect in the good faith judgment of the Board of Directors or senior management of the Issuer, when taken as a whole, than the terms of the agreements in effect on the Issue Date;

 

(2)              any compensation, insurance, employment agreement, employee benefit arrangements or severance arrangements with any officer, director or employee, including under any stock option or stock incentive plans, entered into by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries and any director, officer, employee or consultant thereof;

 

(3)              transactions between or among the Issuer and/or its Restricted Subsidiaries, by and among Restricted Subsidiaries and any Guarantees issued by the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary for the benefit of the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, in accordance with Section 4.9;

 

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(4)              any transaction with any Person (x) that is not an Affiliate of the Issuer immediately before the consummation of such transaction that becomes an Affiliate of the Issuer as a result of such transaction or (y) that is an Affiliate of the Issuer solely because the Issuer, directly or indirectly, owns Capital Stock in, or controls, such Person;

 

(5)              transactions with joint ventures entered into in the ordinary course of business; provided that no other Affiliate of the Issuer (other than a Subsidiary thereof) directly or indirectly holds any Capital Stock of such joint venture;

 

(6)              payment of reasonable directors fees to Persons who are not otherwise employees of the Issuer;

 

(7)              indemnities and reimbursement obligations of officers, directors and employees of the Issuer or its Subsidiaries or the purchase of indemnification insurance for any director or officer;

 

(8)              any Restricted Payment or Permitted Investment that is permitted to be made pursuant to Section 4.7;

 

(9)              transactions with customers, clients, suppliers or purchasers or sellers of goods or services, in each case in the ordinary course of the business of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries and otherwise in compliance with the terms of this Indenture; provided that in the reasonable determination of the Issuer, such transactions are on terms that are no less favorable to the Issuer or the relevant Restricted Subsidiary than those that could have been obtained at the time of such transactions in a comparable transaction by the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary with an unrelated Person;

 

(10)            the grant, issuance or sale of Capital Stock (other than Redeemable Stock) to Affiliates of the Issuer and the granting of registration rights and other customary rights in connection therewith;

 

(11)            any transaction as to which the Issuer delivers to the Trustee a written opinion of an investment banking firm of national standing or other recognized independent expert with experience in appraising the terms and conditions of the type of transaction or series of related transactions for which an opinion is required stating that the transaction or series of related transactions is fair to the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary from a financial point of view or stating that the terms are no less favorable to the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary than those that could be obtained in a comparable arm’s-length transaction with an entity that is not an Affiliate;

 

(12)            any written agreement entered into or assumed in connection with mergers or acquisitions of other businesses with Persons who were not Affiliates prior to such transactions; provided that such agreement was not entered into in contemplation of such merger or acquisition, and any amendment thereto, so long as any such amendment is not disadvantageous to the Holders in the good faith judgment of the Board of Directors or senior management of the Issuer, when taken as a whole, as compared to the applicable agreement as in effect on the date of such acquisition or merger;

 

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(13)            intercompany transactions undertaken in good faith for the purpose of improving the consolidated tax efficiency of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries;

 

(14)            payroll, travel, business entertainment and similar advances to officers, directors, employees and consultants of the Issuer or any Subsidiary to cover matters that are expected at the time of such advances to be treated as expenses of the Issuer or such Subsidiary for accounting purposes and that are made in the ordinary course of business; and

 

(15)            any (i) sale, conveyance, participation, factoring or other transfer of Securitization Assets transferred to a Securitization Subsidiary, (ii) grant of security, (iii) Incurrence of Debt or (iv) payment of any associated fees, in each case in connection with any Qualified Securitization Transaction.

 

Section 4.12.     Limitation on Liens.

 

(a)           The Issuer will not, and will not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, directly or indirectly, create or Incur any Lien securing Debt (other than a Permitted Lien) on any asset or property of the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary whether owned on the Issue Date or thereafter acquired, without effectively providing concurrently that the Notes and the related Subsidiary Guarantees then outstanding under this Indenture are secured equally and ratably with or, at the option of the Issuer, prior to such Indebtedness so long as such Indebtedness shall be so secured; provided, however, that if such Debt is expressly subordinated to the Notes or a Subsidiary Guarantee, the Lien securing such Debt will be subordinated by its terms to the Notes and the Subsidiary Guarantees to the same extent.

 

(b)           Any Lien that is granted to secure the Notes or the applicable Guarantee pursuant to this Section 4.12 shall be automatically and unconditionally released and discharged at the same time as the release of the Lien that gave rise to the obligation to secure the Notes or the Subsidiary Guarantee under this Section 4.12 (other than a release as a result of the enforcement of remedies in respect of such Lien or the obligations secured by such Lien).

 

(c)           With respect to any Lien securing Debt that was permitted to secure such Debt at the time of the Incurrence of such Debt, such Lien shall also be permitted to secure any Increased Amount of such Debt. The “Increased Amount” of any Debt shall mean any increase in the amount of such Debt in connection with any accrual of interest, the accretion of accreted value, the amortization of original issue discount, the payment of interest in the form of additional Debt with the same terms, accretion of original issue discount or liquidation preference, any fees, underwriting discounts, accrued and unpaid interest, premiums and other costs and expenses incurred in connection therewith and increases in the amount of Debt outstanding solely as a result of fluctuations in the exchange rate of currencies or increases in the value of property securing Debt.

 

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Section 4.13.     Offer to Purchase upon Change of Control. No later than 30 days after the occurrence of a Change of Control, the Issuer will be required to make an Offer to Purchase (a “Change of Control Offer”), with a copy to the Trustee, all of the outstanding Notes at a purchase price equal to 101% of their principal amount plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the purchase date (the “Change of Control Purchase Price”) (subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on an interest payment date that is on or prior to the date of purchase).

 

On or before the Purchase Date, the Issuer will, to the extent lawful, deposit with the Paying Agent an amount equal to the Change of Control Purchase Price in respect of the Notes or portions of Notes properly tendered.

 

On the Purchase Date, the Issuer will, to the extent lawful:

 

(1)           accept for payment all Notes or portions of Notes (of minimum principal amount of $2,000 or integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof) properly tendered pursuant to the Change of Control Offer; and

 

(2)           deliver or cause to be delivered to the Trustee the Notes so accepted together with an Officer’s Certificate stating the aggregate principal amount of Notes or portions of Notes being purchased by the Issuer.

 

The Paying Agent will promptly deliver to each Holder who has so tendered Notes the Change of Control Purchase Price for such Notes, and the Trustee will promptly authenticate and mail (or cause to be transferred by book-entry) to each Holder a new Note equal in principal amount to any unpurchased portion of the Notes so tendered, if any; provided that each such new Note will be in a minimum principal amount of $2,000 or integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof.

 

If the Purchase Date is on or after an interest record date and on or before the related interest payment date, any accrued and unpaid interest, if any, will be paid on the relevant interest payment date to the Person in whose name a Note is registered at the close of business on such record date and will not be paid as part of the Change of Control Purchase Price.

 

The Issuer will not be required to make a Change of Control Offer upon a Change of Control if (i) a third party makes the Change of Control Offer in the manner, at the times and otherwise in compliance with the requirements set forth in this Indenture applicable to a Change of Control Offer made by the Issuer and purchases all Notes validly tendered and not validly withdrawn under such Change of Control Offer, (ii) a notice of redemption for all outstanding Notes has been given, unless and until there is a default in payment of the applicable redemption price, or (iii) in connection with or in contemplation of any publicly announced Change of Control, the Issuer has made an offer to purchase (an “Alternate Offer”) any and all Notes validly tendered at a cash price equal to or higher than the Change of Control Purchase Price and has purchased all Notes validly tendered and not validly withdrawn in accordance with the terms of the Alternate Offer.

 

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The Issuer shall comply with all applicable securities laws and regulations in the United States, including, without limitation, the requirements of Rule 14e-1 under the Exchange Act and any other applicable securities laws and regulations in connection with the purchase of Notes pursuant to a Change of Control Offer. To the extent that the provisions of any applicable securities laws or regulations conflict with this Section 4.13, the Issuer shall comply with the applicable securities laws and regulations and shall not be deemed to have breached its obligations under this Section 4.13 by virtue of such compliance.

 

The provisions under this Indenture relating to the Issuer’s obligation to make a Change of Control Offer may be waived, modified or terminated with the written consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Notes then outstanding.

 

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, a Change of Control Offer or Alternate Offer may be made in advance of a Change of Control, and conditioned upon the occurrence of a Change of Control, if a definitive agreement is in place for the Change of Control at the time of making such Change of Control Offer or Alternate Offer.

 

Section 4.14.     Corporate Existence. Subject to Article V, the Issuer shall do or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve and keep in full force and effect its corporate existence and the corporate, partnership, limited liability company or other existence of each of the Subsidiary Guarantors in accordance with the respective organizational documents (as the same may be amended from time to time) of the Issuer or any such Subsidiary Guarantor and the rights (charter and statutory), licenses and franchises of the Issuer and the Subsidiary Guarantors; provided that the Issuer shall not be required to preserve any such right, license or franchise, or the corporate, partnership or other existence of any of the Subsidiary Guarantors, if the Issuer shall determine that the preservation thereof is no longer desirable in the conduct of the business of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole.

 

Section 4.15.     Future Guarantees. If any Restricted Subsidiary that is not already a Subsidiary Guarantor guarantees any Debt of the Issuer or a Subsidiary Guarantor under, or borrows Debt under, the Senior Credit Facilities on or after the Merger Closing Date, then such Restricted Subsidiary shall execute, within 30 days of the date on which it became a guarantor or borrower with respect to such other Debt, a supplemental indenture in substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit B-2, pursuant to which such Restricted Subsidiary shall become a Subsidiary Guarantor with respect to the Notes, upon the terms and subject to the release provisions and other limitations set forth in this Indenture.

 

Section 4.16.     Designation of Restricted and Unrestricted Subsidiaries.

 

(a)           The Issuer, by delivery of an Officer’s Certificate to the Trustee, may designate any Restricted Subsidiary to be an “Unrestricted Subsidiary,” in which event such Subsidiary and each other Person that is then or thereafter becomes a Subsidiary of such Subsidiary will be deemed to be an Unrestricted Subsidiary, if: (1) at the time of designation, the Issuer could make a Restricted Payment or Permitted Investment in an amount equal to the greater of the Fair Market Value (as determined by an Officer) and book value of its interest in such Subsidiary pursuant to Section 4.7; (2) no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing at the time of, or immediately after giving effect to, such designation; (3) each Subsidiary of such Subsidiary has been, or concurrently therewith will be, designated as an Unrestricted Subsidiary; and (4) such Subsidiary shall substantially simultaneously be designated as an “Unrestricted Subsidiary” under the ABL Credit Agreement and the Term Loan Credit Agreement (and, to the extent applicable, any other agreement governing Permitted Refinancing Debt in respect thereof). The designation of any Restricted Subsidiary as an Unrestricted Subsidiary shall constitute an Investment by the Issuer in such Subsidiary on the date of designation in an amount equal to the Fair Market Value of the Issuer’s Investment therein (as determined by an Officer).

 

 

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(b)           The Issuer may designate any Unrestricted Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary only if: (1)(x) the Issuer would be able to Incur at least $1.00 of additional Debt pursuant to Section 4.9(a), or (y) the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio of the Issuer would not be less than the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio of the Issuer immediately prior to such designation, in each case on a pro forma basis taking into account such designation; (2) all Liens of such Unrestricted Subsidiary outstanding immediately following such designation would, if Incurred at such time, have been permitted to be Incurred for all purposes of this Indenture; (3) no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing at the time of, or immediately after giving effect to, such designation; and (4) such Subsidiary shall substantially simultaneously be designated as a “Restricted Subsidiary” under the ABL Credit Agreement and the Term Loan Credit Agreement (and, to the extent applicable, any other agreement governing Permitted Refinancing Debt in respect thereof). The designation of any Unrestricted Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary shall constitute the Incurrence at the time of designation of any Investment, Debt or Liens of such Subsidiary existing at such time.

 

Section 4.17.     Covenant Suspension.

 

(a)           If on any date following the Issue Date (i) the Notes have an Investment Grade Rating from two Rating Agencies and (ii) no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is then continuing, then, upon delivery by the Issuer to the Trustee of an Officer’s Certificate to the foregoing effect, the Issuer and the Restricted Subsidiaries will no longer be subject to the following covenants:

 

(1)            Section 4.7;

 

(2)            Section 4.8;

 

(3)            Section 4.9;

 

(4)            Section 4.10;

 

(5)            Section 4.11;

 

(6)            Section 4.15; and

 

(7)            Section 5.1(a)(3).

 

During any period that the foregoing covenants have been suspended, the Issuer shall not designate any of the its Subsidiaries as Unrestricted Subsidiaries pursuant to Section 4.16 unless such designation would have complied with Section 4.7 as if such covenant were in effect during such period.

 

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Upon the occurrence of a covenant suspension, the amount of Excess Proceeds from Net Available Cash Proceeds shall be reset at zero. During any period that the foregoing covenants have been suspended, any reference in the definition of “Unrestricted Subsidiary” or “Permitted Liens” to Section 4.9 or any provision thereof shall be construed as if Section 4.9 had remained in effect since the Issue Date and during such period.

 

(b)           If the Notes cease to have an Investment Grade Rating from two Rating Agencies, the covenants suspended pursuant to Section 4.17(a) will be reinstated as of and from the date of such rating decline, subject to further suspension in the future upon the satisfaction of the conditions described in Section 4.17(a). Any Debt Incurred during a period when the covenants are suspended (a “suspension period”) will be classified as having been Incurred pursuant to Section 4.9(a). To the extent such Debt would not be so permitted to be Incurred, such Debt will be deemed to have been outstanding on the Issue Date, so that it is classified as permitted under clause (4) of Section 4.9(b). Calculations under the reinstated Section 4.7 will be made as if Section 4.7 had been in effect prior to, but not during, the suspension period. In addition: (i) for purposes of Section 4.8, all contracts entered into during a suspension period that contain any of the restrictions contemplated by such covenant will be deemed to have been entered into pursuant to clause (1) of Section 4.8(b); (ii) for purposes of Section 4.12, any Lien Incurred during a suspension period will be deemed to have been entered into pursuant to clause (10) of the definition of “Permitted Liens”; and (iii) for purposes of Section 4.11, all agreements and arrangements entered into by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary with an Affiliate of the Issuer during a suspension period will be deemed to have been entered into pursuant to clause (1) of Section 4.11(b). No Default or Event of Default will be deemed to have occurred with respect to the suspended covenants as a result of any actions taken by the Issuer or its Restricted Subsidiaries during a suspension period, and the Issuer and its Subsidiaries will be permitted, without causing a Default or Event of Default or breach of any of the suspended covenants (notwithstanding the reinstatement thereof) under this Indenture, to honor, comply with or otherwise perform any contractual commitments or obligations entered into during a suspension period following a downgrade and to consummate the transactions contemplated thereby.

 

(c)           Promptly following the occurrence of any suspension or reinstatement of the covenants as described above, the Issuer shall provide an Officer’s Certificate to the Trustee regarding such occurrence. The Trustee shall have no obligation to independently determine or verify if a suspension or reinstatement has occurred or notify the Holders of any suspension or reinstatement. The Trustee may provide a copy of such Officer’s Certificate to any Holder of the Notes upon written request.

 

Section 4.18.     Escrow Merger. Upon the consummation of the Escrow Merger, the Company, each of its Restricted Subsidiaries as of the Merger Closing Date and the Trustee shall enter into a supplemental indenture in substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit B-1.

 

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ARTICLE V
SUCCESSORS

 

Section 5.1.      Consolidation, Merger, Conveyance, Transfer or Lease.

 

(a)             The Issuer shall not consolidate with or merge with or into, or convey, transfer or lease all or substantially all its assets in a single transaction or series of related transactions to, another Person, unless:

 

(1)       the resulting, surviving or transferee Person, if not the Issuer (the “Successor Company”), shall be a corporation, partnership, trust or limited liability company organized and existing under the laws of the United States of America, any State thereof or the District of Columbia and the Successor Company (if not the Issuer) shall expressly assume, by supplemental indenture or other document or instrument, as applicable, executed and delivered to the Trustee, all of the obligations of the Issuer under this Indenture and the Notes;

 

(2)       immediately after giving effect to such transaction, no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing;

 

(3)       except in the case of any such consolidation or merger of the Issuer with or into a Restricted Subsidiary, immediately after giving pro forma effect to such transaction and treating any Debt which becomes an obligation of the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary as a result of such transaction as having been Incurred by the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary at the time of the transaction, either (i) the Issuer (including any Successor Company) could Incur at least $1.00 of additional Debt (other than Permitted Debt) pursuant to Section 4.9(a), or (ii) the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio of the Issuer or such Successor Company is not less than immediately after such transaction the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio of the Issuer immediately before such transaction;

 

(4)       at the time of such transaction, unless the Issuer is the Successor Company, each Subsidiary Guarantor will have by supplemental indenture or other document or instrument, confirmed that its Subsidiary Guarantee shall apply to such Person’s obligations under this Indenture and the Notes; and

 

(5)       the Issuer shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, stating that such consolidation, merger, conveyance, transfer or lease and such supplemental indenture, if any, comply with this Indenture.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) any Restricted Subsidiary may merge into the Issuer or another Restricted Subsidiary, (ii) the provisions of clauses (2) and (3) above shall not apply to a merger of the Issuer with or into a Restricted Subsidiary, (iii) the above provisions shall not apply to any transfer of assets between or among the Issuer and any Subsidiary Guarantor and (iv) the above provisions shall not apply to the Merger or the Escrow Merger.

 

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For purposes of this Section 5.1(a), the sale, lease, conveyance, assignment, transfer, or other Disposition of all or substantially all of the properties and assets of one or more Subsidiaries of the Issuer, which properties and assets, if held by the Issuer instead of such Subsidiaries, would constitute all or substantially all of the properties and assets of the Issuer on a consolidated basis, shall be deemed to be the sale, lease, conveyance, assignment, transfer or other Disposition of all or substantially all of the properties and assets of the Issuer.

 

The Successor Company will succeed to, and be substituted for, and may exercise every right and power of, the Issuer under this Indenture, and, except in the case of a lease of all or substantially all its assets, the Issuer will be released from the obligation to pay the principal of, and interest on, the Notes and all other obligations under this Indenture.

 

(b)            Except in circumstances under which this Indenture provides for the release of Subsidiary Guarantees as described under Section 10.5, each Subsidiary Guarantor will not, and the Issuer will not permit a Subsidiary Guarantor to, consolidate with or merge with or into, or convey or transfer or lease all or substantially all its assets to, another Person (other than the Issuer or another Subsidiary Guarantor), unless at the time and after giving effect thereto:

 

(1)

 

(A)       the resulting, surviving or transferee Person, if not the Subsidiary Guarantor (the “Successor Subsidiary Guarantor”), shall be a corporation, partnership, trust or limited liability company organized and existing under the laws of the United States of America, any State thereof or the District of Columbia and the Successor Subsidiary Guarantor (if not the Subsidiary Guarantor) shall expressly assume, by supplemental indenture or other document, as applicable, executed and delivered to the Trustee, all the obligations of the Subsidiary Guarantor under this Indenture and its Subsidiary Guarantee;

 

(B)        immediately after giving effect to such transaction, no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing; and

 

(C)        the Subsidiary Guarantor shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, stating that such consolidation, merger, conveyance, transfer or lease and such supplemental indenture, if any, comply with this Indenture; or

 

(2)             such transaction is undertaken in compliance with Section 4.10.

 

For purposes of this Section 5.1(b), the sale, lease, conveyance, assignment, transfer, or other Disposition of all or substantially all of the properties and assets of one or more Subsidiaries of a Subsidiary Guarantor, which properties and assets, if held by such Subsidiary Guarantor instead of such Subsidiaries, would constitute all or substantially all of the properties and assets of such Subsidiary Guarantor on a consolidated basis, shall be deemed to be the sale, lease, conveyance, assignment, transfer or other Disposition of all or substantially all of the properties and assets of such Subsidiary Guarantor.

 

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The Successor Subsidiary Guarantor will succeed to, and be substituted for, and may exercise every right and power of, the Subsidiary Guarantor under this Indenture, but, in the case of a lease of all or substantially all its assets, the Subsidiary Guarantor will not be released from its obligations under its Subsidiary Guarantee.

 

ARTICLE VI
DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES

 

Section 6.1.      Events of Default. Each of the following is an “Event of Default”:

 

(1)           failure to pay principal of (or premium, if any, on) any Note when due and payable, at maturity, upon redemption or otherwise;

 

(2)           failure to pay any interest on any Note when due and payable and such default continues for 30 days;

 

(3)           default in the payment of principal, premium and interest on Notes required to be purchased pursuant to an Offer to Purchase as described under Sections 4.10 and 4.13 when due and payable;

 

(4)           failure to perform any other covenant or agreement of the Issuer under this Indenture or the Notes and such default continues for 60 days (or 120 days with respect to Section 4.3) after written notice to the Issuer by the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of outstanding Notes;

 

(5)           default under the terms of any instrument evidencing or securing any Debt of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary having an outstanding principal amount of $75.0 million, individually or in the aggregate, which default results in the acceleration of the payment of all or any portion of such Debt or constitutes the failure to pay all or any portion of the principal amount of such Debt when due at final maturity (after giving effect to any applicable grace period provided in such Debt) and if, within 20 Business Days of such payment default or acceleration, such Debt has not been discharged or such payment default has not been cured or such acceleration has not been rescinded or annulled; provided that in connection with any series of convertible or exchangeable securities (a) any conversion or exchange of such securities by a holder thereof into shares of Capital Stock, cash or a combination of cash and shares of Capital Stock, (b) the rights of holders of such securities to convert or exchange into shares of Capital Stock, cash or a combination of cash and shares of Capital Stock and (c) the rights of holders of such securities to require any repurchase by the Issuer of such securities in cash shall not, in itself, constitute an Event of Default under this clause (5);

 

(6)           the rendering of one or more final judgments, orders or decrees (not subject to appeal) of any court or regulatory or administrative agency against the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary or any of their respective properties in an amount in excess of $75.0 million, either individually or in the aggregate, (exclusive of any portion of any such payment covered by insurance) which remains undischarged or unstayed for a period of 60 days after the date on which the right to appeal has expired;

 

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(7)             the Company or any Significant Restricted Subsidiary or group of Restricted Subsidiaries that, taken together (as of the date of the latest audited consolidated financial statements for the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries), would constitute a Significant Restricted Subsidiary, pursuant to or within the meaning of any Bankruptcy Law:

 

(i)        commences a voluntary case;

 

(ii)       consents to the entry of an order for relief against it in an involuntary case;

 

(iii)      consents to the appointment of a custodian of it or for all or substantially all of its property;

 

(iv)     makes a general assignment for the benefit of its creditors; or

 

(v)      admits in writing to the Trustee that it generally is not paying its debts as they become due;

 

(8)             a court of competent jurisdiction enters an order or decree under any Bankruptcy Law that:

 

(i)        is for relief against the Company or any Significant Restricted Subsidiary or group of Restricted Subsidiaries that, taken together (as of the latest audited consolidated financial statements for the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries), would constitute a Significant Restricted Subsidiary, in an involuntary case;

 

(ii)       appoints a custodian of the Company or any Significant Restricted Subsidiary or group of Restricted Subsidiaries that, taken together (as of the latest audited consolidated financial statements for the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries), would constitute a Significant Restricted Subsidiary or for all or substantially all of the property of the Company or any Significant Restricted Subsidiary or group of Restricted Subsidiaries that, taken together (as of the latest audited consolidated financial statements for the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries), would constitute a Significant Restricted Subsidiary; or

 

(iii)      orders the liquidation of the Company or any Significant Restricted Subsidiary or group of Restricted Subsidiaries that, taken together (as of the latest audited consolidated financial statements for the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries), would constitute a Significant Restricted Subsidiary;

 

and, in each case, the order or decree remains unstayed and in effect for 60 consecutive days; or

 

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(9)           the Subsidiary Guarantee of any Subsidiary Guarantor is held by a final non-appealable order or judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction to be unenforceable or invalid or ceases for any reason to be in full force and effect (other than in accordance with the terms of this Indenture) or any Subsidiary Guarantor or any Person acting on behalf of any Subsidiary Guarantor denies or disaffirms such Subsidiary Guarantor’s obligations under its Subsidiary Guarantee (other than by reason of a release of such Subsidiary Guarantor from its Subsidiary Guarantee in accordance with the terms of this Indenture).

 

Section 6.2.       Acceleration. If an Event of Default (other than an Event of Default specified in clause (7) or (8) of Section 6.1) shall have occurred and be continuing under this Indenture, the Trustee, by written notice to the Issuer, or the Holders of at least 25.0% in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding by written notice to the Issuer and the Trustee, may declare (an “acceleration declaration”) the principal of, and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on all outstanding amounts owing under the Notes to be due and payable. Upon such acceleration declaration, the aggregate principal of and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on the outstanding Notes shall become due and payable immediately. No such notice of an Event of Default may be given with respect to any action reported publicly or to Holders more than two years prior to the date of such notice of Event of Default.

 

At any time after such acceleration pursuant to this Section 6.2, but before a judgment or decree based on acceleration, the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding may rescind and annul such acceleration if:

 

(1)           the rescission would not conflict with any judgment or decree; and

 

(2)           the Issuer has paid the Trustee its reasonable compensation and reimbursed the Trustee for its reasonable expenses, disbursements and advances.

 

No such rescission shall affect any subsequent Default or impair any right consequent thereto.

 

If an Event of Default specified in clause (7) or (8) of Section 6.1 occurs, then all unpaid principal of, and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on all of the outstanding Notes shall ipso facto become and be immediately due and payable without any declaration or other action or notice on the part of the Trustee or any Holder of the Notes to the extent permitted by applicable law.

 

Section 6.3.      Other Remedies. If an Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee may pursue any available remedy to collect the payment of principal, premium, if any, and interest, if any, on the Notes or to enforce the performance of any provision of the Notes or this Indenture.

 

The Trustee may maintain a proceeding even if it does not possess any of the Notes or does not produce any of them in the proceeding. A delay or omission by the Trustee or any Holder in exercising any right or remedy accruing upon an Event of Default shall not impair the right or remedy or constitute a waiver of or acquiescence in the Event of Default. All remedies are cumulative to the extent permitted by law.

 

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Section 6.4.       Waiver of Past Defaults. Subject to Section 9.2, the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding by written notice to the Trustee may, on behalf of the Holders of all of the Notes, waive any existing Default or Event of Default and its consequences under this Indenture except a continuing Default or Event of Default in the payment of interest or premium on, or the principal of, the Notes (other than any such payment that has become due because of an acceleration that has been rescinded).

 

Section 6.5.        Control by Majority. The Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then-outstanding Notes may direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for exercising any remedy available to the Trustee or exercising any trust power conferred on it. However, (i) the Trustee may require indemnity satisfactory to it be furnished prior to taking such actions, (ii) the Trustee may refuse to follow any direction that conflicts with law or this Indenture or that the Trustee determines in good faith may be unduly prejudicial to the rights of Holders not joining in the giving of such direction (it being understood that the Trustee does not have an affirmative duty to ascertain whether or not any such direction is unduly prejudicial to the rights of such other Holders) or that would involve any personal liability for the Trustee and (iii) the Trustee may take any other action it deems proper that is not inconsistent with any such direction received from the Holders.

 

Section 6.6.        Limitation on Suits. Subject to Section 6.7, no Holder of a Note will have any right to institute any proceeding with respect to this Indenture, or for the appointment of a receiver or a trustee, or for any other remedy thereunder unless (a) such Holder has previously given to the Trustee written notice of a continuing Event of Default with respect to the Notes, (b) the Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Notes have made written request, and such Holder or Holders have offered and, if requested, provided to the Trustee indemnity satisfactory to the Trustee to institute such proceeding as trustee, (c) the Trustee has failed to institute such proceeding, and (d) the Trustee has not received from the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Notes a direction inconsistent with such request, within 60 days after such notice, request and offer. However, such limitations do not apply to a suit instituted by a Holder of a Note for the enforcement of payment of the principal of or any premium or interest on such Note on or after the applicable due date specified in such Note.

 

A Holder may not use this Indenture to prejudice the rights of another Holder or to obtain a preference or priority over another Holder (it being understood that the Trustee does not have an affirmative duty to ascertain whether or not any such use by a Holder prejudices the rights of any other Holders or obtains priority or preference over such other Holders).

 

Section 6.7.        Rights of Holders of Notes to Receive Payment. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture, the right of any Holder to receive payment of principal of, premium or interest on, such Note or to bring suit for the enforcement of any such payment, on or after the due date expressed in the Notes, shall not be modified or amended in a manner adverse to such Holder without the consent of the Holder.

 

Section 6.8.        Collection Suit by Trustee. If an Event of Default specified in clauses (1) or (2) of Section 6.1 occurs and is continuing, the Trustee is authorized to recover judgment in its own name and as trustee of an express trust against the Issuer for the whole amount of principal of, premium, if any, and interest remaining unpaid on the Notes and interest on overdue principal and, to the extent lawful, such further amount as shall be sufficient to cover the costs and expenses of collection, including the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel.

 

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Section 6.9.        Trustee May File Proofs of Claim. The Trustee is authorized to file such proofs of claim and other papers or documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Trustee (including any claim for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel) and the Holders allowed in any judicial proceedings relative to the Issuer (or any other obligor upon the Notes including the Subsidiary Guarantors), its creditors or its property and shall be entitled and empowered to collect, receive and distribute any money or other securities or property payable or deliverable upon the conversion or exchange of the Notes or on any such claims, and any custodian in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Holder to make such payments to the Trustee and, in the event that the Trustee shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Holders, to pay to the Trustee any amount due to it for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Trustee under Section 7.6. To the extent that the payment of any such compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances to the Trustee, its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Trustee under Section 7.6 out of the estate in any such proceeding, shall be denied for any reason, payment of the same shall be secured by a Lien on, and shall be paid out of, any and all distributions, dividends, money, securities and other properties that the Holders may be entitled to receive in such proceeding, whether in liquidation or under any plan of reorganization or arrangement or otherwise. Nothing in this Section 6.9 shall be deemed to authorize the Trustee to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Holder any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Notes or the rights of any Holder, or to authorize the Trustee to vote in respect of the claim of any Holder in any such proceeding.

 

Section 6.10.      Priorities. If the Trustee collects any money or property pursuant to this Article VI, it shall pay out the money and property in the following order:

 

First: to the Trustee, its agents and attorneys for amounts due under Section 7.6, including payment of all reasonable compensation, expenses and liabilities incurred, and all advances made, by it and the costs and expenses of collection;

 

Second: to Holders for amounts due and unpaid on the Notes for principal, premium, if any, and interest ratably, without preference or priority of any kind, according to the amounts due and payable on the Notes for principal, premium, if any, and interest, respectively;

 

Third: without duplication, to the Holders for any other obligations owing to the Holders under this Indenture and the Notes; and

 

Fourth: to the Issuer or to such party as a court of competent jurisdiction shall direct.

 

The Trustee may fix a record date and payment date for any payment to Holders pursuant to this Section 6.10.

 

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Section 6.11.     Undertaking for Costs. In any suit for the enforcement of any right or remedy under this Indenture or in any suit against the Trustee for any action taken or omitted by it as the Trustee, a court in its discretion may require the filing by any party litigant in the suit of an undertaking to pay the costs of the suit, and the court in its discretion may assess reasonable costs, including reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses, against any party litigant in the suit, having due regard to the merits and good faith of the claims or defenses made by the party litigant. This Section 6.11 does not apply to a suit by the Trustee, a suit by a Holder pursuant to Section 6.7, or a suit by Holders of more than 10.0% in principal amount of the then-outstanding Notes.

 

Section 6.12.     Restoration of Rights and Remedies. If the Trustee or any Holder has instituted any proceeding to enforce any right or remedy under this Indenture and such proceeding has been discontinued or abandoned for any reason, or has been determined adversely to the Trustee or to such Holder, then and in every such case, subject to any determination in such proceedings, the Issuer, the Trustee and the Holders shall be restored severally and respectively to their former positions hereunder and thereafter all rights and remedies of the Trustee and the Holders shall continue as though no such proceeding has been instituted.

 

Section 6.13.     Rights and Remedies Cumulative. Except as otherwise provided with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Notes in Section 2.7, no right or remedy herein conferred upon or reserved to the Trustee or to the Holders is intended to be exclusive of any other right or remedy, and every right and remedy shall, to the extent permitted by law, be cumulative and in addition to every other right and remedy given hereunder or now or hereafter existing at law or in equity or otherwise. The assertion or employment of any right or remedy hereunder, or otherwise, shall not prevent the concurrent assertion or employment of any other appropriate right or remedy.

 

Section 6.14.     Delay or Omission Not Waiver. No delay or omission of the Trustee or of any Holder of any Note to exercise any right or remedy accruing upon any Event of Default shall impair any such right or remedy or constitute a waiver of any such Event of Default or an acquiescence therein. Every right and remedy given by this Article VI or by law to the Trustee or to the Holders may be exercised from time to time, and as often as may be deemed expedient, by the Trustee or by the Holders, as the case may be.

 

ARTICLE VII
TRUSTEE

 

Section 7.1.        Duties of Trustee.

 

(a)             If an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Trustee shall exercise such of the rights and powers vested in it by this Indenture and use the same degree of care and skill in its exercise as a prudent person would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of his or her own affairs.

 

(b)             Except during the continuance of an Event of Default:

 

(1)       the duties of the Trustee shall be determined solely by the express provisions of this Indenture and no implied covenants or obligations shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee; and

 

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(2)       the Trustee may conclusively rely, as to the truth of the statements and the correctness of the opinions expressed therein, upon certificates or opinions furnished to the Trustee and conforming to the requirements of this Indenture (but need not confirm or investigate the accuracy of mathematical calculations or other facts stated therein); however, the Trustee shall examine the certificates and opinions furnished to it to determine whether or not they conform to the requirements of this Indenture.

 

(c)            The Trustee may not be relieved from liabilities for its own grossly negligent action, its own negligent failure to act, or its own willful misconduct, except that:

 

(1)       this paragraph does not limit the effect of paragraph (b) of this Section 7.1;

 

(2)       the Trustee shall not be liable for any error of judgment made in good faith by a Responsible Officer of the Trustee, unless it is proved that the Trustee was negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts;

 

(3)       the Trustee shall not be liable with respect to any action it takes or omits to take in good faith in accordance with a direction received by it pursuant to Section 6.5; and

 

(4)       no provision of this Indenture shall require the Trustee to expend or risk its own funds or incur any liability.

 

(d)             The Trustee shall not be liable for interest on or the investment of any money received by it except as the Trustee may agree in writing with the Issuer. Money held in trust by the Trustee need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.

 

(e)             Whether or not therein expressly so provided, every provision of this Indenture that in any way relates to the Trustee is subject to this Section 7.1.

 

Section 7.2.       Rights of Trustee.

 

(a)            The Trustee may conclusively rely and shall be fully protected in acting or refraining from acting on any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, notice, report, request, direction, consent, order, judgment, bond, debenture or other document (whether in original or facsimile form or PDF or other electronic transmission) believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper Person. The Trustee need not investigate any fact or matter stated therein.

 

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(b)           Before the Trustee acts or refrains from acting, it may require an Officer’s Certificate or an Opinion of Counsel or both; provided that (x) no Officer’s Certificate or Opinion of Counsel shall be required to be delivered in connection with the issuance of the Notes that are issued on the Issue Date or (y) no Opinion of Counsel shall be required to be delivered in connection with the execution of any amendment or supplement entered into in connection with adding a Guarantor in the form of Exhibit B-2 or releasing a Guarantor pursuant to the terms of this Indenture. The Trustee shall not be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith in reliance on such Officer’s Certificate or Opinion of Counsel. Prior to taking, suffering or admitting any action, the Trustee may consult with counsel of the Trustee’s own choosing, and the Trustee shall be fully protected from liability in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by it hereunder in good faith and in conclusive reliance on the advice or opinion of such counsel.

 

(c)            The Trustee may act through its attorneys and agents and shall not be responsible for the misconduct or negligence of any attorney or agent appointed with due care.

 

(d)           The Trustee shall not be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith that it believes to be authorized or within the discretion or rights or powers conferred upon it by this Indenture.

 

(e)           Unless otherwise specifically provided in this Indenture, any demand, request, direction or notice from the Issuer or a Subsidiary Guarantor shall be sufficient if signed by an Officer of the Issuer or such Subsidiary Guarantor.

 

(f)            The Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers vested in it by this Indenture at the request or direction of any of the Holders unless such Holders shall have offered, and if requested, provided to the Trustee security or indemnity satisfactory to the Trustee against the costs, expenses and liabilities that might be incurred by it in compliance with such request or direction.

 

(g)           The Trustee shall not be bound to make any investigation into the facts or matters stated in any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, judgment, bond, debenture, note, other evidence of indebtedness or other paper or documents, but the Trustee, in its discretion, may make such further inquiry or investigation into such facts or matters as it may see fit, and, if the Trustee shall determine to make such further inquiry or investigation, it shall be entitled to examine during normal business hours the books, records and premises of the Issuer, personally or by agent or attorney at the sole cost of the Issuer, and shall incur no liability or additional liability of any kind by reason of such inquiry or investigation.

 

(h)           The rights, privileges, protections, immunities and benefits given to the Trustee, including, without limitation, its right to be indemnified, are extended to, and shall be enforceable by, the Trustee in each of its capacities hereunder, to the Agents and to each other agent, custodian and Person employed to act hereunder.

 

(i)            The Trustee may request that the Issuer and each of the Subsidiary Guarantors shall deliver to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate setting forth the names of individuals and/or titles of Officers of the Issuer and each Subsidiary Guarantor, as applicable, authorized at such time to take specified actions pursuant to this Indenture of the Issuer, the Notes and the Subsidiary Guarantees, which Officer’s Certificate may be signed by any Person authorized to sign an Officer’s Certificate, including any Person specified as so authorized in any such certificate previously delivered and not superseded.

 

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(j)            The Trustee shall not be deemed to have notice or be charged with knowledge of any Default or Event of Default unless the Trustee shall have received from the Issuer or Subsidiary Guarantor or from any Holder written notice thereof at its address set forth in Section 11.1 and such notice references the Notes, this Indenture and the specifics of such Default or Event of Default. In the absence of such notice, the Trustee may conclusively assume that no such Default or Event of Default exists.

 

(k)            In no event shall the Trustee be responsible or liable for special, indirect, punitive, incidental or consequential loss or damage of any kind whatsoever (including, but not limited to, loss of profit) irrespective of whether the Trustee has been advised of the likelihood of such loss or damage and regardless of the form of action.

 

(l)            The Trustee shall not be required to give any bond or surety in respect of the performance of its powers and duties hereunder.

 

(m)          No provision of this Indenture shall require the Trustee to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise Incur any financial liability in the performance of any of its duties thereunder, or in the exercise of any of its rights or powers.

 

(n)           The permissive rights of the Trustee to do things enumerated in this Indenture shall not be construed as duties hereunder.

 

Section 7.3.      Individual Rights of the Trustee. The Trustee in its individual or any other capacity may become the owner or pledgee of Notes and may otherwise deal with the Issuer or any Affiliate of the Issuer with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee. Any Agent may do the same with like rights and duties. The Trustee is also subject to Section 7.9.

 

Section 7.4.       Trustee’s Disclaimer. The Trustee shall not be responsible for and makes no representation as to the validity or adequacy of this Indenture, the Notes or any Subsidiary Guarantee, it shall not be accountable for the use of the proceeds from the Notes or any money paid to the Issuer or upon the Issuer’s direction under any provision of this Indenture, it shall not be responsible for the use or application of any money received by any Paying Agent other than the Trustee, and it shall not be responsible for any statement or recital herein or any statement in the Notes, any Officer’s Certificate delivered to the Trustee hereunder, or any other document in connection with the sale of the Notes or pursuant to this Indenture other than the Trustee’s certificate of authentication hereunder.

 

Section 7.5.        Notice of Defaults. If a Default or Event of Default occurs and is continuing and the Trustee has notice thereof as provided in Section 7.2(j), the Trustee shall deliver to Holders a notice of the Default or Event of Default within the later of 90 days after it occurs or 30 days after the Trustee has notice thereof. Except in the case of a Default or Event of Default in payment of principal of, premium, if any, or interest on any Note, the Trustee may withhold the notice if and so long as the Trustee in good faith determines that the withholding of such notice is in the interest of the Holders.

 

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Section 7.6.        Compensation and Indemnity. The Issuer shall pay to the Trustee from time to time compensation for its acceptance of this Indenture and for all services rendered by it hereunder as agreed upon in writing. The Trustee’s compensation shall not be limited by any law on compensation of a trustee of an express trust. The Issuer shall reimburse the Trustee, as applicable, promptly upon request for all reasonable disbursements, advances and expenses incurred or made by it in addition to the compensation for its services. Such expenses shall include the reasonable compensation, disbursements and expenses of the Trustee’s agents and counsel.

 

Each of the Issuer and the Subsidiary Guarantors, jointly and severally, shall indemnify, defend, protect and hold the Trustee (which for purposes of this Section 7.6 shall include its officers, directors, employees and agents) harmless against any and all claims, damages, losses, liabilities, costs or expenses suffered or incurred by it (including, without limitation, the fees and expenses of its agents and counsel) arising out of or in connection with the acceptance or administration of its duties under this Indenture, the performance of its obligations and/or exercise of its rights hereunder, including the costs and expenses of enforcing this Indenture against the Issuer or any Subsidiary Guarantor (including this Section 7.6) and defending itself against any claim (whether asserted by the Issuer or any Holder or any other Person) or liability in connection with the exercise or performance of any of its powers or duties hereunder, except to the extent any such loss, claim, damage, liability or expense shall have been found by a court of competent jurisdiction in a non-appealable final decision to have been caused by its own gross negligence or willful misconduct. The Trustee shall notify the Issuer promptly of any claim for which it may seek indemnity. Failure by the Trustee to so notify the Issuer shall not relieve the Issuer of its obligations hereunder. The Trustee may have separate counsel, and the Issuer shall pay the reasonable fees and expenses of such counsel for the Trustee. The Issuer need not pay for any settlement made without its consent, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld.

 

The obligations of the Issuer and the Subsidiary Guarantors under this Section 7.6 shall survive the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, the payment of the Notes or the resignation or removal of the Trustee.

 

To secure the Issuer’s payment obligations in this Section 7.6, the Trustee shall have a Lien prior to the Notes on all money or property held or collected by the Trustee, except that held in trust to pay principal or interest, if any, on particular Notes. Such Lien shall survive the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, the payment of the Notes and the resignation or removal of the Trustee.

 

When the Trustee incurs expenses or renders services after an Event of Default specified in clause (7) or (8) of Section 6.1 occurs, the expenses and the compensation for the services (including the fees and expenses of its agents and counsel) are intended to constitute expenses of administration under any Bankruptcy Law.

 

Section 7.7.        Replacement of Trustee. A resignation or removal of the Trustee and appointment of a successor Trustee shall become effective only upon the successor trustee’s acceptance of appointment as provided in this Section 7.7.

 

The Trustee may resign in writing at any time and be discharged from the trust hereby created by so notifying the Issuer. The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then-outstanding Notes may remove the Trustee upon 30 days’ written notice to the Trustee and the Issuer. The Issuer may remove the Trustee if no Event of Default exists and:

 

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(a)           the Trustee is adjudged a bankrupt or an insolvent or an order for relief is entered with respect to the Trustee under any Bankruptcy Law;

 

(b)           a custodian or public officer takes charge of the Trustee or its property; or

 

(c)           the Trustee becomes incapable of acting.

 

If the Trustee resigns or is removed or if a vacancy exists in the office of the Trustee for any reason, the Issuer shall promptly appoint a successor trustee. Within one year after the successor trustee takes office, the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then-outstanding Notes may appoint a successor trustee to replace the successor trustee appointed by the Issuer.

 

If a successor trustee does not take office within 30 days after the retiring Trustee resigns or is removed, such retiring Trustee (at the expense of the Issuer), the Issuer or the Holders of at least 10.0% in principal amount of the then-outstanding Notes may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor trustee.

 

If the Trustee, after written request by any Holder who has been a Holder for at least six months, fails to comply with Section 7.1, such Holder may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the removal of the Trustee and the appointment of a successor trustee.

 

A successor trustee shall deliver a written acceptance of its appointment to the retiring Trustee and to the Issuer. Thereupon, the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee shall become effective, and the successor trustee shall have all the rights, powers and the duties of the Trustee under this Indenture. The successor trustee shall mail a notice of its succession to the Holders. The retiring Trustee shall promptly transfer all property held by it as Trustee to the successor Trustee; provided that all sums owing to such Trustee hereunder have been paid and subject to the Lien provided for in Section 7.6. Notwithstanding replacement of the Trustee pursuant to this Section 7.7, the Issuer’s and the Subsidiary Guarantors’ obligations under Section 7.6 shall continue for the benefit of the retiring Trustee.

 

Section 7.8.     Successor Trustee by Merger, Etc. If the Trustee or any Agent consolidates, merges or converts into, or transfers all or substantially all of its corporate trust business (including this transaction) to, another corporation, the successor corporation without any further act shall be the successor Trustee or Agent, as applicable.

 

Section 7.9.     Eligibility; Disqualification. There shall at all times be a Trustee hereunder that is a corporation organized and doing business under the laws of the United States or of any state thereof that is authorized under such laws to exercise corporate trustee power and that is subject to supervision or examination by federal or state authorities. Such Trustee together with its affiliates shall at all times have a combined capital surplus of at least $50.0 million as set forth in its most recent annual report of condition.

 

ARTICLE VIII
DEFEASANCE; DISCHARGE OF THIS INDENTURE

 

Section 8.1.      Option to Effect Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance. The Issuer may, by delivery of an Officer’s Certificate, at any time, elect to have either Section 8.2 or 8.3 applied to all outstanding Notes upon compliance with the conditions set forth below in this Article VIII.

 

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Section 8.2.        Legal Defeasance. Upon the Issuer’s exercise under Section 8.1 of the option applicable to this Section 8.2, the Issuer and the Subsidiary Guarantors shall, subject to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 8.4, be deemed to have been discharged from their obligations with respect to all outstanding Notes and Subsidiary Guarantees and this Indenture and having cured all then-existing Defaults and Events of Default on the date the conditions set forth below are satisfied (hereinafter, “Legal Defeasance”). For this purpose, Legal Defeasance means that the Issuer and the Subsidiary Guarantors shall be deemed to have paid and discharged all of the obligations with respect to this Indenture, the Notes and the Subsidiary Guarantees, which shall thereafter be deemed to be outstanding only for the purposes of Section 8.5 and the other Sections of this Indenture referred to in (a) and (b) below, and to have satisfied all of their other obligations under such Notes, Subsidiary Guarantees and this Indenture (and the Trustee, on written demand of and at the expense of the Issuer, shall execute instruments acknowledging the same), and this Indenture shall cease to be of further effect as to all such Notes and Subsidiary Guarantees, except for the following provisions which shall survive until otherwise terminated or discharged hereunder: (a) the rights of Holders of outstanding Notes to receive payments in respect of the principal of, and interest and premium on, such Notes when such payments are due from the trust funds referred to in clause (1) of Section 8.4; (b) the Issuer’s obligations with respect to such Notes under Sections 2.2, 2.3, 2.4, 2.6, 2.7, 2.10 and 4.2; (c) the rights, powers, trusts, duties and immunities of the Trustee, including without limitation, under Sections 7.6, 8.5 and 8.7 and the obligations of the Issuer and the Subsidiary Guarantors in connection therewith; and (d) the provisions of this Article VIII. Subject to compliance with this Article VIII, the Issuer may exercise its option under this Section 8.2 notwithstanding the prior exercise of its option under Section 8.3.

 

Section 8.3.        Covenant Defeasance. Upon the Issuer’s exercise under Section 8.1 of the option applicable to this Section 8.3, the Issuer shall, subject to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 8.4, be released from its obligations under Sections 4.3, 4.5, 4.7 through 4.16, 5.1(a)(3), 5.1(a)(4) and 5.1(b) on and after the date the conditions set forth below are satisfied (hereinafter, “Covenant Defeasance”), and the Notes shall thereafter be deemed not outstanding for the purposes of any direction, waiver, consent or declaration or act of Holders (and the consequences of any thereof) in connection with such covenants, but shall continue to be deemed outstanding for all other purposes hereunder (it being understood that such Notes shall not be deemed outstanding for accounting purposes). For this purpose, Covenant Defeasance means that, with respect to the outstanding Notes, the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries may omit to comply with and shall have no liability in respect of any term, condition or limitation set forth in any such covenant, whether directly or indirectly, by reason of any reference elsewhere herein to any such covenant or by reason of any reference in any such covenant to any other provision herein or in any other document and such omission to comply shall not constitute a Default or an Event of Default under Section 6.1, and the Events of Default in clauses (3) through (6), (7) (with respect to Significant Subsidiaries only), (8) (with respect to Significant Subsidiaries only) and (9) of Section 6.1 shall no longer apply but, except as specified above, the remainder of this Indenture and such Notes and any Subsidiary Guarantees shall be unaffected thereby.

 

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Section 8.4.        Conditions to Legal or Covenant Defeasance. The following shall be the conditions to the application of either Section 8.2 or 8.3 to the outstanding Notes:

 

(1)             the Issuer must irrevocably deposit with the Trustee, in trust for the benefit of the Holders, U.S. dollars, non-callable U.S. Government Obligations or a combination thereof, in such amounts as will be sufficient without consideration of any reinvestment of interest (if U.S. Government Obligations are deposited, in the opinion of a nationally recognized investment bank, appraisal firm or firm of independent public accountants selected by the Issuer and delivered to the Trustee), to pay the principal of, premium, if any, and interest, if any, on the outstanding Notes on the stated date for payment thereof or on the applicable redemption date, as the case may be, and any other amounts owing under this Indenture (in the case of an optional redemption date prior to electing to exercise either Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance, the Issuer has delivered to the Trustee an irrevocable notice to redeem all of the outstanding Notes on such redemption date);

 

(2)             in the case of Legal Defeasance, the Issuer shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel in the United States confirming that, subject to customary assumptions and exclusions:

 

(A)     the Issuer has received from, or there has been published by, the U.S. Internal Revenue Service a ruling; or

 

(B)       since the Issue Date, there has been a change in the applicable U.S. federal income tax law;

 

in either case to the effect that, and based thereon such Opinion of Counsel shall confirm that, subject to customary assumptions and exclusions, the beneficial owners of the outstanding Notes will not recognize income, gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes as a result of the Legal Defeasance and will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such Legal Defeasance had not occurred;

 

(3)             in the case of Covenant Defeasance, the Issuer shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel in the United States confirming that, subject to customary assumptions and exclusions, the beneficial owners of the outstanding Notes will not recognize income, gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes as a result of the Covenant Defeasance and will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such Covenant Defeasance had not occurred;

 

(4)             no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing on the date of such deposit (other than a Default or Event of Default resulting from the borrowing of funds to be applied to such deposit (and any similar concurrent deposit relating to other Debt) and the Incurrence of Liens associated with any such borrowings);

 

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(5)            the Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance shall not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under any material agreement or instrument (other than this Indenture and the agreements governing any other Debt being defeased, discharged or replaced) to which the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries is a party or by which the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries is bound;

 

(6)           the Issuer shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate stating that the deposit was not made by the Issuer with the intent of preferring the Holders over any other creditors of the Issuer or with the intent of defeating, hindering, delaying or defrauding any other creditors of the Issuer or others; and

 

(7)            the Issuer shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel (which opinion may be subject to customary assumptions and exclusions), each stating that the applicable conditions precedent provided for in clauses (1) through (6) of this Section 8.4 have been complied with.

 

Section 8.5.      Deposited Money and U.S. Government Obligations to Be Held in Trust; Other Miscellaneous Provisions. Subject to Section 8.6, all U.S. dollar and U.S. Government Obligations (including the proceeds thereof) deposited with the Trustee (or other qualifying trustee, collectively for purposes of this Section 8.5, the “Deposit Trustee”) pursuant to Section 8.4 or 8.8 in respect of the outstanding Notes shall be held in trust, shall not be invested, and shall be applied by the Deposit Trustee in accordance with the provisions of such Notes and this Indenture to the payment, either directly or through any Paying Agent (including the Issuer or any Subsidiary acting as Paying Agent) as the Deposit Trustee may determine, to the Holders of such Notes of all sums due and to become due thereon in respect of principal, premium, if any, and interest, if any, but such money need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.

 

The Issuer shall pay and indemnify the Deposit Trustee against any tax, fee or other charge imposed on or assessed against the cash or non-callable U.S. Government Obligations deposited pursuant to Section 8.4 or 8.8 or the principal and interest received in respect thereof other than any such tax, fee or other charge which by law is for the account of the Holders of the outstanding Notes.

 

Anything in this Article VIII to the contrary notwithstanding, the Deposit Trustee shall deliver or pay to the Issuer from time to time upon the written request of the Issuer and be relieved of all liability with respect to any U.S. dollars or non-callable U.S. Government Obligations held by it as provided in Section 8.4 or 8.8 which, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Deposit Trustee (which may be the opinion delivered under clause (1) of Section 8.4), are in excess of the amount thereof that would then be required to be deposited to effect an equivalent Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance or satisfaction and discharge, as the case may be.

 

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Section 8.6.      Repayment to Issuer. Subject to applicable escheat laws, any money deposited with the Trustee or any Paying Agent, or then held by the Issuer, in trust for the payment of the principal of, premium, if any, or interest on any Note and remaining unclaimed for two years after such principal and premium, if any, or interest has become due and payable shall be paid to the Issuer on its written request or (if then held by the Issuer) shall be discharged from such trust; and the Holder of such Note shall thereafter, as an unsecured general creditor, look only to the Issuer for payment thereof; and all liability of the Trustee or such Paying Agent with respect to such trust money, and all liability of the Issuer as trustee thereof, shall thereupon cease; provided, however, that the Trustee or such Paying Agent, before being required to make any such repayment, may at the expense and written request of the Issuer cause to be published once, in the New York Times and The Wall Street Journal (national edition), notice that such money remains unclaimed and that, after a date specified therein, which shall not be less than 30 days from the date of such notification or publication, any unclaimed balance of such money then remaining shall be repaid to the Issuer.

 

Section 8.7.      Reinstatement. If the Trustee or Paying Agent is unable to apply any U.S. dollars or U.S. Government Obligations in accordance with Section 8.2, 8.3 or 8.8, as the case may be, by reason of any order or judgment of any court or governmental authority enjoining, restraining or otherwise prohibiting such application, then the obligations of the Issuer and the Subsidiary Guarantors under this Indenture and the Notes shall be revived and reinstated as though no deposit had occurred pursuant to Section 8.2, 8.3 or 8.8 until such time as the Trustee or Paying Agent is permitted to apply all such money in accordance with Section 8.2, 8.3 or 8.8, as the case may be; provided, however, that, if the Issuer makes any payment of principal of, premium, if any, or interest on any Note following the reinstatement of its obligations, the Issuer shall be subrogated to the rights of the Holders of such Notes to receive such payment from the money held by the Trustee or Paying Agent.

 

Section 8.8.      Discharge. This Indenture will be discharged and will cease to be of further effect (except as to surviving rights or registration of transfer or exchange of the Notes, which shall survive until all Notes have been canceled, and the rights, protections and immunities of the Trustee) as to all outstanding Notes and Subsidiary Guarantees when either:

 

(1)            all the Notes that have been authenticated and delivered (except lost, stolen or destroyed Notes that have been replaced or paid and Notes for whose payment money has been deposited in trust or segregated and held in trust by the Issuer and thereafter repaid to the Issuer or discharged from such trust) have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation; or

 

(2)            (a) all Notes not delivered to the Trustee for cancellation otherwise (i) have become due and payable by reason of mailing a notice of redemption or otherwise, (ii) will become due and payable, or may be called for redemption, within one year or (iii) are to be called for redemption within one year under irrevocable arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for the giving of notice of redemption by the Trustee in the name and at the expense of the Issuer and, in any case, the Issuer or any Subsidiary Guarantor has irrevocably deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee as trust funds in trust solely for the benefit of the Holders, cash in U.S. dollars in such amounts as will be sufficient, without consideration of any reinvestment of interest, to pay and discharge the entire Debt (including all principal and accrued interest, if any) on the Notes not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation;

 

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(b)         the Issuer or any Subsidiary Guarantor has paid or caused to be paid all other sums payable by the Issuer under this Indenture; and

 

(c)            the Issuer has delivered irrevocable instructions to the Trustee under this Indenture to apply the deposited money toward the payment of the Notes at maturity or on the date of redemption, as the case may be.

 

In addition, the Issuer must deliver an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel to the Trustee stating that all conditions precedent to satisfaction and discharge hereunder have been complied with.

 

After the Notes are no longer outstanding, the Issuer’s and the Subsidiary Guarantors’ obligations in Sections 7.6, 8.5, 8.7 and 10.01(d) shall survive any discharge pursuant to this Section 8.8.

 

After such delivery or irrevocable deposit and receipt of the Officer’s Certificate and Opinion of Counsel, the Trustee, upon written request, shall acknowledge in writing the discharge of the Issuer’s obligations under the Notes and this Indenture except for those surviving obligations specified above.

 

ARTICLE IX
AMENDMENT, SUPPLEMENT AND WAIVER

 

Section 9.1.     Without Consent of Holders of the Notes. Notwithstanding Section 9.2, without the consent of any Holders, the Issuer, the Subsidiary Guarantors and the Trustee, at any time and from time to time, may amend or supplement this Indenture, the Subsidiary Guarantees or the Notes issued hereunder for any of the following purposes:

 

(1)         to evidence the succession of another Person to the Issuer or a Subsidiary Guarantor under this Indenture, the Notes or the applicable Subsidiary Guarantee, and the assumption by any such successor of the covenants of the Issuer or such Subsidiary Guarantor under this Indenture, the Notes and such Subsidiary Guarantee in accordance with Section 5.1;

 

(2)         to add to the covenants of the Issuer or any Subsidiary Guarantor for the benefit of the Holders of the Notes or to surrender any right or power conferred upon the Issuer or any Subsidiary Guarantor, as applicable, in this Indenture, in the Notes or in any Subsidiary Guarantee;

 

(3)        to cure any ambiguity, or to correct or supplement any provision in this Indenture or in any supplemental indenture, the Notes or any Subsidiary Guarantee which may be defective or inconsistent with any other provision in this Indenture, the Notes or any Subsidiary Guarantee (as determined in good faith by the Issuer);

 

(4)        to make any change that would provide any additional rights or benefits to the Holders of the Notes (as determined in good faith by the Issuer);

 

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(5)        to make any other provisions with respect to matters or questions arising under this Indenture, the Notes or any Subsidiary Guarantee; provided that, in each case, such provisions shall not adversely affect the interest of the Holders of the Notes in any material respect (as determined in good faith by the Issuer);

 

(6)        to comply with the requirements of the SEC;

 

(7)        to add a Subsidiary Guarantor under this Indenture or otherwise provide a Subsidiary Guarantee of the Notes or to confirm and evidence the release of a Subsidiary Guarantor from its Subsidiary Guarantee pursuant to the terms of this Indenture;

 

(8)        to evidence and provide the acceptance of the appointment of a successor Trustee under this Indenture;

 

(9)        to mortgage, pledge, hypothecate or grant a security interest in favor of the Trustee for the benefit of the Holders of the Notes as security for the payment and performance of the Issuer’s and any Subsidiary Guarantor’s obligations under this Indenture, in any property, or assets, including any of which are required to be mortgaged, pledged or hypothecated, or in which a security interest is required to be granted to the Trustee pursuant to this Indenture or otherwise;

 

(10)      to provide for the issuance of Additional Notes under this Indenture in accordance with the terms and subject to the limitations set forth in this Indenture;

 

(11)      to comply with the rules of any applicable Depositary; or

 

(12)      to conform the text of this Indenture, the Notes or the Subsidiary Guarantees to any provision of the “Description of notes” section of the Offering Memorandum to the extent such provision was intended to be a recitation of a provision of this Indenture, as confirmed in an Officer’s Certificate delivered to the Trustee.

 

After an amendment under this Indenture becomes effective, the Issuer shall deliver to Holders of the Notes a notice briefly describing such amendment. However, the failure to give such notice to all Holders, or any defect therein, will not impair or affect the validity of the amendment.

 

Section 9.2.      With Consent of Holders of Notes. With the consent of the Holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding (including, without limitation, consents obtained in connection with a purchase of, or tender offer or exchange offer for, the Notes), the Issuer, the Subsidiary Guarantors and the Trustee may amend or supplement this Indenture, the Notes or any Subsidiary Guarantees or waive any existing Default or Event of Default or compliance with any provision of this Indenture or the Notes; provided, however, that no such amendment, supplement or waiver shall, without the consent of the Holder of each outstanding Note affected thereby (including, without limitation, consents obtained in connection with a purchase of, or tender offer or exchange offer for, the Notes):

 

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(1)           change the Stated Maturity of the principal of, or any installment of interest on, any Note;

 

(2)           reduce the principal amount of (or premium), or interest on, any Note;

 

(3)           change the place or currency of payment of principal of (or premium), or interest on, any Note;

 

(4)           (i) modify, in any manner adverse to the Holders of the Notes, the right to institute suit for the enforcement of any payment of principal of (or premium), or interest on, any Note or (ii) waive any payment in respect thereof except a default in payment arising solely from an acceleration of the Notes that has been rescinded;

 

(5)           modify any provisions of this Indenture relating to the modification and amendment of this Indenture or the waiver of past defaults or covenants which require each Holder’s consent;

 

(6)           amend any provisions relating to the redemption of the Notes (other than notice provisions), it being understood that for the avoidance of doubt, the provisions described under Sections 4.10 and 4.13 shall not be covered by this clause;

 

(7)           modify the Subsidiary Guarantees in any manner adverse to the Holders, except in accordance with this Indenture; or

 

(8)           modify any of the provisions of this Indenture or the related definitions affecting the ranking of the Notes.

 

It shall not be necessary for the consent of the Holders under this Section 9.2 to approve the particular form of any proposed amendment or waiver, but it shall be sufficient if such consent approves the substance thereof.

 

Section 9.3.      Revocation and Effect of Consents. Until an amendment, supplement or waiver becomes effective, a consent to it by a Holder of a Note is a continuing consent by the Holder and every subsequent Holder of that Note or portion of the Note that evidences the same debt as the consenting Holder’s Note, even if notation of the consent is not made on the Note. However, any such Holder or subsequent Holder may revoke the consent as to its Note if the Trustee receives written notice of revocation before the date the waiver, supplement or amendment becomes effective. When an amendment, supplement or waiver becomes effective in accordance with its terms, it thereafter binds every Holder.

 

The Issuer may, but shall not be obligated to, fix a record date for determining which Holders consent to such amendment, supplement or waiver.

 

Section 9.4.      Notation on or Exchange of Notes. The Trustee may place an appropriate notation about an amendment, supplement or waiver on any Note thereafter authenticated. The Issuer in exchange for all Notes may issue and the Trustee shall authenticate new Notes that reflect the amendment, supplement or waiver.

 

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Failure to make the appropriate notation or issue a new Note shall not affect the validity and effect of such amendment, supplement or waiver.

 

Section 9.5.      Trustee to Sign Amendments, Etc. The Trustee shall sign any amended or supplemental indenture authorized pursuant to this Article IX if the amendment or supplement does not, in the Trustee’s reasonable judgment, adversely affect the rights, duties, liabilities or immunities of the Trustee. In signing or refusing to sign any amendment or supplemental indenture, the Trustee shall be provided with and (subject to Section 7.1) shall be fully protected in relying upon an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel stating that the execution of such amendment or supplemental indenture is authorized or permitted by this Indenture and that all conditions precedent thereto have been met or waived; provided that no such Opinion of Counsel shall be required to be delivered in connection with the execution of any amendment or supplement entered into in connection with adding a Guarantor with a supplemental indenture in the form of Exhibit B-2 or releasing a Guarantor pursuant to the terms of this Indenture.

 

ARTICLE X
SUBSIDIARY GUARANTEES

 

Section 10.1.     Subsidiary Guarantees.

 

(a)          Each Subsidiary Guarantor hereby jointly and severally, fully and unconditionally guarantees the Notes and obligations of the Issuer hereunder and thereunder, and guarantees to each Holder of a Note authenticated and delivered by the Trustee and to the Trustee, that: (i) the principal of and premium, if any, and interest on the Notes shall be paid in full when due, whether at Stated Maturity, by acceleration, call for redemption or otherwise, together with interest on the overdue principal, if any, and interest on any overdue interest, to the extent lawful, and all other obligations of the Issuer to the Holders or the Trustee under this Indenture or the Notes shall be paid in full or performed, all in accordance with the terms hereof and thereof; and (ii) in case of any extension of time of payment or renewal of any Notes or of any such other obligations, the same shall be paid in full when due or performed in accordance with the terms of the extension or renewal, whether at Stated Maturity, by acceleration or otherwise. Each of the Subsidiary Guarantees shall be a guarantee of payment and not of collection.

 

(b)          Each Subsidiary Guarantor hereby agrees that its obligations hereunder shall be unconditional, irrespective of the validity, regularity or enforceability of the Notes or this Indenture, the absence of any action to enforce the same, any waiver or consent by any Holder with respect to any provisions hereof or thereof, the recovery of any judgment against the Issuer, any action to enforce the same or any other circumstance which might otherwise constitute a legal or equitable discharge or defense of a Guarantor.

 

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(c)            Each Subsidiary Guarantor hereby waives the benefits of diligence, presentment, demand for payment, filing of claims with a court in the event of insolvency or bankruptcy of the Issuer, any right to require a proceeding first against the Issuer or any other Person, protest, notice and all demands whatsoever and covenants that the Subsidiary Guarantee of such Subsidiary Guarantor shall not be discharged as to any Note or this Indenture except by complete performance of the obligations contained in such Note and this Indenture and such Subsidiary Guarantee. Each of the Subsidiary Guarantors hereby agrees that, in the event of a Default in payment of principal or premium, if any, or interest on any Note, whether at its Stated Maturity, by acceleration, call for redemption, purchase or otherwise, legal proceedings may be instituted by the Trustee on behalf of, or by, the Holder of such Note, subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this Indenture, directly against each of the Subsidiary Guarantors to enforce each such Subsidiary Guarantor’s Subsidiary Guarantee without first proceeding against the Issuer or any other Subsidiary Guarantor. Each Subsidiary Guarantor agrees that if, after the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, the Trustee or any of the Holders are prevented by applicable law from exercising their respective rights to accelerate the maturity of the Notes, to collect interest on the Notes, or to enforce or exercise any other right or remedy with respect to the Notes, such Subsidiary Guarantor shall pay to the Trustee for the account of the Holders, upon demand therefor, the amount that would otherwise have been due and payable had such rights and remedies been permitted to be exercised by the Trustee or any of the Holders and any other amounts due and owing to the Trustee under this Indenture.

 

(d)        If any Holder or the Trustee is required by any court or otherwise to return to the Issuer or any Subsidiary Guarantor, or any custodian, trustee, liquidator or other similar official acting in relation to the Issuer or any Subsidiary Guarantor, any amount paid by any of them to the Trustee or such Holder, the Subsidiary Guarantee of each of the Subsidiary Guarantors, to the extent theretofore discharged, shall be reinstated in full force and effect. This paragraph (d) shall remain effective notwithstanding any contrary action which may be taken by the Trustee or any Holder in reliance upon such amount required to be returned. This paragraph (d) shall survive the termination of this Indenture.

 

(e)         Each Subsidiary Guarantor further agrees that, as between each Subsidiary Guarantor, on the one hand, and the Holders and the Trustee, on the other hand, (x) the maturity of the obligations guaranteed hereby may be accelerated as provided in Article VI for the purposes of the Subsidiary Guarantee of such Subsidiary Guarantor, notwithstanding any stay, injunction or other prohibition preventing such acceleration in respect of the obligations guaranteed hereby, and (y) in the event of any acceleration of such obligations as provided in Article VI, such obligations (whether or not due and payable) shall forthwith become due and payable by each Subsidiary Guarantor for the purpose of the Subsidiary Guarantee of such Subsidiary Guarantor.

 

(f)            Each Subsidiary Guarantor that makes a payment for distribution under its Subsidiary Guarantee is entitled upon payment in full of all guaranteed obligations under this Indenture to seek contribution from each other Subsidiary Guarantor in a pro rata amount of such payment based on the respective net assets of all the Subsidiary Guarantors at the time of such payment in accordance with GAAP.

 

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Section 10.2.      Execution and Delivery of Guarantee. To evidence its Subsidiary Guarantee set forth in Section 10.1, each Subsidiary Guarantor agrees that this Indenture or a supplemental indenture in substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit B shall be executed on behalf of such Subsidiary Guarantor by an Officer of such Subsidiary Guarantor (or, if an officer is not available, by a board member or director or other duly authorized signatory) on behalf of such Subsidiary Guarantor. Each Subsidiary Guarantor hereby agrees that its Subsidiary Guarantee set forth in Section 10.1 shall remain in full force and effect notwithstanding the absence of the endorsement of any notation of such Subsidiary Guarantee on the Notes. In case the Officer, board member or director of such Subsidiary Guarantor whose signature is on this Indenture or supplemental indenture, as applicable, no longer holds office at the time the Trustee authenticates any Note, the Subsidiary Guarantee shall be valid nevertheless.

 

The delivery of any Note by the Trustee, after the authentication thereof hereunder, shall constitute due delivery of the Subsidiary Guarantee set forth in this Indenture on behalf of the Subsidiary Guarantors.

 

Section 10.3.      Severability. In case any provision of any Subsidiary Guarantee shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.

 

Section 10.4.      Limitation of Subsidiary Guarantors’ Liability. Each Subsidiary Guarantor and by its acceptance hereof each Holder confirms that it is the intention of all such parties that the Subsidiary Guarantee of such Subsidiary Guarantor not constitute a fraudulent transfer or conveyance for purposes of the Bankruptcy Law, the Uniform Fraudulent Conveyance Act, the Uniform Fraudulent Transfer Act or any similar federal or state law or the provisions of its local law relating to fraudulent transfer or conveyance. To effectuate the foregoing intention, the Trustee, the Holders and Subsidiary Guarantors hereby irrevocably agree that the obligations of such Subsidiary Guarantor under its Subsidiary Guarantee shall be limited to the maximum amount that will not, after giving effect to all other contingent and fixed liabilities of such Subsidiary Guarantor (including, without limitation, any guarantees under the Revolving Credit Agreement) and after giving effect to any collections from, rights to receive contribution from or payments made by or on behalf of any other Subsidiary Guarantor in respect of the obligations of such other Subsidiary Guarantor under its Subsidiary Guarantee, result in the obligations of such Subsidiary Guarantor under its Subsidiary Guarantee constituting a fraudulent conveyance, fraudulent preference or fraudulent transfer or otherwise reviewable under applicable law.

 

Section 10.5.      Releases. A Subsidiary Guarantee of a Subsidiary Guarantor shall be automatically and unconditionally released and discharged:

 

(a)           upon the sale, exchange, disposition or other transfer (including through merger, consolidation or dissolution) of (x) the Capital Stock of such Subsidiary Guarantor, if after such transaction the Subsidiary Guarantor is no longer a Restricted Subsidiary, or (y) all or substantially all of the assets of such Subsidiary Guarantor if such sale, exchange, disposition, dissolution or other transfer is made in compliance with this Indenture, so long as such Subsidiary Guarantor is also released from its guarantee under the Senior Credit Facilities;

 

(b)            upon the exercise by the Issuer of its Legal Defeasance option or its Covenant Defeasance option or the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, in each case as provided under Article VIII;

 

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(c)           if the Issuer designates such Subsidiary Guarantor as an Unrestricted Subsidiary in accordance with the applicable provisions of this Indenture; or

 

(d)            if such Subsidiary Guarantor ceases to guarantee any Debt of the Issuer or a Subsidiary Guarantor under, or be a borrower under, the Senior Credit Facilities and no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing.

 

Upon delivery to the Trustee of an Officer’s Certificate to the effect that all conditions precedent to the release of a Subsidiary Guarantor’s Subsidiary Guarantee set forth in this Indenture have been satisfied, the Trustee shall execute any documents reasonably requested by the Issuer in writing in order to evidence the release of any Subsidiary Guarantor from its obligations under its Subsidiary Guarantee.

 

Any Subsidiary Guarantor not released from its obligations under its Subsidiary Guarantee shall remain liable for the full amount of principal of and interest on the Notes and for the other obligations of any Subsidiary Guarantor under this Indenture as provided in this Article X.

 

Section 10.6.    Benefits Acknowledged. Each Subsidiary Guarantor acknowledges that it will receive direct and indirect benefits from the financing arrangements contemplated by this Indenture and that its guarantee and waivers pursuant to its Subsidiary Guarantee are knowingly made in contemplation of such benefits.

 

ARTICLE XI
MISCELLANEOUS

 

Section 11.1.      Notices. Any notice, request, direction, instruction or communication by the Issuer, any Subsidiary Guarantor or the Trustee to the others is duly given if in writing and delivered in person or mailed by first class mail (registered or certified, return receipt requested), PDF via e-mail (if receipt of such transmission is confirmed by reply e-mail or telephonically), telecopier or overnight air courier guaranteeing next day delivery, to the addresses set forth below:

 

If to the Issuer or any Subsidiary Guarantor:

 

Rent-A-Center, Inc.

5501 Headquarters Drive,

Plano, Texas 75024

Attention: General Counsel

 

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

 

Sullivan & Cromwell LLP

125 Broad Street

New York, New York 10004

Facsimile: (212) 558-3588

Attention: Ari Blaut

 

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If to the Trustee:

 

Truist Bank

Corporate Trust Services

2713 Forest Hills Road, Building 2

Wilson, North Carolina 27893

Facsimile: (252) 246-4303

Email: Gregory.yanok@truist.com

Attention: Gregory Yanok

 

The parties hereto, by written notice to the others, may designate additional or different addresses for subsequent notices or communications.

 

Any notice or communication to a Holder and the Trustee shall be mailed by first class mail or by overnight air courier promising next Business Day delivery to its address shown on the register kept by the Registrar. Notwithstanding the foregoing, as long as the Notes are Global Notes, notices to be given to the Holders shall be given to the Depositary in accordance with its applicable policies as in effect from time to time. Failure to mail a notice or communication to a Holder or any defect in it shall not affect its sufficiency with respect to other Holders.

 

In respect of this Indenture, the Trustee shall not have any duty or obligation to verify or confirm that the Person sending instructions, directors, reports, notices or other communications or information by electronic transmission is, in fact, a Person authorized to give such instructions, directors, reports notices or other communications or information on behalf of the party purporting to send such electronic transmission; and the Trustee shall not have any liability for any losses, liability, costs or expenses incurred or sustained by any party as a result of such reliance upon or compliance with such instructions directors, reports, notices or other communications or information. Each other party, agrees to assume all risks arising out of the use of electronic methods to submit instructions, directions, reports, notices or other communications or indemnifications to the Trustee, including without limitation the risk of the Trustee acting on unauthorized instructions, notices, reports or other communications or information, and the risks of interception and misuse by third parties.

 

If a notice or communication is delivered in the manner provided above within the time prescribed, it is duly given, whether or not the addressee receives it, except in the case of notices or communications given to the Trustee, which shall be effective only upon actual receipt.

 

If the Issuer delivers a notice or communication to Holders, it shall mail a copy to the Trustee and each Agent at the same time.

 

All notices, approvals, consents, requests and any communications hereunder must be in writing (provided that any communication sent to the Trustee hereunder must be in the form of a document that is signed manually or by way of a digital signature provided by DocuSign or AdobeSign (or such other digital signature provider as specified in writing to the Trustee by the Issuer)), in English. The party using digital signatures and electronic methods agrees to assume all risks arising out of the use of using digital signatures and electronic methods to submit communications to the Trustee, including without limitation the risk of the Trustee acting on unauthorized instructions, and the risk of interception and misuse by third parties.

 

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Section 11.2.     Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent. Upon any request or application by the Issuer to the Trustee to take any action under this Indenture, the Issuer shall furnish to the Trustee upon request:

 

(a)            an Officer’s Certificate (which shall include the statements set forth in Section 11.3) stating that, in the opinion of the signers, all conditions precedent and covenants, if any, provided for in this Indenture relating to the proposed action have been satisfied; provided that no such Officer’s Certificate shall be required to be delivered in connection with the issuance of the Notes that are issued on the Issue Date; and

 

(b)            an Opinion of Counsel stating that, in the opinion of such counsel, all such conditions precedent and covenants have been satisfied; provided that no such Opinion of Counsel shall be required to be delivered in connection with (x) the issuance of the Initial Notes that are issued on the Issue Date or (y) the execution of any amendment or supplement entered into in connection with adding a Guarantor in the form of Exhibit B-2 or releasing a Guarantor pursuant to the terms of this Indenture.

 

Section 11.3.     Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion. Each certificate or opinion with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant provided for in this Indenture (other than a certificate provided pursuant to Section 4.4) shall include substantially:

 

(a)            a statement that the Person making such certificate or opinion has read and understands such covenant or condition;

 

(b)            a brief statement as to the nature and scope of the examination or investigation upon which the statements or opinions contained in such certificate or opinion are based;

 

(c)            a statement that, in the opinion of such Person, he or she has made such examination or investigation as is necessary to enable him to express an informed opinion as to whether or not such covenant or condition has been satisfied; and

 

(d)            a statement as to whether or not, in the opinion of such Person, such condition or covenant has been satisfied.

 

In giving such Opinion of Counsel, counsel may rely as to factual matters on an Officer’s Certificate or on certificates of public officials.

 

Section 11.4.     Rules by Trustee and Agents. The Trustee may make reasonable rules for action by or at a meeting of Holders. Each of the Agents may make reasonable rules and set reasonable requirements for its functions.

 

Section 11.5.    No Personal Liability of Directors, Officers, Employees and Stockholders. No past, present or future director, officer, employee, incorporator, member, partner or stockholder of the Issuer or any Subsidiary Guarantor, as such, shall have any liability for any obligations of the Issuer or any Subsidiary Guarantor (other than the Issuer in respect of the Notes and each Subsidiary Guarantor in respect of its Subsidiary Guarantee) under the Notes, the Subsidiary Guarantees or this Indenture or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of, such obligations or their creation. Each Holder by accepting a note waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for issuance of the Notes.

 

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Section 11.6.      Governing Law; Consent to Jurisdiction; Waiver of Jury Trial. THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK SHALL GOVERN AND BE USED TO CONSTRUE THIS INDENTURE, THE NOTES AND THE SUBSIDIARY GUARANTEES. Each of the parties to this Indenture each hereby irrevocably submits to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of any New York State or federal court sitting in the Borough of Manhattan in The City of New York in any action or proceeding arising out of or relating to the Notes, the Subsidiary Guarantees or this Indenture, and all such parties hereby irrevocably agree that all claims in respect of such action or proceeding may be heard and determined in such New York State or federal court and hereby irrevocably waive, to the fullest extent that they may legally do so, the defense of an inconvenient forum to the maintenance of such action or proceeding. EACH OF THE ISSUER, THE SUBSIDIARY GUARANTORS AND THE TRUSTEE HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY AND ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS INDENTURE, THE BONDS OR THE TRANSACTION CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.

 

Section 11.7.     No Adverse Interpretation of Other Agreements. This Indenture may not be used to interpret any other indenture, loan or debt agreement of the Issuer or its Subsidiaries or of any other Person. Any such indenture, loan or debt agreement may not be used to interpret this Indenture.

 

Section 11.8.    Successors. All agreements of the Issuer and the Subsidiary Guarantors in this Indenture and the Notes and the Subsidiary Guarantees, as applicable, shall bind their respective successors and assigns. All agreements of the Trustee in this Indenture shall bind its respective successors and assigns.

 

Section 11.9.      Severability. In case any provision in this Indenture or in the Notes shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.

 

Section 11.10.     Execution in Counterparts. This Indenture may be executed in two or more counterparts, which when so executed shall constitute one and the same agreement. The exchange of copies of this Indenture and of signature pages by facsimile, PDF or other electronic transmission shall constitute effective execution and delivery of this Indenture as to the parties hereto and may be used in lieu of the original Indenture for all purposes. Signatures of the parties hereto transmitted by facsimile, PDF or other electronic shall be deemed to be their original signatures for all purposes. Except with respect to authentication of the Notes by the Trustee or an authenticating agent, the words “execution,” “signed,” “signature,” “delivery” and words of like import in or relating to this Indenture or any document to be signed in connection with this Indenture shall be deemed to include electronic signatures, deliveries or the keeping of records in electronic form, each of which shall be of the same legal effect, validity or enforceability as a manually executed signature, physical delivery thereof or the use of a paper-based recordkeeping system, as the case may be, and the parties hereto consent to conduct the transactions contemplated hereunder by electronic means.

 

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Section 11.11.  Table of Contents, Headings, Etc. The Table of Contents, Cross-Reference Table and Headings of the Articles and Sections of this Indenture have been inserted for convenience of reference only, are not to be considered a part of this Indenture and shall in no way modify or restrict any of the terms or provisions hereof.

 

Section 11.12.  Acts of Holders.

 

(a)          Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action provided by this Indenture to be given or taken by Holders may be embodied in and evidenced by one or more instruments of substantially similar tenor signed by such Holders in person or by agent duly appointed in writing (or, with respect to Global Notes, otherwise in accordance with the rules and procedures of the Depositary); and, except as herein otherwise expressly provided, such action shall become effective when such instrument or instruments are delivered to the Trustee and, where it is hereby expressly required, to the Issuer. Such instrument or instruments (and the action embodied therein and evidenced thereby) are herein sometimes referred to as the “Act” of Holders signing such instrument or instruments. Proof of execution of any such instrument or of a writing appointing any such agent shall be sufficient for any purpose of this Indenture and conclusive in favor of the Trustee and the Issuer, if made in the manner provided in this Section 11.12.

 

(b)          The fact and date of the execution by any Person of any such instrument or writing may be proved (1) by the affidavit of a witness of such execution or by a certificate of a notary public or other officer authorized by law to take acknowledgments of deeds, certifying that the individual signing such instrument or writing acknowledged to such officer the execution thereof or (2) in any other manner reasonably deemed sufficient by the Trustee. Where such execution is by a signer acting in a capacity other than such signer’s individual capacity, such certificate or affidavit shall also constitute sufficient proof of such signer’s authority. The fact and date of the execution of any such instrument or writing, or the authority of the Person executing the same, may also be proved in any other manner which the Trustee deems sufficient.

 

(c)            The ownership of Notes shall be proved by the register maintained by the Registrar hereunder.

 

(d)            Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act of the Holder of any Note shall bind every future Holder of the same Note and the Holder of every Note issued upon the registration of transfer thereof or in exchange therefor or in lieu thereof in respect of anything done, omitted or suffered to be done by the Trustee or the Issuer in reliance thereon, whether or not notation of such action is made upon such Note.

 

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(e)            If the Issuer shall solicit from the Holders any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act, the Issuer may, at its option, by or pursuant to an Officer’s Certificate, fix in advance a record date for the determination of Holders entitled to give such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act, but the Issuer shall have no obligation to do so. If such a record date is fixed, such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act may be given before or after such record date, but only the Holders of record at the close of business on such record date shall be deemed to be Holders for the purposes of determining whether Holders of the requisite proportion of outstanding Notes have authorized or agreed or consented to such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act, and for that purpose the outstanding Notes shall be computed as of such record date; provided that no such authorization, agreement or consent by the Holders on such record date shall be deemed effective unless it shall become effective pursuant to the provisions of this Indenture not later than six months after the record date.

 

(f)            The Trustee may, but shall not be obligated to, set any day as a record date for the purpose of determining the Holders entitled to join in the giving or making of (1) any notice of default under Section 6.1, (2) any declaration of acceleration referred to in Section 6.2, (3) any direction referred to in Section 6.5 or (4) any request to pursue a remedy as permitted in Section 6.6. If any record date is set pursuant to this paragraph, the Holders on such record date, and no other Holders, shall be entitled to join in such notice, declaration, request or direction, whether or not such Holders remain Holders after such record date; provided that no such action shall be effective hereunder unless made, given or taken on or prior to the applicable Expiration Date by Holders of the requisite principal amount of Notes or each affected Holder, as applicable, on such record date. Promptly after any record date is set pursuant to this paragraph, the Trustee, at the Issuer’s expense, shall cause notice of such record date, the proposed action by Holders and the applicable Expiration Date to be given to the Issuer and to each Holder in the manner set forth in Section 11.1.

 

(g)            Without limiting the foregoing, a Holder entitled to take any action hereunder with regard to any particular Note may do so with regard to all or any part of the principal amount of such Note or by one or more duly appointed agents, each of which may do so pursuant to such appointment with regard to all or any part of such principal amount. Any notice given or action taken by a Holder or its agents with regard to different parts of such principal amount pursuant to this paragraph shall have the same effect as if given or taken by separate Holders of each such different part.

 

(h)            Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, a Holder, including a Depositary that is the Holder of a Global Note, may make, give or take, by a proxy or proxies duly appointed in writing, any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action provided in this Indenture to be made, given or taken by Holders, and a Depositary that is the Holder of a Global Note may provide its proxy or proxies to the beneficial owners of interests in any such Global Note through such Depositary’s standing instructions and customary practices.

 

(i)            The Issuer may fix a record date for the purpose of determining the Persons who are beneficial owners of interests in any Global Note held by a Depositary entitled under the procedures of such Depositary, if any, to make, give or take, by a proxy or proxies duly appointed in writing, any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action provided in this Indenture to be made, given or taken by Holders; provided that if such a record date is fixed, only the beneficial owners of interests in such Global Note on such record date or their duly appointed proxy or proxies shall be entitled to make, give or take such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action, whether or not such beneficial owners remain beneficial owners of interests in such Global Note after such record date. No such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action shall be effective hereunder unless made, given or taken on or prior to the applicable Expiration Date.

 

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(j)            With respect to any record date set pursuant to this Section 11.12, the party hereto that sets such record date may designate any day as the “Expiration Date” and from time to time may change the Expiration Date to any earlier or later day; provided that no such change shall be effective unless notice of the proposed new Expiration Date is given to the other party hereto in writing, and to each Holder of Notes in the manner set forth in Section 11.1, on or prior to both the existing and the new Expiration Date. If an Expiration Date is not designated with respect to any record date set pursuant to this Section 11.12, the party hereto which set such record date shall be deemed to have initially designated the 90th day after such record date as the Expiration Date with respect thereto, subject to its right to change the Expiration Date as provided in this clause (j).

 

Section 11.13.      Force Majeure. In no event shall the Trustee or any Agent be responsible or liable for any failure or delay in the performance of its obligations hereunder arising out of or caused by, directly or indirectly, forces beyond its control, including, without limitation, fire, riots, strikes, or work stoppages for any reason, embargoes, governmental actions, accidents, acts of war or terrorism, civil or military disturbances, nuclear or natural catastrophes or acts of God, epidemics or pandemics, interruptions, loss or malfunctions of utilities, communications or computer (software and hardware) services and the unavailability of the Federal Reserve Bank wire, telex or other communication or wire facility, it being understood that the Trustee and each Agent shall use reasonable efforts which are consistent with accepted practices in the U.S. banking industry to resume performance as soon as practicable under the circumstances.

 

Section 11.14.      Legal Holidays. If any payment date with respect to the Notes falls on a day that is not a Business Day, the payment to be made on such payment date will be made on the next succeeding Business Day with the same force and effect as if made on such payment date, and no additional interest will accrue solely as a result of such delayed payment.

 

Section 11.15.      USA PATRIOT Act. The parties hereto acknowledge that in accordance with Section 326 of the USA PATRIOT Act, the Trustee, like all financial institutions and in order to help fight the funding of terrorism and money laundering, is required to obtain, verify, and record information that identifies each person or legal entity that establishes a relationship or opens an account. The Issuer agrees that it will provide the Trustee with information about the Issuer as the Trustee may reasonably request in order for the Trustee to satisfy the requirements of the USA PATRIOT Act.

 

[Signature Pages Follow]

 

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  RADIANT FUNDING SPV, LLC
   
  By: /s/ Maureen B. Short
  Name: Maureen B. Short
  Title: Authorized Officer

 

[Signature Page to Indenture]

 

 

 

 

  Truist Bank
  as Trustee
     
  By: /s/ Gregory Yanok
  Name: Gregory Yanok
  Title: Vice President

 

[Signature Page to Indenture]

 

 

 

 

EXHIBIT A

 

FORM OF NOTE

 

(Face of 6.375% Senior Note) 

RADIANT FUNDING SPV, LLC 

(to be merged with and into Rent-a-center, inc.) 

6.375% Senior Notes due 2029

 

[Global Note Legend]

 

UNLESS THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY (55 WATER STREET, NEW YORK, NEW YORK) TO THE COMPANY OR ITS AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OR TRANSFER, EXCHANGE OR PAYMENT, AND ANY CERTIFICATE ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF CEDE & CO. OR TO SUCH OTHER NAME AS MAY BE REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY OR SUCH OTHER REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY (AND ANY PAYMENT HEREON IS MADE TO CEDE & CO. OR TO SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS MAY BE REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL SINCE THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.

 

TRANSFERS OF THIS GLOBAL NOTE SHALL BE LIMITED TO TRANSFERS IN WHOLE, BUT NOT IN PART, TO NOMINEES OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY OR TO A SUCCESSOR THEREOF OR SUCH SUCCESSOR’S NOMINEE AND TRANSFERS OF PORTIONS OF THIS GLOBAL NOTE SHALL BE LIMITED TO TRANSFERS MADE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE RESTRICTIONS SET FORTH IN THE INDENTURE REFERRED TO ON THE REVERSE HEREOF.

 

[Restricted Notes Legend]

 

THIS SECURITY HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), OR THE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE OR OTHER JURISDICTION. NEITHER THIS SECURITY NOR ANY INTEREST OR PARTICIPATION HEREIN MAY BE REOFFERED, SOLD, ASSIGNED, TRANSFERRED, PLEDGED, ENCUMBERED OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION OR UNLESS SUCH TRANSACTION IS EXEMPT FROM, OR NOT SUBJECT TO, SUCH REGISTRATION. THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY, BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF, AGREES ON ITS OWN BEHALF AND ON BEHALF OF ANY INVESTOR ACCOUNT FOR WHICH IT HAS PURCHASED SECURITIES, TO OFFER, SELL OR OTHERWISE TRANSFER SUCH SECURITY, PRIOR TO THE DATE (THE “RESALE RESTRICTION TERMINATION DATE”) THAT IS SIX MONTHS AFTER THE LATER OF THE ORIGINAL ISSUE DATE HEREOF, THE ORIGINAL ISSUE DATE OF THE ISSUANCE OF ANY ADDITIONAL NOTES AND THE LAST DATE ON WHICH THE ISSUER OR ANY AFFILIATE OF THE ISSUER WAS THE OWNER OF THIS SECURITY (OR ANY PREDECESSOR OF SUCH SECURITY), ONLY (A) TO THE COMPANY OR ANY SUBSIDIARY THEREOF, (B) PURSUANT TO A REGISTRATION STATEMENT THAT HAS BEEN DECLARED EFFECTIVE UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (C) FOR SO LONG AS THE SECURITIES ARE ELIGIBLE FOR RESALE PURSUANT TO RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT (“RULE 144A”), TO A PERSON IT REASONABLY BELIEVES IS A “QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER” AS DEFINED IN RULE 144A THAT PURCHASES FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OF A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER TO WHOM NOTICE IS GIVEN THAT THE TRANSFER IS BEING MADE IN RELIANCE ON RULE 144A, (D) PURSUANT TO OFFERS AND SALES TO NON-U.S. PERSONS THAT OCCUR OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES WITHIN THE MEANING OF REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (E) TO AN INSTITUTIONAL “ACCREDITED INVESTOR” WITHIN THE MEANING OF RULE 501(a)(1), (2), (3) OR (7) UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT THAT IS NOT A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER AND THAT IS PURCHASING FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OF ANOTHER INSTITUTIONAL ACCREDITED INVESTOR, IN EACH CASE IN A MINIMUM PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF $250,000 OF SECURITIES OR (F) PURSUANT TO ANOTHER AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT, SUBJECT TO THE COMPANY’S AND THE TRUSTEE’S RIGHT PRIOR TO ANY SUCH OFFER, SALE OR TRANSFER PURSUANT TO CLAUSES (D), (E) OR (F) TO REQUIRE THE DELIVERY OF AN OPINION OF COUNSEL, CERTIFICATION AND/ OR OTHER INFORMATION SATISFACTORY TO EACH OF THEM. THIS LEGEND WILL BE REMOVED UPON THE REQUEST OF THE HOLDER AFTER THE RESALE RESTRICTION TERMINATION DATE.

 

A-1

 

 

BY ITS ACQUISITION OF THIS SECURITY, THE HOLDER THEREOF WILL BE DEEMED TO HAVE REPRESENTED AND WARRANTED THAT EITHER (1) NO PORTION OF THE ASSETS USED BY SUCH HOLDER TO ACQUIRE OR HOLD THIS SECURITY CONSTITUTES THE ASSETS OF AN EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN THAT IS SUBJECT TO TITLE I OF THE U.S. EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT INCOME SECURITY ACT OF 1974, AS AMENDED (“ERISA”), OF A PLAN, ACCOUNT OR OTHER ARRANGEMENT THAT IS SUBJECT TO SECTION 4975 OF THE U.S. INTERNAL REVENUE CODE OF 1986, AS AMENDED (THE “CODE”), OR SIMILAR PROVISIONS UNDER ANY OTHER U.S. OR NON-U.S. FEDERAL, STATE, LOCAL OR OTHER LAWS OR REGULATIONS (“SIMILAR LAWS”), OR OF AN ENTITY WHOSE UNDERLYING ASSETS ARE CONSIDERED TO INCLUDE “PLAN ASSETS” OF ANY SUCH PLAN, ACCOUNT OR ARRANGEMENT, OR (2) THE ACQUISITION, HOLDING AND DISPOSITION OF THIS SECURITY WILL NOT CONSTITUTE A NON-EXEMPT PROHIBITED TRANSACTION UNDER SECTION 406 OF ERISA OR SECTION 4975 OF THE CODE OR A SIMILAR VIOLATION UNDER ANY APPLICABLE SIMILAR LAWS.

 

[Regulation S Legend]

 

THIS SECURITY HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), OR THE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE OR OTHER JURISDICTION. NEITHER THIS SECURITY NOR ANY INTEREST OR PARTICIPATION HEREIN MAY BE REOFFERED, SOLD, ASSIGNED, TRANSFERRED, PLEDGED, ENCUMBERED OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION OR UNLESS SUCH TRANSACTION IS EXEMPT FROM, OR NOT SUBJECT TO, SUCH REGISTRATION. THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY, BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF, AGREES ON ITS OWN BEHALF AND ON BEHALF OF ANY INVESTOR ACCOUNT FOR WHICH IT HAS PURCHASED SECURITIES, TO OFFER, SELL OR OTHERWISE TRANSFER SUCH SECURITY, PRIOR TO THE DATE (THE “RESALE RESTRICTION TERMINATION DATE”) THAT IS 40 DAYS AFTER THE LATER OF THE ORIGINAL ISSUE DATE HEREOF, THE ORIGINAL ISSUE DATE OF THE ISSUANCE OF ANY ADDITIONAL NOTES AND THE DATE ON WHICH THIS SECURITY (OR ANY PREDECESSOR OF SUCH SECURITY) WAS FIRST OFFERED TO PERSONS OTHER THAN DISTRIBUTORS (AS DEFINED IN RULE 902 OF REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT) IN RELIANCE ON REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, ONLY (A) TO THE COMPANY OR ANY SUBSIDIARY THEREOF, (B) PURSUANT TO A REGISTRATION STATEMENT THAT HAS BEEN DECLARED EFFECTIVE UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (C) FOR SO LONG AS THE SECURITIES ARE ELIGIBLE FOR RESALE PURSUANT TO RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT (“RULE 144A”), TO A PERSON IT REASONABLY BELIEVES IS A “QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER” AS DEFINED IN RULE 144A THAT PURCHASES FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OF A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER TO WHOM NOTICE IS GIVEN THAT THE TRANSFER IS BEING MADE IN RELIANCE ON RULE 144A, (D) PURSUANT TO OFFERS AND SALES TO NON-U.S. PERSONS THAT OCCUR OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES WITHIN THE MEANING OF REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (E) TO AN INSTITUTIONAL “ACCREDITED INVESTOR” WITHIN THE MEANING OF RULE 501(a)(1), (2), (3) OR (7) UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT THAT IS NOT A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER AND THAT IS PURCHASING FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OF ANOTHER INSTITUTIONAL ACCREDITED INVESTOR, IN EACH CASE IN A MINIMUM PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF $250,000 OF SECURITIES OR (F) PURSUANT TO ANOTHER AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT, SUBJECT TO THE COMPANY’S AND THE TRUSTEE’S RIGHT PRIOR TO ANY SUCH OFFER, SALE OR TRANSFER PURSUANT TO CLAUSES (D), (E) OR (F) TO REQUIRE THE DELIVERY OF AN OPINION OF COUNSEL, CERTIFICATION AND/ OR OTHER INFORMATION SATISFACTORY TO EACH OF THEM. THIS LEGEND WILL BE REMOVED UPON THE REQUEST OF THE HOLDER AFTER THE RESALE RESTRICTION TERMINATION DATE. BY ITS ACQUISITION HEREOF, THE HOLDER HEREOF REPRESENTS THAT IT IS NOT A U.S. PERSON NOR IS IT PURCHASING FOR THE ACCOUNT OF A U.S. PERSON AND IS ACQUIRING THIS SECURITY IN AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION IN ACCORDANCE WITH REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT.

 

A-2

 

 

BY ITS ACQUISITION OF THIS SECURITY, THE HOLDER THEREOF WILL BE DEEMED TO HAVE REPRESENTED AND WARRANTED THAT EITHER (1) NO PORTION OF THE ASSETS USED BY SUCH HOLDER TO ACQUIRE OR HOLD THIS SECURITY CONSTITUTES THE ASSETS OF AN EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN THAT IS SUBJECT TO TITLE I OF THE U.S. EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT INCOME SECURITY ACT OF 1974, AS AMENDED (“ERISA”), OF A PLAN, ACCOUNT OR OTHER ARRANGEMENT THAT IS SUBJECT TO SECTION 4975 OF THE U.S. INTERNAL REVENUE CODE OF 1986, AS AMENDED (THE “CODE”), OR SIMILAR PROVISIONS UNDER ANY OTHER U.S. OR NON-U.S. FEDERAL, STATE, LOCAL OR OTHER LAWS OR REGULATIONS (“SIMILAR LAWS”), OR OF AN ENTITY WHOSE UNDERLYING ASSETS ARE CONSIDERED TO INCLUDE “PLAN ASSETS” OF ANY SUCH PLAN, ACCOUNT OR ARRANGEMENT, OR (2) THE ACQUISITION, HOLDING AND DISPOSITION OF THIS SECURITY WILL NOT CONSTITUTE A NON-EXEMPT PROHIBITED TRANSACTION UNDER SECTION 406 OF ERISA OR SECTION 4975 OF THE CODE OR A SIMILAR VIOLATION UNDER ANY APPLICABLE SIMILAR LAWS.

 

A-3

 

 

No.

 

CUSIP NO.1

ISIN

 

Radiant Funding SPV, LLC (to be merged with and into Rent-A-Center, Inc.), and any successor thereto, promises to pay to [Cede & Co.]2 or registered assigns, the principal sum of ________ [(as may be increased or decreased as set forth on the Schedule of Increases and Decreases attached hereto)]3 on February 15, 2029.

 

Interest Payment Dates: February 15 and August 15, beginning August 15, 2021

 

Record Dates: February 1 and August 1 (whether or not a Business Day)

 

Reference is made to further provisions of this Note set forth on the reverse hereof, which further provisions shall for all purposes have the same effect as set forth at this place.

 

Unless the certificate of authentication hereon has been executed by the Trustee referred to on the reverse hereof by manual signature, this Note shall not be entitled to any benefits under the Indenture referred to on the reverse hereof or be valid or obligatory for any purpose.

 

Upon the Escrow Merger, this Global Note will automatically exchange into a new Global Note [(CUSIP No. 76009NAL4; ISIN No. US76009NAL47)]4 [(CUSIP No. U76015AE3; ISIN No. USU76015AE34)]5.

 

 

1 Rule 144A Note Pre-Escrow Merger CUSIP: 75024LAA5
  Rule 144A Note Pre-Escrow Merger ISIN: US75024LAA52
  Regulation S Note Pre-Escrow Merger CUSIP: U7500LAA8
  Regulation S Note Pre-Escrow Merger ISIN: USU7500LAA80
   
  Rule 144A Note Post-Escrow Merger CUSIP: 76009NAL4
  Rule 144A Note Post-Escrow Merger ISIN: US76009NAL47
  Regulation S Note Post-Escrow Merger CUSIP: U76015AE3
  Regulation S Note Post-Escrow Merger ISIN: USU76015AE34

 

2 For Global Notes only.

 

3 For Global Notes only.

 

4 For Rule 144A Global Notes only.

 

5 For Regulation S Global Notes only.

 

A-4

 

 

  RADIANT FUNDING SPV, LLC
   
   
  By:  
    Name:  
    Title:  
       
This is one of the Notes referred to in the      
within-mentioned Indenture:      
       
Dated:      
       
TRUIST BANK, as Trustee      
       
By:        
  Authorized Signatory      

 

A-5

 

 

(Back of 6.375% Senior Note)
6.375% Senior Notes due 2029

 

Capitalized terms used herein shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture referred to below unless otherwise indicated.

 

(1)            Interest. Radiant Funding SPV, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (to be merged with and into Rent-A-Center, Inc., a Delaware corporation), and any successor thereto (the “Issuer”) promises to pay interest on the unpaid principal amount of this 6.375% Senior Note due 2029 (a “Note”) at a fixed rate of 6.375% per annum. The Issuer will pay interest in U.S. dollars semiannually in arrears on February 15 and August 15, commencing on ________6 (each an “Interest Payment Date”) or if any such day is not a Business Day, on the next succeeding Business Day with the same force and effect as if made on such Interest Payment Date, and no additional interest shall accrue solely as a result of such delayed payment. Interest on the Notes shall accrue from the most recent date to which interest has been paid, or, if no interest has been paid, from and including the date of issuance. The Issuer shall pay interest (including post-petition interest in any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law) on overdue principal at the rate equal to the then applicable interest rate on the Notes to the extent lawful; it shall pay interest (including post-petition interest in any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law) on overdue installments of interest (without regard to any applicable grace period), at the same rate to the extent lawful. Interest shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year comprised of twelve 30-day months.

 

(2)            Method of Payment. The Issuer will pay interest on the Notes (except defaulted interest) on the applicable Interest Payment Date to the Persons who are registered Holders at the close of business on the February 1 and August 1 preceding the Interest Payment Date (whether or not a Business Day), even if such Notes are cancelled after such record date and on or before such Interest Payment Date, except as provided in Section 2.12 of the Indenture with respect to defaulted interest. If a Holder having an aggregate principal amount of more than $5,000,000 has given written wire transfer instructions to that holder’s U.S. dollar account within the United States to the Trustee at least ten Business Days prior to the applicable Interest Payment Date, the Issuer will make all payments of principal, premium and interest, on such Holder’s Notes by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the account specified in those instructions. Otherwise, payments on the Notes will be made at the office or agency of the Trustee or Paying Agent unless the Issuer elects to make interest payments by check mailed to the Holders at their addresses set forth in the register of Holders. Such payment shall be in such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts.

 

Any payments of principal of this Note prior to Stated Maturity shall be binding upon all future Holders of this Note and of any Note issued upon the registration of transfer hereof or in exchange hereof or in lieu hereof, whether or not noted hereon. The final principal amount due and payable at the maturity of this Note shall be payable only upon presentation and surrender of this Note at an office of the Trustee or the Trustee’s agent appointed for such purposes. Payments in respect of Global Notes will be made by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the Depositary.

 

(3)            Paying Agent and Registrar. Initially, Truist Bank shall act as Paying Agent and Registrar. The Issuer may change any Paying Agent or Registrar without notice to any Holder, and the Issuer and/or any Restricted Subsidiaries may act as Paying Agent or Registrar.

 

 

6 NTD: will be filled in global note but will keep it blank for form of in case of add-on notes

 

A-6

 

 

(4)           Indenture. The Issuer issued the Notes under an Indenture, dated as of February 17, 2021 (the “Indenture”), between the Issuer and the Trustee. The terms of the Notes include those stated in the Indenture. To the extent the provisions of this Note are inconsistent with the provisions of the Indenture, the Indenture shall govern. The Notes are subject to all such terms, and Holders are referred to the Indenture for a statement of such terms. The Initial Notes issued on the Issue Date were initially issued in an aggregate principal amount of $450,000,000. The Indenture permits the issuance of Additional Notes subject to compliance with certain conditions.

 

The payment of principal, interest on the Notes and all other amounts under the Indenture is unconditionally guaranteed, jointly and severally, on a senior unsecured basis by the Subsidiary Guarantors.

 

(5)           Optional Redemption.

 

(a)            The Notes may be redeemed, in whole or in part, at any time or from time to time prior to February 15, 2024 at the option of the Issuer, at a redemption price equal to 100.0% of the principal amount of the Notes redeemed plus the Applicable Premium as of, and accrued and unpaid interest thereon, if any to, but excluding, the applicable redemption date (subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant Interest Payment Date).

 

(b)            At any time or from time to time on or after February 15, 2024, the Issuer, at its option, may redeem the Notes in whole or in part at the redemption prices (expressed as percentages of principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed) set forth below, together with accrued and unpaid interest thereon, if any, to, but excluding, the applicable redemption date (subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant Interest Payment Date), if redeemed during the 12-month period beginning on February 15 of the years indicated below:

 

Year   Redemption Price  
2024     103.188 %
2025     101.594 %
2026 and thereafter     100.000 %

 

(c)            In the event that prior to February 15, 2024, the Issuer receives net cash proceeds from one or more Equity Offerings, the Issuer may use an amount not greater than the amount of such net cash proceeds to redeem up to 40.0% of the original aggregate principal amount of all Notes issued (calculated after giving effect to any issuance of Additional Notes) at a redemption price of 106.375% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to but excluding, the applicable redemption date (subject to the rights of Holders of Notes on the relevant regular record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date that is on or prior to the applicable redemption date); provided that:

 

A-7

 

 

(1)            at least 50.0% of the aggregate principal amount of Notes issued on the Issue Date remains outstanding immediately after giving effect to each such redemption; and

 

(2)            the redemption occurs not more than 120 days after the date of the closing of any such Equity Offering.

 

(d)            If Holders of not less than 90.0% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Notes validly tender and do not withdraw such Notes in connection with any tender offer or other offer to purchase the Notes (including pursuant to a Change of Control Offer, Alternate Offer or an offer to purchase with the proceeds from any Asset Disposition) and the Issuer, or any other Person making such offer in lieu of the Issuer, purchases all of the Notes validly tendered and not validly withdrawn by such Holders, the Issuer will have the right, upon not less than ten nor more than 60 days’ prior notice, to redeem all Notes that remain outstanding following such purchase and the Holders of such remaining Notes shall be deemed to have consented to surrender their Notes at a redemption price in cash equal to the applicable price paid to Holders in such purchase, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to but excluding the redemption date (subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on an interest payment date that is on or prior to the date of redemption).

 

(6)            [Reserved].

 

(7)            Offer to Purchase upon Change of Control.

 

(a)          Upon the occurrence of a Change of Control, the Issuer may be required to offer to repurchase all or any part of each Holder’s Notes pursuant to a Change of Control Offer on terms set forth in the Indenture.

 

(b)         Upon the occurrence of certain Asset Dispositions, the Issuer may be required to offer to purchase Notes as provided in the Indenture.

 

(c)            Holders of the Notes that are the subject of an offer to purchase will receive notice of an Offer to Purchase pursuant to Section 4.10 of the Indenture or the Change of Control Offer, as applicable, from the Issuer prior to any related purchase date and may elect to have such Notes purchased by completing the form titled “Option of Holder to Elect Purchase” attached hereto.

 

(8)          Notice of Redemption. Notice of redemption shall be delivered at least ten days but not more than 60 days before the redemption date (except that notices may be delivered more than 60 days before an expected redemption date if the notice is issued in accordance with Article VIII of the Indenture) to each Holder whose Notes are to be redeemed in accordance with Section 11.1 of the Indenture. Notices of redemption may be subject to conditions precedent as set forth in the Indenture. Notes in denominations larger than $2,000 may be redeemed in part so long as no partial redemption results in a Note having a principal amount of less than $2,000.

 

(9)          Denominations, Transfer, Exchange. The Notes are in registered form without coupons in initial minimum denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof. The transfer of the Notes may be registered and the Notes may be exchanged as provided in the Indenture. The Registrar, the Trustee and the Issuer may require a Holder, among other things, to furnish appropriate endorsements and transfer documents, and the Holder will be required to pay all taxes due on transfer (except as otherwise provided in the Indenture). The Registrar is not required (A) to issue, to register the transfer of or to exchange Notes during a period beginning at the opening of 15 days before the day of any selection of Notes for redemption and ending at the close of business on the day of such selection, (B) to register the transfer of or to exchange any Note so selected for redemption in whole or in part, except the unredeemed portion of any Note being redeemed in part, or (C) to register the transfer of or to exchange a Note between a record date and the next succeeding Interest Payment Date.

 

A-8

 

 

(10)          Persons Deemed Owners. The registered Holder of a Note may be treated as its owner for all purposes.

 

(11)          Amendment, Supplement and Waiver. The Indenture, the Notes and the Subsidiary Guarantees may be amended or supplemented as provided in the Indenture.

 

(12)          Defaults and Remedies. The Events of Default relating to the Notes are defined in Section 6.1 of the Indenture. Upon the occurrence of an Event of Default, the rights and obligations of the Issuer, the Subsidiary Guarantors, the Trustee and the Holders shall be as set forth in the applicable provisions of the Indenture.

 

(13)          No Recourse Against Others. No director, officer, employee, incorporator, stockholder, partner or member of the Issuer or any Subsidiary Guarantor, as such, will have any liability for any indebtedness, obligations or liabilities of the Issuer or of any Subsidiary Guarantor (other than the Issuer in respect of the Notes and each Subsidiary Guarantor in respect of its Subsidiary Guarantee) under the Notes, the Subsidiary Guarantees or the Indenture or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of, such obligations or their creation. Each Holder by accepting a Note waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for issuance of the Notes and the Subsidiary Guarantees, to the extent permitted by applicable law.

 

(14)          Authentication. This Note shall not be valid until authenticated by the manual signature of the Trustee or an authenticating agent.

 

(15)          Abbreviations. Customary abbreviations may be used in the name of a Holder or an assignee, such as: TEN COM (= tenants in common), TEN ENT (= tenants by the entireties), JT TEN (= joint tenants with right of survivorship and not as tenants in common), CUST (= custodian) and U/G/M/A (= Uniform Gifts to Minors Act).

 

(16)          CUSIP and ISIN Numbers. Pursuant to a recommendation promulgated by the Committee on Uniform Security Identification Procedures, the Issuer has caused CUSIP and ISIN numbers to be printed on the Notes, and the Trustee may use CUSIP and ISIN numbers in notices of redemption as a convenience to the Holders. No representation is made as to the accuracy of such numbers either as printed on the Notes or as contained in any notice of redemption, and reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers placed thereon.

 

A-9

 

 

The Issuer shall furnish to any Holder upon written request and without charge a copy of the Indenture. Requests may be made to:

 

Rent-A-Center, Inc. 

5501 Headquarters Drive, 

Plano, Texas 75024 

Attention: General Counsel

 

A-10

 

 

ASSIGNMENT FORM

 

To assign this Note, fill in the form below: (I) or (we) assign and transfer this Note to
 
 
(Insert assignee’s soc. sec. or tax I.D. no.)
 
 
 
 
 
 
(Print or type assignee’s name, address and zip code)
 
and irrevocably appoint
 
 
to transfer this Note on the books of the Issuer. The agent may substitute another to act for him.

 

Date:      

 

  Your Signature :  
    (Sign exactly as your name
    appears on the face of this Note)

 

 

Signature guarantee:

 

A-11

 

 

OPTION OF HOLDER TO ELECT PURCHASE

 

If you want to elect to have this Note purchased by the Issuer pursuant to Section 4.10 or 4.13 of the Indenture, check the box below:

 

[   ] Section 4.10   [   ] Section 4.13

 

If you want to elect to have only part of the Note purchased by the Issuer pursuant to Section 4.10 or 4.13 of the Indenture, state the amount you elect to have purchased: $______________

 

Date:      

 

  Your Signature :  
    (Sign exactly as your name
    appears on the face of this Note)

 

Tax Identification No.:

 

Signature guarantee:

 

A-12

 

 

[INCLUDE IN TRANSFER RESTRICTED NOTES]

 

CERTIFICATE TO BE DELIVERED UPON
EXCHANGE OF TRANSFER RESTRICTED NOTES

 

Radiant Funding SPV, LLC 

(to be merged with and into Rent-A-Center, LLC) 

5501 Headquarters Drive, 

Plano, Texas 75024 

Attention: General Counsel

 

Truist Bank 

Corporate Trust Services 

2713 Forest Hills Road, Building 2 

Wilson, North Carolina 27893 

Facsimile: (252) 246-4303 

Email: Gregory.yanok@truist.com 

Attention: Gregory Yanok

 

Re: 6.375% Senior Notes due 2029 CUSIP NO. ________

 

Reference is hereby made to that certain Indenture dated February 17, 2021 (the “Indenture”) between Radiant Funding SPV, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (to be merged with and into Rent-A-Center, Inc., a Delaware corporation) (such limited liability company, and its successors and assigns under the Indenture, the “Issuer”) and Truist Bank, as trustee (the “Trustee”). Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings set forth in the Indenture.

 

This certificate relates to $______ principal amount of Notes held in (check applicable space) ___________ book-entry or ____________ definitive form by the undersigned.

 

In connection with any transfer of any of the Notes evidenced by this certificate occurring prior to the expiration of the Resale Restriction Termination Date, the undersigned confirms that such Notes are being transferred as follows:

 

CHECK ONE BOX BELOW:

 

(1) ¨ to the Issuer or any of its subsidiaries; or

 

(2) ¨ inside the United States to a “qualified institutional buyer” (as defined in Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended) that purchases for its own account or for the account of a qualified institutional buyer to whom notice is given that such transfer is being made in reliance on Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, in each case pursuant to and in compliance with Rule 144A thereunder; or

 

(3) ¨ transferred pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”); or

 

A-13

 

 

(4) ¨ outside the United States in an offshore transaction within the meaning of Regulation S under the Securities Act, in compliance with Rule 904 thereunder; or

 

(5) ¨ transferred to an institutional “accredited investor” (within the meaning of Rule 501(a)(1), (2), (3) or (7) under the Securities Act), that has furnished to the Trustee a signed letter containing certain representations and agreements (the form of which letter appears as Exhibit D of the Indenture); or

 

(6) ¨ transferred pursuant to another available exemption from the registration requirements under the Securities Act.

 

Unless one of the boxes is checked, the Registrar will refuse to register any of the Notes evidenced by this certificate in the name of any person other than the registered Holder thereof; provided, however, that if box (4), (5) or (6) is checked, the Trustee or the Issuer may require, prior to registering any such transfer of the Securities, the delivery of an opinion of counsel, certification and/or other information satisfactory to each of them to confirm that such transfer is being made pursuant to an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act, such as the exemption provided by Rule 144 under such Act.

 

   
  Signature

 

Signature Guarantee:  
  (Signature must be guaranteed by a participant in a recognized signature guarantee medallion program)
   

 

TO BE COMPLETED BY PURCHASER IF (2) ABOVE IS CHECKED.

 

The undersigned represents and warrants that it is purchasing this Note for its own account or an account with respect to which it exercises sole investment discretion and that each of it and any such account is a “qualified institutional buyer” within the meaning of Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (“Rule 144A”), and is aware that the sale to it is being made in reliance on Rule 144A and acknowledges that it has received such information regarding the Issuer as the undersigned has requested pursuant to Rule 144A or has determined not to request such information and that it is aware that the transferor is relying upon the undersigned’s foregoing representations in order to claim the exemption from registration provided by Rule 144A.

 

  [Name of Transferee]
   
   
  NOTICE: To be executed by an executive officer, if an entity
   
Dated:    
     

 

A-14

 

 

SCHEDULE OF INCREASES AND DECREASES OF 6.375% SENIOR NOTES DUE 20297

 

The following transfers, exchanges and redemption of this Global Note have been made:

 

Date of Transfer,
Exchange or
Redemption
Amount of
Decrease in
Principal Amount of
this Global Note
Amount of Increase
in Principal Amount
of this Global Note
Principal Amount of
this Global Note
Following Such
Decrease (or
Increase)
Signature of Trustee
or Note Custodian
         
         
         
         
         
         
         

 

 

7 For Global Notes only.

 

A-15

 

 

EXHIBIT B-1

 

[Form of Supplemental Indenture to be Delivered upon
Consummation of the Escrow Merger
]

 

This Supplemental Indenture, dated as of __________, 20__ (this “Supplemental Indenture”), is by and among Rent-A-Center, Inc., a Delaware corporation (together with its successors and assigns, the “Issuer”), each of the parties identified as a Subsidiary Guarantor on the signature pages hereto (each, a “Subsidiary Guarantor” and collectively, the “Subsidiary Guarantors”) and Truist Bank, as trustee (the “Trustee”).

 

W I T N E S S E T H

 

WHEREAS, Radiant Funding SPV, LLC (the “Initial Issuer”) and the Trustee have heretofore executed and delivered an Indenture, dated as of February 17, 2021 (as amended, supplemented, waived or otherwise modified, the “Indenture”), providing for the issuance of an unlimited aggregate principal amount of 6.375% Senior Notes due 2029 of the Initial Issuer (the “Notes”);

 

WHEREAS, the Issuer and each Subsidiary Guarantor that is a signatory hereto is executing this Supplemental Indenture pursuant to which (i) the Issuer shall each become a party to the Indenture and assume all of the rights and be subject to all of the obligations and agreements of the “Issuer” under the Indenture and (ii) each such Subsidiary Guarantor shall become a party to the Indenture and assume all of the rights and be subject to all of the obligations and agreements of a “Subsidiary Guarantor” under the Indenture; and

 

WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 9.1 of the Indenture, the Trustee is authorized to execute and deliver this Supplemental Indenture.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, the Issuer, the Subsidiary Guarantors and the Trustee mutually covenant and agree for the equal and ratable benefit of the Holders as follows:

 

ARTICLE I
Definitions

 

SECTION 1.1      Capitalized Terms. Capitalized terms used herein without definition shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture.

 

ARTICLE II
Agreements to be Bound

 

SECTION 2.1      Agreement to be Bound as Issuer. Without limiting the assumption by operation of law upon the Escrow Merger, the Issuer hereby becomes party to the Indenture as the “Issuer” for all purposes thereof and as such will have all of the rights and be subject to all of the obligations and agreements of the “Issuer” under the Indenture.

 

B-1-1

 

 

SECTION 2.2      Agreements to Become Subsidiary Guarantors. Each of the Subsidiary Guarantors hereby unconditionally guarantees the Issuer’s obligations for the due and punctual payment of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on all the Notes and the performance and observance of each other obligation and covenant set forth in the Indenture to be performed or observed on the part of the Issuer, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in Article X of the Indenture and agrees to be bound by all other provisions of the Indenture and the Notes applicable to a Subsidiary Guarantor therein.

 

ARTICLE III

Miscellaneous

 

SECTION 3.1      Governing Law. This Supplemental Indenture shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York.

 

SECTION 3.2      Severability Clause. In case any provision in this Supplemental Indenture shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby and such provision shall be ineffective only to the extent of such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability.

 

SECTION 3.3      Ratification of Indenture; Supplemental Indentures Part of Indenture; No Liability of Trustee. Except as expressly amended hereby, the Indenture is in all respects ratified and confirmed and all the terms, conditions and provisions thereof shall remain in full force and effect. This Supplemental Indenture shall form a part of the Indenture for all purposes, and every Holder of a Note heretofore or hereafter authenticated and delivered shall be bound hereby. The Trustee makes no representation or warranty as to the validity or sufficiency of this Supplemental Indenture or the New Guarantor’s Subsidiary Guarantee. Additionally, the Trustee shall not be responsible in any manner whatsoever for or with respect to any of the recitals or statements contained herein, all of which recitals or statements are made solely by the Issuer, the New Guarantor and the Subsidiary Guarantors, and the Trustee makes no representation with respect to any such matters.

 

SECTION 3.4      Counterparts. This Supplemental Indenture may be executed in two or more counterparts, which when so executed shall constitute one and the same agreement. The exchange of copies of this Supplemental Indenture and of signature pages by facsimile, PDF or other electronic transmission shall constitute effective execution and delivery of this Supplemental Indenture as to the parties hereto and may be used in lieu of the original Indenture for all purposes. Signatures of the parties hereto transmitted by facsimile, PDF or other electronic shall be deemed to be their original signatures for all purposes.

 

SECTION 3.5      Headings. The headings of the Articles and the sections in this Supplemental Indenture are for convenience of reference only and shall not be deemed to alter or affect the meaning or interpretation of any provisions hereof.

 

[Signatures on Following Page]

 

B-1-2

 

 

   
  Rent-A-Center, Inc.
   
  By:  
    Name:
    Title:
   
  [NEW GUARANTOR],
  as a Guarantor
   
  By:  
    Name:
    Title:
   
  TRUIST BANK,
  as Trustee
   
  By:  
    Name:
    Title:
   

 

B-1-3

 

 

EXHIBIT B-2

 

[FORM OF SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE TO BE DELIVERED
BY SUBSEQUENT SUBSIDIARY GUARANTORS]

 

This Supplemental Indenture and Subsidiary Guarantee, dated as of _____________, 20__ (this “Supplemental Indenture” or “Subsidiary Guarantee”), among ____________ (the “New Guarantor”), Radiant Funding SPV, LLC (to be merged with and into Rent-A-Center, Inc.) (together with its successors and assigns, the “Issuer”) and Truist Bank, as Trustee (in such capacity, the “Trustee”), paying agent and registrar under such Indenture.

 

W I T N E S S E T H:

 

WHEREAS, the Issuer and the Trustee have heretofore executed and delivered an Indenture, dated as of February 17, 2021 (as amended, supplemented, waived or otherwise modified, the “Indenture”), providing for the issuance of an unlimited aggregate principal amount of 6.375% Senior Notes due 2029 of the Issuer (the “Notes”);

 

WHEREAS, Section 4.15 of the Indenture provides that in certain circumstances the Issuer may be required to cause certain Restricted Subsidiaries of the Issuer to execute and deliver a Guarantee with respect to the Notes on the same terms and conditions as those set forth in the Indenture.

 

WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 9.1 of the Indenture, the Trustee and the Issuer are authorized to execute and deliver this Supplemental Indenture to amend the Indenture, without the consent of any Holder to add an additional Subsidiary Guarantor.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, the New Guarantor, the Issuer and the Trustee mutually covenant and agree for the equal and ratable benefit of the Holders as follows:

 

ARTICLE I
Definitions

 

SECTION 1.1      Defined Terms. As used in this Supplemental Indenture, capitalized terms defined in the Indenture or in the preamble or recitals thereto are used herein as therein defined. The words “herein,” “hereof” and “hereby” and other words of similar import used in this Supplemental Indenture refer to this Supplemental Indenture as a whole and not to any particular section hereof.

 

ARTICLE II
Agreement to be Bound; Guarantee

 

SECTION 2.1      Agreement to be Bound. The New Guarantor hereby becomes a party to the Indenture as a Subsidiary Guarantor and as such shall have all of the rights and be subject to all of the obligations and agreements of a Subsidiary Guarantor under the Indenture. The New Guarantor agrees to be bound by all of the provisions of the Indenture applicable to a Subsidiary Guarantor and to perform all of the obligations and agreements of a Subsidiary Guarantor under the Indenture, subject to the release provisions and other limitations set forth in the Indenture.

 

B-2-1

 

 

ARTICLE III
Miscellaneous

 

SECTION 3.1      Governing Law. This Supplemental Indenture shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York.

 

SECTION 3.2      Severability Clause. In case any provision in this Supplemental Indenture shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby and such provision shall be ineffective only to the extent of such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability.

 

SECTION 3.3      Ratification of Indenture; Supplemental Indentures Part of Indenture; No Liability of Trustee. Except as expressly amended hereby, the Indenture is in all respects ratified and confirmed and all the terms, conditions and provisions thereof shall remain in full force and effect. This Supplemental Indenture shall form a part of the Indenture for all purposes, and every Holder of a Note heretofore or hereafter authenticated and delivered shall be bound hereby. The Trustee makes no representation or warranty as to the validity or sufficiency of this Supplemental Indenture or the New Guarantor’s Subsidiary Guarantee. Additionally, the Trustee shall not be responsible in any manner whatsoever for or with respect to any of the recitals or statements contained herein, all of which recitals or statements are made solely by the Issuer, the New Guarantor and the Subsidiary Guarantors, and the Trustee makes no representation with respect to any such matters.

 

SECTION 3.4      Counterparts. This Supplemental Indenture may be executed in two or more counterparts, which when so executed shall constitute one and the same agreement. The exchange of copies of this Supplemental Indenture and of signature pages by facsimile, PDF or other electronic transmission shall constitute effective execution and delivery of this Supplemental Indenture as to the parties hereto and may be used in lieu of the original Indenture for all purposes. Signatures of the parties hereto transmitted by facsimile, PDF or other electronic shall be deemed to be their original signatures for all purposes.

 

SECTION 3.5      Headings. The headings of the Articles and the sections in this Supplemental Indenture are for convenience of reference only and shall not be deemed to alter or affect the meaning or interpretation of any provisions hereof.

 

[Signatures on Following Page]

 

B-2-2

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Supplemental Indenture to be duly executed as of the date first above written.

 

  RADIANT FUNDING SPV, LLC
   
  By:  
     
     
   
  [NEW GUARANTOR],
  as a Guarantor
 
  By:  
    Name:
    Title:
   
  TRUIST BANK,
  as Trustee
   
  By:  
     
     

 

B-2-3

 

 

EXHIBIT C

 

[FORM OF CERTIFICATE TO BE DELIVERED
IN CONNECTION WITH TRANSFERS PURSUANT TO REGULATION S]

 

Radiant Funding SPV, LLC

(to be merged with and into Rent-A-Center, Inc.)

5501 Headquarters Drive,

Plano, Texas 75024

Attention: General Counsel

 

Truist Bank

Corporate Trust Services

2713 Forest Hills Road, Building 2

Wilson, North Carolina 27893

Facsimile: (252) 246-4303

Email: Gregory.yanok@truist.com

Attention: Gregory Yanok

 

Re: Radiant Funding SPV, LLC (to be merged with and into Rent-A-Center, Inc.) (the “Issuer”) 6.375% Senior Notes due 2029 (the “Notes”)

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

In connection with our proposed sale of $______________ aggregate principal amount of the Notes (CUSIP No._______________), we confirm that such sale has been effected pursuant to and in accordance with Regulation S (“Regulation S”) under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and, accordingly, we represent that:

 

(1)            the offer of the Notes was not made to a person in the United States;

 

(2)          either (a) at the time the buy order was originated, the transferee was outside the United States or we and any person acting on our behalf reasonably believed that the transferee was outside the United States or (b) the transaction was executed in, on or through the facilities of a designated off-shore securities market and neither we nor any person acting on our behalf knows that the transaction has been pre-arranged with a buyer in the United States;

 

(3)          no directed selling efforts have been made in the United States in contravention of the requirements of Rule 903(b) or Rule 904(b) of Regulation S, as applicable; and

 

(4)            the transaction is not part of a plan or scheme to evade the registration requirements of the Securities Act.

 

In addition, if the sale is made during a restricted period and the provisions of Rule 903(b) or Rule 904(b) of Regulation S are applicable thereto, we confirm that such sale has been made in accordance with the applicable provisions of Rule 903(b) or Rule 904(b), as the case may be.

 

C-1

 

 

The Issuer and you are entitled to rely upon this letter and are irrevocably authorized to produce this letter or a copy hereof to any interested party in any administrative or legal proceedings or official inquiry with respect to the matters covered hereby. Terms used in this certificate have the meanings set forth in Regulation S.

 

  Very truly yours,
   
   
  [Name of Transferor]
   
  By:  
    Authorized Signature
   

 

C-2

 

 

EXHIBIT D

 

[FORM OF CERTIFICATE TO BE DELIVERED
IN CONNECTION WITH TRANSFERS TO IAIs]

 

Radiant Funding SPV, LLC

(to be merged with and into Rent-A-Center, Inc.)

5501 Headquarters Drive,

Plano, Texas 75024

Attention: General Counsel

 

Truist Bank

Corporate Trust Services

2713 Forest Hills Road, Building 2

Wilson, North Carolina 27893

Facsimile: (252) 246-4303

Email: Gregory.yanok@truist.com

Attention: Gregory Yanok

 

Re: Radiant Funding SPV, LLC (to be merged with and into Rent-A-Center, Inc.) (the “Issuer”) 6.375% Senior Notes due 2029 (the “Notes”)

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

This certificate is delivered to request a transfer of $_____________ principal amount of the Notes.

 

Upon transfer, the Notes would be registered in the name of the new beneficial owner as follows:

 

  Name:    

 

  Address:    

 

  Taxpayer ID Number:    
   

The undersigned represents and warrants to you that:

 

1.            We are an institutional “accredited investor” (as defined in Rule 501(a)(1), (2), (3) or (7) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”)), purchasing for our own account or for the account of such an institutional “accredited investor” at least $250,000 principal amount of the Securities, and we are acquiring the Notes not with a view to, or for offer or sale in connection with, any distribution in violation of the Securities Act. We have such knowledge and experience in financial and business matters as to be capable of evaluating the merits and risk of our investment in the Notes, and we invest in or purchase securities similar to the Notes in the normal course of our business. We and any accounts for which we are acting are each able to bear the economic risk of our or its investment.

 

D-1

 

 

2.            We understand that the Notes have not been registered under the Securities Act (or the securities laws of any state or other jurisdiction) and, unless so registered, may not be reoffered, sold, assigned, transferred, pledged, encumbered or otherwise disposed of except as permitted in the following sentence. We agree on our own behalf and on behalf of any investor account for which we are purchasing Notes to offer, sell or otherwise transfer such Notes prior to the date that is one year after the later of the date of original issue, the original issue date of any additional Notes and the last date on which the Issuer or any affiliate of the Issuer was the owner of such Notes (or any predecessor thereto) (the “Resale Restriction Termination Date”) only (a) to the Issuer or any of its subsidiaries, (b) pursuant to a registration statement that has been declared effective under the Securities Act, (c) for so long as the Securities are eligible for resale pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act, in a transaction complying with the requirements of Rule 144A under the Securities Act, to a person we reasonably believe is a “qualified institutional buyer” under Rule 144A under the Securities Act (a “QIB”) that is purchasing for its own account or for the account of a QIB and to whom notice is given that the transfer is being made in reliance on Rule 144A, (d) pursuant to offers and sales that occur outside the United States to non-U.S. persons, in compliance with Regulation S under the Securities Act, (e) to an institutional “accredited investor” within the meaning of Rule 501(a)(1), (2), (3) or (7) under the Securities Act that is not a QIB and is purchasing for its own account or for the account of another institutional “accredited investor,” in each case in a minimum principal amount of Securities of $250,000, for investment purposes and not with a view to or for offer or sale in connection with any distribution in violation of the Securities Act or (f) pursuant to any other available exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act, subject in each of the foregoing cases to any requirement of law that the disposition of our property or the property of such investor account or accounts be at all times within our or their control and in compliance with any applicable state securities laws. The foregoing restrictions on resale will not apply subsequent to the Resale Restriction Termination Date. If any resale or other transfer of the Notes is proposed to be made pursuant to clause (e) above prior to the Resale Restriction Termination Date, the transferor shall deliver a letter from the transferee substantially in the form of this letter to the Issuer and Truist Bank, as trustee (the “Trustee”), which shall provide, among other things, that the transferee is an institutional “accredited investor” (within the meaning of Rule 501(a)(1), (2), (3) or (7) under the Securities Act) and that it is acquiring such Securities for investment purposes and not for distribution in violation of the Securities Act. Each purchaser acknowledges that the Issuer and the Trustee reserve the right prior to any offer, sale or other transfer prior to the Resale Restriction Termination Date of the Notes pursuant to clause (d), (e) or (f) above to require the delivery of an opinion of counsel, certifications and/or other information satisfactory to the Issuer and the Trustee.

 

3.           We [are] [are not] an affiliate of the Issuer.

 

D-2

 

 

The Trustee and the Issuer are entitled to rely upon this letter and are irrevocably authorized to produce this letter or a copy hereof to any interested party in any administrative or legal proceedings or official inquiry with respect to the matters covered hereby.

 

  Very truly yours,
   
   
  [Name of Transferor]
   
  By:  
    Authorized Signature
   

 

D-3

 

Exhibit 10.1

 

REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

 

This Registration Rights Agreement is dated as of February 17, 2021, and is between Rent-A-Center, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”) and the holders set forth on the signature pages to this Agreement (each, a “Holder” and collectively, the “Holders”).

 

WHEREAS, the Company, Radalta, LLC, a Utah limited liability company and wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, Acima Holdings, LLC, a Utah limited liability company and Aaron Allred, solely in his capacity as the Member Representative, are parties to an Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of December 20, 2020 (as it may be amended, supplemented, restated or modified from time to time, the “Merger Agreement”);

 

WHEREAS, immediately prior to the Effective Time, Holders are holders of Acima Holdings, LLC’s Class A Units and Class B Units, and pursuant to the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Merger Agreement, the Holders will acquire shares of Common Stock (as defined herein) forming part of the Aggregate Stock Consideration as of the Effective Time (as defined herein); and

 

WHEREAS, in connection with the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, the parties hereto desire to enter into this Agreement in order to grant certain registration rights to the Holders as set forth below.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and of the mutual covenants and obligations hereinafter set forth, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:

 

Section 1.         Definitions. As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the following meanings:

 

415 Shelf Registration Statement” means a Registration Statement on Form S-3 providing for an offering to be made on a continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act.

 

Agreement” means this Registration Rights Agreement as it may be amended, supplemented, restated or modified from time to time.

 

Automatic Shelf Registration Statement” means a Registration Statement that is an “automatic shelf registration statement” as defined in Rule 405 promulgated under the Securities Act.

 

Business Day” means any day except Saturday, Sunday and any day on which banking institutions in the State of New York generally are authorized or required by Law or other governmental actions to close.

 

Chosen Courts” has the meaning set forth in Section 8(k)(ii).

 

Common Stock” means common stock of the Company and any securities issued in respect thereof in connection with any stock split, share subdivision or dividend.

 

 

 

 

Company” has the meaning set forth in the Preamble.

 

Company Indemnified Person” has the meaning set forth in Section 6(b).

 

Controlling Person” means, with respect to any person, a “controlling person” of such Person within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act.

 

Covered Person” has the meaning set forth in Section 6(a).

 

Demand Registration” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(a).

 

Demand Registration Request” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(a).

 

Effective Time” has the meaning set forth in the Merger Agreement.

 

Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated by the SEC from time to time thereunder (or any successor statute and related rules and regulations).

 

Governmental Entity” has the meaning set forth in the Merger Agreement.

 

Holder” has the meaning set forth in the Preamble.

 

Laws” has the meaning set forth in the Merger Agreement.

 

Marketed Underwritten Offering” means an Underwritten Offering that involves (i) one-on-one meetings or calls between investors and management of the Company, other than any Underwritten Offering in the form of a “block trade” which requires not more than three (3) one-on-one calls between investors and management of the Company, (ii) a customary roadshow or other marketing activity or (iii) any other substantial marketing effort by the underwriters over a period of at least twenty-four (24) hours.

 

Merger” has the meaning set forth in the Merger Agreement.

 

Merger Agreement” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.

 

Person” has the meaning set forth in the Merger Agreement.

 

Prospectus” means the prospectus or prospectuses (whether preliminary or final) included in any Registration Statement and relating to Registrable Securities, as amended or supplemented and including all material incorporated by reference in such prospectus or prospectuses.

 

Registrable Securities” means, at any time, any shares of Common Stock received by a Holder pursuant to the Merger Agreement and any securities issued in respect thereof, or in substitution therefor, in connection with any stock split, dividend or combination, or any reclassification, recapitalization, merger, amalgamation, consolidation, exchange or other similar reorganization; provided, however, that as to any particular Registrable Securities, such shares shall cease to constitute Registrable Securities (a) when such shares have been effectively registered under the Securities Act and disposed of under an effective Registration Statement in accordance with this Agreement or have been transferred in compliance with Rule 144 or (b) to the extent such shares can be sold freely without restriction or limitation pursuant to Rule 144 without any volume or manner of sale restrictions; provided, further, for the avoidance of doubt, nothing in this Agreement shall permit a Holder to transfer any Registrable Securities at a time when such Holder is not permitted to do so pursuant to the terms of the Lockup Agreement or Restricted Stock Agreement to which such Holder is a party.

 

-2-

 

 

Registration Expenses” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.

 

Registration Statement” means any registration statement of the Company under the Securities Act which covers any of the Registrable Securities pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement, including the Prospectus, all amendments and supplements to such Registration Statement, including post-effective amendments, all exhibits and all documents incorporated by reference in such Registration Statement.

 

Rule 144” means Rule 144 under the Securities Act or any successor rule thereto.

 

SEC” means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, or any successor Governmental Entity.

 

Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated by the SEC from time to time thereunder (or any successor statute and related rules and regulations).

 

Selling Expenses” means all selling commissions, underwriting discounts and commissions and stock transfer taxes applicable to the sale of Registrable Securities.

 

Shelf Registration Statementmeans an Automatic Shelf Registration Statement or a 415 Shelf Registration Statement.

 

Subsidiaries” has the meaning set forth in the Merger Agreement.

 

Suspension” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.

 

Underwriter” means, with respect to any Underwritten Offering, a securities dealer who purchases any Registrable Securities as a principal in connection with a distribution of such Registrable Securities.

 

Underwritten Offering” means a public offering of securities registered under the Securities Act in which an Underwriter participates in the distribution of such securities.

 

-3-

 

 

Section 2.         Shelf and Demand Registrations.

 

(a)          At any time following six (6) months after the Effective Time, Holders of greater than ten percent (10%) of the aggregate then-outstanding Registrable Securities may, by providing written notice to the Company, request to sell all or part of the Registrable Securities of such Holders pursuant to a Registration Statement (a “Demand Registration”). Each request for a Demand Registration (a “Demand Registration Request”) shall specify the number of Registrable Securities intended to be offered and sold by such Holders pursuant to the Demand Registration and the intended method of distribution thereof, which, for avoidance of doubt, may include an Underwritten Offering as contemplated by Section 2.2(b). To the extent the Company is then eligible, the registration will be effected by filing a Shelf Registration Statement. Promptly (but in any event within three (3) Business Days) after receipt of a Demand Registration Request, the Company shall give written notice of the Demand Registration Request to all other Holders of Registrable Securities. As promptly as practicable and no later than forty-five (45) days after receipt of a Demand Registration Request, the Company shall register all Registrable Securities (i) that have been requested to be registered in the Demand Registration Request and (ii) with respect to which the Company has received a written request for inclusion in the Demand Registration from a Holder no later than ten (10) Business Days after the date on which the Company has given notice to Holders of the Demand Registration Request. The Company shall use reasonable best efforts to cause the Registration Statement filed pursuant to this Section 2(a) to be declared effective by the SEC or otherwise become effective under the Securities Act as promptly as practicable after the filing thereof and maintain such effectiveness for a period of at least 60 days. The Company shall not be required to effect more than four (4) Demand Registrations under this Agreement.

 

(b)          Upon the receipt by the Company of a written request from Holders holding a majority of the Registrable Securities in an Underwritten Offering that is not a Marketed Underwritten Offering, the Company will give written notice of such request to all other Holders which notice shall be given in any event within five (5) Business Days of the date on which the Company received the initial request. Any other Holders that desire to sell Registrable Securities of such Underwritten Offering shall give written notice to the Company within five (5) Business Days after the date the Company gave such other Holders notice of the such initial request specifying the number of Registrable Securities proposed by such Holder to be included in such Underwritten Offering. A Holder may change the number of Registrable Securities proposed to be offered in any such Underwritten Offering at any time prior to commencement of such offering so long as such change would not materially adversely affect the timing or success of such Underwritten Offering; provided, however, that the Company shall be entitled to reasonably delay an Underwritten Offering to the extent resulting from such change. The Company will cooperate with such Holders and any Underwriter in effecting an Underwritten Offering pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement as promptly as reasonably practicable with respect to all such Registrable Securities, subject to the limitations and conditions with respect to Underwritten Offerings (the “Underwritten Offering Limitations”):

 

(i)            The Company shall not be required to effect more than four (4) Underwritten Offerings in the aggregate, only one (1) of which may be a Marketed Underwritten Offering.

 

(ii)           The Company shall not be required to effect any Underwritten Offering within ninety (90) days after another Underwritten Offering.

 

(iii)          The Company shall not be required to effect any Underwritten Offering unless the aggregate gross proceeds expected to be received from the sale of Registrable Securities in such offering is at least $50 million.

 

-4-

 

 

(iv)          With respect to a Marketed Underwritten Offering only, the Company shall each be entitled to select one nationally recognized investment banking firm to serve as a lead Underwriter, and the holders of a majority of the Registration Shares to be offered in the Underwritten Offering may select a nationally recognized investment banking firm to serve as a co-lead Underwriter.

 

(v)           With respect to an Underwritten Offering that is not a Marketed Underwritten Offering, the holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities to be offered shall be entitled to select the nationally recognized investment banking firm to serve as the lead Underwriter and, if additional underwriters are reasonably necessary or desirable, the Company shall select any additional Underwriters.

 

(c)          Withdrawal. A Holder may, by written notice to the Company, withdraw the Registrable Securities of such Holder from a Demand Registration at any time prior to the effectiveness of the applicable Registration Statement.

 

Section 3.         Suspensions.

 

(a)          The Company shall be entitled to delay or suspend the filing, effectiveness or use of a Registration Statement or Prospectus (a “Suspension”) if the Company delivers a certificate to the requesting Holder signed by an executive officer of the Company that it has determined in good faith that (i) proceeding with the filing, effectiveness or use of such Registration Statement or Prospectus would reasonably be expected to require the Company to disclose material non-public information that the Company would not otherwise be required to disclose at such time or (ii) the registration or offering proposed to be delayed or suspended would reasonably be expected to, if not delayed or suspended, have a material adverse effect on any pending negotiation or plan of the Company to effect a merger, acquisition, disposition, financing, reorganization, recapitalization or other similar transaction; provided, that the Company shall not be entitled to exercise a Suspension for a period exceeding sixty (60) days on any one occasion or on more than two (2) occasions in any one year period, or to exercise a Suspension at any time when directors and officers are not prohibited by the Company from engaging in transactions in the Company’s securities; and provided further that the Company shall not register any securities for sale for its own account or that of any other shareholder during any Suspension. Each Holder who is notified by the Company of a Suspension pursuant to this Section 3 shall keep the existence of such Suspension confidential and shall immediately discontinue (and direct any other Person making offers or sales of Registrable Securities on behalf of such Holder to immediately discontinue) offers and sales of Registrable Securities pursuant to such Registration Statement or Prospectus until such time as it is advised in writing by the Company that the use of the Registration Statement or Prospectus may be resumed. If the Company delays or suspends a Demand Registration, the Holder that initiated such Demand Registration shall be entitled to withdraw its Demand Registration Request and, if it does so, such Demand Registration Request shall not count against the limitation on the number of Demand Registrations set forth in Section 2(a).

 

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(b)          In addition to the foregoing, in no event shall the Company be required to file any Registration Statement, Prospectus or amendments thereto during the Company’s quarterly blackout periods beginning on the fifteenth calendar day of the last month in each quarter and ending one full trading day following the Company’s regular release of earnings for such quarter (provided, that if the quarterly blackout periods applicable to directors or officers of the Company are reduced, increased or eliminated from the periods set forth above, such reduction, increase or elimination shall automatically apply to the periods set forth above and the Company shall promptly notify the Holders of any such reduction, increase or elimination of the quarterly blackout periods applicable to its directors or officers). Each Holder agrees to discontinue making offers and sales of Registrable Securities pursuant to a Demand Registration Statement or Prospectus during any such quarterly blackout period. Such periods shall not constitute Suspension periods for purposes of the frequency limitations described above in Section 3(a).

 

Section 4.         Registration Procedures. If and whenever the Company is required to effect the registration of any Registrable Securities pursuant to this Agreement, the Company shall effect and facilitate the registration, offering and sale of such Registrable Securities in accordance with the intended method of disposition thereof, which, for avoidance of doubt, shall not include an underwritten offering, as promptly as is practicable and, pursuant thereto, the Company shall:

 

(a)          prepare and file with the SEC a Registration Statement with respect to such Registrable Securities, make all required filings required in connection therewith and (if the Registration Statement is not automatically effective upon filing) use reasonable best efforts to cause such Registration Statement to become effective as promptly as practicable; provided that before filing a Registration Statement or any amendments or supplements thereto, the Company shall furnish to counsel to the Holders for such registration copies of all documents proposed to be filed, which documents shall be subject to review by counsel to the Holders at the Company’s expense, and give the Holders participating in such registration a reasonable opportunity to comment on such documents and keep such Holders reasonably informed as to the registration process;

 

(b)          cause the Company’s representatives to supply all information reasonably requested by the relevant Holders, any Underwriter or their respective representatives in connection with the Registration Statement or Underwritten Offering that is customarily provided by issuers and their representatives in connection with a registration statement or Underwritten Offering;

 

(c)          prepare and file with the SEC such amendments and supplements to any Registration Statement and the Prospectus used in connection therewith as may be necessary to keep such Registration Statement effective in accordance with this Agreement or until all of the Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement have been disposed of and comply with the applicable requirements of the Securities Act with respect to the disposition of the Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement;

 

(d)          furnish to each Holder participating in the registration, without charge, such number of copies of the Prospectus included in such Registration Statement (including each preliminary Prospectus) and any supplement thereto (in each case including all exhibits thereto and all documents incorporated by reference therein) and such other documents as such Holder may reasonably request, including in order to facilitate the disposition of the Registrable Securities owned by such Holder;

 

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(e)          use reasonable best efforts to (i) register or qualify such Registrable Securities under such other securities or blue sky laws of such U.S. jurisdiction(s) as any Holder participating in the registration reasonably requests and (ii) do any and all other acts and things that may be necessary or reasonably advisable to enable such Holder to consummate the disposition of such Holder’s Registrable Securities in such jurisdiction(s); provided, that the Company shall not be required to qualify generally to do business, subject itself to taxation or consent to general service of process in any jurisdiction where it would not otherwise be required to do so but for its obligations pursuant to this Section 4(e);

 

(f)           promptly notify each Underwriter and each Holder participating in the registration:

 

(i)            each time when the Registration Statement, any pre-effective amendment thereto, the Prospectus or any Prospectus supplement or any post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement has been filed and, with respect to the Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto, when the same has become effective;

 

(ii)           of the issuance by the SEC of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of such Registration Statement or the initiation or threatening of any proceedings for any such purpose; and

 

(iii)          of the receipt by the Company of any notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification of any Registrable Securities for sale under the applicable securities or blue sky laws of any jurisdiction;

 

(g)          notify each Holder participating in such registration, at any time when a Prospectus relating thereto is required to be delivered under the Securities Act, of the occurrence of any event that would cause the Prospectus included in such Registration Statement to contain an untrue statement of a material fact or to omit any fact necessary to make the statements made therein not misleading in light of the circumstances under which they were made, and, as promptly as practicable, prepare, file with the SEC and furnish to such Holder a reasonable number of copies of a supplement or amendment to such Prospectus so that, as thereafter delivered to the purchasers of such Registrable Securities, such Prospectus will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any fact necessary to make the statements therein not misleading in light of the circumstances under which they were made;

 

(h)          in the event of the issuance of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of a Registration Statement, any order suspending or preventing the use of any related Prospectus or any suspension of the qualification or exemption from qualification of any Registrable Securities for sale in any jurisdiction, use reasonable best efforts to promptly obtain the withdrawal or lifting of any such order or suspension;

 

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(i)           not file or make any amendment to any Registration Statement with respect to any Registrable Securities, or any amendment of or supplement to the Prospectus used in connection therewith, that refers to any Holder covered thereby by name or otherwise identifies such Holder as the holder of any securities of the Company without the consent of such Holder (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed), unless and to the extent such disclosure is required by law; provided, that (i) each Holder shall furnish to the Company in writing such information regarding itself and the distribution proposed by it as the Company may reasonably request for use in connection with a Registration Statement or Prospectus and (ii) each Holder agrees to notify the Company as promptly as practicable of any inaccuracy or change in information previously furnished to the Company by such Holder or of the occurrence of any event that would cause the Prospectus included in such Registration Statement to contain an untrue statement of a material fact regarding such Holder or the distribution of such Registrable Securities or to omit to state any material fact regarding such Holder or the distribution of such Registrable Securities required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements made therein not misleading in light of the circumstances under which they were made and to furnish to the Company, as promptly as practicable, any additional information required to correct and update the information previously furnished by such Holder such that such Prospectus shall not contain any untrue statement of a material fact regarding such Holder or the distribution of such Registrable Securities or omit to state a material fact regarding such Holder or the distribution of such Registrable Securities necessary to make the statements therein not misleading in light of the circumstances under which they were made;

 

(j)           cause such Registrable Securities to be listed on each securities exchange on which the Common Stock is then listed;

 

(k)          cooperate with the Holders of the Registrable Securities to facilitate the timely preparation and delivery of certificates representing the Registrable Securities to be sold pursuant to such Registration Statement free of any restrictive legends and representing such number of shares of Common Stock and registered in such names as the Holders of the Registrable Securities may reasonably request a reasonable period of time prior to sales of Registrable Securities pursuant to such Registration Statement; provided, that the Company may satisfy its obligations hereunder without issuing physical stock certificates through the use of The Depository Trust Company’s Direct Registration System;

 

(l)           not later than the effective date of such Registration Statement, provide and cause to be maintained a transfer agent and registrar for all Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement;

 

(m)         not later than the effective date of such Registration Statement, provide a CUSIP number for all Registrable Securities covered thereby and provide the applicable transfer agent with printed certificates for the Registrable Securities in a form eligible for deposit with The Depository Trust Company; provided, that the Company may satisfy its obligations hereunder without issuing physical stock certificates through the use of The Depository Trust Company’s Direct Registration System;

 

(n)          enter into customary agreements (including underwriting agreements) and use reasonable best efforts to take such other actions as are reasonably requested by the relevant Holders in order to expedite or facilitate the disposition of such Registrable Securities, including, subject to the provisions of Section 2.2(b) with respect to a Marketed Underwritten Offering, preparing for and participating in a road show and other customary selling efforts as the Underwriters, if any, or such Holders reasonably request in order to expedite or facilitate such disposition;

 

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(o)          if requested by the relevant Holders or the Underwriter(s), if any, promptly include in any Registration Statement or Prospectus, pursuant to a supplement or post-effective amendment if necessary, such information as such Holders and such Underwriter(s), if any, may reasonably request to have included therein, including information relating to the “Plan of Distribution” of the Registrable Securities, information with respect to the number of Registrable Securities being sold to such Underwriter(s), the purchase price being paid therefor and any other terms of the offering of the Registrable Securities to be sold in such offering, and make all required filings of such Prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment as promptly as practicable after the Company is notified of the matters to be included in such Prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment;

 

(p)         except to the extent prohibited by applicable Laws and subject to entry into a customary confidentiality agreement or arrangement, make available, after reasonable advance notice, for inspection by the relevant Holders, any Underwriter participating in any disposition of such Registrable Securities and any representative for such Holders and/or such Underwriter (collectively, the “Inspectors”), during business hours at the offices where such information is normally kept, any financial and other records and corporate documents of the Company (collectively, the “Records”) as will be reasonably necessary to enable them to conduct reasonable and customary due diligence with respect to the Company and the related Registration Statement and Prospectus and request the representatives of the Company to supply all information reasonably requested by any such Inspector; provided, however, that Records and information obtained hereunder will be used by such Inspectors only for purposes of conducting such due diligence;

 

(q)          use its reasonable best efforts to obtain and deliver to each Underwriter a comfort letter from the independent registered public accounting firm for the Company (and additional comfort letters from the independent registered public accounting firm for any company acquired by the Company whose financial statements are included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement) in customary form and covering such matters as are customarily covered by comfort letters as such Underwriter may reasonably request; provided, however, that if the Company fails to obtain such comfort letter and the relevant offering is abandoned, then such Underwritten Offering or Demand Registration will not count as an Underwritten Offering or Demand Registration, as applicable, for purposes of determining when future Underwritten Offerings or Demand Registrations may be requested by Holders pursuant to Section 2.2(a) and Section 2.2(b);

 

(r)           use its reasonable best efforts to obtain and deliver to each Underwriter a 10b-5 statement and legal opinion from the Company’s external counsel in customary form and covering such matters as are customarily covered by 10b-5 statements and legal opinions delivered to Underwriters in Underwritten Offerings as such Underwriter may reasonably request; provided, however, that if the Company fails to obtain such statement or opinion and the relevant offering is abandoned, then such Underwritten Offering or Demand Registration will not count as an Underwritten Offering or Demand Registration, as applicable, for purposes of determining when future Underwritten Offerings or Demand Registrations may be requested by Holders pursuant to Section 2.2(a) and Section 2.2(b);

 

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(s)          otherwise use its reasonable best efforts to comply with all applicable rules and regulations of the SEC and make generally available to its security holders, within the required time period, an earnings statement covering a period of twelve (12) months, beginning with the first fiscal quarter after the effective date of the Registration Statement relating to such Registrable Securities (as the term “effective date” is defined in Rule 158(c) under the Securities Act), which earnings statement will satisfy the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and Rule 158 thereunder or any successor provisions thereto;

 

(t)          make representations and warranties to such Holders and the Underwriters or agents, if any, in form, substance and scope as are customarily made by issuers in secondary offerings; and

 

(u)          use reasonable best efforts to cooperate with each such Holder and each Underwriter, if any, participating in the disposition of such Registrable Securities and their respective counsel in connection with any filings required to be made with FINRA.

 

Section 5.         Registration Expenses.

 

(a)          The Company shall pay directly or promptly reimburse all costs, fees and expenses (other than Selling Expenses) incident to the Company’s performance of or compliance with this Agreement, including, without limitation, (i) all SEC, FINRA and other registration and filing fees; (ii) all fees and expenses associated with filings to be made with, or the listing of any Registrable Securities on, any securities exchange or over-the-counter trading market on which the Registrable Securities are to be listed or quoted; (iii) all fees and expenses of complying with securities and blue sky laws (including fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company in connection therewith); (iv) all printing, messenger, telephone and delivery expenses (including the cost of distributing Prospectuses in preliminary and final form as well as any supplements thereto); (v) all transfer agent’s and registrar’s fees; (vi) all fees and expenses of counsel to the Company; and (vii) all fees and expenses of the Company’s independent public accountants and any other Persons retained by the Company in connection with or incident to any registration of Registrable Securities pursuant to this Agreement (all such costs, fees and expenses, “Registration Expenses”). Each Holder shall pay the fees and expenses of any counsel engaged by such Holder and shall bear its respective Selling Expenses associated with a registered sale of its Registrable Securities pursuant to this Agreement.

 

(b)          The obligation of the Company to bear and pay the Registration Expenses shall apply irrespective of whether a registration, once properly demanded or requested, becomes effective or is withdrawn or suspended; provided, that the Registration Expenses for any Registration Statement withdrawn solely at the request of one or more Holder(s) (unless withdrawn following commencement of a Suspension) shall be borne by such Holder(s).

 

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Section 6.         Indemnification; Contribution.

 

(a)          The Company shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, indemnify and hold harmless each Holder of Registrable Securities, its affiliates and their respective partners, directors, officers, members, employees, agents, and each Person, who is a Controlling Person of such Holder or any of the other foregoing indemnified Persons (each of the foregoing, a “Covered Person”) against any losses, claims, actions, damages, liabilities and expenses to which such Covered Person may become subject under applicable U.S. federal and state or non-U.S. securities laws, insofar as such losses, claims, actions, damages, liabilities or expenses arise out of or are based upon (i) any untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in or incorporated by reference in any Registration Statement, Prospectus, preliminary Prospectus, free writing prospectus (as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act or any successor rule thereto) or any amendment thereof or supplement thereto or any document incorporated by reference therein, (ii) any omission or alleged omission of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading or (iii) any violation or alleged violation by the Company any U.S. federal or state or non-U.S. securities laws applicable to the Company and relating to any action or inaction required of the Company in connection with any registration of the applicable Registrable Securities, and the Company shall reimburse each Covered Person for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such Covered Person in connection with investigating, defending or settling any such loss, claim, action, damage or liability; provided, that, in the case of each of clauses (i), (ii), and (iii), the Company shall not be so liable in any such case to the extent that any loss, claim, action, damage, liability or expense arises out of or is based upon any such untrue statement or alleged untrue statement, or omission or alleged omission, made or incorporated by reference in any such Registration Statement, Prospectus, preliminary Prospectus, free writing prospectus (as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act or any successor rule thereto) or any amendment thereof or supplement thereto or any document incorporated by reference therein in reliance upon, and in conformity with, written information prepared and furnished to the Company by or on behalf of such Covered Person expressly for use therein. This indemnity shall be in addition to any liability the Company may otherwise have.

 

(b)          In connection with any registration in which a Holder of Registrable Securities is participating, each such Holder shall furnish to the Company in writing such information as the Company reasonably requests for use in connection with any such Registration Statement or Prospectus and shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, severally and not jointly, indemnify and hold harmless the Company, its directors and officers, employees, agents and any Person who is a Controlling Person of the Company or any of the other foregoing indemnified Persons (each of the foregoing, a “Company Indemnified Person”) against any losses, claims, actions, damages, liabilities and expenses to which such Company Indemnified Person may become subject under applicable U.S. federal and state or non-U.S. securities laws, insofar as such losses, claims, actions, damages, liabilities or expenses arise out of or are based upon (i) any untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained or incorporated by reference in any Registration Statement, Prospectus, preliminary Prospectus, free writing prospectus (as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act or any successor rule thereto) or any amendment thereof or supplement thereto or any document incorporated by reference therein; or (ii) any omission or alleged omission of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, but, in the case of each of clauses (i) and (ii), only to the extent that such untrue statement or alleged untrue statement, or omission or alleged omission, is made in such Registration Statement, Prospectus, preliminary Prospectus, free writing prospectus (as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act or any successor rule thereto) or any amendment thereof or supplement thereto in reliance upon, and in conformity with, written information prepared and furnished to the Company by such Holder expressly for use therein, and each such Holder shall reimburse each Company Indemnified Person for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such Company Indemnified Person in connection with investigating, defending or settling any such loss, claim, action, damage or liability; provided, that the obligation to indemnify pursuant to this Section 6(b) shall not exceed an amount equal to the net proceeds received by such Holder in the sale of Registrable Securities to which such Registration Statement or Prospectus relates. This indemnity shall be in addition to any liability which each such Holder may otherwise have.

 

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(c)          Any Person entitled to indemnification hereunder shall give prompt written notice to the indemnifying party of any claim with respect to which it seeks indemnification; provided, that any failure or delay to so notify the indemnifying party shall not relieve the indemnifying party of its obligations hereunder, except to the extent that the indemnifying party is actually and materially prejudiced by reason of such failure or delay. In case a claim or an action that is subject or potentially subject to indemnification hereunder is brought against an indemnified party, the indemnifying party shall be entitled to participate in and shall have the right, exercisable by giving written notice to the indemnified party as promptly as practicable after receipt of written notice from such indemnified party of such claim or action, to assume, at the indemnifying party’s expense, the defense of any such claim or action, with counsel reasonably acceptable to the indemnified party; provided, that any indemnified party shall continue to be entitled to participate in the defense of such claim or action, with counsel of its own choice, but the indemnifying party shall not be obligated to reimburse the indemnified party for any fees, costs and expenses subsequently incurred by the indemnified party in connection with such defense unless (A) the indemnifying party has agreed in writing to pay such fees, costs and expenses, (B) the indemnifying party has failed to assume the defense of such claim or action within a reasonable time after receipt of notice of such claim or action, or (C) the use of counsel chosen by the indemnifying party to represent the indemnified party would present such counsel with a conflict of interest.

 

(d)          If the indemnification provided for in this Section 6(d) is held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be unavailable to, or unenforceable by, an indemnified party in respect of any loss, claim, action, damage, liability or expense referred to herein, then the applicable indemnifying party, in lieu of indemnifying such indemnified party hereunder, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such indemnified party as a result of such loss, claim, action, damage, liability or expense in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault of the indemnifying party, on the one hand, and of the indemnified party, on the other hand, in connection with the statements, omissions or violations which resulted in such loss, claim, action, damage, liability or expense as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative fault of the indemnifying party, on the one hand, and of the indemnified party, on the other hand, shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the indemnifying party or by the indemnified party, whether the violation of the U.S. federal and state or non-U.S. securities law applicable to the Company and relating to any action or inaction required of the Company in connection with any registration of the applicable Registrable Securities was perpetrated by the indemnifying party or the indemnified party, and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement, omission or violation. The parties agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant hereto were determined by pro rata allocation or by any other method or allocation that does not take into account the equitable considerations referred to in this Section 6(d). In no event shall the amount which a Holder of Registrable Securities may be obligated to contribute pursuant to this Section 6(d) exceed an amount equal to the gross proceeds received by such Holder in the sale of Registrable Securities that gives rise to such obligation to contribute. No indemnified party guilty or liable of fraudulent misrepresentation within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act shall be entitled to contribution from any Person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.

 

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(e)          The provisions of this Section 6(e) shall remain in full force and effect regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of any indemnified party or any officer, director or Controlling Person of such indemnified party and shall survive the transfer of any Registrable Securities by any Holder.

 

Section 7.         Rule 144 Compliance. With a view to making available to the Holders of Registrable Securities the benefits of Rule 144 and any other rule or regulation of the SEC that may at any time permit a Holder to sell securities of the Company to the public without registration, the Company shall:

 

(a)          use commercially reasonable efforts to make and keep public information available, as those terms are understood and defined in Rule 144;

 

(b)          use commercially reasonable efforts to file with the SEC in a timely manner all reports and other documents required of the Company under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act; and

 

(c)          furnish to any Holder of Registrable Securities, promptly upon request, a written statement by the Company as to its compliance with the reporting requirements of Rule 144 and of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act.

 

Section 8.         Miscellaneous.

 

(a)          Effective Time. The operative provisions of this Agreement shall become effective as of the Effective Time.

 

(b)          Termination. This Agreement shall terminate immediately with respect to a Holder upon the earlier of (i) the forty-two (42)-month anniversary of the Closing Date, (ii) the mutual written agreement of the Company and such Holder, and (iii) the date on which such Holder does not own any Registrable Securities; provided that the provisions of Section 5, Section 5(a) and Section 8 shall survive such termination. Neither the provisions of this Section 8(b) nor the termination of this Agreement shall relieve (x) any party hereto from any liability of such party to any other party incurred prior to such termination or (y) any party hereto from any liability to any other party arising out of or in connection with a breach of this Agreement.

 

(c)          Amendment. This Agreement may not be amended, modified or supplemented in any manner, whether by course of conduct or otherwise, except by an instrument in writing specifically designated as an amendment hereto, signed on behalf of each of the parties in interest at the time of the amendment.

 

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(d)         Extension; Waiver. At any time prior to the termination of this Agreement pursuant to Section 8(b), the parties hereto, may, to the extent legally allowed, (a) extend the time for the performance of any of the obligations or other acts of the other party hereto, (b) waive any inaccuracies in the representations and warranties contained herein or in any document delivered pursuant hereto and (c) waive compliance with any of the agreements or contained herein. Any agreement on the part of a party hereto to any such extension or waiver shall be valid only if set forth in a written instrument signed on behalf of such party, but such extension or waiver or failure to insist on strict compliance with an obligation, covenant, agreement or condition shall not operate as a waiver of, or estoppel with respect to, any subsequent or other failure.

 

(e)          Notices. All notices, requests, claims, demands and other communications under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed given (a) when received if delivered personally, (b) on the next Business Day if sent by overnight courier for next Business Day delivery (providing proof of delivery), (c) on receipt of confirmation if sent by facsimile, (d) in five (5) Business Days if sent by United States registered or certified mail, postage prepaid (return receipt requested) or (e) when transmitted by email (provided that no failure message is generated) to the other parties at the following addresses (or at such other address for a party as shall be specified by like notice):

 

if to the Holders, to:

 

Aaron Allred, as Member Representative
13907 S Minuteman Drive, Suite 500
Draper, UT 84020
E-mail:
           aaron.allred@acimacredit.com

 

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

 

Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz
51 West 52nd Street
New York, New York 10019
Attention:     Nicholas G. Demmo
Facsimile:
      (212) 403-1381
E-mail:
           ngdemmo@wlrk.com

 

and

 

if to the Company, to:

 

Rent-A-Center, Inc.
5501 Headquarters Dr.
Plano, TX 75024
Attention:
     General Counsel
Facsimile:
      (866) 456-1809
E-mail:
           Bryan.Pechersky@rentacenter.com

 

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

 

Sullivan & Cromwell LLP
1888 Century Park East, 21st Floor
Los Angeles, California 90067
Attention:
     Alison S. Ressler
Facsimile:
      (310) 407-2681
E-mail:
           resslera@sullcrom.com

 

(f)          Interpretation. A reference made in this Agreement to a Section shall be to an Section in this Agreement unless otherwise indicated. The headings contained in this Agreement are for reference purposes only and shall not affect in any way the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement. Whenever the words “include,” “includes” or “including” are used in this Agreement, they shall be deemed to be followed by the words “without limitation.” The word “will” shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect of the word “shall.” The words “hereof,” “herein” and “hereunder” and words of similar import when used in this Agreement shall refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular provision of this Agreement. The word “extent” in the phrase “to the extent” shall mean the degree to which a subject or other thing extends, and such phrase shall not mean simply “if.” The word “or” shall be deemed to mean “and/or.” All terms defined in this Agreement shall have the defined meanings when used in any certificate or other document made or delivered pursuant thereto unless otherwise defined therein. The definitions contained in this Agreement are applicable to the singular as well as the plural forms of such terms and to the masculine as well as to the feminine and neuter genders of such term. Each of the parties has participated in the drafting and negotiation of this Agreement. If an ambiguity or question of intent or interpretation arises, this Agreement must be construed as if it is drafted by both of the parties, and no presumption or burden of proof shall arise favoring or disfavoring either party by virtue of authorship of any of the provisions of this Agreement. Reference to any Person includes such Person’s successors and assigns but, if applicable, only if such successors and assigns are not prohibited by this Agreement, and reference to a Person in a particular capacity excludes such Person in any other capacity or individually.

 

(g)         Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, all of which shall be considered one and the same agreement and shall become effective when one or more counterparts have been signed by each of the parties and delivered to the other parties. The exchange of a fully executed Agreement (in counterparts or otherwise) by facsimile or by electronic delivery in .pdf format shall be sufficient to bind the parties to the terms and conditions of this Agreement.

 

(i)          Entire Agreement. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement among the parties and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings, both written and oral, among the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof.

 

-15-

 

 

(j)          Waiver of Jury Trial. EACH PARTY HERETO AGREES THAT ANY CONTROVERSY WHICH MAY ARISE UNDER THIS AGREEMENT IS LIKELY TO INVOLVE COMPLICATED AND DIFFICULT ISSUES, AND THEREFORE IT HEREBY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN RESPECT OF ANY LITIGATION DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT AND ANY OF THE AGREEMENTS DELIVERED IN CONNECTION HEREWITH OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR THEREBY. EACH PARTY HERETO CERTIFIES AND ACKNOWLEDGES THAT (a) NO REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF ANY OTHER PARTY HERETO HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PARTY WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER; (b) EACH PARTY HERETO UNDERSTANDS AND HAS CONSIDERED THE IMPLICATION OF THIS WAIVER; (c) EACH PARTY HERETO MAKES THIS WAIVER VOLUNTARILY; AND (d) EACH PARTY HERETO HAS BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS Section 8(j).

 

(k)          Governing Law; Jurisdiction.

 

(i)            This Agreement, and all claims or causes of action (whether at Law, in contract or in tort or otherwise) that may be based upon, arise out of or relate to this Agreement or the negotiation, execution or performance hereof, shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the Laws of the State of Delaware, without giving effect to any choice or conflict of law provision or rule (whether of the State of Delaware or any other jurisdiction) that would cause the application of the Laws of any jurisdiction other than the State of Delaware.

 

(ii)           Each of the parties hereto irrevocably agrees that it shall bring any proceeding in respect of any claim arising out of or related to this Agreement and the rights and obligations arising in connection herewith, or for recognition and enforcement of any judgment in respect of this Agreement and the rights and obligations arising hereunder, brought by any other party hereto or its successors or assigns, exclusively in the Delaware Court of Chancery (or, only if the Delaware Court of Chancery lacks or declines to accept jurisdiction over a particular matter, any federal court within the State of Delaware) (the “Chosen Courts”) and solely in connection with such proceeding, (a) irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Chosen Courts, (b) irrevocably waives any claim that it is not personally subject to the jurisdiction of the Chosen Courts for any reason other than the failure to serve in accordance with this Section 8(k)(ii) and any claim that it or its property is exempt or immune from the jurisdiction of the Chosen Courts or from any legal process commenced in the Chosen Courts (whether through service of notice, attachment prior to judgment, attachment in aid of execution of judgment, execution of judgment or otherwise), (c) irrevocably submits to the exclusive venue of any such proceeding in the Chosen Courts and waives any objection to laying venue in any such proceeding in the Chosen Courts and (d) waives any objection that the Chosen Courts is an inconvenient forum, does not have jurisdiction over such party hereto or that this Agreement, or the subject matter hereof, may not be enforced in or by the Chosen Courts. Each party agrees that a final and nonappealable judgment in any proceeding originally brought in the Chosen Courts shall be conclusive and binding upon both of the parties and may be enforced in any other courts the jurisdiction of the parties may be subject, by suit upon such judgment. Each party to this Agreement irrevocably consents to service of process in the manner provided for notices in Section 8(e) and agrees that service made in such manner shall have the same legal force and effect as if served upon such party personally within the jurisdiction of the Chosen Courts. Nothing in this Agreement will affect the right of any party to this Agreement to serve process in any other manner permitted by Law.

 

-16-

 

 

(l)           Assigns. Neither this Agreement nor any of the rights, interests or obligations hereunder shall be assigned (in whole or in part) by either party hereto (whether by operation of Law or otherwise) without the prior written consent of the other party and any such assignment without such consent shall be null and void and of no effect, provided, that the Company may assign this Agreement at any time in connection with a sale or acquisition of the Company, whether by merger, consolidation, sale of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets, or similar transaction, without the consent of the Holders; provided, that the successor or acquiring Person agrees in writing to assume all of the Company’s rights and obligations under this Agreement. No assignment by either party shall relieve such party of any of its obligations hereunder. Subject to the preceding sentences, this Agreement shall be binding upon, and shall inure to the benefit of, and shall be enforceable by the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns.

 

(m)         Severability. Whenever possible, each provision or portion of any provision of this Agreement will be interpreted in such manner as to be effective and valid under applicable Law but if any provision or portion of any provision of this Agreement is held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect under any applicable Law or rule in any jurisdiction, such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability will not affect any other provision or portion of any provision in such jurisdiction, and this Agreement will be reformed, construed and enforced in such jurisdiction as if such invalid, illegal or unenforceable provision or portion of any provision had never been contained herein, so long as the economic and legal substance of the transactions contemplated hereby are not affected in a manner materially adverse to any party hereto.

 

[Signature Page Follows]

 

-17-

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto, intending to be legally bound hereby, have executed or caused this Agreement to be executed in counterparts, all as of the day and year first above written.

 

  RENT-A-CENTER, INC.
   
   
  By: /S/ Bryan Pechersky
    Name: Bryan Pechersky
    Title: Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary

 

 

 

  AARON ALLRED
   
   
  By: /S/ Aaron Allred
    Name: Aaron Allred

 

 

 

  ARIES SIMPLE FINANCE, LLC
   
   
  By: /S/ Richard P. Durham
    Name: Richard P. Durham
    Title: Manager

 

 

 

Exhibit 10.2

 

 

ABL Credit Agreement

 

among

 

RENT-A-CENTER, INC.

 

as Borrower,

 

The Several Lenders from Time to Time Parties Hereto,

 

and

 

JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.

 

as Administrative Agent,

 

Dated as of February 17, 2021

 

______________________________________________________________

 

JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.,

CREDIT SUISSE LOAN FUNDING LLC,

HSBC SECURITIES (USA) INC.,

CITIZENS BANK, N.A. and

TRUIST SECURITIES, INC.

as Joint Lead Arrangers and Joint Bookrunners

 

CREDIT SUISSE LOAN FUNDING LLC and

HSBC SECURITIES (USA) INC.,

as Co-Syndication Agents

 

CITIZENS BANK, N.A. and

TRUIST BANK,

as Co-Documentation Agents

 

 

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

Page

 

SECTION 1.   DEFINITIONS 1
  1.1 Defined Terms 1
  1.2 Classification of Loans and Borrowings 63
  1.3 Other Definitional Provisions 63
  1.4 Interest Rate; LIBOR Notification 64
  1.5 Letter of Credit Amounts 64
  1.6 Divisions 64
  1.7 Limited Condition Transactions 65
  1.8 Calculations 66
  1.9 Discontinued Operations 67
  1.10 Bridge Loans and Escrow Indebtedness 67
       
SECTION 2.   AMOUNT AND TERMS OF COMMITMENTS 67
  2.1 Commitments 67
  2.2 Procedure for Revolving Loan Borrowing 68
  2.3 Protective Advances 68
  2.4 [Reserved] 69
  2.5 [Reserved] 69
  2.6 [Reserved] 69
  2.7 [Reserved] 69
  2.8 Fees, etc. 69
  2.9 Termination or Reduction of Commitments 70
  2.10 Optional Prepayments 70
  2.11 Mandatory Prepayment of Loans 70
  2.12 Conversion and Continuation Options 71
  2.13 Limitations on Eurodollar Borrowings 71
  2.14 Interest Rates and Payment Dates 72
  2.15 Computation of Interest and Fees 72
  2.16 Alternate Rate of Interest 72
  2.17 Pro Rata Treatment and Payments 75
  2.18 Requirements of Law 77
  2.19 Taxes 79
  2.20 Indemnity 83
  2.21 Change of Lending Office 83
  2.22 Replacement of Lenders 84
  2.23 Defaulting Lenders 84
  2.24 Incremental Facilities 86
       
SECTION 3.   LETTERS OF CREDIT 87
  3.1 L/C Commitment 87
  3.2 Procedure for Issuance of Letter of Credit 88
  3.3 Fees and Other Charges 88
  3.4 L/C Participations 88

 

i

 

 

  3.5 Reimbursement Obligation of the Borrower 89
  3.6 Obligations Absolute 90
  3.7 Letter of Credit Payments 90
  3.8 Applications 91
  3.9 Replacement and Resignation of Issuing Lenders 91
       
SECTION 4.   REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES 91
  4.1 Financial Condition 91
  4.2 No Change 92
  4.3 Existence; Compliance with Law 92
  4.4 Power; Authorization; Enforceable Obligations 92
  4.5 No Legal Bar 93
  4.6 Litigation 93
  4.7 No Default 93
  4.8 Ownership of Property; Liens 93
  4.9 Intellectual Property 93
  4.10 Taxes 94
  4.11 Federal Regulations 94
  4.12 Labor Matters 94
  4.13 ERISA 94
  4.14 Investment Company Act; Other Regulations 95
  4.15 Subsidiaries; Capital Stock 95
  4.16 Use of Proceeds 95
  4.17 Environmental Matters 96
  4.18 Accuracy of Information, etc. 96
  4.19 Security Documents 97
  4.20 Solvency 97
  4.21 Senior Indebtedness 97
  4.22 [Reserved] 97
  4.23 Anti-Corruption Laws, Anti-Money Laundering and Sanctions 97
  4.24 Affected Financial Institutions 97
  4.25 Subject Agreements 98
       
SECTION 5.   CONDITIONS PRECEDENT 98
  5.1 Conditions to Initial Extension of Credit 98
  5.2 Conditions to Each Extension of Credit 102
       
SECTION 6.   AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS 102
  6.1 Financial Statements 102
  6.2 Certificates; Borrowing Base; Other Information 104
  6.3 Payment of Taxes 106
  6.4 Maintenance of Existence; Compliance 106
  6.5 Maintenance of Insurance 106
  6.6 Books and Records; Inspection of Property; Discussions; Appraisals; Field Examinations 107
  6.7 Notices 108
  6.8 Environmental Laws 108

 

ii

 

 

  6.9 Post-Closing Actions 109
  6.10 Additional Collateral, etc. 109
  6.11 Designation of Subsidiaries 111
  6.12 Deposit Account Control Agreements; Controlled Accounts 111
  6.13 Rental and Sales Agreements 112
  6.14 Electronic Chattel Paper Control System Implementation Date 113
       
SECTION 7.   NEGATIVE COVENANTS 113
  7.1 Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio 113
  7.2 Indebtedness 114
  7.3 Liens 118
  7.4 Fundamental Changes 122
  7.5 Disposition of Property 122
  7.6 Restricted Payments 125
  7.7 Investments 127
  7.8 Optional Payments and Modifications of Certain Debt Instruments 130
  7.9 Transactions with Affiliates 131
  7.10 Sales and Leasebacks 132
  7.11 Swap Agreements 132
  7.12 Changes in Fiscal Periods 132
  7.13 Negative Pledge Clauses 133
  7.14 Clauses Restricting Subsidiary Distributions 134
  7.15 Lines of Business 134
  7.16 Use of Proceeds 134
  7.17 Subject Agreements 135
       
SECTION 8.   EVENTS OF DEFAULT 135
       
SECTION 9.   THE AGENTS 139
  9.1 Appointment 139
  9.2 Administrative Agent’s Reliance, Indemnification, Etc. 141
  9.3 Posting of Communications 142
  9.4 The Administrative Agent Individually 143
  9.5 Successor Administrative Agent 144
  9.6 Acknowledgements of Lenders and Issuing Lenders 145
  9.7 Collateral Matters 145
  9.8 Credit Bidding 146
  9.9 Certain ERISA Matters 147
       
SECTION 10.   MISCELLANEOUS 148
  10.1 Amendments and Waivers 148
  10.2 Notices 149
  10.3 No Waiver; Cumulative Remedies 150
  10.4 Survival of Representations and Warranties 150
  10.5 Payment of Expenses and Taxes; Indemnification; Limitation of Liability 151
  10.6 Successors and Assigns; Participations and Assignments 152
  10.7 Adjustments; Set-off 157

 

iii

 

 

  10.8 Counterparts; Electronic Execution 158
  10.9 Severability 159
  10.10 Integration 159
  10.11 GOVERNING LAW 159
  10.12 Submission To Jurisdiction; Waivers 159
  10.13 Acknowledgements 160
  10.14 Releases of Guarantees and Liens 161
  10.15 Confidentiality 162
  10.16 WAIVERS OF JURY TRIAL 163
  10.17 USA Patriot Act 163
  10.18 Intercreditor Agreement 163
  10.19 Acknowledgement and Consent to Bail-In of Affected Financial Institutions 164
  10.20 Acknowledgement Regarding Any Supported QFCs 164

 

iv

 

 

SCHEDULES:

 

1.1 Commitments

3.1 Existing Letters of Credit

4.13 Pension Plans

4.15 Subsidiaries

4.19 UCC Filing Jurisdictions

7.2(e) Existing Indebtedness

7.2(s) Acquired Indebtedness

7.3(f) Existing Liens

7.5(l) Scheduled Dispositions

7.7(k) Existing Investments

7.13 Negative Pledge Clauses

7.14 Clauses Restricting Subsidiary Distributions

 

EXHIBITS:

 

A Form of Borrowing Request

B Form of Interest Election Request

C Form of Officer’s Certificate

D Form of Guarantee and Collateral Agreement

E Form of Assignment and Assumption

F Form of Compliance Certificate

G Form of Collateral Monitoring Template

H-1 U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate (For Non-U.S. Lenders that are not Partnerships for U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes)

H-2 U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate (For Non-U.S. Participants that are not Partnerships for U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes)

H-3 U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate (For Non-U.S. Participants that are Partnerships for U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes)

H-4 U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate (For Non-U.S. Lenders that are Partnerships for U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes)

I-1 Form of Increased Facility Activation Notice—Incremental Revolving Commitments

I-2 Form of New Lender Supplement

J Form of Borrowing Base Certificate

K Form of Intercreditor Agreement

L Form of Solvency Certificate

 

v

 

 

ABL CREDIT AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”), dated as of February 17, 2021, among Rent-A-Center, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Borrower”), the several banks and other financial institutions or entities from time to time parties to this Agreement, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent, and the other agents from time to time parties hereto.

 

The parties hereto hereby agree as follows:

 

SECTION 1. DEFINITIONS

 

1.1            Defined Terms. As used in this Agreement, the terms listed in this Section 1.1 shall have the respective meanings set forth in this Section 1.1.

 

ABL Priority Collateral” has the meaning set forth in the Intercreditor Agreement.

 

ABR” means, when used in reference to any Loan or Borrowing, refers to whether such Loan, or the Loans comprising such Borrowing, bear interest at a rate determined by reference to the Alternate Base Rate.

 

Acima” means Acima Holdings, LLC.

 

Acima Acquisition” means the Borrower’s direct or indirect acquisition of the Acquired Business from the existing equityholders of Acima in all material respects in accordance with the terms of the Acquisition Agreement, pursuant to which Merger Sub (as defined in the Acquisition Agreement) will merge with and into Acima, with Acima continuing as the surviving person.

 

Acquired Business” means Acima, together with its Subsidiaries.

 

Acquisition Agreement” means that certain Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of December 20, 2020, by and among the Borrower, Merger Sub (as defined therein), Acima and Aaron Allred, as the Member Representative (as defined therein).

 

Account” has the meaning set forth in the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement.

 

Account Debtor” has the meaning set forth in the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement.

 

Additional Permitted Amount” has the meaning set forth in the definition of Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness.

 

Adjusted LIBO Rate” means, with respect to any Eurodollar Borrowing for any Interest Period, an interest rate per annum (rounded upwards, if necessary, to the next 1/16 of 1%) equal to (a) the LIBO Rate for such Interest Period multiplied by (b) the Statutory Reserve Rate.

 

Adjustment Date” has the meaning set forth in the definition of Applicable Pricing Grid.

 

 

 

Administrative Agent” means JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., together with its affiliates, as the administrative agent for the Lenders under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, together with any of its successors.

 

Advisory Fees” has the meaning set forth in the definition of Consolidated EBITDA.

 

Affected Financial Institution” means (a) any EEA Financial Institution or (b) any UK Financial Institution.

 

Affiliate” means, as to any Person, any other Person that, directly or indirectly, is in control of, is controlled by, or is under common control with, such Person. For purposes of this definition, “control” of a Person means the power, directly or indirectly, to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of such Person, whether by contract or otherwise.

 

Agents” means the collective reference to the Administrative Agent and any other agent identified on the cover page of this Agreement.

 

Agreement” has the meaning set forth in the preamble hereto.

 

Alternate Base Rate” means, for any day, a rate per annum equal to the greatest of (a) the Prime Rate in effect on such day, (b) the NYFRB Rate in effect on such day plus ½ of 1% and (c) the Adjusted LIBO Rate for a one month Interest Period on such day (or if such day is not a Business Day, the immediately preceding Business Day) plus 1%; provided that for the purpose of this definition, the Adjusted LIBO Rate for any day shall be based on the LIBO Screen Rate (or if the LIBO Screen Rate is not available for such one month Interest Period, the Interpolated Rate) at approximately 11:00 a.m. London time on such day. Any change in the Alternate Base Rate due to a change in the Prime Rate, the NYFRB Rate or the Adjusted LIBO Rate shall be effective from and including the effective date of such change in the Prime Rate, the NYFRB Rate or the Adjusted LIBO Rate, respectively. If the Alternate Base Rate is being used as an alternate rate of interest pursuant to Section 2.16 (for the avoidance of doubt, only until the Benchmark Replacement has been determined pursuant to Section 2.16(b)), then the Alternate Base Rate shall be the greater of clauses (a) and (b) above and shall be determined without reference to clause (c) above. For the avoidance of doubt, if the Alternate Base Rate as determined pursuant to the foregoing would be less than 1.00%, such rate shall be deemed to be 1.00% for purposes of this Agreement.

 

Ancillary Document” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.8.

 

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 or corruption.

 

Applicable Margin” means, initially, 1.00% in the case of ABR Loans and 2.00% in the case of Eurodollar Loans and, thereafter, subject to adjustment on each Adjustment Date in accordance with the Applicable Pricing Grids.

 

Applicable Parties” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.3(c).

 

2

 

 

Applicable Pricing Grids” means the tables set forth below:

 

Consolidated Leverage
Ratio
  Applicable Margin for
ABR Loans
  Applicable Margin for
Eurodollar Loans
< 1.00:1.00   0.50%   1.50%
≥ 1.00:1.00 but < 2.00:1.00   0.75%   1.75%
≥ 2.00:1.00   1.00%   2.00%

 

Average Utilization for
the Prior Month
  Commitment Fee Rate
<50%   0.3750%
≥50%   0.250%

 

For the purposes of the Applicable Pricing Grids, (a) the Consolidated Leverage Ratio shall be determined as of the end of each fiscal quarter of the Borrower (beginning with the first full fiscal quarter of the Borrower ending after the Closing Date) based upon the Borrower’s consolidated financial statements delivered pursuant to Section 6.1(a) or (b), (b) Average Utilization shall be determined as of the first day of each calendar month (beginning with the calendar month that is immediately after the first full fiscal quarter of the Borrower ending after the Closing Date) of the Borrower using the previous calendar month as the applicable period, (c) changes in the Applicable Margin resulting from changes in the Consolidated Leverage Ratio shall become effective on the next first calendar day of a month (the “Adjustment Date”) after the date on which the Borrower’s consolidated financial statements are delivered to the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 6.1(a) or (b) and shall remain in effect until the next change to be effected pursuant to this paragraph and (d) changes to the Commitment Fee Rate shall become effective on the first day of each calendar month based upon the Average Utilization during the previous calendar month and shall remain in effect until the next change to be effected pursuant to this paragraph. If, as of any date that the Borrower’s consolidated financial statements are scheduled to be delivered pursuant to Section 6.1(a) or (b), such consolidated financial statements shall not have been delivered by such date, then, until the Adjustment Date occurring after the date on which such consolidated financial statements are delivered, the highest rate set forth in each column of the Applicable Pricing Grid shall apply. Automatically, upon the occurrence and continuance of an Event of Default pursuant to Section 8(f), the highest rate set forth in each column of the Applicable Pricing Grid shall apply.

 

Applicable Reference Period” means as of any date of determination, the most recently ended Reference Period for which financial statements with respect to each fiscal quarter included in such Reference Period have been delivered pursuant to Section 6.1(a) or 6.1(b) (or, prior to the delivery of any such financial statements, the Reference Period ended September 30, 2020).

 

3

 

 

Application” means an application, in such form as the Issuing Lender may specify from time to time, requesting the Issuing Lender to open a Letter of Credit, specifying the date of issuance, amendment, renewal or extension (which shall be a Business Day) and the date on which such Letter of Credit is to expire and such other information as the Issuing Lender may request.

 

Approved Electronic Platform” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.3(a).

 

Approved Fund” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.6(b).

 

Arrangers” means JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., Credit Suisse Loan Funding LLC, HSBC Securities (USA) Inc., Citizens Bank, N.A. and Truist Securities, Inc.

 

Assignee” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.6(b)(i).

 

Assignment and Assumption” means an Assignment and Assumption, substantially in the form of Exhibit E or any other form (including electronic records generated by the use of an electronic Platform) approved by the Administrative Agent.

 

Attributable Indebtedness” means in respect of any sale and leaseback transaction, as at the time of determination, the present value (discounted at the implied interest rate in such transaction compounded annually) of the total obligations of the lessee for rental payments during the remaining term of the lease included in such sale and leaseback transaction (including any period for which such lease has been extended or may, at the option of the lessor, be extended).

 

Availability” means at any time, an amount equal to (a) the Line Cap minus (b) the Total Revolving Extensions of Credit then outstanding (calculated, with respect to any Defaulting Lender, as if such Defaulting Lender had funded its Revolving Percentage of all outstanding Revolving Loans).

 

Available Commitment” means as to any Revolving Lender at any time, an amount equal to the excess, if any, of (a) such Lender’s Commitment then in effect over (b) such Lender’s Revolving Extensions of Credit then outstanding.

 

Available Tenor” means, as of any date of determination and with respect to the then-current Benchmark, as applicable, any tenor for such Benchmark or payment period for interest calculated with reference to such Benchmark, as applicable, that is or may be used for determining the length of an Interest Period pursuant to this Agreement as of such date and not including, for the avoidance of doubt, any tenor for such Benchmark that is then-removed from the definition of “Interest Period” pursuant to clause (f) of Section 2.16.

 

Average Utilization” means, for any period, an amount, expressed as a percentage, equal to (a) the daily average Total Revolving Extensions of Credit for such period divided by (b) the daily average Total Commitments for such period.

 

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

 

4

 

 

Bail-In Legislation” means (a) 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, regulation rule or requirement for such EEA Member Country from time to time which is described in the EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule and (b) with respect to the United Kingdom, Part I of the United Kingdom Banking Act 2009 (as amended from time to time) and any other law, regulation or rule applicable in the United Kingdom relating to the resolution of unsound or failing banks, investment firms or other financial institutions or their affiliates (other than through liquidation, administration or other insolvency proceedings).

 

Bank Products” means any of the following bank: (a) commercial credit cards and merchant cards, (b) stored value cards, (c) purchasing cards and (d) treasury, depositary or cash management services (including operations, collections, payroll, trust, e-payable, electronic funds transfer, wire transfer, information reporting, lockbox, stop payment, controlled disbursement, automated clearinghouse transactions, return items, overdrafts and interstate depository network services) or any other banking products or services as may be requested by the Loan Parties.

 

Banking Services” means Bank Products provided to the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries by (a) the Administrative Agent or any of its Affiliates or (b) any Lender or any of its Affiliates, in each case whether in existence on the Closing Date or provided after the Closing Date.

 

Banking Services Obligations” means with respect to the Loan Parties, any and all obligations of the Loan Parties, whether absolute or contingent and howsoever and whensoever created, arising, evidenced or acquired (including all renewals, extensions and modifications thereof and substitutions therefor) in connection with Banking Services.

 

Banking Services Reserves” means all Reserves that the Administrative Agent from time to time establishes in its Permitted Discretion for Banking Services then provided or outstanding.

 

Bankruptcy Code” means Title 11 of the United States Code (11 U.S.C. § 101 et seq.), as now and hereafter in effect, or any successor statute.

 

Bankruptcy Event” means with respect to any Person, such Person becomes the subject of a bankruptcy or insolvency proceeding, or has had a receiver, conservator, trustee, administrator, custodian, assignee for the benefit of creditors or similar Person charged with the reorganization or liquidation of its business appointed for it, or, in the good faith determination of the Administrative Agent, has taken any action in furtherance of, or indicating its consent to, approval of, or acquiescence in, any such proceeding or appointment, provided that a Bankruptcy Event shall not result solely by virtue of any ownership interest, or the acquisition of any ownership interest, in such Person by a Governmental Authority or instrumentality thereof, provided, further, that such ownership interest does not result in or provide such Person 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 Person (or such Governmental Authority or instrumentality) to reject, repudiate, disavow or disaffirm any contracts or agreements made by such Person.

 

5

 

 

Bankruptcy Plan” means a reorganization or plan of liquidation pursuant to any Debtor Relief Laws.

 

Base Incremental Amount” means as of any date, an amount equal to (i) the greater of (A) $500,000,000 and (B) 100% of Consolidated EBITDA calculated on a Pro Forma Basis for the Applicable Reference Period less (ii) the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness established pursuant to Section 7.2(b) or Section 7.2(t) after the Closing Date and prior to such date in reliance on the Base Incremental Amount.

 

Benchmark” means, initially, the LIBO Rate; provided that if a Benchmark Transition Event, a Term SOFR Transition Event or an Early Opt-in Election, as applicable, and its related Benchmark Replacement Date have occurred with respect to the LIBO Rate or the then-current Benchmark, then “Benchmark” means the applicable Benchmark Replacement to the extent that such Benchmark Replacement has replaced such prior benchmark rate pursuant to clause (b) or clause (c) of Section 2.16.

 

Benchmark Replacement” means, for any Available Tenor, the first alternative set forth in the order below that can be determined by the Administrative Agent for the applicable Benchmark Replacement Date:

 

(1) the sum of: (a) Term SOFR and (b) the related Benchmark Replacement Adjustment;

 

(2) the sum of: (a) Daily Simple SOFR and (b) the related Benchmark Replacement Adjustment;

 

(3) the sum of: (a) the alternate benchmark rate that has been selected by the Administrative Agent and the Borrower as the replacement for the then-current Benchmark for the applicable Corresponding Tenor giving due consideration to (i) any selection or recommendation of a replacement benchmark rate or the mechanism for determining such a rate by the Relevant Governmental Body or (ii) any evolving or then-prevailing market convention for determining a benchmark rate as a replacement for the then-current Benchmark for Dollar-denominated syndicated credit facilities at such time and (b) the related Benchmark Replacement Adjustment;

 

provided that, in the case of clause (1), such Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement is displayed on a screen or other information service that publishes such rate from time to time as selected by the Administrative Agent in its reasonable discretion; provided further that, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement or in any other Loan Document, upon the occurrence of a Term SOFR Transition Event, and the delivery of a Term SOFR Notice, on the applicable Benchmark Replacement Date the “Benchmark Replacement” shall revert to and shall be deemed to be the sum of (a) Term SOFR and (b) the related Benchmark Replacement Adjustment, as set forth in clause (1) of this definition (subject to the first proviso above).

 

If the Benchmark Replacement as determined pursuant to clause (1), (2) or (3) above would be less than zero, the Benchmark Replacement will be deemed to be zero for the purposes of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents.

 

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Benchmark Replacement Adjustment” means, with respect to any replacement of the then current Benchmark with an Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement for any applicable Interest Period and Available Tenor for any setting of such Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement:

 

(1) for purposes of clauses (1) and (2) of the definition of “Benchmark Replacement,” the first alternative set forth in the order below that can be determined by the Administrative Agent:

 

(a) the spread adjustment, or method for calculating or determining such spread adjustment, (which may be a positive or negative value or zero) as of the Reference Time such Benchmark Replacement is first set for such Interest Period that has been selected or recommended by the Relevant Governmental Body for the replacement of such Benchmark with the applicable Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement for the applicable Corresponding Tenor;

 

(b) the spread adjustment (which may be a positive or negative value or zero) as of the Reference Time such Benchmark Replacement is first set for such Interest Period that would apply to the fallback rate for a derivative transaction referencing the ISDA Definitions to be effective upon an index cessation event with respect to such Benchmark for the applicable Corresponding Tenor; and

 

(2) for purposes of clause (3) of the definition of “Benchmark Replacement,” the spread adjustment, or method for calculating or determining such spread adjustment, (which may be a positive or negative value or zero) that has been selected by the Administrative Agent and the Borrower for the applicable Corresponding Tenor giving due consideration to (i) any selection or recommendation of a spread adjustment, or method for calculating or determining such spread adjustment, for the replacement of such Benchmark with the applicable Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement by the Relevant Governmental Body on the applicable Benchmark Replacement Date or (ii) any evolving or then-prevailing market convention for determining a spread adjustment, or method for calculating or determining such spread adjustment, for the replacement of such Benchmark with the applicable Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement for U.S. dollar denominated syndicated credit facilities;

 

provided that, in the case of clause (1) above, such adjustment is displayed on a screen or other information service that publishes such Benchmark Replacement Adjustment from time to time as selected by the Administrative Agent in its reasonable discretion.

 

Benchmark Replacement Conforming Changes” means, with respect to any Benchmark Replacement, any technical, administrative or operational changes (including changes to the definition of “Alternate Base Rate,” the definition of “Business Day,” the definition of “Interest Period,” timing and frequency of determining rates and making payments of interest, timing of borrowing requests or prepayment, conversion or continuation notices, length of lookback periods, the applicability of breakage provisions, and other technical, administrative or operational matters) that the Administrative Agent decides may be appropriate to reflect the adoption and implementation of such Benchmark Replacement and to permit the administration thereof by the Administrative Agent in a manner substantially consistent with market practice (or, if the Administrative Agent decides that adoption of any portion of such market practice is not administratively feasible or if the Administrative Agent determines that no market practice for the administration of such Benchmark Replacement exists, in such other manner of administration as the Administrative Agent decides is reasonably necessary in connection with the administration of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents).

 

7

 

 

Benchmark Replacement Date” means the earliest to occur of the following events with respect to the then-current Benchmark:

 

(1) in the case of clause (1) or (2) of the definition of “Benchmark Transition Event,” the later of (a) the date of the public statement or publication of information referenced therein and (b) the date on which the administrator of such Benchmark (or the published component used in the calculation thereof) permanently or indefinitely ceases to provide all Available Tenors of such Benchmark (or such component thereof);

 

(2) in the case of clause (3) of the definition of “Benchmark Transition Event,” the date of the public statement or publication of information referenced therein; or

 

(3) in the case of a Term SOFR Transition Event, the date that is thirty (30) days after the date a Term SOFR Notice is provided to the Lenders and the Borrower pursuant to Section 2.14(c); or

 

(4) in the case of an Early Opt-in Election, the sixth (6th) Business Day after the date notice of such Early Opt-in Election is provided to the Lenders, so long as the Administrative Agent has not received, by 5:00 p.m. (New York City time) on the fifth (5th) Business Day after the date notice of such Early Opt-in Election is provided to the Lenders, written notice of objection to such Early Opt-in Election from Lenders comprising the Required Lenders.

 

For the avoidance of doubt, (i) if the event giving rise to the Benchmark Replacement Date occurs on the same day as, but earlier than, the Reference Time in respect of any determination, the Benchmark Replacement Date will be deemed to have occurred prior to the Reference Time for such determination and (ii) the “Benchmark Replacement Date” will be deemed to have occurred in the case of clause (1) or (2) with respect to any Benchmark upon the occurrence of the applicable event or events set forth therein with respect to all then-current Available Tenors of such Benchmark (or the published component used in the calculation thereof).

 

Benchmark Transition Event” means the occurrence of one or more of the following events with respect to the then-current Benchmark:

 

(1) a public statement or publication of information by or on behalf of the administrator of such Benchmark (or the published component used in the calculation thereof) announcing that such administrator has ceased or will cease to provide all Available Tenors of such Benchmark (or such component thereof), permanently or indefinitely; provided that, at the time of such statement or publication, there is no successor administrator that will continue to provide any Available Tenor of such Benchmark (or such component thereof);

 

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(2) a public statement or publication of information by the regulatory supervisor for the administrator of such Benchmark (or the published component used in the calculation thereof), the Federal Reserve Board, the NYFRB, an insolvency official with jurisdiction over the administrator for such Benchmark (or such component), a resolution authority with jurisdiction over the administrator for such Benchmark (or such component) or a court or an entity with similar insolvency or resolution authority over the administrator for such Benchmark (or such component), which states that the administrator of such Benchmark (or such component) has ceased or will cease to provide all Available Tenors of such Benchmark (or such component thereof) permanently or indefinitely; provided that, at the time of such statement or publication, there is no successor administrator that will continue to provide any Available Tenor of such Benchmark (or such component thereof); or

 

(3) a public statement or publication of information by the regulatory supervisor for the administrator of such Benchmark (or the published component used in the calculation thereof) announcing that all Available Tenors of such Benchmark (or such component thereof) are no longer representative.

 

For the avoidance of doubt, a “Benchmark Transition Event” will be deemed to have occurred with respect to any Benchmark if a public statement or publication of information set forth above has occurred with respect to each then-current Available Tenor of such Benchmark (or the published component used in the calculation thereof).

 

Benchmark Unavailability Period” means the period (if any) (x) beginning at the time that a Benchmark Replacement Date pursuant to clauses (1) or (2) of that definition has occurred if, at such time, no Benchmark Replacement has replaced the then-current Benchmark for all purposes hereunder and under any Loan Document in accordance with Section 2.16 and (y) ending at the time that a Benchmark Replacement has replaced the then-current Benchmark for all purposes hereunder and under any Loan Document in accordance with Section 2.16.

 

Benefit Plan” means any of (a) an “employee benefit plan” (as defined in Section 3(3) of ERISA) that is subject to Title I of ERISA, (b) a “plan” as defined in Section 4975 of the Code to which Section 4975 of the Code applies, and (c) any Person whose assets include (for purposes of the Plan Asset Regulations or otherwise for purposes of Title I of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code) the assets of any such “employee benefit plan” or “plan”.

 

Benefitted Lender” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.7(a).

 

BHC Act Affiliate” of a party means an “affiliate” (as such term is defined under, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 U.S.C. 1841(k)) of such party.

 

Board” means the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System of the United States (or any successor).

 

Borrower” has the meaning set forth in the preamble hereto.

 

Borrower Debt Repayment” means the repayment of, termination of all commitments under and the discharge of and release of all security and guarantees in respect of (i) the Existing Term Loan Facility and (ii) the Existing ABL Facility, in each case, as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified.

 

Borrower Materials” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.15.

 

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Borrowing” means Revolving Loans of the same Facility and Type, made, converted or continued on the same date and, in the case of Eurodollar Loans, as to which a single Interest Period is in effect.

 

Borrowing Base” means at any time, the sum of:

 

(a)           (i) 65% of the book value of the Loan Parties’ Eligible Installment Sales Accounts at such time, plus

 

(b)         80% of the Net Orderly Liquidation Value of the Loan Parties’ Eligible Inventory Held for Rent, determined on a “new” versus “used” basis, identified in the most recent Inventory appraisal ordered by the Administrative Agent, plus

 

(c)         65% of the lesser of (i) the Net Orderly Liquidation Value identified in the most recent Rental Agreement Portfolio appraisal ordered by the Administrative Agent and (ii) if the Administrative Agent has received a Collateral Monitoring Template pursuant to Section 6.1(c) subsequent to the delivery of the most recent Rental Agreement Portfolio appraisal ordered by the Administrative Agent, the monthly discounted cash flow amount set forth in the Collateral Monitoring Template most recently delivered pursuant to Section 6.1(c), minus

 

(d)           Reserves;

 

provided that in calculating the Borrowing Base, the value of that portion of the Borrowing Base described in clause (c) shall not exceed an amount equal to 65% of the Recent Rental Proceeds.

 

The specified percentages set forth in this definition will not be reduced without the consent (not to be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned) of the Borrower. Any determination by the Administrative Agent in respect of the Borrowing Base shall be based on the Administrative Agent’s Permitted Discretion. The parties understand that the exclusionary criteria in the definitions of Eligible Installment Sales Accounts, Eligible Inventory Held for Rent and Eligible Rental Agreements, any Reserves that may be imposed as provided herein, any deductions or other adjustments to determine “lower of cost or market” and factors considered in the calculation of Net Orderly Liquidation Value have the effect of reducing the Borrowing Base and, accordingly, whether or not any provisions hereof so state, all of the foregoing shall be determined without duplication so as not to result in multiple reductions in the Borrowing Base for the same facts or circumstances.

 

The Borrowing Base at any time shall be determined by reference to the most recent Borrowing Base Certificate delivered to the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 5.1(p), Section 6.2(g) or 6.2(i) of this Agreement.

 

Borrowing Base Certificate” means a certificate, signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower, in substantially the form of Exhibit J or another form which is acceptable to the Administrative Agent in its reasonable discretion. All calculations of the Borrowing Base in connection with the preparation of the Borrowing Base Certificate shall be made by the Borrower.

 

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Borrowing Date” means any Business Day specified by the Borrower as a date on which the Borrower requests the relevant Lenders to make Loans hereunder.

 

Borrowing Request” means a request by the Borrower for a Revolving Borrowing in accordance with Section 2.2, which shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit A or any other form approved by the Administrative Agent.

 

Business Day” means a day other than a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks in New York City are authorized or required by law to close, provided, that with respect to notices and determinations in connection with, and payments of principal and interest on, Loans having an interest rate determined by reference to the Adjusted LIBO Rate, such day is also a day for trading by and between banks in Dollar deposits in the interbank eurodollar market.

 

Capital Expenditures” means for any period, with respect to any Person, the aggregate of all expenditures by such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for the acquisition or leasing (pursuant to a finance lease) of fixed or capital assets or additions to equipment (including replacements, capitalized repairs and improvements during such period) that is required to be capitalized under GAAP on a consolidated balance sheet of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries.

 

Capital Stock” means any and all shares, interests, participations or other equivalents (however designated) of capital stock of a corporation, any and all equivalent ownership interests in a Person (other than a corporation) and any and all warrants, rights or options to purchase any of the foregoing, but excluding any debt securities convertible into any of the foregoing.

 

Cash Equivalents” means (a) marketable direct obligations issued by, or unconditionally guaranteed by, the United States Government or issued by any agency thereof and backed by the full faith and credit of the United States, in each case maturing within two years from the date of acquisition; (b) certificates of deposit, time deposits, eurodollar time deposits or overnight bank deposits having maturities of six months or less from the date of acquisition issued by any Lender or by any commercial bank organized under the laws of the United States or any state thereof having combined capital and surplus of not less than $250,000,000; (c) commercial paper of an issuer rated at least A-2 by S&P or P-2 by Moody’s, or carrying an equivalent rating by a nationally recognized rating agency, if both of the two named rating agencies cease publishing ratings of commercial paper issuers generally, and maturing within nine months from the date of acquisition; (d) repurchase obligations of any Lender or of any commercial bank satisfying the requirements of clause (b) of this definition, having a term of not more than 30 days, with respect to securities issued or fully guaranteed or insured by the United States government; (e) securities with maturities of two years or less from the date of acquisition issued or fully guaranteed by any state, commonwealth or territory of the United States, by any political subdivision or taxing authority of any such state, commonwealth or territory or by any foreign government, the securities of which state, commonwealth, territory, political subdivision, taxing authority or foreign government (as the case may be) are rated at least A by S&P or A by Moody’s; (f) securities with maturities of six months or less from the date of acquisition backed by standby letters of credit issued by any Lender or any commercial bank satisfying the requirements of clause (b) of this definition; (g) money market mutual or similar funds that invest exclusively in assets satisfying the requirements of clauses (a) through (f) of this definition; or (h) money market funds that (i) comply with the criteria set forth in SEC Rule 2a-7 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, (ii) are rated AAA by S&P and Aaa by Moody’s and (iii) have portfolio assets of at least $1,000,000,000.

 

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CFC” means (a) each Person that is a “controlled foreign corporation” for purposes of the Code and (b) each Subsidiary of any such Person.

 

CFC Holding Company” means each Domestic Subsidiary substantially all of the assets of which consist of Capital Stock of one or more (a) CFCs or (b) Persons described in this definition.

 

Change of Control” means the acquisition of ownership, directly or indirectly, beneficially or of record, by any Person or group (within the meaning of the Exchange Act and the rules of the SEC thereunder, but excluding any employee benefit plan of such Person or its Subsidiaries and any Person acting in its capacity as trustee, agent or other fiduciary or administrator of such plan) of Capital Stock of the Borrower representing more than 40% of the aggregate ordinary (in the absence of contingencies) voting power represented by the issued and outstanding Capital Stock of the Borrower. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence or any provision of Rule 13d-3 of the Exchange Act (as in effect on the Closing Date), a person or “group” shall not be deemed to beneficially own securities subject to an equity or asset purchase agreement, merger agreement or similar agreement (or voting or option or similar agreement related thereto) until the consummation of the transactions contemplated by such agreement.

 

Closing Date” means February 17, 2021.

 

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

 

Collateral” means all property of the Loan Parties, now owned or hereafter acquired, upon which a Lien is purported to be created by any Security Document.

 

Collateral Monitoring Template” means a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit G or such other form as may be approved by the Administrative Agent in its reasonable discretion.

 

Collateral Access Agreement” means any landlord waiver or other agreement, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, between the Administrative Agent and any third party (including any bailee, consignee, customs broker, or other similar Person) in possession of any Collateral or any landlord of any real property where any Collateral is located, as such landlord waiver or other agreement may be amended, restated, replaced or otherwise modified from time to time.

 

Collection Account” means individually and collectively, each “Collection Account” referred to in the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement.

 

Commencement Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.1.

 

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Commitment” means as to any Lender, the obligation of such Lender, if any, to make Revolving Loans and participate in Letters of Credit and Protective Advances in an aggregate principal and/or face amount not to exceed the amount set forth under the heading “Commitment” opposite such Lender’s name on Schedule 1.1 or in the Assignment and Assumption or Increased Facility Activation Notice pursuant to which such Lender became a party hereto, as the same may be changed from time to time pursuant to the terms hereof. The original amount of the Total Commitments on the Closing Date is $550,000,000.

 

Commitment Fee Rate” means, initially 0.375% per annum and, thereafter, subject to adjustment on the first day of each calendar month in accordance with the Applicable Pricing Grids.

 

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.

 

Communications” means, collectively, any notice, demand, communication, information, document or other material provided by or on behalf of any Loan Party pursuant to any Loan Document or the transactions contemplated therein which is distributed by the Administrative Agent, any Lender or any Issuing Lender by means of electronic communications pursuant to Section 9.3, including through an Approved Electronic Platform.

 

Compliance Certificate” means a certificate duly executed by a Responsible Officer substantially in the form of Exhibit F.

 

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 Cash Interest Coverage Ratio” means as at the last day of any Reference Period, the ratio of (a) Consolidated Cash Interest Expense for such period to (b) Consolidated EBITDA for such period.

 

Consolidated Cash Interest Expense” means for any period, without duplication, (a) total cash interest expense (including imputed interest expense attributable to payments of Finance Lease Obligations) of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period with respect to all outstanding Specified Indebtedness of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries (excluding all commissions, discounts and other fees and charges owed with respect to letters of credit and bankers’ acceptance financing and net costs under Swap Agreements in respect of interest rates to the extent such net costs are allocable to such period in accordance with GAAP) plus (b) commissions, discounts, yield and other fees and charges (including Securitization Fees) incurred in connection with any Qualified Securitization Transaction which are payable to Persons other than the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries. For the purposes of calculating Consolidated Cash Interest Expense for any Reference Period pursuant to any determination of the Consolidated Cash Interest Coverage Ratio, (i) if at any time during such Reference Period the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary shall have made any Material Disposition, the Consolidated Cash Interest Expense for such Reference Period shall be reduced by an amount equal to the Consolidated Cash Interest Expense attributable to any Restricted Subsidiary that is the subject of such Material Disposition for such Reference Period, (ii) if during such Reference Period the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary shall have made a Material Acquisition, Consolidated Cash Interest Expense for such Reference Period shall be calculated after giving pro forma effect thereto as if such Material Acquisition occurred on the first day of such Reference Period and (iii) in the case of any Reference Period which includes any fiscal quarter ended on or prior to the Closing Date, for each such fiscal quarter ended on or prior to the Closing Date, Consolidated Cash Interest Expense shall be deemed to be $18,552,158, in each case subject to any pro forma adjustments (other than in respect of the Acima Acquisition) permitted under this Agreement.

 

13

 

 

Consolidated EBITDA” means for any period, Consolidated Net Income for such period plus, without duplication and to the extent reflected as a charge in the statement of such Consolidated Net Income for such period, the sum of:

 

(a)           provisions for taxes based on income or profits or capital, including state, franchise, excise and similar taxes and foreign withholding taxes paid or accrued, including penalties and interest relating to tax examinations,

 

(b)           interest expense, amortization or writeoff of debt discount and debt issuance costs and commissions, discounts and other fees and charges associated with Indebtedness (including the Revolving Loans, the Term Loans and the Unsecured Notes),

 

(c)           depreciation and amortization expense, including amortization of capitalized expenses for software-as-a-service solutions for accounting,

 

(d)           non-cash charges, losses, expenses, accruals and provisions, including stock-based compensation and sale of assets not in the ordinary course of business (but excluding any such non-cash charge to the extent that it represents an accrual or reserve for cash expenses in any future period),

 

(e)           amortization of intangibles (including, but not limited to, impairment of goodwill) and organization costs,

 

(f)            any extraordinary, unusual or non-recurring charges, expenses or losses, including (i) legal settlement expenses and recoveries, (ii) non-recurring natural disaster-related charges and (iii) infrequent or unusual inventory adjustments,

 

(g)           any fees and expenses incurred during such period in connection with any Investment (including any Permitted Acquisition), Disposition, issuance of Indebtedness or Capital Stock, or amendment or modification of any debt instrument, in each case permitted under this Agreement, including (i) any such transactions undertaken but not completed and any transactions consummated prior to the Closing Date and (ii) any financial advisory fees, accounting fees, legal fees and other similar advisory and consulting fees, in each case paid in cash during such period (collectively, “Advisory Fees”),

 

(h)           any fees and expenses incurred in connection with the Transactions, including Advisory Fees and (solely for purposes of this clause (h)) cash charges or expenses in respect of strategic market reviews, stay or sign-on bonuses, integration-related bonuses, restructuring, consolidation, severance or discontinuance of any portion of operations, employees and/or management,

 

14

 

 

(i)            the amount of “run-rate” cost savings, operating expense reductions, operating improvements, revenue enhancements, business optimizations and synergies that are reasonably identifiable, factually supportable and projected by the Borrower in good faith to be realized as a result of mergers and other business combinations, Permitted Acquisitions, divestitures, insourcing initiatives, cost savings initiatives, plant consolidations, openings and closings, product rationalization and other similar initiatives after the Closing Date, in each case to the extent not prohibited by this Agreement (collectively, “Initiatives”) (calculated on a pro forma basis as though such cost savings, operating expense reductions, operating improvements, revenue enhancements, business optimizations and synergies had been realized on the first day of the relevant Reference Period), net of the amount of actual benefits realized in respect thereof; provided that (i) actions in respect of such cost-savings, operating expense reductions, operating improvements, revenue enhancements, business optimizations and synergies have been, or will be, taken within 12 months of the applicable Initiative, (ii) no cost savings, operating expense reductions, operating improvements, revenue enhancements, business optimizations or synergies shall be added pursuant to this clause (i) to the extent duplicative of any expenses or charges otherwise added to (or excluded from) Consolidated EBITDA, whether through a pro forma adjustment or otherwise, for such period, (iii) projected amounts (and not yet realized) may no longer be added in calculating Consolidated EBITDA pursuant to this clause (i) to the extent occurring more than eight fiscal quarters after the applicable Initiative and (iv) with respect to any Reference Period, the aggregate amount added back in the calculation of Consolidated EBITDA for such Reference Period pursuant to this clause (i) and clause (j) below shall not exceed 25% of Consolidated EBITDA (calculated after giving effect to any add-backs pursuant to this clause (i) and clause (j) below),

 

(j)          non-recurring cash expenses or charges recognized for restructuring costs, integration costs and business optimization expenses in connection with any Initiative; provided that with respect to any Reference Period, the aggregate amount added back in the calculation of Consolidated EBITDA for such Reference Period pursuant to this clause (j) and clause (i) above shall not exceed 25% of Consolidated EBITDA (calculated after giving effect to any add-backs pursuant to this clause (j) and clause (i) above),

 

(k)        fees, costs, expenses and charges associated with contract terminations; provided that with respect to any Reference Period, the aggregate amount added back in the calculation of Consolidated EBITDA for such Reference Period pursuant to this clause (k) shall not exceed 5% of Consolidated EBITDA (calculated after giving effect to any add-backs pursuant to this clause (k)),

 

(l)            losses, charges and expenses related to the early extinguishment of Indebtedness, hedge agreements or other derivative instruments (including deferred financing fees),

 

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(m)          losses, charges and expenses attributable to abandoned, closed, Disposed or discontinued operations and losses, charges and expenses related to the abandonment, closure, Disposal or discontinuation thereof,

 

(n)           charges, expenses and other items described in the model delivered by the Borrower to the Arrangers on December 14, 2020, and

 

(o)           legal and professional fees and expenses incurred in connection with the Transactions,

 

minus,

 

(x)            to the extent included in the statement of such Consolidated Net Income for such period, the sum of:

 

(i) interest 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),

 

(iii) income tax credits (to the extent not netted from income tax expense),

 

(iv) any other non-cash income (other than normal accruals in the ordinary course of business for non-cash income that represents an accrual for cash income in a future period),

 

(v) gains related to the early extinguishment of Indebtedness, hedge agreements or other derivative instruments (including deferred financing fees), and

 

(vi) gains attributable to abandoned, closed, Disposed or discontinued operations, and

 

(y)           any cash payments made during such period in respect of items described in clause (d) above subsequent to the fiscal quarter in which the relevant non-cash expenses or losses were reflected as a charge in the statement of Consolidated Net Income, all as determined on a consolidated basis.

 

For the purposes of calculating Consolidated EBITDA for any Reference Period pursuant to any determination of the Consolidated Leverage Ratio, Consolidated Secured Leverage Ratio, Consolidated Senior Secured Leverage Ratio or Consolidated Cash Interest Coverage Ratio, (i) if at any time during such Reference Period the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary shall have made any Material Disposition, the Consolidated EBITDA for such Reference Period shall be reduced by an amount equal to the Consolidated EBITDA (if positive) attributable to the property that is the subject of such Material Disposition for such Reference Period or increased by an amount equal to the Consolidated EBITDA (if negative) attributable thereto for such Reference Period, (ii) if during such Reference Period the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary shall have made a Material Acquisition, Consolidated EBITDA for such Reference Period shall be calculated after giving pro forma effect thereto as if such Material Acquisition occurred on the first day of such Reference Period and (iii) in the case of any Reference Period which includes any fiscal quarter ended on or prior to the Closing Date, if the respective Reference Period (a) includes the fiscal quarter of the Borrower ended September 30, 2020, Consolidated EBITDA for such fiscal quarter shall be deemed to be $166,560,166, (b) includes the fiscal quarter of the Borrower ended June 30, 2020, Consolidated EBITDA for such fiscal quarter shall be deemed to be $131,999,152, (c) includes the fiscal quarter of the Borrower ended March 31, 2020, Consolidated EBITDA for such fiscal quarter shall be deemed to be $112,667,268 and (d) includes the fiscal quarter of the Borrower ended December 31, 2019, Consolidated EBITDA for such fiscal quarter shall be deemed to be $104,651,226, in each case subject to any pro forma adjustments (other than in respect of the Acima Acquisition) permitted under this Agreement.

 

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Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio” means for any period, the ratio of (a) Consolidated EBITDA for such period plus (i) Finance Lease Obligation payments (excluding imputed interest expense attributable to payments of Finance Lease Obligations to the extent included in Consolidated Cash Interest Expense) and other rent expenses paid in cash during such period and (ii) less the aggregate amount actually paid by the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries during such period on account of (A) Capital Expenditures (excluding the principal amount of long-term Indebtedness (other than Revolving Loans) incurred in connection with such expenditures) and (B) federal, state, local and foreign income taxes ((x) net of cash refunds received during such period and (y) as may be adjusted by the Borrower and the Administrative Agent acting together in their reasonable discretion in any period to account for timing differences in the payment of such taxes that are the result of changes in tax legislation) to (b) Consolidated Fixed Charges for such period.

 

Consolidated Fixed Charges” means for any period, the sum (without duplication) of (a) Consolidated Cash Interest Expense for such period, (b) regularly scheduled principal payments (other than payments at maturity) made during such period on account of principal of (i) Specified Indebtedness and (ii) Indebtedness incurred by any Securitization Subsidiary in connection with any Qualified Securitization Transaction, in each case of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary to a third party, (c) Restricted Payments made in cash during such period and (d) Finance Lease Obligation payments and other rent expenses paid in cash during such period, all calculated for the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis and, to the extent applicable, in accordance with GAAP.

 

Consolidated Leverage Ratio” means as at the last day of any Reference Period, the ratio of (a)(i) Consolidated Total Debt on such day less (ii) the aggregate Unrestricted Cash of the Group Members on such day to (b) Consolidated EBITDA for such period.

 

Consolidated Net Income” means for any period, the consolidated net income (or loss) of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries, determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP; provided that there shall be excluded:

 

(a)           the income (or deficit) of any Person accrued prior to the date it becomes a Restricted Subsidiary of the Borrower or is merged into or consolidated with the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries;

 

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(b)           the income (or deficit) of any Person (other than a Restricted Subsidiary of the Borrower) in which the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries has an ownership interest, except to the extent that any such income is actually received by the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary in the form of dividends or similar distributions;

 

(c)           the undistributed earnings of any Restricted Subsidiary (other than a Securitization Subsidiary) of the Borrower to the extent that the declaration or payment of dividends or similar distributions by such Restricted 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 Restricted Subsidiary;

 

(d)           any income (or loss) for such period attributable to the early extinguishment of Indebtedness or Swap Obligations; and

 

(e)           the cumulative effect of a change in accounting principles and changes as a result of the adoption or modification of accounting policies during such period.

 

Consolidated Secured Debt” means at any date, Consolidated Total Debt at such date that is secured by a Lien on any property of any Group Member.

 

Consolidated Secured Leverage Ratio” means as at the last day of any Reference Period, the ratio of (a)(i) Consolidated Secured Debt on such day less (ii) the aggregate Unrestricted Cash of the Group Members on such day to (b) Consolidated EBITDA for such period.

 

Consolidated Senior Secured Debt” means at any date, Consolidated Total Debt (other than Indebtedness that is secured only by Liens that are junior to the Liens securing the Initial Term Loans (as defined in the Term Loan Credit Agreement)) at such date that is secured by a Lien on any property of any Group Member.

 

Consolidated Senior Secured Leverage Ratio” means as at the last day of any Reference Period, the ratio of (a)(i) Consolidated Senior Secured Debt on such day less (ii) the aggregate Unrestricted Cash of the Group Members on such day to (b) Consolidated EBITDA for such period.

 

Consolidated Total Assets” means at any date of determination, the total assets, in each case reflected on the consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries as at the end of the most recently ended fiscal quarter of the Borrower for which a balance sheet is available, determined in accordance with GAAP (and, in the case of any determination related to the incurrence of Indebtedness or Liens or any Investment, on a pro forma basis including any property or assets being acquired in connection therewith).

 

Consolidated Total Debt” means at any date (without duplication), all Finance Lease Obligations, purchase money Indebtedness, Indebtedness for borrowed money (including, for the avoidance of doubt and to the extent constituting Indebtedness for borrowed money, (i) Indebtedness incurred by any Securitization Subsidiary in connection with any Securitization Transaction and (ii) Standard Securitization Undertakings incurred by any Group Member in connection with any Securitization Transaction) and letters of credit (but only to the extent drawn and not reimbursed), in each case of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries at such date, determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP.

 

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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 (including its Organizational Documents).

 

Controlling Fixed Asset Representative” has the meaning given to such term in the Intercreditor Agreement.

 

Corresponding Tenor” with respect to any Available Tenor means, as applicable, either a tenor (including overnight) or an interest payment period having approximately the same length (disregarding business day adjustment) as such Available Tenor.

 

Covered Entity” means any of the following:

 

(a)           a “covered entity” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 252.82(b);

 

(b)           a “covered bank” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 47.3(b); or

 

(c)           a “covered FSI” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 382.2(b).

 

Covered Party” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.20.

 

Credit Party” means the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Lender or any other Lender and, for the purposes of Section 10.13 only, any other Agent and any Arranger.

 

Daily Simple SOFR” means, for any day, SOFR, with the conventions for this rate (which will include a lookback) being established by the Administrative Agent in accordance with the conventions for this rate selected or recommended by the Relevant Governmental Body for determining “Daily Simple SOFR” for syndicated business loans; provided, that if the Administrative Agent decides that any such convention is not administratively feasible for the Administrative Agent, then the Administrative Agent may establish another convention in its reasonable discretion.

 

Debtor Relief Laws” means the Bankruptcy Code, 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.

 

Debt Repayment” means the (i) Target Debt Repayment and (ii) Borrower Debt Repayment.

 

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Default” means any of the events specified in Section 8, whether or not any requirement for the giving of notice, the lapse of time, or both, has been satisfied.

 

Default Right” has the meaning assigned to that term in, and shall be interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. §§ 252.81, 47.2 or 382.1, as applicable.

 

Defaulting Lender” means any Lender that (a) has failed, within two (2) Business Days of the date required to be funded or paid, to (i) fund any portion of its Loans, (ii) fund any portion of its participations in Letters of Credit or Protective Advances or (iii) pay over to any Credit Party any other amount required to be paid by it hereunder, unless, in the case of clause (i) above, such Lender notifies the Administrative Agent and the Borrower in writing that such failure is the result of such Lender’s good faith determination that a condition precedent to funding (specifically identified and including the particular default, if any) has not been satisfied, (b) has notified the Borrower or any Credit Party in writing, or has made a public statement to the effect, that it does not intend or expect to comply with any of its funding obligations under this Agreement (unless such writing or public statement indicates that such position is based on such Lender’s good faith determination that a condition precedent (specifically identified and including the particular default, if any) to funding a loan under this Agreement cannot be satisfied) or generally under other agreements in which it commits to extend credit, (c) has failed, within three Business Days after request by a Credit Party, acting in good faith, to provide a certification in writing from an authorized officer of such Lender that it will comply with its obligations (and is financially able to meet such obligations as of the date of certification) to fund prospective Loans and participations in then outstanding Letters of Credit and Protective Advances under this Agreement, provided that such Lender shall cease to be a Defaulting Lender pursuant to this clause (c) upon such Credit Party’s receipt of such written certification in form and substance satisfactory to it and the Administrative Agent or (d) has become the subject of (i) a Bankruptcy Event or (ii) a Bail-In Action.

 

Deposit Account Control Agreement” means individually and collectively, each “Deposit Account Control Agreement” referred to in the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement.

 

Designated Non-Cash Consideration” means the fair market value of non-cash consideration received by the Borrower or one of its Restricted Subsidiaries in connection with a Disposition that is so designated as Designated Non-Cash Consideration pursuant to a certificate of a Responsible Officer, setting forth the basis of such valuation, less the amount of cash and Cash Equivalents received in connection with a subsequent sale of such Designated Non-Cash Consideration within 180 days of receipt of such Designated Non-Cash Consideration.

 

Disposition” means with respect to any property, any sale, lease, sale and leaseback, assignment, conveyance, transfer or other disposition (in one transaction or in a series of related transactions) of any property by any Person (including any issuance of Capital Stock by a Subsidiary of such Person), including any sale, assignment, transfer or other disposal, with or without recourse, of any rental agreements, chattel paper, notes or accounts receivable or any rights and claims associated therewith. The terms “Dispose” and “Disposed of” shall have correlative meanings.

 

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Disqualified Capital Stock” means with respect to any Person, any Capital Stock of such Person that by its terms (or by the terms of any security into which it is convertible or for which it is exchangeable, either mandatorily or at the option of the holder thereof), or upon the happening of any event or condition:

 

(a)           matures or is mandatorily redeemable (other than solely for Capital Stock of such Person that does not constitute Disqualified Capital Stock and cash in lieu of fractional shares of such Capital Stock) whether pursuant to a sinking fund obligation or otherwise;

 

(b)           is convertible or exchangeable, either mandatorily or at the option of the holder thereof, for Indebtedness or Capital Stock (other than solely for Capital Stock of such Person that does not constitute Disqualified Capital Stock and cash in lieu of fractional shares of such Capital Stock); or

 

(c)           is redeemable (other than solely for Capital Stock of such Person that does not constitute Disqualified Capital Stock and cash in lieu of fractional shares of such Capital Stock) or is required to be repurchased by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary, in whole or in part, at the option of the holder thereof;

 

in each case, on or prior to the date that is 91 days after the Latest Maturity Date (determined as of the date of issuance thereof or, in the case of any such Capital Stock outstanding on the Closing Date, the Closing Date); provided, however, that (i) Capital Stock of any Person that would not constitute Disqualified Capital Stock but for terms thereof giving holders thereof the right to require such Person to redeem or purchase such Capital Stock upon the occurrence of an “asset sale”, “condemnation” or a “change of control” (or similar event, however denominated) shall not constitute Disqualified Capital Stock if any such requirement becomes operative only after repayment in full of all the Loans and all other Obligations that are accrued and payable and the termination of all Commitments, (ii) Capital Stock of any Person that is issued to any employee or to any plan for the benefit of employees or by any such plan to such employees shall not constitute Disqualified Capital Stock solely because it may be required to be repurchased by such Person or any of its subsidiaries in order to satisfy applicable statutory or regulatory obligations or as a result of such employee’s termination, death or disability and (iii) only such portion of the Capital Stock that matures, is mandatorily redeemable, or is convertible or exchangeable prior to such date as set forth in clauses (a) through (c) above shall constitute Disqualified Capital Stock.

 

Disqualified Lenders” means (a) certain banks, financial institutions, other institutional lenders and other Persons that have been specified in writing to the Administrative Agent by the Borrower prior to the Closing Date, (b) competitors of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries and any affiliate of such competitor, in each case, that is identified in writing to the Administrative Agent by the Borrower from time to time and (c) any affiliates of the entities described in the foregoing clauses (a) or (b) that are clearly identifiable as affiliates of such entities solely on the basis of the similarity of their names (other than affiliates that constitute bona fide debt funds primarily investing in loans). In no event shall the designation of any Person as a Disqualified Lender apply (x) to disqualify any Person until three (3) Business Days after such Person shall have been identified in writing to the Administrative Agent via electronic mail submitted to JPMDQ_Contact@jpmorgan.com (or to such other address as the Administrative Agent may designate to the Borrower from time to time). For the avoidance of doubt, with respect to any assignee that becomes a Disqualified Lender after the applicable Trade Date (including as a result of the delivery of a notice pursuant to, and/or the expiration of the notice period referred to in, this definition) or is otherwise party to a pending trade as of the date of such notice, (x) such assignee shall not retroactively be disqualified from becoming a Lender and (y) the execution by the Borrower of an Assignment and Assumption with respect to such assignee will not by itself result in such assignee no longer being considered a Disqualified Lender.

 

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Documents” has the meaning set forth in the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement.

 

Dollars” and “$” means dollars in lawful currency of the United States.

 

Domestic Subsidiary” means any Restricted Subsidiary of the Borrower organized under the laws of any jurisdiction within the United States.

 

Early Opt-in Election” means, if the then-current Benchmark is the LIBO Rate, the occurrence of:

 

(1)           a notification by the Administrative Agent to (or the request by the Borrower to the Administrative Agent to notify) each of the other parties hereto that at least five currently outstanding Dollar-denominated syndicated credit facilities at such time contain (as a result of amendment or as originally executed) a SOFR-based rate (including SOFR, a term SOFR or any other rate based upon SOFR) as a benchmark rate (and such syndicated credit facilities are identified in such notice and are publicly available for review), and

 

(2)           the joint election by the Administrative Agent and the Borrower to trigger a fallback from the LIBO Rate and the provision by the Administrative Agent of written notice of such election to the Lenders.

 

ECP Fallaway Date” has the meaning given to such term in Section 6.13(d).

 

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.

 

Electronic Chattel Paper” means “electronic chattel paper”, as defined in article 9 of the New York Uniform Commercial Code.

 

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Electronic Chattel Paper Control System Implementation Date” means the first date on which (a) the Administrative Agent has “control” (as defined in and provided for in the New York Uniform Commercial Code) over Subject Agreements in the form of Electronic Chattel Paper, (b) such system for “control” is reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent in all respects prior to its implementation and (c) with respect to such system, the Administrative Agent has received such audits and third party security assurances as it may have requested in its Permitted Discretion. It is understood and agreed that such determination may be evidenced by separate agreement signed by the Administrative Agent and the Borrower.

 

Electronic Signature” means an electronic sound, symbol, or process attached to, or associated with, a contract or other record and adopted by a Person with the intent to sign, authenticate or accept such contract or record.

 

Eligible Assignee” means (a) a Lender, (b) an Affiliate of a Lender, (c) an Approved Fund, (d) any commercial bank and (e) any other financial institution or investment fund engaged as a primary activity in the ordinary course of its business in making or investing in commercial loans or debt securities, other than, in each case, (i) a natural person, (ii) the Borrower, any Subsidiary or any other Affiliate of the Borrower or (iii) a Disqualified Lender.

 

Eligible Installment Sales Accounts” means at any time, the Accounts of the Loan Parties which the Administrative Agent determines in its Permitted Discretion (following (to the extent practicable) reasonable prior notice to, and consultation with, the Borrower, and in any event exercised consistent with past practice with respect to the Accounts of the Loan Parties) are eligible as the basis for the extension of Revolving Loans and the issuance of Letters of Credit. Without limiting the Administrative Agent’s Permitted Discretion provided herein, Eligible Installment Sales Accounts shall not include any Account:

 

(a)           which is not subject to a first priority (subject to Permitted Encumbrances) perfected security interest in favor of the Administrative Agent on behalf of the Secured Parties;

 

(b)           which is subject to any Lien other than (i) a Lien in favor of the Administrative Agent, (ii) a Lien in favor of the Term Loan Administrative Agent which does not have priority over the Lien in favor of the Administrative Agent, (iii) a Lien in favor of the administrative agent or trustee in respect of any Junior Indebtedness which does not have priority over the Lien in favor of the Administrative Agent and (iv) a Permitted Encumbrance;

 

(c)           (i) which is unpaid more than 30 days after the original due date therefor (“Overage”) (when calculating the amount under this clause (i), for the same Account Debtor, the Administrative Agent shall include the net amount of such Overage and add back any credits, but only to the extent that such credits do not exceed the total gross receivables from such Account Debtor), or (ii) which has been written off the books of the Borrower or other applicable Loan Party or otherwise designated as uncollectible;

 

(d)           with respect to which any representation or warranty contained in this Agreement or in the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement is not true in any material respect;

 

23

 

 

(e)           which (i) does not arise from the sale of goods or performance of services in the ordinary course of business, (ii) is not evidenced by an invoice or other documentation satisfactory to the Administrative Agent (utilizing its Permitted Discretion (following (to the extent practicable) reasonable prior notice to, and consultation with, the Borrower)) which has been sent to the Account Debtor, (iii) represents a progress billing, (iv) is contingent upon a Loan Party’s completion of any further performance, (v) represents a sale on a bill-and-hold, guaranteed sale, sale-and-return, sale on approval, consignment, cash-on-delivery or any other repurchase or return basis or (vi) relates to payments of interest;

 

(f)            for which the goods giving rise to such Account have not been shipped to the Account Debtor or if such Account was invoiced more than once;

 

(g)           with respect to which any check or other instrument of payment has been returned uncollected for any reason;

 

(h)           which is owed by an Account Debtor which has (i) applied for, suffered, or consented to the appointment of any receiver, custodian, trustee, or liquidator of its assets, (ii) had possession of all or a material part of its property taken by any receiver, custodian, trustee or liquidator, (iii) filed, or had filed against it, any request or petition for liquidation, reorganization, arrangement, adjustment of debts, adjudication as bankrupt, winding-up, or voluntary or involuntary case under any state or federal bankruptcy laws (other than post-petition accounts payable of an Account Debtor that is a debtor-in-possession under the Bankruptcy Code and reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent), (iv) admitted in writing its inability, or is generally unable to, pay its debts as they become due, (v) become insolvent, or (vi) ceased operation of its business;

 

(i)            which, for any Account Debtor, exceeds a credit limit determined by the Administrative Agent in its Permitted Discretion, to the extent of such excess;

 

(j)            which is owed in any currency other than Dollars;

 

(k)           which is owed by any Affiliate of any Loan Party or any employee, officer or director of any Loan Party;

 

(l)            which is owed by an Account Debtor or any Affiliate of such Account Debtor to which any Loan Party is indebted, but only to the extent of such indebtedness, or is subject to any security, deposit, progress payment, retainage or other similar advance made by or for the benefit of an Account Debtor, in each case to the extent thereof;

 

(m)          which is subject to any asserted counterclaim, deduction, defense, setoff or dispute but only to the extent of any such asserted counterclaim, deduction, defense, setoff or dispute;

 

(n)           which is evidenced by any promissory note or instrument and such promissory note or instrument is not pledged and delivered to the Administrative Agent;

 

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(o)           which is owed by an Account Debtor (i) located in any jurisdiction which requires filing of a “Notice of Business Activities Report” or other similar report in order to permit the applicable Loan Party to seek judicial enforcement in such jurisdiction of payment of such Account, unless the applicable Loan Party has filed such report or qualified to do business in such jurisdiction or (ii) which is a Sanctioned Person;

 

(p)           following the consummation of a Qualified Securitization Transaction, which is owed to or originated by the Acquired Business (or any subsidiary of Acima formed or acquired after the Closing Date);

 

(q)           which does not comply in all material respects with the requirements of all applicable laws and regulations, whether Federal, state or local, including the Federal Consumer Credit Protection Act, the Federal Truth in Lending Act and Regulation Z of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau;

 

(r)            which is for goods that have been sold under a purchase order or pursuant to the terms of a written contract or other written agreement that indicates or purports that any Person other than a Loan Party has or has had an ownership interest in such goods, or which indicates any party other than a Loan Party as payee or remittance party; or

 

(s)           which the Administrative Agent determines in its Permitted Discretion (following (to the extent practicable) reasonable prior notice to, and consultation with, the Borrower) may not be paid by reason of the Account Debtor’s inability to pay or which the Administrative Agent otherwise determines is unacceptable in its Permitted Discretion.

 

In determining the amount of an Eligible Installment Sales Account, the face amount of an Account may, in the Administrative Agent’s Permitted Discretion (following (to the extent practicable) reasonable prior notice to, and consultation with, the Borrower), be reduced by, without duplication, to the extent not reflected in such face amount, (i) the amount of all accrued and actual discounts, claims, credits or credits pending, promotional program allowances, price adjustments, finance charges or other allowances (including any amount that any Loan Party may be obligated to rebate to an Account Debtor pursuant to the terms of any agreement or understanding (written or oral)) and (ii) the aggregate amount of all cash received in respect of such Account but not yet applied by the applicable Loan Party to reduce the amount of such Account. Standards of eligibility may be made more restrictive from time to time by the Administrative Agent in its Permitted Discretion, following (to the extent practicable) reasonable prior notice to, and consultation with, the Borrower, with any such changes to be effective four days after delivery of notice thereof to the Borrower and the Lenders; provided that if consultation with the Borrower and/or notice to the Borrower and the Lenders is not practicable or if failure to implement any such change within a shorter time period would, in the good faith judgment of the Administrative Agent, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect or materially and adversely affect the Collateral (taken as a whole) or the rights of the Lenders under the Loan Documents (taken as a whole), such change may be implemented within a shorter time as determined by the Administrative Agent in its Permitted Discretion. Prior to any Accounts that are acquired in a Material Transaction becoming “Eligible Installment Sales Accounts”, the Administrative Agent shall have received (unless the Administrative Agent otherwise agrees in its Permitted Discretion) an audit and field examination in respect of such Accounts, the results of which are reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent; provided, that if the Administrative Agent agrees in its Permitted Discretion that such audit or field examination shall not be required, it may, in its Permitted Discretion, include such Accounts as “Eligible Installment Sales Accounts” at a lower advance rate or provide a sublimit on the amount that such Accounts may contribute to the Borrowing Base.

 

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Eligible Inventory Held for Rent” means at any time, the Inventory Held for Rent of the Loan Parties which the Administrative Agent determines in its Permitted Discretion (following (to the extent practicable) reasonable prior notice to, and consultation with, the Borrower, and in any event exercised consistent with past practice with respect to the Inventory Held for Rent of the Loan Parties) is eligible as the basis for the extension of Revolving Loans and the issuance of Letters of Credit. Without limiting the Administrative Agent’s Permitted Discretion provided herein, Eligible Inventory Held for Rent shall not include any Inventory:

 

(a)           which is not subject to a first priority (subject to Permitted Encumbrances) perfected Lien in favor of the Administrative Agent on behalf of the Secured Parties;

 

(b)           which is subject to any Lien other than (i) a Lien in favor of the Administrative Agent, (ii) a Lien in favor of the Term Loan Administrative Agent which does not have priority over the Lien in favor of the Administrative Agent, (iii) a Lien in favor of the administrative agent or trustee in respect of any Junior Indebtedness which does not have priority over the Lien in favor of the Administrative Agent and (iv) a Permitted Encumbrance;

 

(c)           which (i) is, in the Administrative Agent’s Permitted Discretion (following (to the extent practicable) reasonable prior notice to, and consultation with, the Borrower), slow moving, obsolete, unmerchantable, defective, used, unfit for sale, not salable at prices approximating at least the cost of such Inventory in the ordinary course of business or unacceptable due to age, type, category and/or quantity, (ii) is Inventory that has been Inventory Held for Rent for more than 12 months and has not been rented since the date of acquisition thereof or (iii) which is in disrepair or in the process of being repaired;

 

(d)           with respect to which any representation or warranty contained in this Agreement or in the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement is not true in any material respect or which does not conform in all material respects to all standards imposed by any Governmental Authority;

 

(e)           in which any Person other than a Loan Party shall (i) have any direct or indirect ownership, interest (including rental interest) or title to such Inventory or (ii) be indicated on any purchase order or invoice with respect to such Inventory as having or purporting to have an interest therein;

 

(f)            which is not finished goods or which constitutes work-in-process, raw materials, spare or replacement parts, subassemblies, packaging and shipping material, manufacturing supplies, samples, prototypes, displays or display items, bill-and-hold or ship-in-place goods, goods that are returned or marked for return, repossessed goods, defective or damaged goods, goods held on consignment, or goods which are not of a type held for rent in the ordinary course of business;

 

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(g)           which is not located in the United States or Puerto Rico;

 

(h)           which is not located in a store, distribution center, collection center or national product service center which premises are, in each case, owned by a Loan Party, unless such store, distribution center, collection center or national product service center is leased by the Borrower and (i) the lessor has delivered to the Administrative Agent a Collateral Access Agreement or (ii) a Reserve for rent, charges and other amounts due or to become due with respect to such facility (which Reserve shall be based off the liquidation scenario set forth in the most recent Inventory appraisal received by the Administrative Agent) has been established by the Administrative Agent in its Permitted Discretion;

 

(i)            which is a discontinued product or component thereof;

 

(j)            which is the subject of a consignment by the applicable Loan Party as consignor;

 

(k)           which is perishable;

 

(l)            which contains or bears any intellectual property rights licensed to the applicable Loan Party unless the Administrative Agent is reasonably satisfied that it may sell or otherwise dispose of such Inventory without (i) infringing the rights of such licensor, (ii) violating any contract with such licensor, or (iii) incurring any liability with respect to payment of royalties other than royalties incurred pursuant to sale of such Inventory under the current licensing agreement;

 

(m)          which is not reflected in a current perpetual inventory report of the Loan Parties (unless such Inventory is reflected in a report to the Administrative Agent as “in transit” Inventory);

 

(n)           for which reclamation rights have been asserted by the seller;

 

(o)           which has been acquired from a Sanctioned Person;

 

(p)           which the Administrative Agent in its Permitted Discretion (following (to the extent practicable) reasonable prior notice to, and consultation with, the Borrower) determines is unacceptable; or

 

(q)           following the consummation of a Qualified Securitization Transaction, is owned by the Acquired Business (or any subsidiary of Acima formed or acquired after the Closing Date).

 

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Standards of eligibility may be made more restrictive from time to time by the Administrative Agent in its Permitted Discretion, after consultation (to the extent practicable) with the Borrower, with any such changes to be effective four days after delivery of notice thereof to the Borrower and the Lenders; provided that if consultation with the Borrower and/or notice to the Borrower and the Lenders is not practicable or if failure to implement any such change within a shorter time period would, in the good faith judgment of the Administrative Agent, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect or materially and adversely affect the Collateral (taken as a whole) or the rights of the Lenders under the Loan Documents (taken as a whole), such change may be implemented within a shorter time as determined by the Administrative Agent in its Permitted Discretion. Prior to any Inventory that is acquired in a Material Transaction becoming “Eligible Inventory Held for Rent”, the Administrative Agent shall have received (unless the Administrative Agent otherwise agrees in its Permitted Discretion) a field examination and an appraisal in respect of such Inventory, the results of which are reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent; provided, that if the Administrative Agent agrees in its Permitted Discretion that such field examination or appraisal shall not be required, it may, in its Permitted Discretion, include such Inventory as “Eligible Inventory Held for Rent” at a lower advance rate or provide a sublimit on the amount that such Inventory may contribute to the Borrowing Base.

 

Eligible Rental Agreements” means, at any time, rental agreements entered into by any Loan Party with a customer of such Loan Party which the Administrative Agent determines in its Permitted Discretion (following (to the extent practicable) reasonable prior notice to, and consultation with, the Borrower, and in any event exercised consistent with past practice with respect to the rental agreements of the Loan Parties) are eligible as the basis for the extension of Revolving Loans and the issuance of Letters of Credit. Without limiting the Administrative Agent’s Permitted Discretion provided herein, Eligible Rental Agreements shall not include any rental agreement:

 

(a)           which is not subject to a first priority (subject to Permitted Encumbrances) perfected security interest in favor of the Administrative Agent on behalf of the Secured Parties;

 

(b)           which is subject to any Lien other than (i) a Lien in favor of the Administrative Agent, (ii) a Lien in favor of the Term Loan Administrative Agent which does not have priority over the Lien in favor of the Administrative Agent, (iii) a Lien in favor of the administrative agent or trustee in respect of any Junior Indebtedness which does not have priority over the Lien in favor of the Administrative Agent and (iv) a Permitted Encumbrance;

 

(c)           with respect to which the remaining value of the inventory in respect thereof has been written off the books of the Borrower or other applicable Loan Party or otherwise designated as uncollectible;

 

(d)           with respect to which any representation or warranty contained in this Agreement or in the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement is not true in any material respect;

 

(e)           which does not arise from the rent of goods in the ordinary course of business;

 

(f)           for which the goods subject to such rental agreement have not been shipped to the applicable counterparty;

 

(g)           with respect to which the amounts due under such rental agreement remain unpaid after the original due date for a period to be determined by the Administrative Agent from time to time in a manner that is consistent with the period provided for in the most recently delivered Collateral Monitoring Template or the most recent Rental Agreement Portfolio appraisal ordered by the Administrative Agent;

 

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(h)           with respect to which the counterparty thereof has (i) applied for, suffered, or consented to the appointment of any receiver, custodian, trustee, or liquidator of its assets, (ii) had possession of all or a material part of its property taken by any receiver, custodian, trustee or liquidator, (iii) filed, or had filed against it, any request or petition for liquidation, reorganization, arrangement, adjustment of debts, adjudication as bankrupt, winding-up, or voluntary or involuntary case under any state or federal bankruptcy laws (other than post-petition accounts payable of an Account Debtor that is a debtor-in-possession under the Bankruptcy Code and reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent), (iv) admitted in writing its inability, or is generally unable to, pay its debts as they become due, (v) become insolvent, or (vi) ceased operation of its business;

 

(i)            with respect to which rental payments are owed in any currency other than Dollars;

 

(j)            which is not governed by the law of the United States, any state thereof or Puerto Rico;

 

(k)           which is not generated in the United States or Puerto Rico;

 

(l)            with respect to which the counterparty thereof is an Affiliate of any Loan Party or any employee, officer or director of any Loan Party;

 

(m)           with respect to which the counterparty thereof is a Person to which any Loan Party is indebted, but only to the extent of such indebtedness;

 

(n)           with respect to which the payments thereunder are subject to any asserted counterclaim, deduction, defense, setoff or dispute but only to the extent of any such asserted counterclaim, deduction, defense, setoff or dispute;

 

(o)           with respect to which the Borrower or the applicable Loan Party has made any agreement with the counterparty thereof for any reduction in any rental payments or other amounts due thereunder, other than discounts and adjustments given in the ordinary course of business that are consistent with the treatment provided for in the most recently delivered Collateral Monitoring Template or the most recent Rental Agreement Portfolio appraisal ordered by the Administrative Agent;

 

(p)           which does not comply in all material respects with the requirements of all applicable laws and regulations, whether Federal, state or local;

 

(q)           which is for goods that have been rented pursuant to the terms of a written contract or other written agreement that indicates or purports that any Person other than a Loan Party has or has had an ownership interest in such goods, or which indicates any party other than a Loan Party as payee or remittance party;

 

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(r)            following the consummation of a Qualified Securitization Transaction, which is an asset of or originated by the Acquired Business (or any subsidiary of Acima formed or acquired after the Closing Date); or

 

(s)           with respect to which the Administrative Agent determines in its Permitted Discretion (following (to the extent practicable) reasonable prior notice to, and consultation with, the Borrower) the rental payments or other payments thereunder may not be paid by reason of the counterparty’s inability to pay or which the Administrative Agent otherwise determines is unacceptable in its Permitted Discretion.

 

Standards of eligibility may be made more restrictive from time to time by the Administrative Agent in its Permitted Discretion, following (to the extent practicable) reasonable prior notice to, and consultation with, the Borrower, with any such changes to be effective four days after delivery of notice thereof to the Borrower and the Lenders; provided that if consultation with the Borrower and/or notice to the Borrower and the Lenders is not practicable or if failure to implement any such change within a shorter time period would, in the good faith judgment of the Administrative Agent, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect or materially and adversely affect the Collateral (taken as a whole) or the rights of the Lenders under the Loan Documents (taken as a whole), such change may be implemented within a shorter time as determined by the Administrative Agent in its Permitted Discretion. Prior to any rental agreement that is acquired in a Material Transaction becoming an “Eligible Rental Agreement”, the Administrative Agent shall have received (unless the Administrative Agent otherwise agrees in its Permitted Discretion) a field examination and an appraisal in respect of such rental agreement, the results of which are reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent; provided, that if the Administrative Agent agrees in its Permitted Discretion that such field examination or appraisal shall not be required with respect to any rental agreements acquired in any future Material Transaction, it may, in its Permitted Discretion, include such rental agreements as “Eligible Rental Agreements” at a lower advance rate or provide a sublimit on the amount that such rental agreements may contribute to the Borrowing Base.

 

Environmental Laws” means any and all foreign, Federal, state, local or municipal laws, rules, orders, regulations, statutes, ordinances, codes, decrees, requirements of any Governmental Authority or other Requirements of Law (including common law) regulating, relating to or imposing liability or standards of conduct concerning protection of human health insofar as involving exposure to harmful or deleterious substances or the environment, as now or may at any time hereafter be in effect.

 

Environmental Permits” means any and all permits, licenses, approvals, registrations, notifications or authorizations required under any Environmental Law.

 

ERISA” means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended from time to time, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

ERISA Affiliate” means any trade or business (whether or not incorporated) that, together with the Borrower, is treated as a single employer under Section 414(b) or (c) of the Code or Section 4001(14) of ERISA or, solely for purposes of Section 302 of ERISA and Section 412 of the Code, is treated as a single employer under Section 414 of the Code.

 

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ERISA Event” means (a) any “reportable event”, as defined in Section 4043 of ERISA or the regulations issued thereunder with respect to a Plan (other than an event for which the 30 day notice period is waived); (b) the failure to satisfy the “minimum funding standard” (as defined in Section 412 of the Code or Section 302 of ERISA), whether or not waived; (c) the filing pursuant to Section 412(c) of the Code or Section 302(c) of ERISA of an application for a waiver of the minimum funding standard with respect to any Plan; (d) the incurrence by the Borrower or any of its ERISA Affiliates of any liability under Title IV of ERISA with respect to the termination of any Plan; (e) the receipt by the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate from the PBGC or a plan administrator of any notice relating to an intention to terminate any Plan or Plans or to appoint a trustee to administer any Plan; (f) the incurrence by the Borrower or any of its ERISA Affiliates of any liability with respect to the withdrawal or partial withdrawal of the Borrower or any of its ERISA Affiliates from any Plan or Multiemployer Plan; or (g) the receipt by the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate of any notice, or the receipt by any Multiemployer Plan from the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate of any notice, concerning the imposition upon the Borrower or any of its ERISA Affiliates of Withdrawal Liability or a determination that a Multiemployer Plan is, or is expected to be, insolvent or in reorganization, within the meaning of Title IV of ERISA.

 

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.

 

Eurodollar” when used in reference to any Loan or Borrowing, refers to whether such Loan, or the Loans comprising such Borrowing, are bearing interest at a rate determined by reference to the Adjusted LIBO Rate.

 

Event of Default” means any of the events specified in Section 8, provided that any requirement for the giving of notice, the lapse of time, or both, has been satisfied.

 

Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

 

Excluded Subsidiary” means (a) any Unrestricted Subsidiary, (b) any Immaterial Subsidiary, (c) any non-Wholly Owned Subsidiary, (d) any Subsidiary that is prohibited or restricted by applicable law, rule or regulation or by any contractual obligation existing on the Closing Date or on the date such Subsidiary was acquired (so long as such contractual obligation was not entered into in contemplation of such acquisition) from guaranteeing the Obligations or which would require a governmental (including regulatory) consent, approval, license or authorization to provide a guarantee unless such consent, approval, license or authorization has been received, (e) any CFC or CFC Holding Company, (f) any Domestic Subsidiary of a Foreign Subsidiary, (g) not-for-profit Subsidiaries and captive insurance companies, (h) the Insurance Subsidiary, (i) any Subsidiary whose provision of a guarantee would have a cost that is excessive in relation to the value afforded thereby as determined by the Administrative Agent in its reasonable discretion and (j) any Securitization Subsidiary. Each Excluded Subsidiary as of the Closing Date is set forth on Schedule 4.15.

 

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Excluded Swap Obligation” means with respect to any Loan Party (a) any Swap Obligation if, and to the extent that, and only for so long as, all or a portion of the guarantee of such Loan Party of, or the grant by such Loan Party of a security interest to secure, as applicable, such Swap Obligation (or any guarantee thereof) is or becomes illegal under the Commodity Exchange Act or any rule, regulation or order of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (or the application or official interpretation of any thereof) by virtue of such Loan Party’s failure to constitute an “eligible contract participant,” as defined in the Commodity Exchange Act and the regulations thereunder, at the time the guarantee of (or grant of such security interest by, as applicable) such Loan Party becomes or would become effective with respect to such Swap Obligation or (b) any other Swap Obligation designated as an “Excluded Swap Obligation” of such Loan Party as specified in any agreement between the relevant Loan Parties and counterparty applicable to such Swap Obligations, and agreed by the Administrative Agent. If a Swap Obligation arises under a master agreement governing more than one Swap, such exclusion shall apply only to the portion of such Swap Obligation that is attributable to Swaps for which such guarantee or security interest is or becomes illegal.

 

Excluded Taxes” means any of the following Taxes imposed on or with respect to a Credit Party or required to be withheld or deducted from a payment to a Credit Party, (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 a Credit Party being organized under the laws of, or having its principal office or, in the case of any Lender, its applicable lending office located in, the jurisdiction imposing such Tax (or any political subdivision thereof) or (ii) that are Other Connection Taxes, (b) in the case of a Lender, U.S. federal withholding Taxes imposed on amounts payable to or for the account of a Lender with respect to an applicable interest in a Loan or Commitment pursuant to a law in effect on the date on which (i) a Lender acquires such interest in the Loan or Commitment (other than pursuant to an assignment request by the Borrower under Section 2.22) or (ii) a Lender changes its lending office, except in each case to the extent that, pursuant to Section 2.19, amounts with respect to such Taxes were payable either to such Lender’s assignor immediately before such Lender acquired the applicable interest in a Loan or Commitment or to such Lender immediately before it changed its lending office, (c) Taxes attributable to a Credit Party’s failure to comply with Section 2.19(f) and (d) any U.S. federal withholding Taxes imposed under FATCA.

 

Existing ABL Facility” means that certain ABL Credit Agreement, dated as of August 5, 2019, among the Borrower, the several lenders from time to time party thereto and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent, as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified.

 

Existing Letters of Credit” means the letters of credit existing on the Closing Date and identified on Schedule 3.1.

 

Existing Term Loan Facility” means that certain Term Loan Credit Agreement, dated as of August 5, 2019, among the Borrower, the several lenders from time to time party thereto and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent, as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified.

 

Facility” means this Agreement and the Commitments and the Revolving Loans made thereunder.

 

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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, any agreement entered into pursuant to Section 1471(b)(1) of the Code and any fiscal or regulatory legislation, rules or practices adopted pursuant to any intergovernmental agreement, treaty or convention among Governmental Authorities and implementing such Sections of the Code.

 

Federal Funds Effective Rate” means, for any day, the rate calculated by the NYFRB based on such day’s federal funds transactions by depositary institutions, as determined in such manner as the NYFRB shall set forth on its public website from time to time, and published on the next succeeding Business Day by the NYFRB as the effective federal funds rate; provided that if the Federal Funds Effective Rate as so determined would be less than zero, such rate shall be deemed to be zero for the purposes of this Agreement.

 

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

 

Fee Payment Date” means (a) the first Business Day of each January, April, July and October and (b) the last day of the Revolving Commitment Period.

 

Finance Lease Obligations” means as 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 finance leases on a balance sheet of such Person under GAAP and, for the purposes of this Agreement, the amount of such obligations at any time shall be the capitalized amount thereof at such time determined in accordance with GAAP.

 

Fixed Asset Priority Collateral” has the meaning given to such term in the Intercreditor Agreement.

 

Fixed Asset Obligations Payment Date” has the meaning given to such term in the Intercreditor Agreement.

 

Fixed Asset Secured Parties” has the meaning given to such term in the Intercreditor Agreement.

 

Foreign Benefit Arrangement” means any employee benefit arrangement mandated by non-U.S. law that is maintained or contributed to by any Group Member, any ERISA Affiliate or any other entity related to a Group Member on a controlled group basis.

 

Foreign Plan” means each employee benefit plan (within the meaning of Section 3(3) of ERISA, whether or not such plan is subject to ERISA) that is not subject to US law and is maintained or contributed to by any Group Member, or ERISA Affiliate or any other entity related to a Group Member on a controlled group basis.

 

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Foreign Plan Event” means with respect to any Foreign Benefit Arrangement or Foreign Plan, (a) the failure to make or, if applicable, accrue in accordance with normal accounting practices, any employer or employee contributions required by applicable law or by the terms of such Foreign Benefit Arrangement or Foreign Plan; (b) the failure to register or loss of good standing with applicable regulatory authorities of any such Foreign Benefit Arrangement or Foreign Plan required to be registered; or (c) the failure of any Foreign Benefit Arrangement or Foreign Plan to comply with any material provisions of applicable law and regulations or with the material terms of such Foreign Benefit Arrangement or Foreign Plan.

 

Foreign Subsidiary” means any Restricted Subsidiary of the Borrower that is not a Domestic Subsidiary.

 

Full Cash Dominion Period” means (a) each period when a Specified Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing and (b) each period beginning on the third consecutive day on which Availability is less than the greater of (i) 12.5% of the Line Cap and (ii) $50,000,000; provided that any such Full Cash Dominion Period commencing pursuant to clause (b) shall end when and if Availability shall have been not less than (A) such specified level and (B) $50,000,000 for 30 consecutive days each.

 

Funding Office” means the office of the Administrative Agent specified in Section 10.2 or such other office as may be specified from time to time by the Administrative Agent as its funding office by written notice to the Borrower and the Lenders.

 

Funding SPV” means Radiant Funding SPV, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company.

 

GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States as in effect from time to time. In the event that any “Accounting Change” (as defined below) shall occur and such change results in a change in the method of calculation of financial covenants, standards or terms in this Agreement, then the Borrower and the Administrative Agent agree to enter into negotiations to promptly amend such provisions of this Agreement so as to reflect equitably such Accounting Changes with the desired result that the criteria for evaluating the Borrower’s results of operations and/or financial condition shall be the same after such Accounting Changes as if such Accounting Changes had not been made. Until such time as such an amendment shall have been executed and delivered by the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the Required Lenders, all financial covenants, standards and terms in this Agreement shall continue to be calculated or construed as if such Accounting Changes had not occurred. “Accounting Changes” refers to changes in accounting principles required by the promulgation of any rule, regulation, pronouncement or opinion by the Financial Accounting Standards Board or, if applicable, the SEC.

 

Governmental Authority” means the government of the United States, any other nation or 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, any securities exchange and any self-regulatory organization (including the National Association of Insurance Commissioners).

 

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Group Members” means the collective reference to the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries.

 

Guarantee and Collateral Agreement” means the ABL Guarantee and Collateral Agreement, dated as of the Closing Date, executed and delivered by the Borrower and each Subsidiary Guarantor, substantially in the form of Exhibit D, as the same may be amended, restated, amended and restated, modified, supplemented and/or replaced (in form reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent) from time to time.

 

Guarantee Obligation” means as to any Person (the “guaranteeing person”), any obligation, including a reimbursement, counterindemnity or similar obligation, of the guaranteeing Person that guarantees or in effect guarantees, or which is given to induce the creation of a separate obligation by another Person (including any bank under any letter of credit) that guarantees or in effect guarantees, any Indebtedness, leases, dividends or other obligations (the “primary obligations”) of any other third Person (the “primary obligor”) in any manner, whether directly or indirectly, including any obligation of the guaranteeing person, whether or not contingent, (i) to purchase any such primary obligation or any property constituting direct or indirect security therefor, (ii) to advance or supply funds (1) for the purchase or payment of any such primary obligation or (2) to maintain working capital or equity capital of the primary obligor or otherwise to maintain the net worth or solvency of the primary obligor, (iii) to purchase property, securities or services primarily for the purpose of assuring the owner of any such primary obligation of the ability of the primary obligor to make payment of such primary obligation or (iv) otherwise to assure or hold harmless the owner of any such primary obligation against loss in respect thereof; provided, however, that the term Guarantee Obligation shall not include endorsements of instruments for deposit or collection in the ordinary course of business or reasonable indemnity obligations entered into in connection with any acquisition or disposition of assets. The amount of any Guarantee Obligation of any guaranteeing person shall be deemed to be the lower of (a) an amount equal to the stated or determinable amount of the primary obligation in respect of which such Guarantee Obligation is made and (b) the maximum amount for which such guaranteeing person may be liable pursuant to the terms of the instrument embodying such Guarantee Obligation, unless such primary obligation and the maximum amount for which such guaranteeing person may be liable are not stated or determinable, in which case the amount of such Guarantee Obligation shall be such guaranteeing person’s maximum reasonably anticipated liability in respect thereof as determined by the Borrower in good faith.

 

Immaterial Subsidiary” means any Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Material Subsidiary and that is designated by the Borrower in writing to the Administrative Agent as an “Immaterial Subsidiary”; provided that if (i) as of the last day of the most recently ended fiscal quarter of the Borrower for which financial statements have been delivered pursuant to Section 5.1(a) or (b), the aggregate tangible assets of Immaterial Subsidiaries, as of the last day of such fiscal quarter, is greater than 5% of Consolidated Total Assets or (ii) the aggregate contribution of Immaterial Subsidiaries to Consolidated EBITDA for the Applicable Reference Period is greater than 5% of Consolidated EBITDA for such Applicable Reference Period, then one or more Restricted Subsidiaries that are not Material Subsidiaries shall promptly be designated by the Borrower in writing to the Administrative Agent as a “Material Subsidiary” until such excess has been eliminated. Each Immaterial Subsidiary as of the Closing Date is set forth on Schedule 4.15.

 

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Impacted Interest Period” has the meaning set forth in the definition of LIBO Rate.

 

Increased Facility Activation Notice” means a notice substantially in the form of Exhibit I-1 or in such other form as is reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent.

 

Increased Facility Closing Date” means any Business Day designated as such in an Increased Facility Activation Notice.

 

Incremental Commitments” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.24(a).

 

Indebtedness” means of any Person at any date, without duplication, (a) all indebtedness of such Person for borrowed money, (b) all obligations of such Person for the deferred purchase price of property or services, (c) all obligations of such Person evidenced by notes, bonds, debentures or other similar instruments, (d) all indebtedness created or arising under any conditional sale or other title retention agreement with respect to property acquired by such Person (even though the rights and remedies of the seller or lender under such agreement in the event of default are limited to repossession or sale of such property), (e) all Finance Lease Obligations of such Person, (f) all obligations of such Person, contingent or otherwise, as an account party or applicant under or in respect of acceptances, letters of credit, surety bonds or similar arrangements, (g) the liquidation value of all Disqualified Capital Stock of such Person, (h) all Guarantee Obligations of such Person in respect of obligations of the kind referred to in clauses (a) through (g) above, (i) all obligations of the kind referred to in clauses (a) through (h) 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 only to the extent of the lesser of (i) the amount of such Indebtedness and (ii) the fair market value of such property), and (j) for the purposes of Section 8(e) only, all obligations of such Person in respect of Swap Agreements; provided that Indebtedness shall not include (i) trade payable and accrued expenses incurred in the ordinary course of business and not more than 120 days overdue, (ii) ordinary course intercompany liabilities having a term not exceeding 365 days (inclusive of any roll-over or extension of terms) or any other ordinary course intercompany liabilities not constituting Specified Indebtedness, (iii) prepaid or deferred revenue arising in the ordinary course of business, (iv) purchase price holdbacks arising in the ordinary course of business in respect of a portion of the purchase price of an asset to satisfy unperformed obligations of the seller of such assets, (v) deferred compensation payable to employees, officers and directors and (vi) any earn-out obligation until such obligation becomes a liability on the balance sheet of such Person in accordance with GAAP. The Indebtedness of any Person shall include the Indebtedness of any other entity (including any partnership in which such Person is a general partner) to the extent such Person is liable therefor as a result of such Person’s ownership interest in or other relationship with such entity, except to the extent the terms of such Indebtedness expressly provide that such Person is not liable therefor. Any Indebtedness for which proceeds have been escrowed or otherwise deposited to repay, defease, redeem or satisfy and discharge such Indebtedness shall not be deemed outstanding.

 

Indemnified Liabilities” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.5.

 

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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 clause (a) above, Other Taxes.

 

Indemnitee” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.5(d).

 

Initiatives” has the meaning set forth in the definition of Consolidated EBITDA.

 

Insolvent” means with respect to any Multiemployer Plan, the condition that such plan is insolvent within the meaning of Section 4245 of ERISA.

 

Insurance Subsidiary” means Legacy Insurance Co., Ltd., a Bermuda company and a Wholly Owned Subsidiary of the Borrower formed for the sole purpose of writing insurance only for the risks of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries.

 

Intellectual Property” has the meaning set forth in the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement.

 

Intercreditor Agreement” means the ABL/Fixed Asset Intercreditor Agreement, dated as of the Closing Date, among the Borrower, the Subsidiary Guarantors, the Administrative Agent and the Term Loan Administrative Agent, and any other intercreditor agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit K, in each case, as the same may be amended, restated, amended and restated, modified, supplemented and/or replaced (in form reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent) from time to time.

 

Interest Election Request” means a request by the Borrower to convert or continue a Revolving Borrowing in accordance with Section 2.12 and the definition of “Interest Period”, which shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit B or any other form approved by the Administrative Agent.

 

Interest Payment Date” means (a) as to any ABR Loan, the first day of each January, April, July and October to occur while such Loan is outstanding and the final maturity date of such Loan, (b) as to any Eurodollar Loan having an Interest Period of three months or less, the last day of such Interest Period, (c) as to any Eurodollar Loan having an Interest Period longer than three months, each day that is three months, or a whole multiple thereof, after the first day of such Interest Period and the last day of such Interest Period and (d) as to any Loan, the date of any repayment or prepayment made in respect thereof.

 

Interest Period” means as to any Eurodollar Loan, (a) initially, the period commencing on the borrowing or conversion date, as the case may be, with respect to such Eurodollar Loan and ending one, two, three or six months thereafter, as selected by the Borrower in its Borrowing Request or Interest Election Request, as the case may be, given with respect thereto; and (b) thereafter, each period commencing on the last day of the next preceding Interest Period applicable to such Eurodollar Loan and ending one, two, three or six months thereafter, as selected by the Borrower by irrevocable notice in an Interest Election Request submitted to the Administrative Agent not later than 12:00 Noon, New York City time, on the date that is three Business Days prior to the last day of the then current Interest Period with respect thereto; provided that, all of the foregoing provisions relating to Interest Periods are subject to the following:

 

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(i)             if any Interest Period would otherwise end on a day that is not a Business Day, such Interest Period shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day unless the result of such extension would be to carry such Interest Period into another calendar month in which event such Interest Period shall end on the immediately preceding Business Day;

 

(ii)            the Borrower may not select an Interest Period that would extend beyond the Revolving Termination Date; and

 

(iii)           any Interest Period that begins on the last Business Day of a calendar month (or on a day for which there is no numerically corresponding day in the calendar month at the end of such Interest Period) shall end on the last Business Day of the last calendar month of such Interest Period.

 

Interpolated Rate” means, at any time, for any Interest Period, the rate per annum (rounded to the same number of decimal places as the LIBO Screen Rate) determined by the Administrative Agent (which determination shall be conclusive and binding absent manifest error) to be equal to the rate that results from interpolating on a linear basis between: (a) the LIBO Screen Rate for the longest period for which the LIBO Screen Rate is available that is shorter than the Impacted Interest Period; and (b) the LIBO Screen Rate for the shortest period for which that LIBO Screen Rate is available that exceeds the Impacted Interest Period, in each case, as of 11:00 a.m., London time, two Business Days prior to the commencement of the applicable Interest Period; provided that if the Interpolated Rate as so determined would be less than zero, such rate shall be deemed to be zero for the purposes of calculating such rate. When determining the rate for a period which is less than the shortest period for which the LIBO Screen Rate is available, the LIBO Screen Rate for purposes of clause (a) above shall be deemed to be the overnight rate for Dollars determined by the Administrative Agent from such service as the Administrative Agent may select in its reasonable discretion.

 

Inventory” has the meaning set forth in the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement.

 

Inventory Held for Rent” means Inventory of a Loan Party which is being held for rent.

 

Investments” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.7.

 

IRS” means the United States Internal Revenue Service.

 

ISDA Definitions” means the 2006 ISDA Definitions published by the International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc. or any successor thereto, as amended or supplemented from time to time, or any successor definitional booklet for interest rate derivatives published from time to time by the International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc. or such successor thereto.

 

Issuing Lender” means each of (a) JPMCB, (b) Citizens Bank, N.A., (c) HSBC Bank USA, N.A., (d) Credit Suisse AG, Cayman Islands Branch, (e) Truist Bank and (f) any other Revolving Lender approved by the Administrative Agent and the Borrower that has agreed in its sole discretion to act as an “Issuing Lender” hereunder, or any of their respective affiliates, in each case in its capacity as issuer of any Letter of Credit, and their respective successors in such capacity as provided in Section 3.9. Each reference herein to “the Issuing Lender” shall be deemed to be a reference to the relevant Issuing Lender. Each Issuing Lender may, in its discretion, arrange for one or more Letters of Credit to be issued by any Affiliate of such Issuing Lender, in which case the term “Issuing Lender” shall include any such Affiliate with respect to Letters of Credit issued by such Affiliate.

 

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Joint Venture” means a joint venture, partnership or other similar arrangement entered into by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary, whether in corporate, partnership or other legal form; provided that in no event shall any Subsidiary be considered to be a Joint Venture.

 

JPMCB” means JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., a national banking association, in its individual capacity, and its successors.

 

Junior Indebtedness” means (i) any Subordinated Indebtedness and (ii) any Specified Indebtedness (other than the Term Loans, any Pari Passu Secured Indebtedness and any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof) of any Group Member that is secured by a Lien on the Collateral that is junior to the Lien on the Collateral securing the Obligations.

 

Latest Maturity Date” means at any date of determination, the latest scheduled maturity date applicable to any Loan hereunder at such time.

 

L/C Commitment” means, subject to Section 3.1(c), (a) if the Specified Letter of Credit is outstanding, (i) as to JPMCB, $80,000,000, (ii) as to HSBC Bank USA, N.A., $22,000,000, (iii) as to Credit Suisse AG, Cayman Islands Branch $16,000,000, (iv) as to Citizens Bank, N.A. $16,000,000 and (v) as to Truist Bank, $16,000,000 and (b) if the Specified Letter of Credit is not outstanding, (i) as to JPMCB, $39,000,000, (ii) as to HSBC Bank USA, N.A., $36,000,000, (iii) as to Credit Suisse AG, Cayman Islands Branch $25,000,000, (iv) as to Citizens Bank, N.A. $25,000,000 and (v) as to Truist Bank, $25,000,000, as each of the foregoing amounts may be changed from time to time by the mutual agreement of the Administrative Agent and the Borrower.

 

L/C Disbursement” means a payment or disbursement made by an Issuing Lender pursuant to a Letter of Credit.

 

L/C Exposure” means at any time, the total L/C Obligations. The L/C Exposure of any Revolving Lender at any time shall be its Revolving Percentage of the total L/C Exposure at such time. 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 Article 29(a) of the Uniform Customs and Practice for Documentary Credits, International Chamber of Commerce Publication No. 600 (or such later version thereof as may be in effect at the applicable time) or Rule 3.13 or Rule 3.14 of the International Standby Practices, International Chamber of Commerce Publication No. 590 (or such later version thereof as may be in effect at the applicable time) or similar terms of the Letter of Credit itself, or if compliant documents have been presented but not yet honored, such Letter of Credit shall be deemed to be “outstanding” and “undrawn” in the amount so remaining available to be paid, and the obligations of the Borrower and each Lender shall remain in full force and effect until the Issuing Lender and the Lenders shall have no further obligations to make any payments or disbursements under any circumstances with respect to any Letter of Credit.

 

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L/C Obligations” means at any time, an amount equal to the sum of (a) the aggregate then undrawn and unexpired amount of the then outstanding Letters of Credit and (b) the aggregate amount of drawings under Letters of Credit that have not then been reimbursed pursuant to Section 3.5.

 

L/C Participants” means the collective reference to all the Revolving Lenders other than the Issuing Lender.

 

LCT Election” has the meaning set forth in Section 1.7.

 

LCT Test Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 1.7.

 

Lender Parent” means with respect to any Lender, any Person as to which such Lender is, directly or indirectly, a Subsidiary.

 

Lender-Related Person” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.5.

 

Lenders” means the Persons listed on Schedule 1.1 and any other Person that shall have become a party hereto pursuant to an Assignment and Assumption or otherwise, other than any such Person that ceases to be a party hereto pursuant to an Assignment and Assumption or otherwise. Unless the context otherwise requires, the term “Lenders” includes the Issuing Lenders.

 

Letters of Credit” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.1.

 

Liabilities” means any losses, obligations, claims (including intraparty claims), damages, demands, penalties, judgments, suits, costs, expenses, disbursements or liabilities of any kind.

 

LIBO Rate” means, with respect to any Eurodollar Borrowing for any Interest Period, the LIBO Screen Rate at approximately 11:00 a.m., London time, two Business Days prior to the commencement of such Interest Period; provided that if the LIBO Screen Rate shall not be available at such time for such Interest Period (an “Impacted Interest Period”) then the LIBO Rate shall be the Interpolated Rate.

 

LIBO Screen Rate” means, for any day and time, with respect to any Eurodollar Borrowing for any Interest Period, the London interbank offered rate as administered by ICE Benchmark Administration (or any other Person that takes over the administration of such rate) for U.S. Dollars for a period equal in length to such Interest Period as displayed on such day and time on pages LIBOR01 or LIBOR02 of the Reuters screen that displays such rate (or, in the event such rate does not appear on a Reuters page or screen, on any successor or substitute page on such screen that displays such rate, or on the appropriate page of such other information service that publishes such rate from time to time as selected by the Administrative Agent in its reasonable discretion); provided that if the LIBO Screen Rate as so determined would be less than zero, such rate shall be deemed to zero for the purposes of this Agreement.

 

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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 and any finance lease having substantially the same economic effect as any of the foregoing); provided that a “Lien” as defined herein shall not include any license, sublicense or similar right with respect to Intellectual Property.

 

Limited Condition Transaction” means any Investment that the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary is contractually committed to consummate (it being understood that such commitment may be subject to conditions precedent, which conditions precedent may be amended, satisfied or waived in accordance with the applicable agreement) and whose consummation is not conditioned on the availability of, or on obtaining, third party financing (it being understood that a “marketing period” or similar concept is not a financing condition).

 

Line Cap” means at any time, an amount equal to the lesser of (a) the Total Commitments and (b) the Borrowing Base.

 

Loan” means the loans made by the Lenders to the Borrower pursuant to this Agreement, including Protective Advances.

 

Loan Documents” means this Agreement, the Security Documents, the Intercreditor Agreement, the Notes and any amendment, restatement, amendment and restatement, waiver, supplement or other modification to or refinancing or replacement of any of the foregoing.

 

Loan Parties” means the Borrower and the Subsidiary Guarantors.

 

Margin Stock” means margin stock within the meaning of Regulations T, U and X, as applicable.

 

Material Acquisition” means any acquisition of property or series of related acquisitions of property that (a) constitutes assets comprising all or substantially all of an operating unit of a business or constitutes all or substantially all of the common stock of a Person and (b) involves the payment of consideration by the Group Members in excess of $55,000,000.

 

Material Adverse Effect” means a material adverse effect on (i) the business, property, operations or financial condition of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, (ii) the ability of the Borrower and the other Loan Parties, taken as a whole, to perform their payment obligations under the Loan Documents to which they are a party or (iii) the validity or enforceability of the Loan Documents or the rights and remedies of the Administrative Agent under the Loan Documents taken as a whole.

 

Material Disposition” means any Disposition of property or series of related Dispositions of property that yields gross proceeds to the Group Members in excess of $55,000,000.

 

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Material Indebtedness” means Indebtedness (other than the Loans) or Swap Obligations of any one or more of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries in an aggregate principal amount of $75,000,000 or more; provided that any Indebtedness outstanding under the Term Loan Credit Agreement shall be deemed to be Material Indebtedness. For purposes of determining Material Indebtedness, the “principal amount” of any Swap Obligation at any time shall be the maximum aggregate amount (giving effect to any netting agreements) that the Borrower and/or any applicable Restricted Subsidiary would be required to pay if the applicable Swap Agreement were terminated at such time.

 

Material Subsidiary” means, as of any date of determination, each Restricted Subsidiary (a) with total assets (including the value of Capital Stock of its subsidiaries) on such date of determination greater than 5.0% of Consolidated Total Assets, (b) whose contribution to Consolidated EBITDA for the Applicable Reference Period exceeds 5.0% of Consolidated EBITDA for the Applicable Reference Period or (c) that is designated as a “Material Subsidiary” pursuant to the definition of Immaterial Subsidiary.

 

Material Transaction” means any acquisition or series of related acquisitions in which a Loan Party acquires assets that, if included in the Borrowing Base, would increase the Borrowing Base by an amount in excess of $15,000,000.

 

Materials of Environmental Concern” means any gasoline or petroleum (including crude oil or any fraction thereof) or petroleum products, asbestos, polychlorinated biphenyls, urea-formaldehyde insulation, radioactivity, and any other substances, materials or wastes, that are regulated pursuant to or that could give rise to liability under any Environmental Law.

 

Maximum Term Loan Incremental Amount” means the sum of:

 

(i) an amount represented by Incremental Term Loans (as defined in the Term Loan Credit Agreement) to be established pursuant to Section 2.24 of the Term Loan Credit Agreement, that are secured by Liens on the Collateral that are pari passu to the Liens on Collateral securing the Term Loans, if immediately after giving effect to the establishment thereof (excluding from Unrestricted Cash in making such pro forma calculation the Net Cash Proceeds of such Incremental Term Loans) the Consolidated Senior Secured Leverage Ratio for the Applicable Reference Period, calculated on a Pro Forma Basis as of the date of incurrence of such Indebtedness, would be equal to or less than either (A) 2.00 to 1.00 or (B) in the case of Incremental Term Loans (as defined in the Term Loan Credit Agreement) incurred in connection with a Permitted Acquisition or Investment permitted hereunder, the Consolidated Senior Secured Leverage Ratio immediately prior to such Permitted Acquisition or Investment giving pro forma effect to such Permitted Acquisition or Investment,

 

(ii) an amount represented by Incremental Term Loans (as defined in the Term Loan Credit Agreement) to be established pursuant to Section 2.24 of the Term Loan Credit Agreement, that are secured by Liens on the Collateral that are junior to the Liens on Collateral securing the Term Loans, if immediately after giving effect to the establishment thereof (excluding from Unrestricted Cash in making such pro forma calculation the Net Cash Proceeds of such Incremental Term Loans) the Consolidated Secured Leverage Ratio for the Applicable Reference Period, calculated on a Pro Forma Basis as of the date of incurrence of such Indebtedness, would be equal to or less than either (A) 2.00 to 1.00 or (B) in the case of Incremental Term Loans (as defined in the Term Loan Credit Agreement) incurred in connection with a Permitted Acquisition or Investment permitted hereunder, the Consolidated Secured Leverage Ratio immediately prior to such Permitted Acquisition or Investment giving pro forma effect to such Permitted Acquisition or Investment, and

 

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(iii) an amount represented by Incremental Term Loans (as defined in the Term Loan Credit Agreement) to be established pursuant to Section 2.24 of the Term Loan Credit Agreement, that are unsecured, if immediately after giving effect to the establishment thereof (excluding from Unrestricted Cash in making such pro forma calculation the Net Cash Proceeds of such Incremental Term Loans) either (A) the Consolidated Leverage Ratio for the Applicable Reference Period, calculated on a Pro Forma Basis as of the date of incurrence of such Indebtedness, would be equal to or less than either (I) 2.50 to 1.00 or (II) in the case of Incremental Term Loans (as defined in the Term Loan Credit Agreement) incurred in connection with a Permitted Acquisition or Investment permitted hereunder, the Consolidated Leverage Ratio immediately prior to such Permitted Acquisition or Investment giving pro forma effect to such Permitted Acquisition or Investment or (B) the Cash Interest Coverage Ratio for the Applicable Reference Period, calculated on a Pro Forma Basis as of the date of incurrence of such Indebtedness, would be equal to or greater than either (I) 2.00:1.00 or (II) in the case of Incremental Term Loans (as defined in the Term Loan Credit Agreement) incurred in connection with a Permitted Acquisition or Investment permitted hereunder, the Cash Interest Coverage Ratio immediately prior to such Permitted Acquisition or Investment giving pro forma effect to such Permitted Acquisition or Investment.

 

Mexico Operations” means the operations in Mexico of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries.

 

Monthly Financial Statement Period” means any period (a) commencing on the first day on which Availability is less than the greater of (i) 12.5% of the Line Cap and (ii) $60,000,000 and (b) ending on the first subsequent day on which Availability has exceeded the greater of (i) 12.5% of the Line Cap and (ii) $60,000,000 for thirty (30) consecutive calendar days.

 

Moody’s” means Moody’s Investors Service, Inc.

 

Multiemployer Plan” means a multiemployer plan as defined in Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA to which any Group Member or any ERISA Affiliate (i) makes or is obligated to make contributions, (ii) during the preceding five plan years, has made or been obligated to make contributions or (iii) has any actual or contingent liability.

 

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

 

Net Cash Proceeds” means in connection with any issuance or sale of Capital Stock or any incurrence of Indebtedness, the cash proceeds received from such issuance or incurrence, net of attorneys’ fees, investment banking fees, auditor fees, printer fees, SEC filing fees, brokerage fees, accountants’ fees, underwriting discounts and commissions and other customary fees and expenses actually incurred in connection therewith.

 

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Net Orderly Liquidation Value” means (a) with respect to Inventory of any Person, the (i) net orderly liquidation value percentage based on the amount expected to be realized at an orderly, negotiated sale held within a reasonable time period from the most recent Inventory appraisal ordered by the Administrative Agent multiplied by (ii) the book value of such Inventory and (b) with respect to Eligible Rental Agreements of any Person, the net orderly liquidation value expected to be realized at an orderly, negotiated sale held within a reasonable time period from the most recent Rental Agreement Portfolio appraisal ordered by the Administrative Agent or Collateral Monitoring Template.

 

New Lender” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.24(b).

 

New Lender Supplement” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.24(b).

 

Non-U.S. Lender” means a Lender that is not a U.S. Person.

 

Not Otherwise Applied” means in respect of any amount, such amount has not previously been (and is not currently being) applied to any other use or transaction.

 

Notes” means the collective reference to any promissory note evidencing Loans.

 

NYFRB” means the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.

 

NYFRB’s Website” means the website of the NYFRB at http://www.newyorkfed.org, or any successor source.

 

NYFRB Rate” means, for any day, the greater of (a) the Federal Funds Effective Rate in effect on such day and (b) the Overnight Bank Funding Rate in effect on such day (or for any day that is not a Business Day, for the immediately preceding Business Day); provided that if none of such rates are published for any day that is a Business Day, the term “NYFRB Rate” means the rate for a federal funds transaction quoted at 11:00 a.m. on such day received by the Administrative Agent from a federal funds broker of recognized standing selected by it; provided, further, that if any of the aforesaid rates as so determined be less than zero, such rate shall be deemed to be zero for purposes of this Agreement.

 

Obligations” means collectively, (a) the unpaid principal of and interest on (including interest accruing after the maturity of the Loans and Reimbursement Obligations and interest accruing after the filing of any petition in bankruptcy, or the commencement of any insolvency, reorganization or like proceeding, relating to the Borrower, whether or not a claim for post-filing or post-petition interest is allowed in such proceeding) the Loans and Reimbursement Obligations, all other obligations and liabilities of the Borrower to the Administrative Agent or to any Lender, whether direct or indirect, absolute or contingent, due or to become due, or now existing or hereafter incurred, which arise under, out of, or in connection with, this Agreement, any other Loan Document, the Letters of Credit or any other document made, delivered or given in connection herewith or therewith, whether on account of principal, interest, reimbursement obligations, fees, indemnities, costs, expenses (including all fees, charges and disbursements of counsel to the Administrative Agent or to any Lender that are required to be paid by the Borrower pursuant hereto) or otherwise, (b) all Banking Services Obligations and (c) all Secured Swap Obligations.

 

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Organizational 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, if applicable, 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 Credit Party, Taxes imposed as a result of a present or former connection between such Credit Party and the jurisdiction imposing such Tax (other than connections arising from such Credit Party 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 2.22).

 

Overage” has the meaning set forth in the definition of Eligible Installment Sales Accounts.

 

Overnight Bank Funding Rate” means, for any day, the rate comprised of both overnight federal funds and overnight Eurodollar borrowings by U.S.-managed banking offices of depository institutions, as such composite rate shall be determined by the NYFRB as set forth on its public website from time to time, and published on the next succeeding Business Day by the NYFRB as an overnight bank funding rate.

 

Pari Passu Secured Indebtedness” means Term Loan Refinancing Indebtedness (as defined in the Term Loan Credit Agreement) and Term Loan Incremental Equivalent Debt (and any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness in respect of the foregoing), in each case that is secured by Liens on the Collateral that are pari passu to the Liens on Collateral securing the Term Loans.

 

Participant” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.6(c).

 

Participant Register” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.6(c).

 

Patriot Act” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.17.

 

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Payment Conditions” means (a) no Specified Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and (b) at all times during the Pro Forma Period (i) after giving effect to the proposed event as if it occurred on the first day of the Pro Forma Period, Availability is greater than the greater of (A) 22.5% of the Line Cap and (B) $84,375,000 or (ii) after giving effect to the proposed event as if it occurred on the first day of the Pro Forma Period, (A) Availability is greater than the greater of (1) 17.5% of the Line Cap and (2) $65,625,000 and (B) the Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio for the last four (4) fiscal quarters is greater than 1.10:1.0.

 

PBGC” means the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation established under Section 4002 of ERISA and any successor entity performing similar functions.

 

Pension Plan” means any employee benefit plan (including a Multiple Employer Plan, but not including a Multiemployer Plan) that is subject to Title IV of ERISA, Section 412 of the Code or Section 302 of ERISA (i) which is or was sponsored, maintained or contributed to by, or required to be contributed to by, any Group Member or any ERISA Affiliate or (ii) with respect to which any Group Member or any ERISA Affiliate has any actual or contingent liability.

 

Permitted Acquisition” means the purchase or other acquisition (including by merger, consolidation or amalgamation) by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary of all or a majority of the Capital Stock of, or all or substantially all of the property of, any Person, or of any business or division of any Person or any Investment by a Group Member in a Restricted Subsidiary that serves to increase the Capital Stock ownership of such Group Member in such Restricted Subsidiary; provided that with respect to each purchase or other acquisition (i) after giving effect thereto, the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries are in compliance with Section 7.15, (ii) immediately before and immediately after giving effect on a pro forma basis to any such purchase or other acquisition, no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing and (iii) any such newly created or acquired Subsidiary shall, to the extent required by Section 6.10, comply with the requirements of Section 6.10.

 

Permitted Discretion” means in respect of the adjustment of eligibility criteria and (without duplication) reserves with respect to the Borrowing Base collateral, and in such other circumstances as stated herein, a determination made in good faith and in the exercise of reasonable (from the perspective of a secured asset-based lender) business judgment following (to the extent practicable) reasonable prior notice to, and consultation with, the Borrower and in accordance with customary business practices for asset-based transactions.

 

Permitted Encumbrances” means Liens permitted pursuant to Section 7.3(a), (b), (c), (d) or (n); provided that the term “Permitted Encumbrances” shall not include any Lien securing Specified Indebtedness.

 

Permitted Liens” means Liens permitted pursuant to Section 7.3.

 

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Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness” means with respect to any Indebtedness of any Person (the “Original Indebtedness”), any modification, refinancing, refunding, replacement, renewal or extension of such Indebtedness, in whole or in part; provided, that (i) no Person that is not an obligor with respect to the Original Indebtedness shall be an obligor with respect to such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness, (ii) the final maturity and weighted average life to maturity of such Indebtedness shall not be shortened as a result of such modification, refinancing, refunding, replacement, renewal or extension, (iii) in the case of any modification, refinancing, refunding, replacement, renewal or extension of Indebtedness incurred pursuant to Section 7.2(b) or Section 7.2(bb), the mandatory prepayment and redemption terms, covenants and events of default of such Indebtedness are either (x) not materially more favorable (taken as a whole, as conclusively determined by the Borrower in good faith) to the lenders providing such Indebtedness than those terms (taken as a whole) applicable to the Original Indebtedness (except to the extent such terms apply solely to any period after the Latest Maturity Date or applied for the benefit of the Loans then outstanding) or (y) reflect market terms and conditions at the time of incurrence or issuance, as conclusively determined by the Borrower in good faith, (iv) (x) in the case of any Original Indebtedness consisting of a revolving credit facility, the committed amount does not exceed the committed amount in respect of the Original Indebtedness and (y) in each case (including in respect of a revolving credit facility), the principal amount (or accreted value, if applicable) thereof does not exceed the principal amount (or accreted value, if applicable) of the Original Indebtedness, except in each case by an amount (such amount, the “Additional Permitted Amount”) equal to unpaid accrued interest, fees, and premium (including make-whole premiums, prepayment premiums and amounts required to be paid in connection with defeasance and satisfaction and discharge) thereon at such time plus reasonable fees and expenses incurred in connection with such modification, refinancing, refunding, replacement, renewal or extension (including upfront fees and original issue discount), (v) for the avoidance of doubt, the Original Indebtedness is paid down (or, with respect to revolving credit facilities, commitments in respect thereof are reduced (together with, if applicable, payments of principal)) on a dollar-for-dollar basis by such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness (other than by the Additional Permitted Amount), (vi) if the Original Indebtedness shall have been subordinated to the Obligations, such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness shall also be subordinated to the Obligations on terms not less favorable in any material respect (taken as a whole) to the Lenders and (vii) such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness shall not be secured by any Lien on any asset other than the assets that secured such Original Indebtedness (or would have been required to secure such Original Indebtedness pursuant to the terms thereof) or, in the event Liens securing such Original Indebtedness shall have been contractually subordinated to any Lien securing the Obligations, by any Lien that shall not have been contractually subordinated to at least the same extent.

 

Permitted Unsecured Indebtedness” means Indebtedness of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries (a) that is not (and any Guarantee Obligations thereof by any Group Member are not) secured by any collateral (including the Collateral), (b) that does not mature earlier than (or require scheduled amortization or mandatory commitment reductions in excess of 1.00% per annum prior to) the date that is 91 days after the Latest Maturity Date then in effect at the time of incurrence thereof, (c) that contains mandatory prepayment and redemption terms, covenants and events of default that are either (x) customary for similar Indebtedness in light of then-prevailing market conditions (it being understood and agreed that such Indebtedness shall include financial maintenance covenants only to the extent any such financial maintenance covenant is (i) applicable only to periods after the Latest Maturity Date then in effect at the time of incurrence thereof or (ii) included in or added to the Loan Documents for the benefit of the Lenders) or (y) when taken as a whole (other than interest rates, rate floors, fees and optional prepayment or redemption terms), are not materially more favorable to the lenders or investors providing such Permitted Unsecured Indebtedness, as the case may be, than those set forth in the Loan Documents are with respect to the Lenders (other than covenants or other provisions applicable only to periods after the Latest Maturity Date then in effect at the time of incurrence thereof or that are included in or added to the Loan Documents for the benefit of the Lenders), in the case of each of clauses (x) and (y), as conclusively determined by the Borrower in good faith, and (e) that is not guaranteed by any Person other than on an unsecured basis by Group Members.

 

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Person” means an individual, partnership, corporation, limited liability company, business trust, joint stock company, trust, unincorporated association, joint venture, Governmental Authority or other entity of whatever nature.

 

Plan” means any employee pension benefit plan (other than a Multiemployer Plan) subject to the provisions of Title IV of ERISA or Section 412 of the Code or Section 302 of ERISA, and in respect of which the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate is (or, if such plan were terminated, would under Section 4069 of ERISA be deemed to be) an “employer” as defined in Section 3(5) of ERISA.

 

Plan Asset Regulations” means 29 CFR § 2510.3-101 et seq., as modified by Section 3(42) of ERISA, as amended from time to time.

 

Platform” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.15.

 

Prime Rate” means the rate of interest last quoted by The Wall Street Journal as the “Prime Rate” in the U.S. or, if The Wall Street Journal ceases to quote such rate, the highest per annum interest rate published by the Federal Reserve Board in Federal Reserve Statistical Release H.15 (519) (Selected Interest Rates) as the “bank prime loan” rate or, if such rate is no longer quoted therein, any similar rate quoted therein (as determined by the Administrative Agent) or any similar release by the Federal Reserve Board (as determined by the Administrative Agent). Each change in the Prime Rate shall be effective from and including the date such change is publicly announced or quoted as being effective.

 

Pro Forma Basis” means, with respect to the calculation of any test or covenant hereunder, such test or covenant being calculated after giving effect to (a) any designation of a Restricted Subsidiary as an Unrestricted Subsidiary, (b) any designation of an Unrestricted Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary, (c) any Material Acquisition, (d) any Material Disposition, (e) any assumption, incurrence, repayment or other Disposition of Indebtedness, (f) the granting or assumption of any Lien and (g) in connection with the foregoing, the making of any Restricted Payment (all of the foregoing, “Applicable Transactions”) using, for purposes of determining such compliance, the historical financial statements of all entities or assets so designated, acquired or sold (to the extent available) and the consolidated financial statements of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries, which shall be reformulated as if all Applicable Transactions during the Applicable Reference Period, or subsequent to the Applicable Reference Period and on or prior to the date of such calculation, had been consummated at the beginning of such period (and shall include, with respect to any Material Acquisition or Material Disposition, any adjustments calculated in accordance with (and subject to the requirements and limitations of) clause (i) of the definition of “Consolidated EBITDA”); provided that with respect to any assumption, incurrence, repayment or other Disposition of Indebtedness (i) if such Indebtedness has a floating rate of interest, the interest expense on such Indebtedness will be calculated as if the rate in effect on the date of calculation had been the applicable rate for the entire period (taking into account any Swap Obligations applicable to such Indebtedness if such Swap Obligation has a remaining term as at the date of calculation in excess of 12 months), (ii) interest on Finance Lease Obligations shall be deemed to accrue at an interest rate reasonably determined by the Borrower to be the rate of interest implicit in such Finance Lease Obligation in accordance with GAAP, (iii) interest on any Indebtedness under a revolving credit facility shall be based upon the average daily balance of such Indebtedness during the applicable period and (iv) interest on Indebtedness that may be optionally determined at an interest rate based upon a factor of a prime or similar rate, a eurocurrency interbank offered rate, or other rate, shall be deemed to have been based upon the rate actually chosen, or, if none, then based upon such optional rate as the Borrower may designate. For the avoidance of doubt, in calculating Consolidated Fixed Charges, (x) the Consolidated Fixed Charges attributable to any Indebtedness assumed or incurred in connection with a Material Acquisition consummated during the Applicable Reference Period or subsequent to the Applicable Reference Period and on or prior to the date of such calculation shall be included and (y) the Consolidated Fixed Charges attributable to any Indebtedness repaid or otherwise Disposed of pursuant to a Material Disposition consummated during the Applicable Reference Period or subsequent to the Applicable Reference Period and on or prior to the date of such calculation shall be excluded.

 

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Pro Forma Financial Statements” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.1(a).

 

Pro Forma Period” means with respect to any Restricted Payment, Investment or prepayment of Indebtedness (any of the foregoing, a “Specified Event”), the period (a) commencing 30 days prior to the date such Specified Event is proposed by the Borrower to occur and (b) ending on the date such Specified Event is proposed by the Borrower to occur.

 

Prohibited Transaction” has the meaning set forth in Section 406 of ERISA and Section 4975(c) of the Code.

 

Projections” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.2(c).

 

Protective Advance Exposure” means at any time, the sum of the aggregate amount of all outstanding Protective Advances at such time. The Protective Advance Exposure of any Revolving Lender at any time shall be its Revolving Percentage of the total Protective Advance Exposure at such time.

 

Protective Advances” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.3(a).

 

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-Sider” means a Lender whose representatives may trade in securities of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries while in possession of the financial statements provided by the Borrower under the terms of this Agreement.

 

QFC” has the meaning assigned to the term “qualified financial contract” in, and shall be interpreted in accordance with, 12 U.S.C. 5390(c)(8)(D).

 

QFC Credit Support” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.20.

 

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Qualified Capital Stock” means Capital Stock of the Borrower other than Disqualified Capital Stock.

 

Qualified Securitization Transaction” means any Securitization Transaction of a Securitization Subsidiary that meets the following conditions:

 

(a)          the Borrower shall have determined in good faith that such Securitization Transaction (including financing terms, covenants, termination events and other provisions) is in the aggregate economically fair and reasonable to the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries (other than such Securitization Subsidiary);

 

(b)          all sales of Securitization Assets to the Securitization Subsidiary are made at fair market value (as determined in good faith by the Borrower);

 

(c)          the Securitization Assets sold to the Securitization Subsidiary are (i) owned and originated by the Acquired Business (or any subsidiary of Acima formed or acquired after the Closing Date) and (ii) sold in reliance on Section 7.5(m);

 

(d)          any Indebtedness incurred in such Securitization Transaction is made only in reliance on Section 7.2(v);

 

(e)          any Liens securing Indebtedness in such Securitization Transaction are secured only in reliance on Section 7.3(q); and

 

(f)           the financing terms, covenants, termination events and other provisions thereof shall be market terms (as determined in good faith by the Borrower) and may include Standard Securitization Undertakings.

 

The grant of a security interest in any assets of the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (other than a Securitization Subsidiary) to secure any Indebtedness shall not be deemed a Qualified Securitization Transaction; provided, that it is understood and agreed for the avoidance of doubt that this Agreement does not permit any Liens on ABL Priority Collateral that secure Indebtedness on a pari passu basis with the Loans.

 

Recent Rental Proceeds” means, as of any day, the aggregate cash proceeds from rental payments and fees (excluding sales tax) received by the Loan Parties pursuant to Eligible Rental Agreements during the three calendar months most recently ended on or prior to such day.

 

Reference Period” means each period of four consecutive fiscal quarters of the Borrower.

 

Reference Time” with respect to any setting of the then-current Benchmark means (1) if such Benchmark is LIBO Rate, 11:00 a.m. (London time) on the day that is two London banking days preceding the date of such setting, and (2) if such Benchmark is not LIBO Rate, the time determined by the Administrative Agent in its reasonable discretion.

 

Register” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.6(b)(iv).

 

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Regulation D” means Regulation D of the Federal Reserve Board, as in effect from time to time and all official rulings and interpretations thereunder or thereof.

 

Regulation T” means Regulation T of the Federal Reserve Board, as in effect from time to time and all official rulings and interpretations thereunder or thereof.

 

Regulation U” means Regulation U of the Board, as in effect from time to time and all official rulings and interpretations thereunder or thereof.

 

Regulation X” means Regulation X of the Federal Reserve Board, as in effect from time to time and all official rulings and interpretations thereunder or thereof.

 

Reimbursement Obligation” means the obligation of the Borrower to reimburse the Issuing Lender pursuant to Section 3.5 for amounts drawn under Letters of Credit.

 

Related Parties” with respect to any specified Person, such Person’s Affiliates and the respective directors, officers, employees, agents and advisors of such Person and such Person’s Affiliates.

 

Relevant Governmental Body” means the Federal Reserve Board or the NYFRB, or a committee officially endorsed or convened by the Federal Reserve Board or the NYFRB, or any successor thereto.

 

Rent Reserve” means with respect to any store, warehouse distribution center, regional distribution center or depot where any Inventory subject to Liens arising by operation of law is located, a reserve equal to three months’ rent at such store, warehouse distribution center, regional distribution center or depot.

 

Rental Agreement Portfolio” means, at any time, the Eligible Rental Agreements of the Loan Parties.

 

Report” means reports prepared by the Administrative Agent or another Person showing the results of appraisals, field examinations or audits pertaining to the assets of the Loan Parties from information furnished by or on behalf of the Borrower, after the Administrative Agent has exercised its rights of inspection pursuant to this Agreement, which Reports may be distributed to the Lenders by the Administrative Agent.

 

Reported Banking Services Obligations” means Banking Services Obligations of any Loan Party owing to one or more Lenders or their respective Affiliates; provided that, as of any date of determination, such obligations shall constitute Reported Banking Services Obligations solely to the extent that the Lender party thereto or its Affiliate (other than JPMCB and its Affiliates, which shall have been deemed to have provided such reports to the Administrative Agent) shall have reported the amount of such outstanding obligations to the Administrative Agent as of the last day of the previous fiscal quarter on or prior to the date that is 15 days following the end of such fiscal quarter (or (x) prior to the date that is 15 days following the end of the first fiscal quarter following the Closing Date, within 15 days of the Closing Date such Lender or Affiliate shall have reported the amount of such outstanding obligations as of the Closing Date, and (y) within 10 days of any request therefor by the Administrative Agent, such Lender or Affiliate shall have reported the amount of such outstanding obligations as of any other date reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent).

 

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Repurchase Obligation” means any obligation of a seller of Securitization Assets in a Qualified Securitization Transaction to repurchase such Securitization Assets arising as a result of a breach of a representation, warranty or covenant or otherwise, including as a result of a receivable or portion thereof becoming subject to any asserted defense, dispute, off-set or counterclaim of any kind as a result of any action taken by, any failure to take action by or any other event relating to the seller.

 

Reported Secured Swap Obligations” means Secured Swap Obligations of any Loan Party owing to one or more Lenders or their respective Affiliates; provided that, as of any date of determination, such obligations shall constitute Reported Secured Swap Obligations solely to the extent that as of any date of determination, such Lender party thereto or its Affiliate (other than JPMCB and its Affiliates, which shall have been deemed to have provided such reports to the Administrative Agent) shall have reported the amount of such outstanding Swap Obligations to the Administrative Agent as of the last day of the previous fiscal quarter on or prior to the date that is 15 days following the end of such fiscal quarter (or (x) prior to the date that is 15 days following the end of the first fiscal quarter following the Closing Date, within 30 days of the Closing Date such Lender or Affiliate shall have reported the amount of such outstanding obligations as of the Closing Date and (y) within 10 days of any request therefor by the Administrative Agent, such Lender or Affiliate shall have reported the amount of such outstanding Swap Obligations as of any other date reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent).

 

Required Lenders” means at any time, the holders of more than 50% of the Total Commitments then in effect or, if the Commitments have been terminated, the Total Revolving Extensions of Credit then outstanding.

 

Requirement of Law” means as to any Person, the Certificate of Incorporation and By-Laws or other organizational or governing documents of such Person, and any law, treaty, rule or regulation or determination of an arbitrator or a court or other Governmental Authority, in each case applicable to or binding upon such Person or any of its property or to which such Person or any of its property is subject.

 

Reserves” means, any and all reserves which the Administrative Agent deems necessary, in its Permitted Discretion (following (to the extent practicable) reasonable prior notice to, and consultation with, the Borrower), to maintain (including, without limitation, Banking Services Reserves, Rent Reserves, reserves for dilution of Accounts, reserves for Inventory shrinkage, reserves for customs charges and shipping charges related to any Inventory in transit and reserves for Swap Obligations) with respect to the Collateral or any Loan Party.

 

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Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, (a) such Reserves shall not be established or changed except upon not less than four (4) Business Days’ prior written notice to the Borrower, which notice shall include a reasonably detailed description of such Reserve being established (during which period (i) the Administrative Agent shall, if requested, discuss any such Reserve or change with the Borrower and (ii) the Borrower may take such action as may be required so that the event, condition or matter that is the basis for such Reserve or change thereto no longer exists or exists in a manner that would result in the establishment of a lower Reserve or result in a lesser change thereto, in a manner and to the extent reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent); provided, that such establishment of or changes to Reserves will become effective immediately prior to any Borrowing that occurs during such four (4) Business Day period, (b) the amount of any Reserve established by the Administrative Agent, and any change in the amount of any Reserve, shall have a reasonable relationship to the event, condition or other matter that is the basis for such Reserve or such change and (c) no reserves or changes shall be duplicative of reserves or changes already accounted for through eligibility criteria.

 

Resolution Authority” means, with respect to any EEA Financial Institution, an EEA Resolution Authority or, with respect to any UK Financial Institution, a UK Resolution Authority.

 

Responsible Officer” means the chief executive officer, president, chief financial officer, senior vice president, finance, or treasurer of the Borrower, but in any event, with respect to financial matters, the chief financial officer or senior vice president, finance, of the Borrower.

 

Restricted Debt Payment” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.8(a).

 

Restricted Indebtedness” means any Subordinated Indebtedness, any Unsecured Notes and any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness in respect of any Unsecured Notes.

 

Restricted Payments” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.6.

 

Restricted Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary of the Borrower other than an Unrestricted Subsidiary.

 

Revolving Commitment Period” means the period from and including the Closing Date to the Revolving Termination Date.

 

Revolving Extensions of Credit” means as to any Revolving Lender at any time, an amount equal to the sum of (a) the aggregate principal amount of all Revolving Loans held by such Lender then outstanding, (b) such Lender’s Revolving Percentage of the L/C Obligations then outstanding and (c) such Lender’s Revolving Percentage of the Protective Advances then outstanding.

 

Revolving Lender” means each Lender that has a Commitment or that holds Revolving Loans.

 

Revolving Loans” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1(a).

 

Revolving Percentage” means as to any Revolving Lender at any time, the percentage which such Lender’s Commitment then constitutes of the Total Commitments or, at any time after the Commitments shall have expired or terminated, the percentage which the aggregate principal amount of such Lender’s Revolving Loans then outstanding constitutes of the aggregate principal amount of the Revolving Loans then outstanding, provided, that, in the event that the Revolving Loans are paid in full prior to the reduction to zero of the Total Revolving Extensions of Credit, the Revolving Percentage of any Lender shall be such Lender’s Revolving Percentage immediately prior to the repayment in full of the Revolving Loans. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the case of Section 2.23 when a Defaulting Lender shall exist, Revolving Percentages shall be determined without regard to any Defaulting Lender’s Commitment.

 

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Revolving Termination Date” means the Scheduled Maturity Date.

 

S&P” means Standard & Poor’s Rating Services, a Standard & Poor’s Financial Services LLC business.

 

Sanctioned Country” means, at any time, a country, region or territory which is itself the subject or target of any Sanctions (at the time of this Agreement, Crimea, Cuba, Iran, North Korea and Syria).

 

Sanctioned Person” means, at any time, (a) any Person listed in any Sanctions-related list of designated Persons maintained by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Department of the Treasury, the U.S. Department of State, the United Nations Security Council, the European Union, any European Union member state, Her Majesty’s Treasury of the United Kingdom or other relevant sanctions authority, in each case, having jurisdiction over any Group Member, (b) any Person operating, organized, or resident in a Sanctioned Country, (c) any Person owned or controlled by any such Person or Persons described in the foregoing clauses (a) or (b), or (d) any Person otherwise the subject of any Sanctions.

 

Sanctions” means all comprehensive economic or financial sanctions or trade embargoes imposed, administered or enforced from time to time by (a) the U.S. government, including those administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Department of the Treasury or the U.S. Department of State, or (b) the United Nations Security Council, the European Union, any European Union member state, Her Majesty’s Treasury of the United Kingdom or other relevant sanctions authority, in each case, having jurisdiction over any Group Member.

 

Scheduled Maturity Date” means February 17, 2026.

 

SEC” means the Securities and Exchange Commission, any successor thereto and any analogous Governmental Authority.

 

Secured Parties” has the meaning set forth in the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement.

 

Secured Swap Obligations” means Swap Obligations of any Loan Party owing to (a) the Administrative Agent or its Affiliates or (b) one or more Lenders or their respective Affiliates; provided that at or prior to the time that the Swap Agreement giving rise to such Swap Obligation is entered into (or, if later, the Closing Date) the Borrower (other than for transactions with JPMCB and its Affiliates) and the Lender party thereto or its Affiliate (other than JPMCB and its Affiliates) shall have delivered written notice to the Administrative Agent that such Swap Agreement has been entered into and that the Swap Obligations under such Swap Agreement constitute a Secured Swap Obligation entitled to the benefits of the Security Documents.

 

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Securitization Assets” means accounts receivable, lease receivables or other payment obligations owing to the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary or any interest in any of the foregoing, together in each case with any collections and other proceeds thereof, any collection or deposit account related thereto, and any collateral, guarantees or other property (including Rental Agreements, Chattel Paper, General Intangibles, Instruments or Documents) or claims in each case supporting or securing payment by the obligor thereon of, or otherwise related to, or subject to leases giving rise to, any such receivables.

 

Securitization Fee” means distributions or payments made directly or by means of discounts with respect to any accounts receivable, rental agreements, chattel paper, lease receivable or other right to payment or participation interest issued or sold in connection with, and other fees paid to a Person that is not a Restricted Subsidiary in connection with, any Qualified Securitization Transaction.

 

Securitization Parent” means a Domestic Subsidiary that is a Wholly Owned Subsidiary of the Borrower (a) substantially all of the assets of which consist of Capital Stock of one or more Securitization Subsidiaries or Securitization Parents, (b) which conducts no other business than holding such Capital Stock and (c) that is either wholly owned by one or more Loan Parties or by one or more Securitization Parents.

 

Securitization Residual Interests” means (a) any dividend or other distribution from a Securitization Subsidiary or Securitization Parent and any proceeds thereof, (b) Capital Stock or other investment property reflecting an ownership interest in (i) any Securitization Subsidiary (except to the extent that a grant of a security interest in the Capital Stock or other investment property of such Securitization Subsidiary is restricted by or would constitute a breach or default under or result in or give rise to the right of termination under any contract, agreement or instrument entered into by such Securitization Subsidiary and the provider of debt (or purchaser of Securitization Assets, as applicable) in connection with such Qualified Securitization Transaction) or (ii) any Securitization Parent, (c) any interest, certificate, general intangible, chattel paper, instrument or document issued in connection with a Securitization Transaction that evidences a residual interest in a Securitization Transaction and (d) any other residual interest in a Securitization Transaction, in each case, to the extent an asset of a Loan Party.

 

Securitization Subsidiary” means a trust, bankruptcy remote entity or other special purpose entity which is (A) a Domestic Subsidiary that is a Wholly Owned Subsidiary of the Borrower, (B) wholly owned directly by either (I) one or more Loan Parties or (II) a Securitization Parent and (C) which is formed for the purpose of and engages in no material business other than acting as an issuer or a depositor or borrower in a Qualified Securitization Transaction (and, in connection therewith, owning Securitization Assets and pledging or transferring any of the foregoing or interests therein and engaging in any business or activities incidental or related thereto), and:

 

(a)            no portion of the Indebtedness or any other obligations (contingent or otherwise) of which (i) is guaranteed by the Borrower or any other Restricted Subsidiary of the Borrower (excluding guarantees of obligations (other than the principal of and interest on, Indebtedness) pursuant to Standard Securitization Undertakings), (ii) is recourse to or obligates the Borrower or any other Restricted Subsidiary of the Borrower in any way other than pursuant to Standard Securitization Undertakings, or (iii) subjects any property or asset of the Borrower or any other Restricted Subsidiary of the Borrower, directly or indirectly, contingently or otherwise, to the satisfaction thereof, other than pursuant to Standard Securitization Undertakings;

 

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(b)          with which neither the Borrower nor any other Restricted Subsidiary of the Borrower has any material contract, agreement, arrangement or understanding other than on terms which the Borrower reasonably believes to be no less favorable to the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary than those that might be obtained at the time from Persons that are not Affiliates of the Borrower; and

 

(c)          to which neither the Borrower nor any other Restricted Subsidiary of the Borrower has any obligation to maintain or preserve such entity’s financial condition or cause such entity to achieve certain levels of operating results.

 

Securitization Transaction” means any transaction or series of transactions that may be entered into by the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries pursuant to which the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries may sell, discount, assign, factor, convey, participate, contribute to capital, grant a security interest in, pledge or otherwise transfer (including for purposes of facilitating a warehouse facility relating to a Securitization Transaction) to (a) a Securitization Subsidiary (in the case of a transfer by the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries) or (b) any other Person (in the case of a transfer by a Securitization Subsidiary) of any Securitization Assets.

 

Security Documents” means the collective reference to the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement, any Deposit Account Control Agreements and all other security documents hereafter delivered to the Administrative Agent granting a Lien on any property of any Person to secure the obligations and liabilities of any Loan Party under any Loan Document.

 

SOFR” means, with respect to any Business Day, a rate per annum equal to the secured overnight financing rate for such Business Day published by the SOFR Administrator on the SOFR Administrator’s Website at approximately 8:00 a.m. (New York City time) on the immediately succeeding Business Day.

 

SOFR Administrator” means the NYFRB (or a successor administrator of the secured overnight financing rate).

 

SOFR Administrator’s Website” means the NYFRB’s website, currently at http://www.newyorkfed.org, or any successor source for the secured overnight financing rate identified as such by the SOFR Administrator from time to time.

 

Solvent” means, when used with respect to any Person, that, as of any date of determination, (a) the fair value of the assets of such Person will exceed its debts and liabilities, subordinated, contingent or otherwise, (b) the present fair saleable value of the assets of such Person will be greater than the amount that will be required to pay the probable liabilities on its debts and other liabilities, subordinated, contingent or otherwise, as such debts and other liabilities become absolute and matured, (c) such Person will be able to pay its debts and liabilities, subordinated, contingent or otherwise, as such debts and liabilities become absolute and matured and (d) such Person is not engaged in, and is not about to engage in, business for which it has unreasonably small capital. The amount of any contingent liability at any time shall be computed as the amount that would reasonably be expected to become an actual and matured liability.

 

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Specified Acquisition Agreement Representations” means, with respect to any acquisition contemplated by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary, the representations made by or on behalf of the proposed target of such acquisition in the documentation governing such acquisition (the “Subject Acquisition Agreement”) that are material to the interests of the Lenders, but only to the extent that the Borrower (or its affiliates) has the right (taking into account any applicable cure provisions) to terminate its (or such affiliates’) obligations under the Subject Acquisition Agreement or decline to consummate the applicable acquisition as a result of a breach of such representations and warranties in the Subject Acquisition Agreement.

 

Specified Administrative Agent Location” means one or more locations in the continental United States identified in writing by the Administrative Agent to the Borrower from time to time.

 

Specified Event of Default” means an Event of Default under Section 8(a), 8(b) (with respect to any Borrowing Base Certificate), 8(d) (with respect to any breach of Section 6.2(g), 6.2(i) or Section 6.12 of this Agreement or Sections 8.1 or 8.2 of the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement) or Section 8(f).

 

Specified Indebtedness” means Indebtedness of the types described in clauses (a) and (c) of the definition of “Indebtedness” (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any Indebtedness incurred in connection with a Securitization Transaction).

 

Specified Letter of Credit” means that certain Letter of Credit, dated as of September 30, 2010, issued at the request of the Borrower by JPMCB for the benefit of Hartford Fire Insurance Company (as renewed, amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time).

 

Specified Transaction” has the meaning set forth in Section 1.7.

 

Standard Securitization Undertakings” means representations, warranties, covenants, Repurchase Obligations, indemnities and guarantees of performance entered into by any Group Member that are customary in an asset securitization financing, including those relating to the servicing of the assets of a Securitization Subsidiary.

 

Statutory Reserve Rate” means a fraction (expressed as a decimal), the numerator of which is the number one and the denominator of which is the number one minus the aggregate of the maximum reserve percentage (including any marginal, special, emergency or supplemental reserves) expressed as a decimal established by the Federal Reserve Board to which the Administrative Agent is subject with respect to the Adjusted LIBO Rate, for eurocurrency funding (currently referred to as “Eurocurrency liabilities” in Regulation D). Such reserve percentage shall include those imposed pursuant to Regulation D. Eurodollar Loans shall be deemed to constitute eurocurrency funding and to be subject to such reserve requirements without benefit of or credit for proration, exemptions or offsets that may be available from time to time to any Lender under Regulation D or any comparable regulation. The Statutory Reserve Rate shall be adjusted automatically on and as of the effective date of any change in any reserve percentage.

  

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Subject Agreements” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.13(a).

 

Subordinated Indebtedness” means any Specified Indebtedness of any Group Member that is expressly subordinated in right of payment to the Obligations; provided that, for the avoidance of doubt, Indebtedness under the Term Loan Credit Agreement shall not be considered Subordinated Indebtedness.

 

Subsidiary” means as to any Person, a corporation, partnership, limited liability company or other entity of which shares of stock or other ownership interests having ordinary voting power (other than stock or such other ownership interests having such power only by reason of the happening of a contingency) to elect a majority of the board of directors or other managers of such corporation, partnership or other entity are at the time owned, or the management of which is otherwise controlled, directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, or both, by such Person. Unless otherwise qualified, all references to a “Subsidiary” or to “Subsidiaries” in this Agreement shall refer to a Subsidiary or Subsidiaries of the Borrower.

 

Subsidiary Guarantor” means (i) each Restricted Subsidiary of the Borrower that is a Domestic Subsidiary (other than any Excluded Subsidiary) and (ii) each other Restricted Subsidiary that is an obligor under or guarantor in respect of the Term Loans or any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof.

 

Supermajority Lenders” means at any time, the holders of more than 66 2/3% of (a) until the Closing Date, the Commitments then in effect and (b) thereafter, the Total Commitments then in effect or, if the Commitments have been terminated, the Total Revolving Extensions of Credit then outstanding.

 

Supported QFC” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.20.

 

Swap” means any agreement, contract, or transaction that constitutes a “swap” within the meaning of section 1a(47) of the Commodity Exchange Act.

 

Swap Agreement” means any agreement with respect to any swap, forward, future or derivative transaction or option or similar agreement involving, or settled by reference to, one or more rates, currencies, commodities, equity or debt instruments or securities, or economic, financial or pricing indices or measures of economic, financial or pricing risk or value or any similar transaction or any combination of these transactions; provided that no phantom stock or similar plan providing for payments only on account of services provided by current or former directors, officers, employees or consultants of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries shall be a “Swap Agreement”.

 

Swap Obligation” means with respect to any Person, any obligation to pay or perform under any Swap Agreement.

 

Target Debt Repayment” means the repayment of, termination of all commitments under and the discharge and release of all security and guarantees in respect of the following debt instruments of the Acquired Business: (a) the Credit Agreement, dated as of April 27, 2018, entered into with Comvest Capital IV, L.P., Crystal Financial LLC and the lenders party thereto, (b) the Third Amended and Restated Promissory Note, dated as of April 27, 2018, entered into with Aaron Allred and (c) the Amended and Restated Promissory Note, dated as of April 27, 2018, entered into with Austin Allred and subsequently assigned to Aaron Allred.

 

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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.

 

Term Loan Administrative Agent” means JPMCB, as administrative agent under the Term Loan Documents, and its successors and assigns.

 

Term Loan Credit Agreement” means the Term Loan Credit Agreement, dated as of the Closing Date, among the Borrower, the lenders and agents party thereto and the Term Loan Administrative Agent, as the same may be amended, restated, amended and restated, modified, supplemented, refinanced and/or replaced from time to time in accordance with the terms thereof and the Intercreditor Agreement to the extent constituting Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness.

 

Term Loan Documents” means collectively (a) the Term Loan Credit Agreement, (b) the Term Loan Security Documents, (c) the Intercreditor Agreement, (d) any promissory note evidencing loans under the Term Loan Credit Agreement and (e) any amendment, restatement, amendment and restatement, waiver, supplement or other modification to any of the documents described in clauses (a) through (d).

 

Term Loan Incremental Equivalent Debt” means any Indebtedness incurred by a Loan Party in the form of one or more series of secured or unsecured bonds, debentures, notes or similar instruments or term loans; provided that (a) if such Indebtedness is secured, (i) the liens securing such Indebtedness shall be junior, with respect to the ABL Priority Collateral, to the Liens on the Collateral securing the Obligations and (ii) a representative, trustee, collateral agent, security agent or similar Person acting on behalf of the holders of such Indebtedness shall have become party to an intercreditor agreement reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, (b) such Indebtedness does not mature earlier than the date that is 91 days after the Latest Maturity Date (as defined in the Term Loan Credit Agreement) then in effect at the time of incurrence thereof and has a weighted average life to maturity no shorter than the Facility (as defined in the Term Loan Credit Agreement) of Term Loans with the Latest Maturity Date (as defined in the Term Loan Credit Agreement) in effect at the time of incurrence of such Indebtedness, (c) such Indebtedness contains mandatory prepayment and redemption terms, covenants and events of default that are either (x) customary for similar Indebtedness in light of then-prevailing market conditions (it being understood and agreed that such Indebtedness shall include financial maintenance covenants only to the extent any such financial maintenance covenant is (i) applicable only to periods after the Latest Maturity Date (as defined in the Term Loan Credit Agreement) then in effect at the time of incurrence thereof or (ii) included in or added to the Term Loan Documents for the benefit of the lenders under the Term Loan Credit Agreement) or (y) when taken as a whole (other than interest rates, rate floors, fees and optional prepayment or redemption terms), not materially more favorable to the lenders or investors providing such Term Loan Incremental Equivalent Debt, as the case may be, than those set forth in the Term Loan Documents are with respect to the lenders under the Term Loan Credit Agreement (other than covenants or other provisions applicable only to periods after the Latest Maturity Date (as defined in the Term Loan Credit Agreement) then in effect at the time of incurrence thereof or that are included in or added to the Term Loan Documents for the benefit of the lenders under the Term Loan Credit Agreement), in the case of each of clauses (x) and (y), as conclusively determined by the Borrower in good faith, and (d) such Indebtedness is not guaranteed by any Person other than Loan Parties.

 

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Term Loan Security Documents” means the collective reference to the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement (as defined in the Term Loan Credit Agreement) and all other security documents delivered to the Term Loan Administrative Agent granting a Lien on any property of any Person to secure the obligations and liabilities of any Loan Party under any Term Loan Document.

 

Term Loans” means loans outstanding under the Term Loan Credit Agreement.

 

Term SOFR” means, for the applicable Corresponding Tenor as of the applicable Reference Time, the forward-looking term rate based on SOFR that has been selected or recommended by the Relevant Governmental Body.

 

Term SOFR Notice” means a notification by the Administrative Agent to the Lenders and the Borrower of the occurrence of a Term SOFR Transition Event.

 

Term SOFR Transition Event” means the determination by the Administrative Agent that (a) Term SOFR has been recommended for use by the Relevant Governmental Body, (b) the administration of Term SOFR is administratively feasible for the Administrative Agent and (c) a Benchmark Transition Event has previously occurred resulting in a Benchmark Replacement in accordance with Section 2.16 that is not Term SOFR.

 

Total Commitments” means at any time, the aggregate amount of the Commitments then in effect.

 

Total Revolving Extensions of Credit” means at any time, the aggregate amount of the Revolving Extensions of Credit of the Revolving Lenders outstanding at such time.

 

Trade Date” means with respect to any sale or assignment of rights by a Lender under this Agreement, the date on which such Lender entered into a binding agreement to sell or assign all or a portion of its rights under this Agreement.

 

Transaction Costs” means fees, premiums, expenses, closing payments and other similar transaction costs (including upfront or similar fees) payable or otherwise borne by the Borrower and/or its Subsidiaries in connection with the Transactions and the transactions contemplated thereby.

 

Transactions” means collectively, (a) the consummation of the Acima Acquisition, (b) the execution, delivery and performance by the Borrower and the other Loan Parties of this Agreement, the borrowing of Loans hereunder and the use of proceeds thereof, (c) the execution, delivery and performance by the Borrower and the other Loan Parties of the Term Loan Credit Agreement, the borrowing of Term Loans thereunder and the use of proceeds thereof, (d) (w) the issuance by Funding SPV of the Unsecured Notes, (x) the merger of Funding SPV with and into the Borrower, (y) the execution and delivery by the Borrower and the other Loan Parties of a supplemental indenture to the Unsecured Notes Indenture, pursuant to which the Borrower assumes the obligations of Funding SPV as issuer thereunder and the other Loan Parties provide guarantees thereof and (z) the release from escrow of the proceeds of the Unsecured Notes and the use of proceeds thereof, (e) the Debt Repayment and (f) the payment of the Transaction Costs.

 

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Transferee” means any Assignee or Participant.

 

Type” means, when used in reference to any Loan or Borrowing, refers to whether the rate of interest on such Loan, or on the Loans comprising such Borrowing, is determined by reference to the Adjusted LIBO Rate or the Alternate Base Rate.

 

UK Financial Institutions” means any BRRD Undertaking (as such term is defined under the PRA Rulebook (as amended form time to time) promulgated by the United Kingdom Prudential Regulation Authority) or any person falling within IFPRU 11.6 of the FCA Handbook (as amended from time to time) promulgated by the United Kingdom Financial Conduct Authority, which includes certain credit institutions and investment firms, and certain affiliates of such credit institutions or investment firms.

 

UK Resolution Authority” means the Bank of England or any other public administrative authority having responsibility for the resolution of any UK Financial Institution.

 

Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement” means the applicable Benchmark Replacement excluding the related Benchmark Replacement Adjustment.

 

United States” means the United States of America.

 

Unrestricted Cash” means unrestricted cash and Cash Equivalents owned by any Group Member (including the Insurance Subsidiary) and not controlled by or subject to any Lien or other preferential arrangement in favor of any creditor (other than Liens created under the Security Documents or the Term Loan Security Documents (or the comparable security documents governing any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof) and Liens of the type referred to in Section 7.3(u) or Section 7.3(x)); provided that Unrestricted Cash shall only include cash and Cash Equivalents of the Insurance Subsidiary to the extent in excess of any minimum cash amounts that the Insurance Subsidiary is required by law or regulation to maintain.

 

Unrestricted Subsidiary” means (a) any Subsidiary of the Borrower that is designated as an Unrestricted Subsidiary by the Borrower pursuant to Section 6.11 subsequent to the Closing Date and (b) any Subsidiary of an Unrestricted Subsidiary.

 

Unsecured Notes” means the 6.375% senior unsecured notes issued and sold pursuant to the Unsecured Notes Indenture as the same may be amended, restated, amended and restated, modified and/or supplemented from time to time in accordance with the terms hereof.

 

Unsecured Notes Documents” means collectively (a) the Unsecured Notes Indenture, (b) the Unsecured Notes and (c) any amendment, restatement, amendment and restatement, waiver, supplement or other modification to any of the documents described in clauses (a) and (b).

 

Unsecured Notes Indenture” means the Indenture, dated as of February 17, 2021, entered into by Funding SPV (to be merged with and into the Borrower) and Truist Bank, as trustee, as the same may be amended, restated, amended and restated, modified and/or supplemented from time to time in accordance with the terms hereof.

 

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Upfront Fee Letter” means that certain Upfront Fee Letter, dated as of February 17, 2021 by and between the Borrower and the Administrative Agent.

 

U.S. Person” means a “United States person” within the meaning of Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code.

 

U.S. Special Resolution Regime” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.20.

 

U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.19(f)(ii)(B)(3).

 

Voluntary Prepayment Amount” means as of any date, an amount equal to (i) the sum of the aggregate principal amount of all optional prepayments of Term Loans made after the Closing Date and prior to such date (excluding prepayments made with the proceeds of long-term Indebtedness) less (ii) the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness established pursuant to Section 7.2(b) or Section 7.2(t) after the Closing Date and prior to such date in reliance on the Voluntary Prepayment Amount; provided that (i) no prepayment of Term Loans secured on a junior basis to the Term Loans borrowed on the Closing Date shall increase the Voluntary Prepayment Amount with respect to Indebtedness to be secured on a pari passu basis with the the Term Loans borrowed on the Closing Date and (ii) no prepayment of unsecured Term Loans shall increase the Voluntary Prepayment Amount with respect to Indebtedness to be secured.

 

Weekly Borrowing Base Period” means each period beginning on the fifth consecutive Business Day on which Availability is less than the greater of (a) 12.5% of the Line Cap and (b) 60,000,000; provided that any such Weekly Borrowing Base Period shall end when and if Availability shall have been not less than (i) such specified level and (ii) $60,000,000 for 30 consecutive days each.

 

Wholly Owned Subsidiary” means as to any Person, any other Person all of the Capital Stock of which (other than directors’ qualifying shares required by law) is owned by such Person directly and/or through other Wholly Owned Subsidiaries.

 

Withdrawal Liability” means liability to a Multiemployer Plan as a result of a complete or partial withdrawal from such Multiemployer Plan, as such terms are defined in Part I of Subtitle E of Title IV of ERISA.

 

Write-Down and Conversion Powers” means, (a) 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, and (b) with respect to the United Kingdom, any powers of the applicable Resolution Authority under the Bail-In Legislation to cancel, reduce, modify or change the form of a liability of any UK Financial Institution or any contract or instrument under which that liability arises, to convert all or part of that liability into shares, securities or obligations of that person or any other person, to provide that any such contract or instrument is to have effect as if a right had been exercised under it or to suspend any obligation in respect of that liability or any of the powers under that Bail-In Legislation that are related to or ancillary to any of those powers.

 

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1.2          Classification of Loans and Borrowings. For purposes of this Agreement, Loans may be classified and referred to by Type (e.g., a “Eurodollar Loan”). Borrowings also may be classified and referred to by Type (e.g., a “Eurodollar Borrowing”).

 

1.3          Other Definitional Provisions. (a)  Unless otherwise specified therein, all terms defined in this Agreement shall have the defined meanings when used in the other Loan Documents or any certificate or other document made or delivered pursuant hereto or thereto.

 

(b)         As used herein and in the other Loan Documents, and any certificate or other document made or delivered pursuant hereto or thereto, (i) accounting terms relating to any Group Member not defined in Section 1.1 and accounting terms partly defined in Section 1.1, to the extent not defined, shall have the respective meanings given to them under GAAP (provided that all terms of an accounting or financial nature used herein shall be construed, and all computations of amounts and ratios referred to herein shall be made, without giving effect to (x) any election under Accounting Standards Codification 825-10-25 (previously referred to as Statement of Financial Accounting Standards 159) (or any other Accounting Standards Codification or Financial Accounting Standard having a similar result or effect) to value any Indebtedness or other liabilities of the Borrower or any Subsidiary at “fair value”, as defined therein and (y) any treatment of Indebtedness in respect of convertible debt instruments under Accounting Standards Codification 470-20 (or any other Accounting Standards Codification or Financial Accounting Standard having a similar result or effect) to value any such Indebtedness in a reduced or bifurcated manner as described therein, and such Indebtedness shall at all times be valued at the full stated principal amount thereof), (ii) the words “include”, “includes” and “including” shall be deemed to be followed by the phrase “without limitation”, (iii) the word “incur” shall be construed to mean incur, create, issue, assume, become liable in respect of or suffer to exist (and the words “incurred” and “incurrence” shall have correlative meanings), (iv) 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, Capital Stock, securities, revenues, accounts, leasehold interests and contract rights, (v) references to agreements or other Contractual Obligations shall, unless otherwise specified, be deemed to refer to such agreements or Contractual Obligations as amended, supplemented, restated, amended and restated or otherwise modified from time to time and (vi) the concept of “letters of credit” shall be construed to include banker’s acceptances.

 

(c)        The words “hereof”, “herein” and “hereunder” and words of similar import, when used in this Agreement, shall refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular provision of this Agreement, and Section, Schedule and Exhibit references are to this Agreement unless otherwise specified.

 

(d)          The meanings given to terms defined herein shall be equally applicable to both the singular and plural forms of such terms.

 

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(e)          Unless otherwise defined herein or the context otherwise requires, terms for which meanings are provided in the UCC are used in this Agreement, including its preamble and recitals, with such meanings.

 

1.4          Interest Rate; LIBOR Notification. The interest rate on Eurodollar Loans is determined by reference to the LIBO Rate, which is derived from the London interbank offered rate. The London interbank offered rate is intended to represent the rate at which contributing banks may obtain short-term borrowings from each other in the London interbank market. In July 2017, the U.K. Financial Conduct Authority announced that, after the end of 2021, it would no longer persuade or compel contributing banks to make rate submissions to the ICE Benchmark Administration (together with any successor to the ICE Benchmark Administrator, the “IBA”) for purposes of the IBA setting the London interbank offered rate. As a result, it is possible that commencing in 2022, the London interbank offered rate may no longer be available or may no longer be deemed an appropriate reference rate upon which to determine the interest rate on Eurodollar Loans. In light of this eventuality, public and private sector industry initiatives are currently underway to identify new or alternative reference rates to be used in place of the London interbank offered rate. Upon the occurrence of a Benchmark Transition Event, a Term SOFR Transition Event or an Early Opt-in Election, Section 2.16(b) and (c) provide the mechanism for determining an alternative rate of interest. The Administrative Agent will promptly notify the Borrower, pursuant to Section 2.16(e), of any change to the reference rate upon which the interest rate on Eurodollar Loans is based. However, the Administrative Agent does not warrant or accept any responsibility for, and shall not have any liability with respect to, the administration, submission or any other matter related to the London interbank offered rate or other rates in the definition of “LIBO Rate” or with respect to any alternative or successor rate thereto, or replacement rate thereof (including (i) any such alternative, successor or replacement rate implemented pursuant to Section 2.16(b) or (c), whether upon the occurrence of a Benchmark Transition Event, a Term SOFR Transition Event or an Early Opt-in Election, and (ii) the implementation of any Benchmark Replacement Conforming Changes pursuant to Section 2.16(d)), including whether the composition or characteristics of any such alternative, successor or replacement reference rate will be similar to, or produce the same value or economic equivalence of, the LIBO Rate or have the same volume or liquidity as did the London interbank offered rate prior to its discontinuance or unavailability.

 

1.5          Letter of Credit Amounts(a)  . Unless otherwise specified herein, the amount of a Letter of Credit at any time shall be deemed to be the amount of such Letter of Credit available to be drawn at such time; provided that with respect to any Letter of Credit that, by its terms provides for one or more automatic increases in the available amount thereof, the amount of such Letter of Credit shall be deemed to be the maximum amount of such Letter of Credit after giving effect to all such increases, whether or not such maximum amount is available to be drawn at such time.

 

1.6          Divisions. For all purposes under the Loan Documents, in connection with any division or plan of division under Delaware law (or any comparable event under a different jurisdiction’s laws): (a) if any asset, right, obligation or liability of any Person becomes the asset, right, obligation or liability of a different Person, then it shall be deemed to have been transferred from the original Person to the subsequent Person, and (b) if any new Person comes into existence, such new Person shall be deemed to have been organized and acquired on the first date of its existence by the holders of its Capital Stock at such time.

 

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1.7          Limited Condition Transactions. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement or any Loan Document to the contrary when (i) calculating any applicable ratio or financial test or basket or exception in connection with the incurrence of Indebtedness (other than the borrowing of Revolving Loans or the issuance of Letters of Credit), the creation of Liens, the making of any Disposition, the making of an Investment, the making of a Restricted Payment, the designation of a Subsidiary as restricted or unrestricted or the repayment of Indebtedness (each, a “Specified Transaction”), (ii) determining the accuracy of any representation or warranty or (iii) determining whether any Default or Event of Default has occurred, is continuing or would result from any action, in each case of clauses (i) through (iii) for the purpose of determining whether a Specified Transaction is permitted hereunder in connection with a Limited Condition Transaction, the date of determination of such ratio or financial test or basket or exception, the accuracy of such representation or warranty (but taking into account any earlier date specified therein) or whether any Default or Event of Default has occurred, is continuing or would result therefrom shall, at the option of the Borrower (the Borrower’s election to exercise such option in connection with any Limited Condition Acquisition, an “LCT Election”), be deemed to be the date the definitive agreements for such Limited Condition Transaction are entered into (the “LCT Test Date”). If on a Pro Forma Basis after giving effect to such Limited Condition Transaction and the other transactions to be entered into in connection therewith (including any incurrence of Indebtedness, Liens, Restricted Payments or other transactions and the use of proceeds thereof) such ratios, financial tests, baskets, exceptions, representations and warranties and absence of defaults are calculated as if such Limited Condition Transaction or other transactions had occurred at the beginning of the most recent Reference Period ending prior to the LCT Test Date for which financial statements are available, the Borrower could have taken such action on the relevant LCT Test Date in compliance with the applicable ratios or other provisions, such provisions shall be deemed to have been complied with. For the avoidance of doubt, (i) if any of such ratios, financial tests, baskets, exceptions, representations and warranties or absence of defaults are exceeded or breached as a result of fluctuations in such ratio or financial test (including due to fluctuations in Consolidated EBITDA), a change in facts or circumstances or other provisions at or prior to the consummation of the relevant Limited Condition Transaction, such ratios, financial tests, baskets, exceptions, representations and warranties and absence of defaults will not be deemed to have been exceeded, breached, or otherwise failed as a result of such fluctuations or changed circumstances solely for purposes of determining whether the Limited Condition Transaction and any related transactions is permitted hereunder and (ii) such ratios, financial tests, baskets, exceptions and compliance with such conditions shall not be tested at the time of consummation of such Limited Condition Transaction or related Specified Transactions. If the Company has made an LCT Election for any Limited Condition Transaction, then in connection with any subsequent calculation of any ratio or financial test or basket or exception with respect to any subsequent acquisition or Investment that the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary is contractually committed to consummate on or following the relevant LCT Test Date and prior to the earlier of the date on which such Limited Condition Transaction is consummated or the date that the definitive agreement for such Limited Condition Transaction is terminated or expires without consummation of such Limited Condition Transaction, any such ratio or financial test or basket or exception shall be calculated on a Pro Forma Basis both (i) assuming such Limited Condition Transaction and other transactions in connection therewith (including any incurrence of Indebtedness, Liens, Restricted Payments or other transactions and the use of proceeds thereof) have been consummated and (ii) assuming such Limited Condition Transaction and other transactions in connection therewith (including any incurrence of Indebtedness, Liens, Restricted Payments or other transactions and the use of proceeds thereof) have not been consummated.

 

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1.8           Calculations. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement or any Loan Document to the contrary (i) the Borrower may rely on more than one basket or exception hereunder (including both ratio-based and non-ratio based baskets and exceptions, and including partial reliance on different baskets that, collectively, permit the entire proposed transaction) at the time of any proposed transaction, and the Borrower may, in its sole discretion, at any later time divide, classify or reclassify such transaction (or any portion thereof) in any manner that complies with the available baskets and exceptions hereunder at such later time (provided that with respect to reclassification of Indebtedness and Liens, any such reclassification shall be subject to the parameters of Sections 7.2 and 7.3, as applicable), (ii) unless the Borrower elects otherwise, if the Borrower or its Restricted Subsidiaries in connection with any transaction or series of such related transaction (A) incurs Indebtedness, creates Liens, makes Dispositions, makes Investments, makes Restricted Payments, designates any Subsidiary as restricted or unrestricted or repays any Indebtedness or takes any other action under or as permitted by a ratio-based basket or exception and (B) incurs Indebtedness, creates Liens, makes Dispositions, makes Investments, makes Restricted Payments, designates any Subsidiary as restricted or unrestricted or repays any Indebtedness or takes any other action under a non-ratio-based basket or exception (which shall occur within five Business Days of the events in clause (A) above), then the applicable ratio will be calculated with respect to any such action under the applicable ratio-based basket or exception without regard to any such action under such non-ratio-based basket or exception made in connection with such transaction or series of related transactions, (iii) if the Borrower or its Restricted Subsidiaries enters into any revolving, delayed draw or other committed debt facility, the Borrower may elect to determine compliance of such debt facility (including the incurrence of Indebtedness and Liens from time to time in connection therewith) with this Agreement and each other Loan Document on the date commitments with respect thereto are first received, assuming the full amount of such facility is incurred (and any applicable Liens are granted) on such date, in lieu of determining such compliance on any subsequent date (including any date on which Indebtedness is incurred pursuant to such facility); provided that if such election is made with respect to any delayed draw facility or other committed debt facility (other than a revolving facility), then in connection with any subsequent calculation of any ratio or financial test or basket or exception with respect to any subsequent incurrence of Indebtedness (including the incurrence of Liens in connection therewith) or Liens, such calculation shall be made assuming the full amount of such delayed draw facility or committed debt facility, as applicable, has been incurred (and any applicable Liens granted) on such date of incurrence for so long as any commitments remain outstanding thereunder, and (iv) if the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary incurs Indebtedness under a ratio-based basket or exception, such ratio-based basket or exception (together with any other ratio-based basket or exception utilized in connection therewith, including in respect of other Indebtedness, Liens, Dispositions, Investments, Restricted Payments or Restricted Debt Payments) will be calculated excluding the cash proceeds of such Indebtedness for netting purposes (i.e., such cash proceeds shall not reduce the Borrower’s Consolidated Leverage Ratio, Consolidated Secured Leverage Ratio or Consolidated Senior Secured Leverage Ratio pursuant to clause (a)(ii) of the definition of such terms), provided that the actual application of such proceeds may reduce Indebtedness for purposes of determining compliance with any applicable ratio. For example, if the Borrower incurs Indebtedness under the Base Incremental Amount on the same date that it incurs Indebtedness under the Maximum Incremental Amount, then the Consolidated Leverage Ratio, the Consolidated Secured Leverage Ratio and the Consolidated Senior Secured Leverage Ratio and any other applicable ratio will be calculated with respect to such incurrence under the Maximum Incremental Amount without regard to any incurrence of Indebtedness under the Base Incremental Amount. Unless the Borrower elects otherwise, Indebtedness incurred under Section 7.2(b) (other than Indebtedness outstanding on the Closing Date immediately after giving effect to the Transactions) and Section 7.2(t) shall be deemed incurred first under the Maximum Incremental Amount to the extent permitted (and calculated prior to giving effect to any substantially simultaneous incurrence of any Indebtedness based on a basket or exception that is not based on a financial ratio, including the Base Incremental Amount and the Voluntary Prepayment Amount), with any balance incurred under the Base Incremental Amount or the Voluntary Prepayment Amount. For purposes of determining compliance with Section 7.2(b) and Section 7.2(t), in the event that any Indebtedness (or any portion thereof) meets the criteria of Base Incremental Amount, Maximum Incremental Amount or Voluntary Prepayment Amount, the Borrower may, in its sole discretion, at the time of incurrence, divide, classify or reclassify, or at any later time divide, classify or reclassify, such Indebtedness (or any portion thereof) in any manner that complies with Section 7.2(b) or Section 7.2(t), as applicable, on the date of such classification or any such reclassification, as applicable.

 

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1.9         Discontinued Operations. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement or any classification under GAAP of any Person, business, assets or operations in respect of which a definitive agreement for the disposition thereof has been entered into as discontinued operations, no pro forma effect shall be given to any discontinued operations (and the Consolidated EBITDA attributable to any such Person, business, assets or operations shall not be excluded for any purposes hereunder) until such disposition shall have been consummated.

 

1.10        Bridge Loans and Escrow Indebtedness. For purposes of determining the maturity date of any Indebtedness, (a) customary bridge loans that are subject to customary conditions (including no payment or bankruptcy event of default) that would either automatically be extended as, converted into or required to be exchanged for permanent refinancing shall be deemed to have the maturity date as so extended, converted or exchanged and (b) Indebtedness the proceeds of which are deposited into escrow pursuant to customary escrow arrangements pending consummation of a specified acquisition or Investment shall be deemed to have the maturity date of such Indebtedness upon consummation of the specified acquisition or Investment and release of such proceeds from escrow.

 

SECTION 2.  AMOUNT AND TERMS OF COMMITMENTS

 

2.1         Commitments. (a) Subject to the terms and conditions hereof, each Revolving Lender severally agrees to make revolving credit loans (“Revolving Loans”) to the Borrower from time to time during the Revolving Commitment Period in an aggregate principal amount at any one time outstanding which would not result in either (i) the Revolving Loans of such Lender when added to the sum of (x) such Lender’s Revolving Percentage of the L/C Obligations then outstanding, (y) [reserved] and (z) such Lender’s Protective Advance Exposure then outstanding, exceeding the amount of such Lender’s Commitment or (ii) the Total Revolving Extensions of Credit exceeding the Line Cap, subject to the authority of the Administrative Agent, in its sole discretion, to make Protective Advances pursuant to the terms of Section 2.3. During the Revolving Commitment Period the Borrower may use the Commitments by borrowing, prepaying the Revolving Loans in whole or in part, and reborrowing, all in accordance with the terms and conditions hereof. The Revolving Loans may from time to time be Eurodollar Loans or ABR Loans, as determined by the Borrower and notified to the Administrative Agent in accordance with Sections 2.2 and 2.12.

 

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(b) The Borrower hereby unconditionally promises to pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of and ratable benefit of each Lender the aggregate outstanding principal amount of the Loans on the Revolving Termination Date.

 

2.2          Procedure for Revolving Loan Borrowing. The Borrower may borrow under the Commitments during the Revolving Commitment Period on any Business Day, provided that the Borrower shall give the Administrative Agent a Borrowing Request substantially in the form of Exhibit A attached hereto (which notice must be received by the Administrative Agent prior to (a) 12:00 Noon, New York City time three Business Days prior to the requested Borrowing Date, in the case of Eurodollar Loans; provided, that such notice may be received by the Administrative Agent prior to 12:00 Noon, New York City time one Business Day prior to the Closing Date for a Eurodollar Borrowing to be made on the Closing Date, or (b) 10:00 a.m., New York City time, the date of the requested Borrowing Date, in the case of ABR Loans) (provided that any such notice of a borrowing of Revolving Loans that are ABR Loans to finance payments required by Section 3.5 must be given not later than 10:00 A.M., New York City time, on the date of the proposed borrowing), specifying (i) the amount and Type of Revolving Loans to be borrowed, (ii) the requested Borrowing Date and (iii) in the case of Eurodollar Loans, the respective amounts of each such Type of Loan and the respective lengths of the initial Interest Period therefor. Each borrowing under the Commitments shall be in an amount equal to (x) in the case of ABR Loans, $1,000,000 or a whole multiple of $500,000 in excess thereof (or, if Availability at the time is less than $1,000,000, such lesser amount) and (y) in the case of Eurodollar Loans, $3,000,000 or a whole multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof (or, if Availability at the time is less than $3,000,000, such lesser amount). Upon receipt of any such notice from the Borrower, the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each Revolving Lender thereof. Each Revolving Lender shall make the amount of its pro rata share of each borrowing available to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Borrower at the Funding Office prior to (i) 10:30 a.m., New York City time, for borrowings made on the Closing Date and (ii) 12:00 a.m., New York City time, for Borrowing Dates occurring after the Closing Date, on the Borrowing Date requested by the Borrower in funds immediately available to the Administrative Agent. Such borrowing will then be made available to the Borrower by the Administrative Agent crediting the account of the Borrower on the books of such office with the aggregate of the amounts made available to the Administrative Agent by the Revolving Lenders and in like funds as received by the Administrative Agent.

 

2.3          Protective Advances. (a)  Subject to the limitations set forth below, the Administrative Agent is authorized by the Borrower and the Lenders, from time to time in the Administrative Agent’s Permitted Discretion (but shall have absolutely no obligation to), following notice to the Borrower, to make Loans to the Borrower, on behalf of all Lenders, which the Administrative Agent, in its Permitted Discretion, deems necessary or desirable (i) to preserve or protect the Collateral, or any portion thereof, (ii) to enhance the likelihood of, or maximize the amount of, repayment of the Loans and other Obligations, or (iii) to pay any other amount chargeable to or required to be paid by the Borrower pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, including payments of reimbursable expenses (including costs, fees, and expenses as described in Section 10.5) and other sums payable under the Loan Documents (any of such Loans are herein referred to as “Protective Advances”); provided that, as of the date of the making of any Protective Advance, the aggregate amount of outstanding Protective Advances shall not exceed 10% of the Commitments outstanding as of such date; provided further that the Total Revolving Extensions of Credit outstanding at any time shall not exceed the Total Commitments. Protective Advances may be made even if the conditions precedent set forth in Section 5.2 have not been satisfied. The Protective Advances shall be secured by the Liens in favor of the Administrative Agent in and to the Collateral and shall constitute Obligations hereunder. All Protective Advances shall be ABR Loans. The Administrative Agent’s authorization to make Protective Advances may be revoked at any time by the Required Lenders. Any such revocation must be in writing and shall become effective prospectively upon the Administrative Agent’s receipt thereof. If at any time (a) the amount equal to (i) the Line Cap minus (ii) the Total Revolving Extensions of Credit then outstanding (calculated, with respect to any Defaulting Lender, as if such Defaulting Lender had funded its Revolving Percentage of all outstanding Revolving Loans) exceeds the amount of any Protective Advance and (b) the conditions precedent set forth in Section 5.2 have been satisfied, the Administrative Agent may request the Revolving Lenders to make a Revolving Loan to repay a Protective Advance. At any other time the Administrative Agent may require the Lenders to fund their risk participations as set forth in Section 2.3(b).

 

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(b)         Upon the making of a Protective Advance by the Administrative Agent (whether before or after the occurrence of a Default), each Lender shall be deemed, without further action by any party hereto, to have unconditionally and irrevocably purchased from the Administrative Agent, without recourse or warranty, an undivided interest and participation in such Protective Advance in proportion to its Revolving Percentage. From and after the date, if any, on which any Lender is required to fund its participation in any Protective Advance purchased hereunder, the Administrative Agent shall promptly distribute to such Lender such Lender’s Revolving Percentage of all payments of principal and interest and all proceeds of Collateral received by the Administrative Agent in respect of such Protective Advance (appropriately adjusted, in the case of interest payments, to reflect the period of time during which such Lender’s participating interest was outstanding and funded and, in the case of principal and interest payments, to reflect such Lender’s pro rata portion of such payment if such payment is not sufficient to pay the principal of and interest on all Protective Advances then due).

 

2.4          [Reserved].

 

2.5          [Reserved].

 

2.6          [Reserved].

 

2.7          [Reserved].

 

2.8          Fees, etc.      (a)  The Borrower agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of each Revolving Lender a commitment fee for the period from and including the Closing Date to the last day of the Revolving Commitment Period, computed at the Commitment Fee Rate on the average daily amount of the Available Commitment of such Lender during the period for which payment is made, payable quarterly in arrears on each Fee Payment Date, commencing on the first such date to occur after the Closing Date.

 

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(b)          The Borrower agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent the fees in the amounts and on the dates as set forth in any fee agreements with the Administrative Agent and to perform any other obligations contained therein.

 

2.9          Termination or Reduction of Commitments. The Borrower shall have the right, upon not less than three Business Days’ revocable notice to the Administrative Agent (which may be conditioned as stated in such notice by the Borrower), to terminate the Commitments or, from time to time, to reduce the amount of the Commitments; provided that no such termination or reduction of Commitments shall be permitted if, after giving effect thereto and to any prepayments of the Revolving Loans made on the effective date thereof, the Total Revolving Extensions of Credit would exceed the Line Cap. Any such reduction shall be in an amount equal to $5,000,000, or a whole multiple thereof, and shall reduce permanently the Commitments then in effect.

 

2.10      Optional Prepayments. The Borrower may at any time and from time to time prepay the Loans, in whole or in part, without premium or penalty, upon revocable notice (which may be conditioned as stated in such notice by the Borrower) delivered to the Administrative Agent no later than 12:00 Noon, New York City time, three Business Days prior thereto, in the case of Eurodollar Loans, and no later than 12:00 Noon, New York City time, one Business Day prior thereto, in the case of ABR Loans, which notice shall specify the date and amount of prepayment and whether the prepayment is of Eurodollar Loans or ABR Loans; provided, that if a Eurodollar Loan is prepaid on any day other than the last day of the Interest Period applicable thereto, the Borrower shall also pay any amounts owing pursuant to Section 2.20. Upon receipt of any such notice the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each relevant Lender thereof. If any such notice is given, the amount specified in such notice shall be due and payable on the date specified therein, together with (except in the case of Revolving Loans that are ABR Loans) accrued interest to such date on the amount prepaid. Partial prepayments of Revolving Loans shall be in an aggregate principal amount of $1,000,000 or a whole multiple of $100,000 in excess thereof. The application of any prepayment pursuant to this Section 2.10 shall be made first, to ABR Loans and second, to Eurodollar Loans.

 

2.11        Mandatory Prepayment of Loans. (a)  In the event and on such occasion that (i) the Total Revolving Extensions of Credit exceed the Total Commitments or (ii) the Total Revolving Extensions of Credit (excluding for such purposes Protective Advances) exceed the Borrowing Base, the Borrower shall promptly (and in any event within two Business Days) prepay (or in the case of L/C Exposure, cash collateralize to 103% of the aggregate undrawn face amount thereof) the Revolving Loans, L/C Exposure and/or (in the case of clause (i) above) the Protective Advances in an aggregate amount equal to such excess (it being understood that the Borrower shall prepay Revolving Loans and/or Protective Advances prior to cash collateralization of L/C Exposure).

 

(b)          [Reserved].

 

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(c)          The application of any prepayment pursuant to this Section 2.11 shall be applied first, to Protective Advances, second, to Revolving Loans and third to cash collateralize L/C Obligations and, with respect to Protective Advances and Revolving Loans, first to ABR Loans and second to Eurodollar Loans.

 

(d)          On each Business Day during any Full Cash Dominion Period, the Administrative Agent shall apply, subject to Section 2.17(b) of this Agreement and Section 8.1(b) of the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement, all funds credited to any applicable Collection Account as of 10:00 A.M., New York City time, on such Business Day (whether or not immediately available) and first to prepay any Protective Advances that may be outstanding, second to prepay other Revolving Loans (without a corresponding reduction in Commitments).

 

2.12        Conversion and Continuation Options. (a)  The Borrower may elect from time to time to convert Eurodollar Loans to ABR Loans by giving the Administrative Agent prior irrevocable notice of such election substantially in the form of Exhibit B attached hereto (an “Interest Election Request”) no later than 12:00 Noon, New York City time, on the Business Day preceding the proposed conversion date, provided that any such conversion of Eurodollar Loans may only be made on the last day of an Interest Period with respect thereto. The Borrower may elect from time to time to convert ABR Loans to Eurodollar Loans by giving the Administrative Agent prior irrevocable notice of such election no later than 12:00 Noon, New York City time, on the third Business Day preceding the proposed conversion date (which Interest Election Request shall specify the length of the initial Interest Period therefor), provided that no ABR Loan may be converted into a Eurodollar Loan when (i) any Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and the Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders have determined in its or their sole discretion not to permit such conversion or (ii) if a Specified Event of Default is in existence. Upon receipt of any such Interest Election Request the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each relevant Lender thereof.

 

(b)          Any Eurodollar Loan may be continued as such upon the expiration of the then current Interest Period with respect thereto by the Borrower giving irrevocable notice by submitting an Interest Election Request to the Administrative Agent, in accordance with the applicable provisions of the term “Interest Period” set forth in Section 1.1, of the length of the next Interest Period to be applicable to such Loans, provided that no Eurodollar Loan under a particular Facility may be continued as such (i) when any Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and the Administrative Agent has or the Required Lenders have determined in its or their sole discretion not to permit such continuations or (ii) if a Specified Event of Default is in existence, and provided, further, that if the Borrower shall fail to give any required Interest Election Request as described above in this paragraph or if such continuation is not permitted pursuant to the preceding proviso such Loans shall be automatically converted to ABR Loans on the last day of such then expiring Interest Period. Upon receipt of any such Interest Election Request the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each relevant Lender thereof.

 

2.13        Limitations on Eurodollar Borrowings. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, all borrowings, conversions and continuations of Eurodollar Loans and all selections of Interest Periods shall be in such amounts and be made pursuant to such elections so that, (a) after giving effect thereto, the aggregate principal amount of the Eurodollar Loans comprising each Eurodollar Borrowing shall be equal to $3,000,000 or a whole multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof and (b) no more than 15 Eurodollar Borrowings shall be outstanding at any one time.

 

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2.14        Interest Rates and Payment Dates. Subject to Section 2.16, (a) each Eurodollar Loan shall bear interest for each day during each Interest Period with respect thereto at a rate per annum equal to the Adjusted LIBO Rate determined for such day plus the Applicable Margin.

 

(b)          Each ABR Loan shall bear interest at a rate per annum equal to the Alternate Base Rate plus the Applicable Margin.

 

(c)          (i) If all or a portion of the principal amount of any Loan or Reimbursement Obligation shall not be paid when due (whether at the stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise), such overdue amount shall bear interest at a rate per annum equal to (x) in the case of the Loans, the rate that would otherwise be applicable thereto pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this Section 2.14 plus 2% or (y) in the case of Reimbursement Obligations, the rate applicable to Revolving Loans that are ABR Loans plus 2%, and (ii) if all or a portion of any interest payable on any Loan or Reimbursement Obligation or any commitment fee or other amount payable hereunder shall not be paid when due (whether at the stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise), such overdue amount shall bear interest at a rate per annum equal to the rate then applicable to Revolving Loans that are ABR Loans plus 2%, in each case, with respect to clauses (i) and (ii) above, from the date of such non-payment until such amount is paid in full (as well after as before judgment).

 

(d)          Interest shall be payable in arrears on each Interest Payment Date, provided that interest accruing pursuant to paragraph (c) of this Section 2.14 shall be payable from time to time on demand.

 

2.15        Computation of Interest and Fees. (a)  Interest and fees payable pursuant hereto shall be calculated on the basis of a 360-day year for the actual days elapsed, except that, with respect to ABR Loans the rate of interest on which is calculated on the basis of the Prime Rate, the interest thereon shall be calculated on the basis of a 365- (or 366-, as the case may be) day year for the actual days elapsed (including the first day, but excluding the last day; provided that if a Loan is repaid on the same day on which it is made, one day’s interest shall be paid on such Loan). The Administrative Agent shall as soon as practicable notify the Borrower and the relevant Lenders of each determination of an Adjusted LIBO Rate.

 

(b)          Each determination of an interest rate by the Administrative Agent pursuant to any provision of this Agreement shall be conclusive and binding on the Borrower and the Lenders in the absence of manifest error. The Administrative Agent shall, at the request of the Borrower, deliver to the Borrower a statement showing the quotations used by the Administrative Agent in determining any interest rate pursuant to Section 2.14(a).

 

2.16        Alternate Rate of Interest. (a)  Subject to clauses (b), (c), (d), (e), (f) and (g) of this Section 2.16, if prior to the commencement of any Interest Period for a Eurodollar Borrowing:

 

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(i)        the Administrative Agent determines (which determination shall be conclusive and binding absent manifest error) that adequate and reasonable means do not exist for ascertaining the Adjusted LIBO Rate or the LIBO Rate, as applicable (including because the LIBO Screen Rate is not available or published on a current basis), for a Loan for such Interest Period; provided that no Benchmark Transition Event shall have occurred at such time, or

 

(ii)         the Administrative Agent is advised by the Required Lenders that the Adjusted LIBO Rate or the LIBO Rate, as applicable, for a Loan for such Interest Period will not adequately and fairly reflect the cost to such Lenders (as conclusively certified by such Lenders) of making or maintaining their Loans (or its Loan) included in such Borrowing for such Interest Period,

 

then the Administrative Agent shall give notice thereof to the Borrower and the Lenders by telephone, telecopy or electronic mail as promptly as practicable thereafter and, until the Administrative Agent notifies the Borrower and the Lenders that the circumstances giving rise to such notice no longer exist (which notification shall be made promptly after the Administrative Agent obtains knowledge of the cessation of the circumstances referenced in clause (i) above or receives notice from the Required Lenders in respect of the cessation of circumstances referenced in clause (ii) above), (A) any Interest Election Request that requests the conversion of any Revolving Borrowing to, or continuation of any Revolving Borrowing as, a Eurodollar Borrowing shall be ineffective and (B) if any Borrowing Request requests a Eurodollar Borrowing, such Borrowing shall be made as an ABR Borrowing.

 

(b)          Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein or in any other Loan Document (and any Swap Agreement shall be deemed not to be a “Loan Document” for purposes of this Section 2.16), if a Benchmark Transition Event or an Early Opt-in Election, as applicable, and its related Benchmark Replacement Date have occurred prior to the Reference Time in respect of any setting of the then-current Benchmark, then (x) if a Benchmark Replacement is determined in accordance with clause (1) or (2) of the definition of “Benchmark Replacement” for such Benchmark Replacement Date, such Benchmark Replacement will replace such Benchmark for all purposes hereunder and under any Loan Document in respect of such Benchmark setting and subsequent Benchmark settings without any amendment to, or further action or consent of any other party to, this Agreement or any other Loan Document and (y) if a Benchmark Replacement is determined in accordance with clause (3) of the definition of “Benchmark Replacement” for such Benchmark Replacement Date, such Benchmark Replacement will replace such Benchmark for all purposes hereunder and under any Loan Document in respect of any Benchmark setting at or after 5:00 p.m. (New York City time) on the fifth Business Day after the date notice of such Benchmark Replacement is provided to the Lenders without any amendment to, or further action or consent of any other party to, this Agreement or any other Loan Document so long as the Administrative Agent has not received, by such time, written notice of objection to such Benchmark Replacement from Lenders comprising the Required Lenders.

 

(c)          Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein or in any other Loan Document and subject to the proviso below in this paragraph, if a Term SOFR Transition Event and its related Benchmark Replacement Date have occurred prior to the Reference Time in respect of any setting of the then-current Benchmark, then the applicable Benchmark Replacement will replace the then-current Benchmark for all purposes hereunder or under any Loan Document in respect of such Benchmark setting and subsequent Benchmark settings, without any amendment to, or further action or consent of any other party to, this Agreement or any other Loan Document; provided that, this clause (c) shall not be effective unless the Administrative Agent has delivered to the Lenders and the Borrower a Term SOFR Notice.

 

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(d)          In connection with the implementation of a Benchmark Replacement, the Administrative Agent will have the right to make Benchmark Replacement Conforming Changes from time to time and, notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein or in any other Loan Document, any amendments implementing such Benchmark Replacement Conforming Changes will become effective without any further action or consent of any other party to this Agreement or any other Loan Document.

 

(e)          The Administrative Agent will promptly notify the Borrower and the Lenders of (i) any occurrence of a Benchmark Transition Event, a Term SOFR Transition Event or an Early Opt-in Election, as applicable, and its related Benchmark Replacement Date, (ii) the implementation of any Benchmark Replacement, (iii) the effectiveness of any Benchmark Replacement Conforming Changes, (iv) the removal or reinstatement of any tenor of a Benchmark pursuant to clause (f) below and (v) the commencement or conclusion of any Benchmark Unavailability Period. Any determination, decision or election that may be made by the Administrative Agent or, if applicable, any Lender (or group of Lenders) pursuant to this Section 2.16, including any determination with respect to a tenor, rate or adjustment or of the occurrence or non-occurrence of an event, circumstance or date and any decision to take or refrain from taking any action or any selection, will be conclusive and binding absent manifest error and may be made in its or their sole discretion and without consent from any other party to this Agreement or any other Loan Document, except, in each case, as expressly required pursuant to this Section 2.16.

 

(f)           Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein or in any other Loan Document, at any time (including in connection with the implementation of a Benchmark Replacement), (i) if the then-current Benchmark is a term rate (including Term SOFR or LIBO Rate) and either (A) any tenor for such Benchmark is not displayed on a screen or other information service that publishes such rate from time to time as selected by the Administrative Agent in its reasonable discretion or (B) the regulatory supervisor for the administrator of such Benchmark has provided a public statement or publication of information announcing that any tenor for such Benchmark is or will be no longer representative, then the Administrative Agent may modify the definition of “Interest Period” for any Benchmark settings at or after such time to remove such unavailable or non-representative tenor and (ii) if a tenor that was removed pursuant to clause (i) above either (A) is subsequently displayed on a screen or information service for a Benchmark (including a Benchmark Replacement) or (B) is not, or is no longer, subject to an announcement that it is or will no longer be representative for a Benchmark (including a Benchmark Replacement), then the Administrative Agent may modify the definition of “Interest Period” for all Benchmark settings at or after such time to reinstate such previously removed tenor.

 

(g)          Upon the Borrower’s receipt of notice of the commencement of a Benchmark Unavailability Period, the Borrower may revoke any request for a Eurodollar Revolving Borrowing of, conversion to or continuation of Eurodollar Loans to be made, converted or continued during any Benchmark Unavailability Period and, failing that, the Borrower will be deemed to have converted any such request into a request for a Revolving Borrowing of or conversion to ABR Loans. During any Benchmark Unavailability Period or at any time that a tenor for the then-current Benchmark is not an Available Tenor, the component of ABR based upon the then-current Benchmark or such tenor for such Benchmark, as applicable, will not be used in any determination of ABR.

 

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2.17        Pro Rata Treatment and Payments. (a)  Each borrowing by the Borrower from the Revolving Lenders hereunder, each payment by the Borrower on account of any commitment fee and any reduction of the Commitments of the Lenders shall be made pro rata according to the Revolving Percentages of the Lenders, in each case unless otherwise provided in this Agreement.

 

(b)          Any proceeds of Collateral of any Loan Party received by the Administrative Agent (i) after an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and the Required Lenders so direct or (ii) at any other time, not constituting (A) a specific payment of principal, interest, fees or other sum payable under the Loan Documents (which shall be applied as specified by the Borrower), (B) a mandatory prepayment (which shall be applied in accordance with Section 2.11(c)) or (C) amounts to be applied from the Collection Account (which shall be applied in accordance with Section 2.11(d)), shall be applied, subject to the Intercreditor Agreement, ratably first, to pay any fees, indemnities, or expense reimbursements then owing to the Administrative Agent and any Issuing Lender from, or guaranteed by, such Loan Party under the Loan Documents (other than in connection with Banking Services Obligations or Swap Obligations), second, to pay any fees or expense reimbursements then owing to the Lenders from, or guaranteed by, such Loan Party under the Loan Documents (other than in connection with Banking Services or Swap Obligations), third, to pay interest due in respect of the Protective Advances owing by or guaranteed by such Loan Party, fourth, to pay the principal of the Protective Advances owing by or guaranteed by such Loan Party, fifth, to pay interest then due and payable on the Loans (other than the Protective Advances) and unreimbursed L/C Disbursements, in each case owing or guaranteed by such Loan Party, ratably, sixth, to prepay principal on the Loans (other than the Protective Advances) and unreimbursed L/C Disbursements owing or guaranteed by such Loan Party and to the payment of any amounts owing with respect to Reported Banking Services Obligations and Reported Secured Swap Obligations owing or guaranteed by such Loan Party, ratably, seventh, to pay an amount to the Administrative Agent equal to 103% of the aggregate undrawn face amount of all outstanding Letters of Credit issued on behalf of, or guaranteed by, such Loan Party, to be held as cash collateral for such Obligations, eighth, to the payment of any amounts owing with respect to Banking Services Obligations (other than Reported Banking Services Obligations) and Secured Swap Obligations (other than Reported Secured Swap Obligations) owing or guaranteed by such Loan Party, ratably, ninth, to the payment of any other Obligations owing to the Administrative Agent or any Lender by, or guaranteed by, such Loan Party, ratably, and tenth, any balance remaining after the Obligations shall have been paid in full and no Letters of Credit shall be outstanding (other than Letters of Credit which have been cash collateralized in accordance with the foregoing) shall be paid over to the applicable Loan Party at its account designated for such purpose by written notice by such Loan Party to the Administrative Agent or to whomsoever else may be lawfully entitled to receive the same. The application of any payment pursuant to this Section 2.17(b) shall be made first, to ABR Loans and second, to Eurodollar Loans. Each of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders shall have the continuing and exclusive right to apply and reverse and reapply any and all such proceeds and payments to any portion of the Obligations to maximize realization of the Collateral (it being understood that, notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event shall payments be made pursuant to levels “eighth” or “ninth” above prior to the payment in full of all obligations described in levels “first” through “seventh” above). Notwithstanding the foregoing, no amount received from any Loan Party shall be applied to any Excluded Swap Obligation of such Loan Party.

 

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(c)            Each payment (including each prepayment) by the Borrower on account of principal of and interest on the Revolving Loans shall be made pro rata according to the respective outstanding principal amounts of the Revolving Loans then held by the Revolving Lenders, unless otherwise provided by this Agreement.

 

(d)           All payments (including prepayments) to be made by the Borrower hereunder, whether on account of principal, interest, fees or otherwise, shall be made without setoff or counterclaim and shall be made prior to 2:00 P.M., New York City time, on the due date thereof to the Administrative Agent, for the account of the Lenders, at the Funding Office, in Dollars and in immediately available funds. The Administrative Agent shall distribute such payments to each relevant Lender promptly upon receipt in like funds as received, net of any amounts owing by such Lender pursuant to Section 9.7. If any payment hereunder (other than payments on the Eurodollar Loans) becomes due and payable on a day other than a Business Day, such payment shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day. If any payment on a Eurodollar Loan becomes due and payable on a day other than a Business Day, the maturity thereof shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day unless the result of such extension would be to extend such payment into another calendar month, in which event such payment shall be made on the immediately preceding Business Day. In the case of any extension of any payment of principal pursuant to the preceding two sentences, interest thereon shall be payable at the then applicable rate during such extension. During any Full Cash Dominion Period, solely for purposes of determining the amount of Loans available for borrowing purposes, checks (in addition to immediately available funds applied pursuant to Section 2.11(d)) from collections of items of payment and proceeds of any Collateral shall be applied in whole or in part against the applicable Obligations as of 10:00 A.M., New York City time, on the Business Day of receipt, subject to actual collection.

 

(e)            Unless the Administrative Agent shall have been notified in writing by any Lender prior to a borrowing that such Lender will not make the amount that would constitute its share of such borrowing available to the Administrative Agent, the Administrative Agent may assume that such Lender is making such amount available to the Administrative Agent, and the Administrative Agent may, in reliance upon such assumption, make available to the Borrower a corresponding amount. If such amount is not made available to the Administrative Agent by the required time on the Borrowing Date therefor, such Lender shall pay to the Administrative Agent, on demand, such amount with interest thereon, at a rate equal to the greater of (i) the NYFRB Rate and (ii) a rate determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation, for the period until such Lender makes such amount immediately available to the Administrative Agent. A certificate of the Administrative Agent submitted to any Lender with respect to any amounts owing under this paragraph shall be conclusive in the absence of manifest error. If such Lender’s share of such borrowing is not made available to the Administrative Agent by such Lender within three Business Days after such Borrowing Date, the Administrative Agent shall also be entitled to recover such amount with interest thereon at the rate per annum applicable to Revolving Loans that are ABR Loans, on demand, from the Borrower.

 

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(f)            Unless the Administrative Agent shall have been notified in writing by the Borrower prior to the date of any payment due to be made by the Borrower pursuant to the terms hereof or any other Loan Document (including any date that is fixed for prepayment by notice from the Borrower to the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 2.11(d)) that the Borrower will not make such payment to the Administrative Agent, the Administrative Agent may assume that the Borrower is making such payment, and the Administrative Agent may, but shall not be required to, in reliance upon such assumption, make available to the Lenders their respective pro rata shares of a corresponding amount. If such payment is not made to the Administrative Agent by the Borrower within three Business Days after such due date, the Administrative Agent shall be entitled to recover, on demand, from each Lender to which any amount which was made available pursuant to the preceding sentence, such amount with interest thereon at the rate per annum equal to the daily average NYFRB Rate. Nothing herein shall be deemed to limit the rights of the Administrative Agent or any Lender against the Borrower.

 

(g)            If any Lender shall fail to make any payment required to be made by it pursuant to Section 2.17(e), 2.17(f), 2.19(e), 3.4(a) or 9.7, then the Administrative Agent may, in its discretion and notwithstanding any contrary provision hereof, (i) apply any amounts thereafter received by the Administrative Agent for the account of such Lender for the benefit of the Administrative Agent or the Issuing Lender to satisfy such Lender’s obligations to it under such Sections until all such unsatisfied obligations are fully paid, and/or (ii) hold any such amounts in a segregated account as cash collateral for, and application to, any future funding obligations of such Lender under any such Section, in the case of each of clauses (i) and (ii) above, in any order as determined by the Administrative Agent in its discretion.

 

2.18            Requirements of Law. (a)  If the adoption of or any change in any Requirement of Law or in the interpretation, administration, implementation or application thereof or compliance by any Lender or other Credit Party with any request or directive (whether or not having the force of law) from any central bank or other Governmental Authority, in each case made or occurring subsequent to the Closing Date:

 

(i)            shall subject any Credit Party 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;

 

(ii)       shall impose, modify or hold applicable any reserve, special deposit, compulsory loan, insurance charge or similar requirement against assets held by, deposits or other liabilities in or for the account of, advances, loans or other extensions of credit (or participations therein) by, or any other acquisition of funds by, any office of such Lender that is not otherwise included in the determination of the Adjusted LIBO Rate; or

 

(iii)           shall impose on such Lender any other condition (other than Taxes);

 

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and the result of any of the foregoing is to increase the cost to such Lender or such other Credit Party, by an amount that such Lender or other Credit Party deems to be material, of making, converting into, continuing or maintaining Loans or issuing or participating in Letters of Credit, or to reduce any amount receivable hereunder in respect thereof, then, in any such case, the Borrower shall promptly pay such Lender or such other Credit Party, upon its demand, any additional amounts necessary to compensate such Lender or such other Credit Party for such increased cost or reduced amount receivable. If any Lender or such other Credit Party becomes entitled to claim any additional amounts pursuant to this paragraph, it shall promptly notify the Borrower (with a copy to the Administrative Agent) of the event by reason of which it has become so entitled.

 

(b)            If any Lender shall have determined that the adoption of or any change in any Requirement of Law regarding capital or liquidity requirements or in the interpretation, administration, implementation or application thereof or compliance by such Lender or any corporation controlling such Lender with any request or directive regarding capital or liquidity requirements (whether or not having the force of law) from any Governmental Authority made subsequent to the Closing Date shall have the effect of reducing the rate of return on such Lender’s or such corporation’s capital as a consequence of its obligations hereunder or under or in respect of any Letter of Credit to a level below that which such Lender or such corporation could have achieved but for such adoption, change or compliance (taking into consideration such Lender’s or such corporation’s policies with respect to capital adequacy or liquidity) by an amount deemed by such Lender to be material, then from time to time, after submission by such Lender to the Borrower (with a copy to the Administrative Agent) of a written request therefor, the Borrower shall pay to such Lender such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender or such corporation for such reduction.

 

(c)            Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, (i) all requests, rules, guidelines, requirements and directives promulgated by the Bank for International Settlements, the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (or any successor or similar authority) or by United States or foreign regulatory authorities, in each case pursuant to Basel III, and (ii) the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and all requests, rules, guidelines, requirements and directives thereunder or issued in connection therewith or in implementation thereof, shall in each case be deemed to be a change in law, regardless of the date enacted, adopted, issued or implemented.

 

(d)            A certificate as to any additional amounts payable pursuant to this Section 2.18 submitted by any Lender to the Borrower (with a copy to the Administrative Agent) shall be conclusive in the absence of manifest error. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 2.18, the Borrower shall not be required to compensate a Lender pursuant to this Section 2.18 for any amounts incurred more than six months prior to the date that such Lender notifies the Borrower of such Lender’s intention to claim compensation therefor; provided that, if the circumstances giving rise to such claim have a retroactive effect, then such six-month period shall be extended to include the period of such retroactive effect. The obligations of the Borrower pursuant to this Section 2.18 shall survive the termination of this Agreement and the payment of the Loans and all other amounts payable hereunder.

 

(e)         Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 2.18 to the contrary, no Lender shall be entitled to receive any compensation pursuant to this Section 2.18 unless it shall be the general policy or practice of such Lender to seek compensation from other similarly situated borrowers in the syndicated loan market in the United States with respect to its similarly affected loans under agreements with such borrowers having provisions similar to this Section 2.18.

 

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2.19            Taxes. (a)  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 law. If any applicable law (as determined in the good faith discretion of an applicable withholding agent) requires the deduction or withholding of any Tax from any such payment by a withholding agent, then the applicable withholding agent shall be entitled to make such deduction or withholding and shall timely pay the full amount deducted or withheld to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with applicable law and, if such Tax is an Indemnified Tax, then the sum payable by the applicable Loan Party shall be increased as necessary so that, after such deduction or withholding has been made (including such deductions and withholdings applicable to additional sums payable under this Section 2.19), the amounts received with respect to this agreement equal the sum which would have been received had no such deduction or withholding been made.

 

(b)            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, Other Taxes.

 

(c)            As soon as practicable after any payment of Taxes by any Loan Party to a Governmental Authority pursuant to this Section 2.19, such Loan Party shall deliver to the Administrative Agent the original or a certified copy of a receipt issued by such Governmental Authority evidencing such payment, a copy of the return reporting such payment or other evidence of such payment reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

 

(d)            The Loan Parties shall jointly and severally indemnify each Credit Party, 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 2.19) payable or paid by such Credit Party or required to be withheld or deducted from a payment to such Credit Party 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.

 

(e)            Each Lender shall severally indemnify the Administrative Agent, within 10 days after demand therefor, for (i) any 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) and (ii) any Taxes attributable to such Lender’s failure to comply with the provisions of Section 10.6(c) relating to the maintenance of a Participant Register, in either case, that are payable or paid by the Administrative Agent in connection with any Loan Document, and any reasonable expenses arising therefrom or with respect thereto, whether or not such Taxes were correctly or legally imposed or asserted by the relevant Governmental Authority. A certificate as to the amount of such payment or liability delivered to any Lender by the Administrative Agent shall be conclusive absent manifest error. Each Lender hereby authorizes the Administrative Agent to setoff and apply any and all amounts at any time owing to such Lender under any Loan Document or otherwise payable by the Administrative Agent to the Lender from any other source against any amount due to the Administrative Agent under this paragraph (e).

 

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(f)            (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 2.19(f)(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 Non-U.S. 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 Non-U.S. 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 Non-U.S. 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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(2) executed originals of IRS Form  W-8ECI;

 

(3) in the case of a Non-U.S. 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 Non-U.S. 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” related to the Borrower as 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 Non-U.S. 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 Non-U.S. Lender is a partnership and one or more direct or indirect partners of such Non-U.S. Lender are claiming the portfolio interest exemption, such Non-U.S. 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 Non-U.S. 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 Non-U.S. 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

 

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(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, if any, to deduct and withhold from such payment. Solely for purposes of this clause (D), “FATCA” shall include any amendments made to FATCA after the Closing Date.

 

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.

 

(g)            If any party determines, in its sole discretion exercised in good faith, that it has received a refund of any Taxes as to which it has been indemnified pursuant to this Section 2.19 (including by the payment of additional amounts pursuant to this Section 2.19), it shall pay to the indemnifying party an amount equal to such refund (but only to the extent of indemnity payments made under this Section 2.19 with respect to the Taxes giving rise to such refund), net of all out-of-pocket expenses (including Taxes) of such indemnified party and without interest (other than any interest paid by the relevant Governmental Authority with respect to such refund). Such indemnifying party, upon the request of such indemnified party, shall repay to such indemnified party the amount paid over pursuant to this paragraph (g) (plus any penalties, interest or other charges imposed by the relevant Governmental Authority) in the event that such indemnified party is required to repay such refund to such Governmental Authority. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this paragraph (g), in no event will the indemnified party be required to pay any amount to an indemnifying party pursuant to this paragraph (g) the payment of which would place the indemnified party in a less favorable net after-Tax position than the indemnified party would have been in if the Tax subject to indemnification and giving rise to such refund had not been deducted, withheld or otherwise imposed and the indemnification payments or additional amounts giving rise to such refund had never been paid. This Section 2.19 shall not be construed to require any indemnified party to make available its Tax returns (or any other information relating to its Taxes that it deems confidential) to the indemnifying party or any other Person.

 

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(h)         Each party’s obligations under this Section 2.19 shall survive the resignation or replacement of the Administrative Agent or any assignment of rights by, or the replacement of, a Lender, the termination of the Commitments and the repayment, satisfaction or discharge of all obligations under the Loan Documents.

 

(i)            For purposes of this Section 2.19, the term “Lender” includes the Issuing Lender and the term “applicable law” includes FATCA.

 

2.20            Indemnity. The Borrower agrees to indemnify each Lender for, and to hold each Lender harmless from, any loss or expense that such Lender sustains or incurs as a consequence of (a) default by the Borrower in making a borrowing of, conversion into or continuation of Eurodollar Loans after the Borrower has given a notice requesting the same in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement, (b) default by the Borrower in making any prepayment of or conversion from Eurodollar Loans after the Borrower has given a notice thereof in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement or (c) the making of a prepayment of Eurodollar Loans on a day that is not the last day of an Interest Period with respect thereto. Such indemnification may include an amount equal to the excess, if any, of (i) the amount of interest that would have accrued on the amount so prepaid, or not so borrowed, converted or continued, for the period from the date of such prepayment or of such failure to borrow, convert or continue to the last day of such Interest Period (or, in the case of a failure to borrow, convert or continue, the Interest Period that would have commenced on the date of such failure) in each case at the applicable rate of interest for such Loans provided for herein (excluding, however, the Applicable Margin included therein, if any) over (ii) the amount of interest (as reasonably determined by such Lender) that would have accrued to such Lender on such amount by placing such amount on deposit for a comparable period with leading banks in the interbank eurodollar market. A certificate as to any amounts payable pursuant to this Section 2.20 submitted to the Borrower by any Lender shall be conclusive in the absence of manifest error. This covenant shall survive the termination of this Agreement and the payment of the Loans and all other amounts payable hereunder for nine months.

 

2.21            Change of Lending Office. Each Lender agrees that, upon the occurrence of any event giving rise to the operation of Section 2.18 or 2.19(a) with respect to such Lender, it will, if requested by the Borrower, use reasonable efforts (subject to overall policy considerations of such Lender) to designate another lending office for any Loans affected by such event or to assign and delegate its rights and obligations hereunder to another of its offices, branches or Affiliates with the object of avoiding the consequences of such event; provided, that such designation or assignment is made on terms that, in the sole judgment of such Lender, cause such Lender and its lending offices to suffer no material economic, legal or regulatory disadvantage, and provided, further, that nothing in this Section 2.21 shall affect or postpone any of the obligations of the Borrower or the rights of any Lender pursuant to Section 2.18 or 2.19(a).

 

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2.22            Replacement of Lenders. The Borrower shall be permitted to replace any Lender that (a) requests reimbursement for amounts owing pursuant to Section 2.18 or 2.19(a), (b) becomes a Defaulting Lender or (c) does not consent to any proposed amendment, supplement, modification, consent or waiver of any provision of this Agreement or any other Loan Document that requires the consent of the Supermajority Lenders, each of the Lenders or each of the Lenders affected thereby (so long as the consent of the Required Lenders has been obtained), with a replacement financial institution; provided that (i) such replacement does not conflict with any Requirement of Law, (ii) [reserved], (iii) prior to any such replacement pursuant to the preceding clause (a), such Lender shall have not eliminated the continued need for payment of amounts owing pursuant to Section 2.18 or 2.19(a), (iv) the replacement financial institution shall purchase, at par, all Loans and other amounts owing to such replaced Lender on or prior to the date of replacement, (v) the Borrower shall be liable to such replaced Lender under Section 2.20 if any Eurodollar Loan owing to such replaced Lender shall be purchased other than on the last day of the Interest Period relating thereto, (vi) the replacement financial institution, if not already a Lender, an affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund, shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent (in its capacity as such), (vii) the replaced Lender shall be obligated to make such replacement in accordance with the provisions of Section 10.6 (provided that the Borrower shall be obligated to pay the registration and processing fee referred to therein), (viii) until such time as such replacement shall be consummated, the Borrower shall pay all additional amounts (if any) required pursuant to Section 2.18 or 2.19(a), as the case may be, and (ix) any such replacement shall not be deemed to be a waiver of any rights that the Borrower, the Administrative Agent or any other Lender shall have against the replaced Lender. Each party hereto agrees that an assignment required pursuant to this paragraph may be effected pursuant to an Assignment and Assumption executed by the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the assignee, and that the Lender required to make such assignment need not be a party thereto in order for such assignment to be effective.

 

2.23           Defaulting Lenders. Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, if any Lender becomes a Defaulting Lender, then the following provisions shall apply for so long as such Lender is a Defaulting Lender:

 

(a)            fees shall cease to accrue on the unfunded portion of the Commitment of such Defaulting Lender pursuant to Section 2.8(a);

 

(b)           the Commitment and Revolving Extensions of Credit of such Defaulting Lender shall not be included in determining whether the Required Lenders have taken or may take any action hereunder (including any consent to any amendment, waiver or other modification pursuant to Section 10.1); provided, that this clause (b) shall not apply to the vote of a Defaulting Lender in the case of an amendment, waiver or other modification requiring the consent of such Lender or each Lender affected thereby;

 

(c)            if any L/C Exposure or Protective Advance Exposure exists at the time such Lender becomes a Defaulting Lender then:

 

(i)            all or any part of the L/C Exposure and Protective Advance Exposure of such Defaulting Lender shall be reallocated among the non-Defaulting Lenders in accordance with their respective Revolving Percentages but only to the extent the sum of all non-Defaulting Lenders’ Revolving Extensions of Credit plus such Defaulting Lender’s L/C Exposure and Protective Advance Exposure does not exceed the total of all non-Defaulting Lenders’ Commitments;

 

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(ii)            if the reallocation described in clause (i) above cannot, or can only partially, be effected, the Borrower shall within one Business Day following notice by the Administrative Agent (x) first, prepay such Protective Advance Exposure and (y) second, cash collateralize for the benefit of the Issuing Lender only the Borrower’s obligations corresponding to such Defaulting Lender’s L/C Exposure (after giving effect to any partial reallocation pursuant to clause (i) above) in accordance with the procedures set forth in Section 8 for so long as such L/C Exposure is outstanding;

 

(iii)            if the Borrower cash collateralizes any portion of such Defaulting Lender’s L/C Exposure pursuant to clause (ii) above, the Borrower shall not be required to pay any fees to such Defaulting Lender pursuant to Section 3.3(a) with respect to such Defaulting Lender’s L/C Exposure during the period such Defaulting Lender’s L/C Exposure is cash collateralized;

 

(iv)          if the L/C Exposure of the Defaulting Lender is reallocated pursuant to clause (i) above, then the fees payable to the Lenders pursuant to Section 2.8(a) and Section 3.3(a) shall be adjusted in accordance with the non-Defaulting Lenders’ Revolving Percentages; and

 

(v)            if all or any portion of such Defaulting Lender’s L/C Exposure is neither reallocated nor cash collateralized pursuant to clause (i) or (ii) above, then, without prejudice to any rights or remedies of the Issuing Lender or any other Lender hereunder, all fees payable under Section 3.3(a) with respect to such Defaulting Lender’s L/C Exposure shall be payable to the Issuing Lender until and to the extent that such L/C Exposure is reallocated and/or cash collateralized; and

 

(d)            so long as such Lender is a Defaulting Lender, the Issuing Lender shall not be required to issue, amend or increase any Letter of Credit, unless it is satisfied that the related exposure and the Defaulting Lender’s then outstanding L/C Exposure will be 100% covered by the Commitments of the non-Defaulting Lenders and/or cash collateral will be provided by the Borrower in accordance with Section 2.23(c), and participating interests in any newly issued or increased Letter of Credit shall be allocated among non-Defaulting Lenders in a manner consistent with Section 2.23(c)(i) (and such Defaulting Lender shall not participate therein).

 

If (i) a Bankruptcy Event with respect to a Lender Parent of any Lender shall occur following the Closing Date and for so long as such event shall continue or (ii) the Issuing Lender has a good faith belief that any Lender has defaulted in fulfilling its obligations under one or more other agreements in which such Lender commits to extend credit, the Issuing Lender shall not be required to issue, amend or increase any Letter of Credit, unless the Issuing Lender, as the case may be, shall have entered into arrangements with the Borrower or such Lender, satisfactory to the Issuing Lender, as the case may be, to defease any risk to it in respect of such Lender hereunder.

 

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In the event that the Administrative Agent, the Borrower and the Issuing Lender each agrees that a Defaulting Lender has adequately remedied all matters that caused such Lender to be a Defaulting Lender, then the L/C Exposure and Protective Advance Exposure of the Lenders shall be readjusted to reflect the inclusion of such Lender’s Commitment and on such date such Lender shall purchase at par such of the Loans of the other Lenders as the Administrative Agent shall determine may be necessary in order for such Lender to hold such Loans in accordance with its Revolving Percentage.

 

2.24            Incremental Facilities. (a)  The Borrower and any one or more Lenders (including New Lenders) may from time to time agree that such Lenders shall make, obtain or increase the amount of their Commitments (any such new or increased Commitments, “Incremental Commitments”) by executing and delivering to the Administrative Agent an Increased Facility Activation Notice specifying (x) the amount of such Incremental Commitments and (y) the applicable Increased Facility Closing Date (which shall be a date not less than five (5) Business Days after the date on which such notice is delivered to the Administrative Agent (or such earlier date as shall be agreed by the Administrative Agent)); provided that (i) with respect to any Increased Facility Closing Date, the Incremental Commitments shall be in a minimum amount of $10,000,000 and (ii) the aggregate amount of Incremental Commitments obtained after the Closing Date pursuant to this Section 2.24 shall not exceed $125,000,000. No Lender shall have any obligation to participate in any increase described in this paragraph unless it agrees to do so in its sole discretion, and the Borrower shall have no obligation to offer to any Lender the opportunity to so participate.

 

(b)           Any additional bank, financial institution or other entity which, with the consent of the Borrower, the Issuing Lender and the Administrative Agent (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld), elects to become a “Lender” under this Agreement in connection with any transaction described in Section 2.24(a) shall execute a New Lender Supplement (each, a “New Lender Supplement”), substantially in the form of Exhibit I-2, whereupon such bank, financial institution or other entity (a “New Lender”) shall become a Lender for all purposes and to the same extent as if originally a party hereto and shall be bound by and entitled to the benefits of this Agreement.

 

(c)         Unless otherwise agreed or otherwise directed by the Administrative Agent, on each Increased Facility Closing Date, the Administrative Agent shall (i) effect a settlement of all outstanding Revolving Loans among the Lenders that will reflect the adjustments to the Total Commitments of the applicable Lenders as a result of the Incremental Commitments and (ii) notify the Lenders of the occurrence of the Incremental Commitments to be effected on the Increased Facility Closing Date.

 

(d)             It shall be a condition precedent to the availability of any Incremental Commitments that (i) no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing immediately prior to and immediately after giving effect to the making of such Incremental Commitments, (ii) the representations and warranties set forth in each Loan Document shall be true and correct in all material respects (or, if qualified by materiality, in all respects) on and as of the Increased Facility Closing Date immediately prior to and immediately after giving effect to the making of such Incremental Commitments, except to the extent expressly made as of an earlier date, in which case they shall be so true and correct as of such earlier date, (iii) the Borrower shall have delivered such customary legal opinions, board resolutions, secretary’s certificate, officer’s certificate and other documents, in each case consistent with those delivered on the Closing Date, as shall be reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent in connection with any Incremental Commitments and (iv) the Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio for the Applicable Reference Period, calculated on a Pro Forma Basis as of the Increased Facility Closing Date, shall be greater than 1.10:1.00.

 

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(e)            On each Increased Facility Closing Date, the fixed dollar portions of any Availability-based thresholds hereunder shall be increased by an amount proportional to the increase, if any, in the Total Commitments above the Total Commitments in effect on the Closing Date effected by the Incremental Commitments on such Increased Facility Closing Date.

 

SECTION 3.  LETTERS OF CREDIT

 

3.1            L/C Commitment. (a)  Subject to the terms and conditions hereof, the Issuing Lender, in reliance on the agreements of the other Revolving Lenders set forth in Section 3.4(a), agrees to issue letters of credit (“Letters of Credit”) during the Revolving Commitment Period for the account of the Borrower on any Business Day during the Revolving Commitment Period in such form as may be approved from time to time by the Issuing Lender; provided that the Issuing Lender shall not issue any Letter of Credit if, after giving effect to such issuance, the Total Revolving Extensions of Credit would exceed the Line Cap, subject to the authority of the Administrative Agent, in its sole discretion, to make Protective Advances pursuant to the terms of Section 2.3. Each Letter of Credit shall (i) be denominated in Dollars and (ii) expire no later than the earlier of (x) the first anniversary of its date of issuance (or such longer period as agreed to by the applicable Issuing Lender in its sole discretion) and (y) unless such Letter of Credit has been cash collateralized or other arrangements backstopping such Letter of Credit have been made, in each case, reasonably satisfactory to the Issuing Lender, the date that is five Business Days prior to the Revolving Termination Date, provided that any Letter of Credit with a one-year term may provide for the renewal thereof for additional one-year periods (which shall in no event extend beyond the date referred to in clause (y) above unless such Letter of Credit has been cash collateralized or other arrangements backstopping such Letter of Credit have been made, in each case, reasonably satisfactory to the Issuing Lender).

 

(b)            The Issuing Lender shall not at any time be obligated to issue any Letter of Credit if the issuance of such Letter of Credit would (i) result in such Issuing Lender’s L/C Obligations exceeding such Lender’s L/C Commitment, (ii) violate one or more policies of the Issuing Lender applicable to letters of credit generally or (iii) conflict with, or cause the Issuing Lender or any L/C Participant to exceed any limits imposed by, any applicable Requirement of Law. Without limiting the foregoing and without affecting the limitations contained herein, it is understood and agreed that the Borrower may from time to time request that an Issuing Lender issue Letters of Credit in excess of such Issuing Lender’s L/C Commitment in effect at the time of such request, and each Issuing Lender agrees to consider any such request in good faith. Any Letter of Credit so issued by an Issuing Lender in excess of its L/C Commitment then in effect shall nonetheless constitute a Letter of Credit for all purposes of this Agreement, and shall not affect the L/C Commitment of any other Issuing Lender.

 

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(c)            The parties hereto agree that (i) the Existing Letters of Credit shall be deemed to be Letters of Credit for all purposes under this Agreement, without any further action by the Borrower, the Issuing Lender or any other Person and (ii) the extension or renewal of the Existing Letters of Credit by JPMCB (other than the Specified Letter of Credit) shall not be permitted if after giving effect to such renewal or extension, the aggregate face amount of Letters of Credit issued by JPMCB would exceed JPMCB’s L/C Commitment.

 

3.2            Procedure for Issuance of Letter of Credit. The Borrower may from time to time request that the Issuing Lender issue a Letter of Credit (or the amendment, renewal or extension of an outstanding Letter of Credit) by delivering to the Issuing Lender at its address for notices specified herein, with a copy to the Administrative Agent, an Application therefor, completed to the reasonable satisfaction of the Issuing Lender, and such other certificates, documents and other papers and information as the Issuing Lender may reasonably request. Upon receipt of any Application, the Issuing Lender will process such Application and the certificates, documents and other papers and information delivered to it in connection therewith in accordance with its customary procedures and shall promptly issue the Letter of Credit requested thereby (but in no event shall the Issuing Lender be required to issue, amended, renew or extend any Letter of Credit earlier than three Business Days after its receipt of the Application therefor and all such other certificates, documents and other papers and information relating thereto) by issuing the original of such Letter of Credit to the beneficiary thereof or as otherwise may be agreed to by the Issuing Lender and the Borrower. The Issuing Lender shall furnish a copy of such Letter of Credit to the Borrower promptly following the issuance thereof. The Issuing Lender shall promptly furnish to the Administrative Agent, which shall in turn promptly furnish to the Lenders, notice of the issuance of each Letter of Credit (including the amount thereof).

 

3.3           Fees and Other Charges. (a)  The Borrower will pay a fee on all outstanding Letters of Credit at a per annum rate equal to the Applicable Margin then in effect with respect to Revolving Loans that are Eurodollar Loans, shared ratably among the Revolving Lenders and payable quarterly in arrears on each Fee Payment Date after the issuance date. In addition, the Borrower shall pay to the Issuing Lender for its own account a fronting fee of 0.125% per annum on the undrawn and unexpired amount of each Letter of Credit, payable quarterly in arrears on each Fee Payment Date after the issuance date.

 

(b)            In addition to the foregoing fees, the Borrower shall pay or reimburse the Issuing Lender for such normal and customary costs and expenses as are incurred or charged by the Issuing Lender in issuing, negotiating, effecting payment under, amending or otherwise administering any Letter of Credit.

 

3.4            L/C Participations. (a)  The Issuing Lender irrevocably agrees to grant and hereby grants to each L/C Participant, and, to induce the Issuing Lender to issue Letters of Credit, each L/C Participant irrevocably agrees to accept and purchase and hereby accepts and purchases from the Issuing Lender, on the terms and conditions set forth below, for such L/C Participant’s own account and risk an undivided interest equal to such L/C Participant’s Revolving Percentage in the Issuing Lender’s obligations and rights under and in respect of each Letter of Credit and the amount of each draft paid by the Issuing Lender thereunder. Each L/C Participant agrees with the Issuing Lender that, if a draft is paid under any Letter of Credit for which the Issuing Lender is not reimbursed in full by the Borrower in accordance with the terms of this Agreement (or in the event that any reimbursement received by the Issuing Lender shall be required to be returned by it at any time), such L/C Participant shall pay to the Issuing Lender upon demand at the Issuing Lender’s address for notices specified herein an amount equal to such L/C Participant’s Revolving Percentage of the amount that is not so reimbursed (or is so returned). Each L/C Participant’s obligation to pay such amount shall be absolute and unconditional and shall not be affected by any circumstance, including (i) any setoff, counterclaim, recoupment, defense or other right that such L/C Participant may have against the Issuing Lender, the Borrower or any other Person for any reason whatsoever, (ii) the occurrence or continuance of a Default or an Event of Default or the failure to satisfy any of the other conditions specified in Section 5, (iii) any adverse change in the condition (financial or otherwise) of the Borrower, (iv) any breach of this Agreement or any other Loan Document by the Borrower, any other Loan Party or any other L/C Participant or (v) any other circumstance, happening or event whatsoever, whether or not similar to any of the foregoing.

 

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(b)            If any amount required to be paid by any L/C Participant to the Issuing Lender pursuant to Section 3.4(a) in respect of any unreimbursed portion of any payment made by the Issuing Lender under any Letter of Credit is not paid to the Issuing Lender within three Business Days after the date such payment is due, such L/C Participant shall pay to the Issuing Lender on demand an amount equal to the product of (i) such amount, times (ii) the greater of (x) the daily average NYFRB Rate during the period from and including the date such payment is required to the date on which such payment is immediately available to the Issuing Lender and (y) a rate determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation, times (iii) a fraction the numerator of which is the number of days that elapse during such period and the denominator of which is 360. If any such amount required to be paid by any L/C Participant pursuant to Section 3.4(a) is not made available to the Issuing Lender by such L/C Participant within three Business Days after the date such payment is due, the Issuing Lender shall be entitled to recover from such L/C Participant, on demand, such amount with interest thereon calculated from such due date at the rate per annum applicable to the Alternate Base Rate plus the Applicable Margin. A certificate of the Issuing Lender submitted to any L/C Participant with respect to any amounts owing under this Section shall be conclusive in the absence of manifest error.

 

(c)            Whenever, at any time after the Issuing Lender has made payment under any Letter of Credit and has received from any L/C Participant its pro rata share of such payment in accordance with Section 3.4(a), the Issuing Lender receives any payment related to such Letter of Credit (whether directly from the Borrower or otherwise, including proceeds of Collateral applied thereto by the Issuing Lender), or any payment of interest on account thereof, the Issuing Lender will distribute to such L/C Participant its pro rata share thereof; provided, however, that in the event that any such payment received by the Issuing Lender shall be required to be returned by the Issuing Lender, such L/C Participant shall return to the Issuing Lender the portion thereof previously distributed by the Issuing Lender to it.

 

3.5            Reimbursement Obligation of the Borrower. If any draft is paid under any Letter of Credit, the Borrower shall reimburse the Issuing Lender for the amount of (a) the draft so paid and (b) any taxes, fees, charges or other costs or expenses incurred by the Issuing Lender in connection with such payment, not later than 2:00 p.m., New York City time, on the Business Day immediately following the Business Day that the Borrower receives notice of such draft. Each such payment shall be made to the Issuing Lender at its address for notices referred to herein in Dollars and in immediately available funds. Interest shall be payable on any such amounts from the date on which the relevant draft is paid until payment in full at the rate set forth in (x) until the Business Day next succeeding the date of the relevant notice, Section 2.14(b) and (y) thereafter, Section 2.14(c).

 

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3.6            Obligations Absolute. The Borrower’s obligations under this Section 3 shall be absolute, unconditional and irrevocable under any and all circumstances and irrespective of any setoff, counterclaim or defense to payment that the Borrower may have or have had against the Issuing Lender, any beneficiary of a Letter of Credit or any other Person. The Borrower also agrees with the Issuing Lender that the Issuing Lender shall not be responsible for, and the Borrower’s Reimbursement Obligations under Section 3.5 shall not be affected by, among other things, (a) any lack of validity or enforceability of any Letter of Credit or this Agreement, or any term or provision therein, (b) any draft or other document presented under a Letter of Credit proving to be invalid, fraudulent or forged in any respect or any statement therein being untrue or inaccurate in any respect, (c) any dispute between or among the Borrower and any beneficiary of any Letter of Credit or any other party to which such Letter of Credit may be transferred or any claims whatsoever of the Borrower against any beneficiary of such Letter of Credit or any such transferee, (d) payment by the Issuing Lender under a Letter of Credit against presentation of a draft or other document that does not comply with the terms of such Letter of Credit, or (e) any other event or circumstance whatsoever, whether or not similar to any of the foregoing, that might, but for the provisions of this Section, constitute a legal or equitable discharge of, or provide a right of setoff against, the Borrower's obligations hereunder. The Issuing Lender shall not have any liability or responsibility by reason of or in connection with the issuance or transfer of any Letter of Credit or any payment or failure to make any payment thereunder (irrespective of any of the circumstances referred to in the preceding sentence), or any error, omission, interruption, loss or delay in transmission or delivery of any draft, notice or message or advice, however transmitted, in connection with any Letter of Credit (including any document required to make a drawing thereunder), any error in interpretation of technical terms or any consequence arising from causes beyond the control of the Issuing Lender; provided that the foregoing shall not be construed to excuse the Issuing Lender from liability to the Borrower to the extent of any direct damages (as opposed to special, indirect, consequential or punitive damages, claims in respect of which are hereby waived by the Borrower to the extent permitted by applicable law) suffered by the Borrower that are caused by the Issuing Lender's failure to exercise care when determining whether drafts and other documents presented under a Letter of Credit comply with the terms thereof. The parties hereto expressly agree that, in the absence of gross negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct on the part of the Issuing Lender (as finally determined by a court of competent jurisdiction), the Issuing Lender shall be deemed to have exercised care in each such determination. In furtherance of the foregoing and without limiting the generality thereof, the parties agree that, with respect to documents presented which appear on their face to be in substantial compliance with the terms of a Letter of Credit, the Issuing Lender may, in its sole discretion, either accept and make payment upon such documents without responsibility for further investigation, regardless of any notice or information to the contrary, or refuse to accept and make payment upon such documents if such documents are not in strict compliance with the terms of such Letter of Credit.

 

3.7            Letter of Credit Payments. If any draft shall be presented for payment under any Letter of Credit, the Issuing Lender shall promptly notify the Borrower and the Administrative Agent of the date and amount thereof; provided that any failure to give or delay in giving such notice shall not relieve the Borrower of its obligation to reimburse the Issuing Lender and the Revolving Lenders pursuant to Section 3.5.

 

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3.8            Applications. To the extent that any provision of any Application related to any Letter of Credit is inconsistent with the provisions of this Section 3, the provisions of this Section 3 shall apply.

 

3.9            Replacement and Resignation of Issuing Lenders.

 

(a)            An Issuing Lender may be replaced at any time by written agreement among the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the replaced Issuing Lender and the successor Issuing Lender. The Administrative Agent shall notify the Lenders of any such replacement of an Issuing Lender. At the time any such replacement shall become effective, the Borrower shall pay all unpaid fees accrued for the account of the replaced Issuing Lender pursuant to Section 3.3. From and after the effective date of any such replacement, (i) the successor Issuing Lender shall have all the rights and obligations of an Issuing Lender under this Agreement with respect to Letters of Credit to be issued thereafter and (ii) references herein to the term “Issuing Lender” shall be deemed to refer to such successor or to any previous Issuing Lender, or to such successor and all previous Issuing Lender, as the context shall require. After the replacement of an Issuing Lender hereunder, the replaced Issuing Lender shall remain a party hereto and shall continue to have all the rights and obligations of an Issuing Lender under this Agreement with respect to Letters of Credit then outstanding and issued by it prior to such replacement, but shall not be required to issue additional Letters of Credit or extend or otherwise amend any existing Letter of Credit.

 

(b)            Subject to the appointment and acceptance of a successor Issuing Lender, any Issuing Lender may resign as an Issuing Lender at any time upon thirty days’ prior written notice to the Administrative Agent, the Borrower and the Lenders, in which case, such resigning Issuing Lender shall be replaced in accordance with Section 3.9(a) above.

 

SECTION 4.  REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

 

To induce the Administrative Agent and the Lenders to enter into this Agreement and to make the Loans and issue or participate in the Letters of Credit, the Borrower hereby represents and warrants to the Administrative Agent and each Lender that:

 

4.1            Financial Condition. (a)  The unaudited pro forma consolidated balance sheet and related pro forma consolidated statement of income of the Borrower and its consolidated Restricted Subsidiaries as of and for the 12 months ended September 30, 2020 (the “Pro Forma Financial Statements”), copies of which have heretofore been furnished to the Administrative Agent, have been prepared giving effect (as if such events had occurred on such date (in the case of the balance sheet) or at the beginning of such period (in the case of the statement of income)) to the consummation of the Transactions and the payment of fees and expenses in connection therewith. The Pro Forma Financial Statements have been prepared in good faith and are based on assumptions believed by the Borrower to be reasonable as of the date of delivery thereof, and present fairly in all material respects on a pro forma basis the estimated financial condition and results of operations of Borrower and its consolidated Restricted Subsidiaries as of and for the 12 months ended at September 30, 2020, assuming that the events specified in the preceding sentence had actually occurred at such date or at the beginning of such period, as applicable.

 

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(b)            The audited consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its consolidated Restricted Subsidiaries as at December 31, 2019, and the related consolidated statements of income, stockholders’ equity and cash flows for the fiscal year ended on such date, reported on by and accompanied by an unqualified report from Ernst & Young LLP, present fairly, in all material respects, the consolidated financial condition of the Borrower and its consolidated Restricted Subsidiaries (prior to giving effect to the consummation of the Transactions) as at such date, and the consolidated results of its operations and its consolidated cash flows for the fiscal year then ended. The unaudited consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its consolidated Restricted Subsidiaries as at March 31, 2020, June 30, 2020 and September 30, 2020, and the related unaudited consolidated statements of income, stockholders’ equity and cash flow for the three-month periods ended on such dates, present fairly, in all material respects, the consolidated financial condition of the Borrower and its consolidated Restricted Subsidiaries (prior to giving effect to the consummation of the Transactions) as at such dates, and the consolidated results of its operations and its consolidated cash flow for the three-month periods then ended (subject to normal year-end audit adjustments and the absence of footnotes). All such financial statements, including the related schedules and notes thereto, have been prepared in accordance with GAAP applied consistently throughout the periods involved (except as approved by the aforementioned firm of accountants and disclosed therein), except that the interim financial statements are subject to year-end adjustments and the absence of footnotes.

 

4.2            No Change. Since December 31, 2019, there has been no development or event that has had or would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

4.3           Existence; Compliance with Law. Each Group Member (a) is duly organized or formed, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization, (b) has the corporate or similar organizational power and authority, and the legal right, to own and operate its property, to lease the property it operates as lessee and to conduct the business in which it is currently engaged, (c) is duly qualified as a foreign corporation or other organization and in good standing under the laws of each jurisdiction where its ownership, lease or operation of property or the conduct of its business requires such qualification, except where the failure to be so qualified and in good standing would not, in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect and (d) is in compliance with all Requirements of Law except to the extent that the failure to comply therewith would not, in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

4.4           Power; Authorization; Enforceable Obligations. (a)  Each Loan Party has the corporate or similar organizational power and authority, and the legal right, to make, deliver and perform the Loan Documents to which it is a party and, in the case of the Borrower, to obtain extensions of credit hereunder. Each Loan Party has taken all necessary corporate or similar organizational action to authorize the execution, delivery and performance of the Loan Documents to which it is a party and, in the case of the Borrower, to authorize the extensions of credit on the terms and conditions of this Agreement. Each Loan Document has been duly executed and delivered on behalf of each Loan Party party thereto. This Agreement constitutes, and each other Loan Document upon execution will constitute, a legal, valid and binding obligation of each Loan Party party thereto, enforceable against each such Loan Party in accordance with its terms, except as enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally and by general equitable principles (whether enforcement is sought by proceedings in equity or at law).

 

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(b)           No consent or authorization of, filing with, notice to or other act by or in respect of, any Governmental Authority or any other Person is required in connection with the extensions of credit hereunder or with the execution, delivery, performance, validity or enforceability of this Agreement or any of the Loan Documents, except (i) consents, authorizations, filings and notices that have been obtained or made and are in full force and effect, (ii) the filings referred to in Section 4.19, (iii) filings with the SEC that may be required to be made following the execution and delivery hereof in connection herewith and (iv) immaterial consents, authorizations, filings and notices.

 

4.5           No Legal Bar. The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, the issuance of Letters of Credit, the borrowings hereunder and the use of the proceeds thereof will not violate any Requirement of Law or any Contractual Obligation of any Group Member, except (other than with respect to such Group Member’s Organizational Documents) for violations that would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, and will not result in, or require, the creation or imposition of any Lien on any of their respective properties or revenues pursuant to any Requirement of Law or any such Contractual Obligation (other than the Liens created by the Security Documents and other Permitted Liens).

 

4.6           Litigation. No litigation, investigation or proceeding of or before any arbitrator or Governmental Authority is pending or, to the knowledge of the Borrower, threatened by or against any Group Member or against any of their respective properties or revenues that would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

4.7           No Default. No Group Member is in default under or with respect to any of its Contractual Obligations in any respect that would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. No Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing.

 

4.8           Ownership of Property; Liens. Each Group Member has title in fee simple to, or a valid leasehold interest in, all its real property, and good title to, or a valid leasehold interest in, all its other property (except where the failure to have such title would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect), and none of such property is subject to any Lien except as permitted by Section 7.3.

 

4.9           Intellectual Property. Except as would not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect, (i) each Group Member owns or otherwise has a valid right to use all Intellectual Property material to the conduct of its business as currently conducted, free and clear of all Liens, except as permitted by Section 7.3, and any such Intellectual Property that is owned by any Group Member and registered with any Governmental Authority is subsisting, unexpired and, to the knowledge of each Group Member, valid and enforceable; (ii) the use thereof and the conduct of the business of each of the Group Members does not infringe upon or otherwise violate the rights of any Person; and (iii) no Group Member has, within the past three years, received any material written claim in which any Person challenged the use of any Intellectual Property by any Group Member, or the validity or effectiveness of any Intellectual Property owned by any Loan Party, nor does the Borrower know of any valid basis for any such material claim.

 

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4.10         Taxes. Each Group Member has filed or caused to be filed all federal, state and other material Tax returns that are required to be filed and has paid all Taxes shown to be due and payable on said returns or on any assessments made against it or any of its property and all other Taxes, fees or other charges imposed on it or any of its property by any Governmental Authority (other than (i) the amount or validity of which are currently being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and with respect to which reserves in conformity with GAAP have been provided on the books of the relevant Group Member, or (ii) to the extent that the failure to file or pay, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect).

 

4.11         Federal Regulations. No part of the proceeds of any Borrowing hereunder will be used for “buying” or “carrying” any Margin Stock within the respective meanings of each of the quoted terms under Regulation U as now and from time to time hereafter in effect except in compliance with the provisions of the regulations of the Board.

 

4.12         Labor Matters. Except as, in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect: (a) there are no strikes or other labor disputes against any Group Member pending or, to the knowledge of the Borrower, threatened; (b) hours worked by and payment made to employees of each Group Member have not been in violation of the Fair Labor Standards Act or any other applicable Requirement of Law dealing with such matters; and (c) all payments due from any Group Member on account of employee health and welfare insurance have been paid or accrued as a liability on the books of the relevant Group Member.

 

4.13         ERISA. Except as would not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect: (a) each Group Member and each of their respective ERISA Affiliates (and in the case of a Pension Plan or a Multiemployer Plan, each of their respective ERISA Affiliates) are in compliance with all applicable provisions and requirements of ERISA and the Code and other federal and state laws and the regulations and published interpretations thereunder with respect to each Plan and Pension Plan and have performed all their obligations under each Plan and Pension Plan; (b) no ERISA Event or Foreign Plan Event has occurred or is reasonably expected to occur, and no ERISA Affiliate is aware of any fact, event or circumstance that could reasonably be expected to constitute or result in an ERISA Event; (c) each Plan or Pension Plan which is intended to qualify under Section 401(a) of the Code has received a favorable determination letter from the IRS indicating that such Plan or Pension Plan is so qualified 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 determination is currently pending before the Internal Revenue Service and, to the knowledge of the Borrower, nothing has occurred subsequent to the issuance of the most recent determination letter which would cause such Plan or Pension Plan to lose its qualified status; (d) no liability to the PBGC (other than required premium payments), the IRS, any Plan or Pension Plan or any trust established under Title IV of ERISA has been or is expected to be incurred by any Group Member or any of their ERISA Affiliates; (e) each of the Group Members’ ERISA Affiliates has complied with the requirements of Section 515 of ERISA with respect to each Multiemployer Plan and is not in “default” (as defined in Section 4219(c)(5) of ERISA) with respect to payments to a Multiemployer Plan; (f) all amounts required by applicable law with respect to, or by the terms of, any retiree welfare benefit arrangement maintained by any Group Member or any ERISA Affiliate or to which any Group Member or any ERISA Affiliate has an obligation to contribute have been accrued in accordance with ASC Topic 715-60; (g) as of the most recent valuation date for each Multiemployer Plan for which the actuarial report is available, no Group Member nor any of their respective ERISA Affiliates has any potential liability for a complete withdrawal from such Multiemployer Plan (within the meaning of Section 4203 of ERISA), when aggregated with such potential liability for a complete withdrawal from all Multiemployer Plans, based on information available pursuant to Section 4221(e) of ERISA; (h) there has been no Prohibited Transaction or violation of the fiduciary responsibility rules with respect to any Plan or Pension Plan that has resulted or would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect; and (i) neither any Group Member nor any ERISA Affiliate maintains or contributes to, or has any unsatisfied obligation to contribute to, or liability under, any active or terminated Pension Plan other than (i) on the Closing Date, those listed on Schedule 4.13 hereto and (ii) thereafter, Pension Plans not otherwise prohibited by this Agreement. The present value of all accumulated benefit obligations under each Pension Plan, did not, as of the close of its most recent plan year, exceed by more than $10,000,000 the fair market value of the assets of such Pension Plan allocable to such accrued benefits (determined in both cases using the applicable assumptions under Section 430 of the Code and the Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder), and the present value of all accumulated benefit obligations of all underfunded Pension Plans did not, as of the date of the most recent financial statements reflecting such amounts, exceed by more than $10,000,000 the fair market value of the assets of all such underfunded Pension Plans (determined in both cases using the applicable assumptions under Section 430 of the Code and the Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder).

 

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4.14        Investment Company Act; Other Regulations. No Loan Party is an “investment company” within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

 

4.15         Subsidiaries; Capital Stock. As of the Closing Date, (a) Schedule 4.15 sets forth the name and jurisdiction of incorporation of each Subsidiary and, as to each such Subsidiary, the percentage of each class of Capital Stock owned by any Loan Party and (b) there are no outstanding subscriptions, options, warrants, calls, rights or other agreements or commitments (other than stock options and restricted stock units granted to employees or directors and directors’ qualifying shares) of any nature relating to any Capital Stock of any Restricted Subsidiary, except (i) with respect to Capital Stock of Loan Parties, as created by the Loan Documents or the Term Loan Documents (or any security documents in respect of Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness thereof) and (ii) otherwise, as permitted by this Agreement.

 

4.16         Use of Proceeds. The proceeds of the Revolving Loans and the Letters of Credit will be used by the Borrower (a) on the Closing Date, to pay, directly or indirectly, the consideration for the Acima Acquisition, for the Debt Repayment, to fund any original issue discount or upfront fees due in connection with the “flex” provisions in connection with the Transactions, to pay costs and expenses in respect of the Transactions, for backstop or replacement letters of credit (or the rolling of letters of credit) outstanding on the Closing Date and for the issuance of Letters of Credit and for other general corporate purposes and (b) at all other times, for general corporate purposes (including Restricted Payments, Permitted Acquisitions, other Investments and paying fees and expenses in connection with the execution and delivery of this Agreement, and other uses not prohibited by this Agreement).

 

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4.17          Environmental Matters. Except as, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect:

 

(a)            Materials of Environmental Concern are not present at, on, under, in, or about any real property now or formerly owned, leased or operated by any Group Member or at any other location (including any location to which Materials of Environmental Concern have been sent for re-use or recycling or for treatment, storage, or disposal), in amounts or concentrations or under circumstances that constitute a violation of, or would reasonably be expected to give rise to liability on the part of any Group Member under, any Environmental Law;

 

(b)           no Group Member has received or is aware of any notice of violation, alleged violation, non-compliance, liability or potential liability under or relating to any Environmental Law, nor does the Borrower have knowledge or reason to believe that any such notice will be received or is being threatened;

 

(c)            no judicial, arbitral, governmental or administrative litigation, disclosed-investigation or similar proceeding is pending or, to the knowledge of the Borrower, threatened, under any Environmental Law to which any Group Member is or will be named as a party, nor has any Group Member entered into or agreed to any settlements, consent decrees or other decrees, consent orders, administrative orders or other orders, or other administrative or judicial agreements relating to compliance with or liability under any Environmental Law that have not been fully and finally resolved;

 

(d)             each Group Member is in compliance, and within the period of all applicable statutes of limitation has been in compliance, with all applicable Environmental Laws; and

 

(e)            no Group Member has assumed or retained, by or as a result of any contract or other agreement, any liability of any other Person under Environmental Laws or with respect to any Material of Environmental Concern.

 

4.18          Accuracy of Information, etc. All written information (other than projections, pro forma financial information, financial estimates, forecasts, forward-looking information and information of a general or economic nature) furnished by or on behalf of any Loan Party to the Administrative Agent or the Lenders, or any of them, for use in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the other Loan Documents, does not (taken as a whole) contain, as of the date such statements, information, documents or certificates were so furnished, any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements contained therein (taken as a whole) not materially misleading in light of the circumstances so made. The projections and pro forma financial information contained in the materials referenced above are based upon good faith estimates and assumptions believed by management of the Borrower to be reasonable at the time made, it being recognized by the Lenders that such projections and financial information as they relate to future events are not to be viewed as fact and that actual results during the period or periods covered by such financial information may differ from the projected results set forth therein and such difference may be material.

 

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4.19         Security Documents. The Guarantee and Collateral Agreement is effective to create in favor of the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, a legal, valid and enforceable security interest in the Collateral described therein and the proceeds thereof. In the case of the Pledged Collateral (as defined in the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement), when such Pledged Collateral is delivered (in accordance with the Intercreditor Agreement) to the Administrative Agent or the Term Loan Administrative Agent (together with a properly completed and signed undated endorsement), in the case of Collateral consisting of Deposit Accounts, when such Deposit Accounts are subject to a Deposit Account Control Agreement, and in the case of the other Collateral described in the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement that can be perfected by the filing of a financing statement or other filing, when financing statements and other filings specified on Schedule 4.19 in appropriate form are filed in the offices specified on Schedule 4.19, the Administrative Agent will have, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, a fully perfected Lien on, and security interest in, all right, title and interest of the Loan Parties in such Collateral and the proceeds thereof, as security for the Obligations (as defined in the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement), in each case prior and superior in right to the Lien of any other Person (except Liens permitted by Section 7.3).

 

4.20         Solvency. As of the Closing Date and after giving effect to the Transactions, the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis, are Solvent.

 

4.21        Senior Indebtedness. The Obligations, and the obligations of each Subsidiary Guarantor under the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement, constitute “senior debt” or “senior indebtedness” (or any comparable term) under all Indebtedness that is subordinated or required to be subordinated in right of payment to the Obligations (if applicable).

 

4.22          [Reserved].

 

4.23         Anti-Corruption Laws, Anti-Money Laundering and Sanctions. The Borrower has implemented and maintains in effect policies and procedures designed to ensure compliance by the Borrower, its Subsidiaries and their respective directors, officers, employees and agents with Anti-Corruption Laws and applicable Sanctions, and the Borrower, its Subsidiaries and their respective officers and directors and to the knowledge of the Borrower its employees and agents, are in compliance with Anti-Corruption Laws and applicable Sanctions in all material respects. Neither the Borrower nor any Subsidiary of the Borrower, nor, to their knowledge, any of their respective directors, officers, or employees, is a Sanctioned Person. The Loan Parties will not directly use the proceeds of any Loans to violate any Anti-Corruption Law or applicable Sanctions.

 

4.24          Affected Financial Institutions. No Loan Party is an Affected Financial Institution.

 

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4.25          Subject Agreements. (a) Neither the Borrower nor any other Loan Party has provided, or has taken any steps to provide, any Person other than the Administrative Agent with “control” (as defined in and provided for in the New York Uniform Commercial Code) over any Subject Agreement. (b)  On and after the occurrence of the Electronic Chattel Paper Control System Implementation Date, substantially all Subject Agreements entered into after such date constitute Electronic Chattel Paper.

 

SECTION 5.  CONDITIONS PRECEDENT

 

5.1            Conditions to Initial Extension of Credit. The agreement of each Lender to make the Commitments available and make the initial extension of credit requested to be made by it is subject to the satisfaction, prior to or concurrently with the making of such extension of credit on the Closing Date, of the following conditions precedent:

 

(a)            Loan Documents. The Administrative Agent shall have received (i) this Agreement, executed and delivered by the Administrative Agent, the Borrower and each Person listed on Schedule 1.1, (ii) the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement, executed and delivered by the Borrower and each Subsidiary Guarantor and (iii) the Intercreditor Agreement, executed and delivered by the Administrative Agent, the Borrower and each Person party thereto.

 

(b)           Target Acquisition. The Acima Acquisition shall have been consummated, or substantially simultaneously with the funding of the Loans and issuances of Letters of Credit on the Closing Date hereunder shall be consummated, in all material respects in accordance with the terms of the Acquisition Agreement, and the Acquisition Agreement shall not have been altered, amended or otherwise changed or supplemented or any provision waived or any consent given thereunder, in each case, in any respect that would be materially adverse to the Lenders or the Arrangers without the prior written consent of the Arrangers, such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned; provided that (i) any decrease in the purchase price shall not be deemed to be materially adverse to the Lenders or the Arrangers so long as such reduction of the purchase price is allocated to a reduction in the amounts to be funded under the Unsecured Notes until zero and then allocated to a reduction of the amounts to be funded under the Term Loan Credit Agreement and does not exceed 15% of the purchase price, (ii) any increase in the purchase price shall not be materially adverse to the Lenders so long as such increase is funded by equity or internally generated cash of the Borrower and (iii) any amendment, waiver or consent with respect to Section 3.8(b) of the Acquisition Agreement or any defined terms as used therein shall be deemed to be materially adverse to the Lenders and the Arrangers.

 

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(c)            Pro Forma Financial Statements; Financial Statements. Each Arranger shall have received (i) the Pro Forma Financial Statements, (ii) (a) audited consolidated financial statements for the Borrower and its Subsidiaries (prior to giving effect to the Transactions) for the three most recent fiscal years ended at least 90 days before the Closing Date, provided that the Arrangers acknowledge that they have received the audited consolidated financial statements for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2017, December 31, 2018 and December 31, 2019, and (b) unaudited consolidated financial statements for the Borrower and its Subsidiaries (prior to giving effect to the Transactions) for each fiscal quarter (other than the fourth fiscal quarter) ended after the date of the most recent balance sheet delivered pursuant to clause (ii)(a) above and at least 45 days before the Closing Date (and, in the case of each of clauses (ii)(a) and (ii)(b), such financial statements shall be prepared in conformity with GAAP; provided that such financial statements specified in clause (ii)(b) shall be subject to year-end adjustments and absence of footnotes), provided that the Arrangers acknowledge that the financial statements delivered with respect to the fiscal quarters ended March 31, 2020, June 30, 2020 and September 30, 2020 have been received, and (iii) (a) audited consolidated balance sheets and related statements of income, stockholders’ equity and cash flows and related notes thereto of the Acquired Business for the two fiscal years most recently ended at least 90 days prior to the Closing Date, provided that the Arrangers acknowledge that they have received the audited consolidated balance sheets and related statements of income, stockholders’ equity and cash flows and related notes thereto for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2018 and December 31, 2019, and (b) unaudited consolidated balance sheets and related statements of income, cash flows and related notes thereto of the Acquired Business for each subsequent fiscal quarter (excluding the fourth quarter of any fiscal year) ended at least 45 days prior to the Closing Date in each case, with comparative financial information for the equivalent period of the prior year (and, in the case of each of clauses (iii)(a) and (iii)(b), such financial statements are prepared in accordance with GAAP; provided that such financial statements specified in clause (iii)(b) shall be subject to year-end adjustments and absence of footnotes), provided that the Arrangers acknowledge that the financial statements of the Acquired Business delivered with respect to the fiscal quarters ended March 31, 2020, June 30, 2020 and September 30, 2020 have been received.

 

(d)            Lien Searches. The Administrative Agent shall have received the results of a recent Lien search with respect to each Loan Party and the Acquired Business, and such search shall reveal no Liens on any of the assets of the Loan Parties except for Liens permitted by Section 7.3 or discharged on or prior to the Closing Date pursuant to documentation satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

 

(e)            Fees. All costs, fees and expenses required to be paid or reimbursed by the Borrower to the Administrative Agent, the Arrangers and the Lenders in connection with this Agreement (including the reasonable and documented fees and expenses of legal counsel to the Administrative Agent) and all costs, fees and expenses required to be paid or reimbursed by the Borrower pursuant to the letter agreements entered into with the Administrative Agent (including the Upfront Fee Letter) and the Arrangers shall have been paid or shall have been authorized to be deducted from the proceeds of the initial extensions of credit under this Agreement to the extent due and invoiced to the Borrower at least three Business Days prior to the date hereof.

 

(f)             Officer’s Certificate; Good Standing Certificates. The Administrative Agent shall have received (i) a certificate of each Loan Party, dated the Closing Date, substantially in the form of Exhibit C, with appropriate insertions and attachments, including (A) the certificate of incorporation, in the case of a Loan Party that is a corporation, and certificate of formation, in the case of a Loan Party that is a limited liability company, in each case, certified by the relevant authority of the jurisdiction of organization of such Loan Party as of a recent date, (B) the bylaws, in the case of a Loan Party that is a corporation, and limited liability company agreement or operating agreement, in the case of a Loan Party that is a limited liability company, certified as of the Closing Date by its secretary, an assistant secretary or a Responsible Officer as being in full force and effect without modification or amendment, (C) resolutions of the governing bodies of each Loan Party approving and authorizing the execution, delivery and performance of Loan Documents to which it is a party, certified as of the Closing Date by its secretary, an assistant secretary or a Responsible Officer as being in full force and effect without modification or amendment and (D) signature and incumbency certificates of the Responsible Officers of each Loan Party executing the Loan Documents to which it is a party, and (ii) a long form good standing certificate for each Loan Party from its jurisdiction of organization.

 

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(g)           Legal Opinions. The Administrative Agent shall have received the executed legal opinions of Sullivan & Cromwell LLP, New York counsel to the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries and certain other local counsel to the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries, as reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent, each in form and substance reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent.

 

(h)          Pledged Stock; Stock Powers; Pledged Notes. Subject to the last paragraph of this Section 5.1 and to Section 6.9(a), the Term Loan Administrative Agent shall have received (i) the certificates (if any) representing the shares of Capital Stock pledged pursuant to the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement, together with an undated endorsement for each such certificate executed in blank by a duly authorized officer of the pledgor thereof and (ii) each promissory note (if any) pledged to the Administrative Agent pursuant to the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement endorsed (without recourse) in blank (or accompanied by an executed transfer form in blank) by the pledgor thereof.

 

(i)         Filings, Registrations and Recordings. Subject to the last paragraph of this Section 5.1 and to Section 6.9(a), each document (including any Uniform Commercial Code financing statement) required by the Security Documents or under law or reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent to be filed, registered or recorded in order to create in favor of the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, a perfected Lien on the Collateral described therein, prior and superior in right to any other Person (other than with respect to Liens expressly permitted by Section 7.3), shall be in proper form for filing, registration or recordation.

 

(j)             Officer’s Certificate. The Administrative Agent shall have received a certificate of the Borrower, dated the Closing Date certifying that the conditions in Section 5.1(n), 5.2(a), Section 5.2(b) have been met.

 

(k)            Solvency Certificate. The Administrative Agent shall have received a solvency certificate from a Responsible Officer in the form of Exhibit L.

 

(l)             [Reserved].

 

(m)        Patriot Act. The Administrative Agent shall have received, at least three Business Days prior to the Closing Date, all documentation and other customary information about any Loan Party to the extent reasonable and customary and requested by the Administrative Agent in writing at least 10 Business Days prior to the Closing Date that is reasonably required by United States bank regulatory authorities under applicable “know your customer”, beneficial ownership and anti-money laundering rules and regulations, including the Patriot Act.

 

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(n)            Representations and Warranties. The Specified Acquisition Agreement Representations with respect to the Acima Acquisition shall be true and correct in all respects to the extent required by the definition thereof.

 

(o)            Field Examination and Appraisal. The Administrative Agent shall have received an appraisal of the Rental Agreement Portfolio of the Acquired Business from a firm (or firms) satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, which appraisal(s) shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent in its Permitted Discretion (and the Administrative Agent hereby confirms that it has received such appraisal).

 

(p)            Borrowing Base Certificate. The Administrative Agent shall have received a Borrowing Base Certificate, dated as of the Closing Date and giving pro forma effect to the Transactions and the rental agreements of the Acquired Business to be included in the Borrowing Base as Eligible Rental Agreements, and including the other information required by Section 6.2(g) and otherwise in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

 

(q)            [Reserved].

 

(r)            Debt Repayment/Funded Debt. The Debt Repayment shall have occurred, or substantially simultaneously with the initial funding of the Loans and issuances of Letters of Credit on the Closing Date hereunder shall occur, and immediately following consummation of the Transactions, neither the Borrower nor any of the Restricted Subsidiaries shall have any outstanding Indebtedness other than Indebtedness outstanding under this Agreement and other Indebtedness permitted pursuant to this Agreement.

 

(s)            Availability. No more than $200,000,000 of funded debt (excluding, for the avoidance of doubt, undrawn and cash collateralized letters of credit) may be outstanding under this Agreement on the Closing Date after giving effect to the Transactions.

 

For the purpose of determining compliance with the conditions specified in this Section 5.1, each Lender that has signed this Agreement shall be deemed to have accepted, and to be satisfied with, each document or other matter required under this Section 5.1 unless the Administrative Agent shall have received written notice from such Lender prior to the proposed Closing Date specifying its objection thereto.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent that any security interest in the Collateral (other than (x) the delivery of certificates evidencing equity interests for the Subsidiary Guarantors (other than, in the case of the Acquired Business, with respect to any such certificate that has not been made available to the Borrower at least three Business Days prior to the Closing Date, to the extent the Borrower has used commercially reasonable efforts to procure delivery thereof) or (y) any Collateral the security interest in which may be perfected by the filing of a UCC financing statement for entities organized in the United States) is not or cannot be granted, provided or perfected on the Closing Date after the Borrower’s use of commercially reasonable efforts to do so or without undue burden or expense, then the provision and/or perfection of security interests in such Collateral shall not constitute a condition precedent to this Agreement or any extension of credit on the Closing Date, but shall be required to be granted, delivered and/or perfected as required pursuant to Section 6.9(a).

 

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5.2         Conditions to Each Extension of Credit. The agreement of each Lender to make available Revolving Loans (excluding any continuation or conversion thereof) and to issue Letters of Credit requested to be made by it on any date (including, for the avoidance of doubt, the making of its Commitments and the making of its initial extension of credit on the Closing Date, but excluding any Protective Advance) is subject to the satisfaction or waiver in accordance with the terms hereof, prior to or concurrently with the making of such Revolving Loans or the issuance of such Letters of Credit, of the following conditions precedent:

 

(a)           Representations and Warranties. Each of the representations and warranties made by any Loan Party in or pursuant to the Loan Documents shall be true and correct in all material respects (or in all respects if qualified by materiality) on and as of such date as if made on and as of such date, except to the extent expressly made as of an earlier date, in which case such representations and warranties shall have been so true and correct as of such earlier date.

 

(b)            No Default. No Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing at the time of or immediately after giving effect to the making of such Revolving Loans or the issuance of such Letters of Credit.

 

Each borrowing of Revolving Loans (excluding any continuation or conversion thereof) by, and issuance of a Letter of Credit on behalf of, the Borrower hereunder (other than the initial extensions of credit on the Closing Date and other than with respect to a Protective Advance), shall constitute a representation and warranty by the Borrower at the time of the borrowing of such Revolving Loans or the issuance of such Letters of Credit that the conditions contained in this Section 5.2 have been satisfied or waived in accordance with the terms hereof.

 

SECTION 6.  AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS

 

The Borrower hereby agrees that, so long as the Commitments remain in effect, any Letter of Credit remains outstanding or any Loan or other amount is owing to any Lender or the Administrative Agent hereunder (other than contingent obligations and expense reimbursement not yet due and payable, Banking Services Obligations and Secured Swap Obligations), the Borrower shall and, in the case of Sections 6.3 through 6.8, 6.10, 6.13 and 6.14, shall cause each of its Restricted Subsidiaries to and, in the case of Section 6.12, shall cause each of its Domestic Subsidiaries to:

 

6.1            Financial Statements. Furnish to the Administrative Agent, on behalf of each Lender:

 

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(a)           as soon as available, but in any event within 90 days after the end of each fiscal year of the Borrower, a copy of the audited consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries as at the end of such year and the related audited consolidated statements of income, stockholders’ equity and cash flows for such year (together with, in all cases, customary management discussion and analysis), setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for the previous year, reported on without a “going concern” or like qualification or exception (other than any qualification or exception that is expressed solely with respect to, or resulting solely from, (i) an upcoming maturity date under any Indebtedness or (ii) any actual or potential inability to satisfy a financial maintenance covenant at such time or on a future date or in a future period), or qualification arising out of the scope of the audit, by Ernst & Young LLP or other independent certified public accountants of nationally recognized standing;

 

(b)            as soon as available, but in any event not later than 45 days after the end of each of the first three quarterly periods of each fiscal year of the Borrower, the unaudited consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries as at the end of such quarter and the related unaudited consolidated statements of income, stockholders’ equity and cash flows for such quarter and/or the portion of the fiscal year through the end of such quarter (together with, in all cases, customary management discussion and analysis), setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for the corresponding period or periods of the previous fiscal year (or, in the case of the balance sheet, as of the end of the previous fiscal year), certified by a Responsible Officer as being fairly stated in all material respects (subject to normal year-end audit adjustments and the absence of footnotes);

 

(c)            as soon as available, but in any event not later than 30 days after the end of each calendar month of the Borrower (other than, with respect to the following clause (i), (A) the third, sixth, ninth and twelfth months of each calendar year and (B) any month that does not end during a Monthly Financial Statement Period), (i) the unaudited consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries as at the end of such month and the related unaudited consolidated statements of income and cash flows for such month and the portion of the fiscal year through the end of such month, setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for the comparable period in the previous year, certified by a Responsible Officer as being fairly stated in all material respects (subject to normal year-end audit adjustments and the absence of footnotes) and (ii) a Collateral Monitoring Template; and

 

(d)           if any Unrestricted Subsidiary exists, concurrently with each delivery of financial statements under clause (a), (b) or (c)(i) above, financial statements (in substantially the same form as the financial statements delivered pursuant to clause (a), (b) or (c)(i) above, as applicable) prepared on the basis of consolidating the accounts of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries and treating any Unrestricted Subsidiaries as if they were not consolidated with the Borrower, together with an explanation of reconciliation adjustments in reasonable detail.

 

All such financial statements shall be complete and correct in all material respects and shall be prepared in reasonable detail and in accordance with GAAP applied (except as approved by such accountants or officer, as the case may be, and disclosed in reasonable detail therein) consistently throughout the periods reflected therein and with prior periods.

 

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Documents required to be delivered pursuant to Section 6.1(a), (b) or (c)(i) or Section 6.2(b), (c) or (e) may be delivered electronically and if so delivered, shall be deemed to have been delivered on the date on which (i) such documents are posted on the Borrower’s behalf on IntraLinks/IntraAgency or another relevant 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 or (ii) such documents are filed of record with the SEC; provided that, upon written request by the Administrative Agent, the Borrower shall deliver paper copies of such documents to the Administrative Agent for further distribution to each Lender until a written request to cease delivering paper copies is given by the Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent shall have no obligation to request the delivery of or to maintain or deliver to Lenders paper copies of the documents referred to above, and in any event shall have no responsibility to monitor compliance by the Borrower with any such request for delivery, and each Lender shall be solely responsible for timely accessing posted documents or requesting delivery of paper copies of such documents from the Administrative Agent and maintaining its copies of such documents.

 

6.2            Certificates; Borrowing Base; Other Information. Furnish to the Administrative Agent, on behalf of each Lender:

 

(a)            [reserved];

 

(b)            concurrently with the delivery of any financial statements pursuant to Sections 6.1(a) and 6.1(b), (i) a Compliance Certificate executed by a Responsible Officer, which Compliance Certificate shall (x) include a statement that such Responsible Officer has obtained no knowledge of any Default or Event of Default except as specified in such certificate, (y) in the case of quarterly or annual financial statements, set forth, in reasonable detail, the calculation of the Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio for the Reference Period ending as of the last day of the fiscal year or fiscal quarter for which financial statements are being delivered pursuant to Section 6.1 and (ii) in the case of quarterly or annual financial statements, to the extent not previously disclosed to the Administrative Agent, a description of any change in the jurisdiction of organization of any Loan Party;

 

(c)            as soon as available, and in any event no later than 90 days after the end of each fiscal year of the Borrower, a detailed consolidated budget for the following fiscal year (including a projected consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries as of the end of the following fiscal year, the related consolidated statements of projected cash flow and projected income and a description of the underlying assumptions applicable thereto) (collectively, the “Projections”), which Projections shall in each case be accompanied by a certificate of a Responsible Officer stating that such Projections are based on reasonable estimates, information and assumptions at the time made, it being understood that such Projections as they relate to future events are not to be viewed as fact and that actual results during the period or periods covered by such Projections may differ from the projected results set forth therein and such difference may be material;

 

(d)            [Reserved];

 

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(e)            promptly after the same are sent, copies of all financial statements and reports that the Borrower sends to the holders of any class of its public debt securities or public equity securities and, promptly after the same are filed, copies of all financial statements and reports that the Borrower may make to, or file with, the SEC;

 

(f)            promptly following receipt thereof, copies of (i) any documents described in Section 101(k) or 101(l) of ERISA that any Group Member or any ERISA Affiliate may request with respect to any Multiemployer Plan or any documents described in Section 101(f) of ERISA that any Group Member or any ERISA Affiliate may request with respect to any Pension Plan; provided, that if the relevant Group Members or ERISA Affiliates have not requested such documents or notices from the administrator or sponsor of the applicable Multiemployer Plans, then, upon reasonable request of the Administrative Agent, such Group Member or the ERISA Affiliate shall promptly make a request for such documents or notices from such administrator or sponsor and the Borrower shall provide copies of such documents and notices to the Administrative Agent promptly after receipt thereof;

 

(g)           as soon as available but in any event within 30 calendar days of the end of each calendar month (or within five Business Days of the end of each week during a Weekly Borrowing Base Period), as of the last day of the period then ended, a Borrowing Base Certificate together with the information supporting the Borrowing Base calculation required by the Borrowing Base Certificate including:

 

(i)           a detailed aging of the Loan Parties’ Accounts, including all invoices aged by invoice date and due date, prepared in a manner reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent;

 

(ii)          a schedule detailing the Loan Parties’ Inventory Held for Rent, in form reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, by location (showing Inventory in transit and any Inventory located with a third party under any consignment, bailee arrangement or warehouse agreement), by product type and by volume on hand, which Inventory shall be valued at the lower of cost (determined on a first-in, first-out basis) or market and adjusted for Reserves as the Administrative Agent has previously indicated to the Borrower are deemed by the Administrative Agent to be appropriate;

 

(iii)         a schedule detailing the Loan Parties’ Eligible Rental Agreements;

 

(iv)         a worksheet of calculations prepared by the Borrower to determine Eligible Installment Sale Accounts, Eligible Inventory Held for Rent and Eligible Rental Agreements, such worksheets detailing the Accounts, Inventory and rental agreements excluded from Eligible Installment Sale Accounts, Eligible Inventory Held for Rent and Eligible Rental Agreements and the reason for such exclusion;

 

(v)          a reconciliation of the Borrower’s Eligible Installment Sale Accounts, Eligible Inventory Held for Rent and Eligible Rental Agreements between the amounts shown in the Borrower’s general ledger and financial statements and the reports delivered pursuant to clauses (i), (ii) and (iii) above; and

 

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(vi)          a reconciliation of the loan balance per the Borrower’s general ledger to the loan balance under this Agreement;

 

(h)          [Reserved];

 

(i)           prior to any (i) Disposition (in one transaction or a series of related transactions) of assets that provide an aggregate amount in excess of $25,000,000 of value to the Borrowing Base and/or (ii) Disposition of any assets in connection with a Securitization Transaction, a Borrowing Base Certificate (giving effect to such sale or other disposition) and supporting information in connection therewith; and

 

(j)           promptly, such (x) additional financial and other customary information as the Administrative Agent (or any Lender through the Administrative Agent) may from time to time reasonably request and (y) information and documentation reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent or any Lender for purposes of compliance with applicable “know your customer”, beneficial ownership and anti-money laundering rules and regulations, including the Patriot Act.

 

6.3          Payment of Taxes. Pay, discharge or otherwise satisfy as they become due or before they become delinquent, as the case may be, all its material obligations in respect of Taxes, except where (a) the amount or validity thereof is currently being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and reserves to the extent required by GAAP with respect thereto have been provided on the books of the relevant Group Member or (b) the failure to make such payments, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

6.4          Maintenance of Existence; Compliance. (a)(i) Preserve, renew and keep in full force and effect its organizational existence and (ii) take all reasonable action to maintain all rights, privileges and franchises necessary in the normal conduct of its business, except, in each case, as otherwise permitted by Section 7.4 and except, in the case of clause (ii) above, to the extent that failure to do so would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; (b) comply with all Requirements of Law except to the extent that failure to comply therewith would not, in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; and (c) maintain in effect and enforce policies and procedures designed to ensure material compliance by the Borrower, its Subsidiaries and their respective directors, officers, employees and agents with Anti-Corruption Laws and applicable Sanctions.

 

6.5          Maintenance of Insurance. (a)  Maintain, with financially sound and reputable insurance companies (after giving effect to self-insurance), insurance in such amounts and against such risks as are customarily maintained by companies engaged in the same or similar businesses operating in the same or similar locations and (b) use commercially reasonable efforts to cause all insurance policies or certificates, as requested by the Administrative Agent, to be endorsed to the benefit of the Administrative Agent (including by naming the Administrative Agent as lender loss payee and/or additional insured).

 

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6.6           Books and Records; Inspection of Property; Discussions; Appraisals; Field Examinations. (a)(i)  Keep proper books of records and account in which full, true and correct (in all material respects) entries in conformity with GAAP (other than for Foreign Subsidiaries, in which case the applicable accounting standard shall be the accounting standard used in such Foreign Subsidiary’s jurisdiction) and all Requirements of Law shall be made of all dealings and transactions in relation to its business and activities and (ii) upon reasonable prior notice and subject to the provisions of Section 10.15, permit representatives of the Administrative Agent or any Lender to visit and inspect any of its properties and examine and make abstracts from any of its books and records at any reasonable time and as often as may reasonably be desired and to discuss the business, operations, properties and financial and other condition of the Group Members with officers and employees of the Group Members and, accompanied by one or more officers or designees of the Borrower if requested by the Borrower, with their independent certified public accountants; provided that excluding any such visits and inspections during the continuation of an Event of Default (x) only the Administrative Agent, acting individually or on behalf of the Lenders may exercise rights under this Section 6.6(a) and (y) the Administrative Agent shall not exercise rights under this Section 6.6(a) more often than one time during any calendar year.

 

(b)           No more than once in each twelve month period, at the request of the Administrative Agent, the Loan Parties will cooperate with an appraiser selected and engaged by the Administrative Agent (after consultation with the Borrower) to provide Inventory and Rental Agreement Portfolio appraisals or updates thereof, prepared on a basis reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, such appraisals and updates to include information required by applicable law and regulations; provided that (i) if a Specified Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, there shall be no limitation on the number or frequency of such appraisals and (ii) if Availability is less than the greater of $60,000,000 or 15% of the Line Cap for a period of five consecutive Business Days, the Loan Parties will cooperate with the Administrative Agent to provide one additional Inventory appraisal and one additional Rental Agreement Portfolio appraisal (each at the request of the Administrative Agent) during the twelve month period commencing with any month during which clause (ii) is triggered. For purposes of this Section 6.6(b), it is understood and agreed that a single appraisal may consist of appraisals conducted at multiple relevant sites and involve one or more relevant Loan Parties and their assets. All such appraisals shall be commenced upon reasonable prior written notice to the Borrower and performed during normal business hours of the Loan Parties and in a manner such as not to disrupt the normal operation of the Loan Parties’ business, and all reasonable and documented out-of-pocket costs of such appraisals shall be at the sole expense of the Loan Parties.

 

(c)           No more than once in each twelve month period, at the request of the Administrative Agent, the Loan Parties will permit, upon reasonable prior written notice, the Administrative Agent or its designee to conduct a field examination to ensure the adequacy of Collateral included in any Borrowing Base and related reporting and control systems; provided that (i) if a Specified Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, there shall be no limitation on the number or frequency of such field examinations and (ii) if Availability is less than the greater of $60,000,000 or 15% of the Line Cap for a period of five consecutive Business Days, the Loan Parties will permit the Administrative Agent to conduct one additional such examination (at the request of the Administrative Agent) during the twelve month period commencing with any month during which clause (ii) above is triggered. For purposes of this Section 6.6(c), it is understood and agreed that (i) a single field examination may be conducted at multiple relevant sites and involve one or more relevant Loan Parties and their assets and (ii) the Administrative Agent shall use commercially reasonable efforts to coordinate any such field exams. All such field examinations shall be commenced upon reasonable prior written notice to the Borrower and performed during normal business hours of the Loan Parties and in a manner such as not to disrupt the normal operations of the Loan Parties’ business, and all reasonable and documented out-of-pocket costs of such field examinations shall be at the sole expense of the Loan Parties.

 

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6.7           Notices. Promptly give notice to the Administrative Agent, on behalf of each Lender, of:

 

(a)           the occurrence of any Default or Event of Default;

 

(b)           any litigation, investigation or proceeding that may exist at any time between any Group Member and any Governmental Authority that, in each case, has a reasonable probability of not being cured or of being adversely determined and that, if not cured or if adversely determined, as the case may be, would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;

 

(c)           any litigation or proceeding affecting the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in which injunctive or similar relief is sought which has a reasonable probability of being determined adversely and if adversely determined would reasonably be expected to be granted and which, if granted, would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;

 

(d)           (i)  as soon as reasonably possible upon becoming aware of the occurrence of or forthcoming occurrence of any material ERISA Event, a written notice specifying the nature thereof, what action the Borrower, any of the other Group Members or any of their respective ERISA Affiliates has taken, is taking or proposes to take with respect thereto and, when known, any action taken or threatened by the IRS, the Department of Labor or the PBGC with respect thereto; and (ii) with reasonable promptness, upon the Administrative Agent’s reasonable request, copies of (A) each Schedule SB (Actuarial Information) to the annual report (Form 5500 Series) filed by the Borrower, any of the other Group Members or any of their respective ERISA Affiliates with the IRS with respect to each Pension Plan; (B) all notices received by the Borrower, any of the other Group Members or any of their respective ERISA Affiliates from a Multiemployer Plan sponsor concerning a material ERISA Event; and (C) copies of such other documents or governmental reports or filings relating to any Plan or Pension Plan as the Administrative Agent shall reasonably request; and

 

(e)           any other development or event that has had or would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

Each notice pursuant to this Section 6.7 shall be accompanied by a statement of a Responsible Officer setting forth details of the occurrence referred to therein and stating what action the relevant Group Member proposes to take with respect thereto.

 

6.8           Environmental Laws. (a)  Comply with, and ensure compliance by all tenants, subtenants, contractors, subcontractors, and invitees, if any, with, all applicable Environmental Laws, and obtain and comply with and maintain, and ensure that all tenants, subtenants, contractors, subcontractors, and invitees obtain and comply with and maintain, any and all Environmental Permits (with respect to tenants, subtenants, contractors, and invitees, the foregoing applies to their presence and conduct on, affecting or relating to any property of the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries). It being understood that any noncompliance with this Section 6.8(a) shall be deemed not to constitute a breach of this covenant provided that, upon learning of any actual or suspected noncompliance, the Borrower shall promptly undertake all reasonable efforts to achieve compliance, and provided further that, in any case, such noncompliance, and any other noncompliance with Environmental Law, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

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(b)           Promptly comply with all orders and directives of all Governmental Authorities regarding Environmental Laws, other than such orders and directives as to which an appeal has been timely and properly taken in good faith, and provided that the pendency of any and all such appeals would not reasonably be expected to give rise to a Material Adverse Effect.

 

6.9           Post-Closing Actions.

 

(a)           To the extent that in accordance with the last paragraph of Section 5.1, any security interest in the Collateral is not granted, provided or perfected on the Closing Date, then (i) with respect to any certificate evidencing Capital Stock of the Acquired Business that was not made available to the Borrower at least three Business Days prior to the Closing Date, such certificate (together with an undated endorsement for such certificate executed in blank by a duly authorized officer of the pledgor thereof) shall be delivered to the Term Loan Administrative Agent within ten (10) Business Days after the Closing Date (or such later date as the Term Loan Administrative Agent may have agreed, such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed), (ii)  with respect to any deposit account maintained by a Loan Party on the Closing Date, within sixty (60) days following the Closing Date, the Loan Parties shall deliver to the Administrative Agent any Deposit Account Control Agreement required to be delivered pursuant to the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and (iii) with respect to any other Collateral, the provision and/or perfection of security interests in such Collateral to the extent required by the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement shall be granted, delivered and/or perfected within 90 days after the Closing Date (in each case, subject to extensions to be reasonably agreed upon by the Administrative Agent).

 

(b)           Within thirty (30) days following the Closing Date (or such later date as the Administrative Agent may agree in its sole discretion), the Borrower deliver insurance certificates with respect to Inventory satisfying the requirements of Section 6.5.

 

6.10         Additional Collateral, etc. (a)  With respect to any property acquired after the Closing Date by any Loan Party (other than (A) any property described in paragraph (b) or (c) below, (B) any property subject to a Lien expressly permitted by Section 7.3(g), (C) so long as the Fixed Obligations Payment Date has not occurred, any Fixed Asset Priority Collateral as to which the Controlling Fixed Asset Representative determines, in its reasonable discretion and in consultation with the Borrower, that the cost of obtaining a security interest therein is excessive in relation to the value of the security to be afforded thereby and (D) any property as to which the Administrative Agent determines, in its reasonable discretion and in consultation with the Borrower, that the cost of obtaining a security interest therein is excessive in relation to the value of the security to be afforded thereby, (E) any property that is Excluded Property (as defined in the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement) and (F) any real property)) as to which the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, does not have a perfected Lien, promptly (i) execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent such amendments to the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement or such other documents as the Administrative Agent deems necessary or reasonably advisable to grant to the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, a security interest in such property and (ii) take all actions necessary or reasonably advisable to grant to the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, a perfected security interest in any such property (with the priority required by the Intercreditor Agreement), including the filing of Uniform Commercial Code financing statements in such jurisdictions as may be required by the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement or by law or as may be reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent.

 

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(b)           With respect to any new Domestic Subsidiary (other than any Excluded Subsidiary) created or acquired after the Closing Date by any Loan Party (which, for the purposes of this paragraph (c), shall include (1) any existing Subsidiary that becomes a Domestic Subsidiary that is not an Excluded Subsidiary and (2) any existing Domestic Subsidiary that ceases to be an Excluded Subsidiary) within thirty (30) days after the creation or acquisition of such new Domestic Subsidiary (or such later date as the Administrative Agent shall agree to in its reasonable discretion) (i) execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent such amendments to the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement as the Administrative Agent deems necessary or reasonably advisable to grant to the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, a perfected security interest with the priority required by the Intercreditor Agreement in the Capital Stock of such new Subsidiary that is owned by any Loan Party, (ii) subject to the Intercreditor Agreement, deliver to the Administrative Agent the certificates, if any, representing such Capital Stock, together with undated endorsements, in blank, executed and delivered by a duly authorized officer of the relevant Loan Party and (iii) cause such new Subsidiary (A) to become a party to the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement, (B) to take such actions necessary or reasonably advisable to grant to the Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties a perfected security interest with the priority required by the Intercreditor Agreement in the Collateral described in the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement with respect to such new Subsidiary, including the filing of Uniform Commercial Code financing statements in such jurisdictions as may be required by the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement or by law or as may be reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent and (C) subject to the Intercreditor Agreement, to deliver to the Administrative Agent a certificate of such Subsidiary, substantially in the form of Exhibit C, with appropriate insertions and attachments.

 

(c)           With respect to any new CFC Holding Company or Foreign Subsidiary created or acquired after the Closing Date by any Loan Party (which, for the purposes of this paragraph (d), shall include any existing Subsidiary that becomes a CFC Holding Company or a Foreign Subsidiary), within sixty (60) days after the creation or acquisition of such new CFC Holding Company or Foreign Subsidiary (or such later date as the Administrative Agent shall agree to in its reasonable discretion) (i) execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent such amendments to the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement as the Administrative Agent deems necessary or reasonably advisable to grant to the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, a perfected security interest with the priority required by the Intercreditor Agreement in the Capital Stock of such CFC Holding Company or Foreign Subsidiary that is owned by any such Loan Party (provided that in no event shall more than 65% of the total outstanding voting Capital Stock of any such CFC Holding Company or Foreign Subsidiary be required to be so pledged), (ii) subject to the Intercreditor Agreement, deliver to the Administrative Agent the certificates, if any, representing such pledged Capital Stock, together with undated stock powers, in blank, executed and delivered by a duly authorized officer of the relevant Loan Party and take such other action as the Administrative Agent deems necessary or reasonably advisable to perfect the Administrative Agent’s security interest therein.

 

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6.11        Designation of Subsidiaries. The Borrower may at any time after the Closing Date designate any Restricted Subsidiary as an Unrestricted Subsidiary or any Unrestricted Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary by delivering to the Administrative Agent a certificate of a Responsible Officer specifying such designation and certifying that the conditions to such designation set forth in this Section 6.11 are satisfied; provided that:

 

(a)          both immediately before and immediately after any such designation, no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing;

 

(b)          in the case of a designation of a Restricted Subsidiary as an Unrestricted Subsidiary, the pro forma Consolidated Leverage Ratio for the Applicable Reference Period, calculated on a Pro Forma Basis, is no greater than 3.00 to 1.00;

 

(c)          in the case of a designation of a Restricted Subsidiary as an Unrestricted Subsidiary, each Subsidiary of such Subsidiary has been, or concurrently therewith will be, designated as an Unrestricted Subsidiary in accordance with this Section 6.11;

 

(d)          in the case of a designation of a Restricted Subsidiary as an Unrestricted Subsidiary, such Subsidiary shall substantially simultaneously be designated as an “Unrestricted Subsidiary” under the Term Loan Credit Agreement and the Unsecured Notes Indenture (and, to the extent applicable, any other agreement governing Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness in respect of the Term Loans or the Unsecured Notes) and in the case of a designation of an Unrestricted Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary, such Subsidiary shall substantially simultaneously be designated as a “Restricted Subsidiary” under the Term Loan Credit Agreement and the Unsecured Notes Indenture (and, to the extent applicable, any other agreement governing Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness in respect of the Term Loans or the Unsecured Notes).

 

The designation of any Restricted Subsidiary as an Unrestricted Subsidiary shall constitute an Investment by the Borrower in such Subsidiary on the date of designation in an amount equal to the fair market value of the Borrower’s Investment therein (as determined reasonably and in good faith by a Responsible Officer). The designation of any Unrestricted Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary shall constitute the incurrence at the time of designation of any Investment, Indebtedness or Liens of such Subsidiary existing at such time.

 

6.12        Deposit Account Control Agreements; Controlled Accounts.

 

(a)          With respect to any new deposit account opened by a Loan Party after the Closing Date or any Excluded Account (as defined in the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement) that ceases to be an Excluded Account after the Closing Date, (i) give notice to the Administrative Agent within three (3) Business Days following the opening or change in status of such account (or such longer period as the Administrative Agent may agree in its reasonable discretion) and (ii) within sixty (60) days (or such longer period as the Administrative Agent may agree in its reasonable discretion) following the opening of such account, deliver to the Administrative Agent any Deposit Account Control Agreement required to be delivered pursuant to the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement, in each case, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

 

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(b)          Take all reasonable steps to ensure that (i) all proceeds received in connection with a Disposition by a Loan Party permitted under Section 7.5(m) are placed into a deposit account that is subject to a Deposit Account Control Agreement, (ii) all Securitization Residual Interests (to the extent constituting cash) and any cash proceeds of Securitization Residual Interests are placed into a deposit account that is subject to a Deposit Account Control Agreement and (iii) following the consummation of a Securitization Transaction, all proceeds received in connection with a Qualified Securitization Transaction by a Securitization Subsidiary are received in a deposit account that is maintained separately from those of the Borrower and its other Restricted Subsidiaries in a manner that is acceptable to the Administrative Agent in its Permitted Discretion.

 

6.13        Rental and Sales Agreements.

 

(a)          Unless Section 6.13(b) applies, (i) any rental agreements entered into by a Loan Party with a customer of such Loan Party and any installment sales agreements entered into by a Loan Party with a customer of such Loan Party (the foregoing agreements, the “Subject Agreements”) shall be held by the Loan Parties at one or more locations as directed by the Borrower and (ii) the Loan Parties shall use commercially reasonable efforts to maintain customary measures consistent with past practice with respect to access to, and security of, the Subject Agreements.

 

(b)          From and after the date that is sixty (60) days after the first date on which either (i) Availability is less than the greater of (A) 20% of the Line Cap and (B) $75,000,000 or (ii) the Administrative Agent notifies the Borrower in its Permitted Discretion, continuing until the time at which (x) Availability shall have exceeded (A) 35% of the Line Cap and (B) $131,250,000 for a period of sixty (60) consecutive days and (y) the Administrative Agent no longer deems necessary in its Permitted Discretion to hold Subject Agreements, any Subject Agreements shall be promptly delivered to either (I) the Specified Administrative Agent Location or (II) to the Administrative Agent (or a designee thereof), and if so delivered to the Administrative Agent (or a designee thereof), duly indorsed in a manner reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

 

(c)          The Loan Parties shall ensure that all Subject Agreements entered into following the Closing Date bear the following legend: “This writing and the obligations evidenced hereby are subject to the security interest of JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent”.

 

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(d)          (i) The provisions of clauses (a) and (b) of this Section 6.13 shall cease to be of further force and effect upon the date that is one year after the occurrence of the Electronic Chattel Paper Control System Implementation Date (the “ECP Fallaway Date”). (ii)  After the occurrence of the ECP Fallaway Date, from and after the date that is sixty (60) days after the first date on which the Administrative Agent notifies the Borrower in its Permitted Discretion, continuing until the time at which the Administrative Agent no longer deems necessary in its Permitted Discretion to hold Subject Agreements that are not in the form of Electronic Chattel Paper, any Subject Agreements that are not in the form of Electronic Chattel Paper shall be promptly delivered to either (A) the Specified Administrative Agent Location or (B) to the Administrative Agent (or a designee thereof), and if so delivered to the Administrative Agent (or a designee thereof), duly indorsed in a manner reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

 

(e)           At all times after the occurrence of the Electronic Chattel Paper Control System Implementation Date, (i) ensure that the Administrative Agent shall have “control” (as defined in and provided for in the New York Uniform Commercial Code) over all Subject Agreements in the form of Electronic Chattel Paper pursuant to the system described in the definition of Electronic Chattel Paper Control System Implementation Date, (ii) maintain customary measures with respect to access to, and security of, all Subject Agreements in the form of Electronic Chattel Paper and the system described in the definition of Electronic Chattel Paper Control System Implementation Date and (iii) provide the Administrative Agent with audits and third party security assurances with respect to the foregoing requested by the Administrative Agent in its reasonable discretion. It is understood and agreed that provisions and procedures in respect of the foregoing may be evidenced by separate agreement signed by the Administrative Agent (acting in its Permitted Discretion) and the Borrower.

 

6.14        Electronic Chattel Paper Control System Implementation Date. Use reasonable best efforts to provide such information and take such actions as may be reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent in order to cause the Electronic Chattel Paper Control System Implementation Date to occur as soon as reasonably practical after the Closing Date.

 

SECTION 7.  NEGATIVE COVENANTS

 

The Borrower hereby agrees that, so long as the Commitments remain in effect, any Letter of Credit remains outstanding or any Loan or other amount is owing to any Lender or the Administrative Agent hereunder (other than contingent obligations and expense reimbursement not yet due and payable, Banking Services Obligations and Secured Swap Obligations), the Borrower shall not, and shall not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly:

 

7.1          Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio. During any period commencing on a date (each a “Commencement Date”) (a) on which a Specified Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or (b) on which Availability is less than or equal to the greater of (i) 15% of the Line Cap and (ii) $56,250,000, and continuing until the first succeeding date on which (A) no Specified Event of Default shall be continuing and (B) Availability shall have exceeded each threshold set forth in clause (b) for at least 30 consecutive days, permit the Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio for the Applicable Reference Period in effect at any such time (including, for the avoidance of doubt, the Applicable Reference Period in effect on the applicable Commencement Date) to be less than 1.10 to 1.00.

 

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7.2          Indebtedness. Create, issue, incur, assume, become liable in respect of or suffer to exist any Indebtedness, except:

 

(a)          Indebtedness of any Loan Party under this Agreement;

 

(b)          Indebtedness of the Loan Parties under the Term Loan Credit Agreement (and any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof) in an aggregate amount not to exceed (i) $875,000,000, plus (ii) the Base Incremental Amount plus (iii) the Voluntary Prepayment Amount plus (iv) the Maximum Term Loan Incremental Amount;

 

(c)          Indebtedness of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary owing to the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary; provided that (i) any Indebtedness of any Loan Party shall be unsecured and shall be subordinated in right of payment to the Obligations on terms customary for intercompany subordinated Indebtedness, as reasonably determined by the Administrative Agent and (ii) any such Indebtedness owing by any Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party to any Loan Party shall be incurred in compliance with Section 7.7;

 

(d)          Guarantee Obligations incurred by any Group Member of obligations of any Group Member to the extent such obligations are not prohibited hereunder; provided that (i) to the extent any such obligations are subordinated to the Obligations, any such related Guarantee Obligations incurred by a Loan Party shall be subordinated to the guarantee of such Loan Party of the Obligations on terms no less favorable to the Lenders than the subordination provisions of the obligations to which such Guarantee Obligation relates and (ii) any Guarantee Obligations incurred by any Loan Party of obligations of a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party shall be permitted to the extent the aggregate amount of outstanding Guarantee Obligations incurred pursuant to this clause (ii) does not exceed $25,000,000;

 

(e)          Indebtedness outstanding on the Closing Date (provided that Indebtedness in an aggregate principal amount in excess of $5,000,000 shall be listed on Schedule 7.2(e)) and any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof;

 

(f)           Indebtedness of any Group Member incurred to finance the acquisition of fixed or capital assets (and any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof) in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $25,000,000 at any time outstanding;

 

(g)          Indebtedness representing deferred compensation to employees, officers or directors of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries incurred in the ordinary course of business;

 

(h)          Indebtedness incurred in the ordinary course of business and owed in respect of any overdrafts and related liabilities arising from treasury, depository and cash management services or in connection with any automated clearing-house transfers of funds;

 

(i)           Indebtedness arising under any Swap Agreement permitted by Section 7.11;

 

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(j)          Indebtedness (other than for borrowed money) that may be deemed to exist pursuant to any guarantees, warranty or contractual service obligations, performance, surety, statutory, appeal, bid, prepayment guarantee, payment (other than payment of Indebtedness) or completion of performance guarantees or similar obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business;

 

(k)          Indebtedness in respect of workers’ compensation claims, payment obligations in connection with health, disability or other types of social security benefits, unemployment or other insurance obligations, reclamation and statutory obligations, in each case in the ordinary course of business;

 

(l)           Indebtedness arising from the honoring by a bank or other financial institution of a check, draft or similar instrument drawn against insufficient funds, so long as such Indebtedness is covered or extinguished within five Business Days;

 

(m)        Indebtedness consisting of (i) the financing of insurance premiums or self-insurance obligations or (ii) take-or-pay obligations contained in supply or similar agreements in each case in the ordinary course of business;

 

(n)          Indebtedness in the form of purchase price adjustments (including in respect of working capital), earnouts, deferred compensation, indemnification or other arrangements representing acquisition consideration or deferred payments of a similar nature incurred in connection with the Acima Acquisition, any Permitted Acquisitions or other Investments permitted under Section 7.7 or Dispositions permitted under Section 7.5;

 

(o)          (i) Indebtedness of any Person that becomes a Restricted Subsidiary (or of any Person not previously a Restricted Subsidiary that is merged or consolidated with or into the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary in a transaction permitted hereunder) after the Closing Date, or Indebtedness of any Person that is assumed by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary in connection with an acquisition of assets by the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary in a Permitted Acquisition; provided that such Indebtedness exists at the time such Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary (or is so merged or consolidated) or such assets are acquired and is not created in contemplation of or in connection with such Person becoming a Restricted Subsidiary (or such merger or consolidation) or such assets or Capital Stock being acquired and (ii) Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness in respect of such Indebtedness; provided that after giving effect to the applicable acquisition (or merger or consolidation) or such assumption of Indebtedness, the Consolidated Leverage Ratio for the Applicable Reference Period, calculated on a Pro Forma Basis as of the date of such acquisition (or merger or consolidation) or assumption, is equal to or less than either (A) 3.00 to 1.00 or (B) the Consolidated Leverage Ratio for the Applicable Reference Period, calculated on a Pro Forma Basis immediately prior to such acquisition (or merger or consolidation) or assumption; provided further that the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness of Subsidiaries that are not Loan Parties outstanding under this Section 7.2(o) shall not exceed $20,000,000;

 

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(p)         Guarantee Obligations of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary in respect of Indebtedness of franchisees in an aggregate amount not to exceed $25,000,000 at any time outstanding;

 

(q)          Indebtedness of the Borrower and any Restricted Subsidiary to the Insurance Subsidiary in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $75,000,000 at any time outstanding that cannot be subordinated to the obligations of any Loan Party under the Loan Documents for regulatory reasons or would cause the carrying value for regulatory valuation purposes to be increased;

 

(r)           Indebtedness of the Insurance Subsidiary permitted by Section 7.7(v)(i);

 

(s)          Indebtedness permitted to survive the Closing Date under the terms of the Acima Acquisition Agreement (provided that Indebtedness in an aggregate principal amount in excess of $2,500,000 shall be listed on Schedule 7.2(s)) and any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof;

 

(t)          Term Loan Incremental Equivalent Debt (and any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof) in an aggregate amount not to exceed (x) the Base Incremental Amount plus (y) the Term Loan Voluntary Prepayment Amount plus (z) the Maximum Term Loan Incremental Amount; provided that immediately prior to and immediately after giving effect to the incurrence of any Indebtedness under this Section 7.2(t), no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing;

 

(u)          (i) Permitted Unsecured Indebtedness so long as, at the time of incurrence of such Permitted Unsecured Indebtedness, the Consolidated Leverage Ratio for the Applicable Reference Period, calculated on a Pro Forma Basis as of the date of incurrence thereof, is equal to or less than either (A) 2.75 to 1.00 or (B) in the case of any such Indebtedness incurred in connection with a Permitted Acquisition or Investment, the Consolidated Leverage Ratio for the Applicable Reference Period, calculated on a Pro Forma Basis immediately prior to incurrence of such Permitted Unsecured Indebtedness; provided that (A) immediately prior to and immediately after giving effect to the incurrence of any Permitted Unsecured Indebtedness under this Section 7.2(u), no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing and (B) the aggregate principal amount of Permitted Unsecured Indebtedness of Restricted Subsidiaries that are not Loan Parties outstanding under this Section 7.2(u) shall not exceed $20,000,000 and (ii) any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof;

 

(v)          (i) Indebtedness incurred by any Securitization Subsidiary in connection with any Qualified Securitization Transaction and (ii) Standard Securitization Undertakings incurred by any Group Member in connection with any Qualified Securitization Transaction; provided that (A) the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness outstanding under this Section 7.2(v) shall not exceed $500,000,000 and (B) at least five (5) Business Days prior to the incurrence of any such Indebtedness or Standard Securitization Undertakings, the Borrower shall have provided the Administrative Agent with a certificate of a Responsible Officer certifying that the consummation of such Qualified Securitization Transaction is permitted hereunder and that attached thereto are drafts of the definitive documentation relating thereto;

 

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(w)          additional Indebtedness of the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in an aggregate principal amount (for the Borrower and all Restricted Subsidiaries) not to exceed at any time outstanding the greater of (i) $250,000,000 and (ii) 50% of Consolidated EBITDA (for the Applicable Reference Period); provided that the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness of Restricted Subsidiaries that are not Loan Parties outstanding under this Section 7.2(w) shall not exceed $50,000,000;

 

(x)           Attributable Indebtedness in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $15,000,000 at any time outstanding, in each case which Attributable Indebtedness arises out of a sale and leaseback transaction permitted under Section 7.10;

 

(y)          Indebtedness of any Loan Party in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed the Net Cash Proceeds (Not Otherwise Applied) received after the Closing Date and on or prior to such date from any issuance of Qualified Capital Stock by the Borrower (other than any such issuance to a Group Member);

 

(z)           Guarantee Obligations incurred by any Group Member of obligations of any Joint Venture or Unrestricted Subsidiary to the extent permitted under Section 7.7(u);

 

(aa)         Indebtedness of the Borrower to the Insurance Subsidiary in connection with an Investment that is permitted pursuant to Section 7.7(z); and

 

(bb)        the Unsecured Notes in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $450,000,000 and, in each case, any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof.

 

For purposes of determining compliance with this ‎Section 7.2, in the event that an item of Indebtedness meets the criteria of more than one of the categories of Indebtedness described in clauses ‎(a) through ‎(bb) above, the Borrower may, in its sole discretion, divide or classify or later divide, classify or reclassify all or a portion of such item of Indebtedness in a manner that complies with this Section 7.2 and will only be required to include the amount and type of such Indebtedness in one or more of the above clauses; provided that all Indebtedness outstanding under the Loan Documents and the Term Loan Credit Agreement and, in each case, any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof, will at all times be deemed to be outstanding in reliance only on the exception in ‎Section 7.2(a) and Section 7.2(b), respectively.

 

For the avoidance of doubt, a permitted refinancing in respect of Indebtedness incurred pursuant to a Dollar-denominated or Consolidated EBITDA-governed basket shall not increase capacity to incur Indebtedness under such Dollar-denominated or Consolidated EBITDA-governed basket, and such Dollar-denominated or Consolidated EBITDA-governed basket shall be deemed to continue to be utilized by the amount of the original Indebtedness incurred unless and until the Indebtedness incurred to effect such permitted refinancing is no longer outstanding.

 

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7.3         Liens. Create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Lien upon any of its property, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, except:

 

(a)         Liens for Taxes, assessments or other government charges or levies not yet due or that are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings; provided that adequate reserves with respect thereto are maintained on the books of the Borrower or its Restricted Subsidiaries, as the case may be, to the extent required by GAAP;

 

(b)          carriers’, warehousemen’s, mechanics’, materialmen’s, repairmen’s or other like Liens arising in the ordinary course of business that are not overdue for a period of more than 60 days or that are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings;

 

(c)          pledges or deposits in connection with workers’ compensation, unemployment insurance and other social security legislation;

 

(d)         pledges or deposits to secure the performance of bids, supplier and other trade contracts (other than for borrowed money), leases, statutory obligations (other than for borrowed money), leases, statutory obligations (other than any such obligation imposed pursuant to Section 430(k) of the Code or Sections 303(k) or 4068 of ERISA), surety and appeal bonds, performance bonds and other obligations of a like nature incurred in the ordinary course of business;

 

(e)          [reserved];

 

(f)           Liens in existence on the Closing Date (provided that Liens securing any Indebtedness in an aggregate principal amount in excess of $5,000,000 shall be listed on Schedule 7.3(f)), securing Indebtedness permitted by Section 7.2(e); provided that no such Lien is spread to cover any additional property after the Closing Date and that the amount of Indebtedness secured thereby is not increased (other than, in the case of Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness, by any Additional Permitted Amount);

 

(g)          Liens securing Indebtedness of any Group Member incurred pursuant to Section 7.2(f); provided that (i) such Liens shall be created within 180 days of the acquisition of such fixed or capital assets and (ii) such Liens do not at any time encumber any property other than the property financed by such Indebtedness and the proceeds and products and extensions thereof; provided further that in the event that purchase money obligations are owed to any Person with respect to financing of more than one purchase of any fixed or capital assets, such Liens may secure all such purchase money obligations and may apply to all such fixed or capital assets financed by such Person;

 

(h)         (i) Liens on the Collateral created pursuant to the Security Documents (or any ABL Security Documents (as defined in the Intercreditor Agreement)), (ii) Liens on cash granted in favor of any Lenders and/or the Issuing Lender created as a result of any requirement to provide cash collateral pursuant to this Agreement and (iii) subject to the Intercreditor Agreement, Liens on the Collateral created pursuant to the Term Loan Security Documents (or any Term Loan Security Documents (as defined in the Intercreditor Agreement));

 

(i)           any interest or title of a lessor under any lease entered into by any Group Member in the ordinary course of its business and covering only the assets so leased;

 

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(j)            Liens solely on any cash earnest money deposits made by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary in connection with any letter of intent or purchase agreement relating to a Permitted Acquisition or other third party Investment;

 

(k)           Liens in favor of any Loan Party so long as (in the case of any Lien granted by a Loan Party) such Liens are junior to the Liens created pursuant to the Security Documents;

 

(l)            Liens arising from filing Uniform Commercial Code or personal property security financing statements (or substantially equivalent filings outside of the United States) regarding leases;

 

(m)          any option or other agreement to purchase any asset of any Group Member, the purchase, sale or other disposition of which is not prohibited by Section 7.5;

 

(n)           Liens arising from the rendering of an interim or final judgment or order against any Group Member that does not give rise to an Event of Default;

 

(o)           Liens existing on any asset prior to the acquisition thereof by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary or existing on any asset of any Person that becomes a Restricted Subsidiary (or of any Person not previously a Restricted Subsidiary that is merged or consolidated with or into a Restricted Subsidiary in a transaction permitted hereunder) after the Closing Date prior to the time such Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary (or is so merged or consolidated) to the extent the Liens on such assets secure Indebtedness permitted by Section 7.2(o) so long as (i) in the case of first-priority Liens, the Consolidated Senior Secured Leverage Ratio for the Applicable Reference Period, calculated on a Pro Forma Basis as of the date of such acquisition or such Person becoming a Restricted Subsidiary (or such merger or consolidation), is equal to or less than either (A) 2.00 to 1.00 or (B) the Consolidated Senior Secured Leverage Ratio for the Applicable Reference Period, calculated on a Pro Forma Basis immediately prior to giving pro forma effect to such acquisition or such Person becoming a Restricted Subsidiary (or such merger or consolidation) and (ii) in the case of junior-priority Liens, the Consolidated Secured Leverage Ratio for the Applicable Reference Period, calculated on a Pro Forma Basis as of the date of such acquisition or such Person becoming a Restricted Subsidiary (or such merger or consolidation), is equal to or less than either (A) 2.00 to 1.00 or (B) the Consolidated Secured Leverage Ratio for the Applicable Reference Period, calculated on a Pro Forma Basis immediately prior to giving pro forma effect to such acquisition or such Person becoming a Restricted Subsidiary (or such merger or consolidation); provided that (i) such Liens are not created in contemplation of or in connection with such acquisition or such Person becoming a Restricted Subsidiary (or such merger or consolidation) and (ii) such Liens attach at all times only to the same assets or category of assets that such Liens (other than after acquired property that is affixed or incorporated into the property covered by such Lien) attached to, and secure only the same Indebtedness or obligations (or any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof permitted by Section 7.2(o)) that such Liens secured, immediately prior to such permitted acquisition;

 

(p)           Liens arising out of conditional sale, title retention, consignment or similar arrangements for sale of goods entered into by the Borrower or any other Restricted Subsidiary in the ordinary course of business and permitted by this Agreement;

 

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(q)           Liens on Securitization Assets of a Securitization Subsidiary that were sold to such Securitization Subsidiary pursuant to Section 7.5(m) in a Qualified Securitization Transaction and Liens on the Capital Stock of any Securitization Subsidiary granted to secure such a Qualified Securitization Transaction; provided that the Liens permitted under this Section 7.3(q) secure only obligations permitted under Section 7.2(v);

 

(r)            Liens encumbering reasonable and customary initial deposits and margin deposits and similar Liens attaching to brokerage accounts incurred in the ordinary course of business and not for speculative purposes;

 

(s)           Liens in favor of customs and revenue authorities arising as a matter of law to secure payment of customs duties in connection with the importation of goods in the ordinary course of business;

 

(t)            Liens on premium refunds granted in favor of insurance companies (or their financing affiliates) in connection with the financing of insurance premiums;

 

(u)           banker’s liens, rights of setoff or similar rights and remedies as to deposit accounts or other funds maintained with depository institutions and securities accounts and other financial assets maintained with a securities intermediary; provided that such deposit accounts or funds and securities accounts or other financial assets are not established or deposited for the purpose of providing collateral for any Indebtedness and are not subject to restrictions on access by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary in excess of those required by applicable banking regulations;

 

(v)           Liens (i) on cash advances in favor of the seller of any property to be acquired in an Investment permitted pursuant to Section 7.7 to be applied against the purchase price for such Investment or (ii) consisting of an agreement to dispose of any property in a Disposition permitted by Section 7.5, in each case, solely to the extent such Investment or Disposition, as the case may be, would have been permitted on the date of the creation of such Lien;

 

(w)          Liens on assets of Restricted Subsidiaries that are not Loan Parties so long as the aggregate outstanding principal amount of the obligations secured thereby does not exceed (as to all Group Members) $50,000,000;

 

(x)           Liens on the Collateral securing (i) Term Loan Incremental Equivalent Debt permitted under Section 7.2(t) and (ii) any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof; provided that the Liens on the Collateral securing any such Indebtedness shall be (A) junior, with respect to ABL Priority Collateral, to the Liens on the Collateral securing the Obligations and (B) subject to the Intercreditor Agreement or such other intercreditor agreement in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent;

 

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(y)           Liens on the Collateral securing (i) Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness incurred pursuant to Section 7.2(b) and (ii) any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof; provided that the Liens on the Collateral securing any such Indebtedness shall be (A) junior, with respect to ABL Priority Collateral, to the Liens on the Collateral securing the Obligations and (B) subject to the Intercreditor Agreement or such other intercreditor agreement in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent;

 

(z)           Liens not otherwise permitted by this Section 7.3 so long as the aggregate outstanding principal amount of the obligations secured thereby does not exceed (as to all Group Members) $50,000,000;

 

(aa)         Liens on property purportedly rented to, or leased by, the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries pursuant to a sale and leaseback transaction permitted under Section 7.10; provided that (i) such Liens do not encumber any other property of the Borrower or its Restricted Subsidiaries and (ii) such Liens secure only Indebtedness permitted under Section 7.2(x);

 

(bb)        Liens in favor of the applicable trustee on amounts deposited into escrow in connection with the redemption, defeasance or satisfaction and discharge of bonds, debentures, notes or similar instruments;

 

(cc)         (i) pledges and deposits and other Liens made in the ordinary course of business in compliance with the Federal Employers Liability Act or any other workers’ compensation, unemployment insurance and other social security laws or regulations and deposits securing liability to insurance carriers under insurance or self-insurance arrangements in respect of such obligations and (ii) pledges and deposits and other Liens securing liability for reimbursement or indemnification obligations of (including obligations in respect of letters of credit or bank guarantees for the benefit of) insurance carriers providing property, casualty or liability insurance to any Group Member;

 

(dd)        easements, trackage rights, leases, licenses, special assessments, rights of way covenants, zoning restrictions, covenants, conditions, restrictions and declarations on or with respect to the use of real property, servicing agreements, development agreements, site plan agreements, encumbrances and title defects or irregularities that are of a minor nature that, in each case, do not, in the aggregate, interfere in any material respect with the ordinary conduct of the business of Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries;

 

(ee)         Liens on Capital Stock of any joint venture (i) securing obligations of such joint venture or (ii) pursuant to the relevant joint venture agreement or arrangement; and

 

(ff)          Liens securing Indebtedness of any Foreign Subsidiary that is not a Subsidiary Guarantor securing Indebtedness of such Foreign Subsidiary that is permitted by this Agreement.

 

provided, that (i) it is understood and agreed for the avoidance of doubt that this Agreement does not permit any Liens on ABL Priority Collateral that secure Indebtedness on a pari passu basis with the Loans and (ii) this Agreement does not permit any Lien on real property securing Indebtedness for borrowed money except pursuant to Sections 7.3(h)(iii), (o), (w), (x), (y), (z) and (ff).

 

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For purposes of determining compliance with this Section 7.3, in the event that a Lien securing an item of Indebtedness (or any portion thereof) meets the criteria for more than one of the categories of Liens described in clauses (a) through (ff) above, the Borrower may, in its sole discretion, divide or classify or later divide, classify or reclassify all or a portion of such Lien in a manner that complies with this Section 7.3 and will only be required to include the amount and type of such Lien in one or more of the above clauses; provided that all Liens securing Indebtedness outstanding under the Loan Documents and the Term Loan Credit Agreement and, in each case, any Permitted Refinancing thereof, will at all times be deemed to be outstanding in reliance only on the exception in Section 7.3(h) or (y).

 

7.4           Fundamental Changes Merge, consolidate or amalgamate, or liquidate, wind up or dissolve itself (or suffer any liquidation or dissolution), or Dispose of all or substantially all of its property or business (taken as a whole), except that (a)      any Restricted Subsidiary of the Borrower may be merged or consolidated with or into the Borrower (provided that the Borrower shall be the continuing or surviving corporation) or with or into any other Restricted Subsidiary (provided, that when any Subsidiary Guarantor is merging with or into another Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Subsidiary Guarantor (except as permitted by Section 7.4(b)), such Subsidiary Guarantor shall be the continuing or surviving corporation or the continuing or surviving corporation shall, substantially simultaneously with such merger or consolidation, become a Subsidiary Guarantor);

 

(b)           any Restricted Subsidiary may merge, consolidate or amalgamate with any other Person (other than the Borrower) in order to effect an Investment permitted pursuant to Section 7.7; provided that if such Restricted Subsidiary is a Subsidiary Guarantor the continuing or surviving Person shall be a Subsidiary Guarantor;

 

(c)        any Restricted Subsidiary of the Borrower may Dispose of any or all of its assets (i) to the Borrower or any Subsidiary Guarantor (upon voluntary liquidation or otherwise) or (ii) pursuant to a Disposition permitted by Section 7.5;

 

(d)           any Restricted Subsidiary of the Borrower that is not a Subsidiary Guarantor may (i) dispose of any or all or substantially all of its assets to any Group Member (upon voluntary liquidation or otherwise) or (ii) liquidate or dissolve if the Borrower determines in good faith that such liquidation or dissolution is in the best interest of the Borrower and is not materially disadvantageous to the Administrative Agent or the Lenders; and

 

(e)           any Subsidiary of the Borrower may merge, consolidate or amalgamate with the Borrower in connection with the consummation of the Transactions.

 

7.5           Disposition of Property. Dispose of any of its property, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, or, in the case of any Restricted Subsidiary, issue or sell any shares of such Restricted Subsidiary’s Capital Stock to any Person, except:

 

(a)           the Disposition of surplus, outdated, obsolete or worn out property in the ordinary course of business;

 

(b)           Dispositions of Inventory, equipment, cash and Cash Equivalents, in each case, in the ordinary course of business;

 

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(c)           Dispositions permitted by Section 7.4(c)(i) or Section 7.4(d)(i);

 

(d)           the sale or issuance of any Restricted Subsidiary’s Capital Stock to the Borrower or any Subsidiary Guarantor or on a pro rata basis to the owners of its Capital Stock;

 

(e)           Dispositions of Accounts in connection with the compromise, settlement or collection thereof in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice and not (i) as part of any accounts receivables, rental agreements or chattel paper financing transaction (including any Securitization Transaction) or (ii) to any Securitization Subsidiary;

 

(f)            Dispositions of assets (including as a result of like-kind exchanges) to the extent that (i) such assets are exchanged for credit (on a fair market value basis) against the purchase price of similar or replacement assets or (ii) such asset is Disposed of for fair market value and the proceeds of such Disposition are promptly applied to the purchase price of similar or replacement assets;

 

(g)           Dispositions resulting from any casualty or other insured damage to, or any taking under power of eminent domain or by condemnation or similar proceeding of, any asset of any Group Member;

 

(h)           licenses and sublicenses and similar rights granted with respect to Intellectual Property granted in the ordinary course of business;

 

(i)            the abandonment, cancellation, non-renewal or discontinuance of use or maintenance of non-material Intellectual Property or rights relating thereto that the Borrower determines in its reasonable judgment to be desirable to the conduct of its business and not materially disadvantageous to the interests of the Lenders;

 

(j)            licenses, leases or subleases entered into in the ordinary course of business, to the extent that they do not materially interfere with the business of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary;

 

(k)           Dispositions to any Group Member; provided that any such Disposition involving a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Subsidiary Guarantor shall be made in compliance with Sections 7.7 and 7.9;

 

(l)            (i) Dispositions of assets to the extent that such Disposition constitutes an Investment referred to in and permitted by Section 7.7, (ii) Dispositions of assets to the extent that such Disposition constitutes a Restricted Payment referred to in and permitted by Section 7.6, (iii) Dispositions set forth on Schedule 7.5(l) and (iv) sale and leaseback transactions permitted under Section 7.10;

 

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(m)          any sale, issuance, conveyance, transfer, participation, factoring, lease or other disposition of Securitization Assets of the Acquired Business in connection with a Qualified Securitization Transaction; provided that (i) no Event of Default then exists or would result from such Disposition, (ii) such Disposition is for cash and is not materially less favorable to the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries (other than such Securitization Subsidiary) as determined by the Borrower in good faith than would be obtainable in a comparable arms-length sale of such Securitization Assets with a Person that is not an Affiliate of the Borrower, (iii) the proceeds thereof are deposited in accordance with Section 6.12(b) and (iv) the aggregate amount of all such Dispositions do not exceed $1,000,000,000 in any fiscal year of the Borrower;

 

(n)           other Dispositions of assets (including Capital Stock); provided that (A) it shall be for fair market value (determined as if such Disposition was consummated on an arm’s-length basis), (B) at least 75% of the total consideration for any such Disposition in excess of $10,000,000 received by the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries shall be in the form of cash or Cash Equivalents and (C) no Event of Default then exists or would result from such Disposition (except if such Disposition is made pursuant to an agreement entered into at a time when no Event of Default exists); provided, however, that for purposes of clause (B) above, the following shall be deemed to be cash: (I) any liabilities (as shown on the Borrower’s or such Restricted Subsidiary’s most recent balance sheet provided hereunder or in the footnotes thereto) of the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary (other than liabilities that are by their terms subordinated to the Obligations) that are assumed by the transferee with respect to the applicable Disposition and for which the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries shall have been validly released by all applicable creditors in writing, (II) any securities received by the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary from such transferee that are converted by the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary into cash or Cash Equivalents (to the extent of the cash or Cash Equivalents received in the conversion) within 180 days following the closing of the applicable Disposition and (III) any Designated Non-Cash Consideration received by the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in such Disposition having an aggregate fair market value, taken together with all other Designated Non-Cash Consideration received pursuant to this Section 7.5(n) that is at that time outstanding, not to exceed $25,000,000 (with the fair market value of each item of Designated Non-Cash Consideration being measured at the time received and without giving effect to subsequent changes in value);

 

(o)           other Dispositions in any fiscal year of other property having a fair market value not to exceed 7.5% of Consolidated Total Assets when made; provided that no Event of Default then exists or would result from such Disposition (except if such Disposition is made pursuant to an agreement entered into at a time when no Event of Default exists);

 

(p)           Dispositions (i) to or by the Insurance Subsidiary of Capital Stock of the Borrower, (ii) to or by the Insurance Subsidiary of Indebtedness described in Section 7.2(r) to the Borrower or any Wholly Owned Subsidiary that is a Loan Party and (iii) by the Insurance Subsidiary effected solely for the purpose of liquidating assets in order to permit the Insurance Subsidiary to pay expenses and to make payments on insurance claims of the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries with the proceeds of such Disposition;

 

(q)           Dispositions of real property in the ordinary course to the extent such real property is Disposed of for fair market value and the proceeds of such Disposition are applied within 360 days to the purchase price of similar or replacement real property;

 

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(r)            Dispositions of non-core assets acquired in connection with any acquisition or Investment permitted hereunder; provided that (i) the Consolidated EBITDA generated by such non-core assets (as determined by the Borrower in good faith) shall not have been included in the calculation of Consolidated EBITDA in respect of any testing of ratios or governors on a Pro Forma Basis in connection with such acquisition and (ii) no Event of Default exists on the date on which the definitive agreement governing the relevant Disposition is executed; and

 

(s)           Dispositions of the Mexico Operations for fair market value.

 

provided, that the foregoing provisions of this Section 7.5 do not permit (i) any Dispositions pursuant to a Securitization Transaction or to a Securitization Subsidiary other than pursuant to Section 7.5(m), (ii) any Dispositions to the Acquired Business (or any direct or indirect subsidiary of Acima acquired or formed after the Closing Date) of any Securitization Assets or (iii) any Dispositions by the Acquired Business (or any direct or indirect subsidiary of Acima acquired or formed after the Closing Date) of any Securitization Assets to the Borrower or any other Restricted Subsidiary (other than the Acquired Business).

 

7.6           Restricted Payments. Declare or pay any dividend (other than dividends payable solely in common stock of the Person making such dividend) on, or make any payment on account of, or set apart assets for a sinking or other analogous fund for, the purchase, redemption, defeasance, retirement or other acquisition of, any Capital Stock (other than Disqualified Capital Stock) of any Group Member, whether now or hereafter outstanding, or make any other distribution in respect thereof, either directly or indirectly, whether in cash or property or in obligations of any Group Member (collectively, “Restricted Payments”), except that:

 

(a)           any Restricted Subsidiary may make Restricted Payments ratably to its equity holders (or if not ratably, on a basis more favorable to the Borrower and the other Loan Parties);

 

(b)           the Borrower may purchase or redeem its common stock or common stock options from present, future or former directors, officers or employees of any Group Member upon the death, disability or termination of employment of such director, officer or employee, provided, that the aggregate amount of payments under this Section 7.6(b) after the Closing Date (net of any proceeds received by the Borrower after the Closing Date in connection with resales of any common stock or common stock options so purchased) shall not exceed $5,000,000 in any fiscal year (with unused amounts in any period permitted to be carried over to succeeding periods until used in full; provided that the total amount of such purchases or redemptions under this Section 7.6(b) in any fiscal year shall not exceed $10,000,000);

 

(c)           the Borrower may declare and pay dividends with respect to its Capital Stock payable solely in shares of Qualified Capital Stock;

 

(d)           the Borrower may make cash payments in lieu of the issuance of fractional shares representing insignificant interests in the Borrower in connection with the exercise of warrants, options or other securities convertible into or exchangeable for Capital Stock in the Borrower;

 

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(e)           the Borrower may acquire its Capital Stock upon the exercise of stock options for such Capital Stock of the Borrower if such Capital Stock represents a portion of the exercise price of such stock options or in connection with tax withholding obligations arising in connection with the exercise of options by, or the vesting of restricted Capital Stock held by, any current or former director, officer or employee of any Group Member;

 

(f)            the Borrower may convert or exchange any of its Capital Stock for or into Qualified Capital Stock;

 

(g)           so long as the Payment Conditions are met, the Borrower may make Restricted Payments;

 

(h)           so long as no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would result therefrom, the Borrower may on any date make Restricted Payments in an aggregate amount, together with Restricted Debt Payments made under Section 7.8(a)(iv), not to exceed $75,000,000 in any fiscal year;

 

(i)           the Borrower may repurchase shares of its common stock from the Insurance Subsidiary in an amount necessary to (i) pay operating costs and expenses of the Insurance Subsidiary incurred in the ordinary course of business (not to exceed $250,000 per fiscal year of the Borrower) and (ii) permit the Insurance Subsidiary to make payments on insurance claims of the Borrower and/or any of its Subsidiaries with the proceeds of such repurchase;

 

(j)            the Insurance Subsidiary may purchase shares of the common stock of the Borrower from the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary;

 

(k)           the Borrower may repurchase shares of its common stock from the Insurance Subsidiary in exchange for the issuance of one or more notes or other forms of Indebtedness owed to the Insurance Subsidiary;

 

(l)            the Borrower may make Restricted Payments to consummate the Transactions; and

 

(m)          distributions or payments of Securitization Fees.

 

For purposes of determining compliance with this Section 7.6, in the event that a Restricted Payment meets the criteria of more than one of the categories of Restricted Payments described in clauses (a) through (m) above, the Borrower may, in its sole discretion, divide or classify or later divide, classify or reclassify all or a portion of such Restricted Payment in a manner that complies with this Section 7.6 and will only be required to include the amount and type of such Restricted Payment in one or more of the above clauses.

 

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7.7           Investments. Make any advance, loan, extension of credit (by way of guaranty or otherwise) or capital contribution to, or purchase any Capital Stock, bonds, notes, debentures or other debt securities of, or any assets constituting a business unit of, or make any other investment in, any other Person (all of the foregoing, “Investments”), except:

 

(a)           extensions of trade credit in the ordinary course of business;

 

(b)           investments in cash and Cash Equivalents;

 

(c)           Guarantee Obligations permitted by Section 7.2 (other than any Guarantee Obligations incurred under Section 7.2(z), which Guarantee Obligations shall solely be permitted to the extent permitted pursuant to Section 7.7(u));

 

(d)           loans and advances to directors, officers and employees of any Group Member in the ordinary course of business (including for travel, entertainment and relocation expenses) in an aggregate amount for the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries not to exceed $5,000,000 at any one time outstanding;

 

(e)           [reserved];

 

(f)           Investments in assets useful in the business of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries made by any Group Member with the proceeds of any Reinvestment Deferred Amount (as defined in the Term Loan Credit Agreement as in effect on the date hereof, together with any amendments and modifications that are not materially adverse to the Lenders);

 

(g)           intercompany Investments by any Group Member in any other Group Member; provided that any Investment by any Loan Party in a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party shall be permitted to the extent the aggregate amount of outstanding Investments pursuant to this clause (g) (less any returns (including dividends, interest, distributions, returns of principal, profits on sale, repayments, income and similar amounts) actually received in respect of any such Investments (excluding any returns in excess of the amount originally invested)) does not exceed $25,000,000;

 

(h)           any Permitted Acquisition; provided that (i) to the extent reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent, the Borrower shall have delivered ((I) in the case of a Permitted Acquisition made pursuant to Section 7.7(h)(iv)(A) and (II) in the case of all other Permitted Acquisitions to the extent made available to the Loan Parties), the most recently available consolidated balance sheet of the entity being acquired and its consolidated subsidiaries (or the assets, if an acquisition of assets) as at the end of the most recently ended fiscal year and/or quarter, as applicable, and the related consolidated statements of income, stockholders’ equity and cash flows for such period, which statements need not be GAAP compliant, (ii) after giving effect thereto, the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries are in compliance with Section 7.15, (iii) any such newly created or acquired Subsidiary has complied with the requirements of Section 6.10 and (iv) either (A)(1) for 20 consecutive days prior to such Permitted Acquisition, pro forma Availability is no less than the greater of (x) 15% of the Line Cap and (y) $60,000,000 and (2) the pro forma Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio for the last four quarters is no less than 1.10:1.00 or (B) for 20 consecutive days prior to such Permitted Acquisition, pro forma Availability is no less than the greater of (x) 30% of the Line Cap and (y) $120,000,000;

 

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(i)            promissory notes and other non-cash consideration received in connection with Dispositions permitted by Section 7.5;

 

(j)            Investments acquired as a result of the purchase or other acquisition by any Group Member in connection with a Permitted Acquisition; provided, that such Investments were not made in contemplation of such Permitted Acquisition and were in existence at the time of such Permitted Acquisition;

 

(k)           Investments existing on the Closing Date (provided that Investments in an aggregate outstanding amount in excess of $5,000,000 shall be set forth on Schedule 7.7(k)) and any modification, refinancing, renewal, refunding, replacement or extension thereof; provided that the amount of any Investment permitted pursuant to this Section 7.7(k) is not increased from the amount of such Investment on the Closing Date;

 

(l)            Investments received in connection with the bankruptcy or reorganization of, or settlement of delinquent accounts and disputes with, customers and suppliers, in each case in the ordinary course of business;

 

(m)          Investments of a Restricted Subsidiary acquired after the Closing Date or of a corporation merged into the Borrower or merged or consolidated with any Restricted Subsidiary, in each case in accordance with Section 7.4 after the Closing Date, to the extent that such Investments were not made in contemplation of or in connection with such acquisition, merger or consolidation and were in existence on the date of such acquisition, merger or consolidation;

 

(n)           Guarantees by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary of leases (other than Finance Lease Obligations) or of other obligations that do not constitute Indebtedness, in each case entered into in the ordinary course of business;

 

(o)           Investments made to effect the pledges and deposits described in, and permitted under, Section 7.3(c) and (d);

 

(p)           Investments by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary that result solely from the receipt by the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary from any of its Subsidiaries of a dividend or other Restricted Payment in the form of Capital Stock, evidences of Indebtedness or other securities (but not any additions thereto made after the date of the receipt thereto);

 

(q)           mergers and consolidations permitted under Section 7.4 that do not involve any Person other than the Borrower and Restricted Subsidiaries that are Wholly Owned Subsidiaries;

 

(r)            Investments; provided that the Payment Conditions are met;

 

(s)           Investments by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary in the form of Standard Securitization Undertakings in any Securitization Subsidiary in connection with a Qualified Securitization Transaction;

 

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(t)            Investments by the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in an aggregate amount (valued at cost), taken together with all other outstanding Investments made pursuant to this Section 7.7(t) (less any returns (including dividends, interest, distributions, returns of principal, profits on sale, repayments, income and similar amounts) actually received in respect of any such Investments (excluding any returns in excess of the amount originally invested)), not to exceed from and after the Closing Date the greater of (i) $50,000,000 and (ii) 10% of Consolidated EBITDA for the Applicable Reference Period, calculated on a Pro Forma Basis as of the date of such Investment;

 

(u)           (i) any Investment in any Joint Venture or Unrestricted Subsidiary and (ii) any Permitted Acquisition of Persons that do not, upon acquisition thereof, become Subsidiary Guarantors, and property that is not, upon acquisition thereof, owned by Loan Parties; provided that the aggregate outstanding amount of the Investments and Permitted Acquisitions consummated pursuant to this Section 7.7(u) (with respect to Investments pursuant to clause (i), valued at cost, and with respect to Permitted Acquisitions pursuant to clause (ii), the Investment amount thereof shall be as valued in good faith by the Borrower and shall include cash and equity (including Disqualified Capital Stock of any Subsidiaries not organized under the laws of any jurisdiction within the United States, but excluding any other equity of such Subsidiaries)), less any returns (including dividends, interest, distributions, returns of principal, profits on sale, repayments, income and similar amounts) actually received in respect of any such Investments (excluding any returns in excess of the amount originally invested), shall not exceed at any time outstanding the greater of (i) $50,000,000 and (ii) 10% of Consolidated EBITDA for the Applicable Reference Period, calculated on a Pro Forma Basis as of the date of such Investment or Permitted Acquisition (or at the Borrower’s option, as of the date of entry into the binding documentation in respect of such Permitted Acquisition);

 

(v)           Investments made in the Insurance Subsidiary (i) to the extent required to meet regulatory capital guidelines, policies or rules in an amount not exceed $35,000,000 in the aggregate at any one time outstanding and (ii) in amounts not to exceed, in any fiscal year of the Borrower, the lesser of (x) $75,000,000 and (y) the amount that will appear as an expense for self-insurance costs on the Borrower’s consolidated income statement;

 

(w)          Investments in the Insurance Subsidiary consisting of the contribution of common stock of the Borrower and Investments by the Insurance Subsidiary in the common stock of the Borrower;

 

(x)           Investments by the Insurance Subsidiary in Indebtedness of the Group Members permitted by Section 7.2(r);

 

(y)           Investments by the Borrower in the Insurance Subsidiary in connection with the repurchase of the Borrower’s common stock from the Insurance Subsidiary in exchange for the issuance of one or more notes or other forms of Indebtedness owed to the Insurance Subsidiary;

 

(z)           Investments, taken together with all other outstanding Investments made pursuant to this Section 7.7(z) (less any returns (including dividends, interest, distributions, returns of principal, profits on sale, repayments, income and similar amounts) actually received in respect of any such Investments (excluding any returns in excess of the amount originally invested)), in an aggregate amount (valued at cost) not to exceed the Net Cash Proceeds (Not Otherwise Applied) received after the Closing Date and on or prior to such date from any issuance of Qualified Capital Stock by the Borrower (other than any such issuance to a Group Member); and

 

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(aa)         Investments made to consummate the Transactions.

 

provided, that the foregoing provisions of this Section 7.7 do not permit (i) any Investments in a Securitization Subsidiary other than pursuant to Section 7.7(s), (ii) any Investments by the Acquired Business (or any direct or indirect subsidiary of Acima acquired or formed after the Closing Date) of any Securitization Assets to the Borrower or any other Restricted Subsidiary (other than the Acquired Business).

 

For purposes of determining compliance with this Section 7.7, in the event that an Investment meets the criteria of more than one of the categories of Investments described in clauses (a) through (aa) above, the Borrower may, in its sole discretion, divide or classify or later divide, classify or reclassify all or a portion of such Investment in a manner that complies with this Section 7.7 and will only be required to include the amount and type of such Investment in one or more of the above clauses.

 

7.8           Optional Payments and Modifications of Certain Debt Instruments. (a)  Make or offer to make any optional or voluntary payment, prepayment, repurchase or redemption of or otherwise optionally or voluntarily defease or segregate funds with respect to any Restricted Indebtedness (any of the foregoing, a “Restricted Debt Payment”) other than:

 

(i)           refinancings of Restricted Indebtedness with the proceeds of Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness permitted in respect thereof under Section 7.2;

 

(ii)          Restricted Debt Payments made solely with Qualified Capital Stock or the conversion of any Restricted Indebtedness into Qualified Capital Stock;

 

(iii)         Restricted Debt Payments; provided that the Payment Conditions are met;

 

(iv)         so long as no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would result therefrom, Restricted Debt Payments in an aggregate amount not to exceed, together with the aggregate amount of Restricted Payments made pursuant to Section 7.6(h), $75,000,000 per fiscal year of the Borrower; and

 

(v)          prepayments of intercompany Restricted Indebtedness permitted hereunder owed by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary to the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary; provided that no prepayment of any Restricted Indebtedness owed by any Loan Party to any Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party shall be permitted so long as the Payment Conditions are not met.

 

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For purposes of determining compliance with this Section 7.8(a), in the event that a Restricted Debt Payment meets the criteria of more than one of the categories of Restricted Debt Payments described in clauses (i) through (v) above, the Borrower may, in its sole discretion, divide or classify or later divide, classify or reclassify all or a portion of such Restricted Debt Payment in a manner that complies with this Section 7.7(a) and will only be required to include the amount and type of such Restricted Debt Payment in one or more of the above clauses.

 

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Section 7.8(a), in no event shall any payment in respect of Subordinated Indebtedness be permitted if such payment is in violation of the subordination provisions of such Subordinated Indebtedness.

 

(b)           Amend, modify, waive or otherwise change, or consent or agree to any amendment, modification, waiver or other change to, any of the terms of any Restricted Indebtedness (other than any such amendment, modification, waiver or other change that would not materially and adversely affect the interests of the Lenders).

 

7.9           Transactions with Affiliates. Enter into any transaction, including any purchase, sale, lease or exchange of property, the rendering of any service or the payment of any management, advisory or similar fees, with any Affiliate in excess of $10,000,000, unless such transaction is on terms not materially less favorable to the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary, as applicable, than would be obtainable in a comparable arms-length transaction with a person that is not an Affiliate; provided that this Section 7.9 shall not limit:

 

(a)           issuances of securities, or other payments, awards or grants in cash, securities or otherwise pursuant to, or the funding of, employment arrangements, equity purchase agreements, stock options, stock ownership plans and similar and like arrangements approved by the board of directors of the Borrower;

 

(b)           compensation, insurance, employment, employee benefit and severance arrangements between the Borrower or any Subsidiary and any director, officer, employee or consultant thereof;

 

(c)           the payment of directors’ fees and indemnification and reimbursement of expenses to directors, officers or employees;

 

(d)           transactions between or among the Loan Parties;

 

(e)           transactions between or among the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries or by and among Restricted Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business;

 

(f)           Investments permitted by Section 7.7(d), Restricted Payments or Restricted Debt Payments expressly permitted by this Agreement;

 

(g)           intercompany transactions undertaken in good faith for the purpose of improving the consolidated tax efficiency of the Group Members;

 

(h)            transactions disclosed in the Borrower’s SEC filings made prior to the Closing Date;

 

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(i)            any transaction with any Person who is not an Affiliate immediately before the consummation of such transaction that becomes an Affiliate as a result of such transaction;

 

(j)            payroll, travel, business entertainment and similar advances to officers, directors, employees and consultants of the Borrower or any Subsidiary to cover matters that are expected at the time of such advances to be treated as expenses of the Borrower or such Subsidiary for accounting purposes and that are made in the ordinary course of business; and

 

(k)           any (i) sale, conveyance, participation, factoring or other transfer of Securitization Assets to or by a Securitization Subsidiary pursuant to Section 7.5(m), (ii) grant of security pursuant to Section 7.3(q), (iii) incurrence of Indebtedness pursuant to Section 7.2(v) or (iv) payment of any associated Securitization Fees, in each case pursuant to any Qualified Securitization Transaction.

 

7.10         Sales and Leasebacks. Enter into any arrangement with any Person providing for the leasing by any Group Member of real property that has been or is to be sold or transferred by such Group Member to such Person or to any other Person to whom funds have been or are to be advanced by such Person on the security of such property or rental obligations of such Group Member, unless the Net Cash Proceeds received by the applicable Group Member in connection with such transaction are at least equal to the fair market value (as determined by the Borrower) of such property; provided that the aggregate amount of consideration paid to the Group Members (and the aggregate principal amount of any Attributable Indebtedness) in respect of transactions permitted under this Section 7.10 shall not exceed $15,000,000.

 

7.11         Swap Agreements. Enter into any Swap Agreement, except Swap Agreements entered into for bona fide hedging purposes and not for speculation.

 

7.12         Changes in Fiscal Periods. Permit the fiscal year of the Borrower to end on a day other than calendar year end or change the Borrower’s method of determining fiscal quarters, in each case without the consent of the Administrative Agent (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed).

 

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7.13         Negative Pledge Clauses. Enter into or suffer to exist or become effective any agreement that prohibits or limits the ability of any Group Member (other than the Insurance Subsidiary) to create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Lien upon any of its property or revenues, whether now owned or hereafter acquired to secure its obligations under the Loan Documents to which it is a party other than (a) (i) this Agreement, the other Loan Documents, the Term Loan Documents and the Unsecured Notes Documents (ii) any agreement governing any Indebtedness incurred pursuant to Section 7.2 to the extent such prohibition or limitation is customary in agreements governing Indebtedness of such type and in any event so long as such agreement is not materially more restrictive (taken as a whole) than the Loan Documents (as conclusively determined by the Borrower in good faith) and (iii) any agreement governing any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness in respect of the Loans, the Term Loans, the Unsecured Notes or Indebtedness incurred pursuant to Section 7.2, in each case, with respect to this clause (iii), so long as any such agreement is not materially more restrictive (taken as a whole) than the Loan Documents, the Term Loan Documents, the Unsecured Notes Documents or the documents governing the Indebtedness being refinanced, as applicable (as conclusively determined by the Borrower in good faith), (b) any agreements governing any purchase money Liens or Finance Lease Obligations otherwise permitted hereby (in which case, any prohibition or limitation shall only be effective against the assets financed thereby), (c) any agreement in effect at the time any Subsidiary becomes a Restricted Subsidiary of the Borrower, so long as such prohibition or limitation applies only to such Restricted Subsidiary (and, if applicable, its Subsidiaries) and such agreement was not entered into in contemplation of such Person becoming a Restricted Subsidiary of the Borrower, as such agreement may be amended, restated, supplemented, modified extended renewed or replaced, so long as such amendment, restatement, supplement, modification, extension, renewal or replacement does not expand in any material respect the scope of any restriction contemplated by this Section 7.13 contained therein, (d) customary provisions restricting assignments, subletting, sublicensing, pledging or other transfers contained in leases, subleases, licenses or sublicenses, so long as such restrictions are limited to the property or assets subject to such leases, subleases, licenses or sublicenses, as the case may be, (e) (i) restrictions imposed by applicable law and (ii) contractual encumbrances or restrictions in effect on the Closing Date and listed on Schedule 7.13, (f) customary provisions in joint venture agreements and other similar agreements entered into in the ordinary course of business, (g) customary provisions restricting assignment of any agreement entered into in the ordinary course of business, (h) customary restrictions and conditions contained in the document relating to any Lien other than relating to Indebtedness, so long as (i) such Lien is a Lien permitted by Section 7.3 and such restrictions or conditions relate only to the specific asset subject to such Lien and (ii) such restrictions and conditions are not created for the purpose of avoiding the restrictions imposed by this Section 7.13, (i) customary net worth provisions contained in real property leases entered into by the Group Members, so long as the Borrower has determined in good faith that such net worth provisions would not reasonably be expected to impair the ability of the Group Members to meet their ongoing obligations, (j) restrictions on cash or other deposits imposed by customers under contracts entered into in the ordinary course of business, (k) customary restrictions and conditions contained in agreements relating to the sale of a Restricted Subsidiary or any assets pending such sale, provided that such restrictions or conditions apply only to the Restricted Subsidiary or assets that is to be sold and such sale is permitted hereunder and (l) customary prohibitions, conditions and restrictions (as determined by the Borrower in good faith) contained in agreements and documents relating to any Qualified Securitization Transaction.

 

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7.14         Clauses Restricting Subsidiary Distributions. Enter into or suffer to exist or become effective any consensual encumbrance or restriction on the ability of any Restricted Subsidiary of the Borrower to (a) make Restricted Payments in respect of any Capital Stock of such Restricted Subsidiary held by, or pay any Indebtedness owed to, any Group Member, (b) make loans or advances to, or other Investments in, any Group Member or (c) transfer any of its assets to any Group Member, except for (i) any encumbrances or restrictions existing under (A) this Agreement, the other Loan Documents, the Term Loan Documents or the Unsecured Notes Documents (B) any agreement governing Indebtedness incurred pursuant to Section 7.2 so long as such encumbrance or restriction is customary in agreements governing Indebtedness of such type and is not materially more restrictive (taken as a whole) than the Loan Documents (as conclusively determined by the Borrower in good faith) or (C) any agreement governing Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness in respect of the Loans, any Term Loans, any Unsecured Notes or any other Indebtedness incurred pursuant to Section 7.2, in each case so long as any such agreement is not materially more restrictive (taken as a whole) than the Loan Documents, the Term Loan Documents, the Unsecured Notes Documents or the documents governing the Indebtedness being refinanced, as applicable (as conclusively determined by the Borrower in good faith), (ii) any encumbrances or restrictions with respect to a Restricted Subsidiary imposed pursuant to an agreement that has been entered into in connection with the Disposition of all or substantially all of the Capital Stock or assets of such Restricted Subsidiary, (iii) any encumbrance or restriction applicable to a Restricted Subsidiary (and, if applicable, its Subsidiaries) under any agreement of such Restricted Subsidiary in effect at the time such Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary of the Borrower, so long as such agreement was not entered into in contemplation of such Person becoming a Restricted Subsidiary of the Borrower, as such agreement may be amended, restated, supplemented, modified extended renewed or replaced, so long as such amendment, restatement, supplement, modification, extension, renewal or replacement does not expand in any material respect the scope of any restriction contemplated by this Section 7.14 contained therein, (iv) customary provisions restricting assignments, subletting, sublicensing, pledging or other transfers contained in leases, subleases, licenses or sublicenses, so long as such restrictions are limited to the property or assets subject to such leases, subleases, licenses or sublicenses, as the case may be, (v) customary restrictions and conditions contained in agreements relating to the sale of a Restricted Subsidiary or any assets pending such sale, provided that such restrictions or conditions apply only to the Restricted Subsidiary or assets that is to be sold and such sale is permitted hereunder , (vi) consensual arrangements with insurance regulators with respect to the Insurance Subsidiary, (vii) (A) restrictions imposed by applicable law and (B) contractual encumbrances or restrictions in effect on the Closing Date and listed on Schedule 7.14, (viii) customary provisions in joint venture agreements and other similar agreements entered into in the ordinary course of business, (ix) customary provisions restricting assignment of any agreement entered into in the ordinary course of business, (x) customary net worth provisions contained in real property leases entered into by the Group Members, so long as the Borrower has determined in good faith that such net worth provisions would not reasonably be expected to impair the ability of the Group Members to meet their ongoing obligations, (xi) restrictions on cash or other deposits imposed by customers under contracts entered into in the ordinary course of business and (xii) restrictions on cash or other deposits imposed by customers under contracts entered into in the ordinary course of business and (xii) customary prohibitions, conditions and restrictions (as determined by the Borrower in good faith) contained in agreements and documents relating to any Qualified Securitization Transaction.

 

7.15         Lines of Business. (a) Enter into any business, either directly or through any Restricted Subsidiary, except for (i) an immaterial line of business (as determined by the Borrower in good faith) or (ii) those businesses in which the Group Members were engaged on the Closing Date and (in the case of this clause (ii)) any similar, corollary, related, incidental or complementary business or business activities or any reasonable extension, development or expansion thereof (as determined by the Borrower in good faith).

 

(b) In the case of the Insurance Subsidiary, enter into any business, except for providing insurance services to the Borrower and its Subsidiaries and activities reasonably related thereto.

 

7.16         Use of Proceeds. Use, and the respective directors, officers, employees and agents of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries shall not use, the proceeds of any Revolving Loan or Letter of Credit (a) 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, (b) for the purpose of funding, financing or facilitating any activities, business or transaction of or with any Sanctioned Person, or in any Sanctioned Country, or (c) in any manner that would result in the violation of any Sanctions applicable to any party hereto.

 

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7.17         Subject Agreements. Provide, or take any steps to provide, “control” (as defined in and provided for in the New York Uniform Commercial Code) over any Subject Agreement to any Person other than the Administrative Agent.

 

SECTION 8.  EVENTS OF DEFAULT

 

If any of the following events shall occur and be continuing:

 

(a)           the Borrower shall fail to pay any principal of any Loan or Reimbursement Obligation when due in accordance with the terms hereof; or the Borrower shall fail to pay any interest on any Loan or Reimbursement Obligation, or any other amount payable hereunder or under any other Loan Document, within five Business Days after any such interest or other amount becomes due in accordance with the terms hereof; or

 

(b)           any representation or warranty made or deemed made by any Loan Party herein or in any other Loan Document or that is contained in any certificate required to be delivered by it at any time under or in connection with this Agreement or any such other Loan Document shall prove to have been inaccurate in any material respect on or as of the date made or deemed made; or

 

(c)           any Loan Party shall default in the observance or performance of (i) Sections 6.2(g), 6.2(i) or 6.12(b), and such default shall continue unremedied for a period of 10 days after written notice to the Borrower from the Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders or (ii) any agreement contained in clause (i) or (ii) of Section 6.4(a) (with respect to the Borrower only), Section 6.7(a) or Section 7 of this Agreement; or

 

(d)           any Loan Party shall default in the observance or performance of any other agreement contained in this Agreement or any other Loan Document (other than as provided in paragraphs (a) through (c) of this Section 8), and such default shall continue unremedied for a period of 30 days after written notice to the Borrower from the Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders; or

 

(e)           any Group Member shall (i) default in making any payment of any principal of any Material Indebtedness (including any Guarantee Obligation) on the scheduled or original due date with respect thereto; (ii) default in making any payment of any interest on any such Material Indebtedness beyond the period of grace, if any, provided in the instrument or agreement under which such Material Indebtedness was created; or (iii) default in the observance or performance of any other agreement or condition relating to any such Material Indebtedness or contained in any instrument or agreement evidencing, securing or relating thereto, the effect of which default is to cause (with all applicable grace periods having expired), or to permit the holder or beneficiary of such Indebtedness (or a trustee or agent on behalf of such holder or beneficiary) to cause (with all applicable grace periods having expired), with the giving of notice if required, such Material Indebtedness to become due prior to its stated maturity or (in the case of any such Indebtedness constituting a Guarantee Obligation) to become payable (provided that this clause (iii) shall not apply to any Indebtedness that becomes due as a result of a refinancing in full thereof as permitted by the terms of this Agreement); or

 

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(f)           (i) the Borrower or any Material Subsidiary shall commence any case, proceeding or other action (A) under any existing or future law of any jurisdiction, domestic or foreign, relating to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or relief of debtors, seeking to have an order for relief entered with respect to it, or seeking to adjudicate it a bankrupt or insolvent, or seeking reorganization, arrangement, adjustment, winding-up, liquidation, dissolution, composition or other relief with respect to it or its debts, or (B) seeking appointment of a receiver, trustee, custodian, conservator or other similar official for it or for all or any substantial part of its assets; or (ii) there shall be commenced against the Borrower or any Material Subsidiary any case, proceeding or other action of a nature referred to in clause (i) above that (A) results in the entry of an order for relief or any such adjudication or appointment or (B) remains undismissed or undischarged for a period of 60 consecutive days; or (iii) there shall be commenced against the Borrower or any Material Subsidiary any case, proceeding or other action seeking issuance of a warrant of attachment, execution, distraint or similar process against all or any substantial part of its assets that results in the entry of an order for any such relief that shall not have been vacated, discharged, or stayed or bonded pending appeal within 60 days from the entry thereof; or (iv) the Borrower or any Material Subsidiary shall take any action in furtherance of, or indicating its consent to, approval of, or acquiescence in, any of the acts set forth in clause (i), (ii), or (iii) above; or (v) the Borrower or any Material Subsidiary shall generally not, or shall be unable to, or shall admit in writing its inability to, pay its debts as they become due; or (vi) the Borrower or any Material Subsidiary shall make a general assignment for the benefit of its creditors; or

 

(g)          (i) an ERISA Event and/or a Foreign Plan Event shall have occurred; (ii) a trustee shall be appointed by a United States district court to administer any Pension Plan; (iii) the PBGC shall institute proceedings to terminate any Pension Plan; (iv) any Group Member or any of their respective ERISA Affiliates shall have been notified by the sponsor of a Multiemployer Plan that it has incurred or will be assessed Withdrawal Liability to such Multiemployer Plan and such entity does not have reasonable grounds for contesting such Withdrawal Liability or is not contesting such Withdrawal Liability in a timely and appropriate manner; or (v) any other event or condition shall occur or exist with respect to a Plan, a Foreign Benefit Arrangement, or a Foreign Plan; and in each case in clauses (i) through (v) above, such event or condition, together with all other such events or conditions, if any, would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect; or

 

(h)          one or more judgments or decrees shall be entered against the Borrower or any Material Subsidiary involving in the aggregate a liability (not paid or fully covered by insurance as to which the relevant insurance company has not disputed coverage) of $75,000,000 or more, and all such judgments or decrees shall not have been vacated, discharged, stayed or bonded pending appeal within 60 consecutive days from the entry thereof; or

 

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(i)            any of the Security Documents or the Intercreditor Agreement shall cease, for any reason, to be in full force and effect, or any Loan Party shall so assert, or any Lien created by any of the Security Documents on assets that constitute a material portion of the Collateral shall cease to be enforceable and of the same effect and priority purported to be created thereby (and, for the avoidance of doubt, as required by the Intercreditor Agreement), except (i) the release thereof as provided in the applicable Loan Document or Section 10.14 or (ii) as a result of the failure of the Administrative Agent (or its agent or bailee in accordance with the Intercreditor Agreement) to maintain possession of any stock certificates, promissory notes or other instruments delivered to it under the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement; or

 

(j)            the guarantee contained in Article II of the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement shall cease, for any reason, to be in full force and effect or any Loan Party shall so assert; or

 

(k)           the subordination provisions contained in any Subordinated Indebtedness with an aggregate principal amount in excess of $75,000,000 shall cease, for any reason, to be in full force and effect, or any Loan Party shall so assert; or

 

(l)            a Change of Control shall occur;

 

then, and in any such event, (A) if such event is an Event of Default specified in clause (i) or (ii) of paragraph (f) above with respect to the Borrower, automatically the Commitments shall immediately terminate and the Loans (with accrued interest thereon) and all other amounts owing under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents (including all amounts of L/C Obligations, whether or not the beneficiaries of the then outstanding Letters of Credit shall have presented the documents required thereunder) shall immediately become due and payable, and (B) if such event is any other Event of Default, either or both of the following actions may be taken: (i) with the consent of the Required Lenders, the Administrative Agent may, or upon the request of the Required Lenders, the Administrative Agent shall, by notice to the Borrower declare the Commitments to be terminated forthwith, whereupon the Commitments shall immediately terminate; and (ii) with the consent of the Required Lenders, the Administrative Agent may, or upon the request of the Required Lenders, the Administrative Agent shall, by notice to the Borrower, declare the Loans (with accrued interest thereon) and all other amounts owing under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents (including all amounts of L/C Obligations, whether or not the beneficiaries of the then outstanding Letters of Credit shall have presented the documents required thereunder) to be due and payable forthwith, whereupon the same shall immediately become due and payable. With respect to all Letters of Credit with respect to which presentment for honor shall not have occurred at the time of an acceleration pursuant to this paragraph, the Borrower shall at such time deposit in a cash collateral account opened by the Administrative Agent an amount equal to the aggregate then undrawn and unexpired amount of such Letters of Credit. Amounts held in such cash collateral account shall be applied by the Administrative Agent to the payment of drafts drawn under such Letters of Credit, and the unused portion thereof after all such Letters of Credit shall have expired or been fully drawn upon, if any, shall be applied to repay other Obligations of the Borrower hereunder and under the other Loan Documents. After all such Letters of Credit shall have expired or been fully drawn upon, all Reimbursement Obligations shall have been satisfied and all other Obligations of the Borrower hereunder and under the other Loan Documents shall have been paid in full, the balance, if any, in such cash collateral account shall be returned to the Borrower (or such other Person as may be lawfully entitled thereto). Except as expressly provided above in this Section 8, presentment, demand, protest and all other notices of any kind are hereby expressly waived by the Borrower.

 

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In addition to any other rights and remedies granted to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders in the Loan Documents, the Administrative Agent on behalf of the Lenders may exercise all rights and remedies of a secured party under the New York Uniform Commercial Code or any other applicable law. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Administrative Agent, without demand of performance or other demand, presentment, protest, advertisement or notice of any kind (except any notice required by law referred to below) to or upon any Loan Party or any other Person (all and each of which demands, defenses, advertisements and notices are hereby waived), may in such circumstances forthwith collect, receive, appropriate and realize upon the Collateral, or any part thereof, or consent to the use by the Loan Parties of any cash collateral arising in respect of the Collateral on such terms as the Administrative Agent deems reasonable, and/or may forthwith sell, lease, assign give an option or options to purchase or otherwise dispose of and deliver, or acquire by credit bid on behalf of the Lenders, the Collateral or any part thereof (or contract to do any of the foregoing), in one or more parcels at public or private sale or sales, at any exchange, broker’s board or office of the Administrative Agent or any Lender or elsewhere, upon such terms and conditions as it may deem advisable and at such prices as it may deem best, for cash or on credit or for future delivery, all without assumption of any credit risk. The Administrative Agent or any Lender shall have the right upon any such public sale or sales, and, to the extent permitted by law, upon any such private sale or sales, to purchase the whole or any part of the Collateral so sold, free of any right or equity of redemption in any Loan Party, which right or equity is hereby waived and released. The Borrower further agrees, at the Administrative Agent’s request, to assemble, or cause the applicable Loan Party to assemble, the Collateral and make it available to the Administrative Agent at places which the Administrative Agent shall reasonably select, whether at the Borrower’s or such Loan Party’s premises or elsewhere. The Administrative Agent shall apply the net proceeds of any action taken by it pursuant to this Section 8, after deducting all reasonable costs and expenses of every kind incurred in connection therewith or incidental to the care or safekeeping of any of the Collateral or in any other way relating to the Collateral or the rights of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders hereunder, including reasonable attorneys’ fees and disbursements, to the payment in whole or in part of the obligations of the Loan Parties under the Loan Documents, in such order as the Administrative Agent may elect, and only after such application and after the payment by the Administrative Agent of any other amount required by any provision of law, including Section 9-615(a)(3) of the New York UCC, need the Administrative Agent account for the surplus, if any, to any Loan Party. To the extent permitted by applicable law, the Borrower on behalf of itself and the other Loan Parties, waives all claims, damages and demands it or any other Loan Party may acquire against the Administrative Agent or any Lender arising out of the exercise by them of any rights hereunder. If any notice of a proposed sale or other disposition of Collateral shall be required by law, such notice shall be deemed reasonable and proper if given at least 10 days before such sale or other disposition.

 

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SECTION 9.  THE AGENTS

 

9.1          Appointment. (a)  As to any matters not expressly provided for herein and in the other Loan Documents (including enforcement or collection), the Administrative Agent shall not be required to exercise any discretion or take any action, but shall be required to act or to refrain from acting (and shall be fully protected in so acting or refraining from acting) upon the written instructions of the Required Lenders (or such other number or percentage of the Lenders as shall be necessary, pursuant to the terms in the Loan Documents), and, unless and until revoked in writing, such instructions shall be binding upon each Lender; provided, however, that the Administrative Agent shall not be required to take any action that (i) the Administrative Agent in good faith believes exposes it to liability unless the Administrative Agent receives an indemnification and is exculpated in a manner satisfactory to it from the Lenders and the Issuing Lenders with respect to such action or (ii) is contrary to this Agreement or any other Loan Document or applicable law, including any action that may be in violation of the automatic stay under any requirement of law relating to bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization or relief of debtors or that may effect a forfeiture, modification or termination of property of a Lender in violation of any requirement of law relating to bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization or relief of debtors; provided, further, that the Administrative Agent may seek clarification or direction from the Required Lenders prior to the exercise of any such instructed action and may refrain from acting until such clarification or direction has been provided. Except as expressly set forth in the Loan Documents, the Administrative Agent shall not have any duty to disclose, and shall not be liable for the failure to disclose, any information relating to the Borrower, any Subsidiary or any Affiliate of any of the foregoing that is communicated to or obtained by the Person serving as Administrative Agent or any of its Affiliates in any capacity. Nothing in this Agreement shall require the Administrative Agent to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur any financial liability in the performance of any of its duties hereunder or in the exercise of any of its rights or powers if it shall have reasonable grounds for believing that repayment of such funds or adequate indemnity against such risk or liability is not reasonably assured to it.

 

(b)          Each Lender hereby irrevocably appoints the entity named as Administrative Agent in the heading of this Agreement and its successors and assigns to serve as the administrative agent under the Loan Documents and each Lender and each Issuing Lender authorizes the Administrative Agent to take such actions as agent on its behalf and to exercise such powers under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents as are delegated to the Administrative Agent under such agreements and to exercise such powers as are reasonably incidental thereto. Without limiting the foregoing, each Lender hereby authorizes the Administrative Agent to execute and deliver, and to perform its obligations under, each of the Loan Documents to which the Administrative Agent is a party, and to exercise all rights, powers and remedies that the Administrative Agent may have under such Loan Documents.

 

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(c)           In performing its functions and duties hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, the Administrative Agent is acting solely on behalf of the Lenders and the Issuing Lenders (except in limited circumstances expressly provided for herein relating to the maintenance of the Register), and its duties are entirely mechanical and administrative in nature. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Administrative Agent does not assume and shall not be deemed to have assumed any obligation or duty or any other relationship as the agent, fiduciary or trustee of or for any Lender, other than as expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents, regardless of whether a Default or an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing (and it is understood and agreed that the use of the term “agent” (or any similar term) herein or in any other Loan Document with reference to the Administrative Agent is not intended to connote any fiduciary duty or other implied (or express) obligations arising under agency doctrine of any applicable law, and that such term is used as a matter of market custom and is intended to create or reflect only an administrative relationship between contracting parties); additionally, each Lender agrees that it will not assert any claim against the Administrative Agent based on an alleged breach of fiduciary duty by the Administrative Agent in connection with this Agreement and/or the transactions contemplated hereby.

 

(d)           Nothing in this Agreement or any Loan Document shall require the Administrative Agent to account to any Lender for any sum or the profit element of any sum received by the Administrative Agent for its own account.

 

(e)           The Administrative Agent may perform any 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 of their respective duties and exercise their respective rights and powers 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 pursuant to this Agreement. The Administrative Agent shall not be responsible for the negligence or misconduct of any sub-agent except to the extent that a court of competent jurisdiction determines in a final and nonappealable judgment that the Administrative Agent acted with gross negligence or willful misconduct in the selection of such sub-agent.

 

(f)            The Arrangers, the Persons listed as Co-Syndication Agents on the front page of this Agreement and the Persons listed as Co-Documentation Agents on the front page of this Agreement shall have no obligations or duties whatsoever in such capacity under this Agreement or any other Loan Document and shall incur no liability hereunder or thereunder in such capacity, but all such persons shall have the benefit of the indemnities provided for hereunder.

 

(g)           In case of the pendency of any proceeding with respect to any Loan Party under any Federal, state or foreign bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or similar law now or hereafter in effect, the Administrative Agent (irrespective of whether the principal of any Loan or any Reimbursement 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 (but not obligated) by intervention in such proceeding or otherwise:

 

(i)            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 under Sections 2.12, 2.13, 2.15, 2.17 and 9.3) allowed in such judicial proceeding; and

 

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(ii)            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 proceeding is hereby authorized by each Lender and each other Secured Party 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 or the other Secured Parties, to pay to the Administrative Agent any amount due to it, in its capacity as the Administrative Agent, under the Loan Documents (including under Section 9.3). 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 or Issuing Lender any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Obligations or the rights of any Lender or Issuing Lender or to authorize the Administrative Agent to vote in respect of the claim of any Lender or Issuing Lender in any such proceeding.

 

(h)           The provisions of this Article are solely for the benefit of the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the Issuing Lenders, and, except solely to the extent of the Borrower’s rights to consent pursuant to and subject to the conditions set forth in this Article, none of the Borrower or any Subsidiary, or any of their respective Affiliates, shall have any rights as a third party beneficiary under any such provisions. Each Secured Party, whether or not a party hereto, will be deemed, by its acceptance of the benefits of the Collateral and of the Guarantees of the Obligations provided under the Loan Documents, to have agreed to the provisions of this Article.

 

9.2           Administrative Agent’s Reliance, Indemnification, Etc. (a)  Neither the Administrative Agent nor any of its Related Parties shall be (i) liable for any action taken or omitted to be taken by such party, the Administrative Agent or any of its Related Parties under or in connection with this Agreement or the other Loan Documents (x) with the consent of 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 to be necessary, under the circumstances as provided in the Loan Documents) or (y) in the absence of its own gross negligence or willful misconduct (such absence to be presumed unless otherwise determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by a final and non-appealable judgment) or (ii) responsible in any manner to any of the Lenders for any recitals, statements, representations or warranties made by any Loan Party or any officer thereof contained in this Agreement or any other Loan Document or in any certificate, report, statement or other document referred to or provided for in, or received by the Administrative Agent under or in connection with, this Agreement or any other Loan Document or for the value, validity, effectiveness, genuineness, enforceability or sufficiency of this Agreement or any other Loan Document or for any failure of any Loan Party to perform its obligations hereunder or thereunder.

 

(b)           The Administrative Agent shall be deemed not to have knowledge of any Default unless and until written notice thereof (stating that it is a “notice of default”) is given to the Administrative Agent by the Borrower, a Lender or an Issuing Lender, and 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 any Loan Document, (ii) the contents of any certificate, report or other document delivered thereunder or in connection therewith, (iii) the performance or observance of any of the covenants, agreements or other terms or conditions set forth in any Loan Document or the occurrence of any Default, (iv) the sufficiency, validity, enforceability, effectiveness or genuineness of any Loan Document or any other agreement, instrument or document, (v) the satisfaction of any condition set forth in Article IV or elsewhere in any Loan Document, other than to confirm receipt of items (which on their face purport to be such items) expressly required to be delivered to the Administrative Agent or satisfaction of any condition that expressly refers to the matters described therein being acceptable or satisfactory to the Administrative Agent or (vi) the creation, perfection or priority of Liens on the Collateral.

 

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(c)            Without limiting the foregoing, the Administrative Agent (i) may treat the payee of any promissory note as its holder until such promissory note has been assigned in accordance with Section 10.6, (ii) may rely on the Register to the extent set forth in Section 10.6(b), (iii) may consult with legal counsel (including counsel to the Borrower), independent public accountants and other experts selected by it, and shall not be liable for any action taken or omitted to be taken in good faith by it in accordance with the advice of such counsel, accountants or experts, (iv) makes no warranty or representation to any Lender or Issuing Lender and shall not be responsible to any Lender or Issuing Lender for any statements, warranties or representations made by or on behalf of any Loan Party in connection with this Agreement or any other Loan Document, (v) in determining compliance with any condition hereunder to the making of a Loan, or the issuance of a Letter of Credit, that by its terms must be fulfilled to the satisfaction of a Lender or an Issuing Lender, may presume that such condition is satisfactory to such Lender or Issuing Lender unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice to the contrary from such Lender or Issuing Lender sufficiently in advance of the making of such Loan or the issuance of such Letter of Credit and (vi) shall be entitled to rely on, and shall incur no liability under or in respect of this Agreement or any other Loan Document by acting upon, any notice, consent, certificate or other instrument or writing (which writing may be a fax, any electronic message, Internet or intranet website posting or other distribution) or any statement made to it orally or by telephone and believed by it to be genuine and signed or sent or otherwise authenticated by the proper party or parties (whether or not such Person in fact meets the requirements set forth in the Loan Documents for being the maker thereof).

 

9.3            Posting of Communications. (a)  The Borrower agrees that the Administrative Agent may, but shall not be obligated to, make any Communications available to the Lenders and the Issuing Lenders by posting the Communications on IntraLinks™, DebtDomain, SyndTrak, ClearPar or any other electronic platform chosen by the Administrative Agent to be its electronic transmission system (the “Approved Electronic Platform”).

 

(b)            Although the Approved Electronic Platform and its primary web portal are secured with generally-applicable security procedures and policies implemented or modified by the Administrative Agent from time to time (including, as of the Closing Date, a user ID/password authorization system) and the Approved Electronic Platform is secured through a per-deal authorization method whereby each user may access the Approved Electronic Platform only on a deal-by-deal basis, each of the Lenders, each of the Issuing Lenders and the Borrower acknowledges and agrees that the distribution of material through an electronic medium is not necessarily secure, that the Administrative Agent is not responsible for approving or vetting the representatives or contacts of any Lender that are added to the Approved Electronic Platform, and that there may be confidentiality and other risks associated with such distribution. Each of the Lenders, each of the Issuing Lenders and the Borrower hereby approves distribution of the Communications through the Approved Electronic Platform and understands and assumes the risks of such distribution.

 

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(c)           THE APPROVED ELECTRONIC PLATFORM AND THE COMMUNICATIONS ARE PROVIDED “AS IS” AND “AS AVAILABLE”. THE APPLICABLE PARTIES (AS DEFINED BELOW) DO NOT WARRANT THE ACCURACY OR COMPLETENESS OF THE COMMUNICATIONS, OR THE ADEQUACY OF THE APPROVED ELECTRONIC PLATFORM AND EXPRESSLY DISCLAIM LIABILITY FOR ERRORS OR OMISSIONS IN THE APPROVED ELECTRONIC PLATFORM AND THE COMMUNICATIONS. 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 THE APPLICABLE PARTIES IN CONNECTION WITH THE COMMUNICATIONS OR THE APPROVED ELECTRONIC PLATFORM. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT, ANY ARRANGER OR ANY OF THEIR RESPECTIVE RELATED PARTIES (COLLECTIVELY, “APPLICABLE PARTIES”) HAVE ANY LIABILITY TO ANY LOAN PARTY, ANY LENDER, ANY ISSUING LENDER OR ANY OTHER PERSON OR ENTITY FOR DAMAGES OF ANY KIND, INCLUDING DIRECT OR INDIRECT, SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, LOSSES OR EXPENSES (WHETHER IN TORT, CONTRACT OR OTHERWISE) ARISING OUT OF ANY LOAN PARTY’S OR THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT’S TRANSMISSION OF COMMUNICATIONS THROUGH THE INTERNET OR THE APPROVED ELECTRONIC PLATFORM.

 

(d)           Each Lender agrees that notice to it (as provided in the next sentence) specifying that Communications have been posted to the Approved Electronic Platform shall constitute effective delivery of the Communications to such Lender for purposes of the Loan Documents. Each Lender agrees (i) to notify the Administrative Agent in writing (which could be in the form of electronic communication) from time to time of such Lender’s or Issuing Lender’s (as applicable) email address to which the foregoing notice may be sent by electronic transmission and (ii) that the foregoing notice may be sent to such email address.

 

(e)           Each of the Lenders and the Borrower agrees that the Administrative Agent may, but (except as may be required by applicable law) shall not be obligated to, store the Communications on the Approved Electronic Platform in accordance with the Administrative Agent’s generally applicable document retention procedures and policies.

 

(f)           Nothing herein shall prejudice the right of the Administrative Agent or any Lender to give any notice or other communication pursuant to any Loan Document in any other manner specified in such Loan Document.

 

9.4          The Administrative Agent Individually. With respect to its Commitment and Loans, Letter of Credit Commitments and Letters of Credit, the Person serving as the Administrative Agent shall have and may exercise the same rights and powers hereunder and is subject to the same obligations and liabilities as and to the extent set forth herein for any other Lender or Issuing Lender, as the case may be. The terms “Lenders”, “Required Lenders” and any similar terms shall, unless the context clearly otherwise indicates, include the Administrative Agent in its individual capacity as a Lender or as one of the Required Lenders, as applicable. The Person serving as the Administrative Agent 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 banking, trust or other business with, the Borrower, any Subsidiary or any Affiliate of any of the foregoing as if such Person was not acting as the Administrative Agent and without any duty to account therefor to the Lenders or the Issuing Lenders.

 

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9.5          Successor Administrative Agent. (a)  The Administrative Agent may resign at any time by giving 30 days’ prior written notice thereof to the Lenders and the Borrower, whether or not a successor Administrative Agent has been appointed. Upon any such resignation, the Required Lenders shall have the right to appoint a successor Administrative Agent. If no successor Administrative Agent shall have been so appointed by the Required Lenders, and shall have accepted such appointment, within 30 days after the retiring Administrative Agent’s giving of notice of resignation, then the retiring Administrative Agent may, on behalf of the Lenders, appoint a successor Administrative Agent, which shall be a bank with an office in New York, New York or an Affiliate of any such bank. In either case, (i) such appointment shall be subject to the prior written approval of the Borrower (which approval may not be unreasonably withheld and shall not be required while an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing) and (ii) in no event shall a successor Administrative Agent be a Disqualified Lender. Upon the acceptance of any appointment as Administrative Agent by a successor Administrative Agent, such successor Administrative Agent shall succeed to, and become vested with, all the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring Administrative Agent. Upon the acceptance of appointment as Administrative Agent by a successor Administrative Agent, the retiring Administrative Agent shall be discharged from its duties and obligations under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents. Prior to any retiring Administrative Agent’s resignation hereunder as Administrative Agent, the retiring Administrative Agent shall take such action as may be reasonably necessary to assign to the successor Administrative Agent its rights as Administrative Agent under the Loan Documents.

 

(b)          Notwithstanding paragraph (a) of this Section 9.5, in the event no successor Administrative Agent shall have been so appointed and shall have accepted such appointment within 30 days after the retiring Administrative Agent gives notice of its intent to resign, the retiring Administrative Agent may give notice of the effectiveness of its resignation to the Lenders and the Borrower, whereupon, on the date of effectiveness of such resignation stated in such notice, (i) the retiring Administrative Agent shall be discharged from its duties and obligations hereunder and under the other Loan Documents; provided that, solely for purposes of maintaining any security interest granted to the Administrative Agent under any Security Document for the benefit of the Secured Parties, the retiring Administrative Agent shall continue to be vested with such security interest as collateral agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties, and continue to be entitled to the rights set forth in such Security Document and Loan Document, and, in the case of any Collateral in the possession of the Administrative Agent, shall continue to hold such Collateral, in each case until such time as a successor Administrative Agent is appointed and accepts such appointment in accordance with this Section 9.5 (it being understood and agreed that the retiring Administrative Agent shall have no duty or obligation to take any further action under any Security Document, including any action required to maintain the perfection of any such security interest), and (ii) the Required Lenders shall succeed to and become vested with all the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring Administrative Agent; provided that (A) all payments required to be made hereunder or under any other Loan Document to the Administrative Agent for the account of any Person other than the Administrative Agent shall be made directly to such Person and (B) all notices and other communications required or contemplated to be given or made to the Administrative Agent shall directly be given or made to each Lender. Following the effectiveness of the Administrative Agent’s resignation from its capacity as such, the provisions of this Article and Section 10.3, as well as any exculpatory, reimbursement and indemnification provisions set forth in any other Loan Document, shall continue in effect for the benefit of such retiring 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 Administrative Agent was acting as Administrative Agent and in respect of the matters referred to in the proviso under clause (i) above.

 

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9.6           Acknowledgements of Lenders and Issuing Lenders. (a)  Each Lender represents that it is engaged in making, acquiring or holding commercial loans in the ordinary course of its business and that it has, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent, any Arranger or any other Lender, or any of the Related Parties of any of the foregoing, and based on such documents and information as it has deemed appropriate, made its own credit analysis and decision to enter into this Agreement as a Lender, and to make, acquire or hold Loans hereunder. Each Lender also acknowledges that it will, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent, any Arranger or any other Lender, or any of the Related Parties of any of the foregoing, and based on such documents and information (which may contain material, non-public information within the meaning of the United States securities laws concerning the Borrower and its Affiliates) 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.

 

(b)          Each Lender, by delivering its signature page to this Agreement on the Closing Date, or delivering its signature page to an Assignment and Assumption or any other Loan Document pursuant to which it shall become a Lender hereunder, shall be deemed to have acknowledged receipt of, and consented to and approved, each Loan Document and each other document required to be delivered to, or be approved by or satisfactory to, the Administrative Agent or the Lenders on the Closing Date.

 

9.7          Collateral Matters. (a)  Except with respect to the exercise of setoff rights in accordance with Section 9.8 or with respect to a Secured Party’s right to file a proof of claim in an insolvency proceeding, no Secured Party shall have any right individually to realize upon any of the Collateral or to enforce any Guarantee of the Obligations, it being understood and agreed that all powers, rights and remedies under the Loan Documents may be exercised solely by the Administrative Agent on behalf of the Secured Parties in accordance with the terms thereof.

 

(b)          The Secured Parties irrevocably authorize the Administrative Agent, at its option and in its discretion, to subordinate any Lien on any property granted to or held by the Administrative Agent under any Loan Document to the holder of any Lien on such property that is permitted by Section 7.3. The Administrative Agent shall not be responsible for or have a duty to ascertain or inquire into any representation or warranty regarding the existence, value or collectability of the Collateral, the existence, priority or perfection of the Administrative Agent’s Lien thereon or any certificate prepared by any Loan Party in connection therewith, nor shall the Administrative Agent be responsible or liable to the Lenders or any other Secured Party for any failure to monitor or maintain any portion of the Collateral.

 

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9.8          Credit Bidding. The Secured Parties hereby irrevocably authorize the Administrative Agent, at the direction of the Required Lenders, to credit bid all or any portion of the Obligations (including by accepting some or all of the Collateral in satisfaction of some or all of the Obligations pursuant to a deed in lieu of foreclosure or otherwise) and in such manner purchase (either directly or through one or more acquisition vehicles) all or any portion of the Collateral (a) at any sale thereof conducted under the provisions of the Bankruptcy Code, including under Sections 363, 1123 or 1129 of the Bankruptcy Code, or any similar laws in any other jurisdictions to which a Loan Party is subject, or (b) at any other sale, foreclosure or acceptance of collateral in lieu of debt conducted by (or with the consent or at the direction of) the Administrative Agent (whether by judicial action or otherwise) in accordance with any applicable law. In connection with any such credit bid and purchase, the Obligations owed to the Secured Parties shall be entitled to be, and shall be, credit bid by the Administrative Agent at the direction of the Required Lenders on a ratable basis (with Obligations with respect to contingent or unliquidated claims receiving contingent interests in the acquired assets on a ratable basis that shall vest upon the liquidation of such claims in an amount proportional to the liquidated portion of the contingent claim amount used in allocating the contingent interests) for the asset or assets so purchased (or for the equity interests or debt instruments of the acquisition vehicle or vehicles that are issued in connection with such purchase). In connection with any such bid, (i) the Administrative Agent shall be authorized to form one or more acquisition vehicles and to assign any successful credit bid to such acquisition vehicle or vehicles, (ii) each of the Secured Parties’ ratable interests in the Obligations which were credit bid shall be deemed without any further action under this Agreement to be assigned to such vehicle or vehicles for the purpose of closing such sale, (iii) the Administrative Agent shall be authorized to adopt documents providing for the governance of the acquisition vehicle or vehicles (provided that any actions by the Administrative Agent with respect to such acquisition vehicle or vehicles, including any disposition of the assets or equity interests thereof, shall be governed, directly or indirectly, by, and the governing documents shall provide for, control by the vote of the Required Lenders or their permitted assignees under the terms of this Agreement or the governing documents of the applicable acquisition vehicle or vehicles, as the case may be, irrespective of the termination of this Agreement and without giving effect to the limitations on actions by the Required Lenders contained in Section 10.1 of this Agreement), (iv) the Administrative Agent on behalf of such acquisition vehicle or vehicles shall be authorized to issue to each of the Secured Parties, ratably on account of the relevant Obligations which were credit bid, interests, whether as equity, partnership interests, limited partnership interests or membership interests, in any such acquisition vehicle and/or debt instruments issued by such acquisition vehicle, all without the need for any Secured Party or acquisition vehicle to take any further action, and (v) to the extent that Obligations that are assigned to an acquisition vehicle are not used to acquire Collateral for any reason (as a result of another bid being higher or better, because the amount of Obligations assigned to the acquisition vehicle exceeds the amount of Obligations credit bid by the acquisition vehicle or otherwise), such Obligations shall automatically be reassigned to the Secured Parties pro rata with their original interest in such Obligations and the equity interests and/or debt instruments issued by any acquisition vehicle on account of such Obligations shall automatically be cancelled, without the need for any Secured Party or any acquisition vehicle to take any further action. Notwithstanding that the ratable portion of the Obligations of each Secured Party are deemed assigned to the acquisition vehicle or vehicles as set forth in clause (ii) above, each Secured Party shall execute such documents and provide such information regarding the Secured Party (and/or any designee of the Secured Party which will receive interests in or debt instruments issued by such acquisition vehicle) as the Administrative Agent may reasonably request in connection with the formation of any acquisition vehicle, the formulation or submission of any credit bid or the consummation of the transactions contemplated by such credit bid.

 

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9.9           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, 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 the Plan Asset Regulations or otherwise) of one or more Benefit Plans with respect to such Lender’s entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Letters of Credit, the Commitments or this Agreement,

 

(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.

 

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(b)          In addition, unless sub-clause (i) in the immediately preceding clause (a) is true with respect to a Lender or such Lender has provided another representation, warranty and covenant in accordance with sub-clause (iv) in the immediately preceding clause (a), such Lender further (x) represents and warrants, as of the date such Person became a Lender party hereto, to, and (y) covenants, from the date such Person became a Lender party hereto to the date such Person ceases being a Lender party hereto, for the benefit of, the Administrative Agent, and not, for the avoidance of doubt, to or for the benefit of the Borrower or any other Loan Party, that the Administrative Agent is not a fiduciary with respect to the Collateral or the assets of such Lender involved in such Lender’s entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Letters of Credit, the Commitments and this Agreement (including in connection with the reservation or exercise of any rights by the Administrative Agent under this Agreement, any Loan Document or any documents related to hereto or thereto).

 

SECTION 10.  MISCELLANEOUS

 

10.1        Amendments and Waivers. Subject to Section 2.16(b) through (f) neither this Agreement, any other Loan Document, nor any terms hereof or thereof may be amended, supplemented or modified except in accordance with the provisions of this Section 10.1. The Required Lenders and each Loan Party party to the relevant Loan Document may, or, with the written consent of the Required Lenders, the Administrative Agent and each Loan Party party to the relevant Loan Document may, from time to time, (a) enter into written amendments, supplements or modifications hereto and to the other Loan Documents for the purpose of adding any provisions to this Agreement or the other Loan Documents or changing in any manner the rights of the Lenders or of the Loan Parties hereunder or thereunder or (b) waive, on such terms and conditions as the Required Lenders or the Administrative Agent, as the case may be, may specify in such instrument, any of the requirements of this Agreement or the other Loan Documents or any Default or Event of Default and its consequences; provided, however, that no such waiver and no such amendment, supplement or modification shall (i) forgive the principal amount or extend the final scheduled date of maturity of any Loan, reduce the stated rate of any interest or fee payable hereunder (except (x) in connection with the waiver of applicability of any post-default increase in interest rates (which waiver shall be effective with the consent of the Required Lenders) and (y) that any amendment or modification of defined terms used in the financial covenants in this Agreement shall not constitute a reduction in the rate of interest or fees for purposes of this clause (i)) or extend the scheduled date of any payment thereof, or increase the amount or extend the expiration date of any Lender’s Commitment, in each case without the written consent of each Lender directly affected thereby; (ii) eliminate or reduce the voting rights of any Lender under this Section 10.1 without the written consent of such Lender; (iii) reduce any percentage specified in the definition of “Required Lenders” or “Supermajority Lenders” without the written consent of each Lender or change any other provision of this Agreement or any other Loan Document specifying the number or percentage of Lenders (or Lenders of any Facility) required to waive, amend or otherwise modify any rights thereunder or make any determination or grant any consent thereunder without the written consent of each Lender (or each Lender of the applicable Facility, as applicable), (iv) consent to the assignment or transfer by the Borrower of any of its rights and obligations under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, release all or substantially all of the Collateral or release all or substantially all of the value of the guarantees provided by the Subsidiary Guarantors taken as a whole, in each case without the written consent of all Lenders; (v) amend, modify or waive any provision of Section 2.17 or Section 6.4 of the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement, in each case, without the written consent of each Lender adversely affected thereby; (vi) increase the advance rates set forth in the definition of “Borrowing Base” or add new categories of eligible assets, without the written consent of the Supermajority Lenders; (vii) modify eligibility criteria, as such eligibility criteria are in effect on the Closing Date (including adding new categories of eligible assets or eliminating any category of the Reserves in effect on the Closing Date; provided, however, that, for the avoidance of doubt, notwithstanding anything in this Section 10.1 to the contrary, the Administrative Agent may, in its Permitted Discretion and without the consent of any other Lenders, eliminate any category of Reserve that was added after the Closing Date by the Administrative Agent) in any manner that has the effect of increasing the amounts available to be borrowed hereunder without the written consent of the Supermajority Lenders; (viii) amend, modify or waive any provision of Section 9 or any other provision of any Loan Document that affects the Administrative Agent without the written consent of the Administrative Agent; (ix) [reserved]; or (x) amend, modify or waive any provision of Section 3 relating to the rights or obligations of the Issuing Lender without the written consent of the Issuing Lender. Any such waiver and any such amendment, supplement or modification shall apply equally to each of the Lenders and shall be binding upon the Loan Parties, the Lenders, the Administrative Agent and all future holders of the Loans. In the case of any waiver, the Loan Parties, the Lenders and the Administrative Agent shall be restored to their former position and rights hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, and any Default or Event of Default waived shall be deemed to be cured and not continuing; but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other Default or Event of Default, or impair any right consequent thereon.

 

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Furthermore, notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) the Administrative Agent, with the consent of the Borrower, may amend, modify or supplement any Loan Document without the consent of any Lender or the Required Lenders in order to correct, amend or cure any ambiguity, inconsistency or defect or correct any typographical error or other manifest error in any Loan Document and (ii) the Loan Documents may be amended in accordance with Section 2.24.

 

10.2        Notices. All notices, requests and demands to or upon the respective parties hereto to be effective shall be in writing (including by facsimile or e-mail), and, unless otherwise expressly provided herein, shall be deemed to have been duly given or made when delivered, or three Business Days after being deposited in the mail, postage prepaid, or, in the case of facsimile or e-mail notice, 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), addressed as follows in the case of the Borrower and the Administrative Agent, and as set forth in an administrative questionnaire delivered to the Administrative Agent in the case of the Lenders, or to such other address as may be hereafter notified by the respective parties hereto:

 

  Borrower: Rent-A-Center, Inc.
    5501 Headquarters Drive
    Plano, Texas 75024
    Attention: Maureen B. Short, Chief Financial Officer Facsimile: (972) 943-0116
    E-mail: Maureen.short@rentacenter.com
     
  with a copy to:  
    Sullivan & Cromwell LLP
    125 Broad Street
    New York, New York 10004
    Attention: Ari B. Blaut
    Facsimile: (212) 291-9219
    E-mail: blauta@sullcrom.com

 

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  Administrative Agent: JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.
    2200 Ross Avenue, 9th Floor
    Dallas, Texas 75201
    Attention: Alexander Vardaman
    Telephone: (214)965-3275
    E-mail: alexander.vardaman@jpmorgan.com

 

Notices and other communications to the Lenders hereunder may be delivered or furnished by electronic communications pursuant to procedures approved by the Administrative Agent; provided that the foregoing shall not apply to notices delivered to any Lender pursuant to Section 2 if such Lender has notified the Administrative Agent that it is incapable of receiving notices under such Section by electronic communication. The Administrative Agent or the Borrower may, in its discretion, agree to accept notices and other communications to it hereunder by electronic communications pursuant to procedures approved by it; provided that approval of such procedures may be limited to particular notices or communications.

 

10.3        No Waiver; Cumulative Remedies. No failure to exercise and no delay in exercising, on the part of the Administrative Agent or any Lender, any right, remedy, power or privilege hereunder or under the other Loan Documents 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 are cumulative and not exclusive of any rights, remedies, powers and privileges provided by law.

 

10.4         Survival of Representations and Warranties. All representations and warranties made hereunder, in the other Loan Documents and in any document, certificate or statement delivered pursuant hereto or in connection herewith shall survive the execution and delivery of this Agreement and the making of the Loans and other extensions of credit hereunder.

 

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10.5        Payment of Expenses and Taxes; Indemnification; Limitation of Liability. The Borrower agrees (a) to pay or reimburse the Administrative Agent and the Arrangers for all of their respective reasonable and documented out-of-pocket costs and expenses incurred in connection with the syndication of the Commitments and the development, preparation and execution of, and any amendment, supplement or modification to, this Agreement and the other Loan Documents and any other documents prepared in connection herewith or therewith, and the consummation and administration of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, including the reasonable and documented fees, disbursements and other charges of one primary counsel to the Administrative Agent and the Arrangers and, if necessary, one local counsel in each applicable jurisdiction and filing and recording fees and expenses, with statements with respect to the foregoing to be submitted to the Borrower prior to the Closing Date (in the case of amounts to be paid on the Closing Date) and from time to time thereafter on a quarterly basis or such other periodic basis as the Administrative Agent shall deem appropriate, (b) to pay or reimburse each Lender, the Issuing Lender and the Administrative Agent for its reasonable and documented costs and out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with the enforcement or preservation of any rights under this Agreement, the other Loan Documents and any such other documents, including reasonable and documented fees, disbursements and other charges of counsel to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders and including the reasonable and documented costs and expenses incurred during any workout, restructuring or negotiations (it being understood that expenses reimbursed by the Borrower under this Section 10.5 shall include costs and expenses incurred in connection with (1) appraisals, environmental reviews and insurance reviews, (2) field examinations pursuant to Section 6.6 and the preparation of Reports in connection therewith based on the fees charged by a third party retained by the Administrative Agent or the internally allocated fees for each Person employed by the Administrative Agent with respect to each field examination. and (3) forwarding loan proceeds, collecting checks and other items of payment and establishing and maintaining the accounts and lock boxes, and costs and expenses of preserving and protecting the Collateral), (c) to pay, indemnify, and hold each Lender, the Issuing Lender and the Administrative Agent harmless from, any and all recording and filing fees and any and all liabilities with respect to, or resulting from any delay in paying, stamp, excise and other Taxes, if any, that may be payable or determined to be payable in connection with the execution and delivery of, or consummation or administration of any of the transactions contemplated by, or any amendment, supplement or modification of, or any waiver or consent under or in respect of, this Agreement, the other Loan Documents and any such other documents, and (d) to pay, indemnify, and hold each Lender, the Issuing Lender, the Arrangers and each Agent, their respective affiliates, and their respective officers, directors, employees, agents, advisors and controlling persons (each, an “Indemnitee”) harmless from and against any and all other liabilities, obligations, losses, claims, damages, penalties, actions, judgments, suits, costs or expenses (including the reasonable and documented fees, disbursements and other charges of counsel) of any kind or nature whatsoever with respect to the execution, delivery, enforcement, performance and administration of this Agreement, the other Loan Documents and any such other documents, including any claim, litigation, investigation or proceeding regardless of whether any Indemnitee is a party thereto and whether or not the same are brought by the Borrower, its equity holders, affiliates or creditors or any other Person, including any of the foregoing relating to the use of proceeds of the Loans or Letters of Credit (including any refusal by the Issuing Lender to honor a demand for payment under a Letter of Credit if the documents presented in connection with such demand do not strictly comply with the terms of such Letter of Credit) or the violation of, noncompliance with or liability under, any Environmental Law applicable to any Group Member or its operations or properties, and the reasonable and documented fees, disbursements and other charges of legal counsel (limited to reasonable and documented fees, disbursements and other charges of one primary counsel for all Indemnitees, taken as a whole, and, if necessary, one firm of local counsel in each applicable jurisdiction (which may include a single special counsel acting in multiple jurisdictions) for all Indemnitees, taken as a whole, and one firm of special regulatory counsel for all Indemnitees, taken as a whole (and, in the case of an actual or potential conflict of interest, where an Indemnitee affected by such conflict informs the Borrower of such conflict and thereafter retains its own counsel, of another firm of counsel for all such affected Indemnitees similarly situated and, if necessary, one firm of local counsel in each applicable jurisdiction (which may include a single special counsel acting in multiple jurisdictions) for all such affected Indemnitees similarly situated) and one firm of special regulatory counsel for all such affected Indemnitees similarly situated) in connection with claims, actions or proceedings by any Indemnitee against any Loan Party under any Loan Document (all the foregoing in this clause (d), collectively, the “Indemnified Liabilities”), provided, that the Borrower shall have no obligation hereunder to any Indemnitee with respect to Indemnified Liabilities to the extent such Indemnified Liabilities are found by a final and nonappealable decision of a court of competent jurisdiction to have resulted from (x) the bad faith, gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Indemnitee (or any of its Affiliates, officers, directors, employees, agents, advisors or controlling persons), (y) a material breach by such Indemnitee of its obligations under the Loan Documents or (z) disputes or proceedings that are brought by an Indemnitee against any other Indemnitee (other than any claims against any Arranger or Agent in its capacity or in fulfilling its roles as an Arranger or Agent hereunder or any similar role with respect to any Facility) to the extent such disputes do not arise from any act or omission of any Loan Party or any of its Affiliates, and provided, further, that this Section 10.5(d) shall not apply with respect to Taxes other than any Taxes that represent losses or damages arising from any non-Tax claim. Except as provided in this Section 10.5, and to the extent permitted by applicable law, the Borrower agrees not to assert and to cause its Subsidiaries not to assert, and hereby waives and agrees to cause its Subsidiaries to waive, all rights for contribution with respect to all claims, demands, penalties, fines, liabilities, settlements, damages, costs and expenses of whatever kind or nature, arising under any Environmental Laws, that any of them has by statute or otherwise against any Indemnitee.

 

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To the extent permitted by applicable law (i) the Borrower shall not assert, and the Borrower hereby waives, any claim against the Administrative Agent, any Arranger, and any Lender, and any Related Party of any of the foregoing Persons (each such Person being called a “Lender-Related Person”) for any Liabilities arising from the use by others of information or other materials (including any personal data) obtained through telecommunications, electronic or other information transmission systems (including the Internet), except to the extent such Liabilities are found by a final and nonappealable decision of a court of competent jurisdiction to have resulted from (x) the bad faith, gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Person and (ii) no party hereto shall assert, and each such party hereby waives, any Liabilities against any other party hereto, 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 or thereby, the Transactions, any Loan or the use of the proceeds thereof; provided that, nothing in this paragraph shall relieve the Borrower of any obligation it may have to indemnify an Indemnitee, as provided in the foregoing paragraph, against any special, indirect, consequential or punitive damages asserted against such Indemnitee by a third party.

 

All amounts due under this Section 10.5 shall be payable not later than 30 days after written demand therefor together with reasonably detailed backup documentation. The agreements in this Section 10.5 shall survive the termination of this Agreement and the repayment of the Loans and all other amounts payable hereunder.

 

10.6        Successors and Assigns; Participations and Assignments. (a)  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 (including any affiliate of the Issuing Lender that issues any Letter of Credit), except that (i) the Borrower may not assign or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of each Lender (and any attempted assignment or transfer by the Borrower without such consent shall be null and void) and (ii) no Lender may assign or otherwise transfer its rights or obligations hereunder except in accordance with this Section 10.6.

 

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(b)            (i) Subject to the conditions set forth in paragraph (b)(ii) below, any Lender may assign to one or more Eligible Assignees (each, an “Assignee”), all or a portion of its rights and obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Commitments and the Loans at the time owing to it) with the prior written consent (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned) of:

 

(A) the Borrower, provided that no consent of the Borrower shall be required for an assignment to a Lender, an affiliate of a Lender, an Approved Fund (as defined below) or, if a Specified Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, any other Person; and provided, further, that the Borrower shall be deemed to have consented to any such assignment unless the Borrower shall object thereto by written notice to the Administrative Agent within 10 Business Days after having received notice thereof;

 

(B) the Administrative Agent, provided that no consent of the Administrative Agent shall be required for an assignment of all or any portion of its Commitment or Loan to a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund; and

 

(C) the Issuing Lender.

 

(ii)            Assignments shall be subject to the following additional conditions:

 

(A) except in the case of an assignment to a Lender, an affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund or an assignment of the entire remaining amount of the assigning Lender’s Commitments or Loans, the amount of the Commitments or 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) shall not be less than $5,000,000) unless each of the Borrower and the Administrative Agent otherwise consent, provided that (1) no such consent of the Borrower shall be required if a Specified Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and (2) such amounts shall be aggregated in respect of each Lender and its affiliates or Approved Funds, if any;

 

(B) (1) the parties to each assignment shall execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent an Assignment and Assumption, together with a processing and recordation fee of $3,500 and (2) the assigning Lender shall have paid in full any amounts owing by it to the Administrative Agent; and

 

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(C) the Assignee, if it shall not be a Lender, shall deliver to the Administrative Agent an administrative questionnaire in which the Assignee designates one or more credit contacts to whom all syndicate-level information (which may contain material non-public information about the Borrower and its Affiliates and their Related Parties or their respective securities) will be made available and who may receive such information in accordance with the Assignee’s compliance procedures and applicable laws, including Federal and state securities laws.

 

For the purposes of this Section 10.6, “Approved Fund” means any Person (other than a natural person) that is engaged in making, purchasing, holding or investing in bank loans and similar extensions of credit in the ordinary course of its business and 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.

 

(iii)         Subject to acceptance and recording thereof pursuant to paragraph (b)(iv) below, from and after the effective date specified in each Assignment and Assumption the Assignee thereunder shall be a party hereto 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 2.18, 2.19, 2.20 and 10.5). Any assignment or transfer by a Lender of rights or obligations under this Agreement that does not comply with this Section 10.6 shall be treated for purposes of this Agreement as a sale by such Lender of a participation in such rights and obligations in accordance with paragraph (c) of this Section 10.6.

 

(iv)         The Administrative Agent, acting for this purpose as a non-fiduciary agent of the Borrower, shall maintain at one of its offices a copy of each Assignment and Assumption delivered to it and a register for the recordation of the names and addresses of the Lenders, and the Commitments of, and principal amount (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, the Issuing Lender and the Lenders shall treat each Person whose name is recorded in the Register pursuant to the terms hereof as a Lender hereunder for all purposes of this Agreement, notwithstanding notice to the contrary.

 

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(v)            Upon its receipt of a duly completed Assignment and Assumption executed by an assigning Lender and an Assignee, the Assignee’s completed administrative questionnaire (unless the Assignee shall already be a Lender hereunder), the processing and recordation fee referred to in paragraph (b) of this Section 10.6 and any written consent to such assignment required by paragraph (b) of this Section 10.6, the Administrative Agent shall accept such Assignment and Assumption and record the information contained therein in the Register. No assignment shall be effective for purposes of this Agreement unless it has been recorded in the Register as provided in this paragraph.

 

(vi)           Each assignee, by its execution and delivery of an Assignment and Assumption, shall be deemed to have represented to the assigning Lender and the Administrative Agent that such assignee is an Eligible Assignee. In no event shall the Administrative Agent be obligated to ascertain, monitor or inquire as to whether any prospective assignee is an Eligible Assignee or have any liability with respect to any assignment made to a Disqualified Lender or any other Person that is not an Eligible Assignee.

 

(c)            Any Lender may, without the consent of or notice to the Borrower, the Administrative Agent or the Issuing Lender, sell participations to one or more Eligible Assignees (a “Participant”) in all or a portion of such Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Commitments and 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 Issuing Lender and the other Lenders shall continue to deal solely and directly with such Lender in connection with such Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement. Any agreement 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 may provide that such Lender will not, without the consent of the Participant, agree to any amendment, modification or waiver that (i) requires the consent of each Lender directly affected thereby pursuant to the proviso to the second sentence of Section 10.1 and (ii) directly affects such Participant. 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 2.22 with respect to any Participant. The Borrower agrees that each Participant shall be entitled to the benefits of Sections 2.18, 2.19 and 2.20 (subject to the requirements and limitations therein, including the requirements under Section 2.19(f) (it being understood that the documentation required under Section 2.19(f) shall be delivered to the participating Lender)) to the same extent as if it were a Lender and had acquired its interest by assignment pursuant to paragraph (b) of this Section 10.6; provided that such Participant (i) agrees to be subject to the provisions of Sections 2.18 and 2.19 as if it were an assignee under paragraph (b) of this Section 10.6 and (ii) shall not be entitled to receive any greater payment under Sections 2.18 or 2.19, with respect to any participation, than its participating Lender would have been entitled to receive, except to the extent that such entitlement to receive a greater payment results from an adoption of or any change in any Requirement of Law or in the interpretation or application thereof or compliance by any Lender with any request or directive (whether or not having the force of law) from any central bank or other Governmental Authority made subsequent to the Closing Date that occurs after the Participant acquired the applicable participation. To the extent permitted by law, each Participant also shall be entitled to the benefits of Section 10.7(b) as though it were a Lender, provided such Participant shall be subject to Section 10.7(a) 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 to any Person (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) 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 Administrative Agent) shall have no responsibility for maintaining a Participant Register.

 

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(d)          Any Lender may at any time pledge or assign a security interest in all or any portion of its rights under this Agreement to secure obligations of such Lender, including any pledge or assignment to secure obligations to a Federal Reserve Bank or any other central banking authority, and this Section 10.6 shall not apply to any such pledge or assignment of a security interest; provided that no such pledge or assignment of a security interest shall release a Lender from any of its obligations hereunder or substitute any such pledgee or Assignee for such Lender as a party hereto. The Borrower, upon receipt of written notice from the relevant Lender, agrees to issue Notes to any Lender requiring Notes to facilitate transactions of the type described in this paragraph (d).

 

(e)            [Reserved].

 

(f)            The list of Disqualified Lenders (i) shall be made available to the Lenders by posting on IntraLinks/IntraAgency or another relevant 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) and (ii) shall be provided to any Lender upon request by such Lender to the Administrative Agent. A Lender may provide the list of Disqualified Lenders to any potential assignee or participant on a confidential basis in accordance with Section 10.15 hereof for the purpose of verifying whether such Person is a Disqualified Lender.

 

(g)           (i) If any assignment or participation is made to any Disqualified Lender in violation of this Section 10.6, the Borrower may, at its sole expense and effort, upon notice to the applicable Disqualified Lender and the Administrative Agent, (A) purchase or prepay such Loan by paying the lowest of (x) the principal amount thereof and (y) the amount that such Disqualified Lender paid to acquire such Loans, in each case plus accrued interest, accrued fees and all other amounts (other than principal amounts) payable to it hereunder and/or (B) require such Disqualified Lender to assign, without recourse (in accordance with and subject to the restrictions contained in this Section 10.6), all of its interest, rights and obligations under this Agreement to one or more Eligible Assignees at the lowest of (x) the principal amount thereof and (y) the amount that such Disqualified Lender paid to acquire such interests, rights and obligations, in each case plus accrued interest, accrued fees and all other amounts (other than principal amounts) payable to it hereunder.

 

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(ii)            Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, Disqualified Lenders (A) will not (x) have the right to receive information, reports or other materials provided to Lenders by the Borrower, the Administrative Agent or any other Lender, (y) attend or participate in meetings attended by the Lenders and the Administrative Agent, or (z) access any electronic site established for the Lenders or confidential communications from counsel to or financial advisors of the Administrative Agent or the Lenders and (B) (x) for purposes of any consent to any amendment, waiver or modification of, or any action under, and for the purpose of any direction to the Administrative Agent or any Lender to undertake any action (or refrain from taking any action) under this Agreement or any other Loan Document, each Disqualified Lender will be deemed to have consented in the same proportion as the Lenders that are not Disqualified Lender consented to such matter, and (y) for purposes of voting on any Bankruptcy Plan, each Disqualified Lender party hereto hereby agrees (1) not to vote on such Bankruptcy Plan, (2) if such Disqualified Lender does vote on such Bankruptcy Plan notwithstanding the restriction in the foregoing clause (1), such vote will be deemed not to be in good faith and shall be “designated” pursuant to Section 1126(e) of the Bankruptcy Code (or any similar provision in any other Debtor Relief Laws), and such vote shall not be counted in determining whether the applicable class has accepted or rejected such Bankruptcy Plan in accordance with Section 1126(c) of the Bankruptcy Code (or any similar provision in any other Debtor Relief Laws) and (3) not to contest any request by any party for a determination by the Bankruptcy Court (or other applicable court of competent jurisdiction) effectuating the foregoing clause (2).

 

10.7            Adjustments; Set-off. (a)  Except to the extent that this Agreement or a court order expressly provides for payments to be allocated to a particular Lender, if any Lender (a “Benefitted Lender”) shall receive any payment of all or part of the Obligations owing to it (other than in connection with an assignment made pursuant to Section 10.6), or receive any collateral in respect thereof (whether voluntarily or involuntarily, by set-off, pursuant to events or proceedings of the nature referred to in Section 8(f), or otherwise), in a greater proportion than any such payment to or collateral received by any other Lender, if any, in respect of the Obligations owing to such other Lender, such Benefitted Lender shall purchase for cash from the other Lenders a participating interest in such portion of the Obligations owing to each such other Lender, or shall provide such other Lenders with the benefits of any such collateral, as shall be necessary to cause such Benefitted Lender to share the excess payment or benefits of such collateral ratably with each of the Lenders; provided, however, that if all or any portion of such excess payment or benefits is thereafter recovered from such Benefitted Lender, such purchase shall be rescinded, and the purchase price and benefits returned, to the extent of such recovery, but without interest; provided further, that to the extent prohibited by applicable law as described in the definition of “Excluded Swap Obligation,” no amounts received from, or set-off with respect to, any Subsidiary Guarantor shall be applied to any Excluded Swap Obligations of such Subsidiary Guarantor.

 

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(b)            In addition to any rights and remedies of the Lenders provided by law, each Lender shall have the right, without notice to the Borrower, any such notice being expressly waived by the Borrower to the extent permitted by applicable law, upon any Obligations becoming due and payable by the Borrower (whether at the stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise), to apply to the payment of such Obligations, by setoff or otherwise, any and all deposits (general or special, time or demand, provisional or final), in any currency, and any other credits, indebtedness or claims, in any currency, in each case whether direct or indirect, absolute or contingent, matured or unmatured, at any time held or owing by such Lender, any affiliate thereof or any of their respective branches or agencies to or for the credit or the account of the Borrower; provided that if any Defaulting Lender shall exercise any such right of setoff (i) all amounts so set-off shall be paid over immediately to the Administrative Agent for further application in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement 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 Issuing Lender and the Lenders and (ii) 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 set-off. Each Lender agrees promptly to notify the Borrower and the Administrative Agent after any such application made by such Lender, provided that the failure to give such notice shall not affect the validity of such application.

 

10.8            Counterparts; Electronic Execution. This Agreement may be executed by one or more of the parties to this Agreement on any number of separate counterparts, and all of said counterparts taken together shall be deemed to constitute one and the same instrument. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page of (x) this Agreement, (y) any other Loan Document and/or (z) any document, amendment, approval, consent, information, notice (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any notice delivered pursuant to Section 10.2), certificate, request, statement, disclosure or authorization related to this Agreement, any other Loan Document and/or the transactions contemplated hereby and/or thereby (each an “Ancillary Document”) that is an Electronic Signature transmitted by telecopy, emailed pdf. or any other electronic means that reproduces an image of an actual executed signature page shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Agreement, such other Loan Document or such Ancillary Document, as applicable. The words “execution,” “signed,” “signature,” “delivery,” and words of like import in or relating to this Agreement, any other Loan Document and/or any Ancillary Document shall be deemed to include Electronic Signatures, deliveries or the keeping of records in any electronic form (including deliveries by telecopy, emailed pdf. or any other electronic means that reproduces an image of an actual executed signature page), each of which shall be of the same legal effect, validity or enforceability as a manually executed signature, physical delivery thereof or the use of a paper-based recordkeeping system, as the case may be; provided that nothing herein shall require the Administrative Agent to accept Electronic Signatures in any form or format without its prior written consent and pursuant to procedures approved by it; provided, further, without limiting the foregoing, (i) to the extent the Administrative Agent has agreed to accept any Electronic Signature, the Administrative Agent and each of the Lenders shall be entitled to rely on such Electronic Signature purportedly given by or on behalf of the Borrower or any other Loan Party without further verification thereof and without any obligation to review the appearance or form of any such Electronic signature and (ii) upon the request of the Administrative Agent or any Lender, any Electronic Signature shall be promptly followed by a manually executed counterpart. A set of the copies of this Agreement signed by all the parties shall be lodged with the Borrower and the Administrative Agent. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Borrower and each Loan Party hereby (i) agrees that, for all purposes, including in connection with any workout, restructuring, enforcement of remedies, bankruptcy proceedings or litigation among the Administrative Agent, the Lenders, the Borrower and the Loan Parties, Electronic Signatures transmitted by telecopy, emailed pdf. or any other electronic means that reproduces an image of an actual executed signature page and/or any electronic images of this Agreement, any other Loan Document and/or any Ancillary Document shall have the same legal effect, validity and enforceability as any paper original, (ii) the Administrative Agent and each of the Lenders may, at its option, create one or more copies of this Agreement, any other Loan Document and/or any Ancillary Document in the form of an imaged electronic record in any format, which shall be deemed created in the ordinary course of such Person’s business, and destroy the original paper document (and all such electronic records shall be considered an original for all purposes and shall have the same legal effect, validity and enforceability as a paper record), (iii) waives any argument, defense or right to contest the legal effect, validity or enforceability of this Agreement, any other Loan Document and/or any Ancillary Document based solely on the lack of paper original copies of this Agreement, such other Loan Document and/or such Ancillary Document, respectively, including with respect to any signature pages thereto and (iv) waives any claim against any Lender-Related Person for any liabilities arising solely from the Administrative Agent’s and/or any Lender’s reliance on or use of Electronic Signatures and/or transmissions by telecopy, emailed pdf. or any other electronic means that reproduces an image of an actual executed signature page, including any Liabilities arising as a result of the failure of the Borrower and/or any Loan Party to use any available security measures in connection with the execution, delivery or transmission of any Electronic Signature.

 

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10.9            Severability. Any provision of this Agreement that is prohibited or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such prohibition or unenforceability without invalidating the remaining provisions hereof, and any such prohibition or unenforceability in any jurisdiction shall not invalidate or render unenforceable such provision in any other jurisdiction.

 

10.10          Integration. This Agreement and the other Loan Documents represent the entire agreement of the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders with respect to the subject matter hereof and thereof, and there are no promises, undertakings, representations or warranties by the Administrative Agent or any Lender relative to the subject matter hereof not expressly set forth or referred to herein or in the other Loan Documents.

 

10.11       GOVERNING LAW. THIS AGREEMENT AND THE RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF THE PARTIES UNDER THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED AND INTERPRETED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

 

10.12           Submission To Jurisdiction; Waivers. Each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably and unconditionally:

 

(a)            submits for itself and its property in any legal action or proceeding relating to this Agreement and the other Loan Documents to which it is a party, or for recognition and enforcement of any judgment in respect thereof, to the exclusive jurisdiction of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York sitting in the Borough of Manhattan (or if such court lacks subject matter jurisdiction, the Supreme Court of the State of New York sitting in the Borough of Manhattan), and any appellate court from any thereof; provided, that nothing contained herein or in any other Loan Document will prevent any Lender or the Administrative Agent from bringing any action to enforce any award or judgment or exercise any right under the Security Documents or against any Collateral or any other property of any Loan Party in any other forum in which jurisdiction can be established;

 

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(b)           consents that any such action or proceeding may be brought in such courts and waives any objection that it may now or hereafter have to the venue of any such action or proceeding in any such court or that such action or proceeding was brought in an inconvenient court and agrees not to plead or claim the same;

 

(c)            agrees that service of process in any such action or proceeding may be effected by mailing a copy thereof by registered or certified mail (or any substantially similar form of mail), postage prepaid, in the manner set forth in Section 10.2;

 

(d)            agrees that nothing herein shall affect the right to effect service of process in any other manner permitted by law; and

 

(e)           waives, to the maximum extent not prohibited by law, any right it may have to claim or recover in any legal action or proceeding referred to in this Section 10.12 any indirect, special, exemplary, punitive or consequential damages.

 

10.13      Acknowledgements. The Borrower hereby acknowledges and agrees that (a) no fiduciary, advisory or agency relationship between the Loan Parties and the Credit Parties is intended to be or has been created in respect of any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the other Loan Documents, irrespective of whether the Credit Parties have advised or are advising the Loan Parties on other matters, and the relationship between the Credit Parties, on the one hand, and the Loan Parties, on the other hand, in connection herewith and therewith is solely that of creditor and debtor, (b) the Credit Parties, on the one hand, and the Loan Parties, on the other hand, have an arm’s length business relationship that does not directly or indirectly give rise to, nor do the Loan Parties rely on, any fiduciary duty to the Loan Parties or their affiliates on the part of the Credit Parties, (c) the Loan Parties are capable of evaluating and understanding, and the Loan Parties understand and accept, the terms, risks and conditions of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, (d) the Loan Parties have been advised that the Credit Parties are engaged in a broad range of transactions that may involve interests that differ from the Loan Parties’ interests and that the Credit Parties have no obligation to disclose such interests and transactions to the Loan Parties, (e) the Loan Parties have consulted their own legal, accounting, regulatory and tax advisors to the extent the Loan Parties have deemed appropriate in the negotiation, execution and delivery of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, (f) each Credit Party has been, is, and will be acting solely as a principal and, except as otherwise expressly agreed in writing by it and the relevant parties, has not been, is not, and will not be acting as an advisor, agent or fiduciary for the Loan Parties, any of their affiliates or any other Person, (g) none of the Credit Parties has any obligation to the Loan Parties or their affiliates with respect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the other Loan Documents except those obligations expressly set forth herein or therein or in any other express writing executed and delivered by such Credit Party and the Loan Parties or any such affiliate and (h) no joint venture is created hereby or by the other Loan Documents or otherwise exists by virtue of the transactions contemplated hereby among the Credit Parties or among the Loan Parties and the Credit Parties.

 

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10.14          Releases of Guarantees and Liens. (a)  Upon any sale, transfer or other Disposition by any Loan Party (other than any such sale, transfer or other Disposition to another Loan Party) of any Collateral in a transaction permitted by this Agreement, including in connection with a Qualified Securitization Transaction, or upon the effectiveness of any written consent to the release of the security interest in any Collateral created under any Security Document pursuant to Section 10.1, the security interests in such Collateral created by the Security Documents shall be automatically released. In connection with any termination or release pursuant to this clause (a), the Administrative Agent shall execute and deliver to any Loan Party, at such Loan Party’s expense, all documents that such Loan Party shall reasonably request to evidence such release.

 

(b)          At such time as the Loans, the Reimbursement Obligations and the other obligations under the Loan Documents (other than indemnification or reimbursement obligations under Sections 2.18, 2.19(a), 2.19(d) or 2.20 for which the Borrower has not been notified and contingent indemnification obligations, Banking Services Obligations and Secured Swap Obligations) shall have been paid in full and the Commitments have been terminated and no Letters of Credit shall be outstanding (other than Letters of Credit cash collateralized or otherwise backstopped in a manner satisfactory to the applicable Issuing Lender and the Administrative Agent), the Collateral shall be released from the Liens created by the Security Documents, and the Security Documents and all obligations (other than those expressly stated to survive such termination) of the Administrative Agent and each Loan Party under the Security Documents shall terminate, all without delivery of any instrument or performance of any act by any Person. In connection with any termination or release pursuant to this clause (b), the Administrative Agent shall execute and deliver to any Loan Party, at such Loan Party’s expense, all documents that such Loan Party shall reasonably request to evidence such termination or release.

 

(c)            Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein or in any other Loan Document, the Administrative Agent is hereby irrevocably authorized by each Lender (without requirement of notice to or consent of any Lender except as expressly required by Section 10.1) to take any action requested by the Borrower having the effect of releasing any Collateral or guarantee obligations (i) to the extent necessary to permit consummation of any transaction not prohibited by any Loan Document or that has been consented to in accordance with Section 10.1 or (ii) under the circumstances described in paragraphs (a) or (b) above.

 

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10.15            Confidentiality. Each of the Administrative Agent and each Lender agrees to keep confidential all non-public information provided to it by any Loan Party, the Administrative Agent or any Lender pursuant to or in connection with this Agreement; provided that nothing herein shall prevent the Administrative Agent or any Lender from disclosing any such information (a) to the Administrative Agent, any other Lender or any affiliate thereof, (b) subject to an agreement to comply with the provisions of this Section 10.15, to any actual or prospective Transferee or any direct or indirect counterparty to any Swap Agreement (or any professional advisor to such counterparty), (c) to its employees, directors, agents, attorneys, accountants and other professional advisors or those of any of its affiliates, in each case, who are bound to maintain the confidentiality of such information, (d) upon the request or demand of any Governmental Authority or in response to any order or subpoena of any court or other Governmental Authority or as may otherwise be required pursuant to any Requirement of Law, (e) that has been publicly disclosed not in breach of this Section 10.15 or becomes available to the Administrative Agent or such Lender on a non-confidential basis from a source that is not to the Administrative Agent’s or such Lender’s knowledge subject to confidentiality obligations to any Loan Party, (f) to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners or any similar organization or any nationally recognized rating agency that requires access to information about a Lender’s investment portfolio in connection with ratings issued with respect to such Lender, (g) in connection with the exercise of any remedy hereunder or under any other Loan Document, (h) to data service providers (including league table providers) that serve the lending industry to the extent such information is of the type customarily provided to such providers or (i) if agreed by the Borrower in its sole discretion, to any other Person.

 

Each Lender acknowledges that information furnished to it pursuant to this Agreement or the other Loan Documents may include material non-public information concerning the Borrower and its Affiliates and their Related Parties or their respective securities, and confirms that it has developed compliance procedures regarding the use of material non-public information and that it will handle such material non-public information in accordance with those procedures and applicable law, including Federal and state securities laws.

 

All information, including requests for waivers and amendments, furnished by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent pursuant to, or in the course of administering, this Agreement or the other Loan Documents will be syndicate-level information, which may contain material non-public information about the Borrower and its Affiliates and their Related Parties or their respective securities. Accordingly, each Lender represents to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent that it has identified in its administrative questionnaire a credit contact who may receive information that may contain material non-public information in accordance with its compliance procedures and applicable law, including Federal and state securities laws.

 

The Borrower represents and warrants that it and its Subsidiaries either (i) have no registered or publicly traded securities outstanding, or (ii) files its financial statements with the SEC and/or makes its financial statements available to potential holders of its 144A securities, and, accordingly, the Borrower hereby (i) authorizes the Administrative Agent to make the financial statements to be provided under Section 6.1(a) and (b), along with the Loan Documents, available to Public-Siders and (ii) agrees that at the time such financial statements are provided hereunder, they shall already have been made available to holders of its securities. The Borrower will not request that any other material be posted to Public-Siders without expressly representing and warranting to the Administrative Agent in writing that such materials do not constitute material non-public information within the meaning of the federal securities laws or that the Borrower and its Subsidiaries have no outstanding publicly traded securities, including 144A securities. For the avoidance of doubt, the Projections and monthly financial statements provided pursuant to Section 6.1(c) shall not be posted to Public-Siders.

 

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The Borrower hereby acknowledges that (a) the Administrative Agent will make available to the Lenders materials and/or information provided by or on behalf of the Loan Parties hereunder (collectively, the “Borrower Materials”) by posting the Borrower Materials on IntraLinks/IntraAgency or another similar electronic system (the “Platform”) and (b) certain of the Lenders may be Public-Siders. If any Borrower Materials are designated by the Loan Parties as “PRIVATE”, such Borrower Materials will not be made available to that portion of the Platform designated “Public Investor,” which is intended to contain only information that is either publicly available or not material information (though it may be sensitive and proprietary) with respect to Borrower, its Subsidiaries or their securities for purposes of federal and state securities laws. The Administrative Agent shall be entitled to treat any Borrower Materials that are not marked “PRIVATE” or “CONFIDENTIAL” as not containing any material non-public information with respect to the Borrower, its Subsidiaries or their securities for purposes of federal and state securities laws.

 

10.16          WAIVERS OF JURY TRIAL. THE BORROWER, THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT AND THE LENDERS HEREBY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVE TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL ACTION OR PROCEEDING RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT AND FOR ANY COUNTERCLAIM THEREIN.

 

10.17             USA Patriot Act. Each Lender hereby notifies the Borrower that pursuant to the requirements of the USA Patriot Act (Title III of Pub. L. 107-56 (signed into law October 26, 2001)) (the “Patriot Act”), it is required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies the Borrower, which information includes the name and address of the Borrower and other information that will allow such Lender to identify the Borrower in accordance with the Patriot Act.

 

10.18            Intercreditor Agreement. Each Lender hereby authorizes and directs the Administrative Agent (a) to enter into the Intercreditor Agreement on its behalf, perform the Intercreditor Agreement on its behalf and take any actions thereunder as determined by the Administrative Agent to be necessary or advisable to protect the interest of the Lenders, and each Lender agrees to be bound by the terms of the Intercreditor Agreement and (b) to enter into any other intercreditor agreement reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent on its behalf with respect to Indebtedness permitted to be incurred and secured under this Agreement, perform such intercreditor agreement on its behalf and take any actions thereunder as determined by the Administrative Agent to be necessary or advisable to protect the interests of the Lenders, in each case with respect to this clause (b) which intercreditor agreement is expressly required under this Agreement or the Administrative Agent deems necessary or advisable to protect the interests of the Lenders, and each Lender agrees to be bound by the terms of such intercreditor agreement. Each Lender acknowledges that the Intercreditor Agreement governs, among other things, Lien priorities and rights of the Lenders and the Fixed Asset Secured Parties with respect to the Collateral, including the Fixed Asset Priority Collateral.

 

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10.19              Acknowledgement and Consent to Bail-In of Affected Financial Institutions.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

(ii)          a conversion of all, or a portion of, such liability into shares or other instruments of ownership in such Affected Financial Institution, its parent 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 the applicable Resolution Authority.

 

10.20            Acknowledgement Regarding Any Supported QFCs. To the extent that the Loan Documents provide support, through a guarantee or otherwise, for hedging agreements or any other agreement or instrument that is a QFC (such support “QFC Credit Support” and each such QFC a “Supported QFC”), the parties acknowledge and agree as follows with respect to the resolution power of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation under the Federal Deposit Insurance Act and Title II of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (together with the regulations promulgated thereunder, the “U.S. Special Resolution Regimes”) in respect of such Supported QFC and QFC Credit Support (with the provisions below applicable notwithstanding that the Loan Documents and any Supported QFC may in fact be stated to be governed by the laws of the State of New York and/or of the United States or any other state of the United States):

 

In the event a Covered Entity that is party to a Supported QFC (each, a “Covered Party”) becomes subject to a proceeding under a U.S. Special Resolution Regime, the transfer of such Supported QFC and the benefit of such QFC Credit Support (and any interest and obligation in or under such Supported QFC and such QFC Credit Support, and any rights in property securing such Supported QFC or such QFC Credit Support) from such Covered Party will be effective to the same extent as the transfer would be effective under the U.S. Special Resolution Regime if the Supported QFC and such QFC Credit Support (and any such interest, obligation and rights in property) were governed by the laws of the United States or a state of the United States. In the event a Covered Party or a BHC Act Affiliate of a Covered Party becomes subject to a proceeding under a U.S. Special Resolution Regime, Default Rights under the Loan Documents that might otherwise apply to such Supported QFC or any QFC Credit Support that may be exercised against such Covered Party are permitted to be exercised to no greater extent than such Default Rights could be exercised under the U.S. Special Resolution Regime if the Supported QFC and the Loan Documents were governed by the laws of the United States or a state of the United States. Without limitation of the foregoing, it is understood and agreed that rights and remedies of the parties with respect to a Defaulting Lender shall in no event affect the rights of any Covered Party with respect to a Supported QFC or any QFC Credit Support.

 

[Remainder of this page intentionally left blank. Signature pages follow.]

 

164 

 

 

EXECUTED as of the date first above written.

 

BORROWER RENT-A-CENTER, INC.
     
  By:

/s/ Maureen B. Short

  Name:

Maureen B. Short

  Title: Executive Vice President – Chief Financial Officer

 

Signature Page

ABL Credit Agreement

 

 

 

 

ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT, ISSUING LENDER AND A LENDER JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
     
  By: /s/ Alexander Vardaman
  Name: Alexander Vardaman
  Title: Authorized Signatory

 

Signature Page

ABL Credit Agreement

 

 

 

 

 

LENDER AND ISSUING LENDER HSBC BANK USA, N.A.
   
  By: /s/ Allison Donahue
  Name: Allison Donahue
  Title: Vice President

 

Signature Page

ABL Credit Agreement

 

 

LENDER AND ISSUING LENDER CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH
   
  By: /s/ Judith E. Smith
  Name: Judith E. Smith
  Title: Authorized Signatory
     
  By: /s/ Brady Bingham
  Name: Brady Bingham
  Title: Authorized Signatory

 

Signature Page

ABL Credit Agreement

 

 

LENDER AND ISSUING LENDER CITIZENS BANK, N.A.
   
  By: /s/ Richard Norberg
  Name: Richard Norberg
  Title: Vice President

 

Signature Page

ABL Credit Agreement

 

 

LENDER AND ISSUING LENDER TRUIST BANK
   
  By: /s/ Sheryl Squires Kerley
  Name: Sheryl Squires Kerley
  Title: Director

 

Signature Page

ABL Credit Agreement

 

 

LENDER TEXAS CAPITAL BANK, N.A.
   
  By: /s/ Chad Ramsey
  Name: Chad Ramsey
  Title: Senior Vice President

 

Signature Page

ABL Credit Agreement

 

 

 

LENDER WOODFOREST NATIONAL BANK
   
  By: /s/ Ryan Stuart
  Name: Ryan Stuart
  Title: Senior Vice President

 

Signature Page

ABL Credit Agreement

 

 

 

LENDER BOKF, N.A., DBA BANK OF TEXAS
   
  By: /s/ Patricia Scudder
  Name: Patricia Scudder
  Title: Senior Vice President

 

Signature Page

ABL Credit Agreement

 

 

 

LENDER CADENCE BANK
   
  By: /s/ David Hauglid
  Name: David Hauglid
  Title: Senior Vice President

 

Signature Page

ABL Credit Agreement

 

 

 

LENDER INTRUST BANK
   
  By: /s/ Marlon E. King
  Name: Marlon E. King
  Title: Managing Director

 

Signature Page

ABL Credit Agreement

 

 

 

Exhibit 10.3 

 

 

TERM LOAN CREDIT AGREEMENT

 

among

 

RENT-A-CENTER, INC.

 

as Borrower,

 

The Several Lenders from Time to Time Parties Hereto,

 

JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.

 

as Administrative Agent

 

Dated as of February 17, 2021

 

CREDIT SUISSE LOAN FUNDING LLC AND HSBC SECURITIES (USA) INC.

 

as Co-Syndication Agents

 

CITIZENS BANK, N.A. AND TRUIST BANK

 

as Co-Documentation Agents

 

JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., CREDIT SUISSE LOAN FUNDING LLC AND HSBC
SECURITIES (USA) INC.

 

as Lead Arrangers and Bookrunners

 

 

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

  Page
     
SECTION 1.      DEFINITIONS 1
     
1.1 Defined Terms 1
1.2 Classification of Loans and Borrowings 46
1.3 Other Definitional Provisions 46
1.4 Interest Rate; LIBOR Notification 47
1.5 Divisions 47
1.6 Limited Condition Transaction 48
1.7 Calculations 49
1.8 Discontinued Operations 50
1.9 Bridge Loans and Escrow Indebtedness 50
     
SECTION 2.      AMOUNT AND TERMS OF COMMITMENTS 50
     
2.1 Term Loans 50
2.2 Procedure for Term Loan Borrowing 50
2.3 Repayment of Term Loans 50
2.4 [Reserved] 51
2.5 [Reserved] 51
2.6 [Reserved] 51
2.7 [Reserved] 51
2.8 Fees, etc. 51
2.9 [Reserved] 51
2.10 Optional Prepayments 51
2.11 Mandatory Prepayments and Commitment Reductions 52
2.12 Conversion and Continuation Options 54
2.13  Limitations on Eurodollar Tranches 54
2.14 Interest Rates and Payment Dates 54
2.15 Computation of Interest and Fees 55
2.16 Alternate Rate of Interest 55
2.17 Pro Rata Treatment and Payments 57
2.18 Requirements of Law 58
2.19 Taxes 60
2.20 Indemnity 63
2.21 Change of Lending Office 63
2.22 Replacement of Lenders 64
2.23 [Reserved] 64
2.24 Incremental Facilities 65
2.25 Loan Purchases 66
2.26 Loan Modification Offers 67
2.27 Refinancing Facilities 68
     
SECTION 3.      [RESERVED] 70

 

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SECTION 4.      REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES 70
     
4.1 Financial Condition 70
4.2 No Change 71
4.3 Existence; Compliance with Law 71
4.4 Power; Authorization; Enforceable Obligations 71
4.5 No Legal Bar 71
4.6 Litigation 71
4.7 No Default 72
4.8 Ownership of Property; Liens 72
4.9 Intellectual Property 72
4.10 Taxes 72
4.11 Federal Regulations 72
4.12 Labor Matters 72
4.13 ERISA 73
4.14 Investment Company Act; Other Regulations 73
4.15 Subsidiaries; Capital Stock 73
4.16 Use of Proceeds 73
4.17 Environmental Matters 74
4.18 Accuracy of Information, etc. 74
4.19 Security Documents 75
4.20 Solvency 75
4.21 Senior Indebtedness 75
4.22 [Reserved] 75
4.23 Anti-Corruption Laws, Anti-Money Laundering and Sanctions 75
4.24 Affected Financial Institutions 75
     
SECTION 5.      CONDITIONS PRECEDENT 75
     
5.1 Conditions to Initial Extension of Credit 75
5.2 Conditions to Each Extension of Credit 78
     
SECTION 6.      AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS 79
     
6.1 Financial Statements 79
6.2 Certificates; Other Information 80
6.3 Payment of Taxes 81
6.4 Maintenance of Existence; Compliance 81
6.5 Maintenance of Insurance 81
6.6 Inspection of Property; Books and Records; Discussions 81
6.7 Notices 82
6.8 Environmental Laws 82
6.9 Post-Closing Actions 83
6.10 Additional Collateral, etc. 83
6.11 Designation of Subsidiaries 84
6.12 Maintenance of Ratings 85
     
SECTION 7.      NEGATIVE COVENANTS 85
     
7.1 [Reserved] 85
7.2 Indebtedness 85
7.3 Liens 88
7.4 Fundamental Changes 92
7.5 Disposition of Property 93

 

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7.6 Restricted Payments 95
7.7 Investments 96
7.8 Optional Payments and Modifications of Certain Debt Instruments 99
7.9 Transactions with Affiliates 100
7.10 Sales and Leasebacks 101
7.11 Swap Agreements 101
7.12 Changes in Fiscal Periods 101
7.13 Negative Pledge Clauses 102
7.14 Clauses Restricting Subsidiary Distributions 103
7.15 Lines of Business 103
7.16 Use of Proceeds 103
     
SECTION 8.      EVENTS OF DEFAULT 104
     
SECTION 9.      THE AGENTS 107
     
9.1 Appointment 107
9.2 Administrative Agent’s Reliance, Indemnification, Etc. 109
9.3 Posting of Communications 110
9.4 The Administrative Agent Individually 111
9.5 Successor Administrative Agent 111
9.6 Acknowledgements of Lenders 112
9.7 Collateral Matters 112
9.8 Credit Bidding 113
9.9 Certain ERISA Matters 113
     
SECTION 10.    MISCELLANEOUS 115
     
10.1 Amendments and Waivers 115
10.2 Notices 116
10.3 No Waiver; Cumulative Remedies 116
10.4 Survival of Representations and Warranties 116
10.5 Payment of Expenses and Taxes; Indemnification; Limitation of Liability 117
10.6 Successors and Assigns; Participations and Assignments 118
10.7 Adjustments; Set-off 122
10.8 Counterparts; Electronic Execution 123
10.9 Severability 124
10.10 Integration 124
10.11 GOVERNING LAW 124
10.12 Submission To Jurisdiction; Waivers 124
10.13 Acknowledgements 125
10.14 Releases of Guarantees and Liens 125
10.15 Confidentiality 126
10.16 WAIVERS OF JURY TRIAL 127
10.17 USA Patriot Act 127
10.18 Intercreditor Agreements 127
10.19 Acknowledgement and Consent to Bail-In of Affected Financial Institutions 127
10.20 Acknowledgement Regarding Any Supported QFCs 128

 

iii

 

 

SCHEDULES:

 

1.1 Term Commitments
4.13 Pension Plans
4.15 Subsidiaries
4.19 UCC Filing Jurisdictions
7.2(e) Existing Indebtedness
7.2(f) Acquired Indebtedness
7.3(f) Existing Liens
7.5(l) Scheduled Dispositions
7.7(k) Existing Investments
7.13 Negative Pledge Clauses
7.14 Clauses Restricting Subsidiary Distributions

 

EXHIBITS:

 

A Form of Borrowing Request
B Form of Interest Election Request
C Form of Officer’s Certificate
D Form of Guarantee and Collateral Agreement
E Form of Assignment and Assumption
F Form of Compliance Certificate
G [Reserved]
H-1 U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate (For Non-U.S. Lenders that are Not Partnerships for U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes)
H-2 U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate (For Non-U.S. Participants that are Not Partnerships for U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes)
H-3 U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate (For Non-U.S. Participants that are Partnerships for U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes)
H-4 U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate (For Non-U.S. Lenders that are Partnerships for U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes)
I-1 Form of Incremental Term Loan Activation Notice
I-2 Form of New Lender Supplement
J Auction Procedures
K Form of ABL/Fixed Asset Intercreditor Agreement
L Form of Solvency Certificate

 

iv

 

 

TERM LOAN CREDIT AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”), dated as of February 17, 2021, among Rent-A-Center, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Borrower”), the several banks and other financial institutions or entities from time to time parties to this Agreement, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent, and the other agents from time to time parties hereto.

 

The parties hereto hereby agree as follows:

 

SECTION 1. DEFINITIONS

 

1.1            Defined Terms. As used in this Agreement, the terms listed in this Section 1.1 shall have the respective meanings set forth in this Section 1.1.

 

ABL Administrative Agent” means JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent under the ABL Loan Documents, and its successors and assigns.

 

ABL Commitments” means the “Commitments” as defined in the ABL Credit Agreement.

 

ABL Credit Agreement” means the ABL Credit Agreement, dated as of February 17, 2021, among the Borrower, the lenders and agents party thereto and the ABL Administrative Agent, as the same may be amended, restated, amended and restated, modified, supplemented, refinanced and/or replaced from time to time in accordance with the terms thereof and the ABL/Fixed Asset Intercreditor Agreement to the extent constituting Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness.

 

ABL/Fixed Asset Intercreditor Agreement” means the ABL/Fixed Asset Intercreditor Agreement, dated as of the Closing Date, among the Borrower, the Subsidiary Guarantors, the Administrative Agent and the ABL Administrative Agent, substantially in the form of Exhibit K, as the same may be amended, restated, amended and restated, modified, supplemented and/or replaced (in form reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent) from time to time.

 

ABL Loan Documents” means collectively (a) the ABL Credit Agreement, (b) the ABL Security Documents, (c) the ABL/Fixed Asset Intercreditor Agreement, (d) any promissory note evidencing loans under the ABL Credit Agreement and (e) any amendment, restatement, amendment and restatement, waiver, supplement or other modification to any of the documents described in clauses (a) through (d).

 

ABL Loans” means loans outstanding under the ABL Credit Agreement.

 

ABL Obligations Payment Date” has the meaning set forth in the ABL/Fixed Asset Intercreditor Agreement.

 

ABL Priority Collateral” has the meaning set forth in the ABL/Fixed Asset Intercreditor Agreement.

 

ABL Representative” has the meaning set forth in the ABL/Fixed Asset Intercreditor Agreement.

 

ABL Security Documents” means the collective reference to the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement (as defined in the ABL Credit Agreement) and all other security documents delivered to the ABL Administrative Agent granting a Lien on any property of any Person to secure the obligations and liabilities of any Loan Party under any ABL Loan Document.

 

 

 

ABR” means, when used in reference to any Loan or Borrowing, refers to whether such Loan, or the Loans comprising such Borrowing, bear interest at a rate determined by reference to the Alternate Base Rate.

 

Accepting Lenders” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.26(a).

 

Acima” means Acima Holdings, LLC.

 

Acima Acquisition” means the Borrower’s direct or indirect acquisition of the Acquired Business from the existing equityholders of Acima in all material respects in accordance with the terms of the Acquisition Agreement, pursuant to which Merger Sub (as defined in the Acquisition Agreement) will merge with and into Acima, with Acima continuing as the surviving person.

 

Acquired Business” means Acima, together with its Subsidiaries.

 

Acquisition Agreement” means that certain Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of December 20, 2020, by and among the Borrower, Merger Sub (as defined therein), Acima and Aaron Allred, as the Member Representative (as defined therein).

 

Additional Permitted Amount” has the meaning set forth in the definition of Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness.

 

Adjusted LIBO Rate” means, with respect to any Eurodollar Borrowing for any Interest Period, an interest rate per annum (rounded upwards, if necessary, to the next 1/16 of 1%) equal to (a) the LIBO Rate for such Interest Period multiplied by (b) the Statutory Reserve Rate.

 

Administrative Agent” means JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., together with its affiliates, as the administrative agent for the Lenders under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, together with any of its successors.

 

Advisory Fees” has the meaning set forth in the definition of Consolidated EBITDA.

 

Affected Financial Institution” means (a) any EEA Financial Institution or (b) any UK Financial Institution.

 

Affiliate” means, as to any Person, any other Person that, directly or indirectly, is in control of, is controlled by, or is under common control with, such Person. For purposes of this definition, “control” of a Person means the power, directly or indirectly, to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of such Person, whether by contract or otherwise.

 

Agents” means the collective reference to the Administrative Agent and any other agent identified on the cover page of this Agreement.

 

Agreement” has the meaning set forth in the preamble hereto.

 

2

 

 

Alternate Base Rate” means, for any day, a rate per annum equal to the greatest of (a) the Prime Rate in effect on such day, (b) the NYFRB Rate in effect on such day plus ½ of 1% and (c) the Adjusted LIBO Rate for a one month Interest Period on such day (or if such day is not a Business Day, the immediately preceding Business Day) plus 1%; provided that for the purpose of this definition, the Adjusted LIBO Rate for any day shall be based on the LIBO Screen Rate (or if the LIBO Screen Rate is not available for such one month Interest Period, the Interpolated Rate) at approximately 11:00 a.m. London time on such day. Any change in the Alternate Base Rate due to a change in the Prime Rate, the NYFRB Rate or the Adjusted LIBO Rate shall be effective from and including the effective date of such change in the Prime Rate, the NYFRB Rate or the Adjusted LIBO Rate, respectively. If the Alternate Base Rate is being used as an alternate rate of interest pursuant to Section 2.16 (for the avoidance of doubt, only until the Benchmark Replacement has been determined pursuant to Section 2.16(b)), then the Alternate Base Rate shall be the greater of clauses (a) and (b) above and shall be determined without reference to clause (c) above. For the avoidance of doubt, if the Alternate Base Rate as determined pursuant to the foregoing would be less than 1.75%, such rate shall be deemed to be 1.75% for purposes of this Agreement.

 

Ancillary Document” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.8.

 

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 or corruption.

 

Applicable Margin” means (a) (i) with respect to Initial Term Loans constituting ABR Loans, 3.00% per annum and (ii) with respect to Initial Term Loans constituting Eurodollar Loans, 4.00% per annum; and

 

(b)     with respect to Incremental Term Loans of any Series, such per annum rates as shall be agreed to by the Borrower and the applicable Incremental Term Lenders as shown in the applicable Incremental Term Loan Activation Notice in respect of such Series.

 

Applicable Reference Period” means as of any date of determination, the most recently ended Reference Period for which financial statements with respect to each fiscal quarter included in such Reference Period have been delivered pursuant to Section 6.1(a) or 6.1(b) (or, prior to the delivery of any such financial statements, the Reference Period ended September 30, 2020).

 

Approved Electronic Platform” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.3(a).

 

Approved Fund” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.6(b).

 

Arrangers” means JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., Credit Suisse Loan Funding LLC, HSBC Securities (USA) Inc., Citizens Bank, N.A. and Truist Bank.

 

Asset Sale” means any Disposition of property or series of related Dispositions of property pursuant to Section 7.5(n) or (o) that yields gross proceeds to any Group Member (valued at the initial principal amount thereof in the case of non-cash proceeds consisting of notes or other debt securities and valued at fair market value in the case of other non-cash proceeds) in excess of $15,000,000 in any single transaction or series of related transactions.

 

Asset Sale Percentage” means 100%; provided, that (a) the Asset Sale Percentage shall be reduced to 50% if the Consolidated Secured Leverage Ratio for the Applicable Reference Period calculated on a Pro Forma Basis is less than or equal to 1.50 to 1.00 but greater than 1.00 to 1.00 and (b) the Asset Sale Percentage shall be reduced to 0% if the Consolidated Secured Leverage Ratio for the Applicable Reference Period calculated on a Pro Forma Basis is less than or equal to 1.00 to 1.00.

 

Assignee” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.6(b)(i).

 

3

 

 

Assignment and Assumption” means an Assignment and Assumption, substantially in the form of Exhibit E or any other form (including electronic records generated by the use of an electronic Platform) approved by the Administrative Agent.

 

Attributable Indebtedness” means in respect of any sale and leaseback transaction, as at the time of determination, the present value (discounted at the implied interest rate in such transaction compounded annually) of the total obligations of the lessee for rental payments during the remaining term of the lease included in such sale and leaseback transaction (including any period for which such lease has been extended or may, at the option of the lessor, be extended).

 

Auction Manager” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.25.

 

Auction Notice” means an auction notice given by the Borrower in accordance with the Auction Procedures with respect to an Auction Purchase Offer.

 

Auction Procedures” means the auction procedures with respect to Auction Purchase Offers set forth in Exhibit J hereto.

 

Auction Purchase Offer” means an offer by the Borrower to purchase Term Loans of one or more Facilities pursuant to modified Dutch auctions conducted in accordance with the Auction Procedures and otherwise in accordance with Section 2.25.

 

Available Amount” means at any time, the excess if any, of:

 

(a)            the sum (without duplication) of:

 

(i)            an amount equal to 100% of Retained Excess Cash Flow;

 

(ii)            the Net Cash Proceeds (Not Otherwise Applied) received after the Closing Date and on or prior to such date from any issuance of Qualified Capital Stock by the Borrower (other than any such issuance to a Group Member);

 

(iii)            the Net Cash Proceeds of Indebtedness and Disqualified Capital Stock of the Borrower, in each case incurred or issued after the Closing Date, which have been exchanged or converted into Qualified Capital Stock;

 

(iv)            the Net Cash Proceeds of Dispositions of Investments made using the Available Amount on or after the Closing Date;

 

(v)             to the extent not already included in Consolidated Net Income, returns, profits, distributions and similar amounts received in cash or Cash Equivalents on Investments made using the Available Amount on or after the Closing Date;

 

(vi)            the Investments made on or after the Closing Date using the Available Amount of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries in any Unrestricted Subsidiary that has been re-designated as a Restricted Subsidiary or that has been merged or consolidated into the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or the fair market value of the assets of any Unrestricted Subsidiary that have been transferred to the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries;

 

(vii)            the Net Cash Proceeds of Dispositions after the Closing Date of Unrestricted Subsidiaries and Joint Ventures;

 

4

 

 

(viii)           the aggregate amount received after the Closing Date and on or prior to such date by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary in cash from any dividend or other distribution by an Unrestricted Subsidiary or a Joint Venture (except to the extent increasing Consolidated Net Income);

 

(ix)              the aggregate amount of the Declined Amounts (calculated from the Closing Date) Not Otherwise Applied; and

 

(x)               $242,300,000; minus

 

(b)      the sum of all (x) Restricted Payments made on or after the Closing Date and prior to such time in reliance on Section 7.6(g), (y) Investments made on or after the Closing Date, prior to such time in reliance on Section 7.7(r) and (z) Restricted Debt Payments made on or after the Closing Date and prior to such time in reliance on Section 7.8(a)(v), in each case utilizing the Available Amount or portions thereof in effect on the date of any such Restricted Payment, Investment or Restricted Debt Payment.

 

Available Incremental Amount” means, on any date, the sum of the following:

 

(a)            the Base Incremental Amount;

 

(b)            the Voluntary Prepayment Amount;

 

(c)          with respect to any Indebtedness secured on a pari passu basis with the Initial Term Facility, an unlimited amount, so long as after giving effect to the incurrence of such Indebtedness under this clause (c), the Consolidated Senior Secured Leverage Ratio for the Applicable Reference Period, calculated on a Pro Forma Basis as of the date of incurrence of such Indebtedness, is equal to or less than either (i) 2.00 to 1.00 or (ii) in the case of any such Indebtedness incurred in connection with a Permitted Acquisition or Investment, the Consolidated Senior Secured Leverage Ratio for the Applicable Reference Period, calculated on a Pro Forma Basis immediately prior to giving pro forma effect to such Permitted Acquisition or Investment;

 

(d)           with respect to any Indebtedness secured on a junior basis to the Initial Term Facility, an unlimited amount, so long as after giving effect to the incurrence of such Indebtedness under this clause (d), the Consolidated Secured Leverage Ratio for the Applicable Reference Period, calculated on a Pro Forma Basis as of the date of incurrence of such Indebtedness, is equal to or less than either (i) 2.00 to 1.00 or (ii) in the case of any such Indebtedness incurred in connection with a Permitted Acquisition or Investment, the Consolidated Secured Leverage Ratio for the Applicable Reference Period, calculated on a Pro Forma Basis immediately prior to giving pro forma effect to such Permitted Acquisition or Investment; and

 

(e)           with respect to any unsecured Indebtedness, an unlimited amount, so long as after giving effect to the incurrence of such Indebtedness under this clause (e), either (i) the Consolidated Leverage Ratio for the Applicable Reference Period, calculated on a Pro Forma Basis as of the date of incurrence of such Indebtedness, is equal to or less than either (x) 2.50 to 1.00 or (y) in the case of any such Indebtedness incurred in connection with a Permitted Acquisition or Investment, the Consolidated Leverage Ratio for the Applicable Reference Period, calculated on a Pro Forma Basis immediately prior to giving pro forma effect to such Permitted Acquisition or Investment or (ii) the Consolidated Cash Interest Coverage Ratio for the Applicable Reference Period, calculated on a Pro Forma Basis as of the date of incurrence of such Indebtedness, is equal to or greater than either (x) 2.00:1.00 or (y) in the case of any such Indebtedness incurred in connection with a Permitted Acquisition or Investment, the Consolidated Cash Interest Coverage Ratio for the Applicable Reference Period, calculated on a Pro Forma Basis immediately prior to giving pro forma effect to such Permitted Acquisition or Investment.

 

5

 

 

Available Tenor” means, as of any date of determination and with respect to the then-current Benchmark, as applicable, any tenor for such Benchmark or payment period for interest calculated with reference to such Benchmark, as applicable, that is or may be used for determining the length of an Interest Period pursuant to this Agreement as of such date and not including, for the avoidance of doubt, any tenor for such Benchmark that is then-removed from the definition of “Interest Period” pursuant to clause (f) of Section 2.16.

 

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

 

Bail-In Legislation” means (a) 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 and (b) with respect to the United Kingdom, Part I of the United Kingdom Banking Act 2009 (as amended from time to time) and any other law, regulation or rule applicable in the United Kingdom relating to the resolution of unsound or failing banks, investment firms or other financial institutions or their affiliates (other than through liquidation, administration or other insolvency proceedings).

 

Bankruptcy Code” means Title 11 of the United States Code (11 U.S.C. § 101 et seq.), as now and hereafter in effect, or any successor statute.

 

Bankruptcy Plan” means a reorganization or plan of liquidation pursuant to any Debtor Relief Laws.

 

Base Incremental Amount” means as of any date, an amount equal to (a) the greater of (i) $500,000,000 and (ii) 100% of Consolidated EBITDA calculated on a Pro Forma Basis for the Applicable Reference Period less (b) the aggregate principal amount of Incremental Term Loans and Incremental Equivalent Debt established prior to such date in reliance on the Base Incremental Amount.

 

Benchmark” means, initially, the LIBO Rate; provided that if a Benchmark Transition Event, a Term SOFR Transition Event or an Early Opt-in Election, as applicable, and its related Benchmark Replacement Date have occurred with respect to the LIBO Rate or the then-current Benchmark, then “Benchmark” means the applicable Benchmark Replacement to the extent that such Benchmark Replacement has replaced such prior benchmark rate pursuant to clause (b) or clause (c) of Section 2.16.

 

Benchmark Replacement” means, for any Available Tenor, the first alternative set forth in the order below that can be determined by the Administrative Agent for the applicable Benchmark Replacement Date:

 

(1) the sum of: (a) Term SOFR and (b) the related Benchmark Replacement Adjustment;

 

(2) the sum of: (a) Daily Simple SOFR and (b) the related Benchmark Replacement Adjustment;

 

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(3) the sum of: (a) the alternate benchmark rate that has been selected by the Administrative Agent and the Borrower as the replacement for the then-current Benchmark for the applicable Corresponding Tenor giving due consideration to (i) any selection or recommendation of a replacement benchmark rate or the mechanism for determining such a rate by the Relevant Governmental Body or (ii) any evolving or then-prevailing market convention for determining a benchmark rate as a replacement for the then-current Benchmark for Dollar-denominated syndicated credit facilities at such time and (b) the related Benchmark Replacement Adjustment;

 

provided that, in the case of clause (1), such Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement is displayed on a screen or other information service that publishes such rate from time to time as selected by the Administrative Agent in its reasonable discretion; provided further that, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement or in any other Loan Document, upon the occurrence of a Term SOFR Transition Event, and the delivery of a Term SOFR Notice, on the applicable Benchmark Replacement Date the “Benchmark Replacement” shall revert to and shall be deemed to be the sum of (a) Term SOFR and (b) the related Benchmark Replacement Adjustment, as set forth in clause (1) of this definition (subject to the first proviso above).

 

If the Benchmark Replacement as determined pursuant to clause (1), (2) or (3) above would be less than 0.75%, the Benchmark Replacement will be deemed to be 0.75% for the purposes of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents.

 

Benchmark Replacement Adjustment” means, with respect to any replacement of the then current Benchmark with an Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement for any applicable Interest Period and Available Tenor for any setting of such Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement:

 

(1) for purposes of clauses (1) and (2) of the definition of “Benchmark Replacement,” the first alternative set forth in the order below that can be determined by the Administrative Agent:

 

(a) the spread adjustment, or method for calculating or determining such spread adjustment, (which may be a positive or negative value or zero) as of the Reference Time such Benchmark Replacement is first set for such Interest Period that has been selected or recommended by the Relevant Governmental Body for the replacement of such Benchmark with the applicable Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement for the applicable Corresponding Tenor;

 

(b) the spread adjustment (which may be a positive or negative value or zero) as of the Reference Time such Benchmark Replacement is first set for such Interest Period that would apply to the fallback rate for a derivative transaction referencing the ISDA Definitions to be effective upon an index cessation event with respect to such Benchmark for the applicable Corresponding Tenor; and

 

(2) for purposes of clause (3) of the definition of “Benchmark Replacement,” the spread adjustment, or method for calculating or determining such spread adjustment, (which may be a positive or negative value or zero) that has been selected by the Administrative Agent and the Borrower for the applicable Corresponding Tenor giving due consideration to (i) any selection or recommendation of a spread adjustment, or method for calculating or determining such spread adjustment, for the replacement of such Benchmark with the applicable Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement by the Relevant Governmental Body on the applicable Benchmark Replacement Date or (ii) any evolving or then-prevailing market convention for determining a spread adjustment, or method for calculating or determining such spread adjustment, for the replacement of such Benchmark with the applicable Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement for U.S. dollar denominated syndicated credit facilities;

 

provided that, in the case of clause (1) above, such adjustment is displayed on a screen or other information service that publishes such Benchmark Replacement Adjustment from time to time as selected by the Administrative Agent in its reasonable discretion.

 

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Benchmark Replacement Conforming Changes” means, with respect to any Benchmark Replacement, any technical, administrative or operational changes (including changes to the definition of “Alternate Base Rate,” the definition of “Business Day,” the definition of “Interest Period,” timing and frequency of determining rates and making payments of interest, timing of borrowing requests or prepayment, conversion or continuation notices, length of lookback periods, the applicability of breakage provisions, and other technical, administrative or operational matters) that the Administrative Agent decides may be appropriate to reflect the adoption and implementation of such Benchmark Replacement and to permit the administration thereof by the Administrative Agent in a manner substantially consistent with market practice (or, if the Administrative Agent decides that adoption of any portion of such market practice is not administratively feasible or if the Administrative Agent determines that no market practice for the administration of such Benchmark Replacement exists, in such other manner of administration as the Administrative Agent decides is reasonably necessary in connection with the administration of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents).

 

Benchmark Replacement Date” means the earliest to occur of the following events with respect to the then-current Benchmark:

 

(1) in the case of clause (1) or (2) of the definition of “Benchmark Transition Event,” the later of (a) the date of the public statement or publication of information referenced therein and (b) the date on which the administrator of such Benchmark (or the published component used in the calculation thereof) permanently or indefinitely ceases to provide all Available Tenors of such Benchmark (or such component thereof);

 

(2) in the case of clause (3) of the definition of “Benchmark Transition Event,” the date of the public statement or publication of information referenced therein; or

 

(3) in the case of a Term SOFR Transition Event, the date that is thirty (30) days after the date a Term SOFR Notice is provided to the Lenders and the Borrower pursuant to Section 2.14(c); or

 

(4) in the case of an Early Opt-in Election, the sixth (6th) Business Day after the date notice of such Early Opt-in Election is provided to the Lenders, so long as the Administrative Agent has not received, by 5:00 p.m. (New York City time) on the fifth (5th) Business Day after the date notice of such Early Opt-in Election is provided to the Lenders, written notice of objection to such Early Opt-in Election from Lenders comprising the Required Lenders.

 

For the avoidance of doubt, (i) if the event giving rise to the Benchmark Replacement Date occurs on the same day as, but earlier than, the Reference Time in respect of any determination, the Benchmark Replacement Date will be deemed to have occurred prior to the Reference Time for such determination and (ii) the “Benchmark Replacement Date” will be deemed to have occurred in the case of clause (1) or (2) with respect to any Benchmark upon the occurrence of the applicable event or events set forth therein with respect to all then-current Available Tenors of such Benchmark (or the published component used in the calculation thereof).

 

Benchmark Transition Event” means the occurrence of one or more of the following events with respect to the then-current Benchmark:

 

(1) a public statement or publication of information by or on behalf of the administrator of such Benchmark (or the published component used in the calculation thereof) announcing that such administrator has ceased or will cease to provide all Available Tenors of such Benchmark (or such component thereof), permanently or indefinitely; provided that, at the time of such statement or publication, there is no successor administrator that will continue to provide any Available Tenor of such Benchmark (or such component thereof);

 

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(2) a public statement or publication of information by the regulatory supervisor for the administrator of such Benchmark (or the published component used in the calculation thereof), the Federal Reserve Board, the NYFRB, an insolvency official with jurisdiction over the administrator for such Benchmark (or such component), a resolution authority with jurisdiction over the administrator for such Benchmark (or such component) or a court or an entity with similar insolvency or resolution authority over the administrator for such Benchmark (or such component), which states that the administrator of such Benchmark (or such component) has ceased or will cease to provide all Available Tenors of such Benchmark (or such component thereof) permanently or indefinitely; provided that, at the time of such statement or publication, there is no successor administrator that will continue to provide any Available Tenor of such Benchmark (or such component thereof); or

 

(3) a public statement or publication of information by the regulatory supervisor for the administrator of such Benchmark (or the published component used in the calculation thereof) announcing that all Available Tenors of such Benchmark (or such component thereof) are no longer representative.

 

For the avoidance of doubt, a “Benchmark Transition Event” will be deemed to have occurred with respect to any Benchmark if a public statement or publication of information set forth above has occurred with respect to each then-current Available Tenor of such Benchmark (or the published component used in the calculation thereof).

 

Benchmark Unavailability Period” means the period (if any) (x) beginning at the time that a Benchmark Replacement Date pursuant to clauses (1) or (2) of that definition has occurred if, at such time, no Benchmark Replacement has replaced the then-current Benchmark for all purposes hereunder and under any Loan Document in accordance with Section 2.16 and (y) ending at the time that a Benchmark Replacement has replaced the then-current Benchmark for all purposes hereunder and under any Loan Document in accordance with Section 2.16.

 

Benefit Plan” means any of (a) an “employee benefit plan” (as defined in Section 3(3) of ERISA) that is subject to Title I of ERISA, (b) a “plan” as defined in Section 4975 of the Code, and (c) any Person whose assets include (for purposes of the Plan Asset Regulations or otherwise for purposes of Title I of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code) the assets of any such “employee benefit plan” or “plan”.

 

Benefitted Lender” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.7(a).

 

BHC Act Affiliate” of a party means an “affiliate” (as such term is defined under, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 U.S.C. 1841(k)) of such party.

 

Board” means the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System of the United States (or any successor).

 

Borrower” has the meaning set forth in the preamble hereto.

 

Borrower Debt Repayment” means the repayment of, termination of all commitments under and the discharge of and release of all security and guarantees in respect of (i) the Existing Term Loan Facility and (ii) the Existing ABL Facility, in each case, as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified.

 

Borrower Materials” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.15(a).

 

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Borrowing” means Loans of the same Facility and Type made, converted or continued on the same date and, in the case of Eurodollar Loans, as to which a single Interest Period is in effect.

 

Borrowing Date” means any Business Day specified by the Borrower as a date on which the Borrower requests the relevant Lenders to make Loans hereunder.

 

Borrowing Request” means a request by the Borrower for a borrowing of Loans in accordance with Section 2.2, which shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit A or any other form approved by the Administrative Agent.

 

Business Day” means a day other than a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks in New York City are authorized or required by law to close, provided, that with respect to notices and determinations in connection with, and payments of principal and interest on, Loans having an interest rate determined by reference to the Adjusted LIBO Rate, such day is also a day for trading by and between banks in Dollar deposits in the interbank eurodollar market.

 

Capital Expenditures” means for any period, with respect to any Person, the aggregate of all expenditures by such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for the acquisition or leasing (pursuant to a finance lease) of fixed or capital assets or additions to equipment (including replacements, capitalized repairs and improvements during such period) that is required to be capitalized under GAAP on a consolidated balance sheet of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries.

 

Capital Stock” means any and all shares, interests, participations or other equivalents (however designated) of capital stock of a corporation, any and all equivalent ownership interests in a Person (other than a corporation) and any and all warrants, rights or options to purchase any of the foregoing, but excluding any debt securities convertible into any of the foregoing.

 

Cash Equivalents” means (a) marketable direct obligations issued by, or unconditionally guaranteed by, the United States Government or issued by any agency thereof and backed by the full faith and credit of the United States, in each case maturing within two years from the date of acquisition; (b) certificates of deposit, time deposits, eurodollar time deposits or overnight bank deposits having maturities of six months or less from the date of acquisition issued by any Lender or by any commercial bank organized under the laws of the United States or any state thereof having combined capital and surplus of not less than $250,000,000; (c) commercial paper of an issuer rated at least A-2 by S&P or P-2 by Moody’s, or carrying an equivalent rating by a nationally recognized rating agency, if both of the two named rating agencies cease publishing ratings of commercial paper issuers generally, and maturing within nine months from the date of acquisition; (d) repurchase obligations of any Lender or of any commercial bank satisfying the requirements of clause (b) of this definition, having a term of not more than 30 days, with respect to securities issued or fully guaranteed or insured by the United States government; (e) securities with maturities of two years or less from the date of acquisition issued or fully guaranteed by any state, commonwealth or territory of the United States, by any political subdivision or taxing authority of any such state, commonwealth or territory or by any foreign government, the securities of which state, commonwealth, territory, political subdivision, taxing authority or foreign government (as the case may be) are rated at least A by S&P or A by Moody’s; (f) securities with maturities of six months or less from the date of acquisition backed by standby letters of credit issued by any Lender or any commercial bank satisfying the requirements of clause (b) of this definition; (g) money market mutual or similar funds that invest exclusively in assets satisfying the requirements of clauses (a) through (f) of this definition; or (h) money market funds that (i) comply with the criteria set forth in SEC Rule 2a-7 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, (ii) are rated AAA by S&P and Aaa by Moody’s and (iii) have portfolio assets of at least $1,000,000,000.

 

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CFC” means (a) each Person that is a “controlled foreign corporation” for purposes of the Code and (b) each Subsidiary of any such Person.

 

CFC Holding Company” means each Domestic Subsidiary substantially all of the assets of which consist of Capital Stock of one or more (a) CFCs or (b) Persons described in this definition.

 

Change of Control” means the acquisition of ownership, directly or indirectly, beneficially or of record, by any Person or group (within the meaning of the Exchange Act and the rules of the SEC thereunder, but excluding any employee benefit plan of such Person or its Subsidiaries and any Person acting in its capacity as trustee, agent or other fiduciary or administrator of such plan) of Capital Stock of the Borrower representing more than 40% of the aggregate ordinary (in the absence of contingencies) voting power represented by the issued and outstanding Capital Stock of the Borrower. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence or any provision of Rule 13d-3 of the Exchange Act (as in effect on the Closing Date), a person or “group” shall not be deemed to beneficially own securities subject to an equity or asset purchase agreement, merger agreement or similar agreement (or voting or option or similar agreement related thereto) until the consummation of the transactions contemplated by such agreement.

 

Closing Date” means February 17, 2021.

 

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

 

Collateral” means all property of the Loan Parties, now owned or hereafter acquired, upon which a Lien is purported to be created by any Security Document.

 

Commitment” means, with respect to any Lender, such Lender’s Initial Term Loan Commitment, Incremental Term Loan Commitment of any Series or any combination thereof (as the context requires).

 

Communications” means, collectively, any notice, demand, communication, information, document or other material provided by or on behalf of any Loan Party pursuant to any Loan Document or the transactions contemplated therein which is distributed by the Administrative Agent, any Lender by means of electronic communications pursuant to Section 9.3, including through an Approved Electronic Platform.

 

Compliance Certificate” means a certificate duly executed by a Responsible Officer substantially in the form of Exhibit F.

 

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 Cash Interest Coverage Ratio” means as at the last day of any Reference Period, the ratio of (a) Consolidated Cash Interest Expense for such period to (b) Consolidated EBITDA for such period.

 

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Consolidated Cash Interest Expense” means for any period, (a) total cash interest expense (including imputed interest expense attributable to payments of Finance Lease Obligations) of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period with respect to all outstanding Specified Indebtedness of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries (excluding all commissions, discounts and other fees and charges owed with respect to letters of credit and bankers’ acceptance financing and net costs under Swap Agreements in respect of interest rates to the extent such net costs are allocable to such period in accordance with GAAP) plus (b) commissions, discounts, yield and other fees and charges (including Securitization Fees) incurred in connection with any Qualified Securitization Transaction which are payable to Persons other than the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries. For the purposes of calculating Consolidated Cash Interest Expense for any Reference Period pursuant to any determination of the Consolidated Cash Interest Coverage Ratio, (i) if at any time during such Reference Period the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary shall have made any Material Disposition, the Consolidated Cash Interest Expense for such Reference Period shall be reduced by an amount equal to the Consolidated Cash Interest Expense attributable to any Restricted Subsidiary that is the subject of such Material Disposition for such Reference Period, (ii) if during such Reference Period the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary shall have made a Material Acquisition, Consolidated Cash Interest Expense for such Reference Period shall be calculated after giving pro forma effect thereto as if such Material Acquisition occurred on the first day of such Reference Period and (iii) in the case of any Reference Period which includes any fiscal quarter ended on or prior to the Closing Date, for each such fiscal quarter ended on or prior to the Closing Date, Consolidated Cash Interest Expense shall be deemed to be $18,552,158, in each case subject to any pro forma adjustments (other than in respect of the Acima Acquisition) permitted under this Agreement.

 

Consolidated Cash Taxes” means for any period, with respect to the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, the aggregate amount of all income and similar Taxes, to the extent the same are payable in cash with respect to such period.

 

Consolidated Current Assets” means at any date, all amounts (other than cash and Cash Equivalents) that would, in conformity with GAAP, be reflected in “total current assets” (or any like caption) on a consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries at such date and including, for purposes of this definition, all rental inventory.

 

Consolidated Current Liabilities” means at any date, all amounts that would, in conformity with GAAP, be reflected in “total current liabilities” (or any like caption) on a consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries at such date, but excluding (a) the current portion of any Funded Debt of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries and (b) without duplication of clause (a) above, all Indebtedness consisting of ABL Loans to the extent otherwise included therein.

 

Consolidated EBITDA” means for any period, Consolidated Net Income for such period plus, without duplication and to the extent reflected as a charge in the statement of such Consolidated Net Income for such period, the sum of:

 

(a)            provisions for taxes based on income or profits or capital, including state, franchise, excise and similar taxes and foreign withholding taxes paid or accrued, including penalties and interest relating to tax examinations,

 

(b)            interest expense, amortization or writeoff of debt discount and debt issuance costs and commissions, discounts and other fees and charges associated with Indebtedness (including the Loans, the ABL Loans and the Unsecured Notes),

 

(c)            depreciation and amortization expense, including amortization of capitalized expenses for software-as-a-service solutions for accounting,

 

(d)            non-cash charges, losses, expenses, accruals and provisions, including stock-based compensation and sale of assets not in the ordinary course of business (but excluding any such non-cash charge to the extent that it represents an accrual or reserve for cash expenses in any future period),

 

(e)            amortization of intangibles (including, but not limited to, impairment of goodwill) and organization costs,

 

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(f)            any extraordinary, unusual or non-recurring charges, expenses or losses, including, (i) legal settlement expenses and recoveries, (ii) non-recurring natural disaster related-charges and (iii) infrequent or unusual inventory adjustments,

 

(g)            any fees and expenses incurred during such period in connection with any Investment (including any Permitted Acquisition), Disposition, issuance of Indebtedness or Capital Stock, or amendment or modification of any debt instrument, in each case permitted under this Agreement, including (i) any such transactions undertaken but not completed and any transactions consummated prior to the Closing Date and (ii) any financial advisory fees, accounting fees, legal fees and other similar advisory and consulting fees, in each case paid in cash during such period (collectively, “Advisory Fees”),

 

(h)            any fees and expenses incurred in connection with the Transactions, including Advisory Fees and (solely for purposes of this clause (h)) cash charges or expenses in respect of strategic market reviews, stay or sign-on bonuses, integration-related bonuses, restructuring, consolidation, severance or discontinuance of any portion of operations, employees and/or management,

 

(i)            the amount of “run-rate” cost savings, operating expense reductions, operating improvements, revenue enhancements, business optimizations and synergies that are reasonably identifiable, factually supportable and projected by the Borrower in good faith to be realized as a result of mergers and other business combinations, Permitted Acquisitions, divestitures, insourcing initiatives, cost savings initiatives, plant consolidations, openings and closings, product rationalization and other similar initiatives after the Closing Date, in each case to the extent not prohibited by this Agreement (collectively, “Initiatives”) (calculated on a pro forma basis as though such cost savings, operating expense reductions, operating improvements, revenue enhancements, business optimizations and synergies had been realized on the first day of the relevant Reference Period), net of the amount of actual benefits realized in respect thereof; provided that (i) actions in respect of such cost-savings, operating expense reductions, operating improvements, revenue enhancements, business optimizations and synergies have been, or will be, taken within 12 months of the applicable Initiative, (ii) no cost savings, operating expense reductions, operating improvements, revenue enhancements, business optimizations or synergies shall be added pursuant to this clause (i) to the extent duplicative of any expenses or charges otherwise added to (or excluded from) Consolidated EBITDA, whether through a pro forma adjustment or otherwise, for such period, (iii) projected amounts (and not yet realized) may no longer be added in calculating Consolidated EBITDA pursuant to this clause (i) to the extent occurring more than eight fiscal quarters after the applicable Initiative and (iv) with respect to any Reference Period, the aggregate amount added back in the calculation of Consolidated EBITDA for such Reference Period pursuant to this clause (i) and clause (j) below shall not exceed 25% of Consolidated EBITDA (calculated after giving effect to any add-backs pursuant to this clause (i) and clause (j) below),

 

(j)            non-recurring cash expenses or charges recognized for restructuring costs, integration costs and business optimization expenses in connection with any Initiative; provided that with respect to any Reference Period, the aggregate amount added back in the calculation of Consolidated EBITDA for such Reference Period pursuant to this clause (j) and clause (i) above shall not exceed 25% of Consolidated EBITDA (calculated after giving effect to any add-backs pursuant to this clause (j) and clause (i) above),

 

(k)            fees, costs, expenses and charges associated with contract terminations; provided that with respect to any Reference Period, the aggregate amount added back in the calculation of Consolidated EBITDA for such Reference Period pursuant to this clause (k) shall not exceed 5% of Consolidated EBITDA (calculated after giving effect to any add-backs pursuant to this clause (k)),

 

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(l)            losses, charges and expenses related to the early extinguishment of Indebtedness, hedge agreements or other derivative instruments (including deferred financing fees),

 

(m)            losses, charges and expenses attributable to abandoned, closed, Disposed or discontinued operations and losses, charges and expenses related to the abandonment, closure, Disposal or discontinuation thereof,

 

(n)            charges, expenses and other items described in the model delivered by the Borrower to the Arrangers on December 14, 2020, and

 

(o)            legal and professional fees and expenses incurred in connection with the Transactions,

 

minus,

 

(x)            to the extent included in the statement of such Consolidated Net Income for such period, the sum of:

 

(i)            interest 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),

 

(iii)            income tax credits (to the extent not netted from income tax expense),

 

(iv)            any other non-cash income (other than normal accruals in the ordinary course of business for non-cash income that represents an accrual for cash income in a future period),

 

(v)            gains related to the early extinguishment of Indebtedness, hedge agreements or other derivative instruments (including deferred financing fees), and

 

(vi)            gains attributable to abandoned, closed, Disposed or discontinued operations, and

 

(y)            any cash payments made during such period in respect of items described in clause (d) above subsequent to the fiscal quarter in which the relevant non-cash expenses or losses were reflected as a charge in the statement of Consolidated Net Income, all as determined on a consolidated basis.

 

For the purposes of calculating Consolidated EBITDA for any Reference Period pursuant to any determination of the Consolidated Leverage Ratio, Consolidated Secured Leverage Ratio, Consolidated Senior Secured Leverage Ratio or Consolidated Cash Interest Coverage Ratio, (i) if at any time during such Reference Period the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary shall have made any Material Disposition, the Consolidated EBITDA for such Reference Period shall be reduced by an amount equal to the Consolidated EBITDA (if positive) attributable to the property that is the subject of such Material Disposition for such Reference Period or increased by an amount equal to the Consolidated EBITDA (if negative) attributable thereto for such Reference Period, (ii) if during such Reference Period the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary shall have made a Material Acquisition, Consolidated EBITDA for such Reference Period shall be calculated after giving pro forma effect thereto as if such Material Acquisition occurred on the first day of such Reference Period and (iii) in the case of any Reference Period which includes any fiscal quarter ended on or prior to the Closing Date, if the respective Reference Period (a) includes the fiscal quarter of the Borrower ended September 30, 2020, Consolidated EBITDA for such fiscal quarter shall be deemed to be $166,560,166, (b) includes the fiscal quarter of the Borrower ended June 30, 2020, Consolidated EBITDA for such fiscal quarter shall be deemed to be $131,999,152, (c) includes the fiscal quarter of the Borrower ended March 31, 2020, Consolidated EBITDA for such fiscal quarter shall be deemed to be $112,667,268 and (d) includes the fiscal quarter of the Borrower ended December 31, 2019, Consolidated EBITDA for such fiscal quarter shall be deemed to be $104,651,226, in each case subject to any pro forma adjustments (other than in respect of the Acima Acquisition) permitted under this Agreement.

 

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Consolidated Leverage Ratio” means as at the last day of any Reference Period, the ratio of (a)(i) Consolidated Total Debt on such day less (ii) the aggregate Unrestricted Cash of the Group Members on such day to (b) Consolidated EBITDA for such period.

 

Consolidated Net Income” means for any period, the consolidated net income (or loss) of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries, determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP; provided that there shall be excluded:

 

(a)            the income (or deficit) of any Person accrued prior to the date it becomes a Restricted Subsidiary of the Borrower or is merged into or consolidated with the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries;

 

(b)            the income (or deficit) of any Person (other than a Restricted Subsidiary of the Borrower) in which the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries has an ownership interest, except to the extent that any such income is actually received by the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary in the form of dividends or similar distributions;

 

(c)            the undistributed earnings of any Restricted Subsidiary (other than a Securitization Subsidiary) of the Borrower to the extent that the declaration or payment of dividends or similar distributions by such Restricted 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 Restricted Subsidiary;

 

(d)            any income (or loss) for such period attributable to the early extinguishment of Indebtedness or Swap Obligations; and

 

(e)            the cumulative effect of a change in accounting principles and changes as a result of the adoption or modification of accounting policies during such period.

 

Consolidated Priority Debt” means at any date, Consolidated Total Debt at such date that is secured by a Lien on any Collateral (other than Indebtedness that is secured only by Liens on Collateral that are pari passu or junior to the Liens on such Collateral securing the Initial Term Loans).

 

Consolidated Priority Leverage Ratio” means as of the last day of any Reference Period, the ratio of (a)(i) Consolidated Priority Debt on such day less (ii) the aggregate Unrestricted Cash of the Group Members on such date to (b) Consolidated EBITDA for such period.

 

Consolidated Secured Debt” means at any date, Consolidated Total Debt at such date that is secured by a Lien on any property of any Group Member.

 

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Consolidated Secured Leverage Ratio” means as at the last day of any Reference Period, the ratio of (a)(i) Consolidated Secured Debt on such day less (ii) the aggregate Unrestricted Cash of the Group Members on such day to (b) Consolidated EBITDA for such period.

 

Consolidated Senior Secured Debt” means at any date, Consolidated Total Debt (other than Indebtedness that is secured only by Liens that are junior to the Liens securing the Initial Term Loans) at such date that is secured by a Lien on any property of any Group Member.

 

Consolidated Senior Secured Leverage Ratio” means as at the last day of any Reference Period, the ratio of (a)(i) Consolidated Senior Secured Debt on such day less (ii) the aggregate Unrestricted Cash of the Group Members on such day to (b) Consolidated EBITDA for such period.

 

Consolidated Total Assets” means at any date of determination, the total assets, in each case reflected on the consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries as at the end of the most recently ended fiscal quarter of the Borrower for which a balance sheet is available, determined in accordance with GAAP (and, in the case of any determination related to the incurrence of Indebtedness or Liens or any Investment, on a pro forma basis including any property or assets being acquired in connection therewith).

 

Consolidated Total Debt” means at any date (without duplication), all Finance Lease Obligations, purchase money Indebtedness, Indebtedness for borrowed money and letters of credit (but only to the extent drawn and not reimbursed), in each case of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries at such date, determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP.

 

Consolidated Working Capital” means at any date, the excess of Consolidated Current Assets on such date over Consolidated Current Liabilities on such date.

 

Contract Consideration” has the meaning set forth in the definition of “Excess Cash Flow”.

 

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 (including its Organizational Documents).

 

Corresponding Tenor” with respect to any Available Tenor means, as applicable, either a tenor (including overnight) or an interest payment period having approximately the same length (disregarding business day adjustment) as such Available Tenor.

 

Covered Entity” means any of the following:

 

(a)            a “covered entity” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 252.82(b);

 

(b)            a “covered bank” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 47.3(b); or

 

(c)            a “covered FSI” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 382.2(b).

 

Covered Party” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.20.

 

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Credit Party” means the Administrative Agent or any other Lender and, for the purposes of Section 10.13 only, any other Agent and any Arranger.

 

Daily Simple SOFR” means, for any day, SOFR, with the conventions for this rate (which will include a lookback) being established by the Administrative Agent in accordance with the conventions for this rate selected or recommended by the Relevant Governmental Body for determining “Daily Simple SOFR” for syndicated business loans; provided, that if the Administrative Agent decides that any such convention is not administratively feasible for the Administrative Agent, then the Administrative Agent may establish another convention in its reasonable discretion.

 

Debtor Relief Laws” means the Bankruptcy Code, 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.

 

Debt Repayment” means the (i) Target Debt Repayment and (ii) Borrower Debt Repayment.

 

Declined Amount” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.11(f).

 

Default” means any of the events specified in Section 8, whether or not any requirement for the giving of notice, the lapse of time, or both, has been satisfied.

 

Default Right” has the meaning assigned to that term in, and shall be interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. §§ 252.81, 47.2 or 382.1, as applicable.

 

Designated Non-Cash Consideration” means the fair market value of non-cash consideration received by the Borrower or one of its Restricted Subsidiaries in connection with a Disposition that is so designated as Designated Non-Cash Consideration pursuant to a certificate of a Responsible Officer, setting forth the basis of such valuation, less the amount of cash and Cash Equivalents received in connection with a subsequent sale of such Designated Non-Cash Consideration within 180 days of receipt of such Designated Non-Cash Consideration.

 

Disposition” means with respect to any property, any sale, lease, sale and leaseback, assignment, conveyance, transfer or other disposition (in one transaction or in a series of related transactions) of any property by any Person (including any issuance of Capital Stock by a Subsidiary of such 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. The terms “Dispose” and “Disposed of” shall have correlative meanings.

 

Disqualified Capital Stock” means with respect to any Person, any Capital Stock of such Person that by its terms (or by the terms of any security into which it is convertible or for which it is exchangeable, either mandatorily or at the option of the holder thereof), or upon the happening of any event or condition:

 

(a)          matures or is mandatorily redeemable (other than solely for Capital Stock of such Person that does not constitute Disqualified Capital Stock and cash in lieu of fractional shares of such Capital Stock) whether pursuant to a sinking fund obligation or otherwise;

 

(b)            is convertible or exchangeable, either mandatorily or at the option of the holder thereof, for Indebtedness or Capital Stock (other than solely for Capital Stock of such Person that does not constitute Disqualified Capital Stock and cash in lieu of fractional shares of such Capital Stock); or

 

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(c)            is redeemable (other than solely for Capital Stock of such Person that does not constitute Disqualified Capital Stock and cash in lieu of fractional shares of such Capital Stock) or is required to be repurchased by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary, in whole or in part, at the option of the holder thereof;

 

in each case, on or prior to the date that is 91 days after the Latest Maturity Date (determined as of the date of issuance thereof or, in the case of any such Capital Stock outstanding on the Closing Date, the Closing Date); provided, however, that (i) Capital Stock of any Person that would not constitute Disqualified Capital Stock but for terms thereof giving holders thereof the right to require such Person to redeem or purchase such Capital Stock upon the occurrence of an “asset sale”, “condemnation” or a “change of control” (or similar event, however denominated) shall not constitute Disqualified Capital Stock if any such requirement becomes operative only after repayment in full (or offer to repay in full) of all the Loans and all other Obligations that are accrued and payable, (ii) Capital Stock of any Person that is issued to any employee or to any plan for the benefit of employees or by any such plan to such employees shall not constitute Disqualified Capital Stock solely because it may be required to be repurchased by such Person or any of its subsidiaries in order to satisfy applicable statutory or regulatory obligations or as a result of such employee’s termination, death or disability and (iii) only such portion of the Capital Stock that matures, is mandatorily redeemable, or is convertible or exchangeable prior to such date as set forth in clauses (a) through (c) above shall constitute Disqualified Capital Stock.

 

Disqualified Lenders” means (a) certain banks, financial institutions, other institutional lenders and other Persons that have been specified in writing to the Administrative Agent by the Borrower prior to the Closing Date, (b) competitors of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries and any affiliate of such competitor, in each case, that is identified in writing to the Administrative Agent by the Borrower from time to time and (c) any affiliates of the entities described in the foregoing clauses (a) or (b) that are clearly identifiable as affiliates of such entities solely on the basis of the similarity of their names (other than affiliates that constitute bona fide debt funds primarily investing in loans). In no event shall the designation of any Person as a Disqualified Lender apply (x) to disqualify any Person until three (3) Business Days after such Person shall have been identified in writing to the Administrative Agent via electronic mail submitted to JPMDQ_Contact@jpmorgan.com (or to such other address as the Administrative Agent may designate to the Borrower from time to time). For the avoidance of doubt, with respect to any assignee that becomes a Disqualified Lender after the applicable Trade Date (including as a result of the delivery of a notice pursuant to, and/or the expiration of the notice period referred to in, this definition) or is otherwise party to a pending trade as of the date of such notice, (x) such assignee shall not retroactively be disqualified from becoming a Lender and (y) the execution by the Borrower of an Assignment and Assumption with respect to such assignee will not by itself result in such assignee no longer being considered a Disqualified Lender.

 

Dollars” and “$” means dollars in lawful currency of the United States.

 

Domestic Subsidiary” means any Restricted Subsidiary of the Borrower organized under the laws of any jurisdiction within the United States.

 

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Early Opt-in Election” means, if the then-current Benchmark is the LIBO Rate, the occurrence of:

 

(1)           a notification by the Administrative Agent to (or the request by the Borrower to the Administrative Agent to notify) each of the other parties hereto that at least five currently outstanding Dollar-denominated syndicated credit facilities at such time contain (as a result of amendment or as originally executed) a SOFR-based rate (including SOFR, a term SOFR or any other rate based upon SOFR) as a benchmark rate (and such syndicated credit facilities are identified in such notice and are publicly available for review), and

 

(2)            the joint election by the Administrative Agent and the Borrower to trigger a fallback from the LIBO Rate and the provision by the Administrative Agent of written notice of such election to the Lenders.

 

ECF Percentage” means 50%; provided, that (a) the ECF Percentage shall be reduced to 25% if the Consolidated Secured Leverage Ratio calculated on a Pro Forma Basis as of the last day of the relevant fiscal year is less than or equal to 1.50 to 1.00 but greater than 1.00 to 1.00 and (b) the ECF Percentage shall be reduced to 0% if the Consolidated Secured Leverage Ratio calculated on a Pro Forma Basis as of the last day of the relevant fiscal year is less than or equal to 1.00 to 1.00.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Electronic Signature” means an electronic sound, symbol, or process attached to, or associated with, a contract or other record and adopted by a Person with the intent to sign, authenticate or accept such contract or record.

 

Eligible Assignee” means (a) a Lender, (b) an Affiliate of a Lender, (c) an Approved Fund, (d) any commercial bank and (e) any other financial institution or investment fund engaged as a primary activity in the ordinary course of its business in making or investing in commercial loans or debt securities, other than, in each case, (i) a natural person or (ii) except to the extent permitted under Sections 2.25 and 10.6(e), the Borrower, any Subsidiary or any other Affiliate of the Borrower or (iii) a Disqualified Lender.

 

Environmental Laws” means any and all foreign, Federal, state, local or municipal laws, rules, orders, regulations, statutes, ordinances, codes, decrees, requirements of any Governmental Authority or other Requirements of Law (including common law) regulating, relating to or imposing liability or standards of conduct concerning protection of human health insofar as involving exposure to harmful or deleterious substances or the environment, as now or may at any time hereafter be in effect.

 

Environmental Permits” means any and all permits, licenses, approvals, registrations, notifications or authorizations required under any Environmental Law.

 

ERISA” means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended from time to time, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

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ERISA Affiliate” means any trade or business (whether or not incorporated) that, together with the Borrower, is treated as a single employer under Section 414(b) or (c) of the Code or Section 4001(14) of ERISA or, solely for purposes of Section 302 of ERISA and Section 412 of the Code, is treated as a single employer under Section 414 of the Code.

 

ERISA Event” means (a) any “reportable event”, as defined in Section 4043 of ERISA or the regulations issued thereunder with respect to a Plan (other than an event for which the 30 day notice period is waived); (b) the failure to satisfy the “minimum funding standard” (as defined in Section 412 of the Code or Section 302 of ERISA) with respect to any Plan, whether or not waived; (c) the filing pursuant to Section 412(c) of the Code or Section 302(c) of ERISA of an application for a waiver of the minimum funding standard with respect to any Plan; (d) the incurrence by the Borrower or any of its ERISA Affiliates of any liability under Title IV of ERISA with respect to the termination of any Plan; (e) the receipt by the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate from the PBGC or a plan administrator of any notice relating to an intention to terminate any Plan or Plans or to appoint a trustee to administer any Plan; (f) the incurrence by the Borrower or any of its ERISA Affiliates of any liability with respect to the withdrawal or partial withdrawal of the Borrower or any of its ERISA Affiliates from any Plan or Multiemployer Plan; or (g) the receipt by the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate of any notice, or the receipt by any Multiemployer Plan from the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate of any notice, concerning the imposition upon the Borrower or any of its ERISA Affiliates of Withdrawal Liability or a determination that a Multiemployer Plan is, or is expected to be, Insolvent, within the meaning of Title IV of ERISA.

 

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.

 

Eurodollar” when used in reference to any Loan or Borrowing, refers to whether such Loan, or the Loans comprising such Borrowing, are bearing interest at a rate determined by reference to the Adjusted LIBO Rate.

 

Eurodollar Tranche” means the collective reference to Eurodollar Loans under a particular Facility the then current Interest Periods with respect to all of which begin on the same date and end on the same later date (whether or not such Loans shall originally have been made on the same day).

 

Event of Default” means any of the events specified in Section 8, provided that any requirement for the giving of notice, the lapse of time, or both, has been satisfied.

 

Excess Cash Flow” means for any fiscal year of the Borrower and with respect to the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries, the excess, if any, of:

 

(a)         the sum, without duplication, of (i) Consolidated Net Income for such fiscal year, (ii) the amount of all non-cash charges (including depreciation and amortization) deducted in arriving at such Consolidated Net Income, (iii) decreases in Consolidated Working Capital for such fiscal year, and (iv) the aggregate net amount of non-cash loss on the Disposition of property by the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries during such fiscal year (other than sales of inventory in the ordinary course of business), to the extent deducted in arriving at such Consolidated Net Income over

 

(b)          the sum, without duplication, of

 

(i)            the amount of all non-cash income included in arriving at such Consolidated Net Income,

 

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(ii)           the aggregate amount actually paid by the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries in cash during such fiscal year on account of Capital Expenditures (excluding the principal amount of long-term Indebtedness incurred in connection with such expenditures and any such expenditures financed with the proceeds of any Reinvestment Deferred Amount or the proceeds of any issuance of Capital Stock of the Borrower),

 

(iii)       without duplication of amounts deducted from Excess Cash Flow in prior periods, the aggregate amount of Restricted Payments made by the Borrower in cash during such fiscal year pursuant to Section 7.6(b), Section 7.6(d) and Section 7.6(j) (excluding the principal amount of Indebtedness incurred in connection with such Restricted Payments and any Restricted Payments made with proceeds of any issuance of Capital Stock of the Borrower),

 

(iv)          the aggregate amount of all voluntary prepayments of Funded Debt (other than (A) the Term Loans, (B) Pari Passu Secured Indebtedness, (C) the ABL Loans and (D) any other revolving credit facility to the extent there is not an equivalent permanent reduction in commitments thereof) of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries made during such fiscal year (excluding any such prepayments financed with the Available Amount or the proceeds of any issuance of Capital Stock of the Borrower or the issuance of any Indebtedness),

 

(v)           the aggregate amount of all regularly scheduled principal payments of Funded Debt (including the Term Loans) of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries made during such fiscal year (other than in respect of any revolving credit facility to the extent there is not an equivalent permanent reduction in commitments thereunder),

 

(vi)           increases in Consolidated Working Capital for such fiscal year,

 

(vii)       the aggregate net amount of non-cash gain on the Disposition of property by the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries during such fiscal year (other than sales of inventory in the ordinary course of business), to the extent included in arriving at such Consolidated Net Income,

 

(viii)         to the extent not otherwise deducted from Consolidated Net Income, Consolidated Cash Taxes paid during such fiscal year,

 

(ix)          to the extent not otherwise deducted from Consolidated Net Income, interest expense and any cash payments in respect of premium, make-whole or penalty payments in respect of Indebtedness of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such year,

 

(x)           without duplication of amounts deducted from Excess Cash Flow in prior periods, the aggregate amount of cash consideration paid by the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries during such fiscal year to make Permitted Acquisitions and Investments permitted by Section 7.7(h), Section 7.7(t), Section 7.7(u) and Section 7.7(v) (excluding any such Permitted Acquisitions or other Investments financed with the proceeds of any Reinvestment Deferred Amount, the Available Amount or the proceeds or any issuance of Capital Stock of the Borrower or the issuance of any Indebtedness),

 

(xi)           cash charges included in clauses (a) through (l) of the definition of “Consolidated Net Income” and

 

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(xii)      without duplication of amounts deducted from Excess Cash Flow in prior periods and, at the option of the Borrower, the aggregate cash consideration (x) required to be paid by the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries pursuant to binding contracts (the “Contract Consideration”) entered into prior to or during such period relating to Permitted Acquisitions or other Investments anticipated to be consummated pursuant to Section 7.7(h), Section 7.7(t), Section 7.7(u) or Section 7.7(v), (y) expected to be paid in connection with Restricted Payments pursuant to Section 7.6(b), Section 7.6(d), or Section 7.6(j) (“Planned Distributions”) and (z) expected to be paid in connection with planned Capital Expenditures of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries (the “Planned Expenditures”), in each case during the period of four consecutive fiscal quarters of the Borrower following the end of the applicable fiscal year for which Excess Cash Flow is being calculated (except to the extent financed with the proceeds of Indebtedness, any Reinvestment Deferred Amount, the proceeds of any issuance of Capital Stock of the Borrower or utilizing the Available Amount); provided that to the extent the aggregate amount of cash actually utilized to finance such Permitted Acquisitions, Investments, Restricted Payments or Capital Expenditures during such period of four consecutive fiscal quarters is less than the Contract Consideration, Planned Distributions and the Planned Expenditures, the amount of such shortfall shall be added to the calculation of Excess Cash Flow at the end of such period of four consecutive fiscal quarters.

 

Excess Cash Flow Application Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.11(c).

 

Excess Cash Flow Period” means each fiscal year of the Borrower, commencing with the fiscal year ending December 31, 2022.

 

Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

 

Excluded Subsidiary” means (a) any Unrestricted Subsidiary, (b) any Immaterial Subsidiary, (c) any non-Wholly Owned Subsidiary, (d) any Subsidiary that is prohibited or restricted by applicable law, rule or regulation or by any contractual obligation existing on the Closing Date or on the date such Subsidiary was acquired (so long as such contractual obligation was not entered into in contemplation of such acquisition) from guaranteeing the Obligations or which would require a governmental (including regulatory) consent, approval, license or authorization to provide a guarantee unless such consent, approval, license or authorization has been received, (e) any CFC or CFC Holding Company, (f) any Domestic Subsidiary of a Foreign Subsidiary, (g) not-for-profit Subsidiaries and captive insurance companies, (h) the Insurance Subsidiary, (i) any Subsidiary whose provision of a guarantee would have a cost that is excessive in relation to the value afforded thereby as determined by the Administrative Agent in its reasonable discretion and (j) any Securitization Subsidiary. Each Excluded Subsidiary as of the Closing Date is set forth on Schedule 4.15.

 

Excluded Taxes” means any of the following Taxes imposed on or with respect to a Credit Party or required to be withheld or deducted from a payment to a Credit Party, (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 a Credit Party being organized under the laws of, or having its principal office or, in the case of any Lender, its applicable lending office located in, the jurisdiction imposing such Tax (or any political subdivision thereof) or (ii) that are Other Connection Taxes, (b) in the case of a Lender, U.S. federal withholding Taxes imposed on amounts payable to or for the account of a Lender with respect to an applicable interest in a Loan or Commitment pursuant to a law in effect on the date on which (i) a Lender acquires such interest in the Loan or Commitment (other than pursuant to an assignment request by the Borrower under Section 2.22) or (ii) a Lender changes its lending office, except in each case to the extent that, pursuant to Section 2.19, amounts with respect to such Taxes were payable either to such Lender’s assignor immediately before such Lender acquired the applicable interest in a Loan or Commitment or to such Lender immediately before it changed its lending office, (c) Taxes attributable to a Credit Party’s failure to comply with Section 2.19(f) and (d) any U.S. federal withholding Taxes imposed under FATCA.

 

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Existing ABL Facility” means that certain ABL Credit Agreement, dated as of August 5, 2019, among the Borrower, the several lenders from time to time party thereto and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent, as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified.

 

Existing Term Loan Facility” means that certain Term Loan Credit Agreement, dated as of August 5, 2019, among the Borrower, the several lenders from time to time party thereto and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent, as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified.

 

Facility” means each of (a) the Initial Term Commitments and the Initial Term Loans made thereunder (the “Initial Term Facility”) and (b) the Incremental Term Loans of any Series (each, an “Incremental Term Facility”). Additional Facilities may be established pursuant to Section 2.26 and/or Section 2.27.

 

FATCA” means Sections 1471 through 1474 of the Code, as of the date of this Agreement (or any amended or successor version that is substantively comparable and not materially more onerous to comply with), any current or future regulations or official interpretations thereof, any agreement entered into pursuant to Section 1471(b)(1) of the Code and any fiscal or regulatory legislation, rules or practices adopted pursuant to any intergovernmental agreement, treaty or convention among Governmental Authorities and implementing such Sections of the Code.

 

Federal Funds Effective Rate” means, for any day, the rate calculated by the NYFRB based on such day’s federal funds transactions by depositary institutions, as determined in such manner as the NYFRB shall set forth on its public website from time to time, and published on the next succeeding Business Day by the NYFRB as the effective federal funds rate; provided that if the Federal Funds Effective Rate as so determined would be less than zero, such rate shall be deemed to be zero for the purposes of this Agreement.

 

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

 

Finance Lease Obligations” means as 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 finance leases on a balance sheet of such Person under GAAP and, for the purposes of this Agreement, the amount of such obligations at any time shall be the capitalized amount thereof at such time determined in accordance with GAAP.

 

Foreign Benefit Arrangement” means any employee benefit arrangement mandated by non-U.S. law that is maintained or contributed to by any Group Member, any ERISA Affiliate or any other entity related to a Group Member on a controlled group basis.

 

Foreign Plan” means each employee benefit plan (within the meaning of Section 3(3) of ERISA, whether or not such plan is subject to ERISA) that is not subject to US law and is maintained or contributed to by any Group Member, or ERISA Affiliate or any other entity related to a Group Member on a controlled group basis.

 

Foreign Plan Event” means with respect to any Foreign Benefit Arrangement or Foreign Plan, (a) the failure to make or, if applicable, accrue in accordance with normal accounting practices, any employer or employee contributions required by applicable law or by the terms of such Foreign Benefit Arrangement or Foreign Plan; (b) the failure to register or loss of good standing with applicable regulatory authorities of any such Foreign Benefit Arrangement or Foreign Plan required to be registered; or (c) the failure of any Foreign Benefit Arrangement or Foreign Plan to comply with any material provisions of applicable law and regulations or with the material terms of such Foreign Benefit Arrangement or Foreign Plan.

 

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Foreign Subsidiary” means any Restricted Subsidiary of the Borrower that is not a Domestic Subsidiary.

 

Funded Debt” means as to any Person, all Specified Indebtedness of such Person that matures more than one year from the date of its creation or matures within one year from such date but is renewable or extendible, at the option of such Person, to a date more than one year from such date or arises under a revolving credit or similar agreement that obligates the lender or lenders to extend credit during a period of more than one year from such date, including all current maturities and current sinking fund payments in respect of such Indebtedness whether or not required to be paid within one year from the date of its creation and, in the case of the Borrower, including Indebtedness in respect of the Loans, the ABL Loans and the Unsecured Notes.

 

Funding Office” means the office of the Administrative Agent specified in Section 10.2 or such other office as may be specified from time to time by the Administrative Agent as its funding office by written notice to the Borrower and the Lenders.

 

Funding SPV” means Radiant Funding SPV, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company.

 

GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States as in effect from time to time. In the event that any “Accounting Change” (as defined below) shall occur and such change results in a change in the method of calculation of financial covenants, standards or terms in this Agreement, then the Borrower and the Administrative Agent agree to enter into negotiations to promptly amend such provisions of this Agreement so as to reflect equitably such Accounting Changes with the desired result that the criteria for evaluating the Borrower’s results of operations and/or financial condition shall be the same after such Accounting Changes as if such Accounting Changes had not been made. Until such time as such an amendment shall have been executed and delivered by the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the Required Lenders, all financial covenants, standards and terms in this Agreement shall continue to be calculated or construed as if such Accounting Changes had not occurred. “Accounting Changes” refers to changes in accounting principles required by the promulgation of any rule, regulation, pronouncement or opinion by the Financial Accounting Standards Board or, if applicable, the SEC.

 

Governmental Authority” means the government of the United States, any other nation or 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, any securities exchange and any self-regulatory organization (including the National Association of Insurance Commissioners).

 

Group Members” means the collective reference to the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries.

 

Guarantee and Collateral Agreement” means the Term Loan Guarantee and Collateral Agreement, dated as of the Closing Date, executed and delivered by the Borrower and each Subsidiary Guarantor, substantially in the form of Exhibit D, as the same may be amended, restated, amended and restated, modified, supplemented and/or replaced (in form reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent) from time to time.

 

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Guarantee Obligation” means as to any Person (the “guaranteeing person”), any obligation, including a reimbursement, counterindemnity or similar obligation, of the guaranteeing Person that guarantees or in effect guarantees, or which is given to induce the creation of a separate obligation by another Person (including any bank under any letter of credit) that guarantees or in effect guarantees, any Indebtedness, leases, dividends or other obligations (the “primary obligations”) of any other third Person (the “primary obligor”) in any manner, whether directly or indirectly, including any obligation of the guaranteeing person, whether or not contingent, (i) to purchase any such primary obligation or any property constituting direct or indirect security therefor, (ii) to advance or supply funds (1) for the purchase or payment of any such primary obligation or (2) to maintain working capital or equity capital of the primary obligor or otherwise to maintain the net worth or solvency of the primary obligor, (iii) to purchase property, securities or services primarily for the purpose of assuring the owner of any such primary obligation of the ability of the primary obligor to make payment of such primary obligation or (iv) otherwise to assure or hold harmless the owner of any such primary obligation against loss in respect thereof; provided, however, that the term Guarantee Obligation shall not include endorsements of instruments for deposit or collection in the ordinary course of business or reasonable indemnity obligations entered into in connection with any acquisition or disposition of assets. The amount of any Guarantee Obligation of any guaranteeing person shall be deemed to be the lower of (a) an amount equal to the stated or determinable amount of the primary obligation in respect of which such Guarantee Obligation is made and (b) the maximum amount for which such guaranteeing person may be liable pursuant to the terms of the instrument embodying such Guarantee Obligation, unless such primary obligation and the maximum amount for which such guaranteeing person may be liable are not stated or determinable, in which case the amount of such Guarantee Obligation shall be such guaranteeing person’s maximum reasonably anticipated liability in respect thereof as determined by the Borrower in good faith.

 

Immaterial Subsidiary” means any Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Material Subsidiary and that is designated by the Borrower in writing to the Administrative Agent as an “Immaterial Subsidiary”; provided that if (i) as of the last day of the most recently ended fiscal quarter of the Borrower for which financial statements have been delivered pursuant to Section 5.1(a) or (b), the aggregate tangible assets of Immaterial Subsidiaries, as of the last day of such fiscal quarter, is greater than 5% of Consolidated Total Assets or (ii) the aggregate contribution of Immaterial Subsidiaries to Consolidated EBITDA for the Applicable Reference Period is greater than 5% of Consolidated EBITDA for such Applicable Reference Period, then one or more Restricted Subsidiaries that are not Material Subsidiaries shall promptly be designated by the Borrower in writing to the Administrative Agent as a “Material Subsidiary” until such excess has been eliminated. Each Immaterial Subsidiary as of the Closing Date is set forth on Schedule 4.15.

 

Impacted Interest Period” has the meaning set forth in the definition of LIBO Rate.

 

Incremental Equivalent Debt” means any Indebtedness incurred by a Loan Party in the form of one or more series of secured or unsecured bonds, debentures, notes or similar instruments (including “mezzanine” debt and bridge loans) or term loans; provided that (a) if such Indebtedness is secured, (i) such Indebtedness shall be secured by the Collateral on a pari passu or junior basis to the Initial Term Loans (but, in each case, without regard to the control of remedies) and shall not be secured by any property or assets of any Group Member other than the Collateral and (ii) a representative, trustee, collateral agent, security agent or similar Person acting on behalf of the holders of such Indebtedness shall have become party to an intercreditor agreement reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, (b) such Indebtedness does not mature earlier than the date that is 91 days after the Latest Maturity Date then in effect at the time of incurrence thereof and has a weighted average life to maturity no shorter than the Facility of Term Loans with the Latest Maturity Date in effect at the time of incurrence of such Indebtedness, (c) such Indebtedness contains mandatory prepayment and redemption terms, covenants and events of default that are either (x) customary for similar Indebtedness in light of then-prevailing market conditions (it being understood and agreed that such Indebtedness shall include financial maintenance covenants only to the extent any such financial maintenance covenant is (i) applicable only to periods after the Latest Maturity Date then in effect at the time of incurrence thereof or (ii) included in or added to the Loan Documents for the benefit of the Lenders) or (y) when taken as a whole (other than interest rates, rate floors, fees and optional prepayment or redemption terms), are not materially more favorable to the lenders or investors providing such Incremental Equivalent Debt, as the case may be, than those set forth in the Loan Documents are with respect to the Lenders (other than covenants or other provisions applicable only to periods after the Latest Maturity Date then in effect at the time of incurrence thereof or that are included in or added to the Loan Documents for the benefit of the Lenders), in the case of each of clauses (x) and (y), as conclusively determined by the Borrower in good faith, and (d) such Indebtedness is not guaranteed by any Person other than Loan Parties.

 

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Incremental Limited Condition Term Facility” means an Incremental Term Facility incurred to finance a Limited Condition Transaction.

 

Incremental Term Facility” has the meaning set forth in the definition of “Facility”.

 

Incremental Term Lenders” means a Lender with an Incremental Term Loan Commitment or an outstanding Incremental Term Loan.

 

Incremental Term Loan Activation Notice” means a notice substantially in the form of Exhibit I-1 or in such other form as is reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent; provided that if such Incremental Term Loan Activation Notice is to effect amendments to this Agreement or the other Loan Documents as contemplated by Section 2.24(d), the Administrative Agent shall, in each case, have executed such Incremental Term Loan Activation Notice.

 

Incremental Term Loan Closing Date” means any Business Day designated as such in an Incremental Term Loan Activation Notice.

 

Incremental Term Loan Commitment” means, with respect to any Lender, the commitment, if any, of such Lender, established pursuant to an Incremental Term Loan Activation Notice and Section 2.24, to make Incremental Term Loans of any Series hereunder, expressed as an amount representing the maximum principal amount of the Incremental Term Loans of such Series to be made by such Lender.

 

Incremental Term Loan Maturity Date” means with respect to the Incremental Term Loans to be made pursuant to any Incremental Term Loan Activation Notice, the maturity date specified in such Incremental Term Loan Activation Notice, which date shall not be earlier than the Latest Maturity Date.

 

Incremental Term Loans” means any term loans made pursuant to Section 2.24(a).

 

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Indebtedness” means of any Person at any date, without duplication, (a) all indebtedness of such Person for borrowed money, (b) all obligations of such Person for the deferred purchase price of property or services, (c) all obligations of such Person evidenced by notes, bonds, debentures or other similar instruments, (d) all indebtedness created or arising under any conditional sale or other title retention agreement with respect to property acquired by such Person (even though the rights and remedies of the seller or lender under such agreement in the event of default are limited to repossession or sale of such property), (e) all Finance Lease Obligations of such Person, (f) all obligations of such Person, contingent or otherwise, as an account party or applicant under or in respect of acceptances, letters of credit, surety bonds or similar arrangements, (g) the liquidation value of all Disqualified Capital Stock of such Person, (h) all Guarantee Obligations of such Person in respect of obligations of the kind referred to in clauses (a) through (g) above, (i) all obligations of the kind referred to in clauses (a) through (h) 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 only to the extent of the lesser of (i) the amount of such Indebtedness and (ii) the fair market value of such property), and (j) for the purposes of Section 8(e) only, all obligations of such Person in respect of Swap Agreements; provided that Indebtedness shall not include (i) trade payable and accrued expenses incurred in the ordinary course of business and not more than 120 days overdue, (ii) ordinary course intercompany liabilities having a term not exceeding 365 days (inclusive of any roll-over or extension of terms) or any other ordinary course intercompany liabilities not constituting Specified Indebtedness, (iii) prepaid or deferred revenue arising in the ordinary course of business, (iv) purchase price holdbacks arising in the ordinary course of business in respect of a portion of the purchase price of an asset to satisfy unperformed obligations of the seller of such assets, (v) deferred compensation payable to employees, officers and directors and (vi) any earn-out obligation until such obligation becomes a liability on the balance sheet of such Person in accordance with GAAP. The Indebtedness of any Person shall include the Indebtedness of any other entity (including any partnership in which such Person is a general partner) to the extent such Person is liable therefor as a result of such Person’s ownership interest in or other relationship with such entity, except to the extent the terms of such Indebtedness expressly provide that such Person is not liable therefor. Any Indebtedness for which proceeds have been escrowed or otherwise deposited to repay, defease, redeem or satisfy and discharge such Indebtedness shall not be deemed outstanding.

 

Indemnified Liabilities” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.5.

 

Indemnified Taxes” means (a) Taxes, other than Excluded Taxes, imposed on or with respect to any payment made by or on account of any obligation of any Loan Party under any Loan Document and (b) to the extent not otherwise described in clause (a) above, Other Taxes.

 

Indemnitee” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.5(d).

 

Initial Term Commitment” means as to any Lender, the obligation of such Lender, if any, to make Initial Term Loans in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed the amount set forth under the heading “Initial Term Commitment” opposite such Lender’s name on Schedule 1.1 or in the Assignment and Assumption pursuant to which such Lender became a party hereto, as the same may be changed from time to time pursuant to the terms hereof. The aggregate Initial Term Commitments on the Closing Date is $875,000,000.

 

Initial Term Lender” means each Lender that holds an Initial Term Loan.

 

Initial Term Loans” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1.

 

Initial Term Percentage” means, as to any Initial Term Lender, the percentage which the aggregate amount of such Lender’s Initial Term Loan Commitment then outstanding constitutes of the aggregate amount of the Initial Term Loan Commitments then outstanding.

 

Initiatives” has the meaning set forth in the definition of Consolidated EBITDA.

 

Insolvent” means with respect to any Multiemployer Plan, the condition that such plan is insolvent within the meaning of Section 4245 of ERISA.

 

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Insurance Subsidiary” means Legacy Insurance Co., Ltd., a Bermuda company and a Wholly Owned Subsidiary of the Borrower formed for the sole purpose of writing insurance only for the risks of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries.

 

Intellectual Property” means the collective reference to all rights in and to intellectual property, whether arising under United States, multinational or foreign laws or otherwise, including with respect to any copyrights, copyright licenses, patents, patent licenses, trademarks, trademark licenses, technology, confidential and proprietary know-how and processes, all registrations and applications therefor, and all rights to sue at law or in equity for any infringement or other impairment thereof, including the right to receive all proceeds and damages therefrom.

 

Intercreditor Agreements” means the ABL/Fixed Asset Intercreditor Agreement and any other intercreditor agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit K as may be amended, restated, amended and restated, modified, supplemented and/or replaced (in form reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent) from time to time.

 

Interest Election Request” means a request by the Borrower to convert or continue a Borrowing in accordance with Section 2.12 and the definition of “Interest Period”, which shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit B or any other form approved by the Administrative Agent.

 

Interest Payment Date” means (a) as to any ABR Loan, the first day of each January, April, July and October to occur while such Loan is outstanding and the final maturity date of such Loan, (b) as to any Eurodollar Loan having an Interest Period of three months or less, the last day of such Interest Period, (c) as to any Eurodollar Loan having an Interest Period longer than three months, each day that is three months, or a whole multiple thereof, after the first day of such Interest Period and the last day of such Interest Period and (d) as to any Loan, the date of any repayment or prepayment made in respect thereof.

 

Interest Period” means as to any Eurodollar Loan, (a) initially, the period commencing on the borrowing or conversion date, as the case may be, with respect to such Eurodollar Loan and ending one, two, three or six months thereafter, as selected by the Borrower in its Borrowing Request or Interest Election Request, as the case may be, given with respect thereto; and (b) thereafter, each period commencing on the last day of the next preceding Interest Period applicable to such Eurodollar Loan and ending one, two, three or six months thereafter, as selected by the Borrower by irrevocable notice in an Interest Election Request submitted to the Administrative Agent not later than 12:00 Noon, New York City time, on the date that is three Business Days prior to the last day of the then current Interest Period with respect thereto; provided that, all of the foregoing provisions relating to Interest Periods are subject to the following:

 

(i)            if any Interest Period would otherwise end on a day that is not a Business Day, such Interest Period shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day unless the result of such extension would be to carry such Interest Period into another calendar month in which event such Interest Period shall end on the immediately preceding Business Day;

 

(ii)           the Borrower may not select an Interest Period under a particular Facility that would extend beyond the date final payment is due on the relevant Term Loans; and

 

(iii)         any Interest Period that begins on the last Business Day of a calendar month (or on a day for which there is no numerically corresponding day in the calendar month at the end of such Interest Period) shall end on the last Business Day of the last calendar month of such Interest Period.

 

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Interpolated Rate” means, at any time, for any Interest Period, the rate per annum (rounded to the same number of decimal places as the LIBO Screen Rate) determined by the Administrative Agent (which determination shall be conclusive and binding absent manifest error) to be equal to the rate that results from interpolating on a linear basis between: (a) the LIBO Screen Rate for the longest period for which the LIBO Screen Rate is available that is shorter than the Impacted Interest Period; and (b) the LIBO Screen Rate for the shortest period for which that LIBO Screen Rate is available that exceeds the Impacted Interest Period, in each case, as of 11:00 a.m., London time, two Business Days prior to the commencement of the applicable Interest Period; provided that if the Interpolated Rate as so determined would be less than zero, such rate shall be deemed to be zero for the purposes of calculating such rate. When determining the rate for a period which is less than the shortest period for which the LIBO Screen Rate is available, the LIBO Screen Rate for purposes of clause (a) above shall be deemed to be the overnight rate for Dollars determined by the Administrative Agent from such service as the Administrative Agent may select in its reasonable discretion.

 

Investments” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.7.

 

IRS” means the United States Internal Revenue Service.

 

ISDA Definitions” means the 2006 ISDA Definitions published by the International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc. or any successor thereto, as amended or supplemented from time to time, or any successor definitional booklet for interest rate derivatives published from time to time by the International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc. or such successor thereto.

 

Joint Venture” means a joint venture, partnership or other similar arrangement entered into by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary, whether in corporate, partnership or other legal form; provided that in no event shall any Subsidiary be considered to be a Joint Venture.

 

Junior Secured Indebtedness” means Term Loan Refinancing Indebtedness and Incremental Equivalent Debt (and any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness in respect of the foregoing), in each case that is secured by a Lien on the Collateral that is junior to the Lien on Collateral securing the Initial Term Loans.

 

Latest Maturity Date” means at any date of determination, the latest scheduled maturity date applicable to any Loan hereunder at such time, including in respect of any Incremental Term Facility.

 

LCT Election” has the meaning set forth in Section 1.6.

 

LCT Test Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 1.6.

 

Lender-Related Person” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.5.

 

Lenders” means the Persons listed on Schedule 1.1 and any other Person that shall have become a party hereto pursuant to an Assignment and Assumption or otherwise, other than any such Person that ceases to be a party hereto pursuant to an Assignment and Assumption or otherwise.

 

Liabilities” means any losses, obligations, claims (including intraparty claims), damages, demands, penalties, judgments, suits, costs, expenses, disbursements or liabilities of any kind.

 

LIBO Rate” means, with respect to any Eurodollar Borrowing for any Interest Period, the LIBO Screen Rate at approximately 11:00 a.m., London time, two Business Days prior to the commencement of such Interest Period; provided that if the LIBO Screen Rate shall not be available at such time for such Interest Period (an “Impacted Interest Period”) then the LIBO Rate shall be the Interpolated Rate.

 

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LIBO Screen Rate” means, for any day and time, with respect to any Eurodollar Borrowing for any Interest Period, the London interbank offered rate as administered by ICE Benchmark Administration (or any other Person that takes over the administration of such rate) for Dollars for a period equal in length to such Interest Period as displayed on such day and time on pages LIBOR01 or LIBOR02 of the Reuters screen that displays such rate (or, in the event such rate does not appear on a Reuters page or screen, on any successor or substitute page on such screen that displays such rate, or on the appropriate page of such other information service that publishes such rate from time to time as selected by the Administrative Agent in its reasonable discretion); provided that if the LIBO Screen Rate as so determined would be less than 0.75%, such rate shall be deemed to be 0.75% for the purposes of this Agreement.

 

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 and any finance lease having substantially the same economic effect as any of the foregoing); provided that a “Lien” as defined herein shall not include any license, sublicense or similar right with respect to Intellectual Property.

 

Limited Condition Transaction” means any Investment that the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary is contractually committed to consummate (it being understood that such commitment may be subject to conditions precedent, which conditions precedent may be amended, satisfied or waived in accordance with the applicable agreement) and whose consummation is not conditioned on the availability of, or on obtaining, third party financing (it being understood that a “marketing period” or similar concept is not a financing condition).

 

Loan” means the loans made by the Lenders to the Borrower pursuant to this Agreement.

 

Loan Documents” means this Agreement, the Security Documents, the Intercreditor Agreements, the Notes and any amendment, restatement, amendment and restatement, waiver, supplement or other modification to or refinancing or replacement of any of the foregoing.

 

Loan Modification Agreement” means a Loan Modification Agreement, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the Borrower, among the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and one or more Accepting Lenders, effecting one or more Permitted Amendments and such other amendments hereto and to the other Loan Documents as are contemplated by Section 2.26.

 

Loan Modification Offer” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.26(a).

 

Loan Parties” means the Borrower and the Subsidiary Guarantors.

 

Majority Facility Lenders” means with respect to any Facility, the holders of more than 50% of the aggregate unpaid principal amount of the Term Loans outstanding under such Facility.

 

Margin Stock” means margin stock within the meaning of Regulations T, U and X, as applicable.

 

Market Capitalization” means an amount equal to (i) the total number of issued and outstanding shares of common stock of the Borrower on the date of the declaration of a Restricted Payment multiplied by (ii) the arithmetic mean of the closing prices per share of such common stock on the principal securities exchange on which such common stock is traded for the 20 consecutive trading days immediately preceding the date of declaration of such Restricted Payment.

 

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Material Acquisition” means any acquisition of property or series of related acquisitions of property that (a) constitutes assets comprising all or substantially all of an operating unit of a business or constitutes all or substantially all of the common stock of a Person and (b) involves the payment of consideration by the Group Members in excess of $55,000,000.

 

Material Adverse Effect” means (a) on the Closing Date, a “Company Material Adverse Effect” (as defined in the Acquisition Agreement as of Closing Date) and (b) after the Closing Date, a material adverse effect on (i) the business, property, operations or financial condition, of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, (ii) the ability of the Borrower and the other Loan Parties, taken as a whole, to perform their payment obligations under the Loan Documents to which they are a party or (iii) the validity or enforceability of the Loan Documents or the rights and remedies of the Administrative Agent under the Loan Documents, taken as a whole.

 

Material Disposition” means any Disposition of property or series of related Dispositions of property that yields gross proceeds to the Group Members in excess of $55,000,000.

 

Material Indebtedness” means Indebtedness (other than the Loans) or Swap Obligations of any one or more of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries in an aggregate principal amount of $75,000,000 or more; provided that any Indebtedness outstanding under the ABL Credit Agreement shall be deemed to be Material Indebtedness. For purposes of determining Material Indebtedness, the “principal amount” of any Swap Obligation at any time shall be the maximum aggregate amount (giving effect to any netting agreements) that the Borrower and/or any applicable Restricted Subsidiary would be required to pay if the applicable Swap Agreement were terminated at such time.

 

Material Subsidiary” means, as of any date of determination, each Restricted Subsidiary (a) with total assets (including the value of Capital Stock of its subsidiaries) on such date of determination greater than 5.0% of Consolidated Total Assets, (b) whose contribution to Consolidated EBITDA for the Applicable Reference Period exceeds 5% of Consolidated EBITDA for the Applicable Reference Period or (c) that is designated as a “Material Subsidiary” pursuant to the definition of Immaterial Subsidiary.

 

Materials of Environmental Concern” means any gasoline or petroleum (including crude oil or any fraction thereof) or petroleum products, asbestos, polychlorinated biphenyls, urea-formaldehyde insulation, radioactivity, and any other substances, materials or wastes, that are regulated pursuant to or that could give rise to liability under any Environmental Law.

 

Maturity Date” means February 17, 2028.

 

Mexico Operations” means the operations in Mexico of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries.

 

MFN Provision” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.24(a).

 

Minimum Extension Condition” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.26(a).

 

Moody’s” means Moody’s Investors Service, Inc.

 

Multiemployer Plan” means a multiemployer plan as defined in Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA to which any Group Member or any ERISA Affiliate (i) makes or is obligated to make contributions, (ii) during the preceding five plan years, has made or been obligated to make contributions or (iii) has any actual or contingent liability.

 

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

 

Net Cash Proceeds” means (a) in connection with any Disposition or any Recovery Event, the proceeds thereof in the form of cash and Cash Equivalents (including any such proceeds actually received by the Group Members by way of deferred payment of principal pursuant to a note or installment receivable or purchase price adjustment receivable or otherwise, but only as and when received), net of attorneys’ fees, accountants’ fees, investment banking fees, auditor fees, printer fees, SEC filing fees, brokerage fees, amounts required to be applied to the repayment of Indebtedness ((i) including repayments pursuant to the ABL Credit Agreement and (ii) other than the Loans, any Pari Passu Secured Indebtedness or any Junior Secured Indebtedness) secured by a Lien expressly permitted hereunder on any asset that is the subject of such Disposition or Recovery Event and other customary fees and expenses actually incurred in connection therewith and net of taxes paid or reasonably estimated to be payable as a result thereof, including (in connection with any Asset Sale by a Foreign Subsidiary or Recovery Event relating to any asset of a Foreign Subsidiary) any taxes paid or reasonably estimated to be payable as a result of the repatriation of such proceeds to the Borrower, any reserve established in accordance with GAAP (provided that upon release of any such reserve, the amount released shall be considered Net Cash Proceeds) and any payment amount required to be paid by law, rule or regulation upon receipt to a third party related to the transaction (including to labor unions, work councils and environmental trusts), in each case as determined by the Borrower in good faith, and (b) in connection with any issuance or sale of Capital Stock or any incurrence of Indebtedness, the cash proceeds received from such issuance or incurrence, net of attorneys’ fees, investment banking fees, auditor fees, printer fees, SEC filing fees, brokerage fees, accountants’ fees, underwriting discounts and commissions and other customary fees and expenses actually incurred in connection therewith.

 

New Lender” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.24(b).

 

New Lender Supplement” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.24(b).

 

Non-U.S. Lender” means a Lender that is not a U.S. Person.

 

Not Otherwise Applied” means in respect of any amount, such amount has not previously been (and is not currently being) applied to any other use or transaction.

 

Notes” means the collective reference to any promissory note evidencing Loans.

 

NYFRB” means the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.

 

NYFRB’s Website” means the website of the NYFRB at http://www.newyorkfed.org, or any successor source.

 

NYFRB Rate” means, for any day, the greater of (a) the Federal Funds Effective Rate in effect on such day and (b) the Overnight Bank Funding Rate in effect on such day (or for any day that is not a Business Day, for the immediately preceding Business Day); provided that if none of such rates are published for any day that is a Business Day, the term “NYFRB Rate” means the rate for a federal funds transaction quoted at 11:00 a.m. on such day received by the Administrative Agent from a federal funds broker of recognized standing selected by it; provided, further, that if any of the aforesaid rates as so determined be less than zero, such rate shall be deemed to be zero for purposes of this Agreement.

 

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Obligations” means the unpaid principal of and interest on (including interest accruing after the maturity of the Loans and interest accruing after the filing of any petition in bankruptcy, or the commencement of any insolvency, reorganization or like proceeding, relating to the Borrower, whether or not a claim for post-filing or post-petition interest is allowed in such proceeding) the Loans and all other obligations and liabilities of the Borrower to the Administrative Agent or to any Lender, whether direct or indirect, absolute or contingent, due or to become due, or now existing or hereafter incurred, which arise under, out of, or in connection with, this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any other document made, delivered or given in connection herewith or therewith, whether on account of principal, interest, reimbursement obligations, fees, indemnities, costs, expenses (including all fees, charges and disbursements of counsel to the Administrative Agent or to any Lender that are required to be paid by the Borrower pursuant hereto) or otherwise.

 

Organizational 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, if applicable, 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 Credit Party, Taxes imposed as a result of a present or former connection between such Credit Party and the jurisdiction imposing such Tax (other than connections arising from such Credit Party 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 Debt Declined Amount” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.11(b).

 

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 2.22).

 

Overnight Bank Funding Rate” means, for any day, the rate comprised of both overnight federal funds and overnight Eurodollar borrowings by U.S.-managed banking offices of depository institutions, as such composite rate shall be determined by the NYFRB as set forth on its public website from time to time, and published on the next succeeding Business Day by the NYFRB as an overnight bank funding rate.

 

Pari Passu Secured Indebtedness” means Term Loan Refinancing Indebtedness and Incremental Equivalent Debt (and any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness in respect of the foregoing), in each case that is secured by Liens on the Collateral that are pari passu to the Liens on Collateral securing the Initial Term Loans.

 

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Participant” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.6(c).

 

Participant Register” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.6(c).

 

Patriot Act” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.17.

 

PBGC” means the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation established under Section 4002 of ERISA and any successor entity performing similar functions.

 

Pension Plan” means any employee benefit plan (including a Multiple Employer Plan, but not including a Multiemployer Plan) that is subject to Title IV of ERISA, Section 412 of the Code or Section 302 of ERISA (i) which is or was sponsored, maintained or contributed to by, or required to be contributed to by, any Group Member or any ERISA Affiliate or (ii) with respect to which any Group Member or any ERISA Affiliate has any actual or contingent liability.

 

Permitted Acquisition” means the purchase or other acquisition (including by merger, consolidation or amalgamation) by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary of all or a majority of the Capital Stock of, or all or substantially all of the property of, any Person, or of any business or division of any Person or any Investment by a Group Member in a Restricted Subsidiary that serves to increase the Capital Stock ownership of such Group Member in such Restricted Subsidiary; provided that with respect to each purchase or other acquisition (i) after giving effect thereto, the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries are in compliance with Section 7.15, (ii) immediately before and immediately after giving effect on a pro forma basis to any such purchase or other acquisition, no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing and (iii) any such newly created or acquired Subsidiary shall, to the extent required by Section 6.10, comply with the requirements of Section 6.10.

 

Permitted Amendment” means an amendment to this Agreement and/or the other Loan Documents, effected in connection with a Loan Modification Offer pursuant to Section 2.26, providing for an extension of the scheduled maturity date and/or amortization applicable to the Loans of the Accepting Lenders of a relevant Facility and, in connection therewith, which may also provide for (a)(i) a change in the Applicable Margin with respect to the Loans of the Accepting Lenders subject to such Permitted Amendment and/or (ii) a change in the fees payable to, or the inclusion of new fees to be payable to, the Accepting Lenders in respect of such Loans, (b) changes to any prepayment premiums with respect to the applicable Loans of a relevant Facility, (c) such amendments to this Agreement and the other Loan Documents as shall be appropriate, in the reasonable judgment of the Administrative Agent, to provide the rights and benefits of this Agreement and other Loan Documents to each new Facility of Loans and/or commitments resulting therefrom and (d) additional amendments to the terms of this Agreement and/or the other Loan Documents applicable to the applicable Loans of the Accepting Lenders that are less favorable to such Accepting Lenders than the terms of this Agreement and/or the other Loan Documents, as applicable, prior to giving effect to such Permitted Amendments and that are reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent.

 

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Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness” means with respect to any Indebtedness of any Person (the “Original Indebtedness”), any modification, refinancing, refunding, replacement, renewal or extension of such Indebtedness, in whole or in part; provided, that (i) no Person that is not an obligor with respect to the Original Indebtedness shall be an obligor with respect to such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness, (ii) the final maturity and weighted average life to maturity of such Indebtedness shall not be shortened as a result of such modification, refinancing, refunding, replacement, renewal or extension, (iii) in the case of any modification, refinancing, refunding, replacement, renewal or extension of Indebtedness incurred pursuant to Section 7.2(a), (b) or (bb), the mandatory prepayment and redemption terms, covenants and events of default of such Indebtedness are either (x) not materially more favorable (taken as a whole, as conclusively determined by the Borrower in good faith) to the lenders providing such Indebtedness than those terms (taken as a whole) applicable to the Original Indebtedness (except to the extent such terms apply solely to any period after the Latest Maturity Date or are applied for the benefit of the Term Loans then outstanding) or (y) reflect market terms and conditions at the time of incurrence or issuance, as conclusively determined by the Borrower in good faith, (iv) (x) in the case of any Original Indebtedness consisting of a revolving credit facility, the committed amount does not exceed the committed amount in respect of the Original Indebtedness and (y) in each case (including in respect of a revolving credit facility), the principal amount (or accreted value, if applicable) thereof does not exceed the principal amount (or accreted value, if applicable) of the Original Indebtedness, except in each case by an amount (such amount, the “Additional Permitted Amount”) equal to unpaid accrued interest, fees, and premium (including make-whole premiums, prepayment premiums and amounts required to be paid in connection with defeasance and satisfaction and discharge) thereon at such time plus reasonable fees and expenses incurred in connection with such modification, refinancing, refunding, replacement, renewal or extension (including upfront fees and original issue discount), (v) for the avoidance of doubt, the Original Indebtedness is paid down (or, with respect to revolving credit facilities, commitments in respect thereof are reduced (together with, if applicable, payments of principal)) on a Dollar-for-Dollar basis by such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness (other than by the Additional Permitted Amount), (vi) if the Original Indebtedness shall have been subordinated to the Obligations, such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness shall also be subordinated to the Obligations on terms not less favorable in any material respect (taken as a whole) to the Lenders and (vii) such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness shall not be secured by any Lien on any asset other than the assets that secured such Original Indebtedness (or would have been required to secure such Original Indebtedness pursuant to the terms thereof) or, in the event Liens securing such Original Indebtedness shall have been contractually subordinated to any Lien securing the Obligations, by any Lien that shall not have been contractually subordinated to at least the same extent.

 

Permitted Unsecured Indebtedness” means Indebtedness of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries (a) that is not (and any Guarantee Obligations thereof by any Group Member are not) secured by any collateral (including the Collateral), (b) that does not mature earlier than the date that is 91 days after the Latest Maturity Date then in effect at the time of incurrence thereof and has a weighted average life to maturity no shorter than the Facility of Term Loans with the Latest Maturity Date in effect at the time of incurrence of such Indebtedness, (c) that contains mandatory prepayment and redemption terms, covenants and events of default that are either (x) customary for similar Indebtedness in light of then-prevailing market conditions (it being understood and agreed that such Indebtedness shall include financial maintenance covenants only to the extent any such financial maintenance covenant is (i) applicable only to periods after the Latest Maturity Date then in effect at the time of incurrence thereof or (ii) included in or added to the Loan Documents for the benefit of the Lenders) or (y) when taken as a whole (other than interest rates, rate floors, fees and optional prepayment or redemption terms), are not materially more favorable to the lenders or investors providing such Permitted Unsecured Indebtedness, as the case may be, than those set forth in the Loan Documents are with respect to the Lenders (other than covenants or other provisions applicable only to periods after the Latest Maturity Date then in effect at the time of incurrence thereof or that are included in or added to the Loan Documents for the benefit of the Lenders), in the case of each of clauses (x) and (y), as conclusively determined by the Borrower in good faith, and (e) that is not guaranteed by any Person other than on an unsecured basis by Group Members.

 

Person” means an individual, partnership, corporation, limited liability company, business trust, joint stock company, trust, unincorporated association, joint venture, Governmental Authority or other entity of whatever nature.

 

Plan” means any employee pension benefit plan (other than a Multiemployer Plan) subject to the provisions of Title IV of ERISA or Section 412 of the Code or Section 302 of ERISA, and in respect of which the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate is (or, if such plan were terminated, would under Section 4069 of ERISA be deemed to be) an “employer” as defined in Section 3(5) of ERISA.

 

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Plan Asset Regulations” means 29 CFR § 2510.3-101 et seq., as modified by Section 3(42) of ERISA, as amended from time to time.

 

Planned Distributions” has the meaning set forth in the definition of “Excess Cash Flow”.

 

Planned Expenditures” has the meaning set forth in the definition of “Excess Cash Flow”.

 

Platform” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.15.

 

Prime Rate” means the rate of interest last quoted by The Wall Street Journal as the “Prime Rate” in the U.S. or, if The Wall Street Journal ceases to quote such rate, the highest per annum interest rate published by the Federal Reserve Board in Federal Reserve Statistical Release H.15 (519) (Selected Interest Rates) as the “bank prime loan” rate or, if such rate is no longer quoted therein, any similar rate quoted therein (as determined by the Administrative Agent) or any similar release by the Federal Reserve Board (as determined by the Administrative Agent). Each change in the Prime Rate shall be effective from and including the date such change is publicly announced or quoted as being effective.

 

Pro Forma Basis” means, with respect to the calculation of any test or covenant hereunder, such test or covenant being calculated after giving effect to (a) any designation of a Restricted Subsidiary as an Unrestricted Subsidiary, (b) any designation of an Unrestricted Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary, (c) any Material Acquisition, (d) any Material Disposition, (e) any assumption, incurrence, repayment or other Disposition of Indebtedness, (f) the granting or assumption of any Lien and (g) in connection with the foregoing, the making of any Restricted Payment (all of the foregoing, “Applicable Transactions”) using, for purposes of determining such compliance, the historical financial statements of all entities or assets so designated, acquired or sold (to the extent available) and the consolidated financial statements of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries, which shall be reformulated as if all Applicable Transactions during the Applicable Reference Period, or subsequent to the Applicable Reference Period and on or prior to the date of such calculation, had been consummated at the beginning of such period (and shall include, with respect to any Material Acquisition or Material Disposition, any adjustments calculated in accordance with (and subject to the requirements and limitations of) clause (i) of the definition of “Consolidated EBITDA”); provided that with respect to any assumption, incurrence, repayment or other Disposition of Indebtedness (i) if such Indebtedness has a floating rate of interest, the interest expense on such Indebtedness will be calculated as if the rate in effect on the date of calculation had been the applicable rate for the entire period (taking into account any Swap Obligations applicable to such Indebtedness if such Swap Obligation has a remaining term as at the date of calculation in excess of 12 months), (ii) interest on Finance Lease Obligations shall be deemed to accrue at an interest rate reasonably determined by the Borrower to be the rate of interest implicit in such Finance Lease Obligation in accordance with GAAP, (iii) interest on any Indebtedness under a revolving credit facility shall be based upon the average daily balance of such Indebtedness during the applicable period and (iv) interest on Indebtedness that may be optionally determined at an interest rate based upon a factor of a prime or similar rate, a eurocurrency interbank offered rate, or other rate, shall be deemed to have been based upon the rate actually chosen, or, if none, then based upon such optional rate as the Borrower may designate.

 

Pro Forma Financial Statements” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.1(a).

 

Prohibited Transaction” has the meaning set forth in Section 406 of ERISA and Section 4975(c) of the Code.

 

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Projections” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.2(c).

 

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-Sider” means a Lender whose representatives may trade in securities of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries while in possession of the financial statements provided by the Borrower under the terms of this Agreement.

 

Purchasing Borrower Party” means any of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary.

 

QFC” has the meaning assigned to the term “qualified financial contract” in, and shall be interpreted in accordance with, 12 U.S.C. 5390(c)(8)(D).

 

QFC Credit Support” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.20.

 

Qualified Capital Stock” means Capital Stock of the Borrower other than Disqualified Capital Stock.

 

Qualified Securitization Transaction” means any Securitization Transaction of a Securitization Subsidiary that meets the following conditions:

 

(a)          the Borrower shall have determined in good faith that such Securitization Transaction (including financing terms, covenants, termination events and other provisions) is in the aggregate economically fair and reasonable to the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries;

 

(b)            all sales of Securitization Assets to the Securitization Subsidiary are made at fair market value (as determined in good faith by the Borrower); and

 

(c)            the financing terms, covenants, termination events and other provisions thereof shall be market terms (as determined in good faith by the Borrower) and may include Standard Securitization Undertakings.

 

The grant of a security interest in any accounts receivable of the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (other than a Securitization Subsidiary) to secure any Indebtedness shall not be deemed a Qualified Securitization Transaction.

 

Recovery Event” means any settlement of or payment in respect of any property or casualty insurance claim or any condemnation proceeding relating to any asset of any Group Member (other than assets that constitute ABL Priority Collateral) that yields gross cash proceeds to any Group Member in excess of $15,000,000.

 

Reference Period” means each period of four consecutive fiscal quarters of the Borrower.

 

Reference Time” with respect to any setting of the then-current Benchmark means (1) if such Benchmark is the LIBO Rate, 11:00 a.m. (London time) on the day that is two London banking days preceding the date of such setting, and (2) if such Benchmark is not the LIBO Rate, the time determined by the Administrative Agent in its reasonable discretion.

 

Refinancing Facility Agreement” means an amendment to this Agreement, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the Borrower, among the Borrower and, if applicable, the Administrative Agent and one or more Refinancing Term Lenders, establishing Refinancing Term Loan Commitments and Refinancing Term Loans and effecting such other amendments hereto and to the other Loan Documents as are contemplated by Section 2.27.

 

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Refinancing Term Lender” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.27(a).

 

Refinancing Term Loan Commitments” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.27(a).

 

Refinancing Term Loans” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.27(a).

 

Register” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.6(b)(iv).

 

Regulation D” means Regulation D of the Federal Reserve Board, as in effect from time to time and all official rulings and interpretations thereunder or thereof.

 

Regulation T” means Regulation T of the Federal Reserve Board, as in effect from time to time and all official rulings and interpretations thereunder or thereof.

 

Regulation U” means Regulation U of the Board, as in effect from time to time and all official rulings and interpretations thereunder or thereof.

 

Regulation X” means Regulation X of the Federal Reserve Board, as in effect from time to time and all official rulings and interpretations thereunder or thereof.

 

Reinvestment Deferred Amount” means with respect to any Reinvestment Event, the aggregate Net Cash Proceeds received by any Group Member in connection therewith that are not applied to prepay the Term Loans pursuant to Section 2.11(b) as a result of the delivery of a Reinvestment Notice.

 

Reinvestment Event” means any Asset Sale or Recovery Event in respect of which the Borrower has delivered a Reinvestment Notice.

 

Reinvestment Notice” means a written notice executed by a Responsible Officer stating that the Borrower (directly or indirectly through a Restricted Subsidiary) intends and expects to use all or a specified portion of the Net Cash Proceeds of an Asset Sale or Recovery Event to acquire (including purchases of companies or divisions or lines of business, Permitted Acquisitions and other permitted Investments and purchases of inventory), maintain, develop, construct, improve, upgrade or repair assets useful in its or its Restricted Subsidiaries’ business.

 

Reinvestment Prepayment Amount” means with respect to any Reinvestment Event, the Reinvestment Deferred Amount relating thereto less any amount expended prior to the relevant Reinvestment Prepayment Date to acquire (including purchases of companies or divisions or lines of business, Permitted Acquisitions and other permitted Investments and purchases of inventory), maintain, develop, construct, improve, upgrade or repair assets useful in the Borrower’s or its Restricted Subsidiaries’ business.

 

Reinvestment Prepayment Date” means with respect to any Reinvestment Event, the earlier of (a) the date occurring 18 months after such Reinvestment Event (or if the Borrower or the relevant Restricted Subsidiary, as applicable, has contractually committed within 18 months after such Reinvestment Event to reinvest such Reinvestment Deferred Amount, the date occurring 24 months after such Reinvestment Event) and (b) the date on which the Borrower shall have determined not to, or shall have otherwise ceased to, acquire, maintain, develop, construct, improve, upgrade or repair assets useful in the Borrower’s or its Restricted Subsidiaries’ business with all or any portion of the relevant Reinvestment Deferred Amount.

 

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Related Parties” with respect to any specified Person, such Person’s Affiliates and the respective directors, officers, employees, agents and advisors of such Person and such Person’s Affiliates.

 

Relevant Governmental Body” means the Federal Reserve Board or the NYFRB, or a committee officially endorsed or convened by the Federal Reserve Board or the NYFRB, or any successor thereto.

 

Repricing Transaction” means (a) any prepayment of Initial Term Loans with the proceeds of a substantially concurrent incurrence of Indebtedness by any Group Member (other than any such incurrence in connection with a Transformative Acquisition or a Change of Control) the primary purpose of which results in the all-in yield, on the date of such prepayment, being lower than the all-in yield on the Initial Term Loans (with the all-in yield calculated by the Administrative Agent in accordance with standard market practice, taking into account, in each case, any interest rate floors, the Applicable Margin hereunder and the interest rate spreads under such Indebtedness, and any original issue discount and upfront fees applicable to or payable in respect of the Initial Term Loans and such Indebtedness with the original issue discount and upfront fees being equated to interest rate assuming a four-year life to maturity of such Indebtedness (but excluding arrangement, structuring, underwriting, commitment, amendment or other fees regardless of whether paid in whole or in part to any or all lenders of such Indebtedness and any other fees that are not paid generally to all lenders of such Indebtedness)) and (b) any amendment, amendment and restatement or other modification to this Agreement that reduces the all-in yield (calculated as set forth in clause (a) above) of the Initial Term Loans (other than any such amendment, amendment and restatement or other modification effected in connection with a Transformative Acquisition or a Change of Control).

 

Repurchase Obligation” means any obligation of a seller of Securitization Assets in a Qualified Securitization Transaction to repurchase such Securitization Assets arising as a result of a breach of a representation, warranty or covenant or otherwise, including as a result of a receivable or portion thereof becoming subject to any asserted defense, dispute, off-set or counterclaim of any kind as a result of any action taken by, any failure to take action by or any other event relating to the seller.

 

Required Lenders” means at any time, the holders of more than 50% of the aggregate unpaid principal amount of the Term Loans then outstanding.

 

Requirement of Law” means as to any Person, the Certificate of Incorporation and By-Laws or other organizational or governing documents of such Person, and any law, treaty, rule or regulation or determination of an arbitrator or a court or other Governmental Authority, in each case applicable to or binding upon such Person or any of its property or to which such Person or any of its property is subject.

 

Resolution Authority” means, with respect to any EEA Financial Institution, an EEA Resolution Authority or, with respect to any UK Financial Institution, a UK Resolution Authority.

 

Responsible Officer” means the chief executive officer, president, chief financial officer, senior vice president, finance, or treasurer of the Borrower, but in any event, with respect to financial matters, the chief financial officer or senior vice president, finance, of the Borrower.

 

Restricted Debt Payment” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.8(a).

 

Restricted Indebtedness” means any Subordinated Indebtedness, any Unsecured Notes and any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness in respect of any Unsecured Notes.

 

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Restricted Payments” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.6.

 

Restricted Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary of the Borrower other than an Unrestricted Subsidiary.

 

Retained Excess Cash Flow” means, at any date of determination, an amount, equal to the aggregate cumulative sum of the Retained Percentage of Excess Cash Flow for the Excess Cash Flow Periods ended on or prior to such date.

 

Retained Percentage” means, with respect to any Excess Cash Flow Period, (a) 100% minus (b) the ECF Percentage with respect to such Excess Cash Flow Period.

 

S&P” means Standard & Poor’s Rating Services, a Standard & Poor’s Financial Services LLC business.

 

Sanctioned Country” means, at any time, a country, region or territory which is itself the subject or target of any Sanctions (at the time of this Agreement, Crimea, Cuba, Iran, North Korea and Syria).

 

Sanctioned Person” means, at any time, (a) any Person listed in any Sanctions-related list of designated Persons maintained by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Department of the Treasury, the U.S. Department of State, the United Nations Security Council, the European Union, any European Union member state, Her Majesty’s Treasury of the United Kingdom or other relevant sanctions authority, in each case, having jurisdiction over any Group Member, (b) any Person operating, organized, or resident in a Sanctioned Country, (c) any Person owned or controlled by any such Person or Persons described in the foregoing clauses (a) or (b), or (d) any Person otherwise the subject of any Sanctions.

 

Sanctions” means all comprehensive economic or financial sanctions or trade embargoes imposed, administered or enforced from time to time by (a) the U.S. government, including those administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Department of the Treasury or the U.S. Department of State, or (b) the United Nations Security Council, the European Union, any European Union member state, Her Majesty’s Treasury of the United Kingdom or other relevant sanctions authority, in each case, having jurisdiction over any Group Member.

 

SEC” means the Securities and Exchange Commission, any successor thereto and any analogous Governmental Authority.

 

Secured Parties” has the meaning set forth in the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement.

 

Securitization Assets” means accounts receivables, lease receivables or other payment obligations owing to the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary or any interest in any of the foregoing, together in each case with any collections and other proceeds thereof, any collection or deposit account related thereto, and any collateral, guarantees or other property or claims in each case supporting or securing payment by the obligor thereon of, or otherwise related to, or subject to leases giving rise to, any such receivables.

 

Securitization Fee” means distributions or payments made directly or by means of discounts with respect to any accounts receivable, lease receivable or other right to payment or participation interest issued or sold in connection with, and other fees paid to a Person that is not a Restricted Subsidiary in connection with, any Qualified Securitization Transaction.

 

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Securitization Subsidiary” means a trust, bankruptcy remote entity or other special purpose entity which is a wholly owned Restricted Subsidiary of the Borrower (or another Person formed for the purposes of engaging in Qualified Securitization Transactions with the Borrower or any Subsidiary of the Borrower in which the Borrower or any Subsidiary of the Borrower makes an Investment and to which the Borrower or any Subsidiary of the Borrower transfers Securitization Assets) and which is formed for the purpose of and engages in no material business other than acting as an issuer or a depositor or borrower in a Securitization Transaction (and, in connection therewith, owning Securitization Assets and pledging or transferring any of the foregoing or interests therein and engaging in any business or activities incidental or related thereto), and:

 

(a)            no portion of the Indebtedness or any other obligations (contingent or otherwise) of which (i) is guaranteed by the Borrower or any other Restricted Subsidiary of the Borrower (excluding guarantees of obligations (other than the principal of and interest on, Indebtedness) pursuant to Standard Securitization Undertakings), (ii) is recourse to or obligates the Borrower or any other Restricted Subsidiary of the Borrower in any way other than pursuant to Standard Securitization Undertakings, or (iii) subjects any property or asset of the Borrower or any other Restricted Subsidiary of the Borrower, directly or indirectly, contingently or otherwise, to the satisfaction thereof, other than pursuant to Standard Securitization Undertakings;

 

(b)          with which neither the Borrower nor any other Restricted Subsidiary of the Borrower has any material contract, agreement, arrangement or understanding other than on terms which the Borrower reasonably believes to be no less favorable to the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary than those that might be obtained at the time from Persons that are not Affiliates of the Borrower; and

 

(c)            to which neither the Borrower nor any other Restricted Subsidiary of the Borrower has any obligation to maintain or preserve such entity’s financial condition or cause such entity to achieve certain levels of operating results.

 

Securitization Transaction” means any transaction or series of transactions that may be entered into by the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries pursuant to which the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries may sell, discount, assign, factor, convey, participate, contribute to capital, grant a security interest in, pledge or otherwise transfer (including for purposes of facilitating a warehouse facility relating to a Securitization Transaction) to (a) a Securitization Subsidiary (in the case of a transfer by the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries) or (b) any other Person (in the case of a transfer by a Securitization Subsidiary) any Securitization Assets.

 

Security Documents” means the collective reference to the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement and all other security documents hereafter delivered to the Administrative Agent granting a Lien on any property of any Person to secure the obligations and liabilities of any Loan Party under any Loan Document.

 

Series” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.24(a).

 

SOFR” means, with respect to any Business Day, a rate per annum equal to the secured overnight financing rate for such Business Day published by the SOFR Administrator on the SOFR Administrator’s Website at approximately 8:00 a.m. (New York City time) on the immediately succeeding Business Day.

 

SOFR Administrator” means the NYFRB (or a successor administrator of the secured overnight financing rate).

 

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SOFR Administrator’s Website” means the NYFRB’s website, currently at http://www.newyorkfed.org, or any successor source for the secured overnight financing rate identified as such by the SOFR Administrator from time to time.

 

Solvent” means, when used with respect to any Person, that, as of any date of determination, (a) the fair value of the assets of such Person will exceed its debts and liabilities, subordinated, contingent or otherwise, (b) the present fair saleable value of the assets of such Person will be greater than the amount that will be required to pay the probable liabilities on its debts and other liabilities, subordinated, contingent or otherwise, as such debts and other liabilities become absolute and matured, (c) such Person will be able to pay its debts and liabilities, subordinated, contingent or otherwise, as such debts and liabilities become absolute and matured and (d) such Person is not engaged in, and is not about to engage in, business for which it has unreasonably small capital. The amount of any contingent liability at any time shall be computed as the amount that would reasonably be expected to become an actual and matured liability.

 

Specified Acquisition Agreement Representations” means, with respect to any acquisition contemplated by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary, the representations made by or on behalf of the proposed target of such acquisition in the documentation governing such acquisition (the “Subject Acquisition Agreement”) that are material to the interests of the Lenders, but only to the extent that the Borrower (or its affiliates) has the right (taking into account any applicable cure provisions) to terminate its (or such affiliates’) obligations under the Subject Acquisition Agreement or decline to consummate the applicable acquisition as a result of a breach of such representations and warranties in the Subject Acquisition Agreement.

 

Specified Event of Default” means an Event of Default under clauses (a) or (f) of Section 8.

 

Specified Indebtedness” means Indebtedness of the types described in clauses (a) and (c) of the definition of “Indebtedness”.

 

Specified Representations” means the representations and warranties of the Borrower and the Subsidiary Guarantors set forth in Sections 4.3(a), 4.4(a), 4.5 (solely with respect to no violation of Organizational Documents), 4.11, 4.14, 4.19 and 4.20 and the last sentence of Section 4.23.

 

Standard Securitization Undertakings” means representations, warranties, covenants, Repurchase Obligations, indemnities and guarantees of performance entered into by any Group Member that are customary in an asset securitization financing, including those relating to the servicing of the assets of a Securitization Subsidiary.

 

Statutory Reserve Rate” means a fraction (expressed as a decimal), the numerator of which is the number one and the denominator of which is the number one minus the aggregate of the maximum reserve percentage (including any marginal, special, emergency or supplemental reserves) expressed as a decimal established by the Federal Reserve Board to which the Administrative Agent is subject with respect to the Adjusted LIBO Rate, for eurocurrency funding (currently referred to as “Eurocurrency liabilities” in Regulation D). Such reserve percentage shall include those imposed pursuant to Regulation D. Eurodollar Loans shall be deemed to constitute eurocurrency funding and to be subject to such reserve requirements without benefit of or credit for proration, exemptions or offsets that may be available from time to time to any Lender under Regulation D or any comparable regulation. The Statutory Reserve Rate shall be adjusted automatically on and as of the effective date of any change in any reserve percentage.

 

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Subordinated Indebtedness” means any Specified Indebtedness of any Group Member that is expressly subordinated in right of payment to the Obligations; provided that, for the avoidance of doubt, Indebtedness under the ABL Credit Agreement shall not be considered Subordinated Indebtedness.

 

Subsidiary” means as to any Person, a corporation, partnership, limited liability company or other entity of which shares of stock or other ownership interests having ordinary voting power (other than stock or such other ownership interests having such power only by reason of the happening of a contingency) to elect a majority of the board of directors or other managers of such corporation, partnership or other entity are at the time owned, or the management of which is otherwise controlled, directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, or both, by such Person. Unless otherwise qualified, all references to a “Subsidiary” or to “Subsidiaries” in this Agreement shall refer to a Subsidiary or Subsidiaries of the Borrower.

 

Subsidiary Guarantor” means (i) each Restricted Subsidiary of the Borrower that is a Domestic Subsidiary (other than any Excluded Subsidiary) and (ii) each other Restricted Subsidiary that is an obligor under or guarantor in respect of the ABL Loans or any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof.

 

Supported QFC” has the meaning assigned to it in Section 10.20.

 

Swap Agreement” means any agreement with respect to any swap, forward, future or derivative transaction or option or similar agreement involving, or settled by reference to, one or more rates, currencies, commodities, equity or debt instruments or securities, or economic, financial or pricing indices or measures of economic, financial or pricing risk or value or any similar transaction or any combination of these transactions; provided that no phantom stock or similar plan providing for payments only on account of services provided by current or former directors, officers, employees or consultants of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries shall be a “Swap Agreement”.

 

Swap Obligation” means, with respect to any Person, any obligation to pay or perform under any Swap Agreement.

 

Syndication Agent” means the Syndication Agent identified on the cover page of this Agreement.

 

Target Debt Repayment” means the repayment of, termination of all commitments under and the discharge and release of all security and guarantees in respect of the following debt instruments of the Acquired Business: (a) the Credit Agreement, dated as of April 27, 2018, entered into with Comvest Capital IV, L.P., Crystal Financial LLC and the lenders party thereto, (b) the Third Amended and Restated Promissory Note, dated as of April 27, 2018, entered into with Aaron Allred and (c) the Amended and Restated Promissory Note, dated as of April 27, 2018, entered into with Austin Allred and subsequently assigned to Aaron Allred.

 

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 Lenders” means the collective reference to the Initial Term Lenders, the Incremental Term Lenders and the Refinancing Term Lenders.

 

Term Loan Refinancing Indebtedness” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.2(a).

 

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Term Loans” means the collective reference to the Initial Term Loans, the Incremental Term Loans and the Refinancing Term Loans.

 

Term SOFR” means, for the applicable Corresponding Tenor as of the applicable Reference Time, the forward-looking term rate based on SOFR that has been selected or recommended by the Relevant Governmental Body.

 

Term SOFR Notice” means a notification by the Administrative Agent to the Lenders and the Borrower of the occurrence of a Term SOFR Transition Event.

 

Term SOFR Transition Event” means the determination by the Administrative Agent that (a) Term SOFR has been recommended for use by the Relevant Governmental Body, (b) the administration of Term SOFR is administratively feasible for the Administrative Agent and (c) a Benchmark Transition Event has previously occurred resulting in a Benchmark Replacement in accordance with Section 2.16 that is not Term SOFR.

 

Trade Date” means with respect to any sale or assignment of rights by a Lender under this Agreement, the date on which such Lender entered into a binding agreement to sell or assign all or a portion of its rights under this Agreement.

 

Transaction Costs” means fees, premiums, expenses, closing payments and other similar transaction costs (including upfront or similar fees) payable or otherwise borne by the Borrower and/or its Subsidiaries in connection with the Transactions and the transactions contemplated thereby.

 

Transactions” means collectively, (a) the consummation of the Acima Acquisition, (b) the execution, delivery and performance by the Borrower and the other Loan Parties of this Agreement, the borrowing of Loans hereunder and the use of proceeds thereof, (c) the execution, delivery and performance by the Borrower and the other Loan Parties of the ABL Loan Documents, the borrowing of ABL Loans thereunder and the use of proceeds thereof, (d) (w) the issuance by Funding SPV of the Unsecured Notes, (x) the merger of Funding SPV with and into the Borrower, (y) the execution and delivery by the Borrower and the other Loan Parties of a supplemental indenture to the Unsecured Notes Indenture, pursuant to which the Borrower assumes the obligations of Funding SPV as issuer thereunder and the other Loan Parties provide guarantees thereof and (z) the release from escrow of the proceeds of the Unsecured Notes and the use of proceeds thereof, (e) the Debt Repayment and (f) the payment of the Transaction Costs.

 

Transferee” means any Assignee or Participant.

 

Transformative Acquisition” means any acquisition by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary of an unrelated third party that is either (a) not permitted by the terms of the Loan Documents immediately prior to the consummation of such acquisition or (b) if permitted by the terms of the Loan Documents immediately prior to the consummation of such acquisition, would not provide the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries with adequate flexibility under the Loan Documents for the continuation and/or expansion of their combined operations following such consummation (as determined by the Borrower acting in good faith).

 

Type” means, when used in reference to any Loan or Borrowing, refers to whether the rate of interest on such Loan, or on the Loans comprising such Borrowing, is determined by reference to the Adjusted LIBO Rate or the Alternate Base Rate.

 

UK Financial Institutions” means any BRRD Undertaking (as such term is defined under the PRA Rulebook (as amended form time to time) promulgated by the United Kingdom Prudential Regulation Authority) or any person falling within IFPRU 11.6 of the FCA Handbook (as amended from time to time) promulgated by the United Kingdom Financial Conduct Authority, which includes certain credit institutions and investment firms, and certain affiliates of such credit institutions or investment firms.

 

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UK Resolution Authority” means the Bank of England or any other public administrative authority having responsibility for the resolution of any UK Financial Institution.

 

Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement” means the applicable Benchmark Replacement excluding the related Benchmark Replacement Adjustment.

 

United States” means the United States of America.

 

Unrestricted Cash” means unrestricted cash and Cash Equivalents owned by any Group Member (including the Insurance Subsidiary) and not controlled by or subject to any Lien or other preferential arrangement in favor of any creditor (other than Liens created under the Security Documents or the ABL Security Documents (or the comparable security documents governing any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness in respect of Indebtedness outstanding under the ABL Credit Agreement) and Liens of the type referred to in Section 7.3(u) or Section 7.3(x)); provided that Unrestricted Cash shall only include cash and Cash Equivalents of the Insurance Subsidiary to the extent in excess of any minimum cash amounts that the Insurance Subsidiary is required by law or regulation to maintain.

 

Unrestricted Subsidiary” means (a) any Subsidiary of the Borrower that is designated as an Unrestricted Subsidiary by the Borrower pursuant to Section 6.11 subsequent to the Closing Date and (b) any Subsidiary of an Unrestricted Subsidiary.

 

Unsecured Notes” means the 6.375% senior unsecured notes issued and sold pursuant to the Unsecured Notes Indenture as the same may be amended, restated, amended and restated, modified and/or supplemented from time to time in accordance with the terms hereof.

 

Unsecured Notes Documents” means collectively (a) the Unsecured Notes Indenture, (b) the Unsecured Notes and (c) any amendment, restatement, amendment and restatement, waiver, supplement or other modification to any of the documents described in clauses (a) through (b).

 

Unsecured Notes Indenture” means the Indenture, dated as of February 17, 2021, entered into by Funding SPV (to be merged with and into the Borrower) and Truist Bank, as trustee, as the same may be amended, restated, amended and restated, modified and/or supplemented from time to time in accordance with the terms hereof.

 

U.S. Person” means a “United States person” within the meaning of Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code.

 

U.S. Special Resolution Regime” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.20.

 

U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.19(f)(ii)(B)(3).

 

Voluntary Prepayment Amount” means as of any date, an amount equal to (a) the sum of the aggregate principal amount of all optional prepayments of Term Loans made after the Closing Date and prior to such date (excluding prepayments made with the proceeds of long-term Indebtedness) less (b) the aggregate principal amount of Incremental Term Loans and Incremental Equivalent Debt established prior to such date in reliance on the Voluntary Prepayment Amount; provided that (i) no prepayment of Term Loans secured on a junior basis to the Initial Term Facility shall increase the Voluntary Prepayment Amount with respect to Indebtedness to be secured on a pari passu basis with the Initial Term Facility and (ii) no prepayment of unsecured Term Loans shall increase the Voluntary Prepayment Amount with respect to Indebtedness to be secured.

 

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Wholly Owned Subsidiary” means as to any Person, any other Person all of the Capital Stock of which (other than directors’ qualifying shares required by law) is owned by such Person directly and/or through other Wholly Owned Subsidiaries.

 

Withdrawal Liability” means liability to a Multiemployer Plan as a result of a complete or partial withdrawal from such Multiemployer Plan, as such terms are defined in Part I of Subtitle E of Title IV of ERISA.

 

Write-Down and Conversion Powers” means (a) 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 and (b) with respect to the United Kingdom, any powers of the applicable Resolution Authority under the Bail-In Legislation to cancel, reduce, modify or change the form of a liability of any UK Financial Institution or any contract or instrument under which that liability arises, to convert all or part of that liability into shares, securities or obligations of that person or any other person, to provide that any such contract or instrument is to have effect as if a right had been exercised under it or to suspend any obligation in respect of that liability or any of the powers under that Bail-In Legislation that are related to or ancillary to any of those powers.

 

1.2           Classification of Loans and Borrowings. For purposes of this Agreement, Loans may be classified and referred to by Type (e.g., a “Eurodollar Loan”). Borrowings also may be classified and referred to by Type (e.g., a “Eurodollar Borrowing”).

 

1.3           Other Definitional Provisions. (a)  Unless otherwise specified therein, all terms defined in this Agreement shall have the defined meanings when used in the other Loan Documents or any certificate or other document made or delivered pursuant hereto or thereto.

 

(b)            As used herein and in the other Loan Documents, and any certificate or other document made or delivered pursuant hereto or thereto, (i) accounting terms relating to any Group Member not defined in Section 1.1 and accounting terms partly defined in Section 1.1, to the extent not defined, shall have the respective meanings given to them under GAAP (provided that all terms of an accounting or financial nature used herein shall be construed, and all computations of amounts and ratios referred to herein shall be made, without giving effect to (x) any election under Accounting Standards Codification 825-10-25 (previously referred to as Statement of Financial Accounting Standards 159) (or any other Accounting Standards Codification or Financial Accounting Standard having a similar result or effect) to value any Indebtedness or other liabilities of the Borrower or any Subsidiary at “fair value”, as defined therein and (y) any treatment of Indebtedness in respect of convertible debt instruments under Accounting Standards Codification 470-20 (or any other Accounting Standards Codification or Financial Accounting Standard having a similar result or effect) to value any such Indebtedness in a reduced or bifurcated manner as described therein, and such Indebtedness shall at all times be valued at the full stated principal amount thereof), (ii) the words “include”, “includes” and “including” shall be deemed to be followed by the phrase “without limitation”, (iii) the word “incur” shall be construed to mean incur, create, issue, assume, become liable in respect of or suffer to exist (and the words “incurred” and “incurrence” shall have correlative meanings), (iv) 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, Capital Stock, securities, revenues, accounts, leasehold interests and contract rights, (v) references to agreements or other Contractual Obligations shall, unless otherwise specified, be deemed to refer to such agreements or Contractual Obligations as amended, supplemented, restated, amended and restated or otherwise modified from time to time and (vi) the concept of “letters of credit” shall be construed to include banker’s acceptances.

 

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(c)           The words “hereof”, “herein” and “hereunder” and words of similar import, when used in this Agreement, shall refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular provision of this Agreement, and Section, Schedule and Exhibit references are to this Agreement unless otherwise specified.

 

(d)          The meanings given to terms defined herein shall be equally applicable to both the singular and plural forms of such terms.

 

(e)            Unless otherwise defined herein or the context otherwise requires, terms for which meanings are provided in the UCC are used in this Agreement, including its preamble and recitals, with such meanings.

 

1.4           Interest Rate; LIBOR Notification. The interest rate on Eurodollar Loans is determined by reference to the LIBO Rate, which is derived from the London interbank offered rate. The London interbank offered rate is intended to represent the rate at which contributing banks may obtain short-term borrowings from each other in the London interbank market. In July 2017, the U.K. Financial Conduct Authority announced that, after the end of 2021, it would no longer persuade or compel contributing banks to make rate submissions to the ICE Benchmark Administration (together with any successor to the ICE Benchmark Administrator, the “IBA”) for purposes of the IBA setting the London interbank offered rate. As a result, it is possible that commencing in 2022, the London interbank offered rate may no longer be available or may no longer be deemed an appropriate reference rate upon which to determine the interest rate on Eurodollar Loans. In light of this eventuality, public and private sector industry initiatives are currently underway to identify new or alternative reference rates to be used in place of the London interbank offered rate. Upon the occurrence of a Benchmark Transition Event, a Term SOFR Transition Event or an Early Opt-in Election, Section 2.16(b) and (c) provide the mechanism for determining an alternative rate of interest. The Administrative Agent will promptly notify the Borrower, pursuant to Section 2.16(e), of any change to the reference rate upon which the interest rate on Eurodollar Loans is based. However, the Administrative Agent does not warrant or accept any responsibility for, and shall not have any liability with respect to, the administration, submission or any other matter related to the London interbank offered rate or other rates in the definition of “LIBO Rate” or with respect to any alternative or successor rate thereto, or replacement rate thereof (including (i) any such alternative, successor or replacement rate implemented pursuant to Section 2.16(b) or (c), whether upon the occurrence of a Benchmark Transition Event, a Term SOFR Transition Event or an Early Opt-in Election, and (ii) the implementation of any Benchmark Replacement Conforming Changes pursuant to Section 2.16(d)), including whether the composition or characteristics of any such alternative, successor or replacement reference rate will be similar to, or produce the same value or economic equivalence of, the LIBO Rate or have the same volume or liquidity as did the London interbank offered rate prior to its discontinuance or unavailability.

 

1.5           Divisions. For all purposes under the Loan Documents, in connection with any division or plan of division under Delaware law (or any comparable event under a different jurisdiction’s laws): (a) if any asset, right, obligation or liability of any Person becomes the asset, right, obligation or liability of a different Person, then it shall be deemed to have been transferred from the original Person to the subsequent Person, and (b) if any new Person comes into existence, such new Person shall be deemed to have been organized and acquired on the first date of its existence by the holders of its Capital Stock at such time.

 

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1.6           Limited Condition Transaction. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement or any Loan Document to the contrary when (i) calculating any applicable ratio or financial test or basket or exception in connection with the incurrence of Indebtedness, the creation of Liens, the making of any Disposition, the making of an Investment, the making of a Restricted Payment, the designation of a Subsidiary as restricted or unrestricted or the repayment of Indebtedness (each, a “Specified Transaction”), (ii) determining the accuracy of any representation or warranty (other than in connection with an Incremental Limited Condition Term Facility) or (iii) determining whether any Default or Event of Default has occurred, is continuing or would result from any action (other than in connection with an Incremental Limited Condition Term Facility), in each case of clauses (i) through (iii) in connection with a Limited Condition Transaction, the date of determination of such ratio or financial test or basket or exception, the accuracy of such representation or warranty (but taking into account any earlier date specified therein) or whether any Default or Event of Default has occurred, is continuing or would result therefrom shall, at the option of the Borrower (the Borrower’s election to exercise such option in connection with any Limited Condition Acquisition, an “LCT Election”), be deemed to be the date the definitive agreements for such Limited Condition Transaction are entered into (the “LCT Test Date”). If on a Pro Forma Basis after giving effect to such Limited Condition Transaction and the other transactions to be entered into in connection therewith (including any incurrence of Indebtedness, Liens, Restricted Payments or other transactions and the use of proceeds thereof) such ratios, financial tests, baskets, exceptions, representations and warranties and absence of defaults are calculated as if such Limited Condition Transaction or other transactions had occurred at the beginning of the most recent Reference Period ending prior to the LCT Test Date for which financial statements are available, the Borrower could have taken such action on the relevant LCT Test Date in compliance with the applicable ratios or other provisions, such provisions shall be deemed to have been complied with. For the avoidance of doubt, (i) if any of such ratios, financial tests, baskets, exceptions, representations and warranties or absence of defaults are exceeded or breached as a result of fluctuations in such ratio or financial test (including due to fluctuations in Consolidated EBITDA), a change in facts or circumstances or other provisions at or prior to the consummation of the relevant Limited Condition Transaction, such ratios, financial tests, baskets, exceptions, representations and warranties and absence of defaults will not be deemed to have been exceeded, breached, or otherwise failed as a result of such fluctuations or changed circumstances solely for purposes of determining whether the Limited Condition Transaction and any related transactions is permitted hereunder and (ii) such ratios, financial tests, baskets, exceptions and compliance with such conditions shall not be tested at the time of consummation of such Limited Condition Transaction or related Specified Transactions. If the Company has made an LCT Election for any Limited Condition Transaction, then in connection with any subsequent calculation of any ratio or financial test or basket or exception with respect to any subsequent acquisition or Investment that the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary is contractually committed to consummate on or following the relevant LCT Test Date and prior to the earlier of the date on which such Limited Condition Transaction is consummated or the date that the definitive agreement for such Limited Condition Transaction is terminated or expires without consummation of such Limited Condition Transaction, any such ratio or financial test or basket or exception shall be calculated on a Pro Forma Basis both (i) assuming such Limited Condition Transaction and other transactions in connection therewith (including any incurrence of Indebtedness, Liens, Restricted Payments or other transactions and the use of proceeds thereof) have been consummated and (ii) assuming such Limited Condition Transaction and other transactions in connection therewith (including any incurrence of Indebtedness, Liens, Restricted Payments or other transactions and the use of proceeds thereof) have not been consummated.

 

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1.7           Calculations. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement or any Loan Document to the contrary (i) the Borrower may rely on more than one basket or exception hereunder (including both ratio-based and non-ratio based baskets and exceptions, and including partial reliance on different baskets that, collectively, permit the entire proposed transaction) at the time of any proposed transaction, and the Borrower may, in its sole discretion, at any later time divide, classify or reclassify such transaction (or any portion thereof) in any manner that complies with the available baskets and exceptions hereunder at such later time (provided that with respect to reclassification of Indebtedness and Liens, any such reclassification shall be subject to the parameters of Sections 7.2 and 7.3, as applicable), (ii) unless the Borrower elects otherwise, if the Borrower or its Restricted Subsidiaries in connection with any transaction or series of such related transaction (A) incurs Indebtedness, creates Liens, makes Dispositions, makes Investments, makes Restricted Payments, designates any Subsidiary as restricted or unrestricted or repays any Indebtedness or takes any other action under or as permitted by a ratio-based basket or exception and (B) incurs Indebtedness, creates Liens, makes Dispositions, makes Investments, makes Restricted Payments, designates any Subsidiary as restricted or unrestricted or repays any Indebtedness or takes any other action under a non-ratio-based basket or exception (which shall occur within five Business Days of the events in clause (A) above), then the applicable ratio will be calculated with respect to any such action under the applicable ratio-based basket or exception without regard to any such action under such non-ratio-based basket or exception made in connection with such transaction or series of related transactions; provided that the foregoing shall not apply to any Indebtedness incurred pursuant to Section 7.2(b), (iii) if the Borrower or its Restricted Subsidiaries enters into any revolving, delayed draw or other committed debt facility, the Borrower may elect to determine compliance of such debt facility (including the incurrence of Indebtedness and Liens from time to time in connection therewith) with this Agreement and each other Loan Document on the date commitments with respect thereto are first received, assuming the full amount of such facility is incurred (and any applicable Liens are granted) on such date, in lieu of determining such compliance on any subsequent date (including any date on which Indebtedness is incurred pursuant to such facility); provided that if such election is made with respect to any delayed draw facility or other committed debt facility (other than a revolving facility), then in connection with any subsequent calculation of any ratio or financial test or basket or exception with respect to any subsequent incurrence of Indebtedness (including the incurrence of Liens in connection therewith) or Liens, such calculation shall be made assuming the full amount of such delayed draw facility or committed debt facility, as applicable, has been incurred (and any applicable Liens granted) on such date of incurrence for so long as any commitments remain outstanding thereunder, and (iv) if the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary incurs Indebtedness under a ratio-based basket or exception, such ratio-based basket or exception (together with any other ratio-based basket or exception utilized in connection therewith, including in respect of other Indebtedness, Liens, Dispositions, Investments, Restricted Payments or Restricted Debt Payments) will be calculated excluding the cash proceeds of such Indebtedness for netting purposes (i.e., such cash proceeds shall not reduce the Borrower’s Consolidated Leverage Ratio, Consolidated Secured Leverage Ratio or Consolidated Senior Secured Leverage Ratio pursuant to clause (a)(ii) of the definition of such terms), provided that the actual application of such proceeds may reduce Indebtedness for purposes of determining compliance with any applicable ratio. For example, if the Borrower incurs Indebtedness under the Base Incremental Amount on the same date that it incurs Indebtedness under clause (e) of the definition of “Available Incremental Amount”, then the Consolidated Leverage Ratio and any other applicable ratio will be calculated with respect to such incurrence under clause (e) of the definition of “Available Incremental Amount” without regard to any incurrence of Indebtedness under the Base Incremental Amount. Unless the Borrower elects otherwise, each Incremental Term Facility (or Incremental Equivalent Debt) shall be deemed incurred first under clauses (c), (d) or (e) of the definition of “Available Incremental Amount”, as applicable, to the extent permitted (and calculated prior to giving effect to any substantially simultaneous incurrence of any Indebtedness based on a basket or exception that is not based on a financial ratio, including the Base Incremental Amount and the Voluntary Prepayment Amount), with any balance incurred under the Base Incremental Amount or the Voluntary Prepayment Amount. For purposes of determining compliance with Section 2.24, in the event that any Incremental Term Facility or Incremental Equivalent Debt (or any portion thereof) meets the criteria of any of the clauses of the definition of “Available Incremental Amount”, the Borrower may, in its sole discretion, at the time of incurrence, divide, classify or reclassify, or at any later time divide, classify or reclassify, such Indebtedness (or any portion thereof) in any manner that complies with Section 2.24 on the date of such classification or any such reclassification, as applicable.

 

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1.8           Discontinued Operations. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement or any classification under GAAP of any Person, business, assets or operations in respect of which a definitive agreement for the disposition thereof has been entered into as discontinued operations, no pro forma effect shall be given to any discontinued operations (and the Consolidated EBITDA attributable to any such Person, business, assets or operations shall not be excluded for any purposes hereunder) until such disposition shall have been consummated.

 

1.9           Bridge Loans and Escrow Indebtedness. For purposes of determining the maturity date of any Indebtedness, (a) customary bridge loans that are subject to customary conditions (including no payment or bankruptcy event of default) that would either automatically be extended as, converted into or required to be exchanged for permanent refinancing shall be deemed to have the maturity date as so extended, converted or exchanged and (b) Indebtedness the proceeds of which are deposited into escrow pursuant to customary escrow arrangements pending consummation of a specified acquisition or Investment shall be deemed to have the maturity date of such Indebtedness upon consummation of the specified acquisition or Investment and release of such proceeds from escrow.

 

SECTION 2. AMOUNT AND TERMS OF COMMITMENTS

 

2.1           Term Loans. Subject to the terms and conditions hereof, each Term Lender severally agrees to make term loans denominated in Dollars (the “Initial Term Loans”) on the Closing Date to the Borrower in an amount equal to the amount of its Initial Term Commitment. The Term Loans may from time to time be Eurodollar Loans or ABR Loans, as determined by the Borrower and notified to the Administrative Agent in accordance with Section 2.12.

 

2.2         Procedure for Term Loan Borrowing. To borrow Initial Term Loans on the Closing Date, the Borrower shall give the Administrative Agent irrevocable notice by submitting a Borrowing Request (which Borrowing Request must be received by the Administrative Agent prior to 12:00 Noon, New York City time, (a) three Business Days prior to the requested Borrowing Date, in the case of Eurodollar Loans; provided, that such notice may be received by the Administrative Agent prior to 12:00 Noon, New York City time one Business Day prior to the Closing Date for a Eurodollar Borrowing to be made on the Closing Date, or (b) one Business Day prior to the requested Borrowing Date, in the case of ABR Loans), specifying (i) the amount and Type of Initial Term Loans to be borrowed, and (ii) in the case of Eurodollar Loans, the respective amounts of each such Type of Loan and the respective lengths of the initial Interest Period therefor. Each borrowing under the Commitments shall be in an amount equal to (x) in the case of ABR Loans, $1,000,000 or a whole multiple thereof and (y) in the case of Eurodollar Loans, $5,000,000, or a whole multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof. Upon receipt of any Borrowing Request from the Borrower, the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each applicable Term Lender thereof. Each Lender will make the amount of its applicable Commitment available to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Borrower at the applicable Funding Office prior to 10:30 a.m., New York City time, on the Borrowing Date in respect of such Commitments requested by such Borrower in funds immediately available to the Administrative Agent.

 

2.3           Repayment of Term Loans. (a) The Borrower shall repay the Initial Term Loans on the last day of each March, June, September and December, beginning with June 30, 2021 and ending with the last such day to occur prior to the Maturity Date, in an aggregate principal amount for each such date (as such amount shall be adjusted pursuant to Section 2.17(b) hereof) equal to the aggregate principal amount of the Initial Term Loans outstanding on the Closing Date multiplied by 0.25%.

 

(b)            The Incremental Term Loans of each Incremental Term Lender shall mature in consecutive installments (which shall be no more frequent than quarterly) as specified in the Incremental Term Loan Activation Notice pursuant to which such Incremental Term Loans were made (as such amount shall be adjusted pursuant to Section 2.17(b)).

 

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(c)            To the extent not previously paid (i) all Initial Term Loans shall be paid on the Maturity Date and (ii) all Incremental Term Loans shall be paid on the Incremental Term Loan Maturity Date applicable thereto.

 

2.4           [Reserved].

 

2.5           [Reserved].

 

2.6           [Reserved].

 

2.7           [Reserved].

 

2.8           Fees, etc. The Borrower agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent the fees in the amounts and on the dates as set forth in any fee agreements with the Administrative Agent and to perform any other obligations contained therein.

 

2.9           [Reserved].

 

2.10         Optional Prepayments. (a) The Borrower may at any time and from time to time prepay the Loans, in whole or in part, without premium or penalty (subject to Section 2.10(b)), upon revocable notice (which may be conditioned as stated in such notice by the Borrower) delivered to the Administrative Agent no later than 12:00 Noon, New York City time, three Business Days prior thereto, in the case of Eurodollar Loans, and no later than 12:00 Noon, New York City time, one Business Day prior thereto, in the case of ABR Loans, which notice shall specify the date and amount of prepayment and whether the prepayment is of Eurodollar Loans or ABR Loans; provided, that if a Eurodollar Loan is prepaid on any day other than the last day of the Interest Period applicable thereto, the Borrower shall also pay any amounts owing pursuant to Section 2.20. Upon receipt of any such notice the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each relevant Lender thereof. If any such notice is given, the amount specified in such notice shall be due and payable on the date specified therein, together with accrued interest to such date on the amount prepaid. Partial prepayments of Term Loans shall be in an aggregate principal amount of $1,000,000 or a whole multiple of $100,000 in excess thereof. All optional prepayments of Term Loans in accordance with this Section 2.10 shall be applied as directed by the Borrower.

 

(b)            All (i) prepayments of Initial Term Loans pursuant to Section 2.10(a) or Section 2.11(a) effected on or prior to the six-month anniversary of the Closing Date with the proceeds of a Repricing Transaction and (ii) amendments, amendments and restatements or other modifications of this Agreement on or prior to the six-month anniversary of the Closing Date constituting Repricing Transactions shall, in each case, be accompanied by a fee payable to the Initial Term Lenders in an amount equal to 1.00% of the aggregate principal amount of the Initial Term Loans so prepaid, in the case of a transaction described in clause (i) of this paragraph, or 1.00% of the aggregate principal amount of Initial Term Loans affected by such amendment, amendment and restatement or other modification (including any such Loans assigned in connection with the replacement of an Initial Term Lender not consenting thereto), in the case of a transaction described in clause (ii) of this paragraph. Such fee shall be paid by the Borrower to the Administrative Agent, for the account of the Lenders in respect of the Initial Term Loans, on the date of such prepayment.

 

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2.11         Mandatory Prepayments and Commitment Reductions. (a)  If any Indebtedness shall be incurred by any Group Member (excluding any Indebtedness permitted in accordance with Section 7.2 (other than Term Loan Refinancing Indebtedness)), an amount equal to 100% of the Net Cash Proceeds thereof shall be applied on the date of such incurrence toward the prepayment of the Term Loans as set forth in Section 2.11(e); provided that prepayments pursuant to this Section 2.11(a) shall be accompanied by any fees payable with respect thereto pursuant to Section 2.10(b).

 

(b)            If on any date any Group Member shall receive Net Cash Proceeds from any Asset Sale or Recovery Event then, unless a Reinvestment Notice shall be delivered in respect thereof, the Asset Sale Percentage of such Net Cash Proceeds shall be applied within 10 Business Days after such date toward the prepayment of the Term Loans as set forth in Section 2.11(e); provided, that, notwithstanding the foregoing, no such prepayment shall be required to the extent that the aggregate Net Cash Proceeds received from Asset Sales or Recovery Events in any fiscal year is less than $50,000,000 (it being understood that only amounts in excess of such thresholds shall be required to be applied to any prepayment); provided further that on each Reinvestment Prepayment Date, an amount equal to the Reinvestment Prepayment Amount with respect to the relevant Reinvestment Event shall be applied toward the prepayment of the Term Loans as set forth in Section 2.11(e); provided further that, notwithstanding the foregoing, such Net Cash Proceeds may be applied towards the prepayment or purchase of Pari Passu Secured Indebtedness to the extent the documentation governing such Indebtedness requires such a prepayment or purchase with Net Cash Proceeds from any Asset Sale or Recovery Event, in each case in an amount not to exceed the product of (x) the amount of such Net Cash Proceeds and (y) a fraction, the numerator of which is the outstanding principal amount of such other Indebtedness and the denominator of which is the aggregate outstanding principal amount of Term Loans and all such other Indebtedness (provided that, in the event that the Borrower or applicable Restricted Subsidiary makes an offer to the holders of such Pari Passu Secured Indebtedness to prepay or purchase such Pari Passu Secured Indebtedness in an amount permitted under this Section 2.11(b), to the extent that such offer is declined by holders of such Pari Passu Secured Indebtedness (the declined amount, the “Other Debt Declined Amount”), the Borrower shall be required to prepay Term Loans in an amount equal to such Other Debt Declined Amount as if the Other Debt Declined Amount were Net Cash Proceeds received on the final date by which such declining holders were required to give notice of their Other Debt Declined Amount).

 

(c)            If, for any Excess Cash Flow Period, there shall be Excess Cash Flow, the Borrower shall, on the relevant Excess Cash Flow Application Date, apply toward the prepayment of the Term Loans as set forth in Section 2.11(e) the excess of (x) the ECF Percentage of such Excess Cash Flow over (y) solely to the extent not funded with the proceeds of long-term Indebtedness or the proceeds of any issuance of Capital Stock, the aggregate amount of (1) all optional prepayments of Term Loans made during such Excess Cash Flow Period pursuant to Section 2.10, (2) all optional prepayments of Pari Passu Secured Indebtedness made during such Excess Cash Flow Period, (3) all prepayments of ABL Loans during such Excess Cash Flow Period to the extent accompanied by a permanent reduction of the ABL Commitments, and (4) all Loan purchases made during such Excess Cash Flow Period pursuant to Section 2.25 and Section 10.6(e) (provided that the aggregate amount of any such purchase shall be the amount of the Borrower’s cash payment in respect of such purchase). Each such prepayment shall be made on a date (an “Excess Cash Flow Application Date”) no later than 10 Business Days after the earlier of (i) the date on which the financial statements of the Borrower referred to in Section 6.1(a), for the Excess Cash Flow Period with respect to which such prepayment is made, are required to be delivered to the Lenders and (ii) the date such financial statements are actually delivered.

 

(d)            On or after the fifth anniversary of the Closing Date, the Borrower shall pay in cash all accrued interest and/or original issue discount (as determined for U.S. federal income tax purposes) to the extent necessary so that the Initial Term Loans will not be classified as “applicable high yield discount obligations” under Section 163(i) of the Code (or any successor provision). It is the intent of the Borrower that payments on the Initial Term Loans made pursuant to this Section 2.11(d) be made such that Section 163(e)(5) of the Code (or any successor provision) would not apply to the Initial Term Loans and the provisions of this Agreement related to the Initial Term Loans shall be applied consistently therewith. The computations and determinations made by the Borrower for purposes of this Section 2.11(d) shall be binding upon each Lender.

 

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(e)            Amounts to be applied in connection with prepayments made pursuant to this Section 2.11 shall be applied to the prepayment of the Term Loans in accordance with Section 2.17(b). The application of any prepayment pursuant to this Section 2.11 shall be made first, to ABR Loans and, second, to Eurodollar Loans. Each prepayment of the Loans under this Section 2.11 shall be accompanied by accrued interest to the date of such prepayment on the amount prepaid.

 

(f)            With respect to any prepayment pursuant to this Section 2.11 of Initial Term Loans and, unless otherwise specified in the applicable Incremental Term Loan Activation Notice, other Term Loans, any Term Lender, at its option, may elect not to accept such prepayment. The Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent of any event giving rise to a prepayment under this Section 2.11 at least three Business Days prior to the date of such prepayment. Each such notice shall specify the date of such prepayment and provide a reasonably detailed calculation of the amount of such prepayment that is required to be made under this Section 2.11. Any Lender may decline to accept all (but not less than all) of its share of any such prepayment (the “Declined Amount”) by providing written notice to the Administrative Agent no later than two Business Days after the date of such Lender’s receipt of notice from the Administrative Agent regarding such prepayment. If the Lender does not give a notice to the Administrative Agent on or prior to such second Business Day informing the Administrative Agent that it declines to accept the applicable prepayment, then such Lender will be deemed to have accepted such prepayment. Such Lender’s Declined Amount may be retained by the Borrower.

 

(g)            Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Section 2.11, to the extent any or all of the Net Cash Proceeds of any Asset Sale by a Foreign Subsidiary, the Net Cash Proceeds of any Recovery Event received by a Foreign Subsidiary or Excess Cash Flow attributable to Foreign Subsidiaries, are prohibited or delayed by any applicable local law (including financial assistance, corporate benefit restrictions on upstreaming of cash intra group and the fiduciary and statutory duties of the directors of such Foreign Subsidiary) from being repatriated or passed on to or used for the benefit of the Borrower or any applicable Domestic Subsidiary or if the Borrower has determined in good faith that repatriation of any such amount to the Borrower or any applicable Domestic Subsidiary would have material adverse tax consequences (including a material acceleration of the point in time when such earnings would otherwise be taxed) with respect to such amount, the portion of such Net Cash Proceeds or Excess Cash Flow so affected will not be required to be applied to prepay the Term Loans at the times provided in this Section 2.11 but may be retained by the applicable Foreign Subsidiary so long, but only so long, as the applicable local law will not permit repatriation or the passing on to or otherwise using for the benefit of the Borrower or the applicable Domestic Subsidiary, or the Borrower believes in good faith that such material adverse tax consequence would result, and once such repatriation of any of such affected Net Cash Proceeds or Excess Cash Flow is permitted under the applicable local law or the Borrower determines in good faith such repatriation would no longer have such material adverse tax consequences, such repatriation will be promptly effected and such repatriated Net Cash Proceeds or Excess Cash Flow will be promptly (and in any event not later than five Business Days after such repatriation) applied (in the case of Excess Cash Flow, net of additional taxes payable or reasonably estimated to be payable as a result thereof) to the prepayment of the Term Loans pursuant to this Section 2.11 (provided that no such prepayment of the Term Loans pursuant to this Section 2.11 shall be required in the case of any such Net Cash Proceeds or Excess Cash Flow the repatriation of which the Borrower believes in good faith would result in material adverse tax consequences, if on or before the date on which such Net Cash Proceeds so retained would otherwise have been required to be applied to reinvestments or prepayments pursuant to a Reinvestment Notice (or such Excess Cash Flow would have been so required if it were Net Cash Proceeds), the Borrower applies an amount equal to the amount of such Net Cash Proceeds or Excess Cash Flow to such reinvestments or prepayments as if such Net Cash Proceeds or Excess Cash Flow had been received by the Borrower rather than such Foreign Subsidiary, less (in the case of Excess Cash Flow) the amount of additional taxes that would have been payable or reserved against if such Excess Cash Flow had been repatriated (or, if less, the Net Cash Proceeds or Excess Cash Flow that would be calculated if received by such Foreign Subsidiary).

 

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2.12         Conversion and Continuation Options. (a)  The Borrower may elect from time to time to convert Eurodollar Loans to ABR Loans by giving the Administrative Agent prior irrevocable notice of such election by submitting an Interest Election Request no later than 12:00 Noon, New York City time, on the Business Day preceding the proposed conversion date, provided that any such conversion of Eurodollar Loans may only be made on the last day of an Interest Period with respect thereto. The Borrower may elect from time to time to convert ABR Loans to Eurodollar Loans by giving the Administrative Agent prior irrevocable notice of such election no later than 12:00 Noon, New York City time, on the third Business Day preceding the proposed conversion date (which Interest Election Request shall specify the length of the initial Interest Period therefor), provided that no ABR Loan under a particular Facility may be converted into a Eurodollar Loan when any Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and the Administrative Agent or the Majority Facility Lenders in respect of such Facility have determined in its or their sole discretion not to permit such conversions. Upon receipt of any such Interest Election Request the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each relevant Lender thereof.

 

(b)            Any Eurodollar Loan may be continued as such upon the expiration of the then current Interest Period with respect thereto by the Borrower giving irrevocable notice by submitting an Interest Election Request to the Administrative Agent, in accordance with the applicable provisions of the term “Interest Period” set forth in Section 1.1, of the length of the next Interest Period to be applicable to such Loans, provided that no Eurodollar Loan under a particular Facility may be continued as such (i) when any Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and the Administrative Agent has or the Majority Facility Lenders in respect of such Facility have determined in its or their sole discretion not to permit such continuations or (ii) if a Specified Event of Default is in existence, and provided, further, that if the Borrower shall fail to give any required Interest Election Request as described above in this paragraph or if such continuation is not permitted pursuant to the preceding proviso such Loans shall be automatically converted to ABR Loans on the last day of such then expiring Interest Period. Upon receipt of any such Interest Election Request the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each relevant Lender thereof.

 

2.13         Limitations on Eurodollar Tranches. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, all borrowings, conversions and continuations of Eurodollar Loans and all selections of Interest Periods shall be in such amounts and be made pursuant to such elections so that, (a) after giving effect thereto, the aggregate principal amount of the Eurodollar Loans comprising each Eurodollar Tranche shall be equal to $5,000,000 or a whole multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof and (b) no more than 10 Eurodollar Tranches shall be outstanding at any one time.

 

2.14         Interest Rates and Payment Dates. Subject to Section 2.16,

 

(a)            Each Eurodollar Loan shall bear interest for each day during each Interest Period with respect thereto at a rate per annum equal to the Adjusted LIBO Rate determined for such day plus the Applicable Margin.

 

(b)            Each ABR Loan shall bear interest at a rate per annum equal to the ABR plus the Applicable Margin.

 

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(c)            (i) If all or a portion of the principal amount of any Loan shall not be paid when due (whether at the stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise), such overdue amount shall bear interest at a rate per annum equal to the rate that would otherwise be applicable thereto pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this Section 2.14 plus 2%, and (ii) if all or a portion of any interest payable on any Loan or other amount payable hereunder shall not be paid when due (whether at the stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise), such overdue amount shall bear interest at a rate per annum equal to the rate then applicable to ABR Loans under the relevant Facility plus 2% (or, in the case of any such other amounts that do not relate to a particular Facility, the rate then applicable to ABR Loans under the Initial Term Facility plus 2%), in each case, with respect to clauses (i) and (ii) above, from the date of such non-payment until such amount is paid in full (as well after as before judgment).

 

(d)            Interest shall be payable in arrears on each Interest Payment Date, provided that interest accruing pursuant to paragraph (c) of this Section 2.14 shall be payable from time to time on demand.

 

2.15         Computation of Interest and Fees. (a)  Interest and fees payable pursuant hereto shall be calculated on the basis of a 360-day year for the actual days elapsed, except that, with respect to ABR Loans the rate of interest on which is calculated on the basis of the Prime Rate, the interest thereon shall be calculated on the basis of a 365- (or 366-, as the case may be) day year for the actual days elapsed (including the first day, but excluding the last day; provided that if a Loan is repaid on the same day on which it is made, one day’s interest shall be paid on such Loan). The Administrative Agent shall as soon as practicable notify the Borrower and the relevant Lenders of each determination of an Adjusted LIBO Rate.

 

(b)            Each determination of an interest rate by the Administrative Agent pursuant to any provision of this Agreement shall be conclusive and binding on the Borrower and the Lenders in the absence of manifest error. The Administrative Agent shall, at the request of the Borrower, deliver to the Borrower a statement showing the quotations used by the Administrative Agent in determining any interest rate pursuant to Section 2.14(a).

 

2.16         Alternate Rate of Interest. (a) Subject to clauses (b), (c), (d), (e), (f) and (g) of this Section 2.16, if prior to the commencement of any Interest Period for a Eurodollar Borrowing:

 

(i)            the Administrative Agent determines (which determination shall be conclusive and binding absent manifest error) that adequate and reasonable means do not exist for ascertaining the Adjusted LIBO Rate or the LIBO Rate, as applicable (including because the LIBO Screen Rate is not available or published on a current basis), for a Loan for such Interest Period; provided that no Benchmark Transition Event shall have occurred at such time, or

 

(ii)          the Administrative Agent is advised by the Required Lenders that the Adjusted LIBO Rate or the LIBO Rate, as applicable, for a Loan for such Interest Period will not adequately and fairly reflect the cost to such Lenders (as conclusively certified by such Lenders) of making or maintaining their Loans (or its Loan) included in such Borrowing for such Interest Period,

 

then the Administrative Agent shall give notice thereof to the Borrower and the Lenders by telephone, telecopy or electronic mail as promptly as practicable thereafter and, until the Administrative Agent notifies the Borrower and the Lenders that the circumstances giving rise to such notice no longer exist (which notification shall be made promptly after the Administrative Agent obtains knowledge of the cessation of the circumstances referenced in clause (i) above or receives notice from the Required Lenders in respect of the cessation of circumstances referenced in clause (ii) above), (A) any Interest Election Request that requests the conversion of any Borrowing to, or continuation of any Borrowing as, a Eurodollar Borrowing shall be ineffective and (B) if any Borrowing Request requests a Eurodollar Borrowing, such Borrowing shall be made as an ABR Borrowing.

 

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(b)          Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein or in any other Loan Document (and any Swap Agreement shall be deemed not to be a “Loan Document” for purposes of this Section 2.16), if a Benchmark Transition Event or an Early Opt-in Election, as applicable, and its related Benchmark Replacement Date have occurred prior to the Reference Time in respect of any setting of the then-current Benchmark, then (x) if a Benchmark Replacement is determined in accordance with clause (1) or (2) of the definition of “Benchmark Replacement” for such Benchmark Replacement Date, such Benchmark Replacement will replace such Benchmark for all purposes hereunder and under any Loan Document in respect of such Benchmark setting and subsequent Benchmark settings without any amendment to, or further action or consent of any other party to, this Agreement or any other Loan Document and (y) if a Benchmark Replacement is determined in accordance with clause (3) of the definition of “Benchmark Replacement” for such Benchmark Replacement Date, such Benchmark Replacement will replace such Benchmark for all purposes hereunder and under any Loan Document in respect of any Benchmark setting at or after 5:00 p.m. (New York City time) on the fifth Business Day after the date notice of such Benchmark Replacement is provided to the Lenders without any amendment to, or further action or consent of any other party to, this Agreement or any other Loan Document so long as the Administrative Agent has not received, by such time, written notice of objection to such Benchmark Replacement from Lenders comprising the Required Lenders.

 

(c)            Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein or in any other Loan Document and subject to the proviso below in this paragraph, if a Term SOFR Transition Event and its related Benchmark Replacement Date have occurred prior to the Reference Time in respect of any setting of the then-current Benchmark, then the applicable Benchmark Replacement will replace the then-current Benchmark for all purposes hereunder or under any Loan Document in respect of such Benchmark setting and subsequent Benchmark settings, without any amendment to, or further action or consent of any other party to, this Agreement or any other Loan Document; provided that, this clause (c) shall not be effective unless the Administrative Agent has delivered to the Lenders and the Borrower a Term SOFR Notice.

 

(d)           In connection with the implementation of a Benchmark Replacement, the Administrative Agent will have the right to make Benchmark Replacement Conforming Changes from time to time and, notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein or in any other Loan Document, any amendments implementing such Benchmark Replacement Conforming Changes will become effective without any further action or consent of any other party to this Agreement or any other Loan Document.

 

(e)         The Administrative Agent will promptly notify the Borrower and the Lenders of (i) any occurrence of a Benchmark Transition Event, a Term SOFR Transition Event or an Early Opt-in Election, as applicable, and its related Benchmark Replacement Date, (ii) the implementation of any Benchmark Replacement, (iii) the effectiveness of any Benchmark Replacement Conforming Changes, (iv) the removal or reinstatement of any tenor of a Benchmark pursuant to clause (f) below and (v) the commencement or conclusion of any Benchmark Unavailability Period. Any determination, decision or election that may be made by the Administrative Agent or, if applicable, any Lender (or group of Lenders) pursuant to this Section 2.16, including any determination with respect to a tenor, rate or adjustment or of the occurrence or non-occurrence of an event, circumstance or date and any decision to take or refrain from taking any action or any selection, will be conclusive and binding absent manifest error and may be made in its or their sole discretion and without consent from any other party to this Agreement or any other Loan Document, except, in each case, as expressly required pursuant to this Section 2.16.

 

(f)           Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein or in any other Loan Document, at any time (including in connection with the implementation of a Benchmark Replacement), (i) if the then-current Benchmark is a term rate (including Term SOFR or LIBO Rate) and either (A) any tenor for such Benchmark is not displayed on a screen or other information service that publishes such rate from time to time as selected by the Administrative Agent in its reasonable discretion or (B) the regulatory supervisor for the administrator of such Benchmark has provided a public statement or publication of information announcing that any tenor for such Benchmark is or will be no longer representative, then the Administrative Agent may modify the definition of “Interest Period” for any Benchmark settings at or after such time to remove such unavailable or non-representative tenor and (ii) if a tenor that was removed pursuant to clause (i) above either (A) is subsequently displayed on a screen or information service for a Benchmark (including a Benchmark Replacement) or (B) is not, or is no longer, subject to an announcement that it is or will no longer be representative for a Benchmark (including a Benchmark Replacement), then the Administrative Agent may modify the definition of “Interest Period” for all Benchmark settings at or after such time to reinstate such previously removed tenor.

 

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(g)            Upon the Borrower’s receipt of notice of the commencement of a Benchmark Unavailability Period, the Borrower may revoke any request for a Eurodollar Borrowing of, conversion to or continuation of Eurodollar Loans to be made, converted or continued during any Benchmark Unavailability Period and, failing that, the Borrower will be deemed to have converted any such request into a request for a Borrowing of or conversion to ABR Loans. During any Benchmark Unavailability Period or at any time that a tenor for the then-current Benchmark is not an Available Tenor, the component of ABR based upon the then-current Benchmark or such tenor for such Benchmark, as applicable, will not be used in any determination of ABR.

 

2.17         Pro Rata Treatment and Payments. (a)  The borrowing by the Borrower from the Initial Term Lenders hereunder shall be made pro rata according to the Initial Term Percentages of the Initial Term Lenders.

 

(b)             With respect to any Facility, each payment (including each prepayment under this Agreement) by the Borrower on account of principal of and interest on the Term Loans of such Facility shall be made pro rata according to the respective outstanding principal amounts of the Term Loans of such Facility then held by the Term Lenders (except as otherwise provided in Section 2.11(f)). The amount of each principal prepayment of the Term Loans pursuant to Section 2.11 shall be applied to reduce the Initial Term Loans and Incremental Term Loans on a pro rata basis based upon the respective then remaining principal amounts thereof (unless any Incremental Term Lenders have agreed to less than pro rata prepayments) and shall be applied within each Facility to the then remaining installments thereof as directed by the Borrower (or if not so directed, to the then remaining installments thereof in direct order of maturity). Amounts repaid (including amounts pursuant to Section 2.11) and prepaid on account of the Term Loans may not be reborrowed.

 

(c)             [Reserved].

 

(d)            All payments (including prepayments) to be made by the Borrower hereunder, whether on account of principal, interest, fees or otherwise, shall be made without setoff or counterclaim and shall be made prior to 2:00 P.M., New York City time, on the due date thereof to the Administrative Agent, for the account of the Lenders, at the Funding Office, in Dollars and in immediately available funds. The Administrative Agent shall distribute such payments to each relevant Lender promptly upon receipt in like funds as received, net of any amounts owing by such Lender pursuant to Section 9.7. If any payment hereunder (other than payments on the Eurodollar Loans) becomes due and payable on a day other than a Business Day, such payment shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day. If any payment on a Eurodollar Loan becomes due and payable on a day other than a Business Day, the maturity thereof shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day unless the result of such extension would be to extend such payment into another calendar month, in which event such payment shall be made on the immediately preceding Business Day. In the case of any extension of any payment of principal pursuant to the preceding two sentences, interest thereon shall be payable at the then applicable rate during such extension.

 

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(e)            Unless the Administrative Agent shall have been notified in writing by any Lender prior to a borrowing that such Lender will not make the amount that would constitute its share of such borrowing available to the Administrative Agent, the Administrative Agent may assume that such Lender is making such amount available to the Administrative Agent, and the Administrative Agent may, in reliance upon such assumption, make available to the Borrower a corresponding amount. If such amount is not made available to the Administrative Agent by the required time on the Borrowing Date therefor, such Lender shall pay to the Administrative Agent, on demand, such amount with interest thereon, at a rate equal to the greater of (i) the NYFRB Rate and (ii) a rate determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation, for the period until such Lender makes such amount immediately available to the Administrative Agent. A certificate of the Administrative Agent submitted to any Lender with respect to any amounts owing under this paragraph shall be conclusive in the absence of manifest error. If such Lender’s share of such borrowing is not made available to the Administrative Agent by such Lender within three Business Days after such Borrowing Date, the Administrative Agent shall also be entitled to recover such amount with interest thereon at the rate per annum applicable to ABR Loans under the relevant Facility, on demand, from the Borrower.

 

(f)             Unless the Administrative Agent shall have been notified in writing by the Borrower prior to the date of any payment due to be made by the Borrower hereunder that the Borrower will not make such payment to the Administrative Agent, the Administrative Agent may assume that the Borrower is making such payment, and the Administrative Agent may, but shall not be required to, in reliance upon such assumption, make available to the Lenders their respective pro rata shares of a corresponding amount. If such payment is not made to the Administrative Agent by the Borrower within three Business Days after such due date, the Administrative Agent shall be entitled to recover, on demand, from each Lender to which any amount which was made available pursuant to the preceding sentence, such amount with interest thereon at the rate per annum equal to the daily average NYFRB Rate. Nothing herein shall be deemed to limit the rights of the Administrative Agent or any Lender against the Borrower.

 

(g)             If any Lender shall fail to make any payment required to be made by it pursuant to Section 2.17(e), 2.17(f), 2.19(e) or 9.7, then the Administrative Agent may, in its discretion and notwithstanding any contrary provision hereof, (i) apply any amounts thereafter received by the Administrative Agent for the account of such Lender for the benefit of the Administrative Agent to satisfy such Lender’s obligations to it under such Sections until all such unsatisfied obligations are fully paid, and/or (ii) hold any such amounts in a segregated account as cash collateral for, and application to, any future funding obligations of such Lender under any such Section, in the case of each of clauses (i) and (ii) above, in any order as determined by the Administrative Agent in its discretion.

 

2.18         Requirements of Law. (a)  If the adoption of or any change in any Requirement of Law or in the interpretation, administration, implementation or application thereof or compliance by any Lender or other Credit Party with any request or directive (whether or not having the force of law) from any central bank or other Governmental Authority, in each case made or occurring subsequent to the Closing Date:

 

(i)             shall subject any Credit Party 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;

 

(ii)          shall impose, modify or hold applicable any reserve, special deposit, compulsory loan, insurance charge or similar requirement against assets held by, deposits or other liabilities in or for the account of, advances, loans or other extensions of credit (or participations therein) by, or any other acquisition of funds by, any office of such Lender that is not otherwise included in the determination of the Adjusted LIBO Rate; or

 

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(iii)            shall impose on such Lender any other condition (other than Taxes);

 

and the result of any of the foregoing is to increase the cost to such Lender or such other Credit Party, by an amount that such Lender or other Credit Party deems to be material, of making, converting into, continuing or maintaining Loans, or to reduce any amount receivable hereunder in respect thereof, then, in any such case, the Borrower shall promptly pay such Lender or such other Credit Party, upon its demand, any additional amounts necessary to compensate such Lender or such other Credit Party for such increased cost or reduced amount receivable. If any Lender or such other Credit Party becomes entitled to claim any additional amounts pursuant to this paragraph, it shall promptly notify the Borrower (with a copy to the Administrative Agent) of the event by reason of which it has become so entitled.

 

(b)            If any Lender shall have determined that the adoption of or any change in any Requirement of Law regarding capital or liquidity requirements or in the interpretation, administration, implementation or application thereof or compliance by such Lender or any corporation controlling such Lender with any request or directive regarding capital or liquidity requirements (whether or not having the force of law) from any Governmental Authority made subsequent to the Closing Date shall have the effect of reducing the rate of return on such Lender’s or such corporation’s capital as a consequence of its obligations hereunder to a level below that which such Lender or such corporation could have achieved but for such adoption, change or compliance (taking into consideration such Lender’s or such corporation’s policies with respect to capital adequacy or liquidity) by an amount deemed by such Lender to be material, then from time to time, after submission by such Lender to the Borrower (with a copy to the Administrative Agent) of a written request therefor, the Borrower shall pay to such Lender such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender or such corporation for such reduction.

 

(c)         Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, (i) all requests, rules, guidelines, requirements and directives promulgated by the Bank for International Settlements, the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (or any successor or similar authority) or by United States or foreign regulatory authorities, in each case pursuant to Basel III, and (ii) the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and all requests, rules, guidelines, requirements and directives thereunder or issued in connection therewith or in implementation thereof, shall in each case be deemed to be a change in law, regardless of the date enacted, adopted, issued or implemented.

 

(d)            A certificate as to any additional amounts payable pursuant to this Section 2.18 submitted by any Lender to the Borrower (with a copy to the Administrative Agent) shall be conclusive in the absence of manifest error. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 2.18, the Borrower shall not be required to compensate a Lender pursuant to this Section 2.18 for any amounts incurred more than six months prior to the date that such Lender notifies the Borrower of such Lender’s intention to claim compensation therefor; provided that, if the circumstances giving rise to such claim have a retroactive effect, then such six-month period shall be extended to include the period of such retroactive effect. The obligations of the Borrower pursuant to this Section 2.18 shall survive the termination of this Agreement and the payment of the Loans and all other amounts payable hereunder.

 

(e)           Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 2.18 to the contrary, no Lender shall be entitled to receive any compensation pursuant to this Section 2.18 unless it shall be the general policy or practice of such Lender to seek compensation from other similarly situated borrowers in the syndicated loan market in the United States with respect to its similarly affected loans under agreements with such borrowers having provisions similar to this Section 2.18.

 

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2.19          Taxes.

 

(a)           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 law. If any applicable law (as determined in the good faith discretion of an applicable withholding agent) requires the deduction or withholding of any Tax from any such payment by a withholding agent, then the applicable withholding agent shall be entitled to make such deduction or withholding and shall timely pay the full amount deducted or withheld to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with applicable law and, if such Tax is an Indemnified Tax, then the sum payable by the applicable Loan Party shall be increased as necessary so that, after such deduction or withholding has been made (including such deductions and withholdings applicable to additional sums payable under this Section 2.19), the amounts received with respect to this agreement equal the sum which would have been received had no such deduction or withholding been made.

 

(b)           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, Other Taxes.

 

(c)          As soon as practicable after any payment of Taxes by any Loan Party to a Governmental Authority pursuant to this Section 2.19, such Loan Party shall deliver to the Administrative Agent the original or a certified copy of a receipt issued by such Governmental Authority evidencing such payment, a copy of the return reporting such payment or other evidence of such payment reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

 

(d)            The Loan Parties shall jointly and severally indemnify each Credit Party, 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 2.19) payable or paid by such Credit Party or required to be withheld or deducted from a payment to such Credit Party 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.

 

(e)            Each Lender shall severally indemnify the Administrative Agent, within 10 days after demand therefor, for (i) any 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) and (ii) any Taxes attributable to such Lender’s failure to comply with the provisions of Section 10.6(c) relating to the maintenance of a Participant Register, in either case, that are payable or paid by the Administrative Agent in connection with any Loan Document, and any reasonable expenses arising therefrom or with respect thereto, whether or not such Taxes were correctly or legally imposed or asserted by the relevant Governmental Authority. A certificate as to the amount of such payment or liability delivered to any Lender by the Administrative Agent shall be conclusive absent manifest error. Each Lender hereby authorizes the Administrative Agent to setoff and apply any and all amounts at any time owing to such Lender under any Loan Document or otherwise payable by the Administrative Agent to the Lender from any other source against any amount due to the Administrative Agent under this paragraph (e).

 

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(f)             (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 2.19(f)(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 Non-U.S. 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 Non-U.S. 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 Non-U.S. 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 Non-U.S. 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 Non-U.S. 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” related to the Borrower as 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

 

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(4)           to the extent a Non-U.S. 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 Non-U.S. Lender is a partnership and one or more direct or indirect partners of such Non-U.S. Lender are claiming the portfolio interest exemption, such Non-U.S. 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 Non-U.S. 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 Non-U.S. 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, if any, to deduct and withhold from such payment. Solely for purposes of this clause (D), “FATCA” shall include any amendments made to FATCA after the Closing Date.

 

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.

 

(g)             If any party determines, in its sole discretion exercised in good faith, that it has received a refund of any Taxes as to which it has been indemnified pursuant to this Section 2.19 (including by the payment of additional amounts pursuant to this Section 2.19), it shall pay to the indemnifying party an amount equal to such refund (but only to the extent of indemnity payments made under this Section 2.19 with respect to the Taxes giving rise to such refund), net of all out-of-pocket expenses (including Taxes) of such indemnified party and without interest (other than any interest paid by the relevant Governmental Authority with respect to such refund). Such indemnifying party, upon the request of such indemnified party, shall repay to such indemnified party the amount paid over pursuant to this paragraph (g) (plus any penalties, interest or other charges imposed by the relevant Governmental Authority) in the event that such indemnified party is required to repay such refund to such Governmental Authority. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this paragraph (g), in no event will the indemnified party be required to pay any amount to an indemnifying party pursuant to this paragraph (g) the payment of which would place the indemnified party in a less favorable net after-Tax position than the indemnified party would have been in if the Tax subject to indemnification and giving rise to such refund had not been deducted, withheld or otherwise imposed and the indemnification payments or additional amounts giving rise to such refund had never been paid. This Section 2.19 shall not be construed to require any indemnified party to make available its Tax returns (or any other information relating to its Taxes that it deems confidential) to the indemnifying party or any other Person.

 

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(h)            Each party’s obligations under this Section 2.19 shall survive the resignation or replacement of the Administrative Agent or any assignment of rights by, or the replacement of, a Lender, the termination of the Commitments and the repayment, satisfaction or discharge of all obligations under the Loan Documents.

 

(i)              For purposes of this Section 2.19, the term “applicable law” includes FATCA.

 

2.20          Indemnity. The Borrower agrees to indemnify each Lender for, and to hold each Lender harmless from, any loss or expense that such Lender sustains or incurs as a consequence of (a) default by the Borrower in making a borrowing of, conversion into or continuation of Eurodollar Loans after the Borrower has given a notice requesting the same in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement, (b) default by the Borrower in making any prepayment of or conversion from Eurodollar Loans after the Borrower has given a notice thereof in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement or (c) the making of a prepayment of Eurodollar Loans on a day that is not the last day of an Interest Period with respect thereto. Such indemnification may include an amount equal to the excess, if any, of (i) the amount of interest that would have accrued on the amount so prepaid, or not so borrowed, converted or continued, for the period from the date of such prepayment or of such failure to borrow, convert or continue to the last day of such Interest Period (or, in the case of a failure to borrow, convert or continue, the Interest Period that would have commenced on the date of such failure) in each case at the applicable rate of interest for such Loans provided for herein (excluding, however, the Applicable Margin included therein, if any) over (ii) the amount of interest (as reasonably determined by such Lender) that would have accrued to such Lender on such amount by placing such amount on deposit for a comparable period with leading banks in the interbank eurodollar market. A certificate as to any amounts payable pursuant to this Section 2.20 submitted to the Borrower by any Lender shall be conclusive in the absence of manifest error. This covenant shall survive the termination of this Agreement and the payment of the Loans and all other amounts payable hereunder for nine months.

 

2.21          Change of Lending Office. Each Lender agrees that, upon the occurrence of any event giving rise to the operation of Section 2.18 or 2.19(a) with respect to such Lender, it will, if requested by the Borrower, use reasonable efforts (subject to overall policy considerations of such Lender) to designate another lending office for any Loans affected by such event or to assign and delegate its rights and obligations hereunder to another of its offices, branches or Affiliates with the object of avoiding the consequences of such event; provided, that such designation or assignment is made on terms that, in the sole judgment of such Lender, cause such Lender and its lending offices to suffer no material economic, legal or regulatory disadvantage, and provided, further, that nothing in this Section 2.21 shall affect or postpone any of the obligations of the Borrower or the rights of any Lender pursuant to Section 2.18 or 2.19(a).

 

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2.22         Replacement of Lenders. The Borrower shall be permitted to replace any Lender that (a) requests reimbursement for amounts owing pursuant to Section 2.18 or 2.19(a) or (b) does not consent to any proposed amendment, supplement, modification, consent or waiver of any provision of this Agreement or any other Loan Document that requires the consent of each of the Lenders or each of the Lenders affected thereby (so long as the consent of the Required Lenders has been obtained), with a replacement financial institution; provided that (i) such replacement does not conflict with any Requirement of Law, (ii) [reserved], (iii) prior to any such replacement pursuant to the preceding clause (a), such Lender shall have not eliminated the continued need for payment of amounts owing pursuant to Section 2.18 or 2.19(a), (iv) the replacement financial institution shall purchase, at par, all Loans and other amounts owing to such replaced Lender on or prior to the date of replacement, (v) the Borrower shall be liable to such replaced Lender under Section 2.20 if any Eurodollar Loan owing to such replaced Lender shall be purchased other than on the last day of the Interest Period relating thereto, (vi) the replacement financial institution, if not already a Lender, an affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund, shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent (in its capacity as such), (vii) the replaced Lender shall be obligated to make such replacement in accordance with the provisions of Section 10.6 (provided that the Borrower shall be obligated to pay the registration and processing fee referred to therein), (viii) until such time as such replacement shall be consummated, the Borrower shall pay all additional amounts (if any) required pursuant to Section 2.18 or 2.19(a), as the case may be, and (ix) any such replacement shall not be deemed to be a waiver of any rights that the Borrower, the Administrative Agent or any other Lender shall have against the replaced Lender. Each party hereto agrees that an assignment required pursuant to this paragraph may be effected pursuant to an Assignment and Assumption executed by the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the assignee, and that the Lender required to make such assignment need not be a party thereto in order for such assignment to be effective.

 

2.23          [Reserved].

 

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2.24          Incremental Facilities. (a) The Borrower and any one or more Lenders (including New Lenders) may from time to time agree that such Lenders shall make, obtain or increase the amount of their Incremental Term Loans (which may be effected by increasing the amount of any then existing Facility) by executing and delivering to the Administrative Agent an Incremental Term Loan Activation Notice specifying (v) the amount of such Incremental Term Loans, (w) the applicable Incremental Term Loan Closing Date (which shall be a date not less than five Business Days after the date on which such notice is delivered to the Administrative Agent (or such earlier date as shall be agreed by the Administrative Agent)), (x) the applicable Incremental Term Loan Maturity Date, (y) the amortization schedule for such Incremental Term Loans and (z) the Applicable Margin for such Incremental Term Loans; provided, that (i) the aggregate amount of all Incremental Term Loans established on any date, together with the aggregate amount of Incremental Equivalent Debt incurred on such date, shall not exceed the Available Incremental Amount as of such date, (ii) each Incremental Term Facility shall be in a minimum aggregate principal amount of $25,000,000 (or such lesser amount as may be approved by the Administrative Agent in its reasonable discretion), (iii) the Incremental Term Loans in respect of any Incremental Term Facility and all obligations in respect thereof shall be Obligations under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents that are (A) if guaranteed, guaranteed on a pari passu basis or junior basis with all of the other Obligations under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents and (B) unsecured or secured by the Collateral (and no other property) and the Liens on the Collateral securing such Incremental Term Loans and all other obligations in respect thereof shall be pari passu with, or junior to, the Liens on the Collateral securing all of the other Obligations under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, (iv) the Incremental Term Loans in respect of any Incremental Term Facility will be entitled to prepayments on the same basis as the Initial Term Loans unless the applicable Incremental Term Loan Activation Notice specifies a lesser treatment, (v) such Incremental Term Loans shall have a final maturity no earlier than the Latest Maturity Date (determined immediately prior to incurrence of such Incremental Term Loans) (provided that this clause shall not apply to the incurrence of any Incremental Term Loans consisting of Customary Bridge Loans so long as the related Extended Bridge Loans would satisfy this clause (v)), (vi) the weighted average life to maturity of such Incremental Term Facility shall be no shorter than that of any existing Term Loans (except if required in order to make such Incremental Term Loans fungible with any outstanding Term Loans) (provided that this clause shall not apply to the incurrence of any Incremental Term Loans consisting of Customary Bridge Loans so long as the related Extended Bridge Loans would satisfy this clause (vi)), (vii) the all-in-yield (whether in the form of interest rate margins, original issue discount, upfront fees or interest rate floors) and (subject to clauses (v) and (vi) above) amortization schedule applicable to such Incremental Term Facility shall be determined by the Borrower and the Lenders providing such Incremental Term Facility, provided that, in the event that the all-in-yield for any Incremental Term Facility that is secured on a pari passu basis with the Initial Term Facility incurred on or prior to the six-month anniversary of the Closing Date shall be more than 50 basis points higher than the corresponding all-in-yield for any then-existing Initial Term Loans as determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with standard market practices (after giving effect to interest rate margins, original issue discount, upfront fees or interest rate floors, but excluding arrangement, structuring, underwriting or commitment fees, consent fees paid to consenting Lenders or other fees that are not paid generally to all lenders of such Incremental Term Loans), then the all-in-yield with respect to the outstanding Initial Term Loans shall be increased to the amount necessary so that the difference between the all-in-yield with respect to the Incremental Term Facility and the all-in-yield on the outstanding Initial Term Loans is equal to 50 basis points (it being agreed that (x) original issue discount and upfront fees shall be equated to interest on the basis of a four-year average life and (y) any increase in yield to any then-existing Initial Term Loans required due to the application of an interest rate floor shall be effected solely through an increase in (or implementation of, as applicable) any interest rate floor applicable to such then existing Initial Term Loans) (the foregoing, the “MFN Provision”) and (viii) the terms of any Incremental Term Facility shall be on terms and pursuant to documentation to be determined; provided that such terms shall (except to the extent permitted by clause (vi) or (vii) above) be consistent with the terms of the Initial Term Facility or not materially more favorable (taken as a whole) to the Lenders of the applicable Incremental Term Facility compared to the existing Facilities, as determined in good faith by the Borrower and evidenced by a certificate of a Responsible Officer of the Borrower, or otherwise reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent (it being understood that (x) no consent shall be required to the extent such terms apply only after the Latest Maturity Date and (y) to the extent that any financial maintenance covenant is added for the benefit of any Incremental Term Facility, no consent shall be required from the Administrative Agent or any Lender to the extent that such financial maintenance covenant is also added for the benefit of the existing Facilities). No Lender shall have any obligation to participate in any increase described in this paragraph unless it agrees to do so in its sole discretion and the Borrower shall have no obligation to offer to any Lender the opportunity to so participate. Any Incremental Term Loan Commitments established pursuant to an Incremental Term Loan Activation Notice that have identical terms and conditions, and any Incremental Term Loans made thereunder, shall be designated as a separate series (each a “Series”) of Incremental Term Loan Commitments and Incremental Term Loans for all purposes of this Agreement.

 

(b)            Any additional bank, financial institution or other entity which, with the consent of the Borrower and the Administrative Agent (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld), elects to become a “Lender” under this Agreement in connection with any transaction described in Section 2.24(a) shall execute a New Lender Supplement (each, a “New Lender Supplement”), substantially in the form of Exhibit I-2, whereupon such bank, financial institution or other entity (a “New Lender”) shall become a Lender for all purposes and to the same extent as if originally a party hereto and shall be bound by and entitled to the benefits of this Agreement.

 

(c)             [Reserved].

 

(d)          Each Incremental Term Loan Activation Notice may, without the consent of any Lender (other than the applicable Incremental Term Lenders) effect such amendments to this Agreement and the other Loan Documents as may be necessary or appropriate, in the opinion of the Administrative Agent, to give effect to the provisions of this Section 2.24. This Section 2.24 shall supersede any provision of Section 10.1 to the contrary.

 

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(e)            It shall be a condition precedent to the availability of any Incremental Term Loans that (i) no Default or Event of Default (or, in the case of any Incremental Limited Condition Term Facility, no Specified Event of Default) shall have occurred and be continuing immediately prior to and immediately after giving effect to the making of such Incremental Term Loans, (ii) the representations and warranties set forth in each Loan Document (or, in the case of any Incremental Limited Condition Term Facility, the Specified Representations and the Specified Acquisition Agreement Representations) shall be true and correct in all material respects (or, if qualified by materiality, in all respects) on and as of the Incremental Term Loan Closing Date immediately prior to and immediately after giving effect to the making of such Incremental Term Loans, except to the extent expressly made as of an earlier date, in which case they shall be so true and correct as of such earlier date and (iii) the Borrower shall have delivered such customary legal opinions, board resolutions, secretary’s certificate, officer’s certificate and other documents, in each case consistent with those delivered on the Closing Date, as shall be reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent in connection with any Incremental Term Facility.

 

2.25         Loan Purchases. (a)  Subject to the terms and conditions set forth or referred to below, a Purchasing Borrower Party may from time to time, in its discretion, conduct modified Dutch auctions to make Auction Purchase Offers, each such Auction Purchase Offer to be conducted in accordance with the procedures, terms and conditions set forth in this Section 2.25 and the Auction Procedures, in each case, so long as the following conditions are satisfied:

 

(i)             no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing at the time of purchase of any Term Loans or on the date of the delivery of each Auction Notice;

 

(ii)          the assigning Lender and the Purchasing Borrower Party shall execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent an Assignment and Assumption;

 

(iii)           the maximum principal amount (calculated on the face amount thereof) of Term Loans that the Purchasing Borrower Party offers to purchase in any Auction Purchase Offer shall be no less than $10,000,000 (unless another amount is agreed to by the Administrative Agent in its reasonable discretion);

 

(iv)           any Term Loans assigned to any Purchasing Borrower Party shall be automatically and permanently cancelled upon the effectiveness of such assignment and will thereafter no longer be outstanding for any purpose hereunder, and such Term Loans may not be resold (it being understood and agreed that any gains or losses by any Purchasing Borrower Party upon purchase or acquisition and cancellation of such Term Loans shall not be taken into account in the calculation of Excess Cash Flow, Consolidated Net Income or Consolidated EBITDA);

 

(v)            no more than one Auction Purchase Offer with respect to any Facility may be ongoing at any one time and no more than four Auction Purchase Offers (regardless of Facility) may be made in any one year;

 

(vi)            at the time of each purchase of Term Loans through an Auction Purchase Offer, the Borrower shall have delivered to the Auction Manager a certificate of a Responsible Officer certifying as to compliance with the preceding clause (i); and

 

(vii)          each Auction Purchase Offer shall be made to all Lenders of the applicable Facility subject to such Auction Purchase Offer.

 

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(b)             A Purchasing Borrower Party must terminate any Auction Purchase Offer if it fails to satisfy one or more of the conditions set forth above which are required to be met at the time which otherwise would have been the time of purchase of Term Loans pursuant to such Auction Purchase Offer. If a Purchasing Borrower Party commences any Auction Purchase Offer (and all relevant requirements set forth above which are required to be satisfied at the time of the commencement of such Auction Purchase Offer have in fact been satisfied), and if at such time of commencement the Purchasing Borrower Party reasonably believes that all required conditions set forth above which are required to be satisfied at the time of the consummation of such Auction Purchase Offer shall be satisfied, then the Purchasing Borrower Party shall have no liability to any Lender for any termination of such Auction Purchase Offer as a result of the failure to satisfy one or more of the conditions set forth above which are required to be met at the time which otherwise would have been the time of consummation of such Auction Purchase Offer, and any such failure shall not result in any Default or Event of Default hereunder. With respect to all purchases of Term Loans of any Facility made by a Purchasing Borrower Party pursuant to this Section 2.25, the Purchasing Borrower Party shall pay on the settlement date of each such purchase all accrued and unpaid interest (except to the extent otherwise set forth in the relevant offering documents), if any, on the purchased Term Loans of the applicable Facility up to the settlement date of such purchase.

 

The Administrative Agent and the Lenders hereby consent to the Auction Purchase Offers and the other transactions effected pursuant to and in accordance with the terms of this Section 2.25 (provided that no Lender shall have an obligation to participate in any such Auction Purchase Offer). For the avoidance of doubt, it is understood and agreed that the provisions of Section 2.17 will not apply to the purchases of Term Loans pursuant to and in accordance with the provisions of this Section 2.25. Any party (if any) selected by the Borrower to manage an Auction Purchase Offer (an “Auction Manager”) acting in its capacity as such hereunder shall be entitled to the benefits of the provisions of Article VIII and Article IX to the same extent as if each reference therein to the “Administrative Agent” were a reference to the Auction Manager, and the Administrative Agent shall cooperate with the Auction Manager as reasonably requested by the Auction Manager in order to enable it to perform its responsibilities and duties in connection with each Auction Purchase Offer.

 

The foregoing shall not limit the Borrower’s right to purchase Loans in privately negotiated transactions or through open market purchases, in each case pursuant to Section 10.6(e).

 

2.26         Loan Modification Offers. (a)  The Borrower may on one or more occasions after the Closing Date, by written notice to the Administrative Agent, make one or more offers (each, a “Loan Modification Offer”) to all (and not fewer than all) the Lenders of one or more Facilities (each Facility subject to such a Loan Modification Offer, an “Affected Facility”) to make one or more Permitted Amendments pursuant to procedures reasonably specified by the Administrative Agent and reasonably acceptable to the Borrower. Such notice shall set forth (i) the terms and conditions of the requested Loan Modification Offer and (ii) the date on which such Loan Modification Offer is requested to become effective. Permitted Amendments shall become effective only with respect to the Loans of the Lenders of the Affected Facility that accept the applicable Loan Modification Offer (such Lenders, the “Accepting Lenders”) and, in the case of any Accepting Lender, only with respect to such Lender’s Loans and Commitments of such Affected Facility as to which such Lender’s acceptance has been made. With respect to all Permitted Amendments consummated by the Borrower pursuant to this Section 2.26, (i) such Permitted Amendments shall not constitute voluntary or mandatory payments or prepayments for purposes of Section 2.11 and (ii) any Loan Modification Offer, unless contemplating a scheduled maturity date already in effect with respect to any Loans hereunder pursuant to a previously consummated Permitted Amendment, must be in a minimum amount of $25,000,000 (or such lesser amount as may be approved by the Administrative Agent in its reasonable discretion); provided that the Borrower may at its election specify as a condition (a “Minimum Extension Condition”) to consummating any such Permitted Amendment that a minimum amount (to be determined and specified in the relevant Loan Modification Offer in the Borrower’s sole discretion and which may be waived by the Borrower) of Loans of any or all Affected Facilities be extended. If the aggregate principal amount of Loans of any Affected Facility in respect of which Lenders shall have accepted the relevant Loan Modification Offer shall exceed the maximum aggregate principal amount of Loans of such Affected Facility offered to be extended by the Borrower pursuant to such Loan Modification Offer, then the Loans of such Lenders shall be extended ratably up to such maximum amount based on the relative principal amounts (but not to exceed actual holdings of record) with respect to which such Lenders have accepted such Loan Modification Offer.

 

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(b)            A Permitted Amendment shall be effected pursuant to a Loan Modification Agreement executed and delivered by the Borrower, each Accepting Lender and the Administrative Agent; provided that no Permitted Amendment shall become effective unless (i) on the date of effectiveness thereof, the representations and warranties of each Loan Party set forth in the Loan Documents shall be true and correct in all material respects (or if qualified by materiality, in all respects), in each case on and as of such date, except in the case of any such representation and warranty expressly made as of an earlier date, in which case such representation and warranty shall be so true and correct on and as of such earlier date, (ii) the Borrower shall have delivered, or agreed to deliver by a date following the effectiveness of such Permitted Amendment reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent, to the Administrative Agent such customary legal opinions, board resolutions, secretary’s certificates, officer’s certificates and other documents (including reaffirmation agreements, supplements and/or amendments to the Security Documents, in each case to the extent applicable), in each case consistent with those delivered on the Closing Date, as shall reasonably be requested by the Administrative Agent in connection therewith and (iii) any applicable Minimum Extension Condition shall be satisfied (unless waived by the Borrower). The Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each Lender as to the effectiveness of each Loan Modification Agreement. Each Loan Modification Agreement may, without the consent of any Lender other than the applicable Accepting Lenders, effect such amendments to this Agreement and the other Loan Documents as may be necessary or appropriate, in the reasonable opinion of the Administrative Agent, to give effect to the provisions of this Section 2.26, including any amendments necessary to treat the applicable Loans of the Accepting Lenders as a new Facility of loans hereunder (and the Lenders hereby irrevocably authorize the Administrative Agent to enter into any such amendments); provided that (i) all prepayments of Loans (i.e., both extended and non-extended) shall continue to be made on a ratable basis among all Lenders, based on the relative amounts of their Loans unless a Permitted Amendment provides for lesser treatment of the Loans of the Accepting Lenders, until the repayment of the non-extended Loans. The Administrative Agent and the Lenders hereby acknowledge that in respect of payments on non-extended Loans on the scheduled maturity date in respect thereof the pro rata payment requirements contained elsewhere in this Agreement are not intended to apply to the transactions effected pursuant to this Section 2.26. This Section 2.26 shall supersede any provisions in Section 2.17 or Section 10.1 to the contrary.

 

2.27         Refinancing Facilities.

 

(a)          The Borrower may, on one or more occasions after the Closing Date, by written notice to the Administrative Agent, request the establishment hereunder of one or more additional Facilities of term loan commitments (the “Refinancing Term Loan Commitments”) pursuant to which each Person providing such a commitment (a “Refinancing Term Lender”) will make term loans to the Borrower as specified in such written notice (the “Refinancing Term Loans”); provided that (i) each Refinancing Term Loan Lender shall be an Eligible Assignee and (ii) if the consent of the Administrative Agent would be required for an assignment of Loans to such Refinancing Term Loan Lender, the Borrower shall have received the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent, which consent shall not unreasonably be withheld, delayed or conditioned.

 

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(b)           The Refinancing Term Loan Commitments shall be effected pursuant to one or more Refinancing Facility Agreements executed and delivered by the Borrower, each Refinancing Term Lender providing such Refinancing Term Loan Commitments and the Administrative Agent; provided that no Refinancing Term Loan Commitments shall become effective unless (i) no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing on the date of effectiveness thereof, (ii) on the date of effectiveness thereof, the representations and warranties of each Loan Party set forth in the Loan Documents shall be true and correct in all material respects (or if qualified by materiality, in all respects), in each case on and as of such date, except in the case of any such representation and warranty expressly made as of an earlier date, in which case such representation and warranty shall be so true and correct on and as of such earlier date, (iii) the Borrower shall have delivered to the Administrative Agent, or agreed to deliver by a date following the effectiveness of such Refinancing Facility Agreement, such customary legal opinions, board resolutions, secretary’s certificates, officer’s certificates and other documents (including reaffirmation agreements, supplements and/or amendments to the Security Documents, in each case to the extent applicable), in each case consistent with those delivered on the Closing Date, as shall reasonably be requested by the Administrative Agent in connection therewith and (iv) substantially concurrently with the effectiveness thereof, the Borrower shall obtain Refinancing Term Loans thereunder and shall repay or prepay then outstanding Term Loans of one or more Facilities in an aggregate principal amount equal to the aggregate amount of such Refinancing Term Loan Commitments (less the aggregate amount of accrued and unpaid interest with respect to such outstanding Term Loans and any reasonable fees, premium and expenses relating to such refinancing (including make-whole premiums, prepayment premiums and any other amounts required to be paid in connection with such prepayment)). The Borrower shall determine the amount of such prepayments allocated to each Facility of outstanding Term Loans, and any such prepayment of Term Loans of any Facility shall be applied to reduce the subsequent scheduled repayments of Term Loans of such Facility to be made pursuant to Section 2.3 as directed by the Borrower.

 

(c)             The Refinancing Facility Agreement shall set forth, with respect to the Refinancing Term Loan Commitments established thereby and the Refinancing Term Loans to be made thereunder, to the extent applicable, the following terms thereof: (i) the designation of such Refinancing Term Loan Commitments and Refinancing Term Loans as a new “Facility” for all purposes hereof (provided that with the consent of the Administrative Agent, any Refinancing Term Loan Commitments and Refinancing Term Loans may be treated as a single “Facility” with any then-outstanding existing Commitments or Loans), (ii) the stated termination and maturity dates applicable to such Refinancing Term Loan Commitments or Refinancing Term Loans, provided that (A) such stated termination and maturity dates shall not be earlier than the Maturity Date applicable to the Facility of Term Loans so refinanced and (B) any Refinancing Term Loans shall not have a weighted average life to maturity shorter than the Facility of Term Loans so refinanced, (iii) any amortization applicable thereto and the effect thereon of any prepayment of such Refinancing Term Loans, (iv) the interest rate or rates applicable to such Refinancing Term Loans, (v) the fees applicable to such Refinancing Term Loan Commitments or Refinancing Term Loans, (vi) any original issue discount applicable thereto, (vii) the initial Interest Period or Interest Periods applicable to such Refinancing Term Loans, (viii) any voluntary or mandatory prepayment requirements applicable to such Refinancing Term Loans and any restrictions on the voluntary or mandatory prepayments of such Refinancing Term Loans; provided that no Refinancing Term Loans may be voluntarily prepaid for so long as there are Loans outstanding under the Facility from which such Refinancing Term Loans were refinanced (such Facility, the “Original Facility”) unless such payment is made on a ratable basis among the Lenders holding such Refinancing Term Loans and the Lenders under the Original Facility, based on the relative amounts of the Loans under such Facilities, and (ix) whether the Refinancing Term Loans are secured, unsecured, subordinated or guaranteed; provided that, any Refinancing Term Loans (1) shall rank on a pari passu basis or junior basis in right of payment to the Initial Term Loans outstanding hereunder, (2) if secured, shall be (A) subject to a customary intercreditor agreement reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and Borrower, (B) secured only by any assets that constitute Collateral and (C) secured by such assets on a pari passu basis or junior basis with the Initial Term Loans outstanding hereunder and (3) if guaranteed, shall not be guaranteed by any entities other than the Subsidiary Guarantors. Except as contemplated by the preceding sentence, the mandatory prepayment and redemption terms, covenants and events of default of the Refinancing Term Loan Commitments and Refinancing Term Loans of a Facility shall either be (x) not materially more favorable, taken as a whole (as conclusively determined by the Borrower in good faith) to the lenders providing such Refinancing Term Loan Commitments or Refinancing Term Loans, as applicable, than those terms (taken as a whole) applicable to the Original Facility (except to the extent such terms apply solely to any period after the Latest Maturity Date or are applied for the benefit of the Term Loans then outstanding) or (y) reflect market terms and conditions at the time of incurrence or issuance, as conclusively determined by the Borrower in good faith.

 

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(d)          The Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each Lender as to the effectiveness of each Refinancing Facility Agreement. Each Refinancing Facility Agreement may, without the consent of any Lender other than the applicable Refinancing Term Lenders, effect such amendments to this Agreement and the other Loan Documents as may be necessary or appropriate, in the reasonable opinion of the Administrative Agent, to give effect to the provisions of this Section 2.27, including any amendments necessary to treat the applicable Refinancing Term Loan Commitments and Refinancing Term Loans as a new Facility of commitments and/or loans hereunder (and the Lenders hereby irrevocably authorize the Administrative Agent to enter into any such amendments). This Section 2.27 shall supersede any provisions in Section 2.17 or Section 10.1 to the contrary.

 

SECTION 3. [RESERVED]

 

SECTION 4. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

 

To induce the Administrative Agent and the Lenders to enter into this Agreement and to make the Loans, the Borrower hereby represents and warrants to the Administrative Agent and each Lender (it being agreed that on the Closing Date, only the Specified Representations shall be made) that:

 

4.1         Financial Condition. (a) The unaudited pro forma consolidated balance sheet and related pro forma consolidated statement of income of the Borrower and its consolidated Restricted Subsidiaries as of and for the 12 months ended September 30, 2020 (the “Pro Forma Financial Statements”), copies of which have heretofore been furnished to the Administrative Agent, have been prepared giving effect (as if such events had occurred on such date (in the case of the balance sheet) or at the beginning of such period (in the case of the statement of income)) to the consummation of the Transactions and the payment of fees and expenses in connection therewith. The Pro Forma Financial Statements have been prepared in good faith and are based on assumptions believed by the Borrower to be reasonable as of the date of delivery thereof, and present fairly in all material respects on a pro forma basis the estimated financial condition and results of operations of Borrower and its consolidated Restricted Subsidiaries as of and for the 12 months ended at September 30, 2020, assuming that the events specified in the preceding sentence had actually occurred at such date or at the beginning of such period, as applicable.

 

(b)            The audited consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its consolidated Restricted Subsidiaries as at December 31, 2019, and the related consolidated statements of income, stockholders’ equity and cash flows for the fiscal year ended on such date, reported on by and accompanied by an unqualified report from Ernst & Young LLP, present fairly, in all material respects, the consolidated financial condition of the Borrower and its consolidated Restricted Subsidiaries (prior to giving effect to the consummation of the Transactions) as at such date, and the consolidated results of its operations and its consolidated cash flows for the fiscal year then ended. The unaudited consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its consolidated Restricted Subsidiaries as at March 31, 2020, June 30, 2020 and September 30, 2020, and the related unaudited consolidated statements of income, stockholders’ equity and cash flow for the three-month periods ended on such dates, present fairly, in all material respects, the consolidated financial condition of the Borrower and its consolidated Restricted Subsidiaries (prior to giving effect to the consummation of the Transactions) as at such dates, and the consolidated results of its operations and its consolidated cash flow for the three-month periods then ended (subject to normal year-end audit adjustments and the absence of footnotes). All such financial statements, including the related schedules and notes thereto, have been prepared in accordance with GAAP applied consistently throughout the periods involved (except as approved by the aforementioned firm of accountants and disclosed therein), except that the interim financial statements are subject to year-end adjustments and the absence of footnotes.

 

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4.2          No Change. Since December 31, 2019, there has been no development or event that has had or would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

4.3         Existence; Compliance with Law. Each Group Member (a) is duly organized or formed, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization, (b) has the corporate or similar organizational power and authority, and the legal right, to own and operate its property, to lease the property it operates as lessee and to conduct the business in which it is currently engaged, (c) is duly qualified as a foreign corporation or other organization and in good standing under the laws of each jurisdiction where its ownership, lease or operation of property or the conduct of its business requires such qualification, except where the failure to be so qualified and in good standing would not, in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect and (d) is in compliance with all Requirements of Law except to the extent that the failure to comply therewith would not, in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

4.4         Power; Authorization; Enforceable Obligations. (a) Each Loan Party has the corporate or similar organizational power and authority, and the legal right, to make, deliver and perform the Loan Documents to which it is a party and, in the case of the Borrower, to obtain extensions of credit hereunder. Each Loan Party has taken all necessary corporate or similar organizational action to authorize the execution, delivery and performance of the Loan Documents to which it is a party and, in the case of the Borrower, to authorize the extensions of credit on the terms and conditions of this Agreement. Each Loan Document has been duly executed and delivered on behalf of each Loan Party party thereto. This Agreement constitutes, and each other Loan Document upon execution will constitute, a legal, valid and binding obligation of each Loan Party party thereto, enforceable against each such Loan Party in accordance with its terms, except as enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally and by general equitable principles (whether enforcement is sought by proceedings in equity or at law).

 

(b)            No consent or authorization of, filing with, notice to or other act by or in respect of, any Governmental Authority or any other Person is required in connection with the extensions of credit hereunder or with the execution, delivery, performance, validity or enforceability of this Agreement or any of the Loan Documents, except (i) consents, authorizations, filings and notices that have been obtained or made and are in full force and effect, (ii) the filings referred to in Section 4.19, (iii) filings with the SEC that may be required to be made following the execution and delivery hereof in connection herewith and (iv) immaterial consents, authorizations, filings and notices.

 

4.5         No Legal Bar. The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, the borrowings hereunder and the use of the proceeds thereof will not violate any Requirement of Law or any Contractual Obligation of any Group Member, except (other than with respect to such Group Member’s Organizational Documents) for violations that would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, and will not result in, or require, the creation or imposition of any Lien on any of their respective properties or revenues pursuant to any Requirement of Law or any such Contractual Obligation (other than the Liens created by the Security Documents and other Permitted Liens).

 

4.6          Litigation. No litigation, investigation or proceeding of or before any arbitrator or Governmental Authority is pending or, to the knowledge of the Borrower, threatened by or against any Group Member or against any of their respective properties or revenues that would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

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4.7          No Default. No Group Member is in default under or with respect to any of its Contractual Obligations in any respect that would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. No Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing.

 

4.8          Ownership of Property; Liens. Each Group Member has title in fee simple to, or a valid leasehold interest in, all its real property, and good title to, or a valid leasehold interest in, all its other property (except where the failure to have such title would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect), and none of such property is subject to any Lien except as permitted by Section 7.3.

 

4.9         Intellectual Property. Except as would not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect, (i) each Group Member owns or otherwise has a valid right to use all Intellectual Property material to the conduct of its business as currently conducted, free and clear of all Liens, except as permitted by Section 7.3, and any such Intellectual Property that is owned by any Group Member and registered with any Governmental Authority is subsisting, unexpired and, to the knowledge of each Group Member, valid and enforceable; (ii) the use thereof and the conduct of the business of each of the Group Members does not infringe upon or otherwise violate the rights of any Person; and (iii) no Group Member has, within the past three years, received any material written claim in which any Person challenged the use of any Intellectual Property by any Group Member, or the validity or effectiveness of any Intellectual Property owned by any Loan Party, nor does the Borrower know of any valid basis for any such material claim.

 

4.10         Taxes. Each Group Member has filed or caused to be filed all federal, state and other material Tax returns that are required to be filed and has paid all Taxes shown to be due and payable on said returns or on any assessments made against it or any of its property and all other Taxes, fees or other charges imposed on it or any of its property by any Governmental Authority (other than (i) the amount or validity of which are currently being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and with respect to which reserves in conformity with GAAP have been provided on the books of the relevant Group Member, or (ii) to the extent that the failure to file or pay, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect).

 

4.11         Federal Regulations. No part of the proceeds of any Borrowing hereunder will be used for “buying” or “carrying” any Margin Stock within the respective meanings of each of the quoted terms under Regulation U as now and from time to time hereafter in effect except in compliance with the provisions of the regulations of the Board.

 

4.12         Labor Matters. Except as, in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect: (a) there are no strikes or other labor disputes against any Group Member pending or, to the knowledge of the Borrower, threatened; (b) hours worked by and payment made to employees of each Group Member have not been in violation of the Fair Labor Standards Act or any other applicable Requirement of Law dealing with such matters; and (c) all payments due from any Group Member on account of employee health and welfare insurance have been paid or accrued as a liability on the books of the relevant Group Member.

 

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4.13         ERISA. Except as would not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect: (a) each Group Member and each of their respective ERISA Affiliates (and in the case of a Pension Plan or a Multiemployer Plan, each of their respective ERISA Affiliates) are in compliance with all applicable provisions and requirements of ERISA and the Code and other federal and state laws and the regulations and published interpretations thereunder with respect to each Plan and Pension Plan and have performed all their obligations under each Plan and Pension Plan; (b) no ERISA Event or Foreign Plan Event has occurred or is reasonably expected to occur, and no ERISA Affiliate is aware of any fact, event or circumstance that could reasonably be expected to constitute or result in an ERISA Event; (c) each Plan or Pension Plan which is intended to qualify under Section 401(a) of the Code has received a favorable determination letter from the IRS indicating that such Plan or Pension Plan is so qualified 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 determination is currently pending before the Internal Revenue Service and, to the knowledge of the Borrower, nothing has occurred subsequent to the issuance of the most recent determination letter which would cause such Plan or Pension Plan to lose its qualified status; (d) no liability to the PBGC (other than required premium payments), the IRS, any Plan or Pension Plan or any trust established under Title IV of ERISA has been or is expected to be incurred by any Group Member or any of their ERISA Affiliates; (e) each of the Group Members’ ERISA Affiliates has complied with the requirements of Section 515 of ERISA with respect to each Multiemployer Plan and is not in “default” (as defined in Section 4219(c)(5) of ERISA) with respect to payments to a Multiemployer Plan; (f) all amounts required by applicable law with respect to, or by the terms of, any retiree welfare benefit arrangement maintained by any Group Member or any ERISA Affiliate or to which any Group Member or any ERISA Affiliate has an obligation to contribute have been accrued in accordance with ASC Topic 715-60; (g) as of the most recent valuation date for each Multiemployer Plan for which the actuarial report is available, no Group Member nor any of their respective ERISA Affiliates has any potential liability for a complete withdrawal from such Multiemployer Plan (within the meaning of Section 4203 of ERISA), when aggregated with such potential liability for a complete withdrawal from all Multiemployer Plans, based on information available pursuant to Section 4221(e) of ERISA; (h) there has been no Prohibited Transaction or violation of the fiduciary responsibility rules with respect to any Plan or Pension Plan that has resulted or would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect; and (i) neither any Group Member nor any ERISA Affiliate maintains or contributes to, or has any unsatisfied obligation to contribute to, or liability under, any active or terminated Pension Plan other than (i) on the Closing Date, those listed on Schedule 4.13 hereto and (ii) thereafter, Pension Plans not otherwise prohibited by this Agreement. The present value of all accumulated benefit obligations under each Pension Plan, did not, as of the close of its most recent plan year, exceed by more than $10,000,000 the fair market value of the assets of such Pension Plan allocable to such accrued benefits (determined in both cases using the applicable assumptions under Section 430 of the Code and the Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder), and the present value of all accumulated benefit obligations of all underfunded Pension Plans did not, as of the date of the most recent financial statements reflecting such amounts, exceed by more than $10,000,000 the fair market value of the assets of all such underfunded Pension Plans (determined in both cases using the applicable assumptions under Section 430 of the Code and the Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder).

 

4.14         Investment Company Act; Other Regulations. No Loan Party is an “investment company” within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

 

4.15         Subsidiaries; Capital Stock. As of the Closing Date and after giving effect to the Transactions, (a) Schedule 4.15 sets forth the name and jurisdiction of incorporation of each Subsidiary and, as to each such Subsidiary, the percentage of each class of Capital Stock owned by any Loan Party and (b) there are no outstanding subscriptions, options, warrants, calls, rights or other agreements or commitments (other than stock options and restricted stock units granted to employees or directors and directors’ qualifying shares) of any nature relating to any Capital Stock of any Restricted Subsidiary, except (i) with respect to Capital Stock of Loan Parties, as created by the Loan Documents or the ABL Loan Documents (or any security documents in respect of Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness of the ABL Loans) and (ii) otherwise, as permitted by this Agreement.

 

4.16         Use of Proceeds. The proceeds of the Initial Term Loans will be used by the Borrower (a) to pay, directly or indirectly, the consideration for the Acima Acquisition, (b) for the Debt Repayment and (c) to pay costs and expenses in respect of the Transactions, and any such proceeds remaining thereafter will be used for general corporate purposes. The proceeds of any Incremental Term Loans shall be used for general corporate purposes (including Restricted Payments, Permitted Acquisitions, other Investments and other uses not prohibited by this Agreement).

 

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4.17          Environmental Matters. Except as, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect:

 

(a)            Materials of Environmental Concern are not present at, on, under, in, or about any real property now or formerly owned, leased or operated by any Group Member or at any other location (including any location to which Materials of Environmental Concern have been sent for re-use or recycling or for treatment, storage, or disposal), in amounts or concentrations or under circumstances that constitute a violation of, or would reasonably be expected to give rise to liability on the part of any Group Member under, any Environmental Law;

 

(b)           no Group Member has received or is aware of any notice of violation, alleged violation, non-compliance, liability or potential liability under or relating to any Environmental Law, nor does the Borrower have knowledge or reason to believe that any such notice will be received or is being threatened;

 

(c)             no judicial, arbitral, governmental or administrative litigation, disclosed-investigation, or similar proceeding is pending or, to the knowledge of the Borrower, threatened, under any Environmental Law to which any Group Member is or will be named as a party, nor has any Group Member entered into or agreed to any settlements, consent decrees or other decrees, consent orders, administrative orders or other orders, or other administrative or judicial agreements relating to compliance with or liability under any Environmental Law that have not been fully and finally resolved;

 

(d)          each Group Member is in compliance, and within the period of all applicable statutes of limitation has been in compliance, with all applicable Environmental Laws; and

 

(e)             no Group Member has assumed or retained, by or as a result of any contract or other agreement, any liability of any other Person under Environmental Laws or with respect to any Material of Environmental Concern.

 

4.18         Accuracy of Information, etc. As of the Closing Date, all written information (other than projections, pro forma financial information, financial estimates, forecasts, forward-looking information and information of a general or economic nature) furnished by or on behalf of any Loan Party to the Administrative Agent or the Lenders, or any of them, for use in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the other Loan Documents, did not (taken as a whole) contain, as of the date such statements, information, documents or certificates were so furnished, any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements contained therein (taken as a whole) not materially misleading in light of the circumstances so made. The projections and pro forma financial information contained in the materials referenced above are, as of the Closing Date, based upon good faith estimates and assumptions believed by management of the Borrower to be reasonable at the time made, it being recognized by the Lenders that such projections and financial information as they relate to future events are not to be viewed as fact and that actual results during the period or periods covered by such financial information may differ from the projected results set forth therein and such difference may be material.

 

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4.19         Security Documents. The Guarantee and Collateral Agreement is effective to create in favor of the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, a legal, valid and enforceable security interest in the Collateral described therein and the proceeds thereof. In the case of the Pledged Collateral (as defined in the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement), when such Pledged Collateral is delivered to the Administrative Agent (together with a properly completed and signed undated endorsement) and in the case of the other Collateral described in the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement that can be perfected by the filing of a financing statement or other filing, when financing statements and other filings specified on Schedule 4.19 in appropriate form are filed in the offices specified on Schedule 4.19, the Administrative Agent will have, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, a fully perfected Lien on, and security interest in, all right, title and interest of the Loan Parties in such Collateral and the proceeds thereof, as security for the Obligations (as defined in the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement), in each case prior and superior in right to the Lien of any other Person (except Liens permitted by Section 7.3).

 

4.20         Solvency. As of the Closing Date and after giving effect to the Transactions, the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis, are Solvent.

 

4.21         Senior Indebtedness. The Obligations, and the obligations of each Subsidiary Guarantor under the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement, constitute “senior debt” or “senior indebtedness” (or any comparable term) under all Indebtedness that is subordinated or required to be subordinated in right of payment to the Obligations (if applicable).

 

4.22          [Reserved].

 

4.23         Anti-Corruption Laws, Anti-Money Laundering and Sanctions. The Borrower has implemented and maintains in effect policies and procedures designed to ensure compliance by the Borrower, its Subsidiaries and their respective directors, officers, employees and agents with Anti-Corruption Laws and applicable Sanctions, and the Borrower, its Subsidiaries and their respective officers and directors and to the knowledge of the Borrower its employees and agents, are in compliance with Anti-Corruption Laws and applicable Sanctions in all material respects. Neither the Borrower nor any Subsidiary of the Borrower, nor, to their knowledge, any of their respective directors, officers, or employees, is a Sanctioned Person. No Borrowing or the use of proceeds thereof or other transaction contemplated by this Agreement will violate any Anti-Corruption Law or applicable Sanctions.

 

4.24          Affected Financial Institutions. No Loan Party is an Affected Financial Institution.

 

SECTION 5.      CONDITIONS PRECEDENT

 

5.1           Conditions to Initial Extension of Credit. The agreement of each Lender to make the initial extension of credit requested to be made by it is subject to the satisfaction, prior to or concurrently with the making of such extension of credit on the Closing Date, of the following conditions precedent:

 

(a)           Loan Documents. The Administrative Agent shall have received (i) this Agreement, executed and delivered by the Borrower, (ii) the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement, executed and delivered by the Borrower and each Subsidiary Guarantor and (iii) the ABL/Fixed Asset Intercreditor Agreement, executed and delivered by the Borrower and each Subsidiary Guarantor.

 

(b)            Target Acquisition. The Acima Acquisition shall have been consummated, or substantially simultaneously with the initial funding of the Loans hereunder shall be consummated, in all material respects in accordance with the terms of the Acquisition Agreement, and the Acquisition Agreement shall not have been altered, amended or otherwise changed or supplemented or any provision waived or any consent given thereunder, in each case, in any respect that would be materially adverse to the Lenders or the Arrangers without the prior written consent of the Arrangers, such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned; provided that (i) any decrease in the purchase price shall not be deemed to be materially adverse to the Lenders or the Arrangers so long as such reduction of the purchase price is allocated to a reduction in the amounts to be funded under the Unsecured Notes until zero and then allocated to a reduction in the amounts to be funded under the Initial Term Loans and does not exceed 15% of the purchase price, (ii) any increase in the purchase price shall not be materially adverse to the Lenders so long as such increase is funded by equity or internally generated cash of the Borrower and (iii) any amendment, waiver or consent with respect to Section 3.8(b) of the Acquisition Agreement or any defined terms as used therein shall be deemed to be materially adverse to the Lenders and the Arrangers.

 

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(c)            Pro Forma Financial Statements; Financial Statements. Each Arranger shall have received (i) the Pro Forma Financial Statements, (ii) (a) audited consolidated financial statements for the Borrower and its Subsidiaries (prior to giving effect to the Transactions) for the three most recent fiscal years ended at least 90 days before the Closing Date, provided that the Arrangers acknowledge that they have received the audited consolidated financial statements for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2017, December 31, 2018 and December 31, 2019, and (b) unaudited consolidated financial statements for the Borrower and its Subsidiaries (prior to giving effect to the Transactions) for each fiscal quarter (other than the fourth fiscal quarter) ended after the date of the most recent balance sheet delivered pursuant to clause (ii)(a) above and at least 45 days before the Closing Date (and, in the case of each of clauses (ii)(a) and (ii)(b), such financial statements shall be prepared in conformity with GAAP; provided that such financial statements specified in clause (ii)(b) shall be subject to year-end adjustments and absence of footnotes), provided that the Arrangers acknowledge that the financial statements delivered with respect to the fiscal quarters ended March 31, 2020, June 30, 2020 and September 30, 2020 have been received, and (iii) (a) audited consolidated balance sheets and related statements of income, stockholders’ equity and cash flows and related notes thereto of the Acquired Business for the two fiscal years most recently ended at least 90 days prior to the Closing Date, provided that the Arrangers acknowledge that they have received the audited consolidated balance sheets and related statements of income, stockholders’ equity and cash flows and related notes thereto for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2018 and December 31, 2019, and (b) unaudited consolidated balance sheets and related statements of income, cash flows and related notes thereto of the Acquired Business for each subsequent fiscal quarter (excluding the fourth quarter of any fiscal year) ended at least 45 days prior to the Closing Date in each case, with comparative financial information for the equivalent period of the prior year (and, in the case of each of clauses (iii)(a) and (iii)(b), such financial statements are prepared in accordance with GAAP; provided that such financial statements specified in clause (iii)(b) shall be subject to year-end adjustments and absence of footnotes), provided that the Arrangers acknowledge that the financial statements of the Acquired Business delivered with respect to the fiscal quarters ended March 31, 2020, June 30, 2020 and September 30, 2020 have been received.

 

(d)            [Reserved].

 

(e)            Fees. All costs, fees and expenses required to be paid or reimbursed by the Borrower to the Administrative Agent, the Arrangers and the Lenders in connection with this Agreement (including the reasonable and documented fees and expenses of legal counsel to the Administrative Agent) and all costs, fees and expenses required to be paid or reimbursed by the Borrower pursuant to the letter agreements entered into with any Arranger shall have been paid or shall have been authorized to be deducted from the proceeds of the initial extensions of credit under this Agreement to the extent due and invoiced to the Borrower at least three Business Days prior to the date hereof.

 

(f)            Officer’s Certificate; Good Standing Certificates. The Administrative Agent shall have received (i) a certificate of each Loan Party, dated the Closing Date, substantially in the form of Exhibit C, with appropriate insertions and attachments, including (A) the certificate of incorporation, in the case of a Loan Party that is a corporation, and certificate of formation, in the case of a Loan Party that is a limited liability company, in each case, certified by the relevant authority of the jurisdiction of organization of such Loan Party as of a recent date, (B) the bylaws, in the case of a Loan Party that is a corporation, and limited liability company agreement or operating agreement, in the case of a Loan Party that is a limited liability company, certified as of the Closing Date by its secretary, an assistant secretary or a Responsible Officer as being in full force and effect without modification or amendment, (C) resolutions of the governing bodies of each Loan Party approving and authorizing the execution, delivery and performance of Loan Documents to which it is a party, certified as of the Closing Date by its secretary, an assistant secretary or a Responsible Officer as being in full force and effect without modification or amendment and (D) signature and incumbency certificates of the Responsible Officers of each Loan Party executing the Loan Documents to which it is a party, and (ii) a long form good standing certificate for each Loan Party from its jurisdiction of organization.

 

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(g)            Legal Opinions. The Administrative Agent shall have received the executed legal opinions of Sullivan & Cromwell LLP, New York counsel to the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries and certain other local counsel to the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries, as reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent, each in form and substance reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent.

 

(h)            Pledged Stock; Stock Powers; Pledged Notes. Subject to the last paragraph of this Section 5.1 and to Section 6.9, the Administrative Agent shall have received (i) the certificates (if any) representing the shares of Capital Stock pledged pursuant to the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement, together with an undated endorsement for each such certificate executed in blank by a duly authorized officer of the pledgor thereof and (ii) each promissory note (if any) pledged to the Administrative Agent pursuant to the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement endorsed (without recourse) in blank (or accompanied by an executed transfer form in blank) by the pledgor thereof.

 

(i)             Filings, Registrations and Recordings. Subject to the last paragraph of this Section 5.1 and to Section 6.9, each document (including any Uniform Commercial Code financing statement) required by the Security Documents or under law or reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent to be filed, registered or recorded in order to create in favor of the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, a perfected Lien on the Collateral described therein, prior and superior in right to any other Person (other than with respect to Liens expressly permitted by Section 7.3), shall be in proper form for filing, registration or recordation.

 

(j)             Officer’s Certificate. The Administrative Agent shall have received a certificate of the Borrower, dated the Closing Date certifying that the condition in Section 5.1(o) has been met.

 

(k)            Solvency Certificate. The Administrative Agent shall have received a solvency certificate from a Responsible Officer in the form of Exhibit L.

 

(l)             Patriot Act. The Administrative Agent shall have received, at least three Business Days prior to the Closing Date, all documentation and other customary information about any Loan Party to the extent reasonable and customary and requested by the Administrative Agent in writing at least 10 Business Days prior to the Closing Date that is reasonably required by United States bank regulatory authorities under applicable “know your customer”, beneficial ownership and anti-money laundering rules and regulations, including the Patriot Act.

 

(m)           ABL Indebtedness. No more than $200,000,000 of Indebtedness (excluding undrawn and cash collateralized letters of credit) shall be outstanding under the ABL Credit Agreement on the Closing Date after giving effect to the Transactions.

 

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(n)            Debt Repayment/Funded Debt. The Debt Repayment shall have occurred, or substantially simultaneously with the initial funding of the Loans hereunder shall occur, and immediately following consummation of the Transactions, neither the Borrower nor any of the Restricted Subsidiaries shall have any outstanding Indebtedness other than Indebtedness outstanding under this Agreement and other Indebtedness permitted pursuant to this Agreement.

 

(o)            Representations and Warranties. The Specified Acquisition Agreement Representations with respect to the Acima Acquisition shall be true and correct in all respects to the extent required by the definition thereof and the Specified Representations shall be true and correct in all material respects on and as of the Closing Date (except in the case of any Specified Representation which expressly relates to a given date or period, such representation and warranty shall be true and correct in all material respects as of the respective date or for the respective period, as the case may be); provided that to the extent that any Specified Representation is qualified by or subject to a “material adverse effect”, “material adverse change” or similar term or qualification, (i) the definition thereof shall be the definition of “Company Material Adverse Effect” (as defined in the Acquisition Agreement) for purposes of the making or deemed making of such Specified Representation on, or as of, the Closing Date (or any date prior thereto) and (ii) the same shall be true and correct in all respects.

 

For the purpose of determining compliance with the conditions specified in this Section 5.1, each Lender that has signed this Agreement shall be deemed to have accepted, and to be satisfied with, each document or other matter required under this Section 5.1 unless the Administrative Agent shall have received written notice from such Lender prior to the proposed Closing Date specifying its objection thereto.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) the terms of the agreements, documents, certificates, opinions and other items deliverable pursuant to clause (a) and clauses (f) through (k) above, in each case, shall be in a form such that they do not impair the availability of the Initial Term Loans on the Closing Date if the other conditions expressly set forth in this Section 5.1 have been satisfied or waived and (ii) to the extent that any security interest in the Collateral (other than (x) the delivery of certificates evidencing equity interests for the Subsidiary Guarantors (other than, in the case of the Acquired Business, with respect to any such certificate that has not been made available to the Borrower at least three Business Days prior to the Closing Date, to the extent the Borrower has used commercially reasonable efforts to procure delivery thereof) or (y) any Collateral the security interest in which may be perfected by the filing of a UCC financing statement for entities organized in the United States) is not or cannot be granted, provided or perfected on the Closing Date after the Borrower’s use of commercially reasonable efforts to do so or without undue burden or expense, then the provision and/or perfection of security interests in such Collateral shall not constitute a condition precedent to this Agreement or any extension of credit on the Closing Date, but shall be required to be granted, delivered and/or perfected as required pursuant to Section 6.9.

 

5.2           Conditions to Each Extension of Credit. The agreement of each Lender to make any extension of credit requested to be made by it on any date (subject to Section 2.24 and other than (i) any extension of credit on the Closing Date and (ii) any continuation or conversion of Loans outstanding hereunder) is subject to the satisfaction of the following conditions precedent:

 

(a)            Representations and Warranties. Each of the representations and warranties made by any Loan Party in or pursuant to the Loan Documents shall be true and correct in all material respects (or in all respects if qualified by materiality) on and as of such date as if made on and as of such date, except to the extent expressly made as of an earlier date, in which case such representations and warranties shall have been so true and correct as of such earlier date.

 

(b)            No Default. No Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing on such date or after giving effect to the extensions of credit requested to be made on such date.

 

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Each borrowing by the Borrower hereunder (other than the borrowing on the Closing Date) shall constitute a representation and warranty by the Borrower as of the date of such extension of credit that the conditions contained in this Section 5.2 have been satisfied.

 

SECTION 6. AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS

 

The Borrower hereby agrees that, so long as the Commitments remain in effect or any Loan or other amount is owing to any Lender or the Administrative Agent hereunder (other than contingent obligations and expense reimbursement not yet due and payable), the Borrower shall and, in the case of Sections 6.3 through 6.8 and 6.10, shall cause each of its Restricted Subsidiaries to and, in the case of Section 6.12, shall cause each of its Domestic Subsidiaries to:

 

6.1           Financial Statements. Furnish to the Administrative Agent, on behalf of each Lender:

 

(a)            as soon as available, but in any event within 90 days after the end of each fiscal year of the Borrower, a copy of the audited consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries as at the end of such year and the related audited consolidated statements of income, stockholders’ equity and cash flows for such year (together with, in all cases, customary management discussion and analysis), setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for the previous year, reported on without a “going concern” or like qualification or exception (other than any qualification or exception that is expressed solely with respect to, or resulting solely from, (i) an upcoming maturity date under any Indebtedness or (ii) any actual or potential inability to satisfy a financial maintenance covenant at such time or on a future date or in a future period), or qualification arising out of the scope of the audit, by Ernst & Young LLP or other independent certified public accountants of nationally recognized standing;

 

(b)            as soon as available, but in any event not later than 45 days after the end of each of the first three quarterly periods of each fiscal year of the Borrower, the unaudited consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries as at the end of such quarter and the related unaudited consolidated statements of income, stockholders’ equity and cash flows for such quarter and/or the portion of the fiscal year through the end of such quarter (together with, in all cases, customary management discussion and analysis), setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for the corresponding period or periods of the previous fiscal year (or, in the case of the balance sheet, as of the end of the previous fiscal year), certified by a Responsible Officer as being fairly stated in all material respects (subject to normal year-end audit adjustments and the absence of footnotes); and

 

(c)            if any Unrestricted Subsidiary exists, concurrently with each delivery of financial statements under clause (a) or (b) above, financial statements (in substantially the same form as the financial statements delivered pursuant to clauses (a) and (b) above, as applicable) prepared on the basis of consolidating the accounts of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries and treating any Unrestricted Subsidiaries as if they were not consolidated with the Borrower, together with an explanation of reconciliation adjustments in reasonable detail.

 

All such financial statements shall be complete and correct in all material respects and shall be prepared in reasonable detail and in accordance with GAAP applied (except as approved by such accountants or officer, as the case may be, and disclosed in reasonable detail therein) consistently throughout the periods reflected therein and with prior periods.

 

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Documents required to be delivered pursuant to Section 6.1(a), (b) or (c) or Section 6.2(b), (c) or (e) may be delivered electronically and if so delivered, shall be deemed to have been delivered on the date on which (i) such documents are posted on the Borrower’s behalf on IntraLinks/IntraAgency or another relevant 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) or (ii) such documents are filed of record with the SEC; provided that, upon written request by the Administrative Agent, the Borrower shall deliver paper copies of such documents to the Administrative Agent for further distribution to each Lender until a written request to cease delivering paper copies is given by the Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent shall have no obligation to request the delivery of or to maintain or deliver to Lenders paper copies of the documents referred to above, and in any event shall have no responsibility to monitor compliance by the Borrower with any such request for delivery, and each Lender shall be solely responsible for timely accessing posted documents or requesting delivery of paper copies of such documents from the Administrative Agent and maintaining its copies of such documents.

 

6.2           Certificates; Other Information. Furnish to the Administrative Agent, on behalf of each Lender:

 

(a)            [reserved];

 

(b)            concurrently with the delivery of any financial statements pursuant to Sections 6.1(a) and 6.1(b), (i) a Compliance Certificate executed by a Responsible Officer, which Compliance Certificate shall include a statement that such Responsible Officer has obtained no knowledge of any Default or Event of Default except as specified in such certificate, (ii) in the case of annual financial statements beginning with the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022, a calculation of Excess Cash Flow and (iii) in the case of quarterly or annual financial statements, to the extent not previously disclosed to the Administrative Agent, a description of any change in the jurisdiction of organization of any Loan Party;

 

(c)            as soon as available, and in any event no later than 90 days after the end of each fiscal year of the Borrower, a detailed consolidated budget for the following fiscal year (including a projected consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries as of the end of the following fiscal year, the related consolidated statements of projected cash flow and projected income and a description of the underlying assumptions applicable thereto) (collectively, the “Projections”), which Projections shall in each case be accompanied by a certificate of a Responsible Officer stating that such Projections are based on reasonable estimates, information and assumptions at the time made, it being understood that such Projections as they relate to future events are not to be viewed as fact and that actual results during the period or periods covered by such Projections may differ from the projected results set forth therein and such difference may be material;

 

(d)            [Reserved];

 

(e)            promptly after the same are sent, copies of all financial statements and reports that the Borrower sends to the holders of any class of its public debt securities or public equity securities and, promptly after the same are filed, copies of all financial statements and reports that the Borrower may make to, or file with, the SEC;

 

(f)            promptly following receipt thereof, copies of (i) any documents described in Section 101(k) or 101(l) of ERISA that any Group Member or any ERISA Affiliate may request with respect to any Multiemployer Plan or any documents described in Section 101(f) of ERISA that any Group Member or any ERISA Affiliate may request with respect to any Pension Plan; provided, that if the relevant Group Members or ERISA Affiliates have not requested such documents or notices from the administrator or sponsor of the applicable Multiemployer Plans, then, upon reasonable request of the Administrative Agent, such Group Member or the ERISA Affiliate shall promptly make a request for such documents or notices from such administrator or sponsor and the Borrower shall provide copies of such documents and notices to the Administrative Agent promptly after receipt thereof; and

 

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(g)            promptly, such (x) additional financial and other customary information as the Administrative Agent (or any Lender through the Administrative Agent) may from time to time reasonably request and (y) information and documentation reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent or any Lender for purposes of compliance with applicable “know your customer”, beneficial ownership and anti-money laundering rules and regulations, including the Patriot Act.

 

6.3           Payment of Taxes. Pay, discharge or otherwise satisfy as they become due or before they become delinquent, as the case may be, all its material obligations in respect of Taxes, except where (a) the amount or validity thereof is currently being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and reserves to the extent required by GAAP with respect thereto have been provided on the books of the relevant Group Member or (b) the failure to make such payments, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

6.4           Maintenance of Existence; Compliance. (a)  (i) Preserve, renew and keep in full force and effect its organizational existence and (ii) take all reasonable action to maintain all rights, privileges and franchises necessary in the normal conduct of its business, except, in each case, as otherwise permitted by Section 7.4 and except, in the case of clause (ii) above, to the extent that failure to do so would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; (b) comply with all Requirements of Law except to the extent that failure to comply therewith would not, in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; and (c) maintain in effect and enforce policies and procedures designed to ensure material compliance by the Borrower, its Subsidiaries and their respective directors, officers, employees and agents with Anti-Corruption Laws and applicable Sanctions.

 

6.5           Maintenance of Insurance. (a)  Maintain, with financially sound and reputable insurance companies (after giving effect to self-insurance), insurance in such amounts and against such risks as are customarily maintained by companies engaged in the same or similar businesses operating in the same or similar locations and (b) use commercially reasonable efforts to cause all insurance policies or certificates, as requested by the Administrative Agent, to be endorsed to the benefit of the Administrative Agent (including by naming the Administrative Agent as lender loss payee and/or additional insured).

 

6.6           Inspection of Property; Books and Records; Discussions. (a)  Keep proper books of records and account in which full, true and correct (in all material respects) entries in conformity with GAAP (other than for Foreign Subsidiaries, in which case the applicable accounting standard shall be the accounting standard used in such Foreign Subsidiary’s jurisdiction) and all Requirements of Law shall be made of all dealings and transactions in relation to its business and activities and (b) upon reasonable prior notice and subject to the provisions of Section 10.15, permit representatives of the Administrative Agent or any Lender to visit and inspect any of its properties and examine and make abstracts from any of its books and records at any reasonable time and as often as may reasonably be desired and to discuss the business, operations, properties and financial and other condition of the Group Members with officers and employees of the Group Members and, accompanied by one or more officers or designees of the Borrower if requested by the Borrower, with their independent certified public accountants; provided that excluding any such visits and inspections during the continuation of an Event of Default (x) only the Administrative Agent, acting individually or on behalf of the Lenders may exercise rights under this Section 6.6(b) and (y) the Administrative Agent shall not exercise rights under this Section 6.6(b) more often than one time during any calendar year.

 

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6.7           Notices. Promptly give notice to the Administrative Agent, on behalf of each Lender, of:

 

(a)            the occurrence of any Default or Event of Default;

 

(b)            any litigation, investigation or proceeding that may exist at any time between any Group Member and any Governmental Authority that, in each case, has a reasonable probability of not being cured or of being adversely determined and that, if not cured or if adversely determined, as the case may be, would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;

 

(c)            any litigation or proceeding affecting the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in which injunctive or similar relief is sought which has a reasonable probability of being determined adversely and if adversely determined would reasonably be expected to be granted and which, if granted, would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;

 

(d)            (i) as soon as reasonably possible upon becoming aware of the occurrence of or forthcoming occurrence of any material ERISA Event, a written notice specifying the nature thereof, what action the Borrower, any of the other Group Members or any of their respective ERISA Affiliates has taken, is taking or proposes to take with respect thereto and, when known, any action taken or threatened by the IRS, the Department of Labor or the PBGC with respect thereto; and (ii) with reasonable promptness, upon the Administrative Agent’s reasonable request, copies of (A) each Schedule SB (Actuarial Information) to the annual report (Form 5500 Series) filed by the Borrower, any of the other Group Members or any of their respective ERISA Affiliates with the IRS with respect to each Pension Plan; (B) all notices received by the Borrower, any of the other Group Members or any of their respective ERISA Affiliates from a Multiemployer Plan sponsor concerning a material ERISA Event; and (C) copies of such other documents or governmental reports or filings relating to any Plan or Pension Plan as the Administrative Agent shall reasonably request; and

 

(e)            any other development or event that has had or would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

Each notice pursuant to this Section 6.7 shall be accompanied by a statement of a Responsible Officer setting forth details of the occurrence referred to therein and stating what action the relevant Group Member proposes to take with respect thereto.

 

6.8           Environmental Laws. (a)  Comply with, and ensure compliance by all tenants, subtenants, contractors, subcontractors, and invitees, if any, with, all applicable Environmental Laws, and obtain and comply with and maintain, and ensure that all tenants, subtenants, contractors, subcontractors, and invitees obtain and comply with and maintain, any and all Environmental Permits (with respect to tenants, subtenants, contractors, and invitees, the foregoing applies to their presence and conduct on, affecting or relating to any property of the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries). It being understood that any noncompliance with this Section 6.8(a) shall be deemed not to constitute a breach of this covenant; provided that, upon learning of any actual or suspected noncompliance, the Borrower shall promptly undertake all reasonable efforts to achieve compliance; and provided further that, in any case, such noncompliance, and any other noncompliance with Environmental Law, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(b)            Promptly comply with all orders and directives of all Governmental Authorities regarding Environmental Laws, other than such orders and directives as to which an appeal has been timely and properly taken in good faith, and provided that the pendency of any and all such appeals would not reasonably be expected to give rise to a Material Adverse Effect.

 

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6.9           Post-Closing Actions. To the extent that in accordance with the last paragraph of Section 5.1, any security interest in the Collateral is not granted, provided or perfected on the Closing Date, then (a) with respect to any certificate evidencing Capital Stock of the Acquired Business that was not made available to the Borrower at least three Business Days prior to the Closing Date, such certificate (together with an undated endorsement for such certificate executed in blank by a duly authorized officer of the pledgor thereof) shall be delivered to the Administrative Agent within 10 Business Days after the Closing Date (or such later date as the Administrative Agent may agree, such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed) and (b) with respect to any other Collateral, the provision and/or perfection of security interests in such Collateral shall be granted, delivered and/or perfected within 90 days after the Closing Date (in each case, subject to extensions to be reasonably agreed upon by the Administrative Agent).

 

6.10         Additional Collateral, etc. (a)  With respect to any property acquired after the Closing Date by any Loan Party (other than (A) any property described in paragraph (b) or (c) below, (B) any property subject to a Lien expressly permitted by Section 7.3(g), (C) so long as the ABL Obligations Payment Date has not occurred, any ABL Priority Collateral as to which the ABL Representative determines, in its reasonable discretion and in consultation with the Borrower, that the cost of obtaining a security interest therein is excessive in relation to the value of the security to be afforded thereby, (D) any property (or, so long as the ABL Obligations Payment Date has not occurred, any property other than ABL Priority Collateral) as to which the Administrative Agent determines, in its reasonable discretion and in consultation with the Borrower, that the cost of obtaining a security interest therein is excessive in relation to the value of the security to be afforded thereby, (E) any property that is Excluded Property (as defined in the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement) and (F) any real property) as to which the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, does not have a perfected Lien, promptly (i) execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent such amendments to the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement or such other documents as the Administrative Agent deems necessary or reasonably advisable to grant to the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, a security interest in such property and (ii) take all actions necessary or reasonably advisable to grant to the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, a perfected security interest in any such property (with the priority required by the Intercreditor Agreements), including the filing of Uniform Commercial Code financing statements in such jurisdictions as may be required by the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement or by law or as may be reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent.

 

(b)            With respect to any new Domestic Subsidiary (other than any Excluded Subsidiary) created or acquired after the Closing Date by any Loan Party (which, for the purposes of this paragraph (c), shall include (1) any existing Subsidiary that becomes a Domestic Subsidiary that is not an Excluded Subsidiary and (2) any existing Domestic Subsidiary that ceases to be an Excluded Subsidiary), within 30 days after the creation or acquisition of such new Domestic Subsidiary (or such later date as the Administrative Agent shall agree to in its reasonable discretion) (i) execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent such amendments to the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement as the Administrative Agent deems necessary or reasonably advisable to grant to the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, a perfected first priority security interest in the Capital Stock of such new Subsidiary that is owned by any Loan Party, (ii) deliver to the Administrative Agent the certificates, if any, representing such Capital Stock, together with undated endorsements, in blank, executed and delivered by a duly authorized officer of the relevant Loan Party and (iii) cause such new Subsidiary (A) to become a party to the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement, (B) to take such actions necessary or reasonably advisable to grant to the Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties a perfected security interest with the priority required by the Intercreditor Agreements in the Collateral described in the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement with respect to such new Subsidiary, including the filing of Uniform Commercial Code financing statements in such jurisdictions as may be required by the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement or by law or as may be reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent and (C) to deliver to the Administrative Agent a certificate of such Subsidiary, substantially in the form of Exhibit C, with appropriate insertions and attachments.

 

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(c)            With respect to any new CFC Holding Company or Foreign Subsidiary created or acquired after the Closing Date by any Loan Party (which, for the purposes of this paragraph (c) shall include any existing Subsidiary that becomes a CFC Holding Company or a Foreign Subsidiary), within 60 days after the creation or acquisition of such new CFC Holding Company or Foreign Subsidiary (or such later date as the Administrative Agent shall agree to in its reasonable discretion) (i) execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent such amendments to the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement as the Administrative Agent deems necessary or reasonably advisable to grant to the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, a perfected first priority security interest in the Capital Stock of such CFC Holding Company or Foreign Subsidiary that is owned by any such Loan Party (provided that in no event shall more than 65% of the total outstanding voting Capital Stock of any such CFC Holding Company or Foreign Subsidiary be required to be so pledged) and (ii) deliver to the Administrative Agent the certificates, if any, representing such pledged Capital Stock, together with undated stock powers, in blank, executed and delivered by a duly authorized officer of the relevant Loan Party, and take such other action as the Administrative Agent deems necessary or reasonably advisable to perfect the Administrative Agent’s security interest therein.

 

6.11         Designation of Subsidiaries. The Borrower may at any time after the Closing Date designate any Restricted Subsidiary as an Unrestricted Subsidiary or any Unrestricted Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary by delivering to the Administrative Agent a certificate of a Responsible Officer specifying such designation and certifying that the conditions to such designation set forth in this Section 6.11 are satisfied; provided that:

 

(a)            both immediately before and immediately after any such designation, no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing;

 

(b)            in the case of a designation of a Restricted Subsidiary as an Unrestricted Subsidiary, the pro forma Consolidated Leverage Ratio for the Applicable Reference Period, calculated on a Pro Forma Basis, is no greater than 3.00 to 1.00;

 

(c)            in the case of a designation of a Restricted Subsidiary as an Unrestricted Subsidiary, each Subsidiary of such Subsidiary has been, or concurrently therewith will be, designated as an Unrestricted Subsidiary in accordance with this Section 6.11;

 

(d)            in the case of a designation of a Restricted Subsidiary as an Unrestricted Subsidiary, such Subsidiary shall substantially simultaneously be designated as an “Unrestricted Subsidiary” under the ABL Credit Agreement and the Unsecured Notes Indenture (and, to the extent applicable, any other agreement governing Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness in respect of the ABL Loans or the Unsecured Notes) and in the case of a designation of an Unrestricted Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary, such Subsidiary shall substantially simultaneously be designated as a “Restricted Subsidiary” under the ABL Credit Agreement and the Unsecured Notes Indenture (and, to the extent applicable, any other agreement governing Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness in respect of the ABL Loans or the Unsecured Notes).

 

The designation of any Restricted Subsidiary as an Unrestricted Subsidiary shall constitute an Investment by the Borrower in such Subsidiary on the date of designation in an amount equal to the fair market value of the Borrower’s Investment therein (as determined reasonably and in good faith by a Responsible Officer). The designation of any Unrestricted Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary shall constitute the incurrence at the time of designation of any Investment, Indebtedness or Liens of such Subsidiary existing at such time.

 

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6.12         Maintenance of Ratings. Use commercially reasonable efforts to obtain and maintain (i) a public corporate family rating of the Borrower and a rating of the Facilities, in each case from Moody’s, and (ii) a public corporate credit rating of the Borrower and a rating of the Facilities, in each case from S&P (it being understood and agreed that “commercially reasonable efforts” shall in any event include the payment by the Borrower of customary rating agency fees and cooperation with reasonable information and data requests by Moody’s and S&P in connection with their ratings process), it being agreed that there is no obligation to maintain any particular ratings at any time.

 

SECTION 7. NEGATIVE COVENANTS

 

The Borrower hereby agrees that, so long as the Commitments remain in effect or any Loan or other amount is owing to any Lender or the Administrative Agent hereunder (other than contingent obligations and expense reimbursement not yet due and payable), the Borrower shall not, and shall not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly:

 

7.1           [Reserved].

 

7.2           Indebtedness. Create, issue, incur, assume, become liable in respect of or suffer to exist any Indebtedness, except:

 

(a)            Indebtedness of any Loan Party under this Agreement (including Indebtedness in respect of any Incremental Term Facility and any Refinancing Term Loans) and any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness in respect of the Term Loans (any such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness, the “Term Loan Refinancing Indebtedness”); provided that (i) such Term Loan Refinancing Indebtedness, if secured, is secured only by the Collateral on a pari passu or junior basis with the Obligations under this Agreement (provided that the Term Loan Refinancing Indebtedness shall not consist of syndicated term loans that are secured on a pari passu basis with the Obligations under this Agreement), (ii) no Person, other than a Loan Party, shall be an obligor or guarantor with respect to any Term Loan Refinancing Indebtedness, (iii) such Term Loan Refinancing Indebtedness shall share ratably or less than ratably with (or, if junior in right of payment, on a junior basis with respect to) any prepayments or repayments of the Initial Term Loans (and Incremental Term Loans, if applicable) and (iv) such Term Loan Refinancing Indebtedness, if secured, shall be subject to customary intercreditor arrangements reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent;

 

(b)            (i) Indebtedness of the Loan Parties under the ABL Credit Agreement in an aggregate outstanding amount not to exceed (x) $700,000,000 or (y) an unlimited amount so long as after giving effect to the incurrence of such Indebtedness under this clause (b), the Consolidated Priority Leverage Ratio for the Applicable Reference Period, calculated on a Pro Forma Basis as of the date of incurrence of such Indebtedness, is equal to or less than 1.00 to 1.00 and (ii) any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof;

 

(c)            Indebtedness of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary owing to the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary; provided that (i) any Indebtedness of any Loan Party shall be unsecured and shall be subordinated in right of payment to the Obligations on terms customary for intercompany subordinated Indebtedness, as reasonably determined by the Administrative Agent and (ii) any such Indebtedness owing by any Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party to any Loan Party shall be incurred in compliance with Section 7.7;

 

(d)            Guarantee Obligations incurred by any Group Member of obligations of any Group Member to the extent such obligations are not prohibited hereunder; provided that (i) to the extent any such obligations are subordinated to the Obligations, any such related Guarantee Obligations incurred by a Loan Party shall be subordinated to the guarantee of such Loan Party of the Obligations on terms no less favorable to the Lenders than the subordination provisions of the obligations to which such Guarantee Obligation relates and (ii) any Guarantee Obligations incurred by any Loan Party of obligations of a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party shall be permitted to the extent the aggregate amount of outstanding Guarantee Obligations incurred pursuant to this clause (ii) does not exceed $25,000,000;

 

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(e)            Indebtedness outstanding on the Closing Date (provided that Indebtedness in an aggregate principal amount in excess of $5,000,000 shall be listed on Schedule 7.2(e)) and any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof;

 

(f)            Indebtedness of any Group Member incurred to finance the acquisition of fixed or capital assets (and any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof) in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $25,000,000 at any time outstanding;

 

(g)            Indebtedness representing deferred compensation to employees, officers or directors of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries incurred in the ordinary course of business;

 

(h)            Indebtedness incurred in the ordinary course of business and owed in respect of any overdrafts and related liabilities arising from treasury, depository and cash management services or in connection with any automated clearing-house transfers of funds;

 

(i)            Indebtedness arising under any Swap Agreement permitted by Section 7.11;

 

(j)            Indebtedness (other than for borrowed money) that may be deemed to exist pursuant to any guarantees, warranty or contractual service obligations, performance, surety, statutory, appeal, bid, prepayment guarantee, payment (other than payment of Indebtedness) or completion of performance guarantees or similar obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business;

 

(k)            Indebtedness in respect of workers’ compensation claims, payment obligations in connection with health, disability or other types of social security benefits, unemployment or other insurance obligations, reclamation and statutory obligations, in each case in the ordinary course of business;

 

(l)            Indebtedness arising from the honoring by a bank or other financial institution of a check, draft or similar instrument drawn against insufficient funds, so long as such Indebtedness is covered or extinguished within five Business Days;

 

(m)            Indebtedness consisting of (i) the financing of insurance premiums or self-insurance obligations or (ii) take-or-pay obligations contained in supply or similar agreements in each case in the ordinary course of business;

 

(n)            Indebtedness in the form of purchase price adjustments (including in respect of working capital), earnouts, deferred compensation, indemnification or other arrangements representing acquisition consideration or deferred payments of a similar nature incurred in connection with the Acima Acquisition, any Permitted Acquisitions or other Investments permitted under Section 7.7 or Dispositions permitted under Section 7.5;

 

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(o)            (i) Indebtedness of any Person that becomes a Restricted Subsidiary (or of any Person not previously a Restricted Subsidiary that is merged or consolidated with or into the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary in a transaction permitted hereunder) after the Closing Date, or Indebtedness of any Person that is assumed by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary in connection with an acquisition of assets by the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary in a Permitted Acquisition; provided that such Indebtedness exists at the time such Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary (or is so merged or consolidated) or such assets are acquired and is not created in contemplation of or in connection with such Person becoming a Restricted Subsidiary (or such merger or consolidation) or such assets or Capital Stock being acquired and (ii) Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness in respect of such Indebtedness; provided that after giving effect to the applicable acquisition (or merger or consolidation) or such assumption of Indebtedness, the Consolidated Leverage Ratio for the Applicable Reference Period, calculated on a Pro Forma Basis as of the date of such acquisition (or merger or consolidation) or assumption, is equal to or less than either (A) 3.00 to 1.00 or (B) the Consolidated Leverage Ratio for the Applicable Reference Period, calculated on a Pro Forma Basis immediately prior to such acquisition (or merger or consolidation) or assumption; provided further that the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness of Subsidiaries that are not Loan Parties outstanding under this Section 7.2(o) shall not exceed $20,000,000;

 

(p)            Guarantee Obligations of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary in respect of Indebtedness of franchisees in an aggregate amount not to exceed $25,000,000 at any time outstanding;

 

(q)            Indebtedness of the Borrower and any Restricted Subsidiary to the Insurance Subsidiary in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $75,000,000 at any time outstanding that cannot be subordinated to the obligations of any Loan Party under the Loan Documents for regulatory reasons or would cause the carrying value for regulatory valuation purposes to be increased;

 

(r)            Indebtedness of the Insurance Subsidiary permitted by Section 7.7(y)(i);

 

(s)            Indebtedness permitted to survive the Closing Date under the terms of the Acquisition Agreement Date (provided that Indebtedness in an aggregate principal amount in excess of $2,500,000 shall be listed on Schedule 7.2(s)) and any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof;

 

(t)            Incremental Equivalent Debt and Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof; provided that (i) immediately prior to and immediately after giving effect to the incurrence of any Permitted Unsecured Indebtedness under this Section 7.2(t), no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, (ii) the aggregate amount of Incremental Term Loan Commitments established pursuant to Section 2.24 on any date, together with the aggregate principal amount of Incremental Equivalent Debt incurred under this Section 7.2(t) on such date, shall not exceed an amount equal to the Available Incremental Amount and (iii) any Incremental Equivalent Debt (or any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof) incurred on or prior to the six-month anniversary of the Closing Date and consisting of loans that are secured on a pari passu basis with the Initial Term Facility shall be subject to the MFN Provision as if such Indebtedness were an Incremental Term Facility;

 

(u)            (i) Permitted Unsecured Indebtedness so long as, at the time of incurrence of such Permitted Unsecured Indebtedness, the Consolidated Leverage Ratio for the Applicable Reference Period, calculated on a Pro Forma Basis as of the date of incurrence thereof, is equal to or less than either (A) 2.75 to 1.00 or (B) in the case of any such Indebtedness incurred in connection with a Permitted Acquisition or Investment, the Consolidated Leverage Ratio for the Applicable Reference Period, calculated on a Pro Forma Basis immediately prior to incurrence of such Permitted Unsecured Indebtedness; provided that (A) immediately prior to and immediately after giving effect to the incurrence of any Permitted Unsecured Indebtedness under this Section 7.2(u), no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing and (B) the aggregate principal amount of Permitted Unsecured Indebtedness of Restricted Subsidiaries that are not Loan Parties outstanding under this Section 7.2(u) shall not exceed $20,000,000 and (ii) any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof;

 

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(v)            (i) Indebtedness incurred by any Securitization Subsidiary in connection with any Qualified Securitization Transaction and (ii) Standard Securitization Undertakings incurred by any Group Member in connection with any Qualified Securitization Transaction;

 

(w)            additional Indebtedness of the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in an aggregate principal amount (for the Borrower and all Restricted Subsidiaries) not to exceed at any time outstanding the greater of (i) $250,000,000 and (ii) 50% of Consolidated EBITDA (for the Applicable Reference Period);

 

(x)            Attributable Indebtedness in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $15,000,000 at any time outstanding, in each case which Attributable Indebtedness arises out of a sale and leaseback transaction permitted under Section 7.10;

 

(y)            Indebtedness of any Loan Party in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed the Net Cash Proceeds (Not Otherwise Applied) received after the Closing Date and on or prior to such date from any issuance of Qualified Capital Stock by the Borrower (other than any such issuance to a Group Member);

 

(z)            Guarantee Obligations incurred by any Group Member of obligations of any Joint Venture or Unrestricted Subsidiary to the extent permitted under Section 7.7(v);

 

(aa)          Indebtedness of the Borrower to the Insurance Subsidiary in connection with an Investment that is permitted pursuant to Section 7.7(bb); and

 

(bb)          the Unsecured Notes in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $450,000,000 and any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof.

 

For purposes of determining compliance with this ‎Section 7.2, in the event that an item of Indebtedness meets the criteria of more than one of the categories of Indebtedness described in clauses ‎(a) through ‎(bb) above, the Borrower may, in its sole discretion, divide or classify or later divide, classify or reclassify all or a portion of such item of Indebtedness in a manner that complies with this Section 7.2 and will only be required to include the amount and type of such Indebtedness in one or more of the above clauses; provided that all Indebtedness outstanding under the Loan Documents and the ABL Credit Agreement and, in each case, any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof, will at all times be deemed to be outstanding in reliance only on the exception in ‎Section 7.2(a) and Section 7.2(b), respectively.

 

For the avoidance of doubt, a permitted refinancing in respect of Indebtedness incurred pursuant to a Dollar-denominated or Consolidated EBITDA-governed basket shall not increase capacity to incur Indebtedness under such Dollar-denominated or Consolidated EBITDA-governed basket, and such Dollar-denominated or Consolidated EBITDA-governed basket shall be deemed to continue to be utilized by the amount of the original Indebtedness incurred unless and until the Indebtedness incurred to effect such permitted refinancing is no longer outstanding.

 

7.3           Liens. Create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Lien upon any of its property, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, except:

 

(a)            Liens for Taxes, assessments or other government charges or levies not yet due or that are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings; provided that adequate reserves with respect thereto are maintained on the books of the Borrower or its Restricted Subsidiaries, as the case may be, to the extent required by GAAP;

 

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(b)            carriers’, warehousemen’s, mechanics’, materialmen’s, repairmen’s or other like Liens arising in the ordinary course of business that are not overdue for a period of more than 60 days or that are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings;

 

(c)             pledges or deposits in connection with workers’ compensation, unemployment insurance and other social security legislation;

 

(d)            pledges or deposits to secure the performance of bids, supplier and other trade contracts (other than for borrowed money), leases, statutory obligations (other than for borrowed money), leases, statutory obligations (other than any such obligation imposed pursuant to Section 430(k) of the Code or Sections 303(k) or 4068 of ERISA), surety and appeal bonds, performance bonds and other obligations of a like nature incurred in the ordinary course of business;

 

(e)            [reserved];

 

(f)             Liens in existence on the Closing Date (provided that Liens securing any Indebtedness in an aggregate principal amount in excess of $5,000,000 shall be listed on Schedule 7.3(f)), securing Indebtedness permitted by Section 7.2(e); provided that no such Lien is spread to cover any additional property after the Closing Date and that the amount of Indebtedness secured thereby is not increased (other than, in the case of Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness, by any Additional Permitted Amount);

 

(g)            Liens securing Indebtedness of any Group Member incurred pursuant to Section 7.2(f); provided that (i) such Liens shall be created within 180 days of the acquisition of such fixed or capital assets and (ii) such Liens do not at any time encumber any property other than the property financed by such Indebtedness and the proceeds and products and extensions thereof; provided further that in the event that purchase money obligations are owed to any Person with respect to financing of more than one purchase of any fixed or capital assets, such Liens may secure all such purchase money obligations and may apply to all such fixed or capital assets financed by such Person;

 

(h)            (i) Liens on the Collateral created pursuant to the Security Documents (or any Term Loan Security Documents (as defined in the ABL/Fixed Asset Intercreditor Agreement)), (ii) Liens on cash granted in favor of any lender under the ABL Credit Agreement or the Issuing Lender (as defined in the ABL Credit Agreement) created as a result of any requirement to provide cash collateral pursuant to the ABL Credit Agreement and (iii) subject to the ABL/Fixed Asset Intercreditor Agreement (or any replacement intercreditor agreement reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent), Liens on the Collateral created pursuant to the ABL Security Documents (or any ABL Security Documents (as defined in the ABL/Fixed Asset Intercreditor Agreement));

 

(i)             any interest or title of a lessor under any lease entered into by any Group Member in the ordinary course of its business and covering only the assets so leased;

 

(j)             Liens solely on any cash earnest money deposits made by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary in connection with any letter of intent or purchase agreement relating to a Permitted Acquisition or other third party Investment;

 

(k)            Liens in favor of any Loan Party so long as (in the case of any Lien granted by a Loan Party) such Liens are junior to the Liens created pursuant to the Security Documents;

 

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(l)             Liens arising from filing Uniform Commercial Code or personal property security financing statements (or substantially equivalent filings outside of the United States) regarding leases;

 

(m)           any option or other agreement to purchase any asset of any Group Member, the purchase, sale or other disposition of which is not prohibited by Section 7.5;

 

(n)            Liens arising from the rendering of an interim or final judgment or order against any Group Member that does not give rise to an Event of Default;

 

(o)            Liens existing on any asset prior to the acquisition thereof by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary or existing on any asset of any Person that becomes a Restricted Subsidiary (or of any Person not previously a Restricted Subsidiary that is merged or consolidated with or into a Restricted Subsidiary in a transaction permitted hereunder) after the Closing Date prior to the time such Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary (or is so merged or consolidated) to the extent the Liens on such assets secure Indebtedness permitted by Section 7.2(o) so long as (i) in the case of first priority Liens, the Consolidated Senior Secured Leverage Ratio for the Applicable Reference Period, calculated on a Pro Forma Basis as of the date of such acquisition or such Person becoming a Restricted Subsidiary (or such merger or consolidation), is equal to or less than either (A) 2.00 to 1.00 or (B) the Consolidated Senior Secured Leverage Ratio for the Applicable Reference Period, calculated on a Pro Forma Basis immediately prior to giving pro forma effect to such acquisition or such Person becoming a Restricted Subsidiary (or such merger or consolidation) and (ii) in the case of junior-priority Liens, the Consolidated Secured Leverage Ratio for the Applicable Reference Period, calculated on a Pro Forma Basis as of the date of such acquisition or such Person becoming a Restricted Subsidiary (or such merger or consolidation), is equal to or less than either (A) 2.00 to 1.00 or (B) the Consolidated Secured Leverage Ratio for the Applicable Reference Period, calculated on a Pro Forma Basis immediately prior to giving pro forma effect to such acquisition or such Person becoming a Restricted Subsidiary (or such merger or consolidation); provided that (i) such Liens are not created in contemplation of or in connection with such acquisition or such Person becoming a Restricted Subsidiary (or such merger or consolidation) and (ii) such Liens attach at all times only to the same assets or category of assets that such Liens (other than after acquired property that is affixed or incorporated into the property covered by such Lien) attached to, and secure only the same Indebtedness or obligations (or any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof permitted by Section 7.2(o)) that such Liens secured, immediately prior to such permitted acquisition;

 

(p)            Liens arising out of conditional sale, title retention, consignment or similar arrangements for sale of goods entered into by the Borrower or any other Restricted Subsidiary in the ordinary course of business and permitted by this Agreement;

 

(q)            Liens on Securitization Assets granted or arising in connection with a Qualified Securitization Transaction and Liens on the Capital Stock of any Securitization Subsidiary granted to secure a Qualified Securitization Transaction;

 

(r)             Liens encumbering reasonable and customary initial deposits and margin deposits and similar Liens attaching to brokerage accounts incurred in the ordinary course of business and not for speculative purposes;

 

(s)            Liens in favor of customs and revenue authorities arising as a matter of law to secure payment of customs duties in connection with the importation of goods in the ordinary course of business;

 

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(t)            Liens on premium refunds granted in favor of insurance companies (or their financing affiliates) in connection with the financing of insurance premiums;

 

(u)            banker’s liens, rights of setoff or similar rights and remedies as to deposit accounts or other funds maintained with depository institutions and securities accounts and other financial assets maintained with a securities intermediary; provided that such deposit accounts or funds and securities accounts or other financial assets are not established or deposited for the purpose of providing collateral for any Indebtedness and are not subject to restrictions on access by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary in excess of those required by applicable banking regulations;

 

(v)            Liens (i) on cash advances in favor of the seller of any property to be acquired in an Investment permitted pursuant to Section 7.7 to be applied against the purchase price for such Investment or (ii) consisting of an agreement to dispose of any property in a Disposition permitted by Section 7.5, in each case, solely to the extent such Investment or Disposition, as the case may be, would have been permitted on the date of the creation of such Lien;

 

(w)            Liens on assets of Restricted Subsidiaries that are not Loan Parties so long as the aggregate outstanding principal amount of the obligations secured thereby does not exceed (as to all Group Members) $50,000,000;

 

(x)            Liens on the Collateral securing (i) Incremental Equivalent Debt permitted under Section 7.2(t) on a pari passu or junior basis with the Liens on the Collateral securing the Obligations and (ii) any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof; provided that the Liens on the Collateral securing Incremental Equivalent Debt or any such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness shall be subject to the Intercreditor Agreements or such other intercreditor agreement in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent;

 

(y)            Liens on the Collateral securing (i) Term Loan Refinancing Indebtedness permitted under Section 7.2(a) on a pari passu or junior basis with the Liens on the Collateral securing the Obligations and (ii) any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof on a pari passu or junior basis with the Liens on the Collateral securing the Obligations; provided that the Liens on the Collateral securing Term Loan Refinancing Indebtedness or any such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness shall be subject to the Intercreditor Agreements or such other intercreditor agreement in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent;

 

(z)            Liens not otherwise permitted by this Section 7.3 so long as the aggregate outstanding principal amount of the obligations secured thereby does not exceed (as to all Group Members) $50,000,000;

 

(aa)          Liens on property purportedly rented to, or leased by, the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries pursuant to a sale and leaseback transaction permitted under Section 7.10; provided that (i) such Liens do not encumber any other property of the Borrower or its Restricted Subsidiaries and (ii) such Liens secure only Indebtedness permitted under Section 7.2(x);

 

(bb)         Liens in favor of the applicable trustee on amounts deposited into escrow in connection with the redemption, defeasance or satisfaction and discharge of bonds, debentures, notes or similar instruments;

 

(cc)          (i) pledges and deposits and other Liens made in the ordinary course of business in compliance with the Federal Employers Liability Act or any other workers’ compensation, unemployment insurance and other social security laws or regulations and deposits securing liability to insurance carriers under insurance or self-insurance arrangements in respect of such obligations and (ii) pledges and deposits and other Liens securing liability for reimbursement or indemnification obligations of (including obligations in respect of letters of credit or bank guarantees for the benefit of) insurance carriers providing property, casualty or liability insurance to any Group Member;

 

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(dd)          easements, trackage rights, leases, licenses, special assessments, rights of way covenants, zoning restrictions, covenants, conditions, restrictions and declarations on or with respect to the use of real property, servicing agreements, development agreements, site plan agreements, encumbrances and title defects or irregularities that are of a minor nature that, in each case, do not, in the aggregate, interfere in any material respect with the ordinary conduct of the business of Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries;

 

(ee)          Liens on Capital Stock of any joint venture (i) securing obligations of such joint venture or (ii) pursuant to the relevant joint venture agreement or arrangement; and

 

(ff)           Liens securing Indebtedness of any Foreign Subsidiary that is not a Subsidiary Guarantor securing Indebtedness of such Foreign Subsidiary that is permitted by this Agreement.

 

For purposes of determining compliance with this Section 7.3, in the event that a Lien securing an item of Indebtedness (or any portion thereof) meets the criteria for more than one of the categories of Liens described in clauses (a) through (ff) above, the Borrower may, in its sole discretion, divide or classify or later divide, classify or reclassify all or a portion of such Lien in a manner that complies with this Section 7.3 and will only be required to include the amount and type of such Lien in one or more of the above clauses; provided that all Liens securing Indebtedness outstanding under the Loan Documents and the ABL Credit Agreement, and, in each case, any Permitted Refinancing thereof, will at all times be deemed to be outstanding in reliance only on the exception in Section 7.3(h).

 

7.4           Fundamental Changes. Merge, consolidate or amalgamate, or liquidate, wind up or dissolve itself (or suffer any liquidation or dissolution), or Dispose of all or substantially all of its property or business (taken as a whole), except that:

 

(a)            any Restricted Subsidiary of the Borrower may be merged or consolidated with or into the Borrower (provided that the Borrower shall be the continuing or surviving corporation) or with or into any other Restricted Subsidiary (provided, that when any Subsidiary Guarantor is merging with or into another Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Subsidiary Guarantor (except as permitted by Section 7.4(b)), such Subsidiary Guarantor shall be the continuing or surviving corporation or the continuing or surviving corporation shall, substantially simultaneously with such merger or consolidation, become a Subsidiary Guarantor);

 

(b)            any Restricted Subsidiary may merge, consolidate or amalgamate with any other Person (other than the Borrower) in order to effect an Investment permitted pursuant to Section 7.7; provided that if such Restricted Subsidiary is a Subsidiary Guarantor the continuing or surviving Person shall be a Subsidiary Guarantor;

 

(c)            any Restricted Subsidiary of the Borrower may Dispose of any or all of its assets (i) to the Borrower or any Subsidiary Guarantor (upon voluntary liquidation or otherwise) or (ii) pursuant to a Disposition permitted by Section 7.5;

 

(d)            any Restricted Subsidiary of the Borrower that is not a Subsidiary Guarantor may (i) dispose of any or all or substantially all of its assets to any Group Member (upon voluntary liquidation or otherwise) or (ii) liquidate or dissolve if the Borrower determines in good faith that such liquidation or dissolution is in the best interest of the Borrower and is not materially disadvantageous to the Administrative Agent or the Lenders; and

 

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(e)            any Subsidiary of the Borrower may merge, consolidate or amalgamate with the Borrower in connection with the consummation of the Transactions.

 

7.5           Disposition of Property. Dispose of any of its property, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, or, in the case of any Restricted Subsidiary, issue or sell any shares of such Restricted Subsidiary’s Capital Stock to any Person, except:

 

(a)            the Disposition of surplus, outdated, obsolete or worn out property in the ordinary course of business;

 

(b)            Dispositions of inventory, equipment, cash and Cash Equivalents, in each case, in the ordinary course of business;

 

(c)            Dispositions permitted by Section 7.4(c)(i) or Section 7.4(d)(i);

 

(d)            the sale or issuance of any Restricted Subsidiary’s Capital Stock to the Borrower or any Subsidiary Guarantor or on a pro rata basis to the owners of its Capital Stock;

 

(e)            Dispositions of accounts receivable in connection with the compromise, settlement or collection thereof in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice and not as part of any accounts receivables financing transaction;

 

(f)             Dispositions of assets (including as a result of like-kind exchanges) to the extent that (i) such assets are exchanged for credit (on a fair market value basis) against the purchase price of similar or replacement assets or (ii) such asset is Disposed of for fair market value and the proceeds of such Disposition are promptly applied to the purchase price of similar or replacement assets;

 

(g)            Dispositions resulting from any casualty or other insured damage to, or any taking under power of eminent domain or by condemnation or similar proceeding of, any asset of any Group Member;

 

(h)            licenses and sublicenses and similar rights granted with respect to Intellectual Property granted in the ordinary course of business;

 

(i)            the abandonment, cancellation, non-renewal or discontinuance of use or maintenance of non-material Intellectual Property or rights relating thereto that the Borrower determines in its reasonable judgment to be desirable to the conduct of its business and not materially disadvantageous to the interests of the Lenders;

 

(j)             licenses, leases or subleases entered into in the ordinary course of business, to the extent that they do not materially interfere with the business of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary;

 

(k)            Dispositions to any Group Member; provided that any such Disposition involving a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Subsidiary Guarantor shall be made in compliance with Sections 7.7 and 7.9;

 

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(l)             (i)  Dispositions of assets to the extent that such Disposition constitutes an Investment referred to in and permitted by Section 7.7, (ii) Dispositions of assets to the extent that such Disposition constitutes a Restricted Payment referred to in and permitted by Section 7.6, (iii) Dispositions set forth on Schedule 7.5(l) and (iv) sale and leaseback transactions permitted under Section 7.10;

 

(m)           any sale, issuance, conveyance, transfer, participation, factoring, lease or other disposition of Securitization Assets in connection with a Qualified Securitization Transaction;

 

(n)            other Dispositions of assets (including Capital Stock); provided that (A) it shall be for fair market value (determined as if such Disposition was consummated on an arm’s-length basis), (B) at least 75% of the total consideration for any such Disposition in excess of $10,000,000 received by the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries shall be in the form of cash or Cash Equivalents, (C) no Event of Default then exists or would result from such Disposition (except if such Disposition is made pursuant to an agreement entered into at a time when no Event of Default exists) and (D) the requirements of Section 2.11(b), to the extent applicable, are complied with in connection therewith; provided, however, that for purposes of clause (B) above, the following shall be deemed to be cash: (I) any liabilities (as shown on the Borrower’s or such Restricted Subsidiary’s most recent balance sheet provided hereunder or in the footnotes thereto) of the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary (other than liabilities that are by their terms subordinated to the Obligations) that are assumed by the transferee with respect to the applicable Disposition and for which the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries shall have been validly released by all applicable creditors in writing, (II) any securities received by the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary from such transferee that are converted by the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary into cash or Cash Equivalents (to the extent of the cash or Cash Equivalents received in the conversion) within 180 days following the closing of the applicable Disposition and (III) any Designated Non-Cash Consideration received by the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in such Disposition having an aggregate fair market value, taken together with all other Designated Non-Cash Consideration received pursuant to this Section 7.5(n) that is at that time outstanding, not to exceed $25,000,000 (with the fair market value of each item of Designated Non-Cash Consideration being measured at the time received and without giving effect to subsequent changes in value);

 

(o)            other Dispositions in any fiscal year of other property having a fair market value not to exceed 7.5% of Consolidated Total Assets when made; provided that (i) the requirements of Section 2.11(b), to the extent applicable, are complied with in connection therewith and (ii) no Event of Default then exists or would result from such Disposition (except if such Disposition is made pursuant to an agreement entered into at a time when no Event of Default exists);

 

(p)            Dispositions (i) to or by the Insurance Subsidiary of Capital Stock of the Borrower, (ii) to or by the Insurance Subsidiary of Indebtedness described in Section 7.2(r) to the Borrower or any Wholly Owned Subsidiary that is a Loan Party and (iii) by the Insurance Subsidiary effected solely for the purpose of liquidating assets in order to permit the Insurance Subsidiary to pay expenses and to make payments on insurance claims of the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries with the proceeds of such Disposition;

 

(q)            Dispositions of real property in the ordinary course to the extent such real property is Disposed of for fair market value and the proceeds of such Disposition are applied within 360 days to the purchase price of similar or replacement real property;

 

(r)            Dispositions of non-core assets acquired in connection with any acquisition or Investment permitted hereunder; provided that (i) the Consolidated EBITDA generated by such non-core assets (as determined by the Borrower in good faith) shall not have been included in the calculation of Consolidated EBITDA in respect of any testing of ratios or governors on a Pro Forma Basis in connection with such acquisition, and (ii) no Event of Default exists on the date on which the definitive agreement governing the relevant Disposition is executed; and

 

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(s)            Dispositions of the Mexico Operations for fair market value.

 

7.6           Restricted Payments. Declare or pay any dividend (other than dividends payable solely in common stock of the Person making such dividend) on, or make any payment on account of, or set apart assets for a sinking or other analogous fund for, the purchase, redemption, defeasance, retirement or other acquisition of, any Capital Stock (other than Disqualified Capital Stock) of any Group Member, whether now or hereafter outstanding, or make any other distribution in respect thereof, either directly or indirectly, whether in cash or property or in obligations of any Group Member (collectively, “Restricted Payments”), except that:

 

(a)            any Restricted Subsidiary may make Restricted Payments ratably to its equity holders (or if not ratably, on a basis more favorable to the Borrower and the other Loan Parties);

 

(b)            the Borrower may purchase or redeem its common stock or common stock options from present, future or former directors, officers or employees of any Group Member upon the death, disability or termination of employment of such director, officer or employee, provided, that the aggregate amount of payments under this Section 7.6(b) after the Closing Date (net of any proceeds received by the Borrower after the Closing Date in connection with resales of any common stock or common stock options so purchased) shall not exceed $5,000,000 in any fiscal year (with unused amounts in any period permitted to be carried over to succeeding periods until used in full; provided that the total amount of such purchases or redemptions under this Section 7.6(b) in any fiscal year shall not exceed $10,000,000);

 

(c)            the Borrower may declare and pay dividends with respect to its Capital Stock payable solely in shares of Qualified Capital Stock;

 

(d)            the Borrower may make cash payments in lieu of the issuance of fractional shares representing insignificant interests in the Borrower in connection with the exercise of warrants, options or other securities convertible into or exchangeable for Capital Stock in the Borrower;

 

(e)            the Borrower may acquire its Capital Stock upon the exercise of stock options for such Capital Stock of the Borrower if such Capital Stock represents a portion of the exercise price of such stock options or in connection with tax withholding obligations arising in connection with the exercise of options by, or the vesting of restricted Capital Stock held by, any current or former director, officer or employee of any Group Member;

 

(f)             the Borrower may convert or exchange any of its Capital Stock for or into Qualified Capital Stock;

 

(g)            so long as no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would result therefrom, the Borrower may on any date make Restricted Payments in an amount equal to the Available Amount on such date; provided that at the time of the making of any such Restricted Payments and immediately after giving effect to such Restricted Payments, the Consolidated Leverage Ratio for the Applicable Reference Period, calculated on a Pro Forma Basis, is not in excess of 3.75 to 1.00;

 

(h)            so long as no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would result therefrom, the Borrower may on any date make Restricted Payments in an aggregate amount, together with Restricted Debt Payments made under Section 7.8(a)(iv), not to exceed $100,000,000 in any fiscal year;

 

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(i)             so long as no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would result therefrom, the Borrower may on any date make Restricted Payments; provided that at the time of the making of any such Restricted Payments and immediately after giving effect to such Restricted Payments, the Consolidated Leverage Ratio for the Applicable Reference Period, calculated on a Pro Forma Basis, is not in excess of 2.75 to 1.00;

 

(j)             so long as no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would result therefrom, the Borrower may on any date pay dividends to its shareholders in an aggregate amount not to exceed in any fiscal year 6.00% of Market Capitalization;

 

(k)            the Borrower may repurchase shares of its common stock from the Insurance Subsidiary in an amount necessary to (i) pay operating costs and expenses of the Insurance Subsidiary incurred in the ordinary course of business (not to exceed $250,000 per fiscal year of the Borrower) and (ii) permit the Insurance Subsidiary to make payments on insurance claims of the Borrower and/or any of its Subsidiaries with the proceeds of such repurchase;

 

(l)             the Insurance Subsidiary may purchase shares of the common stock of the Borrower from the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary;

 

(m)           the Borrower may repurchase shares of its common stock from the Insurance Subsidiary in exchange for the issuance of one or more notes or other forms of Indebtedness owed to the Insurance Subsidiary;

 

(n)            the Borrower may make Restricted Payments to consummate the Transactions; and

 

(o)            distributions or payments of Securitization Fees.

 

For purposes of determining compliance with this Section 7.6, in the event that a Restricted Payment meets the criteria of more than one of the categories of Restricted Payments described in clauses (a) through (o) above, the Borrower may, in its sole discretion, divide or classify or later divide, classify or reclassify all or a portion of such Restricted Payment in a manner that complies with this Section 7.6 and will only be required to include the amount and type of such Restricted Payment in one or more of the above clauses.

 

7.7           Investments. Make any advance, loan, extension of credit (by way of guaranty or otherwise) or capital contribution to, or purchase any Capital Stock, bonds, notes, debentures or other debt securities of, or any assets constituting a business unit of, or make any other investment in, any other Person (all of the foregoing, “Investments”), except:

 

(a)            extensions of trade credit in the ordinary course of business;

 

(b)            investments in cash and Cash Equivalents;

 

(c)            Guarantee Obligations permitted by Section 7.2 (other than any Guarantee Obligations incurred under Section 7.2(z), which Guarantee Obligations shall solely be permitted to the extent permitted pursuant to Section 7.7(v));

 

(d)            loans and advances to directors, officers and employees of any Group Member in the ordinary course of business (including for travel, entertainment and relocation expenses) in an aggregate amount for the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries not to exceed $5,000,000 at any one time outstanding;

 

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(e)            [reserved];

 

(f)             Investments in assets useful in the business of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries made by any Group Member with the proceeds of any Reinvestment Deferred Amount;

 

(g)            intercompany Investments by any Group Member in any other Group Member; provided that any Investment by any Loan Party in a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party shall be permitted to the extent the aggregate amount of outstanding Investments pursuant to this clause (g) (less any returns (including dividends, interest, distributions, returns of principal, profits on sale, repayments, income and similar amounts) actually received in respect of any such Investments (excluding any returns in excess of the amount originally invested)) does not exceed $25,000,000;

 

(h)            any Permitted Acquisition; provided that the aggregate amount of Investments pursuant to this Section 7.7(h) (less any returns (including dividends, interest, distributions, returns of principal, profits on sale, repayments, income and similar amounts) actually received in respect of any such Investments (excluding any returns in excess of the amount originally invested)) in respect of acquisitions of Persons that do not, upon acquisition thereof, become Subsidiary Guarantors, or property that is not, upon acquisition thereof, owned by Loan Parties (whether such Investment is consummated with cash or equity (including Disqualified Capital Stock of any Subsidiaries not organized under the laws of any jurisdiction within the United States, but excluding any other equity of such Subsidiaries), and with such Investment as valued in good faith by the Borrower) shall not exceed at any time outstanding the greater of (x) $100,000,000 and (y) 20.00% of Consolidated EBITDA for the Applicable Reference Period, calculated on a Pro Forma Basis as of the date of consummation of such purchase or other acquisition (or at the Borrower’s option, as of the date of entry into the binding documentation in respect of such purchase or other acquisition);

 

(i)             promissory notes and other non-cash consideration received in connection with Dispositions permitted by Section 7.5;

 

(j)             Investments acquired as a result of the purchase or other acquisition by any Group Member in connection with a Permitted Acquisition; provided, that such Investments were not made in contemplation of such Permitted Acquisition and were in existence at the time of such Permitted Acquisition;

 

(k)            Investments existing on the Closing Date (provided that Investments in an aggregate outstanding amount in excess of $5,000,000 shall be set forth on Schedule 7.7(k)) and any modification, refinancing, renewal, refunding, replacement or extension thereof; provided that the amount of any Investment permitted pursuant to this Section 7.7(k) is not increased from the amount of such Investment on the Closing Date;

 

(l)             Investments received in connection with the bankruptcy or reorganization of, or settlement of delinquent accounts and disputes with, customers and suppliers, in each case in the ordinary course of business;

 

(m)           Investments of a Restricted Subsidiary acquired after the Closing Date or of a corporation merged into the Borrower or merged or consolidated with any Restricted Subsidiary, in each case in accordance with Section 7.4 after the Closing Date, to the extent that such Investments were not made in contemplation of or in connection with such acquisition, merger or consolidation and were in existence on the date of such acquisition, merger or consolidation;

 

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(n)            Guarantees by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary of leases (other than Finance Lease Obligations) or of other obligations that do not constitute Indebtedness, in each case entered into in the ordinary course of business;

 

(o)            Investments made to effect the pledges and deposits described in, and permitted under, Section 7.3(c) and (d);

 

(p)            Investments by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary that result solely from the receipt by the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary from any of its Subsidiaries of a dividend or other Restricted Payment in the form of Capital Stock, evidences of Indebtedness or other securities (but not any additions thereto made after the date of the receipt thereto);

 

(q)            mergers and consolidations permitted under Section 7.4 that do not involve any Person other than the Borrower and Restricted Subsidiaries that are Wholly Owned Subsidiaries;

 

(r)            so long as no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or would result therefrom, Investments in an aggregate amount not to exceed the Available Amount at such time;

 

(s)            customary Investments by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary in any Securitization Subsidiary in connection with a Qualified Securitization Transaction, including pursuant to Standard Securitization Undertakings;

 

(t)            so long as no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would result therefrom, other Investments, if, at the time of such Investment, the Consolidated Senior Secured Leverage Ratio for the Applicable Reference Period, calculated on a Pro Forma Basis as of the date of such Investment, is not in excess of 1.50 to 1.00;

 

(u)            Investments by the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in an aggregate amount (valued at cost), taken together with all other outstanding Investments made pursuant to this Section 7.7(u) (less any returns (including dividends, interest, distributions, returns of principal, profits on sale, repayments, income and similar amounts) actually received in respect of any such Investments (excluding any returns in excess of the amount originally invested)), not to exceed from and after the Closing Date the greater of (i) $50,000,000 and (ii) 10% of Consolidated EBITDA for the Applicable Reference Period, calculated on a Pro Forma Basis as of the date of such Investment;

 

(v)            (i) any Investment in any Joint Venture or Unrestricted Subsidiary and (ii) any Permitted Acquisition of Persons that do not, upon acquisition thereof, become Subsidiary Guarantors, and property that is not, upon acquisition thereof, owned by Loan Parties; provided that the aggregate outstanding amount of the Investments and Permitted Acquisitions consummated pursuant to this Section 7.7(v) (with respect to Investments pursuant to clause (i), valued at cost, and with respect to Permitted Acquisitions pursuant to clause (ii), the Investment amount thereof shall be as valued in good faith by the Borrower and shall include cash and equity (including Disqualified Capital Stock of any Subsidiaries not organized under the laws of any jurisdiction within the United States, but excluding any other equity of such Subsidiaries)), less any returns (including dividends, interest, distributions, returns of principal, profits on sale, repayments, income and similar amounts) actually received in respect of any such Investments (excluding any returns in excess of the amount originally invested), shall not exceed at any time outstanding the greater of (i) $50,000,000 and (ii) 10% of Consolidated EBITDA for the Applicable Reference Period, calculated on a Pro Forma Basis as of the date of such Investment or Permitted Acquisition (or at the Borrower’s option, as of the date of entry into the binding documentation in respect of such Permitted Acquisition);

 

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(w)            Investments, taken together with all other outstanding Investments made pursuant to this Section 7.7(w) (less any returns (including dividends, interest, distributions, returns of principal, profits on sale, repayments, income and similar amounts) actually received in respect of any such Investments (excluding any returns in excess of the amount originally invested)), in an aggregate amount (valued at cost) not to exceed the Net Cash Proceeds (Not Otherwise Applied) received after the Closing Date and on or prior to such date from any issuance of Qualified Capital Stock by the Borrower (other than any such issuance to a Group Member);

 

(x)            Investments made in the Insurance Subsidiary (i) to the extent required to meet regulatory capital guidelines, policies or rules in an amount not exceed $35,000,000 in the aggregate at any one time outstanding and (ii) in amounts not to exceed, in any fiscal year of the Borrower, the lesser of (x) $75,000,000 and (y) the amount that will appear as an expense for self-insurance costs on the Borrower’s consolidated income statement;

 

(y)            Investments in the Insurance Subsidiary consisting of the contribution of common stock of the Borrower and Investments by the Insurance Subsidiary in the common stock of the Borrower;

 

(z)             Investments by the Insurance Subsidiary in Indebtedness of the Group Members permitted by Section 7.2(q);

 

(aa)           Investments made to consummate the Transactions; and

 

(bb)          Investments by the Borrower in the Insurance Subsidiary in connection with the repurchase of the Borrower’s common stock from the Insurance Subsidiary in exchange for the issuance of one or more notes or other forms of Indebtedness owed to the Insurance Subsidiary.

 

For purposes of determining compliance with this Section 7.7, in the event that an Investment meets the criteria of more than one of the categories of Investments described in clauses (a) through (bb) above, the Borrower may, in its sole discretion, divide or classify or later divide, classify or reclassify all or a portion of such Investment in a manner that complies with this Section 7.7 and will only be required to include the amount and type of such Investment in one or more of the above clauses.

 

7.8           Optional Payments and Modifications of Certain Debt Instruments. (a) Make or offer to make any optional or voluntary payment, prepayment, repurchase or redemption of or otherwise optionally or voluntarily defease or segregate funds with respect to any Restricted Indebtedness (any of the foregoing, a “Restricted Debt Payment”) other than:

 

(i)             refinancings of Restricted Indebtedness with the proceeds of Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness permitted in respect thereof under Section 7.2;

 

(ii)            payments of or in respect of Restricted Indebtedness made solely with Qualified Capital Stock or the conversion of any Restricted Indebtedness into Qualified Capital Stock;

 

(iii)           prepayments of intercompany Restricted Indebtedness permitted hereunder owed by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary to the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary; provided that no prepayment of any Restricted Indebtedness owed by any Loan Party to any Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party shall be permitted so long as an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would result therefrom;

 

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(iv)           so long as no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or would result therefrom, Restricted Debt Payments in an aggregate amount, together with Restricted Payments made under Section 7.6(h)), not to exceed $100,000,000 in any fiscal year;

 

(v)            so long as no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or would result therefrom, Restricted Debt Payments in an amount equal to the Available Amount on such date; provided that at the time of the making of such Restricted Debt Payment and immediately after giving effect thereto, the Consolidated Leverage Ratio for the Applicable Reference Period, calculated on a Pro Forma Basis, is not in excess of 3.75 to 1.00;

 

(vi)           so long as no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or would result therefrom, Restricted Debt Payments if, at the time of making such Restricted Debt Payment and immediately after giving effect thereto, the Consolidated Leverage Ratio for the Applicable Reference Period, calculated on a Pro Forma Basis, is not in excess of 2.75 to 1.00; and

 

(vii)           repurchases of Unsecured Notes using Declined Amounts (calculated from the Closing Date) Not Otherwise Applied.

 

For purposes of determining compliance with this Section 7.8(a), in the event that a Restricted Debt Payment meets the criteria of more than one of the categories of Restricted Debt Payments described in clauses (i) through (vii) above, the Borrower may, in its sole discretion, divide or classify or later divide, classify or reclassify all or a portion of such Restricted Debt Payment in a manner that complies with this Section 7.7(a) and will only be required to include the amount and type of such Restricted Debt Payment in one or more of the above clauses.

 

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Section 7.8(a), in no event shall any payment in respect of Subordinated Indebtedness be permitted if such payment is in violation of the subordination provisions of such Subordinated Indebtedness.

 

(b)            Amend, modify, waive or otherwise change, or consent or agree to any amendment, modification, waiver or other change to, any of the terms of any Restricted Indebtedness (other than any such amendment, modification, waiver or other change that would not materially and adversely affect the interests of the Lenders).

 

7.9           Transactions with Affiliates. Enter into any transaction, including any purchase, sale, lease or exchange of property, the rendering of any service or the payment of any management, advisory or similar fees, with any Affiliate in excess of $10,000,000, unless such transaction is on terms not materially less favorable to the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary, as applicable, than would be obtainable in a comparable arms-length transaction with a person that is not an Affiliate; provided that this Section 7.9 shall not limit:

 

(a)            Issuances of securities, or other payments, awards or grants in cash, securities or otherwise pursuant to, or the funding of, employment arrangements, equity purchase agreements, stock options, stock ownership plans and similar and like arrangements approved by the board of directors of the Borrower;

 

(b)            compensation, insurance, employment, employee benefit and severance arrangements between the Borrower or any Subsidiary and any director, officer, employee or consultant thereof;

 

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(c)            the payment of directors’ fees and indemnification and reimbursement of expenses to directors, officers or employees;

 

(d)            transactions between or among the Loan Parties;

 

(e)            transactions between or among the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries or by and among Restricted Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business;

 

(f)             Investments permitted by Section 7.7(d), Restricted Payments or Restricted Debt Payments expressly permitted by this Agreement;

 

(g)            intercompany transactions undertaken in good faith for the purpose of improving the consolidated tax efficiency of the Group Members;

 

(h)            transactions disclosed in the Borrower’s SEC filings made prior to the Closing Date;

 

(i)             any transaction with any Person who is not an Affiliate immediately before the consummation of such transaction that becomes an Affiliate as a result of such transaction;

 

(j)            payroll, travel, business entertainment and similar advances to officers, directors, employees and consultants of the Borrower or any Subsidiary to cover matters that are expected at the time of such advances to be treated as expenses of the Borrower or such Subsidiary for accounting purposes and that are made in the ordinary course of business; and

 

(k)            any (i) sale, conveyance, participation, factoring or other transfer of Securitization Assets transferred to a Securitization Subsidiary, (ii) grant of security, (iii) incurrence of Indebtedness or (iv) payment of any associated fees, in each case in connection with any Qualified Securitization Transaction.

 

7.10         Sales and Leasebacks. Enter into any arrangement with any Person providing for the leasing by any Group Member of real property that has been or is to be sold or transferred by such Group Member to such Person or to any other Person to whom funds have been or are to be advanced by such Person on the security of such property or rental obligations of such Group Member, unless (a) the Net Cash Proceeds received by the applicable Group Member in connection with such transaction are at least equal to the fair market value (as determined by the Borrower) of such property and (b) the Borrower or the applicable Subsidiary applies the Net Cash Proceeds of such transaction in accordance with Section 2.11; provided that the aggregate amount of consideration paid to the Group Members (and the aggregate principal amount of any Attributable Indebtedness) in respect of transactions permitted under this Section 7.10 shall not exceed $15,000,000.

 

7.11         Swap Agreements. Enter into any Swap Agreement, except Swap Agreements entered into for bona fide hedging purposes and not for speculation.

 

7.12         Changes in Fiscal Periods. Permit the fiscal year of the Borrower to end on a day other than calendar year end or change the Borrower’s method of determining fiscal quarters, in each case without the consent of the Administrative Agent (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed).

 

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7.13         Negative Pledge Clauses. Enter into or suffer to exist or become effective any agreement that prohibits or limits the ability of any Group Member (other than the Insurance Subsidiary) to create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Lien upon any of its property or revenues, whether now owned or hereafter acquired to secure its obligations under the Loan Documents to which it is a party other than (a) (i) this Agreement, the other Loan Documents, the ABL Loan Documents and the Unsecured Notes Documents, (ii) any agreement governing any Indebtedness incurred pursuant to Section 7.2 to the extent such prohibition or limitation is customary in agreements governing Indebtedness of such type and in any event so long as such agreement is not materially more restrictive (taken as a whole) than the Loan Documents (as conclusively determined by the Borrower in good faith) and (iii) any agreement governing any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness in respect of the Loans, the ABL Loans, the Unsecured Notes or Indebtedness incurred pursuant to Section 7.2, in each case, with respect to this clause (iii), so long as any such agreement is not materially more restrictive (taken as a whole) than the Loan Documents, the ABL Loan Documents, the Unsecured Notes Documents or the documents governing the Indebtedness being refinanced, as applicable (as conclusively determined by the Borrower in good faith), (b) any agreements governing any purchase money Liens or Finance Lease Obligations otherwise permitted hereby (in which case, any prohibition or limitation shall only be effective against the assets financed thereby), (c) any agreement in effect at the time any Subsidiary becomes a Restricted Subsidiary of the Borrower, so long as such prohibition or limitation applies only to such Restricted Subsidiary (and, if applicable, its Subsidiaries) and such agreement was not entered into in contemplation of such Person becoming a Restricted Subsidiary of the Borrower, as such agreement may be amended, restated, supplemented, modified extended renewed or replaced, so long as such amendment, restatement, supplement, modification, extension, renewal or replacement does not expand in any material respect the scope of any restriction contemplated by this Section 7.13 contained therein, (d) customary provisions restricting assignments, subletting, sublicensing, pledging or other transfers contained in leases, subleases, licenses or sublicenses, so long as such restrictions are limited to the property or assets subject to such leases, subleases, licenses or sublicenses, as the case may be, (e) (i) restrictions imposed by applicable law and (ii) contractual encumbrances or restrictions in effect on the Closing Date and listed on Schedule 7.13, (f) customary provisions in joint venture agreements and other similar agreements entered into in the ordinary course of business, (g) customary provisions restricting assignment of any agreement entered into in the ordinary course of business, (h) customary restrictions and conditions contained in the document relating to any Lien other than relating to Indebtedness, so long as (i) such Lien is a Lien permitted by Section 7.3 and such restrictions or conditions relate only to the specific asset subject to such Lien and (ii) such restrictions and conditions are not created for the purpose of avoiding the restrictions imposed by this Section 7.13, (i) customary net worth provisions contained in real property leases entered into by the Group Members, so long as the Borrower has determined in good faith that such net worth provisions would not reasonably be expected to impair the ability of the Group Members to meet their ongoing obligations, (j) restrictions on cash or other deposits imposed by customers under contracts entered into in the ordinary course of business, (k) customary restrictions and conditions contained in agreements relating to the sale of a Restricted Subsidiary or any assets pending such sale, provided that such restrictions or conditions apply only to the Restricted Subsidiary or assets that is to be sold and such sale is permitted hereunder and (l) customary prohibitions, conditions and restrictions (as determined by the Borrower in good faith) contained in agreements and documents relating to any Qualified Securitization Transaction.

 

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7.14         Clauses Restricting Subsidiary Distributions. Enter into or suffer to exist or become effective any consensual encumbrance or restriction on the ability of any Restricted Subsidiary of the Borrower to (a) make Restricted Payments in respect of any Capital Stock of such Restricted Subsidiary held by, or pay any Indebtedness owed to, any Group Member, (b) make loans or advances to, or other Investments in, any Group Member or (c) transfer any of its assets to any Group Member, except for (i) any encumbrances or restrictions existing under (A) this Agreement, the other Loan Documents, the ABL Loan Documents or the Unsecured Notes Documents, (B) any agreement governing Indebtedness incurred pursuant to Section 7.2 so long as such encumbrance or restriction is customary in agreements governing Indebtedness of such type and is not materially more restrictive (taken as a whole) than the Loan Documents (as conclusively determined by the Borrower in good faith) or (C) any agreement governing Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness in respect of the Loans, any ABL Loans, any Unsecured Notes or any other Indebtedness incurred pursuant to Section 7.2, in each case so long as any such agreement is not materially more restrictive (taken as a whole) than the Loan Documents, the ABL Loan Documents, the Unsecured Notes Documents or the documents governing the Indebtedness being refinanced, as applicable (as conclusively determined by the Borrower in good faith), (ii) any encumbrances or restrictions with respect to a Restricted Subsidiary imposed pursuant to an agreement that has been entered into in connection with the Disposition of all or substantially all of the Capital Stock or assets of such Restricted Subsidiary, (iii) any encumbrance or restriction applicable to a Restricted Subsidiary (and, if applicable, its Subsidiaries) under any agreement of such Restricted Subsidiary in effect at the time such Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary of the Borrower, so long as such agreement was not entered into in contemplation of such Person becoming a Restricted Subsidiary of the Borrower, as such agreement may be amended, restated, supplemented, modified extended renewed or replaced, so long as such amendment, restatement, supplement, modification, extension, renewal or replacement does not expand in any material respect the scope of any restriction contemplated by this Section 7.14 contained therein, (iv) customary provisions restricting assignments, subletting, sublicensing, pledging or other transfers contained in leases, subleases, licenses or sublicenses, so long as such restrictions are limited to the property or assets subject to such leases, subleases, licenses or sublicenses, as the case may be, (v) customary restrictions and conditions contained in agreements relating to the sale of a Restricted Subsidiary or any assets pending such sale, provided that such restrictions or conditions apply only to the Restricted Subsidiary or assets that is to be sold and such sale is permitted hereunder, (vi) consensual arrangements with insurance regulators with respect to the Insurance Subsidiary, (vii) (A) restrictions imposed by applicable law and (B) contractual encumbrances or restrictions in effect on the Closing Date and listed on Schedule 7.14, (viii) customary provisions in joint venture agreements and other similar agreements entered into in the ordinary course of business, (ix) customary provisions restricting assignment of any agreement entered into in the ordinary course of business, (x) customary net worth provisions contained in real property leases entered into by the Group Members, so long as the Borrower has determined in good faith that such net worth provisions would not reasonably be expected to impair the ability of the Group Members to meet their ongoing obligations, (xi) restrictions on cash or other deposits imposed by customers under contracts entered into in the ordinary course of business and (xii) customary prohibitions, conditions and restrictions (as determined by the Borrower in good faith) contained in agreements and documents relating to any Qualified Securitization Transaction.

 

7.15         Lines of Business. (a) Enter into any business, either directly or through any Restricted Subsidiary, except for (i) an immaterial line of business (as determined by the Borrower in good faith) or (ii) those businesses in which the Group Members were engaged on the Closing Date and (in the case of this clause (ii)) any similar, corollary, related, incidental or complementary business or business activities or any reasonable extension, development or expansion thereof (as determined by the Borrower in good faith).

 

(b) In the case of the Insurance Subsidiary, enter into any business, except for providing insurance services to the Borrower and its Subsidiaries and activities reasonably related thereto.

 

7.16         Use of Proceeds. Use, and the respective directors, officers, employees and agents of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries shall not use, the proceeds of any Loan (a) 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, (b) for the purpose of funding, financing or facilitating any activities, business or transaction of or with any Sanctioned Person, or in any Sanctioned Country, or (c) in any manner that would result in the violation of any Sanctions applicable to any party hereto.

 

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SECTION 8.     EVENTS OF DEFAULT

 

If any of the following events shall occur and be continuing:

 

(a)            the Borrower shall fail to pay any principal of any Loan when due in accordance with the terms hereof; or the Borrower shall fail to pay any interest on any Loan, or any other amount payable hereunder or under any other Loan Document, within five Business Days after any such interest or other amount becomes due in accordance with the terms hereof; or

 

(b)            any representation or warranty made or deemed made by any Loan Party herein or in any other Loan Document or that is contained in any certificate required to be delivered by it at any time under or in connection with this Agreement or any such other Loan Document shall prove to have been inaccurate in any material respect on or as of the date made or deemed made; or

 

(c)            any Loan Party shall default in the observance or performance of any agreement contained in clause (i) or (ii) of Section 6.4(a) (with respect to the Borrower only), Section 6.7(a) or Section 7 of this Agreement; or

 

(d)            any Loan Party shall default in the observance or performance of any other agreement contained in this Agreement or any other Loan Document (other than as provided in paragraphs (a) through (c) of this Section 8), and such default shall continue unremedied for a period of 30 days after written notice to the Borrower from the Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders; or

 

(e)            any Group Member shall (i) default in making any payment of any principal of any Material Indebtedness (including any Guarantee Obligation) on the scheduled or original due date with respect thereto; (ii) default in making any payment of any interest on any such Material Indebtedness beyond the period of grace, if any, provided in the instrument or agreement under which such Material Indebtedness was created; (iii) other than with respect to Indebtedness outstanding under the ABL Credit Agreement, default in the observance or performance of any other agreement or condition relating to any such Material Indebtedness or contained in any instrument or agreement evidencing, securing or relating thereto, the effect of which default is to cause (with all applicable grace periods having expired), or to permit the holder or beneficiary of such Indebtedness (or a trustee or agent on behalf of such holder or beneficiary) to cause (with all applicable grace periods having expired), with the giving of notice if required, such Material Indebtedness to become due prior to its stated maturity or (in the case of any such Indebtedness constituting a Guarantee Obligation) to become payable (provided that this clause (iii) shall not apply to any Indebtedness that becomes due as a result of a refinancing in full thereof as permitted by the terms of this Agreement); or (iv) with respect to Indebtedness outstanding under the ABL Credit Agreement, default in the observance or performance of any other agreement or condition relating to such Indebtedness or contained in any ABL Loan Document, the effect of which default is to cause (with all applicable grace periods having expired), or to permit the ABL Administrative Agent or the lenders under the ABL Credit Agreement to cause (with all applicable grace periods having expired), with the giving of notice if required, the ABL Loans to become due prior to their stated maturity and/or the ABL Commitments to terminate prior to their stated termination date (provided that, in the case of this clause (iv), such default shall not constitute an Event of Default hereunder unless (1) the holders of the ABL Loans cause the ABL Loans to become due prior to their stated maturity (and such acceleration has not been rescinded) and/or the ABL Commitments to terminate prior to their stated termination date or (2) the ABL Administrative Agent and/or the lenders under the ABL Credit Agreement exercise secured creditor remedies as a result of such default); or

 

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(f)             (i) the Borrower or any Material Subsidiary shall commence any case, proceeding or other action (A) under any existing or future law of any jurisdiction, domestic or foreign, relating to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or relief of debtors, seeking to have an order for relief entered with respect to it, or seeking to adjudicate it a bankrupt or insolvent, or seeking reorganization, arrangement, adjustment, winding-up, liquidation, dissolution, composition or other relief with respect to it or its debts, or (B) seeking appointment of a receiver, trustee, custodian, conservator or other similar official for it or for all or any substantial part of its assets; or (ii) there shall be commenced against the Borrower or any Material Subsidiary any case, proceeding or other action of a nature referred to in clause (i) above that (A) results in the entry of an order for relief or any such adjudication or appointment or (B) remains undismissed or undischarged for a period of 60 consecutive days; or (iii) there shall be commenced against the Borrower or any Material Subsidiary any case, proceeding or other action seeking issuance of a warrant of attachment, execution, distraint or similar process against all or any substantial part of its assets that results in the entry of an order for any such relief that shall not have been vacated, discharged, or stayed or bonded pending appeal within 60 days from the entry thereof; or (iv) the Borrower or any Material Subsidiary shall take any action in furtherance of, or indicating its consent to, approval of, or acquiescence in, any of the acts set forth in clause (i), (ii), or (iii) above; or (v) the Borrower or any Material Subsidiary shall generally not, or shall be unable to, or shall admit in writing its inability to, pay its debts as they become due; or (vi) the Borrower or any Material Subsidiary shall make a general assignment for the benefit of its creditors; or

 

(g)            (i) an ERISA Event and/or a Foreign Plan Event shall have occurred; (ii) a trustee shall be appointed by a United States district court to administer any Pension Plan; (iii) the PBGC shall institute proceedings to terminate any Pension Plan; (iv) any Group Member or any of their respective ERISA Affiliates shall have been notified by the sponsor of a Multiemployer Plan that it has incurred or will be assessed Withdrawal Liability to such Multiemployer Plan and such entity does not have reasonable grounds for contesting such Withdrawal Liability or is not contesting such Withdrawal Liability in a timely and appropriate manner; or (v) any other event or condition shall occur or exist with respect to a Plan, a Foreign Benefit Arrangement, or a Foreign Plan; and in each case in clauses (i) through (v) above, such event or condition, together with all other such events or conditions, if any, would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect; or

 

(h)            one or more judgments or decrees shall be entered against the Borrower or any Material Subsidiary involving in the aggregate a liability (not paid or fully covered by insurance as to which the relevant insurance company has not disputed coverage) of $75,000,000 or more, and all such judgments or decrees shall not have been vacated, discharged, stayed or bonded pending appeal within 60 consecutive days from the entry thereof; or

 

(i)             any of the Security Documents or the Intercreditor Agreements shall cease, for any reason, to be in full force and effect, or any Loan Party shall so assert, or any Lien created by any of the Security Documents on assets that constitute a material portion of the Collateral shall cease to be enforceable and of the same effect and priority purported to be created thereby (and, for the avoidance of doubt, as required by the Intercreditor Agreements), except (i) the release thereof as provided in the applicable Loan Document or Section 10.14 or (ii) as a result of the failure of the Administrative Agent to maintain possession of any stock certificates, promissory notes or other instruments delivered to it under the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement; or

 

(j)             the guarantee contained in Article II of the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement shall cease, for any reason, to be in full force and effect or any Loan Party shall so assert; or

 

(k)            the subordination provisions contained in any Subordinated Indebtedness with an aggregate principal amount in excess of $75,000,000 shall cease, for any reason, to be in full force and effect, or any Loan Party shall so assert; or

 

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(l)             a Change of Control shall occur; then, and in any such event, (A) if such event is an Event of Default specified in clause (i) or (ii) of paragraph (f) above with respect to the Borrower, automatically the Commitments shall immediately terminate and the Loans (with accrued interest thereon) and all other amounts owing under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents shall immediately become due and payable, and (B) if such event is any other Event of Default, either or both of the following actions may be taken: with the consent of the Required Lenders, the Administrative Agent may, or upon the request of the Required Lenders, the Administrative Agent shall, by notice to the Borrower, declare the Loans (with accrued interest thereon) and all other amounts owing under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents to be due and payable forthwith, whereupon the same shall immediately become due and payable. Except as expressly provided above in this Section 8, presentment, demand, protest and all other notices of any kind are hereby expressly waived by the Borrower.

 

In addition to any other rights and remedies granted to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders in the Loan Documents, the Administrative Agent on behalf of the Lenders may exercise all rights and remedies of a secured party under the New York Uniform Commercial Code or any other applicable law. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Administrative Agent, without demand of performance or other demand, presentment, protest, advertisement or notice of any kind (except any notice required by law referred to below) to or upon any Loan Party or any other Person (all and each of which demands, defenses, advertisements and notices are hereby waived), may in such circumstances forthwith collect, receive, appropriate and realize upon the Collateral, or any part thereof, or consent to the use by the Loan Parties of any cash collateral arising in respect of the Collateral on such terms as the Administrative Agent deems reasonable, and/or may forthwith sell, lease, assign give an option or options to purchase or otherwise dispose of and deliver, or acquire by credit bid on behalf of the Lenders, the Collateral or any part thereof (or contract to do any of the foregoing), in one or more parcels at public or private sale or sales, at any exchange, broker’s board or office of the Administrative Agent or any Lender or elsewhere, upon such terms and conditions as it may deem advisable and at such prices as it may deem best, for cash or on credit or for future delivery, all without assumption of any credit risk. The Administrative Agent or any Lender shall have the right upon any such public sale or sales, and, to the extent permitted by law, upon any such private sale or sales, to purchase the whole or any part of the Collateral so sold, free of any right or equity of redemption in any Loan Party, which right or equity is hereby waived and released. The Borrower further agrees, at the Administrative Agent’s request, to assemble, or cause the applicable Loan Party to assemble, the Collateral and make it available to the Administrative Agent at places which the Administrative Agent shall reasonably select, whether at the Borrower’s or such Loan Party’s premises or elsewhere. The Administrative Agent shall apply the net proceeds of any action taken by it pursuant to this Section 8, after deducting all reasonable costs and expenses of every kind incurred in connection therewith or incidental to the care or safekeeping of any of the Collateral or in any other way relating to the Collateral or the rights of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders hereunder, including reasonable attorneys’ fees and disbursements, to the payment in whole or in part of the obligations of the Loan Parties under the Loan Documents, in such order as the Administrative Agent may elect, and only after such application and after the payment by the Administrative Agent of any other amount required by any provision of law, including Section 9-615(a)(3) of the New York UCC, need the Administrative Agent account for the surplus, if any, to any Loan Party. To the extent permitted by applicable law, the Borrower on behalf of itself and the other Loan Parties, waives all claims, damages and demands it or any other Loan Party may acquire against the Administrative Agent or any Lender arising out of the exercise by them of any rights hereunder. If any notice of a proposed sale or other disposition of Collateral shall be required by law, such notice shall be deemed reasonable and proper if given at least 10 days before such sale or other disposition.

 

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SECTION 9.     THE AGENTS

 

9.1           Appointment. (a) As to any matters not expressly provided for herein and in the other Loan Documents (including enforcement or collection), the Administrative Agent shall not be required to exercise any discretion or take any action, but shall be required to act or to refrain from acting (and shall be fully protected in so acting or refraining from acting) upon the written instructions of the Required Lenders (or such other number or percentage of the Lenders as shall be necessary, pursuant to the terms in the Loan Documents), and, unless and until revoked in writing, such instructions shall be binding upon each Lender; provided, however, that the Administrative Agent shall not be required to take any action that (i) the Administrative Agent in good faith believes exposes it to liability unless the Administrative Agent receives an indemnification and is exculpated in a manner satisfactory to it from the Lenders with respect to such action or (ii) is contrary to this Agreement or any other Loan Document or applicable law, including any action that may be in violation of the automatic stay under any requirement of law relating to bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization or relief of debtors or that may effect a forfeiture, modification or termination of property of a Lender in violation of any requirement of law relating to bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization or relief of debtors; provided, further, that the Administrative Agent may seek clarification or direction from the Required Lenders prior to the exercise of any such instructed action and may refrain from acting until such clarification or direction has been provided. Except as expressly set forth in the Loan Documents, the Administrative Agent shall not have any duty to disclose, and shall not be liable for the failure to disclose, any information relating to the Borrower, any Subsidiary or any Affiliate of any of the foregoing that is communicated to or obtained by the Person serving as Administrative Agent or any of its Affiliates in any capacity. Nothing in this Agreement shall require the Administrative Agent to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur any financial liability in the performance of any of its duties hereunder or in the exercise of any of its rights or powers if it shall have reasonable grounds for believing that repayment of such funds or adequate indemnity against such risk or liability is not reasonably assured to it.

 

(b)            Each Lender hereby irrevocably appoints the entity named as Administrative Agent in the heading of this Agreement and its successors and assigns to serve as the administrative agent under the Loan Documents and each Lender authorizes the Administrative Agent to take such actions as agent on its behalf and to exercise such powers under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents as are delegated to the Administrative Agent under such agreements and to exercise such powers as are reasonably incidental thereto. Without limiting the foregoing, each Lender hereby authorizes the Administrative Agent to execute and deliver, and to perform its obligations under, each of the Loan Documents to which the Administrative Agent is a party, and to exercise all rights, powers and remedies that the Administrative Agent may have under such Loan Documents.

 

(c)            In performing its functions and duties hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, the Administrative Agent is acting solely on behalf of the Lenders (except in limited circumstances expressly provided for herein relating to the maintenance of the Register), and its duties are entirely mechanical and administrative in nature. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Administrative Agent does not assume and shall not be deemed to have assumed any obligation or duty or any other relationship as the agent, fiduciary or trustee of or for any Lender, other than as expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents, regardless of whether a Default or an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing (and it is understood and agreed that the use of the term “agent” (or any similar term) herein or in any other Loan Document with reference to the Administrative Agent is not intended to connote any fiduciary duty or other implied (or express) obligations arising under agency doctrine of any applicable law, and that such term is used as a matter of market custom and is intended to create or reflect only an administrative relationship between contracting parties); additionally, each Lender agrees that it will not assert any claim against the Administrative Agent based on an alleged breach of fiduciary duty by the Administrative Agent in connection with this Agreement and/or the transactions contemplated hereby.

 

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(d)            Nothing in this Agreement or any Loan Document shall require the Administrative Agent to account to any Lender for any sum or the profit element of any sum received by the Administrative Agent for its own account.

 

(e)            The Administrative Agent may perform any 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 of their respective duties and exercise their respective rights and powers 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 pursuant to this Agreement. The Administrative Agent shall not be responsible for the negligence or misconduct of any sub-agent except to the extent that a court of competent jurisdiction determines in a final and nonappealable judgment that the Administrative Agent acted with gross negligence or willful misconduct in the selection of such sub-agent.

 

(f)            The Arrangers shall have no obligations or duties whatsoever in such capacity under this Agreement or any other Loan Document and shall incur no liability hereunder or thereunder in such capacity, but all such persons shall have the benefit of the indemnities provided for hereunder.

 

(g)            In case of the pendency of any proceeding with respect to any Loan Party under any Federal, state or foreign bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or similar law now or hereafter in effect, 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 (but not obligated) by intervention in such proceeding or otherwise:

 

(i)            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 under Sections 2.12, 2.13, 2.15, 2.17 and 9.3) allowed in such judicial proceeding; and

 

(ii)            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 proceeding is hereby authorized by each Lender and each other Secured Party 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 or the other Secured Parties, to pay to the Administrative Agent any amount due to it, in its capacity as the Administrative Agent, under the Loan Documents (including under Section 9.3). 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.

 

(h)            The provisions of this Article are solely for the benefit of the Administrative Agent, the Lenders, and, except solely to the extent of the Borrower’s rights to consent pursuant to and subject to the conditions set forth in this Article, none of the Borrower or any Subsidiary, or any of their respective Affiliates, shall have any rights as a third party beneficiary under any such provisions. Each Secured Party, whether or not a party hereto, will be deemed, by its acceptance of the benefits of the Collateral and of the Guarantees of the Obligations provided under the Loan Documents, to have agreed to the provisions of this Article.

 

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9.2           Administrative Agent’s Reliance, Indemnification, Etc..     (a) Neither the Administrative Agent nor any of its Related Parties shall be (i) liable for any action taken or omitted to be taken by such party, the Administrative Agent or any of its Related Parties under or in connection with this Agreement or the other Loan Documents (x) with the consent of 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 to be necessary, under the circumstances as provided in the Loan Documents) or (y) in the absence of its own gross negligence or willful misconduct (such absence to be presumed unless otherwise determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by a final and non-appealable judgment) or (ii) responsible in any manner to any of the Lenders for any recitals, statements, representations or warranties made by any Loan Party or any officer thereof contained in this Agreement or any other Loan Document or in any certificate, report, statement or other document referred to or provided for in, or received by the Administrative Agent under or in connection with, this Agreement or any other Loan Document or for the value, validity, effectiveness, genuineness, enforceability or sufficiency of this Agreement or any other Loan Document or for any failure of any Loan Party to perform its obligations hereunder or thereunder.

 

(b)            The Administrative Agent shall be deemed not to have knowledge of any Default unless and until written notice thereof (stating that it is a “notice of default”) is given to the Administrative Agent by the Borrower, a Lender, and 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 any Loan Document, (ii) the contents of any certificate, report or other document delivered thereunder or in connection therewith, (iii) the performance or observance of any of the covenants, agreements or other terms or conditions set forth in any Loan Document or the occurrence of any Default, (iv) the sufficiency, validity, enforceability, effectiveness or genuineness of any Loan Document or any other agreement, instrument or document, (v) the satisfaction of any condition set forth in Article IV or elsewhere in any Loan Document, other than to confirm receipt of items (which on their face purport to be such items) expressly required to be delivered to the Administrative Agent or satisfaction of any condition that expressly refers to the matters described therein being acceptable or satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, (vi) the creation, perfection or priority of Liens on the Collateral or (vii) compliance by Affiliated Lenders with the terms hereof relating to Affiliated Lenders.

 

(c)            Without limiting the foregoing, the Administrative Agent (i) may treat the payee of any promissory note as its holder until such promissory note has been assigned in accordance with Section 9.5, (ii) may rely on the Register to the extent set forth in Section 10.6(b), (iii) may consult with legal counsel (including counsel to the Borrower), independent public accountants and other experts selected by it, and shall not be liable for any action taken or omitted to be taken in good faith by it in accordance with the advice of such counsel, accountants or experts, (iv) makes no warranty or representation to any Lender and shall not be responsible to any Lender for any statements, warranties or representations made by or on behalf of any Loan Party in connection with this Agreement or any other Loan Document, (v) 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, may presume that such condition is satisfactory to such Lender unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice to the contrary from such Lender sufficiently in advance of the making of such Loan and (vi) shall be entitled to rely on, and shall incur no liability under or in respect of this Agreement or any other Loan Document by acting upon, any notice, consent, certificate or other instrument or writing (which writing may be a fax, any electronic message, Internet or intranet website posting or other distribution) or any statement made to it orally or by telephone and believed by it to be genuine and signed or sent or otherwise authenticated by the proper party or parties (whether or not such Person in fact meets the requirements set forth in the Loan Documents for being the maker thereof).

 

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9.3           Posting of Communications.      (a) The Borrower agrees that the Administrative Agent may, but shall not be obligated to, make any Communications available to the Lenders by posting the Communications on IntraLinks™, DebtDomain, SyndTrak, ClearPar or any other electronic platform chosen by the Administrative Agent to be its electronic transmission system (the “Approved Electronic Platform”).

 

(b)            Although the Approved Electronic Platform and its primary web portal are secured with generally-applicable security procedures and policies implemented or modified by the Administrative Agent from time to time (including, as of the Closing Date, a user ID/password authorization system) and the Approved Electronic Platform is secured through a per-deal authorization method whereby each user may access the Approved Electronic Platform only on a deal-by-deal basis, each of the Lenders and the Borrower acknowledges and agrees that the distribution of material through an electronic medium is not necessarily secure, that the Administrative Agent is not responsible for approving or vetting the representatives or contacts of any Lender that are added to the Approved Electronic Platform, and that there may be confidentiality and other risks associated with such distribution. Each of the Lenders and the Borrower hereby approves distribution of the Communications through the Approved Electronic Platform and understands and assumes the risks of such distribution.

 

(c)            THE APPROVED ELECTRONIC PLATFORM AND THE COMMUNICATIONS ARE PROVIDED “AS IS” AND “AS AVAILABLE”. THE APPLICABLE PARTIES (AS DEFINED BELOW) DO NOT WARRANT THE ACCURACY OR COMPLETENESS OF THE COMMUNICATIONS, OR THE ADEQUACY OF THE APPROVED ELECTRONIC PLATFORM AND EXPRESSLY DISCLAIM LIABILITY FOR ERRORS OR OMISSIONS IN THE APPROVED ELECTRONIC PLATFORM AND THE COMMUNICATIONS. 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 THE APPLICABLE PARTIES IN CONNECTION WITH THE COMMUNICATIONS OR THE APPROVED ELECTRONIC PLATFORM. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT, THE ARRANGERS OR ANY OF THEIR RESPECTIVE RELATED PARTIES (COLLECTIVELY, “APPLICABLE PARTIES”) HAVE ANY LIABILITY TO ANY LOAN PARTY, ANY LENDER, OR ANY OTHER PERSON OR ENTITY FOR DAMAGES OF ANY KIND, INCLUDING DIRECT OR INDIRECT, SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, LOSSES OR EXPENSES (WHETHER IN TORT, CONTRACT OR OTHERWISE) ARISING OUT OF ANY LOAN PARTY’S OR THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT’S TRANSMISSION OF COMMUNICATIONS THROUGH THE INTERNET OR THE APPROVED ELECTRONIC PLATFORM.

 

(d)            Each Lender agrees that notice to it (as provided in the next sentence) specifying that Communications have been posted to the Approved Electronic Platform shall constitute effective delivery of the Communications to such Lender for purposes of the Loan Documents. Each Lender agrees (i) to notify the Administrative Agent in writing (which could be in the form of electronic communication) from time to time of such Lender’s email address to which the foregoing notice may be sent by electronic transmission and (ii) that the foregoing notice may be sent to such email address.

 

(e)            Each of the Lenders and the Borrower agrees that the Administrative Agent may, but (except as may be required by applicable law) shall not be obligated to, store the Communications on the Approved Electronic Platform in accordance with the Administrative Agent’s generally applicable document retention procedures and policies.

 

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(f)            Nothing herein shall prejudice the right of the Administrative Agent or any Lender to give any notice or other communication pursuant to any Loan Document in any other manner specified in such Loan Document.

 

9.4           The Administrative Agent Individually. With respect to its Commitment and Loans, the Person serving as the Administrative Agent shall have and may exercise the same rights and powers hereunder and is subject to the same obligations and liabilities as and to the extent set forth herein for any other Lender, as the case may be. The terms “Lenders”, “Required Lenders” and any similar terms shall, unless the context clearly otherwise indicates, include the Administrative Agent in its individual capacity as a Lender or as one of the Required Lenders, as applicable. The Person serving as the Administrative Agent 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 banking, trust or other business with, the Borrower, any Subsidiary or any Affiliate of any of the foregoing as if such Person was not acting as the Administrative Agent and without any duty to account therefor to the Lenders.

 

9.5     Successor Administrative Agent.      (a) The Administrative Agent may resign at any time by giving 30 days’ prior written notice thereof to the Lenders and the Borrower, whether or not a successor Administrative Agent has been appointed. Upon any such resignation, the Required Lenders shall have the right to appoint a successor Administrative Agent. If no successor Administrative Agent shall have been so appointed by the Required Lenders, and shall have accepted such appointment, within 30 days after the retiring Administrative Agent’s giving of notice of resignation, then the retiring Administrative Agent may, on behalf of the Lenders, appoint a successor Administrative Agent, which shall be a bank with an office in New York, New York or an Affiliate of any such bank. In either case, (i) such appointment shall be subject to the prior written approval of the Borrower (which approval may not be unreasonably withheld and shall not be required while an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing) and (ii) in no event shall a successor Administrative Agent be a Disqualified Lender. Upon the acceptance of any appointment as Administrative Agent by a successor Administrative Agent, such successor Administrative Agent shall succeed to, and become vested with, all the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring Administrative Agent. Upon the acceptance of appointment as Administrative Agent by a successor Administrative Agent, the retiring Administrative Agent shall be discharged from its duties and obligations under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents. Prior to any retiring Administrative Agent’s resignation hereunder as Administrative Agent, the retiring Administrative Agent shall take such action as may be reasonably necessary to assign to the successor Administrative Agent its rights as Administrative Agent under the Loan Documents.

 

(b)            Notwithstanding paragraph (a) of this Section 9.5, in the event no successor Administrative Agent shall have been so appointed and shall have accepted such appointment within 30 days after the retiring Administrative Agent gives notice of its intent to resign, the retiring Administrative Agent may give notice of the effectiveness of its resignation to the Lenders and the Borrower, whereupon, on the date of effectiveness of such resignation stated in such notice, (i) the retiring Administrative Agent shall be discharged from its duties and obligations hereunder and under the other Loan Documents; provided that, solely for purposes of maintaining any security interest granted to the Administrative Agent under any Security Document for the benefit of the Secured Parties, the retiring Administrative Agent shall continue to be vested with such security interest as collateral agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties, and continue to be entitled to the rights set forth in such Security Document and Loan Document, and, in the case of any Collateral in the possession of the Administrative Agent, shall continue to hold such Collateral, in each case until such time as a successor Administrative Agent is appointed and accepts such appointment in accordance with this Section 9.5 (it being understood and agreed that the retiring Administrative Agent shall have no duty or obligation to take any further action under any Security Document, including any action required to maintain the perfection of any such security interest), and (ii) the Required Lenders shall succeed to and become vested with all the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring Administrative Agent; provided that (A) all payments required to be made hereunder or under any other Loan Document to the Administrative Agent for the account of any Person other than the Administrative Agent shall be made directly to such Person and (B) all notices and other communications required or contemplated to be given or made to the Administrative Agent shall directly be given or made to each Lender. Following the effectiveness of the Administrative Agent’s resignation from its capacity as such, the provisions of this Article and Section 10.3, as well as any exculpatory, reimbursement and indemnification provisions set forth in any other Loan Document, shall continue in effect for the benefit of such retiring 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 Administrative Agent was acting as Administrative Agent and in respect of the matters referred to in the proviso under clause (i) above.

 

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9.6           Acknowledgements of Lenders.     (a) Each Lender represents that it is engaged in making, acquiring or holding commercial loans in the ordinary course of its business and that it has, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent, the Arrangers or any other Lender, or any of the Related Parties of any of the foregoing, and based on such documents and information as it has deemed appropriate, made its own credit analysis and decision to enter into this Agreement as a Lender, and to make, acquire or hold Loans hereunder. Each Lender also acknowledges that it will, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent, the Arrangers or any other Lender, or any of the Related Parties of any of the foregoing, and based on such documents and information (which may contain material, non-public information within the meaning of the United States securities laws concerning the Borrower and its Affiliates) 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.

 

(b)            Each Lender, by delivering its signature page to this Agreement on the Closing Date, or delivering its signature page to an Assignment and Assumption or any other Loan Document pursuant to which it shall become a Lender hereunder, shall be deemed to have acknowledged receipt of, and consented to and approved, each Loan Document and each other document required to be delivered to, or be approved by or satisfactory to, the Administrative Agent or the Lenders on the Closing Date.

 

9.7           Collateral Matters.      (a) Except with respect to the exercise of setoff rights in accordance with Section 9.8 or with respect to a Secured Party’s right to file a proof of claim in an insolvency proceeding, no Secured Party shall have any right individually to realize upon any of the Collateral or to enforce any Guarantee of the Obligations, it being understood and agreed that all powers, rights and remedies under the Loan Documents may be exercised solely by the Administrative Agent on behalf of the Secured Parties in accordance with the terms thereof.

 

(b)            The Secured Parties irrevocably authorize the Administrative Agent, at its option and in its discretion, to subordinate any Lien on any property granted to or held by the Administrative Agent under any Loan Document to the holder of any Lien on such property that is permitted by Section 7.3. The Administrative Agent shall not be responsible for or have a duty to ascertain or inquire into any representation or warranty regarding the existence, value or collectability of the Collateral, the existence, priority or perfection of the Administrative Agent’s Lien thereon or any certificate prepared by any Loan Party in connection therewith, nor shall the Administrative Agent be responsible or liable to the Lenders or any other Secured Party for any failure to monitor or maintain any portion of the Collateral.

 

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9.8           Credit Bidding. The Secured Parties hereby irrevocably authorize the Administrative Agent, at the direction of the Required Lenders, to credit bid all or any portion of the Obligations (including by accepting some or all of the Collateral in satisfaction of some or all of the Obligations pursuant to a deed in lieu of foreclosure or otherwise) and in such manner purchase (either directly or through one or more acquisition vehicles) all or any portion of the Collateral (a) at any sale thereof conducted under the provisions of the Bankruptcy Code, including under Sections 363, 1123 or 1129 of the Bankruptcy Code, or any similar laws in any other jurisdictions to which a Loan Party is subject, or (b) at any other sale, foreclosure or acceptance of collateral in lieu of debt conducted by (or with the consent or at the direction of) the Administrative Agent (whether by judicial action or otherwise) in accordance with any applicable law. In connection with any such credit bid and purchase, the Obligations owed to the Secured Parties shall be entitled to be, and shall be, credit bid by the Administrative Agent at the direction of the Required Lenders on a ratable basis (with Obligations with respect to contingent or unliquidated claims receiving contingent interests in the acquired assets on a ratable basis that shall vest upon the liquidation of such claims in an amount proportional to the liquidated portion of the contingent claim amount used in allocating the contingent interests) for the asset or assets so purchased (or for the equity interests or debt instruments of the acquisition vehicle or vehicles that are issued in connection with such purchase). In connection with any such bid, (i) the Administrative Agent shall be authorized to form one or more acquisition vehicles and to assign any successful credit bid to such acquisition vehicle or vehicles, (ii) each of the Secured Parties’ ratable interests in the Obligations which were credit bid shall be deemed without any further action under this Agreement to be assigned to such vehicle or vehicles for the purpose of closing such sale, (iii) the Administrative Agent shall be authorized to adopt documents providing for the governance of the acquisition vehicle or vehicles (provided that any actions by the Administrative Agent with respect to such acquisition vehicle or vehicles, including any disposition of the assets or equity interests thereof, shall be governed, directly or indirectly, by, and the governing documents shall provide for, control by the vote of the Required Lenders or their permitted assignees under the terms of this Agreement or the governing documents of the applicable acquisition vehicle or vehicles, as the case may be, irrespective of the termination of this Agreement and without giving effect to the limitations on actions by the Required Lenders contained in Section 9.2 of this Agreement), (iv) the Administrative Agent on behalf of such acquisition vehicle or vehicles shall be authorized to issue to each of the Secured Parties, ratably on account of the relevant Obligations which were credit bid, interests, whether as equity, partnership interests, limited partnership interests or membership interests, in any such acquisition vehicle and/or debt instruments issued by such acquisition vehicle, all without the need for any Secured Party or acquisition vehicle to take any further action, and (v) to the extent that Obligations that are assigned to an acquisition vehicle are not used to acquire Collateral for any reason (as a result of another bid being higher or better, because the amount of Obligations assigned to the acquisition vehicle exceeds the amount of Obligations credit bid by the acquisition vehicle or otherwise), such Obligations shall automatically be reassigned to the Secured Parties pro rata with their original interest in such Obligations and the equity interests and/or debt instruments issued by any acquisition vehicle on account of such Obligations shall automatically be cancelled, without the need for any Secured Party or any acquisition vehicle to take any further action. Notwithstanding that the ratable portion of the Obligations of each Secured Party are deemed assigned to the acquisition vehicle or vehicles as set forth in clause (ii) above, each Secured Party shall execute such documents and provide such information regarding the Secured Party (and/or any designee of the Secured Party which will receive interests in or debt instruments issued by such acquisition vehicle) as the Administrative Agent may reasonably request in connection with the formation of any acquisition vehicle, the formulation or submission of any credit bid or the consummation of the transactions contemplated by such credit bid.

 

9.9           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, 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:

 

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(i)            such Lender is not using “plan assets” (within the meaning of the Plan Asset Regulations or otherwise) of one or more Benefit Plans with respect to such Lender’s entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Commitments, or this Agreement,

 

(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 provided another representation, warranty and covenant in accordance with sub-clause (iv) in the immediately preceding clause (a), such Lender further (x) represents and warrants, as of the date such Person became a Lender party hereto, to, and (y) covenants, from the date such Person became a Lender party hereto to the date such Person ceases being a Lender party hereto, for the benefit of the Administrative Agent, and not, for the avoidance of doubt, to or for the benefit of the Borrower or any other Loan Party, that the Administrative Agent is not a fiduciary with respect to the Collateral or the assets of such Lender involved in such Lender’s entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Commitments and this Agreement (including in connection with the reservation or exercise of any rights by the Administrative Agent under this Agreement, any Loan Document or any documents related hereto or thereto).

 

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SECTION 10.      MISCELLANEOUS

 

10.1         Amendments and Waivers. Subject to Sections 2.16(b) through (f), neither this Agreement, any other Loan Document, nor any terms hereof or thereof may be amended, supplemented or modified except in accordance with the provisions of this Section 10.1. The Required Lenders and each Loan Party party to the relevant Loan Document may, or, with the written consent of the Required Lenders, the Administrative Agent and each Loan Party party to the relevant Loan Document may, from time to time, (a) enter into written amendments, supplements or modifications hereto and to the other Loan Documents for the purpose of adding any provisions to this Agreement or the other Loan Documents or changing in any manner the rights of the Lenders or of the Loan Parties hereunder or thereunder or (b) waive, on such terms and conditions as the Required Lenders or the Administrative Agent, as the case may be, may specify in such instrument, any of the requirements of this Agreement or the other Loan Documents or any Default or Event of Default and its consequences; provided, however, that no such waiver and no such amendment, supplement or modification shall (i) forgive the principal amount or extend the final scheduled date of maturity of any Loan, extend the scheduled date of any amortization payment in respect of any Term Loan, reduce the stated rate of any interest or fee payable hereunder (except (x) in connection with the waiver of applicability of any post-default increase in interest rates (which waiver shall be effective with the consent of the Majority Facility Lenders of each adversely affected Facility) and (y) that any amendment or modification of defined terms used in the financial covenants in this Agreement shall not constitute a reduction in the rate of interest or fees for purposes of this clause (i)) or extend the scheduled date of any payment thereof, or increase the amount or extend the expiration date of any Lender’s Commitment, in each case without the written consent of each Lender directly affected thereby; (ii) eliminate or reduce the voting rights of any Lender under this Section 10.1 without the written consent of such Lender; (iii) reduce any percentage specified in the definition of “Required Lenders” without the written consent of each Lender, reduce any percentage specified in the definition of “Majority Facility Lenders” without the written consent of each Lender of the applicable Facility or change any other provision of this Agreement or any other Loan Document specifying the number or percentage of Lenders (or Lenders of any Facility) required to waive, amend or otherwise modify any rights thereunder or make any determination or grant any consent thereunder without the written consent of each Lender (or each Lender of the applicable Facility, as applicable), (iv) consent to the assignment or transfer by the Borrower of any of its rights and obligations under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, release all or substantially all of the Collateral or release all or substantially all of the value of the guarantees provided by the Subsidiary Guarantors taken as a whole, in each case without the written consent of all Lenders; (v) amend, modify or waive any provision of Section 2.17 or Section 6.4 of the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement, in each case without the written consent of each Lender adversely affected thereby; or (vi) amend, modify or waive any provision of Section 9 or any other provision of any Loan Document that affects the Administrative Agent without the written consent of the Administrative Agent. Any such waiver and any such amendment, supplement or modification shall apply equally to each of the Lenders and shall be binding upon the Loan Parties, the Lenders, the Administrative Agent and all future holders of the Loans. In the case of any waiver, the Loan Parties, the Lenders and the Administrative Agent shall be restored to their former position and rights hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, and any Default or Event of Default waived shall be deemed to be cured and not continuing; but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other Default or Event of Default, or impair any right consequent thereon.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Agreement may be amended (or amended and restated) with the written consent of the Required Lenders, the Administrative Agent and the Borrower (a) to add one or more additional credit facilities to this Agreement and to permit the extensions of credit from time to time outstanding thereunder and the accrued interest and fees in respect thereof to share in the benefits of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents with the Term Loans and the accrued interest and fees in respect thereof and (b) to include appropriately the Lenders holding such credit facilities in any determination of the Required Lenders and Majority Facility Lenders.

 

Furthermore, notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) the Administrative Agent, with the consent of the Borrower, may amend, modify or supplement any Loan Document without the consent of any Lender or the Required Lenders in order to correct, amend or cure any ambiguity, inconsistency or defect or correct any typographical error or other manifest error in any Loan Document and (ii) the Loan Documents may be amended in accordance with Sections 2.24, 2.25, 2.26 and 2.27.

 

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10.2         Notices. All notices, requests and demands to or upon the respective parties hereto to be effective shall be in writing (including by facsimile or e-mail), and, unless otherwise expressly provided herein, shall be deemed to have been duly given or made when delivered, or three Business Days after being deposited in the mail, postage prepaid, or, in the case of facsimile or e-mail notice, 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), addressed as follows in the case of the Borrower and the Administrative Agent, and as set forth in an administrative questionnaire delivered to the Administrative Agent in the case of the Lenders, or to such other address as may be hereafter notified by the respective parties hereto:

 

Borrower:

Rent-A-Center, Inc.

5501 Headquarters Drive

Plano, Texas 75024

Attention: Maureen B. Short, Chief Financial Officer

Facsimile: (972) 943-0116

E-mail: Maureen.short@rentacenter.com

   
with a copy to:

Sullivan & Cromwell LLP

125 Broad Street

New York, New York 10004

Attention: Ari B. Blaut

Facsimile: (212) 291-9219

E-mail: blauta@sullcrom.com

   
Administrative Agent:

JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.

Mail Code IL1-0010, L2 Floor

JPM Loan & Agency Services

10 S. Dearborn Street

Chicago, IL 60603

Attention: Corina Ramos

Facsimile: (844) 490-5663

E-mail: corina.c.ramos@chase.com;
jpm.agency.cri@jpmorgan.com

 

Notices and other communications to the Lenders hereunder may be delivered or furnished by electronic communications pursuant to procedures approved by the Administrative Agent; provided that the foregoing shall not apply to notices delivered to any Lender pursuant to Section 2 if such Lender has notified the Administrative Agent that it is incapable of receiving notices under such Section by electronic communication. The Administrative Agent or the Borrower may, in its discretion, agree to accept notices and other communications to it hereunder by electronic communications pursuant to procedures approved by it; provided that approval of such procedures may be limited to particular notices or communications.

 

10.3            No Waiver; Cumulative Remedies. No failure to exercise and no delay in exercising, on the part of the Administrative Agent or any Lender, any right, remedy, power or privilege hereunder or under the other Loan Documents 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 are cumulative and not exclusive of any rights, remedies, powers and privileges provided by law.

 

10.4            Survival of Representations and Warranties. All representations and warranties made hereunder, in the other Loan Documents and in any document, certificate or statement delivered pursuant hereto or in connection herewith shall survive the execution and delivery of this Agreement and the making of the Loans and other extensions of credit hereunder.

 

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10.5            Payment of Expenses and Taxes; Indemnification; Limitation of Liability. The Borrower agrees (a) to pay or reimburse the Administrative Agent and the Arrangers for all of their respective reasonable and documented out-of-pocket costs and expenses incurred in connection with the syndication of the Initial Term Facility and the development, preparation and execution of, and any amendment, supplement or modification to, this Agreement and the other Loan Documents and any other documents prepared in connection herewith or therewith, and the consummation and administration of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, in the case of legal fees and expenses limited to the reasonable and documented fees, disbursements and other charges of one primary counsel to the Administrative Agent and the Arrangers and, if necessary, one local counsel in each applicable jurisdiction and filing and recording fees and expenses, with statements with respect to the foregoing to be submitted to the Borrower prior to the Closing Date (in the case of amounts to be paid on the Closing Date) and from time to time thereafter on a quarterly basis or such other periodic basis as the Administrative Agent shall deem appropriate, (b) to pay or reimburse each Lender and the Administrative Agent for its reasonable and documented costs and out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with the enforcement or preservation of any rights under this Agreement, the other Loan Documents and any such other documents, in the case of legal fees and expenses limited to the reasonable and documented fees, disbursements and other charges of one outside counsel to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders as a whole and in the case of a conflict of interest, one additional counsel to the affected Lenders, taken as a whole, (c) to pay, indemnify, and hold each Lender and the Administrative Agent harmless from, any and all recording and filing fees and any and all liabilities with respect to, or resulting from any delay in paying, stamp, excise and other Taxes, if any, that may be payable or determined to be payable in connection with the execution and delivery of, or consummation or administration of any of the transactions contemplated by, or any amendment, supplement or modification of, or any waiver or consent under or in respect of, this Agreement, the other Loan Documents and any such other documents, and (d) to pay, indemnify, and hold each Lender, each Arranger and the Administrative Agent, their respective affiliates, and their respective officers, directors, employees, agents, advisors and controlling persons (each, an “Indemnitee”) harmless from and against any and all other liabilities, obligations, losses, claims, damages, penalties, actions, judgments, suits, costs, expenses or disbursements of any kind or nature whatsoever with respect to the execution, delivery, enforcement, performance and administration of this Agreement, the other Loan Documents and any such other documents, including any claim, litigation, investigation or proceeding regardless of whether any Indemnitee is a party thereto and whether or not the same are brought by the Borrower, its equity holders, affiliates or creditors or any other Person, including any of the foregoing relating to the use of proceeds of the Loans or the violation of, noncompliance with or liability under, any Environmental Law applicable to any Group Member or its operations or properties, and the reasonable and documented fees, disbursements and other charges of legal counsel (limited to reasonable and documented fees, disbursements and other charges of one primary counsel for all Indemnitees, taken as a whole, and, if necessary, one firm of local counsel in each applicable jurisdiction (which may include a single special counsel acting in multiple jurisdictions) for all Indemnitees, taken as a whole (and, in the case of an actual or potential conflict of interest, where an Indemnitee affected by such conflict informs the Borrower of such conflict and thereafter retains its own counsel, of another firm of counsel for all such affected Indemnitees similarly situated and, if necessary, one firm of local counsel in each applicable jurisdiction (which may include a single special counsel acting in multiple jurisdictions) for all such affected Indemnitees similarly situated)) in connection with claims, actions or proceedings by any Indemnitee against any Loan Party under any Loan Document (all the foregoing in this clause (d), collectively, the “Indemnified Liabilities”), provided, that the Borrower shall have no obligation hereunder to any Indemnitee with respect to Indemnified Liabilities to the extent such Indemnified Liabilities are found by a final and nonappealable decision of a court of competent jurisdiction to have resulted from (x) the bad faith, gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Indemnitee (or any of its Affiliates, officers, directors, employees, agents, advisors or controlling persons), (y) a material breach by such Indemnitee of its obligations under the Loan Documents or (z) disputes or proceedings that are brought by an Indemnitee against any other Indemnitee (other than any claims against an Arranger or the Administrative Agent in its capacity or in fulfilling its roles as an Arranger or Administrative Agent hereunder or any similar role with respect to any Facility) to the extent such disputes do not arise from any act or omission of any Loan Party or any of its Affiliates, and provided, further, that this Section 10.5(d) shall not apply with respect to Taxes other than any Taxes that represent losses or damages arising from any non-Tax claim. Except as provided in this Section 10.5, and to the extent permitted by applicable law, the Borrower agrees not to assert and to cause its Subsidiaries not to assert, and hereby waives and agrees to cause its Subsidiaries to waive, all rights for contribution or any other rights of recovery with respect to all claims, demands, penalties, fines, liabilities, settlements, damages, costs and expenses of whatever kind or nature, arising under any Environmental Laws, that any of them has by statute or otherwise against any Indemnitee.

 

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To the extent permitted by applicable law (i) the Borrower shall not assert, and the Borrower hereby waives, any claim against the Administrative Agent, any Arranger, and any Lender, and any Related Party of any of the foregoing Persons (each such Person being called a “Lender-Related Person”) for any Liabilities arising from the use by others of information or other materials (including any personal data) obtained through telecommunications, electronic or other information transmission systems (including the Internet), except to the extent such Liabilities are found by a final and nonappealable decision of a court of competent jurisdiction to have resulted from (x) the bad faith, gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Person and (ii) no party hereto shall assert, and each such party hereby waives, any Liabilities against any other party hereto, 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 or thereby, the Transactions, any Loan or the use of the proceeds thereof; provided that, nothing in this paragraph shall relieve the Borrower of any obligation it may have to indemnify an Indemnitee, as provided in the foregoing paragraph, against any special, indirect, consequential or punitive damages asserted against such Indemnitee by a third party.

 

All amounts due under this Section 10.5 shall be payable not later than 30 days after receipt of written demand therefor together with reasonably detailed backup documentation. The agreements in this Section 10.5 shall survive the termination of this Agreement and the repayment of the Loans and all other amounts payable hereunder.

 

10.6            Successors and Assigns; Participations and Assignments. (a)  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 (i) the Borrower may not assign or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of each Lender (and any attempted assignment or transfer by the Borrower without such consent shall be null and void) and (ii) no Lender may assign or otherwise transfer its rights or obligations hereunder except in accordance with this Section 10.6.

 

(b)            (i) Subject to the conditions set forth in paragraph (b)(ii) below, after the Closing Date any Lender may assign to one or more Eligible Assignees (each, an “Assignee”), all or a portion of its rights and obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Commitments and the Loans at the time owing to it) with the prior written consent of:

 

(A)            the Borrower (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld), provided that no consent of the Borrower shall be required for an assignment to a Lender, an affiliate of a Lender, an Approved Fund (as defined below) or, if a Specified Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, any other Person; and provided, further, that the Borrower shall be deemed to have consented to any such assignment unless the Borrower shall object thereto by written notice to the Administrative Agent within 10 Business Days after having received notice thereof; and

 

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(B)            the Administrative Agent, provided that no consent of the Administrative Agent shall be required for an assignment of all or any portion of a Term Loan to a Lender, an affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund.

 

(ii)            Assignments shall be subject to the following additional conditions:

 

(A)            except in the case of an assignment to a Lender, an affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund or an assignment of the entire remaining amount of the assigning Lender’s Commitments or Loans under any Facility, the amount of the Commitments or 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) shall not be less than $1,000,000) unless each of the Borrower and the Administrative Agent otherwise consent, provided that (1) no such consent of the Borrower shall be required if a Specified Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and (2) such amounts shall be aggregated in respect of each Lender and its affiliates or Approved Funds, if any;

 

(B)            (1) the parties to each assignment shall execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent an Assignment and Assumption, together with a processing and recordation fee of $3,500 and (2) the assigning Lender shall have paid in full any amounts owing by it to the Administrative Agent; and

 

(C)            the Assignee, if it shall not be a Lender, shall deliver to the Administrative Agent an administrative questionnaire in which the Assignee designates one or more credit contacts to whom all syndicate-level information (which may contain material non-public information about the Borrower and its Affiliates and their related parties or their respective securities) will be made available and who may receive such information in accordance with the Assignee’s compliance procedures and applicable laws, including Federal and state securities laws.

 

For the purposes of this Section 10.6, “Approved Fund” means any Person (other than a natural person) that is engaged in making, purchasing, holding or investing in bank loans and similar extensions of credit in the ordinary course of its business and 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.

 

(iii)            Subject to acceptance and recording thereof pursuant to paragraph (b)(iv) below, from and after the effective date specified in each Assignment and Assumption the Assignee thereunder shall be a party hereto 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 2.18, 2.19, 2.20 and 10.5). Any assignment or transfer by a Lender of rights or obligations under this Agreement that does not comply with this Section 10.6 shall be treated for purposes of this Agreement as a sale by such Lender of a participation in such rights and obligations in accordance with paragraph (c) of this Section 10.6.

 

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(iv)            The Administrative Agent, acting for this purpose as an agent of the Borrower, shall maintain at one of its offices a copy of each Assignment and Assumption delivered to it and a register for the recordation of the names and addresses of the Lenders and the principal amount (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 shall treat each Person whose name is recorded in the Register pursuant to the terms hereof as a Lender hereunder for all purposes of this Agreement, notwithstanding notice to the contrary.

 

(v)            Upon its receipt of a duly completed Assignment and Assumption executed by an assigning Lender and an Assignee, the Assignee’s completed administrative questionnaire (unless the Assignee shall already be a Lender hereunder), the processing and recordation fee referred to in paragraph (b) of this Section 10.6 and any written consent to such assignment required by paragraph (b) of this Section 10.6, the Administrative Agent shall accept such Assignment and Assumption and record the information contained therein in the Register. No assignment shall be effective for purposes of this Agreement unless it has been recorded in the Register as provided in this paragraph.

 

(vi)            Each assignee, by its execution and delivery of an Assignment and Assumption, shall be deemed to have represented to the assigning Lender and the Administrative Agent that such assignee is an Eligible Assignee. In no event shall the Administrative Agent be obligated to ascertain, monitor or inquire as to whether any prospective assignee is an Eligible Assignee or have any liability with respect to any assignment made to a Disqualified Lender or any other Person that is not an Eligible Assignee

 

(c)            Any Lender may, without the consent of the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, sell participations to one or more Eligible Assignees (a “Participant”) in all or a portion of such Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Commitments and 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 and the other Lenders shall continue to deal solely and directly with such Lender in connection with such Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement. Any agreement 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 may provide that such Lender will not, without the consent of the Participant, agree to any amendment, modification or waiver that (i) requires the consent of each Lender directly affected thereby pursuant to the proviso to the second sentence of Section 10.1 and (ii) directly affects such Participant. 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 2.22 with respect to any Participant. The Borrower agrees that each Participant shall be entitled to the benefits of Sections 2.18, 2.19 and 2.20 (subject to the requirements and limitations therein, including the requirements under Section 2.19(f) (it being understood that the documentation required under Section 2.19(f) shall be delivered to the participating Lender)) to the same extent as if it were a Lender and had acquired its interest by assignment pursuant to paragraph (b) of this Section 10.6; provided that such Participant (i) agrees to be subject to the provisions of Sections 2.18 and 2.19 as if it were an assignee under paragraph (b) of this Section 10.6 and (ii) shall not be entitled to receive any greater payment under Sections 2.18 or 2.19, with respect to any participation, than its participating Lender would have been entitled to receive, except to the extent that such entitlement to receive a greater payment results from an adoption of or any change in any Requirement of Law or in the interpretation or application thereof or compliance by any Lender with any request or directive (whether or not having the force of law) from any central bank or other Governmental Authority made subsequent to the Closing Date that occurs after the Participant acquired the applicable participation. To the extent permitted by law, each Participant also shall be entitled to the benefits of Section 10.7(b) as though it were a Lender, provided such Participant shall be subject to Section 10.7(a) 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 to any Person (including the identity of any Participant or any information relating to a Participant’s interest in any Commitments, Loans or its other obligations under any Loan Document) except to the extent that such disclosure is necessary to establish that such Commitment, Loan 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 Administrative Agent) shall have no responsibility for maintaining a Participant Register.

 

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(d)            Any Lender may at any time pledge or assign a security interest in all or any portion of its rights under this Agreement to secure obligations of such Lender, including any pledge or assignment to secure obligations to a Federal Reserve Bank or any other central banking authority, and this Section 10.6 shall not apply to any such pledge or assignment of a security interest; provided that no such pledge or assignment of a security interest shall release a Lender from any of its obligations hereunder or substitute any such pledgee or Assignee for such Lender as a party hereto. The Borrower, upon receipt of written notice from the relevant Lender, agrees to issue Notes to any Lender requiring Notes to facilitate transactions of the type described in this paragraph (d).

 

(e)            Any Lender may, so long as no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and no proceeds of ABL Loans are used, directly or indirectly, to fund the consideration for any such assignment, at any time assign all or a portion of its rights and obligations with respect to Term Loans under a Facility under this Agreement to the Borrower through, notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, privately negotiated transactions or open market purchases on a non pro rata basis; provided that, (A) any Term Loans assigned to the Borrower shall be automatically and permanently cancelled upon the effectiveness of such assignment and will thereafter no longer be outstanding for any purpose hereunder, and such Term Loans may not be resold (it being understood and agreed that any gains or losses by the Borrower upon purchase or acquisition and cancellation of such Term Loans shall not be taken into account in the calculation of Excess Cash Flow, Consolidated Net Income or Consolidated EBITDA) and (B) the Borrower shall promptly provide notice to the Administrative Agent of such assignment of such Term Loans and the Administrative Agent, upon receipt of such notice, shall reflect the cancellation of the applicable Term Loans in the Register.

 

(f)            The list of Disqualified Lenders (i) shall be made available to the Lenders by posting on IntraLinks/IntraAgency or another relevant 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) and (ii) shall be provided to any Lender upon request by such Lender to the Administrative Agent. A Lender may provide the list of Disqualified Lenders to any potential assignee or participant on a confidential basis in accordance with Section 10.15 hereof for the purpose of verifying whether such Person is a Disqualified Lender.

 

(g)            (i)  If any assignment or participation is made to any Disqualified Lender in violation of this Section 10.6, the Borrower may, at its sole expense and effort, upon notice to the applicable Disqualified Lender and the Administrative Agent, (A) purchase or prepay such Term Loan by paying the lowest of (x) the principal amount thereof and (y) the amount that such Disqualified Lender paid to acquire such Term Loans, in each case plus accrued interest, accrued fees and all other amounts (other than principal amounts) payable to it hereunder and/or (B) require such Disqualified Lender to assign, without recourse (in accordance with and subject to the restrictions contained in this Section 10.6), all of its interest, rights and obligations under this Agreement to one or more Eligible Assignees at the lowest of (x) the principal amount thereof and (y) the amount that such Disqualified Lender paid to acquire such interests, rights and obligations, in each case plus accrued interest, accrued fees and all other amounts (other than principal amounts) payable to it hereunder.

 

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(ii)            Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, Disqualified Lenders (A) will not (x) have the right to receive information, reports or other materials provided to Lenders by the Borrower, the Administrative Agent or any other Lender, (y) attend or participate in meetings attended by the Lenders and the Administrative Agent, or (z) access any electronic site established for the Lenders or confidential communications from counsel to or financial advisors of the Administrative Agent or the Lenders and (B) (x) for purposes of any consent to any amendment, waiver or modification of, or any action under, and for the purpose of any direction to the Administrative Agent or any Lender to undertake any action (or refrain from taking any action) under this Agreement or any other Loan Document, each Disqualified Lender will be deemed to have consented in the same proportion as the Lenders that are not Disqualified Lender consented to such matter, and (y) for purposes of voting on any Bankruptcy Plan, each Disqualified Lender party hereto hereby agrees (1) not to vote on such Bankruptcy Plan, (2) if such Disqualified Lender does vote on such Bankruptcy Plan notwithstanding the restriction in the foregoing clause (1), such vote will be deemed not to be in good faith and shall be “designated” pursuant to Section 1126(e) of the Bankruptcy Code (or any similar provision in any other Debtor Relief Laws), and such vote shall not be counted in determining whether the applicable class has accepted or rejected such Bankruptcy Plan in accordance with Section 1126(c) of the Bankruptcy Code (or any similar provision in any other Debtor Relief Laws) and (3) not to contest any request by any party for a determination by the Bankruptcy Court (or other applicable court of competent jurisdiction) effectuating the foregoing clause (2).

 

10.7            Adjustments; Set-off. (a)  Except to the extent that this Agreement or a court order expressly provides for payments to be allocated to a particular Lender or to the Lenders under a particular Facility, if any Lender (a “Benefitted Lender”) shall receive any payment of all or part of the Obligations owing to it (other than in connection with an assignment made pursuant to Section 10.6), or receive any collateral in respect thereof (whether voluntarily or involuntarily, by set-off, pursuant to events or proceedings of the nature referred to in Section 8(f), or otherwise), in a greater proportion than any such payment to or collateral received by any other Lender, if any, in respect of the Obligations owing to such other Lender, such Benefitted Lender shall purchase for cash from the other Lenders a participating interest in such portion of the Obligations owing to each such other Lender, or shall provide such other Lenders with the benefits of any such collateral, as shall be necessary to cause such Benefitted Lender to share the excess payment or benefits of such collateral ratably with each of the Lenders; provided, however, that if all or any portion of such excess payment or benefits is thereafter recovered from such Benefitted Lender, such purchase shall be rescinded, and the purchase price and benefits returned, to the extent of such recovery, but without interest.

 

(b)            In addition to any rights and remedies of the Lenders provided by law, each Lender shall have the right, without notice to the Borrower, any such notice being expressly waived by the Borrower to the extent permitted by applicable law, upon any Obligations becoming due and payable by the Borrower (whether at the stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise), to apply to the payment of such Obligations, by setoff or otherwise, any and all deposits (general or special, time or demand, provisional or final), in any currency, and any other credits, indebtedness or claims, in any currency, in each case whether direct or indirect, absolute or contingent, matured or unmatured, at any time held or owing by such Lender, any affiliate thereof or any of their respective branches or agencies to or for the credit or the account of the Borrower. Each Lender agrees promptly to notify the Borrower and the Administrative Agent after any such application made by such Lender, provided that the failure to give such notice shall not affect the validity of such application.

 

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10.8            Counterparts; Electronic Execution. This Agreement may be executed by one or more of the parties to this Agreement on any number of separate counterparts, and all of said counterparts taken together shall be deemed to constitute one and the same instrument. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page of (x) this Agreement, (y) any other Loan Document and/or (z) any document, amendment, approval, consent, information, notice (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any notice delivered pursuant to Section 10.2), certificate, request, statement, disclosure or authorization related to this Agreement, any other Loan Document and/or the transactions contemplated hereby and/or thereby (each an “Ancillary Document”) that is an Electronic Signature transmitted by telecopy, emailed pdf. or any other electronic means that reproduces an image of an actual executed signature page shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Agreement, such other Loan Document or such Ancillary Document, as applicable. The words “execution,” “signed,” “signature,” “delivery,” and words of like import in or relating to this Agreement, any other Loan Document and/or any Ancillary Document shall be deemed to include Electronic Signatures, deliveries or the keeping of records in any electronic form (including deliveries by telecopy, emailed pdf. or any other electronic means that reproduces an image of an actual executed signature page), each of which shall be of the same legal effect, validity or enforceability as a manually executed signature, physical delivery thereof or the use of a paper-based recordkeeping system, as the case may be; provided that nothing herein shall require the Administrative Agent to accept Electronic Signatures in any form or format without its prior written consent and pursuant to procedures approved by it; provided, further, without limiting the foregoing, (i) to the extent the Administrative Agent has agreed to accept any Electronic Signature, the Administrative Agent and each of the Lenders shall be entitled to rely on such Electronic Signature purportedly given by or on behalf of the Borrower or any other Loan Party without further verification thereof and without any obligation to review the appearance or form of any such Electronic signature and (ii) upon the request of the Administrative Agent or any Lender, any Electronic Signature shall be promptly followed by a manually executed counterpart. A set of the copies of this Agreement signed by all the parties shall be lodged with the Borrower and the Administrative Agent. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Borrower and each Loan Party hereby (i) agrees that, for all purposes, including in connection with any workout, restructuring, enforcement of remedies, bankruptcy proceedings or litigation among the Administrative Agent, the Lenders, the Borrower and the Loan Parties, Electronic Signatures transmitted by telecopy, emailed pdf. or any other electronic means that reproduces an image of an actual executed signature page and/or any electronic images of this Agreement, any other Loan Document and/or any Ancillary Document shall have the same legal effect, validity and enforceability as any paper original, (ii) the Administrative Agent and each of the Lenders may, at its option, create one or more copies of this Agreement, any other Loan Document and/or any Ancillary Document in the form of an imaged electronic record in any format, which shall be deemed created in the ordinary course of such Person’s business, and destroy the original paper document (and all such electronic records shall be considered an original for all purposes and shall have the same legal effect, validity and enforceability as a paper record), (iii) waives any argument, defense or right to contest the legal effect, validity or enforceability of this Agreement, any other Loan Document and/or any Ancillary Document based solely on the lack of paper original copies of this Agreement, such other Loan Document and/or such Ancillary Document, respectively, including with respect to any signature pages thereto and (iv) waives any claim against any Lender-Related Person for any liabilities arising solely from the Administrative Agent’s and/or any Lender’s reliance on or use of Electronic Signatures and/or transmissions by telecopy, emailed pdf. or any other electronic means that reproduces an image of an actual executed signature page, including any Liabilities arising as a result of the failure of the Borrower and/or any Loan Party to use any available security measures in connection with the execution, delivery or transmission of any Electronic Signature

 

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10.9            Severability. Any provision of this Agreement that is prohibited or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such prohibition or unenforceability without invalidating the remaining provisions hereof, and any such prohibition or unenforceability in any jurisdiction shall not invalidate or render unenforceable such provision in any other jurisdiction.

 

10.10            Integration. This Agreement and the other Loan Documents represent the entire agreement of the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders with respect to the subject matter hereof and thereof, and there are no promises, undertakings, representations or warranties by the Administrative Agent or any Lender relative to the subject matter hereof not expressly set forth or referred to herein or in the other Loan Documents.

 

10.11            GOVERNING LAW. THIS AGREEMENT AND THE RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF THE PARTIES UNDER THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED AND INTERPRETED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

 

10.12            Submission To Jurisdiction; Waivers. Each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably and unconditionally:

 

(a)            submits for itself and its property in any legal action or proceeding relating to this Agreement and the other Loan Documents to which it is a party, or for recognition and enforcement of any judgment in respect thereof, to the exclusive jurisdiction of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York sitting in the Borough of Manhattan (or if such court lacks subject matter jurisdiction, the Supreme Court of the State of New York sitting in the Borough of Manhattan), and any appellate court from any thereof; provided, that nothing contained herein or in any other Loan Document will prevent any Lender or the Administrative Agent from bringing any action to enforce any award or judgment or exercise any right under the Security Documents or against any Collateral or any other property of any Loan Party in any other forum in which jurisdiction can be established;

 

(b)            consents that any such action or proceeding may be brought in such courts and waives any objection that it may now or hereafter have to the venue of any such action or proceeding in any such court or that such action or proceeding was brought in an inconvenient court and agrees not to plead or claim the same;

 

(c)            agrees that service of process in any such action or proceeding may be effected by mailing a copy thereof by registered or certified mail (or any substantially similar form of mail), postage prepaid, in the manner set forth in Section 10.2;

 

(d)            agrees that nothing herein shall affect the right to effect service of process in any other manner permitted by law; and

 

(e)            waives, to the maximum extent not prohibited by law, any right it may have to claim or recover in any legal action or proceeding referred to in this Section 10.12 any indirect, special, exemplary, punitive or consequential damages.

 

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10.13            Acknowledgements. The Borrower hereby acknowledges and agrees that (a) no fiduciary, advisory or agency relationship between the Loan Parties and the Credit Parties is intended to be or has been created in respect of any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the other Loan Documents, irrespective of whether the Credit Parties have advised or are advising the Loan Parties on other matters, and the relationship between the Credit Parties, on the one hand, and the Loan Parties, on the other hand, in connection herewith and therewith is solely that of creditor and debtor, (b) the Credit Parties, on the one hand, and the Loan Parties, on the other hand, have an arm’s length business relationship that does not directly or indirectly give rise to, nor do the Loan Parties rely on, any fiduciary duty to the Loan Parties or their affiliates on the part of the Credit Parties, (c) the Loan Parties are capable of evaluating and understanding, and the Loan Parties understand and accept, the terms, risks and conditions of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, (d) the Loan Parties have been advised that the Credit Parties are engaged in a broad range of transactions that may involve interests that differ from the Loan Parties’ interests and that the Credit Parties have no obligation to disclose such interests and transactions to the Loan Parties, (e) the Loan Parties have consulted their own legal, accounting, regulatory and tax advisors to the extent the Loan Parties have deemed appropriate in the negotiation, execution and delivery of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, (f) each Credit Party has been, is, and will be acting solely as a principal and, except as otherwise expressly agreed in writing by it and the relevant parties, has not been, is not, and will not be acting as an advisor, agent or fiduciary for the Loan Parties, any of their affiliates or any other Person, (g) none of the Credit Parties has any obligation to the Loan Parties or their affiliates with respect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the other Loan Documents except those obligations expressly set forth herein or therein or in any other express writing executed and delivered by such Credit Party and the Loan Parties or any such affiliate and (h) no joint venture is created hereby or by the other Loan Documents or otherwise exists by virtue of the transactions contemplated hereby among the Credit Parties or among the Loan Parties and the Credit Parties.

 

10.14            Releases of Guarantees and Liens. (a)  Upon any sale, transfer or other Disposition by any Loan Party (other than any such sale, transfer or other Disposition to another Loan Party) of any Collateral in a transaction permitted by this Agreement, including in connection with a Qualified Securitization Transaction, or upon the effectiveness of any written consent to the release of the security interest in any Collateral created under any Security Document pursuant to Section 10.1, the security interests in such Collateral created by the Security Documents shall be automatically released. In connection with any termination or release pursuant to this clause (a), the Administrative Agent shall execute and deliver to any Loan Party, at such Loan Party’s expense, all documents that such Loan Party shall reasonably request to evidence such release.

 

(b)            At such time as the Loans and the other obligations (other than indemnification or reimbursement obligations under Section 2.18, 2.19(a), 2.19(d) or 2.20 for which the Borrower has not been notified and contingent indemnification obligations) under the Loan Documents shall have been paid in full and the Commitments have been terminated, the Collateral shall be released from the Liens created by the Security Documents, and the Security Documents and all obligations (other than those expressly stated to survive such termination) of the Administrative Agent and each Loan Party under the Security Documents shall terminate, all without delivery of any instrument or performance of any act by any Person. In connection with any termination or release pursuant to this clause (b), the Administrative Agent shall execute and deliver to any Loan Party, at such Loan Party’s expense, all documents that such Loan Party shall reasonably request to evidence such termination or release.

 

(c)            Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein or in any other Loan Document, the Administrative Agent is hereby irrevocably authorized by each Lender (without requirement of notice to or consent of any Lender except as expressly required by Section 10.1) to take any action requested by the Borrower having the effect of releasing any Collateral or guarantee obligations (i) to the extent necessary to permit consummation of any transaction not prohibited by any Loan Document or that has been consented to in accordance with Section 10.1 or (ii) under the circumstances described in paragraphs (a) or (b) above.

 

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10.15            Confidentiality. Each of the Administrative Agent and each Lender agrees to keep confidential all non-public information provided to it by any Loan Party, the Administrative Agent or any Lender pursuant to or in connection with this Agreement; provided that nothing herein shall prevent the Administrative Agent or any Lender from disclosing any such information (a) to the Administrative Agent, any other Lender or any affiliate thereof, (b) subject to an agreement to comply with the provisions of this Section 10.15, to any actual or prospective Transferee or any direct or indirect counterparty to any Swap Agreement (or any professional advisor to such counterparty), (c) to its employees, directors, agents, attorneys, accountants and other professional advisors or those of any of its affiliates, in each case, who are bound to maintain the confidentiality of such information, (d) upon the request or demand of any Governmental Authority or in response to any order or subpoena of any court or other Governmental Authority or as may otherwise be required pursuant to any Requirement of Law, (e) that has been publicly disclosed not in breach of this Section 10.15 or becomes available to the Administrative Agent or such Lender on a non-confidential basis from a source that is not to the Administrative Agent’s or such Lender’s knowledge subject to confidentiality obligations to any Loan Party, (f) to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners or any similar organization or any nationally recognized rating agency that requires access to information about a Lender’s investment portfolio in connection with ratings issued with respect to such Lender, (g) in connection with the exercise of any remedy hereunder or under any other Loan Document, (h) to data service providers (including league table providers) that serve the lending industry to the extent such information is of the type customarily provided to such providers or (i) if agreed by the Borrower in its sole discretion, to any other Person.

 

Each Lender acknowledges that information furnished to it pursuant to this Agreement or the other Loan Documents may include material non-public information concerning the Borrower and its Affiliates and their Related Parties or their respective securities, and confirms that it has developed compliance procedures regarding the use of material non-public information and that it will handle such material non-public information in accordance with those procedures and applicable law, including Federal and state securities laws.

 

All information, including requests for waivers and amendments, furnished by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent pursuant to, or in the course of administering, this Agreement or the other Loan Documents will be syndicate-level information, which may contain material non-public information about the Borrower and its Affiliates and their Related Parties or their respective securities. Accordingly, each Lender represents to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent that it has identified in its administrative questionnaire a credit contact who may receive information that may contain material non-public information in accordance with its compliance procedures and applicable law, including Federal and state securities laws.

 

The Borrower represents and warrants that it and its Subsidiaries either (i) have no registered or publicly traded securities outstanding, or (ii) files its financial statements with the SEC and/or makes its financial statements available to potential holders of its 144A securities, and, accordingly, the Borrower hereby (i) authorizes the Administrative Agent to make the financial statements to be provided under Section 6.1(a) and (b), along with the Loan Documents, available to Public-Siders and (ii) agrees that at the time such financial statements are provided hereunder, they shall already have been made available to holders of its securities. The Borrower will not request that any other material be posted to Public-Siders without expressly representing and warranting to the Administrative Agent in writing that such materials do not constitute material non-public information within the meaning of the federal securities laws or that the Borrower and its Subsidiaries have no outstanding publicly traded securities, including 144A securities. For the avoidance of doubt, the Projections shall not be posted to Public-Siders.

 

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The Borrower hereby acknowledges that (a) the Administrative Agent will make available to the Lenders materials and/or information provided by or on behalf of the Loan Parties hereunder (collectively, the “Borrower Materials”) by posting the Borrower Materials on IntraLinks/IntraAgency or another similar electronic system (the “Platform”) and (b) certain of the Lenders may be Public-Siders. If any Borrower Materials are designated by the Loan Parties as “PRIVATE”, such Borrower Materials will not be made available to that portion of the Platform designated “Public Investor,” which is intended to contain only information that is either publicly available or not material information (though it may be sensitive and proprietary) with respect to Borrower, its Subsidiaries or their securities for purposes of federal and state securities laws. The Administrative Agent shall be entitled to treat any Borrower Materials that are not marked “PRIVATE” or “CONFIDENTIAL” as not containing any material non-public information with respect to the Borrower, its Subsidiaries or their securities for purposes of federal and state securities laws.

 

10.16            WAIVERS OF JURY TRIAL. THE BORROWER, THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT AND THE LENDERS HEREBY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVE TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL ACTION OR PROCEEDING RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT AND FOR ANY COUNTERCLAIM THEREIN.

 

10.17            USA Patriot Act. Each Lender hereby notifies the Borrower that pursuant to the requirements of the USA Patriot Act (Title III of Pub. L. 107-56 (signed into law October 26, 2001)) (the “Patriot Act”), it is required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies the Borrower, which information includes the name and address of the Borrower and other information that will allow such Lender to identify the Borrower in accordance with the Patriot Act.

 

10.18            Intercreditor Agreements. Each Lender hereby authorizes and directs the Administrative Agent (a) to enter into the Intercreditor Agreements on its behalf, perform the Intercreditor Agreements on its behalf and take any actions thereunder as determined by the Administrative Agent to be necessary or advisable to protect the interest of the Lenders, and each Lender agrees to be bound by the terms of the Intercreditor Agreements and (b) to enter into any other intercreditor agreement reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent on its behalf, perform such intercreditor agreement on its behalf and take any actions thereunder as determined by the Administrative Agent to be necessary or advisable to protect the interests of the Lenders, in each case with respect to this clause (b) which intercreditor agreement is expressly required under this Agreement or the Administrative Agent deems necessary or advisable to protect the interests of the Lenders, and each Lender agrees to be bound by the terms of such intercreditor agreement. Each Lender acknowledges that the ABL/Fixed Asset Intercreditor Agreement governs, among other things, Lien priorities and rights of the Lenders and the ABL Secured Parties (as defined in the ABL/Fixed Asset Intercreditor Agreement) with respect to the Collateral, including the ABL Priority Collateral.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

(ii)            a conversion of all, or a portion of, such liability into shares or other instruments of ownership in such Affected Financial Institution, its parent 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 the applicable Resolution Authority.

 

10.20            Acknowledgement Regarding Any Supported QFCs. To the extent that the Loan Documents provide support, through a guarantee or otherwise, for hedging agreements or any other agreement or instrument that is a QFC (such support “QFC Credit Support” and each such QFC a “Supported QFC”), the parties acknowledge and agree as follows with respect to the resolution power of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation under the Federal Deposit Insurance Act and Title II of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (together with the regulations promulgated thereunder, the “U.S. Special Resolution Regimes”) in respect of such Supported QFC and QFC Credit Support (with the provisions below applicable notwithstanding that the Loan Documents and any Supported QFC may in fact be stated to be governed by the laws of the State of New York and/or of the United States or any other state of the United States).

 

In the event a Covered Entity that is party to a Supported QFC (each, a “Covered Party”) becomes subject to a proceeding under a U.S. Special Resolution Regime, the transfer of such Supported QFC and the benefit of such QFC Credit Support (and any interest and obligation in or under such Supported QFC and such QFC Credit Support, and any rights in property securing such Supported QFC or such QFC Credit Support) from such Covered Party will be effective to the same extent as the transfer would be effective under the U.S. Special Resolution Regime if the Supported QFC and such QFC Credit Support (and any such interest, obligation and rights in property) were governed by the laws of the United States or a state of the United States. In the event a Covered Party or a BHC Act Affiliate of a Covered Party becomes subject to a proceeding under a U.S. Special Resolution Regime, Default Rights under the Loan Documents that might otherwise apply to such Supported QFC or any QFC Credit Support that may be exercised against such Covered Party are permitted to be exercised to no greater extent than such Default Rights could be exercised under the U.S. Special Resolution Regime if the Supported QFC and the Loan Documents were governed by the laws of the United States or a state of the United States. Without limitation of the foregoing, it is understood and agreed that rights and remedies of the parties with respect to a Defaulting Lender shall in no event affect the rights of any Covered Party with respect to a Supported QFC or any QFC Credit Support.

 

[Remainder of this page intentionally left blank. Signature pages follow.]

 

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EXECUTED as of the date first above written.

 

BORROWER RENT-A-CENTER, INC.

 

  By: /s/ Maureen B. Short
  Name: Maureen B. Short
  Title: Executive Vice President – Chief Financial Officer

 

[Signature Page to Term Loan Credit Agreement]

 

 

 

ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT, AND A LENDER JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.

 

  By: /s/ Alexander Vardaman
  Name: Alexander Vardaman
  Title: Authorized Signatory

 

[Signature Page to Term Loan Credit Agreement]